#er— spyglass—

[royalarchivist]

Fit: I'm gonna go– I think I'm gonna check on Ramon to see how he's doing back at the house.

Phil: Ok, sounds good, king.

Fit: Yeah. But hey– good luck out there, and stay safe, alright? 'Cuz like I said, only 48 hours until doomsday!

Phil: Why– you can't keep saying it! Fck! [Long groan] 😫

Fit: No, we got this, Phil. We're gonna protect our Eggs, no matter what.

—

Throwback to Phil and Fit's Operation: Spyglass plan to l̶a̶g̶ t̶h̶e̶ s̶e̶r̶v̶e̶r̶ er, stop time if that's what it took to save the Eggs.

[ Full transcript ↓ ]

—

Fit: I'm gonna go– I think I'm gonna check on Ramon to see how he's doing back at the house.

Phil: Ok, sounds good, king.

Fit: Yeah. But hey– good luck out there, and stay safe, alright? 'Cuz like I said, only 48 hours until doomsday!

Phil: Why– you can't keep saying it! Fck! [Long groan] 😫

Fit: No, we got this, Phil. We're gonna protect our Eggs, no matter what.

Phil: Right, worst- worst-case scenario: let's just fckin' lag the server with the spyglasses [Laughs] Alright?

Fit: That's right, yep!

Phil: Operation: Spyglass.

Fit: As soon as the Eggs are in any– exactly. If they're in mortal danger, we will just spam the sht out of it. That's right.

Phil: [Laughs] It's the most fcking like, metagame broken sht ever, like...

Fit: I know, it's like, we're literally like stopping time, it's gonna be a Jojo reference, I guarantee.

Phil: "Fail-RIP" we'll have to RP through it and just act like we have stands, like, that freeze time. Like Jojo, like you said.

Fit: Oh yeah– [Unintelligible Stand-summoning call (?)]

Phil: Let me bring out– let me bring out my time- my stopwatch. [Laughs] Oh my god, what if– what– oh my god wait, hold on, hold on. What if, right, what if you craft a watch, alright, you craft a clock and then you hold it in your hand, and then I spam the spyglass to make it look like you froze time with your clock? [Laughs]

Fit: There's so much meme potential, it's absurd. [Laughs]

Phil: Just be like: "You stop right there, dragon scum! It's our Eggs! I'm gonna freeze time!" and then you just like, pull out the clock, and then I secretly get like the spyglass and just spam it a bunch. And then whilst they're all confused, you run and just annihilate the dragon or steal the Eggs back.

Fit: Oh yeah. And then– then the admins are gonna see that you're the one spamming packets, and they're gonna be like, "What's going on here?" and we're both gonna get– we're both gonna get the chair, I guarantee it.

Phil: Well they should have fixed it! They should have fixed it, alright?

Fit: [Laughs]

Phil: It's their problem, not ours. Kidding– [Laughs]

[francixoxoxo]

Mermaid!reader x pirate!billy

When his crew notices her and throws a harpoon or whatever at her but none of them could see if it hit her or not (it didnt) and billy is freaking out but he cant act as frazzled as he is in front of them and its almost impossible to let him know shes okay because theyre on the ship so she has to wait for them to dock and billy is sooo relieved

Oh my goddddd he would tweak

𓇼 Iridescent ˚✧ ₊˚

𝐏𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞!𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐝 𝐱 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐲��𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝.

𝐓𝐰: 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞

Of course it’s Ollinger, his paranoid ass is practically falling down the ladder to the crows nest and shouting about a mermaid. He’s supposed to be watching his barometer, not looking for mermaids. But he’s a superstitious, paranoid bastard, and he’s trying to kill women like you, women you’re maybe related to, women you could be friends with, but it’s not until the crew is crowded around Ollinger on the railing and passing around his spyglass, and it’s his turn to peer through the glass, and it’s not a woman like you, it’s fucking you.

Billy’s heart is pounding out of his chest, his mouth is dry. You’re laying on the rocks, probably biding your time in the sun and waiting for nightfall to meet him. And you’re beautiful, your iridescent tail is catching the sunlight, reflecting pinks, blues and purples. Your eyes are peacefully closed, lips moving. Perhaps you’re singing to yourself, passing the time. Now isn’t the time to admire you, Billy reminds himself.

“Get the harpoon! Jesse! Grab the harpoon!” One of the men is shouting, a man who boasted about his immaculate aim. His heart is in his knees, and he can’t find the words to protest, his hands are just moving to the back of his head, he’s turning around, pacing a few steps before lifting the spyglass again and looking at you. The crew is clamoring, Jesse’s handing the deadly weapon to the man who’d shouted for it. Can’t you hear them? Won’t you leave? They’re maybe fifty yards front you, why won’t you just swim away?

“Wait, we— we shouldn’t—“ Billy begins, but he doesn’t have a way to finish. His mind is screaming, he’ll do anything, he just can’t let you get hurt. But before he can do anything, that harpoon is flying through the air, the crew is yelling and screaming, it’s going right for you, he’s praying it won’t hit you, Billy’s begging God for forgiveness for everything he has ever done in his stupid life, asking for that harpoon to redirect itself right at his head, ‘cause your life is anything but stupid, and Billy can’t look, he can’t look—

The crew had mixed reactions. Some cheered, some gasped, some groaned. Billy opens his eyes a crack. His heart feels as if it’s in a compress when he see’s the gut-churning crimson clouding the water, you’re gone from the rocks. Somebody cursed that you’d gotten away, another man scoffs in reply. “John hit ‘er, she just got loose. Bitch’ll bleed out anyway.”

The air was being choked out of his lungs, Billy couldn’t tear his eyes from the rocks. He was white-knuckling the railing, the boat was moving too fucking fast, where you’d been was out of view all too soon. He couldn’t see if you resurfaced. The thought of you lying at the bottom of the sea, he could’ve thrown up over the edge of the boat. But he doesn’t dare utter a word. He can’t draw attention. All he can do is rub his palm over his mouth, screwing his eyes shut, and moving to his bunk.

The moment the boat is docked, he’s beelining it to your spot. His hopes aren’t high. Frankly, Billy’s heart is already twisted so tight that it’s fraying, threatening to snap. It’s only when he spots you, beautiful, mesmerizing, angelic, alive, that his nerves soothe. He wants to bawl like a damn baby, fall to his knees in front of you.

Billy does the latter, atleast. He’s kneeling beside you with buggy eyes, reaching for your shoulders, your hair, your neck— his hands settle for cradling your rosy cheeks and pulling you into such an emotional kiss you feel your own heart becoming weighty. He doesn’t even let you get a word in. You try pulling away, breaking the kiss for air, but he just won’t have that. Well, you suppose you have nostrils for a reason, as you wrap your arms around his broad shoulders and let him lay you down on the sand, leaning over you and kissing you silly.

When you finally break from eachother, Billy’s eyes are actually glossy. He’s really about to cry at the sight of you. Those beautiful azure eyes dart over you after a lingering moment of staring, and his eyes find that gut-churning gash along your side. The harpoon hadn’t impaled you. But it’d still grazed you, opened the skin, left scar tissue. It’s been days, and mermaids heal faster than humans, and yet he’s impossibly gentle in tracing his fingertips over the wound. It’s like he’s afraid that his touch alone will bruise you.

Billy’s finally had a rude awakening. You can be hurt. You can be killed. People in this world want to kill his reason for staying in it.

“Oh, baby, my baby… m’so, so sorry, fuck, you ain’t got a clue. My poor girl, those fucking assholes.” Billy spits those last words. He bows the crown of his head twixt your breasts, staring down at the scar marring your perfect body. It physically pained him to see it. His nostrils are flaring, his blue eyes wide, buggy and darting around to avoid tears. You push your fingers through his hair.

You’ve had a rude awakening as well.

“I didn’t realize that…”

“Folks poach mermaids. Yeah.” Billy breathes, screwing his eyes shut. He rolls onto his back, carefully pulling you on top of him. Your hair is damp, wetting his shirt, as if he gives a damn. “My own fuckin’ crew. Baby, I’m so sorry. I promise I had nothin’ t’do with it, I—“

“But you’re still sailing with them?” You propped your head on his chest, eyes doey and brows furrowed. You hadn’t known that you were something to be hunted. You didn’t realize that there was a reason Billy kept you away from his crew, away from town. His eyes were wide, mouth opening and closing lamely.

