#husband!jimmy woo

[captainsophiestark]

Sleight of Hand

Jimmy Woo x Reader

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Written for Fictober 2024!

Fandom: Marvel

Day Twenty-Four Prompt: "You didn't do anything wrong!"

Summary: Jimmy gets a little help from his spouse to master the card trick he saw Scott Lang do.

Word Count: 1,118

Category: Fluff

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

She cautiously stepped around the corner, coming face to face with...

I froze, my attention drifting from the book in my hands at a weird noise behind me. It sounded like some kind of fluttering, but when I didn't hear it again, I went back to my book.

...coming face to face with-

"Shoot!"

I set my book down. The noise had come again, along with something light hitting our hardwood floors before my husband, Jimmy Woo, huffed. I marked the page in my book, set it down, then turned around to look over the back of the couch.

I frowned when I saw Jimmy with one empty hand out in front of him, like he was waiting for a handshake from someone invisible. He hadn't noticed me watching him, and after a moment of intense concentration, he jerked his arm quickly like he was trying to shake something out of his sleeve. Lo and behold, a card fell out. He tried to catch it between his fingers, but he missed, and instead it fluttered to the floor.

"Argh!"

"Honey." Jimmy's head snapped up to look at me as soon as I spoke. "What are you doing?"

"It's this card trick thing... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your reading."

I shook my head, turning on the couch to face him more fully.

"It's okay. What card trick thing?"

"You remember that guy I told you about? Scott Lang?"

"The ant guy? Yeah."

"Well, the last time I checked in on him, he did this card trick where he just made a card appear in his hand, like out of nowhere. It was actually really cool, so... I've been trying to teach myself how to do it."

I stared at Jimmy for a minute, processing. He stared back. Finally, I smiled.

"Okay. Let me help."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I stood from the couch, strecthing a little before walking around to join my husband. "I need a break from all the bad decisions the main character's making in my book, anyway. Let's learn some couples closeup magic."

*****************

I'd assumed it would be a fairly easy trick to learn. Don't ask me why, but I just figured it would take us maybe an hour, tops, and we'd both be making cards appear and disappear like pros. That was very much not how it went.

A few hours after I'd first noticed Jimmy practicing, we were still watching videos and trying to do the trick slowly, quickly, and everything in between with no luck. Technically, we were doing a little better than when Jimmy had first started, but the trick was still escaping both of us.

I watched carefully as Jimmy tried to do it again, and to me, it looked perfect. But the card still dropped to the floor instead of sliding smoothly into his hand.

Jimmy sighed, shoulders slumping as he looked up at me.

"What did I do wrong?"

"You didn't do anything wrong! That should've worked! What the fuck is it with this trick?"

Jimmy laughed, shaking his head as he leaned over to pick up the card again.

"I'm glad you decided to help me. I was getting pretty frustrated, but seeing how much more frustrated it's making you is weirdly making me calm."

I huffed and crossed my arms. "Glad I could help. But seriously, I feel like you're doing everything right. I can't tell what's wrong, or why it's not working."

"It has to be the finger movement," he said, setting up the card again. "I'm fumbling it when I'm obviously not supposed to."

"Frankly, I'm not convinced it's possible to pull this trick off without fumbling the card. Are you sure that Lang guy wasn't messing with you?"

Jimmy laughed again. "Pretty sure, but I guess you never know."

I just sighed as Jimmy prepared to try the trick again. I watched, but not as carefully as before. I'd been looking for some clue as to where we were going wrong for hours now, and hadn't been able to find it. Maybe it was just going to take a lot more practice, no matter how we tried to do it.

Jimmy took a deep breath, then extended his hand. I didn't see the card move, but suddenly, it appeared in his hand. Nowhere near the floor. Exactly how the trick was supposed to work.

"OH MY GOD!" I shouted, jumping up in the air the moment the shock wore off. Jimmy grinned, laughing in disbelief as he stared at the card in his hand. I didn't give him much time to savor it before tackling him with a hug. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY DID IT!"

Jimmy laughed again, absolutely joyous, as he wrapped his arms around me. I pulled back a moment later, just enough to kiss him. After all that work and frustration over the past few hours, it felt amazing to see him pull off the trick perfectly.

After a moment, the two of us calmed down slightly, taking a step apart even though the gigantic grins were still on our faces. Jimmy's had more of a lopsided tilt to it, which made my heart race.

"...Do you think we're celebrating this a little too much?" he asked. I immediately shook my head.

"Hell no we're not. Do it again."

Jimmy took a deep breath, resetting the card and actually starting with his hand by his side this time. He lifted it, and in one smooth motion, the card appeared in his hand, extended towards me. I actually screamed, jumping up and down, and after a moment Jimmy joined me.

I pulled Jimmy in for another kiss, and when we finally broke apart, he was still giddy. He did the trick another few times in a row, and although he stumbled a little on one of the moves, the card still didn't hit the ground. He was getting smoother every time.

"This calls for a celebratory dinner," I decided. "I'll get something started, you grab some wine. We toast to the defeat of the magic trick that thought it could defeat us."

Jimmy laughed. "Sounds like a plan to me. Thanks for all your help. I can't wait to use that trick the next time I need to give somebody one of my cards."

"You know I'm always here for you, including and especially for stuff like this. No card trick, random guy you see at work, or Avengers-level threat can stop us."

"Damn right."

Jimmy grinned at me, and I leaned in for one last kiss before heading to the kitchen. Sometimes the smaller, less important victories felt the best, and one of my favorite things about my amazing husband was how willing he was to celebrate those moments with me.

Although, after all the time we'd spent today, this victory felt far from small.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen @misshale21

Marvel Taglist: @valkyriepirate @infinetlyforgotten @sagesmelts @gaychaosgremlin

[xmenred2022]

Tbh from what stills and clips I’ve seen of quantomania is seems like it should’ve been a fantastic four movie. But god what I would give for a movie where eric o’Grady steals the suit for a crime spree and despite years of being a figure of semi-public good the plot grapples with how scott (an ex-con) is still feeling the effects of the carceral system and eternal suspicion from law enforcement

I’m not the biggest fantastic four fan but I don’t think you’re wrong! The entire time I watched quantumania I was like “this is not an antman movie this is a star wars movie” but from what I know the ff are all about exploring strange new worlds. And kang for that matter. Also YES you get it you see my vision. Scott getting blamed for Eric’s crimes while Eric (law enforcement officer) gets off scot free (no pun intended) and it might be a fun way to explore Scott stealing the suit to be with his daughter versus Eric stealing the suit just because he wanted to have a power fantasy

[slashmagpie]

“Here’s what happened, okay. We were on a date with Clebert—”

“It’s not a date.”

“—and, and Etho walks by and she, she looks at him, she’s like whoa.”

“She just catcalls him, like woohoo!”

“Woo!”

“I’m out, yeah!”

“You got it wrong, me and Etho are besties! We’re not—we’re not—it’s not romantic.”

They’re not sure why it feels so important. 

It’s not that Cleo has ever really—well, that’s not quite—they’ve never argued about it before, is the thing. Like—with Bdubs. With Bdubs, right, people had—they’d assumed. It’s what people do. Even Scott, and Scott is—Scott is Scott. He knows about these sorts of things. And even he…

“Bdubs is your ride or die, Jimmy’s mine, he’s my husband, and he’s with them, so I’m kind of—but I don’t ever want to fight you.”

“If Bdubs betrays me—if our husbands die, yeah?”

Husband. Because that was the word Scott had been using, for Jimmy, and Bdubs had been Cleo’s Jimmy, in a way, so it had—it had made sense. Use the same words for the same thing. And then—being married is kind of a funny bit, isn’t it? So later, when Bdubs and Impulse had been lying to them—

“Bdubs, I know we’re divorced and you’re with Impulse now, but did you really think you could lie to me?”

And whilst Cleo’s not sure they put too much stock in Ren’s claims as to what he’d caught Bdubs and Impulse doing in the woods, they know that whatever those two had going on wasn’t quite the same. They’d said it was, but they hadn’t really meant it. Not really. Marriage—marriage is a funny bit, really, is all it is. 

