#get to know aurora

[wxtch-of-goldensunshxne]

Aurora Headcanons ~

((YOU WANNA KNOW ABOUT THIS BLONDE BABE??? look no further but know she's not some seductive smooth talker all the time --))

~ Aurora LOVES waking up early. Meeting the sun, watching the sunrise, whatever you call it, she loves doing that snuggled up in a blanket and coffee in hand to start her day.

~ AURORA LOVES PLANTS. I thought this was obvious, but she's always trying to grow and buy more plants. Herbs, flowers, ivy, fruit, etc. she's sO INTO AND IT'S A SIGN SHE'S ATTRACTED TO YOU IF SHE TALKS ABOUT HER PLANTS TO YOU. They mean a lot and she's gauging your interest subtly. Is she expecting you to love her plants as much as she does?? Absolutely not, but a little interest and memory doesn't hurt.

**DESPITE THIS, she can not keep succulents alive. Ever. SHE'S TRIED SO MANY TIMES ((rip Casey the Cactus I~VII and various others she'll never admit to)). They just don't thrive with her even though she can take care of some of the most particular/meticulous plants to care for and they'll thrive. ~ Suits??? Three piece? Well fitted? Hell, bowtie or normal tie?? FUCK AURORA'S SO ATTRACTED TO THAT SHIT NO MATTER THE GENDER. A well tailored, good looking suit and a good looking person is a vain pleasure of Aurora's.

~ You like movies??? GOOD. SHE LOVES THEM. but she will talk. THE ENTIRE TIME. ALSO if you haven't read the books she'll make you read them first. "SO YOU GET IT. YOU GOTTA GET IT." Also hope you like bad sci-fi, supernatural or 80s movies because she'll make you watch it.

~ She STRUGGLES with technology besides basics so if you're asking her to take notes/remember something, she will physically write it down. She has sticky notes, calendars, and sometimes even separate notebooks for certain people she's with a lot so she "doesn't forget anything important!"

~ Based on her past and family, she's used to being an "black sheep" or being viewed as "just the pretty one". Because of this, she's very insecure about her looks -- of course she's pretty/attractive, she's been told that her entire life and most of the time, it's all she'll ever amount to. She developed her magic a lot later and can feel like she's late to so many things and can't really adapt to normal life in the "nonmagic world" or the "magic world".

~ Speaking on this, her mother is renowned in the magic world as a powerful sorceress, her father is a high standing member of the Fae Court and her siblings are super remarkable in their own rights. When Aurora was born, she never showed any innate ability, just a ordinary child despite her family's lineage. She was constantly compared in all aspects, though one she did stand out in: her looks. So she would constantly change/alter her appearance to be the prettiest in whoever's approval she wanted most. Nowadays she's better about this, but honestly she craves being called pretty/beautiful as herself -- oh bUT IF YOU COMPLIMENT HER IN OTHER ASPECTS??? bitch she's yours put a ring on it sign the papers no returns.

~In modern/nonmagic verse if needed, Aurora's mother is a well known socalite and dad is a foreign country prime minister's son. Her siblings all get known for SEPARATE things outside of their parents, while Aurora is documented as the "picture perfect/gorgeous" child of the two world-known figures. Because of this, Aurora just assumes her looks are all she's good for and just switches it up for others/to make sure she's loved by whoever's most important to her or who's attention she wants. **Basically, tell her you love her as she is as she might malfunction/not know what to do with herself.**

[okay BYE she's really cute and just super horny which is aokay lmao y'all should interact with her out of smut sometime lol]

[pencilofawesomeness]

So, I've been reading a lot of Ghost King AUs recently and... my hand slipped.

[coatl-cuddles]

New Eden friend :)

[kuukorppi]

SWSSRORA TRENCHES ARE SO DEEP

(credit: @/aethersghoul video on twitter)

[belle--ofthebrawl]

Oooh, for the thing - holding them close by the hips, with either Swiss/Aeon or Cirrus/Aurora plsssss

Double whammy >:3c

“Act natural.” Aeon whispers, whirling her into his arms. The welcoming gala for the next Papa was in full ceremonial swing, which meant no one had a chance to get naked yet. She couldn't wait to slip out of the short and poofy little number she’d picked out. Aeon's blush told her it would happen sooner rather than later. “Watchers at two and five o clock.”

“Who?” She breathes, next to his skin and smiles at the goosebumps that prickle up. He's so easy.

“Swiss. And Cirrus. Lookin’ like a couple of predators.” He leads her in some half-assed waltz, keeps stepping on her toes. What clumsy, easy prey they must seem to the older ghouls.

“Okay.” She says nonchalantly. “Are we leading them on a chase? Causin’ trouble?” They turn and she spots them. Closer together now, eyes narrow. Calculating. She smiles and blows a little air kiss. It isn't returned. Her heart skips a beat.

“Are we in trouble?” She asks with a little giggle as the crowd closes around them, and the hunters vanish. “I didn't do anything. What did you do?”

“Nothing!” Aeon says nervously. His ears twitch, his obvious tell. Aurora pokes her tongue out between her lips at him and he scrunches his face as she tries to lick him.

“Tell me!” She sings breathlessly.

“Rory!” He pleads.

