#and it doesn't matter how annoying Phoenix is

[21st-century-minutiae]

In the early twenty-first century, Magic the Gathering is a popular trading card game. The game has multiple official formats which define which cards are legal to play, to create different experiences. Pioneer is one of the newer formats, which generally allows cards that were created after 2012 to be included, with some bans.

Ancestral Recall is a card from the original 1993 release of Magic the Gathering. It allows a player to draw three cards at instant speed at the cost of "1 mana." "Instant speed" means that you can play it on your opponent's turn. This is contrasted with "Sorcery Speed" which means you can only play it on your own turn. This is generally a powerful option since you could wait for your opponent to take their turn before deciding what to do, and because it doesn't allow your opponent to react. "Mana" is a resource in the game. Generally speaking, more expensive cards are harder to cast and need to be played late in the game. "1 mana" cards are VERY easy to cast and can be used as early as the first turn. Because drawing cards is VERY useful in Magic, and because Ancestral Recall is very very very easy to cast, it is considered one of the most powerful cards in all of Magic's history and is banned in most formats, including Pioneer.

Treasure Cruise is a card from the 2014 release of Magic the Gathering. It allows a player to draw three cards at the cost of 8 mana, but it also has an ability to make it cheaper at the cost of doing some setup, to a minimum of 1 cost. If you build a deck in the right way, it is pretty easy to make Treasure Cruise a 1 mana spell that draws three cards, which makes it often seen as comparable to Ancestral Recall. However, there are a few key differences:

First, it does require setup to use. Even if it is relatively easy, this setup cannot happen on the first turn of the game (except in VERY weird circumstances). Second, using one copy of Treasure Cruise undoes your setup for the next one. Ancestral Recall can draw another Ancestral Recall which can be used immediately, as early as turn 1 or 2. But it will be somewhat later in the game before you have enough setup that you can play multiple Treasure Cruises in a row. Third, while pretty much every single deck can play Ancestral Recall (indeed, it is almost mandatory to play the card whenever it is legal), only some decks can properly setup Treasure Cruise to make best use of it. Finally, Treasure Cruise is NOT at instant speed. You have to commit to playing it on your turn. Even in the best case it is not as strong as Ancestral Recall for that reason alone. Treasure Cruise is a very powerful card, but it is not as ludicrous as Ancestral Recall. It is also LEGAL in Pioneer.

"Splinter Twin" was a powerful and popular combo from the "Modern" format in magic circa the year 2013. Modern as a format which permits most cards that were printed after 2003. The year 2013, where there were about 10 years worth of magic cards, was considered something like the height of the format, and is often compared to the current Pioneer, which also has about 10 years worth of magic cards.

The Splinter Twin combo made use of two cards. The first was the titular "Splinter Twin" a '4 mana' 'sorcery speed' card which permanently gave a creature the ability to make temporary copies of itself once per turn. The second was any creature that could let a creature use their 'once per turn' effect again. With those two cards together, you could make a copy, have the copy refresh the copier, make another copy, have the new copy refresh the copier, and keep going infinitely. This let you do infinite damage as early as turn 4 of the game, assuming your opponent couldn't disrupt you. Waiting until a later turn allowed players to prevent disruption pretty consistently. This combo was banned in 2016 from Modern, because it was very popular at the cost of other decks. Many people felt this banning was a mistake, especially in retrospect as the format only got more powerful. Splinter Twin was never legal in Pioneer.

The asker in the post above is inquiring as to why Treasure Cruise is legal in Pioneer, but Splinter Twin is not. Calling Treasure Cruise "Ancestral Recall" is a provocative effort to hyperbolize the card, and calling "Splinter Twin" a "turn 4 combo that dies to removal" (removal being a term for getting rid of a creature which would disrupt the combo) is an attempt to minimize the power of Splinter Twin and ignore the fact that it was printed before 2012, meaning it is not currently eligible for Pioneer. The implication is that if a card as powerful as Ancestral Recall is legal, than something that is weaker like Splinter Twin should NOT be legal.

Mark Rosewater, an individual who designed a lot of Magic the Gathering, denied the premise that Treasure Cruise is Ancestral Recall, implicitly stating that the probing question was made based on a flawed premise.

In the early twenty-first century, Magic the Gathering players familiar with the Modern format of 2013 (of which many older players would be) would likely know that both Treasure Cruise and Splinter Twin are being mentioned here, despite neither card being mentioned by name. They would understand the description, know about the formats, and know what Ancestral Recall does. They would know who Mark Rosewater is, and likely have an opinion about Splinter Twin (and Treasure Cruise).

People NOT in the space of Magic the Gathering, of which the majority of the early twenty-first century would be categorized (as, while popular, the card game is not universal) would have zero idea as to what is being discussed in this exchange.

Why is ancestral recall fine for pioneer but sorcerery speed infinite damage, turn 4 combo that dies to remove, isn't?

Ancestral Recall is not legal in Pioneer.

[nectardaddy]

full throttle | sakusa kiyoomi

chapter eight | no faith | 🏎️

masterlist

Neither party could find much to say in the morning, even after getting coffee. A thick, almost tangible, tension in the air that was hard to miss and neither could really work themselves around.

A tension to him that was suffocating, riddled with anxiety of the upcoming tandem mixed with never knowing exactly what to say. For her, completely deafening, determined to only look out the window. Both telling themselves, I'll talk if they do, being the complete collapse of conversation all together. Tension that remained for the entire trip, 30 minutes of dreadful silence completely overshadowing any meaningful conversation that was had the day before.

Shifting his car into neutral and pulling the parking break, he let out a breath before looking over to her. "Sorry," mumbling an apology before continuing, "I'm pretty nervous today, actually."

Even still she flashed him a small, nervous smile, "you'll do great, I know it."

"The whole reason I did well yesterday was because you said I was the best driver you'd ever seen and I couldn't get it out of my head." Blurting out the words before quickly closing his mouth, mind reeling as he didn't register what he wanted to say. The words just came out. "Fuck, I'm sorry, that was weird," desperately trying to back track the conversation. Cheeks flushing as he saw her eyes widen from his out burst.

"No," she corrected. "Not weird at all," letting a nervous chuckle pass her lips as a pause entered once again. "It's sweet, I didn't know it would mean that much to you."

Finally, the man felt as if he could breath again. Listening to, only part, of what Komori had suggested he say paid off. "Thanks for coming today, I'm happy you're here."

"Of course," the nerves leaving her smile as it turned pure. "I'm happy I came with you. Plus, I can't wait to see you kick everybody else's ass."

jfc the first message from "baby got track" was atsumu saying if you think we wouldn't notice you blushing getting outta that car you're WRONG (technology actually hates my very existence today)

double feature again bc I didn't feel great about that last chapter

omi was thinking of telling yn that the entire way there but pawned it off as being nervous for tandems

as much as they get on his nerves, those 3 ARE his friends and it was only a matter of time before he told them how he felt

he just had to mentally prepare himself

suna just lives to annoy yn

but other than noya, he's probably the most ride or die friend

he's also the best at running from cops

if omi doesn't win now he will die of embarrassment, he's taking "kick everyone's ass" to heart

taglist under cut

@wyrcan @hilichurl-lover @neuviloved @mayariviolet @wqnsho

@chosugarplum @dontmindtheevie @ilyless @phoenix-eclipses @kitnootkat

@azuremyst99 @wolffmaiden

[heckcareoxytwit]

As the remaining Quiet Council are discussing family matters and their plans on going home, Kafka the winged mutant boy overhears the conversation and starts to have doubts. Kafka eventually talks to Exodus about his doubt about how the rest of the mutants may have to stay behind in White Hot Krakoa while some of the mutants are selected to go home (and fight Orchis). The Quiet Council and the chosen mutants prepare for a ritual which Mister Sinister empties a vial of Cypher's genes into the pool so that Krakoa could help them in teleporting the mutants back home. The Krakoan vines wrap around Mister Sinister & the mutants and turns them into buds. Hope Summers remains behind on White Hot Krakoa as she reminds herself that she has to bring Phoenix Force back and she has some Messiah shit to do. Back on Earth, Apocalypse is dragging Krakoa-Treant back to Krakoa island when the chosen mutants pop right out of the flowers.

Much later, Hope Summers is having much difficulty in dealing with the Phoenix Force and Jean Grey. In order to save all of mutantkind and resurrect both the Phoenix and Jean Grey, Hope alongside the help of Legion (as the talking Hope Gun) shot the Phoenix with the consequence being her sacrificing herself in the process. Jean and the Phoenix have come back but Hope is gone. Meanwhile, the mutants are fighting the Stark Sentinels on the ruins of Krakoa island when Exodus, Destiny and Mystique teleport in. The Hope Sword is back in Nightcrawler's hands. Even though Destiny hugs Nightcrawler after some getting her motherly memories back from Xavier, she gives the bad news - Hope Summers is dead. Exodus at first doesn't believe it then announces that Hope has returned to whence she came. "The word made flesh, the flesh made immortal. She is with Krakoa in exile in spirit." Nightcrawler says the Krakoan mutants are trapped in the White Hot Room, lost forever. But Exodus, returning to the fight and attacking a Sentinel, says the people of Krakoa will return, that the Krakoan age will come again. Nightcrawler asks Destiny if they can win but she still sees no victory.

The Krakoan mutants including the Five minus Hope and Jumbo Carnation are stuck in the White Hot Krakoan Room arguing around a table trying to figure out how they will function, who will do what, etc. Little Kafka gets annoyed and tells everyone to shut up. He tells the room that they have to be better than this, that they have no rulers, no leaders, no heroes. That they have to be the Quiet Council and that means they have to listen. He takes charge and starts working to assign tasks such as food supply, tutoring, teaching. It's a bittersweet last page as that little hero is determined to make Krakoa, despite being lost in the White Hot Room.

X-Men: Forever #2, 2024 (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th pics)

Rise of the Powers of X #4, 2024 (7th and 8th pics)

X-Men: Forever #4, 2024 (10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th pics)

- - - -- --------

The trapped Krakoan mutants in the White Hot Room reminds me of the ending of Drifting Classroom manga when the elementary school students in the bad future dimension cannot go home after several tries. So the trapped students decide to stay and work together in the ruined future to build a new civilization.

[thedrarrylibrarian]

hello! bit of a specific request but would you know of any fics that feature draco & harry exchanging snarky letters (for whatever purpose- their jobs or teddy or anything really) that get progressively less snarky and more exasperatedly affectionate? fic doesn't have to be only featuring their letters, but like initially at least the exchanges between draco & harry are solely via post

Is there anything more romantic than taking the time to write a letter? Even if it is sent out of annoyance, you had to take time to find pen and paper, sit and write your thoughts, sign off and sign your name, then find postage and send it.

I hope you enjoy these epistolary (one of my favorite words) fics. And if you feel up to it, send a friend a letter for the joy of it.

Epistolary

Mislaid Owl Post by (801 words, rated G) by @thelionessroyal

A trainee owl keeps bringing letters to Hogwarts Potions Master Draco Malfoy instead of their intended recipients, leading to a rather annoyed Malfoy and amused Potter sending letters back and forth. Maybe they should thank the poor owl for his efforts...

Yours, Draco by @drarrytrash (3,505 words, not rated)

All that's left are 15 letters, and then those are gone too.

I Just Want You to Know by @crazybutgood and @sugareey-makes-stuff (3,949 words, rated T)

After a Potions accident leaves Harry and Draco without a verbal filter, they have no choice but to communicate with each other through letters. Forced to work together to catch up and complete their Potions project on time, secrets they have both been withholding eventually spill out along the way.

Famous Last Words by drarrymadhatter and @ladderofyears (6,298 words, rated M)

When unsigned love letters addressed to him begin spontaneously appearing around the castle, Draco is not amused. In an effort to make them stop - or at least to make them stop appearing in public places with permanent sticking charms - he writes back.

Handling Snakes by @potter-loves-malfoy (7,074 words, rated T)

Draco Malfoy is content with his life as a psychologist in the Muggle world. Sure, the tube is a nightmare, and it would be nice to use magic without worrying about being discreet, but it's good for the most part. When he starts treating a client for their fear of snakes, he realizes that his safe, comfortable, Muggle life won't be that way for long. It really doesn't help that he might have a slight aversion to snakes. There's no avoiding it now; he needs Harry Potter. Only for his snakes, of course.

To Auld Acquaintance by @cavendishbutterfly, @corvuscrowned, @sorrybutblog, @fictional (8,326 words, rated T)

After Draco returns from a stint in Paris, neither Harry nor Draco seem to know how to talk to each other. As usual, they make it literally everyone else's problem.

Featuring: texts, letters, emails, and further shenanigans.

Per my last letter (I hope you choke on it) by @fluxweeed and @lastontheboat (10,258 words, rated T)

Dear Mr Potter, The answer is, and will remain, a no.

Sincerely, Draco Malfoy Accounts Manager, Phoenix Press

How to Fool Your Friends (And Get a Boyfriend in the Process ) by @famoustruth and @orpheous87 (10,332 words, rated T)

Fed up with their friends trying to set them up, Harry and Draco decide to pretend to be a couple in public. They plan their every move through their letters, but what they didn't plan for were the very real feelings that make themselves known.

Yours Truly by @skeptiquewrites (14,848 words, rated M)

Every single one of Harry’s exes has gone on to marry the next person they date, and with the upcoming nuptials of numbers six and seven to each other, Harry’s feeling exhausted by it all. It doesn’t really matter if he lets people assume Draco Malfoy is his boyfriend for a moment of peace. In any case, Draco’s been away for five years and there’s no way he would find out, right?

There are many benefits to being a marine biologist by @tedahfromtayla (19,088 words, rated T)

There is something about Harry that constantly calls Draco back to Britain. No matter how far he tries to run, he can't outrun his stubborn heart, or the history of his family.

Bonne Foi, Draco Malfoy by @badwolfblues (19,399 words, rated E)

At twenty-five, Draco Malfoy has to return to England to do something about the Manor, and Harry Potter won’t leave him alone. His years-old crush on Potter is reignited over repairs, mermaid lemonades, and pocket owl messages.

Butterflies in Winter by Justlikewriting (19,725 words, rated M)

Of course Harry had known that Malfoy’d been sent to Azkaban, but, to be honest, since the trials Harry hadn’t really thought of the git at all anymore. A random visit to Slug and Jiggers was about to drastically change that, though.

