#in coping mechanisms and backgrounds

[fefposting]

My tribute to old brony culture :]

[typewriteringalaxy]

Halfway in s1 ep4 and yes this show was made for me specifically omg

In 2023 I will obsess over Cloack and Dagger.

[kottaniq]

I missed her...

[lossisyours]

GOSSIP GIRL REWATCH → THE HUMPHREYS in 1.01 | Pilot

[janetbrown711]

A Twist on an Old Classic

Collar | Touch Aversion | "Leave me alone"

Mei's been having nightmares ever since MK revealed his true chaotic monkey form which she desperately tries to ignore as she and MK go out to a concert

(Harbinger and the Solider type fic, but not exactly ;) )

Ao3 Link

Mei was on fire.

No… no, scratch that, she was the fire.

Red and hot, destroying and aching and burning, she was a flame singeing the grass beneath her feet and crumbling the trees around her as tears evaporated off her cheek.

She could smell the burning flesh, hear the cries of animals, feel her own soul and light being slowly and achingly peeled away from her as she burned bright and crimson.

“MK?! Pigsy?! Mr. Tang?! R-red boy?! Where are you?!” She called, her voice cracking as tears sizzled faster against her face.

“Where is everyone?!” She tried calling out again, which only made her sides ache more as she continued looking around desperately.

She saw something move in a bush, and without thought she ran to it before it was cauterized in an instant, along with a little white rabbit.

“No– no, I’m so sorry– I-I didn’t mean to– I’m sorry!” She tried to scoop it up, but it was cremated by her mere gaze and its ashes were spread to the wind. Trying to grasp them was even more pointless, as it just caused them to disappear quicker.

“M-MK– MK where are you?! I didn’t mean to– I didn’t– I don’t wanna– MK, please!!!” Mei cried louder.

“Mei? Mei?!”

“MK!!!” Mei sprang to life, running with all her might to where the voice of her best friend originated.

“Mei?! Mei where are you? We gotta get you outta here!!!” MK called again.

“I hear you! I hear you! I’m almost there– j-just hold on!” Mei replied, heart pounding.

“Mei-! Mei!!! There you–”

Mei was going to run into his arms, but MK stumbled back in terror.

“M-MK? W-what's wrong?” Mei pleaded, stepping forward, but MK crawled backward.

“Y-you! You’re the one causing all of this-!” MK pointed.

“MK, I-i don’t mean to– make it stop, please!” Mei ran to his side, grabbing his hand before her friend cried in pain.

“GAH— What is wrong with you?!” MK kicked her away while trying to cool his hand, which was actively smoking.

“I'm sorry! I didn’t mean to– I didn’t want to– I-i–” Mei could barely talk, the words just bundling up in her throat.

To make matters worse, Pigsy and Tang showed up too, and instantly ran to their son to investigate his injuries, and when Pigsy noticed it was Mei’s fault his eyes turned to daggers.

“You did this to ‘im, didn’t you?!” He growled, pulling out his rake.

“I-i didn’t mean to Mr. Piggy, I promise– I’d never–”

“It’s Pigsy, you lyin’ bastard!” The chef growled and swung at her, which Mei barely avoided.

“I’m not lying-! P-please! I don’t want to be like this!” She wept as Pigsy tried to strike her again.

Pigsy kept fighting her and fighting her and fighting her as she ran further into the bright burning forest, her cries and apologies causing the flames to grow higher and higher in the wind, until MK was somehow in front of her with his staff in hand.

“This is for the greater good Mei– you know this,’” MK lifted his staff.

“MK– n-no– please,” Mei begged on her knees.

Right then a different voice called to her– a familiar, but long, long dead one.

“Xiaojiao!”

Ao Lie.

Mei shook her head, trying to get rid of the voice before she noticed her friend– her bestest and greatest friend in the whole wide world MK– just smirked in his shining monkey form, glitching yellow before he leapt into the air and struck her through her skull–

Mei suddenly gasped for air, shooting upright in her bed, and gripping her blankets so tight it hurt.

“It’s not real, Mei– it never is,” She whispered to herself, closing her eyes to try and ground herself but all she could see was the staff being hurled towards her while he had that awful, awful grin.

Instead of that, she brought her eyes to her window where the night sky was slowly but surely transforming into twilight. It was… sort of calming, though her chest still felt tight and hot– like a flame wrapped around and squeezing her heart.

Ever since the defeat of Azure Lion and MK unlocked his “full monkey powers”, Mei had been having dreams like that one.

Sometimes MK would kill her alone, sometimes it would be a group effort with the whole gang plus Monkey King, and sometimes she wouldn’t even get a warning– going from simply hanging out to him transforming in the blink of an eye and killing her.

But they were just dreams, nothing more and nothing less.

A dream.

Mei took a deep breath.

She was going to go out with MK today to a hole-in-the-wall concert a couple towns over and it was gonna be totally "off the chain", or whatever that flier had said. She had planned this thing out for months and it was good for MK to get out and get loose again– she was not going to chicken out after working so hard on getting MK to not chicken out.

Slowly Mei picked herself up and dragged herself to her bathroom, ignoring her glowing alarm clock shining 4:28 AM at her. As she flicked the light on and closed the door she immediately looked in the mirror, inspecting her sluggish state with a groan. She inspected eyebags and messy hair before realizing if she looked real close, she could almost see flashes of crimson in her eyes, making her jump back and knock over bottles of soap.

“Shit,” she cursed to herself, quickly picking them all up and sloppily putting them back into place before looking back in the mirror, seeing nothing but her usual dark brown irises.

As they should be. There was no green and there was certainly no crimson, because crimson was bad, crimson meant no control, crimson meant–

Mei took a deep breath, shutting the spiral before it got out of hand.

She was just tired. And excited. She had a long day ahead of her and she needed to get back to sleep.

Yeah… that was it– she’d be fine, this was fine.

Bad dreams. They were just bad dreams.

It didn’t matter if every time she woke there was a familiar burning in her chest, or sometimes when she tried to light a candle the flame would be red instead of green, it was just a bad dream.

MK would never hurt her, and she would never hurt MK.

MK would never hurt her, and she would never hurt MK.

.o0o.

Mei never did manage to go back to sleep, deciding to doom scroll her various social medias until the sun rose, and after that she proceeded to make a big cup of cold brew and headed out to meet her bestest, kindest, loyalest, never-would-purposely-hurt-her-est friend in the whole wide world.

