#begrudging dog parent

[sarah-yyy]

what: period cdrama // 40 eps, roughly 45 mins each (we’re on ep 29 atm, paid subscription required for vip eps) where: iqiyi (you can also dl the app) // youtube // (ps - usual disclaimer that i do not use eng subs so i don’t speak to the quality of subs) why: do you enjoy jianghu mysteries?? double/hidden-identities??? the shifu-complex trope??? enemies to friends (with a v Divorced-Exes vibe)?? this is the show for you. would enjoy if you enjoyed the blood of youth.

meet Li Lianhua, a somewhat famous jianghu doctor who is rumoured to be able to bring back the dead. this chill but odd man lives in a super cool caravan he built himself! spends his free time gardening and learning how to cook! he's got a cute pet dog as a companion! he is in his Zen Era, everything is going great for him*.

but i promised y'all hidden identities so, surprise surprise!! Li Lianhua is also known as Li Xiangyi, presumed dead master of the Top Jianghu Sect who has been MIA for the past decade

Li Xiangyi was poisoned + seriously injured in battle ten years ago, and for a variety of reasons, decided to retreat from jianghu to live his life in relative peace (while also searching for the remains of his shixiong). the poison he suffers from is fatal, it is emphasised he doesn't have long to live. (*except for the dying bit)

ANYWAY. while going about his day to day, Li Lianhua meets:

Fang Duobing, wannabe jianghu detective. this boy has a++ martial arts skills!! he's (relatively) smart!! he would make a good detective!! but his attempts to do so have been foiled by his Super Influential™ parents who do not want him in harm's way. all my boy wants to do is to successfully enrol in jianghu detective academy and travel the lands!! solve crimes!! he eventually weasels his way into a probationary position by telling the masters of the academy that his shifu is Li Xiangyi

cue extremely fun exchanges like:

FBD: if my shifu li xiangyi could see me now- LLH: your who???????????

these two have a funny strangers to jokingly enemies (LLH made a fool out of FBD and like drugged him the first time they met) to begrudging partners solving crimes to friends dynamic going on, absolutely a+++. FBD goes from 😤 at LLH to must protect this weak man i have decided is my best friend really quickly. i love one (1) boy.

there is also another key character in this, which really just. is the cherry on top of everything that the show has given us so far.

meet Di Feisheng. "villain" extraordinaire. has one (1) goal in life - beat LXY. "killed" LXY in battle ten years ago, but suffered severe injuries himself, so he's been recuperating for the past ten years.

imagine his goddamn surprise when he fucking meets LLH who he thought he defeated ten years ago. (side note: LLH is supposed to look nothing like LXY, but DFS recognised him p much instantly!!) he also learns that LXY was poisoned all those years ago, and was not in his best condition during their battle.

cue DFS going absolutely obsessed with curing LLH of his fatal poisoning so that they can go at it again, this time without any handicaps :)

SO ANYWAY these three go around solving cases together, while LLH/DFS also look into the inconsistencies of certain things that happened ten years ago. all the while the three of them are bickering the entire time.

tl;dr - this is the dynamic we've got going on:

FDB: this is LLH my boyfriend (but he doesn't know it yet) who is also my shifu (but i don't know it yet), and this is his extremely annoying ex-husband DFS who hangs around us and i absolutely HATE (and low-key want to throw in jianghu prison) because they are obviously hiding something from me, but also i would probably die for these two

if you need more convincing:

the cases have all been fun so far - the pacing of the show is quite good, and the cases don't really tend to drag on

the fight scenes are really cool - again, if you liked what they did in the blood of youth, you'll probably like this as well

frail and sickly Cheng Yi, always a bonus

i am going to, at some point, write fic about dfs railing fbd quiet while llh watches, someone hold me to this

[total-drama-brainrot]

hi idk if this has been said but . pls hear my vision… lindsay and noah platonic duo. brains and the beauty. noahs the brains. lindsays the beauty. noahs like “jeez this girl is dumb i cn manipulate her or smth” but then he starts warming up to her and they like paint eachothers nails and talk about boys or somthing idk please theyre besties trust 🤞

(also noah finally gets a makeover courtesy of lindsay)

I think I might've mentioned this exact duo before, though I may be wrong about that. Regardless, I've had Many A Thought about the potential dynamic between Lindsay "reclaiming bimbo as a term of empowerment" and Noah "could be god's biggest hater but was nerfed with an inability to GAF", to the point where I have a few drafts exploring this exact concept.

Through the lens of my eyes (blurry as it would be, my prescription fairly strong), I don't think Noah would ever consider manipulating Lindsay- at least, not in a similar manner to the likes of Heather or Alejandro. He's shown in canon to be pretty adverse to the idea. Why else would he make those comments about Alejandro in "I See London..."?

Not that he doesn't think about how easy it would be to use her. But his morality wins out over his scheming thoughts pretty quickly- no one wants to be New Heather, after all.

However, he's also shown a capacity to explore sneakier options of deception and trickery; pretending to pass out during the 20k run in The Big Sleep, trying to excuse his comment about Alejandro under the guise of it "being a compliment where he's from", tricking the Sasquatch with his fake ball throwing, getting himself eliminated on purpose in Dodgebrawl. I'm trying to think of other examples In Canon off the top of my head, but I'm coming up short since most of his actual speaking lines in the show are 'zingers' and 'witty one-liners' instead of actual character moments.

And we also know, from the way he treats Owen, that he's a lot more patient and indulgent towards the... 'slower' or 'simpler' contestants. He very rarely gets mad at Owen's mistakes- see how he gently chastises him in "Super Happy Crazy Fun Time Japan" when he's disturbing their set, he'd pretty much gentle parenting him, or how he doesn't even raise his voice against Owen after being blasted by nose-shake in "I See London...". You could argue that Owen just has best friend privileges, but given the way he also talks about his dog I think Noah just has a soft spot for happy-go-lucky, heart-of-gold, kind of stupid people (and blondes). Sound familiar?

Lindsay would fall under this umbrella of 'treat with kindness' because of this, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't try to subtly nudge her in the 'right direction'- out of Heather's and/or Alejandro's influence and into his own. For her own safety, of course.

Not that I think he'd even like Lindsay at first. The two of them are opposite ends of the social spectrum; I'd take a while for Lindsay to break through his snarky exterior, but I think eventually Noah would realise that she isn't the 'two-faced airhead popular girl' he'd assumed her to be and quickly warm up to her (she's airheaded, sure, but there's nothing two-faced or nefarious/mean-spirited about Lindsay). It's a classic case of "extrovert adopts introvert".

Meanwhile, Lindsay would be dead-set on breaking Noah out of his sour little shell. Either because she overhears Owen/Izzy/Eva explaining how Noah struggles to make friends because he's "very shy" and "mixes up his insults and his compliments", thus she assumes that, hey, Noah's made fun of her a few times, maybe that was just him trying to be friendly? So she makes it her mission to reciprocate his efforts and befriend him (much to Noah's initial suspicion, and begrudging appreciation).

