#curses poisons and spells (oh my) compilation

[wangxianficfinder]

Curses, Potions, and Spells (Oh my)

~*~

Curses

shape me something new by perilously (E, 24k, WangXian, Sharing a Body, set in CQL canon but inspired by the novel, Non-Penetrative Sex, Masturbation, (kind of), Slight Canon Divergence, some horror-adjacent imagery)

come home to my heart by occultings (microcomets) (M, 29k, WangXian, Bodyswap, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, Canon Divergence, First Time, Getting Together, Confessions, Sharing a Bed, Misunderstandings, and a little bit of hurt/comfort as a treat)

See Me, Feel Me (Listening to You) by Ghost_Honey (T, 29k, WangXian, POV WWX, WWX Needs a Hug, WWX’s Abyssmal Self-Esteem, Emotional Healing, Angst, The Juniors love their Senior Wei, Curses, WWX is an Unreliable Narrator, JC & WWX Reconciliation, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Platonic Cuddling)

Turn Left by kianspo (M, 204k, WangXian, NieLan, Canon Divergence, Fix-It of Sorts, Friends to Lovers, eventually, references to child sexual abuse, not main characters,  Neurodivergent LWJ, Slow Build, Lán Family Feels, specifically, Twin Jades of Lán Feels, lwj-centric, Twin Jades of Lán Dynamics, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies)

You'd Break Your Heart to Make It Bigger by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 32k, WangXian, soulbonding, First Time, Case Fic if You Squint, Fools in Love, soul boning, soft fools in love, Pining while fucking)

This Lantern Shines For You by apollonie (M, 10k, WangXian, Hanahaki Disease, Angst with a Happy Ending, Post-Canon, Pining WWX, WWX Needs a Hug, LWJ is a Disaster Gay)

leading tone by silencemostofall (G, 32k, WangXian, Modern AU, Soulmates, with a lil twist, Eventual Happy Ending, lesbian wq rights, Music, Orchestra, platonic and romantic pining)

pastel by antebunny (G, 6k, WangXian, Modern AU, College/University, Soulmates, Heavy Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Found Family, Self-Esteem Issues, Misunderstandings, Angst with a Happy Ending, Unrequited Love, but not actually, no courtesy names)

Stainless by Fahye (E, 6k, WangXian, Sex Pollen, Yuletide Treat)

as amber of ember glows by occultings (microcomets) (E, 11k, WangXian, Sex Pollen, Marathon Sex, Multiple Orgasms, Mutual Pining, First Time, Miscommunication, Aphrodisiacs, pining for the person you're fucking, Getting Together, mostly)

miss me once the thrill expires by idrilka (E, 12k, WangXian, Modern With Cultivation, Getting Together, Pining while fucking, Curses, Sex Pollen, Rimming, Multiple Orgasms, first time barebacking, Face-Fucking)

Say So by FeelsForBreakfast (E, 15k, WangXian, Sex Pollen, Fucking Your Best Friend, Light Dom/sub, extreme orgasm denial wanxgian edition, Dirty Talk, Love Confessions)

🔒Embers by xantissa (E, 38k, WangXian, XiXian, WangXianXi, Jadecest, Angst, drama, Fluff, Falling In Love, sex pollen trope (curse), dub con, Comfort, Grief, Forgiveness, Happy Ending, Sibling Incest, Switching, Flirting, Learning to live again, Magic, Curses, Everyone is Badass, lwj has a sense of humor, Polyamory, Polyamory Negotiations, Threesome - M/M/M, Slow Burn, Angst and Hurt/Comfort)

a safe pair of hands by occultings (microcomets) (E, 11k, WangXian, Mutual Pining, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Body Worship, Post-Canon, Case Fic, Sharing a Bed, Getting Together, First Time, Curses, Intimacy, Touch-Starved, Touch-Starved LWJ)