Billy wasn’t sure what to say. Jesse was the only friend he had, he’d helped Billy when he desperately needed some direction. But you? You were his world. You were the reason he got up in the mornings, the reason he breathed and lived. So, no, though it took him a moment, there was no hesitation in his voice when he breathed, “M’ done with ‘em, sweet girl. Heard ‘bout another pirate by the name Tunstall, turns out I’ve built ‘nough of a reputation for him to seek me out.”

Your expression had relaxed. Billy felt completely confident in his decision— he’d been mulling it over. This was all he needed to be sure. This pushed him off the edge. He pulled you closer, rolling you both over again with his strong arms underneath you. Billy’s plush lips pressed to your temple, slowly, lingering. “I ain’t gonna put you in danger again. Baby, you gotta listen to me when I tell you that y’can’t do that again. You gotta be careful f’me.”

You furrowed your brows, bright eyes lifting to meet his. Your hand came up to hold the back of his neck. Billy cared. Cared so infinitely, you could tell. He loved you like it was breathing. You nodded your head. “I will be. I promise you.”

Billy sighed in relief, thumping his forehead against yours. His eyelids fluttered shut as he pressed another kiss to your lips, this one more languid than the other. This one just as loving, yet not as anguished. His hand ghosted over the scar tissue on your hip, hoping that the warmth of his palm seeped into your soft skin, erasing the pain. He wanted so badly to keep you from any pain.

Billy would do anything to keep you. He wanted to keep you safe, but he selfishly wanted to keep you to himself. He was determined to love you.

Ok I fixed the formatting to be a fic cuz this turned out longer than I thought 😭😭

[danco110]

“Great idea, Cap’n Vance! This fortress is gonna look great!”

Ripley Vance glared over her shoulder at the goblin on the deck behind her. “Quit the brown-nosing, Grint,” she growled in a low voice. “And this isn’t for my…vanity project. Though we’ll come around to that. No, this is necessity.”

“What? Cap’n, we’re, uh, firing broadsides into a mountain. What’s necessary about any of this?”

“You’ll see.”

As if on cue, a great rumbling echoed from the mountainside. Through the cannonballs’ blasts and smoke rose a massive silhouette of molten rock. The new elemental loosed a furious roar as it broke free of the mountain and waded into the ocean, headed directly towards Vance’s fleet.

“All cannons, fire!” came the order. Though the shots were pitifully small compared to the titan, they still served to stun it while the ships sailed into a more favorable position; that being, away from the coast and its guardian.

“I…see what you meant now, Cap’n,” Grint grumbled. “I take it we’ll be looking for somewhere else to make landfall?”

Vance nodded. “That’s right.”

“Heh, who knew Ixalan had such…diverse wildlife!”

“It’s not wild.”

“Beg pardon, Cap’n?”

Angrily, Vance pointed above the elemental losing ground behind them, to the part of the mountain still intact. “Do you see that, on the cliff there?”

Grint had to extend a spyglass, but could barely see a humanoid figure atop the rocks. “Er…aye! One of the River Heralds! Come to gloat, I imagine?”

“Not quite. Although…yes, that too.”

—

Atop the ridge, a merfolk struggled to contain their excitement at the elemental they had just conjured. Their spell had worked wonders to drive away the pirates threatening their homeland, though the monster could not effectively chase them into the sea.

“Something to work on for next time,” they muttered. “I’ll make it even bigger!”

[“Lets summon an elemental” “Omg this is gonna be so fun”

“WHO KEEPS SUMMONING THEM?”

On a more serious note, I’m very surprised more folks don’t run this thing in commander! Seems very strong, and a guaranteed full mana sink for any given turn!]

[loverofwhump216]

A Man and His Dragon

Summary: Stoick and Thornado reunite

Halfway through the flight back home, Hiccup noticed the gang was being followed. He took out his spyglass and turned around to get a better look at who was behind them. Roughly fifty yards away were four familiar shapes. The dragon rider just smiled and faced forward again, thinking, Dad's going to love this.

As the gang landed in the town square, cheers erupted in celebration of their latest victory. Hiccup dismounted Toothless and handed the King of Dragon's egg off to one of the hatchery hands. "Keep this safe until the Wing Maidens arrive. They know someone who can care for the egg."

The hatchery hand took the egg and headed to the caves.

"Hiccup," a voice called out from the crowd. Hiccup turned toward the voice and saw Gobber pushing past everyone, grumbling at them to make way.

"What's wrong, Gobber?" Hiccup asked, feeling his heart drop.

"You need to head home. It's your father," Gobber replied.

The Rider didn't wait for an explanation and broke into a run towards his house, Toothless and Astrid hot on his heels, er, heel. He had forgotten all about the four figures that were following them and hadn't bothered to warn the villagers. He needed to see his father.

Hiccup burst through the door, fearing the worst as a million thoughts ran through his mind. The fears melted away almost immediately when he saw his father sitting up in his bed, awake. Gothi was tending to him, removing the many bandages.

"Dad?" Hiccup asked, hoping his eyes weren't playing tricks on him as he stepped over to the bed.

"It's okay, Hiccup," Stoick said, his voice just above a harsh whisper. He placed his hand on Hiccup's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "Everything is okay now."

Hiccup was at a loss for words. His knees felt weak as exhaustion and relief washed over him. He sat down in the nearby chair.

"Gothi, can you give us a minute?" Stoick requested looking over at the elderly healer.

Gothi gave a small bow and left the house to give the Haddocks their privacy.

"How are you feeling, Dad?" Hiccup managed to ask.

Stoick rolled his shoulders as if he were getting ready to stretch. "A bit sore, but this is nothing compared to when Gobber and I were trapped on an island full of wild boars and no weapons. That was a bloody mess; I barely made it out with my arm intact."

The younger Haddock gave a small chuckle. It was a story he had heard a million times, and he looked forward to hearing it a million times more.

"Gobber told me you had to leave on an important mission," Stoick said. "Tell me what happened. Were you successful?"

Hiccup smiled. "Yeah, yeah we were." He told his father about how they went to Vanahiem, chased after some flyers in order to keep the place a secret, and how they found the final Dragon Eye lens. He spoke of what went down on Dramillion Island. He left out the part about almost getting impaled with a harpoon; that was a story of a different day. When he finally got around to what happened on Berserker Island, he lit up as he remembered the four followers. He quickly finished the story, leaving out several key parts.

".... And Helga took the eggs down to the Hatchery cave to wait for the Wing Maidens," Hiccup finished.

"I think you skipped several parts," Stoick quipped. "But that's okay. You can tell me later. For now, help me get up. A chief shouldn't be laying in bed for to long."

Hiccup obliged, seeing no sense in arguing. Besides, how else was he supposed to show his father the four followers, who were surely here by now?

Leaning heavily on his son, they stepped outside only to be met with a dragon standoff. Skullcrusher was guarding the Haddock home, roaring at four Thunderdrums. Toothless stood between the dragons, doing what he could to stop the foreseeable bloodshed.

It took Stoick a minute to register what was happening, but when he looked into the eye of the older Thunderdrum, everything fell into place. "Skullcrusher, stand down," he ordered his dragon. "They mean us no harm."

Skullcrusher obeyed but clearly wasn't happy about it. He stomped over his stable and laid down with a smokey grunt. Toothless followed the grumpy dragon and butted his head against his. This seemed to help the Rumblehown calm down a bit.

Stoick pushed off of Hiccup and limped forward toward the older Thunderdrum. "Hello, old friend," he greeted in a wistful tone as he helped out his hand. The Thunderdrum stepped forward and rested his snout against the chief's open hand.

"Thornado," Stoick gleefully boomed as he got down his knees and embraced the dragon as best as he could. Thornado nuzzled in, purring loud enough to shake the ground around them. The three younger Thunderdrums took this as permission to start pouncing on the duo.

