#i gave them a tiara and it was the best decision

[soupandsorcery]

the way ciro looks at people talking their ears off vs the way they look at their pets

[jeonstellate]

forever by my side

mingyu still honors the love signified by his ring, even after all this time.

๑彡 kim mingyu x gender neutral!reader

๑彡 divorced!au/ex-husband!au, post-break up!au — fluff(?), angst(?)

๑彡 paragraph format — 0.8K words

masterlist

[gif’s full credit belongs solely to its owner]

๑彡 title is taken from zack tabudlo’s by my side (ft. tiara andini).

๑彡 thank you sm for the overwhelming love for my future in your eyes! please accept this as a thank you gift :]

๑彡 this is connected to that fic, a prequel of sorts, but can also be read as a standalone. (i highly recommend reading that, too, though.)

Kim Mingyu is a man of confidence.

He exudes confidence, regardless of what he does. It’s a natural part of his aura — something that he can never control at will.

It comes in handy for his line of work, which often requires him to socialize and impress others. Occasionally, though, it also needs him to give presentations in front of large crowds.

As his audience continues to stare at him, with a mix of glossed eyes and awestruck expressions, Mingyu begins to appreciate his inborn confidence a little bit more.

He’s an extrovert. He does well with crowds. He’s comfortable striking up conversations with complete strangers. He’s talkative and spontaneous and outgoing, amongst other things.

And with his confidence, Mingyu can command a room with ease.

Yet, still, it doesn’t necessarily mean he enjoys public speaking — especially if the crowd he’s addressing is full of college students who are currently everywhere, just not in the classroom.

He can hardly blame them. He has been in their shoes before. He knows what it feels like to listen to professors and guest lecturers drag on when he rather spend his time elsewhere.

"Well then, if you guys thought of more questions later," he began his wrap-up speech, "feel free to email me. Thank you—"

A flurry of moment on his right caught his attention, effectively halting his speech. However, the cause of it is gone by the second he turns.

The only evidence he has that he didn’t hallucinate the entire thing is the murmuring that suddenly engulfs the room. And the small folded piece of paper on his right that seems to appear out of the blue.

Mingyu reaches for the paper and looks around the room. He immediately notices the students’ renewed interest in him. Or perhaps — most likely — they are just interested in how he responses to the note.

He looks down as he opens the paper.

Mister, do you have a significant other?

He chuckles soundlessly. Not because of how off-topic it is from the presentation he just gave, but because it is apparently enough to bring you forth in his mind.

After all, you are his other half. Someone he met and fell in love with within the walls of your college campus. Someone he put great effort to deserve the heart of.

The only one he could see sharing a future with. The only one he went down on one knee for and waited for at the end of the aisle.

The only one he loves with his soul. The only one he respects and cherishes to an unfathomable extent.

Mingyu gives a shy smile to the sea of students before raising his hand, palm facing inward. He lets the gold band around his ring finger shine under the spotlights aimed at him.

Their collective disappointment is loud.

Mingyu finds their reaction amusing. He has watched countless people react to his marital status over the years. Those who appear dismayed, he notes, often try their best to hide it, albeit unsuccessfully. As a matter of fact, this is the first time anyone has ever showed disdain so openly — a whole group, too, no less.

He can’t stop the soundless chuckle that escaped. He has always been proud of his marriage. He boasts about it — and you — every chance that he gets. It’s something that always brings a smile to his face. Something that he never gets tired of.

Even after the divorce.

The end of your marriage had been a mutual decision. You both agreed that it was the best action to take, before anything escalated to something unbecoming. And, at the time, it was the best decision to take.

The end of your marriage didn’t signify the end of his love for you, though. That’s why, even years after the court made your divorce official, his wedding ring stayed on his finger.

Mingyu may have failed to keep you by his side, but he absolutely has no plans to rid himself of the only physical reminder of your marriage.

Mingyu may have lost his rights to claim you as his spouse; but at least in front of strangers, he can still pretend that the gold around his finger is more than a remembrance.

"How are you going to find a replacement for your wedding ring if you keep letting people think you’re still married?" Minghao wonders when he meets up with him after his presentation.

Ironically enough, his longtime friend personifies the reality that his façade only works with strangers. Those who don’t know what happened. Nor can read him like an open book. Nor notice the hint of sadness in his eyes.

Mingyu simply shrugs at that, "Bold of you to assume I want a replacement in the first place."

(After all, his wedding ring isn’t just a conversational piece. It’s also his lifeline . . . something he can’t bear to lose, especially when he already lost you.)

[empressdede]

Disrespectful .

Chapter five

Nora and Sienna were both over the attitude that took over the life of London. She was angry at everyone in the world and she had nobody to blame but herself.

They’d already crossed those lines so what was the point of having morals now? It was a question she asked herself everyday. She regrets telling him that they should’ve ended it because she hasn’t had a good day since.

She blames Roman. It was his fault. She was fine until he came and ruined her. He gave her an itch she couldn’t scratch and it was driving her insane. Her sex toys could only do so much. And James…. James couldn’t even scratch the surface of her sexual desires anymore. Before, James was enough; he got the job done.

But after having a taste of what Roman gave her, why would she settle for just getting the job done?

The worst part is, it was her who cut off their secret rendezvous and she didn’t know how to deal with the cards she dealt herself and since she couldn’t get her fix, she released her frustration with almost everyone around her: Nora, Sienna, James and it was even worse for everyone at work since she buried herself at work for a distraction.

At first, Nora thought it that her little sister’s attitude was going to pass after a couple of days but its been going on almost three months now and Nora didn’t know how long she could take it anymore.

London wasn’t the only one who blamed Roman; Nora and Sienna did too. It became very evident to the two of them that whatever those two had going on was taking a toll on London. So both girls were taking matters into their own hands. Nora and Sienna were determined to make them cross each other’s paths once again.

Who was it really hurting that they desired each other sexually? What their partners don’t know won’t kill ‘em right? And after those words left Sienna’s mouth, the girls knew exactly what they had to do.

Which brings them to now: Nora sitting in her car in front of London’s house going over the plan with Sienna over the phone.

“I’m sorry Sienna, I just don’t think three days is enough days. You don’t think you can push it to two weeks?”

Sienna scoffed, “Girl how the fuck do you expect me to distract Tiara for two weeks? The best I could do is a week and even that is pushing it. And plus, you’re worrying about the wrong thing, go try to get her to agree to the trip first and we’ll talk longevity later.” Sienna suggested.

Nora laughed because she already came to her decision for the both of them, “If the best you can do is a week then I’m gonna tell her it’s a week trip because a little weekend trip ain’t gon do shit. So Figure out what to do with Tiara cause I’m ending this angry streak by the end of the this week.”

Sienna agreed and after they hung up, Nora got out of her car to walk to London’s door. She didn’t know what to expect when she got there but when she knocked on the door, she wasn’t really expecting to hear an argument behind the door.

Damn. London was hellbent on letting everyone feel her wrath.

When James opened the door, Nora took pity on the tired look on his face. But she only kind’ve felt bad for James in this situation; there wasn’t really much she could do when it came to those two anyways. She still flashed him a smile when he opened the door wider for her because unbeknownst to him, she was about to fix this problem.

“I’m sorry Nora, Now really isn’t a good time.” James tried but Nora held her hand in the air to silence him, she came here on her own mission and she wasn’t going to let James close the door in her face.

"Nonsense; seems like the perfect time to me. Where’s my sister?" She questioned but London let herself e known by her yelling.

"And just what the fuck am I supposed to do when you leave James? You knew I was going to take my vacation with you and now all of a sudden they need you of all people to go to an open house?"

Nora flashed him another smile before entering into the house to find her sister in the living room. "Well what’s going on in here?" Nora asked, raising an eyebrow at the mess that was in the living room with clothes being thrown all over the place.

"She’s upset because she wants to take a vacation but I can’t. I haven’t sold any property in five months, I don’t want to pass up on the opportunity to bring home some money - I’m sorry."

“It would’ve been different James, if you had no idea of my plans, but you fuckin knew!” London argues, dismissing his attempt to apologize.

“Babe I can’t just drop everything just because you want me to.”

“So you don’t wanna go out with me even though you make your own schedule?”

James let out another sigh and walks away from the living room, this argument was going nowhere and he was tired. London scoffed as she watched James walk away, ignoring her question. She couldn’t believe this was even an argument.

“Talk about a coincidence.” Nora states with a smirk on her face.

The statement caused London to turn around and face her sister, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Girl what the hell are you talking about?”

“Girl, I literally came here to ask if you wanted to take a sisters trip to Houston. Just you and me playing catch up, ya know?” Nora explains and shrugs at her sister. “What better time than now huh?”

“And since when you been thinking of this?” London questions.

“ I seen how stressed out you’ve been lately and I want to help you, I hate seeing you so stressed out. Plus…” she steps closer to her little sister and lowers her voice so she wouldn’t be heard. “I know you don’t really want to spend an entire week with James right now, so let’s just go and enjoy ourselves okay?”

It really didn’t take a lot of convincing on Nora’s end to get London to agree to go out. As horrible as it was to admit, her sister was right… She really didn’t want to go anywhere with James; but he’s been claiming how weird she’s been with him, and she wanted to do to something to make up for her bad mood swings. She couldn’t help it though, she needed an outlet to let out her frustrations.

She’s more than thankful for her sister coming to the rescue. Hopefully this trip could get her mind off you know who.

Unbeknownst to London, Nora was quick to send out a text to Sienna to let her know that the plan was going as planned so far.

we’re good on our end, Get started on your end.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Roman was confused when he got a random call from Khalid asking him to get away for a while. It wasn’t like him to isolate himself, but he can only guess him and Sienna were into it because Tiara had told him that Sienna had invited her out to New York for some kind of fashion week.

He originally decline, but Tiara convince him to go; stating that Khalid just needed a friend, the same way Sienna needed a friend. So here he was, in Houston, Texas, at a Ritz hotel, wondering what in the world could Sienna have done to make Khalid supposedly so angry.

“So what made you run away?” Roman asked during their game of call of duty.

Khalid raised an eyebrow at the random question. “Huh?”

“How come you’re in Texas and Sienna’s in New York? What made y’all run 1500 miles away from each other?” Roman asked again.

Oh. Right. Khalid almost forgot his wife sent him here on a mission.

“How do you know she’s in New York? I thought she was back home.” Khalid questioned, tilting his head to the side in confusion.

“Tiara caught a flight to New York a couple hours before I flew out myself, She’s the one who told me they were going to New York. Anyways, you didn’t answer my question; what made you run away? Why are we in Texas instead of Florida?.” Roman questioned him again for the third time.

Khalid wondered if he presented Roman’s own problems, if he would catch on. “I’m in Texas because I need space to think about our relationship. I don’t wanna hear any speeches or anything but… I cheated on Sienna and I think she knows.”

Khalid paused the game and turn to face Roman to continue spewing out bullshit. “I don’t know what to do now.”

Roman nodded his head because he understood - sometimes life doesn’t happen the way you expect it to. “Unfortunately, I know how you feel.” Roman reveals and Khalid raises his eyebrow in faux shock.

“You cheated on Tiara?”

“Something like that. I’ll take my faults, it’s wrong because I’m married but there’s nothing wrong with exploring for a bit; as long as you find your way back home. At least that’s what I did.” Roman confessed.

“If you could go back in time and take it back, would you?” Khalid questioned and the heavy silence that took over the room really answered his question but Khalid wanted Roman to really get it off his chest. “It’s just between you and me bro… do you regret it?”

“No.” Roman finally answers, but the look in his eyes is very distant, almost as if he was lost in thought. “I know I don’t sound like a committed husband but if I had the chance to do it again with the person who I did it with; I would.”

Khalid let out a hum and nodded his head to let Roman know he was listening. And he was, that confession was all he needed to move forward with his wife’s plans.

______________________________________

London, let herself relax in the hotel bed, a soft sigh escaping her lips as the silence of the room helped her feel so relax. If only her mind was as quiet as the room; her mind going to the one man who couldn’t escape her thoughts matter how hard she tried.

She hasn’t seen him since that last dinner because she knew she wasn’t going to be able to stand on business. London was a prideful woman, she was never going to admit how much she regret her decision on cutting him off.

Why the fuck do you keep thinking about him anyway? This has to stop. It’s what she’s been telling herself for these past couple of months and she still couldn’t do it.

She finds herself missing him in the weirdest times. If she’s in a boring meeting, she’ll reminisce on the time where he text her to keep her entertained. If she went out to to eat, she missed his endless compliments or even the risky freaky shit he would pull with her, like fingering her under the table when the waitress came back to ask if everything was okay. She especially missed the sex… damn did she miss the sex.

Roman took his time to learn her body, he found out what she liked and he even introduced her to new things that she found herself loving. Sex with Roman was always exciting; especially when he would fuck her in places where she usually wouldn’t let herself do those kinds of activities: in her office, backseat of his car with or without his chauffeur… almost one time in the locker room - Roman never cared. If he desired her, he was going to to have her and she missed the feeling.

Missed feeling desirable, missed the funny moments between the two of them… she missed her friendship with Roman. He was her friend first and she missed her friend.

“Okay girl; I’m over this little rut that you’ve been having. It’s time for us to go out and shake some ass, Let’s go!” Nora exclaimed when she busted into London’s room.

“What the fuck do I look like going to the club to shake some ass as a married woman?” London questioned with a confused look on her face.

Nora scoffed and rolled her eyes, “When did being married mean you can’t be outside and shake some ass?”

London let out a tire sigh, “I just wanna relax. Maybe call a masseuse to give us a massage. I’m away from home and I’d really like to enjoy it.”

“You’d really enjoy it if you stop fighting me and go out with me.” Nora retorted and London sat up and squinted her eyes in suspicion at her older sister.

“What you got up yo sleeve Nora?” She questioned, getting straight to the point.

Nora exhaled and walked towards her sister to take a seat on the bed. “London, I know you won’t talk about what’s bothering you and I respect that; can you just respect that it hurts me to see you like that? I’ve been taking care of you for the longest, I always know when you need a break, why don’t you just let me help you?”

Albeit everything she was saying was true, Nora knew she had to lay it on thick for London to agree to go out with her. London’s eyes scan Nora’s face and took in her expression, the sadden look in her sister’s eyes is what made her drop her shoulders in defeat.

“Fine. But if I’m not enjoying myself after an hour; I’m leaving.”

Nora flashed her blinding smile, nodding her head to agree with her conditions “Great! I’ll go get ready and you can meet me downstairs okay?” She didn’t even let London respond as she rushed out of the room in excitement. London, huffed as she let herself flop backwards onto the bed, she just hope she doesn’t regret this.

______________________________________

After London finished getting dressed for her night out with her sister; she stood in front of the mirror touching up on her make up as she thought about ways she could convince her sister to let her come home early.

Her phone going off, snapped her out of her thoughts and she turned to see who was calling: Nora. “Hello?”

“Hey, did you leave your room yet?”

“No, I’m about to leave though; I’m coming downstairs right now.” London explained.

“Before you come downstairs, can you go to my room and grab me a pair of sandals? I forgot to grab it.”

“Why can’t you just go and grab it?” London asked in annoyance.

“London, you’re already upstairs; can you just please?” Nora begged and London let’s out a groan before agreeing.

“Great, my room is on the fifth floor, room 26. I think housekeeping is still cleaning the mess I made so just knock okay?” And without any other explanation Nora hung up the phone.

She’s been so demanding since we got here, I thought she wanted me to have a good time? London thought to herself. The entire elevator ride to the floor above hers she thought about what the fuck was going on with Nora in the first place.

The last time Nora took London on a sister trip, it was to break the news that she was getting a divorce. What type of bad news did she have to break to me now? She wondered. Her mind was running through all the possibilities of what could have her sister acting so weird while she off the elevator to look for room 26.

She let out a small huff because she was drawing a blank, she’ll just have to ask her sister why the fuck she was acting to weird when she got downstairs. She knocked on the door and waited for housekeeping to open the door.

Didn’t she give me her keycard? London asked herself, she remembers them giving each other keycard when they got here. Before London could give look in her clutch to search for the hotel keycard, the door finally opened and when she looked up she felt all the breath in her lungs leave her body.

“Roman?” She breathed out in disbelief. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her.

Roman himself froze as he stared at the woman in front of him. There’s no way she was standing in front of him right now. “London… what-“ he trailed off because he really didn’t know what to say.

It’s been almost three months since they last seen each other, the feeling of shock is what keeping them frozen in their spot.

“What are you doing here?” London finally asks, her mind racing because seeing him did nothing but resurface those feelings she was reminiscing about earlier. Did he have a show here? She questioned. That could be the only reason he’s here right?

“Khalid brought me here. Him and Sienna are going through it.” He answered.

Nora set me up, she brought me out here and set this whole thing up.

Everything was making sense, because even if Khalid and Sienna were going through it, Khalid wouldn’t have left Florida. They set her up, and her body was yearning to just touch him.

“You know they set us up right?” He states, and yeah. If she was going to be pushed in this direction anyways, she didn’t give a damn about the consequences anymore.

“Are we going to take advantage of the opportunity?” London asked softly and it wasn’t something the two had to really think about. They’ve denied themselves what they really wanted for long enough, and if their friends were going to push them into each other’s arms, who were they to fight what everyone else thought they needed too.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Roman and London lost themselves in each other like they usually did, but the feeling wasn’t the same as it was before.

What was so different about tonight?

There was something more profound than lust and sexual tension lingering in the air between them. When Roman pulled her into the room, their lips immediately push against the other and instead of the fast kissing they were used to, it was slow…sensual.

When they broke apart they stared into each other’s eyes. The lines of their friendship was blurred with the unexplainable feeling they were feeling for each other in the moment, they couldn’t pinpoint what that feeling was exactly.

But it’s what made London grab his neck and pull him back down to her. Their lips brushed against one another’s and the hesitation made London pull away but Roman made the choice to close the gap between them. London’s helpless moan slipped from her lips and she melted into the embrace, pushing her body against him as if to make them one.

The taste of him was intoxicating, it was one of the things she missed about him.

Roman led the two to his bed, and London made herself comfortable in his lap. Her hands caressing his shoulders and eventually moved her hands over his strong arms as their lips smothered each others again.

Chills ran through her body when he trailed his hands up her thigh to grip onto her ass, that’s when she knew this was real. She’d fall victim to daydreaming - especially when her and James were trying to get into it but she’d always come back to reality. But this… this was reality. James never touched her like that.

His hands were roaming her body as if taking in this moment would be her last. Her body was vulnerable to his touch, and she could hear her heart beat drum in her ears.

The sweet feeling of his warm body mixed with the throbbing between her legs radiated more than a positive feeling of intense pleasure of her brain. She didn’t know if it was possible to feel the way she felt at the moment: fuzzy at the brain, and warm at the heart.

They didn’t want to rush the moment, especially since it was something her sister wanted to bless them with. Upon seeing her outfit, he fell into their old routine.

“You look like an Angel.” He softly murmured in her ear before he started undressing her. “Most beautiful thing on Earth and It’s all for me isn’t it?”

And there it was, that feeling she was missing rushing back into her lungs almost as she deeply inhaled his words, that feeling of wanting to feel desirable. That feeling from earlier returned but it wasn’t a feeling she could identify at the moment so she focused on the feelings she could.

At the impulse decision of the moment, their bare bodies touched each other’s. As soon as Roman was submerged within her, she swallowed up some of his thick inches with pride and contentment. Undoubtably, her eyes flickered to the back of her head, her lips separated, and her back arched off the bed and pressed to his chest. Being so close to him, was enough to send her body into a frenzy of different emotions. Not only because it felt so good, but because it was him. Because it was Roman.

There’s synchronized movements were coupled. London’s fingernails, digging into his back and the sound of her soft moans only seasoned the moment for the both of them. She pulled his head between the crook of her neck and let her heavy pants fill his ear.

At her own allowance, she caught a sweaty grip onto his arms and extended her legs wider to pull him in deeper than before. She wanted all of it, all of him. She wasn’t holding back on taking anything he was willing to give her; she’s gone long enough without it.

Their lips met again, and while he sucked on her tongue, she let out whimpers of pleasure into the air. Roman had to give himself a silent, prep talk to encourage himself not to cum too fast, it’s been a while since he’s been in her and her wetness was driving him crazy.

He knew what she wanted without her, having to ask for it. The passionate quickening of his strokes, promoted her to tango, her legs around his torso. Her arms in case themselves around his neck; she held onto him for dear life. Her cries of pure delight escalated be on guidance. He fucked her soul into oblivion like he’s done before. She would have never imagined herself calling out God’s name, but she did just that, screeching to the heavens, while she let that dick dominate her cloudy mind and rock her entire existence into a temporary state of belief.

Without any separation between them, they painted all of their essence all over the bed. Roman could feel her in every pulsing vein in his body until he’d consumed all that was left of her.

They were both so lost in the moment that it didn’t register to either of them that a condom was initiated and neither of them seemed to care when Roman groaned into her ear and emptied himself in her. It only made London tighten her legs around his body and keep him trapped in between her legs and she welcomed the feeling of his fluids filling her up.

Never again. She wasn’t letting Roman leave her ever again. If this was wrong, she never wanted to be right. Ever.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Whew😩 this chapter went exactly how I wanted it to. I’m sorry it’s such a long read😩 I just couldn’t break it up. You guys won’t wait that long for the next chapter 😭 I promise.

As per usual please comment and gimme some love 🥹💙

Tagging the lovelies: @whatdoeseverybodywant @theninthwonder @christinabae @2-muchsauce @alichesmi @pitlissa22 @sassginawanmills @harmshake @po3ticb3auty @unfriendly--blvck--hottie @dershalover89 @serena004 @reci1996 @scarlettnoir01 @kill-the-artiste @southerngirl41 @badbitchcentralinc @reignsboy19 @mzv11 @cyberdejos2 @msbigredmachine @msniaimani @skyesthebomb @wanderingreigns @katymae12344 @bebesobrielo @alyyaanna @raya-hunter01

[more-than-a-princess]

Continued from here with @scarlxtleaves!

As soon as Lupin took his seat, Sisi's head rose. Tucked in front of the fire, the dog now possessed a newfound interest in the gentleman thief: particularly, his proximity to the plate of shortbread biscuits. Meandering over, the corgi took a seat at Lupin's feet, giving the man the largest, saddest eyes he could seemingly muster, partnered with a pathetic whine. Sonia laughed, refilling her own teacup after Lupin had filled his.

"Don't believe him for a moment," She advised through giggles, adding a cube of sugar and splash of milk, just as she liked it. "He's already gotten two shortbreads out of me. He's simply acting like no one has deigned to bestow him with the treats he deserves."

The dog seemed to understand, shooting her a disappointed look as Sonia took a sip of her drink. At least her tea managed to stay in her mouth and not end up back in her cup, which was the fate of Lupin's beverage at her decision. She raised her eyebrows, surprised: had he expected something different? Certainly by now it was clear that divulging anything about a potential heist to Sonia, currently on holiday from being the Princess of Novoselic, would ensure she offered both her opinion and her participation in the scheme. Except in this case, she'd have to don the tiara again: quite literally, in fact.

"Novoselic has never been invaded and I certainly don't intend for that to commence now," She replied matter-of-factly, her belief in her nation stronger than any terrorist threat. "But consider this: the best possible distraction would be to comfort the attendees and staff in question. And there's no better method to do that than to use me, just as I am: I'll be a novelty, after disappearing for some months now. And while I'm capturing the attention of whomever you need me to, surely you can slip in as someone innocuous and do what needs to be done."

It wasn't as if her days were particularly full of responsibilities, either: at least not the ones she was used to. Topping up Sisi's kibble, helping decide what to prepare for meals, and choosing films to watch at night were hardly taxing for her, someone whose diary was chock full of meetings and appearances, tours and balls. Attending the Imperial Family's gala would be reminiscent of her old life, her true life: what she was living in, a Japanese mansion with five men and a dog engaging varying degrees of criminality, was more akin to a forced-upon holiday.

And like all holidays, it would eventually come to an end. Something Sonia had yet to reckon with as she straightened in her seat, setting down her cup and saucer. "The Comte may not approve, but it has the potential to take care of two capers in one evening, which is efficient and he seems to be a man who respects efficiency. Though if it is a gala, then we will need an appropriate vehicle for royal transport, and for weapons...I'm thinking that I should be equipped with a pistol and holster, a concealed knife, a straight razor blade, and a vial of poison. That should do it!"

She rattled them off the way most people would share a grocery list, beaming with satisfaction. Even before he'd suggested it, Sonia had put thought into such situations. Partly to avoid subsequent kidnappings, recent events aside, but partly due to her own overactive imagination and a perchance for serial killers, horror, and murder mysteries. In fact, it was effort on her part to request practical weapons and nothing too fantastical.

"What is the target, by the way?" She asked, petting Sisi's head in order to distract him from the biscuit plate. And to distract her from mentioning what, inexplicably, gave her discomfort: If both plots succeed, I'll be on my home to Novoselic for good.

