#grammar hurts

[potpigu]

This art is old but still idk how out of all the afk character I could be like "Yup my magister would sure fall head over heels with them!" Is fucking Philiip the damn npc that may have only appeared once or something. Idk how I shipped these two enough to draw fanart but I sure did.Enjoy some old art I guess...

Edit:Thx to the one Philip enjoyer in the comments for you have encouraged me to soon make more Phillip fanart. The man deserves it.

[mare-sanguis]

The queercoding in Sangcheol's and Jeongwoo's relationship

Let me preface this by saying: everyone is still allowed to see them as whatever they want (a work related relationship, best friends, close friends, soulmates, lovers, and and and) but I think most (if not all at least here on tumblr) can agree it would be ignorant if we completely overshadow just how much queerness there is.

This analysis is brough to you by this thread (why JW is snow white and why SC is the prince) and @thedevildeer latest post. Its not structured and really just a ramble so excuse me if it might sound a little confusing at some points.

Let's start by looking at it through a heteronormative kdrama lense below the cut 

How often do most kdrama fans watch a drama, see the lead man and the lead woman and think "woah, they would look so hot as a couple" even when the drama isn't a romance? Quite often, that's right. That's because most M/F leads are designed to be shipped even outside of the stereotypical romance genre. If it's a crime drama, thriller, mystery etc. Where the focus should solely lie on the plot they will still most likely try to create an M/F duo so most kdrama fans will have something to latch into. It has happened so many times that people dropped a non romance drama because it had no M/F couple, but people apparently want it so badly because how else can they enjoy a non romance drama, right? And kdrama directors/writers know this- they see and read the reviews and work with them; That's why in kdrama land M/F ships are still the norm, still seen as the most canon- even if there is a 2nd ML who has insane chemistry with the 1st ML (perhaps even more than the FL, cuz let's also face it in a lot of kdramas women are written flat)

When the ML is near the FL, everyone immediately interprets all kinds of thoughts into it, even worse when they go as far as to look at each other and hold eye contact, when they worry about each other, support each other, visit each other or are just having a work related conversation. They dont need to confess their love or kiss for the viewer to know they are in love*

Those are all valid points for shipping, that's obivously not the issue- The issue starts when they genuinely can't see the FL as her own character, when they can't seem to understand that men and women can be platonic friends, the issue continues when the 2nd ML appears whos got way more chemistry with the 1st ML or even takes the place of where the FL should be. Its then where the issue peaks- their relationship will automatically treated differently (2nd ML get potentially hated by the M/F shippers even) and it creates rift within the fandom, its shipping and arguments about queerness as a whole (discrediting that queerness is a large spectrum) by cishet fans

Suddenly, if it's M/M those actions I mentioned earlier dont seem romantic anymore, suddenly it's just a simple bromance (and while the term per se isnt homophobic, in these circumstances it sure sounds like it which is why I personally dont like it and rarely use it), best friends caring about each other because homies are homies. ("why can't men stay friends?" we all know that argument) *if they don't confess to each other outright, don't kiss each other, then they aren't i love (last part especially is targeted towards specific BL fans who only think a relationship is valed if they kiss and maje out)

So, this out the way let take a look at SC, JW, HS and BO approach (intentionally or not) on queercoding and the importance of a strong man-woman friendship.

First, let's look at tropes commonly (but not exclusively) found in queer media or media that tries to imply queerness and the similarities they share with SCJW:

Found family (the most common trope in queer media, especially the media that emphasises on realness, as found family serves as a safe space for queer characters when they arent accepted at home)

A strong opposite gender friendship or a friendship that defies traditional views

Color coding (mostly a warm and a cold colour, often times its blue and red)

Language coding (do the characters say they are queer, do they use specific terms, do they confess or declare their love for each other through something deeper; just what are they saying?)

The character design (this is not just about how they look but the desgin as a whole: background story, family, friendships, career, driving force, are they representing something (like a specific color, a flower); what was the creators thought process while creating them)

How do they express love around the person they ador (for example, men express love with touches while women often times use words and actions)

Broken friendships (because old friends dont accept)

Then of course we have common tropes found in all media highlighting love

Clothes sharing

Intense eye contact

Personal space

Lingering

Caring

Hurt/Comfort

Touches

And what do we have here? That's right. Black out s well as SC, JW and HS fit right into the common tropes and the queercoding tropes and yet we see some totally discrediting its validity to exist within the universe because god forbid both JW and SC are queer or viewed as such cuz they both were with women prior and they can't possibly be one of them queers... right?

HS is a really well written female character who's got nuances, a great backstory with a fair share of suffering and the additional nosiness which makes her so special. She is sweet and caring to everyone who seems nice in her eyes. She cares about JW's mother (prior to knowng he's JW's mother so thers no point in saying she does it cuz of JW), cares about Suoh and is genuinely interested in his hobbies. Her character takes care of everyone because she's a med student (you can take a med's job away, but you can never take the job out of a med). This is what her character is about- taking care, worrying. Her purpose in Mucheon was (as we know by ep.13) to find what shes looking for, to find her way back. She is by no means not connected to eithe JW and SC but her story is canonically detached from both JW's and SC's- it takes part in a different pace, in a different setting and through a different lense and most of it happens off screen or throug her observig the people. We rarely get any of her POV's, unless it's either around Suoh or Geonoh. The other times when we do get a POV of her is when SC and JW and in the same frame. Then she is postitioned as the onlooker, the one who observes. When she is alone with JW she gets almost no POV, even less that focuses on her feelings towards him. But the most important thing I said already: her story is detached from SCJW. She grows alone unlike SCJW who grow together. She is that friendship JW needed to show him a part of humanity that got lost with his fake friends. She is to represent and tell that you do not need a large group of friends to feel at home. 