Pigsy and Tang were happy to see her, as per usual, with the former noticing the bags under her eyes and deciding to comment on it, which made the latter laugh and the couple had some quick couple banter before MK ran down the stairs, backpack in arm.

“Hey Mei–! I know, I know, I’m late, but not too late! We should still get good parking,” MK apologized, not seeming to notice he was only three minutes behind since Mei had arrived so early.

“Don’t worry monkey man, I already bought the pass online, we should be good,” Mei grinned, when MK seemed to notice something about her.

“You get enough sleep last night?” He asked, and Mei sat a little straighter.

“Psh, you know me– I can pull three all nighters in a row playing Super Monkey Mashing Bros tournaments online, I’m fine,” Mei brushed off with ease.

Pigsy didn’t seem to like that answer, huffing a little. “Ya know that doesn’t make it any healthier.”

Mei’s face almost twitched to a frown but she brushed that off too. “Just because you’re a grumpy old man doesn’t mean I’m a grumpy old man, Piggy,” she grinned again.

Tang laughed as the demon rolled his eyes.

“MK, you make sure Mei doesn’t pass out in the humidity, will you?” Pigsy smirked a little, making Mei scowl dramatically.

“Oh! Sure! Though I wouldn’t worry about that; Mei’s got them dragon genes, she can handle a little heat,” MK grinned as his words made Mei shift uncomfortably– which of course Pigsy noticed.

“You feelin’ alright..?” The chef asked in a low tone, but of course the other occupants heard.

Mei shook her head and instantly brought back her characteristic chipperness. “I’m a-okay, Piggy– I’ll get a shirt from the band for you,” She finger gunned.

“I’ll add it to the pile,” Pigsy smiled a little too sympathetically for her liking.

“Alright, well, uh– we going then?” MK bounced on his heels and Mei nodded, grabbing her bag and standing as well.

“Lead the way, my liege,” She bowed and gestured to the door dramatically.

“Why of course, my good lady,” MK bowed too and they both laughed and exited before Pigsy could shout his usual “text me when you get there!” and before they knew it they were in the chef’s beat up car and on their way.

“So– I know I’m gonna sound like a jackass that doesn’t pay attention to things– but what’s the name of the band again?” MK asked, making a turn out of Pigsy’s parking lot.

“They’re named Monarch Ocean Small Minnow– they’re an indie punk rock band that I was obsessed with our first year of secondary school,” Mei told him, pulling up their instagram before realizing she shouldn’t show MK that because he was driving, but he caught a glimpse before she stopped.

“Oh right– I remember Lin used to talk about them constantly,” MK reminded the girl of her own punk rock indie band obsessed ex-girlfriend.

“Had to bring up Lin, didn’t you?” Mei snorted, raising an eyebrow.

“Had to,” MK laughed. “I don’t think you’ve gone through a worse breakup.”

“Sometimes I still find guitar picks under my mattress,” Mei laughed and looked out the window.

“After I made you purge them all? Wow, can’t believe you’d just lie to me like that,” MK shook his head.

Mei rolled her eyes. “It’s not lying if I genuinely didn’t know they were there– and at this point I want them to be gone, trust me.”

Her bestie laughed more, switching on the turn signal. “Well at least you two have very lucrative careers of your own now: her’s being a solid music career with 150,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and yours being– oh yes, what is your job again?” He teased.

“Hey! Being an heiress is not easy– and if anything, my job is making sure your ass doesn’t–” Mei shook her head. “My job is keeping you out of too much trouble.”

MK noticed her pause and glanced at her before he had to turn right, and it seemed he just decided to drop it (thankfully).

There were bits and patches of small talk here and there while Mei continued scrolling social media and think about her dreams and her powers and if any of it meant anything and MK drove, until about 45 minutes in he realized he completely forgot to fill the car up yesterday and they had to pull into a gas station– which meant Mei paid for gas and MK took her card to run in and buy all the junk his heart desired while she watched the pump.

Once he was inside, Mei leaned against the car and sighed, combing fingers through her still slightly ratty hair, cursing to herself.

“You’re losing it, Long. Keep. It. Together. They’re just dreams, they're not real, they're not prophetic, they're just dreams. Just stupid, stupid dreams,” She muttered, continuing to watch the pump until it clicked.

When she dislodged it, a little bit of gas spilled out, causing her to jump and drop it, getting the gasoline on the car and the ground. As she went to pick it up her hand went ablaze with crimson fire, which rose dangerously high due to the contact with the gasoline, which Mei panicked to fix even more, trying everything Red Son had ever suggested, but it was all useless as it climbed and climbed and climbed and–

“Mei! They had a buy-one-get-two-free deal on peach rings so I bought six bags, so I hope you don’t mind and– are… you okay?” MK asked, arms full of snacks and hands busy with sodas as the flames vanished in the blink of an eye.

“I-i– you didn’t–” Mei looked around, then at her hands.

MK’s brow creased. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing-! Nothing…” Mei shook her head. “I– I guess I had a bad dream the other night and it left me a little… jumpy,” she half-lied.

“Oh,” MK’s face softened. “What was it about?”

Mei shook her head again. “Not important– and more importantly not your fault, so let’s just get out of here.”

“If… you say so,” MK tried to laugh and lighten the mood, which Mei copied, but the air still felt rather sour as they started driving away.

There was some light small talk here and there, but after about fifteen minutes back into the hour-and-a-half drive, Mei’s exhaustion started getting to her and she began to nod off, and MK, being the kind and loyal friend he was, let her drift to sleep without protest.

.o0o.

Calm… peace… birds were chirping…

Ah, yes Mei was back at the training grounds with Red Son, where she had first learned to control her powers.

This… this was a good thing. It was calm here, there was no damage done, and as she looked around she saw the familiar long red locks of her darling-est Red Son, whom she decided to sneak up from behind for a hug attack, as she usually did in pleasant dreams like these.

“Aha! Gotcha,” Mei pounced before nuzzling her face into his shoulder.

“Ah– hi, Mei,” Red Son acknowledged her briefly before he looked out into the horizon.

“What? What’s wrong?” Mei frowned but didn’t let go of her partner.

The demon bull prince sighed. “Mei… we can’t keep going like this.”

Mei stepped back. “What do you mean ‘like this’? Isn’t this– great? Getting away from it all for a bit?” She tried to smile but Red Son turned angrily.