[drfcstrs]

akastartatthebeginning​:

Jessica snorted. “God, you know – a few weeks from now,I bet if you ask him at 4am while he’s holding two screaming babies, he’ll still say he wants more. Your soon to be husband has more balls than sanity,” she teased, smiling gently. She wasn’t telling Jane anything she didn’t already know and love and adore. It was so easy to see, when they looked at each other. Thor light up like a kid at Christmas, even if Jane had only been gone two minutes. Jessica didn’t need to be a P.I. to see how deep this ran for them. She looked down at Jane’s stomach and swore she could see something move. “That’s the craziest – weirdest shit I’ve ever seen,” she said, shaking her head. She laughed again, watched Jane’s face in the mirror. “Well, remember the code words. And I’ll be right there,” she promised. She wouldn’t say it aloud, but truthfully, she doubted Jane would ever need to. She looked like she’d stepped out of an Asgardian history book, one of the old queens Frigga had told them about. There was something in Jane that just… drew people in. Even the ones no one else would bother with. It was like her friend could read her mind, because Jane turned and gave her an interesting look. Jessica arched a brow, and watched as she strode across the room towards another box. It had a familiar sort of shape, though Jessica had only seen it this morning. Jane gave her no time to protest, just came over and set it on top of her head like it belonged there. “We can’t all be fairytales come to life,” she said finally. She looked at the two of them in the mirror, and for a second she saw it. What Jane saw. That was the real magic Jane had, even if she was as Midgardian as Jessica. She could make people believe the best in themselves. Help them see the light. Jessica bit her lip, and before Jane could see her eyes getting red, pulled her into a rough embrace, tight and genuine. “I would’ve thrown myself off that rainbow bridge without you here,” she said, pulling back when she trusted herself to keep her shit together. “So. Shut up. I’ve never cried at a wedding in my life, I’m not starting now.”

"Ugh. Probably," she smirked, playfully rolling her eyes in response to Jessica's remark, her gaze shifting to her stomach. "Imagine what it feels like on my end. Being pregnant with two mini Thors is something else." As Jessica looked at the tiara, Jane was silent, turning with her to face the mirror. She met Jessica's gaze — which proved to be the wrong decision since Jessica's eyes were already red. "God. Please don't. I've already had to redo my makeup six times this morning," Jane teased, immediately hugging her back tightly when Jessica embraced her. "I know you would have. I would have, too," she replied, hugging her tightly for a second more, before pulling back slightly to look at Jessica, her expression genuinely heartfelt. "I'm serious. I had more time to adjust to being with an Avenger, but all of this," she gestured around the elaborately decorated, impossibly golden room they were standing in, "kinda hit me all at the same time it did you." Jane shook her head. "I'd have gone crazy without you, Jess. I would be right now," she admitted, reaching up to wipe a tear from her maid-of-honor's cheek. She laughed and her hand. "I'm sorry." Jane waved her hand towards her face to dry her own tears before they could escape. "I swear, I'm going to have to get Loki or Frigga to put some kind of spell on my face to keep this makeup from moving."

[simplytheevebest]

Memories, Magic, and Maths: Blood With Feast Prompt 2022

Author's Note: Happy Halloween! Here's my entry for the @winxsource Blood Witch Feast Event; my prompt was Farah and Bloom in the warehouse with a spooky Halloween twist. ... Yeah I didn't do any of that, but the prompt still inspired this and there's mystery (I think) at least! Enjoy!

This is an AU of s1, where Bloom didn't release Rosalind and instead waited for the answers Farah promised to help her find.

Thank you to the lovely and talented @eves-da-best for betareading this for me ❤️

On A03

Bloom’s been enamored with magic for as long as she can remember. She’d been indulged, as most lucky children were, with the myths of the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus; she’d tried and failed to stay up late to catch them, had written letters left under her pillow and beside a plate filled with cookies and carrots (for the reindeer) and delighted in the hand-written replies she’d gotten back. She remembers walks in the park checking for fairy doors in the hollows of the trees, remembers her mother telling her the flower arrangements at the shop were done at night by the fairies who lived in the greenhouse. Her camp-out had been unsuccessful in catching them at work, but the trinkets she left for them -buttons and pins pilfered from her mother’s sewing box, paperclips and staples from when her father worked a desk job, and beaded hair ties and plastic stick-on earrings from her own jewelry box- were always gone in the morning. Bloom had had fairy-themed birthday parties, had owned a pair of gauzy, glittery wings gifted to her by her grandmother, had dreamed that one day she’d become a fairy princess like Barbie.

By eleven she’d graduated from checking for fairy doors and leaving the window unlocked (in case Peter Pan came by) to owls and wands. Fairies, she’d decided, were now nasty little things that bit fingers and were kept in jars by the witches and wizards who needed their wings for potions. She traded fairy wings for wizard robes and tiaras for witches’ hats and she waited, quite patiently, for her Hogwarts letter to arrive as it certainly must. And she waited and waited and waited, but it never did. At twelve her letter was late, at thirteen, it was never coming, and the friends she’d made over fairy tea parties and quidditch games decided magic was nothing compared to vampires and werewolves. And while Bloom was so busy waiting, everyone else moved on, and suddenly there was no one to wait with, and the only teams to choose from were boys’ names.

Bloom gave werewolves and vampires a try but lost interest just as her former-friends made more decisions without her, only this time they decided that it wasn’t magic and make-believe they wanted nothing to do with, it was Bloom. And she couldn’t explain to her mom that she wasn’t invited to Mitzy’s birthday because Mitzy had decided Bloom’s hair was ugly and told everyone in the 8th grade it looked like her head was on fire, so she didn’t explain anything. And she couldn’t admit that it’d made her so mad her face had turned as red as her hair so now everyone called her “flame face,” so she didn’t admit anything. And she couldn’t tell her mom the truth, that she didn’t want a birthday of her own because she knew nobody would come, so she didn’t tell her anything. And before long Bloom had gotten pretty good at not explaining, admitting, or telling, her mother anything.

By fifteen, Bloom remembers worrying less about magic and more about makeup, checking the mailbox for party invitations instead of acceptance letters, and trading silly costumes from childish dreams for skinny jeans and tight tops. She’d officially moved on from magic, had tucked away her well-worn, well-loved Harry Potter books onto the shelf and shoved fairy trinkets and letters into a shoebox in the attic. She cared about superheroes because her peers cared about superheroes, her favorite depended on the favorite of her newest crush, and she worked double-time in the flower shop and did dish duty for two weeks without complaint to get permission to be at the midnight premiere of the latest superhero-team up before Mitzy and her cronies, just so she could rub it in their faces that she’d seen it first. None of it quite made up for the lack of friends, and at some point Bloom stopped checking the mailbox and checking out boys and instead took detours passed the antique shop and yard sales for lamps in need of love and clocks in need of TLC, none of which required magic to fix, but still brought back that same joy she used to get from her friends when the lamp was finally lit or the clock chimed.

And then she’d had a dream that she lit her world on fire.

Except it wasn’t a dream. Another fight had left her bubbling and boiling with rage and it’d ignited, literally, into an uncontrollable blaze. She’d burned down their home. She’d burned her mother. And yet it’d been too much to ask that she be a mutant.

No, she’s not a mutant.

She’d gotten a letter in the mail. Not made of heavy parchment or covered with swirling green writing, but stamped with the crest of a school she hadn’t recognized from a woman she’d never met congratulating her on her acceptance. She’d sat through dinner with the woman, the headmistress, while her parents talked her up and the headmistress agreed with them and all the while Bloom wondered how in the hell she’d gotten into a prestigious Swiss academy with a D in math. And then the woman had asked to speak with her alone and she’d explained it had nothing to do with Bloom’s grades -which made sense- and everything to do with her magic -which also made sense.

Because she’s a fucking fairy.

Not a witch, not a wizard, not a fairy princess, but a fairy. A real life fairy, going to real life fairy school, in the real life magical realm filled with other real life fairies.

Because magic is fucking real.

And Bloom was fucking right.

There are some days she has a terrific relationship with this new and exciting magical side of her. It’s all she’s ever wanted, from a very early age: to be special, to practice magic, to get to give up math and study spells instead. And on those days, it’s the coolest. She wakes up in her magic school and gets ready for a day of magical classes taught by her magical teachers surrounded by her equally magical classmates. And not including those extremely troublesome first few months, Bloom has everything she’s ever wanted: friends who won’t abandon her, teachers who understand her, and a place she belongs.

But she’s also a changeling, with underdeveloped, erratic control over her powers, and she has no idea who she is or where she came from. There are some days she remembers that, remembers that she doesn’t in fact belong, that nobody understands her, and her friends could still leave if they find out where she’s from and what if it’s worse than being the archnemesis of a Dark Lord? What if she is a Dark Lord? Or a blood witch, or whatever, because that’d be just her luck, having spent a good part of her life wishing to be a fairy, then a witch, and now she’s a fairy, in a world where witches are the bad guys. Oh and she does still have to do math, and it’s not even magical math, and here they actually call it maths as in more than one, as if one isn’t bad enough.

The numbers have begun to swirl and swim on the page in an entirely non-magical way; Bloom huffs and closes the textbook so the cheery stock image stares back at her, a group of teenagers under a tree lying about maths being fun. Maths are not fun. She wonders if she can flunk out of Alfea just for failing them, if there’s such a thing as magical summer school or if she’ll get held back all because the numbers don’t want to fit the equation the way they’re supposed to. It’d been bad enough at her old school, being the freaky “flame face” with the burned-down house and “antique junk,” without also failing math, but if she gets held back in fairy school she’s got no reason to think it’ll be any nicer. There’s already the rumors of her being a changeling and her subpar magic skills; she doesn’t need to add “flunkie in basic maths” to her list of 'accomplishments.'

Abandoning her maths homework, Bloom tugs the paper Miss Dowling assigned on magical transference closer. At least her other homework is more interesting, and she’s not doing too shabby with the written work: it’s the practice that trips her up. Understanding the Elements is certainly a more compelling read than algebra, even if it also doesn’t look like a book of magic: it’s just as smooth and sleek and only slightly-used as her maths textbook, only the stock image is of a girl water-bending a bunch of bubbles out a puddle. Or water-magicking. Whatever. Blooms flicks through the index for the chapter on fire, tugs her notebook closer, and begins to read about turning fire from a spark to a blaze and back. She takes diligent notes, penciling her own questions and thoughts into the margins, and it doesn’t take long for her mind to wander to the possibilities: if she and Terra combined their powers, could they make lava out of regular rocks? If she held a chunk of metal in her hand, could she heat it to a high enough temperature to melt it? Imagine the look on Sky’s face if she melted her own handprint into his sword. Could she shape glass using just her hands, like playdoh?

This stopped being about homework pretty quickly. Bloom marks her place with a scrap of paper and sets the textbook aside. The library is relatively empty, only a handful of students taking advantage of the dinner rush to cram in studying (she’s heard the third years have some big test in Professor Harvey’s; she does not envy them) or finish up their homework before bed. If she leaves now she can still grab something to eat and maybe talk through her essay ideas with Aisha (and get some maths help).

Or…

Bloom spares a glance to her not-quite study buddies, then to the index in the center of the room. The old wooden chair creaks as she stands but doesn’t draw any attention, nor does the echoing thud of opening the heavy tome; most of the other students are wearing headphones anyway, and Concorda the librarian doesn’t look up from her quill and parchment. The book is bound in old leather stretched over thick parchment pages that remind her of the Book of Kells from their family trip to Ireland two summers ago, but it’s entirely blank, and one of the coolest things Bloom’s ever seen.

Speaking clearly, but quietly, Bloom murmurs “changeling” to the book’s empty pages; they shimmer and turn as if by an invisible hand, and a list of titles and authors appears with the corresponding shelf location on the opposite page. Bloom flicks past the first page of books to the top of the second page and taps lightly at the first title there. A golden thread materializes above her head, leading away into the maze of shelves. She’s sure that every fairy and specialist here takes for granted this system of finding books, but she’ll never tire of it. Sometimes, magic is really, really cool.

The thread terminates at the twenty-seventh shelf on the left at the very top, but Bloom can tell before she climbs the old wooden ladder that it’s going to be a dead end. Half the books she’s found and read are dead ends, their information sparing and not anything she doesn’t already know. The other half are, literally, dead ends: the space where the book should be is empty, the shimmering outline of what was once there emblazoned with the same unhelpful note Bloom has gotten several times already.

This book has been removed for inspection.

There sure are a lot of “inspections” on the books Bloom needs, yet she’s never not once noticed Concorda open a book in all the time she’s spent in the library. Sometimes Bloom thinks the teachers aren’t nearly as busy as they pretend to be, that what seems to be the endless scribbling of notes and signatures is in fact a ruse cooked up to divert the attention of teenagers with difficult questions. There certainly doesn’t ever appear to be a time Miss Dowling isn’t engrossed in a stack of file folders when Bloom stops by, and she’s not sure she’s ever even seen Concorda take a break from her chicken-scratch, which is either terrible handwriting or a language Bloom doesn’t understand.

Grumbling quietly, Bloom returns to the index, perusing the list of titles again. Any of the ones that have seemed even remotely interesting or useful are the ones she hasn’t been able to find: they’re all being “inspected.”

Bloom swipes a hand down the page, clearing it of her search, and closes the book with great effort not to let it slam shut. All that’s waiting for her is her homework, so she turns back down the direction of the shelves -organized by some system that seems far more complicated than the Dewey Decimal she never properly learned- as far back as the shelves go until there’s nothing but stone walls and the perpetually locked door labeled “maintenance” that is probably in fact hiding some secret vault of information. But it could just as easily be a broom closet, considering the East Wing is cluttered with the school’s historical paraphernalia, all in plain sight, and nobody seems particularly concerned with the potential for snooping students. They’re not supposed to go to the East Wing, but if the teachers think simply telling the students isn’t a direct invitation for them to defy such an easily ignored rule, it’s either a genius trick or a foolish oversight.

Bloom turns away from the center aisle, down the back of the last row of shelves towards the far right wall, where stone gives way to oak paneling. There’s a few larger conference-style tables for group studying, all illuminated by lamps that only blaze to life when Bloom approaches, but she’s always found this particular corner to be abandoned except for class-skippers (they were skipping, she was on break) because of the larger-than-life creepy portraits that line the walls and stare them down and only appear to move like the ones in Hogwarts (but Bloom still hasn’t ruled out that they can). They’re all important people, royals and diplomats and other political bigwigs with some connection to Alfea either as alumni or financial donors, whose portraits stand as a testimony to their legacy and generosity -according to the plaque on the side. The wooden paneling and portraits extend all the way up the far right wall until just before Concorda’s desk, except for the stone archway with an ugly bust of someone who must have been important, but whose plaque has been stolen or lost. The bust itself has clearly been treated poorly, stolen and returned so many times it’s missing an ear and half the nose, and the whole thing has the vaguely undefined shape of old stone statues that have been handled too often and lost their sharp details.

The stone archway has always fascinated Bloom, only because the mystery-lover in her is convinced it’s significant, this little nook and its differing wall-texture. She’s scoured every inch of it, however, and found nothing out of the ordinary: no loose stones, no hidden switches, no cracks in the foundation to indicate hidden passages. The only thing she hasn’t examined is the bust itself, first because if it were significant, surely in all the times it’s been moved, something would have happened, and rumors would have spread, and two, because it gives her the creeps.

Still, something has her reaching out to it this time, adjusting its position on the pedestal so it faces forward, as proud as the vague lump of stone can look with the condition it’s in, and not too close to the edge it’ll fall off. The pedestal itself is off-center, so Bloom shifts it back into place- there’s a barely audible click, and she stops, blinking at the unassuming rock. Somewhere further up the shelves, she hears the soft plunk of someone removing books, but no further clicking. She’s probably hearing things.

She readjusts the bust, now that everything is centered, and hears again, a barely-there click. And just as she’s seen done in so many mystery movies and Scooby Doo specials, she tips the bust backwards until she’s worried it’s going to topple off the pedestal- but it doesn’t. It clicks again, halted at an angle by some invisible -magical?- force, and the wall behind her wavers and disappears.

You’re kidding me.

She’s just found a secret passage in her school’s ancient magical library using an equally ancient stone bust.

Hopefully Miss Dowling doesn’t have ancient magical wards to alert her the second I step inside.

Because what’s she going to do, not step inside?

The passage is short, only a handful of steps before it leads to a set of stairs disappearing into the dark. With her phone’s flashlight to guide her, Bloom finds the stairs equally short, barely half a flight down to a circular, windowless room. A brazier to her left ignites with no warning, startling her enough she almost drops her phone; the artificial light catches on the mirror across from her and Bloom blinks spots from her vision. The room is… disappointingly sparse. There’s a pile of books that look forgotten, not deliberately hidden away -a strange assortment of outdated textbooks and what looks like a translation companion for… ogre? Bloom files that away for later- and a few spare desks and chairs that look a little too twentieth century to back up the theory that no one knows this room exists, that Bloom’s discovered some ancient hidden space. The mirror is, also, disappointingly normal. There’s a crack in the bottom right corner and the surface is covered by that tell-tale sign of mirror-age, where the edges turn black and spotted like the handheld mirror Bloom’s grandmother gave her. The frame is tarnished, or maybe it’s just ugly, but it looks nothing like the Mirror of Erised she’s expecting. It does have something scratched into the faded silver leaf, but it’s difficult to make out: she makes out what might be “memory” or “memorium” and what sounds like a magic spell for obliviousness, “oblivisci.”

“Definitely don’t need any of that,” Bloom mutters, tucking her phone back in her pocket. This is certainly not the adventure she was expecting at the end of this tunnel, or rather the lack of adventure. Not that she needs many more thrills after her first month, but something would’ve been nice. Enough to make a decent story for the girls, anyway. Just to be sure, Bloom stands squarely in front of the moisture-ruined mirror and focuses. If the mirror doesn’t show her deepest desires -so she shouldn’t be expecting to see her birth parents over her shoulder- perhaps it has to do with memories? Oblivious memories… forgetting? Something she’s forgotten. Which could still show her birth parents, if the mirror acknowledges magical loopholes.

The mirror shows nothing. Nothing except that she’s gotten dust on her jeans from brushing against the closest desk -she wipes at it irritably- and leaning in doesn’t help. What a total bust. Bloom leans back and frowns, reaching back in her pocket for her phone. She’s going to have to put out the brazier, and she’d rather not trip up the stairs. It occurs to her, belatedly, that she didn’t check to make sure the passage could be opened from the inside. She’s got signal, at least, so she can call someone to get her if she gets stuck, and she should probably tell Miss Dowling in case someone with less curious intent discovers this absolutely boring space and gets any ideas-

Bloom freezes, turns back to face the mirror fully. She thought- no. She’s seeing things. Because for a second, she could’ve sworn the mirror rippled, like the surface of a pond. But that’s impossible, because mirrors don’t do that-

Unless they’re magic mirrors.

Feeling only mildly stupid, and glad she doesn’t have an audience, Bloom steps close enough that she can stare squarely into her own eyes. The surface of the mirror is still, unmoving and solid, but she reaches for it anyway, prepares for the touch of cool glass-

The reflection ripples again as her fingers make contact and her hand disappears through the silver surface like she’s reached into a bowl of mercury. Stifling a yelp, Bloom pulls her hand back, inspects it for leftover evidence or injury, but there’s nothing. She tries her hand again, then both hands, and then her foot: her clothes also remain unblemished and unchanged.

Is it a portal? Or the entrance to some other secret passage with actually interesting stuff?

Latching onto a string of bravery before she can really linger on what a foolish idea it is to do what she’s going to, Bloom draws a deep breath and shoves her head into the mirror, which would be the perfect time for whatever this is to stop working, so she has to explain to Miss Dowling that she’s got a head full of glass shards and blood because she willingly slammed her head into a mirror, but it doesn’t. Her head slides through as easily as her hands did; it’s not like dunking her head in the pool, or even the gentle slipping beneath ocean waves, it’s dry, but she’s clearly pushing through something, like parting the gauzy curtains her mother hangs over the windows. She keeps her eyes shut and breath held until the feeling stops, then she opens her eyes to find-

The canteen. It’s Alfea’s canteen. There are students crowded around the tables and a line skirting the edge for dinner, all of them oblivious to or ignoring what Bloom assumes is the sudden appearance of her floating head. She pulls back out with a scowl. She’s discovered a portal to the school’s cafeteria.

She was right the first time: everything in this room is disappointingly lame.

~

Bloom doesn’t spare any thoughts to the room or the mirror for at least a week, because she has absolutely no reason to. She’s got the essay to worry about, and though she’s finished with her maths homework there’s a test on Friday she has no hopes of passing if she doesn’t make some serious breakthroughs. Musa shoots her a sympathetic glance when she promises to join the girls for dinner later and heads in the direction of the library. Her usual seat isn’t taken, and Professor Harvey’s test is over so she’s relatively alone. Concorda still scratches away at her desk.

Bloom kind of has the impression Concorda came with Alfea: she’s got this aura of ageless wisdom to her that supercedes even Miss Dowling, who’s the smartest person Bloom’s ever met, and though Bloom can’t imagine Alfea without Concorda, she also can’t really imagine Alfea with her. As in, she can’t picture Concorda as a young fairy worrying about homework the way Bloom is. It wouldn’t surprise her to learn Concorda just appeared as the librarian one day and no one could get her to leave; it’s a rumor, at least, one of many, including that Concorda can read fortunes. Bloom had asked her once:

“Is it true you read fortunes?”

“Yes.”

“...could you read mine?”

“No future readings today, I've done too many.”

But Sky had shaken his head when Bloom told him: “She’s been saying that as long as I can remember. I don’t think she’s ever done a reading, if I’m honest.”

The essay doesn’t take as long as Bloom had been expecting, which means that fortunately, she has plenty of time to study. But also unfortunately, she has plenty of time to study, because Bloom’s never really been the kind of student to proactively take charge of her education, especially where maths are concerned, and especially when she needs to. You don’t get a D in math for lack of trying. But she’s also not trying to get kicked out of fairy school before her first year is up, so she’s going to have to study.

After a snack.

It’s the first time she’s thought of the mirror since she’d discovered it. Perhaps that’s why it’s in the library, so students have a quick-access portal to the canteen for study breaks. And perhaps it had been hidden away because, as teenagers are prone to do, they’d taken advantage of it. It’ll save her the trek all the way down, and if she can flag one of the girls with even a foot still in the hidden room, she won’t have to go back up either. Which means she will have to tell the girls about it, and she will get an earful from Aisha about breaking rules, especially considering the dozen or so second chances Miss Dowling has already given her, but Bloom doesn’t recall anywhere, written or otherwise, she was ever explicitly told: do not use the magical portal mirror in the secret room behind the ugly bust in the library for snack breaks.

So until she is told not to use the magical portal mirror in the secret room behind the ugly bust in the library for snack breaks, she absolutely totally is going use the magical portal mirror in the secret room behind the ugly bust in the library for snack breaks.

And she’ll just have to hope Miss Dowling is in a forgiving mood if she finds out.

The reminder of the headmistress, and that slightly sad, disappointed look she’s definitely going to give Bloom when she finds out, almost has her pulling up short. The trust between them is still fragile, not because of a lack of trust, but the early stages of building, or rebuilding it, and Bloom really doesn’t want to do anything to hinder that progress more than she already has.

But it’s just a snack break, Bloom thinks, pushing her hands through the mirror. If the mirror were really that dangerous, they wouldn’t make it so easy to find.

(Because it’s not like there’s a murderer hidden in the tunnels under Miss Dowling’s office, right?)

Keeping one foot solidly on the other side, Bloom scans the canteen for her friends, checking her phone for any confirmation they’ve retired early. There’s none, but there isn’t any signal either. She’s going to have to walk all the way back up, and she’s just going to have to hope Concorda doesn’t notice that she’s returning from never having left in the first place. With a huff, Bloom steps completely through the mirror, turns to swipe one hand back through the empty space just to confirm she’s in for the long trek back, and rounds the corner, hoping her friends are tucked just out of sight, but no luck. And she still doesn’t have signal.

Grumbling, Bloom steps out of the way of the other students getting their food -airplane mode on and off, nothing; reset, nothing; power down completely, nothing, no signal, zip, nada- and leans against the nearest table beside a girl that looks vaguely familiar. Bloom doesn’t give her more than a passing glance, engrossed in whatever’s wrong with her phone, before giving up with a sigh and pocketing the useless thing. She gives her unsuspecting companion an appraising once-over: Bloom’s not overly familiar with all of her classmates, but the feeling that she knows this girl likely means they share a class, have maybe even spoken once or twice. Something about her vibe has Bloom thinking she’s an upperclassman, and the fact she’s sitting alone at dinner scribbling away in a notebook after a full day of classes just screams “stressed, overachieving fourth year preparing for final exams three months early.”

Bloom cranes her neck in a way she hopes isn’t obvious, trying to make out the girl’s equally familiar handwriting. It’s a series of magical equations Bloom vaguely recognizes from Miss Dowling’s higher level notes, from a class called “Transmutative Arithmancy” Bloom had been dismayed to learn was not only the equivalent of magical maths and chemistry, but a requirement to graduate. Aisha had asked after the magical theory notes once and Miss Dowling’s drawling explanation had Bloom wrinkling her nose in disgust. She remembers the older fairy chuckling, the last of the notes erasing themselves from the board.

“If you think it looks complicated now, I can assure you it will make far more sense with the foundation we’ll be building over the next few years. I certainly don’t expect you to attempt to tackle it immediately, as I did.”

