#day 6 - Legendary

[linipik]

The not so discreet relationship that everyone at the galaxy garrison) had to endure for years ....but that somehow Shiro forgot to mention to his team

[fulgurbugs]

Headcanon ask (I'm sorry the Pokemon SwSh thing made me think of this all of a sudden): Octopath / Pokemon -- gym leaders! Who would be a gym leader and what Pokemon type would they specialise in? (Alternatively if the main antagonist of each Octopath character's story was a gym leader what Pokemon type would each specialise in... you know for the characters who actually have a human antagonist for their story... I feel like Redeye would just be a corrupted legendary or something I don't know?)

alright, had another big brainstorm sesh with the bestie @snailcruncher for this one so here it goes

Here’s what we’re going with: everyone gets one type, 4 pokemon. we’re going to get everyone fully evolved versions of their team as if they’re like, the 8th gym leader, mostly so we had more to work with but also didn’t have to give a fuck about nfe mons

as for choosing the types, we basically went by choosing some who felt obvious first, then filling in with what we had left so nobody repeated a type. maybe some don’t fit perfect but yk. also shoutout to inherent class magic types for giving us some pokemon types to fall back on

also, i’m imagining in this scenario it’s probably like. the only example i can think of is cheren (i don’t watch the anime) where gym leaders clearly have gym teams that vary depending on challenge level, and personal teams for outside of the league, so that’s how we’re rationalizing this

anyways

Up first

Ophilia - Ice

Ace: Lapras

there’s not really a good equivalent to “light” in pokemon types, so we decided to go with the frostlands special on this one.

Abomasnow is here to set hail/snow. if any character has a team that benefits from a weather being set, we’ve usually included a setter in their team. so that’s what abomasnow does

ninetales is for aurora veil, which i think is a pretty good equivalent to the sheltering abilities of cleric

frosmoth was on her original team so decided to carry it over. same with lapras, which i think has a fun connection with guiding/carrying travelers on its back, which makes it a good ace for her.

Cyrus - Psychic

Ace: Alakazam

since scholar covers 3 types of magic, pigeonholing it into one is a little difficult. decided to go with psychic, since it is pretty magic-y and most of its mons are known for being very specially focused rather than physically

alakazam gets to be ace because, let’s face it, none of these other guys are sweeping. alakazam is known for being mega smart and also laser beam crater blasting everything, so i think it’s a pretty safe cyrus pick.

claydol is just something i think is pretty fun for vibes. what with its mysterious origins… feels very cyrus ch4 mural a la runerigus he has in his other team

Swoobat. with the ability. unaware.

Oranguru cuz it’s the instructor pokemon ^_^

Tressa - Water

Ace: Gyarados

Since tressa’s from a seaside town, she felt like the best pick for water types.

Gyarados is her ace because, well… magikarp starts out kind of wimpy but turns out it had the best potential of them all (tho tressa herself certainly has a less rocky start) anyways this thing is a dragon dance sweeper and will kill you.

Pelliper rain setter. plus, gulls feel on brand for her. Gastrodon (east) so that she has an electric immunity that this team sorely needs

Palafin for another zero to hero because tressa would not let you get off easy even if you get past one of her hard hitters. she’d have this thing in the back after flip turning it out of there.

Olberic - Steel

Ace: Aegislash

notable “unbending blade” of hornburg olberic gets steel types, clap if you are surprised. no one?

anyways, Aegislash for the ace. i’m sure it’s pretty self explanatory.

Aggron and steelix are pretty much in for the same reason. they’re big. they have high defense. and they’re steel types. escavalier just goes more in on the knight motif while bringing another dual type to the team

Primrose - Flying

Ace: Oricorio

there’s definitely a good argument to be made for something like dark primrose, but to be honest… i like flying for her, because i feel like it works with her kind of caged-bird motif. in addition, flying types cover a lot of dual types, which means i can pick pokemon that can use dance setups or support.

Oricorio is the picture perfect flying/dancer ace. obviously it gets top spot

Altaria as a dragon dance setup sweeper

Vivillion is a shitmon, admittedly, but it was that or butterfree for a quiver dancer, so i went with vivillion because honestly it doesn’t fucking matter they have the same shit basically. i guess this thing can also use sleep powder (and so can butterfree) but it comes in more pretty colorsssss

Swanna gets featherdance, just to cover one more dance. and you know. swans are like pretty and elegant or whatever. allegedly. anyways something something primrose is a beautiful swan.

Alfyn - Grass

Ace: Leavanny

Alfyn greengrass has grass types? this is shocking to nobody. anways, deciding between leavanny or meganium for the ace i eventually decided on leavanny because i say so. but they could both work

vileplume so that he has at least one grass/poison rep. i so rarely use the apothecary poisoning skills in OT but he can like. do that, so….

Sunflora is here because it would use sunny day and do fuck all except be a shitmon, because it is, but personally i think Alfyn wouldn’t gaf because it’s cute and he likes it, and it supports solarbeam/Clorophll for its team which is enough of a job to put it on here

Therion - Fire

Ace: Houndoom

the inherent fire magic of the thief class is here to bail me out in giving therion a gym type. thanks.

Anyways, i’m going with Houndoom as the Ace because he does have an image to uphold. it can’t all be fluffy arcanines or whatever.

ceruldege is here bc A) swords and B) it’s a little hater of a pokemon so it stays. centiskorch is here because it’s one of MY favs and i think it’s fun to put more interesting dual types into these teams, and as much as i love volcarona (my all time fave) it’s not really a therion mon… but i do think he’d be on board with a centiskorch.

then for a sun setter… it kind of had to be ninetales, tbh. i cannot really justify giving mr fastest speed stat in orsterra a turtle. so ninetales it is.

H’aanit - Electric

Ace: Luxray

another one where the inherent class magic gets to bail us out. if i’m being honestly, H’aanit is not much giving electric trainer, but we did our best.

Kilowatrells reasoning here is the same as it was in her original team. it’s a literal thunderbird. (also, no legends here but she deserves a zapdos)

Galvantula is a webs setter. holy shit guys, leghold trap reference.

and then Manectric and Linde are of course, dollar store Hägen and Linde. definitely an intimidate luxray, too.

next we can move onto the OT2 ones!

Ochette - Dragon

Ace: Noivern

ochette… she’s giving 8th gym dragon gym leader. i think her emphasis on finding legends basically tailors her to the dragon trainer for me. as for her mons, i’ve given her three dragons whose secondary types match up with Acta, Terra, and Glacis, while noivern is… honestly it’s just vibes i think noivern is cool and she would like it.

i didn’t really wanna make one of the three legends her ace over the other, so i’ll just say noivern is the ace.

Castti - Poison

Ace: Roserade

now, for Castti, we decided to bend the gym leader rules a bit, so she doesn’t have all poison types, though she does have an entirely poison-based team still. Breloom has poison heal, so we’ve elected to give it a spot, considering it also gets spore and is a fighting type that can throw THESE HANDS.