Despite how sore he was, Stoick couldn't help but laugh. His old dragon had come back and brought the kids with. After a while, the younger dragons stopped their playful attack and gave Stoick and Thornado some much-needed space.

Hiccup stood to the side and just watched as the pair reconnected. Astrid came up next to him and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You knew they were coming, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Hiccup admitted. "I meant to tell you guys when we landed, but Gobber kind of interrupted me."

"You can make it up to me later," Astrid teased. "Roast boar and a shoulder massage."

Hiccup threw his arm over her shoulders. "Anything for you, mi'lady. But for now, I think we need to keep on these guys."

Stoick lay flat on his back as Thornado just rested his head on his former riders chest. Both content to be together again.

[valoisfulcanellideux]

One of my favourite scenes from These Stones Remember

This is the start of chapter 64, and it contains some of my favourite scene and location description of the entire story :)

For context, the Great Caravan is approaching the savannah that will eventually become the Ancient Capital of Empires S2.

Featuring the following characters (in case you're new to the story)

The Copper King: Onorait Paix al-Lareiff (Pixlriffs)

The Astrologer: G'tehm ah-Shker (Goodtimeswithscar)

Plus a brief honourable mention of:

The Grav'n er-Rachzem: N'dachVeip (fWhip)

Behind the cut with you for some writin'!

HOW LITTLE WE NEED TO BE HAPPY {EARLY AUTUMN}

The Great Caravan moved slowly, inexorably, ever onward. Through dense forests and across broad plains, camels and horses plodded and wheels turned. Wherever a large vista of flatter land presented itself ahead of them, they set up camp and rested awhile. Never more than a few days, as the year was already past its midpoint and heading into cooler months, and both Paix and the q’ayadasi were anxious to find warmer lands before winter set in, but the encampments provided a pause in the endless motion and were gratefully embraced by those who - unlike Paixandrians - were not possessed of nomadic ancestry.

A distant sparse jungle proved a welcome sight through Paix’s spyglass as he rode a short way out from the camp late one afternoon. It hinted at the warmth he had hoped to find, and as he waited for the sun to dip low enough for the stars to become visible he scanned the horizon.

Less than a week ago, they had narrowly avoided a large swamp, its watery ground tangled with thick roots that were clogged with mud and shaded by a dense canopy of weeping, drooping dark leaves that dripped in the dank air within. The detour it had forced them to take led them across a river, and they were much exercised to find a shallow enough spot across which they could safely ford. Upon the river’s far bank, though, were the rolling plains they were now encamped upon.

Dotted with small stands of oak and apple trees and thickets of rangy bushes, and dusted with a glory of wildflowers whose heads nodded lazily toward the low afternoon sun, it was home to roaming herds of shaggy ponies who ventured curiously and fearlessly close to the caravan.

As leaves crisped and curled and yellowed, drifting down from sparse branches to carpet the grass with gold, laughter rang around the camp as the placid little ponies trotted good-naturedly around with a child or two on their backs, watched over by the q’ayadasi, each of whom had one eye for a sturdy beast that might join the caravan and the other eye on the safety of their young charges.

Friendly donkeys accepted windfall apples picked up from beneath the trees, nosing into hands and pockets in search of treats, and distant flocks of sheep settled like sleepy clouds on the hillsides as the gentle lowing of cows travelled through the deepening gloom of dusk.

Far, far to his left, Paix could make out through the lens of the spyglass tall towers and peaks of red stone, curiously flattened at the top as if sliced off by a sharp knife. They looked dry and hot, and gave him even more hope that he was heading in the right direction.

He lowered the spyglass, closing it and tucking it into the small pack before him on the saddle. Tilting his head back, he gazed up at the sky, quick eyes darting to find familiar groups of stars. They were lower in the firmament than he was accustomed to, but even here - far from home - they were enough to guide him. With the red land to his left, he would strike a course across the plains and toward the jungle. 

He closed his eyes, letting the starlight bathe his face, and breathed in the warm ochre scent of the autumn air, damp and smoky, redolent with spores and fungi and dried leaves dappled with mould that heralded the coming death of the old year.

“We need to find so many new names,” a familiar voice said quietly, as he heard the chink of small copper-framed lenses being moved around and in front of each other, a little way to his left.

He smiled, not opening his eyes.

“Indeed we do,” he murmured. “I wonder if the peoples of these lands, whoever they are, have their own names for what moves above us.”

“And how might those names differ from those we would give them,” G'tehm ah-Shker replied, as Paix opened his eyes and lowered his head, turning to look across at him.

The astrologer was peering through his lenses, which he was resting upon a peculiar contraption that sat before his camel’s saddle; a sort of counterbalanced brace that kept the lenses steady even if the camel moved. Paix wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t the work of N��dachVeip, for it was the kind of thing he liked to set his hand to. If a problem needed solving, or there was a better way to do something, one could count on a Tinkerer to mull it over until their hands grew tired of their mind doing all the work.

“I ponder often,” G'tehm ah-Shker mused, focusing on his lenses, “what shapes other peoples see in the stars, how they might group them into meaning something only to them. Where we see the Ibis, do they see the Swan? Or do they see not a bird but a plough, or a horse. Or do they see the gods themselves? It’s enough to keep me up at night.”

He looked askance at Paix with a little grin tweaking at one side of his mouth.

“Which,” he added, “is no bad thing, when this is my profession, eh?”

---

New, and want more? Start here :)

[inspiredwriter]

Leo 2012 :*salta del apartamento de Stefany*(pensamientos💭) Qué bueno que sensei me dejó un día libre para mi cita con Stefany😃😁💕💗💘 la voy a llevar a un restaurante japonés 😏☺️🏪🥟🍣*toca la ventana* hola Stefany soy Yo leo estás lista😄🥰💞💖❣️

Stefany 2012 :*abre la ventana* hola Lee, sabía que vinieras🥰😄💞❣️💖*se acomoda su moño* dime Cómo me veo con mi atuendo 😃☺️👗👠💘🩷💕

Leo 2012 :*se sonroja* Oh concha, te ves muy linda eres la mujer más hermosa del mundo 😳😍💖💕💘❣️

Stefany 2012 : jajaja, gracias tortuguita eres muy dulce 😄🤭🩷❣️💝💞¿dime a dónde nos vamos? 😃😊💕💖❣️

Leo 2012 : Bueno he empezado llevarte al restaurante japonés 😁😉🏪🍣💞💝💓*abraza a Stefany de la cintura* ¿has probado la pizza gyoza? 😏😁🍕🥟💗💕

Stefany 2012 : Mmm...la verdad no nunca he probado una nueva pizza gyoza 🤔😅🍕🥟

Leo 2012 :*carga a Stefany en sus brazos* Bueno entonces vamos y lo vas a probar y te gustará mi amor🤗😘💘🩷💞💖

@inspiredwriter

*At the noodle restaurant*

Leo 2012: Good evening, Murakami San, could you please make a portion of gyoza pizza for two, because this time I came not alone, but with a girl~😄😏🥟

Stefany 2012: Good evening Mr. Murakami-san, I'm Stefany😄☺

Murakami San: *Nods head* Okay guys, take a seat, your order will be ready soon☺🍳🥟

Leo 2012 and Stefany 2012: *Sit down at the counter* Don't worry, we're ready to wait😊🥰 *Hold hands*

Stefany 2012: *Whispers in Leo's ear* Leo, tell me, does Mr. Murakami know that you are a turtle?🤫🥰💖💝❣️💕

Leo 2012: *Strokes Stefany's hand* Yes, but my brothers and I once saved his life and that's why he's not afraid of us😄😁 *Kisses Stefany on the palm* Mua~😚💗💞 muah~💘🩷💕 I thought this would be a great place for our first date😌🥰💓💖💘💞

Raph 2012: *Stands on the roof next to the restaurant* Donnie, have you found any traces of the Foot Clan?🤨😠

Donnie 2012: *Looks through spyglass* Nope, the streets are still clean😕🔭

Mikey 2012: It's strange that Leo is not with us, he never misses evening patrols😟🤔🌃