Then there is JW. Beautifully written full of nuances, a tragic yet amazing written backstory- easily to read as a story of someone being queer. A big group of friends, a beautiful home with loving parents and then you got the catalysator which sets the whole plot moving. While for JW it's murder, abuse, gaslighting by friends and people he thought were family, prison and finding new hope in humanity through one person- how can one not look at this and think "yeah it's somewhat reminiscent of someone coming out in a conservative country with traditional family values"? Family and friends ditching before the person can even stand up for themselves, people spreading venomous lies, all the guilt trips, that person shutting themselfs off retreating into their own little world. JW was obviously never meant to be read as such and some even might find this part weird, but it's undeniable he has those classic queercoding tropes. He finds true meaning in humanity again through HS and SC at the same time, yes, but it is SC alone who stands by his side the whole time- every single day. JW feels the safest around SC, falls asleep in his home (therefore also in his presence) and gives in to being taken care of only when SC is around, he also laughs at his dumbs jokes and makes sure to catch his reactions when he is sassy (handing out flyers scene or the scene at the scrapyard). JW is meant to not grow alone but together with someone else- and that someone is SC. who he shares the exact same pain with. He sees the good in people- he sees the good in SC so he keeps on pursuing him even when he would reject him. Because he can see himself in him. Because he feels he's different- just like him. (And isnt it like: Queer people know someone is queer when they see one?). We cannot forget him being a metaphor for Snow White which imo solidifies the queercoding in him even more and how he steps in to save SC and then again to support him by beating up those debt collectors. (Also, just a random little side note: I think it's funny how he's either loved or hated, there was no inbetween. BM and MS hated him, they were eaten up by jealousy; BY, NG, DE and the twins loved him (also again, random side note to me any anyone who cares: it's so easy to read the feelings GO felt towards JW prior and post time skip as more than just friendship tbh which again, adds to the queerness layer))

And then there is SC, just as complex and full of nuances like JW. Having an almost identical tragic backstory to hm even- losing the love of his life. While hes story is way more difficult to decipher as queercoding, his character is most definitely not. He is portrayed as rude and rough towards any criminal and at the beginning of the story we genuienly dont know where we stand with him with this ever fluxuating personality. He is hurt, struggles, doesn't even seem to know himself very well, has seen a lot and he also doesnt trust anyone (as seen when he immediately clocks BM as suspicious when the review the CCTV footage) except JW. How come he trusts him more, even after he had accused him of the hit and run accident, but is side eying everyone the moment the incident with the mother happens? When he should have more trust in his own people then defending and caring for a guy whos accused him of causing the car accident. Even when he finds out JW apparently killed the girls, his actions towards him are differet than the actions we see him taking against the guy he chases after in the beginning. We see him falter and struggle even more in the manhole when he's threatening to shoot JW, we see it again when they are at the shed and JW is reinacting the murder scene- he is reluctant. Even when using violence against JW. Because, just like him, SC feels they are the same. And it doesn't even take much time for him to switch side- we can see him questioning everything onwards from from episode 4 during their first team dinner. And when he switches side he suddenly becomes so soft and caring- completely taking on the role of a possible love interest in both drama, romance and fairytale. Because he has seen the good in JW, saw the same suffering, this unfair treatment. He is a character not meant to grow alone but together and this togethes is only JW. JW still has HS by his side but in SC's world there was only JW who shows him all aspects of what it means to be a good human being. It's through him he grows. 

Their shared journey:

To quote Leo Buscaglia again "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

And isn't this what SC's and JW's shared bond is about? How they grow with and around each other- thanks to each other.

The little things SC does to make JW more comfortable, to show him love still exists? He takes him home without thinking twice because he's worried he might get sick when he could've taken him back to his house. He dresses him up in his clothes, let him sleep on his couch, in his blankets, gives him something warm to eat and drink (the glass of milk will never stop making me sob), showers him in touches and shows him warmth through them, always reaching after him because he's afraid something might happen to him, watches out for him, observes his reactions and waits for him. The little things JW does to SC- giving him a reality check that not everything is as it seems, graduately bringing back his old personality, stays by his side.

It's how SC brings JW's smile back and how JW brings SC's smile back. Its how SC not once but twice declares his worries, adoration and love towards JW: once when he's so worried sick JW might get hurt so he installs that app on his phone and the second time when they say their "goodbyes"- those words are so easy to read, so full of love. The "if you move" highlighting just how much he wants and hopes JW to stay in his life a little longer. It's longing and we can clearly hear it in his voice when he says "I'm sure you can" right after the monologue and then tilts his head. It's how JW doesn't know how to approach him after this, contemplating what to do and then goes on for the hug first. This is JW's way of showing his love. 

And yet, despite it all there are still people who only see it as a bromance. Those who think JW and HS will end up together because they are at the same uni, study the same. And are a man and a woman. If either SC or JW would be a woman, no one would even bat an eye to think they aren't in love- no one would even come up with the idea to even ship JW and HS. If one of them was a woman, every little gesture would be seen as romantic, betting on it the drama would perhaps even be a lot more popular as well as the ship. It's so disheartening to see how many deny an obvious queercoding between them just because they are men and for the sake of a straight, not well manouvred, ship because again apparenlty many kdrama fans don't dare to ship queer.

We know Black Out/Snow white must die is a fairytale because it very much is just one of many iterations of a snow white and exactly because is one of many nothing is impossible and queerness is allowed to exist within it.

[nat-without-a-g]

DNDads Six Fanarts LGBT Ships PART TWO! I got some requests over tumblr, too, but with my current lineup of pages I won’t be reaching them until the next page and possibly beyond ^^; I’m really excited to get to them though and I hope y’all are okay with having to wait awhile. This was my first time drawing Mercedes with color and Schmegan at all!

Drawing Apple Pie made me fall in love, gotta love being a lesbian. I’m still taking ship requests! Again, there’s a Lot, but I’m going to get to as many as possible.

Base and link to first page under the cut!

Page 1

Page 3

[mintyeve322]

for anyone concerned by my writing style on my posts that my fic(s) might have no capital letters, random capital letters, or some other issue, i just wanted to clarify i type posts and messages very different from stories.

in stories I'll use proper punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar. (at least to the best of my ability) i just couldn't give two shits about that stuff while I'm rambling here.

just a warning or heads up, haha.

anyway, so that we're on topic, fiddlestan time below the cut.

I think their relationship is pretty quick to take off but slow to be official. i feel like Stan is so starved for affection that she's scared to acknowledge her feelings, especially since affection is sometimes just "platonic girl stuff". don't worry stan, overly affectionate heterosexual female friends drive me insane too.

on Fidd's part, i think she is hesitant to make things official because at first she's not sure if her feelings are genuine or if she's accidentally using Stan, but once she realized thats not it, she's still hesitant to say anything because she doesn't wanna make Stan uncomfortable if she's not right about her feelings.

