#estelle honestly has to hand it to the man

[viiioca]

[ roevember day 7 - crowd ]

From the journal of Estelle de Laussienne, 12th of the 5th Umbral Moon, 5 7A.E.

I must respect the audacity, if nothing else. Such a clever stunt he's pulled! Who could have anticipated that Elidibus -- a man of quiet presence and subtle works -- would stride so brazenly into the center of town after riding Ardbert's body about Lakeland as if it were a prized racebird? Not I. And oh, the crowdwork! A lovely little flourish. We are caught on the back foot between two unappealing options: we deny him, opening the way for the world to be convinced that their saviors are in fact liars, and turn on us as quickly as they had turned on the Warriors of Light all those decades ago; or we stay true to our course and open the way for his power base to grow with no great effort on his part. We are pinned to the board like a butterfly specimen by our pretty ideals.

But such has always been Elidibus's way. If Emet-Selch believed in the fundamental ugliness of man and leveraged it to build empires of breathtaking cruelty, Elidibus has always exploited the goodness in man, appealing to a higher calling and better nature. When he approached the Scions, it was with an olive branch extended. Thordan, too, received of his advice -- do you not want to protect your people? -- and fell right into Elidibus's game, for all that he thought he had the upper hand. So it was with Ardbert as well: salvation in one hand and an appeal against evil in the other. He has always worked his schemes through heroes and iconoclasts. But what of this newfound assertiveness? This is not an offensive born of confidence, deployed by a man who still has patience and time in abundance. This is a cornered animal baring its teeth.

The Great Work rests with him and him alone now. It's the sort of burden that could crush a man. The sort that could kill him, if he isn't careful. Does desperation not make beasts of us all?

[xixovart]

mali’s hcs for aquaman’s doppelgänger i think (percy. it’s percy.)

love my og homie

i'm coming in hard and strong (that's what she said) and saying that percy would NOT love taylor swift!!!! percy is an edgy teenage SKATER BOY!!!!!! he listens to d4vd tame impala childish gambino arctic monkeys and the neighbourhood!!!!! stop the percy swiftie allegations!!!

i know this is basically canon in the show but percy, like nico, was an absolute pain in the ass for sally. this kid would draw all over. everything. do not give a six year old percy a marker he will draw on your fancy white couch. or eat it. could be either.

sally having to fight for her LIFE to get a nine year old percy to wake up for school. “mom i can't go to school im sick” “you just accidentally kicked me in the face with the strength of a motivated horse you liar”

honestly she was so done with his bs. 5th grade for percy was an ERA.

“percy no you cannot put your hand in a blender.” 

“percy we do not eat rocks.”

“percy get up from the floor, we are at the supermarket. no you cannot have a fruit roll up.”

“percy it’s three in the morning why would you want to go to the zoo.” “to see the penguins ☹️”

korra coded

reminder that he’s canonically a skater i’ll never get over this.

he loves band shirts and has a bunch of posters all around his dorm

i think he likes the rain, even though it’s zeus’ domain. it just calms him down. (im projecting)

reminder that percy isn’t dumb he’s just chaotic

percabeth skating dates i'm hyperventilating 

he really hated third grade. when asked about it he will say “the chaos and the mind games…” and not elaborate 

percy “grover is my wife” jackson

percy was actually pretty quiet in school. he wasn’t usually a class clown, he’s just the quiet disabled kid who got crappy grades (and was absolutely stunning i should mention)

captain of the school swim team <3

really likes 7/11??? for some reason?

the second he got his licence (and a car) he would nEVER stop driving. after tartarus, he would space out and disassociate, and he often had panic attacks. driving with no destination helps him calm down.  (IM PROJECTING)

estelle absolutely adores her brother. like never leaves his side. she would cling to his leg whenever he had to leave and she would BEG to come along whenever percy and annabeth went on a date

he eats a LOT. like so much.

he got used to using military time after his training with lupa and his time at camp jupiter :)

“you are just a boy, you are no man, and nobody you know will understand.” except it’s about percy in the original series, who was so heavily relied on to be a hero that he lost his sense of self. we as a fandom joke about this so much but percy lost his innocence for the people who ruined his and his loved ones’ lives. he sacrificed his humanity because of the gods’ blatant abuse and ignorance of their children. he is a child for the entirety of the original series, a child who has gone through so much and so rarely gets a break. even when he’s in school, when he’s not at camp and doesn’t have to worry about olympus, he still fucking does. he still never rests easily because the world’s fate hinges on HIM. not zeus, not his father, him. the scene with atlas was so significant because it represents so much. in a literal sense, percy, annabeth, and luke—the three who carried atlas’ burden—had the fate of the world on their shoulders. one shrug and the world could collapse. what most of the fandom fails to see is that the second percy was claimed, his childhood ended.

[manipulatorkaleidoscope]

With Finii out and about, I can expertly say that now, I can calculate how each team queues up for their matches just like you and I do. It wasn’t that hard to do so, actually, so let’s run down the list

Frostfire:

Juliette: Foward

Estelle: Foward

Dubu: Goalie

Pretty straightforward. Although I can see both Estelle and Dubu queuing up as Flex ( because I played both Estelle goalie and Dubu forward and they are still amazing at their respective roles!!) I feel like giving the circumstances this is just more likely. Also, Juliette is only there to hit anything and anyone that comes her way

Ember Monnarchs

Kai: Flex

Era: Flex

X: Foward

Most of the time when you have a character from the Ember Monnarchs playing Goalie, It’s mostly Kai or Era and honestly I can see why ( well, I can see it a bit better with Kai than Era but ehh-). X goalie is just a dead sentence. Unless you know how to play him really well, the only thing you’re going to hit are going to be self goals

Maelstrom

Atlas: Flex

Rune: Flex

Drek’ar: Foward

As my best friend so kindly put it “this team is just two goalies and barely a forward” and she is kinda right. Usually when you queue up with an Atlas or a Rune, they are the goalie. Most people I feel wouldn’t play Atlas or Rune forward unless they are really good (I sometimes play Rune goalie… The only place I am at is extremely near the goal 🥺). Wouldn’t call Drek’ar barely a foward though. If you know how to use him, he’s a good forward 👍. Due to the inability of having two goalies, Atlas and Rune queue up a flex

SSR (or was it SRS??)

Asher: Flex

Luna: Flex

Juno: Flex

I’ve seen some great goalies and some great forwards for all of these characters above (heck I’ve seen too much of Juno for my lifetime 😵‍💫). This team, although being 66% children, Is probably the most adaptable team like ever ( Picture this: Juno playing goalie, X KOs her. Asher steps in and fills in for Juno. X KOs her too. Luna steps in and plays goalie herself. Just as X is about to KO her, she drops a tactical nuke on X and KOs him instead) Overall pretty well rounded team

Bite breakers

AiMi: Goalie

Zentaro: Foward

Finii: Foward

This team is out to get you. This team will kill you. I read Finii’s description and the first thing I thought was that “oh yeah you cannot play macht with Bite Breakers and not end up getting KOed at least once unless you have Atlas in your team”. Also, AiMi is goalie because she is the only one that can actually play goalie and not self goal ( plus I’ve seen some great AiMi goalies in my lifetime. Keep it up, AiMi goalies! 😊👍). Sometimes in dire circumstances, I had to play Zentaro goalie, but I suck so much that It makes me think “man, I should have queued up as Estelle instead” . The only good Finii ability that could actually help you assist in stopping the core is her primary honesty. He secondary, although it does hit the core, could be better reserved for hitting a hot spot where all the enemy team is crowding around. If you hesitated with her Special, you could end up self goaling instead. Anyways in summary they are children and they are out to get you.

Around this part I start to lose my certainty of things because well, the teams aren’t full yet.

Clarion corp.

Rasmus: Foward

I do not know were his other teamies will stand, but I have seen a Rasmus goalie like twice in my life. Rasmus is undoubtedly better forward imo

Demon Drive

Vyce: Flex or Goalie

Octavia: Foward

need to see what their other teammate could do, but, I’m for certain sure that Octavia is a complete foward. I have played Octavia Goalie like once and it was hard 🥲. Vyce on the other hand, has been played well Both as a Foward or a Goalie, it just depends on their other teamies goalie capabilities to see what she queues up as

[absolut-blue]

💬 okay but i want YOU to talk about estelle. how do YOU feel about her and how do YOU think things via blue and her will go

Send Me 💬 + a Name and My Muse will Talk About That Person

Me, you say?? You got it!

First of all, I adore Estelle. I really enjoyed reading all the things you have on your blog about her and even some of the threads you have going with her and other blogs. Maybe this is fucked up but I really like when backstories don't shy away from really dark subject matter, and hers is really really interesting to me. I think she's super interesting and there's so much potential for different ways things can go for her and Blue.

Right now basically everything he's doing, he does with malicious intent. He likes making people like him and making people think they owe him so that when he wants something or needs something he can make them feel like they can't tell him no. But he has a weakness for people he thinks have gone through things similar to what he has. And Estelle has had it much worse honestly. We talked about it briefly but they're pretty different people. Once he knows what she's been through he cannot fathom why she isn't angry, why she would let anyone close to her because he is like that and he doesn't really understand reacting any other way. One of the things I'm excited about in particular is them talking kind of about that specifically. Both of them going back and forth about their views on the things they've been through and how they both deal with it differently.

He may be more open about his past with her after finding out hers, but he's still hesitant about it.

I don't think Blue gets a desire to help people very often. But he, if nothing else I think would want to see her more confident, and might make that a goal of his. A man who lives his life drifting from bar to bar to different parties all week, is in no place to give any advice at all but he does know being loud and confident.

On the other hand, this whole thing involves Blue having and using his memory powers on her, which allow him to look into her memories, but it also allows him to change or even erase them. It may be something he would tentatively offer to do for her. It's not something he necessarily wants, because first and foremost, he doesn't want to have to see her memories a second time. But also, I think despite not having a problem doing it for people he hardly knows, when it comes to people he is a bit closer too, Blue thinks memories are really important and changing/forgetting them isn't a choice to be made lightly. After all who knows how deleting or changing core memories might change a person?

I'm kinda just rambling and spitballing at this point I'm sORRY but these have been rattling around in my brain a bit so *dumps them here* there you are, and I'm open to any direction you think things could go between them as well!! &lt;3

[jobesimming]

beginning |previous | next

Naura went to an award show! Unforantuly, our queen didn't win anything. Though, her best friend Belle'Anna won an award! After the award show, Throne Bailey threw a party. Naura is literally dancing with the stars!!

Lights! Camera! Action! Naura Johnson shows her face again! Making her first appearance at an award show. Sorry, Naura is a working Mama! Even though she gave up the nightlife to take care of her family, she now has her own team to take care of all that. She was nominated for her supporting performance in a Simflix movie starring Emmett Hines and Stacy McNair. Giving her the access she needed to the outside life. Sadly she didn't win because her bestie won! Hey! A win is a win. The great Thorne Bailey hosted this huge party back at his mansion.

Stepping into the kitchen Naura smiles at her best friend, "Can you believe my oldest is in high school? Where did the time go?" Time really does fly by. Just yesterday they were going to brunch with the Martinez twins, Micheal, and Jer'ish. Every once and a while, go-getter Naura does check in on them. The great and wonderful Jer'ish Jasmine Lloyd-Darling owns her own art gallery and married Belle'Anna's older brother, Maverick Darling. Her art gallery is homed to misfortunate kids who don't have the funds to put their own artwork out there. She gets it honestly though. She had a good life but she grew up poor while her cousins Essme, Estelle, and Chanel lived like kings. The twins are actors and Micheal is a stripper working at "Mav's Den". Something that shook everyone, the two who ever spoke much to one another Aspen and Micheal got married! Sadly, Luna and Monroe didn't work out. Monroe Martinez is now a bachelor.

The chatter around them grew louder when Belle took a sip of her drink that almost spilled all over her as she shook her head agreeing with Naura, "Sh*t, I still can't believe Maverick has kids." The two walk over to a counter with napkins. Belle begins drying off her shirt, "Also, still shocked I'm married to a white man."

Poor Belle wasn't aware of what she just walked into. With Naura following behind she starts to feel the effects of becoming tipsy, though she's still maybe 92% sober. Still, she's feeling a bit reckless, "I guess you can thank Aspen for breaking your heart."

Oh, don't we all just love our high school years? The Martinez siblings were probably the most impressionable thing for Belle'Anna. She was what many call a "h*e" in back then. Belle and Naura called it "having fun". As if the two of them didn't have enough of that. Hell, Naura ended up pregnant her senior year. There's no way for this to not sound bad, but Belle dated both of the Martinez Twins. She and Aspen started dating her junior year, while she and Monroe were behind the scenes. No one knew about their fling, even to this day.

"Look here you teen pregnancy wal-" Before this very dramatic scene could happen. The two were interrupted by a screaming drunk Thorne streaking throughout the house and into the pool! And on that note, Octavia ended the party. Even though the party ended before 12, the girls had a very impressionable night. By the way, their argument continued when Brayton picked up Naura. Belle laid them hands on Naura and Colt had to break up the fight. The next morning both the Johnsons' and Wiliiams' attended a brunch date. Nothing and I mean nothing will end these two girls' friendship. I mean hello, Porsha married Naura's father and gave them a sister!

[child-of-hurin]

some replies:

@ytdn said:

I feel like Tolkien never quite worked out how the Valar fit into his moral universe, in earlier writings they seem a bit like greek gods in the Illiad and he slowly softens the edges to make them more "correct" but it never really quite fits. Also I think he actually disliked the idea of truly active gods in his legendarium, partially because it felt like a mockery of religion but also because I think he had a real dislike of absolute power

(Disclaimer: I probably used the term “catholic” here in many passages where I should have used “christian” – but I’m not familiar with any protestant theology and I’d rather not do generalizations, so…)

I'm only really familiar with the matter of the Ainur such as it appears in the Silm (+UT+LOTR), but I believe you, because it seems to be a larger tendency in this man’s work – his uncertainty and ambivalence about the cosmology he’s creating ends up not just reflected, but straight up incorporated in the text in the form of contradictions, conflict, hear-say, etc – and the text becomes much richer and more interesting thanks to it… 

In the previous post, I said in the tags that the most catholic thing about the Valar is that they have free will – expanding on that idea to the whole world and its other inhabitants, I think it’s the (catholic-)christian concept of “faith” reflected in the inner workings of Arda… Meaning, there is a (Valinorian) doctrine that teaches of Eru and of the Music, but there’s no materiality to it. That’s what Tolkien means when he writers about Estel and Amdir*, and later trashes that whole piece of writing; “Estel” could easily perceivable as an analogue to the catholic concept of “Faith”.

(That rings hella catholic to me, but at the same time – doesn’t function as a ‘gotcha’, as the basis for a hypothesis of analogues, since, though we have the ‘faith’, we still lack: the essential messianic element, the revelation, the proselytism, the holy mother church/Mary. TBH, the fact that Tolkien puts the concept of ‘original sin’ in an Edainic story and that of ‘faith’ in a noldorian story fascinates me whenever I think about it!)  

But for real, Tolkien doesn’t give proof of Eru beyond (Herodotus voice) what the Noldor say that the Valar say, and he puts this – and every single other of his contradictions in his own work all the time, and he never gives us a straight answer in the materiality of the work itself. There are people who are so annoying in their insistence that the Silm is like a christian parable of what’s good and what’s right, but I honestly think that reflects their own limitations, because the text itself leaves plenty of room for the readers (and the characters) to question and to act according to their materiality or spirituality; and in the first age, Tolkien makes his war against evil a material war as well as a spiritual one, so that what you have is that putting your faith in the Valar/Eru (the Gwindor option) and taking matters into your own hands and fighting back (the Túrin option) are both wrong, but so is capitulating and allying with Melkor (the Maeglin option). The survivors of Beleriand are not receiving their due reward for their spiritual integrity/faith/whatever. It’s very clear to anyone not too brain-damaged by Feanorian Fandom/Noldor Bias that this is not a cautionary tale about not fearing god/skipping catechism.

@vardasvapors said:

it’s really cool and fitting tbh……i think it maybe fits lotr best? like ‘there’s past-the-Edge out there, we sing to her (elbereth) for the the most tangible+eternal presence of it, she’s ours not bc she intervenes benevolently to help but bc she made the stars visible to us’ etc. kinda old-drafts earendil-ish? where he wasn’t at all responsible for help coming but his story and his visibility is vital anyway…? but yeah unique! only ivana has written a god like this-ish :P

ok that’s overselling the comparison LOL. but i was thinking about the lotr presence specifically.

THAT’S also something that appeals to me immensely and I agree it fits more LOTR – “past-the-Edge” is such a good way to describe it too! There’s a sense of longing-that-isn’t, right? Because the gods have not abandoned anyone; even though they aren’t There, there isn’t in the characters a sense of ‘absence’ or ‘abandonment’; “she’s ours not bc she intervenes benevolently to help but bc she made the stars” is really IMO bulls-eye…  I like how the author seems always very aware of the character’s (feelings that we normally organize under the name of) spirituality and it’s constructed in different ways, but more often expressed in arts (like singing or crafting) :) Idk I just think it’s neat!

