#it's as if his magic can't touch her simply because SHE WON'T LET IT

[variantia]

BELLUM.   anyway field trip to that lil village Chara was raised in which sits about half an hour’s walk away from the base of Mt. Ebott

Lo punches the cult leader hard enough to make him see stars

and Chara STARES WIDE EYED as if she just knocked out the teeth of a god

bastard better keep his ass on the ground cuz she’ll knock him out as many times as it takes to keep him down

doesn’t matter what magic technique he tries to use on her

his most powerful spell is NOTHING against the sheer raw power of her love for this child

she’ll knock his ass out and turn to the rest of the cult village (which is ... empty save for a couple of sympathetic members who don’t even believe in the cult’s bullshit and have been manipulated into staying)

and she’ll just be like

anyone else got somethin to say 💅💅💅

[purpleprincessonfyre]

Marvel AU - Monster (or coward?)

Timeline: During The Battle of New York, but what if Sylvie and Loki invaded New York together?

Characters: Liane Felton, Loki Laufeyson, Sylvie Laufeydottir

Features: Ethan Lensherr, Rochelle Romanoff-Felton and some characters from Liane's past

IB: Monster by Imagine Dragons, Avengers (2012)

'Ever since I could remember

Everything inside of me

Just wanted to fit in,'

"We need to get out of here, this building isn't stable!"

"Funny, I was about to say that about your mental state!" Ethan joked, holding back debris as Liane ran for safety. The battle of New York was raging as heroes ran left and right trying to get STARK staff members away from the tower in a hurry.

"You're cute. Come on, I don't wanna drag you out from underneath rubble."

"Go, I'll hold it off until everyone's safe."

Liane nodded and ran towards the exit but as she ran through what she thought was the door to outside she found herself inside a box that seemed to be made of pure gold. When she turned around the door was gone and she was entirely surrounded by walls of gold, from floor to ceiling. Liane growled, her fists balled as her anger rose.

'If I told you what I was

Would you turn your back on me?

And if I seem dangerous

Would you be scared?'

"Dammit Loki or whatever, let me out!"

A dry chuckle echoed through the hollow space, clearly enjoying this.

"My my, Miss Felton. You forget yourself. That's hardly the way a polite young lady would address her father..."

"What?"

Liane turned to follow the sound and saw her father before her, standing in her family home with her, her surroundings now resembling her family's dining hall. She knew it was magic but she could hear the ticking grandfather clock on the floor, she could feel the heat from the roaring fire, she could smell the sharp scent of the lillies on the dining table and the hairs on her neck stood straight up as she heard the unmistakable voice.

"Come on little lady, say you're sorry and give me a smile."

"I won't fall for your tricks! That's not my father!"

"How dare you, you insolent girl!" Her father snarled, leaning in to hit her, booze on his breath.

"I'm not scared of you, your stupid magic can't hurt me, you're gonna have to try harder than that if you want to hurt me, Dumb and Dumber."

'I get the feeling just because

Everything I touch isn't dark enough

That this problem lies in me.'

The image of her father melted away and suddenly she was in her childhood bedroom and the scent of nail polish hung in the air as someone approached her, someone looming over her by miles. Then she saw his eyes and his wicked grin and felt her heart race. It was Quentin. She felt so much younger in his gaze, so much smaller and so naive. It stung her eyes seeing him like that before her, as if she'd never even left.

"Little Sister...myself and the boys want to play a little game and we need a damsel in distress."

"You're a liar, you always were!"

"What? We simply want to rescue the pretty princess but you will have to get in the boat and let us tie you up. But don't worry! We'll rescue you. Eventually."

"Rot in hell, Quentin!"

"Have it your way..."

Liane's eyes stung with tears as her eyes changed colour.

"Stop it, stop it Quent!"

"Awwww baby's crying! Look at the baby crying!"

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH QUENTIN OR I WILL BURN YOUR STUPID HEAD!"

'Can I clear my conscience

If I'm different from the rest

Do I have to run and hide?'

The illusions faded as she was transported back into the box.

"Now there's the Felton I was told about..."

"You could do so much if you weren't so pathetic and predictable all the time..."

"Who ever heard of a hero that can burn you alive?"

"You can both shut up! I changed! But you...you never will."

"Shame. We were really getting somewhere for a minute there. Shall we?"

"Go on then."

The room melted away all over again and now Liane saw a place she'd tried to forget. A room she wished she'd never entered. Seeing a face she never wanted to see again. And hearing that voice that haunted her days and nights ever since she put him away.

'I never said that I want this

This burden came to me

And it's made it's home inside,'

"Guten tag, frauline...."

"Edmund..."

"Awww no pet name this time? Aw you are shaking like a leaf. Would you like my coat?"

"You stay away from me!"

"But why? You knew this was happening, und you never said no to it before. You befriended those girls, you bought them the drinks, you made them your friends all happy, and you let me take them away..."

"I was drunk! You always made sure of that, you filthy monster!"

"Nein! Nein, I am not the only monster here. You were, how you say, complicit in the crimes? You could have said no. You could have said you wanted no part in my plans. But you were just so desperate to be loved and adored that you turned a blind eye! All those innocent, naive girls! The blood of those girls is ON YOUR HANDS ALONE! You, are the true monster, Frauline."

'A monster, a monster

I've turned into a monster

A monster, a monster

And it keeps getting stronger.'

Every wall started to reflect just Liane's reflection back at her but each one was different. Her childhood, her teens, her eyes bright purple in all of them, each reflection whispering the same word over and over again as the word started to ring in her head like a death toll.

Monster.

Monster.

Monster!

"ENOUGH!" Liane screamed as the room was consumed by flames, the reflections all melting and the illusions shifting in a jarring fashion from Edmund Zola, to Quentin, to Milton and then back to Loki, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"We finally broke her...told you it was easy."

"You were right, turns out if one's heart is so blackened and bruised, then it won't be tricky to turn it darker."

"I'm not a monster!"

"Oh really? Monsters are born from anger, pain and hatred. Monsters act without thought. Monsters are ruthless. And what does that make you? A monster? Or a coward?"

"I'll take coward over monster any day, and for the record I was tricked!"

The two Lokis laughed, holding their stomachs as tears rolled down their cheeks as if Liane had just told the funniest joke.

"Were you now? So you lashing out at your father, was because of a trick?"

"You hurting your brothers, that was the fault of a trick?"

"You turning on Edmund and testifying against him, all because you were tricked? No my dear sweet monster, you knew exactly what you were doing. That rage, your fire, you deliberately took that rage and damaged them.

"Scarring your father's face, burning your brother's hair, and don't forget that scar running down Eddie's chest, right over his heart. That was all you. That was the monster. And it's getting stronger. But the longer you hide it with this...hero act? It'll get murderous. It will hurt people you care about. That boy you like? Your precious cousin? Your new friends who just started to trust you? They'll all be ashes on the ground. And you'll be painted as a villain. Just like us."

Loki and Sylvie approached, as Liane looked up at them, tears in her eyes as Loki grabbed her chin harshly.

"Shhhh it's alright little Mutant, it's very simple. Either wait until your actions destroy everyone you love, or give in to us and follow the future rulers of Asgard."

"We could make your our little princess. Put a pretty crown on your golden curls. Keep you in a lovely little box where you won't hurt anyone back on Asgard. And all you'll have to do is just prance about and play dress up, ride on your very own pegasus, we'll make you your own boyfriend or girlfriend to play with, all day long. Or....you and your precious little team die. Either by your hands, or ours. Your choice, Princess."

Liane looked around her and saw her team through the confines of the box she was trapped in. All of them fighting tooth and nail to take out aliens and get the people to safety. All things she would have scoffed at a year ago. She saw Ethan, doing everything he can to help the citizens get away. Rochelle, fighting aliens left and right even as she's injured. Her team doing whatever it takes to save the world. They were better off without her.

'I'm only a man with a candle to guide me

I'm taking a stand to escape what's inside me,'

Liane hung her head and looked up at the Lokis, resigned to her fate.

"Do what you like. But don't hurt my friends. Lock me up, tease me, play with me, whatever. But you don't touch them. Please." There was shame in her eyes but Liane had decided she was better off a coward than a monster. Loki nodded his approval.

"Glad you came to your senses, Little Princess. They didn't need you anyway. Sylvie?"

Sylvie wrapped chains around Liane's neck and wrists, leading her to a portal as a voice rang out, beyond the box, from the outside. Liane was barely paying attention when it hit her ears. And a smile spread on her face as it repeated. And she could see outside the box his big green eyes, his dark hair and the concern and worry in his face as he shouted across the battlefield. Ethan was calling to her.

"LIANE!"

"Silly boy, come on pet, we've built a cage just for you."

"Shame."

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said, shame. Cause your pet just remembered what freedom tastes like!"

The entire box was set ablaze as Lianes eyes glowed, her chains sizzling to dust as she approached the two Mischief deities.

"Turns out I can be both. I can be the daughter of a sleazy businessman and a hero. The sister of a disgusting politician and an Avenger. The ex fiancée of the leader of HYDRA, and the girl about to kick. Your sorry. Asses!"

The box crumbled away to nothing as Liane approached the two co-conspirators with fury in her eyes, her fists aflame.

"You'd better keep fighting cause I'm gonna make damn sure you go back where you came from AND YOU NEVER COME BACK!" Liane roared as airborne fire seemed to burst from her lungs and out of her mouth, sitting the pair ablaze as they disappeared in a poof of magic.

As she managed to find her bearings a hand reached and squeezed hers tightly. It was Rochelle's, and her bright blue cousin was smiling.

"Let's end this fight."

"Together."

And the two fighting Feltons rushed back into the fray, a new sense of courage now fostered in Liane's bruised and blackened heart, slowly starting to rise to reflect on her face. Maybe the past wouldn't define her forever. And just maybe, she would get through this and move on. But not today. That battle was for another time, in another place. Probably in a doctors office somewhere. Monster, coward, hero was starting to sound pretty good from where Liane was standing.

Hope you enjoyed!

Tagging: @gcthvile @jackiequick @blueboirick @meiramel @cherrysft @askstevella @ask-missparker @ask-starrk @therealdaydreamstark @thechoooooosenone @wizzzardofoz @finlayholmes @ethan-lensherr @marvelsfavoriteuncle @rickb-chaos @luna-d-marsh @missstrawbs2001

[for-quill-with-love]

Warning (for the ask game)

Leave.

The thought took me by surprise. The smile plastered on my face stayed steady. The hand on my axe pommel simply tightened.

I hadn't heard Passion for weeks. I'd almost thought he was dead.

He was as good as. Leave, or they will do the same to me.

"Quill? Is something wrong?" 𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ asked, her voice sickly innocent.

"I just-- got a chill." I lied, forcing my ears to stay still.

𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ had come back changed. Order had done something, I knew that much. I didn't go into town anymore, I hadn't for a long time. But 𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ had insisted.

I was weak to her pleading. I wasn't quite ignoring the pitying looks from the people I had once called friends. The pity was worse than the open hostility. At least hostility fed the fire behind my ribs.

And if Passion's warning was any good, I would need the magic.

Order still didn't know just how powerful I'd become.

He can't keep whispering much longer or Order will notice. Passion can give me enough energy for the first blind jump, but beyond that, I will be alone in the void.

I took a steadying breath as 𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ pulled me to the square in front of Order's church. There was a new monument there, a beacon piercing the sky. It was drenched in the same bloody red as Passion's thoughts.

I felt the fire in my chest sputter and turn over and roar to life.

"I wanted to show you this." 𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ said, her hands gripping my arm tighter than strictly necessary, "We finally put Passion to rest! Now you won't have to do what he tells you to."

Realization and fear and fury shivered cold, dousing the gifted magic for the barest moment.

"You won't hear his voices anymore."

I stepped closer to the beacon, careful to keep my expression schooled, forcing a curious lilt to my voice, "Is this why I haven't heard him since you came back?"

"Yep!" 𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ nodded, gesturing grandly at the beacon and the monument that held it; finally, fatally letting go of my arm. "No more wars, because Passion won't be here to fuel them. No more risks of anyone accidentally getting permakilled! It's over, Quill!"

Change of plans. I needed to touch the beacon.

I turned to face her, using the movement to mask how close I was getting. I was barely half a block away now. One good jump would do it.

𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ looked so proud of herself. I was reminded of our first day on this world, when she had gone off into the woods and came back with a whole flock of chickens in tow. She had grinned wide enough that her eyes squinted shut, a mess of leaves tangled in her hair and dirt staining her palms.

I struggled to reconcile my best friend with the creature standing in front of me. She was nothing like my 𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸, with her hair twisted up above her head and her eyes glowing a maddened teal and the pristine white dress draped around her form like sea foam along the shore.

She'd insisted I wear one to match. I'd insisted on the flowers woven into her hair, and the sloppy crown I had perched behind my ears.

𝗝⃥̶̸ᵾ⃥̶̸₦⃥̶̸𝗹⃥̶̸₱⃥̶̸Ɇ⃥̶̸𝗥⃥̶̸ had told me the town was throwing a festival to celebrate the end of the fighting.

There were no decorations, no stands, nothing new except the prison I had pressed back against. The edge of the deepslate bricks dug into my thigh. It was cold through the skirt of my dress.

"You're free!"

I leapt backwards into the beacon, and the world flashed red-black-pink and for a moment I was in the place between, the place where the universe whispered to you before each respawn and after the End. For a moment I came face to face with Passion, draped in red.

And then the moment ended.

[bettydice]

an Epilogue for my Tavstarion Timetravel AU, this one is also for @loquaciousquark

_________________________

"I can't believe you forgot about me!" Astarion blurts out, a lot more caustically than intended. Shiv blearily blinks up at him, snuggled close to his side. He feels bad about dragging her from the precipice of sleep; a well deserved rest after their intense reunion. Actually, NO, he doesn't feel bad! Because. She. Forgot. About. HIM!

"Whatdyomean?" Shiv mumbles, rubs her eyes and wipes away a bit of drool. Ugh, she's so adorable, he's missed her so much. "I know who you are?"

"Darling, dearest, sweetheart... I know it's been a whirlwind since my return, but... I went to the past. And met you, a younger you. And future you, I mean present you, doesn't remember ever meeting me in the past!" Astarion stares at her incredulously, but she just blinks up at him, confused.

"Are you sure it was me?"

"Am I... YESIAMSUREHOWDAREYOUI'DRECOGNIZEYOUANYWHERE!" Astarion takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"Aw, babe!" Shiv sits up so they're eye to eye, her eyes are shimmering with emotion and she leans forward and kisses him.