“Kiss me.” She demands, and he does without protest. Her little Bug was always so good at following orders, from the time they met each other fighting for food scraps in the pit. Now here, the source of Lucifer’s power on earth and he still runs to her for help getting out of hot water.

“Smoked Swiss' weed and stole one of Cir’s bras.” He mutters when they part. “I heard her coming and panicked so I hid in your room. That's why she's mad at you.”

“Aeon!” She gasps, scandalized. Still grinning wickedly when he finally looks at her again. “Nasty little thief.”

Coincidentally, her first words to him when he tried to steal a particularly meaty behemoth thigh away from her. They’d tussled until she realized he was hard and then she rode him in the blood of the dead beast. No truer friendship had there been since.

“Do you think you’ll learn your lesson this time?” She coos, turning again. She can't see the hunters anywhere. Could be a good thing. Could be a bad thing.

“Yes.” He says instantly.

“Too fast, liar.” She teases. “Ooh, do you think she'll spank us?”

She doesn't care that she's being framed. Hell knew she deserved some kind of comeuppance for her own mischief, although she was far better at concealing her tracks than Aeon.

“We’ll start with a spanking.” Comes a cold voice. "Then proceed as we see fit from there." Firm hands slide around her waist, gripping tight and wrinkling the materials of her gown. Aeon goes pale as Swiss copies Cirrus, pinching and tickling the lithe quintessence ghoul before gripping his hips just as firmly.

“Maybe we'll let you hold hands through your punishment.” Swiss adds thoughtfully. They're tugged away from each other in one stunning quick motion, ending up in their predator's arms in a showy display of strength. “I think that'd be so cute.”

“Busted!” Aurora sings cheerfully, already thrumming to her core at the way Cirrus is touching her. She doesn't need to look to know Aeon's stiffy is poking up through his dress pants; a little fear always did it for him.

“How are you so happy about all this?” Aeon hisses as they're easily hefted up over strong shoulders. Swiss even gives Aeon a pre-emptive, light-hearted smack. Cirrus is tickling the back of her thighs.

“Because silly,” she snickers as they're taken away to their fate. “You aren't the only one who steals weed. And who do you think told Swiss in exchange for less spanks?”

“Rory!” Aeon wails.

“That's what you get for trying to frame me!” She sings. “I’ll take us both down babe.”

“I think I'll have her warm my strap.” Cirrus says to no one in particular. “Since she wants to be so mouthy.”

“We're doing whatever we want tonight, Mama.” Swiss purrs. “Eventually these troublemakers will learn their lesson.”

“Probably not.” Is Aurora's cheeky reply.

[cicide76536]

My gift to @tragediegh for Rote Winterfest Gift-exchange !

My beloved @vilyar was a life saviour for lending me his drawing tablet and computer when mine broke and for helping me sketch some of the harder parts ❤️ Thank you

[abirddogmoment]

I love offering Rory the choice between high-value snacks because she really does pick the one she wants in the moment. I rotate between three main snack types and the one she snubbed yesterday is often the one she wants today or vice versa. It's cool to see how the hierarchy of snacks changes in her heart day to day.

[weensysunshine]

sometimes when you’re new to having a body, you gotta see what kinda crazy stuff it can do

[comicaurora]

Do you have any thoughts on Baldur’s Gate 3? Specifically the cast?

everything I have learned about that twink vampire has been against my will

[wistfulpoltergeist]

I've never considered just seeing model renders of a game character would make me want to play the game, but here we are 😶‍🌫️

Aww, you're welcome! I would definitely recommend you to play Sherlock Holmes Chapter One. It's fun and dramatic, entertaining, heartbreaking and gay ;D

[tmae3114]

So there's this theory I've had bouncing around in my head for *checks notes* about three years now and, well, it does not have nearly the level of evidence I tend to prefer before I make a theory post - it is, in fact, Predominantly Vibes Based - but it has, again, been bouncing around in my head for three years and I refuse to be alone with it any longer

(...also, if I'm right, I wanna be able to go "I KNEW IT" and have a timestamp to point to XD)

OKAY. So. Basically.

I think Alinua might be a twice-born.

Hear me out:

Firstly:

We know that Cloud Elves live pretty much exclusively on the Archipelago Nimbus and are isolationist (Extra Lore: The Three Elder Races - "The Islands have minimal contact or trade with the outside world, [...]" & "These Cloud Elves are unique in many ways, most notably their isolationism [...]" and Page 1.6.12 "I suppose a cloud elf outside of the Archipelago Nimbus is fairly unusual-") but Alinua has been down on the surface since before she can remember

That suggests unusual circumstances. Isolationist people who have minimal contact with the outside world don't just lose a baby in said outside world

Alinua's theory for this is that her birth parents "probably reasonably assumed [she] had the Chimeric Plague and dropped [her] over the edge" (Page 1.6.13) but, crucially, there is no actual evidence of this. It's what she assumes probably happened but she has no memory of the actual events (Page 1.6.23 "I don't even remember it. I've never met my birth parents […]")

Therefore, it is entirely possible that Alinua is wrong about how she ended up not on the Archipelago Nimbus. And I, personally, think it's pretty likely that she's wrong because we know that the Archipelago Nimbus can sometimes be even higher up than the peak of the Throne of the World (this post) and even with it usually being lower down than that, I find it... somewhat doubtful that an infant (toddler, at best) would survive that fall. Not impossible in a fantasy setting but... doubtful.

