#and its all still faithful to the characters too

[notebooks-and-laptops]

Okay so. It seems I'm in the minority about not liking the Spike-With-A-Soul plot. I've not really interacted with the Buffy fandom before this so its wild to me this is how people view it. Because the thing is...

Buffy is at its best, always, when it rejects the concept of ontological evil Vs good and of all the shows from that era (charmed is a big one that comes to mind) I think Buffy when it got a few seasons under its belt was one of the best shows at rejecting the ontological evil Vs ontological good mindset despite the fact that it's a monster of the week show. Oz, Buffy, Faith, Spike, Buffy, Willow, Harmony, Xander, Riley, Anya, Warren, Jonathan, Andrew - all of these characters are continuously used to show moral complexity, particularly that goodness is a choice and what does it mean to be a harm to others?

And spike epitomises that. He is the monster who suddenly had to deal with not being allowed to kill people; which led him to form bonds (particularly with Buffy and Dawn, but I'd argue he makes bonds with the rest of the Scoobies bar maybe Xander too) which led him into empathy and trying to do good even when it came at his own expense. There is this lingering question by season 6 with spike; if you removed his chip would he go back to how he was in season 2? Would he kill and maime and torture, or would he make the choice to be good just like the rest of the Scoobies have to do daily even when giving in would be easier.

And I think spike would have a wobble sure, very Anya esque in that regard, but I think he'd ultimately just like Anya NOT find it easy to go back to being 'evil' after having his chip removed even without a soul. And the lore implications to that are FACINATING and way cooler to explore than like. Soul = good, not soul = bad.

And also...I know people are like 'he was irredmiable after seeing red so it had to happen so we could like him again' but uhhhh that's actually one of the reasons I DONT like spike getting a soul. It really feels like the writers wanted a cop out, a way for us to go on shipping and engaging with Spuffy and absolve Spike. See he did a terrible thing but he can still be your pathetic little favourite wet man because we gave him a get out of jail free card! And that's just...kinda nothing to me? I mean sure he worked for that soul, did the trials, but it's not the same as actively having to deal with doing a terrible, unforgivable thing and where you go from there. It's just. It feels so cheap. Like they wanted the 'edgy, brutal' scene but they didn't ACTUALLY want the consequences so oops he's got a soul now don't worry about it he can still be your fav little guy. (And yeah, I mean. I do think the writers would have struggled with spike after seeing red if they didn't do something drastic - but if they weren't willing to grapple with it they shouldn't have done it, otherwise it just feels even more ick to me ya know.)

Idk I like season 7 for what it is but I think ultimately it was a backslide from so many interesting things set up in season 6, even willow kinda goes back to having good Vs bad sides rather than just being a complex individual with capacity for both. And spike is the Biggie for me because I'd have MUCH rather had the plot of 'buffy removes spikes chip and trusts that he's become a better person and doesn't need it anymore' than 'spike has a soul now so he's chill'. Also I think it would have made his plot with the first and potential killing waaaaay more engaging if they hadn't been able to write it off with 'but he has a SOUL now'.

(I think a really interesting plot would have been everyone THINKS spike has a soul even spike but it turns out he DOESNT and what the fuck does THAT mean?)

[dracoroma]

Now that the campaign is over, I think I should drop my full thoughts.

As a start: I intitally liked the finale for the most part. We'll get back to why I said initially. However, I have one major gripe.

The first is that reviving Ashton really fealt like it cheapened their sacrifice. It was such an interesting choice that they gave up their life purely out of spite. In Ashton's eyes, it wasn't about saving the gods, it was about humbling them. That's fun, and interesting, and as much as I have feelings about Aston that we'll get back to later, it was cool. And I also think it left their budding relationship with Fearne off on an interesting note. All of that is completely undone by reviving them.

Anyway, onto the campaign.

I was really into the game in its initial sandboxy arc. The cast was fun and their interactions were all neat, and Inwas interested where the plot was going.

And then the god plot came in. And I have so many feelings.

As a religious person (hellenist and heathen), I felt constantly letdown this entire story. At the end of the day, there was no real evidence given in a pro or anti god direction. We're told they're tyrants who have too much control over mortals, but most people have problems because of a lack of intervention. The divine gate keeps demons and devils at bay, but there's other sources for that. There's no consequences to any option. And because of that, we're left with endless debate because we have no solid evidence.

All of this leads to the debate just turning into teal world reddit aetheist plot points because there's nothing in world to debate. This also felt incredibly dismissive of actual faith. Do I need to remind everyone how Ashton would not let FCG just be at peace with worshipping Avandra? That was incredibly frustrating. They also don't address at all how getting rid of the gods affects those who gind meaning in religion. The Hells and Keyleth were just like, "eh. Get over it. World's still spinning. " Excuse me, did we forget how much meaning Fjord told the hells he got out of his relationship with Melora!?

