#but please enjoy the finale~

[ellekhen]

No Hard Feelings

Chapter 13 - A Hell of a Time (Fin)

(Temporary hero image because I'm on my honeymoon, away from the computer! So enjoy these two anyway. :3)

Chapter Summary: A year after the defeat of the Absolute, three friends have been surviving together in Avernus. However, this hellish plane is home not only to Zariel's minions, but also Tiamat herself. Wyll knows that Irva is keeping a secret from him, and he fears the worst.

Pairing: Wyll x Female Tav Rating: Explicit Length: 48.6K words; Chapters: 13/13 [Complete]

Excerpt below:

There is a brief, skeptical silence. 

“Hells, all right,” Wyll buries his head into his hands. “I suppose... have you been talking with Irva?”

“I mean, of course…?”

“Particularly when I’m not present,” Wyll clarifies warily, "do you think she’s… well?”

Karlach frowns at him. 

“Hang on,” she ducks down to catch Wyll’s averted eyes. “Are you worried about something in particular?”

Wyll sighs heavily. “Yes, but you must not tell her, you hear me?”

Karlach glances around, her mouth twisting with concern as she rests a solemn hand upon her glowing heart.

“Your secret will be safe with me,” she vows.

“Thank you,” Wyll shifts uneasily. “I… I am worried about her. Looking back, she was quick to suggest Avernus for all of us, and eager to hurry through that portal. I thank the Triad every day we could save you that way. But even after all this time, a small part of me can’t help but worry that it wasn’t only to save you.”

He looks up at Karlach, troubled. “After all, we’re not the only things she has loved, here in Avernus.”

Karlach scoffs an incredulous laugh. “Soldier. Are you seriously thinking that she came here to find—?”

“—Tiamat. And yes,” Wyll confesses in a hush. “We have been searching for a solution for your heart, but do you ever get the feeling that she’s searching for something else?”

Karlach grimaces. “Soldier...”

“I know I should trust her,” Wyll continues shakily. “And I do, I think. But I also know that some habits... and some beliefs... don’t die so quickly. As my father warned me, one doesn’t simply forsake the teachings of their cult. It takes far more time than Irva had, and far more support than even we were able to give.”

Karlach ponders beside him.

“And if she does find Tiamat? Or if we accidentally stumble upon her?” she prompts him carefully. “What do you fear?”

Wyll huffs a mournful laugh. “I’m afraid I’ll lose her. I’m afraid she’ll still be willing to free Tiamat and unleash her upon the material plane, and even if she isn’t willing, that Tiamat will enthrall her and use her to do the same.”

“Wyll,” Karlach says sternly. “Do you trust Irva?”

He doesn’t hesitate this time, “Yes, I do. Everything is simply so uncertain and I don’t know how to give her the life she wants…!”

“How do you know that this isn’t the life she wants?” Karlach interrupts, before backtracking. “Shit, I don't mean spending her long engagement in Avernus... but the fact is, she’s got two someones she trusts besides her. Two people who love her. I think that’s something special, and she doesn’t need to tell us for me to know that.

“And yeah, I know she still wants to be connected to dragons, but they’re not all bad!” she reminds him. “I heard her talking to the cleric in Stormshore Tabernacle about Bahamut a while back. She didn’t know anything about him back then, so maybe if she begins to talk to someone like him, he could be a good influence. A better deity, if she’s gotta have one at all.

“But going back to what you said… I think I know something of what you’re feeling, Soldier,” Karlach says gently. “I've felt... awful that the two of you are spending your engagement running around with me and not living it up in the city. Hells, you could be a Duke. She could be a duchess. You both could be dancing your asses off at a fancy masquerade ball right now!”

“Such occasions are nothing in the face of what matters," Wyll insists. "If skipping those means you’re safe, it’s more than worth it to me."

Karlach gives him a rueful smile. “I think Irva feels the same.”

Wyll closes his eyes. After a long moment, he looks to Karlach, eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I can’t lose her, Karlach.”

“I can’t either… and we won’t, Soldier," Karlach's voice catches as she tears up as well. “Look, we love Irva. She loves us. And I think she loves that world we left behind, too. Think back — she had a chance to take the power offered by the Absolute, and she turned it down in an instant. We have to trust that she knows better than to blindly follow her old scripture. She’s better than that, don’t you think?”

Wyll nods, but something in his face is still doubtful.

“There’s… one more thing,” he confesses in a hush so low that Karlach needs to lean closer to hear him. “I’ve heard her muttering to herself... or someone else... when she’s off on her own. Talking about protection, and portals, and…” he shudders, “...rituals.”

He looks at Karlach. “I don’t doubt that she loves us. But I fear that even if she doesn’t unleash Tiamat for the sake of ending the world, she may somehow be brokering a deal with her for our protection, for a way to walk right into the forge and fix your heart. The truth is… I believe that she would do anything to see us safe.”

