#and my ability to keep her watered aha

[pinkiipeachiikeen]

Feline Antics

Kuroo x GN! reader

This was the first thing I've written specifically to post on tumblr, and was originally on my other 'fanfic only' blog, pinkipeachiikeen (one 'i' after pink) but I decided managing two blogs was too time consuming and decided to merge with my original account (pansexualproblemchild) and keep the name. TDLR: it's def not my best work and if it looks familar, no I didn't copy anyone's work but my own

This fic was inspired/dedicated to @taeyamayang and her little black cat momo and my little black aria (mimi)

WC: 717

Summary: Kuroo tries.... and fails to convince y/n that he is a dog person with his cat like antics

“So what did you get?”

“19/20, beat that, loverboy.” I tease, shaking my phone at him.

“Read it and weep, honeybunch.” He dangles his phone in front of my face. “Read it and weep.” 

“What?” No way.  I snatch his phone. “Lemme see.” The four numbers mock me.

20/20. 

“I guess i’m just the better partner.” Kuroo gloats. “I could’ve told you thaAAT-” Kuroo ducks, almost falling off the couch, as i wack him with my stuffed animal, a comically large stuffed goose Kuroo gave me as ‘thinking of you’ gift since geese are small and cute. It Would have been sweet if he didn’t follow that with “needlessly loud and aggressive.”

I wacked him with it then too. Then named it Mr Honk.

“How embarrassing,” he teases. “After you begged me to take this little relationship test too.”

 “I didn’t beg!” I whine, crossing my arms. “I don’t beg!” 

He raises his eyebrow. Don’t do it. He smirks. “You sure did last-”

 “OH MY GOD!” I cut him off before my face can heat up anymore as he cackles. I’m dating a man child. “Whatever.” I scoff as I scroll through all the questions and my eyes finally land upon the damn question that determined Kuroo was the better partner. Question 12. Does your partner prefer dogs or cats? A simple question. A no brainer. Cats, obviously. Except the red ‘x’ too it says otherwise.

“Aha! That’s why!” I exclaim.

“Hmm? You found out why i am the superior parter?” he teases as he settles down next to me, feeling safe now that my weapon of choice (Mr. Honk) was out of my hands. I roll my eyes playfully. “You wish.” I tossed him my phone. “You pressed the wrong answer, dummy.”His eyebrows furrow as he retorts; “No, i didn’t?” 

“Yeah you did! You pressed ‘dogs’ instead of ‘cats’. Therefore, we tied!” I said smugly.

 “Except, I did press the right answer. I’m more of a dog person.” I roll my eyes  he explains

“Bullshit!”

“Wha-” he sputters. “How are you gonna tell me what animal I prefer?” he reasons. “Is this because I was the captain of Nekoma? With my suave graceful movements and agaile abilities?” He pridefully boasts, looking like the cat that got the canary.

 “Yeah the same agileness that broke three different lamps. Two in the same day, as well.” 

Kuroo scoffs, offended by the facts. “I’m tall, Y/n! My lanky limbs have to go somewhere!” He pouts, wiggling said lanky limbs for effect. 

“Yeah, but they couldn’t have been lanky anyplace besides right next to my nightstand? Or my coffee table, or my-“

 “Ok, Ok I get it!” He whines. “All of that only helps plead my case.” I state.

 “You mean the one that I’m a cat.” 

“Yes. Cats break shit left and right too.”

“Okay, left and right is a little excessive!”

“But not wrong. Let’s also talk about the fact how you hiss when I sprayed water on you.”

“Anyone would when you spray water on them!” 

“People don’t hiss Tetsu! You full on hissed like a vampire in the sun!

“….So like Kenma.” 

I pause for a moment. “A little bit, yeah I guess. He’s like a cat too, but that’s a whole different story. He’s like a old calico cat, just minding his business while you are a little scrappy black cat. Causing chaos and mischief.”

 “I’m not scrappy, i’m resourceful and resilient!” He corrects. 

I blink, once, then twice. “You’re scrappy”. I deadpan. “The scrappy little black cat antagonizing and teasing everyone always causing a ruckus and always needs attention and affection. No matter how much they deny it.”

 “I don’t demand nor need your attention!” He huffs. 

“Tetsu?”

“Yes, love?”

“You are literally laying on my right now.”

Kuroo looks down to realize that he is indeed laying across my lap and is silent for a moment, Before he snuggles closer into me.

“The fact that I’m laying on your lap means nothing.” He pulls up the blanket over his lap. “Now shh. I’m sleeping now.”

I smile and roll my eyes once more, something I find i’m doing more and more ever since my cat-like boyfriend (clumsily, and awkwardly)  waltzed his way into my life. “See? Demanding.” 

“Shh!” 

Thanks for reading! Reblogs, likes and comments are always greatly appreciated! ❤️

[wrens-versus-the-world]

ੈ✩‧₊˚Maybe if I paint over my past with pretty lies I'll begin to believe them, and finally let it go ˚₊ ‧✩ੈ

M. list

(I will try to keep up with this but I make no promises!)

also I tend to post more on Wattpad so...

also, some of the links may not work (it's because I am still trying to fool around with tumblr and how it works :D. So if something isnt finished/ a oneshot then a link may not work)

(also I'm not sure where to formally put this, but I do read asks/ the questions (so if you have any requests I may do them if I have time))

Bungo Stray Dogs:

Fyodor:

A demon's promise (Demon! Fyodor x human! reader)

In which all you wanted was to finish up your homework and go to sleep.. at least until a certain demon showed up and made you an offer you couldn't possibly refuse

(Wattpad link) (tumblr link)

Osamu Dazai

Four Years

In which you come home to see your boyfriend, drunk, sad, and most regrettably contemplating his life.

(NOTE: this one-shot has some mature themes (i.e. depression, suicide attempts, and alcohol), so if you're not comfortable do NOT interact with this)

(Tumblr link)

Various

Books (Various BSD characters X reader)

A bookworm, seeking to get away from work travels to Yokohama, Japan for an extended vacation, only to be captured by an anti-ability organization *does not follow the main plot! BSD belongs to Kafka Asagiri

(Link to Books masterlist)

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

Genshin Impact:

Harbingers

Intertwined with the inhuman (Inhuman! harbingers X Human! reader)

In which Y/n L/n finds herself intertwined with the inhuman. A lot could happen in two months

(On wattpad or here)

Ayato

"Aha no" K. Ayato x Isekai! reader

In which Y/n l/n gets isekaied into one of her favorite games : Genshin impact. The only plot twist is that she gets isekaied into the body of a high ranking noble in inazuma. that same noble is to be wed to the infamous Kamisato Ayato.

(On wattpad or here)

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

Jujutsu Kaisen:

Itadori + Sukuna

Just a Dream | Itadori Yuji x reader x Sukuna (soulmate AU)

In which a girl from our world sees her soulmates in her dreams but never remembers them.

(On Wattpad or here)

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

Mo Xiang Tong Xui Inspired works: (AKA TGCF, MDZS, and SVSSS)

He Xuan

An Angel's Predicament | Demon! He Xuan x Nurse! Reader

in which a nurse summons a demon with some excess blood from a blood transfusion (for fun), but now he won't leave them alone.

(joking)

(On wattpad or here)

Ripples in the water | He Xuan x Shi Qingxuan (modern au... its weird)

Fate is cruel. Or maybe not as cruel as He Xuan once thought.

Or… Heavenly officials never reincarnate, until two do.

(On AO3 or here )

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

One Piece

Transmigrator's Guide to Faulty Fan-fiction (various one piece characters x reader)

Synopsis: A tired person graduates college, soon after gets their dream job, and then gets isekai-ed into a fanfic they read as a teen.

Or, an aspiring chemical engineer gets isekai-ed into a college au one piece fan-fiction they frequented as a teen, making them go through college yet again (fantastic).

Located: Coming soon!

[cataztrophi]

“Could I get a mai tai?” The man slid his credit card across the bar and Taako snatched it up with a million-watt smile. 

“Coming right up, my dude! Leave it open?”

The man nodded and Taako started a tab for him at the register. Then he grabbed a shaker from the bar, flipped it twice in the air, and set it back down.

“Lup! White rum!”

Lup nodded and tossed the bottle from the speed rack towards him. “Heads up!”

Taako caught it with a practiced ease and upended the bottle into the shaker he had already filled with ice. From the other end of the bar, there was a flash of fire as Lup lit up a shot of 151. She only broke out the fire when they were sure Davenport and Lucretia weren't around. In fairness to her, that one frat boy had only burned his eyebrows off because he was too dumb to put the flaming cocktail out before he drank it.

It was Saturday at the Starblaster, and Taako was in his element. The music was cranked up to a volume that shook the walls, colored spotlights swarmed over the floor and the crowds of dancers, and the heat and frenzied movement kept sweating patrons rushing to the bar in waves for something ice cold and served by Yours Truly with a wink. Grinning, Taako shoveled ice into a hurricane glass and dumped the rest of the ingredients into the shaker. He flipped up a smaller shaker, slammed it down on the first, and began mixing the drink. 

Taako and Lup had developed a knack for showy bartending during the five years they had worked at the Starblaster. On nights like this, with thirsty customers crowded around the bar, they worked in perfect tandem, effortlessly orbiting each other like the twin suns of a binary system. Unfortunately, not everyone in the bar shared that ability. As Taako threw back his arm, it collided with something solid and the shaker slipped out of his hand. Taako heard a soft “oof,” followed by the sound of tin smashing into tile and ice scattering across the floor.

He whirled around to see Kravitz standing behind him, his white dress shirt and gray vest dripping with spilled mai tai. 

“Fuck!” Double fuck. Of all the times to lose track of the guy he’d been checking out for the past month…. Taako grabbed a towel from under the bar and began dabbing at Kravitz’s clothes. “Sorry, my dude! In my defense, you shouldn't get behind me when I'm shakin'.”

Kravitz grimaced. “I'll try to remember that. And it's no problem, I'll just….” He picked up a handful of cocktail napkins and attempted to dry himself off, but only succeeded in creating a mushy wad of paper that stuck to his clothes and hands.

“Here, Taako, I’ll take over bartending,” Barry said, appearing as he so often did at the moment he was needed. “You should help Kravitz find some dry clothes.”

“I owe you one, Barold,” Taako said, clapping Barry on the shoulder before turning towards the door that led to the employees only area. “Come on, my fella. I think Magnus has some spare t-shirts lying around that should fit you.” Kravitz followed behind him, still doing his best with the cocktail napkins.

“So, is this the first time you got spilled on?” Taako asked as they reached the back room where they left their bags during their shifts. If he made enough small talk, maybe he could drown out the voice in his head telling him he’d just blown any shot he had with Kravitz.

“No, I spilled a pitcher of water on myself my first week. It's the first one since that, though.”

“Not bad for your first month! Here's a Taako Pro Tip: always keep at least one spare outfit with you. You gotta be prepared for when wardrobe disaster strikes.” He found Magnus' bag and began rooting around in it.

“And you're sure Magnus won't mind?”

“Nah, we borrow his shit all the time. Well, ‘borrow….’ Aha!” He pulled out a black t-shirt and waved it triumphantly in the air like a flag. “It might be a little big on you, but-”

The words died in Taako's throat as he turned around to find that Kravitz had unbuttoned his shirt and vest and was now in the process of shrugging out of them. Taako felt heat creeping up his face. He was staring, he knew he was staring, but fuck. His mind wandered and he imagined pressing his hands to Kravitz’s chest, feeling the muscles move under his hands as Kravitz wrapped his arms around him…. Then winding his arms around Kravitz’s neck and pulling him down for a kiss….

“Uh… Taako?”

“What? Oh! Here.” He thrust the t-shirt in Kravitz’s direction. A few dark lines on Kravitz’s ribs caught his eye. “Hang on–is that a tattoo?”

Kravitz pulled the shirt on. It was definitely too big, but it would do for the night. “Yeah.”

“Huh.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know, you just seem sort of straight-laced.”

“Maybe I just take a while to warm up to people.” He met Taako’s eyes, holding his gaze for just a moment too long. Was it just him, or was the room getting smaller?

He swallowed hard. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

Kravitz blinked, breaking the tension between them. Taako was a little sorry to see it go. “What?”

Taako grinned. “Show-and-tell, my man. I’ll tell you about my tattoo if you tell me about yours.”

He hesitated for a moment. “It’s not on your ass, is it?”

Taako snorted. “Are you kidding? I’m not giving that away for free. Here.” He pulled down the neck of his crop top to expose one shoulder and turned his back to Kravitz. After another moment of hesitation, Kravitz stepped closer to see the small tattoo right next to his shoulder blade. It was a deep red umbrella, half-open.

“Lup has one just like it,” Taako explained. “We got it for our 18th birthday. We moved around a lot as kids–you know, relatives, foster homes, stuff like that–so we really only had each other. It’s our way of saying that we’ll always have each other’s backs.”

“That’s… really sweet.” Kravitz heaved a sigh, and for a moment Taako was worried that he'd pushed too hard. He did that sometimes, and Lup always told him it would get him into trouble. Not that she was any better. Then Kravitz continued. “It's a few bars from Fauré's Pavane in F-sharp minor. My tattoo, I mean. I always loved that piece. I used to imagine myself conducting it, back when I was studying music.”

“What happened?”

Kravitz shrugged. “Oh, you know, the usual. Things got in the way. Life, money, dwindling funding for the arts….”

Taako nodded. “Man, I know how that goes. Well, it's a rad tattoo anyway.”

The faintest smile turned up the corners of Kravitz’s lips. “Thanks.” He glanced at the clock over the door. “We should probably get back.”

He was right, but for the first time in five years Taako wasn’t itching to get back to the adrenaline rush of a packed house. “Yeah, gotta keep Lup from burning the place down.”

Kravitz chuckled and headed for the door. Taako lingered for a moment, fumbling with his phone.

“Hey, Krav?”

Kravitz turned around, his hand on the doorknob. “Yeah?”

Taako held up his phone, which was playing the opening notes of the Fauré Pavane. “This song slaps.”

Krav smiled and, without another word, disappeared through the door.

The rest of the night passed in a blur, and Taako constantly found himself biting back a smile. He knew if Lup caught him grinning she would tease him about it for months. She had already done the obligatory "suggestive eyebrow waggle" at him when he and Kravitz had returned from the back room. He finished his shift exhausted but happy, with a vague plan to catch Kravitz on his way out and see if he wanted to grab some 4 a.m. breakfast at the diner around the corner. When he headed to the back, though, Kravitz’s bag was already gone.

“Did Kravitz leave already?” he asked Magnus, who was just closing out his shift as a bouncer. 

“Yeah, he was only on till 3 today. He left a while ago.” He began digging more forcefully through his bag. “Hey Taako, have you seen my spare t-shirt? I could have sworn I brought one today….”

“Nope! No clue, sorry, my dude.” He tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest. 