“‘Away from it all?! Dragon Girl– you– you destroyed everything– My parents are dead because of you– I-i–”

“What?! I haven’t hurt anybody– I’d never hurt anybody– I–”

“Look around, Dragon Girl– the world is crumbling at your feet because you couldn’t master a simple breathing exercise– do you not realize what you’ve done?!’” Red Son exclaimed, shooting fire at her as he spoke and it was only then she noticed the flames surrounding her and the smoke burning her eyes.

“I-I didn’t mean to, Red Son– I-I never wanted to hurt anyone-!” She argued with the prince, the flames growing higher and higher.

Suddenly, she wasn’t standing before her partner but MK again. In his monkey form, again.

“You know, the scroll told me I was the predestined ‘Harbinger of Chaos’ in this little song and dance of ours, but I’m starting to think he might’ve had us mixed up,” MK grinned, his smile glowing with pure yellow light against the swirling reds around him.

“M-MK, I didn’t mean for this to happen! Any of this! You have to believe me!” Mei pleaded with him as the temple started to crumble around them.

“‘The Harbinger and the Soldier were like the Stars and the Sky’ – do you believe that, Mei?” MK laughed, stepping forward but Mei was glued to the ground.

“Y-you really believe that ‘history is doomed to repeat itself’ bullshit? H-ha!” Mei tried to laugh it off but her “friend” only drew nearer.

“Mei, look around– there are no stars and there is no sky– not anymore, thanks to you,” He pulled out his staff.

“Wait MK please– I can fix this-! Y-yeah! I just– I just gotta breathe a little, like Red Boy said–”

“Red Son is dead, Mei!” MK shouted, and Mei suddenly had her sword in her hands. “Because of you– ALL of this is because of you!”

Mei shook her head. “This isn’t real– it’s not real– it hasn’t been real– this is another bad dream– I’m fine, we aren’t fighting, we’re okay– MK, please, just stop this!” She cried before MK lunged at her, which she managed to block somehow with her sword.

“My dads are dead– Our partner is dead– All because you couldn’t control your powers!” MK had golden tears streaking down his cheeks, gold like honey. Or molten glass.

“MK, please– you know I'd never mean to! I love them! I’d never–!” Mei backed up right into a wall that crumbled behind her, knocking her down to the ground.

MK laughed and teleported right in front of her before grabbing her by her collar. “We were friends Mei– and then you went out and you did this– I hate you,” he spat.

“L-let me go! Please! I can fix this! I promise!” Mei tried everything to get him to let go but his grip was solid.

He proceeded to punch her in the stomach so hard she went flying into another part of the temple, which again crumbled around her before he picked her up and slammed her into the ground, knocking the wind out of her.

She barely had time to look up before she saw him strike a pose all too familiar.

“W-wait– MK– PLEASE–”

The monkey tossed his staff and Mei was jerked into darkness.

.o0o.

Mei gasped for air as though she’d been drowning for hours, immediately pulling against her seatbelt as her eyes dashed from one thing to another, all while her mind and heart raced.

“Mei-! H-hey! It’s okay, it’s okay–! We’re here! I just need your pass,” MK’s hands slowly lowered away from her shoulder.

“R-right! Right– I– right, of course,” Mei took deep breaths and fished around for her phone.

MK drummed his fingers against the steering wheel nervously. “Did you... have another nightmare?”

Mei bit her cheek and pondered lying to him, but she was self-aware enough to know that would be stupid.

“Yeah, but it was nothing, it’s all good, homie,” She flashed a smile as she found her phone by her feet.

“‘Homie’?” MK raised an eyebrow and Mei cringed because she never said ‘homie’ ever.

Home slice? For sure. Hombre? On occasion. Haircut? Only when he tried cutting his hair during primary school. But homie? Never. Not even once. Not even as a joke.

“Tried something new and it failed; sue me,” Mei lied again, opening her phone to the pass and handing it to MK, who showed it to the scanner and it let them in.

“It’s weird, you were totally sleeping like a rock, I never would’ve guessed if you didn’t jump like that,” MK tried once again to lighten the mood with a laugh.

“You know what they say about sleeping dragons,” Mei shrugged and MK gave a weak laugh as he pulled into their parking spot.

“So– they’re not gonna check our bags for snacks or drinks or anything, right?” MK asked, handing her her phone back.

“Nah, they’re only checking for weapons and stuff– it’s not a big venue that cares about things like that,” Mei quickly checked the email with their tickets.

“Cool! I’ll take the snacks then,” MK grinned and proceeded to shove what candies he hadn’t already eaten into his backpack while Mei got out and stretched a bit.

She could still smell the gasoline on the car, which was weird. She also felt exhausted still, and it looked like no amount of cold brew was going to change that.

No matter, she’d be fine. She was a pro at staying awake for days in a row– and this time she actually managed to get sleep in between, so she’d be fine. Just drink some water in between shots and green dragon cocktails. She’d be fine.

It didn’t matter if it was humid and it was making her feel hot and sweaty like how she often felt before using any of her flame powers– especially the Samadhi Fire– she had it under control! Mei was soooo fine. This was going to be a fun day. She had planned it to be.

“Alright, you ready to rock and roll?” MK finger gunned.

“Always,” Mei finger gunned back and they started walking to the venue.

Mei lingered just a bit behind MK, but not noticeably enough that he'd stop or slow down. She… didn't really know why she did it. She was keeping her guard up, which was ridiculous because MK would never hurt her, and she was fine and completely in control of herself.

When they arrived, Mei quickly showed the scanner guy their tickets and they were allowed into the way too crowded venue with no trouble at all.

“Geez, they got us packed like sardines,” MK laughed and looked around.

“Yeah, they’re more popular than I guessed,” Mei looked around nervously, wondering if this was a violation of the fire code or something. That if she slipped up it would kill everyone in this building. That there would be no escape.

“Oh! There’s the bar! Want me to get you anything?” MK nudged her arm and pointed.

“Oh thank god,” Mei sighed a breath of relief and headed over, leaving MK a bit confused until he followed.

“I was offering to pay for you, you know?” MK pointed out as they pushed through the crowd of drunk twenty somethings and teenagers– even though it was only 2pm.

“Oh please,” Mei rolled her eyes and finally got herself in line.

MK frowned. “You know I’m not completely broke, right? I do have money, and would like to– ya know… buy you things too.”

Mei clenched her fists in her pockets, keeping her eyes forward on the bar tenders. “Look, I just need something a little stronger today, alright?”

This didn’t do anything to lessen her friend’s control, as he tried grabbing her shoulder to get him to look at her, but she quickly jerked it away, startling both of them.