[petricorah]

💘 💘 [id in alt]

[hajihiko]

Nice night 🌘

[satans-trek]

de-escalation

[ruporas]

kisses of affirmation (ID in alt)

[dekariosclan]

Imagine Gale as a talented and impressive young man, able to compose the Weave at will, skilled in a way that few can match, and favored by the Goddess of Magic herself. Imagine that because of these accomplishments, he’s caught the eye of a few up-and-coming magic adepts, and he falls in love with one of them—his first real love. Gale isn’t one to toss the ‘L’ word around lightly, so when he tells them he loves them, he means it; he gives himself over to them completely.

And in return, they love him for his potential. For his status. For the magic he can command. They love the wizard they see on the surface, but not the man underneath. They are attracted to his power, but not to him.

So of course the relationship fails, after the thrill of his magic wears off. But because Gale is a resilient young man and he’s caught the eye of so many, he soon falls in love with another.

And then it happens again. And again.

And each time Gale’s heart is ravaged, his ambition to become a better wizard grows, because he’s being shown time and time again that his magic ability is all that matters.

So much so that, by the time Mystra decides to elevate him from Favored to Chosen to Lover, he welcomes her with eager, desperate arms. Because if all his worth is in his magic, and that’s all he has to offer, and that’s all anyone wants from him, who better to love him than the Goddess of Magic herself?

Except…there’s a nagging voice in the back of his head that whispers she doesn’t really love him. There’s anxiety in his heart as time passes, and he reaches both the limit of what his talents can do and what Mystra will allow him to do. And most troubling of all: a growing panic that, just like his other lovers, she will soon grow tired of him and discard him if he can’t improve his magic any further.

He tries pouting, and pleading, and begging her to let him take more power, to let him be more for her, but she refuses. Smiles patronizingly. Tells him to be patient. But Gale can’t be patient when his power is tied so closely to his self-worth; he can’t be patient when doing so in the past has only ever lead to heartache.

So he does what he believes will be a Grand Romantic Gesture, one that will finally put him on equal footing with the woman he loves. Instead, it turns out to be a folly that dooms him and destroys his talents. And just as he’d always feared, Mystra tosses him aside the moment his magical gifts are gone—because what’s left of him holds no value for her.

————

Imagine Gale in his tower, alone, afraid, the ever-hungry orb in his chest, with only his tressym there to help him. No other friends to speak of. His colleagues forced to keep away for their own safety. His magical talents utterly stripped down, so that even when he does try and distract himself with illusions, he’s bitterly reminded of what he used to be capable of. Waking every morning wondering if it will be his last, ending every day full of loneliness and disappointment.

…and then he meets Tav.

At the lowest point in his life, at his most vulnerable, when he knows he’s going to be considered a burden, he meets this stranger and their group. So he does what he can to be useful—assigning himself to be camp cook, offering up his (now meager) magic skills, turning the charm up to 11—as he desperately hopes this will somehow work out. He’s pleasantly surprised when, after providing only minor details of his condition, Tav agrees to help him. He’s even more surprised when they actually follow through.

Imagine how Gale feels as Tav treats him kindly. As he grows to trust Tav, and then grows to like them. Imagine his surprise as he opens up and shows them more and more of himself, and they don’t turn him away.

But then his condition worsens. And he has to reveal everything: the foolish mistakes he’s made, and how dangerous he is as a result. He clings to Tav’s hand as he shows them his folly. He’s at their mercy now, and he knows this might be the last time he’ll ever feel the touch of another being, if they decide—and Gods, why wouldn’t they decide?—to cast him out.

…but they don’t. They don’t. Instead, they tell him to stay.

Imagine the relief Gale feels. The gratitude. And perhaps…just a hint of something more. Something that he dare not name, but that flares to life every time he thinks of how warm their hand was in his. Something that feels dangerously close to jealousy, when he’s had too much to drink and sees Tav smiling at another…

But he knows these are all foolish thoughts, because he has nothing to offer Tav. They are wonderful just as they are, but he…he is an empty shell of a man, a discarded husk of a wizard, and while they might tolerate him, he could never believe they might actually want him.

And besides, he still thinks of Mystra. He still longs for Mystra. She who cast him out, but to whom he still feels tethered. Sometimes he needs to cocoon himself in the weave, just to try and calm his fears and bring some joy back to his life, because magic is his life. And sometimes he just needs to see her face, even though that hurts as much as it heals.

One night he’s lost in thought, having conjured Mysta’s image after settling down at camp. Thinking that even if she hadn’t ‘loved’ him—certainly not in the way he’d loved her—she’d given him enough otherwise, hadn’t she? She’d amused him and been amused by him, they’d shared countless pleasures, why hadn’t he been satisfied with that?

Gale is so lost in thought he doesn’t realize Tav has come up behind him. Until they ask a question, startling him out of his trance. He’s a bit shaken, so he tries to turn the conversation from Mystra to the weave itself. And then a wonderful idea occurs to him, something that he’d been toying with already: what if they were to conjure the weave together?

He can show Tav how important magic is to him, let them experience what he does, perhaps even impress them a bit. But most importantly, share a moment with them. As friends would do…

He’s elated when Tav agrees. He leads them through the steps effortlessly, and they’re a surprisingly good student, following his instructions correctly (if a bit clumsily). He’s as excited as they are—perhaps even more so!—when they succeed in channeling the weave.

