#i love my fashion disaster assassin son

[ugharghugh]

"Heck."

"Milord?" asked the Crone.

"Hecky heck heck heck!" continued Hector as he began to pace around the room.

One of the attendants whispered to the Crone, "the king has been trying not to swear. He doesn't want his child to learn bad manners."

"So," Hector said as he paced back and forth while stroking his beard, "according to the stars my son is destined to kill me?"

The Crone shook her head sadly, knowing what would come next, "I am afraid so. The stars are clear that this boy is destined to kill his father and king after he becomes a man."

The Crone had seen these prophecies unfollow time and time again. The father would get angry and attempt to have the child killed only for it to fail in some fashion or another and then in twenty years the child, now a man, would return and kill their father. A tragic tale but there was nothing to do about it but watch it play out.

"Wait," Hector said as he abruptly stopped pacing, "he has to kill me right?"

"He will kill you, yes."

"Once he comes of age?"

"Once he becomes a man, yes."

Hector went quiet.

The Crone knew of king Hector's reputation. Called the necromancer king. He raised an army of skeletons that did his bidding. Sold his soul to a demon for power. Conquered the entire kingdom of Cosara.

On her way in she had seen the army of skeletons in the city. And the new mother was clearly a demon, with bone white skin and black horns.

Yeah this will not end well, the Crone thought to herself.

At least the child themselves was fairly quiet. Happily nestled to their mother's bosom. Unaware of what was going to happen next.

"It's perfect!" Hector suddenly exclaimed, shocking everyone.

"Hecy please!" his wife replied, keeping her voice as low as possible, "you'll wake him!"

"Sorry Desi…" Hector replied, "I got excited by a plan I just thought of."

"Oh?" she replied.

"Yes!" Hector seemed excited, instead of angry. The Crone had never seen this reaction before.

Hector began to explain himself, "ok so since my son is supposed to kill me that means…"

Hector paused for dramatic effect, "no one can kill me!"

The room immediately fell silent.

Desi spoke up first, "dear, I love you. But what?"

"I just told you! I'm now unkillable!"

"Hector, that is not what she said. Almost the opposite actually."

Desi was holding their child protectively, no doubt worried that Hector would soon be trying to grab them.

“But didn’t you hear? ‘My son will kill me’, not anyone else! Not my rivals, or some wannabe hero, not disease or disaster. Only my son!”

Desi blinked a few times, thinking over the idea.

She relaxed her grip on their son, “that’s a good point. Assuming the prophecy is true.”

Desi sent a look over to the crone, who realized that she was being questioned.

“The stars are never wrong. They may be fickle, but they are never wrong.”

“See! The stars say only my son can kill me! And even then only once he reaches maturity.”

This was definitely new to the Crone. No one had ever taken the news of their demise and noted that it meant they had to die that way. It’s kind of obvious now that the Crone thinks about it. Probably could have saved a lot of trouble if more people had looked at the prophecy that way.

Hector continued to expound, “this means I can get away with so many of my plans! The new irrigation system using an aqueduct, that crazy idea of a dedicated messenger service, and I can finally rest easy without worrying about assassinations!”

As Hector began rambling on about all the opportunities this afforded him Desi and their son slowly drifted back to sleep.

you're far from the first king to receive the prophecy that your new born child would cause your death. Where your story diverges is when instead of tossing the kid to the wolves, you are driven to be a kind & nurturing father.

[firebirdsdaughter]

Did...

... Did Geiz really straight up leave the shop bc he’s so afraid/embarrassed of/by emotions?

Bc it kinda sounded like that. w/ his ‘I’m not his friend, remember you came here to defeat Ouma Zi-O’ little muttering to himself there.

Like, ‘oh no, I had an almost friendly feeling/did a thing that was maybe kinda friendly’ -- ‘MUST EVACUATE AREA IMMEDIATELY ABORT ABORT’

[buckybarnesdiaries]

white wolf: “the story of a first date”

first part — second part — third part — fourth part (soon)

© @capsgrantrogers

bucky barnes x reader. ⎢ masterlist.

Sam helps Bucky to ask you out for a date and it's a disaster, but he gets it.

word count: 3.147 words. (not sorry, it worth it, i promise!!!)

warnings/tags: none. bucky being the cutest gentleman in the whole wide world, and sam keeping an eye on him.

author notes: as it happened with the first part, i'm not really happy with the result but i had so much fun writing it and i think that that made this writing perfect, so i hope you enjoy it as much as i enjoyed it. none of my stories contain reader’s body descriptions to be inclusive.

Join the tag list here.

The car stopped because of a red light, a moment where Sam took the advantage to turn at his copilot, glancing at Bucky from top to bottom in complete silence. Analyzing him. The soldier tilted his head raising an eyebrow, showing his curiosity about what the hell he was doing.

“What are you gonna wear, uh?” Sam asked then, maintaining a serious gesture on his face.

“Clothes”. Unworriedly, he put back his eyes to the front window.

“You probably look good naked, but that’s not what I’m talking ‘bout”.

“Just… some jeans, a shirt, and a jacket”.

“And shoes, I guess”.

Bucky turned on his seat towards his friend, squinting confused for the interrogatory. “Who cares?”

“About the shoe—”

“About the clothes”.

“Man, it’s a date! Do you wan’her to remember this night as the night Bucky Barnes shown up as a Russian bum?”

“I’m from Brookl—”.

“Yeah, but you look like mother Russia just spat you to the world”.

Sam rolled his eyes as a sigh escaped his mouth. Shaking his head, he took the next corner to the fifth avenue changing the planes they had in mind. A good outfit meant a good date. A good date meant happy soldier. Happy soldier meant no trouble. See the point? So the Falcon would take care of the Winter Soldier today. If only Steve could see them. He’d feel proud, that was for sure. They visited a couple of shops, finally letting Sam take control over the situation and pick the clothes he would wear for you. He had good taste, everybody knew that, and Bucky couldn’t complain about his choices.

Even less when the distinctive black suit dressed his anatomy to perfection. Spinning around in front of the mirror, he felt different. He looked different. He looked good, but not as he’d like. Holding the bucket of flowers once he was ready, Bucky left his apartment straight to the garage under the building. He was nervous, he couldn’t lie. But he had that sensation inside him that made him believe everything would be okay for the first time since he woke up.

The road didn’t take him more than ten minutes, not really worried about the time given that he had planned to arrive a little sooner than accorded. Life seemed like it was smiling at him, finding a parking lot in the same entrance. Landing his blue eyes on the rearview mirror, Bucky took a last view at his reflection, brushing back his hair as he used to do in the forties. He grabbed then the flowers he bought for you and stepped out of the car, trying to remember the advice Sam gave him. Resting his back against the copilot's door, he waited impatiently for you.

“Hey, you”.

His heart stopped for a second, raising his orbs to the man coming closer. Before he could react, the man in question tucked a hand beneath Bucky's jacket. Patting him down.

“What the hell are you doing, Sam?” He questioned irritatedly, slapping his hands and causing him to laugh.

“Just checking you didn't bring the notecards again”.

“Yeah, very funny…”

“Man, look at you! Should be illegal to look this good, uh?” Sam helped him to put on the jacket again, receiving another slap from his friend.

“Don't touch me”. Scowling, he fixed the flowers in his left hand, wanting them to be perfect. “Anyway, what are you doing here?”

“Watch you till (Y/N) comes. Lemme take a picture, I feel like a proud father on his son's prom day”.

“You're not m— Get the hell outta here, Sam”.

“Fighting again, kids? Should I call your mama?”

As Bucky heard you scoff, his soul abandoned. His pupils dilated. His legs trembled. And he could swear that everything disappeared around him when he watched you going downstairs, swinging your hips unconsciously sensual, with a black dress fitting you like a glove. If this morning Bucky wanted to marry you, now he wanted to spend the rest of his life by your side. Your makeup was on point, just like your hair, not being too formal but enough to run him out of words.

“Steve is off-duty, so, what 'you gonna do, soldier?” Sam mocked, an instant before noticing how pale Bucky was. He couldn't help but slap the back of his neck to bring him back to reality.

“I, uh… flowers… I bought you…”

“You're not Yoda”. Sam whispered as the other offered you the present.

“C'mon, stop messing with him”. You clicked your tongue, right before you drew an adorable smile on your lips, leaning to kiss Bucky's cheek. “Thank you”.

“You're welcome”. He just answered, responding to your same gesture while opening the door for you.

“Such a gentleman…” His playful murmur made Bucky frown and nudge him, trying to stop him from saying anything else and ruin the occasion.

“I'll bring him back at ten”. You joked palming his chest.

“The point is to not bring him back to me”. Sam cackled, shaking his head and taking a step back.

Once in the car turning on the engine, James joined the road after checking you were good. Never in his life he had driven with so much care as if he was carrying a bomb by his side. He set on the radio, not really knowing how to start a conversation, watching you through the corners of his eyes caressing the flowers over your lap. No one had bought you them before, thinking it was a thing that only happened in movies. But then, you met Bucky. An old-fashioned man, making yourself wonder how he was the same the news used to say he was a cold-blood assassin.

“What have you thought?”

“Uh?”

“About the date”.

“Sam told me about a rest—”.

“Okay, okay, Bucky. Pull over”. You couldn't help but burst into laughter, as his face was pale again thinking you were about to step out and end the date.

“Sorry, did I…?”

You swiveled at him on your seat, kissing your teeth and squinting inevitably. Studying his face you knew how afraid he was, and it was the most adorable reaction ever. You could have kissed at that precise instant, but it'd have been a little awkward.

“Where do you wanna go?”

The question didn't take him by surprise, actually. He was still getting used to doing the things he desired and not what other people asked him to do. The restaurant was a fancy place with a distinguished menu according to what his friend explained to him, but it wasn't the kind of site that he'd normally go, or that represented him.

“When I, uh… came back, I discovered that my favorite burger joint in Brooklyn was still standing”. Bucky told you, facing you after finishing the sentence. “They prepare the best burgers of the whole New York and you can decide what ingredients add, and the bread, and the kind of meat. And it still having the original decoration”.

You reclined on your seat, just staring at him talking with that kind of burning passion about something he loved. Puckering your lips, you nodded your chin. The fact that not only he wanted to take you to a different place, but a place that he used to go to when he was young made butterflies flutter within your belly. Bucky wanted to make you part of his future, but also his past. That made the difference.

“Sounds good to me”.

“Really?” He inquired funnily confused, wrinkling his nose and forehead.

“Really”.

The shine that appeared within his eyes made you place a hand on his cheek to urge him to turn his head and drive again. An innocent gesture that provoked him a lively giggle. If that man knew all the things he caused you, he'd have taken the step months ago.

As the night went on and Bucky was losing his shyness, he talked to you about the good old times. Before HYDRA, before the winter, before the war. When he was a kid with no worries more than keeping Steven safe from the bullies. It was nice to disconnect from the present, from the gazes around the two of you, from the back talks, only enjoying your dinner and your conversation. You talked to Bucky about how was to be raised on a farm, surrounded by open fields and animals, to join the army years later. Without going into details that could make him remember the old bad times, you told him about what you used to do, your missions, and how you were wounded in combat after being shot and fell from a helicopter.

Bucky felt confident enough to compare it with how everything started. Falling from a wagon to the snow. But as soon as his voice became lower, you couldn't help but hold his gloved left hand and intertwine your fingers with his. And you could swear you felt him shaking for a brief moment because of your touch.

“So, what, uh? It was a forties trend to jump into the void?” You tried to joke, wanting to feel relaxed.

“Yeah, seems like”. He mumbled curling up his lips. “Listen… I really want to… open up, and I know it’s easier with you because… y’know, you work doing this”.

“Hold on, Bucky”. You laughed waving your free hand, shaking your chin as you closed your eyes for a second. “That has sounded really bad”.

“Wait, wh— Oh, shit, no, no, no”.

For the first time since you walked into the small restaurant, his laughter was lively, unworriedly, honest.

“Take it easy, just kidding”. You grinned, nailing your elbow on the table to rest your cheek on your palm. “But… this isn’t work. We’re not doing therapy, we’re… knowing each other. And I don’t want to pressure you to talk about something you don’t feel prepared to, okay?”

“I know”.

Bucky couldn’t believe how much you seemed to empathize with him, not judging his acts nor his past, not deciding that the date wasn't a good idea nor running away. He couldn’t believe the less importance you were giving to his arm made of vibranium; usually, people used to freak out, to feel frightened somehow about the things it could do. But you were there, fingers playing with the others as if it was the most common and natural act in the world. And, for you, it was. That was you in all your best. Considerate, smart, patient, lovingly. The rainbow after a stormy life. Everything that Bucky needed in his life to start from scratch and be his better version. A shoulder to lean on and a reason to come back home.

“Was afraid of asking you out”. He confessed after some seconds admiring each other. Any person closer would say you had been dating for a long, long time by the way you had to keep silent and not feel uncomfortable.

“Why?”

“You came from war and made your world a place to live. I’m still stuck there”.

“I have my own red flags”. Clicking your tongue, you rolled your eyes.

“Oh, really? Please, surprise me”. Bucky teased you sitting up on his chair, not loosening the gentle grip around your left hand.

“I put the milk before cereals”.

“Oh… Oh, God”. He let out, pretending to be horrified and running a hand on his face. “Goddammit… you’re a monster, ma’am. I don’ think this is going to work”.

“Excuse me?” You chuckled, parting your lips in a breath while leaning over the table to palm his right shoulder. “It wasn’t me who added lettuce to the burger”.

“What? What’s the matter with that, uh?”

“Lettuce kills the savor!”

“Y’know what kills the savor? Ketchup. Today, people use ketchup literally with everything… And that’s disgusting”.

“Okay! Next time, no lettuce, and… no ketchup”.

“That’s a big challenge”. Bucky scoffed tenderly squeezing your hand between his cold fingers.

“I’ll live, Sergeant Barnes”. You narrowed your eyes and crinkled your nose at the same time.

“I was talking about a second date, not about your issue with ketchup”.

“So was I”.

A goofy smirk appeared on Bucky’s face, biting his inner cheek as he assented with his head. Seeing you again, knowing that you wanted it —that you wanted him—, made him trust Dr. Raynor’s words. He was having a second chance to do the right thing. To live and to be.

You wanted to add something else when the clock in his wrist started to beep. Curious, you raised an eyebrow. “We have to leave”.

“Why?”

“Sam told me you work tomorrow at eight, which means you’ll get up at six and a half… maybe seven. While I pay, take you home, all that stuff… I don’ want you to be tired in the morning”.

Bucky would never stop to amaze you, looking up to him in silence to contemplate how he called the bartender and beckoned his free hand to ask for the bill.

“What…? What are you doing?” He chuckled embarrassed, taking his beer to sip.

You cleared your throat when you realized how stupid you should look right now, shaking your head as you freed his cold hand from yours to find unlock your phone as soon as the guy brought the dataphone.

“Hey, no, no. I asked you out, I pay”. Bucky began to fight with you, provoking some laughs on the table as you tried to put your screen above the tpv.

“Well, welcome to the twenty-first century”. You hummed as the operation was confirmed.

“I’ll pay next time”. He declared licking his incisors, prior to his lips.

You wished the ride back home to last forever, not wanting to end the date. But the car reached your neighborhood in a blink of eyes. You couldn't help but sigh barely appreciably for your companion, gazing through the window until double parking in front of your apartment. You turned towards him, hearing the engine shut off. Bucky seemed disappointed like you, not being able to remember when was the last time he had a break, he had fun. The date was nicer than he expected but the idea of not knowing exactly when he was going to see you again was killing him from the inside.

“I'll accompany you”. He declared undoing his seat belt as you did to step out.

You reacted with a delicate smile, holding the bucket of flowers against your abdomen while walking to the front door of the building. That moment was a little uncomfortable, not being sure about how to say goodbye, just looking like two teens in love.

“Thank you for tonight, Bucky”. You uttered without thinking about it. “It's been the best night I've ever had”.

“Next will be better, I promise”.

“That's a big challenge”. You chuckled repeating his words a while ago in the restaurant.

“I'll live”. He nodded convinced, glancing at you bowing down your interest to the red roses between your hands.

How could you tell him that you were dying to be together again? That you wouldn't mind waking up sooner and having breakfast? You bit your inner upper lip, trying to find the correct words to say, without sounding like you were feeling something else to a physical attraction. Bucky was hot as hell, that wasn't up to debate, but he was the kindest and charmingest man you had known. He was sensible and strong at the same time. You both complemented the other like the pieces of a puzzle and you never thought something like that could happen to you. To find your other half and having it so clear you didn't want anyone else.

“I am, uh… free tomorrow”.

His words pushed you out of your thoughts, putting up your attention to a Bucky almost flushing, stroking the back of his head, and having the impression that he could scare you.

“Got a break for lunch, if you want”. You proposed without hesitation.

His eyes sparkled with happiness, holding your left hand with his to bring it to his mouth, placing a fond kiss on the back. Such a gentleman, like Sam said, inducing your cheeks to burn. And then, you saw him doubting about taking another step. You wanted it too to happen, tho, leaning forward to press your lips together. Your eyes snapped closed at that precise instant, not having any rush, tasting each other's and shortening the distance between both of you by his free arm getting wrapped around your waist. The kiss was innocent but passionate. It was warm, intimate, trying to transmit all the chemistry you woke up within the other with only one look, with only one smile. Breaking it —much to your regret— when you needed air to breathe. And even so, Bucky rested his forehead against yours freeing your hand to place it on the right side of his neck.

Neither of the two of you opened your eyes, extending the moment as much as you could. You felt he craved to spend the night with you, and you desired it too, but you also felt that he needed some time to get used to this new world he was living in. It wasn't easy. You thought back to the months after the war, the recovery, the loneliness you forced yourself to be in. You were in Afghanistan for three months. He had been fighting since nineteen forty. And he didn't want to ruin what you were building together.

“I should leave”. Bucky murmured against his wishes.

“See you tomorrow”.

At the moment you opened your eyes to meet the pale blue ones, your whole body felt weak. You saw the brightness in them after letting him know that the second date was going to happen and that it wasn't just a formality before disappearing, wiping out any minimal doubt by kissing him again. The last kiss. A good night, I'll dream with you kiss.

“I'm gonna play this on your wedding day, definitely”.

You screamed because of the unexpected metallic voice coming closer, clinging to Bucky's neck as his heart raced too. Redwing was suspended in the air some steps away from you, being controlled by Sam. Who else is not him, uh?

“I'm starting to think you have separation anxiety”. The soldier growled trying to hit the flying device with his flesh hand, hearing you laughing against his chest.

“Good night, kids”. You chuckled separating from Bucky.

“No kiss for me, soldier?”

“I'm not gonna kiss that thing, Samuel”.

“What about a howl, White wolf? Would be very appro—”.

“White wo—”.

“Please, don't. Don't ask”. Bucky begged you, licking his bottom lip while rubbing the back of his head, clearly ashamed.

“Hope you show me one day what it means…”

“Oh, he will… Just wait till the full moon”.

“Sam!” Bucky and you yelled in unison, you playfully, he annoyed.

feedback is appreciated, please, leave a comment to let me know if you liked it.

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TAG LIST: @mystic-232 @homesicam @theresnoplatypus @i-love-scott-mccall @slutfornat @goldielocks2004 @whatrambles @spidergirla5 @fanofalltheficsx @nocturnalherb16 @valenquei @golden-hoax @hunter-of-baker-street @missusstark @vhscherry @warm-sensations @addictedtofictionalcharacters @sarahsmcu @tinylumpiaa @amelia-song-pond @heartislubbingdubbing @stolenxkissess @clean-and-claire @winchestersgirl222 @virgoroses @marvel-ousnesss @me-a-hopeless-romantic @rvgrsbrns @maccasbeard @haileygarciasunshine @lewd-alien @kait-is-always-late @mckenna @weenersoldierr @mxltifaves @soldierstucky @theboldandthebootyful @arkofblake @isabellamur @kiwisa @spider-man-lover @rosiebrands @stealapizzamyheart @koressecretidentity @asemistablehundredyearoldman @mayans-sauce @petlaufeyson @megapeacelovemusic-blog @phoenixhalliwell  

[thebittahwizard]

Random Fic Recommendation: A List of Stories that Prove that Literally Everyone Wrote Teen Wolf Better than Jeff Davis

It says a lot for the validity of this title that I’m making a goddamn sequel.

Part 1: Sterek |§| Part 2: Steter

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[boop-le-snoot]

PARTY FAVOURS | CHAPTER 4

Rating: Explicit.