For a few moments, Astarion closes his eyes and returns the kiss, incapable of resisting her familiar warmth and smell and tenderness. But no, he'll not let her get away with these cheap tricks. "MhmmmnNO!" He pushes her away. Only a little bit though, not too far. "I won't let myself get distracted so easily, my little seductress."

Shiv smirks and then just shrugs her shoulders. "Okay, fine. Let's try to untangle this. Maybe... maybe explain it to me again?"

"You know what? Forget about the whole time travel nonsense. Stupid Gale can try to figure out what exactly happened. Why don't you... just think back to when you lived in Skullport." Shiv frowns and her lips turn downward. Oh no. "I know you prefer not to, but... do you remember ever meeting a vampire spawn? Dashingly handsome? Saved you from an attacker in an alley? Was there, when you..."

His gaze falls on her neck and he swallows hard. Maybe... maybe he shouldn't bring it up. Maybe there's a reason she can't remember her darkest times.

Shiv suddenly grins. "Is this because I told you that I'd made out with a vampire spawn before? I know my memory is shit and that was a long time ago, but I feel like I would remember the name Astarion at least!"

Alright, no, he can't just let that slide.

"That vampire spawn? That was ME! It was always ME! And how can you not remember? We... " Astarion takes a deep breath and then says through his teeth: "Does the name Pit Boy mean anything to you?"

Shiv just cocks her head at him and appears to be deep in thought. She must remember him, she simply has to! He was there, when- "I was there when you got the big scar on your neck! You told me to throw the assassin's corpse out the window!" Ah, well, he didn't mean to do that.

Shiv slowly touches her scar, traces it with her fingertips. Then she searches his face for a long time until she furrows her brows. "Oh. I think I... I haven't thought about that in so long..."

Astarion bites his lip to stop himself from saying more and tries to give her time to recall the memory. Any memories, whatever is left in her beautiful brain.

"It's true... there was someone at my side... " She leans closer, grips his hand in hers, her eyes intense. "Was it really you? Is that possible?"

"No health potion, no cleric. Just some blood moss and a weird salve in a red jar." Astarion lifts their hands and presses a kiss to hers. "I watched over you while you healed."

She stares at him, eyes suddenly brimming with tears. "How... how can that be?" "It's possible because we're meant to be, my love." Astarion smiles at her fondly and kisses her hand again. Then he rolls his eyes and adds reluctantly: "And magic, I guess. Stupid Gale."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't know how I could ever forget you." Shiv throws her arms around him and embraces him hard. She presses her face against his neck and he can feel that she must be crying. "I love you so much, really, I do!"

Astarion takes her shoulders and pushes her back a little until they can look at each other. She looks so guilty and unhappy, it breaks his heart. He takes her face between his hands and starts peppering her face with kisses. In between kisses, he says: "I know you do. And I'm not upset, not really. Well, I was. A little bit, possibly. But not anymore. I just... wanted you to know that someone was there. Someone who loved you."

Shiv looks at him then, eyes so full of love for him (and tears), that he has no other choice but to kiss her, deeply.

And this, this is it. This is his Shiv, his one and only. She waited and she survived and she found him again. And then she helped him survive. It truly is impossible and yet it's the only thing that makes sense.

They kiss until Shiv's tears have dried and then kiss some more until Shiv pulls back, smirk finally back on her face.

"Be honest, you really just needed me to know that there never was 'another' vampire spawn." Her grin softens and she strokes his cheek. "That it's always been you."

"Oh, well, you know I don't care about that. I just didn't want you to live a lie and go around saying nonsense."

"Ah, so thoughtful. Is there anything I can do for you in return?"

"Well, I'm sure I can think of a few things..." He takes her hand and pulls her closer again. Shiv smirks at him, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Anything you want, Pit Boy."

"Oh hells no, we'll not be doing that. Erase that memory right now!" "Mhm, no, I don't think I want to!"

"Well! Then..." Astarion takes a deep breath in preparation for a long, outraged monologue. But he never starts it, because Shiv looks so happy right now. Unguarded the way she only ever is with him, he now knows that. So he swallows down the monologue to unleash it another time and kisses her instead. "You're lucky I like you so much."

"Ah, I really am."

[aladaylessecondblog]

Severed Destiny, pt. 10

Author's Note: tw, Sadara doesn't want to be 'alive' anymore and considers taking steps to not be alive.

Lots of medical talk from the Divath Fyr section. You can't tell me that this man can clone himself and not also invent a shitload of things.

This is long, almost 6k words

--------------------------

Below the sound of constant ashy gusts of the blight winds, the Ghostfence hummed.

She had been staring at it, waiting, for what she knew not. Perhaps for the bravery to carry through with the idea that had brought her here.

There had hardly been a moment of respite outside of Mausur Caverns. It seemed that whenever she approached a corprus beast or ash zombie, they would almost instantly turn, necks giving a too-loud crack, before fixing her with either a steady gaze or bolting at the spot where she'd last made a sound.

And she might have thought he did not have ill intent, had they not been so intent to lay hands on her. She could toss a bolt of ice at the lesser ones and run, but the ash ghouls (poets, his voice still corrected her somewhere in the back of her mind) and ascended sleepers...they were another story.

She'd thought herself well hidden enough, behind a scattering of rocks. The blight winds had slowed a bit, but were still strong enough she'd been certain it couldn't see or sense her movement.

She had been wrong.

The sleeper had spotted her, and as she'd moved back to flee - hurled a bolt of magic at her. It struck, but seemingly did nothing, and for a moment she could not figure out why - not that there was time for much thought. Moving away there was another bolt of the same, and another, yet neither of the two did anything.

It was not until she had gotten safely back to Mausur that she realized they were paralysis spells. They'd done nothing because wispmothers weren't affected by such things. It was almost a relief.

Almost.

But the fact that she was being attacked at all confirmed what Azura had been telling her: that he wanted her gone, and likely enough, wanted to handle it himself. Why else would the sleepers be hurling spells at her?

Then there had been a similar encounter a week later, with an ash poet, and then another, a few days after that.

It made her wonder if Gilvoth had finally spoken up. Stay gone, he'd said, and I will keep your secret. Stay gone, and I won't tell him you didn't leave to retrieve Wraithguard. Perhaps after she'd been caught through the eyes of that dying man, he'd started trying to find her. Maybe it had not been entirely angry, she couldn't know. But he WOULD be angry if Gilvoth spoke up...yes. Yes, that would explain the sudden surge of spells the ash poets and ascended sleepers directed at her. That would explain everything.

The small joy she had been able to take from this world of shit had been eliminated, and Azura had had much fun mocking her for it.

The Sharmat wants to destroy she who most betrayed him! Do you think he would want to leave it to his underlings? Do you think he would let you expire peacefully? Dead as you are, the demon has ways of making you pray for the true end! There is no escape!

She was alone again, but she couldn't simply stay in Mausur - that was the surest way to madness, to hole up there to wait for the end, in whatever way it came.

So now here she stood, an arm's length from the Ghostfence, contemplating what, she wasn't sure.

No, she knew what it was.

She extended a spectral hand, lifted it to the shimmering, shifting surface of the Ghostfence, and winced. Putting a hand near it produced a repelling force, and pushing it forward anyway made her feel as though her hand would split painlessly apart.

But actually touching it?

Pain shot up her arm, and she cringed from the agony. She felt weak - weaker than usual, even more than she had when she had first awakened behind that cursed glow.

Yet it hurt not nearly so much as feeling nothing at all.

Had she still been living there might have come then a deep breath. There was still a steeling of nerves, a moment of silence in her mind, a desperate attempt to keep her course steady.

Fifteen years.

For certain she knew it, for Azura had been sure to tell her each time a year passed. Her daughter was nearly a woman now, and she had seen none of it, had barely been able to hold her as a babe before expiring. What would she look like now? Would she still resemble--him? Would her little girl be able to see her at all? How had the argonians raised her, what had she learned? What hopes and dreams did she have?

What would have been, had she been able to convince him of the wrongness of his actions? It was a sword, that imagining, a sword that cut her a thousand agonies with every attempt to approach it. She had once tried thinking how joyful a father he might have been, how eager he might have been to teach a young mind, the first new one of his family in well over three thousand years. The smile on his face when a small voice called him father.

She would gladly have cast off her own and worn the name Nerevar, forget all that she had been if she could have even a taste of that life.

How wonderful things might have been, had I only been able to make him see?

So many questions I will never know the answer to.

There had been light, laughter, and love once, a lifetime ago. But now? Now there was only darkness and the constant red fog of the blight storms, and even this was going to come to an end. And she would know - for Azura said as much - when he had been defeated, for it would all stop, and then would come her true doom.

Even the corprus monsters she had once sung to, her only real company, would cease to exist and she would be lost, truly lost, in a never-ending stretch of ash and ruin.

A silent moment passed then. She steeled her nerves, kept her ghostly hands clenched into fists, and began to float forward--

No. STOP.

The voice was distinctly male, and stern in a way that reminded her of the ordinators. It came--from where, she wasn't sure. There was no one around her, that she could see, anyway. Perhaps she had finally lost it.

This isn't the answer.

"This is the only option I have left," she said in reply, "The last mote of happiness I had has been stolen. He has his followers dogging my every step, ready to end me if I'm not vigilant enough. I will never be able to pass the Ghostfence...what is left for me? What other answer is there?"

All is not as it appears. Listen to me. Let me help you. Just don't end yourself.

"Please don't make me hope," she whispered, "I would rather go now, than...than find you aren't real, or..."

I am real. I am HERE, the voice said. Strong as an ox, sure as the sun, he believed what he was saying, she could understand that much.

"But who are you?"

-----------------------------------

Yagrum was so eager to speak that Haj-deek couldn't help but sit there with him. She had the blood drawing tools in hand, but hesitated to go back up to Divath Fyr just yet.

"Your father - he was always brilliant, always knew exactly what he wanted - but perhaps not always how to get it. Else you would likely bear two names instead of only the one."

She looked away for a moment. "My mother's journals tell me she tried to change his mind, but...but was unsuccessful."

"Even for a lover's touch Lord Dagoth would not change his mind, that was always his way. Stubborn as any lord of a Great House might be."

"If my mother couldn't do it, then..." Haj-deek shook her head. Whatever Vivec had done, given her - she felt it kicking around in her head, boiling beneath her skin. He'd said she would know when the time had come to use it. Maybe whatever it was could be used.

She tried to explain what had lead to the situation wherein Vivec had given her this supposed power, whatever it was. Yagrum latched onto the topic eagerly.

"Much as Azura likes to consider herself a loving and benevolent deity, she has proven many times to be quite the opposite. And Vivec - him I am more and yet less sure of. He is eager to correct his mistakes, you say?"

"He claims to have seen the future," she said, "He showed me Baar Dau falling and striking the city...the disaster that followed. He was--very precise."

She knew she'd said too much, but Yagrum wasn't in a position to tell anyone else but those of Tel Fyr, and none of the people here seemed like the sort to go running to tell what she'd said.

"He didn't seem to dislike the idea of doing something to help my father," Haj-deek went on, "I wanted to know him, I said, and...he went along with it. He knows a lot of things I don't, this is probably one of them."

"Or he could be leading you on, to direct you to a most bloody fate. That is the whim of gods and those who consider themselves gods. Disobey them and their façades fade away in an instant." There was a moment of thought. "If you are quite serious in the attempt...I suppose there is something I could lend you. I would if possible want it back if you are able to escape this plan with your life."

Yagrum turned, and the spiderlike legs beneath him went tk tk tk as he moved over towards the wardrobe. He opened it, humming briefly to himself, and then lifted something from its bottom. "I've got something your father once gave to me...and when trying to appeal to one's humanity, it helps to have reminders from the past."

When he returned he held out a tiny, inert dwemer spider. It looked clumsily made - its sides were a little lumpy, and its legs felt brittle. Too thin. The metal had not been worked right, she could see that even not knowing how exactly smithing of such metals worked.

But the joints seemed to be holding together well, even while the rest of it didn't seem so well off.

"What is this?" she finally asked.

"A dwemer spider," Yagrum said, "House Dagoth mingled its blood with that of the Dwemer at some point in the past, and your father was interested in learning something of our skills, saying it could be of benefit to learn more of his heritage. And I, being--well, one of--his closest friends at the time, seemed the obvious first place to look for guidance on the matter. He tried a little of everything - and presented me with this spider."

Haj-deek smiled briefly. "Was he proud of it?"

"Yes and no. He was pleased to have made something, but he was well aware its quality was not...ideal. 'I have created, if not beautifully,' he said, 'And I would give it to you, but it would be an insult to provide you with something of such poor quality.' I cared not. I told him it was a shaky first attempt, but that he did not have the benefit that I did. I studied under Kagrenac himself - he had contented himself with notes I gave him. Seeing is better than reading, which is itself secondary to doing. I told him he should keep trying. I kept the spider, though, as a token of our friendship. Even in my wanderings, it's been at my side. Even when my mind deserted me, I knew it was important, even if I did not know why."

"I--thank you, for trusting me with it. Any help I can get, I'll take...do you think it will help remind him of--before?"

"It could, or it could not. But when you encounter your father, be sure to show him this little spider. Remind him that there was a time he did not make perfect the enemy of good, that there was a time he did not..."

Yagrum seemed to stop short at that.

"I'm sorry, I...lost track of my thoughts. Ah. You did not come here to only speak to me. You'd best take the blood-drawing tool up to Lord Fyr, I await eagerly the news of what you might help him discover."

"I don't mind speaking to you, though. Um...before I go..."

"What?"

"Did you ever meet my mother? Divath Fyr says he did, and..."

"Your mother...the previous Nerevarine." Yagrum paused, squinted, and shook his head. "Very little. Her smile, I remember that...she had a smile that brightened even this dark room. Ah - something else, she played that guarskin drum you might've seen Uupse using. I don't remember why."

Haj-deek thanked Yagrum once again, and finally left.

-------------------------------------

The blood-drawing tool in question was a strange looking needle attached to a colorful...tube of some kind? It was made of something that seemed to give a little, but not much, and on either side of the bright part were two strange little things almost like wings. Behind that the small tubing extended into something that looked like it was made to be put into something else.

The needle was...rather large, and that made her skin crawl just a bit. But she went on back to Divath Fyr anyway, with Sunchaser following close behind.

"Ah, good, you're back. You were gone longer than I expected."

"Yagrum was eager to talk to someone new," Haj-deek said, "And he'd met my mother, so...I wondered if he'd have anything to say about her. Now...uh...this thing, what is it? How are you supposed to draw blood with it? What's it even made of?"

