#i'm so sorry this must be so incomprehensible

[aenthroppe]

who/what is enty? an oc?

Yes! It's an oc for the pathfinder campaign i'm currently playing in :3 it's so hard to find where to start with them OTL it's my everything. my silly rabbit. It died, but got better (through the powers of necromancy). it lost the memories of its past life. it named itself "Entropy" (Enty for short), out of swearing itself to a fruitless revenge. it's part of a revolutionary group to topple the nobility. it died a second time, and got better(through the power of friendship(it was necromancy again)). it unknowingly gave up all its memories justifying its revenge. it regained the memories of the life it lost. it currently neither possess a shadow nor a soul. Its shadow tried to kill it. it posses a terribly fake italian accent (that one's on me but also- there's layers). it has fallen through the void for 7 years and still hasn't hit the ground. it is so broke (monetarily). it is so broke (mentally).

[imminent-danger-came]

Between

2x08 S: "As long as I'm doing something to help out a friend, I don't mind what it is! I just want to be there for 'em when they need me. Because at the end of the day, helping my friends is more important than anything in the world!"

3x03 Mei: "So wait, how did you get your gold vision back again?" MK: "I don't know! The same way I got them in the first place I guess. Every time I learned a new ability, it was because there was something I NEEDED to do, when there was no other way. Against the gold fish guy I NEEDED to do something to save my friends!" P: "Yeah, friends that YOU put in danger on purpose!"

3x10 MK: "NO! Mei is my best friend, I’d never abandon her when she needs me. We’re heroes! It’s what we do!",

3x14 MK: "A perfect world is what you make it. So as long as I have my friends by my side...this world! Is! Perfect!”

4x01 MK: "Honestly? I’m kinda liking the world as it is, right now. So...if it could just stay like this, forever? That would be awesome." SWK: "Yeah well...forever’s a long time bud...trust me."

4x02 AL: "It’s too late to save them! We can’t risk unleashing the curse into the world." MK: “You don’t know! We’d risk it for sure! I won’t abandon them when they need us."

4x07 IMK: "You can see it, can't you? This is your fate. Your friends will turn on you, seeing you for the monster you will become. They will destroy you, harbinger of chaos."

4x11 MK: "We have to try, he'd do the same—for any of us." and

4x14 YT: "I know full well what would happen should Azure fail. But- but he is my brother. I owe him my life." S: "We get it! I'd do anything to help my friends. But at the cost of the world?" P: "I'm sorry pal, but NOTHING worth that price!"

I'm like, really worried scoob.

[capricorndevil15]

Hello this is a public service announcement for the Our Wonderland community. Drive It Through Your Heart by Billy Cobb is a Genzou/Orlam song.

[dragonbarbie]

𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 | Part 1

aegon x best friend!reader ; modern!au

summary: this fic is snippets of aegon and reader's relationship as they grow up and discover new feelings. but to let himself be loved, aegon has to first do some growing up.

rating: 18+, minors dni.

tags: alcohol, substance abuse.

word count: 4.2k

series masterlist

next part

A/N: i'm so excited to share my first full fic! this series is very very lowkey inspired by one day and highkey inspired by peter by taylor swift. comment if you'd like to be on the taglist for this! hope you guys like it :)

divider credit @ cafekitsune!

Age 10

“I still don't see why we had to move here." a sullen, 10 year old Y/N replied, pouting as she stared out the window from the backseat. her father couldn't help an amused smile at the little girl as he drove towards her new school. "i told you darling, daddy’s got a very important new job here in king’s landing." "yes but why did I have to move here." the older man let out a patient sigh. this had been going on weeks leading to their move. "you haven't even given the city a chance yet, kiddo. why do you hate it already?" "because..." the little girl started with an exasperated whine. ".... i don't have any friends here!" "you have me." her father offered with an assuring grin. the unamused look he got in return was not grateful in the least. "you're dad. i want friends." the seriousness with which Y/N declared her dilemma earned her a laugh from the front seat.

her father pulled into the curb by the grand iron gates of Red Keep Academy, the best private school in the city. as Y/N hopped out the backseat, looking deflated, he lowered the car window, "hey c'mon now, you can't start your first day all sad. who knows, maybe you'll come back with a hoard of friends, even more than you had back home." Y/N only looked ahead at him, unconvinced. "bye, dad."

as she made her way towards the main archway to the school, she thought of all the things she was missing about home. not the new townhouse they had in the city, her real home, back in the reach. she thought of the swing behind her house, the smell from the bakery next door, the big oak tree she saw on the way to school every morning, the fountain in the park – when suddenly someone ran past her, fast enough to knock her down.

"ouch!" she cried out from the floor, rubbing her shoulder where she had been hit. "aegon!" a woman suddenly rushed to her side, glowering at the little boy who had pushed past her. "are you okay, honey? were you hurt?" the first thing Y/N noticed was how kind the woman looked with her big brown eyes, and so very pretty. "i'm okay." she reassured in a small voice, before turning to give this 'Aegon', the dirtiest look she could muster.

the boy had to be her age, pale blonde hair that looked like someone had tried to comb it but had not been given enough time to finish the job. he wore a matching school uniform to Y/N, navy blue blazer, white shirt and dark green pants. his shirt though was untucked and seemed to already have mud stains.

she thought he seemed mostly unbothered by his own actions, but stood there attempting to look sheepish nonetheless for his mother.

"apologise to this young lady." his mother demanded. "sorry..." he mumbled almost incomprehensibly. already upset and now physically hurt, Y/N wordlessly got up and hurried away, trying to stop hot tears from spilling out.

as she walked away she heard the boy's mother scold him, "that was not an apology, Aegon. go say sorry, properly this time." she heard a childish groan in response, "do I have to?".  his mother must have given him one hell of a look, Y/N thought because she heard her say nothing else but small footsteps came jogging up to her.

as the blonde boy walked next to her, she waited for him to say something while she kept walking ahead, but he seemed to just wordlessly fall in stride with her. After a minute he suddenly asked, “do you even know where you’re going?”

now that he mentioned it, she didn’t.

she suddenly stopped and looked around herself, confused. He stopped with her and studied her for a second. “I don’t know you.” He observed. “are you new?”. She decided to stay silent, hoping he would go away if she ignored him but she was wrong. When she didn’t respond, he continued, “you’re going in the wrong direction, new girl. That way –” he pointed to where she had been headed “—is the middle school building. Primary school is this way.” He started walking down a hallway, and Y/N took hurried steps to follow him.

He gave her a sideway glance, “what grade are you in anyway? Third?” he smugly asked, proudly looking down at her as a mature fifth-grader. “fifth.” She snapped at him. “oh”, he responded, surprised. “who’s class?” “Miss Reyne.” “no kidding!” he gave her a toothy grin. “so am I.”

Y/N didn’t like this Aegon, she decided. As he kept chatting away about how boring Miss Reyne was, she gave him no replies and generally walked as if she were alone and had no association with the silver haired boy beside her. As they settled into class, she was determined to avoid him for the rest of her day. Aegon though, was determined for quiet the opposite.

He took a seat next to hers, kept making comments, providing her a running, private commentary about each teacher and student. He wasn’t affected by Y/N’s lack of a response, or if he was, he didn’t let it show. Y/N had to admit though, he was funny. she couldn’t help but crack a smile when he told her about the time Jason Lannister got gum stuck in his hair, and had to suppress a giggle when Aegon impersonated Mr. Bolton falling asleep mid-way through teaching a class. At these small instances of Y/N’s guard breaking, he flashed her a bright smile, pleased with himself.

Y/N though, didn’t utter a word to him. Until Art class that was.

They had been asked to paint an animal, and when Y/N looked up from the goldfish she had been painting, she saw Aegon’s work. “a dragon isn’t a real animal.” She disproved. The boy merely shrugged, “that’s not an animal either, it’s a fish.”

“a fish is an animal.” She frowned at her work. “it’s just an animal under water.”

“oh well, let’s add some of its natural habitat then.” He smirked, grabbing the bowl of water they’d been sharing to clean their brushes. “NO! stop!” in an attempt to block him from pouring water on her work, the brush in her hand smeared some of the yellow paint on his face.

He froze in his action immediately, bringing up his fingers to feel the paint streak running down from his brow to across his nose. This time Y/N couldn’t suppress her laughter at the sight, his blinking expression making it all the more funnier. “well, if that’s how you want to do this!” he declared as he scooped some of the red paint on his two fingers before smearing it on her cheek.

Within five minutes, their respective art works had been abandoned and both sets of uniform utterly ruined. The two had to be separated by their teacher, then ordered to walk down to the washrooms and clean themselves right up.

The second she left the girls washroom though, Y/N found the silver haired boy waiting for her by the door, some green paint still visibly stuck in his pale locks. “race you to class?” he mischievously suggested. “Hmm” Y/N pretended to think about the challenge for a second, before saying “okay” and dashing towards their class.

With a self-satisfied smile at having beaten Aegon, she took her seat. Sulking at his defeat, Aegon slinked back in his chair, “you cheated, didn’t wait for the ‘go’…”

“win’s a win.” Y/N declared, grabbing golden glitter for her fish. 

He didn’t stay grumpy for long though, before she knew it he was back to his talkative self, this time with Y/N chiming in with her own comments. The hours flew by with Aegon by her side, and as the day came to an end Y/N realised she’d enjoyed herself after all.

As they walked towards the school gate to leave, Aegon suddenly changed the topic. “you like video games?” “yeah…?” she hesitantly replied. “great, you’re coming over tomorrow to play some.” He beamed. At the end of the sentence Y/N observed he hadn’t actually asked her a question. “okay.” She found herself agreeing.

“cool, see you tomorrow.” Aegon had started running in the direction of one of the cars, when he suddenly stopped and turned around. “never asked your name.” he sheepishly realised.

 “Y/N!” she distractedly answered as she sped up, having found her mom’s car in the parking lot.

“Y/N…” Aegon muttered to himself as he walked away, liking the way the name rolled of his tongue.

Age 15

“You’re late.” Y/N didn’t even bother to look up when she heard the window to her bedroom open, but did glance at the subsequent sound of someone falling face first onto her carpet. “have you been drinking? Its 2pm.”

Down on the ground laid her best friend of five years, with his messy platinum hair and stick-thin lanky limbs, carrying in the distinct smell of smoke when he entered her room. Though they were the same age, aegon looked more boyish still even as he had started to race towards every vice of the adult world he could get his hands on.

Aegon merely rubbed his now injured nose, as he lifted his head off the ground. “No I haven’t been drinking… still drunk from last night. Big difference.” Y/N sighed and shook her head in vexation before returning to her homework.  Aegon had recently taken up drinking and despite Y/N’s repeated rebukes, he seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much to stop. He continued to wave off her concern and she was starting to tire of voicing it.

“Let’s say I believed you… you wanna tell me what made you so late, then? I do have other things to do with my day than wait around to teach you biology, y’know.” Aegon grabbed a chair and dragged it to sit next to her at her desk. “I was actually busy being taught biology as it happens… albeit of a different kind.” His smug, self-satisfied grin as he pulled a cigarette from his front pocket  and placed it between his teeth, told Y/N all she needed to know. “Elinda Massey was the most enthusiastic of teachers.” Y/N couldn’t help but grit her teeth at the mention of Aegon’s latest distraction.