And whose exactly were those letters that Harry found there?

Dear Stranger by @iero0 (22,751 words, rated T)

The one thing more pointless than falling in love with an anonymous wizard over a correspondence is falling in love with Harry Potter when you’re Draco Malfoy.

*Check out the Happy Hour rec of this fic by @ladderofyears

All Things Go by @sorrybutblog (32,826 words, rated E)

Draco’s back at Hogwarts by court order. Harry’s back for no particular reason at all. Some things change, some stay the same. Neither expects to spend eighth-year living in close quarters, playing rugby (poorly), staying up late, sneaking around, and finally figuring it all out.

The Art of Thank You Notes by fictionclaw (82,232 words, rated E)

A few years after the war, Harry receives a ministry notice that Draco Malfoy’s house arrest will soon be lifted and that the wand he has kept may be sent to the ministry. He doesn’t think much of it when he sends the wand directly to Malfoy Manor with a note.

But one letter swiftly follows another and Malfoy sneaks his way into Harry's every day life without either of them minding.

Or; Harry and Draco find reasons to write letters to each other and Black heirlooms and family histories are uncovered while they figure out why that is. Lunch dates, careful friendship, confusing feelings and Draco's art included.

Save the Date by @mallstars (122,954 words, rated E)

In the twelve years after the war, Harry attends sixteen weddings. As friends and acquaintances vow their lives to one another, he watches quietly from the sidelines. Step by step, Harry pieces himself back together, builds a life from the wreckage of his past and falls, slowly and thoroughly, for Draco Malfoy.

A story told in sixteen parts, of patient and transformative love, of queerness, of reaching out and holding on. Featuring plenty of pining, Gilderoy Lockhart getting married in a fever dream of glitter and product placement, and Rita Skeeter spitting a steady stream of venom at Harry and Draco's every move.

❤️ As always, if you find a fic you enjoy, please remember to leave the author a kudos or a comment! ❤️

[cyten0]

A Symphony in Crimson

Act 2: A Movement in White

Chapter 4-A

𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞𝄞

Entry ----- Date------

The recently named Starchild, Fa, has finally cleared the observation period, and fully stabilized. (Dad has been ecstatic over that name. Mom however, is mixed. She did everything to keep you from getting named that, yet here you all are.)

Regardless, since they're safe for periodic exits from containment, you’ve been able to take closer notes on their Craft energy, and took a trip to talk to the Empress. Cleared out a few more monsters around there. That virus might be well off in Fa, but it’s baseline form sure is annoying. Least the mountains cold climate makes them chill out. And since it’s based on Arcana energy, you’re immune!

One of these days you’ll figure out how the blinding universe that dimensional portal works and make your own, so you don’t have to trudge back up here any time you want a conversation longer then two sentences. But there’s a distinct lack of alien spaceships to use as reference, and you can’t afford to break this one, so for now it’s fine!

Still, Trip was worth it. After sharing your results, The Empress seems pleased. You assured her it was child’s play… She didn’t get the joke, but as a reward, she shared some more knowledge on how primordial beings like herself, Chaos, and Fa are created. So you’ll take it!

Since wishcraft is not a universal field of study, ambient craft that would normally be used by it tends to coagulate and eventually begins to take form into a primordial. Or maybe just act as a shell to enter this reality? Sort of? The wording was unclear, so you suspect there’s more to it. Given the way they bend reality itself, it could literally be all of the above and more! But the energy is a critical part of it, and affects their nature upon completion.

Given your own results, You suspect that Fa was formed, and subsequently ripped apart by, the excess wishcraft energy Astravia was pulling toward itself. Literally made manifest by the people’s faith, and then torn asunder by it. Never got the chance to fully form, left half dead in a crater.

It would explain why their original state resembled much of Astravian mythos. Their eyes are that of the Empress Arcana, the seared off stumps of their Phoenix wings, the dark body of the night sky, their heart glowing like the north star your royal family is named after. The virus overtook some of those physical details, but it’s still present. You wonder is it had some effect on their personality? Astravia is a fairly cruel country, but they’ve been nothing but friendly.

...Astravia doesn't deserve them. The strong lording their power over the weak, punishing any that dare step out of line. And the people will stand by and just let them BLINDING DO IT. Because they’re scared of retribution from your family. Scared of tyrants that aren’t there! No matter what how hard your family and you try and give them chances, this blinding nation never tries to be better!

You almost wish you hadn’t saved it. But then. Your family wouldn’t be around. Fa wouldn’t be around. So it doesn’t matter. You’ll get to go to Vaugarde again later, once everything has caught up. Meet with your old family again. See how this new world treated them.

Fa kind of reminds you of yourself, back in that world. Lost. Alone. Their only anchor being their family. But so often abandoned by everyone else. Only getting the chance to live by luck alone. You don’t want them to suffer that. You want to make it so they can be happy! Blind it, they deserve it! Not this cruelty! Not this hatred!!!

...It’s fine. You can fix this. You can make it work. There MUST be a solution. You don’t think you can fix the kingdom. Dad, Mom and the others have been struggling enough with that as is. More importantly, the people will never accept Fa as they are now. Not with that constant hazard they pose.

… Maybe that’s an angle? They’re literally the embodiment of the faith. If they could be fully restored, instead of kept alive, made into a full primordial instead of a halfway biohazard… Well you have faith that would work. Wishcraft is your specialty! I mean, it can’t be harder then turning back time or rewriting a country into existence?

You’ll keep this idea quiet for now. No need to worry them over it, let them focus on more traditional methods. Pass it off as research into Arcana restoration, as there’s plenty of overlap. Stars, maybe they can help each other! Ones stuck in reality, one’s stuck outside it! Wouldn’t that be a pleasant surprise!

Yes. There is ALWAYS a solution. And you can find this one!

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

As you enjoy your breakfast, you contemplate what you read. These references to an entirely different world have been a surprise to you. And a worrying one. From what little you can glean, apparently this isn’t the first time Astravia had a cataclysmic event occur to it! You have no idea what it was, but Siffrin apparently fixed it, somehow. People had theorized Timecraft could do some interesting things, but apparently Siffrin took it to a whole new level! Even more then Fantasia did.

...Speaking of Fantasia ...Literally born from faith. Was almost like Change or Expressions… No wonder Change took such interest in them. It’d be like watching a baby get kicked to the curb.

But one thing worries you. From what you gather, Astravia was a very unpleasant place to live for most. Brutal to a fault. If Fantasia was born from it… How did that affect them?

You remember how they acted that day in Dormont. Before they fought the king. How they changed to something cruel and callous on a dime. How they seemed scared after the fact. You remember Equinox, and how far they were willing to go to prove a point. How they nearly gouged out Bonnie’s eye for it….

Is there something under the surface they are hiding? Even now?

...Gems alive, you need to stop this.

You hate being scared of them. But you just can’t get those shattering worries out. But it's hard NOT to, given the whole 'eating people' and 'destroyed an island' things. Even if you know they would never willingly hurt you, you had partners in the day like that. Gems, YOU were like that...

But you also KNOW they’ve been hiding something. The others have been ignoring it, trying to keep themselves worrying, but you haven’t.

How they sneak away every night, without fail. How when you fought a sadness day before yesterday, and they looked at you with this wild look in their eyes even after it was dead. How they put on a fake smile the second you or anyone looks at them. How they haven't sang a single song since Dormont.

Some of that could just be trauma, but the moment anyone notices, they pretend like nothing is happening. They are a terrible liar.

You wished for this shattering book so you could try and get some fears off your back. Figured being better informed would help. Make it so you’re more assured. Be ready for any troubles that might come up. Or at least give you SOMETHING to discard these theories! But it doesn’t! It hasn’t helped at all!

Hm. But you do know what MIGHT be useful. Or more accurately, who.

You turn towards Fa, enjoying their own breakfast nearby. They went hunting yesterday afternoon, but are enjoying Bonniface’s cooking none-the-less. Regardless, you should ask for a favor.

◆ “Fa, mind if I borrow that device a bit? I want to try out that ‘messaging’ they mentioned, and to see to see if the others have any advice on anything.”

✦ “Oh! um. Yes. Alright!”

Gems, this new Fantasia is a lot more shy then Siffrin was. Sure, the old Siffrin was quiet, but they had this air of confidence and lightheartedness that Fa simply does not. Fair enough, but still.

Fa hands you the device. You’ve seen them use it a bit before, so it’s not TOO hard to figure it out. Especially since your wish lets you read Astravian rather easily. You find the messaging software, and find an option called ‘Scale chat’, which you presume must be them.

It’s supposedly like sending a letter, yes? Best treat it as such.

◆ {Greetings. This is Odile. I’m messaging to look for any pertinent advice and knowledge about Fa, or Fantasia as they have chosen. They are, as one would expect, uninformed about themselves. And given they only revealed their actual nature a few days ago, we have little and less to go off of. In addition, they have been acting as ‘Siffrin’ the entire time we’ve known them, further complicating knowledge. Any information about them, physical or personality wise, would be recommended.}

There. You believe you’ve gotten the message across. You wonder when- hm?

♯ {Hi Odile! Wow, how the stars do you know Astravian?!

♫ {Oh Fantasia’s such a neat name!}

𝄢 {My father would be proud. Also, how much you know?}

Oh. So, this is far more quick then you were expecting. Hm. Well, that works out well.

◆ {Fa taught us the Favor tree ritual, and I wished to know more about them. Got a copy of Siffrin’s lab notes and the ability to comprehend Astravian.}

◆ {Aside from that, only that their diet consists primarily of sadnesses and wildlife, they can replicate entire organs (such as a stomach for normal food), and a rough idea of their capabilities.}

𝄢 {I presume that wish came with the ability to parse my brothers terrible handwriting. How far are you in those notes?}

◆ {Not very. I’ve only had it a handful of days, sadly.}

♫ {Well, I can help with the food stuff! I’ll make a list of everything I know!}

Bonnie will be pleased with that. You’d best let them know.

◆ “Bonnie, Letting you know, you actually might be able to help Fa with food. They’re prepping notes now.”

✿ “CRAB YEAH!!!! Oh! Ask them if they got some cool recipes, I wanna know all of them! Especially ones Tay likes!”

✦ “Tay?”

✿ “Yeah, Fan-Tay-za!”

◉ “Gasp! The first nickname!”

▲ “Oh, nice one!”

You chuckle, and nod at Bonnie, and relay their request.

♫ {Of course! I’ll get Ti to throw in a few as well!}

♪ {Nille wants to know more about Bonnie cooking.}

◆ {Yes, they are quite the skilled chef. Don’t worry, we make sure they are responsible with cookware, though we hardly need to.}

𝄡 {I look forwards to sharing knowledge. Returning to the main question. There’s not much I can think of on the psychological front. Especially that would stick after so long.}

Right. The one thing you are most worried about. You need SOMETHING.

◆ {Anything is appreciated.}

𝄢 {Hm. Have you reached the part about how they were created before we revived them?}

◆ {Yes, part of why I felt the need to ask. What kind of effects has that had?}

𝄢 {While for the most part they are a fairly normal person for their circumstances, they do have some additional psyche’s that have formed from Astravian culture.}

Perfect, exactly what you need!

𝄢 {Have you seen their horn light up a particular shade before?}

Ah. Right, yesterday morning, where they were in that oddly simple minded state… That’s… NOT what you were expecting.

◆ {Yes. Darkless. How the gems is that based on culture?}

♪ {Oh that must have been fun. Hope you gave them pets.}

♫ {It’s based on the more benevolent parts of the kingdom! The Loyalty of the people, the blessings of the stars, and so on! There are some additional cultural implications as well, but that would be an entire essay.}

♪ {Yes, some symbolisim to it. White was synonymous with the best of Astravia. It’s unfortunately fitting that Commonfolk were not allowed to wear white.}

Hm. Well that’s good to know at least. Also, you noticed you instantly understood White is the same as Darkless, but with an extra connotation? Worth remembering.

You also remember their outfits, with that bit of cultural context. Mi was mostly lightless or dark clothing, but you noticed Aurola and Regulus had pure white armor over dark clothing.Further, Song and Titania’s outfits were mostly White. As is Fa’s now that you think on it.

𝄡 {There are two more Psyche’s like that one, but you might not see them. Regardless, They are all still Fa, and they can enter or leave said mentalities fairly easy, if needed and prompted. But they might not be aware of them otherwise. Worth noting ahead of time.}

◆ {Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.}

♪ {Just in case, Keep an eye out for Black. That one can get messy. Not as bad as it seems at first, but certainty messy.}

Ominous. Black means lightless, right? Maybe that is what occurred back then? You’d best keep an eye out.

You wait for Mi to send that list, then hand it to Boniface, who starts memorizing it instantly.

✿ “Woah! Oh that’s so crabbing cool! I gotta try that!”

Bonnie starts grabbing their cookware and trying some stuff out. Including using some craft? How odd.

Well, with that all handled, it’s best to start resuming travel. You help the others start to pack up, so you all can get back to the road.

>>>

Your cart begins to close into the next town. Réfroir, if you remember its name right? A frankly beautiful town. Known for its crafted glass, you remember when you visited it last time that you’d gotten to see it during night. The way light refracts throughout the entire town, only a handful of lanterns are needed, barely any on a full moon. You hope to see it again tonight.

Fantasia is a bit nervous going into a town how they are. Mirabelle make a suggestion to use a hairband to pass off the horn as an accessory, to put them at ease. Fa does, however, change their eyes back to normal. You’d grown somewhat accustomed to their odd cat-like eyes, but it is nice to see they can do that.

After getting into town, you have Isabeau and Mirabelle see about finding you all a place to stay, taking Bonnie with them, while you and Fantasia see about getting the cart and Bayard taken care of. You find a place willing to hold your cart, and when you meet up with Fa, they are followed by… by...

A wolf. An unusual. Dark furred. Wolf.

◆ “...I have a few questions.”

✦ “Bayard didn’t want to stay in the stables, and asked if I could do something. I’d hunted some wolves earlier so…”

◆ “You changed a horse into a wolf?”

✦ “I had a few options, but they wanted wolf. Was curious how it felt.”

...Absolutely astounding. The surprises simply never cease.

◆ “The horse learned he could shapeshift and instantly indulged?...How Vaugardian of them.”

Si- Fantasia lets out a chuckle at that. The wolf lets out a light bark. They do seem to be enjoying the body, at least. They’re running around quite a bit, sidestepping, circling, jumping. Very excitable.

