#even so she'd be around when everyone is gathered around the fire or something

[beensbaee]

𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒚𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 ˚ ༘♡ ·˚ ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ

summary; neteyam has always avoided y/n due to the fact that he cannot trust himself around her - but what happens when he is tasked to teach her?

pairing; neteyam!teacher x y/n

word count; 3.5k

HER BEWITCHING BOY

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

It was no surprise Y/n and Lo'ak were such good friends. Both of them had the same wild nature that always got them into trouble - and a distinctive laughter that caught everyone's attention.

Unlike Lo'ak, she was the tiniest bit more responsible. She was also more immersed in the clan too - often spending her free time playing with the younger children and asking the elders all sorts of questions - even finding new paths in the forest with Kiri to travel on.

Her relationship with little Tuktirey was just as sweet. She'd often find all sorts of ways to have the girl giggling and smiling, whether it was by making faces or telling her stories so silly that Tuk couldn't even contain her amusement.

There was just one Sully kid she wasn't close with. Neteyam was a year older than her - and he'd always kept his distance from Y/n.

She was not blind. She'd see how he'd be sitting comfortably with his family until Y/n would come. Even Jake had seen the way the boy's smile would falter as he would suddenly begin looking anywhere that wasn't towards her - giving her a curt greeting before excusing himself and leaving.

She'd try not to look hurt - but everyone saw how her ears fell in embarrassment at his behavior towards her. Lo'ak would brush it off, telling her to ignore him. Kiri herself would be confused but would always choose not to say anything as she took it upon herself to make the girl feel more welcomed and forget about her eldest brother's reaction.

Neteyam always seemed conflicted when his parents would bring up his apparent dislike for her - sometimes claiming he didn't notice he was treating her differently, and other times remaining silent when questioned why he treated her like she was something to avoid completely.

The truth was that he himself did not know either.

Well he knew, but refused to accept the fact.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Y/n was shuddering, Lo'ak howling with laughter as Kiri rubbed her arm soothingly

"It is ok, Y/n. Not everyone is perfect at aiming." Kiri said as a way to comfort the girl, discreetly kicking Lo'ak's leg and giving him a look that quickly stopped his laughter

"Eywa, I could have killed him." She groaned, hiding her face with her hands as Kiri looked at her with a frown

"But you didn't!" Lo'ak chirped up as Y/n sighed, slinging off the bow that had been on her back and holding the wood firmly in her hands

"As if he didn't already hate me enough." She mumbled, Lo'ak finally turning towards her with concern

"He doesn't hate you, Y/n. He's just... dumb?" He tried, but Y/n only sent him a sad smile

"He's a hundred times smarter than you!" She laughed, Lo'ak rolled his eyes as Kiri joined in with her own grin

"Come on, it is time to eat." Kiri said as the three teens made their way to the central part of the village where the clan gathered to eat meals together

After fighting over who sat next to whom, the lineup consisted of Kiri, Y/n, and Lo'ak in a row - everyone satisfied with the seating arrangement as they conversed amongst themselves. Jake and Neytiri sat a few rows down from them - and Y/n's eyes caught the familiar muscled back of Neteyam Sully as he sat down next to his parents and grandmother.

She winced, heart burning with shame as she looked at his bandaged leg. The same leg she had accidentally hit when wielding a bow.

Jake had insisted she'd be fine hours earlier when she refused to hunt with the weapon, handing her the bow and arrow and giving her a simple target  to practice her aim with while the hunting party was taking a break.

She'd usually hunted with a simple knife, expertly too. She'd excelled at many things - but her skills with a bow was not one of them

She'd fired it, her arm shaking with fear as her hand slipped. The arrow didn't stay true to its path at all and flew completely out of her sight. Moments after firing, they heard a sharp yell - Jake only turned towards her in disbelief with his mouth hanging open. Never had she seen her clan leader in such denial.

Her embarrassment was incomparable as she and Jake ran in the direction of the yell, only to find Neteyam kneeling over in pain as he held the gash on his leg with his hands, blood running over his fingers as he applied pressure to the wound.

Thank the Great Mother the arrow merely grazed him. Y/n had been brought to near tears as she apologized profusely for her actions. Neteyam merely bowed his head, mumbling that he was fine and clearly embarrassed himself by the situation as Jake quickly patched up the boy with his on the go medical kit.

He got up the second he was patched, insisting he was fine and leaving as Y/n finally gathered the courage to approach him

"Neteyam, Neteyam wait!" She pleaded, her voice desperate as he visibly froze in his path, slowly turning around to meet her eyes

"I know we are not friends - but please understand, I had no intention of hurting you. I am so sorry." She said, her voice was strained as she spoke, eyes pained as she struggled to convey her true guilt.

He remained silent, looking at her so intensely that she felt her back straightening subconsciously. He parted his lips as if to say something, mouth moving as he struggled to find the words before clamping it shut and shaking his head

"It is fine, Y/n. I am fine, please do not worry about me." He finally said, his voice foreign and eyes hard before he turned away from her, his muscles tense as he walked away.

She wanted to cry in that moment, her eyes stinging with shame as she turned away, unable to understand the clear aversion the Sully boy had for her.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Neteyam ate his food silently, occasionally cracking a smile at his fathers ridiculous jokes.

He couldn't stop himself from looking back to Lo'ak and Kiri, but his eyes didn't stay on them. They moved to the girl between the two.

The familiar feeling of his heart thundering in his chest returned as he looked away once again, closing his eyes while he struggled to keep himself from marching over to the trio and pulling her away.

He hated Y/n. He hated her so much sometimes.

He hated how he was reminded of her everywhere he turned. He hated how she'd braid flowers into her hair and how her clothes were always so out of place from the familiar brown and greens the clan wore - her pink and purple accessories only pulling his eyes towards her even more.

He hated how he couldn't control his heart around her. Never had he felt so out of control. He hated how easily she'd be able to have him do anything if she just asked, her voice a melody he'd listen to from afar - something similar to a drug. Something he desired so much but refused to have - the fear of addiction holding him back.

He'd promised himself it was just a small crush when he'd first seen her vibrant smile. 

He told himself anyone would have fallen in love with the way she so selflessly loved. 

He had to force himself to look away from her when she was doing simple tasks - eating, weaving baskets - even just praying - he'd find her eyes closed and content as her face was composed with eternal peace he wished to find.

He'd told himself to stay away from her completely because she wasn't someone he could trust himself to be around. The feeling of simply not understanding what he felt was what scared him so much. But her beauty - one that had his knees so weak he had to look away just to stand without faltering, was what terrified him the most.

Her beauty wasn't something unknown - she was the most enchanting na'vi in the clan through his eyes. Her delicate cheeks and round eyes with fluttering lashes had him in awe at times. But, as he watched another boy approach her as she ate - her curious eyes meeting him as he quickly struck up a conversation with the trio had him blinking rapidly.

He was seemingly talking to all three, but Neteyam did not miss the way the mystery boy's eyes would trail back to Y/n to seemingly try and catch a glimpse of her.

He clenched his jaw, looking down at the food in front of him with furrowed brows. Suddenly, he wasn't so hungry anymore.

He couldn't even be mad. He had no say over who spoke to her - and this wasn't the first time.

He'd seen numerous boys approach her before, and every time, he'd be watching the interaction from afar. Fuming with a clenched jaw as he struggled to kill the jealousy that was running through him like a storm.

The only thing that prevented him from intervening was Y/n's gently but sad smile as she rejected Every. Single. One. Nothing was more satisfying than watching her shake her head - indicating a polite no from her that had each boy walking away with slumped shoulders.

As if Y/n had felt his burning gaze, she lifted her head to look directly at him.

Her eyes - they had him swallowing the lump in his throat as he looked right back at her, refusing to break eye contact. 

She blinked rapidly as she stared back, her gaze struggling to hold the intensity in his eyes as she finally looked away.

He left dinner right after it ended, returning to his hammock with a pounding headache as he struggled to sort his thoughts.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

"Neteyam."

He slowly opened his eyes to find his mother standing over him, her eyes concerned as Neteyam quickly sat up with his brows pulled together in concern

"Is something wrong, Mother?" He asked quickly, his voice tired as she frowned

"Yes. You went to bed so early. Are you feeling ok?" She asked gently as Neteyam automatically nodded his head

"Mother - I am fine." He said, but his voice wasn't convincing enough to her. Just as she was about to say something, Jake walked towards them with hurried steps once he heard their voices

"You awake, boy?" He asked, moving to stand next to Neytiri as Neteyam nodded his head, his annoyance present in his sigh

"Why is everyone asking if I am ok?" He questioned as Jake and Neytiri looked at each other - their eyes obviously having some sort of an exchange he was not apart of

"You seem distracted lately." Was what Jake settled on as Neteyam remained silent

Quickly, Jake's eyes lit up as if he thought of something. He turned to Neytiri with a glint in his eyes that had her look at him expectedly

"Now, I need a favor from you. Think you can do it?" Jake asked, his voice firm as Neteyam nodded his head

"Of course. What do you need?" He answered dutifully, his mind still hazy from being awoken from his slumber

"I need you to teach Y/n how to wield a bow and fire an arrow."

Jake didn't miss the way Neteyam nearly flinched at his words, his eyes widening the slightest bit as well. But, he remained still and silent and gave them no further insight as to how he felt by the request 

Neytiri watched him carefully as Neteyam finally nodded his head, his knuckles pale from gripping the sides of his hammock so hard as his lips were set in a firm line.

"Yes sir."

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Y/n shuffled her feet as she watched Neteyam secure the last few necessary things they needed for the next few hours they were spending in the forest together inside of his bag.

His hands moved so gracefully - Y/n couldn't help but watch him as he placed one last arrow on his back, turning to her and gesturing his head towards the exit of the tent and towards the forest.

"Come on Y/n." He said, turning his back towards her as he led her into the forest, a clear destination in his mind as she recognized a few trees with markings on them with the path he was leading her on - clearly targets previous na'vi had used to practice with their bows and arrows on.

She felt her cheeks heat up as she realized the fact that these targets were probably made for children to practice their skills on.

Hunting with a bow and arrow wasn't required - and Y/n knew from the start she wasn't very good with one, so she didn't bother ever picking up one. But now, it seemed she'd have to learn how to master it, one way or another.

She turned to Neteyam, her voice quieter than usual as she spoke her true thoughts

"Do you think I am capable of even learning how to use a bow this late? Especially after..." She asked, her embarrassment evident in her voice as he turned to her with the same intense gaze she was used to seeing in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

"Well, of course you are. Mistakes happen." He said, silence following after his words as he saw the hesitation in her eyes - maybe it was his words, or maybe it was the fact that they'd never been alone together - and that he'd never really even spoken this much to her.

Finally, he smiled. It was such a small movement on his face, but she'd seen how his eyes had softened as the smallest of smile lines appeared. It was a change.

"Come here."

She obliged without hesitation, standing next to him only seconds later as he handed her his bow and an arrow. She grabbed his bow with careful hands, her fingers running over the intricately beautiful engravings in the wood as she admired it.

He was watching her, his gaze unwavering as he saw the small twitch of her lips as they formed a smile. She didn't notice his gaze - too focused on the bow, and he took the opportunity to look at her up close.

He'd never allowed himself to be this close to her - after the last time there had been such little distance between them her intoxicating scent had been the thing to keep him up for hours. But now, he closed his eyes and could only inhale it - his tail flicking as his senses recognized the sweet smell

"Hold it like this." He instructed

He didn't even recognize his own voice - it came out much rougher than he intended it to, but he forced himself to focus on the way her hands held his bow - searching for any mistakes with the way she was positioned that might be why she was having trouble firing an arrow.

His fingers mistakingly brushed over hers - and he felt himself letting out a breath to steady himself and calm his heart - it seemed like Y/n had also been thrown off by the small touch between them as she quickly blinked while staring at their hands.

Neteyam finally realized her mistake as he noticed the way her fingers went straight over the wood she was holding when they should have curved over the slanted piece.

He didn't trust himself to say anything without his voice giving away exactly how he felt, so he wordlessly moved her fingers - cupping his hand over hers and moving it into position and nodding his head

She met his eyes once he gave her the cue to fire her arrow, and she unleashed it - the strong string snapping it forward with impeccable speed as it hit the target right in its center

She looked at the target in disbelief as she let out a victory war cry one would use in battle - startling Neteyam instantly as she clapped her hands in pure excitement

"I got it! Neteyam I got it!" She exclaimed, her eyes shining with so much appreciation that she leaped towards the boy and tackled him with a hug

He only yelped as he fell backward and onto the grass, her body on top of his as she hugged him tightly - laughter spilling out of her as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her - before tightening them and reciprocating her ecstatic embrace

They stayed like this for a few moments - both of them holding each other so close that every single previous cold and awkward encounter of the two of them before faded away - the two so lost in the moment as they laughed

Finally, she pulled away - her eyes still crinkled with joy as Neteyam felt himself quieting once again as he stared at her. But this time, it was not with the usual emotionless stare - but with a gaze so open and with no facade, she too quieted as she felt the atmosphere change.

Finally he looked away, unable to look at Y/n any longer as he began speaking

"I am sorry for how I have treated you in the past. I... it was shameful." He finally spoke, words Y/n had been wanting to hear for so long - she didn't even believe he'd said them

She knew he had one of the biggest hearts ever - the snippets she'd catch of him with his siblings had confirmed that. She knew there was a reason he typically avoided her - and she had a very good feeling she was about to find out what it was.

"It is ok." She said, the sweetest smile on her face as Neteyam felt his heart crack at the sight

All the times he'd been so awful, so cold and distant - she'd forgiven. Because she had a heart of gold - something Neteyam felt he didn't deserve. Something he thought he wasn't worthy of.

"Y/n..." He struggled to finish the sentence as he stared at her lips, parted and simply begging for him - the urge to press his lips against hers was overwhelming

"Y/n, I do not deserve someone like you. I could not look you in the eyes - or speak to you all this time because of how I felt. I feel so much for you - it is like my heart is set on fire when I look at you sevin -"

The word had slipped from his lips - but she'd heard it.

Sevin. Pretty

She felt her heart flutter as she heard his words. He thought she was pretty.

He smiled at her reaction before shaking his head and reaching for her hands hesitantly. She reached forward slowly, lacing their fingers together with sparkling eyes as he cracked a grin

He knew she felt something for him too - because of the numerous boys that had pursued her, she never held their hands the way she was holding his - nor did she stare at them with eyes so round and filled with such a tender kindness as she did with him.

She leaned forward, gently brushing her lips against his to see his reaction. But he merely pulled her back in - his mouth enveloping hers as he moved his arms around her.

He kissed away all her confusion that night, spending the hours meant for her training with her hands in his hair and his face pressed against hers.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

six full moons later ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

It was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.

The tense Neteyam who'd always been frowning was replaced by one who couldn't stop smiling. He was the one who'd be more eager for Y/n to come over then his own siblings, the one who made Lo'ak gag dramatically whenever he and Y/n did anything even remotely romantic - the one who looked forward to seeing her the most.

In the beginning he wouldn't even stand next to her - and now, he refused to be separated from her.

They'd sneak out at night to gaze at the stars - a favorite pastime of theirs now as Y/n would lay her head on his chest and tell Neteyam anything and everything that came to her mind. Neteyam would do the same - saying things that would have Y/n giggling as she nuzzled her nose against his skin

"Tomorrow, you and I will have a date night." Neteyam said proudly, Y/n tilting her head up and towards with a smile 

"What is a date night?" She asked, her hands mindlessly playing with his fingers as Neteyam grinned

"My parents have date nights all the time - they go out to have their own private time, away from everyone else. You and I could pick all sorts of fruits to snack on - climb all sorts of trees with no one to tell us what to do." He said, voice gentle with his lips set into a soft smile

She smiled, gently moving her hand to his face as she traced over his freckles that glowed in the moonlight. He looked radiant in the day - but at night, he was bewitching. There was a certain thing about him and the night that comforted her more than anything else in the world

"Well then, we should have date night every night." She insisted as he laughed, the sound a melody to her ears as she merely smiled against him - the stars shining above the two for every date night they would spend together.

