#i thought I was healed from the initial disappointment of not getting it

[blossoms-phan]

will pay $4000000000000 for a gold vip ticket after today

[shadowshrike]

Interfering with Halsin's Portal

It's pretty well known that there are a few situations you can get in where Halsin is well and truly angry rather than disappointed or worried, but I don't think a lot of folks know one of those situations is if you mess with his portal to the Shadowfell. It's a heartwrenching bit of acting. It's also fundamental to the plot of my in-progress fic Girdled Roots, so I figured I might share it with the other Halsin-lovers out there who have never seen it.

EDIT: Please be aware this is datamined dialog and may not be visible in game. It appears to be intended to trigger if the player attempts to enter the portal, which I don't believe is possible in the final game, or at least I couldn't find a way in the most recent version. Sharing this is simply to enjoy the incredible acting and get some plot bunnies moving, not to make any commentary about the game's canon.

Halsin's Initial Reaction

Halsin: No! Stop! Halsin: It's gone... that was our one chance. You've doomed this place to darkness! Halsin: I warned you - told you this was my burden to carry. Why didn't you listen?

The pure rage and despair is visceral. Prior to this, Halsin mentions this portal has been a century in the making, but he's so calm and measured (even upon success) that it is easy to dismiss just how much agony has plagued him as he hoped to make things right. This chance is everything to him. It has guided his every action for a century. It is a hundred years of work, prayer, and guilt to rectify the horrific fate of both land and people that came to nothing because a stranger he trusted refused to listen to him.

The portal breaking is the only time we hear Halsin speak the truth of its importance to him without a hint of emotional regulation. He is wild with pain. This man who is always thoughtful and slow to anger in the face of horror with the wisdom of age and suffering to guide him has become too overwhelmed to show any kindness.

Player response

The player is given several different ways to respond, and Halsin's reaction varies a surprising amount depending on how understandable their reason is. In most cases, he states that he needs to be alone afterward.

Option 1: I'm sorry - I acted on instinct. Halsin: Words won't repair what's been done to this land. Nothing will... I need to be alone.

You can hear the ache in Halsin's voice, but he's somewhat understanding of this response. He projects more sadness than unchecked rage. The player has admitted to making a mistake, and Halsin isn't the type of person who hold onto vengeance when an apology has been made, but he's not naive or people-pleasing enough to say "it's okay" or offer comfort either. The safest thing for everyone is for him to step away to grieve when there is nothing more to be done.

Option 2: I did all the work here - I couldn't just let you take the glory. Halsin: Glory?! There's no glory here. Now there's nothing here - only shadows and the total absence of hope. Halsin:  There is nothing more to be said... I need to be alone.

Pure fury radiates from Halsin's response if the player focuses on the idea of being some grand hero rather than actually caring for the outcome. What the player did was an unforgiveable act, dooming everything that Halsin holds dear, and you have the audacity to complain about not getting glory from it. Again, he steps away, but this feels more like he's doing it because he believes you're worthless to reason with rather than because he needs a moment.

Option 3: I saved your grove - I figured it'd be best if I handled this as well. Halsin: We were this close to healing these lands. Now your arrogance has torn open the wounds once more. Halsin:  There is nothing more to be said... I need to be alone.

Halsin is still frustrated with this response and unmistakably angry, but it's significantly toned down from the idea of wanting to go through the portal for glory. More like he thinks you're a self-important idiot than a truly terrible person.

Specialized player responses

There are also three special responses you can give if you have a particular class or diety.

Druid: I thought my powers were equal to yours. Halsin: It wasn't just power this needed - it was wisdom, understanding. I suffered along with this place for years trying to understand the curse... and it seems I will continue to do so. Halsin:  There is nothing more to be said... I need to be alone.

Interestingly, he responds much more intensely to a druid than some of the other player choices. It might be in part because he feels like a druid should know better. He lectures the player like an Archdruid would initiates in his Grove, alternating between angry and explanatory, trying to get the player to understand why they were wrong and the sheer magnitude of their error. He ultimately ends in a much more resigned place here rather than personally resentful. Like a father-figure being forced through further life trials because of a child's foolish indiscretion. Frustrating, but inevitable.

Selunite: I trusted in Selûne to guide me through the shadows. Halsin: My friend - I wish you had trusted in me.

This is probably Halsin's most simple response with the least vitriol. He fully understands this answer, even if he's disappointed by it. The fact he calls the player 'friend' suggests a certain tired acceptance of this being a natural behavior for a Selunite trying to do good. We don't see this calm in other responses where Halsin was surprised by the player's choice.

Sharran: The Shadowfell is no place for non-believers - I couldn't allow you to soil it. Halsin: I should never have trusted an ally of the Dark Lady.

If you've ever taken Halsin along with Shadowheart in Act 2, then you know he is absolutely scathing toward her and her faith. He likely isn't as angry if a Sharran breaks the portal because it is utterly predictable. It merely confirms a truth he already knew and talked himself out of. That Sharrans cannot be fully trusted in matters of their goddess, even if one was good enough to rescue his people from the goblins.

[lovelykhaleesiii]

Heyo love, can i request a smut where Mean Aemond fucks his innocent wife on the garden, please? ily ❤️

heya lovely, this idea...this holds a special place in my heart (just like you) 💓 hope you enjoy this x

A Flower to Ruin...

PAIRING: Cruel!Aemond Targaryen x fem!Tyrell!Innocent!Reader

WORDS: 2,516.

WARNINGS: mean/cruel!Aemond, degradation kink, female f*ngering, p in v sexual intercourse, swearing, NSFW. MINORS DNI.

A/N - I keep getting carried away, this was meant to be a small blurb, no plot & yet… here I am rambling away.

Having married the notorious one-eyed Prince, was a reality you did not dream possible. Although your House [Tyrell] was a meek one, it could and would gratefully offer endless wealth, a highly valued asset to the Crown, undoubtedly. Your betrothal nonetheless, was planned, a guaranteed means that further heightened the riches now shared with the newly appointed King, Aegon the Second, for the betterment of the realm.

And as romanticised as you'd dreamt of your surreal betrothal to the Prince Regent: such idyllic thoughts and daydreams that contaminated your mind, were vanquished with reality. For your husband, was a cruel man indeed...

Aemond Targaryen, was very much an unnerving man. Of all the rumours and whispers that would occasionally reach your innocent ears, of the infamous Kinslayer, you were keen to ignore such hearsay, remaining blissfully optimistic about your fiancé. However, much to your dismay, your initial impression of Aemond was one that stirred an internal debate inside: was it terror or lust that made you feel so uneasy around him?

The lingering yet blatant wound of his absent eye, although hidden beneath the feeble leather of an eyepatch, the red trail of a healed scar remained... And was somewhat chilling. Being frank to yourself, it did not falter your attraction towards him, however. He had a handsomely, chiselled face, the ethereal Targaryen features were most exemplified on him. Even from a distance, you could tell that his height would tower over you, his mass lean and toned. Just by his sheer demeanour, one could easily decipher that he was a warrior trained.

And when he spoke, he was stoic and monotonous, it seemed he was not impressed nor was he disappointed. The man was an enigma, impossible to decipher his raw emotions and pure intent. Was he pleased with you? Was he satisfied with this arrangement? Would he ultimately love you?

Overtime, in the following months proceeding the lavish, royal wedding, it remained impossible to say. Aemond, much to your relief, took pride in performing his husbandly duties. However, you'd grown familiar with his approach towards you, it was one filled with almost a sweet bitterness, gaining amusement in intimidating and humiliating you, and yet to some level he remained cautious with you, as though not to completely frighten you off. He kept you lingering for more, like bait on a hook.

It drove you mad, yet you'd never forged the courage to confront him, for fear that you would displease him enough to leave, wounding his ego. In truth, he was not a violent nor terrible husband either, he was committed. You had no plausible reason to complain. And yet, he treated you as though you were an inanimate object, his property, hurrying to his beckon call always, like some lamb to its shepherd.

Even in his absence, you had missed him. Only gone for a few days, for a hunting round with the young lords and knights of the realm, you'd disappointingly concluded that your feelings were one-sided. He did not miss you, how could he miss you? Aemond showed no sentimental attachment towards you, except that you were bound his loyal wife, before the laws of men and Gods... Or so you had convinced yourself.

****

"So I thought I'd find you here, my rose-" The sudden, abruptness of his deep voice had caught you off guard. Startling you, as you hastily cast your attention towards him from the open book resting in your lap. Slowly, he'd strolled towards you, hands firmly placed behind his back, as he found you nestled beneath a hidden canopy, sprawled on a silk, picnic duvet, across a freshly, cut grass-patch, beneath the cool shade offered by the blossom tree above.

"F-Forgive me, husband. I did not realise you had returned... Had I known I-" You stutter, as you attempt to gather yourself to stand.

Aemond stops you, surprisingly insisting you remain where you are, as he himself cowers down instead, laying himself beside you.

A few seconds of sheer silence are exchanged, as Aemond's attention shuffles from the stems of grass he distractedly picks at, to the neat, floral bushes onwards. You observe him longingly, a warmth fills your heart from his much anticipated presence, secretly embracing his return, as a thoughtless, faint smile appears on your face.

"H-How was the hunt, my Prince?" You utter, in a meek attempt to initiate some kind of conversation. Aemond looks onto you sternly, still his face remains stoic, although somewhat irritated, as he huffs in annoyance.

"Abysmal...Most of the bastards drunk, only myself, Criston and a few of the Kingsguard actually went out for the hunt. Waste of time when I could have been-" Aemond pauses, his words stopping in his tracks, as his gaze returns to fall upon you. His only surviving eye, lingers over your body, before resting upon your face once more. You could've sworn you saw a slight upturn curve of a smile, although one filled with that familiar glint of arrogance.

"When I could have been fucking my needy, whore of a wife."

The harshness yet deviousness of his words had caught you by surprise, feeling your cheeks turn scarlet, as you flustered and adjusted in your seated position. You felt a dull, aching pang between your inner thighs, a familiar feeling that you'd grown weakly accustomed to.

Gods, what was only a few short days, felt like long, agonising weeks since your husband had filled you. You were indeed, needy for him, for the sex had always been a pleasurable event, something you'd often looked forward to for many nights to come since your consummation. Although, this being the first since you'd both been spared some time and distance apart, you'd grown even more susceptible for his cock. Desperately craving for him during the dark, lonesome hours in the night, you'd attempt to sate yourself in his stead, however failed miserably...

It was not the same.

Remaining speechless, you’d often found yourself at a loss of words, or stuttering ambiguous sounds as Aemond tended to you. His rough hand slowly reaches up, caressing your clothed thigh, before hiking up the dress where his hand disappears beneath the garment. The flesh of his palm meets the sensitive spot of your inner thigh as he begins to trace soft circles.

“Gods, how I’ve missed you. Surrounded by all those impotent cocks, envisioning you begging for me, was the only thing keeping me sane.”

Your eyes begin to flutter before shutting, the tenderness of his words in conjunction to the lightness of his fingers, sent shivers down your spine. Sensing his hand etching closer towards your entrance, tugging at the undergarment, as the tips of his fingers graze over your moist folds.

"Although, it seems you might have been suffering as well..." His tone was low, yet amused. The smirk now prominent on his chiselled face, however was fleeting, as he returned to yet another stiff expression.

"Part your legs," He firmly uttered. From the early months of the marriage you'd learnt not to disobey, for your husband was a firm believer in justified punishment.

Doing as told, like any meek, obedient wife, you'd obeyed, spreading your legs, distant enough for his arm to snake over your thigh closest to him, where his hand remained over your cunt. Laying his weight over you, as he remained turned facing you, laid by your side, and you still propped up. The novel that you'd deeply immersed yourself in a few, mere minutes ago, now strewed across the grass, its existence no longer of significance.

"Hmm-Needy, little thing aren't you? My deprived whore-"

As he spoke, the tips of his fingers began to plunge in further into your folds, slowly encircling inside.

"Tell me, my sweet, pathetic, little wife, how desperate have you been for me? For my cock, hmm?"

"A-Aemond-" You thoughtlessly stutter, your pelvis motioning forwards, urging for more of his touch.

"Can't even think for herself, look at you. You were wet before I even began... Tell me, whore, have you touched yourself in my absence?"

His fingers delved deeper, now two, long digits inserted, pumping in and out in slow, sensual motions. His fingers massaging your walls within, as your wetness began to pool.

"N-No-" You lie, fearful that Aemond would think less of you, that you were incapable of living freely and dignified without him, even if it was for a few, short days. Aemond relished in how you'd hopelessly yearn for him, dependent on him, a loyal wife vulnerable for her dutiful husband. He loved to remind you repeatedly, growing hard thinking that only he could make you feel this way.

"Lies-" He venomously spat, urging his fingers to plunge in deeper, with a greater verocity and speed than before, causing you to jerk involuntarily, earning a loud, thoughtless moan.

"Quiet, you whore- Should someone hear us, you will be left cockless and deprived. Now tell me the truth-"

Even in the short span of time Aemond had grown acquainted with you, he knew you unlike anyone else in the realm. To some deeper, more meaningful degree, you had appreciated how intimately he had grown to know you, and often, he would use it to his advantage. Reading you like some feckless book in the citadel's library.

"Y-Yes, husband," You quietly stutter, your arms stretched back supporting you, as your legs remained widely apart. Gods, was it destined that you'd found the perfect, hidden spot to read in the gardens this fine day...

"Mhmm- Just as I'd thought. Now tell me... How badly do you want me to fuck you senseless?" Just as the last word had escaped his lips, his fingers shoved in deeper, the knuckles of his hand now grazing the entrance of your drooling cunt.

"So-So very much-" You hiccuped, your breath hitching in your throat audibly, as you attempt to steady your breathing, your chest heaving, accentuating your plump breasts and slight cleavage. Aemond's eye [whenever you granted yourself the chance] you had noticed it flicker from your face to your blatant show of breasts: undoubtedly, most infatuated by them.

"You are going to need to convince me harder than that, that was pathetic, even for you- Beg for me, my insolent wife."

"Hmm-" You'd hopelessly moan, your walls throbbing against your husbands steady, yet swift motions.

"Please, Aemond- I-I need you. It-It's been so very hard, these past few days. Y-You’d been gone for s-so long-" His pacing eases, as he insists on you to speak coherently, eager to hear what you have to say.

"F-Fuck- I need you inside of me. I could not do what you can, I-I cannot satisfy myself, as y-you do so-so very well.”

As your head was lunged backwards, looking upwards towards the rustling leaves, flowers and sky above, you casted your attention once more downwards, gazing upon Aemond, whom remained cockily smiling up at you. Ever so pleased with your honest response, it seemed.

"Hmm."

Shoving his fingers in deeper, his pace now had hasten: shifting in your seat, as your hips instinctively bucked forward. You could feel his fingers just grazing over your tight, sweet spot, with each pump, earning more mindless moans and pleas for his name [or more so indirectly, for his cock].

Without a second to waste, Aemond pulled his hand from your drenched cunt, causing you to moan from the sudden release of the tension. His fingers glazed in your wetness, sparing a moment to take in your scent lingering from his fingers, before seating himself up on his knees, between your thighs. Hiking your dress up, as he eagerly pulled your private garments down, he'd adjusted his position swiftly, undoing his trousers in a haste simultaneously.

Cowering down over you, as he softly laid your back down against the linen and grass, his 'clean' hand reached over towards your face, his thumb gently stroking the side of your flustered cheek. He'd often spare a sacred moment, closely watching you from above, during sex, as you both immerse yourself in each other's attention, taking in all the fine details up close and personal.