With a swift motion she grabbed the cigarette and threw it in the bin, ignoring his protests. “you know you’re not allowed to smoke in here, my parents would kill me if they smelled it.” Aegon snorted at the statement, “yeah but, that’s never stopped me before.” The casualness with which Aegon dismissed her, pinched Y/N. It was certainly true that Y/N usually found it hard to say no to Aegon, no matter how the consequences might harm her; but she didn’t like how he took the same for granted, as if it was a given.

“What’s got you all prissy today?”

“you. You wanna pass biology this year or not?” Y/N replied, visibly irritated. “yeah like there’s a chance in hell they’ll actually fail me. Grandfather would have the place shut within the week.” “then why do you even need a tutor? Go off with Elinda or whoever.” Y/N huffed, her eyes remaining trained so hard on her textbook that she was half certain she was going to burn holes into it, her hand clutching around the pencil in her hand.

“Elinda? That’s what you’re so annoyed about?” aegon snickered. Y/N turned to now glare directly into his blue eyes, a blush creeping up her cheeks and her nostrils flaring. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to push aegon right out the window he came from so she could be alone instead of having to deal with this. “No, I just think you’re wasting your time here right now, when you could be doing…. Biology with Elinda instead.” Aegon brow furrowed at her reaction, but instead of another retort his hand reached out to gently grab her arm. “hey…” his features softened from their usual impish nature to highlight his concern “…what’s actually up with you?” in the face of such kindliness from him, she couldn’t muster any more scathing replies.

He’d seen right through her, like only he could. For weeks now she’d been stressed, but found the topic too awkward to discuss with Aegon. But she knew she’d have to open up to him sooner or later about her problem. Keeping secrets from Aegon was simply not something she did. Or even possibly could if she tried, she thought.

“promise you won’t laugh.” She first demanded in a nervous tone. Raising his three fingers, her best friend solemnly confirmed, “scouts honour.” She swallowed, her eyes looking beyond Aegon’s shoulder rather than at him as she slowly admitted. “I’ve not had my first kiss.”

Aegon merely blinked back at her, “what, is there supposed to be more to that or…?” “I’ve not had my first kiss.” She repeated as if those words were supposed to be self-explanatory. “yeah and I’ve never been to the Summer Isles, what’re you on about?” Y/N couldn’t help a groan as she momentarily hid her face behind her hands, thinking the more she would explain herself the more embarrassed she would get.

“It’s just, I’m 15, and I should have had it by now, I’ve never even been on a date.. and… and… and you’ve got Elinda and Maria before that, and Jeyne and, and…. I just can’t believe you’ve gone to third base before I’ve even had my first kiss!” her words came out rushed in the end, out of frustration and a need to just get the shameful confession over with.

She had expected Aegon to laugh it off, or worse, agree that her situation was absolutely the height of shame. Instead, he looked confused that such a thing was bothering her in the first place “what, that’s it? why didn’t you just say so before?”

nonchalantly, aegon put an arm behind Y/N’s chair. Eyes closed, he suddenly leaned in towards her, lips puckered, causing her eyes to go wide. “what the –” as a reflex response she pushed back at his shoulders, making him fall of the chair.

“the fuck was that for!” he shouted from the floor, his ego and back bruised.  “why did you try to kiss me?” Y/N was shocked, horrified even, at the prospect. Aegon was her best friend, she couldn’t even imagine looking at him in that light. it was Aegon, he was simply too familiar for her.

Aegon raised his hands out as if the answer was obvious. “you said it yourself you wanted to have your first kiss!”. Y/N’s nose scrunched up, “not with you!”.

“well how was I supposed to get that! Fuck me, I’ll never understand you women”

“‘you women?’” at that, Y/N couldn’t help but laugh. This scene before her, this response by her best friend was too ridiculous. Yet, she noted as she offered a hand to help him back up which he grumblingly took, this was very much in character for Aegon. She knew he always wanted to help her, he might not have always understood how to go about it, but his heart was in the right place.

“I don’t need you to fix it, aegon.” She affably told him, a faint grateful smile on her face for her friend’s valiant effort nonetheless. “yeah, no-shit, because there’s nothing to fix. You’re not broken, Y/N.” Y/N didn’t know that she needed to hear those words until Aegon said it and it felt as if a burden was lifted off her shoulders.

“Don’t get me wrong. Doing all this, the kissing and the more-than-kissing, it’s fun. Honestly it’s so, so much fun, like I can’t even—” “you wanna get to your point?” “–so it’s great and all but, not doing it doesn’t mean you’re any less for it. You’re still Y/N, you’ll always still be Y/N to me.”

The anxiety she had been feeling, the fear of being left behind and the worry about other’s judgement, even her own – it all started to look so small and insignificant when Aegon told her she was still the same to him. This was her only constant in life, this bond between her and Aegon, the one person she couldn’t hide who she was from. In that moment, she felt glad to have him by her side.

“Besides if you were ever truly that desperate, you could always just try Jace. he’s had a thing for you like forever” Aegon revealed, rolling his eyes in apparent annoyance of the fact. Y/N though, couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Jace… has a thing for me?” The thought of it seemed to please her, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as a red blush started to creep onto her cheeks once more.

Aegon looked disgusted at her response, and grimaced, “yeah okay, no need to flatter yourself too much …. It’s Jace.” He stuck his tongue out at the distaste of the thought of his best friend with his nephew. Y/N didn’t pay him any attention, having taken to doodling hearts in the margins of her notebook while engrossed in thought. Aegon immediately regretted having said anything, snatching the notebook from under her hand, “alright are we going to do some biology or what?”

Age 17

Y/N had been fast asleep when the familiar sound of pebbles against her window awoke her. she looked at the time on the watch as it read 2:17 am, quickly rising from her bed. there was only one person who had to be out there, and she knew why too. her heart sank, knowing already that aegon must have had another fight with his father. she opened the window and as expected, aegon targaryen precariously balanced his steps on the tree branch just outside.

"aegon, what are you doing? It's late," she whispered-shouted, trying not to wake her parents but already held out a hand to help him in. "Needed to see you," he slurred, his breath reeking of alcohol. She wanted to chide him for endangering himself by climbing up so high when he’d drunk so much, but looking at his condition she decided to stay quiet. He climbed into her room, stumbling slightly as he landed. Y/N caught his arm, steadying him. "You've been drinking again," she said, more as a statement than a question.

aegon’s normally sparkling blue eyes were unfocused, his silver hair dishevelled. He'd grown taller of late, she missed the days when she could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. she now had to look up at him, as she put one of his arms around her shoulder to guide him towards the bed as his own steps fumbled.

“He doesn’t get it, Y/N. None of them do. To him, nothing i've done or will do matters for shit. i'm just not the son he wanted. he regrets me, i can see it in his eyes, I—”  a sob escaped his throat, cutting him off mid-sentence.

She gently sat him down on the edge of her bed, his weight pressing down on the soft mattress.  As she looked into his sad, bloodshot eyes, she harboured such hatred for Viserys as she thought impossible for anyone else to hold. she kneeled down in front of him, her heart breaking to see him so.

"I know, i know. But you can’t keep doing this, aegon. If you keep drinking like this, you could seriously hurt yourself one of these days." and she didn't think she could survive that.

she reached out to hold his hands in her own. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm here for you. Always." if aegon heard her, he gave no indication, instead staring at their intertwined hands.

"can I crash here tonight?" he suddenly asked, looking more innocent than she'd ever seen him as he lifted his eyes to look up at her. Gone was the bravado and arrogance that was usual of him, even expected. In that moment he looked more lost than ever, and was looking to her as if she was his only hope for shelter.

she knew her parents wouldn't be thrilled about this impromptu sleepover, but then again she'd never had the ability to deny him anything. "of course," she tenderly smiled.

he kicked off his shoes and moved back up the bed, still holding onto her hand, pulling her with him. he lied down on her pillow, refusing to let go of her hand as he closed his eyes to fall asleep. he looked so peaceful, Y/N couldn’t help but reach out her free hand to run it through his hair in admiration. She wasn’t blind, she knew how handsome he looked, causing the girls to flock to him like moths to a flame. But his looks were just an objective fact to her, she never found herself attracted to him in the same way as the girl at school. But somehow in the pale moonlight, he looked more beautiful than she’d ever seen him, and it caused her chest to swell overwhelmingly.

she looked down to notice he'd opened his eyes again. "Don't leave," he mumbled, his voice thick with exhaustion.

"I won't" she promised, pulling the blanket over them both. he nodded in satisfaction of her reply, nestling against the crook of her neck, his breathing evening out as he drifted into a fitful sleep.

Sleep evaded Y/N though, on the one hand she was wracked with worry over Aegon and his drinking habits, on the other.... she could feel his breath tickling her neck, as his one hand held her own while his other wrapped around her waist, his feet entangled with hers. his body pressed to her own under the covers, making the cramped space on her single bed too hot. Aegon had never been this physically close to her, this vulnerable. she thought how his safe space, the place he ran to when he wanted an escape was her, same as he was for her. it had always been this way, yet, in the darkness of the night she sensed something had shifted between them. she couldn't name it yet, though.

The next morning, when the first light of dawn seeped through the curtains, aegon stirred. He blinked, confusion clouding his eyes at his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the familiar face inches from his own "Y/N?" Y/N merely hummed in response, only now starting to stir awake. "what... how did i get here?" he asked looking around the room, startled. He lifted his head as he realised he was all but laid out on top of her, before moving away to lay on his back. He looked down to find his hand had cramped from holding onto hers all night, immediately releasing it. Y/N rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she responded, "what d'you mean?"

"i mean what am i doing in your bed at the crack of dawn." aegon looked earnestly confused, Y/N realised, which worried her.  "You came here last night," she slowly replied, watching his face carefully. "You were drunk. Do you remember?"

aegon frowned, rubbing his temples. "No... I don't." he suddenly looked at Y/N, "Did I do something... did we...?" he motioned to the space between them, his brow raised. Y/N sat up from her bed in alarm, "oh, no, nothing. of course not." she reassured him. she tried not to look too wounded at his relieved expression "good, good." he nodded, staring up at the ceiling.

"you had a fight with your dad and wanted to crash here. do you not remember coming up here last night?" "I don't remember anything really. last thing I do remember is opening one of the bottles from the wine cellar and then" he shrugged. Y/N frowned at his response, "Aegon, have you started blacking out?” her stomach tied itself in knots, feeling anxiety over this new development. But she felt as if she was the only one who understood the gravity of the situation.

she searched for any fear in aegon’s eyes, but only found apathy and disinterest. he seemed unconcerned, merely rolling onto his side and closing his eyes, lazily stretching himself out to get comfortable to fall back asleep.

“do you understand what that means? it means this is getting dangerous. This is no longer all for a good time, Egg.” She attempted again, this time raising her voice to catch his attention. It seemed to fall on deaf ears.

"wake me up for lunch, yeah?" he yawned, drifting back to slumber within minutes.

A wave of anger washed over her, she wanted to knock him off her bed or  hit him with a pillow in frustration over his own self-destructive ways. Did he not understand the ending he was currently headed towards? Did he not care how this going to affect him, affect her? She was tired of being the only safety harness keeping him held back when all he seemed to want to do was jump into the abyss.

“fucking… suit yourself.” She stormed off the bed to head out of her room, shutting the door behind her loudly.

[bonefall]

Big question cause I’m so mad about how they were used: any ideas on changing Berryheart and Curlfeather from this book?

