#i figured Hemlock would give us more reasons to hate them

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

here's a horrifying thought (mild spoilers for "Infiltration"):

something something identity has been one of the focal points of Crosshair's character and he confirmed that wiping one's identity away completely is part of the Clone X program.

Hemlock tried to destroy who Crosshair was completely after the poor guy was having an internal crisis for two whole seasons. I am not ok right now.

[waywardsou2]

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ General Bad Batch Head Canons ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Hunter

He was secretly always jealous of Cut getting to settle down, have a life, a family, getting away from all the war and bloodshed. Hunter had wanted that but never thought it was possible

Hunter cried, fully cried to himself the night after Crosshair, despite everything that had just happened on Kamino, had still chosen the Empire over his brothers. Despite all he had seen on the battlefield all of the people he had failed to save, nothing hurt more than losing his brother.

When he was young, and ever since then Hunter has only ever let his brothers trim his hair. And he helps them cut theirs too. Hunter is very particular about his hair being a certain length and usually only trims his hair a few inches at best.

Hunter's face tattoo is actually to cover a birthmark. His other brothers (not the batch) used to tease him about it when they were cadets. He eventually got the tattoo to cover it up. These days he regrets it and doesn't understand why he folded to their teasing but he's still happy with it anyway. He doesn't regret the tattoo perse more the reason he felt the need to get it in the first place

Wrecker

Wrecker got Lula from a kid he helped on Ryloth when the Separatists were attempting to invade the planet, he loved it and was very attached to the toy. But he knew how important it was to the kid and he kept it with him for years until he gave it to Omega. He thought it made sense to give it to her, a young kid he had helped gave it to him and now he had passed it on to the next kid who needed it

Wrecker used to place fake bombs or stink bombs under his brother's bunks as pranks. He was always so obvious whenever he was doing this because he would be over-eager and giggle to himself, but he did manage to jump his brothers a few times with the prank

When Wrecker was caught in a bombing accident that messed up his eye and scared his face, he had a hard time adjusting to the way he looked, he didn't recognize part of himself now. And he especially hated when his hair didn't grow back the same way, and because of that he decided to shave it all off and continue to keep his head bald

In addition to that I think that when Wrecker was younger, he had hair a similar length to Hunter, and he liked it, despite the Kaminoans telling him to cut it several times. He does miss his hair at times, but he does like it better without hair hindering him.

Tech

Techs goggles function the same as prescription glasses, he's actually far sighted, this is why his helmet was built to fit around his goggles because he basically cannot see without them

(less of a head canon more of a canon fact with my personal twist) Tech is the youngest of his brothers but he was the quickest to mature and grow, which he likes reminding them about constantly.

(this one is gonna hurt, sorry in advance) When he fell off of the rail car into the ravine below, he didn't instantly but have some very fatal wounds and wasn't far off, Hemlock and his men found him and Hemlock took his goggles from off of his dying body and left. Leaving his men to dispose of him (I don't know what my mind was thinking when I wrote this, I guess I just love angst too much)

Tech had feelings for Phee but he never knew if she was being polite or flirting with him. He never said anything about it to her or his brothers because he figured that there was never going to be a time for him to ever act on those feelings so he never did anything about them.

Echo

(keep in mind I haven't seen any pre Bad Batch content of Echo so some of this stuff might conflict with his canon)

When Echo got blown up and had to have his face reconstructed he was awake for most of the procedure because if he slept or if they induced him it wasn't likely that he would wake up again, especially considering all of the damage done to his body and brain.

(Idk why but this one is super random but just feels right to me) Echo really likes butterflies, he likes the delicacy and beauty that comes from the creature's existence, the first time he saw one he was taken aback and had stopped to admire it. His Commander scolded him for getting left behind at the time

Echo used to pick at his head implants, they made him really uncomfortable and self-conscious, and his brothers used to have to stop him from damaging them and endangering himself. It was a really big issue of his for a while.

Crosshair

Crosshair's tattoo is also a cover-up for a scar, it's the right side of the crosshair that touches his nose. That line is actually a healed over scar underneath. He thought considering his nickname that the tattoo wasn't a bad idea. He was also secretly just copying his big brother Hunter, not that he would ever admit that

This guy can nap anywhere, and I mean anywhere. He doesn't sleep so he naps when he can. In trees, standing up, in the cockpit literally any where.

Adding onto the head canon from before I think Crosshair would have insomnia. But as he would do he never told the Kaminoans because he didn't want them to "fix him"

Crosshair has a nervous/general tick where he chews on his lip, he used to chew it so often that he often had cuts all over them. In place of cutting up his lips he decided to try and alternative - toothpicks. This was a good way to hide it but to still be able to tick when he needed to, plus the toothpicks were easy to access because he could collect them from the mess hall on Kamino

I realised at the end that I hadn't written any for Omega. How dare I? I promise I'll upload some soon

Hope you enjoyed these! Tell me your head canons below!

[whos-orion]

Risk (3/4)

Summary: Omega and Hemlock are stranded in the middle of the Weyland jungle, and there’s only one way out. Work together. As Hunter and the rest of the Batch try to work through Omega’s loss, Omega discovers something truly, truly terrifying.

Word Count: 1861

Notes: haha guess what it’s not the last part!!! Maybe pt 4 will be the end maybe not I don’t really know!! Enjoy!! Also let me know in a reblog/reply if you would like to be on the tag list for pt 4!

Tag List: @twinsunstars @luzfeather

Part 1 Part 2

This was strange.

Omega was sitting in the middle of the Weyland Jungle, having survived a fall from the top of a mountain, next to Royce Hemlock. He was tending to his wounds, using a small medkit he kept on his person at all times. Of course he did. He was a doctor. An evil scientist, but a doctor nonetheless. He was applying bandages around the spot where Omega had shot him earlier. He finished and sighed, wincing as he turned his head towards Omega.

“…are you certain you don’t want me to take care of your leg?”

“Yes.” Omega replied firmly. Her left leg hurt badly, more so than everything else at least. But she didn’t want to give any kind of trust to Hemlock.

“It would be wise to let me do so. You appear to have landed on it. It is most likely broken—“

“Shut up.” Omega snapped. She didn’t feel like talking with him right now. Or ever, for that matter. Right now, she needed to figure out a way to get out of the jungle. Make it back to the mountain. There may still be a ship there for her to steal. Hemlock said a ship left shortly before she woke up, and that it was most likely her brothers. She didn’t trust him, but also wondered what reason he would have to lie. He probably wanted to live, too. Probably.

Omega sighed and moved some hair out of her face. She didn’t know what she was going to do. She couldn’t go anywhere at the moment, at least not without Hemlock. She grumbled and spoke to him.

“…do you have anything in that kit that could take these cuffs off?” She asked. Hemlock turned to her, his expression easing up a bit.

“No, I don’t. Even if I did, what makes you think I’d take them off? You’d run off and leave me to die.”

“I’d have a better chance of surviving. Both of us would.” She said, disdain in her voice. She didn’t want to work with him. She hated the very idea of it.

“Maybe so. But, at the moment, we must combine our efforts if we are to survive. This jungle is dangerous.” Hemlock said, overacting his surroundings. He was clearly worried about whatever was out there. Omega remembered her first escape from Tantiss, and the giant creature that had nearly attacked her and Crosshair. They were only able to get away because the Lurca hounds fended it off.

Omega didn’t like this. She didn’t like this at all. But…Hemlock, for once, was right. They couldn’t make it out of here alive in this state. Unless they worked together. Omega sighed and turned to look at Hemlock again.

“Do you…have any suggestions?” She was clearly unhappy to be asking him. But he had no reason to hurt her, at the moment.

“We need to cover ground. If we get back to the mountain, we can access my communicator and call for help.”

“You can call for help. I’m getting a ship and leaving.” Omega said. Hemlock grumbled and rubbed his temples.

“Your friends will have destroyed the rest of the ships. Or taken them all. Governor Tarkin is already on his way here, anyways. If we get to the mountain, we can wait for him there.” Hemlock said. He sighed and looked at Omega.

“You really think I’m going to let that happen? Let you take me back there when Imperials will be swarming the place? There’s bound to be another ship there, they can’t have taken them all.” She reasoned. There had to be a ship there. She was really hoping a ship was there. Otherwise…she didn’t know how she was going to get out.

“Fine,” Hemlock said firmly. “We can talk about that later. Right now, we need to get moving. If we wait any longer, it will be night before we get there, and then this place will be far more dangerous.” He moved to stand, then stopped. That strange look of concern was back on his face. “Can you walk?”

“Why do you care?” Omega gruffly asked. She pushed herself up and winced in pain as she felt her leg light up in agony. She nearly fell back down, but Hemlock caught her. She pushed away from him and stood on her own, putting most of her weight on her right leg.

“Because I don’t want you dying.” He replied plainly.

“Why? Because you don’t want to carry around my corpse?” Omega retorted. Hemlock rolled his eyes and sighed.

“It should be obvious enough by now, Omega. Use your senses.”

“Hmph. You think the Empire will let you continue with your work after this? You’re to blame for this destruction.”

“Your friends are to blame. I am indispensable. The Emperor will do anything to make sure his project is complete. As long as both of us are alive, I will be the most important man in the Empire. Besides the Emperor, of course.” Hemlock said. He stood up tall and looked towards the direction the mountain was in. “Let’s get moving.”

Hunter sat on the deck of his little hut on Pabu. He was looking out as the midday sun made the water shine. He sighed and leaned back on the bench. It had only been one rotation. One rotation since Tantiss. One rotation since the catwalk. One rotation since…Omega. Losing Omega. It hurt just to think about it. Wrecker had woken up just a few hours ago. Hunter hadn’t told him yet, but Wrecker was beginning to suspect something. It wasn’t that Hunter didn’t want him to know. He just couldn’t bring himself to say it. That would be admitting it, accepting it, knowing it. That she was gone. Gone. Dead. Hunter held his head in his hands, breathing deeply. She was gone.

Omega and Hemlock were making good time. They were nearly to the Lurca hound kennels, where they deemed the easiest access point was. Hemlock had explained the power was cut, so the ray shields shouldn’t be up. They could get in from there. Omega limped next to Hemlock as they walked through the thick jungle. Hemlock glanced over at her.

“…are you sure that—“

“Yes. Stop asking.” Omega quickly replied. She did not want his help. She wanted her brothers. She wanted to go home.

They walked a little further to a familiar clearing. Omega recognized it as the place where she and Crosshair had ended up on their first escape. She saw the tunnel where they had exited from as she and Hemlock approached it. Hemlock took the hand cuffed together with Omega and removed a panel from the outside structure. He fiddled with the wires for a moment, and the tunnel opened. He turned to her, his expression steely as ever.

“Omega. For once in your life, I’d like you to comply with my requests. We are going to head inside. We are going to head to my office. We are going to contact the Empire for help if Governor Tarkin has not already arrived. If there are ships left here, you are not going to take them. If you do escape, remember that I know how to find you. I know where you and your friends hide, and I will find you.” He spoke calmly, yet coldly. His eyes narrowed at Omega as she stood in silence. She nodded. She wasn’t going to do as he said, obviously, but she needed to get inside. And right now, the only way to do that was with him. The second she was separated from him, she would make her run for it. There had to be a ship. There had to be.

Hemlock and Omega entered the tunnel, crouching through the small space. Hemlock had been right, the ray shields were deactivated. They made it through with little to no problems. Though, Omega noticed several more concerned looks at her leg. It was still hurting badly. But she could make it out. She knew she could.

Hunter was standing outside of Shep’s house. Wrecker, Crosshair, Echo, and Shep were inside. He’d just told Wrecker what happened. Sort of. Either way, he wasn’t taking it well. Hunter had begun to speak, trying to get the words out, when he was interrupted. Crosshair had interjected before Hunter could say what happened, and he didn’t put what happened lightly.

“She’s dead.” He blurted out. “She’s dead and gone.” His voice broke as he spoke. Wrecker was silent for a moment, then began trying to deny it through tears. Hunter stood there silent as Wrecker practically begged for it to not be true. Crosshair was yelling at him, sobbing as well. Hunter had then left the house, standing outside where he was now. He could still hear Crosshair. Echo and Shep were trying to calm things down. Hunter stood outside, trying desperately to hold back tears. He had to be strong now. He had to keep the squad together. That was his job. That had always been his job. And he’d failed.

He had failed.

Omega and Hemlock walked through the deserted halls of Tantiss, now littered with the bodies of Stormtroopers and Clones alike. The two came to Hemlock’s office, which was dark and desolate. The doors whirred closed behind them and Hemlock locked them. The lights in the room were dim. There wasn’t much in the room. A small desk and chair, a raised table for examination, and a strange capsule on the wall to the right of the entrance. Omega couldn’t see what was in it.

Hemlock dragged Omega to the desk where he pulled out a small tool. He picked at the binders with it for a moment, and then they came loose.

“The door is locked. The vents are bolted to the wall. Do not try to escape, or you will face the consequences.” Hemlock said, not even looking at her. He placed the binders down on the desk and walked around to his chair. He sat down and booted up his communications device. Omega observed the room. It really was a sad little place. She walked over to the capsule on the wall. A small console was on the side of it. Omega checked to make sure Hemlock wasn’t looking at her. He was laser-focused on the comm. She turned back to the console and pressed the buttons to open it. The capsule front hissed air out, as it opened. Hemlock looked up as he noticed the noise. Omega waited for him to get up and scold her, drag her off, do something. He just softly smirked and turned back to the device. Something was wrong. Omega walked to the front of the capsule as it fully opened. Red lights lit up what was in it. Or rather who. Omega’s eyes widened in horror as she stared at the person inside, hooked up to wires and tubes. A heart monitor was attached to him, making that soft beeping noise that indicated a heartbeat. That indicated life. Omega felt a tear roll down her cheek as Tech slowly stirred and woke up.