It doesn’t surprise Bloom at all that their headmistress was exactly the overachieving preparer like the girl sitting beside her, hand flying across the page and gaze routinely darting around the canteen as though she’s honestly paying attention to everything at once, like a predator appraising its prey. Or prey on the lookout for predators, more like. The girl doesn’t entirely exude the confidence Bloom has come to associate with the vultures that stalk the halls of high schools. Bloom gives the space another cursory sweep for her absentee friends.

“Hey, have you seen Stella anywhere?”

Her question goes unanswered, the girl pausing only long enough to flip back a page, checking a calculation, before returning to the one on hand. The cap of her pen hovers dangerously close to her lips but she doesn’t gnaw on it like Bloom’s seen others do; she taps it lightly against her top lip, lost in thought, and Bloom’s familiar enough with the feeling not to immediately begrudge her lack of acknowledgement.

“Um, excuse me, sorry, have you seen Stella down here? The Solarian princess,” she clarifies, like anyone but Bloom wouldn’t know who she is.

This time, there’s no way the girl hasn’t heard her. Bloom’s bent far enough into her line of sight, and that darting hazel gaze stares straight at her for half a second before returning to her notes. This time, the girl blatantly ignores her, and that’s new. Well, it’s new here, at least, because her entire class had once thought it extremely funny to ignore her for a whole day freshman year before she transferred here, as though being a freshman wasn’t bad enough, but Bloom hasn’t experienced anything like that at Alfea, so it’s a little jarring, and incredibly rude.

“Hey, I’m talking to you-” It’s perhaps not the smartest decision to reach for the shoulder of a fairy almost certainly more magically advanced than her with an apparent grudge, but Bloom can name several people who can vouch that rarely do Bloom’s decisions fall within the “smartest” category. “Impulsive” definitely, “reckless” as a good runner-up. Bloom does run through a half a dozen scenarios for how the girl might react, from a brush-off of quiet disgust to a Dowling-worthy intervention. Her fingers reach the girl’s sweater- and disappear beneath.

“What-”

Bloom jerks her hand back, then immediately swipes again at the non-corporeal sweater, fully expecting she’ll have to explain to Miss Dowling why she back handed a fourth year in the middle of the canteen- her hand sails right through the material and the girl’s shoulder, like neither is really there, eerily similar to the mirror. The girl carries on writing without interruption; Bloom leaps back to her feet, tries to dodge the specialist heading her way but isn’t quick enough to escape a collision -except there isn’t one. The specialist steps cleanly through her, still chatting to the fairy at her side, ignorant of Bloom’s existential crisis because is she the ghost? Or is it them?

Is she dead? Did stepping through the mirror fully teleport her to some weird limbo world? Is she really here? Or is it only her consciousness, and in years to come some other unsuspecting adventure-seeker will find her skeleton collapsed in front of the mirror? How the hell is she supposed to get out of here?

It takes considerable effort to breathe evenly as her mind spins with her options: logically, she knows she should first try to find the mirror in the secret room, but what if it isn’t there? Bloom technically doesn’t even know where here is, because it’s Alfea, but not as Bloom knows it.

It’s only now she recognizes this, identifying the subtle changes to the space she thought she knew well: portraits and pictures are different, furniture rearranged, and the clothing of the fairies and specialists surrounding her is dated, what Bloom and her friends would now consider “vintage.” Is this a dream? Or a memory?

A forgotten memory, she thinks dimly, recalling the barely-legible scrawl on the edge of the mirror. This must be the past. But whose? And when?

The former object of her ire has finally ceased her note-taking, notebook closed with a flick of the wrist Bloom swears she’s seen before, pen stacked neatly on top. Now properly paying attention to her surroundings, the other teen grabs at the edge of the table, fingers tapping restlessly on the top with a nervous energy Bloom understands. Her earlier assessment was correct: this girl isn’t top dog, she’s an underdog, assessing her place in the pack. If Mitzy hadn’t gotten to everyone ahead of time, Bloom might’ve stood a chance; despite her current predicament, she’s morbidly curious to know where this girl is going to fall in the pecking order. She’s so familiar; how does Bloom know her?

She’s definitely not Fairy Fawcett.

It’s something in the way she dresses, like she’s headed to a business meeting, while the rest of her peers take full advantage of everything the 70s -80s? Bloom’s a bit hazy on the exact decades of fashion; Stella would know- has to offer. Her clothing is timeless and classic, if not a bit dated for a teenager, and her hair is piled atop her head in a complicated updo even Miss Dowling would be proud of, like she’s trying to be a mini-Miss Dowling and-

Bloom steps back, far enough from the girl she can see her clearly, waits for her to look in her direction, to stare at her eyes, her nose, the shape of her face. It’s like looking at a Farah Dowling impersonator, if that impersonator were much younger. The girl is dressed just like Miss Dowling, even down to the pendant she taps delicately with the tips of her fingers, an oddly shaped, forest-green stone wreathed in gold so unique Bloom would know it anywhere. The girl is wearing Miss Dowling’s pendant.

Except… no. That’s not it.

This girl…

Is Miss Dowling.

Bloom is standing in front of a sixteen year-old Farah Dowling.

Author's Note pt 2: I currently have no plans to continue this little AU idea, but never say never!

[poodlejoonas]

Dad!BC AU - before and after

Because I’m feeling so soft tonight, I wanna share my thoughts on the guys before and after they become dads. Everyone knows that kids change people, but sometimes the change is nice and wholesome. 

I blame Joel and his sentimental edgy ass for that post on Instagram earlier.

(Under the read-more for length)

As the first dad of the group, Joonas was terrified of what the change would bring for him and Kirsten. He knew he would make his mistakes and he dreaded the day they would come. He was afraid that he was too immature to be a father - he read the comments online about him as a punk, about his Danish girlfriend who could barely read the hate comments written about her, and about their baby and how so many people “wished the poor girl luck” in dealing with a childish father like him. On top of that, Kirsten’s parents were begging her to leave Finland and him so they could help raise Sohvi because they thought they could do a better job than him. He was motivated to become the best dad he could be to prove them all wrong, but also to give his daughter the best life she deserved. He admits to his mistakes in the early days of fatherhood - he knows he should have been kinder to Kirsten when she was struggling mentally as a new mom.

Years later, with their third child on the way, the first two are a little bit older and they adore the hell out of their dad. Sohvi loves music like him and unapologetically stands her ground on the things she believes in. Lukas is a cannonball of a personality who loves the ice and playing hockey as much as his cousin Enkka. And the youngest of the Porkos, Jakob (aka “Jaska”) grows up to enjoy the softer things in life - reading, baking, knitting, and cuddling on a lazy day. Even through his busy schedule, he makes time to make memories with each of them in a way that matters to them - jamming out with Sohvi, skating with Lukas, and reading bedtime stories to Jaska. They all take his punk attitude, the very thing that many people used to discount his abilities to raise one child, let alone three. His family is perfect, and he realizes now that he had nothing to fear when he held his daughter for the first time.

--

Joel had never given the thought of a family of his own much consideration. He was too busy being a rock star and conquering the world, and he was afraid of what the change after having a kid would look like for him. He wanted to be happy for Joonas when he told the group in Rotterdam that he was going to be a dad, but he was afraid of losing his best friend to an uncertain future. He grew to love his niece, after some time and a little bit of effort on his part, but he still thought they just weren’t for him.

When he went out on a blind date with Emilia Peltonen months later, he wasn’t expecting it to go anywhere from there. But she gave him a second chance, and a third, and so on, until they were finally living together. Milli finally asked him what he thought of the idea of having kids, and he thought he needed “some time” to think on it. It took him all of about 12 hours to make up his mind, but they waited almost a full year before they were finally successful. In that time, he asked her to marry him, regardless of whether a baby would even come along. Still, he had his doubts about his own abilities to give his son a happy life - he was impatient and snappy, his mental health would fall apart some days, he was never the most affectionate person. And yet, none of that matters to little Viktor; Joel is his idol and, in his mind, he’s the coolest guy on Earth and he wants to be just like him someday. He teaches Enkka to skate and fosters his love for hockey and music. When Enkka needs a hug, either when he’s sleepy or he just woke up from a bad dream, he knows his dad will be there to catch him. So many people love to see that he went from being a dark edgelord online with a pessimistic sense of humor, to being the best dad and husband of their group whose public presence is covered with the signs of his pride in his family. Joel’s transformation surprised so many people, but the change was a welcome sight.

--

(TW: mention of miscarriage)

Niko wanted to be a dad from the beginning. When he dated Jenna in high school, the hopeless romantic in him dreamed of their little family and the future they would build together. He was devastated when they went their separate ways, thanks to their very different paths in life. He gave up on his dream of their little ones, until they crossed paths again. He knew he would be a fool to give up his second chance. He was overjoyed to learn that Jenna was pregnant with their first child; unlike the first two dads, he had no fears in the back of his mind that he would be a good one. As soon as he stepped into his house, he turned off the rock star Niko the world sees, and became Leevi’s dad and Jenna’s husband with every ounce of his being.

They made a promise to each other: when Leevi says his first word, it’s time for baby number two. Blissfully unaware of his parents’ plan to give him a sibling, Leevi watched Rommi walk by and blurted out his first word: kissa! Within two months, they were expecting their daughter to round out their little family. Lahja Rose was born the next February, two weeks past her original due date. Her father was a little heartbroken - she was supposed to be born on his birthday, hence the name Lahja (“gift��). But he was happy to finally have his little Rose to pay tribute to his favorite film (even if people made their fair share of jokes about it). They hit their first real snag as a family when, between 6 and 11 months, Lahja lived with on/off inner ear infections. Her parents did everything they could to help relieve her pain, eventually opting for surgery to fix it. Niko was a wreck for the full five months, refusing to leave his family’s side and being more than willing to fight anyone who disrespected his decision to have privacy with his family. Niko helped Jenna through the painful process of losing what would have been their third child. They mourned, they healed, and they decided that they were at peace just having their two.

--

Olli wanted to be a dad, but he was terrified when he learned he had two on the way. Kaarina wanted to laugh at his adorkable response to the news - “count them again” - but she knew his fears were valid. She’d known this man since they were children, and his response to the news was typical of him as an anxious mess under his cool and seemingly collected personality. Her fears were the same; after all, she had no idea what changes were to come for her health. But both girls had a hold on his heart long before they were even born. Olli was willing to do anything to make Riina and the twins feel comfortable until their arrival a week before Christmas. The moment Elina was placed in his arms and he saw the way Elisabet fit in Riina’s, he wondered where those fears even belonged now.

Well... just a little more than three months later, when he was convinced he’d gotten his wife pregnant again, Olli was rightfully scared shitless. He loved his girls, but he couldn’t have three kids before the first two even celebrated their first birthday. Having narrowly dodged that nightmare, he took all the next steps to ensure that it never happened again. He was happy with his two, and so was Riina. The Matelas spend their summers at their beach home, the twins developing as much of a love for the ocean as him. They wear the best coordinated outfits - but not matching though, Olli and Riina want them to maintain their own personality outside of being twins. He’s more than happy to let them put a tiara on him and invite him to their “garden tea party” in their shared room. It was tough at first, but he soon became a master of carrying one in each arm while they felt tall and safe with him. But he can be a bit strict with them sometimes; he loves them, but he doesn’t want them to follow in his footsteps as a rock star. He knows it can be difficult and fun, but he doesn’t want his daughters to fall victim to the lifestyle. And yet, Elisabet was determined to forge her own path in music, while Elina took to the ice like Lukas and Enkka as a figure skater. There was no use in trying to stifle their dreams. Olli’s proud of his girls, and he’s always wanted them to be happy.

--

Tommi’s family came pre-started. He was introduced to Marja Oksanen, a single mom to a young son who escaped a dangerous relationship with the father of her child. She was afraid that learning about her son would drive him away, that he wouldn’t bother with a single mom if she couldn’t put their relationship first. But Tommi loved this woman already, and someday he was sure he would love her son. He had his reasons to be wary around the boy since he’d never had a father figure in his life (outside of his Uncle Niko for the year or so that Marja and Miikka lived with him and Jenna). He let Miikka accept him first, and he waited for his cue before he grew into his role as his step-dad.

He readily agreed when Marja asked him if he wanted a baby with her (or “another cub” to fit the bear theme they adopted for their family). Tommi would have been happy to have several cubs with her. But when her pregnancy with Anna left her on constant bed rest and their daughter was born a month earlier than she should have, he couldn’t put her through that stress again. Marja’s health mattered more than the thought of a large family. Besides, he was more than happy with “Baby Bear” (Miikka) and “Cub” (Anna), because despite the fact that Miikka was not his son by birth, he was his son by love. And he was willing to defend that from anyone who dares to insult their family dynamic. Tommi is a master of being a dad; his energy calms both kids down when they’re stressed or in need of some love and understanding. It’s not an uncommon sight to see him with one on either side of him as the three of them relax in his recliner. So many people know Tommi as a man with a tough exterior, who doesn’t let his emotions show, doesn’t talk much, and doesn’t garner much attention in a room. But Tommi with his children is a different person altogether. He shares a side of him that belongs to his family.

--

As the last to become a dad, Aleksi had a wealth of experience to rely on when he needed help with his son. He made the difficult decision to voluntarily become a single dad when his ex-girlfriend Laila expressed zero desire to become a mother. He endured so much stress and heartache in the process, from Laila dragging him in the media over his decision to announce the pregnancy to being banned from Noah’s birth altogether. He first laid eyes on Noah when he was just under an hour old, having only been held by the nurses who prepared him to meet his father. He spared no expense in spending two nights in the hospital with him in a suite, even when Laila had long checked out and left without saying goodbye to either of them.

He felt a twinge of shame when he accepted help from Joonas in taking care of his son. He wanted to do it by himself and prove that he could be a good dad alone. But having a village of friends behind him helped ease him into everything that fatherhood would throw at him. When Noah is diagnosed on the autism spectrum when he’s three, Aleksi immediately learns everything he can to understand his son better. He becomes his biggest defender when people try to push him out of his comfort zone, telling him that they can respect his decision to wear his noise-cancelling headphones when he needs them or they can leave both of them alone. He learns sign language to communicate with Noah whenever he goes mute and he shows solidarity when Noah stims in public. He stays out of the dating scene for years to stop a revolving door of strangers from coming around his son who is shy around new people and lives with separation anxiety from losing his mother at a young age. But Hanna Laaksonen was the perfect exception, as a child psychologist with a Master’s degree in early childhood development. The rest of his friends watched as Aleksi fell in love with her and as Noah began to call her Mom. Still, Aleksi always put Noah first, the same as he always had, and Hanna respected that fact.

[arhvste]

congrats on 900, u deserve it!! 🥰❤️ for the event, 10 or 13 for atsumu please? 💖

a-bsolutely 🤩,, sorry this turned out a little long i got a little overexcited 👁👁

❛i’m tired of pretending ❜

“auntie y/n, you’re meant to stick your pinky out!”

“sorry princess, please forgive my poor manners!”

your pinky flicked out immediately as your niece corrected you poor table manners at the makeshift tea party table where you were sat amongst countless teddies and dolls and in front of you an array of various coloured plastic pretend foods and crockery laid out for each ‘guest’.

your boyfriend snickered beside you earning himself a quick side glare from you.

“yeah y/n, yer table manners are awful! i say she gets beheaded!”

your niece scowled at atsumu who had an amused expression as he watched a frown form on your face.

“auntie y/n will not be beheaded you pee pee head!”

“p-pee pee head?!” atsumu’s eyes widened as your niece aimlessly took hits at his ego while you silently praised her for taking him down a few pegs.

“yeah pee pee head! now shush and clink your cups with each other!”

atsumu scoffed and begrudgingly clinked his little plastic cup with the two teddies sat next to him and drank his non existent drink from it.

you had been asked to babysit your little niece while your brother was called out to work for an emergency on his day off and his wife was unable to leave her own workplace to take over from him.

he’d called you in panic while you were lounging around with your boyfriend. hearing the panic in his voice and not having anything better to do with your afternoon, you ensured your brother you’d take good care of his daughter while both parents were gone. atsumu had naturally accompanied you and drove the two of you over to your brothers house 15 minutes after he’d called.

“okay, im bored now let’s play princess wedding!” your niece announced as she hopped off the chair.

you grimaced slightly at the announcement of scenario change and mustered the softest smile for your niece.

“don’t you think we should keep playing this? we’ve only just stopped playing princess mermaids-”

“-yeah and princess pirates, princess explorers and princess rockstars!” atsumu added on.

your niece narrowed her eyes at the two of you which meant her decision was final and neither of you had any say. “okay then.” you muttered in defeat as your niece squealed and dragged the two of you back over to her dress-up wardrobe.

atsumu offered an apologetic smile at you which you waved off. if anything, you were the apologetic one as he’d been dragged into this in the first place. sure, he willingly came along but you were sure atsumu didn’t wake up this morning with the intention to be playing ridiculous scenarios while wearing tutus all afternoon.

“y/n! you can be the bride! pee pee, you have to marry her i guess.”

you snorted at the nickname she’d branded atsumu which caused him to poke your side quickly.

“why don’t you want to be the one who gets married huh?” you knelt down so you were eye level with the little girl who’s face scrunched up in disgust.

“pee pee is the only boy here and i would never want to marry him.” she sneered as you held back a laugh.

“i’m heartbroken.” he muttered a slight twinkle of amusement in his tone.

you sighed and stood up taking the flimsy plastic tiara your niece offered out to you. atsumu grabbed the small plastic crown in the pile of disgarded dress up clothes on the chair nearby.

“well then princess y/n, will ya do me the honor of marryin me?”

you laughed and took his hand as your niece watched the two of you in slight awe.

“mhm i’d love to prince atsumu.”

your niece scrambled between the two of you and acted as the priest.

“you may now kiss the bride.” she bounced on her heels waiting in anticipation for you to ‘officially’ marry your prince.

atsumu shrugged and pulled you close to him. a quick and soft kiss was pressed to your lips as neither of you would’ve been able to stop the disgust growing on your nieces face had you of kissed for a longer amount of time.

“i now name you husband pee pee and wife pee pee!”

“i’m thrilled.” you muttered as atsumu hummed humouring your little niece.

-

the rest of the afternoon was spent playing various other scenario games until you’d finally cleaned up the mess and got your niece settled down to eat dinner and watch a movie after she was all cleaned up.

she’d become drowsy after her bath and you knew she’d pass out soon after so you let her stay downstairs with yourself and atsumu as she drifted off between you.

“hey, sorry about today, i’m sure this isn’t how you wanted to spend your afternoon.” the quiet hums of the tv playing in the background, neither of you paying particular attention to it.

“nah it’s not a problem, got to spend the day with ya anyways.” he turned to you with a small smile content on his handsome face.

“yeah well, i’m sure my niece had fun with prince pee pee this afternoon too.”

atsumu raised an eyebrow and slung his arm over your shoulders.

“that’s uncle prince pee pee to you, we got married remember?”

you rolled your eyes and turned back towards the tv.

“you’re right we did get married didn’t we? guess that makes me y/n miya now huh?” you softly teased back resulting in a slightly flustered atsumu.

“well i mean, i’m tired of pretending that yer not my wife already so...”

this caught your attention.

“w-what?!”

atsumu smugly grinned at your now flustered state.

“ya heard me. we already act like a married couple we might as well stop this act and make it official.” he stated casually. you felt the heat rise to your cheeks as he removed his arm from your shoulders and grabbed both of your hands.

“look, i don’t have a ring on me now it’s back at the apartment and i did plan on askin ya soon i swear. i’ll give it to ya when we get home but since i’ve basically just proposed, y/n, will you marry me? and not pretend this time?”

tears welled up in your eyes as you did your best not to sob and wake up your sleeping niece still snugly cuddled up between you both.

“y-yes! only if i get to marry atsumu though, i don’t want to marry a prince pee pee.” you laughed as a thin stream of tears pooled out the lash line of your eyes.

atsumu laughed and gave your hands a quick squeeze.

“god i love ya.”

pressing his forehead closer to yours until they were touching, the two of you could practically hear your heartbeats over the drowning volumes of the tv and the sounds of a car pulling up to the driveway.

“sounds like my brothers home.” you mumbled as atsumu pulled away and stood up, offering his hand to you.

your brother was in fact home now and had just unlocked the door to the sight of his little daughter all washed up and sleeping on the couch.

he thanked the two of you profusely before insisting he owed the two of you a favour now. atsumu shook his head and said it was okay and the only favour he owed the two of you was his attendance at your wedding.

your brother was surprised but not totally shocked. he knew you’d marry astumu from the first time you’d brought him home in your third year of high school. he got on well with both your parents and him and your brother mentioned how he approached of your choice in boyfriend as your parents agreed.

you left after sharing a few moments of excitement with your brother who promised that when everything was planned him and his family would be there and to let them know if they needed any assistance beforehand.

atsumu unlocked his car and opened the door for you as you got ready to drive home where a proper proposal and engagement ring was waiting to be presented to you.

aislas 900 event

[florrickandassociates]

TGF Thoughts: 5x08-- And the détente had an end...

I did not like this episode! I had many problems with it! More under the cut...

A purple line is painted on a curb and then we’re watching footage of Wackner’s show. Question: do they only wear the costumes when it’s a low profile case? It was very noticeable they didn’t have them on in the cancel culture episode, and they don’t have them on in the Julius scenes in this episode...

Also, can I pretend that the horse and cat wearing tiara are meant to be BoJack and Princess Carolyn?  

Del is remote-watching a focus group about Wackner’s show when Liz walks in. He refers to Wackner as “your guy” and Liz replies, “Must not be going well if you’re calling him my guy.” Sounds like “why is she my stripper when she does something bad?”

The focus group is in Vegas “where the real Americans live.” The clips from Wackner’s show being tested seem to be only the most ridiculous ones. Unsurprisingly, the focus group hates the show.

And here is my first question: Why are they testing a version of Wackner’s show that seems to be exclusively silliness? I know, you know, the writers know, and Del knows that that’s not funny.

Wackner Rules is not a good title.  

I love Liz being amused by the focus group going poorly.

Why don’t people like Wackner Rules? Well, the cases are stupid—fights over barking dogs, shoes that don’t fit. They’d rather see burglary or robbery. This is silly, because while I’m sure most of Wackner’s cases are silly, we've seen a fair number of cases with a little more substance (or at least zaniness that makes them less mundane), including the one with the high profile comedian that was filmed explicitly to be part of this reality show. So is Wackner Rules, despite its cases financed by David Cord, just the most boring shit possible? And if so, why? Again, everyone involved here knows better than that.

Also is this just Del’s pet project? Is that why he is producing it, testing it, and approving it?

Liz rolls her eyes at the “wisdom of the crowd” on display. Then she shuts the laptop without realizing what she’s doing and jokes around about it.

If I were Del and my partner had just disparaged my work and then shut down my laptop while I was working, I would be furious. However, this is a bad episode of a television show and I love Liz so I am amused.  

Del goes to fill Wackner in on how the focus group went. Wackner does not care about the opinions of twelve people. (This is funny, given that he has decided he is the most important person when it comes to making decisions and also that juries have twelve people too.)

No, dear god, no, please do not make me sit through tiny office jokes again. Have we transported back in time to season seven of TGW? I hated the door slamming against Eli’s desk then and I hate the sudden addition of this “joke” to Wackner’s chambers now.  

The calendar says February 2021. Is it supposed to be February?  

Apparently, the focus group likes the court, the costumes, and, mostly, Marissa. Just not the cases.  

Marissa’s all, “well what do they want, a murder case?” and Del gives her a look like, “Can you???”

Again, the cases weren’t so silly they were boring in any other episodes and we know that Del/Wackner/Cord were meeting to discuss the best test cases for TV. So, like, how did people waste their time and energy making this obviously awful episode of TV for the focus group? No one involved is that clueless and it makes me dislike this plot.

AND RIGHT AFTER LAST EPISODE WHERE THE CASE ESCALATED TO THE POINT OF PRISON? I think that’s maybe my biggest complaint about this plot, and this episode as a whole. The last episode gave the this season a lot of momentum. Prison! Stakes are raised! Will Marissa say anything!? How much power is too much power for Wackner?! And then we get this episode, and it’s like, jk, forget about all that, now Wackner’s cases are drying up and everyone involved has zero critical thinking skills and we’re going to forget the prison thing ever happened!  

“His court needs this show. Look at Trump. He wasn’t shit until The Apprentice,” Del tells Marissa after Wackner exits. Marissa does not react to the Trump reference, which may be the low point of this episode. Does Marissa Gold want to build the next Trump!? Is Marissa Gold not concerned that someone has just suggested that the goal of her show is to make someone in to Trump!? Hello?! This is not a reference you drop casually! I would be concerned about partnering with Del if I heard this! Marissa would be too! So why isn’t she?!  

Also, this line + the “real Americans” as the target audience for Wackner’s show + the USA! Chanting at the end make me think the point here is somehow supposed to be about Trump and, like, cults of personality? I don’t really see it but I’ll reserve judgement until I see where Wackner’s arc ends up.

Julius heads to Wackner’s court to meet with Cord. He pitches them on his new firm. How is Julius going to start a new firm already? Wasn’t RL the only place that would take him? And pitching Cord on a firm with the 20% of staff that was laid off is a stupid idea, too. As Cord says, hiring the people laid off means hiring the “B-Team.” I dunno if that is actually true, but I know that Cord and anyone else who knows those were the people who were laid off will see it that way. Why is this in Julius’s business pitch? Like, is Cord wondering where Julius would get employees from? Is that a question?  

