#late night trio's reactions to his death are KILLING ME

[pyrosomatic-metamorphosis]

"let me be the moon and you be the sunshine. i need you to shine"

[triglycercule]

putting on mtt offical themes and fanmade theme songs and group songs when i sleep all so when i fall asleep and dream i can see them and see what theyll be like and then i wont have to think of them 24/7 through my day when i can just think of them during night. this possibility could either end up in me getting killed by them so gruesomely that i wake up traumatized or i wake up happy and satisfied from a restful night of trio dream time

[nobodysdaydreams]

Well...

...that could have gone better.

(Also it turns out Lovelace IS an alien. 👽 so that's fun, I think?)

(or my reaction to episodes 44-46 of Wolf359)

Welcome back dear readers, sorry for the delay. Procrastinating on finals has been taking up all of my time, thank you for your understanding.

Tagging the mutuals who got me invested in this, and if you want to be tagged or untagged from these posts, lmk, or you can follow my blog or simply follow the tag "#bods wolf359 reactions". Anyone who has followed me for a while knows my updates are inconsistent, so I apologize in advance for that and for any spelling/grammar mistakes in my posts.

@sophieswundergarten @oflightningandstars @acollectionofcuriousreblogs @herawell @commsroom

Episode 44: Desperate Times

Now where were we? Ah yes. Cutter lied about their deaths and has an evil girlfriend who makes his robots. Hilbert and Lovelace told Minkowski about the death thing to get her on board, and once they have her, she should be able to get Doug and Hera on board.

Great point Doug. How many secret rooms can one space station have?

And how many copies of the SI-5? Because we already had two Duck boys. If another Kepler strolls in and starts talking about Whiskey again, that might just be too much for me.

No Minkowski. You don't want to kill anyone. But I understand.

Wow. Doug knows some fancy words. "Commander Eiffel" 😂

Oh, they're actually laughing. I'm sorry Doug. Wow, he just made that up too, very convincing.

Aw, Minkowski. I want to hug her. If she doesn't make it back to her husband...

oh yay, she and Doug are talking it out! Friends! My feelings exactly Hera! 💕💕💕

Hera is so sweet. It's weird to think she was built by and modeled after someone so horrible.

Ah. Taking a late night stroll around the ship Hilbert?

Hilbert. NO. NO NO NO NO NO. NOT THE EVIL CHAIR.

Evil chair will kill you. Evil chair will show them your brain which shows them your plan to rebel against them. Do not trust the evil chair Hilbert. For a smart man, you make some remarkably and unbelievably dumb decisions.

I want to believe in them. I do, I really really do. But unfortunately, I know that there is an entire other season left. So...

It's not looking good. Personally, I think the most expendable is Hilbert. They can kill the character off without having to fire the actor. If anyone's about to die, it's him.

The "terrible trio", I like it Doug. Good nickname for SI-5.

The um...the blunt force trauma face?

Oh my this hypothetical of Maxwell, Kepler, and Jacobi falling apart is music, sweet music.

If only...if only.

They are really counting on the SI-5 acting exactly like this. I hope they get it right. I do love the way they make Whiskey Boy out to be such a cartoon villain. He really is.

Oh they're conflicted about who to target. That's right Hera. Target Duck boy. I mean...they did already kill him once, right?

Although slight problem. Let's say they do kill SI-5. Let's say they try to fly the ship back to earth. Can't Cutter just blow the ship up remotely? He'll probably send a missel after them before they even get into the atmosphere. I mean...what would you even do in this situation? He's literally got them bargaining for every second of their lives. Makes you wonder how many teams he has out there like this...

What happened? No gas? Oh dear. Plan B?

HIT MAXWELL WITH A WRENCH? POP A WEASEL?

I don't like how this is going.

"I'm glad I have you alone" Hilbert stop it.

Opponent is not going to hesitate to kill you. That's true. But you can't forget who the enemies are. Cutter and Pryce. And yes. SOMETHING IS WRONG!

Oh dear. Well this is terribly awkward.

...um...so...Maxwell. Duck Boy. Fancy a mutiny?

Guess not. Oh dear. This is bad. This is very very bad.

IS NOT ABOUT THE CONTACT EVENT! IT'S ABOUT THEM GETTING BACK AND YOU KNOW IT.

I KNEW THAT YOU COULDN'T TRUST HER.

"Don't struggle?"

Not the brain sweeping. Maxwell you have lost all my respect, and likely your own if you still had any left in you.

Shut up Duck Boy, literally no one wants to hear from you.

Well this is a pickle. How will our heroes (and Hilbert) get out of this one? 👀

Episode 45: Desperate Measures

"Wakey-wakey", shut up errand boys.

"Passion for disciplining crew members, isn't that right Jacobi?" You're a sadist waste of space who works for a sadist waste of space, we got that Whiskey Boy.

Oh great. Another super secret room. There's probably thousands of them at this rate. A whole city in the sky.

What a nice little room of weapons. As a lover of dramatic irony, I do hope Dr. Robot and our dear Errand Boys find themselves on the other side of those weapons.

Hera you can delay having to respond to her commands! You can! Remember: You can't do this. You're not good enough. Use it to your advantage.

"I knew it!" you did Doug. And yeah, Hilbert didn't sink so low.

"Kill whoever you like least", well there goes Hilbert.

Good work Hera! 🥰 Oh dear it hurts.

THE VENTS! That's right! Go Minkowski!

Geez does Whiskey Boy ever tire of the sound of his own voice? I guess not.

Shut it Kepler! Yeah Doug! He can go to hell! Tell him off!

Doug: "You're crazy"

Kepler: "No Doug. I'm just a man that wants to be taken seriously. That's why I'm sitting here with a gun in one hand, glass of Whisky in the other, while singing "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" like a cartoon supervillain. There's nothing more respectable or serious than that."

Lovelace is speaking FACTS. He has lost his humanity. But um...ironically so might have Lovelace. Or all of them still unclear on that.

"You're hilarious" "one more thing I have that you don't" ooohhh... dang, it that ain't the truth. No one will be as funny as Doug, but if anyone comes close it's certainly not Whisky boy.

"Very nice speech captain" Well it was better than the Whisky speech Kepler. Take notes.

That's right Lovelace. Who cares what Kepler see when he looks at you? No one. Because he is a waste of space.

She'll survive because of magic alien plot armor.

Aw, she did it for Doug. That's really sweet.

And...off goes the gun. But no screams. He better not have shot Doug.

"You have 30 minutes to think about what you've done. Then we'll talk about Eiffel."

I know I should be furious over the whole "what you've done" comment, but I gotta ask, how dangerously stupid is Kepler? 30 minutes is plenty of time to put a plan into action. What does Kepler need 30 minutes for? Swirling his Whisky around and telling Doug how much he loves the feel of it in his hands.

Why don't you mind your own business Maxwell? Why don't you shut up and mind your own business and throw yourself in the airlock?

Good stalling Hera...yes! Finally knocked out Dr. Robot. Now, as much as I am against murder, eye for an eye, and all that...in this situation, keeping her alive puts multiple innocents at risk.

Anyone got an eye on Duck Boy?

Kepler doesn't care about Maxwell! He doesn't care about anyone!

Doug...great speech for this to work, he has to care about human life, and he clearly doesn't.

Yeah, I don't really like chess either Doug.

Why do I feel like he's going to hurt Hera in a way that only Maxwell can fix?

Ah there he is. "I wouldn't do that so someone. I just blow people up to kill them! :)" ugh Duck Boy is the worst. I knew that he was off doing something silly. "Crazy Jacobi the loose canon" dude, you're Duck Boy. That's your existence.

And I knew Hilbert would be the one to go. They don't have to fire his voice actor to kill him, which makes him expendable.

Well it took a very long time to get here, but looks like Hilbert is finally gonna kick the bucket. And yeah, you guys have no idea how long they've been trying to kill Hilbert. If it was Doug, I'd be more worried, but between Hilbert and Doug, Doug's got the plot armor.

And...there he goes! Oh wait...did she shoot Maxwell! Oh be quiet Jacobi, it's not like you ever actually cared about her. If Cutter or Kepler ordered you to kill her, you would have done it.

You can't talk sense into him Doug. He's a nutcase. We established that.

I love Doug. "Well it's been a topsy-turvy day!"

And see Kepler? Not so fun playing with lives when yours is on the chopping block, now is it?

Yes Doug! Tell him! Oh poor Whisky Boy, are you gonna cry?

Right three people dead: Lovelace, Hilbert, and Maxwell. That's a lot. My money is on Lovelace coming back due to alien magic, Hilbert dead for good, maybe Maxwell lives on in Hera's memory or flashback land.

YES! I love Doug's loyalty to Minkowski!

Does Kepler have an escape pod? I feel like he would. Oh he's telling his duck boy to stand down. But duck boy doesn't seem too happy about that. I guess he cared a bit more for Maxwell than Kepler, even if he would have shot her if given the order.

"Finally over" hm...I seriously doubt that.

Ah yes the aliens. I wonder what they have to say about all this. And Kepler please shut up. "You want to be in charge of this mess, fine." The mutiny literally just happened on your watch. You spent half the crew budget on expensive Whiskey. You don't care at all that Maxwell is dead.

Episode 46: Bolero

Is that music? Um... what is this? I do wonder why they chose to send music, when they've demonstrated that they can send voices.

Yeah...this is a lot. And they lost their human doctor and robot doctor. As much as I hated them, they were useful. Unlike the errand boys, who only seem to be good a cowering in fear from ducks and giving speeches about whisky.

Oh and apparently they like music too. How nice.

"If the commander wishes for silence, then silence she shall have" and yet you're still talking.

Yeah...what do they do now. They have to warn everyone, expose Cutter and get him to jail, but the aliens are also invading. Oh gosh, are Cutter and Pryce aliens? Is this a plot to replace humanity with aliens? That at least makes more sense than Cutter's a loon who just wants to take a gander at some dangerous aliens, but why do I get the feeling that "Cutter's crazy" is what's actually happening here?

Oh right Kepler's special DNA. But your DNA still works even if it's detached from your body, right? 🧬

"We owe it to Lovelace, Hilbert, and Maxwell..." good work Doug. They were evil, they were flawed, but they were still humans.

Oh Hera. Wow, we don't have funerals for animals???? Yikes... I'm starting to see how she was modeled after Pryce now. In that case, I wonder what happened to Pryce. Also Hera, I get what you're saying, but that's an insult to animals. Many cats and dogs I've met are very loyal, kind, and useful.

oh dear she's talking to Lovelace's ghost/memory. 🥺 It's not your fault Minkowski. It was never your fault. And yeah...you all deserve to make it home.

That is if there is even a home to come back to...

Doug, Hera, come on. You're best friends. Wow. And yeah, she and Maxwell were friends, that's why she's so upset! Oh right...if one human friend betrayed her...oh Hera...Doug's not like her you know that! Maxwell would sell you out, Jacobi would sell her out, and Kepler would sell him out, but Doug? Doug would never sell anyone out.

"I know what it's like to not get a chance to say goodbye. And I don't think you're past the point of not caring. Not yet." That's sweet Doug. But you're giving him a bit too much credit. Oh he's mad he killed her? Fair enough, but Jacobi...you said yourself you were monsters! Do you really want to try to claim the moral high ground here? That's right Doug! Tell him! "You're gonna like it...I mean you're gonna feel sad!" Yeah! That's right! Shove the compassion down his throat Doug. Sometimes that's the way you gotta do it.

Minkowski is gonna have some pretty severe PTSD after this. I want to hug her.

Oh no, Hera's remembering Maxwell. "Was everything you did for me part of a secret evil plan?" it's not that simple Hera. Bad people can do good things. Good people can do bad things. Cognitive dissonance Hera, that's how it's possible. Compartmentalization. Circular and deluded thinking. And fake Maxwell is right. It's about you Hera. It's not about her. Forget about Maxwell. Forget about Pryce. You're better than them, and more human too.

Yes Hera, get the feelings out. No, Doug she's coming around!

Oh no...no no no...Doug is wasted isn't he? Kepler's private supply no doubt...oh no... oh Doug.

"I killed them Hera." no you didn't Doug! Intentions matter! You are the ship's moral compass. Don't drink yourself off.

"I'm a drunken mess whether I have a drink or not." oh Doug. Doug.

Please don't give yourself alcohol poison. Oh good self-talk from Hilbert. Yeah Doug never wanted anyone to die.

"How else did you think this was going to end?"

Aw, Doug has so much hope. Never lose that Doug. Never lose it. And yeah, it's nice to believe in redemption. It is theoretically possible. Though in certain cases, highly unlikely. I won't name names.