“Mei–”

“Sorry– I–... sorry,” She shook her head and the bartender finally made eye contact. “One Green Dragon and an orange blossom.”

The bartender nodded, taking her card, and headed off to work.

MK stood by her and gave her a side eye. “Are you sure you’re okay, Mei?”

“Yes! I’m fine! Stop asking, jeez,” She mumbled, again surprising herself and only making her feel worse.

“You lie worse than my dad,” MK pointed out with a bit of smugness.

“Just need a drink MK, I’ll be fine,” She tried to correct herself, but MK was still clearly unsatisfied.

“Then you should probably drink water– not a cocktail that’s 60% alcohol,” He pointed out.

“Who are you, my dad?” Mei rolled her eyes.

“Mei–”

“Your drinks, ma’am,” The bartender returned and handed them their cocktails and Mei’s card back.

“C’mon MK, lighten up; your dad’s just a worry-wart, I’m fine,” Mei instantly took a sip through the little straw and tried not to react to the strength of the gin MK warned about.

“Right…” MK eyed her and took his.

“C’mon– our table isn’t far,” Mei ignored his hesitation, assuring herself she was fine and he was fine and everything was so fantastically fine, before they found their standing stable where they could set their drinks down and… not much else until the band actually started playing.

Mei drank more.

“Woah, woah– pace yourself, seriously,” MK pulled the glass away from her when she started chugging.

“You really do sound like my dad,” Mei rolled her eyes. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not gonna be fine in five minutes if you keep that up,” MK snorted, pulling her glass close to him.

Mei eyed him. “When did you become all ‘Mr. Responsibility Kid’?”

“You almost end the world a couple times and you learn to get your shit together… sometimes,” MK snorted, finally taking a sip of his and Mei felt her stomach start to tie itself in a knot.

She eyed her hands which were teeming with so much hot and nervous energy they were almost sparking.

Her friend gave a long sigh and set down his drink. “Mei… you’re kinda freaking me out right now. What’s wrong? What’ve you been dreaming about?”

“MK, I… I really don’t want to talk about this right now, alright? We’re here to have fun– not to dissect my inner psychology,” She half-joked.

MK slowly nodded. “I… yeah, I guess that makes sense… so long as you promise to actually talk about it later.”

“I promise,” Mei lied with a soft smile, feeling the knot in her stomach tighten.

“Okay, good,” MK seemed like he believed her and she could relax.

Well. Relax as much as she could like this.

“Can I have my drink back then?” Mei batted her eyelashes.

“Promise not to chug?” MK raised an eyebrow.

“Promise,” Mei rolled her eyes with a laugh and he handed it over just as the announcer voice started up and band members started warming up.

Mei immediately whistled and cheered for the bass guitarist, along with a bunch of other probably sapphics as she winked and started playing the bass line to one of their more popular songs. Mei glanced at MK he rolled his eyes playfully, mouthing some comment about girls being gross and they both laughed. Which was good. They were getting into the spirit of things. They were fine. They were normal. This was normal and good and they were having a normal good time. Nothing to be nervous about.

Sure Mei still felt uncomfortable and hot despite hearing others complain about how cold it was, and that knot in her stomach was only twisting tighter by the second, but that was just anxiety and nothing a shot or two of limoncello probably couldn’t fix.

So once the band got playing Mei kept cheering them on, making sure MK was thoroughly distracted. She waited all the way until about their tenth song to say to had to go to the bathroom, but instead made her way to the bar.

She stood around for awhile, half dancing to the music when someone bumped into her–

Lin.

How… nice.

“Oh, sorry man, I– Oh my god,” Lin’s face turned bright red.

“Nice to see you,” Mei lied, the knot twisting itself to practically microscopic levels.

“What’re you doing here? You with someone?” Lin smiled with her stupid perfect teeth.

“Duh,” Mei waved her off. “What about you miss ‘perfect guitarist’?”

Lin laughed. “You’re still as cute as a button, you know that?”

Mei growled, feeling the heat within her rise. “I’m taken, so you can keep the flirting to yourself– though I guess that was never your strong suit.”

“And you’re still a firecracker too, I always liked that,” Lin tried touching her arm but Mei jerked it away as she had with MK, though with far less guilt.

“Two shots of limoncello,” The bartender returned and slid her shots to her, and Mei instantly chugged them down.

“Damn firecracker, you’re gonna blow this whole place down like that,” Lin laughed.

“Lin just– just– just shut the fuck up, m’kay?” Mei pointed at her sloppily and angrily.

“Can’t a friend watch another’s back?” Lin smiled all innocently.

Mei growled again, imagining how good it would feel to give her a flaming fist to the face.

“Woah– you feeling alright? Your eyes are all… yeesh,” Lin pointed out, taking a step back.

What? Wait– no– fuck–

Mei tried to act cool and find the bathroom as the band finished another song, but with everyone standing and clapping and cheering and those shots plus the green dragon starting to kick in, so she just took out her phone camera and tried using that as a mirror– though nearly dropped it when she saw the crimson had returned.

It was then she realized she felt burning hot– so hot she could swear she could smell her own shoes burning– she needed to get out of here, or at least just get back to MK–

Though MK would recognize the signs, right? He’d see she was losing control and then he’d tell the others and then he’d kill her, just like in her dreams–

No. This wasn’t a stupid dream. This was real and MK was her friend– she had to trust him.

Keeping her panic severely under wraps, Mei pushed her way through crowds once more back to their table where MK gave her a big grin which quickly fell.

“You feeling alright?” He asked.

“I’m fine! Sooo fine– we good,” Mei lied and started swaying as the band played their next song.

“I’m going to get you water after this number,” MK shook his head with a laugh.

“Bah,” Mei acted chill but was really desperate for him to shut the fuck up because she really was only feeling worse and worse– especially as the music just got louder and louder and started to swirl around her in a dizzying cacophony. She tried to just keep cheering and swaying, but as the bass kept ringing in her hollow chest the feelings got worse and worse until she fumbled back and–

.o0o.

When Mei caught herself, she wasn’t at the concert venue anymore, but some kind of weird and white liminal space, where a man with long white hair–

Ao Lie.

“Ah, Xiaojiao, there you are,” He smiled sweetly at her.

“A-Ao Lie– what are you doing here?” Mei looked around, startled to find she was dressed in completely white robes that were identical to her ancestor’s.

Her great x1000 grandfather sighed. “I’m here to… warn you, I suppose.”

“What? Warn me of what?” Mei stepped back.