Zangoose is here for a similar reason, posssing the ability toxic boost, upping its damage when poisoned.

Glimmora of course has two poison based abilities in corrosion and toxic debris, though i’d say castti’d do toxic debris/venoshock shenanigans.

For the mandatory Apothecary Grass/Poison type, i’ve given her roserade. it’s like uh. the flower malaya gave her.

Throné - Dark

Ace: Bisharp

tho throné herself maybe wouldn’t like to be the dark type leader, or at least would wish she wouldn’t get a bad rap for using them, they still fit her (and OT2’s theif inherent magic), so that’s what we’re going with.

Absol: maybe this one is on loan from temenos lol.

liepard is a very evil team-grunt pokemon so i’m giving it to her also it’s purple.

weavile is a little less of a shitmon and also gets the ability pickpocket, plus brings some dual typing to this team. tho she would get her shit so rocked by a fighting type let’s be real

Bisharp: ok so… what if… the blacksnakes… are like a bunch of pawniards. and only the best ones can be bisharps. that’s throne. or something. also, it’s kind of referencing that she’s distantly related to notable kingambit haver hikari. bonus!

Osvald - Normal

Ace: Drampa

hear me out… Osvald normal type trainer. but he uses only dual types, and he also likes to play a lot less straightforward than your average trainer. Ursaluna (for the teddiursa in his original team) makes an appearance, while Farigaraf can set trick room and other fun psychic pokemon shenanigans. Hisui-Zoroark is here to throw another wrench in the mix, being able to throw off incoming fighting type attacks and hit back while making you readjust your strategy. the whole time, the threat of this thing makes you always have to consider if you know what you’re fighting first.

and drampa. this thing is just such an osvald pokemon to me. thank god it’s half normal. he should have it. make it the ace too.

Partitio - Rock

Ace: Coalossal

partitio was a bit of an odd one to pick a type for, but we settled on rock for a few reasons. honestly…. started with the ace and worked backwards, and therion’s already hogging the fire slot. besides, even though he’s looking towards the future, partitio’s definitely a little behind the times initially, so some good old fashioned rock types seem like a good fit.

anyways the coalossal is the ace because he’s ability is. steam engine. lol

lycanroc because. i think partitio would like a awesome doggy and then we went dusk form bc i don’t think he would have the evil one and dusk sucks less than the midday one lol.

gigalith sand setter

and then crustle is cuz we wanted to give him it as a shell smash sweeper. and i dunno they probably have dwebbles around oresrush.

Agnea - Fairy

Ace: Togekiss

Agnea feels like a pretty good fit for the fairy type, tho she does get less dancer-move user options than primrose does using flying types.

Togekiss i feel like is a shoe-in for her ace. it’s a pokemon associated with peace and kindness… i feel like agnea is definitely the kind of person to be able to actually acquire a togepi. also, it gets serene grace, which is a very agnea-ability title. i think she should get to paraflinch people too.

Ribombee is a much better quiver dance user than vivillion, and it’s half fairy, so agnea gets it. i love this thing. it can be so scary if it gets set up.

gardevoir: in our original teams, hikari had this due to its association with loyalty to its trainer/friends. so i think agnea also fits it very well too! since hikari (⬇️down there later ) has been swapped to a gallade to fit his type i’ve given it to her. awesome matching time.

whimsicott is here because she is fun and whimsical. this thing would set tailwinds probably.

Temenos - Ghost

Ace: Houndstone

i’m so sorry temenos but i think it’s really really funny to make you a ghost trainer. like really super funny.

anyways, yamask was on his original team, so we’ve upgraded to cofagrigus here. chandelure is vaguely sacred flame-esque while also being ghost type, tho it’s kind of. ominous but whatever. Sableye is a silly little guy who kind of vaguely references the mirror shard crossed paths. i guess if he mega evolved it i could do that even more with magic bounce but we didn’t really work w megas or regional gimmicks or whatever

and then houndstone comes out last to spam last respects after you’ve killed all this other pokemon just like all the EVERYONE HE KNEW IN REAL LIFE died too you monster.

like i said i think ghost trainer temenos is really funny

Hikari - Fighting

Ace: Gallade

Hikari nabbed fighting type right out of the gate. as compared to olberic who is very definsive brick wall of a guy, hikari feels more versatile in a way that fits fighting types to a T.

I’ve given him heracross because the heracross i caught in my nuzlocke is named after him so i think he should have one.

Lucario is here for a fun friendship evo, while scrafty is here to rep a more “dirty fighter” type of pokemon on the team being fighting/dark.

then gallade gets to be the ace because i feel like it’s the most ace material tbh.

as for your second part we did pick villian types (but not teams), here’s that much more briefly

Mattias: Dark (i feel like this is self explanatory. maybe malamar ace?)

Lucia: Psychic (this seems to must be the type we’re going with for most scholars)

Esmerelda: Poison (because the wound may prove fatal)

Werner: Fighting (idrgaf but i guess he used to run a merc company so i guess or whatever)

Simeon: Normal (hes the least normal guy you’ll ever meet but you’d never guess it from his pokemon team)

Ogre eagle: Iron valiant. 6 iron valiant.

Darius: Ground

i’m just. uh.

Redeye: Iron valiant. also entire team of 6 iron valiants (lore accurate)

Darkling: you never guess this but 6 Iron Valiants

Trousseau: Poison but for real this time

Claude: Dark (feel like that’s also self explanatory)

Harvey: Psychic (specifically, this guy has a hypno.)

Roque: Steel ⬇️

Dolcinea: Fairy mirror match/Tiernos Dancer only team she’s based like that. either or

Kaldena: Ghost (another mirror match)

Mugen: typeless but every one of his mons knows swords dance

ok that’s basically it hope that’s enough of an answer ok byeeee

[baede-6]

To the people that finished the entire campaign in a day, I am both incredibly impressed and terrified of you.

[dippygamer64]

Inktober 2024 — Day 6 — Trek

Every time I do a drawing or story idea about Voltron Legendary Defender, I get nervous to share it. Now I’m including Overwatch? It’s like I want to step into the Lion’s den (no pun intended).

Getting straight to the point, this is based on a story idea I’ve spent a surprising amount of time on: Lance Morrison-Reyes. Basically Lance is the son of Jack Morrison and Gabriel Reyes (yes that includes Reaper76 shipping), and he’s a very happy kid. Until Overwatch starts to decline, leading to the Swiss Base incident and leaving Lance an orphan. Cut to the present day where Lance is now a Voltron Paladin and is following in his parents’ shoes. Only for him to surprisingly reunite with both parents, who are in fact alive, only now they’re a vigilante and a mercenary on opposing sides. I’m slimming the story down A LOT, so some details are missing. But if anyone is interested maybe I’ll work on writing the story out in full and sharing it (or if I just feel like it XD).

Keep in mind, this isn’t directly from the story I’m working on. This is just a possible scene based on the idea. I kept wracking my brain trying to think of what I could do for “Trek”, to the point I looked up the definition as a reminder: “A long arduous journey especially one made on foot”. While I did think of other scenes that might have been more directly related to the prompt, once I had this scene in my head I simply really wanted to draw it.

