#if it were wild teaching them i feel he would let the chaos unfold just to see what the fuck they make at the end

[mirensiart]

Okay but imagine Key and Chain taking a cooking class together :)

You said they Chain is mid at cooking and Key is just... Key, but what if they do like a cooking class thing? Aaaand let the chaos unfold...

Anyway, have a great day/night :D

Oh it would be a disaster lmao

Key would try to improvise and Chain would blindly add spices and they would make the worst dish ever lmao

Like Chain is a super mid cook, but has the potential to be decent, however he doesn't really care for cooking so he's not interested in getting better

Meanwhile Key is super impatient and would try to improvise by doing short cuts so the food is done quicker, which means absolute disaster

They would also bicker the entire time and try to sabotage the other by adding weird shit to their dishes lmao

The person teaching them to cook would need a raise cause no one signed up to deal with them

[isa-ghost]

qPhil & Other Egg Headcanons

Happy birthday original eggos 😭💚🎉

Note: Although I made these bc the og eggs are birth today, I've done at least one hc for each egg! They're a bit limited bc they're based off what I've seen through 3 POVs + osmosis through liveblog, but I included them all nonetheless. :D

qPhil headcanons masterlist

He thinks Leo has so much fucking swag. How does a literal egg look so fucking cool like at all times. How does she do it.

Secretly admires the shit out of Dapper. He's fucking brilliant. Hilariously unhinged. Insanely devoted to his collection habits. Adorably takes after Bad in looks and silliness. He's just such a badass little guy.

Pomme his fucking beloved. Brilliant just like her siblings, insanely perceptive, tough as nails yet still soft as flower pedals. He sees huge survivalist potential in her. He wishes she could shed some of the stress she's always seems to be under. He relates to her a bit too much sometimes. He hopes that poor girl gets a break.

He's absolutely gutted he didn't get to know Trump like at all. He saw little to nothing of him. He hopes he's at peace with Maxo.

GOD he wish he got more time with Flippa. She took him out like it was nothing. He would've loved training her alongside her parents. He bets she would've been an awesome pvper one day.

He wishes he could've seen more of Tilin. He was more familiar with her than he was Trump but still not enough.

Richarlyson makes it so hard not to pick "favorite eggs" besides his own. Richas is always on some wild ass shit, Phil fucking loves it. That kid's just high on life at like all times. Unreasonably funny on top of it all. God does Phil worry about him though, he's gotten way too into risking his life for the lulz.

Ramon practically feels like a third child to him (sometimes). Much like Dapper, he loves how brilliant he is and how cracked at his craft he is.

Bobby's death absolutely devastated him. He loved that little shit. And he loved how happy he made Roier and Jaiden. Seeing how severely his death broke them made his heart ache. He had nightmares about going through the same thing.

He's DETERMINED to get to know Chunsik further. Timezones are a bitch though. :( But he will be damned if something happens before he can get more familiar.

Empanada is unreasonably cute to him, and he loves seeing her take more and more after Bagi every time he sees her once more. He absolutely loves how close she and all her moms are. He genuinely fears the Pancake Mafia tbh, and he's convinced Empanada is the head.

He adores Sunny. She knows what she wants. They're not afraid to speak their mind as long as they're comfortable. She's silly and playful and sweet. Yet they still have this small, but palpable cool edge to them. Truly one spunky little girl. 😎

Phil is like 90% sure Pepito is just always going thru it, but has a sneaking suspicion that's just how Pepito seems at first glance, and maybe thats just what Pepito WANTS people to think. Either way, Pepito is just such a Creacher and Phil loves it. An absolutely loveable little guy.

He on/off considers commissioning Ramon or Dapper to make bombs to go fuck up a Fed building. He'd let them join him tbh.

He's so insanely afraid of accidentally hurting the eggs, but he'd love to spar with them and teach them more pvp skills so they'd be even better at defending themselves. He's only comfortable doing so with his own eggs.

God, he wants more times where ALL the eggs are together. He loves watching them interact, he loves their dynamics with each other and the chaos that unfolds when they're all in one place.

Phil: I don't want to build things bc technically that's doing the Feds a favor by making the island cooler. So fuck them. // Also Phil: *would build an entire city for these goddamn eggs if it meant they were safe and happy*

Watching the eggs all just talk and be silly together is literally Phil's favorite thing about their existence. Just watching them silently communicate in their Egg Ways, slapping down signs and punching each other. There's something so special and funny about their nonverbal communication.

He will NEVER be able to look at certain objects or accessories without thinking of the kids now.

He secretly has doodles of what he thinks each kid would look like if they hatched into dragons.

[talonabraxas]

Venus in Sagittarius Dec 29 – Jan 23

Dec 29, 2023 – Jan 23, 2024

Venus: goddess of art, romance, pleasure, and beauty. Venus speaks to the heart. In Sagittarius, the heart can finally breathe, soar, run wild. Everything unfolds quickly in Sagittarius. This archetype invites space, freedom, adventure, and spontaneity.

This is all very welcome after swimming with Venus in Scorpio. With Venus in Scorpio, we often scramble to remain in control when things start to feel less than perfect in our relationships. Inevitably we learn that we cannot force or manipulate the path. Instead Scorpio teaches agency and self-empowerment. I hope you’re feeling stronger and sexier. We are learning to strike a balance between power and vulnerability.

That ferocious need we feel, the need to love another, to have them as our own, that hotblooded passion? It’s an addiction and obsession, this delicious desire which keeps us awake at night. And ultimately it begets more pain and chaos because it is channeled into other rather than Self. Turn it to gold inside you, let it fuel the metamorphosis. It is worth asking: what would happen if I “lost control”? What would that really look like? We need to look at our patterns, truly, and then break the fuck out of them. Venus in Scorpio is ultimately about self-discovery rather than sex or lust. The passion (complication/chaos!) we seek in interpersonal relationships is really intended for self-love.

Let the healing begin! It’s time to ascend with Venus to sparkling Sagittarian skies. This transit will carry us blissfully into the new year 2024. With Venus in Sagittarius, the heart glows like a joyful bonfire. This is an exuberant, festive cycle. Sagittarius the Centaur is spirited and vibrant, helping us move forward and close the scorpion chapter. No need to dwell in pain or resentment anymore. We can embrace the winter holiday season with inner warmth and optimism.

There are a few challenges waiting for us here, too. It is wise to remember that Sagittarius belongs to the fire element and shares the same traits as Aries and Leo: impatience, restlessness, impulsiveness. When life feels like too much, Sagittarius quickly boils over – or looks the other way.

Sagittarius enjoys being so light and carefree that dark or heavy things get overlooked on purpose. This is problematic when a situation calls for an assertive response or when something important needs to be finished. Sagittarius can be flighty and avoidant. He hates confrontation and discord. He just wants to dance in his rose-colored glasses all night long.

In our relationships we just need to slow down a little and inhale some fiery courage. Let’s dance in place for just a moment to see it all, acknowledge the whole. And then we can race off again into the rainbow disco star kingdom see you there! And happy new year!

Heads up: Mercury will still be retrograde for the first 4 days of this transit.

Jan 1: Last day of Mercury Retrograde + Venus square Saturn in Pisces. Though you might be feeling really amped to start the New Year 2024 off on the right foot, a square to Saturn makes us feel lazy and averse to routine. The key is to just go with it.

Jan 19: Venus square Neptune in Pisces + Mercury in Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus. Exhaustion & physical discomfort. Not a good time to socialize or go out. This Neptunian square may also coincide with natural disasters like floods or heavy rains. The trine between Mercury and Jupiter should bring some levity, however.