It’s such a pleasant, familiar feeling for him, like coming home to his tower in Waterdeep. Even as the weave connects him with Tav and makes them one, he’s easily able to hide his innermost thoughts, because he’s done it so many times before.

…but he’s forgotten that Tav has not.

————

Imagine Gale knowing every romantic partner he ever had only wanted him because of how he could raise their status, or how he could amuse them, or how he could command magic for them. And, each time, he was happy to oblige them, even desperate to oblige them, because if that was the price of their love, then he was sure it would be worth it.

But it still all came to nothing.

Now imagine Gale connected in an intimate way with someone he likes very, very much—while being what he considers his lowest, most worthless, and most humbled self. As far from the powerful, impressive wizard he once was as he could ever be. And suddenly a vision enters his mind from the lovely creature standing next to him. Only, to his complete and utter shock, it isn’t one where he is providing them with a service, or wowing them with his magical ability, or granting them some kind of power from one of the spells he commands.

Instead, when he sees their desire laid bare before him, it’s a vision of kissing him. Of holding his hand. The two most basic forms of affection and physical connection. The two things that he would still be able to offer them even if every last ounce of his remaining magical abilities were stripped from him. The two things he could share with them even if he was no longer Gale of Waterdeep, and just plain old Gale Dekarios instead.

Imagine the embarrassment and trepidation he feels at first, because surely he is mistaken?…and then the elation when he realizes that he is not. So much elation that his concentration is broken, the weave dissipating as he forgets about channeling it, as he forgets about Mystra. Because all that matters to him now is the image before him—the most pleasant and welcome image he’s seen in a very, very long time.

Imagine how that would feel…and how besotted, enamored and completely devoted he’d be to Tav afterwards. To know that someone finally—finally—just wants him.

Just imagine.

[leiandroid]

yakuza au

ok fam this au is now separated from my previous inohina yakuza/bratva au. had to fly the girls back to japan and they got a whole new backstory ! big wall of text incoming ↓↓↓

-- uchiha clan

a clan that was once powerful but was slowly eating itself from the inside. rife with internal conflict and distrust, key figures sought to strengthen the clan and each had an idea of how to bring about that change, though no two could come to an agreement on a single method. tensions amongst the ranks began to fracture the uchiha.

taking advantage of the power struggle, madara, with the hopes of seizing total control, ignites a spark that quickly turns into a bloodbath. many low level thugs employed by the uchiha flee the compound as each key figure and their loyal followers battle it out until so few are left standing it could barely be called a clan anymore.

the power vacuum left behind by the dissolution of the uchiha has created an extremely volatile environment in the crime world as different yakuza families seek to claim the uchiha’s previously held operations and territory.

-- hebi

sick of the endless politics and weakening bonds amongst the clan, sasuke left to forge his own path. as punishment for leaving the clan itachi takes his eye.

he had never expected that the power struggles within the uchiha would lead to a massacre. so when he heard about the bloodbath occurring inside the uchiha compound, he rushed home to save his parents from a grim fate. but was too late when he witnessed itachi kill them by his own blade.

sasuke quickly enacted revenge by killing itachi and when the dust settled and madara emerged as victor, sasuke turned his blade on him too and snuffed out the flame of the uchiha forever.

karin is an ex-cop that was the uchiha's informant within the police. she brokers deals and negotiations on behalf of sasuke. she is his mouthpiece, so to speak.

sasuke is also seeking two who were once allies/friends. suigetsu who had always dreamed to join the seven swordsmen's guild, and juugo a talented and brutal fighter who dominates the underground fighting scene.

together he hopes to form a small mercenary group for hire.

-- inoshikacho alliance / inoshikacho rengo

one of the first yakuza family alliances ever made going back generations. inoshin yamanaka, chosuke akimichi and shikanazai nara where the first of each clan to join the families into an alliance that has since become one of the strongest and long-lasting alliances in yakuza history.

at the age of 25 each member of the alliance is to have at least two children to ensure the next generation of the inoshikacho alliance grow up together and are trained to take on the mantle for the sake of the alliance's future. this also ensures that at least 3 generations are alive at any one time (if they don't meet an early grave that is).

the yamanaka run brothels, which act as a communication and information network. every girl is hand picked by ino or by trusted subordinates and trained in the art of seduction and information gathering. the yamanaka have large underground garden operations that cultivate plants for poisons with all kinds of effects and traceability, from the quick and painless to the slow and destructive.

akimichi control entertainment districts, money laundering operations and run the largest underground fighting scene. money flowing in and out of casinos and other avenues are fully controlled by the akimichi.

the nara are drug traffickers that control market price and distribution.

