#but yes I eat up his magic and science stuff with happy tears

[moashdeservedbetter]

Analysis of Mormon Doctrine in the Cosmere, part 2

*apologies the editing is pretty rough, may come back and edit for readability later* Alright so one of my favorite pieces of Mormon doctrine (even post exit) is this concept from D&C 29:

"31 For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal—

32 First spiritual, secondly temporal, which is the beginning of my work; and again, first temporal, and secondly spiritual, which is the last of my work."

and

"Verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal."

My favorite application of these verses was always the idea that, in general, if there is a physical law, there is a corresponding spiritual law. In essence, the universe and it's physical laws are a metaphor, a less completed corollary to the spiritual world that overlays it. (Disclaimer: *very often* this idea is just used for the purpose of making people feel like they absolutely have to pay tithing or else they are damaging their relationship with God--because even thought it's "material," the "blessings are both spiritual and temporal" and likewise the consequences are when avoided. I am not a tithing fan, and much prefer the philosophical/science implications).  Some more concrete examples in Mormon doctrine and culture could include: 

1) Taking care of yourself: Next to tithing, the most common use of this is the WoW. I'm also not a fan of the high demand nature of the Word of Wisdom, but I still like the idea that in-season food and a mostly vegetarian diet is good for your body--and that our souls, likewise, are 1) healthiest when we can nourish them with good things that match the seasons of our life/our environment and 2) are considerate of the beings around us

2) Likewise, just like you have to eat everyday, you need to pray or read scriptures everyday (for secular beings like myself, we often use this same concept but referring to meditating or reading time etc)

3) On a more literal level, if something exists in the temporal realm (or physical realm, you might say...) it exists in the spiritual realm (this is express Mormon doctrine). Pets? Yes they go to heaven, which is basically a much bigger spiritual universe. Same with wild animals. Mountains? Streams? Trees? YES. Heaven is not a place in fluffy clouds but a finer version of the world we experience on earth (and in fact, in Mormon theology, heaven is literally on earth as least if you are a human being from earth). 4) In Mormon lore, you have to procreate (in some fashion) to create life in heaven, just like you do on earth--you can't just wave your hands and create a bunch of new people.   I remember also hearing about this in the context of laws like gravity and momentum and the biology of our bodies, though they weren't showing up in my initial search on the LDS website (most results talked about tithing, but at least in my circle, the science side was talked about a decent amount. We call that stuff "deep doctrine," meaning it doesn't pass the current approved curriculum, but dives into the historical and theoretical weeds). I can't say how many times I've thought of this while reading the Cosmere--including Vin realizing that allomantic metals were basically a mirror of "preservation and ruin," in the sense that for every force, there was a potential opposite force. I also think the opposite-forces theme ties into Lehi's principle of "opposition in all things," but I want to save that for another day.

In general, Brandon Sanderson's magic is always very grounded, and always has a spiritual component. His Mistborn magic system is, in my opinion, one of the best ever created, in large part because it's so science-adjacent.

It makes sense that different metals could grant unique abilities, just as they have distinct properties in metallurgy. It makes sense that alloys of a metal create a distinctly different-but-related option. As Wax says, an alloy is not just a mixture but a new third metal with it's own properties. The idea that someone could simply burn them, the way we burn calories--if granted the ability--is pure, straightforward genius.

These same metals are also pure spiritual matter in the Cosmere, at least in a sense, as we see in how luminescent they are in the cognitive realm, akin to souls. Maybe up to this point, this could all be argued as a coincidence or a vague influence.   To this, I bring you Navani and Raboniel, who talk about this specifically and explicitly. Raboniel contends that Voidlight and Stormlight will not operate under the properties of normal light waves and rhythms, since they are of God and therefore above natural law. Navani counters this and says, in essence, "I disagree. Laws are laws; they hold true whether one is talking about God or the dirt beneath us, and I can run the experiments to prove it" (OK maybe she doesn't reference the dirt beneath her haha. But same idea).  Navani really said "temporal laws and spiritual laws are one and the same." And of course, the rhythms themselves are a wonderful mix of scientific laws about sound waves and the idea of mixing and reforming two distinct energies--not just meeting in the middle, but creating a third, new and more complete thing. 

[supercorpkid]

Once Upon a Time in…

Storybrooke.

Supercorp, Kara Danvers x Daughter!Reader, Lena Luthor x Daughter!Reader, Emma Swan x Reader, Regina Mills x Reader, Snow White x Reader, Prince Charming x Reader.

Word Count: 2900.

Previously on the series - Neverland, Camelot

“So we’re back at square one.” You sigh, looking at Henry, while he is reading his enormous book.

“Not entirely true. We know that we have to lift the curse so you can leave, and that we have to do it fast before you become a character of the book.” He says, without raising his head at you. You’re almost arguing when a plate with at least 20 pancakes is placed before you. That stops your mind mid-rant.

“Thanks, Granny.” You smile at her, who smiles back before leaving. “Except that we don’t know who cursed the town, so I might as well embrace my fate of being a fairytale character right now and forever.”

“You know, there is another way.” He finally looks at you and you encourage him with an eyebrow raise. “Too risky and honestly? I don’t even know if they would agree to it…”

“Would you go on with it already? No need to build up the climax, we’re already past that.”

“Another curse.” Henry says and you furrow your brows. Having two curses surely doesn’t sound like the solution. “A liftable curse, of course.”

You just blink at him when he doesn’t say anything for a while.

“Ok, what if my mom cursed you into believing you’re a part of the story? You would be written into the book-” You open your mouth to argue. “But it comes from someone who knows and can undo it. So, when the time comes, she lifts the curse and you’re not in the book anymore.”

“Uh.” You think about it for a second. “Sounds like it could work. It would be like if we had a countdown watch and after your mom’s curse it would just pause it.” You say and he nods in agreement.

“The protection spell around town gets lifted and she undoes your curse right after. The countdown restarts but you would be ready to leave.” He finishes your train of thought. “Only thing is whether she will agree to this.”

“Well, we’ve got to try, right? Might be our only hope.” You’re almost out of the booth when you look at the pancakes in front of you. “Give me a minute.”

“Can’t believe you’re thinking about food right now.” Henry rolls his eyes at you.

“Can’t believe you’re not.” You say inhaling the food in front of you in exactly one minute. “Ok, I’m done.”

“This was traumatic to watch.”

You ignore him and you both run out of Granny’s to Regina’s house at the end of the main street. You try to go slower so he doesn’t fall too far behind, but you’re still in front of her house way before he gets there.

“Next time, give me a ride.” He is breathing hard next to you but recovers faster than normal. “Mom? Are you here?”

“In the kitchen, kid!” You hear Emma’s voice, and you follow Henry to it. You find both Regina and Emma making breakfast together. The scene doesn’t fail to bring tears to your eyes. It’s too familiar. “Oh, you guys are together, great!”

“We think we have a, well, it’s not a solution. It’s more like a-” Henry looks at you.

“Band-aid.” You give them a forced smile.

“Let’s hear it.” Regina asks and you and Henry do your best explaining the whole thing. “So I would undo the curse and she’ll leave, huh?”

“I know it’s not ideal but-”

“But it’s pretty good.” Emma says. She comes closer to you, putting a hand on your shoulder. “Are you sure about that, though?”

“No. I know nothing about magic.” You shrug. “If this was science or anything related, I would probably be sure, but this is outside my area of expertise. If you two think it could work, then I trust you to bring me back when it’s time.”

“You should know all magic comes with a price.” Regina adds.

“What’s the price?”

“We’ll learn about it later.” She raises an eyebrow at you. You think of Lena and how you need to go back home to see her eyebrow raise.

“I’ll pay.”

“Well, then hold on to it, kid.” Regina says with a smile. “You’re about to become a fairytale character.”

You and Henry look at each other. As good of an idea this was, you didn’t consider all the outcomes. You’ll become a fairytale character; you won’t remember anything about your actual life. You won’t remember your moms, aunts, cousins, girlfriend, grandmas… You know it’s what you have to do, if you ever want to make it out of this reality and back into yours, but still. Not remembering Jamie’s laugh, Maya’s kisses, Kelly’s comfort, Alex’s shoulder squeezes, Lillian’s head tilt, Eliza’s soft voice, Lena’s green eyes, Kara’s smiles, it almost makes you want to forget about this and find another way.

“Ok, the curse is ready.” Regina says and you look up, coming back from your thoughts.

“Smells funny.”

“I know, sweetheart. It's a curse. It's not meant to be pleasant.” She says, making your heart beat faster on your chest. You hold your necklace strongly in your hands; remember your family one last time. Then close your eyes.

“Yay, food!” You open your eyes and look at your moms on the other side with a stack of pancakes in front of them.

“Hey, leave some for your brother.” Regina says, stopping you before you grab all of the apple pancakes she has made.

“Fine, you can have one, Henry.” You joke, putting just one on his plate from the stack in front of you.

“Be nicer, honey.” Emma kisses the crown of your head, before sitting next to you. You smile, putting two more on his plate.

“There, you’re eating just as much as me now.”

“Listen kids, today Emma and I will be working with Mr. Gold to see if we can lift the protection spell around the city. You two will spend the day with the Charmings.”

“Oh, come on, moms. We’re old enough to help!” Henry says and you agree.

“Of course you are. And we will need your help when the time comes. Just, well, you know how is like to work with Mr. Gold-”

“Always an adventure.” You and Henry say in unison.

“Something like that.” Emma agrees looking like she wanted to disagree, instead. “Besides, I thought you had archery lessons with your grandma today?”

“Yes!” You agree, excitedly.

“And Henry, you will be hanging out with your grandpa at the station, right?” She gets his answer in the form of a nod. “Well, great, we’re all very busy today. But we’re still meeting at Granny’s tonight for dinner, ok?”

“Sure thing, mom.” You get up and kiss her head. “See you guys later, I’m late to meet grandma.” You kiss Regina’s head right after. “Bye, mom. Squirt, wanna a ride?”

“Stop calling me squirt.” Henry complains, getting up from the table. “See you later, moms.” He follows you to the front of the house. “Don’t run so fast, I just ate.”

“You know I only have two speed levels. Fast or breaking the sound barrier.” He jumps on your back and out you go, fast enough to be at the station in a blink of an eye. “See you later!”

It doesn’t take long before you and Snow White are walking in the woods close to the city. You love spending time in the woods with her. You love just sitting in silence and letting your senses become even more refined. Sure, you have super hearing, but she teaches you how to focus even on the simpler things. Leaves in the wind, steps in the woods, birds chirping. There’s no other place you feel as in peace as in the woods with Snow.

“So? How are the woods today?” She asks, hand on your shoulder.

“Was there ever a time where there wasn’t anyone in the woods doing weird stuff?” You ask, making Snow laugh loudly next to you.

“Not in Storybrooke.” Snow agrees with a smile and points a direction for you both to walk.

“How do you want to do this?” You ask, putting your bow into position and closing one eye, looking around.

“Like we shall do everything.” You look at her and she winks at you. “Together.”

You miss the shot. You try again. Your arrow breaks. You try again. You lose your temper. You try yet again.

Day after day. Week after week. Month after month.

‘Together’ is the word to live by.

“Mom, can you help me take control of the panic attacks?” It’s late at night when you ask her that. Regina is happy that you’re asking for her help, and you two sneak into her office while Emma and Henry watch Space Paranoids.

“Remember,” She holds you, before she starts. “These are nightmares I’m putting in your mind. None of them are real. You’re safe and sound at home with us. Say the word and I’ll stop.”

“Ok.”

“But sweetheart, you’ve got to fight it. With all the strength and courage I know you have. Concentrate and fight it.” Regina says, and you nod, closing your eyes.

Your mind is filled with visions. Terrible ones, by the way. You see people dying, by shot guns and swords. It’s a war inside your mind. You know it’s not real, but the feeling is the same. You try to run but your legs feel wobbly and weak, and you fall on your knees. There’s a pool of blood under you and when you look to the side you see Henry with glassy eyes, completely lifeless.

“NOOOO!” Your heart starts beating into your ribcage, as you shake before reaching for him. “Please, please don’t be dead.”

“Concentrate. Focus.”

“HE IS DEAD! IT’S MY FAULT!” You yell, with tears wetting your face.

“It’s not your fault.” Regina says in your ear. “Breathe, sweetheart. Breathe.”

“HENRY! PLEASE COME BACK!”

“What’s going on?” You hear his voice. Regina has already stopped filling your mind with visions, but still you see his glassy eyes staring at you. “Hey, open your eyes. I’m here.”

You see him. But your body is still reacting harshly to the vision. You cry and shake. You’ve failed, but you’re not the one to back down.

Day after day. Week after week. Month after month.

You’ll overcome your fears.

“Hey honey!” Emma wakes you up, with an excited greeting, and you roll to the side not opening your eyes just yet. “I could really use your help with something.”

“What is it?” You mumble, still too sleepy to talk.

“We’ve gotta help Ella. And I thought we could have some mother-daughter bonding time.”

“You’re my mother. Isn’t that enough of a bond?” You ask, as a joke, and you get a chuckle in response.

“Come on. It would be much faster if you could fly around and find her for me. Otherwise I would have to use magic to find a shoe and then more magic to track her, and then-”

“Oh my God, ok. I’ll help.” You get up and get ready in seconds. “I know you just want my help because I’m faster than the Flash.”

“Faster than a flash, honey.” Emma corrects you. “Let’s go!”

So you find Ella, just before her evil stepmother shoots her, and you stand tall in front of her because you’re indestructible, and your mom uses magic to contain her evil stepmother, and it’s just another day in Storybrooke. You know, for a really small town, there’s always something going on in here.

“Saving the town with my kid.” Emma throws her arms around your shoulders with a smile. “What mother could ask for more?”

“I don’t know. Sometimes I think being saved probably doesn’t sound so bad.” You complain, getting a tight squeeze from her.

“Sitting around waiting to be saved, with no idea whether someone’s actually going to come for you-” She sighs, loudly. “Trust me, I know doing all the saving all the time sounds exhausting. But waiting around is-is as bad as it can get, honey.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Day after day. Week after week. Month after month.

Heroism comes first.

“Are you ready?” Snow asks and you agree excitedly. Bow and arrow ready to shoot. You look at her getting in position. “Together.”

You nod, and you two aim at the same spot. Both of the arrows travel together and land side by side in the middle of the target. You smile, excited. “I feel like the Green Arrow!”

“Who’s that?” Snow asks and you look at her furrowing your brows.

“I-I don’t know.” You think and think about how that name just easily left your mouth. Huh. Weird.

Days. Weeks. Months.

“Here comes the town’ superhero!” Emma says when you walk in the kitchen.

“Here is the town’ savior!” You answer with a smile.

“I could use your help out there today, kid!” She widens her smile.

“Doesn’t this town have enough heroes?” You sit next to her, and she kisses the crown of your head, before placing a plate of hot waffles in front of you.

“But only one is super.” She winks, making you giggle in excitement. You’re convinced right away.

Days. Weeks. Months.

“Focus. Concentrate.” Regina says, close to your ear. And you breathe deep trying to do so.

“It's kind of hard when you're talking in my ear.”

“And when the wind blows, or it's raining, or someone's shooting arrows at you. Yes, concentration's hard. That's the point.” She bumps her shoulder on yours. “Sweetheart, you told me you needed help.”

“And I do.”

“Then let me help.” She runs her fingers through your hair slowly. “The world will always throw disappointments, sorrows and pain on our backs. It’s our job to learn how to handle them. I worked very hard for my first reaction to be as Regina and not as the Evil Queen.”

“I know, mom. You said that a million times.” Your answer makes Regina lose her cool a little. And you smile, apologetic. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I asked for help. I need to know how to handle the pain. Please, I’m ready to go on.”

“Close your eyes.” She asks again and you comply. “Are you ready?” You shake your head in agreement.

You see images. Like a lucid dream in your mind. Regina is using magic to alter what you see. And you see destruction, death everywhere. You see Snow’s head detached from her body, Emma bleeding with a sword on her heart, the only thing left from Charming is his hand, still clinging to his sword.

You should be ready by now. In fact, you should be used to it somehow. It’s not the first time you and Regina do this kind of exercise. But it doesn’t matter how many times you see your family bleeding out, totally lifeless in front of you, every single time, without fail, makes your heart beat faster, your lungs stop working, you shake, you start crying and hyperventilating, ready to destroy everything.

“Focus! No fire from the eyes.” You hear Regina’s voice and you come back to yourself a little bit, just to hold back your first reaction. It’s always the eyes.

“But mom is dead.” You cry out, clenching your fist.

“Concentrate. You can do it.”

You can do it.

You kneel before Snow’s head. Breath in while counting to 3. Hold your breath for 3 seconds. Breath out in the same amount of time. You know this isn’t real. Snow is home, and safe. You’re not in the enchanted forest. Nothing here is real.

You unclench your fist. Steadying your breath. You fight the images. Snow’s head goes back to her body. Charming’s hand disappears. Emma opens her eyes.

“You can do it.” You hear again. And you feel the thump in your heart settling back in your ribcage. Beating normal again. Soon enough the entire thing vanishes in front of your eyes. You open your eyes again. Your hands are still shaking a little, but you’re home with your mom, and you’re safe. She smiles fondly at you. “See? I knew you could do it.”

“I did it. I stopped my panic attack.” You say with excitement planted on your face and she hugs you tightly. It doesn’t matter how many months it took you to do so, you still did it.

“How about we celebrate? Guess who lifted the town’s protection spell this morning?”

“Wait, really?” Your eyes widen in excitement.

“Yes! You know what that means?” Regina asks, and you can barely contain yourself, jumping up and down.

“Pizza from the neighborhood city!” You squeak. “Can I go get it? Please mom, let me go get it!”

“Here.” Regina gives you the money. “Bring enough for your grandparents. And Belle. Maybe Hook too. Just anyone who happens to be at Granny’s.”

“So basically the entire city?”

“Basically.” She smiles and you’re almost out the door, when you look back at her and add.

“Did I have any plans for when we could leave town?” You think and think, but nothing comes to mind. “It’s weird, I swear I feel like I’m forgetting something important.”

“Maybe to give mom a kiss?” Regina asks and you smile. Rushing to her and hugging her, before kissing her forehead.

“Yeah, it was probably just a kiss.” You chuckle.

Days. Weeks. Months.

[tomtenadia]

Remember Us - 10

Hi all,

are you all ready for the finale of Remember Us?

It’s fluffy and our two lovebirds have the HEA they deserve.

Writing this fic has been painful but i have grown really attached to it and after ALB and Island Dreams is my favourite story.

Thanks every one who had followed this. We did it. We survived the angst.

------

Two months later.

Aelin was at home, camped in bed. Yrene had placed her on bed rest and both Rowan and her mother had been pretty strict. She hadn’t been feeling at her best and Yrene had told her that what she was experiencing were signs of early labour but it was not time yet to go to the hospital.

Evalin had gone out with the kids and Rowan was out grocery shopping. She got off the bed and went to the bathroom and decided to draw a bath. She filled the tub with water, salts and created a lot of bubbles, then she added some classical music in the background and added some candles as a final touch. Once done she shed her clothes and climbed in the tub and lay down, relaxing her muscles and her back.

*

 Rowan came back an hour later with groceries. The bus had skipped a course and he was fuming. He still hadn’t found the courage to go back driving and Aelin explained that after the accident it was very likely his subconscious preventing him to do so. He did not complain. He was happy taking public transport when it showed up. He would have taken the subway but the nearest stop was a bit away and with bags it was too much of a pain, so he used the bus that stopped just near their house.

“Aelin, I am home.” He called, once back in the house. No answer.

“Aelin?” When he still not had an answer he panicked, what if something happened to her? Rowan dumped the bags in the kitchen and started looking in every room for his wife until he reached their bathroom and laughed at the scene. She was in the bathtub, eyes closed and a peaceful expression. Silently, he moved behind her and then his hands shifted from her shoulder down to her breasts and Aelin moaned “oh yes…”

Her eyes finally opened and lifted her face for a kiss that he did not deny her.

“Get rid of those clothes and join me. Mum will be out for a while.”

He kissed her head “let me put away the frozen stuff.”

He came back five minutes later, shed his clothes and Aelin moved forward and Rowan climbed in behind her, letting Aelin lie down against his chest.

“I thought you were offering your very pregnant wife a sexy massage.”

“We shouldn’t.”

Aelin huffed “Ro, I am just asking for a massage not for you to fuck me in the bathtub.”

He chuckled. On some occasions Aelin had been the one begging for sex but he had always stopped her with the excuse that he was being considerate of her health. When Yrene told them that sex was off the table for health reason Rowan had almost preened at the victory.

He squeezed some oils on his hands and started massaging Aelin, starting from her neck, kneading the sore spots, then her shoulders and slowly lingered on her breasts listening to her satisfied sounds.

His hand the moved down to her bump caressing the expanse of her extended stomach and chuckling at every kick from Maya “she seems to like it.”

“Just like her mum.”

**

A couple of days later they had taken the kids to the science museum. Aelin was tired of being stuck at home so she had convinced Rowan to take her and the kids out.

They were watching Thomas have fun in the space section while Freyja played with some space toys when Aelin felt wet trickle down her legs.

Shit.

“Ro?”

“Hm?” He said while watching the kids.

“My water just broke.”

His head whipped to her, panic clear on his face “what do you mean?”

“I mean that my effing waters just broke and that our daughter has chosen a very inconvenient moment to come to the world.”

“Fuck.” Said Rowan, forgetting that they were surrounded by kids. He took out the phone and called for an ambulance. Aelin tried to minimise that they could easily reach the hospital by bus but Rowan ignored her.

He quickly grabbed the kids, told a museum attendant about the puddle in the space section and then walked out with the three of them waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

By the time they got to the hospital the contractions had becomes closer and much longer and the paramedic told her that she was progressing pretty quickly. In the ambulance Thomas had been worried about his mum screaming and Rowan had tried to tell him that their sister was coming. Freyja had wanted to snuggle to her mum but in the ambulance it hadn’t been possible so she had started crying.

Evalin met them half an hour later at the hospital and she had taken charge of their distressed kids and tried to explain that their mum was okay.

Maya arrived two hours later, Aelin’s labour had been quick but no less painful. She was now sleeping in her bed while he had their newborn daughter in his arms and was pacing the room singing a tune to her.

In that moment Evalin took the kids to the room “Someone is here to meet their sister.”

Rowan kneeled so that they could see her. Maya had a thin layer of hair that was light and could have been a mix of silver and blonde, and her eyes had been Aelin’s. Blue with a ring of gold.

“Tom, Freyja, say hi to your sister Maya.”

“She is tiny.” Said Thomas touching her hand.

“You both were this small once.”

Freyja grabbed her pacifier from her mouth and gave it to her sister. Evalin laughed and took it back “no darling, it’s too big for her.” Freyja looked at her grandma and placed the pacifier back in her mouth “Ma’” she added pointing at the baby.

“Yes, she is Maya and she is your sister.” Rowan smiled as his daughter walked to him and with her short arms tried to hug them both “Ma’” she said again.

Thomas eventually moved to hug both of his sisters and Aelin woke up in that instant. She watched the scene in silence afraid she would ruin the magical moment.

She looked at Rowan surrounded by his children and almost burst into tears. They had almost lost all of that. That moment would become her most precious memory. She should have taken a photo, but no image or words would ever fully capture the emotions seeing her family happy, celebrating the new life they had brought into the world. They had literally gone to hell and back and their union survived nonetheless. He had slowly made his way back into her life with the same level of love he had done it the first time. He was her soulmate.

