#i took one look at oberon and DIED

[blueissleepy]

so i haven't played fgo in years but then i saw oberon and immediately fell to my knees basically, i like these dorks together ...

[oc-tournaments]

ROUND ONE - MATCH 17

MEVLYN OBERON NERO vs DANZYMYR MAENELD

MEVLYN OWNER NERO: @perfect-day-by-lou-reed

DANZYMYR MAENELD: @mitsubinyuri

VOTE BASED ON THE INFORMATION BELOW CUT!!

Propaganda Content Warnings: Parental death for DANZYMYR.

MEVLYN:

PROPAGANDA: He is God's favourite punching bag because his life has been crap (and because he looks hot when in a fight). He had a decent early-ish childhood but that just makes his current pain feel worse. His parents were taken hostage when he was twelve and when they were finally given back they could no longer care for him, but he lived with a witch coven so everyone else took turns caring for him. He also went to boarding school all through high school where he met his best friend (more like brother) who was eventually killed (on accident but Mel doesn't know that) by the main hero. He's the kind of sopping wet cat that is very angry and scratches people because they are cold and wet and just need love.

Melvyn is a supposedly very handsome witch(my drawing skills do not do him justice). He has hair like Marc Bolan and likes sparkly things. While he is the main villain, eventually, years down the road, he goes through a redemption arc and gets married to his long-time boyfriend (who is a german elf), and has a kid.

THEME SONG:

DANZYMYR:

PROPAGANDA: Danzymyr is a male Drow so already not off to a great start. His mother was like... standard evil drow matriarch. Because he was of high status he was treated a little better than other Drow males but still pretty damn terribly. His house, House Maeneld, was on the way out in terms of power and influence and due to the constant jockeying for status in Drow society his mom was intent to use him as a tool to further the house, as with all of his other siblings.

He went to school in Menzoberranzan to be a warrior, and while he was there, he met another student who he ended up becoming close with. This other student was a member of a much more influential house, and long story short his mother found out and wanted to use his closeness to this guy to infiltrate the house and do a whole lot of murder. He was kind of like okay! Sure!

But he lost his nerve right before reaching the place. He escaped to the surface instead, where shit was awful for him. The Drow's sunlight sensitivity made it so that he was in constant pain and most people didn't look too favorably upon him. Eventually, he took up a career as a monster hunter, gaining more and more begrudging respect until he eventually became an adventurer, and later, hero. All the while he's still traumatized from how he was raised and is deathly terrified of spiders.

Eventually he decides he needs to go back to confront his past, so he does. He returns to the house where he was raised and finds out that the guy he was "very good friends" with died anyway (due to his mother's intervention). He ends up killing his mother and actively enjoys it and that causes a big sense of shame.

Then he's sent to a magic prison where they get their minds probed by an aasimar for abstract visions of their psyche given in the form of song where he'll be judged innocent or guilty. He falls in love with a druid who has a crazy savior complex and is enforcing terrible restrictions on the other prisoners, and he's like "wait he's not that bad!" They make each other worse lol.

THEME SONG:

[hopefulstarfire]

I'm still in Act 1 of Baldurs Gate 3 but like. I have a whole ass backstory for my Tiefling (Mephistopheles) Sorceress (draconic bloodline) Layla.

Born in Baldur's Gate.

Was orphaned at an early age. Her mother passed from an illness and her father decided it was too much trouble to keep her around, especially as he was trying to marry this woman he had been cheating on her mother with and she didn't want to be raising another woman's child -- especially bc she was a stuck up bitch who had very low opinions of Layla's mother.

Her maternal grandfather Oberon took her in. I'd like to think he was a dragonborn himself (probably not exactly where she got the draconic ancestry, but sonewhere on her mother's side) but I digress. He was a Bard (College of Lore) and he found her a couple months after her Dad abandoned her. He hadn't been told his daughter Hespera had died -- all he knew was that she wasn't writing back to him and it was really unlike her. So when he came back to the city, he found his son-in-law with another woman on his arm and was informed Layla had been out on the streets since about 3 days after Hespera died.

As such, Layla had been scraping by the best she could, ducking away from law enforcement and the works if she had to steal to live.

After Oberon took her in, she joined up with his traveling performing troupe and began learning how to hone her magic. The older she got and the more she studied, the bigger the star that she became for them.

The troupe really did become her family. She loved everyone, from Granny Constance who always made sure she had warm quilts and sweaters to Richter the Strongman who was never afraid to help her chase away less than savory fanatics of hers. She felt safe and seen with everyone there and always tried to return their kindness to them.

One night, when she was about 22, she went out to a party happening in a village they were resting at, wanting to cut loose a little and enjoy herself. However, when she returned, she found the caravans they traveled in destroyed, items stolen and everyone murdered. From what she could ascertain, it seemed almost everyone had been poisoned -- those who had realized it seemed to have tried to fight back, only to be cut down.

Layla knew whoever had done it had to have had a personal vendetta against someone or everyone in the troupe -- and most likely her grandfather. She knew there would be a target on her back.

She fled back to Baldur's Gate, believing it would be one of the last places anyone would look for her, given her past -- and, with it being a bigger city, she would be harder to find.

She studied in secret, continuing to master over her magic in the hopes that she would one day be able to venture back out and find a way to find whoever took her family from her and avenge them.

A few years down the road, when she was 27, she left to go handle some business for her work and ended up being captured by the Mindflayers and ended up with the tadpole in her head.

Layla is a sassy and fun character, not afraid to appear bold, but does try her best to stay alive and find work arounds to ensure that -- especially because yknow she's a squishy spellcaster. There are times you'll see her make more...questionable choices but don't we all? Deep down, she's just looking for connections like she had in her troupe -- she misses having a family. As such, she's very loyal and trusting to her party and wants what's best for them. Even Lae'zel as much as she has to rein her in.

She's also got a soft spot for kids and tries to help them out -- or make them laugh, though sometimes it doesn't always work ("great news kids, you're going to die out there." "That wasn't how you should have done that." "What? It's a funny joke!")

If you can't tell, she wasn't the comedian of her troupe -- though every now and again she'll get something funny out, though it's mostly her being a smartass. But she primarily did performances with her magic or singing and dancing.

I'm trying to go for Astarion this run but I wouldn't be mad if she got with Wyll, Karlach or possibly Gale.

I want to play her in a campaign some day SO BADLY I love her a lot.

[covenofwives]

Despite promising myself to finish it later, I was overcome with a "now or never" mood and got this out. CovenTK lore baby!

As always, CovenTK was first designed by @an-inkling-of pls follow them for amazing art and general great vibes. It's also their birthday (maybe by the time I'm writing this) so this is a happy birthday for them too.

Background for the vid and more lore under the cut for anyone interested

So, going off the fact TK is God of the Moon and Mobs, over their lifetime they’ve taken in “unwanted” mobs as children. Basically mobs either driven out or orphaned through one reason or another.

One of Coven’s children was Thistle (the white haired girl in the video) who was a “human” TK found in an abandoned village and they took her in and raised her. Sadly one day, Thistle was careless and died due to an accident. CovenTK never had to deal with loss of a child before and falls into unhealthy grieving. They constantly visit Thistle’s grave, and wallow in their sadness, ignoring their other children.