Jan 20: 1st day of Aquarius Season + Pluto returns to Aquarius! Craaaaazy day, expect the unexpected.

This transit is an especially favorable time for natal Sagittarians, as well as Aries, Libra, Leo, and Aquarius. If you were born with Venus in Sagittarius, this is your Venus Return.

[evphology]

— [ ✎ . . . . ] ; this is for you, @kodzukenscorner!

happy, happy birfday, angel 🥺 you hold such a dear place in my heart since you’re the first person i’ve ever talked to here on tumblr. i was so hesitant to reach out, so when you welcomed me and treated me so kindly, i decided that tumblr wasn’t such a bad place after all. so thank you so much for being such a sweetheart, because if it wasn’t for you, i wouldn’t have met many other moots or even posted anything.

n e ways, i know i’m very inexperienced with the whole writing/headcanons thingy, but i do hope that you still enjoy this just as much as i enjoy your content. p.s. is the gif working? 

➞ the day starts off with an unusual message from your boyfriend of 10 months — it was an audio message with his morning voice greeting you with a ‘happy birthday, my sweet angel, i can’t wait to see you in an hour’

➞ he usually sends you a simple good morning text, so to receive a voice message with more than just a ‘good morning’? you legit thought you were still dreaming

➞ you two usually meet at the school gates, but today was different; he greeted you at your doorsteps with the dorkiest smile a person could ever muster, and a big bouquet of your favourite flowers in his free hand

➞ “happy birthday, love” is the first thing he says before he gives you a hug and a soft peck on your cheeks, which is sooo different from you two’s usual simple good morning greetings; he also holds your hand all the way to school 🥺 you ended up thinking he was on something because it was so unusual of him to show affection unless you’re both alone

➞ you see that the whole vbc’s waiting for you and akaashi at the school gates, and the moment bokuto’s wandering eyes landed on you two, this man just turns into a megaphone that only speaks birthday greetings

“y/n! hey, hey, hey! happy birthday! it’s your birthday— your special day!”

“bokuto-san, do you really have to announce it to the whole world?”

“...but that’s impossible. they can’t hear me all the way in a different country...”

➞ now everyone in fukurodani academy knows that it’s your birthday whether you like it or not (you’re also carrying this big bouquet of flowers, so maybe because of that, too) so expect greetings from left to right

➞ if akaashi was being completely honest, he didn’t even want the others to know that it’s your bday since he wanted it to be a special occasion that you two would celebrate privately; but he realized that he would be such a selfish boyfriend, so now he’s just enduring the slight hint of jealousy he feels with the massive amount of attention that you’re getting (bcause he still wanted you to pay lots of attention to him, not the other guys wishing you a happy bday🥺)

➞ he made you a bento box filled with your favourite food that he all made from scratch — most of it were shaped into hearts; he also fed you, which again, is sooo out of character for him (pls appreciate his efforts)

➞ the teacher asked you to stay after classes to help them with something, and so you couldn’t hang out with the vbc like you usually do after school, but akaashi ofc stayed behind for you since there wasn’t a volleyball practice scheduled

➞ when you finally got done, he asks you if you wanted a piggy-back ride and hang out at his house for a bit — ofc you accept — and now he’s carrying you back to his place with the smallest and softest smile on his lips (he was having so much heart palpitations from nervousness, omg help the poor boi)

➞ okay, so i won’t lie, they planned a surprise bday party for you; the reason why the vbc left early was to prepare it at akaashi’s house, and they actually asked the teacher to make you stay a lil’ longer since they needed time to prepare

➞ but the thing is, when you neared his house, you heard an oh-so familiar muffled voice screech “y/n’s here! she’s he—“ and you see bokuto’s figure getting dragged away from the living room window 😭 so much for a surprise... but he’s just really excited as well, okie?

➞ akaashi sighs and asks you to pretend that you didn’t hear nor see that since the vbc (and him, but he didn’t want to say that) worked really hard for the bday surprise

➞ so you turn the knob, akaashi behind you, and you haven’t even fully opened the door but you’re already tackled in a bear hug by yukie, konoha, and bokuto — akaashi catches you from behind to stabilize your stance again and he literally had the deadliest glare set on the trio, so ofc they back away but not too suspiciously

“you guys forgot to pop your streamers.”

“oh, yeah! wait— there you go! happy, happy, happy birthday, y/n!”

➞ tbh, akaashi ended up ust being on the sidelines for the most part of the party; he wanted you to enjoy your special day with everyone else you loved without having to worry about him; seeing and hearing your beautiful laugh and smile was already more than he could ask for

➞ when it was times for presents though, he made sure that he was sat right next to you— his hand was also resting on the small of your back the entire time you opened the presents you received from the vbc and his parents (yes, you’ve already met his parents and they love you so much)

➞ everyone finally finished giving you their presents (it’s your usual designer bags, shoes, money, etc. though bokuto actually bought you a huge owl cake for a present) so it was finally your beau’s turn

➞ you could see a soft hue of red creeping up from his neck and little beads of sweat on his forehead, but it’s because he’s so nervous, okay? 🥺 he’s never been so affectionate with you in public, so this was very different to him

➞ he first gave you a box filled with various things: clothing, snacks, makeup, perfume, lotion, etc.

➞ once you gave his cheek a kiss to thank him and thought that that was that, he pulls out a velvet box and bro, when i tell you everyone went wild, they went wild

“akaashi, no! you’re too young!”

“bokuto-san, this isn’t a—“

“i don’t want to be old yet 😭 i can’t be your kids’ uncle, i don’t have money yet.. i don’t even know how to boil water! please, akaash—“

“...ahem. sorry about that, akaashi, pls continue 🙂”

“thank you, konoha-san.”

➞ it was the ring you were eyeing when you two went on a shopping date last month

➞ you could see his hands shaking as he held it out for you to put yours in; he slowly put the breathtaking ring on your ring finger (bokuto almost lost it bcause he legit thought it was a proposal) once it was perfectly placed, he let out a breath he wasn’t even aware he was holding in

“this isn’t a proposal, i know that we’re both too young for that... perhaps in the future, but this is a promise ring. i know we haven’t been together for long, but you give me so much happiness and motivation; you just make my life so much better and you fill it with love everyday. so this is a ring to symbolize that i’ll continue to love you and wait until the day comes when i can finally switch this with an ᵉⁿᵍᵃᵍᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ ʳⁱⁿᵍ”

➞ then kith... he kissed you... while people are around... let alone in front of them?! chaos has began: bokuto almost faint, yukie’s squealing, konoha’s in a state of distress because of the ace, kaori’s being emotional and wiping the tears from her eyes, onaga, sakurui, and komi were cheering their homeboy on, while washio just has a huge smile on his face

➞ but while chaos unfolded and surrounded you and akaashi, you two were both too lost in each other’s eyes that shined with pure adoration and love; every sound was muffled, but the soft and genuine whisper of ‘i love you so much’ that fell from his lips, you heard loud and clear

➞ to say the least, it was by far the best birthday you’ve ever experienced, and akaashi has now made it his mission to surpass it every year ‧₊˚✩彡

lmao, this is so short, forgive me but you said short hcs so i didn’t want to make it too long 🥺 anyways happy birthday again! hope you enjoy this... whatever this thing is that i’ve made. love ya’, angel!

p.s. can you teach me how to write hcs? cause like how do you make yours sound so good 😭 i’m legit confuzzled

[thorman-barnes]

Vampires 101

Part 1 || Part 2

pairing: stucky x reader

requested: sorta on this post

prompt: none

summary: steve doesn't like their unexpected guest and bucky does

warnings: jealous!steve, age gap (obviously) but everyone is over 18!

masterlist

a/n: feedback is very much apppreciated <3

Steve left the room to give Bucky space and talk with the girl.