-- hyuuga clan / hyuuga kai

the strongest and most notorious yakuza in all of japan. their efficiency in all that they do make them a fierce clan. when the clanhead was found dead, many other groups thought this was finally the crack in the hyuuga shield and made moves to try and see if they could challenge their authority. but the second daughter stepped into place and ordered everyone in within a certain radius of the hyuuga estate dead.

if they thought hyuuga hiashi was a ruthless leader, hanabi, in one day alone, managed to put herself up as one of the deadliest and horrifying yakuza leaders in recent history.

their efficiency in the business and economics sector, as well as having ties within governmental and political bodies, makes them a very powerful clan with many branching factions reaching far and wide across the country.

someone, somewhere, always answers to a hyuuga.

-- neji hyuuga (tian)

after hizashi failed to protect the hyuuga leader's eldest daughter, he had to pay with his life in front of his only son.

watching his father commit seppuku and then swiftly beheaded by hiashi in front of the elders and close family, stuck with neji his whole life. he made a silent vow to exact revenge on hiashi. the bitterness in his heart made living amongst the hyuuga a slow acting poison. his hate for hiashi became stronger than his love for his father and he could never look upon a picture of hizashi anymore because his face was the face of his enemy.

neji bided his time for years and years until one fateful night he murdered hiashi in cold blood and fled the hyuuga estate. he made his way towards mainland china with some aid from a contact in the chinese triads. he disappeared for many years living amongst a guild of killers and started going by the name tian.

his next order of business was to find the abducted daughter that caused the death of his father and kill her himself.

-- hinata hyuuga (makoto)

the abducted hyuuga heir, taken from the hyuuga clan at a very young age. makoto lives her life as a simple woman, adopted by an elderly couple in the countryside, unaware of who she is or where she comes from.

when a 'chinese' man that bears an uncanny resemblance to her shows up at her cottage one day, calling her a name that does not belong to her, her life is flipped on its head and she finds herself plunged into the underbelly of society.

-- chinese triads / pirates

tenten is a weapons smuggler. though she is affiliated with the chinese triads, she smuggles and trades weapons for anyone that buys them, as her true loyalty is to money.

tenten's operations are done by sea and she has control over a small fleet of boats that answer to her. other than a port owned by the triads, she has claimed a small remote island as her home and base of operations.

she was also neji's contact that helped him sail the seas to mainland china after he murdered hiashi.

-- korean mafia

kiba is an animal trafficker. he acquires exotic animals for their ivory/fur/leather as well as selling them alive to the wealthy for their collections and keeps.

he has sold exotic birds to the yamanaka for their gardens. gathered all manner of cervidae antlers from around the world for the nara's collection. has captured the most venomous snakes known to mankind for several organisations, including certain individuals of the uchiha family. has also sold a number of species of animals for tenten for her island.

he is generally in good graces with all kinds of people/groups due to his connections and ability to acquire the even the most endangered and rare species in the world.

-- suna siblings

kankuro and temari own a small medical clinic. kankuro is a general family doctor. people come to him for check-ups and simple treatments and minor operations. temari handles all the logistics, and appears as the clinic's secretary. they have 3 nurses: matsuri, yukata, mikoshi.

kankuro is also a certified surgeon and operates on all sorts of gang members in the hidden basement operation room. matsuri has been trusted to help kankuro with these operations when needed. their practice offers complete discretion and the clinic has become off-bounds for any gang violence, even if rivalling groups happen to meet each other on the premises. they enter a truce for as long as they are within a certain radius of the clinic.

the brother and sister duo are a respected, unaffiliated group, and they also use their operations to get clues on their brother's whereabouts.

gaara was kidnapped at a young age and was tortured to the point that psychosis was induced. he is held in the same place as juugo and both are used in fights that many come to pay dearly to watch and bet on.

-- police

with his parents killed and taken from his home, naruto was raised by a gang who kidnaps boys to beat and torture, and train them into savage fighters. he dreamed for a life where he could see the sun and the sea, to eat a hot bowl of ramen once again.

when a police investigation finally bore fruit, naruto was rescued from the place. he was taken in by iruka, one of the cops, and eventually followed in his footsteps. he made a promise that he would find and save the redhead that had once clung to him down in those dark cells.

tsunade is chief of police. sai is a detective. lee is a chinese detective commissioned by the chinese police to go to japan to work alongside the tokyo metropolitan police dept to follow the chinese triads operations in japan. (or is it the hosting country that commissions?? anyway) a number of jonin from naruto are also police including: kakashi, yamato, genma, anko, etc etc.

-- sakura

sakura is the head of a large hospital that was once tied up with the uchiha who used her as an in for smuggling medical supplies. she was called upon as their emergency doctor to treat key figures when needed.

upon hearing about their massacre she felt total relief that the family threatening her life were finally gone. she thought she was free from them when a certain uchiha and 2 others showed up at her door demanding treatment.

she can't say she was happy to be back in such a predicament but it seemed that this uchiha didn't have a penchant for threatening her life as his family did. and for selfish reasons, she was okay with this arrangement.