Raph 2012: He's probably training somewhere again...🙄😒

Donnie 2012: *Continues to look through the telescope* Oh, speaking of Leo, guys, I found him!😲😃 He's in a noodle restaurant and there's some girl with him...🤨 Stop, are they kissing?😧😳

Mikey 2012: Are you serious, bro?!😃🤩✨ Let me look at this too!😆✨

@swagreecrow

[krakensmaw]

[ HAIR ]: sender slowly reaches out to catch a loose strand of the receiver’s hair and tuck it gently and securely back behind their ear, letting their touch linger afterwards. @seadcgs / caleb

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐃𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 & 𝐆𝐀𝐙𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃, 𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇. the grin falters 'pon their lips a moment as caleb's hand enters their vision, ere it returns tenfold. blossoming to reach his eyes now as fingertips catch a stray length of curl, tucking it back in with ease. the wind was HARSH on deck this evening, tugging dark strands free from edward's bun, letting them fly with the breeze.

dusk begins to fall about them as the touch lingers 'pon the shell of his ear. the sky is a tapestry of warm hues, streaks of oranges and yellows at the horizon ; edward feels, despite it all, like they're caught in a FAIRYTALE romance novel. ❛ you know ... when the captain says you're on watch duty, he means out there, ❜ a nod out into the blue, frothing with waves against the hull. heat rose to his cheeks. ❛ not me. ❜ shoulder knocked into the other's. PLAYFUL, as they snatched the spyglass from caleb and brought it to their own eye.

[art-i-know-yes]

*says to myself that i won't do commentary on every episode i watch and that'll I'll switch off each episode*

*Jimmy says the most shit ever*

*breathes deeply*

SPOILERS FOR JIMJAMS POV ON 24LSMP OR LIMOTED LIFE

idc if Grian and Jimmy are on the same team im going to watch both povs

"im going to finally have friends" this was the quote btw

he wants to be monolopy man

*GASP* THEYRE THE BROTHERS TEAM

you don't know this but i heavily headcannon them as brothers (Joel as Jimmy's brother in law)

Jimmy. Jimmy plz.

Scar first death on the server.

*flips paper* so. who else got bingo cards.

im using @shepscapades bingo

i love her stuff to an unhealthy amount

anyway

also most prepped everyone has been

Jimmy has corrupted my head slug

Does jimmy being a thief count as villain arc or are we talking about the villain arc

they are bad bois

pearl is always just out of sight

someone spedran

they are so stupid💖💖💖

did scar do it first

that would've been hilarious

oh. here's where the bad boys messed up

keep inventory is on. k. ok.

everyone was literally waiting for them

i think life hates me bc like i have work soon

bad boy hits rancher huge scandal

every idea they have

this is hell chaos

"i do but i hate the name"

"bc im a bad boy *loud screaming*"

"on a completely unrelated note do you have gravel"

"i think im scared?" "im not scared" "i think im worried?" "im not worried"

love the groups

plz dont

"i slipped off the roof"

"do you guys wanna dig straight down" *literally caused them both to lose an hour* "yeah"

Cleo death

diaaaaammmoooonndddsss

"i was a good boy back then!"

they are so silly

brother antics

does the collection of amethyst count as a aha reference

Jimmy finds diamonds?!?!?!? top story

omg Jimmy is doing so good

do you think my boss is going to make me work through a tornado... probably

ooooo Jimmy spying

"this is why I'm mom it's fine"

cleo dying laughing

"our crops bdubs our crops"

still a homewrecker at heart

*disappointed sighs*

they say as if Joel doesn't bully him on a daily basis

bdubs once again working under scar again

Jimmy making enemies with everyone

*sigh*

"it's scar! look at his face"

you should've learned Jimmy

but also it was totally martyn

sad bois Jimmy is very sad boi

"Oh! hello grian!"

cleo is very motherly

"look to your left"

"we're letting it burn are we???"

"you have to know what scar wants in life" "you do know"

is it obvious who i...favor together

it was scar

"spyglasses are so 2020"

Jimmy got that super sight

"he was in the cave with us grian!"

they're just fishing

"you know it's gonna be you"

"martyn just died" "WHO CARES THIS IS MORE INTENSE"

"*screams* easy"

sad, mad, bad bois

rad bois

this is getting very aha -esk-

i think it counts

I can't physically go through this again plz

i love them. they are such losers. and i love them so so so much. bad boys or as i might refer to them the brothers team. and i love T.I.E.S too. time to watch some solo-ers

[mini-leafster]

since I think nobody has asked and all players aren't well enough, how did Ship lose an eye?

-🌿

Well, got in a nasty fight with a certain nemesis of mine, Intersection. Er, the Red Captain of The Serpent.

We both disarmed each other, in a way. My right-hand gal, Spyglass, broke it up before we killed each other.

[lily-of-rabanastre]

Minfilia/Galbana Lily Bodyswap Excerpt

Gonna workshop that title, lol. This teaser isn't quite the best slice of the fic to present. But I write linearly, so it's literally all I have done at the moment. Just wanted to show I've made some progress on the promised story. Without further ado.

As the sun hung low upon the western skyline, a cool summer breeze slipped into the port of Valnain from the southern bay. Night would soon fall on the people of Dalmasca, the stars twinkling to life far above Valnain’s wooden and stone piers. It was a sight Minfilia had never grown tired of seeing no matter how many years passed, and tonight was no exception.

A week short of three months ago she had come back from the dead, her soul carried out from the depths of the aetherial sea in the bosom of her shining beacon of light—the Warrior of Light, Galbana Lily. After reuniting with the body Hydaelyn had crafted for her, she remained in Sharlayan for a time, that she might acclimate to mortal life once again. But restlessness was quick to set in for the both of them, and after just two short weeks they departed by sky for these distant lands.

They had been here for about nine weeks now. If they weren’t fighting in skirmishes between the Dalmascan resistance forces and the scattered remnants of the IVth Legion, then they were putting their minds and means to good use supporting Princess Ashelia’s restoration efforts. Just a week prior, they aided in putting down an attempt to seize the docks by the remaining soldiers under the command of Origa rem Brunyasch—an aging Hrothgar lioness and veteran of countless battles across Ilsabard’s southern seaboard.

With her defeat, the ships needed to reopen trade with the outside world remain in Dalmasca’s possession. More than that, Ashelia and her entourage were able to set sail for Thavnair, where they could begin laying the groundwork for a brighter tomorrow.

That’s what they were here for, more than anything else. Whatever glory there was to be had in fighting the IVth Legion paled in comparison.

All that said, it was rather refreshing to be out on the frontlines for a change. To step out from behind her desk, from behind her duty, and live a life all her own. So she didn’t mind it too much that Lily—or Ktjn, rather—suggested they set aside their names for the occasion. She swore it was just an alias, and Minfilia saw no reason not to humor her. But it was amusing, seeing her get flustered whenever she mispronounced it.

And as for herself…

“Ascilia, look over there!” exclaimed the soldier beside her—Zulal was her name; an Auri farmgirl with teal blue hair, a passion for winemaking, and a mere twenty-two summers behind her. “I think I see a ship on the horizon!”

At Zulal’s request, Minfilia had transferred to her unit two weeks prior. Before then they weren’t even acquaintances. They hadn’t even met, in fact, and while Zulal knew of the mercenary calling herself a Warrior of Light through gossip, Zulal herself was just another rank and file scout and sniper. If not for a fortuitous encounter Minfilia might never have met the girl, nor learned of her gift.

“Hold a moment,” Minfilia told her as she reached for her pack. After producing from within it a simple but high quality spyglass—a parting gift from her brother, Thancred—she brought it up to her right eye and peered across the horizon to the southwest. “... You’ve a good eye, Zulal. ‘Tis indeed a ship, and it’s flying our colors, too. Seems Her Royal Highness has concluded her business in Thavnair.”

“Really? May I see?” As Minfilia silently handed her the spyglass, Zulal took it and peered through the crystal lens on the small end. “Oh thank Faram. When I’d heard where the Princess had run off to, I was worried sick. Er, do you think she’s alright, actually? That’s where the Final Days kicked off, after all...”