I have ONE controversial opinion and you must allow me this;

Curlfeather not apologizing to Frostdawn kinda rocks as an idea.

Obviously it reads as insulting because of how they gave Berryheart a Tom the Wifebeater ass Redemption Death in this book, and the general way that they've not approached her with the nuance she deserves is frustrating. I agree.

But hold my hand and walk with me. Imagine Curlfeather, mauled and bloody before the daughter she died saving. Frostpaw's gone through so much fixing the damage she caused, furious at the state her mother's in, the mess she made of RiverClan, all the suffering everyone's gone through... and Curlfeather says,

"I don't regret anything."

"Really? REALLY? I go through all of that, I come ALL this way, and you won't even give me a rotten little sorry?"

She doesn't give her mother a chance to respond, lashing her tail towards the grimmace that hangs off the side of her shredded cheek, "You're not sorry for how you lead to yourself looking like THAT?"

Frostpaw shoves her scarred throat foward, "You're not sorry for THIS?"

She claws dig into the sodden black earth of the Dark Forest, "You're not sorry you're HERE?"

Curlfeather is quiet, her remaining eye stoic like a stone. Frostpaw begs furiously, "NOTHING?"

"I will vow on our blood that I will not lie to you anymore," the demon's tone is soft and honest, "and I hope that means more than the insincere apology I could offer you otherwise."

Just when it feels like Frostpaw has so much anger that her body can't handle it, pain stuffs itself inside her in equal measure. Her stomach is sick with love, throat choked with affection. It takes her a minute to form the word,

"Why?"

"When my father, Reedwhisker, was taken by the Kin, I saw how they broke him. His uncle, Stonefur, did not buckle under Tigerstar. My grandmother Mistyfoot quietly rescued the Clan from his accomplice, Leopardstar, while Mistystar willingly worked alongside a vicious impostor."

Now that Frostpaw is the one who's waiting quietly, Curlfeather's voice flutters hopefully, "I was willing to do anything to restore my Clan to greatness," the specter pads foward, touching her nose to her daughter's trembling forehead, "except sacrifice you."

She didn't expect to feel the harsh sting of her daughter's paw smacking her across the nose. She reels back.

"You don't get it! It's not about YOU! It's about everyone you hurt! Dont try to pretend it was all worth it, you didn't make anything great, you just broke it!"

"I had to break it so it could be set back stronger. I gave you the chance for the power, and now you are making it better than it was."

"That was in spite of you! You told me to trust no cat and I had to unlearn that!"

"I saved you when I could have escaped with my life."

"From a situation you caused in the first place!"

"It was a warrior's death!"

There is a silence that settles over them. Curlfeather is snarling in offense. Frostpaw looks, again, at her mother's fatal wounds, the defensive stance. She's reminded of how the cats of other cultures don't always see scars as rewards for a fight survived-- just reminders of pain you've gone through.

"...it was a warrior's death," she agrees, gently, watching tattered hackles smoothen out, "...and now you're dead, while I'm still alive."

The emotion in Curlfeather's face is solemn, but otherwise incomprehensible to her daughter. The expression on Frostpaw's is equally unreadable to her mother. This is the only thing they will ever understand about each other-- that there is an irreconcilable difference between them, steeper than the divide between sky and earth.

The last words the demon speaks to her daughter are, "I love you."

It's only years later that Frostdawn can say, "I love you too."

[firstprinceofhearts]

Do I keep revisiting the same scenes? Yes.

Am I sorry? Not in the slightest.

Is it because I'm starting to run out of footage? Maybe a little bit.

Am I going to carry on regardless? Abso-fucking-lutely

Am I asking too many rhetorical questions? No comment.

Anyway, Henry's hand on Alex's back when they first start going at it in the red room...

Yes, he goes for his hair too, because of fucking course, but the way he grabs at his back too is just... *incomprehensible noises*.

In fact, I genuinely feel sorry for him that there's so many layers of fabric in his way when he looks like he wants nothing more than to leave scratch marks right down Alex's spine.

It must be intensely frustrating for them both that they're so often dressed in shirts and jackets!

[dragon-kazansky]

When the raven calls

Morpheus x Female Reader

You, his raven, die protecting Jessamy while rescuing the Dream Lord. When Morpheus returns to his realm, he mourns your loss, only to find a stranger waiting for him in his throne room. The stranger claims to be you, now in human form. He doesn't understand, but his raven will always watch over him.

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Notes: This chapter is very episode heavy in some places.

Chapter Ten - Trust fall

☆☆☆

You hear Lucienne and Morpheus talking as you pass the throne room. You poke your head in and find Dream sitting on the steps with his coat sprawled out behind him. In his hand was a book. Lucienne was talking to him as he went through it.

You enter quietly and make your way over to them. Morpheus lifts his head when you enter, and he looks pleased. Not only are you still in human form, but you've returned to his side again.

This pleases him greatly.

"Is something wrong?" You ask.

"Jed Walker is missing." Lucienne tells you.

"Jed Walker?"

Morpheus realises there is a lot he hasn't told you about. He brings you up to speed on Rose Walker and her mission to find her brother. How Jed Walker can't even be found in the Dreaming, as if something or someone was keeping him out.

"Jed Walker is still in the realm of the living, but I cannot find him." Morpheus says. "All humans are connected to the Dreaming. They spend a third of their life here. Breaking that connection would require knowledge. And power."

"Then it may interest you to know that the last nightmare Jed Walker had before he disappeared was of Gault," Lucienne states.

You look up at the window where she is still depicted. "Interesting."

"You think she severed him from the Dreaming?" Morpheus asks her.

"I do."

"Why?"

"Because he's not just any child, is he? He's Rose Walker's brother. She is the vortex."

You had begun to connect all the dots now.

"Excuse me."

You all turn to see a young woman enter from here you had just come from. You find yourself moving to stand beside Morpheus as she walks closer.

"I'm Rose Walker. What do you know about my brother?" She asks.

Morpheus stands up and faces her. "You are welcome here, Rose Walker."

"Who are you?"

"You have somehow dreamed your way into an audience with Lord Morpheus." Lucienne explains. "The King of Dreams. And you must go."

"Lucienne." Morpheus speaks her name.

"She shouldn't be here."

You look at Rose. She could only be 20 something tops. She looks confused but also interested in what's happening. She doesn't really look at you as she listens to Morpheus and Lucienne talk.

"No, but I should like her to stay."

"What is this place?" She asks.

"You're in the Dreaming, the place where people come when they sleep."

"So, I'm asleep right now? I'm dreaming?"

"Yes, and I should like to know how it is you found me." Morpheus says.

"I heard you talking about my brother. Is he here?"

"No." Morpheus steps down from the stairs and walls over to Rose. He comes to stand beside her.

"Do you know where he is?" She asks.

"No. But I think he might be with one of my missing Nightmares." He tells her as they look up at the window.

"She's a nightmare? What would she want with Jed?"

"I don't know. But I have a feeling it has something to do with you." Morpheus looks at her curiously.

"Me? Why? What did I do?"

"It is not what you did. It is what you are." He tells her.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand any of this."

"No. Dream vortexes are largely incomprehensible."

"What's a dream vortex?"

"You are."

You roll your eyes. That doesn't really explain anything to her. Morpheus was hopeless sometimes.

"Once every few thousand years, a mortal is born with a Dreaming ability so powerful, she can travel through the dreams of others." You explain, coming over to join the two.

Morpheus looks at you.

"Apperantly, all the way to my throne room." He says, returning his gaze back to Rose.

"I was just looking for my brother." She speaks softly.

"If you can find me in The Dreaming, you can find your brother." Morpheus tells her. "No matter where Gaukt has hidden him."

"How? How do I do that?"

"For now, keep looking for your brother in the waking world. Matthew will watch over you there."

"I could do it," you say.

"No." Morpheus looks at you instantly.

Rose looks between the pair of you and then at Matthew. She feels the tension building.

"At your service, Rose." Matthew bows his head at her.

"When he is with you, I am with you." Morpheus tells Rose. "Then tonight, when you sleep, you and I will go in search for Gault and your brother together. In your dreams."

"She's just a nightmare, right? She can't hurt him, can she?"

You look down at the ground. Morpheus can see you in the corner of his eye.

Rose Walker wakes. She disappears from the Dreaming.

Lucienne takes her leave for now, as does Matthew. Morpheus looks at you. You avoid his eyes as you slowly try to walk away.

"Wait."

You stop and wait.

"Look at me."

You lift your head and meet his eyes reluctantly. He stares at you silently for a few moments before he speaks. "Is something wrong?"

"No."

"No?'

You sigh. "Do you not trust me?" You ask.

"Of course I do. Why would I not?"

"You were so quick to send Matthew to help Rose."

"Yes?" He regards you curiously. He really doesn't see what the issue is.

"I'm right here. I can do things, too. I still have my raven form, remember?"

"I do."

"So, send me. Let me be your raven again," you plead.

He says your name softly. "It is not that I do not trust you. I just..."

"What?" You urge.

"I don't want you to leave my side."

You frown. "That's not a good enough reason."

Morpheus falls quiet again.

"I'm going for a walk... or better yet, I fly around the palace..." As you take a step, you turn into a raven and fly out of there.

Morpheus watches you go.

☆☆☆

Lucienne walks through the library and spots Morpheus going through the books. She approaches him quickly.

"My lord, may I help?"

"Is this everything we have on Rose Walker?" He asks her.

"And Jed Walker. But I shouldn't think there's anything in those you don't already know. Except perhaps-"

"Exceot perhaps why she was able to wander into my throne room." He finishes for her. "What do you think? Why did Gault target her brother and not her?"

"Did you read about Unity Kinkaid?" Lucidnne asks. "The day you were imprisoned, there were people all over the world who fell asleep and could not wake up. Unity Kinkaid is the sole survivor of what they called the Sleepy Sickness. The day you reutneed, she woke up. Rose Walker is her great-granddaughter."

"Which would seem to suggest that my absence caused the birth of a vortex." Morpheus says.

"Is that not a possibility?"

"Vortxes are naturally occurring phenomena. No one knows why they happen. Not even I know. But I do know they are not caused or created. They simply happen." He explains.

"Then this is all a coincidence? And not am imminent threat?"

"My instinct says no, but tonight when Rose Walker sleeps, I shall see it more clearly. May I?" He takes the book with him as he leaves.

You watch from the book shelf you had been sitting on. Lucienne looks up and stares at you. You say nothing and fly out.

☆☆☆

"You do know I can sense you as a raven? We are connected, after all."

You sigh and land on the table in front of him. He looks at you silently.

"I wanted to know more about Rose." You say.

"You could have just asked."

"I didn't think you would tell me," you sigh.

"Now who doesn't trust who?"

You ruffle your feathers and sigh. It's easier to talk to him as a raven. This way, he can't see you get flustered when he looks at you.

"I'm not trying to fall out with you. Maybe I'm jealous that Matthew gets to be the top raven these days. That used to be my job."

Morpheus is surprised to hear you say that.

"Matthew is new to the job. He needs all the experience he can get."

"Your excuses are becoming boring."

Morpheus feels bad. He is making up excuses. He simply doesn't want you to leave his side at the moment, now while you have him feeling the way he is.

"Come with me tonight."

You look up at him. "Huh?"

"Come with me to see Rose."

"You mean it?" You ask, excitedly.

"Yes."

Your head perks up as you look up at him. He can sense your happiness. He smiles softly.