Despite his disappointment, he managed to convince Lup and Barry to join him at the diner, and they were chatting happily as they left the bar. As soon as he got to the parking lot, he saw something bright pink sail past him and explode on the asphalt, splashing his legs with frigid water. He gasped at the sudden cold and whirled around just in time to see Kravitz hurling another water balloon in his direction. This one hit him square in the chest, and he squealed in surprise and shock. Kravitz was laughing, a good, deep laugh that Taako hadn’t heard from him before.

“Ceasefire!” Taako raised his arms above his head. Lup was collapsed against Barry, roaring with laughter. Kravitz paused mid-windup for his next throw, then dropped the water balloon back into the bucket at his feet.

“I figured turnabout was fair play,” Kravitz said, still chuckling. Taako walked towards him, hands held limply above his head.

“Okay, fair enough.” Taako was smiling now, too. At this time of year, the temperature was almost 80 even before the sun rose, and the cold water was a welcome reprieve. “That’s a lot of balloons,” he said, peering down into the bucket.

Kravitz shrugged. “I wasn’t sure how good my aim would be.”

“Looked pretty good from here!” Lup hollered from across the parking lot. 

He smiled and looked down at the bucket as well, scratching the back of his neck. “Not sure what I’ll do with the rest of these now…”

Taako picked one up and tossed it experimentally in one hand. “Oh, I think I have an idea.”

Kravitz braced for impact against a point-blank attack, but Taako whirled around and hurled the balloon directly at Lup. She attempted to dodge but it hit her in the shoulder, making her yelp at the sudden cold.

“Oh, I’m gonna get you for that!” She sprinted towards Taako, and he took off running, zigzagging between the few cars still left in the lot. While Kravitz was distracted, Barry pushed past him and grabbed the bucket, taking a second to smash a balloon into Kravitz’s chest.

In a moment, they devolved into all-out water balloon warfare, with Kravitz and Taako allying themselves against the juggernaut of Lup’s chaos and Barry’s strategy. Both teams succeeded in stealing the bucket of ammunition several times, and the fight only ended once the last balloon collided with Barry’s back, leaving his jeans soaked.

“I haven’t laughed that hard in weeks,” Taako gasped, bracing his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

Kravitz grinned, still panting. “Me neither.” Behind them, Lup was chasing Barry around with her jacket, trying to wring it out over his head.

Taako straightened up and began squeezing some of the water out of his braid. “I don’t suppose you brought towels with you.”

Kravitz shook his head. “Sorry, I didn’t think that far ahead.”

“Guess we’d better head home and change, then.”

He nodded. “Unless….”

Taako’s eyebrows went up. “Unless?”

Kravitz started wringing out a corner of his borrowed t-shirt, suddenly so engrossed in the task that he couldn’t meet Taako’s eyes. “Well, it’s just… I have dry clothes at my place. If you wanted to… you know….”

Despite his wet clothes, Taako suddenly felt too hot. “Oh! I mean, yeah! Let’s go… dry off.” 

He waved across the parking lot at Lup. “I’ll catch you guys later!” She wolf-whistled at him, and he flipped her the bird before climbing into the passenger seat of Kravitz’s car. He smiled at Kravitz as he climbed in, and Kravitz smiled back, a little nervously. 

“So, Krav, do you have any other tattoos?”

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

“Ooh, naughty! It’s a deal.”

[atangledfate]

She glanced over at Poppy mentioning her Father and seemed somewhat to struggle with the idea. She didn't have a father, she wasn't sure what that was meant to be like. Having only a single parent which spawned her from the ashes of great heroes. She always struggled with what it must have been like to have this protective figure in ones life. But she never quite understood it and she wished she knew what that was like. Even Sonic had a father and a mother yet she was simply different.

" Sounds as if they were just trying to keep you safe... though i would have liked to have met them... at least i got to meet your mother. I rather like Scarlett despite her pushiness... she is somewhat like my own mother... at least in some ways. "

She had to smile as she leaned back on her hands enjoying the comfort of her big bed. She found it amusing since she didn't even have a bed for a long time! It was only when she mastered her mortal form she was finally able to enjoy one, and she had grown to love her bed as it was when she got to spend time with her mother and, her uncle.

" Aha... well you are welcome to come share it with me when ever you like! In truth i've not had a bed for a long while. For most of my life i always slept in a pyre much like my mother. But once i mastered my Mortal form it felt more natural to sleep in a bed... i am rather fond of it now..."

She did give poppy a concerned look when she spoke of ignoring the pain. It wasn't a great habit, as pain was a good indicator of damage, and need for medical attention. For someone to learn such a skill spoke of a harsh and unyielding life.

" You should never ignore pain... Pain tells us much of what our body needs, or has been through. We should listen least we regret it later in life... but, i am no less guilty of ignoring an injury in battle and after... still i suppose as warriors, we have had to develop such tolerances to attain victory. "

She sighed and closed her eyes looking at the ceiling as if she could see someone or something in the distance.

" I am almost jealous of my friend Sonic. His ability to heal his wounds at super speeds ah, if only we were so lucky... though i do heal quite fast, i require intense heat or flames to speed my healing along. i suppose i should be happy i can do that at all "

She gave Poppy a sideways glance and a soft smile as she spoke of her aversion to water. That reminded her so much of Sonic, not that she fared much better in water. Though she could swim she did not like water as it could do her real harm being a living flame. Should her mortal form falter it would be akin to dosing herself in acid. Sh avoided it when she could, but she as not afraid of it and she did have to clean her mortal fur and hair still.

" Well you know this is one big island! but don't worry with your warp ring we can always set up more locations to warp you when need be. I suppose we should get you a Wisp as well so you can charge it more consistently. If they are willing to come to Sol at least..."

She found this conflict with Poppys family and her chef mildly amusing! But perhaps Poppy was right. She'd make a mention of this to Gardon he could speak with Jean about the situation.

" I'll have Gardon speak with him, i'm sure some arrangement can be made. But yes... let us retire for the night. You can at least enjoy the comfort of my bed--- Though i do worry you will be feeling the aftermath of your battle by morning... "

"Well, I ain't too sure how well they were doing after I had to skip town due to, uh, events." Poppy didn't think now was the best time to get into it, though would tell Blaze about the day she was forced to leave town when she had the chance. "Not to mention home didn't really feel like home after dad passed away. I couldn't imagine the hell he'd give me for disappearing for a few days and marrying a princess from another world." If her mum was bad, then her dad was ten times worse. Though he was just protective.

"Oh, yeah, guess I didn't think of that. I suppose I just need to adjust to stuff like this. Doesn't help I've always been more of a minimalist for the most part." Poppy was never one to care too much about owning a bunch of material related things. The opossum only had a few personal items she wouldn't get rid of, not as long as she was kicking. "This bed is certainly comfy." It certainly beats the mattress in her house.

"Yeah, guess I need to train my body not to ignore pain like it normally likes to do, though being banged up enough times I can tell nothing was broken. I'm glad I walked away with just one bruise, well, I assume there are a bunch of small ones on my arms, though I braced myself for those so I'm sure they aren't too bad." Poppy was sure they'd show up tomorrow, though when she brace's her muscles nothing was going to leave any major damage or bruise.

"I don't really know how to swim, and don't like water in general so I'd rather never go overseas if we can help it." Poppy doubts she'd be getting into the reason for that anytime soon. "I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if I get a few people trying to take me out since it sounded like a lot of royals aren't going to be happy about us getting married. Though I'm sure they'll find out quickly I ain't easy to kill." The opossum was sure putting a few people in the hospital will make that clear real quick.

"Though I think we both should head to bed by this point. I know I'm going to need it as my body is going to be chucking sore tomorrow." Poppy was sure her body would really feel the damage from the fight. "Though maybe you should mention to Jean that my mum and sisters want to cook breakfast. I suggest you say it'd be a good chance to see how good her cooking is. Expand his knowledge and stuff." Hopefully it'll keep him from being too grumpy about it.

[judesmoonbeauty]

Ikémen Villains: Surprise Bag Prologue (April Fools Day Story)

Fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors. Cybird owns everything. Feel free to re-blog, but please do NOT post my translations elsewhere. Note: This is the prologue of a story yet that is not yet available. The story set will most likely not be purchased, but this was too funny not to translate the prologue at least. Dividers: @/natimiles

I think I've developed a tolerance for the extraordinary since I became a fairy tale keeper.

However, there are things that happen in Crown that easily surpass even my experience level.

Jude: Good morning, Kate. I'll make you happy today.

Kate: Jude, did you hit your head?

Jude: What? I haven't been hit anywhere. I'm fine.

Kate: What happened to your usual prickly attitude? A cold? An Injury? Let’s go to the hospital anyway!

Ellis: Damn, what the hell is going on here?

Jude: Oh, Jude. 

Jude: Huh? Why is Jude me?

Ellis: That's my line. Why did you become me?

Kate: Uh, what?

Elbert: Ah, well! That was very amusing, wasn't it?

Kate: Al….. eh, Elbert?

Kate: Then you don't mean to say that Alfons in the back...

Alfons: I looked in the mirror and saw Al.

Elbert: It's interesting to look at yourself objectively in this way.

Elbert: Oh, Elle. Please speak with more energy, because it’s creepy to me.

Alfons: More….energy?

Alfons: Aha……!

Elbert: I was wrong to ask you to cheer me up. 

Kate: Maybe, maybe not. 

Kate: Jude and Ellis have switched places, and Elbert with Alphonse!

Kate: How did you get into such a weird situation? 

Ellis: It was probably caused by that quack doctor.

When the entire Crown gathered to pursue the matter with Mr. Roger, he laughed teasingly.

Roger: Sorry, sorry. I didn't realize the effect would be so great. Aren’t I a genius?

Victor: Roger, this isn’t good! How could something so cute...be such a big deal?

Liam: Victor, your thoughts are leaking out and your words don't match your expression.

Roger: I've been researching whether the curse can be passed on by replacing a cursed person with a normal person.

William: Your insatiable inquisitive spirit is astounding. But then shouldn't we experiment with humans and cursed people?

Roger: It would be dangerous if something happened to them other than the cursed ones. We need to experiment with these guys first.

Harrison: What do you think we are? We die normally too.

Elbert: It's time to sink these muscular glasses into the Thames.

Ellis: That's right. If we put a weight on it and dump it in the water, that's the end of it.

Kate: Hey, please stop saying such disturbing things with Elbert’s and Ellis’ faces!”

Jude: But Roger is amazing, isn't he? He can make such an amazing medicine.

Liam: Jude is being so fluffy. No, it's confusing!

Roger: Don't worry. If you let me take your data, I'll make you a proper antidote.

Roger: If I make an antidote, I can try it on someone else later, I guess…..

Harrison: Did you just say something disturbing?

Roger: No?

Elbert: I mean, how can I negotiate with you? I'm too speechless, please die.

Harrison: Wow, eh…….Liam? Hey. Are you sleeping?

Jude: Sorry, it’s my fault for poking him on the forehead. I was just wondering if I could use Jude's ability.

Roger: Oh, so you've inherited the ability too? Aren’t I a genius after all?

(It’s getting hard to keep up!)

Kate: And, in the meantime, please give them the antidote, Roger!

Kate: I can only imagine what would happen if Her Majesty were to hear about this.

Roger: You’re right. I might be fired.

Roger: So, keep an eye on them to make sure they don't snitch on me, little lady.

Kate: Huh, Roger? Wait!

Ellis: Tch……good for nothing. Get carelessly fired.

Jude: Oh, Jude. No smoking in my body. 

Ellis: *Cough*…first of all. Ellis, you should at least smoke one of those cigarettes and train yourself.

Elbert: Don't you think this face would make up for any wrongdoing?

Alfons: Kate, is this spoon beautiful?

Kate: Oh, I think I'm going crazy..!

I hope this is a bad lie on April 1st. But the scene in front of me tells me it is true.

At this time I still do not know. That more comedy awaits us in the future. To be continued…..if you purchase the story set once available.

[Master List]

[altrxisme]

@mccnrxse asked [BELIEF] [ from: Karlach; to: whoever you want ]

REASONS TO CUP A FACE. ( A PROMPT LIST. ) // accepting [BELIEF]: in a moment where the receiver is lacking in self-confidence, the sender cups their face tenderly and professes their faith in the receiver's abilities.

Contrary to what most see from the silvetongued half-elf, his easy-going nature made it easy to throw a veil over the anxiety and internal despair that swirls within. The Shadowlands hadn't made it easier for him, his wood elf blood made it easier for him to sense the oppressive presence of the curse in the land— his awareness to it raised his hackles tenfold, leaving the typically chatty ranger quiet during their stay in the inn.

He was seated by the docks, his boots dangled over the waters, in hopes of calming the creeping sense of panic on his lonesome. If he couldn't keep it together, there was no telling if he could make it into the towers with the rest of the party.

Karlach seemed to think that was a load of bull, having taken a seat next to him.

Jackson had expected Karlach to be more eager for any sort of touch after Dammon gave her a new upgrade for her heart. Bright blues fluttered in surprise from the gesture, touched at her attempt at comforting him. However, it was her words that had him tremble for a moment— burying the urge to simply breakdown.

Gods, was he TIRED.

"Aha— Hey now, don't go tryin' ta steal my unofficial job of cheerin' up our little ragtag group, Kar."

[gilded-gheists]

Seeing as campaign two is twenty years after the end of the first one, is it unlikely for Marion/The Ruby to have known about Vorugal's keep and hold on what was Draconia? As a very close main city, surely Nicodranas would have known about the dragon being there, and by extension, Marion would have.

Although probably not one of the reasons (was the reason for her agoraphobia stated? there doesn't need to be a reason to have agoraphobia obviously but I'm curious as I'm halfway through CR2 and just skimmed her wiki to check) for her agoraphobia, it would make sense that, perhaps she was either in her early 20's (to make her around 40) or perhaps a child (to make her in her 20's/30's) when news of Vorugal taking over the area spread to Nicodranas, as it was certainly a place of territory, hell they even let him hunt sea beasts so who's to say Nicodranas citizens haven't seen ice crackle across the ocean? Perhaps she's seen such things. Perhaps such an event, the close threat, was enough to form agoraphobia in her? Or maybe she's just lived with it her whole life and I'm creating a theory out of thin air.

This is just a loose thing I thought was neat as I'm watching CR1 and remembered Draconia is in Wildemount and all whilst watching episode 64.

(spoilers to disprove the theory or to add to it as a headcanon are fine! I've spoiled myself on the whole story, my memory is just REALLY shit-)

[sweet-andy]

😝💕☠️

[breadedsinner]

Hawke as an Inquisition Member

This is loosely based on a meme that went around when DA:I came out. I never got around to it and I think it was more focused on people’s Inquisitor in an AU setting, so I am just co-opting it using ideas from my fic Tether, since I headcanon my Hawke joins the Inquisition as an agent under Josephine. That being said, this is canon-divergent.

