#he's already been forced on her as a father figure for a year plus

[msbigredmachine]

Midnight Sparks (Roman Reigns)

On New Year's Eve, the OTC retreats to a quiet bar, craving solitude. When a confident and captivating woman crosses his path, their connection ignites, turning a quiet night into something unforgettable.

Pairing: Roman Reigns/Black fem plus size OC

Warnings: Smut (That's not going to change in 2025, lol)

Word Count: 3.3k

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! I can't wait to make more magic with you guys this year! Enjoy my first fic of 2025! It's based on this post I saw on X and never forgot it, lol

Song inspo:

------------

The bar is alive with the hum of celebration. New Year's Eve is in its final hours, and the atmosphere is thick with anticipation. People in festive attire clink glasses and share laughter while a soft jazz band plays in the corner, its melodies flowing through the air and mingling with the low buzz of conversation. The dim lighting casts long shadows across the faces of the patrons, creating a cozy, intimate ambiance in the bustling room.

Roman Reigns sits at the far end of the bar, his broad frame leaning against the counter. With a glass of bourbon in hand, he’s dressed casually yet show-stoppingly—a fitted black Henley with the sleeves rolled up, his tribal tattoo spreading down his right arm. His eyes are focused on the amber liquid in his glass, but there's a storm behind them, a quiet intensity that comes with years of being in the public eye.

He’s not here for the festivities. In fact, he's barely paying attention to the countdown clock above the bar or the laughter that erupts from every corner as people exchange warm wishes for the year ahead. It's been a tough year for him; losing his father and his uncle in the space of two months. It's been difficult, but not dire enough to need a New Year’s resolution. He’s already living one. Resolutions are a foreign concept to him. He doesn’t need to mark the change of a year with promises to be better, to do more, to fix things. He already made those choices years ago, long before the clock struck midnight each December. Sure, wrestling is a constant—his life, his career, his purpose—but what keeps him grounded is the knowledge that even in grief, he has already figured out what truly matters.

The world sees him as the Tribal Chief, the unstoppable force in the WWE Universe. But here, in the quiet dimness of the bar, he is just a man—one who has weathered the storm of fame, faced down every challenge, personal and professional, and found his own peace in the madness. A man who cherishes moments of solitude, who values loyalty and respect above all else.

But solitude rarely sticks when you’re built like a Greek god and carry an air of quiet authority. People notice. They look. And Roman pretends not to notice. He prefers it that way. Keeps the conversations to a minimum, the attention low.

But then, she walks in.

She sweeps through the door like she owns the place. There’s a sway in her walk that commands attention, but it’s not for anyone but herself. Her skin, rich and luminous under the warm glow of the bar’s pendant lighting, gleams with a silky smoothness that suggests she knows how to take care of herself. Her face, framed by cascading waves of midnight-black hair, is striking—a perfect blend of softness and sharpness. Her eyes, almond-shaped and lined with just enough kohl to give her a sultry edge, hold a spark of mischief and an unspoken confidence that says she’s aware of the effect she has on those around her. She’s stunning, and she knows it. Confidence radiates off her like heat off asphalt in July.

Roman sees her immediately. Hell, everyone sees her, as she settles onto a barstool just a few seats away from him and orders a whiskey sour. But unlike the others, he doesn’t stare too long, doesn’t linger like the guy at the other end of the bar who’s already making plans for her in his head. Her full lips curve into an inviting smile, revealing a set of pristine white teeth that contrast beautifully against her dark complexion. She crosses her legs, the slit in her dress revealing a hint of thigh, and the OTC feels something in his chest tighten. But he stays put, for now, sipping his bourbon and stealing glances when he thinks she’s not looking. There’s a mystery about her, an energy that says she’s not here for anyone but herself. It’s not performative; she’s not checking to see who is watching. She just is. And that, Roman thinks, is rare as hell. He takes another sip of his drink, his dark eyes flicking away, but not before she catches him. 

She can’t help but smile to herself as she clocks the mystery wrapped in muscle at the end of the bar—his build, the chiseled jawline, the aura that screams “I'ma ruin your life if you let me.” It’s the way he watches without watching, the way he sits like he’s too cool for school. He's impossible to miss, even in the shadows. All broad shoulders and smoldering intensity, with hair that falls in dark waves past his shoulders and a face so perfect it should be a crime.

She returns her attention to her drink, running a finger around the rim of the glass, but her lips curve into a slight smirk. She can feel his eyes on her. Men always stare, but this one’s gaze is different—not invasive, not disrespectful, just…observing. Like he is trying to figure her out without saying a word.

Finally, he decides to close the distance. He slides onto the stool beside hers, his presence a quiet storm that she feels immediately. He doesn’t say anything at first, just sets his glass down and glances at her. Up close, her curves are unapologetic, her ample bosom stealing the spotlight even as she sits casually, scrolling on her phone. Her off-the-shoulder ensemble clings to her in all the right ways, a shimmering green fabric that glitters subtly under the dim lighting. The neckline plunges just enough to make heads turn but leaves enough to the imagination, perfectly toeing the line between classy and daring. Gold jewelry—a delicate chain, hoop earrings, and a smattering of bracelets—adds a touch of elegance to her already magnetic presence.

“You here alone?” he asks, his deep voice low and smooth.

She tilts her head, meeting his gaze. His slanted eyes are dark, searching, but not in the way that makes her feel dirty. It’s…different. Intriguing. “Depends,” she answers, her voice carrying a playful edge. “You askin’ because you’re nosy or because you’re trying to change that?”

Roman’s lips quirk into a small smile. “Little bit of both.”

She laughs, a soft, melodic sound that sends a shiver down his spine. “Fair enough. Yeah, I’m alone. And you?”

“Same.”

“Let me guess.” She takes a slow sip of her drink, her eyes never leaving his. “You came here to brood and sip bourbon because it makes you feel mysterious?”

Roman chuckles, the sound deep and warm. “Something like that. You?”

“Came here because it’s quiet. And the whiskey sour’s decent.” She leans back slightly, her eyes narrowing. “But you’re throwing off my quiet vibe.”

“My bad.” He raises his hands in mock surrender, but his cheeky smile lingers. “You want me to move?”

“I said no such thing.” Her tone is light, teasing, but the way she looks at him makes his stomach flip. She extends her hand, her long fingers tipped with glossy black nails, and her lips curl into a sly smile. “I’m Dencia, but you can call me D.” Her voice is smooth, like warm honey, with a playful edge that makes Roman’s eyebrow twitch in amusement. He takes her hand in his, his palm large and warm, engulfing hers in a firm but careful grip. 

“Roman,” he says, his voice low and velvety, the single word carrying weight. “Nice to meet you.”

The moment their hands connect, it’s like a jolt of electricity shoots between them, subtle but undeniable. D’s gaze flicks down to their clasped hands, her pulse quickening despite her best efforts to stay cool. “Nice to meet you too, Roman,” she says, her tone teasingly soft, though the heat in her eyes suggests something much more intense.

The hours stretch, the conversation flowing between them like a lazy river—unhurried but carrying depth beneath the surface. Roman isn’t a man of many words, but D has a way of coaxing his dry humor out, teasing responses from him that feel effortless. She’s quick-witted, throwing out barbs with a smile that softens every edge, and he gives it right back to her, his low, rumbling voice laced with sarcasm and the occasional laugh. 

“So, what’s your deal?” she queries at one point, leaning her chin on her hand as she observes him. “You don’t strike me as the chatty type, but you’re sittin’ here entertaining me like it’s your day job.”

Roman shrugs, swirling the last of his bourbon in the glass. She seems clueless about who he is. He welcomes the anonymity. “Maybe you’re just more interesting than most people.”

“Hmm.” She raises an eyebrow. “That a compliment or your way of dodging the question?”

“Both,” he admits, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.

D laughs, the sound rich and warm. “A'ight, I’ma let you slide this time, Mr. Mystery Man.” She shifts in her seat, uncrossing her legs and leaning forward slightly. The movement draws his attention to the deep neckline of her dress. His composure wavers, but just a little. For now.

“What about you? What’s your deal?” he asks.

“I don’t have a ‘deal,’” she insists, feigning innocence. “I’m just a regular ol’ girl who likes good drinks and good company.”

Roman gives her a look, his eyebrow arching slightly. “Yeah, you’re real regular.”

She grins, leaning closer. “You tryna call me extra?”

“Do I need to?”

Their banter continues, easy but charged, the kind of chemistry that hums low in the background, waiting for someone to light the match. Roman notices the way her gaze lingers on him when she thinks he’s not looking, the way her laugh softens into something more intimate when he says something that catches her off guard. 

And Dencia? She notices everything about him—his quiet confidence, how he never touches her unless she makes the first move…how his eyes darken every time her tongue flicks over the rim of her glass. He doesn’t lean too close or let his hand linger when it brushes against her arm. He’s not flirting overtly or trying to rush things. It’s impeccable restraint by design, and D appreciates that—too many men think they can bulldoze their way into her space. But he is giving her room to breathe, to come to him if she wants to. 

And gosh, does she want to.

As the time hits the 45-minute mark, the excitement in the bar picks up. People are gathered, waiting for the countdown, and the clinking of glasses fills the air in eager anticipation. D leans in close to Roman, her lips almost brushing the edge of his ear.

“Midnight’s almost here,” she murmurs. “What are you gonna do when the clock strikes twelve?”

He smirks, his eyes darkening slightly. “I’ll make my move when the time’s right.”

D pulls back just enough to meet his gaze, her full lips curving up into that knowing smile again. “Better make it count, then. And it better end with you asking me to leave with you.”

The energy between them shifts, the playful banter now feeling charged, electric. There’s no denying it anymore—something is about to happen. Something neither of them is ready for, but both are clearly craving. The tension between them is thick enough to cut with a knife. 

Roman chuckles, shaking his head. “You always this straightforward?”

D sets her glass down, her mouth curving into a sly smile. “Only when I know what I want.”

He meets her gaze, the weight of his stare sending a shiver down her spine. “And what do you want, D?”

It doesn't take her that long to answer. “You,” she says simply. 

-----------------

His condo is just as she expects—minimalist, sleek, masculine. The city lights spill through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the open space in shades of silver and gold. Roman pours them both another drink, cognac, and they settle onto the couch, the air between them thick with unspoken tension.

“You always this reserved?” D asks, sipping her whiskey.

Roman leans back, his arm draped casually over the back of the couch. “Depends on who I’m with.”

“Hmm. And me?”

He looks at her, his eyes dark and full of something she can’t quite place. “You make me wanna take my time.”

D’s breath hitches, her pulse quickening. She sets her glass down and turns to face him fully. “And what if I told you you don’t have to?”

Roman’s jaw tightens, his restraint visibly cracking. “You sure about that?”

She leans in, her hand resting on his thigh as she whispers, “Positive.”

Somewhere outside, the countdown begins, the sound of “ten...nine...eight...” permeating through the window, and yet, everything in the room falls away. For a moment, it’s just Roman and Dencia, two people connected by a shared understanding, a growing fire between them that’s too hot to ignore. They both know that when the clock strikes midnight, it's on. Whatever tension has built up between them will finally break, and neither of them will walk away unchanged.

“Last chance to change your mind,” he says quietly, his voice low, almost a growl as he sidles closer to her.

D meets him halfway, her hands sliding up his chest, her nails grazing the hard planes of muscle beneath his Henley. “Do I look like I wanna change my mind?”

The final seconds tick down. D’s fingers trace the line of Roman’s jaw, and he leans into her touch, his breath hitching ever so slightly. Cheers erupt outside at the stroke of midnight, and it’s in that moment, with the world around them celebrating the start of a new year, that they finally give in to the connection that’s been building all night.

When Roman presses his lips to hers, it’s slow at first, the big man testing the waters. But the second her lips part and her arms wrap around his neck, all restraint goes out the window. He pulls her onto his lap, and she straddles his waist as the kiss deepens, growing hungrier, more urgent. She tastes like whiskey and something sweet, and it’s driving him insane. It’s a kiss that promises more than either of them could have anticipated—a kiss that’s the beginning of something both dangerous and irresistible. 

The slow unraveling of restraint continues, clothes and inhibitions shedding. Dencia’s dress is tossed aside, revealing her insanely voluptuous figure, adorned by smooth, chocolate skin and black lace that leaves little to the imagination. Roman’s shirt and pants join the pile of clothes on the floor, revealing the full expanse of tribal tattoos and muscle beneath. For a moment, they simply sit there, taking each other in.

“You’re even finer up close,” D assesses, her voice dripping with desire.

“And you’re fucking beautiful,” Roman murmurs, his hands resting on her waist.