"No need to say more, my wife-" Feeling his hardened cock, grazing your glazed entrance, that same potent, aching sensation stirring once more.

"You need not suffer any longer, and neither must I. I have taunted you and myself enough."

In a swift yet vigorous motion, Aemond thrust his long, pulsating cock deep inside, burying it cosily within. Your tight walls had immediately clenched onto him, like a key latched to a lock. You were made just for him, it was undeniable and he knew it.

"Fuck-" He'd breathlessly growled, as you unsteadily pant against his sturdy pace. His backward and forward motions felt unruly, as he heavily laid on top of you, your knees brought up, instinctively wrapping around his lean waist.

"Feels so tight around me, look at how much you crave for me, whore. No matter how often I pry you open, how much I fuck or fill you up. You are always desperate for more-" One hand rests on the ground for standing support, just beside where your head rests.

"Selfish, little whore. Your body still aches for me, and it naturally shows. You cannot hide it from me-"

You could muster no logical words nor any comprehensible thoughts, incoherent and ignorant to any lingering, perverted eyes. You had missed your husband dearly. Each breathless word that spilled from his filthy mouth in this very precise moment, was the honest truth, there was no point to deny or retaliate against him.

"I-I do not intend to, ever," You breathlessly whimper, gripping Aemond's cloaked, muscular shoulders, feeling your nails dig into his dense clothes.

Earning a menacing, short chuckle from Aemond, his raw thrusts grew faster and regular, his breathing heavier and louder. You could feel yourself edging closer and closer until reaching the final, much anticipated peak. Unconsciously lunging yourself closer, burying your face into Aemond's chest, as you continued to grip onto him tightly for support. Feeling his weight, in return falling into you, pinning you down, as his cum shoots itself inside, coating your walls as he satisfyingly fills you up with his seed.

As you both hastily cleaned and redressed yourselves up as best as you could, you'd noticed the grass patches where your weight and hand prints had rested, left a noticeable imprint on the ground, triggering a faint, heartfelt smile from you.

Aemond helping you up form the ground, as you folded the soiled duvet and book, he'd begun to carefully pluck out each of the small, dry leaves and petals that had somehow mingled in your unkept hair. A faint, sincere smile beaming across his face as he longingly gaped down above you, fixing the misplaced strands of hair.

Although, he had often taken pleasure in hurling cruel words towards you, his love was genuine and unrelenting. He was a loyal and dutiful husband, and it was plenty more than what many of the lords of the realm would offer their wives.

[maple-the-awesome]

Twilight's Calling ||

Pairing: Twilight x GN! Reader

Words: 2,544

Requested by anonymous: Heeey. First of I love your writing style! It’s just amazing! Cause twilight is my fav. could you maybe write something like xreader with him, for example they’re in a battle or smth? Only if it’s okay ofc! Thanks a lot and have a good day and week! best wishes :) Twilight may or may not be my favorite Link, too (TP was the first game I finished, so I'm a little bias, okay?). I've had this draft lying around unfinished for awhile, so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to finish it. Here you go, hun 💜

Zelda Masterlist 🤎Fandom Masterlist

It's getting pretty late. 'Late' as in the sun has long set and the last time you saw any of the boys was about an hour ago when Time finally managed to herd the remaining stragglers out of the room, although he was being a bit hypocritical seeing as he still lingered in the doorway for a good minute himself afterwards (not that you dared comment on it).

Since their heavy footsteps had faded into silence - and aside from the innkeeper sometimes shuffling down the hall or a sudden 'pop' of the bedside candle - you've been left entirely alone with your thoughts as they dance on the very edge of sleep, but you refuse to lose balance. It's your shift. You promised to be a good lookout and it took a lot of convincing to even get the position, so you can't disappoint no matter how heavy the weight upon your eyelids or heart is.

You've always been well aware of the risks that would come with this mission and from traveling alongside nine heroes of legend; troublesome young men and boys who can definitely handle themselves in battle, however none immune to making possible mistakes. You expected one to occur at some point, yet never wanted the aftermath to be anything too serious.

Wild getting a decent scar on his forehead was a scare when it initially happened, but he was back on his feet within the hour - less than that actually, because if you remember correctly, his quick recovery had been controversial and resulted in quite a bit of bickering. The bottom line is that Wild bounced back with little to no trouble thanks in part to his thick skull. This is different. Twilight has yet to follow his protege's example and it's been hours.

You must admit you underestimated the situation at first due to a lack of context. It's not to say you didn't care about Wolfie when he got struck, however there's a notable difference between a wild 'pet' that occasionally trails your group and the very man you've grown to secretly admire over the months you've spent traveling together. If you had known then that they are one of the same, you would've likely shared a similar level of panic as the Champion, but instead you were left in the dark until Four finally explained Twilight's secret to you.

Even at that moment, although more worried, you figured everything would be okay. Wolfie or Twilight, a fairy should be able to do the trick to heal the worst of injuries, so one can imagine your heartbreak once learning that, for some odd reason, the state of his wounds haven't changed even under a fairy's sacred touch. That's when you truly became fearful, but you refused to show it outwardly - no more than whatever made itself present on your face, anyway.

Making a fuss won't aid Twilight's condition nor will it calm the concerns of your friends, so instead you had mostly stayed out of the way until Time announced everyone should get some rest. At that point, you made your presence known, quick to shoot your hand into the air while volunteering to take the first shift for watching over Twilight. Champion was the only one to fight you for it and honestly, you still aren't certain how you won the argument, but here you are, sitting quietly at Twilight's bedside while trying desperately to keep yourself from descending into madness as you fret over his well-being.

He's doing somewhat better after Hyrule's magic managed to stop most of the bleeding, however his wound remains deep without any further healing progress and his skin is drained into a pale, sickly color clear even through the dim glow of candle light. He looks like shit and you'd guess he feels like it, too, seeing as his face curls into a pained expression every now and again, a whispered groan leaving him whenever he slightly shifts his body (not that he moves that much).

It's gotten a bit chilly tonight, however all blankets in the room have been laid over him and you refuse to swoop as low as to steal comfort from a dying man, so you simply keep huddled to yourself, half praying the next shift will come sooner and half praying it won't because a stubbornness inside you is somehow convinced that the simple act of you being here will keep himsafe from death's hands.

You don't pay much attention to the quiet groan that comes from the bed, having already bitterly accepted that there's nothing that can ease whatever pain haunts Twilight during his nightmares, although you do lift your head when a hand shakes its way into view, barely able to carry itself to the edge of the covers where it collapses with a broken echo from its owner, "W...What time is it?"

You almost cry simply by the sight of Twilight's dull eyes staring up at you, half-lidded and only appearing bright if compared to the dark bags hiding underneath them, but you manage to hold back the tears for the sake of not scaring him.

"I-I'm not sure. After sunset," You answer slowly as to prevent any wobbling to your voice.

"And the others? Is every - everyone else okay?" Hylia, he sounds awful, his once handsome, accent-laced voice butchered by a hollow croak.

"Yeah...Yeah, we're all okay - and don't worry about the shadow. Wild managed to take it down - thanks to you tiring it out, I'd say. You sure gave that thing a run for its money there," You attempt to joke lamely. Although your laugh doesn't carry much life to it, Twilight's expression does soften a tad after the sound.

"...Good..." Is all he says before closing his eyes with a sigh through his nose. Meanwhile you fidget nervously, debating with yourself on whether you should let the conversation die off so that he can continue getting rest or keep him talking while he's able to. You sure do love hearing his voice, after all, no matter how broken it may be; it reminds you that someone as great as him is actually real and, after recent events, still alive.

In the midst of your depressed thoughts, you notice Twilight reach his hand out towards you again - or at least it looks like he's trying to. Really, he only has the strength to lift it palm-up slightly off the covers, yet you understand this movement's wordless request. Ever so gently, as if he's made of glass, you take his hand and sandwich it between both of yours. He's a bit too cold for your liking, a sharp contrast to his normally warm touch, not that you draw attention to that worrying detail.

"...Is there anything I can get you?"

He tries to shake his head, but loses will halfway through the action and instead chooses to simply let his head lull to the side towards you. From there he stares for a bit longer than he means to, his dazed brain struggling to process his thoughts at its usual speed.

"Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Someone has to keep an eye on you," You allow a small smile, slowly reaching forward to help move his bangs away from his face, "We're all taking shifts throughout the night. I was just lucky enough to get the first."

Twilight hums, closing his eyes for a brief second when your fingers brush his forehead, "How'd you manage that?"

"Barely. For a second there, I thought I was gonna have to duel the Champion for it - had my hand on my sword and everything before he finally caved," Twilight makes a sound between a scoff and a laugh which makes your smile more genuine even if he does flinch in pain immediately afterwards, "The real question is how I won against Time...Actually, I wouldn't be that surprised if he's secretly standing outside the door as we speak."

A creak of old floorboards in the hallway makes your eyes dart to the door, almost expecting the man in question to walk in and call you out for your jokes, yet you calm that doesn't happen. Twilight brings your attention back to him by moving his thumb against your hand, "Don't tell 'em, but I'm glad it's you here. I like having ya' here with me..."

You press your lips, hoping it'll help you ignore the heat against your cheeks. That must be the first time Twilight has ever openly said he 'likes' anything related to you; you're certain you'd remember any other instances of such a milestone. It might not be the exact sentence you'd want him to use the word in, but it's a step in the right direction, so you'll take it.

"I like having you here with me, too, Twi...which is why I've officially decided that I'm too selfish to let you die on any of us. I don't care if I have to fist-fight Hylia for it; I'm not letting you get out of this journey so easily."

"That right?"

"I swear it on my life."

He chuckles weakly, although the sound is taken over by a fit of coughing. Promptly you pour a small glass of water using the pitcher kept on the bedside table before gently helping him sit up to take a careful sip.

It's insane for you to think that only a few weeks ago, you had been secretly watching him move hay bales at Time's place effortlessly. Now he lies here in bed struggling to hold a conversation, his muscles shaking horribly by the simply action of prompting himself up even slightly. Seeing him like this makes you feel awful, but you also consider yourself blessed to be the one taking care of him during a low point like this, ensuring that he's properly cared for and tended to almost like a spouse would.

"Seems like I'm starting to lose you, farm boy. You should relax and get some more sleep," He makes a face and seems prepared to argue, however he must not have been able to think of anything convincing to say - that or the aching in his bones has become too hard to ignore. Either way, instead of saying a word, Twilight nods droopily before inching his way back down against his soft pillow while you fix the blankets over him again.

"Look on the bright side: make it through this and you'll probably get special treatment from here on out. Get your bags carried for you, have whatever meals you're craving be made each night...If you hobble around a little I'm sure you could even get Time to fuss over you -"

" - And what about you?" Twilight quizzes and you can't tell if he's being serious or just teasing. It feels like the latter, yet the way he watches you while awaiting your reply makes you feel another way; soft and warm, but a tad anxious at the same time, "What can I get from you?"

You pretend to think, although in truth, you already know there wouldn't be any limitations for what you're willing to give. If he asked for the world right now, you'd figure out some way to gift wrap it for him...but that's too embarrassing to admit aloud, "...Depends on what you're thinking and if you can swing it the right way."

He hums, once again staring at you just long enough to make that anxious feeling really prominent. Is there something on your face that no one told you about earlier? Is he judging your messy hairdo that you had no time to fix since the battle? Did you sound too flirtatious in your answer? Maybe his injury has given him the ability to read minds, so now he knows just how desperate you are to earn his affections!

"...If I asked you to stay with me, would you?" Twilight whispers so quietly that you barely hear, yet you do. 

"I, uh...Time will be here in an hour or so for his shift, but I won't go anywhere until then, okay?" Not even your poor excuse at smiling can save your stumbled words, yet you pray he doesn't look beyond either. He's loopy from such a stressful day, so it makes sense that he's have trouble properly wording questions. It also makes sense for him to be scared to be left alone - anyone would be in such a state. He doesn't have to worry, though; between you and the boys, someone will always be by his side throughout the night. You'd expect that knowledge to be a relief for him, however Twilight only frowns and looks away with a surprisingly depressed look in his eyes. 

Fiddling nervously with your hands upon your lap, you ask carefully, "...Unless you're wanting me to watch over your for the whole night? In that case, I wouldn't mind staying if it would make you feel better. I'm sure the others would be fine with it if they could just check in here and there."

Twilight presses his lips, refusing to look directly at you. If you didn't know any better, you'd say that based on his continued reaction, you're still somehow missing the point of his question, yet no matter how much you rack your brain, you can't think of what else he would've possibly meant.

You were tempted to ask for more clarity, but Twilight speaks before you can, "...I'd like that."

"Yeah?"

He nods bashfully which melts your heart in a way you're sure would be shamefully clear if he were only looking in your direction.

"...Well, since you took one for the team -" Scooting your chair closer to the bed allows you to cross your arms over the mattress and rest your head on top of them. Desperately you try to ignore your nerves and the cute way Twilight curiously looks over at you, "- I'll stay for the night if you promise me one thing."

"Hmm?"

"Stay with me, too? Without you, I might just loose my mind. Don't tell anyone else, but you don't drive me nearly as insane as some of the other boys do," not in the same way at least.

The corner of Twilight's lips turn upwards, his hand taking it's time to move over yours. The second it makes contact, you take the chance to hold onto it, "...Sounds like a deal..."

You match his smile easily, "Get some sleep, Twi. I'll be right here when you wake up, so just focus on getting better for me, alright?"

He hums one last time, drifting off to sleep as commanded where he seems to be far more peaceful than earlier. As promised, you remain by his side until morning, eventually falling victim to quick naps yourself only disrupted whenever someone else sneaks into the room to see how things are going. You're certain you'll be tired tomorrow with an aching back after spending an entire night hunched over, but that's a small price to pay for someone like Twilight. It'll all be worth it to see him recover, granting you even more time to spend by his side through thick and thin.

[fic-heaven]

Duty's Price.

1. Philip Graves.

⚠️ Gore ⚠️ /Heavy angst/ fluff to angst/ hurt no comfort/ loss/ madness / poor Graves looses his mind and his love

🐥Part one of a series of gorey and angsty shorts I'll be making to practice my written gore as well as the descriptions of grief and trauma, ALWAYS involving Reader's death.

-You have always loved Graves. Sadly, sometimes the consequences of loving the wrong man could cost you your very own life.

Again, ⚠️GORE WARNING⚠️

.

Your last words to Phillip: "I'm so sorry, commander..."

_______

The love and loyalty you had for Phillip Graves was unlike any other he has ever received.

Graves, like any other men who got to meet you, was instantly weak for you. You held a devotion for him that stroked his ego in unimaginable ways, but it was your unquestionable loyalty what got him tempted to test the lengths of your love for him while increasing his affection for you.

You had confessed more than once, and although he'd always make his feelings for you clear, he never really said "I love you."

Graves had a plan. A plan he'd order you to fulfill, much to his later regret and grief. A plan that involved a tank. To secure his scape or fake his own death depending on if you were able to kill the 141 and/or los Vaqueros before they could kill you. Phillip needed a very loyal and strong shadow to drive the tank, and with little luck, kill Soap and Rodolfo while he scaped Las Almas.