‼️TW: Reader is EIGHTEEN! Recreational drug use, smoking and alcohol consumption, deeply internalised self-loathing, very questionable moral standards. Daddy kink taken half-seriously. BDSM themes in later chapters - explicit content will come with it's own TWs. FIRST PERSON POV. Bullying and non-explicit violence in this chapter, Peter whump.

Summary: You're Peter's classmate, a child of rich and famous but uncaring parents. Getting paired up for a lengthy project with the boy was an interesting turn of events and you don't know whether to feel blessed or cursed when you develop, seemingly, a perfectly normal, harmless crush on Tony Stark. Fueled by feelings of inadequacy and boredom, your life spirals out of control - and you're lucky your newfound friends are there to pick up the pieces even if you cannot find it in yourself to believe these amazing human (and not so human) beings voluntarily give you more than a fleeting glance and an offhanded thought. And they brought cake!

A/N: WE'VE GOT PLOT! Peter Parker deserves better. Steeb needs a vibe check cuz he keeps failing them :( Boomers are hot but ... Boomers. KitKat, anyone? Natasha is a Brain Cell™. Enjoy, deviants.

THE TAG LIST IS NOW OPEN! @another-stark-sub ​ @mostly-marvel-musings @vozit​ @littlegasps​ @pilloclock​ @shereadsinquiet​ @hermione-grangers-wife​ @downeyreads​ @individualistfem​

Beta read by the lovely and patient @miscmarvelwritings 👑 - titty gators assemble! 👀

I scheduled a visit to the tower two days after my "illness" episode. Most of my lows passed without any lingering, the headache was gone and so was the nausea. My mood was still somewhere between "please kill me" and "I could eat a lot of cake right now" but it was bearable. I was very much looking forward to occupying myself with the project if only to divert my focus from overthinking about my own misery.

Peter said he was going to see Tony straight after school and offered for me to tag along with him: Tony sent his driver to pick up the boy. I didn't have the heart to refuse, seeing no point in waiting for an Uber on a rainy workday afternoon. Traffic was horrendous in New York city no matter the weather but a downpour took the congestions to a new height.

When I spotted the sleek, black brand new Audi I made a beeline for it, waving to Happy as I crawled inside as fast as I could. "Don't get the seats wet," The chauffeur grumbled.

"It's wet outside," I rolled my eyes into the next dimension. Whoever thought his nickname was in any way appropriate needed a psych eval. Peter sat on my right side looking wet and downright miserable. I had to swallow a string of expletives at the sight in front of me: the entirety of Peter's right cheek was an ugly shade of blue, eye on it's way to swelling shut and lip busted open. "What in the everliving fuck happened to you?!" Breathing through my nose, I fought bubbling rage inside of me. Peter looked like he went toe to toe with a Hulk.

"Flash happened," The boy mumbled, whining and brooding simultaneously. His cheeks glowed.

"That little runt?" I took another pause to steady my breathing, tentatively reaching out for Peter's hand. He grasped it tightly in gratitude. "Well, did you at least fight back?"

"No, I... I can't do that," Peter became even smaller, curling into the seat and in himself. I was disappointed for sure as I wouldn't just stand there and take a beating, but Pete was different. He was sensitive-a total pacifist to boot.

"Do any of the teachers know? I'm guessing this isn't the first time," Sure, I've seen Parker with an occasional scrape or a bruise but I'd always figured it was just him being a teenage nuisance. Curtain of depression I had over the previous days slowly began morphing into cold fury.

"No, well, they probably do. But Flash is the principal's son so they ignore it, I guess," Peter sighed in defeat. "Mr. Stark doesn't know either. Please don't tell him," He begged.

"Abuse thrives in silence," I parroted our sex-ed teacher but otherwise made no promises. My mind raced between comforting Peter and ordering Happy to turn the car around so I could find the shitty excuse of a human named Flash Thompson and violently make it known what happens to people when they get me pissed off.

"What are you going to tell Tony?" I asked Peter as we herded into the elevator, slightly wet and mostly miserable.

"I have an idea or two," The boy answered darkly.

"You have been summoned to the common floor, I was instructed to notify you there is food to be eaten before sciencing, per Doctor Banner's orders," Friday announced, rerouting the elevator to the aforementioned destination. Peter groaned loudly, burying his face in his hands.

"What the fuck happened to you, kid?" Bucky decided screeching like a banshee and attracting at least five of his teammates to come running from the dining room was the best way to approach an obviously spooked Peter. The boy shuffled his feet awkwardly.

"Our classmate beat him up," I answered before Pete could lie. "The fucking runt that doesn't know his damn place. His two cronies probably too," The venom in my voice could've melted steel. I was genuinely furious.

"What's his name?" Captain-Steve growled. I was taken aback at the large blonde man suddenly standing up, fists clenched. My feet moved involuntarily, taking a step back from the enraged supersoldier and Pete cowered, startled.

I stepped in front of him immediately. "I'm gonna need you to chill the fuck down, Cap," The trembling in my voice persisted but I stood my ground nonetheless. "Your roid rage is going to land you in prison if you keep going," In my own rage, self-preservation went out of the window along with common sense. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up, Peter was downright shaking behind me.

"She's right," Bucky darkly eyed his friend. "Off to the sparring mats with you." He grabbed Rogers by the shoulder with his prosthetic arm all but hauling the blonde towards the elevator. Thor immediately took the Captain's other side, not quite touching him but obviously giving his friend a vibe check. I could've clapped. Not that Steve resisted much, but still.

"Everyone calm down, please," The Black Widow piped up in an even tone. I can always count on a fellow woman to keep calm in a situation where men's tempers almost cause a disaster. "Now, tell us what happened," She approached Peter on quiet feet. The boy shuffled around me looking every bit as dejected as I felt about the situation. "And someone fetch some ice for that bruise," Romanoff's offhand gesture had Barton scrambling into the kitchen.

Peter sat down on the couch, looking at the floor. "Flash has been bothering me since, like, forever and today I just ignored his usual remarks because I had a calculus test, I- I wanted to make sure I knew everything, and I was sitting in a really quiet corner, and I- Ned was hanging out with MJ somewhere and I guess Flash got angry that I didn't answer," Peter rambled in his usual nervous fashion, sentences jumbling together. Natasha kept nodding, simply hugging the boy softly with one arm. As soon as Clint came back with a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel Natasha's other arm pressed it gently to Peter's bruised face. The assassin frowned at the pained whine that left Peter's lips.

"Honestly, that dude is a fucking piece of shit, I'm surprised how he's not in jail yet," I piped up from where I was pacing along the large window overlooking the city skyline. Wound up and tense, I couldn't stay still. "He stole a senior's car for a joyride, last year. He routinely picks on the freshmen and I've personally dislocated his wrist from slapping me on the ass in, like, eight grade," Peter's eyebrows raised at my admission and Natasha gave me a vaguely approving hum.

I caught Peter's eye the moment elevator doors opened revealing a panicked looking Tony and a worried Bruce with Loki standing behind them, talking to a man in... Robes? And a red cape?

"What happened to my science child?!" Tony's fury rang high. The engineer rushed over to Peter, frantically checking him over and growling at the state of his face, letting out a string of expletives seeing the busted lip had started to bleed again.

I gave a tiny tilt of my lips to Bruce who had the oddest compilation of worried, confused and amused in his expression.

"You should probably get him to a doctor, I think his mouth is cut on the inside," I scooted closer to Banner, informing him quietly.

"I'm a doctor," The man in the cape announced, ... strutting (!) over to Pete. There was really no other way to describe his long, precise strides. He quickly butted Tony out of the way and instructed Peter to open his mouth.

"This is utter chaos," Loki muttered, sitting down on the furthest end of the couch.

"It is and I'm living for it," I sighed. The situation was very disorganized with Tony flailing about in blind panic, Bruce just standing there, Cap's rage quit and subsequent intervention by his buddies. Then the new strange dude... Loki was brooding and honestly? Big mood. The only person who made some resemblance of order out if this cluster fuck was Natasha.

All and all, it was quite endearing. I imagined that's what a large, close family would look like. When I said I was enjoying myself - no lie there, even despite the grim situation.

"How are you? Are you hurt?" Bruce quietly asked me, laced with concern. His shoulders relaxed somewhat when I shook my head negative. "Hungry?" I nodded affirmatively and the doctor produced a kit kat bar seemingly out of nowhere, winking at me with a boyish smile. I just about melted on the spot, tearing off a block and giving it to him to avoid any embarrassing reactions I might possibly spout in the wake of my recently acquired crush.

We munched in silence as the Cape Guy explained to Peter (and anxious Tony) that a few butterfly stitches would be needed as well as CT scan to rule out a possible concussion. At that point Tony was steadily turning purple in colour, rage and anxiety combining for a large storm that no doubt will hit sooner or later.

I felt responsible, I guess. Peter must've known Tony was going to react so strongly to his science son getting hurt and well, I hated seeing Tony so mad and helpless. On soft feet, I padded over to the engineer, making sure to stay within direct line of vision. "Tones?" He shot his eyes at me. He was furious. "Look, I'm going to make that fucker's life a living hell," Tony made an agitated noise of protest however I wasn't having it. I knew I'd be in trouble later but for now, I firmly placed my palm over his mouth, enjoying the surprised widening of his eyes at the frivolous gesture. "Listen, right now you can't do shit. You guys are super-powered individuals and Flash is just a nasty kid. You'll get in a big fat mess and he'll get to go away with a slap on the wrist," Tony sagged, visibly, bodily, and I felt it was safe to remove my hand from his face.

"I hate to say it but she's right," Bruce piped up behind me, voice soft.

I nodded. "I'm going to ruin the guy without putting a single finger on him," Tony nodded grimly and Cape Guy halted his examination of Peter's head to give me a mildly concerned stare. "My mother is a litigator, a vicious one at that. I've learned a trick or two," I winked with a grim sort of amusement causing the man to snort. Tony chuckled humorlessly. "As much as I hate to be the voice of reason, it would be a shame for anybody in this tower to end up behind bars. Even if it would be for a good cause," I finished my speech, patting Tony on the shoulder. The surprised squeak made its way out of my mouth when the billionaire pulled me tight against his chest, wrapping his arms around me in a desperate hug.

Ignoring my skyrocketing heartbeat, I wrapped myself around him as best as I could. Whatever issues the man had, they had to be quite painful if he reacted to the situation so intensely. I was selfish, but not heartless, so I gave into the affectionate gesture despite the inappropriate feelings that blossomed within me.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you," Peter whined, fat round tears beginning to drip down his cheeks. I could tell he was embarrassed beyond Hell but his feelings overwhelmed him enough to just spill through. I immediately made my meanest big eyes to Natasha and Cape Guy who immediately hugged the life out of Pete. There, all set.

"Now go get that scan done," I frowned, seeing Peter start to nod off. "I don't know your name, but can you arrange that? Since you're a doctor," I nodded to the Cape Guy.

"I'm Stephen Strange," he replied, effortlessly picking up a dozing Peter and carrying him to the elevator. Before I could react, he waved his one free hand in some sort of a circle and a glowing ring appeared with what seemed to be a ER room - Strange hastily stepped through, followed by Tony suddenly withdrawing and hurrying after the ... Wizard? The portal closed immediately after.

"What the fuuuuuck..." I gaped at the now empty space. Strange, indeed. Even Loki's scoff didn't put a dent in my perplexed curiosity.

"So, lawyer family, huh?" Natasha, who I'd forgotten about, spoke up, mildly interested.

"Just my mother," I replied casually. They were the last thing in the world I wanted to talk about, especially after being so upset for the past hour. Man, I needed a drink. My hands itched for a cigarette.

"What about your father?" The spy didn't relent, pushing the issue with deadly politeness - I was actually sure she'd threaten me into talking about it even if I refused to.

"He's a celebrity manager."

"Cool," Her tone perked up at that. "Know anyone famous?"

"Know? No," I thought about all the A-list Hollywood stars I've been around, the endless parade of one-hit-wonder musicians that my dad hung out with on a daily basis. "I've crossed paths with at least half the Billboard TOP 40 but that's about it. Katy Perry was really nice," I added as an afterthought.

"I see," Natasha gave me a thoughtful once-over, patting the seat next to her. "So tell me, what do you have in mind for this Flash kid?"

My smile came out sharp and vicious. People tended to underestimate the quiet, quirky loner and I was about to remind them exactly why my kind of kids usually ended up with either millions in their bank accounts or a lengthy criminal record. "I'm going to annihilate any chance he has with having a social life, a girlfriend and I'll be damned if he gets into college without his parents going bankrupt. It goes like this..."

The ominous beginning of my plan attracted everybody in the room, even Loki. If anything, he offered the most constructive advice and the smirk he wore was positively devilish. Steve, Bucky and Thor emerged sometime during the scheming and hastily joined us, identically grim expressions on their faces. We barely managed to get done with our nefarious cackling when a portal appeared once again, Stephen stepping out of it with Tony carrying a sleeping Peter. The boy's head was bandaged, he looked like a mummy.

I stood up, beelining for Tony. "Is Pete okay? Did you call May?"

"He's not concussed but he's taking the day off tomorrow. Yes, I called May. Pete is staying here tonight," Tony looked and sounded like an exhausted, worried parent.

The urge to squee appeared again and I stomped it down with a hard "Good. We made a plan. The fucker is going to choke on his own misery," I gestured to the people sitting in a circle behind me.

Strange snorted.

Furious. I was furious.

Hands on my hips, I swerved towards him, instantly recognizing the ridiculousness of the situation. Here I stood, an eighteen year old high school student, in my fluffy rainbow sweater and denim overalls, staring down a whole grown ass man with magic powers. I digress, my pride won the race against my common sense. "Ex-fucking-cuse you, Voldemort, that's my fucking friend on the line," I seethed, giving him my best death glare.

"Language," Tony barely held together his laughter, looking at the unfolding mess with amusement. Somewhere behind me, somebody chuckled, then I recognised Loki's signature "ehehe" and it kind of went downhill from there. It's a miracle Peter didn't wake up.

"I'd be careful, Strange, she holds up against Stark very well," Loki's quiet compliment only made me preen and puff out my chest in a display of dominance. Stephen's responding eye roll was more fond than annoyed. I counted it as a win.

[puppy-phum]

thank you once again @yibobibo​ for tagging me ♥ even if, like I said, this is pure torture. I have so many sons that I’ve given up on counting them sigh but here goes.

favourite male fictional characters.

I took it that this meant ten so am going with that (tho am not gonna try and put them into order). am also sticking to all the characters I loved this year. and gonna ramble and add gifs so cutting it here. 

1. Liu Sang

The Lost Tomb Reboot/Reunion: The Sound of The Providence

I have so much love for this boy it’s not even healthy. it’s a bit funny tho bc once I started tltr, I didn’t really like him and almost forgot about him as the first season ended. he just felt so annoying and bitter in what I saw him, even if I did get that he had a Tragic BackstoryTM (I felt for him but well. tltr really made him hard to like at first). but then they brought him back in the second season with his sad puppy eyes and inability to handle his thoughts on wu xie and being all touch-starved and pitiful and whatnot and baam, I had the adoption papers ready. he’s wonderful and so strong and so smart and amazing. and liu chang as his actor has been wonderful (and he’s so pretty my god, have you seen him??)

2. Shen Wei

Guardian

never did I expect to just. fall into this hole after a year? I remember what a mess I was when I first watched guardian over a year ago, right after finishing the untamed. I was in shambles even as I knew how it would end. and now I’ve done this all again while also reading the novel and. my love for shen wei, especially bc it’s zhu yilong acting as shen wei? astronomical. I want to write poetry about him and his stupid responsibilities that he chooses to carry silently and his devotion to zhao yunlan and his love for his ppl and his didi and. I hope that one day I manage to write weilan bc I have this one idea and you can come pry it from my cold, dead fingers if it doesn’t get out there (am also super happy about the edit I made bc my god does he deserve at least that)

3. Cloud Strife

Final Fantasy VII

ok so stepping into the video games territory now. I was waiting for the remake like crazy and it was everything to me once the quarantine hit during spring. the game is so beautiful and I felt like I looked at this gorgeous boy once and was ready to give him my heart (tbh am quite sure he owned my heart before I even learned to know him). he is tragic in so many ways (I’ve only scratched the surface of all of his pain I know) and I wish I could just. hug him a lot. he is kind and cares very deeply even if he hates to show it and I love it how remake showed him also just being a human disaster (some of his scenes are just. peak comedy). I would kill for his smile (I have already cried for it a dozen)

4. Geralt of Rivia

The Witcher (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)

if there’s one grumpy, brickwall of a man I love, it’s geralt. I affectionately call him “papa wolf” while playing witcher 3 and his voice in it does things to me (I am just so fond of him ok, begone you dirty fuckers). I got introduced to him through the books and adored him in them bc he is so prickly and sarcastic and still so full of love even if he will never admit to it. he is the father figure I wish I could have in real life. (and yes, I’ve seen the tv series (or at least a couple of the first episodes) and it looks stunning but. this is my version of geralt and that’s the hill I will die on)

5. Xiaoge

Zhang Qiling, Daomu Biji (The Lost Tomb 2)

(wow finding a gif for him was a pain, apparently I gotta learn how to gif or?) ah, my dear boy who I’ve ended up just calling xiaoge bc he seems to prefer it over his real name/title/whatever zhang qiling really is. I got introduced to him through tltr where we really didn’t get to know that much about him bc he was just... there. huang junjie was absolutely stunning tho and his soft smiles made me super fond, but only in the lost tomb 2 did I really fall in love with xiaoge as a character. I was surprised tbh bc I didn’t expect it to be this drama? I had so many doubts about the cast in tlt2 but they all delivered! and I think cheng yi’s xiaoge is now my favorite bc he somehow captured that softness and the pain of him? (and we do not talk about that buxun storyline tyvm) tho now that ultimate note is on the way, I gotta say that xiao yuliang does a wonderful job as xiaoge too!

6. Wu Xie

Daomu Biji (Ultimate Note)

(sorry we have to go with a pingxie gif now but maybe it’s only fitting) tbh it’s hard to choose my favorite version of wu xie. I think all of the actors for him have done amazing job showing wu xie in different parts of his life (all of them are very distinct but still feel like the same person) but currently zheng shunxi takes the lead. I really wanted to put the reboot version of him here (bc I love that mature, relaxed and somehow very soft version of him and the angst is phenomenal and the thoughts he has about death... yeah) but I already have zhu yilong’s face here once so :’D wu xie is just one of those characters you cannot not like. he is so strong, so kind, so stubborn, so wonderfully stupid sometimes and in need of careful protection. I also adore it how smart he is and I could listen to him spew history facts for 10 hours straight (even if it was in a tomb full of blood zombies) ♥

7. Jiang Cheng

Jiang Wanyin, The Untamed

my darling boy! my beautiful angry grape! I love him beyond words. I love him in all of his raging, misunderstood, stupid, sassy, constipated, abused, tragic, bitter, big hearted glory. I could write novels about him (and I did and am still writing oh boy) and his love for ppl and his inability to show that love and his loneliness and his issues. I could also write another novel for all of his outfits etc. bc damn, what a fashion king. he is just so great. he owns my soul. he deserves happiness and in this essay I will

8. Isana Yashiro

Adolf K. Weismann, K Project

I rewatched k project this spring bc a) it’s one of my favorite animes ever (it just looks stunning with all the colors) and b) I love yashiro to bits. I remember falling in love with him when I first watched k project many years ago bc he was just so kind and bright. this time though, I ended up seeing another side of him and my god did I cry. he is... so sweet. he cares for others so deeply and is ready to sacrifice so much for them and his love for his two clansmen... yeah. I think I finally saw the tragedy of him too, all the pain and loneliness and insecurity he decides to hide behind his smile and obnoxious personality. he reminded me a lot of myself and watching him made my heart bleed in a good way

9. Qi Tiezui

Ba Ye, The Mystic Nine

(wow am going to riot for the lack of all the gifs hhh) yes, we’re continuing with the dmbj universe that sucked me in big time this year. the drama of the mystic nine wasn’t probably that earth shattering for me as it somehow got boring more than once but I did love ba ye to bits. he was just... so nice? I got it that he was somehow this “comedic relief” in the drama with all of his funny scenes and ridiculous mannerisms but I could see the brilliance of him. he is warm and smart and kind of a romantic too and he cares for all of his friends so deeply? it was also sweet how protective of him his two zhangs were (does that run in the family? the tendency to imprint into one smart but disastrous man and keep him safe? maybe) and I really hope I knew more about him bc he seemed to have a lot of knowledge and a lot of impact to ppl’s lives (I yelled when they mentioned him in ultimate note, I miss him ;;)

10. Dorian Pavus

Dragon Age Inquisition

(yes I’ve been replaying DA:I this year, this counts!) another darling boy! my lovely sass master son! I have so much love for him and his story in DA:I. he is my favorite companion (and his romance is my favorite too, probably obvious in the way am currently romancing him for the third time) and he has given me a lot of strength. the way he stands up against his father, how he’s ready to reform his homeland instead of walking away, how he’s so caring for those he sees struggling... it’s very warming and I feel like I’m safe with him. it feels a bit silly to say that but he really is that comfort character I will seek out when I just want to know am doing fine :’) (and I am so excited to see him again in DA4! probably?)