"A new material derived from certain trees in Black Marsh, they're calling it 'rubber,'" Divath Fyr said, "And I've taken to calling it a butterfly needle. My patients seem to prefer these to the metallic sort. It was actually Vistha-Kai who suggested using the rubber in place of them."

"Where's the blood supposed to go?"

He gestured to her to follow, and so she did. He lead her to what was clearly some sort of alchemy lab, as crowded as the desk there was. Vials, ingredients, lined the shelves behind it, and he plucked a small vial from a lower shelf. The end of the tubing seemed to slot neatly into the vial's open top.

"Your blood flows at a certain speed as it moves through your body, and as such all I need do is give a little prick into a vein and let your body do all the work."

"And then?"

"Then I begin my work. Your blood could be invaluable in my struggle against the...more negative effects of corprus. Provided, of course, your blood is...of the right type." Divath Fyr took to cleaning the point end of the butterfly needle as he spoke.

"Type? Blood has types?" Haj-deek was frankly astonished, and even though the idea of being stuck with the needle was a bit gross, she was curious to hear more.

"Oh, yes. I noticed that when studying the blood of some of my patients, a curious reaction happened when I combined some of it under another of my inventions. It allows for amplified viewing of small--"

"Go on," she gestured, when he stopped.

"--of things too small for the naked eye to see itself. I noticed certain differences between the samples, yet similarities from the corprus."

"The blood was different from one patient to the next?""

When he gestured for her arm, Haj-deek decided to cooperate. It was fascinating, listening to this, despite...everything. Listen, Vivec had said, listen when the masters speak. You may learn something even if you do not understand it.

"There were four types, as Uupse later discovered, and two...subtypes of those types. To keep things simple, I named them after two of my daughters...and for oblivion itself."

The needle pricked a vein in her elbow, and despite the sudden nausea Haj-deek watched the blood flow out and into the vial. It didn't take long to fill the thing; the needle was pulled away and the small wound healed.

"That's a little weird. Not your daughters, but oblivion...?"

"A thing a man discovers is his to name, after all," Divath Fyr went on with a laugh, "Alfe, or A, Beyte, or B, and AB. The fourth, O for oblivion, was chosen because it did not seem to fight A, B, or AB as they would with one another. Hence the name. All of my patients had one of these four types, in either the positive or negative..."

She nodded, and momentarily looked down at the tiny wound in her arm. It was still gross to think about, him taking her blood, but it hadn't be as bad as she was expecting. And at least he looked like he was doing something useful with it.

He went on to explain some further things she didn't understand as he turned away to examine her blood. He took drops of it and put them under glass with some other drops of other blood, and then looked into the strangest thing she had seen yet.

"What is that?" she asked as he bent over the thing.

"A device Yagrum Bagarn helped me with. I have a spell for magnifying my eyesight, but it leads to troublesome headaches and other...strange side effects. This thing merely requires lenses, such as you might find in an old man's glasses."

There was a pause, and then he spoke again.

"This may take me a few minutes, go and see about getting yourself something to eat. And for my sake, don't do it up here around my specimens."

----------------------------------------------

When Haj-deek returned, Divath Fyr who had been still over whatever that little device was, looked quickly up.

"Anything?" she asked.

"Well, you're as immune as you say you are. And also what I've come to call O-, so that's an advantage to my work."

"How so?"

"It means that anyone can receive your blood, without it attacking or being attacked. With the little you've given me I've already seen some reduction of corprus in the other samples."

Haj-deek was momentarily puzzled. "How--how does that work when I have it myself? I mean...I don't feel any of the bad effects, but..."

Further explanation was soon given, and most of it went over her head. Something about "hereditary immunity" and "bodily defenses" and a whole host of other things she didn't really understand. But what was clear was that her blood was doing something to that of his patients. The blood of the others were responding in some way,

Still, after years of trying and so much failure in finding a cure, it was something - and much less fatal than that potion he had fed her mother.

"I may even be able to formulate a treatment from it...assuming there are no ill effects."

"I imagine you Telvanni wizards can do anything with magic."

"Of course we can," Divath's head raised proudly, "This could take magic of a different sort...if you wouldn't mind staying here for a week, perhaps two...and give me a little time to study your blood, perhaps provide me with a few more vials of it. If you're as eager to learn as you've been so far, it would be no chore instructing you."

He held a vial like that which he'd collected her blood in.

"As long as you only take my blood with that...that...what do you call that thing, anyway? Leeches?"

"I hadn't named them, actually...leeches, yes. I'll go with that."

And with that he was back to looking at her blood through that strange little device. She resolved to ask about it later, when he seemed more amenable to talking again.

------------------------------------

For the next week she spent the bulk of her time with Uupse and Yagrum, helping the former with the corprus victims and their various treatments, and speaking of her father and the past with the latter. Uupse applauded her for her interest one morning as she was helping dish out saltrice porridge for the patients' breakfast.

Sunchaser was having her own little meal from fish that Haj-deek had caught earlier - but outside. She seemed to adjust well enough to it, seeing as how there weren't any other cliffracers nearby...though she still preferred to stick close to the tower.

"He never gets visitors...Tel Fyr gets new people now and then, but they're usually not in good shape by the time we receive them, and not in a mood to talk. I think your presence has benefitted him greatly."

Haj-deek gave a slight smile. Yagrum had had many things to say, as the more he talked of her father and the past, the more linked memories seemed to appear. Not too many - sometimes they were only snippets, half-thought conversations, but he remembered, and that was the important part.

And more importantly, it gave her the chance to learn about her father. The moment Uupse was gone, she sought Yagrum out. He appeared to be studying her mother's journal--she'd given it to him, half wondering if there was something he could see that she didn't. Something to actually help.

"Your mother was quite the hopeful woman," he said, rubbing his eyes, "Nerevar...I don't remember him very well. I don't know if he was a hoper. He was...a man of action, though, I do remember that."

"I like doing things too," Haj-deek said, "And seeing things change because of me, but...I don't know if you'd call me someone of action just yet. Most of my life has been other people guiding me. The argonians that raised me...Vivec, for a while."

"Well, you're at that age where you start learning to make choices," Yagrum said, "So it's not your fault that you haven't made any yet. One thing I will say - don't be too much like your father. Stick to a decision if you feel it to be right, but be willing to change what you think if you're shown evidence it's not good for you. The man was stubborn, to an irritating degree, so unchangeable, unshakeable, he could not fathom being wrong most of the time."

"What worked with you?"

"Time," he said, "And multiple reminders that such behavior wasn't going to win him any favors with the people who cared for him."

"Could it really be that simple?" she asked. "He's been like this for...centuries."

"It's what worked before, who's to say it won't work now? Form a hypothesis and test it based on prior evidence. Granted, my evidence is...anecdotal..."

"Anecdotal?"

"Means it's my experience only, and not documented under studied conditions," Yagrum replied. "Now, I'm going to get to my breakfast before it goes cold. You should do the same."

Haj-deek's stomach growled in agreement, and she headed off to find Uupse again to get her own serving of the saltrice porridge.

"You've got a letter," Uupse said, after the bowl was filled, "It doesn't have a name on it."

"That's...strange." Haj-deek glanced over the envelope. "If it was anybody I knew they wouldn't...huh."

The envelope looked fairly nice, so she sat down in an alcove, near what had probably been some sort of campfire, and opened the letter. As she ate she read:

To the Nerevarine, Haj-deek

Be not afraid on receipt of this letter, if you should happen to have first ready my signature. I assure you that my actions shall not be those that you might already have heard from the dissident priests or other such unfaithful folk.

Though I have watched others come and go, my belief is that you are the child of prophecy. The time has come for you to reclaim your station. Together we can unite Morrowind once again, free from the Imperial yoke.

You are but a child, though nearly a woman you be. Allow me to guide you, for the title you carry is a heavy one. One, I am sure, you have already a deep awareness of, if your stay in Vivec City has been as long as I have heard it was. Let it not be said that Mother Morrowind, the font of mercy herself, cannot set a course ahead of the youth and help them to see the way they must go. You could be a beacon of hope, if only you will heed my words. Let the moon-and-star that adorns your hand and marks your destiny symbolize also your return to my side, though in a far different role than before.

But I must present you two warnings: there are those who seek to sway you to their own sides, away from the path of righteousness which you will soon walk. Lord Vivec, a revered god among mer as he is, has designs that are shrouded in complexity and ambiguity, as is his nature. You must be wary of seeking his counsel, lest it lead to your confusion in his wisdom at the worst possible time.

And as you no doubt have heard - you must at all costs guard your heart and mind against the evil whisperings of Dagoth Ur, the devil that plagues all of Morrowind. His influence is pure malevolence, a creeping necrosis that rots and kills all that it touches. You will be promised power and glory, but the path he would lead you down goes only one way: to ruin and despair. Do not trust him, even once, even for a moment, for the inch will be taken and the mile with it, as the saying goes. You should not have trusted him in the First Era, and you should not trust him now.

I would ask that you visit me in Mournhold. Seek out my wisdom, stand at my side, and fulfill your destiny. There are things only you can accomplish, and through me you will find all the strength you need and more to set the world right. Only you can now do what is needed - so it was with you when your name was Nerevar and you united Chimer and Dwemer, and so it shall be again.

Perhaps this time I may convince you to be less reckless, the better to preserve your life.

Signed, Almalexia, Mother of Morrowind, the Lady of Mercy

Haj-deek had for a moment an inkling of a feeling to show Almalexia the same mercy as she was planning to show to others. Something in the back of her mind stirred, weaker and yet there, a distrust of (Ayem) that would not be held back. It was Vivec, memory and the man's own mouth had said, to spear me through, but it was Ayem who I trusted most and thus who most betrayed me.

Still, perhaps she could see if these were only words, or if there was an inkling of a chance for her to change.

And if not...Vivec had once said something about Trueflame, and how Almalexia had it. Getting that sword would help...how would Vivec put it?...legitimize her as the Nerevarine nearly as much as the ring did.

The presence of a bloated corprus monster stirred Haj-deek's attention from musing on the letter. She looked up, and found the bloated thing staring at her. It sat down and seemed to inch closer.

She readied fire in her fist, which he seemed to notice. He looked at the embers, then back up, and shook his head.

They were so strange, these things. They'd never attacked her--grabbed at her, yes, but never hurt her. Most of the time they simply stared, and if she talked to them, would listen.

What were they looking for? What were they getting from this?

It reached for the letter clumsily, with a shaking hand.

"No, no, that's mine," she said, pulling it away, "Seems I'm very important these days...it's from Almalexia."

The corprus victim made an outburst--not quite a scream, but clearly an expression of pained panic.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about. She's down in Mournhold, and I'm all the way up here. Still...if she's as eager to make up as she sounds, maybe she's sincere. It's worth checking--"

There was a groan, and a grab at her arm with its own bloated one. A clenched grip that wouldn't release, however much she pulled away. Still no attacks - but she wasn't sure he wouldn't.

"Uupse!" she called out, before looking back at the victim.

"Nnnn...nnn..." He was trying to make a sound, trying hard, she could almost feel the desperation, see the struggle, until finally a single strangled word escaped his lips, "No!"

"No?"

A painful motion, almost like he'd vomit and then two words, in a softer tone, "No...go..."

"No go...don't go? Don't go whe--what, you mean to Almalexia?"

The patient nodded eagerly.

It was then that Uupse appeared, and she was able to cast a calm spell and ease the corprus victim's hand off Haj-deek's arm.

"They aren't usually like that," she said, "What was this about?"

"I got a letter from--from Almalexia, and I said I was considering seeing her and he just--he just--" she stammered, rubbing at the sore spot on her arm where the victim had grabbed her, "He said, and I quote, 'no go.'"

"Well, you're a Nerevarine, and the Temple doesn't like Nerevarines..." Uupse shrugged, "But...this one is so far gone, I didn't think he could..."

There was a pause.

"Well, it's a good sign...in a way. Do you know a calm spell? It might be helpful if you intend to stay here much longer...it'll be good practice for those fits you keep seeing them have. And for situations like this."

Another groan from the corprus victim, as Haj-deek stood; he stood with her and stayed close. There was a sickly groan, and then both his hands moved to her shoulders.

"Oh, he must think he knows you," Uupse said, "That happens rarely with them at this stage, but the early stage infections will...get like this. It's the rotting of their mind, it causes them to think that people around them are their friends, or family...it can cause them to be familiar with those they've never met."

Haj-deek looked up at the yellowed eyes of the corprus victim, and he stared back down at her own red ones.

She expected almost anything except what came next.

This corprus-addled man, so sickly looking she could not even tell whether he was man or mer, wrapped both his arms around her and pulled her into the tightest hug she'd ever been a part of.

[imaginespazzi]

Long awaited, chapter 8! 

-"The older woman seems to possess some sort of magical power that weaves itself into Azzi’s nervous system, soothing away her frazzled nerves with an unspoken promise of and if you give me the chance I’ll make it all okay." "For the last eight years, Azzi has been her own protector and she’s learned to guard herself" Oof, the independence Azzi has built because she didn't give Paige the chance. I'm not okay.

-"Azzi hurriedly moves away first and she can see the betrayal of if only you’d just let me hold you in front of the world written all over Paige’s face." Well this reminds me to bring up something I'd noticed in chapter 7 but didn't end up mentioning. Ruthie: “what is love if it can’t be seen by everyone?” By this Ruthie means on Paige's face. You can see on her face how inlove she is. But it could very well make Paige think of Azzi not wanting to share their love to the public. And that always hurt Paige, clearly. But going back to the way Ruthie originally meant it then, really it doesn't mean Azzi loved her any less. It's in the look on her face when she thinks of Paige, it's in the way she subconciously pushes Paige-like things onto her daughter, it's in the way she can't get into another relationship, it's there. It's simply a matter of that agrument on to sides:

side 1: Just because I don't show it properly doesn't mean I don't love you.

side 2: Just because you love me doesn't mean I feel loved.

-Paige called back to say goodnight to Stephie. Another promise kept. I know a lot of anons expected Paige to leave that morning in chapter 7, but she didn't, and I feel like you're actually making her keep all her promises and though some may think this is building up to her eventually not keeping one, I actually don't think so. I think she's gonna keep every single one of her promises and though I do wonder what the problem/source of angst is going to be, since it's kinda still all fluff right now, even if there's a moment of separation, that just means Paige can't make new promises to Stephie, therefore can't break any either. And eventually they'll figure out the problem too, bringing her back to Stephie (if there is a moment of separation) and probably making her say something cheesy like "I promised you I'd try to stay". I'll touch on what I think about problems in a bit though.

-"Paige laughs, “I’ll be there as soon as I wake up.”" That will hopefully be next to Azzi.

