#but noooooo he just had to cling on to his power!!

[grishaverse-chaos]

honestly the thing that pisses me off about darkl!ng fans is how they act like he's anti-monarchy!! he literally isn't lmao, he only dislikes the lantsovs because they're anti-grisha.

he never has anything to say about the actual concept of monarchy itself and yet people act like he's against the whole thing because it's a corrupt system

in fact, in the books, the position of darkl!ng is quite literally an inherited title that gives him control over the second army - I know they got rid of that in the show (they shouldn't have done that imo, because it highlights his greed and hypocrisy) but watching people act as if he's against the monarchy when he benefits from an inherited title is..... honestly hilarious tbh

[tbob-enthusiast]

TUMBLR IS SO EVIL

IT GAVE ME ZERO NOTIFICATIONS NOOOO AHFHAHFHBSFNSBA

It did give me the time to make a very crappy "beta" of the thing I had in mind tho. Gosh. AAHHAHHFJDBFJDBFJD YOUR GIDEON IS JUST A LITTLE GUY

I'M ON THE FLOOR FOR HIM NOOOOOO

Him getting along with the Zodiac after everything... Befriending Pacifica, bringing presents for ROBBIE MY BELOVED AAUAUHFHFHFJDH

THE SUFFERING THE SUFFERING I'M SO SAD FOR THIS BOY

"HE'S THE YOUNGEST OF THEM AND WILL BE THE FIRST TO GO"

NOOOOO

WHYYYY

Gods man AUUJHFHFHFJF. I just want you to know that this was not cringe in he slightest, brother, this was art and I'm SO SAD OVER HERE. You will not get any semblance of shame from me for "mellowing out" a character, because heavens know I do that all the time HAHEHHE. Sometimes, man, they just need to lose their edges to shine... Like tumbling a rock, y'know?

AHRJEBGJD. OKAY I'M CUTTING THIS OFF BECAUSE I WENT ON A RANT ABOUT A HYPOTHETICAL COMBO BETWEEN YOUR AU AND MINE AND AHFJSHFHSHS IT'S SILLY OKAY

I hope your Gideon had a big funeral... and everyone of his friends came and :((

I'm so sad, man. I'm so sad for him and I'm dumping all of this sadness upon my Robbie because he IS DEATH. Imagine BEING RAIN or BEING SUNLIGHT — you don't control when you show up or when you happen. You just *do,* and there's nothing you can really do about it. You can't say sorry for being the rain to ruin that one bride's dream wedding venue. You can't say sorry for being the sunlight that killed the dehydrated bud left too long in its little pot under the sun. You can't say sorry to a kid who was trying to do good, who was trying to change, who deserved to live live live.

Death is a force of nature, a god who needs no follower, a deity who needs no temple; but Robert is a man who saw too many losses, who found out the hard way that "fairness" is impossible for someone like him. It's for fair for a mother to die in childbirth, not fair for an infant to be stillborn, not fair for the elderly to suffer on a hospital bed while trying to cling to life that is no longer theirs, not fair that he has to come for people who have yet to live. God. He hates that Gideon just accepted his fate, but commends it as well. He's strong (was strong) and he's changed (had changed) and way too young for his liking. Things were just getting started! That wasn't fair!

Why couldn't this other Gideon get mad? Why couldn't he scream to the heavens and gods for this? Yeah, he fucked up, and messed with magic he shouldn't. Consequences happen, sure, and Death is impartial, but Robert is selfish and hates hates hates that he'll have to take this other Gideon. That's his friend, in another dimension, in a different world; different colors and different memories, but Gideon nonetheless, and that's his friend, and Robert doesn't want to take his friend — but he'd want far less for the AXOLOTL to have him instead.

21 years old. That was his due date, at least according to his own Gideon. 21 years old. Old enough to take one single breath into real life and die without ever experiencing a damn thing. No, to hell with that.

He was omnipresent, once. He was Death, all of it, everywhere, and he was a god as important as Time or Space or Life themselves. Why couldn't he use that power? If every soul in the multiverse would eventually die, then aren't they all his by right? Well, he wants that one to stay out of his lane for a while, then. He wants Time Baby and the Axolotl and all of the other bastards to leave him be and let him live, even if just a little longer, even if just for another day! If he could only distract the gods long enough, who's to say that Other Gideon wouldn't be able to live well into his 80s? Hell, his 90s!

And for a moment, just a moment, it worked. He turned 22. Then, 23. And Robert watched, anxious but happy, because it was working. He was Death and he was rejecting a soul for his own good, right? Just a little bit longer. He'll turn 24 and then 30 and then...

He tried. But alas. There's only so long you can hold off a storm, an earthquake, or Death.

At least here, down in the Abyss, the Axolotl cannot take him and can't recycle his soul back into reincarnation. And Robert knows that's selfish, to take a soul and hold him down in his own personal void, but he has lost people too soon before — his friends, his friends, those who never had their 14th birthday party. Those who he couldn't keep, because the Axolotl took them first — and he didn't want to lose this one, too.

Besides. In the darkness of the Abyss, these souls shine brighter.

teen gideon headcanons because i love him :] i am constantly thinking about him and how he's the only zodiac member (and honestly, only main-ish character because of the book of bill and the website) that doesn't get a sympathetic moment, other than POSSIBLY the finale but that barely counts

i think he deserves to have a SORT OF redemption, at least internally, because he took dipper's advice in weirdmageddon to heart. even if he gets over his crush on mabel (which i think he does. mom said its my canon now) theres still the truth of "people wont wanna be around you if youre a selfish prick"

anyways he makes me emotional so i'm giving him attention

im scared tumblr will kill the quality on my tiny handwriting so transcription under the cut:

after turning like 15, he just starts traveling, gets out of oregon and hits the ground running

uses my headcanon (?) that the amulet takes years from you, and gideon probably won't live past his 20s

he finds this out, has a total mid-life (literally) crisis at 14-15 and decides to do anything "normal" he can do because he doesn't have long to do it

ofc he still has anger issues and obsesses over people and everything else, but he's a lot better at managing it [than] when he was a kid

he doesn't care if he dies with people still hating him, but he wants it to be known that he tried

[jcmorrigan]

001 - Tales of Zestiria?

Favorite character: It's a tough call between Maltran and Symonne, and Lunarre is trailing right behind both. I tend to call them the "Heldalf Squad," but make no mistake, Heldalf himself isn't part of it. I just like his swagalicious minions. The dry and sarcastic political manipulator, the sadistic and wordy theater nerd, and the flamboyant cannibal who hates everything. Yes. LOVE. But I have to give a shout to my boy Dezel on the hero side! Angsty/stoic characters are very hit-or-miss with me, but Dezel is the flavor I love - obvious soft spots and quirks, and slowly he builds from being antisocial to showing how big his heart is. When he stops the woman from leaping off the Guinevere tower...that's one of my favorite scenes in the entire game, because you can see when the switch flips, when he realizes that he CANNOT stay aloof any longer when there's a stranger's life on the line. He's still a grump about it but a compassionate grump.

Least Favorite character: Heldalf. His backstory is really clever, and I like the curse on him. But he himself just feels like Ganondorf but more boring. I kinda hate that he's so vanilla when his three lieutenants are in my arsenal of pet villains from the vastness of fiction. Also shout-out to Chancellor BART in the opening Ladylake act, because I distinctly remember liveblogging this to a friend, and I played Zestiria *after* Berseria (I'd loved Berseria and that's why I eventually sought out Zestiria) so here I am just comparing up the corrupt church in Ladylake to the Abbey's suave rogues gallery like "Yeah no BART has nothing on Lady Teresa Linares." Thankfully BART was never seen again.

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon): DezeRose, SorMik, Symonne x Coco Atarashi (The World Ends With You), Alisha Diphda x Sergei Strelka, and...I swear you have to bear with me here...Zaveid x Anna (Frozen). I also kinda wanna note a couple ships I'm on the fence about for my other favies - those being Maltran x Ebony Maw (Marvel Cinematic Universe or Marvel Ultimate Alliance) and Lunarre x Arkham (Devil May Cry).

Character I find most attractive: Dezel. It is a scientific fact that guys with pointy teeth are just hotter.

Character I would marry: Maybe Dezel, maybe Sergei. I wouldn't want to take them from those I see as their wifeys, but at the same time, they are husband goals, both of them.

Character I would be best friends with: Catch me clinging to Maltran's train and she drags me along annoyedly as I yell "PLEEEEAAASE LET ME HANG OUT WITH YOU GUYS" and Lunarre is losing it laughing while Symonne rolls her eyes

a random thought: So I toyed around with basically every accessory I picked up, and I decided to put the sideburns on Rose because fuck gender roles. Well then I just got used to seeing her with facial hair in every cutscene where her 3D model was used, and now I headcanon that she does get it. Maybe nonclassical CAH intersex? Like, I don't necessarily see her as trans (but I support everyone who hc's her as such) but moreso "a cis woman, but I grow this stupid damn facial hair like a dude and I don't get why." And this is why you shouldn't let me play with customizable accessories on RPG characters because I can and will abuse my privilege to headcanon.

An unpopular opinion: That this is actually a very good game. Listen, I think I get it - the initial marketing promised something far different. And that's disappointing. But coming back to it several years after its release, after the release of its PREQUEL, when I never had that hype building up...it actually exceeded my expectations. I held off from it for a while because I thought Eizen's fate would make me too sad, but that didn't end up the case at all. I actually had just come off playing a more recently-released triple-A game that was hyped up for years, and I completed it to my satisfaction in 20 hours. $80 for 20 hours. Zestiria gave me my money's worth in comparison; it took me about 60, and I loved just how MUCH story it had to offer me. I honestly like Rose better than Alisha anyway (Rose was one of the biggest aspects that interested me about playing it in the first place). I've also seen complaints that the characters weren't well-developed enough? Which I just kinda take to mean "They didn't angst enough." Listen. There are PLENTY of games out there if you want angst and sad stories. I don't really like sad stories in my games. I like adventures where the party is a goofy foundfam that jokes around with each other and helps each other work through shitty situations, and that's EXACTLY what I got. (And Berseria really worked on me too because it kinda started at the bottom of the angst barrel, then worked its way up through "The edgy and tortured protag has gained a party of idiots and oh noooooo she's learning friendship and happiness.") Dezel's death is one of the few game deaths that just made me SATISFIED to watch instead of depressed because of the closure he got and the themes tied into his final moments and sacrifice. I loved going on this adventure, I loved the idiots who I went on it with, and I loved seeing what Glenwood had to offer me in world design the further I explored.

my canon OTP: There's not much for canon romance in this game, come to think of it. Just subtext and some flirting. So I'm blanking on if there actually were any canon couples at all.

Non-canon OTP: DezeRose! Which maybe can be considered almost-canon based on the amount of subtext, but still. It's adorable. (And it's the exact same dynamic as EiRoku except M/F and a thousand years later. I need these four to double date...the dual-wielding goofs with their edgy, grumpy Reapers...)

most badass character: Rose! Not only able to wield the Shepherd's Armatization powers, but also to be a dang good assassin on her own, able to hold her own against Heldalf before she even had her eyes opened to seraphim! Though a shout-out goes to Edna because her armatization was my favorite to play with. There's something just satisfying about bashing the enemy in front of you with a pair of GIANT FISTS

pairing I am not a fan of: RoseAli. To be honest, it was at one point something I kinda enjoyed as a third-tier ship for Rose (Dezel first, then Lailah in second). But then...Alisha's Story. I didn't actually purchase it, thank goodness, just watched it on YouTube, and it was the most grating addition that anyone could've made to this game. First of all, I can sum up the issues with Alisha's Story by reminding everyone that it canonized a secret entrance to Camlann that was much easier to get to and wasn't protected by Muse's sacrifice. But the real thing that hurt to watch was how far down they had to knock Rose and Alisha's friendship to get them to rebuild from scratch. Rose claiming she was never Alisha's friend because she's grieving Sorey? The two of them getting into a PHYSICAL FISTFIGHT over it? Nope nope nope. That's not my Rose. Even less my Rose is that whole scene where she...you know...pounces on Alisha to dress her in the silly noblewoman's dress, and it's framed like...let's just say it's really uncomfortable to watch if you don't know the punchline is just a silly outfit. Even though Alisha's Story isn't canon in my head, it still really killed any buzz I had for RoseAli. I will also say I'm not a big fan of Eizavie - first of all, EiRoku or bust in this house, and second, I have a little bit of a hard time seeing Zaveid as mlm due to how much he goes on and on about The Ladies(TM). (Though I could see Eizen as having a tiny crush on him, though. Just like "Oh no he's hot but he's connected to Aifread's disappearance help")

character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): Mostly just in Alisha's Story. I was mad about the aforementioned Rose stuff, but also...like...they undid Lunarre's original cathartic death, they did so to team him back up with Symonne and then do a whole fakeout that they had Maltran with them too, but Maltran is just an illusion and immediately after this, Lunarre and Symonne just decide "Yeah, we're not gonna work together anymore, have a nice life." Why does Maltran need to stay dead if LUNARRE somehow survived EXPLODING? And just...look to next question for more clarification:

favourite friendship: I just want to imagine that Maltran, Lunarre, and Symonne were weird evil friends. The kind who'd take artistic selfies and caption them "Murder and mayhem with my besties!". Maybe they even had a sibling dynamic. They were all pretty dang jaded, so I like to think they sat around sometimes talking about the things in this world that did them wrong. The reasons they were drawn to Heldalf. Heldalf himself wouldn't have cared, he would've kicked them around like disposable tools, but the three of them were too entrenched in his dogma to see it. Maybe if they met up again after he was off the board...then they'd sing a different tune. Realize they're all three better than this, and now they're gonna do things THEIR way, because remember when they made a three-point attack on Glenwood and Sorey was barely able to keep up with them wrecking Lastonbell AND Pendrago AND Glaivend? Remember when Lunarre and Symonne had each other's backs the night Dezel died? Now they can do what they want on their terms! And I just - I have many MANY feelings about these three.

character I want to adopt or be adopted by: Okay silly self-insert time but the thing is, Archibald Snatcher (The Boxtrolls) and Roman Torchwick (RWBY) are my two favorite parental f/o's (and also my OTP to end all OTPs), and I have this thing about how they'd be PERFECT crime dads to Symonne in particular because she's like a little, more theatrical Neopolitan. So there's a universe in my head where Symonne is basically already my little sister, and I look out for her - well, okay, she's a seraph with powerful Artes and I am a powerless mortal so really she looks out for me because "I suppose SOMEONE has to make sure you don't die" and I am grateful to her for it.

[theblindgoddess]

so

heres the story i mentiond yesterday

i reposted that post with it

but its not showing up in the tags

so we’re trying this instead

prepare yourselfs.

angst ahead

and feels

and a bit of confusion because it is the end of the story.

--------

The real world came back into focus as Dewey rejected the fantasy he had been trapped in and was faced with the howling winds and screams circling in the underground headquarters he had called home for the past few months, the howling winds and screams that he had caused in his anger and sorrow, too consumed by his own feelings to realize that his family and friends were also hurting, to upset to think about the future, only worrying about how he would never forgive Scrooge, how he would make him pay, to see that by doing so he would only make things worse.

Dewey looked around at his family, all clinging to something, anything to keep from being blown away by the tempest that he had made and into the nearby walls. His eyes darted from Webby, Mrs B, Huey and Louie, Uncle Scrooge, and Launchpad, never resting on any one person for more than a millisecond, skipping from face to face, barely even taking them as they all blurred together with the speed and the wind and the tears, and then his eyes stopped on Uncle Donald. Uncle Donald who had raised him, and cared for him, and loved him, and who had always been there for him, and there he was, blood dripping from his forehead, down his face, matting his feathers along with sweat and dirt and tears of his own.

“Uncle Donald!” Dewey cried out, voice cracking and wet and shaking with fear as tears streamed from his eyes getting blown away by the wind to quickly to wet his face.

The sailor snapped his eyes open despite the wind to look at his nephew, wanting desperately to make it better for him, to make it all go away, to hold him close and say that it will all be alright. But he can’t.

“I’m scared!” pure, unbridled terror filled the duckling’s voice, consuming the senses of everyone in earshot.

“That’s ok!” The older duck shouted back, hoping that his voice would carry in the storm, “It’s ok to be scared, it’s ok to not know, that’s how you know you are human!”

“I don’t, I don’t wanna go! I don’t wanna die!”

There it was. What everyone there knew but no one wanted to say. Dewey would die. There was no way around it. While his body would still be intact, his mind would be gone. All his memories, all his experience, all his fears and hope, his annoying quirks, his personality would be gone. Swept away in the wind with Magica, and no way to bring it back.

The blue duckling’s features were filled with determination, mingling with the terror already there. “But this is my mess, “ he looked down to the Talisman of Blodig Erik, tightening his grip on it, when only moments ago the urge to throw it as far away from him as he possibly could was overwhelming him, “and I’m gonna clean it up! Because we all make choices! And some of those are bad ones! And choices come with consequences! But we can’t just run away from them! Part of life is learning to live with those consequences,” Dewey’s gaze turned abruptly to his Uncle Scrooge, meeting his eyes, “and part of it is learning to forgive others for the consequences they bring!”

He widened his view to encompass all of his loved ones, to see them for the last time, wishing that the missing members of their odd little family were still there.

“I love you all! And I’m truly sorry for all the pain I brought! I hope you can forgive me! And please, “ his eyes pleaded with all them, asking for something he knew would be impossible, “don’t blame the new Dewey for the mistakes that I’ve made!”

Dewey looked to the talisman, and willed it to clear his mind.

He was so focused on the talisman that he didn’t at first when he was joined in the eye of the storm by someone new, someone he thought had died earlier in the battle.

“Hold tight Bluey!”

“Lena?!” despite logic screaming at him to the contrary, before him, holding his had with the talisman, was Lena. “But, how?!”

“Magica displaced me out of time!” she yelled, “But she forgot something! She displaced me with my amulet!” she pulled the mentioned object out of her shirt with her other hand, “If you know the right spells, it’s really easy to replace your self! And I’m not gonna let you do this part alone!”

“And how are you gonna do that?” Magica’s voice jeered out of nowhere, loudest in Dewey’s head where the link lived, beating and fighting against the attack against its existence. “He doesn’t even have the strength to do it, how can you help him?”

“The talisman’s powers have a loophole!”

Dewey’s eyes widened as he realized what Lena was talking about.

“The Debtors Share! But Lena, you can’t”

“You’re my best friend, idiot!” She shouted back, hot tears just starting to spill out of her eyes. “I’m not letting you get hurt!”

“It’ll destroy you!”

“And it’ll leave you an empty shell! You were the first person  to actually care about me and give me the time of day, I’m not going to lose you!”