+ 11. Li Cu

Tomb of the Sea

yes I cheated a bit (with my own rules lol) to fit li cu here. I didn’t really expect to like him or tomb of the sea as much as I did once I started it? I’ve seen leo wu elsewhere before this (battle through the heavens, nirvana in fire) and his face always makes me think about a sad puppy so maybe I just grew fond over li cu instantly bc he was... so hurt? the first episode really slaps you in the face with all of it, showing him being abused, wounded, kidnapped, tortured, used and then just very, very scared and broken. he continues being that throughout the whole drama and I feel like tomb of the sea (or sand sea or sha hai idk) is the darkest and angstiest story in the dmbj universe. I know it deserves to be bc this is a dark time for wu xie but... my darling li cu. I wish him only happiness ;; he was so strong and smart and wonderful in this and it was just so amazing to watch him grow and find his own place in the world just bc he did something himself (even when he got dragged into all of this bc of wu xie) also I support the wu xie adopts li cu -agenda

Honorary mentions: 

Zhang Rishan, Xie Yuchen and Hei Xiazi from DMBJ universe. The Twin Jades of Gusu and Ouyang Zizhen from The Untamed. The Iron Bull and Fenris from Dragon Age games. Thane Krios, Kaidan Alenko and Jaal from Mass Effect games. The whole lot of Assassin’s Creed protagonists (especially Ezio Auditore and Shay Cormac). Adam Parrish and Ronan Lynch from The Raven Cycle. Neil Josten from All For The Game. Eduon and March from The Smoke Thieves. Qiling from L.O.R.D. Critical World. Luo Fei from Detective L (played by Bai Yu). 

well, with this I can really see that I have a thing for those who are tragic :’D I have a thing for grumpy, prickly and antisocial guys or those who hide their pain behind a smile. maybe it’s bc I am somehow both, even if I can’t show my anger or be mean to others and even if I feel like my smile never sticks either. I just find kinship in all of the characters who are on this list. and I feel like I aspire to be as strong and as kind and as loving despite all the pain I’ve been put through.  

thank you, this was so much fun! and sorry I made this so long and so complicated ^^’ but well, there are just way too many male characters I love haha

at the end I want to tag @i-am-just-a-kiddo​ @ashenwren​ @kholran​ @tiesanjiao​ @lan-xichens​ @aheartfullofjolllly​ @manhasetardis​ and @lzswy​​ ♥ feel free to do this in your own way or not at all! and thank you if you managed to read through my rambling :’D

[possiblypeachy]

opportunities missed.

―; summary: there are plenty of times during which the Warden and Alistair could've kissed. of course, in that terrible fashion of theirs, they were far too stupid to take these chances and instead fumbled around with their emotions like the fools that they were. at least we get some good pining out of it, hey?

―; pairing: alistair x female warden

―; word count: 4.8k

―; warnings: n/a (i think! please tell me if you deem otherwise.”

―; A/N: i am a Great Big Fool for never having written for alistair before. this himbo was my first love in a game and i need more content where he’s being useless so i thought i’d just write some myself. i can’t guarantee everyone’s 100% in-character but please do enjoy the oncoming antics regardless!!

― ❊ ―

To say that Alistair and the Warden’s relationship had been simple would be the biggest lie of the ages. Granted, during the Blight was a complicated time to decide that you love somebody but, Maker’s balls, did they make it difficult for themselves. It was all flushed cheeks and shy gifts in amongst the ruthless fighting and bloodshed; one might think they’d have been pushed to confess sooner, considering the looming threat of death, but one would also be bypassing the fact that they are idiots and idiots stray wildly from what is expected from them.

There had been a myriad of near-kisses on their journey together, all more ridiculous than the last, before it finally happened (afterwards, Zevran had owed Oghren a coin purse, much to the assassin’s chagrin). It was certainly something of a personal battle for everyone involved and, as we all know, battles always come will glorious tales behind them. Well, perhaps ‘glorious’ isn’t a viable word to use here but the whole ordeal was… interesting, for sure.

The first instance of this recurring disaster was while traipsing through Redcliffe Castle in hopes of finding Arl Eamon safe and well and not finding his demon-possessed son. Now, by this point, Alistair and our dear Warden were becoming steadfast friends; she had the same wit as him, that same sense of shy heroism, and, luckily for him, she seemed to have little tolerance for Morrigan’s constant mocking-- at least, she had little tolerance when she could tell that the apostate had hurt the poor man’s feelings. Nothing special was blooming yet but there was certainly a strong potential for that tension-- that delicious pining that everyone wants to read about or experience if they’re lucky.

“Do these corridors ever stop?” Was Alistair’s second complaint of the past hour, following a long, dismal monologue about the sheer amount of stairs in the castle. It was almost like he’d forgotten about how huge this place was as a child and was just now rediscovering it all.

“Do your complaints ever stop?” It was Morrigan who bit back, of course, and the Warden closed her eyes in anticipation. Hearing Morrigan speak was sometimes like being stood in the eye of a storm and knowing that there’s no escape from the battering soon to arrive. “One might think you Grey Wardens have bigger problems to whine about.”

Half-hoping that there’d be yet more walking corpses in the next room if only to stop their argument before it began, the Warden pushed open a door to her left and swerved into it, hand lingering near her weapon. Her hopes were crushed, however, when she was met instead with a horrible damp smell and a few rats-- not even of the giant variety-- skittering behind barrels and crates.

The disagreement didn’t stop either, with Alistair biting back a: “Well, I am truly, deeply sorry that I’ve not had my mind fully focused on-- what?-- the possible end to everything.” Morrigan scoffed but he continued over the sound of the Warden’s mabari barking-- he, too, quite obviously irritated with the bickering. “I suppose it’s easy to assume that people can’t have more than one thing on their mind when you live in a quaint, little bog--”

“I likely have more on my mind now than you ever have--”

“Ladies!” The Warden put one hand up, the other digging through the depths of a barrel in hopes that there was something useful there. “Why don’t we stop with the back-and-forth and-- Andraste’s tits, what is that?” She pulled out an object that resembled a fruit, brown and green due to age. An insect leapt from the surface of the fruit back into the grubby heaven that was the pit of the barrel. The Warden, able to handle things such as walking corpses and maleficarum but apparently not a rotting apple, threw the dastardly thing against the nearby wall. The impact made a disgusting, wet noise before sliding down to the floor.

The quartette stared at it briefly, all sharing a similar frown, before the Warden let out a tired sigh. “Well, if you two have stopped fighting, I think I’d like to leave this room and try to forget about what just happened.” With that, she turned.

Straight into Alistair.

It was a strange and decidedly awkward bump of chests, during which their faces were suddenly closer than they’d yet been. There were mutters of “Oh, Maker, sorry” and “Sorry, I didn’t-- uh-- see you there” that made Morrigan smile like… well, a witch behind them; they likely weren’t going to hear the end of it.

Alistair’s cheeks flushed a reddish colour, ears tinged with embarrassment, and it was in that moment that the Warden had decided that he was, for a warrior meant to help her save the world, quite adorable. He decided that same thing in the same moment about her, what with her averted gaze and little, apologetic smile.

Wonderful.

It happened the second time when they were both acutely aware of these growing feelings for one another. Leliana had already begun to poke fun-- in the kindest way possible-- about how she’d always catch them staring at each other from across the camp, a light in their eyes that declared admiration-- not only borne from respect for each other as fighters. Of course, in that way of theirs, they denied anything to begin with, despite their flirtatious banter and their want to protect one another on the battlefield.

Everyone in their merry little band could agree-- to this day-- that the Deep Roads around Orzammar were just the worst place to be in Thedas. Even without the extra darkspawn hanging about thanks to the Blight, the tight tunnels and deepstalkers were enough to keep anyone away. This, unfortunately, would be the next setting in their series of near-kisses.

A particularly tough squadron of darkspawn had set upon them during their search for Paragon Branka and, as always, their duty as Grey Wardens meant that they were obliged to at least try to take them out. The Warden could already feel the onset of muscle fatigue and sweating so much down in these depths was just bad for everyone. Quite frankly, she’d had enough and was considering calling for a retreat and trying to find a side tunnel they could take to pass by this onslaught; who knows what other beasts would be further along in the tunnels? They needed to conserve energy and supplies.

“Everyone!” She had shouted against the clash of metal and the crackle of magic, slamming her weapon into an attacking darkspawn, after which Morrigan promptly blasted it off of the rocky archway they’d been fighting on. “Retreat!”

The line of fighting started to pull back to the entrance to the cavern, darkspawn unable to crowd themselves onto the thinning walkway without stumbling and falling to the rocks below. It was all going well-- perfect, in fact-- until there was the distant and distinct burning sound of a fireball careening through the air. The Warden made direct eye contact with an emissary, holding its staff in its hands like it had just attacked, before a shout of her name came from her right and Alistair launched himself at her. The explosion of magic was deafening and blasted the entire party off of the rock arch and straight into the darkness below.

Despite the fall not being particularly high, the Warden was certainly ready for a painful impact, her skin already tender and hurting from the blast. Her body slammed into the floor, a cloud of dust following her as she rolled down a small ravine. Upon feeling the instant aching in her shoulder, she decided that she’d allow herself a few moments of grace and just lay there for a while-- at least to alleviate the ringing in her ears.

However, another body rolled into hers, the weight of them barreling her along with them until they both came to a stop tangled together. There was the distant groaning of Zevran, still lying on the floor, nursing a bleeding cut on his forehead, and Morrigan was stood a few metres away patting dirt off of her skirt with a face contorted with inconvenienced disgust. Admittedly, the Warden might’ve blacked out for a few moments but when she came to the realisation that the floor below her wasn’t rock and was, indeed, a person she inhaled sharply and sat up.

Alistair was beneath her-- to which she was sure that Zevran had said something to disgrace the Maker but the ringing in her ears was still too loud to hear it properly-- with cheeks painted red and a crooked little smile. His mouth was moving so she could only assume that he was speaking but rather than making it clear that she couldn’t hear him she did as was expected of her and said: “What?”

Well, perhaps ‘said’ isn’t the right word to use here. ‘Shouted’ maybe? Or, more appropriately ‘bellowed’? Either way, Alistair flinched when she all but yelled at him. As was expected, he shouted back in hopes that she’d be able to hear him over it all. “This is romantic, isn’t it?”

The ringing was slowly starting to subside so, luckily, she didn’t have to scream at him anymore. “Ah, yes, the stench of darkspawn and a painful shoulder really does get me going.” Zevran, now stood, chortled at her comment and, if you looked closely enough, Morrigan had given a little smile too.

Despite their joking, the hand on her lower back that helped her up made the Warden’s poor little heart flutter and the mere fact that they had landed like that made Alistair worried that the Maker would smite him, though he’d let it happen if only to see the gentle curl of her lips for the rest of his life. Love could always bloom in strange places-- in this case, the Deep Roads-- and their lingering looks and closeness during combat made that overbearingly obvious to everyone else. Sickeningly so, Morrigan might add.

To think this was the end of their everlasting pining would make you a great fool-- much like them, actually. After the Deep Roads and that dreaded encounter with the broodmother, Alistair had shyly offered up a rose to the Warden. He had said that he couldn’t allow such beauty to be tainted by the Blight and, in a certain way, he felt the same about her. She’d blushed, made a silly though overall on-brand joke, and took the rose from him, fiddling with petals with a fullness in her heart that made it hard to breathe. When he’d seen her setting it down beside her bedroll before she slept, staring at it for a little too long, he had to practice every bit of restraint he had to not smile like a madman.

She hated to leave it in that dismal little box as they travelled to the Brecilian Forest but had to so anyway, making a mental note to ask Wynne if it was possible to magically preserve the flower later on. During the trip, Alistair and the Warden would always walk just a little too closely, backs of hands brushing past one another with a desire to cave and finally entwine. They’d share the same night watches, staying up together until sunrise, pointing out strange shapes in the stars or trying to convince the other that there was a beast in the nearby bushes. It was horrendous to see such obvious adoration between two people without ever having seen either of them consolidate it-- like reading a book that never reaches its climax.

The forest was nice enough, what with all the greenery and rabbits, if you could just discount the overwhelming presence of werewolves and the trees-- the walking trees. In hopes that things might go more smoothly, the Warden had brought her mabari along for the ride, praying that maybe he and the werewolves could bark up some kind of deal. Admittedly, this wasn’t perhaps the best idea-- Morrigan made that very clear-- but the Warden wasn’t some kind of lycanthrope expert and was only doing what instinct told her. Besides, much like a pair of children who had decided on a stupid idea, herself and Alistair had declared that, as the two Grey Wardens of the group, no one could tell them not to bring the mabari along. Then, they mumbled some reasons that seemed to be good enough for Oghren at least and went on their merry way.

The Warden, her mabari, Alistair, and Wynne (who had come along if only to support Alistair in his belief that the mabari plan would work) had been traipsing through the forest, muttering curses at rocks hidden underneath leaves and felled trees that would block their path. The Warden was amazed at how many of those sylvan creatures there were in these woods and, Maker, did their long, twiggy arms hurt if you got slapped by them. However, they had yet to encounter any of these werewolves that Keeper Zathrian had mentioned and she was starting to wonder if this was some kind of ploy to get the last two Grey Wardens in Ferelden killed or merely lost in the forest. Well, they could’ve done that themselves.

Her mabari barked a few times and looked at her, tension in his hindlegs that signalled agitation.

“What’s wrong, boy?” She bent down slightly to ask him, careful to not let her voice get too loud in case there were nearby enemies.

“Bark bark! Grrr!”

“What’s that? There are some other pooches on their way here that might not like us being on their territory?”

“Woof! Bark bark, woof!”

“Hiding would be advisable unless I’m willing to either fight them or be marked as territory--”

“Woof… woof, grrr.”

“-- and I’d never be able to wash that smell out of my clothes?” The Warden straightened herself again, her hands on her hips like she was considering what to put on her toast in the morning. “Well, you guys heard what the dog said; we should really find a spot to hide in.”

Wynne zoned out of what the Warden had said entirely and instead stared, open-mouthed, at her and the mabari. It’s difficult to describe the sheer level of confusion the wizened mage had painted across her features but, to put it into perspective, imagine that one of your friends had just had a full-blown conversation with a dog and-- oh, wait.

Alistair, on the other hand, had the kind of love in his eyes and curl to his lips that came from watching your partner do something altogether strange but genuinely quite skilful. This woman can talk to dogs-- how can she get any better? is what he probably thought upon watching this exchange.

The mabari barked again and it seemed to snap everyone out of their stupor and forced them to pay attention to what the Warden had just said, though Wynne would certainly be having words with the Warden about this later on. Did she understand him through tone of bark? Was it some kind of magic? How was he saying such long--

There was a crunch of fallen branches in the distance and snarl that even a war dog like her mabari couldn’t make. Wide eyes darted to Alistair, then Wynne, before she barrelled herself toward a gap between two nearby rocks, hoping that she didn’t smell too much of anything. The other two shared a look-- a panicked, helpless look. Wynne practically leapt behind a thick-trunked tree with surprising grace for a woman of her age and left Alistair to stiffen up in the middle of the path.

Her mabari barked at him once, a considerable amount of concern in his tone when one considers that he’s a dog, and Alistair plunged into a familiar state of panic-- one of the many reasons that he always insists on being a follower, not a leader. Maker, he was going to be eaten by one of these werewolves-- an oversized, probably stinking, mutt. What a way for one of the only two Grey Wardens in Ferelden to die.

A hand yanked on his own and he suddenly had to suck in a breath to squeeze into this cold, slightly damp crack in the rock. The Warden was pushed a little further down the crack, one of her hands pressed against his shoulder to push him back against the wall a little, allowing her to peer out into the open. Alistair soon became acutely aware of how close they were and it got more and more difficult to keep any kind of attention on the task at hand. Instead, he’d let her do all the heavy-lifting while he decided if that smell of hers was more of a campfire aroma or some kind of lady product she might’ve picked up on the road. His brows furrowed. Were there such things to be picked up? And, surely she wouldn’t have the time to--

He fought back the need to heave out air when she wriggled herself closer to him, effectively squeezing her body right in front of his in this dastardly gap. Her hand pressed to his chest now instead of his shoulder in hopes of creating a little more breathing room for herself, though this, in turn, suffocated him a little bit. The curiosity in her eyes was quite sweet, however, so Alistair decided against saying anything yet.

Her mabari barked at the rustling on the outer edge of the clearing, that distinct threat in his eyes that marked him as a war dog. When a hulking foot crunched through the leaves and the guttural snarling became louder than ever before, he didn’t seem so eager to fight anymore and lowered his tail, flattening his ears to his head. He looked in the direction of the Warden, worried, and she did a strange kissy face as reassurance; he would be getting lots of hugs and treats after this, even if Morrigan complained about how the extra meat made him absurdly gassy.

From her position crushed between Alistair and the rock, she couldn’t crane her neck around to look at the source of the thumping footsteps. Alistair, on the other hand, could see the werewolf too well, breathing out a curse of “Maker’s breath” before the Warden slammed a hand over his mouth in a fit of sudden fear that the oversized pooch would hear him. Their gazes met and her eyes widened, silently asking him what he saw. Her hand stayed clamped over his mouth so he raised his hands awkwardly, careful not to jostle himself or her, and made a gesture that screamed ‘it’s huge!’. She swallowed down her nerves and poked her head out of the gap a little further, finally allowing Alistair to breathe through his mouth again.

The werewolf was alone, luckily, and sniffed at the air as it inched forward, poking its nose about before it landed its sight on the mabari. Beady eyes narrowed, its back hunched over more, and it padded toward the fellow dog. “What is this--” there was a little snort, “-- mutt doing alone?”

As the Warden had asked, the mabari barked a few times, though he was certainly less sure of himself now than he was before. She was proud of him, at least-- her little snookums, her tiny, baby boy; look at him, facing off against such a hardy foe! He’d come so far since he was a puppy. She did one of those strange, nostalgic smiles that made Alistair practically vibrate with the beginnings of laughter.

“Stupid dog. Thinks I can understand it’s tongue--”

The Warden had poked her head out a little too far and, filled with worry that she might stumble out of their spot, Alistair grabbed her shoulders and tugged her back toward him. A few pebbles slipped under her feet as she wobbled back into position which made the werewolf dart its head in their direction. Her mabari began to bark again, hopping about on the spot in hopes of drawing attention back to him.

Smart boy, is what Alistair thought as he eyed the situation, still holding the Warden in her spot; a bout of protector complex had come over him, it seemed. He wasn’t going to lose his partner in crime to some… ugly dog. They still had this whole Blight problem to sort out and, Maker, he would not be able to do that himself.

The Warden didn’t even get a chance to see if her dog’s distraction had worked since her mind had quite wonderfully latched onto the realisation that her face was mere inches from Alistair’s.

Welcome to the party, dearest Warden.

Her eyes began to study the little intricacies of his face: that stubble of his that he’d all too often cut himself trying to shave, the wound on his cheek that she’d have to remind him to clean later on, the crease that appeared between his eyebrows whenever he tried to concentrate a little too hard. It all made her want to bring a hand up to cup his cheek, to angle his face so that she might kiss his cheek or, even better, his--

“That bloody wolf is finally gone. I didn’t think--” Alistair turned to face her but words caught in his throat when he saw the way that she was looking at him, a sudden flush painting his cheeks. He swallowed once and finally croaked out the rest of his sentence, voice barely there, “-- I didn’t think your dog was going to-- to pull it off.”

The Warden paused for a moment, then her mouth curled into a grin, breathing out a laugh. He was so terribly awkward that it made her want to take his face in her hands and squish his stupid, idiot cheeks together. She’d want it no other way. “This is romantic, isn’t it?”

At this, Alistair’s nerves eased somewhat and he followed her in chuckling, shaking his head at her remembrance of a decidedly terrible line he’d said while they were stuck in the pit of the world. “Arguably more so than last time. I would’ve liked some flowers or maybe some atmospheric music but beggars can’t be choosers, can they?”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” The Warden replied through laughter, a hand pressed delicately against his chest plate. Their gazes met, expressions softening into something different-- something like love, and her eyes soon flickered down to his lips. His cheeks flushed a darker colour, pupils blown wide.