Reddick & Lockhart, Julius says, is no longer eligible for no-bid government contracts. I want to know why: is this because RL is actually STR Laurie, or is this because Diane is white? If the latter, then you’d think we’d hear a little more about it...

Why is Cord calling the Copy Coop somewhere near the courthouse in a business district in Chicago “the middle of nowhere”?  

Anyway, Cord passes on the new firm because it is not innovative and it does not disrupt anything.

Then Julius pitches the firm but with known-innovator Diane Lockhart and her client list. Cord is kind of interested. Cord cares that much about Diane? Alright.  

Julius, after involving Diane, calls her to tell her what he’s done. When he gets back to his car, he is being given a ticket for parking in a purple zone. A purple zone is, apparently, court staff parking for Wackner’s court.  

Julius rips up the ticket, then gets another ticket for destroying the ticket, and another ticket for destroying that ticket.

Wackner asks Marissa to find out how he can get out of the reality show. Marissa refuses and says she’s going to find out how they’re portraying Wackner, since the show benefits him. This is because he has “fewer cases this week than the week before, and fewer than the week before that. This court goes away unless more people know you’re here.” What? Where did that come from? I’m so confused. Last week Wackner had infinite money and a prison and was dealing with cases with settlements in the millions and famous comedians. Now his audience is dwindling and I’m supposed to care about this plotline? Thanks, but I cared about the plot you already sold me on, writers!  

Hey, wasn’t there a thread at some point in this season about David Lee bugging Liz’s office? Odds we ever hear about that again?  

Diane does not like Julius’s new firm idea. “David Lee is insisting that I stay,” Diane says, as though David Lee actually has that kind of power over her.  

Julius points out that all the other partners are threatening to resign unless Diane is replaced, and “at a certain point, it won’t matter what David Lee says.” Diane says she’ll think about it.

Julius tries to talk to Cord again and finds that his car has been towed. This scene is too long, and watching Julius get confused by shifting, fake rules feels a little too much like the first Memo 618 episode. This episode only has a 40-minute run-time and we spend a lot of it on building up this plot. I don't really get why. Sure, it’s fun to watch people act incredulous, but we already know Wackner’s court is trying to put some muscle behind its authority (violence to encourage compliance, literal prison) so I don’t know why we need to spend so much time on what feels like a lower key bizarro version of a theme we are already aware of.

Just, like, do a boring ass case of the week episode if you don’t have ideas. Don’t regress the plotting and kill the momentum.

SPEAKING of killing momentum, remember how Carmen got a stellar introduction, a few episodes of development, and then pretty much disappeared for several consecutive episodes?  

Then there’s another one of these scenes where Julius tries to get his car and more and more people enforce Wackner’s fake ticket.  

I do not like “Wackner’s City of Chicago” being on the seal. I think he'd have something more clever than that on the seal.

David Lee calls Cord in to pitch him on bringing over all of his business. This scene confuses me, because you’d think Cord would be a big get for giant corporation STR Laurie. But no, David Lee wants Cord to bring his West Coast, East Coast, and Europe business to boutique firm Reddick Lockhart. Or, at least, that’s what Cord’s hesitance suggests to me.

Cord tells David Lee that Diane is leaving and that he won’t go to a firm that is breaking apart. David Lee denies it.

THIS sounds like the Hitting the Fan score.  

David Lee insists that Liz and Diane drop what they’re doing and come up to his office. They do.  

David asks Diane if she’s leaving. She says she was asked to join another firm, and that she was told that the equity partners are planning to resign unless she resigns, so she’s considering it.

“No one is threatening to resign without my permission,” David responds. Those must be some contracts if he is this powerful...

David warns Diane about poaching clients and she’s all, they’re free to leave if they want (ah, so they’re free to leave when you’re leaving but they’re your clients and can be stolen when YOU’RE losing them, I see). Liz is irritated by all of this and pre-accuses Diane of stealing clients after what she’s already done to keep her position. Fair.  

David asks Diane what her issues are. “I’m a name partner being squeezed out of the decision making process,” she says. “And why is that, Diane?” Liz asks. “Because of my race!” Diane insists. “Because no one respects your decision to stay in your position. It is not yours by right,” Liz says.

“I’ve fought as hard as anyone here to keep this firm solvent. And I didn’t inherit this firm. I was invited in, and I earned...” OOOH FINALLY WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT LIZ HAD NO EXPERIENCE RUNNING A FIRM BEFORE THIS ONE FELL INTO HER LAP. Shame it’s a throwaway line.  

STRL’s presence both adds and removes tension here. I wish they pushed this a little further. Sometimes David Lee seems to be functioning as an outside mediator; sometimes he has more power. What’s the point of all of these dilemmas and battles if at the end of the day, STRL owns and controls everything? How much can RL really mean to them? There’s even an RL in their name that doesn't stand for Reddick/Lockhart. I just don’t understand what it means to be a name partner in a black firm when that firm is actually controlled by some giant company. The way I see it, Diane should want out of RL because she’s past retirement age and being controlled by David Lee and that can’t be fun, and Madeline et al should want out because the mandate to focus on profit over social justice is not mostly coming from Diane or even Adrian’s legacy... it’s coming from the giant power and profit hungry corporation that owns you!  

David has Diane and Liz stand on opposite sides of his desk. “Are you gonna spank us?” Liz says. I love funny Liz. Funny Liz is my favorite. But you know what I wish we also got more of? Liz’s thought process in general.

David’s point with this is that David is going to “come live and work with” Diane and Liz if they don’t figure it out themselves. I know they can’t easily get out from under STRL but Adrian did it so there’s surely a way to resign... this feels so demoralizing... I can’t believe Diane just takes this.  

As they walk downstairs, Liz says, “If you’re going to leave, there’s nothing to talk about. “Liz, I don’t want to leave this firm. And you don’t want me to leave. So why don’t we hire a partner to replace Boseman?”

(1) I like that they’re acknowledging that Liz and Diane clearly want to work together and like working together and are having this fight mostly because they have to have this fight, not because they actually want to. Pretty much nothing Liz has done suggests she actually wants Diane to step down and pretty much nothing Diane has done suggests she actually wants to switch firms. So good, that’s text instead of subtext now.

(2) Weren’t they going to hire a partner to replace Boseman in the first place? Why didn’t that just... happen then and avoid all this?  

Liz says she’ll think about it, but we all know that this is what she and Diane both want. This is where they should’ve been weeks ago.  

OMG okay I knew they had talked about it before! In 5x02 Diane suggests this strategy from the start! Why does it go away!? It’s clearly the right strategy and doing it that early could’ve prevented a lot of conflict and tension. At this point, it feels almost too little, too late. What’s it going to do other than smooth things over with Diane and Liz?  

They really are keeping the cameras rolling for Julius’s dumb parking ticket thing? Guarantee this does not make Wackner look good. As trivial as parking spaces seem, this feels like the sort of issue that would really piss off a lot of people. Maybe that would make good TV, but you want people to like and trust Wackner to keep people coming back to a reality show...  

Julius, being Julius, refuses to apologize to Wackner and make the whole issue go away. I think why this rubs me—and so many others; I have seen nothing but negativity about this episode among friends and on the internet—the wrong way is that this feels like power for the sake of power. It is trivial, self-important (“Wackner’s City of Chicago”), disconnected from anything resembling reality. That’s not to say anything else about Wackner has been realistic, but the writers have been walking a very fine line between surreal, allegorical storytelling and straining credulity. This feels so mundane and unneeded that I actually have an easier time accepting that Wackner has created his own prison system than I do accepting that he’s tried to reserve parking spaces for his staff. At least with a prison, I see the larger-than-life point the writers are trying to make.

The parking attendant tells Wackner she wants to add more reserved spaces up the street and Wackner is like, oh, good! I don’t understand! Who is this lady that just wants to enforce Wackner’s rules? Does she want more spaces because it’s kind of a powertrip to give people tickets? Why do they need more reserved staff parking when cases are dwindling? Who is Wackner’s staff? Why do they need more parking?

And like, it’s one thing when Wackner’s antics affect people who are part of his little bubble, since they all have agreed to be there. How can he just reserve street parking? Wouldn’t this get shut down in a day? Julius would NOT be the only one furious.  

Then Julius decides to steal Wackner’s book of seals so he can make it look like his ticket is paid.  

So if they have footage from the cancel culture episode of Wackner Rules, why wouldn’t they have used it? We see it here, in the editing room, so why are the cases so boring again? (I’m sorry, I know I've said this like 1000 times, but it’s bothering me so much that this episode isn’t even internally consistent.)

(This whole plot is a time-filling detour tbh. I have no problem believing Wackner Rules could be an interesting TV show seeing as how I am watching it as part of an interesting TV show, so I don’t get why we need to spend all this time on how this obviously bad first draft of the show is bad and that it can be improved by fixing a non-existent problem? Also, there are zero stakes because Del owns the show and is also the one deciding whether or not to air the show.)  

(Like, there could be a version of this where the focus group really helps us get into where Wackner’s stuff does and doesn’t translate and the changes he’s asked to make and how the fact it’s television changes the court, blah blah blah. Instead, the premise seems to be that the show is capturing what Wackner’s court was like in the days before Marissa or Cord or Del became involved, which makes no sense and is also boring!)

They’re mentioning Marissa being in the IDF again. This comes up because the re-edit of Wackner Rules is all about Marissa. This is kind of fun and meta! Marissa would definitely be a favorite on a reality show!  

It turns out this re-edit is mostly about how the editor has a huge crush on Marissa.  

I know that these tv writers know the process for tv writing and production better than I possibly could. I still do not believe that this reality show has one producer (Del) and an editor who is making executive decisions about the content of the show, and that this is for some reason happening in a mobile trailer parked outside of the court. Surely there would be meetings about what direction to take, not just a vague instruction to “make it better”?  

In case I needed more evidence that the writers did not bring their A-game for this episode, we get Diane talking to RBG, again, because apparently now there are no other ways to clue us in on what Diane’s thinking. This is just lazy.

The RBG thing worked for me in 5x06 because it felt like a novel way for Diane to get to talk out loud, and that episode that wouldn’t have worked if we didn’t have a way to see what Diane was thinking. Here, it feels like the writers are doing it because they did it before and it worked and it’s thematically connected and it’s easy.  

Doesn’t this entire scene just radiate laziness????  

I know not every episode can be great but just don’t try to do something interesting and innovative if you’re going to half ass it.  

I’m not even bothered by the thought that Diane daydreams about conversations with RBG. I buy that. I just don’t need this conversation (which feels way too much like it’s supposed to be an actual conversation for my taste).

OMG please stop talking about how RBG and Scalia were friends, I beg you, if you’re going to do this device again can you at least have a different conversation.  

So much exposition. Diane knows someone named Allegra through EMILY’s List and thinks she’ll be a perfect choice for the third partner. Diane did hear she had a meltdown, though.  

Julius gets arrested for stealing Wackner’s sticker book. When he starts shouting about how it’s a fake court, the officer is like, “As real as Officer McFinely’s death?” calling back to the last episode. I do find it interesting the police would be willing to overlook Wackner’s complete disregard for the law because of a grudge involving the law firm, and I like that choice.  

Allegra is basically a slightly more toned-down version of Elsbeth. She has a messy, rented office, and trails off mid-thought. Since she’s kind of a familiar character type, I’m not overly impressed by her, but she’ll be fine to add some little bits of humor to the office drama, I think. My hope is that they use her in small doses, because I have a low tolerance for quirk.

Allegra’s office has tons of books. I can’t see what most of them are, but she has a copy of The Nix, and I liked that book! It’s the only fiction title I can spot; the rest seems like political commentary or pop sociology/business stuff.  

Diane mentioning her RBG hallucinations to Allegra is probably a very smart way to win over Allegra.  

Marissa encourages the editor, whose crush is so obvious it’s uncomfortable, to put Wackner’s outburst in the show. The one about how Del is using the show to rehabilitate the comedian!? Why would Del air that?! How does this help anything?! If the goal is to get Wackner’s court more cases, why would this make anyone choose to take their case there?

The police bring Julius to Wackner’s court, which I have a slight bit of trouble believing (not that any of this is believable, but you know what I mean—I don’t feel like it’s logical given everything else I know about this premise) but I'll roll with.

Now there’s some ridiculous, awful fake lawyer who was “devil’s advocate” with devil horns in the last episode and David Cord is prosecuting Julius and... what the actual fuck is going on in this scene? This Devil’s Advocate man would not have lasted a second in what we’ve seen of Wackner’s court before this point—he is an obvious liar and showman who Wackner would have no patience for. And if Cord has a bone to pick with Julius, this is an odd way of showing it, because it feels like Cord is there as a familiar face and not for a story reason.  

Like, does Cord actively HATE Julius? Is... that supposed to be the point of this?

Seriously though, Devil’s Advocate would get like two sentences into his story about how Julius grew up poor before Wackner would make him stop, and if he got farther than that, Julius interrupting to ask “What are you talking about?” would’ve prompted Wackner to hold up that “cut the shit” card.  

This humor is so fucking lazy. In the worst moments of this show, they take gags that have previously been successful and run with them until you can’t believe you ever found them endearing. That’s this scene.

Also it just occurred to me when I referenced the “Cut the Shit” card that we’ve seen Wackner be able to get audience responses to his cases. Seems to me like you pretty much already have your focus group results, no? You do more of the things that make the live audience excited and fewer of the things that make them get up and leave. The things that the live audience plays along with and reacts to are the catch phrases you’re going to put on merchandise. I’m not a TV producer and this is very obvious to me.  

Instead of telling this lying lawyer to stop, Wackner instead asks the court musician to play “This is Us like music.” Make it stop. I don’t know who finds this funny but it’s not me!

Can you IMAGINE the fake reality show airing any of this? I dislike it and I know all of the players and context.

There is a shot of Del looking excited to see what’s going to happen. I’m sorry, but if Del’s instincts are this bad I just do not believe he runs a streaming service. Maybe his main role is to do the business stuff, not the content stuff? (But if so, why’s he always hanging around Wackner’s court?)

This episode is full of extremely essential scenes, like Marissa and the editor having sex as they watch footage of Marissa. Good for Marissa, I guess? This could’ve really easily just been implied. And if you really want to give Marissa more material, give her an arc, not a hookup where the focus of the sex scene is the editor dude. Or, like, just let her react to the whole prison revelation from the last episode. WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW WACKNER IS SENDING PEOPLE TO PRISON?

Liz and Allegra meet. Allegra makes it sound like it is about her book but then she’s extremely (and intentionally, I think) obvious that she’s there to be the third partner and that Diane scouted her.  

What is the point of Allegra asking if Liz has a view of Willis Tower and misidentifying the building? Presumably Allegra lives in Chicago, so you’d think she’d know its most recognizable building by sight (and would probably also call it the Sears Tower).  

Liz likes Allegra.  

Now there are a ton of cops in court and Del is loving the drama. Sure, it’s dramatic, but is this really want you want to air? Some convoluted thing where a bunch of police officers intimidate a lawyer who works at a firm that was unfairly linked to a cop killing because that lawyer refused to pay a parking ticket issued by a fake court? Who... who is this for?! What’s the angle? Who is amused by this?  

Marissa sees Julius is the defendant and jumps into action. She asks Wackner why he’s prosecuting Julius and he says it’s his job. She argues that Julius is from their firm and this is bullshit. Wackner still won’t let him go.

If Julius is from the firm and Wackner employs the firm, is Julius NOT covered under the court employee banner? Why do I even care.

Wackner acts like he’s just not bending the rules, just like Marissa wanted. I’m not interested in this enough to decide whether I agree that this is consistent or think this is actually a different scenario. I just want to be done with this episode so I can forget about it.

I imagine—maybe hope is a better word—that this episode is bad because it’s hard to write five great episodes in a row without kind of phoning one in. I wish this episode didn’t kill the momentum coming out of 5x07 but I’m hoping that it is an isolated issue and not a drop in quality that will also spoil 5x09 and 5x10.

Wackner closes the door on Marissa, which I think is supposed to be meaningful, and Marissa calls Diane down to Wackner’s court to help Julius.  

Diane and Liz both go to court. “I’m about to be sent to prison for parking in a purple zone,” Julius explains. “What does that mean?” Diane asks. “If I explained it to you, it wouldn’t make any more sense,” Julius says.

Oh so now we remember that Wackner’s prison exists. When I said I wanted more about it, I didn’t mean that I wanted it looming as a threat... I meant I wanted to explore what it meant that Wackner was promoting prisons...

Diane asks if they should call the police, “the real ones.” I like that it takes her a second longer than Liz and Julius to understand the cops are real. Liz also notes that the SA’s office won’t help either because they might be happy with anything that fucks with RL. This scene is decent. Some of the themes in here are decent. It just feels poorly timed and with the emphasis in the wrong place. I imagine the goal here is to show that Wackner is now more concerned with enforcement than with the process for trials, and that enforcement brings with it a lot of uncomfortable questions. I wish that we’d spend less time on the incredulous reactions and silliness and more time reckoning with those questions.  

The next focus group likes the Wackner anger outburst, because, in Del’s mind, they want to see Wackner care about something. Does Del have the worst judgment ever? Wackner looks invested in every single thing he does—how could anyone accuse him of not seeming like he cares? His whole thing, the whole thing that got Del’s attention, is that he pays each case the kind of individualized attention it deserves. Now he only looks like he cares if he blows up? Even if the thing he’s caring about in the explosion in question is his own reputation? Is Del trying to make Wackner into a mid-2010s anti-hero? And if so... why?

Wackner’s outburst that accuses Del of corruption is apparently so good it got an unprecedented “95%” from the focus group. Sure. Why not.  

Then Del tells him to keep doing cases “just like this” and they’ll keep the court going. Does that mean just like the ALREADY HIGH PROFILE AND ALREADY HAND PICKED FOR TELEVISION cancel culture case, or cases like the Julius case? If the first, well, duh, that’s why they picked that case in the first place. If the second, again, why?

“You and your colleagues think you get to decide when and how justice is determined. You think it is your right to make and break the rules as you see fit,” Wackner says to Julius. UM, WACKNER, THAT IS LITERALLY YOUR ENTIRE DEAL???????????????????????????  

That’s the point, right????? Please tell me the point of this is that Wackner is supposed to look totally hypocritical and like an egomaniac who thinks his own judgment should not be questioned but everyone else’s should be????????????????????????? If this line isn’t meant to be supremely ironic I... I wouldn’t even know where to start.  

“The law belongs to the people,” Wackner says, and the cops start chanting, “USA!”. What?!  

And then we cut away from this and suddenly we’re welcoming Allegra to the firm and... did I miss an entire episode or something? What happened with Julius? Why are Liz and Diane smiling? How did Diane and Liz’s conversation about Allegra go? Did the other partners agree to this? Did David Lee? This is a very big development! I need more!  

Madeline seems welcoming towards Allegra. She and another partner are still suspicious of Diane because they have seen right through this strategy. So... I guess we aren’t done with this arc yet.  

Aw, Liz has a picture of herself with her son when he was a baby on her desk.  

Diane and Liz drop Wackner as a client. It takes longer than it should for Marissa’s name to come up in this conversation.  

If you were wondering about the Julius case we spent most of the episode building up, it’s resolved off screen by Wackner releasing Julius with time served. Why? Don’t know. Did it seem like it was headed that way during anything we previously saw? Nope.  

Wackner won’t let Diane and Liz back out, saying he gets to choose his representation (does it REALLY work this way?) and also, probably more importantly, that they won’t be able to get all of Cord’s business if they piss him off by dropping Wackner.  

Wackner also notes that they picked up his pilot. I’m sorry, what? Del didn’t just decide that the series he created for his streaming platform would be straight to series? That whole little “Wackner doesn’t test well” plot was resolved by showing an episode with the COTW they obviously should’ve shown from the start and then Wackner made a total of zero changes to his behavior or attitude and now the show is a huge success? What was the POINT? Why did I just watch that?!  

“Fuck,” Liz says as the episode ends.  

I’ve kinda always thought this, but it’s worth saying again: Madeline and company should resign from the firm. BOTH RL and STRL care more about profit than anything else. Liz and Diane want to work together. Liz and Diane both take the threat of losing Cord’s business seriously. If Madeline wants a firm that’s focused on social justice, it doesn’t matter if Diane is name partner or not. Liz is probably even faster than Diane to decide things based on money, and even if she weren’t, STRL owns them! Plus, I have a feeling that Diane, her clients, Liz, and Cord are probably individually worth more to STRL than Madeline and the other partners combined. If Allegra is down to pursue profit and deal with corporate overlords too, then Madeline and the others matter even less to STRL. Just cut your losses and start the firm you want to start. At this point it won’t even compete with RL.  

Don’t get me started on this absolutely idiotic title sequence for Wackner Rules. I’m sure this is someone’s idea of a joke. If I take it seriously, then I have to write about how it is even worse than all of the things I just complained about for the entirety of this recap, and honestly, I’m exhausted.  

[zelenacat]

When We Were Young- Chapter 24- An Obitine Story

Lunch was served in the main hall, but Satine did not attend. Instead, she sent Korkie, Khaami, Parna, and Hera in her place. Parna had returned with multiple copies of the audio, which were hidden all over the palace. Tristan and Tyra were engaged in espionage activities, so Satine ate her lunch in silence and then slept. Her night up with the twins had suddenly hit her and in the moment she could barely keep her eyes open.

“Your Grace?”

The Duchess groaned.

“Please, Lady Mother,” Tyra whispered, “I have news from the Council.”

Satine rolled over to find Khaami and Parna preparing a new outfit.

“What-”

“Almost dinner,” Tyra pulled her mother up, “and we have much to discuss.”

The Duchess was wearing one of her favorite gowns, the one she wore to meet Padme all those years ago when she was Queen of Naboo. It was blue and purple ombre with the Mandalorian star system embroidered on it.

“You look glorious, Lady Mother.” Tyra clapped.

Satine snorted, “Thank you, darling, but this girdle feels less than glorious.”

Parna laughed.

Khaami raised an eyebrow but couldn’t stop herself from smiling, “The news, Tyra.”

“Right,” Satine noticed her daughter was already dressed, “there was an ancient Sith who is believed to hide a powerful relic here, they say it’s on Concordia.”

The Duchess huffed.

“There’s more,” Tyra frowned sympathetically, “the Jedi believe he wanted to frame you for the creation of Death Watch to turn the people against you.”

Satine shook her head, “I hate those same old tricks.”

“Finally,” Tyra continued, “Mara and Boba have captured a couple criminals and are holding them in the cellar.”

The Duchess’ eyes went wide, “All this happened while I was asleep?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Khaami answered, fastening a ring of pearls around the Duchess’ neck, “Tristan is currently dressed as a regular servant and has been delivering the Count’s necessities.”

“Oh, poor Tristan.” Satine frowned.

“He’s doing well,” Parna assured, “we hope he’ll overhear something.”

Satine nodded, picking up her pearl-drop tiara.

“I want to see these vagrants before lunch,” she turned to Tyra, “please take me.”

The dungeon was a place Satine rarely was, and the last time had been because she was betrayed once again, so she was not looking forward to it. Fortunately, Mara and Boba clearly didn’t feel the same way.

“Mara,” Tyra gasped at the scene before them, “what is this!”

Sheepish, Mara extracted herself from Boba’s grip, “Hi, Tyra.”

“We’re dating,” Boba grinned, giving the Duchess a polite nod, “took Mara long enough.”

Satine raised an eyebrow, Tyra squealed.

“The criminals?” the Duchess prodded.

“Yes,” Mara blushed, “I’ll take you, Tyra must have special duties to attend to.”

Tyra turned to her mother, who nodded.

“We shall discuss this, Mara.” Tyra warned, wagging her finger before leaving.

Boba gave Mara a look, and she giggled.

“The criminals?” Satine asked again.

“Down the hall,” Mara pointed, “we’ll take you.”

As they approached the cells, Boba warned them not to get too close to the shields, but when Satine saw who was in jail, she took a step closer.

“Viceroy Gunray?”

The man’s head snapped up.

“Duchess Satine,” his voice made her skin curdle, “there clearly has been a mistake.”

“Certainly,” the Duchess agreed, “you were most certainly not invited, unless of course, you happen to be allied with the Separatists and are here to stir up trouble among the Mandalorian people?”

“I assure you, Your Grace-”

“Are you aware of what I am accusing you of, Viceroy,” Satine asked, a harsh edge to her voice, “will you answer my questions?”

Gunray sneered, “The Mandalorians are a peaceful people.”

“But we do not take kindly to nefarious acts that brew discord in our system,” Satine countered, “you can be sure Mandalore’s heritage is still dear to many of us.”

“You would not risk war.” the Viceroy stated.

“With who,” Satine questioned, “the Trading Federation? You have no army of your own.”

“No,” Gunray narrowed his eyes, “but Count Dooku-”

“Is courting me,” the Duchess interjected, “so, you see, I have nothing to lose if you’re threatening me with people whom I curry favor.”

Boba Fett cracked his knuckles.

The Viceroy frowned, “You can’t keep me here.”

“I can keep you as long as I want,” Satine raised an eyebrow, “but if you are friendly with the Separatists, perhaps you would like to explain that to the Republic Senate?”

“You couldn’t-”

Satine pressed her comm and a small form of Padme appeared.

“Senator Amidala?”

Padme turned.