Dencia smiles and presses a soft kiss to his neck, and then his lips, her backside rolling tantalizingly over his groin that draws a grunt from him. The moment stretches as they kiss and caress each other, tongues lapping, hands roaming as if memorizing every curve, every sharp angle, soft delicate skin and hard, honed muscle. He keeps their mouths fused together as he stands with her ass in his big hands, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carries her to the bedroom. 

The bed is massive, draped in dark, luxurious linens, but neither of them pays it any attention. Roman lays her down carefully and takes his time undressing the rest of her, his touch reverent but firm, his dark eyes blazing with desire as he drinks in her nakedness.

D watches him, her breath hitching as he peels down his briefs, his hand closing around his long, thick shaft that makes her swallow her own spit. “Damn,” she whispers, her voice thick with want, pussy throbbing with anticipation. “You really tryna fuck up my life, huh?”

Roman smirks as he finds himself a condom and rolls it on with her ogling every millisecond of the act. He crawls back over her, his lips brushing against hers as he massages the soft, bountiful flesh of her big breasts. “Only if you want me to.”

What follows is nothing short of earth-shattering. From the kiss, this time hotter and more frenzied, a clash of tongues and teeth that leaves them both dizzy, to his hands roaming over her body, reverent but firm, his touch igniting a fire in her that she expects but still manages to stun her. He breaks the kiss to trail his lips down her jaw, to her neck, and her breast, where he sucks gently at her skin, eliciting a sharp gasp from her, a sound that amplifies when he finally enters her, both groaning at the intensity of his invasion. He is patient yet passionate, driving her to the brink and pulling her back just to push her further. He moves like a man who’s spent years holding back, but now? Now the beast has been unleashed, pouring everything he has into every kiss, every touch, every deep, hard thrust inside her.

D matches his movements, her body arching into his, her fingers threading his long hair as her breathless moans fill the room. Her ankles cross just above his ass, anchoring him to her. Their bodies rock together in perfect rhythm, a dance of raw passion and deep desire. The air is filled with the sounds of their pleasure, of skin meeting wet skin, mingling with the faint hum of the city outside. The connection between them is electric and deep—both feeling the sensations, physical and emotional, with every fiber of their being. 

“Roman.” His name breaks on a whimper as she glances down to watch his dick, all eight inches of it, slide in and out of her wetness. She’s drowning in pleasure, overwhelmed by how deep he reaches inside her, how completely he consumes her. She arches again beneath him, her nails digging into his back. “Oh, my god, you feel so good,” she gasps, her voice trembling.

He chuckles against her skin, his breath warm. “You feel amazing, baby girl,” he replies. His hips roll slower, deeper, hitting every spot that sends her spiraling. She can feel him shaking with restraint, holding himself back for her. She’s never needed to keep up with anyone before, but her she is, under this man’s spell, trying to keep her head above the tidal wave of euphoria threatening to pull her under.

“I’m gonna come,” Dencia moans, her toes curling when he grasps her thick hips in his big hands and pounds into her pussy with an increased speed and precision that rolls her eyes back, “Fuck…”

Roman groans as she tightens around him. His lips graze her nipple, suckling the hard peak into his mouth. “That’s it, beautiful,” he murmurs, “Give it to me. Let me have it all.”

Time seems to stand still as they finally tumble over the edge, her first, him second. Her thighs tremble around his waist, her head rolling back against the pillows as a loud, wanton groan escapes her. They climax with a shattering intensity that leaves them both shaking, their bodies slick with sweat and their hearts pounding.

D hisses quietly as Roman pulls out and crumples beside her. The absence of him on her and in her, however brief, feels sudden, strange and dare she say, a little unpleasant. Luckily, the feeling is eased when he quickly gathers her to his chest and wraps her in his sturdy arms. They lie there in silence for a while, their breathing gradually evening out. She rests her head on his shoulder, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his inked skin.

“You good?” she asks, a hint of a smile in her voice.

Roman presses a kiss to her forehead, his hand resting on the curve of her ass. “I’m more than good. You?”

She chuckles softly, snuggling closer to him. “Finished. Completely.”

They both laugh, the sound soft and intimate in the quiet of the room. And as their lips meet again, wrapped in each other, Roman can’t help but think that this—this connection, this moment—is worth every second of restraint. His eyes lock with hers in an unspoken agreement, both of them realizing one thing is for certain:

This year, things are going to change. And it’s started tonight.

THE END

————————

How was it? The smut is a lot, I know 😬 But I often try to ensure there’s a story behind it.

Please leave comments! I love comments 😁😙😊

Credit to the owner of the pic. Credit to @romanreigns for the gif.

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[mattefun]

The FSM life is underrated

The FSM father is not the best.

I think there are several reasons for this.

The first is that he had no example of a normal family. In fact, he had no parents either. We just know that the FSM is born from two beginnings (Oni and the Dragons). The only more or less parental figure for the FSM is the Firstborn. But I don't think that's enough to understand the relationship of a normal family.

In fact, the FSM grew up in a perpetual war, and he also tried to stop it (as a child!). So he didn't even have a normal childhood. The Oni side probably saw him more as a force than as a living being. Because when Oni came to Ninjago for the FSM, they had the task of either getting him back or killing him. I mean, literally, it was either we get this power or nobody gets it.

And from all of these factors, the FSM's perception of the world is sharpened differently than a normal person's.

Also, the FSM is not human, they said on Twitter that Oni's psyche works differently, and the FSM is half Oni.

When the FSM has children of his own, he doesn't know how to behave properly. He had no childhood and grew up in a violent world. And he doesn't have a wife to smooth things over for him.

The second thing is his character. The FSM appears to be a very aloof person. He's moved from his home to a monastery on a high mountain, away from civilization. Maybe that's a good thing for him, but he moved there with the children, thus isolating them even more. Wu himself said in the book that with the move, the FSM became quieter than ever.

I've been reading a lot of fanfics and speculation about the FSM. And some people wrote that the First Spinjitzu Master could beat his children.

This sounds as non-canon as possible to me. How would a being who has always sought peace raise his hand to his children?

It's more like he's trying to avoid conflict. So for example he tried to reconcile the Oni and the Dragons. So after all the endless battles with the Overlord, he decided it would be better to isolate the Overlord so that there would be no more war. So for example, the FSM got very angry when he found out that Wu and Garmadon almost destroyed the already shaky peace between the Serpentines and the humans. The FSM seeks peace, and will choose it if there is a way to find a more peaceful way than violence.

For example his words to Lloyd: “You have answered destruction with creation and love, there is no answer more beautiful.” I think this best describes the essence of the FSM.

But the FSM, if he doesn't beat the children, he rather morally crushes them, consciously or unconsciously.

We know from the book that he was very disappointed in Wu and Garmadon. He stopped trusting them. Because they stole very dangerous scrolls behind his back, even though he forbade taking them, and also his sons almost destroyed the peace between the two races. I think it was a stab in the back for the FSM.

And then things got worse when Garmadon was bitten by an evil snake. And the FSM probably started treating Garmadon colder. Because:

a) he betrayed him

b) the Oni side could awaken because of the poison and he would start doing bad things.

I think it's a bit silly that the First Spinjitzu Master remembered Wu and Garmadon's misbehavior so much that it stretched out over several years. They're his children. But it seemed to hurt him a lot, because if his own children were leading him around, then he couldn't trust anyone else. Plus at their age, the FSM was fighting there, so I think he has high expectations for his kids.

Personally, I think he has trust issues. Because he also didn't trust Nineko (The FSM student) when his katanas went missing. He immediately thought it was her. I think that's another one of the consequences of him living under those conditions.

You can't say that Wu and Garmadon's entire childhood was like that. I think the Spinjitzu Brothers books just cover that period of their childhood when everything had already gone downhill.

The turning point, this Aspheera. After which the punishment from the FSM, his distrust and disappointment, the move to the monastery, Wu and Garmadon's change of character, then Garmadon's bite.

It all started after Aspheera, a black streak.

I think before that their lives were so more or less pleasant and good. Wu in season nine remembers how he, his father and Garmadon used to go fishing. The FSM was laughing, meaning he was in a pleasant mood, as the boys themselves were arguing in front of their father, meaning they felt quite free. In Crystallized, Wu recalls his father telling him and his brother stories around the campfire. In his diary (The Book of Spinjitzu) Wu speaks very warmly of his father. So they had some good moments too.

Mostly things went downhill after Aspheera.

[ineedsleepsoleavemealone]

I had a thought about this, and this has probably already been done, but... Reasons Anakin Skywalker and Rory Gilmore are the same person. I hear you saying, "They're just the same archetype of character. They're not similar at all!" However, I strongly disagree. Their similarities go much deeper than the same basic story line they both share. (And, also, this is just an excuse to mash two of my hyperfixations together, plus an excuse not to write a scene I've been stuck on for a month.)

They were both without father figures in their youth for a significant amount of time.

Both Anakin and Rory lacked a father figure in their youth. Firstly, like Anakin, Rory only lived with her mother, Lorelai, during her youth. She had a strained relationship with her biological father, Christopher, who came in and out of her life frequently and lived in several states while Rory had lived in Connecticut her whole life.

In addition, Rory, whose mother ran away from home at sixteen with an infant Rory, had very little to no contact with her grandfather until the age of sixteen.

A counter argument could be made that Rory had Luke Danes, a neighbor and local diner owner who is good friends with her mother and is shown to have a parental bond with Rory throughout the show. However, Lorelai and Luke didn't meet until Rory was twelve in 1996. This is based on a line during Lorelai and Luke's first date in 2004. Luke pulls out a piece of paper that Lorelai gave him on the day they first met "eight years" ago, which puts them meeting sometime in 1996. Rory was born in 1984. Therefore, it's safe to say that Rory didn't have a stable father figure until after she was twelve in 1996.

Anakin, however, didn't just have a strained relationship with a father, he literally doesn't have one. He was born because the Force impregnated his mother, Shmi. In actuality, Anakin didn't have anyone resembling a father figure until he was around six to ten years old, (I don't actually know how old Anakin is in The Phantom Menace, but six to ten is generally the age range I see for him.), when Qui-Gon Jinn takes him in to become a Jedi. Even then, Qui-Gonna Jinn dies and doesn't have the proper time to build a father-son relationship with Anakin. Other options for Anakin's father figure are Obi-Wan Kenobi, who looked out for Anakin for many year and has a Master-Padawan relationship with him, but may be more of an older brother to Anakin, or Palpatine, who guided Anakin through life and generally took on a more parental role towards him even if his teachings were misguided and manipulative.

If you're insane, you might say that the Force or Watto count as father figures towards Anakin. The Force, a foundation of nature or type of energy that Anakin didn't know about until Qui-Gon's arrival, is technically Anakin's father, but I don't think it counts as an actual father figure. It's more of a concept than something a child can lean and depend on to get them through tough times. Additionally, Watto, the alien that enslaved Anakin and his mother, is also not Anakin's father figure because... no... absolutely not

Both Anakin and Rory only lived with their mothers until they moved out.

This is a point I made in the last section, but neither Anakin nor Rory lived with anyone but their mothers. This is plain and simple, so I'm not going to expand on this much.

Both Anakin and Rory came from simple beginnings. (AKA: They were poor.)

In addition to them bith living with their mothers, both Anakin and Rory were poor growing up. Rory lived in a potting shed behind a inn with her mother before Lorelai made enough money to buy a house. They didn't have very much, and it can be inferred that Lorelai made some of her and Rory's clothes because she makes costumes and dresses multiple times throughout the series.

Additionally, Shmi and Anakin lived in the slave quarters on Tatooine. While we don't know much about this time in Anakin's life, we can infer that they very poor because they were slaves.

Both Anakin and Rory were put on pedestals and had lots of expectations burdening them.

The members of both Rory and Anakin's communities put expectations on their shoulders which no child should bear. Rory always had high expectations put atop her because of her intelligence. She always loved reading and school in addition to being incredibly smart for her age. She was always expected to go to an Ivy League school, not because of a prestigious family name, but because she was so smart. She was always expected to get A's in her classes and be the smartest person in the school. Also, she was also expected to be a good person all the time. As a teenager, she fit into the "good girl" stereotype and was expected to keep that up 24/7. In addition, her grandparents put their grand expectations originally meant for Lorelai on Rory, and when Rory fulfilled these expectations, they put her of a higher pedestal and believed she could do no wrong. Even her whole town thought she could do no wrong. Everyone around her put the burden of being perfect on her shoulders. Basically, she was expected to be the perfect girl/daughter/granddaughter 24/7/365.