“Lena, please!” Dewey’s voice was sore from he yelling and crying, and filled with a desperate sorrow, “Just leave me be! Let me deal with the consequences of my actions!”

“My purpose in life since the day I was born was to destroy!” Despair. That is what was in Lena’s voice at that moment, what consumed her voice, what was her voice. “All day, every day! Destroy this, break that, bring vengeance upon McDuck! I have done nothing good in all of my years of existence! I don’t care if I’ll be destroyed, let me help you! Let me do this one good thing in my life! Let me die knowing I saved someone’s life, instead of live for years knowing I let my best friend die without trying to do something! Please Dewey! Let me save your life!”

“Oh, pa-leease!” Magica once again inserted herself where she did not belong, “do you actually think this will work? Erasing the bond inside of your head? IT’S MAGIC! It doesn’t work like that.”

She was ignored though, wholly and foundedly ignored. The young ducklings looked into each other’s eyes, conveying everything and nothing in a single, sorrowful look as saltwater rain filled the air.

“Alright.”

It was barely a whisper, hardly even a noise, yet in the screams and destruction around them, in the eye of the storm, in the little bubble of a world that they three were in, it was the loudest sound of all.

“Save my life.”

“What?!” Magica’s voice was surprised, worried even. She hadn’t expected that, hadn’t wanted that. That’s not what was supposed to happen!

Lena and Dewey kept ignoring her though, as they put their very souls into purging her from this world, into freeing Dewey of the devils deal he had made in a fit of rage.

“Oh come ooon! That’s not how this works!” Magica protested, trying to gain their attention, “you can’t just break a magical bargain like that! You have to uphold your end of the deal, dumb-dumbs!” that wasn’t true though, she was just stalling, trying to get as much time as possible so that she might regain the strength to take over Dewey’s body and mind once more.

“You can’t do that!” she screeched.

A faint glow emitted from the kids’ joint hands.

“Stop it!” she howled.

A light was also born around their heads, like twin halos, growing into radiance.

“NO!” she wailed in despair.

The magic of the talisman soon engulfed the ducklings, illuminating their sad smiling faces and wiping away their tears.

“NO!”

The rest of the world was gone, it was just them, the talisman, and the white that had replaced the world, even Magica was fading.

“NOOOOOO!” The last crys of the witch echoed through the white as the friends opened their eyes to look at each other for the last time.

“Thank you, “ Lena spoke, even as the whiteness began to claim her, “for being my best friend.”

And Dewey watched as the person who had dared to get to know him even as everyone else labelled him a loser, the person who had sat up late at night and answered his phone calls to listen as he rambled about the fears and insecurities he dare not tell his brothers or Uncle, the best friend he ever had dissipated into blue as the whiteness grew brighter.

And Dewey knew no more.

--------

thoughts?????

[emma-what-son]

(Echee post) Emma Watson says J.K Rowling's quote about Hermione ending up with Harry was taken out of context and it was a joke

Posted March 6, 2014

From mtv.com/news may 2014, "Watson also seemed somewhat pessimistic about the longevity of the popular pairing, sharing at the time, "I think there are fans out there who know that too and who wonder whether Ron would have really been able to make her happy." But Watson's tune may have changed just a bit, as the starlet took to the red carpet at tonight's Oscars (her first time attending the big show, if you can believe it) and told MTV's own Josh Horowitz, "It was a real shame, because the quote that she gave was completely taken out of context." Emma change her tune? Noooooo way she would never do that!! =)~ MTV left out the part where she said it was just a joke From ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com March 2014, "It was a real shame, because the quote that she gave was completely taken out of context, and if you read the whole interview it was completely not how it was framed but it was actually kind of a joke." You know the funny part is? This is the Wonderland Magazine that Emma herself guest edited and Emma herself conducted the interview with J.K. Rowling. How could it be possibly taken out of context or even be considered a joke? There is nothing in the writing that suggests it's a joke. Maybe if the interview was conducted by video you could see their facial expressions that would tip you off that they were joking. This is typical Emma changing her tune but only because the HP fandom lost their shit over fictional characters. JK and Emma are back tracking now. I don't really care because to me it's a book made into a movie but this is Emma deceiving others as usual.

Actually I read the entire interview and what is being taken out of context and where is the punch line? Here is the part of the interview with JK about Hermione ending up with harry instead of Ron. From ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com Feb 2014 Emma: I thought we should discuss Hermione... I'm sure you've heard this a million times but now that you have written the books, do you have a new perspective on how you relate to Hermione and the relationship you have with her or had with her? JK: I know that Hermione is incredibly recognizable to a lot of readers and yet you don't see a lot of Hermione's in film or on TV except to be laughed at. I mean that the intense, clever, in some ways not terribly self-aware, girl is rarely the heroine and I really wanted her to be the heroine. She is part of me, although she is not wholly me. I think that is how I might have appeared to people when I was younger, but that is not really how I was inside. What I will say is that I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfillment. That's how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione with Ron. Emma: Ah. JK: I know, I'm sorry, I can hear the rage and fury it might cause some fans, but if I'm absolutely honest, distance has given me perspective on that. It was a choice I made for very personal reasons, not for reasons of credibility. Am I breaking people's hearts by saying this? I hope not. Emma: I don't know. I think there are fans out there who know that too and who wonder whether Ron would have really been able to make her happy. JK: Yes exactly. Emma: And vice versa. JK: It was a young relationship. I think the attraction itself is plausible but the combative side of it... I'm not sure you could have got over that in an adult relationship, there was too much fundamental incompatibility. I can't believe we are saying all of this – this is Potter heresy! Emma: I know, it is heresy. JK: In some ways Hermione and Harry are a better fit and I'll tell you something very strange. When I wrote Hallows, I felt this quite strongly when I had Hermione and Harry together in the tent! I hadn't told [Steve] Kloves that and when he wrote the script he felt exactly the same thing at exactly the same point. Emma: That is just so interesting because when I was doing the scene I said to David [Heyman]: "This isn't in the book, she didn't write this". I'm not sure I am comfortable insinuating something however subtle it is! JK: Yes, but David and Steve – they felt what I felt when writing it. Emma: That is so strange. JK: And actually I liked that scene in the film, because it was articulating something I hadn't said but I had felt. I really liked it and I thought that it was right. I think you do feel the ghost of what could have been in that scene. Emma: It's a really haunting scene. It's funny because it really divided people. Some people loved that scene and some people really didn't. JK: Yes, some people utterly hated it. But that is true of so many really good scenes in books and films; they evoke that strong positive/negative feeling. I was fine with it, I liked it. Emma: I remember really loving shooting those scenes that don't have any dialogue, where you are just kind of trying to express a moment in time and a feeling without saying anything. It was just Dan and I spontaneously sort of trying to convey an idea and it was really fun. JK: And you got it perfectly, you got perfectly the sort of mixture of awkwardness and genuine emotion, because it teeters on the edge of "what are we doing? Oh come on let's do it anyway", which I thought was just right for that time. Emma: I think it was just the sense that in the moment they needed to be together and be kids and raise each other's morale. JK: That is just it, you are so right. All this says something very powerful about the character of Hermione as well. Hermione was the one that

stuck with Harry all the way through that last installment, that very last part of the adventure. It wasn't Ron, which also says something very powerful about Ron. He was injured in a way, in his self-esteem, from the start of the series. He always knew he came second to fourth best, and then had to make friends with the hero of it all and that's a hell of a position to be in, eternally overshadowed. So Ron had to act out in that way at some point. But Hermione's always there for Harry. I remember you sent me a note after you read Hallows and before you started shooting, and said something about that, because it was Hermione's journey as much as Harry's at the end. Emma: I completely agree and the fact that they were true equals and the fact that she really said goodbye to her family makes it her sacrifice too. JK: Yes, her sacrifice was massive, completely. A very calculated act of bravery. That is not an 'in the moment' act of bravery where emotion carries you through, that is a deliberate choice. Emma: Exactly. I love Hermione. JK: I love her too. Oh, maybe she and Ron will be alright with a bit of counseling, you know. I wonder what happens at wizard marriage counseling? They'll probably be fine. He needs to work on his self-esteem issues and she needs to work on being a little less critical. Emma: I think it makes sense to me that Ron would make friends with the most famous wizard in the school because I think life presents to you over and over again your biggest and most painful fear – until you conquer it. It just keeps coming up. JK: That is so true, it has happened in my own life. The issue keeps coming up because you are drawn to it and you are putting yourself in front of it all the time. At a certain point you have to choose what to do about it and sometimes conquering it is choosing to say: I don't want that anymore, I'm going to stop walking up to you because there is nothing there for me. But yes, you're so right, that's very insightful! Ron's used to playing second fiddle. I think that's a comfortable role for him, but at a certain point he has to be his own man, doesn't he? Emma: Yes and until he does it is unresolved. It is unfinished business. So maybe life presented this to him enough times until he had to make a choice and become the man that Hermione needs. JK: Just like her creator, she has a real weakness for a funny man. These uptight girls, they do like them funny. Emma: They do like them funny, they need them funny. JK: It's such a relief from being so intense yourself – you need someone who takes life, or appears to take life, a little more light heartedly.

^This post made Ron cry, lol I really don't care who ended up with who because it's a movie. I lost no sleep over it or thought about it much until I read the quote of Emma changing her tune as MTV pointed out. I will say this. In the Half Blood Prince when Ron was in the Hospital after mistakenly consuming a love potion meant for Harry there was an exchange between Hermione and Lavender Brown where Hermione said, "I've always found him interesting" meaning Ron. There was also that scene in DH2 where Hermione said she couldn't destroy the horocrux and it took Ron to coach her up to do it. There was that scene after that where they were looking for Harry using the marauders map and Ron remembered what Hermione told him about the room of requirement not being on the map and she was surprised he remembered. Then there was the Order of the Phoenix when Ron tricked Malfoy and the rest of them (with a spell of which I forget) and they got away while Hermione and Harry lead Umbridge into the Forrest. When Hermione came back she was impressed by him. I think Ron and Hermione would be just fine if they were real. They actually compliment each other by being total opposites. I'm sure true Potter fans have better examples for Ron and Hermione. Btw Emma was about Ron and Hermione for years and years. I'd post the quotes but I think true Potter fans know this to be true so there would be no argument there. It's something me and Emma fans probably agree on. I think hell just froze over. As for what Emma said about Ron making Hermione happy and stuff. In my opinion she's purely speaking from her own taste in men since she goes for the Viktor Krum's (Matt Janney/Tom Ducker) and Cormac McLaggen's (Will Adamowicz/Jay Barrymore). Emma is more of  mix of Sam (Perks) and Nicki (TBR) than she was ever Hermione. Emma would never date a Ron Weasley in real life. It's beneath her and there would be a reality gap between them since Emma lives in her own head and is out of touch with normal people. So really that statement is a full on Emmione moment where she's doing her thinking for a fictional character that is totally different from "the real Emma Watson". I've said this numerous times. If Hermione were real she would not think too kindly of Emma. Shy and introverted post is coming one of these days. I keep on saying that but it is. I put this post together in 15 minutes. I've been working on the other one for two weeks on and off by procrastinating with it mostly. It's not that complicated I'm just being lazy getting all the photos and quotes together I need. And while were on this shipping business

She supposedly interviewed JGL in Wonderland Magazine but it was not formatted like her other Interviews where she talked just as much as the person she was interviewing so this leads to believe she actually didn’t interview JGL. It was a straight Q&A without it reading like a conversation between two people in the same room like the others. And JGL has done Wonderland a few times in the past so I don’t think this was Emma’s request. Then they presented together at the Oscars. Coincidence or more Hollywood smoke and mirrors? Fans are shipping (weirdo movement) these two and it was all for show. Ok I’m going to join this weirdo movement of shipping! JGL and Dan forever!!

[worldcakecakecake]

Feliciano and the King of Hearts

Chosen by the gods as the Queen of Hearts from the moment of birth, we follow Feliciano’s story as he grows into royal life, learns to rule, go against age old customs, and his relationship with his husband to be, the King of Hearts.

Chapter 1 I  Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5 I Chapter 6I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 IChapter 9I Chapter 10I Chapter 11I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15 I Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19I Chapter 20 I Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23 I Chapter 24 I Chapter 25 I Chapter 26 I Chapter 27 I Chapter 28I Chapter 29 I Chapter 30 I Chapter 31 I Chapter 32 I Chapter 33 I Chapter 34 I Chapter 35 I Chapter 36 I Chapter 37I chapter 38 I Chapter 39 I Chapter 40 I Chapter 41 I Chapter 42 I Chapter 43 I Chapter 44 I Chapter 45 I Chapter 46I Chapter 47 I Chapter 48 I Chapter 49 I Chapter 50 I Chapter 51 I Chapter 52 I Chapter 53 I Chapter 54 I Chapter 55 I Chapter 56 I Chapter 57 I Chapter 58 I Chapter 59 I Chapter 60I Chapter 61 I Chapter 62 I Chapter 63 I Chapter 64  I Chapter 65 I Chapter 66

I seriously thought I could update in the same month...but noooooo!!! I still try! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

                                                            Chapter 67

It took many days for the royal infantry to arrive at the edges of the protected field, behind other Heartian infantries that made it there quicker. Along the way, they would meet with other infantries of other kingdoms. Décor in their movements, with their unique colors and greetings that made Feliciano joyous to meet and wave as they passed.

 The small buildings of the village of Tiksi were unnoticeable to all, the humble places covered by the great amounts of tents that piled, the soldiers marching, cooks swinging about many kinds of different dishes, swords, spears, wands, an occasional sparks that flung to the air in a beautiful spectacle. They had brought the population of all the four capitals combined, surely even more, encircling well the forest around the field making it shine almost like its own very city.

 Ludwig and Feliciano constantly kept a hold to each other, worried that they would easily loose themselves between the array. They kept to the few places that remained from the village, where all the royals from all kingdoms were located with their own guards, rooms, and spaces for necessary planning. Only the guards who had originally lived here vacated the area offering protection for the royals, their own families well sent to other cities where they could be safe.

 Their schedules here consisted of going over the plans and making sure many times that everything was placed as it should be, repeated to the point that it was getting agitating, Alfred wording it well one evening, mad to the point that they had to call a break to relax and breathe. Ludwig and Feliciano appreciated it, enjoying from this time to sit by their room, impossible to take naps as they wished when they kept their eyes distant on the white snowy skies, expecting the field to splendor as it did the last time they were there. Abasi later explained to them that with the last orbs still considered newly placed, it was powerful and so they shouldn’t fear over flashes keeping them up at night.

 Well, they really didn’t need them to keep up at night, simply the days counting down was enough to have their eyes staring to the ceiling, Ludwig and Feliciano chatting on about different art techniques which they would later test on whatever surface they could find to draw away their anxiousness. Or there was passion.

 Some nights, Ludwig would wrap himself well around Feliciano’s waist, kissing from his neck down, moans as an accept to all, to being between one another and letting the bed cringe at their movements, at their breaths and actions creating humidity in the room, eyes glowing in love and enjoy.

 They had to cherish this, they had to give in to these delights, one of the many that kept them held, kept them loved and warm in such cold fears.

 Even done, with its peak finished, Ludwig would remain within Feliciano, breathing him well in, despite the sweat, clinging to him more, his large arms taking more of his frame to himself. Feliciano accepted, blissful, with a deep smile and sweet caresses over whatever part of Ludwig’s skin he could reach. The only thing Ludwig found odd…was that Feliciano kept the bandages from a wound he had received many weeks ago. With their nurses and quick healing, it should have lessened, or the bandages completely gone.

 He noticed how Feliciano tensed when he went to pick the wrapped hand. “How bad a cut was this?”

 “I…had half a bottle stuck in there,” Feliciano made up, feigning a pain.

 “Are your hands really all right?”

 “Yes, they’ll be fine to use. The cut is… still too bad and I’m really worried I might get an infection.”

 Ludwig let it fall gently to the side of the bed, settling his head on Feliciano’s chest, his heartbeat his melody and his body his comfort.

 They constantly received visitors at their cabin, sometimes soldiers and casters who were curious to see or perhaps meet them, or good friends they had made in their journey across the kingdoms. Feliciano even started organizing a special lunch just for the queens, a space he made to keep them away from tension and discuss their dealings with the position and other advices that could help for any ruling situation. Sometimes they were joined by the other kings, or as today, they were joined by a band of Oralee sailors who brought with them a special green tea from the Spadian islands, exquisite and with a scent that was good rest to their minds.

 “My family owns one of the biggest plantations in the Oralee,” Carlos told proudly.

 “And it’s the best!” Anthone assured, his family worked on the land as well.

 “It helps all the muscles in your body to breathe and to clean of whatever bacteria still inhabiting our bodies,” Nadia informed.

 “Ah, it’s so exquisite!” Elizabeta sighed with outmost peace, leaning more on her chair.

 “I definitely will order crates for when we come back,” Arthur dreamed.

 “As will I,” Lili held her cup as if it was a dear child.

 Feliciano nodded with a smile, in it acceptance to the ordering. Something else to keep him expectant for a shining future.

 “I’m sure we’ll have enough to go through with demands,” Carlos was confident.

 “We’re going to be rich!” Emmanuel already celebrated.

 “I’m going to get a bigger canoe! And with diamonds in it!” Rosangeliz proclaimed, earning laughter.

 It was in such peace that it happened.

 There was a sudden crack, loud…intimidating in this waiting expanse. For a moment they though it could perhaps only be a creak of their tables or chairs, perhaps another tent…but with the curious eyes all around them searching, it didn’t seem to be the case. The crack was coming from far…far into the field. As it continued, slowly driving the armies into nervous silence, Feliciano began to realize what that crack sounded like. It was like when Ludwig had tried to break the field with his sword.

 “No…” Feliciano stood, anxiousness quickly reigning with him as it did with everyone that was there in his cabin terrace. He walked down, joining the rest of the crowds that stared in fearful silence to the distant sky…where the transparent wall of the field was supposed to be.

 It continued coming stronger, the echoes going further than their camp, with in-betweens of silence that only agitated them all the more. Feliciano noticed as many began to place hands on their weapons, magicians already forming casts, yet their glances kept to the sky…expecting.

 “Feliciano!” Ludwig called, rushing to his side, taking each other, in their eyes shaking fear, realization haunting and driving their hold tighter.

 “It…it cannot be…” Elizabeta said as she neared them, joined along with the other royals, as disturbed.

 “Is Khaos…breaking out?” Arthur worded what all that were present were surely thinking and talking about.

 “No… it’s not supposed to happen yet…” Lili feared, wrapping herself around her brother, Vash’s staff standing and ready.

 “There are still days left to the alignment,” Ivan reminded.

 “Unless…he found something out…” Alfred was just as suddenly agitated as everyone else, his new gun brought out and shinning well in sapphires.

