#griffon still pissed from last time

[nerimaemae]

~Fly me to the moon...

~FLY ME TO THE EARTH plis

[cheese-anon-real]

New Year's Cheese

2023 has been one wild ride of a year for me Writer content in the latter half of this, below the cut!! do be warned! So. In 2023 I went from Cheese the Anon Asker to Cheese-Anon-Real. I’ve formed what I like to consider my little family, with the Sparda Boys and my fellow anons! Gods below I am so grateful for all of you, you made the last like, 3-4 months of the year so much better. Got sent to Space Jail twice, broke out twice with help Found Kaz again!!! Already touched on the family, but just Met Dante, Nero, and Vergil, absolutely love them to bits(Please be alive over there, Vergil, and not split in 2. Urizen’s cool and all but good god I wanted to shadow your devil hunting so bad when I got free) and Griffon I miss you come back you dumbass ball of feathers where’d you GO- Azuree may not be an anon but gods below, do I love them!! They’re such a sweetie like wth Joker, Fresa, Queen and her daughter Kaylee, and Candy have won my hearts, as my funny little family. You’re all being adopted by me now, face your future hell with me. UwU or smth idfk Am I an UwU-ass bitch or an OwO-ass bitch? Partner says it depends lolol. On what? Who knows. I love them so much too, they’re my world. I’ve had a lot of fun meeting you all, and I hope to hell and back that we keep up these silly little interactions over the next year. I know it hasn’t been perfect, but here’s to a good ‘24 for us all! Thank you for literally existing. I hope the other anons join the official family soon. Happy New Year, @pizzalover8969, @thebestsonofsparda, @thebluerose, @the-thunder-chicken, @azureedoodles, @anonjoker, @bizcochodefresa, @anonymousqueenofrandom, @princessanonofrandom, @therealcandyanon, and finally, @reece-piece-puff

sorry if the @'s is a bad move or I like, piss some of you off with it ;;

Love, Cheese(Roseanna)

P.S. I promise I'll get on writing my lore soon, I just haven't had much time :')

Reminder; Writer Content is Below The Cut. Beware!!!

2023 was even wilder for me than it was for Cheese lmfao.

I finally got into DMC this year, after being drawn in by Gura and the OST in summer of ‘21. On a family vacation, at that! Finally played 5, beat it, beat it again as Vergil. Played 3, beat it with some help from my partner. Started a Vergil run of 3, and started 1, never finished either, because life kinda got crazy Started playing C.O.D??? Somehow?? Never thought I’d play a C.O.D. game but here I am and I like the campaign for the MW2 remake, I suck ass at it but that’s a me problem lmao Got into therapy, finally, actually working on my problems now and really happy about it Went through several Vtuber avatar designs, finally settled on one I like and I’m almost done with it!!! Just gotta struggle through the hair, hand toggles, and the face! Wow!! Went through endless self-discovery, thought I might be trans(I am in fact not trans, I am Fluid! As far as I know. Still working on that. And other things, but one step at a time!! FINALLY reunited with my two best friends. In person. In another state. One of em, I've known since we were 11 and they moved away when we were 13. I had never hung out with them outside of school, and they introduced me to my other best friend, who came up to my state to meet me in late spring of ‘21, hadn’t seen them since. That friend actually paid for the trip themself, because I went through a god-awful breakdown for a solid 2 weeks and tried to. Isolate myself from everyone I love. But thankfully they talked me out of it and got me back into the group, got me going again when I was at probably my second lowest point since I was a preteen. Got oddly close with another friend while I was there, met the majority of my friend group, and now that friend I got close with is EASILY my third best friend! Not third-best, they are also a best friend and I love them so much?? We hyperfixate on like, all the same things. Dragged them into loving Ghost(band) and they’re dragging me into Scott Pilgrim! Woohoo, here we go! Left my friend group like a month ago because one of them is uh. Not. the best? But only sometimes. They don’t have bad intentions and they’re not outright toxic I don’t think, but I uh. Got kinda sick of their sense of humor. Not always funny, kinda mean to a certain other member. Not always though. But like we can work on it when I go back its fiiiiiiine! Learned communication to a degree, holy shit I hate talking about my problems, oh my god please I don’t need help I’m just a burden anyway(I’m working on it, don’t come at me with support I’ll get there with my family and friends eventually. Not attention-seeking here, I’m building my support group as I go.) Had 13 house emergencies!!!! Will list them! Woo! 1 - water heater leak 2 - gas leak 3 - roof leak again(we had a roof leak in ‘22) 4 - house flood 2 electric boogaloo(house flooded like a week after my partner moved in, in ‘22, before I arrived) 5 - flood 3 6 - roof leak 3 7 - roof leak 4 8 - heater died 9 - bathroom door handle fell off the door for literally no reason 10 - house flood 4 11 - roof leak 5 12 - house flood 5 House Flood 5 caused us to get renovations in the organized housing, and after that, they just straight up moved us to a new house. We had 8 fffffffucking days to get the hell out of our house and into the new one. Like, they actually put the time constraint on us. So funny of them! AND THEN THE NEW ONE DIDN’T HAVE SHUT-OFF VALVES FOR EITHER OF THE HOSE SPIGOTS AND WE HAD TO GET THAT HANDLED BUT THEY DIDN’T HANDLE IT. HELP. BROTHER WE ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES. WHY ARE YOU FORBIDDING US. so. 13 - no shut off-valves(technically an ‘emergency’ bc the pipes could freeze and then burst) Got summoned for Jury Duty in my parents’ state! IN THE TIME WHERE WE WEREN’T CERTAIN WHEN THE CONTRACTORS WERE COMING. OR IF WE WOULD BE IN THE SAME HOUSE NEXT WEEK. JESUS CHRIST. But, did also get to go on another family vacation. We got to watch the Perseids! I saw a possum there. Literally loved that so much.

Also got SUUUUPER into Ghost(band) in the last like 3 weeks and I'm head over heels for 99% of their songs that I've listened to?? Hell yeah.

It’s been an intense year of ups and downs, but I’m really determined to turn my life around for the better, now. I’m gonna put my all into actually improving my health, both physical and mental/emotional. I didn’t want that to be like, a new year resolution, it just kinda lined up with the new year.

[invinciblerodent]

13, 16, and 17? 🥺

Veilguard hype asks!!!

13. What's one thing you've seen confirmed so far that you're a fan of?

One thing? Oh, that's very hard to pick. Is it a cop-out if I say the characters? Because if it is, I think I'll have to go with griffons being canonically and unambiguously back in Thedas.

I loved "Last Flight" when I originally read it (many years ago), I will 100% say that it's one of the better ones of all the Dragon Age novels (it might be noted that Last Flight and The Masked Empire are my favorites- it's unclear if that's because they're actually that good, or because I just hate Gaider's style of prose that much lol), but it's been ten years since the publication, so I was thinking that it might kinda just get handwaved away. But, I'm very happy to have very clear and canon, in-game confirmation in Assan that that novel is canon, and that griffons are not extinct.

I think that novel is set in 9:41, so the same year that Inquisition starts in, which (unless griffons mature very fast and there have been multiple clutches since, which I doubt) I believe makes Assan one of Crookytail's babies, and roughly 8-9 years old... which, if true, would honestly make Davrin a pretty important/high-ranking Warden. I don't really know how many Wardens are in Weisshaupt at any given time (gonna guess more than 13 lol), but one would think that if there are only 13 healthy griffon hatchlings to go around (or fewer, we don't know what happened in the ~10 years since), one would have to be a pretty big deal to get one assigned to them to raise and care for.

Davrin confirmed as the best dog-lion-eagle dad in all the realms. ❤️ Sometimes a family is you, your Warden spouse, and the gigantic winged beast who takes up a good three quarters of any bed.

(oh god, can you imagine trying to banish an adolescent griffon from the room. can you imagine the poor thing scratching WELTS into the door with those talons as he's crying desperately to be let in; his little voice, the heartrending cry of a rusted door-hinge. am I willing to put up with that just for Warden dick? ....... yes. yes I am.)

16. What's one crack theory you subscribe to (yours or someone else's)?

Well, I've kind of had this theory (which is in no way substantiated by anything, mind you) that... okay, hear me out.

There are 7 (or 8) Old Gods of Tevinter, and after five Blights, only Razikale and Lusacan have yet to be "corrupted" by the darkspawn Taint.

We saw two figures who are implied to be members of the Evanuris emerge from beyond the Veil in the gameplay trailer.

We also (very likely) still have Urthemiel's soul in play, with Solas having consumed Flemeth/Mythal's "essence" after she had already extracted the Old God Soul from Kieran, IF he exists and was conceived via Morrigan's ritual.

I don't know if anyone theorizes that the old Tevinter gods and the Evanuris have any overlap between them (which is... kind of possible, they did hint that there was an 8th Old God struck from the records which makes their numbers sans Fen'harel line up), but with the presence of the Wardens in Veilguard, there is a tiny niggling part of me that kind of hopes part of the plot will be to do the exact opposite of what Clarel had intended to do in Inquisition, and hunt down the uncorrupted Old Gods so that they can aid in the fight against the Evanuris, if they aren't one and the same.

I'm not going to descend into trying to theorize about potential outcomes and implications and all that, but there is a part of me that is very tickled by the thought of a "god"-on-"god" fight.

Aaaaaand as much as Ray was deeply pissed off and feeling utterly betrayed by Solas, and much as he vowed to stop him at all costs, I, as a player, do think that there have been heavy enough implications that we'll be forced to work alongside Solas, which sounds quite interesting.

Like... "I have no wish to be the villain in one of your stories"? Gee, Solas, that couldn't be some foreshadowing that you're doing, could it....?

Anyway, that's just me tho. I don't know if this counts as a crack theory or if it's a legitimate one, I have looked only little bits into the lore besides playing the games and reading the comics and the novels, but, y'know. All very curious, lol.

17. Are you interested in all the lore and speculation or do you focus more on the games and stories themselves?

And this is a funny question to answer right after the previous one, but in all honesty, I do try to not get into a lot of theorizing about the plot, and the lore, and what's going to happen. What I think about, I'm not at all attached to- really, I prefer to regard the stories as they come, as they are, changes and all, and not, you know, create elaborate headcanons that I then can't pivot from on a dime.

I've always been more interested in the small, interpersonal stories of RPGs, rather than the Big Sweeping Adventure plots. I've always loved a hero that's just an everyman, forced into a situation that's way beyond their pay grade, and just coping with it and rolling with the punches the best they can. So at the end of the day, I really just want to take the story as it comes, and play with my little toys in my favorite sandbox again. ❤️

[magebutts]

I did take notes on the full Q+A because I'm a little freak but I'll simply post some of my favs: (this got really long so under a cut)

there will be a "mysterious entity that assists you" with crafting? (to which the entire chat began screaming "ENCHANTMENT" which seems likely tbh. perhaps we will finally learn the nature of Sandal lmao). It seems like DA:I's version of crafting might be done and instead we'll be given just customization + modifications, but that is entirely my own speculation from subtext + what was and wasn't said

Bellara is a mage

implied that gender + pronoun selection will be separate from each other !!!

when asked about seeing locations that have been sort of veiled in mystery/never seen before, devs said "we're not completely filling out the map; there are new things we can be hinting at and drip-feeding you" so while we will be learning more about the world, there's still even more to uncover we've never seen before possibly

dialogue wheel seems like it will be a mix of previous versions of it; there will be tones, emotions, or more neutral choices. "We want players to understand as much as possible what it is that they're picking."

when asked about Davrin + Bellara's vallaslin, devs said there are a lot of new options for the face markings especially with the new regions. "Each area has its own visual language for that. ... We've customized them, they're a bit more specific to [the character's] personality." I believe that was from Matt Rhodes

just confirmed that the Inquisitor DOES physically appear in game and the customization for them in CC is not just for their choices.

When asked if blood magic will be a class included; "Rook has some pretty good reason to avoid blood magic, they don’t want to be interested in that. ... There is a necromancer class, there is an elemental one, there is a combat mage kind of one” (im guessing the veil being bad and demons and darkspawn being a problem is probably one of the reasons for no blood magic but again im speculating)

Assan is confirmed a very good boy. When asked if we can we pet Assan: “Yes you can. Not even just petting the griffon, I’ve actually hugged the griffon”

Will we get a dog? “Mabari are not very big in Northern Thedas. No, you will not get a mabari sadly”

Someone asked about Barkspawn's fate/current status. "Barkspawn is safely gnawing on a bone next to a fireplace somewhere in Ferelden. 'But John it’s been so long!' Mabari live exactly as long as you need them to."

character creator will get a preview closer to launch, they're working on a roadmap currently

“each lineage, depending on the lineage + bg you choose will have unique callouts” “your experience as a dwarf in the mournwatch will be different to a human or an elf ...giving them each their own little flavor how they fit into that faction as a whole”

Rook’s last name is defined based on their faction, first name generator is available in the game if you want to use it.

“companions will take some time away” if you piss them off, but they’ll always be willing to come back to help save Thedas. “they will show up… unless…” ............ can we kill companions???

Who was left in the fade doesn’t show up here/it's not one of the decisions you will be asked to input. “That’s not to say it will never be important in the future, but not in this game” …. More DA games ???? DA5?

[quincyhorst]

RG: Émile and Ladji post-FFI

Some more ÉmiLadji, now this time from the reserve keeper's POV too, because he also went through his own issues post FFI.

...I found this while browsing my drafts. I have no idea why I hadn't posted it here before, oops-

Here's a post I recommend reading for better context. And this one, too.

Back when the "Ogre" match happened, Émile stood in the bench the whole time, although not by choice. Originally his expectations about the match were positive, like usual, but when in just 15 minutes the rivals were winning by 6 goals... He started to feel very nervous, and it got even worse as the match kept progressing with the score getting worse and worse.

I'm not sure if this match was treated normally with a half-time and such, but I like the idea that around the 18th enemy goal, Émile started to beg the coach to play, completely distressed. He couldn't just stay there and sit! Maybe Ladji had an issue catching those goals, but maybe he could do it instead! The french coach was quick to listen and act, but to both their surprise, Ladji refused to leave the goal himself and begged Émile to stay on his place.

Eventually, the frenchies straight up left the field at the 36th goal, and thus the whole mess that fell over RG happened. Given he was not the one who failed to catch so many goals Émile was -partially- free from being the center of drama, although he couldn't help but feel guilty upon what had happened. For a while, Ladji's stubborn choice to stay in goal puzzled him, and it became the first major obstacle on their relationship. But as Émile searched for an answer, he finally got it by the keepers main words.

"Regardless who played, the match would've ended the same. They were too strong for both of us. Besides, if somebody is going to be ridiculed from now on... I'd prefer it to be me than you."

(Remember, Émile is part of the team Celebrities, at the literal same level as Pierre, Julien, Ronnie... Maybe it was his movie collection or not, but he seems to be carrying a HUGE fame.)

The answer left the reserve conflicted. He was still pissed off for not being able to do anything, but he could at least start to see where Ladji came from. As the FFI came to an end the two managed to at least be on good terms again, which was appreciated. Émile felt so bad on the idea of losing a friendship with such a cool artist like him...

When returning home, Émile saw from the sidelines the huge shitshow the media had turned into due to juvenile soccer. And things didn't got any better when reuniting with his family. They were happy Émile didn't went by much trouble (And hell, his father was willing to help cover anything that could hurt his reputation)... But the sudden dissing of his teammates and the main keeper started to make him uneasy. He tried to do all he could do defend them, but it was futile. Rose Griffon was now a bad-luck name among everyone. Time only made Émile realize even more the reasons behind Ladji's choice back then. Don't get him wrong, his family is WAY nicer than what's pictured here, but such a huge stain would have hitted them in many ways otherwise.