Fidds is a people pleaser and unhinged as hell before she uses the memory gun, let alone afterwards, so she for sure has made or aquired some crazy shit as gifts for Stan. She for sure has made her at least one robot that malfunctioned and had to be decommissioned, she bought Stan a fish, I'll do some fish research to figure out what kind later but it has some sort of significance, to occupy the empty tank in the shack since Frilliam is lost at sea. She's probably helped Stan make exhibits and made a cryptid up that reminds her of Stan. I feel like she'd get gifts for Stan constantly, and Stan wouldn't know how to act about it because her instinct is to be skeptical of kindness but Fidds was her sister's friend and she hasn't asked Stan for anything in return and she doesn't know why.

Related to Stan's belief that affection is transactional, if Fidds ever gets nervous about the portal or if Stan keeps something from her, like why she got arrested last night or where she found a part and Fidds says she owes Fidds an explanation, Stan will shut down and probably cry in her room for an hour.

Stan is VERY worried that Fidds is gonna reveal one day that she's only there for some sort of payment or gain on her end, and if she even implies that Stan owes her something, Stan will spiral until Fidds is able to figure out the problem and apologize, even if she agrees that she does owe Fiddleford something for all she's done.

Related to this, there's probably a period of time where Fidds is working really hard, to the bone, for Stan. She hates not feeling useful and may have hit a road block she's trying to push through or something, and when Stan tells her to take a break, she interprets it as a sarcastic "just let me do it, idiot" comment and not the "please take a break im worried about you" way stan intended it, due to the fact Ford, with her one track mind, has been harsh to her in that way before.

Fidds is apologetic and swears she's almost got it she just needs more time and please don't maker her leave she promises she can do it, and Stan has to basically grab her, look her in the eyes, and tell her she just needs to take a break and come back later. Fidds says she just wants to be useful for Stan, and Stan tells her she doesn't care if she's useful, she just needs her there and burning herself out working on the project is not worth it. they have a long conversation about how even if fidds never worked on the project again Stan would still want her around and its sad and fluffy.

also a thing where stan gets frustrated and implies Fidds isnt useful and has to comfort her and insist that isn't what she meant because it genuinely wasn't what she meant agh i love miscommunication hurt/comfort

idk im rambling and i feel like we're all so busy unpacking Stan's trauma we forget that Fidds has very real trauma from her work with Ford that has plenty of hurt/comfort potential as well.

[mochinon-yah]

— YOUR LOVE.

(Alhaitham x Reader)

Your love was as passionate as the golden light shining through the open windows as you and your lover both lovingly look at each other in the morning. It was like this every single day. No amount of anger, fights, and pettiness could dissolve such wondrous moment from both of your life. You loved him, and he did too. He alone believed that it was an unbreakable fact.

He also remembered how much you loved every other little things in the world. The way your eyes would shine brightly at the sight of a cat. Your cat, to be exact. You always said that its grey fur reminded you of him, even the cat's stoic-like personality was similar to him as well. It was funny, really. He never liked it when people speak nonsense, just like what you did then, but oh boy, did he fell deeper in love with you after you said that. It was truly funny. Love had always been such a foreign concept, yet he tried to learn it as best as he could. He wanted to love you as much as you do to him. But with you now gone, who will be the one to teach him?

He can't let another have a go through his heart. You were already enough. It was only you who could fill that empty abyss of a heart. Knowing that there was no way of bringing you back, he fell into a lonely road of remembrance. He missed you all too well. He missed you every time his consciousness returned after being woken up from his slumber. He missed you. Your warm embrace was now left with him only trying to gain warmth from the sun's light.

From the start of the morning till the end of the moon shining, he missed you. It was just you, you, and you in his mind.

You just loved too much, and it hurts him. The blues, the greens, the greys, and even him. He, who you said was one of the most insufferable men that you've known, was loved by such a charming person. He was loved by none other than you. So, with you now gone, he couldn't quite imagine how hard the pain would inflict itself on him. Ironically enough, it went beyond the imagined.

Maybe that was why he stayed coop up inside his house after the announcement of your death. Maybe that was why all the mirrors inside his house was thrown away into the storage room. Maybe that was why he couldn't look at himself normally anymore. He, himself, reminded him of you. The way you would always compliment his cat-like eyes, his grey hair, and his cold yet warm approach made him stayed in that particular past—not wanting to move into a future where you did not exist. He did not want to exist.

All he wanted now was to be by your side, yet that was impossible. After all, he promised you. He promised to live well, even if you were gone now.

"I tried to live as best as I could, love, but it's hard. With you gone, I feel like the whole world has stopped working too. It was all too sudden, and I was forced to try and accept it. But, I just can't. Now, I'm sitting here on our old couch, looking through the window as the light of the sun hits me once again. Yet, there's something missing. After looking around, i found the problem. It's you, my dear. You are not in my arms, and it pains me to realise that. I cannot live without you, but you made me promise that exact reality. I have to go on living in this pathetic world with you not in it. Ah... I miss you, love, and I miss your love."

- Alhaitham, your beloved.

[lizzybeeee]

(Same anon) It's also just a lot harder for me because Solas in Inquisition was trying to take down the Veil in a world that was genuinely shitty to elves, mages, and spirits (nvm that until this game I was 100% sure that he was trying to do this more for the ancient elves, like why else imply there are more out there to Abelas? I guess he was just being polite?) Veilguard depicts Thedas as being largely okay with mages and spirits even outside of Tevinter and pointedly doesn't depict racism against elves outside a handful of throwaway lines. So they had him going at this with the same conviction from DAI, of a man trying to reverse the slow genocide of his people, but they've boiled his motivations down to "The Veil is unnatural" Like. How much more awesome if we could have convinced him not to destroy the world because of a culmination of choices in this game and all the others that made Thedas a kinder place idk man. ngnegnwgnf sorry for ranting in your inbox, I still liked Solas enough in this game but it was really bittersweet that they just dumbed down his motivations. I love your idea for influencing the Inky though, it definitely should have been a choice closer to the end and allowed for more variations (ideally all Inkies should have that, not just the Solavellans)

Hello again, Anon! :)

100% agree that the sanitization of the world and lore absolutely hurts Solas's motivations - especially if you look at it solely from what Veilguard gives us and with no background from previous games. All of the previous games, mostly Origins, were really effective in conveying how shit life could be for an elf - and how inbuilt this prejudice against the elves was in all aspects of Thedas.