“According to my partner, Thavnair managed to weather the Final Days better than most afflicted nations,” Minfilia explained, recalling the stories her kith and kin shared of the event. “But if you’re truly curious, why not listen in on them?”

Zulal gave her a quizzical look. “Weren’t you the one who stressed using my power responsibly?”

“Setting your mind at ease is a very responsible use of the Echo,” Minfilia answered, nodding sagely and giving the girl her most innocent smile. “Though if you feel you’d be crossing your own boundaries by doing so, then put the thought out of your mind. We must simply imagine the Princess safe and sound.”

Handing the spyglass back to Minfilia with a heavy sigh, Zulal turned to face the ship in the distance and closed her eyes, appearing to concentrate. Her mind was elsewhere now, a curious manifestation of her Echo. Where most could only glimpse memories of the past, she was able to experience them as they were being made. Power such as this would ordinarily require specialized equipment and powerful magicks—yet for an ordinary girl like Zulal, it was almost effortless.

But it was not always so, nor could she control it when her Echo first awoke in the tail end of the FInal Days. The girl had shared plenty of stories of losing consciousness for hours at a time, her mind adrift like a leaf on the wind. Yet through Minfilia’s own guidance and training, she was able to master this sliver of power bequeathed unto her by her own sundered soul. Even better, she was able to make good use of it in her duties to the Resistance.

Well, most of the time.

Several minutes had passed before Zulal’s eyes fluttered back open, her cheeks flushed red as her gaze slid to the floor beneath them. “W-well, she’s safe and sound, alright. But I think that surly attendant of hers might have a few words for me after they make landfall…”

“What makes you say that?” Minfilia asked, her curiosity piqued. “Whose mind did you anchor yourself to?”

“Princess Ashelia’s,” Zulal admitted, tapping her forefingers together sheepishly. “She, um, was sleeping. And cuddling a little stuffed lion.”

“That’s adorable, hm hm,” Ascilia softly chuckled. “But surely that wouldn’t trouble you so much. What happened?”

“Her attendant was glaring daggers at me the whole time,” Zulal began to clarify, looking Minfilia in the eyes like a scared doe. “At first I thought she was just keeping a close eye on the Princess, but as I was leaving she, she called out to me.”

“... By name?” Minfilia asked, somewhat incredulously.

“Mhm.” Zulal nodded. “I didn’t think she even knew who I was.”

“Mayhap she knows you better than you think,” Minfilia offered, though another possibility came to mind.

If this attendant was able to identify the presence of a wandering mind by name, then it suggested a unique talent in her own right: The power of soul sight. A gift able to be replicated, just as Zulal’s projection, but not quite to the extent the attendant had demonstrated. Of course, this was no more than an educated guess.

“Anyroad, don’t worry yourself sick over this,” she continued, clapping her young friend on the shoulder. “If she comes asking, state your case calmly and be sure to mention my role in getting you to spy on her, alright?”

“Thank you, Ascilia. Faram help me, I could face off against a dozen IVth Legion dastards, but the thought of getting on Her Majesty's bad side…” With another heavy sigh, Zulal shook her head. “We’d best stop slacking off. Only an hour left ‘till shift change. Any plans for the evening? One of my friends invited me to play cards, and you’re welcome to come along.”

“Actually, I was planning to seek out my partner,” Minfilia beamed. She wouldn’t have minded joining Zulal, of course. But it had been some time since she and Lily had been intimate, and she was feeling a little needy tonight. “Would you mind looking around the city for her? I’ll repay the favor next chance I get.”

At this, Zulal’s skin began to pale. “Y-You want me to spy on the B-Black Vulture? But d-doesn’t she have the Echo? She’ll see me for sure!”

But Minfilia merely shook her head. “Ktjn isn’t that gifted. So long as you don’t try anything funny with her, she won’t even notice.”

“O-Okay…” With a heavy swallow, Zulal turned around, scanning the breadth of Valnain’s rooftops. “Shouldn’t be too hard to find her, at least. Even someone like me could make out a soul with a presence like hers…”

[honorhearted]

Anna sneered. “Would you have me any other way? Heavens, Ben, are you truly so prudish, even now? Whatever am I going to do with you?” 

"How is it prudish to request basic propriety?" Benjamin asked, defensive. "If you went out there and spoke with the other guests, I can guarantee they'd be flabbergasted by your shameless tongue."

Unfortunately, as tipsy as Anna presently was, she was sober enough to remember his blunder. She threatened to sit on him -- given his infatuation of yesteryear, it wasn't nearly as effective a threat as she seemed to think -- and nudging him, she commanded, “Let’s hear it. Out with it!”

"Absolutely not," Benjamin replied, his ears pink.

Anna pouted. “After all we’ve been through, you’re actually embarrassed to discuss raunchy topics with little old me? I suppose we aren’t as close as I thought.”

Sighing, he tilted his head back, rolling his eyes skyward. "Yes," he sharply replied, "of bloody course I'm embarrassed! Who I was then is not the man I am now, and I don't need you thinking any less of me for...f-for..." Trailing off, he winced once she nudged him.

“Regardless of what you all were whispering about me, surely you grew out of those boyish fantasies as you came of age,” Anna slurred, patting his hand. 

Exhaling through his nose, Benjamin muttered a terse, "Fine. I'll tell you: when we were about three-and-ten, we placed bets on who would be the first to see you...er...o-on who would be able to witness you in a state of undress." Stifling a mortified groan, he covered his face with his hand and rubbed his tired eyes. "Please keep in mind that you were so much older, and...physically mature compared to the girls our age, so we were curious. That's all." Jerking upright, he quickly reassured, "I never once saw you, Anna. I promise. I left right when Caleb pulled out his spyglass."

Mercifully, she seemed subdued in that moment. Nuzzling her cheek into his shoulder, she softly asked, “Say, have you ever been kissed, Ben? Surely, you must have by now. And I don't mean a frilly little peck on the lips. I mean a real, true, romantic, kiss.”

Affronted, Benjamin's cheeks grew hot and he stiffened, glancing down at her before sourly tensing his chin. "Of course I have," he replied, tersely cautious. "I resent your implication that 'frilly little pecks' don't count. I happen to think they do. Very much." Looking away again, he muttered, "Besides, why does it matter? It was a very long time ago...and with a girl who's now married, so I can't even daydream about the kiss in good conscience."

"Anna Strong, you are incorrigible," Benjamin hissed, scandalized. "Did you truly kiss your own mother with that mouth?"

Anna grinned smugly, “Would you have me any other way? Heavens, Ben, are you truly so prudish, even now? Whatever am I going to do with you?” 

"What are you going to do, sit on me like when I was a boy?” he sneered, “I hate to break it to you, Anna, but I've grown considerably since then. It's no longer quite such a threat."

“Trust me, sitting on you will still work – it’s merely a matter of where I place myself,” she replied, hardly able to contain her amusement as she stifled a snicker, “And I might very well do so if you don’t start talking about what you rowdy hooligans used to say about me!” 

She could tell by his straightened posture that Benjamin knew he’d made a terrible mistake, "It's...w-we just..."

“Let’s hear it. Out with it!” she teasingly prodded. 

"Come on, Anna, do I really need to say it? We were adolescent boys. I'm not comfortable sharing these kinds of topics with you."

“After all we’ve been through, you’re actually embarrassed to discuss raunchy topics with little old me?” Anna placed her hand on her chest, feigning offense, “I suppose we aren’t as close as I thought.”

Despite her jesting, Anna found herself becoming incredibly comfortable leaning upon Benjamin’s shoulder, unable to recall the last time she’d done so. Surely it must have been years ago, sometime during his brief stint back home from college before he’d left for a teaching job in, where was it, Wethersfield? Litchfield? Some other field? Goodness. Time certainly flew by. 

“Regardless of what you all were whispering about me, surely you grew out of those boyish fantasies as you came of age…” she slurred, patting his hand. 

"I wouldn't say that,” he answered, gently nudging her, “There were still plenty of broken hearts on your wedding day."

“You mean besides my mother's?” 

