#forget artemy I’ll treat you right

[fennelwasp]

Drew over top of some classic screenshots i really liked. The dialouge in this game is completely insane <3

[emotiandon]

Joy and supports and voice lines and other @fe-oc-week

Kaguya left, Kosuke middle, Venus right

The biggest joy in the twin’ life after all the pain they experienced before coming to the academy, was seeing each other at the academy. Kaguya feeling love from someone else, Hubert. Kosuke smile finally being seen through by someone else other than Kaguya, by Venus.

Also seeing Kosuke win the White Heron cup and wear the damn outfit

Relic (Renamed Swords of Apollo and Artemis)

Supports they’re more like the overall supports

Twins supports- Basically it’s just learning new things about each other as they were so used to a different version from years ago and than learning to move on to become better people together

Hubert Crowbar- Basically about how Crowbar basically just observes him and that she shouldn’t be scared to go up and talk- and than confession stuff happen and they date

Edelgard Kosuke- just how werid seeing Hubert and Crowbar act. Than talking about childhood and than talking about how simmialr Edelgard and the twin’s life has been

Venus Kosuke- Kosuke acting charming and flirty than Venus calls out BS. Than Kosuke learns to be vulnerable with Venus and than he spills the tea. Than Venus does and then they confess yk love

Marrianne Crowbar- Basically abt how miserable crest are and how they both should learn to be more confident

Lysithea Crowbar- How they duel each other and than Crowbar is envious Lysithea does lots of things when she’s young than Lysithea spills the tea of her life which Crowbar also does

Linhart Crowbar- Basically testing To see how different her crest is to Kosuke and to see how man made crest works

Felix Crowbar- Them dueling and teaching Felix magic for the fun of it

Slyvain Kosuke- Sylvia’s flirting with girl, than Kosuke talks to Slyvain and the girl is a big Kosuke simp and than Kosuke rejects her. Than Slyvain telling him how he’s jealous that it’s natural and asks how he does it and Kosuke is like “Idk bro just do it lmao”

Caspar Kosuke- Them training and talking about the future which Caspar is like Idk lol I’ll see when the future is coming but now I’ll enjoy life. In which Kosuke says “bitch how tf do you do that when I fear each day to come and have my future decided for me” free Caspar therapy

Ferdinand Kosuke-just being Nobel bros in think this one will just be light hearted just two Nobel bros having a noble time together

Ignatz Crowbar- Ignatz is amazed at how Crowbar makes clocks and she teaches him though he isn’t good at the actual putting together bit and than Crowbar tells him this she’s not good at feigning so they make a cool as fuck grandfather clock together

Lorenz Kosuke- Nobel convo part 2 ft asshole side of Lorenz and Kosuke

Byleth Kosuke- Therapy to not hide feelings

Byleth Crowbar- PTSD therapy

Ferdinand Crowbar- Silly tea vs coffee debate

Gifts and lost items

Kosuke-

Favourite gifts- Dapper handkerchief, tasty baked treat, floral adornment, training weight, riding boots, tea leaves, sunflower, forget me nots, ceremonial sword, fishing float, book of sheet music

Disliked gifts- book of crest design, exotic spices, goddess statue

Lost items-Boat in a bottle, miniature boat, boat model, windup sailing boat toy, sun necklace, moon necklace, raven feathers

“That’s sweet of you professor, maybe I should give you something back” Favourite gift

“Thank you professor” liked gift

“Well it’s the thought that counts…” disliked gift

“Ah, Thank you professor! I’ve been looking for this for ages”

“This is beautiful, but unfortunately this is not mine”

Kaguya-

Favourite gifts- Dapper handkerchief, coffee beans, flora adornment, gemstone beads, stylish hair clip, riding boots, book of sheet music, the history of fodlan, violet, lavender, forget me nots,

Disliked gifts- same things as Kosuke but with smoked meat

Coffee mug, crow feathers, embroidered bows, cuckoo clocks, miniature grandfather clock, wood clock, sun earring, moon earring,

“Ah, your observation skills are as sharp as ever” Favourite gift

“Thank you very much professor” liked gift

“Thank you professor, though please remember my dislikes please” disliked gift

“Professor, you kindhearted spirit, I thought this was stolen or unreachable at this point”

“I apologise Professor but this item is not mine”

Kosuke Kaguya Venus (Alymran Girl from the Golden Deer ordered to supervise Claude and is in a relationship with Kosuke) Hubert

Dining Quotes

Favourite food: Sweet food, Food with vegetables and no sugar or meat

Professor, I did not think you’d pay that much attention to your sweet student!

My great thanks Professor for considering my vegan diet, Ko can never believe I stopped eating meat and sugar at this point

Regular food:

Well at least I have more room to converse than focusing on a meal.

Thank you Professor for the invite, though please may you consider my dietary recommendations next time.

Hated food: Vegetables, Anything sweet or have meat

I supposed being picky and spoilt is not on the menu today is it?

Thank you Professor for the invite…But I’ll shall skip this meal until you remember my dietary restrictions.

Kaguya and Kosuke C/B

Regular dish:

It’s been a while we had a meal together, right Ka?

Though I didn’t expect years apart meant you would cut meat and sugar entirely

I just learnt that those ingredients does not serve me more energy or happiness or make me healthier.

So it was better for me to cut it out entirely.

Favourite dish Kosuke-

Professor, Me and Ka used to have this all the time when we were younger

Ko you may have my half

Eh- Do you not like it Ka? We used to have it all the time as kids

I supposed growing up meant letting go off sweet things

Oh well more for me!

Favourite dish Kaguya-

Took you long enough Professor, for you to remember my dietary choices

Are you trying to kill me

I’ll eat it for you Ko, we cannot have you ruin everyone’s education over a simple dish.

Twin’s favourite dish very rare:

Wow, I can’t believe there something we both like and is edible!

I apologise for being somewhat picky, I just want to make healthy eating choices.

Don’t stress too much Ka, your beautiful hair will get whiter if you do, just eat more you need that energy.

Ko your parental complex is showing

Twins A support

I get why you cut meat Ka

Meat gets boring and especially how it is cooked is not up to my standards at all, and vegetables aren’t bad especially the ones Dedue grows

Maybe I will follow you and go on full vegan

You say that Ko but you will quit the next day

Just watch me I will eat more vegetables and no meat

But I’m not cutting sugar

Twins C/B with Hubert

Kosuke-

Professor, WHY IN SOTHIS FUCKING NAME DID YOU INVITE ME FOR A FUCKING MEAL WITH MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

Professor why did you invite me and the F boy together

I’m not a shitty F BOY-

Kaguya-

•////////////•

Crowbar are you going to eat your food or not?

I-uh-Yes-YES Hubert I will eat my food hehahha…..

this girl is weird…

Hubert A support

Kosuke-

Because you are unfortunately dating my sister…I will tolerate you and your shitty hair and existence for my sister

Just shut up and eat Kosuke

Also be prepared for more family gatherings with new additions to the family-

YOU SON OF A BITC-

Kaguya-

I’m started to like Vegetable Pasta Salad for lunch everyday now

Haha, good because you had no choice Hubbie, because if I’m here no meat is coming onto my plate.

I would eat any meal for you Artemis (Nickname as Artemis is the goddess of the moon and hunt which can also be Diana and I think Artemis is the cooler version here)

Kaguya and Marianne support c/b

Oh Crowbar you’re vegan too…?

Huh? Oh yes I am as I do not enjoy meat in general and fish aswell

Though I still drink milk though especially in my coffee

We should have coffee together, or tea together some time

Ah….yes I would like that

Kaguya and Marianne A Support

It’s nice to know someone else also eats the same foods

Yes it is Kaguya

Are you free for the picnic tomorow

Of course I am Marianne, I’ll never miss a picnic with you

Kosuke and Venus C/B support

Wow, the food’s delicious here

It’ll be more delicious if I fed you ‘winking face’

Fuck boy

WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THAT!?

Kosuke and Venus A support

It’s been so long since it’s been you and me….and-uh-yeah the professor, can’t forget about them

The foods so good here, just like I remembered….

Hey Kosuke, say ahh

Wha-oh wait we’re doing this

Ahhh “munch munch”

Why are you allowed to do it but not me-

Choir practice

Singing may not be my expertise, p I will sing as require

….

I am singing professor, listen

…..

Cooking

I never did any like this, well as long as I meticulously follow each step and make sure I get everything a crossing to the recipe…in theory everything should be good

This is good…. But what happens if we add more sugar….?

Tea party

Professor! How are you today, looking as gorgeous/handsome as ever

My Professor I didn’t even hesitate to come when you asked

That’s sweet of you Professor to know what tea I like Angelica Tea

Professor! You really know how much this is worth! But thank you for spending it on me 5 star tea

Though I prefer coffee, it will be terribly rude to decline

Thank you very much Professor for taking time to invite me

Though I am not as an avid tea enjoyer, I am grateful you know what I like Crescent moon tea

Professor, you do not have to buy me this expensive tea, please save your money on more worthwhile items 5 star tea

Maybe I’ll add more supports and voice lines

As a Fire emblem fan and artist I had to participate in the FE OC week @fe-oc-week (warning very rough sketches as I haven’t finished the offical art style portrait yet)

This is my OC Crowbar/Kaguya Kamiyama and more of a AU of my OCs in FE3H. She’s in the Black eagles, she’s 19 when she was enrolled in the officers academy. She has an identical but flipped (idk what the word is) twin brother, his name is Kosuke. She’s an ISTJ, she is very close to her brother and will not let anyone close to him. Because of that she’s like Hubert, maybe that’s why she is a big simp for him. The reason she follows her brother as she hasn’t talked to him face to face for years after the “incident” and because he’s the only real nice family she has. She’s distant to everyone else but Hubert but she’s close to Felix as she can relate to him (though this may foreshadow something) and she hates Claude (best boy) to a burning level as she thinks he’s unfit to be a leader. She is a magic unit with reason and maybe some dark magic is her specialty. Her crest is the Crest of Kamiyama, from a famous house who doesn’t know the origins of their crest. She’s really quiet around the professor but overtime she warms up to them and is miserable when the professor is gone in the 5 year timeskip

The stats are wonky as I did it DND style lol and I was going to do her brother character bio but I was lazy maybe later, and I tried not to go too much into her backstory too much.

[antiloreolympus]

May I ask why you dislike LO? I enjoy reading the series, and there are faults in the writing (as no series is perfect) and I have my own gripes with it, but overall I just really like the myth of Hades and Persephone.

I'll admit there were things that made me uncomfortable when I first started reading it (and they still kinda do) like Persephone being a teenager while Hades is, what - 40-60ish? The timeline (of the story taking place over the course of only a few weeks, when a Lot of stuff is going on), Hera the goddess of marriage having an affair, Demeter being an overbearing mother who financially takes advantage of her daughter, some of the flashbacks (like specifically the one where a much younger Kore meets a drunken Hades and falls on top of him while naked? And its played off as a meet cute)

But thats besides the point - I'm curious as to why you don't like LO and/or the creator of it I guess?

Also your posts are showing up in the lore Olympus tag - (and I know there's probably a seperate "anti-lo" tag but I also wouldn't be surprised if angry anons came into your inbox for spamming the tag of the webcomic they like with criticism, because apparently thats what people do on this hellsite instead of just blocking). And, of course your entitled to critique the series, but I'm sure some people are not going to be happy about that. (I say this as a person who enjoys critiquing media, like netflix's spop reboot, and have had angry anons come at me before, so stay safe out there).

Also, sorry this is so long.

Heyo! And I understand

I'll take this time to get into why I don't like each character as it's one of the reasons I don't like LO as a whole:

(Some I removed because there isn't much to say about them)

Main Characters:

• Hades - Man in his Late 30s to Early 40s actively pursuing a 'teenaged girl'.... He acknowledged that this was wrong at yet pursues her anyway? Plus, he's perfectly fine with slave labor and using his power/status to get his way. His character is also inconsistent when it comes to Minthe because one minute he can stand up for himself and the next he's terrified?

• Persephone - An overly sexualized teen who acts like a child. She also killed people but it was because of a 'feeling'. She still committed murder and yet it's framed as a "well, it's not her fault" but I'm also supposed to believe this 19-20 yr old would make a great and feared queen.

• Hera - Not only does she treat the lower class like garbage but she's also a hypocrite (the affair). Plus, she just randomly goes back on her word about Hades being a creep for no reason.

• Eros - Put a girl in some random dude's car and gave her "apology donuts" as a sorry gift 😒

Antagonists:

• Minthe - She was coded with bpd which wouldn't be a bad thing if she wasn't so demonized by the story.

• Apollo - How come this dude is one of the most prevalent people in the story and we don't get a strong motive for him until season 2? Even then, we barely know anything else about him. I get the whole "well, he did this so I don't want a backstory for him" but at least give him a solid motive. One that comes from him directly.

• Thetis - One of the sweetest people gets turned into a homewrecker for no reason. Even then, people gloss over her being verbally manipulative to Minthe.

• Leto - Also verbally manipulative to her daughter. How comes RS decided to demonize the goddess of motherhood, too? There's really no justifiable reason for that.

Others: 

• Hecate  - Also switched up about Hades and Persephone. Let's not forget her hitting Hades 3 times and him having to tell her to stop.

• Artemis - I get letting her brother in the house but Eros and Hermes? That's just inconsistency right there.

• Demeter - Got demonized for the 5973th time 😔🤚

• Aphrodite - Also rude to the lower class but it makes more sense as she's Aphrodite. Still rude af though.

• Hermes - Man got mad at Thanatos for "messing with his money" as if he didn't cover the whole thing up with Demeter      

• Hestia + Athena - Just hypocrites and the fact that they're supposed to be (aro)ace goddesses.

• Ares - He and Persephone also made out when she was 18 and I assume he was way, way older. Plus, him simping for Persephone in front of Aphrodite was an odd move.

• Hephaestus - This issue has more to do with RS's writing because how the hell did he hack Apollo's phone from Persephone's sim card alone and why is that just never explained?

• Daphne - Excusing nepotism as if Thanatos doesn't work in the same place as Persephone

Now, onto the story:

Its pacing is slow but also extremely fast for what it is. Everything (excluding flashbacks) has taken place over the course of 2-3 weeks. Persephone literally gets SA'd the day after the party. But then you have to think about how Persephone and Hades are probably going to get married like a month after their second meeting. We haven't even gotten to the trial yet and it feels like we never will with how slow everything is. LO honestly isn't made to be like a regular webtoon, it's made to be binged like a Netflix show or something. That would be fine but I can tell from interviews that it wasn't RS's intentions.

Also, RS herself? Yeah, don't really vibe with what she says a good portion of the time

I'll show some examples:

Not all of them are bad, just very weird

Besides the wonky art, she does have potential but LO doesn't really show her skill. Hopefully, she does learn from this comic though.

About the hate, I honestly don't care that much anymore as it really doesn't change much. I respond but only because I find it funny/entertaining when someone tries to tells me what to do with my own freetime.

[statticscribbles]

Misunderstoond

Summary: Newt Scamander/Reader;  Nothing’s worse than a family misunderstanding

“Dougal can you not sleep?” You frown when the Demiguise tugs at your leg and then slowly clambers up to rest in your arms. He makes a soft chittering sound and you frown; he was still sick and no matter what Newt had given him it didn’t seem to help. You were hoping it was just a mild flu. You wrap him up in a blanket and place him in the hammock you normally sleep in when you need to stay in the case. You sigh running your hands through your hair before thinking maybe a warm bath would help the Demiguise; considering he had quite a few aches and pains from how he whined and mumbled to Newt. You watch as he blinks, his eyes glowing blue before he smiles slightly and rolls to his side, managing to cover himself in the blanket fully so he’s just a lump on the hammock. You leave him when you hear the door open.

“I’ll be just a second; I bet that’s your daddy with everything.” You chuckle at the joke, Dougal having acted like a clingy toddler the minute he first sneezed. You turn watching Thesues awkwardly standing there. “Y/N. I was wondering if uh, Newt was around.” He breaks the silence. “Oh no, I’m sorry Theseus he stepped out for a minute; had to get some stuff. I’m really sorry we haven’t visited; we’ve been swamped here. Dougal has some sort of cold and we don’t really know what’s wrong; I’m convinced it’s the flu but Newt says it’s something else; so he went off to go get whatever herbs he needs to treat whatever he thinks is wrong. Sorry I’m rambling.”

“No I; uh; Dougal?” Thesues question; you can see what you think is a faint recognition on his face and you smile. “Yes; I don’t think you’ve been properly introduced; the last time we saw you was what about six or so months ago; Dougal wasn’t really that comfortable around new people. I really am sorry we haven’t stopped by. Oh but he’s sick; I’d hate for you to see him when he’s grumpy.” You frown and Thesues looks increasingly surprised. “Really Y/N; it’s alright; just come round when he’s feeling better. We can all talk over dinner. If you and NEwt can make it next week?” You beam at him, turning slightly when you hear a faint whine from the hammock. “Give me a second sweetie.” You offer but Thesues shakes his head smiling. “Don’t worry about it, tell Newt I stopped by.” He smiles waving and you nod turning to Dougal as Thesues leaves.

You mention to Newt that Theseus stopped by and he sighs nodding pinching his nose. “He’s been bothering me about a family dinner.” “I know he mentioned it to me.” You smirk when Dougal lifts his head and Newt chatters softly to him. “Did you miss me huh Dougal?” He grins offering out a potion he’d mixed and Dougal frowns reaching towards you. “Aww you’re gonna have to take some medicine Dougal; it’ll make you feel better.” You assure him as he wraps his arms around your neck.

It had taken a week and another two days of the potion Newt had created but Dougal was fully recovered although he still looked wary when Newt would walk around with the bottles he used for medicine. You’d been surprised to find four bright red letters all addressed to Newt; as well as two plain envelopes addressed to you from three separate owls. “Newt. Do your family normally send Howlers?” “No did they?” He peers from where he’s feeding the mooncalves. “Yes; one from your mother, one from your father and two from Thesues.” “Did one get lost in the post then?”

“No they were sent at the same time; apparently he has very strong feelings about you not taking him up on his dinner offer.” You chuckle and Newt nods. “He was very odd when I ran into him at the ministry the other day.” “Really? Did you talk about the dinner? Maybe he’s bothered about that or maybe that you weren’t in?” “We didn’t; he did ask about Dougal though; seemed really concerned about him. He asked me how old he was; seemed horribly offended with my answer.” “What did you say?” “Well I told him that age doesn’t really matter in my line of work; but Dougal was very young in comparison to most of the other creatures here.” You nod along with his explanation.

“He then complained it was rude to you that I forget; and ‘preposterous’ that” he mimics Thesues’ voice and you chuckle “I couldn’t remember Dougal’s age; since you said it had been around six months since we last seen him and taking care of him couldn’t have scrambled my brain that badly.” You furrow your brow but nod for him to continue. “He scolded me for not informing him and that he’d told mother and father and they were furious with me as well. He glared at me when I left after I said we’d make it to dinner this week, and I could bring Dougal if he wanted to see him so badly.” “Did anything else happen? Maybe someone told him what a demiguise can do; and he wants to see it in person?” “I can’t think of anything. Maybe we should check the letters.”

“Maybe let’s open mine first and see if they give us any clues.” You peel the envelope from Theseus open. “Oh no.” You sigh scanning back over the letter that Theseus has written, before turning to Newt. “Good news it’s all been a huge misunderstanding.” “So it explains the Howlers?” “Yes. The bad news is; Theseus doesn’t know what a Demiguise is; at all. He thinks Dougal is a human child; specifically our child.” “Oh.” Newt nods slowly turning in horror to the Howlers. “So which one is the worst?” “Which one did Thesues send second?” You hold up one of the letters and he sighs pushing it away. “Let’s start with my fathers first.”

You’re sitting with Newt trying not to laugh at his fathers stuttering anger and his mothers cutting tongue both describing how horrified but unsurprised they are that they haven’t met their sweet grandson Dougal. You can hear the overlap of the letters; the ending outrage the same sentence reminding you both that they need to meet Dougal. “How upset do you think they would be if we brought him?” Dougal appears at the edge of your vision before vanishing and you watch one of the nifflers run past; a small shimmer in it’s mouth, you watch Dougal, invisible yank the niffler up and pull whatever the shimmering object is back towards his habitat. “Oh they’d be furious. I think Theseus might actually faint from anger. Which I would pay to see; maybe we should bring him. If he’s our son after all.” He laughs about to open the first letter from Thesues.