Part 4

[queeniecook]

March 2

In the foyer of the Straud Mansion, Asa is having a friendly chat with James’ wife. He’s chatting animatedly about his past exploits.

“Ah yes, you should have seen President Lake’s face when I drained his precious wife in front of him only to turn her into one of us! I didn’t figure on her killing him for cheating on her later on. Which started the term of President Gradish…” Asa trails off.

The woman for her part feels disgust. Not that she’s hasn’t killed before but it has either been by accident or out of defending herself. Due to the way she was turned, she has a strong hatred for turning people against their will.

“I’ve turned many. There was the wife I mentioned, Wogan Hemlock, Beau Merrick….Cher, how do you think she looks so young? You, Elvira Slayer. She was a favorite.”  Asa continues to prattle on, not noticing the look on his companion’s face.

“What did you just say?!” The female vampire asks in a deathly tone.

Asa snaps out of his gibberish stupor and realizes what he let slip. “I turned Cher?”

Asa is quickly grabbed and swung around, he thinks she’ll hurl him into a nearby wall. For some reason, even though Asa is older – the female has always been stronger. Maybe it was due to her being so near death when she was turned.

To his surprise, the female sets him down.

“Please don’t tell James I told you.” Asa pleads. The warlock would likely light him on fire. Put him out and repeat the process hundreds of times.

“You didn’t bite me….” She whispers, not trying to think of the night her life as a human was robbed from her.

“That’s true. James brought you to me, I helped turn you by giving you a special potion…and lying with you in my coffin.” Asa explains.

The woman looks at him with seething hate. She grabs him and hurls him through the front doors before speeding off to find her husband.

“YOU LIED TO ME!!” She yells. James for his part is startled. His first reaction is to defend himself with his magic but he holds back his impulse. It will only make his wife angrier and possibly injure her.

“You’ll have to be more specific.” James states.

The female vampire is ready to drain him completely. Rage is coursing through her body along with feelings of betrayal. “Asa helped turn me?!”

James scowls, he really wonders why he keeps Asa around. “Yes. When I found you, I wasn’t sure what to do. I knew you were drying but I wanted to save you somehow. I’ve known Asa a long time. He helped turn you, but let me remind you, he and I are not the ones who put in that position in the first place.” He is telling the truth, somewhat. He did indeed want to save her but not for unselfish reasons.

His wife calms down a little. “You should have told me.” She says quietly, thoughts of the person truly responsible, in her eyes, usually fill her with blind rage. Today it’s sadness. She had trusted this person. Loved them even.

“You’re right and I’m sorry. I know it’s all very hard for you to talk and think about, I was trying to spare you.” Her husband tells her. She isn’t quite convinced he’s telling her the whole truth.James on the other hand considers the matter done with.

Sometime later, the woman is sitting down. Thinking about everything she’s learned this day. The Count sits down across from her. A very mynute part of his dead heart feels sorrow for the young one. She doesn’t even know who she is truly tied to.

“Liars are very good at what they do. One lie becomes another.” He states. He of course had heard the yelling and shouting. How could he not? Now, he sees this as his opportunity to stir the pot. Maybe this will get his unwanted guests out of his sanctuary.

The female across from his remains silent but watches him with interest. He knows he has a captive audience. “If he can keep something so important from you why can’t you give James a taste of his own medicine?”

[swearwolf-writes]

Merlin: Magic for the Masses

bcs magic isn't evil and this is my personal comfort fic

[CROSSPOSTED ON: AO3]

Season 1

AGES:

MERLIN:17-18

ARTHUR: 20-21

MORGANA: 22-23

GWEN: 17-18 (YOUNGER THAN MERLIN BY MERE MONTHS)

MORDRED: ~10-11

The Dragon’s Call

Valiant

The Mark of Nimue

Gwen finds out Merlin has magic (bcs he somehow knew her father was better) and keeps his secret

The Poisoned Chalice

Gwen sees the scrying lights

Lancelot

A Remedy to Cure All Ills

The Gates of Avalon

Merlin talks to Morgana about her seer abilities and promises to keep her secret

The Beginning of the End

Uses magic to save Mordred

Helps Arthur smuggle Mordred away

Excalibur

The Moment of Truth

The Labyrinth of Gedreth

To Kill the King

Le Morte D’Arthur

6 MONTHS PASS

Season 2

AGES:

MERLIN: 18-19

ARTHUR: 21-22

MORGANA: 23-24

GWEN: 18-19 (A FEW MONTHS YOUNGER THAN MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~11-12

The Curse of Cornelius Sigan

The Once and Future Queen

The Nightmare Begins

Tells Morgana of his own magic and now they’re boys

He can help her to an extent but they both need some help and so want to go to the druids together (bcs she’s got magic and he’s somehow Emrys although she doesn’t know the name yet) but he has his duties with Arthur and so she goes alone

Merlin find her with the druids during the panic in Camelot

They keep each other’s secrets (even if she doesn’t know Merlin is Emrys just yet)

Lancelot and Guinevere

Beauty and the Beast

Arthur sees Merlin with the mirror and asks him how he got the mirror down there without any rope

And voila the moron’s magic is revealed and it is then that he realises Merlin uses his magic to save his butt whoops (but he doesn’t tell Arthur about Morgana’s abilities bcs that’s not his secret to tell) 

But still doesn’t believe Merlin when he mentions that she’s a TROLL

The Witchfinder

Arthur kicked Merlin’s magic book under the bed and says it’s all clear bcs he doesn’t want anyone to be executed bcs no one got hurt with the magic and it was just a bit of fun

Merlin: “We know Aredian set Gaius up and then he’s coming after us-”

Arthur: “Us? Us who?”

Merlin: “I can’t say bcs that’s not my secret to tell”

Arthur: “If you know another sorcerer-”

Merlin: “Then what? What, you’ll execute them?”

Arthur: “I- I mean, no, but-”

Merlin: “But what? If it doesn’t matter with me then why should it matter if anyone has magic?”

The Sins of the Father

Morgana shows Merlin the bracelet Morgause gave her and he can feel the magic in it and lo and behold: she’s a sorceress too

Their mother, Lady Vivienne, was a sorceress and as was Morgause’s father that’s why Morgause was given to the High Priestess of the Old Religion but Uther thought that as Morgana had one non-magic parent, she would not develop abilities (he was wrong)

Merlin tells Arthur it was a lie to stop him killing his father but then reveals the truth once Arthur could not get to Uther and he also reasons that while it was Uther’s fault, no one was to blame as he didn’t know what’d happen (and was too headstrong to listen) and Nimue had no choice but to comply, on pain of death

The Lady of the Lake

Sweet Dreams

The Witch’s Quickening

Morgana tries to tell Merlin the plan but he stops her

Merlin: “I’m the future king’s manservant - plausible deniability is my only saviour right now. I will not aid you nor will I stop you but if I think innocents will get hurt, I will stop you.”

Morgana: “I would expect nothing else.”

Ignores Kilgharrah

Helps Mordred escape safely bcs he was innocent and brainwashed by a fanatic “I will not forget this”

Morgana tells him, after the fact, that she let the fanatic go bcs he just wanted to free magicfolk

They continue their training in private bcs insomnia via dragon

The Fires of Idirsholas

When Morgana sees Gwen sick, she tells Merlin about Morgause as soon as she gets the chance

Merlin tells Morgana about how she’s the source of the curse albeit unknowingly but the only way to save everyone is if she dies but they need to figure out how to save her so she took the hemlock and poisoned herself

It still hurt her bcs yk it’s poison so her telepathic pain was still a thing and Morgause came along and she took her after stopping the curse

The Last Dragonlord

1 YEAR PASSES

Season 3

AGES:

MERLIN: 20-21

ARTHUR: 23-24

MORGANA: 25-26

GWEN: 20-21 (A FEW MONTHS SHY OF MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~13-14

The Tears of Uther Pendragon 1

Merlin is so sorry that she had to poison herself and was so glad she was back

Arthur thinks there’s a thing between them meanwhile Morgana thinks there’s a thing between he and Arthur and Gwen

Morgana knocks the guard out and wipes his recent memories but she’s still not the best at her magic so he was just injured so Morgause spells him from afar to kill him bcs Morgana is not a murder even if she does hate Uther

Morgause: “You should have killed the guard”

Morgana: “I will not be like Uther and kill anyone who irritates me - he was in my way but simply following orders”

Morgause kidnaps Merlin but Morgana asks her not to kill him - he might just be a servant but he’s well-liked and popular - people will notice

The Tears of Uther Pendragon 2

Magic jokes with Arthur yay

Tense Mergana

Morgana: “You know I don’t wanna hurt you but this is to help our people so please don’t get in my way or whatever I have to do, I’ll do it.”

Merlin: “I’d expect nothing less”

More magic jokes with Arthur feat. armour

Morgana and Merlin fight in the crypt and use magic causing the ceiling to cave but Merlin saves her bcs “you’re my friend” but uses magic to break the staff while Morgana runs to safety and takes the credit to keep up appearances 

Morgana: “sorry Merlin but our people come before us and they deserve better”

Merlin: “if that’s the case then why should our legacy to better ourselves begin with the massacre of innocents?”

Morgana: “it may be wrong but what other beginning do we have other than the slaughter of our own people, our women and children? Innocents weren’t supposed to get hurt but that was Cenred’s army not ours - the skeletals were only supposed to attack knights fighting us”

Goblin’s Gold renamed Gnome’s Gold

Gaius: “Gnomes are mischievous but not always dangerous in nature so long as they get what they want: gold. They have often been known as guardians of treasures, of mines and of precious stones.”

Merlin tells Arthur and Morgana about gnome!Gaius (separately)

Gets his butt kicked by Arthur when he sees that Merlin didn’t undo the donkey curse immediately

Merlin: “sorcerer’s magic and gnome magic are two very different things- how was I supposed to know it wouldn’t fully do the trick-”

Gwaine

Arthur: “I could’ve beaten them on my own Merlin, I didn’t need your help-”

Merlin: “well if not mine then certainly Gwaine’s at least-”

Arthur: “shut up, Merlin”

The Crystal Cave

Morgause is the one who was supposed to kill Uther bcs Morgana doesn’t want to kill anyone

Arthur gets her jewellery instead of a knife bcs Merlin actually tells him the prophecy

Morgause fails lmao

When Morgause tries to kill Merlin, she steps in and ends up needing the infirmary so Morgause runs

When Morgana and Merlin find out her lineage, they tell Arthur bcs ‘wtf?? I have a sister? You’re older so ig you’re the heir??’

The Changeling

Merlin tells Gwen and Arthur about lil changeling Elena and they’re like wait he/she knows??

Elena is a respectable thembo by the end of it all

The Castle of Fyrien

Merlin uses magic to light a campfire in front of Morgana, Gwen and Arthur to which again there’s the whole wait you know stuff

Morgana: “and you’re okay with it? After everything Uther says about magic users?”

Arthur: “I know Merlin and he has a good heart even if he is an idiot. And the druid boy wasn’t evil either, he was just a child. Merlin’s shown me that magic isn’t evil but instead just a tool and it’s the person using it incorrectly that should be punished rather than magicfolk as a whole.”

Morgana: “so you disagree with the ban on magic?”

Arthur: “So what if people use magic to do their chores faster? They’re not hurting anyone. It would be like condemning every person who’s ever owned a sword bcs they might hurt someone.”

Morgana: “how long have you known?”

Arthur: “since Father tried to marry a troll”

Morgana: “and you never said anything to anyone?”

Arthur: “it’s not my secret to tell”

She goes back to their side and saves Arthur from Morgause’s fire but it blows back and knocks her over so she wants to make sure her sister’s okay but gets pulled to safety by Merlin

~ later ~

Merlin: “Why did you save Arthur? You could’ve let him die and left Camelot without an heir but you saved him; why?”

Morgana: “bcs he protects you. If he was protecting a knight, I still wouldn’t trust him but you’re just a servant and yet he protects your life and our secret. Arthur is a good man and I don’t want any bloodshed - if we can give our people peace again with Arthur, I will stand by him.”

Merlin: “thank you.”

Morgana: “this does not mean I stand by Uther -  I will still fight against his tyrannous ways every chance I get.”

Merlin: “I’d expect nothing less”

The Eye of the Phoenix

Morgause gives Arthur a bracelet while disguised as an old woman “for good luck on your journey” and Gwen sees her real face in a puddle

Tells Morgana about it and they, along with Gaius, look for some way to counter the spell (and thus Morgana reveals her magic to Gwen)

Love in the Time of Dragons

Merlin doth be a snitch but they believe Alice when she says she has no choice and they try and help her as best as they can (Arthur is a sweetheart to old people (no offence, Alice-))

Queen of Hearts

Morgause tries to break Arthur’s heart and cause the rift between father and son by manipulating a young sorcerer into doing all the stuff that gets Gwen tried for magic

Dragoon and Arthur deal with stuffs but this time, he knows it’s his personal dumbass

Morgana helps with the anti-aging potion for Merlin bcs magic squad!!