So Why Not Crack Your Skull When the Mind Swells by greenteafiend (E, 13k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Curses, Case Fic, Mutual Pining, Getting Together, Confessions, Drunkenness)

❤️ to arrive late is better than not to arrive at all by Moominmammashandbag (M, 35k, wangxian, angst w/ happy ending, soulmates, chronic illness, hanahaki disease as a curse, feelings realization, angst, fluff, smut)

🔒How to Seduce the Yiling Patriarch by Theladyofravenclaw (T, 8k, wangxian, post-canon, temporary amnesia, case fic, fluff & humor, crack treated seriously, angst, jealous WWX, YLLZ WWX, gusu lan junior dynamics, mild gore)

Your Hand in Mine by cerbykerby (T, 20k, WangXian, Humor, Comedy, Pining, cursed to hold hands, Light Angst, Sharing a Bed, First Dates, Embarrassment, Fluff, bathing together, wwx is a menace to society, and lwj Suffers A Lot, Canon Compliant)

with such a suffering, such a deadly life by cqlorphan (T, 7k, wangxian, post-canon, curses, curse breaking, getting together, angst w/ happy ending, fluff, hurt/comfort, affection, touch-starved LWJ, LWJ whump, cuddling & snuggling, love confessions)

in the shadow of moonlit flowers by Reverie (cl410) (T, 56k, wangxian, LXC/NMJ, cloud recesses, NHS & LWJ friendship, developing relationship, LWJ pov, minor injuries, autistic LWJ, implied/referenced child abuse, aka YZY warning, genius WWX, light angst, hurt/comfort, WWX protection squad)

Of Curses and Cottontails by Alliandra (T, 15k, wangxian, canon divergence, burial mounds settlement days, curses, animal transformation, rabbit LWJ, angry bunji, fluff & humor, fix-it, golden core reveal)

🧡 Discarded by teawater (E, 169k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Dying Lan children, Hurt/Comfort, YL WWX, Golden Core Reveal, Case Fic, Depression, Family Issues, Self-Esteem Issues, Self Confidence Issues, Self-Worth Issues, Angst with a Happy Ending, and it's not always dark, POV Multiple, BAMF WWX, dubious morals in the Lan sect Feels, Pining, Grief, Fix-It, BAMF LWJ)

Under every sky, in every way by naqaashi (M, 13k, wangxian, curses, curse breaking, mermaids, fix-it of sorts, angst w/ happy ending, fluff, secrets, confessions, hurt/comfort, golden core transfer fix-it, genius WWX)

Lover's Curse by littlesystems (E, 15k, WangXian, Fuck Or Die, Dubcon implicit in fuck or die, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Cultivation Sect Politics, Brotherly Meddling, WWX Has a Rape/Non-Con Kink, Bruising, Overstimulation)

The Heart Always Remembers by thelamespaceace (G, 45k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Deaged LSZ, Hurt/Comfort, Family Feels, Fluff, Angst)

🧡 moonlight caught in mutton fat by Raitelzen (T, 45k, WangXian, Case Fic, Curses, Curse Breaking, Transformation, mild body horror, Hurt LWJ, Ghosts)

A Curse of a Different Color by nickel710 (G, 35k, WangXian, XiChengQing, Modern with Magic, Modern Cultivation, Curses, Curse Breaking, Asexual polyamory, Repressed LWJ, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Drunk LWJ, Falling In Love, WWX Being an Idiot, Non-explicit vomit, just a tiny reference to it, Anxiety)

🔒 the cow says moo, the chicken says squawk, and the demon beast of yiling says by Dragonskye (T, 57k, wangxian, Ensemble Cast, Animal Transformation, Angst with a Happy Ending, kind of a glucose guardian vibe actually, Fairy Tale Elements, Beauty and the Beast Fusion, Falling In Love, Hurt/Comfort, they're soft, Secret Identity, Canon Divergence, Mutual Pining)