So...it's just Doug and Jacobi at the funeral? Well. This is incredibly awkward...

Oh right, Hera's never been to a funeral...

Oh nvm Kepler's here for the food. He's so gross.

They gave Hera grief but no way to deal with it? Oh she can't understand why they are gone? The "I wonder if I'll miss you when you go away forever too" is hitting different.

Minkowski came through!

Wow, Jacobi actually is able to say a few nice words.

Dr. Hilbert was a monster 😂. Fair. Completely fair. See ya later Doc. I think Hilbert would have liked it.

Oh don't let Kepler talk. He'd ruin the funeral. Though to be fair, he'd ruin anything.

Never mind looks like the aliens beat him to the punch.

Looks like the aliens decided to come early.

Uh...HERA?

KEEPING WHAT OUT?

Tell me the aliens aren't already here.

Is Lovelace coming back? Oh Kepler knew this was going to happen.

"It can't hear you." DO NOT CALL HER AN IT KEPLER. Alien or not, she's a...well she's a someone.

So she IS an alien? An alien who acts like her? Okay... and yes please, let's start at the beginning. It's about time Kepler. If you're going to talk, you might as well say something useful.

Now I've procrastinated enough but...wow this doesn't look good. Hopefully the crew can get back safely.

[thehomothings]

Analysis of Kite's conflicting moralities, relationship with death, and the toll reincarnation may take on one's psyche

So, today I decided to compile all the thoughts I have had about Kite's interesting worldview since the first time I saw him into one post, mostly for my own sake, really. If you're familiar with the few posts I've made, you know it's gonna be a mess, but hopefully a comprehensible mess.

A heads up, this is going to be spoiler-heavy, and very much deal with subjects of death and dying as a whole. Also, some of these conclusions are drawn from my own experiences and close brushes with death, I'm not going to go into much detail but it might get personal and definitely dark. I'm not even sure if I can call this a meta-analysis, and I'm obviously no expert, so mayhaps take all of this with a grain of salt.

Been getting into drawing lately, and during the more simple and mindless part of the painstaking process of dotting every single star in this, I let my thoughts wander through the latest part of the fic I'm writing, and I got a better grasp on what exactly made Kite such an elusive character to me.

I'm not quite sure why I got so attached to Kite. Perhaps it was the air of tragedy surrounding him, how despite his sordid past he remained still open and gentle even if outlined by a healthy dose of cynicism.

But sometimes, I think it's the fact that he is so paradoxical. He's brave, yet fears death to such a degree that creates a whole Nen ability around it, is a pacifist yet will not hesitate to spill blood for his own sake or someone else's. Despite the many ultimatums and warnings of 'I will not protect you', he gave his arm and then his life to save Gon and Killua. He approaches each hunt and battle with a clear plan of action in mind, but his Hatsu takes the form of a roulette that gives him random weapons which are never what he wants, but what he seems to need for that exact situation, which he cannot dispel without using. When he draws a weapon, the decision is locked in and his or his opponent's fate is sealed. That's why each time he dubbs his weapon a bad roll. Every time he has to gamble, he sees himself as having run out of luck. When it comes to having to choose between himself and somebody else...well, there had never been a choice. In fact his aversion to using it may feed into its sheer power that we, unfortunately, saw too little of.

Let's go over his very first appearance when he saves Gon from the mother Foxbear.

It's not hard to see the strain searching for Ging has put on him; he's rash, prone to anger and punching a child for daring to get into trouble. In his mind, he's failing at his most important task, has not yet earned the right to call himself a hunter despite being in possession of his very own hunter license.

After killing the mother Foxbear and raging about having done so, he says this interesting line:

So yes, he finds killing for any reason rather irksome as most would do, yet I think something deeper caused him to absolutely lose it in this scene:

He had not been aware of Gon's identity, and despite being an animal lover and a naturalist, he made a choice to save the human instead of allowing nature to run its course. In fact, he says: 'No beast that harms a human must be allowed to live.'

How does one weight one life against another? How is the worth of it determined? The value of life... an impossible choice he's faced with and a choice which he seems to regret to some degree.

The Foxbear cub.

Here, he's speaking from experience, a tangible loss he has felt himself, and a hard and bitter life he does not want to impose on the cub.

His backstory is exclusive to the 2011 anime adaptation but there are hints alluding to it in the manga, for example, the fact that he does not seem to know his birthplace, or:

The choice of words is chilling.

Reading between the lines, one could draw the conclusion that he is an orphan. Something supporting this hypothesis is how he visibly deflates after Gon tells him his parents have (presumably) died.

So we see he is willing to go against his own moral code of not killing as to not doom another living being to the life he led, a lonely, hopeless existence that could barely be called one. He saw it best to put down the cub rather than leave it to die a painful, slow death.

The reason Kite himself isn't as cynical and cold-hearted as one would be after witnessing cruelty in its rawest form is those small crumbs of human kindness which he may have found in Ging.

It was not only a chance at an honorable life being Ging's apprentice gave him, but it also 'saved' him from being broken and twisted into what he hated and worst of all, death.

If we take that one minute of backstory as canon to his character-which I find myself inclined to do- these quirks of his make much more sense. He lived on the run. He lived on the knife's edge between giving up or pushing forwards. He lived as so a wrong move could be the difference between survival and the end.

Between rock and a hard place creates a mentality of black and white, absolute good or extreme evil, this or that. Except in reality, it's much harder than that. Deciding who to save and who to strike down is a heavy burden to bear.

It's almost easy to see how struggling to keep surviving could lend itself to a crippling fear of death and subsequently developing a Nen ability which once more goes against his own moral code in order to give himself a second chance...yet something about it strikes me as unlikely when I look at it this way.

Living life knowing it could end at any moment has the opposite effect, at least for me it did. One comes to accept that it is fleeting and while not eager to let it go, when death eventually and inevitably does come, there is no fighting it.

Especially when there is no hope that tomorrow will be a better day than this one.

Frequent near-death experiences numb one's fear in a way, even if it drives them to take precautions that render it unlikely to happen again and results in c-PTSD, but still, it does. It sparks a certain nihilistic view of 'if it all can end so easily, then what's the point of it all?'

Unless there are things to live for, a sure promise of a better future, and Ging gave Kite that. When he faced the threat of losing his second chance at life:

Really, what else could lead someone to develop the ability of 'the hell I'm going to die like this'?

I think a separate event, an even more brutal near-death experience that almost cost him his life as the hunter he so strived to be set him off to develop the secret roll of Crazy Slots, what I call Roll No.0, Ars moriendi. Unlike other weapons, it cannot come up in random and is directly summoned by him, or better said, summon by his overwhelming will to keep going and hopelessness of fighting a losing battle. I don't believe roll No.3 was the weapon that allowed him to reincarnate. I've named that one Wand of Fortune, a sort of armor instead of an offensive weapon since I find it hard to believe Kite, a Conjurer, would not focus on defences as well, and I will go into both mechanisms of these weapons hopefully in his backstory.

Despite knowing this battle to be a pointless one and being acutely aware of his soon to be demise, he did not immediately draw Ars moriendi, no, he stayed back and fought for the sake of the boys, kept Neferpitou occupied until they could reach safety. We can see evidence of this in the aftermath of the battle that seemed to have gone on until dawn, a torn apart landscape only signaling a fraction of the devastation that was Kite's power unleashed. It still wasn't enough.

In the anime sub I watched, when Gon apologizes to Ging about Kite's death, Ging said a sentence that infuriated me, because it belittled the utter suffering of the NGL trio.

"He would not die in your place." (No screenshot, sorry)

And I remember practically shouting at the screen, screaming 'how could you possibly say that? Of course he did. He absolutely did die in their place. How could you not know your own apprentice? Why-'

It was only last night that it hit me why Ging would say that.

Once upon a time, maybe Kite would not have given his life for anybody under any circumstances, even if he had a way out of it all. He would still need to die to come back to life.

His Thanatophobia could be attributed to the (possibly untreated) PTSD of the near-death experience in his later life, being so certain of dying that finding himself alive afterwards drove him to never want to go through that again. He quieted his fear by creating a sort of a loophole, that even if he lost the battle he would remain. Ging remembered that, but as evidence shows, something changed. Maybe he healed a bit, perhaps growing up dulled his fear to a certain degree, but eventually when it came down to his life or another's, he didn't choose himself.

Now, I can hear you saying 'but he didn't die, so what are you going on about??' And so I reply: Yes, he is alive, but he did die. He experienced that painful, horrible moment of staring death in the eyes and thinking 'This is it, this is the end', went through the actual process of having his soul removed from his body. And that moment stretches into infinity, ten lifetimes condensed into the mere seconds before oblivion.

Dying isn't so hard if one stays dead.

It's not so easy to open one's eyes and find oneself alive again after that, no matter how much that is the heart's desire. It's difficult, nigh-impossible to reconcile with life and walk amongst the living when everything had been so final, when death had been accepted to its fullest.

So Kite awakens, the twin of Meruem and back from the dead, his mind and identity both intact and fractured. In that he is Kite is no mistaking, yet he is not the same gentle pacifist whose first reaction upon sensing a monster's aura was to shield two kids from it at the cost of his arm.

I don't think many of you are familiar with Zoroastrian ideology, but Togashi is known for loving his religious imagery, and it's not only Christianism he derives inspiration from (evidence of which can be seen all over Kite's character and resurrection).

In Zurvanism-a branch of Zoroastrianism- there is talk of the twin spirits: Ahura Mazda -epitome of all that is good- and Ahriman -epitome of all that is evil-, the parent god Zurvin decides that the firstborn may rule in order to bring "heaven, hell, and everything in between."

Upon becoming aware of this fact, Ahriman forcibly tears through the womb to emerge first. Sounding familiar yet?

Zurvan relents to this turn of events only on one condition: Ahriman is given kingship for 9000 years, and then Ahura Mazda may rule for eternity.

Meruem ruled for 40 days, his death leaving the throne vacant for ant Kite, wearing a dead girl's face and seeming to be brewing some nefarious plan. No more is there any sign of that unrelenting pacifism and the sanctity of life he held so high, losing his own may have only served to show him how meaningless the pain and suffering he went through had been, dying only to be reborn as a member of the species that killed him. It may be that he has no desire to rule over the remaining Chimera ants or create an army of his own-

Yet I dread to think what a broken mind possessing limitless power might do to the world.

And that's it. If you made it this far, thank you for reading! If you found it interesting, stay tuned, as I think a lot and I will make it your problem.

[masterthespianduchovny]

The Poor Development of the Marauder's Era

I've recently been listening to Binge Mode and, even now, I honestly believe the Marauder's era is some of Rowling’s worst writing of the series. When I say Marauder's Era, I'm simply referring to characters and events pre Harry.

The Marauder's era isn't poorly developed because I didn't like what happened. It's poorly developed because of how Rowling handled the characters, the events she put them in, and the reaction to said events.

As a kid, I respected Lily and thought she could do no wrong. As an adult, I find her decisions questionable. For transparency purposes, I read these books in real time and was a similar age as the characters. So, I don't want to hear anything about me being "unfair." Of all of the Mauraders era kids back then, I was the most generous to Lily. It's only when I reflected more about her role in the series that I realized how lackluster she is as a character and as a friend.

Rowling relies on Lily being seen as the moral compass to signify who and what is right or wrong during this era. The problem with this is that Rowling undermines Lily in the process. Minus being flat out called Mudblood by Snape, she has no proof that Snape has done anything her friends accused him of doing, but she unequivocally views it as the truth. Despite Lily listening to Snape, it's not really in good faith because she already has her mind made up about Snape's guilt.

Now, this is important to note because since Lily hasn't seen any of Snape's alleged bad behavior for herself, why would she definitively accuse him of these things? Lily claims she was in denial about this when she ended their friendship, but it's quite obvious she does believe Snape is guilty.

What makes Lily's beliefs and choosing to side with others over Snape is that none of the Marauders have ever mentioned ONE instant of Snape doing or saying some fucked up shit. As a reminder: THEY HATED HIM. They never mentioned anything about him bullying others, calling muggles mud blood, or any other troubling behavior. It was merely because he existed. They couldn't even tie him to being a Death Eater.

Also, let's consider the fact that kids like Snape have rumors made up about them all of the time. ALL OF THE TIME. Not even Snape's own bullies could attest to Snape doing the things Lily's friends claimed Snape did, yet Lily believed their words?

And, maybe I'm being nitpicky, but the fact that Lily says "my friends" in reference to defending Snape has always rubbed me the wrong way. Snape IS her friend too. Her best friend, in fact. Why wouldn't she have said, "my OTHER friends." My Gryffindor mates or whatever? IMO, that implies that Snape is just some weirdo she talks to and not the person she's known the longest.