As if he heard her thought, Rowan turned his head, his green eyes on her and the most stunning smile on his lips.

She let the sobs come and Rowan stood, always with Maya in his arms “are you okay?”

Aelin nodded and cleared her tears “I am so happy… and so, so tired.”

Rowan sat at her side, Thomas climbed on the bed and Evalin helped Freyja. Both kids snuggled against their mother and Rowan leaned closer too.

Evalin slowly left them and closed the door, allowing the family to have a moment alone.

“She looks so tiny in your arms.”

“She is perfect.”

Aelin scoffed “she is our daughter, of course she is perfect.”

The sound of Rowan laughter was music to her ears. After months of pain this was all she needed. Her family.

***

Three months later.

 “She is just adorable. Your three kids are going to break so many hearts when they grow up.” The comment came from Lysandra who was sitting on the bed. It was her wedding day and both Elide and Lysandra were going to help her.

But right when she had been about to wear her dress Maya had woken up screaming bloody murder and Aelin was now sitting on the rocking chair Rowan had bought and was nursing her daughter.

“I do not miss my boobs being mistreated like that.” Said Lysandra.

Elide at her side sighed “me neither but I guess I can’t avoid it.”

A moment later both Aelin and Lysandra were screaming “Elide Lochan, are you pregnant again?”

The woman nodded “yeah. Allison is one and Lorcan and I don’t want to have too much age gap between kids. I am eight weeks along.”

Aelin grinned “now we need to convince Lys to go for the third one.”

“Eventually. Ae is in the middle of changing job so right now might be a problem but we will.”

Evalin joined them a moment later and when she saw that Maya had finished eating she had offered to burp her granddaughter and let Aelin get dressed.

Her dress was midnight blue and long. Lysandra had done her hair adorned with flowers and tied in a gorgeous style that lifted over her head. Elide had put a very gentle layer of makeup and Aelin was now staring at her image in the mirror. She still carried a bit of pregnancy weight and had almost regretted the choice of dress but Lys had told her that Rowan was very likely to still find her hot.

Aelin scoffed, although not once while in bed he had ever commented at the marks left by their first two kids. He had always worshipped her body like he used to when she was younger and fitter.

“Come on… let’s not keep him waiting too long.”

The wedding was going to happen in the back garden of their house. The ceremony was going to be private as only a handful of people had been invited. On top of Lys with Aedion and the kids and Elide and Lorcan, they had invited Chaol and Yrene and their two kids and then Dorian and a heavily pregnant Manon and of course Evalin. Neither of them wanted to make a big fuss of the event. This was their moment, only to be shared with those who really mattered. Aedion met Aelin at the top of the stairs and was ready to walk her to the altar where Dorian was ready to marry her and Rowan once more.

“You are stunning. That husband of yours is going to have a heart attack.”

“Wait till you see Lys.”

Slowly they started walking and they reached the garden and Aedion gave her a coat. The night before had snowed and the place was a winter wonderland. She looked ahead and saw Rowan. He was wearing a black suit with a tie as green as his eyes. Gods he was stunning. She spotted her friend sitting down and Evalin holding Freyja in her arms, Maya in her pram, while Thomas sat diligently on his chair. They had imparted him with the need to stay sit and quiet until the wedding was over.

She looked at Rowan once more and did not miss the light in his eyes.

Rowan stared at Aelin walking towards him at Aedion’s arm. She took his breath away. It did not matter that she complained that she was not anymore the young sexy woman he met at uni. She still had the power to make his knees go jelly and leave him breathless. She was the most stunning woman he had ever met and felt like the luckiest man alive for the privilege of calling her his wife.

She stopped in front of him and Aedion kissed her cheek then moved away to join Lysandra.

Dorian moved at their side ready to officiate the wedding.

“Friends, family, little people,” all the kids giggled at the comment “thank you for joining us on this happy day to bear witness to Aelin and Rowan renew the wedding vows they exchanged many years ago.” He began “I saw these two fight, slowly fall in love and become the cheesy couple we all know.” More laughter from their friends “they have been through a lot but they also were probably the only couple who could have faced the challenges fate threw at them and come out of it more in love than ever. It makes me happy to be here today to forge their union once again and showing us that through love, all is possible.”

Rowan and Aelin stared in each other’s eyes and he gently took her hand feeling her shaking a bit in trepidation.

Aelin nodded to him as if to tell him that he could go first with his vows.

Rowan cleared his voice “Fireheart, if after the accident, someone had told me that a few month later I would be standing in front of you to renew our wedding vows I would have told them they were insane. But you believed in me, in our bond.” He paused “you never gave up on us. With time we found our way back, we found each other again and day by day I fell in love with my wife once again.” He heard some people sniff in the background “I love you. I love our family and I wish for the chance to grow old with you. You are my everything.” He leaned forward and kissed her.

Aelin smiled wickedly “Rowan, my buzzard I think by now we have a fair idea on how life can be unpredictable and cruel, but we fought through every challenge. The promises I made you at our first wedding are still true. You are my rock and as long as you are at my side I am not afraid. I love you, more than anything, more than life itself. To whatever end.”

“To whatever end.” He said back to her and she crashed against his chest and Rowan held her tight “I love you.” He told her again.

“I believe you have new rings to exchange.” Dorian interrupted that tearful moment and both pulled apart for the last part of the ceremony.

“I hope you ladies are wearing waterproof mascara because those were tearful vows. I almost teared up as well.”

Aelin had asked Dorian because even at their first wedding he had been fun had had given a nice twist to the ceremony. He had been delighted when they asked him once more.

He looked at Manon who was now sobbing no doubt because of the hormones.

“Look at Manon you both. You broke my usually unflappable wife with your cheesy love confessions.”

“Do you realise it’s just the hormones? She hasn’t become a softie all of a sudden?” Aelin whispered to Dorian and the man grinned back.

“And now the rings.” Aedion passed a ring each and they got ready.

“I, Rowan, take thee Fireheart once more to be my lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for better and for worse and promise to love you until death do us part.” His hand gently slid the ring next to her engagement one.

“I, Aelin take thee Rowan as my lawfully wedded buzzard once again. Through sickness, through health. Through bad times and happier ones. This is my promise to you, until death do us part.” She smiled at him and placed the ring on his finger once again.

“Well, my job here is done. Now parents, please cover your kid’s eyes as I expect some ritual smooching.” The guests burst out laughing.

Rowan grabbed Aelin at the waist and pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. When they broke apart, his forehead touched hers.

“I love you, buzzard.”

He stared in her blue eyes.

“I love you, fireheart.”

To whatever end.

[ursie]

Nico time is the best time!

He tried to get into star wars for Will, he really did, ut no matter how many times he watches the movies/shows he will forget most of the info. Will accepts this and appreciates the effort none the less

Hazel and him binge watch series together. Leo/Will/Jason (or some other friend) will suggest a show to watch and he will say sorry but that's sibling time<3(someone once asked if he can ignore that just this once and in a single look it was obvious that no, there will be no exceptions when it comes fo his and Hazel's sibling time)

Him and Bianca were the stereotypical harmless teasing siblings, him and Hazel are nothing but kindness and softness

(I've seen your headcanon of Nico having a turtle named Mary Shelly and since then I've learned bit about Mary Shelly's mom, Mary Wollstonecraft, and I think Nico would stan them both)

Everytime Nico and Hazel visit they bring the other a plushy. Between the two of them they have a beanie-baby collection larger than my own(and I have 2 crates of them)

Nico and Leo are the smart ones™ but one opposite ends of the scale. Nico is very into the humanities(social studies/english/etc) and Leo is the math/science guy.

What I'm saying is Nico has made a story before/maybe written about some older/lesser know mythos, Hazel drew some stuff for it, and Leo decided to take Every Magical Item from it and use ✨science✨ to make it A Real But Non-Magical Thing

Festus has mechanical friends now

Nico geeked out over them all(yes I ship them and think Rick is a coward- what about it)

Nico will catch himself humming a song but have no idea where he's heard it before(coincidentally Maria has become known to sing to the too-young heroes who visit elysium much too soon. Maybe it sounds the same, maybe it doesn't)

He doesn't like squishy food

He was one offered a tomato slice. He has never been more disgusted in his life.

He got mauled by werewolves, are there any side effects??? Does he have urges to eat raw meat??? DOES HE??? I need answers

If he asks Dionysus nicely he can get anything. I mean anything.

The 'you cant leave camp without a quest' rule does not apply to him, and he takes advantage of this.

When he learned how to sow/embroider stuff he made Hestia a really nice pillow since she kneels at a fire all day. She was very thankful and uses it everyday

All of the older/lesser known gods love him

He goes out of his way to give offerings to the gods he thinks need it most

That's all I have for now. Happy birthday to the best boy.

HELLO I LOVE ALL OF THESE PLS IM TEARING UP OVER SIBLING TIME also the Mr.D one?? Canon!!

Send me your hcs/thoughts/ect

[fuckingthefictional]

sorry to bother but i have a request, could you write a peter parker! x reader, with the reader being the protégé or adopted daughter of the strange doctor? I searched a lot but I didn't find

Must be magic.

Peter Parker x Strange!Reader

Requested: Yes by @celenajulie

A/N: hope you enjoy this! I tried my best- and there will be a part 2 out soon, where Y/N introduces Peter to her dad, stay safe out there! Xx

Y/N never knew her birth parents, she had only been a mere few hours old when she had been left outside of a New York orphanage.

The owners took her in, fed her and let her grow. She was a generally happy baby.

Until one day, a few months later, Y/N took a turn for the worst. She was no longer that happy girl with the gummy smile, she wasn’t herself.

She slept more, she cried more, she vomited more despite eating less and she didn’t interact with the social workers at the house like she used to. She just wasn’t herself.

Soon they found out why. Y/N had a brain tumour, the doctors called it pineoblastoma.

It was rare, it was aggressive and it was killing the young infant- causing her to waste away.

There were several options, the majority of which were expensive and risky. The staff at the orphanage were considering placing Y/N into the care of a hospice.

After all, time was limited and their options were coming to dead ends. What else could they do? They needed a miracle, a doctor something magical if Y/N was to survive and thrive again.

-

Christine Palmer loved her job, she loved the idea of caring and helping those who needed her support.

It didn’t matter what age, gender, sexuality or race someone was- she tried 110% to help them to the best of her ability.

Some said that she cared too much, Christine opted towards the fact that compassion was key in the medical industry. And anyone who lacked it, wasn’t cut out for this line of work.

Compassion was what lead Christine to Y/N.

God- she could still remember the first time she’d met the tiny girl.

It had been in the early hours of the morning, the rain had been hammering down for hours and all had been relatively quiet in ER.

Christine remembered going to the vending machine in the waiting room on her break, in hopes to get a snack.

What she hadn’t expected was to become involved in a small dispute. There had been a small altercation that she had decided to step in between.

It seemed to of been between one of the ladies at the front desk and a tall, slender woman- who Christine had at first assumed to be a wife or parent of a patient.

It wasn’t until the young woman inquired why the argument had begun that she finally understood and jumped into action.

“It’s one of the children that I care for, Y/N- last month we were here and she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, we’ve been getting treatment but she’s taken a turn for the worse.”

It was almost immediately that Nurse Palmer jumped into action and called for support on her pager.

It took mere seconds for a doctor to come forward with the required equipment and a portable bassinet to wheel the baby away in.

But there was a nagging feeling in the back of Christine's head, she needed to call him. Just to be sure, to get support and a second opinion.

Without a second thought, she picked her phone from her scrub pocket and pressed the dial button, it rang for a second before a voice chimed through the other side.

“Christine it’s two in the morning.”

“You owe me that favour- come to the hospital now, I need support on a patient’s case.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Okay.” She paused, licking her lips. “And Stephen- thank you.”

-

It had been an ongoing gag between Stephen and Christine that he owed her a favour.

Ever since the incident in med school, Stephen vowed to give his friend one favour- whenever she needed it, whatever it was- he would be there.

That was why he was getting dressed into his scrubs at 2:30 in the morning (when his next shift didn’t start for another day) in order to help Christine with whatever it was she needed.

When Stephen arrived at the hospital he rushed to where Christine said to meet, Paediatric intensive care unit.

He strolled in, finding Christine sat on a chair next to a tiny infant, no less than a few months old, who was covered in fresh wires.

“She has pineoblastoma.” She explained softly, “You’re the only one I know who can operate and get positive results on this sort of thing.”

Stephen nodded, formulating a plan in his head as he read the baby’s case file.

The poor child had been through a lot in her first few months of life it seemed.

And the doctor didn’t know it yet - but he would soon become her proper family, and give her the life she deserved.

-

It was weird being the daughter of a master of the mystic realm. Like really weird. Nothing was ever ‘normal’ in her life.

Travelling to the grocery store? Her dad would simply use his sling ring.

Wouldn’t get out of bed? The cloak of levitation would drag her out if her dad willed it.

Wanted a slice of pizza? Sure- Wong would just conjure one up.

She lived in the New York Sanctum Sanctorum for crying out loud that didn’t exactly scream normal!

The only thing that may have been normal was her school life, Midtown school of science was perfect for Y/N.

She took after her father on that, she was smart and bright and loved to learn.

In fact, there had been many occasions growing up that she had been caught under the covers, flashlight in hand, reading her dad's old medical school textbooks.

But just because she was bright, didn’t mean that she made friends easily. Being smart often meant she was teased by her peers- it didn’t help that her last name was Strange either.

She had some friends on the debate team (MJ being one of them) and she talked to Peter and Ned too sometimes.

But half the time Y/N avoided it, after all, she’d rather not listen to her long term crush go on and on about how he loved the most popular girl in school.

It was painful- that stuff hurt. And every time she thought she’d taken a step forwards toward him he’d take three more back.

“Miss Strange?”

Y/N focused back in on the whiteboard, in front of which stood the extremely unimpressed bio teacher.

“Pardon?”

“The answer Miss Strange?” The teacher turned around, marker poised ready to write down her answer on the board for the class to see.

Thankfully MJ was up to date and mouthed the question number across the room. Looking down at the sheet in front of her she found the relevant question.

‘Name an example of a gene pool.’

“A population with a known proportion of A, B and O blood groups would be an example of a relevant gene pool.”

The teacher looked unimpressed at the fact that Y/N had been ‘listening’, “That is correct.” He cleared his throat, “Now before this lesson ends, I will be handing out these assignment sheets that are to be used for your upcoming projects- yes, you will be doing them with your lab partner. No-you cannot switch.”

Fuck that meant Peter was going to be Y/N’s partner. Double fuck. That meant spending time alone with him.

While Y/N pondered in her doom, the lunch bell rang and everyone moved around her as they packed up and left the classroom.

“Hey erm Y/N?”

The teenager’s head snapped up, only to come face to face with Peter.

“Peter!” She yelped, “Hi.”

The boy laughed breathily, “Hi, listen since we’re buddy’s on this project i was wondering when you were next free- Y’know to do the project?”

Y/N tucked some stray hairs behind her ears, “Oh I’m free whenever,” she ripped the corner of one of her pages off and scribbled down her number, “This is my number in case you need to call me.”

“Cool,” Peter rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “I should get going- it was nice talking.”

“Yeah of course,” she nodded happily, “I’ll see you later.”

Mere minutes later there was a beep coming from Y/N’s pocket, she fished around in her pocket in an attempt to find her phone.

‘Hey this is peter, are you free to make a start on the project afterschool?’

She typed a quick response back, ‘Sure, where were you thinking?’

‘The library is probably most convenient right?’

‘Okay cool, I’ll see you later.’

By the end of the day, Y/N found herself practically bouncing at the idea of spending time with Peter alone.

She’d managed to snag a table and the required textbooks that they’d need. But minutes turned into hours and there was no sight of the boy that Y/N was falling for.

He’d stood her up.

Or at least that’s what Y/N had initially thought. but as the clock struck half-past five, she was aware that it was time she made her way home.

Despite his no show, the bright girl was almost entirely finished with the first half of the project.

She was in the process of exiting the library’s doors when she heard the familiar laugh paired with a high pitched giggle.

“Seriously though- Thanks for helping me with Chem.” The female voice countered, “I’d be lost without you.”

Y/N was flat backed to the cool, red bricks that made up the library building. Listening in to what was being said.

“No problem Liz,” Peter laughed nervously, Y/N could almost imagine the awkward neck rub that he did whenever he laughed like that, “I really enjoyed it- I-I’m glad I could help.”

So it was Liz that Peter stood her up with. Ouch- that stung.

The sorcerer's daughter felt tears drip down her cheeks, she sniffled quietly and kicked off the wall brushing past Peter and Liz briskly.

But all she could hear was Peter’s voice calling behind her. Shouting desperately for her to stop and let him explain.

But she did what she knew best, she went home to her family.

-

The next few days fell victim to the onslaught of messages that Peter sent to Y/N via text.

Even the sounds of her phone buzzing were beginning to set Y/N on edge. Especially since she knew that the notification coming through would be from Peter, begging to let him ‘explain.’

But once more in true Strange fashion, Y/N worked and worked and worked. Until the bio project was finished- almost four weeks in advance.

The way she saw it was that If the work had been completed, then there was no real to hang out with Peter ever again.

He, however, didn’t seem to have the same idea. As 3 weeks later on Monday, Peter had resorted to cornering the girl in the school's supply closet.

He didn’t want to do it, but Y/N gave him no choice. Peter had to explain himself.

“Peter- what the hell?” Y/N yelped, she was beyond pissed at this point.

“You haven’t been returning my texts and calls,” he shrugged, “I need to explain myself.”

“Like hell you do.” She spat, “Look it doesn’t matter, I’ve finished the damn project- we don’t need to see each other again.”

Peter looked shocked and there was hurt in his eyes, “Y/N...”

“What do you want me to say, Peter? That I’m not hurt?” She pursed her lips to stop the tears from leaking, “You left me for hours in the library all while you were having fun with Liz- how is that fair?”

“Please don’t cry,” He whispered, pulling her into his body in an embrace, “I can’t stand it when you cry.”

“You left me alone Peter!” She fought against his embrace, “Like everyone in my life!”

Peter held Y/N against him, rubbing her back and shushing her. Trying anything to bring her calm.

“I got nervous.”

Y/N lifted her head, “What?”

“I got nervous- I’ve- I’ve liked you for forever y’know. I was outside the library for 10 minutes willing myself to go in.” He laughed softly, “But every time I saw you sat there- I just froze.”

The young girl looked up in shock, “But-But Liz?”

“I was about to get reprimanded for loitering, she got me out of the situation. I was going to call you but my phone died.”

Y/N didn’t realise how close together they were until their foreheads touched and their noses bumped.

It felt like her heart was about to beat out of her chest. It was ironic really because when they finally met in a kiss it felt like all time had stopped.

She could feel every touch on her cheeks, his hair and how it ran through her fingers, how minty he smelt. Everything stood still and for a few moments, you had everything you’d ever wanted in the palm of your hand.

What Y/N had failed to notice was the glowing golden portal that had appeared in the supply closet- even worse the thoroughly unimpressed man standing through it.

“Y/N Strange you are so dead!”

“Shit!”

[thebluestbluewords]

Soulmates Aren’t Just Lovers, You Know (chapter 2!! It’s on ao3 now!! For real!!)

(malvie, ~4000 words, pre-relationship h/c, cw for mental health issues including non-explicit references to suicide and a lot of sad bits before the actual comfort)

When Mal wakes up again, there are a hell of a lot more people in her room.

Oh, fuck no. This is not some-- some kind of family meeting bullshit. She is so not down for that. Sometimes a girl just has to have a breakdown on her own, and it’s not anybody else’s business what she does when she’s in the throes of panic after having what might be the worst day of her entire life up to this point. Maybe the worst day period, if Mal has her way with it.

“Hey, Mal.” Evie says. “Good morning.”

Mal lets her eyes flicker over to the open window.

“Well, uh, it’s more like nighttime, actually.” Evie says. “But it’s the thought that counts. I brought you dinner, if that helps?”

She holds out a box from the dining hall.

Mal doesn’t want to sit up and eat dinner and pretend like she’s a real person. She wants to lay here forever until her bones rot and her flesh melts to the bed and she’s left as a discarded husk of a person.

“It’s those fancy potato pockets?” Evie offers, shaking the box a little bit. “And I think there’s dessert?”

Mal sits up. It feels like there’s a weight where her spine should be, but she manages it. “You think?” she asks. “You don’t even know what you got for me?”

Evie has the decency to flush. “When I said I got you dinner, what I meant is that dinner has been summoned for you, and I helped.” she says arily. “It was not meant to be taken literally.”

Mal reaches out for the box. “So, what you’re saying is, the boys brought me dinner.”

Evie nods, sharp. “Yes.”

“We got you apple cake.” Carlos offers. “But if you want something else we have the door code for the freezer.”

Of course they do. Mal knows that. She was there, she’s pretty sure, when they followed one of the assistant cooks around until they could watch her put the code in and take the knowledge for themselves. She’s definitely been there when they’ve gone into the main freezer before, not just the little student one. They don’t keep the raspberry popsicles in the student freezer. She knows this.

“You are….a menace to society.” Mal says, taking the box. It’s still warm. A little bit damp on the bottom, condensation from the warm food inside. It’s weird, to think that it’s been this easy all along. Just come to Auradon, and you can have all the hot food you want. No bartering, no threatening for it. No knives involved at all for the good little kiddies in princess school. Wouldn’t want them to get hurt, finding food for themselves. Wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to the precious little royal brats.

Anger might not be the right emotion, but it’s something other than empty, so Mal’s going to take what she can get.

Evie is kind enough to wait until Mal has one potato pocket in her mouth and another one in her hand before she speaks.

“So,” Evie starts, and Mal spits her potato thing out so that she can cut her off right there, because no, it doesn’t matter that the boys are in her room, or that Evie went to the effort of tracking them down and making them bring her dinner, this is not a family meeting and Mal is not going to sit here and listen to more people tell her that she’s doing everything wrong.

“No.” Mal snaps, and picks up her only-slightly-damaged dinner again. “We’re not talking about it.”

Evie sighs, dramatically. “No right back at you. We have to talk about this.”

“We don’t!” Mal says, around her mouthful of potato pocket. Fuck, but these things are good.  “We can just pretend like it never happened, and I can go back to--”

Evie interrupts her. “To being miserable all the time and not telling us?” she asks. “That’s what you want to happen?”

Ugh.

Mal flings an arm out, gesturing to the room, where her stylish little backpack is hanging up, where her princess-appropriate shoes are resting on their little white rack in the corner, where her-- okay, where her clothes are still in piles all over the floor and her textbooks for her science classes are sitting unopened on the desk but that’s fine. That’s normal. Everyone has weeks where their room is a mess, that’s why they have a cleaning staff to come around and do the things that the students are too busy to do themselves. It’s not Mal being lazy, it’s her adjusting. To this brave new world. Of. Being a spoiled rich brat.

Anyway.

“To coping!” Mal shouts, mad at herself and not-- just, so not ready to touch that one yet. “I’m coping. It’s fine. I’m just having a rough adjustment, that’s all. It’s hard, learning all of this new Auradon--stuff.”

“I don’t think you are,” Evie says, gently. “Coping is what we did months ago, when we were figuring out how to get through classes, and how to find sunscreen, and all of that. This kind of feels like, well.”

Ugh. “What.” Mal demands. “Spit it out.”

“Like you’re struggling.”