✦ “Yeah, wolves are really agile aren’t they?… Well they don’t have as much endurance, so it’s overall fair… Oh Bonnie would love that! Absolutely!”

Well, you suppose that is a nice bonus? Get to show Bayard the sights. They can even stay at the inn with you all, though they are still rather big. Wolf, not dog, after all. You scratch behind the ears, which surprises them for a bit, before they lean into it.

✦ “Might take a bit to get used to the new instincts, but it means new sensations!”

Bayard lets out a pleased rumble. Well, best to head to the others!

>>>

The lodge you all got was rather nice. Mirabelle had to talk UP the price a good bit, as the person was planning to just give them the place for free, but you managed to pay mostly fair. You’ll likely have to do some odd jobs for cash like usual, but given the state of Vaugarde right now, there’s plenty to work with, even after the king.

Sadness hunting would work well, but Fantasia typically does that in towns. Quite a few about still, even if they’ve been slowly returning to normal levels. With winter coming in, distributing emergency supplies is probably useful. And some people are probably desperate, so the defenders might need some help.

Heh. Working with defenders, that one amuses you. Would be QUITE the change of pace from back in Ka Bue! Well, at least defenders don’t kill you for breaking the law. And it’s not like you have for a while. Not since…

You hold the gem hanging off the left side of your head. Couldn’t keep going, not after worrying your father so much.

▲ “What’s up M’dame?”

Ah, time to leave that train of thought.

◆ “Considering what we should do to gather funds while in town. Perhaps helping the local defenders?”

✦ “Can I come with?”

Hm? That’s a little unexpected.

◉ “Really? I would have thought you’d go for sadness hunting like usual?”

✦ “Just. Felt like a change of pace!”

More of that fake smile… Well, you certainly wouldn’t mind, and you can keep an eye out for any other behavioral changes.

◆ “I’m not opposed to company. Anyone else?”

✿ “I’ma help hand out supplies! I can cook some meals for people, and I wanna try some of these new cooking crafts Mi and Ti sent!”

▲ “I’ll go with you! Many hands make light work!”

Bayard barks, clearly eager about something. Si-Fantasia turns towards Bonnie and smiles.

✦ “Bayard has volunteered to be Bonnie's noble steed!”

✿ “Oh CRAB YEAH! Aw that’s so crabbing cool!”

Given the wolf’s excited response, they seem to think the same!

◉ “I think I’ll go sadness hunting then! It um. Would let me have some space. To think.”

◆ “Very well! Meet you all back here then.”

A plan in mind, you all set out.

As you head out the door, and towards the defender’s building, you swear you saw something, out of the corner of your eye?… Nevermind. You are sure it’s fine.

>>>>

The defenders gave you the task of patrolling the streets, double checking for any disruptions. They trust you to take care of it should anything happen, given the whole ‘saviors’ thing. Even the rumor you both are assisting them will help a lot in keeping trouble down.

Fantasia is just taking the day easy. There isn’t much to worry about, for the most part. Had to settle a disagreement or two, but a stern word was all it took. They caught one pickpocket, but let them off easy with a firm talking to and sending them over to Bonnie and Isa. No worrying tendencies from them.

However, one thing has been worrying you... You SWEAR you are being followed. Two people, showing up every now and then. Watching you specifically, before vanishing. They have weapons, and by their stance, skill to use them.

And they’re Ka Buan.

It’s been years. Your bounty should be out of the picture. So what is their interest in you?

You see one of them try and hide off in an alleyway up ahead. You need to address this NOW, before things get tricky and the others get involved. You wordlessly follow them in, Fantasia following behind you, somewhat confused.

You become equally confused, when they aren’t here. Gems. A Craft Mirage. It’s a trap.

㊊ “Well well well. Thought that would be harder.”

㊐ “Lost your touch with age, Madame Odile?”

Fa looks at the two, confused. But the moment the two men pull out their swords, it becomes very clear what’s happening.

◆ “You both are far from home. Mind telling me why you’re drawing blades on and old woman?”

㊐ “Lord Fuhai sends his regards. He’s paying handsomely for your head.”

Of course. That man would hold a grudge. Guess he finally got his council seat.

Fantasia puts themselves between them and you. You ready your book, craft beginning to sizzle in the palm of your hand.

✦ “Look, I’d rather we don’t fight. Don’t hurt my friend, and go away. You get one war-”

Fa barely has a moment before they are cut in half in a single swing, straight from their shoulder to the hip!! Gems!!

As Fa falls to the floor, the two step over their body, pointing their blades at you.

㊊ “Any last words?”

◆ “Go shatter yourself.”

You fire off a powerful blast of craft at their face, only to find they sidestepped, and-

!!!!!

GEMS!!!! AAAAHHHHH!!! You! They just- Your arm! One stroke, and they’ve cut off your arm, and then-

HNG! A... blade through your heart. Gems… it HURTS!! You can feel the stiff blade against your flesh, before it’s ripped out.

Warm blood starts to pour from the wounds, as the air fills with a metallic scent. You… You can’t think…. Loosing blood fast… You can feel yourself…. fading…

But then….

You… Feel… something shift…. And… you smell…. Sugar?

《《《

㊊ “Any las- what!?!”

You take a deep gasp of air, as you suddenly feel your body refill with life, unharmed, the phantom pain barely letting you breathe.

What. What just…

Timecraft?

But you… You remember what happened? So do the men too apparently! But. How did?-

Fa.

Gets up.

There is a wicked smile across their face. Uncannily wide and cheerful. Their eyes glow that visceral shade. The remainder of their body twists and tears like fabric under strain, ripping apart into nothing. And from under their skin emerges a cacophony of fangs, limbs and tendrils. A strange laugh fills the air.

And their horn. Has turned Black.

[samioli]

sorry if this is a weird ask but what kinks do you personally think phoenix and edgeworth are into?

I really enjoy the stuff u make so I was just curious! Hope u enjoy the rest of ur day:))

me reading this ask:

its not weird at all anon, considering i write them fucking nasty all the time!! don't feel weird asking!!!

but MAN i almost have no clue where to start. I'm bound to forget some lmao

Let's start with the basics, shall we?

Phoenix's "tamer" kinks:

Praise kink. He DEFINITELY has one, and i could see him having one with any partner of his.

He likes being degraded as well, and mannnn if you hit the combo of like, praise AND degradation, that is SUCH a sweet spot for him. like, for example, "wonderful. such a lovely, beautiful slut for me." something like that.

when he's in the mood for it, loves miles being a bit rougher with him, like face fucking or just leaving marks and bruises on his skin.

LOVES when miles is possessive of him, he adoressss it

likes being tied up, not as much as miles tho i think

BREEDING KINK!!!!! this man wants to be BRED BY MILES EDGEWORTH!!!

i use this a lot in my fics but i def think phoenix is a big user of dirty talk. it definitely does it for miles but i think it helps him along too lmao

Miles's "tamer" kinks:

Praise kink as well, BUT. i think it would be SOOOOO funny if miles only really has it with phoenix??? like maybe he has a one night stand and they try to praise him and miles is like

he's like. you dont know me like that....

similarly to phoenix, also has a degradation kink, more like being objectified and being compared to an object tho.

ALSO similarly, loves that killer praise/objectification combo.

breeding kink up the wazoo. literally wants to have phoenix's kids, wants to be pregnant all the damn time. literally just wants to be pampered and fucked by him while he's stuffed. who said that.

i think he also likes being facefucked, maybe less so than phoenix?? or like, he has to be in the mood. he LOVES being manhandled tho, its a turn on for him. he loves seeing how just strong phoenix is

LOVES BEING TIED UP. he needs to be tied up and blindfolded to give himself a system reboot!!! he needs to forget who he is for a bit!!! its healing for him!!!

also likes being edged. he's a gooner, even. @sapphire-wine that was for you (but i agree with you, to be clear)

okay now im gonna get into the more??? kinky kinks??? don't take the separation too seriously, wasn't sure how to sort it, plus I'm p sure its very subjective. the kinks i think are "tamer" are prob someones like. particularly kinky kink.

Phoenix's spicer kinks:

pet play. doesn't matter if hes the pet or owner, he is INTO it. i think what role he plays depends on his mood.

teacher/student roleplay. i think he would LOVE being the delinquent student seducing a teacher. hed love to annoy edgeworth with that lmao

im gonna move on to edgeworth bc i def think he has more of the spicer kinks BUT i think for 99% of them, phoenix likes it too and is SO DOWN to play. so I'm just not gonna repeat myself lmao

Miles's Spicer Kinks:

pet play, mainly likes being the pet

tentacles!!!!!!

literally loves cum. wants to be covered and smothered. especially by phoenix

monsterfucker. he is a monsterfucker and often fantasizes about phoenix being a scary monster who captures him and is his prisoner.......oh no......what ever will he do to appease this beast....😳😳

hypno kink. literally get him OUT OF HIS HEAD!!!

oh i feel silly remembering this now but he def has an underwear kink. patty/boxer thief and sniffer miles edgeworth REAL

loves to fantasize about micro/macro. again, wants to be at scary giant phoenix's every whim....

i def think he's into CNC. to me he reads those bodice ripper novels LMAO

oviposition

literally this man just wants to be stuffed full

piss kink, probably. likes the humiliation of it

this would get me cancelled on twt but he has a daddy kink. sorry but its the truth

but whats even more true and even MORE present is his mommy kink. phoenix is his mommy and no i will NOT elaborate

somno for sure. i think with this and hypno play there would be discussed boundaries and rules, but yea

i cannot think of anything else and this is getting to be A LONGGGGGGGG post but also with miles i think like. okay this is me projecting 100000% but i hc him as demi but once he starts realizing he's sexually attracted to phoenix, the kinks come out of the floodgates. so i can see him just chilling with phoenix once they're together and like a random thought comes over him and he's like WHERE DID THAT COME FROM

anyways one time phoenix is laying down on the couch and he's barefoot and miles looks over and his immediate thought is "i need to suck his toes" and he's so taken aback he trips. i don't even think he has a huge foot fetish, i think phoenix just makes him Like That

anyways. DEFINITELY forgetting a bunch. it took me a while to write this, and I'm sorry for the wait in answering this! was having some health issues but thankfully i seem to be getting better.

i hope u enjoyed this very detailed list, lmao, and i hope i didnt scare u off. thank you for the question and have a great day!!!

[kyntypes]

This may be a hot take based on a pet peeve, but I don't think you support all nonhumans if you dismiss the idea of someone being nonhuman folks for behaving in "human" ways. Whether that be through identifying social cues, valuing having a job, language, opinion differences, etc. Not every nonhuman wants to run around freely in a forest with their pack, or dig through dirt. Not every aquatic nonhuman wants to swim in the ocean, in a pond, or a lake. Some nonhumans behave in ways we'd consider human, and that's okay. No offense, but some of the stuff I see on here is just stuff *anybody,* nonhuman or human, can do. Yes, a tiger can be a stay at home mom in the suburbs. Yes, a vulture can be vegan and advocate for animal rights without it being related to their nonhumanity. That doesn't make them any less nonhuman, though.

In my eyes, assuming someone isn't nonhuman just because they don't have the urge to growl, or want to "run freely in a forest", doesn't have a distaste for human social norms, has typical human interests, values human social values, etc. doesn't mean they aren't nonhuman... The "basic girl" who has a "basic" wardrobe that's not a general alt or boho style without an interest in taxidermy doesn't mean that they aren't nonhuman. That 56-year-old man working at the register could be a wolfdog, and you'd never know. That rude individual in passing could be a literal pterodactyl. Rude behavior isn't exclusive to humans. Your cousin obsessing over things little girls typically would enjoy doesn't mean they're not a fox. I obsessed over Barbies as a kid, not just animal toys. The popular kid in your class isn't automatically human just because you find them annoying. Sure, they may be loud and rowdy, but have you ever considered that they could be a needy lion on the inside? One of your teachers at school could be a phoenix, yet still have a typical reaction to fire. Your teacher may understand the importance of teaching students how a fire should be reacted towards, despite being a phoenix. That coworker who is very hardworking and focuses on work doesn't have to be human just because they value having a job and understand the importance of having one. They need to make money somehow, plus, they are allowed to be nonhuman and fit into society neatly. Some nonhumans are able to understand human rules and human life more than others, and that's okay.

Maybe it's just me, but I hate seeing posts that assume everyone around them is human, and that they are the only nonhuman in the area. What if you can't see through another physical nonhuman's veil? What if that otherkind individual doesn't display behaviors of their kintype at all? A therianthrope? Otherlink? Have you ever considered that the folks you talk to are just not human at all, and that not every nonhuman has animalistic, nonhuman behaviors in some form? I hardly act like my fellow red ruffed lemurs at all, yet I am one. I seem so human externally, and nobody can see through my veil. I'm sure someone would assume I'm human just because of the way I act. It doesn't matter how you act. It just matters how you ARE. At the end of the day, only YOU can determine how YOU identify. YOU cannot just decide whether someone is nonhuman or not just because they don't "act like it". You aren't the CEO of nonhumans, so please, don't conclude someone isn't nonhuman unless they say so.

Imagine going, "That person must not be queer, because they don't outwardly look queer." Like?????? That's pretty much all I hear whenever I see someone, pretty much be like, "These stupid HUMANS around me. They don't know what it's like to be nonhuman. I'M the only nonhuman here! They don't wear tails, ears, do quads, vocals, or have shifts, tsk!" Chill out, homie, your sibling could be covertly a jackrabbit that doesn't experience shifts or have an interest in quads or gear, lmao, and you're saying all of this.

Nonhumanity doesn't have to be violently in your face. It can be discreet, covert, undetectable, and private.

[callsigndragon]

Everyone's favorite Fanboy | M.F.G

Pairing: Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia x fem!reader

word count: 1.3k

Request: “My teammates gets annoyed because I talk about you 24/7”. Tell me this doesn't scream Fanboy...cause that's his literally his callsign 🤣

A/N: It took me FOREVER to write this, I'm still working on the requests and I'll post them aLL I SWEAR

Warnings: all the fluuuuuuuuuuuffs

If you want to be added to my forever TGM tag list, let me know.

Mickey is a fan of many things. Hence, his call sign. He's a fan of Star Trek, Marvel, video games, and more. He's proud of being a Fanboy. But the thing he's more fan of? His girlfriend. 