HOW ROWLING COULD'VE FIXED THIS:

Have Lily overhear Snape calling one of his peers Mudblood. Have the Marauders be incensed that Snape called someone a mud blood. Have them call out Lily when she tries to intervene on them confronting (confronting NOT bullying) Snape. Hell, even have Snape fucking bully someone.

Because as far as canon goes, Snape was a bystander as death eater wannabes bullied people and presumably did nothing about it. We don't see any of his alleged wrongdoings and the people who hate him can't even recall that this happened.

There shouldn't be an ambiguity or readers relying on the word and opinion of Lily to guide their opinion.

Some may say, "she's only a kid." To this I say, "You're right." Lily was a teen and teens don't always know how to handle complex situations, I will give her the benefit of the doubt. However, this means we shouldn't hold her as the moral standard.

Lily essentially says that the difference between the Marauder's bullying people and the death eater wannabes doing it is dark magic. I'm sorry, but that's weak sauce. Dark magic is such a vague and broad thing depending on what you're talking about, so nah...Also, is there something not dark about James choking Snape with soap? I mean, that could've traumatized Snape to the extent of him being triggered by soap. Isn't that dark?

HOW ROWLING COULD'VE FIXED THAT.

Jut have Lily acknowledge that behaviors by the Marauders and death eater wannabes are both bad, but for different reasons. Problem solved. She can even emphasize that she takes so much issue with Dark Magic due to why it's being used and what it ties into.

We hear how great Lily is and that everyone loves her, yet Harry meets literally NOT ONE FRIEND of Lily's. He meets James' friends and a former teacher of hers. We don't see Lily hanging out with anyone else. We hear examples of Lily feeling sad for people, but no references to her actually helping people or supporting others somehow.

HOW ROWLING COULD'VE FIXED THAT.

Maybe instead of Lily talking about the bad thing Avery and Mulciber did, she could've intervened, even if it was too late, and "saved" Mary. Hell, we could've had Lily hex James rather than just threatening it. I'm sorry, after literally reading the many ways the Golden Trio are there for each other even before big shit started to happen, Lily threatening to hex someone who is actively bullying her friend doesn't cut it.

And give her her own friends for Harry to meet.

Lily is said to be smart and empathic, but how she deals with Snape and his issues don't exactly support this.

HOW ROWLING COULD'VE FIXED IT.

Have Lily genuinely listen to Snape's grievances about the night he was saved. Don't have her be so dismissive about the Lupin thing. Maybe have Snape set up by the Marauders and the big reveal is a flop.

I know Rowling wanted to tackle people having shady pasts and how they can change, but 1. Either she needed to commit to it being a rivalry or 2. She needed to appropriately deal with the bullshit the Marauder's did. Snape is justifiably angry and distrusting of the Marauders due to one almost killing him as a joke and the other publicly humiliating him. This doesn't even account for YEARS of bullying, which remus admitted happened.

We cannot say that bullying is wrong, and then excuse the bullies because they were on the right side of a war.

HOW ROWLING COULD'VE FIXED THIS.

She should've had Remus flat out acknowledge they were wrong for what they did and that there was no excusing it. Then, have Sirius and Remus privately talk about this where Sirius admits it too. OR, despite loving them and his dad, Harry realizes how flawed they were and that their reasoning is simply to protect their dad not necessarily because James grew up. OR Rowling could've not written James and Sirius behaving as psychopaths AS WELL AS show instances of Snape starting shit with them.

SHOW US Snape deliberately starting shit with the Marauders and James trying to apologize. Show us James' growth outside of that. Don't tell us that James is secretly hexing Snape behind Lily's back because it has her looking like a dumb ass.

Also, all of this James stuff is important because Lily ending up with James is such a bad fucking look. IMO, it makes her disgust at his behavior seem performative. It says that she didn't really care about him bullying others, but rather, the perception of her being with someone who bullied others. And, no, having Lily smile as Snape was actively being bullied, and then poverty shaming him isn't a good look.

"BUT, BUT SNAPE CALLED HER A RACIST SLUR!!!"

It doesn't matter how much you want to give your friend the benefit of the doubt, if you believe he's calling others racist slurs, you need to confront it. And, if you believe it to be true, you need to end it. You don't wait until he calls you the slur to say, "hey, maybe he really is this racist person people claim he is."

HOW ROWLING COULD'VE FIXED THIS.

After James saved Snape's life, this is where he could've matured and his big head lessened. He still hexes others, but leaves Snape alone because he realized that they went to far with him even before Sirius' "prank." Instead of James being the antagonizer, it should've been Sirius. Once again, James breaks this up and he and Sirius gets into a small argument. Snape is let down as Lily runs up and Snape says his mud blood remark.

Snape then tries to hex Sirius and James steps in once Snape refuses to stop. It gets out of hand and Snape accidentally harms Lily.

I won't lie, I'm a HUGE Snape fan. However, because of how Rowling handled this era, there are many ambiguous things, situations that don't make any sense, not enough development of characters, etc which undermines the story she tried to tell.

Yes, I do love the series, except I don't like any of the Marauders or Lily. I don't hate Lily, but she grates. Remus really was a coward and irresponsible as hell. Sirius was childish as fuck and, no, him being in prison doesn't excuse or justify all of his behavior. James saved his peer's life, and then publicly humiliated and sexually assaulted him. He didn't stop bullying, he just stopped how he did it.

This doesn't mean I believe that Snape was faultless, but I believe this era was so poorly told that by default, I believe and sympathize with Snape.

Although I believe Rowling wanted readers to do this, I don't think she planned for some readers such as myself to hold the positions we do. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Snape as is, but I do believe Rowling didn't intend for me to hold the views I do about Lily and the Marauders.

I don't understand her laziness during this era, especially since it's so key in Snape, Lily, and James' stories.

Lastly, she could've developed James and Lily better.

I know she only has so much time, space, pages blah blah blah. However, the best writers find a way to make it work with what they have.

[samsexualdeancurious]

Rediscover (NSFW)

Pairing: Sam x Dean x Reader

Words: 2,627

Summary: Sam and Dean reunite with someone they never thought they would see again.

Warnings: heavily implied Wincest, threesome, oral sex (male and female receiving)

A/N: Written for Meghan's May 2020 prompt.

Betaed by @manawhaat

---

When the blindfold is removed and Sam opens his eyes, the last thing he expects to see is Y/N’s smiling face.

“Hiya, Sammy,” she says cheerfully as she saws through the ropes binding him to the chair. “Long time, no see.”

“Y/N?” He stares at her in disbelief, shakes his head, and squeezes his eyes shut because there’s no way she can really be standing here. “What? H-how?”

“I’ll do the tests for you,” she assures him as the last of the ropes fall away. “Let’s go find your brother first, though, so I only have to do them once.”

Sam can’t find the words to respond so he just follows behind her through the witch’s compound. They find Dean a few doors down in an almost identical position to the one Sam was just in, though Dean has made a little more progress in escaping his ropes.

“Dean,” Sam says, forgetting about Y/N for a moment as he crouches beside his brother and yanks the blindfold from his eyes.

“Thank god. Get me out of he- holy shit. Y/N?!?”

“Hey, big boy,” she says with a grin and a little wave. Like their long-gone lover being back from the dead is just another walk in the park. Though, if Sam’s going to be honest with himself, he shouldn’t be that surprised when loved ones come back from the dead anymore. It seems to be all the rage as of late.

“Sam, is that-”

“Haven’t done the tests yet,” Sam says softly, lifting his head to meet Dean’s hopeful gaze. He doesn’t want to get either of their hopes up but he can’t help the lump in his throat. It’s been so long…

“Let’s get out of here and you two boy toys can do whatever you want to me.” Y/N shoots them a wink and holds out a hand to tug Dean to his feet. “Where’d you park the car? Mine’s a few blocks east of here.”

“South,” Dean answers, eyes locked on her face. “Is the witch…?”

“I took care of her for you,” Y/N assures him. “We should probably get rid of the body. Your trunk is bigger. Which one of you wants to go get the Impala?”

Dean and Sam exchange a look and then Dean pats his pockets. “Witch took my keys,” he grumbles.

“They’re probably with your weapons. I think I saw those on my way in.”

Sure enough, the keys to the Impala are piled with their weapons, phones, and wallets in the same room where the witch lies dead on the floor. Sam checks that she’s actually dead - she is - and then Dean strides off on his own to get the car.

Sam’s alone with a Y/N, again, and as he eyes her a shiver runs up his spine. He’s still not sure Y/N even is Y/N. At least he’s armed now.

“It’s been a while,” she says, leaning against the wall to the side of the doorframe. “I half expected you guys to come looking for me years ago.”

She shoots him a smirk like she’s teasing him but Sam’s too busy puzzling through what she’s just said to catch onto her playful tone. Look for her? “Y/N,” Sam says slowly, struggling to find words through his confusion and the emotions knotted up in his chest. “John- dad told us you died.”

Her eyes go wide and she straightens up, fists curled tight. “That dick! I know faking my death was part of the whole plan but I didn’t think he’d lie to you guys, too.”

“Faking your death?”

She grimaces. “It’s a long story, and one I don’t really want to tell more than once. How have you guys been doing? I saw you died - again - a few years ago...”

“That’s also a long story.” Sam runs a hand through his hair. “We’ve died a few times, actually.”

“A few times?”

Sam chuckles, rubbing at the back of his neck. “It, uh, didn’t stick?”

She stares at him, incredulous, for a moment before laughing. “I guess if anyone was going to come back from the dead repeatedly, it would be you Winchesters.”

--

Dean returns with the Impala a few minutes later. As soon as he pops the trunk, he pulls out a silver knife and hands it to Y/N. She makes a small cut on her forearm before taking the flask Dean’s holding out. She takes a big swig and swallows, grimacing.

“What the hell is that?” she grumbles, handing the flask back.

“Salted holy water.”

Dean smirks at her reaction, screwing the cap back on, but he doesn’t look at her, though. He can’t. He’s focusing his attention on straightening things in the trunk that definitely don’t need to be straightened. Sam, though, Sam can’t keep his eyes off of her as she plucks a bandana from the trunk and wraps it around her arm.

“Y/N,” he manages, voice breaking with every emotion he’s been pushing down since she first took off his blindfold.

He reaches for her and she comes easily, fitting into his arms just as perfectly as she always has. It may be fifteen years since he last touched her, last held her, last cradled her head in one palm and pressed their lips together, but it still feels as right as it did way back then. Even more so when Y/N loops her arms around his neck and happily returns the kiss, fingers sliding into his hair.

“Little Sammy Winchester grew up,” she teases when they pause for air. One hand comes around to cradle his cheek, her thumb rubbing softly against his skin. “Look at you. So handsome. Still with that hair, though.”

“I missed you,” he mumbles, eyes stinging as his view of her blurs with tears.

She wipes under his eye, catching the single tear that escapes when he blinks. “I’m right here, baby. You don’t have to miss me anymore.”

Sam nods, grinning a little stupidly, and she kisses him again. When she pulls away, she turns to find Dean watching them.

“C’mere, big guy,” she says, stepping away from Sam but not out of his arms, holding one hand out to the older Winchester.

Dean breaks then, falling forward into her embrace with a little choked sound that lands in her hair. She holds him close, hands rubbing over his broad shoulders as his arms wrap around her waist and hold on like he’s afraid she’ll vanish if he lets go.

“Dad told us you were gone,” Dean manages, voice muffled against her shoulder. “You were gone and we weren’t even there, we didn’t even get to go to your funeral.”

“Hey.” She gives him a squeeze and turns her head to kiss him softly, one hand sliding around to cup his jaw. “I’m sorry, Dean. I thought he would have told you guys the truth. If I’d known he lied to you, too-”

“What happened?” Dean interrupts, turning his face away while he wipes his eyes.

“Some asshole hunter was after me. Only God knows why, but he was relentless so John helped me fake my death and found me a place to hide away until it was safe,” you explain, your hand still on his face. Like you can’t bear to stop touching him. “I didn’t learn until recently that Gordon was killed just a few years later.”

Gordon. Sam grits his teeth, old anger stirring in his chest. That fucking asshole. “I killed him,” he bites out without thinking. “About three years after you... ‘died’,” Sam air quotes. “He was turned into a vampire and I killed him.”

“Took his head off with barbed wire,” Dean adds. His eyes are red but he’s pulled himself together enough to don a slightly proud smirk.

Y/N’s eyebrows shoot up. “Damn, Sammy. That’s intense.”