***

Background

Judith Hawke was born and raised in Ferelden, the first daughter of an apostate and a runaway noble. She served briefly under King Cailan before the Blight drove her to Kirkwall. She found success in defending the city, eventually becoming Champion for driving off Qunari, but was cast out for standing against Knight-Commander Meredith. She campaigned for the rightful Prince of Starkhaven, unknowingly one step ahead of Seeker Pentaghast, and has been reigning Princess for several months.

Before she was born, Judith’s mother was captured by Grey Wardens, forcing her father to use blood magic and seal away Corypheus. As such, Judith feels a personal responsibility in defeating the ancient magister once and for all, in any way she can.

Technically Judith is an agent under Josephine, developing her diplomatic skills. Nevertheless, she is happy to lend her blade when called upon.

Location

When not away on missions, Judith can be found in the courtyard gazebo, in quiet contemplation, though sometimes she can be spotted in the Herald’s Rest with Varric.

***

Specialization

Paladin: Judith was exposed to lyrium at a young age and thus has the abilities of a Templar. While not as potent, she does not require regular dosage. Her focus is defeating enemies swiftly, and is especially adept at rendering enemy defenses and slaying demons.

Silver Sword; when activated, does increased damage to Fade Creatures.

Smite; a burst of lyrium-infused energy, dealing greater damage to Fade Creatures, and stunning all enemies in range.

Silence; interrupts spells and prevents further spell-casting for an extended period of time.

Hawk’s Wing; a powerful lunge, cleaving foes in her path. This is especially effective against guard.

Talon Lunge; a precise attack at a single target, effective against armor.

Crescent Strike; a wide arc, effective against barriers.

 ***

 Combat Comments

Engaging Combat

“Have at you!”

“I will keep you safe.”

“For his sake, I will not fail!”

“Get behind me!”

“Not one more step.”

“Last chance to surrender!”

Upon Enemy Death

“Fall.”

“What a waste.”

“You could have prevented this.”

“Andraste Guide you.”

Low Health

“I must push on.”

“This is nothing.”

“No, not here…I must return.”

“I’m going home… no matter what.”

Fallen

“Forgive me… my prince.”

 ***

Location Comments

Storm Coast

“I find the rain and rustling waves rather soothing, don’t you?”

“For years I’ve wanted to come back to Ferelden, but now… all I want to do is cross that sea again.”

“I wonder if Isabela is sailing these waters right now. I hope she’s all right.”

Redcliffe

“It does my heart good that this place has recovered from the Blight.”

Emerald Graves

“So Orlesians just… build manors here because they can? Deplorable.”

“Varric, did you send that letter to Merrill? She should see this.”

“I’ve never seen a giant before. Awful.”

 The Hinterlands

“Lothering is not far from here. Perhaps… no, never mind. A foolish idea.”

“Ah, I do love the fresh air and open spaces. I’ve missed this.”

“I’ve lived in cities far too long; I’ve forgotten how big druffalo are.”

(finding Crystal Grace) “Ah… when they were young, Bethany and Carver would climb all over searching for this flower. They found out it was a favorite of Leliana’s, their favorie Sister in the Chantry. They would pull it from the earth, roots and all, stomping into the Chantry, dragging mud. They argued over who would present it to her. I wonder if she remembers.”

Inquisitor: Did you have any feelings for her?

“Aha, well, you know how I feel about pretty archers with soulful eyes and a soothing accent. I looked, for certain, but I was also a bit too young, and had enlisted not long after moving to Lothering. And she… seemed a bit sad, in pain, almost.”

Exalted Plains

“Miserable.”

“War ruins everything it touches, as surely as any Blight.”

Western Approach

“Fereldens don’t really like heat. Did I fail to mention that?”

(sees a fennec pass) “I’ve had dreams of foxes. Still not sure what they mean.”

(after killing Venatori) “I wonder if Fenris is dealing with these Venatori, too. Making a mess of their innards, I’m sure. I hope he’s eating. I always had to remind him to eat.”

Crestwood

“I lived in a dozen villages just like this one.”

Emprise du Lion

“If not for the horrible red crystals with sickening magic jutting from the ground, this place would be rather peaceful.”

“(dreamy sighs) I would love to just… build a cabin somewhere snowy and quiet, take Sebastian and lock ourselves in for a week.”

Inquisitor: What would you do for a week?

“(laughs) Your imagination is more daring than mine, Your Worship, I’m sure.”

 ***

Personal Quests

Darkness over Denerim

Judith’s personal quest is a modified version of “Shadows over Denerim”. Rather than a War Table Mission, she will accompany Josephine and the Inquisitor to meet with King Alistair and/or Queen Anora. Josephine and Judith will speak with the nobles while the Inquisitor investigates the area. With enough evidence gathered, the Inquisitor can call upon Judith to proceed. Once the cultists are revealed, she will assist in the fight.

As a reward, the King and Queen will reward the Inquisition with several trained mabari hounds; the Inquisitor and Judith will have the ability to summon one in battle.

The Flock

Inquisition scouts have spotted a large moving group of mages on the outskirts of Ferelden. Leliana confirms this group to be the remains of the Kirkwall Circle, led by former First Enchanter Orsino and Bethany Hawke. The mission has you join Judith finding them and guiding them to Skyhold, removing all obstacles in their way. Bethany is reluctant to accept help, as she does not want to spend her life relying on her sister’s protection, but does relent that the situation is bigger than that.

***

Approval

Judith generally approves of acts of generosity, selflessness. As a princess, she prides herself on serving others. That said, she was born a commoner, and spent much of her early years in Kirkwall looked down upon, so she also approves of spiting/humbling deserving nobles. She also approves of respecting the dead and grieving.

Here Lies the Abyss

Wardens join the Inquisition

 Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts

Public Truce

Gaspard and Briala Rule

What Pride Had Wrought

Inquisitor drinks from the Well (only elven Inquisitor, no approval or disapproval from a non-elven Inquisitor)

Allows Merrill to drink from the Well

The Verchiel March

Recruit Harmond with Nobility knowledge

Let Sera kill Harmond

Bring me the Heart of Snow White

Bring the real snowy wyvern heart to Vivienne

Revelations

Pardon Thom Rainier

The Spoils of Desecration

Give the key to Keeper Hawen

The Knight’s Tomb

Give the scrolls to the Dalish

Left to Grieve

Approval for every letter returned

***

Disapproval

Judith disapproves of selfish and needlessly cruel acts, namely taking advantage of those in need, and propping of those who do not require help.

Here Lies the Abyss

Wardens are exiled

Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts

Celene Rules Alone

Gaspard Rules Alone (GREATLY Disapproves)

What Pride Had Wrought

Allows Morrigan to drink from the Well

The Verchiel March

Partner with Harmond

Bring me the Heart of Snow White

Bring the common wyvern heart to Vivienne

Revelations

Abandon Thom Rainier in prison

The Spoils of Desecration

Disturb the Grotto

The Knight’s Tomb

Give the scrolls to the Chantry

 Romance

Judith is a happily married woman, but will accept respectful flirtations with male and female Inquisitors with good humor. If an Inquisitor visits often, she will share details about her beloved prince and how they met, perhaps giving a bit more insight into Varric’s sour attitude towards him, and how there’s probably much more to the story than “Tales of the Champion” will ever tell.

With high enough approval, she will show the Inquisitor her Memory Shard, explaining she experiences nightmares and painful memories, and this is one of the few things able to ease her. She can also offer some advice to an Inquisitor seeking romance.

“If you want love in your life, any sort of love, you must keep your heart open. That means being vulnerable, and that can bring a lot of pain. But you must believe it’s worth it. It took me years to learn that lesson.”

[chatonyant]

Kaguya never stood a chance against these three.

Y’know, I’ve been meaning to dump some more ideas, why not with the addition of this post? ;D

Got a bit about the involvement of all three of them against Kaguya

To put things simply: Chibaku Tensei’s buildup is confusing and complicated, so I’m making it a fuinjutsu that Naruto finds and build upon, making it stronger and including Sakura. They are a team, after all.

To put things in many words, as my rambles tend to be, I’m going to go into a little more detail about my ideas for Kaguya and the Juubi.

Take that alien storyline and tOSS it out the window. There. 

Kaguya is not an alien. She was one of the first humans to be born with chakra and a genius to boot. With her strange abilities and yokai galore, she became greedy with her power and began experimenting where she should have not. 

Before the creation of villages and Lands, clans stuck to their own and fought against others in a pit for power, land, and food. Yokai were rather numerous within that world and formed contracts and bonds with certain clans, enjoying the chaos and fighting. 

The Juubi was a center of chakra at the earth’s core, keeping balance between all types of chakra. Perhaps the main source of chakra? As Kaguya became greedy for power, she creates fuinjutsu to better channel and mold her chakra and summons the mass source of chakra in the earth and essentially seals it within herself (like in canon i think??? i’m talking out of my ass at this point, i’m just playing with legos and hoping to make something LMAO)

Her sons are also born with immense power and as they grow, they realize the danger their mother presents and works together in order to break the seal and seal Kaguya away. A potential idea is that the seal they create requires a sort of “sacrifice” and that’s how Hamura ended up on the moon as a type of guard? (aliens..... i dont even know). The rest of the story essentially goes as canon, with Hagoromo splitting up the Juubi and so on and so forth. The clans settle and the yokai they’ve made contracts with become summon contracts etc etc. 

Zetsu is created by Kaguya’s chakra and will. I was also thinking that a part of Kaguya’s “experiments” included absorbing(?) stray yokai to boost her power more and more. It twisted her chakra and corrupted it, resulting in this frankly weird as fuck being that isn’t human but not yokai either. 

In the future fight against Kaguya, Team Seven are told about the seal by ghost Hagoromo and improves on it. Thus, they can reseal Kaguya more permanently and without the use of a “sacrifice”. The Sun, the Moon, and the Earth. 

I reused the Strength of Hundred Seal because it’s a chakra storing seal and yknow, a seal. 

wait hold the fuck up the sun and moon having their own nature chakra sounds cool as hell

sun channels sun moon channels moon earth channels earth

I really like Sakura having wood style, so I was thinking of incorporating it somehow.

this might be something hold oN

:D

:DDDD AHA SO MOON IS LIKE WATER AND LIGHTNING CAUSE STORMS SUN CAN BE FIRE AND WIND CAUSE HEAT AND SUN INFLUENCES WIND CURRENTS EARTH IS WATER AND EARTH CAUSE WOOD STYLE

I was actually thinking about making Sakura “stars” but then like the sun is a star

and earth suits better cause of Sakura is a very grounded person who won’t take shit. She’s like an earthbender with the will to move rocks. 

Her wood style would be the manipulation of already existing plants, so she either has to toss seeds or fight in a place with plants already existing. It would also take a lot more chakra to manipulate a lot of trees so her wood style would be a little weaker than Tenzou’s but no less effective. Same element but different use. She’d use smaller plants to utilize the medical side of things like poison. Maybe a small vine can’t completely stop an enemy, but poison ivy would be a pain in the ass to deal with while fighting, no?

.......wait what about kakashi as stars

oh my god i need to think on this

maybe not but like

damn that would be cool

kakashi as the stars to “map out” the array with the trio charging and activating it

mmmmm i’m not sure yet

this is veering heavily into many fantasy features that aren’t really present in naruto so if any of yall that read this feel like it’s too far lemme know

i can scrap this or make it better!

as per usual i’m just really having fun and so i’m pretty much throwing out canon 

and making my own thing

so canon rules are wishy washy haha

[linksthoughtbrambles]

Fathers' Rules

(Link's Thought Brambles part 20)

“There. Yes, I believe that will do it.”

-----

Throbbing. Soft. Warm.

Sound. Birds?

No. Birds south. Mostly. Could be slow birds. Lazy birds. Dumb birds. Bird-brains. Heh.

-----

Why wet?

There’re those… birds… again… loud… hurts…

-----

Stop, Chee. Prankster.

Birds… won’t shut up… Must have… made a nest…

Aw, Chee, you’re getting it in my mouth... Push her off. Too sleepy. Don’t feel like playing. No, no, come on… I’m tired.

“Link, for goodness’ sake-“

Huh? Not Chee. Zelda... She doesn’t play with me. Weird.

“Link, you need water.”

YOU need water…

“You’re clearly awake. Perhaps you might open your eyes?”

I’d rather not.

“Please, Link?”

Sigh. Hard to resist when she asks nicely. Fine. “O-oh...” BRIGHT. Why is nothing sharp? Her hair… that, I can find… so much yellow….

“This is a spoon, Link. I’m putting it to your mouth. Please drink.”

I don’t see any- oh- ”kuhUUUUUhhh!” oops. I just sprayed that, didn’t I? “S- sorry…” Ah, why poking me?

“No you don’t. You’re going to drink some of this now. Here’s more.”

Fine… fine… ready this time. Time tine twine swine mine whine wine brine thirsty actually, more please?

“Hehe. Relax--lay back. Don’t chase me. It’s not as though I’d deny you water when I’ve worked so hard to get it down your throat.”

This doesn’t seem like such hard work, but okay. Work jerk lurk perk turkey. I like turkey. Jerky. I like turkey jerky “heheheehe.”

“And what are you giggling about, Sir Knight?”

“Hmm. Hmm turkey jerky.”

“Ah. Classic. Here comes another spoonful.”

Spoonful, that’s a tough one. Rueful? Roomfull? I have a roomful of spoonfuls? That seems inefficient. So does this, actually. One spoonful at a time. Just sit up, then you can sip- “AaahOH!”

“Stay down, Link, you are… you are concussed. Please be patient.”

Down. Still throbbing. Concussed. Concussed? How…

Eighty soldiers. Training yard. Head to wall. Garai’s hilt and my face.

Leg. The leg wound! That could fester, Link, you have to-

“Link! Did I not just tell you to stay down?!”

“L-leg wound—have to-“

“It’s been seen to.”

“…Oh.”

“You’ve been out nearly two days.”

“… oOOoh…”

“Yes. Now drink.”

Drink. Pink. Link. Pink Link. Why does that sound familiar? Weird… Pink Link fink wink mink rink stink chink blink. Wink, pink Link! Don’t blink, you stink! What is wrong with you, Link… none of those were acceptable… losing your edge… guess your thinker doesn’t work right when you’re concussed. Heh. Think. I missed that one.

Maybe I should open my eyes again.

Still blurry. Wish I could see her right. If I try very hard it’s better but it hurts.

“Why are the… birds… still here?”

“… Pardon?”

“The birds… They keep singing.”

“… I don’t hear any birds, Link.”

“Not now. Before.”

“Aha. You were unconscious before.”

“Oh. Right.”

Right. Might. White. Light blight fight spite sprite delight fright write. Bright white light.

That light! What was that? When I spun!

“Princess?”

“Yes?”

“Did you… was there- uh- did… light… come out of my sword?”

“Yes. Yes, it did.”