He talks about her all the time. How many books she can read. The little things she writes. How she tries to cook his favorite dishes, and even though they don't end up exactly like the original, he's content with the fact that you took time to learn the recipe and tried to cook it yourself. Just because you wanted to give him a surprise. 

Mickey says he's a fan.

The squad calls him a simp. 

At this point, Mickey’s fellow aviators know you better than yourself. The thing is that they haven't seen you yet. 

Mickey just doesn't shut up about you. 

Today, Mickey and the rest of the Daggers are coming back from a mission, and he has invited you to the Hard Deck to finally meet his friends. He's excited about it, almost bouncing up and down in the chair while waiting for you to walk through the door. 

"Mickey, you look like a puppy waiting for his owner," Payback jokes, patting Mickey’s back. 

"I'm not a puppy?"

"You're a golden retriever, Mickey." Bob adds while getting more peanuts. 

"Does your girl know that you behave like that?" Hangman asks, sitting down with a new round of beers. 

"Oh yeah, she knows. That's why she loves me. Because, dude, she could be dating whoever she wants. Have I ever told you that this rich guy was–"

"Yeah, you told us." The rest of the Dagger respond in unison, remembering the story they have been told, at least three times. 

"Did I? I don't remember, though." Mickey frowns, taking a sip from his drink, and almost chokes when he sees your figure walking through the door. "There she is!" 

You smile when you see him, waving cutely in his direction. Hangman’s head moves from you to Mickey, and he is starting to understand why he is always talking about you. 

Mickey gets up, offers you his seat, and places his hands on your shoulders when you sit down. “Guys, this is y/n. Y/n, these are Jake, Nat, Bob, Reuben, Bradley, and Javy.”

You greet everyone, excited to finally meet all of them. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet Mickey’s second family.” 

“I’d say it’s a pleasure to finally meet you too, but we know everything about you already.” Nat jokes, offering you the beer that Hangman had brought for her a minute ago.  

You frown, looking at their faces. You lean in Mickey’s direction, whispering in his ear. “Why is everyone looking at me like that?” 

Mickey sighs, kissing your shoulder while whispering back. “My teammates get annoyed because I talk about you 24/7”

You laugh out loud, looking at them. “You don’t know he talks about you all the time?” 

Jake places his arms on the table, pointing at you. “Speak, child.”

“Okay so, Mickey loves you all so much… He won’t shut up about Phoenix and Bob being the best team out there? He keeps talking about Phoenix being a badass and Bob probably being the best WSO.” You tell them, making Bob look at Mickey while rolling his eyes. 

“You’re better than me, Garcia. Shut up.” 

“Javy,” you continue, wanting to let the rest of the team know how important they are to Mickey. “You are literally his role model? He says that you are such a good friend, and it doesn’t matter how many times you have to try something, you keep going until you get it done.” 

Javy musses Mickey’s hair, which is a few inches longer than he normally wears it. “I learned from the best, Mickey.” 

“Jake, Bradley… I can’t even put into words how proud he is of working with people like you. He knows that you, Jake, are probably the best pilot of this generation, and he’s honored to work with you. And Bradley, you have been through so much and still have energy to put on a smile and face the world. You’re incredible.” 

Jake and Bradley, men of few words, just raise their beers in Mickey’s direction and nod. There’s no need for them to say anything. 

You finally turn to Reuben, sitting next to you, and place a hand on his arm. “You’re his big brother; I don’t have to tell you that. He is so proud of everything you have achieved, and how I wish you could have heard him talk when you guys were chosen to fly the uranium mission.”

Reuben smirks, shaking his head, and lets out a loud laugh. “So you’re just everyone’s Fanboy, huh?” 

Mickey, whose ears are more red than Rooster’s helmet, hides his face behind your back, making you giggle. 

“It’s the first time I have seen this man getting all shy.” Jake comments, unlocking his phone to take a picture. 

“Now I want to know what things he told you about me.” You request, and everyone bombards you with information the next second. 

He tells them everything. About your new hobbies, your past ones, how good you’re at your job even if sometimes you hate it, how much he loves you, how much he wants to move in with you, but it’s difficult with your jobs being so incompatible… 

“Oh, and we know about the rich guy.” Rooster says, snapping his fingers as if he just remembered that tiny detail. 

“You told them that too?” You say, honestly surprised that he keeps talking about that. 

“Of course? You literally picked me over a guy that has millions of dollars?” He says, moving his hand up and down to signal his whole body, signaling how all that isn’t worth millions of  dollars and, nonetheless, you picked him. 

You place your hands on his face, peck his lips, and lock eyes with him. “Mickey, I don’t want a million dollars. I want the guy who can make me laugh a million times, the guy who’s always ready to compliment me and make me feel better about my insecurities. I don’t want money; I want love. And I won the lottery with you, love.”

Mickey kisses you softly, holding himself back from all the things that he wants to say. Some of them aren’t appropriate to say in public. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, my fanboy.” You mumble, kissing his nose, and turn your body toward the table again, watching the aviators with dreamy expressions and soft smiles. 

“Okay, you are allowed to fanboy about her as much as you want,” Jake says, raising his beer. “Cheers for the cute couple!”

“And cheers for the best fanboy!” You add, making all of them chuckle while toasting. Mickey couldn’t be more proud of his family, even if he tried. 

@shrimping-for-all

@purplevortexx

@jynxmirage

@pono-pura-vida

@xoxabs88xox

[samynnad102687]

Don't Lie To Me

@struttingstag April 2nd Prompt: Don't lie to me. | 2161 words

It was the fourth day this week that James received a text from Regulus, letting him know that he would be out when James got home from work. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, but he had been secretive lately. Regulus had been hiding his phone when he got a text or quickly got off of it when James walked into the room.

James didn't know what to think anymore. It felt like Regulus was pulling away from him and James couldn't help but think that he was doing something wrong or Regulus didn't love him anymore and didn't know how to tell him. James figured if anybody knew what Regulus was up to, it would be Pandora.

"Hello, James," Pandora said sweetly when she answered on the second ring.

"Hey."

"What's up? You sound stressed."

Great! One word and she already knew he wasn't in his usually happy mood.

"Nothing. I was just wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee or something," James lied.

"Sure. Do you want to meet now?" Pandora asked with a hint that she didn't believe him in her tone.

"Yeah. Meet at The Phoenix?"

"Sounds good. I'll meet you there in ten."

"Okay."

James hung up the phone and put it in his pocket before he grabbed his coat and put on his trainers. The Phoenix was only a couple of streets over, so he figured that he would walk. Maybe that would clear his head some before he got there. Right as he went to open the door, it opened from the other side and Regulus was walking in as if he wasn't causing James to doubt everything Regulus ever felt for him.

"Oh, hey, baby," Regulus said with a smile before he leaned up to kiss James on the lips. "Are you heading out?"

"Yeah. I'm going to grab coffee with Pandora," James replied without thinking about it.

"Okay. Have fun," Regulus replied nonchalantly before he took off his coat and boots and put them on their respective racks. "Did you want to cook tonight or should we order takeaway?"

"It doesn't matter to me," James shrugged as he tried not to snap at him. His nonchalance was not helping James' anxiety. "Did you have fun with..." James just now realised that he didn't know who Regulus had been with.

"Barty, and not really. He's being annoying but it's Barty so that's to be expected," Regulus replied with a shrug of his own as he grabbed his book off of the table and plopped down on the couch, pulling one leg up under the other.

"Oh. Okay." James tried to sound unbothered but the raised eyebrow he received from Regulus told him that he missed the mark tremendously.

"Are you okay, Jamie?" Regulus asked, putting his book back on the table.

James nodded quickly before Regulus could fully get off the couch. "Yeah, I'm fine, just have to go meet Dora. It's been a while since I hung out with her."

James had a hand on the handle practically ready to bolt from the house instead of confronting Regulus about what had been going on. He wasn't ready to deal with it. Not until he had all of the facts or at least was able to talk out what was bothering him with someone that wasn't Regulus. Yes, James knew that was counterproductive but he didn't want to hear Regulus confirm that he didn't love him anymore.

"Okay," Regulus said sceptically but settled back down on the couch with his book anyway. "I'll see you later. Tell Dora hi for me."

"Will do."

James opened the door before the words were even out of his mouth and he ran down the street to The Phoenix. He had to take a few deep breaths to slow down his breathing before he walked in otherwise Pandora would really know that something was wrong and with how James was feeling, he would probably burst into tears as soon as he opened his mouth.

Once he had calmed down, he opened the door and spotted Pandora at a table with two drinks in front of her already. She waved him over when she noticed him enter the building, considering the bell announced his arrival. James took another deep breath and walked over to her. She slid one of the drinks to him and he nodded his thanks before sitting across from her.

"What's going on, James?" Pandora asked as soon as he was settled.

"I don't know," James replied honestly.

He hated that he didn't know what was going on and his feelings and mind were running rampant inside his body. He couldn't make heads or tails of it. James sighed and took a sip of his coffee. It was his usual order. He tried to figure out what to say but before he could, Pandora spoke again.

"Are you worried about Reggie?"

James didn't know what to say to that. Yes, no, maybe? He was worried but not about Regulus specifically. He was worried that he wasn't good enough for him anymore but how does he tell her that? James knew that he wanted to talk things out but he didn't know how to start.

"No, I- yes, I-" James started but he kept cutting himself off and that was stressing him out even more. "Maybe. I don't know."

"I wouldn't worry about him," Pandora replied sweetly before she took a sip of her drink.

"It's not... I'm not... I'm not necessarily worried about him... just. I don't know." James took a breath. "I just feel like he's pulling away from me and I don't know why. Am I not good enough for him anymore?"

"Reg loves you very much, James and you two are perfect for each other," Pandora said firmly as she stared him in the eye. It was as if she was trying to look into his soul.

"Then why has he been so secretive lately?" James whined.

Pandora told him that she didn't know why but it wasn't anything he needed to worry about. Regulus would go through phases when he was younger when he was too far in his own head to realise that there was a world around him. James knew that. He had seen it multiple times in the past but he thought Regulus knew he could talk to him about anything. So why was he being so secretive now?

James left the coffee shop a little while later but didn't feel any better than he did when he arrived. He took the long way home and didn't even notice if Regulus was still on the couch when he walked into the house. James took off his trainers and coat before he walked to the bedroom and shut the door. He needed to be alone and hopefully, he could figure out what the hell had been going on.

There was a knock at the door before Regulus' soft voice came from the other side. "Jamie? Are you in there?"

James didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say so he just sat on the bed and stared at the wall for who knows how long. Eventually, the door opened and James was sure that Regulus had come in but he couldn't see anything through the tears that had started to blur his vision even though none of them had fallen.

"James?" Regulus put his hand on James' shoulder and James flinched back without realising that he was there. "I'm sorry, baby."

"It's fine. I'm fine." James choked out past the lump in his throat.

"No, you're not," Regulus said gently and James snapped his head up to look at him. He was about to tell him that he was fine again but Regulus kept speaking. "You've been in here for an hour. You didn't even notice me when you came home."

James didn't want to have this talk right now. He could feel himself unravelling and he didn't want to do something to make Regulus leave any sooner than he was already planning to, if that was what he was planning. Regulus kept looking at him like he didn't know how to approach him anymore. James was not a wild animal that you needed to be cautious around. James could see the wheels turning in Regulus' mind. He knew something was wrong but James was not ready. His anger started to boil over, so when Regulus opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, James snapped.

"I said, I'm fine."

James scooted off the bed and started to pace beside it. Regulus was watching him. James could feel it. He could feel his confusion and he wondered if Regulus could feel James' confusion about everything as well. James didn't know how long he paced back and forth in front of their shared bed but it was apparently long enough for his anger to get the better of him.

"You're stressing and spiralling. What is going on?" Regulus asked calmly but it didn't matter how he said it, James was too wound up to respond accordingly.

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" James shouted and he could see the slight flinch from Regulus from where he still sat on the bed.

"I don't know, James. You're not talking to me." Regulus raised his voice slightly as he stood up but he didn't come any closer to James.

"When am I supposed to talk to you? You're never home. You're always out fucking around with Barty. If you wanted to dump me, just do it already."

Regulus' face fell in shock and confusion. "I- what? Why would I want to dump you? James, I love you."

"Don't lie to me! You've been pulling away from me for weeks, too busy hanging out with Barty," James spat his name out as if it burned him to even have the name on his tongue. "You've been keeping secrets and hiding your phone anytime I walk into the room. I get it, okay. I'm too much and you finally realised it but could you just do us both the courtesy of not dragging this out? It's draining and I can't take it anymore."

Regulus stepped into James' space with determination. He grabbed onto James' arms to turn him towards him before he spoke again. James could see the hurt swimming in his stormy grey eyes. James wanted to step back but there was something else in his eyes that held James in place.

"James, I need you to listen to me. You are not too much. You have never been too much for me. I love you with everything that I am and I'm sorry that I made you think I was keeping something from you. I thought I was doing a better job of it but it's not what you think. I swear. There is nothing going on with Barty. He is being more annoying lately because he misses Evan and we have been helping each other out." James scoffed but didn't say anything. "I swear I- look at me, Jamie." James did instantly. It was a habit by now. "I have been hiding something and I had hoped that I could keep it a surprise until it was time but clearly I couldn't."

Regulus let go of James and walked into their closet. James stood frozen where Regulus left him. He was confused and didn't know what to think anymore. He was just about to get his legs to start working again when Regulus walked back into their bedroom. He was holding something but James couldn't make out what it was. Regulus took James' hand and led him back to the bed, sitting him down before Regulus placed himself in between James' legs.

"Jamie, I love you. You can be a handful sometimes but it is one of the many things that I love about you. You keep me on my toes and I would never change a single thing about you. Yes, I have been hanging out with Barty recently but that's because he was helping me plan."

James gave him a confused look but Regulus started to leave soft kisses all over his face. "Jamie, there is nothing in this world or the next that I would rather do than be with you."

James looked into his eyes to see if there was any form of deceit, but nothing except honesty was swimming in the stormy irises. James got lost in them and would have missed the question entirely if Regulus' gentle laugh hadn't drawn him back into himself.

"Will you marry me?" Regulus asked and James realised that he was down on one knee in front of him with a black velvet ring box opened in his hands with a hopeful look on his face.

James nodded dumbly and whispered, "Yes."