Sam shrugs. “I was locked in a room with him. I had to improvise. It’s not my proudest moment, but it was me or him.”

“Hey.” She loops one arm around his waist, the other still around Dean’s. “Gordon was an ass. If he was after you, vampire or not, you had the right to defend yourself.”

Sam nods, leaning his cheek against her head at the same time Dean presses his nose and then his lips to her temple. “We’ve missed you,” Sam murmurs, his free arm settling around his brother. Dean imitates him, completing their little circle. “All those years, we thought you were gone…”

The brothers lock eyes and it’s there, clear as day - that spark she saw way back when the three of them first fell into bed together. She glances between them, one eyebrow quirked.

“And you guys?” she asks softly, not wanting to imply anything or offend if she’s wrong.

“Yeah,” Dean says with enough emotion in his voice that she knows how much they needed each other. His thumb rubs softly against the sliver of Sam’s skin where his shirt has ridden up. “We’re all each other has. I mean, things weren’t the same without you but we made it work. We leaned on each other.”

“Good.” She gives them both a squeeze. “I never wanted you guys to have to be alone.”

“Doesn’t mean we didn’t still spend every night wishing you were with us,” Sam murmurs, ducking his head down to nip at her earlobe. “Between us…”

Y/N shivers and squirms a little at the want in his voice. “Do you guys, uh - do you have a motel room?”

“One king at the Scope Motel on the west side of town,” Dean tells her, dipping his own head down to kiss at the side of her neck before pulling away. “But we’ve got a dead body to take care of first.”

Y/N groans.

--

Y/N decides to drive her own car - a yellow 1969 Chevy Nova SS two-door that Dean immediately starts cooing over. She bats him away from peeking under the hood, insisting that if he wants to pick up where they left off any time soon then they better get to work. Dean pouts but backs off and the trio pile into their respective vehicles to go find a safe, discrete place to burn and bury the body. Sam finds himself glancing in the rearview mirror over and over, just to make sure Y/N is still following. He can’t shake the fear that if he takes his eyes off her for too long, she’ll vanish.

When they find a good spot, she grabs her own shovel and lends a hand in digging. Dean grumbles the whole time and she gives him shit about his old man back and everything just feels so right that Sam can’t stop the second round of tears that well up in his eyes.

“Oh, Sammy,” she murmurs when she sees his face in the light of the burning body. She reaches up to brush his hair back. “I’m right here, baby. C’mon, let’s finish this up and head to your motel room.”

Sam nods, turning his face into her palm, and draws a deep breath. She smells like dirt and sweat and something sweet, familiar, that stirs heat in his belly.

Suddenly, they can’t get back to the motel fast enough.

--

The motel isn’t anything special but it is nicer than where the boys would usually stay. They’d decided to splurge a little this time around and Sam’s grateful for that fact. He doesn’t want to take Y/N back to a shitty motel with two queens.

As soon as the door has closed and been locked behind them, Y/N turns to face the brothers. She grins and spreads her arms, taking a few backward steps towards the bed.

“Well?” she asks. “You gonna stand there all night?”

Dean moves first this time, shedding his jacket and button-up as he crosses the room to sweep Y/N into his arms and drop her onto the bed. She shrieks, grabbing at his shoulders as they tumble back onto the mattress. Sam laughs at the sight, toeing off his boots and tossing his own top layers in the general direction of their duffel bags. When he reaches the bed, he tugs off Dean’s boots and then Y/N’s. She peeks over Dean’s shoulder at him and crooks one finger in an unmistakable “come hither” gesture.

Sam strips off his jeans and boxers in one move before climbing up onto the bed. He wriggles his hands between their bodies to find and undo Dean’s belt.

“Too many clothes,” he teases as he gets the belt open and moves on to the button and zipper.

“I agree,” Y/N says, squirming out from under Dean so she can sit up and start taking off her own shirts.

Both men freeze at that sight, eyes locked on her as she tosses her flannel aside and peels her t-shirt over her head.

“Wow,” Dean sighs, one hand reaching out to settle on the bare skin of her waist.

She shoots him a wink, teasing her fingertips along the top edge of her lacy bra cups. “Like what you see?”

Sam nods for both of them, reaching for her with lust-darkened eyes. She rises up onto her knees, allowing him to pull her into his lap. The bed rocks suddenly and they both turn to see Dean flopping like a fish out of water, trying to get rid of all his remaining layers at once.

“Some things never change,” Y/N says with a fond smile, twisting to grab Dean’s t-shirt and free him from it.

Dean pouts even as his hard cock finally bounces free of his boxers to smack against his belly. Sam unhooks Y/N’s bra and she throws it aside as she leans over to put her mouth on the head of Dean’s cock.

“Oh, my god,” he gasps, head slamming back against the mattress and hands flying to her hair. “Y/N.”

Sam’s own cock throbs at the sight and he shifts around so Y/N can kneel more comfortably on the bed with Sam behind her instead of beneath her. He blankets her back with his body, laying a line of kisses across her shoulders and down her spine.

“Sam,” she whines, grinding her ass back against his cock. “Don’t tease.”

He smirks against her skin and reaches around to find the button of her jeans. While she leaves kitten licks down the side of Dean’s cock, Sam helps her out of her jeans and panties. She arches her back and spreads her thighs with a playful little wiggle of her ass, giving Sam a perfect view of her glistening pussy. He groans and can’t resist. It’s been so long. He has to get a taste.

Y/N whines and presses back against his mouth, silently begging for more. Sam is happy to oblige, laying down on his back to get a better angle. He guides Y/N to straddle his face with hands on her hips.

“Someone’s been practicing,” Y/N says breathlessly. “Goddamn.”

Sam grins against her clit and then delves his tongue between her folds. She tastes even better than he remembered, that perfect blend of sweet and salt and musk he just can’t get enough of.

In the morning, they’ll get her stuff from her motel. She’ll take them with her to get her things from her storage unit in Idaho. Then she’ll follow them back to the bunker and the Winchesters will help her make a space of her own.

Tonight? Sam digs his fingers into her thighs, Dean sits up to pull her into a kiss, and they get to work rediscovering her body.

---

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—

Team Forever: @mrswhozeewhatsis @laughing-at-the-darkness @tumbler-tidbits @imsuperawkward @emoryhemsworth

[rons-hermiones]

Come Find Me

Come Find Me

by rons-hermiones

Summary: Unplanned, Hermione is forced to spend Christmas at the Burrow due to her grandmother falling very ill. After being ignored by Hermione for weeks, Ron is determined to show her how much she means to him. Just before he gets the chance to tell her, Bellatrix Lestrange shows up with other plans for Hermione. Can Ron get to her before it's too late? (Ron/Hermione Half-Blood Prince AU)

Rating: M for language & dark themes in later chapters.

Chapter Twenty 

Ron had side alonged tons of times with both his Dad, Mum, Bill, and Charlie. Sure the first time he got sick all over his fathers shoes, but by the second time he was just violently dizzy. Now it’s like nothing, uncomfortable in the moment, but not long lasting. So why did he feel so sick all of the sudden? 

A pit of dread was building in his stomach. He physically keeled over, clutching at his knees and heaving a little onto the grass, hoping to hack something up. 

A hand found his back and rubbed it for a moment, the touch startled him until he met Bill’s blue eyes. “What’s wrong Ronnie? You haven’t had that sort of reaction to apparition in years.” His oldest brother pointed out. 

Ron ignores his words, not able to find a viable excuse at the moment. Harry however, seems to catch on from his place on Bill’s left. 

“I don’t think it’s because of the apparition.” The chosen one frowned at his best friend's brother. 

Bill gulped, suddenly feeling a little guilty for not realizing sooner, but supplied a soft nod. 

“Ron if you don’t think you can do this I’d understand. No ones gonna hold it against you.” His brother whispered, bending down to meet his hunched over form. 

Soon, the ginger recovers as he shakes his head viciously and stands tall. “I have to do this. Not even just for myself but you know...” the words ‘for her’ are unspoken. 

“Okay, let’s all just take a minute.” Bill suggests noticing Harry’s pale face. 

They all stand for a little bit. Bill’s eyes seemingly searching for any threats, Harry toeing some leaves, and Ron closing his eyes to focus his breathing. 

“I’ve never been here before.” Harry comments quietly, causing Ron to open his blue eyes and meet his green ones. “I mean...” he starts. 

“Neither have I.” His friends soon clarifies, “it’s never been me who came out, always Dad, Bill, Lupin.” He lists, “feels wrong.” 

The dark haired boy nods slowly, “yeah it does.” He agrees, scratching his head awkwardly. 

Bill felt like an intruder on a private moment between the pair, but didn’t have anywhere else to go. Instead, he stood silently, not wanting to rush them. 

“I reckon we can’t stand out here forever.” Ron breaks tensely after another minute of staring at the brick house. 

“Come on.” Bill led them down the path first. 

When the trio reached the door, it was the oldest Weasley who had the courage to finally knock. 

After a small scuffle heard behind the door, Hugo Granger threw it open with. His face went from that of confusion to a beaming smile. 

It made Ron’s stomach clench. 

“Bill! What a pleasure! Oh Harry and Ron, nice to see you!” He says happily. 

Ron had met Mister Granger on a few occasions at Kings Cross and in Diagon Alley. He was always kind to Ron and his family, more than happy to entertain his father on all things Muggles.

“Is my little girl here? Jean and I told her to stay put.” He frowned a little. 

Ron really felt ill now. 

“We’re really sorry to disturb you,” Bill began cryptically, “may we come inside?” 

Hugo eyed him skeptically, it wasn’t that he wasn’t comfortable with Bill in his home, but this visit was puzzling. 

“Of course.” He opened the door to them, “Jean!” He called out as they stepped in. 

“Who was it at the door?” The woman’s voice came as she walked into the foyer, smiling at the sight of the boys. “Oh! This is so unexpected. It’s lovely to see you all! Come in, come in.” Jean ushered them over to the sitting room. 

“Wait here while I get some tea, I have some made.” She tells, scurrying to the kitchen, causing Bill’s protest to die on his lips. 

Soon his older brother and Hermione’s father fell into small talk. Harry supplying a few nods here and there in acknowledgement. 

Ron however, was too busy surveying the house. 

Everything was clean and white. The dark wood floors seemed freshly polished and the pillows looked recently fluffed. On the mantle were photos of Hermione. Unmoving, but just as sentimental. 

Ones of her swaddled in a towel, her as a small baby, her in France with bushy brown hair, and many more. The one that caught his eye was her at King’s Cross from her first year, smiling widely as she sat on her new trunk. 

He had to look away. The memories of happier times becoming too painful as of late. The whole thought of her now miserable made it too much. 

Missus Granger soon returned with a tray of tea and biscuits, but no one made a move to grab anything. Not even Ron, which shocked Harry and Bill alike. 

He noticed now Hermione’s mother nervously wringing her hands together. “This is about Hermione isn’t it? I knew she’d take my mother’s death badly, but I didn’t think it would warrant a home visit. I’d assume she’d dive into her work. It’s not exactly a healthy alternative but she’s-“ the woman ranted. 

“She doesn’t know.” Ron interrupted huskily before he could help himself. 

“She doesn’t?” Hugo asked, shocked, “well we sent an owl. The white one, I think she’s yours Harry.” He pointed out. 

The chosen one nodded slowly, “we got the owl but Hermione she,” he cleared his throat, “she never saw your letter.” 

The couple eyed each other for a moment before Hugo spoke, “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” 

Bill glanced at his brother and his best friend, both were averting their eyes from the adults in front of them. 

“Hermione, she’s gone.” He says sadly, not even having a moment to elaborate before the Granger’s jumped in. 

“Oh Hugo! I knew this would happen! We told her not to come home.” She said painfully clutching her husband's hand. 

He grabbed it and gave it a squeeze before turning back to Bill, “do you know where she is? How long ago did she leave?” He asked quickly. 

Bill shook his head again, surprised to find tears stinging the backs of his eyes. Ron’s head soon found its place between his hands as Harry plucked his hoodie's zipper. 

“She didn’t leave,” he gulped, “she was taken.” The eldest Weasley said shakily. 

“Taken!” Jean exclaimed aghast. 

“I don’t understand.” Hugo said, voice quivering as silent tears began to stream his wife’s face. 

“I knew we shouldn’t have sent her off to that school. I knew it.” Her mother cried. 

This seemed to peeve Ron off, Harry too. 

“It’s not because of Hogwarts, it's because of me.” Harry informed quickly and sadly. 

“You?” Jean spat rather angrily. 

“Not Harry, me.” Ron corrected, sure of it. 