 The cracks, the echoes, the bangs, intensified across, wanting to come to a finite, and the longer it went, the more the armies surrounding them formed more into the planned defense and attack.

 It stopped, the last echo bringing a blanket of silence, none wanting to dare and test it, afraid that it could curse and bring about something. As the silence was elongated, many began to think that perhaps it was different, perhaps it wasn’t their worst of their thoughts, maybe a spell casted from the other side of the camp or just a random noise from the field…but then there was actual shattering. They saw as rains of crystal came down, along with a roar of thunder and an act of lightning.

 “No…” Feliciano panicked and shook, acting quick, leaving Ludwig’s side and running off forward, to a familiar opening through the trees that he had taken but a year ago, to dangers and openings far worse than they had been before.

 “Feliciano!” Ludwig called, running after, into the very threshold, trying to find him in the scattering that began.

 “Start your defensive shields!” A Spadian general commanded, loud in the vicinity, a chain of other lieutenants and captains spreading the word until every single soldier placed a specific hand gesture to their chest, to a seal they had been given. They all glowed in their respective kingdom color as an energy spread through them creating that magical defense, blind to others as they all began to take practiced positions.

 “Move forward in the curved approach. Do not attack unless given royal command to start!” Elizabeta shouted, the message then spreading and thus their design instantly taking life, like living sun rays to the center of the field.

 The royals, together, but two lovers who had already taken the depths, ran to their duty to the head of it all, moving between the insanity, branded in armors, uniforms and their chosen weapon as beginning force. All ten took to the trees, following the prophesied two.

 “Move in! Remember that the St. Mark will give us a sign to see if we cannot hear!” João called as one of the leading members of an infantry. Pookie flew to him, nodding to all that he shall act when ready. He turned to the trees, spotting his master far, taking direction towards him ready to protect. They all saw charmingly as he spun and transformed to his large and ferocious form, quite a beauty to spark belief and power, diving forward, ready to begin.

 The armies began their own plunge into the forest, with shouts and roars that replaced the echoes of shattering in the valley.

 What was usually a long thread, Feliciano had rushed himself quick enough to be able to reach the very edge in a matter of a few minutes. There was the blankness he had remembered…indeed the same…and nothing else. There was no other men, no other roars but of his own people, who still hadn’t reached, leaving him alone to search, to find darkness out of its confide. He reached a hand to test if the field was truly gone and indeed his hand could go on and on, forward to the fortress of mountains, a blizzard now freer to expand.

 Then where was Khaos? Where was the start of menace?

 He began a pace around the field, hoping to find the placement of the orbs, hoping to fix it. It only took a single further glance, and he could already see it sprung, smoke rising, and pieces spread. There was someone, leaning to one of the surviving large pillars, an item on his hand that he kept throwing into the air and letting it fall back in his hand, calmed and nonchalant to what was coming. As Feliciano came closer, the features began to be more visible, a familiarity that began to be terrorizing, and yet Feliciano managed to push himself, wanting to face, wanting, if he could, defeat that second.

 “Ah, Feliciano, so nice to see you again! That cape looks rather divine on you,” Khaos complimented, with a smile and starting a stride forward that to anyone could be friendly, but Feliciano knew, stunned and shaking.

 He couldn’t do anything, not even a word or scream as Khaos took sitting in a broken pillar he brought forward, collected as if this was a sitting at a park. Khaos waited with a smirk and Feliciano remained in the same standing he had met him in. The shouts of the people well sang around the field even if they couldn’t see them, yet Khaos remained unfazed about them, only staring at Feliciano, who began a clenching of his hands, hoping for magic, hoping for a sort of guidance that could give him the lead to attack.

 “So?” Khaos was getting slightly impatient at not being responded to.

 “What are you doing here?”

 Khaos was rather astounded at this very direct question and response. “Can I not be here?”

 “No…you’re not supposed to.”

 “Technically I’m still in the field.”

 “No…” Feliciano raised a trembling hand, pointing, knowing exactly where the field was supposed to start and end, Khaos sitting right well between it. “You are not.” An anger began to light up in Feliciano, like fire, like power, a spark that was so much like Augusta and Khaos responded as nonchalant, like a joke, like he was still facing a mere child. He did well to imagine that very infant Augusta he had known. Innocent, unknowing, weak and easy to manipulate.

 Khaos stood in demand and fear, a standing he had remembered taking well to scold Augusta in, coming forward, even leaning slightly to be at Feliciano’s level, close to see tinges of fear in the Queen of Hearts, in those lovely colors that made him vibrant and beautiful. Khaos brought forward a clenched hand, dropping an item that Feliciano caught quickly, feeling a dark stone, clean and smoothed despite all the evil harbored in it. The color and power he knew could only come from his beloved…and he had remembered him using this very stone against this menace, saving him from hungry clutches and granting enough of a defeat to escape.

 “Took me a while but your beloved prince left an amazing tool. Apparently only something of a royal’s power, no matter the simplicity, is enough take apart the field, especially one so darkened and belonging to a mere prince. He hasn’t even come to his full power and yet I have already made use of him.”

 “He’s a King.” Feliciano gripped and took the stone, hoping he could break it and blow the shards at him.  

 Khaos shrugged, “his title won’t really matter. When I take control of things, I might feel like leaving him a prince…if I plan to keep him alive that is.”

 “I won’t let such a thing happened,” Feliciano let his harbored determination illuminate strong.

 Khaos let out a chuckle, “then prove yourself.”

 Before Feliciano could respond, a shard flew well in front of the Dark King, widening those darkening eyes, a single little slash at the point of his nose, in only half a second landing well in entrance and standing on the snow.

 “He won’t be alone,” was the voice that joined, a Heartian King presented like a gentleman figure, honored even if in his war uniform. Soon after, one by one, the once King of the Dark Kingdom was presented to all the present royals, decorated in their own colors, shows of progress in their seals, protected in powerful shields to compare to his power he could tell, brandishing different weapons and spells ready to release and start. Even the smallest, Lili Zwingli, Queen of the Diamond Kingdom, showed menace and wielded in her hands a spell.

 Surprise was clear in his face, mainly at the suddenness of all of them presented, not shared to the rest of the armies who began their approach, being seen, yet still, waiting for the proper word.

 Khaos stood alone, easy to take, like a sure victory that they could take in a matter of minutes without even having to use their men and women. They all took a single step forward, testing what seemed like a simplicity. It didn’t pass unnoticed to Khaos, who chuckled, not moved, the cold intensifying his laughter, loud and boisterous throughout the now open field, shivers in its echo that spread to even the soldier in the furthest back of the crowds.

 “How quaint! It’s adorable, it’s childish, it’s-” he was thrown over, with a single punch cladded in blue strength, taking a harsh landing deep in the further snow, startling him intensely, but not hurting, not even a bruise…especially when Alfred had used a powerful spell.

 Arthur smiled behind him, knowing how Alfred was still adjusting to using magic. It was a big difference then already settling on his guns.

 “Gods, let’s just fight and get this over with!”

 Yao was ready to bring another blow to add, his staff ringing beautifully even if it was soon to arise deadly blue fires.

 “Ragazzi…” Feliciano called, stepping forward in an acceptive space they all gave him, “it is my duty to face him.”

 “We will not let you alone,” Roderich said, looking so tall as he wielded a large and heavy sword.

 “Do what you need to. We’ll be right here if anything,” Ludwig smirked and in it Feliciano could see a whole thriving world.

 “Ah, but you’re only sending me but a boy-” he hadn’t said much as Feliciano didn’t waste a moment to advance, a large swing with a reddening field that pushed in smoke and hardship. He already stood so proudly as the spell was finished, while Khaos continued to cough in the ground.

 There was still so much to do, but Feliciano smiled knowing that he managed that stand he had practiced so much to do and especially while facing Khaos.

 This was already starting out pretty well.

 He breathed, he clapped his hands, decorating himself in fire, marks brandishing across his skin, calling what he was, an Ace and a hero to expect. From that gathered fire, he pierced the ground and used it to move quicker, anytime fire to arise and burn. He began a fighting dance with Khaos, who already looked so exhausted as he ducked and moved avoiding every crack, throw and even kick or punch Feliciano could manage. It was quite a show that left all to only stare in awe, occasionally tripping or falling whenever either of the fighting figures used something strong enough to shake the very ground.

 Khaos used a ring spell, wanting to spread it, in it thunders of pain and reactors surely to bring all in the area to their knees and instantly defenseless. Feliciano worked quick to take and break it, swinging it in impressive strength across the field, bringing it down to the ground, another shake, Khaos took another fall and it granted more anger. He already looked so eldered and sickened as he struggled to stand, but managing to call forward, loud words in the language of darkness that none could understand, and none would be expectant of. Before they could even react, from the snow, like blooming plagues, darkened men came, armored and readied in weapons as their enemies. Kiku shouted, but spared a kick to go along, throwing off the first darkened soldier, starting a beginning of smiles and confidence with the royals.

 “For the four kingdoms!” Roderich raised his sword high, with it a lamp of green extending to the sky, a signal for all to see and know.

 “Brethren, attack!” Abasi shouted, riding along with his people, commencing and signaling with a light spell, its shine strong enough to already disintegrate some of the soldiers, not being exposed to White Kingdom magic in so long.

 “Charge!” Lien, leading a group of the Spadian High Protection Squadron, shouted along, the first to crash and meet the beginning wave, already slashing and cutting with the sharp edges of their swords. Priya moved swiftly between, blowing them away in spells, holding them in air enough for the Vikings, these led by Emil, to pierce with their spears and weapons. Zuma crashed bare hands into fully armored heads, destroying and pulverizing with pure spells of the White Kingdom. Young Soo, who was near as he did this, couldn’t help but stare in wonder, wishing to do the same, so he went on. Sure his disintegrating not as intense as he didn’t posses such power from the deceased kingdom, but it was winning and diminishing enemy numbers. Sefina and Nadia moved between a mist they created together, using the dark men’s blindness to choke and kick in quick submission. They let it fall when it got too large and they needed larger numbers to attack. Ivan came to lead well his more rough and large looking soldiers to traverse the field, their stature enough to run over easily, victorious chants to last. Francis, ever so elegantly and suave, swirled with a beautiful sword, deadly if even how shinning and clean he looked…like he wasn’t battling surrounded by the most gruesome men. This kept them all distracted by the show in the center field, by the height of the Darkened King and the Heartian Queen, flying and exploding with mere swings of strong swords they now used.

 In one fault, Feliciano was hurled downward, the pain choking, parts of his clothes burning…but all he cared about watching were the gloves, which luckily remained intact.

 “Torrente!” He suddenly called, focused on making it loud. Khaos laughed, finding it useless as Feliciano was nearing the ground and nothing had occurred.

 Kandake was the first to response, throwing high a white capsule she kept. Lukas threw his own, as did Tino, Haris, Tulio, Vash and six more different soldiers they had chosen, spread in a perfect circle around the battling field. They were small and singular in their distance, looking plain and useless. Khaos hadn’t even noticed them.

 “Cover!” Abasi shouted.

 “Quick! Quick! Quick!” Carlos joined in warning, riding and rapidly informing. It was the only thing Khaos had turned to notice and when he gazed back to his opponent, Feliciano bared a teasing smirk. He whispered a simple spell, extending his hands rather beautifully, stars of white coming out, each reaching a capsule and instantly there were strong winds, brushing, intensifying and clearing the area. It combined with the once trapped blizzard, growing and making the sudden storm they made the true fear they intended. Luckily, with aid of the winds Feliciano could control, he landed well on the ground, kneeling down and letting the grey, the snow, the hits that blew all across, deal with the darkened King…which he could not find now, lost surely in the torrents.

 It became too powerful to take, Feliciano not being able to stand from his guarded spot, between hills of snow and shells and remains of weapons and spells that had been used.

 “Feliciano!” Came the call and the Queen found the company of his King, kneeling well with him, sword with darkened remains of those he had slain, cuts on his uniform and skin and unruly hair. He breathed heavily, taking this encounter as a small rest, as a hold to his beloved that he couldn’t help but worry over even as he had defended and fought well. Feliciano took it no matter, embracing him strongly and wishing this all could be just this, Ludwig’s scent, his arms and love and nothing else.

 “Your majesties!” Luis had come, kneeling and crawling in defense. He was Alfred’s older brother and one of the princes of Spades. He too shone with proofs of battle, but yet as determined to inflict more. “All are taking cover as you commanded. We see no sign of more darkened men and fire seems to have ceased,” he informed.

 “Tell them to still be cautious and wary. Ciarán must still be working on the endurance spell for us and we cannot really fight well until he’s done.”

 One of Arthur’s older brothers, another powerful magician aiding.

 “You’re all doing an amazing job! Please let everyone know that,” Feliciano seemed desperate.

 “Will do!” Luis saluted away, intending to send his message between hiding and trying to fight the strong winds that reigned. Ludwig and Feliciano remained watchful on him, until a darkened light caught the corner of their eyes, they turned to the field again, activity in the blankets of snow and the blistering wind.

 Darkened cracks, looking like lightning, exploding and bursting like lava, until in its very center this volcano was shown, evil, with strong menace and a presenting that was different from the Khaos they had known. Marks, oozing hideously, crooked smile and eyes, an elongated figure with claws at every end that was the image of true nightmare. Ludwig and Feliciano began to stand, taking last comforts in the robes they still kept for the cold and a hold of their hands. They were not going to be afraid, they were going to show to their people that they could all be brave no matter what presented and what blew around them.

 As those evil gleaming eyes laid on them, the Heartian King and Queen felt the strength of Ciarán’s spell, the winds now not pushing them so harshly, everything clearer, the cold not so intense and they could expose greater between flying debris in bright red and golden colors, the powerful image to get all around to stand and begin once again, especially with the aid of a storm around them.

 “Do you have your sword ready?” Feliciano reminded.

 Ludwig unsheathed the royal weapon, beautiful, artistic, but the blade edged with danger and death. “What about your shield?”

 It was small, Feliciano being able to take it from his belt, using a simple spell to make it grow, the great symbol of a St. Mark presented, as elegantly and gorgeous as his husband’s sword. It was in that very moment that Pookie landed behind them, proud, roaring strong, taking position and waiting for his masters’ begin.

 They moved only slightly forward, enough to leave whatever defend of snow, exposing themselves true.  

 “For Glory…” Ludwig started in a simple whisper.

 “For Honor…” Feliciano joined in the same light.

 "For Riches…”

 “For the Gods…” each phrase was more a facing forward.

  “For Hearts!” They shouted high those last words, gaining speed and ready to face darkness itself.

 Khaos smirked so widely and fearsome, but to Ludwig and Feliciano, it was nothing that they weren’t ready to handle.

[frazzledsoul]

The biggest issue I have with the dissolution of the Jaime/Brienne storyline is that this was the only canon ship you could root for and not feel dirty afterwards.

Ned/Catelyn? Jon/Ygritte? Robb/Talisa? Oberyn/Ellaria? All doomed by their tragic book endings.

Tyrion/Sansa? The potential was always there to blossom into real romance at some point, but his family did plot to kill hers. They spent most of the series geographically separated and remained that way at the end.

Jon/Sansa? They were raised as siblings. Ew. (besides, this is technically a crackship).

Cersei/Jaime? Are you crazy? NOOOOOO.

Jon/Dany? Did I root for this in season 7 against my better judgment, hating myself the entire time? Yes. Did I find the boatsex hawt? Yes. Did I kind of like the idea of two of my favorites coming into their own and becoming a power couple? Yes.

Are they an incestuous couple whose bloodline has been twisted by generation after generation of siblings fucking each other, thus making their partnership and possible offspring a very bad idea? Also yes. This one was doomed, too, and not only for that reason: Dany wanted power and Jon wanted a relatively simple life. They'd eventually come to an impasse where one of them would have to change for the other and it's difficult to see how that would happen without making at least one of them miserable.

Tormund/Brienne? Yeah, it was funny, but she wasn't into it.

Dany/Daario? Wasn’t meant to last. But Daario, call me.

Dany/Jorah? Never going to happen, and Jorah’s love will only stay pure if it is forever unrequited.

Arya/Gendry? Okay, it finally made sense in the last season, but it always grossed me out when people shipped it when Arya was actually 11.

Sam/Gilly? They’ve been an adorable family unit for most of the series, but I’m not sure they even count as a ship since there never was any real threat to their eventual survival.

Jaime/Brienne was the only non-incestuous ship that was a no-holds-barred romance between main characters that spanned almost the entire length of the series, much longer than any other canon ship. We saw them banter, bond, share deep secrets, and then separate: we saw Jaime cling to Cersei for years while rooting for him to embrace the better part of his nature and leave her and all of the ruin and rot their relationship had encompassed, including their three dead children, and pledge himself to a noble cause and a noble woman. Jaime proved his affection an devotion to her in that knighting ceremony and to the forces of good when he fought by her side.

Then it’s all suddenly, horribly, abruptly brought together and ruined in the next episode, as if none of that meant anything, as if the consummation of that relationship was just an obstacle that got in the way of Jaime’s rotten end when it was the one thing we felt it was safe to root for. 

I guess I should feel blessed. I only wanted two things from the ending of this show: for Jon to find a happy ending with people who loved and respected him, and for Jaime and Brienne to ride off into the sunset. I got the ending I wanted for Jon, but there’s nothing anyone can say about Jaime and Brienne to ever make it right.

Such a shitshow.

[imaginecoderealize]

dates, huh... so what would be an ideal date for nemo, finis, and aleister~?

Mod Nautilus is definitely, definitely, DE-FI-NITE-LY taking this one!

“Honestly, don’t these people have anything better to do?”

“They went to the trouble of asking, Finis. The least we can do is humor them.”

“Fwee hee hee… ohhhh, this will be such FUUUUUUUN!!”

“Ahahahahaaa—-!! Of course, of course maaaaaaaany people want theprivilege of going on a date with this brilliant scientist, but my schedule ispaaaaacked—! Hmmm~ I suppooooose, though…. Ohhh–! I can’t resist that lookof disappointment on your c-u-t-e faaaaace…! Veeeeeeery well, ve—–ry well!I’ll graciously clear a night just~ for~ you~! Looooooooooooook forward to it!”

…

You know, for someone who has such a packed schedule, Nemo sure does spend alot of time with you in the days leading up to the date. He says that it’s forobservation, but he’s not doing so much “observing” so much as “talking aboutscience non-stop”. You were expecting that, though, otherwise… why would youhave asked him out?

On the day before the date, though—he’s gone. You get so worried about himthat you actually find yourself strolling through London, hoping to hear thattell-tale booming voice. Maybe he found an experiment he got really excitedabout, or… maybe he got himself blown up. Hm, better not think about that.

The next morning, you’re awakened by the sound of rumbling. Is itthundering? But the forecast called for clear skies… huh. It’s getting closer.… It’s getting very close. What the heck is that, it’s right above your house!!