Secondly:

We know that the Chimeric Plague was Life attempting to connect with a vessel who could be her eyes and give her perspective (Pages 1.20.20 - 1.20.23)

Even before Life finally broke through, Alinua was incredibly unusual for a carrier of the Chimeric Plague. She didn't even find out she was one until she was about ten (Page 1.6.13 "I had a normal life and family for ten years- and then I learned I was a chimera bomb [...]") when most die before they turn five (Page 1.2.10 "I shouldn't have made it past five years old" and Extra Lore: The Chimeric Plague "[...] it is inevitable in every case that the child will lose total control of their magic within the first few years of their life [...]"). She was twice the expected age of a carrier when she found out.

We don't know why Alinua is the successful attempt that finally worked. Not only do we not know, Alinua herself brings it up while talking to Life (Page 1.20.23 "I… don't know if there's anything special about me that kept you from overwhelming me like the others, or if I'm just the lucky one you finally got right."). The question is open: is there something special/unique about Alinua that allowed her to survive where none of the other children did? And if so, what is it?

Thirdly:

So. Carrion crawlers.

We have not actually met any in the story itself yet, only heard Caliban bring them up in the context of an insult (Page 1.12.10 "Twice-born son of a carrion crawler! You had a plan this whole time?!") but fortunately! the Aurora tumblr exists! so we have additional information!

Carrion crawlers eat dead things and sometimes give birth to baby clones of one of their recent meals, which are called twice-born. A twice-born is a healthy infant, identical in every way to how the original would've been as an infant, and age normally for the species they were produced from. Additionally, they have no memories from their source material (so to speak) and develop their own, unique soul, though if they came from a mage, their soul will develop the same channels (this post and this post)

...now, I mentioned at the start that this theory does not have as much evidence as I would like and is mostly Vibes Based, and we have now hit the point where I run out of evidence and switch to vibes. I do not have any evidence which actually points to a connection between any of this.

However, I do still Have Thoughts

We know that Alinua was adopted had a happy (or, at least, "normal") childhood prior to figuring out she was a chimeric carrier (1.6.13, see above) and seemingly doesn't think about her birth family very often. It's entirely possible that she didn't ask questions about where she came from as a child. It's not been brought up yet how her adoptive family found her but, given that she assumes she was thrown off the edge of the Archipelago Nimbus, the possibility that they found a seemingly-abandoned baby just lying around doesn't seem too out there. And if Alinua is a twice-born, yet clearly doesn't know that herself, her family may also not have known that... or may have known and opted to keep it hidden, even from her, given that twice-born are generally considered "deeply unnerving and grotesque" (this post).

As for how Alinua came to be in this theorised scenario, there's two possibilities I've considered.

The first is that an adult life mage cloud elf was outside the Archipelago Nimbus for Some Reason, died somewhere where there are carrion crawlers, and things went from there.

The second, much sadder, possibility is that the "Chimeric Plague carrier baby thrown off the edge of the flying islands" possibility did happen... the baby in question just wasn't Alinua because the fall was, in fact, not a survivable one. And then, just as a twice-born will inherit being-a-mage, Alinua inherited having the Chimeric Plague.

And, in either of these cases, something about being twice-born subsequently protected Alinua from being overwhelmed by Life.

[yourfavouritemoondemon]

Hello friends, I barely know how to use this app but I know the magnus archives fans are here!!! Not sure how many people here are tma fans and also Aurora fans but I am being driven insane, absolutely berserk. Aurora just released an album and on it are two awesome songs, one called The blade and the other called My body is not mine. These songs have SUCH tma energy and I NEED someone else to know this and validate it. The blade to me is late TMA (like when everything goes to shit) and my body is not mine reminds me so much of Daisy!!!! So much!!! Honestly The blade also reminds me a lot of daisy, especially the ending. I have been artblocked for an ungodly amount of time but someone needs to make an Amv to these PLEASE

[aurorangen]

colour palette generator with my name

colours with my username spaced out and my real name (that i'm not sharing 🤐) thanks for tagging me @matchalovertrait @aliengirl @swallowprettybird @ktysh @linalinsims!!! as expected all oranges 😂

[watcheraurora]

First Flight

New installment of the Unintentionally-Adopted-a-Kid AU! Direct continuation of "But For This? Absolutely" (<- Part 1) 5.2k words (almost exactly!)

(Part 3)

—

Jimmy woke up to a cold bed. Which was weird because Tango's Blaze blood kept the bed almost uncomfortably warm all night. He rubbed his eyes. There was gold light beyond his closed eyelids, but it wasn't the weak gold of dawn—at least, he didn't think it was. He hadn't felt like he'd had a whole night sleep.

He peeled his eyes open after rubbing the sleep out of them.

Through the windows and balcony door, the light flickered chaotically.

Jimmy bolted up, flung the covers off, ignored Revenge's yowl of protest, and leapt toward the balcony with half-extended wings to keep him slightly aloft. If the ranch was on fire he'd have to grab Skye and Revenge and get out. Tango could walk through fire without getting burnt but he'd need to find him too—

He froze when he saw the source of the flame.