Gradually, things returned to their normal pace for Émile. Though with a little twist, and that he was in constant contact with the former Rose Griffon members; given he had gotten almost all their numbers and some addresses, even. However, even if it had been almost a month away from the FFI, Émile couldn't help but still think about Ladji, wonder what could be of him. So, getting his address thanks to Pierre, he decided to contact him via a letter. Originally it was to check out on him... But right at the last minute, he decided to ask if they could hang out some time. Don't mind him, he just wanted to see the artist in action one last time.

Time kept passing, perhaps even more than Émile would've wanted, yet with no response. Pierre told him he also had been ignored in person, which made things even more upsetting. However, right when he had almost given up, his older sister surprised with the main keeper's letter in the mall. His reply was quite short, but he did accept to hang out together! Hell yeah!!!

And this is where everything I've written before happens, after their first visit the two become close with one and another, even to the point they attend Uni together thanks to Émile's aspiration to become a cinema director. Studies might be quite hard at times, but student life isn't bad, making tons of friends! And yeah, he's still in contact with the other RG members to this day too :')

Every weekend, he and Ladji like to go to Carrousel Cafe as a place to rest, given is nearby the university. Plus, Laurent's work hours occur there, so the three like to spend time and talk for a while. Curiously, it was also here where Émile gained the idea for his final uni project... But here's where I end the post.

[danceswithdarkspawn]

First Ten Lines

@axolotlsupremacyowo tagged me for this interesting game I haven't seen yet. Big Heckin' Open Tag because it's still way too early and I need more sleep.

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway!

Bear with me because a lot of these are sitting in my drafts waiting to be edited. >.>;

The Queen of Swords (WIP)

It started with a proposition.

It was on a day she couldn’t quite remember, maybe a week or better after returning from Adamant. Elisabeth sat in Skyhold’s gardens, reading and rereading over the same three paragraphs of a letter. It arrived early the previous day, sat in squalor upon the Inquisitor’s desk, before she finally snatched it. And how she dreaded it, because it was filled with pretty words from pissed off nobles, dancing around displeasure over the Inquisition’s actions at Adamant.

So when the sun cast a long shadow over and beyond her, she looked up, squinting harshly, and found the Iron Bull, all greyskin and muscle, towering over her. His good eye peered at her from over his crossed arms, but his face remained otherwise neutral.

“Hey, boss.”

“You’re blocking my light,” she said, and looked back to her papers.

Two of Swords

To say that the events at Adamant were demoralizing would be…insufficient.

True, Elisabeth Trevelyan gave Inquisition forces and the remaining Wardens a rallying speech once she emerged from the Fade. She made an appeal to the Wardens to unite under the Inquisition’s banner, to fight the common enemy that brazenly showed its face there. And to her credit, it worked. Even her companions who opposed the idea acquiesced to the prospect, however unsavory.

But the fragile quiet could only last for so long. The adrenaline that carried the Inquisitor through the siege, the Fade, through that impassioned speech for change…By the time the Inquisition made its way back to their outpost at Griffon Wing Keep, Elisabeth wanted nothing more than to collapse in her tent.

A Small Victory

One of my earliest memories is the first day Eran taught me to pick up a sword.

It was just after my sixth nameday in the waning days of summer. Eran woke me in the small hours of the morning, way too early for any of my small-self sensibilities. I remember him dressing me in the dark and taking me by the hand, leading me out into the dirt path street and to the quietest corner of the alienage that he could. I remember the smell of the final gasp of the season’s wildflowers, remember feeling the heaviness of the air. A promise of a sweltering day.

Stricken Canticles (M, NSFW if clicking through)

The glittering tiles of the Grand Cathedral are immaculate, but they cannot compare to the stars in her eyes.

She leads me away from all the fuss and flurry, navigating rooms and corridors known only to the privy. The walls are gilded but so is she, resplendent in the moonlight that reaches through stained glass windows.

A Letter to Swallow (WIP)

The days meld into one another, as they have every day for what feels like Ages on end.

19th of August. 9:41 Dragon. I keep track in a journal if only to remind me of the passage of time. Of how many days, weeks—years have gone by since I saw her. A reminder, also, of the time I have left. 

Mourning Dove (WIP)

“I came here seeking Grey Warden recruits,” that shem had said. What was his name—Duncan? “It seems it may have found what I seek. Someone who can show restraint is a valuable asset to the Wardens, especially in times like these.”

I wonder if Duncan thought the same when I delivered my sister and the others from Arl Kendell’s estate. Bathed in blood, wild-eyed and furious doesn’t strike me as the image of restraint.

Remove The Mask (WIP)

Everything was too much.  The grandeur of it all made her teeth ache.

The lights were too bright. The heat was too stifling. The string quartet sounded like dying darkspawn, regardless of the melody it played. Innumerable voices speaking in hushed whispers, low like the thrum of insects, grated against the inside of her skull.

For the Love of Nugs

"Nug breeding, eh?" 

Leliana looked over her shoulder at Ariel as they walked through the gardens back to the villa. "You sound like that's unexpected."

Ariel shrugged. "I'm just wondering what kind of monster I made wrangling Schmooples all those years ago."

Broken Bird, Chapter 1

We clash together in the predawn grey, as we always do after the events of Ostagar.

Eran moves with all the calculation of an eagle, shoulders squared, as he lunges towards me. His sword comes down from his shoulder in an arc, exacting where I will be when it crashes. I catch it in time between the cross of my swords; it was a light-hearted swing and he knows I know this. I shove him away with a frustrated grunt.

Griffonheart, Chapter 1

"Leliana,

Situation at ritual site in the Approach was as bad as it sounded. There was blood magic. They were using Wardens to summon and bind demons. That's where the demon army I was told about in Redcliffe will come from.

We neutralized the Wardens and demons at the site but the person behind this bullshit got away. Hawke has a lead on Adamant Fortress.

Corypheus planted false Callings in their heads. They were terrified. Attached are some notes from affected Wardens, courtesy of Stroud.

I don't know what else to say except it's fucked.

-R. Lavellan"

[tantumuna]

Fluff prompt time! "I love you but please stop trying to cook for me" geraskier with Geralt trying to hunt and cook despite a recent griffon beak in the calf

Geralt x Jaskier "I love you, but please stop trying to cook for me." rating: G cw: mentions of wounds __

Send me Prompts! | Support me! __

Jaskier stepped away from camp long enough to take a piss, and when he returned, Geralt hadn’t moved an inch, but a rabbit roasting over the fire made a sudden appearance. With a frown, Jaskier stomped his way over to his seat across from Geralt and leaned forward, elbows on his knees and fingers laced together.

Not three days ago, Geralt had faced a gryphon’s beak to the leg and had been in recovery ever since. Still, no matter how Jaskier told him to sit, to rest, and to recover, he refused to listen. Not a hint of shame wore on his face when he looked up from the fire to meet Jaskier’s piercing gaze. Blue eyes masked over with irritation and anger.

“Geralt, you know that I love you, but would you please stop trying to cook for me? Just for one week. If you would only let the wound heal, it would be gone within a week! I’m sure of it!”

“And let you cook?” Geralt grunted with a shake of the head. “We’d die.”

“How rude!”

Jaskier huffed and leaned back, chest puffed out and arms crossed. His foot tapped, and an incredulous look passed over him as he mulled over what he could ever say to that, but nothing came to him.

Geralt, unimpressed, looked back down at the fire and twisted the rabbit on its stick. He managed one turn before Jaskier jumped up from his stump and started pacing about the camp, which once again drew Geralt’s gaze to him.

“Jaskier—”

“No, no, you don’t understand!” Jaskier came to a halt. “I feel useless, Geralt. I can’t help you recover. You won’t let me dress your wounds. Now, I can’t even cook for you? You’re never going to heal like this, and I—”

Jaskier sucked in a deep breath, clenched his fists, and released a sigh. He gave up just as quickly as he grew to anger, then trotted across the camp with slumped shoulders. Instead of returning to his stump, he sat on the log beside Geralt and leaned into his shoulder.

“Why won’t you let me take care of you?” he asked, voice a mere whisper.

For a long moment, they sat in silence while Geralt twisted the rabbit back and forth. He thought about it, though he knew the answer was simple. Being a Witcher meant he traveled alone more often than not. Not that he didn’t trust Jaskier; it was that he wasn’t used to the idea of someone taking over for him. That last person who had ever taken care of him was Vesemir, but that was before he knew how to do it all himself.

Instead of saying that out loud, Geralt gave Jaskier a softer look and handed him the end of the stick skewered through the rabbit. Shocked, Jaskier met his gaze for a moment, searching for anything that said this was a joke, but found nothing. He took the stick and twisted the rabbit over the fire.

“Do you know how to skin animals?” Geralt asked.

“Not off the top of my head, no, but you could teach me. I’m quite the attentive student, as I’m sure you’ve guessed by now.”

“I have. We’ll—work on it. Small things, okay?”

Jaskier beamed. “Oh, Geralt, thank you. I won’t disappoint, you’ll see.”

With a hum, Jaskier settled against Geralt’s shoulder and turned his attention back to the rabbit. Geralt knew that Jaskier wouldn’t disappoint, but he still had the striking urge to reach out and take the stick back from him. Instead of giving in, he wrapped his fingers together and leaned into Jaskier, watching with a content sigh as Jaskier twisted the rabbit to its side.

[rodeoxqueen]

The Sparda Boys Taking Care Of Stray Animals Headcanons-(AO3 Request by @Zehnmou)

Zehnmou requested: Why is this so cute...urgh, my heart just exploded. 😭. I have always love Dante being a goofy dad

Anyway, pardon me, but might I ask for a request here? I don't have any Tumblr account though,

What about Sparda boys taking care of stray pets in their own ways? (oh any kinda is fine to me though, cats, dogs, birds,....they're all good to go)? Like fluffy stuff. Thank you so much.

I love this idea. Pull my fluff trigger, if you will. I did not write Nero, though I will add his segment later.  I’m too burnt out from school to do more but I still wanted you to have something to read as soon as possible. This was all my exhausted cowboy brain could scrounge up to write. 

Thank you for requesting darling,

Rodeo

Vergil

Our favorite ice king tries not to make it obvious but he is a cat person.

He is a staunch believer that owning a pet is extra work and pointless. Besides, you own another creature and that’s freaky. 

But as soon as he sees them toe beans and twitching whiskers, he’s not that loud about his aforementioned opinion. 

He won’t exactly house them, but Dante sometimes catches him leaving cans of tuna around the alleys. He refuses to admit it’s him. 

It’s even harder to hide he’s the local cat dad when he walks down the street and there’s a gaggle of cats following him, tails swishing the air with affection. 

His pants at the ankle area are covered in cat hair. He can’t walk out the street without a pack of all sorts of cats rubbing themselves on his legs. 

Sometimes there will be some sickly kitten that’s left on the street. Vergil can be found in his plastic white chair, bottle-feeding the poor thing. It grows healthy and cute and he lets the kitty, who he named William, sit on his shoulders while he reads. 

After he lets in that cat, about twenty more show up. Dante had to beg Vergil to be sensible, a rare sight to behold, when there are cats everywhere in his shop. 

Vergil= Crazy Cat DILF. 

V

Unlike his complete form, he’s quite into the idea of animal companionship even if Griffon is annoying as hell sometimes. 

He loves feeding birds. When he’s reading with Shadow’s head on his lap and Griffon is preening, he’s throwing bits of cracker and biscuit onto the ground for pigeons. Sometimes Shadow tries to eat one or Griffon strikes lightning at them with a chortle. He is inconsolably pissed. 

One day at a local park,  he keeps hearing this wretched and pitiable noise. After some tracking around, he finds a raven with a broken wing. They’re hopping around pathetically and incapable of flight. 

When they see him approaching, they freak and screech at him and try to flee. 

“Have no fear, little bird. I mean you no harm.” He stoops down, hands gentle and slow to approach them. 

For some reason, the corvid trusts him, beak stroked by his careful fingers. He cups the bird and takes them home. 

He manages to fix their wing with a splint. The bird hops following him. Shadow tries so hard to not eat the poor thing and Griffon is offended. 

“What?! Am I not cute enough for ya, V? You cheating on me with another birdie?!”

When they begin to heal and can fly again, V sadly lets them leave. He gives them a little push towards the window. 

“Go on now, little wanderer. You’re well and free once more.” They don’t move, intelligent eyes focused on him only. They hop back and caw at him, flying up to sit upon his shoulder. 

“If you wish.” V muses. He strokes the bird’s head. 

“If you are to stay, I must find you a name. How about Poe?” 

“Caw.” 

“Excellent choice.” 

V is not very original. But he has a pet raven and that makes him so much cooler than you.  

Dante

On account that he does live in the shadier parts of Redgrave, there’s a lot of strays. However, there’s also a lot of demons that like to eat the aforementioned strays. It’s a brutal little ecosystem. 

So imagine Dante’s surprise one night, when a hellhound runs into the alley near his shop. 

The hound is snarling with some sort of black goo in its mouth and its claws like scythes scraping the ground. Dante thinks it’s a dog that’s dumpster diving. 

“Same.” He walks away. It barks at him, looking for a fight.

“Look puppy. I fight Cerberus for fun, you are not going to win this.” The hound jumps him anyway, taking a good chunk off his leather coat. He throws the dog off and semi triggers, exposing his demonic skin. 

He assumed the hound would just run away. Instead, it rolls onto its back with its tail shaking. He can’t get it to leave and he eventually lets it inside. 

He has a dog now, he guesses. 

The hellhound is a lot different than a normal dog. Firstly, it’s from hell. 

It also is super strong and fast, and incredibly violent. It should not be treated as a pet.

Dante disregards that and plays fetch with it using an old can. It runs into traffic and comes back with half a stop sign. 

“Come here, boy!” The hound leaps onto him and sends him through a wall. Dante has to borrow Nico’s saw to clip its nails. Don’t even get him started on bathing the hound. It tore the faucet right out of the wall and sent a spray of water right at Dante. 

He never really finds a name for the hellhound. He just whistles and it’s there. 

He and the dog can enjoy a pizza together and he feeds it the olives when they show up on his slices. However, the hound is perfectly happy with some demon leftovers or roadkill. 

Its breath? Terrible. 

He tried to leash the dog and it bit a hole through his hand. No leashes. 

He cannot take the hound to the dog park. The last time he did the dumb hound tried to eat someone’s Pomeranian. 

The hound’s really useful during hunts when Dante brings it.  

Dante gets a side compartment for Cavalier so the hound can sit and let the open air hit its face. The hound can run just as fast as a car but it loves it. 

At the end of a hard day, the hellhound will jump up and down and chase its tail with joy when Dante comes back from work. 

He and the hound sleep on the same bed, the hound laying its stupid little head right on his chest. Both their snores make Vergil want to set the shop on fire. 

(For my Tumblr Lone Rangers Only)-Vergil walked in on Dante doing this to his hellhound and he simply walked out of the building: 

Rodeo’s Two Pieces: 

This Cowboy Is Tired But Never Of Your Requests and Comments.

[pmiller1]

Another Destiny! [N:TWEwY AU]

"¡Qué lástima! My heart goes out to you. It really does." Motoi said by the river toward the Cat hoodie Reaper. "But I can't exactly back down now, can I?"

Rindo and his team watch as he and Shoka was ready to battle. He worry over his idol An0ther was gonna risk himself to her.