When Bucky tried to explain what happened to her, she screamed and threw the first thing she at him. Which happened to be a lamp. Luckily, he has fast reflexes and he moved out of the way seconds before the lamp collided with his head.

And Steve, well, he watched as chaos unfolded before him because he knew Bucky was way over his head on this and didn't need to hear about it.

Bucky remained calm and talked in a soothing voice but even then, the girl knew better and kept her distance. She stared up at him with wild eyes and her chest was rising and dropping rapidly. Steve wondered how long it would take for her to realize she didn't actually need to breathe.

"And you expect me to believe that?" She shrieked and Steve looked back at the door he had just came from. He could hear both the girl and Bucky clear as day, he wasn't sure if it was because his sharp hearing or how close he was to them.

"Is your collar bone sore?" He heard his love's deep voice question. His voice soft and low trying not to terrify the poor girl.

"H-how would you know that?" Her voice just as soft as Bucky's but held some sort of terror in it. She was afraid and Steve knew the feeling. He remembered how afraid he was too.

"You got bit," Bucky explained, "I got bit here," Steve imagined Bucky moving his head to the side to show the bite mark just behind his left ear.

A soft and forced chuckle was heard, "Let me guess, you bit me?"

"No, you don't remember?"

"Did he bite me?" She shrieked but tone full of curiousity that was reeling Steve in. He can't remember the last time either of them was near a fresh vampire. He forgot what it was like when he first felt how cold his skin was or how he almsot went into full panic mode when he couldn't breathe.

"His name is Steve, and no." Steve stepped a few feet towards the entrance of the living room but stopped himself before she can see him. Bucky was in his line of sight, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, his eyes briefly flickered towards Steve then back to the girl.

He wasn't sure, but it was almost like Bucky was fascinated with her. His soft smile was something Steve missed dearly. Bucky didn't smile much, sure he laughed and grinned but he never let out a geniune smile and she was bringing it out of him so easily.

"Is my skin going to glitter in the sunlig-" Bucky snorted and threw his head back bringing a hand to his chest as laughter erupted from his chest. As Bucky laughed, it was silent and Steve imagined her pouting or throwing daggers at Bucky for laughing at her.

"What's that noise?" She asked and Steve arched a brow, walking into the room now but she paid no attention to him, her eyes on Bucky. Her head was tilted up as she furrowed her brows, trying to think.

Bucky thought for a second and tried to focus. A brow arched, head tilted to the side as he tried to hear what she was hearing. Then a few seconds past before Bucky nodded and stepped forward, his shins hitting the coffee table as he swayed forward and back on the ball of his feet, "That's the woods, sweetheart."

She scoffed and dismissed his words, "Liar."

Bucky chuckled and turned to Steve, pointing his thumb towards the girl looking at Bucky with admiration, "Doesn't even know my name and already accuses me of lyin'" he laughed while Steve scowled.

Bucky was enjoying the way she looked up to him and Steve knew it. He couldn't understand how easily Bucky charmed this girl so easily when she had just thrown a lamp at his head moments go. But yet again, Bucky always knew all the right words to say.

"It's the trees swayings, the leaves brushing against one another, the soft crunching of leaves as animals hunt their prey, the soft waves of the lake a few miles away," Bucky explained and Steve hated the way he paced around the room as he explained all the sounds to her and she moved her head along with him as he moved. It was like her curiousity and admiration was fueling Bucky and bringing him into existence while Steve diminished in the background - the spotlight pulling Bucky in and erasing Steve.

She scrunched her nose and brought her hands up to her ears. She looked up at Bucky, "I-it's so. . . loud," she said, more to herself than anything.

"After a while, you won't notice it so much," Steve replied and while Bucky looked over at him and nodded to show he agreed, the girl ignored him. She focused on Bucky, his Bucky.

"Is it always this cold?" She asked and rubbed at her arms. She couldn't be cold, yes, her skin would feel cold to the touch but it wasn't uncomfortable neither comfortable.

"Oh, baby," Bucky cooed and walked around the coffee table to sit on it before her. His rough fingers gently rubbed the smooth, fresh skin of her chin, "you have so much to learn."

Scoffing, Steve didn't know who he despised the most at the moment - Natasha for not being more careful, Bucky for having a too big of a heart for his own good, or the girl who was currently thriving on all the attention his boyfriend was giving her. Even Steve wasn't this needy when he was transformed.

Sure he also liked the attention Bucky gave him but he wasn't excessive. . . right? Maybe he should ask Bucky later.

"Will you teach me?" Voice softer than anything Bucky has ever known asked as she shyly looked up at the man sitting across from her. She was shy almost. If it were possible, blood would be rushing to her cheeks. And her teeth were biting gently onto her lower lip and they were the sharpest, little teeth they have ever seen in a while.

Bucky smiled at that. The way she shyed away but at the same time, leaned into his touch. His large, rough hand tracing the delicate outline of her jaw. He was done for her when she blinked rapidly at him and had trouble making contact and Steve was boiling behind him.

He knew Bucky was a sucker for pretty girls. The way they charmed him just as much he charmed them, the way they smiled at him all soft and pretty, the way their soft skin felt against his - sometimes he couldn't believe how easily taken Bucky was for dames.

"What's your name, pretty baby?" Bucky asked, all soft and smooth just for her. If it could, and she just hasn't realized it yet, her heart would be beating so fast it'd probably break free from her chest and Steve didn't like it one bit.

Steve cleared his throat, breaking the spell between the two, "Bucky, can I talk to you? Now," he demanded and headed for the hallway.

Bucky sighed and told her he'd be right back, having caught Steve's harsh glare he threw her way before leaving. But she was oblivious to Steve's cold stare because she was currently occupied with the way Bucky made her feel.

Steve was waiting in the hallway, arms crossed and a scowl on his face. "What the hell are you doing?"

Bucky shrugged, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just making friends with the new girl."

Shaking his head, Steve pulled Bucky further into the hallway from the collar of his shirt. Any average person wouldn't be able to hear their conversation but she no longer was an average person. She was one of them and Steve didn't want her hearing in on their private matters.

"You're flirting," Steve pointed out, throwing a sharp look at his partner when he snickered.

"Oh come on, Stevie," Bucky cooer and stepped forward, hand reaching for the back of Steve's neck to pull him in closer. But Steve shoved his hand away and backed up, glaring at Bucky. Sometimes he hated how Bucky was so oblivious to his feelings, well not so oblivious, but dismissive. "She's a baby, baby," Bucky tried again and reached for him. "I ain't got eyes for no one but you . . . even when you are being a little brat," Bucky mumbled the last part to himself but Steve, ever the little vampire, heard him loud and clear.

"Buck, you didn't bite her," Steve hissed, growing more agitated with Bucky by the second, "You have no control over her."

Bucky scoffed and backed away from Steve. A deep frown settled onto his features as he glared at the man before him. "You really think that's what I want? Someone to control?"

Steve shook his head quickly, realizing how Bucky misinterpreted his words but when he reached for Bucky, he backed away, his shoulder banging against the wall, "That's no what I meant, Buck, pl-"

"Yeah, I'm sure it wasn't."