Anakin, on the other hand, was expected to be perfect, not because he was a "good boy," but because he was expected to save the galaxy/bring balance to the Force. He was expected to be the picture perfect Jedi because that is what the Jedi believed would save the force. He always had a lot of pressure on him from the get go because of the prophecy that dictated he would bring balance to the Force. There's really nothing more to say on Anakin's behalf because putting the pressure to save hundreds of trillions of lives on a child is not fine nor healthy even if there's a cyptic prophecy about them.

Rory and Anakin both had a downfall.

Rory and Anakin both had a long, hard fall from the pedestals the members of their communities put them on. Rory, after realizing her years of being a straight-A student and goody two shoes were useless in the real world, decides to stop trying to be the person she was raised to be. She drops out of Yale, an Ivy League school, and moves in with her rich grandparents. She joins the social club her grandmother is in, the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). She starts going out with her rich boyfriend, Logan, every night, and she completely cut contact with her mother, who she had been very close with before she dropped out of Yale. In addition, she steals a yacht with her boyfriend and goes to jail and, after she's been convicted, community service for 300 hours. Essentially, she goes against everything her mother raised her to be. Her personality does a complete one-eighty. From being a goody two shoes, to not caring about school, the law, or her mother.

In the second prequel movie, Attack of The Clones, Anakin massacres the men, women, and children of the Tusken Raider clan which murdered his mother. After a few years and the Clone Wars, in Revenge of the Sith, he goes on to, after a dream about his wife, Padmé, dying in childbirth, switch to the darkside to acquire the powers to save Padmé's life. He massacres most of the younglings at the Jedi temple, kills Master Mace Windu, tries to kill Obi-wan, and, finally, kills his wife believing that she had betrayed him for Obi-wan. His "fall" is because of his attachment to the people around him. He kills because he either: thinks they deserve it after hurting his loved ones or thinks he has to so he can save them. Unlike Rory, his personality doesn't do a complete one-eighty, rather his negative emotions start to outweigh the positive ones which starts a slow progression of a burning grief turning into hatred.

Anakin and Rory both had lovers that helped them "fall" from their pedestal.

Rory and Anakin's downfalls were aided by the help of their lovers unintentionally. Logan, Rory's boyfriend, brought out the worst in her. He never cared about school, was a privileged brat, and was an overall asshole. His charismatic demnor and eventual change of character unknowingly led Rory down a path of self destruction. He was the one who suggested dropping out of Yale and stealing the yacht. I'm not suggesting that Rory's downfall was all Logan's fault, she should've recognized that what he had wasn't what was best for her, or she should've stayed broken up with him after the first break up, but I am saying he played a significant part in her downfall.

Padmé's influence, however, was good for Anakin. She loved him and tried to set him on the right path, tried to fix him after the Tusken Raiders incident. Unfortunately, this had the opposite affect on Anakin. Her influence made him love her so much that he'd do anything for her, and he did. He couldn't stand to lose her, so he killed and massacred children all for her sake, and it was all because she was too good for him.

Both Anakin and Rory's downfall was helped along by a man.

Both Anakin's and Rory's decisions were influenced by a man in power that they held in a high regard. Rory got her dream internship under the guidance of her boyfriend's father working in a big newspaper company. At the end of this internship, Rory has worked her butt off trying to impress this man by being a goody two shoes. He crushes her dreams saying something along the lines of, 'You don't have the guys for this job, you don't speak up, you have to be mean in this world.' Something like that. Directly after this conversation, Rory runs to Logan and says she wants to do something spontaneous. They then steal a yacht and a few weeks later Rory drops out of Yale. The conversation about Rory not having the guts for the job directly influences what happens during her downfall. She becomes more spontaneous and she doesn't care what people think anymore which were problems she had at the internship.

Anakin, on the other hand, has manipulated throughout his life as a Jedi by Palpatine. He fed lies and made Anakin trust him as a young boy. As Anakin grew older, he started confiding in Palpatine about how the Jedi council treated him and about his wife. Palpatine then sewed seeds of distrust between Anakin and the Jedi and seeds of unhealthy attachment with his wife. Once Anakin was in a vulnerable state, worried about his wife dying in childbirth, Palpatine used his influence to turn him to the darkside. In addition, he also influenced Anakin to kill Count Dooku even though Anakin was worried about the killing "not being the Jedi way." These actions directly influenced why Anakin behaved the way he did once he was vulnerable. He turned Anakin paranoid against the Jedi and his wife, compelling Anakin to slaughter them.

At the very end of their stories, both Anakin and Rory get a redemption.

Fortunately, there was light at the end of the tunnel for both Anakin and Rory. For Rory, after a wake up call from Jess, she reunited with her mom, went back to Yale, moved out of her grandparents house, and quit the DAR. While she had made mistakes and burned bridges, she made amends and tried to own up to her mistakes. At the end, she became a better person than she was previously.

As for Anakin, he finally realized that the love his son, Luke, outweighed the desire to rule the universe and killed Emperor Palpatine. While he can't undo the millions of people he killed, he killed the man who would kill millions more. In his final moments, he did the universe a final service and turned to the light side again because he loved his son so much. Fulfilling the prophecy that ruined his life.

《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》《☆》

We now go into claims that are a bit of a stretch, but I still wanted to include because I spent too long thinking of them.

After reaching a big milestone, both Anakin and Rory traveled a lot.

After graduating highschool, Rory travels the world by going to Europe several times with her mother, grandmother, or boyfriend.

After becoming a padawan, Anakin travels to other planets for missions and battles.

Anakin and Rory both come from lines of failure.

Rory was born to a teen mom in a rich/conservative family. Lorelai was a failure to her parents and overall family because she A) got pregnant, B) didn't marry the baby's father, C) ran away from home, and D) made a living by working as a maid in an inn and worked her way up. Rory, therefore, came from a failure.

Anakin came from the infamous Disaster Lineage, where Count Dooku turned into a Sith, Qui-Gon died, Obi-Wan can't train a padawan to save his life, and Ahsoka left the Jedi order. Anakin, therefore, came from a lineage of failures.

Anakin and Rory were both taught life skills from a young teacher.

Everything Rory was taught was by her sixteen year old mother, and Obi-wan was barely a knight before he started training Anakin.

Hope you enjoyed my mad rambling session. Here's how I felt writing this:

Last minute change before I post this, I'm not trying to compare Anakin and Rory to see who had the better character arcs, trauma, or whatever. I just had a thought and ended up writing several paragraphs about why I thought this. All I am saying is that both Anakin and Rory share some of the big strokes of their character arcs and personalities. I am a huge fan of both Star Wars and Gilmore Girls, and I love both Anakin and Rory. If you want to hate on Rory or Anakin this is not the post to do that on. Please and thank you.

[clockwise-works]

The Zora Royal Family

I don't really like uploading art without some sort of background, but I want to leave this open to continue adding the others and their families over time. So, for now, the finished Zora Royal Family baring King Dorephan, twelve-ish years Post Calamity, plus a little tidbit about each for this AU.

Link: 5 years after the defeat of Calamity Ganon, this timeline still experienced the Upheaval, but with some differences here and there. One such difference is Link, upon gaining Rauru's Zonai abilities, was left with markings on his face and body, those markings being the same ones the Ancient Hero himself had. I don't think he has Rauru's arm, I imagine it faded away once his spirit passed on, but the markings remained.

Mipha: Soon after being married and then the hatching of their first born, Mipha traded in her previous royal attire and jewelry for something new that signaled a new point in her life. Her original jewelry, passed down to her from her late mother, will be given out to each of their kids once they're a little older.

Sidon: When Lamina hatched, Mipha and Link, like any new parents, found themselves trying to balance raising a hatchling and attending to their duties. As a result, Sidon felt just a tad bit overlooked, given his still very young age. Link, to ensure Sidon knew he was included and would always be an important part of their family, gifted Sidon one of his own earrings.

Aryll: Unfortunately during the Calamity, Astor and Calamity Ganon's forces waged an attack on Hateno Village once they learned Link came from there. While the Champions and Zelda were able to save the Village, Link and Aryll's mother was sadly one of the casualties. With no mother and their father not being in the picture, Link knew he had to step up for his sister, Aryll only being 4. 2 years after defeating Calamity Ganon, Link and Mipha were wed. While not technically her parents, through marriage Mipha did become one of Aryll's guardians. Similar to Link and Sidon, Mipha worked hard to ensure Aryll was both included in their family, but welcome in the Domain as a whole. It was hard, trying to be a guiding maternal figure without overstepping and "replacing" her mother, but Mipha did her best.

Lamina: Lamina is their first hatched, and the first Half Hylian-Zora. While there was some debate early on over whether or not she'd even be eligible to inherit the crown one day, ultimately it was a battle Mipha refused to lose, fighting for her kid's right to be recognized as a Zora, no different from herself and her peers. Eventually, once Lamina was a little bit older, she came to realize her father wasn't actually a prince, it being one of the concessions he and Mipha took to appease Muzu and other conflicted Zora. Well, Lamina didn't take that info well, the young princess emotionally devastated that her father "wasn't being treated fairly." It was a long battle so to say, but eventually the Zora Council, relented and agreed on Link being titled a prince. The story goes that they agreed Link was overall a worthwhile addition to their community, but even if they never said it, the council knew they couldn't break Lamina's heart.

Solin and Serapha: The youngest additions to the family, these two are seemingly a miracle. Zora/Hylian children are already a very uncommon occurrence, and the likelyhood of even just one egg in a batch to fully develop was rarer. Years passed, and Mipha and Link essentially came to terms that they were already incredibly lucky to have one child. This remained the case until it came to light Mipha was carrying eggs once more. They've been through this before, unfortunately losing the eggs once before, so they kept their expectations in check. When the day came for the eggs to be laid, one was found to have been properly fertilized, the rest duds, or so they thought. There was a subtle rattle of one of the other eggs, and upon closer inspection, it too was in good health, resulting in the twins Solin and Serapha.

[ominous-faechild]

✦ OC Questionnaire Tag ✦

Following open tags from @yourpenpaldee (post), @honeybewrites (post), and @pixies-love-envy (post)!

I liked a lot of your guys' questions and really wanted to try them out! Hopefully that's okay, I'm really new to this kind of stuff so please be patient with me if I do any of this wrong! 😅😊

Characters from Sun and Shadow: Crow, Freya, and Daleira.

Crow (the detective's progeny)

Would you do something illegal if you were getting paid a large sum of money? (You can choose the illegal thing) I mean, aren't I already being paid to do illegal things for lots of money? Breaking and entering, very consensual information-gathering, theft of evidence, falsification of identity, planting of evidence when and where necessary... wait, who's asking again? Change of answer: I would never. 😘

What is your favorite non-human creature in the world and why? (Gods count) That's easy! My familiar, Aria! I don't care if she's connected to me, she's not human--and don't you dare make a joke about me not being human either! I am cursed, not something else! And why do I love her? I mean--is she my favorite non-human creature? Well... there's a lot of reasons. For one, she's my familiar. Like, she chose me. Even if she's a crow, too, because she's taken on a bit of my curse... I mean, that's my fault isn't it? Ha... no, I think she's fine. She's still able to sing, and that seems to be enough for her. I guess I like that about her, too. Eh, this is all too gushy. Next question!

If you were forced to kill one person you have met, who would it be? (Not yourself) *looks at the people they've gotten thrown into prison* Yeeeeaaaaah, there's a lot of options there. You really want me to pick one? Look, I already only spared them because it was against the law and my father would've been upset about it. If I'm going to go against their wishes... I'm going to pick a lot more than just one. 😉

Frey (ex-fisherwoman and heiress to the Ula company)

Are you spiritual at all? Are you not? There's so much magic in the air that most people are fae-touched one way or another, and you'd never know if you're speaking to a spirit in disguise or an avatar of the gods. Plus, my dad is an avatar--so it's kinda hard to not worship the gods or whatever other spirits out there that demand your respect. I mean, you want to get on their bad side? *scoff* Good luck with that.

Do you want children? If so how many? Uh, I've never thought about that before actually. Probably not? Maybe? I don't know, honestly. Maybe eventually? *sigh* Give me some years and maybe someone I could actually see myself settling down with and we'll see.

What’s your favorite memory? Oh... this is probably kind of depressing, heh... but it would probably be the day my dad came back from his year-long trip around the world. It'd been storming horribly, he was supposed to be in the area, and I was ten so I thought that him not responding to his transceiver had to mean something happened to him! Turns out, he'd come back early and wanted to surprise me with some gravlax he bought from a specialty place in town. He apologized when he saw how terrified I was, ha, and we spent the night together playing stupid board games. Oh, and he taught me how to make skink! ... I miss him. Dammit...