"However, I have one condition."

"Okay..."

"You can only accompany me in your human form."

"Why?" You cock your head to the side.

"Because I want you to."

You know that's the best you're going to get out of him. You sigh. "Fine."

"I'll call for you when Rose enters the Dreaming again."

"Okay." You fly off.

Morpheus watches you go, wishing you would stay.

☆☆☆

When Rose falls asleep, Morpheus knows. He calls for you as soon as he feels her presence in the Dreaming. You fly to him quickly.

"My condition." He says.

You sigh and flap your wings, turning into your human form. You look up at him and sigh again. "Better?"

"Yes."

Morpheus takes your hand gently and then guides you through the Dreaming.

Currently, Rose is walking through the dreams of her friends.

You both find her through the dream of Chantel, her friend. You follow his gaze as he turns to look at Rose. He says nothing as he grasps your hand and pulls you through the door.

Rose ends up outside on a street where she sees Barbie in an expensive car and Ken, naked, trying to talk to her. Looks like he was having a bad dream.

You stand on the other side of the street with Morpheus, watching Rose. She turns and sees you both.

"Why is this happening? I thought we were looking for Jed." She says.

"We are." Morpheus replies.

"Then why am I in my friends' dreams?"

"Because yo uare drawing the dreams of others to you." He tells her. "Just be careful not to lose yourself in them. Take a moment. Find your path."

Rose's gaze shifts over his shoulder. You both turn to see a poster on a gate. It's one of her missing posters for Jed. Rose walks over to it and pushes it open, going through.

Now you're standing out in the open, watching Princess Barbara on her quest to save the land.

"So, what is a dream vortex? What is it for? What does it do?"

I confess, there are some questions to whichever I do not have an answer." Morpheus admits. "But I can tell you that a vortex has the power to dream entire worlds or destroy them."

Rose walks off in the same direction Barbie headed. Morpheus and you follow her.

A graveyard. A young girl skipping past the graves as she sings to herself.

"Is that...?"

"Zelda. When she was your brother's age."

Rose follows the young Zelda through the cemetery as she talks to herself.

"Is she lost?"

"She's at home here," Morpheus explains. "That is what most people seek when they dream."

"Home?"

"Do you know where that is for Jed?"

Zelda enters one of he crypts close by. Rose follows her. On the door is another poster. Rose takes it and goes through the door. Morpheus and you follow her.

You're standing on a street. Quiet. Homely looking. Other than the three of you, there doesn't seem to be anyone around.

"You know this place?"

"That was our house growing up. Look." She shows you the photo on the poster. You smile at her as you take the poster from her hand and take a closer look.

"You've done it." Morpheus smiles. "You've found your brother's dream. Now we find Gault."

You look around. It's so quiet here.

It doesn't stay quiet for long. You watch in interest and confusion as sand swirls around and a young boy, dressed like a superhero from a comic, appears. There's what appears to be a ruby on his costume too.

The sand. The ruby. You chuckles softly.

"Halt, King of Nightmares, or I'll send you both to Dreamland."

"Jed?" Rose asks.

"I am the Guardian of Sleepers. I am Lord of the Dream Domain. I am the Sandman."

You giggle softly.

Morpheus smiles. "You are the Sandman? Is that what she told you?"

Jed gets defensive.

"Where is she? Your master."

"Stay back."

"Jed, we're not here to hurt you." Rose tells him.

A woman comes up behind Jed and places her hand on his shoulder. You look at her curiously. The woman looks just like their mother.

Gault.

"It's me you want. Not him."

"Oh my God. Mom?"

"That is not your mother, Rose." Morpheus tells her, stopping her from getting close.

"Rose?" Jed removes his mask.

You watch the siblings hug.

"I've been looking for you everywhere." Rose tells him.

"Mom, it's Rose. She's all grown up."

"I'm sorry, Jed." Morpheus removes Gault's disguise.

"What did you do to her?" Jed yells.

Rose makes Jed look at her as she talks to him. Rose explains to him what is happening and then asks where he is.

"I'm right here."

"No, Jeddy, this is a dream. When you wake up, where will you be?" She asks.

"Uncle Barnaby said he's gonna break every bone in my body." Jed says, getting upset.

You frown. What are they doing to this poor boy in the waking world?

"Who's Barnaby?"

"Aunt Clarice won't be able to stop him."

"Where are they, Jed? Where are Aunt Clarice and Uncle Barnaby?"

"They're home. They're in Homeland." Jed says.

"Where is that? Where is Home Land?"

"Come, Gault. We must go." Morpheus says.

Gault crouches near Jed and looks at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Sandman."

"It's time to wake up, Jed." Morpheus states.

"Wait!" You try and stop him.

"Goodbye, Rose Walker."

Rose tries to get more answers from Jed, but Morpheus ends the dream.

You're now standing in the throne room. Morpheus is there. Lucienne, too. Gault stands there looking at Morpheus with disdain. You sit on the steps slowly.

"Do you have any idea what his life is like in the waking world?" Gault asks.

"Humans cannot live in dreams. As long as he stayed there, the child had no life nor the chance for one."

"The boy is being abused. He's suffering." Gault tells him.

"You abused that suffering to build a Dreaming you could rule."

"I had no wish to rule. I merely wished to be a Dream and not a Nightmare." Gault says to him. "To inspire rather than to frighten."

Your gaze softens as you look at her.

"The choice is not yours to make. We do not choose to be created. Nor do we choose how we are made."

You gaze down quietly. Dream has always been so particular about things, but do you not prove change is possible? You are different now from how he made you, and yet he leaves you be.

It doesn't seem fair.

"That is true." Gault agrees with him. "But we can change." Her gaze looks at you. It's like she read your mind.

"No." Morpheus says. "We are, each of us, born with responsibilities. Even I am not free to choose to be other than I am. Nor is anyone."

"Is that were true, why did all the other Dreams and Nightmares choose to leave this place when you had gone away?"

"Not all of us chose to leave and nearly all have returned." Lucienne chimed in.

"Do you think they came back out of love?" Gaulat asked her. "Or because they were afraid of what you wouldndo to them if they did not?" She addresses Morpheus. "Because I'm not afraid."

You hear Morpheus move behind you. The room grows tense.

"You should be."

You look up at him over your shoulder, but he does not move his gaze from Gault.

"A Nightmares purpose is to reveal a dreamer's fears that they may face them."

His shadow descends the stairs past you and toward Gault. You know what he's going to do.

You can't take it any more. You get up and you leave the room.

Morpheus sees you go. Lucienne watches you. Gault does not move her gaze from Dream.

It's only when you're halfway down the hall that you realise you're crying. You reach up and touch your cheek. Your fingers come away wet.

"Oh..."

Now you really do feel human.

You head to your room to be alone.

Lucienne comes by to check on you. She feels for you when she hears you crying softly. She hugs you gently, holding you to her. She's never known you to be so emotional before.

"How can he do that?" You ask.

"I don't know..."

"It's not fair. He's not fair."

Lucienne says nothing as she holds you. You cling to her for comfort. You've never felt more human than you do now.

☆☆☆

@missdreamofendless - @kpopgirlbtssvt - @sitkafay - @snowsatsu - @ladyofdreaming - @thoughtsfromlayla - @modest-irish-goddess - @mystic-mara -

[vigilskeep]

Saw your post about the fic trope wherein Varric handles all of Hawke's finances and tbh it feels like people maybe aren't fully processing the fact that DA Dwarves are Jewish-coded and are leaning heavily on stereotypes instead of dismantling them. Not to say the writers are always 100% on top of their own biases or anything but like... maybe if you're writing a culture like this you should look at why you think a guy in that culture is good at / interested in something he is textually NOT and if the answer is "because he's ___ so he must be" you should stop what you're doing and ask if you're pushing a harmful stereotype. Sorry if this is incomprehensible, I'm very sleepy.

don’t have much to add to this but nodding

[bogkeep]

[now entering: the OPINION ZONE]

the way i feel about Booktok(tm), as a phenomenon, or maybe more as a weird miasma that is seeping through every bookstore i enter, is that we don't see eye to eye. i'm sure it's got a lot more variation and diversity than whatever weird takes bubble up to the surface for my tiktok-less self to stumble upon - mostly i just feel like my motivation for reading books is different than theirs. there is the occasional overlap in the Books I Enjoy / Big On Booktok venn diagram (which makes me feel very weird about those books but that's for me to sort out), but i cannot personally Trust a booktok recommendation, if that makes sense. either way, it's none of my business what other people like to read, and i think me and booktok can peacefully coexist in each our own spheres. (if all of this is completely incomprehensible to you i salute you and envy your peace of mind.)

anyway, a very fascinating discussion that keeps showing up recently is the phenomenon where popular booktok influencers admit to skipping paragraphs that are too long, or only reading the dialogue of a book, or performing shock at a printed book containing Too Many Words Per Page. what fascinates me is not so much that it is happening (though it DOES fascinate me), but how much people reacting to this struggle to explain exactly Why it's so aggravating.

like, i feel like the obvious takeaway is that these people are monetizing their alleged joy of reading, and then... don't? even like to read? that the consumerist aesthetic of Being A Reader is more profitable on a video platform than doing the due diligence of reviewing books properly? that the content machine marches on and if you're too slow you'll fall behind??

INSTEAD the discussion seems to center around the good old "oohh nooo people read BAD BOOKS instead of GOOD BOOKS and IT'S IMPORTANT TO CHALLENGE YOUR BRAINNN or else the MEDIA LITERACY....." and i'm sorry but i think this has been a moral panic for as long as we've had literature. media literacy has never had a golden age that i'm aware of. there's always been trashy romances that authors pump out on the monthly for easy consumption. capitalism is gonna value profit over quality for as long as it's in charge. people who read for fun are gonna read what they're gonna read, and they're gonna read it in the way they enjoy reading. i agree that reading Good Books is deeply fulfilling! but that is my personal and subjective experience that not everyone is going to share.

i think the reason i feel weird about the insistence that you Must, at least occasionally, Challenge Yourself while reading is that... i'm exhausted in my brain. too exhausted to challenge myself for fun. maybe it's a burnout thing. i really really get looking at a paragraph and finding it simply too much to absorb right now. my main method of getting through books these days is in audio format, even if i would personally prefer to read them visually (they'd stick to my brain better, i would see how names are spelled, sudden POV switches between paragraphs would be less confusing). but reading a book in text form is taking me weeks at best - unless it's a special kind of book that i can't help but devour immediately, sleep schedule be damned (which is another toll to pay). some books are just too complex and need too much focus for me to enjoy right now, so i keep having to goldilock my way to what feels Just Right. some books, i'm sure i'll get back to later. some i've made my peace with never picking up despite the fact that they feel Obligatory (my apologies to lord of the rings. i've Tried and i just can't do it). so like i GET IT. sometimes reading is too much.

what i Wish the discussion was more about, was instead finding ways to read that's enjoyable for you. there is literature and screen plays that are Only Dialogue. there's graphic novels. there's audiobooks and e-readers that let you change the font sizes. there's lots and lots and lots of fanfiction that's literally just banter and smut. there's no shame in reading what you enjoy! there's no shame in spending months on the same book! but i suppose it's not as ~Aesthetic~ as purchasing 10 editions of the same book series on amazon dot hell!!!!