The Sorcerer’s Shadow

The Coming of Arthur 1

Sir Leon is made immortal (by accident) by the druids who save him with the Cup of Life

When Morgause finds out Leon lives, she finds out about the Cup

Gwaine catches Merlin trying to heal Arthur and thus finds out about his magic too

Morgause rules with an iron fist and threatens to kill her and everyone else if Morgana doesn’t become queen and her mouthpiece bcs “you betrayed me sister so your life means nothing to me. And these peasants are mere cockroaches - whether they live or die, I don’t care - in fact, if they die, our people could live here in Camelot but regardless, those poor, innocent villagers’ blood will be on your hands, sister. Now, yield.”

The Coming of Arthur 2

Gwen tells everyone of how Morgana is just as much a prisoner as she was

Morgana uses magic to help fight Morgause but hurts her and despite everything “she’s my sister - I abandoned her once, I will not do it again. I will ensure her safety and ours in the process - rule well, brother” and she leaves with her sister using magic

1 YEAR PASSES

Season 4

AGES:

MERLIN: 22-23

ARTHUR: 24-25

MORGANA: 27-28

GWEN: 22-23 (A FEW MONTHS SHY OF MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~15-16

Morgana becomes the High Priestess of the Triple Goddess

The Darkest Hour 1

Kara’s mother, Ealdgyð, was helping Morgause bcs Morgana was forced to leave her when she began attacking her, all faith in her younger sister lost

Morgana was back in Camelot but yk “I couldn’t kill her- she’s still my sister- I’m sorry”

Knowing how much Morgana hated him for the things he did still left Uther crippled, even upon her return

Ealdgyð opened the veil upon Morgause’s death and she, Merlin and Morgana all passed out and saw the vision

Emrys was Morgana’s destiny and Ealdgyð’s doom

Emyrs’ identity is protected from Ealdgyð (and later Kara) by the Triple Goddess bcs they may be followers of the Old Religion but they perverted the peaceful nature of druids and so lost that information which was most valuable to them

Agravaine, being loyal to Morgause, now reports to Ealdgyð and tells her about their plan

Merlin and Morgana both want to be sacrifices to the veil

Merlin: “it’s my destiny to protect Arthur”

Morgana: “but this was my sister’s doing and therefore it is my responsibility to undo”

The Darkest Hour 2

Morgana tries to heal Merlin from the Dorocha but is unable to

Morgana continues on the quest with the knights while Lancelot and Merlin go their own way

Agravain on Ealdgyð’s orders knocks out Gwen bcs she convinced the council to reduce rationing the lower towns

The Wicked Day

Merlin tries to save Uther for Arthur’s sake but Morgana refuses to try

Morgana (to Arthur): “I am sorry you’re losing your father but he literally massacred our people - I will not save him”

Uther still dies but they noticed the pendant and want to find and take Ealdgyð’s head but they don’t know who she is bcs she’s smart

Arthur: “Magic will one day live freely in Camelot once more but not today - it is easier to find one sorcerer among no others than one from hundreds and despite your hatred of the things he did, you must know what this person did was wrong”

Morgana: “find them and bring them to justice, not for practicing sorcery but for committing murder”

Arthur: “of course”

Morgana is all for Arthur being the king bcs she knows after everything with Morgause and Cenred, the people would never accept her as queen but at least this way, her people stood a chance

Aithusa

Arthur doesn’t plan on destroying the egg but doesn’t really care what happens to it so long as Broden is captured

Morgana goes with the knights as magic is her lineage too and they will keep her secret

Merlin tells them of the Druids warnings about the trap bcs knight squad knows the magic squad secret (that they’re ✨magic✨)

He and Morgana witness the birth of Aithusa who immediately takes a liking to Morgana

His Father’s Son

Ealdgyð allies herself with Annis after Caerleon’s death

Morgana hints at Arthur to get Gwen flowers

At this point Morgana is just as strong as Merlin as they train together

A Servant of Two Masters

Ealdgyð takes Merlin

Thinks Dragoon is Emrys

The Secret Sharer

Ealdgyð: “I do this, not out of spite, but to ensure my daughter does not have to live her life as I did, afraid and in hiding”

Lamia

Morgana searches with Arthur and Agravaine

Lancelot du Lac

Ealdgyð will not have some common non-magic child take her throne and title (believes it is rightfully hers as magic is superior and she is the chosen heir of a high priestess (Morgause))

Merlin uses magic freely in front of those who know

Frees Lancelot’s soul but cannot stop Gwen’s banishing bcs Agravaine

A Herald of the New Age

Merlin tells Arthur about the Druid boy and Elyan’s situation but they need to figure something out bcs knowing intimate knowledge of magic wouldn’t help their case

The Hunter’s Heart

Arthur: “Well what am I supposed to do, Merlin? Tell the whole court we’ve been committing high treason for years - they would think us in league with the other sorcerer and take our heads”

Gwen avoids the sorceress smartly bcs she has brain cells

Morgana: “Do you think I’m happy about all this? I’ve been planning their wedding for years - who wouldn’t want their closest friend to become their sister?”

~ while on the hunt ~

Morgana: Wait a minute, you like Mithian-”

Merlin: “what no-”

Morgana: “you’re doing the thing”

Merlin: “what thing? I don’t do a thing.”

Morgana: “yes you do, It’s that thing you do when you think Gwaine isn’t looking”

Merlin: “shut up-”

Morgana: “oh this is gonna be fun”

Arthur calls off the hunt when Merlin tells him the deer is really Gwen but he and Mithian can’t be gone long so he and Morgana help after dark, Merlin being a physician and helping her wounds and Morgana turning her human again

She spills the beans and reveals the sorceress’ name as Ealdgyð and that Agravaine is definitely in league but they had to proof and couldn’t just accuse the king’s uncle especially given that they’re only a servant and an exile

The Sword in the Stone 1

Ealdgyð and Helios attack Camelot on Beltaine

Morgana is captured

Ealdgyð (to Morgana): “You betrayed our people”

The Sword in the Stone 2

Morgana is made to starve “like so many of our own have bcs of your precious family”

Ealdgyð: “You, Arthur Pendragon, are in fact worse than your father. You pretend to be a man of peace while upholding an unlawful law that has killed countless women and children”

Aithusa stays with Morgana but Ealdgyð is saved by random folks who think her simply a lost, hurt woman

3 YEARS PASS

Season 5

AGES:

MERLIN: 26-27

ARTHUR: 28-29

MORGANA: 31-32

GWEN: 26-27 (A FEW MONTHS YOUNGER THAN MERLIN)

MORDRED: ~19-20

Arthur’s Bane 1

Mordred is on Ealdgyð’s side bcs she’s Kara’s mother (eventually realises she’s wrong bcs what kind of mother drags her child into war)

Morgana and Aithusa stay with Gwen to help protect the castle bcs “the knights already have a sorcerer - if something happens here, Gods forbid it, you will need someone”

Merlin tells Arthur of the seer’s vision to which he reminds the young warlock that Morgana was supposed to also be their fate and yet she was saved and so will the boy be

The group is captured by Ealdgyð and here we meet Mordred

Arthur’s Bane 2

Mordred tries to get food to Merlin and Arthur but cannot ‘sorry, Emrys’

‘I said I would not forget what you did for me and I meant it’ and so Mordred tells him about the Diamair

They fight the Saxons with Mordred secretly helping them escape

Merlin: ‘thank you Mordred’

Mordred: ‘just returning the favour’

Merlin is attacked by a druid Saxon who he knocks out

~ confrontation time ~

Arthur: “We want to help you, Ealdgyð, but when you attack and enslave our people, it doesn’t exactly give us much confidence in you.”

Ealdgyð: “Liar! You force Morgana to hide away and to forget who she truly is-”

Arthur: “Actually she’s at the castle protecting everyone bcs we know that magic isn’t evil but your hatred, Ealdgyð, has made you evil.”

Ealdgyð: “If you are so good and kind, why do you not lift the ban on our people?”

Arthur: “Finding one sorcerer, you, amongst few is much easier than finding you amongst countless others. We have not persecuted any magic users since my coronation - the law is just there in name and once you are gone, it will be removed once and for all.”

Ealdgyð: “So you think killing me will make our people love you?”

Arthur: “I don’t want their love, only their forgiveness but you killed the king and that is high treason, regardless of magic.”

Mordred stabs Ealdgyð when he hears their conversation bcs o hey she’s nuts and yk he’s not evil :)

~ later ~

Merlin: “Actually, Arthur, Gwen and some of the knights know I have magic.”

Mordred: “When did he know?”

Merlin: “A couple of months after you and I first met. It’s actually quite a funny story-”

Arthur: “Merlin, shut up-”

Merlin: ‘I’ll tell you later.’

Mordred calls Merlin Emrys around Morgana and she’s like eh?? and he’s like yeah, druids call him Emrys and she remembers the prophecy but keeps her mouth shut bcs ‘wtf? My destiny?? lol no’

The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

Morgana does not join the pair even tho she was his ward bcs Uther was Uther ew

~ before blowing the horn ~

Arthur: “If something goes wrong, you can help, right?”

Merlin: “Maybe. But magic involving the dead isn’t something I typically deal with.”

~ during the crazy shite ~

Arthur: “Are you certain?”

Merlin: “What else could’ve escaped the horn but the person summoned by it?”

Arthur: “I refuse to believe that my father’s ghost somehow attacked a knight”

‘Poetry’ is still a thing bcs Arthur didn’t want to tarnish his father’s respect name but wtv

He spills the beans to his dad that he knows of Merlin’s magic and that if it wasn’t for him and Morgana, everyone would probably be dead so fuck off :D

Another’s Sorrow

Ealdgyð disguises herself as Hilda

Mithian and Merlin and Morgana flirt bcs they’re bi nightmares, or yk, bi-ghtmares

Plus more flirting between Merlin and Gwaine ft. panicked bi!Merlin

Morgana goes with Mithian and Arthur upon Merlin’s injury and fights Ealdgyð

Morgana: “3 of us and one of her, I like our chances”

Merlin: “But she’s growing stronger fast”

Mordred: “and so long as we keep studying and training, we’ll still be stronger”

Merlin teaches Mordred and Morgana physician stuff bcs bonding

The Disir

~ training montage ~

Arthur: “Next time try combining your sword skills with your magic”

Mordred: “but that’s not a fair fight-”

Arthur: “you’re a druid. Magic is the first tool you were born with and it’s our birthright to use it. Plus in a war, magic will help us”

Merlin still worries whether he’s too young to be out fighting with the rest of em

Arthur: “he’s a sorcerer - he has an inbuilt defence system regardless of whether he has his sword. He’ll be fine - and honestly, Merlin, you’re not his wetnurse or his mother.”

Merlin: “prat-”

Arthur: “what was that?”

Merlin: “I called you a prat, my lord”

Arthur: “I will not bow to the Triple Goddess for I do not follow her. But please, my friend is a sorcerer, a druid and a follower of the Old Religion. He is innocent. Spare him, please.”

Mordred is spared bcs they were impressed Arthur would risk their wrath but bcs he didn’t bow to them, his fate is still sealed

The Dark Tower

Ealdgyð kidnaps Gwen

Merlin, Mordred and Morgana do cooperative magic to try and find Gwen but to no avail

So they all go to the Dark Tower together f is for friends who do stuff together, u is you and me-

They use magic and swords to hack at the overgrowth but again, to no avail

He tells them all of Queen Mab and leads the way

Morgana saves the falling Merlin from impaling himself on the sword

~ psychological torture time ~

Ealdgyð: “My sweet child, you know Camelot is doomed if Arthur and Morgana are to rule. Arthur longs for the old ways and the security of his father while Morgana wants a magical revolution. They will tear the city apart in their wars and countless will die.”

Gwen: No, no, that’s wrong- you’re lying-”

Ealdgyð: “And yet you know I am right bcs if Arthur was not still waging his war against magic, I would be safely with my daughter but instead she is made parentless by the Pendragons and if Arthur is to continue having his way, my daughter will be made an orphan.”

Succumbs to Ealdgyð

Elyan still died unfortunately

A Lesson in Vengeance

Merlin uses magic subtly to save Arthur so Gwen doesn’t notice

The knights arrest Merlin for sorcery even tho they know he wouldn’t do it bcs who else could have

He still doesn’t tell Arthur about Gwen’s brainwashing bcs to accuse the Queen is a serious accusation

The Hollow Queen

Gaius tells Arthur the truth about Merlin going to save the young girl in the Valley of The Fallen Kings instead of the usual tavern business

(flashback) Sarrum took Kara hostage and forced Ealdgyð to comply for her sake and they were kept separately for the two years, only getting to see each other for mere moments

Merlin reveals to Daegal that Arthur knows of his magic and one day, magic will be commonplace in Camelot once more

Morgana agrees with Arthur that Merlin hasn’t got a girlfriend but Gwen teases her and asks if she’s jealous

Morgana: “of course not- in fact, I’m happy for him” but yk she’s lowkey jelly

With All My Heart

The Triple Goddess responds best to women so he (disguised as the Dolma (who is a pretty young lady might I add), not that it mattered bcs he’s is a he/she/they enby and I stand by that) and Morgana summoned the Triple Goddess (thank fuck that Morgana is Her High Priestess)

Morgana, Merlin, Mordred (having saved them mid-journey and then joined them), Aithusa and Arthur take Gwen to the Cauldron of Arianrhod

Mordred stays behind to try and cover their tracks, physically and magically, but is caught by Kara

Kara: “why do you stand behind someone who kills our people?”