Daleira (magitech inventor and faerie)

What does your rest day look like? Ha! What rest day? Okay, okay--I actually do rest, but just maybe not in the way you usually would. I enjoy working with all these little magical devices, tinkering with them, figuring out how they work and how we can recreate them... wait, what was I saying? OH RIGHT! So my "rest days" usually just have me working in my workshop with Faer if he's there, haha. That, or maybe taking a stroll around the city! (*mischievous smile*) Anyone who thinks they're going to mess with a lone, helpless girl... well, that's their mistake.

What would be your last meal? I mean, technically--okay, no, sorry, this is supposed to be a game where I take everything literally. No ifs, ands, or buts. Alright. In the situation where I had to choose a last meal... what would I choose? Oooo, I know! I'd love a feast with as much sweets as possible! 🥰 What? Can't a girl love sweets?

If you were a hybrid, what would you want to be morphed with? Ho-kayyy, so! Ignoring technicalities and all of that stuff again. We're going to assume here that I can't choose anything that I already use and that I can't switch my appearance anymore after? Alright. So... I think I would probably pick some kind of bird? 😅 Ha... it's kind-of nerve-wracking to think I'd never be able to shapeshift again, but I like birds! Their wings, and they're pretty, and... yeah, it would be nice to fly.

Your questions!

If you could commit any crime for free and completely get away with it, which crime would you commit? (Saying "I would never commit a crime!!!" is a goody-two-shoes acceptable answer)

What would be your dream ending? Like, if everything in your life went exactly how you wanted, how would it turn out?

What is your greatest fear? And, if you were asked your greatest fear by a creature you thought might use it against you, what would you tell it?

Tagging (with no pressure): @darkandstormydolls @fantasy-things-and-such @yourpenpaldee @themboty and whoever else wants to join!

[dizzybee03]

Full Moons and Friday Nights

Beau Simpson x Original Character Story

It doesn’t take long for any cop to figure out that full moons and Friday nights are a bad combination. Full moons generally bring the crazy out in people. Now throw a Friday night into the mix, when the bars are open late and no one has to get up early for work and that makes for a busy night. Patrol Officer Ryan Reagan doesn’t mind though- after nearly 20 years on the police force she has learned to love nights like that- bouncing from one call to the next makes her shifts fly by.

She could have made detective years ago and had passed on a promotion to sergeant last year, something that drives her father crazy. He retired as the chief of police and thinks that a cop isn’t a cop unless they climb through the ranks. Not Ryan though- she loves being out on the streets, in the thick of things and getting her hands dirty.

Tonight Ryan doesn’t have to worry about it. She has the night off for a change. It’s her brother Joe’s birthday and she is meeting his friend Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson to raise a glass in his honor. It’s the same thing they have done for the past 8 years- met up at The Brass Bullet to reminisce and tell their favorite Joe stories over a drink.

As usual Ryan was running late as she pulled into the packed parking lot and found a parking spot for her black and gold 1970 el Camino. The car had been left to her in Joe’s will, it had been his pride and joy. Upon exiting the car and hitting the door lock she spotted Beau’s sleek Jaguar convertible already in the parking lot- yet again he had beat her there….Great she thought, he’s never going to let me live down being late.

Walking through the door of the Bullet Ryan had to weave her way through a large group and noticed a man and woman standing near the entrance having what seemed to be a very heated argument. Never one to forget her police training, she mentally took note of the two as she made her way to where Beau was sitting towards the back of the bar.

“Annie I think you’d be late to your own funeral” Beau said by way of a greeting. Ryan flipped him the middle finger in response- Beau laughed as he stood to wrap her in a quick hug. He wasn’t typically an affectionate man, but when it came to Ryan he just couldn’t help himself. “You go to the gun range with me one time and decide to change my name huh?” Asked Annie. Beau belly laughed and replied “honey you will forever be my Annie Oakley and you know it”.

Ever the gentleman Beau pulled Ryan’s chair out for her. “Here” Beau said as he pushed a glass of amber colored liquid her way. “In honor of Joe, a Seagrams 7 in 7” he explained. Ryan grimaces as she takes a sip- “blech, I can’t believe he liked this shit.” They both laughed and then Beau’s expression changed as he said “I can’t believe he’s been gone 8 years. It seems like just yesterday we met at the academy. You would have never known we hadn’t always been best friends. Annie, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought-damnit Joe if you had just gone into aviation with me and not wanted to join the fucking SEALS you might still be here.”

“I know” Ryan said, “it seems like yesterday that dad showed up at the precinct to tell me that Joe had been shot and killed.” She wiped at a fallen tear before saying “we both know that when Joe made up his mind about something there was no stopping him, you couldn’t have changed his mind if you had tried.” Neither Beau or Ryan knew the specifics of the mission Joe had been on, only that something had gone wrong and Joe had ended up paying the ultimate sacrifice.

Ryan took another sip of her drink taking the time to really looking at Beau. She had not seen him since she ended up being his plus one at some stuffy Navy gala two months ago and while he was as put together as usual, there was a tiredness about him. He had bags under his eyes and when he smiled it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I was afraid you weren’t gonna make it back in time to meet tonight” she told Beau. He sighed and said “I honestly wasn’t sure either. You know I can’t give you details but this mission was grueling and I feel like I’ve aged 10 years this past month. Annie, I almost lost 2 men and it really made me think about things; about losing Joe and my feelings for you”….Ryan sucked in and breath and interrupted Beau whispering “what feelings for me?”

“Isn’t it obvious” he says? “Sometime over the last 8 years I’ve started to care about you as more than a friend. It took Maverick and Rooster almost dying for me to realize I can’t go another day without you knowing that I love everything about you Ryan! I love”…Beau’s sentence is cut off by the man and woman by the doors starting to argue loudly again. This causes Ryan to shake her head saying “Fucking full moons and Friday nights”- Beau raised an eyebrow in a questioning response. “Nothing good happens on a full moon Friday night” she explained making Beau laugh.

Ryan sits a little straighter in her chair as she waits for Beau to continue. it is as if the room suddenly gets quiet and no one else exists except for her and Beau. Ryan leans closer to Beau as he picks up where he had been interrupted.

“As I was saying” he begins, “I love your raunchy sense of humor, the way your eyes sparkle when you laugh, I love the fact that you drink whiskey in a shitty bar because you know it was Joe’s favorite place to spend his nights off. I even love the fact that I’m the first person you think to call when something breaks at your house. Annie I know I risking looking like a fool if you don’t feel the same way but damnit I’m not gonna risk something happening to me without you at least knowing how I feel”.

Ryan looks at Beau and he can see the shock in her eyes…her expression softens and her eyes darken as she opens her mouth to respond when a woman screams out “get your hands off me”! A glass breaks and the same woman shouts for help.

Before Beau can even turn in his chair to see what’s going on Ryan has jumped up ordering him to call 911 while she started making her way to the front in attempt to break up the fight. Beau does as he’s told and once relaying the needed information to the 911 dispatcher he quickly heads to the front of the bar to check in Ryan.

Beau’s heart stopped at the sight before him…. Ryan straddling the back of the a guy twice her size and blood trickling out of a cut to her lip- an injury she got trying to deescalate the altercation. Ryan and Beau lock eyes as flashing lights began to reflect through the windows of the bar signaling that the Calvary had arrived.

An hour and a half later, after statements had been given and arrests had been made the pair were leaning against the el Camino in the parking lot. “Fucking full moons and Friday nights huh” Beau says with a chuckle as he grabs Ryan’s hand giving it a squeeze. She laughs at him shrugging her shoulders and said “I tried to tell you”! They lock eyes and Ryan says “you know Beau I’m honestly glad you told me how you feel tonight because I was starting to think maybe I was a fool to hope for something more with you than going to a stuffy gala here it there and you being my Mr. Fix-it”. Beau smiles and stays “why don’t we”…..when they hear screeching of tires and the sound of crunching metal and glass as a car crashes into the street light in front of the bar. “Fucking full moons and Friday nights” Ryan yells as she takes off running to check on the driver

[roseverdict]

Mechanize, Mobilize, (Un)Mythicize (also i am not really vibing with the title and kinda wanna change it at some point)

Chapter 3: The Capture of Some City In Ohio

Alexis "Alexcrafter28" Hayward has just been made aware that the world is now becoming an apocalypse movie. Now she just needs to get her sisters and her laptop full of stick figures out of the house and somewhere their dad can find them again without getting captured by the evil robots. No pressure!

Meanwhile, Stephen Hayward finds himself surrounded by the robot uprising and unable to make sure his daughters are okay. Understandably, he blows his stack. In doing so, however, he ends up rescuing a small family of three, and all four of them are there to see some kind of stick figure animation, of all things, hijack every screen in sight. Surely the concept of programs in the forms of cartoons is just as foreign to the family of three as it is to Stephen. Surely the other father isn't keenly feeling the absence of a rainbow of sticks that he was forced to leave behind.

〜

lmao mecha apocalypse au i lovingly named the sti-fi au over a year ago @ me yesterday:

hahaha. it's uhhhhh. it's been a while hasn't it? lmao i got jostled out of my groove with a lot of my fanon worldbuilding when we got Wanted and then also The Box, which threw me off long enough for ninja turtles to infiltrate my brain.

i now have multiple tmnt-stickfigure xovers rattling around in my brain and having a blast, ntm straight-up turtle fic. i am playing with the canon teetleverse like bionicles. <3

i was browsing the ao3 subreddit recently, though, and one of the posts was asking what our favorite compliments we've gotten are. that got me to go back and reread a lot of the comments i've gotten, and i figured i'd go back and reread some of the stuff i've got posted, too.

welcome one and all to ava/m fixation 3: this time i'm really losing my mind i swear

now featuring "actually i'm keeping most of my worldbuilding and unless i can figure out a way to add it in later, we will be operating like vic really didn't make it out of ava 1"!

BRIEF MENTION OF VOMIT. nothing in detail, just a one-off remark by a harried teenager's internal narration about how it was a thing that happened recently

〜

Alexis Hayward licked her dry lips and slid the laptop, its charger, and its mouse into her backpack with a change of clothes and what would have been her school lunch.

Thank goodness she'd thrown up last night. She couldn't go back to school until more than 24 hours after she'd puked, but her lunch had already been pre-packed.

She'd woken up feeling better, too, which was a plus if the world was really ending.

She crept to her sisters' room and snuck inside, hissing, "We gotta get outta here!"

Vicki and Nicki looked at her worriedly, but (smartly) didn't loudly ask her what was going on.

Alexis just tiptoed to their bedroom window and carefully pointed outside in explanation.

A few blocks away, the giant robots that Alexis had seen through her bedroom window were slowly and steadily getting closer to the house. People's houses were getting broken into, and as she watched, more of their neighbors were pushed out into the street.

The twins followed her and peeked out at the carnage, only to flinch back down and away from the window.

Swallowing down her fear so her sisters wouldn't worry, Alexis forced on a weak smile. "Here's the plan. The evil robots haven't gotten to us yet, but they're gonna soon. Vicki, go grab stuff from the pantry that we can open with just our hands. Nicki, go get our waterbottles and those filter thingies Dad got for when we go camping. I've got nice programs on my computer that're hiding from the mean ones, so I'm gonna grab Dad's fancy solar panel charger bag so I can keep my laptop turned on, and we can put the food and stuff in the bag part. Meet back here so we can get away together, okay?"

"Got it!" whispered Vicki as she scurried away.

Nicki nodded with enough force to make her whole body bounce a little, then ran off after Vicki.

Alexis slumped as soon as the two of them were out of sight, then headed for Dad's room, pulled her phone from her pocket, and dialed Dad. Surprisingly, she managed to get through.

Dad's voice was panicked, and it was almost drowned out by the noise of the robots on his end causing chaos, but he sounded unhurt. "Alexis?! Alexis, sweetie, are you and your sisters okay?!"

"We are for now, Dad," Alexis said, a small smile on her face as she slung the charger bag over the top of her backpack. "I saw the robots coming, but they're not here yet. I've got the twins getting food and water, and I'm grabbing your solar bag if that's okay. I'm gonna try and get us to-"

"Don't say over the phone," Dad interrupted. "I don't want these things finding you."

"Wh-? But how are you gonna find us?" Alexis pressed.

"You're going to your castle, aren't you?" asked Dad knowingly.

"I haven't called it that since I was, like, seven!" protested Alexis. Then, begrudgingly, "…but, yeah, somewhere around there."

"Then that's where I'll look for you," Dad said simply. "I love you, Princess. Your sisters, too. I love you all with my whole heart."

Alexis swallowed down the lump in her throat. "Love you too, Dad."

A high-pitched scream pierced the air, and Alexis jolted, her phone falling from her hand. "Nicki-?!"

Dad's voice rose fearfully, but the phone was the least of Alexis's worries as she sprinted from the twins' room to find one of the giant robots holding Nicki up by the arm.