Oh. That’s-- yeah. That’s pretty obvious. Adjusting to the restrictions of school, to all of the times where back home Mal could go and do what she wanted and now she has to go to class and turn things in and speak in turn and not use her hands and sit up straight and share her things and--

It’s a lot. She’s been working on it.

“Sure.” Mal says, because it’s pretty fucking obvious that she’s putting in the effort. If she ends every day so tired she could cry and wakes up with sandpaper where her eyelids should be, that just means she’s working really hard at doing everything right. “Coping, struggling, whatever. I’ll get through it. It’s fine.”

“Mal, I don’t think it is fine.” says Evie. She looks--

Mal sticks another potato thing in her mouth instead of thinking about it. Emotions are overrated anyway.

Evie sighs again. “Some of the things you were saying, it feels like you aren’t happy here.”

“I--” Mal stutters. Stop. Breathe. “I--”

She’s not happy. Anyone with eyes to look at her right now, hiding pathetically in the bed of a girl who she wouldn’t even talk to a year and half ago, could see that. Mal’s pretty sure the lack of feeling that swallows her up sometimes isn’t the same thing as being unhappy, though. It’s the absence of happiness, not the presence of unhappiness. It’s fine. Survivable. She’s supposed to feel grateful, she knows that. She can show her best smile for the cameras, usually, and tell anyone within earshot how grateful she is for the chance to leave the island, and it’s not even a lie, most of the time. It’s awful being here, and it was awful being there, but at least it’s been a different kind of awful, and that’s got to be worth something.

Mal can convince herself, most of the time, that it’s better to be here. Better to be warm and dry and fed and miserable, than to be cold and starving and interested in her own life.

It’s just hard to remember that sometimes.

Jay shifts, pushing off of the table he’d been leaning on and then stopping, like he’s not sure where to move. “We’re not saying that you have to be happy all the time, or whatever,” he says “I’m not. Evie’s not. We’re-- yeah.” He hesitates. Even now, there’s things they aren’t talking about. “I don’t know what’s up with you and Ben, but he’s not happy all the time either. That’s how people work.”

Mal will not cry. “Ben hates me is what’s up with him.” she explains calmly, like a rational person who isn’t suddenly on the verge of tears over nothing. “ He wants me to give up magic completely and I can’t do that, I just can’t. It’s a part of me and it-- when I don’t use it, I’m cutting off a part of myself.”

“Have you talked to Fairy Godmother yet about the magical theory classes?” Evie asks softly. “Jane is taking them, and so is Aria. You wouldn’t be alone.”

Mal scoffs. “Magic theory. Like that’s good for anything.”

“It could help--”

The tears are back, suddenly.  Prickling hot at the back of Mal’s throat, threatening to choke her again. Making her voice wobble like she’s weak.

“It’s not going to help!” Mal shouts, instead of giving in to her other impulse, which is to start sobbing. “It’s not the same thing! I wouldn’t expect you to understand that, but it’s not something I can just-- wish away if I just try hard enough! I need to use magic, and it’s the only way I can be good enough--”

Oh, gods. Fuck. She wasn’t going to cry again.

Evie’s there again, touching Mal’s hand and then her hair, soft and cool and just right in a way that makes Mal want to cry more and not less. Like, Evie’s here, and she’s saying soft words that Mal can’t hear over the pounding in her own head, but it’s got to be just the right thing because Evie always knows the right thing to say whenever Mal is acting stupid again.

“I don’t--” Mal tries. “I--”

Evie wraps an arm over her shoulders and rocks both of them back and forth like she’s a child again.  “It’s okay,” she’s saying, or at least that’s what it seems like she might be saying. It’s hard to tell what with the hysterics and all. “I’ve got you.”

Mal holds her breath until there are spots over her vision, and then lets it out. It’s not easy, but it’s doable, which is more than she could have said just a few hours ago.

Jay shifts forward again and actually makes the move to sit on Mal’s other side this time. His shoulder just barely brushes against hers. It’s nice to just have him there. Grounding, or something.

“Hey. We’re not saying you have to give up magic, okay?” Jay says. “What about, like, we find a way for you to use it somewhere that’s not on your royal boyfriend?”

Oh no.

“He hates--” Mal sniffles. “Hates me anyway. Doesn't matter anymore.”

“Yeah. No. He doesn’t. Trust me on this one,  it takes a lot more than one spell to drive us guys away.”

“I’ve done a lot worse than one spell,” says Mal. “It’s more like-- a whole spellbook.”

Jay bumps her shoulder. It knocks her over into Evie a bit, but that’s just fine with Mal. Evie is always a good place to be. “He’s gonna forgive you.” Jay tells her, like it’s already happened. “He never shuts up about you, for real.”

“I don’t know if I want him to forgive me.” Mal whispers, low and terrible and mostly to herself. She doesn’t know--

She loves Ben, she thinks. She could love him. She does love him, maybe, but in the same way that she loves her other friends. There’s room in her heart for at least three people, but when one of them is so much more it’s hard to say if there’s any space left over for people who don’t get it.

It takes a long minute of sitting with that thought before Mal realizes that oh, right, she was saying something.

It feels too late to finish the thought. Limited-time offer, already expired. No more talking about boyfriends who aren’t what she needs right now anyway. Better to think about Evie instead, safe and warm at her back, or her boys, steady and bright and sweet in their own ways that Mal already understands. It’s easy to be with people you’ve known since you were children, even if they think more about stabbing and stealing than about treaties and marriage and life after high school and all of the things that Mal is supposed to be thinking about now.

Evie shoves Mal upright. “Okay,” she says, clapping her hands together. “I think it’s time to do something that’s not moping now!”

Mal wants to mope forever.  She doesn’t want to rehydrate and rest and do all of the things that Evie is going to make her do. Mal would happily (hah, as-if) stay flopped out in Evie’s bed, draped over Evie’s shoulder forever if she could. It would be easier than facing her problems. Simpler.

Evie pulls a metal dish out of her bag. “We brought popcorn, if you want to do the honor,” she says, clicking out the handle and waving the pan towards Mal.

It’s an effort just for Mal to be sitting up right now. Fire has always come easily, but the act of reaching out a hand might be too much. Transforming her throat to blow a breath of flame wouldn’t just be an effort physically, but mentally as well. It’s easy enough to change her whole shape at once, but there’s no space for a dragon to curl up in a dorm room and transforming her body in bits and pieces is so far beyond what Mal can manage right now that it might as well be impossible.

Mal shakes her head. Nope. All out of fire juice, can’t do it today.

The do have a microwave with a heating element, and at least three lighters between the four of them, so there’s really no need for Mal’s crew to look so fucking stricken.

Ugh. One hot hand won’t hurt too much, and if it can get them to stop looking at her like that, it’ll be worth the effort. “Fine. Give ‘em here,” Mal says, gesturing for the popcorn tin. “I’m doing this because I love you.”

Evie hands it over. “And I love you,” she says back, easily. “Let’s get some Stage Moms going. Let the boys get it set up while we get all cozy.”

Mal sniffles. The popcorn is heating up on her palm, where she’s sending a steady stream of heat up through to the container. It’ll pop in a minute, so long as she doesn’t do something dumb like forget to regulate the heat and light the whole thing on fire. “You don’t have to do this.”

Evie wraps an arm around her shoulders, jostling her close again. “I know. What are friends for, right?”

Oh, Evil.

Evie takes this new bout of tears in stride, pulling Mal close and rescuing the popcorn before it burns and producing a handkerchief from somewhere for Mal to wipe her nose with as she cries.  “I know, I know,” she says soothingly, as Mal sobs into her shoulder. “We’re here for you.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Shh, hey. You do, Mali. You do, and you always will. Nothing you do is gonna drive us away, okay? We’re your family, and you can’t make us leave even if you try.”

There’s a weight behind Mal, and oh, that’s the sound of Stage Moms up on somebody’s laptop, so the boys must be done getting that set up, and then there’s a hesitant hand patting her back, and oh--

“Um, please don’t try.” Carlos says. “We love you and all. But please don’t.”

There’s a jostling, and then the sounds of someone (Evie) whacking someone else (definitely Carlos, then) upside the head.

“If you need us, baby,” Evie says. “Wherever or whenever or anything. We’re here for you and you can’t change that even if you want to.”

“Even if I’m just like my mother?” Mal asks. She doesn’t want to, but she can’t seem to stop herself. It’s an awful compulsion, the constant need to weigh her actions against her mother’s. Following the trajectory of bright young girl to bitter young woman, to becoming more and more entwined with her magic, until finally she can’t resist the need for power anymore, and she snaps and starts cursing people left and right with no mind for the consequences.

Mal can’t look up. She can’t know what’s going on in this terrible silence that’s going to choke her, even though she wants to know, so very very much, what her crew is doing right now. How they’re going to lie to her when they try and reassure her that she’s not her mother and she won’t ever be, even though the roots are already there.

Evie doesn’t lie to her. “Even then.” she says. “We’d still follow you, Mal. Even if you start cursing people with no rhyme or reason. I’ll always get you back.”

Another wave of hot tears somehow trickle out. “I want to go home.” Mal whispers. She wouldn’t have to worry about dragging her crew back with her if they were home. If they’d never left in the first place. Curse Auradon for making her think about things like morality and goodness and what she could have if only she could be a good girl for a little bit longer. Curse them all.

Evie sighs, and Mal can feel her chest rise and fall with it where they’re squished together on the little island of Evie’s bed. “I know, babe,” Evie says. “You keep saying that.”

Goddess help them all. “I want to go home,” Mal tries to explain. “Not, like, to my mother. I just-- I hate it here. I don’t understand any of the rules and I don’t know how to be a princess like you, Eves. I don’t--” Mal breaks off to swipe a hand over her face. She is not going to cry again,  not with almost everyone she cares about still here to watch. “I don’t think I can keep up with everything anymore. I just want a break.”

Evie sighs again, and rubs a hand over Mal’s back, gentle-like. “What if we got you one?” she says, so softly that Mal almost misses it.

She doesn’t though, and that’s what matters. “What?” Mal asks. Tries to demand, really, but it doesn’t come out quite right.

Evie’s hand doesn’t break rhythm. “A break. We can do that. Get you some time to regroup.”

“I don’t-- it won’t help--”

“Hm.” Evie says, and it sounds skeptical even though it’s barely a noise at all. “You don’t think I can do it?”

“I-- no!”  Mal says, almost tearful again. Fuck, what’s gotten into her, crying at the drop of a brick like this. “You could-- anything, Eves. You can do anything you want, I’m not doubting you.”

Evie conveniently ignores the final emphasis. “Great!”

Oh no.

“No, ” Mal tries to tell her. “I don’t-- Eves.”

“You said I can do anything I want.” Evie challenges, dangerous even under her sparkly lipgloss. Dangerous because of it, maybe. Like a poisonous moth. Something beautiful that you should know better than to touch. “I’m doing it.”

“You did say that.” Jay echoes, watching Mal a little too closely with those stupid bright eyes of his. “Like, just now.”

“I lied.” Mal says immediately. “I’ve never- I would never say a thing like that.”

“Mmm.” says Evie, petting a hand over Mal’s head. It feels not-so-great, so Mal ducks away. She doesn’t need to be reminded of her hair just now. “I don’t think you did. I think you know I’m right, and you’re afraid to think about what it means.”

Oh no. “Can we not psychoanalyze me right now?” Mal begs.

Just like that, Evie backs off. “Sure.” she says breezily. “We can plan your getaway instead. Do you want to see the mountains?”

“I--” Mal tries, but the words stick. “Sure?”

“I think there’s a cabin up there that I can convince, ah,’ Evie barely stutters, but she does wince, and goes on anyway. Great. That’s perfect.  “Nobody in particular! To let us borrow!”

“Eves, please no.”

Evie breaks out into a brilliant smile “Oh yes. Do you think two weeks is enough? An extended spring break, so to speak,  and then we can talk about a longer-term kind of thing.”

Running away forever sounds like something that might be good, but forever also implies some sort of continued existence, and Mal’s really not sure if she’s down for that just now.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” she says, instead of the full thought. “What if it doesn’t change anything?”

“It’s a great idea,” says Evie. “All of my ideas are great, remember?”

“You’re coming with me, right?” Mal asks, hating how pathetic it comes out. She’s not a child, but she feels silly and childish again, watching her best friend plan out how to fix her life.

Evie pauses. “If you want us to,” she says, hesitant for the first time. “I don’t want to put any more pressure on you.”

Oh. The thought strikes Mal for the first time in this awful, no-good, very bad day that maybe she’s not the only one who doesn’t know what she’s doing here. That maybe Evie is scared too.

“I want you there.” Mal says firmly. This, at least, is something she knows. “I want all of you, but please, Eves, I need you there. Don’t send me away on my own.”

“I think we can do that.”

Mal doesn’t want to show her whole soul here, but it’s too easy to just tip her face up towards Evie’s, like she’s a flower reaching for the bright Auradon sun. “Yeah?” she asks hopefully.

Evie brushes a piece of Mal’s hair out of her face, so gentle that it doesn’t even tug on the tangles. “For sure.” she says. “We can go with you.”

“All of you?” Mal asks again, pathetically. “Just for a week, please.”

There’s an intense conversation happening in eyebrows and facial twitching going on over her head, but Mal isn’t ready to follow that just yet, and eventually it seems to resolve itself and Jay reaches over to pat her head. “Yeah, fine.” he says. “All of us.”

Evie lets out a breath. “It’s settled then. An extended spring break, starting next week. Can you do one more week, Mal? We can always call you out sick.”

Mal can’t imagine leaving her room in the next week, much less leaving campus to go out to another unknown place for an extended period of time. “I can do it.” she says, instead of explaining. Classes are the lesser of the two obstacles right now, and besides, she can’t ask the others to take the time off from the classes that they’re finally doing well in. It wouldn’t be fair to them. She’s already-- oh, Evil. She’s asking Jay to give up the university visit he was going to do over break. Fuck. Maybe he can travel down and back, but he hates driving on his own, and she’s already asking so much of them, coming with her at all, and oh--

“We’ll call out early next week.” Evie whispers to her. “One week with everyone, and then we can have a week just for us if you’re up for it, okay?”

Of course Evie already has it all figured out. “Okay.” Mal whispers back to her. “I’ll be okay.”

“Oh, good.” Evie says, at a more normal volume this time. “If you’re feeling up to it, there is one other thing--” she picks up her phone and tilts the screen over towards Mal.

There’s a whole mess of texts, and at least two missed calls that Mal can see already. From a very particular number. Oh, gods.

“No.” Mal says as firmly as she can manage. “No way.”

Evie doesn’t lower the phone. “He’s been calling me.”

“Then tell him to not!” Mal bursts out. “I can’t talk to him about this now!”

Evie grins at that. A full-out, unladylike, evil grin. “Gladly.” she says sweetly, and taps to immediately dismiss the whole mess.

What.

“Really?” Mal asks incredulously.  Evie loves being proper and outwardly kind and not telling people to fuck off to their faces. Evie is a firm believer in the idea that insults stick best when the person has to say ‘thank you’ and ideally won’t even question it until they’re back home that night (where they’re most vulnerable, Evie says. It’s just efficiency to make sure that you’re always hurting people while their guard is down).

“Mal. Baby.” Evie says, shifting so she can talk with her hands without Mal’s sad droopy self in the way. “You don’t know how long I have been waiting to tell this boy to fuck off and let you adjust on your own time. You broke up with Uma like, a month before we came here. That’s not long enough to jump right into another long term relationship, no matter what this Auradon boy thinks. You need time, and space, and I will tell him to give you all of that.”

Mal will not stare with her mouth open like a fish. She’s better than that.

“Wow, okay, Eves.” Jay says, almost laughing. Right.

“Go Evie!” Carlos practically cheers. Of course the boys are still here too. They wouldn’t leave the perfect opportunity for drama behind just because Mal is having a moment.

Evie nods to them, graciously. “Thank you, thank you.” she says. “I do take requests.” she hesitates for a moment. “But, um, Mali, do you want to maybe write him a letter? I can drop it off when I make the call. Make sure he really gets the message.”

“Yeah. I think that-- that would be good. I need space. And time.”

Evie picks up Mal’s hand and gives it a squeeze. “Of course.”

“You’ll really do it for me?”

Evie’s eyes are dark and intense and so, so close. “Anything, Mal.” she says. “Just say the word and I’m yours.”

Oh. That’s-- well.

Maybe more than Mal can handle at this exact moment, honestly, but something that is going to be very very important just as soon as she gets her shit together again.

Evie’s face is still very close.

Mal pulls back. “I love you.” she says. It just feels like the right thing to do. “So much, Eves. I love you more than anything.”

Evie’s mouth quirks up at the corner. “More than strawberries?”

“More than strawberries.” Mal echoes back. More than anything, really. “More than chocolate.”

Evie brushes that stupid piece of blonde hair out of her eyes again, and the touch isn’t even a bother this time. “That’s a lot of love,” she says “You’d better be sure about that kind of thing.”

More than anything.

“I’m sure,” Mal tells her. “I love you.”

[rickssugarplum]

Rick’s Assistant

Alright, this is a first for me. A Rick and Male Reader! I got this request from an amazing anon, who I want to thank so much for this! They know who they are! Hope you like it! ❤

(Rick C-137 x Male Reader) NSFW-ish, Hints of Depression, Male Reader, Ice Cream, Fluff, Making Out, 2,700+ Words

As Ricks lab assistant, you start to develop feelings for him. You are struggling inside and Rick shows compassion.

                   ___________________________________________

In the garage-turned-lab, you were assisting Rick with an experiment with chemical mixing. You immediately took the offer since he couldn’t have Morty help him whenever he wanted anymore. Not that you minded. Science was something that always interested you and it was practically an honor to be in the presence of the smartest man in the universe himself.

As you watched Rick mess around with his beakers, you paid close attention to his hands. Something about how active they were, knowing that they had created so many incredible inventions, held deadly weapons, and destroyed many different parts of the galaxy. They were dangerous, yet...right now, they were just holding on to some beakers.

“Can I ask what chemicals are you planning to mix?” you peeped out.

Rick, his eyes still focused on his work, answered properly, “Serotonin and Dopamine. The-they’re considered the happy chemicals in our brain. Good to help treat different mental illnesses.”

Your mind hoped his experiment could benefit you somehow. Lately, life for you was a constant struggle just to get out of bed. Whenever you looked in a mirror, it was almost torture looking back at your reflection. There were many things you wish you could magically change about yourself, not simply just physically.

But you continued to fight through since taking this internship. Something about Rick was extremely fascinating about him. He has lived a long life filled with extraordinary adventures, quite the ying to your yang of your current life; uneventful and boring. You felt your heart swell whenever you spent time with him.

You watched Rick very carefully mix the chemicals in, trying to create the perfect concoction. He finally looked satisfied enough to place it in a test tube. Sealing it shut, he hands you the newly mixed chemical, brushing his fingers against yours in the process. The contact gave you slight shivers.

“Alright, just place it on the shelf and we should be-be done for the day.” he instructed. You were more than willing to follow his instructions.

“Y-yes, sir.”

You mentally scolded yourself as soon as you heard him sigh. He had told you many times throughout your internship to just call him Rick. But, you always made a habit of addressing every adult formally. 

Next time, you’ll get it right, you promised yourself.

You placed the tube in it’s rightful assortment, and turned to Rick for confirmation.

“Alright. Think-I think we’re done here.” he said pleased with today’s progress. He then turned to you. “Thanks for your help today. I must say, you really have been doing a good job. There aren’t many who work out as long as you have.” he confessed.

Your eyes went wide and face felt hot at his praise. It was honestly such a surprise.

“Oh thank you very much, Si-Rick!” you corrected yourself. “I’m-I just really appreciate the opportunity to assist you. Science is just so fascinating to me.”

Rick gave you a friendly smile. “Well...It’s good to see some people are appreciative of actual genius.” he confessed.

Rick grabbed his flask out of his lab coat and took a swig before he answered. “I usually have my grandson help me with everything, but now I need his “permission” to help me out.” he explained annoyed.

If there was one thing you learned about Rick for these few weeks, it’s that he doesn’t like to follow rules.

“Yeah, family can be a pain in the ass, am-am I right?” he chuckled.

Looking down on the cold floor, it was hard to think about family sometimes.

“Yeah...they sure can be...” 

Rick squinted his eyes, trying to read you. He could tell something is bothering you. But, he wasn’t one to have anyone elaborate.

“Hey uhhh..How ‘bout we go get some ice cream? T-t-to reward you for your good work, I’ll take you to the best fucking ice cream place in the galaxy. How’s that sound?” 

Your eyes bugged out in shock. So overwhelmed, you took up on the offer. “Yeah! I’d love to!”

Rick smiled. “Great. I’ll take you in my ship.” He grabs his car keys and climbs into the driver’s seat of the vehicle. “C’mon in!” He gestures at you. 

With the excitement of space traveling, you get into the passenger's seat and frantically put on your seatbelt.

Rick turns the key to start the engine. “Alright, let’s get some ice cream, dawg!” he yells as you fly away into the atmosphere. 

“Wow” you exclaimed, looking out the window, You heard Rick chuckle.

“Ever been outside of Earth before?” he asked you.

“Never. Th-this is incredible!” 

The ship was now driving before trillions of stars. “Well, just wait until we get the ice cream. You won’t enjoy the Earth stuff the same way.” he promised

Something in you gave in. There wasn’t a time you could remember anyone doing something so nice for you, especially someone you barely knew still.

Out of nowhere, you felt your throat go tight, eyes started pooling with tears. You placed your hands in your face so Rick wouldn’t see. However your loud sniffles got his attention.

‘Woah. woah, heyyy what’s with the w-waterworks? Is this-this all about the ice cream?”

You were humiliated. Thinking you already ruined your chances to make a good impression now, you sobbed into yourself trying to hide in your seat. Rick started to realize there was something more serious. He pulled over in the middle of the atmosphere to help access this.

One of his hands started rubbing your shoulder, trying to soothe you.

“Hey, man...breathe...It-It’s alright...” he cooed softly.

Thinking back to when you were in the lab watching his hands, your mind thought to how now one of them were comforting you.

His gruff voice was so gentle. His hand was now stroking your back to put you at ease.

“I uhh...don’t do this really but...c’mere...” 

His arms opened up for you to fall into. You swore you were dreaming, But you went into them and it was so real. His body was warm to the touch. His sweater was soft against your cheek, his heart beating led you to take it all in and relax for a moment. As if, he had all the time in the world for you.

“Shhhh...It’s alright. Just try to take it easy...” he murmured in your ear. You did your best to quiet your sobs as hard as it was...

Suddenly, you felt a soft kiss on the top of your head. It gave you shivers and made you cling onto him even more. You couldn’t believe he could be so gentle with anyone.

“Y-you don’t need to tell me what’s on your mind, but I can tell y-you’re struggling with something....” he stated. You simply nodded in his chest, confirming his suspicion.

“I’m sorry, Rick...” you cried. He just hushed you and rubbed your back. “Shhh...No it’s okay. There’s no-no need to be sorry for how you feel...”

All you could do was sit there in his embrace, trying to get yourself together.

“It’s...It’s real hell, huh?” he spoke up. “T-to keep trying to get by, pretending everything’s just fine when you just wanna cry out?”

You just nodded again, too afraid to speak. “Well, I’m not-I’m no expert, but ice cream usually softens the blow for me.” he chuckled.

A tiny laugh sneaks out of you, and you feel his hand stroke your hair. “There’s a smile.” he said relieved. He grabs your face gently and wipes your tears away.

“Thanks, Rick...” you say quietly.