"I just meant that the new ones get out of control and don't give a shit about consequences, they need the person wjo turned them to teach them, in this case, Natasha . . . and you didn't really give her a choice for that kind of responsibilit-"

"Of course, take her side. But she turned her, don't you understand that? She left her for dead, imagine what kind of trouble we'd have in our hands if I didn't save this girl before she created chaos," Bucky argued, his tone sharp and full of frustration. Frustration with Steve, with himself, the lack of support, with Natasha, everything at this point caused him frustration. All but the girl waiting eagerly for his return in the dim lights of his living room.

"She's not ours to protect, Buck."

"I didn't say she was ours, Steve," Bucky mocked back, his voice wavering as his frustration only seemed to grow.

Just once, Bucky wished he understood his side of things. It was like anything Bucky tried, Steve opposed it and had to say something about it. He talks about "us against everything else" but Bucky feels lately it's been Steve against him and everything he shows interests in.

Stevs tried to reach for him once more, his fingers just brushed against his arm when Bucky jerked away and made his way back to the living room leaving Steve abandoned in the narrow, dark hallway.

He could hear Bucky apologize for his behavior and the girl just swooning over Bucky - over having his attention once again. In his head, all he can see is the girl looking up adoringly at Bucky, taking every word that spills past his lips to heart while Bucky subtly compliments her, brushing his fingers against her cooling, smooth skin just like he did moments ago.

Bitterness takes over and Steve turns around, walking the opposite way that Bucky did. He passed the restroom, he passed the guest bedroom (which mostly served as a room for privacy for guests, considering they don't sleep), he passed by his and Bucky's bedroom, he walked up the creaking stairs (cringing everytime the noise echoed throughout the narrowed down staircase), and finally, he stopped at the window at the end of the hallway upstairs.

He looked out into the wilderness, hearing almost every sound possible as he shut out Bucky's voice and the girl's irritating questions.

He hadn't even known Natasha was in town. The last he heard of her, she settled down with a woman somewhere in Europe. Or at least, that's what Clint told him the last he saw him, which possibly was three years ago. He said something about Natasha falling in love with a young girl, well no much young as she was 32, but to them, she was young and if she was considered young, they would all probably see the girl downstairs who was being adored by Bucky as a child.

He wondered how long it'd be before she found out Bucky rescued her late night dinner and she came looking for the two.

Tag List:

@iamalphanow @bucky-faarms @m-a-t-91 @hoewkeye @im-just-another-monster @scarsout @mcuwillbethedeathofme @wonderlandfandomkingdom @ssaaraw

Bucky Barnes Tag List:

@hour-to-hourglass

Stucky x Reader Tag List:

@ravennightingaleandavatempus @mydogisthebest @hellaqueerangelofthelord @hockeyshmockey @multireality @letterstomyself21 @themusicalweirdo @multifandomwriter121 @firstangeldragonranch  @aactuaaltraash @littlepsychos-world

Series Tag List:

@chloerinebarnes @emilyroxy @gollyderek @itz-kira @ruckystarnes @authoressskr @slytherinyourrpants @powerful-vixen @marvelfansworld @1996-counting @lesbiiionest @bi-bi-bi-bisexualz @the-omni-princess @slytherinsbiggestproblem @rinthehufflepuff @learisa

[carnistcervine]

AU Thoughts

So, in my AU where Raava adopts Zuko, I mentioned that there is still an Avatar, just not Raava’s Avatar. So I started thinking up some ideas for what the Avatar would be like if Raava and Vaatu were swapped.

I’m not 100% on these ideas, I might tweak them or use them for their own AU and come up with something else for Raava Adopts Zuko, but this is what I got.