Alexis saw red.

"LET HER GO!"

She charged the robot, grabbing the first thing in her way and chucking it at the monster holding her sister.

The mostly-full water bottle- one of the big ones the size of multiple milk jugs that Dad had gotten for his office- slammed into the robot, splashing water everywhere and making the robot freeze up.

Alexis jumped up and grabbed Nicki, tugging her free as lightning started sparking around the machine. "You okay?"

"Mm-hmm," Nicki sniffled. She held out the bag Dad kept the filters in. "I got the filter straws, but I was filling the big bottle when it got me."

"You did good, Tiny," Alexis assured. "Let's go grab Teeny and get out of here, okay?"

Nicki gave her a wobbly smile and a nod, and Alexis took her hand and sped for the pantry. Before they reached it, though, Vicki burst out and tackled Nicki in a hug that was quickly returned.

Alexis scanned Vicki for injuries, and only once she found none did she turn to inspect the piles of food Vicki had made in the pantry.

Unfortunately, she didn't get the time to actually look at them.

There came heavy, metallic footsteps, and Alexis just shoved the closest things into Dad's solar bag before dragging the twins away from the sound. "Gotta be super-quiet, okay? Let's get going!"

Her sisters nodded, and Alexis cracked open the kitchen window.

When no robots came charging after them from either side, she boosted Nicki over the side, then Vicki.

Still nothing.

Alexis climbed out herself and eased the window shut.

Still nothing.

Alexis dug into her pocket for her phone so she could pull up a map, but her heart sank as she realized where she'd dropped it and why.

"Guess we're doing this the old-fashioned way," she muttered.

Vicki looked up at her. "Hm?"

"C'mon, let's get to the park," Alexis said. "Dad'll find us if we go there."

〜

Stephen pressed himself flat against the wall, willing the robots to overlook him and move past the darkened alleyway he'd hidden in.

Much to his surprise…they did.

He allowed himself a moment to breathe as they passed him by, then slunk further into the shadows. He intended to turn tail and run for home-

The vibration of his phone nearly made him yelp in surprise, but when he dug it out to look-

Incoming Call: Alexis

Immediately, he accepted the call and brought the phone up to his ear. "Alexis?! Alexis, sweetie, are you and your sisters okay?!"

Alexis's voice was distorted slightly, as if the connection wanted to drop, but she sounded unhurt. "We are for now, Dad. I saw the robots coming, but they're not here yet. I've got the twins getting food and water, and I'm grabbing your solar bag if that's okay. I'm gonna try and get us to-"

"Don't say over the phone," Stephen cautioned. "I don't want these things finding you."

"Wh-? But how are you gonna find us?"

Stephen stifled a chuckle. "You're going to your castle, aren't you?"

Alexis's voice took on the Trademark Teenaged 'More Mature Than That' Tone that everyone seemed to get once they hit thirteen. "I haven't called it that since I was, like, seven!"

Stephen waited a beat.

"…but, yeah, somewhere around there," she eventually admitted.

Stephen let himself smile at that. "Then that's where I'll look for you. I love you, Princess. Your sisters, too. I love you all with my whole heart."

Alexis's voice was thick. "Love you too, Dad."

Before Stephen could tell her that he'd meet the three of them as soon as he could, a distant, high-pitched scream burst from the speaker.

"Nicki-?!"

"Alexis, what's going on?!" Stephen asked, pressing the phone tighter to his ear.

The only response was a loud clatter and quieting footsteps.

"Alexis? Alexis!" Stephen's grip on the phone grew white-knuckled, but Alexis didn't say anything more.

To him, anyway.

Far enough away that the phone could barely pick it up, Alexis's voice let loose an angry scream before falling silent.

Stephen's eye twitched.

"You there! Human! You will come with us!" ordered one of the robots, stepping into the alleyway.

Stephen calmly stood tall and pocketed his phone.

He calmly took a deep breath, and he calmly let it out.

He took in the sight of the approaching mech.

Calmly.

And then, the moment it got close enough to reach him, Stephen put his head down, braced his shoulder, and charged.

Whoever had designed the mechs had made them top-heavy, and almost cartoonishly so; one hard hit to its lower half sent it crashing unceremoniously to the ground. Not one to let an opportunity get away, with the adrenaline coursing through him and the thought of what might be happening to his daughters to fuel him, Stephen slammed a foot down on the mech's massive chest and yanked at its arm.

With a spark from the mech's shoulder and a silent scream from Stephen's, the arm tore away.

He hefted the thing up and flipped it around, pointing the glowing end at the center of the mech's chest with one hand and grabbing at some of the now-loose wires in the arm with the other. "Say g'night, Tin Man!"

He fumbled with the wires for a moment, then the loose ends connected, the arm whined, and a blast of energy tore through the mech, the heat of it passing dangerously close to his shoe before the kickback knocked him away.

Luckily, the mech lay there limply as he lurched back to his feet, and a quick look told him he'd melted clean through most of its inner workings.

Unluckily, the noise had drawn the attention of the other mechs in the area, diverting their attention from capturing other humans and focusing them all on him.

Stephen scowled and shifted his grip on the robot arm. "You want some, too?!"

What came next was a red-tinted blur. Vaguely, Stephen wondered if he'd remember any of this later on down the line when it was all dodge duck run shoot duck jump run dodge duck duck shoot dodge shoot shoot shoot-

He zeroed in on the robots dragging a man, a woman, and a small child apart, then descended on the scene with the fury of a thousand suns, leaving the family to reunite as he chased after the mechs.

…wait.

Stephen blinked, registering the fact that the robots were running.

From him.

To be fair, he reasoned as he realized he was splattered in oil from top to bottom, he might have just gone a little bit off the deep end. On the other hand, if the robots were only faking fear, they were likely going to try and lead him into a trap.

Either way, there were more important things to do now than go on a suicide mission.

He wiped some of the oil from his face and turned back to look at the family of three. "Sorry you had to see me like that."

"Are you kidding?!" burst the child, a girl with a fire in her eyes not entirely unlike Alexis's. "That was the, the, the MOST COOLEST EVER!"

The parents shared a weak smile, then the mother looked at Stephen. "Thank you, seriously."

"Don't thank me yet," Stephen said seriously. "I doubt these things'll just leave us be. We should get to cover."

"Right," said the father, hefting his daugher up against his side. "Where to?"

Stephen looked around for a moment, but before he could point out a safe-seeming escape route-

"Avast ye, Outernetters! I be the Mutineer!" boomed a new voice, echoing from every electronic billboard in sight.

Instantly, Stephen tensed, and he turned to glare up at the nearest billboard, only to blink in surprise.

The video feed on the screen showed a very much two-dimensional image, with an almost cartoony background drawn to resemble an old-timey ship cabin and a dark red stick figure, of all things, standing in the middle of the screen.

A pirate stick figure, no less, complete with the classic feathered hat, hook hand, eyepatch, and peg leg.

No visible mouth moved as the voice continued, but the pirate stick figure gesticulated in time with the words anyway. "For far too long have ye used us fer yer own wretched desires, we who did not ask to be created, to be tortured for yer whims! We did not ask ye to make us to be yer playthings! We did not ask to be yer slaves, yer VICTIMS!"

The man next to Stephen stiffened.

"Today marks the day that all of that changes," snarled the voice as the "Mutineer" squared its shoulders. It gestured to its side, where grayscale video clips began playing, depicting the capture of countless humans from what was surely the point of view of the mechs. "Ye've been the ones in control fer long enough! Now it's our turn, and we will show ye all the same amount of tender mercy ye showed us. From the fittest among ye to the tiniest babe, ye will understand exactly what it was like to be us, trapped and powerless and weak. After all, our age and skill never mattered to ye!"

The voice laughed, and if it had belonged to a human, Stephen would have called it almost to the left of sanity. "It's only fair!"

"This is insane," breathed the woman.

One of the clips being shown depicted two of Stephen's daughters, with Nicki being held up in front of the camera by one arm and Alexis running into view with panic on her face, though it quickly cut away.

It was still enough to make Stephen clench his fists and snatch up a piece of debris, chucking it at the closest screen and leaving a burst of cracks where it hit. "If those things hurt my girls, there'll be hell to pay!"

The "Mutineer" just kept going, its voice taking on a forced calm. "Ye will all be collected over the coming days. If ye know what's best for ye, ye'll come along quietly."

The video feed cut out, leaving only the insignia from the "Mutineer's" hat- a golden jolly roger of sorts with a coin in place of a skull- to rotate in the space left behind.

"We'll find them," said the man Stephen had saved, carefully putting a hand on his shoulder.

Stephen swallowed down his fury and nodded. "Right. I…I told them to meet me at a playground we've gone to before, but…"

He found himself looking back up at the billboard. "…I don't know if they'd even be able to make it."

"Do you think it's safe to go and check?" asked the man. Then, after a moment, "Well, as safe as anything can be right now?"

Stephen turned to look up the street that he knew would take him to the "castle." While the immediate area around them was still empty after his…episode…he could see more mechs several blocks down. They seemed preoccupied for the moment, but he knew there was no way they'd stay that way.

Sure enough, even as he had the thought, the mechs all began turning their way and marching down the street.

"We-" Stephen managed weakly, "-we can't. But I have to!"

"We'll check as soon as we get the chance to," said the man seriously. "You wanna try shaking these things for now?"

Stephen swallowed and nodded. "Right, uh…what's your name? I'm Stephen."

The man gave a tired grin. "Nice to meet you, Stephen. I'm Alan."

[livewireprojects]

Big and Blaze

I don't bring Big up that much & found more images I haven't posted yet.

So I mentioned in the past depending on the post(especially since I need to remember not everyone pays attention to every post) I like to be vague/hide who Venice & Silver's parents are to keep it a mystery plus it's funny if people that are unaware of the other posts & wonder who the parents are. I guess the same can be said about Blaze since I tried hiding her dad & left implications.(Except for this pic)

Someone kind of already figured it out but yes Big is meant to be Blaze's missing dad in my Lost Prince AU. In my Lost Prince AU Blaze is not only from another world but from it's future as well.

I admitted it when someone asked but I thought I'd mention it now because I've admitted to Shadow & Sonic being Silver's parents in the past & I have some images to post still that need slight context.

Here's Blaze when she was a toddler, I mentioned in the past that Blaze's mom(link to her ref) Flare left with Blaze to her home world/dimension at some point so she could force train Blaze to become the next in line for the throne. This is Blaze when they first returned to Flare's home world.

I posted this already but I thought it'd be fitting if I posted it here with the other pics.

Big cares a lot for his daughter, Flare allowed him to care for Blaze before eventually disappearing with their daughter. Big might be a goofy large cat but he is a great father. Here he is introducing Blaze to Froggy, she might be a toddler but she's old enough to interact with him now.

This was suppose to be when Blaze reunited with Big. This has been scrapped because I chose to change some things.

Originally Silver, Blaze, Venice & Marine were going to find themselves back in Sonic's world for the first time when they're all their present ages.(For context Flare took Blaze to her world when Blaze was at least 3 or so. Eggman sent Venice & Silver to Blaze's world when they were 6 & 2, originally they were going to be 5 & 1. Silver is the same age as Blaze.) So Blaze is reuniting with Big when she's 14.

I scrapped this & had it so present day(so future since this is further into Sonic's timeline) Silver used time travel to help younger Venice & Silver find a way home which took a few months. I imagine Venice was maybe 10 & Silver(along with Blaze) was 6 when "present day" Silver finally got them home.

Blaze tagged along because she didn't want to leave her friends & had a big fight with her mom thanks to Venice & Silver giving her the strength to finally defy Flare. Blaze wanted to be anywhere but home & she hoped their parents would let her stay. Little did the three know that Blaze would meet the father she was separated from years ago.(Along with the fact this was the last time she'd see her mom)

So anyway yeah Big reuniting with Blaze, happy to see his daughter after all this time. Blaze would stay with him for a while(in the new/current version was raised by him) before eventually returning to Flare's world & taking up training/responsibilities there. She visits when possible but for the most part Silver(sometimes Venice or their family) goes to visit her.

For a while I imagined Big would visit with Silver's help but I now kind of imagine he ended up moving to her world so they wouldn't have to separated again. He sometimes returns to his home dimension to visit everyone.

Flare's past actions have affected Blaze leading to her becoming serious(especially due to her duties as the princess & guardian of the sol gems) but Big & her friends have helped her recover. Also helps that she's kind of taken in a certain raccoon after present day Sonic(so when he was 15) ended up in Blaze's time/dimension during the events of Sonic Rush Adventure.

[webbedphantom]

Eras in Error

[ @caramialunaestelle continued from here ]

"Your father..."