Still in your pajamas, you rush outside to see a large purple and blackairship. It’s so… gaudy… and why does it need all those cannons?!

But you know who it belongs to even before that familiar cackle fills theair.

“Bwaaaahahahahaha! Weeeeeeeeell? What do you think, hmmm? Of this beautiful,magnificent— Fultooooooooooooooon… Mk. II! Mm… if only I still had thegravity alleviator, it could have been much, muuuuch bigger… mutter… mumble…BUT! Whaaaaaaat are you still doing just staring, eeeh?! Climb aboaaaaaard!”

You’re about to protest that you’re still in your pajamas, but the ropeladder that drops down from the Fulton… Mk. II… leaves little room forargument. So you cling to the rope ladder and are raised above London… in yourpajamas. Nice.

Luckily, Nemo has overthought everything. As soon as you climb inside andclose the hatch, you find a package wrapped in brilliant purple tissue paperwith a note that contains way too many ‘x’s and ‘o’s.

He’s prepared quite the costume for you, it seems. Tall boots, slim pants, ashirt ragged for aesthetic purposes… and to top it all, a black leather jacketwith silver and purple wings embroidered on the back.  You can’t help butfeel a bit silly when you put the silver aviator goggles on your forehead, butthat feeling disappears when you walk into the bridge and see Nemo give you athumbs up.

“Mmmm-hmmmm—!! I knew it would look amazing on you!! Come on, come and seemy genius in moooooooootion!!”

Nemo extends his hand and you take it, allowing him to guide you to the shipwheel. As the ship rises, you can’t help but think about how London looks likea doll house from all the way up here.

“Here, here! Aren’t the controls increeeeeeeeeeedible?!” he steps back andushers you in so that your hands are on the wheel. You’ve never steeredanything like this before, you can really feel the power of the technology!

Nemo’s standing behind you, steadying the wheel with a wide grin on hisface.

Soon, London is left far behind and the two of you sail above the cottonyclouds. It looks almost like you’re flying over a field of snow. At Nemo’sencouragement, you leave his side to take a closer look down from the bridge.It really is an entirely different world surrounding you up here!

When you look back at him with a smile, he looks the happiest you’ve everseen him.

Then the Fulton Mk. II starts to shake.

“A—ahhhh—?!”

Nemo looks up at some gauges and dials and you see his eyebrows arch up soquickly that you’re afraid they’ll go flying off his head.

“H-Hold on! Noooooo! My SWEET LOVE MACHIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE—!!”

You cling to whatever you can as Nemo is forced to make an emergencylanding. Well, it’s more like an emergency… skidding? Not as bad as a ‘crash’but not as good as a ‘landing’, either.

There’s a lot of smoke as Nemo helps you open up one of the hatches to slidedown the side, but what’s important is that the both of you are safe.

Well, physically.

Mentally….

“NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO———————-!!!!”

Nemo falls to his knees at the sight of the smoking Fulton Mk. II. Youreally can’t understand any of what he’s saying, just lots and lots of sadnessand lots and lots of pained screeches.

But it’s a beautiful day, at least…

You sit down next to Nemo and let him ramble unhappily about pressure gaugesand cheap wiring and budgets and all kinds of things that you might or mightnot understand. But the saddest thing is when he frowns and looks your way:

“I really, reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaally wanted this date to bepeeeerrfeeeectt…..!!”

And then he bursts into tears.

What else can you do but put a reassuring hand on his back? I mean, sure youplummeted out of the sky and very well could have died, but you also got to seeLondon in a way you never have before and—oh, he’s hugging you. He is huggingyou and crying on you.

Eventually he wipes his eyes and gets to his feet.

“Weeeeeeeell… we’d better get back to the labooooratory……………”

You can’t help but wonder—‘we’?

“Of course, of cooooooourse! After all, you ARE my super-cute assistaaaant,aren’t yoooou…?”

Again, there’s no room for argument as he takes your hand and gives it a squeeze. Nemo begins to walkbeside you on the path back to London—the path of science that he loves so dearly.

Well, it looks like you have a… a……. Nemo…congratulations?

“Hm? You’re asking if you can share an afternoon with an old man…? Haha,I would be delighted.”

…..

Aleister knocks on your door as the clock begins its hourly chime. Thoughhe’s still in his usual attire, he somehow looks sharper than usual. Is it adifferent scarf, a different hat… or is it that smile that’s gently nudging theedges of his mustache?

“You look lovely this afternoon. Isn’t a greeting like that customary forsuch an occasion? Heh, you must forgive my sense of humor, it’s been awhilesince I’ve been able to indulge myself like this.”

He offers you his arm and walks alongside you, his cane keeping the time ofyour stroll with each light ‘thump’.

“I was hoping you would accompany me to afternoon tea today at one of myfavorite parlors. They make a very impressive tea with leaves from the teagardens of Darjeeling. It’s perfect for a relaxed atmosphere and goodconversation.”

The parlor that Aleister is referring to is very small, with an entrance anda valet that leads you into a small room with only three tables.

“I’ve reserved the entire room for us, so please feel relaxed,” saysAleister.

When the valet offers to remove your coat, Aleister politely steps in. “If Imay.”

His gloved hands feel warm as he takes your coat off, and his refined scenttickles your nose.

He pulls out your chair for you and makes sure that you’re settled beforesitting across from him.

The china looks like it’s worth more than you’d make in an entire year! Youcan’t stop your fingers from trembling as you pick up a tea spoon. You’re aboutto put in some sugar, but you think better of it and ask Aleister what herecommends for this particular blend.

“Most tea connoisseurs will only drink their tea black, as it allows them tosavor its natural flavor.” Aleister raises the teacup and inhales. “Darjeelingtea has a wonderful floral aroma.”

He’s right. The tea smells wonderful and warms your body when you take asip.

“It is a thin-bodied tea, but the tannin flavor might be different if youaren’t used to it,” he says. “When I’m feeling adventurous—“ he pauses tolaugh. “—I add a few drops of fresh lemon juice.”

He picks up one of the delicately plated lemon wedges and gives it a quickpinch over his cup. You decide to join him in his adventure, and he nods to youas he lifts his cup.

Even that little bit of juice brightens the flavor, which makes thelightening of the beautiful color worth it.

The two of you take most of your tea in silence, but it isn’t an awkward oruncomfortable silence. It’s warm, and that warmth continues to linger evenafter the plates are cleared and two glasses are brought out.

For Aleister is a glass of fine port, and for you a glass of sloe gin. Youfeel incredibly refined as Aleister speaks about the history of the fortifiedwine in his glass. You completely understand why he’s so successful as aprofessor, you could listen to his quiet voice for hours.

… And that’s just what you do, as it’s dark by the time he’s helping youback into your coat.

You share the same walk, your arm in his and the slow ‘thumps’ of his canekeeping time. Honestly, you wish you could spend more time with him, and whenyou shyly mention this he gives a friendly laugh.

“I’m afraid I find myself in the same situation, but these sorts ofrendezvous should be savored instead of downed all at once.”

He walks you up the steps to your house, his smile slight but appearinggenuine.

“Thank you for a marvelous evening,” he says. “I look forward to calling onyou again, if I may.”

You can do nothing but nod.

The skin around Aleister’s eyes crinkles in mirth as he gently takes yourhand and kisses its back. His mustache tickles your skin, and you wish—no,don’t think about such thoughts. Save those for another day. Savor it, likeAleister wants you to.

He waits until you close the door before hetakes his leave, just like a gentleman should.

“Huh?! You want me to do what? What acomplete waste of time! ……. Ah, you’ll be even more bothersome if I say no,won’t you? Tch, fine… two days from now at eleven o’ clock sharp, outside SaintPaul’s Cathedral.”

…

You decide it would be best to arrive early. Finis doesn’t have the samethought, however, and you see him approach at the exact time.

“At least you’re punctual,” he says with a sly smile.

He walks so fast that you’re pretty much trailing behind him.

“We’re going to the fairgrounds today,” says Finis. “I figured a simpleperson like you would prefer an outing like that.”  

You know you should feel insulted, but he looked very cute when he saidthose words. You suppose you find it rather hard to stay mad at Finis.

When you arrive at the carnival, there are people from all walks of lifebustling from tent to tent.

Though Finis has his usual sour expression, you can’t help but feel hisposture conveys… hesitance?

You ask him if this is his first time going to the fair.

“What?!”

Your question caught him off guard, but he clears his throat.

“Of course it’s my first time here. Do I look like the sort of man whowastes his time in idleness such as this?”

Even his pouting face is cute.

You decide to ask him what he would like to do first.

“Ha, you act as though I came here for myself! I brought you here as afavor, so shouldn’t you decide where we go?”

…

He’s clearly staring at a snack vendor as he says this.

You tell him that you’re rather hungry, and without much fanfare he brisklywalks with you to a large tent dripping with candy apples, cotton candy,lemonade, and funnel cakes as big as Finis’ head.

As you tap your finger to your chin in thought, you mutter about how it ALLlooks good.

“Two of everything,” Finis speaks to the vendor in a dismissive tone.

As you sputter in protest, the vendor begins loading you up with popcorn, bonbons,cookies, lemonade, and a cloud of cotton candy that you somehow balance on topof everything else. Finis pays without a word and the two of you make your wayto a bench.

As you stare at it all, you tell Finis that there’s no way you can eat allof this.

“My god! You think I expect you to eat all of this?!”

You stare at him, and he sighs as if he’s explaining the alphabet.  

“You sample a bit of everything, and then decide what the best-tastingthings are. That’s what you eat.”

With this plan in mind, the two of you begin sampling the fair food. It’ssticky and sweet and absolutely wonderful, and you find yourself quicklyfilling up on the choicest selections.

When you finish, Finis begins walking ahead, and you follow after him.

“I can’t believe you ate the entire candy apple,” he scoffs. “The candy wasonly on the outside, you know!” 

You want to protest, but your stomach hates you enough as it is. You decideto just accept his chiding.

“Well? What now?” Finis looks around with a haughty expression. “The games?It looks like they hardly require any skill…”

But your eyes are already on the ferris wheel looming above you.

Finis simply sighs and begins to drag you in its direction.

You’re holding hands.

“It’s just so that you will keep up,” he explains.

Right.

When Finis gets on the ferris wheel, you can’t help but look at him for amoment. He’s so short that his feet don’t reach the floor, and his dignifiedexpression looks so out of place that you can’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?” his eyebrow twitches as he speaks. “I certainly hope you’relaughing at the pitiful state of this fairground!”

You sit down next to him and the ferris wheel begins to slowly rotate.

“Hmph…” Finis looks off in the distance at the rows of airships dotting theskyline. “… The view isn’t half-bad from up here, I suppose…”

You dig in your pocket and pull out a bag of leftover cotton candy.

“You managed to stash away more–?!” Finis looks impressed, and a hint ofred colors his cheeks as you offer it to him.

“Geez… you won’t let me say no, will you?”

You shake your head, and the two of you sharethe cotton candy as the ferris wheel goes ‘round and ‘round.

[everlarkficexchange]

Practical Strangers

Author: @hutchhitched

Prompt 45: I answered your oddly specific craigslist roommate ad as a joke and now we’re living together… [submitted by Anonymous]

Rating: E

Summary: Under duress, Katniss advertises for a new roommate. The first person to respond is practically perfect for what she wants. He’s also a total stranger.

__________________

  “Good morning.”

I jump and spill coffee down my front. Sputtering and shooting daggers from my eyes, I turn and face the source of the deep voice that startled me out of my early morning funk.

“It was,” I say wryly, “until someone scared me, and I spilled coffee on my interview outfit. What are you doing up so early, anyway? I expected to have the kitchen to myself.”

“Baker hours,” he explains with a shrug. “When I was in high school, I used to help my dad get the dough prepared for the morning loaves.”

“Your dad’s a baker?” I’m reminded again how little I know about this man, Peeta Mellark, my new roommate.

“He was, yes,” he answers with downcast eyes and crosses to the coffee maker.

“Retired?”

“No,” he mumbles. “Dead.”

“Sorry,” I murmur, but he shrugs again.

“No way for you to know.” He motions to my stained shirt and says, “You should change. Don’t want to be late for your interview.”

I open my mouth to reply but snap it shut quickly. He’s right, this stranger who now shares my apartment. I need to go. I need this job, so I can’t afford to be late.

I rush to my room and frantically paw through my closet for something clean, unwrinkled, and at least somewhat professional. I grab a dark green shirt and tuck it into my black pencil skirt. Taking a quick glance in the mirror, I smooth down my thick braid and slip on my black flats. I have exactly two minutes to get out the door before I’m pushing it with traffic and other unexpected delays.

“Good luck,” he calls as I hurry through the rooms and head to the door.

I send a thank you over my shoulder but don’t stop. I barely know this guy, and I don’t have time to make small talk so I can spare his feelings when I have a job at stake. I’ll talk to him later, I think as I make a beeline to my car and drive to Panem Manufacturing for my meeting with Mr. Heavensbee.

“Please let me get this job,” I breathe. “Please, please, please. Let something go right today.”

****

Peeta slips through the front door later that night, so quietly I would have missed him if I hadn’t been curled up on the couch staring at the blank space right above the TV. I haven’t moved since the early afternoon when I returned home after my interview and immediately changed into flannel pajama pants and a faded gray sweatshirt my best friend gave me from his days as a college football walk-on.

I don’t say anything, and Peeta nods as he crosses to his room and closes the door. I’m not sure why I’m disappointed. I’m certainly not in the mood to talk to anybody after the reception I got from the head of sales at the factory. Even if I do get the job, it’s going to be tough to get excited about working with such grumpy employees who seem to care about nothing except a fat bottom line for the company.

I’ve barely finished the thought before Peeta rejoins me. He’s changed into threadbare jeans that cling to his powerful thighs and a soft navy t-shirt that makes his bright blue eyes even deeper than they already are.

“What are you watching?” he asks and picks up the remote to hit the info button.

“Nothing really,” I mumble. “Just have it on for sound. Feel free to change it.”

He plops down onto the cushions, only a couple of feet away, and glances over at me. “Any suggestions?”

“Whatever is fine,” I assure him. “I’m not really into too many shows.”

He flips through a few channels until he lands a local station. “News okay? I try to stay up on current events.”

“Fine.”

We sit in silence for a while as the anchor relates the day’s events with gravity laced with a touch of humor. On the first commercial break, he turns to me and asks, “How was the interview?”

I want to answer him, but the words stick in my throat. I’m probably not going to get the job, and months of unemployment stretch before me, taunting me until I feel like I’m going to vomit. When I don’t answer, he reaches over and puts his hand on my forearm and gives it a comforting squeeze.

My skin tingles when he pulls away, and I stare at him for a few moments before he turns back to the television. With his eyes facing forward, I study him carefully. He’s got a strong jaw that frames an attractive face with full lips, a slightly upturned nose, and startlingly blue eyes. His shoulders are solid atop a torso that would make most girls drool. His legs stretch out in front of him, and he crosses his feet at the ankle as he slouches on the couch. He seems to know exactly who he is, and I suddenly realize how insanely attractive he seems, this man who also lives inside my small apartment. It’s almost tiny with his muscular body crowding against mine.

He answered an ad I placed on Craigslist. That’s how he found me. My best friend Gale and I were drunk one night, and he teased me about both the empty bedroom in my place as well as my own vacant bed. He dared me to advertise for someone to share both but to put it in one notice. He didn’t think I could or would do it, but I woke the next morning to a splitting headache, enough regret for four lifetimes, and a voicemail message.

“Hi, Katniss,” it said. “My name’s Peeta. I’m new in town and saw your post online. I’m a guy, in case you couldn’t tell from my voice. I’m quiet and neat and am good at making beds. I can bake, which is what I’m guessing you meant by putting stuff in the oven, and I’m ready to move in right away. I’m starting a new job, and I haven’t had time to do anything more than check into a hotel. Temporary is fine, if you want to give this a trial run. Let me know when you can.”

Too embarrassed to explain anything, I returned his call immediately, and we’ve been living together for the past two weeks. He’s been true to his word so far. We’ve barely interacted, but now…

“Do you have to work tomorrow?” I ask suddenly, and he jumps slightly. I blush at the realization that my question was overly loud, but I stare at him until he shakes his head.

“No, I’m off tomorrow. Why?”

“Do you drink?”

He nods, and I bound from the couch to grab a couple of bottles of booze and some shot glasses from the kitchen. When I return to the living room, he shoots me a quizzical look, but I simply pour him some vodka and nudge it toward him.

“It’s been a shit day, and I could use some company,” I offer in explanation and throw back my head. I relish the burn of alcohol down my throat.

Three shots later, I’m feeling a lot more relaxed. Peeta’s tolerance is clearly higher than mine, but I don’t care. I’ve got a half-smile on my face, and I’m sure whatever I’m saying is fascinating. He nods along and mixes something for me that tastes a hell of a lot better than the vodka shots. I take the drink from him gratefully and let my fingers graze against his for longer than necessary. His eyes darken but otherwise acts like nothing happened.

I learn a lot about Peeta through the haze of alcohol. His job at the local newspaper as a photographer helps him fund his true love of art. He’s hoping to find a studio in town and get back to smearing paint on canvas as soon as possible. He’s from a small city several hours away and has two brothers whom he adores, a mother he hates, and a father who passed away from a massive heart attack a few years prior. He hasn’t dated in a while, and he admits with a sheepish grin that he’s a little bit frustrated with his social life.

“What about you?” Peeta asks and points his shot glass at me. “I’ve been talking for the past hour, and you’ve done nothing more than sit there and drink what I’ve given you.”

“And you’re very good at that,” I compliment him as I snuggle into the blanket that’s draped over my shoulders. “I haven’t been this relaxed in a looooooong time. Not since Gale and I…”

I trail off, and Peeta leans toward me. “Since you and Gale what? Gale’s that guy who was here the day I moved in?”

I nod, and he hands me another drink.

“We’re not together, you know,” I say firmly, but the effect is ruined when I hiccup.

“No?”

“Nope,” I insist and take another sip, hoping it will help me speak normally. “We’re best friends. Have been for years. Now that he’s a cop, he looks out for me. He ran your info before you moved in. I had to know you weren’t a serial killer or something.”

“Oh, good,” Peeta quips. “Seems like my juvenile records are still sealed then. He didn’t find the triple homicide conviction from when I was thirteen.”

Laughter bursts from me, and I admire the humor in his blue eyes. “You’re funny,” I tell him, and he smiles, pleased with himself.

“I try.”

“You’re very good-looking, too,” I add and clap a hand over my mouth.

“Thank you,” he answers, completely nonplussed. “So are you.”

“Noooooo… I’m not. I just look better with alcohol.”

“Well, I’ve had a lot of it,” Peeta reminds me, and I nod along with him.

