#cross faction my beloved

[deviationmaniac]

Heavy warm ups that derailed and I went overboard with as usual cos doodles mean nothing to me lately. I love him and need to practice his anatomy for sure. Below is some Heavy Medic after kissing with quite a bit of blood so ya can see that below :3

[sollattes]

Some poly todoroki faction heacanons<3

-First off tsuji and Shiba were dating way before todoroki entered their lives

-it was a love at first punch(or kick?)

-when todoroki was realising his feeling for the two, MY GUY WAS HAVING AN IDENTITY AND SEXUAL CRISIS AT THE SAME TIME(a very very angsty part of dororki's life) so he avoided them :)

-they're confession towards each other was... interesting

-it was a frustrated and confused confession like I mean shouting at each other in the rain for dramatics (unfortunately, no, their confession did not happen in the rain 😔)

-there confession happened after a fight, so all three of them were tired, on edge, and the tensions were high

-todoroki was about to leave after silently making sure the two was okay but he was stopped by tsuji was the one who was fed up and asked todoroki what was his problem after a 3 week long of avoiding them, Shiba wanted to stop his boyfriend but ended up just letting him be since he too was confused and frustrated on why the hell their captain was avoiding them, they were supposed to be a team right? He can't just leave them after proving how loyal they were to him, No. Absolutely not

-todoroki was going to ignore all the words that tsuji was shouting, he didn't have the energy to confront them yet, not now, not here, but one sentence made him stop on his tracks

"You really are a coward yosuke"

-it was the first time that either tsuji or Shiba called him by his first name...

-okay moving on ! We'll leave it at that or this will turn into a full blown fic

-in the early stages the relationship todoroki was still confused and how the whole "polyamorous relationship" work, so he ended up staying up all night doing research about like it's a fucking thesis 💀

-the other two didn't really have a hard time accepting it they just kinda knew it all along I guess

-older Shiba knew way before her brother could even tell her and treated todoroki as if he were there all along

-now let's make something clear...PROTECTIVE OF EACH OTHER ASF

-Tsuji and Shiba are more outspoken about them being protective over each other and todoroki mean while todoroki is more quiet and just watching on the side ready to fight for his boyfriends

-Todoroki was always in the hospital taking care of the two when they got beaten up by ebara

-doroki also still gets nightmares from it from time to time

-though the two was pretty upset but mostly worried that doroki went to ebara all alone like what if he got beaten up instead?

-it's not like they dont believe in their boyfriend, I mean he is their captain for a reason but still he is still their boyfriend

-also just because doroki is the captain it doesn't mean that the two cannot spoil and pamper him cause im pretty sure he is the baby girl in the relationship

-TODOROKI BABY GIRL AGENDA✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻

-also HAIRSTYLES

-everytime doroki would mention that he finds a hairstyle or haircolor attractive, you better believe that the other two would go to school, would the said hairstyle or haircolor

-one time, doroki absentmindedly said he finds someone with their hair slicked back attractive, and tsuji went to school with his hair slicked back even though he just had his braids yesterday

-doroki complimented shiba's ginger hair once, and it stayed ginger for a whole 7 months(which is probably the longest since I'm pretty sure these two change their hair every 3-5 months)

-they change their hair pretty often, so you can just picture doroki. It would probably help them

-NO WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE THATS JUST DOMESTIC DBWKSVEOAFNOA

-like todoroki helping Shiba color the places he can't reach then helping tsuji braid his hair while waiting for Shiba's hair then helping Shiba wash the color out then drying his hair(HROWHDORWP THEY R SO WTAF I DONT WANT THIS ANYMORE)

-now music, tsuji and Shiba probably listens to like a lot of hip hop/rock or indie rock music while doroki is just plain by listening to opera and classical music

-MANDATORY WEEKLY DATES AT THE MUSIC SHOP

-while, the two are banging their head to nirvana. doroki is listening to the waltz of the flowers

-Shiba is always the one accompanying doroki to the book store, he always enjoys the way doroki lights up every time he sees the book he wanted to buy still there and on sale, and its worth the thousands of yawn that Shiba made since they stepped into the store

-all if three of them have things in each other houses so, ever so randomly, tsuji might just show up in of todoroki or shiba's jacket and vice versa

-tsuji and Shiba purposely hides todoroki's things so he can use theirs ;

Exhibit a:

-them hiding todoroki's body wash so he can use theirs and smell like them

Exhibit b:

-them not washing doroki's spare clothes claiming that they 'forgot' to wash them to see todoroki in their clothes

-the list goes on, and todoroki just pretends to not know since he secretly enjoys it too

-todoroki has a 12 step skin care every Friday night and the two always sleeps through it

-weekend movie nights are a must !!

-todoroki (will always)prefers mystery thriller horror movies than gory the ones, and is secretly a sucker fantasy adventure movies(primarily lord of the rings and Harry Potter, his gay awakening is legolas and Bill weasley), and ofc he made tsuji and Shiba binge watch the whole hp and lotr franchise

-tsuji is kinda stereotypical he likes action but prefers it to be action comedy, and he is the one that prefers gory horror movies, todo and Shiba always lowkey dread every time it's tsuji turn to pick a movie since one time he made them watch the whole saw franchise in one straight weekend and Shiba cried in the bathroom

-SHIBA IS THE ROMCOM CHICK FLICK LOVER. He made todo and tsuji watch all the Amanda bynes and linsey lohan movies( todo secretly likes she's the man but will never tell a single soul)

-the three of them of them watched twilight for shits and giggles but lowkey got into it, tsuji is team edward and shiba is team jacob, todo is neutral and hates Bella and her stupidity so much that he almost lost his calm, disinterested composure

-todo already watched Hunger Games, but still he watched it with the two, and now he can't stop them from doing them. "I VOLUNTEER, I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE" joke

(lowkey wanna to make a separate hcs for these three movie nights)

-todoroki is like lowkey rich so he is the one that sponsors the two's hair adventure and hospital bills

-shiba knows all of the sannoh gossip and always has a late night gossip session with his boyfriend

-shiba is the biggest out three, so he always loves to be the big spoon, though from time to time, tsuji would always force(lovingly) him to be the small spoon

[elysianstarl1ght]

hello tf2 community!

um, hi! i wanted to make an introduction for myself (because twitter is falling apart) so, hey! my name is cosmic, i have adhd and am likely autistic! i wanna start doing things on tumblr like growing a following, and just doing stuff cuz this place looks cool! so um yeah!!

im not sure how this stuff works so you'll have to bare with me for a bit, until i get used to this </3 but anyway some stuff about me!

my current hyperfixation is tf2!! as you can tell lol. some other interests of mine are astronomy, tmnt, lego monkie kid, warframe, horror (the whole genre), genshin impact, undertale, vtubers/nijisanji, ponytown and much more!

i started playing in february 2023!! i am very new lol (but apparently good...? according to some people...? idk about that)

i main scout and medic! i mostly play bootcamp wave 666!

im a scout fictkin and kin sniper, medic and demo!

i love all the mercs!! but demo, scout, sniper, pyro and soldier have taken over my brain the most!

im a writer and artist, and am currently writing a fic for tf2! it's very canon divergent and i'm still figuring out the general order of events, but i'm working on it <3 and super excited for it! trust me i will post about it nonstop

i have some uncommon headcanons that i'll probably talk about alot (pyroscout/flashfire and transfem soldier are just some)

YES i have watched emesis blue YES i love it YES i would love to talk with you and YES I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY TF2 WITH YOU and YES I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT HEADCANONS WITH YOU. i am ALWAYS up to talk about silly mercs!!

i.. havent read the comics... i'll get to it this summer i promise /gen

um.. yea i think thats all!! if you recognize me from twitter... uh hi PFFT anyway yeah!! thats it pretty much!! um... i hope i did this right aheh i dont want this to flop...

well um yea! i hope i can make myself a part of this community ahehe

[hopefulceladon]

wherever you stay, i will stay | sunday x reader

summary: after many months in light of his newfound freedom (and his wardrobe change), sunday makes a visit home to you. pairing: sunday x reader word count: 1.9k notes: drip marketing and the worms influenced this one. because of course they did. i honestly might delete this one i'm not even sure yet ao3 link: here!

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

The night's chill had settled bitterly into the quiet premises of your chambers, ripping you away from your beloved comfort and carelessly substituting it with an eerie cloak of loneliness.

As if upon instinct, you tried to seek out the familiar warmth of your beloved's feathered form, haphazardly guessing your hand's landing upon what would be there and what truly ought to be there, but a tensed sigh had crossed your lips once all your palm had planted itself upon was the lifeless, cold, white linen of the lavishly sized mattress you rested upon.

It was far too easy to loathe the evening when its’ brisk bite was so eager to remind you of your solitude, after all.

Still deeply disappointed, you curled the sheets against the grasp of your fist in frustration before fumbling around for the partially completed book on your nightstand with the other, retrieving it from atop the ever-growing pile of its familiarly half-read brethren, ever so careful to not knock over the candle that flickered nearby as you reached for your hopeful distraction.

You sat up and rested the book upon your lap, your eyes slowly trailing over every last detail of the front cover; it was a highly detailed guide to different factions across the galaxies that Sunday had recommended to you in passing. Despite your initial hesitance to comprehend such daunting knowledge back then, you’d chase down even the smallest of traces your beloved had interwoven into your life in the midst of his absence now.

Once you cracked the book open, however, you had found that you were struggling far more than you really should've.