While CovenTK’s children are understanding of their parents grief (having also lost a sibling) they need their parent back.

~~~

The shadowed figure are rough designs for CovenTK’s kids. I have extensive knowledge on all of them but here are quick descriptions of them for now:

Oberon - TK’s oldest son. A witch that CovenTK saved from a Moon cult Sonia - A female Enderman who wants to overcome their aversion to people looking at them to pursue knowledge Chase and Dash - A mystical wolf and deer. They are actually the punished God of the Hunt who’s soul was split in two and reformed as a wolf and deer, so technically twin brothers Thistle - A “human” found in an abandoned village who strangely could only eat flowers Claudia - A young bat-hybrid thrown out of her colony due to her vitiligo and found wandering by TK Trish - A young creeper-hybrid who cannot switch between human and centaur form and TK found wandering alone

[melonisopod]

Strange Reunion (HGW fic excerpt) (WIP)

Myra and Oberon had just finished patrolling the area, hunting down any rogue Servants.

The other Masters didn’t seem to be active tonight, giving them a better opportunity to move. And besides, rogue Servants provided Oberon the extra magical energy he needed in upcoming battles. Even as a homunculus with plenty of mana reserves, Myra couldn’t count on herself alone to sustain the Abyssal Insect. 

In the dim twilight of dawn, she spotted a figure, and the glint of a crimson blade. 

“Master, we’ve been spotted,” Oberon whispered to her, before disappearing among the shrubbery. Myra was about to call after him, but could see the figure draw closer. 

She ran, turning odd corners in the twilight garden, until she thought she’d lost sight of him.

Then, the Servant materialized in front of her, clad in blue and silver armor and wielding two demonic swords. His golden eyes nearly seemed to glow in the low light.

“Eep!”

“Myra?” the Servant said, “is that really you?”

“Myra - is that really you?”

Diarmuid looked at her in astonishment, but also relief. He almost seemed ready to cry from the sheer joy of knowing his beloved was alright.

Myra scrambled to think of a response.

“Uh, no?” she paused, seeing his face fall, then let out a heavy sigh, “Yes,”

“It’s so good to see you again,” Diarmuid said, smiling again, and gently touching her cheek with his hand. The sensation was almost unbearable for her, every neuron in her brain seemed to be firing off at once. How was she supposed to think straight now?

“It’s good to see you too, Dia,” she answered.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke, until Diarmuid decided to break the silence:

“Did you change your hair? It’s a nice look for you. I especially like the ribbon,”

“Huh? The ribbon…oh, this!” Myra said, reaching to touch the cloth she used to tie back her hair. In truth, it had been cut from the cloth Diarmuid had used to seal his Noble Phantasms and conceal their true power. Upon learning of his death all those years ago, she’d scrambled to recover some trace of him and salvage it, holding onto some vestige of him.

“You’re as lovely as you ever were,” he said dreamily, “I’m just so happy to know you survived,”

‘Survived,’ Myra thought to herself. That she’d ‘survived’ the poisoning, been transported to Tir na nOg, and then made it back to Chaldea alive. No, that was a pipe dream. The real Myra had died and was never seen again, and Chaldea created this carbon copy, a shell simply filled up with the memories of Humanity’s Last Master. 

She wanted to be the real Myra, more than anything. But ‘real’ was an ideal far beyond her reach.

“Oh, your Command Seals,” Diarmuid remarked, noting the red sigils on Myra’s hand were now completely changed. Instead of the spiral flowery shape, these took the form of one long, thin strip, with two identical wings on either side. It more resembled a dragonfly than a rose.

Myra jerked her hand back, covering the seals with her other. “Wait, I can explain!”

“It’s alright, Myra, I understand,” Diarmuid reassured her, “You were separated from Chaldea after the third Lostbelt mission. It makes sense that you would have lost your Command Seals,”

Myra breathed a sigh of relief, and nodded. 

“What troubles me is, how did you end up here?” 

Myra shrugged. “Gosh, if only I knew,”

It wasn’t a lie. She really was perplexed at how she found herself in the Irregular Singularity. 

“Well, in any case, I’m just glad you’re alright,”

“Same,” Myra said.

“If I might ask, who is your Servant?” 

Myra’s blood ran cold. 

“M-my Servant?” she sputtered, eyes darting about. “Um, well…uh, that’s eh, complicated…”

“I don’t think the other Masters have seen you anywhere,” Diarmuid remarked, “so you and your Servant must be keeping a low profile,”

Myra nodded enthusiastically, “Yeah, yeah we are. We’re not really much for fighting right now, because…”

“Do you know what class your Servant is?”

“Well…” 

The two were interrupted by a rustling in the nearby bushes. When they turned around, out stepped a tiny figure wrapped in a white cloak, who walked over to Myra and stared up at her with big, clear-blue eyes.

“Is that your Servant?” Diarmuid asked in disbelief. Myra almost felt like slapping him.

After sighing heavily, then stooping down to pick him up, Myra replied, “Yes, this is my Servant. Robin Goodfellow, Rider-class,”

“I understand why you’ve been laying low for most of the Holy Grail War,”

“Diarmuid, shut up,”

Oberon remained silent, and only looked from Myra to Diarmuid and back with a curious expression, before turning back to face Myra and winking at her with a mischievous grin. Myra imagined squishing him in her hands.

Just play along, Oberon said to her through their mental link.

What do you mean ‘play along?’ Myra asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Well, I am your Servant, right? Said Oberon. Now you have the perfect cover not to have much presence in the Grail War. You’re welcome!

She once again considered squishing Oberon in her hands, before being made aware that Diarmuid was still intently watching them both.

“Myra…”

“Oh, uh, so this guy here,” Myra said, pausing a second before continuing, “He was a rogue I found just wandering along all by himself. I couldn’t just let the little guy fend for himself, so I took him in. We’ve been close ever since!”

“I see,” Diarmuid observed, still a bit perplexed, “He does look a bit like Ruler,”

“Ruler?” Myra repeated nervously, “Er, I wouldn’t know, that’s odd though…”

“Did you register him?” 

“Did I what now?”

“Well, I suppose not,” Diarmuid said, “I believe there’s already a Rider registered to the Holy Grail War,”

“Right, Mandricardo and his Master,” Myra commented.

“You know Rider’s True Name?” Diarmuid said in astonishment.

Oberon glanced back at Myra with a side-eyed expression. Myra glared at him before turning back to Diarmuid.

“Eheheh, well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?” Myra lied, “His Noble Phantasm invokes Durendal, the holy sword that Mandricardo sought after in the Orlando Furioso,”

“I see,” Diarmuid replied thoughtfully, “You’re quite well-read, but you always have been, Myra. I’ll be sure to call him by his True Name the next time we meet,”

That’ll be sure to piss off Mandricardo’s Master, but as long as Mandy’s happy, it’s fine. I think he’d like the recognition. Myra thought to herself.

Nice cover, Master! Oberon said. It seems like you’ve got this one under control. I’m going to take a nap now. Goodnight. 

Oberon, no, don’t doze off! I still need you!

The little Pretender lay down in her open hands and closed his eyes. Myra once again contemplated squishing him.

“Oh my goodness,” Diarmuid said, overcome at the sight of it. “That’s adorable!”

“Yeah, he gets tired out easily,” Myra remarked. She hated how adorable he looked right now, sleeping in her hands. 

“I can’t imagine someone like this becoming a Servant,” Diarmuid remarked, “I mean, we’ve both seen plenty of oddities in Chaldea, but this one seems unusual even among them,”

“Hm? Is that because he’s weak, or is it something else?” 

“Well, you did say he was Robin Goodfellow, didn’t you?” Diarmuid said, “From A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

“Well,” Myra explained, cradling her companion in her hands while reaching with her thumb to stroke his hair, “He isn’t the only classic literature-based Servant here. We also have Don Quixote,”

“You know about Don Quixote?” Diarmuid asked, raising an eyebrow.

Myra sputtered out an explanation. “Um, well see, I ran into him the other night (true), and he didn’t want to fight us (also true), after all, who’d want to hurt a poor, innocent young woman and her tiny, defenseless little Servant? (extremely false),”

“It’s good to know he’s such an honorable man,” Diarmuid remarked, “Though I doubt the other Servants would be quite as forgiving. Be very careful, Myra. If they see your Command Seals they’ll no doubt make you a target,”

“I understand,” Myra said, “But I’m handling things well enough on my own. You don’t have to worry about me,”

“Well, alright then,” Diarmuid said at last, “I have to go. My shift at the local cafe starts soon,”

“The cafe?” Myra asked, “What are you doing there?”

“Oh, Myr- uh, my Master, is struggling to pay their rent this month, and so I agreed to take a part-time job to help her. To help them,”

Aww! That’s so nice! I wish Oberon helped me pay rent, Myra thought. Hey, Oberon! Did you hear? Saber’s helping his Master pay the rent by taking up a part-time job! You should do that for me sometime!

Zzzzzz….

Quit pretending to be asleep, you little bastard!

“Well, goodbye!” Myra said, “Hopefully, we can meet up again sometime. Maybe introduce me to your Master,”

The last sentence was said with just a bit of an edge.

“Oh uh, that,” Diarmuid said sheepishly as he began to walk away, “Well, we’ll see, right?”

With that, he walked off. Once he was out of sight, Myra scowled.

“Hey, Oberon! Wake up!” Myra nudged Oberon with her finger, but her Servant continued to sleep.

“I’m going to squash you if you don’t wake the hell up right now,” Myra threatened.

Still, no response.

Myra gripped the little Pretender in one hand and shook him. “Wake up, asshole! Wake up!”

At last, Oberon returned to normal size in a puff of smoke.

“Ow, ow! Hey! What’s the bloody idea?” he said, fixing his hair and dusting off his clothes. “You couldn’t just let me have a rest?”

“Why’d you have to get involved?” Myra asked.

“Oh, I just wanted to see that old flame of yours!” he chuckled, “Aren’t you a lucky girl, to have had him for a Servant!”

“Oberon, be serious,” Myra said, “You nearly blew our cover,”

“Oh, I did? I thought that was you, at least twice, actually,” he said without dropping his cheerful tone, “I had to come and rescue you. But you recovered pretty fast. Bravo, my Master! You’re almost as big a liar as me!” “Well, in any case,” she concluded, “We’re going to head home. And then you can take a nap,”

[nijiironokoi]

✤ Sawyer Oberon for @mousysims​‘s Harvest Moon BC

“Welcome to Blooming Trails, the number one place in Henford-on-Bagley to get your flowers, seeds, and nutrients. You must be new. I’m Sawyer, it’s nice to meet you.” > The pink haired florist offers his hand out to shake. “Take a look around and let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help you with anything.” >  Sawyer winks at you, giving you his full attention. You feel like you’ll be seeing him around a lot.

Name: Sawyer Oberon Age: 24 Pronouns: He/Him Orientation: Bi Aspiration: Friend of the World Traits: Outgoing, Loves Outdoors, Music Lover Favorite Gifts: Music Records, Daffodils Liked Gifts: Curry, Apple Pie, Strawberries, Boba, Flowers Disliked Gifts: Fish, Alcohol, Pickled Veggies, Bugs ✤ History… Always ready with a warm smile and a helping hand, Sawyer had charmed his way into the hearts of most of the town by the time he was twelve. He loved Henford-on-Bagley, but always felt that there was something more out there for him. He wanted what he saw in the movies he watched as a kid. Loud music that left his ears ringing and his heart thumping, glamorous people with interesting stories, and dazzling lights in a city that never slept.

To say he found himself at San Myshuno University is an understatement. His hair was a different color every month and he found that he savored the energy of the night air. Every day he met someone new, and when it felt right they would talk late into the night about their experiences, their secrets, and their dreams. It felt like he was experiencing the world from its peak. 

It took one night, one drive, and one too many drinks for it all to come crashing down. His best friend, his first friend, since arriving in San Myshuno, died in his senior year in a mess of metal and glass and sirens. After a week of isolation he booked the next train back home, unable to stay in the city.

Now Sawyer is back in his family’s old flower shop manning the register, creating bouquets, and tending the garden. The familiar town was quiet and he slipped back into it like an old pair of overalls. It held none of the painful memories of San Myshuno, and that was fine. The same people were still friendly in the same way, and even the new faces in town held a familiar kindness. He smiles with his old smile but there’s something sad behind his eyes. Sawyer deflects any nosy questions about his return with a joke or questions of his own, but people still notice that he hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol

Maybe the cute new farmer that comes by the shop will find more than a friendly face behind the flowers. Can Sawyer be happy in a place he’s always wanted to leave?

Misc. ✤ While his floral arrangements won’t always win best in show, he thoughtfully composes each and every one of them. He particularly enjoys paying special attention to choosing flowers that have meanings which best match the buyer’s feelings. ✤ During slow hours at the shop, you can hear him playing his guitar in the garden. He won’t admit it but he thinks it’ll help the flowers grow better. 
✤ He likes to take naps outside in the sun with his hat over his face.