-"My wife is perfect. She loves me. She loves being seen with me. She loves being known as my wife. Everything I ever wanted from you, she’s willing to give me." I don't know if you've watched that Julia Roberts movie: My Best Friend's Wedding. If you haven't you can pretty much completely ignore this whole next bit cause it won't really make sense to you, but it's really giving me the same vibes. I also therefore really recommend it + it's a great movie. Anyways so, although Micheal ends up with Kimmy (his wife) I always thought that that was weird, and wrong. I felt bad for Kimmy really, just like I feel bad for Olivia. But the point is supposed to be that, though I feel bad for Kimmy, that doesn't mean I was rooting for her. I was rooting for her to go and live her own life and have a good one at that. But Micheal still loved Julianne, at least I thought that seemed clear. They made it seem like that wasn't the case and their last interaction is a simple "platonic" hug, though before he leans in he looks like he wants to kiss her. And the 3 of them have the exact same dynamic as Paige, Azzi and Olivia do here since, really Kimmy (Olivia) is simply what Micheal (Paige) settled for because he wanted to be loved publicly and Julianne (Azzi) wouldn't let him have that. But to me the moral was more that Micheal (Paige) wanted to be loved publicly BY JULIANNE (Azzi). I don't see his marriage realistically working out but whatever.

-"I know- I know your reasons but why- why couldn’t you have just loved me enough to look past them?" Ooohhh, yet another mention of Azzi's reasons, plural at that, but still you're not adressing themmmm! I neeeeed to know.

-"“I didn’t,” Azzi whispers, so soft she’s not sure Paige heard it" DID SHE HEAR IT???!! HEY DID SHE HEAR IT???!!!

-"“And some might say Edwards that being fashionably late is being on time,” Paige quips back." I love my huuugeee stretches and yes, believe me I'm aware this is about to be a stretch. But umm, what if this is mirroring their situation? Like Paige and Azzi's timing always seems to be off, but maybe that doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong, maybe being fashionably late is still on time.

-Ok so Clémence isn't a problem and honestly I didn't expect her to be. I genuinely have no idea what the problem will be. I feel like you have angst planned but, I don't see it fitting in now. Like maybe you're actually just gonna do pure fluff onwards, I doubt it. But the thing is I know a lot of people think the contract thingie with Liberty will pose a problem, idk but I just don't think so. In my head I don't see Azzi getting mad because legally it makes sense and shouldn't the team be aware to some point that Paige's contract is short? I mean if anything I thought it would sorta maybe possibly if you'd let it be perchance be a source of fluff. Like Paige just making it clear she's not leaving GSV, not leaving Azzi and Stephie. No matter how much the NYL offer. I can't even picture like a misunderstanding apart from from Stephie's POV. But Pazzi wise, if you plan on a couple more ups and downs consider me intrigued cause I have no clue what to expect really. Plus I still expect a Pookie reunion and they probably won't go see Drew together if they're fighting soo, with that being like chapter 9/10, the proposal 10/11, wedding 11/12, angst just doesn't fit in into my peaceful fluff schedule.

-"“baby you are the exception to all of my rules.”" Please break the sleepover rule, please break the sleepover rule.

Okk that's it thank you soo much and have nice holidays but ugh I want chapter 9 soo bad, I'll be patient though, it's all good. 

-🪐

-I'm so glad you caught that cause I definitely wanted to show Azzi's -in a way forced- independence where she's had to become her own protector without Paige

-YES! I was wondering if someone would bring up what Ruthie said last chapter and I'm glad you did because that's definitely a part of the conflict. And without giving anything away, I do have a conversation/argument planned where they're forced to confront their different viewpoints on the two sides of the coin your brought up

-I have seen My Best Friend's wedding but it's definitely been a bit but I agree, I always thought he was settling at the end. And the last scene is proof because it clearly wasn't all that platonic if he wanted to kiss her. But he found all his "perfects" in something else or at least he found what he wanted to see, which is exactly what Paige found with Olivia.

-Did she hear if? 👀

-See I did not think of that but it doesn't feel like a reach. Timing has been an issue but better late than never right?

-The team (Azzi) knows Paige's contract is short but the implication is that she'll likely renew because stars of Paige's calibre don't necessarily just go to a team for a year. It's like Stewie with the Libs where she was signed for year last year and then cored now. The deal with the Liberty in the fic is not public and something that's been negotiated off the books. How big of a conflict will that be? Guess we'll find out.

-LMAO well I do have a lot more planned then just proposal- wedding. Suffice to say we're headed for more than 12 chapters lmao.

-Ahahha another one for the let the gays fuck agenda huh?

[mpsansy]

Continuing with speaking to the void, hello void!! I am here to ramble about Casper again. Simply because it's still buzzing through my head, and I love building concepts and hcs. Only this time, I'll also mention other characters and their relationships with our familiar spectral.

(Note: Felt like I should mention that this is my own spin on the characters. So... yeah. Just needed to mention it cause my last ramble about Casper didn't specify that. Anyway, back to the concepts.)

-Casper doesn't scare because he can't. He most certainly can. And be great at it due to his imaginative mind, but he chooses to be honest and polite upon approach.

- However, let's say that who he's speaking to is outright mean spirited and rotten? Okay. He'll give them a fright and run them out of his home. Though admittedly, since he doesn't scare too often, he exhausts himself and will often lay down for a power nap. Do NOT disturb him.

-He sees Kat as a sister. Primarily an older sister cause he's still in the mindset of a young adolescent as opposed to her. Who works and goes to college as a young adult.

-Casper has made other friends throughout the past. And the best ones he could ever have now are monsters like him! A demon and a witch. The witch in question is named Wendy

-The demon, however, didn't have a name, but together, they came up with a name. Inferno. He seemed to like that name. It's a lot better than HotStuff, yet he uses both titles cause those are the first names he's been addressed as.

-To simplify their relationship with Casper. Wendy is like a good influence, whereas Inferno is the bad. Kind of an angel and demon on your shoulder type deal. It can be a little funny to watch if you're his uncles who want their nephew to do something dastardly and goofy.

-Inferno has a terrible time with holding back his fire abilities. Just with one touch, an object is sent ablaze. Conveniently, the things set on fire are often times undesirable to most. So he accidentally does good without realizing it.

-Opposite of Inferno, Wendy is far more than just advanced in her magic skills. She's been claimed in recent centuries as the greatest witch to live yet. What makes her achievements more sweeter is that she is one of few witches to have interacted and befriended monsters of all shapes and sizes.

-With Wendy and Inferno as his friends, they have taught him one very important lesson for his eternal afterlife. Stand up for yourself when no one will. It's a lesson that seems obvious to do, but the two really try to nail it down as Casper doesn't vocalize his true feelings.

-If a ghost were to find a place or object that seems familiar to them, something in their minds will click and send them back in time. When they were alive, experiencing the moment all over. Sometimes, it's a good feeling. Although it's a mixed bag depending on how a person lived.

-Despite being dead for a long time, Casper does have moments of discomfort. Such as looking at cliffs or frozen lakes. Naturally, he avoids them if at all possible. Something like this could be a link to how he died, but that's something he's not willing to investigate. Not if he has to relive all that.

-Casper won't say it, but he does have a favorite uncle. But to say who is immensely debatable. And something he refuses to bring up at all.

-If you've ever wondered if monsters dream, then good news! They do, in fact, dream. But one thing I'd prefess is that monster dreams are so intertwined that many beasts end up meeting each other before ever meeting in person. It's a trip that very few humans have the pleasure of participating in

-This goes with no context, but this is a list of who would kill for Casper with no arguments:

Inferno

Stretch

Stinke

Fatso

Wendy

They'd do happily if something or someone really hurt Casper. To say he'd be thrilled is, uh... well, who knows, really, cause I don't!

-The only time Casper joins in on the spooking is when it involves wannabe ghost and/or monster hunters. Cause most of them do, in fact, suck at their job and are real snobby jerks who disrespect property

-Deep within the manor is a hidden room closed off from all spirits and magic users alike. In this room is a book explaining all things Casper's father had discovered about monster life. As well as things he valued when it came to his own family that were simply irreplaceable. No one in the manor has discovered this room yet.

[happyandticklish]

I have a couple for the tickle fight asks if that’s okay. 💖

~

Tom & Marco

Bee & Deckard

Dipper & Pacifica

And Wirt & Sarah

You

You get me

I love that you always ask for my rare cartoon fandoms because I need to shower these couples in love and you always give me the opportunity to <3

I am not 100% sure if you meant these in a ship-y way, but as these are all ships that I like, I will be interpreting them as such. I put them under the cut as it started to get a bit long lol:

Round 2: Tom vs Marco

Okay, so it is pretty even between these two. They're both fairly ticklish and both competitive as hell, so they'll go for a while before one of them is forced to give up. I'd say that Marco probably loses more because Tom has magic (which is "unfair" and "breaking the rules" according to certain unnamed witnesses) and will pin Marco down with it, to which Marco loses his mind giggling and trying to somehow break his hold. However, there's this spot on Tom's lower back, near his butt but almost at his sides, that makes him panic and he is not able to focus on winning after that point, it is all about survival.

Round 3: Bee vs Deckard

Bee wins. Oh, for SURE Bee wins. Deckard (a) loves to be tickled and (b) is far too ticklish for his own good. He melts into tickling and will just curl up and take it—not that he won't be protesting adamantly—and half the time he might even roll over so Bee has better access to his spots. It's not that he won't tickle Bee as well, or that Bee herself isn't ungodly ticklish, it's simply that he is so fucking touch-starved that he will fight against every instinct in his body not to fight back if the opportunity to get tickled presents itself. Like, he'll start tickling Bee jokingly and she'll tickle back, and he gives up immediatelly. If she's in the mood to be tickled, she won't fight back because she knows Deckard will cave if she does lol.

Round 4: Dipper vs Pacifica

This might be controversial, but I actually feel like Pacifica would lose. Dipper is the more ticklish of the too, but Pacifica isn't used to being tickled. Dipper and Mabel have gotten into a million tickle fights over the years, and as such he has developed strategies to deal with his sensitivity in order to fight back. Don't get me wrong, he'll go down at first, and it takes him a while to get the upper hand, but once he does, Pacifica is caught entirely off guard and can't fight him off for shit. He does let her win occasionally, because he thinks it's cute when she thinks she's "finally bested him at his own game."

Round 5: Wirt vs Sarah

Wirt loses omg are you kidding, my guy is practically one walking tickle spots. No one with that gangly of limbs and that awkward of an attitude isn't insanely ticklish. Sara is also ticklish, and while I think they both ultimately enjoy being tickled, she's able to relax into it more. She'll giggle and squirm but other than that she doesn't get too out of control from it. Wirt fucking PANICS there are limbs flailing everywhere it's a mess. Tbh it's less of a tickle fight and more of him getting unfairly wrecked lol.

[julesapprentice]

Mc giving the Devoraks a magic lesson:

Julian:

It's no secret that when you met Julian he was highly uncomfortable with the idea of magic and always had been

He simply can't make sense of it, julian is at his heart a scientist and a man of logic (most of the time) and so he struggles to wrap his head around the abstract and illogical nature of magic

But, and this is important, Julian certainly warms up to magic during his time with you and becomes more comfortable with the presence of magic thanks to you (let's not forget his magic lesson in the tower realm) he's no magician but you can ceryainly try to make one out of him

He's not gonna want to start out with anything too big, he's all for dramatics but he's never done this before and is more scared of things going wrong and injuring you.

Julian needs you to explain the theory of magic too him because he will experiment with anything but this. He wants to know how and why this magic works and what makes it all possible.

Start out simple and for the love of gods do not touch potion magic. Julian is no chef and he would not do well in front of a cauldron. You might be able to talk him into after a bit if you really want him to but he's gonna be put off until you explain that eye of newt is not literal.

A good place to start might be sigils and protective charms, it leaves room to explain how and why they work and also with how clumsy he is and how much trouble he gets into Vesuvia will thank you. Bonus points for being able to turn the charms into some sick jewellery he can show off.

Overall he'd try anything for you including magic and who knows, practice enough with him and he might become a bit of a majulian- magician himself.

Portia:

Absolutely so excited

Is the magician of the family

She's probably been the one begging for you to teach her some magic

She will try and jump headfirst into things

Bring her back to earth and she will listen to what you have to say very intently although that's not to say she won't want to cause (harmless) trouble

Portia would be on board with anything you suggested she's such the opposite of her brother in this regard

Kitchen magic is probably the way to go with her, Portia is already fascinated with Mazelinka's magical touch in the kitchen so it's no surprise she's interested

Portia likes to cook and she's good at it too so this is where she's most familiar

I think she'd like the idea of potions and practical magic as well, things that make her life a little bit easier

Give her a spell to get all the cat hair of her clothes and she'll marry you again

[snowsheba]

i finished... 3-4... thoughts under cut...

characters

mel i already made some posts dragging her but the fact she gets all high and mighty after learning two (2) spells is so funny. to be fair, if i'd also spent my entire life without magic, i would react in the same way, but the phrasing used where she became "addicted to magic" was unintentionally comedic. similar to not helping the merchant and letting him bleed to death, actually!

my main complaint, though, is that genuinely i want her to be held responsible for how much hurt she's caused to the people who she calls her friends, or at least to take responsibility for it, and she never does. she had a hard life and she's sensitive about it, but throughout all of these games she just kept lashing out because she's defensive, and it's like. after a while people won't put up with this shit, mel. you can't keep hurting people and expect them to keep coming back to help you as if nothing's happened. they do because it's just a game, but in real life, she'd be alone and she'd die alone.

in 3-4 she just gives a silly little apology to ONLY edward about the chain of events (to which edward says "i'm already over it, it's cool" pretty much. what!) and that's it. like. i enjoy that she's destructive and angry and bursting with emotion, but i do think it's a tremendous missed opportunity that she experienced barely any growth from game to game.

stella setting the game up for stella marrying edward is poorly done. like. why even give the option if the following games are ALL going to be about edward and mel being weird bitchy exes.

stella's arc was very neatly presented and neatly wrapped up. i really enjoyed seeing her come to terms with what happened to her and her body and resolving to continue living anyway in 3-2 and 3-3 (though a lot happened off-screen obviously. but it's easy to guess what happened, and that's an important distinction).

it was incredibly touching that she got her wings back. out of everyone in this game, i think she deserved that miracle. she was never involved in the prophecy beyond her duty to guard the orb of light and everything was taken from her simply because she was in the way. to be able to return home whole after fighting in a battle that she made hers - because she loves her friends and the world under naylith and everything else she's seen - is just really good storytelling.

edward ok. edward was tough in this game, but i liked him best in this one, too.