“NEWTON ARTEMIS FIDO ; I AM APPALLED that this entire situation has transpired! I just-“ You chuckle when Thesues trails off muttering in anger before sighing and resuming his yelling; you let it go on for fifteen minutes of him repeating how horrible it is that Newt left you alone to care for Dougal; and he should take more pride in his son and everything being a parent to a human child entails. He’d spent a further twenty minutes explaining how he had to be the one to tell not only their parents but also his own friends. How Queenie was so shocked she didn’t actually say anything despite reading his thoughts. You’re trying your best to keep quiet with your laughter Newt looking more and more ashamed as Thesues continues to berate him. “Now the second letter I sent. Is just for you Newt. I don’t want Y/N to hear any of it. And you don’t either.” He snaps and you tilt your head confused Newt rolls his eyes and the Howler tears itself up and you pass him the other one. “Do you want me to go tend to the Kelpie?” “No I’m sure he just says a curse word or maybe swears to hex me next time we see him.” Newt laughs and you nod. “Alright; here we go then.” He nervously tears the seal on the howler and grimaces when it forms and there is silence before Thesues voice snarls from the paper tongue.

“What on earth happened to you wanting to marry her!! You had a plan! Bring her to New York to meet everyone under the guise of a MCUSA meeting; and then show her Frank! Have a nice dinner and ask her to marry you! You’ve gone and muddled that all up! I know you’ve never been one to do anything traditionally but think about how Y/N feels in all of this Newt. She loves you. She loves you so much and you probably never considered how alone she might feel! She hasn’t even met our parents and she already has a family to take care of! I’m ashamed of you Newt; I hope when we see each other next you’ve apologized to Y/N properly.” The letter goes silent and tears itself up. Newt stays just as quiet.

“I’m sorry Y/N Thesues is-What?” He looks confused at your face which you’re sure is flushed. “You want to marry me?” Newt furrows his brow. “Of course; that’s a silly question dear; but what Thesues was saying; about me not considering your feelings about-“ “About Dogual? The Demiguise?” You chuckle a bit and he shakes his head. “No about traveling; about running across every continent looking for creatures and never staying n one place long enough to see the towns; let alone find a home or friends.” “Newt; if I didn’t want to be with you out here discovering these creatures with you; then I wouldn’t be. Thesues was right; I love you; I love you so much; and that means I love travelling with you, and sleeping in the case and running through god knows what forest to find something everyone thinks is going to kill us but was really just scared because it doesn’t like copper.” “Oh well since we don’t have a son to show my family when we visit; how about;” He pauses whistling softly and you watch Dougal appear nest to Newt and hand him whatever the shimmering thing the niffler had earlier. “Y/N; will you marry me?” He offers out the ring and you nod tearing up slightly. “Of course Newt.” He grins, pulling you up from the hammock and spinning you around. “So; would you like to meet Frank?” “The thunderbird?” “Yes; as well as my friends.” “I would love to, shall we respond to Thesues and your parents about joining them for dinner?” “We should; but maybe a quick trip up to the market; the prices of some of the magical herbs they have is so low. i could restock everything and- Right. What do you want to do?”

“Well personally I’d love to go check out the market; I got a really good tip off that they have incredibly low prices on some herbs we need.”

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[r0s3s-1n-th3-ra1n]

Blue here! Questions for Kira, Eugenia, and Robin, if that’s alright! First- any pets, and if not, would any of you have any? Second, thoughts on Artemis’s friend group? Third- what would you say are your best and worst traits?

(TW for brief mentions of violence.)

Kira: Howdy Blue, it’s nice to meet you. Let’s see, since Artemis and I got married I’ve sort of adopted the family pets. There’s Juliet’s dog Andrea, she’s a very wise old girl, apparently living near the Berserker gate for such a long time gave her an increased lifespan and advanced intelligence, so she’s great to talk to, especially for a dog. A lot of the officers around here just love her too. And of course there’s Artemis’s cat Obsidian. He’s a little grumpy sometimes, but overall he’s very sweet and he’s nice to hang out with, especially after a long day. There’s also the animals that live around Tara, of course. They aren’t exactly pets, more like friends that come and go, but I guess they sort of count. We have a few that come around for breakfast most days. My favorite has got to be Willowby the deer, she’s here most days, and she’s promised to bring her new fawns around to visit when they’re old enough.

Eugenia: Hi Blue! Those are good questions! My dad and I foster kittens at the garage, so they aren’t technically our pets, but we train them to be good before giving them to other families. Right now we have five, Nutmeg, Silver, Andromeda, Snuffles, and Pumpkin. I think you can probably tell which ones I named and which ones Artemis named.

Robin: Hello Blue, ditto on the questions, this is super exciting! I don’t have any pets right now, there isn’t enough space in my family’s apartment to keep a pet, and Mama says she doesn’t want them to get into the bakery downstairs when I accidentally leave the door to the stairs open, sorry Mama. But, Artemis says that one day we’ll move in together, and then I can get any pet I want! I think we’re going to have like thirteen dogs when we grow up! It’ll be awesome.

Kira: I love Artemis’s friends, I really do. If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have survived being kidnapped by the council; Foaly, Trouble, and Qwan in particular fought hard for me. But, I won’t pretend we don’t have our issues. I have a lot of conflicting feelings about working with people who used to be a part of such a brutal police system. I thought I’d seen the worst of what the world had to offer during the war back home, but, seeing the way prisoners were forced to work in the nuclear plants… It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do breaking my new friends out of there and facing the council together, especially knowing I’d put Artemis and the others in danger; but I had to. And then there’s Foaly having installed that obedience matrix on Index before I got here. And, the way that Trouble used to treat Artemis… I’m sorry, I’m rambling, and it isn’t good to dwell on the past. They’ve all made incredible progress and now the world we live in is so much better and freer. I love them, and they’re trying so hard. We’re all trying to make the world a better place. And, as long as Artemis and I are Haven’s protectors, we aren’t going to stop until everyone can have a happy and safe life.

Eugenia: It was certainly a surprise to meet Artemis’s friends the first time. When that awful ghost came to try and steal Artemis away and we were all alone, well it was scary, and then they came to save us… I’m still not sure that I really understand the depth of what those relationships mean to Artemis, especially since they apparently raised him from the dead, which is badass, but… Artemis cares about them, so I care about them too. I might not understand, but that’s ok, we love each other.

Robin: What THE HELL are you people talking about? (Uh oh, It looks like Robin doesn’t know about Artemis’s fairy friends yet.)

Kira: My best trait, I’d have to say, is my awesome detective skills. I wasn’t the highest ranking General in the rebellion for nothing, nor was I the first human to escape a fairy prison for nothing. I can see connections like no one else can. My worst trait… well, I used to say the delusions, but Dr. June says it isn't good to think of brain damage as a character flaw, and she's probably right about that, so I suppose my temper? Don't get me wrong, it's gotten me out of more than a few scrapes, but I sometimes direct my anger at the wrong people, and they don't deserve that.

Eugenia: My best trait… does playing the bass count as a trait? Because that’s definitely what I’m best at. No, I guess not. Then my best trait is being able to know what my friends need to feel better, most of the time at least. Whether we need to talk about it, or find a distraction, or even just cry for a little bit, I’m usually good at helping. My worst trait is that I’m very impulsive. I’ll sometimes go on trips with my friends and I’ll just- completely forget to tell my dad. I try to remember, because he gets really scared when he doesn’t know where I am. But, sometimes I’ll just decide to do something and not think about the consequences until it’s already too late.

Robin: My best trait is being so breathtakingly handsome, haha. No, but seriously, I think my best trait is being able to balance a lot at once. I’m in my school’s science club and on the ballet team, and I’m working on my studies all the time to keep my scholarship, and I’m in a relationship with Artemis; it’s a lot to keep track of sometimes, but I’m able to stay on top of it and take care of everything, and everyone, that I need to. I think my worst trait is similar to Eugenia's. My parents say I don’t think things through. Like when I forget to close the door to the stairs behind me and a customer accidentally gets into our apartment while they’re looking for the bathroom, which is awkward. Or getting into a prank war with the guy I have a crush on instead of, you know, talking to him? That one actually ended up working out pretty well for me though.

[dccomicsimagines]

Christmas Misunderstandings - Young Justice Imagine

Requested by Anon -  May I request a reader x yj season 1 team where reader is tony stark level sassy and sarcastic and everyone doesn’t really like them until one day it’s Christmas and they plan a special Event for the team and they realize that’s just they’re personality and that they are trying to be nice but it’s just harder for them xxxxxx

***

“Great work, Water Boy.” You ran past Kaldur, knocking into his shoulder. 

“(Y/N)!” Kaldur reached out to grab your arm, but you slipped out of his grip as you jumped off the building. You flipped through the air to land hard on the truck just before it zoomed off. “Kid Flash, pursue the truck. (Y/N) is on top.” 

You growled through the mindlink. “I don’t need Baby Flash’s help. He’ll just slow me down.” You clung onto the top of the truck as it took a sharp turn. 

“I’m faster than you any day, (Y/N).” Wally’s annoyance made you roll your eyes. You slowly made your way up to the cab of the truck. 

“Why do these guys have to make trouble on Christmas Eve?” M’gann appeared in front of the truck. The driver swerved and you almost rolled off the truck. 

“What are you doing, Green Jeans? You almost got me knocked off here,” you snapped. A thump sounded from behind you. “Oh great. Bird Boy is here.”

“Nice to see you too, (Y/N).” Robin was unimpressed. The truck swerved again when Superboy jumped in it’s path. 

You hummed, crawling your way to the cab again. In one motion, you flipped down and broke through the windshield to kick the driver unconscious. “(Y/N), what are you doing?!” Artemis screamed. “The truck is going to crash.” 

“Oh calm down, Arrow Girl.” You pushed the unconscious guy out of the way and took the wheel. Slowly, you brought the truck to a stop before climbing out. Robin hopped down from the roof of the vehicle.

“You know we’re a team, right? What the hell, (Y/N)?” Robin snapped, getting in your face.

You smiled calmly at him, flicking him in the nose. “Settle down, Bird Boy. I know you’re just jealous you didn’t get to stop the truck.” 

Kaldur marched up to you. “(Y/N), we are going to have a discussion back at the cave.” 

You rolled your eyes. “Woah, I’m so scared.” You walked off, bumping Wally hard in the arm when he appeared next to you. 

“Jerk,” Wally hissed under his breath. You almost stopped, a knife cutting into your heart at the word, but you kept moving. It didn’t bother you. You wouldn’t let it. 

*** 

“Good work, team.” Batman studied each of you. “You successfully stopped the robbers from stealing the toy donations.” 

Wally snorted, crossing his arms. “Yeah, only (Y/N) stopped them. Apparently, they don’t understand we’re a team.” 

“I can’t help it.” You snorted. “If you people would just get a move on instead of sitting around all the time.” 

Conner growled. “You ran off!” He narrowed his eyes. “And you made fun of M’gann.” M’gann blushed, ducking her head when you glanced over at her. 

“Yeah, yeah, Rage Boy. You get so mad all the time at everything. It’s your thing.” You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms. “I mean what else could be your thing? Looking like Superman?” 

Conner screamed in anger, about to charge. “Enough,” Batman snapped, frowning deeply. “It’s clear there are some things you all need to work out.” He looked to Kaldur. “I suggest you take your Christmas Eve celebration as a chance to work this out or I’ll bring in Black Canary.” With that, Batman turned and left through the zeta tube.

“I don’t know if I want to go ice skating now,” Artemis said, glaring at you. 

You threw your hands in the air. “Fine, Arrow Girl. I get it. You guys don’t want me.” You spun on your heels, heading for the zeta tube. Your eyes burned, but you blinked back the tears that threatened to form. 

“Good riddance,” Conner hissed. You heard Robin and Wally agree. Your heart felt like it was being torn in two. It was just fun and games to you. You thought everyone knew you were kidding, just having fun. However, no one ever saw it that way. You were used to it by now.

“(Y/N), you are coming ice skating with us,” Kaldur ordered sharply. You turned back to face him in surprise. 

“Kaldur, it’s clear we don’t want (Y/N) along.” Robin glared at you. You rolled your eyes, trying to stop the tears. 

Kaldur sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “(Y/N), we need to work this out or we will not be our best on missions.” Kaldur looked at you. “Come along, so we can figure this out.” 

You sighed. “Fine. Whatever.” The rest of the team looked annoyed. You wished you could walk right out of here, but you wanted to be on the team even if no one wanted you there.

***

Artemis laughed as she helped M’gann around the rink. You watched them, skating by yourself. Wally, Robin, and Conner sneered when you skated past them. They sipped their hot chocolate. You licked your lips, wanting some for yourself.

You left the rink. Taking off your skates, you went to get yourself some hot chocolate. 

“(Y/N)?” Kaldur said suddenly from behind you. You jumped, almost spilling your cup as you made your way to sit down on a bench.

“What do you want, Fearless Leader?” You narrowed your eyes at him. 

Kaldur sighed and gestured for you to sit down on the bench. You did, taking a sip of the chocolate. “We need to talk.” He sat down next to you.

You swallowed hard. The hot chocolate burned your throat. “Look, I’m sorry.” You pursed your lips. “This is just how I am.” Tears burned your eyes.

“What do you mean?” Kaldur looked confused. “You mean you are not acting like you do on purpose?” 

“No.” You watched Artemis and M’gann skate by again. “I...” Your gaze fell to your feet. “I was always this way. It’s just how I tend to act around people.” The hot chocolate warmed your hands. “I know most people tend not to like me because of it, so I try to stop.” You blinked away tears. “But you guys made me feel so comfortable and I just let my natural self show.” 

Kaldur frowned. He noticed Robin, Wally, and Conner watching from afar. With a nod, he brought them over. “(Y/N), we do like you. We did not understand that you were...attempting to be nice.” 

A tear slipped down your cheek. You took a sip of your hot chocolate, blushing when Artemis and M’gann joined the boys. “So you don’t really hate us?” M’gann asked, smiling slightly.

“I like you. I wouldn’t treat you like I do if I didn’t.” You bit your bottom lip to keep it from trembling. 

“That’s great.” Wally snorted. “It’s good to know that you don’t hate us.” 

“No, I actually like you guys.” You closed your eyes. “To think I was actually excited for this Christmas Eve. I thought I would actually have friends this year.” You got to your feet, needing to escape.

Conner caught your arm. “(Y/N), stop.” 

You shook your head, unable to hold back tears. “I need to be by myself.” 

“Let’s start over.” Artemis came to your side. She took your hot chocolate from you and handed you a tissue. A smile pulled at her lips. “It was pretty cool what you did to that truck.” 

“Really?” You perked up, wiping your eyes. 

“Yeah, I didn’t know you could flip almost as good as I can.” Robin laughed, elbowing your side. 

Kaldur cleared his throat. “We could start over and promise to have more understanding for each other.” He crossed his arms. “More communication.” 

“I could do that.” The blood rushed to your face. You finally looked to the rest of the team. “As long as you can?” 

The team shared looks. “I suppose we could try,” Wally said, snorting softly. “But stop calling me Flash Baby.” 

You smile. “Sorry, Flash Kid.” 

“That’s not...” Wally gasped, insulted. The rest of the team laughed.

M’gann came to your side. “Why don’t we go ice skating some more? You’ll have to help me though.” 

“I can do that.” You grinned. Your heart glowing as you all headed out into the skating rink again. It quickly became a Christmas you would never forget.

[stattic-writes]

Misunderstood

https://statticscribbles.tumblr.com/post/639099629845233664/masterlist

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[kcystotheheart]

{🍎} I don’t feel like i got all of them but MASSIVE TAG DROP/DUMP

♡ Home is where the Heart is... {IC}

✧ I foresee the end of all I know... {Ava}

#☪︎I'm howling with the wolves {Fida}

#✦ Breaking Traditions {Sub Alt V.} ⚔︎

#☮︎You are the future; the hope of this world... {Hope}

#♟Hidden from the rest of the World… Until now {Wandering V.} ✧

#🍎of someone's eye {Mun}

#✎ We may feel out of place; but we fit together so perfectly... {X Ventus} #♔♡ Eventually we all return to it... Kingdom Hearts {S A V E D} #⚖︎ I will keep a just and fair eye... {Invi} #♘ They look to me for Guidance... {Ira} #Heartless; Dusks; Unversed? All the same {Anon} #❥ ANSWERED

#✎ He's a work in progress and that's what matters! {Vanitas/tenebrxsus}

#✎ The Light to my Darkness; he makes up what I lack... {X Vanitas}

#✧ He may be all brawn; but he has the biggest heart {Aced/ursaced}

#✧ You wouldn't hurt me; I know... {X Aced} #✦ The Beginning of it all… {Past V.} ♙ #➳ All right; No more playing around! {Hayner} #♡ It's time to strike {Open Starter} #♔ Beyond the realms... {OOC} #♥︎ I'll find my way... {Riku} #✎ Let's make a promise; To hold each other through it all {X Riku} #♤ I won't fade away so easily! {Lingering Remnant!Vanitas} #♠︎ Different from the rest... {Springy/Hareraiser} #♥︎ Once a Somebody... now a Nobody {Nobody V.} ♤ #✦ A little Generosity never hurt nobody~ {Cari} #✦ He thinks he's sooo good; but I know he's bad~ {Indus/ursaced} #✦ Momma I'm in love with a criminal; I'm the bad guy duh~ {X Indus} #♡ We'll never let the darkness consume us... {Queue}

🎲 May Lady Luck be on your side~ {Fortune} 💘 No matter what happens i’ll always be by your side {Faith} ⚔️ That was undeniable proof that we totally owned you lamers! {Seifer} ⌨️ Cracking the {Code} 🌱Rough around the edges by soft on the inside [Jagged} 🌿 My Strength will help support them… {Aced} 🌟 I will always help the weak {Starlight} 🍃I’ll sweep you up and leave your head spinnin’! {Wind} 🛡 I will always defend them {Keeper} 🃏 Care to take a Gamble? {Luxord/Ordul} 🎵I can drop a beat {Demyx/Dyme}  🎼 Let me play a song for you~ {Arpeggio}

⚠︎ You make me feel things I thought were lost {X Lauriam} ♟ More alike than you know {Rei/solaimaginem} ✎ Even after all this time… we’re connected. {Terra/willfulwayfarer} ✎ We’ll find new secrets to discover… together! {Pence/dxgstreet} ✎ I want to capture this moment {X Pence} ➸✮ Blessed or Cursed with magic that runs within him {Magia} #🎐My Lazy Companion {Sir Snugglesopholis the Flood} #♝ I will prove my worth... {Xionort} #𝒳 No one will know... {Subject X V.} ⭑ #No longer Lost {Naminé; Vanitas & Repliku } #✎ We've had tough pasts but we can move forward {Aiden/lethargic-hunter} #♟We've cut our own strings and now we're free {Xion & Repliku} #Made a sacrifice {Repliku} #Always busy saving everyone else... {Aqua} #☯︎ Disciplinary Committee {Fuu; Seifer & Rai} #yOU leFT mE... {Nightmare Chirithy}

#Why does everything involve running? {Pence}

#Not your Typical Princess... {Kairi}

#Fun and Playful; Strong and Powerful {Ventus}

#♠︎ A little noisy... {Skitters/Flood}

#☓ Always watching; always seeing~ {Master of Masters}

#⭑ How bright is the future? {Skuld}

#♚ Stuck in Between Worlds... {Lingering V.} ♤

#✨I'll learn to use my magic for good {Apprentice V.} ✎

#✎ He understands me like no one else does {Max/pageofgoof}

#🍀I've got a present too; for all of us! {Olette}

#He once wandered the darkness seeking light; only to find he was the light {Riku}

#His smile brings about other people's happiness {Sora}

#👁‍🗨If only I could stand in her light... {Ava/verumheart}

#👁‍🗨If I could begin to be; half of what you think of me I'd do about anything {X Ava}

#🍀She sits by the Seashore {Kairi/thalassicradiance}

#✎ I'll never forget you; promise? {X Sora}

#♜ We all have our Roles to Play... {Foreteller V.} ♠︎

#♗ I have made mistakes & have more regrets than you could imagine {Master Eraqus}

#One of the strongest wielders there is {Terra}

#🎐My lovely little Pearl... {Kairi/thalassicradiance}

#♡ Something that simply resonates with me... {Aesthetic}

#➦ Portal Time {Shooter}

#➥ Eagle Eyes {Sharp}

#🌪Whispers on the Wind {Gale}

#♤ The Nobody that never was... {Kuxir}

#🎐When things are tough; I'll always welcome you home... {Ansem/afoolelopedindarkness}