Not only had you sworn that the nearby clock formed an elaborate conspiracy against you, desperate to drive you to your wits’ end with every second-span tick, the author of the book was prone to rambling up to the high heavens—everything truly reminded you of him now, did it not?—allowing for none of the words to have a chance at nestling within the crevices of your memory long enough for anything to click.

Before you could helplessly toss the book onto the wooden floor below and tirelessly fuss with the comfort of your pillows, as if the mere absence of your life's light was of their doing, a soft, unassuming knock rapped against the door of your house.

All the worsts were what had flown through your head first, and so you remained silent, far too alarmed to say a word as you quietly grabbed a dagger from the nightstand drawer and pocketed it.

As if dissatisfied by the lack of response, the one who knocked finally decided to speak.

“Please, I insist that you open the door.”

If you hadn't valued your life so much for the hopes of seeing your beloved once more, you would’ve audibly scoffed at the request. Still, you had to force your voice to not waver. “I... I do not open my house up to the likes of strangers!”

In the silence that fell, you had prayed whatever had intruded upon your property had lost interest and simply left you alone.

“Ah... should I be deeply offended by your words, my star?”

You froze at the familiar lilt in the ‘stranger's’ voice.

Either you were now indeed face to face with impending doom, or...

Feeling emboldened by what you fervently hoped was an abrupt rush of assured clarity, you tiptoed your way to the door and, with a candle in hand and a small dagger concealed within your pocket, opened it wide enough to see who it was, but hardly wide enough to allow them in.

All it took was a glimpse of familiar, soft grayish-blue hair to grace your line of sight before you abruptly nudged the door wide open.

“Sunday?”

The aforementioned Halovian quickly looked around and placed a finger to your lips, murmuring a small ‘shhh’ before lowering his hand and welcoming himself inside, shutting the door behind him with a small thud as he led you both over to a nearby seating arrangement.

Your eyes were still wide with disbelief, though your words were far quieter. “You’re... you’re here?”

“I... suppose you could say that, couldn’t you?”

It was then your bewilderment had melted away into a grin in light of his soft chuckle. There had been points in time where you weren't sure if you would ever hear such a simple sound again, and to have it fall upon your ears so gracefully like the beautifully familiar melody it was had made your cheeks ache from the overabundance of smiling.

Finally taking the time to refamiliarize yourself with the pleasant sight of your heart’s solace, it hardly took long at all for you to notice that he was no longer adorned with his priestly garments. Gone was the gray blazer that had been accompanied by a white vest, for they were both now replaced by a half white, half navy-blue ensemble.

You could’ve sworn the duality in colors and all the new embellishments that decorated his attire seemed to bring out the shine in his brilliant golden eyes.

With trembling hands, you briskly cupped your palms against the tops of Sunday’s stress-ridden shoulders, absentmindedly kneading your fingers against the soft material of his new apparel as you desperately tried to reassure yourself that he truly was standing before you.

Sunday’s focus trailed up from your wandering hands to gaze into your own eyes, his lips upturning slightly. “I take it you must’ve missed me?” he asked softly, as if he hadn't already been assured of the answer.

You hummed in agreement before abruptly resting your head against his chest, growing ever more grounded back within the fabrics of reality with each passing beat of his heart.

“Probably more than you ever could’ve imagined.”

The Halovian gently pulled you closer towards him at your heartfelt answer, resting his chin atop your head as he enveloped you in a more-proper attempt at a hug. “I’ve missed you dearly, too.”

You clung yourself taut to his form as if he would disappear into thin air if you hadn’t, your arms wrapped snug around his waist as your breathing synchronized with his.

How many hours had you spent aching for this? All the miniscule moments that made your chest clench with longing upon every reminder of his presence? All the passing thoughts of his actions? Every fleeting memory of his mere touch alone?

After multiple moments worth of resting yourself against him, you lifted your head away from his chest and, without much thought put behind it at all, delicately cradled your palms against his skin.

Sunday tilted his head at the gesture, his wings fluttering from his surprise.

It seemed as if, despite all the other visible changes in his appearance, his expressive plumage had yet to differentiate themselves away from the likes of those in your memories.

“What's on your mind, I wonder?” he questioned, pressing his cheek against one of your palms.

Abruptly broken out of your love-stricken stupor, your hands retreat to your sides. “I... am unsure, my love,” you murmured. “Please, forgive me.”

“Ah-ah,” Sunday tutted softly, the weariness in his eyes melting away into a rare form of playfulness, the very kind you missed oh-so-dearly. “Surely you had a reason? I’d love to hear it if you did.”

You were afflicted with disbelief as Sunday grasped your wrists and brushed a brief kiss against the right one, before settling both of your hands back against his cheeks.

Sunday hadn't known this, of course, but you had desperately craved for him to initiate any sort of contact against your skin.

What you hadn't know, however, was that he, too, had whispered a quiet prayer that he’d be at the mercy of your gentle grazing, aching for your touch like the rising sun yearned for the waning moon.

“It's just...” you began, swallowing down the lump of anxiety that had dried out your throat. “I’ve missed you so dearly, and...”

“And?” he urged you on, his patience never faltering in light of your hesitance.

You hated yourself for the hesitant, all too obvious glance you took at the very lips that had rested against your wrist only mere moments prior.

“I mean, for heaven’s sake, Sunday, it’s been months since I last saw you, and...”

Utterly fed up with the way you suddenly couldn’t finish a sentence around him, you silenced Sunday’s future words before he could even dare to speak them with a desperate, abrupt press of your lips against his.

Every brush spoke a thousand feelings more than your stammered words ever could’ve hoped to amass, and you quickly pulled away with a shaky breath.

As Sunday’s expression morphed into surprise, a rush of shame had snuffed out any feelings of relief you could've gathered from the intimacy.

You looked away with an embarrassed huff, tightly squeezing your eyes shut.

“I... should’ve warned you.”

Albeit still taken aback by your boldness, Sunday carefully guided your chin back to face him.

“You must know that you never have to do so by now, surely?”

Braving yourself into opening your eyes, you were met by the visage of Sunday gazing at you warmly, the corners of his eyes crinkled by the depths of his fondness.

You found yourself pushing him backwards for yet another kiss soon after.

As you both fell forth against the comfortable expanse of the couch ahead, you let out a small hum against Sunday’s lips as your hands hastily clutched against his chest for support.

After you had successfully steadied yourself, you allowed one to fall down to his leg, absentmindedly rubbing circles beneath the bottom blue belt wrapped around his thigh, whilst the other hand cradled his steadily-warming cheek, your thumb brushing slowly back and forth against the starting, downy feathers of the nearby wing.

Once your hand had squeezed itself against his lean yet soft upper thigh, Sunday had let out a trembling breath.

“Ah, love,” Sunday murmured breathlessly as his shimmering, pleading eyes locked upon yours. “I do believe that, we, ah... we shouldn’t...”

Quickly, you retracted both of your hands as if you had seared them on scorching coals, fastening them behind your back before scooting away from him on the couch.

Sunday was keen to the unspoken guilt that had marred your countenance, and he was quick to try to eradicate it. “Please, don't take my words harshly,” he began, reaching for your arms to slide his gloved hands back down their expanses to reunite with your hands, as if a simple, gentle squeeze would soothe your fears.

He had assumed correctly—it did. It always, always did.

“It's merely that I didn't imagine our reunion would... I simply don’t want to rush...” he stumbled. In light of his abnormal struggle with mulling over the perfect words, he soon relented to brushing his apologies against your knuckles in the form of a chaste kiss against your skin, his lips upturned at the way your breathing had fluttered. “Not here, my star.”

Sunday’s gaze turned distant as it lingered near the door, as if he were peering beyond the barrier and off towards distant horizons.

“Perhaps, maybe in the future, should you continue to follow me as I search for wherever within the stars that'll make a place for me...” he continued on, before turning to look at you. “Though, I beg of you, please don't feel the need to fasten yourself down to me.”

“Sunday...”

He tilted his head at the soft calling of his name.

“Wherever in this star system you roam is where I will roam, and your future planet shall be my future planet,” you whispered tenderly, pressing your forehead against his. “My home is where you are. Can't you see that?”

A shaky breath escaped Sunday's lips at your heartfelt confession, and he leaned in closer against you in kind.

“You truly mean so?”

“With all my heart.”

[kromato]

Hey what's up it's me with a special interest in weapons and I wanted to share my thoughts about Nikto's machete (no that's not an innuendo for once)

Had a bit of a solo-mandela effect going on because for the longest time I thought it had a modified 'billhook'-like feature on the back of it for whatever reason (but smaller than what would be considered a traditional billhook, more like a hoof pick blade).

I kind of enjoy still HCing that it does have it because a) it looks kind of cool and b) a terrifying thought to think this man whips this giant intimidating blade out, flips it deftly in his hand to the hook side, just to sink it into flesh and yank people back in when they try to run. Also it allows me to think about a scenario where, resident karambit knife enthusiast Sebastian Krueger, can teach proper blade hooking techniques to our beloved plural man. Anyway back to the knife - It's like a cross between a coup coup and a bola? But has a cool flare like a Tapanga for his newer mwiii model. Also like a vintage Senegalese french machete, which were known for their high quality (might technically be the same thing as the coup coup, just with the locale specified I think, both entrenchment machetes). That curve also kind of reminds me of parangs but it's not particularly drop-pointed.