From a writer's perspective: well, all of this. But it was also incredibly boring because it means nothing is happening. This wasn't a complex, morally grey debate because there was absolutely no nuance. We don't see how the gods (or, in particular, the primes, because we know the betrayers all suck) are bad, and how things will be fine forever without them. So it's an endless de ate with no point that follows the same formula every time: same 3 points why gods are bad. Someone says "hmmm, i don't know". We end by saying "let's kill Ludanis because he sucks".

And frankly, nothing was happening for so long. So much of the campaign is an indistinguishable blob of time in my memory, with the standout moment being Aeor. And I think Ahton is the perfect case study. Talesin is on record saying Ashton was a critique of the obnoxious parts of the punk mindset, and they had no character growth. Their character development after shardgate reverted soon after, and their position was always completely dismissive of any other perspective.

All that being said, the most fun I had in the campaign was actually the live show. In part because I caught it live. I was on a family trip in the area already, and so my girlfriend and I made it to the show. And frankly, it was a really good session. It was mostly self-contained, which was good for her, who had not seen a single session of C3. It didn't involve the god debate, which was good for me. And it introduced Breius, who I genuinely think is one of the best PCs of the campaign despite coming in late.

Because Breius is sich a good deconstruction of cults and toxic relationships and why they're appealing, why you come back, and he ended up breaking free at the end!

But, now I think about the finale again. And I'm less positive about it than I was. Because I realize that most of why Infelt good was because this mess of a campaign is finally over. I overlooked how Orym and Opal and Imogen did not face lasting effects from their actions because I was so ready to be done with the god debate that goes nowhere.

[bodysnatch3r]

copy/pasting my last reply to @darethshirl because i feel like it captures what i'm trying to get at, as someone who has criticisms towards veilguard but also thinks the ideas it presents and the additions it brings to the lore and the overall story are worth exploring:

in a way, it reminds me of the discourse that exploded following star wars: the last jedi's release, how people claimed it had destroyed the franchise, it had gleefully ignored the lore, it had made nonsensical choices and insulted its audience. does the last jedi have flaws? yes. of course. its writing is at its weakest when it fumbles with giving finn a meaningful arc. but i also, personally, think it was one of the best modern star wars movies, and still is. i think it asks interesting questions about legacy and what star wars even is, and when it released if you even dared express this opinion on the wider internet people were ready to nuke you from orbit. and these people won, in the end! i saw the rise of skywalker exactly once, realised it had walked back everything interesting the last jedi had to say, and never engaged with it again. i feel like the same is happening with veilguard: the predominant narrative on the internet being that it has destroyed the franchise, the implication it is more stupid or less complex than its predecessors, the unwillingness to interact with it or give it the same grace that inquisition and the other games get after a decade of percolating in the fandom consciousness. r/dragonage is mostly negative; r/solasmancers is mostly negative; twitter/bluesky hounded john epler into deactivating his account for a day; every youtube that posts about it is inundated with right wing grifters and critics alike (not the same thing, i know!); even the dedicated veilguard subreddit is mostly people either criticising the game or apologising for liking it in the first place. i'm not saying criticism should stop: ongoing, constructive conversations like this one are how fandoms stay alive. but when the dominant discourse is constant criticism, when the general implication is that whoever likes veilguard is stupid or a corporate shill or up bioware's ass… it's hard.

and a brief addendum: my aim is not to tone police or tell folks they should not criticise veilguard or should not voice their disappointment. there are things in veilguard that have disappointed me too. i wanted solas' modern-day rebellion. i wanted more on the evanuris and the world before the veil so we could truly understand the depth of the moral dilemma at the heart of the veil. i think the game is poorer without these things. i've said often that veilguard's flaws are due to the writers correctly employing the rule that the best way to write about social issues is through characters and then sometimes forgetting the social issues at all. i still mourn the reactivity that we lost and the carryover from previous games; i recognise bioware has been plagued by mismanagement longer than i've been an adult.

these games will never be perfect. but when i write, when i make my own art and my own stories, it is so much healthier for me to do so in an environment where the relationship between artist/creative and art enjoyer is not endlessly antagonistic. why create at all, if people's first point of order is to assume the worst faith possible behind your own art?

FUCK ME. art really is subjective.

[lancerious]

thank you for being #1 lancer fan the world needs more lancer fans

Ho ho ho, of course!! Lancer is CRIMINALLY underrated I tell you, kid deserves WAY more attention than he currently gets

Glad to see another Lancer fan pop in <3!

[creative-hanyou-girl]

2000's Trio 2020's Trio

Imagine how great it would be if the PJO show is successful and gets the Harry Potter treatment where we get to see these kids grow up throughout the show!