[suuuupernovaaa]

mong

mong [m·oŋ] vtr. depend on, rely on, trust for protection

Anonymous Request: I was wondering if you could do a Neteyam x f reader who grew up with/around the Sullys and Jake and Neteyam are protective of her. And then one day she walks into their tent or a gathering and just rushes into Neteyams arms and clings to him they are all worried. Neteyam comforts her and holds her while Jake tries to solve the problem?

1,551 words

My mother's grip on my upper arm was so tight that I knew it would leave bruises.

"You will do this," she hissed in my ear. "There is no other choice. Don't be foolish."

With much effort, I pulled my arm from her grasp and stumbled back, staring at her, horrified.

Before anyone else could speak, I ran.

--

"Was Y/N hunting today?" Jake Sully asked his eldest son as he and his family sat around a small fire, finishing up cleaning and drying their kills from the day.

"Yes," Neteyam replied.

Jake nodded, wiping off his knife. "You should have gone with her."

Neteyam sighed. He knew his father worried about Y/N, a girl - now woman - his age, and everyone knew why, but no one really said it.

Her parents were... unkind, and that was putting it lightly. He didn't think they'd ever put a hand on her, but even for Na'vi, they were harsh and unforgiving, and not for the sake of raising her right and keeping her safe in a dangerous world.

Just for the sake of being harsh. They didn't seem to like their own daughter very much, which confused the Sullys. She was kind, soft spoken, intelligent, and always supportive to her loved ones. There wasn't anything not to like about her.

Jake had watched her grow up, from a distance at first, and then encouraged his children to be friends with her. She'd latched to them immediately, and eventually to him and his wife as well, becoming almost a part of the family.

It seemed to be getting worse lately, and anytime she wasn't with the Sully family, the worry was there at the back of Jake's mind. He supposed he was really starting to think of her as a third daughter, and having her away from him for long periods of time caused him some anxiety.

He knew his oldest son felt a similar worry for the girl, but for entirely different reasons.

As if summoned by the mention of her name, Y/N burst through the door, causing every Sully head to turn her way. She breezed past everyone and threw herself right into Neteyam's arms, crying loudly, which was very uncharacteristic for her.

Jake jumped up immediately, and Neytiri ran to Neteyam's side, placing her hand on Y/N's back as she sobbed.

"What have they done now?" Jake huffed under his breath, wondering what kind of laws were in place that would allow him to punish her parents for the way they treated this poor, sad girl.

"What is it, child?" Neytiri asked, but Y/N was too upset to speak. Her breaths were coming in shallow gasps, and Neteyam looked to his mother and then his father with wide, panicked eyes.

Kiri joined the three of them on the floor, placing a hand on Y/N's back right next to her mothers. The two women in unison closed their eyes and began taking in deep breaths, low and slow, in and out.

It took a while, but Neteyam felt Y/N doing the same as she clung to him.

"There you go," Neteyam whispered, stroking her hair as she breathed. He had never seen Y/N so much as frown, none the less cry. No matter what she was put through, her dispositioned always remained sunny and calm. Something terrible must have happened.

"Tell us what happened," Neytiri said, and Y/N finally sat up, but Neteyam would not let her out of his arms. She had to turn, settling in his lap, with his arms crossed over her chest.

--

Even though I knew the Sullys had noticed that my parents were different, I had never spoken of it to them. What was the point? I could not change who my parents were. I could only keep my head down, be respectful, and hope to escape when I was older.

And now, I had been offered and escape, and I would rather die than accept it.

"They have... they are forcing me to mate with Marek," I said finally, and Neteyam's arms over my chest tightened, pulling my back into his chest, as Kiri gasped.

I cast my eyes downward, embarrassed at my outburst, and at burdening their family with this - but I didn't know where else to go.

"Marek is awful," Kiri whispered. "He's mean, and cruel, and he's..."

"Just like my father," I whispered, tears pricking at the corner of my eyes again. I looked up to Jake, the man I'd always wished had truly been my father, and the expression on his face was dark and malicious.

"This will not happen. Neteyam, with me, now."

Neteyam frowned, holding me tightly to him, but his father demanded he join him a second time, and they left without so much as a word.

Neytiri and Kiri held me tightly as Lo'ak and Tuk stood nearby, and I wished for the millionth time that I had been born into this family instead.

--

Netyeam and his father returned almost an hour later, very quiet, somewhat relieved and mostly nervous.

When they entered, Neytiri was braiding Y/N's hair while Kiri and Tuk sang softly by the fire. Lo'ak sat nearby, looking oddly out of place.

"Okay, well," Jake said as he entered, spreading his arms to the side. "I think we should give Neteyam and Y/N a little space to talk."

Y/N furrowed her brown. Netytiri squeezed her should and Kiri patted her on the knee before the entire Sully family, minus Neteyam, rose to leave.

Jake approached before he left, and put a hand on her shoulder. "We would never let anyone hurt you, Y/N, and we did what we thought was best to protect you... but nothing is set in stone. You get to decide your path."

Y/N tilted her head to the side, extremely confused and in the dark, but Jake left, leaving just Y/N and Neteyam there.

"Neteyam, tell me what's going on!" she said, and the two of them quickly approached each other, meeting in the middle of the tent.

"My dad and I, we went to speak to your parents and..." Neteyam cleared his throat. "On the way there, I told my father the truth, Y/N. I told him that there were many reasons I want you away from Marek, and your parents. I want you to be safe, and loved, and treated the way you deserve. And I want all this because I... I have been in love with you for a very long time."

Y/N was quiet before him, her face nearly expressionless, extremely hard to read, so Neteyam pressed on.

"We spoke to your parents and we made them an offer. I asked them for your hand. I asked their permission to be your mate."

Remaining stoic, Y/N's expression did not change. Neteyam reached out, taking her hands into his.

"If this is not what you want, you only have to tell me, and we will find a safe place for you. You will have the protection of your Olo'eyktan. Of my family."

Y/N opened her mouth, and then shut it again, and to his great horror, she was crying once more. Soft, quiet tears rolled from her eyes and down her cheeks.

He was prepared to tell her again, she didn't have to do anything she didn't want to do, when she took her hands from his, put them on either side of his face, and pulled his lips to hers.

--

I was frozen as Neteyam spoke. Not only had he saved me from my parents and from Marek, but he had somehow granted me the deepest desire of my heart? A hope that I had never spoken to a single soul?

For years, I had harbored a love for Neteyam, that only grew as we spent more time together.

He was standing before me now, offering me everything I'd ever wanted, and making it clear for the first time in my life, that I had complete control over my own destiny.

Overtaken by relief, gratitude and joy, all I could do was pull him to me in a long overdue kiss.

When I pulled away, Neteyam wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Is that... a yes?" he asked, and I had to laugh.

"Of course it is. And, Neteyam, please know this is not just to escape. I have loved you for a long time. We could have both saved each other some anguish by just admitting that a while ago."

Neteyam pulled me in for a tight hug, and I reveled in how completely safe I felt in his arms. I reveled in the joy of finally becoming a Sully. I reveled in the delight of never having to see my parents again if I didn't want to.

Soon, the tent was full of Neteyam's family once more, cheering, and crying a little, and celebrating.

Jake was the first to pull me into a hug, and he whispered in my ear. "I always knew you were meant to be my daughter, one way or another."

We smiled at each other, and the feeling of calm and safety grew, settling over all of us - and it would never disappear again.

[dearlot]

spending christmas with the yellowjackets 💭

— just random headcanons that include the crash, postcrash, and adult timelines. in no specific order. gn!reader.

christmas in the cabin?!! they had soooo much more to worry about but like let's build a snowman guysss!!! let's cut down a tree and make wood ornaments and give gifts to each other!!! jackie asking you late at night if you think santa would come and deliver presents 😭 all waking up on whatever day you deem Christmas and having a celebration feast? :( lottie making tea for everyone, mari and you trying to make do with all the frozen berries and belts and acorns you've gathered, misty probably singing christmas songs by the fire, unwrapping presents with clothes as wrapping paper.....

the second winter you guys are so much more prepared and also so much more feral. christmas this time around would include a sacrifice for a nice dinner. shauna would disguise it as pulling cards for secret santa but you're actually about to surrender your life or die fighting. you've all got winter outfits too, and i think it'd be cute if everyone else besides lottie and nat wore these little reindeer headpieces during the feast because you guys are their followers. does that make sense? idk.

thinking about being taivan's controversially younger partner during christmas 😁 discounts in van's store (she needs the money ur not getting SHIT for free) and going with them to shop for decorations for the store too😖 gay christmas tree up in van's room...... watching christmas classics while drinking spiked eggnog and cuddling on the couch.... literally getting anything you want because you're their baby. waking up on christmas day, walking down to the kitchen for a quick drink of water first, and seeing tai and van wearing santa hats and kissing 😭

don't even get me started on being adult lottie's partner during christmas. i'll never shut up. i know that wellness center is decorated head to toe and i know she asked you to help her put everything up 😔 she'd give you some hot cocoa after all that hard work and a nice big kiss.

shauna (both adult and postcrash) is the fuckin' worst at hiding your presents, dawg. she probably shoves it in a closet somewhere and hopes you don't need anything from there 😭 of course you find it and immediately know what it is because i wonder what could this black, slightly boxy trash bag possibly be... probably really bad at wrapping too like most of your presents are just covered in tape LMFAO

oughh. spending christmas with post!crash lottie 😖 im ill. trying your best to save up some money to go visit her in swizterland but you just can't afford it :/ mailing polaroids of yourself with all the presents you wanted to send (some of them weren't allowed) and telling her they'll be waiting for her until she gets out :( Christmas with mute!Lottie too.... trying to spread some christmas spirit but its so hard when she's still so broken and won't talk :(( you do what you can though. taking her ice skating and getting a smile and laugh out of her was the highlight of the month.

nat would be so fucking good at gift giving i think....she's always so thoughtful with anything she does for a friend or her lover when making gifts for them because i feel like she'd prefer making rather than buying. little scrapbooks of meaningful places, mixtapes of songs that remind her of you, painting you something even!!!! or even something like getting you this book you really wanted but it comes with this HUGE handwritten note from her that's decorated with stickers and drawings of you and extra goodies she made on her own :(

christmas at lottie's compound with the others!!! you're lottie's closest acolyte and you've gotten closer with the girls as well. thinking about sitting in the circle with them in the sharing shack and they're comfortable enough with you to talk about the murders n shit in front of you 😭 but also going around and giving them gifts!! drinking wine with them and then dancing in the snow, throwing snowballs, and making snow angels >__< falling asleep after getting wasted and you're all kinda just in a pile laying on each other

jackie would buy so. much. mistletoe just to kiss you. you tell her she can just kiss you whenever but she's obsessed with christmas so it HAS to be under mistletoe. i think she'd go crazy during christmas too. you nearly had a heart attack when you came back from work to see a santa cutout peeking from behind a wall 😭 jackie as mrs. claus.....😖😖😖wearing the hat and (her reading) glasses while cooking with you, waking you up as mrs. claus on christmas morning and giving you an hour long present, like, ugh.....

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Fluffvember Day 15 - In the Firelight

Twilight was cold.

A land that bathed in shadow naturally didn't have the same warmth to it as the land of Light. But the coolness of it was crisp and pleasant, refreshing and soothing.

Midna was used to the cold of Twilight. But this chill was far different, and even she shivered a little when she wasn't hiding in the shadows.

So she wasn't surprised when, halfway through traversing the manor those beast people lived in, Link finally succumbed to something. They'd been traipsing around in this forsaken frozen wasteland for at least a week, between tracking down the mirror share and then exploring the mansion. They'd been here for half a day and had already been misled what felt like a dozen times, leaving Midna growing progressively more frustrated despite her effort to just stay at a level of exasperation instead of outright anger.

The Yeti woman was sick. Midna tried to be patient. But the more they moved, the more she'd noticed that Link too was sniffling and shivering, that with each blow from an ice monster he slowed down even more.

When he couldn't swing the ball and chain that he'd collected, Midna had finally stepped in, forcing him to take a break.

"We'll resume tomorrow," she said evenly, trying to keep the annoyance out of her town. It wasn't his fault. He'd gone out of his way so many times for her. The least she could do was be patient one more day and make sure the idiot didn't get himself killed over a cold.

So here Link sat, curled in on himself by the fire. Midna wished she could go to the next room herself and get the soup that was being made for other sick occupant of the room, but she couldn't. So she watched Link shiver, feeling helpless.

Her frustration grew, and she aimed it at Zant. No one would be suffering if it weren't for him.

"Link," she said softly. "You need to eat. Why don't you have some of that soup? We've gathered half the ingredients, anyway."

She couldn't quite help the sarcasm in her tone, but Link smiled at it, typically finding amusement in her quips. She smiled back, though she wasn't sure he could see it.

Sniffling, Link moved to get up, shuffling sluggishly towards the other room. Yeto was kind, fretting over Link's state and asking if perhaps he had gotten his wife's illness. He insisted he would make soup for him too, offering him a large helping and shooing him back to the other room.

"Aw, they're adopting you," Midna teased with a snicker.

Link raised an eyebrow at her, but whatever reply he had was covered by a heavy cough. Sniffling, he slumped on the ground, sipping at the soup.

"Oh, little human sick, uh?" Yeta asked in her soft, weak voice. "Cold?"

"I'll be fine," Link said shakily with a gentle smile. The sight of it made Midna sigh a little - Link was...

She'd never met a man like him. She'd just say that.

"Eat," she ordered mildly. "You can cheer up everyone else with your chubby cheeks and cute little smile later."

Link flinched, looking at her, blushing. Midna felt her heart rate spike--that--she hadn't--that came out wrong. Thankfully, his reaction seemed less flustered and more embarrassed, as to him she was nothing more than a shadowy imp, but...

She shook her head. She wished she wasn't starting to hold such feelings, but...

It didn't matter. None of it mattered. What mattered was defeating Zant and getting home. The separation between Light and Dark had to be maintained.

The Ordonian Hero sighed, sipping the soup a bit more before just holding it in his hands, shivering.

"Ah, yes, cold," the strange, large woman commented, nodding. "Little human should come here."

"He's already by the fire," Midna said, though she knew she couldn't be heard. It was a little frustrating right now.

Well. It had been frustrating this entire time. She wasn't in the habit of being quiet or ignored. This entire certainly had been humbling.

Link looked like he was going to argue something similar and say he was fine, but Yeta shifted a little in her bundled up state, humming quietly. "Cold, uh? Come here, blankets warm. Fever warm."

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," Link said, though the way his teeth chattered didn't do him many favors.

Yeta shifted again, coughing as she did so, and Link hastily moved to her to prevent her from straining herself.

"We find key in morning," she said as she shuffled closer to Link, pressing him between herself and some cushions just by the fire.

Midna snickered as Link was practically drowning in the Yeti's quilts and fur, but his shivering at least stopped. He barely got through half his stew before he started falling asleep.

Yeta hummed, watching him a moment, and then looked at his shadow. "Voice sleep too, uh?"

Midna jumped, startled. Did she--?

Shaking her head, she grew quiet, watching Link in the firelight. Honestly, he looked far more comfortable than he had in a while, despite the cold that was running him down. Yeta smiled and closed her eyes.

The Twilight princess had to marvel at the kindness she'd seen on this journey. It...

Her people were not cruel. But being in her position, she wasn't entirely used to seeing people at their best. This had...

If she could take anything from this disaster and adventure, it was that people could be kind. And Link was the prime example.

Midna sighed, heart warm, and disappeared into the shadows.

[vivianleighwishesshewasme]

Pain in Progress

TCG ficlet-non canon (all ages)

Grace and Tommy go traveling together. Inspired by a prompt from Aeipathy.

______________________________________________________________

Grace carefully took her time climbing down out of the Caravan. She was mindful of the little wooden stool Tommy had placed on the soft ground for her. He must have told her several times yesterday to be aware that the stool might shift. He didn’t want her spraining her ankle or breaking it. 

It took everything in her to tightly smile and not remind him, again, that she’d been a spy and successfully bested him with months of careful work and gathering intelligence. 

She could handle a wobbly stool.

Since their engagement he’d been treating her with a fragility she’d never possessed. Grace had etiquette and manners, but she’d also been quite the tomboy growing up, gathering her skirts to climb trees and tossing mud balls at recess. 

She knew it was hard for him to see her like that even though she’d proven to him time and time again that she wasn’t just a delicate highborn lady. 