“…Wow.”

“Funny, isn’t it? You were worried that your sword didn’t seem magical. Yet it turns out you are, all by yourself.”

“… I am?”

“I certainly have no other explanation. Do you?”

“I thought… I…” Oh. Oh no, Link. You… shouldn’t tell her… you thought the Goddess answered you. Bad… bad idea. Make her… feel bad… Besides, that was only the last time. “I don’t know.”

“Father says he’s never seen another person alive move so fast.”

“Wait… huh? Fast?”

“Yes. Five to eight full swings in under a second, that’s what they’re saying.”

“Five… to… no, no, that’s just the thing.”

“Thing?”

“Yeah, the thing… when I concentrate. If I concentrate hard enough… I can be… really fast.”

“Yes, Link, that’s the point. No one IS that fast.”

“But- it’s not magic... I just do it.”

“I’m sure the other champions feel similarly about their abilities. So… you’ve done this ‘thing’ before?”

“Well…. Yeah.”

“Then there is, of course, the light of which you spoke.”

“…Yeah…”

“Has that ever happened before?”

“No. Never.”

“Hm. I suppose you lacked sufficient incentive.”

Wish I could… see her face clearly. Want to know if she’s smiling… or if she feels bad… because I apparently have powers, and she doesn’t… see with your… hands, Link… so blurry…

There she is… didn’t realize… her face was so… soft… where’s her mouth…. there. Not smiling. Open, like surprised….

“S-sir Link. May I ask what you’re doing?”

“Why aren’t you… smiling?”

She’s not… answering. I’ve made her sad.

“Link, I- why would I be smiling? You nearly died, and it was my fault.”

“Y- you?! No, no… not your fault.”

“Of course it is.”

“No it’s not-“

“Link, please don’t argue with me in this. My mind is set. My behavior has been… I have been stuck so long in a cycle of failure and censure that I ceased even to seek a way out of it. I failed to see how its social ripples might affect you. I have failed to challenge others when it was most important. I have failed to exert my own authority as Princess and future sovereign of Hyrule. I… I must be stronger than I have been.”

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”

“…If by that, you mean I can bear a good deal in silence, while it is true it has netted nothing these past twelve years. I am… I must employ the most critical step of the scientific method at last and conclude the hypothesis regarding the key to my power must be incorrect.”

“…Huh?”

“Heh. Prayer is clearly not the answer, Sir Link.”

“No… no, it doesn’t seem to be…”

“I must try something else. I have many thoughts, but at present, my most pressing concern is making sure you take enough water.”

“You… you don’t have to… there must be someone else who can-“

“You think I’d let any of these people near you after what they did?”

“…I… the maids… the medics… the nurses… they didn’t-“

“Didn’t what? Didn’t spread hateful gossip about you and I?”

.

“Didn’t quietly sabotage your chances of being respected as the captain of my personal guard? Didn’t irrationally stoke a political fire that endangered the life of the Hylian Champion, who is necessary to save them from the Calamity?”

“…I… see your point.”

“And my father. My father. He knew. He knew your life was in jeopardy and did nothing to stop it—and…. and… neither did I.”

Her breath. She’s breathing…. funny. Breathing in fast. She’s… she’s crying. “No, no, no no no, Princess, please… please don’t cry. I did it… for you. I was willing to-“

“I know, Link. That’s the point. You were willing to die for me—and I? I did not even break an antiquated rule to save you. Why did I not wrench my arm free of my father’s grip and go to you? Had I wrapped my arms about you in the yard, would Garai still have struck? Would Merendith? What if… what if I had taken up arms myself? If I’d entered the yard and picked up a training sword, what would have happened? Would any of them have been willing to harm me?

“You see, Link? Rules. I followed the rules. It took me nearly a day to sort out, in my own mind, what a terrible and deadly mistake it was. I failed to see what was important. So did my father. The coming Calamity—it’s beyond the bounds of Hylian tradition. We must be, also.

“It reminded me of one of the ancient legends of a hero and the princess of his age who were hindered by laws set by a series of kings. They called it the Silent Age—the only time in Hyrule’s long, long existence when supposedly, the kings outranked their queens. The line of Hylia herself. Do you know it?”

“Y… yeah. My mom used to tell it… from a storybook.”

“The legends say the line of Hylia is entirely female, and records do appear to support this after a fashion. All children of Hyrule’s queens are female. All firstborn princesses bear only female children. The magic… the magic is there. Not with our- our husbands.”

“…Yeah, all the stories… always princesses… no princes.”

“So I ask you, Link, most seriously and without malice against my father… why am I obeying him?”

.

.

“Why should he know better than I do?”

“H- he doesn’t. I… already… I already thought so.”

“Then your intuition matches mine.”

“Y-yeah. But- but princess, he’s the king. We can’t-“

“Before you go off on an anxiety-provoking line of thinking, be assured I am not suggesting a coup.”

Oh, thank Hylia.

“But rather that I must insist that he is incorrect. I will speak with him first. If that does not work… if he will not see… then I shall simply leave. And you shall come with me if you’re willing.”

“I am.”

Her hand on my cheek. Good thing you’re feeling so weak, Link. Might be very embarrassing, otherwise. Can’t help it, can I? Can’t help leaning in a little. Just a fraction. So little, maybe she won’t notice.

“Thank you, Link.

“I believe my first request- no… not a request—my first command will be that I require martial training.”

“Wh- Wh?!!”

“Oh yes, I’m sure that terrifies you, but does it make any sense at all to bring a helpless princess into a battle with the Calamity itself?”

I… wow. “I… I’m supposed to protect you-“

“And so you shall. And I realized yesterday that I must also protect you. We are equally necessary. If you fall, Hyrule falls, just as surely as if I do.”

“But-“

“Rules, Link. You’re stuck on rules. Aren’t you?”

By the Goddess’ holy light. She’s right. I was sort of… thinking this the other day. My father’s rules for me… for how to act… how they stopped me… from doing what’s best for her.

So cloudy. Was thirsty… now tired again. Oh. Wait. Water. Consequences!

“Uh. Princess?”

“Yes, Link?”

“I… um…”

“…Yes?”

“Well… the water…”

“More?”

“No, no…. but it made me��� it made me.”

“Ah, you need to relieve yourself.”

“Erm. Yeah.”

“Well, that’s one thing I probably should not help you do personally. Sir Zo? Would you mind coming in here and assisting Sir Link?”

“Not at all, Princess.”

“Well, Sir Link, I shall take my leave and speak with Greanmare about feeding you. I shall also prepare some writing to help me should my faculties leave me when I speak to my father. Your door is to remain open at all times and two members of my personal guard stationed outside – one at your door, and one at mine. Oron is handling it.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

“Get some rest, Sir Link.”

-----

Read Next: [Link navigates fancy food.]

Read this fic from the beginning (it makes more sense that way).

Follow this link to the post list for this fic.

[botwstoriesandsuch]

Finally finished this! Sorry I’m a bit late.

Made this song in pairing with a new Revalink soulmark fic: Paraphrase

Based on a prompt @motherhyrule (Happy Birthday and thanks!)

Read it on AO3 or, here...

Chapter 1: Holes

There were holes in the sky.

While the artificial blue glow of Vah Medoh was a constant reminder of abnormal circumstances of this view—looking out into the east, you could be fooled for a moment to believe in serenity.

The details of the great, inky abyss were blurred by the occasional grey cloud, crawling towards the light of a decaying moon. Its pale, crescent complexion gave a humble glow to the dancing seas of grass and the motionless hills of glistening lake water. Below, wooden huts embraced one another on the edges of an ancient spire. The winds had crafted a fine sculpture, the unique silhouette of Rito Village cast faint shadows on Lake Totori.

There was distant whistling from either the cutting breeze or a bored village guard, perhaps leaning against his spear, dreaming of slumber.

There's a fire, somewhere. A spiral of smoke rises with a delicious aroma fantastic enough to reach the heights of Medoh. Someone making a late-night stew, under the dotted, broken sky.

If you could tear your eyes away from the nature down below, the navy blue canvas would still be there to greet you—a perfect night that cloaked any traces of the sun, as if time was always meant to be this way. Unchanging, and ever an elegant, unrivaled mix of blue, black, and grey.

But of course, unchanging was not everlasting. The perfect canvas was pierced by the frozen heights of Hebra, and flaming stars. Whole armies of them were scattered across the sky, as if the goddess had flicked a handful of embers at the night, burning through the blue and into an unknown.

"I heard that stars are actually holes into the heavens." Link finally said. "Like...They break through the sky, and at night you can look through them and see the great beyond." He leaned back, shifting himself into a more comfortable position on the rocky cliff.

The ghost beside him raised an eyebrow, wings tucked behind his back.

"Oh? And where exactly did you hear that?"

Silence.

The boy looks out to the distant mountains, wreathed in grey clouds with filtered moonlight. When the wind blows his golden hair just the right way, you could catch a glimpse of a familiar expression.

"...I'm not too sure."

Revali nodded, looking back into the night. He stood beside the hero, and let a quiet sigh escape him, the turquoise flames that circled around the Rito seemed to rise and fall with his chest. "Well. I cannot confirm or deny such a thing, but I imagine it's a decent enough fairy tale to entertain the fledglings."

Link scoffs, a smile tugging at his lips. "Really? They don't give you a big ghost book on how all of life works? What's the point of being dead if you don't know the answer to all the fancy questions?"

"I appear to have missed Hylia's educational spirit lecture. Perhaps my schedule was busy at the time. I do apologize."

"Don't apologize to me! You're the one who missed a once-in-a-afterlife-time opportunity."

"..."

"...Too soon?"

"No, it was just a horrible joke."

"Pfft. Well OK, Mr. 'Well I'll be plucked'"

"I don't think I'm going to accept criticism from someone who's sense of humor isn't even a year old."

"Aha...Fair enough."

A chuckle. A nod. A smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

Silence.

The moon crawls further west. Winds start to die with conversation.

The ghost sighs again, but of course, no breath escapes him. Something itches in the back of his mind, and he looks up at Medoh.

Her phantom blue eyes pierce both mortal and incorporeal, yet there's a tenderness in the way her head tilts towards Revali—every so slightly so as not to wake the whole kingdom with the groan of gears. The gesture is wordlessly understood by her pilot, something about speaking the unspoken. He clicks his tongue.

I don't remember flipping a relationship advice switch in your control unit...

Medoh's lights glow brighter and dim, playfully.

The Rito shakes his head.

No, he thinks again. It's better this way.

The Champion looks out towards Hyrule Castle, Medoh's red laser aimed directly into the heart of the swirling malice. From this view, it’s almost beautiful. Like layered petals of a rose...

I cannot wait to burn it to the ground.

"Yeah..." Link replied. "Don't worry, Revali. It'll be different this time. I won't let you down, again."

The Rito blinked. "Ah. Did I...say that outloud?"

Link nodded, tilting his head to the side with a smile. "You always seem in such deep thought when looking at Medoh. Your face gets a lot more s—uh...I don't know... " He trailed off, making the wise decision to not finish the sentence. Afterall, he wanted to hang out for a little bit longer before Revali's glares punted him to the Akkalain Sea.

Nonetheless, Revali grimaced. Looking at him? Acknowledging him? Oh, there was nothing worse in the world than that...

Time really can change anything.

"Hmph. Well," Revali turned his head back towards Medoh, "With Windblight gone, it's nice to actually have conversations...As unconventional as they may be." He makes sure that his smile can only be seen by the sky.

"She's good company."

Link picks at loose pebbles, tossing them off the cliff and letting gravity take them to new destinations. His hands are already coated in a dusty beige dust.

"Well, if Medoh ever becomes a bore. My schedule's always open." He chuckles. "I'm certainly a different sort of company in comparison, so I should be able to spice up your d—!"

"No."

The iciness of his tone runs Link's spine cold. He dares to look up at the Champion.

It takes all of Revali's strength to continue staring at the stars.

"You should really stop coming here, Link. You have a job to do, and so do I. You gain nothing by returning here each night."

He pauses, his beak clenched just a bit too tightly.

"You did well, avenging me, but now...Your job here is done, and there is more work to do. The fact that you keep visiting each night while the world fades away is pathetic, honestly. You banter and quip as if you have all the time in the world, as if everything doesn't depend on your success. Quit acting childish."

Silence. It drowns out the whistling wind.

Revali looks at the holes in the sky.

"It'll be morning in a few, so get lost. I don't need you here."

The Rito can feel the hero's eyes tearing into him.

= = = = = = =

"Careful now! Can't have you return with half a head. Can I?" Revali loosed an arrow just above Link's head, striking true in a Bokoblin's right eye.

Link whips around just in time to see the monster drop dead, just a foot away from where the knight stood. He turns back and gives the Rito a thumbs up in gratitude.

"Eye think that solves that problem." Link groans and rolls his eyes, but Revali smirks at the grin he attempts to hide. "Ah...One of the best things about these occasions is that you're in no position to quip back at me with your hands full like that." Revali shoots him a wink. "Perhaps I'll interpret your silence as overwhelming awe for my verbal abilities."

The Rito bows left and right, playfully. "Thank you, thank you. It takes a great deal of practice, but perhaps you'll grace my level of skill one day."

Link signs as best he can with the Master Sword in his left grip.

"You're an asshole."

"Perhaps. But it's your fault for sticking around!"

"On your left..." He suddenly says.

There's no hesitation as Revali moves his head out of the way, letting Link swing his sword over his shoulder. A brilliant beam of blue light escapes the edge of his sword, the disc of energy making contact with a Bokoblin's neck, slicing it asunder mid-roar.

"Hmm. Now that's just breath taki—"

"Shut UP!" Link says, knocking an elbow into his ribs. He starts to sign again. "Let's keep heading east. We need to close this pincer quickly. I'd like to finish before lunch..."

The Rito scans the snow covered path, littered with monster guts and blood. Deep reds and purple stain the pristine, crisp morning. The sky is a deep green, pine trees covering the day, dressed in coats of white. The breeze blows the smell of rotting corpses and hickory his way.

"Alright. Let's get a move on. Don't need the Princesses yelling at us again."

"A bit late for that, don't you think?"

The boys both look up in time to see a large burst of water erupt from a nearby cliff. It cascades into a shimmering slide, that freezes as it flows. A bright red Zora flips through the air and descends on it, landing delicately in front of the two. She gives a warm smile that could melt the winter.

"Shall I assume you ran into some chuchu troubles, again?"

Revali scoffed. "That was one time!"

"Hehehe...chuchu go 'sluuurrrp...'"

"Plus, that incident was entirely a certain knight's fault. I've been nothing but incredibly efficient and productive, since then."

"And your tail feathers are all the better for it!"

Revali thwacked Link with his bow to shut him up. The knight rubbed the back of his head with an "Ow..." and shot a rude glare, but the Rito continued. "So where is the Princess?"