The chant of light removing the canticle of Shartan, the march on the Dales, the struggles of the Dalish to simply live, the treatment of elves by the ruling class/chantry/ and others in general...it all painted such a bleak outlook for the elves and showed how ingrained this prejudice was in all aspects of Thedas. They had no way out - the structures of power in Thedas would fight them at every turn - which was why Solas being set up as a way for them to fight against all these systems was so compelling! You want the elves to win - but it will be at the cost of everything else if Solas goes ahead with his plan.

(You can definitely also make an argument that perhaps he's using them just to restore the world from before -> Felassan argued with him about this: to see the world as it was as real and worth improving.)

DATV felt divorced from the previous games, and its reluctance to meaningfully go into issues surrounding the lives of elves in Thedas - all the ugliness that brings - really did nothing to add to Solas's motivations for bringing down the Veil. If anything, I got the impression that he does not see anyone in Thedas as being 'real' and that he's simply doing it out of regret and to soothe his own ego/guilt. If this game wanted me to be sympathetic towards Solas it didn't do a good job of making me feel it, especially when you look at the totality of everything that Solas has done.

What I took from Trespasser was that Solas wanted to heal the wound he had left on the world - the Veil - and what he had inadvertently done to the elves. He had given everything he had to free the elven people from oppression and tyranny, only to inadvertently leave them vulnerable to the same oppression from others -> taking away their magic and long lives in the process. He was so blinded by his goal (stopping the evanuris) that he failed to see what his own actions might have wrought in the process.

Trespasser set up the 'Elven Rebellion 2.0' with a Solas who was torn between the world he once knew and the world it had become in spite of his intentions. Does he truly care about the elven people in current Thedas? Or does he just care about the world that came before? In DAI he was such a fascinating character because he could be so polarizing! People loved him! People hated him! Both were correct!

But starting the game with the ritual, sanitizing the world (no real signs of conflicts about spirits, mages, elves, anything really etc...), and simplifying his motivations to "fix fade -> be immortal/magic -> profit"...it just feels so shallow.

Solas: "Long before we met, I failed my oldest friend. She died for that failure. If I leave the Veil in place, I am destroying the world she wanted."

He spells his motivations out pretty clearly at the end and it's just...Mythal? He doesn't seem to care about the elves that are currently living in Thedas - not even Lavellan. Like you said, in Tresspasser I also got the impression that he wanted stop the slow genocide of his people. But apparently it was 'Mythal All Along'!

The lack of supporters/agents really gives him no credence to say that this is anything that the elves want - elven Rook can even call him out on it and he doesn't care. For a character whose own trauma began with bring coerced into a body he didn't want he doesn't give a shit about doing the same to thousands of other elves.

It's far less compelling, to me at least, than what I felt was set up in DAI: the Dread Wolf, god of rebellion, rallying elves after ages of systematic abuse and oppression with the goal of liberating his people and restoring the world that was - the world he inadvertantly denied them with the consequences of his actions. Instead it's just Solas doing his own thing because he's right and he needs to fix what he did wrong for Mythal.

It would have been great to be able to convince him to change his mind/ pursue another path as a result of the culmination of our actions throughout the series. It could be a nice nod to our past decisions and a nice conclusion to see the results of those choice in missives/codex entries. Same as the 'south can repel the blight' counter idea, have their be some kind of 'convince Solas to pursue another option' tally that demonstrates that this world is willing to change and he should be too.

[grunklefordpines]

HELLO. I HAVE A QUERIE.

IN YOUR JOURNAL, YOU VERY FORMALLY REFER TO SHERMIE AS "SHERMAN PINES", AS OPPOSED TO THE CASUAL TONE IN WHICH YOU REFER TO STANLEY SIMPLY BY FIRST NAME, OR EVEN AS JUST YOUR BROTHER.

I AM UNABLE TO DECIPHER WHY. IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT?

ALSO, WHO THE [FREAK] EVEN IS SHERMIE.

— A VERY CONFUSED READER.

Well,

He’s my and Stanley’s brother.

I’m somewhat estranged from Sherman, though—He doesn’t know me as well as he knows Stan and the kids—

To him, I am one half of the memory that remains in a childhood bedroom once shared by two brothers.

—I try to keep in touch, though.

[buff-muffin]

Marineford spoilers :(

Do you

Do you ever think about the guilt Ace must have felt in his last moments of life. Luffy told him “being alone hurts worse then anything” and he knows since sabo is gone. He’s leaving Luffy alone. Like he KNOWS Luffy has his crew. And he knows they would do anything for him. But he also knows your crew and your brother are two different things. He’s leaving him alone. He’s hurting Luffy more than any injury he could suffer in this stupid war over him could.

[archerlullaby]

There aren’t enough TOTK comes back to the Chain fics out there so I figured I would write one. Hurt/Comfort, some angst, and some self-worth doubts. TOTK Link needs a hug tbh. Also, This is a Zelda slander fic, though I don’t directly hate her she kinda gets on my nerves in totk. MY BOI IS JUST SO TIRED LET HIM SLEEP PLZ.

Weariness and Worth

He was just so damn tired. He tried to be patient. He tried to put on the “Hero Façade”. But his resolve had begun to splinter with each passing moment alongside the princess.

He dragged his feet to the nearest cooking pot as Zelda strode purposefully up the Lookout Landing staircase. As soon as she got her wits about her after falling from the sky, she vehemently insisted that Purah is the first one she needed to see. It had only been a few hours since he had dragged her out of that lake, his body aching from his fight against the literal incarnate of evil, and the first thing she focused on was how she was home. How she needed to talk to Purah. How she needed a change of clothes. How she, who was a dragon for 10,000 years thank you very much, would like a good, hearty, home cooked meal, so Link, could you whip something up while I talk to Purah, please and thank you? He sighed, and all but collapsed at the edge of the fire, eyes starting to close of their own accord. The others in Lookout Landing all but ignored him, the Princess taking up all the attention while she smiled and waved as the individuals around her practically worshiped the ground she walked on.

“You look pretty worn out there son,” the elderly stablemaster chuckled, startling Link out of his stupor. This old man was the only one not rushing to greet the princess, and is instead settled a couple yards away from the cooking pot, his gnarled walking stick leaning against the inside of his knee. Link did his best to give him a smile, but only came up with a strangled-looking grimace. In the very least, he was grateful somebody at least acknowledged him. The stablemaster sighed.