.

Man, I really think half the meta I come upon regarding the Valar... are less about the Valar as they are, and more about the reader's struggle to place them within more familiar frameworks for the divine

The Valar/Ainur are unlike any pantheon or divinity I can think of; they're not effective, they're not self-aggrandizing, they're not authoritative but also not benevolent per se; they're rational but more often cannot be reasoned with; they receive their own authority from a Higher one that they do not speak for, or even "obey"; they have the Divine Right to kingship but they don't enforce it; more importantly, they are perfectly capable of humanizing traits such as meaning well & making judgement mistakes -- not just according to their own goals, but also according to a wider, moral order.

They were not created by Eru so they are not one of the Free Peoples of Arda, but they are not bound to it either. They are not gods, or beings that rule-over-something. They created many things and they have much power of these things, but they don't control them, and they're not a metaphor for them. They are creative beings, and sometimes they're even surprised by the outcome of their own creations. They're don't have to be faithful to the concept of themselves.

There are takes that frame the reader's dissatisfaction with the Valar as the result of a fault of Tolkien's text, often supposed too catholic in essence -- and I disagree completely. I don't think the Valar's presence in the narrative functions catholically, neither in effect, intent, or aesthetic (-- although I think it's obvious that they reflect a Western* moral cosmos). But there's nothing essentially pagan** about them, either. It's strange!

[runawaymun]

do you think baby aragorn would have called elrond 'dad'? i see this in a lot in fics, but i feel like elrond would be very hesitant, for two/three reaons:

he wants this child to know they have an actual dad somewhere, even though the father is dead.

he wants to respect gilraen's wishes in raising estel. estel is her child, after all.

he's technically estel's many-times-great uncle.

i personally can't see estel calling elrond dad. maybe i'm just weird, or maybe it comes from the fact that it's kind of weird to marry the biological daughter of the man you called 'dad' as a child.

what are your opinions though?

I think that Aragorn did grow up calling Elrond 'Ada', and there are a lot of reasons I have for this. I totally understand your reservations! They make sense (The Arwen one is a bigge for real).

Here are my reasons:

Safety & comfort! the whole point here is to keep Estel’s identity secret, and while everyone knows that this little boy is Edain and therefore clearly not Elrond’s kid, there’s an element of security. All of the inevitable questions being raised by this random unaccompanied Edain woman with her son? People asking, ‘okay, but who’s the father? where is he?’, and the simplest easiest answer is for Elrond to go “I’m right here. He’s mine. I’m fostering him”. Because Lord Elrond of Imladris is well known for taking in strays and that immediately alleviates the pressure on Gilraen. It shuts down all further questions because people just assume they’re Elrond’s latest group of strays...which really isn’t so far from the truth. 

Aragorn was just two years old when he came to Rivendell, and to be honest I can’t see Elrond being very hands-off. That’s his (many generations removed) nephew, and Gilraen is a very young mother. She’s twenty six. She needs help. He doesn’t mind stepping in to help her out and definitely at least babysits because he adores children and is very good at entertaining them. 

When you’re a child that small and you’ve got this giant man in his snuggly robe who’s letting you climb all over him like a jungle gym and reading you cool bedtime stories, has a knack for fixing skinned knees, and giving you your bath because your mom’s tired, ‘Ada’ is just going to happen naturally. Little kids don’t know the difference.

I don’t think Gilraen discouraged this. I hc she and Elrond as being very close and platonically co-parenting, and I think she wanted Aragorn to have a father-figure in his life. 

Arathorn is ‘Dad’, if you will, in Westorn. Elrond is Ada. They keep this very distinct for him and make sure he knows that he had a father who loved him very much  who died, but if Estel wants to call Elrond Ada and attach to him then they’re not going to deny it. They can’t even tell him much about Arathorn anyway until he comes of age. 

Elrond was always very cautious with making sure not to overstep. He never wanted to make Gilraen feel like he was trying to replace Arathorn or usurp her authority over her son. They communicate in very clear, healthy ways and come to agreements on how to best parent. 

In my head it goes like this: Gilraen will defer to or at least honestly consider Elrond’s wisdom in being 6000 years old and having raised countless children. Ultimately, Elrond cedes to Gilraen’s authority to make choices for her son. 

Per the Arwen problem, I totally get this but I think this problem is solved when you consider that Aragorn didn’t meet her at all until he was an adult. She never met him or interacted with him in the slightest when he was small, and their contact was fairly limited until long after he’d really left Elrond’s house and gone out into the world on his own two feet. 

So while Elrond, in that sense, is definitely still Ada, and definitely still the man who raised him, I don’t really think it would be weird. There’s no sibling dynamic, and a close ‘father-in-law’ relationship isn’t really a leap in dynamics from what a relationship looks like between a son and their father when they’re both adults in the real world. I think the transition was very natural for them. 

Plus Elf generations are already fucking weird, so...

TLDR, I really do think that Estel called Elrond Ada when he was a child, faded from it as he got older (also because it’s easier to refer to Lord fucking Elrond as Lord Elrond and not Ada so you don’t make every random person in the vicinity who knows anything about anything choke in surprise), but still calls him Ada if he’s sick/loopy/in pain and sometimes in specific situations when asking for life advice.  

[elvish-sky]

Hope {Aragorn x Reader}

A.N: So no prompts done today cause I was working on this, but I’m proud of it and will get right on prompts tomorrow! This is the completely reader-insert version! I honestly had so much fun writing it and am honored that this person wanted me to do so. I hope y’all like it!

Requested by @ask-the-elf-stuff on Tumblr

Pairing: Aragorn x Reader

Word Count: 1,799

Warnings: Kissing, fluff, the smallest bit of angst.

****

Hope

“You’re really leaving?” You gazed into Aragorn’s eyes, hoping that it wasn’t true.

    “I have to, Y/N. The fate of Middle-Earth depends on it.”

Your head dipped in understanding, but also sadness. 

“Do not fear. I will return.” He cupped your chin with his hand, tilting your head and kissing you. It was a light kiss, nothing like the others you had shared before. This kiss was the hope that you’d see each other again.

Breaking away, you forced a smile as you hugged him, trying not to cry. Stepping back, you waved as he followed the rest of the newly formed Fellowship through the gates of Imladris. Your father stood next to you, and as Aragorn passed through the gates Elrond drew you into his side. 

“He’ll be back, hína (child),” Elrond said as he pressed a kiss to your forehead.

Nodding, you rested your head on your father’s shoulder as you watched the man depart.

Weeks later, you were pacing your room, determined to do something. Arwen stopped short in the doorway as she saw you pack open on your bed as you shoved things inside.

     “Y/N? What are you doing?”

“I do not know why, but I have felt a pull to follow. An ache, almost painful in its strength, has settled inside me and so I knew I must follow. We have not heard from the Fellowship in weeks, Aragorn could be hurt, or someone else could be, or he could be,” your voice broke, “dead.

The elf nodded in understanding. “The ache is telling you to be with the one you love.”

She then clasped your hand. “Y/N. Look at me.”

You looked at her, unshed tears of worry clear in your eyes.

“If he was dead, you’d feel it. And I know as your sister I should be telling you not to go, but I cannot help but notice the pain you’ve been in these last weeks. So go, find him.” She spread a map out onto a small table nearby, and you couldn’t help but laugh.

“Do you just carry that everywhere?”

She shot you a look, and you quickly clammed up, peering over her shoulder as she pointed things out. 

“After crossing the mountains visit our grandmother in Lothlorien, the Fellowship had planned to pass through there, and she will know where they are.” 

You took it all in, remembering the route to Lothlorien from visits to your grandparents you had made before your mother went west. 

“Thank you, Arwen.” You smiled up at your sister.

She clasped your wrist before pulling away, placing her hands on your shoulders as she looked into your eyes. “Stay safe, Y/N.”

You nodded, shoving the last things into your pack before slinging it over your shoulders with your bow and quiver, daggers sheathed on your thighs, hugging your sister one last time before leaving your room.

   You strode down the hallway, dressed in leather hunting clothes as you made your way to the gates of Imladris. You had stopped by the kitchens to gather food supplies, making sure they thought you were only going for a hunting excursion. 

Entering the courtyard, you saw your father standing in the center, clearly waiting for you. Silently cursing Arwen, as you had hoped to slip away unnoticed, you made your way over to him.

“I should not let you do this.”

You frowned at his words, drawing breath to protest, but before you could Elrond spoke again.

“But you are free to go. I feel the ache and have felt it every day since your mother departed. I know that nothing but being with the one you love can ease that pain, and it would hurt me to know you are experiencing it. Go to Estel. I give you my blessing.” 

You hugged your father before turning and mounting your horse, brought from the stables. Turning to wave to your father one last time, you leaned down to whisper, “Let’s go, Daeroc. Let’s go find Aragorn.” The horse broke into a trot, and you left Imladris behind.

Weeks later, you led Daeroc into Lothlorien, waiting for the sentries to appear. One dropped down from a tree, and you smiled at him, recognizing the face.

“Haldir,” you greeted him with a smile.

“Y/N. It is good to see you again. I assume you are here to see the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn?”

You nodded, “Yes. I have not seen my grandparents in a long time. But before we go to them could you find someone to take care of Daeroc?”

Another elf came into view, nodding to you as she took the reins from your hands. 

“Thank you,” you smiled at her.

Later, you walked into the courtyard, bowing to your grandparents standing on the stairs above. 

“Y/N, my daughter’s daughter. What brings you here?” Galadriel smiled at you, descending the stairs with her husband to greet you, each clasping your wrist. 

“To see you, of course, and seek news of the Fellowship that I assume has passed through here.” 

Your grandmother smiled. “It seems you are in luck, for they are here as we speak.”

Your eyes widened. “But they should have been long gone by now. I wonder what has caused the delay?”

Celeborn’s face softened. “Then you do not know.”

“Know what?” You were beginning to grow quite worried. “What has happened?”

“They could not make it through the pass of Caradhras, so they turned and went through Moria, costing them the life of Mithrandir.”

You gasped, heart aching at the grief that must have caused them and the grief you now felt. 

“May I see them?” All you wanted now was to see your friends and the man you loved.

“Of course.” Galadriel beckoned you to follow her, and you did, softly conversing with your grandmother and updating her on the lives of her family in Imladris, as well as others she knew.

Stepping into the clearing, you turned to thank Galadriel, watching her fade from view behind you for a moment before continuing. 

There he was. Tall and handsome still, even grimy with dirt and dust from his travels. You debated casually walking up and greeting him more sedately, but watching him you just couldn’t hold back. All your elvish instincts left you, and you sprinted towards him, leaping into his shocked arms as kissing him for all you were worth. He kissed you back for a moment, and then pulled away, the surprise on his face clear.

“Y/N! What are you doing here?”

“I came to find you.”

His eyes widened. “You did?”

You smiled at him. “Of course I did, meleth.”

He smiled back at you, and drew you in for another kiss, hands holding you up as your legs wrapped around his waist. Deepening the kiss, he moved so your back was pressed against a tree and his hands were free to slide up your back, tangling in your hair as you lost yourselves in each other.

Sometime later, you sat with the rest of the Fellowship after the nighttime meal, talking. It was good to see them again, you had grown fond of all of them, even the dwarf, during their time in Imladris. But of course, the only person you really had eyes for that night was Aragorn, who sat next to you with an arm around your shoulders. 

Legolas had seemed puzzled with how comfortable you were with affection, it was rather un elf-like. You had explained to him that because of your father’s past, he was slightly more affectionate than a normal elf, and showed it. You hadn’t missed the wistful look on Legolas’ face as you spoke and recalled what you knew of his family, feeling sorry for him. 

Later that night, you sat by the dying embers of the fire alongside Legolas. Aragorn had gone with the hobbits to wash up, and Boromir and Gimli were sleeping, so it was just you and the elf.

“Legolas?” The older elf looked at you. 

“Can I ask you something?”

He nodded, and you continued, “I was just wondering, do you know of something like an ache? It began right after the Fellowship departed Imladris, and only subsided when I arrived here. What does it mean?”

He smiled. “Y/N. That was the bond between your soul and Aragorn’s, pulled taught with your fear of losing him. Now that you are reunited, it has gone because you are together. It is every elf’s greatest dream and worst fear to have that feeling.”

You smiled. “Have you?”

The pain in his eyes told you that maybe that was not something to be asked of others.

“I am not sure if it is in my destiny to ever feel that.” He gazed into the distance.

The two of you sat in easy silence for a long time, after that. 

“Y/N.” You turned to see Aragorn beckoning to you, and with a nod to Legolas, you rose.

“You do not have to come with us. It will be a journey of great peril, and I do not want to put you in that much danger.”

You gazed at him earnestly, “Aragorn. I shall be there when the crown is finally placed on your head. I shall be with you until the end.”

He smiled at you again and clasped your hand as you walked through the towering trees.

You had left Lothlorien the day after with the Fellowship, having officially joined up. Lots had happened after that, including almost dying with most of Middle-Earth, but months later, all was finally well. Frodo and Sam had destroyed the ring in Mordor, the forces of Mordor had collapsed along with the Black Gate, and today was the coronation of King Elessar, also known as Aragorn. 

You watched, standing next to Gimli on the dais, as Gandalf lowered the crown onto Aragorn’s head.

“Now come the days of the King!” Gandalf declared before Aragorn turned to face his kingdom. Everyone cheered as he stood there, silencing quickly as he spoke. His words were wise and sincere, and you couldn’t help but fall in love all over again. As petals began to fall, he started singing, the words quickly fading as he turned to you. 

You walked down to meet him at the bottom of the steps, gown trailing behind you. Once you reached him, he grabbed your hand, wrapping an arm around your waist as he dipped you into a spectacular kiss. Unlike the one you had shared in Imladris, this was not a kiss of sadness. This was a kiss of hope, peace, and promise. As the cheers rose around you again you knew that everything you had hoped for had come true.

Everything tag: @entishramblings @itgetsatadhazy @boyruins @anjhope1 @wellofeternalthirst @kumqu4t @katbby16

[genesisrose74]

Christmas with the Karasuno Boys (HC’s)!!

Part 1: Daichi, Suga, Asahi, Nishinoya, Tanaka, & Ennoshita

Part 2 (Kageyama, Hinata, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, Kinoshita, & Narita) here!!

A/n: Tumblr said my word count was too much so I’m splitting this bad boi up into two parts :p Enjoy!!

*****

Daichi

A huge romantic during Christmas, 10/10 quality cliche times spent together

You wanna go ice skating? Hell yeah sweetheart, he will make it the most beautifully romantic thing you’ve ever seen

Like straight out of a holiday postcard type beat

Istg the rink he takes you to looks like a more heartwarming version of Rockefeller Center

He’s a big keeper of tradition when it comes to making plans, but doesn’t mind a bit of nonsense fun when everything falls into place

Which is why you love to bring the team along on adventures because they make everything all the more entertaining

At first he’s confused like ??? You don’t have to do that just if they’ve been pestering you about it

But then he realizes you care as much about them as he does (hint: a hell of a lot) and they’re thus invited along for some stuff

Of course y’all also get some quality time together on dates with just you both

Anyways you and Daichi have talked a lot about traveling and how he was really interested in seeing new places

So as his gift you got him a carved map with a roll of red string and thumbtacks, so that he could plan out all the places he wanted to visit

You know how when Kiyoko found the “Fly” banner for Karasuno and all the boys cried?

Yeah

Like that but with lots more hugging and laughing

“You know you’re gonna have to help with mapping this out, right?”

“Is that an invitation I hear?”

“Oh, that’s a promise”

FJSFJDSK ALEXA PLAY AMERICAN BOY BY ESTELLE—

Please I love him; he is so damn sly and sassy I will die with this headcanon

Sugawara

I swear on everything that Christmas with him is equivalent to a Hallmark movie

It smells like joy and warmth wherever he is, and this season only amplifies it

He is such a cheeseball without even having to try

But it’s in the really endearing and heart-melting way,,, just MMM PERFECT

He’ll take you on a walk through those neighborhoods with those crazy light decorations in the front yard and buy you hot chocolate

If he sees a group of little kids gaping at all the lights, he’ll leave them starry-eyed with stories of magic, reindeer, Santa and so-forth

“You know, I’ve heard that Rudolph’s nose is supposed to be brighter than the world’s most powerful Christmas light”

Good heavens, children absolutely adore this man

Anyways he’ll make it a little game as y’all walk around this beautifully lit neighborhood, both of you with a different assortment of bingo squares printed on paper

First one to bingo chooses a movie to watch after getting back to Suga’s house

Will wrap a big fluffy blanket around you both and pull you into his chest while watching the movie

For his gift, you got a star named after him

It’s because y’all alway go stargazing for dates every month, just to sit out, talk and cuddle

Suga gave you the SOFTEST look after opening your gift and this cute little card you made 🥺

“Lets go try to find my new favorite star”

PLEASE HE IS SO SWEET

“Right now? Koushi it’s 11:30 pm”

“Just for ten minutes, and then I’ll get you home”

So y’all spend the rest of Christmas Eve on his roof, sipping warm tea and attempting to locate Star Suga

Asahi

Cuddle bear alert ‼️‼️

It’s basically hibernation time for him, because he’s not the biggest fan of cold

That’s alright with you though 😌 more coziness for you

Lots of quality moments indoors means more creative dates

A whole day devoted to chill present wrapping? Hell fuckin’ yeah

Nice music, pretty wrapping paper, shiny bows, maybe a little Christmas rom-com playing in the back — the whole shebang

You find out pretty quickly that despite how it sounds, it’s actually quite a satisfying and enjoyable pastime

Practically had to drag him out of your living room to secretly wrap his own gift

As much as he’s the king of timidity and soft™, he can be very playfully stubborn when he’s comfortable, hence why he was such an ass to get out of the room

I have no doubt that Asahi would melt for the most adorable, cheesy shit

So you not only bought him some really reliable headbands for volleyball use, but you also made a little coupon booklet

He can basically cash in paper promises for certain things, like getting to choose the next date idea, picking a movie to watch without any objection, having you make his favorite food, etc.