The first time you confessed, he had kissed you right then and there on the landing zone in the middle of a sea of shadows while waiting for your pilot to take you to Acapulco where you two would meet general Shepard for the very first time and strike an alliance. The second time was at his new office, he ended up hauling you to his desk and using his new forniture for the wrong purpose. Finally, the third time was in Las Almas when you were celebrating Valeria's capture, but that time he didn't kiss or make love to you, much less confessed that he love you back, instead he nuzzled your cheek with his thumb and smirked before breathing out a "Prove it, darlin'. One last act of loyalty and I promise after we get Hassan's ass I'll give us a try." You arched a brow at this but didn't question it one bit, as there was nothing you desired more than to finally be by his side in a more... Romantic way.

He chose you. Whose love and devotion for your commander was bigger than the affection you held for your previous allies, or so he thought. Phillip was convinced you'd be victorious in your mission of killing them, your habilites never disappointed him after all, you were sharpminded and your aim was unlike any of his other shadows. The thing was... You had shared victories and defeats with Soap and the others, you held each other, healed each other, bled, laughed and cried together working side by side. You were loyal to your people, and this treasonous move your beloved commander pulled, even if you had planned this from the start, wasn't something you fully supported.

Even so, you played your part faithfully parting from you commander with a final deep kiss he surprisingly initiated. He left with two escorts to a secured Humvee and you drove the tank to the training yard, turned the speakers on so your commander's voice would taunt the others to make them think he was inside and later you fought against Soap.

A fight between a man and a tank. Victory was secured right? Right...?

The more exploding sounds Graves heard coming from the walkie hidden in the cabinet of the tank the more scared and unsure he got. It was clear on the way his voice wavered while taunting Johnny, how he cursed when he heard the mines the Scotsman planted explode one by one wrecking the tank and violently shaking the cabinet with you in it. But to Graves dismay and luck, It only added more credibility to the farse... While you purposely missed and cursed at the bond you formed with Soap that was now a heavy weakness in your fight against him, Johnny kept trying to literally blow you up with anything he had at hand thinking it was Graves occupying your seat inside the tank. But frankly, after your betrayal, you think he wouldn't hesitate on his attacks if he knew it was you.

The heavy smoke and beeping console inside the tank were clear signs of your defeat. So, as you completed your final act of loyalty to Phillip, you took the walkie-talkie with a shaky hand and weakly spoke.

"I'm so sorry, commander..." You weren't going to attend your first date after all.

Just after that, a loud explosion announced your death kilometers from him. Graves could hear it from the racing humvee, could feel it on his bones, on his heavy heart, on his rotten soul.

He just stared ahead, turned off the quiet walkie-talkie and kept silent the whole way to his base.

A few days passed. Imagine the pain the commander endured when all they could save from you was a sad sack of crisped dust inside a fucking cardboard box. It was insulting. It was disgusting. Phillip was in denial, his brain couldn't process that all that was left of you was inside that sad container. He couldn't understand how that friday when he had kissed you goodbye before the tank fight, a few hours later you'd be reduced to ashes like this. He couldn't accept it nor believe it.

With constant insistence, his own shadows relented and revealed that the ashes they gathered were just remnants near the tank but they wouldn't deny that a part of you wasn't in that cardboard box either which had him stop his restless pacing around his office.

"P-part...?" He parroted, eyes injected in blood from not sleeping in days.

With hesitation one of the shadows approaches his commander warily. "Sir. As a widowed husband, I understand your grief. But trust me when I tell you, sir... That in between seeing my wife's body and what they presented me of her... I would have preferred to fool myself into thinking that those ashes in your counter are all that's left of her." Graves thanked his sincerety and advice. But the ache and denial in his heart pushed him to force his shadows into letting him see what they ACTUALLY recovered from you.

The fruits of his betrayal. The outcome of his scape plan was a few floors down. He should have listened to his shadow.

His breaths became chocked, with shaky shoulders shivering violently, a weak yelp arupted from him when his knees buckled under him making him fall to the floor next to where they had left you. He was having a panic attack. The tears on his eyes felt so hot he immediately thought they'd melt his face just like what happened to you, and the flash of your body on his mind and the fact that it was resting one feet to his right was enough for his brain to scream in terror.

Your remnants were scattered on a table, it's metallic color contrasted with the carbonized bones, the torn scraps of the burnt uniform you wore barely united the pieces of your mangled torso and limbs. You were missing a whole arm from the shoulder and your right hand was detached from your other forearm. Both your feet were gone and your legs were nothing but bone mid thigh. Your head, or what little they gathered from it, was completely detached from the rest of the body. His watery eyes could only make out your fractured jawbone, the ligaments, tendons and some muscle were out the air still uniting the jaw piece to the cracked skull, it's skin was melted, mangled beyond recognition, your eyes were missing as they had to be the first thing that melted from your face, and a few locks of hair remained attached to a very small part of sunburnt scalp. Phillip barked everyone to get out, his tense body wasn't fully facing what was left of you as he couldn't contain his gaze on your corpse for longer than a fucking minute.

Never on his life had Graves felt such fright. His shaky legs hardened, stood him up and he immediately ran, the fight or flight response his brain suddenly got from the view he had just witnessed filled him with such terror and ache it was maddening. In a blink he was running away from his shadows all throughout the base as the men tried to stop their commander, to calm him, to speak to him, some were pushed, others even received a punch. Phillip felt like a child being chased by demons, demons who wrecked your body leaving it a mangled mess. His thoughts were running a mile per minute, thinking of your crisped corpse being eaten by crows, or any other wild life from Las Almas while the culprits celebrated their victory against him, of Soap taunting him back by exploding and burning your beautiful body while he was scaping the country like a coward, of the steel bracelet he gifted you the day of your promotion which he saw before in the room where they had placed your body, the steel had gathered so much heat it melted your skin to the bone until your wrist had detached from your arm. Without realizing he was screaming like a mad man pointing and swinging a knife to whoever tried to approach him while his feet carried him out the training yard.

He curses whoever was above for punishing him like this. His throat felt raw from the loud screams he had let out into the night's air, the crisp cold hit his sweating body like he had entered a giant fridge. His hair is wild as his hands keep tugging on his locks and scratching his own face, his uniform is damp with some stains of green from throwing himself into the wet grass of the training field. He was squirming on the spot as if he was getting electrocuted by a wave of sorrow and shock struggling to get a hold of himself, standing up only to lose balance and fall to the cold grass again and again, just like the newborn foals he helped birth at his father's farm learning how to stand without the help of their mother.

He was going mad then and there. As the shadows who ran after him pinned his body still and one of them tried to sedate their commander after disarming him in his crazed state. Right then as he struggled on the floor against all the shadows trying to calm him, Phillip knew he had lost his mind compleatly. When his eyes saw another shadow across the field, still and unmoving like a tree, the shadow took their helmet and face mask throwing them carelessly to the grass and he saw you. Your face was sad but stern. It held disappointment and... Betrayal.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart... I-I didn't mean to, this wasn't supposed to happen. Please don't look at me like that.. don't- PLEASE...!" He couldn't say it out loud as whatever they had injected into his veins was making him feel a strong wave of dizziness until his eyes closed and the last thing he saw was your form melting right before his pinned body, an invisible fire taking your life once again, your screams were silent as the commander was held too far from you. He felt useless unable to rescue even the fake you his own mind had projected.

How pathetic was that? How pathetic was him?

He'll never be the same. Not without his (Y/n). But gods be damned if he gave up on ending the entire 141 unit.

.

[beloved-calypso]

・ ゜ ʚɞ ゜ ゜𝖄𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖘𝖙/𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖐𝖎𝖘𝖘 ♡ ・ ゜ ʚɞ ゜ ゜‎♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡

♡"𝐼𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝓈𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓉𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈; 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝓃𝒸𝓉𝒾𝒻𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓉." — 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒩𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝐵𝑜𝓋𝑒𝑒♡

All pictures and gifs are not mine but belong to their original artists. ♡

I. -> II. -> III. -> IIII.

ɪꜰ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ꜱᴜɢɢᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ꜰᴏʀ a ᴘɪᴄᴋ-ᴀ-ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ, ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ᴘᴜᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ! ᴀʟꜱᴏ, ɪ ᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢɪᴢᴇ ɪɴ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ɢʀᴀᴍᴍᴀʀ ᴏʀ ᴘᴜɴᴄᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴍɪꜱᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ. ᴇɴɢʟɪꜱʜ ɪꜱ ᴍʏ ��ɪʀꜱᴛ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ. ɪ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴜᴄᴋ ᴀᴛ ɪᴛ.

~ XOXO 💋🎀

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 1 ๑◞꒱ა

[2 of Swords (rx), The Wheel of Fortune, The Moon, Ace of Cups (rx), The Star (rx)]

There's so much mental and emotional whiplash here! All this water energy has me feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Pile 1, I'm getting that your first/next kiss will come when you least expect it. I'm getting you feeling overwhelmed, and anxious when and before it happens, as if your brain is on overdrive, and you can't tell where things are headed, and you're super out of your element and dreading the possibilityof mucking up this moment. It's almost as if this kiss came from someone you would least expect. For some of you, I'm getting this is coming from your crush or someone who you suspected did not share the same feelings for you as you did them, and this kiss will surprise the heck out of you because they were the ones to initiate it. Others, this is someone you felt attraction towards, but thought was out of your league, so you tried your best to stifle your feelings and largely ignore them. Regardless of who you may be kissing, something about this kiss feels destined to you. The kiss itself will be very dreamy and soothing. You'll be in an overflow of emotions, almost like your heart will be full to bursting, but at the same time, the kiss will have this tranquilizing effect on you like you'll transition from this state of mental overload into this bed of calm. The kiss will be slow and thorough, maybe even wet for how much water energy is present. This kiss will likely occur at night, possibly near a body of water, and I'm strongly getting this feeling of isolation, as if both of you are alone together or are so in your private bubble everybody else is just a part of the background. I do sense that for some there is confusion left behind in this kiss, as if the people here, while having kissed, are not expressing their emotions outwardly but are giggling to themselves and smiling ear to ear like kids. What's left in the wake of this kiss is a want for something more, a hope for a lasting relationship. You'll be glowing from the inside out, but also feeling this loss of direction, as if you're left wondering, what's next?

(On the negative sidenote) For others, I did feel some dissapointment, as if the kiss itself didn't quite raise that spark you expected it to even if it came from the desired person, and this felt like a wish yet unfulfilled.)

Water. Night. Hopeful. Pisces. Smooth. Black hair. Healing. Serene. Anxious. Gentle. Pinning. Melancholic. Stars. Sudden. Secret. First love/crush. Silver. Blue. White. Fountain. Bright moon. Glitter. Party. Winter, Summer. Disappointment. Hope.

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 2 ๑◞꒱ა

[The Devil, The Hermit (rx), 5 of Cups (rx), King of Cups, Justice]

Oo pile 2, the devil card tells me that your next kiss is a spicy one! There's definitely a strong, mutual attraction here between you and your partner. I'm getting that this kiss will be a very lustful one, a mix of wetness and eagerness. It will last for a while. This will be a makeout, not just a lip peck. It will raise some pretty intense feelings between the two of you and leave you both quite aroused, maybe even motivating ya'll to take things further. If you were shy beforehand, this kiss will push you to come out of your shell and you'll feel comfortable enough just letting loose and following your passionate urges. The kiss will have some force, maybe some lip biting. A little bit of tongue but it's mostly like ya'll can't get enough and your just sucking the breath out of each other. You'll feel free from any insecurities or blockages that may try to overwhelm you. This person your kissing could be a water or air sign, I'm getting Pisces, Scorpio, Libra and Aquarius. I feel like this kiss will mark a milestone in your relationship with you and your person. For most of you I feel you're already in a relationship and you're still in the first stages of it. If you've dealt with bad past relationships/situationships with other people, you'll feel motivated to leave the past behind and only look towards the future. It could also be that you've dealt with toxic/abusive partners or parents in the past, and this next person you kiss will be the one to initiate your healing journey. I feel this person will have lots of compassion towards you. They will be emotionally secure and protective over you. They will want to establish a future with you and offer commitment. Theyll be like your rock in a raging storm, always dependable and giving. Again, if you've had bad partners, this person will be the one to correct the wrongs in your past and show you how to love genuinely. Even if this is your first kiss, this person will dispel any negative energies you've been holding within yourself. I'm getting that this kiss will also happen at night. I'm seeing fireworks, so I think it'll occur around something celebratory. I'm seeing a grassy area with trees, maybe someone's backyard or a park, and it feels very warm.

Brown hair. Fireworks. 4th of July. Red. Pisces. Libra. Aquarius. White house. Healing. Justice. Hot. Sundress. Blue. Summer. June. July. Lustful. Childhood crush. Nervous. Guarded. Tears. 3rd base. Vampire Diaries. Clarity. Truth. Sparks flying. Starry skies.

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 3 ๑◞꒱ა

[7 of Pentacles, Ace of Wands, The Lovers, 4 of Swords, Knight of Wands]

Pile 3 your first kiss is going to be so romantic! There's so much passionate energy here! It could be that who your going to kiss next is someone who you've had your eye on for awhile. I get that you want to build a future with this person. I'm strongly getting for some that this could be someone from your childhood. It could also be that this person has been watching you for a while and has subtly made hints as to their feelings about you. With the Ace of wands, this kiss is going to be explosive. A good give and take energy, I'm getting somewhat sloppy, but only because both parties are so enthusiastic. I see ya'll embracing each other, just getting lost in the moment. The kiss will spark desire and lust. It will make your stomach overloaded with butterflies. It may have you seeing stars! Remember in Princess Diaries where Anne Hathaway did the famed leg lift upon kissing her prince charming? THAT is what I'm getting. And with the Knight of wands, this may very well be your prince charming. This person could be a fire sign, I'm getting Leo, Saggitarius, Aries energy. This person could be vibrant and youthful, someone who's very active in life and kind of a crowd pleaser. This kiss may occur in the daylight, specifically I'm getting sunset. It may occur somewhere outside among greenery like gardens or parks. I think after this kiss, ya'll will separate and take time to yourselves to put your head on straight and see where your relationship will go. I think your person is determined to make their way towards you and will offer you committment. For others I see this leading to a whirlwind romance, something that can be fleeting but fun and exciting, or something that's both those things but will last longerterm.

Fire signs. Flowers. First love. Distant crush. Union. Inspiring. Fairytale. Retreat. Passionate. Eager. Princess Diaries. Dreams. Stars. Wine. Romantic. Blue Sky's. Mountains. Sand. Head in the clouds. Countryside.

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 4 ๑◞꒱ა

[8 of Wands, 6 of Wands, 6 of Cups, Ace of Cups, 8 of Pentacles]

Pile 4 this kiss is going to come when you least expect it. I'm strongly getting it's going to come from someone in your past, or someone you used to date will be coming back and trying to win you over. When the kiss does happen it will happen rapidly I don't see it being a full makeout session, but it will definitely leave you starstruck. There's wetness and tongue; sweetness and tenderness. I think the kiss will feel familiar, like the sounds, scents, smells, or touching reminds you of the past and you'llbe hit with a wave of nostalgia and comfort. I think you'll feel celebratory, almost an ontop-of-the-world type of energy. If you're typically guarded and hard to impress, you'll be fulling all gushy and warm. Your going to be in an overflow of emotional satisfaction. It may even be a love at first kiss! It may come when your leaving home and asserting your independence. Could also just be that your moving. For the ones that have this kiss coming from a past partner, this may be the point where you reignite your love again. You both will be willing to put forth the effort of building your relationship again. I think the kiss will happen in the daylight, somewhere public, not to where everyone's watching you kiss but there's people around. Could be at a party, your workplace, or near a body of water. Lots of variety in this pile, lol. The person could be a Pisces (lots of Pisces in this pac), Leo, Taurus or Aquarius, mostly fixed signs. Sorry if this pile seemed shorter than the others, but this pile is so cute! Definitely boy/girl next door energy.