The Sun Will Rise series by vespertineflora (E, 129k, wangxian, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Elements, Human/Monster Romance, Tentacle Monsters, Plant Monsters, Tentacle Sex, vine sex, Vines, Monster LWJ, Human WWX, Mildly Dubious Consent, Consensual Non-Consent, Eventual Romance, Slow Romance, Happy Ending, Groping, Edgeplay, Hand Jobs, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex, Prostate Massage, First Time, Multiple Orgasms, The Cloud Recesses Rabbits, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Homesickness, Angst, Comfort/Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Loneliness, Canon-Typical Violence, WWX Has a Rape/Non-Con Kink, Light Bondage, Light Masochism, Overstimulation, BAMF WWX, Stabbing, Near Death, Poisoning, Protective LWJ, Seduction, Aphrodisiacs, Snow and Ice, ,Snowball Fight, Lost Love, Falling In Love, Drunken Kissing, Sex Pollen, Submission, Subspace, Multiple Penetration, Love Confessions, full body restraint, Emotional Sex, Reincarnation, Sounding, Urethral Play, Prostate Massage, Multiple Orgasms, Shameless Smut)

🧡 Kitty-cat by canis_lupus (E, 78k, WIP, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort, Top LWJ/Bottom WWX, dom LWJ, Sub WWX, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Jiang Family Dynamics, Abusive Jiang Family, POV Multiple, WWX Has ADHD, Autistic LWJ, Masturbation)

Breaking the Silence by Leffy (E, 4k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Fluff and Humor, Smut, 69 (Sex Position), Blow Jobs, Rimming, Come as Lube, temporary mute wwx is still a gremlin)

~*~

Potions (includes poisons)

Losing My Mind by pupeez4eva (T, 6k, wangxian, JC & WWX, Humor, Protective JC, JC drinks a potion that lets him hear people's lustful thoughts, Teenage LWJ has a lot of feelings, Canon Divergence, Cloud Recesses study arc)

🔒Truths Laid Bare For All by Preludian_Staves (T, 42k, wangxian, arranged marriage, not Jiang friendly, truth serum, love confessions, golden core reveal, implied referenced abuse, getting to know each other, genius WWX, falling in love, courting, WIP)

pomegranates for the softest parts of you by AvoOwO (M, 24k, WangXian, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, Fluff and Angst, LWJ Has a Crush, POV LWJ, Protective LWJ, Pining LWJ, LWJ Has Feelings, Courting Rituals, Non-Consensual Drug Use, Poisoning, Dorks in Love, Love Confessions, First Kiss, Mind Manipulation, Manipulation, JC and LWJ Dislike Each Other, Good Sibling JC, Angst and Feels, Emotional Hurt, Supportive LXC, Supportive Sibling LXC, Good Uncle LQR, LQR Metaphorically Qì-Deviates, Mentioned Madam Lán, Blood, Fainting, Soft WangXian, Cute WangXian, Dubious Consent, Feelings Realization)

Truth to Tell by SequoiaSempervirens (M, 3k, WangXian, Getting Together, First Kiss, Fluff, silliness, Truth Serum, Kidnapping, Worried LWJ, Protective LWJ)

🔒After Truth Lies the Honest Path by Vrishchika (M, 10k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Truth Serum, Angry WWX, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Mild Angst, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Getting Together)

Potion by UglyBeautiful (E, 12k, WangXian, Modern AU, Canon Divergence, College/University, Witchcraft, Love Potion/Spell, Idiots in Love, LWJ Has a Big Dick, LWJ has a very dirty mind, Anal Sex, Rimming, Compulsory Heterosexuality, licking vegan marshmallow paste off a naked body, Happy Ending, Scheming NHS, Ghost familiar with many guises NHS)