There’s one that he can exchange for a full out spa day trip, because good heavens he’s a sucker for those

Massage and exfoliation and everything — it makes him feel ✨refreshed✨

He was ecstatic fam, I don’t even know what to say

Like a puppy who just got a bunch of toys and a new backyard to play

Mans cashes in one almost immediately, and at first you’re confused

Like it’s Christmas time bubs, what are we gonna be able to do when most places are closed and it’s the holidays?

Then you read the paper

“Free hug (can be used and renewed <3)”

GIVE HIM HIS DAMN HUGS RIGHT NOW

He uses that one a lot throughout the upcoming days, to the point where he just keeps the paper on him for fun

“You realize you can just ask me silly, you don’t need to keep carrying the coupon around”

“Yeah, but it’s entertaining”

Cute little cheeky bastard

Nishinoya

LOVES LOVES LOVES CHRISTMAS

You know the 12 Days of Christmas? The song??

He gets you a small present EVERY DAY for all 12 days

Not to mention he has a big present that he saves for the actual holiday

Y’all are the type of couple to get ice cream in the middle of winter

Nishi loves his cold snacks any time of year, and you’ve thus picked up a similar taste

He will consistently pester you about what kind of present you got him

Gets pouty when you don’t tell him, but in the back of his mind he’s glad because it would ruin the surprise

Anything you get him instantly becomes his most prized gift tho

It could be a literal rock with googly eyes and he’d put it in a protective glass case for preservation

But of course you get him something better than that because he only deserves the best

He’s got this specific assortment of products to maintain his spiky hair and to make sure it’s healthy, but they’re pretty expensive to buy when he runs out

When he tore open your present’s decorative wrapping to discover a huge basket of basically every hair product he ever needed, he got wide-eyed

There was also a booklet of little notes you’d kept throughout the month that listed all the little things you noticed and adored about your precious boyfriend

He nearly CRIED reading them

“Baby, you didn’t have to do all that for me”

“You act like you don’t deserve all of it and more, Nishi”

Refuses to leave your side after that

Holding your hand, hugging you as tight as he can, etc.

He is head over heels idc idc

Tanaka

Another man who is obsessed with the holiday season and everything that comes with it

He is the biggest sap for this shit istg

Will spend hours trying to get you the best present of all time

And he succeeds exceptionally

Mistletoe? He’s got an ABUNDANCE on hand at any time, just to make sure he can get fair share of his kissies 🥰

His signature beanie appears in full force during winter

Sometimes you’ll pull it over his eyes before giving him a peck on the cheek and dashing off in the school halls

“I’ll see you after school, babe!”

Speech = jumbled + incomprehensible

“Uh hUh, you do that~”

He’s: adorable

I just know that he melts for really sweet and thought-out gifts

Like anything you give him he’ll adore, don’t get me wrong, but the ones done with special care and love are just his kryptonite

He brought you into a massive bear hug and spun you around when he opened a photo book of old pictures taken together, complete with lots of cute messages and anecdotes written alongside them

You and Saeko may have also gone in on another present for him without his knowledge

And on Christmas Eve, you dragged a curious Tanaka into his front yard to the sight of a shiny motorbike

It was Saeko’s old one that she’d held onto for a while, and an old schoolmate offered to fix it up nice in time for the holiday at a discount, so y’all decided to divvy up the lowered price and got it done for Ryu

Sweet boy was taken aback, with his hands clapped over his mouth and everything

Saeko patted him on the back as he stood there in shock, giving her baby brother a sweet smile

“All yours, little bro!”

Ya, Saeko fucking loves you 😌 and so does Tanaka

Overall very lovely, would cry to be loved by the Tanaka siblings

Ennoshita

After spending past Decembers with his fellow second year classmates (namely, the very enthusiastic Noya and Tanaka), he’s grown to know quite a bit about the different holiday events that go on around town

Still, Ennoshita is a pretty simplistic guy and is content with simply spending time with you

So when you recommended going to pick a Christmas tree out for your place together, he’s totally down

As long as he gets to help decorate too ☺️

Y’all end up picking a beauty of a tree ngl

It’s SO TALL

And a super stronk friend — fit for the most heavy duty of ornaments

It takes some damn work to get that bad boi inside and upright after driving back to your house

But like hell did that stop you

Now that it was all set up, sturdy, and given plenty of water, decorations were brought into the equation that same night

No rest until it’s all set up and looking mighty beautiful

Okay maybe some coffee breaks in between, but other than that the grind don’t stop ✋😤

Ennoshita is an expert at making Christmas trees look absolutely immaculate

Idk if it’s because he’s had to deal with cleaning up disorder for a while now?

Looking at you, ya second year loons

He just has the touch, fam

He’ll of course let you have input on which light colors, what type of ornaments, and so on

But honestly it’s really fun seeing him fully concentrated on making your tree the best it can be

He lets you on his shoulders to put on the tree topper 🥺

For his gift, Ennoshita really loves books, so you decided to get him 12 different (hardcover!!) stories — one for each month in a year

Along with a small sticky-note blurb on the covers of each to explain why you chose it, and to give similar title recommendations if he ends up enjoying

He was so surprised with how thoughtful and extensive it was

Loved it so much that he immediately started to read the first one, with you sat in his lap

“Chikara, you realize you’re meant to start this one in January?”

“Shh, I’m getting a head start”

[bisexualbumblebee-writes]

Lunch- Jasper Badun x OC

Jasper Badun x Angela Young

Description: Jasper takes Angela to lunch, where they learn something interesting about each other. 

Word Count: 2.3k

“The full moon's bright. And starlight filled the evening,” came Elton John’s smooth chorus from the radio hanging on the wall of 2nd Time Around. It would have brought a smile to Angela’s face if that hadn’t been the sixth time she heard it in the past two hours. Artie had recently purchased Elton John’s latest album “Captain Fantastic and the Dirt Brown Cowboy” and he brought it into the shop so Angela could listen to it as well. Only problem is their radio seemed to be having problems with it, that song after every other one. At first Angela thought it was just a hiccup, but this was starting to get ridiculous. 

“Artie, it’s playing that song again,” she complained, leaning against the counter. 

“Hitting it seems to help,” came her boss’s voice from the back room, where he was putting price tags on some new stock. “There’s no one here, just hit it until it skips.” Angela looked around, noting that he was right about both things. She was glad that the store was empty, ever since Cruella revealed that Artie and Angela worked for her at the party she threw, people were more eager to visit their shop. Today was Sunday, no one usually shops on Sundays so today was the first day that Artie and Angela could relax and sort of restock. 

Still, that didn’t make her want to do this any less. The girl groaned internally and grabbed the stepladder, setting it up under where the radio hung on the wall. She carefully climbed the steps until she was face to face with that stupid machine and began hitting it in an attempt to make it work properly, trying to ignore the blaring music going straight into her ears. 

“We wrote it and I played it, Something happened it's so strange this feeling, Naive notions that were childish,” Elton continued to sing, successfully covering up the sound of bells jingling, signaling that someone had walked in. 

“Just skip already you stupid radio,” she grumbled, annoyed. The radio didn’t care about the insult, continuing to play that infernal song. 

“Simple tunes that tried to hide it, But when it comes, We all fall in love sometimes.”  She groaned loudly, getting ready to hit the machine again when a voice came from behind her. 

“I don’t know, I actually found that song quite good,” Jasper spoke, hands going into the pockets of his jacket casually. Angela nearly fell off the ladder, having not heard him enter the store, then faced him. 

“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in,” she greeted, climbing down the ladder and straightening out her dress. “Welcome to 2nd Time Around. I’m Angela, or Angel as in: sent from above.” She gestures to her body with a bright smile. 

“That was cute,” Jasper commented with a small smile. “Did Artie come up with that one for you?” Angela nodded. 

“I felt a bit left out since he had that ‘Art, as in: work of’ line so he helped me out,” she explained, moving the ladder. “What can I help you with? We just got new stock from Dior, Chanel, and even Saint Laurent. From casual looks for lunch or suits for going out on the town, we have it all,” she explained, gesturing to several racks around them. Jasper let her do her whole spiel, knowing how much she loved coming up with stuff like that, before shaking his head. 

“Well I didn’t originally come here for clothes but it seems that your customer service has changed my mind,” he said, making her giggle. “That can come later though. It’s nearly time for your lunch break so I figured I’d take you out to lunch.” Angela smiled internally, touched that he remembered such mundane things in her schedule. 

“Well, let me just go click out and I’ll be ready,” she responded happily. He nodded and waited patiently as she walked to the back room, informing Artie that she was going on her lunch break, before clocking out and grabbing her coat. She slipped it on as she walked out. 

“Wow, nice coat,” Jasper complimented, making her blush. 

“Well thank you, I designed it myself.” She spread her arms out and turned to show him the entire thing. 

“Beautiful,” he spoke softly before holding out his hand. “Ready to go?” She took his hand with a nod then called a bye to Artie as they walked out. 

“So, how has it been living at ‘Hell Hall’?” She asked as they began walking down the sidewalk. Of course Artie and Angela stopped by Cruella’s new estate for work, but that’s just what it was. Jasper and Horace didn’t like to interrupt the dressmakers while they were working. There was a fashion show coming up so they had to get everything done as soon as possible. With all the chaos at the shop and at Hell Hall, the new couple had no time to see each other. It was surprising to Angela that her boyfriend had come by in fact. This was the first time in a week and a half that they truly got to see each other, and Angela wanted to make that time count. Jasper wrapped the arm closest to her around her shoulders and his other hand went into his coat pocket while hers went into her jacket’s pockets. 

“Strange,” he answered honestly. “I lived in that cramped house for 23 years, I had the chance to get used to it. Now, I could get an entire floor of this huge mansion to myself if I just say the word. And yes, Cruella has tried.” 

“You’re not used to having so much space,” Angela clarified. The man nodded. 

“Exactly. Horace and Estella were always within arm’s reach in case something happened,” he continued. “Now it takes a commute to find either of them. I just- I don’t know…I kind of wish things were how they were. Before I got Estella the job at Liberty, before Estella became Cruella.” He looked at his girlfriend once he finished his rant. She hummed then gave him a patient smile. 

“Things like this take some getting used to Jas. You’re a creature of habit, of course you’re not going to get comfortable right away. And that’s okay, I know that Cruella and Horace understand. And about Cruella, she’s always been there from what I understand. She was going to come out no matter what, it was only a matter of time when. She was like a ticking time bomb, but we all still love her either way. That’s what matters, right?” Jasper sighed, he had a love/hate relationship with her logical thought process. 

“Besides,” she added. “If you hadn’t gotten her the job at Liberty, she wouldn’t have met Artie and I. Then you would never have met me.” That was enough for Jasper to look at her once more with his usual adorkable smile. 

“You’re right. I’d rather die than to never have met you,” he muttered sincerely. Angela smiled and stretched just enough to kiss his jawline. 

After walking a few more minutes Jasper finally opened the door of a small restaurant in a shopping strip for her and led her inside. Lunch went by rather quickly, and before they realized, the check had been placed in front of them. Angela went to grab it but Jasper handed the money to their waiter without hesitation. Their waiter thanked them and walked away to put it up, leaving Angela to jokingly glare at her boyfriend. 

“Jasper I could have paid, you know,” Angela scolded softly. 

“I wanted to wait for us to go on a date so that I could be the one to pay for it, Angela. Like a gentleman, you know. I have the chance to do that now, so please let me.” The girl quieted immediately. She hadn’t thought about that. Rather than responding, she only thanked him and switched the conversation, much to his relief. 

“Well, I still have twenty minutes left of my lunch break. What do you say to a small stroll?” She questioned as they stood in unison. 

“Sounds great love,” he responded, taking her hand and walking out. They walked a few minutes until they ended up in front of what both of them recognized as Liberty, where a worker was setting up the new display case.  

“Oh man, this reminds me of a few months back before I met you guys,” Angela reminisced with a smile. “I was passing by here on my way to work and there was a girl who got drunk and messed up the display case with trash. Man, did the manager look mad.” She laughed, harkening back to that day. 

It had seemed like a normal day, since Angela lived so close to 2nd Time Around she usually just walked there everyday. She remembered how hot it was, so she wore short overalls on top of a yellow shirt. On her way there, she passed by the Liberty store, but paused when she noticed a few people crowding the display. That, of course, piqued her interest and she pushed her way to the front, apologizing every few seconds. 

There was a woman with red hair who seemed to be asleep on the floor of the display case, empty trash bag in one hand and an almost empty bottle of what looked like whiskey in the other. The man beside her stepped forward and knocked on the window, jolting her awake. 

“Why’d you go and sleep in a window?” Someone on the other side of the knocking man questioned dumbly. Oh, Angela had to show this to Artie. Carefully, she took her camera out of her bag and snapped a few pictures shortly before the manager walked out and grabbed her. Angela took the time to check her watch, and her eyes widened. She was going to be late! Before anyone could do anything else a car came screeching to a halt just outside the store, making everyone turn around. And, that was Angela’s cue to leave. She began pushing past people, knocking someone over almost immediately. 

“Ah! Bloody hell!” The man groaned out upon hitting the ground.

“Sorry!” She called apologetically, though she didn’t turn back as she ran the rest of the way to work. 

While she reminisced, Jasper stopped in his steps, thinking back to when Estella had done that. 

“Wait, were you wearing denim overalls that day?” He questioned. Angela was confused by this, but quickly understood where he was getting at and looked at him with wide eyes. 

“Oh my god, you’re the guy that I ran into after the Baroness arrived!” She exclaimed. 

“You’re the one who snapped a picture of Estella then fell into me!” He responded in the same tone with a toothy grin. 

“Did we seriously meet before we actually met?” She asked with amused disbelief.  Jasper shook his head, feeling the same way as her by the looks of it. 

“I cannot believe this,” he chuckled as they continued their walk. 

“I still have the picture of that,” Angela mentioned. “It’s in my camera roll, I haven’t gotten the film developed though.”

“You know what, I can and will personally go with you to get it developed. That would be wonderful blackmail.” The girl shook her head at that. 

“You’re bad,” she answered, though she couldn’t help but smile. 

“I guess so.” They walked back to the shop, making pleasant conversation. That stopped when they stepped inside and saw Artie talking to someone very familiar. 

“Hello Cruella,” Angela greeted chirpily, unlinking her arm from Jasper��s. “I didn’t know you were coming by. Lots of surprises today.” She took her coat off and began walking to the back room. 

“Thought I’d come see how 2nd Time Around was doing now that you guys have publicity. Artie tells me you two have been working overtime,” Cruella responded, resting on her cane. “You could have told me, I wouldn’t have worked you to the bone after work every night.” 

“Yes, almost two hundred customers a day,” Artie added. Jasper’s eyes widened as Angela walked back out. 

“Two hundred? How are you two still alive?” 

“Lots of determination,” Artie responded simply. 

“And our new coffee machine,” Angela added, leaning against the counter. Jasper rubbed her back soothingly. 

“Well, you guys are closed on Mondays, right? Why don’t you two come over, we’ll have a small sleepover and you guys can sleep in luxury. No offense.” Angela pursed her lips. 

“None taken. I think.” Cruella’s usual smirk settled on her face once more. 

“Great. I’m sure Jasper doesn’t mind driving down here once you close. Until then I have a few more stops to make. Come on Jasper.” She began walking out, pausing in the doorway to wait for him.

“Come back soon,” Angela spoke softly. 

“Of course,” he responded with a sincere smile. “I still have some shopping to do and I heard there was a very cute worker here.” 

“I would say that you’re referring to me, but I think that would ruin the moment, huh?” Artie joked, making the others laugh. Jasper shook his head amusedly and leaned down a bit to give Angela a quick kiss goodbye then began following his friend. The two waved as they watched them walk out, then they heard Elton John’s voice ring out once again. 