I HC Nikto as a very brutally pragmatic but particular man, so it doesn't feel too far off to think that he went out of his way to acquire something niche like that. Some kind of custom-made machete that fits his needs just right. The length of it, as well as the curved, ergonomic grip makes me think he's gotten it to do some serious chopping, so it's also probably heavy and weighted forward to make that easier when swinging. I don't see him as a flashy fighter personally, and though maybe it was a stylistic choice for the game devs/artists, I think it's a neat feature that speaks to his character. I do think it's made of hefty steel; weight is important in chopping knives, and though steel rusts, it's sturdy compared to a lot of other metals. Not to mention - I feel like oiling and caring for his weapons, machete included, would be a ritual source of peace for his sometimes loud and chaotic mind. Grounding when he can feel the weight and texture where his nerves aren't completely damaged, smell the oil, have tangible proof that it's reality when he sees the maintained blade even after he becomes unmoored.

Now this is just me WAY reading too much into it, but it gives me a little giggle - The hole at the end of the handle is for a wrist lanyard, so you can loop a piece of paracord rope to secure it around your hand. It's an important safety feature just in case the machete goes flying out of your hand while chopping, lest it hit people in your vicinity (accidentally...?). In his 19 model, he doesn't have the paracord rope attached; Nikto says "Fuck your safety" but also huge ego of "I would never accidentally fling my knife!!"

Could also be because it gets caught on stuff if it dangles off his hip though - he's got one on his newer model where he wears the blade on his shoulder, which looks like a place where it's less likely to snag on things. Could also be because he's been increasingly featured in larger factions, so he works with more people and was asked to have one on hand maybe?? I don't know. In either case the knot in the middle of the rope makes it too small for his wrist which could also be read as a passive-aggressive "Here's the fucking safety rope it's on there ALRIGHT" and yet he's also made it nonfunctional for its intended purpose lmao Okay that's all byeeee

[hangesdarling]

Could you make hange x female reader enemies to lovers with Hange teasing her later

tease — h. zoë

PAIRING. Hange Zoë x female reader SYNOPSIS. You always find yourself in dissent with the Survey Corps Squad Leader, Hange. CONTENT. 18+, MDNI, vaginal fingering, implied sex, teasing, your usual enemies-to-lovers thing, i suppose WORD COUNT. 1.9k A/N. playful hange, my beloved <33

The Survey Corps always clashes with the Military Police Brigade in some way or another. The factions never seemed to have a moment where silent resentment didn't boil over. After being given a chance to choose a regiment, you never considered being part of the Survey Corps. Only the bravest or the craziest or the ones with no choice ends up with that fate. You're meant for the inner walls, to fulfill a duty within where you won't have to risk your life in a slim chance that a titan won't devour you in a battle.

You never lifted an eye for those in that regiment, but interesting news always comes up now and then. Not just the newspapers or whispers from other soldiers. You couldn't deny that every time the regiment goes outside the wall, a heavy tone sets in. 

Deaths, corpses, and grieving families. You were too caught up with the fact that you never had to deal with such gruesome things until the fall of Shiganshina.

Military Police began to work closely at times with the Garrison Regiment and the Survey Corps, who had a more appreciated role around this time. A clash between the regiment members occurs now and then, especially you and that crazy Survey Corps Squad Leader who has a propensity for grabbing people's collars.

Maybe you were annoyed at their temper, or how their reckless-sounding plans always turned up effective somehow which would never work out according to the Military Police Brigade's principle. It's way too different.

However, a sudden shift in your relationship occurred when you decided to be snarky one time.

Hange's hand clenched around your collar in a rather strong grip, and honestly, you forgot how you both ended up arguing to that extent. Your face was centimeters away from theirs as you smirked, "You know if you want an excuse to touch me so bad, there are better ways other than grabbing my collar. You could just say so, for example."

"Oh, get over yourself, L/N," Hange huffed, letting go of you. "As if I'd want to do that."

Your subordinates have told you that Hange gets pissed off at the right things and their anger is something to be feared. But it always brings you satisfaction when their cheeks or the tips of their ears redden when they are annoyed. It's cute, you must admit.

"Awww, is the Squad Leader blushing?" you crossed your arms, grinning.

Hange gave you a bright sarcastic smile and responded, "You make the blood vessels on my face dilate and it makes me want to rip your head off, darling."

"See, you're smitten," you chuckled.

Hange huffed this time, deciding it was over messing with you, and headed for the door. "Whatever. Go back to work."

"Hey, you can't command me like that. We're in the same rank!" Your indignant response made Hange smirk but they'll never show you that.

-

Maybe you don't have intentions to get close to them in a way where they'd piss you off in return first and have their fingers buried inside you the next in a cramped storage room.

"Shhh, quiet down, Y/N... Do you want the others to hear you? You're into that, huh?" Hange smirked, lips grazing the shell of your ear, making sure that every thrust of their digits was deep enough that their knuckles brushed against your folds.

"You might like trying to shut up for once. It looks good on you," you managed to say.

"Do you think I'd have such a pretty MP officer on my lap right now if it weren't for my insufferable, talkative mouth?"

"You know what? I'll bring a gag next time. That'll shut you up."

"And here I thought you can't get any kinkier." Hange playfully bit on your neck, relishing at the sounds you made that were soon muffled by their hand over your mouth.

You mewled and whimpered under their touch, any sense of decorum and authority thrown out of the window. The stuffy air inside the room didn't matter nor did the lack of a window, you drew a breath, head resting on their neck where you could inhale their scent. They remind you of fresh grass and perfume powders from your childhood.

Hange's hand would cradle your head to their chest in every silent intimacy shared in that room, their other hand rubbing circles on your hip in waiting for your highs to subside.

"This won't be a regular thing," you would say but both of you knew it was a lie uttered in an attempt to deny yourself more. Your meetings couldn't stand as infrequent when each day was a reminder that you would see each other again. Every time you stripped off your clothes, you would see every kiss mark and love bite from Hange etched on your skin. Hange knew you wouldn't admit your surreptitious desires even at gunpoint, and that only urged them to rib at the persona you clothed yourself with. A game of who would cave in first.

-

Some things could only be investigated in proper light when the sky gets dark. With intuition as sharp as Hange's, Erwin knew it would be best to trust investigations to them. From regiment treachery to pilferage that wears away the system, Hange finds the most relevant information in the obscure.

Streets weren't as busy on weekend nights. The village takes rest on those few hours when families are too busy lounging at home to notice dubious operations outside. Hange crept into the darkness, each gray shadow turning a shade darker by their lamplight. Their eyes crossed over the scroll containing all the points that led them here, the gears in their head turning about how they could fully unearth the mystery.

But then, alertness spiked in their veins the moment they heard sharp scurrying footsteps and hasty shadows running in their direction. Their usual calmness escaped them when the shadow held their arms, but their fighting instincts shut down when they heard, "Hange, it's me..."

Hange regained their composure when they saw your face by their lamplight, your chest rose and sank, making Hange wonder how long you've been running. They were taking a clear look at you, eyes momentarily traveling over the scrape on your cheek, and your frantic eyes looking from the direction you came from. But before Hange could utter a question, you abruptly put their lamplight down, quite aggressively that it was almost knocked off from Hange's hands if it weren't for their grip.

Hange felt your finger pressed against their lips as they heard you once more.

"Shut the hell up," you muttered, both in desperation and command and also by the knowledge that Hange was seconds away from running their mouth.

"I haven't said anything," Hange mumbled back.

"Shhhh..." you hissed as voices became audible from the direction you ran from. "They're coming so be quiet.”

Hange couldn't see much from the darkness but their hands knew where your hips were by touch. Their hands settled around them as they asked, "Who's coming?"

You couldn't find the heart to tell Hange that you were spying on fellow Military Police officers to gain evidence of their corruption both in trade and land. People might have coupled you to the elite, high, and mighty commanding rank of the brigade but you're not a filthy traitor of humanity unlike what those other MP officers subjected themselves to.

"I got in trouble," is all you said, your tone unwelcoming to any further questions Hange might ask. You would answer them some time but not now. Not when all the truth you could tell only punctuates that you belong in a rotten, grimy-handed faction.

The footsteps drew close, the familiar sound of an unholstering gun, and a voice posing seniority along with the other two. Hange wasn't a fool and knew they were Military Police officers as well. Their eyes peeked beyond the alleyway, calculating that both of you had nowhere to run at this point but a direction towards danger. No safe options, in short.

Hange turned back to you, eyes grazing at the outline of your figure.

"You know we could be pretending to make out instead of huddling together like a bunch of cows in summer," they proposed, fingers lightly tapping your hip in suppressed nervousness. It was a laughable proposal in a certain context, but it wasn't a terrible one.

"Ugh, what a pervert," you mumbled to yourself, running the idea in your mind in consideration and at the same time cursing yourself for being flustered at such an unlikely time.

"What! I'm just trying to save your li–" Hange would like to offer more protests but your lips crashing against theirs suspended their words, even the thoughts whirling in their head.

They kneaded your hip beneath their hands, teasing the edge where your shirt ended and skirt began. Hange brushed their tongue softly against yours, reveling upon the taste of your mouth they longed to lay claim upon.

The officers only needed a glimpse of your vague outlines moving sensually in that dim alleyway to know what was going on. Unsuspectingly and half-pissed, they only passed by, remembering their authority at the last minute when one of the older men shouted, "Trysting bastards, get a damn room!"

Hange couldn't help but emit a soft laugh as they gently pulled away from the kiss, just from the light shake of their shoulder you could measure how much they were struggling to keep their laughs in. A smile lifted on your lips to its own accord, jabbing at their sides as you say, "shut up, you idiot" despite smiling widely to yourself.