The outpost. Across the wheat fields and animal pens. Across the gorge. The pillar of cobblestone and dark oak inhabited by Illagers.

The whole thing was on fire. Jimmy could feel its heat from the balcony.

He stared with a dropped jaw.

The outpost was far enough away that the burning Illagers running around were tiny, barely visible.

Something bright and blazing swooped in circles around the outpost, little meteors of light shooting from it and hitting the outpost, expanding the flames.

"Tango..." Jimmy breathed.

He climbed up onto the balcony railing, just in his pyjama shorts and no shirt. His wings loosened behind him, tilting like he was going to takeoff. He glanced back over his shoulder into the master bedroom. Revenge was pouting on Tango's side of the bed, grumpy that he'd been woken up by Jimmy's movement.

For the first night in a while, they'd left their bedroom door slightly open to listen for Skye.

He crept back inside, tiptoeing to Skye's new room. He peered in through the tiny gap in the slightly-ajar door.

She was asleep, her ravager plushie clutched in one arm. Lying on her side to keep her wing from further injury. The other side from the one she'd been lying on when Jimmy tucked her in, but she seemed to still be tucked into the blankets.

Tango.

Jimmy's heart melted.

He snuck back, away from the door, and back into the master bedroom. "Keep an eye on her for me, Rev," he whispered to Revenge. Who Mrrped grumpily in response.

Jimmy went back to the balcony, hopping the railing, and hurled himself into the air. His wings beat at the smokey atmosphere and carried him high up until he could dive straight for the outpost, wings tucked in like a bird of prey hunting a target.

"Tango!" he shouted as he plummeted.

His soulmate pulled up short, hovering in the air, Blaze Rods orbiting his head rapidly.

Jimmy twisted and flared his wings, braking. Canary wings couldn't hover like hummingbird wings. He wasn't built for it. So he flapped as slow as he could in a circle around Tango, reaching out and resting his hands on Tango's burning hot shoulders. Tango rotated in place, synced with Jimmy's moving.

"Tango," Jimmy pleaded. "Tango, you have to stop."

Tango's breathing was heavy and his red eyes were glowing, not just reflecting the flames. His jaw was set and his teeth were bared. Illagers were screaming. Jimmy tried to ignore it.

"Tango, look at me. Please," Jimmy pleaded. He waited, flying in slow circles until Tango's gaze fixed on him. "You have to focus. We need to leave. Come on." He slid one hand down from Tango's shoulder to take his hand. His skin was even hotter without his shirt to block the heat—but something in their SoulBond helped Jimmy not get burned from it.

He twisted and shot back toward the ranch house with a beat of his wings. Tango kept up easily, leaving a trail of firelight in their wake.

Instead of landing on the balcony, Jimmy touched down on the rooftop and sat down. He tugged on Tango's hand until the latter sat too. But Jimmy kept tugging.

Tango shook his head. "If I sit in your lap, I'll burn you," he protested softly, reaching a hand up to run it through his hair. It was still flickering bright and fast. A bonfire trying to turn into a wild forest fire.

Jimmy tugged again, insistently.

Until Tango relented and crawled onto Jimmy's lap. "What happened, Tango?" he asked gently, rubbing Tango's arm.

"I... I woke up because Skye was crying. Her grief hit her, I think. I hugged her until she cried herself to sleep. I barely even said anything. I didn't know what to say. And it just hit me how wrong it was for the Illagers to keep a child in a cage and... and I saw red. You know how I am. I had to... I had to..." His red eyes flared with light. "She didn't deserve that. And they didn't deserve to get away with it."

Jimmy took a breath and sighed. "I can't condone what you did. But I do agree with why you did it." He ran one hand up and down Tango's arm.

Tango's hair simmered down to a manageable level and he snuggled himself under Jimmy's chin, closing his eyes. Jimmy held him close, resting his chin in Tango's warm hair. The soft flames licked at his jaw and cheeks, but wouldn't burn him anymore.

They stayed like that as they watched the outpost burn. The cobblestone left behind and the wood absolutely gutted. Dawn was minutes away by the time the biggest flames were truly dying down.

"Grian and Scar are going to be furious," Jimmy mused. "They rather liked the outpost."

"They can deal," Tango growled.

"Whatever happened to rebuilding the ward around the ranch so they couldn't disturb us?"

"This required less magic."

The sun broke over the horizon, just the first peak of its shape. Jimmy sighed again. "Come on. Go catch a little nap while I get breakfast started. We've got a big day of work ahead of us and a new mouth to feed. We better make sure we're prepared."

Tango burrowed deeper into Jimmy's chest. "No nap. Just cuddles."

Jimmy snickered. "I need to go get breakfast started. At least for the little one."

Tango groaned in complaint. "Fiiiiine."

Jimmy laughed softly, scooped Tango up, and fluttered them both down onto the balcony.

Revenge was still asleep on Tango's side of the bed, so Jimmy set Tango down on his own side and slipped out of the master bedroom. He checked on Skye—also still asleep—and headed downstairs.