✤ He’s not a pushover, but tends to run away from his problems instead of facing them head on. ✤ He’s had a lot of short flings, both in high school and particularly in college but they always ended the same way. He never knew how to make them feel special enough.. ✤ He talks about his time in San Myshuno fondly, but never says why he came back. ✤ He likes listening to pop, rock, r&b, and indie. He’s recently started to get into more acoustic music since coming back home. ✤ While he can usually be found in the local pub after work talking to the locals and drinking seltzer, sometimes he’ll be found on the stage! It’s rare, but when the band’s main guitarist is out of town Sawyer will fill in for the night. He’d love to play on his own sometime if he got the chance (heart event idea 👀?) I had a lot of fun making Sawyer and developing his background. I hope you enjoy it too! He’s basically the friendly popular kid who’s back in town and has trauma now >:3c

[fgodestinyawakenings]

Do you have any preferences on who you ship with Gudao?? If so, why? ( That is if you have time to talk about it.)

Firstly... I'm really sorry that I took this long to reply, because I swore someone asked this before. And god-knows-where it's buried under the tons of incorrect quotes. 

Lastly now that the overdue chapter for my fic is done with, I can finally had the time to answer this!

And the preferences will be all below the cut and not tag in the main tag to avoid spam. But I need to tag it in spoilers tag because this unfortunately contains major LB6 spoilers for the shipping too. As all below are mostly bias delusion on why I shipped them with Gudao

Main & Romantic Pairs I like

Romani/Gudao

This pair had a post that question on why people ships them either Gudas themselves or self-insert as mostly on the age gap. Though I have to raise eyebrows on that, if you’re going onto that topic, then you want to look at nearly all of Gudas & self-insert Master ship with every Servants have a massive insane age gap if we’re going to go by age at the each of them

And same pairing is actually the last pair that came into mind, but after reading the whole Part 1, I like them more than Romani/Da Vinci, and her bullying Romani to the point it look more like verbal abuse completely turn me off

I really like the dynamics between the two, which unfortunately if writers hadn’t spend most of the first arc praising Mary Sue Mash to join her in bullying Romani

While it seemingly more of a blink-and-miss on their first meeting, both Romani and Gudao took their friendship bonding to each other seriously

Romani while it was his duty as a doctor to care for the Master’s well-being, he’s the one who actually teaches Gudas and also treats them without possible prejudice from other Magus in the Chaldea for being the normal muggle among them. And also the other person who willingly went overtime with no sleep to ensure Gudas are safe the moment they lost contact with them

When looking back at his relationship with Lev when Da Vinci pointed out, he never grew close or trust Lev even before his betrayal because of who he really is

But with Gudas, there is subtle of him slowly opening up to them in the story. Not in a way of revealing his true identity as Solomon, but more in a way he can really be himself without the weight of the crown as a king, just like how tons of Servants easily be themselves around Gudas. Which sheds his intention of playing ‘everyone’s friend’ to not get attached, and really formed a deep bond with them

Same for Gudas, in my view, while they are being dragged around by Servants through insane interlude... They got used to it when they reply they are very detached to it. They also tried to accommodate and get along with Servants because an exceptional few recognized that if they lost trust to the Servants, their fears of being useless and abandon by them will happen as their muggle status. Hence they and Romani aren’t that far off from each other

Excluding the bullying ones, a lot of dialogue when Gudas ask example on the tune he hummed, it was also genuine interest of who he is and what he likes

His role as a mentor to Gudas hits way harder than Mash died in Part 1 aside after she got plot armor revive by Fou. Romani was the one who gives them advice to do what is best and the support they have from him. And when it comes Part 2, they never once rely on Mash, Da Vinci Lily, Holmes or even Goredolf for a major important decision. Choosing to rely on themselves to make the choices if they were to suffer the worst of all

Oberon-Vortigern and Abigail has hinted out that the one person they wanted to see yet unable to say their name is none other Romani the most

Merlin/Gudao

I’ve also gotten comments in my fic people disliking this pairing or Merlin approaching my fic version of Gudao

But I actually like because they actually have a lot of similarities as Merlin said

Gudas being dragged a lot of by Servants had made them indifference to their shenningans. And spends most of the time feeling unreal, with dissociation to the events and around them 

But unlike Merlin who feels no attachment and prefers his passive role of observer, Gudas are the opposite where he admires them on being the writer themselves to write out their own story

Their banters to each other are really amusing of a slapstick comedy, especially Merlin capable of feeling that fear and dread on realizing Gudas can sell Merlin out to Artoria Lancer for messing her in her dreams XD

Need me say more that near the end of Babylonia Singularity and also slighlty in Avalon Lostbelt, Merlin steps in because he did it to aid his admired hero than Mash that everyone lick the ground she steps on?

Yep, sue my bias ass, because if that’s not a love confession, it’s the closest emotion Gudas actually forced out from making the unfeeling Half-incubus to actually feel embarrassed at his words

Caster Gilgamesh/Gudao

Definitely since their dynamics in Babylonia story

Gudas going through the whole Singularity, halfway finally earning Caster Gilgamesh's respect after giving their efforts to care for his people

Again one of the few Servants while he's indifferent/neutral/okay with Mash, he's not affected by her Mary Sue status to actually keeps his promise to kill her for showing pity to his people

Actually does get amused and likes Gudas when they are fired up and pissed for his nonchalant attitude towards Siduri and his people kidnapped by Lahmus

Biggest moment with them was Caster Gilgamesh willingly step forward to take the shot for Gudas when Tiamat attempted to kill them

Gilgamesh is also one of the few in his interlude points out how Chaldea is so dependent on certain people like Romani and Gudas. That they barely function without them if anything happens

His Valentine Gift involves giving Gudas a date is more than enough for shipping material

Arthur/Gudao

Yeah I’m one of the few who wants an Arthur/Gudas ship but with Gudao instead

They generally do have potential as a pair due to Arthur’s unfortunate circumstance of his past Grail War experience and current duty. So he will happen to form a bond more closer to Gudas than anyone else in Chaldea

Best modern AU fic to have of Arthur and Gudas with their own adopted child Mordred when Artoria is being a shit parent

Unfortunately it’s lacking of more story for them because I’m still waiting for Beast VI to return here so that Arthur and Gudao can turn his crazy Yandere ex-master to non-existent

Oberon-Vortigern/Gudao

Basically long story short, LB6 is the reason why I like this new pair.

Aside my kink of Enemy/Hero relationship, their relationship was well-written without cockblocking Mash around

Gudas did really bond with him, yet they had doubts in the major dialogue on his involvement in certain parts of the story

Those dialogue of doubting him had lead to a special unique scene between them on confronting Oberon-Vortigern once more of his true feelings on his role and really did like Gudas in the end

While preferably not to a complete dumb level of martyr, Gudas feels like the one who would unconditionally love Oberon-Vortigern yet also not hesitating to call out of his asshole deeds like his plan with Vitch to get Albion power to mess with her

Gudas could really become the ideal Titania he looks for because they are also the one who introduced him about her

Others (not necessary romantic but good pair to see)

Edmond & Gudao

Persona/Shadow of Carl Jung, where Edmond acts more like a guardian and Shadow to Gudas.

The fact both share the same VA aside Arjuna just left a huge impression on my mind

"Remember this well, my accomplice: punishment, deserving or otherwise, is always a given. But you will never succumb to it! All you need do is call my name! Do that, and I will be at your side in a moment's notice! Hahahahahaha!"

^This quote gives me an idea that Gudas did have the potential to become just like Edmond, to be vengeful at Chaldea, Goetia and Alien God for what he went through

And deep down inside Gudas are not that different from Edmond who was an honest man before losing everything

His role as a protective guardian is a good mix of partner-in-crime for vengeance or protecting your main self from going insane

Mandricardo & Gudao

The two can be fucking damn traveler buddies especially with Merlin describing Gudao’s role to be a traveler

Definitely a platonic relationship for these two is better than romance because both share the same feeling of being medicore in their roles and their self-worth issues

One of the few Servants who actually understood and empathize with Gudas situation. And Gudas in return wanting to form a friendship with him, he protects them at the cost of his life while happily declares he’s their friend that he and Gudas really are

Definitely need more of him appearing aside recent Summer event to get more friendship bonding with Gudas

Caster Cu Chulainn & Gudao

The one pairing I’ve been asked to pair for my fic’s Gudao for romance, but the personality I have for him is unfortunately incompatible. Though I do read fics and doujins to see potential in it

For now I just prefer them as bros to each other, especially Caster Cu is the other first Servant Gudas contracted with in Fuyuki Singularity

He’s just that fun uncle/dad/bro for Gudas to hang out with when needing a break to deal with the Chaldea naggy mom. 

Hopefully he does return in future LB chapters and events so that he gets more spotlight

[starlytenight]

So we have seen Velesia's dad Papi, what about her mom? Is it possible for us to se a drawing of her too? Or maybe Orin's parents even? If it's not too much of a spoiler to ask?

I had to quickly design some parents, but ye I can indeed do that without issues! We're probably not going to see like most of these guys in the fic, but they exist! I can gladly talk a little about them.

First up:

Of course Papi found the one Puff named Mami LMAO There's the momma, one of her antlers was broken since she was absolutely a warrior while Papi was a master healer. Papi's primary Ability was Light, while Mami's were Animal and Water.

Neither were around long enough to see Velesia's children but Mami died pretty early on in Velesia's life. When Papi was taken out, Velesia took it very poorly and vowed to never be weak. Papi perished while he was healing someone who was possessed by Dark Matter. (It's why she's a bit harder on Apollo because he reminds her of him a lot and she's afraid he'll let his guard down from his compassion and... yeah.)

Velly also remembers stories Papi would tell her about spirits visiting their loved ones from beyond the grave but... well. That'll have to be saved for the actual story.

Next is Orin's folks, (which are still alive since Fairies are immortal unless they have babies outside of fellow fae.)

There's Rico who was a master at plant magic, and Charolette who was also one; she obviously hails from Floralia as one of the People of the Sky (who in this AU are just Ripple Star Fairies that moved to Popstar long ago and adapted.) Their intense plant power gave Orin his own, as well as Charolette's gentleness teaching him about medicines and healing. Orin grew up on Floralia until his parents decided to move when the war was getting a bit much. They moved back to Ripple Star and their son wanted to remain and join the GSA to help them. They didn't stop him since he was old enough to make his own decisions.

The two were still on Ripple Star during the new Dark Matter invasion but were freed like everyone else. They were just in their home in the tropical side of the world. They have no idea how Orin's doing considering he's stuck in the forest at the moment but they hope to see him and Velesia before their time is over. They've also been dying to see their grandkids all these years.

And for a small bonus I'll include a couple others I've designed. They'll be below the cut so this post doesn't get too long! :')

Fairy Queen's parents! Queen Titiana and King Oberon!

She definitely got most of her looks from her dad. He gave up the throne when his wife convinced him their daughter was ready to take over since they had ruled for quite some time. Unfortunately for her, Zero swung by and that was an awful time for the young queen. x'D

Finally, a family that is a little bit special.

Sparkelle's parents. They were indeed on Ripple Star during that invasion, but on another part of the planet for the most part. If they were closer, they would have absolutely sensed Sparky's magic in Vladimir and the confrontation would not have been pleasant.

Oh and Sparkelle has a sister!

They got along as kids but Sparky was definitely an eccentric gal in her interest in science and her views when she was younger.

She definitely got flack for it while her sister was praised for sticking t magic---kinda like how with humans some parents pressure their kids to choose "reasonable" careers, but in this instance it's like "why are you bothering with mortal shit you're magical, stop being a nuisance and stick to magic" kinda thing.

Regardless, the two were close until Sparkelle grew up and tried to do her whole 'helping the Dark Matter' thing with science. She definitely soured the family's thoughts about her with that, though Nissa just hoped her sister would be alright.

As we know... She wasn't.

Vlad hasn't really thought about seeking this family out since he doesn't really think too hard about what family does remain. That, and it's 99% likely Mystie would not recognize Vladimir as her grandson and reject him immediately. Vectorio is more gentle and would want to, but yeahhh. Nissa would likely be weirded out at first, but be welcoming to the weird hybrid since that's all that's left of her sister.