Also, sorry again for running behind, I’ll catch up when I get that chance!

[raddestrose]

[meeeeeeese]

This is a PSA to, every day you can, go and exchange materials for provisioner tokens. The easiest ones to do are the chak egg (just do gerent once a day), Auric Ingot (just do octovine once a day), obsidian shard (from just, so many sources) and 5 ectoplasm (you'll get this from any activity that gives you rares)

Why is this important? Because they're the only method of getting the gift of craftsmanship, which is required for pve legendary armour, legendary sigils and legendary runes. Since the gift is 50 tokens a pop it's heavily timegated, so get started now and you won't kick yourself later. Since some of the materials (like the chak egg) don't have much other use you may as well if you ever see yourself having legendary aspirations.

It's also even more important now because in the new expansion arenanet is releasing new pve legendary armour that won't require raids! While I don't strictly know if it's gonna require gifts of craftsmanship, I think it's very likely and if it doesn't, you can just use it on a fancy set of legendary sigils.

[fumifooms]

I read 1 fic yesterday and it literally energized me more than my new stimulant adhd med did. Marchil confirmed better than drugs. Crying

[sbnkalny]

Gets upset, the ground shakes! My father gets upset, the ground shakes! my father or my snart ever again

[britcision]

Oh this is the middle/end of the second season shit is going to get REAL pretty dang quick and I guarantee not a single one of you is prepared for how

I sure as hell wasn’t 👀

Y���all ain’t even met the best characters yet

Man, even the smallest of side character in Dungeon have such heart and impact.

So in chapter 78, the elves (led by Flamella) have an opportunity to kill Laios. They believe that he is certain to fall to the Winged Lion and doom them all, and they have told everyone else as much. Laios friends and acquaintances, though conflicted, stand by.

The orcs are the first to protest. They are ready to fight for Laios (and their own best chance for freedom, through him). But no one else takes action.

Until...

Oh hey, it's Doni!! From what, like... chapter 3?? That's cute. It's even kind set up, since you can see him and Fionil in the chapter before this, reacting to the news that Laios defeated the Mad Sorcerer.

It's a small detail, but you can even see that Fionil has her hood up. Probably that's tied to the extra info on her from the Adventurer's Bible - she's a Canary spy.

Wait. Hold on.

Fionil is a spy. If that news comes out, she risks both her ties to Doni and possible arrest or punishment from the elves. She has been hiding out and trying to stay under the radar. But despite this, when Doni comes forward to vouch for Laios, so does she.

So yeah. THAT is the context of these panels:

That's why she's crying here. That's why its notable that she lowers her hood.

Fionil puts her life at risk by coming forward and standing by Doni. And it's these two that spur everyone else into action. Doni and Fionil save Laios, and Laios saves Marcille, and then they and the party go on to save the entire world.

I'm proud of her...

[anmolsmsblog]

Lee Men's Legendary Regular Fit Bootcut Jean

Price: (as of – Details) Just like our founder, H.D. Lee, our passion is helping can-do people do more. We are committed to designing clothing that conforms to your body, allowing you to move through life freely. We help you chase the things that bring you joy and laughter. The things that make you fearless and hopeful because your passion is what makes you unique. And what moves you, moves us.…

[diamond-dangeresque]

Day 6 — Legendary

A/N: i wanted to promise i wouldn't hit y'all with Another Wall of Text but unfortunately i have Stephen King Syndrome and I Can't Stop Writing 😖😖😖

1325AE, Fractals of the Mists ~ Sunqua Peak Fractal

"Please, quill its elementals and restore peace! You must hurry!"

That's what the 'mountain spirit' told Chihiro, and so up the fragmented stormy mountain he climbs, pulling out a shortbow and firing at the airy wisps until their squalls bind to his legs; he leaps from stone to stone with their enchanted winds at his feet, getting closer to what looks like the top of a tall, winding staircase carved out of a mountainside.

He thinks back to the 'spirit'. She sure didn't seem like a nature spirit. Seemed pretty human, actually. But maybe it's just because he can 'see' through the charade she puts up. It'd fool most others, being fair. And he didn't want to say anything, either, both because it's not like him to spoil a kid's fun and because he's been chided before about "breaking script", whatever exactly that means.

The wind elemental scuttles in its small arena, awaiting its target. But then, as Chihiro gazes at it, the elemental turns; it gazes back at it, feet planted firmly. Warnings hiss through the gale ("Why are you even here? I don't need your help!") before it calmly leaps away, leaving behind something glittery in the rain-drenched grass. Chihiro leaps into the now-empty arena, disappointed that a fight was avoided.

"Was there an elemental you just fought?" Dessa crackles through the Observatory's intrafractal comms system, a loudspeaker over existence in this microrealm. "I can't tell; my visuals fried for a few seconds and the strong reading in that arena is gone."

"Nope," Chihiro yells back, hoping she hears him this time, "it fled." A few seconds. No response back. Damn it. He walks over to the object the fleeing elemental left behind: a small chunk of something like a sword's blade, filigree supporting a lack of blood-groove and a blade made of what was either bronze or brass segmented like drakescale. His fingers tingled at the touch, even through the draconic envoy gauntlets, and the hairs on the back of his head stood at end. This was a powerful thing the elemental left behind.

And he can feel Glint behind him, also observing. "An artifact," she hisses, satisfaction in her voice. "I did not think we would find such a boon here in the Mists. A good omen towards your path of the Hero."

"You call a broken blade a good omen?" Chihiro questions, left aghast at this Dragon's so-called wisdom.

"Where there is one," Glint answers, fading back into his subconscious, "there are others. Artifacts behave differently from normal objects and weaponry. Stay vigilant, Herald."

And to that end, she was right: as the climb became more treacherous on this fragmented Sunqua, the elementals—harsh gales giving way to roaring despondent waterfalls with waves that pushed back—in turn matched the desperation of the voice hanging in the winds on the mountain.

In the wading pools of a mountainous sanctuary surrounded by waterfalls, Chihiro effortlessly frees a trapped water elemental from under massive boulders. Its reward to him, other than desperate pleas carried on the hushed sounds of running water ("What is it that you want? ... Leave. I'll give you anything."), was another piece of the strange artifact. This time it was of the sword's forte and hilt, also of that same bronze-like material. The pommel, the endtips of the guard, all bear an open circle that crackles with further electricity, catching stray sparks in the air. Thoughts run through the back of Chihiro's mind, memories involuntarily dragged to the forefront. He pushes them back, though a few manage to stay unwelcome guests. (The fear of centaurs. The forever-bruised eyesocket. The dagger in his hip. The meeting of he and Shiro in the Replica Temple.)