i mentioned this in another post about how it seems like av3's writing relies on having a prideful idiot butthead as a primary protagonist, which is a weird tool to rely on but there it is. this time edward slotted into place. and it was WEIRD, man. having him actively yell at people (to the point stella consistently told him off for it) felt really out of place at first, but gradually i got into it because yeah. i mean, yeah. everything was taken from him, and now they're ripping his friend away from him, too. he's lost everything and he isn't going to lose any more, not if he can help it.

that paradigm shift changed my view of him entirely. like yes he's always sarcastic in previous games, but in this one he's pissed off and, for once, not under any obligation to hide it. (he's not a prince anymore. he can't even go home.) so he doesn't! so he yells at people and complains about lack of rewards and never once wavers in his mission to help mel, because he's allowed to do what he wants for once in his goddamn life.

and then he gets home and he concedes to his duty, because if there's anything this journey has taught him, it's that avoiding your fate never works. and that might not be the best lesson to take away from watching your dear friend almost destroy the world, but he takes the crown and goes back to being the dutiful, polite son.

it's sad. i feel like... it was only really in this game that i developed an idea of what his character is like, and it's just sad to see that because of his resentment and the growth he experienced because of where that resentment took him, he will make an excellent king.

galahad my first reaction to him having a) a terribly misogynistic marriage contract and b) using it was like "dude, not cool." and then, of course, i remembered that te'ijal has been pretty much torturing him with nonsense for the past three centuries or so, so at that point, i went "ok. i guess i can give you a pass for this one."

overall i was fascinated by his dynamic with te'ijal here. i NEVER thought that galahad would actually want to stay married to te'ijal if he became human again - but instead he calls her "love" and seemingly dotes on her. it's such an interesting angle to explore (full of dysfunction and codependence, i would imagine). like at this point he obviously believes magic is real, so he's accepted some things about his reality, but it's almost as if becoming human shifted his perception entirely.

so many questions! so many questions. it's a shame he and te'ijal became vampires again - i would have loved to see a bit more of them interacting as humans, just to sate my own curiosity.

te'ijal i feel like anything i say here will just be a repeat of what i've said before about te'ijal, but regardless: what a tragic figure. i cannot BELIEVE she let galahad order her around even with the marriage contract. i can't tell if they wrote it that way for shits and giggles or because they wanted to demonstrate how much her mental health had deteriorated since becoming human. (probably the former?)

i think there's something very telling in that she no longer cared about helping mel, right up until her husband returns from the demon realm. before that, she was following along because of the marriage contract and then galahad's ability to turn her into a vampire again. even then, she only stuck it out because galahad had changed and she was unsettled by it. it seems like a weird reversal from the other games, and i wonder if it has to do with whether you responded to her letters or not in the previous.

that said, another interesting thing with te'ijal becoming perturbed with galahad's corruption. she and galahad have spent so long complaining about each other that the minute the status quo changes, they both get spooked. it's a really fascinating dynamic that i wished the game had explored more.

yemite i don't have much to say about yemite except that she was very funny and very sweet. i like that she eats curses.

i think it's very fun that she continues to follow mel around after all is said and done. mel having a companion like her for support can't hurt, i don't think.

gyendal rip this guy. kiiiind of think the twist that he was serving a higher power (mordred) was kind of a cop out.

it is honestly baffling to me that they just send him into the demon realm to die. like they know that it could just not work if mel could come back, but this is treated as being done and done. like if he REALLY wanted to i'm of the thought that he could get a portal going, no problem.

yvette do you think they ever go back and tell her mel is ok after she literally vanished from the country after being sent out to get flies? because i think about that pretty often.

uma and nox booooooooring. mel has twins. yaaaaay. why are they working for the oracle though.

the oracle she has a personality now which she only shows with uma and nox. the shadow version was very interesting, though.

mordred darkthrop his villain monologue wasn't even good! and mel didn't get to confront him! wasted opportunities all around.

hercules lmao. that's all i have to say about that.

story

like i said in gyendal's section, the whole thing felt like a bit of a cop out!

honestly i felt so little impact from the story itself. i was FAR more invested in the characters and their interactions with each other, the events, and the world around them.

however, i will say that playing most of the game without mel as an central cornerstone was incredibly freeing. literally felt like a breath of fresh air to get a sense of how these characters interact when mel is gone. i loved it SO much. it was also really nice to see mel navigate through things on her own (especially since she's... kind of bad at it).

gameplay

the battle system felt very much like 3-3 (and 4) in terms of appearance but more like 1, 2, 3-1, and 3-2 in terms of actual play. thank GOD for the boots of haste, though. ashera's sandals in 3-3 were a game changer and the boots of haste were the same. why they didn't give you a speed crystal like in av1 is beyond me.

something i do miss from av1 and av2 are sidequests that don't actually matter. aveyond 3 has this skill of construing quests as "side quests" but ultimately they are actually main quests because you have to do them to complete the story. i would have loved some more useless quests to run around and complete for the hell of it, but that's just the completionist in me.

music

I CRIED WHEN THE PROFESSORS CAME AND THE RECRUITMENT MUSIC CAME ON. AAAAAAAAAAAA

the remixes of the classic songs are so good. i have very strong auditory memory so i was just like bopping along to every one. i'm SO HAPPY. i miss av1 so much. i like the original versions better because nostalgia's a bitch but still ;w; sedona...

conclusion

literally want to replay the games and write a novelization at the same time. i love the aveyond series and i'm beyond delighted with what aveyond 3 delivered.

[luckhissoul]

he does simply just stand there as he waits for her. he's not sure what else there is for him to do in this strange little house. he's sure that it's filled with little wonders that he knows nothing about. from from elayne told him she was centuries ahead of what he remembered. and he did trust that. because everything around him felt odd and different. he wanted to wander, to look at and try everything. but he stood still, very still. he's filled with a vague sense of wonder as he looks around the place. would she tell him all about this new world?

but did he deserve to be here? he remembered that the witches had called him cursed. they had done a ritual to keep him in the ground. his crimes, they had said, his crimes, his curse. but everything was so vague. he couldn't seem to reach out and find what it was that had been his crime. was he lying to himself? glimpses came in his head. war, screaming, burning, and then the end. the wet earth falling in his face. the blood, the dance. he feels a chill. he doesn't want to remember.

then elayne comes back with her book. overeager. she wants to know more about him. he's sure of that. she presses, he can tell, she presses' and probes. and he should tell her that this is only going to get her into trouble. this is only going to get her hurt at the end of the day. he takes the book from her hands, looking down at the pages. the drawings look familiar. they had drawn something like that on his chest. it was gone now, faded with time. they had yelled out, they had -

but then he looks at the words. they seem to blur together. and he has to wonder if it was something about her magic that made him understand her because he can't read the words. he feels a heat rush over him when he glances at her. setting the book back into her hands he gives a small shake of his head. "i can't." he says a little rushed, a little cracked. but mostly embarrassed. now she'd think that he can't read, won't she? but could he? he doesn't know. not knowing terrifies him a little bit.

he pushes his hand back through his hair. he lets out a heavy breath. "they buried me under the earth because me and my men invaded their village. we nearly killed everyone there. we were war, death, destruction. i know what happened. " the words flow out of him even though he had thought that he didn't remember. he hadn't only moments ago. he lifts his eyes to her face and he reaches his hand out to touch her face. unsure of why he did it. but feeling the need to do it. "witch..." he whispers, feeling an uneasy pressure in his chest. his voice sounds surprisingly tender as he meets her eyes. "...they said i killed your kind. and yet you dug me up."

There's something sad and broken there in his eyes and it hurts her heart entirely. He seemed lost and wounded and she wasn't sure how to ease that for him. Could she even? She was pretty certain that years of being in that grave must have caused irreparable damage. That is if he fully understood what had been happening to him. That caused a shudder to pass through her. No one should have to go through that.

She wracks her mind for something that could convince, for something that would ease the turmoil that he must be driving himself crazy over. He didn't deserve that kind of sorrow and it broke her heart to know that he assumed that he did. He was given a second chance and it appeared that Mat just figured that this suffering was his lot.

His hands on her are calm, warm even, gentle and she feels a tenderness rush through her. She wants nothing more than to ease the heartbreak only nothing seemed to be coming to mind. She continued to sift through the information that she had devoured leading up to the actual ritual that she had performed, but nothing seemed to stand out until one single thread came back to her.

"I have power of my own." She told him confidently, maybe even haughtily. The very way that the others that she had trained with told her would eventually get her into trouble. She didn't mind that thought very much, it came with a thrill. She had accomplished something that no other's had managed. "I can show you what I read." She told him and then gestured to the stove. "Don't go near that....it's very hot."

And then she left him there, she moved off towards the living room and she took out one of the books from the shelves that lined her wall. She flipped through the pages and then immediately Elayne rushed back to the kitchen and held it out towards him. "Look, read this, please." She said somewhat insistently. "It's about you and everything that the legend surmises happened."

[loki--fics]

All For You - Part 2

Loki x Reader

Content Warnings: abuse mentions, violence, strong language

Word Count: 2,294

~

     Loki had only been partially right the night before - you did have a slight headache when you woke, but it wasn't nearly as bad as he had made it seem like it would be. It's nothing a couple of aspirin can't cure, You thought as you rubbed the sleep from your eyes.

     "Well look who finally decided to get up." Your head snapped to the side, your fiancé's voice startling you. "Did you have fun?"

     You sighed. "What are you on about now?"

     "As if you don't know," He scoffed. "Bringing that God back to our room, flirting with him, kissing him."

     "For fuck's sake, Ben, he kissed my cheek," You retorted. "I'd had a bit too much to drink so he walked me back to our room."

     Ben was visibly seething. "Is he better than me? Is that it? Are you going to leave me for him now?"

     "God, what is wrong with you?" You snapped. "I only just met him last night!"

     "What's wrong with me?" Ben shouted, grabbing you by the arm and yanking you off the bed. "I'm not the one behaving like some depraved whore! That's all you, Y/N!"

     You rolled your eyes. "Oh, yeah, because you eye-fucking Nat last night totally wasn't worse than a kiss on the cheek."

     The force behind the resounding crack that followed was enough to knock you to the floor. Your eyes watered as you held a hand to your burning cheek, the sour taste of iron filling your mouth as your head spun trying to process what just happened.

     Touching a finger to your lip, it came away bloody, and you looked up at your fiancé in shock. "Did you just hit me?" 

     Immediately, Ben's face softened as he dropped to his knees in front of you. "Baby, I am so sorry, I- I didn't mean to!" He kissed your forehead and pet your hair. "You know I didn't mean to do that, right? I just… You made me so angry, it wasn't my fault! I- All I could picture was Loki kissing you, and-"

     "Ben, stop," You said, too in shock to cry. "Stop it."

     "And then you said I was eye-fucking Nat, when you know I wasn't, right baby?" He continued. "You were just being jealous, and maybe you aren't as hot as she is but if I wanted her then I wouldn't be with you, okay? I love you."

     You looked at him in disbelief. "Maybe I'm not as hot as she is, Ben?" You asked coldly.

     "Baby, come on, don't be like that," He scoffed. "It's okay, I'm not going to go after her, I love you."

     Shaking your head, you scooted away. "You love me?" 

     His eyes welled up with tears. "Don't make me beg, please? I love you, Y/N. I didn't mean it, I promise. You know I wouldn't have done that if you hadn't made me so angry, don't you?"

     Your resolve broke at the sight of Ben crying, and you placed a hand to his cheek. "Please don't cry," You said softly.

     "Let's just forget this ever happened, okay?" He said. "Don't tell anybody, then they'll think I'm an awful person and they'll try to make you leave me, and you don't want that, do you?"

     "No," You sighed. "I know you didn't mean to, Ben. I'm sorry I made you so angry, it won't happen again."

     He smiled, kissing you roughly. "I know baby. We're leaving today anyway, so let's just get packed up, and-"

     "I'm going to take a shower," You interrupted. "Then I'll help pack, okay?" Ben nodded as you stood, and started to follow you to the bathroom until you turned around. "Alone, please."

     His smile faltered, but he nodded. "Okay, I'll just pack it all up myself then, I guess." 

     "Ben, I'll help when I get out-"

     "No, just go enjoy your shower alone," He said harshly before turning around and throwing your things into suitcases. You let out a sigh and walked into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind you. 

     Walking over to the mirror, you inspected your cheek. There was a very prominent angry red handprint, already starting to bruise, and blood was dripping from your split lip. You felt tears burn behind your eyes as you started the shower, undressing slowly before stepping in. You noticed bruises on your wrist and arm beginning to form as well, and it was like the floodgates had burst open as tears poured from your eyes.

     You sat on your knees on the floor of the tub, hunched over as you tried to sob as quietly as possible. You didn't bother with actually washing yourself, you just sat there and cried until you had no tears left and the water went cold.

     Turning off the water, you wrapped your body in a towel and grabbed a second one to dry your hair, ignoring the pain in your wrist as you did so. The bruise on your cheek would be easy to hide with makeup, and you could cover the bruises on your arm with long sleeves, but your split lip was another thing entirely.

     I'll have to come up with a story to explain that, You thought as you went about your routine. You splashed some cold water on your face, hoping to get rid of the puffiness of your eyes, and then brushed your teeth (and in doing so, reopened the cut on your lip). After it had stopped bleeding, you began layering concealer on your cheek to cover the bruise, trying to take your time before you had to face your fiancé again.

     Even with all of your stalling, you were soon finished in the bathroom, and walked back into your room to find Ben sitting on the bed, suitcases unpacked, with a sour look on his face.

     "What's the matter?" You asked. "I thought you said you were going to start packing while I was in the shower."

     He huffed. "There's a snowstorm moving in, we're not going to be able to leave for at least another few days."

     You tried not to show the relief that poured through you at the news. "I'm sorry baby, I know how much you wanted to go home today. This could be a good thing, though-"

     "How is it a good thing?" He snapped. "I don't want to have to stay here, with that slimy snake Loki just waiting to get his filthy paws on you."

     "You're right, I'm sorry," You replied quickly. "I was just trying to see a silver lining, but I guess there is none."

     "Whatever," He grumbled. "We'll just stay in here."

     You raised a brow at him. "Baby, if I have a few more days to spend with my brother, then I want to spend them with him, not hiding in my room." You saw him stiffen, and knew he was getting upset so you quickly continued, "Besides, would that not be suspicious, if we stayed holed up in here for days?"

     He sighed. "I guess you're right. Just… Stay away from Loki, if I catch that weasel anywhere near you, I'll kill him."

     Deciding that now would not be a good time to mention that he, a normal human man, could not kill a magic wielding God, you simply nodded. "Okay, I'll stay away from him. Let's.. Let me get dressed, and we can go eat breakfast, alright?"