Mipha gestured uphill to where she had come from, her magical waterfall already beginning to melt away. "We finished cleaning up the other end of the Tabantha path. She's met up with Urbosa and Daruk by one of the bridges."

The Zora smiles as she looks between Revali and Link. "I volunteered to check on you two while the others headed back. Neither of you need help cleaning chuchu slime out of your hair, yes? I do have the pliers, this time."

Revali's rageful squawk was drowned out by Link's laughter.

Before the trio's banter could truly serenade with the sounds of the forest, Mipha was off to regroup with the others, and Link was soaring in the sky.

The sky was open and clear, not a speck of grey clouded the air. The sun was perched comfortably on the heights of Tabantha ridge, painting the horizon with strokes of orange, the distance blushing in the morning's presence.

The wind flipped Link's hair back and forth, so he finished tying the braid behind his neck, woven tightly with a single, Prussian blue feather. Its tip looked like someone had dipped it in the moon's pale glow.

Braid or no, the heights above Lake Totori were quite cold, and Link nuzzled himself further into Revali's soft feathers. If he were any softer, it wouldn't be out of the question to drown in him.

"You're distracting me." Revali craned his neck back, raising an eyebrow at his passenger. "Keep it together, back there."

The hero shrugged his shoulders. "It's cold."

"I told you to drink another elixir before I took off."

"I wasn't cold then! Besides," He flopped back into the Rito's soft down. "This is adequate protection." Link's words were slightly muffled as he spoke.

Revali sighed. "You're insufferable..."

Eying the destination down below, the Rito rolled his shoulders to get Link's attention. "Keep steady. We're almost there." He started to dip forward.

"And try not to go flying, I imagine it won't work out well for you."

Before Link could even process his words, his stomach started to drop. Falling fast, Revali arched nearly perpendicular to the ground, his bright blue scarf flapping behind him. The Hylian on his back could do nothing but grip onto his armour for dear life, clothes flapping wildly. His loose sleeves caught the wind, pushing them back to reveal pale gold letters, etched in the underside of his right forearm.

Leaving so soon?

The wind rushed by Link's ears, and the sky quickly faded from the cerulean glow of morning, to the snow laced air of the Hebra. What was once broad strokes of indistinct colors soon morphed into the intricate faults, flaws, and edges of towering grey mountain peaks. With the heavens stolen from them, and the frozen earth quickly coming to greet them, Revali quickly opened his wings to catch the air, swooping just above the ground and shooting forward towards the Flight Range.

Rows of cool safflina and wildberries whizzed by, the scent of smoked boar drawing closer and closer. Revali could practically feel Link's appetite from aura alone. Although, the fact that his grip on his back was starting to tighten didn't exactly keep it subtle, either.

"I left the stew going before we headed out for the mission. It should be perfect by now..." He tucked his wings into himself with a quick twirl as he shot through a narrow pass.

The cold updrafts of the Flight Range now biting into his face; the Rito let his wings expand with a few more great flaps, before landing gracefully on the railing of the wooden platform.

Link practically soared off Revali's back and bounded straight for the simmering pot.

"'Thank you, Revali, for giving me a ride across all of Tabantha without asking for so much as a rupee in return!' Oh, you're so welcome, my dear hero. It's always a pleasure to aid a flightless Hylian in need." He shook his head as he made his way into the hut.

"'Oh, but really Revali! The speed at which you travel, and the strength required to take on my loathsome person as you fly is truly something to admire. It's a miracle you took me with you at all.' Why, you are much too generous with your compliments, Link. I have half a mind to write this all down for—MmMph?!"

In a brilliant move of both telling Revali to shut the fuck up, while also sharing their meal, Link shoved a ladleful of delicious stew in the Rito's beak.

Warm, savoury stew trickled down his throat, banishing the cold from his body in mere moments. His tastebuds were nestled with flavours of nutmeg, tender meat, and the delicate heat of a perhaps a single, spicy pepper.

Link's expression was equal parts, "Will you shut up now?" and "So how's it taste?"

"Not too bad...The prime meat I procured is obviously the main event. But your seasoning skills are certainly something of note..." Revali made his way to one of the cabinets, as Link rolled his eyes.

The Rito set his bow beside the Master Sword, leaning it against the painted wood. His eyes lingered on it for a bit too long, before he scoffed and continued on his routine.

Quiver on the counter; bomb arrows wrapped properly; armour loosened and set aside; scarf—

The feathers on Revali's neck suddenly floofed up at Link's touch. But he didn't dare turn around and risk losing the sensation.

He carefully unfolded the fabric around Revali's neck, and drew it off his shoulder. He wrapped it around himself, and signed at the Rito, "Mine, now."

The Rito chuckled, before turning back around to look at the hero, now adorned with far too much blue. Blue tunic, blue scarf, and sapphire eyes—it wouldn't be out of the question to mistake him for the sky.

Link stretched out his hand, and traced the edges of Revali's face, eventually falling down his neck, and towards his shoulders. His fingers eventually hovered over some familiar words that wrapped down the left side of his neck and down his shoulder.

You should give yourself more credit.

They both did nothing but smile at each for a moment, leaning closer and succumbing to the moment. Revali could already feel Link's breath, and see the bits of snow still sticking to his (horribly) braided hair.

The Hylian saw something curious in the Rito's expression as he planted a kiss on the tip of his beak. Looking back up at his jade eyes, he couldn't help but smile wide. Revali cocked an eyebrow.

"Something to say?"

Quiet. The fire chuckled in the background.

Link finally leaned in and whispered to him.

"You smell like shit."

Revali scoffed loudly before shoving Link to the carpet, where he burst out laughing, the wind carrying it to the spirits above.

"Gods, you're insufferable. Why do I settle for you..."

Link unsuccessfully attempted to toss a pillow in his face in revenge—Revali catching it with ease.

"Beats me! Now come here, you stinky bird." He patted the space in front of the fire. No doubt he wanted to sit between his wings again

"Stew or no, I need you to keep me toasty."

In no time, Revali had sat down and wrapped himself around Link, resting his beak on his head.

A hole in the ceiling let sunlight trickle on them as they warmed up.

= = = = = = = 

Link finally sighed, the sound falling off into the void below.

"You-I can't-It was never..." He trails off, before chucking another pebble off the cliff, shaking his head.

"...I'm sorry. I know that you...That we're not really...friends or whatever...I don't mean to force you into anything uncomfortable. I owe you that much..." He looked up at the spirit, a determined look on his face.

"But, don't worry. Whatever mess I was before, whatever person you hated 100 years ago. They're gone, now. I promise I'm different. I promise I won't repeat whatever mistakes I made with you."

Revali just wants to die all over again.

"Well. That's good to hear. Perhaps there's hope for you yet, hero..." He walks forward, so he can't see his face, pointing a translucent feather far out east.

"I'd say your next objection should be Rudania. It's the closest. You can backtrack through whatever roads you've already trailed through getting here." The Rito then waved towards some glistening summits just a bit south. "Although, you said you've been to Kakariko and Hateno, yes? You could probably trek to Zora's Domain from there. The Zora will no doubt be a great asset to your further adventures—"

"Who was I closest to?"

Revali knew it was impossible to feel cold at this point, but he felt something shiver nonetheless.

"What do you mean?"

"Like...the pilots I mean. Was I...particularly close with any of them?"

"Well how should I know!" Revali snapped. He immediately regretted it seeing the look in Link's eyes. "I mean...sorry..."

Silence.

"...Mipha would be overjoyed to see you, I'm sure." He pointed again towards the cliffs surrounding Zora's Domain. "She had quite the heart...She'll make better company than I, I'm sure."

"Mhm...Alright." Link nodded to himself.

"But whatever you choose, don't try taking on Naboris, yet. Urbosa was one of the strongest warriors that even I've ever met. So I imagine that what awaits there is...deserving of more preparation."

The moon escaped from the clutches of a grey cloud, and the two of them were bathed in moonlight.

The knight's sword on his back glistens.

"I'll start making preparations tomorrow, and I'll finally be out of your hair." Link scratched the back of his head. "Although...I hope you don't mind if I come back every now and then to get pointers on using your Gale. I really only used it that one time when you gave it to me, and I've been a bit scared ever since, aha..."

Revali nodded. "That would be a more productive use of your time, yes."

Link finally stood, adjusting the strap of his sword around his shoulder.

"S-So...with Mipha. I actually heard from Kass that...uh he's—well you see, I figured you could confirm if she actually—"

"Stop." His response was as sudden as thunder. Link started sputtering again.

"S-Sorry. I know you just s—"

"Stop doing that. Stop trying to learn about the past, there's nothing for you there." Revali poked a feather at Link's head, which surprisingly made physical contact as he flinched away. "You've been given a gift, you understand? You have the luxury of being unburdened by the pains and memories of 100 years ago, while the rest of us have been stuck wallowing in what we once knew for over a century. Things that we can never attain now that we are dead." He glared, eyes sharp enough to stab into Link's flesh.

"It'd be an insult to the rest of us to throw away such a gift. So stop being ungrateful, and move on."

Silence.

Revali sighed, turning back towards Medoh. "Now get los—"

"You have no right to speak to me like that!"

The Rito whipped around. "Excuse me?"

"You don't know what it's like!" Link stomped a foot down. "You don't know what it's like, to have no attachments, no nothing to grasp onto!"

The Hylian shook his head, looking at his hands. "You're dead because of my failures, and for that, I'm truly sorry. I really am. But..." He looked the Rito, dead in the eyes. "But now I have nothing of value. Nothing to tell me what I'm worth, besides being a fighter. Besides defeating the Calamity. I don't know what kind of person I need to be," He waves a hand at Revali, "Or even what person I should try not to be. I can't...I don't want to just be nothing. Nothing but a sword and useless snippets of a dead past.

"So don't try and tell me there's nothing for me in the past. I need to know what I was, what I lost, and what I did wrong. N-Not just for me, but for everyone's sake! I want to truly know what this is all for, even if it hurts me..."

Link looked down, caressing his right wrist. "I want to know...what it was like to be complete...at the very least..."

Revali looked him up and down, something clawing up the inside of his chest, threatening to escape as dangerous words.

"...Let me see your arm."

"What—?"

"Hurry up, and just come."

Link cautiously stepped closer to Revali, extending his right arm towards him, like a handshake. But he roughly tugged him closer and folded the sleeve of his Rito garb away, exposing the skin to the crisp night air.

Pale gold letters adorned Link's inner arm, running from his wrist to his inner elbow.

Why did you think it was impossible?

The Rito nodded to himself. He had noted the first word being different when he had first reunited with Link, but it put him at ease—and completely shattered something—to have his suspicions confirmed.

"Do you know what this is, hero?"

"Yeah, it's a soulmark. This is probably what my soulmate 100 years ago said when they—"

"No." Revali let his arm fall, turning away. "It's a soulmark alright, but your soulmate is very much alive."

"Wh-What?!" Link started to walk up to Revali. "T-That's impossible! I-It's been over a hundred—"

"That's not the soulmark you had when I met you." Revali said simply. "You died. You were revived. You are adorned with a new mark, and are destined for someone new. Or someones. Or, maybe your soulmate is just yourself, it really depends..." He turned his head back.

Link was just staring at his arm. He bore no smile, but Revali could see the new fire in his eyes.

"It's like I said. It'd be an insult to go digging up the past. But I suppose I can't stop you..." Revali continued to make his way to Medoh. "You want something to fight for? Fight for that..."

The moon disappeared behind another cloud, and the glow of Medoh was all that bathed them. Link finally looked up, calling after the ghost in the mist.

"I...Thank you, Revali. But just so you know..." The Rito Champion turned, staring directly at the hero's determined expression.

"This doesn't change what I want. I still intend to know who I was."

There was quiet as they each looked at their ghosts.

Revali sighed, giving a sad nod.

"I know."

He disappeared in glowing blue flames, the embers falling towards the stars.

[anonymousewrites]

There's a Crook; There's a Crown Prologue

Prologue: The Amber Flowers

            This is the story of how I died.

            A wanted poster for a smirking young woman hung on a tree in the forest.

            I know, tragic, I’m too pretty to die. What’s worse is that it isn’t even my story! I should be the main character, but someone has me beat: Chuuya. This is his story. And it starts with the sun.

            Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens.

            A pearl of orange light landed in the soft earth of a seaside cliff.

            And from this small drop of sun grew a magic amber flower.

            An iris with glowing petals bloomed into the darkness.

            It had the ability to heal the sick and injured.

            A man in heavy clothing pulled down a scarf as he inspected the flower.

            See that old guy over there? Remember him. Kind of important to the story.

            Centuries passed, and a hop, skip, and boat ride away there grew a kingdom.

            The sun shone brightly on the palace and pristine little houses.

            The kingdom was ruled by a beloved king and queen.

            A pregnant woman lay on her bed, coughing and barely conscious.

            And the queen was about to have a baby. But she got sick. Super sick. She was running out of time, and that’s when people start to look for a miracle.

            Under the moonlight, a fleet of ships set off into the night. When they arrived at the closest island, they disembarked and began exploring.

            Or, ya know, a magical amber flower.

            The old man, looking carefully about himself, lifted a woven basket of leaves off the hidden iris.

            Aha! Knew he was important! You see, instead of sharing the sun’s gift that guy, Father Randou, hoarded its healing power and used it to keep himself young for hundreds of years. And all he had to do was sing a special song.

(Randou) “Flower gleam and glow.”

            The iris glowed, and amber light washed over Randou.

(Randou) “Let your power shine, Make the clock reverse, Bring back what once was mine, What once was mine!”

            As he breathed in the pollen, his greying hair darkened, his wrinkles smoothed, and his cold skin became warm.

            You get it, one little tune and he’s young again. …God, he’s creepy.

The sound of shouting townspeople echoed through the air. In alarm, Randou quickly replaced the camouflage over the flower and turned to flee. However, without his knowledge, his lantern hit the basket. The iris was left in the open. Palace guards arrived at the cliff to see the glowing flower out in the open.

            “We found it!” announcement a guard.

            Carefully, they dug it up as Randou watched angrily.

            The magic of the amber flower healed the queen.

            She drank the glowing water made from the iris. Soon, a baby with soft red hair lay in a bassinet.

            A healthy baby boy, a prince, was born with beautiful amber hair.

Above the baby, the design of a sun on a mobile looked down on him. His parents happily put a crown on his head. After all, it would be his one day.

            Here’s a hint: that little shit is Chuuya. To celebrate his birth, the king and queen launched a flying lantern into the sky.

With the symbol of the sun painted on each side, the lantern floated up into the sky as the people below cheered.

            And for that one moment, everything was perfect. And then that moment ended.

            Under the cover of darkness, Father Randou, once again old and grey, snuck into the nursery. Standing over Chuuya’s crib, he began to sing.

(Randou) “Flower gleam and glow, Let your power shine.”

            Chuuya’s hair began to glow just as the flower had, and as Randou took a strand into his hand, his youth returned. He held up scissors to take back a piece of the magic he so desired.