Mordred: “Arthur has never killed any of us-”

Kara: “he stands by the law that put me and my mother through two years of hell! He is evil and if you cannot see that, you are not the Mordred I once knew and loved.”

Mordred: “Kara, please-”

Kara: “no-”

Mordred: “Kara, he knows! He knows about my gifts and he has not once even scorned for using them. The ban on magic is only up because we need to stop Ealdgyð from killing everyone-”

Kara: “why do you immediately forsake my mother? She is the only reason I am still alive, no thanks to you. The Pendragons are the reasons why we have been running for our lives our entire lives. And they are the reason why countless more children will never reach their truest potential and will never know who they truly are. Yet you still blame my mother who has done nothing but protect our people-!”

Mordred: “Your mother was going to kill everyone in Camelot just to spite Morgana! I still believe in the cause, Kara, but I do not believe in her and her ways!”

Kara: “We are druids and magic is our birthright!”

Mordred: “And druids are a peaceful people but Ealdgyð? She perverted our ways and has used the darkest magics, hurt countless people and all bcs she wants the throne. I will not join her so please, for the love of the Gods, don’t make me fight you Kara.”

Kara: “Tell us, tell me, who Emrys is and we won’t have to.”

Mordred: “Never.” *knocks her out w/ magic* “Forgive me, my love.”

The Kindness of Strangers

Ealdgyð thinks Alator a traitor for supporting the mighty Emrys who refuses to help their people in their time of need and so the torture begins

Merlin still doesn’t tell Arthur about the Alator-and-Finna-of-the-Catha situation bcs he’s busy yk and so tells Morgana and Mordred bcs it’s magic stuff so it’s their business too

He and Morgana go to find Finna

Merlin still attacked but Morgana stays with Finna and fights Ealdgyð and Finna is saved and on their side (bcs she is a Bendrui and they stand by Emrys, always)

The Drawing of the Dark

Mordred tells them it was Kara not some deer but still let her go

~ Later ~ 

Merlin: “why didn’t you stop her?”

Mordred: “how could I have?”

Morgana: “your magic is strong”

Mordred: “if you caught the love of your life after she killed someone, would you want to turn her in?”

Merlin: “you said it yourself, she killed someone”

Mordred: “she’s never wanted to hurt anyone. She only does this for her mother”

Morgana: “do you think she’d hurt her if she disobeyed?”

Mordred: “think about it this way: she practically raised me, called me her son in every way but blood and yet she now wants my head on a pike almost as much as she wants yours”

Arthur and Mordred patrol together (bcs they’re knights) w/ Merlin (bcs he’s Arthur’s) and find Kara and Mordred is shooketh at how bloodthirsty Kara has become

She is much confused when Merlin deflect the knife magically and he uses magic to bind her in front of them and no one bats an eye bcs she fr thought Mordred was bullshitting about Arthur being chill with it

She tries to kill Arthur again and does not take the chances he kept giving her for Mordred’s sake

Kara: “why do you continue trying to help me? You, who puts our kind through hell everyday.”

Arthur: “I want to make things better for all our peoples including you and yours but that cannot happen while your mother continues to attack, plague and kill our people, innocent people.”

Kara: “you’re lying - my mother would never hurt innocents”

Mordred: “we can show you”

Kara: “how?”

Mordred: “we were at the battle - you know the memory retrieval spell?”

Kara: “of course”

*le spell*

Kara: “that can’t be right- this must be some trick-”

Mordred: “Kara, look at me, look at me. You know me and you know I would never trick you like this. We did the spell together, out loud, and you can hear my thoughts so listen now. I did not trick you and we are not lying to you”

Kara: *crumples* “then the people I’ve hurt, the people I’ve killed-”

Arthur: “you were simply following orders, trying to make your parent proud; I know what that’s like. You are not to blame and you can save so many others if you only help us. Please.”

Kara: “to hear a king say please is a strange thing indeed.”

She comes back to the light

Magic squad is weirdly big considering the laws at this point but Camelot needs all the help they can get

Ealdgyð realises Merlin has magic bcs of the miraculous things that happen around Arthur and yk it’s too much to be just some coincidence plus she was keeping an eye on her daughter and saw Merlin deflect the knife and he is what keeps the magic squad together and she can only use the Gean Canach very few times bcs ‘tis rare

The Diamond of the Day 1

Merlin tells the knight squad and magic squad about his loss of powers and that he’s gonna go get them back somehow

Kara snitches that Eira is a spy for Ealdgyð and she gets dungeon time

Merlin, Gwaine and Finna go to the Valley of the Fallen Kings while Mordred, Kara and Morgana stay behind and protect Queen and kingdom

Ealdgyð knows Merlin will go the Crystal Cave to regain his powers

Gwaine stands guard at the cave mouth while Finna and Merlin go in but Finna has to stop and stay with Gwaine after a moment

Merlin: “this is a journey I must make on my own”

Gwaine: “could’ve told us that before we came out into the woods with you”

Merlin: “you’d have come with me anyways”

Gwaine: “yeah, you’re probably right”

Ealdgyð leaves after Gwaine sleeps with invisibility and silencing spells on to mask herself from Finna (who’s on watch at that point)

The Diamond of the Day 2

Merlin comes along looking like himself instead of Dragoon bcs there was no time to waste on disguises

The magic squad are beating Ealdgyð bcs yk there’s: Emrys, the High Priestess of the Triple Goddess, a Bendrui priestess and two highly skilled druids against Saesons

Merlin beats Ealdgyð and before she dies, Kara and Mordred get to say goodbye

Ealdgyð: “I’m sorry it came to this- all I ever wanted was a better life for you both and instead I dragged you into a war”

Kara: “we understand and we’re sorry too - we should’ve at least tried peace”

Ealdgyð: “that’s my fault”

Mordred: “and it’s our too. We could have insisted on it but we just blindly followed instead of talking to you”

Ealdgyð: “I’m so sorry my boy”

Kara: “rest easy, mother. Magic is returning to Camelot and we will be free once more”

Mordred: “goodbye Ealdgyð”

Post Battle-of-Camlann

Arthur (29) repeals the ban on magic

Kara (22) is formally pardoned bcs of her role in the Battle of Camlann bcs she saved Arthur’s life

Merlin (27) is Court Physician first and Court Sorcerer secondly after Gaius retires bcs mans is old af and Finna is Court Sorceress (and she still studies under him)

Alice returns and she and Gaius finally marry

1 year post Battle of Camlann

Arthur (30) and Gwen (28) have a daughter, Avlyn Pendragon, 1 year post-Battle-of-Camlann

Takes a year for Morgana (33) and Merlin (28) to finally get together and start courting

2 years post Battle of Camlann

Kara (23) and Mordred (22) marry

4 years post Battle of Camlann

Arthur (33) and Gwen (31) have a son, Cadwr Pendragon, 4 years post-Battle-of-Camlann (Avlyn (3))

Gwaine (33) and Percival (31) marry and we’re gonna pretend homophobia ain’t a thing bcs this is a comfort fic not a whump fic

Leon (37) starts courting Mithian (31) (idk y but they fit really well for some reason imo) and married after 6 months

5 years post Battle of Camlann

Merlin (32) and Morgana (37) marry and Hunith is very happy for them

Merlin (32) and Morgana (37) have twins, Morfydd and Ywaine

[angel-emmerson]

Our Boy | Ángel + Aimee

September 5, 2010

“Titi Millie, your mangú is still out of this world. Magic, totally magic.” Ángel’s smile was wide as he helped clean up the dishes for dinner, having stopped by the Morales household to see Mason and Aimee before he picked up Quinn from rehab that following day. That and Mrs. Morales had wanted him to come over for dinner and he was never going to say no to that, or take for granted that she was a little sweet on him because he was one of the few friends Aimee had who spoke spanish. Anymore of this and I’m gonna have to break the news to Aimee that I’m moving in,” he teased and gave the older woman a kiss on the cheek, thanking her again as she hugged him. “Creo que es hora de acostarlo,” he told her as he pointed back at Mason nodding off the couch with his grandfather. “I’ll go check on la reina,” he assured her and moved past her towards the backyard, taking a deep breath before he did. 

Aimee felt herself freeze up the moment she heard the back door slide and though she had prepared herself for this it didn’t feel any easier. She had stepped out after dinner to chain smoke and hopefully push away her feelings, feel less guilty as she thought about what she was going to do in the coming days. She knew it was right and every time she thought of chickening out she thought of Mason and the sound of her mother’s voice in her head. Puedes hacerlo mejor. You can do better. 

“Yo Aimes, deadass, I’m moving in. I haven’t had a meal like that in a minute. Gonzaga isn’t exactly budding with Dominican or Puerto Rican food, you know? It’s like they don’t even know how to make rice in those dining halls.” He was trying to ease the tension even if he wasn’t sure why there would be but lately with Aimee there was a whole lot of it. Not that he could blame her. He loved Quinn more than anything but he wasn’t going to deny that he had done an number on her. 

“You’re gonna have to fight Mason for bedroom space,” she replied with a soft laugh, offering him her pack of cigarettes when he asked for it. “I thought you quit, Mr. Lacrosse star.”

“Former star. Now I’m just one of those guys who will talk about the glory days down at a bar in Hemlock or some shit,” he joked as he lit up the cigarette and took a deep drag, knowing he’d have to quit again but sometimes it was needed after a meal like that. It was quiet for a moment and Ángel could actually feel himself relaxing as they stared up at the stars in the sky and he couldn’t resist wishing that Quinn was there. 

Aimee kept her eyes trained on the sky, unable to stop thinking about her last few nights with Quinn before he left. They had been on her mind for months, the way he held her, the way he told her he loved her, the way they had once again made plans for a big house, for a life together. And he had thrown it away again, but this time she had come so close to losing him again, so close to having to tell Mason that his father was gone. The thought was enough to make her light up her cigarette again, wincing a bit at the stale taste before she found herself falling back into the moment. 

Another moment and she flicked away the cigarette to cross her arms over her chest. “After Quinn comes home I’m filing for custody of Mason. Depending on how things go Quinn will be allowed supervised visits, but he can’t be with him alone. And he can’t have him stay overnight.” She was trying her best not to let her voice shake, seeing Ángel as a partial rehearsal for Quinn. “I’m telling you because I know you’re the one who’s going to have to be there for him afterwards. I know it won’t be easy for him. But I...it’s the best thing. For Mason. And...and for me.” She felt her hands shaking a bit and she sighed as she reached for another cigarette, holding it in between her fingers but not lighting it just yet. 

Ángel let out a low puff of smoke and rubbed at his forehead with the pad of his thumb as he let her words hit him. “Fuck,” he replied softly, standing up a little straighter. He knew he didn’t have a place to argue with her but he could already feel a slight fraction of the pain that Quinn would feel at the news. “I-I mean that’s...that’s fucking tough, Aimes. Look I know he’s been saying the same shit but he’s done the whole program, he’s coming home sober and I mean why did you think I came home? I’m gonna look out for him okay? And he’s gonna get better, he’s gonna be a hell of a dad to Mason, he’s gonna be the guy we know he can be alright? Look,” he swallowed thickly, feeling like it would be wrong for him to not at least advocate on Quinn’s behalf even if it was a losing battle. “Las cosas serán diferentes. Lo prometo.” 

She was looking at him and for a moment she could feel herself believing it. It was easy to believe Ángel because she knew just how much he knew and believed in what he was saying. And as much as she adored him, they both knew that history showed that she didn’t really have a reason to trust that things would actually be different. She couldn’t put her faith in a “what if.” Not when she had a son to raise. “What choice do I have Ángel? What am I going to do? Welcome him back in, move in with him? Have to explain to Mason over and over again that sometimes daddy just can’t control himself? What do I do when we’re settled and he decides to throw it away on a party or a hit? Or even worse, have to risk him finding his father passed out. What do I do then when I’ve built my life around him and he tears it down because he’s still in so much pain? I know he’s in pain, you think I don’t see that? You think I want this?” Aimee took a deep breath and pushed her hands back through her hair. “I never wanted this.” 

He swallowed back his words as he looked at her, having the fight in him but what kind of person would he be if he tried to encourage her to be with someone who was bringing her pain in return. “He is in pain. You know he’s been through a lot and I’m..I’m not gonna make excuses for him, alright? I know he’s fucked up, I just..this is gonna fucking hurt him deep.” He took a deep breath and shook his head, flicking the cigarette with a sigh. “Fuck,” he repeated as he thought about it. When he turned to look at her, he saw just how much heaviness she felt, the guilt that was probably weighing her down. 

Aimee could feel him looking at her and she had to take another breath to keep herself from crying as she moved to meet his eyes. “¿Qué más se supone que debo hacer? Hm? How much more do I have to give? I have given..everything I have, Ángel. He told me things would be good, we’d get a new place and look..look where we are. I have to keep telling Mason that Quin went on a trip. I can’t do this, I won’t spend the rest of my life lying and making excuses for him. I refuse.”

He nodded in understanding, knowing he’d have to just accept it was happening and be appreciative of the fact that he had enough of a heads up to prepare himself to support Quinn. God how was he going to look him in the eye knowing what was about to happen? He figured that was a worry for his tomorrow self. “Alright,” he told her softly, “I hear you, mama, I do. And you gotta do what’s right for you and you know I love you. Quinn’s always gonna be my boy, so I’ll always be by his side. But I got you,” he added and turned to open his arms for her, pulling her in for a tight hug, pressing his lips to the top of her head. 