     He rolled his eyes, but nodded, and you quickly picked out an oversized, cream coloured turtleneck and black fitted jeans, throwing them on after putting on clean knickers. 

     "Are you ready?" You asked, and he nodded. The two of you walked to the kitchen together, where you were greeted by your brother, who was very obviously nursing a hangover. 

     "How are you feeling, Tony?" You asked. "You must have one hell of a hangover, because you look like absolute crap."

     He chuckled dryly. "I'm surprised you don't, Y/N, what with all that Asgardian wine you drank last night." 

     You felt Ben stiffen beside you, but you didn't dare look up at him. "It's nothing that a couple of aspirin won't fix," You replied, looking for something to change the subject. "Did Pepper make breakfast? It smells amazing in here."

     "Yes she did," Tony said. "She just finished, went all out since you two are here. The whole shebang."

     You smiled. "Well, I'm going to go check if she could use a hand setting the table or anything. Ben, you can stay here and catch up with Tony, tell him about your new job."

     Giving your fiancé a quick kiss on the cheek, you escaped to the dining room, where you found Pepper laying plates down in front of the seats at the table. "Hey! Do you need a hand?"

     "Oh, no, Y/N, you're our guest," She said, smiling warmly. "I'd never ask you to- Your lip! What happened?"

     You felt anxiety prick at your chest as you forced a smile. "I'm a pretty rough sleeper, I must have smacked myself. But please, you put so much effort into cooking, it's the least I can do."

     You felt a wave of relief crash over you as she accepted your explanation and handed you the rest of the plates. When you had finished putting them out, you helped her carry the food from the kitchen, and Tony wasn't kidding when he said she made the whole shebang - French toast, eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, crêpes, and fresh fruits.

     "That's everything," Pepper said, setting down two pitchers of orange juice. "Thank you for your help, Y/N."

     "Of course," You said, smiling warmly. "Is JARVIS going to let the others know breakfast is ready?"

     "Yes," Tony said, walking in with Ben. "But I'm starved, so I'm not going to wait for them." 

     You and Pepper laughed as the four of you sat down, and you filled your plate with some French toast, fruit, and hash browns as more of the Avengers began to trickle into the dining room.

     Everyone chatted amicably amongst each other, giving much deserved compliments to Pepper on her cooking, but you could feel Ben seething next to you. What had Tony said to him that would have made him angry all over again? It couldn't have just been about you drinking that wine, could it?

     Whilst you were eating, the cut on your lip reopened once again, and you had to excuse yourself to the kitchen to clean it up. Dabbing a paper towel to your lip, Loki meandered into the kitchen from the hall, eyeing you.

     "What happened?" He asked, eyes staring at your split lip and noticing the faint discolouration on your cheek. 

     "I'm a rough sleeper," You said. "I must have hit myself in the mouth while I was asleep or something." 

     "Did you hit your cheek as well?" He asked.

     You looked away from his intense gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about," You replied quickly.

     He was about to reply when Ben walked into the room, his eyes immediately falling on Loki. If looks could kill, Loki would be dust on the floor - but, to be fair, so would Ben. 

     "What do you want?" Ben snapped. "Here to mack on my fiancé some more are you?"

     Loki looked at you, and you looked at Ben. "It wasn't like that, Ben, we'd all had a lot to drink last night."

     "Yeah, I know you kissed him first," Ben said, his voice thick with barely-suppressed rage. "Tony told me."

     You froze, looking at him in shock. "It was on the cheek!" You hissed. "Ben, please just stop this!" 

     "What's the problem?" Thor asked, walking into the kitchen. 

     Ben visibly paled, and his shoulders sagged. "Nothing," He said, obviously defeated. "I was just leaving." 

     "What happened?" Thor asked after Ben left. "He seemed upset, is he okay?"

     "He's fine," Loki said quickly. "I provoked him."

     A look of understanding came over Thor's face. "Ah, yes, well that does make sense. You need to stop that, brother."

     Loki nodded, and Thor went back in the dining room. Turning back to you, Loki looked at you expectantly.

     "I do believe you owe me an explanation," Loki said. "That is twice now that I have witnessed your fiancé speak to you in such a manner."

     "I don't know what you're on about," You huffed.

     Loki stepped closer to you. "Have you forgotten that I am the God of Lies? You cannot lie to me, I will know."

     "Well, you're wrong." You turned away from him. He grabbed your chin and forced you to look at him.

     "Your lip is split open, your cheek is bruised, that oaf you call a fiancé speaks to you like you are his property, and twice now I have had to step in to cover for you." His blue eyes bore into yours, and you were at a loss for words.

     Taking a deep breath, you exhaled slowly. "I don't know what you want me to say, Loki. You don't know what you're talking about. Ben would never intentionally hurt me, he loves me." 

     "So he's unintentionally hurt you, then?" Loki asked, catching on to your careful choice of words. 

     You pulled your chin away from his grasp. "I would appreciate it if you would stop interrogating me and allow me to finish my breakfast," You said. "You're welcome to join."

     You plastered a smile on your face as you walked back into the dining room, ignoring the dread seeping into the pit of your stomach. Ben was livid, that much was obvious, but you tried to convince yourself that there was no way he would repeat the events of that morning.

     Right?

[bill-y]

𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐄

Peeta Mellark x male reader

We all know who Katniss Everdeen is, but what if Primrose hadn’t been chosen but another boy from another unfortunate family? YOUR family.

Info: This is basically a reader insert and I’ve changed a few rules, not ground breaking though. The reader is a bit bland for now but I plan for his actions to be different. Because he has different moral grounds from Katniss and such. Would appreciate feedback! FEEL FREE TO POINT OUT TYPOS. GRAMMARLY SOMETIMES DOESN’T DO MY DYSLEXIC ASS JUSTICE

Part two: Click here, bomburino tortilla pony horse.

Part three: You're here, my guy.

Part four: Click here, amigo

Wattpad acc: L0calxDumbass

It didn't take long before I came home, my mother and brother was already dressed, and I was right, Kunal has been crying.

He immediately lightened up when he saw the bread, pushing the sleeves of my first reaping outfit (which was now his) back in order to munch on it.

"Don't worry, you only have your name once in the pile, you're safe," I reassured him, as I've done many times before.

I smiled, patting his head. My mother glanced at me, but I pretended to not notice. It's been long since we've talked, the last time was a disagreement, a petty one at that. About two years or so?

I honestly surpised myself, how can I go without talking to her for so long. . .?

Another trait my father passed on to me was a short temper, though I never lose my head and scream, but something about her words made me yell. Her face was full of shock when I did that, almost as if I've betrayed her.

"Don't be stupid like your father!" She told me.

My father isn't a stupid man, he was smart. Lady luck just wasn't on his side that day.

I took a bath, scrubbing the dirt and soot off myself. When I saw my clothing my heart stopped. It was my Father's.

It was simple, just as he liked. A white button up tunic, the hems made of elegant gold lace. The pants were loose, with garters securing on the hip and the hems, he never liked tight clothing, just like me.

My eyes went towards my mother, who simply nodded, "After you get dressed, sit down, won't you? Let me fix your hair," she said.

My mouth opened to protest, only to shut itself when she whispered a small, "please," My eyes softened, her voice sounded so guilty, she regretted her words, just as I did. She knew I could get chosen.

But I'm a coward, I don't like apologizing, something I inherited from her.

I nodded, and got dressed before I sat down, just as she told me. She began to braid tiny sections of my hair. I've never been good at it, really, It would always look messy when I did it. So I just looked messy everyday.

But her hands can do magic, it was like she was weaving silk, her hands full of grace and utmost care as she intertwined every strand of hair. I could feel her hand shake a little, as if scared with one wrong touch, I'd shatter like glass.

She used to sew clothing, make various artworks with whatever was in the house. Her hand was naturally delicate, soft to anything she makes contact with.

I bit my lip, none of us wanted to say it. We we're both thinking the same thing, though.

I never really liked cutting my hair, always kept it atleast neck length at best. I don't think short hair suits me at all, though it does get in the way while hunting from time to time.

Once she finished, without a word she pressed her chapped lips onto my forehead, she then walked away, leaving me with a pit of guilt in my stomach.

Such simple words, why can't I just say it?

I sighed, fixing my tunic and tucking it in, the garter snapping back, making me wince a little. It was stupid of me to let go.

I took a deep breath in, mustering all the courage I had to walk towards my brother, who has devoured the entire loaf. "Good?" I asked.

He nodded, a smile on his face, the crumbs falling down. I chuckled, wiping his mouth with my hand.

"You're like a bird, aren't you, little mocking jay?" I said, patting his head again.

He hummed, nodding aggressively, his hair bouncing up and down. I snickered, holding his head still with both my hands. I squished his cheeks together, making his lips form into a duck beak-shape. "Hey, Y/n,"

I rose my brows, humming. "I won't get chosen, won't I?" he asked. I sniffed, shaking my head as I linked our foreheads. "No, no you wont, Nal," I said. "If they call you, I won't let you go, alright?"

"You promise?"

"Of course,"

Soon it hit one in the afternoon, it was mandatory to attend this "festival", unless you're at death's door, that is. I found myself beside Gale, who patted my shoulder for reassurance.

Maybe it was obvious I'm stressed, tense. I'm not worried about myself, I'm more worried of them, especially Kunal. He's only twelve, yet he can still get chosen.

Some kind of festival this is.

I clenched my fists tighter, palms started to go white as I also clenched my jaw.

On the temporary stage stationed in front of the justice building was a podium, three chairs and two large bowls. The district is divided into two sections, jumbled across those two glass bowls, waiting to be picked up.

Twenty of them contained 'Y/n Greyback', one of them contained 'Kunal Greyback'.

There were also bright banners hung up, though I'm sure it was just there to taunt us, it sure worked for me. Everytime I look at it I start feel sick, hatred bubbling in my stomach.

The feeling of claustrophobia began to settle in as people piled into the square, the late comers having to just watch from a monitor instead.

"You alright?" Gale asked, nudging me. I gulped, sighing, "Course, I just —" I turned back, looking at my brother. "Worry of him,"

He gave me a sympathetic look, "He only has one entry, I'm sure he won't be picked," He said. Something I've been saying for such a long time, it didn't help settle my nerves.

"I know," I answered plainly.

We looked towards Katniss' place, beside her was Mardge, who gave me a curt smile and a wave. Out of politeness, I simply nodded back before turning back to the stage.

My hands grew colder each second, by two, when the mayor finally reached the stage, my hands were as cold as a corpse's.

Beside the mayor was Effie Trinket, District 12’s escort, fresh from the Capitol with her scary white grin, pinkish hair, and spring green suit. It looked quite ghastly.

Everyone murmured in worry, for whom was the empty third seat for?

The mayor stepped in front of the podium, beginning to tell the tale of Panem, how the twelve districts lost in the rebellion and now have to face punishment.

The Hunger games.

It was simple, each district would pick two "tributes" to this little game, and then they either kill like a hungry wolf or die like lost cattle.

I gulped, sweat forming on my forehead as I instinctively reached for the end of Gale's shirt. He held my hand, patting it a few times to let me know it would be alright.

He then began to read the victors in every hunger games. In the past seventy-four years, we have had exactly two.

Only one is still alive. Haymitch Abernathy, a paunchy, middle-aged man, who at this moment appears hollering something unintelligible, staggers onto the stage, and falls into the third chair.

To say he's drunk would be an understatement.

The crowd responds with its token applause, but he’s confused and tries to give Effie Trinket a big hug, which she barely manages to fend off.

The mayor looks distressed. Since all of this is being televised, right now District 12 is the laughingstock of Panem, and he knows it. He quickly tries to pull the attention back to the reaping by introducing Effie Trinket.

Bright and bubbly as ever, she began to talk. I could feel my blood boiling upon hearing her obnoxious, Capitol accent. I tuned her out, gulping as my hands somehow grew even colder.

Please don't let it be my brother, anyone but him.

"Let's have the first pick, shall we?" She said, her voice at the end of the sentence practically sky rocketing up. She pulled a piece of paper from one of the Glass bowls.

My heart pounded, as if trying to escape my chest. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths in.

"Kunal Greyback,"

My heart stopped. Why couldn't it have been me? I had twenty, TWENTY entries.

I watched as my brother walked past me, his lip quivering, eyes glossy. Oh sweet, sweet Kunal, as delicate as a Lotus.

Kunal, the boy who gathers flowers every morning just for me.

Kunal, the boy who loves pulling on my braids.

Kunal, my dear innocent brother. Afraid of his own shadow.

I felt my own body move, launching myself forward. Gale called for my name, but I didn't care, no. I needed to get to my brother, I made a promise.

"NAL! NAL! NO!" I yelled, desperation evident in my voice as I pushed through the other people. "Y/n!" He screamed back.

Most of then gave me and my brother looks of sympathy, some gossiped. "Greyback," they'd whisper. "Another one bites the dust," they'd continue.

The peace keepers pushed me back, preventing me from reaching my brother.

No, not like this. He's still so young, he still wants to gather lilys by the front of our house, he still wants to create flower crowns for me to wear.

He still wants to breath, to live.

The mayor looked at me, recignizing me almost immediately. He didn't know me, no. Rather, he knew my father, the man he put under the execution block.

Oh mother, I'm sorry it had to be this way. It seems another one of your family members will die at the hands of the Capitol.

"I volunteer!" I gasped, gulping down nothing. My mouth was dry.

"I volunteer as a tribute!"

Word count: 1.6k

Tags:

@nin3s

:v

[menodoramoon]

What was it that he must think of her? The Light Countess of Mjaunie: burning their home, stabbing their shoulder, threatening their throat. She felt small and cornered at once, even if she was the one with some amount of perceived control.

No. Any instant, Tófi Sethson could easily overtake her. They could easily throw her from them, take her life. She knows they won't, they'd said as much.

But they could...

The key was the potential for the thing. Was her mistrust of the reality a matter of their monstrous nature? Or was it the fear of a familiar cycle, come back after some dormancy?

Lowering the light dagger could have been a mistake. It was giving up the facade of control, of fierceness and power. There was part of her that had often felt powerless around Tófi, even when she feigned bravery on the battlefield.

The moment they betrayed her had burned itself in her memory, and now look.

She was not even worth killing anymore. Isn't that what Seth would want? His dear son to deliver her heart to them?

The thought inspires a feeling of sickness just as much as Tófi's jest inspires a feeling of incredulous surprise.

"You confuse me," Menodora says simply, eyes focused on their hand on hers moreso than anything else. She can't look at their reptilian eyes. She'd only seen them a handful of times.