If anyone likes these ideas or the concept, feel free to use them. :D

~~~

*There is an old myth concerning the origin of the Avatar, it varies from nation to nation, and even some nations have multiple variants depending on where the tale is told. But the basic rundown is this: Thousands of years ago, in an era before bending, when the greater spirits still roamed the lands and mighty beasts guarded the tribes of man, a human was banished from his home, forced to roam the wilds alone. Tales vary on why he was banished and whether he deserved it, some stories claiming that he was a dirty thief who got finally got caught, others say he was falsely accused of murder, there's even one tale of the man as an almost robin hood style figure who stole food from the rich to help the poor. The man survives in the wilds for a while, seemingly bent by the spirits to turn against his fellow man. He eventually goes on, traveling the world, encountering the eternal spirits. The tales are split on whether the spirits were lovers(cast in an eternal dance) or foes(cast in an eternal struggle), but all tales agree that there were two, a pale one who embodied the light and order of the world, and a dark one who embodied the darkness and chaos. The man attacked the spirits, reasons vary on why, some say he was tricked by the dark one, some say he simply misinterpreted their dance to be a struggle, some say he was just trying to protect someone else. Either way, the spirits are separated and one is wounded. Stories once again diverge on whether it was the pale one or the dark one who was injured, but the result is the same. The balance of the world is egregiously damaged by his actions, and as penance he is forced to absorb the dark spirit and suffer it for ten thousand years. For each mistake he makes, another hundred years are added to his sentence. He spends the rest of his life trying to atone for his mistakes, dying on the battlefield when he's old and grey. Being that his sentence is not yet up, he reincarnates into his next life, and the cycle of the Avatar begins.

*Most dismiss these stories as, well, stories. But they remain the only record of any kind of origin for the mysterious being known as the Avatar.

*As for the Avatar themself, they tend to do whatever the hell they feel like doing. Despite being possessed by a dark spirit, they rarely do anything that could be considered genuinely malicious. The Avatar's presence is often marked before a great disaster or tragedy. Leading some to call them an omen.

*There have been stories of Avatars who gave warnings that were ignored. Then stood by and watched the chaos unfold, smiling and mockingly saying: “I told you so.”

*Being as powerful as they are, there are measures in place to immediately locate the newest Avatar as soon as the previous one perishes.

*One consequence of finding out when the Avatar is so young is that new Avatars are often either snuffed in their cribs or abandoned as small children by parents unable to deal with the dark spirit haunting them.

*Should the Avatar be allowed to live and grow, they will eventually seek aid in learning to control their abilities. Whether they seek the aid in disguise or openly depends mostly on society's view of the Avatar at that time.

*Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom parents are the most likely to snuff out a baby Avatar. In the Fire Nation, having the Avatar for a child is said to mean that Agni himself is angry with you or your family and is punishing you. In the Earth Kingdom it is usually said to mean that a tragedy will soon befall one. Usually the means of avoiding said tragedy is by ridding yourself of the dark spirit and passing it along the elemental chain. In the Water Tribes, the arrival of the Avatar is said to be a sign of change. While it's not uncommon for the Avatar to be killed in it's crib, the usual tradition in the southern tribe is that the head chief raises the Avatar, and in the north, the head healer is set to raise the child. As for the Air Nomads, since it is in their teachings that all life is sacred, and children aren't raised by their parents anyway, Air Nomad Avatars are pretty much never killed young. Instead the Avatar is sent to be cared for and taught by the strongest and most spiritual master. Rather than try and snuff them out, Air Nomads try as much they can to be a guiding force. Leading the Avatar down a good path and hopefully curbing any vicious tendencies.

*While not the first, Yang Chen is quite notable for the peaceful era that her long rein achieved. As for how she achieved such a peace, well, let's just say there's a reason no one dares invoke her name.

*People became much more open and accepting of the Avatar after Yang Chen, however. When Kuruk's time came, he was treated very well by those around him. Times were peaceful, and Kuruk himself was mostly pretty laid back. Well, except for his competitive streak. He'd challenge anyone and everyone to bending competition, or harmless duels. He was also quite the ladies man, only eventually settling down with a woman from his tribe. When she died, he became cold and withdrawn, wandering the world alone and eventually vanishing. His fate unknown.

*Well, he obviously died, as a new Avatar was born, but his body was never found.

*With Kuruk MIA, there was a bit of a power vacuum. Criminals took full advantage of this and terrible gangs roved the lands, killing and pillaging as they pleased.

*At least until Kyoshi showed up.

*Kyoshi was legendary for her ruthlessness. She slaughtered her enemies without so much as a second of hesitation. Some sources say she bathed in their blood and wore their entrails as fashion. While exact details of Kyoshi's apparent brutality are hotly debated among historians, one thing remains clear. Her enemies died quickly, and the world feared her. She was the longest lived Avatar, and the world remained at peace for her reign.

*With the Avatar having a mostly positive reputation, the Fire Sages opted to let the newest Avatar, Roku enjoy his early years as a normal person. And to their surprise, he was very normal. He didn't have any apparent violent impulses, wasn't withdrawn(even if he did seem a little shy), and overall was very happy and healthy. Like in canon, he grew quite close to Prince Sozin and they enjoyed a good friendship. Roku's status as Avatar was very publicly announced at his and Sozin's birthday. While Sozin was happy to have such a being as his friend, Roku had mixed feelings on harboring a dark spirit within him. He saw how the people around him reacted, they feared him. So he tried his best to show restraint. He'd prove to the world that the Avatar isn't one meant to be feared. His training went mostly smoothly, with only the spiritual training having some... unfortunate mishaps. Eventually he fell in love with a woman that didn't fear him, they got married and at the wedding Sozin told Roku vaguely about his plans of world domination. Roku, uh, didn't approve. But didn't want to make a show, because it was his wedding. So he simply growled at Sozin that he didn't want to hear about it. Then, he found a colony in the Earth Kingdom. He and Fang nearly trashed it in a fit of rage, but he decided to show restraint and told the people to fuck off back to the Fire Nation. Terrified of the Avatar, they did. Roku went to go confront Sozin, they got into an argument, Sozin attacked Roku and a royally pissed off Roku leveled the palace, only barely spared Sozin. In full avatar state, with red glowing eyes and smoky darkness billowing around him, Roku roared at Sozin that if he so much as breathed at the Earth Kingdom wrong he'd string him up by his entrails. Terrified of Roku's threat, Sozin abandoned his ambitions. He and Roku didn't speak again until many years later, when Roku's home erupted. Sozin didn't abandon Roku, but Roku being old and having inhaled too much poisonous gas died not too long after the incident. Sozin stayed by Roku on his deathbed. Roku had grown to regret his harsh treatment of Sozin, feeling he may have judged his old friend wrongly. His last words to him were an apology. Then he passed on, the Avatar Spirit moving to the Air Nomads once again.

*Sozin misinterpreted Roku's apology and subsequent death as the spirits being on his side and thusly went back to trying to achieve his ambitions.

*With Roku's last breath, Aang is born into the Air Nomads. He's left under Monk Gyatso's care. For the most part, Gyatso finds that Aang is a very gentle soul. He enjoys having fun and playing around. They decide not to tell him his true identity until he's older. Aang gets along quite well with his peers and gains many friends very quickly. Despite Gyatso's protests that Aang must be properly nurtured to sooth the dark spirit within him, the Elders decide to reveal the boy's true identity at twelve. Aang, doesn't take it well. The thought of a dark spirit living within him is well, scary. To make matters worse, his friends abandon him, utterly terrified of him. Gyatso tries to help Aang, treating him the same and remaining his last support. Then, because Gyatso insists on letting Aang be a kid, the elders try and separate them. Heartbroken, Aang runs away.

*Sozin still attacks the Air Temples, but not in an attempt to kill them all or rid the Avatar. No, Sozin thinks that the Avatar could be used for his war, so the soldiers are ordered to steal away as many children as possible, while killing anyone and everyone that stands in their way. Aang is frozen, so obviously all of the captured youths are just airbenders. Sozin doesn't have them killed though. No, he has use for them in his war machine...

*The search for the Avatar continues for a fair few decades before they figure that the being may have simply served his sentence and vanished from the world.

*When Katara and Sokka find Aang in the ice, let's just say they have more than a few reasons to be suspicious of him.

*As for Aang, he opts to keep his true nature under wraps for as long as he can.