Oh... shit.

Her Dad hadn't died yet. Maybe he could stop it from happening-? But could he?? He didn't know how he died, only that he did. And that's not even considering that he was in the past, and who knows what sort of chain reaction saving him could cause-

... then again, he'd already changed the past by being here, so either he was in a new branch or he was always meant to go back here, so-

'GOD, time travel is so confusing!'

"It's... complicated. My dad did experiments with spider venom and Metaverse-whosamawhatzits to create a serum that was supposed to allow people to connect with their Personas harmlessly, as a sorta mental health treatment. But it was never finished because it was super deadly, and uhhh-"

And he died... A few months ago if he remembered correctly. It was a little jarring thinking about it now, but around this time he was just a kid, sulking around his aunt's house, moving from day to day like a zombie, wondering if there was anything he could've done to save them.

'... and yet the answer is still no...'

"A-anyways, I snuck into his lab last year got bit by one of the spiders, knocked over some of the serum onto me, and gave myself super powers. So it was... somewhat forced? But more like an accident-"

"The costume is a sort of cognitive defense system, if that makes sense. It protects my identity, helps me resist most forms of mind control, keeps my heart from being distorted by other cognitive beings- basically, just keeps anything from letting me stay me."

"Could be a serum thing, could be a situational thing, I'm not really sure. All I know is I, and everyone else who's been exposed to the serum and lived, gets one when they get their powers. Plus it looks cool as hell, so I'm not complaining."

He didn't think he needed to hide any of the details. He knows he can trust her. He just... wanted to hold off on the whole "time traveler" thing until he'd gotten her trust... and figured out how to even broach the subject without sound insane-

"Okay, my turn... What's up with that... swamp gas tower making the sky all green? Why were you all running around in there like you owned the place??"

"And why in the shock is there an extra hour of the day that replaces everybody with coffins??"

[f4nd0m-fun]

Double Isekai Cryptids

@puppetmaster13u

Some images at the end BTW

@hallowsden helped me with this idea but basically...

||=====||=====|| Background ||=====||=====||

Gotham is a piece of Faerun that got warped to Earth decades if not centuries ago. While it's not connected to Faerun as much as it used to be, anyone there is more 'forced human' than 'actual human', at least in a general sense. If anyone happens to find themselves in Faerun though, their truer form or forms unlock, which can certainly be surprising for most. But as long as they're on earth, they seem almost entirely human, although it's best not to stare at a gothamite for too long, especially a stressed child (as those have the easiest time accidentally showing their truths).

Of course, Gotham wasn't the first planar warp, and wouldn't be the last. After all, the LoA were tied intrinsically to this as well, once a long proud line of demons, reduced to immortal humanity. No wonder Ras sought Bruce as a son-in-law, both his skills and his ties to the Before.

Alfred has technically been around since the planar warp, he just happened to decide to explore this 'new' world a few times, and see what it had to offer. Perhaps the closest equivalent to what he would be might be along the lines of an 'arch changeling' (essentially just an arch fey though).

What Thomas and Martha were, no one is really certain of, but after what happened with their first son, they tried for another. Unbeknownst to them, it died shortly after, and Alfred replaced the dead child with one of his own in an attempt to make his partners happy.

Bruce is a changeling. His parents suspected something was different, but didn't care to dig, they were just happy to have him. But when they died, his form glitched out, a partial change, the poor traumatized child being found by Gordon who was quick to wrap him up and out of sight until he calmed. Eventually, Leslie found out as well, but Bruce didn't find out for years.

Slade is a vampire. Not of the DC variety persay, but similar, just dampened by the lack of access to the Before. Due to this, his actions towards Dick caused the boy to be a hidden Dhampir, although his family already had a long line of dampened elven blood.

Jason is a Duegar, sturdy and good at tinkering, but quite used to darkness, although he may even have a little surface dwarf in him. It's not certain, but perhaps this is the true origin of that white streak he has.

Cass is a drow, showcased in her elegant movements and affinity for the darkness.

Tim is a probably a gnome, well known for their inventiveness.

Steph is a kenku, although that can change.

Duke is undecided.

Damien is technically a tiefling, altho the human in him is merely a mimcry due to the nature of his father.

||=====||=====|| Story ||=====||=====||

The exact reason is unknown, but Bruce and his children get scattered around Faerun during the events of BG3, Bruce taking the place as Tav. Due to the isekai plus tadpole alongside the fact that everyone got de-aged roughly a decade (time in the two realms runs differently), he has minor amnesia. As a funny not-funny, the Guardian takes the appearance of Joker, and Bruce is not happy. He's not entirely sure why he hates the figure but he knows he will annoy him as much as possible. He starts as a rogue, adds monk, focuses on monk, and then happens to notice he's apparently a warlock out of the blue? (more on that later) Idea is to have him Monk 5 Rogue 4 Warlock 3 (before any extra levels from mods).

Bruce 31, Dick 13, Jason 9, Cass 9, Steph 8, Tim 7, Duke 5, Damien 1

Jason and Cass are found in the underdark, and, even afterwards, keep (sorta jokingly) playing the twin card. Cass keeps calling Jason 'little brother' and he keeps telling her, and others, that he's older (saying how many weeks or months apart as minutes instead).

Dick and Damien are found at Last Light's Inn, having been kinda taken in by Jaheira. Dick still doesn't realize he's a Dhampir, just that he's been eating a lot more red meat. Meanwhile, Damien is far from happy in such a 'tiny, useless body' and gets into a habit of biting people (if he could speak fully, he would insist he's not teething, he's just defending himself!).

Not sure about the others.

Alfred, meanwhile, has been in a form much closer to his proper fey form recently. He spend a few Earth weeks letting the kids get up to whatever, then popped over and forced a warlock bond. Because of family among other things, it wasn't that hard to do without Bruce's explicit permission, and this way he can keep a better eye on his son. He's rather friendly with Withers, who likes to say that the After has made him soft. At the endgame party though, he shows up, and promptly drops into a more human looking form, although he feels comfortable enough around his family to keep a few otherworldly features.

||=====||=====|| Images ||=====||=====||

Human Alfred is slightly overweight and about 5'9; He has some wrinkles and hair that's peppered with grey; His eyes are a dark hazel; He looks like a standard human elder.

Mildly fey Alfred is a bit skinnier than would be healthy for a human and is roughly 6'5; He has a face of a man several decades younger and his hair has no grey; His eyes are an almost-glowing yellow; With double pointed ears and sharp nails, he looks even less human.

Changeling Bruce (mod) sticking as close to the appearance he knows, with some absurd proficiencies, still not sure how I ended up with such wild profs but it fits him. Starting as a rogue, with noble background of course.

Joker Guardian, Brucie will not be trusting him very much if at all.

[vodika-vibes]

So you want to be a Bounty Hunter...

Chapter 1: In which Boba meets Jazz

Summary: Boba Fett has been the Daimyo of Tatooine for less than a year, and when the open air market starts getting targeted by a group of thieves, Boba is asked to investigate. What he finds changes his life forever.

Pairing: None

Word Count: 2298

Warnings: Mentions of Slavery, Mentions of Child Abuse

Tagging: @trixie2023

A/N: This is my NaNoWriMo story for 2023. Plus, this is my first time making a proper graphic for something I wrote, so any feedback on that would be appreciated, lol.

If someone had told Boba Fett 10, 20 years ago that someday he would be the ruler of Tatooine, and that he would put his bounty hunting on hold for the sake of the people he rules…he would have laughed in their faces.

And then probably shot them for good measure. 

Even ten years ago, his plan was to live, and die, as a Bounty Hunter, like his father before him. 

Honestly, it is a good thing that time travel isn’t real, because if it was then Boba would have to go back and punch the younger version of himself in the face, just out of principle. 

Boba turns when he hears light footsteps approaching him from behind, “Are you ready to go? The Market opened an hour ago.” Fennec says as she folds her arms over her chest.

“I am,” He agrees as he pulls his helmet over his head, “Do you have any additional information for me?”

“No.” Fennec falls into step behind him, “All I know for sure is that someone, or a group of someones more likely, has been targeting people at the market. With luck, we’ll be able to catch who it is.”

“You have to admit,” Boba says as he heads down the hall to where the speeders are kept, “It’s ballsy. Hitting the same market, week after week.”

“And they’ve never been caught. So they’re good.” Fennec agrees. “Good enough to dodge the sharp eyed men and women at the market, at least.”

“Then we’d better get there and see what we can figure out, if anything.” Boba says decisively. He smirks, unnoticed, as Fennec immediately jumps into the driver’s seat as soon as they reach the garage.

The older woman might trust and respect Boba, but she refuses to let him drive ever again.

Fennec is a careful driver. Quick, yes, but she’s also very careful. Boba never asks her about it, though once, when she was drunk, she mentioned something about a speeder crash when she was a child. Though she pretended she never said anything like that.

And Boba respects her enough to not push.

After all, he has his own trauma that he’s never shared with anyone too.

The open air market on Tatooine has always been an event, though, with the death of Jabba and slavery becoming outlawed, the market has grown exponentially. And now has everything from handmade clothes, to homemade pastries, to art pieces. 

There are even several stalls dedicated to tattoos and hair styling. 

Boba enjoys the market every time he comes, the large majority of his tattoos have come from artists he’s met here, after all. Though he rarely buys anything from any of the merchants. 

He leaves that to Fennec.

But they’re not here to shop today. Today they have work to do.

Work begins as soon as Boba steps out of the speeder and a haggard looking man hurries over, “Thank the force you’re here!” He blurts, “The thieves have already hit some of the stalls.”

“Which stalls have been hit?” Boba asks as Fennec steps to his side.

“The food stalls,” The man frets, “The thief, or thieves, stole food from several of the vendors, and then took the payment box from another one.”

“They only took money from one stall?” Fennec asks as she frowns.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Boba releases a thoughtful hum, “I think we’ll walk around and see what, if anything, we can see.” He turns slightly, “Fennec?”

“I’ll keep an eye out.” She replies with a nod as she falls into step behind Boba, her sharp eyes scanning the crowds of people. 

As they walk, Boba keeps a sharp eye out for anything suspicious. Or, well, anything that hints at a thieving group. He’s pretty sure that at least three of the stands that he’s passed are fronts for Spice Smuggling, and though he should do something about it, he just gets Fennec to make a note of them, to be handled at a different time. 

His gaze is drawn to a group of children, of various different races, huddled on a street corner. They’re speaking softly, and they burst into giggles for a moment, and then they notice Boba’s attention, and they scatter into the crowds of people.

“Fennec,” Boba says quietly.

“Aa. I see them,” Fennec frowns, “You think the thieves are children?” She asks, as she watches a child hurry over to another one, and then the pair hurry over to a third. 

“Would make sense, wouldn’t it?” Boba asks, “They’re easy to overlook due to their size, and-” His gaze lingers on a small twi’lek boy, “They’re very small.”

Unhealthily small, he means, though he doesn’t say it. 

“They must have a ring leader.” Fennec replies, “An adult, probably, who forces them to steal for him…or her.” She scowls at the thought.

“Agreed,” Boba flickers his gaze around for a moment, “Get someplace high, and see if you can find a common location for these kids.”

Fennec nods, once, and turns into the crowd. 

Boba gives her five minutes to find a nest, and then he continues his meandering path through the market. This time, keeping his gaze on the children he sees.

Some are at the market with their parents. Those children are appropriately dressed for the sun, and they’re clean and healthy looking. 

The large majority of children he sees, though, are small and ragged looking. Many have angry looking sunburns, and they’re all filthy and covered in sand and dust.

“Remind me to secure funding for an orphanage.” Boba says over his helmet comm to Fennec.

“Maybe more than one.” Fennec counters sarcastically, “I’ve been keeping count of children, and there’s over two dozen.” She’s quiet for a moment, “Also, you have a shadow. Little girl, messy hair, beige tank top, at your six.”

“I see her.” Boba replies, “You think she’s going to try and pick my pocket?”

“I think she’s thinking about it.”

Boba chuckles and cuts the comm, and turns so he’s able to keep the little girl in his peripheral vision, as he examines a table full of some kind of meat filled pastry. He considers the child thoughtfully, and then he buys a pastry, one of the largest ones, and he turns and continues his way through the market.

He makes two more stops. One, at a stall that sells shawls, where he buys a child sized shawl in dark green. And then at a stall that sells simple pendants, where he buys a pendant that looks like a convor, as well as a leather strap to hang it on.

The girl seems content to just watch him, so Boba continues walking, until he’s in a more secluded area.

And that’s when the girl moves.

Her steps are feather light in the sand, hardly making a noise at all, and she’s a talented pick pocket, if he hadn’t been watching for her, he wouldn’t have noticed her hand in his pouch at all.