Love potion and a remedy for the heart. by satans_dolly_boy666 (G, 2k, XiXian, WangXian, Love Potion/Spell, Misunderstandings, Internalized Homophobia, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Brotherly Love, Love Confessions, Falling In Love, Idiots in Love, Friendship/Love, Declarations Of Love, Unrequited Love, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Jealous LWJ, Protective LXC, Oblivious WWX, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Supportive Sibling LXC, Soft LXC, Denial of Feelings, Feelings Realization, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Eventual WangXian, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Crack, Attempt at Humor)

scope and limitations by mercurials (T, 7k, WangXian, Modern AU, College/University, chemistry major wwx, Love Potion/Spell, Fluff, Mutual Pining)

At the bottom of the bottle, you're the poison in the wine by KatAnni (T, 11k, wangxian, JC & WWX & JYL, WWX & WQ, Fainting, Angst, Poisoning, JZN is an asshole, Golden Core Reveal, Fix-It, a little poisoning will solve all your problems!, Hurt/Comfort, POV Multiple, Attempted Murder, Everyone Lives AU, Fix-It of Sorts, Canon Divergence)

~*~

Spells (includes talismans/arrays)

The Way It Wasn't by KouriArashi (T, 72k, WangXian, XiYao, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fix-It, (eventually haha), Slow Build, Family Feels, Moral Ambiguity, Eventual Happy Ending)

Wearing Down Every Bone by CSHfic, VSfic (E, 30k, WangXian, Groundhog Day, Time Loop, Temporary Character Death, Hurt/Comfort, Post-Canon, Case Fic, Curses, Pining, Getting Together, Time Travel, Night Hunts, Hurt wwx, Mystery, Angst with a Happy Ending, Use Your Words, Mutual Pining, Depression and Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, gratuitous use of empathy)

hope dangling by a string by KouriArashi (M, 70k, wangxian, canon divergence, fix-it, everyone lives, angst w happy ending, hurt/comfort, psychic bond, telepathy, communication, emotional/psychological abuse, jiang family feels, lan family feels, canon-typical violence, canon-typical politics, improper use of sacred forehead ribbons, gratuitous hair washing)

🔒I am sorry for taking your voice by misterfish (G, 8k, WIP, WWX/OMC, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Hurt WWX, Remorse LWJ, Mute WWX, Jiāng Family Bashing, Past Child Abuse)

Couldn't Scream Couldn't Shout by mermorgie (T, 42k, WIP, WangXian, Not for jc stans, Muteness, Sign Language, references to selective mutism, Homophobic JC, canon jc characteristics, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Anxiety Attacks, Pining, LWJ is a Panicked Gay, Supportive Sibling LXC, JZX Tries, LQR Tries, Protective JZX, Scheming NHS, Bisexual JZX, LWJ is Bad at Communicating, WWX Has ADHD, Autistic LWJ, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Jiāng Family Bashing)

Quartet series by WithBroomBefore (T, 69k wangxian, JZX & JC & WWX & LWJ, Canon Divergence, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss, WWX's canonical comfort with the prospect of his own death, Hurt/Comfort, JZX makes friends, Eventual Happy Ending, some unhappiness along the way, Canon-Typical Violence, JC keeps his golden core, JYL Lives, WQ Lives, Minor Character Death, Kissing, WWX Lives, no golden core transfer, JZX Lives, Fix-It, WN Lives, Weeping, temporary major character death, Murder Road Trip, Implied Sexual Content, Sunshot Campaign, Nonbinary NHS, Telepathy, platonic group soulbonding, Family, Found Family, POV WWX, Podfic Available, Siblings Sworn Brothers, aroace JZX, Happy Ending, all the Wen remnants live, POV JZX, JGY is less murdery, Asexual Character, Aromantic Character, JZX's social awkwardness, Poison)

on his best bee-haviour (pun very much intended) by HeavenlySkyfarer (T, 4k, WangXian, LQR & WWX, Modern With Cultivation, Humor, Fluff, Good Uncle LQR, Gremlin WWX, Bees, Established WangXian)

all the broken things that I made by ilip13 (E, 43k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Lovers To Enemies, (then back to lovers I'm not a monster), Dubcon Kissing, Dubious Consent, But mostly not in the way you might expect - see notes for details, Explicit Sexual Content, Bondage, Flirting, Competence Kink)

~*~

[thelastarchangelaskblog]

DJ & Zira & Tony

Another chat on the way to Briarbane with an injured Clint in our cart! This one features some hurt feelings and apologies.