Heart twinging at the thought of her wedding day and how Selah had looked at her when he’d first seen her in her dress descending the stairs, Anna buried her face against Benjamin’s shoulder and promptly changed the subject. 

“Say, have you ever been kissed, Ben?” she asked, “Surely, you must have by now. And I don't mean a frilly little peck on the lips. I mean a real, true, romantic, kiss.”

[ethtyn]

obsessed w how martyn's like 👁️w👁️ at grian in that second clip like grian can see him staring

TRANSCRIPT:

Jimmy: ah! go on!

Martyn (quietly, to Grian): ayeup, you.

Jimmy: i didn't realize you had one! get rid of it!

(clip cuts)

Mumbo: what—what are you gonna pay me?

Jimmy: p—pay?! i've just given you another spyglass!

Martyn (quietly, to Grian): 'ere he is.

all (overlapping Martyn): (laughing)

END TRANSCRIPT.

[danco110]

“What do ya see, Gloria?”

“Ah…nothing! I see nothing, Grick!”

“What do ya mean?”

The goblin in the crow’s nest shouted up past the top of the mast, to the siren flying high above the ship. The airborne pirate gazed through a spyglass aimed at the far end of the enormous cave the ship was currently traversing. She lowered the device from her eye, swearing under her breath before shaking her head down at the lookout.

“I says, Grick, I can’t see a thing!”

“Is it too dark? We can fire a volley thataway and-”

“It ain’t the cave!”

“The spyglass, then! Hand it here and I’ll fix er right up- Ow!”

Grick flinched as the spyglass in question bounced off his bandana-wrapped head. Looking up once more, he saw Gloria scowling down at him.

“Wouldja listen for a moment? It ain’t the spyglass, either…Or, it is, sorta. I can’t see anything because, I’m moving too much!”

“…Come again?”

Gloria flapped her wings extra-hard, exaggerating the up and down bobbing of her flying in place. “If I can’t keep er steady, I can’t see through er!”

“Ohhhhh.” Grick apologetically scratched the back of his neck. “I gotcha. So, what do ya wanna do for scouting, then?”

“Lemme think…You said something about firing over that way, to light it up?”

“I sure did- Wait! What about the spyglass?”

Grick looked far below to the shattered spyglass now lying on the deck. Gloria spat down at the device, dismissively waving a wing at it.

“Toss it. Ain’t doing no one no good anyhow. Especially as is.”

“Aye-aye!” Grick laughed. “Hey, you down below! Pitch that thing overboard, then tell the gunners to get ready to fire!”

A pirate on the deck below shouted up an affirmative. She heaved the broken spyglass overboard before descending below decks to inform the gunners.

[Would Spyglass Siren actually be able to see anything through the scope while flying, you think?]

[thursday-writes-fanfics]

Choose, part 4. (Reader x Jack Sparrow or Will Turner. )

Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean, Will Turner, Jack Sparrow.

Warnings: None lmao

Words: 2.3 K

First - Former - Next

It's been a while since my last update, so here you go!

One year had passed since the faithed night in Tortuga, where Y/N left everything she once knew behind, to seek the truth she needed to find within. One eventful year where she had gone alone through more than most would in their lifetime. Travelling along with different crews, battling across the seas and polishing her hastily growing reputation as one of the most fearsome pirates the world has ever seen. None dared voice their annoyance with her being a woman, for she had allies all across the seven seas. She had seen so much of the world, her confidence grown and her heart set aflame with adventure. Y/N was an even finer pirate and woman than she had been ever before.

Other pirates either wished to be her or be with her, the secrets of many slipped into her ears. It amused the young woman, and the many who worked in the brothels along the coasts. When Y/N needed information, it was not other pirates or navy officials she sought out. No, it was the brothels’ gossip she tuned her ears to. For the women there knew far more of the world than any other. All news came to their homes and it was all available for the famous pirate.

She had earned an even better reputation with them as well, as she sought out the women there the first thing she did each time she came ashore. She treated them kindly, paid for their food and brought along gifts, treating them like friends. Her actions earned her a handsome reputation with the women, and in each town she could always find a loyal embrace to keep her safe. After all, the women of the brothels ruled the cities from the shadows. To anger one of them was to anger an underground nation.

Y/N’s locks had grown long since the night one year ago, her clothing expensive and proud on her frame. A treat she gave herself due to her wide success in both informal and formal businesses. She was a true pirate, yet could strike a bargain with the British navy without a problem. After all, they too were afraid of her.

The feather on her black hat curled down to her shoulder, its size another show of her wealth and power. The weaponry which clad her shape were the most efficient, on all the ships of the sea, not even the British army able to supply her better. Only the finest for herself, the woman had decided. Dual pistols she had strapped to each side of her chest, and upon both hips she held blades, one magnificent sabre and one deadly cutlass, all adorned with the most elaborate details. These were all weapons to show, the rest she had hidden in pockets and secret departments on her curves. Small explosives and hidden blades were better kept in subtle crevices than to be seen by the naked eye when one made deals. All about the fearsome pirate screamed confidence and to show respect, and that respect she had earned many times over.

“We’ll be docked in an hour, lass,” came the captain’s voice, the merry band she was travelling with now not as roughhousing as most of her fellow pirates. Mercenaries of the law they were during the day after all, and they weren’t too keen on going out during the night when there was ale to be drunk with stories to be told in old taverns. It was a life-altering change from how they had once been, when the captain and his crew had been young and adventurous. A smirk clad Y/N’s lips when she faced the man, her fingers fiddling with the sabre’s handle. “Aye, thought it was about time to dock, Captain Henry. And still I’m not sure if I will take my leave of you when we get there, or if I will meet the navy together with you in the morrow,” her deceptive nature made the captain laugh, for he knew just how little control anyone had over the young pirate. He joined her side with a few strides to the railing, gazing at the sea from the quarterdeck.

“Aye, ye do as ye wish, lassie,” mused the older man, finding his gaze once more sought out her face. “Yer not notorious for knowing every pirate for no reason. Can’t keep ye in place forever” he snickered, his mind on the many rumours he had heard over the past year of the pirate. He had seen it himself a few times too, how the famous Y/N had stepped off one ship only to board another in the same port. Her name was known by all, whether they liked her or not. Her presence on a ship could deter a dispute between two crews, for no one wanted her gone. And those who did were quick to find themselves cornered and silenced for good after voicing such atrocious thoughts aloud.

“Oh shut your gob, “ sneered the woman in reply, earning more laughter from the captain as his head fell back to let the thunderous noise wash over the ship. A simple “Never,” Henry retaliated, winning their argument as he strode to attend his crew and ensure the docking process would flow smoothly. Y/N watched the sea for a moment longer, trained on the horizon in an attempt to find a peculiar ship. One which carried black sails. Fingers carded through her hair as she thought about her old companions, but discarded the thoughts just as quickly. A turn of her heels and the woman came to face the incoming port, nothing she wished to see there either. A defeated smile curled her lips when she ventured to help her current crew, missing the hint of black that rounded a nearby island with a course for their port.

“ Alright, lads!” with easy leaps and muscles bunched for one last jump, Y/N climbed halfway up the crow's nest and gazed down at the many faces who all gave her their full attention.

“ I’m saying this just once because Henry doesn’t seem to be able to get it through your thick skulls. If we don’t get this cargo to the bay within the first few hours of us getting to port, the taverns will be full and the brothels closed,” the crew stared at the woman, most having just woken up from their midday nap. Too many faces were disinterested, the woman sneering maliciously as she knew exactly what would get them on their feet.

“Which means, no ale and no lovers!” Y/N roared, drawing enjoyment from the panic growing in the men’s eyes. They had been at sea for a month now, and the lot needed more than the icy waters could ever offer.

“So unless you wish to mope around the ship for the entire night, alone, get to it!” the crew leapt to their feet, their rushing steps and loud cries satisfying to Y/N’s ears. The pirate’s piercing eyes found the captain who let his chest heave with a sigh, not one to question the woman’s authority. She had gotten the crew off their asses with a single threat, when he had shouted at them all day to get ready. The ship groaned when they threw down the anchor, straining against it as it still wished to traverse further. A gangplank found its hold against the port, the cargo soon to cross over it. Both the captain and Alexandra oversaw the process, to ensure their goods would be gone by the hour.