She didn’t bother to stop her tears as he hugged her and despite everything she said, she found herself wishing that it was Quinn who had his arms around her. God she wanted him back so badly, she wanted him here, wanted him home, wanted to go back in time as quickly as she could. “Take care of him,” she told him softly as she pulled away and looked up at him. “Because it’s not just Mason I’m cutting him off from, it’s us..I mean obviously, but I won’t..I won't be there for him anymore.” The words came out softly and she hated herself for it, her hands pressed against her old friend's chest as she tried to find her strength. “I just can’t do it anymore,” she admitted, feeling like a complete fucking coward but she wasn’t sure she could handle anything else. 

“Hey, look at me,” he told her softly, thinking about what Quinn would want him to say and he knew that as much fight as he had in him, he’d be smart enough to respect her decision, he always had been. “It’s okay,” he told her and made sure she met his eyes. “Hey, you are a fucking amazing Mom, okay? I know that, Mason knows that and Quinn definitely fucking knows that. Look, it’s fucking hard, alright? It’s..” he stopped himself and took a deep breath, “I hate that this is how it needs to be but it is and all we can do is figure out how to survive it. So...yeah, do what you need to do. Take care of yourself, of your son and I’ll take care of Quinn, alright? I’ll take care of our boy, and when the time is right, things will be the way they need to be, alright? Look at me,” he smiled sweetly at her and pressed his hand to her cheek. “Te mereces la oportunidad de respirar. Respirar,” he repeated before he dropped his hand and took a deep breath and stepped back. “Alright I should get out of here, get my ass some sleep before I pick him up tomorrow.”

Aimee didn’t even avoid the tears that fell at his words and she nodded along, knowing she had to take them to heart. She sniffled and wiped at her face, doing her best to catch her breath. “Take care of him,” she found herself repeating. “And...I’m not going to tell him until I see him so when you see him just...just tell him that I’m thinking of him.” Tell him I love him. She kept the thought to herself and cleared her throat. “Fuck,” she found herself saying now, laughing sadly as she reached for her last cigarette. “Go, go get your doggy bag from Mami, I’ll see you for his birthday, okay?”

He laughed and nodded, giving her another hug before he made his way inside, putting on a wider smile for Aimee’s mother, letting her chat him up about the lottery numbers and the shitty game the Yankees had played. 

Aimee watched him go, grateful to be alone again, grateful to have gotten that first part off her chest as she watched her smoke rise towards the stars. She thought about what Quinn must have been doing right then. She knew he sure as hell wasn’t sleeping and for a brief moment she let herself think that maybe he was thinking about her, maybe he was thinking about coming home to her. It probably wasn’t true but it was a comforting thought and she closed her eyes a little harder. She imagined him there with her now, the feeling of his arms around her, the sound of him whispering in her ear that everything would be okay, that this time..this time everything would work out the way it needed to. She held onto it, before she heard the sound of the door sliding open and her mother beckoning her back inside. She gave one last look at the stars and cast her wish into the night. Please take care of him. 

[summerspn]

Batwoman

2019 series > Ep 1-3

*sigh*

Okay here goes...I’m going to break it down for you:

The trailers & ads:

I was skeptical about watching this show as all the trailers for it were terrible.

As a woman I can honestly say each and every trailer made me cringe & go ‘stop!’. They were SO bad.

But, that’s not the actors’ fault. They’re given lines they have to deliver on & Ruby Rose seemed to deliver on those decently enough I suppose.

In the trailers, my biggest issue was the terrible dialogue & poor makeup/wardrobe.

The campy style Batwoman costume & the sloppy bat tattoos...ugh! Why would anyone think that would be appealing?!

Now, onto the show...

There is one & ONLY one reason I watched this show...my mom! I figured I had to give it a shot. But it was not because my mom like it. She in fact, hated it!

My mom, who loves everything from medical & criminal dramas, to shows about witchcraft & medieval times. She somehow even loves campy movies like Dark Shadows. She’s a huge fan of Wonder Woman (comics, tv show & recent movie). She loved the Captain Marvel movie. She is a comic fan and loved Batman & Batwoman growing up.

Yet, she hates this show!

After seeing videos & online posts ALL saying it’s because non fans hate the show because they’re bigots, that’s not true.

The show is awful - so I suppose the trailers were accurate.

My mother could care less what people do for their own pleasure- and like she taught us, “as long as no one’s being hurt & it’s consensual, who cares?”

So right now, just to paint you a picture, neither her nor I care about the lesbian storyline in Batwoman. I don’t care if she’s gay straight, bi, attracted to pumpkins etc. Have at it.

The reason I chose to watch this show is because my mother loves fun well written entertainment & sometimes just silly fluff to get her mind off reality. And as my best friend we have that in common. Our viewing tastes are very similar. So when my mom says something was terrible, it piques my interest (much more than those awful trailers).

The actors:

Most of the actors aren’t bad. Since Dougray Scott is in this I take it as a comparison amongst the others. If you don’t know who he is ...he was in Ever After, Desperate Housewives, Fear the Walking Dead, Hemlock Grove and a thousand other projects. He’s a good actor. However, in Batwoman he has a few mistakes with his accent & delivery of a few lines (much fewer mistakes than the rest of the cast).

But all the actors have mis-steps with their lines & delivery of the lines. Whose job is it to stop them & try again until it’s good? The director

Some actors aren’t as strong as others but after watching the show, I think the strongest actors are: Dougray Scott, Nicole Kang, & Rachel Skarsten. They seem to work with what they’ve got. Trying their best. But the dialogue!

There was a line about Kate Kane having mixed feelings for her sister & didn’t want her hurt because “Duh, feelings”. .... 🙄...she’s a medical student?? The writers gave the actor THAT to work with? Okay...um, they couldn’t have done a second draft and tweaked it? You didn’t find it needed a little more work? Like wrote this instead “it’s only natural to be conflicted...” which makes her sound intelligent. Instead, “Duh, feelings”?!

Unfortunately we come down to Ruby Rose. She’s not a good actress. She seemed to be more talented in the trailers than the actual show but that was because she showed something I like to call emotion.

What happened? Every single line RR delivers has zero affect. Even when she’s literally smiling there is no emotion in her eyes....what only makes her look psychotic. And she moves her eyebrows up & down sooooo much. It’s distracting.

However, she (like the other actors) does seem to be trying. With that said, if you can’t be pulled into the character or the actors’ take on them then it suspends disbelief.

I have nothing against Ruby Rose but knowing she was a model gives context. They work with their eyebrows a lot & any acting they do is for about 20 seconds of a commercial. It’s clear that RR is tackling the tv show like she would a modeling job. Only now she has a s****y wardrobe.

However, she can’t act. She is monotonous & sounds robotic.

I do think though that’s made worse by the director probably not pushing to do enough takes. Sometimes directors instruct actors to act a certain way which makes them sound worse.

Ie) Hayden Christensen acted beautifully in an old tv show where he played a victim of molestation. In Star Wars a Phantom Menace he was apparently told to act more annoyed then angry so voila he came across as a brat...

So I do wonder what influence the director had here.

The wardrobe/makeup:

Papa Kane, Leaders of the Crows, my man Dougray...yes he still looks good in his suits but he’s always shown wearing the same suit. Wardrobe actually helps tell a story especially in a show like this. But it’s like the budget is too small or the director forgot about anyone other than Kate & Beth.

Morning scenes, have him with a little extra stubble, some make up to look like he has dark circles under his eyes. Ruffle his hair. Have him sitting in a hideous vintage t-shirt while they have breakfast. Kate could see how awful he looks and ask “did you get any sleep?” Then they could talk about how worried he is for the city, Kate, or even thinking about Beth! Kate could see the shirt & go “didn’t I get you that?” And he says “yeah for my birthday” and she says “that was ten years ago”.Boom! Shows he loves his daughter & a tiny bonding moment. ...but this never happened.

Luke Fox. Somehow they took an attractive actor and made him look about 20 years older just by wearing glasses that belong to Angela from Who’s the Boss!

Give Luke some 2019 glasses that sit properly on his nose! And the same for the rest of his clothes. They don’t fit right. The show is trying to nerd him up but you can make people awkward, nerdy , or quirky without downplaying their looks. Have Fox wear jeans with his vests, or a fun t-shirt with a suit jacket etc.

Kate Kane. She has the worst wardrobe in the show! Though Batwoman’s suit looks tacky & campy...

Give Kate nicer clothes! They do not need to be expensive but they do need to give her a personality.

1) Plaid...why? Lesbians wearing plaid is a stereotype so WHY would this show advertising itself as modern & breaking the barriers have their main character wearing something so cliche? Makes zero sense. However, since plaid (aka tartan) is making a comeback in fashion they could have used it (if they really had to) in another piece of clothing. A scarf, gloves, shoes? (I actually have a pair of red plaid boots which are durable and adorable). Throwing on a plaid shirt is just lazy.

2) Her hair. Okay so if they’re going for the short-during-military-training look I get it but Ruby Rose has the same hairstyle in everything. I wish she’d just either grow it out or chop it all off. They could have had a scene where she’s fiddling with it in the mirror like she’s self conscious about the new do...showing human insecurities.

3) The leather jacket. Sigh... okay this is my personal opinion but I think the black leather jacket in shows is used too much. It immediately signals strength & a tough exterior right? Well literally everyone knows this. It’s not subtle. I mean I love how it was used on Supernatural where the coat had a history but it was tied into a backstory and eventually was used less and less. But the leather coat was used more in early seasons (which was as far as 15 yrs ago). Other shows always have the ‘bad boy’ wear the jacket. It’s so boring. I’d rather if Kate strolled you wearing a fun typographic shirt or a basic t-shirt and have an expensive belt because she has a thing for belts (subtly nodding to one Batwoman has to use).

There were many choices other than a basic plaid top and black leather jacket. Wardrobe decisions that could give the character/actor subtle layers or tools to work with. But that too was done lazily.

Set design:

Dark & gloomy? ✅

Isolated & abandoned feeling? ✅

Appropriate to the corresponding event... 🙈 not so much.

Ie) the bridge where the family’s car fell off. Whether it’s done with cgi or finding the right location, the bridge in question was generic. Now if the bridge was higher up and/or there were super super wild & crazy rapids maybe, just maybe we’d believe Batman thought Beth was a goner. But it was actual fairly tame so it made Batman look like he just saw the car hanging and go “hey my shift ended an hour ago” and walk off.

And,

The “secret” entrance to the bat cave is in Wayne enterprises? Wouldn’t that be hard to get to? I can picture Bruce hanging around in the garage waiting to go in...he starts over to the door, someone comes, he stops...ya know because everyone knows him...

It’s just weird. There were so many other options.

Special effects:

Some have been pretty bad so far. This is a CW trait. I don’t know if they separate the budget for the directors or not. Is it all one lump number or are they told ‘this is for the production & this is for the special effects?’. I wonder because other CW shows seem to have tiny budgets allocated to the effects. In any case, a show about super villains & heroes needs bigger budgets so it looks more believeable.

The writing:

The writing is just bad. Writing lines like “duh sisters” for a character who is supposed to be educated & intelligent seems ridiculous.

Question - if Bruce Wayne has family why didn’t he stay with them when his parents died? Or they with him? Is this a plot hole from the comics or just this show?

Unrealistic. Yes it’s a superhero story but we care less if the person has all their skills & abilities immediately.

My bff and I love superhero shows but we both had the same problems here as with Supergirl. She just had her powers & didn’t really struggle with them. I watched 2 episodes & was bored already.

Batwoman was so boring but I wanted to see if it got better. It hasn’t.

This show needed to spend episode 1 where she’s discovering how bad Gotham was without Batman & where he went. Is he doing a really long pub crawl? Saving people in another country/city? Dead? Kate shows zero concern for her missing cousin & for some reason, hates him.

Kate immediately knowing how to use the bat equipment with zero practices...how at the beginning she’s swimming in ice water for no reason and doesn’t get hypothermia?? That’s all very unbelievable.

Kate is written as Mary Sue. She knows all & has the most skills in the world! Why??? Okay so she was in the military so yeah give her a backstory of taking taekwondo classes or something but for her to know how to do Luke Fox’s job better than he does? Or where the cameras are at Wayne Enterprises...more than the security team?? And to know what the computer password is, okay... basically she has to be great at everything & the other characters have to be written dumb in order for Kate to be appealing. Why?

Bashing Batman...in a show based in the bat-universe. Terrible move. Kate doing this repeatedly makes us think she’s a villain. Not a hero.

Bashing everyone with male genitalia...makes Kate look like a pr*ck. You can hate certain men you’ve known but to constantly reference women as being superior to men...

1) negates equal rights. You can’t be equals if you act/think/say you’re superior.

2) any boys watching this show is going to feel like something is wrong with them.

3) it’s sexist.

Just like many of us women grew up hearing repeatedly that men were better at this & that...

4) male bashing IS spreading hate. STOP.

That is actually why (more than anything) I didn’t want to watch in the first place because of how the trailers made it sound like they were bashing a whole gender.

Too much too soon. Revealing Alice is Beth in the first episode? Why? Drag it out an episode or 2. Each episode is both boring and yet they try to cram everything into a single episode it’s bizarre.

Ridiculous scenarios. Like Batman would leave a child to drown. And why didn’t Beth/Alice just go home or contact the police...or anyone...when she got out of the water all those years ago? Why does Kate keep letting her sister go when the woman is a multi-murderer?!