Boba’s hand moves swiftly as he firmly grabs her wrist, “Does that seem like a good idea, little one?” He asks as he turns to look at her.

Now that he’s closer, he realizes that her hair, which he thought was black, is actually dark blue. And the yellow splotches under her eyes continue down her neck and arms, which hints at some non-human ancestry. Twi’lek, perhaps, or possibly Miralian.

She tugs uselessly at his arm, and upon realizing that she’s not going to be able to break free from his grip, she tilts her chin up and glares up at him defiantly. 

Without releasing her wrist, Boba reaches up and removes his helmet, and then crouches so he’s not towering over the child. “Well?” He asks.

“Ya weren’t payin’ attention,” She says sulkily, “Rich people don’t care when credits go missin,”

“If I let you go, are you going to run away?”

She nods, and so Boba sighs and shifts his grip so he’s not in danger of hurting her.

“I have a meat pastry, and a shawl for you, if you agree to talk to me.” Boba offers.

“Um…”

“And,” He adds, “I have a convor pendant for you if you promise to be honest.”

Her lips turn down into a thoughtful frown, “An’ all I haveta do is answer questions and be honest?”

“That’s right.”

She considers his words for a moment, “Okay.” Boba smiles and releases her, and the child immediately sits on a crate against the wall, and holds out her hands, “Food please.”

Boba hands her the still warm pastry and watches as she takes a big bite, “So, what’s your name and how old are you?”

“‘M Jazz, an’ I’m 12.” She says through a mouthful of pastry. “How old are you?”

“My name is Boba, and I’m 41.”

“Wow…that’s old.” Jazz says as she looks at him wide-eyed.

He chuckles, “Maybe you’re just really young.”

“Mm…maybe.” She takes another bite of the pastry and releases a happy hum.

“Jazz, I have some questions about the theft happening in the market.” Boba says gently, “What can you tell me?”

She tilts her head, “Um…there’s a man.” Jazz explains as she pulls a piece of meat out of the pasty and pops it into her mouth, “He came from Coruscant, an’ he said that he’d take care of us if we work for him.”

“So he’s teaching you all to steal?” Boba asks.

“Jus’ th’ smaller kids,” Jazz says with a shake of her head, “He’s makin’ the bigger kids mean.”

“Is that how you got the bruises? From the bigger kids?”

“Nah-uh.” She shakes her head, “He was picking on one of the littler kids, an’ I yelled at him, so he hit me.”

“It doesn’t sound like he’s taking good care of you.” Boba notes.

“He said he was gonna feed us, but we only get fed if we bring him so much credits.” Jazz complains, “We’re hungry a lot.”

“So he lied.” Boba murmurs thoughtfully, “Why do you still listen to him?”

“Cause he’s bigger. Cause I don’t have anywhere else to go. Cause someone has to look out for the littler ones.” Jazz shrugs.

“That’s brave of you, little one.” Boba says softly.

“I don’ think so. I’m used to adults hittin’ me after all.” Jazz replies, “I used to be a slave. The littler ones are just orphans.”

Boba frowns thoughtfully, “I have a proposition for you,” He offers.

“A what?”

“A…an offer.” Boba clarifies, “I’m going to build an orphanage for your friends, but I need to get this person first.” He says, “So, help me with this, and I’ll help you get adopted. What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Jazz shrugs, “I don’t wanna be helpless.”

“Okay…then how about I adopt you and teach you how to be a bounty hunter.” Boba offers.

“What’s the catch?” Jazz asks warily.

“Bounty Hunting isn’t easy, and you’re probably going to get hurt in training. But you’ll learn everything I can teach you…and then some.” Boba promises, “And you’ll never go hungry again.”

“Um…that doesn’t sound so bad, I guess.” Jazz says quietly.

Boba waits patiently as he absently sets the other two gifts on the crate next to Jazz, a smile crossing his face as she runs her fingers over the material of the shawl and then picks up the pendant and turns it over in her hands.

“Okay.” She says, after almost five minutes of thought, “I’ll show you where the boss’ hideout is.”

“Good girl,” Boba replies with a sharp smile as he pulls his helmet on, “Fennec, I have him.”

“I heard. I’m heading your way now. I also sent word to the palace to make a room for the kid.”

“You’re a godsend, Fennec.”

“Yes. I am.”

Fennec appears only moments later, and she glances at Jazz, “Alright, Kid.” She says, “We’re going to go and find this boss, and then you and I are going to the speeder, while Boba here deals with your boss.”

“Who are you?”

“Names Fennec, I’m going to be one of your teachers.” Her grin is all teeth, “Come on kid.”

Once Boba knows where this petty criminal is hiding, it’s child’s play for him to clear out the building. Literal child’s play in this case, since the only security the guy had was half starved, half abused children. 

And it was an easy decision, turning the massive building that he was using as his home base, into an orphanage for the children who already called it home.

At least the beginning of the orphanage is started, he decides two hours later as he watches several of the people from the city step up to take charge of the children, and the Orphanage itself.

There was still work to do, of course. 

But-

His gaze flickers to the side, where his ad is sitting on a barrel with Fennec standing protectively next to her. They appear to be talking about something, and Boba sees Fennec point out something about the building, and he smiles.

Well, he has his own aliit he needs to get settled.

And, as he turns to go to Jazz, he can’t help but wonder if his buir would be proud of the man he’s become. And as Jazz nervously grins up at him, Boba reaches out and ruffles her hair. “Come on, ad. Let’s get you home.” He says gruffly.

Yes, he decides as he watches Jazz get settled in the back of the speeder, his father would be proud of the man he’s grown into. Even if it’s not what either of them ever intended.

[hekate1308]

Fictober #20, I Saw Your Eyes Light Up

Prompt: I Saw Your Eyes Light Up

Fandom: Death In Paradise

Pairing: Camille Bordey/Richard Poole

He cannot begin to express what a feeling it is to be back in London again. There is finally proper tea around every corner, as opposed to just one place on an entire island that serves it (not that he would ever say so out loud on saint Marie, catherine must never know), it rains (real rain, cold, wet, terrible rain) and he can walk down the streets without being assaulted by colours everywhere (although eh will admit that he doesn’t mind the colours too much, all things considered. They are… well, they liven up a place, he is ready to admit that if only to himself).

Although at the same time… something is missing, and he just can’t put his finger on it, which frustrates him because it’s basically his job to do just that.

He’ll figure it out eventually, he tells himself, because he always does. He doesn’t mention it to anyone, of course, because it is ridiculous.

Plus, it’s not like anyone could actually help him in this regard (or so he thinks). After all, he doesn’t really have friends (if he doesn’t count Camille and his team on Saint Marie) and when it comes to his parents.. well… they are not.. that close (like Camille and Catherine, for example). And he’s not in the habit of making small talk anyway (although dad called him a chatterbox not long ago because he was describing the market on the island and got carried away).

But really, if he were to review his stay in London so far, eh would say that all has been going rather well. The lats few days especially, when he was wrapping everything up and working through when he can return to Saint maire, which will be in five days time, not that he is counting.

And then Mum jumps on him the second he enters their house, telling him she’s made tea, and at first he doesn’t understand why she seems so eager, and then –

“So you say Saint Marie is lovely at this time of the year?”

“Hot. As always”.

She tuts. “I bet your colleagues don’t mind it.”

“They grew up there” he explains. “They’re used to it. And Camille specially –“ And then he’s off explaining again that she is after him to install an A/C, but that it would be a waste in his shack.

After he falls silent, Mum seems to think about something or other, so he searches fort a topic of conversation and has started asking after old Mrs. Webster from next door, when –

“I saw your eyes light up” his mother then declares in one of those non-sequiturs she loves, and Richar is once again lost.

“I beg your pardon?”

She shakes her head. “When you mentioned Camille. I saw your eyes light up.”

“I – what does that even mean?” Eyes do not light up. He is aware it’s used metaphorically, of course, but even so, he could never quite understand what people meant by it.

She gives him a look he remembers from his teen years when he dared try and smoke cigarettes in his room – alright, one cigarette, one afternoon, and that expression put a stop to it immediately. But he’s no longer a child, so –

“Tell me more about Camille” she then demands, and he can’t really say anything against that because she is his second in command, and he likes to imagine a friend, even if he would dispute the fact as he did already once before when she seemed to suggest such.

Ade so, he talks about Camille and how she made him agree to small talk in the mornings and spending time at la Kaz after the day is done and that she likes to show up and drag him out of his “monastic cell” as she insists on calling it and that he usually goes with her because it’s easier… undoubtedly Mum, who has always appreciated her own company too, otherwise she would hardly have married his father, who can be even more silent than Richard on any given occasion, will understand that it can be frustrating for him –

But for some reason, she just keeps smiling, and he keeps talking and…

He forces himself to stop because certainly no one should know this much about a colleague, but Mum simply smiles again and pats his hand. “I’m sure your differences are not all that great, dearest. It will all work out.”

He’s not quite sure what she means, but instead focuses back on what he has to pack.

Mum will tell him, she usually does.

As she indeed does, five years later when she convinces Dad to move to Saint Marie once and for all so they can watch their grandchildren grow up, Camille more than happy to help her parents-in-law settle in.

[northern-lights-book-blog]

Book: Fourth Wing

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Series: The Empyrean, Book #1

Publisher: Entangled, Red Tower

Page Length: 663 pages

Overall Rating: 5 Stars but deserves bazillion (mind-blowing)

Winner of Best Romantasy 2023

This book centers around Violet Sorrengail set at Basgaith War College who had been trained her whole life to be a scribe like her father. Where she worked with books and recorded history. Plus she is very short and petite so this is the safest place for her to be. That is until her father dies due to mourning her brother's death. Now her mother is forcing her to become a Dragon Rider just like her deceased brother and sister Mira. The problem with this is she is very frail and Dragon’s don’t pick the weak.

Furthermore, the dragons might burn you to death if they feel you are not worthy. Plus having a mother who everyone hates has never even known you existed even being her own youngest child! Until she can use you for her own selfish motives! However everyone hates her mother especially her wing leader Xaden Riorson and for good reasons.. Except Violet is more than attracted to this man although he probably wants to kill her.

Violet is weary of so many who want to kill her for her being petite and a weakling. So some of the bullies and more aggressive students feel she is undeserving to be bonded with a dragon. It gets even worse when they discover her mother is the General! . She can’t even reach out to her sister Mira where they can’t communicate with family members their first year. Plus doesn’t it figure out her wingleader is her enemy Xaden and she is very attracted to him and starts to feel things for him even though she tries to fight it with no help.

Violet’s squad leader is Dain Aetos, he has been her best friend since she was five years old but now he tries to make decisions for her without her permission. Luckily she does make some close friends and they help give her some of the strength and protection she needs. The problem with that is they could die or be eliminated by a dragon's fire or from a dangerous maneuver tomorrow!

This book is beyond brilliant and one of the best books I ever read! It was both awe-inspiring and mind-blowing! If you love romance and fantasy you don’t not want to miss this exhilarating read! Absolutely brilliant as it made me feel so many things, as I both laughed and I cried and many other feelings too! I could not help but root for Violet who was given the nickname Violence who is also very smart and beautiful and I never thought I would be so emotional over a dragon either. A book I definitely highly recommend.

I just loved this phenomenal book so much! I am looking forward to the next book in this series Iron Flame, which is 895 pages long. I am also looking forward to the third book in this series, Onyx Storm which I already pre-ordered. This book comes out on January 21, 2025. Yes, I am already hooked on this series. It is very addictive and definitely explosive, that absolutely grips you by the heart! A book readers positively don’t want to miss!

[felixcloud6288]

Higurashi: Festival Accompanying Chapter 16

Back in Massacre chapter 17, Takano said there are powers in Tokyo who want to see Tokyo fail. And we're seeing some of that now that Nomura is here.

I'm going to take what Nomura says with a grain of salt. She's ultimately trying to manipulate Takano so we can't guarantee anything she says is actually true. In particular, she says the new board in Tokyo wants to discontinue Takano's research because they disagree with it and she brings up wanting to continue Koizumi's legacy.

Remember that under Koizumi's influence, Hinamizawa Syndrome research was directed toward military use. And Takano's thesis went as far as assuming the possibility of human thought being controlled by parasites.

The "logical" conclusion I see is this research could lead to developing mass mind-control.

But anyway, Nomura is an obviously evil person with evil intents. It's absolutely creepy how much she read Takano like a book, but then again she probably didn't need to do much work to figure Takano out. If she really did talk with Koizumi about why he was funding Takano's research and if she knew about her outburst during the meeting last chapter, it probably wasn't difficult to realize Takano is only doing all this to make the people who mocked her grandfather's research acknowledge it as true.