If she looked, perhaps she'd feel the phantom sting of their palm on her cheek again. Or perhaps she'd see more than an amused smile, like the one she had perceived in their tone.

A joke from another life. A recollection to before she'd let her temper rage and burn and blaze.

She could be particularly vicious.

But she couldn't bring herself to go any further.

Menodora retracts the light blade from their shoulder, correct in her assumption. (Her private inadequacy.)

It cauterizes the sound and she is left to wonder, exactly, what Septarian blood pooled like. Poured like.

"I know I'm resilient," she murmurs, her other hand falling to her side, "but it pales in comparison to your regenerative powers. It seems a bit unfair."

Said lighter, an awkward attempt at adding levity.

"I don't think I have it in me to scratch your eye out. That other me must have been much more ruthless. Or maybe her grief reached further than what I ever could."

Menodora tightens her grip lightly, the hand at his chest. Drawing the fabric of his shirt for a moment before releasing because she had to (and it would be rude to wrinkle his garments.)

"I'll pay for the damages," Menodora murmurs, though with the articulation to be understood. "I'm--" sorry? That's the word she might to use... It comes out more formal as she tries again. "I apologize. Sincerely."

Hopefully they know that that's true. She's not meant to let her magic spiral out of control, in bursts of flame and destruction. It was classic Mjauman, wasnt it? The fire. The burning...

Tófi may not remember, but they'd spoken to her about it long ago. Perhaps when she first picked up fire as a specialty, before the addition of aether? Was it a disappointment that their student took up a specialty that was so deeply tied to monstrous trauma?

Does she feel better now? She's had her outburst... does she feel better?

"I don't know," she answers honestly. In English. Despite it being a first language to her, Danish felt-- foreign again. She was losing touch with it in a way that stung deeply. "I fear my burning has burnt a bridge between us. I fear your sharp tongue had severed some ties before that."

She digs her nails into her palm, wincing as she does. Is it about the pain, or something else?

"I don't think we can go back to what we had, Tófi," she says, another part of her threatening to break. She can feel that rage dissipating from her body, leaving a weak and exhausted state.

It had been so long since she had used her magic in such a way. She felt the toll of it, the tax on her body.

"I'll miss it. Whether it was an illusion of propriety and friendship, or was genuine, I don't believe it can be salvaged. Or at least the same."

She doesn't break her skin, but damnit does she want to.

"I don't think I'll be the same after today. And I don't know if it's you I have to thank or blame."

They are dear to her, an interwoven part of her history. They are loathed by her, and intertwined part of her unraveling.

Gods, and then it hits her. A choked, anguished sob and laugh at once. Not a flood of tears, not a moment of hysteria. Like it's funny. Like this loss is funny. A cruel joke.

"Our friendship was nice while it lasted," she hums through a strained tone, her voice tight, finally withdrawing her hand and stepping back. "I'm sorry I had to burn it."

@ofseptarsis

genfødte sandheder || Tófi & Moon

[your-brilliant-lady-m]

Part 1 - Basic Concepts of Miraculous Ladybug: Miraculous Jewels

Alright! I promised you meta and now I deliver!

I feel like people mostly watch Miraculous for the romance these days. Shipping is all everyone cares about. I wonder why? Probably because writers themselves don't take their worldbuilding very seriously and because they don't put much effort into making the audience care about something other than Love Square, like the mythology behind the Miraculous, or motivations of the main villain, or some pretty heavy topics for a kid's show that they bring up and then refuse to touch again. You know, all the good things. And this is coming from someone who is a passionate multishipper. I have lived through several shipping wars in different fandoms and came out victorious after all.

I am probably the only person out there who cares about the big picture, the overall storyline and the worldbuilding of Miraculous in addition to all details and implications that could develop into fascinating plotlines relevant to the main story. It is a rather lonely fandom experience, I must confess. But, hey? Who cares? I am here to have fun and bring to the table discussions no one wants to have.

So, let's talk about the basics.

If you, as the writing team, are capable of keeping only 1 thing consistent, then please, I beg you, let it be the basic concepts of your universe. Because in this case, one has to actively put effort into writing characters and conflict resolutions badly. And also because nothing can save bad worldbuilding.

I don't have high worldbuilding standards for Miraculous. They certainly aren't as high as the ones I had for Legend of Korra (which was a badly written trainwreck, that ATLA doesn't deserve as a sequel) or the ones I currently have for Dragon Prince. Therefore I won't be too harsh in my criticisms. Granted, I think that Miraculous has better worldbuilding and lore consistency than Winx Club for example (I haven't seen the reboot yet, so writers might have fixed their worldbuilding at least a little bit). Even though I enjoyed Winx when I was younger and some elements of this story still attract me.

Both serialised and episodic shows as well as movies to the lesser extent must have some flexibility in worldbuilding and plot because you can never be 100% sure where your story is going. Maybe, you'll get money for more seasons, maybe not. However, you must never lose sight of your basic concepts. They have to stay the same no matter what, because rewriting lore and retconning major developments every new season is not and never will be called good writing.

Forgive me for using architectural metaphors, but you need a solid foundation to build any kind of structure. Otherwise, everything falls apart.

I like to apply this logic to writing as well. When designing a world where your story takes place, you must lay a few ground rules. It's especially important if you have a magic system. What kind of ideas absolutely must exist? What kind of conclusion do you want your story to have? Does your magic system has limitations? Where is the grey area? Could you introduce new elements later on?

And I feel like the writing team of Miraculous Ladybug did not ask these questions. This may feel like I am nit-picking canon material and looking for problems that simply aren't there, but I promise that I am not. You see, things that I am about to point out only seem small at first glance. But these details are actually the source of the largest plotholes in the series. And their presence negatively affects character development, conflicts and resolutions of said conflicts.

That doesn't mean that I have nothing good to say about the magic system of the show and its elements. There are a lot of great ideas and concepts. And some of them have the potential to contribute to the delightful story.

Let's dive right into it, shall we?

Camouflage

I have to give credit where it's due because the idea of camouflage and shapeshifting for Miraculouses is brilliant. It seems like Miraculous can't fundamentally change its type of jewellery or accessory. The ring will always be the ring but with a different ornament, colour or shape. This is true most of the time (Monkey Miraculous is an exception since it transformed into earplugs/headphones/headband/circlet) It makes sense and avoids plotholes. Grimoire doesn't have the pictures of each Miraculous in disguise for identity protection. That was very neat too. I have no comments. This concept was very good.

Also, since Marinette wore a nose ring of the Ox in "Kwamibuster" without any problem and Adrien wore Ladybug's earrings in "Reflekdoll", we can assume that you don't need to have piercings to wear a Miraculous. Miraculous just magically passes through your skin.

I'm interested to know the following. Can Kwamis recognise a camouflaged Miraculous on a person? Can the holder order them to confess the identity of this person? This shouldn't be possible for identity protection just like with Kwamis sensing each other. But more on that in later posts.

Power Levels

For a long time, we assume that there are only 7 Miraculouses. Turtle belongs to Master Fu, Gabriel has Butterfly and Peacock, Marinette and Adrien have Ladybug and Black Cat. Everything is pretty straightforward. Then it's revealed that there are more jewels and more boxes. It makes the worldbuilding interesting, but it also majorly complicates things, making them inconsistent.

Their position in the Miracle Box implies their power levels. Creation and destruction are the most powerful forces in existence, therefore they are at the top. Moreover, it makes this Box the most important, the most powerful out of all others. Su Han in "Furious Fu" calls it "Mother Miracle Box". Fox, Turtle, Bee, Butterfly and Peacock have less power than the main pair, but more than the Miraculous of the lower Zodiac tier (since they correspond with animals of the Chinese Zodiac).

1. Ladybug can create anything out of nothing (Lucky Charm, which gives what you need the most at the moment). This Miraculous can resurrect the dead, reverse the effects of the Cataclysm. The power of Miraculous Cure or Miraculous Ladybug can work in several ways:

it simply repairs the damage (puts stuff back together, heals injuries and so on)

it reverses time for the matter, restoring things back to the state they were before the destruction occurred (however, the Cure doesn't erase people's memories of everything that happened unless they were mind-controlled, frozen in place or transformed by Akuma into something else - this is an important point that I'll discuss some other time)

How does Miraculous Cure work when there are no supervillians? In NY Special Marinette just says this.

Excuse me, what? What was that? You can't do anything when the villain is gone? What the hell?

*insert here every scene where Ladybug fixed Paris after destroying akumatized/amokized object (this action causes the Akuma victim to detransform/sentimonster to disappear - villain is gone) and purifying butterfly and feather*

It was such cheap angst. I couldn't even be upset when Adrien gave up his Miraculous, because that whole situation is just stupid. But, never mind. We aren't talking about that today.

Apparently, Lucky Charm and Miraculous Cure only work when summoned to battle a specific villain. What is the point then? Huh? You can't tell me that Ladybug has the power of unlimited creation and then say that she can't repair the damage without a special Lucky Charm that was magically synchronised with specific big bad of the week.

Ladybug also can purify Akumas. It makes sense for Ladybug to have the ability to reverse the magic of less powerful Miraculous. But this power can't be applied universally. How does this power of reversal apply to different situations where there is no evil Butterfly holder? Can Ladybug reverse the magic of any Miraculous?

The unlimited power of creation introduced in season 4 ("Mr. Pidgeon 72") is another fascinating thing. On one hand, it's logical and proves the status of this Miraculous as the most powerful. On the other hand, by introducing this power, you have created a plothole. Look, Marinette can create the charm which repels Akumas. If Ladybug can create anything then what stops her from creating a tool for finding Hawkmoth (like special glasses for discovering identities or a compass)? I mean, the show says that the power of creation is unlimited, it means that the creation of such tool is possible.

2. Black Cat can destroy anything with Cataclysm, even other Miraculous. He can kill living things and turn them into ash, but not himself. This Miraculous is supposed to have other special abilities that we don't see. And they should be equal to powers of Ladybug, both in number and in potency. Unfortunately, after 3 seasons writers didn't give us anything. It makes laughable the idea of balance between Ladybug and Black Cat.

Now, to the second tier. These Miraculouses have a singular ability, but they need a second one to keep the power balanced between Zodiac and the main pair.

3. Butterfly creates champions with different superpowers. But how does the time limit of children work for Butterfly? In theory, the countdown should start right after the creation of the Akuma since for Ladybug and Chat Noir countdown starts after activation of their powers even if they don't use them. However, if the countdown of the Butterfly begins after Akuma creation then there's no point because the holder has to stay transformed to guide their champion. The charged butterfly won't have time to even grant powers before the transformation of the child-holder drops. This issue is never explored because Gabriel doesn't have a time limit. However, I feel like it should be addressed in flashbacks of past Butterfly holders for example.

This Miraculous should be less powerful than Ladybug and Black Cat. It's often not. Some Akumas are too overpowered. Stormy Weather can move the Earth away from the Sun, Timetagger can send people through time and jump through time as well, Chat Blanc destroyed the world with a single energy blast, Miraculer could steal powers of those more powerful than her by default. These are the most notable examples. One could argue that Chat Blanc was a different case. Hawkmoth simply gave the most powerful Miraculous a boost. However, we know that even without a holder (the wildest and the most powerful form of uncontrolled Miraculous magic) Plagg's Cataclysm can't destroy the universe just like that (he presumably wiped out dinosaurs and sunk Atlantis on his own without a holder). I think that the less powerful Miraculous (Butterfly) shouldn't be able to increase the power of destruction to such a degree and give Black Cat the power to destroy celestial bodies and galaxies.

Writers want us to see Hawkmoth as the formidable villain. But it's not easy because he is less powerful than your main heroes by default of your worldbuilding. Sometimes writers make the Butterfly more powerful than creation and destruction to raise the stakes, breaking the laws of their magic system. So, how do you solve this? Let Ladybug and Black Cat keep their status as the most powerful and instead of giving Hawkmoth more magical power, make him smarter, more cunning, inventive. Gabriel is a fashion designer, whose creativity makes him a very good Butterfly holder. He has a life full of experience, he knows much more about things than the main teenage characters. Catalyst was very interesting for this very reason. Gabriel sort of discovered a cheat code to boost his powers. Show us how he experiments with his powers, how he analyses his past Akumas and tries to find the most effective ones. Maybe Gabriel tries to design Akumas that can specifically neutralise Ladybug and Chat Noir. This exploration could also give writers an opportunity to explain how the powers of Butterfly work. Can he control the type of powers he grants? Can he control the appearance of Akumas? There are many things to be explored.

4. Peacock creates sentimonsters. I remember that fans were very disappointed when the power of the Peacock was revealed at the end of season 2. I was one of them. The concept of Amoks is far too similar to akumatized butterflies. Other Miraculouses have unique abilities and keywords for their powers, while Peacock just looks like Butterfly 2.0. That glowing mask effect just adds insult to injury.

You have to start by figuring out the powers of the Peacock in a normal situation. If a holder is a good person, then how does their power work? For example, make them related to sight (because of the "eye" pattern on feathers). Maybe, Peacock grants the ability to see the several possibilities of the future, but only a few minutes ahead. Maybe, this Miraculous gives you the ability to see through someone's eyes for a few minutes (and the victim is completely unaware of the intrusion). Perhaps, Peacock allows the holder to use feathers (or tiny peacocks) as cameras one at a time and be all-seeing. These feather-spies can be destroyed by the holder or disappear on their own after some time. Such power could be devastating when used against heroes in canon.

5. Bee can paralyze. This power is pretty straightforward. Once I read a fanfiction focused on very vell done Chloe Redemption, where she fights alongside Ladybug and Chat Noir. Eventually, she grows and becomes a better person. This fic ends with an Akuma battle, where LB and CN are trapped and Akuma is ready to kill them. But Chloe uses a second power of the Bee on the villain - Miraculous Stinger. It's deadly both for the holder and for the victim (because bees die when they sting someone). Chloe kills the Akuma with a Stinger before it can get LB and CN, but she too dies making the ultimate irreversible sacrifice. I will add a link if I find it again.

6. Turtle can create a shield. I don't have much to say on this either. It feels underpowered compared to others in the second tier. Maybe Turtle can also slow down opponents (because turtles aren't the fasters animals out there).

7. Fox creates illusions and acts as their puppeteer. In order to create a balance between other powers, these illusions must hold for as long as the holder needs them to. I propose this mostly because we see that Venom of the Bee lasts very long, the shield of the Turtle lasts either until it's destroyed or the holder wants to remove it, same goes for Akumas and sentimonsters who disappear only when the holder wants them to or their affected object is destroyed.