“If only I was younger, maybe I’d have a chance with the young lady. I used to be something of a hero myself back in the day. Now all I got are my horses and these old bones!” He laughed, rapping a knuckle against his knee. “You are one lucky young man!”

Link’s grimace turned into a scowl. Yet again was he fooled into thinking someone cared about him. How naive of him. He stood and turned away from the old man, taking the Purah Pad from his hip. After stoking the fire, he decided on meat and rice balls. However while flicking absentmindedly through the Purah Pad for ingredients, he felt a very deep, sharp ache slam into his ribs. The pain gnawed at him like a wild beast, quickly buckling his knees and knocking the wind out of his lungs as his butt hit the ground. He gingerly felt around his chest, and came to the conclusion that becoming a dragon’s chew toy probably wasn’t the healthiest thing for ribs. He chuckled darkly. At least his shining sense of humor survived. The amusement was short lived, however, and tears pricked the corner of his eyes when he realized he used all his healing potions during the fight against Ganondorf, and that nobody, not even the stablemaster a stride away, cared enough to come to his aid. Everyone was so enthralled with that Princess. He fought the urge to bury his face in his arms and cry because he’s the Hero, the Chosen One, the Sworn Protecter of the Crown. Instead, he gathered himself quietly, stood, clipped the Purah Pad back to his hip, and hobbled out the southern gate without barely a glance towards the gathered crowd.

It had been an hour when he finally stopped walking, or rather, when his legs gave out and he flopped to the grass. The sun was just touching the western edge of the world, dew and darkness creeping into Hyrule Field as crickets began to sing. He knew he should go somewhere safer, somewhere where the wolves and the monsters wouldn’t catch his scent, but he could hardly keep his eyes open, and the smell of the earth and grass was so encompassing that he couldn’t bring himself to care about the danger. So instead, he closed his eyes and peacefully listened to the sounds of the coming night. That is, until his thoughts caught up to him. Coward, they called him. Abandoning duty for some pitiful, self-absorbed notion that he should be recognized, awarded, for accomplishing that for which he was destined to accomplish. These thoughts swirled through his head and screamed in his ears until he thought he would be deafened by the voices themselves.

That is, until the familiar and oh-so-welcome sound of time and space being torn open met his ears. Link blearily stumbled to his feet, and was met with the sight of a portal suspended in air just to his right. It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. He’s Link, he doesn’t get this type of fortune in his life. He felt like he could cry as he tripped over his feet and fell just a step away from the entrance, the burn in his side stealing away his breath. He only paused for a moment as he considered what this meant. He would disappear again, the people of Hyrule clueless as to where he went. Zelda clueless as to where he went. He bit back a bitter smile. She’ll just have to find him this time. Perhaps it was cruel, but he found that he couldn’t bring himself to care. So, on his hands and knees he dragged himself to the very edge and lurched through the swirling colors.

It was so warm, so gentle, so peaceful to just lie floating in the darkness. This didn’t feel like the icy cold waters of the shrine of resurrection, nor was it similar to the dark and damp cave he woke up in on the sky islands. No, this felt like a warm, thick wool blanket wrapped itself around his body, a soft embrace. Perhaps it was the downy feathers of the soft bed in Rito Village. Or maybe, Link mused, this was the water bed at the Seabed Inn in the Zora Domain. Sidon had spoke about a warming technology for the beds Kayden was trying to develop. Whatever it was, Link wanted to stay in it forever. Unfortunately, this peace was cut short.

“Cub? Wild, please look at me.” A familiar voice cut through the fog as he started to come around. His body changed from warmth to and almost refreshingly cool, as if aloe had been spread over a burn. A gentle magic encompassed him, one that was similar to Mipha’s, though less like a bubbling stream and more like that of the sun in the deep woods. He sighed, and snuggled further into the comfort that called to him. “Cub. CUB. Link!” Something tickled his nose, and it quickly pulled him away from soft darkness and into an irritating light. He blinked his eyes open all the way and was met with the welcome sight of a face donning a single black mark upon his forehead.

“Twi?” He muttered, voice raspy from lack of use.

“Oh, Wild, what happened to you?” Twilight asked, voice thick with emotion. Wild opened his mouth to reply before Twilight shook his head. “It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is that you’re okay.”

“Damn right. You fell through that portal and straight into Time’s lap. You’re lucky he wasn’t wearing his armor. You would’ve ended up with a concussion to add to your broken ribs!” Several chuckles came from the group, and a hearty laugh rang from Warriors. Hyrule, with his hands alighted on Wild’s side, looked pleased with his joke. Twilight merely shook his head and brushed his hand through Wild’s bangs. Wild had a thought to bat the hand away, but the worrying felt so good, so needed, that he found himself leaning into the touch, and, as Twilight continued his ministrations, Wild couldn’t help the tears that began to leak from the corner of his eyes for a second time that day. He brushed them away quickly and palmed his eyes.

“Sorry. M’fine,” he said gruffly, “Help me get up please.”

Twilight opened his mouth to protest, but Wild was already trying to shuffle himself out of Time’s lap when large hands, one on his forehead and the other on his shoulder, gently pushed him back down.

“Rest, Wild. You have no need to push yourself now. Your family is here to care for you,” Time’s voice rumbled from his chest, soft but demanding.

“But—”

“No arguing.”

Wild relented, and settled back into Time’s embrace, eyes feeling heavier than he would like to admit. Though despite the welcoming tendrils of sleep that curled around his consciousness, he couldn’t find it within himself to give in, not yet.

“What’s the matter, Cub?” Twilight still knelt next to him and Time while the others had begun to set out their bedrolls. Wild merely shook his head.

“It’s just-” he swallowed, “I’m afraid if I fall asleep, everyone will be gone when I wake up,” he whispered, embarrassment turning his head and closing his eyes so the others couldn’t see his face. “That always happens to me.”

He shouldn’t be saying this. He’s the Hero. The Savior of Hyrule. He doesn’t get to show weakness. Wild doesn’t want to open his eyes and see what surely must be disappointment on Time’s face, or disgust in Twilight’s eyes. Only a gentle warmth along his side breaks him from his thoughts. He looks down hesitantly and is met with the wide eyes of Wind, who has taken residence tucked along Wild’s hip, an arm thrown across his chest. The youngest gave him the biggest smile he could muster.