That’s why she’d been surprised when he’d asked to travel and camp with him. 

 They had just mere weeks until their wedding and while both parties were happy to finally bind their lives together, the thought of taking time off to stay connected was almost more stressful to her. She didn’t even know where they were going.

All he’d said was to trust him. It was a special place. She’d been touched deeply that he wanted to take her to someplace special. Polly, Ad and Arthur couldn’t even tell her where they were going because they didn’t know. 

“I can’t believe you kept the fire going all night. I thought you actually got some sleep whenever I was around?” She childed him gently and took her place on a fallen log next to him by the campfire. 

She’d earned a real smile from him. She gathered those and buried them in her heart like little metals pinned to a uniform. She cherished everyone she earned from him. 

“I had to keep us warm, Grace. Let the fire go out, out here and we’d never get a meal.” His voice seemed relaxed but his jaw saw set and his brow had been furrowed when she’d come out. He was thinking. A dangerous pastime for her restless man.

“What are we eating?” She stood and leaned over the black kettle. He’d answered her quickly though as he usually did. He seemed to like being her head of hers, caring for her. She tried to make sure she did little things for him he didn’t think about. Getting whiskey ready before he asked for it, matching her dress or cardigan to his tie or even leaving him little love notes on his desk when she knew he was going to have a stressful day of meetings and business. 

She'd never get what he said to her once out of her mind. It had burned so deeply into the crevasse, it kept her vigilant. She always watched for signs of stress. 

“No one ever thinks of Thomas Shelby. Just what Thomas Shelby can do for them.” she’d never forget that he said that.  

“Oatmeal Grace, it packs easily in the caravan, doesn't take up much space and cooks quickly.” He said off handedly. She leaned forward to make him aware that she was onto him. If he planned something that cooked quickly, he didn't need to be up all night. Something was weighing on him. She wanted him to share. That was the consistent fight between them. He’d never share his thoughts with her until it became an immovable obstacle between them. 

“What's on your mind Tommy? Water boils quickly, and I cook for myself all the time at my apartment. I know that much, it doesn't take keeping a fire going all night to boil water.”  He sighed heavily at her observation. He used a stick to poke at the fire. She watched the fire and cinders pop up and swirl upwards spiraling into the cool morning air. He was stalling. Why was it so hard for him to talk to anyone? Would it always be this way between them? 

“It’s fine Grace. I just….I think differently out here is all.” He seemed relaxed in his body posture. She knew it was his mind then. Something had been stirred up in his head. 

“That’s a shame, you looked relaxed yesterday. I enjoyed seeing you that way.” If she could get him to share his thoughts then she had no problem gently guilting him. He smirked. He knew her tactics too well now. 

“I am a relaxed Grace, this is me being relaxed.” He said gruffly and a bit too loud. She laughed and gently bumped her shoulder into his ear, earning a genuine chuckle. She savored this time alone with him. 

“Hate to see you busy then Tom.” She stood leaving him shaking his head, she still got to him. She dished out the oatmeal as he gathered the brown sugar and molasses. 

She knew the quick boiling meal was also so they could keep moving. 

“I'm out in the countryside, in a caravan with my favorite woman Grace. This is as good as it gets eh?” He kissed her before the mushy spoonful could get between him and her pink lips still swollen from sleep. 

“Thought it was already good. Not that I'm complaining, where are we headed too?” She had almost been careless with her words. She didn’t want to rile him up more. If she could pull him out, he’d eventually talk to her. 

“To a special place my mum used to take us kids.” His admission took her off guard. She placed the spoon down and gazed lovingly at him. 

She’d misread him. He rarely spoke about his mother. She knew it still brought him pain after all these years. The little she’d gathered without trying to pry too much, was that she’d taken her own life in the canal near Charlie Strong yard. An adopted uncle to her fiance. 

______________________________________________________________

She didn’t mind the preparation to travel, gathering wood or eating small game. It was the joistling in the caravan she wasn’t overly fond of, Tommy however seemed to find it amusing whenever they hit a bump or uneven spot in the road and she’d practically tumble onto his lap. 

He even cracked a few jokes at her expense along the line of..

“While your head is down there Grace… Eager aren't we.” 

She’d told him once they’d park she’d be happy to but she was a lady and not doing that out in the open. 

He chuckled and reminded her ladies don't generally know how to give head. He earned that swift and hard smack as far as she was concerned.  

They finally stopped by a river and large open valley. Tommy looked concerned. His head twisted and contorted as is puzzled by the scene before him. 

The land in front of them was being aggressively developed. Large mounds of dirt and plant debris were piled up, muddy surfaces were being outlined by wood and concrete.

“I’m sorry Tom.” His memories of a safe and happy place with his mum was being turned into a housing development for other family. Progress was taking over the countryside. 

“It's alright Grace. It's just progress. It happens.” He was grabbing the reins tightly. His usually tanned hands are now molting in white and red from intense squeezing. Grace gripped him tightly as if trying to keep the memory wrapped tightly around him from slipping away through his fingers. 

“There is always pain in progress Tommy. It’s okay to be upset about it. Even if the outcome is positive for all involved.” She placed her head gently against his. He leaned into her and took a deep inhale closing his eyes. 

They were a good match. 

“Does Not change the fact that it mars the memory though.“ He said as he gathered her into his arms and hugged her. 

“It wasn’t home, just a pretty place. I’ll always have the memory, eh.” She squeezed him tighter. 

“Yes, the memory.” she nodded numbness settling in. He was going to need extra affection today. 

“You're my home now Grace.” He tilted his head down and captured her into a dep kiss. She’d been surprised when she heard the reins snap and the Caravan lurch forward. Luckily he still had his arms around her tightly. 

“Lets go make some new memories eh posh girl.” He chuckled as she glared at him. She hated that nickname almost as much as when he called her Lady Sarah. 

[onceonafullmoon]

Can you please write anten x reader headcanons?? Thank you!!!!

Ofc!

Warnings for cannon typical violence and slight NSFW (mostly just slightly suggestive)

Anten x GN! Reader

You're probably friends with Kurotsuno to begin with, but you've never met many of her more... eccentric "friends" aside from Hanten

If you were to ask her about it, she'd just brush you off, although it's really because she cares about you and doesn't want you to meet any of the freaks that frequent her home

But eventually, you win her over and you find yourself a one way ticket to Kurotsuno's house

Its... definitely something... a lot more blood than you expected to be sure (see, Met had snuck into the house and Hanten was not pleased)

But somehow you manage to get yourself separated from Kurotsuno in the house, and it's there you meet Anten

You... aren't very impressed to say the least when you meet him, he's arrogant and self-centered, and he even tries to hit on you, much to your discomfort

Luckily for you Hanten grabs him and tosses him out the window, to which you thank her with a grateful smile

You think that that's the end of that and thank Kurotsuno for letting you stay

...but of course, that isn't the end of it, rather only the beginning because you end up seeing him again while on a stroll through the pitch black world

And this time, he seems to be in quite a bit of trouble. Some sort of an altercation with an angel?

Well, it seems like it, and it's getting kind of… messy, there’s lots of blood, and, oh gosh are those intestines?

Okay, normally you wouldn’t interfere, but you can’t help but feel bad for the guy, despite not knowing him well

Or, as you would soon find out, because you didn’t know him well

Anyways, you’re about to take a risk and possibly throw yourself into the direct line of fire due to your personal fault of being too nice when all of a sudden–

Wait, did Anten just get decapitated?!

Oh shit, did you just witness a murder?!

Well, while you’re freaking out about that, the angel takes their leave and Anten’s head slowly rolls to a stop at your feet

You’re about to pass out, scream, cry or all of the above when his head coldly asks you whether you’re done gawking

Oh, right, he’s a demon, you think to yourself

You would take the time to process, but your kind nature wins over your need to assess your mental wellbeing, and you do your best to gather all of his limbs and drag him to a hospital.

Needless to say, it’s a very messy ordeal, and you end up looking like a scene out of a horror movie when you’re done

But Anten doesn’t seem to care, you see, he’s not really used to people being nice to him

Much less, attractive people being nice to him 

So needless to say, after this very bloody interaction he finds himself somewhat smitten with you

It’s not anything he takes notice of at first, but with the way you two keep on bumping into each other at Kurotsuno’s place and just in general around the Pitch Black World…

Well, he can’t really deny it anymore.

Which leads us into the very embarrassing and downright depressing phase of Anten trying to woo you

It’s especially hard for him because almost everyone who knows you and knows him is trying their absolute best to dissuade this match from happening

Kurotsuno drags you away from him whenever he tries to talk to you, Hanten just punches him into a wall if he even looks at you, Maekami purposefully seats him away from you and even the people who are neutral about you do their best to interfere simply because everyone hates him

But somehow despite everyone's attempts to keep him away, his downright awful personality and his general presence causing issues for everyone…

Well, you can’t help finding his persistence… somewhat charming?

Yeah, you might be delusional, but fuck it if you’re not living your life

Enter the start of your relationship.

He’s definitely a self centered asshole by nature, but damn it if he doesn’t try his best to tone it down around you

He knows that you’re far too good for him, so you better believe he at least puts in some work

A lot of people actually find this amusing/ refreshing, and so it kind of becomes a thing that if you’re with him people are a lot more willing to deal with him

Oh, but know that Kurotsuno thinks that you’re an absolute moron

It’s like a case of a friend getting together with a shitty ex, it’s just painful for her to watch

Anyways, you two tend to get into fights a lot due to your opposing natures, so what happens a lot of the time is that he has to swallow his pride and go groveling back to you for forgiveness

Which you always grant him for reasons unknown

A lot of your time will also be spent patching him up from the various fights he gets into

Correction, not fights, one sided beatdowns that he’s the victim of

Kurotsuno is highly annoyed that you shed tears for this man, if he can even be qualified for one

Slight NSFW mention

In the bedroom, he tends to go slightly overboard, though that might be because he’s pent up from not having anyone in a long while lmaoooo

He really likes it when you pull on his hair, but don’t tell anyone that’s a secret

He also really likes it when you’re in charge and putting him in his place, cough degrading kink cough

In all, no one knows why you two are together, least of all him, but he’ll be damned if he lets you slip through his fingers

[eveningrainstorm]

Listen. Swansea is great; he's a well-written character and I like him a lot. But it's weird to me how much fan content I see about him that seems to make him out to be a lot nicer than he's actually shown to be in the game, and nowhere is this more obvious than in how people depict his relationship with Anya.

I've seen other people address the whole "If Anya had told Swansea what happened he'd have killed Jimmy" thing (she did. he didn't.) but there's a larger issue where people act like Swansea cared a lot more about Anya and was a lot closer with her than is actually the case in canon. And sure, the game leaves a lot of room for differing interpretations of things and imaginings of what could have happened offscreen, but I've seen so many people act like this idea of Swansea and Anya being close is something actually depicted in canon which. It very much is not.

Like okay. Let's talk about this. What does the game itself actually show us about Anya and Swansea's relationship?

Well, we don't see much of their dynamic before the crash aside from them just being coworkers with some level of familiarity with each other. They do stand together at the birthday party, and Anya playfully tells Curly that “Swansea really likes that cake. Don’t tell anyone,” to which Swansea only "hmph"s in response. From this we can gather that the two of them are friendly enough that Anya feels comfortable teasing him. Even so, she certainly isn't an exception to his characteristic harshness and brutal honesty — take an interaction later in the same scene, where a distressed Anya says she has no savings and asks if Pony Express can really fire them like this and Swansea, not cruelly but certainly bluntly, tells her that Pony Express going under has been a long time coming.

Of more importance, perhaps, is the game's first "2 months after the crash" segment, where we are first introduced to both of them — and where the game makes it quite apparent just how little Swansea respects Anya. The very first scene, in fact, features Swansea interrupting Anya and mocking her when she tries to explain why opening the cargo hold is a good idea. Later, when talking to Jimmy, Swansea calls Anya "our so-called nurse" and says that "it's in one ear and out the other" when talking about how she nearly got injured on the broken vent. And if you get the code scanner before talking to her Swansea will tell you to get her before opening the cargo hold but specifically with the justification that "even she couldn't make the situation worse with her presence." None of this is really uncharacteristic of Swansea, given he talks about Daisuke in much the same way, but it's not something that can just be swept under the rug — and yet, seemingly, everyone does. I hardly ever see anyone even mention Swansea insulting her here.

Of course, none of these scenes are where the idea that Swansea and Anya are particularly close comes from. No, that idea comes from a single scene: "3 months after", when Jimmy finds the two of them talking in the cockpit at night. We only see the end of this conversation, where Anya, apparently crying, is saying “No. I understand completely. If that’s how it has to be—”

The game never reveals exactly what the two of them were talking about; the two main theories I've seen are that Swansea was telling her that he was saving the cryopod for Daisuke or that she had told Swansea that Jimmy assaulted her and Swansea was saying she'd just have to put up with being around him for the time being. Personally, I think the latter is much more likely, but either way, the end result is the same: regardless of how much Swansea cares about Anya, her well-being is not his first priority.

We never see any follow-up on this conversation; if Anya and Swansea meet up behind Jimmy's back at any other point, we don't see it or hear it referenced. "4 months after" offers no interaction between the two of them at all, with Swansea busy dancing drunkenly while Anya, on the other side of the lounge, tells Jimmy about the extra medicine cabinet. "5 months after", Anya commits suicide in Medical while Swansea sits drunk and oblivious in front of Utility. The only reference to Anya and Swansea's conversation — and the closest we get to a confirmation of what it was about — comes after Daisuke's death, when Jimmy uses "telling Anya who knows what" as a sign of shady behavior from Swansea, and Swansea agrees that he did talk to Anya, "but it was her telling me all sorts of things instead, wasn't it?", the implication being that she told Swansea about Jimmy raping her.

This line is interesting. Swansea is referencing what Jimmy did to Anya here, and implicitly condemning him for it, and yet... well, Anya's already dead. Swansea isn't doing anything for her, really; he doesn't seem particularly emotional or angry about it, either. All it really is, when it comes down to it, is a spiteful jab at Jimmy — just Swansea, still angry over Daisuke's death, trying to get under Jimmy's skin.

We never see Swansea react to Anya's death. This isn't surprising; we aren't shown what happened when Daisuke got the door to Medical open, and afterwards Swansea is understandably preoccupied with Daisuke's fatal injuries. The first thing Swansea says about Anya after her death is the line about her telling him things. And, well... here's the problem.

That line? Is also the last thing Swansea says about Anya.

He never mentions her again. That one line, the one that doesn't even mention her death, the one that seems more about getting at Jimmy than mourning her — that's the last we hear of her from Swansea. And maybe he does care, maybe her death is just as much a catalyst for him trying to kill Jimmy as Daisuke's is. But he never says anything about her. He doesn't mention her in his death scene. Sure, that last portion of the game is largely filtered through Jimmy's mind, his disregard for Anya keeping her out of focus, but Swansea's death — a moment of sharp, simple clarity in which Swansea says all the things Jimmy doesn't want to hear — doesn't have that excuse. Swansea doesn't say a thing about her, because in the end, he's not focused on her either.

So that's what we have. They don't seem to be that close, before or after the crash, though they theoretically could be. Anya telling him specifically about what Jimmy did could be considered a notable show of trust, but then again she could have just wanted to tell someone and considered him her best option, and in any case if she was hoping for him to do anything about it, he didn't. And despite a large portion of the fandom believing it to be the case, there isn't actually anything indicating that he told Anya about the cryo pod — if anything, his assertion that it was Anya who told him things rather than the other way around is evidence against it. Technically, anything's possible — Swansea could have comforted Anya when she told him about Jimmy, he could have offered her the cryo pod, he could have grieved her just as much as Daisuke — but looking at what the game itself presents, the picture it paints is far different from the one typically seen in the fandom.

We don't know what's going on in Swansea's head. We don't know what happens in the time between the moments the game shows us. But what the game does show us is this: Swansea repeatedly is disrespectful and rude to or about Anya; Swansea doesn't do anything after she tells him what Jimmy did to her; Swansea doesn't have any real reaction to Anya's death. Does he care about her? Probably. I'd like to believe so. But she's not the one he decides to kill Jimmy over, she's not the one he has regrets for in his dying moments, she's not the one he's saving the cryo pod for.