-- the aburame

a family of assassins. their efficiency and untraceable methods make them a highly coveted group of hitmen whose services are sold to the highest bidder. the aburame have close ties with the yamanaka of the inashikacho alliance as they outsource some of their poisons from the yamanaka gardens.

even though the yamanaka, akimichi, and nara families formed an alliance generations ago, this agreement between the yamanaka and aburame remains a secret from the rest of the alliance.

the aburame are a completely neutral party and the yamanaka understands this. to pay for their secrecy and treachery towards their sworn brothers, the yamanaka accept that if a hit were ordered against their own, it wouldn't affect their business with the aburame.

if u read all this many hugs and kisses mwah

[theworkerofkeay]

John Doe design to share!! 🌟 🦌 🌙

[sugarpasteltmnt]

Watch and be amazed... As I make the Krang Key...

Ď̹̟̫͗͠I͈̙̮͐͌ͤ͛S̹̅̒̍ͨA̵̺̾PP͔E̡̻̮̩͖̤͐A͍ͬ͜Ŕ̬̩̳͉̂̔ͥ͆ Â̸̛͔̱̗̔H̡̱̀̄̔Ą̗̃̔̄̄̈͝H̶͍̄ͥ̽ͪ̕͠AḨ̢̽͛͛̏ͬẢ̘̝͝HĀ̰͈̼͙̇ͫ–!!!

HUGE thank you to Anixolt on twitter for this INCREDIBLE commission for the newest chapter of The Neon Void!!! I can't believe it's finally here. We're nearing the end. I hope you all enjoy Leo's "show" hehe

[stop-that-train]

[jackalope-patronus]

An un-promised dance.

summary :: when faced with an unexpected rival leading up to the Yule Ball, Sebastian’s anger boils over. Part one!

note :: the reader is implied to be bisexual, although it is not explicitly stated. Parallels to the goblet of fire movie.

“A butter beer?”

“Yes, if you’re not too busy.” Poppy smiled, swaying from her heels to toe, a light pink colouring her face and nose.

The shorter girl had pulled you aside with a tug of your sleeve from your journey to crossed wands. “I’d love that Poppy,” you nodded, the kindness of her invite tugging at your lips, “when should I meet you?”

“When are you free?” She returned.

“Well, I have duelling practise with Sebastian soon, perhaps after then. I can meet you in Hogsmeade at sundown?”

Poppy nodded, beaming. “Perfect. I'll see you then.”

With a small wave, Poppy had skipped off leaving you warm from her sweetness. Being close to Poppy was much like earning an animal’s trust; specifically an animal that’s known not to like people, such as a cat or skittish rabbit. You treasured her friendship deeply.

“Fond of you, isn’t she?” Being the snake-like Slytherin he was, Sebastian had slunk to your side without detection whilst your mind lingered on the Hufflepuff.

“Sebastian.” You greeted, sighing away the surprise his presence brought you. “Oh, Poppy? Yes, I suppose so.” You nodded. The thought that others could see the softness Poppy held for you brought an undeniable brightness to your face.

“By your smile it seems you’re quite fond of her yourself.” Sebastian commented, a brow lifting at your bashfulness.

“Yes, well, Poppy is a good friend.” You waved his inference away and sighed. “Shall we get to crossed wands then?”

“Sure.” He shrugged, arms falling from crossing over his chest. “I was thinking— after duelling— would you suppose a visit to the forbidden forest? I’ve a—”

“Sorry, Poppy’s asked me for a drink. Perhaps another time?”

A hesitation irked his steps, but he continued forward. “Right then. Another time.”

The brunette’s casting could only be described as quick but distracted, as it had lately been. The two of you won, of course, but the lag in Sebastian’s attention had been obvious. It had been for some time. You had been duelling with Sebastian long enough to recognise when his spells lacked. His mind was always elsewhere.

I need to check in on him soon, you thought, but later. Poppy’s waiting on me.

From a distance, you’d seen Poppy waiting just outside Hogsmeade for your arrival, hands behind her back with a subtle pep in her stillness. Dipping the tip of your broom, you landed swiftly and tripped towards her.

“Every time I see you on that broom, you’ve gotten better and better.” She smiled.

“Imelda has been keeping me on my toes— or broom, I should say.”

“Don’t let her overwork you. Just because you’re the only good competition she’s got doesn’t mean you always need to be racing her.” Poppy stated, her brows furrowing cutely.

“Don’t worry Poppy, I rather enjoy it.” You smiled at her sternness.

“Alright,” She looped her hand through your arm. “Shall we go?”

“Of course.”

After asking Sirona for two butter beers to go, you and Poppy had ventured to a nearby garden to sit and watch the sun set, accompanied by idle chatter.

“So, how are you faring with extra assignments?” Poppy asked.

“Well.” You answered. “I can’t say it hasn’t been keeping me busy, I feel I’ve no time to explore anymore.” You'd been completing extra assignments since your fifth year, one would think you'd be used to them by now.

“You mean you’ve no time to get up to mischief?” She politely jabbed.

You hummed a laugh. “That, too.”

A silence permeated as you sipped from your beer. Poppy opened her mouth, inhaled with hesitation and then spoke. “Have you found a Yule Ball partner yet?”

You swallowed sorely at the reminder. “I had almost forgotten. No. Honestly I haven’t been thinking about the ball at all.”