Or she gets the concept of a 'gay best friend' stuck in her head (an impressive feat, getting anything stuck in such a vacant space /j) probably from watching too many high school teen dramas, and sees Noah as the ideal candidate since he pretty much embodies most of the stereotypical GBF traits; a sassy twink who's defining characteristic is making snarky comments. If Noah ever caught wind of this, he'd either be mortified by the concept and avoid Lindsay like the plague until she'd eventually hunt him down, or he'd think the whole concept is too funny to pass up and gladly play the part- if only for his own amusement. (Personally I headcanon him as bi, but he's so canonically queer coded that he fits the stereotype anyway.)

Which is all just a long-winded way of me saying I think Lindsay would kindle the friendship without giving Noah much of a choice (again, extrovert adopting introvert) and Noah would just go along with it, being the lazy guy he is, and quickly grow fond/protective over her.

If he and Owen are the golden retriever and black cat dynamic, Noah and Lindsay are an afghan hound and a black cat; Noah has a lot of black cat energy (that's just a given) and you cannot tell me that Lindsay isn't an afghan hound- they're pretty, gentle-natured and renown for their low intelligence.

Plus, Lindsay's capacity for meanness (as unintentional as it may be) would be comedy gold to Noah. He'd encourage her to keep that sharp tongue and steel spine, if not for his own entertainment, then to ensure she doesn't become someone else's doormat again. In return, Lindsay would bring out a softer side of Noah, likely a result of her reminding him of his several older sisters.

She'd absolutely abuse her 'soft Noah' privileges too by roping him in on sleepovers where the two of them gossip and paint each other's nails (Noah's against the idea at first but Lindsay hits him with the puppy eyes and he folds like a lawn chair), eventually leading to Lindsay giving Noah a much needed glow up. He finds himself enjoying the pampering- though he'd never admit it- and Lindsay's just ecstatic that she has someone to use as a dress-up doll (Tyler wouldn't let her give him another makeover after Paris).

[yandere-sins]

i'd just like to ask - what would happen if MC runs away from step-bro and family? Their parents love him and cherish him as a golden child, so what would be the problem with the oh-so troublesome youngest child disappearing completely? would step-yandere just hunt them down or murder the parents in retaliation - so that no one will be able to get in between them?

Stepbro technically only entered the family because he wanted to be closer to you, his darling. There are a million routes he could have gone to get to you. Befriending you or your friends, kidnapping you away just for himself, etc. But considering how lovely your parents were and how willingly they opened their home and hearts to him after he pushed a tragic backstory on them (that may or may not have happened the way he told it with tears in his eyes), this was just the convenient route that he chose. And really, it came with a lot of perks like unlimited access to you in your most intimate moments, like the bath or your room where you felt safe. You'd never let your guard down around him if he had simply kidnapped you, at least, not like you do when you nap in your bed, unaware of him sneaking under your sheets.

However, it all becomes meaningless the moment you disappear. Sure, he sticks around at first, gathering all the intel he can get from the police reports and the things you left behind. But while he plays the role of the devastated brother asking people for help finding you, he's already emotionally checked out (without you, he doesn't feel that much in the first place) and packing his bags. If your parents find out he's leaving too, he's pushing them away, finding them incredibly annoying, but his business is over with them, no need to dirty his hands. Using the guise of needing to find you at all costs and that he cannot deal with the guilt of living a happy life in this family, knowing they lost their real child. It's all lip service, but even if they beg him to stay because they can't lose another kid in these hard times, Stepbro is downright unbothered by their tears and sobs, saying, "See ya!" as he leaves the life he intruded on. Without you, he has no reason to stay, and he's like a mad dog following every lead to track you down. It doesn't take him long until he leaves after your disappearance, but even the two or three days are a delay that he begrudges now that he must find you and drag you out of hiding. However, this time, when he finally gets his hands on you, he won't waste the chance your disappearance created to whisk you away indefinitely.

Both of you never to be seen again.

[i-think-too-loud]

i apologize for my last post and leave you with this:

-regulus threatening first years of bribing house elves to sneak gifts into the gryffindor towers for him (because he can’t be seen associating with Sirius but he can’t just NOT give him a christmas/birthday gift)

-sirius waiting outside grimmauld place in his animagus form to see regulus because he just needs to know his brother is alive, at the very least

-regulus seeing a black dog following him all summer and seeing him around hogwarts and think of him as a (pet) friend

-regulus being the one that called sirius “Snuffles” first

-older sirius hearing harry call him the same name and now seeing not only his best friend when he looks at his godson but his baby brother too

-reg told sirius he was dating james first. he even asked sirius’s permission (because that’s the type of person regulus is. and while james was content to keep it from his friend until things got more serious, Regulus was a gentleman through and through and couldn’t imagine not asking for a blessing)….and he was too scare to ask Effie and Monty

-regulus raided sirius’ room after he left (because he missed his brother and wanted to feel closer to him) and stole a bunch of records (Starman by Bowie was his favorite for obvious reasons)

-sirius tried to convince regulus to get a muggle tattoo for years and regulus always said he didn’t want to (he was too scared to.) the week after sirius left, he got one. sirius’ constellation right over his heart.

-remus taught sirius how to box and sirius started taking classes and becoming really good at it. sirius always told people it was because he was picturing reg’s face on his opponent (he was actually picturing walburga and orion and how he’d be able to protect reg from them now)

-reg never having been mad at sirius for leaving. not even for a second. (he knew what his parents would have done to him if he hadn’t and would never begrudge his brother his freedom)

AKA: the black brothers caring about each other always, even if they were never taught how to express that love and those emotions in a healthy way

[wahbegan]

My dream woman is a Christian horse girl. She has never once had sex or even masturbated, indeed she has never been horny at all. She has no tattoos to speak of, she thought of getting a cross or a Jesus Fish but decided against it, and has never dyed her hair either. She has never drank, smoked, or done a single drug. She will be, technically, on paper, mentally healthy and sound in every way. She will think I am so so so brave and strong and wow my life is the saddest story she's ever heard. She will unironically touch my self-harm scars and say "promise you'll stop...for me? 🥺" When she brings me over to meet her parents, her father will meaningfully show me his gun collection and when I leave, he will tell her "THAT STREET TRASH IS NO GOOD FOR YOU!" and she will scream back, with tears in her eyes, "BUT I LOVE HIM, DADDY!!! YOU CAN GO TO HELL!!!" That is the first time she has ever cursed. Of course, I will eventually earn her father's begrudging respect. She wants to fix me and have 2-3 kids and a dog on a farm. The farm is strictly for aesthetic purposes. We will have a tasteful cross, nothing too Catholic, and live laugh love decor. I wake up in a cold sweat.