James learned not to doubt his fiance's love for him ever again after that. 

*Also on Ao3: What's In A Secret?

[alasse-earfalas]

Updated Fierce Deity Links Playlist!

I swapped a couple tracks and added a couple Links with their own songs to the list, so I figured it was high time for me to make an update to the original playlist post. This time around I'm going to go into a little more detail as to why I chose each song for each FD Link, rather than just copy/pasting some lyrics like I did last time.

As a reminder: this is following the theory / headcanon that the OG Fierce Deity Mask is a mask of ascended Sky. Thus, this is not a collection of songs describing what each Link would be like under the influence of the OG FD mask; rather, these are songs for what each Link's ascended, FD forms would be like. (Not that it matters all that much, really.)

Track list under the cut. :)

First: Holy Ghost (feat. Andrea Storm Kaden) by Fabvl (Clean Version) This song was written about Adam from the anime Record of Ragnarok (which I still need to watch). Right off the bat there's the obvious correlation between the First Hero & the First Human, but there's also the desperate fight between a mere mortal and a god. The erratic nature of the music and lyrics, and the screaming, lends itself to the desperation First must've felt during that fight. Considering how he died, I thought that his desperate determination would carry over to his FD form after death.

Time: In The Air Tonight by State of Mine Time just wants to rest in piece. I love the observation in LU that he is done with combat. It would take a lot to convince him to go into battle after training Twilight as the Hero's Shade. However, as a Link, he is still very much a force to be reckoned with. Underestimating him would be a death sentence, and heaven help the poor soul of anyone who stupidly incurs his wrath. With all that in mind, I wanted to go with a song that was a little more subdued than the others, but still intimidating and intense. After listening through the previous playlist a few times, I kept feeling like Time's original song just wasn't quite on par with the others. I swapped it with this one both for the up in intensity, and because it really sells the, "I don't want to be here... but you done screwed up, so now I have no choice but to put an end to your miserable life" vibe.

Twilight: POWER by Divide Music The lyrics of this one fit Twilight like a freaking glove. However, I think I may have shied away from using it originally because the type of music doesn't quite fit the edgy goth cowboy we all know and love. But after listening to it again a few times, it occurred to me that FD Twilight would be ascended Twilight; postmortem Twilight; BotW Wolf Link amiibo Twilight. And that annoying little fleabag (affectionate) is a lot more bold and "Have at thee, pathetic monster!" than he was in Twilight Princess—which is exactly the vibe of this song.

Warriors: The Resistance by Skillet Come on. "I am a nation"? "I am a soldier"? Tell me that's not Wars. The lyrics are just too perfect. Even "Love is the answer" makes me think of how he views his Zelda versus how Cia started a whole war over her obsession with him (additionally, "Used to be a slave, but now you are a conquer" makes me think of my personal headcanon of how the Temple of Souls would have realistically gone if Hyrule Warriors wasn't made for kids). Even the guitar solo at the end is reminiscent of the HW soundtrack!

Four: The War Inside (Spotlight Remix) by Switchfoot Mainly it's just the lyrics for this one. This is only remix I could find that was intense enough, and even then, I'd prefer something with a little more oomph to it.

Wind: Ruthlessness from EPIC: The Musical Do I even need to comment on this? It's freaking ticked off Poseidon. Heck, this was actually the song that inspired the whole playlist!

Wild: The Phoenix by Fall Out Boy Oh man. Where to start? The rapid strings, the chaotic yet poetic lyrics, the relentless pace... Yeah, this is FD Wild. I can just see him, lurking in the shadows, going full guerrilla warfare, setting fire to everything while manipulating Sheikah and Zonai tech like frikkin' Emmet from the Lego Movie. If anything, like Four's song, I'd love to see a remix or cover with a touch more oomph to it. But this will do.

Age (AoC Link): You're Going Down (Radio Edit) by Sick Puppies Age strikes me as the kind of guy who never backs down from a fight or a challenge, no matter how petty (see: eating gravel on a dare). He is heck-a confident in his abilities, masterfully using super reckless tactics (health-burning claymore mechanic, anyone?) and unwieldy prototype weapons to great effect. So, yeah. This is absolutely FD Age.

Legend: Legendary by Skillet It's in. The freaking. Name. Grandiose, confident bordering on cocky, a taunt and an anthem rolled into one. Some of the best-fitting lyrics on this dang list. Overall, just, epic.

Hyrule: Feel Invincible by Skillet This has "I've survived the freaking post-apocalypse, witch" vibes to it, plus some somber contemplative moments that I think would fit older Hyrule very well. I can see Hyrule being another Link who, like Time, just wants to be done when he dies. He'll still fight when he's called upon, and he'll be frighteningly effective in combat, but don't expect him to be enthused about it—just impatient to get back to his well-earned afterlife.

Sky: Say My Name by Divide Music This is the OG Fierce Deity. This is Sky ready to roll some heads. He forged the LoZ equivalent of Excalibur so he could kill a god at seventeen/eighteen, he married the powerful protector goddess who's revered and worshiped by his people, and he is done with your crap. This is the jacked-as-fetch protective dad towering over the schoolyard bully. Your only hope of survival is to not be the bully.

[fushichoumomo]

tagged by:  @biskael tagging:  @inmensapotentia, @opscurus, @hirak0s [shinji && ayame.]  EMOTIONS / FEELINGS:

001. restless anger.

002. unfathomable guilt.

003. the drive to protect.

004. loyalty.

005. passionate.

VOICE / GREETINGS / SPEECH PATTERNS :

001. momo sounds quite young and soft-spoken; she feels like she needs to raise her voice to be taken seriously, which is especially annoying for her as a lieutenant.

002. seeing that she's mostly on her guard these days, she often doesn't speak first unless it feels safe to do so or the situation is dire.

003. she mostly talks like a normal person would — except when she's angry. that's when all those poetry lessons by aizen come in handy: her language becomes flowery and somewhat formal, yet she still manages to come across as the attack dog she is.

COLOURS:

001. any variation of pink . has always been her favourite colour, always will be. [even though her reiatsu is red, let that sink in.]

002. scarlet red . the colour that signifies the departure of the “momo hinamori” everyone knew, and her vow to bring purgatory to her enemies. the colour of her evolved form [bankai etc.]

003. dark purple . her hair.

004. black . her uniform.

005. gold . her hairpin and bracelets. associated with fudo myo'o, or acala, one of the wisdom kings in buddhist mythology.

SCENTS:

001. peaches , her namesake.

002. vanilla , a woman's signature scent.

003. bright citrus , in memento of the ‘self’ that was lost in the war.

004. burning wood , in the heat of battle and its aftermath. a side-effect of using tobiume.

005. wisteria , signifying the fact she had to grow up quickly.

CLOTHING:

001. momo modified her standard shinigami uniform to include frills [a skirt instead of the hakama pants she wore in the past, and detached sleeves.]. she's taking care of her appearance when she didn't before — because before, she didn't take herself seriously nor think of herself as someone important.

002. furthermore, her new outfit closely resembles a traditional tengu ensemble; rmoderately-heeled geta, pompoms, you name it. [fitting, because when in bankai, she might as well be a tengu — she has wings.] 

003. a set of plum flowers on the side of her head. 

OBJECTS:

001. TOBIUME, her most precious zanpakutō. they may not see eye to eye sometimes, but they got each other's back.

002. a pair of golden bracelets and a feather-shaped hairpin. fudo myo'o is often depicted with a lotus on his head, and since momo is a phoenix… it is feathers spread out akin to a peacock's.

003. an agate talisman that her beloved granny gifted her after the war; consecrated to fudo myo'o himself, it represents protection from evil.

VICES / BAD HABITS: 

001. deep-seated anger issues . you see, momo is both brave and overwhelmed in times of adversity; when confronted with something that she doesn't necessarily have an answer to? she lashes out. when her cherished comrades [understandably] don't understand her decisions? she lashes out. her enemies will get under her skin, no matter how much she tries to conceal it. 

002. prone to overthinking . it's no secret to everyone around her that momo still thinks about those that have died in the war against the quincy; she did nothing, and yet she was among the living when her squad fought till their last and were less capable than her. and no matter how much she's reassured that it wasn't her fault — she doesn't believe it.

003. fear of failure . above all else, momo fears a situation that will leave her just as powerless as the war had left her. worse, that this time, tōshirō or granny might be dead because of her. the latter, at least, will have respite — tōshirō will go to HELL.

004. she's fucked up . she talks about the most morbid of things with an airy voice and a languid smile, and will even go as far as to say that aizen's betrayal [and stabbing] have made her stronger — that he is far more interesting now than when he was her captain.

BODY LANGUAGE:

001. very straight and upright when leading her subordinates into battle. momo, despite her small stature and meek voice, is still a gotei 13 lieutenant. 

002. though she does not realise it, her hands have a slight tremor, and the way she carries herself appears… tense. like she's always on alert. 

003. she's not much of a gesture person. when her hand is not on tobiume, she keeps her hands folded. 

004. cold, lifeless eyes [like aizen] and a languid smile when she is in the zone [read: when she is in the heat of battle.]

AESTHETICS:

001. the phoenix . momo hinamori is a woman that has died a total of three (3) times — metaphorically, of course, but still. one, when aizen shattered her whole world by revealing to her who he really is. two, the deaths of her comrades. and finally… when she became a deceiver herself. each of these deaths gave rise to the person that she is today.

002. a crimson bird's mask . both figuratively and literally [her hollow mask; verse-dependent].

003. a rope of kidō . it is said that the gods feared fudo myo'o because he could bind their transgressions and hurl them at them.

004. higanbana . known as lycoris radiata, this flower blooms at eternal partings, and guides to HELL.

SONGS:

001. angreifer // unlucky morpheus .

002. heavy is the crown // linkin park.

003. city of delusion // muse .

004. the walls // THE SIXTH LIE .

005. genshindou // autodidactic studios.

006. honkai world diva // mika kobayashi

[bitwynn]

Not a fan

A SAGAU Impostor AU Songfic

Song used: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

...so I caved. Yep. Starting a new series even though i already have one. To be fair, i felt like i needed a break from that series since that beast needs a whole lotta world building and im planning for it to get into some heavy fucken subjects. This one tho is more chill and light-hearted, since theyre all just a bunch of kind of disconnected one shots that are all kind of connected. So like-- when this series gets a lil longer, you can literally start from any fic since its all connectedly disconnected. A better example was my original idea of me just writing the end goal where they finally defeat the impostor like-- directly after the Castaway fic to rlly show how connectedly disconnected it is but i refrained myself since i wanted to write more wanderer. Been playing as him a lot but i havent rlly done the archon quest yet lol but hes just a blast. Hes an annoying lil shit (affectionate)

Blue for Barbara, Yellow/Gold for Zhongli, Green for Wanderer, red for Diluc, Italics is Reader/General, Combined is Everyone. Colors only used for singing parts.

---

Is this the real life?

You were running again, the spears and arrows of the Millelith chasing you all across Liyue.

Is this just fantasy?

Zhongli was by your side, steadfast as a rock as he shielded you from their weapons-- both with his Jade Shields and his body.

Caught in a landslide,

A loose rock almost sent you tumbling down into the depths of the Chasm, Barbara grabbing you just in time.

No escape from reality.

Diluc recognizes the path you were taking towards Tiangong Gorge, immediately rushing off to the Chasm's Maw and letting loose Dawn-- his phoenix rising up into the sky like a blazing beacon, just buy the rest of you more time. He'll rejoin you once again, he knows the path you'd take. He's your main afterall.

Open your eyes,

The three of you make it, the relief from seeing the glow of the blue Waypoint almost bringing you to your knees.

Look up to the skies and see,

You stumble in, Barbara hauling your arm over her shoulder as Zhongli collapses the tunnel behind you. You may be Overseer of Teyvat but he is the Overseer of Liyue, and its stones still answers to his call. There is nothing left but the browns and greens that creep towards the borders of Liyue.

I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy,

Your little group exit the cavern, the fresh air of the rainforest cooling the sweat on your backs and you see Haypasia's "little neighbor" peeking up from behind a leaf.

Because I'm easy come, easy go,

The tiny Aranara, though a little hesitant that more people could see him now, takes your hand and guides you through Avidya Forest. Thank goodness you had caved from your siblings nagging and finally done at least a part of the Sumeru quest.

Little high, little low,

You were still unfamiliar with the lands of Sumeru, trusting your little lettuce friend to lead you to a place of safety, of rest.

Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me,

Lettuce, as you had affectionately named him, lead you all deep into the rainforests of Sumeru all while deftly avoiding the little village of forest rangers and the rangers themselves. You hadn't said a word to him but you knew, deep in somewhere, that he would be leading you somewhere safe. Somewhere protected.

Though this... wasn't what you expected.

To me.

He turns to your group, the smell of tea faintly wafting from the pot he was tending. "I don't think I need to introduce myself, do I?"

-

After the short but silent panic that washed over the three of you (it took the you and Barbara 5 minutes to even get a centimeter pulling Vortex Vanquisher out the cave wall while Zhongli aggressively apologized to him), the four of you were sat on the floor watching the Wanderer tend to the bubbling pots of food he was making.

There was a strange... very not tense(?), and very awkward energy in the air as he set aside cups and bowls for all of you, his own cup still full with steaming almost black water. Zhongli was very noticeably trying not to stare at his oversteeped tea.

Little Lettuce had already left, presumably to keep an eye on the area or watch out for Diluc. You didn't want to use him as a shield or a way to break the ice or something but god-- the energy in the air was just so uncomfortable.

You all watched Wanderer in this terse silence prepare your food, his soft chopping of the grilled unagi sounding like death knells in your cave. He took each of the bowls he set out, placing a considerable amount of rice in each and a small handful of dried seaweed and sesame seeds. Bringing out a jar of umeboshi from his inventory, he placed each slab of unagi with a single umeboshi atop the bed of rice and seaweed.

He pours out the tea onto the rice, 1, 2, 3... and stops. He cocks his head. Frowns.

"Wasn't there supposed to be four of you?"

And the silence was broken.

"W-well, little lettuce already left--"

"Not the aranara-- wait, you named him lettuce? Tsk, whatever. Where's the other one? The red one?"

"Oh, uhm, Diluc?"

He nods, the small scowl on his face almost carved into him. You feel your face heat as you turn your face away from him.