Ao Lie suddenly looked at her coldly. “You aren’t stupid, Xiaojiao. You know you are losing control.”

Mei’s heart dropped. “I– am I dreaming? Because only MK really ever gets these kinds of dreams and you’re like– super dead so–”

Ao Lie suddenly turned into his dragon form, curling around her as his eyes glowed red and his mouth oozed and overflowed with blood.

“Long Xiaojiao, do not take the words of your ancestors lightly."

"Okay– I-I have to be dreaming– the real Ao Lie I met would never–"

"You know nothing of my rage, child– it burns just as yours." His voice thundered.

Mei tried stepping back again but was paralyzed.

The massive dragon coiled around her three times.

“You are a blight to this world, Xiaojiao. You’ll destroy them all because you lack control and discipline–”

“H-haha, you sound like my mother,” Mei laughed nervously but her ancestor growled, showing off stained teeth.

“I too dreamt of my death before it arrived, long and painfully. For centuries I lived in agony, but it will be nothing to the suffering you will bring to others.”

“Then teach me how to control it properly! Y-you understand it, right? Help me!” Mei demanded.

Ao Lie gazed upon her silently and coldly, keeping her trapped but not muttering a single word. For a second Mei thought she heard him laugh, but soon realized that wasn’t his laugh at all– too cruel, cold, or callous– it was–

It was hers.

The Lady Bone Demon.

“Now, now little dragon girl… Why would he want to help someone who’s just going to destroy the world?” She smiled, lifting her chin to look at her softly.

“You aren’t real, that’s for sure– me n’ MK totally kicked your ass and we’ll do it again,” Mei gnashed her teeth.

“Funny… but you and I both know your destiny goes far beyond my control,” She smiled sweetly, patting her head.

Mei shook her head. “I’m not destined for anything! I’m just– I’m just me!”

The Lady Bone Demon chuckled. “You sound so much like that little friend of yours.”

At the mention of MK he appeared behind her ancestor in his monkey form, eyes glowing blue and holding his staff, waiting for orders.

“You are the bearer of the Samadhi Fire, dragon girl, and this denial of yours will only lead you to your fate, like your dearest grandfather,” The Lady Bone Demon shook her head ‘sadly’ as Ao Lie’s eyes turned red and the dragon shrieked in pain– and it wasn’t long before Mei’s chest began to burn and she cried out too.

Mei fell to her knees in pain but felt hands start to grab at her– to which she desperately kicked and bit and flailed to get them away. However, as she successfully kicked one away she heard Tang yelp and she panicked as she realized it was her friends attacking her again.

“T-Tang! I'm so sorry, I–” She turned to apologize but Pigsy hit her with her rake and she fell to the floor, where Sandy grabbed her before leaping in the air and trying to slam her in the ground like a wrestler.

The move successfully knocked the wind out of her, and she remained pinned on the ground as she felt dozens upon dozens of hands crawl against her skin.

“Let me go! I-I can’t– please!” Mei clenched her eyes and begged, and from that a massive blast was formed, and all of her friends and family were moved off of her. However, this was no better, as because of her carelessness they were all crying in pain as the Samadhi Fire started burning them alive.

“W-w-wait! No! Pigsy! Sandy! Mr. Tang! Red Son! I-I-I can fix this– I-I– I have to fix this!” She started to sob, but again the tears merely evaporated. Still, she didn’t give up, running to each person one by one, trying every little technique Red Son had tried to teach.

It was all useless– so very, very useless, as she failed again and again and could only watch as their flesh rotted and burned, their cries ringing out in her ears.

“I-I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry–” Mei repeated, shaking as skeletal hands attempted to cling to her robe before they were reduced to nothing but ash and dust, leaving Mei all alone with the smoldering remnants of her friends and family.

“Poor little dragon… you held so much potential,” Lady Bone Demon got close again with MK.

“I-I don’t care about potential,” She turned again to Ao Lie, who was standing besides Lady Bone Demon in his human form. “Please… tell me how to stop this.”

Ao Lie shook his head solemnly as the demoness laughed

“I’m disappointed in you, Xiaojiao. I thought you were smart enough to know it’s already begun.” She grinned.

Hands were quick to seize every inch of Mei again, forcing her to look up and see MK again leap in the air. She tried screaming, she tried begging, she tried lighting herself on fire again, but nothing freed her and again MK hurled his staff through her skull.

.o0o.

When Mei opened her eyes again, she was sitting outside somewhere– and there was a hand on her shoulder that made her immediately stand up and almost fall over in dizziness as she tried to process where she was.

“Woah! Mei! Careful– you totally passed out there, take it easy,” MK tried touching her again, but Mei slapped his wrist and he recoiled in confusion.

“I-I’m burning up,” Mei realized, placing a hand on her chest. “He was right– I-I’m going to– I’m going to destroy everything,” She started to panic and started walking away, which was hard due to her legs tingling and still having a slight buzz in her head from the alcohol.

“What? Mei– Mei! Where are you going?!” MK realized she was leaving and quickly followed, again trying to grab her hand.

“Don’t touch me! I’ll burn you,” Mei started to cry as flashes of her dream flooded her mind. “I–... I need to get out of here before it’s too late,” Mei looked around the parking lot.

“‘Too late’ for what? Why on earth would you burn me? Mei, what is going on?!” MK pleaded with her, but it fell on deaf ears and Mei started sprinting.

“Wait! Mei, where are you going?!” MK chased after, but the dragon girl was fast.

“Leave me alone MK! I can’t– I won’t let it happen!” Mei shook her head, almost panicking further when she realized she felt a sizzle in her chest like she had… that day.

“Let what happen?! Mei– Mei, let me help you!” MK called as Mei crossed a busy street, narrowly avoiding a car and motorcycle, the former which honked at her.

“I-i can’t control it, MK– I-i’m losing it, I know I am, I-I– I can feel it. Soon enough I’m going to destroy everything– a-and you’ll be the celestial soldier sent to strike me down,” Mei’s tears were hot– too hot. They’d start evaporating soon, she knew it.

“Wait! Mei, slow down!” MK also narrowly avoided a motorcycle, but eventually did the smart thing and hopped onto his cloud and drove it right in front of her.

“Go away, MK– just go back to the concert,” Mei shook her head, instantly turning on her heel to go the other way, but again MK cut her off.

“Mei, what’s going on?! You’re being all vague on me– I want to help–”

“Then go away! I-I can call my parents, they’ll get a car for me– just leave me alone,” She cried more, and tried turning away again when MK grabbed her arm, which made her cry out at the deathly cold temperature.