Childhood. Work crush. Fairies. Lake. Past love. New love. Building. Party. Tender. Candy. Nostalgia. Winter. Spring. Younger. Picnics. New relationship. Charming. Shops. Trees. High school. White picket fence.

⊱┈───── ✧

ᴀɴʏ ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄɪꜱᴍꜱ ᴏʀ ꜰᴇᴇᴅʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇᴅ. ɪ'ᴍ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀ ɴᴇᴡ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙʟᴏɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴍ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴꜱ ᴀꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ɪᴍᴘʀᴏᴠᴇ ɪᴛ. ♡

ᴅɪꜱᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇʀ

© lolita-bonita — Please do not plagiarize, translate, or repost any of my work on other social media platforms without my permission. This is the only platform on that I post this type of content. If you see my work being posted anywhere else, please kindly report them to me. ♡

⊱┈───── ✧

✨️ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇ: Tarot is not an exact science, nor can it produce information that is factually true. All things posted are alleged and for entertainment purposes only. The future is fluid, and what may happen is based on your choices, not what I and a deck of cards say. ✨️

[mbruben-stein]

Hey

Can i please hsc TMNT 2012 (Mikey,Raph,Donnie,Leo,)

in which boys think that their feelings are reciprocated and they confess their feelings to the reader, how they react and deal with rejection

Thanks you

TMNT Reaction to confessing their feelings to s/o and getting rejected by them.

~Leo~

After mustering up the courage, Leo finally decides to confess his feelings to his crush, s/o. He pours his heart out, telling them how much they mean to him and how he's developed feelings for them over time. However, to his surprise and disappointment, s/o gently rejects him, explaining that they see him more as a brother and a leader than a romantic partner.

Leo is taken aback at first, feeling a mix of hurt and embarrassment. He tries to maintain his composure, not wanting to show his vulnerability in front of s/o. Deep down, he knew there was a chance of rejection, but it still stings nonetheless. Leo takes a moment to gather his thoughts and accepts s/o's response with grace, thanking them for their honesty.

Despite feeling a bit dejected, Leo handles the situation maturely. He understands that not everyone will reciprocate his feelings, and he respects s/o's decision. Leo decides to focus on their friendship and his duties as a leader, not letting his romantic feelings get in the way of their relationship. He continues to support s/o and be there for them, showing that he values their friendship above all else.

Leo takes the rejection as a learning experience, realizing that it's okay to put himself out there and take risks, even if it doesn't always turn out the way he hopes. He remains true to himself and continues to lead his brothers with strength and determination, knowing that his worth isn't defined by one person's response to his feelings.

~Raph~

Raphael is not one to easily open up about his feelings, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. However, when he starts to develop strong feelings for someone, he can't help but feel the need to confess. He finally musters up the courage to tell his significant other how he feels, expecting them to feel the same way.

When his s/o rejects his confession, Raphael is initially taken aback. He doesn't know how to process the rejection, feeling a mix of anger, hurt, and embarrassment. His first instinct is to put up a tough front and act like it doesn't affect him, but deep down, he is hurting.

Raphael struggles to come to terms with the rejection, feeling a sense of rejection and disappointment. He tries to bury his feelings and focus on other things, throwing himself into training and missions to distract himself. His brothers notice his change in behavior, and Donnie and Leo try to talk to him about what happened.

Eventually, Raphael opens up to his brothers about how he's feeling. He admits that he's hurt and confused, but he also realizes that he needs to respect his s/o's feelings and move on. With the support of his brothers, Raphael slowly begins to heal from the rejection, understanding that not everyone will feel the same way about him.

In the end, Raphael learns to accept the rejection and move forward, knowing that he is still loved and valued by his family and friends. He becomes stronger and more resilient, knowing that he can handle rejection and come out stronger on the other side.

~Donnie~

Donnie had been harboring feelings for his significant other for quite some time. He had always been a bit hesitant to confess his feelings, afraid of rejection or ruining their friendship. However, one day he mustered up the courage to finally tell them how he felt. With a nervous heart and shaky hands, Donnie poured his heart out to his s/o, hoping for the best.

Unfortunately, his confession was met with a gentle rejection. His s/o explained that while they cared deeply for Donnie, they did not see him in a romantic light. Donnie felt his heart sink as he processed the words, trying to hide the disappointment that washed over him.

In the aftermath of the rejection, Donnie took some time to himself to process his emotions. He felt a mix of sadness, embarrassment, and a tinge of anger at himself for misreading the situation. However, Donnie knew that he valued his friendship with s/o too much to let this rejection ruin it.

He eventually mustered up the courage to have a conversation with his s/o, expressing his gratitude for their honesty and reassuring them that he valued their friendship above all else. Donnie understood that rejection was a part of life and that it didn't diminish the bond they shared.

In the end, Donnie took the rejection as a learning experience, understanding that not every confession of love would be reciprocated. He continued to be a loyal friend to his s/o, cherishing the connection they shared despite the romantic feelings that went unrequited.

~Mikey~

Mikey had been crushing on his s/o for quite some time, constantly finding himself daydreaming about them and feeling his heart race whenever they were around. He finally mustered up the courage to confess his feelings, his excitement bubbling over as he prepared to tell them how he felt.

However, when he finally confessed, he was met with a gentle rejection. His s/o explained that they valued their friendship with Mikey and didn't want to risk ruining it by entering into a romantic relationship. Mikey's heart sank as he processed the rejection, feeling a mix of disappointment and sadness wash over him.

But true to his nature, Mikey didn't let the rejection bring him down for long. He respected his s/o's feelings and understood their perspective, even if it stung a little. He took some time to process his emotions, leaning on his brothers for support and finding solace in their comforting words.

Eventually, Mikey realized that their friendship was too important to him to let a rejection come between them. He accepted the situation with grace and maturity, choosing to focus on the positive aspects of their relationship rather than dwelling on what could have been. He continued to be a supportive friend to his s/o, showing them that his feelings wouldn't change just because they weren't reciprocated romantically.

In the end, Mikey's kind and understanding nature shone through, proving that he was not only the fun-loving party dude, but also a compassionate and resilient individual.

[soulkeeper801]

Healing Hearts - Twice Mina

Requested: Request: Mina x f!reader office prompt, where Mina is a cold-hearted, reserved coworker of reader at an office; as Mina starts to develop feelings for reader, she continuously denies it and becomes flustered whenever her friends at work (friends being other TWICE members) tease her about having a crush; one day, she lashes out at reader for smth and later on, reader gets into a car accident that leaves them unconscious for a while; Mina immediately rushes to the hospital, where she realizes not to hide her feelings anymore for reader, confesses, AND...happy ending ofc :P

Fluff

Words: 3K

Mina x f!reader

Waking up on Monday was terrible for you.

After a long weekend of relaxation and fun times with your friends, the burden of harsh reality weighed on you one more time.

You sighed deeply.

"At least I get to see her pretty face," you mumbled under your breath as a knowing smile grew on your lips.

It had been a couple of months since the new girl at the company arrived. You had never met someone as composed and calm as her. Her sweet demeanor and shy personality caught your attention from the very beginning.

She was the enigma of the office, known for her reserved nature. Despite her initial distance, you couldn't help but feel drawn to her.

Your friends knew how you felt about her.

It was obvious when she came to your section and asked for anything. Everyone would take notes and pay attention; you, on the other hand, would let a fool's smile take place on your face.

"You should ask her out," Jeongyeon encouraged once again when you were daydreaming in the office. "If you only keep looking at her with heart eyes, don’t expect her to magically fall in love with you. Make a move!"

You sighed again, Jeongyeon's words echoing in your mind. She had been your confidante and wingwoman throughout your silent admiration for the new girl.

"I know, I know," you replied, rolling your eyes playfully. "I just need the right opportunity, you know? I don't want to come on too strong."

Jeongyeon shook her head, her eyes filled with amusement. "You've been saying that for weeks now. You can't wait forever."

You had to admit that you had never been this nervous about asking someone out before. But there was something about her that made you want to take it slow and get to know her better before making your move.

"Breathe in," you thought to yourself as you stood up, "breathe out."

You took a couple of steps towards her office and gathered all the courage that could possibly exist within you to strike up a conversation with her.

"Min-," you began to say, butterflies going crazy inside of your stomach, but the harsh reality took you off guard.

"I’m going to need that report before you go," Mina said without even looking at you. Her eyes were glued to her screen as a frown was printed on her face. "It’s been requested since last week; it can’t take that long, can it?"

You felt your breath hitch in your throat.

You stood there, caught in a moment of indecision. Mina's request for the report disrupted your carefully rehearsed plan to strike up a casual conversation and maybe, just maybe, ask her out for coffee.

You cleared your throat, trying to regain your composure. "Sure, Mina, I'll get that report to you right away," you replied, forcing a smile despite the sinking feeling in your chest.

As you turned to leave, you couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. It seemed like every time you tried to approach her, work got in the way. You knew it was important to be professional, but it also meant that you had to bide your time and wait for the perfect moment.

Mina was a professional.

Harsh, maybe. But that made her an even better professional.

Corporate was more than happy with her performance. Everyone praised her ideas, and she even got herself a promotion before anyone else in the branch.

Little by little, she seemed to start warming up to her co-workers. Every one of them, but you. As soon as you had any chance to talk to her, she would find a way to give you more work. Every time you tried to talk about something else, the topic would go back to work.

It was becoming increasingly frustrating, and you couldn't help but wonder if Mina was intentionally avoiding you or if she simply had a relentless dedication to her job. Still, you admired her work ethic and dedication, even if it meant your personal life was taking a hit.

*

"Alright," Nayeon said, closing the door behind her and taking a seat in front of her friend. "You’re going to tell me what’s going on."

Mina lifted her gaze towards her, dumbfounded. "I have no idea what you’re talking about".

The answer made Nayeon roll her eyes. "You. Y/N. What’s going on?"

"Nothing," the Japanese woman answered abruptly.

"Oh, wow," Nayeon replied, resting against the back of the chair and comfortably crossing her arms over her chest to look at Mina, "you totally like her."

"What? No," Mina replied calmly, trying to convince not only her friend but also herself at the same time.

The older girl laughed at the helpless effort. "I’ve known you since college," she replied, squinting her eyes as if she was trying to read Mina’s thoughts. "You’re pushing her away this harshly because you like her!"

Mina shook her head at those words. "Please, Nayeon. I need to finish this presentation before we go."

"Now you’re pulling a Y/N on me! You always want her on topic, don’t you?"

"I don’t," she replied, trying to stay calm. "Now, would you please leave me alone? I’ve got stuff to finish".

Nayeon whined. "You’re no fun. Dahyun is going to agree with me, though."

As the older girl left the office, Mina couldn’t help but redirect her gaze towards your desk through her window.

You were typing something carefully on your keyboard, probably the report she had asked you to have ready before you left.

She shook her head one more time, as if she were trying to keep ideas out of her mind.

"No way."

*

"You’re into Y/N?

Mina’s eyes widened at the sudden question in the middle of the small restaurant they were gathered in.

Nayeon had called her and Dahyun for a little night out as they had the weekend off.

"Shut up, what? Mina replied hurriedly, barely taking a seat next to her friends around the table that already had a couple of beers and several appetizers.

"I told you," Nayeon replied, taking a sip of her can. "If she didn't, she wouldn’t be getting this red."

Mina cursed herself silently.

She didn’t want to react like that. She was used to being in control of everything she did—her career, her work, her feelings.

"I think Y/N is into you too." Dahyun trailed off, remembering the casual conversation she had with Jeongyeon a couple of days before. "So are you asking her out?"

Mina shook her head for the ninth time since the topic began. "I’m not. I don’t like her; I barely know her."

Nayeon laughed out loud. "That’s because you keep giving her loads of work. How is she even going to approach you if every time she wants to talk to you, she gets more and more work? At this rate, she’s risking her free time just to see you up close for a couple of seconds."

“Well…” Mina tried to defend herself, "that’s her job, isn’t it?"

Her friends sighed defeatedly. Mina was stubborn when it came to her career, and it was going to take a little more than whatever you were doing to convince her otherwise.

The night out with Nayeon and Dahyun continued with laughter and stories, but Mina's thoughts kept drifting back to you. Despite her best efforts to deny her feelings, she couldn't ignore the fact that you had become a significant part of her life, even if it was mostly within the confines of the office.

As the evening wore on, Mina found herself contemplating the possibility of taking a chance. She had always been one to pursue her goals relentlessly, and maybe it was time to apply that same determination to her personal life.

*

The week had been awful for Mina and for the whole branch.

Management had cut off their budget, which left some projects hanging. Clients were expecting answers, and the results were getting delayed.

"Y/N," Mina approached without your noticing. Her eyes reflected exhaustion. "I’m going to need that report for today," she simply said.

You were startled. You had been working on the report for the whole week, yet it was far from done. You expected it to be ready over the weekend; even if you were working extra hours outside of work, you didn’t want to disappoint Mina.

"I’m sorry," you said, feeling guilty about what you were going to say. "This is going to be ready for Monday. I’ve tried to summarize a lot of things, but it’s going to take more time. I promise I can have it for Monday in the morning."

Mina looked deeply into your eyes. She couldn’t help but remember all the things her friends had told her in the past few days. She found your efforts, your commitment, and the way your eyes shined with determination endearing.

As she was about to speak, she realized everyone was looking at the two of you as if they were expecting her next move.

So what was going to be?

Was she going to give in and let you have your way until Monday?

Or was she going to put her foot down and show everyone else that nothing was going to change, even if her feelings did?

"I need that report for today, not Monday," she firmly said, before turning around and leaving the room speechless.

You wanted to complain, but you understood how much pressure Mina would have been feeling. It didn’t mean much for you to stay after work to do what you needed to do.

Hours passed, and the office gradually emptied out as your colleagues left for the weekend. You worked tirelessly, determined to meet Mina's demands. The clock on the wall seemed to move in slow motion as the night stretched on.

Finally, well past midnight, you finished the report. Exhausted and drained, you collected your things and headed out of the office. Your mind was foggy from lack of sleep, and fatigue weighed heavily on you.

As you drove home, the empty streets were eerily quiet. The rhythmic hum of the engine and the soft glow of the streetlights were soothing, but they also made you drowsy. You fought to stay awake, rolling down the windows and turning up the music in an attempt to stay alert.

But the exhaustion was overwhelming. Your eyelids drooped, and for a split second, you closed your eyes.

The screeching of tires and the blaring of horns jolted you awake, but it was too late. Your car had veered into the opposite lane, and a collision was imminent.

Everything went dark.

*

"Y/N," Mina spoke, desperation present in her voice, as a nurse checked the list of people who had entered through emergencies at the hospital. "Y/LN Y/N," she insisted, trying to take a look herself at the paper the lady in front of her was holding.

When the ambulance got you, you had no identification with you. The only way to track an emergency contact was through the company's records. Mina's heart raced as she waited for the nurse to confirm your status.

The nurse finally nodded and looked up at Mina. "Yes, we have a patient with that name. She's in the emergency room right now. Family and friends are allowed to wait in the waiting area."

Mina's heart sank. She didn't want to admit it, but the news had hit her harder than she could have ever expected. Without thinking, she rushed towards the emergency room, desperately searching for any signs of your condition.

As she entered the room, her eyes fell upon you, lying unconscious on a hospital bed. Tubes and monitors surrounded you, and the medical staff worked diligently to stabilize your condition. The sight of you in such a vulnerable state struck Mina to her core.