—

Weeks passed. The Illagers moved on, finding another place somewhere far away to build a new outpost. Ranch work never really stopped, but Jimmy and Tango always took time out of every day to make sure Skye was well cared for. Jimmy worked her up to strengthening the muscles in her broken wing as it healed. Tango taught her how to read and do tiny magic tricks like sparks—with the rule that she wasn't allowed to practice fire magic in the house or the wheat field.

They didn't go into the nearest town often, but supplies sometimes needed to be fetched when they were running low. Every time Jimmy went into town, he took Skye. Just to acclimate her to being around people again. She seemed to handle it well. He bought her a handful of toys so she wouldn't be so bored at the ranch, and took time to whisper to other grownups about whether they knew anything about her parents or guardians. White hair and wings like hers were distinct and genetic. But no one ever seemed to know. Not even Grian, who seemed to always have his fingers in every pie in town.

Usually on the long walk back to the ranch, Jimmy would have her practice her wing strengthening exercises, helping her build up. Often he'd carry her and whatever they'd bought that day most of the way. But he always managed.

Before any of them knew it, Skye had been living on the ranch for six weeks. And according to Tango and his magic, her wing was fully healed and ready to remove the splint for more than just cleaning and preening the feathers. He'd been using his tiny healing spells to assist her natural healing along, since he couldn't do it all in one go.

"Hold still, kiddo," Jimmy said soothingly as he circled around to her back. But he knew better. In typical Avian fashion, she was twitchy and fidgety. He was too. He could remove the splint even with her movements as long as he was careful and gentle.

They both did their best. Skye to stay still, Jimmy to undo the string and sticks that made up the splint. Tango did his best to distract Skye so she held still by doing magic tricks—having discovered Skye was particularly partial to the way he made little candle flames change colors.

As the splint fell away, Jimmy felt his heart twist a little. The wing was atrophied, despite him helping her with exercises to build its strength back up. He sighed.

"Is it bad?" Skye asked quietly.

"Oh, sweetheart. No," he replied warmly.

"Why'd you make that noise then?"

"Just because the muscles still need a lot of work before you'll be able to fly. I'm just sad because I wanted to teach you to fly once the splint came off, but your wing isn't ready yet. And that's fine! We'll keep working on it, yeah?"

"Okay." Skye nodded, small and timid.

Tango tripped forward and crouched down to be on her eye level. "Don't worry, Skye," he said. "Jimmy's good at this. He'll have your wing ready to fly in no time. And he's gonna be the best teacher ever."

"Really?"

Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck, ready to try to set more realistic expectations, but Tango cut him off. "Really-really. I've never seen someone fly as pretty as he does. And he's really sweet and nice and paaatient. Especially with me. So he's gonna be a great flying teacher! And you're such a smart girl—you're gonna learn how to fly so fast." He ruffled her hair.

Skye giggled.

"Are you ready to start making your wing stronger, sweetheart?" Jimmy asked, kneeling beside Tango in front of her.

She nodded enthusiastically.

"Yay! Just follow after me, okay?" Jimmy asked.

Tango got to his feet as Jimmy stretched his wings, moving out of the way. Despite Skye's youth and small size, her wings were big too. Avian wings tended to take up a lot of room when they were unfurled. And Jimmy was so tall that his wings were enormous. So Tango figured it was best to just stay out of their way.

—

Every single day, Skye and Jimmy practiced the exercises. Every day, Skye could do them a little bit longer. Jimmy would even hold her back lightly against his chest and take off flying so that her wings could get stronger from the pressure of wind beneath them. They spent an hour or two every single day building her strength. And when Jimmy needed a rest or a break but Skye was still energetic, Tango would take over with magic lessons.

As time went on, it was hard to remember or even imagine life without her at the ranch. She chased Revenge and played in the wheat and really loved Tango using magic for little fireworks. She smiled big and hugged bigger. A lot of her fears and grief slowly ebbed away.

A few months of exercise every day after her splint came off, Jimmy deemed her ready to fly on her own.

The day before that, he sent for Grian.

Tango could fly as well, of course, but he didn't have wings. And Jimmy insisted that two adult Avians teaching a child to fly was probably for the best. Tango would fly below in case she started to fall so he could catch her, but Jimmy and Grian would be her primary instructors.

Or rather, Jimmy would. Grian's reply to Jimmy's request more or less said if Jimmy would teach, Grian would be there for support.

Which was fine with both Jimmy and Tango.

Jimmy woke bright and early. Moments before dawn. He slipped out of bed—Tango was still asleep—and changed from pyjamas to everyday clothes. He chose a T-shirt instead of a tank top so he could fly without an overshirt on without burning his shoulders. His jeans slid on next.

Tango groaned from the bed.

Jimmy turned.

Tango had rolled to be able to see Jimmy, one arm behind his head, propping it up.

"What?" Jimmy asked, voice shaking in a laugh on the word.

"It's always criminal for you to cover up," Tango said, voice slurred from sleep.

"You couldn't even see anythin'. My wings were in the way."

Tango shrugged. "Still criminal," he said.

Jimmy chuckled, shaking his head to tame his hair and then raking his fingers through it. Tango's red eyes tracked the movements as his tongue poked between his sharp teeth. "Careful," he said. "She's got really keen ears."

"She's young and wouldn't pay that much attention." Tango shrugged. He swung out of bed and approached, folding himself into Jimmy's arms. His skin was unbelievably, comfortably warm. "Why are you dreeeeessed?" Tango complained into Jimmy's chest.