“Mei–! I-I’m s– what’s going on?! What did you dream about?!” MK didn’t let go, despite clearly debating it.

“LET ME GO!” She snapped, jerking her arm away and to her surprise, MK did. Her force caused her to stumble a bit, her sneakers causing sparks against the concrete and more panic through her mind.

“No– no no no no no– I gotta get out of here– I-I’m sorry MK– some other time,” Mei didn’t even meet her friend’s eyes before running with all her might in the opposite direction, even going so far as to use her powers so MK couldn’t catch up.

Flames were licking at her feet again; she could feel the ball of fire starting to swarm around her again and she just wept and shook in fear as she could still feel MK following her– why was he always following her– she needed to get away before it was too late.

Mei managed to run/mostly fly her way out of the city and nearby the freeways when MK suddenly caught up with her and cut her off in his–

In his monkey form.

“MK, I don’t want trouble– just let me go,” Mei sank back.

“What’s wrong, Mei? Why are you so afraid of me? I– oh, right– I am in my monkey form,” MK cursed himself and it dissolved. “But seriously Mei, what is going on?”

Mei looked at him, still seeing glimpses of his monkey form in the shadows. When she looked at his eyes they were almost beaming gold. It could almost look like he was wearing his heavenly armor under his sweatshirt too– in fact the folds almost–

No. It wasn’t real. It was a dream, Mei, it was all a dream.

“It was a dream. I know it was– but– I-I– I can see it– I can feel it– I need to just get some space… please,” Mei felt the flames at her feet threaten to grow.

“Feel what? The Sama—” MK’s eyes widened a little. “The… Samadhi Fire..?”

The mention of it caused it to rise exponentially, and Mei quickly soared off, which MK stubbornly followed. “Mei! You’ve got nothing to be afraid of! Remember Red Son’s training?! He totally helped you master it!” MK tried to encourage but Mei shook her head.

“I-I can’t– it’s like– it’s destiny, and I just keep– and the images– they don’t stop!” Mei cried, the flames growing higher and higher.

“What? For how long?!” MK pressed as he continued flying beside her despite her best efforts.

“I-I don’t know– The scroll? Since I met Ao Lie? Since we saw those… ink things???” Mei tried wiping tears away but they were evaporating, which made her cry harder as she lost more control.

“Mei, slow down, please,” MK begged his best friend.

“No– I need to get as far away from you a-and everyone else as soon as possible– I have to– can’t you see it?!” Mei shouted and shook her head.

“Mei you aren’t making any sense! They’re just dreams–”

“Dreams in the dragon family don’t mean nothing, MK,” Mei suddenly stopped, surprising MK.

“What do you mean..?” He asked carefully. Mei sniffled, slowly sinking to the ground.

“They… Ao Lie, before he died, he– he kept getting dreams– dreams about– about how it’d happen,” Mei tried to laugh a little, but it just made her cry more.

“Mei… c’mon, you don’t really think–”

“Every single time it’s the same, MK,” Mei snapped and stood, the sizzle in her chest turning into a true burn, and she could see the grass singeing beneath her shoes. “Every night, I’ll swear I didn’t mean to, that I’d never hurt you or Mr. Tang, or Piggy or Sandy or Red Son, but you never– a-and I always cross some line– an unforgivable line– a-and then you just–” Mei hiccupped.

“Mei, I know you’d never do that on purpose, c’mon,” MK tried smiling and grabbing her arm, but Mei stepped back.

“Don’t touch me, I–” Mei held her arm, and flames started climbing around her fingers. “I’ll hurt you– I hurt you every time– I never mean to but I do– I-I–”

“Running away hurts me Mei! I want to help you!” MK protested, taking yet another step forward but she took two steps back.

Mei glanced at him.

MK’s face fell.

“You… you don’t believe me.”

“MK– MK wait–”

“Then talk to me!” MK argued. “If you want me to stay then stay!”

“No! Can’t you see it? I-it’s already starting!” Mei pointed out the rising flames but MK just looked at her with intense worry.

“Mei, there’s… no fire. You’re… seeing things.”

Mei’s stomach dropped. “N–no I know what’s real– you’re just–”

“Mei, look at me,” MK begged, but Mei couldn’t, she couldn’t– what she was feeling was real, right? It had to be.

Unless this was a dream. Unless she was still blacked out and all she had to do was wake up– yes! Yes, she just needed to wake up.

"Mei! It's not real! Let me help you-!" MK grabbed her arm, and Mei shrieked, fire shooting up and forming the all too familiar sphere around her, and burning MKs arm something fierce as he cried out in pain.

"MK!!!!" Mei froze, not knowing what to do as his jacket just kept burning and burning and burning and burning–

MK managed to take it off before it suddenly just turned to ash– but not before the grass started burning too.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry– I-I– I need to wake up! Yes– you’re right– this isn't real– I’m sorry– but it's not real, right?" Mei tried to laugh but the dread in her chest was undeniable.

"Mei, I’m okay, just breathe,” MK tried to assure her with a light laugh but Mei shook her head.

"No-! I need– I need to wake up!" a thought popped into her head, and she looked at her wounded friend with a mix of fear and determination.

"MK, you– you need to kill me."

"What?! Are you insane?!" MK refused.

"It's how I always wake up– I'll wake up if you just do it– a-and this time no one would even get hurt!" Mei said with a tearful laugh.

“Mei, you’re talking crazy– You need help,” MK pleaded with her, trying to grab her hand but she pulled it back to her chest, where the flames spread across her clothes as the overwhelming heat from within finally spread outside– the familiar crimson glow overtaking her skin and suddenly it was the Mystic Mountain all over again.

Mei summoned her sword. “M-MK I don’t want to have to do this…”

Her friend’s eyes widened. “Mei– Mei, please– just– just think about this! I don’t want to hurt you!”

Mei went into a fighting stance, and suddenly her sword too was ablaze in a maroon inferno. “MK, you have to– I’ll destroy everything,” She begged once again.

“Mei– you– this isn’t– please-!” MK too began to cry.

Mei swung her sword, and thankfully MK was well enough to listen to instinct, summoning his staff to block in time.

“Mei, this is insane! Can you please let me take you home?” He asked, pushing her away from him.

Mei shook her head. “I’ll just hurt them– don’t you get it? Do you want your dads to die?! How about Wukong? Or even Red Son?!”

“Mei, you wouldn’t hurt them– I know you wouldn’t,” MK denied, and again Mei went in for an attack and he blocked her.