She had never realized how much you meant to her until this moment. The fear of losing you overwhelmed her, and she felt a deep sense of regret for the way she had pushed you so hard at work. She should have been more considerate of your well-being, and now it might be too late.

Mina approached your bedside, her heart heavy with worry. She reached out and gently held your hand, her fingers trembling. "Please, be okay," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "I promise I'll make it up to you, Y/N."

She didn’t remember a time when you weren’t as calm as you were in that moment. Even when she was pushing more work your way, you always managed to comply as she requested. Mina didn’t realize until that moment how pretty your eyelashes were and how they cast delicate shadows on your cheeks.

A long sigh filled with regret left her lips. Her thumb drew random patterns on your skin as she got more comfortable with the closeness. She never knew how much she wanted to hold you up until that moment when she saw you in your most fragile state, eyes closed, chest rising to the pace of your breathing.

Hours passed, and Mina refused to leave your side. She watched as the medical staff worked tirelessly to ensure your recovery. It was a long and agonizing wait, but finally you began to stir.

Your eyes slowly fluttered open, and you groaned in pain.

Mina's heart leaped with relief as she saw you regain consciousness. She leaned closer, her voice filled with genuine concern. "Y/N, are you okay? How do you feel?"

You blinked a few times, trying to focus on your surroundings. "Mina? What... happened?"

Mina couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She wiped them away quickly, her voice cracking with emotion. "You were in a car accident, Y/N. But you're going to be okay. That's all that matters."

Without noticing, she had held your hand in hers. Her warmth filled your fingers as they slowly interlaced with each other. A soft smile appeared on your face as Mina’s cheeks tinted pink.

You didn’t understand much of why it was happening, yet you didn’t want it to change.

The hospital room became a sanctuary for the two of you—a place where time seemed to slow down and your connection deepened. Mina's once-reserved nature began to unravel as she showed a side of herself she had kept hidden from her colleagues.

Every day, she would sit by your bedside, sharing stories, laughter, and even a few tears. You found comfort in her presence, and it was clear that Mina felt the same. The barriers that had once separated you at work were replaced by a newfound vulnerability and openness.

One evening, as the sun cast a warm, golden glow across the hospital room, you mustered the strength to speak up. "Mina, there's something I need to say."

Mina turned her gaze towards you, her eyes filled with warmth and curiosity. "What is it, Y/N?"

You took a deep breath, your heart pounding in your chest. "Since the first time I saw you," you began, "I couldn’t help but notice how pretty you are."

Mina’s expression turned surprised. She wasn’t expecting you to be so straightforward. "I…"

"Let me," you interrupted. "As the weeks passed by, I realized it wasn’t just your beauty that would draw people in. You’re one of a kind, Mina, and I can’t believe I have the honor of having you by my side in these hard moments,” your eyes filled with tears as you noticed the way she was looking at you.

Care, kindness… love?

"I’ve tried to get to know you better, to get close to you," you continued as Mina averted her gaze away, knowing what you were going to say. "But things never go the way I plan," you chuckled.

She smiled softly.

"I never wanted this to happen," you said, signaling the state you were in, "but if that’s the price to have you here, then so be it".

Mina shook her head as you noticed how affected she was, too. "This was never supposed to happen," she replied, getting closer to your bed and taking your hand in hers, the way she had grown used to in the past few days. Her eyes found yours, and you felt peace. "I’ve also wanted to get close to you; I just didn’t know how".

"We’re here now," you said, eyeing the way your fingers had interlocked naturally.

She smiled, contemplating for a second.

"Go for it," you encouraged her, almost reading her mind. "Please…"

Without thinking twice, Mina leaned in as her lips pressed against yours for the first time.

The world seemed to stand still in that moment as Mina's soft lips met yours. It was a gentle, tender kiss filled with unspoken emotions.

As your lips melded together, you could feel the weight of the past few weeks—the fear, the worry, and the longing—all culminating in this intimate connection.

Mina's hand cradled your cheek as the kiss deepened, a silent promise of her feelings and the newfound bond between you. Time seemed to lose all meaning as you both lost yourselves in the warmth and tenderness of the kiss.

When you finally pulled away, your breaths were slightly ragged, but your smiles were radiant. Mina's eyes sparkled with confidence.

"Wow," you whispered, your heart still racing.

Mina chuckled softly, her thumb caressing your cheek. "I can't believe we waited this long to do that."

You laughed too, feeling a sense of joy and contentment that you hadn't felt in a long time. "Better late than never, right?"

Mina nodded, her fingers still entwined with yours. "Right."

As you both settled back into the comfort of your hospital rooms, the atmosphere changed. It was no longer a place of worry and uncertainty, but a space filled with the promise of a deeper connection and a love that had been waiting to bloom.

[apostaterevolutionary]

Collecting some thoughts on veilguard cause tbh I really don’t know how to feel lmao so. Unstructured ramble time

I’ve watched the trailer and the demo and I feel very. Idk? Still ‘wait and see’ mode for me. It’s been 10 years. Inquisition imo was the weakest of the 3. And while I have kind of moved on from DA there is a part of me that wants this to just blow everything out of the water and be amazing. I’m just not sure if that’s what I think will happen. Right now, I just think it doesn’t feel dragon age-y enough (in terms of what I, personally, consider the defining traits of the series) but I don’t want to jump to conclusions with so little information

The trailer was. Fine. Vibes were a little off but given its Varric narrating, it makes sense (also. Unpopular opinion lmao. I love Varric but I don’t think he should be a companion again. If there’s a carry over companion, it should have been Dorian. And tbh he could still be there, considering they said 7 companions but Varric is not included in that. So did they mean 7 *new* companions and maybe a few others? Advisors again maybe? Idk. Maybe Varric is a temporary companion, but I don’t think he should be there except maybe as a cameo. Scout Harding is an unexpected but fine carry over though). I don’t really have an opinion yet on the companions themselves cause there’s just. Nothing to base an opinion on other than the character designs

Gameplay demo shows that they’re definitely going very Inquisition-y. As in, continuing further down the path it started. Which isn’t unexpected, but is a bit disappointing, though not necessarily a dealbreaker as of yet. It’s probably smart tbh to go more in an action rpg direction than back to the crpg roots given it’s going to be compared to bg3 no matter what they do - better to differentiate as much as possible. Though I don’t think that’s why they did it, probably more a happy accident. I just. Idk, I found inquisitions combat a bit boring and I haven’t been impressed by what I’ve seen yet. But a 20 minute demo is probably not enough to really form an opinion

I feel like you can still see the echoes of this being a live service game at one point too. Healing potions coming from pots found in the environment (I never got over healing spells being cut btw lmao, bring back spirit healers already), the “ability wheel” (unsure about that too, given it sounds like we can’t control companion characters anymore? Kinda really don’t like that :/), stuff like that. I still feel like DA2 combat was the perfect balance between fluidity and strategy but it is what it is. It performed badly, so they’ve disregarded it wholesale rather than consider that some aspects of it may still be worth exploring. It sucks, but that’s capitalism I guess

As for all the other little things, idk, I really am not sure what to think yet lmao. Some sound good. Some less good (why only 2 companions, I don’t like that at all - also weird that the demo shows you won’t have a tank for the initial bit of the game. That’s a weird choice). Nothing to make me go aaaaaa either positively or negatively yet. I don’t even know what to say. My feelings are just so complicated about it, but also kinda empty at the same time. Like. It’s a bit of kombucha girl meme but also muted? I would like to feel just. More about it. But I don’t yet. I’m too unsure. Not quite numb, but almost tbh

At this stage, I feel like I’m gonna wait till it comes out and see what happens. No pre-ordering until I get a better idea. It’s like. With origins, I’ve played it a lot. DA2, even more - countless times lmao. Inquisition though, I played 2.5 times immediately after release and have tried to play it multiple times since but. I only ever get 10-20 hours in before I get bored and can’t make myself continue. I’ve tried many, many times and idk why but I just can’t do it. I never even played any of the DLC, so like. I kinda need to do that first if I’m gonna play veilguard but I have never succeeded before so idk how I will now lmao. But I feel like at least trespasser is necessary and I have genuinely never played it. And I gotta play the rest of the game first to get there and I genuinely don’t know if I can sksksjs

And with that in mind like. If inquisition is that unappealing to me, a game that feels very inquisition-y, potentially leaning even more into the stuff I didn’t like about it, is. Definitely not what I was hoping for. It’s still possible it’s leagues better than inquisition and actually playing it will be a great experience. But right now I just don’t know. I probably won’t be able form any kind of opinion until it comes out and I start getting info from trusted folks that I know have good DA opinions lmao

Idk. I’m not trying to be a wet blanket or a hater, and I genuinely don’t think I am being a hater at all, but I am just. Very tired and nervous. But also cautiously hopeful. I’ve said ‘idk’ a lot lmao but I truly don’t know at this stage. I guess we’ll see. Let’s hope it’s actually amazing and the very thing we need to make the series as a whole feel like it used to for us lapsed DA fans

[txtbeomi]

“You’re hurt”

Siren! Taehyun x Fem! Reader

Note : Pls this was so rushed💀 forgive me if there’s any mistakes I didn’t proof read this I’m too lazy-

~~~~~~

Y/N, an intrepid marine biologist fueled by boundless curiosity, embarked on a research expedition to a remote coastal region where the ocean concealed its deepest mysteries. Armed with scientific instruments and a passion for understanding marine life, Y/N sought to unravel the enigmatic secrets hidden beneath the waves.

In her pursuit of knowledge, Y/N encountered an ethereal melody that seemed to whisper through the currents.

This haunting song led her to the elusive Taehyun, a siren whose scales gleamed with an eerie luminescence, reflecting the shadows of the ocean's secrets. Taehyun's eyes, once filled with the innocence of the sea, now bore the weight of mistrust and corruption.

Y/N’s eyes gleam over his features, awed by them and unable to believe her eyes and what she’s seeing, despite her shock, she still notices a few wounds which are embedded on his skin, making her frown a bit

In Taehyuns perspective, hes shocked yet wary of who dared to enter his domain, by accident or not

Their initial meeting was a clash of worlds, with Y/N's curiosity contrasting sharply with Taehyun's guarded demeanor. Taehyun, scarred by encounters with humans who sought to exploit his mystical abilities, regarded Y/N with suspicion. However, Y/N saw beyond the corrupted facade, sensing a wounded soul yearning for redemption beneath the surface.

“Leave human” Taehyun hisses at the intruder, his tail tensing up in warning

“You’re hurt” Y/N says, frowning, her eyes raking over the scars and wounds

“I said, leave.” Taehyun says more firmly, growling at her, hiding his wounds away

“No” Y/N says, although she should’ve run away, feared the siren, but she was not

Undeterred by Taehyun's reluctance, Y/N picks up an olive branch and extends the olive branch of understanding.

Taehyun who was surprised but wary of her actions, dwelled back into the sea.

Y/N, although a bit disappointed, excitement coursed through her veins as she returned everyday to the same spot to catch glimpses of him

The Days turned into weeks as Y/N patiently observed the siren from a distance, respecting his boundaries while continuing her research on the mesmerizing but corrupted underwater world he inhabited.

As Y/N continued to research, Day by day, taehyuns body was getting worse, his skin which was a clear shining and beautiful scale-embedded skin, was starting to have black spots

Y/N was getting worried, although having to research about the mystical in the sea? She puts aside that work and researches on what caused taehyun to be like this, not only him but also the other sea creatures.

Months pass by and Y/N's genuine care and determination to heal Taehyun began to chip away at the walls surrounding his heart.

As Y/N continues researching, she finally finds her answer, it was the industry near by which was affecting the water very badly. She immediately leave for a few days to handle the situation.

Taehyun on the other hand, had thought she had finally given up after noticing her absence for the past few days, hating her for the slightest hope she had given him about fixing the entire thing, fixing him

About a few days later the problem was solved, the industry had to pay fine for damage including the people who had stayed by the sea and used the water, having gotten multiple illnesses from it.

The next few days Taehyun notices there was less corruption of the chemicals in the sea, was it fixed?, he questioned himself, was it…her work?

As the corruption waned, the siren's true nature emerged—a being of enchanting beauty and ancient wisdom, no longer burdened by the shadows that had tainted his existence.

Y/N returns after the whole commotion is over, searching for taehyun despite the ungodly hour in the night, she calls out for him a few times before he emerges from the sea, shock paint over Y/N’s face, his scales and skin shining brightly mover than ever, his beauty even more enhanced after all the evidences of him being sick gone.

Y/N's unwavering dedication and Taehyun's gradual healing led to a profound connection that bridged the gap between their worlds. The once-corrupted siren now stood as a guardian of the ocean, his songs echoing a melody of redemption and renewal.

~~~~~

P.S : Y/N's research took on a new purpose as she documented the process of cleansing and restoring balance to the underwater realm. And she became rich.

[namazunomegami]

Into the Void

Pairing: Geto Suguru x gn!reader

Synopsis: Geto is so succumbed to his ideals that you have no choice but to run. But the hunt for you is more than a simple chase. It's resurrection. It's repentance. Just like in the parable of the lost sheep.

CW: canon compliant, established relationship, predator/prey, injuries, blood, toxic dynamics, heavy religious symbolism, emotional distress, dissociation, tiny bit of hurt/comfort, yandere behavior, Geto is a manipulative ass how surprising

WC: 5.2k whoops

Credits: my dear @notveryrussian for proofreading but tbh I should start calling you my editor from now on lmao. I'm glad you enjoyed my sneak peeks so much 💕

Song rec: since I can't control myself, I picked 3 songs by Nine Inch Nails that gives the perfect vibes to the story. For the exposition, I recommend Heresy, mostly because the lyrics resonates with the reader's thoughts about Geto. For the escape/chase part, I picked Eraser for the creepy vibes and reader's slowly deterioriating sanity. For the closing part, I picked A warm place because it's a comforting yet a bit gloomy track

A/N: Saying that this idea possessed me is an understatement. Initially I only wanted to put effort into the whole chase scene but obviously I started to add lore into the whole thing. And since they grew on me and I simply love their dynamic, a part 2 is on the way yaaay.

Minors shall not interact unless they wanna get punched.

And a usual warning for dark content. I wanted to keep it mild but I couldn't. Maybe I'm a lil bit too skilled when it comes to writing about fear.

It’s all too painful to think that maybe running away with Geto wasn’t the best idea.

Of course you loved him, you loved the twins too and the makeshift family you created, it really healed some of the wounds you received in the past. But you wished it would’ve stayed that way. Living together, somewhere far away, isolated, in peace. Have a fresh start, build a nest for the four of you and fill it up with love.

But he had other plans.

There were a lot of improvements in the initial phase of your plans. Building community, uniting the herd. You enjoyed some reverence from the followers too. Eventually the initial number of breakthroughs began to stagnate, despite all the effort. It became routine, like you were being dragged through the same day for years and years without end. When you were faced with even more setbacks, you started to realize that you basically never left the temple and it soon began to feel like a cage. Golden and holy. It was draining to see people lose their sense of individuality and how he became their only source of validation. It was torment. Living life as an idol of worship tucked into a forgotten corner of a church. Praised like a twisted Gothic Madonna with a blue cloth over your head, but in reality you weep, you’re their Mater Dolorosa, with swords piercing your sorrowful heart.