We settle into a comfortable silence. The TV is set to a movie channel now, although neither of us are paying any attention to it. We’ve been too wrapped up in each other to care, and I suddenly have a craving for something a little more intimate.

“That t-shirt looks really good on you,” I tell him, and he rolls his head to the side to look at me under eyelashes that won’t quit. They’re incredibly long, so long they should tangle, but somehow, they don’t.

“It’s nothing special,” he drawls, and I fight the urge to reach over and run my hands across his chest.

“Looks pretty special to me.”

I’m slurring at this point. I know I’ve had too much to drink. I know I should stop, but the feeling of complete abandonment, total freedom to do and think and speak as I please, is as intoxicating as the liquor. Peeta doesn’t seem to mind, either, so I hand him my empty cup and watch as he fixes me another.

This time his fingers slide over mine as I take the drink from him. He stares at me as I raise the glass to my mouth and run my tongue along the lip. I swallow and watch as his eyes slide down my neck and down my body to the way my thighs stretch my flannel pants.

“You know that oven thing wasn’t exactly a request for a roommate who bakes,” I say.

“It seemed kind of odd,” he answers, and I laugh. The sound’s throaty and scratchy, and he shifts uncomfortably. I don’t miss him covering his crotch with a pillow and grin. Maybe I’m having some sort of effect on him.

“And yet you answered the ad.”

He nods slowly, and his eyes grow misty and unfocused. “Something told me to. I don’t know what it was, but I felt a pull when I read it, and now here we are.”

“Here we are.”

“Half-drunk and sprawled on a couch together.”

“In a mostly dark apartment.”

Our eyes lock for several seconds, and then things happen so quickly I can’t think. He scoots across the couch and catches my face in his hands. His lips find mine, and my mouth opens under his. He’s solid muscle under that cotton shirt, and I twist my fingers in the fabric, tugging and pulling as he kisses me so thoroughly my head spins. His breath is hot against my skin, and I struggle to hold in quiet moans at the feel of him against me.

“Katniss,” he groans against my neck, and I rake my fingernails up his back.

I don’t want to think. I don’t want to listen to the voice in the back of my mind telling me I’m being really stupid. I don’t want to be responsible or smart or cautious or anything that stops me from taking this man’s clothes off and running my hands over every inch of his warm, sculpted body.

Peeta’s not showing any signs of stopping. His mouth moves over my exposed skin, and his hands paw at my shirt. His palms burn against my bare back, and I arch into him.

“You smell amazing,” he murmurs as he runs his teeth along my collar bone. My skin pebbles, and he grunts as I shift underneath him and his hips bump against mine. I don’t hesitate to wrap my legs around him and thrust upward.

Our simultaneous moans sound like music, and he rocks against me. I respond in kind, and I kiss him as we dry hump like teenagers in a backseat. He’s hard, deliciously hard, and he’s found exactly the right spot that sends shivers of pleasure rocketing through me. I try to stay quiet, but, before long, I can’t stop the cries that gather in the back of my throat.

“Peeta,” I pant. “Fuck, this feels good.”

His response is to fumble at my waistband and slip his hand inside my pants. My back arches as he teases my entrance, and he holds my gaze as he slides his fingers into me.

“You like that?” he asks, his voice gruff.

I give up on remaining coherent and clamp my legs around his hand. I chase the heat coursing through me and urge him to keep going. He curls his fingers inside me, and I throw my head back and scream.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,” I chant, the word becoming increasingly louder as he drives me to the edge. “Keep going. Keep going.”

He presses into my leg repeatedly, and I’d feel sorry for him if I wasn’t so caught up in my own haze of sexual tension. He’s hard as iron inside his jeans, but it’s his hand working magic between my legs.

“Ahhhh,” I wail as the string finally snaps after several minutes of frenzied torture. My walls contract around him, and he continues to pump and curl as I thrash and shake. My climax ebbs into waves of molten metal. My skin burns and my blood boils, and nothing feels better than what we just did together.

He’s trembling in my arms, and I realize it’s taking every ounce of his strength to hold back. I will my arms to move and tug his shirt over his head. His chest—oh my hell. It’s gorgeous, solid muscle and incredibly broad. I push him off me and frown at the way his fingers glisten from my arousal. He’s been remarkably generous to me, a practical stranger, and I want to return the favor. Not that it won’t be amazing for me too.

It takes a few minutes to extricate myself from him, and he doesn’t protest at all. He’s a gentleman, I realize, and that makes it even more gratifying to grab his hand and pull him down the hall after me to my bedroom.

He closes the door behind us and draws me into his arms. We kiss for several minutes, and then I pull back and stumble toward my bed. He’s rumpled, his hair askew, and his cock straining against his jeans. His chest heaves, and his eyes are dark and glow with desire.

“Come join me,” I offer, and he crosses the room quickly.

The next several minutes pass in a flurry. Our clothes fall to the floor, and he rips the foil packet I hand him from my bedside table. We exchange a mumbled conversation, and then he’s inside me, pumping and grinding so hard I have to bite my lip to keep from screaming.

Peeta’s so enthusiastic it’s hard not to be completely caught up in our coupling. He’s got incredible stamina for a guy in a dry patch, which allows him to shift into new positions every few minutes. If he wasn’t so smooth, it would be jarring, but we change from missionary to cowgirl to reverse cowgirl with almost no pause in pace or intensity. The man’s a master.

I’m bouncing on top of him, back arched, eyes closed, when he grips my hips roughly and slows his thrusts. I wish I could see his face, but I’m facing the other way. Instead of his closed eyes and parted lips, I study the way his feet scramble against the mattress and his thigh muscles bunch and contract as he pumps into me.

“Peeta?” I pant, but his name comes out as a question. I can’t think, and I’m trying not to. I just want to feel—him inside me, the way my blood sings in my veins, how alive I feel.

“I’m almost there,” he grunts. “I’m trying to wait, but I can’t much more.”

I chuckle in disbelief. He’s trying to hold off, to make this last longer, to make me feel better. I glance over my shoulder at him and pull his hand around to rub my clit. My fingers interlace with his, and we stroke together as he shouts and falls apart.

The world shatters around me when I climax, too. The feel of him pulsing inside me and the condom filling with his ejaculate. His thick fingers wrapped around my smaller ones and covered in moisture. His inability to remain quiet as his orgasm shoots from him. My abandon as I buck on him wildly. Too much. Everything. All I can comprehend is these random sensations. No coherent thoughts. Nothing but us and burning heat. I’m on fire.

Finally, I slump into a heap beside him, and he leaves me by myself for several minutes. I assume he’s cleaning up since I hear water running in the bathroom, but I’m too exhausted to do anything other than float on a cloud of post-coital joy and alcohol-induced stupor. I’m still drunk, and my limbs are heavy.

“You okay?” he asks softly, and I startle. I nod, and he crosses to the bed. “Can I help you up?”

My cheeks burn, and I wonder how awkward this is going to be in the coming days. I can feel his hesitation as he offers me his hand, and I take it and stagger to the bathroom. After several minutes, he knocks on the door.

“Katniss? Can I get you anything?”

“I’m fine,” I answer, choking with emotion. I splash water on my face and wrap a towel around myself. The thought of emerging from the bathroom and standing in front of him naked is too overwhelming.

His face is a mask of chagrined kindness when I finally emerge. He’s fully clothed, but his cheeks glow pink, and he can’t stop twisting his hands together. He’s trying hard to pretend he’s under control, but he’s failing. I can tell he’s uneasy.

“Uh, hi,” he mumbles awkwardly, and I grip my towel harder.

“We saw each other naked,” I blurt and immediately regret it. Peeta stares at me, unsure what to say, and my face burns with humiliation.

“You look good that way.”

“So do you,” I admit and duck my head to avoid his gaze. He extends my discarded clothes to me, and I turn my back on him to redress. He pretends not to watch, but I can see him in the mirror. He can’t stop himself from sneaking a few glances as I tug on my sleep pants and ratty sweatshirt. At least the gray material matches my eyes.

“Look,” he finally says when I’m redressed and facing him again, “this is awkward as hell, but I’m not going to pretend I didn’t enjoy every second of that. You’re sexy, Katniss, and you are amazing in bed. I’m not a prude. I’m a grown man who’s new in town and in between girlfriends and really enjoys good sex. What happened tonight doesn’t have to again, but I won’t be upset if it does. We do live together. We’re both single adults. If you want to uh…go to bed with me another time, well…all you have to do is let me know.”

And with that, he sweeps from my bedroom and marches down the hall. He unmutes the television, and I hear glass clinking. It takes several minutes before I follow him and rejoin him on the couch. He sloshes some liquid into a glass and hands it to me. We sip together as time passes. At midnight, he says goodnight and heads to his room.

I wake a few hours later, sweaty and unable to get back to sleep. It’s no surprise that Peeta’s door is unlocked when I test it, and it’s not shocking he welcomes me into his bed with unbridled enthusiasm. I wake the next morning cradled in a stranger’s arms.

[verdigrisprowl]

July 6 Bevel’s Movie Night - Star Trek TNG: The Best Of Both Worlds

Prowl spent the entire show with his avatar on autopilot so that in his other body he could grab at his own neck and quietly panic without anybody seeing.

Bevel *She's been so busy lately that it's taken ages to finally get the time to actually have one of these nights again. But it does mean she has more Starfleet records to share finally* ItsyBitsySpyers *Soundwave tromps in and immediately pulls a tarp out of subspace as he drops onto his usual couch. Over his frame it goes.* VProwl *appears, looks around for a seat—immediately focuses on Soundwave's tarp.* @S «Are you cold?» Bevel Hey, Soundwave. Hey, Prowl. ((gonna get started in a short bit if anyone need food or whatever Ratchet *pops in* Bevel Hi, Ratchet! Ratchet Heya, Bevel! *aaand head count. 1, 2, 3, how many of Soundwave's kids are about?* VProwl ((gonna grab a food real quick)) ItsyBitsySpyers @P: [[No, he simply felt like being comfortable. There are fewer mechs here than at his own, and he doubts Ratchet is going to do something with the sight.]] *The only one of Soundwave's 'kids' around tonight is Chimera, who is stretched across the back of his couch as a snake.* Bevel *speaking of Chimera, Bevel wiggles her fingers happily at them and whispers* Hi~ Ratchet *okay, so 3. Chimera doesn't get one of these treats. the good news is, that means Ratchet has enough for two for everyone else!* Ratchet *or extras for soundwave to take home for the older kids, however you wanna look at it. they're the treats from Groove that did not get shared on Monday. last Monday, maybe.* ItsyBitsySpyers *Chimera picks up their head and beams a weird open-mouthed smile at Bevel. She's always so nice to them.* Bevel *grins back* Do you mind being pet tonight, Chimera? ItsyBitsySpyers *Soundwave nods at Ratchet over the tarp and stretches his legs. Ah. Toasty and cozy. The way every head of intelligence should be.* VProwl (( back )) Ratchet Evening, Soundwave. ItsyBitsySpyers ((i was trying to figure out what you were telling us to put back)) VProwl ((rabbit is2g when i say "back" in parentheses that doesn't mean i want an emoji)) ItsyBitsySpyers <<Chimera does not mind. Can Chimera sit with the Prime creation?>> VProwl *... sits on ratchet's couch* *now that he knows soundwave isn't sick.* ItsyBitsySpyers *Is in no way surprised by that.* Bevel Yeah! Any time you want. *she's gonna sit down on the floor like she usually does* Ratchet *grins and nudges Prowl* Heya! VProwl *starts at the nudge* ... Hello. Ratchet I got some of Groove's FUN goodies, if you want one. For later. You can take stuff home, right? Bevel Oh! Oh! This is Starfleet stuff about the Borg again. Not nice stuff either. ItsyBitsySpyers *Soundwave turns and nods at Chimera. Go on.*

*They'll slither down, over, and pop apart in front of Bevel.*

*They'll also stay scattered on the floor for a few seconds longer than normal while deciding what form to take. Looks like a bird tonight.* [[...Ah.]] VProwl ... Oh. Bevel ((Warnings: Brainwashing, needles kinda, 90s television, death, violence, and all the stuff that comes with the Borg being the Borg VProwl *dammit. if he'd known before he'd come...* @Ratchet «... You've been here before on Borg nights, haven't you?» *no no wait no wait we're starting already prowl didn't have time to brace himself* ItsyBitsySpyers *Soundwave makes a note to himself: make DAMN SURE there's no rough content for his next night.* Bevel *she watches Chimera transform with unrestrained interest. once they've decided on something and settled, she pets them* Ratchet @Prowl ::Yeah, I have. Are you gonna be alright?:: VProwl @Ratchet «I was just double-checking to make sure you knew what to prepare for.» ItsyBitsySpyers *Pings Prowl. He'll let Prowl decide how to answer it, if he does at all.* VProwl *casually doesn't answer the question* Bevel *Bevel's slightly caught on that she should make sure to tell some folks about the Borg, but not exactly how bad a time they actually have dealing with them* Ratchet [[ i can't even remember if Ratchet sat through the whole Borg thing last time or if that was one he noped out on ]] VProwl *casually doesn't answer the ping, either* ItsyBitsySpyers *Chimera closes their optics and fluffs their wings. Pets. Attention. Very nice.* ItsyBitsySpyers *Soundwave takes the lack of response that Prowl does not need or want anything and simply wraps the tarp a little tighter. These horrible creatures again.* [[What was that about Groove, earlier?]] Bevel There are a lot of Starfleet records about the Borg. I found some about a ship called Voyager too. VProwl *oh, data playing cards* *can they have more of data playing cards?* *and less of the borg?* Bevel *Bevel has non-Borg Data episodes, hopefully there's Poker!* VProwl *THEN FOR GOODNESS SAKE WHY AREN'T WE WATCHING THOSE?* Bevel *...Because it's important to know thy enemy?* VProwl *............... IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THAT REASONING* ItsyBitsySpyers [[He's gained sense.]] Ratchet Ah! I've got some of Groove's good stuff! Got enough for, uh, one for everyone if you wanna take some for the kids, Soundwave. Or two for everyone if we wanna make them miss out for not being here. 😉 ItsyBitsySpyers *Looks at Ratchet from one side of his visor. Turns his head and looks from the other side. Is this a trap.* ItsyBitsySpyers [[...Perhaps he should take some, yes. If Groove's]] [][][]good stuff[][][] [[is as good as that, his deployers will never forgive him for denying them.]] *And he can always have them scanned.* Ratchet *yeah, yeah. they're fine. just get Ravage to sniff them or something* Bevel Uh-oh. VProwl *momentarily pauses his avatar to conceal his shudder* Bevel *sits forward enraptured* VProwl *aaaaaand suppresses another shudder* *all those voices. so many trapped together.* ItsyBitsySpyers *It's rare that he doesn't like the sound of unified speaking voices. This is one of those exceptions.* VProwl ((that was such a dramatic roll, he could've just ducked under the door)) ItsyBitsySpyers [[...That move was completely unnecessary.]] Bevel But it looked cool. VProwl It looked unnecessary. ItsyBitsySpyers [[He is sure the security team in charge of cameras in that deck appreciated it. And then called it unnecessary.]] Bevel *giggles* ItsyBitsySpyers *Shakes his head.* [[They had best prepare fast. A failure to adapt is not one of their enemy's weaknesses.]] VProwl ... That's terrible encouragement. Bevel Really terrible. Maybe it helps her feel better about what happened with her people? VProwl *avatar freezes* Bevel *sorry, Prowl* ItsyBitsySpyers *Oh, Primus. It was the back of the head, too. That probably didn't go over well.* Bevel ((i love that painting so much, it's so creepy and awful ItsyBitsySpyers *Slight shiver. Suddenly extra satisfied with the presence of his tarp.* VProwl *he's going to leave his avatar in autopilot mode. just enough motion so that he doesn't look like a statue but it won't show him lacing his hands over the back of his neck* ((riker ur not doing it right you're supposed to say "make it so" after someone ELSE says something)) ItsyBitsySpyers [[A space bridge would be very useful right now.]] VProwl *... it's already too late for him, isn't it* *braces himself for it.* (("the bad news is, the captain is naked")) ItsyBitsySpyers [[...He wonders if the Borg are going to adapt to disallow transportation in and off ship.]] Bevel That would be really bad. Aw no! ItsyBitsySpyers *It's always worse seeing than hearing about it.* VProwl *still on autopilot* VProwl ((oh, NOW she's advocating caution)) ((i'm beginning to strongly suspect that she is not, in fact, an independent character with her own characterization, but a mere foil designed to pettily disagree with every decision riker makes)) Bevel ((and that is how they ended the season all those years back because they're rude af Ratchet [[ hgghgghghgggg "Number One" i physically shuddered no i hate this ]] Bevel ((I'm so sorry, Fabu 😔 VProwl *they're stealing his data, they're stealing his mind, using his knowledge against his own friends and allies—* Ratchet [[ i'm out i'm sorry i can't. too much borg. u all have a god night ilu <3 ]] ItsyBitsySpyers *Is getting worried, but... Prowl has the Constructicons there, and isn't glass, and can ping him if he needs something. Right? Messages from someone like him are probably not helpful right now.* VProwl *BUT AT LEAST THEY KNOW. Prowl can cling to that. At least they KNOW it's not him. They KNOW he would never do this. THEY KNOW.* ItsyBitsySpyers ((night fabu ;; )) Bevel ((It's ok <3 VProwl ((gnight)) VProwl *... somehow it's a great comfort to hear this admiral talking about picard like he's already dead.* *THERE IS A NEEDLE IN HIS HEAD prowl's out of his body it's hollow good bye he's not gonna be back for five minutes.* Bevel *Bevel would feel so terrible if she were in a position to notice Prowl's status* VProwl *Prowl would feel terrible if she WERE able to notice his status.* Bevel *then she'll remain oblivious and fully into the tragedy that's happening in these records* ItsyBitsySpyers [[Hm. This must be when the Sisko loses his conjunx.]] Bevel *glances at Soundwave and then back at the screen, even more tragedy, this is terrible* ItsyBitsySpyers *Bevel has no idea.* *Chimera flaps a little and settles into power reserve mode.* Bevel *pets Chimera gently* 😔 VProwl *it was a little longer than five minutes. Prowl's back. he doesn't regret missing all these ships getting wrecked.* ItsyBitsySpyers [[He wondered when they would.]] Bevel Noooooo. VProwl *oh no. not data. don't lose data too.* ItsyBitsySpyers *Please do not infect Data. He does not think Prowl could stand it. And he does not want to see it, himself.* VProwl *please not data* VProwl *Prowl's avatar is unchanged, but in his head his optics are glued to the screen. fight it, Picard.* ItsyBitsySpyers *Scoots forward on his seat.* Bevel *silently cheering Picard and Data on* ItsyBitsySpyers [[He hopes their presence does not wake them up.]] Bevel Picard! *whines happily* VProwl *that was completely awful.* Bevel *she's just glad Picard and Data are both ok* ItsyBitsySpyers *Gently falls back into the couch. So tense. And he's still so very, very concerned.* [[That was - most educational.]] Bevel I have other records too. For later. I think I want to show more of the funny cops again next time. ItsyBitsySpyers [[And unsettling. May they all self-destruct and never reform.]]