"You're all that stands between me and my destiny." He told her. "'Destinly'?" She snalled at him, "Sound like someone's read one too meny horscopes, I'd dream a littler smaller if I were you, sweetie. Since there's no way in hell you're getting past me."

"We'll see about that. 'Never fear a fight; fight your hear instead.'"

"Motoi, wait!" Rindo rushing in trying to stop him.

"Time to show you what je'm really made of." He said not getting a word from Rindo "I expect no quarter from you, either, getita."

"All right-You asked for it." She said, her hand out, growing with some noise like claw, oddly look like a bird feet. "But don't say I didn't warn you after I best your ass to a pule!"

And with she hragh out to Motoi wish he screamed back by her claw attack to him, knocking him down.

"Motoi!" Rindo and other rush to Motou body. "What are you doing here?" She ask, seeming kind of shock to see him. He said nothing. "Don't be shy-step right up!"

"Motoi..." "Uhh, guys? He's not moving..." Fret said. "C'mon, brotha, Stay withus, yo!"

"How could you do this?" He ask the Reaper. She said nothing. "I was not perpared for such tragedy today..." Nagi muses. "Guess you should fear the Reapers..." Fret said.

"You can't die now-we just met!" He said to Motoi. "You said you were gonna help us out!"

"Ugh." She slep out.

"You!" He turn toward the Reaper. "You heartless bitch! You'll pay for this." He yell at her, making her back up from him, her eyes wide.

"Rin... He..." She said, her voice slacken. "No! He was helping us in the game and you had to kill him." Rindo yell at her.

"But he..." "NO! Shut up already!" She really taken a back by that.

"I have had it with you, always snooping into our noses. What is your problem? Antagonizing us for no good fucking reason!" He yell at her. "And now this? I know there a missions to take you one, but don't have to do that to him, not to my idol!"

"Dang he really piss off." Fret said. "Tis aura is really unsettling, all that rage." Nagi said. "You really tick him off, Kitty girl." Beat said "Now ye gonna get it."

"Wait, if you let me---" "No!" Rindo said, making her really taken a back by her "You..."

"I hate you! You're the worst person that I ever met!" He Rindo said, no, cry out to her.

Shoka was standing limb, her arms dangling. Her hoodie was drip over, Her face was unseen. "Woah, did she just shut off?" Fret ask. "Tis seem that she had taken critical hit." Nagi said "Witch to say, is unsettling." "Yick. She must had taken that hard." Beat said.

"Shoka...?" Rindo said, starting to regard what he said to her.

"Hahahahaha..." Shoka laugh unsettling "I am the worst aren't I? Why would I think that we could had been...?"

Her body was burning with black fire. Her laugh still echo around them. "Lord Rindo! There tisthing worng with with her?!" Nagi said. "I had a bad feeling about this." Fret said. "Look like she gonna all out on his." Beat said "Ye better be ready, she aren't holding back now."

"Shoka...?" Rindo said, now feeling really worry for her.

"Can't even make him be my friend in person..." She voice echo. "So typical of me, useless. Useless, USELESS!!!"

"Shoka?!" He ask, looking very pale, his eyes widen.

She scream, as body transformed by the black flame around her, upon the fire disbursed, stand a one noise, a black body like feline, having two grey noise-like craw, the craw again looking bird craw, a grey noise tail, there back feet having grey noise toes, it have two wings both of them was red to black noise, want to look like a bird wing and last is had a felined head with a noise-like beak.

"W-What on earth?" Rindo yelt out. "She no long bear no resemblance of human girl anymore." Nagi said. "Yeah, she like a Griffons now." Fret said. "Yo, why a half bird kitty?" Beat ask.

"I did say we have to flight each other one day." Shoka ehco from the noise. "Hah?" "Guess it best to take the dragon out of his misery." She echo. "Dragon what?!"

"Lord Rindo, She gong to attack us!" Nagi yell out, trying to sneck him out of it. "Urm. Yeah, Everyone stay sharp!"

And thus the Battle Start. She echo "Hahaha, later loser."

Fret move and already fire some Force Rounds at her, taking some small damage, her wings making her hover above the ground, As Nagi already setting frame under her, hoping the frame would damage her, but she keep moving out of the frame, as she moving outside and flying into the team.

Grabbing Rindo from her air with her craw, pining him down on the ground. "Guy, a little help here?!" Rindo yell out. Beat was charging for a massive hit to her. "Hold on Rindo! I got ye!"

Fret, Nagi and Beat able to take there attack onto the Griffin Cantus, knocking off Rindo. This allow Rindo to attack her, sword out for a shockwave attack her. She scream in pain, taken the damage from it.

However able to knock back the team, able to fly out of battleground, flying outside the ring to send some light balls toward the them, making them move out of the way from the exploding light balls.

She sloop back in, hovering, as Fret and Rindo dealing damage toward her with Nagi burring underneath her, taking some fire damage, wild Beat able to knock her off the air, sending down on the ground, where the team deal more damaged toward her. About to build there Groove to have a Nagi call the Fireball to land on her with the other three helping out.

And it was Rindo that take the last blow to her. "Rin. I am... so.... sorry..." She last echo. Before Noise from become erased.

After the battle, she reverted back to her normal from, she was lying head 1st on the ground, her hoodie was all they could see. The team, taken the time to breath in.

"That was some battle." Fret said. "Somewhat epic, tis must say." Nagi mutter. "Didn't think kitty got it in her." Beat said.

"Rin..." Shoka voice, "I am so sorry."

"Shoka...?" Rindo said. "I just wanna to help you." She said, still on the floor. "I can't bear to see you go."

"What do you---" Rindo said, "You was my very first friend." She said, making him look toward Shoka. "Hah?"

"I've befriend you when I've first came to Shibuya." She said, her hand pulling the cat ear from her hoodie. "I just couldn't..." She chocked.

"What I don't... What are you..." Rindo said. "It me, Rindragon!" She said, looking up to him, her eyes was wet, tears. "I'm... Swallow..."

"What?!" Rindo yelp out. "You mean, you was his online buddy?" Fret said. "Tis was unexpected." Nagi said. "Seriously, that why ye was half bird kitty girl?" Beat ask.

"But I don't... if you where then then why...?" Rindo said.

"¡Oh perdóname!" A voice said, just then a trip wire came rushing in, binding Shoka trap in the wire. "Shoka!" He yell out.

The team turn toward a alive and walking Motoi, along with the other Pureheart beside him. "But I can’t let you take my recompensas." He said, walking toward Shoka, still bind by the wire, her body starting to fizzle. "This young lady had been breaking her ruled by lending her support to your team. She been helping you with all she could do."

"Wait, she was helping us?" Beat yep out. "Tis must been lending her support as best as she could." Nagi said.

"Still like I said before, I did not expected that they make you the next target," Motoi said. "Only because you reported my action to the Reapers." Shoka hiss at him. "You even took credit that I did yesterday, just so you can trick your fan into doing the dirty work."

"Motoi?" He look toward Motoi, "What can I say, he idol already and he come in handy." Motoi said "Still I must say, you reviving that you was your his amiga en linea, that is inesperado."

"Tis knew that was something I dislike about him." Nagi ask, "Tis nothing but a selfish scum of villainy." "Yeah, I think he been ducking you Kid." Beat said. "He the worst already." Fret said.

"And I must say." Another voice, a old one, and that laugh, As Kuko show up walking toward Motoi. "You did a fine job there, you make a fine Reaper for this Anazawa." He said "Tricking the player to the dirty work. It would good to have you working with us."

"And as for you Missy." He said turn toward the trap Reaper. "What do you have to say for yourself?" "Drop dead." She yell at him. "I don't care what I done was wrong, I would let you dest---"

"Nat Ah-ah." He said "You wouldn't say too much right now, if I was you." This make her become quiet right there.

"Still you kind of fading away now, it only matter of time before be fully erased." Kuko said "Shouldn't really let out your Cantus form. Knowing the risk that it would be fatal in your rank."

"Shoka..." Rindo said. She look toward him, her body starting to flick out. "I'm sorry that we... couldn't be... friends... in... real..." And with that she was erased.

"SHOKA!" He yell out, falling to his kneed.

"Tragic isn't it?" Kuko said, "Killing the one that was you friend all that years." "Oh if only they was a way to turn back time and prevent all of this from happening."

Rindo was now holding on his Player Pin, he doesn't want this to happen, he doesn't want this to happen, he will not make it happen. As he turn back time. Ending this timeline.

[akiameokami]

Popular Potter

Look at him, looking so smug as that curly-haired reject has her legs strewn across his lap. Potter. It just isn’t right for someone of his status to be with someone like her. He is a pureblood, she is muggle-born, and to make matters worse she has an eyebrow ring! Her poise certainly isn’t a redeeming quality either. I cannot see a single element that makes her good enough for him, expect perhaps that she is smart enough to put Raven Claw’s brightest to shame. If it wasn’t for her lack of professionalism and personal upkeep I am sure she would be in Raven Claw and not Gryffindor. She has changed him so much since they started dating. Potter used to be such a prince, but even since they got together he has been hanging out with anyone, even the problematic Weasleys. I can’t believe his parents let him do that, do they not care about how it will effect their status? Father always reminds me to be cautious of my social relations because they will effect him greatly. He would simply die if he saw me with someone adorned in chains such as Hermione chooses.  The brazed crème a top the shit soufflé is that Harry Potter got a tongue ring! His parent’s certainly know nothing of this, but for the first time ever, I think I may not make Father privy to this. Potter and I have been associates every since primary school, and the tongue ring is a secret to all but his inner most circle. Except somehow Ronald and Hermione have become the bulk of that circle since we entered Hogwarts. To think that first semester we picked out matching Slytherin class rings together, and he somehow became a Gryffindor like them. Maybe classes do divide people too definitively? Or maybe he is changing as a person.. He always did have an affinity for the muggle world and other oddities, I just never thought he’d choose them over me. 

“Hi Har- Er, Potter, and company”, I say awkwardly as I approach their group. They all go quiet as they look at me, the only green clad robe amongst a sea of red. I feel as if this griffons pride may swallow me whole. They seem to be waiting for Harry to respond before they pounce, he really has gone from a Prince to a King. 

“Draco!” Harry exclaims as he moves Hermione's legs off and stands to greet me. I go for a slight wave but he pulls me into a hug. I can feel the daggers from his entourage. “I haven’t seen you around school in a while, what has Snape been forcing you into this time?” He asked, staring only at me. I’d appreciate the opportunity to get lost in his viper green eyes, but I can’t hold his stair. He knows my distaste for Snape, but he doesn’t know why. It’s a story for another time, but he’d already know it if he’d never stopped talking to me. 

“Oh, no, Snape is no longer tutoring me. Instead of academic pursuits, I’ve decided to try out for the quidditch team. Seems they have taken a fancy to my flying skills!” it hurts to not tell him to truth, to see him go from someone who I could tell anything to, to having to smile through the biggest heart break I’ve ever had. When I mention quidditch he gets very excited, and his posse eases up a bit. It is not uncommon for groups of different classes to enthuse over quidditch together, it is one of the few social glues we have. “What a coincidence! I will be joining the quidditch team as a legacy next season!” he says very boisterously, “I know they are expecting a lot because of my father, but I think they will be pleasantly surprised. I did always win when we would race, right?” He says with a slap to my shoulder. To others this would look like a casual challenge, but for me that slight touch meant so much more. It brought back summers spent struggling to learn how to fly out behind the greenhouse. The time he carried me back to Mother after I was able to be the first to get off the ground and flew too high. 

“You’re right, you used to be much better than me. Who knows if it’s changed, maybe you could have a practice race with me and give me some pointers if I lose?”. This audacious bastard would never turn down a challenge, and despite knowing I will likely lose, it means we’d finally have a chance to spend some time together so I’m willing to “take the L” as his muggle friends would say. 

“Harry, that’d be awesome to watch!”, “Yea Harry darling, you should host a little Gryffindor versus Slytherin flying practice before the season starts!’ Ron and Hermione cheer him on from the background. The other Gryffindor's start to chime in on how they would love to see a friendly match and see how skilled the new flyers are. “Well Draco, what do you say? I’m game to leave all you snakes in the dust, but only if you think Slytherin has enough flyers to make it worth the effort”, he chuckles as he says it, but he squeezes my shoulder with a bit of aggression behind it. He didn’t want it to be a spectacle, but I’m not going to clean up his messes if he wont be my friend anymore. 