"He ran off. To the Maw. Let out his burst as a diversion to buy us time --but he'll find us. He'll come back. He knows the way, he knows how I think, he knows what I'll do. He'll come back."

Wanderer sighs, disappearing the extra bowl. You're not sure whether you said all that to stop his retort or to diminish your own worry.

You're shaken from your thoughts by Barbara holding your hand. She gives it a squeeze, and you squeeze back, thankful for the comfort.

"Are you just gonna keep staring at your food or do you want to die of both exhaustion and starvation?"

"Okay, eating now!"

You're handed a warm bowl of Shimi Chazuke, Wanderer's specialty. It didn't look like its in game icon, only having the plump umeboshi on top of a bed of rice and seaweed with the pale tea glistening in the light. But you had come to learn that many things in game didn't translate directly, there sure as hell no quest or mention of a "Divine Overseer, and yet-- and yet.

You bring the bowl up to your face, the warmth soaking into your aching, tired hands and its steam gently caressing your face. You mix a portion of the rice together with the tea, scoop it up, and put it into your mouth.

And practically turn into jelly at the taste.

"Umai...!" you moan, savoring the taste of it all.

The fresh rice soaked in the bitter tea tasted amazing, each bite slowly turning into a different flavor as the oils and sauce from the grilled unagi gradually mixed in with the rice. Cutting up a bit of the eel with your spoon, you mix it with the rice and your mouth burst with deliciousness.

The eel was grilled to perfection, plump and juicy and flaky. And with the addition of the tea, it introduced flavors you hadn't even imagined from a simple grilled fish.

As you were about to burst that plump little plum, the Wanderer stopped you, a strange look on his face. He handed you a handkerchief.

"Wipe your face, the flavor's gonna be off if you mix it with your tears."

Stunned, you took the handkerchief. "Oh."

It... had been a long time since you've eaten good food and found a place to rest. Too long.

You hold it close to your chest, eyes squeezed shut as you tried to calm down. After a moment, you wipe away the sweat, and tears, and snot, and grime that had accumulated on your journey. It had been such a long time since you first found kindness in this world, even if that kindness came from an emotionally stunned automaton designed to be a god.

You chuckled to yourself, a wet little thing, as you realize that you kept weeping harder and harder with each swipe of the cloth. You bury your face in it, the handkerchief practically soaked with your tears as you take a few calming breaths to finally stop your tears.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I-- its been a while since I've... yeah. Uhm..."

You take a breath, still wet with your snot. "I, uh... I'm gonna keep this, I uh-- ruined it. I'll, I'll clean it though! If you want it back."

Wanderer, handily ignoring your breakdown just earlier, cringes in disgust. "No thanks. Keep it, you need it more than me if you decide to bawl your eyes out again."

Despite the harshness of it, you soften, tucking the offending handkerchief away. "Thanks." "Don't ever mention it."

He reclines back into his little designated space in your cave, and hesitantly stokes the fire with his anemo vision. You pick your unfinished bowl of chazuke, umeboshi still waiting to be eaten. It was good to know that at least there was a few things that didn't change now that you're here.

"Are you finished yet? Stop gawking at your food and finish it so I can do the dishes."

Yep, some things just never change.

You finally finish your meal with the silence in the cave now something much more comfortable, the crackling of the fire and the quiet rushing and clanking of dishes almost lulling you into a sense of "you don't have a bounty placed on your head and are definitely not running from anyone and everyone for fear of them betraying you and handing you over to your megalomaniacal doppelganger".

Wanderer, having lost the argument of who does the dishes against Barbara, was definitely not sulking in his little corner and absolutely not fiddling with his new(?) anemo vision. "So, why'd you come here to Sumeru anyways? I know you definitely were not looking for me, considering the fact you tried to impale my head on sight. Which to be fair," he chuckles at Zhongli's sheepish face, stood near the cavern entrance. "I would do the same."

You absentmindedly plucked the strings of your Windblume Lyre, the instrument becoming a sort of stimming/coping device, helping you deal with everything that had happened to you. He hummed to himself, the cogs turning in his head. "I can't think of any other reason why you'd come here-- finding and trusting in me is a huge gamble that you won," he clarified, turning away from Barbara's blank stare. "the ancient Khaenri'ahn technology scattered around Sumeru won't be of any use if you were considering taking the fight to your impostor, the Irminsul Tree could be a good reason but I can't see any way you'd use it to help you, though knowledge is always good to have anyways."

He scoffed, reclining into the dirt of your cave. "Archons, imagine how ridiculous it would be if you just ran here because you had no choice but to! Like a bunch of scared animals, ahaha!"

You slowly sink behind your lyre as he continues.

"In my time here, you're infamous for always evading their grasp-- heck, there's even an entire division of scholars here dedicated to just trying to figure out how in the world you do it. Some say you're a master at faking trails, some say you have some sort of... psychic power that lets you read the mind of your enemies so you can anticipate their moves."

He shrugs.

"Honestly, I'm more inclined to believe that last one-- in my brief time as your Vessel before your descent, you somehow managed to find information about me, despite my entire existence being wiped from the Irminsul Tree. Add to that the experiences that your other Vessels had, and it's a pretty compelling case." A sigh. "Shame that probing is one-sided though, a peek into the mind of the 'Divine Deceiver' or 'Overseer' or whatever fancy title you call yourself would be quite intriguing. Who knows what schemes are you cooking up in there. Now tell me,"

He straightens, eyes boring into yours from where you were, at this point, hiding in shame behind your lyre. "why are you here in Sumeru?"

"Aha... ha... haaa..." If you had a pyro vision, your face would be on fire by now. You had to turn away, the warmth of embarrassment creeping down your neck. "Well, uhm..." You clear your throat, gulping as you try to even find the words to explain how much of a legitimately normal person you are, who was practically forced to grow brain cells specifically for scheming because if you didn't you would die.

"So, uh...ah he he he... heh..." you take a breath, a shaky grin on your lips. "So, you know how reality is sometimes stranger than fiction?"

He raises an eyebrow.

"Well..."

You vaguely gesture, hoping that your flailing would get your message across.

He stares at you. He stares some more. He blinks.

"No."

"Yeah."

"No..."

"Yeah...

"NO."

"YEAH--"

His mouth drops in shock as he tries to process what you're implying. The rumors painted a... much prettier and mightier picture of you than the both of you thought.

"I-- you-- wha-- how-- what?!"

He takes a breath, chest rising despite his lack of a need for air. He pinches the bridge of his nose, and you get the feeling that he's restraining himself from grabbing you by the shoulders and shaking you stupid.

"So, you're telling me. That the 'Divine Deceiver' and their little posse made of a literal god, the once-captain of Mondstat's Knights of Favonius, and Mondstat's most renowned healer idol, have, quite literally, been running around like rats all over Teyvat and somehow, somehow staying alive by a thread?!"

"I KNOW MAN, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE'RE STILL ALIVE--"

"Oh my--"

He begins to growl, a black orb of anemo energy collecting in his palm. You squeak as you try to scramble to your feet, his face full of rage.

And the whirling winds in your cavern suddenly stops, Wanderer dismissing the dark energy in his hand. "Oh, relax."

He blows a raspberry at you, as you groan and sit back down. You bring your lyre back out from where you unconsciously disappeared it and clutch it like a lifeline.

"God, I never knew your idle could be that scary."

"...Idle?"

Barbara waves off his question, a sheepish expression on her face as she fixes her curls back into place. "Its... complicated. You'll learn more about it as you travel with us." She hands him the used and cleaned bowls and utensils. "You... will travel with us, right?"

He scoffs, taking the bowls and disappearing them with a flash of light. "Of course I will. Its literally in my name. Besides, I have nothing that ties me down anymore so I might as well wander with you guys."

She smiles at him, ever sweet and ever kind. She settles back down near the fire, drying her soaking hands. Though Zhongli is still taking watch by the cavern entrance, you could see the slightest look of pleased approval in his face. "Though if you are going to be travelling and running from the law with me, we need to make a plan instead of scurrying around like rats."

And at that, the entire cavern groans in exhaustion. "Not now, please." "We'd like to have some rest first, Wanderer!" "Please, fuck, no-- I've had enough scheming for 3 thousand years--"

"Wait, so you did have a plan going into Sumeru?!"

You wave him off, hands going to rest back upon the strings of your trusty lyre. "Well, it was more of like... a guideline? A safety net? We had a couple ideas on what to do if we ever ended up in Sumeru and we, yknow, ended up in Sumeru so we'll probably do that."

You pluck a couple strings as you remember what you "planned". "I hadn't finished the Sumeru main quest yet and I hadn't unlocked all of the Statues of the Seven yet either. We were thinking of unlocking all the Statues first since, without them, my 'all-encompassing' game map is jack shit here in Sumeru, and then we were thinking of finishing the main quest to both progress the story and better the... political? climate here along with a few other benefits. After that..."

You make a face, much more aggressively playing at your lyre. "We really didn't want to split up the party but, I kinda wanna finish the main story quest in the Chasm but also we need to collect all the Dendroculous and Electroculous for more stamina and stuff. But also, I kinda wanna visit Dragonspine since..." You let yourself trail off, the makings and ideas of plans evident in your voice.

Wanderer merely stares at you for a moment, the game terms flying over his head as Barbara mouths at him, "I'll tell you about it later". You sigh, dreading the planning of tomorrow as your fingers calm on the strings. "But, we can plan tomorrow. Please. We almost died multiple times again." He sighs, relenting. "At least you have the skeleton of a plan."

"Yes!"

Humming, you sink into the soft ground, thanking the soils of Teyvat for giving you some comforts in this trying time. What little grass in the cave caresses you in gratitude, as you pluck at your instrument.

The Wanderer sighs, as he prepares a small pot of tea. "You've been messing with that thing all night and its about to grate at my ears. Do you even know how to play?"

You chuckle a bit, sheepish as you hand the lyre over to Barbara who plays a quick, jaunty tune with a flourish. "Well, I can sing...?"

He sighs again, bowing his head and resigned to the confirmation that you were much more... ridiculous than the gossip and rumors painted you as. "Then why are you the one with the lyre?"

You shrug as Barbara starts up another little song. "Gives me something to do with my hands. Helps me calm down. Diluc and Barbara have been teaching me though when we have the time."

Your soft smile at Barbara's song turns cheeky as you turn to him. "Wanna hear what they've taught me?"

"Sure, better than forcing this inane conversation."

You giggle maniacally as you smile at Barbara, the singer immediately catching your drift. "Follow me?" "To the ends of the earth."

You laugh, as she tunes the instrument to the right notes. "Not like that you sap!" "I know, I know! But yes, of course. His song right?"

You nod. "Yep."

"'My' song...?" Wanderer tilts his head in confusion, before realization dawns on his face.

"Hey, just because it has my-- ...that name, does not immediately mean its 'my song'."

The two of you handily ignore his slip up, you drinking some water in preparation for singing and Barbara testing the lyre if its in tune. "Oh, please," you say, sitting up. "you haven't even heard the full thing yet! It's definitely your song."

He sighs, leaning back against the cavern wall. "Very well then. Indulge me."

-

You start, reciting the beginning "poem" from memory. Barbara watches and waits, fingers hovering above the strings. Wanderer cocks his head, clearly interested. She begins playing as you get halfway, the lyre an excellent substitute for the piano. You continue, the Wanderer scoffing a little at the poem's mention of a poor boy needing no sympathy, but you pay it no mind. He hasn't heard the rest of the song yet.

"Mama,"

Barbara picks up on her playing, wringing the lyre out for all its worth for those deep chords and piano-like sounds.

"Just killed a man,"

You summoned the small drum you bought from a merchant in Inazuma in preparation.

"Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he's dead,"

You close your eyes, swaying to the tune of the song.

"Mama, life had just begun,"

You didn't need to open your eyes to know that he's really listening now.

"But now I've gone and thrown it all away!"

You quickly tap on the drum, trying in vain to mimic the band's performance.

"Mama!, oooh,"

Zhongli was sat at the entrance with his legs crossed and humming along.

"Didn't mean to make you cry,"

Wanderer was still. You could almost hear the turning of the cogs in his mind.

"If I'm not back again this time tomorrow,"

The steady beat of the drum was a stark contrast to the deep, heavy feeling inside his chest.

"Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters."

His Vision pulsed, as his hand unconsciously came to caress it. Was this what it was like to have a heart?

Barbara's fingers were gentle on the strings as a set of footsteps approached the entrance of the cave. You could hear Little Lettuce's pitter-pattering and the dulcet tones of Zhongli and Diluc's voices as they catch up in the short time they've been separated.

"Too late, my time has come,"

He had closed his eyes, listening intently to the music as the waves of sound rocked him gently and deeply into his sea of memories.

"Sends shivers down my spine,"

He can see it now, those old fleeting moments of happiness before they were all ultimately destroyed.

"Body's aching all the time."

He could feel it, suddenly hyper aware of his joints and limbs. The feeling of phantom strings and hands pulling and pushing him like he was some puppet. (But it wasn't like he was ever anything else.)

"Goodbye, everybody. I've got to go,"

He could hear it, everyone's cries and wails of despair filling his ears as he sailed towards Inazuma City to beg the Shogunate (his mother) for mercy that they would not grant.

"Gotta leave you all behind to face the truth."

He could also hear the Doctor's cackling laughter as he began to weave his web of lies, webs that would replace the strings that she had put on him. That he had cut away.

"Mama!, oooh,"

He could see it, the light shining through the patches in the walls and the roof of that old hut. The kind and innocent smile on that sickly, young face.

"I don't wanna die,"

He could see it, red, red, red lapping up and eating away at the walls and roof of the house. Red, red, red all around them. As if he was asleep in a meadow of flowers. (or sinking into a pool of blood)

"I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all.!"

You all gave him his moment, deep in his sea of memories. Diluc was wordlessly playing the zither, an imperfect substitute for an electric guitar. He'd noiselessly joined into your impromptu concert after he was caught up on the situation by Zhongli who had promptly disguised the mouth of the cavern as some kind of rock formation.

As he played, you thought back to the Wanderer's words. To the moment you first heard him say that-- his character teaser. Your heart had clenched back then, tears pricking the corners of your eyes but you couldn't help chuckling at his words-- that ever iconic song playing in your head. But you know that there was nothing to chuckle about here, Wanderer holding the brim of his hat in an almost vice-like grip. His jaw is clenched.