[honey-dewey]

The Dog Days of Summer

Pairing: Frankie ‘Catfish’ Morales/Reader

Word Count: 1,923

Warnings: A few mentions of Tom, but this is all fluff!

Permanent Taglist: @phoenixhalliwell @star-wars-hell

On one of the warmest days of summer, Frankie takes his dog to a one man dog wash. The last thing he expected was for his dog to lead him to the future love of his life, but hey, that’s how things work here. 

“Community dog wash,” Frankie read off the flier that had been placed in his mailbox. “What do you think Red? Wanna go check it out?”

Red huffed from his spot on the couch.

Frankie chuckled, sitting beside Red. He’d always been a dog person, but could never see himself owning one. At least, not until he’d come home from his latest mission. When Tom had died, he’d left his beautiful Rottweiler dog to the boys. Apparently his wife and daughter weren’t dog people. The Millers couldn’t take Red, and Santi still hadn’t come back to the country. So the care of Red had fallen to Frankie.

Red was not a small dog. At almost 120 pounds, he could’ve been a menace if he wanted to. However, he was gentle as can be and so incredibly enthusiastic for literally anything. Frankie could still remember when Tom had brought Red to meet the boys, and he’d been a tiny fuzzy puppy who’d fallen asleep cradled in Frankie’s arms. Now, that baby was nearing 5, and was no less adorable.

The only thing Frankie hated about Red was having to bathe him.

Red was a menace on bath day. He cowered in the corner of the shower, never got close enough to the shower head to actually get clean, and bit Frankie when he tried to dry him off.

“I think we should go,” Frankie said, scratching behind Red’s ear. “Check it out. You might make some friends.”

Red boofed softly. Sometimes, he responded at just the right times and Frankie could’ve sworn he understood him.

Nearer to noon, Frankie got up off the couch and got dressed, Red dutifully following him and vibrating with excitement at Frankie put his harness on and led him to his truck.

The location of the dog wash wasn’t far. In fact, it was a few minutes away in a small public space. There were a few kiddie pools, a hose, and a single person standing there, drying off a small dog. A handmade sign read ‘Community Dog Wash.’

Frankie kept a firm hand on Red’s leash as he walked over. Tom had trained Red well, but he was still prone to overeager introductions or forgetting he was a big dog.

“Alrighty Ms. Avery, Lydia’s all clean!” you said, handing Ms. Avery her small dog back. Today was one of the nice days of summer, warm without being stifling. So you’d donned shorts, an old shirt, and a baseball cap you’d gotten from a friend and headed out to wash the neighborhood dogs. You did it every summer, and this year was no exception.

“Hello,” a slightly nervous voice said, and you looked around. A man who you’d seen once or twice around the neighborhood was standing there, a practically vibrating Rottie standing by his side. “Is this the dog wash?”

“Yep!” You said happily, kneeling down to introduce yourself to the dog. “Hello, who’re you?”

The man pat the dog’s head. “This is Red.”

Red, seizing his opportunity, licked your face.

“Red!” The man reprimanded, causing Red to whine. “No!”

“Oh it’s fine,” you reassured, wiping your face with your sleeve. “My dog is so much worse.”

As if on cue, your dog came ambling over. The man’s eyes went wide. “That’s not a dog. That’s a small bear.”

You reached up and scratched behind your dog’s ears. “Nah. She’s a Caucasian Shepherd dog. Her name is Oboe, short for Oberon.”

“Like the Game of Thrones character?”

“Midsummer’s Night Dream actually,” you said. “I’m (Y/N).”

“Frankie.”

You stood, brushing yourself off. “Well, Frankie. Shall we?”

Red was very eager to follow you right up until he discovered this would include water. At which he pulled on his leash and whined pitifully, trying to escape.

“I’m so sorry,” Frankie said as you stood by one of the pools and tried to contain your laughter. “He’s always like this when I try to bathe him.”

Oboe snorted, as if she was laughing. She had curled on the grass, bathing in the warm summer sun. You sighed. You’d have to get her some ice, or else she’d overheat herself.

You walked over to Red, grabbing him and lifting him with ease, which shocked Frankie. He stood there, wide eyed, as you plopped Red in the kiddie pool and got in with him, straddling the dog and squeezing his hips with your legs. “See, this isn’t so bad.”

Red whined and tried to run, but your grip on him tightened. “Frankie, can you hand me the hose?”

Frankie grabbed the hose and handed it to you, smiling as Red gave him a very betrayed look. “Sorry buddy,” he said, kneeling down. “But you smell.”

You gasped overdramatically. “No!” You said, smiling. “He smells just fine!”

Frankie laughed. “Mhm. Sure he does.”

Getting Red wet wasn’t hard. Between the pool and the hose, he was soaked in minutes. However, Frankie had to shed his shoes and join you in the pool because Red wouldn’t sit still. Now, with Red soaked and both of you getting sore, you reached to grab the soap and immediately got a face full of water as Red shook violently.

“Red!” You gasped, looking down at yourself. You’d been a bit damp from your previous dogs, but this wasn’t just a bit wet. Water raced down your arms and legs, and you completely abandoned your ball cap, sighing. “Gonna have to wash that.”

Frankie mirrored your action, tossing his hat beside yours. “Yeah. He’s prone to shaking. Sorry.” His face was just as wet as yours, water dripping off his chin and cheeks.

You shrugged, putting soap in your hands and throwing your leg over Red’s back again. “It’s fine,” you said, starting to lather the soap into Red’s fur. “Oboe’s got all that long fur, and when she shakes, it’s hell.”

Frankie nodded. “Where’d you even find her?”

“A breeder,” you said, scratching Red’s shoulder and laughing as he began to kick. “Breeder was a good friend of mine, and she had a puppy who no one wanted because she was the runt. I had just moved here, and said screw it, I’ll take her. They named her Oberon. All the puppies in that litter had Midsummer names.”

“She’s a runt?” Frankie looked at Oboe, surprised.

You nodded. “She was,” you said. “She’s actually still on the small side for her breed.” Red squirmed out of your soapy grip, but Frankie caught him before he could make a getaway. You smiled and picked up the hose. “Red, stop squirming.”

Red didn’t listen. He continued to wriggle, now trying to bite the hose water. You used one hand to clear the soap from Red’s fur, grinning as he kissed your chin when you bent down.

“So, how’d you end up with Red?” You asked, looking up briefly at Frankie.

“Oh.” He was quiet for a second. “I was in the military, and we lost a good man on a mission not too long ago. Red was his dog.”

You paused in your actions. “I’m so sorry.”

Frankie shrugged halfheartedly, still crouched in the water. “It took a while, but we recovered.”

Red gave you no time to feel much regret about your words. Instead, he tried to bite you as you washed his paws, and you gave him a light bop on the nose. Not enough to hurt him in any way, but enough to warn him. He didn’t try again, thankfully.

Once Red’s front paws were clean, you turned around and started to wash Red’s back half. Oboe had joined the fray, licking moisture out of Frankie’s shirt. He didn’t seem to mind much as he held Red’s face and kept him from going anywhere. As you scratched your nails over Red’s butt, he began to wiggle harder, one leg coming up and then the other.

“He’s dancing!” You said joyfully, continuing to scratch. Frankie laughed, watching Red kick.

Finishing your job only took a few more minutes, and then you were drying Red off and strapping him into his harness again. He kissed you anytime you came close to his face, and you laughed when his entire back half wiggled when he tried to wag his tail.

“Alright,” you said, finally done. “He’s as clean as he’s gonna get!”

“It’ll last all of ten minutes,” Frankie promised, picking his hat up but not putting it on. “I’ll see you around?”

You nodded. “Of course. I’m here every weekend to play with Oboe. We haven’t got a huge backyard, and she likes to run.”

Frankie smiled. “Maybe we’ll have to come play with you and Oboe one weekend.”

“I think we’d both like that.”

Frankie left after that, and you watched him herd Red into his truck. He waved as he drove off, and you waved back.

“Alright Oboe,” you said, turning back to your dog, who was chewing absently on the brim of your hat. “Hey!”

You pulled the hat from her mouth and immediately felt your stomach flip. This wasn’t your hat. The oil company logo was faded and unfamiliar, and you looked around. Frankie’s truck was nowhere to be seen. He probably hadn’t even noticed he’d left with your hat instead of his.

After an hour, the sun got to be too much, and you relented, putting Frankie’s hat on your head. You had to adjust it so it would fit, but it did a decent job of keeping the sun off your face.

When you finally ended up home, you hung the hat up and let Oboe loose in the house. She immediately curled up in her bed, and you slowly made yourself dinner. You were halfway through chopping some vegetables when your phone rang.

“Hello?” You wedged the phone between your shoulder and ear.

“Hey.”

You smiled. “Frankie!”

Frankie chuckled. “I think you have something of mine.”

“I could say the same about you,” you said, glancing at the hat on your coat hook by the door.

“Yeah. Sorry about that,” Frankie said. “Glad you wrote your number in it though.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot I did that,” you admitted, dumping the vegetables into a bowl. “Oboe and I are going to go back to the community space tomorrow to watch the neighborhood soccer team play. Wanna come with?”

Frankie was quiet for a second, and you could hear shuffling. When he spoke again, he sounded strained. “Yeah. Sorry, Red had my shoe.”

You laughed. “Tell that rascal he needs to be nice to his daddy!”

Red barked in the background, and you smiled. “Anyway, tomorrow. The team plays at noon, but I’m always there at eleven to help set up.”

“I can be there at noon,” Frankie said. “I won’t bring Red though. He’s spending the day with his uncles.”

You leaned against your counter and tried to wipe your grin off your face. “It’ll just be the two of us. And Oboe.”

Oboe looked up when you said her name, but quickly went right back to sleep.

“That works,” Frankie promised. “This almost sounds like a date.”

You tried to cover your nervousness. “Maybe it is a date.”

Frankie had a grin in his voice when he spoke again. “It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date.”

“Same here.”

“I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow then.”

You nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be seeing you. Don’t forget my hat.”

“Don’t forget mine,” Frankie replied. “Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” you echoed, hanging up and looking at Oboe. “Oboe. I think I’m in love.”

[trapezoidal978]

and then davos kidnapped kelso’s soul.

davos is marc’s favorite villain. ya’ll are lucky you get the deets off the bat. several characters died for this info. he’s a litch with an obsession with the improvement of the human race and experimenting on human kids, especially orphans, which mandolin took quite personally. davos’s reach extended far deeper into the criminal underworld and farther than anyone in the party thought possible, spanning like. half the world over. there was no way they were just gonna get kelso back. so a year passed. the party split up, each to accomplish a different goal. (except for my mnm) butar was kidnapped by thor to go get stronger in a divine realm. phobos and nox went on to colonize the moon (more on that later. it was a whole side campaign, i have another character for it). and kelso spent every day being tortured by davos in a soulbox of davos’s own creation.

it hit mandolin pretty hard when the party split up bc he has abandonment issues so he started having nightmares. idk about the poem man. but he sleeps with curlers in his hair. mordred has several ability boosting tattoos, i just didnt have the talent to draw them then

anyway mandolin did what bards do best and used his sway with the king oberon of the Quentin Kingdom and queen mia of genovia to diplomat his way across several continents to win the support of seven different world leaders. mordred supported him through all of it. her charisma is a flat 10, so she just kinda. stood and looked pretty. despite the somber reason they were traveling, they had SOME semblence of fun bc it was around the seventh country they found out she was pregnant. it happened to be in a carriage with the guy they were going to instill as the next ruler. (bc obviously there was a whole subplot with vampires in the government and king oberon quentin only sent them there to hurry along the change in power)

they kidnapped orphans from around the world bc mandolin can’t stand to see kids suffer and if no one else is gonna take care of them, hela dammit he will

i should mention the only reason they were able to do this is because phobos created like thirty different businesses and started making like MONEY money with the party adventuring fund. he and his wife (triss, an artificer, absolute sweetheart) are genius inventors so. they just had the world cornered on technology. and coffee

fun fact triss is named for triss marigold bc marc has a thing for the witcher games

phobos is mostly an asshole but he has a soft spot for my bard so when mandolin asked if they could use some of the land given to them by royal decree for a school and an orphanage, he was like yknow what mandolin? sure. fuck yes lets do that

and it did not take long for mandolin to kidnap enough poor kids to populate it.

[lost-in-yujikiri]

References of Classic Literatures in SAO

This post are thoughts I have on discord plus discussion with friends. I didn’t intend to publish this publicly but this was so well-received and a friend asked me to do so, so here it is.

Below are the classic works that I think SAO main arcs took many inspirations from:

1) Aincrad arc & Little Red Riding Hood