“Wise men say, It looks like rain today,” the same song started for the seventh time. 

“Want me to have a go at it?” Artie questioned knowingly. 

“No,” Angela shook her head, surprising Artie though she couldn’t see it as her eyes were still trained on the door her boyfriend just left though. “It’s starting to come around for me.”

[sarcastic-sunshines]

ABIONA AU - Part 11

Pairing: T’ Challa x Black!Reader

Warning(s): None

Link to ABIONA by @aloevverified

Link to Face claims (2)

Previous Chapter: Part 10

Part 11

Alix carried the energetic baby girl from her crib and into her hands.

“Happy Birthday sweetness. I love you. You are one of my greatest blessings”

She said covering Abiona with kisses. Alix could not believe that a year had gone by. It felt like just yesterday that T’Challa had just shown up at her door offering to be everything she needed him to be. Now they had a year old daughter that they both loved very much. She adored seeing Abiona with her Baba and honestly thought about what their family would be like if they were to have more. Alix pushed the thought away and finished putting Abiona’s socks on before plopping her on her and T’Challa’s bed. It was about time for him to get up and seeing Abiona was his favourite way to wake up, especially after such an emotional night for him. She went to her closet to change out of her robe waiting for Abiona to do her job.

T’Challa felt the gentle tapping of a little hand to his cheek. Very soon the tapping was joined by the sweetest babbling he had ever heard. It was his favourite sound and wasn’t shocked to find the tiny human’s finger going for his eye and pulling it open making herself giggle.

“Good morning beautiful,” he said getting up and grabbing the baby bringing her to his chest.

“Happy birthday princess. I am so happy to have you in my life. You are the best gift Bast could have ever offered me and I am happy to have you in my life. You are growing so fast” He laughed softly as Abiona touched his face and squeezed his cheeks.

“Where is your mama? I know you didn’t get here yourself” Alix rounded the corner and climbed on the bed dressed for the day

“I am right here. Good morning babe” T’Challa kissed her cheek

“Good morning entle, you look beautiful” Alix smiled at the compliment before watching her little family. She gently touched his widow's peak.

“Do you feel better today?” T’Challa nodded

“I got to wake up and see the two people who make me the happiest so I have no choice but to feel better. I can’t believe my princess is one. “

“I know, very soon she will be 16 and sneaking out of here like I used to do”

“Please don’t be like your mother Abiona. You don’t want to give your Baba a heart attack, do you? “ Alix laughed before grabbing Abiona.

“Okay Baba, get dressed. We have a long day ahead of us. I am going to make everyone breakfast so you come to meet us when you are ready.” T’Challa nodded.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk more about last night? Maybe tell me what happened?” T’Challa paused for a second before shaking his head no.

Alix bent down and kissed him softly. “Okay, just know that I love you very much.”

“I love you too entle” She smiled before exiting the room. As the door closed, T’Challa laid back into bed trying to gain strength for the day. Despite it being his daughter’s birthday he didn’t feel that much like smiling. He also did not feel like being in Tolu’s presence but he had to. So the young King mustered all the energy he could and remembered the beautiful little girl he was doing this for as he got ready for the day.

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

Alix looked around at the people in the garden all here for Abiona. The room was full of love. It was a simple party. Alix did not want anything extravagant to avoid stories getting out about her as well as the fact she had not been formally introduced to the council though she has met most of them in passing. Aside from her parents, David and Amelie, T’Challa had invited his childhood friend Akhona and his wife Cebisa with their 2-year-old daughter. She had met them over dinner and they were both lovely people. Cebisa had been kind enough to take her to her favourite stores in the city. Cebisa couldn’t do too much since she is 7 months pregnant but Alix was thankful for the friend during T’Challa’s long days. As well as the ear of someone who could relate, seeing as Akhona was likely to take over from his grandmother as the mining tribe chief very soon. T’Challa had also invited his friend Themba.

T’Challa had also invited Buhle, which Alix was taken aback by seeing as T’Challa did not mention it and she had to hear it from Buhle at school. She had brought her 5 year old niece with her and she got Abiona a beautiful dress as a gift so Alix had decided to not make a big deal out of it. A few other children ran around as Alix tried to keep track of Abiona who was enjoying all the free space to move and the excitement of the other children. She briefly looked at T’Challa who was laughing with his friends yet still seemed a little distant. He had been quiet during breakfast with everyone sensing the awkward air around him and Tolu. It scared her a little as she pushed it out of her mind

“Everything seems to be going well. This garden is very pretty” Alix turned to look at her father who had joined her.

“It is Abiona’s favourite place. She has more than enough room to run around here without me policing her. And she likes the flowers, so it seemed like the perfect spot to do her birthday.”

As she spoke one of the children ran by Abiona too quickly knocking her down. The birthday girl’s face went from fear to hurt as she searched for a parent with a wail about to begin. Alix was about to move, noticing T’Challa was already there to pick her up and comfort her as he warned the other children to be careful around his princess. He kissed the little girl back into a giggle and she was ready to join the fun again. Alix smiled watching the two of them interact as T’Challa joined the children until Abiona forgot he was even there.

“He loves her very much. I can tell with all the pictures he has of her, as well as the way he acts around her.”

“ You didn’t see the pictures he has of me?” Alix turned to face her father.

“What did you say to him yesterday?”

“I didn’t say anything to him Bukola” Alix observed her father for a while.

“Are you sure because after spending the night with you he began to question if I was happy”

“You would think he would know the answer already”

“He did, before last night, and Papa it is no secret how you feel about him. You have refused to let him prove himself to you and it is so sad because he tries so hard. And he tries so hard because of me.” Tolu did not like feeling bombarded especially after Estelle had told him he had been too harsh towards the man when he had asked.

“ He shouldn’t have to try so hard Bukola. Michael did not have to try this hard” Alix closed her eyes and laughed with a strain in her voice.

“ Papa, when I was with Michael, I was not myself. Yes, he was able to wow you, but that is because he wasn’t his true self with you. And honestly, I contributed to that by never complaining because I did not want you to see him as anything other than amazing. I had to hide so much. I don’t have to do that with T’Challa. He allows me to be myself without ever trying to change me or belittle me. He aims to please me as much as himself, sometimes even more. He works so hard to keep me and Abiona happy and never fails to tell us how much space we occupy in his heart. Because of him, I have learned things about myself I wouldn’t have otherwise. Being with him is the happiest I have ever been in a relationship and I wouldn’t want to change that. When I think of home I don’t think of a place I think of him. Because no matter where he is I want to be there too”

Tolu took a second to examine his daughter’s face before turning back to where his granddaughter was playing before making eye contact with T’Challa from across the room. He held eye contact before turning back to his friends. Estelle may have been right. He may be choosing not to see what was in front of him. Tolu turned back to Alix.

“Do you see yourself marrying him?”

Alix froze, before looking at T’Challa who was being pulled away from his friends by Abiona to join her in the middle of the dancefloor. He always looked happiest when with her, and he was always ready to appease her, even if it meant an impromptu dance party.

Since the day he had first mentioned marrying her, it had not left her mind. She had begun to see themselves together, their love growing, raising more children to raise in a home they had made their own. She even saw them growing old the way her parents were. The thought made her smile. She didn’t know why but she always found it hard to admit even to herself. She turned back to her father.

“ If I decide to marry, it will be him. I only see myself marrying him really” She said with a smile.

“I have to go, it is time to cut the cake,” She said, patting her father’s hand before walking over to T’Challa.

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

T’Challa offered his friends the drinks he brought over. He was glad for the distraction. Breakfast had been severely awkward for him. He had to sit right across from Tolu as he tried to avoid eye contact. Alix and Jules had tried to curve the awkwardness but it didn’t work. T’Challa was glad to escape to organize last-minute party activities with Okoye.

T’Challa took a sip of his own drink before putting it down. David tapped him to get his attention.

“How did yesterday go?” T’Challa shook his head

“Horrible. He told me that I am a distraction from the life Alix should be living. He even went as far as saying he wasn’t sure if she was with me out of convenience or if she was actually happy”

“It would have just been better for him to only say no” Akhona said rubbing his friend’s shoulder comfortingly.

“So what now? I know you are not going to give up T” David said.

“I really do not know what else to tell this man to make him feel that I am worthy” T’Challa looked at Abiona running around when she was suddenly knocked down by Akhona’s daughter. He immediately got up to pick her up.

“It is okay, beautiful. No tears. It is your day, only smiles” he said in between kisses.

“You all have to be careful around my princess. She may be one now but she is still little.”

He continued to kiss her until she was giggling and ready to join the children again. He stuck around for a second before heading back to his friends.

“So are you telling me this man doesn’t notice how much of a protective parent you are? Because we all saw and rolled our eyes.” Themba said, causing everyone to laugh at T’Challa’s expense.

“Themba you are one to talk when the last woman who you dated made a blog about how awful you were.” The laughs changed direction with T’Challa joining in. T’Challa looked over at where Alix was standing with Tolu and ended up making eye contact before looking away because his intimidating stare still made him uncomfortable.

“ I don’t know what I will do but today is about the true owner of my heart” on cue Abiona came over reaching for her Baba’s hand as T’Challa bent to offer his hand. She started dragging him to the dance floor. T’Challa happily obliged.

He was just happy to have these moments with her. He would have never known about her existence if he didn’t take a chance. And just like then he wasn’t going to give up. This was just a minor setback and it didn’t change how Alix felt about him and she made sure of that. Most importantly it most definitely did not change how he felt about her. He lets his thoughts rest as he soaked up his time with Abiona in his arms as they swayed back and forth. Alix came up behind him and patted his bum.

“ Um, we are among company Ms. Ajayi. Mind your hands” He joked.

“ Yeah whatever, it is cake cutting time so can I borrow you and the birthday girl please.”

“ Come ‘Ona, mama has cut our dancing time short” He leaned down and kissed Alix

.

“ We are among company Mr. Udaku. What was that for?” She said

“ Nothing, I just love you so much Ms. Ajayi” Alix struggled to hide her goofy smile as she took his free hand and led him to where the cake was.

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

Alix slowly approached their bed as she watched a sleeping T’Challa carry a sleeping Abiona in his hands. They made the same faces when sleeping, making Alix smile.

Alix took a picture before trying to grab their daughter from his hands. T’Challa woke up tightening his grip on Abiona before realizing it was Alix.

“Let me put her in her bed.”

T’Challa shook his head, getting up to do it himself. He came back and stood behind Alix who was looking for something in the bathroom.

“I keep telling you to not let her fall asleep like that because when you are gone there will be no Baba to hold her and I am not doing it.” T’Challa laughed softly.

“Leave us alone. It is her birthday so she can receive whatever she wants” he said as he put his hands around her stomach and lay his head in the crook of her neck. Alix giggled at the intimacy before reaching to touch his curls. He had been extra physical since the party and she was glad to know that he was feeling better.

“ Are you too tired?” T’Challa shook his head no before following Alix to the chair in their room. T’Challa sat behind Alix who passed him a long tooth comb. Together they quietly started taking out the Senegalese twist that Alix had been sporting for a month. They worked silently for a while before Alix cleared her throat.

“So, babe?” she said as she stopped what she was doing

“Yes, Alix,” T’Challa said without stopping his movement.

“If we were to get married, what would my role be?” T’Challa stopped and turned his body to Alix who turned around to face him.

“Is this us having the discussion?” Alix nodded. T’Challa smiled as she turned back around so they could talk as they worked.

“Well, you would rule by my side. Most likely attend court, make decisions with me. Make appearances around the country and the world.”

“Could I still teach, and do my work with the UN?”

“Your work with the UN most definitely. As for the teaching, I am not sure, but seeing how much you enjoy it I can find a way for you to maintain your position. You probably would not receive a paycheck ” T’Challa joked.

“That is okay, my husband would be a very rich man and I have savings” T’Challa laughed and kissed her cheek. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“Yeah, that would be the bulk and if at any point you feel it is becoming too much I am here to help you carry your load” Alix smiled

“What about children? Do you still want four?”

“Of course Alixandre, that hasn’t changed. Are you still trying to convince me you will only be the mother of one of them” Alix laughed loudly

“One more couldn’t hurt.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Abiona needs a playmate and it will help me to have more time with you and I wouldn’t have to compete with ‘Ona for her best friend”

“I can work with 2, and slowly convince you for the other two.” Alix rolled her eyes as he laughed.

“You are so full of it”

“Yet you still love me,” He said, taking out the final braid.

“I fell in love with a clown,” She said getting up to return to the bathroom. T’Challa got up and followed.

“I don’t care if you think I am a clown. As long as I can call you my queen. “ T’Challa grabbed her free hand and kissed it. “Just imagine, I get to introduce you as Mrs. Udaku.”

T’Challa pulled her into his arms. “I told you I would be Mrs. Ajayi-Udaku”

“And I told you, I don’t care as long as I get to say you are my wife.” he leaned down to kiss her until Alix pulled away.

“I wouldn’t mind that actually. Being your wife I mean” T’Challa smiled as he bent down to kiss her again. He didn’t know how she managed to make all his worries disappear, but even in moments he could not explain all his thoughts, she always managed to be the calm to his storm.

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

“I cannot believe that the week has passed so quickly”. Estelle said sadly as she held onto Abiona offering her final kisses before going to the ship. “Mémé will miss you so much. But I promise to be back soon.”

“Okay Maman, stop you are making me teary-eyed,” Jules said with an exaggerated pout as he hugged his mother tightly knowing he would miss her more than he led on. Jules and T’Challa began to pull their suitcases out of the door when T’Challa turned to Tolu suddenly.

“Before you go, sir, can I please have a word with you alone” Everyone stopped to turn and look at Tolu. Estelle began to have a conversation with her eyes with Tolu before speaking. She turned to lead everyone else out the door.

“I think that will be good. Mes enfants viens. Let us leave them room to discuss.”

“What do you need to discuss T’Challa?” Alix asked as her mom dragged her out the door.

“Sis you are so nosy. That is an A and B conversation, so C your way out.” Alix rolled her eyes before she reluctantly left with her mother and brother.

T’Challa watched the door close before inviting Tolu to sit on the couch as he paced a little. Tolu opened his mouth to speak before T’Challa put his hands up.

“I am sorry sir but I have to say this before you speak. I love that woman with all my heart. When I think about not being around her for more than a day I feel a sense of sadness that I only associate with her and our child. When she is sad I am sad. If she is angry I am uncomfortable and want to do all I can to make her smile again. I am happiest when I know her and our child are happy. She is my peace and when I think about home I think about her. So sir, when you say you don’t know why she is with me, I can assure you that all the emotions that I have expressed Alixandre feels the exact same. I would not have even asked you the first time if I wasn’t sure of that. No, life was not supposed to resemble what it is but I can assure you that Alix is more than happy where she is and it is because of her that I ask you again for your blessing to ask for Alixandre’s hand in marriage. But know that even if you say no again, I will not stop asking until your answer changes. Alix is worth that much to me and I am willing to move the world to prove that to both you and her.”

T’Challa finished maintaining eye contact with Tolu. “Young man if you would have let me go first, you would have saved yourself that speech, and I would have told you I had changed my mind” T’Challa finally sat down releasing a huge breath.

“What changed your mind?”

“Well, like you suggested I ask Bukola, and her words mirrored yours. She obviously cares for you deeply. And you are a good father to Abiona. As Estelle pointed out to me, my hesitation did not come from you alone. I just wanted to make sure my child was safe and loved and living the life she deserved and worked for. You may not understand now but with a child of your own, you will understand quickly the need to protect your child from the world. But I see now that you do nothing but love Bukola. So all I ask is that you continue to love her and cherish her. She is very special to me and I would hate to have to come back here and see her as anything less than happy. Her name means ‘God has given me wealth’. She is truly one of the greatest fortunes God has ever given me so please treat her as such. “

T’Challa nodded furiously as Tolu extended his hand for T’Challa to shake it. “Of course sir”.

T’Challa could not contain his smile and for once Tolu’s normally cold stare mirrored his smile.

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

Alix sat on the couch as T’Challa joined her and pulled her into his lap covering her with kisses.

“I see you're in a good mood. I guess whatever you and Papa talked about started that” She said rubbing his ears.

“I am still not going to tell you” she rolled her eyes and tried to get off him as he held her tight causing her to giggle.

“You are so nosy and stubborn you know that right”

“Yes but you still love me either way”

“I love you more than you will ever know, entle” Alix found herself smiling widely as he kissed her deeply. Alix reached for his waistband as T’Challa held her hand to stop.

“T’Challa what now? Everyone is gone and Abiona is sleeping!” T’Challa laughed at her whining.

“I just have one question. Can we go to Uganda for our anniversary” Alix frown turned into a smile.

“No Abiona? Just me and you?” T’Challa nodded. “ That is a first. You actually want to leave home. I will not say no to that.”

“Then it is set. You may proceed.” Alix laughed as T’Challa joined her.