-

Hange could be persistent without sounding like one. They would nurse the scrapes on your cheeks and knees while nudging you to tell them what happened earlier. Your stories were lacking due to a desire to remain an arcane persona as protection but Hange has an aptitude to string your stories and read between what your words cannot say. You're a person of good intentions, they concluded, hoping their intuition served them right as usual. You spent the rest of the night with Hange, enclosed by both their arms and a blanket. They were not so willing to let you go when early dawn broke, but you gave them a kiss of gratitude, smirking as they blushed profusely. You gathered your clothes and dressed up before leaving, wishing that tomorrow you would see them again for another warm night.

-

Most inner operations ceased temporarily the day the Survey Corps will retake Wall Maria. You remained stationed in the inner walls, occasionally visiting your office to read through a few reports until a small envelope fell out of the stack you were checking. It was from Hange and they asked a subordinate to deliver it in by the looks of it. You tore the flap and read the small note:

To Y/N,

I'll try to visit you more often. I'm also hoping you'll have some spare time to come over to my place whenever I'm here.

P. S. You never returned my pen but it's yours now, I presume. I found something of interest you left at my place last week. It's inside the envelope.

From Hange

When you shook the envelope upside down, a small button rolled on your desk. It was one of the buttons from your uniform, embedded with the Military Police Brigade logo. You sighed and kept it in your pocket, the memory of why you left such a trinket in their place sinking in and transpiring into a blush on your cheeks. It was a rough night, to say the least.

You kept the letter tucked inside your coat, making a mental note to chastise Hange and tell them not to send such things in the mail even if they want to piss you off so badly. 

likes, reblogs, and comments are appreciated, sweethearts <3

[gwenllian-in-the-abbey]

What are some pro-team green fanfics you would recommend?

Ohh I've been meaning to recommend a few! Most of these are Aegon-centric because I'm generally more interested in him than Aemond, but there are a couple Aemond fics in here as well, and at least one that's Alicent centric.

a poison tree by @branwendaughterofllyr is a Dance retelling in which Daemon and Viserys' younger brother Aegon lived and had a daughter, and that daughter ended up being raised with the green children. Branwen tells a compelling story with great attention to historical detail, and although the story is green leaning, I feel it is fair to both sides. It has many POVs and really tells the story from many different angles, some some reliable than others.

My co-author @aifsaath's series The Skies Are Always Red Above Valyria is an entire Dance retelling that starts with Alicent as a lady at court before her marriage but eventually will progress to the Dance itself (and involves our beloved Baela/Aegon pairing). Aife's fics always feature impeccable worldbuilding and lush descriptions, so check them out.

The Wrath of the Queen by @florisbaratheons has just started but is very promising, featuring a more proactive Alicent who gets a cooperative if reluctant Aegon on board with her plan to put him on the throne following Driftmark, as well as fully fleshed out versions of the Baratheon and Lannister sisters. After seeing Cassandra Baratheon and Jason and/or Tyland Lannister cast as antagonists in dozens of Dance fics it's nice to see them get a fair shake.

The Dog Days Are Over is a Aegon/Helaena fix-it by @franzkafkagfn which they escape to Essos to start over with the kids. She also has another Aegon/Rhaenyra fic that is I'd say slightly more green slanted simply because much of the rest of the canon black faction doesn't exist per se.

This one has been on hiatus awhile but In The Ripe and Ruin by @kingsroad will forever have my heart as the first OC fic I ever got into, featuring gorgeous worldbuilding and one of my favorite iterations of Aegon. He's awful but also incredibly endearing. According to the author it's not going to be super canon divergent, and OC is Aegon's mistress through the Dance! Crossing my fingers that the author returns soon!

Would That They Were Not is a one shot by @navree that deals with Blood and Cheese and Aemond's feelings of guilt in the aftermath. It's heartbreaking! Blood and Cheese happens here the way it does in the book so if the show ends up changing it and you want an idea of how it might have gone down, this one is very faithful.

1968 is a modern AU by @inthedayswhenlandswerefew In which the wife of presidential candidate Aemond Targaryen, who is running against Richard Nixon in the 1968 election, forms a connection with the family screw up, his older brother Aegon. This is technically a readerfic (hear me out!), although I'd really call it a 2nd person POV because the "you" is a fully fleshed out character more so than a reader insert. I do not usually go for readerfic but opened this on a whim because the history teacher in me saw the premise and went "what on earth" and proceeded to be blown away by delicate character work, symbolism, and gorgeous prose. I actually got several friends who do not usually enjoy Dance fic OR readerfic fully invested in this one. Is it pro green? I guess? It's not set in Westeros and Aemond is a real POS but Aegon is lovely and the blacks don't really feature so I think it counts.

[city-of-ladies]

Kōgyoku/Saimei (594-661) was Japan’s second empress regnant according to the traditional chronology, with the notable particularity of having reigned twice.

Her first reign ends in blood

Though stable during Empress Suiko’s reign, the court reverted to a state of unrest after her death. Emperor Jomei, died without designating a successor. To put an end to the power struggles, his widow, Princess Takara, was chosen in 642. She was 49 years old and would thus be known as Kōgyoku Tennō.

As the region was hit by a severe drought, Kōgyoku prayed and the rain fell. She thus won her subject's respect.

In 645, her son, Prince Naka no Ōe , killed minister Soga no Iruka in front of her in the throne room. Kōgyoku knew nothing of the plot. As she confronted him, her son explained that Iruka was guilty of treason. 

The empress left the scene and abdicated two days later in favor of her brother Kōtoku, with Naka no Ōe becoming heir apparent. 

In 654, Kōtoku died of an illness and his sister took the throne again as the 37th Tennō, called Saimei. 

A mediator and a builder 

Saimei fostered international relations by sending envoys to Tang China and opening exchanges with the three kingdoms of Korea. She undertook many building projects to show the prosperity of her realm and receive foreign envoys.

Many of those buildings were made of stone. However, not all her projects were met with approval. Such was the case of a facility with an imposing stone wall and necessitating the manual digging of a canal. It nonetheless seems that this canal had two purposes: irrigate the fields and form a moat that would deter enemy invasions. 

At the end of her life, Saimei planned a military to help the kingdom Korean kingdom of Baekje against Silla and China. She was at Tsukushi, readying her troops, when she died at age 68. Before passing away, she told her son Naka not to waste a great amount of labor in building her tomb.

The navy suffered a terrible defeat after her passing. Her son Naka no Ōe would later rule as emperor Tenji.

A loving grandmother

Saimei played an important role in politics by achieving peace between rival factions. She also raised her granddaughter Jitō, who would become a powerful empress in her own right. Extremely saddened by the death of her grandson prince Takeru in 658, she asked to be buried beside him and wrote two poems:

Above the hill 

At Imaki 

If even a cloud

Would only appear, 

Then why should I grieve? 

I did not think of him 

As being a mere child, young

Like the young grass 

By the river bank, where they track

The wounded deer. 

Like the foaming waters 

Of the Asuka river, 

Moving on ceaselessly:

Without pause

Does my mind dwell on him

And:

Though I cross the mountains 

And sail over the seas, 

I shall not forget

The happy 

Times in Imaki. 

 The salt current 

At the river mouth 

Flows back into the sea:

With darkness at my back,

 Must I go, leaving him behind? 

Must I go, 

Leaving behind

My beloved young child?

Feel free to check out my Ko-Fi if you want to support me!

Further reading:

Toshio Akima,  "The Songs of the Dead: Poetry, Drama, and Ancient Death Rituals of Japan"

"The story of Empress Saimei"

Aoki Michiko Y., “Jitō Tennō, the female sovereign”, in: Mulhern Chieko Irie (ed.), Heroic with grace legendary women of Japan

[ringleaderising]

NEXT LORE NEST POLL !!!

I made a poll about this a while back, but I've narrowed down who's going to be available, and the time frame being sometime after the holiday season, so everyone can participate in Chest Hell without having to check in on some shmuck's blog (including me! the Shmuck!) So now I'm gonna toss this one out for the next week to check interest, with a little elaboration on each pair's lore.

CENSER SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Pure G2 brown range/brown range/blue range stained Pearlcatchers.

A pair of childhood friends who assumed one another's identities in order to lead the life they wanted- they cross paths again now as a priestess and a con-artist, both seeking something in a quaint victorian town in Shadow Flight.

T4T parents with religious trauma swear "we won't fuck up the way our parents did" only to fuck up in a new, more unique way.

Offspring likely to be lovecraftian/bloodborne/gothic horror inspired with some kind of magical weirdness going on.

Connected to The Sideshow, Vaudemire Way, The Hive, The Host, The Beholders, and some members of The Wicked Dig.

LEGENDS AND LEGACIES

Pure g2 Veilspuns, beige-tan/thistle/platinum-heather.

Servants of those who chronicle the histories of Sornieth and escorts of those who have completed their chapter in the story, Orchid and Calla serve as not a threat but an inevitability- and a guiding light at the end of it all.

Scholars and socialites in equal measure, they regularly make themselves known around Vaudemire Way, and have a direct connection with The Host- having been Thronebreakers in their youth.

Known as "The Chorus" they, and their offspring communicate only through song, often performing sonnets about those who's lives they've come to record previously.

Connected in some form to ALL my personal lore factions.

DO US PART

Pure g2 brown range/green range/pale yellow range (most likely) guardians- My Progenitors.