Let's talk about Zodiac tier. Miraculous of the third tier shouldn't have the second ability like more powerful ones. These powers are the most inconsistent. Even if we haven't seen all of them yet.

8. Mouse can create many small clones of the holder. It is unclear how these clones communicate with each other and how many of them this Miraculous can create. The holder can control the number of clones. This power was very convenient in "Kwamibuster" and it makes sense symbolically for the mouse. What activates the time-limit for children? Marinette didn't have any problems with it when she became Multimouse.

9. Snake can create a 5-minute time loop and has the ability to come back in time. This Miraculous feels a bit overpowered for the Miraculous of the Zodiac Tier. The holder can reset the time as many times as he/she needs to. It's was a good source of drama and trauma in "Desperada". I was honestly surprised that Adrien was capable of fighting after spending months in a loop. But this doesn't change the fact that Snake is overpowered. You can give this Miraculous the power to hypnotise or keep the time ability but place a limit on the number of resets. How does the lyre work as a weapon? Who knows? No one!

10. Dragon can shapeshift into elements: water, wind and lightning. It has the coolest transformation words hands down (Bring the Storm and Open Sky). Apparently this Miraculous doesn't have the time limit.

11. Rabbit can time travel or jump through alternative realities, even writers aren't sure. Time-travel in this show is so badly written it gives me a headache. This Miraculous shouldn't exist just like its powers. Snake belongs to the same tier, but 5 minutes and whole centuries of time jumps aren't comparable in power levels. They are not and this is the hill I will die on. Give the Rabbit powers related to its symbolism in China like an ability to de-age people, heal them or give them a speed boost in contrast with Turtle who might have the ability to slow down.

This Miraculous is so special that its Kwami - Fluff can live separately from his Miraculous in a Miracle Box for millennia (Fluff lives in the Box in "Sandboy", but his Miraculous, pocket watch, was passed down for generations in Alix's family). This is a discussion for a separate post, however. There's a lot to unpack. We'll do that some other time. You will suffer with me but at a later date.

12. Horse can create portals. They could lead anywhere, which is pretty cool. On the other hand, this power is not very useful in direct combat, especially when it's used by a child since we can have only one portal per transformation.

13. Monkey can cause a malfunction in powers of other people. What is the point of this? This power was specifically created by writers to defeat Akuma in "Party Crasher". That's it. What if your target is not magical? How does this Miraculous work in different circumstances?

14. Pig shows people their greatest desire. Both the holder and the recipient of this power can see this desire. Chat Noir wasn't impressed in "Guiltrip" and neither was I. It's underpowered compared to other Miraculous in this tier. Also, why does the tambourine can shoot energy beams? Why?

That's all I have to say on the matter. I'll update the power analysis as needed.

[nothing-but-dreamy]

RECKLESS

Pairing: FFXV!NYX ULRIC x FEM!READER

Words: 2.559

Warnings: cursing, erotica

Synopsis: Yn is a reckless Glaive. One of her comrades is not okay with her behavior and so, he wants to talk with her.

"We need backup in the west! Behemoth and Imperials. More to come. Nyx, where are you?", Luche asked through the intercom.

"I'm on my way-", Nyx answered through the ear-piercing noise of the battlefield.

"Am already there, Luch!", Yn answered Luche's request through the channel.

"No! Yn, don't! There are too many enemies! Yn!”, Nyx tried to call Yn through the channel but he got no response, “God damnit!", he cursed frustrated.

"Go! I'll manage it here!", Libertus' shouted over the impact of another grenade. Nyx cursed and left his friend's side, knowing exactly what Yn was about to do.

As Nyx reached the position, he already met a bunch of comrades, helping each other to fall back to a safer spot behind some crumbled ruins, "Where's Yn?", he asked concerned as he couldn’t see the small woman. An explosion enclosed them in a cloud of sand. As an answer, someone pointed at a Behemoth in some distance.

The angry creature screamed violently and tried to reach the position of Nyx and the others as it saw the Glaives. Nyx got ready to fight, almost throwing his Kukri, as he watched how a person appeared on top of the Behemoth's head out of nowhere, encircled with magical aftermath.

Immediately, Nyx noticed the small frame as Yn's and watched worriedly how she jumped from the head, aiming for the ear of the roaring animal to land on it before she pushed herself from it to slam both her blades into the throat of the creature as deep as she could to kill it. As the animal fell lifeless to the ground, sliding a few metres through the dust, Yn jumped from it and landed elegantly in front of Nyx' feet with a grin, "Oh, hey, Ulric! Wanna join the fun?"

"Fun? You-", but Nyx got stopped as Yn pushed him out of the line of fire the Magiteks had started. They were rolling over the ground until Yn landed on top of him, straddling Nyx' lap, her hands on his chest, "Well...nice view, hero.”, she whispered seductively, “But I have to go. Was my pleasure to save your sexy ass tho.", she said grinning before she got up on her feet, fighting against the closing imperial troops.

Cursing with annoyance, Nyx jumped back on his feet and joined her in the fight. She still had the upper hand but he knew that could change quickly. The Magiteks were merci- and countless. Nyx jumped next to her side the second she decapitated a mechanical soldier who knelt to her feet. Her daggers were sparkling in the setting sun while she smirked, her face covered with blood and dust.

"Yn! Nyx! What's your status?", Luche asked serious. He already had gotten the information that both Glaives were fighting in the most dangerous area. Alone.

"We're at the west wing.", Yn answered while killing another rifleman, stemming her foot on his chest to pull out her blade, "We're fighting against Magiteks but they're coming in steady waves. Behemoth is down, tho.", she called out, jumping at the next two soldiers and killed them both at the same time with her blades digging deep into their throats.

Nyx did the same and landed next to Yn with his back against hers to cover each other, "Luche, what are the next orders? We can't hold the line here without backup.", he called out seriously while the next wave was already on their way.

"Okay, all Glaives fall back! I repeat, all Glaives: fall back and regroup!", Luche ordered.

Nyx moved to follow the orders but stopped as he noticed that Yn wasn't behind him. As he turned around, he saw her fighting against the next Magiteks. Even another Behemoth was on its way, straight aiming for her position.

Fascinated and amazed at the same time, Nyx watched how easily Yn wielded the blades in her hands. As if she was dancing, she flew over the battlefield, warping back and forth. Effortlessly and merciless, like an angel of death, Yn took out one enemy after the next.

A Magitek shuttle dropped new soldiers while Yn aimed for the Behemoth. She was already running to it. Once again, Nyx cursed about her blind recklessness and was about to follow her, but as a grenade exploded near Nyx, he warped aside to get save. As he looked around the little piece of wall he was hiding behind, he saw nothing else then dust, debris and dead bodies.

***

"Yn!", Nyx called out as he saw the small woman walking down the hallway of the headquarters, joking with Furia about something random. The konvoi had brought them back five minutes ago and now, everyone was looking forward to taking a shower, a drink or to get some sleep after this long, exhausting fight against Niflheim.

Yn turned around as she heard her name and saw Nyx closing up on her, "Yeah? Oh, hey...", she exhaled, rolling with her eyes about his stern expression with the frown chiseled into his features.

"What was that back on the field?", Nyx asked angrily.

"Could you be more precise? You mean as I have saved your ass? Or as I had this little dance with the Magiteks?", Yn asked with a smirk, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I mean the fight with the Behemoth? And the imperials? And the other Behemoth?", Nyx pointed out as the other comrades passed them, ignoring the two who were always fighting about something since Yn had joined the Kingsglaive.

"Oh, I see! You're mad because you fear I would try to snatch away your little title as a hero. Don't worry. I'm not eager to steal anything from you. You can keep your reputation.", she said with an arrogant grin and walked away.

Nyx groaned annoyedly before he ran after her. Quickly, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into an abandoned room where he closed the door and pressed her against a wall, caging her with his arms.

"What are you doing, Ulric? Let me go!", Yn hissed angrily.

"No! Not until you told me what your plan is. Are you so eager to die? Do you wanna get killed?", Nyx hissed through gritted teeth. He had much respect for this young woman and her skill but she was a bit too reckless for his liking.

"Oh, you're so quick to judge others, huh? Can I remind you that you're not even better than I am? What I have heard about you is that you're the incarnation of recklessness, hero! So, what makes you think you have the right to question my decisions? I'm still alive and also everyone else around me! That's all that matters! Always!", Yn said and stared serious at the man in front of her.

"You play with your life as if it would be just a game!", Nyx said through his gritted teeth.

"Yes! I play with my life! And? No one cares what I do with my life anyway! No one cares if I'm alive or not!", she snarled.

"I care about your life, fuck damnit!", Nyx hissed aggressively and in the next moment, he crashed his lips on hers to silence her. For weeks, he had been hungry to taste her lips. She drove him crazy with simply everything: with her manners, with her thoughtless will to fight against everything, with her undeniable beauty... Nyx felt frustrated when it came to her and to silence her and her nonsense was everything he wanted. That and to kiss her breathless.

But Yn wasn't amused and even if she had to admit that Nyx tasted seductively like sweet danger and kissed addictively, she hated when someone tried to silence her. So, she pushed against Nyx' chest to shove him away from her before she slapped his cheek violently.

Nyx' head snapped to the side with a stinging pain and after the first shock and panting for air, he looked slowly back at Yn who stared at him with a hatred filled glance.

Yn looked straight into his blue, dark sparkling eyes, "Don't you ever fucking dare to silence me again! What I do with my life is not your concern. You care for me? Fine! But that won't change any of my decisions! Got it? And now", she growled, grabbing the collar of Nyx' uniform, "Kiss me again, idiot!", she ordered and pulled him back to connect their lips with a bruising force.

Nyx gave her no second chance to change her mind now, as he had her where he wanted to have her: in his arms. As he kissed her desperately, he pinned her with his lower body against the wall while he roamed appreciatively over her curves with his hands. From her chest down to her hips to her back and to her ass to squeeze it softly.

Yn enjoyed his admiring touch but she wanted more of him. She wanted to feel him under her hands like she had dreams about it when she was alone with her imagination. Quickly, she opened everything from his uniform jacket to push it down his shoulders. As the jacket fell to the ground, she undressed his vest and quickly, she also undressed his shirt to toss it away.

"Hell, are you done already?", Nyx hissed, annoyed as he had to leave her lips for the second time.

"Next time, you should consider to dress less of these irrelevant clothes. Just a tip.", she whispered husky with a smirk.

Nyx leant closer matching her smirk, brushing along her nose with his own, "Next time?"

"Depends on what you have to offer now, hero.", she whispered lasciviously against his lips and scratched down his back with her nails, which caused Nyx to moan with pleasure.

"You little minx. You're not even better than I am.", he breathed, pointing at the fact that she was still fully dressed.

Slowly, she opened her jacket to undress it. She undressed her vest under his observing glance and with her eyes still connected with Nyx' dark gleaming orbs, she undressed the shirt and the bra in one go. Yn noticed how his eyes flickered down her exposed chest. Slowly she opened her belt and then even her pants to let them fall down, stepping out of them, the underwear and the boots, "Now, tell me, what do you desire?", she breathed while shoving her hands over her head to display herself. With soft moves, she lolled underneath Nyx’ eyes, showing him what he could have if he just reached out.

Nyx gnawed on his lower lip as he enjoyed the view in front of him. Even after a battle, her skin seemed to be so soft. The countless, little scars were signs of her rough past and how persistent she had been so far. Her right rib cage was covered with brandings from the Magitek tortures she went through before she had come to Insomnia. Bruises were already building from the latest fights on the battlefield. And yet, she was breathtakingly beautiful, strong and determined to fight as long as she could.

Possessively, Nyx placed his hands on her hips, digging into her flesh which earned him low moans from her lips, "You wanna know what I want?", he whispered, "I want you, Yn. For a very long time, I'm just longing to have you.", Nyx breathed.

Yn smirked, "Then, make me yours, Glaive.", she breathed seductively, grabbing his belt to open it and then his pants to push them down his hips with an untamable, passionately, hungry fire.

Nyx didn't need another invitation. Quickly, he scooted her up with his hands underneath her ass, bringing her into position. Yn snaked her legs around his hips and pulled him even closer. The moment he entered her, he groaned deeply by the feeling of her wet walls enclosing him. Still adjusting, Nyx leant with his forehead against her shoulder, kissing her soft skin while she snaked her arms around his neck.

Yn rolled with her hips to increase the friction between them even more while she raked her fingers through his soft hair, tugging on his braids and strands to tease him. Never before, she had felt so wanted by someone like in this moment as Nyx showed her his affection through his lips and hands, "God damnit, Nyx.", she breathed, panting for air as she just concentrated on the hot feeling of the man inside of her.

As he heard his name falling from her lips, Nyx raised his head to look into her eyes. She looked straight into his eyes as he started to grind with his hips. He saw the pleasure in her features. Whenever he reached her pleasure point, Yn moaned with relish and closed her eyes while she just enjoyed what he did.

Amazed, Nyx grinned while he felt how her legs tightened around his hips, keeping him in place. As he noticed that she was close, he kept his moves steady to give her what she needed. Yn's breath became more erratic and before she could betray their hidden position with her scream, Nyx captured her lips with his so she was moaning into his mouth as she rode out her orgasm on him.

Nyx shuddered as Yn's nails dug into his shoulder blades. Her walls clenched around him and she bit down on his lip. While she tried to come down, Nyx rolled his hips into hers to satisfy his own desire.

Still breathless, Yn smirked as she saw his dark, lust-filled glance. He looked her in the eyes once again as if it would turn him on to see her reaction. Slowly, she tightened her walls around him again while she scratched along his neck and shoulders with her nails to push him over the edge with sweet pain.

To muffle the sound of his own climax, Nyx buried his face into the crook of her neck, biting into her soft skin under her ear which let her shudder against his solid body. As Nyx came slowly clear, he put Yn back on her feet while both were still panting for air. Softly, Yn cupped his face, cradling his stubbles, tracing the lines of his lips and jaw with her thumbs to worship his handsomeness.

Nyx leant against her forehead with his own, enjoying her softness towards him, "Please, stop being reckless.", he breathed against her lips, embracing her frame to pull her against his naked skin, not able to let her go just yet.

Yn felt touched. No one before was so eager to keep her alive or in their life at all, "Well, I can't promise you that, Nyx. But ... What do you think of the following idea: Come to my place later and show me your arguments again why I should be more cautious, huh?"

Nyx grinned, kissing her softly and caring before he looked her in the eyes again, "Trust me, I will be there."

"Like you, I trust more in actions than in words. So, convince me, hero.", she breathed with a smirk and a pat on his chest before she passed him to dress her clothes again. Yn left the room with the hope he would follow her request later so she would be less alone for the first time in her life.