“Sure Harry, I think I can pull together some wizards and witches that will make it worth your precious time.” I flatly announce as I start to walk away. I make myself keep stepping forward, and I can hear their snickers behind me. I walk straight away from him, no not quite, I walk straight to Snape's office. I wonder if he knows the pain he puts me through? Being compared to the Potter-Prince growing up, Father pushing me to be better than him, Harry having the audacity to be such an amazing man, friend, and first. Yet he also has the power to be the person to put me through more pain by not being in my life, driving me to focus on my studies, to get Severus to be my tutor, to use Severus as a coping method to get over him. Do you know what you’ve done to me Harry? 

~~~Imagine a world where Harry didn’t grow up with the Dursley’s, where Voldermort wasn’t a thing, where Lily and James didn’t die. Would Draco and Harry have been friends? Would they have been more? Harry and Draco are 17, nearing graduation and independence, but that also means they are climaxing from their teenage angst and heartbreak. Will they get closure?

I approach Severus’s office, emotions flooding me. After Harry and I got accepted to Hogwarts and he started drifting away, I found myself lost. At first, I believed his excuses for why he bailed on our plans, and then I blamed myself thinking I made him mad, and then I realized he just didn’t like me anymore. The self blaming was the hardest to get over, but Severus helped with that. I chose to focus on my studies, I had to find something productive to do so that Father would be proud of me again. He got very angry when I messed up the connection with the Potters. I decided instead to try and be very academically accomplished, so I needed a good tutor. Father and Mother were both very familiar with Severus Snape and knew him as an intelligent man and an excellent wizard despite being only 6 years older than me. They arranged for him to be my tutor, and he lived much closer to the school than we did, which meant I would study at his house and in the summers I stay with him. Since he is also a teacher at Hogwarts we don’t ever interact politely as school, because frankly our relationship is unconventional. to the public. I don’t love him, he doesn’t love me, but we both have been burned by the Potters more than once and despite all our pain, we still love them. Don’t get me wrong, Rus is very good to me, and we have had some very sentimental memories, but I can never mean as much to him as Lily I don’t think. That and I am not willingly to fall in love. 

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*  - “Come in.” I walk in and instantly Rus’s face goes from stone cold to slightly softer. “Draco, I assume you came to speak about your last test scores?” He arches an eyebrow and nods at the door indicating I should close it. 

“Oh come on Rus, I know we have an arrangement to not interact extra here but I..” I close the door and try not to meet his eyes. I know what I am feeling, and its stupid! I can’t explain it though. He closes the door while reaching over me. With his other arm he pulls into a hug. 

“Use your words Draco.” He kisses the top of my head while whispering softly. I bury my face in his shirt. How do I tell him that I am hurting because the person who means the most to me, acknowledged me, and it left me feeling hollow? “Is it about Mr. Potter? I saw you speaking in the courtyard. That was dangerous.” I let out a shaky sigh. This is why we are together, because we share the same pain. 

“Yea..” I mutter, “We are going to have a little race between Slytherin House and Gryffindor to see who the faster upcoming flyers will be.” Even saying it sounds absolutely  ridiculous! It’s a bloody pissing contest! Yet nothing has been able to break me out of this numbness until now. Rus braces the small of my back as we lean against his office door. I look up to see him with a small smile, “I understand. I think this will be for the best. Whether it is closer you get, or simply a win. I be here if it goes wrong”. He is so consistent. Just as expected, after saying something so sweet that I could almost develop feelings, he leans down and begins a gentle kiss. He pulls my waist into him, spreading my legs with his knee. I kiss him back while running my fingers through his hair. I reach down for his belt, trying to undo it. He stops my hand and pulls back, “Now Mr. Malfoy, we are on school grounds.” He says with his stern, teacher voice. He the leans in and whispers, “You can show my what that Malfoy mouth is good for later”. I feel my dick jump a little bit, giving me a semi. This is how I cope. Feelings cannot negate the power of something physical, and Severus Snape needs to forget about the Potters just as much as I do. We were a match made in Hell. 

“Draco....” I hear Harry’s voice calling my name, but it sounds distorted, almost as if I’m underwater. “Draco!” it comes through clearly this time, but it isn’t Harry, It’s Blaise yelling at me to rouse me from my sleep. I had returned to the dorms embarrassingly late, but I had the forethought to lay out my quidditch gear ahead of time so I wouldn’t be scrambling in the morning. “Draco, wake the fuck up! We’re gonna be late to the race!” Blaise is still yelling but I can hear him heading for the door. Late? What did he mean late? I roll over and check the time, he was right, I had about five minutes to go from bed to the quidditch field. Fuck. 

“I almost thought you chickened out Draco!” Harry taunts as I approach the quidditch field, running as fast as I can with all my gear on. I was able to gather three other Slytherins that wanted to race, and who were marginally decent. Sadly Harry seemed to have a whole team that wanted to test us. I glance at Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle and they do not seem to be exuding confidence. I got them into this so the least I can do is be the one who people blame. “What? Run away from you Potter? I could never”, I say a little too seriously while making eye contact. I catch the slightest frown from Harry, but it fades as quickly as it appeared. “Well then, lets get this over with. It sounded fun, but looking at your little group, it just feels like bullying.” He rejoins his group at the start line. The course was to make one large loop around campus while going through specified markers, such as looping through the womping willow and its thrashing limbs, and past Hagrids hut. It is just the school campus, but that doesn’t make it not dangerous. That is why I wore my protective gear, but as I glance around I see that most everyone else was casually dressed with the exception of Longbottom. He looked as if he was wrapped in bubble wrap. I don’t want to be associated with the likes of him so I discard my protective layer.  I return my attention to the other end of the field where Hermione stands with the flare, and off it goes. I must’ve been disassociating during the count down. I feel the wind of the others taking off before I see the bristles of their brooms when they speed past me. Shit. I take off as fast as I can, but I am not too concerned about the starting line. Anyone can get up, its staying there that’s the problem. 

The first obstacle is the peaks of the school, where we stand the danger of Mr. Fletcher seeing us and everyone getting in trouble. This obstacle is more about stealth than speed, you could speed right through the peaks, but you would certain alarm everyone inside the castle. The trick to making it without being seen is to pay attention and roof hop, taking a break to wait out anyone who may see you. I can see ahead of me where two Gryffindor flyers drop altitude instantly, nearly getting caught. I swerve away from that tower and loop around the other way, hopping off the roof after checking the next peak. When I emerge from the other side of the peaks I see Harry far ahead, Ronald right behind him, and Blaise  on their tail. either no one else made it through, or they are behind me, because no one would be ahead of Harry. We approach Hagrids hut and drop down low for the loop, I see Blaise take the turn too tightly and have to drop to the ground to prevent himself from going tip over tail. Ronald falls behind me as he flew too close to the hippogriff and got the tail of his broom snipped out. The race is between Harry and I as we approach the womping willow. It is especially crabby today it seems, or perhaps that was just because I was actually flying closer too it and not away from it the way I would have preferred. As we near the willow I am close enough that I could grab the bristles on Harry’s broom if I wanted to. I follow his maneuvers dodging the willows grasps. There is no denying that when it comes to agility Harry has an edge on me. There is no doubt that James took the time to train him personally. Despite all his preparation I see Harry narrowly avoid getting swept by a branch, which meant I had no time to avoid the branch at all. The willow makes contact with my broom and sends me plummeting to the ground. I’d rather jump and break something, that be strangled by a tree. The impact knocks the breath out of me, and the pain floods my body. My vision goes black and once again I feel like I am in bed, floating into nothingness. 

“Draco?!?!” I hear Harry’s voice calling out to me, but I don’t respond. Blaise wont fool me again. He just wants me to wake up from my peaceful nothingness. Then the pain hits me and I remember what happened. I open my eyes to see a sweaty and shirtless Harry tying my arm in a makeshift sling. “Draco.. please say something..” He mutters as he struggles with the knot. 

“Ouch you bloody bastard, that fucking hurts!” I squeak as he tightens it too much. Despite my pain I see a look of relief cloud his face. “Other than your arm, what hurts? I can’t tell if anything else is broken. I already have Ron and Blaise going to get a teacher. I am so sorry Draco, it wasn’t suppose to happen like this!” Harry is running his sentences together as he is frantically searching me over for any other damages. Everything hurts, but what I feel the most is the throbbing in my chest. Did I really have to almost die for him to say my name in such a caring way? I don’t want to be here, it hurts to see him like this knowing it is just me that is feeling this way. “Professor Snape!” Harry yells as Severus approaches with Ron and Blaise right behind him. I see Rus reach for his wand and the next thing I know Harry is swept away from me by an unseen force, flown at least three yards away. “Harry Potter! What have you done now?!” Severus yells, abnormally angry. He turns his attention toward me, worry lines streaking his face. He looks me over and his face softens. A wave of his wand and I feel a million times better. He leans down next to me and whispers, “You’ll be okay Draco, I’ll take care of this”. He turns his attention to Harry, “While I transport this young man who could very well be crippled, I’d recommend you contact your parents before I get the chance. Let them know I expect to be seeing them soon.” Severus knows better than to touch me, so he makes me float using Hermione's favorite spell. He must have cast a different spell as well, because the last thing I see is Harry’s terrified face as Severus brings me back toward the castle. 

I wake up to a sudden jolt of pain coming from, well, everywhere. The most prominent pain is coming from my right arm. I sit up to exam the damage, but to my surprise I see none other than Hermione Granger sitting next to my bed in the infirmary, reading of course. Without a word she raises her hand and indicated the number 1, probably to suggest “one minute”. I wait for her to finish her page. 

“I know about you and Harry.” She announces bluntly as she closes her book carefully. She is smart, but she can’t possibly be that smart. “Well, yes, I assume you would know about how he got me clobbered by a tree. You were there.” I try and dismiss her suspicious words. She does not buy a word of it. “No, you twit, I know about you two’s past, and I am willing to bet that your annoying behavior is because you still have feelings for him.” She states it so matter o’ factly that I am left speechless. She rolls her eyes and gets up to leave, “Well, I sure hope that is the case. Him and I broke up you see. After I found out the only reason he wanted to be with me is because I am smart enough to brew a Polyjuice potion of you so he can fuck it, I decided maybe I should be with someone who was actually attracted to me.” She walks away without giving me a chance to argue, or well, say anything at all really. He does what?  She runs into someone at the door and I hear them exchange words, and to my surprise the next person to walk in is Harry Fucking Potter. He stands awkwardly at the end of my bed for what feels like an eternity before asking, “how are you feeling?”. Despite his concern, he wont make eye contact with me. He doesn’t even seem like he wants to be here. I sink back into the bed and roll away from him. “You can go, I am fine. I bet your friends are lost without you.” I bite my tongue at the end, knowing that isn’t how I feel. I feel the bed shift as he sits down on the edge. 

“Draco.. I don’t want to go. I feel terrible about what happened, and I Hermione just told me that you know about.. me, or us, or however you want to say it, and what I am trying to say is, “ He takes a deep breath, “Draco I am so sorry. I know your father doesn’t want me around you, but it hurts to see you like this, and it hurts to not be with you.”. His voice got weak as he finished his sentence. His hand grabbed my leg and squeezed it. It’d been forever since I had felt his warmth. 

I can’t. 

I can’t. I can’t.  I can’t  I can’t  I can’t  I can’t  I can’t  I can’t  I can’t  I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’tIcantIcantICANTICANTICANTICANT! 

Why? Why does he have to do this? Why does he have to hurt me like this? What does this all mean? Does he think that because he said sorry I can just roll over and pretend the last two years never happened?! HE LEFT ME! He hurt me! He got me hurt! When I lost him, I lost the love for myself as well. How can he say those things to someone who is just a shell? 

I start breathing desperately, my heart racing and my head flooding with these thoughts. I can’t control it, I can’t stop it, and I can’t move. I want to reach out to him, to grab his hand, to push him away, I don’t know!  

“Mr. Potter, now would be a good time for you to leave.” Severus’s calming voice announces over the hallway in the infirmary. I hear his footsteps swiften towards us. “Proffessor Snape I was only-” Harry starts, but gets interrupted by a stern and almost hissing whisper, “No, Mr. Potter. Mr. Malfoy’s parents are heading this way, I strongly recommend you make it as if you were never here. Do you understand?”. That very much so sounded like a threat. “Of course, I’m sorry... Please take care of him!”. Harry runs down the hallway and I hear the door slam before Severus addresses me. He kneels beside the bed to be face to face with me. “Draco, I’m so sorry. Deep breaths”. He says gently as he wipes away tears that I didn’t know I had. “Don’t worry about your parents. I will tell them now is a bad time. We will all reconvene at my house this evening once you recover from the healing spell. You can ask them about what Mr. Potter said if you must, I will protect you. Always.” He gently kisses my forehead and leaves silently, leaving me to suffer, as always. 

It's painfully awkward sitting at dinner with my parents and Severus. He was able to fix my arm, but it left me what could only be described as the largest hangover one has ever suffered. To top it off, since I was okay physically, my father was going to make sure I wasn't okay emotionally or mentally. He'd done nothing but berate me for causing a scene. I zone out of his rants and stare down at where Severus is squeezing my knee. He is trying to be supportive, but all I can notice is a strange tattoo on his arm that wasn't there before.

"Severus, what is this?" I ask as I drag my fingers over the snake that's wrapped around a skull. It graces his forearm so delicately, it really adds to his aesthetic. My father looks appalled at my blatant change of topic, and Severus looks panicked. He tries to cover it with his sleeve, but father stops him. "Severus Snape, is that the reaction to my spell?" Father stairs him down.

"Yes, my lord. I've no excuses for my behaviour. I will only say that never once have I sought to harm Draco. I've had his best interests in mind, always." Severus hangs his head as he finishes his sentence, knowing what he has just admitted.

"Draco, that mark - or something definitive, will appear on anyone you've had relations with." Father waves his hand towards Severus's arm as he struggles to remain calm. Mother chokes down a sob. "I had my suspicions about the Potter child, but I suppose this confirms that you are exactly the deviant whore I assumed you to be." I- wait, Harry? He knew about us? If he did something like this, something permanent to someone who worshipped him, then what did he do to Harry?

"Father! Tell me, is Harry's scar because of this?!". I grab Severus's hand and squeeze it, needing all the support from him that I can get in this challenging moment. Bever had I spoken againt father, but this was going too far!

"Of course. Are you really that daft to think he spontaneously manifested such an atrocious mark? Honestly Draco, to think you've tainted a wizard of such nobilty, and to include Severus on your path of destruction. I am ashamed to call you my son." Lucious stands to leave, grabbing Narcissa by the arm and dragging her with him. I never thought it would come to this, I knew father could be nasty, but I never believed he would be this way towards me. Everything I did was to make him look to, to do the Malfoy name proud. Yet he can't even let me love who I want to love? I want to chase after him but Severus weighs me down in my chair. "Don't Draco, let him cool off before you try anything. It wont end well if you pursue him now.".

The next day at school I can't help but stair at Harry's scar in every shared class. Severus explained how the curse worked, he explained that the mark would burn and feel as if it were festering when the host was around me. He explained that the reason Harry grew distant was because of my father and James Potter deciding to seperate us by any means necessary. Severus only learned about this after he began tutoring me and learned of my heart break. I still couldn't bring myself to speak to him. I don't know whether I feel betrayed, or heart broken. I don't know where I will go when the weekend comes, because I can't go home, or to Severus's, and I can't stay here. The library seems like the only logical option to kill a little bit of time at before finding a place to spend the night.

"Draco?" Before I even look, I know it is Harry who has joined me in the endless rows of books. "Draco.. I am so sorry. I hope you're okay. I hope Luscious didn't.. do anything, to you. Like he used to-" "STOP" I can't take this anymore! "Did you know? About the curse, about our fathers, and what he would do? This whole time were you just hiding from my reality?!" He is standing right here in front of me but as I yell at him I only stare at the scar on his forehead, knowing it must be throbbing.