Maybe Swansea cares about Anya, but she's not his first priority. And isn't that sort of the point? This is what the game has been showing us the whole time: Anya is no one's first priority, except her own.

[mysticwolfshadows]

Taken - Zutara - Part 34

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

They get as far from Gao Ling as they can, as quickly as they can. It's hard, since Toph definitely isn't taking well to flying. They have to stop a few times just so she can have a few minutes out of the saddle.

When they stop for the night, Toph flops to the ground, hugging the dirt, and pulling an Earth tent around herself. Katara frowned, seeing the younger girl not helping set up camp. She would normally refuse to feed such a freeloader, but Toph had a rough day.

"Here," Katara says, moving to sit by the entrance of Toph's tent. "I made you a bowl. But tomorrow, you'll need to help out."

"Help out?" Toph scoffs, even as she took the bowl from Katara. "What, your brother needs help unloading his weird smelling sleeping bag? I pull my own weight."

Katara's eye twitches, but she forces a smile even if Toph can't see it. "If you're going to pull your weight, then we won't have a problem."

Toph didn't stop Katara from walking away. Sokka, trying to convince Zuko to let him take seconds, took one look at his sister's face and fled. Aang made nervous laughter, and got up to 'find Momo', who was definitely in Appa's saddle. It was only Zuko who didn't flee, still at his spot by the cooking pot, using firebending to keep the pot warm without over cooking.

"Food or water?" Zuko asked, even as he ladled out a bowl for her.

"I'll meditate later," Katara grit out, though without as much bite as it would have been, and took her bowl. "I'm starving."

Zuko nodded, only serving himself once Katara had her own food. It was a show of respect, Katara had realized, a few days into their journey. Zuko had seen how she did all the cooking, and then only got what was left after making sure everyone else ate, so he made sure that Katara was never the last to be served.

"It looks like the bison might be shedding," Zuko said, conversationally. "When we have a moment, I think we should wash him. We don't want to leave a trail."

Nodding, Katara felt herself relax, and fell into easy conversation as they ate. She'd deal with Toph in the morning.

Except, she found that Toph was extremely stubborn.

When morning came, everyone set about to do their morning chores. Aang and Sokka would pack up camp now, at least most of it, while Zuko helped Katara with cooking. Toph, despite being asked to help move supplies, ignored every. "Not my stuff, not my problem."

And then, they started dishing out food. Aang and Sokka got their share, Katara got hers, and finally, Zuko got his. They doused the cooking fire, and set about eating.

"Hey!" Toph said. "Where's mine?"

"Your what?" Katara asked, eating.

"My breakfast."

Katara hummed, taking a bite of her food. "Sorry, but... Zuko and Sokka hunted for meat in it last night. Aang gathered the vegetables. And I made the food with Zuko's help. And... you didn't contribute."

Toph was gaping like a fish. "What, so you aren't going to leave any for me?"

"No, Toph. If you don't pull your weight, you don't eat. There's exceptions for when training Aang during meal prep, but... Aang wasn't training this morning. He was clearing camp so we can leave once we're done."

Toph fumed, but rather than cave and try to do something now, she huffed a whatever and plopped down on the ground turned away from them. When Sokka and Aang finished, they washed their dishes, and set to washing the cooking pots. When Zuko and Katara finished, they gave Sokka and Aang their bowls to wash, and started loading the cooking supplies onto Appa.

They climbed on, and Toph joined them, refusing to talk to anyone.

When they got off, Toph was clearly starving, eager to eat, but got a repeat of that morning. Aang unloaded Appa and set up tents, while Zuko and Sokka went hunting and gathering. Katara was busy prepping dinner, rinsing plates and setting up rice, and making sure that no meat touched anything Aang would want to eat.

And Toph did nothing to help. So she got nothing that was a team effort. She could slam dirt walls up as much as she wanted, but Katara wouldn't feed her.

It was much later, when Katara was laying down in her sleeping roll, tucked into one end of her tent, that she heard it. Zuko, walking across their campsite. She heard him plop down onto the ground, around where Toph's dirt tent was.

"What do you want?" Toph's grumpy voice asked.

Katara heard Zuko hum. "Just to talk."

"I don't want a lecture."

"Even it means I give you some food?"

Katara grit her teeth. Zuko knew what she said. How dare he decide to ignore her?

"Katara mentioned you said you would pull your own weight," Zuko started, then quickly said, "Just listen for a second." He took an audible breath and pressed on. "I understand pulling your own weight when you're alone. I'm sure you could. But we're part of a team. We need to help each other, so everyone is ready for what could come next, and so camp can run smoothly. If you're fine with a dirt tent, that's fine, but there's other things to do besides setting up tents. There's cooking, hunting, washing, unloading gear so Appa can rest. There's so much that needs doing, and we all benefit when it gets done."

"Except Queen Prissy won't let me eat. So I'm not benefiting from any of that."

"Did you cook?"

"No?"

"Did you hunt?"

"No..."

"Then why should you benefit from our work?"

"Because! I'm part of-" Toph cut herself off.

Zuko, sounding satisfied, replied, "You're part of the team?"

Toph didn't respond, but Zuko must have been finished. Katara heard him stand, and heard something touch the ground. "Here. Thanks for talking with me."

She listened as Zuko returned to his tent, the one next to hers, and then the camp was quiet.

In the morning, as Katara and Zuko are cooking breakfast, Toph uses Earthbending to lift supplies and Sokka, so the boy could toss bags into the saddle. When everyone comes back to eat, Katara makes a bowl for Toph, who scarfs the food down. Katara catches Zuko smiling, and she knows there won't be any more problems.

First / Previous / Next / Masterpost

[shebeafancyflapjack]

Still That Boy

Some Robin angst. Enjoy (includes cameos of my ocs Elysabeth and Silver).

-

"Rogh? Rogh! Rogh!"

He hears the rustle of leaves as she approaches, knowing she'll soon stumble upon his hiding spot. Part of him wants to run, not to let her see, but what would be the point? She's one of the fastest hunters in the tribe. Even with her belly swollen, carrying the latest in a long line of siblings of his, he wouldn't stand a chance.

Then there's that part of him that wants to be found. Only by her.

"Ah! There are!" She grabs him by the grey scruff of his furs and turns her to him; "Why?! Why you make Ma worry? Rogh not care worry bad for baby?!" She frowns and gestures to her middle.

The eight year old boy winces, his own guts twisting in guilt. No. No, he's watched Ma put enough babies into the ground already, when the moonah water failed to wake them up.

He sniffs, blinking back the tears still in his eyes.

"Me sorry, Ma." He mumbles, hands gesticulating, their signs as much a part of his peoples communication as their limited speech.

The anger melts from her face at the sight of her second born son's tears. Placing the spear she'd brought with her, just in case a bear or wolf had taken her child, down on the ground, she knelt to meet his eyes.

Rogh stood still as his mother's warm but calloused hands stroked over his face, smoothing back a ragged lock of his hair. Lighter than hers.

"Me thought you play game. Too late, time to eat and gather close. Rogh love bum and story by fire. Why Rogh hide?" She asked, gentler now.

Her second boy had always been more sensitive than his older brother and sister. But he was also a happier child, always playing and joking and entertaining the smaller ones by being silly. Rarely did he cry unless something had pierced that jolly shell of his.

It clearly broke her heart to see him look so uncharacteristically down.

"Come. Tell Ma." She smiled, chucking him lightly under the chin.

He sniffed and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. His mother tutted and gave it a proper clean with a loose flap of one of her pelts.

After a few breaths, he told her.

"Rogh and Tuk go find Shaman at Stones. We ask him to tell us future."

His mother's eyes widen; "Why?! That not for you to know! Only Moonah know what to come. He deny this, yes? Yes?!"

Rogh stared at his feet.

"Son. Tell truth." She commanded.

He took a breath, helpless but to obey; "He say no at first. Tell us to train to be Shaman if want to know. But we keep asking. Over and over and over. Then he get annoyed and tell us so we leave."

The older woman rolled her eyes. As wise men of the tribe went, their current Shaman was one of the weaker touches, in her opinion.

"What he say then?" She indulged, intrigued to know what news could upset her son so.

"He look at Tuk first. Tell us to cut hand and he dab finger with blood then drink." The boy cringed at the memory; "He say Tuk grow up, find new tribe, become great warrior. Make many babies. Then babies grow up and kill him in sleep."

"Oh. How Tuk take that?"

Rogh shrugged; "He no care, he say death in sleep after being great warrior good death. Children must love him big."

His mother hummed, guessing that wasn't the message that the Shaman had hoped the boy would take away with him.

"And you?"

Rogh wrapped his little arms around himself.

"Come. What be so bad make Rogh cry? No bum in future? Eat only berries? Mammoth all disappear?" She laughed a little at that, as if those great beasts could ever just vanish off the earth.

"No Mama. It big bad." He said, trembling.

"What then?" She sat down, crossing her legs, resting her hand on her sweet boy's face; "What big bad?"

He met her eyes. Big, round, blue as the sky, brimming with fear.

"Shaman say Rogh be alone."

His mother recoiled a little; "Alone? Ha. That crazy. He say you leave tribe?"

"No. He say tribe leave Rogh. You, Ba, brothers, sisters, cousins....He say they all go. Everyone go. He say he see Rogh sat in dark. All alone."

"Ptah! Shaman be smoking wrong leaf again!" The huntress scoffed; "Tribe never leave Rogh. Family never leave Rogh."

"What if me do something bad? What if Rogh make Ma and tribe go away?"

"That what he say? He say why we leave?"

The boy shuddered, skin seeming paler than usual. He sniffed.

"Me ask. He take more blood. Then he light tiny fire on stick and hold it to eyes. He look deep....Then he scream. AAAH. Then be jump back! Drop fire, Tuk stamp on. Shaman say he saw....H-he saw...."

"Saw what?"

Rogh swallowed, meeting his mother's eyes; "Death."

She sighed and forced a smile; "Son. Ma look into Rogh's eyes now. Ma see better than silly Shaman. Rogh no have death in eyes. Rogh's eyes fill with life."

"But what if me bring death? What if...Rogh somehow make tribe die? What if Rogh curse-?"

"No!" She held his face in her hands, firmly, "Rogh dipped in Moonah water when born. Rogh clean. Rogh blessed by good light. No curse touch Rogh, never."

The boy looked away, unconvinced.

"Rogh. Look at me. Look at Ma."

He blinked. What did she know, better than the tribe Shaman? How could she fix this?

"Rogh!"

The boy wiped his nose again. He closed his eyes, a sudden pain shooting through his skull.

"Rohr? Rohr, be thee well?"

....Who was that?

He opened his eyes.

Where his mother had been crouched before him, now sat a girl. A girl not much older than his sister, but thinner, frail, wearing the strangest looking pelts he'd ever seen. Her hair shone yellow, like Sunne, threaded with violet flowers into her braids.

Who was she? Where did Ma go? And what was wrong with her leg?

He startled back, grunting in confusion.

"Woah! What has startled thou?" The girl asks.

He opens his mouth to speak, same as she, but all that leaves his lips is a weak, almost canine bark. Where's his voice? How can he understand her when she talks so different to his tribe?

When she pushes herself to stand, he gets a better view of her leg. Mauled. Most of the bone below the knee exposed, clumps of flesh held onto the dried blood. How can she stand? How can she live?! He's seen cousins die quicker from wolf bites that weren't as bad.

"Rohr? Doth thou remember mes?" She asks, gently.

He shakes his head, stepping back. She must be some sort of demon, like from the many stories around the fire. Demons that come in the form of children, appearing sweet and innocent.

Even her smile is pretty, even if her eyes show a hint of sadness.

"I be Elysabeth. Remember? Your friend."

Ely...Lis...That was a long name. Too long. Just keep it simple, one syllable, who needs more than one?

Friend? What's a friend?

There is only Good Tribe and Bad Tribe. Family and Threat.

She walks...no, limps forward, stretching out her hand to him.

"Peace. It be okay. You is just having another spell, yes? Your soul got lost again, as Clarence says, 'member? Just take deep breath. It will return and bring with it thy memories."

Clarence? Who is that?

He darts his eyes around. These woods...they look different to the ones he was in just moments ago.

Ma. Where is Ma? He wants his Ma.

When he tries to tell the girl, only more bleating sounds. Frustrated, he beats at his head, grizzling as the tears return.

Ma! Ma! Come back, Ma!

"Oh no, no, sweet thing, please don't hurt thyself..." the girl begs, then turns her head; "Godric! William! Make haste, I need thee!"

Thump. Thump. Thump.

If he hits himself hard enough then maybe he'll send himself back. Back home.

Two pairs of hands grab each of his wrists.

"Oi, oi, come on mate. None of that now. It won't help none." A rough voice chides.

Rogh grumbles at them, then takes a look at these idiots who dare to touch him. No one he knows. Not his tribe. A tall, stocky man with kind eyes beneath a wearisome brow. With him, a shorter and rounder man with curly hair and some kind of long shiny shiv through his chest.

"You 'earin' them sirens, Rohr? They find their way into dry land to mess with thy head too?" The shorter man laughed.

Was he mocking him? Rogh bared his teeth.

"Ey, ey, peace my friend, I only jest. I envy you if it be true, those creatures make many a sailor see great beauties before their deaths."

"William! He clearly not be in the mood for japes!" The girl with sunny hair berated.

"There be no better time for humor than in times of madness, little Miss. Jokes saved many of my crew from throwin' themselves overboard."

"Well he ain't in danger of killing himself when he's already dead." The larger man said, still holding Rogh's arm.

...What?

He let out a cry of shock.

Elysabeth's mouth opened; "Oh. No, Rohr...There be no reason to fear."

No reason?! Death. The Shaman had said that he saw death in his future...

"We all is dead, brother." The taller man said; "We wander as spirits now, do you remember?"

No. No. He's not dead. And he's in the wrong body. He shouldn't be taller than the girl. Shouldn't be the same height as the man with the curly hair.

"How tables do turn, ey? T'was you who welcomed us into the hereafter, now we can return the favour. What are friends for, ah?" The rounder one was still trying to laugh it all off.

Rogh whimpered. None of it made any sense. And yet there was the faintest itch of familiarity as the voices spoke to him, as the faces surrounded him.

The girl reached out her hand to take his, her thumb stroking over his knuckles.

"Wes here with you, Rohr. Wes got you. You is safe." She tried to assure.

Her touch....It felt as warm as Ma's. How can she feel like family when he doesn't know her?

Even the men are holding him gently, just keeping him from beating himself.

The taller man even cups his head and brings him close.

"Listen to 'Lisbeth, brother. Just breathe. Let it all come back."

Lisbeth. Li...

"Lyth....Lyth-bee..." He tries, rolling the sounds off his tongue. His Lys-Bee.

Yes. He...He remembers.

"Lisbeth. Lisbeth."

"Who be 'Lisbeth?"

Rohr blinks.

"I think that's Elizabeth? He's mentioned her a couple of times."

Different voice.

The world shifts. The trees are gone. He's back in a cave except...this one is all strange. The walls are too smooth, top too high and flat. Strange objects fill the cave, along with strange faces. New faces.

One the face of a woman, tall and face covered in soot, the other face....Just a face. A head. Next to her knee.

Rogh screams.

"Oh dear. Here we go again." The head speaks. It speaks! Rogh cowers back against the wall, screaming some more.

The woman is on her feet; "Be kind, head bit!"

"Sorry, sorry, I've just had a few bad experiences trying to talk him through these, back before you joined us."

Rogh covers his face with his arms. No, no, not more death. Dead heads shouldn't talk. Just like girls with eaten legs shouldn't either.

"Row? Can thou hearest me?" The woman crouched down before him.

He nodded.

"You werest just sat muttering to thyself for a good hour or more. Can you tells me 'bout Elizabeth?" She asks sweetly. Patient.

Is she a mother? She sounds like one.

"Lys-bee....Nice girl...Lys-bee...Friend." He mumbled, looking around the strange cave; "Where she go? Where men friends? Who...Who you?"

"Wes your friends too. I is Mary and that be head of Humphrey. See?"

"Alright, mate." The head called over.

Part of him wanted to laugh as the initial horror wore off. A talking head. It was...It was funny really. Like when he would put his hands in the skulls decorating the cave and move their jaws to speak. It would always make his little siblings laugh.