#✦ I have to complete my role... {Sacrificed V.} ✧

#♡♔ Kingdom FARTS {Crack}

#♟No longer just a vessel... {Xion}

#♣︎ No one would miss me... And yet... {Roxas}

#☀︎ I always keep my promises... {Axel}

#⌁ I have to uncover the truth... {Gula}

#⚠︎ I will find a way to rewrite my Fate {Brain}

#☆⭒ A lost little Star {Strelitzia}

#♚ The Darkness has consumed us… {Alt V.} ♥︎

#{Headcanons}

#☁︎ Where there's rain; there's a storm {Rain}

#🌸As Pretty as a Flower but twice as Dangerous {Song}

#✴︎ May the Tears of Heaven hear my call... {Sterling}

#❅ Her Colours are a reflection of who she is {Aurora}

#✵ Hear my prayer O'Morning Star {Ivory}

#♾You'll never hear their name on the wind... {No Name}

#⚡️The Eye of the Storm {Tempest}

#✑ You write down your feelings on paper {Memoire}

#☆⭒ A Light in the Dark... {Roxas/aftrliight}

#👁‍🗨 It's a heavy burden to carry... {Luxu}

#♥︎ He has every right to be mad at me; but i had to do it {Roxas/caelumobscura}

#♥︎ Twilight and Dawn... What an interesting combination {X Roxas}

#☘︎Oh Look- Nope it's just them... {Dani}

#♣︎ There's just something about him that i hate... and i love {X Riku}

#✎ You remember me; the way I remember you {X Roxas}

#☆⭒ He gives me the courage I need; she is always so kind... {X Roxas}

#☆⭒ Let's go to the garden... {Lauriam/lordofoblivion}

#✘ There is always something worth fighting for... {Kohaku}

#♡ No longer just a Copy... {Repliku/Kouki}

#⚙︎Just because I'm not a 'True' Keyblade doesn't mean I can't kill you {Void}

#♥︎ You and I; were intertwined from the start... {X Kairi}

#♡ These will make anyone laugh! {Memes}

#✬ Here to help! {Chirithy}

#🌼You'll never learn from your mistakes if you don't make them {Ayaka/Roxas' mom}

#♔♡ The Mark of a Master~ {P R O M O}

#✿ Thinking of you wherever you are... {Hana/Sora's Mom}

#♤☆ When the Light embraced the Dark... {Mending Hearts V.} ★♠

#✎ He wants to break the mold {Roxas/serendimpetus}

#🗝🖤The Kingdom's Protector and the Original Blade {Chi}

#♔ Mirrored Reflections; Two in the Same {Twin V.} ♡

#★ I'll be there to hide your light when you need it {Dusk}

#♻︎ I'm not even the real thing...And yet in my soul it says otherwise {Soul}

#✩*~ I'll unlock the mysteries of the world {Ephemer}

#♠︎ Made completely out of Darkness {Vanitas}

#✩*~ We'll meet where the darkness meets the light {X Vanitas}

#➳ Skateboard tricks and Sea Salt Icecream... {X Roxas}

#♡ Let's line up the pieces... Together {Main V.} ♔

#❁ He'll always be my little Sprout... {Kasumi/Riku's mother}

#❁ To trust or not to trust is the question... {Xemnas/potestasaeterna}

#♘ He trusts me to look after everyone; but who's going to look after him? {X Master}

#♘ Always one step ahead... or two- or three {Master/masterxmasters}

#☾ The path between Night and Day... {Dawn}

#♡ A Watchful eye... {Dash Commentary}

#☯︎ Total Annihilation {Fuu}

#✎ Don't forget me... {Naminé}

#☄️ I will always rise up from the Ashes {Libra}

#🔥Better watch out because I always bounce back {Ember}

#💥I will burn Eternally {Flame}

#♕ Together we'll protect the world! {Kiki}

#♛ We'll free their hearts and consume the world in darkness... {Heart!Kiki}

#🍨Not just a sweet treat~ {Sweetie}

#♜ I'll protect you from the Shadows {Oblivion}

#♖ Just follow my Light {Oathkeeper}

#♥︎ No matter the Nightmare; I'll be there {X Ventus}

#♠︎ A little noisy... {Skitters/Flood}

#🎐When you feel it in your heart; you know that your home {Mitsuki/Kairi's Grandma}

#❁ He's my stubborn Rock. {Roxas/aftrliight}

#💥She rises with the moon {Luna/verumheart}

#♧ Even in your dreams... {Dream Eater V.} ♥︎

#🍡 Cheeky Cheel {Leche}

#❦ There's more to Light than meets the eye {Young Eraqus}

#❦ And that's checkmate I win; Hold on it's still my turn {X Young Xehanort}

#The Copycat Trio {Repliku; Vanitas and Xion}

#Created with a purpose {Vanitas}

#🐶Watch out for the Mad Dog~ {Mady}

#➸✮ Reliable and Sturdy as the Shield he carries {Aegis/verumrook}

#➸✮ I shouldn't feel this way but I do... And I don't want to stop {X Aegis}

#✘ ...I will protect his light with my life... {Artemis/keyfamilia}

#✘ I don't know what he sees in me... but i'm grateful {X Artemis}

#🗝🖤A shroud of Mystery and Darkness {Master of Masters/eyesofparoxysm}

#🗝🖤The one who compliments me; who truly understands {X Master of Masters}

#✧ He's a good listener and a good friend {Luxu/gravitasfatum}

#✎ What did I do to deserve you...? {Riku/darkheartedprince}

#♔♡ It rests now within us all... {Drabble}

#💚As playful as a breeze; but as strong as a gale wind {Ventus}

#💫Not even the Night Sky could contain her Light... {Astraea}

#🍏A Bad Apple spoils the bunch {Negative Thoughts}

#☀︎ Set me ablaze; start a fire in me {X Terra}

#☀︎ He's my pillar when I'm not strong {Terra/willfulfwayfarer}

#🎐Just like the Stars; He will burn long after... {Yen Sid/omnipotentmxster}

#☀︎ Never expected to fall for a flower {X Marluxia}

#☀︎ Every Flower has it's thorns and he's full of them {Marluxia/lordofoblivion}

#✿ My Little Sparrow {Sora/lightheartedwarrior}

#❁ My Little Sprout {Riku/darkheartedprince}

#🎐If we keep each other in our hearts; we'll always be strong {Young Mitsuki}

#🎐The Stars align when he smiles... {Young Yen Sid/omnipotentmxster}

#⚚ I'm sending a message to you and I hope that it makes it through {Hermod}

#⭑ He could light the sky with his colours {Sora/valorxdrive}

#⭑ He's my knight and I'm his princess {X Sora}

#⭑ We both just wanted a friend... {Blaine/virusplanted}

#⭑ The future may be uncertain; but I'm certain of us {X Blaine}

#🧶Tying the knot {Married V.}

#♔ In another World; another Time or another Place {AU V.} ♡

#⚖︎She moves with the beauty and grace of her namesake {Aqua/theheartstreasure}

#⚖︎I certainly don't know what I did to deserve you; but i'm grateful {X Aqua}

#⌁ The only one I'll always trust {Ava/starshold}

#❀ Careful the Flowers have ears {Foxglove}

#☆⭒ He's my bookworm... {Blaine/virusplanted}

#☆⭒ One day I saw him there and couldn't help but gravitate towards him {X Blaine}

#♔ A World without Magic... {Modern V.} ♡

#🎐An old friend and fellow Master {Eraqus/eraqus-the-defender}

#❦ I wish I was enough to keep you from the Darkness... {Young Xehanort/iuvienis}

#🌕A place where all hearts are one... {Kingdom Hearts}

#🔮The Mistress of Darkness {Maleficent}

#🐚Overcame the Impossible {Maryllis/Kairi's Mother}

#🌊I will do my duty to protect the people {Nalani/Destiny Islands Mayor}

#🥀Poison runs through their veins {Vera}

#✩*~ He's the smartest guy I know {Brain/virusplanted}

#✩*~ We'll always be connected; no matter where we fly too {X Brain}

#🐚His Majesty and My King {Ansem/afoolelopedindarkness}

#🐚Two halves of a whole {X Ansem The Wise}

#✩*~ Flowers can be strong so long as you let them {Lauriam/lordofoblivion}

#🐚My Precious Treasure {Kairi/thalassicradiance}

#🐚Like Mother like daughter {Maryllis and Kairi}

#🎶Listen to my Melody {Maestro}

#Before Summer Vacation is over; we should go to the beach! {Twilight Town Gang}

#♘ More important than he realizes {Kage/thechessboard}

#✩*~ I use to think Dandelions were just weeds; I think they're beautiful {X Lauriam}

#📓Don't always believe what you see... {Lexicon}

#🌹Strong and Elegant {Rose}

#⚠︎ Infuriating and yet... He's Mi Rosa {Lauriam/rxsoideae}

#✧ She's as strong as she is beautiful {Aqua/theheartstreasure}

#✧ She makes me feel like a princess; she gives me hope {X Aqua}

#✎ We will always have each other's backs {Naminé and Aiden}

#☆⭒ Wallflower friends {Luxu and Strelitzia}

#The Darkness gave us purpose... {Dark Repliku; Vanitas & Xionort}

#Let's go to the beach {Axel; Xion & Roxas}

#⚔︎Childhood rivals to lovers {X Hayner}

#⭑★ Fallen Hearts turn to Dark Stars… {Darkling V.} ❤︎♥︎

#⭑ ...Unknowingly My Protector... {Braig/freeshooterxig}

#🍀We're stronger than we look {X Kairi}

#♟He isn't all darkness... {Vanitas/unversedshadow}

#✧ My precious Snowflake Dandelion... {Theo/keytosolidarity}

#✎ She was my light; He was my knight {X Repliku}

[arigatouiris]

daughter of artemis || p.p  — [01]

c h a p t e r  o n e 

Pairing: Peter Parker x Demigod! Reader [Female pronouns]

Warnings: swearing; angst [a lot of it]; greek mythology rewritten [completely my interpretation of it, oops]; slightly based off the games god of war and assassin’s creed odyssey; hurt/comfort; cliche; fluff [on later chapters sometimes]; mentions of sex and gore; slight alternate universe

Follows events after Endgame, but Tony, Natasha, Steve, Loki are alive in this universe. 

Author’s Note: Thank you for all the love, guys! It’s going to be a bit slow initially, so bear with me. Also, all the things I’ve written about the Greek gods here is fictional, so I hope that’s clear beforehand. 

And if you want to see your name in the taglist, add yourself here! 

Word count: 3750

main masterlist || series masterlist 

00 - 01 - 02  

01 // σκόνη dust

❅

She opened her eyes and gasped loudly, as a car stopped in front of her. Looking around, (y/n) realized she was in the middle of the road, busy traffic, and cars and moving vehicles halted at her abrupt appearance out of nowhere. It was dark, strange because it was not so dark back in Phokis. Clutching her stinging hip, tears filled her eyes with the sudden shock of realizing her uncle had sent her somewhere using some out-of-the-ordinary trick. People were now yelling at her, and just as her vision cleared—(y/n) looked around to see tall buildings surrounding her, with herself in the middle of an ocean of modern civilization.

    “Hey, girl! Get out of the way!”

Just as she was about to take a step, she felt herself being lifted off the ground, a gasp exiting her lips just as her eyes shut due to the impact again. She felt something coil around her, preventing her from falling; her senses were right, she was up in the air. Opening her eyes once again, she noticed the city swinging below her, someone was grabbing her, her legs dangling in the air, her chin resting on what felt and looked like a red shoulder. (y/n) struggled right away, kicking the air below her, wanting to get off the grasp of this creature that was taking her away from where she needed to be.

    “Whoa, whoa, whoa! I’m only trying to help, relax!” Came a voice, from this creature.

A moment later, it placed her on the roof of a building, as tall as the buildings around her. Looking around, she understood that this was definitely America, considering this creature in a costume’s accent, and the height of the buildings. It was nothing like the cities in Greece, here there were more people and more noise. Looking at the creature in front of her, the thirteen year old had to do a double take. He wore a spider costume, his face covered with a funny looking mask, and for some strange reason, his costume smelled like iron.

    “What are you?” She asked, scrunching her eyes at him.

The creature almost looked offended by her question. Did it expect her to know who he or it was?

    “I’m your friendly neighborhood Spiderman! D-Don’t you—?”

The clueless expression that she gave off prevented this Spiderman from continuing further. Immediately, his head turned to her hip, causing her to try to hide it from him, but to no avail.

    “Oh, dude. Dude! You’re hurt. Where are your parents? I’ll take you—”

    “I don’t need help from a freak like you.” (y/n) was not interested in having a conversation with a man in a costume.

    “No, listen. If you don’t get that checked out, it’ll get infected. Where are your—” He stopped suddenly before observing her.

She looked like she was from another place, especially if she didn’t know who Spiderman was; she was injured, her hair disheveled, her eyes hostile, and her heart was beating rapidly against her chest. It wasn’t as if she was hiding something, it was blatantly clear to him now that she had run away.

    “You’re a runaway.”

(y/n)’s eyes narrowed, not surprised that he had figured it out. Turning her back to him, she walked off, not knowing where she was going, but her current agenda was to get away from this Spiderman.

He grabbed her wrist and turned her around.

    “Listen, I’m only trying to help. Please, let me—”

In an instant, before he even noticed it, her right leg met his chin. She grabbed his throat using her foot, while using her other foot to topple him over. Putting his head in a headlock, (y/n) squeezed before hearing the costume man gasp. Pressing her right hand to the ground, she bolted away from there, jumping across the rooftop like it was easy. Spiderman didn’t catch up right away, but was dazed with what she had displayed. She was a thirteen year old girl, he could definitely keep up with someone like her!

    “P-Please, I’m only trying to help!” Spiderman’s voice chased after her.

Sliding down a pipe, (y/n) made her way to what appeared to be an alleyway. A barred fence was in front of her, which she found no difficulty climbing. Slipping past Spiderman would be easy if he couldn’t see her, therefore, she kept her visibility minimum. She moved in the shadows, using her surroundings to camouflage her movements. What seemed like a couple of minutes later, she had found the perfect place to hide. A trash bin, which was recently emptied. It smelt like the filth of everything American, but it was part of her surroundings now, and she was being hunted.

She listened to the silence around her, nothing but sirens and car horns could be heard; closing her eyes, she pictured Spiderman, she pictured where he could be after judging his movements from following her. There were numerous possibilities as to where he could have gone off, or if he had been successful in following her route.

A moment later, (y/n) breathed out, relaxed. Spiderman had lost her. Getting out of the trashcan, (y/n) looked at herself. She wore her mother’s old jacket—beige in color, but the color seemed to have faded now since it had been such a long time since her mother had even worn it. She wore dark blue jeans, once again, her mother’s, which were faded. Canvas shoes, torn by the sole from all the running. A grey tank top with bandages around it, revealing splotches of blood by her left hip. Her hair was free and disheveled. (y/n) breathed in to calm herself, but failed.

She looked homeless. Lost. Hopeless. And she was once a princess in Olympus.

❅

Walking past what looked like a bakery, (y/n) stepped back and looked at the various assortments of bread and cake within the store. She remembered how she told her mother long ago that she hated sweet things, but secretly liking a couple here and then. Artemis always knew this fact about her daughter, and would surprise her now and then with a small sweet gift after breakfast. Artemis wasn’t like the other gods. She liked human things, she liked to dress as the humans, talk as them, and behave as them—wanting to be one with them.

Perhaps this was why Artemis met with cruel fate. For Gods and men could never stand on the same ground.

    “Hey! Get out of here, don’t stare at my shop!” The woman from inside the bakery yelled at her.

Quickly scurrying away, (y/n) felt fresh tears sting her eyes. No one cared, these people were strange and didn’t know her. These people were poison. She was on the footpath, random people walking past her, not giving her a second glance. To them, she was just another person, a child with no home. She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream at her uncle for bringing her here without warning. How could she find this Pepper person without any clue? Pepper was the clue, her mind repeated.

Pepper was such a strange name. Who was this Pepper? And how was Pepper related to her father? Was this person even someone worth remembering?

Was Pepper a nickname for her father?

(y/n) shut her eyes before trying to calm herself once more. She remembered her life from earlier, of how simple it used to be when her mother was around. Artemis had made life seem so simple and forgoing, her positivity made (y/n) believe she could tackle anything in the world. Even while she taught (y/n) to hunt, to use the bow, to defend herself as she had against Spiderman, Artemis had always told her to be kind.

    On the day of the prophecy, she missed her mother the most. (y/n) had never understood the celebration that Delphi brought along in Olympus; a secret ceremony for the Gods. This time, word got out that Delphi had something far more important to say—a prophecy that would directly impact all Gods in Olympus. Hera wasn’t pleased, as usual, since she loved where she was and how she was revered. Hera seemed like the only person who wasn’t affected with Artemis going missing.

Apollo had stayed away from (y/n) ever since his twin sister was nowhere to be found. The animals ran wild, the woman sunk into a terrible dreaded depressive state, and disease struck every pregnant mother in Greece. Artemis would never forget her duties like this, not this randomly, he knew her better than she knew herself. He turned to spot his niece, several feet ahead of him in the great hallway of Zeus’ castle. Biting his teeth, he turned away before she could spot him.

Ever since (y/n) had been born, Artemis was known as the Goddess that broke her vow. Zeus had lost complete respect for his daughter, and Hera’s jealousy got in the way of everything. Although (y/n) was not loved, she was half-God, and therefore, a princess of Olympus. Artemis made sure (y/n) was treated with respect, if not love. But, Apollo—he could not meet her in the eye. Apollo could never forgive (y/n) for being born, for ruining his sister’s reputation. And he knew, in his heart, that her disappearance was due to (y/n) in some way.

When the prophecy was about to be announced, (y/n) was seated in the far back, so far Apollo could barely see her until he looked around and spotted her. She looked sad; she always looked sad, but there was something about her sadness that day that sent fear into his heart. Turning away, he noticed a frail old woman in the middle of the grand hall, the Oracle, about to give her final prophecy.

    “As Artemis sleeps, her daughter will rise, the new moon she will be, with fate and the sun at her side,” Apollo blinked before standing up, Zeus’ ushering him to sit down, and Delphi continued, “And when Clotho stops spinning the thread of fate, Lachesis and Atropos go into a slumber for five years.”

‘The fates go to sleep?’ Apollo couldn’t understand. Turning to his niece, he saw fear had clouded her mind. His heart was beating rapidly against his chest, and he knew it and felt it. He sensed the death in the air, circling around her.  

“And once their slumber ends, then shall arise the new moon,” Delphi pointed towards where (y/n) was sitting, whose eyes were wide now. “Who completes her final hunt, ending Zeus’s fate as King. All his henchman made of blood and stone will erode at her hunt, and Olympus will no longer be a land for the Gods.”

When Delphi stopped, (y/n) ran. Apollo let out a breath but not of relief, he knew this was bad. He knew his sister was dead, in his heart he knew, and he was going to witness his niece suffer the same fate. He closed his eyes and felt his father bring forth a storm.

    But, Apollo knew where she would go. Phokis, to her mother’s temple. He’d meet her there.

(y/n) ran, but she knew she’d be caught. Within the palace, Zeus had eyes everywhere. He knew where she went and where she could go, there was almost no escape if she was inside. She couldn’t register the prophecy, she couldn’t think about anything but her mother. Did her mother know? Was that why she left?

Was that why the fates declared her dead?

Clutching the dagger her mother had given her, a day before disappearing, (y/n) made it to the exit, that peaked over Mt. Olympus, but screamed when a massive force hit her left hip. There was blood everywhere, and the javelin stopped a few feet ahead of her. Turning to spot one of Zeus’ henchmen, the Boar as he called himself, (y/n) got back up on her feet and ran.

She knew his henchmen were made from his blood, she knew they were neither human nor God, they were his creation just as sand and stone. They had no life, but only motive—the motive was to serve Zeus in anyway they could.

Leaning over a bridge that overlooked the forests, (y/n) fell backwards before the Boar threw another javelin at her. And thus, she would run. To the temple where her mother always took her.

❅

In New York, on that strange night, (y/n) felt absolutely alone. There was not a single soul in the world left who cared if she lived or died. Her uncle had saved her life as a favor to his sister, but that was all. Now, she was on her own, in a strange place filled with strange people. As she walked on the streets towards nowhere but an unfamiliar darkness, (y/n) felt a grief in her heart that resembled fear. Her stomach churned and her wound burned, her mind was clouded with a sorrow only she knew, and she yawned more times than she could count.

A second later, grief turned to a haunting fear, causing her eyes to widen. A clap of thunder could be heard in the skies, New York was getting ready to pour. The rain meant Zeus could find her, the second one drop fell on her skin, Zeus would know where she was. She looked around for shelter and found none; the smell in the air changed, it smelt like it was going to rain.

Please, she prayed to her mother, knowing she was dead and couldn’t hear her. Please, she prayed to her uncle, wondering if he had given up on her. Please, she prayed to no one, letting go of hope.