[redd956]

List of Platonic/Non-Romantic Character Dynamics (Two Characters Edition)

Technically every character dynamic can be a platonic one if you're brave enough (and most a romantic one too, I mean whose gonna stop you)

Ancient Ghost & Living Human Stuck With Them

Aroaces Unfamiliar With Allo Life

Begrudging Friends

Best Friends

Body Guard & The Guarded

Child & Monster

Child & Robot

Commander & Underling

Comrades (In the military way, not the Russian way)

Da Boys

Girl's Girl

Enemies to Buddies

Enemy Siblings

Exes to Friends

Fellow Immortals

Fellow Outcasts

Fellow Outlaws

Fellow Nonhumans

Final Girl & Immortal Killer

Found Family Parents

Forever Indebted To Each Other

Forever Indebted (One-sided Edition)

Hero & Sidekick

Hero & Superhero

Hired Arms & Guy With Money

Mad Scientist & Their Equally Mad Clones

Mentor & Mentee

Might as Well as Be Cousins

Monster & Monster Hunter

Noble & Retainer

No Nonsense & All the Nonsense

Nosy Neighbors

"Imaginary" Friend

Impossible Friends

Inseparable Siblings

One-sided Pals

One-sided Rivals

Opposing Mercenaries Hired Together

Parental Figure & Child Figure

Partners In Crime

Patron & Deal Maker

Person & Their Dog (Boy and his dog)

Rescuer & Rescuee

Rekindling Family Members

Rival Secret Agents

Rivals to More Intense Rivals

Rivals to True Enemies

Roommates

Sibling-like

Scientist & Subject Allowing Themselves To Be Studied

Therapist & Client

Villain & Henchman

Villain & Supervillain

We Wouldn't Be Friends In Any Other Circumstance

Youngin' & Elder

[aerynwrites]

Love Lost

Halsin x Ascended Astarion

A/N: got this idea in my head and it wouldn’t leave me alone. Lots of angst very little comfort but a fun read if I do say so myself. Hope y’all enjoy. Summary: Halsin was unable to sway Astarion from ascending and now…Now he’s left to try and reconcile his love for the man he knew and the vampire lord before him now. Word Count: 2k Warnings: ascended Astarion, heart break, falling out of love, grief, hurt no comfort, angst.

In the few weeks that passed since the destruction of the Absolute, Halsin has felt an all too familiar dread and hopelessness settle into him. 

It started when he was unable to sway Astarion from his Ascension, his vampire lover craving the power that was denied him for so long. 

While he disapproved of the decisions at first, he had slowly come to a begrudging acceptance in the days that followed. 

Astraion seemed lighter, happier, finally and truly free. Halsin had been so blinded by the man’s happiness at the beginning that he ignored the flares of unease that simmered in his belly. 

Once the tadpole’s threat was removed, the other companions slowly drifted away. Shadowheart to live with her parents, Karlach and Wyll returning to the Hells…Even Tav eventually left their sides, returning to Waterdeep with Gale. 

Which just left Astarion and Halsin, alone in the vast palace in Baldur’s Gate. 

Halsin felt stifled in the city, his magic dimmed so far from nature's embrace. He had tried to encourage Astarion to come out into nature with him, perhaps take time away from the city after their victory. But the man had brushed him off, claiming to have too much to do, too many things to get in order. 

That should have been one of many clues. That, along with the new pet names the vampire ascendant had bestowed upon him. 

At first, he’d liked the way Astarion had called him ‘little love’ - a name so unusual for a man his size that he couldn’t help but smile and lean into the palm rested against his cheek. 

But then, in the throes of pleasure, he had called Halsin his consort. The term had snapped him from his bliss so sharply it felt like electricity in his veins. He’d wanted to question the man above him, but Astarion - if he’d even noticed Halsin pause - paid no mind. 

He hated ‘pet’ the most. 

It made him feel like this…thing. An object, rather than something to be cherished. A beast meant to be ordered around. 

He hasn’t lain with Astarion since. Not that the other man has sought him out, once again too busy. 

Throwing elaborate parties, wooing potential patrons and political allies, all as Halsin stood lonesome on the outside of the masses. 

At first he’d somewhat relished in the large gatherings, enjoyed watching others enjoy themselves. 

It had only changed when a particularly beautiful gentleman had come up and asked if Astarion would let Halsin off his leash. As if he were a dog with an owner, instead of a man with his own desires. 

Now he doesn’t go to the parties anymore, either. 

His life has become one of solitude in the palace. Surrounded by stone and iron and the stench of the city. Not even having his lover’s attention at the rare dinners they share, the lord too distracted by paperwork in front of him. 

Truly…the only time Halsin has Astarion’s full attention is when the vampire requires something. Whether that be to feed or to fulfill other carnal desires. 

But even that is a void. That mask is a permanent feature on Astarion’s person even as they take pleasure in one another. 

His entire being aches. 

It aches with a grief he didn’t even know he could feel. A hurt and sadness so deep for someone that isn’t even gone. At least, not physically. 

It’s as he lays in bed this night that he finally identifies the source of his heavy heart. 

He is grieving. 

He’s grieving the loss of his lover, the real Astarion. The Astarion that was lost to that profane ritual all those weeks ago. 

He’s grieving love lost. 

The creaking of old hinges pulls him from his thoughts, his dark vision allowing him to see near perfectly in the pitch-black room. 

The door to his and Astarion’s chambers cracks open, dim candlelight from the hall spilling in and illuminating the room in a thin sliver of light as a familiar body slips in. 

Astarion hardly ever comes to their chambers, either sleeping in his office or only coming to fulfill his needs. 

Halsin feels a pang of shame as he almost welcomes the latter thought. At least then he can pretend that things are as they were. 

If only for a moment. 

The door closes and the soft sound of matches striking meets his ears as gentle light fills the room. 

Astarion lights just a few candles before waving the match to put it out, before he strides over to the bed. 

Halsin reaches for him, hands settling on his waist as the vampire gracefully straddles his hips. 

“I did not expect you to come to me tonight, my heart,” Halsin says, his words lacking their usual warmth. 

He tries, Silvanus does he try to muster the warmth and care he once felt for the man above him. But it’s a weak flickering flame in his heart, struggling to stay aflame amidst the black cloud clogging his chest. 

Astarion smiles, and Halsin is silently thankful for the lack of light, so he doesn’t have to see the lack of sincerity in the action. 

“Of course I’d come to you,” he purrs, hands already tugging at the ties of Halsin’s top.

Astarion's lips are on his before he can utter a reply, dominating him with this one simple action. 

Cool lips are firm against his own, his tongue surging forward in search of Halsin’s. 

This used to be a dance between them. Giving and taking in equal measure as they both sought pleasure in each other's bodies. Now…

Now it’s a battle for domination. There’s only ever one winner, and it’s never been Halsin. 

Astarion has never hurt him, to his credit, and Halsin believes Astarion still cares for him in his own twisted way. In the physical sense, he’s never left wanting after their nights together but…

His heart aches for more. 

It aches for the gentle laughter he used to pull out of Astarion. The soft look in his eyes or the warmth that filled his chest when they were together. 

Now it’s just..empty. 

Every action feels transactional, void of any love or warmth. Even now, as Astarion’s hands roam over his body, Halsin feels…wrong. 

Astarion breaks the kiss only to trail lips down the druid’s neck, teeth scraping teasingly before he moves lower, lips brushing his collar bone. 

“I couldn’t leave my little pet, alone and wanting…”

Halsin freezes beneath him, that tiny flame in his chest snuffing out with that one gods damned word. 

“Stop.” The word comes out much quieter than Halsin intended, and Astarion lets out a breath of laughter. 

“And why would I do that?” he asks, trailing back to place sharp fangs against Halsin’s neck. “I’ve barely even had a taste…”

“Astarion, stop!” 

His words come out loud and more forceful than he’s ever spoken to the man above him, and before the vampire can blink, Halsin is ripping himself from his grip, all but shoving the other man away as he sits up on the edge of the bed.

Halsin is angry, hurt and more than anything else…he’s sad. He can feel it aching so deeply in his chest it threatens to choke him. It’s a feeling that was planted soon after the Ascension and no matter how hard he tried to rip it out, it continued to grow. 