[morebird]

Hello there 💜 as someone who’s trying to figure out cel shade and wrap her head around the use of airbrush and hard light, and…your style??! my eyes?! It’s so PRETTY!! The way you shade just draws the viewer in instantly! And points for the art of Astorian ✨

could I possibly ask how you go about your shade/lighting process? If that’s a question with a lot of undertaking then please don’t feel obligated to answer! Just know that your art is beautiful!

Thank you! 💛 I honestly don't really think my art style is anything special like you said it's just cel shading, but still thank you it's nice to hear that my art looks good to other people.

Anyways there's has been a lot of people who asked about the "process" I am going to give you a very simplified version because otherwise I'll start rambling and it's going to be too long I mean look how much I've written already.

First of all I work with PS, but you can replicate this anywhere.

So first I have a base color layer, the line art and the base color are separated.

I select the entire base color layer with a quick selection tool, and in a new layer that will be above the base color but below the line art with a paint bucket tool I fill it with my desired color, the layer blending mode must be set to hard light. This is the shadow layer.

Now in another new layer above the shadow layer, I use the polygonal lasso tool to select everything that will be in the light layer, once I am done with that I will fill it with whatever color I want. Btw you can use a brush for this I just use the polygonal lasso because I just like it that way.

In another new layer with the layer blending mode set to Linear Dodge (Add), I select with the quick selection tool everything from the light layer, I hide the light layer and in the new linear dodge layer I create a gradient with the selection. I usually use a radial gradient since I think it gives a more natural look but you can use whatever fits your art. If you don't know how to use a gradient, you just drag it from the direction of the light source. And you should have something that looks like this:

This is a very simplified explanation I add a lot of more gradients and lots of layers so this is just the base.

I'm sorry if this is incomprehensible, I also struggle with written instructions so if something isn't clear just ask me again I'll try explain it in detail and add more screenshots 💜

[profoundbondfanfic]

Hi there, not sure if this is allowed, but I'm looking for a fic that's basically about how Castiel rebuilt Dean when saving him from hell.

It had very poetic descriptive language and it details how Cas used natural elements to rebuild Dean. Iirc, he used seashells for his fingernails or a conch for his ears, etc.

Sorry if this is not allowed, would also love more general recs about Dean being saved from hell, thank you!

Hey! Sadly we couldn't find that exact fic but here are a few that feature Dean being saved from hell.

4:08 to Tombstone by zuzeca (Explicit, 20k words)

When minor outlaw Dean Winchester's beloved brother ended up on the wrong side of a robber baron with yellow eyes and a sadistic streak, Dean never expected to wind up in the Arizona Territory’s most notorious prison: The Pit. Nor did he expect, after years on the rack, to be sprung by former Federal Marshal and man of the cloth, Reverend Castiel Milton. Now, on the run from corrupt lawman Warden Alastair, the two men must learn to trust each other, or hang. When Castiel, lesser seraph of the Lord, descended into Hell to help rescue the Righteous Man, he never expected to be unwillingly cast in Dean Winchester’s repressed bisexual cowboy fantasy.

Celestial Bodies by ImYourHoneyBee (Teen, 4k words)

Cas steps in close, one hand settling on Dean’s hip while he brushes his lips over a spot on the round of his shoulder, then slightly below, to the side, over his shoulder blade, the nape of his neck, up over to his other shoulder where he stops to draw a circle with his nose. Looking for a distraction and really not wanting to talk about Sam’s big fun magical vacation, Dean says, half joking, “You got a thing for my shoulders, Cas?” Those big blue eyes flicker up to meet his own in the mirror once again, and Cas’s face is a study in careful neutrality, but he knows him well enough to catch the glimmer of guilt in the tightness near his eyes. “Wait, seriously?” “I have a thing for all of you,” Cas mumbles stiffly, and hey, isn’t that sudden shyness an interesting development?

Grey by Valinde (Valyria) (Explicit, 65k words)

In a world where people don’t see in color until they find their true mate, the first thing Dean sees when he pulls himself out of his grave is the blue sky. When Castiel raised him from the Pit, he inadvertently claimed Dean as his mate.

Oxytocin by spirithorse (Mature, 29k words)

This was what Dean did, spouted off statements that made absolutely no sense except to his own mind. And then he would grin and wait for Castiel to respond. He had initially thought that this was a demonic tick developed over forty years in hell. But it hadn't disappeared with the rest of the demonic attributes. Dean continued to be incomprehensible. OR the 5 times Dean said he needed Cas and the 1 time Cas realized what that meant.

Teaching Poetry to Fish by aeli_kindara (Mature, 52k words)

In which Castiel teaches poetry to fish. Also, himself. Also, eventually, Dean. (A series-long story, diverging slightly from canon after S14.)

With This Stab I Thee Wed by TheSilverQueen (Teen, 8k words)

“Soul and mind and blood,” the creature says, which makes absolutely no sense to Dean at all. It raises its chin and looks straight at Dean, and its blue eyes are so unreasonably blue, bluer than the sky or the ocean, as piercing as a sunbeam. “You have touched my blood, and I yours. Now by the law of Heaven, we are wed.” Dean says, “What.” Or: How Dean accidentally married Castiel (and saved the world) when he stabbed him in the barn.

We also had our 4.01 celebration that should give you a decent sampling about Dean being saved.

[shkika]

do you think slugcats actually wawa? It is a fairly popular fanon sure but I have been wondering for the last few days. We know slugcats must have some decent hearing - some of the map markers are explicitly the slugcat using its hearing to differentiate between other living creatures in other rooms and so on (although the actual passages they apparently just commit to the memory). Probably not as good as black lizard hearing but pretty good. However this part of gameplay as proof of canon worldbuilding might be taken with a grain of salt

that may suggest that audial communication between slugcats may actually be pretty hard to hear for humans - similar to how we cannot hear most of audible signals of various rodents. The problem is, well, it is a gameplay concession for the most part and tbh the way gameplay is integrated with worldbuiding - the devs made an attempt but the realization is imho wonky at best and misleading at worst.

back to wawas, we can try to draw a comparison between domestic cats and slugcats wherein meow is something mostly relegated to 'babytalk' and a specific type of call which some cats, especially those who grew up with humans, adopt for cat to human communication (with cats who grew up without much human interaction sometimes never taking up a habit of meowing even if they end up living with humans later on and actively engaging with them positively). In this case a wawa is a specific signal that is either used for example in danger (owing to how we hear a wawa like sound in one of the danger alert osts) or during communication with the young.

this assumes we take danger osts as actually symbolically reflective of something.

Howerver! While just like the map it seems to be largely a gameplay concession, most of slugcat out of cutscene (aka the gourmand ending slides) communication is reliant on body language. Pointing, jumping, things like that. Even with the pups we mostly interact via those things. Which... either suggests a dimension of pup interaction we do not see because of the gameplay limitations or we should take it as wawa not being a slugcat 'babytalk'.

Which leaves wawas with a very dubious space as a potential 'can be fit into canon' or not.

Oh I'm SO sorry, but I don't think slugcats wawa at all,,

I just think Rivulet ONLY can scream.

Slightly longer ramble under cut!

I think lore and gameplay are mostly done pretty well! For example the cycle mechanic is something you can only really theorize on if you look at both gameplay and lore. You get to experience the pain of cycles all on your own!

As for wawas.. as you have mentioned, they mostly use body language and art. Picture from Gourmand campaign ↓

Spearmaster draws too, and uses sign language to communicate with Suns. And I hear you. "Spearmaster is domesticated, they don't count" and you're right!

BUT

The fact they can learn such complicated sign language would imply they have the capacity for it in their brain to learn and memorize a language so complicated in the first place. Unless that was modified as well.

But it is more intuitive for slugcats to understand gestures than speech, which is why they need the mark of communication as they otherwise just hear incomprehensible garble. Their brains weren't made for many complicated noises. Yet when they DO have the mark they are capable of understanding extremely complicated sentences and such.

The wawas in threat themes are just the track not actual noise your slugcat makes. A lot of tracks have quite the bizarre sounds in them.

I think slugcats draw, point and jump to communicate. They're rodents that sign!

My only self-indulgent funny headcanon is.. as forementioned, that Rivulet can scream. There is no proof or basis for this. It's just incredibly creepy and funny to me.

This is why that creature wanders alone. Cursed being.

[t3a-tan]

Jael Meets Cynbel

I feel as though the title is self-explanatory

Happens after this!

---

It was the fateful day where Cody would have to introduce his good friend to the little pixie. It hadn't been long since he'd met Cynbel and found out what pixies were, but now Jael was back from his week-long trip to help a nearby village with some repairs and bring them supplies.

Jael was a gruff person, always serious and always cautious. He'd been thrown into the war at a young age and experienced a *lot*, so it wasn't surprising… The angel had even fallen from grace in order to join Cody; they trusted one another a lot.

As the fallen angel entered the hut, Cody looked up from where he was sitting and smiled. "Welcome back, Jael..!"

"Thanks." The man hung up his thick coat and stretched, shaking out all the tense muscles. "You been okay here alone, Codes?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cody nodded, standing up and walking over to where Jael stood, pulling him into a hug. Just as Jael was about to hug back, he spotted a little face watching them from over beside the couch.

The angel's smile faded. He pushed away from Cody and stalked over to go find out who was spying on them. It hadn't been long since he and Cody had left Syris so he was still on edge… The intruder squeaked, attempting to fly away, only to have their leg caught between Jael's rough fingers.

"What are you—"

"That's Cynbel..!" Cody explained quickly, his expression one of worry and hands held out placatingly. He mouthed to Jael ‘let him go’.

Jael immediately released the leg, recognizing that this…pixie must be something that Cody knew about and not an intruder as he first thought. He had never seen a pixie up close before, but he knew that some angels would take them and keep them as pets.

Damn. They're tiny…

Cynbel flew over to Cody, hiding behind their shoulder for safety. Jael’s brows furrowed in confusion.

"Aren't pixies protective of their young?" Jael asked, meeting his friend's eyes instead so he could understand the situation better. "Are there more in here? What if it's a spy that's gathering information on us for Syris—"

His ramblings were cut off by the sound of bells, incomprehensible to the angel. Jael blinked. Cody hummed in acknowledgement.

"Jael's fine, Cynna. He’s just a bit...protective." He assured, offering the child a hand. Cynbel hesitantly fluttered over and held onto his thumb rather than his shirt. More bells rang, and Cody sighed. "He's not an angel anymore, I promise..! Jael doesn't want to hurt anyone."

"You understand them?" Jael had always been told that pixies had no language; closer to winged rodents than people. Even less than the impures. His shoulders bunched up.

Of course that would be another lie. Is there any part of my schooling I can trust? Probably not.

He and Cody were kind of in the same boat in that regard; neither were very knowledgeable about the world outside, either because of biassed information in Jael’s case or a lack of any information at all. Growing up as an angel in Syris, he was fed so many lies to prepare him so that he would not see the people being killed as people.

It was a long process to relearn everything. Jael was trying his best to break free from the propaganda he had been shown for his entire life, starting by putting some good back into a world so full of pain.

Cody nodded at his question, holding Cynbel a little closer.

"You can't? Huh… I guess you were right then." He chuckled, the second statement clearly directed at the pixie. Jael couldn't bring himself to laugh, so he just nodded and started to take off his coat.

"I'm going to have a wash then… The village is fine by the way, Cody. Not very many casualties overall, and the houses were all mostly intact." He assured, hanging his jacket up before looking at his friend again. "Are you planning on doing anything tonight?"