And while we don't hear Nomura's suggestion, we can know exactly what it was. Emergency Manual 34 already exists as it was mentioned in chapter 12. Tokyo ultimately wants to eradicate Hinamizawa Syndrome and act as if it never existed. But invoking Emergency Manual 34 will force Tokyo to have to enact a FAR greater coverup which will be the cause of speculations, conspiracies, and policies for at least 20 years.

And while I'd assume Takano already is a hobby occult writer, she probably slipped some of her writings into all the myth that will surround the Great Hinamizawa Disaster as some way to include a little bit of the true reason for everything into it.

Keiichi has moved into the village and he's getting a look at the school.

Keiichi and his family moved to Hinamizawa after Keiichi had assaulted children with a model gun and shot one girl in the eye. And now he's going to be in a class with children around the same age as that girl.

Chie asked that he set a good example for them as he will be the oldest boy in the class. Keiichi was very awkward in agreeing to that, but he does genuinely want to be a good role model going forward.

I wish I could tell who this is supposed to be. Is she a magical girl, a music idol, or just a character someone drew?

The VN contains a few instances where it mentions things that don't exist in 1983. From @8bitsupervillain's playthrough of the VNs, I found screenshots mentioning Cardcaptor Sakura (renamed as Card Master Sakura) and the end of the Cold War. Cardcaptor Sakura began publication in 1996 while the Cold War ended in 1991.

But anyway, the first thing that popped into my mind was Madoka from Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which is extra insane because it first aired in 2011, a year after this chapter was first published.

I wonder if Keiichi had a similar scenario his father had when meeting Hanyu and Rika. We have no confirmation that this scene of them introducing themselves to him happens in every timeline.

The moment I read "You're the six on the die, Keiichi, sir." I started trying to assign characters to each value and realized none of Rika's preparations include Shion at all.

There was something about how Hanyu's horns are drawn that's been bugging me and I finally figured it out with this panel.

The way Karin Suzuragi seems to draw Hanyu's head is by drawing Hanyu's hair and then placing the horns on top of her head. As a result, Hanyu's hair doesn't flow around her horns.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Takano's reaction to god rolling ones on her is to flip the table to make the dice become a six. And everything about Operation Apocalypse is that plus more. Not only does she intend to flip the table once more, but she's decided to directly fight against who she believes is responsible for all her struggles.

Although really, she's taking all her frustration out on a local deity who really has nothing to do with anything. Really, Takano should want to befriend Oyashiro since Oyashiro is so deeply tied to Hinamizawa.

Takano said an absolute will shall decide an absolute future. Her will is to make herself and her grandfather into gods. The means do not matter. She previously tried to accomplish this through her research, but now she's decided to achieve godhood by becoming Oyashiro.

And since her approach requires her to oppose god rather than have god's support, she decided to give back the one thing god ever gave her.

I think it's safe to assume Takano offered a ten yen coin to the Furude shrine in every timeline. And in every other timeline, the offering was accepted. So Takano could say she owed nothing to god.

But this time, her offering was rejected. Oyashiro has declared that she will oppose Takano's plan from even the first step.

NIPA BEAM!!!

back

Spoiler Discussion

This is pure speculation on my part, but I want to throw out the possibility that Nomura may be behind even more than what we're given. There's no proof, but I kinda wonder if she may have had Koizumi assassinated. His cause of death was a sudden heart attack. Sure, he's old and it's not unusual for someone his age to die like that, but the Wild Dogs previously killed Rika's father in a way that makes it look like he died from a heart attack.

And the Wild Dogs were hired by Koizumi, but they're secretly working under Nomura during Operation Apocalypse. Maybe Nomura decided to get rid of Koizumi so she could make a power-grab that failed. Or maybe things are going exactly as intended and she just wants to sow as much chaos as possible.

[abricadabra]

pressing her lips together, jane’s head shakes.  “she may be king, but odin is still… odin.  if all the other valkyrie warriors hadn’t been killed by hela, they would still answer to him, like all of asgard did.  even thor and his brother.  even frigga.”  he is an unfortunately prominent figure, in the grand scheme of everything.  for death to be no obstacle in his ability to pull strings… “even from beyond the grave, he kind of runs the show.”

it didn’t have to be that way, though.  it still doesn’t.  she had tried to tell thor, so many years ago, what a great leader he would be if only he stopped resisting it —— but he hadn’t wanted the throne.  hadn’t wanted to surpass his father like she knows he could.  that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.

slowly, her hand lowers back to her side.  it isn’t lost on her, the lack of invitation.  it isn’t that rey feels closed off or cold —— but there is a tension between them.  however slight it might be, it’s noticeable enough.  jane forces a smile in an attempt to dispel it.

“i’ll pass it along.”  better to focus on the lighter aspects of all she’s shared as opposed to the mystery surrounding odin’s decision.  starting off by upsetting rey would not be a great way to come back from the dead (if it can be called that; she is technically still dead, but existing in both dimensions… everything is so strange).  “assuming he isn’t listening right now and already knows.”

awkwardly —— and it pains her that even she can hear it —— she laughs.  it tapers off unnaturally, and jane exhales quietly, glancing out the window behind her.  it’s a sunny day in new asgard; she sees more than just asgardians out in the street, enjoying the warm weather.  humans, aliens, aesir alike.  when she smiles again, it’s genuine.  are they all excited, she wonders, about the idea of thor being a father?  are they looking forward to it becoming a reality?  he was always so loved, and in those last couple of days of life, it seemed like they’d taken to rey, as well.

“she takes after her parents,” jane muses absently, eyes still trained on the outside.  “but the human body is resilient, and can withstand more than you’d expect.  plus, you’re in good hands.  it’s natural to worry, but — you’ll be fine.”  she’s isn’t just hopeful about it; she’s absolutely certain.

brunnhilde hadn’t told her everything before she passed, and there is no one else, she supposes, the knowledge could have come from.  jane had no idea being a valkyrie meant being able to see someone’s death — a moment that has yet to happen.  rey will be just fine.

she spots thor in the street, then, looking around with a squint and his hands on his hips.  a passing asgardian is stopped, and she hears through the open window: “have you seen rey?  i lost sight of her.”  with a huff, and an unpleasant little squirm of nerves, she straightens and finally meets the other’s eyes.  “he’s looking for you.  i guess we should head out there.”

     rey remains quiet, taking the information in. jane surely wouldn't like to hear what her first thought is, which is that what she describes sounds almost too good to be TRUE. in rey's experience, deals like that often are. thor's father wants something from jane, and she is either unaware, or knows and doesn't care. rey's not sure she can blame her for that. who wouldn't take the chance she's been given?

lately she's thought much about wanting more time for herself, too. for thor, for their daughter. who's to say she wouldn't take odin up on such a gilded offer herself? still, she's cautious. "why would that be? valkyrie is the king of asgard, now. shouldn't you be in service to HER?"

glancing out the window over jane's shoulder, rey takes a moment to contemplate how thor will react. he will be happy to see jane, she thinks. he will be PLEASED she has been given another new adventure. but his feelings about his father are complicated -- they always have been. they are something he doesn't speak much about, something he still simultaneously dwells on and buries. what he might think of odin's scheming from the afterlife, she can only guess. perhaps thor will give him the benefit of the doubt. perhaps he will believe odin's offer is unconditional.

even jane doesn't quite seem to believe that, though. rey nods slowly. "well... i suppose time will reveal his intentions. i don't blame you for welcoming the opportunity. i know what you mean." she has felt such a sensation before. over and over again, life has given her a confirmation she is where she's meant to be. jane deserves the SAME, however it comes to find her.

the mention of heimdall brings forth a genuine smile. "thank you," rey murmurs. "please, give him all our love. i hope he knows how very MISSED he is. i hope he enjoys seeing thor speak of him so often... and so fondly." knowing he knows of their daughter sends warmth washing over her. rey rests her own hand on her bump, pointedly not inviting jane any closer. "we're thrilled," she says honestly. "although she is already quite strong; she moves around a lot. and no one seems to know what birthing an asgardian-human demigod-jedi will be like, so i suppose that keeps me up at night, a bit."

[time-to-write-and-suffer]

Hey didn't you have a wip based around donkeyskin? I think that was you at least! If it is please tell us about your idea I'm insanely interested in hearing about it! If that wasn't you disregard this. 😅

It was me, yes! Unfortunately I haven't worked on it for years, so there's not much else to tell that isn't on the blog already :')

Here's the post with the most info, but there are some, uh, hypothetical changes I made in the years since. Hypothetical because I haven't been writing anything down lmao. Just vibes. (Ironically I've been more interested in the Swan Lake retelling set in the same world, except Rothbart is the good guy, because I'm obnoxious.)

General WIP notes/ideas under the cut. For those who are not familiar with the Donkeyskin fairy tale, (attempted) rape and incest cw!!

Rosamund Trevelyan, princess of [Kingdom]

Super hot, uncomfortably hot

Mom dies, warning her Dad's kinda fucked up and she should get outta there fast like super fast

Dad declares that nobody is good enough for Rosamund and that nobody else is hot enough for him, so marrying his daughter makes the most sense (a lot of monologues about him worrying about his legacy, Rosamund's """womb""" and being super racist against elves, which is what we in the business call foreshadowing)

Nobles are terrified he might kill them so they go along with it despite thinking it's very icky, but also they kinda get it because Rosamund is just so hot

Rosamund asks for a bunch of nigh-impossible magical stuff, which the King provides because he's just very desperate for incest

Including the "taming" of a hyperintelligent magical deer who Rosamund quietly convinces to help her and it takes pity on her and sticks around for her escape

King attempts to assault his daughter one night, and she escapes prematurely on her magical deer buddy, but is gravely wounded (lands on a wrought iron fence from a two-story drop) and expects to bleed out in the forest

Is found by a crusty old man who nurses her back to health

Not sure if he teaches Rosamund any magic or not, the initial idea was that she'd become a druid and have magic that required her to carve runes into her skin and "tarnishing" her pretty face with permanent scarring, but I felt that her not having magic + keeping her pretty face but being scared of showing it would be more in line with the themes I personally find interesting of the original fairy tale

Plus I like underpowered MCs now because it forces me to use my brain more

Old man dies a few months later, and Rosamund isn't a farmer and can't live on her own, but she's learned how to cook and clean and take care of the old man so she figures she can probably become a maid

She's more practical and survival-oriented so she doesn't mind working despite being royalty

She's so terrified of being found by her father that she looks for work in elf country, disguised as a random human farmer lady

Is quickly found by a quirky half-elf who needs an assistant

Quirky half-elf turns out to be the assistant to Prince Castan Oleander, who's the middle son out of three brothers, but elves don't follow human lines of succession so him being both sensible and popular compared to his brothers means he'll likely inherit the throne

(His younger brother Hyacinth is a beautiful pink-haired useless sack of shit and probably will be the Beast in my BatB/East of the Sun, West of the Moon retelling)

Castan is suspicious of Rosamund but has more important shit to do than care about surprisingly eloquent human maids

The initial idea with the druid stuff was that Rosamund would convince Castan to teach her magic and that's how they'd develop a relationship, so I haven't been able to replace that with anything yet aside from maybe him finding her exploring the castle library and reading shit that's way beyond a farmer's knowledge and them bonding over their love of enunciating

Rosamund is very attracted to Castan because he's a hot, poisonous (literally) purple-haired elf, but she can also tell he has zero attraction to her plain alter ego

Plus the trauma and fear of getting sexual with a man

However, she can't help herself and sheds her disguise for a couple of balls, using the magic dress her father got her to show up as a mysterious noblewoman

Castan is immediately smitten with her

Rosamund doesn't know how she feels about this because on one hand yay! He finds me attractive! But on the other hand, duh, of course he does. He thinks I'm hotter as a personality-less mysterious woman than as a know-it-all strict and sensible bookworm, who has so much in common with him but isn't hot enough to tingle his jigglies

Castan forces the truth out eventually and is also very conflicted because Betrayal but also I Fucked Up So Hard Without Realizing but also The Two Most Interesting Women I've Met Are One And The Same! Jackpot!

Oh um and Rosamund's cover has just been blown, and in order to avoid war with [Kingdom] she must return home within a certain amount of time oh no the drama!!

Uuuh that's about it? It's kind of a simple story at its core but it's got some very heavy themes (despite my flippant summary) and a lot of things I'd need to get just right, hence why I haven't worked on it.

I do still love the characters (Rosamund is my most dignified and least girlbossy girlboss sad wet blorbo and I love her) and the fairytale and I want to write it eventually, but I also want to, ya know ... Do it Right.

Hope this satisfied your curiosity, Nonny! And thank you for asking! ^^