(Randou) “Make the clock rev—!”

            The hair in his hand stopped glowing and turned a dull, reddish brown, and his wrinkles returned. What’s worse was the cold that seeped into his bones. Randou looked down at Chuuya. He knew what he had to do.

            Randou broke into the castle, stole the child, and just like that, poof! He was gone.

With a crying Chuuya bundled in his arms, Randou disappeared into the night even as the king and queen raised the alarm.

            The kingdom searched and searched, but they could not find the prince. For deep within the forest, in a hidden tower, Randou raised the child as his own.

Chuuya sat in front of the fireplace as Randou brushed his long hair.

(Chuuya) “Save what has been lost, Bring back what once was mine, What once was mine.”

            Randou had his flower, and this time, he was determined to keep it hidden.

“I want to go outside,” said Chuuya crossly.

            “The outside world is a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people,” said Randou. “You must stay here, where you’re safe. Do you understand, flower?”

            Chuuya sighed. “Yes, Father…”

            But the walls of the tower could not hide everything…

            In the dead of night, Chuuya slipped downstairs from his bedroom to the window.

            Each year, on his birthday, the king and queen released thousands of lanterns into the sky in hope that one day their lost prince would return.

            Fascinated, Chuuya watched the lights in the sky. His father never explained them, so they remained a mystery in his life. And for that, he wanted to see them even more.

            And that’s how this story begins.

[she-writes-anonymously]

TRUST YOUR VIBES BY SONIA CHOQUETTE BOOK REVIEW

This book is a compilation of real-life stories from Sonia’s clients, relatives, and her own where you learn how to tap into your intuition or psychic abilities so you can drastically change and improve your own life. Try them; see what you think, what they do for you, and track your attitude before and after implementing them on your own. You can send me a direct message on my Instagram @dianitalv anytime you want. I am more than happy to guide, chat or just listen to you if you need anything. 

Below I listed all the SIXTH SENSORY WISDOMS author Sonia Choquette exposes in her book along with the practices she recommends for readers to follow. 

#1 IT’S GREAT TO BE SIX-SENSORY!

You must consider every feeling, thought, hit, hunch, aha! bright idea, and “I wonder…” you experience as important expressions of your sixth sense. Take a sheet of paper and write down all your fears, negative beliefs, or attitudes as they arise, whether they’re from your own experiences or you’ve inherited them from other people. Ask yourself if you really believe the old rules, or if they’re just old habits.  

#2 TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF

Sleep Book-Appointment Eat well Drink enough water cut addictions because they lower your vibration. 

#3 GO OUTSIDE

Do something physical every day for at least 15 minutes. -Short Walks around the block -Go outside -Get grounded

#4 YOUR BODY KNOWS

Listen to your body. Every morning make a scanner of your body for any pain or blockages and tell your body “I’m listening.” Be alert of any tension, tightness, rumbles, tickles, or flickers. Notice how your body communicates psychic feedback. 

#5 TAKE IT EASY 

Lighten up and go with the flow. Begin each day with deep breathing- inhale and then exhale to the sound of “ahhhh”. If possible get a relaxing massage. Take a bubble bath. Watch movies with characters who stay tranquil (pink panther, cool hand luke) If you’re in an argument say “you win” and drop it. Notice how much more aware you are when you’re not tense.

#6 LISTEN

Take 10 minutes for a quiet time each day. -Meditate -Walks -Long Drives Notice how much easier it is to hear your sith sense when you have more quiet moments, and reflect on how much peace this brings to your life. 

#7 REMEMBER: “IT’S NOT A MOVIE”

Find the time to watch several movies in order to practice observing without getting caught up in the drama. If you find yourself losing control, fold your arms over your belly and breathe, or get up and move around. Be patient and keep your mind focused on remaining neutral. Ask yourself if you react the same way to real-life dramas as you do to the movies. Practice being objective, and observe how much more intuitive you are when you’re neutral.

#8 WATCH YOUR WORDS

Pay attention to what you say and what you listen to. When you attack another person, you attack yourself. Regardless of whether or not our ego understands this. Speak thoughtfully with self-control, and use loving words of acceptance, forgiveness, and humor. Release kind words and share them via e-mail, fax, love letter, memo, note, post-it, message board, or greeting card. Expand your vocabulary so that you choose words that are accurate, beautiful, sensual inspiring, and thought-provoking. Get a word-a-day calendar. When you go to bed each night say five positive things about yourself.

#9 CALL IT LIKE YOU FEEL IT

Protect yourself energetically by consciously creating good vibes. Speaking positively to yourself and others, and recognizing who and what feels good. Remember not to take negative energy personally, simply refuse to be harmed by someone else’s missed opportunity. Shield yourself with positive, loving energy, and stop any unpleasant energy with intention. 

#10 PAY ATTENTION

Pay special attention to what pops into your mind. Avoid dwelling on mental images that convey negative, depressing, violent or destructive vibrations. This means turning off the television or radio and putting down the newspaper for a week. Recognize the correlations between what you broadcast and what comes back to you. -What kind of thoughts are you in the habit of thinking? -Are you seized with fearful notions? -Are you invaded by negative images? -Do you receive jealous, angry, petty, insecure messages that drain you and leave you feeling unloved and unloving? Read prayers and poetry. Think inspiring thoughts, think healing thoughts, think creative thoughts, think higher thoughts. 

#11 BE FLEXIBLE

Practice becoming loose by doing some gentle bending and stretching before you start your day. Begin raising your arms slowly over your head, gently rolling your neck, raising and lowering your shoulders, shifting your ribs, and rotating your wrists and ankles. -Stretch -Play Hula Hoop -Go on adventures (if you want to) -Open-end walks -Explore new restaurants -Explore hidden neighborhoods. 

#12 THIS TOO SHALL PASS 

Clear out everything in your life that no longer uplifts your spirits. Start by emptying out your wallet or purse, desk, car, office, closet, garage, basement, or any other space where dead energy may dwell. As soon as your physical space is clear, you’ll have set the tone to address the energy/emotional dwell. You aren’t weak or broken- you’re human, as we all are. -Seek out soul supporters, join a forum, 12-step group, or therapy. The work of healing our past is called karma, and on a soul level, this work may take a lifetime or two, so don’t rush it. Your peace won’t begin after you heal, but when you agree to heal. -Perform Green Ritual: a. write down all that you desire to mentally and emotionally release. b. grab some foil, a box of Epsom salt, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, a deep pot, and a match. pull alcohol over the salt, and light it up.

#13 GET A NEW STORY 

Focus your attention and appreciation on your old story. write it down thoroughly and dramatically as possible, and then share it with as many people as you can, telling it again and again. Do you feel sorry for yourself? do you feel brave? heroic? or do you feel small, crushed? After telling your story every day for a week, let it go. With great respect and appreciation. for all you’ve been through, decide that it’s time to release the past and step into the present.  

#14 MAKE A NOTE OF IT

You can have a journal for the road, and one that you keep at home. Carry the little one with you everywhere, and record everything your vibes relay to you. If you hate writing, you can modernize this practice by using a recorder, or computer. Record every vibe you have and don’t censor yourself. You never know if something that doesn’t make sense now will have meaning later. 

#15 PRAY 

Create a prayer book of your own. Write down prayers you read, hear, or that bring you peace, speak to your heart and soul, and uplift your spirit in any way. 

Trust your spirit you choose and be creative, pick a book of inspiration, and carry a talisman. 

#16 BE SENSITIVE

Listen to what your senses tell you and what they ask for. Pay attention to your environment and the sights, sounds, and feel of those things in it. Move away if something feels drag, or negative energy, change it and throw it away. Try adding aromatherapy, scented candles, perfumes, and incense, and see if they raise or lower your vibration. 

#17 GO, TEAM!

Look for team players. Establish check-in times with them when you can share your vibes. If you aren’t sure who your fellow team players are, do a little detective work and flush them out. 

#18 KNOW THAT IT’S ALL IN HOW YOU SAY IT

Speak up and share your vibes, starting with your team members, and then with others. What words do you use to describe what you feel? Look for ways in which other people talk about their vibes such as “I have a hunch…” “I don’t have a good feeling…”. Make a list of 20 ways to describe your six sensory worlds. It doesn’t matter what words you use as long you talk about your intuitive thoughts and feelings. 

#19 STICK WITH YOUR PEOPLE

Open your eyes, ears, and heart, and search for your intuitive role models. Find as many sources of inspiration as possible. Walk their walk, talk their talk, dance their dance, sing their song, and emulate them in every way. Is it what you want to do? Do you love it? Keep doing it until you’re vocalizing your own creative intuitive genius. 

#20 CALL IN THE TROOPS

Become aware of assistance you’re getting from spirit. Realize that you have an entire psychic support system available to help you at all times. If you feel vulnerable, ask your angels for protection. Ask angels to assist you, if you missing someone who has crossed over sen their love, ask for their support.  Carefully discern the quality of guidance that you receive. 

#21 KEEP LEARNING 

Choose anything that you’ve been meaning to study but have resisted or been unable to. For example, a one-day seminar, or a weekend workshop. Check community colleges and online courses. Ask yourself if your spirits teachers have been trying to make contact with you. Have any books fallen into your head? Six sensory people are very honest, so it’s now time, to be honest about yourself. Can you easily recognize your limitations and be a student without feeling small or inferior.

#22 EXPECT MIRACLES

Expect the best from the universe. Allow your mind and heart to be open, and ask yourself how many wonderful gifts. Raise the mental and emotional ceiling good things you allow yourself. When you go to work expect the commute to be painless, expect the best parking space, and expect your boss, clients, and coworkers to appreciate you. Expect your partner to dazzle you with romance. When the phone rings expect good news. 

#23 FEED YOUR SPIRIT

Feed your soul. Focus on what makes you content and fills you with a sense of satisfaction. The more you nurture your spirit, the more attractive to others your energy will be, drawing to you all you need. Stop being too responsible, make room to be sweet. See how different life feels when you feed your soul and how differently people act toward you. 

#24 KNOW THAT THERE’S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS

View every inconvenience, disappointment, challenge, and upset as an invitation to live a higher way. Review past problems with the same scrutiny and list the positive things that have arisen from difficulties. Where were you spared from making mistakes? How did you discover the gifts that arise from challenges? Somewhere there are new directions, new opportunities, new lessons, and new solutions. Are you able to see them? do you want to? are you willing to stop being a victim of life and start being an inventor? Learn to go with the flow. Know that for every problem there’s a solution.

#25 LET YOUR HIGHER SELF LEAD

Repeat often: “subconscious mind, my higher self is the boss. Higher Self take over!” write this phrase on slips of paper and tape them in prominent places throughout your home and workspace as a constant visual reminder. And the minute you find yourself worrying, struggling,  or questioning what you do repeat it again. 

Make a note of all those areas where your higher self is already on the job. How do things flow in those areas? Do you like it? Add a little music to your mantra. Your subconscious mind responds best to music. 

#26 LOOK PAST APPEARANCES 

Look at life on its deepest level. Study other people with an open and objective mind and a loving heart. Pay attention to what’s in front of you: study facial expressions and body language. Be interested in others instead of worrying about how you appear to them. Be sure to look past people’s facades, and search for deeper clarity and insight. Ask yourself if you’re seeing their fears, strengths, talents, or secret heart desires. Be willing to look at others without judging, projecting, or telling yourself a story about them. BE NEUTRAL, as if you were looking at a beautiful landscape. Simply observe and learn.

#27 SEE GOD WITHIN EVERYTHING

View the world through God’s eyes, especially in situations where you don’t like what you see. What difference does this change? are you able to see more accurately or more deeply with your soul’s eyes? what major insights, shifts, and discoveries are revealed? Choose at least one person for whom you can become believing eyes and who can serve as yours. Start reflecting on one another whom each of you wants to become. Do this with yourself every morning. Look at yourself with genuine appreciation, you’ll know that you’ve made the transition from ego-based critical rules to spirit-based loving law. 

Did I enjoy reading it?

what stands out to me the most?

#28 REMEMBER: THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL, BUT NOT SERIOUS

Laugh a lot. Look for the humor in things: Sing in the shower, create shampoo sculptures with your hair in the bathtub, make funny faces while brushing your teeth, read humorous books, rent comedies, go to a karaoke club with a friend, play with your dog. Don’t worry if you look foolish, the more foolish you are the more enlightened you’ll feel. Notice how laughter inspires you and activates your sixth sense. Be prepared for intuitive flashes of genius, bright ideas, unbelievable dreams, synchronicities, and the inner peace that will surely follow. 

#29 BE WILLING TO BE A BAD ARTIST

Visit an art store, music shop, dance studio, or another form of artistic activity that has been calling you. Give yourself permission to be a bad artist, and take the risk of enjoying a few creative tools for fun. Spend a few minutes every day making bad art: doodle, color, scribble, dance, make music and enjoy. Appreciate yourself doing so. Approach everything you do with an artful flair. with enough practice, I guarantee that it will start coming through your soul too. 

#30 MUSCLE TEST

Muscle test everything that interests you. Find your helpers and work together, and don’t forget to ask your body “May I ask this question?” this will eliminate all subconscious resistance and give you a clear channel. Once you get feedback, check it against your vibes: do they resonate? does it ring true? does it feel right, even if it isn’t what you want to hear? See how much more peaceful you are when you remove doubt.

#31 FIRST LOVE YOURSELF, THEN LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Practice alternating between giving and receiving love. In the morning, make it your aim to give love immediately and without hesitation wherever you can. Through appreciation, compliments, assistance, patience, and acts of kindness and generosity, love whatever you’re invited to love. Open your heart to receiving love- expect and recognize it wherever and however it shows up. If you’re given a compliment, accept it and say thank you. If someone asks you if you need anything, say yes and identify it. Practice loving yourself. -Take a break -Have a nap -Enjoy a few minutes of meditation

-List 3 things an hour that you love about yourself, and accept and believe them

-Do 3 loving things for yourself all week

Note how you feel. Is there any difference in your comfort zone between giving and receiving love? 

#32 BE GENEROUS

Pay attention to ways in which you can give naturally, then do so. Observe how your generosity affects you physically, emotionally, and psychically. And note the areas in which you’re not charitable and how that particular energy feels. Practice giving those areas a little at a time: If you’re cheap with money, invite someone to lunch and pay: if you’re always rushed, give a loved one a few minutes of your time; and if you’re critical, give others more of your appreciation and affection. Practice living fully. Begin each day by naming at least 3 things you’re grateful for striving for new ways to express gratitude each day. Say yes instead of no to things you love, and let in more love, appreciation, and fun each day. Notice how these choices influence your intuition, your creativity, and your sixth sense. Write down all the intuitive gifts that show up this week.