His fingers squeezed at the fur on his wrist.

"Gotta go home. Children want stories. Have to help."

"You means your little ones? Your babies?"

His...? He frowns. No, not his. He's...He's far too young to help woman make baby.

"Said you had thirty, right? Busy bunny, weren't ya." The head said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Thirty? How could he have....

"Where are they? Where babies?" He asked the woman. If this was true then it meant the Shaman was wrong.

If he had babies then his future wasn't just Death...

The kind woman smiles and takes his hands; "They be resting now, dear friend. Along with mine own little'ens. No need to worry anymore."

"Have to worry. Me Dad. Dad always worry." That's what his own had once said.

How can we worry so much over babies he doesn't remember? Babies he's yet to have?

"You was good dad, that why. But yous can rest now, okays?" She smiles; "Your head just needs a little rests and it be right as the rain come morning light."

"Mary..."

Her name comes to him like a stab to the head. He grips her hand.

"Mary....Are Rogh's babies dead?"

Her smile drops, eyes darkening with sadness she can no longer hide.

It's all the answer he needs.

"No...No, no, no!" He shuffles away from her and to his feet, tugging at his hair as he stumbles away. "He saw it, he saw it, he saw it!"

"Saw what? Robin, what dids he see?"

He doesn't stop. Doesn't look back.

Doesn't question why they call him the wrong name.

All he can do is stumble onward, through the dark. Hands reach out to grab him and he throws each one off before they can catch him in a snare.

He has to go home. Has to find his way home.

This can't become his future.

Not all this death. Not all this...

"Robin?! What the bally hell is the matter with you today?!" A stern voice demands after he runs headlong into a taller man.

He growls. He takes a swipe with his claw and the man in green jumps back to avoid it.

"Woah, woah, Robin, easy now, pal." A softer voice tries to calm.

He whirls around. A shorter man is behind him, a strange yellow talisman around his neck, his palms raised up.

More figures stand behind him. More strangers.

"Is he unwell?" A female voice asks, trembling with concern.

"Was he ever well is the question?" A sour, older woman's voice comments.

Rogh raises his fists up, more towards the men than the women, as nasty as the older one looks towards him.

A hand lands on his shoulder.

"Hey, mate. You wanna sit down? Play some chess?"

He flinches from the touch and grizzles.

"Ooohkay, will take that as a no." The strange man with a very short and thin pelt backs off.

"Don't think he quite remembers what chess is right now, Julian."

"Just give him some space, he'll be fine."

"A cage might be a safer option."

"Thomas!"

"I meant just until we can be sure he hasn't gone feral-!"

Rogh roars. He roars as loud as any bear he's heard before.

"See?"

Shut up! Shut up!

They're all calling after him now, with a name he doesn't recognise, not the one his mother gave him. The voices overlap and become mindless, earsplitting jeering all around him.

Can't they all just leave him a-?

He blinks.

The house is dark now. Silent. Empty.

Furniture covered in sheets. No signs of life, not even from the birds in the trees. Rogh frowns. Where did they go?

Who were they? Why did they speak like they knew him?

He can't ask them now. No one is left.

"Alone. Alone." That was what the Shaman had seen. Alone. Death.

He wanders through the halls. Not even his boots make a sound. Too quiet now. He wants the screaming and yelling to return.

Come back.

Come back.

He beats at his head. Stupid. Stupid.

"Robin?"

The voice calls from the room on his right. He turns and sees....a mother.

She sits on the bed. Yes, that's what it's called. She sits and looks at him with worry, cradling a baby in her arms.

"Is everything okay?" She asks, keeping her voice low, having clearly just settled the infant.

No. Everything is far from okay.

He pants, walking towards her; "Got lost."

"Oh...okay. Where you going anywhere in particular?" She asks, slowly, carefully.

He rubs at the front of his shift.

"Home."

"And...where's that?"

He shakes his head; "Me no know. Me....Me forget."

The mother nods.

"That's okay. It took me a while to know where my home was too."

What did that mean? He frowns at her. Does she know him? Is he supposed to know her?

"You wanna come sit next to me for a bit?" She pats the space beside her.

He relaxes a little. Unlike the others, she's not grabbing at him, not lying that it's all fine when it isn't. Not scared of him, when he's the one that's scared. The one that's lost.

Rogh sits tentatively beside the mother with brown hair.

"Baby beautiful." He says, peeking at her. Because it's what you're supposed to say...but it's also true.

"Aww, thanks. Hear that Mia? Compliment from Uncle Robin for ya."

Uncle.

Does that mean...?

"You....sister?" He frowned.

"Well, uhm....we're family. Aren't we." She answered with caution; "Just leave out the whole incest stuff with me, if you don't mind."

He's not sure what that means.

"....Where Ma?" He asks. If she sister then she might know.

She gave him a blank look; "Is that who you're looking for? Your mum?"

He nods.

"She here. Then she go." He explained in a small voice; "Me made her go."

"Why do you say that?" 'Sister' asked.

"It what me do. Me bring death. Me alone. My fault." He spoke the words with acceptance, sounding almost detached. Numb.

"I don't believe that." Sister shook her head; "You're not some murderer."

"Me have killed people."

"Yeah but I mean...." She waved her free hand, the other hugging her baby close; "Not like...You're not a bad man. You don't hurt people you care about. You look after them. You're kind. A little annoying sometimes...Very annoying, even, but...still a good friend."

Good. Good.

She reached to take his hand.

When he looked up, there she was.

Ma gave him her most loving smile; "Death not bad thing. Death come for all. Came for your brothers and sisters. Came for my ma and ba. It come for me too."

Little Rogh shook his head; "No, no-."

"Yes, will. One day. Because that life, Son. One day Death take Ma and Ba. One day it take Rogh too. But that why Life so precious. That why we make Life good. Because it end one day. But that not curse of Rogh. That just will of Moonah."

His eyes filled with tears again; "Me had bad dream, Mama. Me dream Shaman words come true. Me....surrounded by Death. Tribe gone. Ma....gone...."

She tilts her head, tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear.

"And was Rogh alone?"

He frowned. Thinking back, flicking through his strange vision, he was barely alone. Not all the time. Not forever.

"Me had....friends. Strange, weird friends. Me had....Family. Different, new tribe...." he blinked and then smiled; "Me had babies too, Ma."

"Ha! Me tell your ba that you have many babies. He owe Ma new shell necklace." She grinned, ruffling her son's hair. "You see now? Ma tell truth. Rogh bless by Moonah. Rogh have big heart for big family. Biggest in all land. And Moonah make sure that Rogh never alone. Not forever. Not even with Death."

His lip wobbled as he looked into her face; "But...Ma leave Rogh....Ma gone."

"Silly boy. Ma never leave Rogh. Moonah is Big Ma in sky. Ma of all Mas. When Ma die, she go up to Moonah. And Moonah always stay with Rogh." She gathered her boy onto her lap and let him cling on tight, hugging her pregnant belly. "If Rogh ever alone, Rogh only have to look up, and Rogh see."

The boy nodded against her chest, tears spilling down his cheeks, chubby little hands holding tight onto her arm.

"Rogh always remember, Ma. Rogh promise."

"Promise what?"

He opened his eyes, finding himself staring up at the bright silver orb illuminating the sky above the treetops.

At his side, in the woods, sat a girl with funny pink hair, sat up on a mound of blue flowers shaped almost like a bed. She was rubbing her eyes, having just awoken from a month long sleep.

He smiled at her. His Moonah Girl.

"Welcome home."

[gliyerabaa]

....can you do 2? For that angry confession prompt?

HELL YEAH I CAN BROTHER.

2. “I can’t leave you alone for one second without you hurting yourself, can I?” “I mean, I’m fine so it’s okay—” “No, it’s not okay. Not when I feel like I’m going to go bat-shit fucking crazy, thinking you’ve hurt yourself.“

----

this is perfect because I have actually been dabbling around in the idea of an AU where glinda does go with elphaba, becoming a medic/healer for the resistance.... this is a chance to play in that world

(ALF acronym used with permission of @funghifungi) (Go read All is Fair right now its such a good fic)

I will take a slight creative liberty with the dialogue, I think, but the spirit of the prompt will surely be there, probably.

trigger warnings for mild descriptions of blood and injuries

so, without further ado, here we go...

----

Glinda bites her lip, worried beyond belief. Elphaba should have been back hours ago. It's getting dark, it's started to snow, and she worries deeply for Elphaba's safety.

The cottage they live in is little more then a temporary home, a place of refuge until they are discovered again. She lights a candle in each window, knowing that they are a beacon for friend and foe alike. It's worth the risk, she figures, knowing that it's the only way her Elphie will get home safely.

Glinda gazes out the window, where a vaguely humanoid shadow lumbers forward in the growing blizzard. She reaches for the dagger she keeps at her hip, tightening her grip on the weapon, should she have to defend herself.

The door opens, slamming against the wall with the force of the wind, and the figure illuminated in candlelight is all edges and bones, so very distinctly Elphaba. Breathing a sigh of relief, Glinda sheathes her blade, stepping forward to greet her wife.

Elphaba collapses in her arms.

"Elphie!" Glinda shrieks, sagging under the weight of her companion's limp form. Carefully, she guides Elphaba to the bed, then moves to close the door, shutting out the freezing cold. She gathers her spellbook and her medical supplies and puts a kettle over the fire, preparing for what is sure to be a long night of caring for Elphaba after whatever reckless mess she'd gotten herself into this time.

"Glinda..." Elphaba murmurs from the bed.

Glinda rushes to her side immediately, "What have you done this time, you idiot?"

"I'm fine," Elphaba coughs. There is blood on her face, and her skin is flushed from exposure to the cold, "Really, I am."

"Did you liberate the Animal camp, like you'd set out to do?"

"No," Elphaba replies, shivering even under two woolen blankets, "The mobilized unit of the ALF strike force was intercepted just north of the camp, and I couldn't save them. They were all either captured or shot."

Glinda carefully slides Elphaba's arm out of the sleeve of her shirt. The fabric clings wetly to a thick, bleeding gash. "And you were caught in the crossfire, weren't you?"

"Yeah..." Elphaba averts her gaze, not wanting to look at her own wounds as they mend themselves under Glinda's magic.

"I really can't let you go anywhere without you coming back hurt."

"This isn't about what you want, Glinda, it's about Animal liberation, it's about making Oz a place where everyone can exist in peace." Glinda winces at the remark, "Besides, I'm fine, thanks to you, so it's okay--"

"It's not okay!" Glinda snaps, taken aback by the edge in her own voice, "Every time you leave on one of your little crusades, I'm left here, worrying myself sick, wondering if this will be the time you won't come back!"

"Glin, this is something so much bigger than ourselves. You joined this fight for the same reason I did, you should know that--"

"I joined for you." Glinda says plainly.

"... What?"

"Don't get me wrong," Glinda sighs, "I care about Animals and I care about justice and I really do want a better world, but..."

"But?! There is no 'but', either you're in this fight or you aren't!"

"Elphie, just listen to me!"

A log in the fireplace crackles. Glinda can hear the water in the kettle reaching a boil. She needs to get this off her chest now, before tea.

"When you asked me to come with you, I said yes. Because I couldn't bear the thought of leaving your side. I married you because I wanted you to be mine forever, until death do us part. I didn't anticipate you going out and seeking death-"

"I'm not seeking death."

"You certainly aren't shying away from it! I swear, I'm having to patch you up at least once a week because you're just too damn reckless!"

Elphaba doesn't respond. From across the room, the tea kettle whistles, an annoyingly high pitched squeal only adding to Glinda's nerves.

"I love you, Elphie," Glinda says as she stands up, putting an end to the conversation that they have so frequently. It only ever involves talking in the same circles, spiraling in on each other, usually devolving into desperate, messy loving. "Now. What kind of tea would you like?"

[whathebeep]

Halloween at Camp

(basically just drabbles of how I think the camp/companions would celebrate). Tav/Astarion/Halsin centric romance wise

Halsin? Oh Halsin would make a grand feast for everyone. A lot of seasonal foods, kind of like a Thanksgiving meal but a little less focus on having very specific items and using things he spent the day (or past few) collecting/hunting. I imagine it's a tradition often celebrated in the grove so he was more than eager to celebrate it at camp. He would also, ofc, make sure to give the safe bones to Scratch and the OBC, perhaps even going out as a bear and getting more than a few salmon for OBC. He's more than eager for everyone to feast and eat their share when dinner time comes around. When everyone gathers for scary stories at the campfire, I imagine if Tav and/or Astarion get scared or creeped out they would scoot a little closer to him, perhaps hold his hand tight, or find great comfort overall if he puts his arms around them to keep them close.

Karlach would /love/ Halloween. She would dress up using whatever was laying around or she could get for dirt cheap in the city- I imagine she'd be fond of bedsheet ghosts and would have holes for her horns to stick out. She'd collect up some pumpkins or turnips for everyone to carve- and between her, Wyll, Gale, Shadowheart and Tav, they have more than a few pumpkins to put up around camp. I imagine Halsin also collects all the pumpkin seeds for roasting for a snack for later.

Wyll never really seemed like he got to dress up as a kid- son of nobility, Halloween was probably more a poor man's holiday when it came to dressing up. Through encouragement Karlach probably helps him dress up, even if it Is just some silly clown makeup or something small along those lines. He, however, along with Gale and Shadowheart, probably also read a lot, and knows more than his fair share of spooky stories for them to tell around the campfire late at night.

Lae'zel? Like a lot of things on the material plane she would be a little confused at this holiday tradition. Why would you waste time on indulging in scary things when the group faces more than enough scary things on the daily basis? Then again, I think Lae'zel sees the appeal of carving pumpkins, and would join in on that. She'd probably also enjoy the scary stories, even if she didn't initially join everyone around the fire at first.

Shadowheart is very fond of Halloween. I think she'd be the one who'd have a tarot deck and would have fun doing spreads for everyone. She probably doesn't dress up but she is all too eager to join everyone at the fire for stories. Has quite a good few monster stories that leave more than a few folks with chills.

Gale is the type to delight in reading spooky books during Halloween. He'd be the type to brew a good cup of tea, snuggle up in his tent for a majority of the day to read something like Frankenstein's Monster (the DBD equivalent obvi). Later in the day he would probably emerge to help Halsin cook, or even focus on making Halloween themed treats- hell he'd probably be the one to focus on making a nice pumpkin centric treat, like pumpkin bread or pie. He'd also have a good few creature feature stories to tell.

Astarion? Halloween has probably changed a lot since he was young, and I imagine Cazador would only let him and the other spawn out to focus on the plenty of drunkards out partying back to the residence. So Astarion doesn't seem too keen to join in on the festivities. Be probably spends a lot of time drinking wine, maybe with Gale, and reading a good book. Perhaps he joins Gale in reading a spooky book (or the same one, sitting close and comfy). I imagine Halsin has also collected a good variety of animal blood for Astarion to dine on come dinner time, but he, along with Tav, offer up their necks for him to comfortably dine on. He's a little hesitant to join everyone at the campfire for stories or having his tarot read, but after hearing the first story he reluctantly strolls over to join everyone, taking a seat between Halsin and Minsc.

Minsc? Oh Minsc's home probably has a similar tradition as Halsin, and he is more than eager to help in hunting. Though he spends the past few days hunting a specific boar and bringing it back to camp. He prepares it by hand, preparing a ton of meat to be dried as pemmican or jerky to last then for weeks to come. Jaheira more than likely lends a hand in this too, making sure to collect goodberries and other edible berries for the pemmican preparation. Jaheira probably keeps the tusks to make something out of at another date.

Jaheira more than likely just helps out around camp, though she also joins in on pumpkin carving. I imagine amongst her family back home she usually does so. Out of everyone she probably has the best, most practiced carving, and more than likely does a cat face, or perhaps takes inspiration from Scratch or OBC and carves them instead.

[maelstroumwaterfall]

Arbormagic Syndrome Chapter 9 | Hogwarts Mystery Infection Au

Merula felt how her mind slowly becomes dizzy and her vision blurs. It was a matter of time when she'd loose control over her body and let the knife cut her throat.

She only wished she could call for help but this disgusting creature just wouldn't let her make any sounds exept of helpless, muffled whimpers.