Cool waters make way for heated air and flowing lava, tiny sluglike elementals rising from the molten stone to assault the Herald. Nothing Ventari's Tablet and summer-air shield can't keep away, but it eats at his energy and so he moves quickly to deal fast strikes at the lava slugs. Their body temperatures eat at his steel blade, the poor thing, and eventually he reaches another arena tossing away the ruined blade. But like with the wind elemental, this one glares. With no weapon, all he can do is defend. So he does, raising the Flameseeker Prophecies to his chest and head, kneeling as he's cocooned in a crystalline chrysalis. The catlike elemental roars at him, summoning meteorites that shriek as they land ("There's no point! ... I couldn't save her!"), then leaves once they land. By the time the Herald lowers his shield and leaves his defensive posture, another piece of the blade is in front of him. He gives it a bit before he picks it up, but still it crackles with the lightning of that raging storm outside once it sits in his hand. More memories surge through his mind, overtaking his vision. They flash too quickly for him to memorize any of them, but all carry a lingering pain that resonates through his veins. It was getting harder to keep the torrent of memories at bay.

Chihiro grips his head. The last time he had a boiling headache like this, he had drank too much Charr whiskey. "Oy, Glint."

"Herald." Glint reemerges from her position in his mind.

"Are you sure we should be collecting these things?"

"If they were truly dangerous, I would have long stopped you from claiming the first piece, let alone this third."

"Hey, explorer," Dessa sparks back onto speakers. And here Chihiro was okay getting used to her absence. "I lost signal again. Yokko's trying to parse the data that's still readable and defrag what did get scrambled—several exabytes of audio-visual feed alone—but every time you reach an elemental, the stream just gets worse and worse." Well that's not such a– "If this keeps up, I'm not entirely sure I can extract you safely given the failing signal. Or intact. Or, really, at all." Oh. Okay, that's pretty bad, actually. He'd like to not be spit back out to the Observatory in the way this blade looks right now, and getting stuck in the Mists is not an option at the moment. "Let me know if you want to pull out now or keep going. We'd prefer if you kept going, but we understand if you don't."

"Pay no mind to the Asuran krewe," Glint reassures her Herald, "you will be safely extracted despite their worries to the otherwise."

"And you know this ho–"

Glint growls. "Really now."

Silence. Chihiro swallows his pride. "Right. R-right. Sorry." Godsdamned oracles.

The exit to the cavern reveals itself, heated air rushing to escape. With some pained walking, Chihiro reaches a small garden walled off by mountainous rock. Monuments to the dead are strewn about the ground and in varying states of ruin. The 'mountain spirit' fidgets in place, legs moving about and head turning here and there as they talk to themselves about something or other.

"You doing okay?" Chihiro pipes up at the spirit.

The spirit hops in place, whipping around to look the Herald in his (blindfold?? A Ritualist? she asks herself), and gathers her composure to say, "You've done well, oh steamed one! Yet her pain overpowers her still."

"'Steamed one'? Okay, who or what is this thing, and–"

"Listen, this was fun and all," Chihiro interjects, stretching his arms and shoulders as he sways from side to side, "but it's time to stop playing. Come on, kid. Talk to me. What's really happening here?"

The spirit looks stunned. She steps back, head lowering. "I... I do not know what you speak of!"

"I can see right through you," he chimes, finishing his stretches and tapping the side of his head—the blindfold—with a finger, "even through this. You didn't fool me from word one."

"...O-oh." A beat. The spirit raises her head back up, though now in a more relaxed posture. "The woman beyond this point...I know her, and she's in terrible pain. Could you please calm her down?" She steps a bit closer, panic spiked in their last few words. "But don't hurt her."

Chihiro tilts his head a bit to the side. "Yeah, I could do that." The last request seemed off, but he keeps it in a mental back pocket. He's taken stranger assignments before.

The spirit looks to the sealed doorway. It swings open, and the storm around the mountain intensifies as it does. The spirit appears pushed back by the storm's winds, and she vanishes in the resulting gale. Stones rise from the void below to pave a bridge towards the final arena: large, carved of pristine granite, and sitting in the middle facing away from the outer stairs is a woman of middling age in light cloth garb, a straight-blade dagger on both of her hip sides.

"Energy readings are spiking! Be careful!" is what Dessa tries to tell Chihiro, but her speaker goes on the fritz and all the Herald catches are some consonants and a panicked tone that doesn't leave his mood much better. Oh well. Not like she was very helpful here to begin with.

"Why are you here?" the woman rasps, holding back a painful sob. The storm around the arena intensifies further still, now almost a typhoon centralized entirely on this platform, threatens to blow the Herald onto his back from the sheer intensity of the rain and winds. Yet, even with this, he could hear the woman clear as a bell. "I came to this mountain to be alone."

"Hear me out, please," Chihiro shouts, unsure if he's as audible through this storm to her as she was to him, "I'm just here on a favor—"

"I don't want to hurt you, but you need to leave." She stands up, turns around, looks dead on at the Herald and unfazed by his appearance. "I can't control what happens if you don't." Her face is strained, eyes red and cheeks flushed. Her hands rest on her dagger hilts.

Chihiro is too familiar with this sort of stance. So he lowers his shoulder and relaxes his posture a bit, best as he can without being knocked onto his ass, hands raised and palms open. "I got a message I'm delivering, and then I'm gone, okay? You can..." He takes a deep breath. "You can mourn in peace when I leave, okay?"

His words seem to work, and her grip on her daggers loosen a bit. The mountain rumbles and the waterfalls surge before everything calms down. Everything but the storm above both their heads, that is.

"Okay. Cool, cool. Thanks for hearing me out." He stands upright, clears his throat. "There's a spirit on this mountain, and she sounded real concerned for your well-being. Some kind of old deer-like guardian." The woman looks puzzled, but her lack of audible answer urges Chihiro to keep...explaining? Lying? Saying whatever he needs to in order to get this fuzzed-out elementalist calmed down. "Said stuff about the mountain and the elementals being in disarray, wanted you to cool it a bit with the storms and eruptions for long enough to let her talk to you." Chihiro has a vague idea of what this spirit is, but without the girl blabbing the truth he'll never know. Still, establishing some stuff ahead of time might get her to come out of hiding. More importantly, it might let him walk away from this living storm not looking like a piece of overcooked bacon. "She means it, too. She cares about you, a lot. Do you know her? Mmmmaybe you prayed to her once or twice?"

The woman finally answers her puzzlement: "The only spirit of this land is Zunraa, and he's never done anything you describe." Ahh fuck. "Now leave."

He was reeeeeally hoping this would have worked, too. "Kiiinda hard to with this storm—"

"I said LEAVE!!" The woman brandishes her daggers and the wind howls back to a harsh pace around her. "I'm warning you!!" The ground rumbles with new seismic activity, and the previously lightening rain becomes a downpour.

Damnit. Okay. A fight it is.