*Not like anyone is actually looking for him anyway. :p

[catemagum]

          This has been a long time coming, but I wanted to talk about some of Sylas’ followers that I’ve created as NPCs. Yes, the majority of them are OCs of mine that were pulled in and used for just this, but they impact my interpretation of Sylas. These NPCs will be mentioned in replies, drabbles, and he may even feature some of their powers from time to time. I also decided to use this as an opportunity to really expand on how much foreign influence he has, and really showcase his allies from their respective nations. Of course, they’ve reached out in secret and met outside of Demacia’s borders, but Sylas has made quite a few terrifying acquaintances and friends. I will also update this post with new NPCs as I see fit, and will let everyone know when I’ve done so.

          If you ever want to interact with any of these NPCs, as I’ll be linking this post to the biography directly, you’re free to send in asks or inquire about roleplaying with them. This isn’t a multi-muse blog, but I do genuinely love these characters and would love to build on them more. With that said, just specify if this is the case!

          * Faceclaim names will be put beside the character name. All drawn image icons used feature art pieces that belong to me, either by commission or gift.

CASSIA WINCROFT   ---   RUTH CONNELL

          A beautiful and strong individual who wields powerful and wild fire magic. Wanted for breaking the Laws of Stone, Cassia has managed to evade authorities on Demacia’s outer borders for decades with her wildfires threatening their forestry and putting a wall between her and the mageseekers. Intrigued by Sylas’ cause and determination, she sees the fighting spirit and overwhelming potential in his eyes and was the first to ally herself with him. Over these short few months, Cassia has become almost motherly towards Sylas, ensuring he cares for himself from time to time whilst being the first at his side in dire times if possible.

          She finds Demacians amusing and toys with them for her own entertainment. While she isn’t one to endanger them purposefully, Cassia has a habit of forgetting the extent of her own powers. She and Sylas have an unspoken agreement that he may borrow her power whenever need be, and together they devastate the competition. She has burned down the homes of countless nobles with Sylas, and they are very rarely seen apart.

AMARAH KHAFRA & RASHAKEN

          Shuriman born with a brief involvement in the Noxian military, Amarah was known for her unique abilities granted to her by the desert god RASHAKEN. A wielder of pestilent magic, Amarah causes widespread disease through magic locusts and scarab beetles, creatures summoned from the pendant around her neck. All it takes is one touch, whether by her hand or her insects, to inflict an individual with crippling illness. Exiled from Shurima for leaving the deteriorated and half-eaten carcasses of Shuriman nobles, and leaving Noxus when they pushed into her homeland, Amarah heard word of the chaos unfolding in Demacia.

          Reaching Sylas through a few stray bugs, they met in secrecy within Demacia’s walls and formed an acquaintanceship. While she cares not for the freedom of Demacia’s mages, she is a loose cannon following discourse and Sylas himself has felt the power she wields. Gifting him a few messenger beetles, they communicate through her unique insect creatures while she returns to Shurima and scouts for new allies, undercover.

EVANORA STEROS

          A demonic being that had lived in the world of a damaged magic painting within the Immortal Bastion long before Noxus existed, Evanora emerged from her world when the Demon of Secrets was claimed by Jericho Swain. Since then, she led a pretty quiet life within Noxus’ walls, opening a small shop of magical   ( and cursed )   items and potions, becoming something akin to a traditional   ( and stereotypical )   witch. Gifted with the ability to travel to any place through a painting or photograph, whilst also capable of creating alchemical reactions with a single touch, Evanora’s curiosity got the better of her.

          She travelled to Demacia through one of many paintings she had acquired from a weary traveller, and found herself clad in their usual white and gold garments. She had arrived in search of trade, her goods for items she otherwise couldn’t find in Noxus, and had gotten caught up in an encounter between Sylas’ starting group of people and some nobles. Evanora minded her own business, but Sylas persisted when he saw the magic she possessed. He asked her to join him, and she agreed, insisting that she could bring him supplies from Noxus in exchange for things she needed. Agreeing, though wary of her Noxian status, he took a chance and has yet to regret it.

KIRAEL NOAVEK

          Kirael was born into Demacian nobility, and hated every moment of it. Her childhood was spent at home, sticking to the books and learning proper etiquette, always deemed too good for the other Demacian children. She was later discovered to have psychic abilities, things akin to the powers oracles held whilst allowing her to utilize basic telekinesis. Appalled by her magic and deeming her as a disgrace to their family, Kirael’s parents locked her away in their home and reported her as missing. Several years later, during Demacia’s first Harrowing, Kirael could not escape the cellar as the corruption crept in. A spectre came with it, and took Kirael’s life only to bring her with it. Welcomed to the Isles as their oracle, Kirael swore vengeance on Demacia for what they had done to her.

          Seeing Demacia’s future in a vision, Kirael headed for the shining city three days before Sylas’ escape. She arrived a day after and sought him out, travelling only at night and avoiding prying eyes until appearing before him. She shared her story, her mistreatment, and offered her psychic abilities to aid him. She would be his eyes for the future, so long as he would be her eyes in the present. Although it is unsafe for her to remain in Demacia for too long, she occasionally visits to share her information and to obtain stories from Sylas. Their close bond formed through similarities of imprisonment, and he values her and her connections to the Shadow Isles. It is said that when she lends Sylas her powers, she lends him her true sight   ( with the consequence of losing his physical sight )   so long as the physical connection is not broken. Otherwise, he inherits her telekinesis for a brief amount of time when they separate.

YUYAKO KUROSAWA

          Born in Ionia, Yuyako is known for adopting orphaned children in her nation. Afflicted with a terrible curse that allows her to raise the dead, Yu tries her best to ensure the safety of the children she adopts while also attempting to bring restless and vengeful spirits to peace on the side. She was once a prisoner of war after the Noxian invasion, told that she would either join Noxus and aid them with her powers or she would hang, Yuyako spat in the soldiers’ faces in defiance. Feeling the ancient corrupting energy in the ground below her, Yuyako needed a diversion for her escape. She brought back several soldiers of the Ruined King’s army to storm the prison while she managed to steal one of Noxus’ ships and set sail back to Ionia.

          During her time in Noxus, she heard of Demacia’s mistreatment of mages and found herself disgusted. In a nation where magic was everywhere and in everything, Yuyako couldn’t fathom suppressing it. Her heart bled for those affected, and although she doesn’t approve of Sylas’ more violent means of fighting the government, she isn’t exactly anything short of a fighter either. Willing to participate by more peaceful means, Yuyako is the one to aid Sylas in breaking mages out of prison so long as innocents aren’t killed in the process. Sylas struggles to use her ability, attempting to force the dead to raise for him, but she knows he can learn to ask and reach them with practice. It requires peace, not violence, and she hopes he will learn to settle down with her teachings. Of course, she always returns home once her job is complete, as her loyalty always lies with Ionia.

DRAKKAR

          A former Bilgewatian gambler who made a deal with a mysterious man, only to find himself later possessed by a wraith of sorts. With his body morphed into holding this malicious entity, Drakkar is capable of becoming smoke-like, whilst also choking others by bombarding their lungs with smoke. He is a terrible creature, known for slipping through the smallest of cracks and willing others to gamble their lives. He becomes stronger with each life he takes.

          He and Sylas met in one of Demacia’s bars, the mystifying man attempting to coerce Demacians into gambling with him. One was brave enough, and Sylas had walked in to see the bar shrouded in thick smoke and fog. Intrigued by this power, whilst Drakkar assumed the worst, Sylas instead offered him a place among the other mages. So long as Drakkar promised not to harm the mages of Demacia, he would be allowed to stay. Accepting the offer, Sylas now has a personal spy and scout. Sylas does not enjoy using Drakkar’s abilities, and avoids doing so unless absolutely necessary to make his escape.

JAECAR

          Drakkar’s son, or, rather, partner. He, too, was possessed by a spiritual entity and has taken up the job of a Zaunite medic. Unfortunately, he’s not one for healing, rather, experimenting. He specializes in turning anatomy into puppets of his, whether living or dead, and he controls them through terrible means. It isn’t unusual to catch a glimpse of severed limbs moving on their own, nor is it unusual for the corpse of one’s local soldier to shamble through the town at night. Suspicions of his activities grew larger, driving Jaecar out of Zaun before he was caught. While he does have healing abilities, he prefers to use them for unfortunate purposes.