[[Ah, good. He likes the Captain.]] VProwl /Please./ Bevel *nods enthusiastically* I will, promise! It will be a little bit though. I am gonna go get my Star Saber back so we have to miss next time. ItsyBitsySpyers [[You /finally/ found it?]] VProwl *oh. the other show. no. nope. nope. no. prowl can take no more tonight.* *disappears* Bevel ((Ok, since I'm gonna show these for Fabu and Cro is exhausted and so am I tbh, let's just watch SU tomorrow? ItsyBitsySpyers (plz) Bevel I found it ages ago. I had to get ready though. I gotta fight some--*she definitely noticed Prowl left*--do you wanna check on Prowl? ItsyBitsySpyers *Soundwave sits up.*

[[Why do you ask that?]] VProwl ((let's watch twice as much su)) Bevel ((You got it! Because he left and you two care about each other. *had her head in a space ship engine for the last several weeks, she might have missed the rumors going around* ItsyBitsySpyers *...Oh, right. She pretended to be him that time and...*

[[Ah. Yes. He should, then. But you will tell him about your plans soon. We should go over them.]] Bevel *and that time she heard them have a meaningful feelings conversation while they watched the Titanic sink...* ItsyBitsySpyers *Who taught her to spy so well? Did he have alternates at Axiom Nexus?* Bevel *he has many alternates in Axiom Nexus* Yeah sure! I wanted to have Prowl look at them but I think she would get mad since it's kinda stealing and... and stuff. ItsyBitsySpyers [[Yes. Best she doesn't know.]] Bevel *nods* ItsyBitsySpyers [[But he should go for now. If you'll pardon him?]] Bevel Ok! I hope Prowl is ok and I promise it will the funny cop documentaries next time. ItsyBitsySpyers [[Thank you. He looks forward to them.]] Bevel *pets Chimera one last time, expecting they'll leave with Soundwave* ItsyBitsySpyers *Surprise. Chimera is staying with Bevel for the night again.* Bevel *yay!* ItsyBitsySpyers *He nods, buzzes a quick set of rules to Chimera for the night, and - after folding and subspacing the tarp - heads out for one final check ping and a night's rest.* Bevel *hope Chimera likes watching someone build weapons because that's what's on her agenda for tonight*

[freezaprime]

Starscream’s Punishment and Lessons of Love(TF Rid Starscream sparklingX Reader)

//This story takes place after the minicon arc in Robots in Disguise 2015;however, instead of Starscream remaining in an endless coma he’ll be reduced to his early years as a cute sparkling. I hope you all enjoy this story!//

Starscream slowly opened up his eyes to see darkness. Fearing that he had become one with the Allspark, Starscream panics and mumbles to himself that this isn’t happening.

“Calm yourself, Starscream. I can assure you that you are not offline.” A voice said out of nowhere.

Calming down while looking for whoever spoke, Starscream said “Who are you?”

The voice laughed, “You already know who I am.”

Before Starscream could say anything else, a bright light shines in front of him making turn away and shield his optics with his hands. Once the light died down Starscream lowered his hands down and looked at the white bot standing before him. In that instant he knew who it was from the depictions of the bot’s likeness to the stories he’s read.

“Primus.” Starscream said breathlessly.

Primus smiles and nods at the seeker.

“So if I’m not one with the Allspark then why am I here?”

Primus’ face turns to a stern expression. “You are quite an ambitious cybertronian, Starscream. Yet despite the fact that Cybertron has been restored you continue to seek power for yourself and risk repeating history all over again. Therefore I am sentencing you to live the rest of your life on earth so that you will learn about what’s more valuable than power itself.”

Starscream’s jaw dropped. “Me?! Live on that miserable rock for the rest of my life?! I’d rather go offline!”

Primus waved his hand and as he did so Starscream felt himself shrinking.

“What the slag are you doing to me, Primus?!” He screamed in fear.

“This is the only way you’ll be able to live on Earth without harming it’s inhabitants. As a sparkling.” Primus said.

“NOOOOOO!” Starscream screams as he continues to shrink and was then thrown into an open green portal which wasn’t much different from a space bridge to who knows where.

On Earth ten minutes later...

You walking back home from the grocery store when it started to rain. Luckily you had your umbrella with you so you opened it up just in time for the rain to come down harder. You were heading home to a warm shower and some warm food when you heard cries coming from within a random bush that you were about to pass. Curious you peek into the bush to find a baby, bit not just any baby. It was a baby red, blue, and white robot with wings.

The baby bot looks up at you with oily tears streaking down it’s face. You checked around to see if anyone was around but found none.

“Who in their right mind would leave a defenseless baby out in the cold, harsh rain in the middle of December?” You asked yourself. You then held your arm out towards the baby bot since you only had one bag to carry from the grocery store. “Let’s get you warmed up, sweetie.”

The baby bot looked at you curiously before climbing onto your arm. You held onto the baby bot as you continued to walk back to your house.

When you arrived home you set down your grocery bag down to dig out your house keys from your pocket while holding onto the little bot clinging onto your arm. The said bot shivers and whimpers due to the cold, wet weather.

“Hang on, sweetie. We’re almost inside.” You said to the baby bot as you inserted the key into the keyhole knob and turned it. Once the door was unlocked you stepped inside with the baby bot and the grocery bag and closed the door behind you locking it back up. You then set the baby bot down on the couch wrapping it up with a throw blanket that always hung on your couch.

“I’m just going to put away some stuff and then I’ll light up the fireplace for you.” You told the little bot as you head into the kitchen to put away the things you bought from the grocery store.

Starscream’s POV:

It’s absolutely miserable to be back on this planet again with it’s horrible weather that goes from scorching hot to freezing cold and now this wretched rain. Then again at least it doesn’t hurt like the acid rain does.

But I shouldn’t complain too much since this human has brought me into her home out of the kindness of her heart. I have to admit it’s rather nice, warm, and cozy here. I suppose I could give her a chance.

She then came back into the living room with a tiny box in her hand and bent down in front of the fireplace. I saw her pull out a box of firewood and placed a total of three logs inside the fireplace. She opened the tiny box and took out a tiny stick of wood out which she scratched it against one side of the tiny box before it lit up in a tiny flame. Placing the flaming stick on the logs the human femme instantly released it allowing the flames to grow and consume the logs.

I felt the warmth of the fireplace from where I was sitting and it was the most welcoming feeling I’ve ever felt.

The human femme sat right next to me with an arm wrapped around me.

“I’m looking forward to having a cute baby robot around the house this holiday. I’m Y/n by the way.” She said with a grin.

I smiled sheepishly and thought, ‘Perhaps I might learn to like this planet after all as long as I get to live with this human femme.’

[petalsfall-archive]

To say goodbye (If fate be kind)

Rating: Teen and up Fandom: Fire Emblem Awakening, set in The Future Past DLC Pairing: none, but does contain mentions of chrobin and chrobin! Lucina Word Count:1461 Warnings: Major character death, mentioning of blood, The Future Past DLC spoilers AO3 link

summery:

Grima's vessel is a woman Lucina never expected to see once again as she faces the final battle of the war that has raged through her homeland the entirety of her life, but for the first time she has ever known fate is kind- granting her the chance for a goodbye she had never received the chance to voice until now.

" ...Hear me, Tiki! I bear proof of our sacred covenant! In the name of the exalted blood, I ask for the divine dragon's power! Baptize me in fire, that I may become your true daughter! " Blue eyes fall shut as soon as she speaks the words knowing that all eyes, including Grima's, lay upon her as the rite they have waited so long to perform has begun. Lucina pays no mind nor fear to the fact that Naga's flames now dance around her- testing her heart. If they deem her unworthy they will consume her, ending the exalted line and extinguishing the last flicker of hope they have to save their tattered world. But she has no doubt in her mind, ever since her father along with his friends appeared before her, saving her and the others from a certain demise at the fell dragon's hands before they were returned to their own world, a new hope has consumed her that they can save their world.

She wills her eyes to open, the glowing of her blade the first sight she sees until her gaze focuses on the image of Grima not far ahead. It was only recently that Lucina learned her own mother was the dragon's chosen vessel- and consequently the one who'd slain her father in her youth. The princess knows what she must do once the flames begin to die around her, and she has to mentally remind herself that the woman she sees before her is not her mother. Even if her spirit clings inside keeping the fell dragon from moving and harming her as she had performed the awakening there is no saving her, even if wishes there were. Her mother is already gone.

"Awakener," Tiki starts, her call bringing Lucina's gaze swiftly to hers from behind her sword. "Your heart has been tested and deemed worthy. Cleansed in my fire, your desire has proven to burn the stronger. I shall now imbue your blade with my power." For the first time since speaking with her parents earlier in the battle a small smile slips it's way onto her lips, at long last the act is done and she watches as her blade grows brighter- Falchion's true power released. "Thank you Milady." Those two words speaked with great gratitude, Naga's descendant having done so much for her in the past months. Without her, Lucina knew her body would lay unmoving within the castle. "Rrgh... NOOOOOO!" They all shift their attention swiftly to Grima as once has it screams, rage seemingly pouring off the dragon's being. They are all poised to attack, even if the children know Lucina must be the one to do so "I would CRUSH YOU WORMS if I...could just...CONTROL my BODY... Why does she STILL REFUSE to become one with me? Why does she INTERFERE?! Damn you, Robin! You...will...PAAAAAAY!" Oh how the mentioning of her mother grips at her heart, but Lucina knows what must be done, she will not allow Robin's final act of strength to be in vain. "Now, Lucina!" Tiki calls at once, her voice as inspiring to the new Exalt as ever. " Your first task as exalt is at hand! Wipe the fell dragon from existence, and usher hope back into the land!" This isn't how she would have wished to have become the Exalt, if fate had been kind she'd been crowned upon her father stepping down, not through the rite in the face of otherwise certain death and destruction, but she would carry on no matter.

"I'm ready, Lucina." Blue hues lift at the sound of a voice she could never forget, the tones of the voice that reach her ears are not Grima's, that voice is undoubtedly her mother's. "...Finish it." She draws in a breath, letting her allies shouts of encouragement fill her as she prepares to make the final attack of this excruciating war that had ripped them of everything but their lives and spirits. It's her mother's comforting smile that finally gives her the courage to charge forward, Falchion slicing through the vessel's stomach. A gasp that sickens her fills the air and she shuts her eyes tight for a moment, taking a second to steady herself before looking forward to see that the malice that had surrounded Robin is gone and the crimson that filled in her eyes is no more, the fell dragon is gone. She removes her blade at once, letting it fall to the ground below with a clatter, and right after doing so the woman's stance wavers. Lucina lowers her to the ground at once so that she lays upon her back, tears forming fast in her eyes as she looks upon the former tacticians' face spotting the gentle smile she was giving her and a shaky hand reached for her face, weakly coming to rest upon new Exalt's cheek.

"Lucina..." Robin utters weakly all while stroking her thumb across her daughter's cheek. "Mother..?" Tears are spilling fast from her eyes now, landing upon Robin's tattered body, but she doesn't care. Even if her mother lays dying, at least fate has granted her a chance to say goodbye. "My darling daughter... I'm so proud of you." She rests a hand upon her mother's basking in her touch and doing everything she can to commit it to memory before this moment it gone. "Thank you mother, I promise to keep making you and Father proud." Robin smiles at once at at her daughter's words, her gentle caressing has come to a stop and Lucina can see that her mother is fading, her gaze is growing distant and the younger's tears flow quicker at the realization. "I know that you will, please don't cry Lucina.. you have saved the world.. your father and I will always be with you." She gives her a weak smile, one that Lucina tries to return as her hands now clutch the one Robin had previously held to her cheek- for she no longer holds the strength to keep it there. "I know you both will." Blue hues watch as Robin gives her one last smile before her gaze meets the sky, her own chocolate brown eyes too distant. "At last... I can rest..." The woman utters, a small sigh escaping her slips before her breathing returns to the ever growing faintness it was prior. "Chrom..." She says after doing so, a smile immediately forming upon her lips. "I see your father." Although Lucina's tears quicken once more at this she finds herself smiling, a certain peace filling her in knowing that her parents will now be at rest together after so long. "Go to him, I love you Mother."

And so Robin does, for right after Lucina utters those words the former tacticion breaths her last and her life fades away, if fate be kind to join her husband at long last in a well deserved peace.

Raising a hand lucina was wipes her tears with her glove before standing, fetching Falchion and wiping her Mother's blood away with a spare piece of cloth, which she promptly drops to the floor as she has no desire to carry anything that hold her Mother's blood in it's fibers, before sheathing it. She turns to face her allies, noting that they all stand awaiting her with concern in their eyes. "My father's body was found and is in Ylisstol, yes?" It's Gerome who takes a step forward and answers. "Yes." Lucina merely nodes to show her thanks, unable to find her voice for a moment. "You will be able to pick a new resting spot for him now that Grima is gone." Tiki speaks the words Lucina is only thinking after a moment of silence has passed amongst the party. "I'd like to have her buried beside him." She looks to her friends and this time Inigo is the one to speak, a gentle smile pressed to his lips as he does. "That sounds lovely."

She takes a moment, blue hues gazing out upon her kingdom. For the first time since she was a mere infant it lays at ease, peace finally settling upon the land, a peace that she prays will remain for a long, long time. "Thank you my friends," She starts before turning back to the others. "Peace is finally ours, and I hope that our parents can now rest at ease now that we have finished their battle, we must continue to dedicate our lives to protecting the new light that will arise upon Ylisse in the morning, but after so long our kingdom now holds a future."

For once, fate had been kind to them as that evening settled into dusk with promise of a better tomorrow.

Notes:

Some canon dialogue remains in this while some is edited and some is removed, the reason being is I felt as though the canon dialogue focused on Lucina ending the war by slaying Grima and my wish for this piece was for her focus to shift to Robin and away from canon at the conclusion of the Awakening Rite. After rewatching the future past DLC, and Lucina's conversation with Robin if you have them wait next to one another this came to mind and I couldn't help but write it. I also always imagined Robin getting to join Chrom once she passed after Grima was slain.

[thisnameistakenpleasetryanother]

Bear Necessities my Ass Prompt: Write about one of your characters most embarrassing moments

           A soft clinking sound fills the silent library as an eight year old Leone looks up at Aelor from where she had face planted on the table. “So what happen?” Leone just groans as she begins to sip at the tea. “Where to even begin. That butt Aenys got me in trouble. I’ve never been so humiliated.” A soft chuckle leave Aelor as they set down their book. “What did she do this time?”

                                              ONE HOUR LATER

         Leone looks horrified at Aenys. “Aenys. Just. No.” Aenys decides to ignore Leone as she reaches her hand into the bucket and then slap it across Leones cheeks, leaving behind red streaks. “Come on cousin. It took me forever to convince the cooks to let me have this. Can’t let it go to waste now can we?” With a disgusted shudder Leone glares at Aenys. “Why can’t you be the one smeared in animal blood?” A grin and a shrug were her only answer. After having the stuff rubbed on her arms and legs Aenys tugged her to the edge of the forest. “Alright. Now I swear this thing is out there. All we have to do is lure it out. And that dear cousin is where you come in.” Leone shuffles her feet nervously. “I don’t know. Lord Darklyn told me that some visiting dignitaries would come today. And he’ll finally introduce me as his ward to them. I think I should be getting ready for that instead of hunting down some “Magical disappearing, fifty foot tall bear that mocks you at night.” Aenys just glares at Leone with a pout. “But if you don’t help me I’ll have to do it by myself. And knowing my luck I’ll end up getting eaten. And didn’t father say one of your jobs was to protect me?” Leone covers her face with her palms while she lets out a pained groan. “Fine. No need to pull out the responsibility card you brat.” Before she could see Aenys reply Leone sprints into the woods, only able to hear Aenys shout after her. “Lure him into the courtyard!”

          After around forty five minutes of running around Leone plops down on a large smooth rock with a huff as they try to catch their breath. ‘Stupid Aenys and her stupid plans. I just wanted to read and enjoy tea with Aelor to help calm my nerves before Lord Darklyn needed me. but noooooo. She just has to have that stupid bear.’ Leone’s internal musings were interrupted by a loud rustling sound coming from behind her. Jumping to her feet Leone unsheathes her short sword as she spins around to see.....fur? Craning her head up Leone feels the blood drain from her face as the large square face of the bear stares down at her with its black beady eyes. At this point Leones body became numb and unresponsive, effectively rooted in spot. The only think running through her brain being. ‘I should probably run.’ The bear rears up its head and lets out a ear splinting roar breaking Leone out of her trance as her knees buckle. Frantically scrambling backwards till her back hits a tree. Leone finally scrambles to her feet as the bear begins to lurch jolt towards her. Without looking back Leone runs back towards the manor as fast as her feet can carry her. 

          However it only takes the bear a couple seconds to catch up to her as it lifts a paw as swipes at her. Leone quickly rolls to the side feels the claws brush her left ear searing behind a stinging pain. Leone only gets in a short sigh of relief till she feels her stomach rise up to her throat as momentum from the roll leads her to falling down a small muddy ravine. Curling up in a ball till she tumbled down to the bottom Leone stumbled up to her feet while rubbing the back of her head with a pained wince. Looking up at the twenty five foot drop to see the bear staring at her at the top, just ....waiting. Leone lets out a deep breath as she slumps against the wall for a minute trying to catch her breath. After her breaths came out at regular intervals and her heart stopped jack hammering out of her chest she glances back up to see the bear sitting down and watching her, no doubt waiting for its dinner to crawl out of the hole It found itself in. Face palming Leone stood up straight and gave herself a once over to see if she was hurt anywhere. Other then the small cut on her ear nothing seemed out of order, so she followed the ravine thankful that it at least went in the general direction that the manor was located in. 

        After walking for what seemed like forever with constant glances up only to see that the bear was indeed still following her. Leone start to feel tears well in her eyes as her brain was finally processing the situation she was in. She was too far away from the Den for anyone to hear her cries for help. She was way to slow to outrun a bear. And she is trapped like a mouse with nowhere to go. Leone’s shoulders begin to shake as she tries to hold in a sob. Only stopping when she sees is greeted by a steep wall of rock indicating the end of the ravine. Slumping to her knees Leone curls in on herself as she realizes that there is no way out. Staring up at the Bear that waits expectantly at the top of the ravine. faithfully following her like her own shadow. Taking a deep breath Leone sits down crossed leg as she thinks to herself. ‘Alright Leone, you have to get out of here, but you need to get rid of the Bear first, or at least distract him. You’re safe here for now, that damn thing knows it’s not worth trapping itself down here when it can just wait for me to climb up to him. You have all the time you need so think you idiot think.’