Hands wrapped around her waist and hoisted her up in the air. Opening her eyes, she looked at Spiderman’s masked face, holding her as he swung in the air.

    “Are you a God?” She asked, swearing she knew every God in Midgard, but not having heard of this creature.

Spiderman chuckled before saying, “Nah, Thor and Loki are Gods. I’m just a regular superhero.”

Superhero? She thought before clutching on to him as tightly as she could, not wanting to fall.

    “Don’t worry, I won’t let go.” He said, tightening his grasp around her.

    “How are you doing this?”

    “You have a lot of questions for a little girl.”

(y/n) frowned, “You’re as tall as I am.”

    “Am not!” Spiderman fought back, causing her to roll her eyes.

    “And you sure can fight.” Spiderman grumbled.

    “I’m sorry. I thought you were a freak.” She heard him chuckle.

Dropping her on a building, it hadn’t rained yet. She quickly ran under cover, looking up to the sky in caution.

    “You don’t like the rain?”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t want to give him anymore information about herself. She didn’t know who he was, and there was no way she could trust a man with a mask.

    “Alright, listen. I know you’ve runaway from someplace. I won’t ask. But, you’re hurt and you need to get that checked. This is a shelter for the homeless, and I know it sounds terrible, it’s run by this amazing person named May Parker, and I’m sure you’ll be comfortable here. They have food and they can keep you away from the rain.” Spiderman told her.

She didn’t want to trust him, but she also looked like she was contemplating on taking his help.

    “You can trust me, you don’t know who I am and I don’t know who you are. Sometimes, it’s better this way to trust someone, right?”

(y/n)’s eyes widened. She looked up at Spiderman and found no expression. He was right, he was someone she didn’t know, in this strange place, who was trying to help her out. She nodded once before watching him fist bump the air, and then clearing his throat. (y/n) smiled at him once, before biting her lip and letting him lead her downstairs.

On approaching a middle-aged woman, who was wearing glasses, Spiderman waved at her and pointed to (y/n).

    “Hey, May!”

May was a beautiful woman, with a warm smile. Smiling at Spiderman and then turning to (y/n), her eyes widened in fear upon noticing her wound. She immediately called for first aid.

    “Goodness, how did this happen?”

(y/n) stupidly looked at Spiderman and scrunched up her eyebrows. Gesturing randomly a couple of times, he blurted out, ���Uh, she was mugged. Yeah! She was mugged. It was terrible. She’s fine otherwise, and um, so…” He turned to her, noticed her nod once, and continued, “She’ll need to stay here a couple of days. Is that cool?”

May rolled her eyes. A nurse came to her side in a second and she said, “She can stay here for as long as she likes. But, you’ll need to go back to school once this is all over.”

(y/n) looked at Spiderman and smiled. The man or boy in the mask gave her a thumbs up before walking away. (y/n) sighed, before letting the nurse treat her wound. It seemed alright, for the time being, since she was away from Olympus and Zeus, and everything that was perhaps trying to hunt her down. May led her to a bed after that, and (y/n) took off her jacket and lay down. She wasn’t hungry, but May promised to bring down some food for her after some time.

I miss you, she thought about her mother as she shut her eyes. She didn’t know for sure if this place was completely safe, but for some reason, she wanted to trust Spiderman. He seemed familiar in a way that made her feel at home—you feel familiar with a person you’ve never met before because they’re being kind to you. And Spiderman was being kind to her.

Closing her eyes, as she drifted off to sleep, (y/n) thought of Artemis.

❅

It had been a couple of hours since she had seen her mother. Something was strange—the air smelled different and there was a looming fear in her heart. Birds were flying as if a cyclone was about to hit them, animals were losing their mind. Dark clouds had gathered in the sky, but Zeus was not angry, not that she knew of. She wanted to find her mother, and ask her what was wrong, but Artemis was nowhere to be found.

Ignoring the growing fear in her heart, she made her way to Apollo’s chambers, wanting to ask her uncle where her mother was. She knew her uncle didn’t like her very much, but this was about his sister—someone he definitely loved with all his heart. Apollo had always been cold to her, not wanting to speak to her for more than required, and not wanting any sort of other interaction with her. (y/n) respected his space, but this was important.

Knocking on his door, (y/n) gulped when he opened in a jiffy. Apollo grunted when he saw his niece standing there, but looked at her questioningly.

    “Mom…” Apollo was alerted. “She’s…gone. I can’t find her. I can’t reach her either. I don’t know—”

    “I thought she was with you.” Apollo whispered, his eyes narrowing.

(y/n)’s heart dropped.

    “N-No…” (y/n) was not normally a shy or timid person, but fear does this to children whose parents are missing.

    “When was the last time you saw her?”

Tell no one I gave you that dagger, her mother had instructed her before she walked into her temple.

    “Her temple in Phokis. We were there, but she asked me to come back. I thought she’d come after… after she finished her work there.” (y/n) was lying, and Apollo knew. But he knew that his niece had last seen her in Artemis’ temple.

    “I’ll go check the temple. The winds are not good. Stay inside. Try reaching her with your mind. She hears your calls.” Apollo snapped, before moving past her.

Artemis had given (y/n) a dagger with greek inscriptions on it. She had told her daughter that this dagger would be important and useful later, but she didn’t know why.

    “I don’t even know how to use it,” (y/n) said, frowning.

    “You will.” Artemis said, smiling at her.

Greece loved Artemis and Apollo, the star twins. Apollo was loved and respected as the sun was, music and poetry celebrated all over Greece. And animals adored Artemis, revering in her beauty and grace, women prayed to her for good fortune and health, her presence made things better for them. Slowly, (y/n) understood that their fame made Zeus’ look smaller in the eyes of the people in Greece and invariably in Olympus as well. And Zeus did not like it very much.

Married to Hera, Zeus often found himself jealous of his own children—a fact that brew fear in (y/n)’s heart, each time Artemis or Apollo were openly respected. And that night, when the moon did not show, (y/n) knew. She knew in her heart that she would never see her mother again.

❅

After what felt like an eternity, (y/n) woke up to complete silence. She opened her eyes and saw that it might be midday, she had slept for more than 14 hours. Slowly, she got up and sat on the bed and saw no one around her. All the beds in that large hall were empty, soiled, and eerily quiet.

    “Hello?” She said, it sounding almost like a whisper.

Getting up, she moved down the hall and saw more dust, scattered everywhere like something, somewhere had stopped from working.

    “Anyone?” She heard shuffling, but she wasn’t sure if it was a person.

On the streets, she saw cars, stopped, unmoving, no person in the road or the cars. The cars had hit each other and were dented in the front and back, the skies were empty and slowly turning dark, the sun was nowhere to be seen. Gasping, she turned around and saw more dust on the roads, and some dust flying in the air.

Dust was present where people once were. And the prophecy rang clearly in her head.

And when Clotho stops spinning the thread of fate, Lachesis and Atropos go into a slumber for five years.

❅

series taglist:

Those I could not tag, I’ve put your urls here! 

@maddie-laufeyson, @mscoloneldanvers, @https://dancing-flame.tumblr.com, @daughter-of-stark, @spider-mendes, @nerdyandproudofitsstuff, @someonekeepstakingmyusernames, @alina-margaret, @yourwonderbelle, @viarogers, @https://huangsushii.tumblr.com, @eridanuswave @oliviaisnotlistening @mizpotatobiscuits @editsbyjenny @abbieroseb @justtrynagetthroughlife @secretlittlewonders @shallowshawnshallowshawn.tumblr.com  

[thanzag]

a (not!fic) trial

please enjoy my rambling not-a-chapter summation (can we call it a summation if it’s 3k words?) of zagreus’ time in athens and the trial against the furies

fic masterlist here

CW for discussions of past abuse in this chapter, and i’ve got some notes at the end regarding it as well.

it takes zagreus about four more days to make it to athens. he definitely has his first real mortal contact by asking someone for directions, but he’s so amiable that it’s not really a big deal. to the mortal, anyway. he, personally, is thrilled to speak to another person. secretly, he’s starting to think that that delight isn’t going to go away any time soon. long periods of solitude do not suit him, he is discovering. no matter how much time he spent sulking in his rooms at the House, before

but anyway, he makes it to athens. has to stop and get more directions, though this time he is more confident in it. definitely passes the public baths somewhere along the way and yearns to give them a try. baths aren’t really a thing in the underworld! the blood of the river styx just wicks itself off of him every time he’s died, after all, and that’s the closest he ever gets to water.

he does make it to the areopagus, though, sometime after the sun’s highest point in the sky. he’s not sure what he was expecting, but to find Hermes and the person that must be Athena standing there, waiting for him — well. that was never in the cards.

‘cousin, it is good to see you,’ athena says when he approaches, meets him half way. hermes has already flown almost directly into him and wrapped him into an eager hug, which — hermes is just great, zagreus has decided.

‘and it is good to see you, Lady Athena’ he answers, taking a knee in front of her. she laughs, a little, at him.

‘that’s not necessary, zagreus. you are family, not a stranger. don’t forget that,’ and then she’s helping him back to his feet. ‘i got your message from hermes. we can have a trial by this time tomorrow, if it suits you.’

‘oh, i mean — that’s great! if. if it suits you? any time is fine, but as soon as possible would be ideal, i guess —’

hermes bumps his shoulder from his place at zagreus’ side, drawing his attention.

‘if it’s alright with you, boss, i could represent you in the trial. i mean, i think i know more about what you’re going through than any of the others, just by virtue of being down there so much!’

zagreus can’t keep the grateful smile off his face. he doesn’t know what being represented means or requires, but he is so thankful for hermes.

‘i’d really appreciate that, hermes. thank you.’

athena leaves shortly thereafter, citing a need to pull together the jurors for the trial. but not before she clasps him on the shoulder one last time and calls him cousin, again. just another reminder that he is, in fact, family to her. not related, but family.

hermes leaves not long after that, too, because someone has to take a message to the furies to let them know they’re being summoned for the trial. but now, standing alone on the top of this hill, in the (metaphorical) shadow of the acropolis, he does not feel quite so lonely as before.

zagreus ends up finding somewhere to camp out and rest — he doesn’t know enough about mortal customs to even think of asking to stay the night with someone, and i don’t know enough about ancient athens and their customs to know how they would take to a visitor. i’m assuming pretty well? like it’s something in the vein of the christian idea of ‘any stranger could be an angel in disguise’ kind of thing, but. this is not!fic for a reason, i didn’t want to try to look it up. i’ll be honest.

anyway. zagreus, camping out for the night. despite the fact that he’s been roughing it for the last week and a half, a) being on the surface has given him opportunity for the most rest he’s had in months and b) sleeping in nature is GREAT to someone whose previous ideas of nature was, like. tartarus, and asphodel, and elysium. which is to say, not real nature. there’s no animals in the underworld! it’s just not the same.

i think that someone shows up, before the night is out. i’m spitballing, but it’s either hermes coming back, or thanatos making another showing. i’m on the fence. i’m thinking it’s thanatos, because — he promised, and hermes happened to run in to him when he was delivering his message to the furies, anyway.

so than appears, while zagreus is awake this time — he’s laid out on his back, looking at the stars. he’d be reading the codex if the light was better — achilles had a surprising lot to include on the surface world. there’s a part of zagreus that wonders if, maybe, achilles put it in just for him, for when he finally escaped.

but anyway. than appears, standing looming while zagreus is stretched out on his back with his arms beneath his head. he’s a visual picture of calm, though his mind is whirling. the idea of just — letting whatever is going to happen, happen, tomorrow, well. zagreus has never liked having a hands-off approach to his own fate. but athena and hermes are gone, so he’s just internalizing it.

‘what in the world are you doing, zag?’ than asks instead of saying hello, and zagreus turns his eyes from the stars to the god of death, who is in the middle of phasing his scythe into nonexistence.

‘looking at the stars, of course,’ he replies, and despite all his worry, he can’t help but smile. he sits up. ‘it’s good to see you, again,’ he says. makes as if he’s going to stand, but than just holds a hand out to him.

‘well, don’t let me interrupt your stargazing,’ than says, voice dry but with his lips quirking up into a little smile. he takes a seat of his own and, with zagreus watching him, lays out beside him on the ground. ‘how are you liking athens?’ he asks, as if this is a normal situation, and zagreus gives him a strange look before eventually giving up and laying back down. he turns his eyes to the stars again.

‘it’s alright. i mean, it’s beautiful. and the mortals are… interesting. people are so different as shades.’ he sighs. ‘i met with athena, and hermes. there will be a trial tomorrow.’

‘it’s okay to be nervous about it,’ than says, shifting a little on his back. ‘i’ve never seen a trial before, but i’m sure athena would talk you through it if you asked her.’

‘but what if i —’ zagreus huffs out a sigh. he doesn’t really want to talk about this, doesn’t want than to know how insecure he’s feeling about it, but — what other options does he have? he could talk to the thin air, later, but that won’t help him. ‘what if i’m not good enough, and they let the furies drag me back to the underworld?’

‘i can’t imagine that’s going to happen, zag.’ than shifts again, and now they’re pressed shoulder to shoulder. ‘you’ve got two olympians on your side, not including any of the ones you’ve yet to meet. they had faith in you to escape, and you have to have faith in them to help keep you out, if it comes to it.’

‘you think it’s that easy?’

‘i didn’t say it was easy. just that you have to.’ than laughs, a little, but it’s something kind. ‘i guess you’re right,’ zagreus agrees after some time, and turns away from the sky to look at than. ‘we talk enough about me, though. how are you?’

‘i don’t think that’s true,’ than says, snorting. it doesn’t make any sense to zagreus, but than carries on anyway. ‘i’m good. busy, because ares’ war doesn’t show any sign of stopping, but these things happen.’ he shrugs. ‘i haven’t been back to the house much, but hypnos did ask me to tell you hello. and achilles says he’s very proud of you.’

something squeezes zagreus’ heart at that, and he rubs at his eyes with the palm of one hand. ‘i’m glad you’re here,’ is what he eventually says, when his eyes are no longer so wet. achilles is proud of him, and than is here.

i think that than (much like zagreus) does not actually know anything about constellations, but they lay there in silence (or mostly silence) for a long time before than announces that he has to go. this time, zagreus is already on board with a ‘proper farewell’, and is hugging than close and tight, for as long as he dares to, as soon as they’re both standing.

than tells him one last time to have faith, and then he’s — gone.

the trial is, of course, an Ordeal.

there are twelve mortal jurors, athena as judge, hermes representing zagreus, and the furies (mostly meg) representing themselves. in what counts as an audience are much of the rest of the pantheon — zeus and poseidon, hephaestus and aphrodite, hera and dionysus. ares is busy with the war, of course. apollo is, naturally, pulling the sun across the sky. artemis is tied up with something that no one can put name to, and the same applies to demeter.

the highlights of the trial, i think, are this —

the furies state that their call to Torment zagreus is because of filial betrayal, which is countered by hermes because of, you know, the verbal and emotional abuse. alecto pipes up and says that that behavior is normal for hades, that he treats everyone that way, and besides, zagreus deserves it, which REALLY wins her points with the jury. (it doesn’t. that’s sarcasm.)

athena asks, as softly and gravely as she has ever spoken, if he could share some of the abusive experience with the jury. hermes starts to rattle off things that just he has seen, in that fast-paced, nearly-tripping-over-his-words way, but zagreus puts a hand on his arm to stop him short.

‘i think it will mean more from me,’ zagreus says, and steps forward to address the jury and the furies and athena and half the pantheon.

zagreus talks about — everything that can come to mind, without really thinking about whether it benefits his case or not, because he’s out of his comfort zone, here.

he mentions the guilt trips that he puts cerberus in the middle of, as if it’s zagreus’ fault that the hound had been left ignored and to his own devices to tear up the house. he mentions the way that, if anything can be made into his fault, it is. he mentions the way that he is never even remotely treated as an equal — always as a child. and he has not been a child for a long time, had once upon a time held responsibilities in the house, but hades never talked to him the way he talked to megaera or thanatos or even hypnos, or achilles. was never once given an ounce of respect or even a begrudging moment of his time that was not laced with ‘why are you bothering me’ attitude. is that truly family? if it is, is that not its own filial betrayal, to treat someone bound to you by blood as if they are the scum upon the bottom of your shoe, for no reason other than existing?

aphrodite sniffles in the audience behind him when he does finally stop talking. meg is watching him, face steely except for her eyes, which are — softer than he’s ever seen them. though maybe that’s just a trick of the light — the sun can do so many things. tisiphone is standing at the back of the fury trio, quiet and watching, but alecto tries to jump in with an invective tirade that has meg putting her hand out to stop her. even the jurors are watching him with strange, pitying expressions.

but he doesn’t want pity. he wants to be free.

the jury goes to deliberate, and zagreus and hermes linger together while they wait. he wants to talk to meg, but of course he can’t talk to meg. she’s on the job, like this, and he doesn’t want that meg. and he doesn’t want to get her in trouble. hermes must see him looking, though, because he gets an elbow to the ribs for it.

‘you and the fury megaera, really?’ he asks. ‘that must make things quite complicated, huh?’

‘something like that,’ zagreus answers, but meg has turned her eyes to him at the sound of her name, and he looks away from her.

the olympians are talking, too, though athena stays separate from all of them, and none of them come down from the clouds zeus had pulled up for them to rest in. it’s a low murmur of voices, of voices that he’s familiar with and some that he doesn’t know, but the pity in their words is audible far beyond how their voices carry. he hates it, but he’s getting what he wants, so — he can’t complain.

the jury returns after some time, and things fall back into place, into silence. the olympians know better than to disrespect athena’s process, here.

the jurors rule in zagreus’ favor. it’s — so simple. it seems too easy. but the furies are told to lay off  his back, and (though zagreus doesn’t know this) they don’t get half the effort to soothe ruffled feathers as they did during orestes’ trial. probably because meg doesn’t push for it — because alecto is going to be pissed one way or the other, and tisiphone doesn’t really care since zagreus himself has not murdered anyone. it’s — unnervingly easy.

alecto leaves immediately, in a rage, and tisiphone makes her own way toward what must be the entrance to the underworld that is nearby. zagreus, through a complicated series of eyebrow movements and head gestures, gets meg to meet him alone.

‘meg, i —’he stops, tongue-tied. she doesn’t look mad, not like alecto, but she’s not happy, either.

‘what, zagreus.’ there’s a strange tone to her voice.

‘meg, i can’t thank you enough for — for helping me like this. i know you never pulled your punches when we fought, but this is… different.’

‘tch. maybe i shouldn’t have.’ as a sentiment, it’s not one he was expecting.

‘what? why! i thought you’d be happy you didn’t have to stand miserable guard in tartarus with your sisters anymore.’

‘you realize we aren’t going to see each other again after this, right, zagreus? it’s not like i’m thanatos, who can just leave the underworld at will to come see you.’ she scoffs in disgust, whether with herself or him he doesn’t know, and crosses her arms.

‘i’m… i’m sorry, meg. you know i had to do this.’

‘i know, i know, you need to find your mother.’ it sounds like she’s brushing him off, but it doesn’t feel like it. no one is ever going to understand his need to find persephone, and he’s starting to realize that. no one else feels adrift like he does.

‘it’s not just about that,  meg. i mean… if someone talked to you — if i talked to you or treated you the way that my father treats me, what would you do?’

‘hmpjh. you wouldn’t live through it.’ she’s at least looking at him again, though, which is a win of its own.

‘right. exactly. and i — may not agree with everyone that called it abuse, but i… i’ve been alone for the most part for the last week and a half, up here, and i’m happier than i’ve ever been. and it’s not because of the fresh air and the sunlight, meg.’

he sighs when she doesn’t say anything, and reaches out to touch her arm, her wrist. that she doesn’t flinch away is its own win. ‘i care about you, meg, and i’m going to miss you. and i’m sorry that you — you’re going to miss me, too.’

she makes defensive noises that amount to ‘as if,’ but she drops her whip to the ground and curls her hand around the wrist of the hand that’s touching her. her fingers are cool and a little rough. her bright-pink lips are a wry smile.

‘you’re really doing this, aren’t you?’ she asks, touching him and looking at him in such a weighted way that it settles, like a warm weight, on his shoulders.

‘i think it’s too late to go back, now, isn’t it?’ he answers, and she laughs. he knows now that her expression before, during the trial, wasn’t a trick of the light. her eyes are damp. so are his.

‘good luck, zagreus,’ she tells him. ‘maybe you’re the god of stubbornness, but i don’t think anyone else will be able to do it if you can’t.’

‘thank you, meg. if you do end up on the surface and ever want to find me —’ she shakes her head, and he thinks a tear might track its way down her face.