“Right, of course. I wouldn’t worry. I haven’t one either.”

Who would you go with? The sudden question stung you, filling your head with possible candidates suddenly. Sebastian, perhaps Ominis, Gareth had always been playful towards you, perhaps even Amit if he got the courage. You ignored Sebastian coming to your mind again.

The choices were all well and nice, but the real question to consider was why hadn’t you been asked by any of them?

In all honesty, you somewhat expected Poppy to struggle to find a partner. Her head was always buried in the scruff of some magical creature and her closest friend was easily you. You decided perhaps remaining without a Yule date wouldn’t be so bad if you were with her.

“If that’s the case, we’ll have to go with one another.” You jested.

“Actually…” Poppy trailed, her gaze shifting away from you. “I was hoping to go with you.”

Your head titled to her in questioning. “Poppy?”

“I know it’s rather uncommon… but I couldn’t imagine going with anyone else.” Poppy’s pink cheeks caught your eye and you melted at her rays of blurted sincerity. “I don’t think I’d enjoy myself half as much if I wasn’t with you.”

“Oh, Poppy.” Her sweetness had soon overwhelmed you and you dropped your head to hide your bursting smile.

“Will you?” She asked.

“Of course Poppy, of course I will.” You nodded. Poppy had gasped in delight and leapt to hug you.

“Oh we’re going to have so much fun! I promise.”

“And then she asked me.”

The room smelt of burnt dittany and melting billy-wig sting slime.

Ominus’s eyebrow twitched up. “Sweeting? She asked you?”

“Yes.” You sighed, tone looped with softness for the Hufflepuff.

“And you?”

“I said yes, of course.”

His face scrunched, a kind of cringeworthy melancholy seeping in. The expression made your heart twang defensively.

“Have you an issue with Poppy attending the ball with me?” You asked, politely adding some dittany to your wiggenweld potion.

His expression dropped quickly, like he suddenly realised you could perceive him. “No, of course not. I just wouldn’t have expected her to be so bold.”

You readjusted in your seat.

“Who’s so bold?” Sebastian had taken his seat beside Ominis whose scrunched face had returned.

As you took a breath to answer, Ominis beat you to it. “Nobody.” He quickly uttered. Sebastian lingered on Ominis’s quick shut-down for a moment, but ultimately moved on with a sigh.

“Well, speaking of boldness, I believe I’ve lost my edge.” He murmured, exasperated.

“Have you?” You enquired.

“Half our year is full of girls, yet I’ve still no date to the ball.” His ink-less quill tapped his desk, his potion stand empty with no brew.

“That’s because you’ve yet to ask anyone.” Ominis said.

“It’s harder than it looks. I don’t see you with a partner.” The brunette returned.

“I do have a partner.” Ominis countered, very matter-of-factly.

“You do? And how’d you manage that?” Sebastian’s brow raised, giving you an incredulous look. You raised your shoulders as if to say I don’t know anything about this.

“I got the courage and asked, Sebastian.” He stated, clearly annoyed.

Ominis’s attitude placed Sebastian back in his seat and he thought on the blonde’s words for a moment, his brow furrowed.

You shook your head, amused, and continued to tend to your potion. Although, it might’ve been careless on your part to move, as Sebastian caught you in his gaze, like a predator spotting the ears of a rabbit move in tall grass.

“You’re a girl.” He stated. Ominis’s head was already in his hands.

“Oh well spotted.” You cautiously replied.

“Care to come with—” His blasé, although interrupted, was already putting you off.

“I hope you lot are making plenty of potions over all that chatter.” Professor Sharp’s voice cut through the room, calming the chatter but Sebastian continued, voice lower yet still managing to keep his indifferent tone.

“It’s one thing for a bloke to show up alone, for a girl it’s just sad.” He said.

An offended noise left your throat. “I won’t be going alone, because believe it or not someone’s asked me.”

That statement seemed to have taken him aback, because he stumbled to ask, “Well, who?” His tone now as offended as your own.

“Poppy.” You answered, returning to your cauldron as though you couldn’t care less.

“Sweeting? So she’s the bold one?” He looked between you and Ominis. Neither of you answered.

“She asked me just yesterday.” You proudly stated.

“So you’ve said yes?” He asked.

“She did.” Ominis muttered, his words laced in misery.

“I did.” You nodded.

Safe to say, the rest of the class was only filled with the bubbling of potions and entirely absent of chatter.

“He’s mad.” You uttered, index tapping the base of your wand aggressively. “Won’t so much as speak to me. Does he dislike Poppy?”

“I doubt he’s cared to even think of Sweeting until now.” Ominis had a creased, guilty look on his face, one that always appeared whenever he sat in the middle of an altercation between you two. Fights (or merely disagreements, as you would prefer to call them) with Sebastian were so uncommon that you’d only ever seen Ominis wear it one other time, back in fifth year. “I’m sure the way he sees it, it’s been yourself and him. Always.”