- Asuna is the Little Red Riding Hood, with Kirito as the brooding hunter who protected her and led her to a happy ending, and Kayaba is the wolf who disguised himself as Asuna's "Grandma" (aka her caretaker).

- Kayaba's nickname is the same name as the central character of Wuthering Heights (Heathcliff), both men created their world of their own obsessions (for OG Heathcliff is his love with Catherine, for Kayaba is his castle dream) and during that creation they ended up destroying a lot of lives, even innocent people involved.

2) Fairy Dance arc & A Midsummer Night’s Dream

- Fairy Dance might take references from A Midsummer Night's Dream with Fairy King & Queen Oberon & Titania, who are a married couple under quarrels (Asuna and Sugou). The Fairy Dance arc also presents the themes of falling in love with the wrong person (Suguha/Leafa’s feelings for her brother/cousin Kazuto/Kirito) and unrequited love (Recon to Leafa, Leafa to Kirito) albeit in a different way than the original story.

3) Phantom Bullet arc & Sonezaki Shinjuu 

- The classic kabuki play Sonezaki Shinjuu (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki) is a story about close acquaintances/families/lovers being tangled in conflicts of opposing sides, with the main couple performing a double suicide ending so they can be husband and wife in afterlife (just like Kyouji & Sinon). In SAO Kyouji tried to force the double suicide on Sinon but it failed.

3) Alicization arc volume 9-14, Eugeo’s story & The Little Prince

- When people see Alicization cast many might think of Alice in Wonderland first. However Eugeo's whole story in Alicization 1st half was most likely inspired from The Little Prince, with Eugeo as the Prince, Kirito as the Prince's wise old buddy and also the story's Narrator, and Zuberg as the Prince's Rose flower in his homeland which he loves so much but was separated from for so long. Only Alice S30 is the Alice in Wonderland, which is why she isn't the one Eugeo looked for.

- Friendship between the Narrator & the Prince is somewhat similar Kirito & Eugeo, in how the Prince is the only one who truly shares the world view of Narrator. In stories of his own journey, the Prince met a lot of adults, each of them showed their greed, selfishness, ugliness in their way, and the Prince's pure heart couldn't understand or withstand most of them. Just like Eugeo's naivety and pure heart can't accept even the littlest unfairness and evils of his world.

- The Prince thought he didn't love his rose in the correct way, and during his journey he knew his rose isn't so special because there are millions of beautiful roses on Earth. But later he learned that it's the time and space that he spent nurturing his rose that made the rose truly special and distinct. Isn't that similar to how Eugeo learned that love is giving, like nurturing flowers continuously?

- However, the Prince agonized then because he was in a place too far from his home and he left his rose for too long that it might have been eaten, like the distance and long pining towards the Alice in Eugeo's past that killed him inside, while his childhood has long gone.

- In The Little Prince's ending, the prince followed a poisonous snake's offer that if he lets it bite him, he would be able to return to his planet with his beloved rose (Quinella's deal, anyone?). The narrator realized what would really happen but couldn't stop the Prince. Before following that offer, the Prince told the Narrator please look at the stars to remember him, if it looks like he has died, it is only because his body is too heavy to take with him to his planet. The next day, the Prince's body couldn't be found and in his later journey, the Narrator ask the readers if any of them have seen the Prince. In Eugeo's story though, instead of creating an ambiguous ending, Reki presented both ends of the Prince's fate literally. Eugeo died in a sacrifice of his choice, and at the same time went into the light with the little Alice in his past (aka the Little Prince's rose).

- Kirito, just like how the Narrator who believed the Prince didn't die, continued to live in his own world of darkness like the time he spent with Eugeo hasn't gone.

4) Alicization volume 13-18, Alice Synthesis 30′s story & Alice in Wonderland

- Alice Synthesis 30, from an empty knight who has no knowledge of the world with a forced Knight identity, was thrown to the unknown in War of Underworld and had to fight off everything and figure her self-identity out on her own, has parallels with Alice in Wonderland. Original Alice fell into a rabbit hole into Wonderland when she followed the White Rabbit, while Alice S30 fell from Floor 85 of the Cathedral when she fought after Kirito, both Alices learned about the mess that is happening in the world they're in after this.

- The original story is more about all kinds of creatures and humans in Wonderland rather than just about Alice herself, while War of Underworld is also more about people participating in the War rather than just about Alice S30.

- Kirito is the cheshire cat who guided her somewhere along the way but left her on her own device at some point. There are pig-lookalike creatures called "Rath" in the original Wonderland story, and in SAO we have RATH company who is monitoring project Alicization as well as the pig-lookalike Orcs in WoU. In many versions of Alice in Wonderland the stories involve a coup d'état towards a tyrant queen, in Alicization we have a Quinella as similar type of ruler whom Alice S30 and her friends fought against.

- At the end of both stories Alices left the mess in their "Wonderland" to get to real world. Though for OG Alice it's getting back to reality, while for Alice S30 she just got thrown to another "Wonderland" where she has even less attachment to as well as being shunned by most other humans without being able to go back to the UW she knows.

5) Kirito’s character arc in Alicization & Yu Boya and Zhong ziqi:

Kirito's character arc in Alicization was inspired by the story of Yu Boya & Zhong Ziqi, whose story has invented the words 知音知己 ("2 souls who understanding each other's tone & self the most") which usually get translated to English as "bosom friends", Chinese usually called them the epitome of friendship/ companionship. In Japan their names are translated as "Haku Ga" & "Shou Shiki".

Full story can be found here:

http://chineseaesop.blogspot.com/2012/09/yu-boya-and-zhong-ziqi-romance-of-guqin.html

Summary: Boya was an accomplished statesman from the Kingdom of Tsin and also an expert musician who played the "qin". One day as he played a musical piece on the river when he sailed to the Kingdom of Chu, he met a woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi, who might be poor but is very knowledgeable about music & what Boya's soul wanted to convey through his music. Being very happy that he could find a partner who can so quickly clicked with him, Boya & Ziqi stayed with each other talking for 3 days. Though Ziqi eventually had to go back to support his parents so they had to part with a promise of seeing each other again. The next year Boya went to find Ziqi, only to hear from Ziqi's father that he had died while trying to both work to support his family & study to catch up to a successful man like Boya. Boya played his last piece of music in front of Ziqi's grave and then destroyed his beloved musical instrument and swore to never play it again, because the life friend who could understand his heart & soul was no longer in this world. He then told Ziqi's father that he would adopt Ziqi's parents and support them like Ziqi did, saying "I was one with Ziqi and he with me. Do not think of me as an outsider."

So Kirito = Boya who are both accomplished in life (battles/social hierarchy), Eugeo = the woodcutter Ziqi who's inexperienced but wise and shared a love of something (swordmanship for Kirito & Eugep/ music for Boya & Zhong Ziqi) with the other man, both died young before they truly accomplished any of life goals. Their deaths devastated their friends, Boya destroyed his own musical instrument and his own musical ability, while for Kirito even though he was right at the chance to wake up from coma, due to the guilt of Eugeo’s death he intended to use his sword to stab himself, but having no sword so he tried to destroy his heart instead.

In the end though Kirito was stopped by a fragment of Eugeo’s soul, who give him the strength to stand back up again.

Personal thoughts:

- I find it interesting that Kirito is very apt for 2 different roles in the Little Red Riding Hood and The Little Prince, more than any roles with other heroines. In Aincrad/Progressive he is the hunter who managed to protect the Riding Hood Asuna from the wolves and in one way or another lead her to her own happy ending. In Alicization he is the best friend to the Prince Eugeo, he wanted to show the Prince the world and lead him to happiness too, but ended up having to watch his Prince walking to his own death.

- Mother's Rosario is treated as a side story in the original Web Novel and not a full-blown arc, so it doesn't have classic references. But Reki said in an interview along with the author of yuri manga/anime Bloom Into You that it's the most yuri-esque story he has ever written (despite not being technically yuri).

[cobycobsy2k]

COBYCOBS UBERHOOD, SEASON 2: “The Winter of ´85″

Chapter 6: “Glamurous Wedding”

After 6 months

The wonderful day had come to the Capp family, Goneril would marry Albany! The news flew very quickly throughout SimNation!

Goneril (Finishing his bridal makeup): Damn it ... Now how am I going to tell Mother and Father all this? ...

Cordelia: What happened Sister ?.

The brown-haired woman looked seriously at her sister.

Goneril: Can you do me a favor? Ask me about the divorce proceedings please.

Cordelia (shocked): Are you going to divorce Albany!?, But today is your wedding with him !.

Goneril proceeds to explain everything to his sister, who stares at him a bit confused but ready to help.

Meanwhile, with Albany.

The blond man was reading a magazine about starting a family.

Albany (Reading): "Scientists say that children can sweeten the marriage, the most recommended for couples with problems!".

That is what Albany begins to think about.

Albany (thinking aloud): Goneril and I should have children? ... She and I should have many children !.

At that moment Contessa enters with a big smile, since she had listened to Albany.

Contessa (Excited): That's the attitude, Albany! I'm so proud of you!

Albany: Thank you very much Mrs. Capp.

Contessa: Well, I wanted to tell you that Goneril can be a bit stubborn and bossy, but she is very nice if you know her very well.

Albany: Mrs. Capp, do you think Goneril loves me?

Contessa: HAHAHA! Dear please don't make me laugh! Remember that your marriage is fixed, so whatever happens to Goneril ... It will end in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against you.

That scared Albany a lot.

In the distance, Patrizio and Isabella were disguised to go unnoticed among the guests.

Isabella: Here I brought the poison ... It was one that was in the house.

Patrizio: Perfetto ... Now we have to "drown" a guest friend of the Capp.

The pair keep an eye on Oberon Gossamer and Titania Summerdream.

Oberon: Hey Titania, I wanted to tell you something ...

the red-haired woman looked at her partner with a smile.

Titania: What happened Oberon ?.

Oberon: Don't you think we should bless the future marriage?

Titania: I think so! Did you bring your magic wand?

Oberon: Sure hehe, although we must go unnoticed, I always bring my magic wand!

At that moment the wedding ceremony had begun, Cordelia and Caliban looked happily at Goneril.

Consort and Contessa (who was 24 weeks pregnant) proudly watched the wedding, the Arranged marriage had worked! After the wedding everyone decided to celebrate

Hamlet Dane (Father of Cornwall Dane) a friend of Contessa was accompanying the Capp family.

Hamlet: I give my blessing to the Capp family! I hope Goneril and Albany are very happy !:

Goneril and Albany (Uncomfortable): Thank you very much hehe !.

Isabella, who sneakily approached Hamlet's drink, placed a few drops of the poison that she brought.

The black-haired man kept talking as he took a sip of his wine.

Consort: Well, I also wanted to let you all know that Contessa and I are expecting a new baby!

Everyone present was clapping.

Contessa: The baby will be born early next year, we hope you can help us! ...

At that moment, Hamlet started coughing, alarming everyone, he just coughed and asked for help ...

Lord Schandwich (Townie with a little original name haha): Someone please help Mr. Dane !.

Sadly, Hamlet died poisoned.

Consort looked at the corpse of his friend, which had a curious mark ... It was the seal of the Monty family.

Consort (Shouting with hatred): I'LL GET REVENGE ON YOU, PATRIZIO MONTY !!

The war of the Monty and Capp families will begin very soon ... What will Consort have planned to avenge the death of his friend?

[seawitchkaraoke]

Looking fetching

Ao3 link in the notes, spoilers for A Killing Frost.

Simon hadn't meant to lie to October, not really. It's just that it hadn't seemed important and by the time Acacia asked if he was Sylvester's fetch, he didn't want to interrupt their search for his daughter with long explanations, which would undoubtedly have been needed, had he answered "yes".

And it hadn’t truly been a lie. He had never once described Eira as "his" firstborn, merely the Daoine Sidhe firstborn and when he told Acacia he was Sylvester's brother, it was true. October would understand that, she called the Lady May her sister as well after all.

So yes, he had excuses and he hadn't technically lied and surely October would understand. It had been drilled into him never to tell anyone his true nature after all, he had long since learned to mirror the magic of the Daoine Sidhe as much as possible and if he was better with transformations than he had any right to be, well, he was simply talented.

And yet.

And yet when October said, again, that it wasn't his fault, he couldn't have resisted Eira, her being his firstborn after all, and Dianda and Patrick, his Patrick, who he had never told, were right there.... He knew it didn't matter. If he wanted a chance at redemption, he had to be honest.

So.

"She isn't my firstborn"