"I knew.. after it appeared, they explained it to me. They said it was what you wanted, and that this would help us distance ourselves." He steps closer to me, reaching out for me. "But I knew it couldn't have been true. I figured it out after you started getting so familiar with Professor Snape. I tried asking my father about it and he told me the truth, but I thought you'd moved on so I didn't want you to have to choose.", he grabs my hand and holds it close to his chest. "But I'm done waiting. I don't think you've moved on, I just think you're too afraid to be yourself. So stop me if this isn't what you want." The last words are practically a whisper as his lips close in on mine. It'd been so long since I'd felt his touch, let alone his kiss. He starts out soft and sweet, lingering to feel the softness of my lips. When I don't fight his kiss, he gets more aggressive, his tongue parting my lips and finding mine. He grabs the back of my head and laces his fingers through my hair, cushioning the impact of him pushing my into the bookshelf. "Draco~" he mutters my name as he leans into me. I can feel his hard on pressing against me. "Fuck Draco", he lips press against my neck as he kisses me intensely, trying to leave a mark. "I've never stopped wanting you", he bites me gently, "I never let you get taken from me again".

[generic-fandom-name]

A ficlet of learning more a hit the one you travel with. I do everything on my phone so there is no way to put it under cut! But there is no explicit content. I wanted some book/game Geralt. I like to think Netflix geralt is soft in private.

Jaskier thought he knew enough about witchers. Early days at university he devoured every text of witchers he could get his hands on.

Then he learnt he knew nothing of witchers when he finally met one in the flesh, and not just any witcher Geralt of Rivia. The butcher of Blaviken. From this unlikely friendship he began to pull fact from fiction. Witchers are just like every other creature on this god forsaken land. They eat, piss and shit...not Jaskiers most eloquent conclusion but it got to the point. Through Geralt Jaskier learnt the ways of the world, how to survive and enjoy it.

For many years Jaskier too Geralt as the average witcher. It wasnt until 5 years into their travels did they come across another from the guild. Geralt exchanged a heavy shake with the man as he guided him to their camp for food and rest.

For his part Jaskier was fascinated. The other witcher was very different indeed. Hair thick and a shade of shining copper in the fire light, and cheeks flooded with freckles, and he was by no means as pale as Geralt. If Jaskier were to pass him by in a crowd he wouldn't have even considered him a witcher unless his caught sight of the medallion before the 2 looming swords.

He was from the school of the griffon the witcher explained. From Kaer Seren. The man was chatty, eloquent in his speech and rather humours. When he took a seat by Geralts Side, the differences were very extreme. The witcher was eager to share tales of his exploits and even asked to write a song about him. That night Jaskier's notebook filled with great stories of slaying dragons and other creatures.

By the time he and Geralt bid farewell to the other witcher Jaskier chalked the differences up to, well different schools and thought nothing else of it.

It wasn't until their paths crossed with another Wolf. This time Jaskier was able to bask in awe as Geralt pulled the other man into a tight embrace, both thumbing one another on the back in a rather brotherly way.

Eskel, was his name and perhaps the closest thing Geralt had to a family. He led them both to his rented room in the inn and was quick to introduce himself properly to Jaskier.

"Its an honour to finally meet you bard. Geralt never shuts up about you during the winter."

The comment caused a heavy blushes to pull across Jaskier's cheeks. To know Geralt talks about him in his absence is a fine thing indeed.

When all three men sat around the small table in the room enjoying each others company jaskier once again notices the stark differences in his witcher and Eskel.

Eskel, is built the same and scarred also. But he too looks more, human. Brunette hair and flushed skin, easier to talk to also. Even in Eskel's presence Geralt remained quiet only offering a response when absolutely needed.

It seemed Geralt was very different even among witchers. Deathly pale skin, ash white hair, fangs sharp enough to rip flesh. Like a wolf in man's clothing. Why was that Jaskier pondered.

When they eventually retired to their room, jaskier noticed the confused look his dear friend sent his way. Jaskier had been rather quiet for some time and a quiet Jaskier was never good.

"What plagues your mind, bard?" Geralt Asked. His eyes traced over Jaskier's face.

Jaskier held his breath for a moment. Should he be honest with his train of thought or try to weave sweet lies. Maybe the ale had got to his head because he quickly decided to take a step closer to the Cliff that was Geralt.

"You are so very different. Even among witchers aren't you?" He watched closely as Geralts face pulled a minute wince and turned away. But for once in their decade of Friendship Jaskier doesn't want Geralt to close off and so he quickly reached for Geralt's wrist and pulled him back to look him in the eye.

Amber darted from left to right as if in a panic trying to find something among Jaskier's features. Geralts Shoulders eventually slump ever so slightly and his eyes drift to a spot just beyond Jaskier's shoulder.

"I was put through extra mutations as an experiment. To make Witcher's stronger. However all they achieved was further death and a creature far more monstrous than human." He pulled his wrist and Jaskier let him, but still followed as Geralt took a heavy seat on the edge of the bed. Jaksier knelt in front of him, the wooden floor not good for his knees but he wanted, no needed to see Geralt face on.

Something with Geralt seemed to break, maybe the final barrier, the last guard finally submitting to Jaskier's need to burrow further into the witcher's soul.

"My hair fell out at first. And my skin lots all colour. They thought me dead until they felt my shallow breaths. I was kept isolated...the teeth." He mumbled and pointed at the extra fang. "The teeth were the most painful. My jaw having to move to accommodate." When Geralt spoke it was like Jaskier had opened a floodgates within him. Had he ever spoke this much in one go. Jaskier remained frozen, not wanting to startle his friend.

"When I finally came to, they discovered my senses were heightened but not refined. And that was no good to anyone. I could barely hand the taste of the blandest of foods, the sound of a spider run across the stone floor or even a candle light in a dark room. I were the only to survive the extra mutations and the mage decided it was not worth the work for what they got out in return. Even among witchers I am a monster, Jaskier. I remember when they let me out on a hunt, I killed and at the flesh of a wolf, raw. I was scorned by peers. Except for Eskel."

Jaskier nodded, and for a moment a let the speech sink in. He noticed one of his hands had made their way to Geralt's knee and so a quickly drew his hand away not wanting to show his friend pity, he didnt deserve that.

[moonlit-grove]

End of Mordremoth (Part Two)

The first couple of days, Vielcos didn’t leave his side. She remained, staring at his face, watching how he slept. She kept holding his hand, sometimes looking at the monitors. The golems left her be, moving as carefully as the machines could around her. They would change the sheets in the bed left for her… Despite her never using it. She slept in the chair, at his side. She couldn’t leave him.

At some point, the golems had started checking only every other hour. Then every six. That was fine… More time for her to be alone with her beloved as he rested. As his body and mind healed…

Today, though, she lifted his hand to her lips, pressing a kiss to the knuckles. Then, as she stood, she leaned over him to kiss his lips. Still gently warm. Still Trahearne.

“Lethallan needs to stretch her wings,” she said softly. She’d been talking to him the whole time, as if he could hear her, “I’ll… I’ll be back later today. I’ll take her to Lion’s Arch and… If Twussa needs anything, I’ll pick it up.”

One more kiss. Then she sighed, smoothing down her armor. To the door... And she paused, looking back at him. No… No, she had to. She had to leave. This was better for her. She searched the halls for the Asura. She searched… Found a cafeteria. There were other sylvari inside, none of her friends… But some familiar. They greeted her warmly.

She couldn’t stay, no matter how much they offered for her to sit with them. Tomorrow, she said… She promised. Another time, another day. She needed to find the scientist… She promised these sylvari, though. One day.

Eventually… Eventually, she found her. The sylvanologist walked with her, smiling and thanking her for her offers. “But,” she said, “I get shipments from the Priory and Rata Sum to tend to my lab and the inhabitants. If there’s anything one of them wants, feel free to get that for them... I know some of them want seeds from the Grove.”

Ah… Of course. That makes sense. The griffon was on her in seconds, trilling happily and nuzzling into her. Such a lovely, loving beast. Vielcos laughed softly, gently petting her feathers as she swung herself onto her back. They’d start with just flying around… Then they’d go to The Grove and Lion’s Arch.

The sun was setting when she returned. Malomedies had been happy to see her, insisting she stay for a lesson… It was good for her. Being away from what was happening for the day, seeing curious saplings. The lesson had derailed on her arrival, they started asking about what was happening. They wanted progress on Trahearne… Speaking about it like this, giving them the positives, helped her. She was reminded that it was only three days. It could be months.

She handed the seeds to a golem, giving it the names of the sylvari that requested each one. It assured her that each would go to the right one. Lethallan stretched and found her way into the quote-unquote “yard” that Twussa had for the healing sylvari. She’d made a nest for herself, Vie found. The other sylvari had been petting and cuddling with her through the days.

Back to Trahearne… Still asleep. Still sleeping. Still unconscious. But that’s okay, she thought… It could be months. She sighed softly, leaning over him to kiss him.

“I’m back,” she whispered, “I, uh… Stopped by The Grove. Malomedies’ class asked about you… Mother… She asked me to bring you something.”

She set up the lovely bushel of flowers on the table beside him, staring at them for a moment. Her throat started filling, as tears appeared at the corners of her eyes.

“It’s… It’s um… Lilacs... And... And lilies… There’s um... A lotus painted on the vase.”

She sat again, taking his hand again. She traced his knuckles with her thumb, staring at the slow progress… Already healing, just… slowly. Very slowly. “Twussa says your body might take a few years to finish healing… That for a while you might not be able to… To wear normal clothes.”

Talking to fill the silence usually came so easily to her. Why was this harder? Maybe she’d already said everything she had to say. Maybe… Maybe because she usually had someone to play off of. Even if it was Mikhail or Canach… She had someone to quip with her. But now all she had was silence. The beeping of monitors. His breathing.

Breathing… That was a good sign. That was always a good sign. It meant he was alive. It meant he was fighting. She reached up to run a thumb over his cheek. “I wish I could help you…” She breathed, “Enter your mind, help you fight this off… I don’t know if you can even hear me, I-... Sylvari in a coma can hear things around them, but Twussa… You’re not really in one, are you? So we don’t know… But- But I can’t… I love you, Trahearne… Please wake up…”

No reaction… Of course not, her mind scolded herself. That was silly. How is just asking him to wake up supposed to wake him? He needs time to fight off the last bits of Mordremoth. He needs time… Time. Always time.

Two weeks. Four weeks. Then two months. Slowly, over time there, she started walking around the lab and interacting with the other sylvari. They were genuinely happy to have her doing so. Lethallan too. Wikki had to return to the Vigil, Vielcos and Lethallan took her. She kissed Trahearne before she left, holding the asura as they flew over the landscape towards the Keep. Wikki offered her own assurances, her own reports of what she saw happening in the marshal’s mind.

“Don’t hold my words as gospel,” she said, “But I believe he’ll wake up soon. Maybe within the week. There have been major improvements in his mind, it looks like most of the corruption is gone. At this pace, it should take him only a few more days.”

Wikki was an optimistic asura. She looked at the bright side of things, even if she acknowledged the dark. She’d been with the fleet when it went down, refused to let the soldiers under her command treat the sylvari any differently. She’d been working hard to help take care of Trahearne.

Landing Gendarran Fields, Wikki took a careful breath before sliding off the griffon’s back. She gently pet the fur around her face, looking up at the Spymaster.

“He’ll be okay.” she said again, “He’ll wake up soon… Now, I have to deal with Almorra being pissed I was gone for so long.” She forced herself to laugh. Vielcos laughed softly along with her. About to ask if she wanted her to come with her, only for an excited norn’s voice to drown her out.

And for Warmaster Kernsson to scoop up the tiny asura in a hug. She’d be fine. She’d be okay… Vielcos watched for a moment, bitter happiness swelling inside… Watching one family reunited after Mordremoth, while she was stuck without her beloved… She should be happy for them, she should be smiling. Why are tears stinging her eyes?

Dyowana and Nohsi appeared from the Keep as she pulled Lethallan to turn around. The griffon trilled worriedly, feeling the sylvari pressing herself lower to the feathers. She heard her crying.

“The lab.” All she said before burying her face in the feathers and crying.

[etlunainmorte]

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*The Important Discourse Regarding A New Species Of Bird - The Red Grave Muckspout Griffon, AKA "The Hangry Bird"*

Discovered by Nicoletta Goldstein, the grandchild of the famous Nell Goldstein, .45 Caliber Virtuoso, these species of bird, otherwise or simply known as "The Griffon" , is one of the most fascinating creatures that ever existed on the planet. It has gorgeous blue and black feathers, sharp talons, a peculiar - looking beak that opens three - ways, and sharp, golden eyes that seem to mock any onlooker. It has a wingspan of about ten feet, and could easily whisk away a toddler with its massive built.

Found in the backyard of an abandoned house that was once resided by a man named Sparda, this "hangry bird" tends to be too irrational, angry and hostile, even, when it is famished. Exotic pet breeders who wish to take care of this unique specie are sternly warned and advised to keep in mind to feed it at least six times a day to keep it from attacking innocent citizens.

And while on the topic of this bird attacking innocents, this bird has a rather curious skill - the ability to control electricity. While it is not fully confirmed by the Artisan who discovered the specie, the Griffon seemingly has a certain part in its body which enables them to freely control electricity and any electrical devices near them. One is advised to keep this in mind so as not to be electrocuted, or, otherwise, murdered by this bird.

Another noteworthy characteristic of the Griffon is its ability to mimic the human language. However, due to some, yet, unknown reason, the Griffon could only mimic curse words ( which this reporter is forbidden to mention ), hence its name - The Red Grave Muckspout.

Only time will tell if this new species of bird, or oversized chicken, could be taken care of as a pet for some quality company, or kept as a weapon for hijacking nearby electric devices, which is a threat to the government and a treat to possible terrorists, who could utilize its skill in more nefarious and sinister ways.

***

❄ Three Wishes ❄

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III

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"How awfully domestic is that?!"

An all too - familiar voice uttered just behind them.

That proud stance, those glaring eyes, and that awful - looking signature moustache,...

... it was none other than Christopher Lancaster, himself.

But, this time, his aura felt normal. There was nothing evil about him, save for his sardonic smile and the annoying way that facial hair of his twitch with every movement of his lips , which made V conclude that the evil doctor's reincarnation was just an eyesore and nothing more. A human, which was not a total threat.

Or,... was he?

The man's eyes landed on you and the way he smirked at you made you flinch, and almost made V lose his patience.

"Small world!" Christopher announced like it was completely normal for the three of you to have a friendly conversation. "Didn't know the scouts have a field trip today." He said those words as his eyes lingered on the jar of cookies on V's hands, which offended the both of you.

"What are you doing here, Christopher?" You sneered at him, not wanting V to mingle with the guy.

"Oh! Don't be so hostile on your former lover, missy!" The obnoxious guy said, pretending to be scared of you as he backed out a few steps away from you. "Oh, I almost forgot! You are a gentle little thing who can't go hostile on anything. Ah! My bad, my bad, so sorry!"

"Pardon me, sir," V interrupted upon seeing your infuriated face turn red. " ... if you don't have,... anything nice to say, will you, please, let us move along, or leave us be?"

To this, the man's eyes widened in amusement. He laughed, clapped his hands, and pointed at V as he looked at you accusingly. "Is this your new man? Well, I have to offer my salutations to you for finding someone who suits a granny's girl like you!" Then, looking at V with those challenging eyes of his, he flat out said, "A total mama's boy."

For a moment, V lost his temper. No one is allowed to talk to his mother in such a way. And no one,... is allowed to embarrass you in any way or form. Not now, not after, not while he's still breathing, and especially not when he's bitten the dust.

You were not sure what was going on in V's head, only that he seemed to go quiet for a while as he slowly raised his left hand and -

"WHOA! WATCH OUT!"

A familiar female voice screamed, startling you, V, Christopher, and anyone who was nearby. And then, you saw a blur of black and blue land on Christopher's face, shocking and frightening the hell out of the offensive man.

"I'm so very, very sorry, mister!" Nico, who suddenly came out of nowhere, apologized as she made her way towards Christopher to untangle the bundle of angry feathers on his face. And when she did, you saw V smirk as he shook his head. It was Griffon who attacked Christopher, after all.

"WHAT,... THE FUCK IS THAT,... FUCKING BIRD?!" Christopher howled, flinching at the pain on his face due to the cuts Griffon just inflicted on him with his sharp talons.

"Oh! I'm so, so, sorry, sir! I truly am!" Nico blabbered in a convincing tone. "Red Grave Muckspout Chickens - "