When she was already about to give her life up in the embrace of death that she didn't expect to come so early, when her eyes suddenly met a bright, warm light. In his exact moment she felt like the sharp blade leaved the bloody line down her hand, alongside with another wave of pain.

She fell on the stone floor, grabbing her bleeding hand and gasping for air, when she suddenly understood that she's free from Waterfall's death grip. Her mind was dizzy but she could still hear someone's scream, like it was somewhere far away but when she opened her eyes and looked up she saw the Hogwarts' caretaker terrified expression, while there, beside her, fell a coal torch and almost let the fire touch her.

The pain was burning and almost unbearable as the knife pierced right through her bones and skin, but she wouldn't drop even the smallest tear. She could bear much more than this, but the thought that she could loose her life just like this doesn't let her calm her nerves.

Her death was a matter of seconds and she could really say that she was saved by a miracle, in this case, Argus Filch. He was looking forward as the creature was rushing away down the corridor. Did the old man really scared him away? Maelstrom's strength, if it's still possible to call him that, was almost shocking.

He would for sure not spend too much on dealing with the old caretaker. She was trying to figure out a reason in her mind, but couldn't say a single word in reality.

-What happened here? - the old man mumbled, his voice was obviously terrified. He bent down and tried to pick Merula UP. He was asking something, trying to figure out if she's conscious, but she wouldn't hear. Her eyes were half closed and her breath was uneven.

Mr.Norris was nervously circling around nearby the man, as if she was feeling the coming threat, but she wouldn,t leave the caretaker's side. Merula felt like the time was countless as she was brought to the hospital wing. Filch and Madam Pomfrey were talking about something, the first one was clearly in panic, but the second only starts to understand how dangerous the situation is.

Merula layed on the hospital bed, her hand was bandaged but the blood was still coming out of the wound so she wasn't treated enough yet. She saw how Argus leaved the hospital wing, probably to warn others, and she couldn't help but also wanted to get up and rush out of the room. She was filled with rage, but was also confused and afraid. She's never seen anything like that before. It wasn't Maelstrom anymore, it was something else. She then remembered the long worms she was under his skin. That means Rowan was right about the parasite. But what does the centipede have to do with it? The thought that came in her mind after that made her feel a pure disgust.

-Everyone! Don't leave the hospital wing! Someone's attacking the students. Stay here and try not to make any noise. - Madam Pomfrey said, she was trying to keep her voice still, but she was clearly worried. Merula managed to lean her back on the pillow and took a look around. There were many other student, someone had broken his leg on the flying lesson and obviously couldn,t reach a safer place by himself, like many other people there.

Others are probably gathering in the Great Hall. She immediately spotted Penny and was shocked by how terrible her condition is as she didn't know Penny was there at all. Others were obviously trying to stay far from her, like from some kind of a psychopath. The only one who was by her side was Barnaby, yet, she noticed that he had similar to Penny's scratches on his skin. They probably both caught the same disease. Merula decided to also stay away from them, before she noticed how Barnaby got up and started approaching her.

-Don't come near!..- she exclaimed and moved a little back.

-What's wrong? - he said in a confused tone and immediately stopped, glancing at her with a surprised and questioning look.

-Just.. Stay away. - she mumbled and turned her head away. Lee looked down at her hand and carefully tried to ask if she was the one attacked by this unknown person.

-Were you attacked by this person Madam Pomfrey warned us about? - he asked and Merula turned to him with an annoyed look. She doesn't like admitting that someone had caught her off guard and caused her to end up in a hospital wing.

- It was Maelstrom! At least it looked like him..- she immediately responded and before Barnaby was ask if she was sure she was approached by Madam Pomfrey.

-You said it was Maelstrom? You mean you were attacked by the other student? - she asked in an even more tone. Before Snyde could respond she continued. - I must warn the professors that it was him. But I'm responsible for you all. I can't just leave.

She shook her head and went to check on the students in the other end of the room while trying to find a solution in her head, while Snyde already knew what she herself must do. She did her best to ignore the pain and quickly got up, aiming to leave the room before she could be stopped. The door was still not closed and it allowed her to leave the room without others problems.

She heard how Madam Pomfrey called out after her but she wouldn't stop as she already ran towards the Great Hall. As she thought, other students were also moving towards the Great Hall where they all could gather and stay protected by the professors.

She had to warn them so they could stop Waterfall before he can leave Hogwarts.. or harm anyone else. Are Ismelda and Rowan still in the Library? If it's she must probably run there first, but she can't waste time. She ran inside the room and hurried the professors. She saw Flitwick, McGonagall, and Pr.Dumbledore. Others probably went to search for the attacker of the students.

Professor Dumbledore! You need to find Maelstrom! It was him! - she yelled loudly as she ran towards them. They didn't need to be told twice, there was no point to not believe her now. She had no reason to lie either, especially in such a critical situation, she hated Maelstrom, that's the truth, but she wouldn't risk anyone's life to just bring troubles to her enemy's life.

She was almost in the other end of the Great Hall and couldn,t hear what they were talking about, but after a few seconds she saw how Professor McGonagall hurried to leave the Great Hall. It means that Pr.Flitwick and Dumbledore are staying to protect the students.

She looked around, trying to spot Rowan and Ismelda, she didn,t notice anyone else who she saw in the library last time, including Madam Pince. That's not a good sigh, she saw students running to the Great Hall from all the floors, including the one where the library was.

She let out an annoyed groan and started moving out of the Great Hall. And what can she do while she can barely move her hand? But she's not a coward, after all. What if this creature trapped them there? She's never felt so terrified and desperate as she did when it almost brought her to the death.

She doesn't want the same or worse happen to Ismelda, and even though she wasn't sure if she'd admit it in a front of others, Rowan is the last person in the world she wants such a fate to, and not just because of some of her.. personal reasons. She grabbed the weapon of the one of the knights that stayed by the wall, a sharp, iron axe. It was a little heavy, especially to hold with just one hand, but she needed at least something in case if Waterfall attacks her again.

(Writing something on the laptop is so painful :'( and also very uncomfortable ( also, I'm not a professional in editing pictures on the computers :'> ) I felt really bad for not posting new chapters so tried to write it as quickly as possible and check on mistakes.

The big and bright screen is so confusing when I look at it and it barely lets me concentrate on the text.. But I still managed. I only need to wait a month, the masters I gave my phone to said they can't fix it, that's sad cause it was a really good phone even though it was old and couldn't bear many programms.. But my mum said that she'll buy me a new phone when she and her husband will get their salary so I'll be able to comfortable write and draw for you again! :))

(Btw I wanna include some of the romance lines.. They will not cover the main story, of course, cause I've already put a lot of time in creating an interesting storyline and the lor of the infection. I'm really happy that someone likes my works and wanna do my best in writing this! Love u guys, ty for reading! Hope you have a good day :))

[luverofralts]

Arkhelios Adventures

Adam sat at the piano, mindlessly playing any song he could remember. He wasn't in the mood to learn a new song or scale, just looking for some familiar comfort.

His physical wounds were healing quickly, though his emotional wounds continued to fester. Adam had rejoined classes with his peers. It wouldn't have been so bad if the other students weren't constantly staring at him with pity. He had probably lost the boyfriend he had paraded around the school, announcing their intentions to marry. His eyes seemed to be healing, but the last of the scarring refused to leave, changing his appearance forever. He almost always felt cold, even in the harsh sunlight or next to a roaring fire. Adam had changed, and now everyone felt sorry for him.

The last thing that Adam needed was the pity of the entire school. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about his relationship with Theo that he didn't want to hear. The rumour mill had decided that Theo wasn't ever coming back, that he was incarcerated somewhere a million miles away or that Theo was living happily in the Void with a full blooded demon, completely abandoning the guy he'd almost killed. Adam never corrected any of these rumours, extending their lifespan. Why bother correcting people when Adam didn't know the truth anymore than they did? What did it even matter in the end? Theo wasn't here, and Adam couldn't bear to see his own reflection, let alone talk to Theo about it. He was stuck in limbo, waiting for something to make him feel again. Nothing in the school felt like it could shake the dead feeling squeezing his chest.

Most of the times that he wasn't in class, Adam would sit on the stairs that he and Theo had liked to sit on and stare blankly ahead. The view overlooked the end of Pleasantview and the entirety of Crystal Cove and Theo had loved to stare out at the endless green. Growing up in a tiny desert made him consider even the most mundane views of nature with awe. Truthfully, Adam had always taken the beauty of Pleasantview and Crystal Cove for granted. Sitting with Theo had been like seeing the same old hills and trees for the first time, every time. They would often sneak out at night to watch the stars and cuddle under the majesty of the natural world. Ever since Theo left, nothing had looked the same. Everything was just grey and dull.

"I see what you mean, Ewan. How long has he been like this?"

Ewan G Maricourt and Alicia Toyonaga watched Adam through a window, helpless to change his condition. Alicia had been assigned as an ambassador to the Arkhelios coven, so she had seemed like the perfect candidate to guide Ewan's son past this incident with an Arkhelian boy. Alicia didn't really care for her assignment, but it was better than living in Strangetown with her royal father in law. Ewan had asked her for tips on dealing with the Bellamy family and she'd only laughed.

"At least a few weeks now," Ewan answered solemnly. "He's seen doctors and healers and nothing ever changes."

"Well, of course not!" Alicia exclaimed, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He's grieving. You can't make a potion for that and call it done. He needs time to process what happened."

"It's been months since the accident. He's safe here with us. Hasn't it been long enough already? I just want him to be happy again."

Alicia sighed.

"Well, obviously you want him to be happy, but you can't rush it. Has he talked to Theo yet? Roman's just starting to calm down in public, so I gather that he must have talked to Theo recently. He keeps going on about a birthday party that Theo's going to come home for. Maybe Adam could attend this party? It's somewhere private, but with capable magic users should something go wrong. It sounds perfect. At least according to the gossip around town. Arkhelios really is the most tedious place."

"Theo won't be there," Ewan replied. "I've gotten his latest progress report, and it's not what we hoped it would be. He's too unstable to risk in a crowd like that, especially if Adam is there. Can you imagine if something Theo does accidentally triggers the same reaction as before? I'm not risking my son's life so he can talk to his boyfriend in a crowded room filled with potential innocent bystanders. The Sovereign agrees."

"Well, you can tell his parents that," Alicia scoffed. "I'm not getting involved with the Bellamys and their drama. it's bad enough having to endure Wanda every day. Why is the boy not meeting the requirements? I thought he was some kind of prodigy?"

"A prodigy in chaos only," Ewan sighed. "From what I gather, it's all very complicated. You don't know how many reports I've gotten over the last few months with the word 'curse' repeated through them. I don't fully understand the problem, but my knowledge of demonic magic is rather limited. From what I do understand, young Theo has an inert curse that gets summoned to him when he tries to use magic. The Sovereign thought that detaching it from Theo would protect him, but he hasn't found a way to use magic without bringing it right back to him again. Apparently, they're trying to reattach it to him for some reason and it's much too delicate a process to let him return home. If something went wrong, the results could be disastrous."

"Reattach? Like surgically?"

"I have no idea. Who knows with demons? I'd assume it would be some kind of ceremony or series of spells, but I don't know the way of demons or blood magic. My mother would have hit the roof if I studied any of that in school."

"Adam will feel isolated from Theo if he has no idea of what's happening with Theo," Alicia pointed out. "This whole thing he's experiencing isn't going to get any better if he hasn't talked to Theo since the accident and Theo comes back completely changed magically."

"What am I supposed to do then? You tell me that I need to give Adam closure, but I don't have the clearance to bring Theo here even if it was safe. If he's getting calls to his parents, that's the first I'm hearing about it. They won't grant one to the person Theo could still injure through their connection, no matter what I say. I can't share these notes with Adam, even if it would help, without failing to uphold my oath as head of the coven."

"Then all we can do for Adam is support him and give him the space to grieve. I'm sorry, but I don't see any other way. Has he spoken with a counselor about this? That might help speed things up."

Ewan shook his head.

"I tried to get him to see the school counselor, but apparently, he just spent the hour in silence, staring at the wall. He won't see anyone else and I can't make him talk about his feelings. Even Remy seems to have hit a wall with him and she's the only one to have gotten close. I just want to see Adam want to live again."

"Maybe a change of scenery would help," Alicia suggested. "We could take him in Arkhelios, or if that's too painful, send him to Strangetown with his mother."

"No, that won't happen," Ewan quickly replied. "The last thing he needs is to let his mother stomp all over him. I may not be the most sensitive parent, but Edana will only make things worse." He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I understand the pain the Bellamys must feel, because I feel the same way at the thought of sending Adam away. He's my child. I need to be here for him where he's comfortable and safe. To not know when I could see him again would be agony and I won't let the pain the Bellamys are feeling now be in vain. Theo will return here when it is safe for him to do so."

"And Adam?"

Ewan groaned, unable to see an easy solution.

"I don't know. Maybe Miruna can take him in at the palace on weekends. It's not too far away and it's a decent change of pace."

"Not bad," Alicia agreed. "A change in roommates might help as well."

"This is the worst thing to happen all week. I can't believe I have a share a room with my little brother. We haven't had to share a room since we were kids. It's so unfair. My old roommate was almost never in the room and knew when to be discreet. You never leave your room."

Remy was about as excited to share a room with her brother as Adam, though she tried to downplay it after seeing the look on his face. The last thing she wanted was for Adam to feel resented. At least he didn't have a boyfriend to try to sneak into their room. Adam wasn't going to fight for the bedroom if all he was doing was moping. He could still do that downstairs.

"So, which bed do you want? I'm rather partial to the one by the window, but you can choose."

Adam lifted his head, only to see pieces of Void attach to his twin. She, like everyone else, seemed to be oblivious to what Adam could see. He'd stopped taking the many potions prescribed to him, but still the unsettling images of the Void remained. At this point, he just assumed that this would be his new normal. He'd forever be the unsettling prophet just like Theo's little sister. Rien seemed to enjoy her eerie reputation, but it wasn't how Adam wanted to live. At least he never heard from the "spirits" Rien spoke to. Maybe this oddity could be corrected in time.

What did he tell his sister? "Hey, I noticed that you were glowing various shades of pink all of a sudden. Are you feeling okay?"

"You can have whatever bed you want, Rem. I don't have anyone to share mine with. It doesn't matter."

"Adam, I can find you a hook up, you just need to let me know," Remy insisted. "Are you done with Theo? I have a few people who might want to date you. If you just want a meaningless booty call, I can name two guys who would respond, no strings attached."

"Thanks, Rem. I'm good though. I'm dating Theo and he's going to come home and we're going to be happy again. Unless...what if he comes back different? What if I don't like how Theo is when he's stable? What if he's cheating on me wherever he is? I wish I could talk to him."

"Look, just try one date with someone," Remy urged. "Anyone. It doesn't even have to be a date. You could just go for coffee with a sexy friend. Get some experience so that you do know what you want when Theo comes back."

"I thought you were Team Theo," Adam accused. "All you've said since he's left is that he loves me and to follow my feelings for him."

"Adam, you have the social life of a rock. You spend all day crying or moping and it's gotten to the point that Dad made us roommates and wants Miruna to babysit your walking corpse. Of course I know that Theo loved you when he left and he's a great guy, but you're miserable. You're fourteen for God's sake, go find some way to be happy. Your star-crossed love isn't the center of the universe. Go find a way to be happy and I'll help you deal with Theo when he comes back...or deal with rebound guy if you choose Brand New Theo again. Just get out of this school for ten minutes, that's all I ask."

"You're right," Adam sighed, giving up on the conversation so that he could return to moping. "I have no social life. My boyfriend almost killed me. My body doesn't work the same way as it did before the accident. I haven't seen Theo in months. Thank you for the reminder. If you don't mind, I think I'm going to try to sleep."

Adam curled onto his new bed, pulling the covers over him to block out the world. Beside him, Remy fumed.

"Adam, this is my room too. It's only 7:30 pm. Why don't you go downstairs to mope? I had plans for tonight and it would really help if you were somewhere else, not being a buzzkill."

"You go downstairs," Adam mumbled from under his blankets. "I don't need to see you reminding me of everything I've lost with Theo. My class work is finished and I have nowhere to be until classes tomorrow morning. It's perfectly fine for me to go to bed early, no matter how that cramps your style."