If the Golden Trio was our big 2000's trio, I hope the Original Trio will be our big 2020's trio💙💙💙

[rocketbirdie]

Important revelation: If you're going to make stupid and strange changes, you have got to go Whole Ass. Rebirth's Nibelheim revisit is very badly Half Assed and that is its major downfall

[azurityarts]

I actually think write dialogue very well!!

You preserve characters' voices and identities through just how they talk, and the actual way they talk feels natural and cohesive.

You'd make a killer fic/comic! ✨

More Future Trio in the voidlands, now with Dusknoir missing in action!

I like when Grovyle likes ancient languages, we can't let his knowledge of the Unown alphabet be a forgotten detail.

Celebi got a "keep yourself safe" in se5, it's only fair Dusknoir gets one too.

While not completely related, here's the first voidlands post i made.

[13eyond13]

.

[faithcomeseasy]

((decided to make a sorta multi muse blog so I don't have to keep weirdly hinting at Beleths character development lol. Plus, it gives an excuse to make bios for these idiots.

[alchemiclee]

I didn't like blade at first for some reason. too edgy and emo and seemed generic like a sasuke (I never liked sasuke lmao) when I learned about yingxing, I really liked him but still didn't like blade. now I like both for some reason even if yinxing is a dumbass who did this to himself. but blade grew on me somwhow, and someone really needs to gently hold him or something. that poor man. he's so broken. give him a break 😭

[cutesilyo]

my opinion is that if you havent gone through manga -> anime adaptations or anything -> musical adaptations, you arent equipped to deal with pjo books -> pjo series adaptation discussion lol

[gale-dekarios]

okay, no shade, but youre missing out on SO much good characters moments if your girlbossify the bg3 women too much. i get it, they're big, strong, badass, but they are, like all bg3 companions, incredibly cringe in their own ways that i think we could stand to appreciate more.

lae'zel throws the worlds biggest meltdown anytime you do anything not directly related to the githyanki creche, only to almost get her shit immediately rocked. lae'zel on modern day stan twitter would be a shitshow and you cant convince me otherwise. and thats before we even mention her fighting you in act two and then immediately crying about it. babygirl its okay, we were only playing. AND TRYING TO KISS HER IN PUBLIC?? she acts big and bad in act 1, fighting rough with you the entire time, but as soon as you ask her for a little kiss? immediate embarrassment. she could absolutely wreck my shit, but shes still a meow meow.

shadowheart is just fantasy catholic. she gets mad if you pick up a statue of selûne bc shes just that catholic. dyes her hair white in a desperate emo crisis of faith moment. recites smut in public. makes jokes that land incredibly flat. is acting way cooler and more chill than she actually is to hide the fact that shes scared. SHE CHOSE THE NAME SHADOWHEART. need i say more?

karlach may be cringe but she is free, i will give her this. she gets the zoomies. she almost blows up a firework shop with her in it because shes so excited. she has a teddy bear called clive. she hasnt read a book since secondary school. she does a little dancy dance if you leave her alone for too long. her inner monologue is just about how horny she is for most people. bisexual failgirl. i love her.

and then the biggest cringefail of them all, minthara. the fact that she absolutely cannot see that every companion at camp actually does grow to really like, love, and respect her bc shes expecting treachery (bc thats what SHE would have done) is as sad as it is just a liiiiittle bit funny. darling. my wife. people like and care about you. not to mention the fact that shes been poisoning you the entire time shes been travelling with you???? cant communicate for the life of her. regularly threatens to kill you but then gets mad if you die. emotionally stunted loserbabe. we will have a july wedding........

what im SAYING isnt that the girls ARENT badass and compotent and cool, what im SAYING is that the lads shouldnt have a monopoly on complexity and depth. you get me?

[velvees-archive]

At 20 years old, Miles Edgeworth’s only mentor tells him never to step foot into his opponent’s territory lest he fail to crush them in court. 4 years later, Edgeworth enters Defendant Lobby No. 1 to warn opposing counsel Phoenix Wright about Redd White’s decisive testimony.

Some post-AAI1 reflections + how Phoenix unravels Miles from the very moment they meet again.

After playing through the original trilogy, up to 4-2 on Apollo Justice, and all of Ace Attorney Investigations 1, I couldn’t help but jot down my (admittedly incomplete) thoughts about Phoenix and Edgeworth’s relationship, especially as it pertains to Miles’ “unraveling,” or his departure from von Karma’s teachings.

We already know von Karma had no love for Edgeworth. Crushing the late Gregory Edgeworth’s legacy under the guise of mentoring his son (and eventually ruining his career at its peak) was von Karma’s last act of hatred towards the departed.

From Miles’ perspective, however, von Karma was an accomplished teacher to whom he owed his gratitude and career’s success. This is important because Edgeworth’s actions are fundamentally motivated by his desire to express his “gratitude,” repay debts, and honor legacies.