The most devastating thing about realizing you’re not fit to run a cult, is the fact that you lack the most understated yet important aspect of it: believing in the agenda you want to spread. How could you guide all those helpless, simple-minded sheep while questioning whether your destination is real or not? Maybe that Canaan has nothing to do with milk and honey, instead it’s just a pile of rubble.

You soon got tired of it all. His drive, his goal, all too impossible to achieve. Maybe he knew he could never make it happen, but it consumed him regardless. You’ve lost the most cherished parts of him to his hatred, his deeply repressed rage against any injustices he had to deal with after the infamous Star Plasma incident.

You weren’t sure about your feelings towards Geto anymore. Were you afraid of him? Angry at him? Bitter? Disappointed? Worried? It all turned into mush, a grotesque, black liquid as the thin walls of the temple slowly made you feel like they were closing in on you. You had no idea how much time you had, until your unresolved feelings will taint the whole place.

You always circled back to the worst possible action to protect your soft, aching heart… When you thought that nothing will change for the better, you wanted to run away. You wanted to hide. The ambivalence of your feelings towards him weighed on your heart and conscience, like a thousand stones. You loved him, yet you loathed what has become of him. Despite that you trusted him with the map of your soul, made it through all the highs and lows of your relationship so far, all the deep abysses of pain and suffering.

Maybe you should run, just for the sake of it. To test how it will make you feel. Will it make you feel freed? At ease? Will it lift the weights on your chest? Will this sense of incoming doom vanish?

Maybe you should find Gojo. He wouldn’t condemn you, but he would be disappointed. If you set your judgement and resentment to aside, he’s the only one who can talk with the higher ups to scratch your name off the list of curse users who are on death row.

How much time did you need to forge your plan? Not even a single minute. It was only natural for you to memorize everybody’s routine, how to distinguish the sound of their steps, to pick a timeframe when nobody is lurking around the halls. The first (and probably last) time you were glad those who have hurt you gave you a skill, besides the ability to harness cursed energy of course. They made you stealthy, alert, observant.

And when Geto left you to cater to his followers, you decided to put your plan into action.

Your body is strung tight with the tension of waiting, agitation making you feel as if you were unraveling at the seams - but something deep inside of your mind pleaded for you to stay. Agony and anxiety were plaguing you until you’ve found enough courage to get up and sneak out. Now, you had the chance to show off everything you’ve learned: sliding the doors shut so slowly that they don’t make a noise, walking down the corridors with socked feet, carefully putting the middle parts of your feet on the floor, instead of your heels, easily avoiding those parts that creak.

Sometimes, when he was immersed in his thoughts, he was amused by how faint your steps sounded.

An involuntary instinct warns you. It’s trying to convince you that he can see you through the eyes of bodhisattvas residing in the thangka paintings decorating the walls. You almost give up your quest as you glance at the depiction of Vajrabhairava. In all its anger, with its six faces and twelve limbs. A dreadful beast that defies death itself.

You don’t want to do this to him, do you?

You look away from the painting, focusing on getting your shoes on and climbing out through the window. As you’re squatting on the windowpane, you can see all of Tokyo stretched out beneath you. You’re a little bit annoyed that all temples are built on a mountain. A long way to go, but you can never know when this place will turn into a funeral pyre.

It’s a little bit too easy. There’s no sign of surveillance curses nearby, you only need to slide down on the wet tiles, jump up high, land in the mud and let yourself be swallowed by the darkness of the forest. You specifically picked your least conspicuous clothes to blend into your surroundings perfectly. And the cold and murky night will let you go safely. The leaves will conceal your tracks.

So many things are working in your favor tonight.

You know there’s no need to rush. You can only draw attention to yourself if you are running around, creating noise and disturbing the wildlife. You don’t even use a flashlight, you have to get used to the darkness, the full Moon will guide you with all her dazzling light. And after that, Tokyo will do the same, with its crowded streets and all its places to hide.

There’s a weird kind of tranquility in your heart. How the cold prickles your skin, the moisture in the air, the faint noise of the creatures dwelling under the leaves, up in the trees, singing, chirping, crawling. The scent of wet soil, the gentle caress of the wind…

Now, you feel free.

As you walk deeper and deeper into the woods, you feel lighter, you feel like you could fly away, like you could dance all the way towards your destination. You’re thinking about actually doing that, as if you got possessed by a strange spirit…

But the uneven, slippery ground makes you fall right into the mud. You squirmed a little, trying to get hold of a tree trunk and then…

Silence, dead silence.

Your heart sinks deep in your chest.

You know what it means. When nature falls silent. There’s…

There’s a threat nearby.

A primal instinct tells you to run.

There’s no way, there’s no fucking way that he already noticed you were gone.

Twigs whip at your skin as you’re running mindlessly. Wherever you end up, it will be fine, as long as you can enter the outskirts of the city. The cold night air stings your throat, your heaving breath leaves your mouth in puffy clouds. You feel the urge to cough, deep from your bone-dry lungs.

The ground beneath you turns soft and steep. You lose your poise, stumbling and rolling all the way down until you fall from a high clod of rain-washed soil. Your body collides with a cold, wet, yet incredibly hard and flat surface, fraying the skin on your palm and face. Your back and shoulders will be bruised by tomorrow, painting your body with black and blue spots. The pain ripples through your entire being, paralyzing you for a couple of moments.

As you slowly gathered your battered self from the ground with a grunt, you realize you landed on a road. It’s a good sign, you’re not so far from civilization. But instead of following the road, cutting through the forest is the wiser decision.

Your relief is short-lived, just like a may fly.

A sinister feeling takes hold on you. It makes you freeze, squeezing your insides. Like you’re sitting in the jaw of an eldritch beast. You slowly turn back to the direction of your fall.

The lights are flickering.

You grab on the guardrail for dear life. You try to fill your lungs with shaky breaths, your heart desperately beating against your ribcage. Your trembling knees barely keep you upright, yet nothing can make you move. You have been found, you’re defeated, there’s no point in running away from him. The injuries, the already forming bruises will only deplete your strength.

How could you fight him? You’re aware that if he wanted to, he could break your bones and twist your body at the joints with an arm behind his back.

How could you outrun him? He’s capable of summonning a swarm of curses before you even take a step.

How could you make war with him?

Three of the lamp lights were already out, you stared into the darkness, the boundless abyss right before your eyes. You can’t even force yourself to blink.

And when the lights came back on, he was just standing there. Without breaking a sweat. Your pulse feels non-existent.

What infuriated you even more was that he wasn’t wearing his gojo-kesa. The motherfucker even gave you a head start by changing into something comfortable before he came to fetch you. Or simply he noticed your absence later than you expected.

Whatever, both is bad news for you.

He doesn’t utter a single word, he merely walks towards you. Slowly cornering you. Feasting on the terror on your face. Meanwhile you can’t unravel what could possibly be going on in his mind. The only thing you notice is that those violet sparks in his eyes are so sharp they could cut yours out of their sockets.

Should you give up? Should you beg for forgiveness?

But then, an idea blooms inside your mind.

You don’t hide your fear, you let your body tremble freely, fingers desperately clinging onto the metal, with your shoulders hunched to protect your neck and your wide, frightened eyes stare back at him. Letting him believe that you won’t fight back. That he can take you back to the temple and throw you back into your cage.

And when his foot hits the bisector, you jump. Right into the nothingness behind your back.

You fall on leaves and broken twigs again. You roll and roll with such speed you can’t comprehend the growing distance. Not even having an idea of how far you’re from him. Small rocks, branches, hardened roots of trees, bones all cut, scratch and pierce you. But you endure it, you’ll undergo any torture if it meant you’ll be freed. Your only hope is that the adrenaline will deal with the pain.

Suddenly, you violently crash into a tree, the ridged texture imprints deeply into your stomach. Acid bursts from your throat. Your diaphragm didn’t avoid the hit either, breathing is not unlike Sisyphean task as you try to get your shaking limbs to stand. Your mind is disturbed by the lack of air and your desperate attempts at getting yourself together. You’re wheezing like a dog. You must look pathetic, you think.

It takes almost all of your mental strength to calm down and slowly breathe through your nose, your lungs finally opening. But Geto won’t let you recover, you hear the fallen leaves getting crushed under his feet. You take a few sharp, ragged breaths, like it’s the last drag of a cigarette before the train comes and then, you move.

You hide behind a thick pine tree, palms covering your mouth and nose. The lack of oxygen is just another frustrating hindrance to your successful escape plan. Dizziness fills your head like a thick fog and sucks the strength out of your shins, needing to lean against the trunk to keep yourself standing. You try to conceal your cursed energy with all your might. A tracker who’s untraceable is a useful pawn in the hands of the higher ups, this skill made you a cherished student back in the day. Back when everything was so… no, it’s only the nostalgia making you wistful, it wasn’t any better.

The rustling gets quieter, you wait until the sound eventually dies. An almost muted sigh of relief leaves your lips in a thick cloud, dancing in the cold air.

From the corner of your eye, a floating form cuts through the pale moonlight.

Looking closely at its shape, you realize what kind of curse it is. The beetle looking one that attacks instantly once it senses movement. You can’t believe it, you’re going to -

The curse drags itself into your aura, scanning your form that is fused with the pine. Every muscle is tensed, you’re stiff as a board, you suppress every reflex in your eye and empty chest. You’re just like a statue, a corpse, showing no signs of life. Only an agonizing scream echoes inside your skull. A scream that puts mental breakdowns to shame.

It’s like an eternity until the curse finally disappears from your sight.

You definitely look exhausted, your body is limp and heavy like lead. But you must keep going at all costs, even if you have no idea how many curses are sent after you. You walk around the mountain instead of going down like he’d expect it.

Slowly yet surely, you calm yourself down. You know that you’re still in his grasp, but you still have a chance to outsmart him. You go deeper and deeper, you’re near the heart of the forest now. The moonlight barely crawls through the leaves, it’s easier to navigate according to what you hear rather than to what you see. The surroundings are growing eerie, you ache for light and warmth. And the longing sucks a bit of spirit out of you.

Before you can start questioning yourself, the sound of running water fills your ears.

A narrow, yet fast running stream plowed through the forest. Though you were unsure of staying close to the stream, going through it and getting to the other side sounds like a smart idea. As you take a reluctant step, you realize the water is ice cold. And when you dive into it further, enduring the strong current, it’s not as shallow as you believed. You’re submerged all the way up to your thighs. At its deepest point, the stream hugs your waist. The cold makes your movements slow and rigid, your teeth clang together in a frenzy. The bottom is filled with smooth, flat pebbles, they make it easy to - 

You slip on the rounded, polished stones and fall into the stream. The freezing temperature makes your skin shrink, it prickles you like a thousand needles. Scared, you crawl around the bottom, trying to get a hold of something and emerge back to the surface. A sharp, burning pain wakes in your palm, tears streaming down your cheeks. You try to swallow your scream, but it wants to burst from your lungs, you grunt and whimper until you can bite down on your sweatshirt, letting the material muffle your shout. Your gaze fixates on your hand and even in the darkness of the night, you see blood oozing from the deep cut, from your own torn flesh. The urge to retch is strong.

You palm is plunged back into the cool water, in hope of easing the pain.

He calls out your name right behind you.

You crawl out of the water, running from him, just as before. It doesn't matter how many times you trip, fall, stumble. It doesn’t matter how your fresh wounds end up in the mud, you don’t have it in you care about the pain or the looming threat of an infection. You hear him trying to reason with you. You must come back home, you’re injured, you’re bleeding. He must take care of you.

Why are you running? Where could you go? Who’s going to help you recover?

No, you mustn’t let your determination crumble. But oh… it sounds so easy. Giving in to your hopelessness.

An evergreen bush becomes your shelter to collect yourself and check on your wound, which is aching from all the dirt and is still bleeding. Water is dripping from your hair, your clothes are soaked, makes it easier for the cold night air to bite into you, to shake the whole length of your body. Your fingers are hardly moving and have no strength in them. The adrenaline is starting to wear off. You feel alone, small, and vulnerable. You’re freezing, scarred and aching. All the things you see in the dark twist into creepy, threatening forms. Everything that surrounds you is suddenly dangerous. As a lonely spider crawls within your field of vision, you flinch. The world around you is evil and everything is after your flesh.

And the only person who can save you is the one you’re running away from.

What are you going to do now? Fight, flight, or freeze? Which instinct is going to win this time? Because comprehensible thoughts won’t work on you. Every little layer of a fully-fledged human with a conscience has been stripped from you. You left them scattered everywhere in the woods. You’re nothing more than a primordial shell of a being.

Ceremonial horns wake in the distance, soon followed by howling. They let the dogs out to hunt you down. Poor, little hare. Your own stupidity has woken up the beast.

Who is like unto the beast?

You defeat the paralyzing dread and decide on flight. You dash out from the bushes, but - Oh… your eye. Your soft doe eye. There’s something in it. And your tears have an oddly metallic taste on your tongue.

And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

You wish you could see yourself from the outside, but you’re probably nowhere near as majestic as you think you are. Right now you feel like you’re the fastest, stealthiest creature who’s ever lived, even if your muscles are almost torn, weak, and tensed. This is the last crumb of your strength, this is your all.

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.

You don’t dare to look back. You know he’s there. He’s so close, he’s orbiting around you like a moon does with its planet. As if all of this is a dance. A hunt is a dance with a coital rhythm. And mother nature is the audience to your deadly waltz.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

He takes your hand in his. Gentle and kind. To not scare you any further. You snap like an electric current under his touch, but you break free and zigzag between the trees.

He grabs your waist. Forcefully. It scares you this time. You escape from his embrace before he can swallow you whole. But he might have bit your throat during the process, you feel something trailing down your collarbones. You hear your bones crack.

It was all a mistake. You are a mistake. But mistakes can be forgiven, right? He has forgiven you so many times, you can’t even think of a number.

You slide down on a slope, leaves stick to your clothes, and you drop onto a thick trunk of a fallen oak. Tensive pain ripples in your side. You should stand up and run, but you can’t move. You won’t move. What’s wrong with you? What kind of prey gives the fight up before its last breath? But you think about your frozen limbs, the pain in your palm, your back, your shoulder blades, everywhere. You think about home… you want to go home or be left here to die. But the thought of dying here, alone, makes your heart palpitate rapidly, like there’s not enough air to fill your lungs. Your breathing becomes desperate, panicked even. Your chest hurts, your ribcage is ready to break apart by your racing heartbeat. You press your palms against your head, clawing into your hair. Every little morsel of you is bursting into a tremor. The connection between your mind, your body and the world cease to exist. And that lovely, unlimited stretch of space inside your consciousness is shaken, it’s in utter chaos. Breaking into tiny little pieces, like glass, like porcelain. Tears and plucks like paper and fabric. Shrieks and wails, rejecting the only thing that makes all creatures on this plane of existence agitated over their own mortality.

You’re doomed.

Unconsciously, your limbs curl into the very same position you took when you saw the world for the first time, protecting your belly and face, making you seem small. Geto knows you only do that when you fear what might happen to you, despite being unaware of the kind of terror your brain had subjected you to. That’s why he approaches you slowly, making no sudden movements as he picks you up gently, like one would lift a porcelain figure from the ground. When you open your eyes, he had already settled you into his lap as the manta ray curse lifts the two of you up to mount the skies.

You have no idea if he hunted you down or saved you from your own demise.

What a defiant, ungrateful creature you are, you think. You tried so viciously to run away from your burden, and now you feel safe with him again, you dare clinging to him, you dare seek his warmth. The contradicting thoughts and desires torture you on the way back. There’s only one faint voice inside your head that’s capable of calming you down, able to keep your sanity intact…

You’re the lost sheep, and he’s the shepherd who searched all over the world to find you. And he’ll bring you back to the flock, and he’ll love you more than the rest of them.