Just as either one of them were about to make the first move, a bark sounded just outside the gap in the rock above the gentle fullness of Wynne’s laughter. “Ah, to be young and in love.” She mused, looking at them with the same kind of amusement that would befit a grandmother who just found out her teenage grandchild had a crush on someone: hands clasped together and a knowing little smile painted across her lips. “Come on, lovebirds; we have the world to save.”

The Warden shuffled out first, with the help of Alistair who had begun to ramble on to Wynne about how Grey Wardens could “actually telepathically communicate, which is what we were just doing.” Wynne simply murmured back sarcastic agreements, smiling up at Alistair all while trying to stop herself from laughing. Admittedly, even the Warden herself didn’t think they could talk themselves out of that one, though she admired Alistair for trying.

When they finally ambled back to camp after resolving Keeper Zathrian’s werewolf problem, the Warden had gone to sit with Alistair beside the fire as usual. Each time they sat together, they seemed to inch closer, shoulders and hands touching by this point. Sometimes, on cold evenings, the Warden would even rest her head on his shoulder, telling stories of her childhood and tales about the scars that littered her body.

This particular evening, Alistair seemed occupied with something, however-- so much so that he didn’t even respond when the Warden had offered him the crunchy end of the bread that he always begged for. She plonked her chin down on his shoulder and hummed, the vibration catching him off-guard. He turned a little so he could look at her and she pulled away, holding the bread out to him again. “What’s on your mind?”

Alistair pursed his lips, taking the bread and picking at the crust around the outside. “All this time we’ve spent together… you know: the tragedy, the brushes with death, the constant battles with the whole Blight looming over us…” He dropped his hands into his lap and let his eyes wander back to her. “Will you miss it once it's over?”

She thought for a few moments, gaze boring into the fire like it might give her some kind of answer. “There’ll always be more battles to fight somewhere.” There was a pause before she turned to him, a gentle curiosity about the nature of his question swimming about in her eyes. Though, she said nothing more, allowing him to continue.

“But that doesn’t mean we would necessarily be fighting them together.” His hands were shaking a little more than he would’ve liked and the next breath he released sounded more akin to an owl than anything else. “I know it… might sound strange, considering we haven’t known each other very long, but I’ve come to… care for you.” He stopped, a nervous little smile coming to his face. “A great deal.”

It was safe to say that the Warden knew where this conversation was leading and the pit of her stomach felt like a cauldron, holding an unusual mixture of anxiety and joy, love and fear. She shuffled slightly so that she might face him more, though Alistair, lost in this little confession of his, seemed to be staring off over her shoulder, scared that looking into her eyes would reveal some form of rejection.

“I think maybe it’s because we’ve gone through so much together, I don’t know. Or maybe I’m imagining it. Maybe I’m fooling myself.” His gaze finally met hers and there was such vulnerability in those depths of amber that it made her want to weep. “Am I? Fooling myself? Or do you think you might ever…” Maker, her heart was ready to burst, “...feel the same way about me?”

There wasn’t even room for her to think before her lips cracked into a wide grin and she did that little excited giggle of hers. “I already do, Alistair, you idiot.” It was her that pressed forward to kiss him, both hands coming up to cup his face like she’d wanted to ever since he’d donned that delightful blush of his at Redcliffe. The world became enveloped in him and, for a few moments, all thought of the Blight had been replaced with just this overwhelming desire to just… be with him. She wanted to be there whenever he tripped over little logs on their adventures, she wanted to help him choose tunics that compliment his hair colour, she wanted to feel that familiar rush of fighting alongside him-- she wanted him and all that he entails.

The kiss was short-lived but had enough feeling behind it that they pulled away feeling breathless-- as though the Maker Himself had crushed them both together. When they pulled away, Alistair had that pinkish tinge to his cheeks that made the Warden push them together with her hands. “Maker’s breath, you’re handsome.” She pecked his lips again. And, again. In fact, she looked a little bit like a duck.

She finally released his cheeks when his smile became too large to contain. With a laugh and a shake of his head, a hand coming up to try to cool his blush down, he finally lifted the bread she’d given him back up from his lap. “Right, well… that went far smoother than I expected.” He picked at the bread again, averting his gaze and dipping his head down slightly, trying to hide-- to not much avail-- the ever-growing smile upon his lips. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to eat my bread and be off to sleep, lest I pass out entirely on the dirt here.”

The Warden huffed out a laugh, leaning over to press a chaste kiss to his cheek, before hauling herself to her feet. “Well, I’ll be going to bed then. I’ll be sure to dream of you so…” She took a few steps towards her tent, pondering on her words. “... dream of me too so that we might meet in our sleep, eh? I couldn’t bear to wander the Fade without you.”

With that, she shuffled off to her bedroll, a smile on her face that just wouldn’t budge. Behind her, Alistair was the same, munching on the bread much like the cat who’d caught the canary.

They may have been idiots but at least they could be idiots together.

[clembarbarossa]

Rest and Peace I

The life of an Assassin is one of constant toil, emotional duress and gruesome murders. So, I thought it would be nice to give them rest. Nice days to recover and do what they enjoy at least, amongst their loved ones.

Hey everyone! I started I series of fics whose theme is going to be the Assassins (and some Templar) depicted in peaceful moments, often with love and intimacy, because they deserve it.

My first fic feature Ratonhnhaké:ton, along with some Homesteaders, and is dedicated to my good friend @jiruchan! Enjoy!

There is some Kanienké’ha in this fic too. Feel free to correct me if I messed things up.

You may read it here on Ao3 too.

________________________________________________________________

    August was coming to an end. The air was still warm, the smouldering summer heat under which Warren and Prudence had to toll wasn’t entirely gone. The year was good, the harvest bountiful thanks to the rich soil of the homestead. His carriage filled with caskets of corn, bags of wheat and vegetables, Warren went to Boston to sell their crops.

    Still, Prudence had her hands full. Pigs, Cows, Sheep and Poultry to tend to, and so many vegetables yet to pick, and the most delicate task of all: Hunter.

    The boy was no longer a baby she could strap to her back while working. At four years of age, he was as swift and lively as the bunnies that constantly tried to nibble at their pumpkins. Prudence was even more worried that he apparently inherited her restlessness. Since her pregnancy and eventful delivery, she toned down her escapades in the wilderness: she felt like her poor Warren’s heart shouldn’t be furthermore mistreated and brave Connor couldn’t be around every time to save her from bears or impatient babies. Speaking of the wolf…

    Ratonhnhaké:ton was peacefully walking down the path bordering the farm. Going to Myriam cabin, no doubt to plan their next delivery of fresh furs. What intrigued Prudence was that the young man wasn’t wearing his heavy hooded coat, even he had to adapt to the heat after all. Even more unusual was the absence of any of his weapons, no bow nor guns and neither tomahawk at his sides. Only his peculiar leather bracers remained.

    “Conno’!” Young Hunter had spotted Ratonhnhaké:ton too, and rushed to his side with his usual recklessness. The balance of four years olds being what it is, he tripped a first time, and a second that made him land flat on the ground. The boy began to wail a mere two second after and Prudence could not refrain a chuckle, her son certainly had had worse stunts. Connor picked him up and brushed the dirt off with his hand.

    “Hello Connor, what deadly injury has my child sustained?” she jokingly asked.

    “Nothing worth bothering Dr White,” he softly replied, as Hunter stopped crying “this case seems beyond saving, I am afraid…”

    Prudence laughed at Connor’s unexpected joke; the humour was lost to Hunter who whined and clang to the young man. The usually touch-adverse Connor welcomed the toddler’s embrace and picked him up in his arms as he got up.

  “You were up to discuss furs and pelts with Myriam, I wager?”

    “Yes. Ellen is expecting a big commission from Boston and needed material, it will be easier to do if we team up.”

    “Indeed. Now sweetheart,” she turned to her son, “Connor has business to do, you heard, so you better leave him be…”

    Hunter yelped a defiant “No!” and clang harder to Connor when his mother attempted to grab him. The frown she made reminded Connor of how his own mother reacted to him misbehaving; she shifted her tone accordingly:

    “Oh no, you son of mine, you do not talk back to me.” Prudence growled without raising her usually gentle voice, “no one has time for a tantrum here, not Connor and certainly not me.” Hunter made a sad put and started to loosen his grip on Connor when the man spoke:

    “I do not mind if he stays with me, Prudence. You look like you have much to do and I am not that busy myself.”

    Prudence was taken aback by her friend’s proposal, but she had to admit it was a tempting one; she could finish her work much earlier without her toddler scampering around.

    “Aw that’s awfully nice of you Connor, but you are like Warren you spoil him too much, he’s going to turn rotten!” Hunter stuck his tongue out at his mother who playfully flicked him on the nose, the toddler giggled.

    “Sorry for that”, Connor said with a smile.

    “Don’t apologise for bein’ nice. And thank you, I could use this help, I trust you with him more than Terry’s boys.”

    Connor chuckled, Malcolm and Angus were rowdy kids and their last attempt at babysitting nearly ended in disaster. Thankfully, Norris saw them in his mine before lighting his charge’s fuse.

                                             <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

    One of the first things Hunter told Connor when he started to talk was for asking him why he is so tall. The adults around laughed at the young boy’s questions. Prudence didn’t miss the occasion and proclaimed that Connor became so tall because he wasn’t fussing when eating his soup, unlike a certain someone. Oliver thought more likely that the robust and meaty native diet was to thanks for that and Lyle White pondered if the fresh air of the Kanien’ké valley, free of the towns’ miasma, was responsible. Connor had no answers, although his parents were certainly not short. The memories of both Kaniehtí:io and Haytham made him fell silent for the rest of the evening.

    Now, Connor long legs and usual fast paced walk rapidly proved way too quick for little Hunter who scrambled behind him.

    “Conno’… Conno’!” The young man turned to face his charge, Hunter’s face clearly showed his frustration as he approached, “you too fast… I can’t follow you…”

    “You are right, Hunter. My apologies.” Ratonhnhaké:ton softly replied, he extended his hand to the boy who eagerly took it.

    For the rest of the walk, Connor had to lean and adjust his pace to Hunter’s. He didn’t mind as the child was extremely happy that way. He was hopping alongside his friend on the forest path and pointing at the birds while making joyful noises. Connor was used of this now, and resisted the urge to chide him for what would be seen as awfully rude amongst his people. He caught sight of a Northern Cardinal, all crimson, singing on a branch. “Look Connor, all the pretty feathers! Do you use its feather for your hair?”, the boy asked.

    “We do not. We use Eagle’s feathers.”

    “Oh. And why do you use feathers?”.

    Connor pondered the question and the best way to answer it to the boy. It was not often that Colonists asked him questions about his culture, even amongst his Assassin brethren. “We use it to celebrate, to show our feats to our people and our origin too.”

    “Origin?”

    “Well... I am from the Kanien’kehá:ka nation, or… Mohawk as some say. If I want to show it to the people of other tribes, I will have to put three eagle’s feathers in my hair.”

    “Oh!” Hunter showed a great deal of interest that surprised Connor, “and why don’t you do it now then?”

    “I… I am not… It will not fit with my hood.”

    “Aw… to bad, because I think it’s pretty!”

    “Yes. And we use feather to make things pretty too.” Hunter giggled.

    As they were nearing Myriam’s cabin, Connor spotted an Owl that Hunter didn’t see. He kneeled beside the boy and pointed at it with is lips, in native fashion. “Look here: tsihstekeri.”

    “What!?” The toddler’s shout startled the bird of prey who angrily stared at them both.

    “Tsihstekeri,” repeated Connor, “That’s how my people call the owls.”

    “Wah! And how you call eagles?”

    “Akweks.” Ratonhnhaké:ton replied.

    Connor was baffled but endeared by Hunter’s awe. To a four years old boy still struggling with English, the idea that things could be named in a whole different language was a constant source of amazement. When they reached Myriam’s cabin, Connor smiled and said “Iontó:rats.”

    “Hello to you too, Connor.” Myriam absentmindedly replied; she was sharpening the knife Norris once gifted her. “Kwey[1]! That’s how you say it too, right?”

    That word was familiar to Ratonhnhaké:ton, it was the first that sprung out of the lips of the tribes north and south of the Great Lakes and the Great Walking River[2] when they meet each other.

    “This is a greeting we use amongst many people, though my brethren usually say Shé:kon, to greet one another.”

    “Then what did you say, just now?”, Myriam stood up, “I hope you weren’t calling me names”, she jokingly added.

    “Conno’ is teaching me words!”, Hunter suddenly shouted.

    “Yes, Iontó:rats means ‘Huntress’.”

    “Oh well, ‘Yon-do-rads’? That’s nice to know. And how would you call a little hunter like we have here?”, she said while smiling at Hunter.

    “Rató:rats.”, he replied, while smiling at his young charge who beamed back.

    Connor and Myriam started discussing their upcoming tasks: on which ground to hunt and which to lay traps, where to find the best furs for Ellen. Hunter quickly bore of this conversation and began to wander around the Huntress’s cabin. The sight of dead trapped rabbits and drying furs didn’t faze the little farm boy much, he was used to it, watching his father kill pigs and poultry then playing in the feathers his mother plucked. The traps aligned by the door caught his eyes however. While the snares where not much to look at, the wolf and bear traps, with their sharp teeth, inspired him a morbid curiosity…

    “Do not touch that, Hunter!”

    Connor’s shout snapped him out of his little examination, his fingers already too close to the rusty maws, thankfully closed.

    “Oh, you need to keep an eye on that one, remind me of someone…” snickered Myriam.

    “Indeed” Connor beckoned Hunter to approach, as the toddler came closer, pouting all the way, he took his hand in his own, “There are things you should not touch, little one,” he lightly squeezed his fingers to make his point, “those could easily hurt you if you are not careful. Do you understand?”

    Hunter nodded and looked away, a bit upset by the lecture, Connor elected not to mind that. Myriam laughed as she stood up.

    “Well, I’m not in a hurry to get one of my own. It’d be complicated to have another baby around.”

    “I’m not a baby…” muttered Hunter and Myriam laughed again, tried to gently poke his puffed cheeks only for the boy to whine and hide behind Connor’s broad back.

    “You and Norris aren’t planning to have one?”

    “Well, he’d like too, and I’m not really against it, but you know how I feel about the whole housewife business.”

    “I do,” Connor smiled, “and the trees remember too.”

    “Oh please,” Myriam rolled her eyes, “Don’t bring this up, I panicked and nearly ruined my dress in this damn river.”

    They both laughed while Hunter side-eyed them.

                                                <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

    Ratonhnhaké:ton and Hunter were back into the wilds, the adults assigned each other places were to lay traps. Once again, Connor was carrying Hunter on his shoulders, to protect him from the bushes and vines. Hunter was lazily resting on Connor’s head, humming a little tune while playing with his braids. Connor didn’t mind and was looking for good spots for trapping foxes. Since he was in charge of Hunter, both he and Myriam thought it wiser that she takes care of the wolves and their pelts.

    Finding a good place, he crouches to lay his snare and place some bait. Hunter tighten his grip on Connor’s head and giggles as these movements make him rock back and forth. Connor playfully moves his shoulders to humour the child some more. Hunter’s laughter of delight echoes under the trees and scare off numerous birds.

    “Ush, Hunter, look.” Connor pointed toward the edge of the forest, by a clearance bathed in sunlight, first with his lips, then with his hands when Hunter didn’t understand. “Over there, quietly…”

    The boy squinted in this direction then gasped.

    “A doe!” His whisper barely concealed his excitement.

    “Yes. Oskenón:ton. Keep looking, under her belly.” Hunter focused, and saw a small creature peeking under the deer, similar but smaller with a constellation of white spots on its back.

    “Her baby!”, this time Hunter wasn’t as discreet and shouted. The doe stiffened and raised her head, sniffing the air, her ears twisting in all direction, searching for any trace of danger. Hunter realised his mistake and covered his mouth with his hands.

    “You need to be careful, Hunter,” whispered Connor, “Do not make any noise, lest you want to startle the animals.”

    The doe hopped back in the thick of the woods, her progeny right after her.

    “Aw no~” Hunter pouted, disappointment clear in his voice,

    “You will have other chances. Just remember to be silent, alright.” Ratonhnhaké:ton felt the boy’s nodding and resumed walking.

    “Conno~?”

    “Hum?”

    “I’m hungry…”

    “Is that so? Hum…” Connor thought of an answer as Hunter was starting to squirm, he remembered a place where blackberry brambles were growing and probably bear fruits this time of year, it would be a good trapping ground too. “Do you like blackberries, Hunter?”

    “I do! I do!”, the boy shouted in excitation and trampled his legs on Connor’s torso. “Let’s go pick bwackberries, Conno’!”

    The young man laughed at the sound of his charge’s childish slurs and enthusiasm and sprung forward.

    Despite Connor’s firm grip on the boy’s legs, he did bounce quite a bit on his shoulders. Hunter’s laughter and encouragement to go faster made him increase his pace. A soft wind began to blow, ruffling the leaves and the grass, cooling both of their faces. Hunter laughed even more and raised his arms to try and catch the leaves blown away. Connor kept his fast pace and the speed made forest around them blur in shades of green and brown.

    As they were nearing the brambles, Connor slowed down but kept skipping to humour the child. Even amongst Hunter’s giggles, he could distinctly hear a ruffle in the bushes that was way too loud to be of a hare, and far too near to be on an animal anyway. He came to an abrupt stop and gently placed in index on Hunter’s lips to advise him silence, the boy gasped and froze, taking this as a new game or the chance to see another creature.

    As they stood silent and listening, the ruffling increased.

    “Shit!”

    “Oh! That’s not an animal!” exclaimed Hunter, “Hey! Your mommy will wash your mouth with a soap if you swear!”

    “Don’t tell Ellen, then!” a girlish voice replied beyond the brambles. Connor recognised it as Maria’s. He couldn’t see the girl yet but heard her struggling in the bushes.

    “We will not, Maria. But what are you doing?” As he said that, Connor was approaching and saw the teenage girl, her dress tangled in the brambles and stained by blackberries. She looked up with a mixed expression of contrition and anger, somewhat softened by the sight of little Hunter perched atop Connor’s shoulders.

    “I was just strolling around. Something startled me and… Mom is going to kill me.” She said looking at the disaster brought on her dress.

    “She certainly will not,” Connor reassured her, “but she will probably want you to fix your dress.”

    “Same thing! I hate doing it, I don’t wanna become a seamstress, damn it!”

    “You should not swear in front of Hunter.”, Connor warned as he was getting the boy off his shoulders.

    “Right,” she sniffled, “Sorry, I… I have been trapped here for a quarter of an hour at least…”

    “Conno’ and I we saw a lot of birds,” exclaimed Hunter, running toward her, “and a doe and her baby!”

    “Ah… I that so?”, Maria replied with a grimace, trying to be somewhat amiable to the toddler.

    “Yes!” He lowered his voice, “and Conno’ he told me to be quiet because… because we shouldn’t scare the mommy with her baby!” He exclaimed anew, forgetting his caretaker’s advice.

    “Her fawn, Hunter.” Connor softly corrected him as he started to help Maria getting untangled.

    “Fawn!” Hunter joyfully repeated, “We saw a doe and her fawn, Maria!”

    “You two are lucky, then… The only thing I saw was a go… a cursed wolverine. Foul beast snarled at me, that’s why I ran and got caught here.”

    “You did well,” replied Connor, “better getting caught in a thicket than treading on the ferocious Tsikenekerehetshotáhrhon.”

    “The what?!?” Exclaimed Maria.

    “Conno’ is teaching me animal names in his language.” Answered Hunter, “An eagle you call it ‘Ag-wek’!”

    “Oh. That’s nice…” Hunter proudly beamed at her. “I think you’ll have to cut some of it Connor, it’d be too tattered even if you get it out anyway… And I forgot my knife…”

    “It looks like you are right…” Connor glanced at Hunter to check where he was looking; luckily, he was already picking and savouring the blackberries. Connor swiftly detached is left hidden blade to cut Maria free of the thorns. She stumbled out the way and stretched her legs, enjoying her new freedom.

    “Ah, thank you Connor! You must have magical power, always here to save people when needed!”

    “I wish it was true, Maria,” sadly replied Connor, he handed her the ragged piece of cloth he just got out of the bramble.

    “Maria! Say “Aaah”!”, Maria looked down to see Hunter presenting a blackberry for her to pick, the boy already had purple juice all over his mouth. She got the fruit with her mouth and smothered Hunter’s giggles with her new rag.