It festered like weeds in his heart, in his very veins, threatening to pull him under anytime he gazed at his lover. 

But now…they’ve finally taken over. He can no longer ignore the feelings burning within him, choking him, and finally breaking the heart he thought could withstand anything. 

It apparently can’t stand this. 

Astarion scoffs, a bitter empty sound that makes Halsin's heart crack even further. “What in the hells has gotten into you, pet?”

Halsin snaps, fists clenching at his side. “Do not call me such a thing,” he spits, his sadness manifesting in an anger so deep, it runs black. 

A cruel laugh leaves Astarion’s lips, one that reminds Halsin of the mask Astarion wore so often when they first met. 

“Oh, but that’s what you are,” the man purrs, coming up behind Halsin on the bed, hands sliding up his shoulders. “My, little pet that I do so adore-“ 

In a flash, Halsin is on his feet, hand gripping Astarion’s wrist in a grip so tight it would do far more damage to a mortal being. But the vampire doesn’t look phased in the slightest, mouth tilted downwards in displeasure and eyes sparking with something akin to bemused anger. 

“I am not an object to be controlled,” Halsin says firmly, dropping Astarion’s hand as despair replaces any anger he previously felt. “The Astarion I came to know would know that.” 

Astarion stands, lips tilting up once more in that smile Halsin has come to hate. He used to love when Astarion would smile, eyes sparkling with mischief or joy. He had worked so hard with his lover to help him lose that mask and now…The mask is a permanent fixture. His smile never reaches his eyes, and if it does, it’s always with a tinge of mocking cruelty. 

“The Astarion you knew was weak,” the vampire says, “now I’m so much more. I’m better than I ever was as Cazador’s spawn.” 

Astarion spits the last word with such venom it almost takes Halsin back. He’s so caught off guard that he doesn’t stop Astarion when he reaches up to touch him again, his fingers sliding beneath Halsin’s chin as red eyes appraise him. 

“I don’t understand why you can’t see that,” Astarion murmurs quietly, disappointment tinging his tone. 

Disappointment. As if Astarion was speaking to an ignorant child instead of his lover, his partner, the man who is supposed to be his equal. 

But Halsin knows…deep down he knows that Astarion will never see him that way again. To him, Halsin should be blessed to be his…consort as he called it. 

The Astarion he knew is gone. For good. And it’s a sliver of knowledge that stabs piercingly each time he realizes it. 

Halsin reaches up with the last tinge of tenderness he can offer his former love, his hand wrapping around Astarion’s gently as he pulls his face away from cool fingers. 

“I refuse to see the illusion you’ve created for yourself,” Halsin says softly, stepping away from the man in front of him. “I only see the very thing you tried to destroy.” 

At the brief mention of his old master, Astarion’s eyes flash with pure unadulterated hatred. He’s on Halsin in a flash, hand gripping his jaw as fingers dig harshly into his cheeks. His breath is warm as it brushes over Halsin’s lips, his words a hiss in the otherwise silent room. 

“Don’t you ever compare me to him.” 

With a harsh shove and twist of his arm, Halsin breaks Astarion’s hold over him, silently relishing in the ache left on his skin. 

At least he feels something other than that bone-deep sadness. 

“I’m leaving,” Halsin finally says, turning his eyes away from his lost partner. “I can’t bear to stay here any longer. My…My heart calls me elsewhere.”

Anywhere but here, shattering at his feet. 

Astarion smiles that mocking smile, straightening his shoulders and looks down at the druid, haughty arrogance replacing any other emotion. 

“You won’t really leave me,” he says presumptuously. “I own you. You’re mine - ‘just as nature intended’ - remember?” 

Halsin can’t help but flinch as his own words are thrown back in his face, but he stands his ground. 

“I am no one’s but my own,” he says, voice resigned. “Perhaps, at one time, I was yours and you were mine but…” He trails off. “The person my heart stirred for died in that ritual.” 

He turns towards the door then, silently bracing himself for another harsh hand on his skin, but he feels nothing. He only hears the sharp intake of breath as he opens the door. 

“Fine!” Astarion calls out, voice filled with venomous anger. “Leave. But don’t expect me to be waiting with open arms when you come crawling back to where you belong.” 

Halsin takes a stuttered breath, that familiar black grief shrouding his heart. 

“I won’t.” 

And then he’s gone, leaving his love and his heart in shattered pieces behind him. 

[sonik-kun]

Friendly reminder that canonically Jiang Cheng DID vouch for the Wen siblings at first, but was ultimately shut down after doing so

Most of the CW were against the Wens. Vouching for them was political suicide and yet he still attempted to defend them. He received backlash for it.

Lan Xichen, a more respected leader than JC at the time, was also shouted down too. Clearly, there was no room for arguments where the Wens were involved.. You were either with them or against them. The sect leaders had to take that into consideration during the deliberation. Nobody wants a target on their backs, especially when they are responsible for an entire sect.

Not saying the Massacre was right, neither the discrimination but be fr here.

Plus, Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue had trauma from all the shit the Wen clan did. They're hardly going to be so forgiving or trusting for that matter.

Furthermore, Jiang Cheng wasn't conscious when the Wen siblings saved him. He never fostered the same bond WWX would have. Remember, this is a genocide survivor we're talking about here. Forgiving and thanking members from a sect responsible for his family's demise isn't going to be easy. And yet there he was at the sect meeting, making an attempt to stand up for the Wen siblings in front of all these powerful leaders. So much so that it baffled Nie Mingjue.

Jiang Cheng (although afraid and begrudging to let WWX go in fear of might happen to him), initially allowed WWX to be with the Wens. He grew to accept that that was his path. He was happy to let him live in peace with them so long as WWX was safe and happy. But it didn't work out for them like they had hoped. And it all came to an end when his sister died, his brother in law too, and that all resulted in the Siege.

But I ask, can we really blame him for it? If he was anything like he was after his parents' deaths, the destruction of LP, and the core loss, he most definitely wouldn't have been of sound mind (he most likely wasn't for some time after either, if you remember the scene where both JGY and XY laugh, calling him a mad dog. Which makes me question the other sect leaders, if anything. It seems they were the ones more willing to jump in at any chance to finish off the Wens if they were willing to follow a "mad dog" into battle? But eh, that's speculation. We're not given the full story regarding the siege. So ig it's unfair to pin sole responsibility on one person..). He may have led the Siege, but he ultimately wasn't the one who orchestrated it with some huge, wicked end game in mind.

The persons responsible for it are all spelt out for you in the book. And yet I find it interesting that it's Jiang Cheng who is blamed and hated for everything when the real villain is right there *looks at the Jins*

[fullscoreshenanigans]

how do you think Emma (post cannon or otherwise) and ashye would interact? I don’t think Ashye would hate her just because she’s Norman’s friends since she gets along with Ray in the side story decently enough

Ayshe definitely wouldn't hate Emma. While being raised by a demon, she's not misanthropic; she just hates a specific group of people.

I talk about this on my Gildayshe musings post and this recent poll, but the first conversation Ayshe has with Don and Gilda has them reacting like this:

(Chapter 139)

After she just told them Norman was behind her father's murder—someone who was her whole world—they're in tears at the thought of not being in conflict with him. Even when considering the possibility that Norman ultimately plans to kill Sonju and Mujika after they bring them to the paradise hideout, if there's a chance of negotiating with him, they'll take it.