“Ye know,” Captain Henry spoke after a long while, arms crossed over his broad chest. “Ye should consider becoming a captain one day,” Y/N snapped her head to face the man, eyes threatening to fall out. “Me? A captain?” she ridiculed, shocked by his words. The captain let a snicker pass his lips at her surprise, for being able to shock the immovable Y/N was quite amusing. Work roughened hand, tainted by the deep sea came to rest on his back, clasped together.

“Just sayin’. Ye’ve got the guts and respect for it,” with a smirk the captain passed his current crewmate, stepping onto the railing. “I will leave the rest to ye, for I am in need of a drink,” a wink was sent the woman’s way before Captain Henry made his way down the docks, disappearing without a trace. His back was followed by Y/N’s incredulous gaze.

“You fucking bastard,” Y/N shouted after him, her spiteful words only a show of affection to them both. With a shake of her head and a smirk on her lips growing when she heard the captain’s faraway laughter, the pirate got back to work. With an easy step, she leapt atop the railing, gazing at the crew working by her side.

“We’re making good time, lads! If you keep this up you’re probably going to be one of the first crews of the night to get to the pubs!” Y/N encouraged them. The merry men laughed and cheered whilst their work pace increased tenfold at the praise and promises of entertainment. Even the stand-in captain dared to laugh herself, unaware of how many eyes watched her joy from far out at sea.

It started with Ragetti looking through the captain’s spyglass, minding his own business as they had yet to start preparing to get docked. When turning his eye to the port city, he could tear his wandering gaze when it laid eyes on an extremely familiar figure. Too far away to make out entirely, yet the pirate was certain of who he saw. None he had ever encountered before looked and stood like their old acquaintance.

“Oh, would you look at that!” the pirate laughed, Pintel looking over at him with a raised brow. The spyglass fell from his eye, Ragetti free hand pointing to one of the largest ships docked in the nearing port.

“Y/N is aboard Henry the Savage’s boat!” the words he spoke carried over the deck, the silence that followed deafening, the group trying to comprehend what had just been said. A moment later and the crew rushed like a stampede for the two pirates who shrieked in fright at the threatening approach. The spyglass was taken from Ragetti’s hand and passed to them all to get a look for themselves.

“I can’t see ‘er!”

“Is it really Y/N the Courageous you saw?”

“Courageous? No! Her title is the Unbeatable!

“No, she’s Y/N the Ace of the Sea! The greatest pirate yet!”

The commotion on deck drew Will and Jack from the captain’s cabin, the crew’s loud and incoherent discussions about titles and names soon finding their ears. The former blacksmith was with the crew temporarily, as he had a job to be done with them before they ventured to Port Royal. Both captain and his companion froze in their steps when a well-known name echoed across the crew over and over. A shocked gaze was shared, but the two strode forth together for they could not believe in illusions just because a name was mentioned a few times.

“Right. What’s all this then?” came from the captain’s chest, the crew jumping at the sound of his voice. Jack Sparrow regarded them all with his hands propped on his hips, the loyal blacksmith at his side. Gibbs was the first to speak and took matters into hand, roughly pulling the spyglass from the nearest pirate’s. “It’s Y/N, Jack,” his words piqued further interest in the two newcomers, the two striding through the parting crew to the first mate.

“Y/N?” Will asked, unable to hide the hope that bubbled up in his voice at the mention of her name. The blue eyes grew clearer, not the wistful one’s the crew had come to be familiar with. Jack snatched the spyglass from Gibbs’ offered hand and turned to face the port. With his gaze, he followed the finger pointing at the supposedly familiar pirate. Jack froze upon seeing who they meant, eye narrowing when he stared her down. “No, it can’t be her,” the captain muttered, more to himself than anybody else.

“Far too curvy and longer hair. She didn’t look so cheerful to everyone all the time,” the jealousy and denial dripped from the captain’s tongue, the disbelief he held in his heart fading with each second.

“Can’t be her. No way, you’re all dreaming,” Jack continued before yelping as Will tore the spyglass from his hands, the force of it almost making the captain fall overboard. The blacksmith’s own gaze sought the port for the one they spoke of, his heart beating so quickly it drowned out all sound.

He too came to stand still once he found her form. She stood proud and tall upon Henry the Savage’s railing, her hand thrown out as she barked orders to the crewmates. And there on her lips was a grin, a grin that only the closest of her friends had seen before. Now as she shared it with the rest of the world, the former blacksmith’s blood boiled with jealousy.

“It’s her. There’s no way it’s not her,” Will snarled in reply to Jack’s incessant mumbling, handing the spyglass to Cotton. Will turned to the Black Pearl’s crew, and just like the woman on the other ship, began to bark orders. Where hers had been kind and joyous, he’s were angry and determined orders, none on the ship daring to stand in his way. The desperation in his anger was evident, and the fact that their own Captain Jack did nothing but mumble was a telltale sign that this was a serious matter. Otherwise, Will would have had a sword at his neck for even attempting to command the crew. Their efforts to hurry were doubled, when Jack regained his mind only to shout orders alongside his friend.

Oh, how oblivious the woman they had sought for was, for she heard none of the shouting on the nearing ship. For her well-beloved face was already being shown in one of her favourite taverns.

[honorhearted]

Benjamin frowned, perplexed by such a revelation. "Your father would leave you all alone? Here? Unattended and afraid?" he asked. A pang of pity filled him then, but he did not speak such thoughts aloud; he knew all too well what it felt like to be given sympathy when it wasn't wanted.

"You're lucky that was all they took," Benjamin muttered, hoping Astraia didn't fully grasp his meaning. "Still...I'm sorry that you must remain on your own. In war, this is no way for a lady to live."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and retreated farther into the house. Despite not being given a verbal cue, Benjamin followed, deciding that her last glance had not been that of malice.

"Your home is lovely," he said conversationally. Clearing his throat, he amended, "Then again, after living in various tents and huts for the past few years, I suppose anything will have a scrap of beauty in my eyes. Er...not that I mean any disrespect in saying so, of course."

She led him inside a bedroom at the end of the hall, and Benjamin instantly became charmed by all the books on her shelves. Trying not to become too excited, he schooled his features and asked, "You have all the great philosophers? And the sciences, too?"

Fascinated, he stooped to inspect the spines, only to catch sight of the large telescope propped alongside the window. Benjamin had peered through spyglasses before, but never something to this magnitude.

"Is your father an astronomer?" he asked, impressed. "I have yet to meet one of those in my field... My acquaintances are mostly teachers and arseholes. Er..." He glanced over his shoulder then, sheepish. "Begging your pardon, Miss."

Astraia's request to keep his hands to himself was stilted, clipped, and briefly, Benjamin wondered if she meant quite literally. Flustered by such a thought, a brief pink singed his cheeks and he looked away with a huff. "As an officer, I think I'm quite capable of following orders, Miss Claremont -- even one from a Tory princess on her high horse. I won't touch a thing."

Astraia briskly stepped past him and started straightening up the room. Benjamin was about to protest -- as far as he was concerned, everything was perfect as it was -- but that was when she revealed they wouldn't have any servants.

Incredulous, he smiled. "Miss Claremont, do I look like I have servants? The idea of being cared for at all seems foreign in and of itself." Though the stiffer her posture became, the more he realized she brought it up because of the potential impropriety, and fighting off another wave of embarrassment, he merely finished his thought with a soft, "Oh."