                                              <<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

    Once the trio had their fill of blackberries, or “Teiote’nenhrà:kton” as Ratonhnhaké:ton taught them, they got to rest at the edge of a clearing.  Hunter was running around after the butterflies, observing the various insects frolicking in the grass. Maria lent him her mop cap to shelter his head from the sun. It made him look rather odd, and her quite improper by colonial standard, with her brown locks free on her back, but neither of them cared, and neither did Connor.

    They were both sitting in the shade of a great oak, keeping an eye on the kid, a small mount of berries on a leather piece between them from which Maria regularly picked. Her chin was resting on her knees and her hands were buried in her dress. Connor was more relaxed; his legs were stretched in front of him and he was resting on his elbows. He didn’t get to place a lot of snares but that was something he could always do latter, with a more proper equipment this time.

    “I should do like Myriam and wear trousers when I go for a walk”, Maria suddenly muttered.

    “That would be more convenient indeed.” Replied Connor, “You said you don’t like sewing, but couldn’t you make yourself a pair?”

    Maria frowned and half buried her face behind her knees, “I asked Mom… she said it wasn’t proper, quoted a part of the Bible that said it was an ‘abomination’,” Maria snorted of frustration, “and made me read ten pages of it!”.

    “I see.” Connor understood the teenager frustration, colonial women had to put up with a lot of constraints while those of his people were the one running the show. His own reading of the Bible was motivated by his desire to better understand colonial society. While he managed to chew through the Genesis and Exodus, wondering all the way which parts were true, which were fictions and how many pieces of Eden were involved, the following books infuriated him with their nonsensical rules. He gave up and Father Timothy had the kindness to explain the rest to him. “I hope she doesn’t say that about Myriam.”

    “No. I brought her up actually, and she said that Myriam wear pants because of her trade and that – unlike me – she’s an adult.”

    “Eh, she has a point.”

    “Still, it’s unfair. I don’t mind dresses, but what’s the point of letting me explore if I have to keep it?”

    “You really do like the wilderness around here, do you?”, Connor asked. He saw a glimmer in Maria’s eyes before she answered.

    “Yes! I love it here! Everything is beautiful, it’s quiet, I discover new things every week, I doesn’t stink, and the people are nice. It’s not like in New-York…”, her demeanour suddenly darkened, “When this piece of trash was beating Mom again, I was asking for help to everyone… The neighbours, the guards, nobody answered… If you didn’t happen to be here…”

    “I was. And I would do it again anytime, Maria.” Connor comforted her, “As will everyone in the homestead.”

    “I know. That’s why I like it here.” She said with a smile. Connor smiled as well; it was during these moments that he knew everything he was doing wasn’t in vain. That he was actually able to help people be safe and happy. They both stayed silent a little while until Hunter ran toward them.

    “Conno’!! Maria! Look what I got! Look!” The overexcited toddler opened his hands to reveal a massive spotted beetle with a pair of horns on its head[3].

    “That is a good catch, Hunter.” Connor said, “Well done.”

    “Looks like a Rhinoceros…” Maria mumbled.

    “A what?” Hunter asked.

    “Rhi-no-ce-ros. It’s a giant beasty from Africa with two horns on its head, like your bug here. I’m sure Connor has heard of it.”

    “I did not. You seem really knowledgeable on the matter, Maria.”

    The young girl struggled a bit to refrain a smile of pride, “I have a book with a lot of engravings of animals from all around the world, some of them reaaally weird. I got it at school because of my good grades.” She noticed the gleam of expectation in Hunter’s big eyes, “I’ll show it to you, if you want”

    The toddler beamed at the proposal and voiced his approval of the idea. It was at this moment that the beetle decided it had enough of his handling and flew off his hands. The young boy tried to catch it without any success.

    “Ah no! It was gift for Mommy!”

    “Living beings are no gift, Hunter. Especially wild animals, that’s why it got away, you cannot deprive it of its freedom.” Connor lectured him.

    “And I don’t think Prudence would like this kind of gift anyway,” snarked Maria, “You should get her a bouquet instead, there’s plenty for it in this meadow.”

    Hunter instantly got his smile back and ran away in the grass to pick flowers. Connor chuckled, memories came back of an adventure where a flowery gift was less appreciated, but Prudence would like it no doupt.

    “So, you were good at school, a pity there isn’t any here.”

    “Oh, I had time to learn a lot. And Father Timothy keeps teaching me about a lot of things, not just the Bible. And he’s waaay nicer than the Pastor’s wife who was teaching us back in New York.”

    “Good to hear. And… do you know what you want to do later?”

    “I already work with Mom, and she wants me to take over after her.” She buried her face between her knees again, “And I don’t want to be a seamstress. I think that I want to see more of the world and help people, like you do.”

    Connor’s back stiffened. It wasn’t an answer he was expecting, part of him felt pride and approval, but he also felt fear, for his path was hard, dangerous, and thankless. For his brothers and sisters, being an Assassin was their choice. On the contrary, it was something destiny, or dreadful spirits, threw at him and he embraced it without fully realising the implications at first and he had to learn the hard way. He wasn’t one to turn down expectations and potential recruits, but dragging a young girl into his world was the last thing he wanted, especially the daughter of a friend.

    “I just help people I encounter.” Connor tried to divert the subject, “It is just something anyone would do, and should do.”

    “Ah! You’re humble but you won’t fool me. No ordinary hunter would go around with a frigate, and with those knives inside your wrists”, she glanced at Connor’s hidden blades’ bracers, “Achilles and you were working for people like Tallmadge, right? Helping the Patriots during the war?”

    “You… Let’s say that you are not far from the truth.” Connor was impressed by the girl’s deductions and relieved that her conclusion was wrong while still plausible.

    “Humpf! You can’t hide it from me,” she said with a mischievous smile, “Once I manage to make a pair of pants under Mom’s nose, you’ll have to teach me how to run in the trees like you do.”

    Connor chuckled, “Why not? Myriam could give you some lessons as well.”

    Maria brought her legs closer to her body, but Connor could clearly see her wide and proud smile.

                                                 <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

    As the afternoon was ending, the trio made its way back to the village. Hunter was holding Maria’s hand and his flowers in the other, hopping and humming a tune. Ratonhnhaké:ton was walking besides them, holding a generous bounty of berries in a bag. As they were approaching Ellen and Maria’s house, the girl made a stop.

    “Mom is going to scold me for the dress…”

    “Probably, but she will also be glad to see you safe and sound. Trying to hide the truth from her is a bad idea, she will know in a way or another.”

    “Right…” Maria sighed and went along with Hunter as the boy was pulling her hand.

    Maria’s fears were only partially true: Ellen clearly wasn’t happy with the dress but her anger was alleviated by the offering of blackberries, the fact that Maria had to run from a wolverine and the laugh she had when she noticed Hunter still wearing her daughter’s mop cap.

    Before they left, she offered a red ribbon to properly hold Hunter’s bouquet, and quickly re-arranged the flowers to better suit Prudence’s tastes despite the boy’s protests when she left the dandelions out.

    After proper good-byes, and Maria’s renewal of her promise to show her book to Hunter, they left for the farm. Connor indulged Hunter with another ride on his shoulder. The toddler was overjoyed when Connor crossed the river by doing some free-running on a log instead of the bridge.

    When they reached the farm, Prudence was resting under the porch, Connor let go of Hunter and the child ran to his mother.

    “Mommy! Mommy! Look what I got you!”

    “You what? Oh!” Prudence laughed when her son shoved the flowers under her nose to give her a good look of it. “Thank you, my son, I like your flowers very much.”

    “Maria told me to do it and Ellen gave me the ribbon. Do they smell good?” the boy asked. His mother took the bouquet a smelled it, she did it noisily on purpose before giving her verdict.

    “They smell wonderful, Hunter.” He beamed and Prudence embraced her son as thanks. This view brought a smile to Connor, he was happy to see that some were able to freely enjoy what was taken from him.

    “Well now I’ll have to put them in a vase.” She said while standing up, “A thousand thanks to you Connor, for taking care of my son. I hope he wasn’t too much to handle and that he didn’t prevent you from doing your work.”

    “Your son behaved splendidly, Prudence. And don’t worry, none of my tasks had any urgency. I’ll leave you two be for now to attend to it.”

    “Wait!” Hunter yelped as Connor was leaving. The toddler ran to the man to hug him. Connor smiled and accepted his embrace.

    “Good bye, Conno’. I’ll get to spend time with you again and you’ll teach me other words, right?”

    “Right.” Connor smiled, “As soon as I can. Goodbye for now, Rató:rats.” Hunter laughed.

    After really leaving and waving back, Connor was left by himself again. The Sun was starting to set and the warm evening light was bathing the trees and meadows. Musty smells of flowers, earth, evergreens and berries were filling the air. Insects and birds were chirping, only interrupted by the occasional breeze that contrasted nicely with the warmth of late August’s weather.

    As he came into view of the Manor, Ratonhnhaké:ton realised – with a pinch of sadness to his heart – that it was the first time in months that he had such a nice and quiet time. He probably won’t get another moment like it anytime soon, but such was his work as an Assassin. After all, it was the joy and relief he could bring to others and the promise of such times that made it worth it.

    Clearing the clouds of sadness off his mind, like he already did so many times before, and armed with a new resolve, he prepared himself to gear up again.

End notes :

[1] Algonquin for “Hello”, it became a word for salute in many north-eastern languages.

[2] The Saint-Lawrence river

[3] Eastern Hercules Beetle (Dynastes tityus). It looks like a beige Rhinoceros beetle, with black spots.

[silver-wields-a-pen]

Have you used picrew or anything to make your ocs? What do they look like? If you dont have photos can you describe them?

Thanks for the utterly awesome ask!! 

I’ve done a couple of picrews for Nyima since she’s my favourite (shhhh don’t tell the others) but she’s hard to get right since she’s blue and there’s not a lot of options for that. 

@tiravi made a great piece of Nyima with her bf, Tundra, that I love to pieces and is the closest representation of how she looks. She so pretty They’re both characters in @illthdar‘s book series, first one, Illthdar: Guardians of Las, is out now ^=^

Moving onto my precious derps for Brotherhood! Oh, have I got pretties for them! I’m not good with graphics and stuff. They end up looking clunky a lot of the time, but I love how this set turned out so I use them as title cards for extracts. Each one has the main couple, but they’re not the only ocs I’ve got. I’ve got sosososososo many! I have a whole file dedicated to profiles for this bunch of dorks lool

First up, Divinely Volatile!

Ryang Ji-hoon and Fen Yueliang. Ji-hoon does actually look at lot like Choi Siwon who is his face claim, so much so that he gets mistaken for him a lot of the time. It’s a running joke since he’s an assassin and being recognised in any respect is bad for business, but he’s too vain to change his face. He has black hair and warm brown eyes that always look a little regretful.Yueliang has long straight black hair and darker brown eyes than Ji-hoon. She looks sharp and definitely is, but she’s also kind and a bit of a leap before she looks person, but luckily the amount of army training she’s had saves her from most disasters.

Next book planned is Deadly Lineage.

Ambrose Fewtree and Vera Ucci. Ambrose is meant to look nondescript and forgettable because that’s how he operates best. He has reddish hair and grey/green eyes and he’s 5′11 and slender. His name is the most standout thing about him and even then most people forget it seconds after he leaves. And that includes the prosthetic left arm. Yup, he has a prosthetic because shit happens even to them. It’s super neat though with lots of hidden compartments for poisons, and he has more than one and wears them like fashion accessories. He’s a Bulgarian Romani and speaks a ton of languages - second only to Utamara Ndiaye.Vera has silver screen looks and a figure to match, which doesn’t fit in the age of instagram and contouring. She’s 5′4 with reddish brown hair that she hates because what even is that colour called? And she has hazel eyes. She’s Sardinian by blood, but grew up in Terni, Italy. (She’s also a princess, but more of that another time.)

Next up is Cold Snap.

Tan Shun & Sarnai Ramchaa. Tan Shun knows he’s handsome and well dressed and also lethal af. He’s the Brotherhood’s best assassin and never puts a foot out of line. His father was a first generation Brotherhood, meaning he was born into it. The head of the Brotherhood, Hisakawa Kagegorou actually adopted Shun as his son because he was close to his father and thought Shun would have maximum potential. He does. He’s not the only adopted child of Kagegorou’s, but he’s the one he holds up to the others as an example. He’s 5′9 and wears lifts in his shoes to make himself taller. He’s got short black hair and obsidian coloured eyes.Sarnai is Mongolian and a photojournalist. She’s tough and no nonsense, but also fun and a bit reckless. She’s not the most beautiful woman around, but she’s got a certain something that attracts people to her. She’s 5′8 with fluffy black hair and greyish eyes.

Next up, Scorched Desire.

Mohammed al Sadat & Sorcha Dunaid. Mo is from Egypt and he’s the most charming person ever. The scars on his face claim’s face are also present on his, but for different reasons, and they don’t damage his appeal one bit! He likes to say he’s the Egyptian James Bond, only better because he has a 100% success rate. He’s got neatly cropped black hair and deep brown eyes.Sorcha’s Scottish, with red hair and brown eyes, very pale skin and tall. She looks like a model - and used to be one - but she’s got so much intelligence and wicked wit that anyone who underestimates her regrets it.

Next up is Heavenly Kodachi!

Hisakawa Tadamasa & Aurora McCabb. Tada’s Japanese and at 26 the youngest son of Hisakawa Kagegorou. He wears his black hair slicked back, but often loses control over it by the end of the day - has a habit of running his hands through it without realising. He has very dark brown eyes that look almost black and he’s short at 5′8, but isn’t vain enough to wear lifts like Shun.Aurora (Rory) is Native American, has tanned skin and short black hair that she bleaches and then dyes bright pink because pink. Her eyes are grey and she’s always very cheerful and happy, even when she’s not. 

Nearly done - too many ocs, too many wips loolNext is Broken Oaths!

Hisakawa Yoshihiro & Ina Howell. Yoshi is Tada’s older brother and far more neatly presented than his mess of a brother. His short black hair never misbehaves, and his obsidian eyes are always partially concealed by black framed glasses. He looks like a teacher - technically he is. He’s 5′9 and slender, like all the Hisakawa family.Ina hails from Wales, has milky-toned skin, mid-brown shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. She’s a doctor researching genetic diseases at a teaching and research hospital in Seattle. 

Last but not least!Smudged Iron

Calum McCabb & Glenn Oake. Calum isn’t an assassin, unlike all the other guys so far. He’s Aurora’s older brother, so he’s also Native American. His skin tone is darker than his sister’s, he has very long black hair that he plaits when he’s working, and grey eyes. He’s 5′10, broad and muscular from manual labour he does helping out on his family’s property and business or just from working out.Glenn is the only female assassin main character (there’s other minor ones). She’s got long, ginger hair, green eyes, pale skin and freckled. She’s tall and gangly looking and can pass for a boy if she makes an effort - it comes in handy.

WHEW! That’s all the main ocs from the series! It’s a lot, I know, but I love them all ^=^ and I didn’t even get round to the side characters! 

Utamara Ndiaye, Anna Orlov, Baracus van Dien, Gi Joo-won, Blane Everheart, Magnolia Everheart, Ghenha Reece, Ifana Reece, Lewys Howell, Fen Chen, Yang Yawen, Baek Hyun, Ryang Jong-su, Kim Ha-yun, Ryang Hye-jin, Cai Hao, Airdyle Boxer, Roger Oake,  Cassidy Boxer, Victor Cole, McKerrick McCabb, Quinn McCabb, Adaline Moore, Alorah McCabb, Sechen Ramchaa, Batbayar Yamaat, Altansarnai Taijuid, Khenbish Daguur, Ana Breban, Iulien Breban, Laura Fewtree, Marku Fewtree, Paul Fewtree, Ilena Fewtree, Sammie Fewtree, Grey Fewtree, Tristan Fewtree, Mara Fewtree, Nina Fewtree, Archduke Galileo Amici, Ettore Amici, Grandduchess Claudia Amici Capozzi, Vyas Noon, Maurizio Motta, Bella Motta, Alicia Belittore, Muminah al Sadat, Domhnull MacCearraich, Belias Anwielder, Go Eren, Iyawa Adamu, Akil al Sadat, Hisakawa Kagegorou, Hisakawa Sadaharu, Hisakawa Hideki, James Baker, Nacht Graben, Nahm Seojun 

and this list is still growing and I have face claims for every single person on here, and profiles. 

Yes, I’m totally insane lool

[cfroyharper]

I would absolutely love to get some new threads going for some of my kids so please COMMENT HERE with who you would like a starter with & which character of yours: roy harper, dick grayson, itsuaki akihiro, adrianne rayner, tobias osborn allan, apollo west, nadir dane summers, thomas curry II, t’charra, uriah fries, eli rasputin, elana dent, natasha romanoff, coralie beaubier jinadu, or ronen haller

Info on each below the cut:

roy harper - fc: domhnall gleeson, 45, he/him, archer, weapon specialist

archer, formerly speedy, formerly red arrow, former addict, now arsenal & archery instructor, giant dork, dresses like he’s camping 24/7, full of quips and sarcastic jokes, tinkerer, creates weapons, whatever gadgets come to mind, ‘rockabilly genius’, loving father godfather and uncle, engaged to jason todd

dick grayson - fc: adam rodriguez, 45, he/him, acrobat, expert hand to hand combat, highly skilled detective

acrobat, the first Robin, ‘boy wonder’, former circus kid turned billionaire’s first son, now nightwing & gymnastics teacher , high rises, daring jumps, overdramatic, very openly a giant dork, big heart, loves his family, too much trauma, genius level intellect, fashion disaster, adores his family, would die for his children

itsuaki akihiro - fc: ryan potter, 22, he/him, son of Daken Akihiro, bone adamantium claws, accelerated healing, pheromone control/manipulation

not quite a villain but not a hero either, traveled with his father until he was 15, never knew his mother, more shadows than light, more friends than he realises, expert fighter, skeptical and cynical, loves soft things more than he cares to admit, hot drinks and nights in, has more aunts and uncles than he can count

adrianne rayner - fc: cierra ramirez, 19, she/her, daughter of Kyle Rayner and Soranik Natu (biological), green lantern ring

green lantern, space baby, part alien, yellow eyes & pointed ears, grew up on Oa, trained and skilled fighter, ray of sunshine, loves exploring, travelling, optimistic to a fault, serious mother issues, artist, paints and watercolour, always has a sketchbook in her bag, wild imagination but wildly innocent, a little naive, loves learning but hates school

tobias osborn allan - fc: francisco lachowski, 23, he/him, son of Liz Allan and Harry Osborn (biological), goblin serum enhanced

normal kid turned rich, enhanced with advanced goblin serum, former party boy, law student, avid studier, loves music written by his boyfriend, gym addict, genius level intellect for business and law, loves exploring, learning, experiencing as much as possible, reading, studying, lazy afternoons in parks with books and snacks, huge hopeless romantic, way too charming for his own good, knows he’s hot and he’s not sorry about it

apollo west - fc: cameron monaghan, 26, he/him, son of Wally West (biological) and Artemis Crock (adoptive), conduit of the speedforce

speedster, twin, police officer, kid flash, future flash, terrified of death, terrified of failure, full of energy, desperate to be a hero, runs and runs and runs, being outdoors, visiting city upon city in a day, loves going home to central city or keystone, adores his family

nadir ezra dane summers - fc: avan jogia, he/him, 22, son of lorna dane & alex summers (biological), light manipulation

mutant, twin, full of light literally, childhood trauma, quite days in, movies and books, more for observation than talking, small groups over large crowds, psychology student, late nights and bad sleep, old books, music blaring through headphones, mutant rallies, suppressed memories

thomas curry II - fc: keahu kahuanui, 27, he/him, son of arthur curry & mera (biological), aquatic telepathy, superhuman enhancements, hydrokenisis

part atlantean, eldest living son, heir to the throne, honour and duty, determined to bring land and sea together, currently aqualad, future aquaman & king of atlantis, travelling, learning, growing, genius intellect, determined to learn as much as possible about both of his worlds, will always love the sea the most, swimming, beach days, big waves, road trips

t’charra - fc: chris o’neal, 20, he/him, son of t’charra & nakia (bioligical)

party boy, disaster, reckless, late nights, strong drinks, VIP, tech nerd, science geek, future head of science and information exchange in wakanda, youngest prince, father issues, self-destructive, hangovers, sunglasses, nightowl, too smart for his own good but no where near clever enough, one night stands, long days in labs

uriah fries - fc: jordan fisher, 27, he/him/they/them, son of nora & victor fries (biological), weaponry & combat, freeze technology

future doctor, mob connections, shades of grey, long days and double shifts, raised by the rogues, so much coffee, ballet dancer, long practices & pointe shoes, hopeless romantic, falls hard and fast, affinity for the cold, never quite a villain, dramatic gestures, mask of charm & suave

eli rasputin - fc: james reid, 24, he/him, son of illyana rasputin (adoptive), mario falcone (biological, unaware), wind manipulation

v soft, mutant, filled with hope, giant bookworm, loves his cat more than he loves most people, english lit ta, huge nerd; named his cat matilda after the character, you can find him in the library most of the time, loves his baby brother more than anything, always has a book in his hands or in his bag, will always use his powers for fun before fighting

elana dent - fc: nathalie emmanuel, 24, she/her, daughter of harvey dent (adoptive), highly skilled thief & advanced combat

all sharp smirks and charm, does absolutely everything with reckless abandon, loves a challenge - just to prove you wrong, mask of manipulation, huge abandonment issues, constantly channeling her inner selina kyle, master thief in training, entirely dedicated to her big brother ; terrified of losing him, late nights full of adventure, great wall of china built high around her heart

natasha romanoff - fc: jamie chung, appears 30 (biologically 90), she/her, black widow, highly skilled spy & ballet teacher

espionage, extreme ballet routines, tough but fair, pointe shoes & messy buns, oversizes sweaters probably stolen from Clint, highly protective of all of the avengers kids, still in mourning for her own baby, will do anything for family, highly perceptive, giant dork, probably knows more pop culture references than you, always good for a hug

coralie beaubier-jinadu - fc: alisha wainwright, 26, they/them, child of jean paul beaubier & kyle jinadu (adoptive), winged flight & empathic healing

glowing marks on their skin, brown wings (think maleficent style), highly empathic, loves children, midwifery is their calling, broken hearted high school sweetheart situation, crazy hair, big smiles, protective big sibling complex, will always put you before themselves, photography nut, loves to fly as often as possible, endless optimism even in the face of the worst

ronen haller - fc: suraj sharma, 20, he/him, child of david haller & jonathan starsmore (adoptive), gabriel summers (biological, unknown), energy manipulation

explosive & emotional, naive to a fault, reckless & ready to dive into anything, looking for the next learning curve, ridiculously attached to his dad, hates enclosed spaces, cold rooms & examination tables make up most of his childhood, constantly fighting for control of his powers, deep purple energy, late nights and early mornings, aspires to make his fathers proud one day, socially awkward pretty much always

noah rogers - fc: toni mahfud, 28, he/him, son of Steve Rogers (adoptive), enhanced vision, skilled assassin

raised by the league of assassins until 14, arrogant and cocky to no end, cool calm and collected, very guarded, not a good guy, charming to a fault, will manipulate you for his own ends, widowed father to an 18 month old son, do not touch his child, freelance assassin graphic designer, trusts very few people but will use anyone he can to get what he needs