“But first, know that I love you so much okay?” She said leaning her head against his.

“I love you too”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[briars-glenn]

Get to know me better, I guess?

rules: answer the questions and tag 20 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better!

tagged by @ocheeva

nickname:

Briar, which seems a bit redundant but eh

pronouns:

she/they

star sign:

Libra, as I’m sure many could “guess” (whenever someone asks they usually go “that’s what I thought”)

height:

5′3 aka 161cm

time currently:

6:50 pm PST

birthday:

10/10, that’s right I was born perfect

favorite bands/groups:

Ok, listen, I love music and I could go on and on so I’ll just list my last few played.

1975, Mother Mother, Fall Out Boy, Nothing But Thieves, Panic! At The Disco, 5 Seconds of Summer, Paramore, Hey Violet, BTS (No I don’t stan, I just like their music), BLACKPINK.

favorite solo artists:

Really? Ok you asked:

Etta James, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Lizzo, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion, Estelle, Erykah Badu, Mitski, Jessi, Ke$ha, Cardi B, Doja Cat, P!nk.

you thought I was joking didn’t you?

song stuck in your head:

none rn, but just wait 10 min

last movie watched:

Strange Magic (2015) its so good, y’all should watch it fr

last show you binged:

Peaky Blinders (honestly I’m only watching for Alfie, I’m so glad he came back 😍)

when you created your blog:

May 10th will be 8 years (Holy shit!!) on this hellsite (affectionate).

last thing you googled:

the year Strange Magic came out

other blogs:

I have a blog to chronicle my 2014 trip to Europe as a 16yo high-schooler @briars-europe​

why you chose your url:

this is my glen where I curate my online experience, and the proper glen was taken at the time so theres 2 n’s cause I’m not creative

do you get asks:

no bc I am smol and any anons get eaten by the code immediately

how many people are you following:

470, but like half are inactive now and I’m too lazy to weed them out.

how many followers do you have:

like two-hundr.....417???? Where the fuck did all of you come from??

average hours of sleep:

*presses my palms together in front of my mouth* sooo, anywhere between 4 min hours and 10 hours? idk man I’ve got so many things that fuck with that on top of being a senior uni student.

lucky number:

??? Idk, 10? Evens tend to treat me well

instruments:

Absolutely none! i have -190/10 hand-eye coordination, so yeah. I did “sing“ in choir though. (I say “sing” bc I can’t read music well and only ever copied/”mockingbird-ed”)

what I’m currently wearing:

legit? a Seattle sweatshirt from an old roommie, grey joggers, gay (rainbow) socks and my blue-light glasses cause I’ve been in class for-fucking-ever today

dream job:

Can I get paid to just travel? Like I just go around the world and just like talk to people and experience perspectives that are different to mine and maybe focus on history/the food systems of a place? Idk what you’d call that job but I want it.

dream trip:

I’d visit my grandmother’s ancestral home(s) in Ireland with her. (somewhere in County Kerry or Cork I think, in the south)

favorite food:

Chocolate, specifically milk/semi-sweet

favorite song:

I thought we’d talked about this

top 3 fictional universes you’d like to live in:

Oooh, this is gonna be hard to pick,

Doctor Who (It’s so similar so its a easier transition), Sherlock Holmes universe (ACD version or maybe the Jeremy Brett style, NOT Bendifart Cuccumbersnatch’s as much as I enjoyed watching it with Jet), and finally, I gotta circle around to Strange Magic, just cause I wanna be a fae with pretty wings too.

TAGGING:  Listen, I’m tagging 5 people and that's it. @erdsthenerds @the--queen-of-hell @biisalvatore @aconissa​ @achievebisexuality​ @superbcandyangel

[365days365movies]

March 17, 2021: Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) (Part One)

Éirinn go Brách! Ireland forever!

Who doesn’t love St. Patrick’s Day? Other than snakes, I guess. Although, for the record, that’s never made any sense. There have NEVER been snakes in Ireland, like, at any point in the geological record. And yeah, I know, “that’s because St. Patrick chased them all away”. Yeah, OK, whatever, hand me a green beer (or a Shamrock Shake; either works for me, gonna be honest).

This is the day where everybody in the USA is an honorary Irish person. And this is coming from a Black dude with distant Scottish ancestry, don’t ask about that last part THAT’S WHERE THE DARK HISTORY IS

...Slavery. ANYHOOOOOOOOOO

Every major city in the USA has a St. Paddy’s Day celebration. Chicago colors its river green, NYC has a massive parade, Boston gets FUCKING DESTROYED every March 17. It’s an American tradition. And you may be wondering why I’m talking about the USA, instead of talking about Ireland. Well, uh...I’m not Irish. And I don’t know enough about their SPD rituals to comment accurately, so I’ll erring on the side of caution, to be honest with you.

Plus, given today’s movie, I actually think it’s somewhat fitting that I’m talking about the American perspective of Irish folklore and traditions. So, with that said...leprechauns.

In Irish folklore, the leipreachán is...barely a thing in early mythology. Yeah, the first appearance of the leprechaun was in a medieval story called Echtra Fergus mac Léti, where a man named Fergus is nearly dragged into the water by three leprechauns, who are water spirits, and tricks them into giving him three wishes. So, uh...WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?

Well, whatever it was, the leprechaun eventually transformed into the green-wearing, gold-hoarding, shoe-fixing, prankster sprite that we know it as. In Irish folklore, it’s one of many MANY different spirits and supernatural beings, but it’s one of the only ones that made it over to the USA. And BOY DID IT. Other than Lucky from Lucky Charms, you’ve also got Warwick Davis’ horror movie version.

There’s also the mascot for the Boston Celtics and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, not to mention the less-than-great borderline racist association with Irish people by assholes. Honestly, it’s not even borderline. But despite that, it’s still an internationally well-known part of Irish folklore. And part of that renown lies in today’s film, Darby O’Gill and the Little People.

I really should watch more live-action Disney movies one of these years, but this was always going to be the first. A friend of mine always talks about this movie, alongside the film The Happiest Milionaire. You know who you are. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. ALLIGATORS.

But OK, let’s get into it! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap (1/2)

We begin in Rathcullen, a small town in Ireland. A young woman named Katie O’Gill (Janet Munro) is visited by an old woman, the widow Sheelah Sugrue (Estelle Winwood), who impresses upon her the need to get married, as she’s a young woman, and that’s all you can do as a young woman in this time period, other than cleaning house and raising children, of course.

Katie’s a catch, and the talk of the boys of the town, but hasn’t chosen anyone in particular to be wooed by. As they’re having this conversation, the household is visited by Lord Fitzpatrick (Walter Fitzgerald), who’s come to look for her father, the eponymous Darby O’Gill (Albert Sharpe). She goes to get him, as he’s at the inn telling stories. Fitzpatrick walks around the estate, which is his. Darby and Katie simply mind it. When Fitzpatrick comes in, he speaks with widow Sugrue, who IMMEDIATELY BAD TALKS AND BETRAYS THE O’GILLS, in order to promote her own son! FUCK OFF MS. SUGRUE YOU’RE A BAD FRIEND

Her son, Pony Sugrue (Kieron Moore) is a strapping young man, a known brawer, and...well, kind of a dick. In the pub, Darby’s telling stories of a leprechaun that he met once, and Pony mocks him for it. The bartender tells him off, and tells Darby to continue his story. And the story turns into a flashback soon enough.

On a dark night, on a mist-covered mountain, Darby is speaking with the king of the leprechauns, Brian O’Connor (Jimmy O’Dea), having trapped him there with naught but his gaze. He forces Brian to give him three wishes, and he’ll let him go. The wishes are first for his health, then for a large crop of potatoes, and finally, of course, a pot of gold.

However, King Brian asks for his fourth wish, and claims to be a generous man. He asks for three additional pots of gold for three friends. However, this was a trick, as making a fourth wish undoes the rest of them all together. This ends the story, as King Brian does a merry jig and all that. One of the friends that Darby wished for says that he’d never accept the gold, as it comes from the devil himself. Darby says that he’d donate it to the church in his stead. 

But that’s a little awkward, considering the presence of Father Murphy (Denis O’Dea), who’s actually there to get some help in carrying a new bell for the parish. Pony offers his services, but only for cash. Kind of a dick, that Pony. Murphy changes tactics, and kinda manipuates Darby into doing it. But just then, Katie comes in to tell Darby of Fitzpatrick’s visit, and hauls him away from the pub. On the Fitzpatrick estate, the Lord gives a tour to the replacement for Darby, one Michael McBride (Sean Conn...noooo...it can’t be.)

HOLY SHIT IT’S SEAN CONNERY! He was in a Disney movie? Holy shit! And this is before James Bond! So, before playing an English spy, he played an Irishman...and he’s Scottish. Dude, did Connery ever actually play a Scotsman in his career, what the hell?

OK, so Darby and Katie are basically getting kicked out, with Michael set to replace them. After some negotiation of retirement terms, Darby agrees, but doesn’t tell Katie right away. She was born in the house that they’re now being forced to move out of, in about two weeks time. In that time, Michael will stay with them to smooth the transition fully. That night, after dinner, Michael pleads with Darby to tell Katie, but he’s still putting it off for now. Darby goes to his horse, Cleopatra, and heads up a mountain, back to where King Brian was first seen. Cleopatra runs away, though, and Darby goes up the mountain alone. When he catches up to Cleopatra, she’s already at the summit, next to a well glowing gold. And then, uh...she starts to glow.

Cleopatra rears up, and Darby falls to the bottom of the well, which is where he’s found by the eponymous “Little People”, who take him to King Brian himself. There’s a dance going on in front of a large golden throne, with all of the little people in attendance, and King Brian playing a giant bagpipe on the throne itself.

Darby is welcomed in by the king, and allowed to survey the various treasures collected by the little people. The throne, fun fact, once belonged to the throne of King Fergus, from the original myth that originated the leprechaun! Very cool! However, that’s tempered by the new information that he can never leave. This was apparently a favor by King Brian, for spreading the stories of the leprechauns throughout the town, and bringing them fame. This was all meant to prevent Katie from finding out about Darby losing his job.

Seeing that Darby’s upset, King Brian offers him a chance to play a Stradivarius violin, which Darby reluctantly accepts. He plays “The Fox Chase”, a lively tune that’s genuinely quite fun and pleasant to listen to. The little people agree, and dance along with the music as Darby plays. The whole sequence is actually quite impressive and fun. Then, Darby shouts “Gone away”, prompting the lot of them to go on a fox chase on their own tiny horses, in a VERY impressive shot! Seriously, it’s very cool, considering that this is from 1959! 

The little folk, tricked by Darby’s music, leave the lair of Knockasheega on the mountain, leaving Darby alone. He attempts to steal some of their gold, then takes off out of the mountain, escaping the lair. But holes in his pockets cause all the gold to fall out, leaving him with nothing. He finds Cleopatra waiting outside for him, then the two head home once and for all.

Fully expecting Brian to find him again, he prepares for his arrival. Sure enough, King Brian shows up, angry that Darby seems to have spurned his good favor. But Darby, ever the suave talker himself, once again tricks King Brian into drinking an alcohol called poitín, which is also called Mountain Dew. Which is amazing.

As Darby and King Brian Do the Dew, Darby gets King Brian to participate in a singing and rhyming game, called the Wishing Song. And honestly...I’m having a really good fucking time with this movie. It’s folksy, and very heartwarming in tone for whatever reason. I’m just having a real good time with it, y’know?

So, Darby gets Brian good and sozzled, distracting him entirely until the morning. See, in the daylight, leprechauns lose their powers entirely. Darby, decisively with the upper hand as well, uses his cat Ginger to trap Brian. Trapped once again, Brian agrees to grant Darby three more wishes. Having anticipated this, Darby uses his first to make King Brian stay with him while he decides on his wishes. And, to fully ensure that the little king goes nowhere, Darby produces a sack, which he puts the leprechaun in, before shoving him into a chest in the barn.

 Great place to pause, so we can start the second half! See you there!

[totallyinsecurerobot]

the only lovers left alive

Summary: Asterix’s history from the moment they meet David. They keep finding each other, they keep ending up together, and maybe it’s fate, or maybe no-one else understands them quite like they understand each other.

A/N: 7718 words. SFW but there’s implied nsfw stuff. It does get a little bit violent at times, and there’s light period-typical (1950s Hollywood) misogyny, implied sexual violence, and victim blaming. It’s all very light, just mentioned in passing, but I thought I should give you a heads up. COMPLETELY UNEDITED AND JUST KIND OF A MESS. PROBABLY OOC. WHATEVER. nb oc & nb marko. poly lost boys at the end there. shut up they’re all in love street smarts. 

----

Perhaps it’s that he’s looking to feel powerful, that he sees Asterix, corsetted and well-to-do, taller than most, and he picks them as a victim because they look like a challenge, bragging right to - to who? Their sire perhaps, any others in the area; but Asterix would know if there were others in the area, they’ve been here long enough after all. He’s new to this, Asterix can tell; it seems strange for him to be walking at a normal pace, the movements a little too thought out, where the speed would be second nature to a human. Asterix knows from experience that it takes some getting used to, they’ve been working on it for several centuries already, at the very least. 

“You alright, ma’am, you know strange things are afoot in these parts, you should be careful walking around alone at night,” he’s trying to appear charming and nonthreatening, but his clothes don’t fit right; they’re dark enough to hide the blood he hadn’t been able to get out, but nothing could hide the smell from a vampire’s enhanced sense of smell. Asterix plays along.

“Oh my,” Asterix says, eyes wide, hands clutching tight at the silk of their elaborate skirt, “I’d heard rumours, terrible rumours, but I thought this was a nice part of town.” Of course they’d heard the rumours, they’d been the actual source of them, this newbie was just trying to capitalise on how Asterix had normalised disappearances. They weren’t sure whether to laugh or be mad.

“I’m sure you won’t be bothered,” he’s alternating between walking too fast and too slow, trying to keep in time with Asterix’s consistent pace, but not quite being able to hold himself back, “would you allow me to escort you back home, to your- your husband?” He hazards a guess, a product of the time; Asterix, biologically nineteen and dressed to appear feminine, should very well have a husband by now, or at the very least be betrothed; all he’s really doing is determining whether he has to attack before or after they get back to Asterix’s house.

“Oh, I- I’m not... I’m new to town, you see, my Aunt lived here after being widowed at a young age. She passed recently and left me her house, a beautiful property on the edge of town,” Asterix’s story isn’t actually much of a lie, apart from the fact that they’d killed the poor widower who lived on the edge of town and fabricated a new life from her demise, “I certainly shouldn’t be accepting offers from strange men,” Asterix casts what they hope is a nervous glance his way, and the blonde vampire takes an obliging step back, “but I suppose if you really were some dastardly villain, you’d have already seized your opportunity.” 

He really should work on controlling his expression, Asterix thinks with heavily veiled amusement; he’s practically telegraphing the ‘this is going to be easier than I thought’ that’s running through his head as he offers an arm for them to take, to be escorted. He’s too quiet, movements too fluid; if Asterix were any other person, they’d find it unnerving, off-putting, in ways they wouldn’t be able to put their finger on. Here and now, as a vampire of several centuries, all Asterix can see his youth in his movements.

Under the guise of small talk, Asterix asks about what rumours he’d heard, and he’s more than eager to warn them of the Devil that’s found a home in town, snatching up young sinners and leaving them dead and drained in the woods. 

The Devil... That’s what they’re calling Asterix, they’d heard demon, vengeful spirit, monster, but devil, which had been what they’d been going for initially, was finally starting to pay off.  

“Well you’re no devil,” Asterix laughs lightly, giving his arm a squeeze, as if to convey their relief. He doesn’t realise how deliberately they’re playing him, how they’re just waiting for him to reveal himself, and ruin that surprise with one of their own. 

“And what about you, ma’am, would you consider yourself a sinner?” His voice is low, intrigued and tiptoeing the line between menacing and thrilling, and Asterix’s throat suddenly goes dry. He wants nothing more than to kill them, they know this, logically they know this, but if he knew the truth, what would their answer really mean.

“It’s just a load of nonsense anyways,” Asterix says, taking a deep breath, leading down a far less lit street. They’re suddenly tried of playing along. But he chuckles, low and rough, and when Asterix turns to look at them, he’s looking back, face twisted into it’s vampiric form, eyes shining bright and golden in the darkness.

“Are you sure?” His voice is a menacing snarl, but Asterix doesn’t flinch in the face of this change, dropping their nervous act in an instant, smirking. Finally.

“Yes,” and he seems confused at their cool, smug expression, their lack of overt reaction, right until they let their own face shift, ridges forming, eyes turning that very same gold, dropping their voice to a growl of their own, “because the Devil’s not a he in this town.”

Honestly, Asterix had kind of been hoping to run this newcomer out of town for trying to capitalize on their good bad name; it’s not easy to make a whole town accept occasional random disappearances, it’s certainly not easy to make them all believe it was divine justice, and to not look for the actual source. What they hadn’t expected was to end up with him apparently living with them. 