          Hearing word of his father’s stay in Demacia, Jaecar used his anatomical puppetry to cause a distraction and slip past the guards. He found his way to Sylas, reunited with his father, and offered his services as their medic. Despite his questionable morals, he promised he would not experiment on the mages and would, instead, use the nobles they killed as his research subjects. All too eager to lend his power to Sylas, mostly for research purposes, Sylas finds himself at an internal war over using it. While he has no qualms with controlling the dead, he does find it a bit unsettling to control the living.

ENJORRAN

          Deep in the Freljord, there is one such individual that has suffered far more than most. Known as an assassin, Enjorran is a golem created long ago as a royal guard for the first king and queen. After so many years, those he was made to protect have passed and he finds himself without purpose, whilst hating the direction the Freljord has gone in. With his devastating ice abilities, Enjorran has made it his personal duty to restore the Freljord to its former glory, and has essentially become a menace to any who stand with the three current tribes.

          Sylas reached out to Enjorran on a whim, hearing of this mysterious and powerful golem from books Lux had given him. He was surprised to receive an answer by way of snow owl, a letter written   ( albeit poorly )   in response and affirmation of acquaintanceship. Enjorran agreed to seek out other mages in the Freljord, ask them for help whilst reminding Sylas that he cannot go anywhere near petricite. He has agreed to lend his aid however possible in exchange for some of Demacia’s plantlife pressed between books. He has never gotten to see nature.   ---   Although Sylas has never used Enjorran’s powers, it would be incredibly devastating. Able to cover an entire city of Demacia in snow and ice, Sylas hopes that he may be granted the ability to use this magic someday.

LUCINDA DAWNHEART

          An orphan from the city of Piltover, Lucinda was adopted into the Dawnheart family and registered within Demacia’s group of mages. She has since then hidden her talents, but is among the Demacian youth who suffers from the discrimination against mages and magic. Living within one of the annulment slums, Lucinda has been protected by the other mages and has used her magic to both help and save people from danger. Magic that takes the shape of large claw-like manifestations that hover over her, this young girl has become a favorite among Demacian mages.

          Sylas indeed witnessed her powers when scaring away a thief from taking their supplies, mages telling the tales of a young girl haunted by a violent spirit. They keep her magic a secret with such a tale, and she plays off having no control over this demon.   ---   Recognizing her strength, Sylas has asked her to continue to protect mages so long as she stays safe, but she isn’t one to listen. Lucinda has a fighting spirit despite the innocence she portrays, and is determined to fight alongside him despite his instruction. Sylas has used her abilities once, and consequently torn a mageseeker and their accompanying soldier to shreds to protect a child being taken from their family in the slums.

VEL’AAN & NAVRESHA

          Not much is known about Vel’Aan aside from the fact that they were raised in Ionia. Trained to be a formidable assassin, Vel’Aan was given a task to hunt down accursed objects within Ionia’s hidden passages. It was their job to uncover the country’s secrets, and on one day they did uncover something. Hidden within the ruined temple, guarded by mages of all sorts, Vel’Aan heard the whispers of a voice with enticing promises. They slipped in through a hole in the roof, unseen and undetected, only to be met with a sinister-looking mask depicting the face of a woman. Introducing itself as Navresha, Vel’Aan would be given power in exchange for the mask’s freedom. Agreeing and leaving with the mask in hand, Vel’Aan would never be the same after putting the mask on.

          Sylas sought this duo out when hearing tales of the accursed mask being free’d from its confinement, that a young shaman had appeared in a Noxian city and left more than half the town in comatose. Bodies mummified in branches and covered in white flowers that never wilt nor die, not dead but asleep with no means of waking them, Sylas was intrigued by these powers. He sent an invitation to where he heard Vel’Aan was hiding out in Ionia, and set up a meeting outside of Demacia’s borders. They agreed to work together, and Sylas realized the power’s potential. It was not violent, but peaceful, a calming coldness that felt as though he himself danced with death personified. All it took was one touch, and a body blossomed. The flowers bloomed and the body shut down to sleep. It was beautiful, a good means of disengaging people, and he felt as though together they could do great things.

More to be added in due time !

---   void mage ---   darkin w/ hemomancy ---   one ( 1 ) yordle ---   targonian w/ weird space magic

[lunahearts]

Rinea/Celica, Rinea teaching her how to dance

(Oops, a little bit of my desire for Rinea/Celica recovery fic leaked out here and this got longer than intended, and a little off prompt, sorry ^.^;;)

Celica doesn’t recognize the crumpled, sobbing woman that she and Alm find on their way out of the caverns, and exhausted as she is, she doesn’t think to ask right away. Still worn thin, she leans on Conrad, and watches as Alm kneels down gathers the woman into a hug like so much powdered snow, whispering quiet apologies and assurances. The flickering firelight reveals a soft face and wild eyes, searching for something Celica imagines she will not find.

It’s only when Alm tries to help her up and the woman lets out a chilling scream that Celica realized that both her hands are covered in bright red burns.

When they get above ground and the group scatters around the castle, Celica goes to her, to find Rinea. She had caught the name from Alm, heard him whispering something about her to one of the other soldiers at his side.

From behind, it is easier to see that Rinea’s short hair is singed and uneven, though strangely enough, her clothes show now sign of having been burnt. It seemed to Celica that perhaps nothing works quite as it should in Duma Tower.

She stands next to Rinea in silence for as long as it takes to feel confidant the woman has taken notice of her. Women often came to the priory, running and afraid, hoping to hide, and Celica recognizes the look, the twinges of fear and guilt. She needs, deserves, only gentleness now. Rigel is a cold place, and the chaos of what has just happened won’t take long to spread out from the castle. But Celica thinks, at least, she can offer a moment of solace to this woman, this stranger, can offer up whatever gentleness she can muster, tired as she is.

“I can heal your hands, if you’d like. They will still scar, but it will ease the sting a bit.” 

Rinea’s lips part slightly as she turns to face Celica, and her eyebrows pull together in confusion. Her eyes are still unfocused, her attention drawn inward by some memory or fear. One hand reaches out, haltingly, towards Celica, and then stops. Drops to her side. Then she turns back to the window.

Celica does not ask again.

-

The Deliverance, alongside Celica’s group and the remains of the Rigelian forces, form into a strange new collective, and set about trying to spread the news that the war is over. Celica rests, and waits. Her time will certainly come, but for now she is more than willing to let Alm be the face of the new movement. For now, she enjoys the fresh air, and the crunch of snow under her feet, and the books she steals from all around the castle and stashes away in her room to read at her leisure.

Rinea comes to sit with her often, over the slowly unfolding weeks. Rarely saying much, just watching, sometimes sleeping. Her hands are treated and bandaged, and begin to heal, though no one sees to her hair until Celica gets fed up and tracks down one of the kinder looking castle staff to help. She doesn’t trust her own hands, unsteady as they have been in recent days.

The next day, Rinea thanks her. It’s the first time she’s truly spoken to Celica, and Celica looks up from her book, surprised.

“It seemed unfair to leave it such a mess like that. Things may be hectic right now, but you deserve at least as much attention and grooming as Alm has been getting lately,” she finishes, rolling her eyes.

Rinea is silent for a moment, still staring. “Why did you do it?”

Frowning a bit, Celica shuts her book. “Like I said, it seemed like you-”

“No.” Rinea shakes her head, then finally breaks her gaze away, looking down at her bandaged hands. “Why did you bring me back?”

“I… what?”

“Your voice. I recognize it. I remember hearing it when I was…” She trails off, and Celica tries to put together the pieces.

“Those burns,” Celica says, haltingly. “Did you… was it someone else who caused them?”

Rinea shakes her head, then pauses, then nods. “He, he didn’t know.”

Setting her book down beside her, Celica moves to the chair where Rinea is sitting, crouching down a little to lay her hands over Rinea’s. “Did he do something to you that,” she pauses, trying to pick her words carefully, “that made you leave yourself?”

Rinea nods again, and Celica sighs.

“Something like that happened to me, as well. I remember many voices, and, and people. Crying for help”

“There was a warm light all around you, and I was afraid, but you begged us to come with you. I thought that maybe he…”

Celica had avoided thinking about it, thinking about where she had gone, when her soul had been offered up to Duma. Her nightmares were haunted writhing darkness, the voices, the horror of knowing there was no escape, the deeper dread of realizing help had come, but for her alone.

She remembers reaching out, frantically, a thousand hands recoiling from her touch, all of them slipping away. All but one.