"I was gonna go bring some food to Cynbel’s pod and speak with them about him staying here. Sorry we can't hang out much today, Jael.." Cody said apologetically, shifting his weight from side to side. Jael shook his head, offering a hesitant smile. It didn't look right… He still wasn't used to smiling yet.

"It's fine, Codes. I'm tired anyway, so don't worry about it…"

.

.

.

As Jael got back out of the bath (which had been specifically sized to fit his large black wings) and wrapped himself in a towel, he looked in the foggy mirror with contempt. If Cody wasn't here, what would I have done to them? He thought back to the instant reaction; did he hurt Cynbel by grabbing their leg like that? He didn't want to do any damage, but he was so focused on the fact that they were escaping that he hadn't checked.

After changing into some more casual clothing, Jael left the bathroom and settled down at the table with a book. It was written by a demon, and was mainly about being one of the only survivors of an attack on their small village. He wanted to understand the other side better, and work to perceive the people around him as individuals, not just impurities as he had been taught.

The sound of bells startled him, coming from right beside his ear.

The fallen angel jolted in surprise, magic flaring up reflexively before he managed to stop it just before he could accidentally hurt the pixie that had for some reason decided to settle down on his shoulders.

After his reaction, Cynbel had quickly flown away from him, hiding behind one of the picture frames on the other side of the room. Jael's gaze was harsh and scary, and he did *not* want to anger them even if Cody had said they wouldn't hurt him. This man was an *angel;* angels were known for keeping pixies as pets if they didn’t slaughter them first.

Jael looked at the picture frame for a bit longer, frown deepening.

"...can you even read?" He asked, mostly to himself. Standing up, he put the book down page-first to avoid losing his spot and walked over to the shelf that Cynbel was standing on. The pixie flinched away, hiding further behind the frame.

Jael was debating just leaving them be, but he decided against it at the last moment, reaching out and cupping them in both hands like one would do to a timid mouse. It was something he had heard of from other angels in Syris and the only way he really thought of holding a pixie.

Walking back over to the table, Jael finally released them onto the table, keeping one hand overhead so they couldn't fly off without getting caught again. A bell rang once more, higher pitched and almost...panicked. Jael blinked.

"Oh– um… am I scaring you…?" He felt dumb asking; it's not like he'd get a response.

He moved his hand away a little, but still kept it close enough to grab Cynbel if he tried to fly off.

"I thought you wanted to read. Can you even understand me, or are you and Cody just understanding each other some other way?" He picked the book up, but paid it no mind in favour of getting answers from the pixie.

Looking a little closer, they almost looked like they were crying… for a brief moment he thought *that's just a tactic they use to trick people*, only to throw that idea out immediately. These were all things he learned as a soldier for Syris. He had to remind himself that it was a cruel thought to have.

Jael brought his hand closer, only to use his thumb and wipe away some of the tear-tracks forming.

"I—" He cut himself off, laying his head down on the table so he could see them better. "I'm sorry. I'm being a dick… I didn't even know until today that pixies had intelligence beyond survival." The angel sighed, tapping his leg rhythmically to try and get rid of some of the built up anxiety.

"Can you write, kid?" He asked, getting an idea.

Bells rang out once more and he received a nod. Jael relaxed a little, thankful that he could at least try and understand the pixie.

"Stay.." He held his hand out placatingly, standing back up to get some paper and a writing utensil. When he came back, Cynbel had barely moved, still nervous but not crying.

Jael settled back down and offered a pen, tearing out a page of his notebook for the pixie to use. It took a bit longer than it should have, but eventually there were words on the paper.

Ni fyddwch yn brifo fi?

Jael almost facepalmed. He only knew English, and that was very clearly not it. "Can you write in English?" He asked. Flinching, Cynbel obliged.

No hert?

He underlined the words that barely qualified as a sentence. His spelling was off, but Jael got the gist. He sat there for a moment, taking in the fact that pixies could not only talk but they could also read and write.. He narrowed his eyes at the writing, muscles tense.

"No. I don't want to hurt you…"

Ainjel

"Angel— it's not spelled like that it's...oh whatever.." He sighed, leaning on one hand as he stared down at the pixie. "You scared of angels, kid?" There was a nod, bells ringing. Jael huffed. "Good. You should steer clear of us."

Why? Cody sed yor saif.

"Because angels aren't taught the same way everyone else is…" Jael glared at his own hand, even more tense than before. "I could’ve hurt you before. Another angel would definitely hurt you, or at least keep you as a pet.”

When he noticed the fear in Cynbel's eyes, he quickly tried to change the subject, sitting up straight.

"Hey hey— I just meant that– so you should– ugh..!" He gave up on trying to communicate his thoughts, reaching forwards and scooping the pixie up, cupping him close like he'd seen Cody do before. The pixie squirmed for a few moments in his grip before eventually accepting the makeshift hug.

Jael took a few deep breaths, calming himself down whilst he tried to calm the pixie down.

"I'm not lying, kid.. I don't want you getting hurt following some random angel, okay? Cody would be super upset if I let that happen.." He pet their back with his thumb.

Although tough on the exterior, Jael was very protective of those he cared about and, despite not understanding Cynbel, he was starting to feel a need to keep them safe. Knowing what he'd done to others of his kind and knowing how much he'd scared the little pixie already only served to make him want to help him more. He had the same feeling when he came across Cody for the first time.

Their meeting was rough too— in fact, if Cody wasn't unable to die, their first meeting would have only been Jael disposing of his body. He had been too late to stop a fellow soldier from opening fire, and by then he had already shot Cody himself to make sure he didn't suffer long from what he thought were fatal wounds...and now they were great friends.

Jael just had a soft spot for strays apparently.

The bells quietened completely as Jael soothed the pixie. The fallen angel forced a lopsided smile, looking strained, but it came with good intentions. He brushed his thumb against Cynbel's head, messing with their hair.

"I'm sorry for scaring you…" He apologised. The pixie perked up, patting a nearby finger to show that he forgave him. Jael sighed in relief, bringing his hand away from his chest again and looking down at the pixie.

"Now then… What should we read?"

[goldennikko]

18 — huh yunjin

summary : inspired by the song 18 by one direction

pairing : yunjin x reader

tags : f!reader ; timeline may not be accurate

requested: ✔

word count : 3.7k

"are you ready?"

yunjin snapped out of her racing incomprehensible thoughts as stood in front of the mirror, tearing her gaze away from the item in her palm to look at her leader, who gave her a soft smile. she cleared her throat and returned her gaze to the mirror in front of her, fixing her hair as an excuse to avoid chaewon's comforting eyes.

"yeah, i'll be out in a bit, unnie."

the leader met sakura's eyes from across the hall. "alright. we'll wait for you outside."

yunjin caught sight of her own eyes in the mirror, memories swirling into her brown orbs as she gazed. the memories she treasured, the memories that brought her so much joy, the memories that completed her heart, the memories that made her cry because she loved them all so much.

yunjin remembered everything in that brief moment. the memories, everything, slammed into her as if she were standing beneath waterfalls or watching the waves crash against the sandy shore of a beach. it was that intense; she had no idea recalling something could be that intense. 

as her heart pounded hard against her ribcage, yunjin took it all in, watching it all as if it were a short scene from a movie.

i got a heart and i got a soul

believe me, i will use them both

"unnie, just ask her out." 

eunchae bounced excitedly in her seat, shaking yunjin beside her as kazuha turned around to take a peek at you, which was a little obvious, causing yunjin to reach out and smack the japanese ballerina. kazuha turned around with an offended expression on her face, both of them slightly amused as yunjin's cheeks flared red in embarrassment, not helping the desire to take another longing glance at you.

"stop looking at her." yunjin hissed. 

"i was just looking around?" kazuha reasoned.

yunjin gave her one last look before slumping back in her seat, arms crossed across her chest and a small pout on her lips.

she had seen you a few times in this coffee shop. she'd see you in the corner, hidden away from the world, typing on the keyboard of your laptop with a focused frown on your lips whenever she stopped by to order after her training. as creepy as it sounds, she would occasionally stay for a few moments to catch a glimpse of you.

kazuha and eunchae exchanged a glance as they noticed her casting another glance your way, having had enough of yunjin's cowardice. the two youngest teamed up and continued to convince yunjin throughout their time at the coffee shop, breathing in and out of frustration when she simply shrugged her shoulders in response.

unfortunately for them, they were unable to convince yunjin. however, just as it was time to leave, eunchae had this brilliant idea. 

the young girl managed to push yunjin out of her seat and into your arms as you passed by, hoping to get another order because you decided to stay longer to work on your other projects, when instead you got a flying brunette. you caught her, eyes wide as you stared at her shocked expression, her face slowly burning in realization as she realized what had happened.

"i'm so sorry!" yunjin yelped, flying out of your arms to give you a deep bow, giving eunchae a look in the process, to which the maknae sheepishly grinned.

you returned it with a gentle smile. "it's fine. can i help you with anything?"

yunjin had no idea where she got her confidence. maybe it's because kazuha and eunchae have been instilling false hope in her head the entire time and for the past few days. the words had flown out of her mouth before she realized it, her face turning redder than usual as a surprised look rose to your face.

"can i get your number?"

you blinked in surprise. you've seen her around, too. you must admit that she is stunning. however, you were so preoccupied with your schoolwork that you didn't have much time to think about it.

when you took a long time to respond because you were gathering your currently scattered thoughts, yunjin went to speak to take it all back, feeling embarrassed for even asking, but you beat her to it with a smile, making yunjin fall for you even more.

"of course, miss…?

"yunjin. huh yunjin." she rushed to take your hand, and she felt the need to melt right away as she felt your soft skin and warmth enveloping her with a single touch of a hand.

"miss huh yunjin. and i'm y/n l/n." you finished and glanced at her friends. she did the same to see them smiling and waving at you, which you returned with a soft smile.

"however, i had no idea that flying into the arms of a complete stranger was a new way of flirting."

we made a start, be it a false one, i know

baby, i don't want to feel alone

you were quick to make plans with yunjin. normally, you'd be wary, but she seemed so sweet, and she's so beautiful, that you couldn't help but give her a chance. yunjin was overjoyed when she received the message, squealing so loudly that a few of the other company employees ran over to check on her.

you went on a date, with yunjin taking you to places where you could find solace because, after seeing you in that coffee shop for weeks, she knew you'd prefer places like the one where you met.

she had butterflies the entire time, and so did you. holding hands, giggling like little girls, exchanging smiles, staring when the other wasn't looking, blushing when the other did something cute, and other such antics.

you had fun and were quick to like her.

yunjin fell deeper and was over the moon.

unfortunately, that day had to come to an end quickly, and you dropped her off, promising to see her again soon. yunjin waited for you to leave before releasing the squeal she'd been holding in all day, punching the air excitedly, causing kazuha and eunchae, who were waiting for her, to laugh at the older girl's silly reactions.

in her defense, you were really amazing today and treated her well.

so kiss me where i lay down

my hands pressed to your cheeks

yunjin found herself walking next to you in the middle of the night on the third date. you had taken her to an arcade, where she became tired because both of you were too competitive and wouldn't back down from a challenge, even if it was from another couple, which you were quick to accept and team up against, eventually winning.

so she was tired, but really happy.

you wrapped your arms around her waist, allowing her to lean against you for support. the entire walk was silent, both of you basking in each other's comforting warmth as the cold air of the night brushed against your skin.

you arrived quickly because the walk was short and yunjin drew back, but she kept your hand in hers, her thumb caressing the back of your hand.