Like a lost duckling, he still follows them home, and when Asterix asks after his Sire, he gets all broody and angry and admits that he had no idea. They’re in the basement, which Asterix has outfitted for their undead purposes; it’s always cool down here, which also happens to be why they store the excess blood from their victims. No use letting it go to waste, their stomach is only so big after all, and it’s always good to go as long as possible between kills, as to not arouse suspicion. They offer him a jar and he drinks hungrily; he’d been hunting tonight after all, he was probably thirsty, it’s just basic curtesy. 

“I’m not going to teach you how to be a vampire... ?” They hesitate, squinting at him, and he fills in the blank with his name. 

“Davidson - well, for now it’s Davidson, and I know how to be a vampire,” he frowns, unscrewing the lid of the jar, sniffing the contents doubtfully. 

“It’s not virgin’s blood, but that’s an old myth, believe me,” their voice is flatly unamused; the night is young, they had planned to fly a few states over and swim naked in a lake to confuse anyone who happened to see it, not mentor a young vampire, “and boy, I knew what you were the moment I saw you, just because others don’t know what they’re looking for doesn’t mean they won’t be able to tell something’s of. If something’s off about you, soon enough the town starts speculating,” and as they explain, they sit themselves on the velvet sofa, watching him wrinkle his hose as he sips the blood, “and soon enough, the rumours I’ve worked so hard to start, but not be associated with will be linked to you, and once you’re killed or run out of town, I’ll have to start somewhere new from scratch. You’re inconveniencing me by being bad at this,” they tell him, lip curling as they look him over, as if trying to radiate ‘it was fun to meet you and mess with you, but you’re more trouble than you’re worth’. 

“I’ll hunt elsewhere, but you don’t get to dictate where I am,” he responded, before raising the jar of blood, licking the excess off his lips, “this is stale.”

“Then give it back and stop being ungrateful,” Asterix held out their hand for the jar, but Davidson quickly scowled, taking another, angry sip, “and if I say I don’t want you to harm a single living person within a fifty mile radius, you’ll damn well do as I say.”

“And what makes you think that?” He sneers, looking over them, in all their silk and finery, on a dainty sofa, his tone derisive and gaze dismissive. Asterix’s lips quirk into a smile that didn’t reach their eyes.

“Because you would not be the first of our kind that I have disposed of,” they’re blunt, unsmiling and unwavering, and Davidson seems to finally start taking them seriously.

But he also stays.

He never hunts within the fifty mile radius that Asterix had set, unless of course Asterix themselves had invited him along on one of the night they hunt in one of the neighbouring towns. 

The story has changed too; no longer was Asterix simply playing Lady Estelle, the unfortunate and unwed niece of the widow Sinclair, but now she was actively betrothed to Davidson, the man she’d had to leave behind when she’d accepted ownership of the property. It was the only story that explained their vastly differing looks despite living, and occasionally being seen together.

For the entire first month of the arrangement, Asterix regretted ever agreeing to it. Realistically they knew that if they stuck with the story and the hunting pattern they’d developed, they’d be able to live comfortably here for a very long time, but it didn’t stop them from being irritated by Davidson’s smugness, how bloody and messy he’d be when he came back after feeding, and how he’d roll his eyes whenever Asterix would choose a jar over hunting. They’d icily tell him that it was about now drawing unnecessary attention to themselves; Davidson would simply stick to the rules that had been set, but always chose a hunt over saved blood. 

To be fair, he doesn’t see them hunt for that first full month. 

When Asterix invites him, Davidson barks a harsh laugh.

“Didn’t think you knew how,” he admits, and says he’s only tagging along to see how a professional does it - his words, sarcasm dripping from them. 

And so Asterix takes him to the edge of the outer limit, a sleepy town some fifty miles away, where a man was waiting in a graveyard by the church. Davidson waits out of sight as Asterix directs him to, and he watches in fascination as they approach the man, dressed in silk and lace, and he calls them a name Davidson doesn’t recognize, but Asterix greets him in kind, all quiet and sordid. They kiss like long-separated lovers, and the man, breathless and quiet, talks about running away, about horses waiting nearby, about eloping just like they’d always talked about, and Asterix plays at being thrilled, at tearing up and agreeing, and letting the man slide a ring onto their finger.

It’s it’s own kind of horrifying, Davidson realises quickly, to see how smitten this man is, and to know his fate when the man does not. He follows along, watches them climb aboard a horse that almost bucks the moment Asterix comes close; the man they’re with calms the horse however, and then they’re off. It’s a drawn out process, a slow execution for the man who does not even realise he’s on death row, and it is all but driving Davidson mad as he follows them through the night, through the darkness, for several hours. He’s about to give up, to head home, half convinced Asterix is actually just marrying this man, when the horse stops. 

The moon is high in the sky when they stop at Asterix’s insistence, and the man asks what’s wrong when they dismount. Asterix claims to need to stretch, but soon they’re wrapping their arms around him, voice low and intimate;

“It’s just you and me out here, like it should be; you and me for the rest of your life.” 

The man doesn’t catch Asterix’s wording as they pull him into their embrace, fingers threaded through his hair, pressing a gentle kiss to his vulnerable throat, but Davidson does. It’s time; he descends from where he’d been circling them like a vulture. The horse spooks and bolts at the sudden newcomer, but this is about the time that Asterix’s teeth sink into the man’s neck, and he tries to struggle, but their grip is unyielding.

He’s begging, pleading, screaming, but as Asterix steps back, they raise their free hand to the wound, as if to stem the bleeding, face transformed and grinning eerily.

“He’s not long for this world, if you’d like to drink it fresh,” Asterix raises their voice, not looking away from the man, though Davidson knows they’re talking to him. The man in their hands screams louder at Davidson’s sudden appearance by his side, but there’s no-one else around to save him. Asterix steps behind the man, fingers still threaded through his hair to hold him in place as Davidson feeds, sloppy, not even half as elegant as Asterix had made it look, but it didn’t matter. Something about the feral, primal way in which he drank had a dark appreciation stirring in Asterix’s chest, and couldn’t help but lean in to the man’s other side and bite him again, to share in this moment. 

He’ll lick the blood from their fingers, eyes aglow, and Asterix will remember what it felt like to be newly turned and fearless and reckless, and the power that came with it, the heady sense of invincibility that would surge through them in the afterglow of a kill. They couldn’t begrudge him his cockiness anymore. 

There’s a moment, a sense of connection, of understanding, of finally seeing eye to eye, creatures acting on instinct alone in the dead of night. Later, Asterix will explain the countless men they have been wooing in secret, men betrothed or married to other women, men whose families are suspicious of affairs, but with no proof, men who could be called sinners, men who would be perfect targets for The Devil these little towns all feared. Later, they’ll take the body of the man back to their house to exsanguinate him, to not let his blood go to waste, to dispose of him the following night far away from the scene of the crime. Later, Asterix will take the ring off that the man gave them, and Davidson will see the countless other ones just like it in a jewelry box they keep in a dark corner of the basement, and he decides not to ask.

“Even when you kill you’re...” he searches for the words, but they’re not harsh or demeaning like they may have been before this night had occurred, “calculated; men in towns for miles, months of work put in, all so people don’t realise it’s you; it must feel so unnatural to suppress your instincts like that, aren’t you tired of it?”

“I am alive,” Asterix points out, though they grimace at the choice of words, but Davidson understands anyways. 

“Next time, hunt with me, let yourself let go,” he urges, teeth sharp and eyes bright. Asterix remembers that tone, his words - and you, ma’am, would you consider yourself a sinner? - as they look at him and agree, exhausted by always playing by the humans’ rules.

It’s freeing to be feral; for the first time in decades, Asterix feels alive. 

But still they hold back, terrified of being overcome completely by their bloodlust, too aware of the power they wield to use it to full capacity. Humans only ever require a miniscule amount of power to tear apart, there was no need, they told themselves, for overkill.

The good thing they’ve got going lasts all of five years before people start to get suspicious about how they never age. After a year has passed, they tell other that they’d eloped, if only to keep up the ruse; it would be suspicious if they kept their engagement going on too long in this part of world. They’re both equal parts horrified and amused by it all, not that it changes anything about their dynamic; they’re still free to do whatever they wish with whoever they wish, so long as the people in town never find out. 

But still, Asterix gives him the ring that had been given to them by the first victim they’d shared, the night they’d finally started to respect each other. It’s meant partially as a joke, but Davidson wears it nonetheless.

When the time comes, and the townsfolk start asking questions that they can’t answer, they take what little belongings they’ve accumulated - Asterix takes their box of engagement rings - and burn the house they were staying in, no proof of their existence left behind, just the memory of a young couple tragically lost, and they go their separate ways.

Asterix, desperate for a change of scenery, secures passage on a ship headed to Europe, and spends a considerable few decades residing in various bogs across Europe’s various forests, preying on unfortunate explorers, and occasionally towns, if they were close enough. It’s like hibernating, as if turning their brain off to become the instinct-driven creature they truely were. Being away from society, away from humans, away from even others of their own kind, it was the exact reset they needed. 

When emerging from their self imposed isolation, there comes news of a war in American having been and gone, and for the barest moment they consider going back, but ultimately decides against it. Instead they take up residency in the heart of London, sleeping in the cellar of a pub they managed to claim ownership of through dubious means. City folk are so desensitized to strange behaviors that they don’t think twice about the pub only ever being open at night, when most others offered a lunch service; they don’t question Asterix managing to be the only employee, it’s a small pub after all. No-one wonders why Asterix is never seen during the day, most assume they’re asleep anyways, since the pub is open practically ‘til dawn.

Sid Priestly, Asterix’s current identity, could be any other human on Earth as far as most of London was concerned. They don’t live in a secluded castle, or hiss, or float menacingly through the air, so none of the humans think to suspect them as anything other than one of their own, albeit one who keeps strange hours.

There’s a few vampires in London, mostly the standoffish types, however there’s a respect and understanding between them all, and they all know Asterix pub to be a place where they will be invited in without question. Asterix, for their part, had reinstated their habit of preserving their leftovers, and finds themselves incorporating blood into one of their dark beers, so their special guests could enjoy themselves as much as the humans.

The pub’s been open for almost nine months when he walks through the doors, looking pleasantly surprised in the golden glow of the overhead lights. One of the other vampires in attendance lights up at the sight of him, waving him over.

“Arthur! Glad you finally made it,” he grins, and turns to Asterix, “two of your finest dark beers, thanks Sid,” and Asterix obligingly turns to fetch two of the blood-infused beers. 

“Arthur,” they acknowledge him with a nod and a smirk, placing the beer down in front of him as he sits, giving the other vampire his own, which he sips gratefully while ‘Arthur’ gives the beer a dubious look. His gaze flicks to Asterix, who’s watching with hesitant amusement, not quite sure how to proceed, and then he takes a sip.

“It’s stale,” he says with a knowing smirk, which breaks the tension, and Asterix smirks a laugh, despite the other vampire’s confusion.

“You ungrateful bastard,” Asterix shakes their head, pulling themself a beer and cheersing him. 

“Do you two know each other?” The other vampire asks, and Asterix and ‘Arthur’ share a look. 

“Sid’s my -” he pauses, giving a look to Asterix, to their masculine presentation and current identity, and he shifts a little, voice growing a little quieter for fear of the human patrons overhearing, “husband.” Asterix huffs a dismissive breath through their nose, rolling their eyes at the memory of their ruse, of their briefly shared life. 

“Husband?” The other vampire asks, looking curiously between the two of them, intrigued.

“Wife at the time,” Asterix offers, “I’ve been a lot of things,” is the closest they get to any sort of explanation. It takes a beat for the other vampire to consider, but then he’s shrugging, mentioning that he doesn’t think the beer, or it’s special ingredient, tastes stale; Asterix gives him a toothy, pleased smile, while ‘Arthur’ rolls his eyes despite hiding his grin against the lip of his cup by taking another drink.

There’s an understanding within the community, of outliving the restrictive, human concept of identity, in almost all respects. It’s easier to explore who you are when you literally have all the time in the world; many find labels that fit them, pronouns and names that are comfortable, finding variations of themselves each time they move. Without the pressures or expectations of human society, it’s also easier to be comfortable being with whoever they choose to, especially when they’re more than comfortable ripping apart anyone to cast negative aspersions on them for their choice of partner - or partners. 

“You don’t get to claim part ownership of the pub just because we told people we were married fifty years ago,” Asterix closes the pub early that night, finding themself sitting atop the roof with ‘Arthur’. Neither of them is quite sure how to interact with the other, sitting a foot apart, drinking a pint in the moonlight. 

“I don’t plan on staying long,” he says, looking out to the city while Asterix is watching him, “thought I’d go be a nuisance around Romania; America’s gotten boring.”

There’s something about him that’s different from when they’d last seen him, something easy and uncomplicated about his movements. His grin stretches wide, leaning back on his elbows, confident, sure of himself. It’s only in seeing him again that Asterix can feel how much his absence ached. It had only been five years, of the few hundred that Asterix had endured at this point, what had been so special about him that they’d been so effected?

He looks at them, smiling sharp and fond in equal measure.

“You’ve gone all soft in your age,” he teases, and immediately Asterix feels themselves growing flustered in their outrage, “serving humans, and not even attempting to court on a single one? How do you ever feed yourself if you’re not stealing the hearts of unfaithful bachelors?”

“I get by,” Asterix tells him, “I’ve got an understanding with some of the others; I don’t have to do the dirty work anymore, my loyal customers provide me with everything I could ever need.”

“Surviving on scraps, always surviving on scraps,” he tuts, “I think you’re scared of yourself, I think you always have been.” 

“Arthur,” Asterix warns, eyes flashing a dangerous gold.

“What are they going to do if they figure out what you really are? Kill you, Sid?” He half laughs, and Asterix sits up straighter, tensing at his words, feeling the powers that runs through their blood, their muscles, the centuries of experience built up beneath their skin, “or do you just miss being human that much that you’d do anything to pretend you’re still like them?”

“I am alive,” Asterix snarls, lip curled into something dangerous and menacing, face half-shifted to it’s monstrous form, something they haven’t had to use in what feels like years. He watches them carefully, can see the nerves he’s touched, their button’s he’s pushed, and seems to delight in their indignation. 

And maybe it’s that he’s seeing the person he met all those years ago, seeing an opportunity to prove his power; he’d been young then, inexperienced, unsure of his power in relation to them, but his confidence had grown in their absence. He is aware of what he is capable of, and thinks, finally, that he could rival the vampire who’d taken him in all those years ago.

When he pins Asterix faster than a human eye could comprehend, he’s surprised by how easy it is. They’re flat on their back, his knees planted either side of their hips and his hands pinning their wrists either side of their head; for the barest moment, they lock eyes and share in a strange sense of deja vu. Asterix flushes. 

“What are you looking to prove?” Asterix asks, turning their head to look at his hand holding their wrist; they flex and unflex their fingers, otherwise unbothered.

“Are you scared of being a vampire? Is that why you try so hard to drink so little? To kill so little? To push down your instincts, deny your nature?” 

When Asterix looks back at him, his eyes are aglow, face twisted to reveal his true nature, just like they’d seen countless times before; he thinks he has the upper hand, that like this, he can provoke a reaction from them, get them to fight back. 

They’re far too aware of their own capabilities to act so rashly, instead, with surprising ease, they sit up, into his space, surprising him, forcing him back to sit on their thighs, hands raising too, like his grip meant nothing. 

“Sweetheart, if I wanted to raze towns, I am more than capable, but if I let myself burn down the world, what would be left? You?” They smiled, but it didn’t reach their eyes. Upon hearing their words, however, their companion actually grins, leaning in as his face changes back to it’s more pleasant disguise, pressing a familiar kiss to their lips.

“I never said to burn the world, but a hundred years ago, people thought you were the Devil; you’re beautiful and terrible, but even then you’d held yourself back,” he’s still holding their wrists, grip loose with their hands in their lap, the two of them nose to nose on this rooftop. 

“I’ll always be beautiful and terrible, but I’m not about to sacrifice my comfort for a cheap thrill,” they murmur, lips inches from his, despite their discomfort with the subject. 

“You never miss stalking a beautiful lady or handsome gentleman through the night in a quiet town in another country? You never miss...?” And he trails off, fingertips sliding up Asterix’s left arm, their shoulder, to their neck, thumb gentle against their jaw as he tips their head just a little, a gesture they both know all too well, but that Asterix is unfamiliar with being used against them. A shiver runs down their spine.

“Why do you care so much?” Asterix frowned, tipping their head back against his hand, surprised when he holds their jaw instead of moving away. Something unfamiliar began to ache in a spot behind their sternum, close to where their heart should be.

“Because it’s been a hundred years,” and then he’s holding their face gently in both hands, smirking a little, “and you’re still just surviving, I haven’t spent this past century just being afraid, and I’m still here,” he points out, and Asterix bites their tongue on the urge to ask how many of those years he spent on the run, “you’ve thoroughly proven you can lay low, you can live in a bog for decades, so what does it matter if you terrorize a few cities? Burn a few towns to the ground then be a bog mummy, at least some of the time you’d be having fun.”