“It’s okay to be scared. I promise I’ll stay right here until you wake up in the morning. Even if you snore,” Wind said, and snuggled closer into his side. Time shifted, lying down close as Twilight tucks his pelt under Wild’s head.

“We all will,” the eldest reassured. It was only then Wild allowed himself a small smile. The doubts still ate at him, but they were lessening in their ferocity. The tiredness he felt before settled deep in his bones, an exhaustion so deep it slowed his breathing and finally closed his eyes, and finally, finally, he could sleep.

[allthetropes]

OKAY, AO3 CHILDREN, GATHER ROUND

peek = verb = to take a look

peak = noun OR verb = the summit, to come to the highest point

pique = verb = to rouse

The boy peeked around the corner at the peak of the mountain, his interest piqued by the noise he was hearing. If I have to read one more fic that says something like "this will peek your interest" i'm gonna lose it

oh, that's another one

lose = verb = to fail or misplace [looz]

loose = adjective = baggy, not tight [loos]

and while I'm at it

affect = verb = to change

effect = noun = a change

blond = adj = male with yellow hair

blonde = adj = female with yellow hair

brunet = adj = male with brown hair

brunette = adj = female with brown hair

fiancé = adj = male betrothed

fiancée = adj = female betrothed

( yes all of those suck, blame the french )

revenge = noun = a victim gets their own back on the person that made them suffer

avenge = verb = back-pay is given to a bad person in the name of their victim but not by the victim themselves

desert = noun = large wasteland

dessert = noun = meal course, typically at the end of the meal, usually consisting of something sweet

breathe = verb = to inhale and exhale

breath = noun = the air that is inhaled or exhaled

bridal = adj = belonging to a woman on her wedding day

bridle = noun = tack for around a horse's head (can also sometimes be a verb meaning to restrict and lead somebody or something)

[oneroomjestershow]

Haii!! Rlly hope you're doing okay! Just wanted you to know I really admire and appreciate you and your artworks and I loove seeing stuff abt your ocs and I loved doing interactions with Eli and hope we can do more in the future maybeheheheh👉🏻👈🏻

I think you're a really nice and amazing person and hope you're able to achieve your goals!! take care silly!! ^^

*gives u hugs and strawberry candies for good luck* 🫂🫂🫂

stroberiiiii,,.,.

and I appreciate YOU!!! im sure your support and comments have made a lot of creators happy and motivated to keep drawing or posting..myself included

imreally grateful for your presence here and your support aaaaaaa

just you wait until i get my energy and joy and whimsy back (i’ve been kind of stressed and my mind kind of weird) i want to do more oc interactions too aaa its so fun but i haven’t been able to think about them that much these weeks

🫂 (i didn't know if Aiko liked hugs i thought maybe if she doesn't like her body breaking she would be carefull about them so the hug kind of looks awkward because of that KAJSHDKJASDJ)

youu know when i was reading the message i teared up a little (iwas kind of stressed inthe moment so i was happy to read it) and i couldn't see well because of the tears so i read candies as candles and i was like wait what i make a ritual with these and drew that but then i read it again just now and it's candies 😭😭😭 but i found it funny so im still putting this in

omnomnom thank youuu<3

[brown-little-robin]

あ

[leafyloveslaughing]

[ford-between-dimensions]

Your back! So glad to see you again! (Every spelling mistake I make is a personal attack at you.)

You might wanna fix the rest of you’re “blog” though.

My back is fine. Do you understand the confusion?

And your second sentence doesn’t even begin to make sense.

[secret-smut-sideblog]

The Lamb

Lavellan × Blackwall

PG-13 - mutual longing, crossed signals, tenderness, battle, explicit violence, drug use (sort of), self-sacrifice

The rift set to be closed once and for all, Vella hopes to spend one last night in his arms. The world set to crash down around them, she must finally sleep...

Masterlist, Prev Chapter

-

"I have to ask... what was I like in that dark future you saw?"

I watched you die.

Vella focused her breath even. Going forward like that... it was her personal hell. Her foresight made manifest around her. The whole world burning. Watching him fall. The crack of his head against the stone floor, the light gone from his eyes.

I saw everything. I couldn't stop it. It was everywhere.

When they returned, she kept her poise just long enough. Doubled over into the snow of Haven's forest, rocking on hands and knees, wailing into her palm.

"You fought till your last breath. You gave everything. Your men would have been proud."

Blackwall paused, seeming to consider her praise.

"Then I was worth something in the end. Thank you."

"You're worth something now, Blackwall." She nudged his calf with her foot. The shingles under her thighs shifting slightly.

"Am I?" He hushed, looking out over the low sun settling on Haven. The bells of the chantry hung witness behind them.

"I think so." She smiled. Looping her pinky over his. "My perspective must count for something."

"You're... it means everything." He turned to her. Eyes heavy with adoration. But trepidation still hung noose from his words.

She knocked her shoulder into his playfully.

"I'm something, that's for sure. Bad news, usually."

She smiled sadly, retreating her pinky from his. She ached for him, but he had set up his boundary, and she would honor it. If nothing else, she could give him that.

"You were smart to get out when you did. I have nothing to offer you, old man. My future is... well, it's not something you write in romance novels."

"But I'm happy to be here now." She sighed, looking out over their small world. Letting her feet swim slowly. "This is good."

Something was coming.

She could avoid filling her connection to her god. Keep herself awake until dawn. Walk endless circles. But she could still feel it.

Something was coming.

"You should get some rest. I'll come down soon, okay?" She stood, then paused. Leaning down, she kissed his brow. Silently transmitting her thoughts to him.

All I want is you. Maybe in the next life.

"Don't wait up." She whispered, his wide eyes a siren song.

Taking the ledge of the roof in her fingers, she dropped down before he could stop her. She didn't know if she could let go if he stopped her. But she couldn't imagine him being so cruel.

They were from too different of worlds. He could see that. Even without knowing the madness set to hang her from the family tree, she was Dalish. What future could he want with her?

She shook her head. Better to leave him to someone more suited. Maybe Josephine, she seemed to glance at him with the same furtive blush. Yes, Josephine would be lovely.

Like all things, she had to let him go. The ache she carried would not bury her.