It goes even further when Norman betrays them and uses them as bait just like they suspected in chapter 135.

(Chapter 144)

Gilda still pleads with Mujika, after Norman just tried to have her and Sonju—her companion of 700 years—killed, to help them stop Norman before things become irrevocable for him and everyone around him. She still considers him her older brother after all of that. Don looks empathetic and in agreement with her while Ayshe is left in open-mouthed shock, because she could understand if Gilda didn't want anything to do with him at this point.

But she also understands family, and her new companions have made it clear that her father's murderer is still important to them. She doesn't begrudge them for it.

(Chapter 167)

And she doesn't hesitate to save them when they return to Grace Field.

She has known them for ten days.

(Mystic Code Book Chapter 7)

Within the span of four days, she's willing to have this conversation with Ray:

(Chapter 169)

This is after Emma has made it clear how close she and Ray are with Norman:

(Chapter 161)

She's conciliatory to Don and Gilda when she says "it's true that he ate humans, but to me, he was my father" and here. Despite acknowledging that familial connection she feels toward him, she gives all of them an out. 'You don't have to spare my feelings. I understand why humans hate demons.' Knows most demons wouldn't think twice about eating her if given the opportunity. She's downcast and gives a light sigh of resignation because she's aware of how bizarre this would look to another human. They can conceptually see why she feels the way she does, but not how profound that loss is for her, so she'd rather skip the attempt at sympathy.

It's why she's so shocked at Ray's blunt declaration reaffirming her love for her father as valid and gives her full attention to him in earnest. She follows it up by saying their parents were also good people.

Given their prominence in the story since the start, I'm fairly confident the figures on the left and bottom center are Norman and Don respectively so all five of the oldest Grace Field kids are included here and poignantly attached to her sentiment. It's possible she's lying to Ray to be reciprocally kind or mentally separating the kids into differing levels of good with Norman at the bottom to still technically qualify him, but with less reason to lie to him between the validation of her feelings and the intimacy of the setting I'm disinclined to believe the former, and with the latter he's still included regardless.

(Chapter 181)

With all that in mind in addition to how she's willing to let Norman and Vincent hold her dogs' puppies post-timeskip, it would be very bizarre for Ayshe to hate Emma. If anything she'd think Emma's too good for Norman lol

I also imagine there would be a lot of overlap between how she interacts with Emma and Ray.

(TPN Light Novel 4: Films of Memories - “Don and Gilda”)

She reacts this strongly to Don and Gilda even thinking about being burdens in the post-canon. Despite lacking those memories, there are still convictions she holds that are etched into her very being. If she was given a rundown of Ayshe's history, she'd also conclude that her father's species was irrelevant if he saved her and provided her with unconditional love, possibly more forcefully than Ray. It wouldn't come as a surprise to Ayshe, given her interactions with all the other Grace Field children at this point, but it'd be comforting all the same, that reinforcement of why Emma's friends and family cared so deeply for her and spent years searching for her. There was never really tension between them, but it makes Ayshe feel more at ease around her all the same.

I'm also a very big proponent of wlw Ayshe, so I enjoy @dyslexicsponge's take of her having a crush on Emma (intimidating Norman by going to hang out with him because he's so obvious about his crush on Emma and Ayshe's so smitten she doesn't know who else she could possibly commiserate with optional lol).

[sailtomarina]

Dog walk

In any other scenario, Hermione would consider today the perfect fall day. The grass still retained dew from the past several days of rain. She breathed in air that was crisp in the sun’s light. Fresh fallen leaves crunched underfoot. She loved autumn. She loved walks, when she could be bothered to shrug off her blankets and books to take them. The season reminded her of carving pumpkins, apple cider, and bundling up next to a bonfire.

Today would be perfect, if not for Aspen.

Aspen was Harry’s dog, or, more precisely, Albus’ dog. As is the case with most children and pets, the responsibilities ended up falling on the parents, Albus only claiming the dog when convenient, which was never at the same time as walks or meals.

She cursed the Potters under her breath as she struggled with the leash and the 6-stone dog threatening to yank her off balance.

“I’m so sorry, please, just keep walking,” she gritted out with a pained smile, the couple walking by with their twin Staffordshire terriers looking at the pair of them like they were both hell dogs out to drag them to their deaths.

Aspen was inconsolable at not being allowed to run straight up to the other party as they scurried by. “Leash reactivity,” Harry had called it.

What a fat load of bollocks.

Oh, she believed there was a term for the way their super mutt rescue went completely ballistic every time he was on the leash and saw another dog, but it had been years now since they’d adopted him. Surely, by now, they should have trained the behavior out of him?

Now here she was, barmy to have accepted not only house sitting for her best mate and his family while they were on vacation, but dog sitting with all the activities it entailed.

Like walking. Three. Times. A day.

“Aspen, come! Aspen, look!” Her commands went straight over the fuzzy black head without eliciting any response. He continued to tug forward without looking to her for approval or permission.

This is why she preferred cats. Even owls, with their razor-sharp talons and grouchy nips were better. At least they delivered mail.

Giving up, she allowed herself to be pulled along their usual route along the gravel path around the pond. They took this walk every morning, then in the afternoon they went the opposite direction through the little Muggle subdivision of homes. One final evening walk to work off dinner cut partially through the same neighborhood into a cleared  path through the nearby forest.

She didn’t begrudge the multiple walks—they afforded her regular exercise and well-needed breaks from the tasks into which she often lost herself.

It was encounters with others that made her drag her feet in putting on the leash and harness.

Aspen would be a lovely companion if not for his loss of self at the sight of another dog, delivery truck, bicycle, and scooter. He draped himself over her every morning and she cuddled him for the next half hour as she slowly woke up. He kept her feet warm wherever she perched, book or pen in hand. He eagerly followed her to sleep at night, curling up at the foot of the bed with his head towards the door to guard their dreams.

“Oh! Finally.” She perked up as the dog curled into a familiar position.

It was as she settled down into a crouch, hand reaching out with a bright blue bag towards a steaming pile of shit that Malfoy found her.

“Hey, Aspen, and—Granger?”

Her stomach dropped at the voice she’d recognize anywhere. She might as well continue what she started. Without looking up, she proceeded to bag the poop and tie it off before standing to face the man jogging in place next to Aspen.

“Hello, Malfoy.”

She bobbed her head politely, hoping the stench from her hand didn’t reach him. If this area wasn’t Muggle she could vanish the bag. He didn’t give any indication of discomfort. In fact, he looked good.

Despite the cool weather, he wore a simple black vest and matching joggers, the prominent muscles of his arms revealed for all to see. He looked every inch the Auror that he was, one who rivaled Harry as his partner and featured far too often in Hermione’s fantasies.

He brushed back a fallen strand of hair, returning his platinum locks to their usual perfection. How could a man out for a run look so put together? Hermione wasn’t a slouch, even jogging on her own a few times a week, but her hair had a tendency to explode outward as if the steam from her head filled it to bursting with nowhere else to escape.

“Why are you walking Aspen?”

He didn’t say it with any disdain, but Hermione couldn’t help but bristle.