After all, last season, with Etho—being divorced is also a funny bit. 

“I’m not calling you wife.”

“You can call me Cleo!”

He still doesn’t call them wife. Still calls them Cleo. Calls them bestie, now, too, ironic grin beneath his mask. Etho’s not too big on PDA, either, which is—nice. Not that Cleo doesn’t like it, it’s just—

“It’s platonic,” they insist to Tango, to Skizz, and see their eyes sparkle. They don’t get it. They don’t get it, and it makes Cleo’s skin crawl, because—

Cleo’s loyal, is the thing. When they say ride or die, when they say allies, when they say husband or soulmate or my boys—they mean it. If you’re theirs, you’re theirs, and that means everything. 

But it doesn’t mean—

Romance is a funny bit. It’s a like a costume, really. Pull it on, pull it off, kiss and hold hands and sleep in the same bed and say your vows for the fun of it. Then shrug it off at the end of the day and go back to being friends. There’s no—they don’t feel any of those sappy things, really. It’s not them. Sure, Cleo loves people, loves their friends, but not—like that. They don’t want anything to do with any of that. The aesthetic of it, the performance of it, the drama of it? They’ll take it. But they’ll leave the rest. The mushy, goopy, complicated feelings soup part of it—that’s not theirs. Other people can deal with that. Cleo will be off dealing with better things.

It’s—it’s like being a woman, really, in that Cleo doesn’t really mind that people see them that way—plays into it, really, loves the aesthetic, has fun with the performance—but they don’t really feel it. And they don’t mind that other people don’t exactly understand—

Until they step too close, say something Cleo really doesn’t like the sound of, and then they’re snapping, “I’m not a woman,” with such force it makes the perpetrator flinch.

It’s the same thing, this, Tango and Skizz stepping too close to their toes, getting in their personal space, and it bubbles up out of them before they can stop it. It’s platonic. We’re platonic. And the fact that other people aren’t seeing that—

It itches. Prickles. Stifles. Hugs their bones like an ill-fitting coat.

It’s one thing to wear a costume, to put on a show—but Cleo will not be stuffed into a suit without their permission and put up on a stage to read a script they never had any intention of performing. 

“We’re just besties, we’re not in a romantic relationship,” they tell Tango. He blinks at them, and they can see that the words don’t quite go in—

It itches.

Maybe if Cleo makes being besties the new bit, the itch will stop bothering them quite so much.

[andyling]

Heyyyyy so session 5 sure was a time SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

BOOGEYMAN 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO WITH TANGO OF THE TEK

Team Ties really woke up and chose violence this session

were they even trying to kill anyone? i think they just wanted chaos

TANGO BOOGEY TWICE IN A ROW HELL YEAH LET’S GO

TEAM BEST FLASHBACKS TEAM BEST FLASHBACKS 

soooo Team Bites hmmm, let’s see how long that lasts

Skizz I’m sorry, but Bdubs betrayed y’all before in Last Life and he sure as hell will do it again

EVERYONE STEALS THE MEAN GILLS’ SUGARCANE LMAO

I think the whole reason Team Ties blew up the bread bridge was because they had too much TNT and all of them are obsessed with blowing shit up

Like they didn’t go for anyone’s actual bases, they weren’t trying to destroy resources, and they weren’t trying to kill anyone

motherfuckers just wanted to make things go boom

AND I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THAT WOO GO TEAM TIES

Tango’s toaster PSA caught me so off guard WHO GAVE HIM THAT IDEA?!?!? WHY IS HE LIKE THIS?!?!?

the fact that Tango had already accepted that their tower was gonna get destroyed, mans may be insane but he’s fair that’s for sure

awwwwww them chanting MVP to Etho is so sweet

tango’s the server resident professional warden wrangler now

good to know Tango still remembers every person that’s wronged him

TANGO FINALLY GOT REVENGE ON BDUBS FOR LAST LIFE HAHAHAHA WOOOOOOO ABOUT FUCKING TIME!!!! >:D

also Tango getting an effective trap out of tnt minecarts is character development, good for him! :D

soooo does Tango have the most time out of everyone on the server now?

team bites did not last long askdghajsghkjadkdsak

Nosy Neighbors and Team Ties becoming allies is not something I expected to happen, but it is very welcomed

Team Ties are actually pretty great to have as allies as long as you don’t spite them, then honey you got a big storm coming

THE SATISFACTION I FELT WHEN TANGO BROUGHT UP LAST LIFE TO BDUBS IS IMMESURABLE HELL YEAH BABY REVENGE IS SWEET

Jimmy “sad boi” Solidarity everyone

Love how Jimmy spends most of Limited Life acting as though he’s in a Let’s Play series

mans is in the middle of a death game and he’s like “Alright gang, today we’re getting sheep!”

gotta love how the title for “most antagonistic team on the server” keeps bouncing between the Bad Bois and Team Ties 

Flower Husbands and their never-ending divorce

bye bye bad bois bread bridge

why is Joel specifically blaming Tango akjfjhdkasghkadjs

it’s hilarious how they’re all questioning why Team Ties blew up the bread bridge when the actual answer is probably “they like blowing things up”

no thoughts, head empty, just boom boom

WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT GRIAN’S ALLIANCE WITH SKIZZ THAT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT IS IT STILL INTACT???

BRUH JIMMY IS SO EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO THAT FROG DO YOU HEAR HIS VOICE GODDAMN

awwww judge judy and executioner jumped to Jimmy that’s cute

PEARL NO

poor judge judy and executioner :(

Grian is so appalled at the carrot cake oh my gosh

GRIAN CALLING THE FROG CONFLICT A SIDE PLOT, THAT’S CANON

dude Grian is so done with everything 

the Bad Bois and the Clockers are family now, this family tree is wack

Scar you can’t call them Boomers when Bdubs was literally on a team called the Boomers on Hermitcraft with Impulse and Tango

AMAZING HOW THE BAD BOIS WENT INTO THE TIES BASE AND JOEL AND JIMMY HAD NO IDEA WHY

this is why we all think Grian’s gonna betray them

GRIAN’S SHEER PANIC WHEN GETTING ATTACKED BY THE ENDERMAN MY MAN WAS LOSING HIS MIND

everyone is so nonchalant about reds this season 

Zombiecleo watches her children make poor decisions for 40 minutes

Cleo packing snacks for Bdubs and Scar and then sending them to be supervised elsewhere is so funny

sending them to Etho was probably not a great idea though considering Team Ties need supervision themselves 

they don’t have any which is why they’re constantly going off the rails

LMAO CLEO OVERHEARD TEAM BITES ENTIRE CONVERSATION

I LOVE THE SUBTITLES THAT CLEO PUTS IN HER VIDEOS THEY’RE SO FUNNY

ooooooooh Bdubs is in troubleeeeee

it really does feel like he’s being scolded by his mother LMAO

Scar really decided to make up a whole ass holiday and not tell anyone else on the server except for his family and only to give them presents

BDUBS WHAT DO YOU MEAN ETHO STARTED SMOKING HELLO???

love how aware Cleo is of whatever the fuck is going on with Bdubs and Etho throughout the life series

THE ENDERMAN ARE REALLY GOING OFF THIS SESSION

honestly i think Cleo dislikes Team Ties because of Etho and Etho specifically, like she seems pretty chill with Tango

“if you’re gonna be an absent father could you at least be absent” GOES SO HARD HOLY SHIT CLEO GO OFF QUEEN

Bdubs is so close to being disowned by his family

CLEO AND SCAR KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT BDUBS IS ABOUT TO BE BOOGEY KILLED AND SAYING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HIM

whelp Team Bites is dead

THE AWKWARD FAMILY DINNER OH MY FUCKING GOD

“Bdubs, how was your day?” Etho asks fully aware that his teammate blew Bdubs up because of Boogey and a two season long grudge