“Don’t thank me, yet. Best is yet to come, motherfuckaaa!!” he shouts as he drives off once again into the stars.

                   ___________________________________________

When you finally enter the ice cream shop, your eyes are immediately met with a wide variety of flavors in a pastel setting with fluorescent lighting. The child within you would love this place. “Oh my god, this is incredible!” you exclaimed. 

Rick smirked. “Uh huh. What did I tell you? Best ice cream place in the galaxy!”

You both walked up to the counter, where there were multitudes of flavors all around. It was almost overwhelming to pick one. You decided to go with something simple. Going with the Vanilla with some crazy toppings that Rick recommended. When you got your treats, you both sat down in a booth.

It was quite nice to see the delight on Rick’s face as he was taking a lick of his ice cream.  Who would’ve thought the smartest man could find simple happiness from a frozen treat? 

Your eyes were suddenly glued to his tongue caressing his treat. In the cold parlor, your cheeks started feeling really warm.

“Heh, you okay?” he broke the silence. Immediately looking back to his eyes. “Oh uh..y-y-yeah!” you nervously laughed.

“You should start eating it before it melts, dawg!” 

Looking down at your hand, your ice cream already was starting to melt down your cone. Flustered, you quickly gave a lick and your tastebuds were met with pure sweetness. More than anything you’ve ever tasted in your entire life.

“MMM! Mm-Oh my god!” You muffled with ice cream in your mouth.”This is amazing!!”

“Yeah, see? Ha-ha this is the best fucking ice cream you’ll ever have. Trust me. I-I’ve been to many places. This-this place is the top-tier!”

Swallowing your treat, you replied, “You sure have gone to so many places. I wonder what it’s like.”

Rick seemed to appreciate your curiosity. “Well, for me, I love the freedom of it. Knowing I can go wherever I want, whenever I want. I’m m-my own boss in this rodeo!”

“That’s amazing.I wish I could feel that kind of freedom...” you lamented. You took another bite of your ice cream to calm yourself.

“Well, hey. I could show you around the universe. If you ever want to see a really special place, I could take you there...” he proposed.

You look in his eyes. There was no deception in them. His wrinkled smile was so warm and inviting. You knew he was being real.

“I’d...I’d like that very much...” you nearly whispered, smiling back at him.

Happy with your answer, he reached his hand across the table and placed it on top of yours. You swore you could feel your cheeks blush like crazy. His cold calloused hand was stroking yours oh so gently. His thumb caressed the back of your hand with fondness. 

Your skin was getting chills all over, and it was not from the ice cream.

He smiled at your timidness. “You wanna get going?” he murmured.

Not able to trust yourself, you simply nodded and let him take you by the hand out of the shop and back into his ship. He starts his car to get you both back to Earth.

From his peripheral vision, he could see you shaking. “Woah. You’re trembling...You alright, babe?” he asked softly.

“Oh! Y-yeah, I’m fine! Must be the excitement of space I guess” you nervously chuckled.

He hummed in response. You were still shaking. Putting his ship on autopilot, Rick held his arms out once again for you. “Here. Let me help...”

Your heartbeat went a little faster as you climbed into his lap and fell into his embrace. 

“Jesus...” he muttered. “Y-you’re shaking like a leaf.” he added as he held you tight in his arms, rubbing your back. You closed your eyes and took deep breaths, letting yourself relax in his arms. 

It had been such a long time since anyone held you like this, and he was doing it for the second time tonight. Knowing him only on a professional level until this point, you had a hunch that he wasn’t like this to just anyone. You wondered, if maybe, he had similar feelings for you that you have for him.

No.That’s crazy. Do you really think the smartest man in the universe would want to waste his time with a mediocre person such as y-

Your thought were interrupted when you felt his lips brush against your cheek. It made you gasp out in surprise. Rick laughed softly. “Sorry, was that unexpected?”

“A-a little...” you answered quietly.

“So, you didn’t like it?” he asked with a light smirk. 

“I didn’t say that.” you argued. Rick’s brow rose up. “Well then, you won’t mind if I did it again?” You shook your head. He placed his lips on the other cheek this time, to make it even. Your shivers crept up again. Now in this closed space, in his lap, planting kissed on you, your mind wanted this all to go further...

“What’s on your mind, baby?” 

Looking up at him, your cheeks red with anticipation. You were scared to tell him what you wanted. 

“You don’t need to tell me, babe. You can just show me what you want...” he whispered in your ear.

“Don’t be shy...”

That gave you enough bravery to finally make a move. Placing your hands on his face, you leaned up and placed your lips gently on his. They were surprisingly soft, with a little hint of alcohol with the ice cream he just had. You let go after a short time, looking at his face for his reaction.

He said nothing, only placed your mouth on his again in a more passionate kiss, You let out a soft hum as his lips caressed yours. This must be a dream, you thought. Wrapping his arms around his neck, you took it further by sneaking your tongue into his mouth, wanting to explore. He let you in with ease.

You could not believe this was happening. but all your senses were working together for this experience. When you stopped to breathe, Rick moved his lips down to your ear, planting soft kisses down to your neck. It was overwhelming how good it felt to have him like this. 

“Rick...” you whined.

“Mmm, yeah baby?” 

You felt so hot, the heat in the car had blasted up, you felt that were spiraling.

“Ahhh..t-t-too much...” you whispered. Suddenly Rick stopped to make eye contact with you. “You okay?”

“Y-yeah. I just..I’m sorry didn’t mean to ruin this all...” you apologized, quietly scolding yourself once more.

“Heh. Hey, no biggie. It’s quite a lot for a first date, don’t ya think?” he laughed.

You nervously laughed back. “Yeah..heh. Guess so..”

“We can make this a regular thing y’know. We can just...how ‘bout every Friday after our work, we can go get ice cream, o-or hell even something else you want. Anything your h-heart desires.” he offered.

“Really?” you said in disbelief. Rick nodded in confidence. “Yeah, just us. We’ll make it a regular thing.”

Leaning up to him, you seal the deal with a kiss. It’s short, but it got the message across.

“Heh. Guess that answers that question,” he snarked.

With that, he turned off the autopilot setting and with his hands back on the wheel, you were on your way back home.

A short time later, the ship lands in front of your home. Rick offers to walk you to your door. What a gentleman, you thought.

“Thank you for tonight, Rick, I..I really had a great time...” you confessed.

His arm drapes around your shoulder. “Yeah it was fun wasn’t it? Can’t wait to do this again. It’s gonna be great.” he said. As you approached your door, you said your farewell.

“I’ll see you on Monday, ready for my assistance.” you promised meekly. 

“Can hardly wait already, babe...” 

You smiled back at him as you were ready to turn around when suddenly-

“Oh one more thing!” Facing him again, you wondered what else he wanted.

“I’m not the best at talking out feelings but..d-don’t be afraid to come talk to me, okay? I think I can understand what y-you’re going through..”

You felt tears pool up your eyes again, but you were able to keep them in this time. “Thank you, Rick...”

He gave you one last kiss and wished you goodnight. Then, he was on his way back into his ship. You walked inside your home feeling lighter than air. It was the best you have felt in weeks.

Now, you were already looking forward to wake up on Monday morning.

❤ 

[normal-thoughts-official]

Raphael and madzie!! please I will sell you my firstborn for some Raphael and madzie content. Like him babysitting and sleepovers and playing dress up and watching Disney movies together. Raphael wearing this tiara and him and madzie playing together. Baking and singing together, going on trips to the park together and Raphael just being so happy.-

-Like if you think about it they are technically cousins🤔 with the whole found family thing, Catarina and Magnus are siblings Raphael is Magnus’ son ergo madzie and Raphael are cousins but they still think of each other as siblings. Raphael is her big brother! Please🥺

ok anon i hope you know that you are literally my new favorite person in the whole wide world and this ask is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. i will literally never shut the fuck up about raphael and madzie i will make this brotp a thing if it KILLS me just you watch

idk if id say they are technically cousins because i don’t know if catarina and magnus consider themselves siblings - definitely family for sure, but i get the feeling it’s more of a “generic” family feeling rather than a Specific Dynamic you know? but either way this is found family so it’s not like family tree/architecture is actually that stiff and matters that much, RAPHAEL IS MADZIE’S BIG BRO idc

and it’s literally canon that raphael is the best, most thoughtful, caring and dedicated older brother so like!!! honestly it’s what madzie deserves. she has a wonderful mom (two if you subscribe to dotarina raising madzie together <3) and underful uncles and a wonderful brother who is always on her side and would do anything for her, and that! is! fantastic! 

especially because like madzie is implied to be used to big families, since iris was going around making an army of warlocks basically lmao and like of course that was an abusive family dynamic but the point is that she was used to having siblings. but she was also implied to be the eldest and now she is the youngest! and she gets to have a nice big bro who takes care of her and plays with her and has her as a priority and i just 🥺🥺🥺

and god not to be a slut for raphael and rosa but i picture raphael just telling madzie all that he could about rosa?? you know??? he’s all like “you have an older sister too, you know? it’s a shame you never got to meet” and madzie kind of tilts her head and asks him to tell her about it. so raphael does. he sits down with her and shows her pictures of the both of them together from their childhood up until her death, and he tells her all the stories he possibly can. he says, “she would have loved you just as much as me. she always wanted to be someone’s older sister. said she wanted to take care of them like i take care of her” and madzie is all like “she sounds sweet. i wanted to know her, too” and raphael tears up slightly and he’s like “yeah. yeah. me too, cariño” and she hugs him

and like not to slut over this but i like to think that raphael teaches madzie about the monarch butterflies and día de los muertos and one day they are playing outside and a monarch lands on madzie?? and madzie calls it “rosa” and the butterfly is just flying over her head, alternating between her and raphael, for the whole afternoon? and raphael chokes up. fuck it all the legends are true, i love this alright

just like.... obviously raphael’s relationship with madzie is not some kind of substitute for his relationship with rosa, because madzie deserves better than that and no one can be rosa but rosa. raphael loves madzie for madzie, because she is sweet but fierce, extremely intelligent and with a playful/slightly mischievous (in a good way) side that is slowly blooming as time goes by and she heals from her abuse more and more. she is also good, endlessly caring, kind, compassionate, imaginative, affectionate. madzie is madzie and that’s all she needs to be. but the idea that raphael has someone to share rosa with, even if madzie obviously doesn’t feel about her the same way raphael did as they never met, but to bring her into this new family in a way... and let madzie knows that she also has another sibling looking out for her, even if from another plane... that’s nice and good food okay. and i think madzie would want to know about her, just like she tells raphael about her other siblings from when she lived with iris, even if they never got to be too close (cuz i doubt iris would risk letting them become very close and eventually realize her abuse and possibly rebel against her) 

maybe it’s madzie herself who brings it up, she asks raphael about the pictures in his home or about his “ave rosa” plaque 🥺 and he tells her about it and makes sure that she knows that he doesn’t love rosa more or less than he does madzie, just differently. they are both his little sisters no matter what

anyway! onto more rapha&madzie focused headcanons. first of all you are so correct about playing dress up and shit, raphael is a SIMP and a sucker for his lil sis so he absolutely will wear a tiara if she asks no questions asked. simon sees it one time and he doesn’t even consider making fun of him because raphael shoots him a glare that absolutely reads as “i double dare you, motherfucker”. not because uwu girly stuff just because he has this whole serious vibe and there he is with a tiara and tiny braids. we stan

also look i’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, raphael absolutely learns how to handle black/kinky hair for madzie. he was used to doing rosa’s hair but that was very likely straight or just wavy hair. madzie’s hair texture is different and raphael makes it a point to learn everything he can about how to take care of it and make hairstyles that she might like and won’t hurt her, okay? and yes i know that madzie straightens her hair but i like to think that over time she stops. i kinda headcanon that one of the reasons she did it was to look closer to iris, plus just the fact that as a white abuser i doubt she exactly planted it on madzie to love her natural hair. but over time living with catarina and being closer to a mostly-poc family and seeing maia and other beautiful black women with their natural hair and/or afro hairstyles, she stops straightening it, and everyone encourages her, raphael included. he even uses that, like, “i’ve been learning how to do these hairstyles for you, you know” and he shows her some and she gets so excited about trying them and it’s great

(initially he has catarina’s supervision, because again black hair is important and even if raphael is a moc he’s still nonblack. but catarina trusts him and he’s always so careful and makes sure to always listen to what she says, asks questions and all but takes notes lmao, so it works) 

and baking!!! i mean look madzie is gonna be naturally prone to liking to bake, as a warlock and shit. and if regular kids already play with making potions, warlock kids are definitely even worse, especially because she does see catarina, dot, and magnus doing that all the time so it’s one of the things that she likes to mimick. and baking is basically potion making but edible and solid lmao. but like she loves it, mixing the batter, adding sprinkles, seeing as the textures change and the taste builds and stuff like that, you know? she’s definitely fascinated by it especially because she does it without magic and it’s just, wow, so cool to her?? and raphael as the cook that he is is more than happy to teach her, bake with her, and see her enthusiasm. raphael with oven mitts taking a batch of cookies out of the oven yall. i need a second

and like i absolutely subscribe to genius madzie because LOOK that girl is endlessly fucking smart and so intelligent especially for her age, not to mention powerful and observant and just, she’s brilliant. and with both catarina and magnus, huge nerd extraordinaires, and possibly maia because i like to pepper in the fact that maia and raphael are dating, she gets all the incentive she could possibly want to want to learn about both mundane science and magical theory

but in short like! raphael getting her those chemistry sets for kids, you know? where you have some recipes and you can mix up ingredients and they change color or otherwise change and shit? my friend had one of those when we were kids and my god i loved it so much, i was just fascinated. i think madzie definitely would love it, and raphael knows that she will, so he takes a whole day off for when he brings her this gift because he knows they will be playing all afternoon. and they do! she’s super excited about it and raphael as usual is all careful and teaching her how to do it properly without spilling and taking the measures appropriately and stuff. and it’s super sweet

initially they follow the recipes and raphael’s autistic ass is just delighted to do that, but madzie quickly starts doing some #improv, and again, because she is a genius, she quickly starts to figure out what each substance does. so she’s texting theories, trying out experimenting, seeing if she’s right, trying to asses her work? you know? basically literally a mini scientist using the scientific method and stuff and raphael is so proud of her and in awe of how smart she is and he tells her that she’s the smartest kid he’s ever met and kisses her forehead and she giggles and is just super excited?? 

also sometimes she asks raphael what he thinks and he’s just like “uhhh” because he has no idea lmao he’s just happy to see her do her thing and help her with the practical parts. and she giggles at him and she’s lowkey outraged but again, she’s just sweet and he loves her

i also 100% think it was madzie who figured out a potion to make raphael able to eat (oh look what is this fic that mentions that doing here) because FUCK mundane raphael all my homies hate mundane raphael, the heavenly fire made him a daylighter. and she could see how sad raphael was that he didn’t get to eat at all, especially because he clearly loved food and he always had this sort of longing when they were cooking together, you know? it also made her sad that he couldn’t try her cooking, and he was always telling her that to cook, you need to always taste what you’re making, and once she says “but you can’t do that” and he looked so sad she immediately felt bad about it, even if obviously it isn’t her fault

anyway my point is she knows how much this means for raphael and she wants him to be able to eat human food again, both for him and for herself. so she spends a long time studying vampire anatomy/digestive system, food properties, and magic, and she eventually figures out a potion that he can take before a meal that makes him able to eat. it goes slowly, initially he can only drink, but eventually she does figure out a way to make him eat anything and he just cries like a baby tbh. she is worried for a second but then he takes her in his arms and hugs her fiercely and peppers kisses on her face and says that this is one of the best things anyone’s ever done for him and that he’ll “forever be in her debt” or something that makes her laugh because raphael doesn’t owe her anything, he’s her brother. and he tears up all over again

of course that takes some years but they’re immortal so who cares. and catarina is SO proud of her little genius for that, too. raphael and maia include the potion as courtesy for any vampire who orders food at taki’s and share the recipe and it’s just a small revolution in the vampire world and madzie is already making history like hot damn. GENIUS MADZIE OKAY

but of course first and foremost she is a kid and deserves to be a kid, i just love her being naturally curious and interesting in researching and learning and stuff. but of course they also play a lot, and keep trying to out-cheat each other as she has magic and he has super abilities and the game becomes more seeing who can cheat the most and get away with it than anything else lol. and it’s its own brand of fun

also, raphael keeps trying to get madzie to eat healthy but the second he averts his eyes she’s like “abrakadabra this is now ice cream” and he’s SO frustrated. absolutely nothing can stop her from doing it. “if you eat these carrots i’ll buy you ice cream later”. guess what she can just turn it into ice cream now. your tactics are meaningless

also madzie playing dressing up! and she wants to be Stylish like her mom and her big bro and her uncle magnus but of course she’s a kid so her sense of style is essentially book magnus lmao but raphael 100% indulges her in all her endeavours and helps her make her outrageous outfits and shit. she likes colorful stuff as we’ve seen and he paints her nails and stuff. sometimes she makes herself mini suits mimicking or straight up matching raphael’s and raphael thinks it’s the cutest thing. especially when she like, imitates his blazer but keeps wearing a boa as well or something. aioudjsauihda i love kids and fashion can you tell

and she sometimes picks out clothes for him and guess what? raphael 100% wears them because it’s madzie and he is s o f t for her

and singing!!! and DANCING!!! there is no way raphael can’t dance no matter how hard he tries to pretend otherwise, and between him, dot, and magnus, madzie just loves to dance and becomes a great dancer in no time. raphael loves twirling her around. also him teaching her the jarabe tapatío you can’t tell me that she wouldn’t be all over that shit. the playing with the dress, the bright colors, dancing around the sombrero.... bitch she would love it. and they have so much fun doing their little improvised version of that and she claps and he has his hands behind his back and has the greatest smile on his face and she’s having so much fun

also raphael loves reading for her!!!! and eventually when they move away from reading books with pictures she starts creating her own “holograms” to illustrate the stories with magic, and raphael is so proud of her!! she’s just immensively creative and makes such beautiful illustrations for the stories and as raphael reads she changes around the setting she’s creating and it’s so fun and they both like it so much?? and she eventually falls asleep on his lap and he tucks her in and kisses her forehead and 🥺🥺

she also likes to paint and idk why but i have a feeling that raphael fucking sucks at painting, so that’s funny and he smiles and says that she has so much more talent than him... 

and every time they are together raphael has the hugest smile on, it just doesn’t leave his face for a second. especially when they are playing outside in the sun and he just so fucking happy and basking in the warmth and playing with her, you know? and as madzie grows older, talking and just chilling together as well? you know? he just loves her so much and his cheeks almost hurt by the end and just aaaaaaaaa they are the sibling dynamic we DESERVE and DEMAND 

[thorne93]

Unforeseen Chasm (Part 10)

Prompt: Two sisters fall for men that are absolute enemies. The love they have could tear all of them apart, or it could bring them together.

Word Count: 966

Warnings: Language

Note: This is by far the longest thing I’ve ever written (including my novels). It’s a collaboration with the amazing @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo. It started as a funny “What if…?” and it evolved and got huge. This took two years to write. We are both proud and happy and we hope you enjoy it. It follows from Thor 1 to Endgame in the MCU. Some of the timelines may be off in order to fit certain people, and some characters may show up earlier or in different ways than they have in the movie. But for the most part, it follows the MCU. It also has a bit of crossover with some other Marvel characters throughout the story.

Masterlist for Unforeseen Chasm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shannon,

That is wonderful to hear! I'm so glad things are moving in the right direction for you two. Tell him straight from me that if he hurts you, no suit of armor will stop me from hurting him right back. ; ) I hope he knows that he's getting the whole package with you, right? You aren't some science groupie he can just cast aside. You're a stunning, marvelous, brilliant, gorgeous woman who deserves a man of the same caliber. He better know that.

I am glad to hear he's happy about Lucky.

I bet it does feel like a dream! I know how long you pined over him. It's a relief to know you two are finally together!

That's fantastic about the apartment! Although I can't imagine wanting to return home just yet.

Shannon, you won't believe this. Life on Asgard is as magical as it gets. By day, I'm helping teams of scientists build structures, discover new ways to work with elements, and build gadgets. I have started working on plans for a small rocket ship for them. By night, I'm training with Thor.

It's fantastic, I'm getting so good now I actually pinned Volstagg and Fandral. I still need to conquer Sif, Hogun, and Thor. When I'm not working or training physically, Frigga is teaching me how to be a princess. She teaches me the ways of the royalty. How to hold my head, how to eat, how to dance.

And if I'm not doing any of that, Loki is showing me magic and telling me about their customs. He is incredibly sweet despite my first impression of him. He asks me every day how I'm doing and if I need help with anything or need help adjusting. If I make a social faux pas, he merely corrects me quietly and apologizes for me.

He's... he's amazing, Shannon. He loves listening to me talk about my work, and asks me questions about it all the time. Just as I ask him nonstop questions about his life and his magic.

And ha-ha. It isn't like that. So he's handsome, and kind, and hilarious, and a genius. He knows so much poetry. Their poetry here is astonishing. It rivals Frost and Shakespeare. He loves showing me new books every day.

Thor is focusing on building my muscle and physical ability while Loki has said, "Your mind is your best weapon. You don't possess the braun that Thor and Volstagg do, so it's best you learn how to outwit your opponent." So he's teaching me ways to be tricky and clever.

I would love to see me duel you with a sword. It could either be hilarious or catastrophic, haha. A new training room... Hmm, that's curious. I wonder what it's for.

And do not worry about me, sis. I'm doing just fine. None of the royal family would let anything happen to me.

Speaking of family, how are Tom and Diane? Have you talked to your parents lately? Is anything new with them? Have you told anyone where I've gone?

I shall try to check on the PopTarts, haha. I'm not sure Heimdall can just open the bifrost for some breakfast pastries though. We'll see....

No news on my parents just yet. I will let you know if we hear something more.

Ever yours,

Y/N

——————

Y/N, my dear,

You make me blush! If he knew the tricks you have up your sleeve he wouldn’t dare cross you. I’ll let him know. As happy as everything is, there’s been some rough patches with Shield lately but that was eventually going to happen. There's been some changes to what's going on here at the tower. 

It's good to hear about everything that's going on over there, you'll become a legend when you finish with the rocket and have won a fight against Sif or Thor. 

Princess Y/N, I like the sound of that. Maybe when you come back you’ll be Queen Y/N. Very kind of Queen Frigga to show you their customs. 

Loki seems like a kind and curious man. I hope to soon meet him. And I look forward to seeing that selfie if you and him together. It's true what he says your mind has always been your greatest weapon, no need for swordsmanship or magic just 100% Y/N smarts. 

It would probably be a mix of catastrophe and hilarity. I can't wait to see you! Do you know how much more you might be gone?  

I would hope that they do keep you out of harm's way. I would never forgive them or myself. 

They’re doing great. They do so terribly miss you as they haven't seen you since before you left for Asgard. Turns out they’re planning to go cruising through Europe which is a nice change to being in Nevada all the time. They were worried that something might happen to you being in a whole new universe. But after hearing from you through my letters they are less stressed out. 

The only people who know of your whereabouts are Tony, our family and myself. We’ve tried to keep things quiet for the most part. 

On the pop tart agenda I could send a small pack with each letter and of different flavors so he can have a pick of one. I doubt the poor raven would be able to carry a ton of stuff. 

Speaking of raven, it seems to like roaming near Bruce. It’s been perching nearby watching him look through his notes or even just doing some meditation. He’s gotten me into the habit of drinking tea lately I don't crave the energy from coffee like I used to. 