[mestos]

BnS act 9 was perhaps the worst thing ncsoft did to jyansei/cricket and OOF im still feeling it. as if cricket hasn’t cried enough in the whole story (when master hong dies, when hajoon dies, when they see master hong in a flashback, when the old pupils bid them farewell, when ayona dies) this was too much oh my god!!! this was sthe worst

spoiler ramble undercut

alright ill try talk abt the act in chronological order so starting off, 1) why chundoon’s voice so deep lmao. in kr it was such a soft boy’s voice then in NA its like hansen from fgo where they gave him a 40 year old chainsmoker’s voice SLKGJSDKGH 

the other thing i liked tho from the start is the whole premonition thing where it ends with cricket’s death

me, internally: why is it ALWAYS zaiwei

but anyway i loved how this led up to going into the backstreets of the hao bazaar and beating up some punks, leading up to this golden exchange with yunma fei. i laughed SO HARD

empress: you were illegally street fighting in hao bazaar? cricket: (sweats) .....sorry empress: that’s cool i did too at one point

YUNMA FEI IS HONESTLY SO COOL. best empress (sorry ms cyg) 

anyway the whole exchange with yunma fei was pretty nice, because she lets you read a letter. cricket’s hesitation was so cute! i can imagine them being rlly flustered, and yunma fei just shaking their head like “dude you saved the continent like twice? why wouldn’t you have authority” sgksjdgh

so the letter is basically dowager tayhu (her name was ak in kr? idk) passively aggressively asking for HM Hero to show up and yunma fei and cricket both almost agree to decline the invitation...till nuya shows up with news about ryu. then cricket does a complete 180 and is like “sorry. i have to go” which is kinda....omg....i get that u love your kids but its due to these impulsive decisions that lead to disaster!!! its why your efforts are erased in the end!! just decide to decline for once sweetie!!

even yunma fei tries her best to convince you, but you and her both know that there’s no stopping you once you made your mind to go somewhere. but yunma fei’s concern was nice enough, i love the friendship and bond you share with her-- she cares about you a lot, and so do you. other than the fact she is an empress, cricket is gentle with her too

anyway so you go to dasari palace, after a bit of a scuffle with an old captain who worked in the stratus empire, which led to a very pretty map as i posted briefly before. when u arrive at the banquet...everything is super suspicious lmao!! even from just stepping in you can feel that this was so set up to go against you. bns story rule of thumb: someone invites you to someplace, they’ll be after ur life. 

one thing tho is i love how cricket is so caring of their students,, when jinsoyun was feeling sick, they offered to be by her side the entire time and hold her hand..but of course, soyun can’t take the room and runs off. cricket chases after her but is stopped by the guards, and i find their frustration rlly cute sdjkgh

then you meet the dowager and ryu! ryu, no memories ryu. who wasn’t hanging with ken after all LMFAO anyway he asks to spar with you and cricket is forced to act like this is the first time theyve met and u can feel the pain in their responses

so sparring with ryu was easy enough. afterwards general hondu wrecks the party, then cricket decides to go rest. but of course, not before seeing their lovely darling daughter soyun! they decide to check up on them and their concern for their wellbeing was sweet (a lot more doting in kr but i digress lmao) 

afterwards, in typical blade and soul fashion, the minute u go into your resting room shit hits the fan and assassins, stratus soldiers, fiends all go after you and your pupils. after a frustrating (i’m a flame gunslinger! i don’t have any mobbing skills for crying outloud!) escort mission you meet choi jina, who i BARELY remembered but you meet her briefly at the start of act 2 and she helps you with the wraithbloom mess

she’s also pretty much jung hado genderbent but we won’t talk about that

with the help of choi jina cricket and fam go into a hidden chamber...a place they’ll be in for a while give or take LMAO. after some discussion, cricket decides “my amnesiac kid can’t be left in this shithole so i have to go back to him” (although in kr, cricket refuses but is eventually persuaded by bunyang) and choi jina and cricket go through....a fucking stealth mission, because after the murder of the minister (which was NOT cricket’s fault--they were just doing their job of eliminating demons) they become a wanted man! 

now, it wouldn’t be so bad if i had a functional laptop but i don’t so, that shit took me an entire hour and a half. i gave up at some point and just walked on the ground rather than roof to roof, because that is the WORST stealth mission in the entire game!! why!!! holy crap!!! i could rant over and over about the stealth mission but ill save that for twitter...

anyway after stealth mission, you knock out ryu, choi jina carries him, and back in the hidden chamber you go. ryu suddenly ~remembers~ all the fun times and tells you dowager tahyu’s planning a war! cricket, not finding it suspicious at all that ‘suddenly son remembers me? wow!’ is like ‘ok ok my boy, take me away, i gotta warn, yunma fei’ then they act like prisoner and shit and it was hilarious with lyn walking sprite cause you can’t walk in front of him HGJKG

ryu catches a spy - one of yunma fei’s - and after cricket writes their letter, they give it to senha and go. then there’s another escort mission! when you’re back with the fam, its a team effort to go to the great dragon pulse. and hell, i wouldve just made ryu do all the fighting cause my computer really hated that whole mission and i barely got through HA

anyway, shortly before the escort mission, bunyang and cricket have a small argument--bunyang is always so worried about their master, and cricket can’t do anything about it; it’s their job to do all these things, they can’t refuse because of the bigger picture. cricket promises to come back safely and they can be a family again, and in general the whole argument is really heartbreaking because HA. guess what happens after the escort mission

before i get to that, yunma fei actually arrives - alone, so no jung hado with her - shortly before shit hits the fan. she plops through the dragon pulse and it leads to some horrifying revelations. she said that cricket’s letter told her to come alone because they are sick and need help, and cricket says they never asked for that? and then its a mess because now yunma fei, talus empress, is alone and it’s all in the dowager’s plan. 

quickly running back to their students with the empress... but they were too late.

ryu betrayed them. and bunyang...

pays the price.

as if to make matters worse, cricket really was ill, they had been poisoned shortly before and 

collapses. 

they wake up in prison - goddamn! this is the third time i’ve woken up in jail! as if im not constantly falsely accused of crimes already! and witness an empress-to-empress showdown. yunma fei is really best empress. she sassed dowager tayhu hard LMAO

choi jina arrives and lets you and yunma fei out but cricket’s mind is in shambles because holy fuck!!!! my son just died!!! and unfortunately they cant find the time to mourn because 1) they’re in jail and they are breaking out like fugitives. the next segment is cricket and co. break outta jail to find the rest of their kids. 

when cricket does find them its so OUCH because their kids are obviously traumatized - especially bunah!!!!!!!! the flesh and blood sister of bunyang who just fucking DIED and really ... it was just too much,

yunma fei tries her best consoling you but obviously cricket can’t think properly. but they don’t have time to be crying, because there’s too much on the line, so they swallow their feelings and keep moving. 

i’ll continue on a second post...

[iolitewyvern-trolls]

==> Be the shy idiot purpleblood  

(This is from 2017 and I really should redraw it, but I’m too lazy to do that right now.) 

So! You may have noticed that this is the only troll of mine you’ve seen so far. That is because he is my favorite, and that’s no secret. He is my dumb idiot son and I love him. 

==> Be the shy idiot purpleblood Name: Alfonz “Al” Eichel Pronunciation: Alfonze “Al” Eye-chel       Gender: boy Caste: purpleblood Symbol: circle with a line over it {Caprimini} Age: 8 sweeps (17 years) Trollian Handle: darkeningConsciousness [DC] Typing quirk: The quick br[]wn f[]x jump~ []ver the lazy d[]g. Lusus: Turtlebat dad Strife Specibus: Swordbreakerkind Dream Moon: Derse Matesprit: Vinson Parker Moirail: Vinson Parker Auspistice: none currently Kismesis: none currently   Other: He sleepwalks, his right eye has an eightball fracture so he covers it, his ancestor was an assassin. Al is also very gay. He’s really not interested in being a subjugglator, and he doesn’t have the patience for all that makeup anyway. He likes making jewelry and would like to make doll miniatures (he likes doing detail work). Made matching necklaces for him and Vinson.   Basic Personality: Very shy and quiet, hates having to let other people take care of him, generally fairly friendly, extremely emotional, spaces out occasionally, lets his emotions get the better of him, has a lot of self-hate issues   Basic Bio: Al and his lusus lived in a remote part of an Alternian shoreline. One day while Al was out, some lusus-nappers kidnapped his lusus. When Al found the ransom note, he panicked and misread it, thinking there were a few extra zeroes. He became a recluse, letting his hive fall into disrepair so people would assume he was dead. Which they did. Eventually, he snuck out and caught a ride on a spaceship to Earth as a stowaway. During the trip, he sleepwalked into a pipe and damaged his eye. He was also found and befriended by a bronzeblood girl named Rin. He’s currently living on Earth with his moirail/matesprit, Vinson. ((Vin belongs to one of my friends, @cakedashes-trolls))   Group: One

Your name is ALFONZ EICHEL and And the author really isn’t sure where to start with you. You generally go by AL, and you are SHY and KINDA AWKWARD. You really DON'T LIKE STANDING OUT, probably because you spent so long HIDING IN YOUR HIVE like some kinda DUMB HERMIT. You like READING, making DOLLHOUSE MINIATURES and JEWELRY, and SPENDING TIME WITH VINSON. You and Vin KEEP VACILLATING between FLUSH AND PALE. The two of you have just decided to use the human term BOYFRIENDS - you even made cute matching necklaces. Unfortunately, you have a terrible habit of SLEEPWALKING, which has gotten you into trouble MORE THAN ONCE. Like when you SEVERELY INJURED YOUR EYE. But that’s NOT IMPORTANT. You’re GENERALLY AGREEABLE, though you tend to also be EMOTIONAL. You’re also a FASHION DISASTER, but you DON’T REALLY CARE. You just want to be comfortable and not draw too much attention to yourself.

And here’s his ref on DA if you want more/better information - https://www.deviantart.com/iolite-wyvern/art/Homestuck-OC-Alfonz-Al-Eichel-706238695 

[firebirdsdaughter]

Random thought...

... Since the Zikan Drivers utilise two Ride Watches to create Armours... Could Geiz and Sougo use each other’s Watches? My first instinct is no, bc they’re the ‘core’ transformation items, but... It’d be whacky if Geiz could have a Zi-O Armour and Zi-O could have a Geiz Armour. I mean, they haven’t currently presented any differences between those Watches at the other Ride Watches? Though, like I said, they are the ‘unique transformation item’ of the season that usually does get switched around at all.

But it’s kinda fun to imagine.

[itsomgitsgreenblogging]

Break My Heart: Chapter 10 (A Solangelo Fanfic)

So, apologies. Real life things happened and kept me from updating. Really, I’m sorry about that, but, it happens.I hope that this extra long chapter will make up for it!  I hope everyone’s as excited as I am for Will and Nico’s first date! So without further ado, enjoy! 

Read on Tumblr: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9

Read on AO3

Preview: 

“Why doesn’t the mist work on anything when it would be useful?”

“When does magic ever make our lives easier? Isn’t that the whole problem with being a demigod?” Nico asked as he plopped down, his sword clanging against the cart’s seat. If anyone noticed, not that they probably could, no one said anything.

“Is that safe?” Will asked suspiciously eyeing the sword. “What if that thing flies off and assassinates me.”

“My sword doesn’t have a political motive,” Nico said with frown. “For it to be an assassination it needs to be politically motivated.”

“Wow, gee. Thank you for all of your murder trivia, I feel so well informed and so much better.”

The day before Will’s first date with Nico (where Will confirmed that yes, it was actually a date, no he wasn’t dreaming, and yes he would try to get some sleep), Will knew he couldn’t just keep everything inside. By virtue Will’s infinite wisdom he also came to the conclusion that talking to his siblings about it was a recipe for disaster. So instead, he asked Chiron if he could use the Big House phone so he could call someone who he knew would actually be able to help him and give him advice. Hopefully without making Will feel like going on a date was a horrible idea or blow it out of proportion into something it wasn’t. So he went to the phone, spent a few minutes trying to formulate a script in his mind for what he was about to say, before finally biting the bullet and dialing. The phone rang a few times, and then after the longest pause of Will’s whole life he heard the click and the connection.

               “Hello?” Papa Vernon’s voice came from the other side, gruff but warm. Will was taken back immediately to the only other place besides CHB that he considered home. He could feel the thick sunlight against his skin, the scent of pine and hot gravel, could almost see the flutter of his Grandmother’s drapes and hear the creak of a rocking chair on the porch. Abundance, the small town in Texas where Will had grown up was right behind his eyelids in startling detail. It was all so powerful that he had to blink a few times to keep his eyes clear.

               “Hey Papa, you busy?” Will asked hoping his voice didn’t crack, and he almost heard his grandfather’s smile through the phone.

               “Too busy to talk to you? Never. How’re you doing?” Papa Vernon asked. “How’s camp? Not too exciting I hope.”

“There was an emergency the other day during a Three-Legged Race that I helped out with, but other than that it’s been fine recently,” Will explained as he twisted the cord around his finger. “What about you?”

“I’m just preparing for tomorrow’s service,” Papa Vernon told him with a content hum. So he was in preaching mode, Will recognized. That could either be good or bad. His grandfather was the leader of Abundance’s only church, and was basically the town’s leader because of it. It suited his grandpa, Will couldn’t imagine Papa Vernon doing anything else, but on occasion Will felt that his grandfather could be a bit…Old Testament.

“I...I do have some news,” Will said as he swallowed heavily. “I have a date tomorrow.”

“Oh really?” Papa Vernon asked, sounding surprised and pleased, on the other side Will heard paper rustling and a pen clicking. This had obviously caught his grandfather’s attention. “This is new.”

“Yeah it is new. His name is Nico. He just asked me to go on a date with him yesterday,” Will said with a smile, putting emphasis on the pronoun so his grandfather wouldn’t ask for clarification or make any assumptions.

“Nico, hm? And do you like this Nico?” Papa Vernon asked him, sounding out his name as if he weren’t sure what to think of it. Sometimes it took his Grandpapa a little bit to get used to the hectic nature of Will’s life, especially since he didn’t call as often as either of them would like. To his grandfather, who’s life moved at the pace of warmed over molasses, a demigod’s schedule must have been strange. Will couldn’t help but feel guilty about it, but there wasn’t anything he could do. Thankfully his mortal family understood that well and didn’t pressure him.  

“Yeah, I really do. He’s so cool, Papa. He’s strong, and he’s smart, and—and—he’s so brave. And he’s funny, too. He’s good. Really good,” Will explained with a sigh as he thought about Nico. “He’s too good to be true, honestly. He’s like something someone dreamed up.”

“But I’m sensing a ‘but’,” Papa Vernon noted after he cleared his throat to get Will back on track. Will chewed on his bottom lip for a moment, trying to make sense of his confusing and conflicting thoughts, before sighing heavily.

“Papa...I have something inside of me that’s telling me that it’s impossible. That it won’t work out. I don’t know how or why but that thing in the back of my head keeps telling me that it isn’t going to work out,” Will explained the best he could before sighing. His grandfather was understanding of a lot of things, considering he thought demigods were Nephilim and that Greek gods were all angels and all of the harrowing life-threatening stuff was just Revelations-esque things, but Will liked to keep things as normal for him as possible. Telling his grandfather he had a prophetic dream wasn’t what Will could classify as normal. “This probably doesn’t make any sense.”

“Will, do you think it won’t work out because of you, or because of him?” Papa Vernon asked him with sagely amounts of patience. Will wished he could approach his own life with that kind of patience instead of just jumping straight into panic.

“Him...no, me. Both? I don’t know,” Will groaned into the phone. “Papa, I’m so confused. I don’t know what to do.”  

“Well, son listen here. Lemme give you two sets of advice. First as your pastor remember that our Father in heaven causes the sun to rise and sends rain on the lands of plenty and sets the course for the willing heart and mind. No matter what happens, it’s intended, and the Lord has given you the tools to deal with those challenges that may face you. Sometimes prophecies come true in unexpected ways, that’s just the Lord’s way of keeping us from being complacent. Do not fear this, instead, move forward with willing heart and mind. Second, as your grandfather, I think yer growing into a mighty fine man. When I was young like you, if you can imagine it, I also dated—”

Will tried to cover his laughter, but he ended up snorting into the phone. His grandfather gave a fond chiding huff before continuing on as if he had never been interrupted in the first place. It was a super power his grandpapa possessed.

“—so I will let you know this from my personal experience. If you go into a date with your tail tucked between your legs, it won’t be a fun date. Don’t worry about what will or won’t be. Focus on having a good time, and things will work out either way. Will you promise me you’ll do that, son?”  

“I’ll try, Papa,” Will promised him. “I have to go, tell everyone I love them and I’m thinking of them.”

“I will. I’m wishin’ you luck. Tell your brothers and sisters I’m thinking and praying for them. Oh, and your mother called the other day asking if we’d heard from you. Give her a call, I think she’ll be in New York in a month or two and was wondering if you could visit.”

               “Okay, I will. Love you, Papa.”

               “Love you too. Goodbye now.”

               “Okay, listen, you cannot wear that,” Austin said exasperated as he snatched Will’s yellow and red flannel out of his hands. “Britney’s 90s sound may be coming back, but not that color scheme. Seriously, Will? Where did you even buy this?”

               “I got it at a yard sale—where does where I get things matter?” Will asked with a huff. “Besides, it’s comfortable. Who cares what color it is?”

               “No, no, no. I’m not having my older brother go on a first date dressed like he just escaped from the fashion police,” Austin told him with an offended sniff. Kayla was snickering on her bed as she stole potato chips from the Apollo Cabin snack stash. Will gave her a look, and she stuck her tongue out at him.

               “Guys, just don’t say anything to people. I’m not sure he’s ready to…you know,” Will said with a frown.

               “We got it, we got it. We’ll be good,” Austin said as he rifled through Will’s drawer. He chucked a green and brown plaid shirt at Will, before giving a disgusted look at some orange track pants. “Seriously Will?”