Your false god. Your fallacious savior. Will he forgive you if you repent on your knees? Until they get bloody and bruised?

Back at the temple, he refuses to let you take even a step on your own. You weren’t born to run, to soil your soles with the ground that filthy monkeys walk on. You’re meant to be worshipped, to claim the whole world as yours beneath dainty, soft feet.

The warm lamplight and the comfort of your shared room helps you unwind. To shift back into a much more civilized, humanlike state. And as you practically glue yourself to the heater, you notice more dirt, more cuts, more blood marring your flesh than you expected.

When you take off your grimy sweatshirt, shoes, and socks, Geto is towering over you. There’s nothing imposing about him, he looks rather troubled as he sighs.

“What do I do with you?”

You roll your eyes. Oh, the good old rhetorical question. He has no idea if he should treat your wounds first, bathe you or break your leg just like the Gospel says.

“Come, let me take a look at your hand.”

You see your reflection in the mirror, and you’re horrified. Your right eye is bloodshot, a deep cut is splitting through your lower lip. You’re drenched in mud, already dried on your face along with some patches of wine dark blood. Together they seal the scraped skin on your cheek, makes your hair stick together into thick strands, accessorized with pine leaves and other remains from your little hike. You’re blistered and torn, you can barely recognize yourself.

It's pleasant to rinse your hands with warm water at the sink, but the sight makes your stomach twist. That nasty wound is too deep, it has to be sewn shut. A shiver races down on your spine when you see the first aid kit. He soaks a fresh gauze pad with wound solution and guides it towards the gaping cut with a pair of tweezers. The sting is horrible, the burning sensation rivals acid being poured straight into your flesh, it makes you grunt and hiss. He gives you a moment to breathe and collect yourself then he continues, despite your whimpers and twitching, tensed fingers. But the pain pales in comparison to when he swipes a new, clean pad inside your wound, cleaning it of all the filth. A pathetic cry erupts from your throat.

“Stop.” you sob, pulling your hand away to hug it close to your chest. You’re too distressed to realize that the temporary discomfort is necessary. But maybe this whole act is nothing but another one of his silly little games.

He places a finger under your eye, close to your lashes and collects your tears. The sight of you crying is somehow not worth of savoring to him. Before any little drop of your sorrow and regret can roll down your cheek like diamonds, he smears them, as if they could make your misery vanish. Well, they can’t. It frustrates you that you can’t let your feelings manifest because he’s ready to devour them just like his curses.

He doesn’t care that your face is caked in dirt, blood and tears, he lifts your chin up to kiss you. Deeply. You’re not reprimanded for not kissing him back.

You were right, he’s definitely toying with you. He makes it hurt before he soothes the ache. He creates a connection in your mind. Like you’re the dog of Pavlov, slowly conditioned to associate him with anything that makes the human heart fill with delight.

The tiles attract your attention much more than watching how the curved needle dives into your skin, how the thread closes the wound proficiently. Your features soften for a moment. Shoko would be so proud of him... Not for the reason he got so good at it though. He learnt to treat his wounds for the sole purpose of not letting a non-sorcerer doctor ever touch him.

He’s crazy. Vile. Petty. And delusional. It drives you crazy too.

But when your stitched hand is wrapped up in bandages, you seriously think about thanking him for putting up with you. For not being angry at you.

“Maybe this will make you reconsider your actions next time.” he remarks in a flat tone, concealing what’s going on in his mind.

You keep your gratitude to yourself.

But it’s not an easy task when he continues spoiling you, with so much care that it rivals motherly love. How he rinses all the grime out of your hair, how he gives you a moment of peace in a tub filled with plain, warm water, no bubbles or scented oils to irritate your scarred, sensitive skin. He dries you, brushes your hair and fills the whole bedroom with the calming notes of lavender and cedarwood coming from the incense burners. But he’s just so fixated on your injuries… every scratch, every surface level cut is thoroughly sanitized. It’s still humiliating, even when you’re the one sitting comfortably on the bed and he’s kneeling on the floor.

You’re afraid the extra pampering will twist your reasoning and resolve. That’s all part of the mind games he plays. You know he’ll go out on his way to prove that the world outside is cruel, that this is the only place where you’re safe, loved. In his proximity, under his hand.

And somewhere, deep down, you admit that he’s close to convincing you.

It makes you mad, you want to tear him to shreds, you want to weep for him just like Mary did under the cross. There’s still care, there’s still love under all those layers of burning hatred. What remains is twisted though, but it is there.

After you’re patched up, he glances up at you, thumb brushing your lip right next to that nasty cut. His other hand is resting where your thigh and knee meet. It’s a sign, a warning.

“Was it worth it, little lamb?” his tone is soothing and playful. So close to being outright mockery.

You reflect in silence, averting your gaze from him. All those scars and discolored skin, your disturbed mind, and the ache in your bones - you realize that your stupid little plan was futile. Totally unnecessary, it’s no achievement you can be proud of. At least if you’re not as masochistic as to pride yourself on your injuries. But the fact that he can recognize the parallels coats your answer with bile.

“No.”

Because you know that you can be so much more… There’re unlimited possibilities to a repented non-believer. And now you know that being his doubting Thomas has no benefits.

Maybe you did lose your faith in him, like the lamb in that story, to eventually realize how much you need him and vice versa. But you’re not satisfied with being a lost sheep. You just haven’t decided on your role in his Gospel yet. This is your call, you don’t know exactly which part of him calls out to you, but you’re satisfied with either of them. Whether it’s a prophet, a messiah, a beast, or the devil itself. The fallen Morningstar who used to be the favorite.

This can be your true Genesis.

“Go on, break my leg if you want to. There’s meaning in that, at least.” you dare echo his last words to Gojo, clean and low.

And your bones remain whole.

You’re relieved. Though you’re sick of his maneuvers with your mind, you’re aware their purpose is not to hurt you or punish you. These aching limbs of yours go limp as he crawls into bed next to you. The arm you were scared of coils around your waist. Viciously tight, much like a snake. The snake that corrupted Eve in the garden. The one that made her sin, got her cast out of paradise, the one that turned her whole world upside down. And maybe Eve did fall in love with the serpent, the worst creature that God had ever created. But even though he caused the fall of mankind, the serpent freed you from the clutches of a jealous, ungrateful god who denied knowledge from his own creations. Now you have the passion to rebel, to prove your creator wrong, to avenge his mistreatment. Give in to the temptation of your snake, believe his honeyed words, accept the fruit for a second time. Because you still remember the taste, oh so sweet and luscious. And with all the power he wields, you can win back your lost Eden or re-build it on earth, the home you’re both yearning for. It’s a promise between the two of you, silent, because words are not needed, only closure.

Something warm blooms inside your chest. Yes, that’s it! You can finally feel it now…

The very first ounce of belief.

[iitodoiidas]

got a bit of time tonight, so i want to ramble about my boy Iida Tenya, and my own thoughts and feelings about the manga's ending.

this is long, LONG, and rambly and perhaps filled with grammatically incorrect sentences, and i dislike capitalization, so click read more at your peril!!!!

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as an Iida fan, the ending of the manga is a huge, HUGE let down. i'm actually expecting to be disappointed tbh, with the slow and steady pushing of Iida as a character off to the side to make way for the Midoriya-Bakugou-Todoroki power trio.

and you know, i get it! thematically, they are the inheritors of All Might and his spirit of Heroism. and they deserve the spotlight too, given how much they grew as characters vs the start of the story.

(((

i'm not a big Bakugou fan (tho i find him v funny at times, like how you'd find a rabid racoon funny) , but his character arc is very satisfying for me as a reader. love that even in the end he's still a lil shit ahha! but the way he initiated and funded the whole armor thing for Midoriya means he's still trying to atone for all the shit he did in their past. which! good on him tbh.

Todoroki, my sweet summer child, has been abused physically, and emotionally suffered enough all his life, and i'm so glad he's on the path of healing now, and also away from his dad's shadow too.

Midoriya… hmm, personally, i would have preferred for him to have remained a teacher instead of going back to heroics. it would have been a great call back to the original premise of the story that questions "can a boy with no super power become a hero too?", because the answer will be "yes!" because you know damn well he'll be looked up to by every class he handles. and given his expertise upon analyzing quirks, think of how valuable his battle advice and tactics must be, especially to kids who are just beginning to understand their quirks!

generations of student heroes, learning from his battle/fight strategies, his ideals on heroism, and most importantly his kindness and desire to help people, and then putting those values in practice in the real world. wouldn't that be a great way on how you begin to establish a truly peaceful society?

)))

but… Iida. i think... Iida's been left behind by the story by the end of it.

i almost didn't include this pic bc it offends me so much. like why is my boy banished off to the corner!? HE DESERVES A SPOT ON THAT COUCH TOO GDI!!

bias aside, you cannot tell me that Iida's contribution to story isn't IMMENSE. he is very much essential to Midoriya's growth as a hero and Todoroki's path to healing (and Bakugou's... as a classmate and a non-dear friend lmaoooo) that neither would be possible without Iida's presence and influence.

Iida (and Uraraka) being the first to offer friendship to a very insecure Midoriya, and how important Iida reaching out his hand again to Midoriya was again later on when Midoriya needed help the most; Iida reminding Todoroki of himself when Iida's going down a dark and dangerous path away from his ideals, saving him, and then being saved in turn, because of how well they relate to and understand each other. Iida being the foundation of their entire class, the way he's offered steadfast support to every one of them.

just... sighhhhh...... we didn't even hear his graduation speech as a senior? i like Mirio well enough, and i also get that the war's just happened before they graduated which is a bummer sure and that needs to be addressed, but i feel like we also deserve parting words from OUR student representative. it would have been a nice send off too to the Class A as we know them, by having their class president acknowledge their efforts and hard work.

and then... the timeskip.

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sighhhhhhh.................

ok i'll get to timeskip Iida later.

i've mentioned before how utterly wasteful i find it that Hori didn't flesh out the Iida family, as a foil against the Todoroki's.

like you have these boys from two families, similarly deeply rooted in the hero culture but with such highly contrasting upbringing. on one hand you have the Todoroki's, led by the no. 2 hero of all of Japan, who bc of ambition, had abused and traumatized all members of his small, nuclear family. and on the other, a multi-generational family of heroes, not high enough in the rankings, but successful enough to be known and respected by most of the population (also they're def super loaded too, like they have a damn BUILDING with their signature hero name!!!)

Tensei's presence in the story was underutilized too. here you have a well-known, well-liked hero who was established to have a team of sidekicks who work well together (as per Vigilantes). how interesting it would have been to have Tensei (and the Iida fam) to appear again in the story just as the hero society is collapsing? this family who made it their identity and business to help and save people as quickly and efficiently as possible? like... how could they have dealt with the fallout of the common people no longer trusting them and being actively hostile against known heroes?

knowing what we do about Tensei though, i doubt this will stop him. he'll for sure still be trying to help out people in need, even if he's already retired and while wheelchair-bound. which i also think is super unfair btw like we have Mirko with her super cool prosthetics, why can't Tensei have robot-assisted legs too??? and that's considering the Iida family who seem to primarily have mobility/tech hybrid based quirks, for sure they must have a team of tech experts specializing on mobility on hand as well????

imagine Tensei calling Tenya up one day saying he's got a surprise for his bb bro! and Tenya comes over all curious and stuff, and then Tensei greets him standing up with prosthetics, with a design that is inspired by Tenya's own leg-Engine quirk. then Tensei goes to explain that even if Tenya keeps saying that Tensei is his hero, Tensei would also like to declare that the new Ingenium is his hero, whom he'd like to honor with the design, and that someone he'd hope to work with in the future, even as a civilian background support. and in a few moments after that sinks in, Tenya will just bawl his eyes out (and then Tensei joins in in a bit bc let's be real these brothers adore each other v much)

and also..... i keep thinking what a reunion it would have been if Stain himself could have witnessed that "altruism" is well and truly alive, not only from the younger, but also from the elder Ingenium, both of whom he'd failed to kill?

siggggghhhhhhhh......

---

anyways, back to Iida Tenya. (i'll use Tenya now to refer to him, since i'll also mention Tensei a lot.)

i mentioned Tensei and the Iida fam first, bc somehow i thought we'd see a glimpse of them again before the manga ends. like an acknowledgement that Tenya had indeed proven himself worthy of the Ingenium name. wishful thinking, considering Inko (main character's mom!!!!!!) wasn't even given the chance to comfort and acknowledge her son (the main character!!!!!) as a hero as to what he has gone through to save their whole society!

anyways, so the last we see of Tenya, he's working with others, touring elementary schools, and spreading awareness and expanding quirk counseling headed by Uraraka. it's a noble pursuit yes, and beneficial too, if it could help kids with misunderstood quirks like Toga. but i can't help but feel Tenya's talents and skills could have been better put elsewhere.

like... rebuilding the Team IdaTen for example.

now, everything from this point on is all wishful thinking on my part, as an Iida Tenya fan who loves his character and story arc, and thinks he deserves a better ending.

Team IdaTen, as per Vigilantes manga, comprises of Sidekicks working under Ingenium, and their credo is (not verbatim, sorry) "to come to people's aid as quickly as possible". And this is a credo that Tenya has taken to heart, and is the core of his heroism. As the inheritor of the Ingenium name, isn't it a logical conclusion to have him step up as the new leader of the team?

in an Iida-led manga, maybe Tenya's challenge for this is how to prove himself as a capable leader amongst his brother's veteran Sidekicks. For sure they already know Tenya as their former leader's baby brother, but how about as a leader? maybe some of them won't be able accept Tenya as a replacement, being too loyal or different from his older brother.

or... is there stil even Team IdaTen? maybe many of them quit when Tensei retired, maybe some got disillusioned and quit too during the collapse of hero society. and for sure many of them also died or got injured during the war.

Tenya's goal could be to search and recruit his own Team IdaTen, a team which specializes as first responders. like if there's any disaster or accident, you'd be sure Team IdaTen is first on the scene!! they'd be helping who they can, and relay info to other responding heroes and other pros.

hmmm..... maybe that can explain Tenya's presence in Uraraka's advocacy to improve the quirk counseling? maybe he's recruiting potential, future Team IdaTen members. he'd be on the look out for speed-based, or mobility-based quirks, but would also be welcoming of other types for sure! the only important thing is their desire to help people and that they agree to the Ingenium credo, which is saving people takes priority out of everything.

and yknow, maybe this is also his way to help curb Vigilantism, which is another problematic issue in a hero society, and help set people on a more lawful path into becoming proper heroes. like how Tensei tried to recruit Koichi after seeing his potential and desire to help without having the means. it would have been a great callback to the values Tensei had inspired on Tenya, which he would then be able to pass on to a new set of heroes/sidekicks he'd lead as a team.

siiighhhhhhh.......

okk i'm running out of steam now. i will just continue being sad over Iida's wasted storylines for the foreseeable future. ( ; ^ ; ) </3

[clockwise-works]

"Power Couple"

So I know I had posted my Link design for this AU just a week or so ago, but truthfully I was really unhappy with how it turned out. I decided to play around with the posing, and used different brushes and colors. I didn't want to just do Link though, so surprise! You get a Mipha with it! I've got my thought process below the cut for anyone interested.