       After a few minutes of internal debate Leone feels a smirk begin to form on her lips. Reaching to her waist she takes off the pouch that she always has on person. Rummaging through the many items she shoved in there she pulled out a small ball she liked to throw at the wall when bored, a bundle of twine, some gun powered that she took from one of the guards bullets planning to try to make a firework with it, and lastly some matches. Leone sets them all down in front of her as she takes out her dagger that she had strapped to her left boot and sawed the ball in half, then cut a little hole on the top of one of the halves. Cutting off a piece of twine she shoved it down the hole she had just made till only half of it stuck out.Grabbing the tube of gun powder she carefully poured it into one of the ball’s halves making sure not it get any on her hands. Once it was filled she places the other half on top of it. Holding it down as she tied the twine around it multiple times till was secured. Giving it an experimental shake she nodded in satisfaction when neither halves budged from the other.

       Walking up to the rock wall Leone began to scale it, till she was about six or seven feet away from the top. Clinging to the wall as she lets go with her left hand she reached up to her ear where she had placed the match. Striking it against the wall she brought it up to her mouth where she was holding her make shift bomb. When the twine finally caught fire she threw the match behind her and grabbed the ball and waited for the fire to almost enter the ball. When it finally did she looked up to her left where the Bear was licking its chops in anticipation of its prey finally crawling its way up to it. Chucking the ball at the Bear she began to climb frantically. Not five seconds later did she hear a little boom and an angry roar as she hoisted herself over the ravines edge. Glancing to her left to see the Bear rub its face in the dirt. Not wanting to waste a single second Leone began sprinting forward where she knew a deep river surrounded by trees was. 

      As she heard the familiar sounds of water rushing over rocks she quickly pushed her way past the bushes revealing the river. Hearing the Bear crash through the shrubbery not far behind her, she scaled a large tree resting on the rivers bank. Balancing herself on a thin branch she took a deep breath as she began to speed walk across it above the river. reaching the end of the branch she hung down from it and dropped into the edge of the river and wadded to the shore where she stole a quick look back. The sight of the Bear just now entering the river and being forced to swim across it slowing it down and buying her valuable time gave her a burst of confidence as she ran that last mile towards the manor.

      Even though her lungs felt like they were on fire and her legs feeling like jelly, a huge surge of relief washed over as she finally entered the Fox’s Den courtyard. Putting the last of her energy into a sprint towards the door she faltered as she saw Aenys waiting by a tree holding onto two of the hunting dogs collars. Just as she opened her mouth to shout out a warning she something snag around her ankles as she ran under a tree and saw the world spin upside down. She stares at Aenys in shock as she felt herself swing back and forth from where she was being suspended in air by a rope wrapped around her ankle and tied to the tree. ‘ THAT IDIOT!’ was the only thing going through her head before her thoughts fell mute as she heard a loud crashing come from behind her. Waving her arms around to turn herself she felt her heart stop for a moment as she saw the Bear barreling towards her. She covered her face with her arms and closed her eyes just as the bear reached her and raised itself on its hind legs.

        Only for nothing to happen to her. Risking a peek she felt her eyes widen as she saw one of the hunting dogs biting down on the Bears neck. Not a second later a second on joined in and latched onto its leg. Staring in shock as multiple hounds surround the Bear and begin biting at it. Leone just watches shaking like a leaf till the bear eventually retreats back into the forest. Seeing Aenys out of the corner of her eye preparing to cut down Leone only to stop and stare to her right. Waving her arms again to see what Aenys was looking at she felt heat flood her cheeks as she sees a lady dressed in the finest silks and fur hide a gasp and chuckle behind her hand. The other one linked around a mans arms. He too dressed to an expensive tuxedo and staring her down in distaste. All being led by Lord Darklyn who just gave her a disappointed frown. Feeling shame overwhelm her. Along with the fear and panic from the chase with the Bear, Leone could do nothing as the tears finally poured down to the ground, only increasing the shame and embarrassment she felt.

      Aenys finally stepped forward and cut the rope holding her up and Leone fell to the ground with an “oof.” Leone glared at the ground as she thought to herself “What a picture you must paint Leone. Covered in mud and blood. No doubt covered in scrapes and leaves. Your hair must be a mess, your bun probably looks more like a rats nest now. And now you are crying your eyes out. Lord Darklyn must think so little of you now. Not to mention the dignitaries. Of all the times...’ Her inner self depreciation being interrupted by Lord Darklyn’s low and cold tone. “What is this?” Leone shot her head up to look at him. “T-T-There was a B-bear. And it chased me T-through the woods.” The only response from the Lord was a deep sigh as he looked his niece up and down. “Leone go find Lady Starwhisper, she’ll clean you up. Don’t bother joining us in the parlor.” The lady standing behind the Lord piped up with an amused expression on her face. “Oh so this is the Starfield that you told us you made into your ward. My I will remember this meeting. I must say this dear knows how to make a.....lasting first impression.” Lord Darklyn just shakes his head as he motions the guests forward not sparing another glance at the children.

       Waiting for the adults to be out of ear shot Aenys crouches down in front of Leone offering her hand. “Are you alright Leone?” Leone just stared at the hand before snarling at Aenys and slapping it away and jumping to her feet. Aenys stares at Leone as she got up. “What the hell is wrong with you Leone?” Leone just glares at Aenys feeling her fists ball up and shake in anger as she swallows the words she wants to shout at her. ‘IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT YOU IDIOT!’ ran through her head as she ran away from Aenys into the Den.

                                                 PRESENT TIME

           “And after that I found the old hag Starwhisper, she cleaned me up and gave me a good tongue lashing. Then I came here, that’s pretty much the end of it.” Leone sets down her now empty tea cup as she felt her eyes burn with teats again from re telling the tale. Aelor just shook his head as he scooted over and wrapped his arms around Leone in a hug. “I’m just glad you weren’t eaten. Who would I enjoy tea time with if that  happened.” A short chuckle escaped Leone as she returned the hug and buried her face in Aelor’s shoulder. After awhile she pulled back and poured herself another cup of tea. “How am I suppose to look at Lord Darklyn in the face at dinner tonight?” Aelor just shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge when it comes. For now why not just sit here and read with me?” Leone gives as small sniffle as she takes the offered book from Aelor. “I’d like that.”

[love-cutter]

BEST MAN SOUGO 03

<< Previous Chapter | Fanfic Index | Wattpad | Next Chapter >>

[[03 - The Straight Man]]

Even though the files were of no help to Sougo, he kept his promise. He bought the longest, most expensive brand of dark chocolate he could find for Kyuubei, but he never bothered with the receptionist again. He didn't even notice Kyuubei's disappointed face when she looked inside the bag that he handed over.

Instead, he turned his attention to the hospital staff. He was certain one of the gossiping nurses in the hallway knew about Kuraba's whereabouts. As he was waiting for the right time to intrude in their circle, one of the five nurses turned her head towards his direction. She had a head of lavender hair and wore red glasses that stood out on her face.

"Someone there, Sa-chan?" The blonde haired nurse with a long scar across her left eye followed her line of vision.

Sougo had just hid from their view behind the corner of corridor. He wasn't sure why but he felt that those two nurses would be troublesome.  

"I thought I saw that girly-looking janitor, Tsuki. Even though, he smelled like one of my kind, it turns out he's a bit on the shy side."

Sougo couldn't swallow his pride. His Do-S pride, that is.

"Well, well, well. Look at what we have here." Sougo explicitly eyed the two lasciviously. "I see a bunch of kittens I can play with."

"Hmph." Sa-chan snorted through her nose after eyeing the man up and down. "I think you're too young to be playing with the big girls. Come back in ten years when you grow hair down there."

"Really? Why don't I show how you how big my-"

"Ahem." A man's voice cut in. "Sarutobi, I need the chart on the recently admitted patient, Kuraba Touma."

"Yes, Dr. Sakata." She walked towards him eagerly with the chart in hand. "Would you also like me as a side dish?"

"No thanks. You're a bit too young to be playing with the big boys. Come back in ten years." He mocked her.

"Ah. You were listening to me! Were you jealous, Gin-chan? You know you're the only one for me. I can't possibly go for anyone else..."

The silver-haired doctor shook his head and shut out her voice. No matter how many times he rejected her, she kept trying to cling onto him. Why couldn't she a bit more mild-mannered? Take that Tsukuyo beside her. She never gives him such a big headache except for that one time that he'd been awake for 36 hours and tried to find a pillow in the dark break room. He had accidentally grabbed her soft chest and tried to fluff it up like a pillow, only to be severely struck with multiple scalpels. He couldn't quite look her in the eye after that incident.

"Umm. I-I have to check on a Room 32's patient. See you later, Sa-chan." Tsukuyo left in a haste, with reddened ears.

Sarutobi didn't bother saying goodbye. When her idol was in front of her, no one else mattered. Frankly, she loses all of her senses and converts everyone into a rival in her eyes. The other nurses also left, not wanting to bother Sarutobi's moment with her "beloved Gin-chan".  

Dr. Sakata ignored Sarutobi and read the ID on the janitor's uniform.

"I don't think I've seen you here before." Dr. Sakata commented.

"I was just hired last week." Sougo explained, eyeing the chart in his hands.

Sarutobi sees Sougo staring at her beloved Gin-chan's kintama and blocks his view by spreading her arms wide open as she stood in between them.

"Gin-chan's mine. You might have long, silkier hair than me, but Gin-chan doesn't go for men." Sarutobi declared.

"Actually, Sarutobi, I think it's time I come out of the closet." Dr. Sakata walked up to Sougo and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

"NOOOOOO!!!!" Sarutobi shrieked. "Even if you like men, I'd still like you. I can be your mistress. Your footstool. Anything you want."

Dr. Sakata sighed. He didn't think this idea would fail so miserably. How was he gonna get rid of her now?

"Sarutobi Ayame, please come to the office." A gentle voice belonging to an emerald green robotic maid sounded throughout the speakers. "I repeat, Sarutobi Ayame, please come to the office. The director wants to speak with you."

"Tch." Sarutobi wanted to protest, but the director had the power to fire her. It was probably best that she went to her office.

"Bye Gin-chan. We won't be apart for long." A few tears dropped dramatically from her eyes as she ran away like an actress from daytime television.

"Ah, saved by baa-san, again." Dr. Sakata breathed out. "Sorry bout that. I'm actually straight so let's pretend this incident never happened, 'kay?"

Sougo nodded and Dr. Sakata walked away. Sougo planned on trailing after him to locate Kuraba's room when the doctor abruptly turned his head.

"You are straight, right, Sofa-kun?"

Sougo grew visibly irked. A large vein popped up on his forehead. Was it the hair that made him look like a girl?

"I've never been more straight in my life. Are you sure it's the patients that need the CT scans and not you, Doc?"

Dr. Sakata smirked and started to walk away again.

I really need to cut my hair.

+++

Up Next: The Call

+++

A/N: I couldn't resist torturing Sougo. Hehe. It's too fun. This is easier than I initially thought. Daily updates might be possible, who knows?

<< Previous Chapter | Fanfic Index | Wattpad | Next Chapter >>

[victorluvsalice]

AU Thursday: Londerland Bloodlines -- More Than Blood

More fic for you as I take a crack at figuring out the whole Londerland Bloodlines timeline/quest results thing (the wiki claims this whole game takes place over 11 nights?! Yeah, noooooo). This snippet takes place between the retrieval of the sarcophagus from the Giovanni and Victor's nightmare that leads to Alice trying to get everyone out of L.A. before she's sent up against the Sabbat by LaCroix. Everyone's settled into a routine now that Lizzie, Emily, and Bonejangles/Sam are free of the Giovanni -- Lizzie and Sam are cautiously trying out this "relationship" thing, and Emily has officially joined the group of "people Victor is allowed to date without it being called cheating." Surrounded by various forms of loved ones, Alice is happier than she's been in quite a long time. . .

At least, while she's not thinking about how, eventually, Victor and Victoria are going to grow old and die. Yeah, the problem with being happy is, she wants things to stay happy forever. . .and that means wanting Victor (and Victoria, and Emily, but -- one thing at a time) to stay with her forever. And since she won't Embrace him, that means the blood bond. . .but obviously she's not exactly keen on that either. So she goes to someone whom she's been previously told she can trust, and who might have a better view on the whole subject that she does. . .

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

"So, what brings you to mine if you ain't looking for the goods?"

Alice perched herself on the arm of the couch, idly twisting her hands into knots (and trying to ignore the faint scent of blood clinging to the fabric – surely that should have gone by now!). "I – I have it on some authority that I can trust you," she said, remembering Rosa and her beach riddles ("The man on the couch for sure. . ."). "And the nature of my question means I can't quiz just anyone. I don't want to ask the other vampires – the ones who haven't already made their opinions known, anyway. They've got a different view of the whole mess. And Knox – he's nice enough, but he's got stars in his eyes about his particular situation. Can't see a single bad thing about it. And he and Bertram tried to play me once, so. . ." She shrugged, looking up at Mercurio. "You, I might be able to coax a straight answer out of."

Mercurio raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Guessin' this is about you and Victor, then?"

Alice nodded. "Our relationship, as it stands." She tipped her head back, staring at the ceiling. "You know that I'm trying to break him of his bond to me. Send him back to a normal life."

"Yeah, I heard. Victor ain't exactly happy about it."

"I'm aware." Alice sucked in a breath out of old habits. "And I don't – I don't particularly want him to go. He – he's so sweet, and kind, and creative. . ." Her fingers tightened on her jeans. "But that's why he has to go. I can't condemn him to follow me around like a puppy the rest of his days. He deserves to go back to being an ordinary human. To forget this awful world of eternal night and manipulative monsters  exists. To have the veil raised once more so he can go off and fall in love and get married and raise a family and – and g-grow old and. . .and. . ."

Her voice cracked, failing her. She wiped desperately at her eyes, well aware she probably looked hysterical (in multiple senses – ugh, why was it she cried blood?!) but unable to stop herself. Damn it, why did she always let her emotions run away with her like this? Why couldn't she look at this with the same cold logic that bastard Strauss might? It was right to let him go! To encourage him to head off with Victoria (and probably Emily too, at this point, though sending off either of the girls made her insides knot up too – argh, Alice, one relationship issue at a time!) and enjoy those sunny days she no longer could! To have the mortal life she'd been denied! She had Lizzie now – she could give him up!

"Could you?" the Queen whispered, a tentacle curling around Alice's shoulders. "Could you stand to rise in the evenings and not see his smile? Could you come home to your haven and not miss his warmth on your couch? Could you watch him go and know that, one day, he won't walk this earth anymore? That you are sending him, slowly but surely, to his death?" Her voice softened, became desperate. "My king is gone – don't throw away yours!"

"Hey. Hey." Mercurio leaned over her, biting his lip as he pressed a handkerchief into her hand. "Relax, okay? Come on. I don't do well with crying ladies."

"Neither do I," Alice choked out, sitting up straight. She scrubbed the blood off her cheeks, struggling to master herself. "I just – I know it's the right thing. I know I shouldn't keep him. But then I look at him, and I see him lying in a hospital bed, old and decrepit, struggling for every breath. . .all alone again, just like I found him, only this time he's not getting any reprieve. . ." She pressed her face into the cloth, shaking her head. "He's made this dark parody of an existence so much brighter and warmer, brought so much good into my life, and I don't want to lose him. But I – I can't make myself Embrace him, because – how can I say I love him and yet take the sun away from him? Not to mention LaCroix would turn us both to dust in a heartbeat. . .and if I – I feed his addiction, give in and keep him as my ghoul. . ." She squeezed the bridge of her nose. "Back in England, I was under the care of a man who twisted my mind and memories in an attempt to make me his perfect doll. He thought nothing of destroying the wills of others – of children – in the name of making a profit. He came dangerously close to destroying me and all I am. And now I'm at the mercy of a prince who can force me to obey his commands with a mere glance. My thoughts no longer my own unless I jump when he says to jump. So when Bertram told me what vampire blood does to a person. . ." She let her head flop onto her chest. "Victor says he loves me. But is that the truth, or just my lingering vitae pulling words from his mouth? And if I give him more – bond him for good – don't I destroy everything he is? Replace him with something who will worship my veins, but never really care for me?" A tear trickled down her cheek. "Will I love just a – a puppet, and not the man?"

There was a long and exceedingly awkward silence. "Shit," Mercurio said at last. "You really ain't like other vampires."

Alice's lips twitched upward. "I'll take that as a compliment." She wiped up the tear and licked it off her finger, before patting her face clean. "So – yes. I need your opinion, as a long-time ghoul. Wonderland actually suggested I come to you, in fact. 'The fleet-footed god shall speak the truths you seek,' as Cheshire put it."

Mercurio snorted. "Cheshire's kind of flowery, ain't he?"

"Oh, that's not even him at his worst. . ." She sighed, then looked Mercurio straight in the eye. "I'm open to any advice you can give me. Do your worst."

"Right." Mercurio stepped back. "You want my advice? You take that boy and you make him yours." He held up a finger, forestalling any argument. "And I'll tell you why – 'cause first off, no, he ain't saying he loves you just 'cause he got a taste of your veins. You know how I know this?" He pointed at her. "'Cause I've been blood-bonded to LaCroix for years now – and I still think he's a prissy little bitch. Would do anything for him – loyalty's written in blood – but damn he can be an asshole."

Alice blinked. Blinked again. He – she glanced at Cheshire, who simply grinned back at her, as smug as he'd ever been (and that was very smug). "I – from what Bertram said–"

"Oh, the Nossie wasn't lying," Mercurio cut in. "I ain't saying my free will ain't taken a beating. I love that prissy little bitch. Wouldn't raise a hand against him. He gives me orders, I jump through hoops to get 'em done. That Astrolite thing you saved my ass on? Part of me didn't want him to find out just because I knew he'd be disappointed, and that tore me up inside worse than those fuckers up at the cabin did. I'd do anything to keep in his good books and keep getting my monthly supply." He held up his point-making finger. "But I got no illusions about the guy either. I'm all for the Camarilla, but I get why the Anarchs ain't if he's what they see of it. He's stuck-up, snotty, and will do whatever it takes to get more power, Masquerade and elders and all that be damned. And I know I've only got a good thing going with him as long as I'm useful. Minute I fuck up and he hears about it – that gorilla of his is gonna make sure I never fuck up again. And shit, the speeches. . ." Mercurio almost rolled his eyes right out of his head. "I'll put up with whatever he dishes out to get my blood, but I'm really glad he's got me posted out here instead of living in his bloody tower."