His debt to von Karma compels him to strive for the perfection his mentor obsesses over. Achieving perfection takes the form of absorbing von Karma’s teachings, among them the AAI1 screenshot from earlier: only face your opponent in court, and make sure you crush them when you do it.

We know for a fact that the “demon prosecutor” internalizes von Karma’s teachings. He follows them to a T.

So, following 15 years of indoctrination, 4 years of putting the von Karma creed into practice, and an entire childhood AND early adulthood’s worth of gratitude, you’d THINK Edgeworth wouldn’t dare dishonor him…

Until he does, by coming to the defendant lobby to speak to his “enemy.”

Prior to playing AAI1, I thought the impetus for Edgeworth’s character development was 1-3, wherein he reevaluated the facts of the case and helped Phoenix get Dee Vasquez a guilty verdict. I still think 1-3 was the first time he consciously acknowledged the possibility (keyword: possibility) that his prosecutorial upbringing wasn’t..sound…(lmao!)

But with this AAI1 von Karma and Bratworth interaction, I now believe it was 1-2—with Edgeworth subconsciously disregarding his mentor’s teachings and Phoenix acting as the catalyst—that shows us when he first strayed from the path of a Von Karma.

An aside: Do I think AAI1 Bratworth was perfectly characterized? Not at all; he’s much too noble for that era of his life, though I don’t think it affects my case.

Edgeworth is a man full of contradictions. He comes to the defendant lobby to tell Phoenix his case is hopeless, though he has no obligation to disclose—nor has he ever set a precedent of disclosing—decisive witnesses’ information to his opponents.

He tells Phoenix he’ll do anything to get a guilty verdict, yet he warns the defense that his witness’s testimony will be considered infallible, prompting the player (Phoenix) to dissect the following testimonies with more care.

He tells Phoenix not to expect any special treatment from him, yet his very presence in the defendant’s lobby is in direct opposition to his respected mentor’s wishes.

It takes just one appearance from Phoenix for the filaments of von Karma’s indoctrination to unravel. 4 years into his career, Edgeworth has met many attorneys—most notably, Mia Fey—who embody Phoenix’s faith in his clients, yet none could shake his foundations like Phoenix Wright.

Edgeworth may have not been ready to turn a new leaf upon his first encounter with Phoenix, but the fact that a loose thread from his childhood (that’s emblematic of his innocence, his dreams, and dare I say his father’s drive) ultimately leads to his unraveling is poetry if I’ve ever seen it.

TL;DR Phoenix deconstructs Edgeworth like he was born to do so. The moment Phoenix decided to chase after him, Edgeworth had already lost.

[dark-konohagakure2]

Hii i love ur blog, Could u do a scenario where Itachi meets one of sasukes friends and he takes advantage of her and corrupts her mind?

tw: noncon, genjutsu, evil!itachi, mind break, age difference, corruption, mind control, forced orgasm, abuse

All characters depicted are 18+

Itachi has a habit on keeping an eye on Sasuke from afar when he isn't on missions for the Akatsuki, wanting to make sure his little brother is safe. While he's glad that his little brother is making friends who care about him, one of those friends of his is making him soft, leading Sasuke off the path of revenge, and Itachi doesn't like that one bit.

Surely Sasuke won't mind if Itachi takes one of his friends away from him, he already has that knucklehead boy and pink haired girl for companionship, and Sasuke should be used to Itachi taking things away from him by now, he's sure his little brother will survive losing one more thing.

Getting his hands on her is almost too easy, he is the Itachi Uchiha after all, so snatching up a weak little chunin girl and taking here somewhere more private is absolutely nothing for him. Now that he has her alone, he's going to make sure she never interferes with his plans for his little brother ever again.

Just one glance with his Sharingan is enough to seal her fate, trapping her in a genjutsu that forces her to obey him against her own will, and which also makes her body and mind more responsive to his words and touch alone, and nobody else's.

"Resistance is futile, little one. You're already under my genjutsu, and that means you're now mine..."

It's incredibly amusing to watch her struggle against such a powerful genjutsu, watching her try to resist the way her pussy gets soaking wet and tight around his cock as he forces it inside of her slippery cunt, and the way she resists but to no avail to free herself from the hold he has over her mind, but he has already won, and she's completely under his control.

Due to the control he has over her mind and body, all the sensations she is feeling will be amplified tenfold, every thrust making her entire body shake, overwhelming pleasure shooting up from every corner of her body as he pounds into her while whispering cruel words into her ear, telling her to abandon her friends and to stop interfering with his plans, and she is unable to resist any of his commands.

She won't be able to tell how much time has passed since he started fucking her, since Itachi's genjutsu also changes her perception of how much time has passed, he could be fucking her for hours or minutes and she'd feel like its been days of her being fuck brutally and forced to orgasm nonstop.