Fingers crossed you get the news soon enough about your parents 

Hugs and kisses.

Shannon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag List: @essie1876 @magpiegirl80 @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @iamwarrenspeace @marvel-imagines-yes-please @superwholocked524

@missinstantgratification @thejemersoninferno @rda1989 @munlis @thefridgeismybestie @bubblyanarocks3 @igiveupicantthinkofausername @kaliforniacoastalteens @feelmyroarrrr @kaeling @friendlyneighbourhoodweirdo​ @damalseer​ @heyitscam99​ @yknott81​ @sorryimacrapwriter​ @glitterquadricorn​ @xxqueenofisolationxx @little-dis-kaalista-pythonissama @bittersweetunicorm​ @alyssaj23​ @sea040561​ @princess76179​ @thisismysecrethappyplace​ @sarahp879​ @malfoysqueen14​ @ellallheart​ @breezy1415​ @marvelmayo​ @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @cocosierra94 @hardcollectionworldtrash @capsmuscles @marvelloushamilton

Loki: @lostinspace33​ @ultrarebelheart​ @lenawiinchester​ @esoltis280​ @tngrayson​ @wangdeasang​ @harrymewmew @jayfantasyatyourservice​

UC:

@lokis-high-priestess​

[perspective-series]

Zapped Perspective (5)

By: @arc852 and @hiddendreamer67

Warnings: Slight fear, arguments, and mention of treating someone like a pet

First Chapter || Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

——————————————————————————————————–

“How do you think the switch happened?” Patton found himself asking as he cooked the two of them dinner. He had decided to make hamburgers, since it would be easier for Logan to handle.

“That’s a fairly loaded question.” Logan had taken a cross-legged seat on yet another section of the counter, finding the surface very uncomfortable and missing his platform as he craned his neck back. “I believe it has something to do with astrological physics and a burst of unexplained energy between a dimensional void.”

 “You mean, like magic?” Patton asked, flipping the burger.

“Magic is mere fiction.” Logan scoffed. “I meant science.”

 “I don’t know, ‘burst of unexplained energy’ sure sounds like magic to me.” Patton shrugged, turning the stove off and placing the meat on a plate. He went to go grab a bun and some stuff to put in it.

“I take it you’re not a man of science, then?” Logan rolled his eyes. “What exactly is your profession?”

 “Oh! I’m a vet...well, a vet in training, anyway.” Patton chuckled.

“Oh.” Logan was quite surprised to hear that his assumption had been incorrect. “That’s quite admirable.”

 “Aww, thanks! Helping out animals has always been my passion.” Patton grinned. “Oh! And my training dealing with small creatures came in handy a few times with Virgil too!” 

“Really?” Logan found that surprising. “But isn’t the anatomy vastly different?”

 “Well, yeah, I meant more the actual handling of him. But I also learned a few things about humans as I went along in school too, which helped as well.” Patton explained.

“Well, I would imagine.” Logan informed him, sounding serious as though he thought Patton might be unaware. “You are, after all, human.”

 “That I am!” Patton exclaimed, before coming towards Logan and setting the plate down on the counter. At this point, he was used to eating standing up, as Virgil always preferred to eat where he didn’t need to be picked up. 

 He cut off a small piece of the burger, handing it over to Logan. “There you go.”

“Thank you.” Logan remembered his manners, delicately handling the greasy food.

 “You’re welcome.” Patton said, taking a bite out of his own burger. 

Logan bit into his food, cautious not to make a mess of himself.

 “So...how do we get you back? How do we get Virgil back?” Patton broke the silence, staring down at his burger. He really missed his friend.

Logan was quiet a moment. “I am… uncertain. Were you or Virgil engaging in any odd behaviors that may have triggered the phenomenon?”

 Patton shook his head. “No, nothing like that. We just had dinner and then went our separate ways for bed.”

“Nothing out of the ordinary happened on our end either, as far as I can recall.” Logan said thoughtfully, taking another bite.

 “That’s so weird.” Patton murmured. “How are we supposed to fix it if we don’t know what caused it?” Patton sighed, setting his burger back on the plate. He wasn’t feeling very hungry all of a sudden.

“I am uncertain that we can.” Logan admitted, feeling a similar uncomfortable sensation.

 “No, no, we have to! Virgil is probably already terrified out of his mind, he can’t stay in a world like that!” Patton spoke, tears appearing in his eyes.

“The implication that we need to act does not negate the fact neither of us has any viable course of action!” Logan’s voice began to raise, his own frustrations bubbling to the surface.

 “I know!” Patton yelled and then winced. “I-I mean, I know, I just...s-sorry.” That was the second time he had yelled at Logan. It must be his worry for Virgil that had him so high strung.

“It’s...fine.” Logan set his meal to the side, his appetite gone. “I understand your concern.”

 Patton nodded. “Virgil doesn’t deserve to be a pet. And...neither do you.” Patton spoke softly, looking at Logan sadly.

Logan took a deep breath. “Your concern is noted. But I live, or perhaps lived,” (Logan gave a slight shudder), “a comfortable life there. Roman is kind; he will take care of your Virgil.”

 Patton let out a long sigh but it seemed pointless to go back and forth with Logan on this. “I hope so...even so, Virgil is probably terrified. He’s not used to other humans knowing about him.”

“I imagine it will be a difficult adjustment for us both.” Logan murmured.

 “Wait, why are you talking like you’ve just given up? We can’t give up! We’re going to figure this out.” Patton thought for a moment. “Maybe...maybe I can look it up?” He was already taking his phone out and pulling up google.

“By all means, though I doubt there will be any information pertaining to our immediate circumstance.” Logan slouched inwards, no longer caring about his perfect posture.

 Patton typed in dimension switching and all other variations of but Logan was right. Nothing but old sci-fi movies had come up. He placed his phone on the counter and rubbed his hands down his face. “Why did this even happen? Why Virgil?” Patton cried softly. His heart was going out to his borrower friend.

“I have no idea why your friend and I were chosen.” Logan frowned, uneasy with emotional outbursts from strangers. “Please do not be upset.”

 “I-I’m sorry,” Patton wiped his tears away. “I just can’t stand the thought of Virgil being alone or-or never seeing him again.” And the tears were back.

“Virgil is not alone, although your other concern is valid.” Logan cringed. He didn’t see the benefit in crying over a problem with no solution.

 Patton let his head hang low for a moment. “I just...it seems like there really is nothing we can do.” 

“We are dealing with powers beyond our control.” Logan shrugged, unfortunately used to the sensation of not controlling his own fate. -

 “So...that’s it then? We just give up? You live here and Virgil is stuck being a pet to this Roman guy?” Patton asked quietly, not liking the idea of that at all.

“He’s not a pet!” Logan snapped, and with a jolt he realized he had let his emotions get the best of him. Logan took a deep breath, reeling himself back in. “I apologize. It’s just… that is not how arrangements function.” It could be a touchy subject.

 Patton was taken aback by Logan’s outburst and he bit his lip. “Then...how does it function?” Patton asked, wanting to understand.

“The term ‘pet’ comes with certain connotations.” Logan pushed up his glasses. “It implies a submissive nature, a possible willingness to serve, and a training period, none of which are what my life entailed. If anything, such practices apply more aptly to Roman’s life.”

 Patton blinked. “So, Roman is...your pet?” He asked slowly, very confused. That didn’t seem right though.

“In a manner of speaking, one could put it in those terms.” Logan seemed quite amused by the notion. “He was required to attend a training session in order to understand how to accommodate for someone of my stature, and is quite eager to see to my every need. However, once again the submissive nature fails to apply- both of us are rather strong headed.”

 “Wait...so borrowers really aren’t pets in your world? You have the freedom to do what you want? How did you end up with Roman, then?” Patton asked, more curious about this world now that he was having second thoughts about it.

“Freedom is a generous term.” Logan admitted. “There are still precautions that must be taken; after all, we live in a primarily human world. To go out without a human companion could be disastrous. Have you seen the proportions of native wildlife?”

 Patton winced. “Yeah, I can understand why that would be a bad idea.” The whole arrangement still sounded...sketchy, at best. “So you’re basically required to be with a human. And they...care for you in turn?”

“Affirmative.” Logan nodded. “In terms of your prior query, I began coexisting with Roman after he chose me from the agency.”

 Patton’s eyebrows furrowed. “Did you get a say in whether or not you went with him?” Because that didn’t sound right.

“Legally, no.” Logan explained. “That decision resides entirely in a human’s court. However, prior to such a decision a human must meet privately with a borrower they wish to reside with and the borrower may voice their opinions on the matter.”

 “But if a borrower doesn’t want to go with the human and the human chooses them anyway, there isn’t anything they can do.” Patton said, less of a question and more a statement.

“Yes, that is a potential outcome.” Logan nodded. “Although I have not heard of such a scenario in a few years. The closest case to that would be my own.”

 Patton’s eyes widened. “Roman took you home against your will?”

“No, but originally he was close.” Logan corrected. “I was not… overly fond of him, shall we say. However he has a sense of stubborn determination, so despite my efforts to drive him away he continued to visit me at the agency in an attempt to win my favor. I found our arguments to be a refreshing change of pace and over time realized he was not the conceited airhead I originally mistook him for.”

 That...didn’t sound too bad. “Logan, you make it sound like everyone is, for the most part, in agreement with all of this. But...can you really tell me that all borrowers in your world are happy with this arrangement? Happy with the humans who have claimed them?” Patton asked, frowning in concern.

“Of course not.” Logan answered. “I cannot speak for all borrowers, just as you cannot speak for all humans. The very notion is absurd.”

 “So, you admit that just because you’re happy and fine with your own arrangement, that doesn’t mean that any other borrower is.” Patton said, trying to get Logan to see how bad this still was.

“No, that does not imply that every other borrower is content.” Logan stood up. “There is an important distinction in our wording, in that my statement implies that the general consensus is that borrowers are content whereas there may be some exceptions, but your statement implies that the majority of borrowers are uncontent.”

 “Can you prove to me that they aren’t? I’m just going by everything I know about borrowers here and I don’t think any of them would be happy with that sort of arrangement. And...unfortunately, humans have been known to take advantage of things that are weaker than them. It’s a fair assumption to make, that a lot of humans would treat their borrowers like...like pets.” Patton said, wincing a little as he did. Humans could be cruel, that was for sure.

“Once again, your concern is noted, but unnecessary.” Logan shook his head. “Granted I am not a particularly social borrower by nature but I have yet to come across a borrower who was truly miserable within their arrangement.”

 Patton sighed. “Well...either way, I guess the only thing that really matters right now is how Roman is. And...I mean, if you say he’s okay, then at least Virgil will be in good hands. I doubt he’s still happy with the arrangement though.”

“I doubt that as well, if these are his origins.” Logan glanced around the room again. “Although I certainly hope he enjoys the precautions I put in place. It took me years to develop such a complex system of transportation.” Logan gave a small sigh. He was going to miss his contraptions most of all, both for their convenience and sentimental value.

 “Wait, transportation? You mean, you built stuff all over the house to make it easier for yourself?” Patton asked, looking around his own home and picturing what Logan could mean.

“Indeed.” Logan looked pleased with himself. “Assistance from Roman included, of course. It consists of a collage of platforms, escalators, elevators, walkways, ladders, conveyor belts, ziplines…although the most efficient form of transportation is, naturally, human hands. The equipment is more so for when I am left to my own devices.”

 “Oh wow…” That sounded amazing. Also complicated. He would have loved to do all that for Virgil though.

 ...Maybe he still could.

 “I’m not giving up.” Patton declared suddenly.

“Giving up what?” Logan tilted his head.

 “On getting you and Virgil back to your own worlds! If you truly are happy with Roman, I’ll help you get back to him as well.” Patton said. The world might not be the best suited for borrowers in his belief but by the sounds of things, at least Roman was one of the good ones.

“How exactly do you intend to do that?” A curious Logan asked, enjoying the sentiment but realistic about the probability.

 “I...don’t know yet.” He thought for a moment, an idea coming to him. “But I might know where to start! You said that you just woke up in Virgil’s bed after going to bed in your own last night, right?” Patton asked.-

“Yes?” Logan was not a fan of where this was going.

 “Well, maybe, if you go to bed tonight on Virgil’s bed, the two of you will switch back!” Patton exclaimed with a grin.

Logan glanced back at the location where he knew the hole was waiting for him just beyond the wallpaper.

“...I don’t think that’s a particularly sound theory.” Logan tried to quietly shut Patton’s idea down, hiding his true feelings on the matter.

 “Huh? Why not? It makes sense if you woke up there, right?” Patton asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“None of this makes any sense.” Logan retorted. “I understand your logic, but I do not want to test that hypothesis.”

 “Why? Do you...wait.” Patton frowned. “Are you...scared of going in the walls?”

“It’s a perfectly reasonable concern.” Logan shifted on his feet. “I am in an entirely new dimension, and have none of the skills of my ancestors. I don’t know what awaits me in those walls- how would I defend myself should a rat get in? Or some other infestation of insect, perhaps? Not to mention, it can hardly be sanitary, and I have no way of knowing the layout of the area as my eyes will not adjust to the darkness and it smelled unsettling when I was there only briefly and there is certainly no chance I could ever fall asleep under such troublesome conditions.”

 Patton blinked. “Okay, yeah I-I get that.” He supposed it was just strange hearing that come out of a borrower's mouth. “I’d be scared too.” Patton thought for a moment. “Well, maybe you don’t need to be in Virgil’s bed. Maybe you just need to go back to sleep? You can sleep in my room if you want?” Patton suggested.

Logan doubted it could be that easy, but the stress of today had left him exhausted enough for sleep to sound wonderful. “It’s certainly worth a try.” Logan agreed. “I thank you for your hospitality, Patton.”

 Patton grinned. “Of course, kiddo.” Patton turned around. “I’ll meet you in there.” He said, already heading towards his room.

“Now wait a moment!” Logan was quick to raise his voice, rushing along the counter edge to try and keep pace with the human. “Just where are you going?”

 Patton paused, turning to look at Logan again. “Huh? Oh, uh...to my room?” He answered, looking confused.

“I thought you offered for me to accompany you tonight.” Logan looked a bit hurt.

 “I-I did.” Now Patton was really confused. “I said I would meet you there.”

Logan glanced around. “I see no ladders, or platforms. How am I meant to travel to your quarters? Not to mention the fact I have no knowledge of where your bed may lie.”

 Patton felt heat rise up to his cheeks. “O-Oh. Right, sorry, I’m used to Virgil going around on his own.” He felt awkward as he went back over to Logan. “Uh...need a ride?” He asked as he set his palm down in front of Logan.

“That would be greatly appreciated, yes.” Logan paused a moment, looking at Patton’s hand. He had been carried by many humans in his life, but for the last several years it had only been Roman. To once again be putting his life in the hands of a stranger left a strange hollow feeling in Logan’s chest as he stepped onto the waiting palm.

 The feeling felt strange and Patton was nervous as he slowly lifted his hand up, cupping one side to keep Logan from being jostled. He had only ever held Virgil a handful (pun intended) of times. And two of those had, unfortunately, been against the borrowers will. He made sure to hurry but still be careful as he made his way to his room.

 When he got there, he realized he didn’t know where to put Logan to sleep. “Uh, where would you like to sleep? I can share my bed or I could set something up for you on the nightstand…?” Patton suggested.

Logan had hardly considered it himself, forgetting for a moment he was in a dimension without the usual amenities. “I suppose a makeshift bedding would be ideal.”

 “Right.” Patton placed Logan down on the nightstand and then started scouring his room for stuff to use. He found a small blanket and wrapped it in a way that created a little nest. He set it down next to Logan nervously. “Er, how is that?”

“It’s...satisfactory.” Logan decided. It certainly wasn’t his comfortable handmade bed, but it would function for the night.

 “Alright, well...do you need anything else before lights out?” Patton asked.

Logan just shook his head, attempting to make himself more comfortable in the folded fabric.

 “Okay.” Patton climbed into bed and turned off the light. “Goodnight, Logan.” He really hoped it was as simple as having to go to bed...he really wanted Virgil back. And out of that world.

[heartfeltheart]

Alchemy: Magic vs. Science

Chapters: 9/25 Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist/Harry Potter Rating: T Relationships: Edward/Winry, Lan Fan/Ling, and May/Alphonse. Primary Characters: Edward Elric, Severus Snape Additional Tags: Crossover, Teacher!Edward, BrOtp Edward/Severus. Sassy beyond measure. Series: Part 1 of 9. Summary: Magic and Science, are they the same or are they completely different? It just takes one person to point out all up and downs. Along with breaking the stereotypes that come up with being a wizard, alchemist and most of all being human. Thank you, @amynchan! D/C: I do not own Harry Potter or Fullmetal Alchemist. Discord: La Red(Mesh Mash of… stuff.): https://discord.gg/KYjmVAb Alchemy Series: https://discord.gg/DejEYNJ

“English and Edward’s accented voice.” “Amestrian or another foreign language.” “Written notes.” ‘Thoughts.’ First Name: Informal Last Name: Formal (Or used to annoy others)

"Where is Professor Elric?"

"Isn't he in the Medical Wing?"

"He escaped."

"Then where is he now?"

"What happened to him...?" Severus muttered under his breath, he walked at a high pace looking for Edward to no avail. Alchemy classroom, nothing. Edward's room, nothing. Potions classroom, nothing. Great Hall, nothing. Greenhouse, nothing. There is no point searching in the Medical wing, Edward made it a point to leave that place. Now he is at a complete blank at where he should look next. The last thing Severus needed is to find Edward dead. That will not be good for anyone.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Severus stopped mid-stride, he looked over his shoulder to see a familiar owl pecking at the window repeatedly. Glancing around to see that no one was around, he reached over to open the window and Xerxes rammed herself onto him. Severus grimaced, he grabbed hold of the owl and held her at an arms distance. "What?"

Xerxes hooted repeatedly and giving Severus a panic look. She kept trying to wiggle out of his grasp and this only caused the Potions Professor to tighten his grasp. "Do you know where Edward is?"

Xerxes gave him a deadpanned look, almost saying 'duh'. Severus ignored that look and allows the owl to pull him along the School. While they are doing this, Severus glared at anyone that saw him following Xerxes. The last thing he needed is whispers that included about him. After what seemed like forever, Xerxes led him to an open window. Silently praying that he won't see Edward had fallen out the window and see his mangled body down below. That will ruin his day.

"Hello... Someone... Help me..."

"Oh great..."

-.-

"Shut up..."

"Excuse me?"

"Not you. Xerxes. She is laughing at me." Edward said, glaring down at his owl that made herself cozy in his arms. Xerxes actual gave him smug looks every time Edward looked down at her. "Stop zat!"

"You did manage to get yourself stuck on the roof." Severus stated not even bothering to hide his smirk.

"I got lost, dammit!"

"How in the world did you even end up on the roof?"

"...I haffe no idea..."

"...the roof..."

"Shut up."

"Who? Me or Xerxes?"

"The both of you!" Edward shouted back, he then started to rumble on under his breath. He felt everyone was out to get him; then again, this wasn't new to him. He did have it coming to him, for managing to get stuck on a roof. Edward glanced back at Severus curiously. "Hey...Hey...Hey!"

"What...?" Severus slowly looked over at Edward with a defeated expression.

"What did zat kooky lady want?" Edward asked him, wanting to know what had occurred earlier. Judging by Severus expression it did not seem good at all. "Vell?"

"In all honesty... She does not like you." Severus stated bluntly, he grabbed hold of Edward's arm to pull on a flight of stairs before it moved away. Edward snorted in response that was not new to him. There is a long list of humans that hate him, emphasize the word human. The only problem was that he had not spoken to the woman long enough to piss her off. The Golden Blonde allowed the Greasy Blacked haired man to pull him along. He already got lost once and he did not want that to happen again. "Are you hungry?"

Severus response is Edward's stomach growling loudly answering for him.

-.-

"Vat are zey?"

"They are called House-elves." Severus explained, he sat on a stool while eating a scone and drinking tea. He watched Edward and Xerxes be completely surrounded by the Hogwarts House-Elves and being offered by random foods. Edward looked completely at odds at the House-Elves, he had never seen them before or heard about them. He did not know how to feel about them, it went against everything he knew. In the same time, they looked extremely happy, well cared of and even Severus is polite to them. Plus they make great food...

"Should I be vorried about them?" Edward asked, he gulped down a long glass of apple juice and resumed eating a large plate of random foods. A random House-Elf pulled on his pant's leg to get his attention, Edward glanced down to see it offering him a slice of apple pie. Edward stopped eating altogether to start at the slice of apple pie. Apple pie... The House-Elf trembling thinking it did wrong. The Golden Blonde slowly took the pie and stared at it. It smelled just like Winry's apple pie. It reminded him of home. Picking up his fork, Edward took a chunk out of the pie and brought it up to his mouth. It even tasted like it too.

"Edward?" Severus called out, he swore he saw tears running down Edward's eyes. It only got worse as he continued to eat the apple pie.

"I need to vrite a letter to my fiancé..." Edward muffled out. "Zis reminds me of her."

"You are engaged?"

"...Did I not tell you? No...eh. Could I get more pie? Please?"

-.-

Edward shifted nervously in his spot, he stood in front of his desk as the current heads and headmaster of Hogwarts stood before him. They all know why they are there, it was just a confirmation and answers if they need any. Fortunately for him, Severus and Filius had explained things for him. At least the idea was confirmed by the bearded old man, but the main issue is seeing how they all feel about it. It was obvious the Kooky mean looking lady is against it, Pomona seemed hesitant but willing, and everyone else seemed to be on board with it.

"They take a test from zere I vill determine if they are zuitable to take my class." Edward rubbed his forehead with his right arm.

"What type of test?" Pomona asked curiously. "What material will it contained?"

"When I took an exam to become a State Alchemist, I had to take a vritten test zat showed a high level of altitude in alchemy, a psychological evaluation, and a practical examination..." Edward continued to rub his forehead remembering when he took the test. He knew that doing anything that is remotely close to that is useless. "That was a just Government Military Test. Do not even get me started vat my Teacher did to me."

"What did she have you do?" Dumbledore asked.

"...She dump me in a small island vith only the clothes on my back and a knife. I had to survive and ansver a riddle. If I had not ansvered the riddle correctly then she vould not have accepted me as a student." Edward deadpanned. "What I plan to do is making it easier for your students to take but it vill not be easy either."

"Was this the woman that nearly sent you into a coma after you joined said Military?"

"...Yes..." Edward shivered visibly, the only thing he remembered that day is pain, pain, and more pain.

"What will be the requirements?" Minerva asked briskly.

"Anyone is welcomed to take the test, although I prefer them if they have a basic understanding of Science to make things easier for them to understand what is being taught to them. Even then, as long as they understand how the world works...then they might have a chance to get into my class." The way that Edward spoke had everyone in complete awe. He spoke in a crisp tone and hardly a single tract of his Amestrian accent. Then whatever respect they had for Edward went down by his next set of words. "It vill also help me separate the idiots from the imbeciles."

-.-

Alchemy Exam

Contact your Head of House for further questions...

...

...

...

...

To take the exam, inform your Head of House or Mr. Edward Elric.

-Edward Elric

Fred and George Weasley looked at the announcement that was placed in the Gryffindor Common Room. Their eyes widen in amazement, the announcement states how anyone was welcomed to take the test. Along with that, it stated how Mr. Elric could kick out anyone if he finds said person unqualified to learn Alchemy. They remembered what Mr. Elric stated back in the Medical Wing, this only reinforced what he stated. Mr. Elric is making sure to take all the necessary precautions for everyone's safety.