———

About 45 minutes later

Turns out this "Sorrowful Spellcaster" was also one hell of an Elementalist, throwing things like localized thunderstorms and fiery meteors at him. Kinda wished that deer-girl spirit warned him about this shit sooner. Though he was thankful to be able to deal with her relatively fine, it was the swirling watery vortex pulling him in, along with those crushing water tethers preventing him from moving too far away, that nearly did him in on this mission. Only thanks to retreating within the safety of his shield's chrysalis did he survive, and for long enough to break out and bash her face in with said shield; her concentration breaks and she crumbles to a kneeling stance on the floor, the magic dissipated. Her nose'll look kinda funky at the end of all this, but at least she won't be nursing any particularly grievous wounds.

He really hopes this spirit shows up and explains herself. Having his drowning be recreated when he fought this lady was beyond unpleasant.

"Just take what you've earned and go," she tells the Herald, grabbing something from an inro that hangs at the back of her waist sash and tossing it to his feet. She then moves her hands back to cradle her tender nosebridge. "You're not safe here. No one is." The tears begin to freeflow from her, thick with unspoken-of agony.

Chihiro kneels down and picks up the object: the last piece of this sword, its bronze-colored bladetip.

"That's strange," Dessa pipes up, perhaps her technology finally working at last, "you defeated the spellcaster at the center of this instability...but this fractal isn't stabilizing."

And just as Chihiro goes to ponder on what that actually means, he feels a sharp jolt strike his body; the pieces of the artifact fall out of his bag and hand, and they hit the floor with a claaaang!! sharper and louder than it had any right to be, even in the midst of this storm still raging over both his head and the spellcaster's. Breaking away from her own misery, she looks up; this is not her magic fueling this storm. This isn't the man's magic, either. Was it...

Was it all coming from that piece of bronze she found?

They snap to each other, sparks flying and broken lines reforming into unbroken bronze, screeching as they drag onto stone until the blade lies on the ground fully formed and intact. It was a beautiful blade, Chihiro has to admit. The woman, meanwhile, looks back down and stares at the blade in front of the man. What was that? The chain of events in front of her seemed so ludicrous as to almost snap her out of her depression. (Almost.)

"Take the blade," Glint urges.

"Hey, explorer? I think you want to leave that thing alone..."

"Ignore her. Take the blade." Chihiro obliges Glint's insistence, ignoring both Dessa's plea to stop and his own desire to step away from this thing. He grabs a hold of the blade's handle; lifting it to eye height, he discovers it to be incredibly lightweight for how long and weighty it otherwise appears to be, and the sparks that were held in each individual part now felt a circuit of electricity coursing through his body proper. It feels as if this blade was a missing piece that completed him as a circuit.

"This is..." Chihiro can barely describe the awe and wonder the blade in his hand imprints onto him. And just so: as he lifts the blade higher, not realizing it's what his body is doing involuntarily, a lightning bolt parts from the heavens to strike the blade and electrocute the Herald, the storm clearing as it does. What would have been a gruesome electrocution is instead a surge of energy charging every cell in his body as he feels his body begin to become unmoored from the realm around him. Is this Dessa performing that extraction like Glint promised she would do? Maybe so. That wasn't the core of his focus, no no no, that would be the solidified visions in his mind's eye. What were before fragmented memories and echoes, he now sees brief happenings and phenomena. He sees a past relived, bitter memories and sweet moments, even visions of things he couldn't possibly remember (a darkened doorway, bundled in a red cloth). He sees a present uncharted, new allies with unknown names across the horizon, and in the distance a city like Lion's Arch burning to the ground.

The future, to his surprise, was much more cryptic: a crystalline egg in a sanctuary made of gold.

The surge of energy clears of him and Chihiro falls to his knees, smoke and steam plumes leaving his overly warmed body. A sense of overwhelming clarity fillz his mind. Yes, he tells himself, this is what this blade was meant to do.

Bolt, he tells himself still. The blade's name is Bolt. A sword forged to serve a not-yet-existent Dragon. A blade made for a Herald of an Elder Dragon not yet here.

He understands, a little bit more, why Glint chose him as this world's "Hero".

[fereldancore]

I don’t blog about sports, but early this morning my favourite athlete Johnny ‘Hockey’ Gaudreau was knocked off his bicycle and killed along with his younger brother the night before their sister’s wedding. He had just turned 31 years old, married his next door neighbour and had a toddler daughter and a 6 month old son (who were planned to be flower girl and ring bearer at the wedding).

I adored Johnny because he was a such a small streak of lightning in a game full of huge dudes who were regularly a whole foot taller than him. His skills were just fucking phenomenal and he was so exciting to watch. I screamed with joy and cheered him on so loudly I lost my voice on many occasions. He represented his country for International Competitions and is the highest US point scorer.

I could get technical and talk about my favourite goals of his, his stickhandling, dangles, on ice spatial awareness etc but it is all on film for anyone to see, just too much to choose from. Nobody moved like Johnny Hockey.

As a person he was a sweet, kind guy who was universally liked in the sport and beyond. I do not follow celebrities on social media, but on hockey forums there are endless stories of his voracious love of mac and cheese (so much so Kraft put him in a TV ad) and skittles candies that he had a hockey stick covered in them and auctioned for charity.

In interviews he always talked hockey and his family. Whenever asked about new contracts and paycheques he would just shrug and say ‘yeah I bought my dad a boat so we can go fishing’ or ‘I just got a cool new wheelchair lift installed in my holiday home so my cousin can come and spend time with me’, or change the subject and talk about his dog, his wife and kids or The Birds. He was a real gem of a gentleman, modest and always ready to give credit to his team and dad (legendary NJ coach Guy Gaudreau) who motivated Johnny to skate as a toddler by placing skittles candies on the ice for him to fetch.

I’m am so sad for him, his family. This is just a blurb of feels about someone I counted down the days for until I could see them make magic on ice. I wish I could write a good tribute, dammit. Thank you Johnny Hockey.

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1967 Ford Galaxie 500

Ford Galaxie 500 (1967): A Timeless Classic

Wow! This iconic beauty is a 1967 Ford Galaxie 500. Its sleek lines, powerful engines, and luxurious interior have made it a beloved American classic. Let's dive into 10 amazing stories that have shaped this legendary car:

1. Full-Size Sedan Elegance: The Galaxie 500 offered a spacious and luxurious interior, making it a popular choice for families and executives.

2. Performance Options: The Galaxie 500 was available with a variety of powerful engines, including the 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8, offering thrilling performance.

3. Cultural Icon: The Galaxie 500 has appeared in countless movies, TV shows, and music videos, cementing its status as a cultural icon.

4. Racing Success: The Galaxie 500 proved its performance capabilities on the racetrack, competing in various racing series.

5. Collector's Item: Due to its popularity and historical significance, the Galaxie 500 has become a highly sought-after collector's car.

6. Modern-Day Appreciation: The Galaxie 500's classic appeal continues to captivate car enthusiasts, with many seeking out these vintage vehicles for their timeless style and character.

7. Community and Passion: The Galaxie 500 has a dedicated community of enthusiasts who share their love for this iconic car through forums, social media, and car shows.

8. Timeless Design: The Galaxie 500's classic styling has aged gracefully, making it as desirable today as it was in 1967.