Something was coming, and she had to prepare.

-

Blackwall sat with his head in his hands. Pressing the heels of his palms into the ridge of his eyes.

The ache for her was eating him alive.

That she, somehow, thought she wasn't enough for him made him nauseous with guilt. How could she be anything less than his whole world?

Maker, she's an angel. Anyone could see. How could she not see?

He willed the threatening tears to retreat.

How had he been fool enough to let her go?

The door to the stables hushed open.

They had been sleeping side by side, comforted in each other's presence. Though she usually didn't sneak in until the moon was high above. It endeared him how she would tiptoe around him, no idea how light of a sleeper battle worn years had made him.

He startled, quickly composing with a grunt.

"Vella? I didn't expect you this early."

She rushed inside, falling into his arms with a shaken breath.

He froze, only for a moment, then wrapped deep into her. Falling back into the blanket, pressing his face into the curve of her shoulder.

Maker, she was so warm.

"Thank you..." She breathed, then went slack in his arms. Breathing soft and slow.

She was asleep.

He blinked.

He had always taken the pacing as insomnia. Happy to accompany her in the sweet quiet as she walked. Silence with her felt full, like the quiet he enjoyed on his own.

But now he saw it was something more.

He pulled her over him, taking up her perfect weight. Her leg naturally curled up his hip, head turned on his chest. Slow breath a tide on his throat as she turned up into him. Eyes fluttering with movement under her lids.

He pressed his lips to the crown of her head. Hand gently caressing up and down her back. A peace he had rarely tasted settled heavy over him. Melting so sweet on his tongue.

"I've waited so long for you." He hushed. "Thank you."

She was deep in rest. Only small movements of her head gave any sense of dreaming.

"Where are you, my light?" He whispered, smiling at her.

Her movements quieted. Seeking his hand on his chest, twining it into hers.

"Oh..." He sighed. Heart full and so terribly heavy at once. Focusing to this moment. He could carry this forever. But he was drifting.

Please, just a moment more.

But her tide was too strong. Pulling him out to sea.

-

"Do you remember this, Ghilana?" She smiled at her stag, pressing her clay painted palm to his flank. Adding a dark raven in soot. "Mm, I can't call my clan. Well..."

She painted an eye on his other flank, under Blackwall's shield. "I have that."

Her body went rigid, hissing a breath through clenched teeth.

The sight hadn't been so strong since she was a child. Her mind was five steps ahead already, events playing out behind her eyes that hadn't yet arrived. Too fast to parse, overwhelming her senses.

Ghilana nipped at her thigh.

She went slack again, breath ragged.

"Sorry for this." She sighed, tying bundles of elfroot to his antlers. "I hope the smoke doesn't get in your eyes. But I can't go mad on the battlefield."

She kneeled next to the small fire, breathing in deep from the elfroot there. The tempest quieting just enough.

You're out of time, girl.

She gathered the red clay, pulling under her eyes. Feeling all she needed to feel. Soot over her eyes. It was all here. Clay slicked over her arms. It always was with her.

This was her people. This was all of time. She had been here before.

Hurry. Her father's voice whispered in her ear. They're here.

She took a deep exhale, then pulled her eyes to the mountains.

Taking her mount in one leap, she took off like a shot. Hooves thunder under her. Lighting the elfroot in cupped hands. Coming down from the forest in a burning curtain.

Ghilana leapt over the wall of Haven. She zeroed in on the gate.

There.

The blonde boy entered, Cassandra pulling him inside. Her party gathered, staring up at the approaching army with panicked eyes.

Cole. Templars. Old God.

She leaned down on Ghilana's side, scooping him under his arms. Spinning him behind her. The gallop of her mount an easily pull of momentum. His leg hitched up over and held on tight.

"Get everyone to the chantry! Soldiers, defend the trebuchet line at all costs!"

She took off again, Cole wrapped around her waist.

"How many?" She shouted back to him.

"Too many! You can't defend this place!"

"And their leader?"

"An Elder One! You took his mages!"

"So I did." She sighed, rounding up to the chantry. "Go. We'll hold them off."

Cole dropped off of Ghilana.

Secrets. Help. Rogue.

He stared up at her.

"Your eyes..." He breathed.

She didn't have a looking glass, but she knew the silver glow radiated regardless.

"Don't tell the others. Go, Cole."

He nodded, hurrying inside with the crowd.

She pulled her bow from her back, staring down at the soldiers fighting their way to the trebuchet.

Leaning her head back, she took a deep pull of the smoke.

Show me.

It all appeared to her as she rode. Ghilana's antlers low, ripping men to the ground. She fired down, again and again. Her aim true. It had already happened. She was always here.

Count, girl. You will lose yourself. Take count.

"Three." She hissed under her breath, a man crumpled as an arrow entered his ear.

"Four." An arrow cut across a throat.

She searched the battlefield. Her body all instinct behind her. Where was he?

"Five."

At the Singing Maiden, Blackwall charged forward, slamming his shield into a throng of men. Cutting through them with great swings of his sword.

She smiled. Closing the distance, she fired an arrow straight into the eye of a man trying to rush him. Dropping him in a heap.

Blackwall looked up, his eyes wide.

"Focus, soldier!" She barked, a wide smile on her face.

He smiled back, charging forward again. A war cry ripping from him.

She leapt Ghilana over burning rubble, the trebuchet pulling closer. The hiss of her count all she could hear.

"Thirteen. Fourteen."

Cullen was braced against his shield, sword flung from his hand. Defending the trebuchet with all his might.

Ghilana trampled through the hoarde, antlers cutting them down in great swings. Vella grabbed the last of the burning elfroot, leaping off of his back. The way clear for now.

"Take Ghilana! Go!" She shouted to Cullen.

He snatched his sword and climbed on, Ghilana kneeling for him. Looking at her like the mad thing she was.

"Reinforcements are coming!" He shouted.

"I know! Get the others to the chantry!" She gathered the elfroot into her teeth. The smoke curling into her nose as she fired along the ridge below.

Cullen took off, and she rushed to the wheel.

Steady, focus.

She turned it, seeing the time she had between waves. Feeling how little elfroot she had left on the burn of her lips.

There would be enough time. There would.

A flash of dark.

Blackwall's shield filled behind her, and her panic was gone. She turned back to the wheel.

Almost. Almost.

There.