A veteran soldier of battles he chooses not to discuss and the spirit of his beloved- a war-poet forced to speak only the truth in her songs- Sideshow and Selvvinir were once brutal Mirror pack leaders seeking to expand their control over Plague's territory. Selvvinir fell in battle, disposed of in the wyrmround, she lives now changed- a member of The Host.

The only pair including a Host member and a (still living) mortal, children of Do Us Part are highly magically charged and attuned to the way magic moves through Sornieth- and cursed with the ability to see the dead.

connected to the lore of Vaudemire Way, the Sideshow, the Hive, and The Host.

DEATH :: PEACE :: MIND

G2+, but a rarer color combination, Lead/Abyss/Moon-Lead Skydancers or Ridgebacks.

A Businessman-turned-scientist and the lover he betrayed for the position, VAN and Avis' 'children' are iterations of her code she's managed to free from within the time-lock over Hope Adder Enterprises and wipe the memories of- ushering them off to new clans for safety, and the hope that somehow, some part of her finds happiness in the world above ground.

These offspring are largely digital ghosts, inhabiting found or constructed bodies to resemble the species they are born as- or become.

The "Big Two" of the Hope Adder Enterprises portion of my lore, Avis and VAN are the cause of the Gaplands, and VAN herself is the "Mother" of The Host- thus they have ties universally to my Gaplands lore sections.

PROGRAM CORRUPTED

G2+ likely to favor Skydancers, but oh my god they're so ourple.

a pair of captive survivors of the Analog Virus living within Hope Adder Enterprises, Scythica and Glitchcore are actively being studied and held under surveillance, and function as the 'mom and dad' friend to the other contained anomalies, as they've been there the longest (aside from Silas, but he is not to be trusted in most scenarios.)

Their children are carriers of the Analog Virus, essentially living computer programs, amalgams of flesh, bone, wires and cables, sentient tv static- technology with a soul- but the parts are all wrong.

Connected pretty singularly to Hope Adder Enterprises, at least presently.

BEASTS OF PLENTY

G2+ Imperials, Likely to end up, eventually, both with Jaguar as a primary, but at present, they are Orca-obsidian/Metals-Gold/Metals-Gold.

Used as my self-bred fodder pair, Mithos and Impressa's lineage, at present, is 20 offspring exalted, and one still in my lair, this entity, (named Fool in my lair, but called colloquially 'The Child") is an emperor, trapped in the remnants of their mother's once great underground kingdom. The bloodline is cursed, and offspring from this pair would not only be ancient even by sornieth's standards, but aware that their death will end in their being absorbed into the beast below Dragonhome trapped in the Calcite Cradle.

Thusly, you're looking at liches, mages, immortals who skirted death completely to escape the final family reunion underneath the earth.

Connected VERY strongly to The Wicked Dig, and The Host, but Mithos has presence in all facets of my lore, as a member of The Host himself.

Feel free to RB/Comment/etc and vote for whoever tickles your fancy, yeah?

[curioussubjects]

I just finished Veilguard, and...I'm really not sure how I feel about it?

All in all: good game, had fun, but still didn't quite hit some of the highs it wanted to hit and it's still not as good as DA2

(Spoilers galore below for everything)

The Good:

Pretty game is pretty;

Love the codexes, especially the ones written by companions or with their commentary;

Speaking of, the Mementos had so excellent tid bits of lore flavor to them, as well;

Regrets of the Dread Wolf was a damn good quest;

Some truly funny party banter;

I actually thought it was really easy to figure out who my Rook is as I played the game, which was much harder for me to do for my Lavellan in DAI;

And speaking of Lavellan, she was in character she WOULD say that she WOULD do that. Bless;

Everything about Nevarra and the Mourn Watch, I wish there was more content there because I was so into it;

Orb and dagger mage is really fun to play, which was VERY surprising considering I don't play close range ever;

I also really enjoyed destroying blight boils for some reason lmao;

Petting cats (they PURR WHEN YOU DO);

Assan <3;

Taash being so autistic;

Teia and Viago my beloveds;

✨Friendship✨

The Solavellan of it all;

And Solas, too. Love that sadsack disaster man;

Maybe this is super basic of me but I liked Varric's narration...idk it's comforting;

Honestly, just Varric in general was a bit safety blanket in a nice way for me because the game feels overwhelming at first;

There's no party like an all Dalish party!

Exploring -- loved finding all the fun details in each location, and I know I didn't even do enough in my playthrough;

I'm weak for stories about guilt, fear and regret. And I'm even weaker when those stories are so obviously about forgiveness and moving forward. Also love. Always love.

The Bad:

The pacing. I've said this before but DAtV could've used a more explicit arc structure or have quests note which level they're meant for or SOMETHING because some times it seemed I was doing quests too early or too late for when I was in the main story. I also thought events kept oscillating from happening too fast or too slowly, and it very much did get in the way of immersion;

The romance. Literally what are you doing Dragon Age that you fumble the romance. Granted, I only romanced Davrin so far, but I'm getting the sense from looking through the tag that maybe Lucanis' romance also feels a bit off? Honestly I have so many issues with the romance progression for Davrin that it's its own section;

I hope this is only a Veil Jumpers issue, but I thought Rook was so separate from the faction. I felt very little connection to them;

I've seen some people point out NPCs talk to Rook like they're a child, and while I don't really agree with that I do think Rook doesn't have enough opportunities to be knowledgeable in their own right. Especially annoying with a mage Veil Jumper Rook! I miss the Inquisition perk dialogue options that let my Lavellan be a smarty pants;

Holy overdesigned armors! Yikes!

Not all areas are as well developed as the others: Rivain is the most egregiously empty and underdeveloped, but I actually thought Arlathan Forest was super lifeless too. So was the Lighthouse! You get the early game discovery bit and then nothing ever again and it's like oh that was really it huh (and the stuff we did get was so good please more?);

I hate to say this but BioWare missed the mark with Rook's place in the group. The companions seemed connected to each other, yeah, but Rook was like some cross between group therapist and not-so-undercover boss. There was none of the warmth Hawke got from their companions (or the Inquisitor, for that matter!). The game really needed 1. a lighthearted party hangout cutscene and 2. companions coming together to take care of Rook (the fact this isn't even a thing in the romance is bonkers to me);

Taash's personal quest being about choosing between being Rivain and Qunari as if that's how culture works is Bad Actually;

The worst minimap I've ever seen in a game wow;

Also: give me back my beacon marker;

The gods were in a regret prison but what were their regrets exactly we just don't know.

The Bad (Romance Edition):

Again, the pacing! Incredibly slow to start (and not in a slow burn way, mind!) and then super fast in the last third of the game;

In fact, the romance seemed to be running on a completely different level than the rest of the story. The last romance scene was incredibly out of place tonally, especially.

The first two romance titles for Davrin are "Thrill of the Chase" and "Hot and Bothered"...and like WHERE????

Davrin never writes about Rook as a romantic partner or as if he has any concerns with the relationship...which we later find out he has, but was news to me;

Tbh, the romance felt like an afterthought. There were cutscenes that in any other DA game there would've been flirting options, for instance, but this time there was nothing (what do you mean Rook can't make a flirty comment when Davrin is shirtless working out with Taash? It's low hanging fruit!);

Not nearly enough flirty banter between Rook and Davrin, which is nuts considering their personalities;

I'm really super disappointed with Davrin's romance, which sucks because he's actually perfect for my Rook and I really like his character. There was so much potential for a really fun romance that was both tense and sexy, but also sweet. But no. Secret good Davrin romance that exists in my head save me.

The ???:

Southern Thedas got scorched when the North didn't how?

Please tell me who was catfishing Andraste;

Making enemies super aggro on Rook unless you specifically have companions taunting was very weird.

[fullmetal-scar-simping]

feasting on all the fantastic au/oc discussion that happens to share several commonalities with my own Scar As A Major Protagonist AU (that i swear im working on very slowly. i just have the curse of perfectionism and i keep going back and reworking things when i should be WRITING,) and its making me want to share my ideas too....

the general starting premise is that instead of getting abducted by bradley, greed manages to escape the raid on the devils nest with bido, and then via a series of dominos the two of them wind up teaming up with mei and then scar shortly thereafter

the entire idea kind of spun out of thinking about how scar would react to actually getting to know a human chimera. his pity for nina– similar to how he seems to view al– is such a goldmine for character exploration to me, because hes gotta be projecting right

like despite the obvious differences in their respective situations, from scars pov he might as well be just as inhuman as nina is, except HE isnt Allowed to die yet because he has a Duty to fulfill. which is both the last thread of self preservation hes grasping at and also a thing he hates himself for doing. its this big tangled up knot of religious guilt and survivors guilt and internalized ableism and the fact that he cant blame his brother for saving him so instead he makes a monster out of himself. and i think if he had the chance to come to terms with a chimera as still being human in all the ways that matter, and talking about those complicated body-humanity-autonomy feelings with someone who gets it on some level, maybe it could help him start to rebuild his sense of personhood

and. just generally. i think if he had more people to hang out with on the regular than Snitchy McLandlord, Self-Flagellant Genocide Collaborator, and One Literal Child. He might maybe perhaps have had better self esteem by the time the moral-superiority-in-incrementalism lecture hall power hour rolled around.

i too am killing kimblee early. scar unfortunately doesnt get to him, but he does get shot, impaled, and finally fall down a big hole and die, which i think is almost as good

scar DOES get to kill envy though. because roy "im mad you killed this one guy i liked. genocide what genocide" mustang doing it was just not as deep a plot point as people think it was. the fight with wrath was good, but i think itd be interesting to end his vengeance quest more somberly- not facing an equally-matched opponent, but putting down a pathetic, weak, spiteful thing that refuses to grow or change

uhhh what else. oh right. mei also takes the throne here, since ling never gets the stone (despite his continued efforts. his character arc is shaped like that of a pendulum. im making him worse) and i think with her at the helm, amestris would have way less leverage in any post-canon negotiations with ishval

Sure of course your super huge and powerful neighbor will help reestablish the cross-desert railroad and enrich your failing economy..... IF and ONLY IF you adhere to ALL the stipulations put forth by the ishvalan leadership council ^_^ the gun im holding? dont worry about it

im giving him so many cats when everythings said and done, however to his consternation hes doomed to wind up a beloved pillar of the community instead of just some guy who gets to hang out with cats. theres a renewed independence movement to organize & also a burgeoning faction of people who argue that because scar uses alchemy and hes cool, maybe god is cool with alchemy some of the time, like as long as youre responsible, to which scar is at the forefront of every debate desperately telling them I Am An Outlier Adn Should Not Have Been Counted

Hell yeah, more AU goodness! 🤩 Trust me, not only do I understand your pain in being caught in a perfectionism loop, but you'll get no judgment from me about taking your time with it too.