Yes, Kate is still hung up on her ex but it was years ago & she was the one dumped. And Sophie is married so Kate is coming off like a stalker 👀

All of it makes Kate look unsympathetic & unlikeable. The show isn’t funny except when we hear bad dialogue. It’s trying to be overly dramatic like a soap opera but it still doesn’t work. I think that’s due to the writing & the directing.

Now don’t get me wrong, even with RR’s lack of acting skills there are ways of making it work...that weren’t done.

Keanu’s Reeves isn’t the most skillful actor but he tries. He’s good at certain things & sticks to it. He knows where his skills are. Yes he’s improved but he’ll never be able to pull off an intense dramatic role. So he sticks to what he’s good at. He’s also a good person & tries to talk openly & intelligently about things so he has people’s respect IRL.

Ruby Rose has been touchy & volatile about people criticizing Batwoman. That made me lose what little respect I had for her.

Awhile back I had tried watching this design show (yes I like those too) Love it Or List It Vancouver. The show was fine but the designer Jillian was being critiqued left right & Center on social media after the pilot episode for sounding like a child. She used phrases such as; “totally”,”for sure” , and used the word ‘like’ a thousand times... she really did sound like a valley girl. However, about 5 episodes later that was gone. She was speaking more eloquently and more grown up - which in turn made people like her more. She & the show worked to help improve her speech patterns so it wouldn’t be distracting. And the show has been around for years now.

My point? RR could have taken the criticism & worked with it. I get she’s probably upset as she worked hard but we all go through it. We all have a project of some kind at work that falls flat. We take the criticism & try to improve. RR could take acting lessons or at the very least, practice in the mirror.

Most of the other issues I’ve mentioned are a result of the awful writing, poor direction & likely some interference from the network.

What this show should never have done was act superior. That’s being a douche. Anytime I see or hear someone being arrogant like that I just roll my eyes and walk away (or in this case, turn the channel).

If anyone working for the CW and/or Batwoman reads this I hope you’ll take some pointers.

I like myself too much though to subject myself to anymore episodes though. I’m done. ✌️

[pennywises-baby-brat]

Ghost Riders In The Sky. (nothing gold can stay pt2)

Once Erelin had told Roman everything he needed to know about the process of going into Theo’s head they started. With Roman’s help Erelin sat Theo up and had Roman sit next to him. “Just remember to keep him busy.” Roman nodded and took a deep breath. Erelin flicked her claws out and quickly inserted them into Roman and Theo’s neck, sending them into Theo’s mind.

Erelin was in the Dread Doctors’ lab, she could hear the clicks and whirls of their frequency. But they weren’t there. It was just Theo and her. She was in the clothes they had buried her in. He was talking to someone.

“You’re positive you can bring her back?” Theo looked up at someone in the corner. “I can’t but they can. You just need to bring me the masks.” Theo kissed her forehead before whispering that he would make it right. Then he disappeared out the lab door. The Nazi Lion was sat there staring at me. “Poor little fox.” He shook his head before leaving.

Roman was in a morgue. He saw a girl, who looked like they had pulled her from a swamp, laid on the table. “My sister.” Theo came out of the dark, looking at the girl. “The one you killed?” Theo glared but he nodded to confirm it. “They told me she wanted me to have it. Told me how to kill her in a way that would allow them to take it.” The scene changed. Suddenly they were on a bridge watching his sister beg for help in a river.

“I let her freeze to death. Once she was dead they came and ripped her heart out. I was taken to their lab and they gave it to me. Not long after they made me a chimera.” The scene changed again and they were in the lab from the tunnels. “They brought Erelin two months later. She was the same age as me and so scared. I did everything I could to comfort her.” The scene played. Showing a young Erelin cowering in a corner and Theo sitting next to her, his arm around her. He was whispering comforting words.

Roman growled. He didn’t know her then but he still felt drawn to her, felt the need to protect her. “We grew up in the lab, raised by the doctors. She was my everything. My family, my friend, the love of my life.” The scene fast forward through the years they spent together. Roman could see how close they once were. Erelin had protected him countless times when they were trained. She had taken his pain. Her touch was soft and gentle, the same way it was with Roman. There was love in her eyes.

Then the scene paused and Erelin was surrounded by her aura. The day Roman saw it he was mesmerized, she looked powerful and strong. He had fallen more in love with her. “Then everything changed.” Theo walked over to the paused image of Erelin, looking at her with longing and loss. “She found out what I did. She was disgusted with me.” Theo looked hurt. “She pulled away, she told me to stay away from her. Not long after she broke free of the doctors and left.”

Roman was shown that day. Watched as Erelin used her power to break free. Saw her pause at the door to look back at Theo. He looked hurt and betrayed. “I’m sorry Theo, but you’re not who you said you were.” She ran and left him with the doctors. It was that day he turned cold. He became the monster he was.

Roman was shown everything they went through after he met the pack, the lies and the turn. The damage he caused. Everything up to the day she left to Hemlock. All from Theo’s point of view. The longing he had for the girl he once called his friend. The hatred towards everyone close to her. Saw how Theo turned his pain into sassy remarks and jabbing comments.

He watched as Theo was tortured in hell. Finding satisfaction in watching Theo get his heart ripped out repeatedly. At least for the first couple of times. Enjoyed the fear and pain he saw in Theo’s eyes. His screams making him smirk. But around the hundredth time he started to see why Theo feared the sword. He felt a pang of regret at actually wanting to send him back. Knowing what his hell was, feeling the fear he had. Not even Roman was that heartless.  

Then they were in Hemlock and he saw everything change in the way he looked at Erelin. The love he once had was directed at Liam. He felt Theo’s need to protect the beta, the fear he had of going back to hell, the need to prove to the pack he could be trusted. Roman could feel the change from dark to light in Theo. It was much like his own. He had been so dark and lost before Erelin, he was empty. But she gave him purpose, she was his light in the dark. And Liam was everything to Theo. He loved the beta.

He still loved Erelin but now it was a different love. He loved her like pack, like family. He still hated her for leaving him in the lab, for turning on him. He wanted her to feel that pain, so he never showed her the friendship he had others.

When he found out the doctors were successful in implanting the embryo in her, and that they had a daughter, he thought he could hurt Erelin by taking Joey. He wanted her to know what it was like to lose someone so close like that but Roman stood in his way. The more he tried the more he realized Erelin had more than just Joey. She had a man that loved her and would die for her. She had another daughter that she would protect with her life. Theo couldn’t hurt her so he left with Argent.

Then he got the call. She was dead. He came back immediately, stayed at Liam’s side, away from Roman. He was afraid what he would do to Roman. He hated him. He had let her get hurt, he let this happen. He would kill Roman. He had planned to, till he saw that he was tortured by her death. Ending it would be too kind.

But he wasn’t the only one tortured by Erelin’s death. Their daughter was, her pack, Roman’s daughter felt the loss, and Theo. Theo hated her for leaving him but he despised her more for dying. He did the only thing he could think of. He would make it right. He would fix this. Give her a chance to raise her children, maybe even have more. He would even leave Roman alone, but he needed her alive. Needed a chance to fix what they had, the friendship they had once upon a time.

Roman was taken aback by this. He figured Theo did this for himself, or to hurt him and Erelin. He never expected that he had done it for Roman and his girls. “I’m an asshole, Roman. But even I can see that she loved you. See what you meant to each other. She deserved to live her life, to raise her children. So I went to him.” Theo showed him walking into the lab. Eyes red rimmed from tears. He looked just as broken as Roman had felt.

“Douglas!” Theo roared. He knew the Löwenmench would be here, he would have to be.  “Chimera.” He stepped out of the corner to look at Theo, smelling the air as he scented the creatures Theo was mixed with. “You want the wild hunt! You need a rider. I have someone who can bring them here, capture one. They’ve done it before.” Theo told him about Erelin, told him he needed to bring her back. The Löwenmench promised he could. Sent Theo to get her body. Theo knew a few ghouls who could dig her up without disturbing her.

Douglas used Theo to bring back the doctors. They brought back Erelin, made her stronger. To Deaton and Noshiko she was just Tenko, but Theo knew the truth. She was immortal. She couldn't be killed.  No matter what anyone did, Erelin would live longer than her thousand years.

Roman didn’t know what to say. How he should feel about it. “I thought he could bring her back and then we could kill him together. The doctors are dead but he’s still out there and he’s stronger than I thought.” Theo showed him the battle he had missed when he took Erelin to Deaton. Derek took out one doctor. Liam and Theo fought together to take out another. Roman was impressed with how they moved. Two bodies working off one brain. Isaac and Perrish took out the last but when it came to Douglas. They had lost. He injured Liam and Theo badly. Derek and Isaac barely got out them out of there.

“I know Erelin is in here with you. She’s trying to get information.” Everything changed and suddenly Erelin was next to Roman and Theo turned to them both. “I should have let you rest in peace, but you’re the only family I have. I know you hate me, with good reason. And I have no right to Joey. but I couldn’t let you die, even if it means I go back to hell. Roman can even be the one to send me.” Theo took a deep breath before looking at Erelin.

“He plans to use Parrish to open the riff, but he needs Corey to bring them into our plain of existence. Corey can exist in both worlds. He already has Parrish and everything else he needs. HE just needs Corey. You’re first on the list Erelin. The wild hunt will look for you and Stiles. You will be taken, you’re the only one that can stop him.”

Erelin brought them out of Theo’s head. They knew the plan, and Erelin knew what would happen. “We need to protect Corey.” Erelin moved away from Theo, missing the look Roman gave him. “Douglas is gonna go after him to bring the Wild Hunt. We need to keep him safe. Douglas already has Parrish.” 

@yesitsgodfrey

[insomniasix]

The Lady.

Ok, so since I started making my old fics FFXV related, I’ve decided to make all of them as such. I’ll add them to a Masterlist of their own later on. 

This is a piece I created for a competition and I thought it fit perfectly for @nemo-ne-impune-lacessit ‘s Evita Hemlock and Ignis. So I did something with that. 

Some might’ve already read it before (It’s been uploaded before) but I finally fixed some of my own mistakes and added a few more FFXV lines and events in it. 

Words: 2782 | Characters: Evita Hemlock , Six Ulric , Ignis Scientia | Trigger Warnings: Death, Fire, Injury and some more death along the way.

Thank you for taking the time to read! I hope you like it!

“Tell me a little about yourself.” The man with the dirty-blond hair asked.

He’s from Insomnia. Evita was certain because of his accent. Born and raised. You don’t really see psychologist from Insomnia. After the fall, there was only one other she’d come across. Ignis seemed to know a few things though.

Her molten gold eyes kept wondering behind him, following the patterns of the dark green. Under different circumstances, Evita would be mesmerized by his incredible features. A face build by perfect carves and lines, no scars or wrinkles; and those eyes, emerald green and filled with compassion and love, even for the people he didn’t know. Like her.

She wondered for a second. Could a person really carry on with such feelings? Or is it simply part of his job?

She didn’t care about it. She didn’t care about anything anymore!

In any other time, she and her sister, Six, would be rendered speechless under the gaze of such a man.

“He’s the man of your dreams, isn’t he?” she heard her sister’s stern voice.

She’d thought about it a couple of times; a man worthy of her own beauty.

Evita was a young lady, she was to turn twenty on the next week; she didn’t care about that either.

Tall, olive skinned, with golden almond-shaped eyes and coper colored, short, messy hair. Her black streak always being her trademark.

She looked a lot like her mother. Or so she remembered.

She didn’t have time for romance.

Evita and Six grew up alone. They were orphaned at a young age when the apartment they all lived in caught on fire. The flames taking mommy and daddy with them.

That wasn’t the reason she’d decided to visit the psychologist, though. The reason was… a dream!

“Evie?” she heard his calm voice ring inside her ears. It felt like an invisible hand, caressing her away from her dark thoughts, away from the wall her eyes kept staring at; leading her straight to his soft lips.

She wanted to listen to him, hear his advice. Take it, so she could save herself. Or so she thought.

“Daydreaming?” he blessed her with a soft smile.

“There’s no reason to dream anymore.” The words fell from her lips like whisper. She didn’t want the world to listen. The world she’d come to know, was cruel, judging, painful. There was no place in it for her. “The world doesn’t give you a reason to dream.”

“How about life?” the young man asked again, mesmerized by her way of thinking; by the darkness that surrounded her.

“Life is just a game, doc.” She smiled a bitter smile.

“Please, call me Ignis. Would you care to elaborate on that notion? Is life a game for you?” it was incredible, there was nothing but compassion in his voice. No hate, no fear, no dread towards her, her words, her idea of the world.

That was… new.

“Not just for me. For everyone. It’s just a pointless, stupid game, that someone, somewhere came up with. A game where all of us are bound to play by someone else’s rules. Forced to do whatever others tell us. Unable to leave whenever we want; just whenever they get bored of us. When they’ve had enough. We all have our own daemons, but…” she took a few seconds to blink the hot tears away from her eyes, rearranging her thoughts as her eyes darkened “ you can get out of it if she blesses you. If she accepts to put you out of this misery we’ve learned to call life. It’s not always a blessing though. Sometimes, it’s the exact opposite.”

“Who is she?”

Evita smiled wearily “Lady Death. The forbidden child of Shiva and Ifrit. The cursed child; abandoned by the Six Astrals and the world beyond.”

Ignis wrote something on his notebook “So you wish to tell me, Death… is a female figure.”

“Isn’t every wrong thing in the world a female figure?” she smirked “The Original Sin: Eos, Shiva, Leviathan; everything began with them.”

“I am curious,” Ignis continued after nodding at her chain of thought “this… Lady Death, tell me about her. Explain to me, how do you picture her?”