The trebuchet lifted, swinging out to the mountain. The impact shook the earth as a distant boom filled the air, and the snow began its killing wave. Careening down the side of the mountain, torch light devoured in its hunger.

The cheers of her people filled her ears. The elfroot was spat out as its flame met the wet of her teeth. She closed her eyes. Blackwall gathered her in his arms, burying his face in her hair. She leaned into him, then seized.

Her head was ripped upwards, breath leaving her. Eyes wide on where it was about to be. Gripping his forearm.

"Dragon! Dragon!" She shouted, but it was too late.

A wall of flame took the trebuchet, knocking them back.

He pulled her to her feet, eyes wide. She clenched her eyes shut tightly, another wave of sight forcing her body rigid.

"Chantry! Tunnel!" She shuddered through clenched teeth. Eyes rolled up under fluttered lids.

"The townspeople!" Blackwall urged, lifting her onto his shoulders, taking off in a run.

"Cullen! Cullen has them!"

Her body one tight muscle on his back, she fought the madness eating her. Too much. Too much.

"What's happening?" Cullen shouted, urging people running into the doors.

"I don't know! She's hurt!"

He lowered her against a wall. Her eyes still lost in a flutter. The fever began. There was something in her, and her body wanted it out. She pulled at her armor in delirious yanks.

Blackwall grabbed her arms, his eyes bright with panic.

Solas appeared next to her. Falling to a kneel.

"Breathe." He held a bundle of smoke to her.

She pulled deep into the elfroot, gasping out. Her mind untangling. The blood trickling from her nose an aftershock.

"Breathe, breathe." He soothed, rubbing her back. "You did well, somniari."

Dreamer.

She wanted to laugh.

Her sense returned, lowering her eyes from their call upwards. Breathing in deep steady pulls.

The gathered party licked their wounds around her. Many bodies slumped like hers.

"There's a tunnel behind the wall." She pointed. "It leads out. Take everyone through."

The Chancellor's eyes roved over weakly from his seat against a beam. Smiling in a knowing way.

"He says he's sorry." Cole lowered his eyelids as he went still.

"I know." She sighed, Blackwall lifting her to her feet.

"You must take them. You will get through." She commanded to Cullen. "Take supplies."

"What is that out there?" He urged.

"Ugh!" She seized over, another wave.

Herald. Burn. Bury.

"Cole said it wants only me. It will take this place."

"So our only choice is how spitefully we end this..." He laughed coldly.

She nodded, raising her eyes again. Cupping a wound on her side she didn't even feel. Grateful for the cover.

They can't know.

"Alright, then! With me!" Cullen called.

-

Blackwall turned to her. His angel of death. Bleeding and shaken. A terrifying force to be reckoned, riding into battle on a burning stag. Descending from heaven in the fury of all of her people. Painted in red and black.

Every part of their battle had been her. Cutting through and urging at just the right moments. Ballads would be written and books would be bound.

"Vella, I..." He drew forward.

Her eyes fluttered up into lids again, and he moved forward to catch her. Eyeing the blood pooled between the fingers cupping her side.

But her head fell back as her eyes fully closed, a small sigh pushed through her lips. Smiling as her eyes lowered back to his.

She cupped his cheek in her hand, that relaxed smile sending a crawl of dread up his back.

She stared deep into him. Speaking a soft sentence in Elvish.

"Lathbora viran... ma ghilana mir din'an."

Then she was gone.

He felt her hand pull away and grabbed blindly for it.

"No!" He gasped, grasping at air. She was invisible. She was gone.

Cullen gripped his shoulder.

"We must go!"

"No!" He shouted, panic cutting his throat raw. "No, she's-"

"Blackwall!"

Her stag came to him, already laden with supplies.

"No! Please I-"

But he was pulled along, Cassandra urging forward on his back.

"She gave us a chance, honor that." She urged. "We need you. We need your help."

An all-consuming grief he couldn't hold yet sat swollen behind his chest. She was right. He steeled his will with everything he had and mounted Ghilana. Taking up the front in a tap on his side. Frozen forward in a numb haze.

-

Vella woke in a slump. Rising her eyes as her hand burned. Rolling on her side into a kneel.

The caves stretched out far before her. She focused, but her sight had drained. She was on her own.

Shuffling to feet, she moved through the cold tunnel. Her side ached, but had stopped bleeding. She downed the last health potion she had and felt some vigor return to her.

Two wraiths descended on her in a cistern. She held up her hand reflexively, and a great blast emitted from the mark. Obliterating them entirely.

"That's new." She sighed weakly.

The biting wind came through a tunnel ahead and she followed obediently. The world opened to her vast and white. A swirling static of nothing.

So she had been right.

"I died." She sighed, closing her eyes. "It's over."

Not quite.

The kind voice, from so long ago, filled her head.

She looked out over her purgatory.

"Of course." She laughed.

You know what comes next.

She did.

She began to walk.

~

Next Chapter

[not-poignant]

how do ao3 authors generally (or you specifically!) feel about readers pointing out small spelling/grammar mistakes? i sometimes tack it on to a comment i’ve already written, but am not sure if it’s helpful or a breach of etiquette or something.

Hi anon!

I imagine every author feels differently. I'm generally fine with it, as long as it's something I can fix in like a minute (so a typo, a grammatical error). If it's something bigger like a continuity error that's going to take hours / days to fix then it's like 'I do not see it and I would like if you also pretended not to see it' lmao

That being said, if a reader only comments to correct grammar and doesn't talk about liking or enjoying the chapter, it can sometimes feel a bit pedantic, or like they're not even enjoying the process. So it doesn't hurt to just...also say you're enjoying the chapter at the time lol. If you're tacking it on to comments you've already written, for me that's perfectly fine and really helpful! I usually fix the error ASAP even if I don't reply to the comment immediately.

It's also completely fine if someone wants to reach out to me privately to point out a grammar/spelling/punctuation thing but don't want it to be seen in the comments! I've had people reach out via Discord or through the Ask system here so I can go and fix something in a chapter. So for folks who feel a bit like maybe they shouldn't (though it is okay!) you can try reaching out privately too.

Different authors feel differently about it! I overall find it really helpful, especially in things that are the easiest for me to miss (like substituted names which editing software won't pick up, or a dropped word) - but all of it's helpful if it makes for a smoother reading experience for everyone.