Super ecstatic that you decided to share what you've got cooking, so let's go:

Starting off with Greed and Bido is very on brand 😌 Glad he escapes getting liquified and drunken by his core self. I assume that some other members of the Devil's Nest crew survive as well? Or are they all slaughtered, same as in canon? If it's just the two of them left, then man, that's gonna hurt (and the angst~). Maybe we get a revelation that some survived later on?

I dig that Bido and Greed bump into Mei first. I wonder how fresh her arrival in Amestris must be before bumbling into an entire wayward homunculus and human-chimera. Meeting Scar after that would seem so normal in comparison lol

Oh- Oh! Omg wait, that's a fantastic angle to explore. That really taps into his self-hatred in such a unique way that I never thought about before! Alchemy is already a heresy for him that which he cannot separate from himself due to his brother's arm being the sacrifice that saved his life. Yet why wouldn't he see the sanctity of his own body as having been marred by this grave taboo to the point that he hardly sees it as truly human? If he can use this tainted gift to exact vengeance against everyone who tore Ishval to shreds, than even his unholy, "desecrated" body can be put to use. But the way this lashes out against both himself and others who don't want to die simply because someone/the state forcibly transmuted them with other living beings- damn, that's juicy

No seriously, this fuckin' rules! Using the chimera angle to really crack open the darkest pit inside of him, and how Scar's one vestige of purpose is what keeps him from succumbing to his self-flagellating dehumanization. I love that you're looking at this via survivor's guilt, the conundrums of his piety, and even the ableism imbedded in the assumptions on what constitutes a "worthy" body.

On the latter point: I'm curious to see if I understand the every facet of the ableism angle. Is it that chimerification can be seen as a disability brought on by alchemical experimentation (which I can definitely see) in contrast to Scar seeing it as an irrevocable perversion and assault on the human form, thus (in his mind) dooming the victim to be fully inhuman and in need of euthanization? Because again, I can see this as a loaded assumption on a "proper human body" vs a "destroyed, unworthy body", but I feel like I could be missing other potential readings here 🤔 It feels like it's that plus more. Hmmm

Yes, Bido (and maybe some other chimeras?) gets to help Scar navigate the messy bodily-autonomy-humanity Gordian Knot. Surely that has to unravel slowly (it's less Gordian than it may seem lol), since I imagine Scar's initial reaction to Bido must be a... heightened, perhaps pejorative one. To me I would imagine it to be quite dehumanizing (if not outright threatening) towards the poor lizard chimera man. :( Not that Greed would let anything happen to him, but then again Greed revealing himself to be a homunculus would also have to throw Scar for a loop too. We all know Greed can't shut his yap about being one, if he thinks he'll get a rise from someone who can even grasp what that is. Shame he maybe doesn't have Roa around to sledgehammer his entire cranium to smithereens. Unless? (Either that or I imagine that, given potential misgivings, Scar attempts to disintegrate Greed's head and gets the revelation of his homunculus nature right there and then.)

Wait, now I'm just recalling how cold Scar had been upon first meeting Mei when she was chilling with Yoki in canon. (I don't blame him, I'd also ask that bumbling mustachioed twat why the hell there's a random kid hiding out with them.) But now this tween shows up with a homunculus AND a chimera? Dude must have wanted to walk into the ocean lol

LMFAOOOOO STOPPP the way you described the canon party Scar had to travel with 😭😭😭 And the fucking "moral-superiority-in-incrementalism lecture hall power hour" PLEASE

Though tbh yeah, he needed some other folks to bounce off of who weren't former state actors, and, much as Mei is an absolute treasure, some adult company who also don't see him as a monster or a threat (to the extent Yoki and Marcoh do) would be very good for him. This is assuming that he and Bido are on solid terms sooner rather than later, but if Scar still struggles with being around chimeras for some time than maybe it would only be Greed who doesn't shrink in Scar's presence (besides the best kid ever, Mei, who never feared or distrusted him 😌).

Oh man, Mei might not realize that she's become travel buddies with a walking philosopher's stone. :0 Or does she immediately grasp that homunculi hold a stone within their bodies?

A standing ovation is needed for the death you're serving that pompous fascist Kimblee, and then an encore for good measure too. Stupendous, magnificent, and fully deserved. 10/10 The big hole at the end really cements his fate as comedic poetry, really. Scar may not get that personal catharsis, but he should get a front row seat to enjoy the carnage all the same. (Not suggesting that Scar has to be in the scene, just imagining him getting a theatre all to himself with the murder playing on loop while he snacks on some popcorn.)

Scar killing Envy is an intriguing change. Fully agreed that Mustang setting Envy ablaze wasn't that deep, and frankly a pretty lousy scene too. And yeah, Scar getting to fight and kill Wrath in canon was surprisingly good, but given Envy's hand in exploiting the tension of the occupied Ishvalans to jumpstart their genocide, it feels far more relevant to have Scar put them down than fucking Mustang. Envy's writhing pathetic self contrasted to Scar's typically quiet, self-contained demeanour- of course this is coming off of the canon again. However that fight or scene shakes out in your AU may or may not have Scar in that same emotional state.

Ling being denied the stone and what that does to his character isn't explored enough (bless these AUs). "im making him worse" ough that's enticing. Does Ling spiral? Does the worst in him begin to claw through the surface as he more desperately vies for whatever stone is in reach? His position as a moral paragon crumbling as he flails for the seat of power he desires, with his greed looking less and less admirable would be *chef's kiss*

Which makes me realize that the stone that propels Mei into the head of the Xingese empire wouldn't be Greed's stone, right? Perhaps it's Envy's?

But yesssss, Mei leveraging her new power to force Amestris to adhere to the Ishvalan council's demands! No need to worry about the gun, since it's symbolic of the sheer economic devastation that would sweep Amestris if they refuse Ishval whatsoever. :3c

The last bullet point-!!!

Scar gets to have his DOZENS of cats, and and he gets to be LOVED and RESPECTED, he's a- *sniffs* he's a PILLAR of his COMMUNITY- *breaks down into a sobbing fit*

But yes! The Ishvalan Independence Movement is underway and it needs him! He wouldn't let his people down at such an integral point in Ishval's history and future. And I'm goin nuts over the fact that some people are beginning to see alchemy with some renewed nuance, much to the chagrin of Scar, as he sits central to this shift in perspective. Despite what he's seen of Ishvalan alchemy and Xingese alkehestry (fuck Amestrian alchemy, no I don't care that all alchemic practices stem from Hohenheim and Xerxes stfu it's cultural drift goddammit) Scar still being adamant in the teachings he's followed all his life is very in-character. But I can see that slowly eroding and making way for some greater peace with his own brandishing of alchemy alongside his greater acceptance of his body and where his soul sits in Ishvala's eyes. 🥹 And all the cats. All the damn cats he could ever nurture and cuddle!

Ugh I love this AU too! I know you wanted to give me the Scar-centric details, but I'm big time curious about Greed and Bido's side of things. Where this journey takes them, what they have to contend with and what they lose and gain in the process, and what becomes of them. Does Greed get to live on even with the decimation of Father and the other homunculi? Do they rebuild the Devil's Nest? Can Bido live comfortably and openly as a chimera the way the four chimera-men do, or is he destined to continue living in society's underbelly due to not having been 'designed' (so to speak) to shift between a fully human morphology and his animal-infused morphology?

Many many apologies for the time it took to reply. U_U I loved going over the details you've layed out and I can't wait to one day read it 👀 The day this fic starts getting posted I'll be there!

[poisonous-properties]

How do you intend to take his “pretty little bull” (assuming that you mean skate)? Coil is probably expecting you to do something, he might have warned his Playgrounder friends, though I can’t know for sure. They might try to protect him and Coil 2.0.

Sorry for so many questions, but this is important. I dare say that your career might be at stake, Subspace, depending on how the higher ups react to your loosing such a valuable weapon and injuring your faction’s best mercenary.

Do you know what Coil thinks you, specifically you, will do next? What control do you still have over Coil 2.0? Maybe try to keep track of Coil’s location so that he can’t ambush you or make too much use of Hyperlaser’s gun? Maybe then you’d be able to ambush him instead.

Also, Subspace, what is Coil 2.0 exactly? From the way that Coil spoke to it it seemed like he considered it to be sentient or even a person.