“This episode is weirder than the one with the fever” IT REALLY IS

ETHO DIDN’T EVEN FLINCH WHEN BDUBS PLACED THAT TNT DOWN MANS JUST CARRYING ON AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED

“wth is this dynamic?” YOU TELL ME CLEO YOU’RE THE ONE PLAYING INTO IT DON’T ACT LIKE YOU AREN’T

mom and dad are fighting

WHY ARE THEY PLAYING CATCH WITH A TNT MINECART WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM 

“sometimes children only learn the hard way” THEY NEVER LEARN

i don’t even think Etho was trying to kill them, all of them are just insane

this is the reason that skizzle didn’t go red first, THIS IS THE REASON

Etho is definitely losing the custody battle

CLEO’S PANIC UPON HEARING SCAR’S ABOUT TO GO RED

i’m getting flashbacks with “the red army rises” goddammit

what the fuck is wrong with Skizz

In conclusion, next session is gonna be WILD

[seraphtrevs]

i am NOT a chuck hater, i love his character, but like. what did rebecca ever see in him? he can be passionate but only about the law and he's pretty self absorbed. he loves her, we can see that, but i imagine it took sooo much for him to eventually let her into his life like that

I think it's important to keep in mind that we're mostly seeing chuck at his absolute worst. We see a glimpse of how Chuck could turn on charm when he goes to HHM to convince Mesa Verde to stay with them. It takes everything out of him, but he hasn't always been this ill

I'm not saying he was ever as sicially adept as jimmy - in fact, chuck knows he isn't and is jealous. But being a partner in a successful law firm means he needs to woo clients, and everyone seems to remember him very fondly. When he's dreaming of being well with Dr. Clea Duvall, he talks about wanting to host parties at his home. He wasn't a hermit

I imagine he and rebecca had a lot in common - I'm willing to bet that they met because chuck was a big fan of classical music and saw her perform. Maybe he was a patron. They both love to cook gormet meals. Chuck is very intelligent and well-read, so I'm sure he can talk about many interesting subjects beyond the law. Maybe she likes a good debate.

Their divorce was amicable, done for practical reasons because her career had too much travel and long-distance just didn't work for them. She's still very fond of him. That seems to suggest he was a good husband

Like I said, the Chuck we see - paranoid, isolated, rigid - is someone suffering from profound untreated mental illness, which didn't manifest itself until just before the show begins. He's a shadow of who he used to be.

[blocksruinedme]

Another self indulgent fic author poll!

(Because I can be self indulgent and pretentious about anything I want, especially the fic I work so hard on! It gives me energy to write more, I'm an extrovert always seeking attention and validation.)

It's been 6 months since the crossover started, and thus 6 months of me publishing fic, woo! Sadly I didn't hit 100k published, just 87k of mcyt and 6k of "mysterious other", but I can write 110k+ in the next six months. :)

So let's look to the future! I have a pretty booked schedule of fic I have committed to myself to get out (wips, series, etc) but there will always be one shots that pop in sometimes.

very happy for replies or rb tags or asks or anything! I write fast but I get tired, knowing people care more than "a polite nod for a fic that was good enough to finish) truly motivates me!

[georgeharrisonshairymoustache]

@lasalebete more sio infodumping now wahoo *crowd goes fucking silent*

May as well start from the beginning...

To put some backstory context in, her family is from a long line of Coruscentian (the kingdoms name) Emperors since like....the year 625 (clarification that this is a fictional place and ADs and BCs aren't actually determined just yet cuz we haven't needed to do anything abt that) (and extra clarification that the current year in The Realghms is approx 1380).

If you were to imagine Sio race-wise then she's mixing between a slight middle-eastern (maternal) and a white Mediterranean (paternal)

Basically imagine pretty much Turkish and Greece

Cuz like...her ginger hair is SO common in Turkey and Greeceeeeeee (my only defense is that her features are entirely based on me I'm so sorry)

Reference:

(Shit drawing but ah well)

*ehem* anyway

Her dad, Demetrius (*insert surname that I won't use for personal reasons here*) was a traumatised war veteran who likely fought in the same war that Sio fought in when she was 16 (99 Years War). He came home veryyyyy traumatised, he was depressed, a heavy drinkerrrr, VERY victim-blaming, especially on Sio. Sio's Siblings, Zehraei and Bayezid were infinitely more favoured than her, even though Bayezid died of an illness when he was still little. As the years went on Demetrius went on to continue abusing her (via manipulation and guilt tripping), whereas her mother, Aylinei, seemed to be completely oblivious to his behaviour (I think that she knew all along but since she prefered Zehraei to Sio, and that she didn't want to be hurt by her husband, then she just never stood up for it HAHA GREAT MUM INNIT) !!!

Fast forward to 1361. VERYYYY important year for Sio and Elias (some reasons I won't indulge in yet cuz the essays would be far too long). In the capital city that they both resided in, called Annen, was sieged by the opposition army (Malusians) from the 99 Years War. During this time, Zehraei is brutally murdered by a soldier, and the family is destraught (obviously, icl Zehraei was actually a good person unlike many blursed characters). Her parents (and grandfather Orpheus) are SO destraught, not only because they're favourite daughter had died but also because this meant that all they could now rely on to continue their family tree was from this odd little teen who never found any interest in men whatsoever (oh how untrue that is mwahahah).

Then. Some bomb (or sumn like that) went off on the street while the family was fleeing the city, which knocked down the city watchtower. Fortunately, Sio was quite a bit further than them, having not noticed the large falling tower noises going on in the background since she was trying to calm herself via Stairway to Heaven playing in her headphones (long story as to why she's got access to both modern technology and led zeppelin that I won't go into yet).

So yeah, basically. Errrr maybe sound effects might put gjbe a better insight as to what happened to the rest of the family afterwsrds

*WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE* *RUBBLE RUBBLE CRUMBLE CRUMBLE* *WHAP BANG WHOP WOO* *WEEEEE* *CRASH BAM WHAP ZAP LED ZEP* *falling tower noises*

*CRASH BANG WAP CARDI. B.* *body-crushing noises*

dw, sio noticed her family had all just been killed by that watchtower eventually, however she was a little disappointed that she had to pause jimmy page's guitar solo nearing the end of the song (cuz it's banging).

After all this she is hella sad tho she's also a bit relieved they're dead cuz now she has some actual freedom (elias probably helped her get grounded numerous times for like, time travelling).

Then there's a bit of a gap in timelines from where her family dies and where she signs up for the army BUT THATS FOR ANOTHER ESSAY CUZ GODAMN THAT WAR GOT SOME IMPORTANT SHIT

(I AM SO SORRY THIS WAS NOT MEANT TO BE THIS LONG)

[all-that-glitters-is-goldfish]

you get to ride one FBI agent's face who are you picking

Jimmy Woo from the MCU. Man is husband material.

[aparticularbandit]

okay so i got three likes so here’s your cast of characters for harximoff au (cast possible to change):

agatha harkness as harold hill

wanda maximoff as marian paroo

billy and tommy maximoff as winthrop paroo and amaryllis i’m mixing and matching elements of these two characters with billy and tommy and ditching the amaryllis crush on winthrop subplot

pietro maximoff as mrs. paroo we’re doing some reinterpreting of the paroo family here, and instead of having a mother who is very interested in her “has never been on a date” daughter getting together with “someone c’mon marian your standards are so stinking high”, wanda gets a twin brother who is very interested in his “it’s been years please move on from your dead husband, you can do it, c’mon, it’s healthy” sister getting together with “someone look the traveling saleswoman isn’t even going to be here for a while c’mon”

claire debella as mayor shinn

birdie jay as eulalie mackecknie shinn we are mixing and matching elements of mayor shinn and his wife here; it’ll make sense when we get there

rose solano/clara ruvelle as tommy djilas

luisa alver as zaneeta shinn look luisa as claire and birdie’s daughter LET ME HAVE THIS

darcy lewis as marcellus washburn

jimmy woo and jane foster as members of the school board also creative reinterpretation here let me have this

tyler hayward as charlie cowell

there is a lot of creative reinterpretations going on here with some of the characters and playing around with things, but like. for the purposes of this general au.  i think this is who i’m going with for these different characters.