“If he really thought that, surely he’d have asked me right away. And what about you? It’s always been the three of us.” Ominis did, however, have some merit to what he said. Without Sebastian you two likely wouldn't have bonded and become as close as you had. Still, you were friends now, with or without Sebastian. You lingered on that assurance before your stomach fluttered grossly. Perhaps out of a moment of insecurity, you quietly asked; “Why hadn’t you asked me?” You flushed, embarrassed.

Ominis frowned regretfully. “Sebastian would be just as mad as he is now if I’d asked you, maybe more so.” He muttered.

“Possessive boy.” You stated.

Ominis’ hand brushed against your leg, his fingers gently lying on your thigh. It was a rare gesture, to have Ominis comfort you with a touch, but it was welcome nonetheless. “It’ll pass. It Usually does.” He assured.

“I hope so.”

Pass, it didn't. Sebastian had managed to remain stiff towards you in the coming weeks of the Yule ball. It pulled you further into Poppy's friendship, and further away from Sebastian and Ominis. Only greeting Ominis rarely, and Sebastian much less so. Truthfully, before the 'disagreement', your time spent with Sebastian and Ominis was already feigning. If it weren't for Sebastian's constant cold shoulder, this time spent apart would've felt like a natural progression of busy schedules, classes apart and no more adventures togethers allowing distance to drive the friendship apart.

Although, you hadn't considered that reality.

And soon snow fell on the night of the Yule ball as you dressed yourself in your common room, only leaving once you'd adjusted the corset correctly and added a few pins to keep your hair remaining how you wanted it to the whole night.

At the bottom of the stairs on your way to the great hall, stood Ominis and Sebastian, both layered with suitable coats and button-ups. Sebastian was fumbling with Ominis' tie, pulling it straight and tight, although it bounced back to a wonky position. The first step you took had your heel clicking against the marble stairs, and like Sebastian could sense it was you, his eye-line swiftly lifted to take you in.

You felt hot slowly walking down towards them, especially when Sebastian’s face was so emotive. He’d never stared at you like that, and for a moment, you wondered if perhaps that would be the face he’d make watching his bride walk down the aisle. Certainly all the animosity he'd been holding these past few weeks had vanished.

“She’s here.” Sebastian uttered to Ominis, slack jawed.

“Describe her to me.” Ominis asked, and through the crowded voices, Sebastian only heard it as a mumble.

“She’s…” The words drawled from him like he’d been hexed. “Utterly stunning.. ‘fits her like a glove.” He murmured, his usually witty dialect failing him.

You reached the floor, well flushed with insecurity. “Hello, you two.” You cleared your throat, looking anywhere but at Sallow’s brown eyes or Ominis’ unreadable face.

“You look—”

“You look beautiful!” The compliment cut right through Sebastian’s words, then Poppy herself cut past him, enveloping you in a sturdy hug.

“Hello Poppy.” You smiled, wrapping your laced arms around her.

You blinked a glance at Sebastian, whose head hung low and eyes longed for you intensely. It made your body burn to see him so obvious in his attraction to you. Attraction, and regret.

“Let’s go, the dancing shall start soon.” She ushered, pulling you away.

Bless Poppy and her sweet dancing, her kind hold of your hand and the way she smiled up at you with such delight. But God, you could hardly be swept away by her when two burning eyes were watching you. Sebastian, sat on the sidelines, simmering. The magic of your beauty seemed to dissipate the moment Poppy had pulled you away. Ominis had seemed to abandon him and the loathsome aura he was creating.

At first it made you nervous. Truthfully this whole battle with Sebastian made you nervous, but as Poppy stepped with you to the sweet music, chest to chest you fell away from Sebastian and landed on the conclusion that if he couldn’t get over himself, you wouldn’t dwell on it. Of course, he still plagued the back of your mind.

You had decided, when the floor was emptied of most of the students, that it was time you took a dance with one of your friends and as Sebastian was still in too foul of a mood, you asked Ominis.

“You aren’t trying to make him jealous, are you?” Ominis’ hand tickled your side, his grip of your hand was insecure and fretting.

“Truely Ominis, not everything I do is because of Sebastian. You’re my friend too. I care for you too.” You peered over at the chair Sebastian had occupied for most of the night, it was now empty. Perhaps he’d finally retreated to the dorms. “Besides, I’d dance with him if he wasn’t so stubborn.”

Ominis’s furrowed expression returned, guilty and sad. “I should’ve asked you. It wasn’t right to allow you to go so long without a partner.”

“Oh truely, don’t pity me so much. Poppy has been a wonderful date.” You squeezed his shoulder, noticing it elevated his torn expression.

"I'm glad."

Your hand slid across his chest to fix the bowtie Sebastian had clearly done a bad job at tying. "Don't misunderstand me, I still would've love to come with you. I'm sure many would've liked to see us pair up, I know Professor Wesley thinks you're good for me."

"More like the lesser of two evils." The other being Sebastian, of course. You laughed and he seemed to be lightened by the sound. "Truthfully, the reason I didn't ask you first was—”

Before you could get a glance of their face, a body was now standing between you and Ominis. The smell of oak and flames told you it was Sebastian before you met his eyes.