"Because today's the day I teach our girl how to fly."

His wings went stiff as he straightened his spine.

"What is it?" Tango muttered, face still buried in the soft fabric of Jimmy's shirt.

"Nothing, it's just... She is, isn't she?"

"She's what?"

"She's our girl. Not just a... guest."

Tango finally leaned back, a thoughtful quirk to his brow. "Yeah. I guess she is, at this point. No one in town knows anything about her parents. And by her story, it's more likely that they're dead. I doubt they escaped."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?!" The thoughtful look on Tango's face vanished, turning confused and shocked.

"You said you didn't want kids. And we've gone and taken in a six-year-old orphaned Avian."

Tango sighed and rested his cheek against Jimmy's shoulder. "You have nothing to be sorry for, rancher," he said softly. "Life has twists and turns that we never see coming. I didn't want kids. I was happy to just spend my life with you and our friends. But now that she's been here for so long and we've made space in our life and our home for her, she's just part of it. This place wouldn't be complete without her anymore." He sighed as Jimmy ran his hand through Tango's hair. "And I'm happy with that. Gosh—I can't even put into words how much I love watching you interact with her. You're such a good dad."

Jimmy's wings twitched. He hadn't even thought of himself as a dad. "Thanks," he said quietly.

Tango sucked in a deep, reluctant breath. "Time to get ready so the lessons can commence?"

"Time to get ready to get chores done before lessons can commence," Jimmy replied.

"Oh, right. Silly of me." Tango backed up toward the bed, away from the wardrobe. Before catching Jimmy by the shoulders and pulling him back down onto the bed. Jimmy managed to suppress a startled squawk. He always forgot how strong Tango's slight frame was.

"Wait—Tango—I just got dressed—" Jimmy protested as Tango crawled up the bed so their heads were even.

Tango smirked, teeth glinting in the light of his fire hair. "And you can get dressed again in a little bit," he whispered. "When I built her room, I double-lined the walls so we could make noise without disturbing her."

The door to their bedroom clicked shut quietly with Tango's red magic swirling around it. A sound dampening spell.

Jimmy smiled. "If you insist," he said.

Tango hesitated. "If you really don't want to, we don't have to. I just—"

"No, no. I've changed my mind. Get down here and kiss me."

Tango's lopsided grin grew wider. "Don't have to tell me twice," he said lowly.

—

"Right. Are we getting started?" Grian asked, looking a bit impatient. He stood on the front path with his hands on his hips and his parrot wings fluffed up behind him.

Tango looked normal as he exited the ranch house with Skye on his shoulders, but Jimmy was rapidly trying to straighten out his shirt and jeans. Grian's dark eyes flicked between the two of them, bounced an eyebrow, and looked toward the sky while Jimmy fought off a blush.

"Yep-yep," Tango said, hauling Skye off his shoulders while she giggled. He set her down on the ground.

Grian knelt to be at her eye-level. "You're Skye, right?" he asked.

She nodded, her white hair in its pigtail braids taking on a warm gold sheen in the sunlight.

"I'm Grian." He smiled gently. "I'm Jimmy's, er, brother." He wasn't, but it was easier for her to understand that. "I'm going to help him teach you how to fly." He ruffled his own wings. Skye peeked at them and gave him a timid smile.

"Alright!" Jimmy exclaimed, clapping and rubbing his hands together. "Shall we get this going?" He smiled at Skye and knelt down. "Ready to fly, sweetheart?"

She nodded.

"Tim, our wings are too long. We can't hold her hands for this," Grian said.

"I know. I'm going to hold her to my chest. And slowly loosen up. You and Tango will keep an eye on her from below in case she starts to fall. I'll hold onto her from above."

"Better than how Jimmy learned," Tango muttered under his breath sarcastically.

Grian had essentially pushed Jimmy off a cliff to teach him how to fly.

Jimmy held Skye's hand. It was shaking a little. "Okay, kiddo. We're going to teach you how to fly first, then how to land, and then how to take off. And it's not going to be easy. And it might take a while. But you're such a strong, smart girl that I know you're going to be okay."

Skye nodded.

"You wanna hand Mr. Snuffles to Tango?" Jimmy asked.

Skye looked down at the ravager plushie in her arm, up at Tango, back at the plushie, and then held it out.

"I'll keep him nice and safe for you, Skye," Tango reassured her. She nodded.

"Okay." Jimmy stood up. "Come stand on my feet and spread your wings like we've been doing for the last couple months."

Skye went over and did as instructed. Jimmy bent down and put his arms around her middle, minding her wings to not crush the feathers but holding her tight.

"Grian?" Jimmy invited.

Grian turned around, bent his knees, snapped out his wings, and flapped them down, hurling himself into the sky.

Skye's deep blue eyes widened as she watched. "Wooow!"

"You'll get there too, Skye. I promise," Jimmy said. "Now hold on tight."

She grabbed onto his arms with her little hands. He hoisted her up against his chest and ran down the path, his wings and hers gathering air beneath them.

Jimmy swept his wings down. The downdraft sent wheat in the field rolling away as he launched.