She'll still be under the influence of his genjutsu for a while longer when he finally pulls out of her, leaving her cunt gaped and stuffed full of his sperm before he gives her an order, and since she's still within his thrall, she physically won't be able to resist his demands.

"There, maybe that will teach you to be a good little girl and mind your own business... Now stay away from my little brother unless you want this to happen again..."

Once he's done he'll just leave her there, perhaps somewhere that Sasuke could possibly happen upon her in that state, since it would not only cause the younger to lose faith in his so-called friend, but it would also increase his hatred.

[celestemona]

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘'𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐒

and how they deal with their children and domestic life.

pairing: dad & husband! wriothesley, lyney and neuvillette x fem! reader.

cw: original characters, slightly ooc to fit the plot, domesticity, fluff. pregnant reader is mentioned to introductions but not too elaborated. not beta read.

reblogs and comments are appreciated ♡

kazuha’s part. | part. ii

Wriothesley 

If outsiders had once been intimidated by the Duke's mere reputation, the announcement of your pregnancy elevated that fear to an entirely new level. The very mention of Wriothesley’s name was enough to unsettle even the bravest of men.

It was no surprise, really—Wriothesley’s demeanor during those months was enough to terrify anyone. He was often seen patrolling the corridors of the Fortress of Meropide with a perpetual frown and clenched fists, as if prepared for battle at a moment's notice. New prisoners, who already dreaded the idea of crossing paths with the Duke, now did everything in their power to avoid his gaze entirely.

What they didn’t know, however, was that beneath the icy exterior, Wriothesley was a bundle of nerves. The mask of aloofness he wore so convincingly was the only defense he knew against the overwhelming fear brewing in his soul.

Fortunately for everyone in the prison, including Wriothesley himself, you were there—attentive, reassuring, and endlessly confident. Your steady presence and unwavering support helped him find calm amidst his storm of insecurities. With your encouragement, he overcame his fears and finally allowed himself to celebrate the arrival of his son.

When that day came, even the guards seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. They silently thanked you, the Duchess, for the sudden shift in their boss. You merely winked in acknowledgment, sharing the unspoken understanding.

Little Cameron’s entry into the world was far from smooth, arriving during one of the most tumultuous times for your family and Fontaine alike. Your own health had been fragile during the pregnancy, leaving you weak and bedridden despite Sigewinne’s best efforts. To make matters worse, the political upheaval in Fontaine added layers of stress and uncertainty.

Wriothesley’s fear of losing both you and the baby loomed large, but deep down, he knew better than to underestimate you. His wife was nothing if not resilient. He held onto that faith as tightly as he held onto you.

Thankfully, Wriothesley’s faith was not misplaced. Against all odds, both you and Cameron emerged victorious from the harrowing ordeal of his birth.

“Please don’t scare me like that again,” Wriothesley said, his voice trembling with residual fear. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you both.”

“You really need to start giving me more credit, Wrio,” you teased, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Your wife is far too stubborn to let herself be beaten by anything, even illness.”

Though Wriothesley had his doubts about fatherhood—his own troubled upbringing having left deep scars—he turned out to be an incredible father. His gentle affection was boundless, and not only you, but the entire Fortress of Meropide began to notice a softer side blossoming in him.

That didn’t mean he let his guard down completely. As the prison's director, he remained unwavering in his enforcement of the laws and its administration.

Still, it was a sight both comforting and amusing to see Wriothesley patrolling the production zones or administrative areas with a baby carrier strapped to his chest. Cameron, a tiny replica of his father, sat calmly nestled against him. Of course, no one dared to comment on the endearing scene, much less approach the new father uninvited.

Cameron, for his part, was a remarkably calm baby. Rarely fussy, he spent most of his time quietly observing his surroundings, his icy blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. Wriothesley found this trait endlessly fascinating and would often spend hours simply watching his son’s inquisitive nature at work.

You and Wriothesley were a seamless team when it came to parenting, balancing your responsibilities to both Cameron and the Fortress of Meropide. When Wriothesley was busy with his duties, Cameron was perfectly content in your care. Likewise, when you were called to perform your job as an interrogator, Wriothesley often retreated to his office with Cameron sitting on his lap. There, father and son would share quiet moments—Wriothesley sipping his tea, Cameron clutching a toy as he mimicked his father’s serious demeanor.

Like every first-time parent, Wriothesley experienced the highs and lows of fatherhood. Some nights, his past demons would awaken him, flooding his mind with fears of inadequacy. But those fears always dissolved as he watched Cameron grow—celebrating his son’s milestones, witnessing his small successes, and marveling at the honorable young man he was becoming.

In those moments, Wriothesley knew he had done well, that there was nothing to fear.