“I hate to bother you, Padme, you do look quite busy,” Satine began, “but Viceroy Gunray has been sneaking around Mandalore on the word and protection of Separatists, and I think you’d like to talk to him.”

Padme frowned and turned to face the Viceroy, “Yes, I most certainly would, although perhaps this should be done with more Senators present.”

The Duchess nodded, “I will schedule a meeting.”

Satine turned to Mara and nodded, she curtsied and went off.

“Friends with criminals,” Gunray observed, “your reputation clearly needs revisiting, Duchess.”

“Apparently,” Satine countered, “so does yours.”

With that, she beckoned to Boba Fett and left.

“Any other important ones?” Satine asked.

“A few,” the bounty Hunter nodded, “your guards and I will question them.”

“Thank you,” the Duchess nodded, “and do look after Mara for me.”

Boba Fett’s eyes narrowed, “She has a pin, you know, with your house colors on it.”

Satine only nodded.

“I work with your sister-in-law,” Boba added, “she’d love to meet you.”

The Duchess smirked, “Tell her to learn some manners first.”

Parna met Satine at the entrance to the dungeons.

“The meeting is scheduled,” she stated, bending to clean off the Duchess’ dress, “and the Count is waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Parna.”

“Also,” the lady stood and lowered her voice, “the Jedi are sending an expedition team to Concordia.”

“Thank you,” the Duchess repeated, “I shall keep that in mind.”

Satine met the Count at the breakfast table, her full retinue already there to entertain him.

“Ah, Duchess,” Dooku smiled, “you look lovely.”

“Your Excellency is most kind,” Satine replied coolly.

The Count raised an eyebrow, “Still tired I imagine?”

It took everything Satine had in her not to reveal what she knew of his deceit.

“You make for a very trying guest, Your Excellency.”

A couple noblewomen around the table laughed. At that moment, Tyra and Hera entered, bearing platters of traditional Mandalorian cuisine along with other servants. Dooku’s eyes lingered on Tyra too long for her liking.

“I don’t believe I’ve met these ladies.” the Count observed.

“My maids,” Satine gestured, “Tyra and Hera.”

Both curtsied.

“So young.” Dooku added.

“Certainly you wouldn’t object to training the young early?” Satine asked, bitterness in her tone.

Count Dooku smiled, “I most certainly would not.”

And so, breakfast began. The older Countesses, Bralor, Eldar, and Saxon, made a point of judging Dooku openly.

“And what makes you think you are worthy of Mandalore, Your Excellency.” Countess Saxon had the audacity to ask.

Satine grinned.

The Count shrugged, “An ancient empire needs a modern one to ally with.”

Ursa Wren ground her teeth. Currently, she wasn’t talking to Satine since Sabine had been discovered as a spy and sent to a special school for rebellious children. The Duchess wasn’t pleased with the Count’s answer either, however, and decided to go on the offensive.

“At least the Republic’s army is alive.”

“Yes,” Dooku smirked into his soup, “alive.”

Satine made a mental note to ask Obi-Wan about that statement.

“I didn’t know you were friendly with the Master Jedi.”

The Duchess practically growled, “It is impolite to intrude on personal boundaries, Count, I suppose as you weren’t born nobility you wouldn’t know that.”

Dooku’s frown set deeper.

“Yara,” Satine smiled politely, “what do you think of my new sister-in-law?”

Countess Eldar grinned, “I should’ve known you’d heard.”

The Duchess gave a pleasant giggle, “Oh, I hear everything.”

“I think it’s quite like your sister to match herself like that.” Ursa commented.

“Very true,” Satine turned to the Count, “tell me of your former apprentice, Your Excellency, do you think we should invite her and my sister to court?”

Now it was the Count’s turn to grind his teeth, “I think that decision is best left up to Your Grace.”

Satine nodded, pretending like she didn’t already know this.

Lunch was finished, and the Duchess invited the Count on a stroll through the gardens, he accepted.

“Parna, Khaami,” she announced, “you will trail us.”

Satine made a point to focus on specifically Mandalorian details of the garden, then, seemingly out of nowhere, asked if it would be seen as a traditional alignment to support enemies of the Jedi.

Dooku actually smiled, “I think many would view it that way, yes.”

“But my people must choose,” Satine’s face darkened, “Padme and I agreed on that.”

“You did, did you?” the Count tilted his head.

Satine nodded, hoping he couldn’t hear her heartbeat. Was that a force user power?

“Well, I suppose you can be friends,” he sighed, “until we marry.”

“You presume to know me.” Satine snapped.

“I know you don’t care for me.”

The Duchess turned to look at the Count.

“Our union, however,” Dooku began, carefully choosing his words, “would be very beneficial.”

“You seem to think so.”

Count Dooku grabbed Satine’s arm, “I’ve seen them, no one has to know about your bastards that smell like Master Kenobi.”

The Duchess froze, her limbs cold.

“Ah yes, I know.”

Satine began to shake.

“Marry me and no one will know.” the Count offered.

“I’ll play my part,” Satine told Dooku, gritting her teeth, “but expect a long courtship.”

Count Dooku left early, he said it was business. It did, however, kiss Satine’s cheek upon departing, which caused quite the stir on Mandalore. Now, it was evening.

“He seems awful.” Korkie mused as the Duchess and her children waited.

“Terribly,” Mara agreed, “but he knows about our father.”

As she said this, Satine noticed a ship wading through the dark sky.

“What do you know, Tristan?” the Duchess asked, sensing his unease.

“Many of my classmates are slightly horrified, or aggressive.”

“He will have to prove himself ‘worthy of Mandalore’.” Tyra added.

The ship got closer, and Satine told Mara and Tristan to wait in her personal parlor. 

“Lady Mother,” Korkie whispered, “I’m worried for you.”

“So am I.” Tyra agreed.

“Thank you, children,” Satine squeezed her children’s hands, “I appreciate your concern.”

Master Aayla Secura got off the ship and Satine counted herself surprised, then Ahsoka disembarked and the Duchess was put at ease.

“I wasn’t aware I would be having such distinguished guests.” Satine told Master Secura.

“After such a famous visitor you mean?” the Jedi questioned.

“I’m just glad he’s gone.” Satine replied honestly.

“Hey, Kork, whaddup?”

“The sky, Ahsoka,” Korkie smirked, “not that you would know that.”

The Padawan feigned offense, “Dear me, what a burn.”

Tyra snorted.

“Padawan Tyra,” Master Secura nodded, “you have been very helpful.”

“Wow really? That’s a first!”

Master Secura smirked, “I hope the Duchess appreciated your enthusiasm.”

“This Padawan is certainly a handful.”

“Master Vos would agree.”

Satine gave Obi-Wan a smile resplendent of the sun.

“And did he tell you as such?”

“I know her well enough.”

Aayla cleared her throat.

“Korkie, Tyra,” Satine turned, “be a good host and show our guests to their rooms.”

The Duchess watched happily as her children moved through the palace with ease, and she grinned to herself.

“Dead!”

Satine jumped. Out of the shadows slithered Asajj Ventress, with Bo-Katan behind her. The Duchess frowned.

“Interesting,” Ventress grinned, “I didn’t know you were Mrs. Kenobi.”

The Duchess opened her mouth to defend herself.

“Everybody knows now, Satine,” Bo-Katan waved dismissively, “after a moment like that I’m surprised there aren’t riots.”

Trying to suppress her blush, the Duchess asked if they planned to stay.

“We didn’t get a chance to capture the Count,” Ventress frowned, “he left early.”

“There was no time to-”

Ventress reached out and shoved Satine, who stumbled backwards onto the pavement.

“Excuses are useless with me,” the witch warned, “do not use them.”

Shocked, Satine remained on the floor.

“Get up, sister,” Bo-Katan huffed, “you look like a fish.”

“Satine!”

Suddenly, Obi-Wan was beside her.

“How-”

Reaching out with the force, Obi-Wan threw Ventress into a mass of sculpted hedges.

“Are you well, darling?” the Jedi asked, picking her up.

“Ben,” Satine blushed, “how heroic.”

“Ugh,” Bo-Katan spat on the ground, “spare me.”

“Your manners have worsened, Obi-Wan.” Ventress called.

“They may have,” Obi-Wan admitted, “but I thought matrilineal cultures praised women who just gave birth.”

A beat of silence.

“Satine,” Bo-Katan sighed, “no.”

“You’ll never see them, Bo,” Satine promised, “they won’t bother you.”

Ventress smirked, “A family man, Obi-Wan, how interesting.”

“I could say the same about you,” the Jedi countered, “you’re married.”

Bo-Katan raised an eyebrow, “And you’re not?”

Satine looked down and blushed.

“Oh, sister,” Bo-Katan clapped, “you have bastards!”

“That’s not true,” Satine huffed, face still red, “my children are royalty.”

“How many children do you have?” Ventress asked after a pause.

Satine bit her lip.

“Six.” Obi-Wan answered.

Ventress’ jaw dropped.

“Oh, Satine,” Bo-Katan whined, “I thought you were better than that.”

The Duchess was about to answer when Tristan called down from above.

“The Jedi are asking for you, Lady Mother!”

Bo-Katan blanched, “Is that Tristan Wren?”

“I’ll be right up, Tristan!” Satine called.

Ventress clicked her tongue and shook her head.

Satine fluttered her eyelashes, “Carry me, Obi?”

“Of course, my angel.”

Bo-Katan groaned, but Satine paid her sister no mind. Instead, she squealed and grabbed onto Obi-Wan as he jumped impossibly high and landed on Satine’s balcony.

“Wow, Dad,” Mara snorted, “be more chivalrous will you?”

“That’s a big word, Mara.” Tristan teased.

“I learned it from Lady Mother’s library.” 

Obi-Wan placed Satine down.

“Ben, this is Tristan, and this is Mara,” she gestured, “our second set of twins.”

The Jedi’s eyes glowed as he hugged both his children.

“How old are you?” he asked.

“Sixteen now,” Tristan answered, “and I’m older than Mara.”

Mara huffed.

“Your Grace,” Jaym’s voice accompanied a knock, “the Jedi are asking for you.”

“I’ll be right out.” Satine promised.

The Duchess turned to her children.

“Behave yourselves.”

The twins looked at each other, then giggled. After an exaggerated sigh, Satine left to find Master Secura and Ahsoka.

The Padawan saw her first, “Momdalore!”

Satine smiled, “You all asked to see me.”

Master Secura shot Ahsoka a look.

“Remember your manners, Padawan.” Aayla frowned.

Ahsoka grinned, “Of course, Master Secura.”

“Duchess,” the Jedi Master turned, “we’re here to search for spyware or anything the Count might’ve left behind.”

“I’ll take you to where his quarters were,” Satine gestured, “although I don’t know what you’ll find.”

Satine sent Tyra and Korkie to her personal parlor while she allowed Aayla and Ahsoka to search. 

“Be polite to your father.” the Duchess whispered.

Tyra winked.

“Momdalore,” Ahsoka piped up, crawling on the floor, “why didn’t you let Death Watch capture Count Dooku?”

“He left early,” Satine responded, “there was no time to warn my sister and have it not be suspicious.”

“He kissed your cheek.” Aayla pointed out.

“I was there,” Satine nodded, “I remember.”

Ahsoka snorted.

“Duchess Satine,” Master Secura, sighed, “the Council needs your assistance with a secret.”

The Duchess raised an eyebrow.

“Master Anakin Skywalker is married to Senator Padme Amidala.”

Satine laughed, she certainly wasn’t expecting to hear that. Even Ahsoka joined in.

“You knew?”

The Duchess hesitated, “Yes.”

“Your Grace,” Master Secura frowned, “this is a great offense against the Jedi code.”

“Senator Amidala is my friend, Master Jedi.” Satine countered.

Aayla nodded, “I understand, but I tell you this to warn you.”

The Duchess frowned, “Warm me?”

“Master Kenobi wants to leave the Jedi Order after the war,” Master Secura stated, “he confessed it was because he loved you.”

Ahsoka gasped, Satine had forgotten she was there. In a burst of emotion, the Duchess collapsed onto a chaise lounge with a sob and let tears of joy roll down her face.

“Oh, Momdalore,”  Ahsoka stroked Satine’s head, “it’s alright.”

“Are you pleased?”

Trying to collect herself, Satine nodded.

“I advise Your Grace to be careful then,” Master Secura’s face softened, “it seems you’ve already picked your side.”

“Thank you,” Satine dabbed at her eyes, “Master Jedi.”

“Please,” the Jedi helped her up, “call me Aayla.”

Satine thanked Aayla and excused herself, when she arrived in her personal parlor, her children and their father were happily chatting, exchanging jokes and funny stories. Satine paused for a moment to admire the beauty of the scene, it was really all she’d ever wanted.

“Satine,” Obi-Wan smiled, “come in.”

The Duchess tripped as she made her way to Obi-Wan, who caught her in his arms.

“I knew you loved me.”

“If six children didn’t tell you that,” Satine grinned, lifting her head, “I don’t know what will.”

Obi-Wan scooped up the Duchess and placed her in his lap.

“Now, tell me children-”

At that moment, Bo-Katan and Ventress appeared on the balcony. Obi-Wan growled, Satine put a hand to his chest to hush him. Bo-Katan gaped.

“Wow, Obi-Wan,” Ventress remarked, “you have quite a large amount of offspring, but there only seems to be four of six.”

Bo-Katan recovered her senses, “Satine, are you out of your mind!”

“Bo-”

“A Jedi,” her sister asked, “I mean, I knew you hated tradition, but really?”

“Bo-”

“I’m not done,” Bo-Katan announced, “what would our parents say?”

“To be fair,” Obi-Wan interjected, “your parents were the ones who requested Jedi protection all those years ago.”

Bo-Katan blinked, “Oh, as if that’s an excuse.”

“I didn’t know the Duke of Sundari was yours though, Obi-Wan,” Ventress grinned, “a real fan of monarchies are you?”

Satine flinched.

“You lied,” Bo-Katan frowned, “you created a false brother and sullied our father’s name to hide your own transgressions, you lied?”

“Bo,” Satine held up her hands, “I can explain.”

“What is there to explain-”

“Bo-”

The door burst open and Gorg ran in with Jaym. Satine clamored out of her Jedi’s arms.

“Escort them out,” Satine ordered.

Bo-Katan snarled, “We’re not done here.”

Mara stood, “How dare you speak to my mother like that.”

Bo-Katan raised an eyebrow.

“It’s awfully rude of you.” Tyra agreed, assuming a fighting stance.

Ventress tensed.

“The Duchess of Mandalore should be treated with respect.” Tristan added.

Bo-Katan turned to Korkie.

“I’m sorry, Auntie Bo,” he stood, “but what my Lady Mother did was right.”

At this time, Ahsoka and Aayla appeared in the doorway with Jaym,

“Ventress,” Obi-Wan stood, hands out, “I suggest you follow the Duchess’ orders.”

Bo-Katan was fuming.

“Come on, Babe,” Ventress growled, “we should teach these self entitled brats a lesson.”

“It’s a foolish fight,” Bo-Katan glared at Satine, “you can’t fight someone who cheats, we’ll get them later.”

“Bo,” the Duchess begged, “you will get a chance to capture him.”

“You lie.” her sister spat.

“No,” Ventress stated, everyone paused, “he’s proposed to you.”

Obi-Wan turned to her, Satine swallowed. 

“I’ve accepted.”

Pandemonium erupted. Bo-Katan lunged at Satine, but Tyra threw her out of the way. Ventress then ignited her lightsaber, but so did Obi-Wan.

“What is this?”

Satine, who had stumbled backward, stood to face Master Secura.

“There is much to discuss,” the Duchess stated, “but my sister and her wife decided to pay us a visit.”

Ventress snarled.

“We were just leaving,” Bo-Katan announced, “tell us when the wedding is.”

[flowersandskeletons526]

“The Harshest Future We Could Have Imagined” - Lumity Future AU Fanfic Part 1

This is set about five years in the future after “Agony of a Witch.” Luz returned home through a broken portal and couldn’t return, but in four years, without the portal being fixed, Amity and the others had to focus on their lives in the present, including the rebellion they started. Now, what will happen when Luz returns to the war-torn world she used to love?

(Link to Ao3 --- https://archiveofourown.org/works/28305051/chapters/69356406)

----

“You really have to go?”

“I do.”

Luz squeezed Amity’s hands, standing before the portal with her backpack and her cloak. Amity kept her eyes down. She struggled to fight back tears, clutching Luz’s hands like a lifeline. They knew this was going to happen. Both had dreaded it all summer, ever since Luz revealed her exact situation to her friends. Willow and Gus already composed themselves - well, Gus was attempting to - and Eda and King were trying and failing not to cry downstairs. Lilith was somewhere rolling her eyes and hiding her emotions. The twins waited outside to bring Amity home once all their goodbyes were said.

Amity glanced at the fractured portal. After finding that Emperor Belos had managed to put it back together, yet another espionage mission was mounted to steal it back. Now, Luz could get back, but she only had this one chance. It killed Luz, having to leave but knowing he was still in power. Especially with Eda and Lilith rendered magicless after the failed petrification… nothing was certain now. Nothing but the fact that Luz had to leave.

Reading Amity’s mind, Luz touched her cheek and turned her head away from the portal. “Amity, I’m going to come back,” she said. “I promise I will.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. I know that I will, though. I got here before, right? I can do it again.”

“When the portal worked. What if we can’t put it back together? What if there’s no way to fix it, w-what if Belos gets it again, what if-”

“Hey, don’t think about that.” Luz pulled her in, wrapping her arms tight around her. Amity buried her face against the crook of Luz’s neck. “I’ll be back. Don’t worry, okay? You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” She pulled back and pressed their foreheads together. “Don’t go soft on me just yet, Blight.”

Amity giggled through her tears. “In your dreams.”

“Look after this place for me, okay?”

“I will.”

She cupped the witch’s cheek. “And Ami?”

Amity blushed at the nickname. “Y-Yeah?”

“Don’t forget me.”

“Never.”

Luz planted a quick kiss on Amity’s cheek and pulled her into a tight hug. Amity held onto her hand as long as she could as she turned to the portal. Hiding her tears, Luz waved and flashed one last bright smile over her shoulder. She disappeared through the wall of light.

The shaking portal collapsed into a pile of smoldering pieces. Amity collapsed in a heap of silenced sobs.

****

Amity took a deep breath as she approached the Owl House. Hooty, distracted by a bug, perked up when he spotted her.

“Hoot! Hi, angry green haired friend! What’s that? Cupcakes? I looooove cupcakes! Hoot!”

Amity bared her fangs. “Don’t touch me, bird tube!”

“Alright! Hoot!”

“Sorry. Here, that one’s for you.” Amity tossed the treat in the air and cringed when Hooty swallowed it whole. “Can I come in?”

“Sure, you can! Wait, was the cupcake a bribe?”

“It’s a peace offering.”

“Okay!”

The door swung open. Eda and Lilith sat at the kitchen table, chatting idly, while King slept curled into a ball on the couch. They paused and looked up when she took a step inside. She swallowed her fear and waved.

“Hi, Eda. Ms. Clawthorne.” The latter greeting was delivered with just a twinge of venom. After hearing about how Eda was captured, about what happened to Luz, Amity still harbored a touch of resentment, even if everyone else seemed to have forgiven it. “Is it alright if I come in?”

“Sure, kid,” Eda said. Any hatred towards the Blights as a whole had been forgiven in Amity’s case. Amity attributed that to Eda’s constant subtle teasing about how she acted around Luz. Although now it just sounded like pity in her voice.

Amity stood beside Eda and set a pack of apple blood boxes on the table next to her.

Eda frowned. “How did you get your hands on this?”

“Emira.”

“She’s one of the twins I almost died with, right? The smart one?”

“Yes.”

“Ah. Well, thanks, kid.”

“You’re welcome. Luz mentioned it.”

Eda nodded and turned aside. Amity swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped over to the couch, kneeling beside King. She gently shook him until he woke with a quiet, “Weh?”

“Hi, King.”

The little demon scowled. “Hello, offering killer.”

“About that.” Amity set the cupcake on the couch in front of him. “I’m sorry.”

He sat up, inspecting the offering. “What’s wrong with it?”

“What? Nothing. It’s to make up for your cupcake I squished. I’m sorry.”

King tilted his head. He looked between Amity and the cupcake for a minute before pulling the sweet closer to him. “Offering accepted. I retract any curses I laid on you.”

“I, uh, thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

Eda beckoned to Amity as she stood. “C’mere, kid. Come sit. Now, not that I’m complaining, but I have to ask. What’s up with all this.”

Amity took the offered seat and bowed her head. “Luz. She… she wanted me to stick around. She told me to before she left, so I figured it would be good to at least try to make up for what I’ve done. You are her family, after all.”

Eda sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Right. That’s right. Well, look, you don’t have anything to make up for anymore. You and the other two troublemakers are always welcome here. I know Luz will want to see you all when she gets back.”

“Do you think she will come back?”

“Of course. I mean hey, it’s already been what, a month? And we’ve already got all the books possible on fixing the old thing.”

“Four weeks, two days, and five hours,” Lilith interrupted. Amity and Eda stared at her. She cleared her throat. “I’ve been keeping track.”

Eda smirked and squeezed her sister’s hand. She turned back to Amity, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Amity flinched beneath the gentle pat. Eda paused, just long enough for Amity to relax, and tried again. This time, Amity just sighed as Eda rubbed her back.

“She’ll come back. It’s Luz, after all. Knowing that kid, she’s already got a new portal halfway finished in the human world.”

“You really think so?”

“Absolutely.”

****

“Absolutely not!”

“But Mom, I-”

“Amity, that is enough!” Odalia Blight slammed her hands down on her desk, looming over her youngest daughter standing across from her. “You are forbidden from returning to that den of criminal activity ever again. Do you understand me? If I ever hear about you so much as heading in that direction again, you will be sorry. Titan, I should have known this would happen after that fiasco at the petrification. That Clawthorne woman never should have been in the Emperor’s coven to begin with, considering her criminal sister.”

“Eda isn’t a criminal! Okay, well, technically, but not for any good reasons! And Lilith isn’t bad either, not anymore. She’s better than she was when you approved of her!”

Odalia scoffed. “Please. I know what is best for you, young lady, and I have made my decision. You are not to return to that place ever again or associate with anyone connected to it, including that half witch and the reporter’s runt.”

“But Luz-”

“Oh, the human! That’s where this began! I should have put a stop to this behavior as soon as Boscha’s parents told me you were hanging around her. This is what is best for you.”

“No it’s not!” Amity hollered. Odalia froze at the outburst. “Luz is my best friend and I’m not going to let you talk about her like she’s nothing! Not her, not Willow, and not Gus! They are better than anyone you ever picked for me and care about me more than you ever did.”

“You will do what I say! I am your mother!”

“I want what is best for you!” Odalia protested.

“You want a perfect daughter as head of the Emperor’s coven,” Amity retorted. “I’m not abandoning them like I already abandoned Willow. And I’m not abandoning the Owl House, either. You can’t make me.”

“I don’t care!”

Amity regretted the words the moment they left her tongue.

Odalia froze. Her face went deadly cold, eyes like ice as she leveled a vicious glare at her daughter. Amity shrunk.

“You don’t care that I’m your mother?”

“I-I… I didn’t mean…”

“Hmph. Fine. Then our name shouldn’t matter to you. If you are going to keep associating with the Clawthornes, you can take their name instead. Anything but Blight.”

“What?”

“Get out of this house, Amity.”

“Mom!”

“Get. Out.”

Amity took a step back. Tears burned her eyes. She clenched her fists and scowled.

“Fine.”

She spun on her heel and marched out. Flying to her room, she slammed the door behind her and grabbed a bag. She shoved a few regular outfits inside, along with her books, her school uniform, and her box of keepsakes with her Grom tiara in it. She shouldered the pack and bolted out of the house.

The twins intercepted her before she reached the door. Their ever present smiles disappeared when they saw her face, streaked with tears.

“Mittens, what’s wrong?” Emira asked.

“Ask Mom.” Amity shoved past them.

“Wha- Amity, wait, where are you going?”

“The Owl House!”

The massive doors of Blight Manor slammed shut behind her.

Casting a light spell, she ran through the Isles all the way to the Owl House. She never stopped or looked back, even as hot tears poured down her cheeks. When she reached her destination, Hooty let her in without so much as a hoot.

Eda gave her just a passing glance as first when she marched in, then whipped her head around when Amity’s appearance registered. Amity stood in the doorway, shaking and panting, clutching her pack to her chest. She scrubbed at her face and scrambled to regain some of her composure.

“Eda, Lilith, I, um… C-Can I…?”

“Kid, what happened?” Eda asked.

Amity shook her head. “My mom kicked me out. She told me I had to stop coming here and said I had to do what she said because she’s my mother and I told her I didn’t care so she kicked me out. I just… Can I stay here? Please? I-I don’t have anywhere else to go right now.”

“Of course. Come on, you’ll stay in Luz’s old room. Lilith, help me get her set up.”

That night, Amity cried herself to sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor, clutching her pillow and cursing all the years she spent in that controlling hell already.

The next day, the twins came by with the rest of her belongings, most of them dirty and broken.

“She threw them out the window?” she asked when they told her what happened.

“Well, she had the servants do it for the most part, but yes,” Edric replied. “Look, Amity, if you just apologize-”

“No,” Amity snapped. “I’m not apologizing to her. I’m staying here.”