[floretissogay]

my ao3:

through it all (explicit) (james/regulus oneshot, trans regulus, modern no-magic au, first time, fluff and smut): James and Regulus are ready to take their relationship a step further. They're testing their boundaries and re-discovering each other in new ways.

the box under the bed (unrated) (platonic james & sirius oneshot, canon-divergence, grief, sirius finds out about jegulus, mourning): “We were in love,” James said softly. “Not that we ever admitted it out loud. Fuck, it was terrifying. It was awful. It was the best thing I ever had.”

rock bottom (teen and up) (barty/evan texting fic, multi chapter, modern no magic au, slytherin skittles, humour): Evan dyes his hair. Barty finally admits to liking him. Not to Evan himself, of course. Feelings are so embarassing. [COMPLETE]

favours for a friend (explicit) (remus/sirius, fwb james/sirius, 3 chapters, smut, hogwarts, misunderstandings): Sirius comes out to James because he wants to talk about his crush on Remus. James... also talks about his crush on Remus? They proceed to do each other a favour. [COMPLETE]

married and in love! (mature) (remus/sirius, fleur/tonks, multi chapter, nb tonks, modern no magic au, fake marriage): Remus navigates his new relationship, hoping his marriage isn't a dealbreaker. Tonks tries to woo the waitress who works at the cafe where they meet their husband's new boyfriend. [ONGOING]

#fic rec (explicit) (james/regulus, multi chapter, online relationship, tumblr mutuals to lovers, ao3 fanfiction writers, modern no magic au): Regulus (aka Leo, aka denebulus) writes long, angsty fics on AO3. James (aka Jimmy, aka prongsyboy) writes smutty one shots. [ONGOING]

straight girls (teen and up) (mary/lily, dorcas/marlene, one shot, 5+1, hogwarts, fluff and humour): Marlene and Dorcas were fascinated and confused by whatever the fuck Mary and Lily had going on. Straight girls had shockingly intimate friendships, apparently.

[colleenmurphy]

Oh so so tempted to do a 'tall dark mysterious Gypsy King Mr. Kennedy comes to town and basically sweeps Colleen Murphy off her feet much to Dave Sullivan's charging and Jimmy Murphy's bemusement. Jimmy's #TeamKennedy

Dave Sullivan is a bumbling ex trying to woo Colleen back after that badly botched breakup she thought was a proposal. He tracks her down in a tiny Florida town working the fishing charters and is impressed with the life she's carved for herself. Maybe she doesn't need him after all? Then he stops into the Lamplighter Cove Inn and meets Bruce Briggs. Her new husband. Lamplight This, Sullivan Verse

Bobby 'Big Tig' Trager drops himself into Col's life after she suffers a big ole heartbreak of Sailor Sully dumping her in California. Tig turns her world on it's head and ends up doing time on a charges due to his ties to The Club. Col's left with a daughter, Libby, to raise. They're weathering storms they never thought they'd have to. Jasper Kennedy pops up when Col's at her absolute lowest and helps her see that the changing world isn't such scary place when you have the love and support that you need. Three Little Birds / Boys Cry Tough verses

[fuckyeahdarcylewis]

The Last Guy To Leave

by PumpkinDoodles

Darcy realizes she and her husband have the opposite attitude about parties.

Words: 648, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F

Characters: Darcy Lewis, Sam Wilson, Brock Rumlow, Joaquín Torres, Jimmy Woo

Relationships: Darcy Lewis/Brock Rumlow

Additional Tags: TripleAgent!Rumlow, Old Married Couple, Established Relationship

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[thankyousirmayihaveanother]

Listen, if we're insisting on Scottie being the focal character, My Perfect Remake establishes Madeleine, Midge and Judy as three different types of female relationships with men.

You've got Madeleine, an older woman whose life presumably has revolved around a man for some time and eventually that gets her killed.

You've got Midge, A PROBABLE LESBIAN, who has her own life without a man and is about as fulfilled as a person can be, Scottie is her best friend but because she's not a viable romantic option for him he severely undervalues the relationship and it's easy for him to ignore and push aside.

And then you have Judy, an up-and-coming actress from Little Old Kansas, two or three years into her endeavor to be discovered, not making much progress, and feeling less and less confident every day. The industry is dominated by men and it feels like the only way to get her big break is getting male approval, never mind that she plain and simply wants to be liked.

None of these women are the Madeleine that Scottie is chasing. That Madeleine is a ghost. We can maybe call her Carlotta, since whoever Carlotta was has been lost to the Spooky Legend of female hysteria she left behind. Carlotta is a damsel in emotional distress and Scottie is just the man to save her. Carlotta is a riddle that only Scottie can solve.

Madeleine's husband approaches Judy with a well-paying "acting gig", complimenting her good looks and acting skills and wooing her into something sketchy she might have otherwise shied away from. Maybe he even has connections that could help her if she does well with this job. If she suspects something sinister is happening, she ignores her gut instincts because clearly this Man In Charge knows what he's doing and she does not. This is the first instance of Judy's identity being written over by a man.

When Judy finally meets Scottie, he's swept away by her beauty and mystery. This is a kind of attention Judy's never experienced before. She's never felt the kind of singular fixation that Scottie places on her, and it feels like what she imagines fame is, but more importantly it feels like being wanted at all. After two or three years of being told no, of feeling like there's nothing about her anyone really wants, Scottie is OBSESSED with her. And she knows he's not obsessed with Judy, she knows he's obsessed with Madeleine (Carlotta), but he's still looking at HER.

By this point (probably long before now), we love Judy and we feel her pain. We see her dilemma, but we know from the way that Scottie can't appreciate his relationship with Midge that he's absolutely not worth her time. Maybe it's not enough to call him the villain, the villain is still Madeleine's husband because he's the one orchestrating the murder, but he's kind of a piece of shit. Maybe he's young (younger than 1958 Jimmy Stewart certainly) and impulsive and we can forgive him for that, but we still don't really like him.

Madeleine's murder is a complete shock to Judy. She leaves Scottie to his panic attack on the staircase just in time to watch Madeleine's already dead body be pushed from the window onto the roof below. Madeleine's husband convinces her no one will believe her story if she tries to go to the police, so now she's forced to go back to being Judy again, only this time she's burdened with guilt and trauma and more convinced than ever that no one wants her.

And I mean the rest writes itself. Scottie's still obsessed with Carlotta, the literal ghost of the story, and when he finds Judy, she's already primed to discard her own identity in favor of becoming the woman Scottie wants her to be. It's literally what happens in the movie as-is, but we've seen her journey leading up to this and the horror is in watching her LITERALLY become possessed by Carlotta, the spirit of male projection.

Bonus points for forging even an in-passing relationship between Judy and Midge, giving Judy even the slightest glimpse into what her life could look like if she learned how to like herself independent of a man's opinion.

Double bonus points for even briefly establishing Madeleine as a jaded bitch of a wife who's simply making the best of her situation, outwardly strong but regretful that she spent her life on a man because it's what was expected of her. Her death is tragic not only because we love her smart mouth but also because she was clearly capable of so much more than her circumstances allowed for.

If we have to justify keeping the title Vertigo, giving Scottie his fear of heights, I don't actually think he should ever overcome that fear. He's not the protagonist here. He doesn't change because misogyny doesn't change. Maybe it's his fear of heights that accidentally gets Judy killed, panicking in a precarious moment and tossing her over. Tbh maybe Judy even loves high places, some sort of representation of her striving for fame and greater things.

IT'S ALL THERE 🤷

Vertigo actually sucked so bad I gotta make a vent post about it. If you love Vertigo and wanna get mad please don't hate read this, but if you love Vertigo and wanna discuss it in earnest I'm not gonna flame you lmao.