“You don’t know anything– I-I– this power, MK– it’s–”

“It’s too much.. Right? You feel like at any moment you could just snap and suddenly the whole world would crumble at your feet?” MK again pushed her back.

Mei didn’t let it stop her, mustering her strength for three quick swipes at him, all which he managed to block, but only barely.

“You’re holding back, MK– just do it already! It’s okay– it’s not real!” Mei laughed a little, lunging to attempt a blow from the back, but MK was light on his feet, jumping high in the air and landing softly a safe distance away.

“Mei, please– I don’t want to hurt you,” He begged.

Mei was going to have to switch strategies, she was getting nowhere like this.

“Well, too bad– because I really, really want to hurt you,” She bared her fangs, raising her sword for a high slash, and it sparked against MK’s staff. She then attempted to sweep his leg, but he jumped in time, his monkey king training protecting him like she had hoped.

“Mei, stop, please– I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed with powers!” MK begged as she spun around, hitting his staff three times before attempting a side hit, and after MK blocked, he did his first offensive move of the night, kicking her to the ground.

“You don’t know anything,” She growled, the flames suddenly growing seven feet in height around them. “You’re ‘MK the Monkie Kid’ – a divine creature made of stone, blessed with the greatest, most powerful mentor alive, meant to fix everything that’s wrong with the universe!”

“Mei, that’s not true! You weren’t there! You have no idea what Lady Bone Demon or that scroll thing said– I’m a– a–”

“‘A Harbinger of Chaos’?” Mei teased a bit, laughing and summoning her dragon.

MK froze though– like a deer in headlights so Mei hesitated firing.

“H–how do you know that?” MK asked.

“Here’s the thing about prophecies, MK,” She sneered. “They’re vague. They’re confusing. And everyone always assumes it’s about the shiniest man in the room,” She had her dragon open its mouth to fire on her command.

MK’s eyes managed to widen more, and with a smirk, Mei got it to fire. He was just barely able to duck and roll out of the way, freaking out at the patch of flaming heath left behind.

“Mei–! You’re– you’re possessed! That’s– that’s gotta be it! You’d never– Mei, if you can hear me, I’m gonna get help!” MK summoned his cloud, which Mei absolutely couldn’t allow him to fly away on and so had her dragon blast that too, but MK summoned another one mid-air and flew off at supersonic speeds, which Mei struggled to copy.

It was hard keeping up, and even harder getting in front of him, but eventually Mei managed to get just enough ahead of him that she could strike him down to the ground with her sword, and she quickly followed him so he could kill her properly

“M-Mei– you’re scared, I-I get it– but why?” MK struggled to look her in the eyes as he recovered.

“MK, I don’t want to kill you or your dads or Red Son as much as you don’t want to kill me, but you have to decide if I’m really worth more than the world and everyone else you love– you have to,” Mei was honest, which surprised even her.

MK shook his head. “You aren’t asleep Mei, and you aren’t seeing the Samadhi Fire. It was your regular, green flames against my jacket. Something’s wrong, Mei. you need help, not for me to k–... to–... you know…”

Mei looked at him with a face of stone. She stepped to her friend, grabbing his arm and helping him to his feet. He smiled at her warmly until she took two steps back, and pointed her sword at her chest.

“W-wait– n-no, Mei– stop!” MK shouted, picking up his staff and successfully knocking her sword from her hands, but Mei ducked and picked it up again, going back to attacking him, to which he unsuccessfully tried repeating the de-arming her again and again. It certainly wasn’t easy for him– such tactics were dishonorable and so she knew Wukong wouldn’t have practiced it much.

Mei was fine though, all she needed was an opening. She got more aggressive– she kept swinging harder and harder so he’d have to block harder, try harder, swing harder, aim harder–

And he did it.

It happened so fast she could barely comprehend when she tossed her sword aside and threw herself in front of his staff, and like lightning, his staff pierced her stomach before exiting her, leaving a gaping hole in its wake.

It took MK a moment to realize what he’d done, and Mei watched as his face twisted from confusion, to horror, to agony as Mei’s legs gave out, and he just barely caught her before she hit the ground.

“Mei–! I’m so sorry– I’m so sorry– I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry–” He rocked her and kept repeating himself over and over and over again.

“I-it– it’s not going black, MK– I-I– I’m supposed to– MK, I’m– I’m not waking up, MK– I’m not waking up,” Mei blinked in desperation.

MK shook his head, burying his head in her chest as a new kind of tears formed in Mei’s eyes– tears that she barely had the strength to let go– her chest sweltering with heat and yet so very, very cold.

“M-MK– MK– n-no– no– nononono– I’m so sorry– I-I– ack–” a tingling sensation filled her body as she rapidly grew weak in his arms.

“I’m so sorry Mei– I-I– I should’ve said something else– I should’ve gotten Wukong or someone– I’m so sorry,” Her best friend in the whole wide world continued to weep.

Mei tried lifting her arm to stroke hair, but she could barely even twitch her fingers.

“I-i shouldn’t’ve dragged you i-in– I’m– ngh– sorry,” Mei grunted weakly. “I-i love you– I-I’m sorry…”

MK was beyond words now, holding her tight and weeping openly as Mei was slipping further and further away.

This… this wasn’t fair! None of this was fair. MK didn’t deserve this. This wasn’t right– this was cruel, and sadistic, and cold blooded, and unfeeling, and psychotic, and unfair, and–

…It was destiny, and there was no fighting against destiny.

[pinkshgum]

best believe I’m still bejeweled, when I walk in the room, I can still make the whole place shimmer

inspired by this tweet

[atopvisenyashill]

jon/ygritte is very interesting bc even tho their situation was pretty fucked up jon did love her! gendrya is cute but arya is too young and the books are never being finished so yeah

yeah those are both very fair. i think if we got the finished books, gendrya would be in that category of “genuine good love story” bc right now it’s like the beginning and middle build up but, especially from gendry’s end, no real climax. i don’t think arya is aware she has romantic feelings for gendry, i’ve said before i think he’s aware of her feelings and just didn’t know how to handle it, and now feels some extreme guilt over ~rejecting~ her unknown crush. and i think that’s very typical sort of romance novel misunderstanding that could come to a very lovely conclusion. but right now arya is still an eleven year old completely unaware of the romantic undertones of that entire thing while gendry is (i always forget his age is he 15??) just like, trying not to die in the riverlands while he stews in his guilt lol.

jonygritte meanwhile is VERY much one of those toxic romances but i think people are really silly about it. there’s significantly more romanticism in this relationship than other ones, and i think it’s silly to ignore that aspect for the hardline anti ygritte takes the same as like, ignoring those toxic elements really takes away how interesting this relationship is. on the one hand, there’s very much a reason that this romance serves a similar narrative purpose as like, dany/drogo, tyrion/tysha and tyrion/shae, sansa/sandor, etc, and it’s bc there’s some FREAKY consent issues going on here lmao but on the other hand….jon’s feelings for ygritte have impacted not just his own feelings on romance but also his entire leadership arc re: gender & culture it’s so stupid to pretend like she’s ONLY there as a negative influence (this is how i feel about sandor too).