“Why can’t I walk him?”

He raised a slender brow and finally stilled his movements, hands moving up to rest on his hips. Her traitorous companion immediately butted up against his legs begging for attention, which, of course, was given.

Bent over, fingers digging into Aspen’s soft fur, Malfoy looked up with his mercurial eyes, famous smirk in place. “Of course you can; I asked why you were doing so. Where’s Potter?”

Hermione wanted to kick herself in her annoyance. Why was she being so prickly towards Malfoy? It wasn’t like she still harbored resentment towards him—it had been nearly a decade since Hogwarts and they’d bumped into each other often enough over the years. She could be civil.

She blamed Aspen and his reactivity.

“They’re on a family vacation and I agreed to house sit.” She bit her tongue before she could say anything more.

Malfoy had given into temptation and dropped down to spoil the mutt with both hands ruffling his ears and massaging his sides. That lucky fucker.

With a gasp, she realized she was jealous of Harry’s dog. 

The wizard looked at her once more at the sound, never ceasing his ministrations. “Everything alright?”

“Yes,” she cleared her throat, “I just realized I might have left the stove on. We should get going.”

His lips twitched almost like he was holding back a smile, like he knew she was lying. 

Was tonight a full moon? Is that why she was feeling so affected by the sight of his wide mouth, his full lashes rimming the prettiest grey eyes she’d ever seen that seemed to change with his emotions, and his visibly veined arms wrapping around Aspen? He could probably pick up the behemoth of a dog without breaking a sweat.

She blinked with surprise when he smoothly stood and approached her with a palm outstretched. Looking down at the hand, then back at him, she could do nothing but gape in confusion.

He snorted, thrusting his hand out even closer to her direction. “I’m not going to hex you, Granger. It’d be rude of me to not offer my farewell.”

“Yes, but must we shake on it?” she blurted out, still nonplussed.

A wrinkle formed between his eyes, and she realized she was being horribly rude. They might not be friends and she might harbor fantasies of riding him like a bull until she collapsed on top of him boneless and breathless, but it wouldn't do to ignore a friendly handshake.

The instant her hand slid into his and his eyes flashed silver, she remembered just who it was she was talking to. Smug satisfaction flickered across his face, and, with a wrenching twist to her gut, they disapparated.

Leaves fluttered into the air at the precise spot they’d left. A squirrel scampered across, nuts pocketed in cheeks meant for winter storage.

They reappeared at Harry’s front door, Hermione stumbling forward straight into Malfoy’s sturdy frame.

“What the bloody hell, Malfoy?” She smacked him with the end of the leash in rhythm to her yells. “You can’t just apparate people without notice!” He’d side-apparated not only her, but also Aspen, and the magical finesse behind such a feat turned her on even as it infuriated her. “You could have splinched us! Killed Aspen! What would I even say to Harry? Albus would be devastated—”

To her complete and utter shock, he shut her up with a kiss.

She stiffened for a couple of seconds, poop bag dropping forgotten onto the door mat behind her along with all pretenses of a stove left on, but as the realization hit her that this was not a dream and that none of them had lost limbs in their teleportation, she let herself feel.

His warm, very large arms wrapping around her to pull her flush against him.

His head tilting, lips slanting to meld against her own.

His tongue swiping at the seam then dipping in to taste her.

The scent of him, woodsy and spicy and rich, and she knew it to likely be from some stupidly expensive cologne in some foreign language and nearly impossible to find.

Aspen leaning against their legs, for once not being a brat and shoving them apart the way he did to Harry and Ginny.

By the time he pulled away, Hermione was breathless and even more befuddled than before he’d appeared in front of her and interrupted her walk.

“What—”

He dropped another kiss, this one chaste and sweet.

Words left her, and she simply stared up at him in wonder. This had to be a dream. Or perhaps a nightmare? Maybe she’d wake up in bed, smothered underneath dog hair, painfully alone again since her last relationship several months back.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” he said with a grin, leaning his forehead against her own.

“Stealth apparate a witch?” she asked, thoughts still moving sluggishly, her heart beating slow and loud in her ears.

“Shut you up with a snog.” His smile was so wide, it threatened to reach his ears.

“Since when?”

His smile dropped as he stared at her silently. She tried to pull away, but his arms tightened around her, keeping her in place.

“For longer than appropriate.”

Her eyes widened at the revelation. She had only been around him because of Harry—the two work partners had become friends enough to go out regularly for drinks. She’d been invited to many of them, her interactions with Malfoy short but always memorable. They usually argued, but occasionally they talked. Not the sort of meaningless chatter she loathed, like scrambling for Quidditch news or the weather. Heavy topics, like modern applications of runes. Variations on magical bonds. Merits of the Statute of Secrecy.

She’d always known he was smart, even since their school days, but these moments where she could stretch her mental muscles and find herself well and truly challenged by Malfoy’s views were liberating.

So, she fantasized.

Now, he revealed he’d wanted to kiss her for quite some time.

“Do you always jog around the pond in the morning? Why haven’t I seen you before?” She’d been here for the past five days and this was their first encounter. They were also nowhere near his ancestral home in Wiltshire. His being here today couldn’t be a coincidence.

“I might have been the one to show this neighborhood to Potter. My flat is nearby.”

Aspen had finally gotten bored and was now winding around their legs, the leash ribboning around them.

“And the timing?” she prompted.

For the first time, a faint pink blush tinged his cheeks.

He looked adorable.

“I did see you. You’re just usually so distracted that you don’t notice when I run by.”

Oh.

This time, it was her turn to blush. She didn’t doubt him. She had a habit of daydreaming, even when out for a walk. The solitude of nature and her presence in it induced her to disappear into her thoughts.

“Well,” she gathered up her courage to put her hope into words, “you are welcome to join me on my walks whenever you see me. If it doesn’t cut into your exercise, that is.”

His smirk was back, and she couldn’t help but breathe in deep to savor the delicious scent of him. It might be a new favorite for autumn.

“How much longer are you house sitting?”

“A little over a week.”

“Consider us a dog walking team until then.” With a snap of his fingers, arms still hugging her close, the leash was unwound and hanging loose down to where Aspen had stretched out on the ground.

She searched his eyes, for what, she wasn’t sure. Truth? Determination?

One hand came up to cup her cheek, his skin almost scalding against the coolness of her own, his thumb ghosting down to trace her lips.

She parted them just slightly to whisper, “And after?”

He twisted his hand to brush knuckles up her jaw, then push wayward curls over her shoulder. The simple touch shouldn’t have felt as sensual as it did, but the motion betrayed a desire for familiarity born from years spent together. A touch that meant more than just friendship, more than a fling.

“We can still go on walks without Aspen.”

The innocence of his suggestion encouraged one snort, then another, and before long, they giggled together at the idea.

Dog walks, but without the dog.

WC 2212

Cross posted on Tumblr  and AO3

Aspen is modeled after my own dog of a different name, including the physical description. 6 stone roughly approximates to my own dog's 85 pounds. The pond is also pulled from my own neighborhood where I frequently walk him. Yes, he has leash reactivity. No, I haven't been able to fix it ;_;

This was meant to be a short with my own self-prompt that I thought of on my walk this morning, but now I can't stop thinking about this setting and these characters.

Fall is undeniably the best season.