"thank you for today, y/n/n." yunjin said, pulling you in closer.

you hummed, shyly returning her smile because she was a little too close to you, not that you mind her proximity at all. you squeezed her hand.

"thank you, yunjin-ie." you said quietly.

yunjin looked down at your lips, which you didn't miss, shuffling around in panic, your heart thudding nervously in your chest.

yunjin didn't know how she got to the third date without incident, but she couldn't do it any longer. your enticing eyes, plump lips, red cheeks, soft hands, tight koala hugs, soothing warmth, sweet words, adorable habits, and so on.

she adored everything.

with a quick glance at you, waiting for your consent, which you gave with a small nod, yunjin grabbed your face into her hands and her lips were quick to claim yours. you gripped her waist with one hand and gripped her wrist with the other to keep yourself grounded because you could feel your sanity slowly slipping away as her lips caressed yours softly.

yunjin's face pinched, holding you impossibly close, unable to let you go.

and so the moon and stars witnessed your first passionate kiss.

a long way from the playground

you were the first to pull away, your lungs screaming at you, and yunjin chased you, but stopped when you chuckled and rested your brow against her cheek. her warm breath hit your ear as yours hit her neck, causing prickling goosebumps to appear all over her skin.

"you waited a bit long for that, huh?" you joked.

yunjin grinned, watching you raise your head and returning your giddy smile. she gestured to you playfully, as if showing you off to a crowd of people. "i mean, look at you. you can't blame me, i was scared."

you chuckled and pulled her in. 

"don't be scared. kiss me again."

i have loved you since we were eighteen

"how's practice?"

yunjin collided with you, causing you to pause your typing on your laptop. you were going to sleep over tonight, and she also let you stay for the day to work on your backlogs while she did company training. yunjin wrapped her arms around your shoulders, burying her nose in your hair to inhale the familiar shampoo you used on your hair, which was now also on her pillows as a result of how frequently you'd stayed over for the past few days.

"tiring." yunjin mumbled, exhaustion evident in her voice.

yunjin quietly watched you, humming in content, as you quickly saved your work. you stood up and turned around, your brow raised at her satisfied grin and happy expression. you laughed at her ridiculous antics as you led her to her bed, allowing her to hold you close to her chest.

long before we both thought the same thing

to be loved and to be in love

"i'm sorry i couldn't spend much time with you."

you chuckled and gently hit her exposed stomach, which was exposed because her hoodie had ridden up when she pulled you down onto the bed with her. you reached up to pinch yunjin's cheeks as she drew back to look at you with puppy eyes.

"idiot, who do you think i am?" you asked, brows raised.

yunjin's pout grew bigger. "my girlfriend."

"exactly. i understand, baby. don't worry." you reassured and patted her cheeks continuously, only stopping when her pout finally disappeared.

yunjin drew you close and curled down to rest her brow on yours, lovingly gazing into your eyes. to comfort the tired girl, you returned the same intensity, hand squeezing her upper arm and leaning up to plant small kisses on her lips, which she would pucker up.

all i can do is say that these arms were made for holdin' you, oh

i wanna love like you made me feel

"debut is near, huh?" you whispered, worry swimming in your eyes.

yunjin simply hummed.

"are you excited?" you queried.

yunjin bit her lower lip. she knew that you were aware that something was wrong, and she was unsure whether she should be grateful. she didn't keep her problems from you, but she'd rather deal with them on her own. 

however, with you looking worried like the concerned girlfriend you are, yunjin broached the subject that had been bothering her since she was told she'd be in the lineup.

"i promise i'll make time for you."

you expected it, both her words and the fact that she'd be busy in the near future due to her career, so you held her face, thumbs gently brushing across her cheeks. yunjin enjoyed your warmth and leaned against your touch as you spoke.

you smiled. "i know, jen, i understand. but you need to promise me another thing."

"which is? anything, my love."

"i want you to be open with me. tell me, let me know anything and everything, and update me from time to time. understand?"

yunjin nodded obediently. "i promise, love. i swear."

when we were eighteen

you went quiet, satisfied. you just stared at each other, touches received and given, warm breaths intermingling in the remaining space between you two. until yunjin broke the peaceful silence.

"i love you."

"i love you, too."

we took a chance, god knows we've tried

"yunjin, i thought i told you to let me know?"

in response to your frustrated question, yunjin ran her hand through her hair, turning around to face you, causing you to bump into her, and she quickly reached out to steady you, albeit still stressed due to their debut preparation.

"i was busy, y/n." yunjin argued back.

"you think i didn't know that?" 

your voice was weak, indicating you were getting tired. yunjin looked at you, having avoided your teary eyes because she knew you were correct. she promised months ago to tell you, to let you know anything and everything, and to keep you updated, which she has all but failed to do in the last few days. however, her pride and stress were both impeding her reconciliation with you.

"i just wanted to know if you're okay. can't you tell me that?" 

you sighed, tired, and yunjin panicked when you turned around, fingers wrapping around your wrist. you were pulled back into yunjin's body, her arms quickly wrapping around your waist. you stood motionless as the soon-to-be-debuting american clung to you, her face hidden in your hair. after a brief moment of silence, whispered apologies reached your ears, yunjin swaying you from behind to the nonexistent music.

"i'm sorry. forgive me?"

yet all along, i knew we'd be fine

you melted in her embrace, sighing and pulling her arms around you tighter. yunjin kissed you all over the head, smiling triumphantly as she heard you giggling quietly. she turned around and wiped her thumbs under your eyes before planting another kiss between your brows.

"let me make it up to you?"

"mhm."

"ice cream and movies?"

so pour me a drink, oh, love

and let's split the night wide open

yunjin sat back in her chair, pure adoration swimming in her eyes as she watched you bond happily with her group members. she sipped her drink quietly as she watched you converse with sakura and kazuha in japanese, pride blooming in her chest because she got herself an intelligent girlfriend.

despite being a year younger than chaewon and not even being in the idol industry, when she asked you how to be a proper leader, you gave her the advice she needed. you understood the stress of always being the leader at school, chaewon reasoned, and yunjin rolled her eyes but listened quietly to your advice.

yunjin admired the way you animatedly interacted with eunchae, the younger girl staring at you in awe. as eunchae tugged on your sleeves and pointed to the food next to you that she couldn't reach, yunjin smiled as you helped their adorable maknae fill her plate with whatever food she desired.

and we'll see everything we can

living love in slow motion, motion, motion

if you were embarrassed by the girls' compliments, yunjin would laugh, loving the way your cheeks heated up whenever she agreed or added more comments. she adores how your eyes crinkle with delight whenever the girls do something ridiculously amusing.

and she adores it when you join in on their silly antics. there was one time you were laughing your asses off on the floor in response to kazuha's adorable fall and cute pouty face.

yunjin…

well, yunjin just loves you very much.

so kiss me where i lay down

my hands pressed to your cheeks

when yunjin was able to get you to herself that night, the girls leaving for a moment to get extra drinks (and eunchae's juice), she pulled you close to her and her lips brushed against your temple as she gently whispered to you.

"i love you, y/n/n."

you grinned up at her, melting against her as she wrapped her arm around your shoulder. yunjin sipped her drink as you whispered softly against her neck, smiling against the rim of her glass and watching the girls struggle, who refused to let eunchae do anything.

a long way from the playground

"i love you, too, jen."

i have loved you since we were eighteen

as she watched you walk down the aisle, yunjin felt a tug on the corner of her lips. your eyes were glossy with crystal clear tears threatening to spill, which you quickly pushed away as you smiled wide, flashing your perfect pearly whites.

long before we both thought the same thing

to be loved and to be in love

as you made your way to the altar, clutching onto your father for support and dear life, your gown hugged your body and your veil was slowly dragged behind you. yunjin knew you wanted to cry, but she also knew you didn't like crying about something you should be happy about, even if the tears were happy tears.

and all i can do is say that these arms were made for holdin' you, oh

tears streamed down yunjin's cheek, and you kissed your father on the cheek briefly. you turned around, tearing up, as one hand reached out to help you up the stairs, and you melted against her side.

and i wanna love like you made me feel

when we were eighteen

it was your dream to marry. 

yunjin remembers.

you'd always told her about it: how you wanted a ring on your finger, how you wanted that gorgeous gown (the exact same design), how you'd laugh at her if she cried at the altar.

she remembers it all.

when we were eighteen

oh, lord

when we were eighteen

"in the sight of god and these witnesses, i now pronounce you wife and wife! you may now kiss!"

kiss me where i lay down

my hands pressed to your cheeks

everyone could see you could barely hold back your tears as a pair of hands eagerly reached out to hold your face. more tears streamed down yunjin's cheeks as she watched you lean in, yu jimin tearfully returning the kiss, clutching the ring in her hand so tightly it would leave a mark. 

your tears began to fall as soon as you felt your wife's lips against yours, and the loud cheers in your ears were muffled, and the breaking of yunjin's heart was louder than the cheering crowd, with pieces of it breaking under your own heels.

a long way from the playground

"y/n/n, i love you, my wife."

"i love you, ji, my wife."

she was supposed to be happy for you. she tried, she swears she tried her hardest to pretend. she just couldn't. she was incapable of doing so. yunjin felt bad for feeling this way. she felt bad for wanting to ruin the wedding that had just occurred. 

your wedding. 

yunjin wasn't supposed to wish it was her instead of yu jimin next to you, peppering the back of your head with small kisses that you adored and holding you so close. she wasn't supposed to want to whisk you away from yu jimin, whose arms were wrapped around your waist as she planted kisses on your temples while you happily wept in front of the crowd, jimin whispering comforting words in your ear.

i have loved you since we were eighteen

long before we both thought the same thing

to be loved and to be in love

yunjin will never forgive her company for ruining your relationship. the relationship she had been guarding since before they made their debut. the relationship, which in every waking moment of her life, she treasured. the only relationship she would enter again and again throughout her life and the afterlife, but would never leave if only given the chance. the relationship that her company ruined, causing both parties to suffer at the time. 

yunjin would never forgive the company for threatening both sides, including the members. she would hate them for the rest of her life. she will carry her hatred for them to her grave and the afterlife.

and all i can do is say that these arms were made for holdin' you, oh

and i wanna love like you made me feel

when we were eighteen

and huh yunjin would never forgive herself for letting you slip through her fingers.

i wanna love like you made me feel

when we were eighteen

as you took pictures with your family and friends, the cheers of the crowd fell on her deaf ears. she couldn't hear or feel her friends speak to her or try to shake her out of her reverie. she watched you as you squished your face with your wife, a wide happy smile on both of your faces.

yunjin wished it had been her. 

yunjin wished she could be your wife. 

yunjin wished she could have you.

i wanna love like you made me feel

yunjin wished you were looking for her as you lifted your head to scan the crowd. however, as much as she wished for it, seeing your sparkling eyes was too painful. 

so, even if she wanted you to see her, yunjin turned and quickly left, her tearstained face hidden from view.

it hurt too much.

yunjin despised the idea that another woman would fall in love with you for the same reasons she had. she despised the thought of another woman touching you after she had laid her hands on you. she despised the fact that she wouldn't be the one to hear your sweet words and soft i love you's. she despised the fact that you wouldn't wake up to her silly faces or sweet kisses.

yunjin despised it. yunjin despised yu jimin.

you had moved on with her, married her. all of your dreams came true, but not with yunjin, but with your wife.

it was unfair. 

because yunjin was still in love with you after all these years.

when we were eighteen

nikko note: another attempt on angst! hope you liked it, everyone! hehe. thank you for reading!