9. Driving Experience: The Galaxie 500 offers a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience, with its powerful engines and luxurious interior.

10. Iconic American Automobile: The Galaxie 500 is considered one of the most iconic American cars of its era, known for its reliability, performance, and style.

[lilyprettyremy]

How to Own Your Morning, It Girl Style 💋☕️

Alright, babes, let’s get real. Mornings are your time to set the tone, and if you want to crush it like the *it girl* you are, you need a routine that’s as fierce as you. Here’s how to wake up, show up, and slay:

1. Wake Up, But Make It Chic 🕶: No more obnoxious alarms. Wake up to your favorite throwback jam—something with serious vibes. We’re talking J.Lo or Britney, because you deserve to start the day like a total boss.

2. Hydration = Power 💦: Grab a glass of cold water the second you’re up. Hydrate like the queen you are. Bonus points if you add lemon. Keep it fresh, keep it fierce.

4. Coffee & Attitude ☕️: Coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s a lifestyle. Brew it strong, make it bold, and sip it slow while you mentally plan your domination of the day. Remember, a red lip *and* a coffee cup = iconic.

5. Look Like the Moment 🖤💄: Lay out your look the night before, so you can step into the day like you own it. Think black boots, leather jacket, and those jeans that hug you in all the right places. You’re not just dressing—you’re making a statement.

6. Mood Setting 🎧: Plug in your earbuds and blast that playlist that makes you feel invincible. Whether it’s rock, pop, or something in between, it’s gotta have that ‘I’m unstoppable’ energy.

7. Makeup & Magic 💋: A flick of liner, a pop of red lipstick, and you’re ready to take on the world. Keep it simple, but make it striking. Remember, less is more, but always *look* like more.

8. Mindset of a Queen 💭: Take five to focus. Whether it’s journaling, affirmations, or just a moment in the mirror to remind yourself you’re *that girl*, start with some serious self-love.

9. Scent of a Legend 🌹: Finish with a spritz of your signature scent—something that leaves an impression long after you’ve walked away.

Own your mornings, babes. Because every day is a chance to be legendary. 💋✨

[thatsthat24]

Sanderstober 2024

SANDERSTOBER IS HERE! Once again, my friends and I are creating art prompts for you all to try your hand at for every day of this month, if you'd like! Try one, try some, try all! If you miss a day but still want to do a prompt from a day you missed, please go ahead! This is all just for fun. If you'd like to share your creations, you can use #Sanderstober2024. I'd love to see! Hope you enjoy them! 🍁

October 1: Always gotta start out this day with the traditional prompt! take a character from media or OC and draw how they look on September 30th vs. how they look on October 1st!

October 2: Create a sheet ghost, but featuring the pattern of a sheet/blanket you own or maybe used to own when you were younger. - This idea came from my friend, Andrea!

October 3: A quick Google search of “keyblade designs” (the weapon from Kingdom Hearts) would show you how the weapon changes based off the property the character goes to! Design a keyblade based around any piece of media, as if the main character from Kingdom Hearts traveled there… - This idea came from my friend, Rene!

October 4: There’s a lot of fast food and cereal mascots out there… I think you know where I’m going with this. Take any of those mascots and turn them into a MONSTER or KILLER.

October 5: This one’s a play off a prompt from last year AND it’s a writing prompt! Take any famous character from a horror film, and create a nursery rhyme about them. You can make it completely innocent, or, like many nursery rhymes, remain dark but disguised in pretty language.

October 6: Take your favorite animal… and dress it as your dream profession. - This idea came from my friend, Talyn!

October 7: Take one of your favorite movies and reimagine if it had been marketed as a different genre (e.g. Hellraiser as a family comedy, Goodfellas as a romance, etc.) - This idea came from my friend, Joan!

October 8: Turning things into Pokemon tends to be a favorite prompt of mine, and this year, the category is… fast food! Take any fast food of your choice, create a Pokemon, and name it!

October 9: Take any foreign animation cartoon and draw them in the style of a western animation! - This idea from my friend, Dominic!

October 10: Definitely a sucker for fall fashion and aesthetic, so take any character or group of characters from one of your favorite pieces of content and give them a fall aesthetic makeover.

October 11: Crows collect shiny things… what things might the nest of a crow contain from one of your favorite fictional universes? - This idea came from my friend, Lev!

October 12: Take any color and ONLY use that color in order to depict a Halloween, horror movie, or fall scene.

October 13: A very expressionistic vibe for this prompt: draw the aura which you hope to be walking in during fall or Halloween. - This idea came from my friend, Valerie!

October 14: There’s LOTS of new words and sayings out there (skibidi, rizz, Ohio, ick, etc.). Google some, you’ll learn a couple new ones. I want you to create a Halloween monster/creature/cryptid based off one of these new words, as if they were the names of the creatures themself (Oh my gosh… it’s the legendary Los Angeles Ick…)

October 15: Sure, people are scared of Halloween monsters… but are there things that would be scary to those monsters? Get creative and depict some things/scenarios that would be terrifying to a typical Halloween creature! - This idea came from my friend, Jackie!

October 16: Those new horror-fied versions of fast food/cereal monsters from October 4 need weapons… take a meal or the cereal from the brand you got your mascot from, and create a weapon inspired by it!

October 17: There has been lots of theorizing in the fields of science on how the human body may evolve in order to either perform modern tasks better or survive… SO, imagine up a human evolution that has adapted to survive some environment (fire, spider bites, rejection), or one that has adapted to perform a certain task (tennis, gaming, folding clothes). - This idea comes from my friend, Joan!

October 18: So, Toy Story 5 has been announced… draw the next toy that’s gonna be introduced as a character in it.

October 19: Returning to an annual favorite of mine… take any character(s) from a piece of media and depict them in the style of a Tim Burton character.

October 20: As a play off of Dominic’s suggestion from an earlier day, take any western animation’s characters and depict them in the style of a foreign animation!

October 21: Taking inspiration from the movie, Hocus Pocus, take any character from a piece of media and depict them riding what *they* would probably bewitch into a broomstick if they had to in a pinch!

October 22: They’re giving your favorite background character a spin-off series. What does the poster for it look like? - This idea is from my friend, Dominic!

October 23: Ok… that monster/killer mascot you made on October 4th? The movie has to have a setting. Maybe an appropriate building? Maybe an entire town… Depict that setting…

October24: Take a character from your favorite movie/tv show and depict them as if they were a character in a fighting game like Smash Bros. or Street Fighter! What does their special/ultimate move look like? - This idea came from my friend, David!

October 25: Take any fun/special memory from your life and create a children’s book cover inspired by it. - This idea came from my friend, Stephanie!

October 26: Take your favorite classic Halloween monster and use them as inspiration for a new species of insect… - This idea came from my friend, Dahlia!

October 27: This feels like a classic for any time of year: take any favorite piece of media and cast the Sanders Sides in it.