"Should we go find Professor McGonagall?"

"What if we find Mr. Elric first?"

"Whoever we find first."

With that, the Twins ran out of the Common Room to go look for one of the said adults to take the exam. It was breakfast time and they should find them in the Great Hall. Hopefully. Far as they knew, Mr. Elric is still in the Medical Wing resting. It seemed like they were not the only ones with that train of thought. Many of their fellow students wanted to take that class.

-.-

Severus and Edward stared at each other unblinkingly, standing at the main entrance of Edward's room. Severus glanced upon Edward's head to see Xerxes resting on top of his head. He would have thought the Owl would have gone back to Owlery, apparently, he was wrong. "Elric."

"Snape."

"Hoot!"

Severus glanced back up at Xerxes. "Xerxes."

"Hoot."

"Breakfast, Edward?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Breakfast." Edward agreed, he nodded at Severus to lead the way. Like before, he did not want to get lost. "Did you put up the announcement?"

"Yes, do not be surprised if you get mobbed about it." Severus responded guiding Edward down towards the Main Hall. "I already had several students ask me about it."

"Vat are your opinions on them?"

"...I would not be surprised if you end up kicking them out within the first half hour."

"Dat bad?'

"Yes. Yes, they are."

-.-

"But Professor, we know we could do this!"

"Mr. Elric expects us to take the test!"

"I just do not believe you two are capable or old enough to take the class." McGonagall attempted to persuade the Weasley boys to not pursue to take Alchemy. She would have expected older students to take the class but not first years for that matter. "...What do you mean he expects you to take the test?"

"Mr. Elric bought us books on the subject." Fred started off.

"He told us if we studied we would have the opportunity to learn Alchemy." George continued on.

"We can do this!"

McGonagall rubbed her forehead, the Weasley Twins were not the first, first years to ask to take the Alchemy Exam. In reality, she does not even believe in Alchemy, especially if it is taught by a Muggle. Will that subject actually help in the long run? Not only that, she did not want any of them to end up being disappointed for not getting into the class, it will just end badly. She does not want to get anyone's hopes up. "Boys..."

"We can do this."

"I do not believe you two have what it takes for this class."

"Excuze me? Vat does zat zuboze to mean?" A familiar but clearly frustrated stated, accent coming back in full blast. "Vat makes you zay zat? Vo knows? Zey might end up petder zan I?"

McGonagall turned around to see a furious Elric marching up towards her. Snape trailed along but maintaining a safe distance away from the furious Elric.

"Mr. Elric, I am just looking out for them." McGonagall responded, standing her ground against the Alchemy Professor. "They are still young a-"

"I starded to learn to do alchemy ven I vas apout four or fiffe." Elric deadpanned. "Remember ven I zaid last night about the Alchemy Exam I took back in my home country?"

"Yes...What does this have to do with anything?"

"It did not haffe a age requirement, as it vas too difficult to take zat hardly anyone pazed nov a days. I pazed ven i vas tvelffe." Elric resisted the urge to smash something. He took in a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself down. Unbeknownst to them, Snape had steered the Weasley Twins out of the way. After taking another deep breath, Edward mauled over his next set of words. His voice came out clearer. "It is better to try and giffen a chance to try. If zey fail, zey fail. On their terms. Not yours, theirs."

-.-

"Professor Snape?"

"Yes...?"

"Why did Mr. Elric have an owl on his head?"

"...She made a nest there..."

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[tisfan]

A Foot in the Door

Title: A Foot in the Door Link: AO3 Square Filled: K5 - <image: Awesome facial hair bros> Ship: Stephen/Tony Rating: teen Major Tags: magic and science, awesome facial hair bros, first date, pre-slash Summary: Stephen wants Tony to build a magic missile… Tony wants to get a foot in the door for dating.

Word Count: 1,695 Created for @tonystarkbingo

"You want me to build a magic missile, what?" Tony didn’t bother to look up at the holocall. He was, actually, grateful that Strange had made a call, even if he didn’t have one of the projection phones so all there was in the image was a static picture of Strange, selected from one of the many that Tony had taken. The fact that Strange was eating a hot dog and Tony had caught him mid bite had nothing to do with the picture chosen.

That was his story, and Tony was sticking to it.

"No, I want you to build a technical delivery system for magic." All hail the pedantic. Honestly, if Tony could get past the whole magic thing, Stephen Strange was pretty interesting. And he made a great straight man for Tony’s jokes, because Tony was almost positive the man did not understand humor at all.

"Magic Missile, that's what I said. It’s magic, and it’s in a missile casing, and you want me to build it,” Tony said. “I’m failing to see what’s wrong with my name.”

“There’s a failure to explode that I think would be a key component to missiles, but if you want to have your name on a dud rocket, I suppose that’s up to you,” Stephen said.

“My tech rarely fails completely,” Tony pointed out. “Sometimes it gets a bit big for its britches and tries to destroy the world, but it doesn’t… fail.”

“Exactly why I need you for the job,” Stephen said.

“Oh, that wasn’t condescending at all,” Tony remarked. “So, what can I do for you, and how exactly--”

Tony stopped talking, because Stephen took a few steps through a portal right in Tony’s workshop, touching down lightly on the floor, his overly dramatic and loyal piece of outerwear flaring.

Show off.

“--do you think you could, you know, knock or something, before you do that?”

“I called you,” Stephen said. “Was there something else I was required to do?”

“So, magic missile,” Tony prompted.

“I wish you wouldn’t call it that,” Stephen said. “That’s not what I have in mind, at all.”

“So, what are we not blowing up, then?”

Stephen gestured, something mystical and weird, that would look a lot less cool if it wasn’t attached to some special effects. Honestly, if Tony could ignore the brilliant blue runes that snapped to attention and the circles of power that sprung up around Stephen’s wrists, it mostly just looked like Stephen was playing one of those kid games, like Mary Mack.

Miss Mary Mack, all dressed in black…

“This is Nico Minoru,” Stephen said, and he caused a wavering image to spring up, a teenage girl with a very emo vibe to her. Gothy witch chick. Black lipstick, crazy hair, dressed all in black and purple. Carrying a glowing rod. “She’s had some difficulty with her magic, recently, and as the Sorcerer Supreme, it’s kinda my job to make sure that people don’t… well, fuck up reality too much.”

“I can see that as being bad for business,” Tony remarked.

“Indeed,” Stephen said. “In a recent… encounter, Miss Minoru might have accidentally set up a chain reaction that will, given time, unwind our entire reality. Naturally, I thought you might want to help me stop it.”

“You’re surprisingly calm.”

“Gibbering in a panic doesn’t really get the problem solved,” Stephen said. “Besides, it’s contained, at the moment.”

“It’s the conditionals that worry me.”

“Right.” The image between Stephen’s fingers shifted. “This is the anomaly. A little rift of nothingness that, left unchecked, will consume the entire universe. This dimension.”

Looking at it was… hard. There was a glowing purple dome somewhere in--

“Is that Central Park?”

“Yes,” Stephen said. “I managed to pin the nothingness down, and I’m holding it inside a stasis shield. Immense amounts of mystical energy are flowing through me, into the shield. When I die, and I will die, eventually, my heart won’t be able to withstand it for too long, the shield will be entirely consumed, and then the nothingness will go on to consume the park, the island of Manhattan, the planet. Within a week, it will grow to consume the solar system. And, the bigger it gets, the faster it will consume. Consider it… a magical black hole, converting everything in our reality into… well, a negative mystical force.”

“Aside from the whole I don’t want anything to happen to the planet because I keep my stuff here,” Tony said, and he found that Stephen’s calm was infectious, and that was good, because Tony’s heart was pounding in his chest, “what else does this cosmic vacuum cleaner do?”

“I assume it’s powering some other dimension; something through the rift is drawing up the energy and using it. Right now, the tear is only the size of, perhaps the spread of my fingers.” Stephen’s hands were shaking, but his fingers looked pretty damn long, actually.

“So, the thingie on the other side could, theoretically, stop drawing power?”

“Maybe, but my experiences with interdimensional thingies says they usually don’t. And if it did, it might decide to come over here and have a look see,” Stephen continued. “Which, also, generally not good. It might be that dimension’s version of a fox, but--”

“We’re probably this dimension’s version of chickens, got it.” Tony scratched at his chin. “So, now that I have the doom and gloom part, what can me and my mere technical wonders do for you?”

“I have two shields in place right now,” Stephen said. “One is a mere physical block, to keep out the curious and the stupid. The other cannot be penetrated by magical means, but it is accessible to more conventional modes of transport.”

“A missile?”

“A missile.”

“And so, what are we putting in this missile?”

“That’s the fun part,” Stephen told him. “I’m going to load your missile with a particularly clever little spell that will close the tear from the other side. A magical spell cannot penetrate my second shield, and I can’t take it down without allowing our thingie access from his side. It might use the opportunity to get a foot in the door.”

“Thingie is my technical term, you can’t borrow it,” Tony grouched.

“So, I load an inert magical spell into your missile,” Stephen continued, the side of his mouth twitching up, “and I lower the physical shield. You fire the missile right through the tear, my spell goes off when it hits the other side, seals the tear.”

“Awesome facial hair bros for the win,” Tony said, holding up a hand for Stephen to high five.

“Not even a little bit,” Stephen said. He did not give Tony a high five, which Tony thought was decidedly unfair.

“Oh, come on, you can do it,” Tony said. He didn’t put his hand down, just waited with a bright smile and gleeful anticipation. Stephen would give in. He’d be a grump about it, but he would do it, eventually.

“I hate you,” Stephen said, sighing. He slapped Tony’s hand.

“Yes!” Tony smirked. “All right, how much time do we have?”

“Less than you want, more than you need,” Stephen said.

“Sounds like my kind of deadline,” Tony said. “You can, like, run along for a bit, I’ll contact you when I’m ready for your payload.”

“So, what happens when this goes off?” Tony said. He adjusted the launch angle again, peering through the purple haze of shielding. There was, of course, a huge crowd of idiots gathered around the shield, gawking, because people were stupid.

“Hopefully nothing spectacular,” Stephen said. He wasn’t adjusting anything, although his Cloak was rippling dramatically. “Fire the missile, the tear closes, we kiss, we schmooze, we go home happy.”

Tony blinked. “Are you asking me on a date, Doctor Strange?”

“What? No,” Stephen said. “Absolutely not.”

“I dunno, it kinda sounded like you were… or at least, looking for some extra curricular activities.”

“Fire the missile successfully, and maybe -- maybe -- we can go out for a coffee.”

“Score!”

“Back away from the purple magic dome, people,” someone yelled. It sounded like Fury. Probably smart; other Avengers would probably get more attention and push toward the rift, not less. Fury, on the other hand, was scary as hell to most people.

“The crowd is dispersing,” Stephen reported. “I’ll give you a sixty second countdown, lower the shield, and you’ll have ten seconds to lock on and fire before I have to put it back up to contain any backlash.”

“You didn’t mention backlash,” Tony muttered. “But ten seconds is more than enough. Ready when you are, Doctor.”

Stephen started the countdown, a fancy fiery display of magical pyrotechnics that Tony thought were highly unnecessary. “You can’t just count down like a normal person?” He put on his HUD goggles to ready the missile.

The countdown ended. The shield dropped.

Tony fired.

The missile went right where it was supposed to go and vanished in three seconds.

In six seconds, something shot out, green and terrible, aimed straight for Tony.

Stephen crashed into him, knocking him to the ground. The Cloak swirled around them as Stephen’s magical shield snapped back into place.

“Well,” Tony said, looking up at Stephen, who was laying across him. “That was exciting. Ten seconds was seven seconds too many?”

“They were waiting for us,” Stephen said.

“Well, I’m glad you have a quick reaction time, Doctor, or I might be a little crispy.”

“I had to,” Stephen said, “we’re awesome facial hair bros, after all.”

“Well, it would have been worth it,” Tony mused. “Now… about that kiss?”

“I didn’t say anything about a kiss,” Stephen protested. “I said a date.”

“I distinctly heard kiss in there somewhere,” Tony pointed out.

“I hate you, so much,” Stephen sighed. He got to his feet and offered Tony a hand up.

“I’m told that’s normal, for dating me,” Tony said, grinning.

“One date is not dating.”

“You keep protesting,” Tony said, “but when you needed to make some magic, you came to me.”

“One date. We’ll see what happens from there.”

“All I need is a foot in the door.” 

[rcguna-archived]

RULES: repost, don’t reblog. just pick a muse of yours and fill it out.

MUSE: Raguna

— basics

▸ is your muse tall/short/average? Raguna is around average height for a male, leaning towards the taller side.

▸ are they okay with their height? Absolutely. Tall enough to reach all the shelves he needs to without having to grab a stool every time. Tall enough to stand toe to toe with more monsters. At the same time he’s not so tall he’s hitting his head on door frames or low hanging branches. That would be a pain. Also. No back problems!

▸ what’s their hair like? Brown in color. Mid length and reaching his neck at the back. It’s kept mostly straight, and he’s actually confident about how soft and loose it is. This of course means that it can get in his eyes, necessitating a headband or other thing when it gets hot out and he sweats up a storm, but it’s not so heavy that it makes the weather worse on his scalp.

▸ do they spend a lot of time on their hair/with their grooming? Not really! He doesn’t have much facial hair coming in yet, so outside of handling his hair and keeping his face clean there isn’t that much to do. It should be noted that any grooming comes after work in the field. Same with showering. So his actual day of looking more presentable doesn’t start until later on. 

▸ does your muse care about their appearance? He does to a reasonable degree. While he doesn’t keeping up with fashion coming across as clean and proper goes a long way with business deals and earning the respect of those around him. That is to say, he wouldn’t go rolling in the mud and then waltz into the square. He keeps his clothing properly mended and cares a good bit about keeping it clean.

▸ does your muse care about what others think about them? Yes he does. More than he lets on. It isn’t important that everyone adores him, but it weighs heavily on Raguna when someone is unimpressed or disappointed with him. Those that come to dislike him or have something against him he’ll make efforts to sway, but others like Brodik for example that come across as lost causes are tolerated as they are.

— preferences

▸ indoors or outdoors? It should be obvious that Raguna prefers being outside. His home is comfortable, and he enjoys visiting others at their places too. But his home is anywhere he can breathe fresh air and listen to the sounds of nature. He’s a very athletic sort, and I imagine if he could do all his cooking out doors as well. He would. Actually, modifying his kitchen to have a bigger window isn’t a bad idea... ▸ rain or sunshine? I doubt he could pick. He relies on both for his livelihood and enjoys them both in equal amounts. Rainy days afford him a bit more leisure but plants aren’t growing without sunshine. The bias is towards sunshine, as there’s more he can enjoy without having to grab an umbrella or worry about getting sick. ▸ forest or beach? Forest. The beach is nice for fishing and for... uh.... anyway. Raguna finds more to his liking amidst the trees and overgrowth. More animals, herbs and plants, and you’re apt to find some interesting caves in there too. Sure, there’s caves at the beach but... they don’t have as much cool stuff in them. ▸ precious metals or gems? Precious metals. Gems are wonderful for gifts or decorating his armor and weapons with but as far as what he can make more use out of, he’ll be happier with silver, platinum, and gold. Without those he doesn’t have his farming tools or swords. ▸ flowers or perfumes? Flowers. Raguna has an enjoyment for both of these things, but the preference goes to flowers just for their appearance and what they can dd to a home or meadow. That said.... nice perfumes can go a way in getting his attention... ▸ personality or appearance? Raguna will be taken first with ones appearance rather than their behavior. It’s not everything, and Raguna is far from a shallow person but the visual appeal of a person can throw him for a loop more than their personality can. ▸ being alone or being in a crowd? Neither??? He enjoys being around others rather than being alone, but crowds are a bit much. Raguna does not care for being the center of attention. His heroic tendencies can bring this about, but it’s not something he actively seeks. And being alone leaves him too much to his thoughts and that gaping hole in his mind that never seems to give way. ▸ order or anarchy? Order. Order in his fields. Order in his life. Order in the world around him. His Earthmate magic is one of flow and balance, and the modern magic he is most attuned with is that of earth and water abilities, both of which are more about balance and the order of the land. ▸ painful truths or white lies? Painful truths. Raguna wouldn’t be able to make a convincing white lie anyhow. ▸ science or magic? Magic! While there’s certainly something to respect when it comes to science and technology it’s not anywhere near his forte. He’s a wizard before he’s a scientist. ▸ peace or conflict? Peace. I don’t think this needs elaboration. ▸ night or day? Day. Not only is Raguna a morning person but he might as well photosynthesize. Pfft. ▸ dusk or dawn? Dawn. There’s nothing he loves more than the sunrise and the smell of dew. ▸ warmth or cold? Warmth ▸ many acquaintances or a few close friends? Raguna would like to get as close as he could to as many people as he can, but he knows that there’s not much chance of him getting to that point with everyone. So. A few closer friends? ▸ reading or playing a game? Reading would come first. While Raguna participates in most of the festivals and games that come with them, he has more overall enjoyment from reading and learning for the time being. He feels like there’s so much to catch up on.

— questionnaire

▸ what are some of your muse’s bad habits? He’s very easily distracted when there isn’t any pressure to get something done. He’ll go on multiple tangents and then end up rubber banding back to what he originally set out to do. And he’ll panic until things come back to the intended “status quo”.

His naivete can lead to him being selfish and rude in certain circumstances. By this I mean that in his drive to get things done and stay on his schedules, sometimes he can miss big social cues and unintentionally offend those around him. He’s a little thick in the head when it comes to people trying to suggest things to him.

Overworking. Sometimes getting into the groove turns into a notch turns into a ravine turns into.... oh, did we eat lunch? Are we about to pass out? No. Yes.

▸ has your muse lost anyone close to them? how has it affected them? He hasn’t. Unless you count the memories of his family. If he even had one.

▸ what are some fond memories your muse has?

▸ is it easy for your muse to kill? Abso-fuckin-lutely not. I think the only person he could bring himself to actually kill would be Ethelberd. And the Earthmate in Selphia handled that. So that doesn’t leave much for him. Monsters hardly count when used for their meat, and most of the ones he fights are sent back to the first forest where they belong.

People? He couldn’t even bring himself to kill someone who tried to kill and manipulate him. The person who erased his memories. In fact, instead of killing them, Raguna invites them back to Kardia and you can marry her. Goddamn dude.

▸ what’s it like when your muse breaks down? Raguna does a great bit to fight it and hold it down. It’s not something he’d want to do around someone else, let alone someone he’s close with. You can expect an intense gaze, stiff shoulders, twitching lips, but also an attempt to smile over. The break down itself is quiet. Tears and folding his arms under his head on a table or desk. He lets it out in private and then wipes his eyes and goes back to business as usual.

▸ is your muse capable of trusting someone with their life? Yes. And that can probably go badly.

▸ what’s your muse like when they’re in love? D e v o t e d. He’s a passionate lover and, as if it wasn’t priority one to keep his lover happy before it certainly is now. Gifts and support and he loves one on one time bonding even further. It’s really gross. I hate it tbh. He’s the type who wants a family and to create a future for everyone in it.

TAGGED BY: @noctispostmortem (thank you!!!) TAGGING: STEAL IT

[fantismal]

Don’t Starve Stories: Episode One

Gather round, younglings, and let me tell you a story about a game of Don’t Starve Together...

Now, for those of you who don’t know, in Don’t Starve Together, you pick a character to play as from a cast of miserable outcasts yanked into this evil place and enter a world where you...try not to starve. Also, you just want to survive. There are no zombies, just a horrible darkness that bites you—literally—waves of hounds that seem to come once a fortnight, in more and more numbers, spiders as big as your head, and of course, the Giants, one for every season.

I found an open server belonging to Ko, who was playing as Wigfrid. Wigfrid is a method actress to the highest degree. She is an energetic red-head who was cast as a Valkyrie, and upon entering the world of Don’t Starve, she is determined to make Odin and the Unicorn proud. Wigfrid excels in battle and draws strength and sanity from attacking just about anything. She can make helmets and spears that are surprisingly good for their cost, and can easily outfit an entire party if you give her enough gold. Wigfrid also insists that the only thing warriors like herself eat contains meat (preferably that of her vanquished foes). Wigfrid is, in short, my favorite character. She has a bad rep for being “a worse version of Wolfgang” or being a noob’s character, but Wigfrid has a charming “Hold my beer and watch this!” attitude that I just LOVE.

There is no rule saying there can only be one of a character per world, but it’s sort of bad etiquette to double up on characters without asking. I pop into Ko’s world and ask if I can play as Wigfrid as well. “Sure” Ko says, and I jump through the portal.

The two Wigfrids are exploring the world, tearing off in separate directions to scout out the best location for a permanent home base, when another player joins. Balboa sees there are two Wigfrids already and laughs. He joins as Woodie. “I can be base mom!” he declares. Woodie is a Canadian lumberjack with an impressive beard and an even more impressive axe named Lucy. Unlike just about every other tool in Don’t Starve, Lucy never breaks. Ever. She also doesn’t let anyone other than Woodie touch her. They have a very special relationship. She talks to him. This is a good thing, because Woodie is a very Special sort of fellow. He’s scared of birds, he can chop trees like a mofo, and if he gets too excited or the moon gets full...he turns into a werebeaver and wreaks holy havoc on any forest in his way.

The other Wigfrid and I laugh and promise we’ll keep our Woodie alive, and off we go. I build a science machine, a necessary item to create backpacks to expand our inventory. The science machine is fairly cheap to build, so I plunk it down in the middle of nowhere and announce it to the map so everyone can get a backpack. Woodie comes running over. “Is this base?”

“No, it’s just a science machine.”

“I’ll start setting up base!”

Remember how I said it’s the middle of nowhere? We are in a sparse rock field, but that’s about it. There are a couple trees dotted around. One tallbird nest. No grass, no twigs, no berries, no good sources of meat... this is not a good location. It’s day 4 of Autumn, the kindest month of the year. Autumn lasts 20 days. “We’ll keep looking for a base.”

“I’ll gather wood!”

Woodie chops wood the fastest. This makes sense. “You do that. Can you get charcoal too?”

“Yes, absolutely!”

Wigfrid and I keep searching. Wigfrid finds spiders and the resource-rich deserts, home to the summer giants. I find Glommer’s statue (a sanity-restoring bug that spawns only on the full moon, but if you can pick his flower from his statue, he’ll follow you until something kills him) and the Pig King.

Now, the Pig King in Don’t Starve Together is a valuable ally. He’ll take a lot of the junk you can find in tumbleweeds (in the desert) and from digging up graves (because what else do you do with graves?) and pay you in gold nuggets. Gold nuggets make the best tools in the game...and Wigfrid’s weapons and armor. Gold is valuable in Don’t Starve, and even more valuable for Wigfrid. Camping near the Pig King is usually a good idea. Usually.

In Don’t Starve, some resources can be moved. Trees can be planted for close wood. Saplings, grass tufts, and berry bushes can be relocated for close sticks, grass, and berries. Spiders live in nests that can be torn down when they’re big enough and replanted somewhere more convenient. Spiders provide silk, glands (for healing), and monster meat. Monster meat will hurt to eat and screw with your sanity, even if you cook it first, but if you build a crock pot, you can take a slab of monster meat and some berries and make delicious meatballs that do nothing bad and a lot of good (among other meat-related recipes). A crockpot, a spider’s nest, and some berries are all a Wigfrid needs to be happy. Crockpots require charcoal, which is why I asked Woodie to harvest some.