Skye squealed. Usually on takeoff, her wings were furled and Jimmy held her protectively. This was the first time her wings had been extended for takeoff. Jimmy smiled. She seemed okay—excited, even—which was good.

"See how my wings are moving?" Jimmy called over the wind. She nodded. "Try to move yours the same way!"

Grian swooped around the two of them. Tango flew along below, a soft trail of fire left behind him.

Skye moved her wings, face scrunched as she tried to copy how Jimmy flapped. Grian angled and came to rest in formation just below one of Jimmy's wings. Which prevented Jimmy from flapping if he didn't want to smack Grian, but he could glide for a bit. "You can't just move your wings up and down," Grian instructed. "You have to push the air with them."

Jimmy peered around Skye to check her facial expression. She looked confused.

He squeezed her around the middle. "Remember when you climbed onto the kitchen counter yesterday? And you beat your wings down to help boost you up?"

She nodded.

"That's what he's talking about. We've got instincts for flying—for how to flap our wings. You gotta listen to those too."

She nodded again. This time when she flapped, there was real intention behind the power of the movement.

"Yes! That's it!" Jimmy praised.

She squealed. "I felt something!"

"That's the wind in your feathers, for real!"

She beamed at Grian, then twisted to look at Jimmy. "Am I flying?"

"Not yet! You have to keep doing that in order to stay in the air."

"But you're not?"

"No. I'm gliding. And that takes just as much strength to hold your wings against the wind like this. But if Grian would move—" the comment was directed in Grian's direction, "—I'd be able to flap and get higher up."

Grian twisted his head and stuck his tongue out. Jimmy did the same. Skye laughed.

But Grian took the hint and dipped one wing, sweeping away from the path of Jimmy's wings and then churning the air hard and shooting higher.

Jimmy flapped much softer, gaining altitude slowly. "Follow what I do, Skye," he instructed. "Feel the wind beneath your feathers!"

She flapped in sync with him, gasping each time the wind filled her wings like sails. They climbed higher, nearing the clouds.

"Alright. I'm going to loosen my hold around you. But I won't let go. I just want you to feel what it's like to keep yourself aloft on your own," Jimmy said. Skye's eyes widened. "You'll be okay. I won't let you fall. I'll still hold on to you."

He adjusted his grip so he was no longer using his arms to keep her against his chest. Instead, he wrapped his hands around her ribs and extended his arms a little so her wings were no longer touching him.

Skye screamed.

Tango's fire burned brighter and he shot up to them. "What's going on?" he called.

"She's flying on her own, sorta!" Jimmy shouted back. "I'm holding on so she doesn't fall, but she's keeping herself up!"

Tango nodded and slowly lowered to be about halfway between the trio of Avians and the ground.

Skye had stopped screaming and started concentrating. Jimmy could feel in the way she frantically flapped that she actually was keeping herself aloft. His grip was loose enough that he wasn't actually maintaining her, more meant to tighten if she started to fall. He kept his own flapping minimal. The size and power of his wings compared to hers meant one wingbeat from him would send him another ten feet up in the air while she only gained maybe two. And he didn't want to drag her around. So he did barely enough to keep himself consistent above her.

Grian noticed. He swooped and came to a glide directly above Jimmy. "Pass her to me," Grian called. "My wings are smaller."

Jimmy's face blanched.

"Tim, I won't let her fall. I promise," Grian said.

Jimmy sucked in a sharp breath. "Skye!" he called, gathering her close to him again. "Tuck in your wings. I'm passing you to Grian."

Her wings furled closer to her back. Grian held his arms out, hands splayed to take her.

Jimmy hated lateral passing of anything in the air, but given it was Skye—he was terrified. He kissed her hair, snapped his wings inward, and rolled so his back was facing the ground. Immediately he started to plummet. Skye's braids dangling above them. She screamed again.

Grian swooped and snatched her out of Jimmy's arms, tucking her against his soft red jumper.

Jimmy flipped back around and snapped his wings out, letting them fill with air and stop his descent. With a whoop, he rocketed skyward, tucking his wings halfway in a spin.

Grian assumed the same position with Skye that Jimmy had done once she got her wings sorted out, holding her by the ribs.

"Watch how he flies," Grian said to her, his own dark eyes tracking Jimmy as his smaller parrot wings swept through the air in perfect sync with Skye's. "See how he doesn't think about it too much? We have to let the wind take us. Tango can fly in a different way. The wind doesn't really affect him. But for us, the wind is everything. We have to ride it. Let it guide us."

"Tango said Jimmy flies pretty," Skye said to Grian. Her voice was quiet over the wind, but Grian could hear her.

That made him actually smile. "He does," Grian agreed. "See how big his wings are?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded.

"That's because he's tall. Big and strong. His wings have to be really big to get him off the ground. And despite that, he's still really good at moving in the air. Look at the way he spins. He doesn't need to, he just likes the feeling." Grian's grip on Skye loosened a little more. "Close your eyes, Skye. Just for a few seconds. I've got you. Feel the wind in your wings. Feel how it moves through your hair and flutters your shirt. Focus on just the wind. Hold your wings nice and strong. Flap up and down. That's it. You're doing great. Breathe, kiddo."

Grian let her go, but kept his hands hovering inches from her to snatch her if she started to dip.