[sofasoap]

Thistle and Thorn

Pairing: Kind of Simon "Ghost " Riley x f!Reader ( OC aka Mini MacTavish ) + Johnny " Soap " MacTavish + Captain John Price

Summary : Everyone's worst nightmare comes true. Something you don't even want to think about. EVER.

Warning: ANGST. PURE ANGST. Mature theme , death , swearing. English isn't my first language so expect a lot of mistakes with tenses. Not beta'd.

A/N : seriously, I don't know WHY the hell I am doing this to myself.

Thanks to @saltofmercury for agreeing to my silly fic request and also kindly letting me using her ideas/fic and expand the story from there. I promise her I'll always credit her story because she is my muse * holding Saltofmercury up high lion king style Continuation/parallel universe of “The Favorite MacTavish” , where the reader/OC is Soap's little sister.

“masterlist” for more stories to this Mini MacTavish expanded verse. ( AKA the true happy endings )

You knew something wasn't right when Johnny didn't come home for Christmas as promised, what is even weirder was there was zero update from Gaz ( who you actually became good gossiping buddy during downtime), or Captain Price, even Ghost.

"I am sure Johnny and the team just stuck somewhere with the heavy snow, the weather been dreadful this winter. They will be home soon. " Ma comforted you as you voice your worry.

You came home a week earlier, excited as you finally get to see Johnny again after half a year and scoring victory in " who gets Christmas off " battle when your shift manager was organising everyone's holiday leaves.

Sure, for his line of work, it is hard to expect them to see their family often or even come home on time. But this time you just have this dreaded feeling you haven't felt for ages, like the time before Aunty Esme and Uncle Evan's fatal car crash. You have a strange sixth sense which is pretty much dead on ( excuse the pun ) everytime there's a death in the family.

Sitting by your bedroom window on second floor, you saw a Jeep pulling up towards your parent's front door. Immediately got up, grabbing a hoodie and making your way downstairs thinking its Johnny finally coming home and ready to greet him.

Walking through the hallway towards the staircase, you heard a man's voice, follow by your Ma's anguish cry, you ran downstairs as fast as you can. There you see Captain Price, with bandage peeking through his bonnie hat and he look like he has aged ten years. Your Da holding onto your Ma, comforting her with red brim eye, trying to hold it together at same time.

".. What is going on? Uncle Price? where is the rest of the team? where is Johnny?... Where is Ghost? " You started calling Price " Uncle " when rest of the squad jokes about how Price is like the uncle of the squad and the rest of them are like rowdy teenage kids.

Price just shook his head, beckoning you move closer to the front door. he hold his hand out, and you automatically reach forward , palms up.

Two dog tags. TWO. You swallow hard. Hands shaking.

" I am sorry Mini... Gaz and I barely made it out ourselves...we couldn't.. " he took a deep breath, word stuck in his throat. Reaching into his pocket instead, taking out a little Polaroid photo, a little laminated paper with dried thistle and put it on top of the dog tags in your palm.

It's a photo of you and a very begrudge looking Ghost, looking away from the camera. Both of you look like you been off your head. This was the photo that was taken after you met Ghost for the first time and narrowly lost to him after the drinking game.

The thistle, you made it into dry flower, laminated it onto piece of paper and gave it to Johnny when he came home years ago, announcing proudly he was selected to join the 22nd Regiment, elite force specialising in counter-terrorism.

" Good luck charm for you Johnny."

" A thistle?"

" Ya, well, other than it represent us Scot, you know what the meaning of thistle is? resilience, strength, determination, protection and pride. I want my favourite sibling to come home in one piece everytime. "

" I am your ONLY sibling. "

"And I love you too."

You knew this day will eventually come. The day Cousin Alec dragged Johnny into joining the army , you knew somehow you will lose them on the battlefield. Part of you wish they will come home in one piece, every time, after mission, and discharge honourably and move onto some safer or non-combating jobs.

You barely heard what Price said, " ... Ghost always have this photo with him all the time in his pocket. He look at it quite often, but he wouldn't admit it. " You hadn't had the chance to tell him how you feel. Now you will never have the chance again. EVER.

" hey Soap "

" ... yes Ghost? "

"Two gold fishes in a tank. "

"... you told me that joke before. "

"... Soap. "

" Ghost. "

"... I am taking Mini out on a date next time we go home."

" .... Are you asking for my permission?"

" I am telling you. I am not asking for permission."

"Ghost."

" Soap."

"Don't fuck around with my sister."

".. I wouldn't hurt her. I will never hurt her."

I am sorry.

Usually I am a happy ending person.. look, you can read this as a AU and "non canonical ( pff sounds like I own CoD, but I DON'T ) ending to the Mini MacTavish universe, because I don't want them to have bad ending. I just want to get this out from my head.

[daughter-of-melpomene]

🐳 + Leo?

Thanks so much for this!! Gonna tag the rest of the Glee gang, @luucypevensie, @ginger-grimm, @dancingsunflowers-ocs, and @ginevrastilinski-ocs!! <3

Their favorite TV show: Bones.

Their favorite fruit: Oranges; most people may hate peeling the white bits off, but he finds it soothing.

The short story of their birthday: His mother wound up fracturing a bone in her husband’s hand from gripping it too tight during labour, but he’s never begrudged her for it; in fact, it’s kind of a running joke in the Cooper household.

Their favorite flavor of ice cream: Sea salt caramel.

Their most embarrassing moment: When he convinced some of the other Glee guys to help him set up a dance number and song to serenade Artie and ask him to prom, only to trip and fall on his face in the middle of it.

Their most unexpected quality: He’s actually very smart and observant, contrary to the simple joke most people expect him to be.

Their most destructive habit: Getting into fights.

What makes them cry the most: Any movie where an animal dies; he’s kind of embarrassed about it, but it doesn’t stop it from happening.

Their Chinese zodiac: The Dog.

Their favorite family member (blood-related and/or honorary): His mom, Jennifer; both of his parents have always been very good and supportive, but Leo’s always been that little bit closer to his mom and loves her very much.

send me 🐳 + an oc!!

[imogenkol]

— OC INTERVIEW

tagged by @corvosattano and @kyber-infinitygems thank you!!

tag list (ask to be added or removed!): @adelaidedrubman @florbelles @marivenah @simonxriley @shegetsburned @voidika @v0idbuggy @inafieldofdaisies @socially-awkward-skeleton @aceghosts @carlosoliveiraa @risingsh0t @unholymilf @thedeadthree @cassietrn @jackiesarch

Name: Jayde Victoria Thatcher

Nickname: “Jay” although you better be a brunette lesbian named Nadya if you’re gonna call her that

Gender: cis woman

Star Sign: Scorpio

Height: 5’8”

Orientation: bisexual

Nationality/Ethnicity: American, born and raised in Montana

Fave Fruit: watermelon

Fave Season: Winter. Snow is the only way she gets to blend into the environment as wolf because she has white fur (that she hates for this reason). Also she does not do well in hot weather.

Fave Flower: yarrow

Fave Scent: Nadya. More specifically, the autumn spices scent she always wears.