“Well, since we have nothing to fear,” you said one evening, a playful glint in your eye, “I suppose it’s time for me to announce that I’m pregnant again, huh?”

Lyney

Lyney liked to believe that even if you hadn’t met in this life, your souls would have found each other in another. Even if you belonged to different worlds, the thread of fate that bound you both would transcend time and space, drawing you together. It felt as though an invisible red string—one only the two of you could see—connected you, weaving a tale written by destiny itself. For Lyney, it was undeniable that the stars had aligned perfectly to lead him to you.

The love he held for you was unconditional, unwavering, and unshakeable—an immutable truth in the fabric of his universe. But that certainty deepened, expanded, and transformed the day you gave him the greatest gifts of his life: your twin babies, Quentin and Corinne.

Everyone in Fontaine already knew Lyney was a devoted husband. From the earliest days of your relationship, he had made your connection known, never shy about showcasing his affection for you, whether privately or in public. When your pregnancy was announced, his pride only grew. His characteristic smile became brighter, his steps more buoyant, as he walked through the streets of the hydro nation with you by his side, radiating joy and treating you as if you were the most precious treasure in the world—much to your delight.

His affection for you remained unchanged during your pregnancy, but now it was accompanied by an even greater attentiveness.

Lyney anticipated your needs and desires before you could voice them, always eager to ensure your comfort. His innate talent for understanding people made him not only a caring husband but also, as you would soon discover, an exceptional father.

And exceptional was truly an understatement.

You had only ever seen Lyney’s tears once—on your wedding day, when his eyes glistened with barely restrained emotion. That changed with the arrival of the twins. As he cradled his newborn children for the first time, tears streamed freely down his cheeks, his voice trembling as he whispered, “They look so much like you. They’re beautiful.”

Indeed, Quentin and Corinne inherited almost all their features from you, save for Lyney’s striking violet, cat-shaped eyes. Far from being disappointed, Lyney was overjoyed—he believed no one in the world was as beautiful as you, and he was delighted to see that reflected in his children.

Fatherhood transformed Lyney into an even more devoted man. Despite the challenges of balancing his duties with the House of Hearth and his magic performances, often requiring him to travel far from home, Lyney rose to the occasion with grace. He made it a priority to support you, especially during the sleepless nights. Whether it was feeding, changing diapers, or comforting a fussy baby in the early hours, Lyney was always there, sharing the responsibilities of parenthood without hesitation.

From the start, it was clear that Quentin and Corinne had distinct personalities. Quentin’s boundless energy reminded Lyney of his own enthusiasm, while Corinne’s calm, quiet demeanor mirrored Lynette’s. Lyney adored them both equally, cherishing the moments when Quentin’s giggles filled the air or when Corinne snuggled into his embrace for a nap.

While Lyney relished the thought of showing off his children to the world, he prioritized their privacy while they were young and vulnerable. He kept his family close, shielding you and the twins under his protective wing while teaching them to care for each other and grow into independent individuals.

Magic and illusions were constants in your household, with Lyney delighting in performing small tricks for the twins. Their wide-eyed reactions and gleeful laughter were the highlights of his days. As they grew, Lyney made it clear that his love and support were unconditional. No matter what paths Quentin and Corinne chose to walk, he would be their greatest supporter.

Though Lyney sometimes feared that the world might dim the sparkle in their eyes, he vowed to do everything in his power to protect their innocence. His actions, words, and unwavering love ensured that they knew, every single day, just how deeply he cared.

Neuvillette

In the beginning, it was a surprise for the people of Fontaine to see their reserved and dignified Iudex walking through the capital’s streets at your side. That shock only deepened a few years after your marriage, when the front page of The Steambird featured you with a slightly rounded belly, accompanied by an exclusive interview about your career and personal life. The issue flew off the shelves, with sales as abundant as the waters surrounding the hydro nation. Charlotte, ever the savvy journalist, wasn’t the least bit surprised—Fontaineians, after all, had an insatiable appetite for juicy gossip.

While the interview revealed little to sate the public’s curiosity, it didn’t stop them from spinning wild and absurd theories about your life. You, of course, found their speculation amusing and even played into it for your own entertainment. Neuvillette, however, didn’t share your sense of humor. Rumors about his supposed "lack of sensitivity" or imagined scandals involving his name often resulted in rainclouds replacing Fontaine's sunny skies.

The truth, hidden from prying eyes, was that you and Neuvillette had been planning to start a family for quite some time. However, the uncertainties surrounding his draconic heritage made the journey a cautious one. Neuvillette’s greatest fear was putting your health and safety at risk for a selfish dream. It was only after much reassurance, support, and medical guidance from Sigewinne that the two of you felt confident enough to take the leap. The result? The arrival of your beloved daughter, Éveline.