Thanks @rebaobsessions and @thechaoticwave for your help with formatting!

Tony & Zira’s Chat                                        Charcoal as Breakfast

Tony & Rhodey’s Chat                                  Tony & Luna

Tony & Rhodey Compile a List                     Clint & Tony

The Trouble with Two Tonys                         Rhodey & Bob(Tim)

Rhodey & Bob(Tony)                                    About Death (Tony & Zira)

Rhodey & Zira (and Tony)                            Pre-Campaign Tony & Rhodey

DJ & Zira                                                      Bob(Tim) & Luna

DJ & Tony                                                     DJ & Tony & Rhodey

Rhodey & DJ

**

(Read more.)

A little after talking to Tony and storming off, Zira is...not feeling great. So she turns to a well-loved book. Walking beside the cart, rereading stories she already knows by heart, her mind drifts to old friends. And she stumbles a bit, curses, and jogs up next to DJ.

Zira: DJ. We are talking now. Holding your bloody and unconscious form was unpleasant, but I can deal. But I know there have been some...cultural differences, so I imagine you are unused to the experience of being hit until you fall unconscious.

DJ just stares at Zira, a bit bewildered. 

DJ: (eloquently) Uhh. I'm sorry it was unpleasant for you?

Zira: NO! I am attempting sympathy for you. It is clearly not working.

Zira: >:/

DJ: I...I already knew you were upset, Zira. You don't have to force yourself into a role you are uncomfortable with for my benefit. Heck, if anything I should be the one thanking you. You saved my life.

Zira: No!! That is my JOB! There is no need for thankfulness. My friend did this and it worked much better.

DJ: Okay, first of all, I don't care if it is your (and he makes air quotes) job or not. You saved my life, and I am gonna thank you for it. So thank you. Second, I don't need you to be anything like anyone else but you. You are My friend, Zira. I only need you to be you. Not your friend or anyone else you are not. I like you the way you are.

Zira actually jerks back a bit at the word “friend.” She brings her book up, almost like a shield.

Zira: ...So you are sure you require none of the...pep talking?

DJ pulls his quarterstaff down and uses it, from his seat on the wagon, to gently push the book down, smiling. 

DJ: Tony and Rhodey both gave me a pep talk. You and I both know they are really good at that. It doesn't mean I don't want to talk to you. But...you don't have to try and cheer me up. Especially if you aren't feeling cheerful yourself.

Zira: They are good at it. ...I feel...bad. I lost my temper with Tony. It wasn’t fair to him. He had done nothing to incur my wrath.

DJ: Then apologize to him. I mean I was hiding from him for a while, even though I knew he was worried so I'm not exactly guilt free either. But I explained and he understood. I'm pretty sure if you explain he will understand, too. Who did you want to wrath at?

Zira: ....

Zira: It. Goes against a lot of. What has been taught, but i suppose.. fight or flight is named aptly. I feel. Incredible anger. I want them to leave me alone. I want to eat chocolate. I want to read fairytales. I...I love this book. Someone very kind gave it to me. Do you understand? If I ever left it behind, I would always come back.

DJ blinks for a minute, cocking his head to the side, obviously thinking over what Zira has said.

DJ: I'm glad you had someone kind in your life before us. Someone who would give you that book. You deserve that kind of kindness. And I feel that way about my Alchemy Notes. A lot of the other students got fancy new books when they graduated to Journeyman, but I kept my old one. I just paid someone to spell some more pages into it. My Mom and Dad gave it to me when I went off to the Academy, and when I use it, I remember them and all they did to get me into school.