So for Link I didn't really want to change much from my last design. It was really just the art style and posing I didn't like. I DID decide to give into my demons and gave him a cape. The idea is that it's long enough for him to cover his arm up when in towns / conceal his identity from Ganondorf and Astor. It's also big enough for the two to share on particularly cold nights. I also added some knight's guards for his boots. I felt the bottom half of the original design was simply too boring, so I included it to add a little flair to his boots. I then added patches to his pants to show just how devastating the fight was WaterBlight was, every patch, scar, and tear a spot he was struck.

I then gave him a shield made of light from the Light Secret Stone. My idea is that since Link was unable to defend himself initially from Ganondorf's Gloom, he uses the Light Stone to make a shield to properly defend himself. The shield's design is a mix between the Hyrulean and Zora shields, symbolizing him dual upbringing in this AU. I wanted to include the Shield's design without the glow affect but have seemingly lost the file :( If anyone is interested I could redraw it and post it another time.

The stone ALSO slows down his arm's death, essentially counterbalancing the Gloom infection. His arm did take substantial damage up until that point though, as it as seemingly withered down drastically, and will definitely need amputation after the war. I then gave Mipha the Water Secret Stone, and for them it's the first one they find. The idea is that WaterBlight, after "defeating" Mipha and Link, makes a break to the Water Temple to steal the Secret Stone. In the process he uses the temple to rain hellfire upon the Zora, an attempt by Astor the cripple the closest army to Hyrule.

For Mipha's design I was initially disappointed. The original idea was to give her pieces of Zonai armor that she and Link find on the sky islands above Zora's Domain, but unfortunately TotK has like NO good actual armors. So I decided to just go with Zora's guard armor, the idea being her father REFUSING to allow his daughter and son to rejoin the fight so soon after WaterBlight unless she properly protected herself. I then removed and or damaged parts of her jewelry, most likely lost during her battle in Vah Ruta.

To give her more than just Zora's guard armor, I gave her a belt that holds a bunch of Elixers to use on their journey, and a pouch containing medical supplies and rations. I gave her Link's hairband because I imagined a scene of her disappointed that she lost one of her mother's bracelets, so Link gave it to Mipha to cheer her up. It doesn't really compare, he knows this, but she appreciated it. I then gave her the Amber Earrings to give her better defense.

Finally, the scars and bandages. While Mipha DOES have healing magic, at this point of the story she is practically drained. For frame of reference, she had been healing herself multiple times during the WaterBlight battle (a fight that lasted hours), AND THEN subconsciously used her magic to keep her and Link alive just barely when they escaped Vah Ruta and drifted down the Rutala River until the fleeing Zoras found them. Her magic healed their most egregious wounds, but multiple scars were left behind. Maybe she could force herself to heal more, but Link nor any of the Zora would allow her to push herself too far.

[nikosovercoat]

Jackal X Reader ???

A.N. I have to provide for myself. There are no Jackal fanfictions and I need to let myself be happy , and same with other that were in my predicament. If it's terribly written I'm sorry I needed to make this fast.

When he first met you , it was before the war of Fairy Tail and Tartaros. Finding you in a forest training to become a stronger fighter to protect yourself. Jackal being Jackal is intrigued and tries to explode you , but you collapse before he even gets to work his “magic” 

Jackal doesn’t even know why he took you to be healed , something just intrigued him. To him , you were like a toy that he wanted and now has. That was what he told himself at first , nothing else really could explain it. 

When he does return to the cube , he does get a few looks from his other gates. Mard Geer didn't really understand why Jackal would do that , humans are worthless and dirt beneath their feet. The initial thought is that this might lead him from not taking part of their plans. He gets punished for his actions but he doesn't care because it was worth it.

“Humans are worthless and should be eliminated.” That’s his opinion on every human , except for you. Something about your existence keeps him entertained. Watching you trying to escape , it’s so intriguing to him. 

It was a hard first month with Tartaros , you couldn't leave or do anything. You were at the mercy of everything in that god forsaken place. Staying alive without any torture and good care was already a blessing , you started to appreciate it.

At times , he’ll just go up and touch you to scare you. Sometimes touching your shoulder , arms , or even hands. He only sets off one time , but seeing your startled expression makes him so exhilarated. "Worried about getting hurt?"

Jackal never tries to actually hurt you , and if he does , it’s truly unintentional. Once his did explode you and he was too stunned to speak. When seeing you rest in your room he tried to apologize but didn't know how to put it into words.

Ended up yelling at you and running off and then came back. “Why would I ever hurt my little play thing? That would be such a waste , I want to experiment with my explosions on someone… 🙂” This comes off in a silly way , and you start laughing which offends him.

The explosion damage wasn't to bad after all and you had an idea to use him to help you train. It was true he could be a nuisance but it was a good way to get back in shape. It's a good opportunity to get better at what you wanted to do anyways

Mard Geer doesn't even care about your existence now , because you're a human , and its now clear any of them can kill you at anytime. Also uses this freedom of yours to learn more about human magic.

Since you finally gained some freedom after two months , you decide to fight Jackal when you see him.

When he sees you trying to pick a fight with him to gain strength , he goes all in. What's in their to lose? His human is trying to fight him , one of the nine demon gates , and for what? To become powerful? In his mind , it's adorable how you can really believe you'll be as strong as he is! Nothing can stop Tartaros and the gates don't even use magic , but curses.

After a few blows later , he realizes you have no intention of trying to surpass him. Which really makes him feel somewhat disappointed but still somewhat entertained. Wondering what were you trying to get at? Escaping wasn't an option , and trying to kill him would be idiotic. He'll be brought back to life in the lab regardless. He'll never leave you alone even if you somehow kill him , always coming back to see you once again.

This goes on for a few months and you feel more accomplished everyday. Even gaining some feelings for him in the process.

When he does start to feel something for you despite his ignorant beliefs , he does start flirting in some many types of ways to get a reaction.

Immediately tries to blow up everything else he deems as a nuisance to show off his strength. You obliviously had a reaction of "What the Hell??" This goes on for a few weeks and it does get him in a little trouble.

Seilah ended up confronting him about this because its disrupting her reading. "Jackal , why are you doing this? There's no good reason for you to be destroying our base. Is this for that human?""Yes it is for that human , they've intrigued me and I want to impress them. Is there a problem?"

Seilah chuckles and walks away without saying a word , and Jackal scoffs at the action.

He's always been flirty towards you , but it increased. More teasing came with that as well. Which led you to joke around and say " Do you like me or something." "Why wouldn't I?"

Leaves you stunned but it led to a new thing with Jackal , and it's something you'll forever be happy about.

He never leaves your side after that , always trying to protect you / show off. It's a loving relationship and he's still cocky. It's worth it because you'll always be safe with him around.

Jackal can't even get jealous because no one will ever be better than him. What's there to be scared of? Does his best to be somewhat human towards you because "humans are fragile and weak." The ignorant beliefs don't leave but you know know what he truely feels for you. That's all that matters.

A.N. Part 2: I went to the lands of devianart , wattpad , and I even back to QUOTEV. Do you know how sad it is to go back on that platform to find fanfiction after writing fanfiction and have your father read it??? I went back , found like one fanfic and it was where the reader was a catgirl. Though , I did read this one fanfiction , it was a Mard Geer X Reader X Jackal. It was good even though it was short. Thank the lord for them because I started TWEAKING.

Link to that amazing persons fanfiction , go check them out if you see this!!!

[moltensmusings]

Okay heavy spoilers as I talk about final thoughts in regards to veilguard now that I've completed my initial run.

Under the cut because it's long:

I think it is the best dragon age game and while that may be controversial let me explain.

It takes the best parts of each game for me and compiles. Similarly it felt like it took inspiration from Mass effect 2 and 3 in tone and outcome, however the endings we get for Veilguard leave me a lot more satisfied than they did with 3.

I think it's devastating that you can't come out of the game with all 7 companions. That Harding or Davrin has to die. But I also can acknowledge that this outcome is one that made the ending and messaging work. It made the threat of facing gods feel much more realistic and added importance to the decision to work through the game to get the best outcome.

I love all the companions and their interpersonal relationships. How so often in the game you get to resolve differences and mediate and we get to see how rooks words effect things. I loved each companion getting their own room that changed over the story and the devs choosing to have them move around the lighthouse for interactions which isn't something done in previous dragon age games but was something they did in Andromeda that I liked.

The decision to have companion quests be a constant appearing thing over the game is also great. It really helped me get a feel for the characters and enjoy them more.

Surprisingly I don't actually mind the change from 3 to 2 companions on a quest. Banter felt like it happened so much more and not having to focus on healing them made it so that I could still enjoy their conversations while running around.

The outfits and visuals were great and Rook felt like the most full of life main character we'd gotten because of how smooth the animations and lighting was for them.

The environments in inquisition were my favorite in any DA game until this one. I loved how lived in the cities felt. The maps were large and great for exploring which meant one of the things I liked about inquisition carried over without it feeling overwhelming for other players.

This was the first time I actually cried playing a bioware game. Varric's death, coupled with the loss of a companion, actually got to me. And they let you sit with it. You get to say goodbye to Varric. You get to see him off.

Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nan felt like terrifying and compelling villains. Incredibly memorable especially after Corypheus. All the while pairing it with the tense dynamic between Rook and Solas it fully left me wanting to rush through the story to see more of them. It's so clear care and thought was put into designing the main antagonists of the game and I'm appreciative of it.

I'm eager for the next game. Wanting to see how things will connect with the new big antagonist and who our protagonist will be. They have big shoes to follow once again but I have faith.

With that said, I want to add some notes on things I wish had been included. I say these with the understanding of why so much of it wasn't/asking everyone to be aware I still enjoyed and intend to replay the game.

While I fully think the choice they went with made the story more compelling, the "well drinking" not mattering at all is a bit disappointing. I get why they removed it but if inquisition ever got remade/remastered I hope they just remove the option if it didn't matter.

I wish more inquisition choices got carried over because I would've loved to see inquisitor show up with everyone left in the innercircle to assist rook. They wouldn't be in the main battle but more just them getting a side appearance before the final fight starts. Maybe if we got a party scene they'd show up then.

Same note: the person left in the fade never being brought up/us never getting Isabela talking about Varric or any of the da2 companions showing up before we say goodbye to him makes me a bit sad. We'll never see the kirkwall gang together ever again and it hurts.

The romance scenes felt very few and far between. We had a few flirt options and a small handful of proper romance scenes so (at least for Taash) I just didn't get as invested in it as I do for other da games. I wish there were a few more.

All in all: I would recommend this game to people. I'm an andromeda and Inquisition enjoyed which I know is controversial in the fandom, but I feel like this one is actually a game I could see a lot of people liking.

I wish we had a celebration party scene for the characters. Lucanis mentions it to Bellara while fighting to get to Elgar'nan and I was so excited only for it to not happen.

[novafire-is-thinking]

Per aspera ad astra: “through adversity, to the stars”

The Vision

“You see a future in the stars?" Alpha Trion asked him quietly.

. . .

“The stars look endless to me,” he [Orion] said eventually. “Out there, you could just go and go, and there’d be enough space for everyone, and things to do and see that go on forever.” (CoP)

In an earlier post (Orion the Dreamer), I shared the full scene where Orion reveals his hopes and dreams to Alpha Trion.

And I mentioned in the previous post (Desire vs. Destiny) that it was Optimus’ deepest desire to peer behind the veil of life and study its secrets by collecting stories and seeking knowledge wherever he could find it.

Putting together both of these, one can see that Orion/Optimus’ personal vision for his life was to be a lifelong learner—one who learned through exploration, discovery of new life, the seeking of stories, and deep reflection.

Change of Plans

I will recover the AllSpark, thought Optimus Prime. Then I will retrace my steps across the galaxy and sow peace on my return wherever our initial exodus has inadvertently fomented division and war. (Exiles)

Life rarely goes as planned, as Optimus found out as the war dragged on.

Where a young Orion dreamt of setting out on his journey with curiosity and hope, a war-torn Optimus came to expect nothing more than a future quest of reparation and what he determined to be a moral duty.

A Fresh Glimpse of Hope

After so long, it was strange indeed to reach this planet again. Although I had heard it was full of life, I did not expect what we found—civilizations, technologies. For the last months, as we have been on final approach, we have learned to know them by their broadcasts, and though the others say nothing about it, what amazes me is how alike we are. Our bodies are different, our lifespans and our needs unalike, but what drives us and moves us is very much the same: humans talk about the heart, and Cybertronians the Spark; they love and fear, think and fight one another, as we do.

I looked for signs as we came within the light of their sun, and I find them everywhere—the many readings of Cybertronian technology on their world, the intensity of their struggles, the strange richness of their stories—against all odds, Unicron the Destroyer of Worlds has borne eons of life. I feel everything hangs in the balance. The Nemesis still pursues. We still track the AllSpark. So long this journey has been, and in spite of all its battles, so unchanging. (CoP)

Upon meeting and observing humans for himself, Optimus saw a glimpse of future potential—a future in which two very different, yet oddly similar species could learn and grow together, just as he’d wanted before the war. After all, Earth was also home to Unicron—the antithesis of Primus. There had to be a connection somewhere, and if not, Optimus intended to create one.

Of course, the war prevented him from getting his hopes too high, but judging from the fact that he trusted a human with the Key to Vector Sigma, it seems he allowed himself to hold onto a sliver of hope that humanity would not only survive the Cybertronian war, but would be part of Cybertron’s future in some way.

Endings and Epiphanies

I saw my death in the descent of the Dark Saber in Megatron's hand. I was surprised a little, disappointed. And then suddenly Megatron was no more. The reprieve was beyond belief. It shook me to my Spark and I felt suddenly with incredible force the fool I had been. I was not alone. I had never been alone, Prime or not. We, the Autobots, were one. (CoP)

After eons of hardship and carrying what he thought was primarily his burden to carry, Optimus was reminded that he was part of a greater whole.

The bigger goal was to see Autobots and Decepticons become one again, but this monumental shift in awareness was a necessary first step on Optimus’ journey to heal and open himself up to possibilities involving Cybertronians of either faction and humans.

A Shared Destiny

Thus ends the story of the Age of the Primes and of the origins of the Cybertronians, though not the whole story of course, for that is still being written in time and space on Earth, and all over the galaxy where the seeds and the sparks of life are growing.

I, Alpha Trion, one of the last Primes, now give this book into your hands, human friend, so that you shall know who your allies are, and your enemies also, how they are made, and where they have come from. Be sure that wherever and whenever you need our aid, the Autobots will respond to your call.

This is the Covenant of Primus, as given to all Cybertronians by right, and to humans by the last wish of Optimus, the Thirteenth Prime, so let it be.

TILL ALL ARE ONE.

Alpha Trion’s wording tells me humanity is probably the only other species that was given the Covenant of Primus.

This is incredible, to say the least. Of all the races Optimus encountered, he asked that humans be given one of the most sacred texts of the Cybertronian race.

But why humanity?

Well, Optimus firmly believed humans and Cybertronians shared a common destiny.

Alpha Trion, the relics, Unicron, the end of the war.

To Optimus, all of it pointed to Earth and humanity being an excellent starting point to launch into his original dream. He saw in humanity the future he’d endured so much hardship for: a future of learning and growing—not just alongside fellow Cybertronians, but alongside other races as well.

And depending on what each fan chooses to believe is the end of Optimus’ story, he either never got to see the fulfillment of his dream, or he did in some imagined way outside of canon.

Dreamers suffer more, but they also live more.

✧ ✧ ✧

Today, this post and the entire series are dedicated to Peter Cullen on his 82nd birthday, and to one of several beloved Optimi he’s poured so much of his heart and soul into. ❤️