Silence. Dianda and Patrick stared at him. So did October and supposedly Tybalt, though the king of cats wasn't in his line of sight.

"what do you mean? You know she's the Daoine Sidhe firstborn, you said so yourself?" October sounded like she was contemplating dragging him back to the sea witch to fix him, since he had clearly lost his mind.

Well. Better explain then.

"Yes, she is the Daoine Sidhe firstborn. She is my brother's firstborn and my father's firstborn, but she isn't my firstborn"

Deep breath. This wouldn't make them hate him any more. Probably.

"I don't know who my firstborn is, but I know it is not her. I- I am not Daoine Sidhe”

He took another breath. Best to just say it, “I am a fetch. Sylvester's fetch, though you could have guessed that I suppose. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it never seemed like the right time and my parents taught me never to tell anyone and I didn't-"

He was babbling, he knew. Somehow, he couldn't stop. He was still holding Patrick's hands, but he couldn't bring himself to look at him, why had he never told him in all the years they had known each other? October might forgive him; she had forgiven worse and they had not, in truth, known one another long but Patrick? Patrick be should have told ages ago

"I'm sorry I misled you, truly, I understand if this changes things, there's really no excuse, I should have told you centuries ago-"

"Simon"

That stopped him. Patrick didn't sound angry, but he didn't exactly sound happy either, and Patrick rarely sounded angry even when he was and-

"Simon, please, look at me"

He couldn't disobey that voice, so soft and insistent and unbearably calm. So, he lifted his head, slowly, and looked into Patrick's eyes, expecting anger or disappointment or betrayal.

All he found was love.

"I never loved you for your species you know?" Patrick smiled wryly "of course I would have preferred it if you had told me - and you really should have - but if I can forgive you turning my son into a tree-"

Simon winced, glancing towards Dean who was a little way away, talking quietly to Quentin "I really am sorry about that"

"as I said, if I can forgive that, I can forgive you not telling me about being a fetch - and sweet Oberon, if I didn't know you so well I'd think you were playing a joke, HOW can you possibly be a fetch?

"yes!" October had finally found her voice "HOW are you a fetch? Shouldn't I have seen that in your memories? Shouldn't Sylvester, you know, be dead?"

"I'd like to know that as well" Tybalt spoke, now, seemingly calm "I've known you an exceedingly long time, and you never showed any indication of being your brother’s death omen"

Simon was about to answer, when Dianda, suddenly snorted.

And then laughed.

And then kept laughing.

And then lost control of her legs and landed on the beach on her long shimmering tail.

“Um”, said Simon, intelligently “are you alright?”

Dianda tried to answer but couldn’t – she was still laughing too hard – so she held a hand up signalling them to give her a minute.

After several minutes, that they all spent staring at Dianda and that Dianda spent trying to calm herself down, only to look up at Simon and lose it all over again, she managed but kept her eyes resolutely away from him.

“of course, you are a fetch”, she said, “why not? I don’t even need an explanation, this is Faerie, this might as well happen”

“….well I’d still truly appreciate an explanation if it is of no inconvenience to you”, said Tybalt.

“okay okay, yes, so. Um.”, Simon stuttered, not really knowing where to begin, “so. You know where fetches come from, right?”

“Yes”, said Tybalt and Toby. “No”, said Patrick and Dianda. They stared at each other.

“Hey, it wasn’t my secret to share!”, Toby held her hands up, warding off Dianda’s stare and taking a step away from her tail – as if that would really save her.

“Alright”, Simon pinched the bridge of his nose, “as far as I know we come from nighthaunts who drink living blood… does that match what your Lady Fetch told you, October?”

“Err, yes but what do you mean ‘as far as you know’? Don’t you remember? Because May remembers, it’s really useful sometimes but also kinda creepy”

“No, I don’t remember…. I didn’t even know I was a fetch for a while. I appeared when Sylvester was still very young – I believe there was an assassination attempt, my father killed the assailant but some of my brother’s blood must have gotten mixed in his - and so his… my… our parents changed my memory and adopted me. Don’t ask how or why they did this; I could only speculate. Possibly they believed that if I could not remember being a death omen that Sylvester would survive”

Toby interrupted at that “but wouldn’t you have noticed? Didn’t your appearance change to match his or you could feel danger and all those…”, she waved her hand, “funky fetch powers?”

Simon sighed, “maybe if I had been older, yes, but I was very young at the time. The only memories I had were Sylvester’s, which I imagined to be my own, and he was just a few years old, only a toddler.”

Toby frowned “okay, never mind that imagining you two as toddlers is just weird, but wouldn’t you have realized as you grew up?”

“I would have yes. I did, in fact, but not in the way you appear to imagine. You know we grew up with your mother –“

Toby nodded, a frown on her face.

“- well. One day we were playing and Sylvester… he fell. He fell and he hit his head and he didn’t get up. My sister and I didn’t know what to do, she ran for our parents and I…”

“you faded.” Toby spoke up again, realization on her face, “you faded, and my mother told you to stop. But… but how did she save Sylvester? She saved me from elfshot by changing my blood, but she couldn’t have done that to him”

“She did not, no. But she- She was only a child but she grabbed the nearest rose and drove the thorns into her skin and when that did not make her bleed as much as she desired, she grabbed more roses and then she grabbed my knife that I used to make little wooden figures and she… she bled. She bled a lot. I don’t know what she did or how it could have been possible, but Sylvester woke and the nighthaunts didn’t come to call either of us home and when my parents arrived they found a lot of blood but no dead child.” He took a breath, “If I did not already love your mother, I think this may have been when I fell. She was so sure and so beautiful and so fearless, and she saved my brother, one of the most important people in my world”, he grew quiet, “at the time, at least”

They took a moment to digest that. Then Patrick, dear Patrick spoke up “that may have been the only selfless thing Amandine ever did. I’m glad she saved you, and him, for your sake, but Sylvester never deserved you”

Simon sighed, “he was a child, Patrick, dearest. We all were. There was no resentment yet in those days, no mistakes that couldn’t be taken back, just four children”, he glanced at Tybalt, “four children and a prince of cats who seemed to appear at random intervals”, he tried to pour amusement into his voice. The others simply stared at him, clearly not impressed by his attempts at joking.

“Be that as it may” Tybalt drawled, clearly unembarrassed by Simon’s mention of him, “pray, continue with your recounting. After this event, did your parents tell you what you were?”

Simon nodded, “they did. They didn’t have much of a choice. Perhaps they could have claimed that the fading of the one when the other died was normal for twins – they are exceedingly rare in Faerie after all – but I would have questioned why my magic was different or perhaps met some other pair of twins eventually. I suppose they deemed it wiser to tell me, so I could learn how to hide as a Daoine Sidhe as best as possible”

“but your magic!”, October burst out, “you can do blood magic and I’ve never seen May do that! I don’t understand”

“Have you ever seen her attempt blood magic, October?”, he asked, but before she could answer, he shook his head and continued, “but no, you are quite right. I am not very good at blood magic. I can do some – just as you are capable of illusions despite having neither flower nor water magic at your disposal – but I am not good. I am however decent at alchemy which can achieve many of the same results. True, I vastly prefer having some time to make a potion out of blood but once I have done so, no one ever questions whether or not what I am doing is truly the result of blood magic as such. I look and act Daoine Sidhe after all and who has ever heard of a fetch existing long enough to learn deception?”

“And you are, as we have seen, surprisingly adept at transformations”, Patrick mused. Simon winced again and glanced towards Dean – still walking along the beach with Quentin – but Patrick did not sound angry, “really I should have seen it ages ago. You never did show me all that much blood magic, but you transformed scraps into new suits on a far too regular basis, when the old one would truly still have served me fine”, he was smiling now and finally Simon allowed his shoulders to sag. Patrick really had forgiven him for the deception.

“you never did learn how to properly dress yourself”, he sighed but was smiling too now, comfortable in the centuries old banter.

“Well, that’s why I married a mermaid”, he grinned, “clothing is really rather optional down there. What’s the point, truly, if it will only get wet?”

Toby exclaimed in protest that when she had been in the undersea, everyone had been clothed, Dianda laughed and backed her husband up that no, it was true, they barely knew what clothes were in her realm, and Simon allowed himself to breathe.

He didn’t know what was to happen to him next. He assumed he would be sent to sleep for a hundred years and he truly could not say he did not deserve that and worse. But at least he could do so, knowing that no more deceptions stood between him and the people he loved so dearly.

[peterxwade24]

BWYD Chapter 36

Dreary Days in Paris

Marinette smiled at her classmate and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “I know how you feel. Jason, my big brother? He’s my third oldest sibling and I constantly get on his nerves.”

Juleka let out a harsh laugh. “That must be such a hardship.” Juleka’s eyes narrowed and looked at Marinette. “Having so many siblings.”

Marinette nodded. “Single parent household. Nine kids. Ranging in age from thirty to thirteen. My sisters and I are helping our father raise our brothers. That’s four against six.” Marinette’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at the black and purple haired girl. “At least two of my siblings have almost died. Damian hated me when I first moved in after my parents died and I couldn’t look at my oldest sister for nearly two years because she had red hair and the people who burned down my home had red hair. At least two of my brothers’ friends have red hair.” Marinette took a breath and frowned. “I ran away from home when I was younger because I was afraid the only people who had ever welcomed me into their home wouldn’t support my choices.”

Juleka paused to consider Marinette’s words and turned to look at the shorter girl but was stunned to find that the shorter girl had vanished from her side and had reappeared at their brothers' sides.

Marinette tucked herself into her big brother’s side, his arm draping across her shoulders.

“Little sisters,” Jason glanced down at his own before looking back at Luka, “are incredible at looking out for you. I wouldn’t know what to do if not for my three younger sisters.”

Luka smiled and extended his hand to Marinette. “Luka Couffaine. Recently acquainted with your brother.”

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng-Wayne. Classmate of your sister.” Marinette shook his hand before looking up at her brother. “Jay-Jay. I would like to leave at our earliest convenience. I have school tomorrow.”

Jason chuckled and nodded. “Think about what I have said. Till our next meeting Monsieur Couffaine.” Jason swept Marinette off of her feet and the two siblings ran from the Couffaine houseboat.

---

Marinette walked into the school the next day, with a scowl on her face to rival that of her brothers. She wore high-waisted dark olive green jeans with horizontal rips which began at the middle of her shin and ended at the middle of her thigh, a black corset top with thin ribbon shoulder straps and delicate black lace trim, dark brown chunky heeled combat boots, a red and black studded leather jacket, and a black leather choker with “Puddin” in gold letters around it.

Damian, ever the overprotective older brother since Marinette had run away from the family, followed his little sister into the school with a scowl on his face. He wore baggy black pants tucked into a pair of black boots, a baggy black hooded shirt and a dark brown belt wrapped around his waist. His green eyes, normally only cold, seemed as though they could freeze any upon whom his gaze reached.

Colin, never one to be left out, walked beside Damian with his mouth set in a firm line. He wore brown pants, a brown hooded orange plaid jacket, black trainers and a black beanie covered all of his red hair. He glanced around at all of their school mates, trying to decide which of them would be allowed in today.

The three siblings stopped walking when Alix Kubdel bounded up to Marinette with a mischievous grin on her face.

“Hey Mari. Lookin’ cute today.” Alix grinned impishly before pecking Marinette’s cheek and running off.

Marinette froze with her eyes wide and her cheeks turning Ladybug red.

Damian simply rolled his eyes, grabbed Marinette and Colin’s bags from them and took up the lead while Colin collected their sister and followed after Damian.

Colin followed Damian to their classroom and waited for him to sit down before he sat Marinette down. “Kubdel had better have been serious. Because if she wasn’t then she isn’t ready for the wrath of the Waynes and the Kents.”

Damian glanced over at Colin before he went back to setting up Marinette’s school things. “Don’t forget ‘Aunt’ Diana.”

Marinette, cheeks less of a Ladybug red, leaned on Damian and grasped Colin’s hand. “Aunt Diana is supposed to be back on land soon. We should visit the Louvre with her soon.”

Juleka walked into the classroom, her eyes searching the room before they landed on the youngest Wayne child. She quickly looked away before she slunk into her spot beside Rose.