Griffon angrily squawked and struggled against Nico's grasp upon hearing the word chicken from her, making her change the name of his species impromptu.

"I mean, Red Grave Muckspout Griffons tend to be really grumpy when they're hungry. But, just this mornin’, it ate six pancakes, four muffins, a child's ice cream, and an old man's baguette. It even drank my own coffee, and it's still hangry! I don't know what to do with it!"

Christopher just stared at her, confused as hell, and shook his head as he pinched his nose bridge in frustration.

"Keep your weird, fucking pets to yourself, woman!" He angrily screamed at her as he took out his handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping the blood off his face. "That fucking thing could kill people!"

"OH, YEAH?!" Griffon screamed, making everyone turn to him in both fright and shock. And it even made V turn the other way and hide his face to conceal his laughter. "WELL, FUCK YA, TOO!"

"WHAT THE F - ?!"

"AHH!" Nico howled helplessly as she forcefully clamped Griffon's beak close with her free hand and held him closer to the point of suffocation. "Muckspout! Red Grave Muckspout! It's in his, ah, nature to curse like that! Yeah! It's like a parrot, see? It can mimic human sounds, but it could only say swear words! So, ya basically taught him that! Yeah! It's not his fault, please, forgive him. He's an innocent, little angel!"

You have no idea what was going on, but you were only glad to see V having a blast with Nico's act. By this time, the poet has retreated to a corner and held the column post for support as he stifled his laughter and held his aching stomach with his free hand.

And Christopher, your former lover? He was beyond outraged and pissed. He closed his eyes, pursed his lips in fury, and held up both of his hands. With one last threatening look, he scoffed, and marched away like a defeated middle school bully. That's what he was, after all - he was a bully, and nothing more.

When the obnoxious man could no longer be seen, Nico let go of her Red Grave Muckspout pet and it made its way towards V.

"Come on!" Nico told you and V. "Let's get ya outta here."

***

❄ @la-vita , @clevermentalitybeliever , and @birdgirl69 . ❄

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[zer0pm]

Diverging Jealousy: Devil Hunters

A/N: The next part of the Diverging Jealousy multific that continues after V’s part. I was considering ending it as I don’t want to drag the story too long, but with how I left V’s part along with all the great feedback, I felt it better to write some scenes that would create a natural transition to the heart-pulling finale. Hope this keeps the hype up. Thanks a bunch to everyone that has been following this. Y’all are the best :)

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You: “Wait, Dante. Stop.”

He was about to kiss you and you almost let him, but a nagging feeling tugging at your heart and mind told you to stop and take a step back. So you did, placing a hand against his chest to keep him at bay, allowing you to create some distance. He looks crestfallen at your rejection, but he doesn’t push it.

Dante: “Guessing you’re not feeling me.”

You shake your head.

You: “I don’t know what to feel. This is too sudden and it sure as hell not the right time and place to open up to something like this.”

When you were certain Dante wasn’t going to try to pull a fast one, you lower your hand and your guard.

Dante: “We may not have another chance to talk about this.”

You: “Well, we’re not going to do this in front of V.”

If he was hurt before, Dante certainly was now. Feelings aside, you had a job to do, and you were not going to cause a scene in front of your client. That’s what you convinced yourself anyways. You turn your head to apologize to him about how unprofessional Dante must appear but find him nowhere to be found.

You: “Where did V go?”

Dante: “...Guess he heeded my warning.”

You narrow your eyes at Dante suspiciously.

You: “What warning? You guys have been acting weird all day, you gonna tell me what’s going on?”

Dante’s body grows frigid. Him and his big mouth, but there was no point in hiding or lying about it now. He scratches the back of his head, trying to find the best words to put it.

Dante: “I didn’t like the way he acted around you or how you two talked to each other. It got on my nerves. So I told him to watch himself, ‘cause I already had my sights on you longer than he has and wasn’t going to let him just waltz in and-”

You: “Take what’s yours? Like you own me?”

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing and his eyes widen at your outburst.

Dante: “It isn’t like that!”

You: “Then what is it, Dante? ‘Cause it sounds to me like you two started a competition where I’m the prize and I didn’t even have a say in it! Now V’s fucking gone off to god knows where and we still got an asshole demon king to kill against which we’re going to need all the fucking help we can get!”

Your fists clenched so tightly, your body was shaking, and your head felt like it was about to burst from all the anger building up inside you.

You: “And you two thought it was a good idea to fight over what?! A chance with me!? God, you can be so stupid sometimes!”

That made his heart fall. Did they not have a chance with you? You storm off, sword drawn. You hear Dante calling out to you.

Dante: “Where are you going?!”

You: “To find our client!”

With a swing, you point your sword at Dante, annoyed rage in your eyes.

You: “And don’t think I’m picking any sides. He’s just as dumb as you for letting this rivalry get the better of both of your judgments! You’re going to fucking keep the office and we’re all going to live through this so I can smack both of you upside your thick skulls! Until then, I’m going to make sure that you two get the fuck along so that I can get back to fucking work!”

Dante knows you’re pissed when half of your sentences are filled with expletives. If he wasn’t legitimately scared of you right now, he would have thought your spirited anger was sexy. Empowering even. It was one of the things that made you so damn attractive while working, ‘cause you had nothing but feeling in everything you do. But he has thrown himself on your bad side and knew it was his fault. He scratches the back of his head in frustration.

Dante: “Fuck...”

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He didn’t know how long or far he has been walking, trying to actively move to get his mind of over Dante being so close to you. But no matter how hard he tried, even reciting William Blake to calm his nerves, the quake in his heart shook him painfully. It was pathetic really how much it affected him.

Griffon: “Hey, uh...you okay, V?”

V: “Once Urizen is defeated, I will be.”

Griffon: “True, but what about...you know who, Walker, I think is what you call that other devil hunter.”

V: “Little Wanderer.”

Griffon: “There ya go, that’s the pet name.”

He started calling you that not too long after meeting you, a play on your exceptional scouting abilities. It also helped that it was an ode to one of his favorites poems, fueling his attraction to you. V supposes that he’ll have to come up with another nickname, one that would not serve as a symbol of his hopeless affection.

V: “Irrelevant now. Dante has made his claim clear.”

He sighs, stopping in the middle of an open area.

V: “Besides, he has everything to offer. Me...I have nothing to give. I cannot even give myself as I will simply either crumble away or reveal myself to be the monster that brought calamity to this city Wanderer loved so much. I don’t know which of these would be worse to see on that wonderful face, but it not a sight I can bare. It is better this way.”

Griffon: “V...”

Suddenly he feels a presence zoom right towards them. With amazing reflexes, V instinctively ducks, Shadow leaping from his marks to claw at the attacking figure. The familiar nicks the creature, revealing itself before V. A large, lizard-like demon with long, dagger-like claws and glowing red skin. Out of the all the species of demons in the underworld, this was the his least favorite to deal with and with his current state, he would ride victorious still but not before going through a bit of a struggle destroying it. His worst fear is realized when more Chaos demons fade into vision, completely surrounding them. Well, then...

Griffon: “Um... Now would probably be a good time to call in Nightmare.”

Not needing to be told twice, V summons the full force his demonic energy with a snap of his fingers, triggering the call of his most powerful familiar. Like a meteor falling from the sky, Nightmare crashes into the plaza. The Chaos demons were quick to move out of the way, hissing at the rising ink creature. In their venomous daze, V dashed on top of Nightmare, Griffon and Shadow in tow to defend him.

The Chaos horde engages them, V using his connection with his demon companions to guide their every move, taking extra care to make sure they do not attack too far from him. It was difficult as the enemies were too quick, using their superior speed to dodge most of the strikes and lightning attacks. Even Nightmare’s energy blasts and monstrous strength did little against them. One swiftly sneaks behind V, he could not summon Griffon back enough to knock it away and instead was forced to dodge. He barely missed the killing blow as one hellish claw scratched deep on his shoulder. If he didn’t move at all, that would have pierced his heart right through, yet it still hurt like hell, and he was bleeding profusely.

V: “Gahh!”

The reptilian demon stood atop Nightmare with him and moved to slice upward. V had no choice but to roll off of his own familiar to escape, he landed on the ground on top of his bad shoulder and hisses in excruciating agony. Nightmare beside him fades into a pool of black ink before merging back within him, turning his hair and some of the marks on his back to its dark hue.

He looks up to see Griffon and Shadow trying to get to him, but the surrounding Chaos demons kept them at bay with fierce attacks. He sensed that it is taking all their vigor alone to avoid their vicious offense.

V moves to get back up but feels his weakening body give, keeping him to a kneeling position. His dying core forces him to cough, he covers his mouth as if doing so would muffle the sound and steady his breathing but once he removed his hand, he sees nothing but the red proof of his fading life splattered on his palm.

V: “No, not like this... I can’t lose here.”

He thinks back on how this hell came to be. How everything fell to ruin, all because of him and his selfish pursuit of power. Even now, he wished himself to be stronger. But not just to right his wrongs.

But to see you again...

He was mentally himself for his foolish sentimental heart, but he honestly could not complain. On the brink of death and all he can think about is you. If you were to be his last thoughts, then he felt that everything was worth it. And he hoped even now, that and you and Dante would rise victorious, together. V smiles sadly.

V: “I curse my stars in bitter grief and woe.”

Behind him, a shadow approaches, the signal of the end.

V: “That made my lov-”

BOOM!

The demon behind him falls, fading into black ash. V’s look up to seek out the source and sees a familiar face beside him, helping him back on his feet.

V: “Dante-!”

Dante: “Don’t thank me yet, my partner is still going to kill our dumb asses. Until then...”

He was lucky to have found V first, his feet driven by the desire to beat you to him so that he could speak with the tattooed man first. Not to manipulate the situation between you all, he learned that lesson the first time. But to set it right and let things come naturally. If you chose V over him, if you chose between them at all, then he wanted V to give it his all for you. That would be worth it. The white-haired man looks back at the dark-cladded man with a profound determination in his eyes that told the latter that his pride has been casted aside.

Dante: “Help me out here, will ya?”

Understanding what he means, V nods. His cane in hand, he puts himself in his stance, Griffon and Shadow bracing themselves by his side to carry out their next orders. He eyes the demons that have formed around them with a newfound vigor and malice.

V: “Behold the taste of despair.”

Dante laughs, facing his back to V’s, both men making sure they had each other covered.

Dante: “Took the words right out of my mouth.”

[tsundozer]

Prompt #03: Twelveswood Elegy

Exercise: an extensive, meandering monologue, deliberately breaking form an appropriateness. A dialogue that goes on, and on, and often loses it’s way--so the reader, themselves, become lost within it. Express intense emotion through nothing but spoken word, with sufficient weight.

Dearest G’rha,

It is with heavy heart that I reach out to you today to deliver this most unfortunate news: G’ihsa Ohsen passed on the eve of the 10th sun of the 4th Astral moon. She has been burned, and will be returned to the soil beneath the trees, as were her wishes, and as is custom of our people. Pursuant to this, we will be convening to mourn at the sunlit clearing and taking the time to speak of her memory, fondly. Your attendance has been something of a hot topic. While there has been much debate within the community, ultimately as Nunh, the final decision rests upon my shoulders.

You, G’rha, former Tia of the Griffons, second son of G’ihsa Ohsen, have been requested to attend and speak your piece. I understand this request may be presumptuous, even hurtful, for you, for myself. I take no joy in inviting you, and will take less joy in speaking myself.

But Rha.

She was our mother.

And nobody else is going to mourn.

G’ruhn Nunh

“So I had a long time t’think, on my way to these woods. In these woods. There’s an old log, where my lil’ gaggle of fuck-ups used to spend time. Y’know the place. I didn’t really try to find it, I just sorta wound up there. Funny how the wood seems to change, over time. I always thought it was dead. But there I was, unsure where I was, at least, until I found that log.”

Gray flexed his hands twice before wringing them together, as he surveyed the small gathering. Only five, maybe six people besides his brother had come to see their mother returned to the wood. He didn’t recognize either of them. When he looked in his brother’s direction, he couldn’t help but sneer. It didn’t fit the scene (that’s all this was, a scene), wearing that disdain upon his face. But disdain was all he had, wasn’t it? He decided to just talk. Shut everything else away.

“Gray, by the way. G’rha, I guess. If y’all gonna insist. I used to go there a lot, with G’rhun. With G’nerha. WIth a buncha other misfits who ain’t fit in here--an’ I just kept thinking about that. Misfits, we were misfits. I’d jokingly call us the Bastard’s club. On account o’ me an’ G’nerha, I guess. but really. We were all out of sorts, in some way. It’s really fucking sad, to see how many of you here just. Crawled your way back in-- oh, don’t give me that fucking look. Am I bitter, hells, yeah, I’m bitter. I don’t-- I don’t know what I’m doing here. I don’t know why I’m here. Where even is here? Home? I don’t think so. It weren’t home for mom, either. --Right. Mom.”

Gray gave a long, steady sigh.

“Mom-- G’ihsa Ohsen-- was born sixty-eight turns ago an’ a few moons. She was a miqote, belongin’ to the griffon tribe, daughter of G’ohsen Nunh, the nunh prior. And she died a few moons ago. When I was young, she taught me a song. Magic chords, she said, to chase the nightmares away. She had a way with music, I’ll tell you that. She had a way with her words, too. She loved t’ use ‘em to dig, t’hurt. Not just me, but boy, did she ever have a lot t’say my way. Bastard this, bastard. That. But not just me. No. She turned ‘em in towards herself, too. I’m sure that’s why she asked to be burned. We usually just bury ‘em, yeah? Bury deep under the wood, let ‘em nourish the flowers. I don’t think she wanted that. T’be flowers. I don’t think she wanted to exist at all. Not that she had a godsdamned clue, near the end. I don’t--y’wanna hear a story ‘bout her? Bet y’all don’t. Bet whoever’s here just can’t wait to see us empty out this urn all over the fuckin’ grass, and that’s that. Bet you were hopin’ for a few quick, empty words. Well fuck that. Fuck that.She’s not--she’s not allowed. To go peacefully, into the godsdamned night.--”

Gray felt words catch in his throat for a moment, the world spun and he stumbled, bracing himself against a tree. Another sneer. Did they know he’d been drinking, before this? They probably knew. They could see it on his face. Well, what’d the expect? He was going to do this sober? He spent enough time sober, lately. All of it, even. He was proud of that. But he can’t-- you can’t expect him to come here, and look you all in the eye, with a happy smile and a lucid gleam in my eye.

 “What,” he nearabouts growled,  “we’re--we’re all gonna wave her off, an’ pretend none of it ever happened? No. Fuck it. Story time. When I was twelve. I had my heart broke, for the first time. I tried talkin’ to G’nerha an’ she called me a runt, and you know what? I was. But I think it went deeper, than that. I don’t have to say it. There was no way in hells, I was ever gonna be the Nunh. Had no right to be, I wasn’t really part of the griffons. So when I went home, an’ I told her. She slapped me. You know--a kid comes in crying, and what, you fucking slap them? And--and do you-- d’you know what she said? Do you know what she fucking. said. to. me? It’s a good thing, Rha, that she didn’t take you seriously. What if she told the nunh? You’d make our lives worse than it already is. You’re a bastard, and that’s all you’re ever gonna be. A bastard. What a. What a loving, fucking mother, huh? Well, she was right. I’m a bastard. Especially tonight. Y’know. Y’know why I don’t wanna let her just, go, like this? Get off free? Because there ain’t nothin’ I can do otherwise! I went to see her, six moons ago. I’m sure y’all remember that on account o’ it not bein’ so pretty. You had her in a lil’ hut. Alone. It smelled like piss an’ her clothes were in tatters and I felt the bile rise in my throat, an’ even as angry as I was I remember myself askin’ but ain’t no-one takin’ care of her? And y’know, I knew the answer to that. Of course not. Because who would ever take care of a monster like her. And I didn’t feel better, about that. I thought I should have, but I didn’t. I didn’t feel sad, either, and maybe that woulda been appropriate too. No. Y’know what I felt? I felt even more pissed that--that. That y’all didn’t take accountability. Because you know what? You’re the monsters that made her. Gods, fuck. Why am I even here? Where--y’know. Like I was sayin’. She didn’t even know me from none of you. Have you ever looked into someone’s eyes, and just thought. They’re gone? There’s nothing there. They’ve checked out, given up, long ago. She spent the whole time babblin’ about Rhun. Of course she’d talk about Rhun. She must have been so proud of him, for makin’ it so far-- you’re doin’ great, brother! Really! Thank you so much for inviting me! -- and y’know what? I came there. I came there, to tell her I fucking hated her. I wanted to tell her how those words sunk into my skull and wrapped around the folds in my brain and how I can’t think of myself as Gray I can only think of myself as The Bastard, and that was her fault. That was her fault. I remembered the time, she told me that I was sick. And she was sick, too. That we were all sick. And I wanted to blame her, for that. I wanted to tell her, I’m poison. I’m poison, you know that? I’m fuckin’ rot, and you put it inside me. You put it inside me an’ I give it to everyone I know. And I couldn’t. I couldn’t, because she wasn’t fucking there. Then she looked at me. Really, looked at me. I thought. And I was ready. I was ready. I woulda taken her wrinkled, decrepit face in my hand and squeezed while I told her. That I hope the rest of her life is a wakin’ nightmare, and that I hoped that without me to blame, she’d realize she were the problem. Always the problem. I was gonna ask her, why she ain’t never loved me. Why she ain’t never cared. Why she’d teach me songs, if she’d only tell me I’d never play them right. Why she’d feed me, if she’d blame me for never having enough. Why she’d raise me, only to remind me, every godsdamned moment. that i was never gonna be enough for her. I was gonna scream. I was gonna rant. I was gonna make her feel every onze of hate she ever gave me tenfold. ...And then it all just. Went away. When she looked at me, she asked me.