You all silently agreed to let the solo drag on at least a little bit longer. He takes a sharp breath. (You all know its his way of saying his thanks.)

Barbara begins plucking the lyre in a jaunty little tune, and you couldn't help but crack a grin. The atmosphere's heavy, but it's beginning to lift anyway.

"I see a little silhouetto of a man,"

The Wanderer scoffs, already knowing the next few lines by heart thanks to you. You all readily ignore the wetness in his sound.

"Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?!"

You were surprised at everyone joining in. Wanderer especially, being caught so off-guard that he jumped in his seat. "For the nth time, no I won't!" Barbara giggles as you push onwards, a manic grin on your face.

"Thunderbolt and lightning!"

Diluc only smiles at the mildly disgruntled Wanderer, his Divine Overseer and Mondstadt's Deaconess having stood up to sing their hearts out. "I'm pretty sure that's not gonna be the last time you say that to them."

"Very, very frightening, me!"

The singing duo once again became lost in the music of the song, belting their hearts and lungs out for their one audience member. Said audience member could only crack a smile and reply, "I had a feeling."

"Galileo, Galileo,"

You had all but screeched out said scientist's name as you pointed to Zhongli. When faced with the Wanderer's incredulous look, he could only gain a fond look in his eyes, shrug and say, "You get used to it over time."

"Galileo, Galileo,"

"Wait, you're all used to this?!" Barbara's sheepish as she answers. "They sing as a coping mechanism. We kind of picked it up over time as well." Diluc shrugs again. "It's better than alcoholism."

"Galileo, Figaro! - Magnifico, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,"

Wanderer cringes-- despite this, a smile is growing on his face. "You don't have to vocalize the echoes, you imbecile!" You merely put a hand to your forehead, aiming to up the drama with your next lyrics.

"I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me,"

He feels the tug of old memories, of old traumas still clinging to his skin. But he pays them no mind, knowing he must march onwards to the future. A future paved by a ragtag group of wanted divine beings and important people that are beginning to worm his way into his chest.

"He's just a poor boy from a poor family,"

Oh no. He's feeling it again.

"Spare him his life from this monstrosity!"

He cannot help but watch you all sing.

Barbara's fingers fly on the strings.

"Easy come,"

He felt what he felt back then, before she had forsaken him.

"Easy go,"

He felt what he felt back then, before he was fooled into thinking he had left him-- left them.

"Will you let me go?"

He felt what he felt back then, before he was torn away from him with no bigger enemy to blame but his own mortality.

"Bismillah! No!"

It was affection. It was care.

"We will not let you go!

(Let him go!)"

Oh archons, he's starting to care.

"Bismillah! We will not let you go!

(Let him go!)"

For hundreds of years, he's hardened his heart and closed himself off from everyone and everything. Sworn to scrub himself clean of human emotions.

"Bismillah! We will not let you go!

(Let me go!)"

And yet, for those same hundreds of years, he had never fully closed himself off-- never fully scrubbed away the feeling of... feeling.

"Will not let you go! (Let me go!)"

He couldn't help but glance at those two, fingers flying across the strings of their instruments. Humans, can they really be trusted?

"Will not let you go! (Let me go!)

His eyes slowly drifted to the other two, one ancient and the other practically a newborn. Can the gods really make him feel anything other than loathing?

"Never let you go!

(Never, never, never let me go!)"

He takes in their entire performance, all of them being their pure, complete, and unadulterated selves. With no masks to keep on, or roles to maintain. Merely singing, and dancing, and playing these instruments just for the heck of it.

"Oh, oh, oh!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no!"

For centuries, he has roamed this world-- seeing and meeting many new people, and yet never regarding any of them as his companions.

"Oh, mama mia, mama mia!"

Would he be able to regard these people as such?

"Mama mia, let me go!"

Would he be able to trust them, like the did with the others? To stay and not break their promises with him?

"Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me,"

Would he be able to hold on to them, and they not let go as they had been claiming over and over?

"For me!"

Well, he has no choice in the matter. He's stuck with them now, as wanted fugitives.

"For me!"

Only time will tell if they forsake him like those before him. At least he's safe in the comfort that the world had forsaken them as well. Just like him. He hopes that strange sort of kinship makes you understand. He hopes it makes you stay.

You whooped with joy as Barbara absolutely nailed that note, Diluc quickly shredding on the zither afterwards. You would've given it to Zhongli but-- the man hasn't played a guitar before. And you need a certain "je ne sais quoi" to really pull off what Queen was doing. ...Also, you needed the sound of a guitar for the song.

You glance back to the Wanderer, mostly silently listening this whole time. He was lightly bopping his hand to the beat. You smile, taking whatever victories you can get. "Beelzebub? Really?" You blow a raspberry at him, preparing for the next part of the song. "I'll tell you about it later!" You clear your throat.

"So, you think you can stone me and spit in my eye!"

Diluc hits that sick riff.

"So, you think you can love me and leave me to die?!"

Barbara, even if she's practically undetectable underneath Diluc's strumming and your-- excuse me, Zhongli's drum beating, is still managing to bring up and compliment every single one of you performing.

"Oh, baby!"

You swear, if you all weren't wanted fugitives forced to live on the LAM because of a crime you didn't commit, you'd be a killer band.

"Can't do this to me baby!"

You do gotta thank Zhongli for subtly swiping away the drums from you-- you frankly weren't quite sure how you'd be able to focus on giving this song the power ballad it deservers while also playing an instrument.

"Just gotta get out,"

Despite all your peeking on Wanderer for his opinions on the song and to check on his emotional state, you weren't exactly omniscient. You were, afterall, still performing and still getting lost in the music.

"Just gotta get right outta here!"

So you didn't notice the twinge of an... almost fond emotion lacing his face as he watches you rock out to this classic. What can you say, Diluc kills it on the zither.

The sound builds and builds, Barbara layering on top of it and you not being able to resist the urge to air guitar to it as it slowly reaches its crescendo... And crashes back down, Zhongli and Diluc humming along to the sound.

"Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah,"

You gasp for breath, the end of the song finally coming up. Diluc's energetic playing slows down, signaling the finale.

"Nothing really matters,"

You feel sweat dripping down your skin, having danced and moved around-- possessed by the power of the song.

"Anyone can see,"

You lean your back against the cave wall, relishing in its coolness as you bring the song to a close.

"Nothing really matters... Nothing really matters, to me..."

You sigh as you sink, pleased and satisfied at everyone's performance.

"Any way the wind blows..."

Zhongli finishes it off with the rapping of the drum, mimicking a cymbal crash to his best ability. Barbara beams at the Wanderer, who looks like he's regretting singing along to that last part.

"So," you ask, out of breath. "what'cha think about the song?"

Wanderer waves off Barbara's tired but happy smile, poofing the fourth bowl back into existence and busying his hands. He prepares Diluc's Shimi Chazuke as he hums.

"Well, despite it being a complete emotional roller coaster and the utter gibberish that it contains, I suppose that its worthy being called 'my song', as you will."

"I'll fucking take it! Fives all around guys, good job!" You quickly double high five everyone in the group-- Zhongli letting you slam your hands down on his, Barbara being a quick pair of one-two taps, and Diluc just lightly bumping his full hands into yours. You turn to Wanderer, waiting for him to high five you. "You too, hat boy-- you joined in the song, you get some fives."

At least Diluc had the decency to look away when he huffed in amusement. "Hat boy?! Let me tell you, I've gone through many names and titles during my journey. And each one is more eminent than any ordinary mortal could ever imagine!"

As he said these words, his heart slowly sank to his feet as he saw the stupid, cheeky smile growing on your face. "Yes, yes... But! and I quote, 'they're all just water under the bridge to me now.

Call me whatever you like. Go ahead, let me see what you can come up with.'" The Wanderer's eye twitched.

"And that's the best you can come up with?! If you know me so well, oh, great Overseer, then you would very much know that I'm also telling you to not disappoint me! Tell me, All-Knowing Guide, am I not disappointed?!" You snorted, too tired from the day's events to feel any sort of proper fear and trepidation at this situation. "Then, I'll just keep thinking of names until something sticks, mushroom head." You pat his head. "Now, how in the world did you even get here Lulu?"

He sips from his bowl full of rice and tea. "Doro44 Sumeru Chasm sneakpeek. Would've gotten here faster if the place wasn't absolutely surrounded by treasure hoarders and Fatui. Had a bit of trouble finding it as well, since it was behind some rock walls." He grabs a small twig from the ground and starts drawing. "Its a sort of cave that's absolutely overgrown by giant roots." "You dare to ignore me?!"

You flash that same cheeky grin at him again. "We didn't ignore you, we just changed the subject!"

Nope, he takes it all back. He hates all of you.

---

AND THATS A FUCKING WRAP AUGHHHHHHHHH-- broooooo, you would not BELIEVE how hard this was to write. both because Bohemian Rhapsody is SUCH a long song but also because of SOOOO many outside circumstances. like BRUH i was supposed to release this like a day after my castaways fic but NOOOOOOOO-- life got so in the way man. my parents started breathing down my neck for chores, we had to visit my relatives in the province (still in the province btw lol), i got FUCKING SICK BECAUSE OF STRESS AND DUST ALLERGIES and i literally spent like-- my first few days sick making my sickness FUCKING WORSE since our house was literally covered in dust and i was the only one who could clean it fucking apparently. bro, i even spent this goddamn christmas fucking sick. ugh this has been such a hell week. literally the only comfort i found this week was all genshin related AHAHA-- i was playing genshin, visiting the SAGAU tag a lot, waiting for fanfics to update, just generally genshin brainrotting.

ugh thank god i finally released this one. i do have a lot of ideas for this down the road and hell dawg! i even got a request! thats the one thatll be coming up next. i wrote like-- a massive part of this sick and it got sOOOOO out of hand ever since i didnt get to finish it that day so i hope it sticks together well and is mostly coherent. enjoy!! :))

[phoenix-and-found-family]

Unconditional Love 2 (Phoenix's Perspective)

(I just can't stop I'm sorry)

Trevor adjusted their tie in the mirror.

Light blue. Her favorite color.

They hated how it looked with their braids. They would probably have to dye them blue.

Red is our color. It's always been our color. We got mad at our previous handler for trying to make us wear blue- what are you doing?

"Whatever she wants."

They snapped out loud at the voice in their head, causing Right Robot to jump a little (which made a very loud noise and nearly made them flinch.)

"Uh, Agent Phoenix? Are you sure you're okay?"

They sighed and tried to smile at Right.

"Yes. I'm fine. Just pre-date jitters, I guess."

Even they didn't buy it.

Robulter came over with their regular tie.

"Hey, uh... Good news! Dr. P said she's got something else going on right now that she totally forgot about but is really important, soooo she's canceling dinner! You can put this back on now."

They tilted their head.

"I thought you two would be happy I was dating your creator."

They looked at each other with what looked like concern.

Concern? For them?

Clearly, they were seeing things.

"It's just... You're acting weird. Usually, you're really fun! You laugh and give us pats, and teach us swear words in other languages Dr. Prism doesn't know so we don't get in trouble."

Right nodded.

"Yeah, but now you're not doing... anything. Unless Dr. P asks you to."

"Which is what we're supposed to do!"

"Not very well, but still."

"I said supposed to do, not what we actually do."

They didn't respond as the two talked.

Of course they weren't doing anything. If they did something, they could do something wrong. And she could leave them for it.

This is Prism we're talking about. You think she would do that to you?

"Shut up."

Both of them stopped talking and stared at them.

"Sorry, I didn't mean..."

They trailed off, noticing something out of the corner of their eye.

In the kitchen, Prism was talking to someone they couldn't see. She was pacing around, exasperated.

"I don't know, I feel like it would hurt them more if I suddenly cancelled our plans-"

"ROXANA."

Oh.

It was Reggie.

That made sense. If it was a hostile person, she would have said something by now.

... He followed them.

They felt their legs moving forward without them, as they recalled that conversation from earlier.

"Agent, are you... okay?"

They nodded, not looking up from some paperwork. It didn't really matter how they felt anymore. They had a girlfriend now.

"Phoenix, you never do paperwork unless you're upset. Tell me what's wrong."

They glanced over at him.

Nothing was wrong. That was the point. Doing something wrong gets you no love.

They grabbed a notebook with their tk and gave it to him.

I'm fine, Crane.

"Crane?"

He looked down at them, a little annoyed.

"You call me 'Reggie', or 'Reginald'. But never 'Crane'."

They didn't understand why he cared, but they took the notepad back and wrote "Sorry."

He shook his head at them.

"Agent, don't apologize. Just tell me why you're acting like this. I'm worried."

Worried?

Worried for who? Prism? Himself? He knew they wouldn't - couldn't - do anything to hurt her. And if they did, they would deal with the punishment themselves. Like a boyfriend should.

He couldn't be concerned for them.

... Right?

They realized what time it was and stood up, writing a final message as they walked out of the room.

Got to go. Date. Don't follow me, Reginald.

He followed them. He followed them. Why did he do that?!

They walked into the room as Roxana sighed.

"I'll go... talk with them."

"Talk to me about what?"

Both of them jumped a little. Apparently, they were being stealthy without realizing.

They saw him look them up and down, his face growing more concerned.

"Roxana, um, wanted to talk with you, about something important."

He gestured towards them.

She sighed again.

"I..."

She trailed off, so they tried to finish her thought.

"Is this about dinner? If you'd like, I could just cook. I've heard that's also romantic."

They turned back to look at their handler.

Why are you here?

"I thought I asked you not to follow me."

His eye twitched a little.

"Phoenix, this is unhealthy and self-destructive. I know how you feel about love, and I'm not letting you do this to yourself."

They felt their fist clenching.

Self-destructive? Self-destructive?! Of course it's self-destructive!!!

"You can say no."

No I can't.

"This is unhealthy when she says it's unhealthy."

They snapped at him so hard he took a step back, which immediately made them feel like shit. But they had more to say.

"This is whatever she says it is, Crane. If it's normal, it's normal. If it's not, then it's not. If I'm not giving enough, then I'm not being a good boyfriend."

The last phrase was said with every ounce of conviction they had.

"And I would have to fix that immediately."

Roxana put a hand on their arm, which caused them to look over at her.

"Phoenix, could you... come outside, please."

... Right. I forgot she was in the room. I'm not being that good.

"Of course, Roxana."

When they got out into the hall, she smiled at them weakly.

"...You... changed your tie."