Like after I finished it I immediately looked up critical reviews about why it's a classic because I was so baffled I wanted someone to explain it to me. People talked about the cinematography (fair) the score (true) and the acting (deserved) and then the tiny little juicy nugget of the big twist, which I think is one of those mind benders that sticks in your brain and that's 100% understandable.

But the film didn't earn the twist!!! It was clunkily delivered and I can't see any foreshadowing in retrospect. There was about a third of a good movie in the last act but I wasn't any richer for watching the first two thirds.

Because it wasn't Scottie's story!!! He's not interesting, he's not dynamic, he's an observer, and an absolute shit one. It was Judy's story, Judy was always the most interesting character, and yet the majority of the movie is this echoing boring hollow where his inner life is supposed to go. And it doesn't feel intentional, it feels like I'm supposed to be compelled by his search for meaning and I'm fucking not. I'm compelled by Judy and the narrative is fucking not.

I think Hitchcock wrote complex women by accident by writing complex plots and putting women in them. I don't think there's any intentional motive written into Judy except suddenly and inexplicably falling in love with this non-person, but holy shit the feminist narrative buried in Judy written and written over by men until there's nothing left, of Madeleine wherever she was and what led to her end, of Midge and her art and her stupid pointless torch and unceremonious exit from the story, even of long dead Carlotta, a toy put away in a toy box for a man to play with when he wanted until he got tired of her. Like it's all THERE but it's almost entirely unexplored while I'm supposed to worry about this Fuckin Cop.

As a pissy little side note did you really name the movie after a plot point that didn't seem to have any clear thematic resonance

[andyling]

Okay now that I got my Tango rambling out of the way IT’S TIME FOR A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE

Jimmy Solidarity (aka the man sending team rancher fans into a collective breakdown, it’s me I'm team rancher fans)

stealth mission IMMEDIATELY failed

THE FACT THAT TANGO WAS OUT OF RANGE OF THE BOMB AND THEN RAN RIGHT UNDER IT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tango congratulating Jimmy on killing him (even though it was Joel) Team Ranchers is still alive guys I swear, NO ANGST HERE IT’S FINE GUYS

Love how Joel is being attacked and Grian is nowhere to be found because he’s too busy hunting down Impulse

jimmy shouting tango’s name and literally jumping towards him as he places tnt counts as a rancher moment 

either he’s stupid or he was confident tango wouldn’t blow him up, it’s probably the former but hey I choose how I interpret this chaos

JIMMY WAS SO CLOSE TO DYING HOLY SHIT 

JIMMY’S FUCKING FACE WHEN MARTYN STARTED ATTACKING ETHO

mans was literally just :O

“what I'm realizing right is that everyone is thirsty” did ya have to phrase it like that??? I can hear the out of context compilations clipping this

Jimmy sounding so shocked that Tango was fighting Martyn as if he didn’t just spend several minutes fending him off from killing Joel

oh uh, the flower husbands are fighting

SCOTT THROWING TANGO UNDER THE BUS BRUUUUUUUH

damn flower husbands enjoyers must be in absolute misery

anyways WOO JIMMY DIDN’T GO AFTER TANGO, GUYS THE RANCHERS ARE FINE WE DON’T NEED TO MAKE ANGST FROM THIS

JIMMY AND MARTYN FIGHTING TO KILL SCOTT AJFSJAKFHDSHJGK

love how Jimmy is not even trying to find Tango he’s just there watching this chaos unfold

“guys he’s not gonna respond” Jimmy you underestimate how dumb your rancher is, there is a reason I call both of you wet cats

WHY IS THERE REDSTONE BLOOD EVERYONE?????

JOEL JUST WENT SPLAT

the way jimmy hunches over closer to his mic when he’s whispering is so funny, he’s trying to hide irl 

ah yes, “the bad boys bread bridge bakery in the sky” my beloved

hey now Jimmy has been trying to protect Joel for half the session don’t kick him out, I mean he failed but at least he was trying

ending the session with robbery, how wonderful

Grain

“looking tasty” aaaaand that’ going into the out of context compilation

JOEL SOUNDS SO DISTRAUGHT THAT HE KILLED CLEO

Grian seems to be extra manic this episode, I'm blaming that on the fact that he missed a session

the entire “definitely” bit is so stupid but I find it so funny

GRIAN WAS TRYING SO HARD TO GET IMPULSE AND ENDED UP DYING INSTEAD AJFHSAJFHDSSFKJSDGF

“normally this is last episode behavior” I mean last session was last episode behavior too I think this season has just made everyone crazy

DUDE GRIAN WAS SO SURE THAT TNT MINECART FAILED AND THEN HE GOT A TRIPLE KILL

HE ALMOST KNOCKED HIMSELF OFF THE PLATFORM IN HIS SHOCK

oh my god the yellow hoard is even funnier from their perspective

the pufferfish plays are insane goddamn

THE TANGO CHASE IS EVEN FUNNIER FROM GRIAN’S POV OH MY GOD SERIOUSLY HOW DID THEY NOT CATCH HIM

THEY JUST KEEP CALLING HIM AND HE RESPONDS FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE IN THE FUNNIEST VOICE

“How about we just kill him for fun now?” SCAR NO

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE’S A WARDEN NEARBY HELLO?!??!?!

tango just has a 6th sense for wardens now

awwwwww grian’s sharing in order to help skizz (pity totem is still totem)

someone is gonna trap those ender-porters I just know it

THAT WAS SUCH A WASTE OF A TOTEM 

MARTYN INTHELITTLEWOOD EVERYBODY

the mean gills chatting on their little island resort really contrasts how badly the rest of this session is gonna go

WELL DAMN SCOTT SMAJOR

THE FACT THAT MARTYN SAW THE TNT MINECART AND FUCKING BOOKED IT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HE WAS SO CLOSE TO DYING

Bdubs running to Etho for protection is hilarious in every POV

the bread bois and team ties have a fast travel to each other . . . we’ll see how that works out (please become allies please please please)

LOVE HOW MARTYN ACKNOWLEDGES THE OUT OF CONTEXT VIDEOS NOW AFJKHSAJKGHDKSGKH

MARTYN ON HIS PSYCHO ARC OH MY FUCKING GOD

MARTYN’S DECISION TO TURN ON ETHO WAS SO QUICK AND IT’S SO OBVIOUS HERE HE JUST LOOPED AROUND AND STABBED HIM

Martyn didn’t even realize Tango was still trying to kill him lmao

THE PUFFERFISH DIED IN THE EXPLOSION OH NO

poor scar stood in the wrong place at the wrong time

Etho trying desperately to get people to leave Tango and Impulse alone

MARTYN WAS SO FAR AWAY HOW DID THAT TNT MINECART KILL HIM HOLY SHIT WHAT IS THE RANGE ON THOSE THINGS?!?!?!

god Martyn is just having an awful time trying to stay alive this session

DUDE THE SCRAMBLE TO SEE WHO WOULD KILL SCOTT FIRST IS WAY MORE INTENSE FROM MARTYN’S POV FUCKING HELL

bruh Martyn really teasing us all with actual lore 

So uh, yeah that session was bonkers SEE Y’ALL NEXT WEEK

[scribbling-dragon]

Shifting Perspective

Chapter 23

Summary:

A decision

(AO3 Link)

(Masterpost)

(5,362 words)

Jimmy stumbles a few times on their return, his feet catching on the cobbled ground and sending both of them stumbling forward, both of them tripping over their own feet. He laughs every time it happens, though it’s barely a small huff of air that makes its way past his lips as he pulls Jimmy back upright, the two of them rebalancing themselves for the third time in the past ten minutes.

"Do you think they're still awake?" He asks, quiet and wary of the silent town around them, and Jimmy glances at him, just out of the corner of his eyes, before he drops them back down to the ground, focusing on the cobbles that keep tripping the two of them up.

"Probably." He does an awkward half-shrug which loosens his grip on Jimmy’s shoulders slightly, and Jimmy’s foot seems to catch on another cobble as he lurches forward, leaving Scott to pull him upright again. "Why?"