“I’m having fun now,” Asterix says quietly, blushing a little at the intimacy of it all, but then, as if resentful of his words, “I am fun.” They kiss him like they’re proving a point, something familiar and warm joining that strange sensation in their chest when ‘Arthur’ kisses them back, smiling against their lips.

“How strong are you actually?” He finally asks, pulling back with their hands gripping his hips firmly, still technically in their lap. Asterix’s eyebrows raise in surprise.

“We get stronger with age,” they’d said, though their lack of an actual answer does not go unnoticed.

“You’ll always be stronger than me, won’t you?” He smirks when he looks at them, and their lips twist into a wry, fond smile, leaning into his touch against their cheek.

“‘till we die,” they agree, eyes now sparkling with mischief. This news seems to both delight and disappoint him for very different reasons.

They keep finding each other in the years that follow, always with new names, new lives, new identities. Sometimes they’re together for weeks, for months, sometimes only for hours, but every time it’s like they’d never left one another’s side.

Asterix has conned their way, through both magical and non-magical means, into a life as a Russian noble at the turn of the 20th century, and he finds them at a masquerade. They’d know each other anywhere. They’re meant to be dancing with potential suitors, but the whole night they’re by his side. That night, they kill another member of nobility who had been suspicious of Asterix, who’d been planning a coup against the head of the family who’d welcomed them with only little persuading.

After the carnage of the kill, of the high they rode together, they sleep through the day, silk bedsheets and boarded up windows, a lie on Asterix’s behalf about a rare sleep disorder meaning no-one came in or asked questions, and the following night, he takes off, and Asterix acts surprised when the news of the previous night’s kill finally comes to light. 

Wars come and go, and Asterix finds themselves in the middle of them, and sees men a fraction of their age take more pleasure in killing than they’d ever allowed themselves. They fight, and take bullets, and take orders from men who have never known real fear. The humans they fight alongside live like every day is their last in the time between the fighting, lives on the line because someone said it should be, from relative safety. 

And they lose humans they considered friends, and they start tearing out throats, they stop caring about what if because everyone here would die quickly, they all knew it. Asterix felt like the only one with half a chance to outlive the war. 

‘and you’re still just surviving’

So they start living, start letting themselves be sloppy and angry and give in when they want to fight and break bones and spill blood, because the government comes, and the government doesn’t care, and the government admits ‘we had some like you fighting with Lincoln’ and ‘we had some like you fighting with Washington’ and ‘we always had some like you’ and all they care about it what side Asterix is on. 

The War ends, but the next starts in what feels like a blink after the centuries Asterix has been through, and they come out the other side understanding that the things they’d feared for so long don’t matter, that the consequences they feared would not affect them; if they were smart, the government wouldn’t care, and other people were too weak to be a real threat, so they have fun with their identity. They get malevolent after watching their fragile, human friends die, and they learn how to target terrible people, how to find humans more monstrous than themselves, and how to deliver the justice that the justice systems will not give.

In the 1950s, they’re working in the violent crimes unit in LA, focusing on targeting serial sexual abusers in Hollywood, after listening to countless victims teary statements, and hearing the men on their team laugh behind the victim’s back, saying that’s just how Hollywood was. Asterix made sure to remember each man who’d ever said that about a distraught woman, mentally promising to take them each out before they leave for their next identity. 

He’s calling himself David when Asterix finds him in a bar on the waterfront, and he’s like a breath of fresh air. He admits to liking how Asterix was operating, how free they seem, and accompanies them when they offer to take him on a hunt. 

By now, Asterix’s victims have all been killed in the same way, nothing to denote a vampire, but clearly a serial killer’s work, someone with experience, and within no time it’s thought to be a hitman. David’s more than happy to stick to their MO, especially since they still both get to drink their fill, and he’s delighted with how unhinged Asterix gets in the act.

People started to see the pattern, the connection between the victims, and more people come forward about others in the industry who’ve committed similar atrocities. They don’t quite know who to tell; some go to the police, some go to confessional, some tell their friends, but Asterix seeks out their voices, their testimonies, and their list grows until the word of the victims’ atrocities gets around.

They’re calling Asterix the Actresses Avenging Angel, since most atrocities had been committed against aspiring or active actresses. It’s a new version of the town that believed the Devil killed the immoral few, but it’s a title they wear with pride.

But one of Asterix’s coworkers sees them leave a bar with David, and calls them names that sting, that have Asterix’s blood boiling, all in front of the rest of their team. A team that never took them seriously when they took the assault victim’s side against a powerful man in Hollywood. 

They were tired of this town anyways; their list had stopped growing so fast since the Actresses Avenging Angel had become popular folklore. 

They’re on the run for almost twenty years after that day, after leaving no-one alive in that evening briefing, after stealing away into the night. The government does tend to care when Asterix, or people like them, kill a whole department of a police force.

So they lay low near Washington state, changing their look, writing ‘*’ whenever their name was required; someone asked out loud if their name was Asterix, and yes, they supposed it fit. They’d always had to be something to fit into society, but they’re tired of being anything when they never felt like anything, so ‘boy or girl?’ is met with a solid ‘no’, and they stop caring about the confusion it elicits. They will outlive confusion. They will outlive everything and everyone. Almost everyone.

In the eighties, they hear a rumour about a beachside town in California having an unusually high death-rate, how strange and unexplained it all was, and perhaps it was loneliness, perhaps it was that they were missing a very specific person, but Asterix travels in hopes of finding David. They are not disappointed.

They meet Max first, their lip curling in disgust at how he holds himself, how he parades himself like everyone else when he’d been just as smarmy and unbearable in the Late Middle Ages. 

“You,” he says flatly, nostrils flaring as the only sign of his discomfort at the sight of them. He and Asterix had been sired by the same vampire some centuries ago, within a few decades of each other. He’d always resented Asterix for being simultaneously older and younger than him. Also he’d been the one to kill their sire fifty years after being turned.

“It’s Asterix now,” Asterix tells him, and Max’s lips thin into an unamused line, but before he can say anything, his gaze flicks over their shoulder to the door where there was a sudden commotion, sudden laughter. When Asterix turns, it’s to the sight of a display rack on the ground, and of two blonde boys trying not to laugh, leaning into each other as they insist they found it like that. 

The eighties look is certainly kind to David. He’s always been pretty, but now he’s allowed to dress in a way that’s enhanced by his dangerous aura, and Asterix has never been so glad to see him. 

And his expression lights up when he catches sight of them too.

“Asterix, do you know these people?” Max asks flatly, and if Asterix didn’t know any better, they would have thought he didn’t have any clue who they were, but judging by the sobering expression on David’s face, they knew each other far too well. 

“Of course,” Asterix answers, smile turning cat-like and smug, if only to see Max grow more irritated, working harder to hide it. 

“Asterix, this is Marko,” David says, unprompted, introducing the other blonde boy with curly hair and a slight frame; Marko is quiet by David’s side, looking over Asterix with something evaluative in his eyes, something evaluative and intrigued.

“All of you, get out; I told you boys aren’t allowed in here,” Max orders, and Asterix flips him off before making a beeline for the boys, and the exit. Marko stays quiet, but he, like Asterix, is comfortable falling into step by David’s side as the three of them head to somewhere more secluded on the boardwalk.

There’s a streetlight out over a picnic table not too far away, and Asterix is quick to sit, to make themselves a reasonable height out of habit, before David takes their face in his hands. It’s like he’s checking that they’re okay, looking in their eyes, hands on their arms, their hips, coming to rest on their knees, wordlessly checking in. 

“Marko, this is Asterix,” David steps out of the way, gesturing to Asterix with one hand while his other still resting on their thigh. Marko steps up, offers his hand for them to shake with a grin. “They’re...” but David trails off, unsure of how to introduce them now, after all the time they’ve known each other, after all they’ve been to one another. But Marko seems to understand; he’s emotionally entwined with David the way Asterix more or less is, and surprisingly, Asterix realises very quickly that they don’t mind.

“Are you planning on staying long?” David asks later in the night, watching Marko as he talks with another pretty, blonde boy who they’ve apparently been talking to for a while, Paul. They’re intending on turning him, with Max’s blessing; Asterix is less than happy to find out that Max is technically the leader of the coven, and is right furious to find out that he’s David’s actual Sire, the one who’d abandoned him all those years ago. But he keeps himself separate from the younger vampires, so Asterix is more than happy to hang with the boys.

“I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me,” Asterix says gently, and David’s arm snakes around their hips, hand coming to rest on their hip, fingers spread wide and warm and possessive against the edge of Asterix’s exposed stomach beneath their crop top. It’s enough of an answer for Asterix to lean against him, to sling their arm across his shoulders. 

Paul, where he’s talking to Marko, casts a dubious look to the pair leaning against the streetlight, arms around each other. Asterix winks at him, and though Paul quickly averts his gaze, his smile widens. It’s easy for them to adapt to this dynamic that Marko and David had developed, so long as there was a place for them. They’re more than happy to make a place for others too. 

So Asterix makes a life for themselves with the boys in the abandoned hotel at the edge of the cliff, quickly getting close to both Marko and Paul once he’s been turned. They don’t think about how good it feels to not be afraid of their friends dying, or being killed suddenly. David doesn’t comment on how grateful they seem to have friends at all. Or perhaps it’s more than that, perhaps they’re all more than that; physical intimacy is clearly not a foreign concept. 

Marko and Asterix will share an armchair while reading a magazine, cheek to cheek, him in their lap with their arms around his middle, and Paul has a penchant for taking one of the others down a dark alley or to a shadowy corner, only to emerge with kiss bruised lips and a flushed complexion, and in a year they have Dwayne too, who comes across as brooding to anyone who doesn’t know him well enough, never more happy than when he has his arm around a member of their little, insular gang, possessive and proud in equal measure. 

Marko’s like them too, more than they realized, they learn, not nothing, like they are, but sometimes he’s both or neither or somewhere in between. Mostly they’re he but he also feels like they, and he doesn’t mind which they’re called, as long as it’s someone they love doing the calling.

Love. He’s free with that word. Freer than Asterix or David ever was, no matter how much either of them thought it in all the years they’ve known each other. But Marko says it and it sounds right. It sounds like the word Asterix was too scared to think back on the roof of their pub in London, a hundred years ago, when David had them pinned and all they could see was him backlit by stars.

“We’re a far cry from your silk bedsheets and Russian nobles,” David’s smirking up at the ceiling in the hours before dawn, stretched out on the moth bitten sheets of one of the hotel’s beds. Asterix is curled up by his side, eyes closed and content. It’s just the two of them in the hotel for now, the other three having gone out to stalk a group of assholes that had been harassing their latest person of interest, a beautiful young woman named Star.

The others don’t quite know how far back Asterix and David’s history goes, but everyone knows they’re close, know they can speak their own language without saying a word. 

“You were Svetlana then, weren’t you?” He adds, and Asterix hums in confirmation, and David quietly muses that he’s not even sure if he’d given himself a proper name in Russia, since he’d just been passing through. “Do you still have that box of rings from the eighteen-hundreds?” He asks, half smiling, tightening his grip on them, pulling them a little closer at the memory.

“They were lost when my pub was burnt down,” Asterix told him, though this was new information to David, and came as a shock, “after Bram Stoker published Dracula, someone accused my pub of hosting several vampires; I was never accused directly, but someone noted how my patrons only ever seemed to come out at night, and they thought it would be best if the whole pub was taken out as a precaution. They were right, of course, but it was still fucked; I’m fine, obviously.”

“Do you want mine back?” David asks candidly, “you worked hard for them, you should have at least one as a keepsake,” his words catch Asterix by surprise, and they’re quiet for a very long time, trying to process what this all means, how this makes them feel. He kept their ring. All this time.

“It’s yours, I gave it to you,” they say, soft and gentle, finally looking at his face. He’s still looking at the ceiling, but he’s grinning, “do you not want it?” 

“Depends; are we still fake-married?” When he looks at them, he’s grinning from ear to ear, all kinds of mischief and adoration at play in his expression, and Asterix’s expression melts to a sly grin as their tone turns teasing.

“As if I’d remarry after you,” they snort, and David quickly turns back to the roof, though it doesn’t quite hide his flustered grin, as he quietly mutters for them to shut up, voice full of affection -

“Get dressed, Star’s “friends” are having a bonfire and we’re gonna have a feast,” Paul bursts into the room with absolutely no warning, all but crashing through the door mid-landing, too excited to walk anywhere at a half-normal speed. He’s grinning from ear to ear, throwing articles of clothes at the pair like a hurricane localised entirely at the end of the bed. 

Once the pair are getting dressed and know where to go, Paul is already gone, leaving them in relative silence, and Asterix glances over to see David patting down his pockets, before fishing a thin, gold necklace from his back pocket, holding it, and the familiar ring that hung from it, out to Asterix like proof, like an offering.

“You’ve gone soft in your old age,” Asterix grins instead, echoing his words back at him from a hundred years ago. David rolls his eyes, but puts the chain around his neck and tucks it into his shirt before they leave.

When they arrive, they let the others take the first bites, pun intended. Lord knows they’ve committed enough destruction to keep them sated for several lifetimes. 

“Strange bedfellows we keep,” Asterix voice is low, teeth sharp and eyes ablaze as they drunk in the sound of the carnage. They hook two fingers into one of David’s beltloops while he watches his fellow vampires tearing their victims apart like lions tearing into gazelles. Asterix steps up to him, lets him curl an arm around them as they both watch with hungry expressions as the carnage unfolds. 

“Feels good,” Asterix murmurs, locking eyes with a poor human trying to escape; neither Asterix nor David has allowed their face to shift to it’s true form just yet, so the human runs to them, begging for help. Asterix steps forward, is by the man’s side in a blur, too fast for him to get away as they wrap one arm around him, the other in his hand, pulling his head to the side to expose his neck, “though I do miss people thinking I was the Devil,” they call over their shoulder with a sharp smirk, eyes a bright gold.

David’s laugh fills the night air, amid the screams, amid the crackle of the fire, as Asterix sinks their teeth into the man’s neck.

[thebigqueer]

*Major Tower of Nero Spoilers*

Okay, I finished Tower of Nero.

Safe to say I am an Emotional Wreck TM. 

Let’s start with my feelings: 

SLDKFJL:FKJSKF PWEYPAEYWSDUIHLDKE UFAQW F{DPHUSSKJS FSK

Okay feelings are done with.

What I liked:

I AM A SLUT FOR SOLANGELO AND I LOVED SOLANGELO

Will’s a GLOWING BABY JUST LIKE THE FANFICS

Nico goes to Mr. D for his mental health issues. This, hands down, has to be one of my most favorite things about the book. I’m glad this boy is getting the support he needs.

ESTELLE!!!!!!!!! WHAT A FREAKING CUTIE!!!!!!!

 Apollo’s character development was ON FLEEK 

OVeRAchiEviNG NigHTLigHt

Nico wearing various cowboy hats

Will wearing a lampshade

Honestly I feel like the most powerful part of the book was when Meg had to stand up to Nero. That part was just so... emotional for me. This poor girl and her foster siblings had been living in his lies, his torture, his pain for literal years with no support whatsoever. But Meg proved she could defeat him and his evil embrace, and she grew up. I love her so much. 

“LiKE i’LL tAke YoU oUt For PizZa ThiS WeEkEnd iF yOuRe NoT ToO AnNoYiNG”

solangelo holding hands and squeezing each other’s hands??? YES PLEASE

(as you can tell, most of these are about solangelo lmao)

WILL HAS A FUCKIN TATTOO

“WiLLiAm AndReW SoLaCe! Do YoU hAvE sOmeThiNG yOu NeEd To TeLL mE?”

APOLLO MADE THE “honey he gay” MEME AND I SLDKFJLSDKF

(i know he didn’t actually but THE FACT THAT UNCLE RICK REFERENCED IT HAS ME SCREAMING)

I love how human Apollo has become. Like I know that often times i complain about humans with my friends, but i think this series has made me realize how amazing humanity can be, too. 

PIPER IS QUEER AND BITCH I FUCKING KNEW IT I JUST KNEW IT LIKE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY SHE WASN’T IM SO EXCITED

there’s probably a lot more shit that i loved but I just don’t remember it

What I didn’t like/didn’t get enough info on: 

To be honest, I was REALLY hoping for more of a backstory on Will. Like, why does he stay at camp year-round? Is his mom bad? Or does he just do it because of some other purpose?