“I wanted to help,” Celica answers, finally. “I wanted to help everyone, but I couldn’t. So I tried to help you.” There are silent tears on Rinea’s cheeks, but still she doesn’t raise her eyes. “I’m sorry, Rinea. I’m sorry to have brought you back into such a cold, unhappy place. But I’m still with you, I still want to help. Please, if there is anything-”

Celica stops when Rinea starts sobbing, collapsing forward and off of her chair, throwing herself into Celica’s lap. It takes several seconds for Celica to recognize her frantic whispers as “thank you.”

After that, Celica does not often leave her side.

-

Rinea shows her around the castle, slowly. Neither of them have much energy, but the more time they spending walking and exploring together, the easier it becomes. It is two weeks after Rinea’s first speaking when they come to the ballroom.

Despite herself, Celica looks around with more than a little awe. The high ceiling is cloaked in darkness, and the room is unlit aside from a few candles on the far ends of the hall, but it is not hard to imagine the beauty it could be, filled with light, and finely dressed people.

“Did you dance here often,” she asks, watching as Rinea carefully sets her own candle down on one of the long tables at the edge of the room. Her hands are well on their way to healing, enough now that she can grasp and hold her own candle, but she is still overly cautious in every movement she makes.

“I’m afraid not.” Rinea comes up beside Celica, looking around the cavernous, empty space with her own small portion of awe. “I… never had the chance.” 

Celica catches a strange expression on Rinea’s face, as she catches her eye. Rinea blushes a little and then looks away, continuing, “have you ever danced, Celica?”

Laughing a little, Celica shakes her head. “I’m afraid there isn’t much call for grand balls at the temple. Sometimes Genny would make me dance with her, when she was younger, but I think that’s perhaps not quite the same.”

“I could show you a little, if you’d like. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the chance. And you ought to know, as the Princess of Zofia.”

Celica sighs momentarily at the use of her title. “I am not sure if that will hold much sway in Valentia after all that has happened.” Something shifts her her stomach as she catches Rinea’s eyes darting to the floor, and she continues, “however, you may be right. I’ve never had much of a chance to learn how to hold myself as a noble, and now seems as good a time to learn as any.”

Holding out a hand, she smiles soft and Rinea, whose eyes dart up in surprise.

“I didn’t mean…”

“I know.” Celica shrugs. “But I imagine we won’t be left alone to wander Rigel Castle forever. So why not?”

Rinea smiles, hesitantly, and then takes her hand, leading her out towards the center of the room. It’s dark, as they move away from the candles, and when Rinea places her hand at Celica’s waist, Celica starts momentarily, caught by surprise.

“I’m sorry,” Rinea says, pulling away immediately, “I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s fine.” Celica finds her hand, and pulls it back to her hip. “I am supposed to place mine on your shoulder, correct?”

“Yes. Yes, that’s right. Just follow my lead.”

They have a few false starts, and Celica has trouble in particular with marking a beat in her head. When she realizes this, Rinea begins to hum, a gentle bouncing tune, and the steps start to come more easily.

They move together, haltingly, into the dark end of the ballroom, Celica following intently, occasionally loosing track of the light as they spin. Then they make their way back, more steadily, coming to a slow stop near the center of the room.

Neither of them move, at first. Without speaking, Celica takes a half step forward, leaning her head against Rinea’s shoulder. Celica can pick out her heartbeat, slightly frantic.

“Rinea?” Celica feels the hand at her waist tense for a moment, then relax.

“Yes?”

“I want to try and help them. The rest of the people that were trapped in there with us. I… I don’t know how, but I have to do something.”

Rinea lets go of her hand, carefully reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind Celica’s ear. “Have you talked with the others about this? With Alm?”

Celica shakes her head against Rinea’s shoulder. “I don’t know how to. I don’t know if they’d understand.”

“Alright.” Rinea brushes her hand down Celica’s hair, then lets it rest there. “We can try and help them. But… not right now, Celica. I’m not, I can’t…”

“I know.” Celica sighs, pulling away a bit so she can meet Rinea’s eyes. “Just… someday.” Mustering her best smile, she continues, “maybe once you’ve taught me to dance a little better.”

“I’m sure you would meet the standards of most of the men that call themselves nobles around here,” Rinea replies, the barest hint of a cold spark in her eyes. “They care for title and beauty more than anything, anyways.”

“Well,” Celica says, trying not to let her thoughts get tangled, “I won’t hold myself to their standards, then. When you think I can dance, truly, properly dance… then we will try and find a way.”

“Okay.” Rinea says. “Okay.”

And then she pulls Celica towards her again, and begins to lead them once more across the silent room.

[bygosscarmine]

That’s right, posting on Tuesdays AND Thursdays with new shorter chapter! ENJOY

In which Yeon Joo gets back in her real-Seoul groove, but the unfinished business of W may be following her home... 

Worlds Apart - Chapter Nineteen

find previous chapters here: [link]

a W: Two Worlds retelling/fix-it fic (Oh Yeon Joo x Kang Chul)

Dr. Oh Is Back (822 words)

When it was finally morning, Yeon Joo realized she didn't want to see her mother. Trying to explain that she was ready to work again might destroy her nerve. So when she heard her go into the shower at about 6 am, she quickly put on slacks and a blazer over a blouse and slipped out to a coffee shop. Not that she needed the caffeine. Her body still seemed to hum with extra time or energy. Instead she ordered a pastry, and sat looking out the window at her own Seoul, the one that was chaos and taxis that ignored fares at inconvenient pick-up spots. People ignored her, or maybe glanced to see if they knew her.

She took the train, packed in with all the anxious, pushy people. She wasn't the center of any universe, and it was comforting. The offices were getting rolling for the day when she arrived at the hospital, and took a breath to steady herself as she joined a pool of people in front of the elevator. Would she really go through with this?

When she went to the administrative suite, though, and the human resources director looked slightly incredulous as she stated her business, her resolve firmed up.

She had saved a man who was dying with a filet knife on a rooftop as her operating theater. The failed surgery that had so destroyed her was a horrible memory--but no more than that.

"We'll be happy to have you back," Director Lee said, covering her surprise. Yeon Joo went up to the staff surgeon offices to greet everyone with the news, and Seok Bum was a lot more blunt. "We've been needing at least one person capable of teaching by example, who doesn't make people cry as often as Barking Mad Park does. I can't explain things, you know that."

"I don't know how you still have a job here," Yeon Joo said, "and why you haven't applied elsewhere."

"It's because if I don't have a job here as if it were automatic, I'll have to move back home to be a surgeon at my grandfather's hospital, and get married," Seok Bum said patiently.

He had explained this before. Yeon Joo just found this inevitability hard to buy.

"So what's with your dad writing you into W, huh?" Seok Bum asked. "A pretty wild turn of events, too. Seems like he's going to wrap it up with some fireworks."

"Have you been keeping up with the comic?"

"Oh yeah. The web has lit up with outrage and your name is everywhere. So like a good friend, I read all the worst comments."

"And told them off, I hope?"

"And gave them likes," Seok Bum said, unfolding himself to his full 6 feet with a profound crack from his back. "Kang Chul can't be getting together with a scrubby girl from Ehwa University. So Hee's va-va-voom figure says it all."

Since Seok Bum had shown no real signs of interest in any woman as long as Yeon Joo had known him (or in any man, either) this savored of baiting.

"Doesn't that make me a perfect Cinderella story?"

Seok Bum laughed. "Not as long as you're a surgeon with a nationally famous father." He patted her shoulder. "I'm glad you're coming back. You'll stay out of your father's hair so he doesn't send you to jail again."

He had an appointment, so she waved him off. Then she sat at the computer they shared in the office, and rushed to bring up W. In her focus on reinstating herself, she had forgotten about her father, or at least let him remain in the back of her mind. Hadn't contacted Soo Bong. Both were probably still sleeping. Had her father ever returned to the studio?

She scrolled down, wincing at all the personal moments now were rendered flat for public consumption. She also winced at the comments at the bottom of the pages, hurriedly clicking to the next page.

She couldn't help but linger over the expressions of their faces, in that last part of the conversation. His shock was something she could feel inside herself, looking at it. And then she found there was more after she had disappeared. She rolled further down, and saw what he had seen next.

The frozen life around him.

His thoughts, on the page, unable to absorb it and yet still having to accept it.

She held her breath as she came to the last image--of him touching the boundary. What was that? She had never seen it, either.

And that's where the images ended.

She scrolled back up to check on just how much page-space her jail tenure got, and then remembered Seok Bum's unintentionally sharp comment on her dad sending her there. She tried calling the studio, and no one picked up. She texted her father, "We need to talk." Then she called Soo Bong.