[bonefall]

the cats of the park is just frostpaw finally getting some therapy

tbh tho I feel like them being separate from clan life would help her immensely. They’re not so wrapped up in this culture of battle so they have a new and refreshing perspective (and also frost doesn’t have to worry about ulterior motives because they are STAYING AWAY from THAT trainwreck that is the clans)

RE: Nothing in BB!ASC is set in stone until the arc is done BUT

One excellent thing ASC has done with the Park cats that is commendable, is that they're treated as legitimate. Not inferior or malicious. They're just another culture that Frostpaw is going to learn from. The bar is UNDERGROUND but we've finally hopped over it.

So I'd want to keep and acknowledge that.

I think I might have an interesting idea for Frostpaw's journey. Also, side note... I'm thinking BB!ASC will rename every book because these titles are actually awful, im sorry. So I'd call this one ASC: The Source of the River

Gonna jot these down;

So, to begin with, Frostpaw calls the human. While being heavily sedated, she has her first vision of Riverstar.

FROSTPAW DOES NOT HAVE A SPECIAL CONNECTION TO STARCLAN.

She NEVER would. Screw that. Instead-- learning to connect to this vision of Riverstar, to her ancestors and their wisdom, is a SKILL she would learn.

Frame the journey less as Riverstar's Side Quest and more as Frostpaw chasing the Revelation she had while anesthetized.

So when she wakes up, she's thinking about how incomprehensibly VAST Riverstar was. She can't even imagine how there's enough space in the world to contain such a being.

Even the Lake itself... the lake is just a droplet, being suckled like a kit on the teat of the Southern Inlet river

For a second, her troubles seemed like a small flea on the nose of a great, cosmic being. But as she reconnects with the mortal plane after her dream, the flea becomes an infestation. She doesn't know where to begin, or how she can save her Clan.

She thinks back to Riverstar. The river that feeds the Lake. Was that what he was trying to tell her? That she has to follow it to the source?

STOP 1: RIVER WARD

The BB!Tribe is massively overhauled. The Tribe of Rushing Water defines themselves as three Wards (Cave, Mountain, River), connected by living on the same stretch of river.

From them, she learns about connections. They are simply able to call upon each other for all they need, there's no need to "appoint" someone to manage everything.

Families and friends hold each other accountable, networking and negotiating constantly. When the group must act as one, it casts stones.

Their Stoneteller is a religious leader, but all cats connect with their ancestors by personally interpreting omens, even without needing to go see him.

(Contrast to BB!Clans, whose Clerics are the KEEPERS of holy knowledge, and it is a sin to interpret StarClan's will on your own)

Yet, there are downsides. She can see ostracised cats who skirt at the edges of the Ward, especially the descendants of a particular group (called Flicks) that she learns once tried to invade the River Ward.

Though they welcome travellers and have a positive view of Clan cats as "family," she learns that they freeze out those who break taboo. Even for smaller offenses-- social faux pas and personal disputes have caused rifts within the Ward.

And the personal omen interpretation means that two cats can try and justify their feelings with religious commands, leveraging any "soothsayer" (particularly religious cats) connections they have like a social pissing match, unless they're both willing to get dragged to Stoneteller.

From all this, Frostpaw learns that she CAN connect to Riverstar and her ancestors, even if she can't speak to them... and that she must LISTEN. Not allow herself to twist her ancestor's words.

And all the Wards are connected, by the source of a river. Suddenly she answers her question.

"How could the world be big enough to contain a being like Riverstar?" Because water isn't all in one place. It's everywhere. It pools where it can and flows where it cannot.

And yet-- a single people is connected by its water. Three wards, one River. Five Clans, one Lake... three siblings, one belly.

Her heart aches thinking about Curlfeather.

She thinks of when quarreling Tribemates are brought to Stoneteller to arbitrate, and be taught the truth. Brought up the river, to its source at the waterfall.

That has to be it! The source, the BEGINNING.

Stop 2 would be WarriorClan as she heads south, but I'm not sure what they'd teach her yet lmao. Monkeystar says "Hi! Do you want to learn how to play a kazoo"

STOP 3... I'd want to rename the Park Cats. Maybe the New Park cats.

(evil brain: "Neopark. Make terrible petsite joke. Be reincarnated as a lotus flower)

There would also be a BIG recap of Ancient Park culture, and the River Kingdom. Frostpaw knows they had KINGS.

And a lot of aspects that modern Clan cats have-- ceremonial sparring, mentors and apprentices, the Law of the Deputy... those came out of the River Kingdom, before its collapse in the Code Era.

But these cats are NOTHING like the glorious tales of a Kingdom warrior. In fact... this is THE park!

THE park that was destroyed, which King Arc-of-Park lead his people away from. How could it have been ruined if it's still here?

(Reality: the Park was shrunk and landscaped. It was destroyed in that time to the perspective of cats. Maybe she'll have some visions of the past through meditation...)

But the survivors, and those who chose not to follow their King... they remained. And they continue to thrive.

Like canon, have them teach her the ability to meditate. Unlike Tribe cats, meditation is about SIGNS, not OMENS. Omens are physical. Signs are psychic.

(Also i like Bee so im probably gonna keep him as Frosty's yoga coach)

She sees Riverstar a few times, has details of Curlfeather's scheme revealed to her in enough chunks to piece together,

but is eventually bowled over when her best, most productive meditation yet... results in a black shadow.

He has a shining pearlstone adorning his head, and deep, wet pools for eyes. Very few other features can be made out, besides his paw, which is shockingly normal compared to his wraith-like body.

Somehow, Frostpaw understands she is looking at a Patron. But she doesn't know who he is until he tells her, he is King Arc-of-Park.

Though remembered, he is not invoked often. The details of his appearance are lost. All that remains of him is his paw-- carried on in a few expressions and the -paw suffix. The one which Frostpaw herself currently bears.

Since Riverstar, his beloved son, so rarely speaks in straightforward terms, he has come to give Frostpaw her answers.

But before she speaks, trembling with desire for finally FINALLY getting the truth, almost frozen by the sheer volume of things she needs to know, he stops and tells her,

"You have earned the truth, Frostpaw. Be not afraid to ask for what you are owed-- but we only have time for three questions, and I shall ask three in turn."

Question 1: "What did you need me to learn?"

"Many things. How to find your own answers. The perspective of the thousand eyes you've met. The wisdom that only a pilgrimage can bestow. I, too, was no leader before I brought my people up the river, and now you too must save RiverClan. Have you learned what we sought to teach?"

She feels unsure... "I don't think I can know if I have, until I go home."

Even though he has no mouth, she can hear his smile, "That is a yes, child."

Question 2: "What am I learning about RiverClan and its history, if these New Park cats are nothing like my Kingdom ancestors?"

He hums, "You have come to the source of the river, and are vexxed to not find the water that is already swirling downstream? No cat stands in the same river twice, for it is not the same river, and they are not the same cat. Are my people gone, Frostpaw, or do they live on?"

Stunned, her jaw hangs open ever so slightly. She thought she knew the answer right away, but his simple question becomes a riddle on her tongue.

He tells her not to worry. She does not need to answer his questions immediately, as they're running out of time. Ask your last.

Question 3: "...did my mom love me?"

IMMEDIATE, "she did. Child of my distant blood, she loved you like a king loves his prince. Ferociously, ambitiously... selfishly."

He cradles her face in his one, massive, silk-soft paw, like he's reaching out of the shadows, across time itself. His last question, "She put you in a terrible position, didn't she?"

A lifetime's worth of love and agony bubbles out of the kid, "SHE DID. She DID and I never did ANYTHING to deserve this, I did everything she told me, and I just wanted to make her happy, and... and i miss my mom."

When she returns from her trance, she's crying.

But her companions are here to help her unpack all of what she just learned.

Will probably end up letting her recruit a little DND party lmao... maybe one cat from each pit stop. Heartstar shouldn't be the only girlie who's allowed to get expansion packs.

Make a little found family here that Frostpaw returns home with.

RE: NOT. CONFIRMED YET. NONE of this is BB canon yet. Just thoughts I need to get down.

[salternateunreality2]

AGSZC Sparring - Fear the ‘Bo

From the @strayheartless archives <3

This is out of character for crack purposes.

—----

They all like to spar, and one time Zack has a brilliant idea. 

Zack: Let's split into teams and go all out! We can do me, Angeal, and Genesis against Seph and Cloud, since Cloud's new!

Cloud: Did you just call me a handicap? *Sniff* 

Zack: SHIT, CLOUD, NO, I'M SORRY 

Cloud: *sniff* NO, YOU'RE NOT SORRY, YOU'RE ON. COME ON, SEPH. *sniff*

Within half an hour, Sephiroth and Cloud DESTROY Angeal, Zack, and Genesis, with Sephiroth holding back.

Genesis, wheezing on the floor: *wheeze* alright *gasp* noted *wheeze* no underestimating Cloud hnnnnnn 

Zack: *can't talk because gasping* 

Angeal: *pant* that's *pant* my boy *pant*

Cloud is still sniffling, but is somewhat mollified from his perch in Sephiroth's arms as they stand over their vanquished lovers.

—----

Zack, several days later: ok, new teams. I don't care, but I'm on Cloud's team. Please. 

Cloud: Hmmm. Ok, I did forgive you after whooping your ass and you giving me apology snacks. 

Sephiroth: Perhaps you could all try your luck against me? 

Cloud: *glint in his eye that might be a tear or evil, no one knows* ok 

Genesis: Ha! We'll knock you from your high horse 

Angeal: Cloud, honey, don't go too hard on him 

Zack: LET'S GOOOOOO

15 minutes later…

Sephiroth: *disarmed, panting* Well *huff* it seems I needed to *huff* learn *huff* my own lesson *huff* well done *huff* Strife.

—--------

They have to make an executive decision to not watch Cloud fight too much if they have work to do after sparring, because they all get so hot and bothered. There’s something about seeing 147 pounds of incomprehensible bird spite wrecking trained soldiers that gets under their skin.

—-

Lazard: Strife, thank you for coming. 

Cloud: Of course sir. 

Lazard: You must be wondering why I called you here! I need a favor. Genesis and Sephiroth's squabbling has caused more property damage than I want to deal with this week. Would you...find some way to...wear them out?

 Cloud: *ears pink* Sure. 

Two hours later.. 

Genesis: *sobbing* Where is he, Sephiroth?! I can't see him coming! Is he in the trees? In the VENTS?! *more sobbing* 

Sephiroth: I do not know, but whatever was in those brownies he gave me is working. I have never felt so magenta in my life. 

Genesis: DO YOU MEAN RELAXED? 

Sephiroth: meow 

Cloud: *drops from the ceiling* 

Genesis: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

—-

Zack, squatting: I! Have! So! Much! Energy! I! Will! Explode! Soon! 

Lazard: *dialing* Hello, Strife? Yes, Lieutenant Fair. Yes, squatting in my office currently. Thank you.

30 minutes later…

Zack: *sleeping, being carried home in Cloud's arms after a spar* 

Lazard: 🫡