“You?” Her voice had leveled out to confusion rather than anger. 

As Ron nodded, Harry shook his head. 

“Well what is it? What’s happened?” Hugo asked anxiously, trying to keep his calm whilst his wife fell into his arms. 

Harry took a staggering breath, “my godfather, he,” he sighed sadly, “last year he was killed.” 

“Killed?” Jean squeaked nervously, worried for Hermione’s fate. 

“Yeah, you see-” The chosen one started. 

“Harry, third year, start there. Pettigrew.” Ron moaned the name painfully. He knew Hermione had stopped being honest with her parents around then. After being petrified. 

“Right...”

And so it began. The Granger’s barely had time to shed tears over Hermione, as they’d been too focused on the stories being told. Those of that night in the Shrieking Shack, of Barty Crouch Junior, Cedric Diggory, and Dolores Umbridge. Even the events of the Department of Mysteries (Missus Granger let out a terrible cry at learning Hermione had been cursed) and presently their Christmas holiday. 

“It was just over a week ago when it all happened.” Harry started nervously, palms running roughly over his denim clad legs. 

“Bellatrix Lestrange,” he began before Hugo interrupted. 

“The woman at the Ministry? The one who killed your godfather?” He asked voice so soft it made Harry’s heart break. Here these people were not knowing if their daughter was alright, yet felt for him after losing Sirius. 

Harry nodded, “yeah, her, well she arrived at the Burrow with Fenrir Greyback.” 

“The man who hurt you Bill.” Jean said to herself, mentally keeping tabs of all the players     

A little awkwardly, the oldest of the three nodded. 

“She came. Said some nasty things then went to leave. I-“ he began shamefully, “I followed her.”

“So did Hermione. So did I.” Ron was quick to defend. 

“You only followed because I ran in first. If I hadn’t-“ he began frustrated, hot angry tears forming in his eyes. 

“If there’s one thing I know about my daughter, it’s that she would do anything to protect you two boys. Please don’t blame yourself Harry.” Jean said with wet eyes, placing a soft hand on Harry’s clenched fist. 

“If I just-“ he started again. 

“If you had known this would happen to Hermione would you still have ran after her?” The woman asked, voice riddled with sadness. 

“No, of course not!” He cried out indignantly. 

“Exactly.” She soothed, retracting her hand to find her husband again, “continue.” Jean requested. 

Though painful, Ron knew this was his part to tell, “Bellatrix, she said she wanted to kill me.” He decided to leave out the part of Hermione in the witch's clutches, wanting to spare some pain. 

“Why?” Hugo gasped. 

Bill noticed Ron begin to tremble and he could at least fill this part in. “Us Weasley’s were dubbed as ‘blood-traitors’, purebloods who support Muggles and Muggle borns alike. We’re also not few and far between. To someone like Bellatrix Lestrange, if she kills one of us there’s still over half a dozen more.” 

Hesitantly, Hugo nodded in acknowledgment and understanding, but not agreement. 

“She didn’t want to kill Hermione.” Ron’s voice broke suddenly hoarse, “or Harry.” 

“But isn’t him, uh, You-Know-Who, isn’t he after you Harry?” Jean questioned. 

“Yeah, he is, it’s peculiar they didn’t try it with me.” 

“And Hermione? Why her?” 

Again, Ron and Harry squirmed uncomfortably, “your daughter is one of the brightest witches Hogwarts has ever seen. You-Know-Who, well, we reckon he needed her brilliant mind. That she may know something that could hurt him.” Bill advised regretfully. 

For now, questions from the Granger’s halted, it all was too much to take in. 

“So Hermione, she-she saved herself for me,” Ron choked, ��she hid me to keep me safe and gave herself up so they wouldn’t kill me and they took her. And I couldn’t do anything. Not a thing.” Ron broke down becoming hysterical. 

Tears filled the room. Missus Granger’s sobs rivaled Ron’s as Mister Granger held her, silent tears of his own streaming his reddened cheeks. Harry had slumped over, breathing heavily, while Bill placed a soft hand on his shoulder. 

Ron stood suddenly, halting all the tears for a moment, “Loo. I need the loo.” He said, sounding almost panicked. 

“Ron, maybe you should just-“ Bill began to suggest. 

“Upstairs, second door on your right.” Hugo said with a groggy voice. 

The ginger nodded and took off, not noticing Jean throw her husband a funny look at the instructions. Instead, he just heard Bill’s soft voice floating through the room as he told the Granger’s of the measures the order had been taking. 

Ron climbed the steps two at time before being met by a long hallway with identical white doors. Spotting the second door to his right, he frantically pushed it open, ready to collapse atop the toilet lid. 

But instead he was met by a different sight. 

Blue walls. A large bookshelf tucked in the corner. Parchment stacked neatly atop a desk. Next to it was a Muggle chessboard. Pictures stuffed and tacked onto a board. And the smell. 

Roses. Lemon. Ink. 

The same thing he smelt in the Amortentia earlier in the year. 

It was all so Hermione. It was consuming his senses too much, too fast. And without even realizing what he was doing, he doubled onto her bed, silently crying. 

“I thought you might need this more than the loo.” A voice sounded from the door. 

Immediately Ron jumped to his feet, feeling like he'd done something wrong. 

“Relax Ron, I sent you here for a reason.” Mister Granger eased, moving to sit in the chair at Hermione’s desk, motioning for the boy to sit back down. 

“I’m so sorry Mister Granger, this is all my fault,” he started shaking his head. 

“I don’t believe that Ron.” He said strongly. 

The ginger shook his head fiercely, “you should. You don’t understand how much I’ve hurt her,” too many things come to mind. Lavender. The Yule Ball. Crookshanks. Scabbers. Trolls. “I could’ve done better.” He wiped at his eyes with the backs of his wrists. 

“You think I don’t blame myself for this too?” He asked a little harshly, “I get it,” he began softer, “you loved my daughter didn’t you?” He asks knowingly. 

“No.” Ron’s voice was so strong, it even startled him. “I love her.” He clarified, “Don’t talk about her like she’s gone. Like she’ll never know.” 

Hugo nodded slowly, but said nothing for a few minutes, letting Ron take in Hermione’s room with blurry eyes instead. 

“I want to understand Ron.” His voice broke the air, “I wish my daughter hadn’t lied to me. Jean and I suspected something but didn’t push it. But I need to know if there’s even something that can help. Please Ron.” He begged. 

Ron, Harry, and Bill had skimmed the surface of the chaos that has been their last six years at Hogwarts. And Ron knew more details on Hermione specifically then the other two, Mister Granger sensed as much. 

And Ron sensed the desperation in his eyes, the same look he’s been wearing for weeks. Even before Hermione was gone. When his biggest problem was chucking Lavender Brown cause he had missed her so much. 

Thoughtfully, his blue eyes found the untouched chess set. He pushed down the warmth in his chest at the thought of Hermione practicing just so she could match him. He didn’t have time to harp on it. 

“Mister Granger, have you ever played chess?” He asked, a brilliant idea forming in his head.

...

Hugo Granger pondered over the chess board carefully, studying the pieces as he placed them on the respective squares. 

“So my daughter is your queen?” He asked as Ron used tape to secure the parchment onto the white queen. 

Ron momentarily stopped what he was doing and opened and closed his mouth like a fish gasping for air, “Er, what? I don’t know.” He fumbled. 

“The chess piece Ron, Hermione she’s the queen, is she not?” He asked, a little amused. 

“Oh,” he said, relieved , then suddenly realized he didn’t answer the question, “oh yeah, well I reckon it fits.” He says a little nervously. 

Ron was playing white and Mister Granger was black. 

You-Know-Who and Harry were the kings respectively. Hermione was the queen, while Bellatrix Lestrange was on her side. Ron made himself the knight, the protector, he felt a bit awkward about it, but he figured it would be worse if he had just written himself off. Then Hermione’s dad was sure to think he’s useless. In turn, Greyback was the knight, he debated over Malfoy, but settled on making him bishop. 

He also debated putting Draco’s name down as well, but settled for just the last name representing him and his father. Draco wasn’t guilty of anything but being a poncy pureblood prat. Well for now. 

Dumbledore was the other bishop, both ready to take over if their kings fell. The rook’s were just labeled ‘Death Eaters’ and ‘The Order’, being both were to represent the Kingdoms walls per say. 

As for the pawns it included those who either lost their lives or were simple puppets. Sirius, Cedric, Quirinius Quirrell, Peter Pettigrew, Mad Eye, even Ginny due to second year. 

Anyone else important would just have to be mentioned along the way. 

“And this woman,” Hugo began lifting up his black queen, “she’s the one who took Hermione?” 

Ron simply gulped and supplied a weak nod. Like the younger man, talks of Hermione’s captor seemed to evoke pure sadness from Hugo Granger. 

Suddenly, guilt bubbled within Ron yet again, “we don’t have to do this.” He vaguely gestured to the chess board. 

“I want to,” he insisted, “but if it’s too much for you...”

The ginger repressed the urge to groan. This man really should not be giving him the benefit of the doubt. Not after all he’s done to his daughter. Even before this. 

“Look there’s something you should know.” Ron’s eyes quickly averted her fathers. 

Hugo’s eyes pierced his, silently encouraging him to continue. 

“Before Hermione,” he choked a little, “before she was taken, her and I, we weren’t speaking.” He admitted in a whisper, ashamed. 

“Why?” He asked. 

“Well, I think,” he didn’t know how to phrase it, he didn’t want to, “I know I hurt her. My sister says I broke her heart.” He trailed quietly. 

And then for the first time since he arrived here, Mister Granger’s face was painted with red hot fury. Fists clenched so hard they turned white. 

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He told the man quickly. 

“Did my Hermione know that? That you’re sorry?” Hugo all but grunted. 

“No, I never got the chance to tell her.” It took almost everything out of Weasley not to cry. 

A few moments passed, but to Ron it felt like a lifetime. Eventually, Mister Granger seemed to lessen his rage and took a deep breath. 

“I don’t blame you Ron.” He began honestly, “I don’t blame you that those people took Hermione. I may not have known everything about my daughter, but I do know her and I know how much she cares about you.” Hermione’s father pauses, “and I know you know as much too, so I just want to ask you why?” 

And Ron knew what the ‘why?’ was for. Why would he hurt her knowing how much she cared. And for that, he doesn’t really have an answer, not a good one anyway. Nothing he can even justify to himself. 

The only thing that resonates is something he told Harry before all this, before Hermione was gone. 

“How can you love someone so much and hurt them so bad?” 

And he doesn’t know. Now more than ever. His mind is just constantly consumed with guilt, sadness, and anger. All directed at him or occasionally, Bellatrix and the rest of You-Know-Who’s followers. 

“I can’t answer that.” Ron tells him, “there’s no reason that could make it right. If I had known what would-“ a bile rose in his throat. 

“I know that Ron.” The man says softly, “I know that she knew too.” 

“Knows.” He blurted out before he could help it. 

Awkwardly, Hugo clears his throat, choosing not to acknowledge the outburst, “of course she knows.” He subtly corrects, “and I want to hear about what happened this year, but maybe we should start from the beginning?” He suggested pointing weakly to the board. 

Nodding slowly, Ron cleared his throat and thought for a moment before picking up the piece representing Harry. 

“I reckon a lot of this starts around Halloween first year. Do you know anything about Mountain Trolls...”

[lovesbitca8]

Reactions to the Final Chapter of The Auction (4/4)

Anonymous said: Hello! I just wanted to tell you how much I love “The Right Thing to Do” series so much. Normally I’m not a fan of FanFictions giving out sequels or entire series, but I drove right into this little trilogy and I’m still in love. I found it a few weeks ago and I’m listening to the audiobook even though I just read it. You’re an amazing writer 💛

Anonymous said: I’ve always read angsty fic where the characters are jaded and hard and tough, even with each other. But since reading your Right Thing To Do/Auction universe I’ve realized that soft babies who are in love are simple superior.

Anonymous said: I've reread TRTTD, and I've decided to hell with Draco POV for TA, I need more badass Ginny and resigned Harry in my Dramione. They are wonderful and I love them.