#33 RELAX AND ENJOY

Give everything a rest. Turn all your plans, dreams, hopes, fears, and ambitions over to God and your guides, and take the week off. Stay off the phone, keep it to a minimum. Have some fun; sleep late, window-shop, go for a long walk, and go kayaking. Trust that the universe will deliver all you need when the time is right. Don’t fret or stress- simply open your heart and wait. 

⭐️5/5

Recommend: I recommend this book even though there are certain points that sounded a little redundant (to me). The reading is medium, but the narration of the book is simple so you can read the book at a fast phase. However, I do recommend taking your time with this book in order to do all the weekly practices she recommends. If not, I made a list so you don’t have to simply print them out and incorporate them into your life because ever since I have I have noticed incredible changes. 

[hotchley]

that’s okay

Oh my god it’s out before midnight!! Are you proud of me?? Once again, it has not been proofread, but that’s fine, this is for fun! Also, the same line where Aaron says he doesn’t know what he’s saying anymore is also where I lost the plot so erm... yeah

Once again: little plot. Not much point. Low-key hate the ending. May have fucked up Hotch’s character. But I had fun writing it so we’re just... yeah we’re going with.

Title comes from That’s Okay by The Hush Sound (would 10/10 recommend), and I have to thank Caitlin ( @themetaphorgirl ) for that one because I was sat there like: I have everything but a title and then I remembered That’s Okay and was like AHA

Trigger Warnings: trauma, trauma responses, child abuse, religion, religious trauma

read on ao3!

When he finishes his speech, he meets Erin's eyes, determined and angry. At her, for pushing him and doubting his abilities in the one place he felt like he could maintain control in. At Jason, for once again putting him in a situation where he has to take the fall and piece things back together. Because he has to play this stupid game of politics. At the team, because it is easy. 

But most of all, he is angry at himself because he shouldn't be angry at them. He shouldn't be angry at Jason or Erin. He shouldn't be angry, because anger means he's creeping closer and closer to the line that separates himself from his father and if he goes too far, he will lose everything and he won't be able to come back. Ever.

"Aaron," she says, and his glare loses its power. She says his name, his first name, like it means something. With a gentleness that he had never felt before Haley softly repeated it to herself, as though she was trying to test out each syllable before she got too close.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "That comment about your son was unfair. I know you love them all equally."

She shakes her head. "Don't apologise. You know I don't enjoy doing this. Undermining you like this. Asking these questions, saying these things. But if we are both going to keep our jobs, then I have to."

At that moment, she is not Strauss. She is Erin, just another victim of bureau politics, trying to keep her head above water. It's what causes Aaron to reply, instead of just walking out.

"I know," he says. "I know."

"Why don't you ever let Jason take the fall for his mistakes? I'm not an idiot, I know these things aren't your doing. He's a grown man. He can accept the consequences that come with acting the way he does. You don't need to take them."

She doesn't understand. He does. He needs to take them because taking punishment is the only way he can atone for the multitude of sins he commits every single day. He needs to take the blame because he is the only one that can come back from it. The only one that can be replaced with ease. 

He needs to take the blame because it reminds him that this, just like everything he has been stripped of in his life- his childhood, his ability to love, his warmth, his innocence, his faith in both something else and humanity- this can and will be taken from him the moment he puts a foot wrong.

The Bureau, much like the small town in Virginia that he will never refer to as home because he never once felt safe, not even when Haley held him with gentle and unblemished hands, does not show anyone mercy. Least of all those that dare to speak out against injustice.

"I do. Jason Gideon is nothing without the BAU. I can't take that from him," he says. 

He hates to be vulnerable with her, but she is the only one left that he truly trusts. That remembers the boy he was when he first joined. That knows the lock on his drawer is not because there is alcohol, but because he keeps the file with his incomplete profile of George Foyet in there.

"And you?" she asks.

"And I?" 

"What are you without the BAU?"

And isn't that the question he wishes he knew the answer to? He is not a father, he knows that much. A real father wouldn't have hesitated to transfer after Jason returned. A real father would kiss their son goodnight without feeling guilty and hug them without fear. And he is not a husband. On a technicality, he is, but even he can see that Haley isn't happy. The day where she leaves will be sooner rather than later, and he will be powerless to stop her.

A part of him doesn't want to fight. It will be easier on both of them if she leaves before the inevitable happens. Before the pieces of himself he gives up to do this job become irretrievable. Before he is more than just his father's mirror, he is his father's son. 

Before the job he is nothing without ruins her life beyond repair.

"I don't know," he confesses. In some strange way, he feels like a child again. Being asked by the priest what he thinks his punishment for lying about what really happens in the Hotchner family home should be, even though he wasn't lying. He was never lying. They were all just too afraid to confront the truth.

The same way he was.

"Get some rest. I'll speak to the Director and other higher-ups. You'll have a job to come back to. I promise."

It is an impossible promise, one she may not be able to keep, but her tone is gentle and her words soothe him the way a parents' declarations of love never had, so he simply nods and exits her office. 

He doesn't look at any of the team when he gets back to his office. He doesn't bother to knock on Jason's door to make sure he isn't looking through the Book of the Damned. When Derek calls his name, he speeds up, knowing that out of all of them, he owes him the most answers, but finds himself completely unable to give them.

Haley doesn't know that he is returning. He doesn't have the energy to tell her. As he turns onto their road, he is almost tempted to keep going. Past their house. Past her sister's apartment. Past her parents' house and his father's grave. Past everything that keeps him grounded.

The idea of giving into temptation was something drilled out of him long ago. So he turns into their driveway, wondering what the neighbours will say when one of them inevitably moves out. Will they find it sad, that the young couple they had all hoped would last, had fallen apart? Will they wonder what the final straw was?

Haley is still in her work clothes when he enters the living room. She had already picked Jack up from his daycare on her way back, and her son- as far as he's concerned, he's nothing more than the sperm donor- babbles away happily as he plays with the toys his mother and aunt had picked out for him on their last day out together.

"You're back early," she says, without any malice. 

"Strauss told me to get some rest," he replies. "How are the students?"

She smiles at the mention of her class. "Glad to have me back. Excited for your next Southern treat, because no matter how many times I tell them I also lived in that town, they only want it if you made it."

"Well you moved there for your junior year, so I can understand why," he jokes, but instead of wiping away the bad memories of the case, it leaves him more exhausted than before.

"Aaron, what happened today?" she asks him, so attuned to his moods and feelings that he often wonders why she doesn't become a profiler.

"It's nothing," he tells her. No matter how many times she begs for him to tell her why he wakes up in the middle of the night, to share why he can't touch her without showering for a longer amount of time than can be healthy, he won't.

"You don't need to say specifics. But please don't lie to me."

"I'm sorry. I- can we eat first?"

Her mouth parts with shock. Of course they can eat first. She would do whatever was needed if it meant he would finally, after so many years of being married, tell her the truth about his job. She understood his need to keep it a secret. But when he came home, looking more defeated than he had at sixteen, she worried.

He puts Jack to sleep before climbing into bed beside her. She puts her book down- she hadn't really been reading it, just holding it to give her something to do- and turns so she's laying on her side. Absent-mindedly, she starts drawing circles on his stomach. His hand trembles as he removes it, placing it on the bed sheet.

"I profiled the team today," he begins.

Haley sits up properly. "I thought you had a rule against that."

"We do. But Erin… pushed. And before I knew what was happening I was sharing information about all of them. Things that- I don't know if they know that I know. And Erin is too good to use it to blackmail any of us but she isn't a profiler. They'll realise she knows."

"What did you tell her?" is all she says. She knows her husband. Knows how he takes everything personally, and how he will hold himself to unreachable standards because he was never allowed to be anything but perfect, and anything less than that is failure.

He tells her, in almost perfect verbatim, the same words he told Erin. Towards the end, his voice starts to get choked up. She knows he stutters when he feels under pressure or anxious and she knows he hates it. So instead of speaking, she takes his left hand, clasps it with both of hers and rubs circles over the knuckles.

For a moment, he stops speaking, staring at their interlocked hands instead with a look of slight wonder. Like even after all this time, he still couldn't believe he got to touch her. That she wanted to touch him, in spite of his devils and darkness.

It gives him the strength to finish.

"And you?" she asks, after it becomes clear he won't offer any more information as to why it hurt him so much.

Her question is an echo of Erin's, and he closes his eyes, giving himself a few moments to get lost in his head, where it is not necessarily safe, but is where he can be alone and not pretend to be good. 

"And I?"

"What did you say about yourself?"

"I said that if she could find someone better, then I wished her luck," he says, voice completely flat and monotone.

Haley tries to not be offended that he is speaking to her like she is an officer of the law, or a suspect, instead of her husband. "Why didn't you say more?"

"More?"

She nods. "You're feeling guilty because you profiled the team, but you didn't. You shared the pieces of them that make them human. That make them good agents and even better people. You didn't say anything like that about yourself. Why not?"

"Because I'm not like them. My trauma- I'm just not like the rest of the team, okay?"

"I know enough about trauma to know it affects every person differently, so I won't dispute that one. But if you're saying that you're not like the rest of your family, not team, then what are you like? Because from where I'm sitting, you are."

"I'm not," he repeats, growing slightly agitated.

She needs him to understand he is. "Aren't you?"

"No." this time, there is venom in his words. But it doesn't frighten her. It never has. The only time his words have such hatred injected into them is when he's afraid of himself. She's never been afraid of him. She never will be. Because to her, he is good. He is trying.

"How?" she pushes one last time.

And the dam explodes.

“I’m not soft! I’m not beautiful or kind or good or any of the things those stupid, stupid motivational quotes say! I’m not- I’m not like the others and all I want to know is why. Everyone else is good. They’re light and sweet and good. We’ve all been- we all have trauma. Why can’t I- why am I different? Why did mine make me violent and scared and- why can’t I move on?”

It was not what she was expecting. It was not what she thought he was going to say, and now she doesn't know what she is meant to do. She doesn't know how to piece him back together. Not this time. Not when his words are a confession he has been clinging to since the day he met Spencer.

"Aaron," she begins, for lack of other words to say.

"Don't," he cuts her off. "Please. Just don't. I can- I'll sleep in the guest room. You shouldn't have to deal with me when I'm like this."

"You're having a bad day. It's what I signed up to deal with," she says.

He shakes his head. "Not like this. Not like- Haley, what kind of father avoids his son the way I do because they're afraid? What kind of man doesn't know the difference between safety and happiness? How broken am I if my twenty-five year old subordinate can move on better than I can?"

"You're scared. You're a victim of child abuse. It's not- it's normal that you feel like this. I think. Aaron, I don't know. I don't know what kind of person this all makes you. But when I look at you, I see the man I married, the one so terrified of everything, thriving. I see someone that suffered atrocities that nobody should ever be put through fighting with everything they are, to break that cycle. I don't know how to make you feel better, but I vowed to be honest with you. And this is me doing that."

"You're the first person to tell me it wasn't my fault," he whispers. "Everyone else always said that I must've done something to deserve it."

"You were a child Aaron. You all were."

It was the wrong thing to say. 

"We were all children, but they're all better. They haven't closed themselves off. They- I see them, with their unfailing faith in humanity and it hurts. It physically hurts. What am I doing to them? What happens when the evil they see outweighs the goodness?"

"It's okay, Aaron," she laughs, because if she doesn't, she will cry and she will not do that. Not in this moment. "It's- the trauma and the hurt and the heartbreak doesn't always give you faith. It doesn't always make you a better person. Yes, they are still positive and happy and beautiful and good, but so are you. It's just buried somewhere. Because sometimes the trauma just hurts."

He stares at her eyes, and she sees the tears that had been threatening to fall since he got into the bed start to spill over. With one cautious hand, she wipes it away. She counts it as a win when he leans into the touch without flinching.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you," he whispers.

"That's the beautiful thing about love. We are all entitled to it. It's just about whether or not we'll take it."

"I don't know how to stop being so broken," he adds.

"You're not- people are not broken. Not ever. They are damaged by life and the terrible things that other people do, but they're never broken. Not beyond repair. Do you hear me? You are not broken. You never were. You were just hurt. But there are so many people that love you. That want to help you. All you have to do is ask."

"I know. I just- I wish he didn't have such a tight hold on me. I wish I could be more like Penelope. Or Derek. They're so beautiful, with their faith in love and goodness. Derek didn't have anyone. Not in the way I had you."

She didn't have to ask to know who he was talking about. "He was your father. Even despite everything, he took time off work when you had chicken pox and played with you when you were old enough to remember the snow."

"I know. I don't know what I'm saying anymore. Do you think I'll always be like this? Cold and unapproachable and full of darkness?"

"The only people you are ever cold and unapproachable with is unsubs. Suspects. And there's nothing wrong with darkness. There's no light without it." she can't say anything more than that. Not without lying.

"You always know what to say," he says to her, hesitantly pulling her closer towards him.

She smiles. "It's because I love you."

His own smile fades, and he doesn't reply, instead brushing her hair off her face. She tries to not let it sting. The words had never been something said freely in his house. Never used to actually express love, only as a plea for mercy. There are a few minutes of silence, and she think he's finally fallen asleep. 

Then he speaks.

"Haley, what if I can't save them? I've already failed once. What if this, part of me, means the next time they need me, I can't be there? I can't save them?"

She thinks her answer over for a few minutes.

"Sometimes the way to save other people is to save ourselves. You need to save yourself first. But listen to me." 

She can tell he's fighting sleep now, so she speaks quickly.

"There is nothing wrong with you. Yes, you are flawed and you make mistakes, but that is because you are human. We all make mistakes. We are never perfect. You are not the only one to screw up. But this part of you-" she places a hand over his heart "-this part of you is not broken. It is not wrong or anything that you were led to believe it was. You are exactly what and where you need to be. And I love you for that."

"Do you promise?"

She swallows. "Of course I do." 

She's not entirely sure whether she's lying, but he drifts off with a smile, so she decides she doesn't care. There are certain lies she is willing to tell, if only so her husband has one night of peace.

Thinking of him as her husband is painful, because she knows it is only a matter of time before one of them snaps. Before this balance he has fought so hard to achieve topples like Jack's building blocks. She knows which way it will topple. She isn't angry.

But the balance hasn't toppled yet. It won't for a few weeks. So maybe it is wrong, but instead of pulling away, she lets herself hold her husband, the steady beating of his heart sending her to sleep.

She is right though. Even when she's no longer there, he knows she is right. That sometimes the pain is not poetic or character-building. Sometimes, it is just pain, and the only way forward is directly through it. It is not easy, but it is possible.

Everything is possible, so long as he lets himself feel without guilt.

[t-lostinworlds]

Monthlies (Tom Holland)

A/N: Hi, it’s me, with a fic. Wrote this on a whim so bare with me asdfghjkl. I’m trying to be all mysterious with the summary but I think the title gives it away aha. Anyways, here’s some sweet boyfriend Tom for your enjoyment! Hope you like it <3

Pairing: Tom Holland x Fem!Reader

Summary: You tend to disappear for a week every month and Tom goes to find out why.