Emira put a hand on her twin’s shoulder. “Ed, drop it. Look, Mittens, we’re here if you need us, okay? We’ll see you at school.”

The two hugged their baby sister and waved to Eda and Lilith sitting in the living room. Amity watched them disappear down the trail before shutting the door silently. She leaned her head against the wood for a quick moment before straightening.

“You okay, kid?” Eda asked.

“I’m fine.”

The next morning, Amity approached Lilith with a pair of clippers in hand. “Lilith?”

“Yes, Amity?”

“You do your own hair, right?”

“I dye it on occasion, when the orange roots start to become noticeable.”

“Will you help me cut my hair, please?”

“Of course.” Lilith closed her book and stood. “How did you want to cut it?”

“Cut off all the green dye.”

“Are you sure? That would make your hair quite short.”

“I’m sure. I just want it gone. I’m not going to let anyone force me to dye my hair again.”

Lilith frowned. “Your mother-”

“Please help me cut it.”

“Alright. Come here.”

****

“Okay, these are the outposts we know of so far.”

Gus spread a map over a rickety table. Orbs of light hovered in the tunnel above them, illuminating the little meeting place dug beneath Hexside. Willow and Amity knelt on either side of him and watched as he gestured to little markers on the creased parchment. Emira stood behind Gus, watching over his shoulder with Viney and the rest of the detention kids.

“Belos has squads of guards here, here, and here, and then multiple roving patrols through the marketplace and around Hexside. As long as we stay in the tunnels for meetings, we should be fine.”

Amity idly ran her hand over the short sides of her undercut, with the long part on top pulled into her normal short ponytail. With Lilith’s help over two years ago, she cut out all the green dye and never touched it with a drop of pigment afterwards.

After the meeting, the group said their goodbyes and took off down different tunnels of Gus’s making. Willow and Emira hung around with Amity as she extinguished the light orbs.

“Has Eda made any progress on the portal?” Willow asked after a moment of silence.

Amity sighed. “No. Nothing. We haven’t even gotten a flicker from it. I…” She shook her head and extinguished another light, trying not to think about the missing human. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

“How long has it been?”

“Too long.”

Willow nodded and touched Amity’s hand. “They’ll find a way to fix it.”

“I hope.”

Willow took off, leaving Amity alone with her sister. Emira leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. Amity stopped and turned to her sister.

“Have you heard anything from Edric?” the elder asked.

“Nothing. Has he been talking to you?”

“Not a word. He hasn’t told Mother and Father, I know that, but he stopped talking to me as soon as he learned about this. He doesn’t even play pranks with me anymore.”

Amity scoffed. “He’s trying to become their favorite child.”

“I think he is, at this point.”

“Right.” She held a light orb between her hands. “I heard they made Dad the leader of the emperor’s coven.”

“They did. It’s no wonder Edric is trying to get in so badly. I still can’t believe he’s doing all this.”

“Me neither. Look, I have to get back to the Owl House and keep helping Eda with the portal.”

Emira bowed her head with a tight lipped grimace, watching Amity with pity in her eyes. “Mittens, do you really think you’re going to get her back?”

“I know I will!” Amity snapped, but the anger faded quickly. “She promised she would come back.”

“Not all promises can be kept.”

“I know that, but we’re going to find a way. We have to.”

“Okay.” Emira hugged her sister and kissed the top of her head, still so much taller than her even after the years that had passed. “You’ll figure this out, Mittens. They can fix it.”

Amity just nodded and hugged her sister tighter.

****

Edric stood on the edge of a crumbling roof. Fires raged around him in the burning marketplace, littered with the bodies of fallen Emperor’s coven soldiers and wounded rebellion fighters fleeing the scene. His white cloak was stained red, and his sharp beaked mask hung around his neck. He leaned heavily on his staff.

In the street below, Amity wielded her own staff with its snarling tiger palisman. She growled at her brother while her friends fell into line behind her. Emira stood at her side, watching Edric not with anger, but heartbreak in her eyes.

“Ed, please!” she called. “This isn’t you!”

“Enough, Emira!” he roared. “I’m done being the stupid twin. Now it’s time for me to do what you and Amity failed to. I’m going to lead the Emperor’s coven after Dad and my career is going to start with ending your stupid rebellion!”

“You know Belos is wrong!” Amity protested. “This isn’t going to end how you want, Edric. Please just come with us.”

“Never!”

Amity shook the tears from her eyes and cast a spell circle. “Fine.”

A pink flame lit in her hand. Emira grabbed her arm.

“Mittens, no!”

“If he’s not going to join us, he’s against us! Belos is going to fall, Edric. Belos, the coven system, all of it. Including you.”

“Grow up, Amity. It’s time all three of us started acting like Blights. If you two won’t, I will.” Edric lifted his head. “Soldiers, retreat!”

Amity watched her brother flee with the rest of the soldiers. She gripped her staff and turned to Willow and Gus and the others standing behind her. “Everyone out of here!” she ordered. “Before they send reinforcements back. At least we know our enemy now.”

“Our brother,” Emira said quietly.

“Our enemy,” Amity repeated. “Willow, Gus, let’s go.”

The pair followed Amity back to the Owl House. They walked in silence, all three contemplating the day’s battle and the new development. There were suspicions of Edric’s involvement, but they hadn’t known the extent. And the fact that he was leading a command…

Amity, although hiding it beneath her rage, wanted to weep and curse at the sky. Her own brother! After all those years of him and Emira goofing off, never conforming to their parents’ expectation, leaving all the vicariously realized dreams to fall upon Amity, she never could have imagined him becoming so fed up with Emira’s jesting that he would turn his back on the both of them. She cursed under her breath thinking about it and forced the thoughts from her head. She couldn’t afford getting stuck in her thoughts now. She had the rebellion to think about, the rebellion that Willow founded and the two of them now led together. The rebellion, keeping the Owl House hidden, fixing the portal…

Titan, she couldn’t even afford to think about the portal anymore. Four years passed without anything working, and then the rebellion started with Willow’s attempted assassination of Belos a year ago.

Amity glanced at Willow beside her. A long scar wrapped around her eye from her forehead down to her jaw. She cut her hair short and wild to display it with pride. They all bore scars now, but Willow’s scarred face had become a symbol of the rebellion with her wanted poster plastered all over the Isles. Amity, although a leader herself, didn’t envy the responsibility Willow gained. Her speech all those years ago is what sowed the seeds, after all.

Hooty greeted them when they returned and flung the door open. Amity sighed and rubbed her eyes as they stepped inside, keeping her head down. She hadn’t noticed Willow and Gus stopping in their tracks by the door.

“Eda, Lilith, we found the new commander Belos has,” she said.

“Amity,” Eda said, rising from her seat. “Look up.”

She did.

Standing across from her was a tall girl with rich dark skin and fluffy brown hair pushed out of her face. Wide, fiery brown eyes locked with her golden stare. She was taller now, finally overtaking Amity, and her weak nerd arms had developed built and defined muscles. Her gently rounded ears were pierced with multiple golden rings. Despite everything, her bright smile was still the same, and it still sent Amity’s heart racing.

Amity sucked in a sharp breath.

“Luz?”

The girl grinned.

“Hey, Amity.”

[atomic-taco-muffin]

KH x Danganronpa Part 6

Warnings: IDEK

Rating: SFW

(Look at him!)

Sora, Donald, and Goofy walked through a picturesque forest. Goofy put his hand up to block the sun.

"It sure is a pretty day," he said.

"Yeah, the weather is great. It'd be perfect for a picnic," Sora stretched.

"Why do you think we came HERE?" Donald asked.

"Got me, Donald."

"We'll figure it out as we go," Goofy said.

"Okay," Donald sighed.

"I'm sure we were brought to this world for SOME good reason, but can't we sweat it later?" Sora said.

"Fine with me, as long as there's no Heartless. Or Monokumas." They heard a scream and stopped in their tracks, looking around for the source of it. Then with grunting and a final slide, a man fell down the hill behind them. He groaned, massaging his back, then looked back where he came from, where a troop of Heartless and Monokumas flew down after him. The man got up and scampered away, the satchel on his hip flapping with every step. He ran toward the trio with the Heartless on his tail, flailing his arms wildly.

"Make way! Make way! Make way!" he said. Sora, Donald, and Goofy parted so he could pass them, then summoned their weapons.

"Heartless!" Sora said.

"And Monokumas!" Donald said. The man found a rock to hide behind, catching his breath and peering out at the group.

"You see? Soon as you mention 'em, they show up!" Sora said.

"There goes our picnic," Goofy said.

"I didn't do it!" Donald said.

"S'okay. Let's send these guys packing," Sora said.

"Say, since you three seem to know what you're doing, mind if I leave this one to you?" the man asked.

"Yup. We'll take care of them. Go on, skedaddle!"

"You have my thanks." The man gave out a sigh. "The horse was enough. Don't need any monsters or weird looking bears on my trail."

"The WHAT was enough?" Donald asked.

"Oh, nothing, nothing. Name's Flynn. Flynn Rider. Flynn pointed to one of the Heartless. "Ohh! Watch out, they look mad!" Donald turned around again and Flynn started creeping away.

"Slowly... Slowly... Outta here!" he said. He dashed away as fast as he can while Sora, Donald, and Goofy took out the multitude of Heartless and Monokumas. After the fight, they saw no sign of Flynn Rider.

"Huh? Where'd Flynn go?" Sora asked.

"He skedaddled," Donald said.

"I think I saw him go thataway," Goofy said. He pointed toward a spot between the trees that veered into a small clearing with rocky hills on each side.

"Huh? But 'thataway' is...just a dead end," Sora said.

"Yeah. That's puzzling," Goofy said.

"Well, did he?" Donald said. Goofy crossed his arms, thinking.

"I say we investigate," Sora said. They searched the area for Flynn and approach the rocky hillside ahead.

"He couldn't have come this way," Donald said. Sora saw no exit nearby and turned to face Donald & Goofy, his back to a patch of leafy vines.

"Well, at least he got away safe. Right?" he said. He tried to lean against the vines but stumbled right through them. Goofy turned at the rustling sound, but Sora had disappeared.

"Hey! Now Sora's gone, too!" he said. Goofy walked over to the vines and heard Sora's voice through them.

"This way, guys! It's a secret passage!" he said. Sora stood up as Goofy and Donald pulled the vines apart to find a small hollow in the mountain. They ran through the cave until emerging into a small valley with a lone tower standing in its center. Made mostly of brick, the tower had vines running along its side indicating it must have been there for years. Behind the tower, a waterfall ran over the mountainside into a small pond that glistened in the sunlight.

"Look at that. A tower! Let's check it out!" Sora said. As they neared the base of the tower, they saw Flynn climbing down the stones on the outside with a pair of arrows. He paused, resting for a moment, when Rapunzel flung her hair down out the window, rappelling herself down the tower. She stopped before she hit the ground and slowly extended a barefoot to the warm grass beneath. She took in the feeling of her first taste of earth and knelt down, feeling the ground under her hands.

"It's so soft!" she said. Several dandelion seeds flew into the wind before her and she stood. "I'm free... I'm really free!"

She started running, not even noticing the trio as she passed them. Sora, Donald, and Goofy ran over to Flynn as he reached the bottom of the tower.

"Flynn, good to see you in one piece!" Sora said.

"Guys! You're here, and just in time," Flynn said. Rapunzel stepped into the pond, laughing as she stepped over the small stones lining the bottom.

"Oh... Who's she?" Sora asked.

"Uh, that would be Rapunzel," Flynn said. She took a handful of water and splashed it upwards with a shout of glee and loud laughter. "Something tells me this could be her first time outdoors. Give her a few minutes to get used to it."

"First time EVER?" Sora asked, wide-eyed. The sun beat down on her golden hair as she took in her decision and she grabbed her face.

"I can't believe I did this!" she said, happily. She grabbed her head.

"I can't believe I did this," She said, shocked as she spun around. "I can't believe I DID this!"

She gasped.

"Mother would be so furious if she knew I disobeyed her and left the tower..." she said, worriedly.

She sat on a rock holding a flower.

"But that's okay--I mean, what she doesn't know won't kill her... Right?" she said, carefree.

She cried in the hollow cave.

"Oh my gosh. This would kill her," she said, sadly.

She ran through the grass, kicking up leaves. Donald laughed while Flynn rolled his eyes.

"This is so fuuuuuun!" she shouted.

She leaned her head against a tree.

"I am a horrible daughter. I'm going back," she said, devastated.

She did cartwheels through the flowers, wrapping herself in her hair.

"I am never going back!" she said, exuberantly.

She lied facedown on the ground.

"I am a despicable human being," she said, in grief.

She swung around a large tree by her hair where Flynn and Sora waited for her to even out.

"Best. Day. Ever!" she said, exhilarated.

She sobbed into her hands at the base of the tree. Flynn walked over to her, with the trio following.

"I notice you seem a little at war with yourself here," Flynn said.

"A little MORE than a little," Goofy said.

"More like a lot," Donald said.

"Yeah..." Sora said. She stopped crying and turned to see them. She gasped and held out the frying pan toward Sora, Donald, and Goofy.

"Stop right there! Who are you?" she said. Flynn stepped in between them.

"I told you before: my sidekicks," he said.

"Sidekicks?" Sora asked.

"May I introduce, ehh..."

"Oh, uh... My name's Sora."

"Donald!"

"And I'm Goofy. Pleasure, ma'am." The chameleon appeared from under her hair, skeptical of them.

"Sora, Donald, and...Goofy," she said as she lowered her frying pan. "It's...nice to meet you, too. I'm Rapunzel."

"Yep. My sidekicks," Flynn said. Sora grabbed Flynn's arm and spun him around.

"Since when is THAT?" he whispered.

"Look, she really wants to see the lantern show tomorrow night. Now, I'm a nice guy, so I've decided to help her. Only problem is those monsters might show up again. I can get her to the Kingdom--but you guys are clearly more cut out for combat," Flynn whispered back.

"That's cause we're heroes!" Donald said.

"Uh-huh!"

"And we're Heartless experts. And we know a little bit about those Monokumas," Goofy said.

"Yeah, yeah!" They posed together and Sora gave a small laugh.

"Just leave it to us!" he said.

"Done," Flynn said. He motioned to Rapunzel and led her forward.

"Rapunzel is interesting..." Donald said. The trio walked behind them as Rapunzel admired her surroundings.

"Yeah, her heart's pulling her all kinda ways," Goofy said.

"The outside world must seem so big and scary. I know how she feels. Lucky for me you two came along at just the right time--and the rest has been unforgettable," Sora said.

"Awww..." Donald said. Sora realized he was getting sentimental.

"Yep, unforgettable...just like your face!" he smiled, pointing to Donald.

"Oh yeah?!" Donald asked. Sora laughed as Donald burst out in anger. Sora ran to catch up to Rapunzel and Flynn, putting his hands behind his head. Goofy chuckled as Donald seethed.

"C'mon, now," Goofy said. He ran after Sora, and Donald followed.

"All for one, and one for all," Sora said.

~~~~

Back at the tower, Mother Gothel had returned to find Rapunzel missing. She scrambled through the house in desperation.

"Rapunzel?" she asked as she ran to her room.

"Rapunzel?!" she shrieked. She frantically tore down the curtain covering the window but found no one there. She clutched her face in terror before a glint of light caught her eye from beneath the stairs. She opened the bottom step and pulled out a satchel. Reaching into the satchel, she removed a sparkling tiara and at the sight of it, dropped it in fear. Terrified, she looked further in the bag, taking out a Wanted poster for one Flynn Rider.

"Missing someone?" someone asked. She whirled around.

"Who's there?" she asked. Stepping out from a portal was a man in a black coat with long rose-colored hair and a woman in a beautiful white gown with blonde hair styled up to make her crown fit. The abrupt entrance caused the frightened woman to drop the poster as Marluxia and Remnant Sonia stepped closer.

"She's such a precious gift. Allow us to assist you in getting her back," Sonia said as Mother Gothel's eyes slowly turned pink.

~~~~

Sora and the others left the lake and continued through the forest, Rapunzel's long hair trailing behind her as they came upon a strange plant stuck in the ground in a clearing alone.

"Okay, that's suspicious," Flynn said.

"Rapunzel..." Sora said.

"Don't worry. I know to be careful around flowers now," Rapunzel winked.

"Whatever it is, it's not normal. I'll take a look." Sora walked closer to the weird-looking plant.

"Watch it," Donald said. Sora approached the odd vegetation and examined it while everyone waited with bated breath. After seeing no imminent threat from the flower, he turned to the group.

"We're all clear," he said. They sighed with relief, but too late, as the flower's petals opened, folding downward as its form changed to that of a creature holding a scythe with a familiar symbol on its face, along with a few Monokumas as well.

"Sora!" Donald said, alarmed. He pointed behind Sora, who turned just in time as the pink and white creature swung its immense scythe at him while the Monokumas attacked him with their claws. Sora dodged away and summoned his Keyblade with gritted teeth, joined by Donald and Goofy.

"These guys?" Sora asked as more appeared.

"They're Nobodies! And there's more Monokumas!" Goofy said.

"Mother said the outside world would be full of ruffians and thugs," Rapunzel said.

"Those aren't ruffians. Those are...uhh, I dunno..." Donald said.

"Rapunzel, Flynn, stay back!" Sora said.

"No. I want to help you fight," Rapunzel said.

"I know. But I'm afraid you can't hurt these guys with a frying pan, plus these bears are really dangerous. Trust me on this. Flynn, could you explain?"

"No problem. Knowing when to flee is one of my specialties," Flynn said as he rushed over to Rapunzel. "C'mon, Rapunzel. Gotta go."

"But--"

"Look, I wanna stay and slug it out too, but my sidekicks have it covered." Sora nodded with a smile.

"All right. Please be careful, Sora," Rapunzel said. They nodded and left them to it. Sora, Donald, and Goofy took out all the Reaper Nobodies and Monokumas and regrouped.

"You know who uses Nobodies..." Goofy said.

"The Organization!" Donald said.

"Yeah. And Mukuro warned us about Junko and the Remnants of Despair. They must be working for them. I'm surprised we haven't seen 'em," Sora said. He cupped and started calling out. "I know you're there! Come out, you has-beens! And you despair loving freaks!"

They looked around and a corridor of darkness appeared behind them.

"'Has-beens'? Now why would you say that?" someone asked.

"And how dare you call a queen a freak!" a woman said. A tall man with long pink hair emerged from the portal, peering at them through yellow eyes while a woman with blonde hair glared at them with glowing red eyes.

"Because bossing around Nobodies? That's the old Organization," Sora chuckled. "Why? Are you in the 'real' one too? Good for you. And you must be one of the so-called 'Remnants of Despair'."

"My name is Marluxia and this is my beloved queen, Sonia." Marluxia kissed her knuckles making her blush.

"Oh, stop! You're making me blush!" Sonia swooned.

"And yes, that is correct. How interesting it is to see you again, Sora," Marluxia said.

"'Again'?" Sora asked. He turned to Donald and Goofy, confused. "YOU know 'im?"

Donald and Goofy shook their heads.

"A shame you've no memory of me, because I remember you exceedingly well. Although...it's THOSE memories I'd soon erase. And you obviously wouldn't know Sonia. She's new but she is very powerful," Marluxia said. Sonia giggled insanely and looked at the trio.

"I don't know what you're saying," Sora said.

"Nor should you. Nor will you ever, for that matter," Sonia said. The trio glanced at them with confused faces.

"Now, if you'll permit me, I've come to ask a favor," Marluxia said.

"Favor? You have got to be kidding me," Sora said. Donald & Goofy nodded in agreement.

"Please hear what we have to say. I'm sure you've noticed..." Sonia said. She mused on this for a moment and Sora raised his eyebrows for her or Marluxia to continue.

"Well, perhaps not. But you should know that maiden with you, Rapunzel, is the very light of this world. I would see you guard her from its dark horrors," Marluxia said.

"Huh?" the trio asked as they took defensive stances.

"Starting with you two, right?" Sora asked.

"All the Organization seeks is balance. You must understand, our ultimate objective is not to clash with the light. We seek to complement it. Use that Keyblade...to keep Rapunzel safe," Sonia said as she and Marluxia vanished into a dark corridor.

"Rapunzel's light..." Sora said. Goofy scratched his face and Sora looked around. "Hey. Where did they go?"

"I guess they musta run on ahead," Goofy said.

"Then we'd better go find them." They continued through the forest in search of Flynn and Rapunzel. Soon the forest turned into marshland and the fog obscured their view ahead. Still no sign of them, Sora sighed.

"I wonder where they went," he said.

"Don't worry. They couldn't have gotten too far," Goofy said. A hooded figure quickly hid behind a tree.

"You just had to stop and talk," Donald said. Mother Gothel peered at them from beneath her cloak.

"Hey! Blame the has-been and the freak, not me," Sora said.

"I think you mean Marluxia and Sonia. I bet that's the name the has-been and the freak would prefer," Goofy said. Mother Gothel averted her gaze and began to leave.

"Hellooo? Rapunzel? Flynn?" Sora called out. She stopped at Rapunzel's name and turned back, lowering her hood.

"Excuse me, good travelers. Do you know Rapunzel?" she said. They turned to her as she walked toward them and exchanged glances.

"Uh, yeah... Sort of," Sora said.

"Why?" Donald asked.

"My apologies. I'm Rapunzel's mother. The poor child left home without a word, and I've just been worried sick. Please tell me: where is my dear, sweet girl?"

"We'd tell ya, but we lost her," Goofy said.

"By accident," Donald said.

"We could look together," Sora said.

"Lost her?" Mother Gothel scoffed. "You're of no use to me."

She waved them off and continued walking.

"I'll find her myself," she said.

"She ran away from home?" Donald asked.

"What if Marluxia and Sonia were onto something back there?" Sora asked.

"You trust Organization XIII?"

"What? No! Of course not. But...what if?"

"I agree. Why is Rapunzel in danger, and what darkness is after her?" Goofy said.

"Well, guys, the first step is to find her." They searched for Rapunzel and Flynn, eventually exiting the marshland into a more bright forest. Soon, they heard a voice.

"Wh-wh-whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, boy, easy! Settle down. Whoa, whoa!" Rapunzel said.

"That voice!" Sora said.

"It's Rapunzel!" Goofy said. Ahead, a terrified Flynn had his back pressed against a rock while Rapunzel attempted to calm down a large white horse. The angry-looking horse peered at the chameleon atop Rapunzel's head. Pascal motioned with his three-toed front feet to settle down. The horse, wide-eyed, raised an ear and set his rump down on the ground with a dispirited whinny.

"You are such a good boy! Yes you are," Rapunzel said as she pet the bridge of his nose and his tail started to wag. "Are you all tired from chasing this bad man all over the place?"

The horse nodded sadly.

"Excuse me?"Flynn asked.

"Nobody appreciates you, do they?" Rapunzel asked. Rapunzel moved closer to give him a hug. "Do they?"

The horse shook his head.

"Oh, come on. He's a bad horse!" Flynn said.

"Ohhh. He's nothing but a big sweetheart," Rapunzel said as the horse nuzzled against her. "Isn't that right...Maximus?"

Maximus stamped his foot and whinnied at the attentive petting as Flynn griped on the forest floor.

"Wha... You've got to be kidding me," he said. Maximus glared at him.

"Look, today is kind of the biggest day of my life, and the thing is, I need you NOT to get him arrested," Rapunzel said. She helped Flynn up and Maximus narrowed his eyes at her. "Just for twenty-four hours, and then you can chase each other to your hearts' content. Okay?"

Flynn begrudgingly offered a hand, but Maximus refused, looking away.

"And it's also my birthday. Just so you know," Rapunzel said. Maximus grumbled softly and offered his hoof. They shook, their scowls unbroken. Rapunzel looked ahead, seeing the trio running toward them.

"Rapunzel!" Sora said.

"You're here. And you're okay!" Rapunzel said. From behind her back, Maximus punched Flynn in the side and smirked.

"Yeah! You too," Sora said.

"And look! I made a friend," Rapunzel said as Maximus walked over. "Meet Maximus. You could say Flynn introduced us. And where one goes, the other follows."

Maximus inspected them dubiously.

"This is Sora, Goofy, and Donald. They've been helping me," Rapunzel said. Maximus nodded and Flynn got up, clutching his side and pointing onward.