"I'll tell Dad," Remy threatened, sounding just like she had when they were kids.

"Tell him what? That you won't let me sleep because you want to party in our shared room?"

"I'll tell him that you're too depressed and you're making me depressed too. That I need my own space to clear your psychic negativity."

"That doesn't make any sense," Adam replied, peeking out of his blankets to childishly stick his tongue out at his sister.

"Made you look," Remy laughed, pointing at her brother's exposed head. "It's way too easy to manipulate you."

Adam groaned and retreated once again into his blankets.

"You're the worst, Rem," he grumbled. "You don't understand my problems at all. It's not a game."

"Never said it was," Remy replied happily. "I'm going to go hang out with actual people, but I'll be back to bother you later. I'll bring you a snack, since you ate pretty much nothing at dinner. See ya later, roomie!"

Remy skipped out the door, leaving Adam alone once again in his misery. It wasn't like he was starving himself or anything, food just didn't seem appealing to Adam. Nothing did. If only Theo was there to talk things through with. He wasn't just his boyfriend, Theo had been his best friend since they were six years old. Adam had some other friends, but no one like Theo. Except...now he might not have Theo at all anymore. He may not even want Theo to come back. He hadn't decided yet. His life would hang in limbo until he could talk to his boyfriend and see how they could possibly move past this.

Until that time, Adam buried himself deeper into his blankets, praying that Remy had just been joking with the threat of her return.

[noxtms]

IN CHARACTER DATE : late evening, may 2nd, 2024. TRIGGER WARNINGS : assault, blood, body imagery / horror, bruises, death, graphic descriptions of death, graveyard imagery, gore, knives.

AND EVERYONE WAITS, HOLDING THEIR BREATH, for something that doesn't come. that never will. he drinks, deeply, and nothing happens. inhales, deeply, and nothing happens. closes his eyes to the world and doesn't open them, again, as alive as he was moments before, as dead as he's been for the last ten years - an empty husk she cannot fill, no matter how hard she tries. the storm around the graveyard begins to die down and the anticipatory silence stretches onward until- "YOU!" bellatrix screams, the word wrenched from within. she is upon them in the blink of an eye, her poise abandoned in a fit of transcendent rage. there's a brief scuffle - rodolphus lets go of her arms and she tries to take the opportunity that this presents to get away from them both, kicking and scratching and wriggling this way and that as she grabs at her and he blocks her exit - but it ends with her breathless, crouched at a pitiful angle, her hair knotted in bellatrix's good hand. she isn't gentle, now, and her grip is like iron. fresh tears stream over her cheeks when she is jerked upwards, close enough for bellatrix to venomously hiss into her ear, "you did something. it has to be you-" 

it's nothing short of baffling that, despite everything that's happened, she manages to smile. wide & true & completely savage, her teeth fully bared ; it only serves to infuriate bellatrix all the more and the rough tug that she gives her earns a gasp of agony that still doesn't quite wipe it from her face. "i'm sorry," she pants, streaks of bubblegum pink beginning to weave their way through ginger hair, "i'm sorry, auntie. i just had to see it for myself."

the noise that bellatrix makes isn't human. it isn't even close - is, instead, as haunting and as surely deadly as a banshees wail - and she reaches for her knife, again, the sharpened blade glinting in the moonlight, and nymphadora tonks, refusing to cower, thinks of her son but braces herself for the end : 

an explosion of red sparks. everything happens so fast : the knife soars into the sky, clattering into the underbrush. bellatrix, catching the brunt of it, lets out a strangled yelp and loosens her hold. rodolphus careens backwards, an arm pulled protectively over his eyes. the silence is deafening, and lucius malfoy - wand held high, shoulders back, expression clear - does not need to raise his voice to be heard when he says, firmly, "enough."

it's the bravest and stupidest thing that she's ever seen, all the more impressive because of who it comes from. outnumbered the way that they are, he buys them moments. bellatrix, bemused by this unexpected show of courage, actually laughs, high and mighty, so sure of her own imminent victory-

and then, the order descends.

TONKS doesn't waste a single moment. taking advantage of the utter chaos of their arrival without pausing to see if they're friend or foe, she tears herself away from BELLATRIX'S slackened grip and - for good measure - makes sure to push back into her, once free, knocking her to the ground. she goes down, hard, reaching and grasping and trying to tear, her fingernails like claws only managing to harmlessly graze the others skin as she puts distance between herself and the duo. she'd still only be a sitting duck if it weren't for LUCIUS, but there has never been a truer case of better late than never - by the grace of some higher power, she actually manages to catch her wand when he throws it to her, just in time to stun the first of the death eaters to gather their wits about them and try to grab her. 

"TRAITOR-" RODOLPHUS roars, firing a killing curse that flies so close to LUCIUS that it's a miracle it misses entirely. he ducks beneath the next, throws a quick protego up against the red tinged hex that the other tries after that, and then throws his own curse back at him - a vicious dance that the two continue as the moonlit graveyard, once so terrifyingly quiet, explodes into a world of neon and noise. 

a masked MULCIBER is a bit behind when it comes to wands but doesn't hesitate to go for brute force when GRACE materializes at his side - caught immediately off guard, she lets out a high pitched scream when he wraps his arms around her middle and lifts her entirely off the ground, a round of forceful kicks earning her a couple of swears but little give to his grip. she's lucky that dumbledore's army have also made their debut and that MOIRA is there to help with a quick thinking petrificus totalus! forcing the man's limbs to immediately snap into place at his side - and slightly unluckier that she isn't able to stick the landing, tumbling roughly to the ground. 

she is dragged up to her feet again by the scruff of her shirt as ARTURO rushes past, managing to stun another death eater before they have time to react and finding himself almost immediately engaged in a duel with ALECTO. she goes in for the kill, too, quick & deadly, but the curse she fires towards him collides with a headstone and forces the two girls to duck and cover when the granite explodes in a heavy shower around them. he isn't given even a second to check that they're alright, forced to parry three more jinxes that she shoots off in quick succession before he gets a chance to counter with just one of his own. his jelly legs jinx isn't exactly ministry sanctioned, but it lands true - she goes down, still firing off erratic curses that fly wide & dangerous, and he is freed to jump back into the fray. 

MOIRA is clipped by a piece of falling debris. it's a fairly gruesome - and horribly dazing - head injury and she goes down, too, though GRACE is there to return the previous favor. she drags the other in behind the cover of another headstone and puts immediate pressure on the gash, deciding that it might be better if they both sit this one out. 

"i didn't think you were coming!" TONKS calls to KINGSLEY, catching the death eater that bears down on him from behind with a stunner to the face. he responds in kind, grabbing her by the arm and tugging her out of the way of a vivid purple jinx before making sure that the caster is tongue tied & leg locked, left helpless on the spongy, hallowed ground. "we almost weren't," he tells her, grimly, though not even this can wipe the smile off her face - her sheer relief so joyous that she just can't hide it. 

quickly scrambling to her feet and already clutching the elder wand tight in her five fingered hand, BELLATRIX finds her path ahead blocked by ABERFORTH. she knows from experience just how fearsome a warrior the most unassuming dumbledore can be, so she doesn't even give him a chance to prove it - the knockback jinx she throws towards him is so powerful that it sends him flying back by several yards, knocking him out cold when he collides with the wall of an ancient mausoleum. she doesn't have time to savor the victory. her only goal, now, is to get to VOLDEMORT'S resting place - nothing else matters. 

MARIETTA doesn't belong on the front lines, never has & never will ; she was meant to be there in a healing capacity, as agreed, but the death eaters are non discriminative. a wild killing curse cast by ALECTO earns a fearful shriek when it narrowly avoids hitting her, and the safety she finds cowering behind a gravestone doesn't last. the crucio that hits her in the back knocks the wind right out of her lungs, the pain she feels so excruciating and so singular that all she can do is whimper and curl in on herself, every bone in her body breaking, every organ failing, every-

"expulso-" her salvation comes not a moment too soon, the death eater that held her beneath his wand sailing through the air with the force of DRACO'S expulsion curse and crumpling at the base of a tombstone in the distance. they don't get up again. he moves as if to offer her a hand but doesn't get the chance to make good on the motion as another death eater, seeing what just happened, attempts to hit him with a purple jinx that neither are familiar with. he throws a shield up to deflect it and then throws himself into the duel, his wandwork enviable, but MARIETTA stays hunched down on the ground, desperately trying to catch her breath. 

the WEASLEY BROTHERS are not a well oiled machine, exactly, but they're doing their best. back to back, they clearly aren't on the same wavelength - both of them trying to look out for the other, throwing up a shield at the same moment, knocking a stunner from one that might have sailed true with well intentioned expelliarmus from the other - but all it takes is for one of their combatants to drop like a sack of potatoes for them to be able to turn their full attentions to the other. THORFINN is one of the best the death eaters have, but luckily enough, they finally find their rhythm. he catches NED along his wand arm with a ribboning curse, but ARTHUR takes advantage of that momentary victory with a tongue tying curse that soars beneath his arm and hits the intended target. he's long perfected wordless magic, of course, but the next crucio is sidestepped with ease, the next stunner sent wide with a well timed shield, and NED hits him square in the chest with a spongy knees curse that ARTHUR immediately follows with a stunner of his own. 

elsewhere, JUSTIN stumbles and falls over the edge of an ivy covered grave as he backs up and attempts to put distance between himself and one of the masked death eaters. his clumsiness might've doomed him if it weren't for MINETTE throwing a protego between him and his assailant, the yellow hex hitting the shield instead of him and - against all odds, a freak and most opportune sort of accident - hitting the caster in the chest. they both watch in amazement as the silver mask that the witch had worn is forced off of her features by the insect mandibles that begin to grow in, her skull painfully growing and shifting before their very eyes. her wand falls to the floor and she reaches up to touch her changing face, letting out a terrified scream that quickly turns into the frantic chkchkchk of a beetle as she realizes what is happening. 

the errant spells that fly this way and that have miraculously avoided it to now, and no one else seems to be paying it any mind, but LUNA makes sure to douse the fire beneath the still bubbling cauldron sitting on makeshift altar and, after only a moment of deliberation, pushes it over. the thick, black liquid inside is stubborn and doesn't initially seep into the soft ground below, but when she is forced to take momentary cover beneath the table as LUCIUS & RODOLPHUS duel their way past her, she coaxes it into doing so with a simple auguamenti, correctly deducing that whatever it is, it's best they don't have to deal with it later. 

SEAMUS catches the red sparks of a stunner directly to the face. his nose instantly breaking and squirting blood everywhere, he's dazed before he even hits the ground. NELL uses a tripping jinx on the death eater that hits him and then proceeds to physically kick him in the face - knocking him out with a sickening crunch - as they rush past and fall at his side, deciding that it's better to ask forgiveness than it is permission when it comes to a mid battle episkey. 

a not nearly incapacitated enough ALECTO, still struggling with the countercharm for her legs and making sure to keep firing at random every now and again, hits ROSHANA with a curse that causes her skull to instantly balloon when the auror gets a little close for comfort. she gives up entirely when she realizes that AMYCUS is feet away, redirecting her efforts into attempting to break HERMIONE & VIKTOR'S focus while he works on taking them both down, relentless in his approach. it's a mark of how skilled the two are - and how good of an unexpected team they make - that they manage to sidestep curse after curse thrown at their feet and deflect the hexes and jinxes that AMYCUS employs, though they realize how much of a game it is to them both when he succeeds in circling them out of his way. all he'd needed was a clear path to his sister, now achieved, and with an almost bored flick of his wrist he shoots off a blasting curse that breaks VIKTOR'S arm on impact and reaches to grab ALECTO'S outstretched hand. for what it's worth, HERMIONE accepts the defeat. instead of rushing the carrow twins in vain she rushes to VIKTOR'S side, instead, hunkering down to try and set his arm and protect him from the curses flying around their heads. 

"THERE-" MCGONAGALL cries, holding her own against two of the masked figures but making little progress forward beneath their onslaught. he's right there-" she shouts, neatly avoiding the sickly green of a killing curse and hitting the witch who cast it with impedimenta, using the opportunity she now has to lift her free hand and point towards the gravestone of merope gaunt, "someone-"

whatever command she was about to give never comes. ex pupil RABASTAN makes sure of it, and MCGONAGALL crumbles with an anguished scream beneath his crucio. he holds her there, buying time, as BELLATRIX cuts through the wix that apparated in with a near clinical precision, each one that falls heavy to the ground another step towards the dark lord and towards their escape-

"EXPELLIARMUS-" too late. by the time she realizes that the disarming charm is aimed at her, the elder wand is already arching through the air. the shadows swallow it whole, same as they did her knife, and her hand stings from where the spell collided with skin. she cradles it close to her chest as she turns - wide eyed, wandless, but never helpless - to face GINNY.

"you," she spits, so much cold hatred injected into her tone that it makes the real weasley shudder.

"me," she quips back at her, features devoid of the levity her words call for, "sorry i'm late."

she sees the differences, now. too few freckles / too muddy an eye color / too flat an accent. the imposter wasn't a perfect copy. just good enough to fool her. GINNY adjusts her grip on her wand, slowly, and BELLATRIX works her jaw. 

her fingers ITCH to wrap around her slender throat. to hell with the potion, to hell with it all, she'd give it all up for the chance to squeeze the life's breath from this blood traitors lungs and watch the light dim behind her eyes and she takes a half step forward, just a tiny step, far from fearful of the wand that she raises a half inch higher, sure that she can reach her before she finds it within herself to speak the killing words or before the rest of them know what's happening, sure she can end this gnats existence before anyone can even try to stop her-

"BELLATRIX," RABASTAN yells, a warning, and they look, as one, towards him. 

MCGONAGALL is still down - not a threat, not anymore, but the rest - the majority, at least - are winning. the last of the death eaters, the ones who haven't apparated away, are falling, one of by one, easily dispatched. they're going to azkaban. they'll be rounded up by dawn and transported with armed guard to the prison, and BELLATRIX realizes with a start that this will include them, too, if they don't do something. their attentions are turning. she has seconds. 

her mad gaze flits back to GINNY who realizes, too slow, what is about to happen. she pulls back her wand arm, fires a leg lock, a body bind, a jelly legs, a bat bogey hex - everything and anything that she can think of, the neon of the spells hitting the ground at her feet, soaring past her head, clipping the outcrops of stone as she takes off running and GINNY pursues. she dodges and weaves through the last of the tombstones that lay between them, throwing herself towards the dark lord with no care of the landing and bundling him into her arms. RABASTAN reaches down to grip her shoulder, turning on the spot, and they disappear with a pop as GINNY, cursing, comes to a skidding halt. 

it's over. except…

just two continue to battle, blind to the fact that it has already been won. LUCIUS & RODOLPHUS are locked in a dangerous game, each of their moves carefully calculated to avoid a deadly disaster. each curse is thrown without a word utter between them ; a flash of red, a gleam of green, every now and again an explosion of purple that sparks at their feet or a streak of blue that sails past their ears, each one spelling out the end. they're holding their own. evenly matched. they have been, the whole time. 

it all happens in slow motion. RODOLPHUS' eyes flicker to where he last saw his wife and widen, imperceptibly, as he realizes that she is gone. this minor distraction is a golden opportunity that LUCIUS takes full advantage of, his killing curse almost, almost sailing true - though it misses by inches. it hits another gravestone which in turn becomes another inanimate casualty of the fight, erupting with flames of green. RODOLPHUS reacts instinctively. LUCIUS, so confident of his win, has left himself open and vulnerable ; the deep red of the spell that flies beneath his arm and hits him square in the chest is nothing like the crimson of stupefy or expelliarmus. it's nothing like anything that any of them have seen before but he staggers under it all the same, his expression clouding in his confusion. he tries to gather himself. visibly struggles against some unseen consequence of the curse. holds his wand up - his arm quivering - and opens his mouth, but instead of words, what spills out is a gush of deep, dark blood. 

he crumbles, instantly. RODOLPHUS takes only a second to admire his own handiwork before he disappears with another pop. 