Whatever you do, be more careful this time.

“i intend to sneak up on him!! my poison is perfectly capable of weakening and putting people to sleep!! i’d just have to be very careful…”

he scoffed, crossing his arms

“i’m aware my career is at stake, no need to be so dramatic!! i’m still waiting for the higherups verdict on this and want to plan out thoroughly in order for it to go smoothly!!”

“that mutt probably thinks i’d come back with even more robots… and i still have partial control over him!! it’s the crystal that i embedded in him that lets me have that connection but… he seems to be powered down right now… and i’m planning on luring that criminal back to my own place!! taking one of his beloved seems like a good shot at that…”

he seems overconfident, again… this man needs his ego pushed down, but he seems to be thinking things through a little more instead of brute-forcing it which is a relief

“what he may be??… that’s a story for another day!! unimportant currently!!”

“and i’m trying!! don’t baby me!!”

[xxsycamore]

@drewadoodle-dandy asked: i think @wordycheeseblob is on hiatus so I want to request something for them! Cyran and 🤭 whispering something embarrassing into his ear. Maybe he's used to it from Clavis but not from us! i don't know if thats a good prompt I just don't want them to miss an opportunity to see their beloved Cyran congrats on your milestone mo, and happy Valentine's day :)

AND I THINK IT'S @wordycheeseblob 'S BDAY TODAY?? I can't believe my procrastination led to this perfect timing. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (I ugh. might have taken a look at what convos have been happening in your blog today and took inspiration....) 🎉🎉 AND THANK YOU DREW!

[🤭] 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝙲𝚢𝚛𝚊𝚗 '𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚛…

CYRAN:

Your way from point A to point B in the gardens doesn't run by the training grounds, last time you checked. If anything, it makes the walk longer, but noone needs to know about that. Lately, your feet have been taking you around this spot of the palace a little too often...

There he is, today too. Even before you can turn the corner and spot him you can hear his voice, raised up a few necessary octaves as he leads the training of the new knights under him. Unlike them which are still clad in their armor, Cyran has stripped the upper part of it, leaving him in a plain white button-up. They must be about to wrap it up for the day soon, you need to get going before someone notices you lingering around...

"You there - That's not how you swing a sword. You haven't been paying attention. Here, give this to me."

Stern but patient, Cyran takes the heavy sword from the knight's hands and prepares to demonstrate the movement. He takes the correct stance, making sure everyone's paying attention. They are, so are you. Then, he raises the sword over his head.

Swoosh!

Under the impact of his rapidly tightening pectorals, one of the buttons on Cyran's chest flies off.

Your jaw is slack as everyone pretends they didn't just see that and instead focus to their best extent on the perfect demonstration and hurry to recreate it.

"Okay, go rest now."

Darn it, you got caught in it and now it's too late to make your exit unnoticed. Gulping down, you resume your peaceful walk, well-knowing that you'll cross paths with the lead knight of the Foreign affairs faction who now stands with hands on his hips overseeing the emptying of the training grounds.

Eyes involuntarily darting to his chest, you bite your lip - no, you can't let him walk around like that! Ignoring the screams of your inner self, you let out a small cough to gain Cyran's attention and lean in to whisper in his ear so that no nosey knights can accidentally overhear you.

Sir Cyran, I've always wanted to say you sport a knight's armor better than anyone.

Cyran looks at you. Really looks at you. The tips of his ears are lost amidst his unruly maroon hair but that doesn't stop you from spotting how they're in fact camouflaging themselves in it with just how red they've gotten.

"I-... I'm only following the code. Thank you."

Oh boy, wait until he walks in front of a mirror and finds out exactly why you made that remark... Too bad you're not going to be there to see it, granted that your soul hasn't left your body until then.

∎ Steal My Heart!! - xxsycamore’s 1500 followers celebration event | 💌 event masterlist

[anony-man]

Read it here under the cut or over on ao3!

Chubformers drabble #127!

Characters: Starscream (& trine - G1)

Word count: 1.8k

Megatron was gone again, which meant Starscream was in charge.

Technically, the boastful seeker’s claim to leadership while Megatron was away only applied to those willing to follow along, which was no more than the few bored Cons with nothing better to do and his loyal command trine, but Starscream was going to milk it for all of was worth while it lasted. Their beloved leader was away for the time being, and as the second in command over all of the Decepticon soldiers, it was only right that he see himself to his temporary duties.

The throne had never looked so good as it did with Starscream warming its seat, and he stood by that claim. The flier sat perched with one pede crossed over the other and his servos folded behind his helm as he overlooked the working bots below him. It was another day of simply sitting around and waiting for Megatron to return so they could plan another failure of a mission against the Autobots, and while he had at first been tempted to take matters into his own hands and finish the job himself, Starscream had quickly grown busy with much more important tasks.

Triumph over their sworn enemies was the biggest goal, of course, but fueling the fight was a very close second. No mech could last long without precious energon to fill there bellies, and while Megatron was off looking for ways to one up Optimus Prime, Starscream stayed loyal to their cause—the Decepticon cause, that is.

As Starscream sat atop the throne (or his throne, as he had been calling it all morning), he drummed his fingers against the armrest and observed his quiet companions standing before him. They watched the entrance with their backs to their commander, awaiting Shockwave’s return, but the air of annoyance that emanated from them both was hardly affected.

Starscream claimed to take his faction’s needs seriously, and did so before all else… supposedly. In Megatron’s absence, he had not only seen to it that everything was in order amongst his soldiers, he had also gone out and found not one, but two new sources of fuel. It would last them weeks, if not months, and the proud commander had still been patting himself on the back for it hours after.

No amount of turned-up noses or scowling faces had put Starscream off of parading his findings right into the labs, and while he couldn’t spare precious hours working away at grinding the florescent crystals down into a drinkable source of fuel, he knew plenty of bots who could. It was the only downside of leaving Shockwave on Cybertron, as he now had to wait twice as long for his newly acquired (and newly discovered) resources. Alas, despite having earned his right to a moment of silence spent basking in the afterglow of his achievements, there was always something—or someone—there to spoil it. He supposed it was a blessing that this time, at least, it wasn’t Megatron.

“I still can’t believe you’re actually going to drink that stuff,” Thundercracker said, shaking his helm as he turned back to look at his commander. “Are you even sure it’s edible?”

His poorly concealed worry was cut short by a sharp jab in the side from Skywarp, who was still snickering to himself about the whole ordeal.

“If our great new leader wants to try some unidentifiable slag he found somewhere, let him try it,” he said. “Maybe it’ll knock some sense into that—“

“Silence, both of you!” Starscream snapped. “That unidentifiable slag’ is a fresh source of energon. Believe me, I would know.”

If the obnoxious air quotes weren’t bad enough, his insistence on calling the disgusting mix of chunky crystals and slime during a brief energon retrieval certainly was. Starscream was in no mood to hear any kind of criticism about the great thing he had done, and his trine apparently didn’t get that.

“My days spent in one of Cybertron’s top academies weren’t for naught, I’ll have you know,” he continued. “I have a knack for sourcing the best energon out there, and that’s something you two idiots could learn from.”

Their argument was cut short by swinging doors and an entourage of Decepticons marching in, their arms full of trays stacked high with the glowing energon cubes. Its murky colors were far more unappealing in a diluted liquid form. Regardless, Starscream didn’t hesitate to snatch one off of the nearest tray after rising from Megatron’s throne and meeting his soldiers at the bottom.

It was finally time to put everyone’s doubts to shame, and he couldn’t bear to wait a minute longer.

“Just look at this rich new fuel,” he said, lifting the cube to the light and giving it a swirl. “It’s a fantastic find, and yet you fools are stupid enough to pass up the opportunity of trying something great!”

No amount of bragging seemed to change the sour stares of onlookers, and for good reason. Starscream’s new findings slapped against the sides of the container rather than sloshed, and unlike the thin liquid and pleasant glow to their go-to for fuel, its dark color and ominous appearance made it look much less appealing. Nevertheless, Starscream took his self-appointed role very seriously, and this strange discovery that likely should have been left behind closed doors in the darkest level of their base was instead presented for the brave bots still willing to stick around and see.

“Never mind your insolence, all of you,” he spat, bracing one servo on his hip while he brought the cube to his lips with the other. “I’ll simply have to show you all what you’re missing after I savor this delicious fuel for myself.”

Much to everyone’s surprise, Starscream did just that. The slimy, sickening substance that clung to the sides of the cube peeled itself free as he tilted his helm back and opened his maws wide. The tip of his tongue stuck out over his chin as he poured it out in its entirety, then snapped his jaw shut with a smack of his lips. His throat bulged against the huge mouthful, and Starscream was hardly free from straining to swallow it down, but after a few seconds of tense silence, he was successful.

The stubborn seeker’s face was twisted into a look of disgust, but despite the waver to his words, he kept his attitude up and held the empty cube high.

“You see?” he shouted, pausing only to choke back the belch that crept up his throat. His cheeks flushed pink against the embarrassing sound, but his rant wasn’t over. “All of you—urrrp—guh, you… idiots. You fail to trust me, your leader, yet here I stand, healthy and fed. The future of the Decepticons is in my servos, and I—!”

Another noisy belch interrupted his dramatic speech, but instead of brushing it aside and continuing on, Starscream stopped in his tracks. His empty cube clattered to the floor as he slapped a servo to his mouth, his optics going wide.

“Eating your own words,” Thundercracker said with a sigh, “what a surprise.”