Where am I? And then she started to cry. She started to sob. Hysterically, like she ain’t understand none of this and let’s be fair, she didn’t. This wasn’t her home. This wasn’t her young child, Rhun, even if she kept insistin’ I was such. And it was all just. Gone. There was her guitar, in the corner. In a heap of garbage. Out of tune, but whatever. I started t’play. We’re in your tent, I told her. We’re in your tent. And tomorrow, Rhun’s gonna challenge the nunh. Ain’t that swell? He’s gonna give you a better life. The respect you deserve. Ain’t nobody gonna mistreat the mother of the Nunh. There’s a warm fire in the center. The flaps are open to ventilate. I saw her think about it. I saw her smile. Just a bit. I’d never seen her smile before. She asked me where Rha was. I’m right here, I wanted to say. I’m right here, an’ I’ve been here all along, I wanted to. Cry. I wanted to ask her why she’d never seen me, why she’d never see me, why I was just the bastard and not her son. But instead I said, he’s out playin’, with his friends. That’s good, she said. That’s good. She wished he’d come in. He was too content to waste his life away, he should have been learning to hunt already. But if that’s how he was going to have it. I told her, he’ll be back in time for the fight. Y’all are gonna have your favorite meal. This is gonna be a night y’all won’t ever, ever, forget. She asked me if the night were gonna be pretty. If we’d see the stars in the clearin’. Reckon we will, Ma. I still don’t think she knew where she was. I think she was lost. She looked me over one last time, an’ she said, get out. You can stop that racket. My son plays it much better, and he’ll be home soon. I cried. I didn’t know what else to do, but cry. I curled up at her feet and sobbed, while her gaze grew distant and she took to starin’ at the wall, lost in the memory I’d helped put together. And now here I am, again. And I can’t help but thinkin’. When she asked, where she was? I just keep thinkin’ about it and. Maybe she was always lost. It couldn’t have been easy, shoulderin’ the blame of a kid outside the nunh. Not receiving support. From any of you. In raising me. And y’know. I’m lost, too. I don’t know where to go. I don’t know what to do. It’s not like any of you ever gave me direction. Why would you? A runt and a bastard, I’d never amount to anything. But even me bein’ born? That was ma lookin’ for somethin’, searchin’ for somethin’ outside of this. That I don’t think she ever found. And y’know. ...Fuck you all. For what you did to her. Because this ain’t about my mom. Not really. It’s about the people who made her the way she was. Because this is on all of you. You’re all responsible. Not just responsible. Culpable. The blame, for people like my mother. Lies on y’all. She didn’t know what to do, she had nothin’, an’ y’all took even that. You left her. IN a fucking room. And y’know. I bet--I bet. Y’all called me here, to hear this. You wanted me. To talk about how awful, she was. How shitty, she was. And y’know what that was my plan too but suddenly I don’t want to. I wanna say how shitty all of you are. And I wanna ask. Where am I? Where was I ever? I don’t know, what I want. I don’t know, where I’m going. I’ve been chasing something all my life. I’ve been trying to fill up holes y’all left in me. Tryin’ to curse the poison, you all. Put in me. So I’ll spread the fuckin’ ashes, myself. And I’ll tell her, I forgive you. And I’m gonna look y’all in the eye.

Each. And every one of you. In the eye. And I wanna ask.

Why didn’t you see me?”

@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast

[spirit-of-the-void]

Ebony and Ivory (V x Reader Fanfic) Chapter 18

Author’s notes: Things are getting fun, kids. Sorry again for the weekend uploads but i’m in hell

Chapter 18

You needed to catch up with Dante.

That was the only order of business now that everything was said and done. You were the first to pull away from V, heart aching and brain going into focused mode. Time to get yourself together. V needed someone level and strong, someone to help him through this. You looked into his jade eyes as you came to your feet, pulling him up with a low huff from you both. He was looking normal again, sure, but you needed to be observing him at all times. How long would the decay last before he eventually faded away? Would there be a point where your energy stopped being able to help him? So many questions, swirling around your skull. You couldn’t focus on them now, not yet, not when there was so much to do and everything was so fresh.

Deep breathes, eyes forward. You had done this before, so many times in times of panic and dread. The fear would always be there, but now was the time to rise above it and keep your feet treading.  

The knowledge was still a wound on your soul, but it wasn’t like you didn’t have plenty of those. You could tell V was worried, more so for you than him. Your tears were gone, but your anxiety was plain on your face as you summoned your bag, pulling out some food for you and the poet to eat while you walked. Things high in sugars for you, whatever could bring the most energy. If it came down to it, you didn’t want to invoke your Deity again, but you would do it if it meant getting to the Qliphoth faster. V wouldn’t like that, but his health was held over yours now. Everything was about timing, precision and choice making as you neared the massive tree.

You quickly ate a few peanut butter bars, absorbing back the bag just as V finished off a piece of fruit. He ate it as quickly as he was able, but you got the sense he wasn’t feeling too hot. Your own stomach didn’t like food on it either, but you were willing to force it when it was so needed.

“We should use Shadow to travel from here on out,” V commented, tone low and shockingly calm after everything that had happened. He was leaning heavily on his cane, eyeing the big cat as it walked laps around you all, "We can cover more ground that way.”

You still felt strange about it, but you still nodded at his request, crouching down to meet Shadow’s eyes. The mighty creature lifted its head to bump yours, purring loudly enough that you were sure the others could hear it too. Precious, and so very good. Shadow could definitely sense you were upset, doing their best to offer comfort in their own way.

You kissed the black snout, standing back up and smiling a bit more. V was obviously correct--if you wanted to catch up with Dante, Shadow was the way to do it. You need to save energy anyway, and the journey would give you some moments to recharge.

“Let’s do it.” You replied, taking a deep breath and taking a few steps toward V. 

You wrapped your arms around him from behind, pressing your face to his back like you did once before on your journey. Through the sewers, when you first saw this ability. So much had changed in that short time, it felt like it had been years ago. Less holding onto V now, more embracing him than anything. His solidity made you feel a bit better about everything, his heart beat steady when you slid your fingers up his chest.

He sucked in a short breath, tapping his cane once on the ground to summon Shadow back. The mighty cat turned into a cloud of black, settling under your feet and V’s once more. Barely noticeable, but their physicality existed under your boots. That much you could tell. As for Griffon, he let out a light huff, immediately summoning back to his master and darkening his tattoos. You and the poet, technically alone again. It felt so strange now, making you ache inside.

You had made love to him in the night. He had felt so complete, so whole. You hoped the activities hadn’t been uncomfortable for him, or straining.

Regardless, he started forward. Cane tipped and sending you both speeding along through the landscape. Wind whipped past you, making you close your eyes and hair whip slightly. This was faster than the first time, you could tell. Was that Shadow moving you more, or V? You couldn't tell, but there was an urgency in the traveling now. You hardly looked at the landscape, already knowing what you would see. More destruction, more decay. It was getting to you a lot more than usual, heart aching and heavy from the days events.

You tried to focus on V. His scent, his body shifting under your hands, the way his ebony hair moved in the wind. He felt warm...alive. You told yourself that over and over. He wasn't dead, not yet—and you would never let him reach that point. There was so much life in his body and hope did exist. You were determined to stay strong for the both of you, but you knew V had been driven from the start. But...there was a sadness in his eyes now, one that you saw every time he turned back to glance at you.

Was he already convinced he wasn’t going to make it?

“V?” You murmured, voice barely heard above the sound of Shadow at your feet, and the wind moving past.

He paused, his free hand coming to rest on yours clasped around his middle.

“Yes, darling?” He murmured, turning his head a bit to glance at you with those jade eyes, "What’s on your mind, my sparrow?”

You closed your eyes again, focusing on how his deep voice rumbled under your ear. That alone was a comfort, his nickname for you making you so warm inside.

“Does...Does Nero know that something is wrong?” You said as audibly as you could manage, “Or...am I the only one other than Dante who knows?”

V let out a sigh, turning his head away, "Nero doesn't know...not yet," He paused, voice taking on a guilty tone as he added, "Forgive me for...how I spoke of Nero earlier. You were right to chastise us for it.”

You sighed a bit, remembering that you did in fact stand up heavily for the white-haired boy. It just upset you a lot when they belittled him for nothing, or downplayed his strength. You had no idea why everyone had it out for Nero, but he had been nothing but kind to you.

“He’s doing his best, you know?” You replied, lifting up your head to stare at the back of V’s head, “He’s got no family in his life to believe in him, so someone has to. Mind you, he has Kyrie and Nico. But judging by the way he talks about Dante...he looks up to him. And hearing him say stuff like that pissed me off on his behalf.”

V went a bit quiet at that, but you couldn’t see his face or the expression he wore.  

“Nero is...still young,” He finally said, hesitantly though. Like he was testing the waters of the conversation, “Before you came along, he was the only one I felt I could truly trust with anything.”

You nodded at that, but felt a bit confused. He hired Dante for this mission, but still felt like he couldn’t trust him? According to Nero, Trish and Lady were hired too. That means despite having all three powerhouses, V still went out of his way to seek out Nero and include him on the mission. It made sense as for why the boy was friendly with V. He wanted to be included, wanted someone to believe in him and have hope in his abilities. Which V seemed to up until talking to Dante, where he seemed to change his tune.

Why that was the case, you didn’t...understand. It was like he was trying to put a fire under Dante’s feet, saying whatever he thought would motivate the demon hunter.

And going to save Nero was a motivation.

In retrospect, it felt like it was less of Dante not believing in Nero, and more of...he was protecting him from something. But what? The danger was equal for everyone on this mission, sure, but there was a better chance at victory if everyone used their skills to take the demon on. Dante seemed determined for Nero to not even do that, to not fight the monster at all. You couldn’t place your finger on why, but you definitely wanted to talk to Dante about it. Hell, you needed to talk to him about a lot of things.

“As it stands, you’re the one who believed in Nero enough to keep him on this mission,” You murmured to V, leaning your head on his back again, “I bet he looks up to you too. Stuff like that seems to mean a lot to him. And now...I think I’m realizing Dante doesn’t really have anything against Nero either, does he?”

V let out a low hum, his voice just loud enough to hear as he muttered, “I don’t believe so.”

“Now I feel bad for scolding you both,” You sighed, closing your eyes and letting out a low groan, “I’ve made a terrible first impression.”

V chuckled lightly at that, stroking his fingers lightly over yours as he turned you around some debris, “I wouldn’t say so. Dante is the type to like guts, and you’ve certainly shown that. After everyone building him up the past few days you did not hesitate once to stand up for Nero, and that is admirable in itself.”

His praise always made you feel so warm. It was too bad everything was now tempered with that overwhelming panic.  

You squeezed V a bit tighter at the thought, your smile fading back to a look of quiet concern. V could feel your change in mood, shifting his hand so his fingers threaded with yours. Warmth, solidity. A reminder.

“We will make it,” You murmured, more to yourself than him, “I...I know what it feels like to die. And I don’t want you to go through that.” Not now, not ever.

Admitting that was like a punch to your gut, and the thing punching you was anxiety and fear. You felt V’s breath catch, his fingers squeezing yours a bit tighter as the wind rushed by. What could possibly be going through his head? You wished you could see his face, wished you could even begin to read his expression. V was so important to you, so necessary. The idea of him suffering was hurting you inside. You had been through so much, you spent so much time in pain that it was routine for you. Something to accept and expect, to grit your teeth and live through. V deserved better, he deserved everything and more.

“No dying for you, either,” V whispered, his tone barely heard. But you managed anyway, looking up at his ebony hair in surprise, “Promise me, Sparrow. No more deaths for you, not this time. Even if I don’t make it, you will live for us both.”

Gods, why would he make you promise something that hurt so much?

You had already resigned yourself to that fate, already knew that if you were to lose him that you wanted to live with the pain. It was your punishment, your necessity. Your reminder. But hearing him tell you what you already thought...it made your heart ache, knowing he was so prepared to not make it. The way he worded it too...it made it sound like he knew how many times you had died, and how much the sensations haunted you. You mind bounced back to the nightmare from the previous night, the one you couldn’t remember. Something told you that your words in that dream let on more than V was telling you.

And that was okay.

“It won’t come to that,” You whispered back, holding him a little tighter, “But...I’ll make any promise I need to you.”

V went quiet again, but you could sense an air of relief around him. One that made your heart ache.

Still, you traveled along the same path Dante had blazed before you. Evidence showed he had most certainly paved along first. Scorch marks on the ground, the scrapes of claws and blades—he had ripped through the demons further along easily, leaving practically no trace. But you knew better.

Generally, your Foresight would flare every few moments, your group stopping for attacks then starting onward again. But christ, Dante had cleared the way for you all. Not a single creature popped out, which cut your travel time in half as you and the poet sped along. You could catch up to the demon hunter this way, that was for certain. As for you, it gave you a chance to regain some energy, body relaxing and Void powers swirling gently inside. Hell, you were sure you dozed off at some point—how you managed to stay upright you would never know.

The day’s events and exhaustion had caught up to you fast, making you weary. You didn’t know how long you slept, but V certainly didn’t complain. You awoke still wrapped around his back, eyelids drooping as you registered air still moving past you both. Your legs felt a bit stiff from your actions, but you felt like you had resorted to sleeping standing up before. You stretched one, then the other, making sure not to lose your balance. This was a good thing, you told yourself. Much needed energy was back, replenished, ready to use if needed. You quickly looked at V, peeking around him at his hands to check and make sure he wasn’t cracking again yet.

From what you saw, he wasn’t. But his face was a bit pale when he looked back at you, a tired smile curving his lips.

“Welcome back,” He murmured, slowing down a bit so you could hear him, “How are you feeling?”

You let out a little huff at that, stretching up so you could kiss his cheek, “I should be asking you that. We can stop and rest, you don’t look well.”

He shook his head no immediately, giving your hand a squeeze and tilting his cane forward to go faster, “No, we can’t afford to wait...I can sense we are close to Dante. It’s a chance we can’t lose.”

“V...” Your tone was filled with distress, hands squeezing him tighter as your eyes threatened to burn with tears, “Are you sure about that?”

He nodded, still staring forward as he replied, “We keep moving. The faster we reach the tree the faster this conflict is resolved.”

You frowned, worried and troubled at his no-nonsense tone. He was definitely in a mindset that could not be swayed, one that made you very uneasy. This was not the time to take risks, and the day was still young. And by that, it seemed to be the afternoon, the sun was still out in the sky behind those clouds.

You had made good progress with V for all the fighting and stopping, and Dante’s clearing of demons was making it even easier to make haste now. Close, so close. The tree was within range enough to smell its awful stench, the landscape covered in demonic flesh and destroyed buildings. You were still on what appeared to be an abandoned road, the black asphalt underneath you covered in blood. Disgustingly so.

Regardless, you fell silent, not wanting to argue with V when he was so convinced. You wanted to think he knew best, wanted to trust his judgement. He was so important to you, so crucial. If it reached a point where his judgement was obviously failing and leading to a bad outcome, you would assert yourself when needed.

To top all of this off, your Foresight was strangely quiet in regards to him. You would think that someone so important to you would cause it to be tipped—which actions would save him and which wouldn’t? You had thought V was imperative to this world’s fate since you felt good about going with him in the beginning, but the way your Foresight was acting...it was like there was nothing you would do that changed anything. And that made no sense.