These are moveable resources, but then there are just as valuable immovable resources. Swamps provide reeds for paper, blowdarts, and the librarian’s magical books. Rock fields provide boulders for rocks, flint, gold, and nitre (vital for surviving the heat of summer above ground). Mactusk is a walrus who makes a camp in the same location every year and can drop the most valuable items in the game when he dies, the Walrus Tusk (used to make a walking cane that increases your speed) and the Tam o’ shanter, a stylish plaid tam that raises your sanity AND keeps you warm in the long dark nights of winter. Our pig king is not near any of this. He has a bee field to the north (easy honey, yes, but bees can be domesticated in your own bee box and therefore are moveable) and a meadow to the south (sparse resources, big open spaces). To the east and west, he’s penned in by the uncrossable ocean. Pig King is not a good base location.

Woodie doesn’t care. Pig King is king! He starts packing up the temporary base to move all of the supplies to Pig King. Other Wigfrid and I keep racing each other around the map to find the best spot.

Just north of the bee field, I find a wormhole that takes me to another part of the map. It’s a Mactusk camp! Just north of Mactusk is the Bee Queen, a formidable boss who also provides a steady supply of honey if you’re careful. Just north of HER is a clockwork rook, which I easily dispatch for gears, which can be used to make iceboxes and other useful machines. The rook was living on a lovely patch of carpet. To the west is a small spider den in a dense forest. To the east is a cave entrance. Caves are excellent sources of light fuel. The Pig King isn’t too far away, and neither is the desert with all of it’s boulders.

“How about here?” I suggest. The only way to improve it would be to have a swamp nearby, but getting that perfect combination is next to impossible.

Other Wigfrid comes in. She likes the location, but she’s worried about Bee Queen. An idiot might not be careful and could trigger her attack.

“Eh, just kick them if they try,” I say. She laughs and runs off to help Woodie bring his supplies to the base. I, meanwhile, build the Alchemy engine (the top tier crafting machine) and an ice box. “Woodie, you have charcoal, right?”

“Yep, 53!”

Wigfrid returns, drops her load, and runs off again to fetch more supplies. I build a fire pit and store my food in the ice box. My health is low (I spent a day clearing the killer bees out of the bee field to make it safe for the others) and my hunger is dropping. If I reach 0 hunger, I’m going to start taking damage. “Woodie, you bringing that charcoal?”

“Yep, just giving stuff to the Pig King!”

“Okay, but hurry up! I’m about to starve here!”

I have monster meat. If necessary, I can eat it, but I only have 13 hp, and monster meat will take 5 away. I distract myself by building a turkey trap and then planting berry bushes around it to spawn turkeys. This will take 8 days to grow.

“Hey.” Woodie suddenly utters the unthinkable. “Where did my charcoal go?”

Somehow, Woodie managed to lose his charcoal. I take a slab of monster meat out of the ice box and cook it on it’s own. 8 hp left. I grab my spear and go to the spider den. “Go get us charcoal!”

Night falls, and Woodie hunkers close to the fire. Another player, Ripper, has joined us and is heading towards camp. Wigfrid and I have cleared out the spider nest, and I’m staring at the three spider glands I hold. Alone, each gland will heal me for 5 hp. If mixed with ash, each can heal me for 20. I need ash. “Woodie, get me charcoal!”

Woodie pulls some manure from his bag and goes to the berry bushes. He starts fertilizing the bushes. I stare at him for a moment, then I make myself a torch. “Guess I have to get my own charcoal.”

The forest with the spiders is a valuable source of materials, so I don’t burn that one. There’s a little clearing, though, and then another forest.

I burn that one.

The first ash left behind, I snatch up and run to the alchemy engine. My hunger is at 3. I make myself a salve from one of the spider glands, use it on myself, force down another slab of monster meat, and run back to the forest. Hunger is now at 20. Health is at 23.

“THE FOREST IS ON FIRE!” Woodie shouts. “WHO SET THE FOREST ON FIRE!?”

“I needed charcoal,” I say, as if it’s the most obvious answer.

“It’s not me,” Ripper cried. “I was getting charcoal for Fantismal, but I’ve only set this one tree on fire, I swear!”

“I burned the forest,” I said, swinging my axe and chopping down carbonized tree after carbonized tree. Charcoal! Yes! I need 6. My hunger is at 12.

“THE WHOLE FOREST! IT’S BURNING!”

I check the map again. It’s a contained forest. We’ll probably get a couple hundred charcoal out of it at most. “It’ll be over soon.” The rest of the trees will be fine.

My hunger is at 3. I race back to camp with my charcoal and whip up a crockpot. Hastily, I shove rotting berries and a piece of monster meat in it, and I do a little dance as I wait for the meatballs to cook. My hunger is at 0. My health is dropping. I make more healing salves and use them. The meatballs are done. My health is at 6. I eat them. I stabilize. I breathe.

Now that my immediate panic is over, I set more meatballs to cooking and head off to chop down more of the burnt trees. Once I’ve gathered a good fifty-some charcoal, I head back to camp and make 5 more crockpots in a circle around the icebox for the most efficient kitchen. My meatballs are gone. I make another one, then some honey ham for healing. We have a lot of honey. I took out a bee field.

The spiders come out again that evening, and I massacre them for more health and glands. Woodie has planted...some of the plants we brought. Not all. Oh well. There’s always tomorrow. Ripper shows up. “Who needed charcoal?”

“Already took care of it,” I said. “I’m a strong independent Valkyrie!”

The next day, I go into the caves to get some light flowers for a lantern. Woodie plants more trees. Wigfrid and Ripper explore more of the map. They’ve deposited their food in the ice box, but there are no meals prepared. I make six honey hams and eat one. The rest go in the ice box for the others.

The next day is day 11. I make a meatballs and put it in my backpack, then I set off for glommer’s statue. Night 11 is full moon. We need someone ready to pick the flower. Woodie is talking up how much wood he’s going to chop down tonight. He makes some chests to store our stuff, and announces that someone else will have to organize them.

“You’re base mom,” I point out. “Organizing is your domain.”

“Oh yeah...”

Wigfrid and Ripper are still exploring. As the sun sets, Woodie realizes that OMG bloomer is tonight! Someone needs to get him!

“Already on it,” I assure the team (having told them I was going to get glommer that morning). I stock up my grass and twigs in the forest, snacking on my meatballs as I get peckish. Fighting spiders has restored my health. I’m a happy Wigfrid.

The moon rises and glommer appears. I pluck his flower and he buzzes along happily behind me. There are fireflies in the forest. I dig out the bug net I made just for this trip and catch as many as I can before my net breaks. One firefly and one straw hat makes a miner’s hat, an excellent source of light at night when the grue, Charlie, tries to kill you.

Back at camp I make a miner’s hat and deposit the rest of the fireflies in a chest. “HELP!” Woodie shouts. He’s still a werebeaver, and he’s being attacked by an insanity monster. I’m not insane, but I can force-attack it. Once I land a blow, it comes after me instead.

Insanity monsters are no match for Wigfrid.

Spiders are also chasing Woodie, so I slaughter those too and deposit their meat in the ice box. There’s no meals. I make more meatballs. I take a couple with me, leave the rest in the ice box, and go to explore the caves.

We have a pretty good cave system. I emerge the next day, head back to camp, and find...there are no meals. Half our saplings and berry bushes haven’t even been planted. They’re in chests.

Saplings and berry bushes take time to grow. They don’t grow in winter. We’re running out of time to get harvests in. I frown, dig them out of the chests, and plant them. Woodie runs up and fertilizes the berry bushes.

“Why weren’t these planted?” I asked.

“I spent all day mining!” Woodie declared. “We needed rocks.”

I look in my backpack, full of rocks from my adventures in the caves. “Mining isn’t what the base mom does. Base mom takes care of base. Mining is for the runners. You tell us what you need, and we fetch it for you.”

“Oh.”

“What does the base need?” I ask, getting some more food started. The saplings have only been half-harvested. I roll my eyes and begin harvesting those. The berries are ready too, but it’s better to wait until day so we can get turkeys.

“Um... meat, for winter.”

“Okay. I’ll clear the desert of hounds tomorrow.” The desert is home to hound mounds, which spawn vicious dogs that what to rip your throat out.

Wigfrid kills them in three blows and heals more than she gets hurt.

Hounds drop meat and teeth, which can be used to make traps to protect your base. It’s good to clear them before winter so you can defend against the winter giant.

The next day, I take some meatballs and go to the desert. Not only are the normal hound mounds there, but a special set piece known as the “houndfort” has spawned, which is a huge pile of boulders surrounded completely by hound mounds. It takes me a day and a half, but I clear the whole thing, both the monsters and the rocks. When I return to camp, winter has almost started, but I have over 50 meat, nearly 200 rocks, and full health and sanity. My hunger is low, though. I ate all my meatballs and had been snacking on the monster meat on my way back.

There are no meals in the fridge.

I sigh, dump my treasures, and get some meatballs cooking. Woodie logs off for dinner. I take my meatballs and go out to harvest pig houses to create a meat farm.

“You guys don’t make meatballs!” Ripper cries when he returns to camp. Ripper is playing as Wolfgang the strongman, widely considered one of the “best” characters. Wolfgang’s powers are tied to his belly. When he is completely full (and his hunger can reach a whopping 200 points, as opposed to Woodie’s 150 or Wigfrid’s 120), Wolfgang reaches his Mighty form. He becomes physically larger, stronger (1.5x damage [Wigfrid does 1.25x damage]), and faster. However, his hunger depletes incredibly quickly. When he’s too low, he is in his Wimpy form, a scrawny little twig who is weaker than other characters. His max health changes with his forms as well. Wolfgang is also scared of the dark.

“Sorry,” I say, out in the forest. “We lost our base mom.” The other Wigfrid logs off as well, without a word.

Ripper sighs. “I’ll be base mom,” he said.

“<3”

I pass through camp after a day. The berries still need to be harvested. There are no meals in the fridge. Wolfgang is being chased by insanity monsters. I grab a hat for winter, which begins tomorrow, and go off to help beat some sanity back into him. Then we harvest the berries. I make a single meatball and shove it in my face. I’m not starving yet, so I head off for another house. “Make me more meatballs!” I shout back.

“...i forgot glommer restores sanity,” Ripper admits sheepishly.

Woodie returns. I’ve harvested a shitload of grass, several more pig houses, and I’ve torn down two maxed out spider dens. It’s almost morning. It’s winter. I’m wearing my snazzy winter hat with the beefalo horns and my hunger is at 9. “I’m starving!” I call as I’m on my way back to base. There are now 2 base moms.

Are there meals?

You’ve read this far, what do you think?

“For the love of Pete, can we get a base mom who actually cooks meals!?” I cry as I set meatballs to cooking.

“I was going to as soon as I got back from my smoke,” Ripper says.

“Just make it yourself,” is Woodie’s response. “It only takes a minute. I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“Because you’re never the one ten seconds away from starving with no food you can eat!” I have to pause to shove my food in my face, but I have had it. Woodie has been on this server for over fifteen days and he hadn’t done shit for the base. “You called base mom! You wanted to be the base mom! Your job is to take care of the base!”

“I don’t know what you guys want!”

“FOOD!” I said. “COOK THE FOOD, PLANT THE PLANTS, HARVEST THE CROPS, MAKE SURE THERE’S FUEL FOR THE FIRE!”

“There’s food in the fridge!”

“Not cooked meals! Prepare meals ahead of time so we don’t have to! Harvest the plants when they’re ready! You were complaining we weren’t prepared enough for winter, but you weren’t helping!”

“Geez, Fantis, calm down, it’s not that important!”

Woodie proceeds to cook one fish sticks. My alarm goes off. Time for bed, so I’m not exhausted in the morning.

“I never said I’d cook anyway. I just said I’d chop wood.”

“YOU CALLED BASE MOM. IF YOU CAN’T TAKE CARE OF THE BASE, DON’T CALL BASE MOM.”

At that very moment, Ripper quietly starves to death between us.

“Ohh, if only we’d had meals in the icebox,” I said. “But it only takes a minute for us to make it ourselves, right?”

“There was food in the ice box!” Woodie shouts back (along with a colorful name beginning with F that is not Fantismal).

“ONE FISHSTICK!” I’m shedding my supplies, as is polite.

“I don’t get why you’re so upset.”

“Because you called base mom and you haven’t done shit. *I* built the alchemy engine, the fire pit, the ice box and the crockpots. *I* planted the berry bushes and half the plants. *I* supplied the food. *I* saved your ass every time something jumped out at you and said “boo!” (Because so many times I’d have to run back to base because Woodie couldn’t handle the spiders or the tree monsters). “I shouldn’t have to cook and organize and harvest too!”

“It’s not like there’s any meat to cook with!”

“THERE IS SEVENTY MONSTER MEAT!” I screamed. “WHICH I BROUGHT BACK WHEN YOU ASKED FOR MEAT! MONSTER MEAT IS MEAT! FISH IS MEAT. FROG LEGS IS MEAT!” (All of which were in the fridge).

“Whatever. Just do us all a favor and shut up.”

I’ve shed my stuff and am just about to log off... when he starts a vote to kick me. I laugh, even more so when the vote is “no.” “Ohhh, someone agrees with me!” And that, at the end of Tumblr’s post limit, is how I lost my temper enough to almost get voted off a server.

[sassysnowperson]

That last prompt was amazing!!! If you're still accepting prompts, could you do "... I just found out you're gay/bi/pan..." With Baze and Chirrut?? 😃

So this is from a while ago, so thanks for letting me save it for when I wanted another break from long-form stuff! (Though, this is still fairly long. There’s a readmore, of course)

Read it on Ao3

“What are we?” Chirut asked his class.

“Smart and strong!” the nine children answered.

“What else are we?”

“Safe and Healthy!”

“Aaaaand?”

There was an intake of breath and a moment of silence, before nine children bellowed as loud as they could, “POWERFUUUUUUUUUUULLLL!”

“Yes we are! Very good work everyone, I’ll see you next week.” Chirrut bowed to the class, heard the rustle of the clothes as they bowed back. Then the class dissolved into chatter as they moved towards the small gate that separated the sparring space from the observation area.

Chirrut made his way over to the half-wall separating the room to where he heard a man, slightly larger than him, clear his throat. He moved through the sounds of the space toward the familiar creosote cologne. “Ben! Good to see you.”

Chirrut flashed a grin he had heard described as “shit-eating” in Ben’s direction.

Ben gave the obligatory groan. “Good to see you too.”

“I’m glad you were able to come by. Luke’s doing beautifully.” Chirrut tilted his head over to where he heard Luke chattering, excited, with Jyn and Bodhi.

“Yes, yes, you were right. It’s good to see him happy. And making friends. I still wince every time he spars, though.”

“He lost a hand, Ben, he didn’t become an invalid. When you have a disability the whole world tells you you’ve lost something irreplaceable, and now you’re helpless. Sparring helps him feel strong again. Besides, did you see the way he broke through Bodhi’s defense? He’s a top-rate fighter, one arm or two.”

“You don’t need to lecture me, I know.” Ben sighed. “I know. But you’ll have to excuse me if it doesn’t feel just a little unusual to cheer for a one-armed child fighting another child in a wheelchair. It’s a bit of a paradigm shift.”

Chirrut chuckled, “Taught by a blind teacher and cheered on by their deaf best friend. It’s the entire point of what I’m trying to do here, Ben.”

“And I’m grateful we met and I had the chance to find out about it.” Ben’s patted the top of Chirrut’s forearm.

Chirrut brought his other hand over and covered Ben’s hand. “Speaking of how we met...you know, Ben, if Luke is at his aunt and uncle’s tonight…” Chirrut pitched his voice low, subtly running his thumb over Ben’s knuckles and leaning closer.

Ben made a disapproving noise and pulled his hand back. Even quieter than Chirrut, he responded, “I told you, I’m not sleeping with you while you’re teaching Luke. That’s just a disaster waiting to happen.”

“That’s your rule. I never agreed to it.” Chirrut grinned up at Ben, but nevertheless leaned out of his heat.

“Besides, Chirrut, you are a very good lay—”

“You know it.”

“—But I’m ready to settle. And as much fun as we’ve had, I’m never going to be the one who gets you to settle down.”

Chirrut smoothed his face out to an impassive slate. “It is important to reasonably assess your abilities and know what is or isn’t safe for you to do,” he intoned

“That sounds like something you tell your kids.”

Chirrut felt cheer crinkling at the corners of his eyes again. “It is.”

“Don’t take it as a slight. You’re far from my worst partner. That would be the one that got himself locked up and left me with shared custody of his child.”

“Ben, you have had the shittiest luck with men.”

“Tell me about it. Well. I did alright with you. You’re just in love with your straight roommate. Not nearly so bad by comparison.”

Chirrut thought he did a fairly good job hiding his recoil as he tried very hard not to think about Baze. He opened his mouth to brush off the comment but before he could clumsy footsteps ran over and a bright voice started saying, “Uncle Ben! Mr. Erso says that he works in a science lab and if we want to we can tour it! Can we go?”

Chirrut gave a small wave as Ben was pulled away, and started setting up the room for his six o’clock class.

Chirrut let out a filthy moan as he entered the apartment and the scent of ginger and scallions and lemongrass filled his nose. He made his way over to the kitchen where the aroma originated, something sizzling in a wok, low base notes of Baze’s humming underpinning the scene.

He walked over to where Baze was cooking, reaching out with a hand and brushing Baze’s elbow, using that as a guide to pull himself in and up on his toes, resting his chin on Baze’s shoulder. “Smells amazing. You spoil me.”

Chirrut felt the grunt vibrate in Baze’s chest. “Who says it’s for you? Get your own food.”

“You’re making enough for two.” Chirrut reached from behind to get at the pan only to have Baze swat his hand out of the way.

“Go set the table.” Baze grumbled, which was as good as an admission. “No, wait, go shower. You reek.”

“Good to see you too.” Chirrut snapped back, going off to the bathroom regardless.

As he soaped up under the spray Chirrut did not think about Baze’s broad back and strong arms and the way he perpetually smelled like machine oil mixed with something sharp and fresh and green. He had been friends with Baze since before he could remember, lived with him as soon as the both of them had enough money to get a place of their own.

Much of their relationship worked because Chirrut didn’t think about Baze. Baze, who cooked and cleaned and didn’t leave things in the walkways and belly laughed at Chirrut’s dumb jokes. Baze, who was kind and supportive and knew the names of every one of Chirrut’s kids. Baze, who had been the standard that every guy in Chirrut’s life had failed to live up to. Who was, tragically, very, very straight.

Chirrut got out of the shower, not thinking about Baze. He slipped into the most comfortable pajamas he had and went out and ate dinner with his best friend.

Baze was upstate for some union meeting, and Chirrut had been left to his own devices. Chirrut always felt like he spun out a little whenever Baze was out of town on a business trip. Baze kept him grounded, kept him making healthier decisions. Chirrut picked up a box of takeout food and a young man; he enjoyed both to a degree of excess he wouldn’t have if Baze were in the apartment.

Sending the night’s distraction on his way with an affectionate kiss, Chirrut opened a bottle of wine and settled in for a some lazy listening to the local news.

“We’re here with the head of the Local Sheet Metal Worker’s 601, Baze Malbus. Baze, we understand your union is preparing to march with protesters to put pressure on congress to support legislation banning employment discrimination for LGBTQ workers.”

Chirrut quickly set down the wine and leaned toward the television. Baze hadn’t told him this was a LGBTQ protest. He should have invited Chirrut—Baze’s gay best friend—along. Chirrut would have happily worn his hotpants. Reliable witnesses informed him he was very attention-getting in them.

Baze’s familiar deep voice responded, using a tone Chirrut thought of as his I’m-Still-Not-Sure-How-I-Ended-Up-In-A-Leadership-Position-But-I’m-Doing-My-Best tone of voice. “We’re pleased to join with the long history of labor unions pushing for LGBTQ rights. People shouldn’t be able to be fired for who they choose to love, and the Local Sheet Metal Worker’s 601 is proud to support that.”

Chirrut felt a happy warmth rise in his chest. Baze was non-political by nature, but when he committed, he committed deeply.

The interviewer gave a little chuckle, “It’s not a matter that has much professional relevance to you, though. I can’t imagine too many gay men go into metal-working.”

Baze was quiet for a moment. Chirrut leaned in more, grinning. Baze was going to tear this reporter to shreds.

“You have made a number of assumptions that I find deeply ignorant. First, neither our union nor our profession are exclusive to men, we have a number of passionate active woman and your statement disregards them.”

The reporter made to pull the microphone away.

“I have not finished. Second, the fight for employment equality is important regardless of whether or not someone personally knows someone who is affected.”

“Of course, I didn’t mean to insinuate—”

“And lastly, I can’t speak for any of my peers, but this legislation does impact me personally, as well as professionally. Though, I prefer the label bisexual. Good day.”

Chirrut stared at the television for a good five minutes before he became aware the interview had moved on. He turned off the television with an angry jab, stood up and began pacing about the apartment, trying to think.

On one hand, Baze was fighting for a cause he believed in and shutting down reporters who made bigoted assumptions. Chirrut pivoted and started walking the other way. On the other hand if Baze Malbus was at all attracted to men, Chirrut would be the one to know.

Baze had lied. On television. Why? To make a point?

But it didn’t sound like Baze had been lying. Chirrut was no magical blind human lie detector but he knew his best friend. Chirrut kicked out into the open air, frustrated and confused. He knew his best friend, and his best friend was straight. From age five, when the two of them had met in Taekwondo class, Baze had only ever had been with women. Had only ever been with three women, as a matter of fact. Two of those relationships lasted years. Chirrut would have known if a guy had caught Baze’s eye. Chirrut would have known if he could have ever had a chance.

And that’s what hurt the worst. Chirrut had loved Baze since he was five years old and the Baze had taken him at his word and punched him as hard as he could, not going easy on Chirrut just because he was blind. Had loved him from a distance, because Baze had never once shown a smidgen of interest. So Baze, whether his little ‘Bisexual’ comment was true or false, had made a mockery of everything Chirrut had felt for him.

Chirrut had almost two days to figure out what to say to Baze, when Baze got back home. He had crafted and disregarded what felt like thousands of scripts, ranging from silly to serious to furious. In the end, words weren’t Chirrut’s strong suite. Action was.

As he heard the front door open and close and the Baze’s heavy footfalls through the room he almost reconsidered his course of action.

Baze paused, his movement after that was softer, bare feet, not in boots. The creak of the kitchen floorboard, liquid filling into a mug.

No, too late to reconsider. There was no graceful way out of this, after all. Besides, it should answer some questions.

Baze’s steps carried him over to his bedroom door.

Chirrut arranged himself, naked as the day he was born, a little more provocatively across Baze’s bed, propped up on one arm, grinning at the door.

He didn’t admit that the grin was mostly to hide the nerves.

The door opened, and Baze didn’t seem to notice anything for a long few seconds. He tossed his keys on the dresser, took a sip from the mug...and then promptly started coughing. Chirrut felt some small beads of liquid hit him.

“Chirrut! What the hell are you doing?”

“Welcoming you home! I saw your interview. Heard you would appreciate the view.”

Baze groaned. “Of course you would catch that.”

Chirrut wiggled. “So...what do you think?”

Baze took a slow breath in from his nose, and exhaled in a heavy huff. “I think you’re being ridiculous. Put some clothes on.”

Chirrut shoved himself up to sitting. “So it was a lie, then!”