Zira: ...Yes. That could be an apt comparison. The people who gave me this, they had no obligation to be kind. But they were. And I don't know how much they sacrificed for that. I hope they’re okay.

DJ frowns more, probably remembering he still hasn't written a letter to his parents yet. 

DJ: Being kind isn't about obligation, Zira. Honestly, I think true kindness is like, the opposite of obligation.

Zira: That is a nice thought. The idea that there is no give and take in everything. But it was nice. Talking. I'm glad you got your...pep talk...from someone else. I don’t think I’m any good at it.

DJ: There doesn't have to be a give and take in everything, Zira. Some people are nice because they like you and they want to be nice to you. They don't expect anything in return. And we both know I am really bad at pep talks. Since I tend to scare people with mine.

Zia: If it makes you feel any better, I've never been scared of you.

DJ looks very confused. Zira cocks her head, birdlike, at him.

DJ: But I thought I scared you when I talked about turning people into soap. I felt really bad about it.

Zira: Why would I be scared? I'm not afraid of knowledge. And, no threat intended, i could get you before you got me. I know the vast potential for pain, both causing and receiving it. I’m not afraid of your potential. Or else I would have to be afraid of, well, everything. Anything could kill anything else. A person with a knife, or poison. A tree. A really dedicated duck.

DJ was going to protest the comment about Zira being quicker on principle, but now... 

DJ: A duck?

Zira: Oh, absolutely. Some of those fuckers are mean. And have far too many sharp teeth for comfort.

DJ: Geese are so much worse. There was a gander on my parents’ farm that might have actually been a demon in disguise. And don't get me started on swans.

Zira: Swans, honestly. They have the rage of suns burning in them and no moral compunctions whatsoever.

DJ gives Zira a dry look. 

DJ: And a wingspan twice as wide as I am tall, so imagine what all three of those are like from my perspective.

Zira: By Ioun. At least I can, I dunno. Step on them.

DJ: Lucky you. I just gotta run from something that can fly. (sighs) I do not miss that aspect of farm life. And now we know we both agree waterfowl are evil.

Zira: Most definitely the work of something infernal.

DJ: Thank goodness Tim isn't, you know, a giant duck.

Zira seems knocked speechless at the thought.

Zira: That would be terrible. I don’t think I'd ever want to work on a farm.

DJ: Why do you think I went to school? I wasn’t cut out for that sort of thing. I had a much better time hiding in the bookstore and reading.

Zira: Oh! Hiding in bookstores is really something. The air feels, soft, I suppose. Very still. Very safe.

DJ looks positively dreamy. 

DJ: Yeah. It's like the next best thing to a big university library. Like the one in the Cobalt Sanctuary, just without all the calisthenics.

Zira: Oh, my favorite is in a little village, just on the border of a forest. It was my first time in a bookstore, and the owner was lovely. She actually gave me this.

Zira holds up the book of fairytales.

DJ: Yeah, bookstores are great. The family that owns the bookstore in my town let me get away with reading all the books even though I couldn't pay. I mean I know Papa slipped him a little coin now and then, but he still didn't need to let me get away with using his store like my own private library.

Zira: is it just a bookstore owner thing? I couldn't pay at all, but she took me in, gave me a warm drink and a book, no charge at all! And then promised to not tell anyone was there, with no prompting! I was very glad for that. I would have hated to threaten her

DJ: It might be. 

DJ looks off into the distance for a minute. 

DJ: Then again, I might have also been distant cousins with the bookstore owner. I don't know. I come from a...rather large family.

Zira: What was it like? To have a large family. I imagine that comes with quite a few allies.

DJ: Well even when I was at the Academy, every once in a while a random Halfling would wander up and tell me we were related and I...couldn't really know if it was true. Besides that, it was...fine I guess. I don't know, Zira. It was all I really ever knew so I don't have a thing to compare it with. But they weren't allies. They were family.