Evita’s look was dead serious the second the words left his lips “I don’t picture her, Iggy.” Her voice strong and low “She’s not a fragment of my imagination. I’ve seen her.”

Ignis’ heart skipped a beat at her words, a certain uneasiness taking its hold on him. He fixed his glasses before continuing “The dream for which you came to me.”

“Not exactly.” She breathed, her eyes falling upon the texture on the wall once more “See, it wasn’t a dream.” She explained what the Lady was for her “A tall figure, young face, a thin yet strong presence. Long dark hair, hugging her body like a vail; and her eyes… milky white and screaming chaos! Spreading terror as they fascinate any soul that dares to look at them. She always wears a long dark tunic, taking extra care not to hide her beautify terrifying face. On her right hand, a scythe, even more monumental than her own form, a shiny blade under which countless souls have fallen! That’s how she answers your song, when you call for her. Her face,” Evita let out a heartening sigh and a shiver run down Ignis’ spine as his blood had started to freeze. He didn’t know why, but something in her words, in the meaning of them, seemed so alive, so real; like he could almost see her, standing by her side “her face is so sad. She doesn’t like what she’s doing. Though, there’s no other way, she, herself, is just another pawn of the Astrals.”

“Stop telling him everything! He doesn’t need to know.” She heard her sister’s voice once again. Six was there, whispering in her ears.

Evita stopped talking.

“Can anyone call for her?” Ignis asked. He was so absorbed by her, he hadn’t written anything down in his notebook. Thinking back on that little detail, he smiled to himself for having pressed the recording button.

Evita didn’t answer. She was waiting for Six’s blessing to do so. The latter didn’t speak. She just walked around the room a little longer. Her silver eyes falling on every single picture and frame the doctor had, hanging on the rooms walls. Pictures of his trip with his friends.

“You can tell me.” Ignis smiled “I don’t plan on calling her anytime soon.”

Evita’s eyes fell on Six’s figure, right behind him, leaning against the dark green wall with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

“Tell him then. I’m not sure Her Highness will be more bothered than I am.”

Evita opened her mouth, as if to say something but closed it right away. She took a small breath, trying to pick the right words “Have you heard of the Swan Song?”

“Yes.” Ignis answered, filled with interest and need for knowledge “Swans sing before they die.”

“That’s just what humans do as well. A little before we die, we let out a soundless scream of sorrow and regret. To her ears, that scream takes the form of a song. A summoning spell.”

“How is it that you have seen her, then?” Ignis thought about her words “You’re still here.”

“It all started when my parents died. I was twelve years old and my sister was fifteen. Our apartment caught on fire because my mother forgot that damn cigarette before dad threw it away.” Six let out a huffed laugh at the thought of one thing leading to another. “It all happened so fast; I can’t recall how fast the fire spread along the house. I just remember… Her! She came for mommy and daddy. She came for me! She lowered herself above me, like a mother, tucking her beloved child in bed before sleep. She whispered how it wasn’t my time, but we were to meet again. She moved so quickly, yet I, like the little child I was, followed. I needed to see; I needed to know what she was doing. Who she was.” She took a breath in, eyes wondering, following her sister’s moving figure; falling on the mesmerized eyes of her listener “They sang for her! I could hear their call. She lowered herself over them, like she’d done for me and; I couldn’t understand why but… she cried for them. It was only a single, heavy tear. When it fell and touched their foreheads, they went silent.”

Ignis was nailed in place. Unable to move, like her words were hands, keeping him down in his seat. Everything he heard, so real. Like he was the one to live through it. Like it was his parents, leaving their last breath in the arms of the dark-dressed woman. Images bombarding his mind; the apartment, the fire, the Lady in black, the shaking of fear and the smell of dread.

“And then,” Evita continued “She opened her ripped black wings and the room went dark.” She mimicked the movement a bird makes when it flatters it’s wings “I woke up in my sister’s arms the next morning. Six never spoke about it, but she’d seen her too. I know. I could see it in her eyes.”

“So tell me, Ignis.” she ordered after a few seconds of silence, her eyes glued to his “How can two kids, who had never felt pain or misery in their lives, dream about such horrid things? How can all this be but a dream? Let me tell you.” she smiled “It’s just another rule. What one cannot understand, must be just a bad dream. ‘Childish Imagination’ the previous doctor called it. ‘A teenager’s dark subconscious’. Six and I know better than that.”

“Talk to me about your sister.” Ignis tried changing the subject, get her mind working on something else “Did she treat you right? Were you happy with her?”

“He’s pushing it.” Six roared, behind gritted teeth. Getting very close to his face while he just sat there, not even flinching; not paying any attention to anything but Evita.

“You’re pushing it, doc.” Evita’s eyes moved from her sister to him “We’re here because of the ‘dream’; not my sister.”

“I’m just trying to understand, Evie. Help me put the pieces together.”

“He’s either very good at his job, or a complete idiot!” Six breathed, raising her eyebrow at him. This time she was sitting in the chair behind him, her intense look not once leaving his figure.

“What should I help you understand?” Evita asked, not paying attention to her sister’s words.

“What brings you here.”

Evita brought Six back to the center of attention, despite her sister’s protests “My sister, Six, is my guardian angel.”

“Is?” Ignis noticed “I thought…”

“You thought right.” Evita cut him off “My sister is dead!”

“We always carry the thought of the ones we lost.” Ignis quoted, fixing his glasses at the bridge of his nose. “Would you tell me how it happened?”

“She was murdered.”

Evita took her time to collect her thoughts while Ignis waited for more information. He pushed her, with his own kind way, so her mind could think of the details, get everything he could out of her. He really wanted to help her move on.

Ignis made a notion with his hand and she continued.

“Her song was beautiful! It was the second time I saw Her. It was a rainy day, back in Insomnia. We hadn’t been back for a year. She went inside the Citadel while I waited with a couple of friends, she had a duty to fulfil. A few moments later, I heard her song and a tear fell down my face. See, the Chancellor of Niflheim was there. He had it out for her ever since she uncovered his plans for the Peace Signing.” Evita looked at the celling, taking a moment for the hot tears to dry out. “And well, here we are.”

“We?” Ignis found himself surprised by her choice of words once again “There’s none other here but you, Evie.”

Evita tilted her head to the side, looking at him with wonder in her eyes “You’re wrong, Ignis.” she said “There’re four of us in this room.”

The blood inside his veins froze solid, terror spreading all over his body. The vision of the young lady he had in front him had changed in an instant. The sweet, innocent version had become cold, like a porcelain doll.

It was only then that he noticed the wounds, scratches and bruises all over her face, neck, arms and legs. There was one, in particular, he got terrified upon noticing. A big wound on her eye! How? When? Why was he noticing them just now?

“What are you saying, Evie?” his voice broke, fear taking the better of him as it consumed his heart and mind.

“You still can’t see her?” Evita smiled a sad smile “She’s right there!” she pointed at the leather couch next to the office’s door.

Ignis’ gaze followed her delicate finger. His eyes instantly falling upon her.

The tall girl with the vail of raven hair and eyes grey as a winter’s cloud. She was dressed in white, just like Evita and she was also covered in wounds and scratches. Ignis’ eyes fell upon the left side of her entire body –the parts he could see anyway. It seemed as if it was still burning. How was that possible? The wound seemed to start at the middle of her cheek, running down to her fingers and toes.

“Hey, Iggy!” Six waved with a smile when he’d finally realized she was actually there as well.

“Who are you?” Ignis raised from his seat “How did you get in here?”

“Get –“ Six sighed while rolling her eyes “I was here from the start. You were just not ready to see us.”

“See… you?” he was starting to lose it, he was sure of it “Evita, what –“

When his eyes fell upon her, Evita’s dress was covered in blood, seemingly running down from the wound on her eye. He run to her side, wanting to help her; but she just stared at his direction, her golden eyes now milky white and her face… nothing like he was expecting.

Ignis expected to come across something. Pain, agony. The only emotion she showed was… regret.

That’s when he remembered.

“Lady Death.” He whispered, feeling his heart ready to burst out.

“Can you see her now?” She asked.

“I…” he’s voice broke at the emotions bombarding his mind “This can’t be happening.” He fell on his knees in front of her.

“It’s all just a dream.” Evita caressed his cheek while she explained as he leaned into her touch “Your way of avoiding the pain. All the stories you heard from me; all yours. The fire, that took your parents when Niflheim attacked Insomnia. The ‘murder’ of your ‘brother’, Noctis. All yours! Your very own Swan Song.”

Ignis’ eyes where filled with agony when he looked at her again “Who are you?”

“I am a Reaper.” She smiled wearily “I’m here to remind you of who you truly are.”

Ignis burst out in tears at her words, realizing it was his time. That this was real.

“Your song is the most beautiful tone I’ve ever heard!” Evita breathed “You truly do not want to die!”

“But you must come with us.” Six stepped in, voice stern and yet breaking for him “Accept the end.”

And then, amongst the pain, the fear and the agony that ripped his heart apart, Ignis saw her standing in the corner, near the exit door.

A dark, shapeless figure; moving closer with every passing second. A single ray of light running along the blade of her scythe.

“My Lady.” He managed to say in between his shallow breaths her sad gaze caused.

‘She doesn’t like what she’s doing.’ He heard Evita’s words in his mind again ‘She’s just another pawn of the Astrals!’

“She’s not here for us, Ignis.” the sisters said in unison, their merged voice caressing his ears like a song “She’s here for you.”

Ignis looked at her through his eyelashes, coming across her haunting, void eyes. She bowed above him and shed a single tear. Suddenly, all the feelings he felt were gone. Pain had become peace, sorrow had become bliss.

It was all over.

But he didn’t care. He didn’t care about anything anymore!

Lady Death stretched her black, ripped wings and darkness fell over the room.

“Death,” she whispered in a haunting screech “is only the beginning.”

Tagging: @nemo-ne-impune-lacessit @mzargentum @nykamito @thedragontamerying @fieryfantasy @ladye11e @glacian-apocalypse @asonataspassions (If you want to be added or removed please let me know! Thank you again!)

[onemoremiraclefandoms-blog]

Comfort in Hell - Chapter Eleven

Hughes stood back and assessed the room as his men began to look for clues. He didn't believe that Dalton had killed himself, and he'd managed to get him and his men access to the house, although he had been told that it was a suicide and that there was no point investigating it. He didn't believe that though. Anyone that knew Dalton even in the passing would know that he wouldn't kill himself.

“Sir?”

Maes looked up at the young woman that stood in front of him at the entrance to the dining room. She was a little older than Edward but was also highly intelligent. She was able to make quick observations and pick up on little clues that may not be noticed before. Maes followed her into the dining room.

“There's two places set, but only one has a plate. Presumably this was Dalton's place, as we know, the salad contained Hemlock which killed him. The other place only has a wine glass sat at it, red wine.” The woman explained to Maes, pointing the glass. “There's a slight smear of someone's lipstick on the glass. That implies that a woman was here, and gives us reason to think that she was the one that put Hemlock into the salad that General Dalton was eating.”

Hughes listened to the woman talk and nodded. It did certainly make sense. He just couldn't figure out who would murder the general. He'd certainly made plenty enemies, but he was a high ranking officer. Hughes also knew that while they had all this information, they still couldn't prove that it was murder. Hell, they couldn't even prove that the woman had put the poisonous leaves in the salad. It was being written off as a suicide, but it could have also just have been a horrible, painful accident for the general and it also could have been a motivated attack.

Hughes just couldn't shake the feeling that this was all linked to whoever wanted Edward. They didn't even know what they wanted the young alchemist for, other than that they just wanted him. Roy had mentioned in private one day that some of the men that had tortured him sounded angry with Edward, as if they wanted to hurt him or have him killed, but others – according to Roy – almost sounded as though they worshipped the blonde. Sighing, Maes called for his men to leave. They wouldn't get anything else from this place. He'd head back to the office and he'd inform Roy of what he'd found out and his nagging feeling. Roy had to know just in case Edward was in more danger than they'd thought.

--

“Dead?” Edward asked, stunned. He sat down onto the couch again, staring at the floor. “He was killed?” He asked, looking up at Roy, who was staring out of the window again.

“No. Not officially. The police are putting it down as a suicide.”

“But you don't believe that, do you?” Edward replied, voicing the thought on both of their minds. “That's what you were talking to Hughes about, wasn't it? You don't think its a suicide. What makes you think that he didn't just go and blow his brains out? The bastard was clearly unstable.”

“He was poisoned for one.” Roy said, moving to sit down at his desk, resting his arms on the solid wooden surface. “If he'd died by a gunshot then I'd be more inclined to believe it was a suicide. But they have found hemlock leaves in a salad that they believe he had eaten some of. Its a highly poisonous plant. Even the leaves would be enough to kill.” Roy explained to him, as Edward sat frowning. It was a valid point. If Dalton was going to kill himself, he wouldn't have went to such an extreme to make it look like an accident. “Its a painful death that results in suffocation. It takes hours to die. If Dalton were going to kill himself, he wouldn't do it like that.”

“The second reason is that Hughes' team who were looking into it found evidence that Dalton had had at least one guest that night. There were two empty glasses of wine sitting on the dinner table. One had Dalton's prints on it, but the other was suspiciously clear of prints despite the smear of lipstick.” Roy continued, tapping a pen on the surface of his desk. “You also know as well as I do that Dalton was too proud. A suicide implies that he felt guilty for what he'd done, but I don't believe that. He treated his men as cannon fodder. He'd have no guilt about sending one to an early grave.” He said, looking up to meet Edward's eye, hesitating for a moment. “And from how he spoke, I doubt he felt guilty about what he did to you.”