‘don’t count on it.’ she squeezes his wrist, once, and then pulls away. ‘i’ve got to go.’

zagreus watches her leave, fluttering up into the sky. when he turns his gaze back to the ground, her whip is still there, coiled on the ground. he picks it up and tucks it into his tunic, and hopes that she won’t be too angry when she realizes she left it.

NOTES so, zag’s descriptions of his experiences in hades’ house come from conversations from the game itself, but i also projected hard onto this scene and a lot of my headcanons everywhere else, too. the same thing goes for zag’s idea of -- that what happened to him doesn’t count as ‘abuse’. it took me years to realize that being afraid when someone passive aggressively folds socks in your direction, or does paperwork in your direction, for zag, is not normal. and i don’t think zagreus reacts to these things with fear -- i don’t think at any point he’s really shown fear of hades, and this is where he and i are different. he’s going to get mad before he gets upset, IMO.

but. anyway. before i accidentally ramble another thousand words in the AN, i just wanted to say that -- not all of my descriptions come from canon, here, but the ones that don’t are from my own, literal experiences.

[minervamoon66]

Changes to Artemis Fowl

 1. The movie opens with the press swarming Fowl Manor due to A. Fowl Sr.’s recent disappearance and witness accounts of the LEPRecon siege of Fowl Manor.

 2. Mulch Diggums (a dwarf with apparently a birth defect that makes him giant by dwarf standards) is arrested by HUMAN police and taken to a secure M16 facility for interrogation.  There he proceeds to narrate the movie.

 3. Artemis likes to surf, loves the outdoors, and is bored in school.  The scene between him and his counselor at school is the ONLY time you get the Artemis Fowl from the books.

 4. HIS MOTHER IS DEAD!!!  Come the F*CK on, Disney!  Why does every mother have to die?!

 5. Artemis Jr. and Sr. bond over Sr. telling his son fairy stories, like all the time.

 6. Artemis Jr. has no idea about his family’s criminal background.  He doesn’t find out until his father goes missing and he hears it over the television. (In this scene Butler drags Artemis away from the television and out of the room instead of just turning the blasted thing off.)

 7. Opal Konboi is in this.  She’s kidnapped Artemis Sr. and is demanding Jr. give her a magic macguffin in return for Sr.’s safe return.

 8. Butler goes by Dom.  Like, the whole movie. Edit: and he's black. I didn't add that at first since it was obvious from the trailer.

 9. Juliet is his NIECE! And also twelve.

10. The secret door to Artemis Sr.’s hidden room is ridiculously easy to find.  There’s a “key” hanging out in like an umbrella stand that fits a weird spot on the floor.  ANY child, not just a super-smart one, would have figured this out ages ago, because children are curious.

11. There is no fairy book.  The scene that alludes to tracking it down has been cut.  Instead we’re treated to Artemis Sr.’s only a bad guy because he’s stealing fairy artifacts that fell into human hands.

12. Neither of the Artemis’s are very smart.  The secret door is one example, but also where Sr. hides his journal about fairies is relatively easy to find.  We’re constantly told by Mulch’s narration how smart Artemis Jr. is, but I just didn’t see it. Since there’s no book, there’s no deciphering it.  No concocting a plan. He’s just following what Sr. put in his journal.

13. Mulch introduces the fairy city like you’re walking into it, not like he’s reciting events to the cops.  Serious fourth wall break.

14. Commander Root is a woman.  I wouldn’t mind this change if it weren’t for the fact that it completely ruins Holly’s arc.

15. Holly’s arc is now she wants to clear her father’s name.  (He’s the one that stole the macguffin, to protect it.) Edit: and she's white instead of nut brown.

16. I did not like Foaly’s animation much.  He felt too slow when he was supposed to be running, and it looked like he was skipping when he did so.

17. The whole troll in Italy thing is actually fairly close to how it was in the book that I can remember. Edit: I was wrong. Upon relistening to this part there are several differences, the most obvious being an introduction to the Time Freeze in a very Checkov's gun way.

18. Holly is not out of magic.  That’s not even a thing.  Holly straight up goes AWOL after the troll incident to clear her father’s name.

19. I repeat, HOLLY IS NOT OUT OF MAGIC FOR THE ENTIRE MOVIE! And yet Artemis is STILL able to keep her captive.  The only thing Holly tries to do to escape is rattle her cell a little (no magic use that I noticed) and tried to hypnotize Juliet and Artemis a few times.  They had reflective sunglasses on, so it didn’t work.

20. Right after the fairies set up the Time Freeze, Butler hit it with an energy arrow (Holly’s shape-shifting weapon) and broke it.  So they only have 30 mins instead of hours and hours.

21. Artemis wants them to send Mulch in because his dwarven instincts will lead him to the macguffin which Artemis is sure is hidden in the manor somewhere. This isn’t the stupidest thing, except for the fact Mulch isn’t attracted to magic, but to treasure.  Mulch could have been drawn to ANYTHING expensive in that house, but the plan works because the movie needed it to.

22. Mulch’s hair has some Sedusa-like properties instead of the “turns into lock-picks” thing from the books.  It still picks locks and cracks safes, but not in the way you were expecting.

23. Artemis and Holly have a heart-to-heart about their daddies and suddenly Artemis trusts her enough to take off his glasses and let her go so she can help.  Since in this she wants to clear her father’s name, so she’s kinda on his side.  She does punch him for the whole kidnapping thing, so I’ll give them that.

24. Somehow LEPRecon can “scramble” a fairy’s magic, so Holly can’t use hers because she’s been labeled a traitor.

25. The LEPRecon sends in the troll, but Butler doesn’t go mano-y-trollo with it.  It’s a “team” effort.  Basically everyone scrambles around screaming until the troll is knocked out.  Holly was stuck in a chandelier for over half the fight.  Juliet is entirely useless.

26. Butler dies (crushed by falling troll), but then the LEPRecon have a “do the right thing” moment outside and turn Holly’s magic back on and she brings him back to life.  I guess you could say she did a magic defibrillator.  It’s all forced drama.

27. Mulch, who swallowed the macguffin to keep it safe (actually the CGI for him unhinging his jaw while creepy was one of the better bits of special effects.).  He pulls it out of his mouth and Holly uses it to bring Artemis Sr. back from near death at the hands of Opal and teleport him back to Fowl Manor.  Leaving Opal around for shenanigans later.

28. Sometime around now there’s an overly long scene of the Time Freeze collapsing.  There’s no bio bomb, no super clever way out.   The LEPRecon just give up because they’re out of time.  (at least that’s what I got from it.)

29. Artemis Sr. gives Holly a list of names her dad had of corrupt fairies, and she takes that and the macguffin back underground.

30. The movie ends with Artemis Jr. rescuing Mulch from M16 custody. Not a memory wipe in sight.  So, now M16 knows about fairies?  I’m sure that’ll be fine.

There’s probably more I’m forgetting, but that’s the major things I can think of.

Edit:

31. Invitations work differently than I remember. Here if a fairy accepts an invitation, they have to obey you. But, it's never stated whether they lose their magic if they come in uninvited. The troll fight in Italy is outdoors, so that offers no explanation.

[redhoodieone]

It’s Cold in Here Part 7

A/N: And hereeeee is Part 7! Wow, and there is more to come because there are more scary and dangerous things ahead.  So, enjoy this part, and wait for the next one. 

Warnings: Language.

  I woke up around six in the morning because I knew I couldn’t stick around to see and talk to Jason. I quietly got up from his cuddling embrace and got dressed and left without looking back at him. I even snuck around Alfred, who was in the kitchen making coffee, and I got into my car and drove off.

The second I get back to my home, I wash up, shower, and I find myself searching through the kitchen for something to eat. But after not going grocery shopping for a while, I end up eating the last slice of bread with the little spoonful of peanut butter at the bottom of the empty jar.

I then contemplate what to do today. I know I have work tomorrow, and today’s my last day off, and there’s got to be something I could do to stop me from obsessing about tonight’s encounter with the mysterious text messenger.

The fact that I must go alone makes me anxious, but I know I don’t have any other choice. My thoughts are interrupted from a knock on my front door.

Oh my God. Could it be Jason?

Fuck.

I shove the rest of my piece of bread into my mouth, and race to the door. I hesitate to open the door, but once I gain some sort of little confidence, I open the door.

It’s Dick.

My heart starts to pound in my chest. Why is he here? What’s going on?

Dick’s dressed casually; black pants with a white shirt and blue sweater on. His dark hair is gelled and messy like always, and his ocean blue eyes are focused on me.

I move aside and let him inside. The tension between us is awkward and I do feel like there’s a chill between us. It’s as if I just allowed a stranger into my home.

“Y/N, can we talk?” Dick finally asks. The way he says it sounds practiced, and a little heavy. “Please?”

I want to laugh, just to make him feel uncomfortable since he has no problem making me feel uneasy right now. “I guess we have to, right? Since our relationship is pretty much over except for who’s going to end it first,” I say.

“I...I don’t want us to be over. I still love you, and I want you to be with me,” Dick confesses, as he sits down beside me.

“W-what? Dick, you can’t be serious! You’re...into guys too, and you cheated on me. How could I be in a relationship with you after that?” I ask, suddenly feeling ambushed by him.

“You don’t understand, Y/N. I know what I did was wrong. I shouldn’t have slept with him and lie to you, but I can’t just break up with you right now. Look, I had a moment of weakness. I fucked up. But it’s not going to happen again. I’m not gay or anything,” Dick continues, as he begins sounding more desperate and nervous.

“I know you’re not gay, Dick. You’re...bisexual. But that’s...that’s not what bothers me. I mean, it did in the beginning but it’s something I can’t change or ignore. What bothers me is that you cheated on me; it’s still cheating when it’s with a woman or a man,” I say, no longer frightened to keep silent. Dick needs to know the truth. “And the fact that you keep wanting us to be together just makes this relationship fake. Why would you want to put me through that?”

“BECAUSE I DON’T WANT BRUCE TO FIND OUT!” Dick yells. He’s clearly afraid, and angry about the whole thing.

Dick begins to cry. He pulls his hair, and cries looking down at the carpet.

“All my life, I had to be perfect. I was supposed to be the best. My earliest days in the circus as the star acrobat along my family, when Bruce molded me into being the perfect sidekick Robin and to be a man a woman deserves. True, I haven’t exactly treated women right from time to time but being with you is something I feel like I was meant to have,” Dick says, wiping his tears away. “But as any perfect creation comes, it comes with flaws. My...sexuality is my fault.”

I feel guilty beyond words. “Dick, don’t say that...”

“It’s true! Imagine what the tabloids would say: ‘Bruce Wayne’s Son Dates Another Man! What Has Happened to Gotham’s Straight Ladies Man?!’ It could destroy our family. It could destroy me. I would be named the ‘queer’ of the family! Or those worse names homosexuals hear.”

“I-I understand your fear and all, but don’t you think you’re overreacting? The world is slowly changing now, because of the LGBTQ communities. Most advocates and activists are speaking out, and most of the time the publicity is positive. Maybe your real fear is coming from you. Maybe you have yet to accept yourself. Not everyone around you is going to think differently of you, especially the ones who love you,” I say, hoping to break through Dick’s strong, stubborn walls. “You can’t keep pretending to be someone you’re not. And you can’t have me pretend to be in love with you.”

Dick’s clear blue eyes look up to me in confusion. “You-you don’t love me anymore?” he asks softly.

“I love you Dick, but...I’m not in love with you anymore. Our relationship...is different now. I know you can’t choose which gender you want for fun or for a serious relationship, but I think you’re torn between what you want to discover and pursue now. This is clearly new to you, and while you figure it all out, maybe you need to be single to do that,” I admit.

Dick breathes heavily. He rubs his eyes, and after a while, he takes my hand and looks at me.

“You’re right, Y/N. You’re right about everything. I...I should have handled this better, but even though I still fucked up, I’m still in love with you and I still want to be with you. My feelings for you haven’t changed at all,” Dick confesses.

“What about Wally?” I finally ask.

“What about him? This isn’t about him. What happened between us doesn’t mean anything. He knows that, and I know that. This is about us. I want a future with you, a family. Did you honestly think I would have all that with him?”

The pain in my stomach hurts more than ever. I know Dick is wrong, and he’s being more ignorant than usual. But arguing right now isn’t going to help us. I suddenly feel tired and very exhausted from this talk. I lean back until I completely lie down on the couch, as my legs are on Dick.

“I’m sorry, I just...don’t have a lot of experience with this kind of thing. I’m tired, and I think I need to nap,” I say. I sound sleepy and he should know I’m not faking it.

“I’m tired, too,” Dick says, as he kicks off his shoes and lies down behind me.

I don’t want Dick holding me, but when his arms wrap around me and he pulls me closer to him in a hug, that it brings me back to a happy place like in the beginning. His smell, his touch, and his affection makes me fall all over again.

“You-you slept with Jason, right?”

His question startles me at first. “Yes.”

“Was he...better than me?” Dick asks quietly.

It would be easy to tell him the truth; that yes, sex with Jason made me feel more pleasure and love, but I can’t deal with the truth anymore right now.

“It was okay. It was just sex,” I finally say. “You’re better, because you know how to make me feel important.”

Dick’s breathing is calm again, and he holds me tighter. “Good, I-I didn’t want you to have a bad time but just knowing our sex life makes you feel important is more than enough for me.”

I close my eyes. I want to wake up and see that this was all a dream.

“Y/N?”

“Yes, Dick?”

“I-I want to spend the night with you. Would that be okay?”

Dick’s practically begging me now. But since I can’t exactly be honest anymore since he refuses to be honest, I realize I have to go to Ace Chemicals alone tonight.

To face the unknown text messenger.

“I actually have to go to Zatanna’s tonight,” I lie, hoping he would buy it. But I mentally slap myself for not talking to Zatanna or Artemis today to make it more believable. With my luck, Artemis might still be hungover with Connor, while Zatanna did in fact sleep with Tim. “Artemis wants a girl’s night to dish on her hookup with Connor. I already accepted the invitation. I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry. I should have known you would already have plans since you’re an amazing girl. I’ll probably hang out with Jay, Tim, and Dami anyways. I’ll just see you in the morning then.”

“Yeah, that’ll be fine,” I agree.

“Let’s just take a nap first. Let’s us forget everything,” Dick says sleepy.

It would be good to forget everything. It would be like all this never happened. No heartbreak. No cheating. No lies. No one-night stand Jason.

Jason?

My feelings for Jason resurface again, because no matter how many times I try to drown them, they just float back up to the surface because they’re un-drownable.

Before I know it, Dick’s already sound asleep.

I guess it’s easy for him to block everything out, while I’m here suffering in silence because my heart and head want to burst.

I know I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to sit and worry about Dick’s denial, or how I have secret feelings for Jason.

Because all I know is that I’m going to finally find out who has been harassing me about Dick, and once I find out who it is...I’m going to end them.

Take them down.

Kick their fucking ass.

And make them regret fucking with me by using threats and fear.

Because when anyone threatens to hurt and destroy those closest to me, they’re just asking for a ticket to die.

And I’ll gladly give them a ticket for death. 

Comments, questions, and notes are greatly appreciated! 

[diannaphantomfiction]

Karivarry LifeSwap AU Writing Prompts. Prompt 12/♾: Day in the Life

Prompt requested by Anonymous

Kara, Barry and Oliver and their interactions with their teams + how they live their civilian lives

____________

“You can’t be serious.” Kara stared at her manager, sorry former manager, in shock.

“I’m sorry, Kara. The owner didn’t give me a choice. She said the police called. That you lied about your criminal history?”

It had taken Kara weeks to get a job at this stupid theme diner. She hadn’t even wanted it, but she needed the work desperately. So, during the day she stuffed herself into the stupid uniform (A pink dress with a fancy black apron tied around her waist and a pair of kitten heels), plastered a smile on her face, laughed at customers’ bad jokes, and hoped her feet wouldn’t be bleeding at the end of her shift. It wasn’t a good job per say, but they paid her minimum wage before she got her tips and gave her daytime hours.

And Maggie had lied to her boss and cost her it.

“I was never convicted of anything! They let me go every. Single. Time.”

“I’m sorry, Kara. You’re a good worker, but…”

Kara sighed, “You need a job too.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. I’ll change out of my uniform.”

“Thanks, Kara.”

Kara changed out of her uniform and returned everything, before leaving the building. She shoved down her anger and marched to the nearest bus stop. She was running out of options. Sure, she still had her inheritance, her mother had removed the excess requirements when Kara had come home broken and mentally scared. Cat Grant may have believed in hard work, but she wasn’t a monster. She would never leave her daughter to the streets if her PTSD prevented her from working. So she had a nice apartment, more than enough money to take care of Carter as his guardian, put food on the table, and pay for anything they would need, but she wanted to work. She hated sitting around doing nothing and John had literally pushed her out of the “Arrow Cave” a few times because “being the Arrow 24/7 isn’t healthy”.

Unfortunately, no one wanted to hire a girl with a BA in Anthropology. She supposed she could go back to school somehow, get her Master’s and PhD. But, the idea of field work made her heart race, her organs to chill, and her stomach to flip. She was actually terrified of it now when before it had excited her, and she wasn’t willing to admit that. Kara waved down the bus and rode it until she reached her favorite coffee shop. Apparently it was time to start looking for jobs. Again. So, that’s what she did, applying to everything she came across that she’d be able to do for hours until it was time to go home. She’d be there just long enough to fix dinner and wrangle Carter into homework and sleep before she was due at the Arrow Cave.

“Hey kid.” Kara said, ruffling Carter’s hair as she walked past him on the way to the kitchen. He was working on his Math homework, which would give Kara plenty of time to throw together something mostly healthy for them to eat.

“Hey Kara. I thought you got off work earlier today?”

Kara paused. Damn it, this kid was too smart. “So chicken or fish tonight? I think I have some Cod in the fridge…”

“Did you get fired again?”

Kara turned away just long enough to pull the cod and some vegetables out. “Yeah.”

Carter didn’t say anything for a few minutes, letting Kara work on cooking as he half-focused on a Math problem. As soon as the food was left to simmer, knowing that all Kara had to do was watch it, he spoke up again.

“You know you don’t have to work right? Mom said that if your PTSD was too bad…”

“Oh Car…” she turned to face him, “It’s not that simple. I like working. I like keeping busy. If I don’t work, it will just keep getting worse. Staying busy helps. Besides, what would I do with myself all day if I didn’t have a job?”

Carter shrugged. “I don’t know. I just...I don’t want you to end up getting hurt because you’re not ready for something, Kar.” Kara smiled at the old nickname. It had been a joke from Alex that had stuck. Her baby siblings: Kar and Car. Eventually the two of them had claimed the names for themselves, Carter actually declaring that only Kara was allowed to call him that.

“I’m glad you care, but it’s not your job to worry about me. I’m the big sister and you’re the teenage boy. It’s your job to do stupid shit and make mistakes and learn and it’s my job to worry about you.”

Kara was extremely glad that Carter was old enough to be left alone as she slipped out of the apartment to go to her “second job”. Kara had told Carter it was a managing job at Lena’s club and it was a good cover...for people who didn’t know who was on staff at Lena’s club or what was in it’s basement. So, Carter believed it. He was a smart kid, but he didn’t have all the facts and Kara was going to make sure he didn’t until he was older. Kara walked down to find John and Winn arguing about something lightheartedly, Lena elegantly stuffing her face with french fries, Mike and James arguing about something significantly less lightheartedly, and Kaldur and Artemis sparing.

“Kaldur! Artemis! What have I told you about sparing right before a planned patrol?”

They stopped. Kaldur at least looked reasonably chastised, he released his hard water construct swords, but not back into his water pack or as water vapor. No, he just let it fall to the ground. He then looked more embarrassed and even more chastised, luckily he realized his mistake and touched the puddle with a finger, he made his markings glow and evaporated it into the air.

Artemis on the other hand, just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Kara loved Artemis like a little sister, she really did, but that girl had more bitterness in her pinkie toe than the rest of Kara’s team combined. Kara would never blame her for that, no teenager should have to suffer through being raised in the League of Assassins. Unfortunately, it did make it difficult to act as her mentor. Kara had learned that, for the most part, Artemis needed to make her own mistakes and Kara let her as long as the mistakes wouldn’t get her killed. So if it had just been Artemis going some intense training, Kara would have let her, lecturing her after she tried to spin kick someone with a sprained ankle and wouldn’t be able to walk on it for a couple weeks. Kaldur didn’t learn like that though and if he’d pulled a muscle or gotten hit wrong during sparring and injured himself more in the field, it would only serve to put him in a funk and it could take him days to get back to normal.

“I want you two on petty crimes tonight. And remember; back here by 2:30, back home by 3:00.”

“Petty crimes? Again?” Artemis snarled, “We’ve been on petty crimes all week!”