Zira: I don't think that’s possible to have so many people like that. Our families were small for a reason. You couldn't possibly be so close with too many people.

DJ: Yeah, for me it was the opposite. Like I was flummoxed when someone told me it wasn’t normal to have over 50 first cousins on each side. And I might not be super close to anyone but my siblings, but I would still help out a family member if they needed it. And if I ever called on one of my cousins to help out, they'd be there in a heartbeat. 

Zira: That. That is literally what having allies is? An exchange with enough trust in the other to not backstab you. Over 50??

DJ: I guess I have always felt allies was an impersonal term. But that might be my own preconceived notions talking. And while I don't necessarily trust my cousins not to cheat in Barnball, I do trust them for important things. And that reaction there is how I knew it wasn't normal.

Zira: It certainly seems like a lot to keep up with. My family was only 5 people total. Imagine having to pacify over 50 people so they continue thinking of you positively. That would be exhausting.

DJ: Well, I don't really have to pacify them. And I don't even think of them all positively. There are quite a few of them that are pricks. But they are family so we still look out for each other. And it was all I knew growing up, so I guess I was so used to it that it was normal rather than exhausting.

Zira: I understand looking out for each other. Some of my family were cruel at times, but they were mine.

Zira looks guilty.

DJ frowns a bit at the cruelty part. 

DJ: I am going to be honest. I...I don't understand the cruelty part. Even when we were mean to each other, we weren't cruel. Maybe that's cultural differences?

Zira: I'm starting to realize the depths to which the...place...I came from was wrong. We all coped, I guess. Some tended to lash out, but they always tried to make it right.

DJ looks genuinely thoughtful as he considers her words. 

DJ: I...I am not sure I can truly understand that. But I think...I think I can see where it comes from. How what you guys went through might make our reactions different than what I would think is normal. 

DJ thinks a little more. 

DJ: I am sorry any of you had to experience things which would make you lash out like that...but, I'm glad you had your own sort of family.

Zira: I am, too.

Ziira looks even guiltier, hunching her shoulders and looks away.

Zira: I wish I hadn't left them. I don’t want to go back! But I want them.

DJ nods. 

DJ: Yeah. I get that. I have no desire to go back to my home. But sometimes I wish I had my family with me. Maybe that's why I ended up sticking with Tony and then Rhodey for so long. We are making our own family. And now the rest of you get to join in, too. If you want.

Zira: Family is a big commitment. And the things that make it-

Zira: Well. They're not pretty.

DJ nods.

DJ: Childbirth is messy.

Zira: What? No? I mean, the bonds. The loyalty. The trust.

DJ: What?

He gives up being serious and starts giggling like a loon.

DJ: Sorry.

Zira cracks a smile when he starts laughing

Zira: No. No, you’re right. Childbirth seems terrible. They made us learn about it. None of us could make eye contact with Ms. Payne for the entirety of that lesson.

DJ: Please no stories! I already heard about it in letters from my sister. I'm still traumatized.

Zira: God.

DJ: And I did mean the trust, Zira.

Zira: I don't trust any of you.

DJ frowns. 

DJ: Oh.

Zira: Well. I trust you to do whatever youre good at, and you all seem too kind to murder me in my sleep. But.

DJ frowns even more if possible. shoulders hunching.

DJ: Oh.

Zira: I don’t know. I trusted my family with everything. We picked each other up, watched each other’s backs, and never even dreamed of doing anything else.

Zira seems to realize something she said was wrong

Zira: Uh. Uhh...but you seem... trustworthy? Uhm.

Zira is obviously at a loss

DJ: Thanks. I...I have to go. 

DJ basically climbs across Rhodey to sit on his other side. If Zira catches a glance, she would see a brief look of hurt and sadness on his face before he shoves it all down and pulls out his notes.

Rhodey is staring ahead and pretending he wasn’t witness to a very awkward conversation

Zira is currently just ???? 

Tony is trailing along behind the cart; he didn’t hear the conversation but is very curious what happened. Zira didn’t seem to be in a good mood at all, and he’d messed up.