Anonymous said: Just want to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE how you write Blaise and Pansy (like not only in The Rights and Wrong series) but in every fic they're in. God I love their friendship with Draco ugh love the Slytherin Trio

alicia178 said: So. I was waiting for you to finish The Auction before I read it, because I knew I would want to binge it. And I did. I have just finished it and my goodness! What a wonder you are! I adored it. A loved it, and I devoured it! Such excellence, well thought out and brilliant story telling. I can’t wait to see what you do next!! I love the idea of the Dramione You’ve got mail AU. Just wanted to say, well done. LOVED IT. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Anonymous said: Hello, would you ever consider writing a shot fic that focused on Pansy? I am sure you get asked to write new fics all the time, so I apologize! Pansy, both in The Right Thing To Do, but especially in The Auction, is such a strong, amazing character. You write female friendships, loyalty, jealousy, and competition so well. She is so incredible, and I would love to see more of her -- in either of those stories' universes! Thank you again for such stellar writing. <3

No plans for any Pansy fics now, but it’s crossed my mind!

norbertsnotes said: I finally finished The Auction and absolutely loved it! Began rereading TRTTD and came across this little bit when Hermione is recommending books for Draco and couldn’t help but wonder if this is a little nod to Manacled or just The Handmaids Tale in general? “There’s a new novel out, based loosely on a Muggle book from the 1980s.” She stopped at the shelf and tapped the spine. “Dystopian future, marriage law, regulations on bearing children.” She glanced up at him and he was watching her face. “In my opinion the Muggle book is better, but no one’s heard of it here, so…” If it is I’m screaming and just FYI my heart is clearly now forever marred by your insane writing.

Isn’t that crazy? That chapter was published before Manacled was even on Ao3, but you’re right about the reference to Handmaids Tale! That was actually me doing a “the book is better than the series” thing.

Anonymous said: Hate how you've conditioned me into automatically thinking Draco and Hermione are the components of an idiot sandwich. Fic doesn't even have a mutual pining, unrequited but I've been conditioned so... 🙃🤪🙃🤪

Anonymous said: As 2020 wraps up and as I am reflecting on how crazy this year was- I can truly say the Auction was a huge part of getting me through it. Working as a nurse through this pandemic has been rough but I could always count on late Sunday nights getting a taste of the spectacular art you created week after week. So thanks for helping my 2020 be a little more survivable! Can’t wait to read what you put out next!

Anonymous said: i loved the auction, i think i finished it in a day and it’s literally the ONLY dramione fic that I’ve read and didn’t want to finish because I didn’t know what to do after I’d read it it was that good😭I really liked the way you wrote Hermione when she was occluding and the part where Draco asks Hermione what she needs really stuck with me because when it’s set in a darker scenario, the setting gets so much more intense and the scarifices you make for the ones you love get tougher and more sincere like in a life or death situation who would really go there for you. Narcissa was speaking facts “Once they've underestimated you — strike.” You should be proud of the work you’ve produced no matter what people say, I am looking to forward to reading more of your writing 💜

livinginalandfill said: I just finished reading The Auction and I just wanted to say that what you created was a work of art. The prose, characters, and the plot were magnificent. The entire work kept me on my toes and was pulling on my heart strings at the end of each chapter. All the references to the prior fics in the series killed me everytime. Truly a masterpiece!

thebishopkate said: Hey, hi, I just read all the "Rights and Wrongs" series, and, first of all, your writing is so fucking amazing!!! I was so invested in the romance, this universe that you created, everything was fantastic. And "The Auction", holy shit. It's been a while that I had anything to read that pulled so many visceral reactions from me. Really, you're an amazing, fantastic, wonderful writer

thebishopkate said: Oh, and the Ron bit at the end? I was crying my eyes out! Throughout the canon, I've always thought that Hermione was too good for him. But that dialogue? So many feels, I can't' even fully express myself. Really, congrats, you're an amazing writer (I'm kinda hoping you write some more Draco POVs for The Auction). This series was everything, thank you!!

Anonymous said: i finally finished THE AUCTION today and i am freaking out!!!!! 😩😩😩 the way that it ended was PERFECT 😩😩😩😩😩 thank you for putting a close to the story, i binged the first 30 chapters before waiting for the updates. and then i couldnt make it last long enough so i waiiiiiiited until it finished and now it's finished and i'm so grateful for you 😭😭😭 thank you. this is coming from someone who, at age 10, had an unfinished dramione as her favourite fic. it was never completed so i developed a trauma for WIPs, but i'm so so glad i latched onto the auction nevertheless. my world is better for it. THANK YOUUUU SO MUUUUCH

[itsuki-minamy]

“R:B” CHAPTER 6 (Part 3)

TRANSLATION & RAWS: NARU-KUN

* Chapter 1 * Chapter 2 * Chapter 3: Part 1 / Part 2 * Chapter 4: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 * Chapter 5 * Chapter 6: Part 1 / Part 2 /

The move of "Scepter 4" exceeded Totsuka's expectations. He thought he had, but had no choice but to chase Yamata here.

An emergency exit at the back of the store. The exit has an emergency staircase that attaches to the exterior wall of the building.

Yamata runs down the stairs, making a thud. Similarly, Totsuka steps onto the stairs and chases Yamata's back.

He goes down the alley, chases after him, takes out his PDA and calls Kusanagi's number.

"You got it?"

There was a response with a call. It's proof that Kusanagi was also on hold.

"Sorry! Yata and Fushimi clashed with Yamata!"

"What?"

"Scepter 4 is here! The two of them are fighting. I'm chasing Yamata who got away!"

"Ah?!"

Kusanagi's voice seems to have disappeared. He seems to laugh, but honestly it is not a laugh.

Yamata was fleeing with all his might. Totsuka can't catch up if he doesn't run desperately.

“Kusanagi-san, go to the usual store! Both Yata and Fushimi became considerably heated. If you don't stop someone, you won't be able to do it!"

When he appeals about the PDA, after complaining that he was sick,

"It's okay."

Kusanagi answered once and for all.

“I will address immediately. Are you chasing he? How about everything there?"

"All right!"

"Hmm. Honestly, if something happens, please contact me."

Hung up the call. A quick decision, unsurprisingly, from "Homura's" advisor. If necessary, he will spare no effort. Now he can focus on Yamata in front of him. As long as he've made a promise, he'll keep it down.

A fireball the size of a tennis ball erupted from Totsuka's palm.

The fireball collapsed from within like a hatching egg, turned into a delicate flame butterfly, and flew away from Totsuka's palm.

The power is weak, but Totsuka has finely controlled that "power".

Yamata goes through the alley. The flame butterfly flies forward. The butterfly flaps and shoots sparks in the wind. Flying in the air, closing in on Yamata in front. A little late, Totsuka exits the alley onto the main street.

A shopping trip.

The well-maintained boardwalk is accompanied by lush trees on the streets, and the colorful displays are lit by the gradually darkening sun. Shoppers returning home or moving to eat were very active. Yamata pushes those passersby and escapes without looking back while chaining small screams.

The fire butterfly released by Totsuka glowed as if erasing the tip of his nose. In response to the sudden heat, "Huh?", Yamata steps on his footprint.

"Yamata!"

Totsuka called out with a strong voice. Yamata looked behind him reflectively.

Passersby look at them while whispering. He doesn't care about Totsuka, he moves slowly.

While looking directly into the other person's eyes and blocking movement with line of sight.

"Come on, stop."

He said that clearly.

"Even if you run away, nothing will be resolved."

Yamata's entire body stirred. He was lost and he got up, as if he was stunned and almost shattered.

A painful expression on his face. But it cannot be forgiven. It cannot be overlooked for Yamata himself. "Yamata" kills his emotions and screams. From here, what is the correct answer? With that in mind, Totsuka walks towards Yamata.

However…

"Huh, Yamata?"

Sudden screams were heard behind Yamata at the end of the street. Two boys. Yamata showed his face.

After being surprised by Yamata and stopping, the boys rush to run. Seeing both of them reveal their anger, Totsuka hurriedly tried to run to Yamata's side.

However…

"Well, that? King?"

When he saw Suoh, who appeared after the duo, he opened his eyes. Suoh also shows a surprised face, "Totsuka?"

"Why are you here? What about those two?"

"......"

Suoh skipped the further explanation and pointed at the two of them and Yamata.

The boys and Yamata seem to know each other. One of the boys, a boy with short hair, confronts Yamata with the urge to attack.

"It has been well adjusted! You only push dangerous work!"

"Well, so what? Even the others would be convinced."

"What's going on? Didn't you hear about the installation?"

"You know it! It's up to you!"

One of the duo members is completely angry, and Yamata has a reaction from the previous collapsed state. He was hurting the boys, exposing his childishness. People are quickly leaving the street, perhaps because they were afraid of being caught.

"These two people are Strains."

Totsuka is surprised by Suoh's line.

“This is the last mafia. They used their power in the name of "Homura". They said it crying."

So that was the situation.

The boys are minors from the looks of it. The fact that they dated Yamata and his friends may mean they don't even go to school. If you are not good at it, you may be out and about. Unfortunately, talented people, especially Strains who do not belong to the clan, often leave the world. Especially the minors.

For such an isolated Strain, belonging to a clan has great meaning. Also, if the two of them live in Shizume-cho, it can be said that joining "Homura" is a matter of life and death. If such a condition occurs, it should be difficult to refuse. And that must have been well understood by Yamata, who used them.

Show awake "power" and use acquired "position" to attack the weak. Totsuka's face was sadly distorted. He thinks it's not just Yamata. Something similar may not be uncommon in the current "Homura".

A short time ago, Suoh's line reached his heart. They said they continued to oppose those who forced something. He thinks that's correct.

However, no one has forced Totsuka to gain "power". And when he realized, this time Totsuka was forcing others to do something. Ironically. Totally. However, he will not leave it as is. He cannot do it. If he makes a mistake, he can correct it, and if there is a mistake, he can teach it. At least he can't just give up and leave it alone.

So…

Suoh took a few steps and stepped forward. Approaching Yamata and the others. He doesn’t look back even if Totsuka said "King?"

Suddenly it hit me.

There is a change in the air that Suoh uses. He can't put it well in words, but he doesn't doubt it. He feels like the feeling of emotional stagnation he has been feeling for a while has faded compared to when he left "HOMRA".

Freshness as if it had been swept away. But at the same time, it was unpleasant.

He had that feeling.

"This dyed boy is Yamata?"

Suoh called Yamata and the others who were arguing. After all, it seems that Yamata couldn't see the surroundings. It seemed like he didn't notice Suoh until he was called out and he turned as pale as a dead man.

"King…"

After barely crying out, he shuddered and cowered like a sinner in front of the worst prisoner.

The two boys also shut their mouths tightly, and Suoh, who took a deep breath as he retreated like a stray cat taking care of the guard dog, looked at Yamata as he stood silently.

Totsuka rushed over to Suoh's side. For whatever reason, his reaction is quick. He feels that he approached a canister full of nitroglycerin.

By the way, he understands why the duo came here. But what about Suoh? Why did he bother to accompany them? To be honest, it's not like Suoh.

“King, calm down. There is a problem, but it can be avoided if we hurry."

He calls out to him from the side, but Suoh didn't even pretend to listen.

Staring at Yamata in silence for a while.

"I remembered."

He laughed a little. Totsuka involuntarily asks, "What?"

"Don't you remember? On the way home after drinking outside. Did you find a kid on the street in the middle of the night?"

Yamata shuddered and remembered Totsuka.

It was a rainy night. Kusanagi said that after the regular members made a lot of noise in the bar, he sometimes wanted to have fun as a customer. Then late after Anna went to bed, Suoh, Kusanagi, and Totsuka went out for a drink.

A corner of the shopping street where the shutter was opened. Under a rain-soaked street lamp, a boy was beaten up by a trio of bullies. It was later discovered that one of the drunken thugs tried to catch him and failed. The man was furious with the help the target received, and the remaining two smiled at their partner kicking the boy. However, Kusanagi screamed, and when he saw Suoh and Totsuka behind him, especially Suoh, he changed his complexion and left.

Totsuka offered treatment to the remaining boy, but the boy ran away without speaking. Then about half a month later, he visits "HOMRA".

He wanted to be strong, he wanted to get out of the oppressed side, he wants to defend myself.

Even when he witnessed the flames that Suoh gave him, he should have only fought back for a short time.

"......"

Totsuka looks back at Yamata. It's no wonder that he didn't notice it right away, and Yamata's impression was very different from at that time. He has a different taste in clothes and a different hair color. Above all, he felt that the human face itself was changing.

But once he notices it, there is no question. It's the boy at the time.

"But why? You said you wanted to enter "Homura" because you don't like to find things like that."

He is still shocked and only speaks his thoughts.

"Why?" Suoh said.

"I didn't want to be eaten, so I turned to the side to eat. Rather, it's easy to understand."

"That's right. Then nothing will change. At best, someone else will be oppressed."

"Still, when asked which one is better, most should make the same decision as this one."

Suoh said that and laughed a little.

"You guys too."

And he turned his head towards the duo.

"Did you try to enter "Homura" because you wanted to win?"