He doesn't reply for a minute, allowing the silence to hang in the air as they meander along, pressed close to buildings and slipping between the shadows. "I don't particularly want to see them again." He settles on, and the words feel like thorns in his throat as he murmurs them, painful to merely admit.

Jimmy stops, and he's the one that stumbles this time, attempting to take another step forward when Jimmy's stopped. "They're going to apologise to you." He states, eyes hard as he meets his own. "They're going to, and if they don't…"

"What could you realistically do if they don't?"

"There's nothing I can do, but there's certainly something Lizzie could probably do, or Pixl."

"Because they did a lot earlier." He scoffs, taking another step forward, relieved when Jimmy follows along, resting more of his weight against him.

"Again, I'm certain fWhip would have roasted the flesh clean off our bodies if we intervened. He was not happy."

"Really? I couldn't tell."

"Don't be like that." Jimmy nudges him in the ribs, and he buckles, squirming away from where he had poked him. Jimmy grins, but he doesn't attempt to poke him again, the two of them continuing their lopsided march forwards. The street around them opens up into the square again, and when he looks over, half-hopeful, the lights of the house are still on, and he can see shadows flickering over the window, interrupting the golden glow being cast over the street.

"I don't suppose you'd let me just disappear and pretend you didn't find me?" He asks, only slightly hopeful as he turns to look at Jimmy. The other simply raises an eyebrow, before nudging both of them forward, towards the steps of the house. He sighs, wings flicking nervously behind him as he watches a shadow flash across the window, the golden light spilling forth being obstructed for a moment.

"No." Jimmy sets his foot on the first step, and it creaks beneath his weight, the old boards bending under their feet as they make their slow way up the steps. He almost expects clouds of dust to billow up towards their faces, and choke them. Or at least for a few spiders to scuttle free from the decaying boards. None do, but he shudders anyway as small legs seem to creep over the back of his neck.

Jimmy startles when the door slams open, and he flinches too, bouncing off the wall behind it with a crack. He grabs Scott's arm, hand tightening in the fabric of his shirt and threatening to rip it if he doesn't at least attempt to catch him. He grabs him quickly, pulling him back to his feet, steadying him with both hands hovering over his arms, ghosting over the bare skin there. Their eyes meet for a moment, and they continue to stare at each other. Jimmy's hands loosen their grip on his shirt slightly, material bunched between his fingers.

Someone in the doorway coughs, and he looks over at them with wide eyes. Pixl is stood in the doorway with Pearl peering over his shoulder, her wide eyes flashing slightly in the moonlight. "Nice to see you two here." She grins, pulling Pixl back from where he stands. He seems reluctant to go, legs refusing to move for a moment before Pearl yanks at him again, pulling him further into the house.

He continues to stare at them, eyes slightly glassy, as though he’s not truly seeing them, and a half-fastened chest plate hanging from one shoulder. Pixl’s shoulder slumps with the weight of it, but he either doesn't notice it or doesn't care. He frowns at it, watching as heavy enchantments ripple across its surface, clashing with each other as they attempt to swirl in different directions. Multiple enchantments. "Any reason for the armour?" He asks, helping Jimmy up the final step and into the doorway.

Pearl stares at him a little longer than Jimmy, and it makes him feel self conscious as he stands in the doorway, staring back at her as she seems to assess him with her eyes. She snaps her own away when they meet his, coughing slightly and humming. She shares a look with Pixl as she shuts the door, the click of the latch silencing the conversation in the room. "There's been a few developments since your, uh, departure."

He stares at her for a moment longer, eyes narrowing and watching as she shifts beneath his gaze, eyes focusing everywhere but on him now, as though reluctant to continue assessing him as she had been before. "What kind of developments?" He manages reluctance to know making the words harder to force out; he’s ignoring the heads that are turning towards him and the way their focused eyes make his skin itch.

"We have a slight problem." Pixl pulls at Pearl’s shoulder, pulling her backwards, nudging her further into the house with a careful hand. She takes the opportunity quickly and retreats, eyes averted from him the whole time, careful to not let her gaze land on him. "A God shaped problem, if you will."

"I would really prefer it if we could just get to the point." He encourages, "Tell me what the problem is, Pix."

"They did it." Joel bursts out, and all eyes turn to him. "Xornoth released the Gods again somehow, and we thought you were the reason for it. And apparently you're not, which means they used something or someone else to get them back." He doesn't cower back, meeting his eyes with an even gaze. He shrugs a little, already kitted out in his armour. The enchantments on his own are equally heavy, a deep and shimmering purple.

"I'm sorry." He feels his mind physically buffer, struggling to process what Joel had said, "The Gods are what?"

"Back." fWhip regards him with a cold look. "I would've thought you'd be better at hearing with such giant ears."

He opens his mouth to retaliate, leftover anger and spite from the argument earlier quickly rising to the surface. Jimmy nudges him, and he shuts his mouth again with a click, settling for a glare in fWhip’s direction, returning his cold look with an even colder one of his own.

“Now is not the time to be starting this again.” Pixl’s voice seems to crackle as he speaks, and he watches as a few sparks seem to generate from his skin, jumping off in several different directions. He shivers away from the few that hit him, feeling the sparks spread out across his skin in an uncomfortable way that only serves to remind him of small creatures scuttling across his skin. “We need to be focusing on the fact that the Gods are back, there’s nothing we can do about that currently, yet Scott’s still standing in front of us.”

“Unless he is in on their plan and this is just an elaborate cover-up.” Joey muses, looking between him and fWhip with a grin that promises nothing but trouble. “What was it that would be used to resummon the Gods? Latent magic from his abilities? Or would it be something else, because it cannot just be blood, surely, otherwise they would have grabbed the first person they came across.”

“Latent magic’s one way to put it.” Pixl bobs his head a little, nodding a few times. “That’s essentially what it is.”

“Then,” he pauses, grin spreading a little more as he looks back to him, “Surely Xornoth could have used something else? I can't help but notice we’re missing two of our magic users from our ranks, and if latent magic is something needed…I'm just saying.” He shrugs, looking awfully pleased with himself for what he’s just thought up. “They have quite a lot of it currently.”

“Scott.” He swallows, turning to face fWhip. “Now’s your last chance to come clean about this whole affair, are you involved or not?”

He closes his eyes, even as his heart picks up, and his hands shake slightly, fuelled by anxiety and adrenaline. He clenches them into fists, hoping Jimmy can't feel the way he’s tensing up beneath his hold. “fWhip.” He keeps his voice as level as possible, though a few people in the room recoil anyway. “What possible motive would I have for bringing back the Gods? What reason would I have for using your sister in it? Hm? Because let’s pretend, just for a minute or two, or however long it takes for you to understand this, that this is all my fault, and that I am to blame for everything that’s currently happening, seeing as you’re so set on imaginary scenarios.”

“I'm sure she’s said something to you.” He spits. “Something small several years ago that you took offence to. Or maybe a build-up of petty comments that have grated on your nerves over several years until all you want to do is simply remove her from the picture.” He watches as fWhip’s hands curl into fists too, though he doesn't take a step forward, remaining at a distance from him.

“You sound as though you're speaking from experience.” He tips his head slightly to the side, grinning at the annoyance that flashes over fWhip’s face. He can see why this would be so much fun to the other. “Tell me, is there someone here who has offended and wronged you with petty slights over several years? Maybe a century or so?”

fWhip does nothing but growl at him, and he continues to grin at him, watching as his face slowly gets more and more red by the second, quickly matching the scarf he’s wearing. He’s not sure whether it’s from embarrassment or anger, but it’s equally as amusing either way.

“Use your words.” He coaxes. “We need to understand you.”

“It’s you.” fWhip manages. “You constantly look down on other people, you pick at every one of their flaws until it feels as though you've been pulled apart at the seams and you're staring at our inner workings. You unpick every single person to see how they tick, like they're a machine that can be understood and utilised.”

“I'm sure that’s what every other emperor here does.” He tilts his head the other way now, slightly confused. Allies are only there for personal gain, it’s all in the interest of their own empires and he’s certain they all knew that. “An ally or political friendship is for personal gain, and gain for their empire as well. You can't be a good emperor without knowing how your opponents and allies tick. So, why does it bother you so much that I do it?”