DRACO reaches his father first. untouched by the horror of what he's witnessing, he operates purely on adrenaline and rushes forward, falling heavily to the ground and dragging LUCIUS into his arms. he lies at an unnatural angle - his legs twisted uncomfortably, half of his body now propped up by his son - but he doesn't seem to notice and certainly doesn't protest, if he does. "no, no, no-" DRACO mutters, so unsure of what to do with his shaking hands. he looks for a wound to cover, a place to apply pressure, anything at all to tell him where he should be focusing his efforts, but there's nothing to be found. GINNY kneels beside them and he looks to her, helplessly, insists, "he's okay. he's going to be okay." her eyes two shining saucers, her face draining of color, he doesn't need her to respond to know what she's thinking and he turns his focus back to LUCIUS, trying to prompt him into agreeing, trying to make him tell her, "do you hear me, dad? you're going to be okay. tell her you're fine. tell her you're okay. you're alright, aren't you?"

it's horrifying. it's unending. he coughs and he splutters, blood pouring from his orifices, each breath a pained and desperate gasp as he tries and fails to fill his lungs. he struggles to speak. doesn't make words, not as they know them, anyways. whoever created this curse wanted the person hit by it to suffer, plain & simple, and suffer he does. "HELP HIM," DRACO shouts, turning his attention to the frozen wix around them when it becomes clear that his father cannot reply, the despair in his voice spurring a few of them into action while the rest just watch on, glassy eyed. KINGSLEY & MARIETTA join them on the ground but neither of them know what to do or where to begin, either, even with all of their field training. they exchange a hopeless look that DRACO sees and with a noise of dissent, he picks his wand up from where he let it clatter to the ground and begins to recite every healing spell he's ever heard, one after the other. it's a miserable chant.

"i'm… sorry…" LUCIUS rasps, so quiet that they can barely hear him. he smacks his bloodstained lips together, his adam's apple bobbing as he tries, in vain, to swallow down the blood that fills his throat. DRACO stubbornly refuses to look him in the eye, goes so far as to flat out ignore the way that LUCIUS reaches out, his whole body trembling, now, and scratches weakly at his arm. he's so desperate to fix it that he won't allow himself to experience it, either, stumbling over the word of a spell an going back to the start of them all, trying his hardest to hold his wand steady as he goes. GINNY, her lashes wet with tears, can't stand to watch. she takes his searching hand and holds it tight with one of her own and his bloodshot eyes flicker towards her, look at her, through her, see only what he wants. her heart clenches when he babbles, "nymphadora… i'm sorry…"

it's no use. there's nothing to heal. no torn skin to try and knit together again, no broken bone to set and mend ; this blood flows from somewhere deep within, much too deep and much too devastating for DRACO'S magic to reach, now. his chest heaves. the effort that it must be taking for him to draw in breath is unimaginable, but he fights to do it anyway. tries to clear his throat, again, with a thick, wet cough, his next inhale accompanied by a sickening rattle turning over at the back. 

"DRACO…" she murmurs, reaching for his wand. he fights it - bottom lip trembling, his eyes shining, he refuses to even look at her as she forces his hand to still and continues to mutter healing spell after healing spell beneath his breath as she coaxes it from his grasp. she gives LUCIUS' hand one final, comforting squeeze and then presses it into DRACO'S. he clasps it between both of his own and finally, finally, forces himself to actually look at his father ; his gaunt cheeks, his ashen skin, the vivid crimson of his life's blood starting to slow.

"please…" he begs, directly, a mournful plea, "please."

"i'm… proud…" the ground, the three of them, they're all soaked in red. he must be running out. he has to be. but he forces himself to speak anyways, to bare his bloody teeth in a sad and woeful smile, to use the very last of the strength in his body to lift his other hand and graze DRACO'S cheek, a loving gesture that he's too weak to follow through on. "proud of… my son…"

his whole body shudders. one last, heaving breath pushes past his gorp lips and his chest sinks, his eyes dimming, his hand falling to his side, his grip slackening. peace, at last.

DRACO, still clutching his fathers hand, sobs in spite of himself just the once. it's all it takes. GINNY doesn't hesitate. she wraps her arms around his shoulders, refusing to be shook off even when he tries his very best, even when he tells her, firmly, "no," holding him tight and holding him close until he's finally ready to give in, entirely, and buries his face into the curve of her neck. they stay there like that, his father between them, until her shoulder is wet with warm, fresh tears and his whole body stops shaking. they stay entwined until they're forced apart, the protective wreath of her arms a shield between him and the rest of the world, the reality of which he doesn't know he's ready to face-

and slowly but surely, the last of the storm clouds hanging high above them drift away, allowing the moon to shine bright over the end scene.

ROUNDUP OF DAMAGES, INJURIES & FATALITIES :

the graveyard is destroyed. the department of magical accidents & catastrophes have their work cut out for them once the sun rises on the scene between the repairs and the need to explain - in terms that muggles will understand, of course - what happened to the local council. there were no witnesses despite the close proximity to a small town, so no need for the obliviation office to step in, but the lightshow and damage being the result of a group of rowdy teenagers setting off a box of fireworks will take more than mere suggestion to ingrain in their minds.

the death toll sits at four - lucius malfoy and three death eaters. bellatrix, rodolphus and rabastan lestrange, amycus and alecto carrow, thorfinn rowle and mulciber junior managed to escape the scene, though the reinforcements managed to incapacitate and subsequently round up six additional death eaters who were transported to azkaban in the early hours.

aberforth dumbledore, no longer a spring chicken, suffered serious injury at bellatrix's hand. he's transported to st mungo's immediately and will remain there only until he checks himself out against all advice to the contrary.

arthur weasley is shaken by the days events but thankfully unscathed.

arturo de la rosa sustained some minor injuries and is advised to recover at home, but proceeds to work anyways.

draco malfoy suffered some minor injury during the battle, but nothing nearly as devastating as his loss. he follows to st mungo's, anyways.

eleanor diggory is badly shaken but relatively unscathed.

ginny weasley is shaken, but unscathed.

grace moody sustained some minor injuries but will be able to recover at home.

hermione granger suffered some minor injury over the course of the battle but can rest and recoup at home.

justin finch-fletchley sprained his ankle when he fell but has his choice of heading to st mungo's or having this seen to by emergency mediwix on the scene. either way, a few shots of skele-gro over a few hours should see him right.

kingsley shacklebolt is unscathed and leaves arturo and a trusted team to take care of the apprehended death eaters - he has bad news to break.

luna lovegood suffered some minor injury over the course of the battle but is welcome to return home after a once over by the mediwix on scene.

marietta edgecombe is badly shaken by her time beneath the cruciatus but can be treated for shock on the scene. per usual, a stiff drink once she gets home is the best medicine they can prescribe her.

minerva mcgonagall is badly shaken by her time under the cruciatus but has a school to take care of. she takes the advice of a strong drink but returns to hogwarts in the early hours of the morning.

minette merrythought suffered some minor injury over the course of the battle but is welcome to return home after a once over by the mediwix on scene.

moira graves will need stitches for her head wound and is advised to stay at st mungo's for observation purposes - the worry is a concussion, and the mediwix will feel better if she's under their watchful eyes.

ned weasley suffered moderate injury in the form of the gash along his arm but refuses treatment from the mediwix that arrive on scene and instead heads home. he'll take care of it himself.

nymphadora tonks crashes once the adrenaline of the fight wears off and is taken straight to st mungo's despite her protests. the gnarly wound on her hand and the other injuries she managed to pick up along the way are easy enough to deal with, but she'll have to stay overnight for observation.

roshana cresswell will need to spend a few days in st mungo's following her ordeal ; the emergency mediwix that arrive on scene countercharm the curse that she was hit by but are concerned by the long term effects it may have, even if she's up and walking within the hour.

seamus finnigan's nose was set right by eleanor diggory, but he should probably have it seen to be an emergency mediwix anyway, to be safe.

viktor krum suffered serious injury in the battle when his arm was broken by amycus carrow's blasting curse. he is transferred to st mungo's immediately and the damage done will require quite a lot of skele-gro administered over a few days, so it's best he stays in.

[randoimago]

Request:

Seteth, Shamir, Ignatz & Ingrid notice a crowd of people forming a ring around something. Becoming curious, they decide to walk over & check out what everyone's looking at, only to find their S/O in the middle, doing some VERY painful-looking contortionist poses with absolutely no difficulty whatsoever.

(They had no idea their S/O was a contortionist, just so there's no confusion in what I'm asking)

Learning that S/O is a Contortionist

Fandom: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Character(s): Ingrid, Seteth, Shamir

Type of Request: Headcanons

Note(s): Contortionist are crazy and I love them, I hope they never get any cramps. Contortionism (?) is just so wild and just watching it hurts

Ingrid

Honestly was very curious with the sudden crowd. She was trying to do some shopping and now there was people in the way. Doesn't even think about being annoyed because she very much wants to see what's happening.

And then she gets closer and has to hold in a gasp when she sees you literally bending over backwards and moving your upper body between your legs, yet still keeping balance.

There are a thousand questions running through her mind at seeing you like this. The first is if you're okay, but judging by the smile on your face you seem fine.

As much as Ingrid wants to stay and watch, she still has things to do. She does do her best to make eye contact with you - which is pretty difficult since your poses make it so she'd have to crouch to get your attention - but she tries to get your attention just so you know she saw so hopefully when you're done you'll find her to talk.

Seteth

With how long Seteth has lived, he's seen many different types of performances. He's seen people juggling fire, he's seen circus's with elephants balancing on giant balls (which he tried to explain the trick to Flayn, but she kept shushing him).

Seteth has seen some contortionists in his time, but that doesn't stop the surprise when he sees you it's you doing the performing.

He had wanted to talk to you about something or other, but it ended up leaving his mind when he joined the crowd gathered around you. Some people were throwing some coin to tip you for your performing and that gave Seteth some amusement, but he mostly stayed silent.

Is a tad upset that you didn't share this talent with him before. This is something that is very interesting and he knows you put so much work to pull off some of these bends and stretches. But he doesn't want to scold you and instead gives you a smile should your eyes connected and continues to watch.

Shamir

While she hasn't lived long enough to see a bunch of things like Seteth, she's still well traveled and so she's seen many things thanks to that.

Shamir is perceptive and so she caught on to you being more flexible than most, she just didn't realize how flexible until she ended up being pulled along by Catherine to the group of people watching some performance in town.

Does raise an eyebrow as she watches you bend and perform. She couldn't decide if some of your bending made her wince in pain or fill with envy because she really could use some good stretching.

Shamir doesn't linger in the crowd long, this is a talent you have that you didn't tell her about so she figures there might be a reason it hadn't come up. So she's not going to let you see that she saw so you can bring it up when you wish to.

[jack-in-the-dark]

The Ch'katik Danger Assessment Scale

It had taken Ch'katik a long time to become acclimated the new chief engineer.

He didn't mind that she was human. The ship's previous chief engineer had been human, and Ch'katik had quite liked John.

It wasn't that the new chief was female, either; after all, his eusocial species' societal structure was based around matriarchy, and while he had left it hadn't been because of the leadership.

Nor was it because he had been "passed over" for promotion, as a crewmate had implied. Ch'katik was a worker caste. It's true that when given clear instructions or goal, a sh'vth worker is almost unparalleled in the speed and efficiency of a task. But, as Ch'katik was all too aware, his caste was not particularly adept at dealing with crisis situations. Heading off an unexpected power surge during repairs before it exploded was simple - but without a leader, a worker caste would stand in paralyzed confusion during the attack that necessitated said repairs.

It was the stark difference in personality that had given Ch'katik trouble. John was a kind, soft-spoken elder. He smiled a lot and was very friendly, and his breadth of knowledge was truly astounding! Ch'katik had always admired that about him. The little tug they called home was centuries old. Her various systems had been replaced, upgraded, modified, refitted, bypassed, repaired, and shenanigans'd by dozens of engineers from dozens of worlds with dozens of species' tech. By the time John retired, the tug was in better working order than when even Ch'katik had been brought on board.

This new engineer, this Becky, shared John's intuitive understanding of the ship's inner workings, but otherwise she couldn't have been more different. He knew most species mellowed with age, but the contrast in age made the differences all the more stark. She was often abrasive, sarcastic, cynical, and, as another crewmate had put it, "starts the day looking like she was done with everyone's shit a week ago." Ch'katik couldn't imagine John had ever been like her.

And her language! Ch'katik considered himself familiar with most species' profanity, but working under Becky had been a learning experience. She used some of humanity's most offensive words like punctuation, and she wasn't quiet about it unless she was snarking at something.

But he couldn't deny her skill - Ch'katik was fairly certain that for all his experience and talent, Becky was noticeably the better engineer. And while she certainly was rough around the edges, she'd never offended Ch'katik. Colorful language aside, she was one of the more respectful leaders he had worked under. Every other chief engineer he'd known had practically babysat him for the first few weeks, but Becky had simply immediately assumed that he was reliable and knew what he was doing. Ch'katik appreciated that.

And over time, her propensity for swearing had actually become quite useful for Ch'katik. He could now reliably gauge the danger and seriousness of a problem by paying attention to the volume and intensity of her profanity.

Which lead him to the current situation. The ship was under attack by pirates. Or so it had seemed, but from what Ch'katik could gather from the engine room, the pirates were pursuing them even though they'd decoupled from their cargo and were fleeing at best speed.

They were taking fire, and the two of them were were barely keeping up with damage control while she argued with the captain over the intercom.

"It's our only chance! We stay here, we're dead!" the captain urged.

"It's goddamn suicide!" Becky countered, before briefly putting a wrench in her teeth so she could use both hands to fit a replacement power coupling into place as the ship rocked around them. Taking the wrench back in hand, she continued her counterargument. "The drive housing's damaged, we jump without securing it and being fucking dead might end up being preferable! And that's assuming our hull even survives the goddamn jump in the first place!"

She held the wrench out to Ch'katik, who was already reaching for it with one arm and handing her the needed plasma torch with another. Becky was very upset, and by his judgment of her language, the ship was in worse shape than he thought.

Becky immediately set to welding the coupling into place. "I like this ship, cap, but I don't like it well enough to phase half my fucking mass into a random bulkhead!"

With the arms not holding tools, Ch'katik finished up repairing the wiring the coupling had fried when it blew. Listening to the captain and Becky argue, he again thanked the universe that he was working caste. He did not envy these decisions, nor could he even say which option he preferred. Certain immediate death did not seem much better than probable horrible, painful death.

"We're making the jump, Becky! That's an order!"

"FUCK!" Becky exclaimed, punching the bulkhead. Ch'katik winced, but not at the action. Her outburst was a very bad sign.

He didn't need her to tell him to follow her back to the engine room, and so she didn't. A particularly bad hit nearly sent them reeling - having only the two legs, the chief engineer was nearly thrown to the deck. Ch'katik helped her steady herself before they continued on towards their goal.

Becky bee-lined for the main control console, only needing to briefly point to the power distribution console to tell Ch'katik what he needed to do. As beat up as they were, making sure the drive received steady power was paramount. Ensuring it was protected from any surges was equally as important, but if that happened at least no one would be left to complain.

"Spinning the drive up!" Becky announced, and Ch'katik heard the increasing, shuddering whine of the machine preparing to do the impossible. Unfortunately, that might not be metaphorical.

Ch'katik focused on his job. The reactors were stable, which he thanked the stars for. The real trouble was making sure there was uninterrupted power flow from them to the jump drive - at any moment, a shot from the pirates could damage the distribution systems, and if he wasn't fast enough it would cause a power dip and the drive would fail.

"Now or never, captain!" Becky yelled over the steady din of the jump drive.

Ch'katik felt it happen. It was like suddenly going very fast in every direction while someone put his organs in a vice. An instant later, it ceased.

Unfortunately, also an instant later, a loud unpleasant noise rang out and the ship shuddered. The lights flickered and went out, sending them into complete darkness for a moment before the orange emergency lights kicked in.

Ch'katik hesitated. It was quiet. Much too quiet. Nervously, he turned to look at Becky, to gauge the gravity of their situation.

Becky leaned against the console, staring down at the readouts, and let out a quiet sigh. "Ah, beans."

Ch'katik fainted.

Author's note: I first posted this on r/hfy about a year ago, so if it's familiar that's probably where you read it. I figured it was about time I posted some OC to tumblr, so I thought, why not some of the stuff I've written?