Marinette’s face drained of its colour before she afixed a scowl to her face. She pulled up Skype on her laptop before plugging her earbuds into the audio jack on her laptop and Skype calling Cass. She knew it was afternoon in Hong Kong but she needed her silent sister.

Cass picked up the call and waved at her before signing “Little sister”.

Marinette launched into signing to her sister, keeping her hands behind her laptop screen and behind Colin’s body so no one in class would question what she was doing. Marinette got lost in the gentle sounds of Cass’ apartment in Hong Kong, only looking up when one of her brothers tapped on her arms.

Caline Bustier noticed her young student’s preoccupation and frowned. “Ms. Dupain-Cheng? What’s the answer to question number fourteen?” Caline waited before snapping her fingers. “Ms. Dupain-Cheng.”

“It’s Ms. Dupain-Cheng-Wayne, or just Ms. Wayne.” Damian placed a hand on Marinette’s arm before gently tugging out her earbud. “Answer to number fourteen?”

---

Marinette lounged on her bed, Oberon and Houdini curled up with her. She scrolled through her contacts and frowned before clicking on Jocelyne’s contact. She waited a moment before pressing call and held her breath as she waited for it to contect.

“Hello?”

“Jocelyne? It’s me. It’s Marinette. I don’t know if you remember me but I, I stayed in your house when I was younger.”

“Marinette? Is it really you?”

“Yeah. It’s really me,” Marinette paused to collect her courage, “I was wondering if you were still in Paris?”

“Yeah, actually I am. I,” Jocelyne pondered for a moment before continuing, “actually have a small cupcake shop.”

“Would you, would you maybe want to see me, if I was in Paris?”

“Of course I would.” Jocelyne sounded sincere.

“What day works best for you?”

“You’re in school, right? So just, stop by after school. I wanna know what’s been happening in your life lately.”

“Okay.”

@dast218 @amayakans @toodaloo-kangaroo @crazylittlemunchkin @marinettepotterandplagg @duckies16

[dragons-ire]

#17 - Fade

Music

"Valka. Silvestre. We've secured the bridge. You can come up."

It took less than two seconds of silence on the other end of that linkpearl for the world to fade to stark white. He took his lance and went back through the corridor, ready to assist. He walked through carnage and corpses and two of his friends crumpled in heaps, so still they both might be dead themselves.

Standing outside on the breached rear deck of that gunship, the wind howling through the vents of his helmet, it was like something in him died as well. Fell down into that ever-burning core of him, where it ignited briefly, then settled into smolder with the rest.

He came back long enough to call for help and then he put his head down and walked and went where he needed to go until it was over.

I'm sorry you were almost the last one left to mourn us.

I thought of what we were doing to you -the sole survivor of that.

At least they understood. Both of them. Soldiers lived with death; knew you didn't go into combat without accepting that you might lose. That you might die.

It went away again with a tearful and frantic knock on his door My children- Dione. Luken. Please help me.

The way the world had been going then, it seemed better to stay a little whited-out.

It stayed gone through more chaos - through a massive and uncoordinated assault on another airship, though a backroom in the worst part of Kugane. Blood on his hands and blood on the knife and blood in the bowl that Valka held between hers. Looking at his fingers like they weren't quite a part of him anymore.

When it came back in force, it was in the middle of Oberon Icarus' lab in the Doman hills. One bullet ricocheted off his armor and the world was vibrant color and light and his lance was in his hand and he knew, for that tick of a second, that the heavens were in alignment and he was exactly where he needed to be.

A second later everything was black save the bright remnant of breath caught in his throat.

i n l o o n 

i n o h l 

i n k h u r 

The after-image lingered with a dark halo around the head over everyone in his field of vision. Eyes trying to look into his and hands trying to reach for him. I'm worried for you and what happened to your aether? and he brushed it all away with it doesn't matter and it's over.

And You know - if I wanted to fight Garleans full-time, I'd just go back to the Temple Knights. They'd take me back. They'd send me to the heart of the Capitol itself if someone needed to go there.

When he got back to the office, he found that someone had kept everything dusted while he'd been away from it. Someone had kept the fig tree watered and healthy. He picked up some papers that someone had left to look at and kept moving. Mentally counted the threads he might still have to walk tightrope across until he could forget about all of it and worry about something else.

Are you ever coming home from this?

Maybe tomorrow.

Maybe tomorrow.

(Mentions: @witchesandlotuses @loadedmemory @syerraffxiv (and adjacent) )

[amalthea9]

Leona and Puck- Ian Holm Puck Fanfic- Chapter 1

I decided to post this self-indulgent fic here on Tumblr as well as Deviant art.  Since Sir Ian’s death I have been trying to find ways to process my grief. Writing a mushy romance story for a self insert and Ian’s Puck has helped a lot. So if anyone would like some mind-numbing fluff, here you go. <3

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Chapter 1

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A woman wandered the forest on a night like any other night. She had done so many times, because the forest was her favorite place to be. It was the place she knew the mischievous sprite, Puck, roamed on occasion. 

And as it happened, Puck had been watching her from the trees that night. He loved to scare the ladies of Athens, but this woman was...different. The brown-haired woman seemed to enjoy the dark and quiet of the night. 

But he would still do her a fright if he could. If only to see what she would do.

So as the woman picked lilacs by moonlight, Puck decided to make growling noises within the trees. She was silent, but slow, and her eyes darted from tree to tree in caution, but she would not gasp. To gasp meant to reveal your fear, and that was folly to her. So she continued to pick her flowers, much to Puck's perplexity. He decided to make the roars louder, as that of a lion. The woman knew that there were no lions in the forest, and now she mused to wonder if a sprite played with her. Puck saw her smile, and her boldness made him smile to himself. This woman enjoyed this game. He made the roars closer, and stilll she stirred not. Then, with a wide grin, he came up to her, making himself invisible, and roared as loud as if the beast was before her. The woman was still for a second or two, staring into the dark trees, then giggled softly and smiled to herself. 

"May I ask who plays the part of the lion?" she mused to the darkness. "For he is of excellent skill, and would frighten the stoutest of hearts!"

Puck giggled to himself, and appeared before her in that moment.

The woman was still as she saw the sprite stand before her.

Puck grinned from ear to ear as he proudly stated,

"Twas I who played the lion!"

The sweet woman chuckled and smiled brightly, clapping in delight. 

"You do your station well then!" She exclaimed happily. "So fierce a lion I have not imagined!"

Puck giggled at her praise, but quirked his head in curiosity.

"And yet, you did not run," he replied.

The girl's smile remained as she said.

"Because I knew it was a spirit who did roar at me. And I delighted in the game."

Puck was confused. Why did this woman not shriek and run like the others? Why does she smile?

And so beautifully at that…

"I had a feeling it was you."

Puck's thoughts were interrupted by her soft voice.

"What?" he inquired.

"The mischievous sprite, Robin Goodfellow," the woman continued. 

Puck straightened up, his grin returning to his face. 

"You know me!" He exclaimed happily.

"Of course! For we met once before!" She happily stated.

Puck's head tilted again in curiosity.

"I was a girl then, picking flowers with the other girls of village for the Easter celebrations. I was a part from the others, when I felt the need to look up to the trees.  I saw you there. You appeared from nowhere, and you smiled and waved at me."

"And you waved back!" Puck exclaimed excitedly. "I remember now!"

The woman laughed happily as Puck came closer to her.

"Yes!" She giggled. "I am that young girl you waived to, Leona. And I have hoped against all odds to meet you again!"

Puck giggled happily and clapped.

"And you have! And I have found you again! Now I wonder not at your lack of fright! For hoping it might be me, this playful sprite!"

Leona nodded and giggled once more at Puck's mirth. Despite all her efforts through the years, Leona still found him so handsome and sweet. Her 'faerie prince' as in her youth she called him.

"Will you stay with me here a while?" Puck asked happily, his bright eyes hopeful.

Leona's heart was thrilled that he wanted her to stay for a visit. 

"I would be delighted to, Puck," she replied beaming.

Puck jumped for joy and took Leona by the hand.

"Come!" He exclaimed. "I'll show you all the secret places of the forest! Where the softest of moss grows, where the owl nests are, and how to catch fireflies!"

And off into the forest the two went, hand in hand and giggling with joy. 

That night was spent in the way Puck had promised. Leona learned how to catch fireflies, Puck took her to where the softest of moss grew, and especially where owls nested.  Leona had always loved owls, their nightly songs always soothed her. Puck complained about sometimes being chased by them when he made himself small. Leona laughed at that, and Puck couldn't help but laugh with her.

It was about three in the morning when Leona said she must go.

"I would stay til dawn," she said sadly, "but I need to sleep a little in order to do my daily chores."

Puck knew she was right and nodded with a sigh. 

"Then let me lead you out again," he said, taking her hand.

"Of course, Puck," Leona smiled.

As they neared the edge of the forest, Puck turned to face Leona with a worried expression.

"You will come back tomorrow, won't you?!" He asked worriedly.

"Of course!" Leona giggled in reply. "I shall visit you every night if you wish it!"

Puck squeezed her hand and nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh yes! I do wish it!" He gleefully replied, his eyes bright with happiness.

"Then I shall!" Leona replied, beaming.

Leona giggled as Puck twirled around with delight. They said their goodbyes, and just as quickly as he had appeared, Puck was gone.

Leona's heart was so full of happiness as she made her way back to the cottage. She had finally been reunited with her Puck. After many years of hoping to find him again, she could spend her nights with him and her lonely life would no longer be so empty. She would never confess to him that she loved him, but would try to be content with just being able to spend time with him.

The next morning Leona was exhausted,but tried not to show it at the breakfast table with her aunt and uncle. But her aunt, Bridget Flemming, noticed right away. 

"You're tired," she stated bluntly. "Why is that?"

Aunt Bridget wasn't an evil woman by any stretch. She and her husband, William had raised Leona from birth. Her mother died giving birth to her. She was a bastard child, and her mother's sister took her in. 

But Aunt Bridget thought Leona's time in the forest was senseless. She did believe in the fae, but always said no good came from interacting with them. She told Leona many times that because of her going to the forest, she had lost all of her chances of having a good life. 

Leona knew her aunt loved her, but she also knew that her aunt thought she was too 'whimsical' to ever marry. Leona was 34 and still unwedded, so a spinner of yarn she had become.

"Did you not sleep?" Aunt Bridget snapped again. "Off in the forest all night I bet."

"Yes, auntie I was in the forest," Leona confessed. "I stayed too late. But I won't let it get in the way of my chores or spinning I promise."

"It better not!" Aunt Bridget scoffed. "Or else there'll be no eggs for the morning or milk!"

"Leona will keep up with her chores, my love. She's never failed us and you know that."

The kind voice of Uncle William Flemming came through as he ate his breakfast.

Leona smiled at her uncle. He believed in the fae as she did, for he had seen the Queen of Faeries and her escorts one night when he was very young. He believed her when she told the story of Robin Goodfellow, as Puck is often called, waving at her when she was young. It helped to have her uncle understand what her aunt did not. He never judged her for not being married at her age, or that she spent so much time in the forest. 

Bridget sighed and shook her head.

“You’re right, WIlliam,” she confessed. “I’m sorry, Leona. You know how I worry about you.”

Leona nodded as she smiled at her aunt.

“I know auntie.”

Bridget nodded and smiled at her niece as she collected the dishes to wash. “Off with you then, dear. See to the chickens and cow.”

“Yes, auntie,” Leona replied and left the table.

Leona did her chores with a smile on her face. She couldn't stop thinking about Puck. Her heart quickened when she imagined his smile, and how much he enjoyed her company. She felt silly being this enamored of a faerie, for she would never believe her feelings could be returned. She had heard stories of fae like King Oberon or Queen Titania taking mortal lovers, but she didn't think Puck would want her. 

These thoughts were interrupted by the gentle voice of her uncle.

"Did you find him last night?"

Leona turned her head from milking the cow to see Uncle William standing at the stable's doorway. He was all smiles.

"I did," she nodded, smiling.

William entered the barn and came over to Leona. The bearded grey-haired man gestured to trade places as he said, 

"Then you must tell me all about it!"

Leona beamed as she told her uncle all about her night with Puck. Her uncle chuckled in delight as he finished milking the cow.

"I knew you would find Robin Goodfellow again, my dear," Uncle William said as he got to his feet. "And I'm very happy you did!"