"Come on, the Kingdom's not far," he said.

~~~~

They crossed the bridge and entered the castle town, Rapunzel giggling to herself all the way.

"Rapunzel sure looks happy," Sora said.

"She does," Donald said.

"Well, her dream's gonna come true. They're sendin' the lanterns up after dark," Goofy said.

"Cool! We don't wanna miss that!" Sora said. After dancing at the town center, a man shouted for everyone to head to the boats for the lanterns. The sunset and the trio watched from one of the docks, Maximus from another, as Rapunzel and Flynn took a boat to the middle of the lake. They gazed up at the castle against the darkly lit sky.

"I've been looking out a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what it might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?" Rapunzel said.

"It will be," Flynn said, calmly.

"And what if it is? What do I do then?"

"Well, that's the good part, I guess. You get to go find a new dream." They look up as a solitary lantern peeked out from behind the castle, floating slowly up into the sky. Rapunzel hastily stood up, rocking the boat and grasping at the stern, as multitudes of floating lanterns pooled out of the castle gates. Soon the entire kingdom was enveloped in a flock of lights floating softly into the air. Rapunzel leaned her head on the wood as she gazed longingly at the magical sight. She turned back to Flynn holding two of his own in his hands. She happily sat back down.

"I have something for you, too," she said. She pulled out his satchel and he stared at it. "I should have given it to you before, but I was just scared. And the thing is, I'm not scared anymore. You know what I mean?"

He placed a hand on the satchel and moved for her to put it down.

"I'm starting to," he said. They set free their lanterns and they joined the swirling bunch in the sky. Flynn gazed at Rapunzel, seeing the happiness on her face, then looked toward the satchel, thinking to himself. When the festival died down, they docked the boat on the edge of the lake and Flynn got out.

"I'm sorry. Everything is fine. There's...just something I have to take care of," he said. He grabbed the satchel and she looked back and forth between it and him.

"Okay," she said.

"I'll be right back." He turned to leave and Pascal climbed onto her shoulder.

"It's all right, Pascal," she said. They both sadly watched him go. From Sora's place at the dock, they watched the lights in the sky.

"Wow!" he gasped. They sensed a disturbance from behind as Reaper Nobodies and Monokumas appeared on the wharf. They got up and turned around, irked.

"Could you guys have possibly picked a worse time?" Sora asked.

"I don't think they appreciate the moment, Sora," Goofy said.

"Not one bit!" Donald said.

"It's time for these wet blankets to go!" Sora said as the three of them summoned their weapons.

"Yeah!" Donald and Goofy said. They took care of the Nobodies and Monokumas plaguing the wharf as Rapunzel waited by the shore with Pascal. Out of the fog over the water emerged a small sailboat.

"Eugene?" she asked. From shore, she saw what looked like Flynn steering the sailboat with the stolen tiara in his hand. "Eugene!"

Unknown to Rapunzel, he was out cold and tied to the mast and helm.

"Oh dear... He's run off with the crown and forgotten you," Marluxia said as he and Sonia appeared behind her.

"No. He wouldn't. Who are you?" Rapunzel said. They didn't answer and she looked back at the boat, still drifting away.

"Forget Flynn Rider. You know where you belong, and it's not with him. And I wish I had your pretty tiara. Now..." Sonia said. She and Marluxia motioned with their hands and two Reaper Nobodies and two Monokumas appeared in front of Rapunzel. She ran away in fear and Marluxia and Sonia smiled. She ran toward an opening between two large rocks, trying not to stumble when her braided hair caught on a fallen log. She pulled on it, trying to free it from the branch when she heard a voice.

"Rapunzel!" Mother Gothel said.

"Mother?" Rapunzel asked. She walked back to the shoreline, where the Nobodies and Monokumas had disintegrated and torn into pieces and Mother Gothel stood with a tree branch in her arms, out of breath. She perked up at the sight of Rapunzel.

"Oh, my precious girl!" she said.

"Mother..." Rapunzel said as she ran into her arms.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt?" Mother Gothel asked as she touched Rapunzel's face.

"M-Mother, how did you--"

"I was so worried about you, dear. So I followed you. And I saw them attack you, and--" Mother Gothel hugged her tightly. "Oh my. Let's go. Let's go, before they come to."

Rapunzel stopped and looked back at the boat on the lake. She slowly turned back to Mother Gothel, holding a green lantern in her hand. Rapunzel paused as Mother Gothel set the lantern down and opened her arms, beckoning her. Rapunzel's lip quivered and she started to cry, running into her mother's embrace. Mother Gothel stroked her hair as she sobbed. Sora, Donald, and Goofy entered and saw the two leaving.

"Hey, isn't that Rapunzel?" Sora asked. He cupped his hands to his face. "Wait! Rapunz--"

A dark corridor opened and Marluxia and Sonia appeared.

"Show some decorum," Marluxia said.

"You again!" Donald said.

"Marluxia! Sonia!" Sora said.

"The girl has found her dear mother. You should let them be," Sonia said.

"And why is that?"

"Because Rapunzel is far too important. Atop her tower, she must remain out of sight, and live out her days with Mother Gothel," Marluxia said.

"And never see anyone else?" Goofy said.

"But that's like...locking her in some prison!" Sora said.

"That is EXACTLY what it's like. Rapunzel's hair holds the powerful magic of healing. And yes, Mother Gothel wants it for herself. As do others. And, if Mother Gothel's actions will protect Rapunzel, preserve her...then she is doing the Organization a favor," Sonia said.

"What favor?"

"Let's say she's keeping Rapunzel on the shelf for us. An extra pawn in case you fail to find the remaining guardians of light, and we have occasion to call on other hearts of light instead. A New Seven Hearts to fill out the ranks," Marluxia said.

"'New Seven Hearts'?"

"Yes. Seven who inherited the princesses' light after their role was fulfilled," Sonia said.

"So, you don't care about her. You guys just want Rapunzel for your own purposes! Well, you're done here!" Sora said as he summoned his Keyblade.

"Hmph. I just knew you would go and make a scene. Very well, then it's lights out for you," Marluxia said. He extended a hand, blowing a pink wind toward Sora. He dropped the Keyblade, his eyes drooping.

"Sora!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed. They ran towards him as his vision got hazy, his ears muffled.

"You always were such a sound sleeper," Marluxia said. Sonia giggled and wrapped her arms around Marluxia's arm as Sora fell to the ground. Meanwhile, a recently escaped Flynn dashed on Maximus over the bridge away from the city. The morning sun brightened the sky as he rode toward the forest, encountering Donald and Goofy hovering over a still-sleeping Sora.

"Whoa, Max! Whoa, boy," Flynn said. They slid just short of them.

"Flynn!" Goofy said.

"Is Sora okay?" Flynn asked.

"We don't know," Donald said.

"We keep callin' his name and shakin' him, but he won't open his eyes," Goofy said.

"Sora!"

"Wake up!"

"Hmm... Unresponsive sidekick... Wait a minute. I know how to fix this! Max, give him a wash!" Flynn said. Maximus licked Sora's face with his long tongue, rousing him from his sleep. Sora opened his eyes seeing Flynn and Maximus looking down at him. Donald and Goofy peeked into view.

"Sora!" Donald and Goofy said as he sat up.

"Well, that did the trick. Nice work, Max!" Flynn said. Maximus smiled haughtily. Sora stood and held his head.

"Huh? How did I end up..." he asked as the events came back to him. "Oh no! Flynn, Rapunzel's being held prisoner!"

Donald and Goofy nodded.

"That's right. In her mother's tower," Flynn said. They trotted forward.

"This calls for a rescue," Flynn said. He smiled down at Sora and extended a hand. "Are you with me?"

Sora gave a small laugh.

"Yeah," he said. Flynn pulled Sora up onto the horse with a proud cackle. Donald jumped up onto Sora's shoulders and Goofy tagged along on Maximus. Suddenly, they lost height.

"Uh-oh!" Goofy said. Maximus's legs buckled, struggling to hold them up, but his face changed to one of determination. He let out a whinny and stood straight up.

"Let's go, Max," Flynn said. Maximus reared back and charged forward. They raced through the forest in the direction of the tower when they were intercepted by a group of Nobodies and Monokumas.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Max!" Flynn said. Sora, Donald, and Goofy nodded to each other and jumped off Maximus, summoning their weapons.

"We'll take it from here, Flynn. Go help Rapunzel," Sora said.

"Thanks!" Flynn said. He took off with Maximus, leaving the Nobodies and Monokumas to them. As they followed along through the forest, their path was filled with Heartless and more Monokumas. They defeated each wave in turn. By the time they arrived, Flynn had climbed up and entered the tower.

"Rapunzel! I thought I'd never see you again," Flynn said. He looked up, seeing Rapunzel chained and gagged. Her eyes widen as Mother Gothel sneaked behind him, striking a hidden dagger into his side. Rapunzel struggled to get free, crying out as Flynn fell over onto the floor. Mother Gothel looked down at him, squirming in pain on the stone floor. She tugged on Rapunzel's chains trying to lead her deeper into the tower, the girl desperate to get free.

"Rapunzel, really! Enough already! Stop fighting me!" she said. Rapunzel, pulling back, lost her balance and fell over, the gag slipping from her mouth.

"No! I won't stop! For every minute of the rest of my life, I will fight! I will never stop trying to get away from you! But...if you let me save him, I will go with you," she said. Mother Gothel raised an eyebrow.

"No! No, Rapunzel..." Flynn grunted. He attempted to crawl on the floor but the pain was too great. Pascal looked on helplessly.

"I'll never run... I'll never try to escape. Just let me heal him...and you and I will be together--forever, just like you want. Every- thing will be the way it was. I promise. Just like you want. Just...let me heal him," Rapunzel said. Mother Gothel released Rapunzel and shackled Flynn.

"In case you get any ideas about following us," she said to him. Rapunzel rushed to his side.

"Eu...Eugene!" she said. She brushed the hair out of his eyes and he clutched his side, struggling to sit up against the wall. She checked at his wound, obviously bleeding.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Everything is gonna be okay, though," she said as she gathered her hair into her arms.

"No...Rapunzel..." Flynn groaned.

"I promise. You have to trust me." She placed her hair over his wound.

"No! I can't let you do this," he said. They stared into each other's eyes.

"And I can't let you die," she said.

"But if you do this...but if you do this, then you will die."

"Hey. It's gonna be all right," she whispered. He gave the very smallest of smiles.

"Rapunzel... Wait," he said. He began to stroke her hair, his face moving closer to hers, and with a swift motion cut off her hair with a shard of the broken mirror. His hand fell to the floor, dropping the glass, as her hair turned brown, its healing ability lost. She looked down at him in shock.

"Eugene, what--" she gasped. Absolute terror erupted from Mother Gothel's face.

"No!" she screamed. From the strand in Rapunzel's hands, the once golden locks of hair turned a deep brown. Mother Gothel tried to gather them up in her arms before the magic was lost.

"Oh no. No..." she said. Unable to stop the transformation, she grabbed her hand, watching it become wrinkled and withered.

"What have you done? What have you DONE?!" she yelled. The aging spread across her body like a weed, her skin turning pale and her hair a pallid gray. She screamed out in sudden shrieks, her body moving feebly, as she covered her decrepit face with her hood. She writhed about the room, crossing closer to the window, where Pascal pulled on the long bunch of hair, causing her to spill out of the tower. She screamed as she fell, aging out of existence, the shroud flying down through the air as Sora, Donald and Goofy reached the base of the tower. Marluxia and Sonia watched from the hill.

"Fallen to darkness... We can't allow her near our pure light now. Her presence would only cast a pall over it," Sonia said. Marluxia motioned with his arm, suspending the cloak in midair surrounded by petals of pink. An orb of darkness burst forth and branch-like limbs erupted from within, followed by a tail. Another set of limbs and the creature crashed to the ground, the darkness pulling back, revealing a large tree-like Heartless, the Grim Guardianess. It growled down at Sora, Donald, and Goofy, who summoned their weapons.

"What happened up there?" Sora asked.

"I don't know, but we have to stop that Heartless," Donald said. The Grim Guardianess flew toward them, its tail moving like a serpent, as its large mane of leaves crashed to the ground, sending pollen everywhere. Donald and Goofy were sent into a sneezing fit as thorns surrounded Sora. He struggled to get free of the thorns' grip before the Heartless slithered around the tower, spiraling to the top. Sora broke free from the thorny tether as cherries fell from the sky. Sora, Donald, and Goofy raced across the hill avoiding the cages of vines that blocked their way, as the cherry bombs exploded on impact with the ground. Dodging the torrent of bombs, Sora reached the tower and ran up its stone exterior. The Heartless was soon no match for Sora and his Keyblade and was knocked from the tower. Inside, Rapunzel clutched Flynn.

"Don't go. Stay with me, Eugene," she said. Sora, Donald, and Goofy ascended the tower, seeing Rapunzel over Flynn's body. She grabbed his arm and placed it against her hair.

"🎵Flower, gleam and glow. Let your power shine. Make the clock reverse🎵," she sang through her tears.

"Rapunzel," Flynn said as he opened his eyes.

"🎵Bring back what once was mine.🎵"

"Hey. Rapunzel."

"What?"

"Rapunzel... You were my new dream." Tears welled up in her eyes.

"And you were mine," she said. Flynn blinked once more and his eyes closed, his body falling limp. The trio looked on sadly as she moved her hand toward his face.

"🎵Heal what has been hurt. Change the Fates' design. Save what has been lost. Bring back what once was mine🎵," she sang. She moved her hand over his heart and leaned in closer, her face nearly touching his, her song nearly a whisper. "What once was mine."

She sobbed, a tear falling onto the rogue's skin. It settled there, glowing into the shape of a flower. A light burst forth from Flynn's wound, wresting Rapunzel from her sorrow. Sora, Donald, and Goofy stared open-mouthed at this sight. The healing magic swirled into the air like strands of hair, wisping around Rapunzel, her eyes wide. A six-pointed flower magically bloomed from the wound, before the light disappeared inside of him. She moved closer to his face, brushing the hair out of her eyes as Flynn slowly took a breath and opened his eyes.

"Rapunzel..." he said.

"Eugene." she gasped.

"Did I ever tell you...I've got a thing for brunettes?" He smiled and Rapunzel was overcome by joy.

"Eugene!" she said. She threw her arms around him and he leaned on his side to embrace her. Sora, Donald, and Goofy smiled with glee, and Sora threw his arms around the other two, grinning from ear to ear and Flynn tightened his hold on Rapunzel. Later, they all stood at the base of the tower, the warm sunlight bathing over them.

"Wow, Rapunzel! You're finally gonna get to see your real home," Sora said.

"I know! I mean...I can't believe it. I can finally be with my real family! I couldn't have done it without your help," Rapunzel said.

"You're welcome," Donald said. She giggled.

"Well, from where I'm standing, the Kingdom couldn't ask for a better princess. And I couldn't have asked for better sidekicks!" Flynn said. Sora brushed a knuckle across his nose. "Thanks."

"Yes, thank you so much," Rapunzel said.

"Happily ever after," Donald said. Sora crossed his arms.

"Mh-hm," he said.

"Now, Flynn, you and Maximus play nice," Goofy said. Maximus and Flynn exchanged glances.

"Huh?" Flynn asked. Maximus whinnied with laughter. "Fine."

Rapunzel took Flynn's hand and they stared into each other's eyes.

"You're gonna be great," Sora said.

"Huh?" Rapunzel and Flynn asked.

"We haven't seen the guy controlling the monsters in a while, so that's one less worry."

"But there's still a chance that he might be around here somewhere," Goofy said.

"Well, if he comes back and tries to bother Rapunzel again, then Flynn will keep her safe. And we three won't be far behind."

"Come on. Rapunzel's the tough one, if you ask me," Donald said.

"True. But nevertheless, I won't let her out of my sight," Flynn said.

"Oh... Eugene," Rapunzel smiled.

"'Eugene'?" Sora asked.

"Oh! That's my real name. Eugene Fitzherbert. That's right. I never told you guys," Flynn chuckled.

"That's different," Donald said.

"I think it's a great name!" Goofy said.

"Me too. Nice to re-meet you, Eugene," Sora said.

"Hey! I thought I was the only one you were going to tell," Rapunzel said to Eugene.

"Don't worry. I've saved plenty of Fitzherbert-y secrets just for you," Eugene replied.

"Really?"

"Hey! What are you two lovebirds talking about?" Sora asked, pointing at them.

"Nothing!" Eugene said.

"Nothing," Rapunzel giggled.

"Hey, you can tell us!" Donald said.

"Yeah, it's not nice to keep secrets," Goofy said.

"This one is none of your business," Eugene said.

"Maximus, get him!" Sora chuckled.

"Huh?" Maximus glared at Eugene, an inch from his face, and Eugene stopped, unsure of what to anticipate. Pascal crawled onto Rapunzel's shoulder with a determined look and jumped over to Eugene's, sending his long sticky tongue into his ear. Eugene reeled back and clutched his ear, Pascal jumping off with a squeal of glee.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Eugene said. Rapunzel and the rest burst out laughing. Maximus smiled at Eugene, waggling his eyebrows as Pascal chilled on Eugene's head. Soon after, the trio left the Kingdom of Corona.

[soliverse]

baby don’t like it - q.kn

pairing: royal au duke!kun x princess!reader ft my best girl, Irene of Red Velvet

genre: angst, much muuuch stronger than the last one

warnings: mentions of violence, cheating, cussing, alcohol consumption (again, nothing too explicit, just giving you a bit of a heads up.

word count: 3171

Prompts:

“Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” - Home Alone (weird choice, I know)

“Baby, whether rain or shine, naughty or nice. I'm by your side.” - Ariana Grande (Not Just On Christmas)

ps: did I just write another angst for another Christmas special?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Baby Don’t Like It is a part of my Walking in a Winter Wonderland Collab with @suh-insane​ and @neocitybynight​. Once again, this is one of my first collabs and I am thankful for the approachable anons that let me join this event.

You can check the Walking In A Winter Wonderland event and the works of my fellow NCT writers over here!

networks: @nctcreations​ @kdiarynet @kpopscape

Men.

You’ve always hated them.

You’ve hated how your father treated your mother. You’ve hated how you’re treated all your life just because you’re not born as a man. You've always hated how they controlled every single decision in your life. You've hated how you're forced to marry someone you don't love for "the sake of our people".

But out of all the men that you hated; it was the one right in front of you.

As your assistants helped you get dressed, your husband was just sitting there on his phone, looking all nice and fine and smiling from ear to ear. He looked divine, suit garbed in black and red, making him look almost ethereal. Strands of his dark hair falls into his forehead, framing his perfect face even more. At the same time, he decided to wear his circular glasses, something that he did if he didn’t want to use his contact lenses.

Overall, his outfit made him look like one of those princes from those fairytale books that you had as a kid.

You can't help but roll your eyes, but you can't say whether it's from your assistants eyeing Kun or that he just HAD to be there to see you get dressed. After hours of getting ready, they placed a heavy tiara on your head as a finishing touch.

You stood up from your seat and twirled, making sure that everything looked perfect. You walked towards Kun and did a little wave to get his attention away from his phone. It didn’t work, so you walked closer to the couch and tapped his leg. This time, he shot up a look in your direction, still smiling.

“Oh hey. You good to go?”

You nodded as an answer. The two of you then made your way into your car, him being the driver. The car ride was eerily quiet. None can be heard except for other vehicles passing by and funky Christmas songs blasting from people outside. Well, there isn’t that much to talk about. You’ve spent every hour with each other that you feel like there’s more to share.

This is probably the reason why he suggested the event in the first place. Social events aren't really your thing, but at least it’s better than to stay at home and celebrate Christmas in silence. Or worse, spend it at your parents' mansion.

“Hey baby, cheer up a little.”

He was the first one to break the silence.

“Thank you for coming with me to the event. It means a lot to me.”

His voice was soft, just like it had always been whenever he’s talking to you. He moves closer from the other side of the and took your hand, squeezing it tightly. You never said anything. You just smiled at him in return, not really knowing what to say. It stayed that way until you reached the venue.

It was already a bit late at night and the whole city glistened from the twinkling lights that adorned it. The snow slowly falling down made your entrance to the party even more magical.

The car door has opened and cameras started flashing left and right. Dozens of paparazzi surrounded the area while the guards tried their best to keep them out. Kun made a point to wave to everyone, a move that everyone loved. You tried to force a smile as he wrapped his arms around your hips, feeling the silky fabric of the dress that you’re wearing.

Everyone greeted him, of course. His cheery self was acknowledged by everyone around him. Meanwhile, you just politely bowed at everyone else, forcing an awkward smile whenever someone tried to make interactions. They were probably bummed up that YOU had to go with, though. After all, Kun was the life of the party. The darling of the crowd. The Diana to your Charles.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome our honorable guests for tonight. The main benefactor of Little Angels’ Children Hospital and the people behind this lovely event, Duke Kun and Her Highness Princess Y/N of the Northernshore.”

The crowd applauded as you made your way into the grand halls and took your place in the seat designated for the both you. It was a table that was isolated from everyone else, so the two of you are just stuck together. Sitting there was uncomfortable to say the least. You knew he wanted to mingle with people, but being the introvert that you are, he can’t leave you alone.

The program proceeded as usual. The children from the hospital sang some carols which touched everyone’s hearts. One of the cute little girls gave you a small figurine that she made. You gave her a warm hug before letting her join the other children on the stage. Kun, on the other hand, was trying his best to focus on the gala.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Not at all.” He chuckled awkwardly, sneaking peeking on his phone from time to time. You didn’t pay him that much attention and shifted your focus back to the kids. The host announced that dinner will be served soon and the program will resume right after. You felt the need to go to the bathroom and so you tugged on his jacket to get his attention. Some Christmas carol was playing overhead and so he leaned down to hear what you had to say.

“Excuse me for a second. I need to powder my nose.”

You shyly whispered in his ear. He again flashes a sweet smile before nodding. Other people are so standing up from their seats, taking this opportunity to mingle with other people while dinner is being prepared. The guards offered to go with you but you declined and insisted that they stayed with Kun. From far away, you can see a bunch of people enthusiastically going to his direction. You just sighed as you walked across the crowd of people with your head down.

As you’ve finally reached the bathroom, the first thing you did was lock the stall and breathe. You rested your head at the door for a few seconds before finally doing your business. You’ve heard some people entered the bathroom. Your ears perked up to listen at their conversation. To your relief, none of them talked about you. They didn’t take long inside, probably just touched up, and left the bathroom.

Making sure that no one is inside, you opened the door and proceeded to look at yourself in the mirror. You weren’t that bad. Your red silky dress complimented your body and skin well. There are strands of your hair cascading from your messy bun, but that just added to your look. You look fine. It’s just that in everything that you say and do, everything pales in comparison to your husband. Opening the sink, you washed your hands and tried to snap out of Grinch mode. After all, it’s almost Christmas. You should be having fun.

///

After leaving the bathroom, this time with a much jollier attitude, you saw Kun sitting in the same table. This time, he was with a woman. A woman that you knew pretty well.

Minji used to be your bestfriend during highschool. She was the only one kind enough to talk to you and actually get to know you as a person. Unfortunately, things changed just as soon as you reached college. Kun was a junior at that time and he became the guide that toured the freshmen throughout the university. Minji has been whipped ever since and Kun returned the favor.

Her family aren’t a part of the royals, which meant they can’t be together. A fact that had always pained you whenever you think about it. A part of you still felt guilty upon breaking the former couple apart. You never had the guts to faced Minji and so you made your way towards the open bar. Maybe some drinks will help you clear your head.

Trying to hide from other people and the guards, you picked a seat just right at the farthest corner of the open bar. You sat at one of the counters and ordered whatever drink that can get you drunk the fastest. You downed the drink fast, not even minding the harsh taste that it leaves as soon as it hits your tastebuds.

A voice suddenly interrupted your drinking session. You tried to hide your face to avoid being recognized, but the woman still sat down right next to you.

“A princess shouldn’t be drinking like that.”

“Excuse me?”

You finally turned around, casually flashing a playful smile at you. Your eyes grew wider at the sudden realization of who she is.

“Irene! It’s been ages!”

You almost spilled your drink to the floor as you stood up to hug one of your old college pals.

“It’s been forever, and yet you still act like a royal novice.”

The lass never changed. She was still her snobby self, a trait that you used to hate before you came to realize that that’s just her quirk.

The two of you are almost squealing before finally letting go of each other. You sat back down excitedly before pouring yourself another drink.

“Okay. Why are you here?”

“Remember Suho? The doctor? Well, he’s thinking doing business with the hospital. He’s making it some sort of an extension.”

"I still couldn’t believe that you got married." You said while chuckling. The old Irene had always had this intimidating aura to her that no boy ever dared to talk to her. It’s something that the two of you had in common.

"I could say the same about you."

Irene snickered as she motioned the bartender to bring more drinks for the two of you.  She casually grabbed her wine glass, being the classy lady that she is, and took a bit of a sip at her sparkling champagne, eyeing you shadily like there’s something she’s trying to tell you.

“I see that your husband is having fun without you.”

You just sighed as a response.

“Royals are for royals, Y/N. Minji isn’t born with a title.That is not your fault. Keep your head high for fuck’s sake. You’re THE Princess.”

You raised an eyebrow at her, preparing to talk her down to filth. However, her phone lit up from a phone call that she's receiving.

"I'm gonna have to leave you for a sec. It's Suhyun's babysitter."

She gave an apologetic smile before grabbing her purse from the counter and finishing the last of her drink.

"I’ll be back in a moment.”

She tossed a wink at your direction before you’re left alone in the bar once again. You started drinking once again when you felt a tap on your shoulder. Thinking it was Irene, you turned around and was about to talk smack to her. Instead, it was your husband. He grabbed you by your wrist and took you to an empty storage room nearby.

“The guards have been looking for you everywhere.”

His voice was low, but you can tell that he’s incredibly pissed.

"I just needed a drink to lighten myself up. Figured you need some time to hang out with your colleagues without your boring wife tagging along."

“You’re glad that I found you first. What would the media say if they saw the princess drinking like she’s in a college frat party?”

You just rolled your eyes at him and tried to free your hand from his tightening grip.

“I want to go home.”

“You are not going home in the middle of the event!”

You scoffed.

“Yes, I can. I’m the Princess. Just tell them I feel sick or something.”

You finally managed to escape his grasp and you walked out of the storage room by yourself and walked back into the. Sure enough, you used your acting lessons to feign an illness. The guards took charge immediately and escorted you back to the car. It caused a bit of a scene, so it didn’t take long before Irene found you. She whispered something in your ear and you just nodded.

“Change of plans boys. I’m going to we’re going to the hospital.”

///

"Wakey-wakey…”