Zira: (to herself) What did I say?

She sneaks another look at DJ, and he seems unwilling to talk further. So she just glances around, and falls back, no longer keeping pace with the front of the cart.

Tony sees Zira slowing her pace. He doesn’t say anything but steps to the side so he isn’t walking directly behind her. He’s not sure what to say, but he doesn’t want to start because if he messes up again...

She falls back further and glances at him, and kinda curls in on herself a bit. And then shes walking right next to Tony and looks hesitant.

Zira: DJ...told me i should apologize. I...lost my temper. You had done nothing to incur that. My apologies.

Tony looks surprised.

Tony: Uh, you’re kidding me, right? If anything, I should be apologizing to you. I said something wrong.

Zira: What?

She seems shocked. She looks like she didn't expect Tony to admit any wrongdoing.

Tony: I can be a bit pushy. So...sorry about that.

Tony offers Zira a small, apologetic smile

Zira: No. That’s not how this works. That’s not how this works.

Tony tilts his head to the side in confusion.

Zira: You have more experience here. You have heavily armed friends and allies. You are the superior here. It’s nice you’re trying to be nice, but that's not how this works. There is a structure for a reason!

Tony: Zira.

Zira: You give me things, and advice, and you're kind. You apologize! You’re doing it all wrong.

Tony: You read people, right? Tell me...am I lying when I say I’m sorry?

Zira ...

Zira: No. No. No, you’re not but that doesn’t make any sense. And you did nothing wrong!

Tony smiles wryly.

Tony: Didn’t I?

Zira: Being pushy is exactly what a leader is supposed to be! If you wanted you could order the information out of me, and that makes me a bad operative, to not have told you already, but I don't want to.

She seems taken aback at her own boldness.

Tony: Like hell am I ordering you to do anything.

Zira: Wait no - Tony, I didn’t mean--

Zira: What?

Tony: I said, like hell am I ordering you to do anything. Because that kind of structure you’re talking about? It’s bullshit. Total bullshit. And if you’re in that you should bail because there’s zero respect for anyone. Just blind obedience to what the party line’s supposed to be. And all too often that party line is absolute bullshit. So I was pushy and I shouldn’t have been pushy. I should have respected your space. And that’s why I’m apologizing to you, Zira.

She curls in on herself even more.

Zira: ...Nothing here makes sense. I told DJ the truth, that I don't trust any of you, and he ran away.

Tony: (mutters) Damn it; I’m being pushy here again, aren’t I?

Zira: You’re saying sorry. That’s not what superiors do. That’s what my family does.

Tony: From what I’ve learned, anyone decent with a sense of empathy apologizes for what they did wrong. I’m not asking you to trust any of us yet. I know that’s asking a lot. But I hope that you can realize you’re safe here.

Zira: No, I’m not. Tony, you're very sweet, but when I left I did the unthinkable. I’m an example, and there is nowhere in the world that is safe for me. I just want to read my book. You're kind, and good, don’t feel bad.

Tony looks at her for a long moment.

Tony: It’ll be safe at some point.

He’s smiling slightly

Zira: ...If you say so. I’m going to go read. This is my favorite book. If I ever left it, I'd always come back.

Tony: Then go read it. The cart’s quiet right now if you want to get in. I’ll keep that in mind.

Zira: Thank you.

And she jogs forward and clambers in, and shuts the flap behind her

Tony keeps walking behind the cart, but he’s looking pensive, frowning. He’s tapping fingers against the amulet hidden under his armor. His other hand is playing with his dagger, flicking it in and out of the sheath it’s strapped into on his arm.

Inside the cart, Tim starts a little when Zira climbs into the cart, but does not react further. He picks out a flower that has been a little too squashed and throws it out, continuing the flower chain.

Zira nods at Tim, and then crunches up into a little ball and starts reading. She looks like she doesn't want to talk