"Thank you, Uncle," Leona replied. "You believing I would has been a comfort to me."

William's blue eyes shimmered.

"Of course, my girl! I know what that sprite means to you. And I secretly hope you'll win his heart the way he's won yours."

Uncle William chuckled to see his niece blush at this remark and Leona hit his arm playfully.

The rest of the day went by steadily. Leona had to go to town to deliver some yarn she had spun. 

While in town, she stopped at the village Inn. The innkeeper, Richard, had always been very friendly to her and enjoyable company. The brown-eyed, dark-brown haired man, enjoyed telling Leona stories of all of the travelers that had passed through his inn. And he enjoyed her stories of faeries and lore she had learned over the years. 

Richard's wife had often bought Leona's yarn out of kindness to her, perhaps out of pity. Even so, Richard was happy to see Leona pop in and they talked for a bit. 

When Richard had to go attend to other guests, Leona remained at the bar and enjoyed her ale. As she did so, a group of women entered the inn. They were the women who used to be Leona's play mates as children, but as they all grew up, the less she got along with them. None of them liked the forest, and as the years went by and Leona got older and still not married, they mocked her for it. And that's what they did as soon as they saw her. 

Leona was used to it, and didn't pay them much attention. As the women sat and received their drinks, they continued to mock Leona loudly, and Leona continued to ignore them. Richard was still serving other guests, so Leona was alone.

Suddenly, the leader of the women shrieked and spilled her drink all over herself.

"There was a crab! There was a crab in my drink!!!" The woman shrieked.

Leona couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. Nor could she stifle the laughter as one after the other screamed and spilled their drinks all over themselves. Each of them blamed a crab, but there was none to be found. As Leona and the rest of the inn laughed at the women, she looked to the corner and smiled brightly. Puck grinned cheekily at her, winked, then vanished. 

The evening came, and Leona's heart fluttered as she entered the forest.

And when Puck appeared, she wished she could hug him. But she held back, thinking he might not be comfortable with it.

Instead she smiled happily and asked.

"How did you know I was in the village?"

"I was bored today so I went into the village for some mischief," Puck began with a mischievous grin. "Then I saw you enter the in, so why not follow?"

"Well, thank you very much for what you did," Leona smiled. "It was wonderful."

Puck smiled brightly and bowed with dramatic flair, making Leona giggle.

Then Puck gave her a curious look.

"Do those women tease you often?"

Leona's smile faded as she nodded and looked to the ground.

"It doesn't bother me much anymore," she sighed.

"Well I think it's awful and I shall be pranking each of them more often," Puck stated as he walked up to Leona.

Leona lifted her eyes to meet his and smiled.

"Thank you, Puck," she said softly.

Puck smiled at her happily, and now he noticed how lovely her eyes were. One blue, one green, and for a moment Puck simply admired them.

"Puck?"

Puck blinked as Leona's soft voice brought him back to the present. He smiled at her and asked.

"What shall we do tonight?"

Still wondering why Puck had stared into her eyes for a moment, Leona decided to dismiss it and replied.

"Shall we play a game?" she suggested smiling.

Puck's face lit up as he excitedly replied.

"Oh yes! What game shall we play?"

Leona pretended to think for a moment because making Puck wait for an answer delighted her. He looked so cute bouncing with impatience.

"I'll think of an animal and you turn into it," Leona smiled.

Puck was delighted at this idea.

For several hours the forest was filled with Leona's laughter and applause. Puck would let her pet him and play with whatever animal he was. And sometimes, Puck would ignore her request and become a headless bear. This would delight Leona, though she would feign annoyance. 

After a time, they sat together in the moss and Puck told stories of all his exploits with King Oberon. Leona listened in amazement, for Puck had been around the world and seen so much.

She suddenly felt a sadness come upon her. She wished she could see the world too. She felt plain and somehow insignificant. Puck noticed her smile faded and became concerned.

"What's wrong Leona?"

Puck asked her worriedly.

Leona looked up to Puck and suddenly felt very silly for her thoughts. She shook her head dismissively, an embarrassed smile on her face.

"It is nothing, Puck," she said softly, her gaze falling to the ground.

Puck was hardly convinced of this and crawled over to her, seating himself directly in front of her.

"I do not believe you," he replied with a frown. "Please tell me. I do not like to see you sad."

Leona felt a warmth wash over her. To know Puck already wished her nothing but happiness made her feel so happy.

She smiled a soft smile at him as she met his gaze.

"It is strange, but hearing of all of your adventures has made me feel...so plain. I am mortal, so I cannot do the things you have done, and yet I feel insignificant for that," she said with both sadness and confusion in her voice.

"But you are not plain!" Puck objected.

Leona looked to him in confusion.

"You are the only woman in this village who enjoys my antics! The only one who enjoys the forest and is not afraid to go into it!" 

Puck looked to the ground for a moment and his tone softened.

"I have never found a woman like you, Leona. Yes, there have been women who have laughed due to my pranks and have seen me but…"

Puck paused for a moment and bit his lip. Leona watched him and wondered what was going through his mind. He looked back up at her and stated.

"You are different. You are special."

Leona stared at the sprite for a moment. 

Special? 

Why would Puck find her special? What did he see in her?

"Special.." she whispered, a look of disbelief on her face.

"Yes," Puck whispered in reply. He leaned forward so that his face was inches from hers.

Leona's heart quickened at his action.

"I cannot explain it," the sprite stated, locking his gaze with hers. "But you are."

There was a stillness between them for a moment as they stared at one another. Leona processing what Puck had just said, while Puck tried to convey with his eyes he wasn't lying. Finally, Leona smiled softly at the playful sprite.

"I shall believe you, Puck," she whispered, her heart still fluttering to have him so close to her. "For I know you are an honest sprite."

Puck's smile returned when he heard her words. He resumed being seated not so close to her. He looked then to the moon, and sighed.

"Tis three…" he stated sadly. 

He offered his hand for Leona to take, and she took it with her own sad smile. They walked to the edge of the forest, and this time, Puck kissed Leona's hand. It surprised Leona, but she was happy to receive it. She smiled at him as he released her hand. Puck smiled back and vanished.

The next morning, Leona was still thinking about what Puck had said. That she was special. What did Puck mean? 

She was quiet at the breakfast table, and Uncle William noticed this. 

As she milked the cow, Uncle William came to her.

"Did something happen last night, my dear?" He asked with concern.

Leona tried to smile, but it was clear she was perplexed by something.

"Puck told me I was special," she said softly as she milked the cow. "And I am not sure why he said such a thing."

Uncle William came over to her, pulling up a stool to sit beside her.

"Well," he began. "He isn't wrong in that. I always felt the same."

Leona stopped milking the cow and looked to him with a confused expression. 

Uncle William smiled at her softly.

"Even as a little girl, you have delighted in everything of nature. You would see the fireflies dance at night, and squeal in glee. And when you learned to talk, you called them faeries. You've always looked to the trees with a gaze of wonder and adoration. As though you belonged in the forest…"

Uncle's smile faded a little then, and his eyes became sad. He appeared to be remembering something, but didn't want to say what.

"Uncle?" Leona asked softly, her expression one of concern.

Uncle shook his head dismissively and his smile returned.

"All I meant to say was that Puck sees you in the way you should be seen. As someone unique."

His smile returned as he leaned down to kiss her head gently. Leona smiled as he did this and arose with the bucket of milk in hand. 

Uncle returned to the cottage, as Aunt Bridget was peeling potatoes. She looked up to see his expression of concern.

"What is it, William?" she asked him.

William took a seat at the table, his eyes looking ahead.

"Leona found Puck a few nights ago," he stated.

Bridget's eyes went wide.

"What?! Why didn't you tell me?! She can't keep seeing him!!" Bridget exclaimed angrily.

"Do you truly think we can stop her, Bridget?" William asked softly, meeting her eyes.

Bridget looked to the ground, a sad expression coming to her features. 

"No…" she whispered. "I wish she had told me though."

"She knew it would upset you, my dear," William replied, a sad smile on his face.

"Apparently, Puck told her she was special last night and it perplexes her."

Bridget leaned back in her chair with a heavy sigh.

"Of course he would…" she muttered.

William leaned forward to take his wife's hand and squeezed it.

"Bridget, we couldn't keep this at bay her whole life," he said softly. "She will always be drawn to the forest...and to him. Puck sees what she truly is. I would rather her have someone who cares for her as she is than for her to be alone forever."

Bridget's eyes became misty with tears as she nodded and squeezed his hand in reply.

"And eventually...we will have to tell her everything," William said with a heaviness in his voice.

"I know…" Bridget whispered. 

The evening came, and Leona had expected Puck to appear as soon as she entered the trees. But he was nowhere to be seen. She called for him gently a few times, but still he did not appear.

Leona didn't panic however, she assumed Puck was running an errand for King Oberon. She was disappointed, but knew that Puck would come if he could. 

So she decided to pick flowers while she sang softly. It was a song she had heard at the inn once and it had always been her favorite love song.

"Come white moss, weave us a carpet

Spreading oak make a shade where we lie.

Leaves and branches, whisper a love song,

When I look in my true love's eyes.

Young as any spring, his eyes almost sing to me.

Come down sparrow, sing me good morning.

Rise up sun like the arch of the sky.

Living river, turn light to diamonds

When I look in my true love's eyes.

Like a child feels watching a rainbow.

Like a bird feels the first time it flies.

I feel magic stirring within me,

When I look in my true love's eyes.

Young as any spring, his eyes almost sing.

Come down sparrow, sing me good morning.

Rise up sun like the arch of the sky.

Living river, turn light to diamonds

When I look in my true love's eyes.

Like a child feels watching a rainbow.

Like a bird feels the first time it flies.

I feel magic stirring within me,

When I look in my true love's eyes.

Young as any spring, his eyes almost sing."

Her voice was soft and melodic, and it carried through the forest like a gentle breeze.

When Puck returned to the forest, he heard the lovely voice, and searched for the source. 

When he saw it was Leona's voice, he didn't want to approach her, not just yet. He wanted to listen a little longer. He kept himself invisible as he sat on a branch, and let her sweet song serenate him. After a time, he was smiling to himself as he listened. 

There was something ethereal about her voice, though he couldn't explain it. 

After a few more moments, he decided to finally appear to her.

Leona was still singing as she made a wreath of the flowers she picked. She was startled at his sudden appearance but quickly smiled at him.

"There you are!" she said cheerfully.

"Please do not stop," Puck pleaded softly.

"Do not stop what?" Leona asked curiously.

"You sing beautifully…" Puck replied, seating himself in front of her. "Please sing again."

Leona felt her cheeks grow warm as she looked to the ground and shook her head. 

"You are being far too kind," Leona replied quietly.

"You do!" Puck protested, almost sounding angry.

Leona met his eyes now, surprised by his reaction.

"Please Leona," Puck pleaded softly.

Leona could not deny him, not when he looked grieved that she had stopped.

"As you wish," she replied with a nod and a smile.

Puck beamed and his eyes sparkled in delight. He rested his chin in his hands, like a child ready for a story, and it made Leona giggle. 

"Would you like another song?" Leona asked.

"I want the one you were singing!" He replied happily. "I like it!"

Leona smiled softly at him, if he only knew it was he she thought of when she sang it.

So she continued to sing, working on the wreath as she did.

Leona sang Puck many songs, and he even brought her more flowers to weave.

After a time, Leona had to stop, for the stack of wreaths was becoming rather large. 

The rest of their time together that night was playing hide-and-seek, and Puck promised not to cheat. Although he could sense Leona's presence when she was close, he let her hide for a bit before finding her. Leona knew this too, and it warmed her heart that Puck would play along with her.

When the time for Leona to leave came, Puck walked with her, hand in hand to the forest edge. It had become their parting ritual, and Leona cherished every moment her hand was in Puck's.

"Will you sing more tomorrow night?" Puck asked hopefully as he released her hand. 

Leona chuckled.

"If you would wish it," she replied with a nod.

"I would have you sing every night!" Puck declared happily.

Leona smiled at him with endearment.

"You sweet sprite…" she whispered. "Then I shall."

Puck bounced in place excitedly. 

And with that, he bid her goodnight, kissing her hand again. 

As Leona walked back to the cottage, her heart swelled with happiness the more she thought of how much Puck loved her singing. 

With these thoughts in her head she let sleep take her.

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