Coffee, Tea, or HC: Coffee takes the lead, but she does really enjoy all kinds of tea too

Average Hours of Sleep: between 4-6 hours tops. She hates sleep and sleep hates her. She gets really bad nightmares more often than not and is a really restless sleeper on a good night

Dog or Cat Person: Neither, but is a begrudging cat mom because her girlfriend (wife at that point) just couldn’t let go of a little stray…

Dream Trip: Jayde has never left the country before, so honestly she would love to visit anywhere outside of the US. A backpacking trip through Europe would be her jam

Favorite Fictional Character: Westley and Buttercup from The Princess Bride. It’s her favorite movie because they remind her of her parents.

Number of Blankets They Sleep With: One at the most. She doesn’t really need more than that, even in the winter, because her internal temp is pretty high. Which works out great when you have a blanket hog for a girlfriend.

Random Fact: Jayde has a genuine fear of carnival rides. She may possess little to no self preservation, but she recognizes that they’re death traps and she sure as shit ain’t gonna die on some fuck ass clown coaster

[yonemurishiroku]

After the battle with Lycaon, Niko turns into a werewolf, but because of his young age, he becomes not a mature wolf, but just a wolf cub.

Jason and Percy, two pupils of Lupa bearing her blessings, of course, they can't leave the cub without custody.

[АУ, Jersey adopts a wolf cub, Niko, and Will has to deal with two loving and protective parents who have sharp fangs and claws].

Anon you cannot just drop such a fascinating AU on me and then leave it like that. What am I supposed to do with this? Fixate on it for the next three weeks?

No but srsly Father Jercy I'm crying!!! 😭😭😭 Jason would be so caring and guiding whilst Percy is that playful type of parent who enjoy teasing. Bet you Percy is the first to start licking.

And the grumpy fluffy ball of a pup Nico as their begrudging child for the love of everything holy in the sky. Jason who shows Nico different ways to cope with his newly found wolf traits and Percy who just jumps at Nico to start a group hug.

And Will omfg poor Will. He has to get used to the idea of having a half-lycanthrope (?) as his boyfriend, learning how to deal with said boyfriend's shiftings, and now comes the protective pack. 😭

The tenderness that shadows Jason's intimidation is now no more and the guy doesn't even intent to hide it while showing Will all the things he needs to know about Nico's new status. Percy is just there, arms around Jason from behind, glaring staring at Will over Jason's shoulders. His presence is his own warning. And when he clasps Will's shoulders, his grin appears downright wolf-like.

Also anon how could you forget Reyna my praetor of New Rome the elite among Lupa's children. She would absolutely adore Nico even more now and wouldn't stop cuddling him in his cub form with Argentum and Aurum. 😭😭👀 She has three - three! - little dogs with her now and she's rejoicing (with me)

[illarian-rambling]

What would happen if Djek got a pet cat and brought it home?

Well, first he has to explain what a cat is to Izjik and Sepo. I think both of them would be skeptical at first (Izjik’s people don't really do pets, and Sepo's just Sepo), but once they realize that the little fuzzball doubles as pest control, they'd accept it. From there, it'd be a quick transition into the realm of 'begrudging parent who says they didn't want a cat now buys fancy wet food every day and insists on regular visits to the cat spa.' I think Sepo especially would be taken by this aloof little creature. Izjik strikes me as more of a dog person, but the moment this cat curls up in Sepo's lap and starts purring, he'll be utterly smitten.

Twenari, clearly, would also love a cat, though the idea would be less of a novelty to her. She'd probably be the one to actually keep the litter box clean and train the cat not to claw furniture. Actually, I can see her trying to teach the cat all kinds of tricks. I give her fifty/fifty odds on if she's successful or not.

And, of course, Djek would be the one to name the cat. I think he'd name it Sepo. Everyone except siren-Sepo finds this hilarious. Siren-Sepo refers to cat-Sepo exclusively as Cat.

Thanks for the ask!

[aria-ashryver]

Hey Aria! I have a question for you, what would your characters say to you if they met you and knew who you were?

Sweet Stars! I missed you! Thank you for this ask lovely it made my heart so warm! 🥰💖

!!OK there are some minor spoilers for Starlight at the end of this!!

Given that we'd probably be talking about cancer stuff to begin with (and Luca wouldn't shy away from asking questions about it), it'd probably turn to them reassuring me like:

Gabriel: i think people will entirely understand that you need to put yourself first sometimes. Your health is important!

Luca: Yeah but don't forget to find joy in little places too. Like when was the last time you jumped on purpose? Keep moving. Dance in your bathroom. Climb a tree.

Me: my sweet darling Luca, you are seriously underestimating my fatigue levels

Cas: hey low-energy things can be cathartic too. Have you tried lighting something on fire lately?

Me: honestly, the thing that really got me through the last year was you guys. Writing your story. Seeing you find love despite all the pain.

*All three of them staring at me in varying levels of shock and hurt*

Gabriel: ...wait, you wrote all that? Everything that happened to us?

Me: well.. not all of the... I was drawing from things that happened in canon you know--

Gabriel: you're the reason I lost...

*Gabriel struggles to find his words, Cas is just staring at me, Luca is the first to wrap their head around the whole concept*

Me: In the original story... your parents died when you were young and you were raised by your grandmother. I changed that. I let you grow up with them. I gave you sisters, a cousin, a family dog. You were so loved, Gabriel.

Me: I'm so sorry I took that away. I don't want you to be in pain. Ever. I hate when you are hurting. But you need to know -- I've never seen a family so full of love before.

Gabriel, *nodding slowly*: l remember them because of you. I... I had them at all because of you, from the sounds of things. I can't begrudge you that.

*He takes Cas and Luca by the hands*

Gabriel: and these two... They are the greatest gift I have ever known. Thank you for bringing happiness into my life again.

Luca: I wouldn't change anything. All the shit that happened to me made me who I am. And it led me to these two.

*Cas blanks for a moment longer, then hauls me aside where Gabe and Luca can't hear*

Cas: ...did you have to make it hurt so much?

Me: I'm sorry love--

Cas: Don't. And... and why the fuck did you put them through so much?! Why did... why couldn't I protect them?

Me: You did. You protect them with your every breath! They are safer and happier and stronger for loving you. For having you in their lives. I know you struggle to believe that all of this is real, but I know how much they adore you, Cas, and oh my god, I wish you could see it! Their love for you is staggering.

Cas: ...wait, really?

Me: yes, sweetheart. I... look, I know your story has been rough, but I promise you, the three of you will have the happiest of Happily Ever Afters.

Cas: *finally breaking into a slow smile*

Me: In fact, I think you'll be disgusted with me how sappy and sweet things get.

Cas: psshhh, alright, shut up...

Me: hey, Cas?

Cas: Mmm?

Me: Your mama loved you. So much. I know she only got to hold you for a moment before she passed, but she was so proud of her baby boy. And she couldn't wait to watch you grow up into the brave, strong man she knew you'd become, and to tell you she loves you every day of her life.

Cas: ...

Me: I'll show you that memory one day. Or... Luca will. Memories of Ricky. Memories of the Adalhard family and Gabriel's childhood. All the people you've loved and lost. There will come a day when Luca figures out their gift. And he'll be able to bring you along for the ride to see them all one more time.

Cas: I'll g-get to see my mom?

Me: Mhmm. One day.

📢 AND THEN I GET TO GIVE CAS THE BIGGEST FUCKIN HUG IN THE WORLD YAY*

(Luca and Gabe too)

(hugs for days)