To say Neuvillette was a helicopter husband during your pregnancy would be an understatement. His meticulous care and constant attention, though rooted in love, sometimes left you feeling smothered. His devotion to even the smallest details, while appreciated, occasionally pushed your patience to its limits. Yet, when the time came, and you saw him cradling your newborn daughter in his arms, all the frustrations melted away.

At that moment, Neuvillette revealed a side of himself you had never seen before—a serene, passionate love that only his daughter could inspire.

Fatherhood, unsurprisingly, suited him perfectly.

In those early days, he rarely left Éveline’s side, instinctively anticipating her every need. Whether it was his centuries of caring for the Melusines or simply his natural instincts as a father, Neuvillette’s devotion was unwavering, and you couldn’t be more grateful.

Éveline inherited much of your physical appearance but unmistakably carried Neuvillette’s draconic traits, including his calm yet commanding personality.

Unsurprisingly, Neuvillette was fiercely protective of your daughter, allowing only a select few to meet her during her first months. His philosophy was simple: love meant protecting, and he couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her.

One secret you cherished—shared only through photos and private moments—was Neuvillette’s tendency to transform into his draconic form during his rare nights off. The sight of his massive dragon figure curled protectively around tiny Éveline as she slept was enough to melt your heart. Though she was growing older, these tender moments continued, with Neuvillette showing no signs of wanting to let go of such precious rituals.

Neuvillette’s love for his daughter was evident in his every action. Though a man of few words, his affection was shown through countless gestures, whether it was a comforting hug, a gentle pat on the head, or quiet moments spent together. Under his guidance, Éveline grew up in an environment filled with warmth, where affection was as natural as breathing.

Even with the immense responsibilities of his role as Fontaine’s Chief Justice, Neuvillette made sure to be present for every milestone in Éveline’s life. Patiently and lovingly, he guided her, teaching her to become a person of integrity, fairness, and a noble heart. Through it all, his devotion as a father shone brighter than any duty or title—a testament to the boundless love he held for his family.

.

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a/n: i intended to rewrite kazuha's part, delete his solo post and add it here but it'd be very troublesome because some people has read already. even though i wished to let it all together i'll let it like the way it is already. furthermore, i don't know if it's gonna turn into a series since my will to write disappears as fast as it appears. but if so, i'll only write for these four men.

please let me know if there are any mistakes ;)

edited: nov/2024

[always-just-red]

hello <3 could you do number 18 on the prompt list for rafayel or sylus? I just read no.15 that you did and i love your writing style

Hey! And aww thank you so much! I opted for Sylus for this one, hope you enjoy! 🥰💕

Snow Angels

Sylus x Reader 🩸

Prompt #018: falling into soft snow to create snow angels, flailing wildly on the ground.

Warnings/Additional tags: gn!reader, established relationship, some mutual bullying (but it comes from a place of love 😌)

| Word count: 1.3k | Masterlist | Opt-in to my taglist here!

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Love and Deepspace. All work is my own, so please don't repost or plagiarise!

Sylus doesn’t know why you would want to kill him, and he’s running out of time to figure it out.

You walk beside him solemnly, snow crunching beneath your boots while the bitter breeze plays with the upturned collar of your coat. When your lips part every so often— to release a particularly heavy breath— it looks like smoke from a fire he wouldn’t mind burning in. Cold and crystalline. Warm. The warmest thing in these white, wintery woods.

He glances around the skeletal trees, all gilded with silver. It isn’t bad, as final resting places go.

You haven’t said a word for ten minutes.

You stop, fatefully.

It’s time, then, is it? Sylus stops too, letting out his own billow of frosted breath. His hands are buried deep in his coat pockets. He’s been wondering how he got here, ever since the two of you started this morbid little march together. Was it that stunt he pulled at Association Headquarters last week? When he paid you a surprise visit, bundled in a hat and an absurdly long scarf, which was not (you lectured, as you escorted him from the building) cute, funny, or an even passable disguise.

It might have been the arcade. Two days ago. You’d asked for— what was it? — some crow that was somehow different from the two dozen others you’ve amassed between you. He’d won it, hadn’t he? Except no, it was the wrong one, you wanted that one, the one that was— oh forget it, Sylus. This one is fine, too.

Maybe it wasn’t fine. One wrong plushie too far, and you’ve finally snapped. Somewhere above where the two of you are standing, Mephisto caws, as if to add to the suspense. He’s always had a penchant for theatre.

“It’s pretty here, isn’t it?” you say, gazing out over your surroundings, and you must like theatre as well.

“Mmm,” Sylus agrees vaguely. He’s thinking about how preventable this all was.

“Is that Mephisto over there?” you ask, pointing. “Is he in trouble?”