               “Oh! I forgot I had those, awesome!”

               “Somehow I wonder how we’re related,” Austin said with a roll of his eyes as he tossed pale tan shorts at Will’s face. “And no flip flops!”

               “What do you mean no flip flops?!”

                That’s how Will found himself waiting at the entrance to the Labyrinth, his toes feeling squished in converse, and carrying his satchel with his emergency supplies (as one should always carry when one is a demigod). He was ungodly nervous, to the point where he was sure he was quaking in his shoes and half wanted to run back to his cabin. How bad would it be if he just dived into the lake and didn’t come up? Will wondered. He was sure that Nico would do worse to him if he really messed this up or embarrassed him by being seen in public with Will.

               No, Will told himself. He could do this. He wanted to do this. Will liked Nico, and he was going to change his fate. It was going to be a great first date, and the first step to that was a positive attitude like his grandfather had said. Everything was going to turn out fine—better than fine, great. He just needed to be confident. Out of all the boys in Camp Half-Blood, somehow Nico found him to be the most suitable to go on an actual date with. So like Tim Gunn always said, he was going to make it work.

               “Oh, uh, hey. Am I late?” Nico’s voice startled him and Will jumped as Nico almost literally appeared out of the shade of the forest. Nico gave Will an apologetic look, and Will immediately noted that the shadows under his eyes weren’t from the trees. He looked amazing though, besides the usual lack of sleep. His hair was pulled back, he was wearing that amazing leather jacket, a black tee shirt, dark jeans, and combat boots. He carried a backpack, and his sword was belted. Will often wondered how demigods like Nico got around wearing weaponry, but to someone looking through the mist it probably would have just looked like a cool belt accessory. It struck Will for the first time how much healthier he looked from the first time they had really talked a month ago. His previously pale, sickly, and nearly translucent skin had tanned—cooler toned than Will’s sure, but tanned nonetheless. His eyes weren’t as haunted and colorless and Will from this distance couldn’t feel darkness crawling underneath his skin, his face had lost a lot of the unhealthy edge and had begun to fill out.

               Part of Will was proud. Nico still could go a far way health wise, but he was doing well. He knew that it still frustrated Nico that he couldn’t shadow travel like he used to, but Will knew that it would come with time. Another part of Will was terrified of the passing time, because Nico was inching closer and closer to the Nico in his dream.

               The leaves haven’t turned yet, Will told himself to calm down. I still have time. I can turn this around, I’ve just got to give it my all.

               “No, no. I’m just early, it’s a habit of mine,” Will promised him, and Nico awkwardly looked away from his gaze as he chewed on his lip.

               “Your—your shirt is…you look good. Not that you usually look bad but—I—forget it,” Nico stuttered. Will blinked in shock. Was Nico nervous? He was nervous! Nerves were good it meant…it meant…

               Don’t jump the gun, Will thought at himself, despite the fact he was grinning and nearly glowing with happiness. He had to tone it down, Will thought, but also knew that it would probably be physically impossible.

               “I think you look good too,” Will promised him and Nico jutted out his jaw and he began to stomp forward.

               “You coming?” Nico asked shortly as he stood at the mouth of the Labyrinth.

               “Absolutely!” Will nearly chirped as he nearly skipped forward to join Nico. Will wasn’t usually a fan of the Labyrinth, it was dark and underground which to a child of Apollo were two things that weren’t high on the list of enjoyable attributes. But Nico moved underground with confidence, not hesitating as he led them through the passageways, so Will felt a little better despite feeling like he was being deprived of something dear to him. Like oxygen. Or tickets to Hamilton. “So, where are we going?”

               “Well…I hope we’re going to NYC. The Labyrinth can be kind touchy though so hopefully we come out in the right place,” Nico said with a shrug as he pulled out his Stygian Iron sword and poked a rock. Will noted, that he did so with his left hand.

               “You a lefty?” Will asked curiously.

               “I usually use my right hand, but I can and have trained to use my sword with both hands…so, that makes me ambidextrous I guess.”  

               “That’s pretty cool. I’ve been called ambisextrious before,” Will joked, and when he saw Nico’s blank face he cleared his throat. “I was…making a pun. Because I’m bisexual I…never mind.”

“What does that mean?”

               “What does what mean?” Will asked Nico curiously.

               “Bisexual. What does that mean?” Nico rephrased, Will tipped his head to the side. Oh. Yeah. Nico probably wouldn’t have known that, now that Will was thinking about it. Since he was new to the whole LGBT-thing, the terminology probably wasn’t there yet.

               “Oh, it means I like both girls and boys,” Will explained as he hopped over a rather scary looking hole that didn’t seem to be going anywhere.

               “At the same time?” Nico asked confused.

               “Well, it means I’ve had crushes on both boys and girls before. I haven’t really like liked two people or more at the same time, that’s polyamory—I’m losing you aren’t I?”

               “It’s just that…when and where I was growing up, homosexual acts were something that people did. People weren’t homosexuals. And if they tried…it was really dangerous,” Nico explained quietly, glaring at the wall of the labyrinth as if it had personally insulted him. “I mean, I know that it isn’t true. I didn’t make a conscious choice to be gay, and no one really does. But it’s crazy how much things change…how much thoughts change over the years. It’s hard for me to understand.”

               “It can still be dangerous, but things are changing,” Will promised him. “Listen, let me try to explain this so you understand. Things like sexuality, gender, and romantic attraction are all on spectrums—like scales. So for instance, on the sexuality scale, being the people a person’s physically interested in, on one side of the scale is boys and on the other is girls. I fall in the middle of the scale, since I’m attracted to both. But who I’m attracted to and who I have romantic feelings about are different? Does that make more sense?”

               “Maybe,” Nico admitted. “I need to think about it longer, before it all really makes sense to me.”

               “What about you?” Will asked.

               “I…I just like boys. I’ve only ever liked boys.”

               “Cool,” Will said with a smile, thanking his lucky stars that he was a boy that Nico might actually like. That was a pretty awesome development, Will thought proudly.  

               “I was nervous because I didn’t know if I should ask you on a date,” Nico admitted. “If you would even want to go on a date with me, because I didn’t know if you were interested in boys like me.”

               “Why?” Will asked in return, confused. “What do you mean by boys like you?”

               “Well…you said you thought Percy was attractive…and you had dated Drew. I don’t look like either of them so…I didn’t know if I…if you would mind going on a date with me,” Nico struggled to explain.

               “Hey, you also had a crush on Percy Jackson. And I also don’t look anything like Percy Jackson,” Will pointed out to him while pointing at his own face which was very un-Percy-Jackson-like. Nico scowled at the comparison, or at the reminder. Which one Will wasn’t entirely sure.  

               “It’s not the same,” Nico huffed indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’ve gone out with other people, and everyone likes you and I…I’m not like other people. I wasn’t sure you would be okay with me. To go on a date with me, that is.”

               “Nico, it’s true you aren’t like other people. There is only one Nico di Angelo, and that’s the reason why I’m here isn’t it? I wanted to go on a date with you,” Will pointed out to him, his cheeks warm. Nico seemingly tripped over something before using the wall to steady himself. “Besides, I’ve only ever gone out with Drew. And that was for like, three weeks. It wasn’t really a lasting relationship.”

               “Oh,” Nico said, not elaborating. Whether it was because he had nothing else to say or because he didn’t want to continue with this conversation, again, Will wasn’t entirely sure. He patted the wall, pressing something and then an entranceway seemingly appeared to the side. “We’re here.”

               “Sweet,” Will said walking behind him. Will couldn’t help but be excited. He hadn’t left Camp Half-Blood proper in a while, the last time had been a supply run earlier that summer. It was safe to say that he was hoping that it would go better than getting trapped in a CVS at eight in the morning by a cyclops with Sherman Yang and Pollux. Which honestly was a really low bar. They entered into a tiny metal thingy, and when Nico finally managed to jimmy it open they half fell out of a utility shed and onto a walkway. Will caught his balance and looked up to see a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, pastel tents, and heard the roar of the ocean and the call of seagulls. He took in a deep breath, of fried food and the ocean, and grinned widely.

               “Oh! Hey! Coney Island!” Will said excitedly recognizing where they were almost as soon as he got his bearings, bouncing back on his heels. A middle-aged dad gave both Will and Nico a weird look as he dragged his daughter away from the kids who had emerged from the shed. “You could’ve told me that we were going here! Well, since we’re here, why don’t we have fun? Have you ever been here before?”

               “Yeah...I think so. The memory’s all fuzzy though and things were a lot different I think,” Nico admitted as they walked forward. Will kept an eye out for anyone who might have caught a whiff of demigod and thought today was a good day to try their luck, but there seemed to be no monsters lurking about. “This place seems familiar...it’s sort of the same feeling when I walk around NYC a lot. Like, things have changed but the essence of the place is still the same.”

               “How long has it been since you’ve come here?” Will asked, confused by the vagueness of Nico’s answer.

               “1939? Maybe?”

               “You mean...like in the Year of Our Lord nineteen hundred and thirty-nine? That 1939?” Will asked in surprise, his mind racing as he went back over this new information in the light of all of their interactions. He quickly picked up a stuffed animal a baby dropped out of its carriage and gave it back to the baby, making a face and waving at the child who waved back at him.

“Is there another 1939 that I should be aware of?” Nico asked sarcastically, watching Will like one would when they saw something interesting at a zoo. Like Will was some kind of rare creature that Nico needed to study before he could truly understand. Or maybe Nico just didn’t like babies. Or maybe Will had something on his face. Will rubbed at his cheeks, hoping that wasn’t the case.

“Holy shit, Nico, you are probably so behind on vaccines.”

“Ugh, no, unfortunately. I got a bunch of vaccines when I first went to Westover.”

“When was that?”

“When I was ten.”

“Nico, you need to get some vaccines every year!”

Nico suddenly stifled a laugh, which surprised Will. Nico shook his head as if he couldn’t quite figure out what to do with Will, which, honestly Will understood the feeling himself. It took Nico a moment to compose himself enough to respond, but even while he did Will couldn’t help but miss the sound of Nico’s spontaneous and joyful laughter. The sound was funny, slightly raspy, and Will would honestly do anything to hear it again and again.

“I wasn’t quite expecting that reaction, but then again, you always manage to surprise me,” Nico said with a huff before looking sad. “Most people...feel bad when they find out I guess.”

“I mean...you don’t have to tell me what happened. That’s for when and if you decide to tell me. But all demigods have been through things, so sure, it sucks. But I relate...in a way. I wouldn’t want someone to feel bad about the things that happened to me, cause it’s not their fault. I know you probably feel the same way. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah. Still, thanks,” Nico said quietly, thinking about things obviously before speaking once more as they walked shoulder to shoulder. “Well, anyways, I haven’t been here since then.”  

“Then we have to make we see everything,” Will told him, sounding very understandable. “Just so you can compare, obviously. What do you want to do first?”  

Nico pointed and Will looked to see the giant wooden rollercoaster and the distant screaming. Will grinned and nodded before they began to walk towards the rollercoaster together, passing by venders and through the crowds. The sounds of carousels and the clatter of rides on tracks with the crash of the waves and the cry of seagulls, children laughing, the flash of cameras and colors. The air was saturated with the feeling of joy. The darkness of Nico’s jacket caught the sun, and in that moment Will was utterly terrified that he would lose him, or that he would disappear like a mirage and melt into the shimmer of the sunlight. Will’s hand jerked out before his mind could argue and Will’s finger’s brushed Nico’s arm. Nico stopped suddenly and stared at him. Will retracted his hand, heat creeping up his neck.

“I’m sorry, I just thought that I might lose you,” Will said, keeping his hands where he could control them, wrapped around the strap of his satchel. “I…uh…sorry.”

“You want to hold my hand?” Nico asked, blinking rapidly as if trying to get over his surprise, his hands coming out of his pocket.

“Well…yeah. Is that okay? Or is it too much?” Will asked, scooching out of the way of a family walking by who swung a kid between them.

“We’ve held hands before, sort of,” Nico said, before offering his hand hesitantly. “I don’t mind.”

Will wanted to ask if he really didn’t mind, if he was really okay with a human disaster like Will holding his hand on their first date, but instead of saying anything self-incriminating Will took Nico’s hand. Will beamed at Nico and squeezed his fingers, smiling so hard he felt it in his cheeks. For a moment Nico met his look, before blushing and looking down, but didn’t take his hand from Will’s. That alone was probably enough to make Will happy for the rest of the summer. They walked together, hand in hand to the line. And stood in the line, still hand in hand. By the time they got to the front of the line, Will wasn’t looking forward to letting go.

“I think we have to check if you are tall enough,” Will said, pointing to the measuring stick painted on a wooden sign. Nico glared at Will as if he was considering breaking that sign over his head.

“First off, screw you. Secondly, fuck off,” Nico growled at him.

“Nico,” Will gasped as he released Nico’s hand and grabbed Nico’s shoulders to turn him before lightly covering his ears. “Sh, there are children present.”

“I—asshole, we’re literally the same age!” Nico snapped at him, glaring up at him with furrowed brows, swatting him away. Will laughed at what Lou Ellen would call “Nico’s ‘tude”, which had more bark than bite. Well, if Will really annoyed Nico he was sure that Nico might bite off his nose or something. But as Will was beginning to learn, annoyance was more a look that Nico liked to wear rather than a constant state of mind.

“Please put your belongings in the box before you enter the ride,” a tired looking teen, probably  a few years older than them said as they walked forward. Nico placed his backpack in the box as the teen looked at Will with dead eyes. “Your purse, kid.”

“It’s not a purse, it’s a satchel,” Will muttered under his breath as he jammed the satchel in the box. Nico was cackling and Will leveled his own glare at him as they slid into the first car of the rollercoaster. “Why doesn’t the mist work on anything when it would be useful?”

“When does magic ever make our lives easier? Isn’t that the whole problem with being a demigod?” Nico asked as he plopped down, his sword clanging against the cart’s seat. If anyone noticed, not that they probably could, no one said anything.

“Is that safe?” Will asked suspiciously eyeing the sword. “What if that thing flies off and assassinates me.”

“My sword doesn’t have a political motive,” Nico said with frown. “For it to be an assassination it needs to be politically motivated.”

“Wow, gee. Thank you for all of your murder trivia, I feel so well informed and so much better.”

“Well, at least you’ll have learned something instead of just staying an ignorant peasant your whole life,” Nico told him with his best noble sniff. “Besides, it’s a magic sword and it’s bound to the hilt. It’ll be fine. I’m not leaving it with your purse. I could need it, and I can’t have any mortal accidentally touching it. They might die, or get consumed by my sword, or cause a panic or something.”

“Satchel,” Will grumbled. Nico gave a cough that suspiciously sounded like a laugh, before Will bumped his shoulder against Nico’s. Nico gave him a sidelong look before bumping his shoulder back as the teen came to pull down the bar on all of the carts. “You ready?”  

Nico gave him a wide grin. It was full of teeth and it pulled up his full mouth, and Nico looked so happy and excited that it took Will’s breath away.

“I’m so ready,” Nico said.

I’m not ready, Will thought desperately before adding, I’m so not ready.

Something that Will learned about Nico was that he was an adrenaline junkie. As soon as they were done with one roller coaster, Nico was up for another. Will might have liked rollercoasters a lot, but he was glad when Nico mentioned that he was hungry. Will could only take the floor-dropping-out-from-underneath-him sensation so many times in a row before he got a bit overstimulated and needed to take a break, sit down, and keep from feeling like the lights and sounds were reaching into his skull and scrambling his brains and keeping him from focusing.

Will found himself sitting across from Nico, both with two hotdogs each, fries, and soda. Will took a sip of his Dr. Pepper, sighing. There wasn’t much that was better than an ice-cold soda in the hot summer sun. Nico munching on his fries with gusto, the sight making Will smile.

“I see someone likes to add a little vitamin G into their diet,” Will noted.

“Vitamin G?” Nico asked with a raised brow.

“Grease,” Will teased as he tossed Nico a fry. Nico snapped it from the air between his teeth, and Will felt like his heart was being snatched out of his chest yet again because how perfect could one boy be? Will was so absorbed that when he took a bite from his hotdog he pulled his hand away too fast, causing him to half drop the hotdog. Nico snorted into his soda, Will wiped his face with his napkin. “Are you laughing at me?”

“No,” Nico lied between snickers.

“You are so laughing at me,” Will said as he stuck his foot out, kicking Nico’s boot with his sneaker. Nico kicked him back, his foot running up Will’s leg. Nico gave Will a small almost shy smile, and Will felt his ears heat up. Oh my gods, he was flirting with Nico. And Nico was flirting back. He didn’t find Will’s attempts weird. This was happening, and Will was enjoying it.

“Okay, maybe just a little,” Nico admitted as he polished off a hotdog.

“So what do you want to do now?” Will asked him curiously. Nico’s gaze seemingly scanned the immediate surrounding, before landing on the stalls of games and arcades. He appeared somewhat hesitant from the way his jaw clenched, despite his obvious longing. “Got something against arcades?”

“No…I don’t, but I happen to have gotten trapped in one once,” Nico said as he grabbed something that looked like a handle out of his bag. “But trust me, I’m not getting caught in one again.”

“Uh, Nico—holy shit is that a machete?” Will hissed as he pulled up Nico’s wrist to show the telltale curved hilt before shoving it back down. Will looked around, thankful that no one had seen it. “Nico, why are you walking around with a machete?!”

“I just told you. In case I get trapped somewhere,” Nico said with a frown.

“But you have a sword!”

“Do you honestly think I’m stupid enough to walk around with only one weapon? Seriously?”  

“You can’t just—what is this?” Will asked as rooted around Nico’s backpack for any other weapons or surprises and he pulled out a jar. He gazed at it in astonishment, that creeping sense of déjà vu hitting him. “Pennies?”

“Yeah, the Stolls’ idea of payment. They didn’t even roll them, the bastards,” Nico grumbled with a sour look.

“And you’ve just been carrying these around all day?” Will asked as he stifled a smile, but found it difficult. Of course, Will thought. All of his dreams were coming true today. Well, hopefully not all of them, Will added with a wince. He certainly had one dream that he didn’t want to come true. But his batting average seemed to be too good. Just when you were feeling optimistic you have to go and bum yourself out, Will thought, resisting the urge to sigh. He needed to be more positive.

“I figured I would get Charon to roll them with me later,” Nico said sounding truly insulted. Thankfully noticing Will’s thoughts, and that comforted him a bit. “I won this fair and square and I intend to use it…eventually.”

“Pffft. That’s so lame,” Will said with a cackle.

“I am not lame!” Nico argued, flushed as he stood up. His cheeks ripened into a dark shade, that spread to his ears. “You watch, I’m going to destroy all of these games, win the best prizes and then you’ll be sorry for ever even considering me lame.”

“I’m watching, I’m watching,” Will promised him as he raised his hands in surrender. Nico huffed, seemingly placated, and Will lowered his hands. They cleared the table, and began the walk down to the games. “I don’t actually think you’re lame.”

“I know, you think I’m cool. You’re probably the only one. Well, besides Hazel. I guess I’ve managed to convince her that I’m cool,” Nico said as he put on his backpack. “Well, I would hope so.”

“My siblings think you’re a cool guy,” Will said before hopping in line for cotton candy. “And you’re a hero, so, you’ve certainly outclassed me.”

“Says the guy who reattached a kid’s arms?” Nico asked with a roll of his eyes. Will looked around, hoping that no one had heard Nico’s off-color comment. No one seemed concerned thankfully. Nico seemed to take little heed when it came to situation. It’s not like Nico couldn’t read the mood, the fact he had survived as a Roman Ambassador proved that he probably had a shrewd sense for politics. Nico was just stubborn, and liked to do things his way with little heed for the consequences. “Everyone else at camp gives me a hard time. Not that they do it to be mean, they just like messing with me.”

“I think you’re thinking of two specific people that like messing with you,” Will said. “Everyone else is a little too scared of you to really try doing that.”

“Well, I can’t let just anyone get away with that kind of thing. I do have a reputation to uphold. And besides, plotting the murders of two people is already hard enough,” Nico said breezily.

“I know you aren’t being serious, but still, I feel like I should warn Percy and Jason for their own self-preservation.”

Nico gave Will that teeth-baring grin, and Will shook his head with a smile of his own. Nico was independent, steadfast, focused, stubborn as a bull and hot headed. But he also had a strong sense of justice and fairness, to the point of self-sacrifice. Will honestly thought that Nico could do anything he put his mind to. Nico had helped to save the world, at almost the cost of himself, with no hesitation. And that was all besides the fact that he was absolutely one of the cutest boys that Will believed had ever lived or breathed on this earth. That fact was just an added bonus, and Will thought he would have fallen for Nico regardless.  