“Because you're not like the rest of us.” fWhip hisses, eyes flashing, a few sparks flying from the ground at his feet, the boards there threatening to burst into flames if they don't cool this argument down, at least a little. “You're less than us, you're not something that deserves to be within an empire, let alone on the throne of one.”

He regards him for a moment, looking him up and down and hoping he can feel the way he’s being unpicked at the seams this time. He hopes he can feel the way he’s evaluating him and sorting through his innerworkings, and he apparently can, as he’s taking a step back, hands half-raised in a defensive stance that would be effective if it weren't so weak in such obvious areas. His fingers tremble as he continues to stare at him, pushing as much of his cold fury into his eyes, his glare, as possible.

“Scott,” Jimmy tugs on his arm, and he looks to him, “You're making it a bit cold in here.” He stares at him for a moment longer, feeling the way his hands burn against his arms more than usual, and his gold bracers feel like ice against his wrists. He breathes out, looking away from Jimmy’s eyes as the room seems to flood with warmth again. It’s slightly uncomfortable, even Jimmy’s warm hands against his arms feel as though they're melting his flesh from how warm they are. He doesn't move to shrug him off, simply staring at the floor and recollecting his thoughts for a few moments. He sorts and re-orders them as he stands there, ignoring the way the room stares at him, obviously waiting for his next response.

He meets fWhip’s eyes again, and he looks frightened this time, more than a little scared as he watches him with eyes that betray every thought he’s having. Teaching him to read every intention within a person’s eyes, the scheme behind their eyes, might be the only useful thing his parents have done for him. He allows himself a small, wry smile, if only to watch fWhip’s eyes widen a fraction more at the grin he directs at him.

“I would suggest keeping the light show on the downlow,” he says, “It’s not incredibly threatening when it’s coming from such a weak fae. All it really does is tell us how easily you would be to beat in a fight. I'm sure we don't want a situation like that on our hands right now.”

He watches as fWhip bristles a little, even as the words feel sour on his tongue, and he’s left feeling slightly out of place amongst the crowd that has formed around them, penning them in on every side. He breathes in again, feeling as more warmth re-enters the room, curling around the ten of them. He sighs a few seconds later, and eyes focus closer on him. “I wouldn't suggest heading to the fight without me, unless you plan on executing a stealth mission. In which I would also suggest bringing me with you.”

“And why would we need you?” Pearl rests her scythe against her shoulder, cocking an eyebrow at him. “You don't seem to have any weapons on you.”

“Not currently. And I doubt you could size up against Xornoth if they decide they want to be a dragon.”

“So…what? Our only reason to bring you is because you might be able to beat Xornoth for us?” fWhip frowns, casting his eyes down towards the floor instead of at him, his displeasure at the idea etched into every feature on his face. “How do we know you won't just get yourself killed?”

“Pardon?” He blinks at fWhip, and the man seems to ready himself before raising his head to meet his eyes again.

“How do we know you won't just get yourself killed.” He repeats. “You've been turning your head throughout every one of our interactions, keeping all of us very clearly on your right. Maybe you're right about emperors needing to know the way their enemies tick, and I'm rather certain I've just found your weak point.” fWhip grins a little, and he can feel the grim satisfaction behind his smile as he steps closer, head tilting to the side as he presses close to him.

“And what would that be?” He pretends he doesn't feel his heart going faster, only increasing in tempo as fWhip continues to crowd him. He ignores Jimmy completely, even as he leans forward, muttering something in the man’s ear that simply makes him shake his head.

“I do believe you've got some kind of impaired vision.” fWhip moves around to his left, and he pulls Jimmy a little closer to himself as fWhip passes by him. “Possibly complete blindness based on the severity of that lovely little scar you've earned yourself.” He sees fWhip move from the corner of his eye, and he shudders away from the motion, swallowing. He feels faintly sick as he looks away, eyes scanning the room.

The other emperors are watching with varying degrees of interest or outrage. Pixl looks particularly annoyed, followed closely by Joel. For some reason. Jimmy snaps at fWhip, and the words sound slightly distorted as he continues to stare around the room. He’s certain his act is obvious, even as he refuses to meet the eyes of anyone else.

“Right.” Joel steps forward, and fWhip pauses in whatever he was saying. “I'm sure we’re all a little tired right now, maybe a bit annoyed with each other. But we really, really do not need to be doing this right now.”

“And what say do you have on this?” fWhip moves back into his line of sight. “Become an expert overnight?”

“Just last night.” Joel waves his hand, and the dismissal seems to irritate fWhip, at least a little. “We know where your sister is being kept. Probably. We didn't actually see her, we would’ve gotten her out if we had. But the doors of the cells were just a part of the wall. It’s pure luck that we managed to find these two.”

“And how do you propose we find Gem and Sausage then?”

“We wait for Xornoth to make a move. Which we won’t be getting if we continue arguing like this. They're obviously on the move already, we’ve had a personal visit from a God ourselves, and yet you're standing here, squabbling with Scott like a child.” Joel flings a hand in his direction. “You have no proof for the accusations that you're throwing at him, easily dismissing the scar I'm rather certain was given to him by Sausage.”

“We didn't know it was Scott at the time.” fWhip crosses his arms. “We didn't think there would be a shapeshifter as an emperor.”

“That doesn't make it better. You burned a brand into his shoulder - sorry about that by the way,” Joel looks at him for a moment. “You were out cold when Pixl treated it, but we all saw it anyway.”

“Again. We didn't know it was him at the time.”

“And that makes it better?” Joel asks. “Because if it was some random person you had pulled in off the street that would have made all the atrocities done okay?”

fWhip falters for a moment, and when he looks at him this time, his eyes are missing the mild hatred he had grown used to. “I don't see what difference this makes.”

“The difference is, we are standing here, listening to you being a child, when we could have very easily left to go find your sister over an hour ago. We have to deal with the fucking Gods now because of your time wasting. If we had actually done something, this might not be happening at all.”

Pixl pulls Joel back a little as he looks like he’s going to continue. “That’s enough.” He pats his shoulder. “We don't want to waste more time with another argument. I'm sure fWhip has a lot of things to think about now, hm?”

fWhip stares at Pixl for a moment, obviously weighing up his options, before he nods.

“I’d suggest we continue getting ready, then.”

The bustle begins again, hesitantly and slowly at first, as he helps Jimmy over to a chair for him to sit down in, sitting on the table beside him in one of the few clear spaces. Personally, he’d rather not sit on a blade of some kind. 

His legs rest across Jimmy’s lap, feet just brushing the ground on the other side, and Jimmy allows his head to rest against his chest after a few moments. The moment feels out of place, currently, watching as their friends prepare themselves for war around them as they simply sit and watch. He’s sure Jimmy’s gathered that he won't be much use in the fight if he can't walk, and the others seem to have realised this too, as they simply let him sit and watch as they sharpen weapons and fasten armour.

He doesn't miss their panicked whispers, eyes darting to him and Jimmy, though he can't tell who they're worried about. Likely Jimmy, he’s more of a liability this way, even though it feels wrong to call him such, but if he gets caught out he could easily be used as ransom for at least four of the people fighting, if not more. The proximity of Jimmy makes him feel warm, and he shifts a little closer, wings rustling across the table behind him. Jimmy doesn't protest the movement, simply leaning closer, watching the rest of the room with him.

Pixl’s watching them from across the room, hand hidden in the depths of his bag and watching them. His wrist flicks a few times, moving around in the depths of his satchel as though he’s looking for something. When he meets his eyes, he watches as Pixl frowns at him, before casting a look at Lizzie’s turned back and beginning to stride towards them.

He’s quick to approach, but he doesn't move his legs, simply watching as he walks towards them with a purpose, pulling a red bottle from within his bag, the liquid inside sloshing around. It looks too liquidy to be a potion, but he would recognise that red tint anywhere. He raises an eyebrow at Pixl when he stops in front of them, a silent question, and he nods in response.