The two of them suddenly stiffened. However, there is no doubt that he is a star. His position and power as a member of the clan. The feelings of the Strains who love him are painfully understandable.

"I mean…" Suoh continues.

"You guys are entwined in the same hole... No, not just you. So are we."

"King."

"What? You can't help. We are just a group of lost people, who happen to be a king and a member of the clan. It's not a big deal, it's not a shame."

It was a simple speech.

Suoh is looking around not only at the duo but also at Yamata this time.

"You guys had nothing? So you wanted it and you were fighting, right? Other than that, you shouldn't have wanted someone to congratulate you. The villain seems to be a villain, so stay bold."

From Suoh's low-pitched voice, it sounded like a lack of emotion. However, Totsuka realized that this was not the case.

On the surface, he seems calm only because the intense emotions and conflicts in the deep end are extremely balanced. It is a good proof that it is an unprecedented fiery language. The fetal movement of magma on the edge of the eruption is broadcast without voice or expression.

"But…"

Suoh continued. He felt an invisible spark fly out with a click.

"What you steal from others will one day be stolen by others. That's for sure."

Suoh speaks softly, but his presence and intimidation have increased as he speaks.

Even Totsuka is astonished at the words. As he feels a light shining throughout his body, watch Suoh and take care of his king.

"By the way, I'll tell you. What you really want is not power or position, it is not where you are or money. After all, there is only one. It is not a belt. If you have a mess and feel like it, you will be bound by it. Afraid of being robbed and you will have to destroy it. You don't know. It will sway, squeak, cause pain and finally return to where it was."

Suoh said all that. The balance of multiple emotions is gradually breaking down. The space centered on Suoh is bubbling.

"What I wish?"

He asked that while shaking, not Yamata or the peculiar boy who was biting him, it was the more mature boy with glasses who was carrying a backpack. Suoh was not startled by his piercing eyes and stared back at him. From the bottom of his heart, he wanted to know Suoh's answer.

Suoh replied.

"Respect yourself."

That was exactly the word of the "Red King".

Yamata opened his eyes as if he had been hit by a storm. He clenched his teeth and brought tears to the corners of his eyes. A boy with peculiar hair gasped and asked questions, and the boy with a satisfied smile clenched his fist involuntarily.

Totsuka is no exception. Even without the boys' shock, Suoh's words were sucked into his chest, and he felt like he was stuck where he should fit.

Self-esteem.

In today's damn world, we can live without those things. You can live. Some may even argue that it is simply annoying. Even without such a thing, people can be happy.

But Totsuka doesn't think so.

True self esteem is different from self-esteem, driving, and vanity. The dignity of being oneself is nothing more than a pillar that supports it. Even if people vary in shape and size, people cannot live as people without at least something to support them. Whatever the form, you cannot get true happiness without respecting yourself.

And what Suoh says is correct.

Even if you feel like you've earned your own self-esteem by trampling on the self-esteem of others, it is, after all, a "mistake". If you are trampled on by others, you will easily lose it and move further and further away from your true self-esteem because you are afraid of losing it.

Only you can take away your true self-esteem.

"Yamata. You go on like you can't win. You are standing in a tower on the sand. No matter how hard the sand is hardened by someone else's blood, it will collapse for a moment."

Suoh said that sternly.

Each of the unemployed has a weight that cannot be neglected. The weight is applied and the air around it seems to increase the viscosity. It may be more the weight of "reality" than Suoh's dignity. He is not aware of it on a daily basis, it is just the weight that is always there.

Then, Yamata's entire body trembled.

"If so…"

He tightened his voice to speak.

"So, King. Red King. I... what should I do? I was given a mark on my body and I became a member of "Homura", and they looked at me from the surroundings... In the end no one deceived me, I became a full-fledged person... If not, King, how did I get my true self-esteem?"

With a flushed face, Yamata finally looked at the king from the front.

Suoh tells his clan member to stay away.

"Think for yourself. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense."

Even if there is self-esteem given by favor, it is something that cannot be a pillar that sustains oneself.

There are no shortcuts or loopholes. You have no choice but to grow it with your own hands.

The self-respecting heart can be a supporting force because it stands up with its own hands.

And it's never the kind of thing that would hurt others.

Yamata makes a wrinkled and distorted face at his exposed loss.

"So, what exactly is a Clansman? For what reason are you imitating something that gives you strength."

At Yamata's question, Totsuka was ready before Suoh. "Yamata, that's all.", He leaned forward and tried to explain.

But Suoh...

"I do not know."

He answered very easily.

It is a throwing spear line. However, there is fever in that word. The heat of hesitation and irritation that burns through Suoh's lower body. Suoh also had a hidden, scorching remnant, a sign of suffering.

"Frankly, there is no deep reason, or maybe that's what the king is."

However, Suoh continues.

Connect words while having a fierce conflict within.

"Let me tell you one thing. The only ones I date are those who have self-esteem in the Shizume-cho way of life. They got together to make "Homura". It's okay? There is no such thing as the meaning of being "Homura". They are the ones who give it meaning."

It was like hitting.

Suoh's entire body swelled for a moment, creating the illusion of rushing heat waves.

Totsuka is impressed.

"King..."

He looks at Suoh's profile. Suoh clicked his tongue and averted his eyes from Yamata.

Yamata collapses and drools. The two boys also stood up unable to say anything.

He felt tired, but the tense time flows.

Finally…

"Totsuka."

Suoh muttered while staring into space.

"I have decided."

Totsuka opened both eyes.

The shock received by Totsuka must have been transmitted to Suoh without seeing the reaction. However, Suoh does not compete. He does not care.

"That's. Although "Homura" is a team, it doesn't mean anything. Whoever wants to stay must stay and whoever wants to leave must go. What is the reason why we are particular about the "form" of "Homura"? I like it."

It was an unpredictable way of saying something to him. However, Suoh's profile has someone's determination. He couldn't catch up on his thoughts. He cannot feel the reality in Suoh's dialogue and cannot organize his feelings.

Totsuka keeps his head still.

"... Seriously?"

"It is bad."

"What will Kusanagi-san say?"

"I do not know. Isn't it unexpectedly refreshing?"

"If Yata heard that, would he pass out?"

Suoh laughs.

"You want to do?"

"I only…"

Totsuka had a little excuse.

Then he kneaded his shoulders while confused.

"For now, let's start preparing for the break-up party..."

He intended to do his best, but when he tried to say it, his feelings became lighter. He himself is surprised. Before he knew it, was the "Homura" sign that heavy even for Totsuka?

Or is this an escape? Is the feeling of release that distracts him from unpleasant problems, even for a while, the true nature of this state of mind?

Could be like this.

If so, do he regret it? The exchange at this moment is bitter. Then…

"Stop, please."

A weak voice spilled out.

It's Yamata.

"Because of me, "Homura" is gone... Hmm, "Homura" is strong, dignified and great... I've always admired it..."

Yamata said with a drool. He rubs his nose.

"Please stop saying those things."

Yamata's appearance pleading overlapped with the appearance of a boy who took Suoh's hand that day. The joy and the proud smile of the king's flames in his mind fascinated him.

Totsuka's spine stretched.

"I…"

He shook his head and smiled with all his might.

It is not a Totsuka belief that you lose if you run away. The idea and way of life of Totsuka is that if you are in pain, you should rest and if you don't like it, you can stop.

However, this time it is a little different. This is the place to go.

"Thank you, let's pay for our sins."

Suoh frowned. Look at Totsuka.

"Other than this, he did not sin. No, even if he committed the crime, it would not be the 'sin' we would say."

"Still, as a member of 'Homura', I have to add a punishment."

"Homura is over."

"It's not over yet. And... I'm against it."

Totsuka turned to the side and looked directly at Suoh.

"You have a place to stay. I need a place to properly lay this noisy king. To take a nap, eat, and sometimes make you laugh. Not for you, but for everyone."

"Ah? For everyone?"

Suoh's eyes became more pronounced, perhaps because he had touched the scales. It is a fierce force that can start to make you cry even if you are not a child. However, Totsuka keeps smiling like an iron wall and smiles into Suoh's line of sight.

“So it's okay with me. Of course, Kusanagi-san too."

When he returned such an answer so lightly, Suoh controlled his mouth and clicked his tongue once more.

"Yamata. Okay?"

When he confirms… Yamata nodded.

The screaming gaze burns Totsuka's neck. He is not afraid or joking. It is as if a wild lion is at his side, raising its jaw and blowing its fishy breath.

While Totsuka tried not to be aware of that...

* Chapter 6: Part 4 * Chapter 7

[botwstoriesandsuch]

P-please talk about your Rito OC, please... ramble without any context, please... I have one too... please make me feel less alone...

Ok ok let me just *unloads all of Illeka’s super angsty self-indulgent backstory*

I technically have two backstories, one for botw that I’m gonna use for my fic Where Time Takes Us, and another I use for my dnd campaign. My dnd one is more fleshed out (thanks to my amazing GM) so I’ll probably just share that one. 

Warning for super duper long post that is barely coherent and I haven’t checked for typos and also rip to ADHD folks because I have no pictures to ease your brain with. Anyhow prepare for like thousands of words worth of rambles this is not edited at all

This is just a copy paste of the random incoherent shit I sent to my poor DM. Anyhow, I technically have 3 ocs here, but Illeka is the one I play

A weird Rito, that one is. I hear they’ve only cried at birth...

- Illeka was born on the Day of Living Fire, its a celebration of the dead essentially, where you mourn and remember your loved ones and ancestors and all that. It’s superstition to be *born* on this day, because your life/creation takes away from the day that’s supposed to honor the dead, and some people on birb island believe these things, that if you let the kid live it’s a curse. But most people are like no wtf you boomers it’s fine there’s no such thing you crazy old people are weird, which to be fair is kinda true.

- When Talako is around 6, his single mom dies. He’s adopted by a new family, Kala (also around 6 years old) and her parents.

- Illeka meets Talako after he kinda follows her around, because he’s an innocent cinnamon bun that admires Illeka’s calm and stoic demeanor after they help him with some bullies. Through this, Talako, Illeka, and Kala all become best friends.

- The events in Illeka’s life aren’t really helping their whole curse case. Every bad event, from their dad getting injured and having the slightest limp, to their brother, Zekk nearly setting himself on fire— it’s all a supposed punishment for not killing them when they were bored. But at this point most people brush it off as coincidence, besides, nothing THAT bad has happened yet.

- the trio of friends grow strong, becoming some of the best in their arts on the island. And their relationship is seemingly adorable. The serious ~~cursed~~ one, the optimistic sunshine one, and the sarcastic firey one. Prides of their village, set to protect their people from harm.

- Illeka is the best in the village when it comes to physical fights. Trusty halberd, and a keen shot with a bow, they’ve never lost a sparring match on that front. Their personality is offputting to some, there’s a rumour that they’ve never cried. The easiest of jokes, and the vilest of insults don’t spark much reaction from them— except in the presence and topic of their family, Kala, and Talako. But otherwise, the story goes that the cursed kid doesn’t have a soul, and hence, no morality or emotions.

- When they train with Talako and Kala, they never back down, if only out of respect, Illeka wouldn’t want to embarrass them with pity. Talako always laughs at his inevitable defeat, though he tries nonetheless. He promises that one day he’ll be strong enough to beat them.

- Talako is a pleasant soul, but has an nack for adventure and a hint of chaos. He prefers to dual wield daggers, and on occasion a short sword or two. He’s great with the blade, loves the thrill of the fight, but is more skilled with cooking and physical healing and remedies. He’s always the one encouraging fun celebratory hang outs at the tavern, with his two closest friends after a day of guarding the village. Kala always sides with him, and Illeka typical gives in after at least putting on a show of reluctance. He humble and happy and loved by most of the village, if only things would last

- Kala is of wit and cunning, she’s typically the first to speak. She’s headstrong and not afraid to insult whoever she displeases, and a bit too arrogant in her abilities. She laughs at all of Talako’s jokes, if perhaps only to spite Illeka’s groans. She’s also the most strategic of her friends, being the “one with a plan” in battle. While she’s a decent wield of two khopesh, Kala’s mostly gifted with magic. She’s got a knack for conjuring, though is well researched in other types as well. Illeka and her are an even match, with decent win ratios on either end. Illeka doesn’t take it that personally, they suck/hate magic after all. Kala’s a bit more competitive tho.. While her power in magic is certainly the best on all of the island, she can’t help but feel salty/jealous for always being overshadowed by Illeka’s feats, since the people prefer/understand the physical over the magic.

- Oh, and she was born on day after the Day of Living Fire, according to her parents. How lucky.