Kaldur bit his lip. He clearly thought something similar, but was thinking up a way to say it more respectfully. “We’re just...concerned you’re going easy on us. How are we supposed to learn if we aren’t challenged.”

Kara’s shoulders slumped. “I know. But...what we’ve been working on...I’m trying to make sure everyone comes out alive. You’re both extremely talented and skilled, but the man we’re fighting won’t hesitate to kill you, even if you are just teenagers. I want you both alive, and if that means keeping you on the sidelines for a while, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Neither teen looked particularly happy about that, but they didn’t argue. Simply nodded and sulked off to do their job.

“That’s probably going to come back to bite you.” Winn said, spinning just a little too hard in his chair and taking a couple extra circles, which almost completely undermined his point.

“They’ll get over it when they’re still alive,” Kara said, walking over to her suit. “So, have we found something more about Ra’s Al Ghul?”

“Nothing more than the usual chatter,” John said.

“You know if Alex was here…” Mike stops as everyone glares at him.

Kara stares him down for a few seconds. “Wildcat. Petty crimes.”

“What?”

“You’re on petty crimes. Mentioning my dead sister is in very poor taste and if you’re not going to provide meaningful contributions I’m going to treat you like one of the teenagers. Petty. Crimes.”

Mike stared at her, but eventually he left to join the teenagers on petty crime duty. Kara turned to the rest of her team and zipped up her leather jacket.

“Alright. Let’s get to work, then.”

----------

Oliver sat at his desk at the courthouse, mindlessly clicking through a form as he waited for his lunch hour. Usually, Oliver was busy. Criminal Psychologists who were willing to work for one city were rare. They were always sending him “insanity defenses” to examine, children to interview, or even sending him to Iron Heights to do prisoner interviews. Today he just had to interview a couple of “unstable” defendants (off his meds and mad because a cop pulled a gun on her ten year old) and fill out some forms. The computer didn’t move at super speed or he’d have been out of here hours ago. It was days like this Oliver hated his job.

“Knock, knock, big brother.”

Oliver looked up from his computer. “Sara? What in the world are you doing here? I’m sure I would have known if Captain Cold was on trial…”

Sara laughed. “Please. I would totally wear my parka to my own trial. I’m just here as a character witness.”

Oliver looked over her tasteful slacks and light blue blouse. “...For who? Are you going to perjure yourself for one of your girls?”

Sara waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not going to tell you. You wouldn’t believe me if I said no and you’d have me arrested if I said yes.”

“Because you would have left me no choice, Sara. Honestly. Do you not understand any of our jobs?”

“Meh.” She shrugged.

Oliver sighed, “Why are you in my office specifically?”

“I’m grabbing you and Laurel for Lunch.”

“...You’re just going to walk into the DA’s office and invite your sister to lunch?”

“Well how else would I do it?”

“Are you forgetting that you are Captain Cold?”

“No one can prove that.”

“You literally don’t wear a mask.”

As it turns out, Sara could just waltz into the DA’s office by changing her body language, speech patterns, and letting her hair down. Gone were the familiar hard lines around her eyes, the sarcastic lift in her voice, the confident swagger, and the tight ponytail. Instead she was walking with more swing in her hips, had pulled her hair down and fluffed it so it looked wavy, wore a smile that just didn’t look right, but did make her look younger and sweeter, and spoke in that way Oliver was sure women only did when they wanted something.

But, it got her past security without anyone questioning her. Somehow.

Laurel barely glanced up from her paperwork as they walked in. “Hey Oliver. Sorry, I can’t talk. I just got assigned a case from Major Crimes and I’m pretty sure they think I’m some sort of miracle worker.”

In an instant, Sara’s body language shifted back to normal. Her smirk and sarcastic lift returned as quickly as she relaxed back into her usual self. “Come on, Laurel. Even ADAs get lunch breaks.”

Laurel froze and looked up suspiciously, already stuffing the paperwork back into files and locking her computer. “Sara? How did you even get in here?”

“She walked. It was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen and I hope I don’t see it again.” Oliver said, completely serious.

“Come on,” Sara said as she tugged Laurel from her seat and out of her office, “If we hurry we can help Roy play hooky. Have a real sibling bonding experience.”

Laurel and Oliver exchanged a glance as they followed her, too familiar with her antics to try to fight her or stop her.

“You know, if you just told her…” Laurel started.

Oliver glared, “Shut up. Why don’t you tell her?”

Neither of the two superheroes had an answer to why they didn’t tell Sara as they followed their super villain sister to lunch.

It took a grand minute and a half for Thea to crash right into a wall and knock herself out. Oliver winced as he slid into a stop next to her. That was a new record. Her mask was off center as well, they’d have to fix that so it wouldn’t slip off or accidentally blind her.

Her eyes flickered open and she tried to shake her hair out of her eyes and failed. “Mr. Queen? Did I win?”

Oliver smiled and sat down beside her. “No. Sorry. Don’t worry, turning is hard at first, you lasted a long time. Well, a long time for a speedster. Come on, sit up. Caitlin will be down soon to force water down your throat and check you for a concussion in a few seconds. And I imagine your father will be freaking out.”

Thea sat up with a groan as she pushed her mask up onto her forehead, messing up her hair even more, which she would definitely complain about once her concussion passed in a couple hours.

Oliver has never expected to have a mentee of his own, not really. He’d seen Kara’s protégées training as she watched, shouting out corrections and encouragement at them. They were brilliant, Kaldur was fast, silent, and smart, Artemis was creative and her aim was nearly as good as Kara’s. Oliver hoped he could be as good a mentor to Thea was Kara was to Kaldur and Artemis.

The air chilled as Caitlin walked into the speed lab, her white waves bouncing and her blue lips pursed in the disappointment Oliver knew all too well from the dozens of times he had hurt himself and she had to patch him up.

Mac was right behind her, his usually blank, hard face was awash with worry and concern. When anyone except Thea was in trouble, he showed his care with anger and frustration. It was strange, but oh so Mac. None of them would have him any other way.

“What happened?!” Mac demanded.

Caitlin rolled her eyes and kneeled down, ignoring Thea’s flinch and hiss as Caitlin’s ice cold hands cupped her chin.

“Thea still hasn’t figured out how to make sharp turns. It takes some time to figure out.” Oliver assured Mac, placing a gentle, comforting hand on Thea’s shoulder.

“Why isn’t it like normal?” She moaned.

“Because we’re really, really fast. It’s like a cheetah. It takes extra thought, extra energy.”

Thea groaned. “Stupid…”

Oliver merely laughed. Yeah. It kind of was.

Caitlin was asking Thea the standard concussion questions and shining a light in her eyes.

“Why are you so cold?” Thea whined, pulling away with a shiver.

“My people are from a frozen planet.” Caitlin said dryly.

“Shouldn’t you have fire powers then?”

“That’s not how we evolved.”

Thea huffed and everyone else shook their heads and chuckled. Caitlin pulled back and nodded. “You’ll be just fine with some rest and some food.”

Mac sighed and scooped his daughter up. “You know, if you’re going to be doing this you're going to have to be more careful.”

“Hmmm...I love you too, Dad, but I’m very very hungry.”

Oliver chuckled as he and Caitlin followed the father and daughter. Now that he thought about it, he was also very, very hungry.

----------

Barry was bored. He was absolutely, positively bored out of his mind. As Dr. Tina McGee’s executive assistant, he was supposed to be paying attention and taking notes. Instead he was unprofessionally trying not to fall asleep in the middle of a board meeting that started at 5:30 and still wasn’t finished after lunch. Barry startled himself awake and adjusted his wire framed glasses as he tried to look like he’d been focused on his tablet. It probably didn’t work considering Dr. McGee gave him a fond look.

“I think that’s enough for today, gentlemen. Clearly we aren’t going to get any further and I think we all need a break.” She rose to her feet and left the room, Barry quickly stumbling to his feet and following after his boss.

Dr. McGee sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Well, that was a waste of time. How much did they screw up my schedule, Barry?”

“Uh…” Barry clipped on his tablet with his stylus. “Very. The minute it went past eight I set up automatic alerts asking one of the receptionists to reschedule your appointments.”

“Is Wayne Enterprises still on the schedule?”

“Yes ma’am. They’re going to be here in an hour and a half.”

Dr. McGee nodded. “Alright. Well, after that disaster of a meeting I need caffeine and sweets. Would you head down to the nearest Starbucks and get me something? Oh, and get something for yourself too. You looked dead on your feet in there.”

Her smile was kind, clearly making an excuse to give Barry a chance to get some much needed caffeine. What Barry actually needed was sunlight, but he quite liked the idea of a Frappecino. It would be a nice treat. So Barry sped walked down, the balance between “I’m totally a normal human” and “I’m literally not a human being” led to him looking very, very clumsy as made his way to the nearest Starbucks.

Barry ordered two very sweet iced coffees and hopped back upstairs, giving Dr. McGee her drink before returning to his desk to send emails and do other assistant things. It was very, very boring and Barry wished, not for the first time, that his keyboard could withstand super speed. And that he wasn’t in full view of everyone. It would make his life so much easier. Luckily, he only had to make it through that one last meeting and then he’d be able to go to his real job.

“Your patrol route for the day.”

Barry smiled at Len as he took to the tablet. “Hello to you too, Len”

Barry was already in his Superboy suit, having flown over, his hair windswept since he wore his longer than Clark’s and didn’t include a pound of hair products. Len, currently in his human form smirked and rolled his eyes, fondly. Barry’s route was outlined in blue as usual and intersected occasionally with Iris’s (gold) and Ronnie’s (orange). The routes were randomly generated by Cisco every day as a way to avoid a pattern that their enemies could pick up on.

Barry memorized his route quickly and handed to tablet back to Len. “I’m going to check in on everyone first.”

“Go right ahead, Bar.”

Barry smiled at his friend and mentor before running from the room. Bette shooed Barry away from Cisco because apparently they were in the middle of an assignment, but Barry had managed to catch up to Iris and Ronnie as they were getting ready for patrol.

“Rondi! Iris!” Barry called.

They turned. Ronnie Raymond, a Tamaranian whose real name was Rondi’ander, but was better known to the public as Brightfire, smiled at Barry kindly as he came up.

“Bar-El, how was your day?”

“Long and boring. You?”

“Jax got upset and he has set our television room ablaze.”

Barry winced. Jaxin’ander, or simply Jax, was Rondi’s younger brother and he had the same problem all teenagers with dangerous powers seemed to. Namely, control. That was why they had Jax, Wally, and Jessie all training together under whoever was willing to lend a hand. Usually it was Len or Barry, sometimes Bette felt comfortable enough to lend a hand and every once in a while Clark would show up. One time he even brought Diana with him. Barry was pretty sure they like Diana more than the rest of them combined.

“What am I? Chopped liver?” Iris asked. She was already sitting on her motorcycle, but her mask, which usually covered her lower face, was around her neck and her goggles were sitting on her forehead.

“Of course not!” Barry hugged his sister, smiling brightly again. There was a reason people called him a golden retriever. “How was work?”

“Fine. They’re bugging my to get an interview with Guardian.”

“They want you to interview...yourself?”

“You see my problem? Maybe I should ask Clark for advice, he interviews himself all the time.”

“I think he actually has Lois ask the questions.”

“Hm. That’s not a bad idea. Well, I’m good to go if you two are,” Iris said, tugging her mask and placing her goggles on her eyes.

Barry smiled and nodded and the three of them headed out to work.

[nadziejastar]

I'm thoroughly enjoying the LeaIsa discourse, especially Isa possibly having been subject X in perhaps another canon. Isa's symbolism's also seem intentionally feminine in nature. I've head-cannoned that the current subject X in game could have somehow had her heart spirited away into Isa's (mirroring Sora and Kairi's situation, except the heart being far more buried in the depth's of Isa's). An unlikely scenario is that Isa was AFAB as a child and even Lea doesn't know about it or remember.

Lea: The Wounded Healer

Thank you! Yeah, everything about Isa’s symbolism is feminine in nature. And very intentionally so, LOL. He’s the Yin to Lea’s Yang; the Moon to his Sun. I love the whole concept, and I wish it wasn’t so taboo to step outside of gender boxes. The mythology is that Twin Flames separate and go through many lifetimes apart, never meeting in person. Over the reincarnation cycle, the two lovers balance their masculine and feminine sides so that they are both perfectly balanced. And I do think Lea is a very balanced character in that regard. I’m sure Isa was, too. During their final lifetime in the reincarnation cycle, Twin Flames finally reunite and change the world with their divine spiritual love. 

I cannot imagine there’s any other explanation than Isa originally being Subject X. It simply makes way too much sense, and all the pieces fit perfectly. Your head canon is interesting. I prefer that over canon where Isa and Lea are apprentices and had NO connection to the experiments on the darkness of the heart. That just makes no sense at all. They could have had another girl involved without taking away from Lea and Isa’s tragic backstory. Another reason I like Isa being Subject X is that he would need healing, and Lea would need to give him a “birth by sleep”. KH3 kinda forgot about that whole concept. But there’s a lot of evidence that it was supposed to be a HUGE aspect of Lea’s character arc. Would have been a lot more rewarding to see than what he did in canon.

Stuff like this is exactly why Lea and Isa are my favorite characters. I can tell the writers had a hard on for them, too. Nomura really loved Axel, after all. Axel has a weapon called Prometheus which incorporates the Sagittarius symbol, and so do the vast majority of Saïx’s weapons. Moreover, the arrow is mainly prominent in Saïx’s Berserk form, which is where I think his captured heart resides. Now, why is this symbol so important? Because Sagittarius is Chiron, the Wounded Healer! He gave up his immortality for Prometheus, and was rewarded with immortality in the stars!

More About Sagittarius

Yen Sid: “I must warn you again–the road will not be easy.”

Lea: “Fine. Let’s jump right in.”

Ruled by Jupiter, the planet of growth and opportunity, the sign of the Archer is an eternal student, looking for enlightenment through new ideas, people, and places. Sagittarius is on the hunt for the biggest, best experiences life has to offer. They have a positive and outgoing personality that makes them the life of any party. With a love of adventure and all things exotic, the worldly Archer just wants to soak it all in. Sagittarius is driven by a constant need to explore and expand its mind, heart, and awareness to the fullest extent. Fiery and free, Sagittarius knows that the only limits are the ones we create ourselves.

Chiron: The Wounded Healer

Naminé: “And if the hurt is too great for you to bear it alone–well, then you turn to a friend close to your heart.”

Wounded healer is a term created by psychologist Carl Jung. The idea states that an analyst is compelled to treat patients because the analyst himself is “wounded”. For Jung, “it is his own hurt that gives a measure of his power to heal. This, and nothing else, is the meaning of the Greek myth of the wounded physician.”

Chiron was in outstanding pain and anguish; there was no medication that would ease the infliction. The fact was, even the gifted physician Chiron couldn’t heal himself. The next problem was that Chiron was in torment but, immortal. Chiron was not able to obtain freedom from the pain with the onset of death. In such a scenario, Chiron volunteered himself as a replacement for Prometheus, who had been penalized by the gods for giving fire to humankind; His punishment was to be enchained to a giant stone. Day-after-day an aquila descended and polished off his liver, which grew once more as it got dark …only to be consumed by the eagle once again.

So in essence, Chiron forfeited his eternal life so man could have use of fire. Hercules had been appealing to Zeus (Jupiter) for help, and Hercules agreed to supply an appropriate replacement for Prometheus, thereby setting him free. Thus, Chiron replaced Prometheus, gave up eternity, and went to Tartarus (the Underworld) in Prometheus’ stead. Zeus witnessed everything that happened and he knew how deplorable his son Hercules felt. Zeus afforded the dear Centaur a resting place in the heavens, as the constellation Sagittarius the Archer, in recognition of his benevolence and perpetuity.

Chiron and Artemis

Axel: “Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?”

Saïx has a weapon called Artemis, after the moon goddess. Artemis has a relationship to Chiron. Centaurs were notorious for being wild, lusty, overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, violent when intoxicated, and generally uncultured delinquents. Chiron, by contrast, was intelligent, civilized and kind, because he was not related directly to the other centaurs due to his parentage. Soon after giving birth to Chiron, his mother abandoned him out of shame and disgust. Chiron, effectively orphaned, was later found by the god Apollo, who decided to take him in as his son.

Apollo taught to him the art of music, lyre, archery, medicine and prophecy. Apollo’s twin sister, Artemis taught him more about archery and hunting. Chiron’s uniquely peaceful character, kindness and intelligence is attributed to Apollo and Artemis. Artemis only loved one man, Orion. She killed him by accident after being tricked into thinking the he was a villain who had attacked one of her priestesses. Orion, whilst swimming to escape a giant scorpion, is killed by Artemis’ arrows after the goddess could only see his distant bobbing head and failed to recognize the hunter. Artemis tried to bring Orion back to life, but was unable. It was Artemis’ regret at the loss of her hunting companion which allowed him to become a constellation and gain immortality amongst the stars.

Sagittarius Mythology also figures in the tale of Orion. One Greek mythology tale tells of how Sagittarius the Archer was directed to shoot down Scorpio the Scorpion, which had been sent off to murder Orion. This story gives the reason why the Archer’s arrow is aimed toward the ‘heart of the scorpion’.

Friendship

Ven: “Already?”

Lea: “I’ll see ya when I see ya. After all, we’re friends now. Get it memorized.”

Ven: “Okay, Lea.”

Sagittarius make excellent friends because of their encouraging, positive nature and their kind heart that will do anything to make sure the friend is happy. They do not expect favors in return; their kindness is selfless. They do not interfere with other people’s plans and they are never possessive or jealous. They treat others the way they want to be treated and live life based on a ‘live and let live’ policy, making them very agreeable. They are excellent conversationalists with a good sense of humor. Sometimes their humor is the raw truth, but these people speak their mind and don’t hold anything back. What they say is what they mean. They do not like mind games; they like straightforwardness and expect it in return.

Axel: “C'mon, let’s get some ice cream.”

Roxas: “Why?”

Axel: “Whaddaya mean, why? Because we’re friends.”

Roxas: “So…friends are people who have ice cream together?”

Axel: “Sort of… That, or laugh at stupid stuff that doesn’t make any sense. Like those kids we just saw–they were friends. C'mon, I’ll show you how it works.”

Sagittarius are known for saying the ‘painful truth’. On the other hand, people know that they can trust what they say because they always say what is real. They never hide anything and are very likable people. The only people that might not get along with them are people that live by a daily agenda with a highly structured, organized life. They are likely to always be running late and miss a date, but this is only because they are so forward thinking that they forget about the present. Tolerance is required. They do not do these things on purpose; this is just who they are. If you understand this and accept this, having a Sagittarius in your life will make the sun shine a lot brighter.

Axel: “Best friends are willing to deal with complications.”

Wise and understanding Sagittarius is connected to the Temperance Tarot card. The gentle process of tempering is about finding a perfect middle state, and combining the best of all things to forge something that is stronger than the sum of its parts. By bringing the power of the philosophical world into their physical world, Sagittarius makes itself a source of ultimate truth and awareness.

Both Sagittarius and the Temperance card are constantly striving for a more enlightened state of being. The angel in the Tarot card here demonstrates this by slowly pouring the liquid from one golden cup into another – a process called “tempering” (a slow process of integration that leads to the perfect middle state). Similarly, Sagittarius accomplishes this by exploring the far reaches of both the physical and philosophical world to expand on or “temper” what is already known. The symbols of Temperance mean the following:

Angel: Interacting with the material world while maintaining a sense of spirituality and higher purpose.

Triangle: Interplay of masculine and feminine or spirituality and materiality.

Cups: The fountain of energy between your opposite tendencies, which is flowing and spontaneous yet also balanced and coherent.

Path: Taking your time through life’s twists and turns; being content in the moment or throughout unexpected obstacles.

Water: Groundedness and refreshment through spiritual thinking.

Mountains: The distant journeys awaiting you that will bring you to spiritual fulfillment.

Sun: The sun, also appearing as the angel’s third eye, represents the merging of personal aims with the universe’s plans for you.

Fire Wings: Muscles and strength necessary to maintain composure and reach a higher being state.

The Angel

Axel: “As long as we remember each other, we’ll never be apart. Got it memorized?”

The Angel’s beautiful, red wings represent blood or life, while the triangle on her dress means spirit – also the elemental symbol for fire. And, similar to adventurous Sagittarius, the angel’s feet are also symbolic of the eternal pilgrimage or spiritual journey. By showing one foot in the water and the other on the shore we are reminded that our greatest wisdom lies in the art of balancing. And lastly, the iris flowers are indicative of the Goddess Iris who provides the link between God and humanity. Like Sagittarius, she travels from one end of the world to another – building upon something that is bigger and brighter than herself.