Going back to Will, I wish we got a lot more info about Will’s character. Like, yes, he glows and he’s the god of the sun - but that’s not all he is. But I feel like the story really painted him that way, and I didn’t like it that much. He just seems like he was created to be Nico’s boyfriend, and I wish we could have gotten a larger glimpse into his backstory and personality. Yes, we know he’s nice.. but what about mental health? What’s it like watching, what, 3 siblings die in the battle in PJO? What’s it like being the head counselor? We never got these questions answered :/

HOW did nico and will start their relationship??? that’s been plaguing me for a while. like yes, we know they date... but HOW? we never get a story on that. while i understand this is in the perspective of apollo and these probably aren’t the most important questions to think about, i feel like it would’ve been nice to at least get an understanding of where they come from, you know? cuz otherwise, it seems like they’re just there to fulfill the hearts of solangelo shippers and stand as representation when they’re so much more than that 

NO SOLANGELO KISS AND I WAS REALLY HOPING FOR ONE

kinda similar to the will-didn’t-get-a-backstory, i wish we got more of a backstory on his other kids, too. last i remember, it seems Austin and Kayla have been here since January, which can mean they most likely stay all year too. but why? 

Reyna joined the hunters and Nico still doesn’t know. Again, I know there was more of an imminent danger, so this probably wasn’t the best time to tell Nico any of that, so maybe we’ll find this out in the nico standalone book that Riordan said he might write 

RACHEL REALLY SAID A PROPHECY. LIKE THIS MAN CAN’T GET ENOUGH WITH THE PROPHECIES AND CLIFFHANGERS CAN HE????

this probably means that we will definitely get a nico standalone book and that’s exciting but STILL i dont even know if it’s CONFIRMED, i just know that out of anything, it is very POSSIBLE

i feel like we never got that much into Nico’s PTSD, and I wish we did. Like on top of finding out that Jason is confirmed dead, Nico has these nightmares that were mentioned only once. Which is another reason why i think we’ll get a standalone Nico book - becasue clearly there’s a LOT more to unpack here. but i just wished that we could have gone deeper into this, because it’s important to address mental health issues like these. i’m glad he’s talking with dionysus though :)

similar to PTSD with Nico, I was kinda wondering how Percy and Annabeth were dealing with that stuff... and also, are they also hearing the voices? 

Chiron said he met with people from other pantheons - what did they discuss? AND HOW DID HE MEET THEM???

LSKJFLKJDF DOES HAZEL KNOW THAT HER BROTHER HAS A BF???? DOES SHE???? I NEED TO KNOW 

SAME WITH REYNA - DOES SHE KNOW?

again, there’s probably more things that i didn’t like or wanted more info on but i can’t remember right now

But anyway, that’s all for now. I want to thank Rick Riordan for blessing us with such an amazing series. Though it could definitely be problematic in some cases, i think overall it was great and it’s very near and dear to my heart.

I love my demigods. 

[greekgeek21]

Percy Jackson & The Avengers: Convergence - percy is taken by the men (women) in black

Ok, so by what I've been hearing, there has been some confusion regarding the timeline, so here's the full explanation: figure it out for yourselves. My beta reader and I have already discussed this (MONTHS AGO IN FACT!) and we ultimately decided to not go into any specifics because it wasn't important to the story and the only thing you guys needed to know was that Percy and Annabeth were 18 now, and it's after the first Avengers movie and that Thor's not there. Got it? Ok, now to the real good stuff!

Thank you to all the people who have responded kindly to this story. Honestly, it made my day to find that I had already received 3 reviews on ff before it had even been out an hour. So, thanks so much guys.

THIS IS STILL CANON I JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE CHARACTERS MENTION MAGNUS CHASE OR THE KANES YET YOU MONGRELS!!! Ok. I think I covered everything. Stay safe and happy reading!

- your author

PS hopefully these will start to get shorter cuz I hate reading long A/Ns on other fanfics so I don't want to be THAT person.

Ω ♆ Ω

Knock Knock

"Come in, Hill," Fury said, already knowing it would be his second-in-command.

As she entered, Fury noticed a slight change in her attitude. It wasn't large, but it was noticeable to the experienced spy's eyes. It was almost- confusion? What could she have discovered that caused her to be confused?

"Sir, I found a possible suspect. He's...not what we expected," Hill told him, placing a file on his desk.

The file included a single piece of paper. A SINGLE PIECE OF PAPER!!! Who was this guy that could evade SHIELD's suspicion for so long? Surely, someone smart. Very smart.

"What do you mean, Hill?" he asked, picking up the paper.

The woman in question cleared her throat before responding, "See for yourself. He's just a kid."

Not displaying any surprise, though there was some going through his head, Fury read the information on the sheet:

Name: PERSEUS "PERCY" JACKSON

Gender: MALE

Age/DOB: 18; AUGUST 18, 1993

Status: ALIVE

Last Known Location: MANHATTAN, NY

Place of Birth: MANHATTAN, NY

Race: CAUCASIAN

Height: 6'1"

Hair: BLACK

Eyes: GREEN

Disabilities: DYSLEXIA, ADHD

Family: Sally Blofis (Formerly Jackson), Mother - ALIVE

Paul Blofis, Step Father - ALIVE

Estelle Blofis, Maternal Half Sister - ALIVE

Gabe Ugliano, Step Father - MISSING

BIOLOGICAL FATHER UNKNOWN

Education: GOODE HIGH SCHOOL - EXPELLED

YANCY ACADEMY - EXPELLED

...6 OTHER EXPULSIONS

Abilities/Weapons: CLASSIFIED

Other Info: Was involved in a nation-wide manhunt at 12 years old; Pushed class into shark tank; Blew up school bus with colonial cannon; Flooded an Aquarium; Seen traveling Greece with six other teens after missing three months of school (wasn't reported missing by parents);Suspected abilities; Was seen at Brooklyn Bridge explosion

Fury sighed. Just great. Another troublemaker to give him a headache. And what was with the Classified stamp? Nothing is classified to the director of the company who created the file, so why was this?

Deciding to put it off for further thought, and steeling himself over again, Fury gave his orders to Agent Hill, "Find him. Bring him in for questioning. Don't make a scene."

They were simple orders in themselves, but Fury knew better than to expect everything to go smoothly. Any second grader could figure out that Perseus Jackson was not one to do things smoothly. Hell, it would be a miracle if they even got the chance to talk to the kid before he did some crazy stunt that would most likely get someone hurt. That's just how Fury's luck was.

"Understood, sir. I'll let you know when we have him in custody," Hill answered before briskly striding out the office door.

Fury sighed once she was gone, running a hand over his face. With nobody watching, he could truly let the stress on the inside seep into the outside. It wasn't just this one case either, there had been a couple other bombings popping up around the US, and they weren't any closer to finding the source. All they knew about them was that they were connected and that they were seemingly random attacks. Add finding Jackson to the mix and his mind was about ready to implode.

But unfortunately, the director of SHIELD didn't have time for breaks, so he went back to work on the multitude of information residing on his desk.

Ω ♆ Ω

Percy and Annabeth were back at home, which was currently the Blofis apartment, and they were enjoying every minute of it. With his sister Estelle around, there was always something to do. Percy absolutely adored his sister. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. Just another side effect of his fatal flaw.

He hadn't told his mother or Paul what had happened during their trip, not wanting to worry them, but he had given Annabeth the simple explanation when he got back. He made sure to stress that he had been discreet, so she had eventually given up the interrogation. That's why it was such a surprise when they were sent a visitor not a week later.

When it happened, Percy was playing with Estelle in the living room while Annabeth studied in their room. Even though she had graduated from high school early, and they weren't due to start at New Rome University for several months, she insisted on keeping up with her studies. He, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less about school. The only reason he was going to college was so he could stay near Annabeth.

Sally was cooking lunch in the kitchen, and Paul was at work. There wasn't much the man could do for the case of Percy's expulsion from Goode, but he still worked there as an English teacher. And Percy used the powers of being a savior of Olympus to get a diploma for himself from the gods anyway. Annabeth still made him study sometimes, but he figured it was the least he could do after practically giving his girlfriend a heart attack when he announced he wasn't planning on finishing mortal high school.

Just as he was about to let Estelle win their game of cars, there was a knock at the door. Since his mother was closer to it, Percy didn't feel the need to interrupt his playtime with his baby sister. A year ago, Percy would have bolted to the door to make sure it wasn't a monster, but ever since the end of the Giant War, monsters tended to steer clear of the smell of the sea. Besides Kelli, of course. She was a perpetual nuisance for Percy.

And just as he was about to make his car lose, his mother called him, "Percy! There's someone at the door for you."

He was immediately on alert. The way his mom's voice sounded made it seem like she was trying to warn him, so his mind went straight down monster lane. Gripping Riptide in his pocket, Percy made his way to the front door, trying to act casual, but his muscles were tensed for battle.

"Coming, Mom!" he answered.

What he found was certainly not what he was expecting. Sure, it wouldn't have been a surprise to find that it wasn't obviously a monster, but his eyes weren't completely masked by the Mist. He could still tell when in the presence of something related to the divine, and he most-certainly was not in that moment.

As he got to the door, he noticed that his mom had positioned her body to block the entrance to the apartment. So not a monster, but possibly a threat, he concluded.

"Who's this?" he asked his mom, taking her place in front of the doorway.

"I'm Agent Hill with the FBI, and I have a few questions to ask. Would it be alright if we stepped inside?" the woman introduced herself, flashing a badge.

Percy wished he could have checked the badge's authentication, but his dyslexia prohibited that. He did his best to keep a cool persona as he acted like he could actually read what was on the badge. Given that his mother hadn't made any protests, he passed it off as good enough.

He narrowed his eyes at the agent, assessing her threat level quickly before deciding that saying 'no' would cause more trouble than saying 'yes' and answering with a simple, "Sure."

He and his mom backed away and let the women enter before shutting the door behind them. As the woman walked inside, Percy and his mom shared a silent conversation. He told her to take Estelle to her room and stay with her after alerting Annabeth of their visitor. He was sure that his girlfriend had already figured it out, but better to be safe than sorry.

"Take a seat. Do you want anything to drink?" Percy gestured to the kitchen table and went to grab glasses out of the cupboard.

The woman took a seat before saying, "Some water would be great, thank you."

Percy mentally noted that the woman was keeping a professional front while trying to still be friendly.

After he had gotten the water and sat himself down across from Agent Hill, he said, "You said you wanted to ask some questions. I'm not sure why, though. I haven't done anything."

Hill took a sip of her water before responding, "Well, we are just going over some of our older files and wanted to fill in some blanks on yours. For instance, where were you when you disappeared? We have a record saying you were spotted in Greece."

Percy had been prepared for this question. Annabeth had ingrained it in his head after he had run into his old swim team and had fumbled over an answer. After that, Annabeth had come up with a whole explanation for what seemed like every possible question out there.

So, he quickly answered, "I was with my dad."

He had been told that it was best to answer with short sentences. That way there was less room for confusion. Honestly, he was surprising himself with the calmness he exhibited. Annabeth had suspected he would end up needing her to rescue him if the need for these explanations ever arose.

"I thought you didn't know who your dad was," Hill countered smoothly, gaze becoming almost snake-like.

"We recently connected. He lives in Greece," Percy said.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could make out some blond curls peeking out from the edge of the hallway leading to the bedrooms. His mind let out a sigh at the knowledge that his Wise Girl was here to save him from whatever inevitable mistake he made.

"Ok, then could you please inform me of his name?" Hill asked, "And then maybe we could travel somewhere more private for the rest of my questions."

She could tell that they were being spied on, then. That seemed like a little above the average skill-level of an FBI agent to Percy, but he was just basing his thoughts off of movies, so he wasn't too sure.

Whatever the case, there was no way that he was going to go anywhere with Agent Hill. Here at home, he was on his turf. Wherever he was taken would be unknown territory, and it was common sense to not go into there.

Trying to dodge the name question, he said, "I'm not going anywhere with you without a warrant. I have rights, you know."

He was just saying what sounded right. Honestly, he had slept through US History. He barely knew who the first president was, let alone his constitutional rights.

"Those are irrelevant with probable cause, and we're only going to ask some more questions. I promise that if you come calmly, there will be no record of it anywhere," Hill said, standing up and brushing off invisible dirt from her clothes.

Percy thought about it, he really did...for a whole three seconds. I mean, what would one expect from the most irrational person on the planet?

"Yeah...sorry but I'm not going anywhere with you, especially not calmly," he said, standing up and reaching into his pocket again.

Even though he knew that the Agent was a mortal, and that Riptide would be useless in a fight against her, he still had an instinct to go for his most-trusted weapon when endangered. And in the moment, he felt extremely endangered.

Hill seemed to be trying to inconspicuously reach for her gun, but he saw it. His ADHD had kicked into overdrive, and he was noticing every little movement the woman made. ADHD could come in handy sometimes.

"Mr. Jackson, I highly suggest you stand down and let me take you in. I don't want this to get messy," Hill said smoothly, holding a hand out in a placating gesture.

"Too bad everything I do gets messy," Percy said, trying to simply swipe Agent Hill's legs out from under her, but she jumped over it and threw a punch to his temple, which is swiftly dodged.

Percy may have been taught to never hit girls when he was younger, but when he became a demigod, he learned that a threat could come from anywhere, and more often than not, it came from the female gender (or something resembling a female).

His signature troublemaker smirk made its way onto his face when he realized that this fight was actually something he had to work for. He wasn't arrogant persay, but he knew what he had defeated before, and a simple mortal isn't usually a comparison to them. But he knew better than to underestimate any opponent. Annabeth taught him that one. Speaking of Annabeth, she was still hiding behind the wall, probably waiting until the prime moment to strike. Always the strategist!

Hill and Percy's fight become a fluid motion. Sometimes they got a hit in, but most of the time it was a game of defend and retaliate. Nobody had the upper hand...yet.

Percy may be better at swordsmanship, but it wasn't like he was completely ignorant to hand-to-hand combat. He knew some stuff, including how to feint and attack. Blame Luke for that one.

So, Percy used the technique. He wasn't actually expecting it to work, considering the obvious skill level of the agent he was fighting, but maybe a simple trick was just the thing he needed to knock her off her game. Even so, when he feinted a punch to her temple, just to pull back and knee her in the stomach, he didn't stop in shock. He let his adrenaline guide him into pulling the woman into a headlock that even Tyson, with all his cyclops strength, would have trouble getting out of.

Hill pulled at his arm a couple times before giving up on that strategy and trying another one: talking, "You know, Perseus, this little display makes it really hard for me to believe you're innocent. In case you haven't noticed, you're holding a federal agent in a headlock."

Percy grip barely loosened, but his determination to defy the agent's questions lessened. She was right. What makes her think that he's one of the good guys if he fought another one of them? Nothing, that's what. Because of this, he let out a large sigh, making eye contact with Annabeth (who's eyes widened in realization and shock), and released Agent Hill. He knew that she had manipulated her, but he also knew that what she had said was true.

As soon as Hill was out of his hold, she turned around while simultaneously pulling her gun out and pointing it at Percy, chest heaving for breath, "Don't move! Get on your knees and put your hands behind your head."

Percy complied, but he could see Annabeth finally slipping into the light, ready to fight off the woman arresting her boyfriend. He met her eyes and tried to convey his thoughts, but she ignored him, instead opting to go ballistic on Agent Hill.

"What do you think you're doing?! Let him go!" she yelled and grabbed Percy as Hill cuffed Percy with some seriously high-tech handcuffs and tried to pull him to his feet.

Hill kept a steel face as she shoved Percy towards the door, "He assaulted a federal agent. I have probable cause."

All of the noise had pulled Sally out of her hiding spot in her daughter's room. Once she saw what was happening, she joined Annabeth in protest. Percy just really wanted them to let it happen. Better it be him than anyone else.

"Mom, Annabeth, let me go. I'll be fine, I promise." Percy said, eyes pleading as they reached the front door.

Annabeth scoffed, eyebrows furrowing, "Like that means anything!"

"Mom, let me go. I'll be fine," After saying that to his mother, Percy turned to Annabeth, "Tell my cousins what's going on. They can help."

He prayed that she understood what he was trying to say. He wanted her to tell their demigod friend's what happened to him, and then they could help her with whatever plan she comes up with. Knowing Annabeth, she already had a plan, though, so there was no doubt in his mind that she had understood what he was insinuating.

Annabeth hesitated before giving him a curt nod. Hill took that as her signal to tug him out the door, but before he was completely gone, Annabeth grabbed his face in her hands and gave him a kiss. They were deepening it as the Agent once again pulled him away. Annabeth and his mom's worried faces followed him until he was inside the elevator, heading down to the lobby.

On the ride down, his entire body tensed up as flashbacks from the Doors of Death shot through his mind. Usually, he could push them away when Annabeth was there with him, but the stress of the previous hour was weighing on his mind, so it became difficult. Hill seemed to think that he was going to try to resist again, so she pulled out her gun again, aiming at his side. For the first time, Percy noticed that the gun looked a little odd; it was glowing blue. Then, before he could react, Hill pulled the trigger and the last thing Percy saw before he blacked out was blue liquid seeping out of his side.

Ω ♆ Ω

How was it? Let me know in the comments! As always, like, follow, and reblog pls!! Thank you to my amazing beta reader, nightskywithrainbows on Ao3! This would suck without you! Go check out their writing!

- your author

other chapters :)