Edward didn't hold Roy's gaze. He couldn't. The memories of what happened on Saturday night were still too fresh, both the assault and kissing Roy. His heart was pounding and he didn't realise that his hands were gripping the side of the couch cushion so hard that his flesh knuckles turned white until Roy moved to him and gently pried them off.

“Are you okay?” He asked softly, his gloved hands holding Edward's gloved flesh one. The blonde looked down at both their hands, staring at the whiteness of their gloves and the transmutation circles on the back of Roy's gloves. Fire alchemy was something he hadn't really studied. He knew a bit about what was needed. He knew that it was the oxygen levels that Roy controlled with his alchemy. He knew that it had to be precise. If it was done wrong the results could be deadly. “Fullmetal?”

“I'm fine.” Ed muttered, still staring at their gloves. Roy would never have reached out to him like this before. Would the others notice? Did Roy even notice the change? He looked up at Mustang's sigh and watched the man shake his head and move away. “What?

“Its okay to admit that you're not okay, Edward.” Roy muttered, watching Edward with something like doubt in his eyes. “You don't always have to be fine. You're allowed to hurt, or be upset. You're allowed to be shit scared sometimes. It won't change how people see you. They won't think of you as weak if you're scared.”

“I'm not scared.” Edward snapped, interrupting the man. He gave Roy a fierce glare and stood up. “I'm not hurt or upset or scared. The bastard deserved to die, what does it matter to me that he is? I have no reason to be scared, Mustang! He's dead now, and he'll never get a chance to touch me and act on all his sick little fantasies. He's never going to get a chance now, all he managed to do was steal one kiss while his now dead soldier stuck his hand into my trousers.” Edward stopped when he realised that he was shouting at Roy. He dropped his gaze with a snarl and noticed that his hands were shaking, but he couldn't tell if it was from anger or from the fear that clung to him despite his words.

“You're right.” Roy said calmly after a long pause. “You don't have a reason to be scared of Dalton now. But you are. You're scared of what he could have done, aren't you?” Roy asked, but Edward didn't answer him. The blonde just turned his back to him and moved around the couch, only stopping when Roy placed a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off but stayed where he was. “Its still dangerous, Edward. Whoever killed Dalton may be one of the ones that's after you. I want you to be safe. I need you to be safe.”

“I'm not a kid, Mustang. I can look after myself.” Edward muttered bitterly. “Besides, you need to focus on getting better yourself. You need to be in control of your alchemy again.” Ed said, his voice softer as he glanced back at Roy with a slightly concerned frown. “Don't wear yourself out worrying about me.” He muttered as he turned away again and left the room, heading to his desk and the waiting pile of work he had.

--

Edward and Roy barely spoke for the rest of the day or the following week. Things weren't as awkward as Ed thought they would be, but they were far from comfortable and everyone in the office noticed it. They didn't mention it or make things any more difficult, but he could tell that they knew something. Riza knew about the kiss, but she would have kept it to herself for both their safety. Whether the others picked up on cues that they wanted each other, or just that things were off, he didn't know. Throughout the week, Roy never once sent Edward out of town on a mission.

It was late on in the week that Edward caught a glimpse of a mission in the East that he knew he could wrap up within the day. He approached Roy about it, but the General refused and said that it wasn't a major issue and someone less skilled would be able to deal with it.

“That's bullshit and you know it Roy.” Ed had snapped, slamming his hands onto the desk. “If a lesser alchemist could do it they wouldn't waste your time asking you to get me to do it. Now tell me what the real reason is that I'm still sitting here and not out on a mission actually doing my job.”

Roy sighed and ran a hand through his hair before looking up at Edward with a raised eyebrow that suggested the real reason was painfully obvious, and Edward knew that it was. He knew that Roy was keeping him in the city because he was safe here. Someone was always able to watch him, but that didn't mean that he didn't want Roy's admission of it.

“You're safer in the city than you are out on some pointless, wild goose chase.” Roy eventually said, returning his attention to the file in front of him. Somehow his admission just pissed Edward off.

“You don't have to keep protecting me, Mustang.” Edward snapped, leaning on the table. He was taller than Roy like this, and leaning over him in his anger he should have been intimidating too, but Roy just shot him a bored look and returned to his paperwork.

“You're under my command, Fullmetal. I say that you stay within the city so we can protect you and that's exactly what you'll do. I know how much you hate any help, but I'm really not giving you the choice here so you should stop acting like a child and accept it. You don't have to do everything alone.”

Edward wasn't fully aware of what made him snap or that he had lashed out and slapped Roy, but he could probably put it down to being called a child. He was also aware of the shock on his commanding officers face that was rapidly turning to anger and he was painfully aware of his own heavy breathing and the sting in his flesh hand. He turned to leave and moved quicker when he heard Roy move but a tight grip on his arm stopped him.

Roy spun him around and Edward defiantly raised his gaze to meet Roy's. There was a red mark on Roy's cheek that made a wave of guilt eat away at Edward's stomach. As if Roy needed another injury now, and Edward would have made an apology if it weren't for the anger in those dark eyes that dared him to even open his mouth.

“You have always been a disobedient pain in my arse, Fullmetal, and I have let you away with more than I perhaps should have.” Roy snapped and Edward tried to pull his arm back but Roy wouldn't let him.

“Let go of me, Mustang.”

“Shut up!” Roy snapped, making Edward flinch slightly. “For once in your life will you just shut the hell up, Edward, and for a moment think about why we're trying to help you. We're not just doing it to piss you off. We're doing it because you mean something to us and you're in danger. If these people get their hands on you, the best thing that they will do to you is kill you. Do you understand that Edward?”

Edward watched Roy in silence, stunned by the outburst. The grip on his arm hurt, and was strong enough that it would probably bruise, but he didn't try to get away again. He just watched Roy warily. After a moment he shook his head, he didn't understand. “No. I don't understand, Mustang. How can killing me be the best thing that they'll do?”

“Because one of the men that set me on fire hinted at how he wanted you raped.” Roy snapped. He closed his eyes and loosened his grip on Edward's arm. There was a pause before Roy spoke again, his voice softer and his concern for Edward painfully clear as he opened his eyes again. “I wasn't able to get anything else out of him. I don't know who he was or who he was working for but he seemed to think that you were guilty of something and he wanted to see you punished for it.” Roy said, watching Edward take in the news. “I didn't want to tell you because the idea of someone doing that you makes me feel sick.”

Edward pulled away from Roy's loose grip and took a few steps back. He understood Roy's point now. He tasted bile in the back of his throat that he swallowed back as he tried to get his brain to work again but his mind just get repeating that one sentence. Because one of the men that set me on fire hinted at how he wanted you raped. He wasn't sure what was worse, that some bastard had actually set Roy on fire, or that as he was doing that he was talking about raping one of Roy's men for some delusional crime.

“They didn't all act like that though, and that's what has us at such a dead end. Some of them spoke about you as if they knew you and thought that you were something precious to them. They almost worshipped you and were disgusting with how badly I apparently treat you by sending you out on mission that will cause you any risk.”

Edward shook his head again and turned his back to Roy, trying to figure it out. It seemed like people with these two conflicting ideas about him. Edward wasn't aware of his hands shaking until they were in Roy's. He looked up at the man that had moved to stand in front of him again and let himself be scared for the moment. He moved closer to Roy almost hesitantly and rested his forehead on his shoulder, leaving Roy to let go of his hands and wrap strong arms around him. Both of those ideas made him feel sick. He wasn't something to be worshipped and nobody deserved a punishment like that.

Roy didn't ask Edward to speak, or open up about his fears. He didn't even ask Edward to confirm that it was fear. Whatever the alchemist was feeling, it wasn't Roy's place to ask. He had noticed that Edward was shaking and he had move to comfort him, but Edward's lack of verbal communication was unnerving. Roy remembered back when Ed had discovered what Tucker had done to Nina and her dog and how he'd shut down afterwards. He didn't want to lose Edward to himself. What if he shut down and couldn't get back out of that state?

“I'm sorry Fullmetal. I shouldn't have told you like that. I should have told you sooner and without my anger towards you.” Roy mumbled as he gently pulled an unresisting Edward to sit at his side on the couch. Edward sat down, but he didn't speak and his gaze never left the rug under his feet. “I just didn't want you to know. It was selfish of me but I wanted to try and protect you from that knowledge and that was wrong of me. I'm sorry Edward.”

Edward shrugged. He had to control his mind. He couldn't lose himself to threats like this, but it was hard. He was never one to give up on a puzzle or problem, but this was one problem he just wanted to brush under the rug and pretend that it wasn't real. He swallowed passed the lump in his throat and eventually met Roy's worried eyes. He forced a smile that he could tell wasn't convincing and rested his gaze on the still slightly pinker skin of Roy's face. He pulled his gloves off and pressed cool automail fingers to the angry flesh. “Its okay. I understand why you didn't say.” He mumbled, keeping his hand on Roy's cheek as his eyes drifted back to the dark blue of Roy's. “I'm sorry I hit you. I wasn't really aware that I was doing it until I had.” He muttered, blushing slightly.

Roy chuckled and the noise helped Edward to give him a real smile. Roy's laugh was so warming that it was almost easy to forget about everything he had just learnt and it made him want to kiss the older man. He resisted though. He couldn't give into his urges in the office. That was just asking for trouble and everyone knew it. “Its okay Ed. I probably deserved it.” He said, smiling warmly and taking Edward's hand in his. He turned his head to place a kiss to the cool metal without really thinking through his actions.

He knew that he was too close to Edward already. He knew that he needed to back off and leave comforting Edward to his family and colleagues, but Roy just couldn't let Edward go out of that door as shaken as he had been. Roy had told Edward the day before that they couldn't be together, that their were too many risks for them both. It wasn't fair to Ed to put him at risk like that, and he had to think of his career, but with Edward sitting there, holding his face and watching him with a mix of hungry lust and careful curiosity, Roy knew one thing for absolute certainty. He wouldn't be able to stay away from Edward and he wouldn't be able to run from his own want for the blonde.

[andy-jax]

kaiyaeldridge​:

.

“Boston, alright. I’ve been out there before, it’s alright. Why Crescent Harbor? Seems like a downgrade,” Kai asked with a shake of her head. She had nothing against the town, necessarily, it just felt quiet compared to Boston. “But ah, what do I do…a good question. Right now? Nothing.” The lengthy stretch of not having a job was dragging on and on, with Kaiya making no moves whatsoever to change it up. “Fuck it, though. We don’t need gear, I’m free climbing anyway. It’s nothing too crazy, you should be able to keep up. If not, well, you’ll have a nice view of me going up the mountain at least.”

Already in just a short conversation Kaiya had to admit that she was unemployed and now that she was living on a boat with no kitchen or basic amenities. Hardly the best way to present herself, but it was what it was. “I live on a boat right now? So, no kitchen, very basic set-up. You building your own place, though?” Kai asked with a tilt of her head, admittedly kind of intrigued by it. She’d enjoyed working on the boat so far, so she could imagine building a house was much the same. “Drinks and games, though, I got you there too. Starting Pitcher, it’s the best sports bar around here. You’ll see plenty of me there.”

.

Andy smiled though it was a little bit more forced “Ah... well, when Tom Brady moved from the Pats I decided it was no longer a place for me... and no offense but I’ve googled ‘Florida man’ and I had no intention to moving there, as to how I ended up here, well, I looked at all the places that were hiring firefighters at the moment, I’ve moved around a lot and I like getting to know new places and if I end up not liking it well I got no trouble moving somewhere else,” She shrugged it wasn’t a lie just an omission of the ugly break up, heart break and subsequent impulsive decision to move as far away as possible. “Figure I should give the west coast a chance.” Andy nodded at the explanation and smiled a little more at ease, the fact that the other woman was unemployed and offered no explanation probably meant there was a story behind it and if Kai didn’t offer it, it was probably for a reason so she decided not to dig. “Oh that’s great, I love free climbing, I hate the harness, I carry around 30 pounds worth of equipment but that harness is the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever been in... and I used to do gymnastics... that leotard rides up into very uncomfortable places too... but since I’m probably very rusty I think I’d still be able to enjoy the view going up,” Andy replied with a smirk.

“Oh really? That is awesome! I love being in the ocean but on the ocean in a boat... not so much, I’m fine up until the engine gets shut off and then.. yeah, I haven’t found my sea legs yet,” Andy winced at the memory. “I’m not building it from scratch, my grandpa was in construction and I spent a lot of time with them, I uh... was a little hyperactive so letting me be idle usually ended up with me up in a tree or something broken... sometimes both,” Andy chuckled shaking her head, “So my grandpa would go around the house fixing stuff and I would be his assistant or sometimes we would take up little projects for the neighbors and I’m sure more than once he’d just come up with things to do just to keep me entertained.” Andy sighed heavily, she missed the old man a lot. “I found this place, used to be warehouse or something in Hemlock docks and figured I could turn it into a loft, keep me entertained for a while, my dog loves it because he’s got this huge open space where he can okay even when it’s raining,” Andy felt bad because back in Boston her ex was there to look after P whenever she was working but now he was alone for long periods while she was at home, she needed to find either a walker, a puppy daycare or someone to just keep him company when she wasn’t there. “Well if you’re up for it we could go get a couple of drinks after climbing.”