In a general context, the Temperance Tarot card represents coolness in the face of shifting emotional tides. Temperance is the ability to control one’s temper or temperament. In Thailand there is a concept called “cool heart.” In this phrase, cool does not mean cruel and unemotional. Rather, to act with a “cool heart” means that one is not easily stirred or provoked to go off the handle; one does not quickly come to a raging boil but maintains a steady temperature despite shifting external circumstances. Similarly, Temperance stands with one foot in a cool stream and pours water from one cup into another. Temperance knows how to direct the water in a way that maintains homeostasis.

The 7 of Swords

Lea: “And if the darkness gets ya, I promise I’ll bail you out. “Dark Rescue” is my middle name.”

Axel’s weapon “Prometheus” is Lift Gear. This is the same gear that the Temperance Arcana in Luxord’s deck is listed under. Coincidence? I think not. Luxord’s card has the shape of the Minor Arcana, The 7 of Swords. In general, this card is said to be about betrayal and deception. It is sometimes called the ‘Thief’ card. In a general context, it represents deception, lies, trickery, cheating and lack of conscience. This card also signifies mental manipulation, tactics, scheming, cunning, enemies who masquerade as friends and spies in your camp. It represents escaping detection and getting away with something.

On a more positive note, the 7 of Swords points out that you need to be strategic in what you do. It can also represent flexibility, adaptability, sharp wit, and resourcefulness. You know you cannot do everything at once – nor should you. Instead, you must prioritize what’s important to you and direct your focus and attention on the few tasks that will move you closer to your goals. When this card is seen in a reading, the deception is usually short lived. Nobody is able to carry away 7 swords and get away with it. So although the party may feel smug about it at the time, it’s about to blow up in their face.

Sagittarius’ Ruling Planet: Jupiter

Lea: “I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people’s memories, I can live forever.”

Isa: “I know I won’t forget you. Believe me, I try all the time.”

Lea: “See, I’m immortal!”

Larger-than-life Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion. In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods, the biggest and the best. In Astrology Jupiter is known as the “benefic” planet, meaning it is the luckiest, most opportunistic planet of all. This positive energy influences Sagittarius’ optimistic, enlightening, and outgoing nature that shines and spreads through anyone they come into contact with. As the largest planet in our cosmos, Jupiter’s vastness encourages Sagittarius to stretch its mind and heart as far as it can.

Sagittarius’ Symbol: The Archer

Xigbar: “You’re not supposed to be here!”

Lea: “Promises to keep. I’ll always be there to get my friends back. What, bad timing? You had your perfect little script, but you kinda forgot to write the sequel. Now, let’s find out what happens!”

The zodiac sign Sagittarius is associated with the Archer, and its glyph represents an arrow. Always eager to explore new horizons, the Archer sets its sights on a faraway target, then shoots toward it with precision. This focus on learning more, doing more, and seeing more is what Sagittarius is all about.

Ruled by expansive Jupiter, Sagittarius is big-hearted, open, and always looking beyond a checklist. A Sagittarius rarely has a “type.” They are always intrigued by the individual, and don’t make any assumptions about people until they’ve truly met and spoken with them. Sagittarius loves witty back and forth banter. A Sagittarius in love is a sight to behold. Aggressively fun, this sign usually moves full speed ahead once they have their love target ‘locked���.

Selene

Ventus: “I remember dreaming a lot. Of you and Terra. Of Sora and his friends too, I think. And there were some more people I didn’t recognize. Oh, and I saw these weird animal creatures! It’s like…I’ve been part of some big adventure.”

Saïx has a weapon named Selene, after the chaste Greek Moon goddess. It’s shaped like a torch. Selene’s torch has an interesting role in art and history. Selene was taken with Endymion, a beautiful youth who tended his flocks on Mount Latmos. She accompanied Cupid and used the light of the torch to gaze upon the mortal she fell in love with while he slept.  

Girodet’s “The Sleep of Endymion” shows the moment that Cupid parts the trees so the Moon may shine her light down upon her sleeping lover’s face. Only at night when he is asleep does she quietly creep down to him, accompanied by Cupid, whose torch symbolizes burning love.

In a Roman floor mosaic from the third century CE, the scene focuses on the moment when Selene falls in love with the young mortal shepherd. Cupid, in the upper right corner, points down at Endymion as if guiding Selene’s gaze towards him. Selene steps out of her bull-drawn biga that she uses to pull the moon across the sky each night, and raises a lit torch that illuminates Endymion’s face in the darkness. She peers down at him longingly. Endymion is fast asleep and unaware of her presence. She was so in love that she asked Zeus to give Endymion immortal life.

Sagittarius’ Ruling House: 9th House of Expansion

Roxas: “I found out about love on today’s mission–that it’s something powerful.”

Axel: “That’s true. It is. But I’ll never get to experience it.”

As the 9th sign in the zodiac, Sagittarius rules over the 9th House of Expansion. This house reveals how open our minds are, and how much we expand ourselves through education, exploration, and life lessons. From philosophical conversations to book research to world travel, the 9th house encourages you to go further than you’ve ever gone before. Sagittarius’ drive for adventure, growth, and awareness is strongly represented here.

When Venus is in Sagittarius

Axel: “Love is what happens if there’s something really special between two people.”

Saïx’s weapon Horoscope incorporates the Venus and Sagittarius symbols while in its Berserk form. So, the astrological correspondence is Venus in Sagittarius. Venus is the planet of love, self-worth, and all things beautiful. Her style is sweet, cooperative, and peaceful. But when this graceful planet’s energy mixes with the free-spirited sign of Sagittarius, her joyful side comes out to play. Hearts come out of hiding while Venus moves through Sagittarius. The happy and free energy of Sagittarius turns Venus up a few notches, encouraging us to live life to the fullest. This is a time to socialize, to try new things, and to look for love in different places.

Sagittarius is the sign of the adventurer, so when Venus is traveling through this sign, we find ourselves drawn to exotic people, places, and experiences. Old routines and worn-out relationships are at risk of being traded in for something bigger, brighter, and better while Venus is in Sagittarius. We want to expand beyond our usual boundaries, and may give up some of our comfortable patterns of the past to try out new experiences. Love needs to grow during this transit – it will not stand still.

Sagittarius’ Element: Fire

No. VIII AXEL—An assassin who puts his own agenda first, and everything else on the back burner. Wields fire.

The zodiac sign Sagittarius is a Fire sign that lights up our lives with profound questions and exciting ideas. Just like an uncontrollable wildfire, this sign will happily go where the wind takes them to seek new experiences. Sagittarius uses its Fire energy on its lifelong journey of exploration, always ready to jump at the next adventure. The element of Fire continues to fuel Sagittarius’ never ending supply of optimism and inspiration.

The Goddess Hestia: The Keeper of the Flame

Axel: “Well, I think you can be inseparable, even if you’re apart. It’s like, if you feel really close to each other. Like best friends.”

Saïx’s weapons Moonrise and Moonset are shaped like ⚶ the astrological symbol for the asteroid Vesta, also known as Hestia in Greek mythology. Her name means “the essence”, the true nature of things. Hestia was the Greek Goddess of the sacred fire. She was the most influential and widely revered of the goddesses. She was was one of the three ‘virgin’ goddesses, next to Athena and Artemis. Hestia was depicted as a beautiful and bashful woman, usually seated. The living flame of Hestia was tended constantly and never allowed to die out, for it represented the energy of all life.

Hestia was a kind goddess and had a discrete character. She never left her residence, the sacred mountain of Olympus. She never involved herself in the fights and machinations of the other gods and goddesses, somehow managing to stay above the fray. Non-judgmental and forgiving, her unconditional love and calm acceptance inspired the love and trust of others in return. Dependable and caring, she was always there for them and helped them to manage their lives, which were certainly more exciting than her own. These virtues define the goddess Hestia: mild, gentle, forgiving, peaceful, serene, dignified, calm, secure, stable, welcoming, and, above all else, well-centered.

Sagittarius’ Color: Purple

Axel: “You know, I’ve been thinking about something Naminé said. Roxas…are you really sure that you don’t have a heart? Is it possible that we all have one? You, me, her… Or is that just wishful thinking?”

Rich and luscious purple is the color of Sagittarius. Purple is a color of abundance, which encourages Sagittarius’ natural luck and its drive to expand its mind and world. The color purple is also associated with spirituality and enlightenment, empowering Sagittarius’ philosophical explorations and lifelong quest for knowledge.

The Sun

Axel: “Hey, Roxas. Bet you don’t know why the sun sets red. You see, light is made up of lots of colors. And out of all those colors, red is the one that travels the farthest.”

Roxas: “Like I asked! Know-it-all.”

Saïx’s weapons Orbit and Lunar Phase incorporate the Sagittarius symbol with the combined stars of Ishtar and Shamash. There’s also a Recusant’s sigil visible over the Sun symbol. The Sun, the giver of life, represents our conscious mind in astrology. It represents our will to live and our creative life force. Just as the planets revolve around the Sun in our solar system, we derive our life purpose from the Sun in our natal charts. The Sun is our ego. It is the part of us that reasons things out, and makes final decisions. The Sun is our basic identity, and represents self-realization. The Sun also represents our overall vitality. The happiest people on this earth are those who identify with the Sun’s expression.

Sagittarius’ Quality: Mutable

Axel: “Let’s meet again in the next life.”

Roxas: “Yeah. I’ll be waiting.”

As the last sign of autumn, Sagittarius helps us celebrate one last hoorah as fall comes to a close and the season of hibernation begins. Sagittarius, with a love for variety and change, uses its Mutable energy to shake the fiery radiance off the leaves and allow them to fall. As winter approaches, this Fire sign keeps us going by fueling our desire for adventure and fun, and helps us remain optimistic that light and warmth will return again.

[kwrittink]

Punica Granatum - 1

Pairing: Hades!TaeHyung x Persephone!Reader

Genre: Fluff

Warnings: Language, mentions of psychologic abuse,  

Words: 4,877

two>

"Don't forget to water the daisies, dear." The voice of your mother snapped you from whatever unimportant daydream you were having, hand straightening the watering pot before you drowned the poor lilies, turning to her and smiling a little sad, as you watched her get ready to go out. It's been a while I walked outside...

 Your mother wasn't a cruel one, rather very loving and caring, but also very overprotective. Borderline obsessive with my well-being, to be honest.

 Sigh.

 As she walked away, you resumed watering the little garden that you had made in your room, by the big glass window that faced the forest surrounding your home, a ray of sunshine always present at that side and perfect for growing all of your plants.

 You’ve been fairly content living your whole life under your mother’s wings, in the little world she constructed to have you always under her sight and comfortable enough to not move, feeding you with knowledge and incredible worlds of fantasy, so much that whenever the real one you lived in was mentioned, it looked bland and boring in your opinion. You decided to strive for happiness in books instead.

 But after a while, it wasn’t enough. Even if the mansion where you lived with your mother was filled with books of endless subjects, you felt that your hunger for knowledge wouldn’t be sated with just that. You read about some parts of the world that matched descriptions of some tales of your childhood, watched documentaries over phenomena that left you startled, scared and amazed, and wanted to touch that, to live all of that. To get out and smell the different airs, taste the waters, and see the different colors of the earth; suddenly aware the world could be the stage to your own tale.

Suggesting that to your mother, on the other hand, was like talking to a wall. Being so used to you in the mansion, she couldn’t bear one single night without you, and you knew it pained her to leave you when she was needed at her work, but it was mostly because she was scared.

There was something, someone she would always mention when discussing the reasons why you couldn’t even walk alone to the supermarket or the park that made you extremely curious. For some time you wondered if it was your father, that had abandoned the two of you when you were just a baby, but lost the conviction when your mother once mentioned he was dead. Still, sometimes that presence slipped on her speech, and it left you itching with curiosity.

 Yet, you dropped the subject quickly nowadays, settling for just occupying your mind with your little garden and some writing, occasionally reading something. One day you would gather courage and just leave, do whatever you wanted.

 Something within you told the moment was arriving quickly.

 “Having searched the entire living land, Demeter finally contacted Zeus. He informed her of Persephone’s marriage to Hades in the Underworld. Demeter grew into a motherly rage. She demanded Zeus to return Persephone to her care.

 But Zeus refused.

 Demeter left Olympus and watched as the earth began to decay without her nurture. She sought to punish Zeus for betraying her and their daughter. The now yellow meadows blackened and decomposed to dust. The trees began to shrink into the hard dirt. The rivers shriveled up, and the lakes froze over.

Zeus had no other choice but to agree to Demeter’s demands.

 He told Hermes, the messenger, to bring Persephone back up to Demeter’s care.

 In the Underworld, Persephone had grown to love Hades, who treated her with compassion and loved her as his Queen. As she would have up in Olympus, she remained eternally beautiful in the Underworld. Hades admired her kind and nurturing nature. However, Persephone missed her dear mother greatly and wished to spend time on earth with her.

When Hermes reached the Underworld, he requested that Persephone come back to earth with him to rejoin her mother and father. Hades knew he could not refuse the commands of Zeus, but he also could not part from his beloved Persephone.

 Before she departed from the Underworld, Hades offered Persephone a pomegranate as a farewell. This was, however, a cunning move by Hades. All the Olympians knew that if anyone ate or drank anything in the Underworld they would be destined to remain there for eternity, as the Fates had cautioned. Even Demeter had warned Persephone of this fate and instructed her never to eat or drink anything.

 Thinking of her mother, Persephone decided to, instead, eat the small seeds of the pomegranate – assuming that these would not count as consumption.

 Little did Persephone know-”

 A loud bang interrupted your reading - studying, since you had a morbid interest for the old gods and their stories, even if your mother would flip her shit if she knew - and looked towards the source of noise a little startled, but immediately spotted the small animal tossing desperately on the floor, right outside the glass windows. You recognized it right away, having encountered them many times over the years since for some reason the poor things seemed to be drawn by you - or the flowers you harvested, at least.

 “C’mon little bat, I’ll help you inside.” As opening the window, you reached down to pick up what at first glance looked like a mix of a small dog and a bird, a cute little mammal that practically clung to your arm as you gently grabbed it. “There you go. You’re one of those that eat fruits, aren’t you? Did you came for my- Oh dear, you’re hurt!” You cooed, noticing suddenly how one of its wings was bent in a weird angle, indicated it was broken. You needed to help it, or else it would die.

Tending for it as better as you could, you wrapped it on warm towels and fed it mangoes, since it suffered quite a great deal for having its wing put into place, gladly just dislocated, and not broken. You pet it softly as the little bat sniffed the air around him, not sure to be safe but calm enough in your presence.

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you go in a bit. I just want you to eat a little more and then you’re free to fly for the rest of the night, I guess.” You spoke to it softly, having the small ears twisting to the source of the sound. Chuckling, you gave another piece of mango to the bat, watching as it ate quickly. How long was he flailing around with a wing like that? Maybe it wasn’t even able to feed correctly… Your heart squeezed at that, always so soft for the creatures of the world, knowing but not into terms with the fact that one day, it would fall to the life’s cycle and die, like all things. It was the reason why you didn’t want to own any pets so you wouldn’t feel so sad by witnessing their end.

 Death is necessary but doesn’t mean it’s pretty.

Huffing, you threw yourself on the bed, hands going to cover your angered expression and trying to calm down. Once again you had discussed with your mother about going outside alone and whatnot, countering every argument she came with - till she got emotional. That was what pissed you off, having her make a whole deal of tears and later anger as a way to back you off from whatever decision you tried to set your foot down.

 I should just leave the house, at least for once and show her that I’m not a child under her control anymore, you thought suddenly, torso raising from the bed and eyes immediately meeting your mirror, the reflected image of you blocking the view to your open glass windows, where the moonlight peeked inside, casting its silver glow on the maroon carpet of your room.

 Getting up, you padded towards the window, anger still boiling in your blood as you glanced around, trying to decide which direction you should go. The mansion you called home was deeply set in the middle of a reserve, surrounded by it and practically detached from the city, wasn’t for the wide road that leads to the nearest avenue and in a twenty-minute trip by car got to town, where all the other normal and free human beings were. There wasn’t a way you could walk through the front of the mansion without being noticed, and you didn’t want to bother explaining - or lying - to someone why you were outside. Still, the city is not where I want to go. Turning your head to the left, your eyes met the forest, the little fence that surrounded it, and the old gate that connected your house to a pathway from when the reserve was open to the public, a small park just the outside of it.

The place called for you often, and many times you caught yourself sighing while wondering what beauties that ‘abandoned’ place - not that a forest couldn’t take care of itself, more so if humans left it in peace - had, wilderness making your fingers tingle.

Before you could back out, you pushed aside plant pots and jumped out your window, glad the whole house was on a single floor and took off running through the grass, not even sparing a glance back before you got to the gate.

Stopping there, you observed the rusty metal, fingers touching cold chains, and prodding at the padlock, trying to figure out a way to go through. I guess I’ll have to jump over. You sighed, eyes moving to the edge of the fence, wondering if the metal bars were strong enough to hold your weight. It looked firm, even after you gave a first experimental tug and breathed out, adrenaline coursing through your veins as you placed your slipper clad right foot at the horizontal bar and steadied yourself, glancing to the sides timidly.

 Artemis help me.

 An hour later, walking through the empty path that leads to - where? Perhaps you’d find out - nowhere, you cursed at your choice of clothing since you were in such a rush to get out of the mansion you didn’t even bother to put something warmer on, walking around in the flimsy white dress you had sported all day long.

 Crossing your arms over your middle, you tried to maintain your body warmth, relentlessly walking through the stone path. You could always go back and fetch a coat, but you knew deep within you that once you stepped inside again, you would chicken out and stay in the security of your room.

You kept on walking, glancing around the trees and trying to distinguish each detail from the forest, a feeling of coziness taking over you even with the chills. You weren’t afraid of the woods by the least, feeling yourself part of it intricately and inexplicably, relishing on the little sounds it provided as a lullaby.

You didn’t know how long you were walking when you spotted the first bench at the reserve and was glad to have a rest finally, even if it was so refreshing to be out in the open, but you’ve been so stuck inside your home that the long path was taking a toll on your feet. These shoes weren’t made for walking at all. You breathed out, stepping quickly towards sweet relief - low-key wishing you had brought at least water, but who would have known you’d walk so much - but halted your movements as soon as the image of the seat became clearer, noticing that in fact the spot you craved for was taken.

Shuddering, you locked eyes with the man sitting so casually on that abandoned park, neat clothes - suit colored a burgundy so deep it could be mistaken by black at that lightning, like the blood that was running fast in your veins - contrasting so harshly to the colorless and somber surroundings, but fitting so well the pitch black of his eyes, framed by grey locks.

He was beautiful, so much it was the cause of the fast pounding of your heart, rather than any fear you could harbor for the unknown being.

It felt like an eternity, to stare at him and be stared back and you barely noticed your feet moving forward as if having a will of their own, stopping only until you were standing right in front of him, body quivering slightly.

 "Hello, there."

His voice startled you, more so the small smile his lips formed upon looking up at your face. Your mouth gaped, trying to muster words while the deep tone of his voice still echoed through your body. Not once in your life you felt so disabled, rendered to a trembling mess, arms tightening around your own figure to try and protect you from the chill of the night.

"You look like you're really cold. Here, have this." The man got up, and you couldn't move, feet rooted to the ground. You had a feeling he was tall, long legs clad in pants the same color of his coat suit - which he removed at that moment, revealing black silk dress shirt underneath - making him stand tall above you, towering over your figure as he approached and covered your shoulders with his suit, the large size of the clothing hugging you warmly, immediately shielding you from the breeze.

"Th-Thank you but... Won't you be cold?" You finally managed to look away from his face, only to glance down to his lips as a grin graced his face.

"Oh, so she has a voice. Thought you were just one of the other ghosts that roam around here." Quipped, teeth peeking out as he smiled harder at your curious head tilt. "I'll be okay, this temperature is nothing compared to my heart right now." Answering the previous question he only made you roll your eyes at the attempt of a cool remark, and if you weren't feeling so protected by his suit you would have given it back and walked away.

"Coldness of heart sometimes just means lack of warmth, not absence of feelings." You recited, knowing it was from a book you had once read but had no idea of the title of it at the moment. Blank expression stared back, and for a second you wondered if you offended him in any way. Some people don’t like to be contradicted when they want to look strong.

“Well, that is precisely my point, if anyone ever bothered to understand.” A breathtaking smile took place of his features, and to say you were startled was an understatement. “Come to sit, let’s talk for a little… You’re really interesting.”

 For an instant you were taken aback by the proposition, finally thinking about how dangerous the situation you were putting yourself was. You had already made too many mistakes if you were to count on your mother’s book, and by then you really didn’t have a way out of there.