"There are reasons I still pay Trip to keep my haven here unoccupied," Alice agreed, chewing her lower lip. "So. . .you're bonded to him. . .but you don't like him?"

"Basically," Mercurio nodded. "Like I said, I'll do whatever he asks while he's still supplying me. If that ever dries up though. . .well, it'll hurt, I'll bitch and moan about it, but I think I could push through and get myself a new backer. Strauss probably wouldn't mind having a guy who was useful. It's all about getting that next fix." He tapped his fingers against his leg. "Your Victor, though? It's more than that. You gave him elder blood – the good stuff – and he said that he preferred yours. He shouldn't be that picky on one drink. I mean, yeah, maybe you got super-duper addictive blood. . .but from Fish?" He scoffed. "Yeah, doubt that. And that ain't even getting into how he'll go on and on about you if you let him. And it's not your blood he's talking about – it's your smile, or your eyes, or your sense of humor. It's you. He loves you."

Alice's undead heart fluttered, recalling soft looks and shy smiles across the couch. "You're certain?"

"I've been around the block a few times now – you see me getting that moony over LaCroix?" Mercurio retorted, smirking. "Hell, even Knox don't get like that, and he's all about his 'nasty dude.' What he feels for you is real, Alice. If you go the full three drinks, he ain't gonna act any different."

Alice couldn't help a frown. "You don't know that for sure."

"Maybe not, but I think I can take a pretty solid guess," Mercurio retorted. "And, if the mushy stuff ain't gonna convince ya, let me remind ya – your boy? Son of one of the richest guys in the world. Heir to a cannery empire worth billions. You don't want him? Another vampire will. And they ain't gonna care about him being sweet and kind and all that. They're just gonna see the dollar signs."

A brief, vivid image of Victor standing by LaCroix, blank-eyed and stiff, shot through Alice's brain. "Pound signs, technically," she said to distract herself from the rush of horror.

"Whichever – that'll be all they want. A Ventrue might want the business, a Toreador rich arm candy, a Nosferatu a laugh as they drain the bank accounts. . .they'll use him up and then throw him on the side of the road. Like I said, you're weird for a vampire. Most of them don't give a shit about how ghouls feel." He gave her a significant look. "Much less go head over heels for one."

"I gathered," Alice said, now trying to ignore the flowers blooming all over the walls of the apartment. Cheshire leaned up against her, purring – she resisted the dual urges to either push him away or scratch him behind the ears. "Thank you, Mercurio."

"No problem – you covered my ass for LaCroix, I can stop you being all stupid noble and lettin' your dream boy go," Mercurio replied, cracking a smile. "Besides, look at it from his point of view. Who wants to go back to being just plain old human after you've got a taste of the good stuff? I know I don't."

"To be fair, in your case, that might just be simple vanity," Alice teased, smirking. "You did mention before that you were getting into your sixties."

"Hey – which one of us was the one complainin' they didn't want their ghoul to get old?"

Alice snickered. "Okay, fair enough." She slipped her hand into her pocket. "All right – now that we've gotten that out of the way, I suppose I should pick up some more ammo while I'm here. Do you have any for the McLusky hanging around?"

"Now we're back in business." Mercurio clapped his hands. "Yes I do – and hey, you're gonna want a look at this beauty I snagged the other night. . ."

[napalmmanexe]

Fits of Random 9.5

Narrator: Another day. Another cold wintery day. Another cold, wintery, lousy, gloomy, overcast, yucky, poopy....

Matt: ( In his room, lying on his bed with his laptop ) We get it! >3 Today's weather stinks! ( Playing a game ) I gotta do something else....( Starts watching an abridged anime, stops part way ) I don't wanna do that either...( Opens his BIOS coding program ).....I can't concentrate. Why can't I do something productive?? XC ( Flailing his arms )

Rahbie: ( Walks into Matt's room ) A lot of people have been restless. ^_^; The weather keeps everyone indoors, so people are getting bored easily.

Matt: I don't feel like doing....Anything. 8C Nothing at all.

Rahbie: Well, there's one thing...:3 ( Giving him a sly grin, posing lewdly )

Matt: Its not that I don't appreciate the offer, but I'm not doing that kind of content anymore.

Rahbie: But our love making is always so good. <83

Matt: It is, but not every written or drawn piece that tells a story has to have sex in it in order to be good. I want to focus on work that draws people in for adventure, drama, and humor.

Rahbie: Oh good for you master. ^_^ ( Sitting with him ) You think people will go for it?

Matt: I'm not feeding the internet its junk food anymore. I make good quality work as best as I can. |3

Rahbie: Funny, the way you talk; it sounds as if you expect someone to hear it. ^-^

Matt: Very very true. ^-^

Matt and Rahbie: ( Both of them staring at whoever reads this ) PG only folks. :3

( The scene changes to the title screen with Neko fairies swarming all over it )

Neko Fairies: Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 83c ( Covering the opening scene with confetti and silly faces drawn  with crayon )

( A static scene change shows Shift training in the household dojo, practicing his Metamorph skill set )

Shift: Shape Shift!! ( Trying to think of something )

Azure: ( Behind Shift, whispering ) A Life Sized Glow in Dark Teddy Bear! :3

Shift: A Life Sized Glow In the Dark Teddy Bear...wut? |3 ( Changes into the exact thing ) Whhhhuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaat? <83 OOoffff!!!

Azure: ( Tackle hugs Shift at full speed ) Nyeeeoooooooooooooh! X3c

Shift: Oh bother....<:3 ( Getting adorably huggled by Azure )

( Scene changes to....Scene changes to...?? )

Narrator: Where's the next skit?

Matt: Next skit? /3

Rahbie: Master don't we have something for the next scene? <:3

Matt: ( Back to being dispondent and playing a video game ) Don't ask me, I don't know. |3

Napalm: ( Still in the form of a life sized glow in the dark teddy bear ) Buddy, what happened to that schedule from the previous episode?

Azure: ( Huggling Napalm, clinging to his back. Nuzzling and purring ) Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. X3c

Matt: Schedule? ( Trying to think )

Rahbie: Master you promised...( Showing him video footage of the last Fits of Random )

Matt: Oh yeah...that....( Looking at them with a blank stare ) ....( Goes back to his game )

Rahbie: Alright you've left us little choice, master. ( Sounding stern )

Matt: Do any of you work my job?

Napalm and Rahbie: ...No? O_o

Matt: Good, matter settled. That job has done nothing but bring grief, stress, and it eats a person's soul from the inside. If I could I'd flatten the place....

Napalm: Robot Masters already tried that.

Matt: What? ( Blinking, somewhat surprised )

Azure: Nyan, because its fourth wall related all that happened was... :3

( The sound of humorous piano key banging signaled a cutaway scene with Bass and the other Robot Masters standing on a ship on the east coast of the States )

GutsMan: Throw a Rock at it!! ( Stomps his foot and gets a random boulder. Tossing it at the shore )

Boulder: ( Reaches the shore line and vanishes with a poof-fart effect ) Frrtt!~

GutsMan: Well....shucks!

( The scene ends with the piano banging effect played in reverse )

Napalm: What we're getting at is your job is turning into a bad excuse and the video games are turning into a distraction.

Matt: And what're you all gonna do? F3 Hijack the episode? ( Turns his head. Within seconds gets jumped on ) Gah! What the heck?? D:

Mayreen: ( In a tight fitting police girl outfit ) Keep your arms and legs spread out where I can see them. Anything you say will be used against you by the cord of this game controller. >3

Matt: Kitten this is unecessarriiiiiiiiie where are we going? <83 ( Being carried off, hands held together by zip ties. Flung over Mayreen's shoulder )

Mayreen: To Adventure! >83

Azure: And a half decent plot. :3 Cue the goofy cutaway effects!

( The scene changes to the group standing at the entrence of the Alpha ruins where all the aggressive monsters and things spawned from )

Matt: A treasure dig against the island's baddies?

Napalm: Nope, we're inspecting a thing. ( Now back to normal ) Someone turned something loose and its been stealing trinkets from the citizens.

Azure: And we know who it is. :3

Matt: Not much of an inspection if we already know who the perp is. |3

Mayreen: We needed your mental powers to get answers from the perps. Trust me you'll know why when you see them. ^-^

Matt: ( Watches as Napalm pulls out Saya and Sheath. The two top agents from Ouma. Both of them hand cuffed ) Yep I see why you need me. O_o

Sheath: Is bright boy desu. :3

Saya: You want to know what we turned loose? ^-^ ( Calmly smiling ) We'll never tell.

Sheath: The lips of bunny desu are of sealed and shut. :3

Matt: Ya don't say? XD ( Placing a hand on each of their heads, starts getting into their memories )

( All Matt saw in Saya's head was a blank fog. Sheath's was a jumble of awful American and Japanese words, with every other  second a desu went off with a chibi form of Sheath running around carefree and acting adorable and hilarious. )

Matt: That....didn't get us far guys and gals. O_o

Rahbie: But that always works. D:

Matt: Saya is so deeply Zenned I can't get through. Sheath is a coloring book of botched American and Japanese words. o_o

Saya: Hmmmhmhmhm. ^-^ You will have to get us to talk another way. ;3

Sheath: Hmmhmmhmhmhmm desu desu. ;3

Matt:....I said I'm keeping it PG. >3 And I'm sticking by it.

Saya: Well I...( Looks behind her ) Excuse me but where are my weapons? ^-^

Sheath: Sheath's banger and slicer desu is also of not being the here. :3

Napalm: ( Looks where he put their gear ) I could have sworn I put them right here. O_o ( Sees the shadow of something big, with feathers, and had Saya and Sheath's weapons in its beak )

Mayreen: Its....a huge crow....o_o

Saya: Oh....Oh my thats our little project we turned loose. ^-^

Matt: You freed a giant crow to do what with it? F3

Sheath: Fun and giggles. :3 And is not a corn field crow of crowing.

???: ( Lets out a terrible scream ) SkEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiich!!!

Mayreen and Azure: Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa our ears!!! <XC

Napalm: What? I can't hear! >3 ( Both ears bleeding )

Matt: That....is ....not a crow. O_O

Saya: Its a Shrieker. ^-^

Rahbie: The same Shrieker that  terrorizes towns and steals shiny things and is super dangerous to take on? O_o

Sheath: ( Nodding her head yes, making a rattling noise ) Yup yup yup yup. ^w^

Saya: You see, there is a place hidden deep. I'd say...at least 20 levels down. Its a gateway to madness and the creepiest creatures you ever saw. I even had to leave because the madness was just a bit too much. ^-^

Sheath: Sheath was hearing bad voices desu. <:3

Matt: Well....who's up for a tough boss fight? >3

Napalm, Rahbie, Mayreen, and Azure: You bet! >83

Saya: We can tell you where its nesting....if you turn us loose. ^-^

Napalm: On a tree near the Tree of Life in Mon Bush? XD

Saya:.....Why yes. ^-^ But there's still one thing we know and we won't tell you unless you let us go.

Matt: Hits like a truck, cries do damage to people's sanity, doesn't stay long once aggravated? XD

Saya: Now you're just taking the fun out of it. <:3 ( Pouting )

Sheath: Oh but the other thing....:3

Saya: Sheath, shush. ^-^

Matt: What other thing? O_o ( Looking at Sheath )

Sheath: Desu thing. Saya do remembering? :3

Saya: Sheath I'm going to punish you if you bring it up again. ^-^

Sheath: No! <83 Desu Saya said to be having Desu Sheath remind desu!

Mayreen: Yes Sheath, what is the thing? ^-^

Sheath: No telling non desu's! >3 Oh shoot! <83 Sheath wasn't being whispery much.

Saya: I'm going really teach you a lesson later, Sheath.....

Sheath: But hurts and ouchies....<:3

Saya: Say one more word and your behind will be so red it will glow in the dark. Now, shut it. ^-^

Rahbie: Now thats just mean. |3

Saya: You don't run my rail road darling. ^-^

Napalm: I got an idea....how about we string Saya up with a bunch of trinkets and when the Shrieker comes by it'll pick her apart?

Saya:....I wouldn't. ^-^

Matt: No no we can punish them both later for their antics. We have a Shrieker to hunt and some kind of thing to deal with....right Sheath? :3

Sheath:...No punish....be nice desu? <:3

Narrator: Back at the Boarding House where our heroes threw on their gear and happily skipped tralala to the Shrieker's nest!~

Shift: Dude are you on something? |3

Narrator: Who me? Noooooo of course not! ( Whispering to someone ) Behind my booth, tonight. I'm low and I....

Shift: ( Glaring at the Narrator ) >3

Narrator: Crap they can hear me!! ( Footsteps heard running out of the booth and down a bunch of stairs )

Shift: I'll deal with him later. ( Flying along on his energy disc while Rahbie provided a magic carpet for Matt, Mayreen, Saya, and Sheath )

Saya: Darlings, why are we going along?

Mayreen: You turned that creepy thing loose, you're helping us take it out.

Sheath: Desu bird likes dodge. :3

Rahbie: ....Honey you need to work on your English. That made no sense. <_<

Sheath: Dodgy dodgy desu. :3 Sheath telling the important stuff! <:3

Matt: She means its very agile so landing a hit on it might prove challenging. ( Looks ahead ) There's the nest and the bird is home. Everyone ready?

Saya: ( She and Sheath having some spare weapons from the house armory ) Not my favorite gear but it will do. ^-^

Mayreen: ( Also has her merc armor on ) I'm ready Matty. ^w^

Rahbie: I'll provide support if anything goes wrong. ^-^

Myffle: ( On Shift's right shoulder ) And I'll do my usual cute neko fairy stuff! :3c

Shift: Good girl ! :D Lets go! >3

French Narrator: Zey all landed on a large branch nearest zee nest.

Sheath: Desu Narrator of Sponges and Bobs? /:3

French Narrator: First one got busted for zee drugs. I am how you say, one out of many.

Saya: That booth must be busy. ^-^

Shrieker: Skeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! ( Landing in front of the nest )

Rahbie: That's way too many eyes for a bird! <8C

Matt: There's all the trinkets in the nest! ( Pointing )

Mayreen: And a lot of dead bodies too. <:3

Shift: Hit it and hit it hard! >3 ( Summons his lazer light bo staff, running at top speed, swinging and missing ) Someone follow up! >3

Mayreen: I got it! >3 ( Throwing six flash bangs from under her trench coat )

Shrieker: SKiIIIiiiiieeeeee??!! ( Wings flailing and flapping )

Matt: ( Using pure BIOS energy to grab and strike at the bird ) Man this thing has got some muscle on it! >3

Shift, Saya, Sheath: ( All of them slashing and stabbing it ) Hyaaaaaaaaah! >3

Mayreen: ( Shooting at the bird's head when she got a clean shot, using her sniper rifle ) Grrrrrr, this isn't doing enough damage! >3

Rahbie: Watch out!! D: ( Watching the Shrieker puff up )

Shrieker: Skaaaaaaaaaaw skaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw skaaaaaaaaaaw!!

Matt, Shift, Mayreen, Rahbie, Saya, Sheath, Myffle: ( All of them holding their ears in pain ) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrgghh!! XC

Shrieker: ( Lifting off and performs a dive at the group, its super sharp beak gleaming as it rocketed at them )

Shift: S-shape Shift....!! ( Trying to concentrate )

Azure: ( Suddenly shows up ) Hai sorry got distracted by candy! <:3 Nyan thats a big bird. And its headed for my Nappy?! >3 ( Using her Speed Skill Set to get near the shrieker and grabbing its beak with her claws ) You're going THIS way! >83 ( Using leverage and speed to force the Shrieker off its path and into a thick branch of the tree )

Shift: Azure, where have you been?? D:

Myffle: I smell candy. :3

Azure: Sorry hope I didn't miss too much. <:3c

Shift: Honey your timing is perfect. :D Now...lets hit this sucker with something....splodey. >:)

Mayreen: I second that idea! >:3 ( Tossing some C4 on the Shrieker's bum )

Shift: Shape Shift Crash Man! ( Changes to the robot master Crash Man, fires numerous Crash Bombs, latching onto the birds bum )

Saya and Sheath: ( Quickly tying grenades to the monster's feathers ) Count us in. :D

Matt: ( Pulls out his Modded 3DS, summons a rocket launcher ) Everyone clear!

French Narrator: Meanwhile.~

Nappa: ( At the boarding house, has a camera recording Vegeta stacking a sizable card castle ) Aaaaaalmost done, Vegeta.

Vegeta: Shush. Even the smallest noises will undo this priceless piece of work...ever so....carefully...quietly... ( Places the last card ) Finally. Hah, who said I couldn't do something artsie and peaceful!

SFX: Fragaboomff!

Nappa: Did something explode, Vegeta? ( Looks from behind the camera ) Vegetaaaaaa?

Vegeta: ( Under a huge mound of scattered cards ) Ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff....Fudge Pops!!! Gah when did we go PG??

French Narrator: Back to ze tree.~

Matt: ( He and the others covered in Shrieker feathers ) Didn't think that would happen....O_o

Mayreen: Ptooey! >3p ( Spitting out some feathers ) Bleh, no idea where that thing's been. >XC

Saya and Sheath: ( Yanking their weapons out of the Shrieker's nest ) There we go. ^-^

Rahbie: ( Using her magic to clean everyone off ) Alright, everyone's safe and uninjured?

Saya: Hmmmm I suppose there is one little, tiny detail I should share with since you allowed Sheath and myself to tag along this far. ^-^

Shift:....What did you do? F3

Sheath: Crazydoor of mad stuff. <:3 Desu me and Saya desu might have left open for things to very many much walk out?

Matt: You loosed a bunch of more of that unholy nonsense into the Alpha Ruins?? >3

Saya: In so many words, yes. ^-^

Mayreen and Azure: Why...? <:3

Saya:...Hmmmm call it curiosity. ^-^

Sheath: Definitely not cursed blood-orb thingy for Ouma. :3 Never that.

Matt: ....Saya...Sheath....come here. |3

Saya: I know that tone and no we will not. ^-^

Matt: Come here. |3 ( Walking toward them )

Sheath: Scary face. <:3

Mayreen: Oh dear. <:3

Rahbie: He's gonna give them an earful. <:3

French Narrator: 15 minutes later.~

Matt: Now you're gonna come with us, and fix this mess. Is that understood? >3

Saya: ( Rubbing her behind ) Ow...Oh dear...Mm yes, understood. ^-^;

Sheath: Owie....<:'3 ( Crying a little ) Okay will help desu.

Shift: Alright, lets bust up this nest and return the trinkets.

French Narrator: Later, back at ze boarding house.

???: I'm not crazy, you're crazy!! D8

Matt: ( Standing at the front porch of the boarding house ) The heck is this? <:3

Myffle: ( Pops up in the front of the scene ) More to come in the next episode! :3 Stuff happens, hilarity will ensue! Stay tuned!