There was no rebuttal this time, much to both his and Skywarp’s surprise. The command trine crept closer as Starscream’s expression turned more frantic, and around them, the Decepticons who had lingered long enough to witness whatever mess he was getting himself into did the opposite.

“Ah… you good?” Skywarp asked, extending a tentative servo out to their commander. “You look kinda…”

Purple, he was going to say. Purple like something sick and dying, though, not purple like him. Starscream’s complexion had taken on a similar hue to the fuel he had so recklessly drank, and it wasn’t pretty. They needed a medic now, and that was clear enough. Before either stunned seeker could so much as suggest leaving their stunned leader alone to succumb to whatever ailment he was suffering, however, things took a turn for the worst—or the stranger, depending on who you asked.

Their fears may have been blown out of proportion before, but the only thing being blown up now was Starscream’s… well… everything. The poor seeker’s cheeks puffed up wide before anything, and the unmistakable dribble of that nasty fuel he’d drank stained his chin in thick, regurgitated streaks as he gurgled and shrieked. Both Skywarp and Thundercracker scrambled for cover as Starscream all but inflated like a balloon, his belly bloating up into the shape of Cybertron while his arms and legs were left to helplessly wave in the air.

“Grhggg!” he shouted, his cheeks too puffed to allow for coherent words. “Mrrrphh!”

“I think he says we should get a medic,” Thundercracker said, risking a few steps back to poke at the bloated mesh of Starscream’s belly. Oddly enough, it was soft to the touch. “I’m not liking the looks of this.”

“What, and spare him the chance to reap the consequences of his actions?” Skywarp spat. “And I thought I was the dumb one.”

It was true, Thundercracker had to admit. Starscream looked pretty funny flailing around like that. Still, most mechs didn’t just… expand.

“It’s not hurting him,” he said, “but it can’t be comfortable.”

“Serves him right for drinking unidentified fuel,” Skywarp shrugged. “Isn’t that right, oh great and powerful leader, Starscream?”

The poor, bloated seeker was given another poke to his expanded belly, but not one nearly as gentle as Thundercracker’s had been. He wobbled on his pedes and waved his servos, both of which hardly moved from the amount of fat that had expanded from his middle. He was as big as a shuttle now, and fatter than any bot should ever be. Still, at least he was still standing…

…or not.

As Starscream frantically waved his servos and tried to speak around the fat of his cheeks—and his tongue, and everything, really—, he started to wobble in place. Neither of his trine seemed all that willing to help him out, of course, which meant poor Starscream was left to topple to the floor to squirm on his back and struggle all the more.

“Hah!” Skywarp snorted. “He’s kinda cute like that, don’t you think?”

“Much more tolerable, that’s for sure,” Thundercracker said. “You wait here with him. I’ll go find Hook.”

Thank Primus for mechs like Thundercracker, Starscream thought to himself. It didn’t make up for this embarrassing display, or the fact that the entirety of the Decepticon faction would know by nightfall how ridiculous a leader he really was, or even that Skywarp couldn’t stop laughing long enough to help him back up!

So maybe his new little discovery wasn’t all it was cracked up to be… he knew one thing, though, and that was that despite it all, he still made a much better leader than Megatron ever would be. All he had to do now was get back up on his pedes, find a cure for this fragging mess, and get rid of all traces of the little oopsie moment from this morning. Megatron needn’t know a thing about this whole experience.

Really, Starscream hoped Megatron never learned a thing about this.

[rainbowcaleb]

silver

Congrats you have hit my battleship (a WIP ficlet I have not mentioned I think ever before 😂 it’s from 2022 lol)

The Sapphire twirled a dagger between fingers, darkened silver flashing, but its edges are far too dulled to do any good or any bad. That isn’t why she carried it. No, her power had nothing to do with steel. The blade was ornamental, a gift from her lover that he had fished from the sea, coated in the blood of the last rival of the Gem Court. The Sapphire now stood alone, above; ruler beloved and hated.

But she was not alone in the room now. Standing as tall as she was seated, another figure was mere feet away with a hand on her own weapon. A crossbow the Sapphire knew carried an enchantment and a poison.

“Let’s talk plainly.” The Goblin Queen (but not that goblin queen. This enemy of an enemy was merely crowned queen through her misdeeds). “I don’t like it when people use fancy words to try and cover their shit with the very hand they’re trying to shake. I got a boy who needs something I can’t give him. I know you have a prisoner you’re trying to get rid of. I think we have two problems we can hit with one solution.”

The Sapphire crossed her legs, a series of charms and bells tinkling from her layered skirts. The Goblin Queen’s eyes couldn’t help but follow the motion. The Sapphire rather liked the Queen; she appreciated a fellow woman who got her own hands messy and seized power from those undeserving. But she wasn’t telling the full story, that was clear as day.

A whisper in her ear, “She’s a tricky one”.

“Oh, I know that, silly goose.” The Sapphire twirled her dagger and threw it on the ground between them. It bounced harmlessly. The Queen raised an eyebrow.

“My purple prisoner is kinda sorta my friend now. Turns out he’s extremely intelligent and has very interesting ideas about how power works around here and elsewhere.” She grinned, the gems embedded in her teeth twinkling.

The Queen bowed her head but returned the grin. “My boy loves a big brain. And you and I know we’re the biggest bitches around here, even if a certain bloody faction keeps trying to say otherwise.”

The Sapphire tilted her head. She was listening.

“Why not?” The Queen stood to her full height, looking formidable and still so, so tricky. The Sapphire could see them becoming friends in another universe. “Why not let the two boys play?”

[alexanderlightweight]

Wednesday prompt - Dark!Malec?

Magnus, makes Alec immortal using a ritual that calls for the blood of x number of people/creatures -as in he has to kill them. maybe one of each shadow world faction, or a combination of something similar, maybe more than the ones more talked about like the unseelies, sirens-

Alec uses the institute and its resources and his Shadowhunters to lead them away from Magnus while Magnus leaves a trail pointing to someone else -someone he like hates and is very much happy to set up, this someone does deserve it-

Later, when everyone realizes that Alec is immortal they both either find a way to explain it or go like oops! Who knows?!

I'm also thinking, what if the people they choose to kill for the ritual were like bad ones, and so everyone starts to think is a shadow world vigilante kind of thing but really is part of the cover up?

here we go! i hope you enjoy where i went with this. i really enjoyed your prompt and had a lot of of fun writing this!

lumine

-

“Any rumors?” Magnus asks as he paints red arrays over Alexander’s naked torso.  His boy’s chest is bare of hair and while Magnus does miss being able to drag his fingers through it, it’s a necessary sacrifice.

“No,” Alexander rasps, struggling to stay still when even just Magnus’ touch is enough to ignite passion in his veins. “You’ve been smart, crossing realms and continents. They’ll notice soon, but by then, we’ll have covered our tracks too thoroughly.”

Magnus hums in pleasure and drags his fingers through the last of the blood congealing in his olive wood bowl. He paints Alexander’s lips last, waiting for his boy to stick out his tongue and then he drags his fingers over the muscles, making sure not a single drop is wasted.

As much as Magnus wants to kiss him, he can’t, not until the blood has settled and absorbed into Alexander and Magnus can’t risk stealing a single drop of the unseelie blood he’s painted his beloved with.

“There, perfect.” Magnus murmurs and sits back on his heels, it’s been torture, being unable to touch Alexander sexually for the last two months. They still share intimacy, but they both are hungry for each other, the gnawing ache of carnal need growing with every murder committed, every sacrifice shared.

Magnus makes the kills, consecrates the blood with his magic and then paints Alexander with more arrays and runes than Alexander’s body should be able to bear.

His boy takes it all, with only devotion in his gaze as Magnus defiles him and desecrates him with a magic so old and grotesque that it’s been purposefully lost to time. 

Magnus kisses Alexander’s hair and wonders, darkly, if he can speed the timeline up.

—

“Magnus—” Cat sighs and rubs her forehead, “we agreed that you would take a year for this.  Even that is pushing it. Despite being across the world, it’ll be noticeable. You need to kill daily for this to work and that’s already risky. You’ll have to double it, if you want to be quick about this.”

Magnus shrugs across from her, a hungry, covetous gleam to his eyes and Cat sighs, already knowing that she’s at a loss for any way to convince him otherwise.

“I’ll see about contacting you if any patients I can’t save come my way?” She offers but Magnus, ever considerate for her, shakes his head.

“I have to hunt them, Cat. I have to stalk them until their heart nearly bursts with fear, to torment them without injuring them. To kill them with a single blow that doesn’t disturb the flow of their blood until I drain it.  To take their still beating hearts, filled with the terror of me, and feed them to Alexander bit by bit. As generous as your offer is, I fear it could hinder the process and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be willing to wait.”

“Magnus, you aren’t considering—” and Cat trails off, eyes wide as she realizes what Magnus is planning to do. “How will you even accomplish that?”

“Several portals from Edom are about to mysteriously appear, an attempt of my father or Lilith, undoubtedly.  Attempting to gain access once again to this realm.” Magnus grins, dark and sharp and his teeth gleaming in a malicious smile. “What will terrify someone more than being swallowed by a rift and hunted by the king of Edom?”

They’ve all carefully concealed Magnus’ status and not a single person beyond Magnus, Cat and Alec know the truth of what happened in Edom.

Of what Magnus became, of what he’s turning Alec into.

However, Cat has no intention of stopping him and she just nods, reaching out to press her palm to Magnus’ cheek.

“When you need me, I’m always here.” She promises him, because she will be, whenever he needs her.