It was bothering you. But you didn’t have long to focus on that.

The sounds of fighting approached steadily, punctuated by the sound of a motorcycle. Was that the sound you were hearing? You couldn’t be sure.

You blinked, exchanging a look with the poet before he pressed forward. That had to be Dante, there was no way anyone else could be this close to the tree. V hopped off of Shadow once you both reached a place where the Earth was cracked, a wall of debris forcing you to climb. You wasted no time, wrapping your tendrils around both V and yourself to scale the leap in a single bound. Your muscles felt well worked now, power rolling and toiling in a familiar burn with each movement. It was clear to you right away that your limits had been increased a bit, that sensation of the Void was growing in intensity. It was unfortunate that your energy needed to be saved now, but you would prefer being ready and at your peak for him over using flashy abilities any day.

V was first priority, that was all you could focus on.

You reached the top of the street just in enough time to see Dante skidding to a halt on...was that a motorcycle? You thought you had heard one, but now it was definitely confirmed. Dante was riding a glowing motorcycle, the obvious makings of a battle in the road around him. Where the hell had he gotten a magic motorcycle...and why? It also looked like he was holding a nude, blonde haired woman in his arms as well. What in the world had you missed? You had arrived in enough time to see the horseman from earlier crumbling to pieces, finally taken down by Dante of all people. But now...

Realization clicked into place seeing the new girl. Holy shit. Had she been inside the horseman? Dante had two friends who had gone missing, Trish and Lady, and Lady popped out of a demon days ago. So, that...definitely had to be Trish, which only made another realization click in place. Christ, you could have killed her on accident the other day, when you stabbed the demon with your tendrils. She was inside, she was alive inside the demon and you had no idea.

You blinked, paling a bit as you remembered every place you had impaled. Had you been a little bit closer to the middle...you would have stabbed her. You hoped no more demons were secretly housing people inside, because otherwise how were you supposed to attack?

While you looked shocked, V was pretty used to the situation at hand. He seemed more so relieved at Dante still being here. You both stopped, examining the scene as the poet leaned heavily on his cane—fuck, he was definitely not looking good again. He was out of breath like before, just from walking a bit without Shadow.

You worriedly tried to wrap your tendrils around him, but he skewered you with a look that clearly said “no”. You immediately froze, heart pounding with worry as you met his jade gaze. He rose a hand in a pausing motion, softening his expression as he turned to look back at Dante. Not yet, no energy yet. Wait for when it mattered. Too bad for him that any and all fatigue mattered to you.

You heard Dante speak quietly, so quietly only Trish should have been able to hear. But with your Void power activated you easily made it out.

“Whoa, looks like I took in a bit too much,” His tone was joking, face hidden as he looked down at her. His voice shifted, going even lower as he murmured to her, “You okay?”

That made your opinions of his shift. There was caring in that tone, genuine concern.

She let out a low sound of pain, replying dryly, “I’ve been better.”

He lifted her into his arms, setting her gently onto the ground with a low sigh. She immediately opened her eyes, adding urgently, “Dante, that demon is—”

“Don’t even think about it,” He replied, holding up his hands and giving her a light smile now that you could see his face, “Just rest.”

Well now. That was certainly an interesting shift from the usual, laid back non-caring tone you had heard from him before. The devil hunter was truly an enigma, something you couldn’t begin to wrap your head around.

“Dante...!” V yelled, snapping you out of your racing thoughts as he started forward, moving as fast as he could in his state. You blinked, realizing Dante was in the process of getting back on that motorcycle, definitely about to leave as V yelled again, “Wait...!”

Son of a bitch, not more chasing him down.

You went to activate your tendrils, but V falling to the ground again stopped you. He collapsed, letting out a strained grunt as his cane clattered out of his hands. You felt like your heart was going to be split in two, crouching down next to him and wrapping your arms around him to pull him up. Bad bad, this was bad. He was panting again, deathly pale as he met your worried gaze.

You heard the sound of Dante revving his motorcycle, making you both look up at him. Was he really going to leave again? It was so unbelievably frustrating, your heart pounding faster in anger now as his gaze turned to look back at you and the poet. Again...you thought you saw concern there for a second, but it disappeared faster than you could read it.

“Take care of Trish for me...!” Dante called, giving a two-finger salute before rearing back on the bike, speeding away over some debris and out of sight.  

You let out a curse, standing once more and wrapping your tendrils around V.  

“From the Void, Into You,” You muttered, ignoring V’s protests once you saw the cracking forming on his hands again. No more waiting, not when things were this dire, “You need this V, so just accept it. Please.”

He let out a low groan, his head dropping and ebony hair draping over his face. He summoned Griffon and Shadow in the next instant, Griffon letting out an indignant squawk and taking off after Dante without so much as a word. You wanted to protest that, but you honestly had no reason why Griffon shouldn’t go other than your own desire to keep the bird near. Shadow darted over to Trish’s nude body on the ground, the woman tilting her head and letting out a quiet grunt of pain.

Fuck, everything was chaos again. You focused on transferring energy to V, almost to the point of pain again before pulling away. You felt bad to put him through such discomfort, but he needed to be well enough to walk and stand.

He was panting in pain now that you were done, one of his hands reaching out to grip your arm as he breathed, “Go after Dante...!”

That made you stop in your tracks, confusion filling you as you whipped your gaze around to him.

“What? No!” You protested, tugging on his grasp a bit as you stared at his handsome face, “I’m not leaving you here...!”

“I’m holding you back,” V replied, straightening his spine and wincing as he put his other hand to your face, “You can move fast enough to stop him without me limping along. He can’t afford to keep doing this on his own.”

You shook your head again, fear and anxiety curling in your stomach like a ball. You couldn’t just leave him while he was in this state, crumbling and dying. No one else was there to help him, no one but you. The very idea of leaving his side sent a spiral of worry through your entire being, one that showed no sign of ending. What were you supposed to do? What V wanted or what V needed? Dante wasn’t going to listen anyway, not to you or anyone. But...maybe talking to him would help, to try and figure out if he knew a way to help V? It was grasping for straws, really, but you didn’t know what else to do.

“I...I can’t,” You whispered, holding his hand against your cheek as your eyes burned a bit, “I can’t leave you when you’re like this...who else is going to help you if you start crumbling again? You need me more than he does.” Please say you need me. Please.

V gave you a soft smile, those full lips mesmerizing as always as he smoothed a thumb over your cheekbones. You felt like he could tell exactly what you were thinking sometimes.

“I do need you,” He murmured, tugging you closer so he could kiss your forehead, “Which is why I’m asking you to follow him. I know I rely on you far too much, yet here I am asking more of you.”

You closed your eyes, heart pounding in your chest like fists on steel doors.

“Please,” You whispered, “I don’t want to take this risk.”

“You just gave me enough energy to last me a while,” V countered, lifting a hand and curling his fingers to emphasize his well-being. No cracking, not after the dose you had given him. But that wasn’t the point. He was deteriorating faster now, you knew that just by the short span of time in between the last time you gave him energy. But he still continued, “And you won’t be gone long. There is still plenty of time in the day, and I get the feeling Dante isn’t going far either. You will return to me sparrow; of that I have no doubts.”

You opened your eyes again to meet his jade ones, chest aching terribly at the pleading look he gave you. Damn it. God damn it, how were you supposed to do anything when he made an expression like that? One that said how much he needed and trusted you, that hurt so much you could hardly stand it. He was making it even harder to leave. You didn’t want to leave him. You griped the lining of his vest, pulling him close enough to press your lips to his.

This wasn’t you saying goodbye, you would never allow that. More of a promise, sealing the statement that you would be reunited with him before the day was out.  

His lips were soft and warm, his slender fingers slipping into your hair to hold you for a moment while you shared that kiss. Your mouth opened only briefly to taste him before you pulled away, not wanting to allow anything too intense. Because then you truly wouldn’t be able to leave him.

V let out a slow breath, his eyes glinting with so many emotions as he stared at your upset face. For a moment, you thought you saw hesitation in his expression, but when he spoke his voice was firm.

“Go, sparrow,” He removed his hands from you, taking a step back and picking up his cane, “I’ll take care of Trish—meet us at the bottom of the tree if you can.”

You let out a frustrated groan, running your hands through your hair as you eyed Trish on the ground. You had almost forgotten about her entirely, which made you feel bad in the chaos in your head. Making haste, you summoned your bag, pulling out a blanket to toss it at V for him to use on her. It was the best you could manage; you knew that much. You also pulled out a vial of whale oil, handing that to him and skewering him with a firm gaze.

“Don’t lose that,” Your voice was a bit raw, tone shaken as you summoned your tendrils, "Whale oil is matter conceived of my Deity. As long as you have it, I can find you.”

V nodded once, tucking the material into his vest for safe keeping. You reached up and cupped his face again before he could stop you, pressing a kiss to his forehead and making him suck in a breath.You had to say it--the words were boiling inside you, seeking release in the state you were in. What if you didn’t meet him at the bottom of the tree? What if demons attacked? You couldn’t afford these thoughts, but they existed. They filled you with an urgency that wouldn’t go away.

They made you more honest.

“Be safe. I love you, V.” You whispered, before whipping your tendrils out and beginning your chase against the demon hunter.  

You had said it, and you didn’t even get to see his reaction. You didn’t dare. But you felt like you needed to, because...

No, you wouldn’t think that he wasn’t going to make it.

You didn’t dare look at V’s face as you leapt away, because if you did you doubted you would be able to leave. Already the distance was making you ache terribly, the worry and fear combining into a driving force that only made you go faster. The quicker you reached Dante, the quicker you could drag his sorry ass back and return to the one who mattered to you. Tunnel vision was your existence now, focusing on a single goal. This was such a bad idea, but you didn’t know what else to do at that moment. Your foresight was telling you nothing, and there were definitely things you needed to discuss with Dante when you saw him alone.

But that didn’t stop the pain toiling in your chest.

(V POV)

Sending you away was the hardest thing he had ever done.

Seeing your form dart the same way Dante had gone, your tendrils whipping you around and arching gracefully over debris. You were a vision, beautiful and precise. Your hair flowing, body tilting like you had done this so many times before. Even as you disappeared from sight, V stared at where you were last, jade eyes filled with silent longing. He couldn’t feel this way, couldn’t regret sending you off when it was he who had insisted upon you going.

He truly was selfish, wasn’t he? Asking too much of you, making you go after Dante when he could tell just how much it scared and worried you. Then on top of everything else...he didn’t want you to go, wanted you by his side every waking moment. Your smile, your warmth, the feeling of your lips...he already missed it.

There was so much rattling around his skull. The guilt over his omission was still plaguing him, the look in your eyes when you saw his skin crumbling...It wouldn’t leave his mind. He never thought someone could ever care for him as much as you did. To see your expression unfold into fear, terror, and that heart breaking pain...Every lie he had told settled over him like weights, crushing him inside. There was so much he wanted to say, to do. But he couldn’t, and even after seeing how much it destroyed you he was still holding things back, hiding his truths to his chest like a shield. He wasn’t deserving of you, of your affections. And he hated himself for it.

Still, there were things that needed to be done, things more important than his self-loathing. He gripped his cane, setting about covering Trish’s body with the blanket. Careful not to look, of course. Of Dante’s friends she was the one who brought about the most discomfort. She looked just like...he shook his head, sitting down on a piece of debris and pulling out his book of poetry to read. He couldn't afford to think about that, to even compare the two. Trish seemed to have faded in and out of consciousness, so the poet wasn’t sure of how much she heard between you and him. Right now, she was out like a light, which was fine. V was prepared to wait—he knew it wouldn’t be long.

His eyes scanned the lines of text, body already beginning to ache despite the dose of energy you gave him. He knew he didn’t have much time, knew you could only hold back the inevitable so much. The goth regretted his lies to you, but...he didn’t want you to worry anymore. He knew the only outcomes to this conflict, as did Griffon. If he was successful in his quest to reach Urizen...you would still get hurt. More than hurt, it would crush you and he knew it. But what other choice did he have? Truly, he was the worst in regards to this. For once in his existence, he wished he could just leave this task. And find somewhere with you, somewhere quiet and calm away from all the white noise.

But he couldn’t. As much as those words you had spoken made him ache inside.

You had told him you loved him.

Your soft voice, filled with emotion whispering the words he didn’t know he needed to hear so badly. It was all he could think about, it filled his partial soul now more than anything ever had, so deeply personal and achingly wonderful. And worse...you didn’t give him the chance to say it back, leaving when his lips were parting with shock and emotion, his heart hurting terribly. He wanted to say it, wanted you to know just how much you mattered to him. It was his blessing and his curse now, and yours. It made him want to weep, to shout, to call you back to him. But you couldn’t. And he didn’t dare.

Instead he waited for Trish to wake up, his heart aching now that you weren’t near him. He didn’t have to wait long. The woman started stirring less than an hour later, sitting up and holding the blanket over her body. V barely spared a glance, keeping his eyes on his book as he waited for her to speak. Trish wasn’t an idiot by any stretch, she was smart and calculated from what V could tell. It helped him...disconnect from what she looked like, who she looked like.

His mind was in chaos in that moment, bouncing between you and his past memories on top of his already decaying form. His face never displayed it, expression calm as he flipped to another page he had already memorized. The poetry used to soothe him, but now...you were far more of a comfort that he needed.

When Trish finally spoke, it pulled him from his mind back into reality.

“Dante’s left...” She murmured, voice trailing off as she looked around. She didn’t sound surprised.

Still, V replied to her.

“Yes,” He said quietly, feeling her gaze quickly turn to look at him while he kept his gaze in the book, “And I don’t think he can win.”

Dante had already proven he couldn’t stand up to Urizen’s might, at least not without help. But the devil hunter was far too stubborn to change a damn thing. One of his aspects V hated.

Trish looked away when he spoke, her expression deeply troubled, “What was that demon, V? Where did it come from?” She looked back at his prone form with knowing eyes, her tone sounding deeply disturbed as she continued, "Urizen is not a demon. I know that for a fact, because I'm from the Underworld."

She paused, her expression taking on a slow look of realization as V continued to read his book. She was a smart woman, very knowledgeable when it came to demons and demonic items. It was only right and fair that she would be able to connect some dots where he was concerned, and realize he was no prim and proper human either. And it showed plainly on her face, those eyes looking right through him and his nonchalance.

“My god,” She muttered, wind making her hair drift lightly as she warily eyed the poet, “What are you, then?”

Ahh...the all-encompassing question, the one that everyone seemed so intent on asking. And when it came to her...he felt more inclined to answer. Maybe it was her knowledgeable look, or maybe it was the face she wore itself. How wouldn't he feel more trusting toward her when she looked just like—

“It doesn’t matter,” He replied, tone low and hollow as he gazed at the words in his book, seeing nothing but empty text, “I’m a shadow of my former self who lost everything.”

Trish looked away at his words, eyes wide and staring forward as several things seemed to click into place. Some people just needed to have all the answers, and she was no exception. You were similar in that way, always so curious and kind to him. But...it wasn’t the same. He welcomed your words, your knowledge, your heart. You never once looked at him with disgust or revulsion; what he was didn’t matter to you, only caring about his actions and his words over his species. Your ignorance was...part of what he knew would hurt you in the end. But right now, he couldn’t focus on that...because it only made his guilt grow, that self-loathing an all too familiar companion

V instead let out a low sigh, a bitter smile tilting his lips as he now leveled Trish with his jade gaze.

“I will tell you the story of my birth.”

Read on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18136193/chapters/43933342

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Tagged: @nightshadow4713 @silentwhispofhope @slightlylunatic @just-call-me-no-name @efiicitia @raven-huntress