“I think I’m owed a dance now, don’t you?” His tone held a surprise charm that gave you hope he’d dropped the foul attitude.

You glanced over Sebastian’s burly shoulder, to see Ominis already stepping back and allowing the two of you some much needed time. You hadn’t time to protest, Sebastian had already swooped you up, taking your hand and waist with a sure, tight grip that you’d be unable to escape with just your strength.

A silence fell, you waiting for Sebastian’s deserved apology and him likely waiting for yours. You decided you’d be lenient (as you often found yourself being with Sebastian) and speak first.

“No date?” You asked. His face became hard and you hoped he hadn’t taken offence to your inquiry.

“No, not really.”

“Not really?” You pushed.

“Not at all.” He finished. “Has Sweeting been treating you well? She’s a bit short for the waltz, no?”

You sighed, content. “She’s been wonderful. I’ve never seen her glow like this, unless of course she's surrounded by beasts.”

“Hm.” The hum seemed dismissive and it fuelled your suppressed annoyance with him. Sebastian could feel your hand twitch in his own.

“She’s been a true friend. I’d gone weeks without a partner to the ball, if it weren’t for her I would very well have ended up coming alone.” Sebastian hadn’t dignified your statement with an answer, clearly thinking otherwise. He looked over your head, eyes tight with angst.

“Perhaps if you’d not have spent so much time with Sweeting, you’d have been asked sooner.” He murmured.

“What?” You returned, pausing in your steps.

“If you weren’t off with your other ‘friends’ perhaps Ominis or I would’ve asked you sooner.” He repeated, tone low and annoyed.

“Sebastian—” but he hadn’t finished releasing his thoughts.

“You’ve got no time for us now. I remember when it was just the two of us, now you’re always off with Sweeting or Onai.” Sebastian snapped. You felt the air escape your lungs and dread sit in your stomach.

“Sebastian I don’t understand—”

“Of course you don’t, because you’re never here to know what’s going on with Ominis or I. When’s the last time you’ve truely spent time with Ominis? Uninterrupted.”

“Ominis and I’s relationship is fine. Don’t speak on behalf of him.” You asserted.

Sebastian groaned, unable to return with another argument, but he held you tighter and closer not releasing you from the stance. "She's using you. Sweeting only asked you because she didn't have a date."

"How dare you?" You gasp, utterly floored.

"I'm sure she loves to be prancing around with the hero of Hogwarts on her arm." He muttered, looking to the dance floor as if his mind was reliving watching you two dance together, dresses pressed together, hands holding and all.

"What? What? That's what you think?"

"Yeah, that is what I think."

“You know what the solution to all this is then don’t you?” You took a step back, attempting to tug yourself free.

“What?” He sneered, tightening around your hand.

“Next time there’s a ball, pluck up the courage and ask me before somebody else does!” You snapped your hands away, escaping his grip and the dance floor.

He didn’t respond but reached for you again. You continued to walk, utterly ruined by the fight and having no desire to speak more to him. He followed close behind, sputtering some kind of deter.

You two had come to a quick halt, when Ominis rounded a corner.

"Ominis." Sebastian uttered his name as though he'd come to rescue him from the fight.

"Where did you go?" You demanded, now bearing wet tears. Ominis open his mouth to speak, but you continued. "Never mind! Off to bed, both of you."

Ominis passed you, a new look of anger arranging his face as he walked with Sebastian up the stairs you had come down only hours ago.

"Suppose she thinks she's too good for us." Sebastian muttered, words like venom, dedicated to hurting you.

"Sebastian you've spoiled everything!" You called after him, the emotion in your throat cracking your words. They jogged up the steps, Ominis muttering something to him while you let a sob free and retired your sore legs to sit on the cold, stone steps.

Part two

[cactusdying]

hi tptm-ers. use with freedom...

[woffles-4-waffles]

hehe

[xxplastic-cubexx]

Marvel's Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show! | All of Erik Lehnsherr's Call-In's

Episodes featured: The Fate of My Universe The Sinister Six Are No More Who Would Win In A Fight? Unbeatable

Full Podcast Playlist (Spotify)

Credits below:

Written by: Ryan North

Directed by: Giovanna Sardelli

Voice Cast: Milana Vayntrub - Squirrel Girl/Doreen Green Crystal Lucas Perry - Nancy Whitehead Leo Sheng - Koi Boi/Ken Shiga Davied Morales - Chipmunk Hunk/Tomas Lara-Perez Erica Schroeder - Tippy T. Squirrel Rob Nagle - Erik Lehnsherr

Key Art: "Squirrel Girl Infinity Comic (2022)" by Derek Charm - Doreen, Nancy, Ken, Tomas, Tippy "Magneto (2023)" by Todd Nauck - Erik

[bogkeep]

i reread captive prince trilogy for the third or fourth time recently

[bearotonin-international]

Boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot boop snoot

thank you friend 💙💙

please know we are booping everyone who sends us boops right back with much love! (only the boops are coming from the team’s main blog since tumblr won’t let us boop from bearotonin 😔)