Fallen…for…

Will really liked him, Will thought as he blushed, tucking a curl behind his ear and trying not to sneak glances at Nico while ignoring the telltale heat in his face. Nico seemed absorbed with people watching as they moved in line, so thankfully he didn’t notice Will’s gazes. Will really liked Nico. This was the best first date he had ever been on…though he had only been on two counting this one. He wanted this date to last forever, even if that was totally embarrassing and childish. Who knew that just walking around with someone and hanging out could be so much fun? Even if it was just sitting and eating lunch with Nico, he was having more fun then he could remember having. And wasn’t that supposed to be what liking someone meant? It meant enjoying spending time with a person, and never wanting that time to end if you could help it.

So what did that all mean? Was he in love with Nico? Just the thought of it made him woozy. Love was a really really strong word. Maybe he wasn’t ready for that…he hadn’t quite steeled his heart for love and everything that came with it. Love was hard for demigods, and considering his father’s track record Will knew not to expect anything different for him. This was all besides the fact that he was totally jumping the gun. Will didn’t even know how Nico felt, his emotions were almost a mystery to Will. And could Will bear falling in love with Nico only to get his heart broken? Was he strong enough? Will wondered—

               Nico suddenly shoved a bag of cotton candy in Will’s chest, effectively breaking his line of thoughts.

               “I hope you like strawberry,” Nico told him and a huff.

               “I love it,” Will said with a smile, shaking off his lingering doubts as he reached back out for Nico’s hand and took it.

               The spent the way back to Camp Half-Blood much like they had gone, just chatting. Nico let Will swing their hands together in the rhythm that they walked, half-heartedly complaining as he did so. Nico carried a new teddy bear he had won under one arm as they emerged from the Labyrinth. The sun was just beginning to set, but Will was grateful for the peak he got. Being underground really gave him with creeps.

               “Here,” Nico said, dropping Will’s hand from his own and then offering him the teddy bear. “I don’t really need it, and if you don’t want it then maybe you can give it to Violet…or something.”

               “I’m going to cherish this until I die. You’ll have to bury me with this,” Will told Nico very seriously as he hugged the teddy bear to his chest.

               “Holy Hera—why are you like this?” Nico groaned. “So freaking dramatic.”

               “I’m a son of Apollo, it’s what I do. But seriously, I had a really good time today,” Will told him as he swallowed and gathered up his courage. “Could we…could we do it again? A date, I mean. Go on another date.”

               “Another date?” Nico asked, his eyes wide. “I mean…you want to?”

               “Absolutely! If…if that’s fine with you?” Will asked, kicking himself for being so excited at the prospect before Nico even agreed.

               “I…yeah,” Nico said, looking down at his boots. “I…I had a good time too.”

               “Good, that’s good,” Will said as he felt his face redden. “I…I’m going to go back to my cabin. I’ll see you at the fire tonight?”

               “Okay,” Nico said, looking up from beneath his bangs.

               Would it be weird to ask to kiss him? Will thought as he rocked back on his heels, the urge to mash his face against Nico’s stronger than Will thought it would be. He had enjoyed holding Nico’s hand so much, kissing Nico…feeling his lips against Will’s, it probably would be incredible. Will would probably faint again. No, no he couldn’t. It was only their first date. And Nico had just agreed to a second one, so it had to have gone well. Will couldn’t mess it up by kissing Nico so suddenly. Besides, maybe there would be a good chance at some point when the mood was right.  

               Strategy, Will thought. It was all about strategy.

               “I-I’ll see you later!” Will said before he ran off in the direction of his cabin. As soon as he was out of Nico’s line of sight, he hopped, skipped, jumped, and then screamed with joy into his newly acquired teddy bear. He got back to his cabin and found it suspiciously empty, as he placed his teddy bear next to the plants. Will went off to find his brothers and sisters, half running into them as they exited the music classes.

               “How did it go?” Kayla demanded excitedly, Violet was currently grabbing onto Will’s arm and jumping up and down. Antonio and Emma hung back nervously. Austin rushed up beside them to hear the news.

               “I got a second date,” Will said as he flashed a thumbs up. His entire cabin cheered, Austin took the bottle of ginger ale he was holding, shook it, and then opened it (spraying Antonio who yelped and tripped over a rock). As Antonio chased Austin around, Emma hugged Will tightly.

               “We knew you could do it!” Emma told him earnestly. “I’m so happy for you.”

               “Thanks guys, all of you,” Will said, grabbing his younger brothers by the collars, and then pulling them into a hug. They apparently truced and then reciprocated. “I’m glad you guys at least had some faith in me. So what did you guys get up to, today? Where did you tell Chiron me and Nico were by the way?”

               “Uh…about that…”

               “Ah, Will! There you are,” Chiron called, looking strangely suspicious. “Are you done with your preparations?”

               “Preparations?” Will asked in return, casting a glance to his siblings who seemed determined not to look at him.  

               “Well, I only guessed you would be heading over there now. Everyone’s gathered from your Campfire Sing A-long,” Chiron said as he waved and walked off first. Will turned to his siblings, crossing his arms over his chest and tapping his feet on the ground.

               “What did you do?” Will demanded of them.

               “Well, he asked where you were!” Antonio whined. “We had to come up with something. We just told him that you were preparing a special song for tonight.”

               “What?” Will cried.

               “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” Austin told him with a pat on the shoulder. “We brought out different instruments, so it’s whatever you want to do.”

               “Oh my Gods, guys, you know I can’t do music!” Will bemoaned. Kayla just sighed heavily, as if dealing with Will’s earthly concerns were a mere trifle.

               “Everything’ll work out. Or it won’t and you’ll embarrass yourself in front of your new boyfriend. No worries,” Kayla told him.

               “I take everything back. You are all awful—and he’s not my boyfriend!”

               “Yet!” his family chorused back at him. Will stomped off to the firepit where all the cabins had gathered for the songs. His siblings had set up a good array of instruments, obviously trying to give Will options. All the other kids from Camp Half-Blood cheered at their arrival. Nico had taken a seat with Percy and Annabeth and Jason, and just his gaze made Will shiver.

               Gods, just when you go and get a boy to agree to a second date you have to make a fool in front of him, Will thought miserably.

“Since you’re brothers and sisters told me that you spent all day preparing for our camp fire singalong, I suppose it’s only right to have you kick us off tonight, Will,” Chiron said with a raised eyebrow. The fire was already roaring tall and proud, and the sky had taken on its violet-blue twilight hue. Will just needed to get this over with. He sighed as his eye caught a glint of gold.

“Um…yeah, of course,” Will said as he scooped up the battle ukulele and began strumming it while desperately going through his repertoire of songs before wincing and beginning the only melody he could come up with, with a sheepish smile. “Uh…this is a classic song known as the…uh…Campfire Song Song.”

“I’ve never heard it,” Chiron said confused but interested.

“Wait is he being serious?” Kayla hissed under her breath as Emma jabbed her in the ribs. Will cleared his throat as he continued to strum the chords, quickly going over the words in his head and just praying that he could make it work.

“Let’s gather round the campfire and sing our campfire song! Our C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G Song, and if you don’t think that we can sing it faster than you’re wrong, but it’ll help if you just sing along,” Will sang but also ordered his siblings.

“Bum, bum, bum!” Violet added excitedly.

“C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G Song C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G Song -and-if-you-don’t-think-that-we-can-sing-it-faster-than-you’re-wrong-but-it’ll-help-if-you-just-sing-along!”

“C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G Song C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G Songandifyoudon’tthinkthatwecansingitfasterthanyou’rewrongbutit’llhelpifyoujustsingalong!” Hermes Cabin literally screamed back with more gusto then Will could ever recall the cabin having during any of their Camp Fire Sing A-Longs. No matter, Will took it and ran with it and kept strumming. Suddenly everyone in Ares Cabin, which had apparently taken the challenge personally, stood up and bellowed,

“C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G SONG C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G SONGANDIFYOUDON’TTHINKTHATWECANSINGITFASTERTHANYOU’REWRONGBUTIT’LLHELPIFYOUJUSTSINGALONG!”

“C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-GSong—AUSTIN!”

“SONG C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G SONG!” Austin repeated back, pounding out a rhythm on his snare drum.

“Nico!” Will called. Nico stared at him in confusion and disbelief as Will strummed through the pause. Percy burst into laughter, falling over onto Annabeth who caught her boyfriend and shook her head. “Good! IT’LL HELP, IT’LL HEEEEEEEELP IF YOU JUST SING ALONG! OH YEAH!”

Cecil yanked Will’s battle ukulele out of his hands and bashed it over the log and split it into two, the sparks setting it ablaze. Lou Ellen screamed and kicked the suddenly flaming shards into the fire. Ares Cabin (headed by Sherman and observed by a very entertained Clarisse) grabbed the cooler of bug juice, and then dumped it onto Aphrodite Cabin like they were celebrating a game winning touchdown. Pollux jumped from a bench and began crowd surfing, Damien White and Jake Mason ripped off their shirts and began flexing, while Athena Cabin threw food and jeered, Katie and Miranda kept Laurel and Holly from running over and showing them who could do the better shirtless flex. Popcorn kernels hit Jason Grace in his face and he popped it with his electricity while he yelled about getting it in his eyes while Piper attempted to control her laughter at her boyfriend’s trouble while also trying to calm down her frenzied cabin mates.

“Righteous tunes,” Clovis said as he patted Will’s shoulder before slouching against Butch who with a yelp pushed him onto Paolo who fell over backwards with him and hit their heads. Iris Cabin rushed over to try to be of assistance. Chiron was overlooking the chaos as if he wasn’t quite sure what to do with all of them.

“Gods, I love this place,” Will said with a slightly sore throat.

“It certainly has its own charms,” Nico conceded as he sat down next to Will, not moving away when Will leaned against him, only sighing contentedly.  

[bambeptin]

got any headcanons for Six X Holiday X Knight? (Holixknight? Knolix? IDK)

wholix! the whol- opening is for “wholesome, pure” (and hell yeah I do)

“Don’t talk to me or my mom or my dad or my dad ever again.” - Rex

yes, Knight does apologize to Holiday for how he’s treated her

parent-teacher night is hell. for the teacher. Rex, the trash child, walks in with Six and Holiday and already the teach is sweating. these three are practically celebrities, Six is intimidating in his crisp green suit and sharp sunglasses and he had to be talked out of walking in with an actual katana strapped to his back, Holiday is carrying a lot of paperwork (including plans to enrich the curriculum), Rex is fearing how long the interview will take. Six and Holiday are to the right and left of him, protectively

in clunks White Knight in his exosuit, actual White Knight not on the screens or anything (Holiday suggested he come in person so it’s more personal, and also conferencing on a phone screen “would leave the wrong first impression” when everyone else was in person), and he brings up a seat to the table and sits right behind Rex

extra: White Knight is wearing his signature white suit, black tie on black dress shirt fashion disaster combo on top of his armour

“Are you…” The teacher points at White Knight. “The grandpa? I knew Rex’s family situation was odd, but–”“I’m the dad.”“Oh! Excuse me. Dr. Holiday is lucky to have–”“Dr. Holiday and Agent Six.”

MORE SWEATING

(side note: I actually headcanon White Knight as having officially adopted Rex after he joined Providence because he wasn’t going to allow “parental emotions” to cloud Six’s or Holiday’s judgement. now look at him,)

White Knight usually cooks. Six can make basic meals, but Holiday is banned from cooking ever again

Knight can rarely go outside in his armour because of safety concerns but it’s worth it when he can wake up in the morning, partners cuddled up next to him, one partner splayed on top and leaving their breath on his faceplate,

you know how if you wear a sock weirdly you have this, sock imprint in your skin. meanwhile Six and Holiday wake up with armour imprints

Holiday gets Six and Knight a change of clothing. Six has not owned pajamas for years and frankly, that’s a cardinal sin (she gets green ones with little shurikens on them for Six, and a pastel rainbow one for Knight)

Six and Knight give combat training to Rex so he doesn’t rely on his builds (Knight is still vicious as ever while Six is like “calm down, we’re not teaching Rex how to assassinate someone. anyways, Rex, hold this katana, let me teach you something–”) while Holiday teaches him first aid because her son isn’t going to rush into battle guns (and swords) blazing without stopping to patch him and others up

Rex takes pictures of them constantly to send to his friends, Noah’s favourite kinds are the ones where Rex shakes the camera so you can barely tell the blurry figures are Knight, Holiday, and Six, and captions it “cryptid”

wearing each other’s clothes, Holiday in way too large sweatpants, Six in a slightly too big turtleneck, White Knight in a labcoat draped over his shoulders and with his frame it looks more like a normal shirt

Rex tries to hug all three of them at once and has to build his Smack Hands because his armspan is too small

meanwhile, all three of them hugging Rex at once…

just them…comfortable in each other’s presence. drinking tea that Six prepared. chatting. lounging. trusting everyone,

everyone! calling! each! other! PARTNER!!

bonus, Knight’s reinfected: they have to get a custom-built huge bed because Knight loves sleeping in that sprawl style, which doesn’t mesh with Six’s plank style and Holiday’s pass out onto bed at 3am right after laughing for 5 minutes about cats style (and sometimes they need space)(they do get Holiday to a more healthy work cycle eventually)

[dfroza]

Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms

for Thursday, december 24 of 2020 with Proverbs 24 and Psalm 24, accompanied by Psalm 4 for the 4th day of Winter, and Psalm 59 for day 359 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)

[Proverbs 24]

Don’t envy the wealth of the wicked or crave their company.

For they’re obsessed with causing trouble

and their conversations are corrupt.

Wise people are builders—

they build families, businesses, communities.

And through intelligence and insight

their enterprises are established and endure.

Because of their skilled leadership

the hearts of people are filled with the treasures of wisdom

and the pleasures of spiritual wealth.

Wisdom can make anyone into a mighty warrior,

and revelation-knowledge increases strength.

Wise strategy is necessary to wage war,

and with many astute advisers

you’ll see the path to victory more clearly.

Wisdom is a treasure too lofty for a quarreling fool—

he’ll have nothing to say when leaders gather together.

There is one who makes plans to do evil—

Master Schemer is his name.

If you plan to do evil, it’s as wrong as doing it.

And everyone detests a troublemaker.

If you faint when under pressure,

you have need of courage.

Go and rescue the perishing! Be their savior!

Why would you stand back and watch them stagger to their death?

And why would you say, “But it’s none of my business”?

The one who knows you completely and judges your every motive

is also the keeper of souls—and not just yours!

He sees through your excuses and holds you responsible

for failing to help those whose lives are threatened.

Revelation-knowledge is a delicacy,

sweet like flowing honey that melts in your mouth.

Eat as much of it as you can, my friend!

For then you will perceive what is true wisdom,

your future will be bright,

and this hope living within will never disappoint you.

Listen up, you wicked, irreverent ones—

don’t harass the lovers of God

and don’t invade their resting place.

For the lovers of God may suffer adversity

and stumble seven times,

but they will continue to rise over and over again.

But the unrighteous are brought down by just one calamity

and will never be able to rise again.

Never gloat when your enemy meets disaster

and don’t be quick to rejoice if he falls.

For the Lord, who sees your heart,

will be displeased with you and will pity your foe.

Don’t be angrily offended over evildoers or be agitated by them.

For the wicked have no life and no future—

their light of life will die out.

My child, stand in awe of the Lord Jehovah!

Give counsel to others,

but don’t mingle with those who are rebellious.

For sudden destruction will fall upon them

and their lives will be ruined in a moment.

And who knows what retribution they will face!

[Revelation from the Wise]

Those enlightened with wisdom have spoken these proverbs:

Judgment must be impartial,

for it is always wrong to be swayed by a person’s status.

If you say to the guilty, “You are innocent,”

the nation will curse you and the people will revile you.

But when you convict the guilty,

the people will thank you and reward you with favor.

Speaking honestly is a sign of true friendship.

Go ahead, build your career and give yourself to your work.

But if you put me first, you’ll see your family built up!

Why would you be a false accuser and slander with your words?

Don’t ever spitefully say, “I’ll get even with him!

I’ll do to him what he did to me!”

One day I passed by the field of a lazy man

and I noticed the vineyards of a slacker.

I observed nothing but thorns, weeds, and broken-down walls.

So I considered their lack of wisdom,

and I pondered the lessons I could learn from this:

Professional work habits prevent poverty from becoming

your permanent business partner. And:

If you put off until tomorrow the work you could do today,

tomorrow never seems to come.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 24 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 24]

A song of David.

The earth and all that’s upon it belong to the Eternal.

The world is His, with every living creature on it.

With seas as foundations and rivers as boundaries,

He shaped the continents, fashioned the earth.

Who can possibly ascend the mountain of the Eternal?

Who can stand before Him in sacred spaces?

Only those whose hands have been washed and hearts made pure,

men and women who are not given to lies or deception.

The Eternal will stand close to them with blessing and mercy at hand,

and the God who redeems will right what has been wrong.

These are the people who chase after Him;

[like Jacob, they look for the face of God].

[pause]

City gates—open wide!

Ancient doors—stand back!

For the glorious King shall soon pass your way.

Who is the glorious King?

The Eternal who is powerful

and mightily equipped for battle.

City gates—open wide!

Ancient doors—stand back!

For the glorious King shall soon pass your way.

Who is the glorious King?

The Eternal, Commander of heaven’s army,

He is the glorious King.

[pause]

The Book of Psalms, Poem 24 (The Voice)

[Psalm 4]

For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by strings.

Answer my prayers, O True God, the righteous, who makes me right.

I was hopelessly surrounded, and You rescued me.

Once again hear me; hide me in Your favor;

bring victory in defeat and hope in hopelessness.

How long will you sons of Adam steal my dignity, reduce my glory to shame?

Why pine for the fruitless and dream a delusion?

[pause]

Understand this: The Eternal One treats as special those like Him.

The Eternal will answer my prayers and save me.

Think long; think hard. When you are angry, don’t let it carry you into sin.

When night comes, in calm be silent.

[pause]

From this day forward, offer to God the right sacrifice from a heart made right by God.

Entrust yourself to the Eternal.

Crowds of disheartened people ask, “Who can show us what is good?”

Let Your brilliant face shine upon us, O Eternal One, that we may know the undeniable answer.

You have filled me with joy, and happiness has risen in my heart, great delight and unrivaled joy,

even more than when bread abounds and wine flows freely.

Tonight I will sleep securely on a bed of peace

because I trust You, You alone, O Eternal One, will keep me safe.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 4 (The Voice)

[Psalm 59]

For the worship leader. A prayer of David to the tune “Do Not Destroy,” when Saul sent assassins to David’s house.

Rescue me! Save me, O my God, from my enemies;

set me in a safe place, far above any who come to attack me.

Rescue me from those malicious people,

and save me from blood-thirsty murderers.

They have staked out my life; they are going to ambush me!

Those brutes are aligned, ready to attack me

For no good cause, my Eternal One.

I have not crossed them.

I’ve done nothing wrong, yet they rush ahead to start the assault.

I beg You to help me; come and see for Yourself!

I plead with You, Eternal One, Commander of heavenly armies, True God of Israel,

to get up and punish these people;

do not let any betrayer off the hook; show no mercy to malicious evildoers!

[pause]

Treacherous souls return to the city in the evening;

they prowl about,

howling like dogs.

Watch them! Snarling, dribbling their malicious insults.

Their words cut loose from their lips like swords,

and in their backstabbing they say, “Who’s listening anyway?”

But You, O Eternal One, laugh at them;

You make fun of all the nations.

I will watch for You, for You keep me strong.

God, You are my security!

My God is one step ahead of me with His mercy;

He will show me the victory I desire over my enemies.

Don’t wipe them out, or my people may one day forget.

Instead, use Your power to scatter and bring them to ruin.

O Lord, You are our protection.

Sin pours from their mouths, cruel words from their lips.

May they be caught in their pride.

For their foul curses and lies,

devour them with Your wrath,

eat them up, leave no one alive.

Then people will surely know that the one True God rules over Jacob,

even to the far ends of the earth.

[pause]

Treacherous souls return to the city in the evening;

they prowl about,

howling like dogs.

They search through the city, scavenging for meat

as they growl and grumble in dissatisfaction.

But me? I will sing of Your strength.

I will awake with the sun to sing of Your loving mercy

Because in my most troubled hour,

You defended me. You were my shelter.

I will lift my voice to sing Your praise, O my Strength—

for You came to my defense.

O God, You have shown me Your loving mercy.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 59 (The Voice)