October 28: [Any of your favorite pieces of media] … and Zombies

October 29: Think of a very important key object from one of your favorite movies or tv shows that the protagonist(s) finds. Now imagine they never stumbled upon it. What would it look like 100 years later? What else may have happened to it if the protagonist never found it? - This idea came from my friend, Chantz!

October 30: Now… we combine the ideas together to make the ultimate new Halloween villain! Take your creations from October 4th, 8th, 16th, and 23rd, and place them all together to create a scene of them terrorizing the main protagonists!

October 31: And, as a classic end-of-the-month tradition, today’s prompt is about celebrating the reason for the season, Halloween! Imagine if Halloween was like New Year’s Eve for Halloween creatures/characters. What would they look like, dressed all fancy for the occasion and celebrating?

Got the list fully completed! Looking forward to whatever you all create! 

[xxbirkindoll]

coming back to you

pairings: ex!rafe x ex!reader

warnings: angst, fluff, jealousy

summary: rafe and y/n broke up and after 6 months, reader sees him at a party—except rafe isn’t alone.

words: 2.9k

The sunset over the Outer Banks was a spectacular sight—an explosion of orange and pink hues blending into the purple twilight. But tonight, as you watched the waves crash against the shore, the colors seemed muted, like they were missing something. Much like your life over the past six months.

Six months. It felt like both an eternity and a fleeting moment since Rafe had broken up with you. Even now, the memory of that day still stung, etched into your heart like a scar that refused to heal.

"I just need to work on myself, Y/n," he had said, his voice thick with emotion. "My temper, my… everything. You deserve better than what I can give you right now."

You had stood there, tears blurring your vision as you tried to understand what was happening. Rafe was your world, the one constant in the chaos of your life, and suddenly, he was telling you that you needed to be apart. That you, his Y/n, deserved better than him. It was a noble reason, and you knew he meant well, but it did nothing to soothe the heartbreak that followed.

Rafe was your first love, the person who made you feel alive and safe in a world that often felt too overwhelming. You had been drawn to him, not just for his good looks or his undeniable charm, but for the way he seemed to understand you in a way no one else did. He could be reckless, yes, and his temper was legendary, but beneath it all, you had seen the softer side of him, the side that cared, that loved fiercely and deeply.

You hadn’t expected to be torn away from that side of him. But he had been right, in some ways. Rafe had demons to fight—his addiction, his anger, his own insecurities. And he needed space to do that. You understood that, but it didn’t make the pain of losing him any less real.

For months, you’d been trying to move on, to rebuild your life without him. It was hard. Every corner of the Outer Banks held memories of him. From the beach where you first kissed to the docks where he’d whispered how much he loved you as the sun set. It all haunted you, a constant reminder of what you’d lost.

But tonight was different. Tonight, you were determined to take a step forward, to finally put some distance between you and the past. That’s why you agreed to go to the party with Sarah, despite your initial hesitation.

“You need this, Y/n,” Sarah had insisted earlier that day, her tone firm but gentle. “It’s been too long since you’ve done something fun. And I promise, Rafe won’t be there. He’s… been keeping to himself lately.”

You knew Sarah meant well. As Rafe’s sister, she was caught in a tricky position—being loyal to her brother while also being your best friend. But she had always been there for you, through the highs and the lows, and you trusted her.

And so, you found yourself at the Cameron family’s beach house, the music pounding in your ears and the smell of the ocean mixed with the scent of alcohol filling the air. The party was in full swing, with people dancing, laughing, and losing themselves in the carefree atmosphere.

But as much as you tried to blend in, to lose yourself in the moment, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Maybe it was the fact that you were at a place so closely tied to Rafe, or maybe it was the way your heart clenched every time you thought about him. Either way, you felt a knot of anxiety tightening in your chest.

“Hey, are you okay?” Sarah’s voice cut through your thoughts, and you turned to find her watching you with concern. She was holding two drinks, one of which she handed to you. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

You forced a smile, not wanting to worry her. “I’m fine. Just a little overwhelmed, I guess.”

She nodded, her expression softening. “I get it. But try to have some fun, okay? You deserve it.”

Taking a sip of the drink, you nodded again, though you weren’t entirely sure you believed your own assurances. You scanned the crowd, trying to distract yourself by observing the people around you. Most were familiar faces, locals you’d grown up with, but one person caught your eye. A girl you didn’t recognize, with short, brown hair and a confident smile.

And then you saw him. Rafe.

He was standing by the pool, laughing at something the girl had said, his hand resting casually on her waist. Your heart stopped, and for a moment, you couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t just seeing him again that hit you like a punch to the gut—it was how different he looked. His once shaggy hair was now buzzed short, and he had put on muscle, his t-shirt clinging to his toned arms and chest. He looked good, better than you’d seen him in a long time.

He looked like he was doing well. Like he was happy.

You wanted to be happy for him, you really did. But all you could feel was the sharp sting of jealousy and hurt. He had moved on. And you were still here, stuck in the same place, unable to let go of the past.

“Who’s that?” you found yourself asking, your voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah followed your gaze and winced slightly when she saw what—or rather, who—you were looking at. “That’s Sofia,” she said carefully. “She’s new around here. I think she’s just visiting for the summer.”

“Oh.” You swallowed hard, trying to process the information. Rafe was with someone else. Of course he was. You had no right to feel this way, but you couldn’t help it.

“He seems… different,” you murmured, not sure if you were talking to Sarah or just voicing your thoughts out loud.

Sarah sighed, her expression troubled. “He’s been trying, Y/n. He really has. But it’s been hard for him, too, you know? Breaking up with you—it wasn’t easy for him.”

“I know,” you whispered, your eyes still fixed on Rafe. “I just… I didn’t expect this. I thought that if he got better, maybe…”

“Maybe he’d come back to you?” Sarah finished gently.

You nodded, feeling the tears prick at the corners of your eyes. You blinked them away, not wanting to cry here, not now.

“Y/n, I think—” Sarah started, but before she could finish, someone bumped into you from behind, causing you to spill your drink. You turned, muttering a quick apology, but when you looked back towards the pool, Rafe and Sofia were gone.

The rest of the party passed in a blur. You tried to have fun, to talk and laugh with Sarah and the others, but your heart wasn’t in it. All you could think about was Rafe. You caught glimpses of him throughout the night, but he was always with Sofia, and it hurt too much to keep watching.

Finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. You needed air. You needed to get away.

“I’m gonna go for a walk,” you told Sarah, who looked at you with concern but didn’t try to stop you.

“Do you want me to come with you?” she offered, but you shook your head.

“No, it’s okay. I just need a minute.”

She nodded, squeezing your hand before letting you go. You made your way down to the beach, the cool night air a welcome contrast to the heat of the party. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing, and you found a spot on the sand, sitting down and hugging your knees to your chest.

You let the tears fall then, the ones you’d been holding back all night. It wasn’t fair. You had waited, hoping that Rafe would come back to you when he was ready. You had believed in him, in his ability to change. And now, seeing him with someone else, it felt like all your hope had been shattered.