"I figured it would match your outfit better."

"I didn't tell you what I was wearing for the date yet?"

"...I figured it would match you better."

Her face fell.

I said something wrong.

"I- I could get a different color! Or a bowtie! Or just not wear one! What do you want? I'll do it. Just tell me."

She looked even more upset. They almost slapped themselves.

"Phoenix... What do you want?"

"Whatever you do!"

They answered with no hesitation.

"I want whatever you want me to want, do whatever you want me to do, be whoever you want me to be. That's what a boyfriend does. You're in charge! Tell me what to do!"

They felt tears they didn't know were there start to fall down their cheeks.

"Tell me who I am."

She looked like she was about to cry as well. She reached for their hand. It took so much willpower not to flinch at her touch.

"You're not a boy, Phoenix..."

"I am if you say I am."

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"... Should I change my tie, mi amor?"

She shook her head.

"No, Phoenix. You shouldn't."

"Then I won't."

They kissed her cheek.

"Because I love you."

Because I'm yours.

---------------------------

@the-one-and-only-043 @wyvchard Guess what :3

If you guessed more angst, you win a cookie 🍪

[karizard-ao3]

My reactions to Evangelion episode 17: Fourth Child

I regret ever doubting Misato. It was not her who was sus, it was NERV.

Actually, I did wonder if the Angel was trying to communicate with him.

The need for "heart" to operate the Evas is stirring some things in my head.

Toji is a good brother.

ope, my kid is home. I'll save this as a draft and try to resume later.

Okay, it's later. My kid is asleep and I'm squeezing in an episode before I also go to bed. I'm just going to start from the beginning. I think I could probably actually watch this with him because the content doesn't seem too mature for him, however he would not be able to restrain himself from talking through the thing and I would annoy him by pausing the show if I have long notes to make, so he'll just have to wait to see if I feel I must do a second watch after the first one.

I like that Misato is protecting Shinji from this interrogation.

The Angels are EVOLVING?

So I've been thinking about how Adam appeared to be a fetus in a suitcase when Kaji brought him to Gendo and how he was called the first Angel when Kaji showed him to Misato fully grown, so I wonder if instead of dying they just do a little Steven Universe thing and revert back to an embryo? Or actually maybe comparing them to a phoenix is more apt. Also, I did find it weird when the lava Angel pupae looked so similar to fetus Adam but I also take it for granted that all embryos/ early stage fetuses look the same no matter what species they are, so I didn't think too deeply about it. That should have been my first clue that Adam was an Angel and not a person.

What is the S2 drive?

So the base or whatever vanished. It disappeared into the Dirac Sea. Was it the S2 drive and human error that caused this vaporization of sorts or was it an Angel attack?

The dummy plug is very interesting to me. The Eva needs to feel like there is a pilot to sync with. Is it because the implanted personalities long to have a soul again? Or am I just thinking weird things because I'm tired? lol

Is that actually Rei in the tube? I guess it is.

Ritsuko, why so creepy?

Asuka being mean again. Oh, young lady.

Does class rep like Toji??

Rei's got medication she takes.

Rei's reaction to Shinji cleaning up after her was so cute.

She's never said thank you before?

Here we go with some Garden of Eden talk. Is Tokyo-3 the Eden? Maybe it's a space station for when they destroy the Earth.

The Marduk Institute doesn't exist? And Shinji's school seems to be involved. Maybe all the kids there potential pilots.

"But I'm not a girl" Shinji, I love you.

Kaji is a watermelon farmer.

I wonder what traits they select for when choosing pilots.

Kensuke is so nosy,

The birth rate has been falling. Hmmm.

She's offering to make you a lunch, dumbass.

I'm changing Asuka's name to Karen.

In Conclusion

I feel like things are starting to come together but I'm still no closer to figuring out exactly what the secrets here are. Soon, soon.

Toji being the Fourth Children is tugging on my brain because I feel like if I could figure out what about him makes him the candidate they've been looking for then I would have a much better idea of what's going on with the Evas. I had thought there may be some kind of psychic element to this but I haven't seen any signs that they are being evaluated for psychic skills. It seems the "heart" is the most important part, but what determines that there is enough heart? All the pilots are so different, except for that they all do have some kind of trauma. Is that the trick? I don't seem to recall any mention of Toji's parents being killed but he just mentioned that there's no one at home to make a lunchbox for him anymore, so maybe he has lost them. Shinji lost his mother and his dad's a deadbeat, Asuka mentioned she has no one left to care about (if I remember right), and Rei is also alone from what I can tell and may have lost her loved ones horrifically. We know she has no one to make her feel connected to the world with all the suicidal sounding stuff she was saying that upset Shinji. Maybe she was the one who said she had no one left? Could have been both girls. So, I guess now I'm wondering if Toji's sister has died. Anyway, I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

I have a feeling the dummy plug is going to be a disaster.

That's about all I'm coming up with right now. I have to get to bed or I will regret it in the morning and all day tomorrow, so I will try to watch another episode tomorrow night, but maybe earlier in the evening so I can fit in a couple. We'll see. It all depends on a certain dependent of mine and how fast he goes to bed.

[imsosocold]

Ace Attorney characters that I think are related

In addition to my “ Godot is Manfred’s other child” agenda.

Richard Wellington and Frank Sawhit:

My favorite pack of thieves. I like to think Frank was stealing in order to earn enough for him and his son to survive. And then Richard was trying to get enough money to bail his father out of prison but once learning who the defense attorney would be for Maggey decided to try to avenge his father. I want them to have a tearful reunion in prison and then escape together to rob more rich people <3.

Furio Tigre and Wocky Kitaki:

Have you seen the last names?!! In all seriousness I think them being related would make the overall crime scene more fleshed out and make its story more cohesive. The Cadaverni rage wouldn’t be over a member getting in an accident with just some thug, but a member of a mob, a rival to power in “Los Angeles”. Though I don’t think Tigre would be considered a legitimate member of the family by the Kitaki line themselves, I think Wocky would look up to Furio as an older brother figure and base his persona around him. Wocky’s aggression to Phoenix is less funny now though.

Polly Jenkins and Goldy Gerwitz:

Imagine the only person who ever cared for you took their own life and you lost everything and now all you have left to turn to is material items. But then coincidentally you come across those who indirectly lead to her suicide but you are too scared do anything and you regret for the rest of your life for your inaction. Just fun with the bois over here.

Herman Crab and Larry:

A STEM and artist duo returns, this time as brothers! It’s the most romance repulsed aromantic against the world’s strongest romanticist ( but Larry is also aro spec, I can feel it in bones). Neither of them can ever have a normal last name and Larry only took his mother’s in order to avoid people making jokes about him having crabs (* cries in the pain of bad nicknames*). In all seriousness , both Larry and Herman are incredibly talented, noble people who will ride and die for those they care about. While Herman would be annoyed by his much younger brother’s antics, he’d still genuinely care for and look out for him. And Larry naturally would be down to help his older brother with any of his schemes.

Simon Blackquill and Daryan:

My favorite black and white animal themed mysterious, dramatic men. I think them being related would tie the Apollo Justice series' events and characters more closely together and give much needed characterization to Daryan ( yet one of many aspects of wasted potential in the Apollo Justice series). Daryan becoming a detective because he doesn't believe Simon could do such heinous acts in a mirror to Klavier and Athena, him trying to gain whatever influence and power and wealth he can which could potentially aid his family. Daryan agreeing to smuggle the cocoons both because he genuinely wants to save people like Simon did, laws be damned, but because being in the good graces of such a high ranking official, in addition to the large sums of money he'd gain in return, could be what saves his relative. The reveal of this plan would hold so much more immediate consequences and affect a wider reach of characters. And Simon, trying so hard to help and protect all those he cares about all on his own, with Daryan being a reminder how damaging that mentality can be and that no matter how hard the both of them try they can't save everyone!!!!

Also yes, Daryan keeps the hair for Simon's sake, who styled it that way as a prank.

Tyrell Badd and Luke Atmey:

Luke wanting nothing else than to be just like his cool, smart, popular father but feeling like he can't properly emulate him on his own, so he lies and cheats to attempt to do so in turn becoming everything his father is against and hates.

Also Luke feeling like his father prefers Kay over him BYE-

Payne and Geiru:

Imagine following in your ancestors' footsteps to join the law system in order to bring ‘pain’ upon evil doers but one of your family members decides to fuck that and runs off to become a rakugo artist of all things. And then you find out years later that they had a child who committed murder in their name and you didn't even get to come across her in court. Poor Payne can't ever catch a break.

Ron and Joe Darke:

The worst father and son duo who commit crimes and escalate situations because they have terrible problem solving skills yet despite that cannot be convicted for the life of them, the former only happening with false evidence. But the main reason I like this idea is because it means Ron took his wife's last name "DeLite" since she is the light of his life and now he isn't in the 'dark' anymore.

Boo all you want.

Jinxie Tenma and Uendo Toneido:

Two of the best ( and underrated) Ace Attorney characters in addition to being great mental health representation! I think they'd have great chemistry and interactions as siblings. Also Uendo deserves a wrestler father who can beat shit out of ableist fucks and law enforcement. <3

Gumshoe and Dogen:

Such a slut for the idea of Gumshoe wanting to tear himself away from the family name and to do good by saving lives instead of ending them yet working in an incredibly deadly, corrupt system that goes against his ideals and desires.

Also Dick's still definitely hurt that Dogen seems to care more about Simon Keyes than him >:)

Constance Courte and Sebastian:

" Uh, if Constance Courte was Sebastian's mom, wouldn't Blaise had make her disappear-"

Bitch, he tried. That loser husband had to back down.

Unfortunately, Constance wasn't able to take her son with her and decided to throw herself even more into her teaching of law, her indirect way of fighting her husband and preventing people from becoming like him. I like to think she got to reunite with her son again after Blaise was finally arrested and Sebastian continued his prosecuting career in her honor.

Anyway Constance Courte is cool and deserved more screentime ( and to be written into a better case lmao).

Cody Hackins and the Fey clan:

I just want more perspective on the Fey family from those AMAB, I can't believe the main AA trilogy went into Kurain Village and the Fey Clan and didn't expand on this. Anyway, Cody's lack of spiritual power, supposedly due to his sex, in addition to losing his mother led to him and his father being discarded from the main clan and looked down upon. Refusing to accept the position of a branch family given to him, Cody's father took the two of them away from the village. While initially having trouble adjusting to such a drastic change in lifestyle and environment, the two of them were overall happier. Cody still faintly remembers Mia and Maya as some of the few people in the village that were kind to him and is unable to accept Mia's death, believing she and Maya "fused powers" and simply cohabit a body now. On a happier note, Steel Samurai is both Cody and his father's comfort show and they and the Fey Sisters ( and eventually Pearl) watch it together.

The Von Karma and the Justice family:

Okay, with names like those, centered around concepts considered essential to the judicial system, they have be to be connected somehow in this series. Whether they're distantly related or rival families or what, both family lines and their influences absolutely permeate the series.

Also 100% the reason Kristoph took Apollo in as his mentee was to spite the Von Karmas.

Lauren Paups and Matt Engarde:

Polar opposite (half) siblings: Lauren is shy while Matt is outgoing, Lauren has low self esteem while Matt thinks highly of himself, Lauren’s a dreamer and romanticist while Matt’s cruelly aware of how the world works, Lauren’s wishy washy and easily swayed while Matt’s is rooted in his ideas and beliefs, Lauren can’t hide feelings or thoughts while Matt constantly wears a mask, yet their most prominent trait, the one that they share, is that they’ll do anything for who or what they believe in. Also they both share self destructive tendencies when seemingly stressed (Matt scratching and Lauren cutting up pieces of their hair) in addition to being heavily dramatic. Unfortunately, I don’t think they ever got the chance to properly know each other but nonetheless the duo would be close ( as much as they’re allowed to be anyway).

Also this beta design for Lauren is Matt Pre- T and you can’t convince me otherwise.

Give me your relationship hcs, I love to hear the brainworms from other people and have them play with my maggots <3

[thegirlwhowrites642]

What’s your favorite of the Harry Potter books and why?

Order of the Phoenix.

While I'm aware it's not the best-written one (that's HBP), it's my favourite.

I agree with King when he says that Umbridge is a really great villain. She is more than Voldemort. She is a properly evil person but all her evil acts are somehow very hidden. Or she plays with the blurred lines like her position of power allows her to, or she openly does wrong things yet they are difficult to prove. This is what makes her a great villain, she is very realistic. It's easier to meet someone like Umbridge who technically doesn't do anything wrong yet is clearly evil, than someone like Voldemort, and that makes her way more scary.

Contrary to the general opinion I love angst-filled Harry. If anything he is not nearly as angsty as he should be if you ask me.

I love Ron and Hermione's relationship in this book, you can already see some of the problems that will arrive more strongly later with their writing but I love their relationship during this year and it kills me every time when they co-parent Harry. When he looks at them and says he's reminded of Mr and Mrs Weasley! Love that. Unfortunately, Rowling just dropped the ball with them after OotP, individually as characters and therefore inevitably with their relationship. It's particularly ironic how in her attempt to glorify Hermione, she accidentally ended up making sure she would be a character that aged like milk.

Ginny is perfect all around in this book, what a queen. Her Majesty comes back on the page and decides to outshine everyone else. Her introduction in this book is basically her version of the iconic MJ scene "Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot" and it makes my little nerdy heart sing.

Harry and Ginny's rollercoaster dynamic in this book is absolutely everything. It's all I need in life. Also, side note, I could easily read 500 pages of just the two of them snapping at each other like they do throughout the whole Ministry business. The way they fight is so genuinely entertaining because they are telling the other to fuck off yet it's weirdly respectful the way they do it, especially in comparison to how they act with other people. I love that you can't establish a winner and that no matter what the other says they are still there annoying each other. There are no tears or heavy shouting or unnecessary drama.

I love politics, and I think this book is by far the more political one.

The date between Harry and Cho is one of the best pieces of comedy in the books if you ask me. It's such a disaster! I adore it.

Also, Harry spending half the book being annoyed at Cho basically because she is not Ginny will never stop being hilarious.

The Marauders!!! We get to see the Marauders in a proper scene. James and Sirius's friendship is amazing. Unpopular opinion probably, but I love how arrogant they are. And James and Lily's fight is brilliant. I adore that whole sequence. I'm a Maurders girly forever.