 But if he wanted to do something bad to me, he would have already, wouldn’t he? The thought struck you suddenly, and your eyes wandered to the spot the stranger was patting by his side after sitting down himself.

 Mentally waving your worries away you stepped forward, sitting maybe a little closer to his body than you intended to. His eyes never left you, not even for a single moment - as if you were going to disappear, just like the ghosts he mentioned before. It didn’t bother you, even if you knew it should. You were alone in an abandoned park, completely unreachable with a man you had no idea who he was, being stared at like you were some volume he wanted to read it whole and at once.

 “What did you mean by interesting?” You asked, fidgeting when his stare turned a little too much and you could feel your cheeks heating up wondering why would he look so much at you.

 “You don’t give anything out, as much as I look at you. Also, you don’t seem to be the least frightened by me, though I don’t know if that is hot or just plain stupid.” Explained, out of the bat blunt. You nodded slowly at his answer, surprised and a little offended, but knowing he was right. It is stupid.

 “Why should I be afraid of you?” Silence followed your question, as you saw his lips part to give you an immediate answer as before, but it never came. Instead, you could only hear the critters and the never-stopping rustling of leaves, resulting in the constant breeze on that path. Daring to stare back at his eyes, you found yourself wanting to smile at the sight of his conflicted eyes, searching for words like you had made him the most difficult question of his existence.

 “Because… Because everyone else seems to be terrified of me.” His mutter was not far from a whisper, and if your surroundings weren’t completely silent, you wouldn’t have heard it. “At least normal people seem to be.” The corner of his mouth curled up as his eyes diverted from yours for the first time ever like he was timid for a moment. It made you stifle a laugh against the sleeve of his coat, drawing his attention back to you all over again.

 “Well, I am very sure I can’t be considered normal. It’s dark and I’m alone with a man I’ve just met, no one around me-”

 “I’m TaeHyung,” He blurted, like knowing his name would just solve everything else. “Kim TaeHyun.” You only noticed the hand he extended a second later, reaching for it softly. For the second time that night, a shudder ran all over your body as soon as your skin connected to his.

 His hand was cold, but not enough to cause the reaction. Long fingers and big palm practically swallowed your own but he never squeezed it hard, tan skin soft to the touch.

 “Y/N.” You didn’t even think about giving him a different name, just in case. He looked so sincere and you deemed okay to trust him then. Upon hearing your name he smiled again lightly, shaking your hand slightly.

 “Y/N.” Parroted, letting your hand go hesitantly and retreating his own to his lap. “So, what exactly are you doing here alone in this old park?”

 The question wasn’t hard, but at the same time, your reasons looked too personal and too simple for a person like him to understand.

 “Nothing much. Getting in touch with nature, clearing my mind.” You tried, averting your eyes from his face. TaeHyung hummed a deep sound that was almost comforting and rumbled inside your chest.

 “I could say the same thing, but we both know that wouldn’t be honest.” He caught on my lie, you noticed, heat creeping up your neck as your eyes snapped back to him, noticing his smirk. You swallowed hard.

 “I was looking for something.”

 “Me too.”

 Grimacing, you shook your head at his response, thinking he was making fun of you. “Really? And what you were looking for?” Squinting at him, you prompted the man to snicker.

 “I don’t know.” He shrugged looking up, perhaps at the moon that hid this whole time behind some clouds, providing little lighting to the land. Weren’t the old lamps dotted along the paths that still worked - even if faintly - by some unknown force, you would be completely in the dark with him. “I just felt a pull towards here, to be honest. I arrived just a little before you did.” He explained, glancing back down with some sort of joyful glint in his eyes. “What about you?”

 You had been too absorbed taking in his features - soft latte skin, the sharpness of his jaw, the soft bow of his upper lip, and plumpness of the lower. The smooth lines of his nose, the little mole on the tip- “Hm?” Shaking your head, you looked away from his face, trying to put your head in place. You haven’t met many people in your life - well, because of your mother you had, but never spoke to them in this level of closeness - but no one had made you so… Disconcerted like he was making you. It was a hard feature to fluster you, being educated to be above wooing and flirting.

 But TaeHyung - the man was only looking at you, and for some reason, he didn’t need words to convey what he was feeling or trying to say. At that moment, he was confirming his awareness at your admiring and acknowledged it pleased.

 “I… Honestly that will sound silly, but I was looking for…” You started, licking at your lips embarrassed, picking at the sleeves of your borrowed coat. Well, after this I won’t ever see him again, you realized, gathering the courage to just say the word. “Freedom.”

 “Ah, I see...” He trailed off, waiting till you looked up at his face. “A golden cage it’s still just a cage, huh?”

 Your heart probably had stopped beating at that point, while you stared back at the deep void of his eyes, that proposed a trip without return once one sank in. The quote echoed in your soul loud and clear, throat closing up and tears prickling at the corner of your eyes. Read like a book. The change of TaeHyung’s expression was immediate upon seeing your teary eyes, panic widening his own for the first time. “I’m sorry to have upset you, it wasn’t my intention at all- My gods why am I such a jerk, I should just keep my mouth shut, Zeus smite me-”

His words prompted you to snort at the next second, and that perhaps startled him a bit, as the little jolt back showed. Blinking away the tears you chuckled harder at his expression, the confused crease between his full brows endearing to you.

 “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to react like that and scare you, I’m really sorry.” You were the one to start apologizing then, placing your hands on your face a little embarrassed by not being able to stop laughing. “You just… You asked Zeus to smite you, and I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say that sort of thing in my life.” Besides me, you wanted to say. If there were deities you believed on, it was the Greek gods, thought the stories written sometimes were a little too exaggerated, even if constant. Understandable, since they were written by humans.

 “Oh, that? A silly habit of mine… My friends tell me I’m really weird sometimes.” You glanced back at him on time to see him averting his own gaze, hand scratching his neck awkwardly. It was refreshing seeing him lose a little of the facade he had on, the cool and sort of mysterious man he wanted to pass on, though the hint of danger was still there, but for some reason not in a bad way? If that made sense.

 “So you’re interested in them?” You started, bringing TaeHyung’s attention back to you, as he snapped away from his thoughts. “The Greek gods, I mean. Do you believe in them too?” You added, pushing a strand of hair behind your ear.

 In the small space of time, you had spent with that man you had seen him smile, but the one wide grin that spread on his face was groundbreakingly gorgeous. He scoffed, head dropping and eyes meeting his lap, giving your widen eyes a rest as well as your heart, that had started once again a fast pace.

 “If I believe them? They’re alive dear, don’t you know?”

You came back right before the sunrise, a feeling of a renewed soul that warmed your very bones. Slipping back inside your room, you smiled while taking off the suit coat, which you only then realized was with you.

 It had been such a long while to have a refreshing conversation with someone, you felt your soul was cleansed after the time you spent with TaeHyung. Of course, he said some weird stuff sometimes, but overall it was endearing. You sighed, pulling the wardrobe door open and putting the clothing in, wanting to keep it as a small token of the night you had spent.

Yet, you couldn’t let yourself smile at the content feeling on your heart since your door was being violently pushed open, and your very livid mother walked in, stopping midway to eye your slightly dusty and startled figure, as your back pressed against the closet doors.

 "Where were you, Y/N? I was so worried!" Her expression was pained and you felt the urge to look away from her face, suddenly struck with guilt.

 "At the abandoned park not far from here. Thought you had seen my note, mother." You lied, stepping away from the furniture and sitting on the bed, trying to keep calm. You didn’t want to start another fight with her and ruin the perfect mood you were in.

 She scoffed, walking towards your slightly trembling frame - for some reason it felt really cold inside your room - and frowned. "Still, you went alone! And it's so dark outside, what if something happened to you?"

"But nothing did, mom! I was feeling so stuck, I just needed to walk for a bit. Didn't think you'd mind so much." You tried to explain, a deep crease digging between your eyebrows as well. Your mother's expression softened a little.

"I did, and I do, my child." She shook her head, sighing exasperatedly. "If you wanted to leave for a while, you could just have told me and I would have accompanied you, take you somewhere nice and-"

She doesn't understand, does she? "I just wanted to be alone for a while." Shutting your eyes tight, you could only feel the bed dip by your side as she sat, hands resting over yours.

"You have to understand it's dangerous. You're very precious to me, daughter." You still didn't want to look at her, a lump in your throat, the need to try and make her see how much you needed the air outside, the wild, just like a plant needs fresh air and space to grow. "What if something happened to you? If he found- If someone kidnapped you I'd die."

 He? Who is he? You frowned, finally looking at her and opening your mouth to inquire about that 'he' your mother always mentioned, one way or another. She's always talking about an unknown person, someone that is supposedly always threatening us - me, in fact - but she never names it.

 But before you could utter a word, she stood and twirled on her feet, walking out of your room, any sign of desperation on her face erased completely. "Look, I'm doing this for your own good, this world is too dangerous for you to be wandering around so innocently." The crease between your brows deepened, head tilting in questioning till you saw a golden object glimmering in her hand, and with panic shooting through your veins, you recognized it to be the key to your room, always in the back of your door.

 "Mom? What are you doing? Mom?" You shot up and ran towards the door, eyes wide snapping from the key to her face, worried expression masking the unfaltering decision she had made. "You can't be serious right now!" Lower lip quivering, you tried to appeal to her heart, only having her eyes diverting from yours as a response.

 "Y/N, you have to understand. I can't let you roam around knowing he's still around. There are dangers you do not understand, child." The answer made anger boil in your gut, the mention of he making your jaw clench.

 "Mother, I am no child, you're well aware of this. You can't lock me forever here! And who the hell is he?"

Icy eyes met yours as she moved away, holding the doorknob in one hand. "One day you will know why I'm doing this... I'll tell you when it's right."

"You can't expect me to just be locked away with no apparent reason!"

"You'll have to trust me-"

"NO! It's my life you're stopping me from living and-"

 Without letting you finish she closed the door with a bang, quickly locking it before you could even react. You gasped surprised, palms meeting the white hardwood of your door, banging on it while tears ran down your face unrestrained. It wasn't like you didn't have a way out, you could always jump through the window like you had just done, it was the control your mother had in your will. The locked door was almost a symbol of her power, though you knew that she probably already moved the staff to watch every place you could run from.

You were just doomed, even if surrounded by the things you loved the most. A golden cage it's still just a cage, after all.

___________________________

masterlist

[the-ronan-cycle]

Diverse Book Recs

I recently typed up a list of books for a friend who said she’d stopped reading because she couldn’t find diverse/queer books. This list is predominately focused on queer diversity but there’s also lot’s of super awesome ladies and poc here too. The list is also in two parts, the first are all books that I’ve read myself and include me trying to give a summary, content warnings (If I can remember, I can’t guarantee they’re all exhaustive.) and a rating. The second part has books on my to read list that, to my knowledge, have queer characters. All of the titles are linked to their goodreads page.

I Was Born For This - Alice Oseman

A Hijabi ace fangirl goes to London on a week long trip to meet her internet friend and go to the concert of her favourite band. Jimmy, the trans, gay, mixed race, mentally ill singer for said band is figuring out how growing up famous has changed himself and his friends. They cross paths and stuff happens. A really interesting look into fan culture, both the good and the bad. Really fun characters and relationships. Written by the same person who does the Heartbreaker webcomic. CW: alcoholic behavior, brief mention of unintentional trans outing 4.5/5

The Raven Cycle - Maggie Stiefvater

Welsh mythology meets small town Virginia. Gorgeous, poetic writing by Stiefvater tells the surreal story of a group of teenagers on the search for a lost welsh king and wish foretold if one wakes him. Along the way they discover the power of ley lines, dreams, and ~friendship~. One of the main characters (my favourite character) is canon queer (he’s into a girl and guy but like, the word bi isn’t explicitly said) and one of the other main characters is canon gay. It’s a difficult story to describe but it’s such a fascinating read. CW: child abuse, alcohol and drug abuse, there’s a scene in the second book that I think the author confirmed was sexual assault 5/5

Shades of Magic Series - V.E. Schwab

Avatar the last airbender meets pirates and royalty and multiverses. In this world there are 4 earths that intersect at London. Kell is one of the only two people who can travel between Londons. Grey London is our world, Red London is Kell’s, full of magic. White London is a wasteland barren of magic and ruled by bloodthirsty twins. Black London is dead. The main cast of Kell, Lila Bard, a pirate thief who gets caught up in the adventure, Rhy, the (gay? Bi? I forget lol) prince of Red London, and Alucard, (also gay? Or bi?) actual pirate have to save the multiverse! Lots of great subplots, written by a queer woman and impossible to put down. If you saw me with my kindle in class after winter last year, it was because I literally couldn’t stop reading. CW: frankly it’s been too long since I read it im sorry 5/5

Leah on the Offbeat/Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli

Simon Vs is the book Love Simon is based on. Simon (gay) has a mystery pen pal, Blue. All he knows is that Blue also goes to Creekwood High and is gay. But Simon leaves the emails open on a school computer because he’s a dumbass and then also an ass but the bad kind, Martin finds them and blackmails Simon. It’s similar to the movie but I prefer the book! There are some scenes and plot points that didn’t make it in. Also his friends don’t suck as much when he’s outed. Leah on the OffBeat is the sequel about Simon’s friend, Leah. She’s bi! Simon thought all his friends were straight but jkjkjk gays flock together. Cute wlw high school story. CW: character is outed against their will, underage drinking  SVTHA 5/5 LOTO 4/5

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee

Main character is a total slut and we support him. Bi and ready to party. But wait it’s the 1800s and that’s not super chill. In a final hurrah before he has to become master of his family estate, Henry Montague takes his best friend (gay and also ready to party) and, reluctantly, his little sister  (ace and ready to be a doctor) on a tour of the continent. Along the way they discover a plot and their trip turns upside down. There’s pirates! Period accurate medicine! Characters unlearning their prejudices! CW: Child abuse, period typical homophobia, sexism and racism 4/5

Captive Prince Trilogy - C.S. Pacat

hEAR ME OUT. This is probably my favourite series I’ve ever read. You’ve heard of enemies to lovers? Get ready for enemies to friends to lovers to enemies to allies to lovers! Crown Prince Damianos of Akielos is caught up in a coup lead by his half brother and sent to the enemy nation of Vere to be a pleasure slave for their crown prince, Laurent. Now here you think it’s gonna be some kinky sex romp but it actually becomes the best political intrigue with a thoughtful, loving, very vanilla romance. “If you gave me your heart, I would treat it tenderly”. Dw they only have sex after the whole slave thing is over. Also, they abolish slavery so there’s that. If you don’t like the first book,  I get it but just try the second book, the tone changes with the change of setting. The author does some really interesting stuff with her setting. Typically writers will just make society reflect our by default but Pacat threw that out, homophobia? Never heard of her. In Vere it’s actually taboo for men and women to have sex before marriage because of the threat of bastards. So everyone just is gay instead. You want a matriarchal warrior women country? Pacat has got your back. The series does lack in well written women. There are a few women but not enough, Pacat has talked about this and is basically like, u right, I’ll do better in my next series. Written by a queer WOC (kinda? Woc is the wrong word but just read these tweets where she describe it better than i ever could)  and I love it, the end. CW: child abuse, child sexual abuse, incest, rape, sex slavery, prostitution, graphic violence, non consensual drug consumption, child death, suicide, torture, animal death (also it should be obvious but none of these things are glorified, the abuser is the worst and he sucks and everyone hates him) 6/5

Carry On - Rainbow Rowell

Based on the Harry Potter parody series from Rowell’s book Fangirl. Simon Snow (doesn’t ever figure out his sexuality but had a girlfriend and boyfriend) is the chosen one, orphaned and brought to a magical boarding school, must save magical britain from evil. His best friend, book smart Penelope and his (possibly evil and a vampire? Also gay) roommate Baz must work together to defeat the humbug. This book has a really fantastic closed magic system and gives the character very clear limits. CW: rat death? 5/5

Queer There and Everywhere - Sarah Prager

A nonfiction book about 23 people throughout history that were both queer and very cool. From Frida Kahlo and Abraham Lincoln to the actual Danish Girl and Kristina Vasa, Prager dives into the lives of many historical figures who were also queer. A really wide gamut of women, men and nb, cis and trans, white and poc. Could have had more historical figures from the east. A fun, easy read. Made me cry, i want lesbian moms. 4/5

Huntress - Malinda Lo

It’s been a few years since I read this so bear with me. Cool magic girl main character and less magic but also cool other girl as well as a misfit group including the prince and a badass lady named shae (hell yeah) have to go into the fae world to right the magical imbalance of their world. Wlw, written by a queer woc CW: I don’t remember sorry 4/5

Outrun the Wind - Elizabeth Tammi

(I’m actually only half way through this) (Also it’s written by a mutual of mine on tumblr so that’s tight) A queer retelling of the greek myth of Atalanta. Atalanta (bi) is taken by the hunters of Artemis and has to help them defeat Apollo who’s being shitty. Wlw, written by a bi lady CW: animal death

Iron Breakers trilogy - Zaya Feli

Bastard Prince (queer), Ren, is happy to be out of the line of succession and just party it up but suddenly is framed for the murder of his brother and on the run along with a prisoner who escaped with him. Ren is faced with realities of y’know, not being a prince and decides to help save his country. Political intrigue with some twists I didn’t guess. MLM CW: slavery, graphic violence 4.5/5

All for the Game trilogy - Nora Sakavic

Think dark, queer, sports anime but with a co-ed team. Neil Josten (demi sexual- “which way do you swing? “I don’t?”) is on the run from his mob boss, murderer father and finds himself on the collegiate exy team of the palmetto foxes. Exy, a violent cross between lacrosse and soccer is Neil’s favourite thing but the team is made up of misfits. Neil has to survive both his father and the Raven’s (another exy team) owner, another mob boss, coming for him and his team. Super fast paced, very intense, after the first book I couldn’t put it down. The characters are all super interesting as are the relationships. Multiple mlm relationships, one briefly mentioned wlw couple CW: (o boy here we go) suicide, graphic violence, graphic torture, non consensual drug consumption, alcohol and drug abuse, prescription drug abuse, non consensual kissing, rape, child sexual abuse, sex work, mention of gay conversion therapy, discussion of self harm and self harm scars, child abuse 4.5/5

The Posterchildren - Kitty Burroughs

It’s been years since I read this so I really don’t remember much. It’s about a school for superheroes. Definitely wlw I don’t remember any else 4/5

Six of Crows Duology - Leigh Bardugo

A misfit group of criminals is hired to travel north to break into an impregnable prison. The cast of characters is lovable and the plot is fast paced. It’s set in the same universe as Bardugo’s first series but you don’t need to read them. (I did and they were ok but six of crows is better). Two of the main characters are mlm. CW: gore, graphic violence, child abuse 4.5/5

The Percy Jackson Series and Magnus Chase Series

I don’t need to describe these lol. PJO has two canon gay characters, the most recent series has lesbian and ace huntresses of artemis, and a bi main character. Magnus Chase has a non binary main character starting in the second book.

On My To-Read List:

Orlando - Virginia Woolf

I love her writing, it’s poetic without hurting my brain to read. This is a classic queer novel. It’s been said that Woolf wrote it as a “love letter” to Vita, her lover. The main character changes gender throughout the novel.

Stars in Her Eyes - Clare C. Marshall

I bought a copy of the first book in this series from the author at a convention last summer. It’s about a school for people with powers. I asked and apparently there’s a queer character but you don’t find out til the second book.

Ash - Malinda Lo

A wlw retelling of cinderella by the same author as Huntress.

The Academy Journals - Garrett Robinson

Apparently there’s trans, lesbian, gay, poly, ace, bi, pan! It’s about a magical school. It has really good reviews on goodreads so that’s promising

The Abyss Surrounds Us - Emily Skrutskie

There’s gay lady space pirates. Actually maybe not space? Idk i got space vibes

Vicious/Vengeful - V.E. Schwab

A story about moral greyness and supervillains. Kinda reminds me of Nimona tbh. I heard the main character is ace?

Our Bloody Pearl - D.N. Brynn

There’s mermaids, and pirates, and it’s gay apparently. The main character uses they them pronouns I think.

Breaking Legacies - Zoe Reed

Fantasy wlw by a trans dude (i think? They went through some sort of gender transition but i can’t find their pronouns)

The Dark Wife - S.E. Diemer

A wlw retelling of Hades and Persephone

The High Court Series - Megan Derr

Fantasy political intrigue mlm and I was told the main character is trans

Btw my rating system was basically:

4/5=i enjoyed reading it and would recommend it but probably wouldn’t read it again

4.5/5=I really liked it and would probably reread it

5/5= i love it, i either have or plan to reread it