Bloody hell. Wasn't this supposed to be easy and not...well...whatever in God's name this was turning out to be?

        she  despised  how  their  argument  and  torrent  of  words  flung  at  each  other  roused  a  satisfying  fire  deep  inside  her .  he  might  have  been  insufferable ,  and  impertinent ,  of  course ,  but  he  did  not  tell  her  to  hush  and  speak  less ,  as  many  men  did .  and ,  some  small ,  insignificant  part  of  her  felt  a  shred  of  sympathy  for  him .  her  family  home  was  an  ocean  away  in  england ,  but  it  had  been  empty  of  any  familial  gathering  since  the  death  of  her  mother  many  years  ago .

        and  for  the  first  time  since  the  major  had  arrived  at  her  doorstep ,  she  wavered .  her  expression  grew  melancholy  and  the  hardness  in  her  tone  had  softened  to  something  more  vulnerable ,  more  afraid .  ❝  the  dispute  arose  when  my  father  was  away  traveling ,  and  was  only  resolved  when  he  returned  .  he  has  considerable  monetary  influence  as a lord .  ❞  she  finally  stepped  away  from  her  confrontational  stance  before  him ,  retreating  a  few  paces  back ,  arms  wrapping  tightly  around  herself  as  if  to  ward  off  harm .   ❝  my  father  has  left  to  attend  to  business  again ,  and  will  be  gone  for  quite  some  time .  I'm  afraid  that  in  his  absence ,  even  money  will  not  be  enough  to  keep  them  at  bay .  ❞   lord  claremont  was ,  in  fact ,  on  his  way  back  to  england ,  but  she  would  not  breathe  a  word  of  such  an  affair  to  an  officer  of  the  continental  army .

        without  another  word ,  she  turned  herself  away  from  him  and  went  back  into  her  home ,  listening  for  the  sounds  of  his  footsteps  following  her  path .  as  they  entered  the  modest  dwelling ,  she  guided  them  down  a  hallway  towards  the  largest  bedroom ,  which ,  was  her  own .  it  was  neat  as  a  pin ,  save  for  a  sturdy  wooden  desk  that  was  heaped  with  books ,  papers ,  inkwells ,  and ,  most  notably ,  a  beautiful  telescope ,  a  rather  large  one ,  worth  nearly  as  much  as  the  house  they  stood  in  now .  it  was  her  most  prized  possession  brought  all  the  way  from  england .   ❝  you  may  sleep  here ,  as  long  as  you  touch  nothing .  do  endeavor  to  keep  your  hands  to  yourself ,  sir .  ❞ her  offer  was  stiff  and  mildly  chastising ,  but  not  impolite .

        with  a  scarcely  concealed  tug  at  her  bodice  to  make  herself  more  properly  attired ,  if  only  by  a  mere  few  inches  of  fabric ,  she  whisked  through  the  room ,  gathering  up  any  stray  garments  of  her  own ,  straightening  a  blanket ,  and  snatching  a  particularly  interesting  book  from  her  desk  that  she  desired  to  read  later .  she  wondered ,  just  how  would  he  perceive  her  unusual ,  arguably  unwomanly ,  interests ?  ❝  we  have  no  servants ,  so  it  will  be  just  us  for  the  evening .  ❞  she  swallowed  down  the  dryness  that  had  begun  to  gather  in  her  throat .  alone  with  a  man  who  was  not  her  husband ,  and  far  worse ,  who  was  a  patriot  officer  .

[halorocks1214]

tis better to aha-ve loved and lost than never to aha-ve loved at all

Grian knocked on death's door with that TNT Minecart. What happened if he really was five minutes later?

Grian's problem is that he has an underlying soft spot for others, even though he tries not to.

They all rushed back to their home base immediately after the notification beeped on their communicators.

Grian blew up

There was no way. They already had a Red running around too quickly, they couldn't have another-

The Southlands was perfectly intact. Everything from its walls to their towers showed no sign of being exploded, which was a brief relief on their racing hearts. But as they searched the area, the lack of any sign of Grian made up for it.

"GUYS!" Jimmy called out from above them. His voice was definitely coming from Grian's tower, and without hesitation, they took turns up the ladder to see why he felt the need to tell them to come inside.

They all crowded around Jimmy and stood over Grian's bed. Once they realized what they were looking at, gasps of varying emotions filled the air. Impulse even whispered out a broken "No."

A lone spyglass laid on top of the covers along with one diamond. It was a payment of sorts. Maybe even an apology.

Grian left. Left them once he realized what he thought he had become.

A growl spilled itself from Martyn's lips before he could help it, and the rest of the Southlanders jumped back when he moved to punch the cobblestone wall. Martyn paid no mind to that, or the blood slowly leaking its way out of his knuckles, "That idiot. We have extra lives! We could have..."

Martyn trailed off, sadness lacing his tone to bring his anger down to frustrated resentment. Impulse fiddled with his shield's handle, "I mean, we don't know if the incantation works with Reds. Er, then again, no one has exactly tried with the one we have now. Not that I blame people for it either."

Jimmy could still hear the slight ringing in his ears he received when he first found the items Grian left for them, "It's still Grian. Being Red isn't this mindless zombie state, you just... get a little hungrier. Does he think we would have treated him like Joel? Cast him aside the second we thought he was unsalvageable?"

Impulse shook his head, "There's a difference there though! Joel is an enemy, but Grian..."

He was a friend.

That was a dangerous thought. We're they really friends? Could they safely assume something such as that in this world? Maybe no one was an enemy. Maybe they were just playing into a grand scheme of turning on people for no reason other than some kind of selfish pleasure, and this was their punishment. Everyone nervously glanced around, a silent admission of guilt running through each of their minds.

Their communicators beeped again. Mumbo was quick to pull his out and read what it said, "We need to get to Pearl and Scott's place."

Impulse's eyebrows raised in shock, "They did this?"

Mumbo assuaged his friend's worry, "No, they're victims too. Look"

Impulse, as well as Jimmy and Martyn, read Mumbo's communicator.

PearlescentMoon: OUR BASE PearlescentMoon: WHYYYY Smajor1995: I hope you know what you've started here Joel

---

The smoke was thick, threatening to choke them as they wandered the ashen remains of Pearl and Scott's cabin.

The entire front was gone, and it was a pure miracle that any of the back was left as well. The grass and stone beneath the corpse of the house were melting from the fires that still burned. It looked like the flames had no intention of stopping anytime soon.

Yelling suddenly reverberated around the area, and the four of them struggled to hear where it was coming from. Mumbo was the first to spot Pearl and Scott screaming at Joel, and something inside him snapped. He rushed forward, ignoring his teammates' pleas for him to slow down when he collided with Joel, knocking the Red to the ground and interrupting Pearl's chastizing right in its tracks.

"When did you guys get here?!" Scott exclaimed. He was stunned, and his hand moved to rest on the hilt of his sword. It was more of a reflexive precaution, however. Deep down he knew none of the Southlanders would hurt him or Pearl specifically.

Mumbo's sword at Joel's throat was an indication of that, "Do you have anything to say for what you've done?"

Martyn was the first to rush to his side, desperately pulling at Mumbo's shoulders in an attempt to prevent him from doing something he would regret, "Mumbo stop. We can't do anything. He technically hasn't attacked us yet! Do you really wanna be the first one to risk breaking the rules and finding out what happens?"

Mumbo started gripping his sword tighter, "Maybe it's worth it."

Martyn pulled out his trump card, "Doing this won't bring Grian back to us!"

"What if it does?!" Mumbo finally turned away from Joel, who was now able to stand up and run off, leaving the grieving friends to deal with whatever he apparently caused, "Maybe- Maybe Grian will see the notification and realize we're willing to go to bat for him. That he didn't need to do this-"

Martyn wrapped Mumbo in a hug, Mumbo trying and failing to hold back sobs. Martyn also appeared to have tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes and could only tighten his hold around his taller companion.

Pearl turned to look at Impulse and Jimmy. They also seemed to be on the verge of crying, "Do you know where Grian is right now?"

Jimmy lightly hugged himself while Impulse sighed and answered, "No. And we're worried he's going to keep it that way."

---

A pair of beady eyes black as the night stared at Magic Mountain later that evening after the sun had fell below the horizon.

He was right there. He could easily enact his revenge. Everyone slept now as a strategy to avoid mobs, it wouldn't take anything to sneak inside and plant the TNT he swiftly made after respawning-

But that shitty dirt house that rested at the top... something about it was keeping him at bay.

Despite the burn within him telling him not to, he decided to head west until he hit the border and then set up camp. The zombies and creepers he had to kill to get there were enough to sate his raging mind for now.

He wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but he knew it wouldn't involve hurting them. He would make sure of that.