[quietwingsinthesky]

why are you all mad at Lucifer for torturing Sam. he’s literally neurodivergent. he was stimming.

[pinchinschlimbah]

Monday night I put in a maintenance request because my shower is broken and I have no hot water and Tuesday afternoon I confirmed shipping on my Buyee package with the cheapest option it gave me...tell me how my package from Japan got here (east coast USA) faster (Thursday afternoon) than the maintenance guy who lives in my building and still hasn't marked the request as in progress??

I may not have hot water but at least I have Them <3

and for funsies, the whole gang so far! No I don't have a problem don't worry about it

[anidealistatbestburntoutatworst]

there’s something about that one line in savior complex (phoebe bridgers) where she sings “one hand on the wheel one in your mouth,,, turn me on turn me down” that just screams kunikidazai to me and i wish i could explain why

[nicolefirekitty]

love how in so many fanworks i see of vio, he's not mentally ok and i just so happened to be reading a very good fanfic series when my friend out of no where said this and i felt it fit :)

[heavencasteel420]

The Jonathan/Gail scene is giving me headaches. I basically have five options:

Tack the scene onto the end of Chapter 12 (probably the simplest option pacing-wise but I think it gives the chapter a very different feel that I don’t really want);

Switch to his POV just for that scene in the middle of Robin’s chapter (awkward, considering that the rest of the fic has them alternating POVs for each chapter);

Do a Rashomon and write about the whole quarry party from Jonathan’s perspective (I think this will come across as redundant for the rest of the party because they don’t feel super-differently about the events they’re both present for);

Do a flashback in Chapter 14 to the Gail scene (potentially awkward);

Don’t make it a full scene, just have him tell Robin about it later (I kind of like this although I will be sorry to lose the complete scene).

[sugarspicenights]

One fic I think would be so interesting is virgin!reader processing their purity culture trauma with Wolfwood.

Like being so anxious about sex and guilty, and he believes differently and helps reader cope, but then also 😏😏 slight corruption kink???

[im-smart-i-swear]

wooo funky guys doodle dump!! mostly tashi and buddy lol

i havent had the energy to really finish anything bigger lately but these are fun to draw!! 

[chimera-vanya]

Korova Milky Bar not being on spotify annoys me so much even though I have CD

[jelzorz]

197.

It feels like treason to think it. Opeli would feel guilty for it on a normal day, she thinks, but the situation is dire and she wonders if anything will ever feel normal again. The Banther Lodge is a far cry from the castle, and it is crowded enough without the kingslaying elephant in the room.

She watches Soren fight Rayla over it.

She watches Ezran hide his tears.

She watches the Kingslayer walk free.

Well, she thinks. There are certainly worse things than thinking it. There are worse things than talking to her friends, her family, who also happen to be part of the council. Worse things have been done than calling a meeting behind Ezran's back, who is the King, yes, but a child first, and he has enough on his hands without this too.

"I don't think Prince Callum can continue being a part of this council."

Soren grimaces. Corvus shifts uneasily on the spot. Barius makes a face and fiddles with his hands.

Opeli stares them down. "Do you disagree?"

A pause. A sigh. Soren huffs and glances through the cellar kitchen window to make sure Callum is still preoccupied with defending Rayla and her murderous father from anyone who dares to look at them the wrong way. "No," he mutters after a moment. "You're right. You usually are, but this... Is Ezran's decision, not ours."

Opeli scowls, some misplaced maternal instinct raising her hackles. "He's dealing with enough," she says shortly. "He's eleven years old, his home has been destroyed, and his own brother returns with the elf that killed—"

"We get it," interrupts Corvus tiredly. "And we're not disagreeing with you. You're right. But what are you asking us to do, exactly? Kick Callum off the council? Is more internal conflict really what we need right now?"

"With respect, High Cleric," says Barius, "are we even supposed to be having this meeting? Isn't it breaking some sort of law to be talking about this before talking to King Ezran?"

Opeli wrinkles her nose at that, the wrongness of this heavy in her gut. "It's not illegal to bring up a concern with members of the council in confidence," she grumbles. It's a weak argument, but it's been played in court before, and she's not above playing the same dirty tactics to keep her king safe. "We are Ezran's council," she asserts. "Our duty is to him and to Katolis and I don't believe Callum's priorities are quite the same. He—" She grimaces too and locks eyes with Soren. "He's starting to remind me of your father."

Soren snorts at that. "Don't I know it," he mutters, and Opeli sees the truth of it in his eyes. Soren would know better than anyone what magic can do to people, the kind of power it gives them, the cleverness they think wielding it grants. "But Opeli, seriously, what are we going to do? We can't just arrest him. All this aside, he's still the prince. He's Ez's brother."

"One might argue that King Harrow was his stepfather, and you can see how much he cares about that."

Another pause. The room flinches because they all know that it's true, what an insult it is to Harrow's memory that his murderer would be allowed to dine at his son's table.

"Have you asked Ezran what he wants to do?" asks Corvus at last.

Opeli winces. "I didn't want to burden him with it," she mumbles. "I don't know that he knows what to do and frankly... I don't either."

"A first," says Barius, not unkindly. "It's all right to be concerned, High Cleric. It's all right not have all the answers."

"Yes, well." Opeli clears her throat and bows her head, hiding her weakness in the way her hood falls over her eyes. "I'm not particularly good at not having answers. I've come to you three hoping you might have them instead."

"I don't think we can help anymore than you," says Corvus wryly. "But our duty is to Ezran, the same as you. Soren and I won't let anything happen to him. The same way Barius won't. The same way you won't. Okay?"

"Call it a secret council pact," adds Soren with a grin. "If Callum does anything else stupid, we step in, no matter what. Deal?"

Hardly, thinks Opeli, even as she nods. She takes what little solace she can get.