The worst part was, you couldn’t even be angry at him. You knew why he had broken up with you, and you knew it was the right thing for him to do. But that didn’t make it any less painful.

You stayed there for a while, letting the tears flow until there were no more left. When you finally looked up, the party was still in full swing, but you didn’t feel like going back. You just wanted to go home, to curl up in bed and pretend that tonight had never happened.

But as you stood up to leave, you saw a figure walking towards you along the shoreline. Your heart skipped a beat when you realized who it was.

Rafe.

He stopped a few feet away from you, his hands shoved into his pockets as he looked at you with those piercing blue eyes that had always made you weak in the knees.

“Y/n,” he said softly, his voice carrying over the sound of the waves.

You swallowed hard, trying to compose yourself. “Rafe. What are you doing here?”

“I saw you leave,” he said, his gaze never leaving yours. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that. Part of you wanted to scream at him, to tell him how much he had hurt you, but another part of you just wanted to fall into his arms and forget everything else.

“I’m fine,” you said instead, though your voice wavered. “You should go back to the party. Sofia’s probably wondering where you are.”

“Sofia’s not important,” he said quickly, and the intensity in his voice made you look up at him in surprise. “She’s just someone I’ve been hanging out with, nothing more,” Rafe continued, his voice edged with urgency. “I’m not with her like that, Y/n. I’m not with anyone. I couldn’t be.”

Your heart pounded in your chest as his words sunk in, but you couldn’t let yourself believe them just yet. “Rafe, it’s been six months,” you said, your voice cracking. “You’ve had time to move on. And that’s okay. I don’t expect you to—”

“I haven’t moved on,” he interrupted, taking a step closer to you. “I haven’t moved on from you. God, Y/n, I’ve tried. I’ve tried to get over you, to pretend that I’m okay without you, but I’m not. I’m really not.”

You stared at him, unable to speak. His words were like a lifeline, something you had desperately needed to hear, but it only made things more confusing.

“Then why did you leave?” you finally whispered, the question that had haunted you for months slipping out. “Why did you break up with me if you still… if you still care?”

Rafe looked down, his jaw clenched tightly, as if he were fighting some internal battle. “I was scared,” he admitted after a long moment. “Scared that I was going to drag you down with me. I was a mess, baby. My temper, my addiction… I didn’t want you to have to deal with that. You deserved better. I needed to get better, for both our sakes.”

Your heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice, but there was still a part of you that couldn’t let go of the pain he had caused. “And now?” you asked, your voice trembling. “Are you better now, Rafe?”

He looked up at you then, and the raw emotion in his eyes nearly broke you. “I’m trying,” he said softly. “I’ve been going to therapy, working out, trying to stay clean. I’m not perfect, and I’ve still got a long way to go, but I’m trying. And the whole time… all I could think about was you.”

The words hung in the air between you, thick with unspoken feelings. You wanted to believe him, wanted to run into his arms and let him hold you like he used to. But you were afraid—afraid of getting hurt again, afraid that he might leave you once more.

“I don’t know if I can do this again,” you whispered, your eyes filling with tears. “Rafe, you broke my heart. I thought you didn’t want me anymore, that I wasn’t enough.”

Rafe’s expression crumpled with guilt and regret, and he closed the distance between you, reaching out to gently cup your face in his hands. His touch was warm, familiar, and it sent a shiver down your spine.

“Y/n, you are everything to me,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I never stopped wanting you. I didn’t want to hurt you anymore. But I see now that I did anyway, and I hate myself for it. I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry.”

The sincerity in his voice, the way he looked at you like you were the only person in the world that mattered. It broke down the walls you had built around your heart. The tears you had been holding back finally spilled over, and you let out a shaky breath.

“Rafe…” you began, but the words caught in your throat. You didn’t know what to say. All the pain, the longing, the love you still felt for him—it was all too much.

Before you could stop yourself, you closed the remaining distance between you and wrapped your arms around him, burying your face in his chest. For a moment, Rafe seemed stunned, but then his arms were around you, holding you tightly against him as if he were afraid you might disappear.

He smelled like salt and the faint scent of his cologne, the combination so achingly familiar that it made your heart ache. You felt his chin rest gently on top of your head, his breath warm against your hair as he held you close.

“I missed you so much,” you whispered, your voice muffled against his chest. “I didn’t want to, but I did. I missed you every single day.”

“I missed you too,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “More than you’ll ever know.”

For a while, neither of you moved, content to just hold each other, to feel the connection that had never really been broken despite everything that had happened. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was the only thing that broke the silence, a calming rhythm that matched the beat of your hearts.

But eventually, reality crept back in, and you pulled away slightly, looking up at Rafe. His face was so close to yours, his blue eyes searching your own with an intensity that made your breath catch in your throat.

“Rafe,” you began, your voice unsteady, “I don’t know if we can just… go back to how things were. So much has happened.”

“I know,” he said quietly, his hands still resting on your waist. “I know we can’t just pick up where we left off. But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust again, Y/n. I want to be with you. I’ve never stopped wanting that.”

You searched his eyes, looking for any sign that he might be saying this out of guilt or obligation, but all you saw was the truth. He meant it. He still loved you, despite everything.

“I still love you too,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. “I never stopped.”

Rafe’s eyes softened, and for a moment, you saw the boy you had fallen in love with all this time ago—the boy who had made you laugh, who had held you when you cried, who had loved you with everything he had.

“I’m so sorry I hurt you,” he whispered, his forehead resting against yours. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you’ll let me.”

You closed your eyes, feeling the warmth of his breath on your skin, the steady beat of his heart beneath your fingertips. And in that moment, you knew that despite everything, you still wanted him. You still wanted to be with him, to try again.

But there was still a part of you that was scared, that didn’t want to go through the pain again.

“I’m scared, Rafe,” you admitted, your voice shaking. “I’m scared that things will go back to how they were.”

He pulled back slightly to look at you, his expression serious. “I won’t hurt you again, Y/n,” he promised, his voice firm. “I’ve been working so hard to change, to be the person you deserve. I won’t let you down this time. I swear.”

You wanted to believe him. You wanted to trust him, to let yourself be vulnerable with him again. But trust was something that had to be earned, and you knew it wouldn’t be easy.

“I need time,” you said softly, your hands gripping the fabric of his shirt. “I need time to trust you again.”

Rafe nodded, his expression understanding. “I’ll give you all the time you need,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

You let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through you. “Okay,” you whispered. “Okay.”

And for the first time in six months, you felt a glimmer of hope. You didn’t know what the future held, but you were willing to take a chance on Rafe, on the love that still burned between you. It wouldn’t be easy, but nothing worth having ever was.

As you stood there on the beach, wrapped in Rafe’s arms, you knew that this was a new beginning. A chance to rebuild what had been broken, to find your way back to each other. And this time, you would do it together.

a/n: i hate this so much! maybe bcs its too long and doesn’t have smut but ill try next time. pls give me requests!!