“It wasn’t a lie!” Baze snapped. “Just because I am attracted to men doesn’t mean I want you naked on my bed!”

“I’m your best friend, Baze! How did I not know this?” Chirrut stood up from the bed.

“Maybe because I knew you’d turn everything into a come-on! I don’t want that.” Chirrut heard the sound of Baze setting the mug down, a clatter as hit hard onto the dresser.

“I thought you were better than that sort of stereotyping.” Chirrut stalked toward Baze.

“For the love of—It’s not a stereotype! I just know you! You flirt as naturally as breathing and I can barely handle it now, if it got worse I would—”

“You would what!” Chirrut landed in front of Baze and poked hard at his chest. “Because if the answer is anything other than, ‘Politely ask you to stop making me uncomfortable and watch as I respect your boundaries,’ you aren’t the man I thought you were.”

“Well then I’m not,” Baze’s huge hands landed on Chirrut’s hips, holding him in place. Baze’s voice went low and rough, “because the answer is I would take you to bed and spend the rest of my life regretting it.”

“I’ll have you know I’m a very good lay.” Chirrut said, mostly on instinct, as Baze’s thumbs, running slowly over his hipbones had knocked out all of his higher processing.

“I’m sure the sex would be fine.” Baze sounded sad. “But it might kill me to be one in your stable of lovers. I’d spend the rest of my life hating every other person you bedded. And I know that’s selfish, which is why I have very carefully been avoiding the topic. So please,” Baze took his hands off Chirrut and stepped back, “put some clothes on.”

“You want me.” Chirrut was frozen, turning the idea over in his head. “How long?”

Baze’s hand thudded against his forehead. “That’s what you get out of this? I—fine. Ages. The first…” Baze swallowed, voice sticking in his throat. “...the first time I saw you teach. You were so patient with the kids, so bright, so clearly doing exactly what you loved. You were beautiful. Still are. That’s not the issue.”

“Seriously? I’ve rubbed up against you while skinny-dipping and that wasn’t enough? I had to teach a class of seven-year-olds?”

“It’s always been emotional, for me. No attraction without the emotion first. Chirrut, you come alive while teaching. It was watching you teach that I knew who you were enough to know that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Chirrut groaned. “And then we went out to a bar to celebrate the opening of the studio and I took that redhead home.”

Baze shifted back and forth. “Yeah.”

“You’ve never had a problem with my lovers. You made them breakfast.”

Baze sighed, “You’re happy. It’s what you wanted. And as long as I could tell myself that I was the one you stayed with, that was enough for me. It still is enough for me. So, you’re going to get out of my room, put some clothes on, and we’re both going to pretend this didn’t happen.”

“I can’t do that.”

Baze walked over to the bed and sat down hard on it, springs squeaking. His fingers slid into his hair as he rested his head in his hands. “Fuck. I can’t lose you.”

Chirrut walked over and put his hands on the top of Baze’s head, a sort-of benediction. “And I refuse to lose you, too. So, you want to sleep with me, but you don’t want me to sleep with anyone else.”

Baze gave a broken laugh. “Yeah, that’s about the sum of it.”

“Alright, I won’t.”

Chirrut’s fingers slid as Baze looked up, his hands settling again on either side of Baze’s face. Chirrut had no doubt that Baze was scouring his face, looking for more clues.

Chirrut just hoped that Baze knew his sincerity as well as he knew Baze’s. “Commitment, right? Exclusivity? It’s yours.”

“You have never offered that to anyone,” Baze said, careful.

“None of them were you,” Chirrut said, plain.

He felt the shudder go through Baze. Baze’s hands settled around the backs of Chirrut’s legs. Chirrut traced his fingers along Baze’s cheekbone.

“Baze, I’ve loved you since I was five years old. You’ve been the standard none of my lovers could meet. I fall in love with the pieces of you I find in other people.”

Baze tipped his head forward, resting his forehead against Chirrut’s belly. “God.”

“No, just Chirrut.”

After a second Baze’s shoulders convulsed. “You’re terrible. I love you too.”

Chirrut’s long experience with martial arts let him know that the sensation he was feeling now was not-at-all unlike being punched in the stomach.

He felt Baze’s head tip back again. “Are you sure?” Baze asked.

“As I’ve ever been,” Chirrut answered.

“Well then.” Baze’s hands tightened around the backs of Chirrut’s legs and he stood up, lifting Chirrut effortlessly before tossing him down on the bed. Baze pinned him to the bed with a knee, rustle of cloth before Baze’s shirt settled next to Chirrut. “I’ve got a naked man on my bed. Guess I should figure out what to do with that.”

Chirrut grinned up in pure delight. “I have some ideas.”

[hear-the-dokidoki]

Astro Rocky - Hogwarts AU /*

Park Minhyuk x Reader 

Format: Timeline

Word count: 3,5k+

As requested by @lovethyfandoms2 🌟

First Year – September

The murmur of the train’s engine is calming. The Hogwarts Express is leaving in a few minutes, and you’re alone in a compartiment, in the front of the vehicle. The loud kids tend to gather in the back, following some unspoken convention, and you’d rather to avoid them. Plunged in your novel, with your headphones in, you don’t notice when someone opens the door.

“Hey! Mind if I join you?” a voice questions.

Your eyes turn to the intruder. “I’m sorry?”

“I was wondering if I could join you,” the boy says with a smile. “The other compartiments are all full.”

“Oh…” You take off your headphones and pause your music. “Sure, I guess.”

Already beaming, he somehow manages to brighten up. “I’m San Ha! Yoon San Ha! What’s your name?”

“It’s Y/N.”

“Nice to meet you, Y/N! Are you a first year too?”

“Yup.”

He sits down in front of you. “We might get sorted into the same house! I hope I get Hufflepuff! My father told me their common room is near the kitchen. How cool is that?” He doesn’t give you the time to answer. “Oh! And the head of the house if Professor Longbottom! As in Neville Longbottom! He’s like, so, so cool. I’m so excited. Can you tell I’m excited? ‘Cause I am!”

You chuckle, appreciating his genuine happiness. “I’m excited too.” You hesitate. “My two parents aren’t wizards, you see. This is very new and strange… But I like it.”

He gasps. “I’ve never had a muggleborn friend. Can we be friends?”

You stare at him, smiling in disbelief. “Okay! Let’s do that.”

A knock at the door interrupts your new friend, who was about to speak. There’s a boy at the door. He seems a bit older.

“Rocky!” San Ha almost shouts. “What’s up, dude?” He points to you. “This is Y/N. She’s my friend.”

The newcomer doesn’t seem destabilized by San Ha’s intensity.

“I’m all good!” He turns to you. “Nice to meet you, Y/N. I’m Park Minhyuk. Second-year, from Gryffindor. Everyone calls me Rocky, though,” he adds with a grin.

You return his smile. “Hey!”

The older boy sits down next to San Ha. As the Hogwarts Express moves steadily north, you end up having a long chat with the two others. You tell about the internet, and video games, and science. They’re actually interested, and you’re glad to teach them new things. In return, they answer all your questions about the wizarding world. The ambiance is merry, and you can’t keep your smile off your face. Once or twice, the two boys even manage make you laugh to tears.

***

Under the resounding cheers of your new housemates, you get sorted into Ravenclaw. The Hat puts San Ha into Hufflepuff… As the year flies by, you learn many new things and begin to feel like you’re part of this world – this mysterious, interesting and beautiful world. You become friends with your Ravenclaw roommates, but you prefer to hang with San Ha and Minhyuk, when possible. San Ha never fails to make you see the good side of things, and Minhyuk makes you laugh, even though you two often argue about insignificant things, under San Ha’s annoyed stare.

***

Second Year – April

“I’m so sorry!” you blurt out.

You pick up the transfiguration textbook the person you just bumped into dropped. You look to see who you hit. His tie bears the color of slytherin, and he’s older. There’s a calm smile painted on his lips. You’re hit by how painfully handsome he is.

“It’s alright,” his soft voice says.

He gives you a nod and walks away. You immediately turn to San Ha and Minhyuk, who are a few steps behind you.

“Who was that?” you whisper.

“Cha Eun Woo,” San Ha replies, chewing on an apple.

“Wow…”

That’s all you can manage to say.

Minhyuk is frowning. “What does that mean?”

“Hum, haven’t you noticed that he looked like an actual prince? And he seems super nice too! He didn’t even get mad when I ran into him!”

Minhyuk narrows his eyes. “He’s a slytherin.”

You sigh loudly. “Why are you so stuck in the past, Park Minhyuk? Voldemort’s era was a burden to us all, including the good slytherins. It’s not their fault if Voldy was associated with their house!”

San Ha has stopped eating, eyeing Minhyuk. The latter is getting worked up.

“Slytherins are bad people,” he declares flatly.

“That’s a stupid assumption, born from a misguided understanding of History.”

He explodes. “What do you even know about our history? You’re just a muggleborn!”

You stare at him. There’s a pressure against your lungs. Being a muggleborn has always been an insecurity. Even though you love the muggle world, you feel excluded from everyone who grew up in Magical Britain. He knows this, yet he just brought it up against you.

When he catches your expression, regret immediately fills his gaze. “I- I didn’t mean-”

You don’t hear what he says next, because you’ve turned around, and your quick footsteps cover his voice. Your legs move on their own, and you end up in the astronomy tower. After a few minutes, San Ha catches up to you.

“Y/N…”

“Leave me.”

“It wasn’t against you, you know,” he attempts. “Rocky would never hurt you. He’s just… He has his reasons for disliking slytherins.”

You turn to him, skeptical, but willing to listen. “Reasons?”

He hesitates. “His father… He was killed by a deatheater. Rocky…” He pauses. “He doesn’t like to talk about it. I know it still pains him to even think about it.”

Silence.

“I didn’t know…” you murmur.

“It’s not your fault,” he says quietly, closing the distance between you. “But please don’t hold his comment against him. He’s very emotional, when You-Know-Who and related stuff are brought up.”

You look down. “That’s understandable.”

San Ha holds a hand out. “Come on, Y/N. Let’s go the the Great Hall! Dinner is starting soon.”

“Yeah…” You slowly take his hand, attempting to smile. “Thank you, San Ha.”

His lips curl up. “You’re welcome.”

***

Later that evening, things get discussed, and you feel closer to your friends, especially Minhyuk. During the rest of the year, despite yourself, you begin to be overly aware of everything Cha Eun Woo does, may it be looking in your general direction or walking into the same room as you. San Ha doesn’t seem to notice it too much, but Minhyuk keeps giving you disapproving looks.

***

Third year – December

“This is the place!” Minhyuk says, gesturing dramatically to a strange statue.

You study the object of interest. “She looks creepy… I assume it’s a “she”?”

“Well, we call it the One-Eyed Witch, so, yes, I suppose.”

You have a flashback to your History of Hogwarts. “Oh! Isn’t she Gunhilda of Gorsemoor?”

He stares at you blankly. “I don’t know. Maybe?” He pauses. “Not like it matters, anyway.”

You’re about to argue, but he speaks again.

“Shall we go?”

You take a moment to answer. “I’m not sure this is a good idea…”

“For Merlin’s sake, Y/N! We’ve gone over this at least seven times! This is perfectly safe, and no one will find out!”

“But what if…”

His exasperated expression makes you trail off.

“Look,” he says. “If you want to see Hogsmeade, this is your chance! I’ve used this passage dozens of times. Where do you think my seemingly infinite candy supply comes from?”

“I know, I know…” You pause. “If only I hadn’t forgotten my dumb permission form. I was so excited to go! I think I told my parent about the village for a solid hour… But then I procrastinated to actually get it signed, and here we are.”

“What’s been done has been done.” He turns to the statue. “Let’s just go.”

You don’t reply, and he takes your silence as an approval.

“Dissendium,” he says, his voice clear and loud.

The statue lets you in. You tentatively take a step in. When you meet a stone slide, you switfly (but not gracefully) sit down, and you kind let out a cry of semi-panic. When you meet the ground, you’re really disoriented and you become motionless. Minhyuk clicks his tongue, grabs your hand, and pulls you until you’re at jogging speed.

“M-Minhyuk!” you shout. “Slow down, or I’ll trip and die!”

He laughs, not listening to you. “You’ll be alright, as long as I’m with you!”

***

Throughout the year, you visit Hogsmeade a couple more times. There are cases where San Ha and Minhyuk accompany you, but the Hufflepuff seems to always be sick or busy when you guys plan one of those trips. Those two are now like a second family. San Ha brings out a joyful side of you that you weren’t familiar with, and Minhyuk rekindles the adventurous parts of you that you lost growing up. Of course, there’s always that everlasting crush on Cha Eun Woo. You manage to chat with him a couple times, and you use the most futile excuses to accidentally run into him, to Minhyuk’s exasperation.

***

 Forth year – June

The sky, from Hogwarts castle, has always been mesmerizing. It’s nearly midnight, and you’ve sneaked out to the astronomy tower. Your eleven-year-old self would never have done that, but after spending so much time with Park Minhyuk, your Gryffindor side has begun to rise.

You hear footsteps. Someone approaches. You steal a glance, and let out a sigh.

“Why are you here?” you ask quietly.

“Because a friend of mine is kind of stupid,” Minhyuk replies.

“Did you come all the way here to nag?”

His face falls. “I’m sorry. I’m just used to bicker with you, I guess.”

“Yeah…”

He comes closer and sits next to you. A minute passes.

“Get over him,” he says.

You sigh. “I’d sure like to. It’s not that easy, though.”

“He has a girlfriend, now. You have to move on.”

You give him an irritated look. “Do you think I don’t know that? In spite of recent events, I’m still a ravenclaw.”

“You sure are…” He pauses. “I just… I don’t want you to get depressed over a slytherin like Cha Eun Woo.”

“It doesn’t matter that he’s a slytherin,” you retort automatically.  

His eyes turn to the sky. “Maybe you’re right…”

“Wait a minute… Is Park Minhyuk actually agreeing with me?” you ask, eyes wide.

He chuckles. “I’m stubborn as hell, but you’re wrose.” He begins to fidget with his robes. “Look, maybe Cha Eun Woo isn’t such a bad guy… But he’s taken, and you shouldn’t be sad because of that. He’s three years older anyway, Y/N. You never had a chance.”

“Wow. Thank you. I appreciate your kind words.”

He turns to you, looking helpless. “That’s not- I’m not good with words. You know that…”

You don’t reply.

“What I mean is that you shouldn’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with you. You deserve more than that.”

You study his face, as silence fills the room. In the end, your lips curl up slightly.

“I know you’re just worried about me.”

He nods.

“Thanks, Minhyuk.”

***

Eventually, you get over Cha Eun Woo. You concentrate on your studies and on the people that matter to you. The year flies by in the blink of an eye.

***

 Fifth year – February

“Why can’t we conjure food from thin air?” San Ha reads from one of your flashcards.

“It’s one of five Principal Exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration.”

“Right, and-” San Ha begins.

“But,” you cut him. “If there is already a certain amount of food present, it can be multiplied or enlarged. Food can also be summoned from another location, which is what happens with every meal we have in the Great Hall. Oh, and it’s pertinent to note that liquids like water can be conjured from nothingness.”

Minhyuk gives an exaggerated yawn.

“Well,” San Ha says. “That wasn’t on the card, but it sounds right, and you seem to know what you’re talking about.”

“I did some extra reading… Magic is quite fascinating.”

Minhyuk makes a scoffing sound. “O.W.L.s. are in months, Y/N. Why in Godric’s name are you already studying?”

“I’m stressed out, okay?” your tense voice answers. “I’m also stressed out about the fact that I’m stressed out. My dumb solution is to do what I’m good at: studying. I know it doesn’t make sense. Don’t argue with me, Park.”

His eyebrows lurch up. “Park? Since when am I Park?”

“Since now, it seems.”

“OKAY,” San Ha interrupts. “Does anyone want tea? I’d sure like tea.”

You both ignore him.

“It’s almost Valentines Day,” Minhyuk continues. “Why are you stuck in your books? Do something with your life! Go on a date!”

You give him an annoyed glance. “With who?”

“Well I don’t know… Maybe no one notices you because you’re so stuck up!”

“Excuse me?” you growl. “Even though a few girls have had crushes on you, don’t talk as if you were a romance expert! Your relationships never last more than a few weeks anyway!”

“At least I’ve been in relationships!”

You stare at each other, and the tension is palpable.  

San Ha grabs Minhyuk’s arm. “Rocky. That’s enough.”

His friend’s touch calms him down.

“I have to go to the library,” you say coldly.

San Ha lips are sucked in, and Minhyuk’s eyes are on the ground. They keep quiet as you walk towards the door.

***

Minhyuk and you never stay mad for long. After a few days, you don’t even remember your last argument. In the end, you spend Valentines Day with your two best friends, eating way too much chocolate and laughing about the students who tried using love potions. You pass your O.W.L.s. smoothly, with most of your scores being Es or Os.  

***

Sixth year – March

Music echoes in the empty classroom. Your right hand is in Minhyuk’s, your left one on his shoulder.

“This spring solstice ball idea is dumb,” you mumble.

“Careful with your words! You could hurt the poor ball’s feelings.”

You try (and fail) to hold in a chuckle. You don’t want to encourage his weird sense of humour. He smiles.

“So, the waltz is an elegant and smooth dance,” he explains. “The first step is to get the 1-2-3 beat. Can you hear it?”

“I think so.”

“Okay! When I move forward, you take a step back,” he adds, beginning to move. “To be honest, you have the easy part. You just have to follow the leader, and that’s usually the guy’s role.”

You click your tongue. “Gender roles…”

“Would you like to lead, Y/N?” he inquires with a smirk.

You continue to follow his movements. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”

He gives you a smug expression, and you decide to ignore him. You dance a little more, and you eventually get the hang of it.

“See? It’s not that difficult,” he declares, slowing down.

“What if my partner can’t dance, though? I can’t follow, then…”

You’re now immobile, still in the dancing stance.

“I could be your partner,” he says, staring right into your eyes.

You blink. “What?”

“I said I could be your partner.”

“Yes, I heard. What I’m asking is: what do you mean?”

“I mean that we should go together. To the ball.”

“Hah, that’s a good one.”

“I’m serious.”

“Did you get rejected by all the pretty Gryffindor girls or something?” you question, head tilted.

He brings your locked hands down, but he doesn’t let go. “No. You’re the first girl I’ve asked to the ball.”

“I’m confused, now,” you say, pulling your other hand away from his shoulder.

He sighs, frustrated. “You’re my first choice, Y/N. You’re always my first choice.”

You stare.

“Will you go with me?” he asks, squeezing your hand.

“Uh…”

He seems annoyed. “This is not complicated, Y/N,” he says, now looking anywhere but your face. “I want you to be my date for the Spring ball. Would that be alright with you?”

You feel your cheeks heating up. “Date?”

“Yeah. Date.”

“But…”

You trail off, not sure what about what you want to say or ask. You’re silent for a few seconds, and his eyes find yours.

“Will you go with me?” he asks again.

“Okay,” you hear yourself say.

A grin spreads across his face.

***

After that evening,  you can’t see your friend in the same light. San Ha seems to be busy a lot, for some unknown reason, and you’re often stuck alone with Minhyuk. The ball ends up being quite fun. Dancing with Park Minhyuk is quite an interesting experience. After the last dance, he leans in and kisses you. It feels so right, you wonder how you’ve been living without knowing that feeling. You guys begin to date... It’s like before, but better. At the end of the year, he graduates.  

***

 Seventh year – May

“What is it?” San Ha inquires, practically more excited than you.

You fake annoyance, but you have to repress a wide smile. “Aren’t you a ‘Puff? Be patient!”

He puckers his lips, putting his chin in his hand. Laughing at his childish behaviour, you carefully take the package Minhyuk’s owl has just brought you. It’s a box – simple, yet elegant. You open it. There’s a blue rose, and a letter.

“Awww,” San Ha comments. “It’s blue! Like ravenclaw!”

You giggle. “I’ve noticed, San Ha.”

“What’s written?”

You turn your eyes to the envelope, and take out the letter.

Y/N,

I love you. People usually put that at the end, but I feel like it’s the most important part. Why wait? Anyway, my auror training has been going well! Although it can be intense, I put in my 110%, and I do think it’s worth it. I’m enjoying myself. How are you? I hope you haven’t been studying too much… You have little time left in the castle. Use it wisely! Sneak into the kitchen, play a prank and sleep under the sky… Your Gryff’ side should take over, really. Keep taking care of San Ha too. I know he’s your age, but he's still a baby.

Good luck on your N.E.W.T.s. I know you’ll do wonderful.

I love you (I don’t see why I should just write it once),

Minhyuk.

You smile like an idiot.

San Ha reads over your shoulder. “I’m not a baby!” he protests.

You pat his shoulder. “ ‘course you aren’t. You’re like a toddler.”

He pouts, and you let out a laugh.

“Thanks, San Ha.”

“For what?” he asks, confused.

“Just… for being my friend.”

He blinks. “Of course.”

You pick up the rose. 

“He loves you so much,” San Ha says.

“I know.”

“Can’t wait to see mini Rocky and mini Y/N!”

You hit him, laughing. “Oh, shut up.”

“It’s bound to happen!”

You don’t answer.

“Hah! You won’t even deny it!”

“Whatever, Yoon San Ha,” you reply, offering him a grimace.

He burts out in laughter, and despite yourself, you soon join him.

***

The year ends… You graduate. You decide to continue to study in the hopes of becoming a teacher at Hogwarts. San Ha opens a music shop called “Astro” on Diagon Alley, with some friends of his. You move in with Minhyuk. You couldn’t dream of a better life.

***

 Epilogue – 5 years later

“What is this?” you ask, your lips curling up.

“May I ask for a dance?” Minhyuk replies, ignoring your question.

Music resounds in the living room. It’s the same melody you danced to in that empty classroom, a long time ago.

“You sure can,” you answer, giving him your hand.

His smile is bright as the sun. He pulls you closer, and you begin to waltz.

You let out a chuckle. “Is this special day? Did I forget an anniversary or something?”

He spins you around. “Hmm depends on how you see it.”

“What does that mean?” you question, slightly dizzy.

He suddenly stops moving, and you run into his chest. You slowly look up at him, and he lightly kisses you. You can’t stop smiling, even as your lips part. You study his face, and he takes a step back.

“What’s happening, Minhyuk?”

He kneels down.

“Are you serious right now?” you ask.

He laughs. “For once in your life, Y/N, let me talk.”

You nod, eyes wide. He clears his throat, and pulls out a box from his pocket. He opens it, and there’s a beautiful ring.

“Oh my-”

“Y/N,” he interrupts. “Shhh.”

“Oh,” you murmur. “Sorry.”

“So… All these years, I’ve been watching you. Your beautiful smile, your mesmerizing eyes, your stupid attitude…” He grins. “More seriously, you’re a sunshine in my life, and everything is better when I’m with you. There’s no one that means more to me than you, Y/N. I want to keep you by my side until my last breath… I love you, with all my heart. Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” you precipitately say.  “Of course, I will.”

And then your arms are around his neck, and you’re kissing him with everything you’ve got. When you’re out of breath, you pull back. He showers your lips with quick pecks, smiling widely. After a few minutes, he remembers to put the ring on your finger. You both laugh.

“I love you,” he says.

“I love you too.”

Y’all. Hogwarts AUs are life. If you have any HP related request, hit me up! :) Also, if anyone wants to discuss sorting with me, I'd be happy to have a long chat (cause I'm not sure of any of my sortings tbh)!