Warnings: None but my usual typos

Word Count: 3.4k+

Masterlist in Bio

-:-:-:-:-

Your relationship was fairly new, four months in to be exact, and Tom can't help but be curious of a certain thing you do every month.

Right after you've made it official, you've asked Tom about giving you some space during a certain week of each month. Not thinking much of it, he obliged, unable to find any harm on you wanting some time alone.

However, as months moved pass, he can't help but ask as to why exactly you needed to be away.

He just wants you to be open with him is all, want you to know that whatever it is, maybe he can help you with it, regardless of how you prefer his help. But each time he brings it up, you just shrugged it off and tell him it wasn't worrisome, that there wasn't any harm done during the duration of the disappearance.

Tom trusts you with every fiber of his being, so he didn't find the need to press you further, knowing that you'll tell him whenever you're ready.

Although the thing with curiosity, it grows no matter how hard you try for it not to, and Tom wasn't any different.

He can't deny that there was something odd about it, particularly when you don't speak to him during said week until the last two days.

It was planting an unsettling feeling in him for sure, his brain creating scenarios as to why exactly you shut him out constantly, same duration each time.

Does it have to do something with him? Is being with him putting you under too much stress and pressure that you needed to get out of it and give yourself room to breathe monthly? Or is there something going on with you and that you're hiding something deeper than you make it seem?

"I don't know man, I trust her so much, and she hasn't given me any reason not to whenever we're together, but when she does these monthly disappearances I can't help but think otherwise you know?" Tom sighed, a bottle of beer cold against his fingertips as he sat beside Harrison on their living room couch. The television was playing some random show that Tom couldn't even pay any attention to as his mind was somewhere else, on someone to be exact.

"You tried talking to her about it?" His best mate pointed out the obvious, brows furrowed as he gave Tom a curious glance.

"Yeah, but she doesn't give me any specific answer. She keeps saying it's not a big deal but you only say that if it is, don't you?" Tom's whole face was covered in nothing but worry, frown all evident as his thoughts run wild as to what could be this hidden secret you're so keen on keeping.

"Maybe it's time you just find out by yourself. You do know we're she lives right?" Harrison stated, seemingly unamused because Tom could've just done it months ago if it bothered him that much.

But Tom wasn't bothered by it really, not that much anyway. He was mainly just curious, concerned. What if you're going through something and he wasn't there to help you with it? What kind of a boyfriend is he then?

Sure he could've found out for himself all those months ago, but you asked him it as a favor, and he gave you his word, why would he break that and then cause unwanted problems between you two?

With a light scoff, Tom crossed his arms over his chest. "Of course I know where she lives, she's my girlfriend."

"And when does this month's MIA week start?"

At Harrison's question, Tom checks the date on his phone, a deep sigh coming out of him when he realized when it will be. "I think it starts tomorrow?"

"Then pay her a visit tomorrow."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Tom says reluctantly but couldn't help but entertain the idea of it anyway.

If he does it, this could really go wrong either way. It's either you'd be hurt because it would look like Tom doesn't truly trust you or, he'd find something that he would've been better off without. 

"Come on mate, how bad can it be?"

***

Tom was consumed by nerves the moment he stood in front of your door the next day. His hands were turning clammy as he shifts the key you've given him from one finger to the other.

He wasn't one to show up without texting first, completely uninvited especially at the time of month you specifically asked him to leave you be.

But it was eating him up from the inside out, his patience growing thin to the point that he was close to being desperate for answers.

Two sides of himself were at war, but Harrison's words won't seem to stop echoing inside his head.

How bad can it be?

Taking in a deep breath, Tom pushed the key in and unlocked the door, that one click bouncing off the walls a little too loudly for his liking. Slowly, cautiously, he lets himself in, gently closing the door behind him as his heart beats rapidly against his chest.

"Y/N? Are you home?" Tom was met by silence, your place seeming untouched but it was warm nonetheless. Plus, it was early in the morning; you couldn't have gone out yet. Tom knows what time you usually wake up, and judging by the clock just by the doorway, you're most likely to still be asleep. You definitely were here somewhere.

Moving further down your space, Tom heard a silent whimper, his ears perking up at the sound that was coming from your bedroom. His brain was straight to jump into conclusions and he hates himself for it.

You're a sweet and kind girl, heart so pure that you couldn't possibly do anything that would purposely hurt him. But when you're an over-thinker, any rational thought seems to get pushed back, replaced by this nagging whisper, like a tiny devil on his shoulder.

Beads of sweat were starting to form on his forehead as he threaded down the hall, heartbeat ringing in his ears until he reached your bedroom door, all opened wide for him to easily see what's inside.

All he saw was a form on the bed hidden under thick covers, hair — to which he assumed was yours — going astray over the pillows. Tom felt his heart calm down a little, silently scolding himself for thinking the worst when you were literally lying still and alone in bed.

A louder groan, one laced with pure pain followed by a soft yet broken sob bounced on your bedroom walls, the sheer sound of discomfort making Tom rush to your side immediately.

Dread covered his face once he took in your state, agony written all over your features as you hugged your knees to your chest, whole body curled up into a ball.

"Love what's going on? Are you okay?" Panic coated Tom's voice as he sat himself on the edge of the bed beside you, hand coming up to push a stray hair away from your face.

You willed your eyes to open at the sound of a familiar voice, pure surprise crossing you features at the feeling of his touch before it was quick to be replaced by worry and embarrassment.

"T—Tom? Why are you here? I don't want you to see me like this. I'm aah—" You winced loudly, Tom's concern only growing because the look on your face showed nothing but absolute torture, eyes squeezed shut as your teeth sunk into your bottom lip. The sight was crushing his heart, just seeing you in so much pain, it was unbearable.

"Angel, please tell me what's going on? I can't help if you don't tell me." Tom was close to begging, fingers brushing your hair softly, comfortingly as the other hand gave your arm a gentle squeeze, too afraid to move you even in the slightest in fear that he might hurt you more.

He wants nothing more than to take your pain away, whatever the cause may be, but that's just it, he doesn't know why your hurt so he has no clue what to do.

Turning your head a little to meet his eyes, you frowned at him, and Tom can see than you were hesitating, doubting if you should tell him or not. But when another sharp pang coursed through your body, an excruciating stab just below your abdomen, you finally spoke, voice frail and small as you tried to suppress sob.

"Cramps."

It took three seconds, no, four when everything finally clicked. Tom could feel his cheek heat up as realization dawned on him, piece by piece falling into place, the situation at hand finally looking clear as day in his head.

"Oh."

A week every month... monthly periods.

That makes the absolute sense. Tom felt so stupid not having figured it out sooner, the facts already laid out for him but then again, how could he possibly narrow it down to that?

This was something new to him, past girlfriends not turning this serious, or simply just not finding it important at all for them to talk about periods and such.

Although, Tom can't help but question as to why exactly are you hiding away from him during his time of the month? Why were you so keen on being away from him whenever you get your period?

He didn't get the chance to ask you yet though; another heartrending groan from you was enough for him to stay focused at the task at hand: help get rid of your pain to the best of his abilities and well, the best of his knowledge too. "Okay, uhm, what do you need love?"

All you could manage to do was point weakly at your bedside table, Tom's eyes landing on an empty glass of water and some painkillers.

Tom turned back to you, a sympathetic smile playing on his lips before leaning down to give you a soft peck on the forehead. With voice soft and sweet, he hums against your skin. "I'll get you some water darling, I'll be right back."

Rushing out of you room, Tom quickly fished his phone out of his pocket, aimlessly walking towards the kitchen as he clicks on the name on his screen. He definitely needs some help with all this.

"Hey mum, uh, are you busy?" Tom sighs in relief the moment she answered. He was refilling your cup of water with a small frown, driven by nothing else but his pure concern about you.

"Not really no, I'm on my way to do some grocery shopping. Why hun? Is there a problem?"

Perfect timing.

"No, no, I just need a little favor? Uhm I was going to ask Harrison to do it but I'm pretty sure he's as clueless as I am with this stuff but uh, Y/N is on her period and she's got cramps and I'm too worried to leave her alone and—" Tom was cut off by his mother's joyful laugh, his cheeks turning a shade of red as she gushed about how adorable he is.

"You want me to buy some stuff for her?"

"Basically, yeah, and some food too." Tom chuckled shyly, hand coming up to rub his shoulder. He was thinking about doing it himself but he was sure he'd end up lost and confused down the aisle, then it would just take too long. This new experience was slightly stressing him out, just a little bit, because when it's you looking to be in so much pain, his worry just comes in tenfold.

"Of course honey. Just text me her address and any other thing that you might need."

Tom blushed as his brain, by default, goes straight to a certain thing, shaking his head quickly to rid of the thought. Never in a million years would he ask his mum to buy condoms. Plus, there are more pressing matters at hand.

"Okay mum. Oh, and one last thing, does tea help with the cramps? Should I make her some tea?"

"You go ahead and do that Tom. Hot compress helps too."

"Okay, thank you so much mum, you're a life saver. Yeah, bye, I love you."

Placing the phone back in his pocket, Tom went back to your room with the glass full, not wasting any second to be by your side, ready to tend to his princess.

Once the glass was safely placed on the nightstand, he wrapped an arm over your shoulder to help you sit up, a soft sorry coming out his lips once you whimpered ever so quietly.

"How many of these?" He asks, pointing at the medication. You held two fingers up at him, Tom handing you the painkillers and then offering you the water. "Thank you." You smiled at him shyly once he took the glass from you.

Tom smiled, hand cupping your face gently as he leaned down to give you a sweet peck on the lips. "No worries darling. Now, get some rest."

***

After sorting out the bag of goodies and necessities that his mother kindly bought — chuckling at his own stupidity once he saw that you've already stocked up beforehand on female products and he just didn't check but hey, the more the merrier right? — Tom went back to check up on you.

You've been fast asleep for almost an hour now, Tom leaving you be for the time being, not having the courage to disturb you when you looked all peaceful and serene in your sleep.

But once he reached your room, you were already sat up in bed, facing the door with a deep frown. Your eyes grew wide at the sight of him, evidently shock to see him still around. "I thought you already left."

There was something about your tone that made Tom even more curious about this whole ordeal, a small frown adoring his own lips as he went over and sat across you. "My girlfriend needs me, why would I leave?"

You looked away at that, Tom feeling his heart drop a little because you're making it seem that you don't want his company.

"Y/N, tell me honestly, why don't you want me around during this time of month?"

You sighed worriedly, still unable to meet his gaze, knowing that there was nowhere to hide anymore. "It's not that I don't want you around. I just, I don't want to drive you away."

Tom furrowed his brows at your words, everything still a jumbled mess in his head. "Why would you being on you period drive me away?"

There was a pregnant pause after that. Your eyes darting about as you tried to piece your words inside your head. Tom was patiently waiting for you to speak again, but when your fingers started to fidget nervously, he moved closer, taking your hands in his to give it a reassuring squeeze.

"Love, you know you can tell me anything right?"

You nodded, teeth nibbling at your bottom lip before lifting your head up to look at those chocolate orbs you've grown to adore, to trust.

"It's because I'm at my worse during this time. I cry over nothing and I'm always emotional. I have mood swings, I'm bloated and I look like utter shot. I'm in too much pain the first few days to the point that I couldn't get out of bed easily, couldn't even move as you've seen. I'm just... a completely mess Tom." Your voice trailed off at the end of your sentence, eyes dropping to see nothing else but your's and Tom's intertwined fingers.

The young man titled his head to side to try and catch your eyes. But when you tried your best to avoid them, he took it upon himself to let go of your hand to place a finger under your chin, gently pushing your head back up to meet his gaze.

"You really think I'd care about that darling?" Tom said, tone sweet and reassuring.

With a shrugged of your shoulders, you willed yourself not to get teary. A task nonetheless because during this time of month, you truly don't have any control of your emotions whatsoever.

"Well the past guy did, he told me I'm a handful and that I always get so pissy. He said I was too much with the mood swings and constant whining and he doesn't want to be around me when it's that time of the month. And he was right; I am too much on my period. I just don't want to put you through it too. You don't deserve it because you've been so good to me. I don't want push you away because of it. I just don't want you to leave me because of it." Tom felt his heart break at the utter sound of hurt in your voice, followed by anger and annoyance at the guy who made you think this way.

Tom scooted closer over to you, taking your arms and slinging it over his shoulder while his own took home on your waist, running his thumb lovingly on the swell of your belly. As if that simple gesture wasn't sweet enough, he moved even closer, just to nudge the tip of his nose on yours, a proud smile erupting on Tom's face at the sound of your soft giggle.

He pulled away slightly just to see your eyes, and for you to see in his the sincerity of what he was about to say.

"Sweetheart, I'm not him. I don't care if you're bloated, you still look gorgeous to me darling. If you feel like crying then so be it, let it all out, whatever you're feeling is valid no matter the reason. I'll put up with your mood swings and your attitude, because I want to be with you despite it. I want to be with you through your downs, your worst moments. I want to see all your flaws because those things make you even more beautiful to me. I'll be here with you through it all. And those moments, your imperfections, those won't change how I feel for you. Because I really, really feel so strongly for you Y/N, and it will always be above anything else."

Tom was itching to just say it, just being filled of it from head to toe, the L word that hasn't been spoken beforehand unless used as a term of endearment, but he was worried he might scare you away or it not being the right time, especially with so many emotions already swimming inside you, by the simple looks of it in your eyes. You gorgeous, beautiful eyes all glossed up with a trembling bottom lip to match.

"But I don't want to be a burden." You croaked out, a single tear escaping free, down the skin of your cheek.

"Darling, you are not a burden. It's natural what you're going through, and that fucking guy who shamed you for experiencing something you have no control over is a fucking dickhead, a complete asshole and God if I could get my hands on him I'd let him fucking have it." Tom's voice turned into a low growl at the end of his sentence, all fired up at just the thought of some stupid twat hurting such an amazing woman like you. He just can't comprehend how much of an idiot could a person be to shame a woman for being on her period. God, it just makes his blood boil just thinking about it.

"I want to be here for you, I want to be with you, all of you, always. You understand?" You nodded with a tiny sniffle, your heart growing, filling with warmth, with pure gratitude at Tom's words, with nothing but absolute...

"I love you." You whispered, Tom's heart stopping and then beating again but twice the pace as a wide and bright grin grew on his face, the words sounding oh so enchanting coming out of your lips.

Those gorgeous lips that he didn't hesitate to capture in his own, a pure sigh of content coming out of his as he whispered against the kiss,

"And I love you darling, oh so much."

Pulling away to catch some air, Tom was staring at you with so much joy, so much love, wide grin hard to wipe off as he quirked one messy brow at you.

"No more monthly disappearances?"

You nodded with a sweet laugh. "No more."

Turns out, paying you a visit was the right call. Things didn't turn out as bad as he thought it would, but Tom's not telling Harrison that.

-:-:-:-:-

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