He offers the potion to Jimmy. “It’s strength. I- I wouldn't normally do this,” he admits with a sigh, face twisting slightly, “But it’s not going to be good, whatever we’re going to face, and we need you walking. This won't heal you, there’s nothing I can really do for a twisted ankle with potions, but it will allow you to walk on it again.”

Jimmy stills hesitates before taking it from him, uncorking it cautiously and peering into the murky depths of the bottle. “Will this mean my ankle will be worse than it is now? After it wears off?”

Pixl grimaces. “Possibly. As I said, I wouldn't normally do this, but this situation seems a little more drastic, so, just.” He gestures, and Jimmy takes that as the best go-ahead he’s going to get. He tips it back, and he blinks, and the potion is gone, leaving Jimmy looking slightly shakier than before, a little more pale. He hands the bottle back to Pixl. He makes a disgusted face, swallowing as the presumably bitter taste coats his mouth. It’s a little amusing to watch, and he watches with a grin, even as Jimmy purposefully ignores him.

“We’re about to leave.” Pixl nods to the door. “We’re flying there, so you’ll either need to pull an elytra from somewhere or ask someone for a ride.”

“I'm fine with giving him another ride.” He butts in. “As long as Lizzie doesn't yell at me again.”

“I think she’ll have a few other things to be worrying about at the end.” Pixl laughs, though he does give Lizzie a worried look. She’s stood at the door, watching them with a carefully not-angry look, fingers tapping on her arm as she waits to leave. “Don't forget weapons and armour. We don't want to be undergeared for this fight.”

He hops from the table, shuddering his wings a little and returning them to their normal state, flexing them a few times to readjust to the feeling of bones in his wings again. He ignores the looks he receives from the other emperors, simply extending a hand to Jimmy. He doesn't need his assistance anymore, but Jimmy accepts it nonetheless, using it to pull himself to his feet.

“We don't have all day.” Pearl reminds. “We need to get going. Preferably now.”

“We heard you the first time.” He waves her off. “Go ahead if you're so worried, I'm sure I’ll catch up to you pretty quickly.”

“Even with the extra weight?”

“We’ll be fine.” It’s apparently all the persuasion she needs, as he exits the house, almost brimming with excitement for the fight that lies ahead. She swings her scythe around a few times, moonlight glinting off the blade before she slings it over her back, fastening it into place for their flight. There are several reasons he’s afraid of that woman, and most of them involve blades and/or her seemingly endless strength.

He’s quick to pull on a few pieces of armour, leaving a chestplate as it becomes obvious there aren't any modified ones to fit his wings through. It feels clunky on him, the feeling unfamiliar compared to his usual armour. The fit feels slightly off, but he doesn't grimace, aware of a few emperors still watching him.

“You ready to go?” He glances over to Jimmy as he picks up a dull netherite sword, testing it in his hands a few times to find the weight of it. 

“I suppose.”  Jimmy sounds reasonably nervous as he replies, and he glances at him for a moment, watching as he buckles the last piece of armour into place.

He nods, beginning to make his way to the door, and Jimmy follows, oddly far away from him after being tucked beneath his arm for so long. The few remaining emperors leave at that, and Pearl locks her door behind them, tucking the key under a plant pot, which completely defeats the point of locking her door in the first place.

He watches as Joey leaps into the air. Flashy in the way he spreads his wings out, ensuring they all see the full rainbow of his wings as he spins. He has a small, sneaking suspicion on who will be the one to give them away if they need to go on a stealth mission at any point.

“You've beaten your brother in a fight, right?” Jimmy asks, eyes nervous as he looks up into the sky, staring up at the emperors that are circling overhead.

“Not when we were children.” He grins, picking Jimmy up bridal style, allowing him to settle himself comfortably before even beginning to consider their takeoff point. Joey had simply leaped into the air, but he’s carrying someone and he doubts he can get the momentum needed to complete such a feat. He’d prefer not to embarrass himself in front of them, feeling their eyes on his back as they continue to circle overhead.

“That’s not incredibly encouraging.” Jimmy mutters, wrapping his arms a little more tightly around his neck.

“It’s not meant to be. It’s just truthful.”

He scrambles onto a hay bale, and the straw scrapes at his hands when he pulls himself up onto the next one with one arm until he’s high enough that he won't instantly hit the floor if this takeoff fails horrendously. He can already hear the impatient sighs and muttering from above, but ignores it in favour of taking a leap and flapping his wings and praying he doesn't embarrass himself in front of everyone else.

He doesn't, and the wind catches beneath his wings allowing him to float up to join the others with a few powerful beats of his wings. He settles in the air for a second, allowing the wind to whip around him, air displaced by his sudden appearance beside Joel. The man remains unfazed, watching him, before casting his eyes back in the direction they all seem to be looking in.

“Crystal Cliffs first?” He offers, and fWhip nods before shooting off in that direction, leaving them to be smothered by the ash and sparks of his rockets. He coughs a few times, inhaling before coughing again as more ash floods his mouth. Jimmy coughs too, before he ducks below the smog fWhip had left behind, shooting along just below the rest of the group as they begin to fire off rockets too, flying alongside each other, small showers of sparks falling around his shoulders.

He speeds up a little, tightening his hold on Jimmy slightly. He allows himself a few dips in the air, though he passes on the rolls because he’s rather certain Jimmy would be sick if he started spinning in midair, and he’d rather not show up to a fight with the aftermath of him vomiting. Even as the wind teases through his hair and tugs at his wings, tempting him to give in and break his resolve to allow himself a few tricks. He remains steady throughout their trip, mostly gliding as he conserves his energy for whatever they're going to be facing at the end of this.

The journey is shorter than he expected it to be, but it seems as though urgency has hastened all of them, as they arrive at a similar time, landing on a singular rooftop to survey the rest of the city. It’s completely still at this point in the night, entirely silent and absent of any life, or any movements that might even hint at life. And he continues to watch, trying to catch even a glimpse of a few lone guards they could potentially interrogate for information. It had apparently worked last time, and he’s tempted to see if he can be as effective as Lizzie apparently is with his tactics.

Yet the streets remain desolate, and the others seem to be realising this too, exchanging uneasy looks with each other. The silence is beginning to grate on his confidence, slowly shaving away at it and reducing it the longer he stares into the silent and empty city that’s normally bustling with life. Even at night, it’s never completely still. The static buzzes in his ears.

“Is it always this deserted at night?” He asks, though the question is stupid and the few scathing looks he receives for it is answer enough. He continues to survey the streets, hoping that maybe he’s just missed whoever is patrolling and that he’ll suddenly catch a glimpse of shimmering armour. Though, the longer he stares the quicker this hope dwindles, until it’s barely a glimmering spark.

“No.” Pearl shakes her head, leaning forward a little to peer down at the street below them. “It’s never this empty. There’s almost always guards posted to ensure the safety of the relics kept here, yet there’s no one around. It’s almost like they've completely disappeared.”

“Or they're not here.” He gestures around them. “Not sure if you've remembered this but there are eleven other empires they could be in.”

“But they were here yesterday.” Lizzie interrupts. “Where could they all have disappeared to within a day? Less than that, even.” She shakes her head. “There’s nowhere close enough for them to make the journey.”

“Where could they be then?” Katherine is looking more and more nervous as they continue to perch on the roof, casting her eyes around them as though she’s expecting someone to appear out of the darkness. “Because they're not here.”

He swallows, eyes drifting up the mountains ahead of them. “They might not be here, but there is somewhere relatively nearby that Xornoth definitely wants under their control.” Pixl looks at him, before following him gaze to the mountains and their craggy peaks.

“Rivendell.” He breathes, standing up straight and staring towards the cliffs. “How long is it on foot from here?” He asks, eyes hard as he turns to face him.

“Just over half a day. They’ll be at the walls by now, I’d presume. Though I'm sure Sorin will be doing everything they can to keep them back.”

“I’d hate to keep them waiting then.”