"Open your eyes, Skye," Grian said.

She opened them again, not seeming to notice he wasn't holding onto her anymore. Far, far below, the ranch had been left far, far behind. The burnt husk of the outpost was a speck on the horizon behind them.

And Skye was flying on her own. Completely.

Grian knew Jimmy. His heart was so full of love and care—and fear of losing those he cared about. He never would have released his hold on Skye.

But Grian knew she had to spread her wings and fly on her own. It was the only way to really learn for an Avian child. So he'd had to take over. And give Jimmy just enough time to see him holding onto her that he'd trust Grian enough to look away long enough to show off. Tango was also correct: Jimmy did fly pretty. Enormous gold-yellow feathers shimmery in the sunlight—he flew like a dance.

Jimmy's flight feathers had matured late. He hadn't learned to fly until he was maybe twice as old as Skye. He hadn't learned how to fly the traditional way, since he'd been strong enough to do everything on his own from the get-go. And he still flew like he'd never learned to take it for granted.

But Grian had been young. And he remembered learning with his dad letting go of him midair. His own flying was far more practical and less pretty.

Still, watching Jimmy fly was always fun. He took such joy in it.

Grian's eyes snapped to Skye's wings the moment he saw their flapping weaken. He scooped her ribs back into his hands and brought her a little closer to him. "Getting tired?"

She nodded.

"Alright," he said. "I'll teach you how to land. You're going to want to hit the ground running, okay? It'll hurt your knees less until you learn more advanced techniques."

She nodded.

Grian held her tighter, but still let her glide, as he beat the air and pulled up alongside Jimmy. "Tim! Landing time!"

Jimmy looked at Skye's glittering white wings, then Grian's eyes, then nodded. "I'll tell Tango." He twisted into a sharp dive, wings held close.

Grian talked Skye through angling her wings to start descending. The loose hairs that had escaped her pigtail braids were snapping with the wind as they turned back toward the ranch and started a long, slow descent. Tango stayed below them, but Jimmy shot up to brush wingtips with Grian the whole way down.

They took the descent angle so shallow that they were nearly over the gorge between the ranch and the outpost when the ground seemed near enough to touch.

Grian helped Skye slow down by angling her wings upward to fill with air and brake before gently running into their landing together. Jimmy dropped out of the sky and landed before just running after them down the path.

Tango swooped overhead and dropped to the ground in front of Grian and Skye. She squealed and ran at Tango, Grian letting her go, and threw her arms around him. "I did it! Did you see me? I did it! I flew!" she exclaimed, her wings fluttering behind her, half-furled, as Tango held onto her.

"I saw, I saw! You did so good!" Tango replied.

Jimmy stopped right next to Grian, wrapping an arm around his friend's shoulders. "Thank you," he said softly.

Grian smiled. "Of course."

Jimmy's hold tightened. "If you ever let go of her again—"

Grian laughed, not surprised that Jimmy had noticed after all. "You'll what?" he challenged. "She needed it, and she was fine. She was safe. I'd never let her fall." His own wings twitched. "You learnt late, Tim. I learnt when I was her age. I knew she'd be fine. Avian children all have to learn to fly on their own eventually. Our parents aren't always there to hold onto us."

Jimmy glowered, but there was a softness to his eyes. "I know. She's just... she's so precious."

"And because she is, I'd never let her fall."

Jimmy gave Grian a proper hug. "Thank you."

"Sure. Now I've got to get back before Scar burns down the Keep." Grian hugged Jimmy back, and broke out of the embrace. "Skye? I'm going to go. Can I have a hug goodbye? It's okay if no."

But Skye let go of Tango and ran at Grian, her wings flaring out to give her a little boost to jump into his arms. He laughed and held her tight.

"You did so good today," he said softly into her hair. "Tango and Jimmy are very proud of you. And so am I."

She smiled. "Thank you!"

He ruffled her hair. "Get some rest so you can keep learning tomorrow." He let her go and backed up a few paces. "Don't have too much fun without me!" His wings snapped out and he launched skyward, disappearing over the horizon.

Jimmy scooped Skye up, cradling her to his chest. "You did it!" he said. She squealed. "You flew! You're such a big girl!"

She giggled. "Did I do good?"

"You did great!"

Tango laughed. "Shall we head inside and get something to eat to celebrate? I might make a cake."

Skye gasped. "Cake? Please? Please? Pretty pleeease?"

Tango kissed Skye's hair. "Yep!"

"Yay!"

The three of them went inside the ranch house, laughing the whole way.

[the-mayor-of-hatersville]

I'm live and let live for the most part despite appearances, but I have to say the damage fucking,,,, the slytherin skittles as a concept has done to other peripheral characters in the marauders era? Unmatched. Is it bad that y'all are making up headcanons about these characters? Admittedly no, you can do whatever you want forever just like me. HOWEVER Is it really annoying that Every Single Character has to have a knock off marauders friend group now? Yes. Does it annoy me that characters who could be so much more complex than they are keep getting used as fodder for relationship drama with fucking Jegulus of all ships? Undoubtedly. Does it piss me off to see characters, particularly female characters, w being used to prop up death eaters who frankly are not half as interesting? Very Much So.

[saym0-0]

i think ts and brian would dance together