You’re lying through near-chattering teeth, pointing at nothing, and he doesn’t need to look to know it. Mephisto is still perched overhead, betraying your bluff, and you haven’t even noticed. Oh, the irony. Sylus is going to die here because he can’t tell an ultra-rare crow plush from its common subspecies, but you? You couldn’t pick Mephisto out in a field full of gulls, let alone other crows.

You’ve made your feint, though. A distraction: the opening for that knockout punch you’ve been fantasising about throughout the course of this entirely innocent, not-at-all suspicious hike.

He turns, anyway— red eyes following the line of your finger through the white of the woods— and awaits his execution.

Waiting.

Waiting.

You shove him with all of your might, and it…

… Doesn’t move him. Not even an inch.

Your profession is death-dealing, your world is dangerous. Never once has Sylus doubted your ability to survive it, conquer it, walk from the bones of it like its rightful sovereign, but that faith collapses beneath one simple question:

Is that it?

He turns back to you in disbelief, mouth threatening to grin. “What was that?”

“Nothing!” Your eyes are wide with guilt and a similar shock. “It was… I mean, it was just…” You give up. “Ugh, you ruin everything! How the hell are you so strong?”

“Born with it, sweetie,” Sylus chuckles— what a stupid question. “How are you so weak?”

“I’m not weak!”

He lifts an eyebrow. “I thought the breeze had picked up. Perhaps a falling leaf had struck me, or a—”

“Shut up!” You stoop, collecting and launching a handful of snow at him, but most of it falls short. “Just shut up, okay?”

You’re actually disappointed? Sylus casually brushes away the little snow that had reached him and dusted the black of his coat. He’s not sure what you expected from a single shove and a half-assed snowball. If you wanted to do this properly, you’d have at least brought a gun.

Still. “Push me again,” he says with a smirk, because look at you: you’re really worked up about this, huh?

You frown at first, but then your disappointment goes like morning frost, kissed by sunlight. Your lips curve with his favourite smile. With your eyes ablaze, you push him again.

He doesn’t fall slowly; he drops.

“Ha!” you exclaim with a gleeful cackle, shockingly free from concern as he lies in the thick snow, thinking he maybe overcommitted to his descent. His body might ache if it wasn’t already going numb from the cold. His eyes are closed. New flakes of snow are settling on him, trying to bury him, but it’ll take much, much more than that.

Mephisto caws above like he’s in mourning.

“Happy, sweetie?” Sylus enquires, opening one eye. A dead man in a play, peeking to see if the curtain’s come down yet so he can finally move.

Instead of answering, you throw yourself down in the snow beside him with a shriek of delight. The snow is so high around his face that he can barely see you. He hears you moving: dragging the snow back and forth with flailing limbs. “Make a snow angel with me, Sy!” Is that what that is? You look like baby turtle, flipped on its shell. “Come on! It looks so cute when they do it in the movies!”

“Cute?” he mimics, unimpressed.

“Romantic,” you offer up instead, and sure enough— with a groan of lament— the leader of Onychinus starts to move his arms and legs. Back and forth. Back and forth.

Mephisto is cawing with more enthusiasm, and it sounds an awful lot like your cackle. Thankfully, the sound is easy to forget with all the swooshing, crunching snow. Sylus can’t feel his hands or his feet, but he’ll never hear the end of it if he gives out first.

Eventually, you go still. No more swooshing or crunching. Mephisto is silent. Sylus goes still, too.

“Sy?” you whisper.

“Hmm?”

“…I’m cold.”

He scoffs, sitting up and shaking his head to dislodge the snow that’s clinging to his hair and back. With another groan, he gets himself to his feet. Looks down at you lying there, staring up at the sky like you’re full of regret. He is also cold, and he’s had his fill of ‘romantic’, so he scoops you up and shrugs you over his shoulder as you squeak with surprise.

You’re facing the wrong way. You can’t see the snow angels, but he can.

“How do they look?” you ask.  

His head slants slightly. Snow ‘angels’ is a stretch. They look like… he doesn’t know what, actually. One is bigger than the other. In the middle, their wings almost meet where your fingers must have almost brushed. He smiles, his free hand drawing his phone from his pocket so he can snap a quick picture.

“Sylus.” You sound impatient. “Cold, remember?”

He chuckles; you are demanding. “Want me to warm you up, kitten?” His phone is away, his hand is on the back of your leg, and you slap at him half-heartedly. It just makes him chuckle more.

“Can’t get the right plushie from the stupid claw machine and now you’re mocking me,” you grumble. Sylus smiles to himself before you continue: “awful at claw machine, awful at letting me ambush you, awful at—”

This could be going on for a while, so Sylus turns, set on carrying you back.

“Awful at singing!” you’ve somehow gotten to.

He stops walking and oh— would you look at that! There's another snow drift nearby: so plain, so pristine.

It could really use a snow angel, and he has the perfect one in mind.