Kun felt a sudden surge of pain running through his body. His vision was blurry, pupil still adjusting to the light blaring through his face. Despite this, he can definitely see one thing. It was a silhouette of a woman.

"Ugh… Who are you?"

Moans and groans escaped his busted lips, the taste of metal fills his mouth. Not only was his mouth filled with his own blood, he was struggling to talk because of the dryness in his throat. He tried to move but his body felt sore. His arms and feet were tied up to this chair, making it impossible for him to get up.

The last thing that he remembered is that he is on a car ride somewhere, until his own guards pointed their guns at him.

The woman just laughed as a response. She walked towards him, dragging something heavy behind her. The screeching sound coming from the friction of the floor and metal stings in his ear.

Suddenly, he felt a hand run up to his shoulder into his neck making all of the hair in his body stand up. He had never felt more scared in his life. He felt her face lean over and whispered something to his ear.

"You know very well who I am Kun."

"Irene…"

The woman laughed once again. It sounded darker and more maniacal than earlier.

"I'm glad you remembered you my name after all these years. However, I'm afraid I’d have to cut this reunion short."

Just as she stood up, another silhouette appeared from the dark. The tapping of the back of her heels filled echoed across the hospital room, completely stealing your attention from Irene.

This time, he's certain about who it is.

"When you said that you'll make my problems disappear, this isn't what I had in mind."

You took the coat off of your body, letting in fall to the floor. He was about to beg you to release him, but he noticed something.

You had that dangerous look in you. Your blank cold stare even scarier than Irene's. The typical shy demeanor was dropped and instead replaced by those of predator. Someone that wants to eat him alive and make him disappear in the face of the Earth.

"I had a little fun with him already, if you don't mind.”

Irene walked towards your direction, smiling from ear to ear seeing her old friend back like this.

“I’m afraid I have to leave you here darling. Suhyun and her father is probably looking for mommy right now. Call me when you need me.” She gave you a delicate peck on your cheek before walking away from the room.

Now, the two of you are left alone. Silence once again peeks in as the two of you just stared at each other. Even up until now, that never changed.

This time, you’re the first one to speak up.

“You’re probably wondering why you’re in this situation.”

You took one of the seats and dragged it just a few meters in front of him. You sat down, leaned back while your arms and legs are crossed.

“I know about the affair between you and Minji.”

“Baby, please. It’s nothing...”

He used his sweet voice again, but to you it sounded more like teeth-rotting sugar. That sickly sweet taste that made you want to gag.

“Oh, stop the bullshit. I know about ALL of the affairs.”

You finally stood up from your seat and held your right hand up in the air.

“Let’s see. There’s Rosie, Jessica, Heather…” You spouted more names, taking down a finger every time you mentioned one. Kun is now looking even more uncomfortable. This time, it was his turn to look down, hiding the guilt-ridden expression of his face. Your finger touched his chin, tipping his face up in your direction.

“Wanna know how I knew?”

You poked your tongue in your cheeks and rolled your eyes before giving him one hard slap on his cheek.

“It’s because of those damn glasses! I can see every lewd picture that they send you, asshole!”

You look down at his direction and you saw tears running down from his face. He was trying his best not to sob because his own mouth betrayed him.

“What, baby? you don’t like being slapped in the face? Isn’t that what you wanted Minji to do to you whenever you’re fucking at the manor when I’m at business trips?”

The last sentence made you choke on your words. The combination of seeing Kun crying and the recollection of memories made you a bit soft. Your legs shook, making you kneel down on the ground and sob like a little girl when someone had taken her toys away from her.

“Why did it have to be Minji?”

“I-I’m sorry Y/N. Please… Let me fix this.”

You wiped you tears away just as you dropped this bombshell.

“Why did it have to be her? My first love?”

Picking yourself from the floor, you went back to where your discarded coat is. You wiped your tears out with the sleeves of the coat while you rummaged through its pockets.

“I can’t stand it. Even when you married me, she ‘s still stupidly in love with you.”

“W-wait… What do you mean?”

“Minji used to be my pretty little angel. You just had to turn her into your slutty mistress, don’t you?”

You felt something hard on your right pocket. It was the gun that Irene left you earlier at the party. Right beside it was your phone, blowing up with notifications of people greeting you a Merry Christmas as the clock just turned 12:00 a few minutes ago.

“It’s a sad thing that this will be our last Christmas together.”

You said once again, finally calmed down from the tears that you have just shed a few moments ago. Kun was now shouting at his seat, finally aware of what you’re about to do.

“You are not gonna get away with this!”

“Oh. But I will…”

You smirked at him once again.

“If I killed you right now, Irene and his men would take care of your body and discard it without anyone noticing. They do it all the time. If people suspect that I did something to you, I can just say that I went to the hospital to get treated. They have logs and cameras over here to back up my claims.”

You cocked the gun in your hands and started pointing it to his temples.

“..And as for you baby, text records show that you’re about to run away with Minji tonight. All of your other secrets will be exposed and people will finally see what you really are…”

You took a deep breathe before mustering up the courage to pull the trigger.

“Merry Christmas baby. I’m sure they’d appreciate charity events in hell.”

[curedeity]

Drowning While Burning

Summary: Daphne is drowning, being pulled deeper and deeper by the currents ( a Daphne character study based on s1)

Once, when she was a small child, a storm had ravaged the castle for several days. Her parents had known it was coming, and had been preparing for the city to be sheltered for a week. Jobs were being called off, and families encouraged to remain home.

    Daphne was blissfully unaware to the panic of frenzied work that had hit to castle, her eyes too fixed on the black clouds moving that slowly filled the horizon, and the tingling thunder that she could almost hear if she just 

    Listened.

    Rain beat down the roof, pellets smacking against the smooth walls with a warlike intensity. It was as though the sky was trying to flood the city, to beat down all that had reached up and encroached in its domain. Lightning burned against the rainclouds, illuminating all their tumultuous angles. It was a mess of geometry that even years of schooling later Daphne would never be able to comprehend.

Thunder cracked through rooms, booming down hallways with ferocious intensity. It rattled the armor lining the walls, like thousands of soldiers quaking in their boots. 

    Far from running into her parents’ arms, Daphne remained at the window for long stretches of each day. Her face smudged the glass as her eyes struggled to make sense of the water-distorted images.

    Her vision wasn’t necessary for her understanding though, because Daphne could feel each raindrop that clattered against the ground of the land, the tormentous rage of the storm. And she adored it.

    Yet the storm passed, and her life returned to its routine of tutors and training. 

    She had always admired stories of heroes, of the rage and justice that drove them, of the way they pushed and pushed and pushed until they got what they wanted.

    Whenever Daphne pushed like that, she just grounded.

    She wanted to fight against the current, but she just kept getting dragged deeper and deeper into the depths.

    Flames licked across Daphne’s fingers as she lit her way through the flatlands of Domino, only faint rays of the second sun to light her way otherwise. Fire still burned, a fact her teachers had always been remiss to mention. One would think that controlling it, the heat of the flames wouldn’t be felt. But they still rushed through her fingertips, trying to melt away skin and bone until she was nothing but particles in the air. 

    But the flames didn’t hurt her. They only burned.

    Behind her a guard followed, metal clanging as pieces of his armor jumbled together. How embarrassing it must be, she thought, to be so scared of something that you’ll wrap yourself in metal and try to shut the world out. Yet so many did.

    Daphne didn’t know fear, back then, and so when the guard called for her to turn back, to return to the castle, Daphne merely continued marching forwards.

    There was much in Domino Daphne had never got the chance to see, stuck as she was in her pretty little ceramic castle. The forests where beats romed, the sand dunes that crawled with clawed insects, the rivers that destroyed the stones that blocked their path.

    Daphne wished to see it all.

    Her feet were bare as she climbed to the top of the dune. Her toes sunk into sand as she stood atop it, looking out over the golden sea, behind her still able to hear the metal clanging of her guard.

    She had been practicing magic for so long in that stuffy too-big castle, with all its rules and handicaps. Daphne brought the light she had summoned close to her chest, and let it

    E X P A N D

    It crackled around her skin, burning through every opening she’d give it. Energy coalesced around her being.

    She was the guardian of the Dragon Flame, the force of creation. What more was there for her than this? 

    Sand fell away deeper into the desert, the earth cracking open as large, jagged claws struck out, digging into the ground and dragging its body along. 5 eyes swiveled until they were all locked on Daphne. It stared at her light, and she hoped it burned away its retinas.

    Her teeth were bared, jagged. The flames tugged her body along and she gave into them, charging at the beast. The dragon roared to life within her, ready to attack as she saw fit.

    And then she was bat away with a single claw, ribs breaking under its heavy weight, and she was sent rolling away.

    Daphne was grounded for that day, after she awoke to tears from her parents. She held the tears close to her chest, and realized heroes weren’t real, because how could one be prepared for and win each battle? Each useless battle?

    Temperance. Patience. Not every day is a storm. Choose when to rage because even a fire cannot burn forever.

    She released her body to the current, her limbs flailing as she was dragged along. Her mind could finally wander, outside of the panic of movement, and ideas flooded her thoughts.

    Alfea was strict, but no stricter than the castle. Rules were set in place, and Daphne learned them. What use was breaking a rule, when she didn’t even know them? Each action must be thought through, and Daphne would be making informed decisions.

    She received top marks in every class, the librarian becoming a presence she was more used to than her own roommate from how much time she spent studying there. Her professors praised her diligence, even Griselda seeming to have a soft spot for her.

    I don’t get it, her roommate admitted to her when Daphne returned to their room with a dozen textbooks balanced in her arms. You’re a princess, with the strongest force in the universe. What could you need this much studying for?

    Daphne shook her head at that. Power is nothing if one can’t control and channel it. Sure, I’m powerful, but what would that mean if I didn’t know how to cast a single spell, or judge the best way to solve a situation?

    Knowledge is not power, knowledge is merely the way power can be exerted most efficiently.

    With her flames, she burned away all the hazards in the woods Professor Palladium had sent her to for her examination.

    With her knowledge, she skipped class the next week to go get ice cream in Magix with her roommate to cheer her up for her less-than-average score.

    She swam with the current, angling her body just a tad upwards, though from the memories that were slowly swirling in her skull, she knew she’d never reach the surface.

    The monsters had come out of nowhere. Or to be more specific, they came from the rot the Ancestral Witches had slowly been spreading all over Magix. A tar that slowly drained the life from every forest, that cast furtive shadows in the eyes of everyone. The reason for the dwindling letter she received from her ever-busy parents.

    The reason for the monsters that had appeared, all wrong angles and grotesque limbs, rising out of the ground, out of the forested depths.

    Alfea was too far away, her group had ventured deep into the forest for their project. One of them sent up a sparkler, magical lights now dancing over their location so that anyone out there would come save them.

    But they had traversed too far, and now they were out of range.

    Stupid, Daphne called herself. A stupid moronic idiot. You spend all your time studying and you couldn’t have taken two drops of common sense and guessed something would go wrong?

    Daphne had always been too exploratory. 

    She dodged out of the way of a titanic punch, burning away its skin as she let fire wrap around herself. Whispered words that fell from textbooks into her mouth, she felt her flames morph into light, crackling with energy, and she hurled the bolt at the creature, already wrapped in her roommate’s water.

    Then she heard a cry, it pierced through the sounds of battle, the guttural shrieks of the monsters and the calls of spells. Her head whipped around to see the fire of one of her kin, her people, be whipped away by a sweep of a monster’s tail, and claws close in to rake across her chest and tear out her heart.

    Daphne dove, her flames igniting the air as she rocketed through the sky and tackled her charge out of reach. 

    Ice flooded her veins as claws sliced through her back, catching on her wings and shredding those too.

    And the coalescence of her magic fell to 

    P                                                    E                                          E

                              I                                               C                                     S

    Were her screams loud? Did they crack through the sky like that which she had earlier? Was she turning heads?

    Was she?

    She was. 

    Daphne was, and Daphne had someone to protect. The responsibility of the crown, no, the responsibility of power settled upon her. She had people to protect, a world she loved.

    And as blood poured from her shattered back, the flames pushed their way out of the open cracks. The red liquid was set aflame, and it disintegrated into the smoky air, becoming just a part of her flames. 

    A new pair of wings burst out of her skin, forcing the air to make room for them. Heat cracked her body open, and Daphne let herself burn with all that she had saved up.

    Today was the day she’d storm.

    But who would she be if she didn’t try?

    Daphne’s dress pooled on the floor in perfect ripples as she sat in her chair, back straight and hands folded. Her face was the picture of serenity, the tiara sitting on her hair gleamed in the light from the solitary window.

    Daphne knew how to cover the cracks in her appearance, where the fire slipped out. She was nervous, yes, but now was not to time to show it. The world was at war, and with her new responsibilities she would be the pillar of strength they’d turn to. 

    Faragonda had wished her luck, yesterday as she’d been handed her diploma and officially graduated. Palladium told her that she was the finest student he’d had the pleasure to teach. Griselda had told her that she wouldn’t fail, she’d lived up to her high standards after all.

    Daphne had not cried then either.

    The fire was constantly there, simmering in her bone marrow. Her blood was lava, hotly pumping through her body as her heart pounded away with every step she took.

    Daphne didn’t feel very strong though. The universe could be weaved by her fingertips if she just stretched herself enough, and yet she felt like a scared little girl. 

    And that was okay, because fear was something Daphne had learned, and it was something that wouldn’t stop her. Fear was just knowledge of danger, on some level, instinctual or otherwise. 

    Daphne was in danger, yet so was everyone else. The world was at war, and she’d had a target drawn on her back from the day she was born.

    Why not illuminate that sign? 

    The door creaked open and a guard gestured for her to follow. Daphne’s heels clicked against the floor and she walked through the halls. Her dress trailed behind her, and ribbons danced with the movement.

    Daphne was just a girl, with only 20 years of knowledge crammed into her head. It was fair for her to be scared. But now, she had a purpose, a reason her flames continued to burn day and night.

    She took her place in the hall, all eyes turning to her as she glided through them, looking up at her mother and father. They smiled at her, their faces worn and aged, sadness lining them that they had not done their jobs well enough to prevent their daughter from ever having to take this responsibility. 

    Off to the side, her younger sister Bloom was sobbing. Daphne knew, with all her heart and all the power of the Dragon’s Flame that roared through her, that she would do anything to make it so that Bloom would never have this burden.

    But Daphne, Daphne could carry it. She would. This was her choice.

    And her parents laid the mask across her eyes, and magic drenched over her as she was accepted as one of the Nymphs of Magix.

    Water poured over her, fast and furious as the lake raged. Was it trying to drown her? She was its protector! 

    Daphne glided through the halls, her wings too worn out to materialize any longer. Her blood burned away before it touched the ground, thankfully not leaving a trail for the Witches to follow.

    Like they wouldn’t just track her flame, why did it even matter?

    She laid her palm against her sister, feeling the fire underneath Bloom’s own skin, the Flame they both shared. Daphne had often wondered if Bloom’s magic, her experience, would be anything like Daphne’s?

    There was no time wondering.

    Sparks lighted the air as Daphne drew her hand in circles, a chant falling from her lips with instinctual memory. Space ripped open at her command, and with only one final look, Daphne shoved her sister off to safety.

    Then she turned around, shadows already crawling across the floor towards her light. Could she win against the Ancestral Witches? Daphne had no room for doubt. 

    If she perished, then so be it, her family was already torn, her people slaughtered, she had vowed her life to them.

    Daphne wanted to live, but she wanted to live with the circumstances she chose.

    This was a fight she chose to have, she’d rise to this challenge. 

    Fire arced across the walls, burning away stone and the murky shadows with it. Daphne marched, her hands alight with magic and fury. Her wings were burned away, the vestiges of them turned into pure power.

    And Daphne hurled it all at the witches.

    Light Shattered.

    Darkness Rose.

    And Daphne Burned.

    Or was the lake raging with her? Raging at the injustices committed against her? Was this her now? 

    Daphne sank to the bottom of Lake Roccaluce, sand parting for her immaterial body as the waves swarmed around her, embracing her. There was no real light this deep beneath the surface, but Daphne produced her own, glowing with the sheer existence of her.

    She had lost. Despite all her efforts, all the roles she had undertaken, her world had still fallen to the assault of the Ancestral Witches.

    Her home was destroyed, her parents gone, and Bloom lost somewhere on Earth.

    And here Daphne was, stuck in the depths where no one ever went. The fire barely present within her soul anymore, there was only cold frost.

    Daphne had failed.

    No, no she had not failed one thing. She had kept Bloom safe.

    Was that enough?

    That would have to be.

    The witches may have killed Daphne, ridding her of what was now her mortal husk. But Daphne was still here. And she didn’t have to be alive and in her body to burn.

    In fact, Daphne’s spirit had been on fire for quite a long time. It had always burned with her love and her anger and her purpose. She watched the waters torment all around her, rippling and beating against their earthen walls.

    And Daphne knew that the next time, she would storm, blazing more brightly in the rage of nature than ever before.

[ultraclops]

Day 3: Be True To Yourself

Aka me literally just infodumping about my Ocs because I love them ♡

Brought to you by Colorvision! Yep, I decided to get off my lazy butt and color traditionally today :)

First off, Tiara Depurrnaire (She/Her)! A Sweetypie cat who's partially related to the Snugglemagne family and, in my timeskip AU, Adorabat's future girlfriend. Like Adorabat, she lost her leg to a monster while wandering the King's dungeons. She aspires to be just as brave as Adorabat but lacks the gall, being content to watch and learn from the sidelines. As they both get older Tiara realizes that she is a lesbian, and develops a mutual crush on Adorabat that turns into a relationship. As she ages, Tiara' aspirations to become a hero fade, and she settles for becoming a ballet teacher. She learns to be brave in her own way and unconditionally supports her monster-slaying adventuring partner, no matter how their paths diverge.

T H E Y (Also I need to post my full adult Adorabat design sometime)

Next up is Sherbet (They/Them), a Sweetypie rabbit who makes ice cream for a living! I don't really have a backstory for them but I believe they realized they were nonbinary in their younger years (around early middle school age) and have fully embraced their identity! They don't let anything get them down and are eager to cheer up the citizens of Pure Heart Valley, one ice cream cone at a time. They're also good acquaintances with Badgerclops and Adorabat, for obvious reasons. Their eyes function similarly to Badgerclops', as they only open when they feel strong emotions.

Next (and honestly one of my favorites) is Moa Nola (Xe/Xem), an agender Oriental Shorthair cat who, surprisingly, isn't related to the Mao clan. Xe originally started off as a joke character based on the misspelling of Mao Mao's name in "I'm Mao Mao", but I eventually grew attached to xem and gave xem a full-fledged backstory. Xe comes from a family of fishermen, but after xyr father was killed in a monster attack, xe decided that xe wanted to become a legendary monster hunter. Xe created xyr cloak after xyr first successful monster fight. After being mistaken for the son of Shin Mao too many times, xe used it to xyr advantage and began going under Mao Mao's title for a while. However, after being stopped by Mao Mao himself, xe dropped the act and began looking for a new sense of purpose. Ironically, xe starts collecting antique ventriloquist dummies similar to Mr. Din Danalin.

Following up on the "based on a misspelling" theme is Rhapsody (She/They), a femme-aligned nonbinary Sweetypie vampire bat inspired by Adorabat's name being mistranslated as "doorbat" in YouTube autocaptions. She is Adorabat maternal cousin, as their mother is Sonara's sister. Rhapsody was heavily impacted by Sonara's death, but rather than becoming tough like Adorabat or overprotective like Eugene, she became more reserved out of fear that they could be next. In other words, she became a doorbat (haha funny). With the arrival of Mao Mao and Badgerclops, plus the defeat of the monster that killed their aunt, Rhapsody begins to come out of her shell and indulges in their biggest passion - music. Like Adorabat she learns to use their voice as a weapon, but hers is more of a siren's song than a sonic screech. In my timeskip AU, they leave Pure Heart Valley to become a popstar, writing songs inspired by her childhood memories and their home. It's obscured by the flag but the marking on her chest is a bleeding heart, emphasizing her passionate drive.

(Rhapsody's kid and adult forms [kinda old])

+ OCs of mine I didn't feel like making alternate drawings for:

Buzz-Buzz (Zhe/Ze/Zhey), a demigender Sweetypie bumblebee bat who protects the bees of Pure Heart Valley! Despite zer small stature, zhe is actually an adult, just naturally small. Zhe also grows herbs on the side and volunteers at the Pure Heart Valley hospital. Primarily because zhe has a crush on the head doctor there... (I did not make zer to selfship with Cuddlestein. Nope. Not at all.)

My Badgermao "fankid", Sai (They/He/It)! I say "fankid" in air quotes because they're from an AU where Badgerclops' spare arm became corrupt and gained a conscience. Their robot arm is actually their body - the rest of their body is a projection of light, similar to the gems from Steven Universe! They have masculine programming (as their AI was made using Badgerclops's DNA a la Cortana from Halo), but identify as agender and use they/he/it pronouns. Originally they began as a blank slate with no personality aside from the programmed personality Badgerclops gave them, but they eventually grow their own personality and moral compass as they analyze the Sheriff's Department's work. Just like Badgerclops, they have a passion for building robots and weapons, and can even modify themselves to fit the situation! Most of their creations are usually for fun, though.

Anf the last one I have a reference for but not the least, Karma Vesper (She/They)! This one is actually my self-insert, lol. She is a biro-ace demigirl Javanese Cream-Point Cat! Her necklace was a gift from her family, and her hood was a gift from her mentor. After her village was ambushed by criminals, she became a wandering hero, and accidentally stumbled upon Pure Heart Valley while following a report of increased monster activity. At some point during her adventures alone she realized that she was biro-ace, since she felt no sexual attraction but still felt romantic attraction. Around the time she came to Pure Heart Valley she realized that she never really felt, like, 100% a GIRL girl (if that makes sense) and began identifying as a demigirl. (Yes this is my hidden self-actualization story :>) She enjoys researching gemstones and ancient artifacts, and the Ruby Pure Heart immediately caught her attention once she laid eyes on it. While she is still a wandering hero, she has a temporary residence in Pure Heart Valley, where she stays to research the Heart's powers as well as assist the townspeople. Her and the Sheriff's Department didn't start out on the best terms since Mao was worried she was trying to replace them, but they tolerate each other now.

+ the OCs I don't have references for:

I did have a reference for these guys but idk where it is rn ;-;. Anywway, my most recent OCs and also some of my favorite OCs are Bernard and Pierre, a black bear and polar bear respectively (both use He/Him)! They are both gay and in a healthy relationship & live in a cabin in the forest together. They are just. Two old gay granddads and I love them. Anyway! They both met after an accident which caused Bernard to blow out his left knee and Pierre to lose his left hand; they had been best friends since, and boyfriends later on! Bernard is a baker while Pierre is a wood carver, although they indulge in each other's interests as well. For the most part they just stay in their cabin in the forest, but they leave to buy groceries and sell their products.

And the final OC I'm gonna talk about is Storm Mao (They/Them)! They're from an AU where Mao was born in a litter of five, like his sisters. Ever since Storm were young, they felt like weren't "normal" compared to their siblings. They didn't feel like a girl or a boy. After Mao came out as a trans boy, they began questioning themselves further. Eventually they decided to ask Contacts Sister for help, as she was among the smartest of the Mao children. Contacts explained to Storm that there are people who don't identify as a boy or a girl, and Storm realized they weren't alone. Since then, they started identifying as nonbinary and began using they/them pronouns, and their family supported their decision. Aside from them and Mao, their litter siblings are also LGBTQ+ - Mamoru (He/Him) is AroAce, Bernadette (She/Her) is bi and Zhijun (He/Him) is gay. I'd talk about the AU more in a separate post, if anyone wants me too^ ^;;

If I remember any other LGBTQ+ OCs I have, I'll reblog with them ✌

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

I hold the view that the BRF is currently handling this all as well as they can. I believe they have to allow them to discredit themselves, as slow and painful as it is. However, the huge question I have is WHY did they not take the decision to draw a hard line on citizenship before giving an American a working role in the monarchy? It just seems they could have said, “Sure, absolutely, get married and come live here in the UK for a few years while you pursue citizenship. Focus and building a strong marriage and becoming acquainted with our culture and the role of the monarchy. When you become a UK citizen we will give you a title and a working role.” The only explanation I can come up with is that Harry opposed this and they gave him what he (Meghan) wanted.

True, and I bet Harry opposed it because the plan was to move to the US (at least part time all along) or at least focus on that market.

I don't know. Even if we assumed the best strategy was to let them implode on their own, I feel they should have taken more precautions like not giving them the Commonwealth roles or the patronages and giving them a smaller wedding. 

They literally started planning their move as soon as they got all the goodies. It was Royal Supermarket Sweep with Meghan and Harry sweeping the “Di Collection” diamonds, the tiara, the wedding, the bit tour, the designer wardrobe, the royal charities, the royal baby, the royal photo ops, etc... into their cart then saying “ok, we’re checking out now that it’s full.”