- In a sense, they’re all a bit of an outcast. Kala the fiery independent one, a bit sidecasted for prefering magic over steel. Talako the weird orphan, for being a chirpy, happy boi, which is a bit annoying for some. And Illeka…well lets just say their situation isn’t going to be improving

- One year, Illeka’s family is expecting more kids, twin sisters at that! It’s the most excited anyone’s ever seen Illeka, thought perhaps that’s not the right word… They’ve still got their usual demeanor, but they did spend nearly a week crocheting little baby hats and tunics and scarves. They threatened to kill their brother if they told anyone, although Zekk was allowed to let it slip to Tal and Kala

- [They are absurdly good at crochet btw. They never do it anymore to try and maintain their “reputation,” but their family will never forget the time they crafted matching blankets and hats to win a little competition in their home town.]

- Then the Day of Living Fire arrives for that year. Theres a little celebration for Illeka’s birthday, before moving on to other activities.

- The twins die that night.

- The village was in a bit of shock…and rumours grow considering the timing of it. The mysterious circumstance of it…well it does turn the heads of even some of the less-superstitious. The rumours, the death, the silent thought that perhaps that cursed bird caused some babies’ death, Illeka endured it.

- Years later would it get worse.

- Illeka is still publically respected at this point, weird rumours sure, but try telling that to the edge of her halberd. Their mother had made the twin’s shrine, but they say Illeka didn’t visit that often. Talako was always by their side, trying to help them, which was always appreciated, even when they tried to hide it.

- Kala was busy in the library these days.

- Zekk had started a family by now, a little baby birb named Mili hatched into the world.  Illeka would often steal her away for little cuddles when they (thought) no one was looking. Zekk would jest that they had to fight for the right to hold his own kid. Kala would also occasionally tease them about it, though Tal was mostly happy to see them in better spirits

- Then, another Day of Living Fire.

- Talako and Illeka were usually on guard duty together, the northern patrol by the village edge. But tal was still a bit worried about his friend’s state of mind, he’s not sure he’d even seen them mourn. He pushes for Illeka to take the day off, it’s technically their birthday after all, plus they can pay their respected at the shrines and attend the festivities and do the ceremonies and all that. Illeka denies it, brushing it off like they always do.

- Soon, their nightly patrol begins, and Illeka is about to set off to met up with Talako, but Kala intercepts. She has a talk with them, similar to that of Talako’s, but with…more well crafted and laced words. It’s nearly the same message that Talako tried to tell them, “It’ll be healthy for you, visit the shrines, be with your family, maybe brush off some rumours in the process.” Illeka nearly denies again, joking that Talako would get afraid of the dark if they didn’t show up. But Kala interjects, stating that she’s already made plans to take the patrol that nigth with Tal. Trusting their friends to be safe in each others care, Illeka relents and takes the day off.

- …yeah. so

- perhaps you can see where this is going.

- Kala’s jealousy had been growing over the years. Not only was she being shadowed by Illeka and their non magic ways, but it was irritating even more that all the talk about magic in the town was not of her exceptional abilties, but of stupid rumours and non-existent evil curses. If the people wanted show, she’d give them a show

- This mindset made her spars with Illeka a bit more personal as of late, getting it in her head that she needed to get stronger, strong enough to best Illeka with ease. Strong enough so that there would be no question who was the best warrior on the island, magic, bows, halberds, or no.

- The library had many forgotten books that she had been studying. Conjuring, rituals, illusions, necromancy. It was all…beautiful. Kala soaked in every word, sometimes berating the bookkeeper offhandedly for not keeping them in the best condition

- In her research she eventually found a beast. A..thing, a demon? A monster, the specifics weren’t there, but the gist of it was, if you had the courage to summon it, it would grant you the knowledge for attaining anything you desired. All it asked in return was…to eat some people.

- But not just any people mind you! Supposedly the ritual only worked for the people with the greatest of ambitions, willing to sacrifice the lives of people they might care about. The sacrifices had to be of someone with great trust and bond with the person.

- Kala’s parents disappeared that day, a few feathers laid about, but there was no blood.

- Near the northern border, by a open field, a weird circle dripped the grass red

- Talako waited by the village edge, ready to fly off with their patrol partner when they arrived. When Kala greeted him, he was a bit surprised, but happy when she explained that Illeka had gone off back to town.

- Indeed Illeka was with their family now, as the sun started to set. Occasionally, a passerby would give them a weird glance before walking swiftly away.

- Somewhere in the northern border, a warrior is knocked unconcious, and dragged upon a blood red pattern

- Illeka is by her sisters’ shrine. For the sliver of a moment, they contemplate crying.

- Then an explosion is heard off in the distance

- Talako was wide awake at this point, although his wings being pinned to his sides wasn’t that helpful considering there was a giant, *giant* dark monster in front of him.

- Kala lets off a final remark, saying it was for his own good. The death would be swifter if he didn’t squirm.

- He whipped back at her, glaring with a fire she hasn’t seen before. He calls her a coward for tricking Illeka, a coward for kill their parents, a coward for not even giving him the decency to fight for his life.

- She nearly smiles at the last remark. “Fine.” She tosses him his blades. “You were never much of a warrior anyway.”

- Illeka was flying towards the booming sound at full speed, nearly knocking over their family and other mourning, people in the process. A few others had tried to slow them down, claiming they should suit of better first, before confronting whatever had been the source of the explosion. Illeka didn’t listen.

- They barely had time to grab a weapon, before approaching the northern border. After gracing the crests of the hill tops, they finally saw it. A giant demonic beast, snapping it’s jaws against a flying dash of black feathers, Talako.

- Illeka called out to him, nearly dashing off into the air again, but they stopped when they spotted Kala, standing idlely by next to her.

- Before they could even speak, before they could even question why she was acting so nonchalantly while their best friend was fighting for their life against an evil monstrosity, Kala shook her head and spoke. “You always have to ruin my fun, don’t you?” She struck a magic blow and Illeka, square in the chest.

- It knocked them to the ground, but they got up, setting their halberd and pointing it at them.

- Then insert some dramatic scene where Kala is like “you’re so selfish, hogging all the attention, thinking you’re better than me, but today I’m gonna finally best you mwahaha” and Illeka is like “wtf why did you do this? I thought we were friends? I trusted you?? the fuck? also talako is our friend!!?” and then its “yeah thats right I manipulated your stupid feelings to gain the upperhand. you’re super pathetic honestly for falling for it. anyhow yeah talako will probably die, i tried to give him the luxary of a swift death but he wouldn’t listen, so now he’s probably gonna get brutally slayed lol” and illeka is all “I’ll kill you” and kala is “no u. This whole thing is gonna give me so much power no ones gonna question me again” and then they fight each other

- The duel is nearly a draw, Kala’s magical ability is certainly is certainly stronger, but she’s not as all powerful without that knowledge from the demon monster guy that needs to eat his meal. Illeka is fighting with all theyve got, but all they brought was a halberd, but they are very fueled by rage and spite so it’s still an even match. Illeka eventually lands a blow that’s got Kala bleeding severely, but Kala pretty much almost kills them with a direct attack. Kala’s too weak to finish the job, plus those other guards have finally started to fly and approach in the distance, so she flys off. Illeka finally slips into unconsciousness.

- When they wake up, it’s almost sunrise. Their mom is shaking them awake, part of the party that was investigating the explosion that summoned the beast. Illeka bolts up, they’re still in the field were they had fought Kala, but she and the beast are no where to be seen.

- They run off, trying to find Talako, and ho boy do they find him alright. His body is crumpled by some rocks, his wing nearly ripped clean off, theres so much blood, even a warrior like Illeka can hardly bare it. Some small bit of hope in their head thinks that he might still be alive, and they listen to his chest to see if he’s still breathing.

- His eyes flicker once at Illeka, his chest rises, then falls for the last time.

- Illeka cries.

- Then, still pretty wounded and tired, they collapse again

- The days following are living hell. Kala hasn’t been found, and their her parent’s [bodies]. The rumours are creeping as ever, at the coincidence of Illeka and this disaster. They spend nearly a weak in bed at home, recovering physically, thought probably not mentally.

- As soon as they’ve fully recovered, Illeka’s mind is set. They are going to leave, no more warrior/village protection for them. They’re going to travel far off, train and hone their skills in combat, and find and kill Kala.

- Their family is opposed to this at first, but in the end nothing they say changes Illeka’s mind.

- In a sense, there was another, unspoken reason Illeka was leaving the islands. They didn’t want to hurt anyone else.

- Hell, the rhetoric is even stronger down the line, concerning the fate of poor Mili. Illeka has given in and accepted it, they are cursed to cause pain to the people they care about. [It’s basically that trope of the character isn’t actually cursed but they believe they’re cursed] Illeka will stay away, and go it alone for as long as they can. Then once the deed is done, once they draw Kala’s corpse across the mud, they’ll probably fly off somewhere far to die, before anyone else gets hurt. It’s probably best for their family never to see them again.

- - - - - - 

Wow you did it, you made it through the super angsty self-indulgent backstory congrats. Illeka is my lil baby and I love them and I’ve gonna send them on a revenge quest and then they were gonna have a cool character arc probably about learning to grieve and have self worth and all that and to actually allow themselves to show emotions for once in their lives. That’s the general plan I had in my head anyhow

But you know what my dm thought?

They were like how about mORE ANGSt

Fucking shit you not, session three of the campaign, I’m heading back to birb island because of circumstances, and I’m getting supplies from my blacksmith dad and showing off this sword that says “fuck” a lot that I got from a dungeon that took a selkie’s soul which they gave up willingly in exchange for fire hair...long story

but THEN I meet up with my bro Zekk and it’s like “wassup bro just passing through” but then I find out that Talako’s shrine thing was DESTORYED by some unknown entity and that’s very not good because spirituality and all that

and also I find Mili and they’re a cute lil toddler birb now aww it’s so great hope nothing happens to them because I sure do have enough emotional traume to burden right now. anyhow due to CIRCUMSTANCES our only lead to the thing that destroyed Talako’s shrine is 1) a delinquent named Chesio [that our party nicknamed cherrio because the GM misspelled it the first time i think] who apparently was Talako’s shitty cousin and his only living relative who could build his shrine and 2) the destruction of the shrine lines up with a period of time where Mili went missing but its ok she came back so her parents were like “chill we gucci”

Our party decides we should go down the Mili lead [because I accidentally knocked Cherrio i mean Chesio to near death with a crit roll with my halberd so they’re in the infirmary now but it’s really not my fault that they triggered my emotional trauma by mentioning how I keep running away from grief and never staying around to confront it it’s fiiiiiiiiiiiiine] so we stop by Zekk’s house and we’re like “hey so remember when you disappeared for like a week where did you go, and then mili was like “oh it’s in this cavern that no one knows about and I can’t really give you the directions but I can lead you there if you take me with you” in which I then glare at the GM for this obvious attempt to force us to take Mili with us to put her in danger and apparently I was the ONLY one who cared about this because everyone else in the party was ready to adopt this birb child, and Zekk was like “sure take the kiddy harness” so here I am, watching my niece run around in a kiddy harness that’s also attached to me, while my Chaotic neutral party someone gets grilled cheese sandwiches in the background

Badabing, badaboom, we come to some crystal caverns. while I, being one of the only members of the party with morals other than one chaotic good dragonborn, am watching the selkie, halfoot, and elf girl steal a bunch of crystals, Mili fucking DISAPPEARS the fucking KIDDY HARNESS fucking NOT GOOD she FCUKING SLIPPED OUT AND SHES GONE AND IM FREAKING OUT 

after about an hour or two of searching through the deeper parts of the cavern and tunnel and also fighting a minotaur and discovering an abandoned arena and a cleric, long story. We find Mili fucking laying on A NECROMANCER’S RITUAL CIRCLE WHAT THE FU- 

I pull a “I don’t hesitate bitch” on the hooded dude that’s hovering and chanting shit. He’s dead, it’s all swell. Saved the day, the evil’s dead. Mili’s fine she can go back to being a cute lil baby who loves shiny rocks and-

oh wAIT actually Mili is still transformed into a demonic monster and the necromancer dude was actually in the middle of completing a ritual to bring her back to life after he killed her a few times

So turns out, necromancer dead dude was hired by a mysterious someone, to steal something from Talako’s shrine, and to destroy any evidence. Turns out, his methodology for doing so was to kidnap some birb kid who had the misfortune of wander too close, killing them, turning them into some demonic monster that does their bidding, using that monster to steal and ruin some shit, and then when the day’s done he turns them back like nothing happened. Sure do wish he was alive to redo that last part

I’m freaking out, the party’s freaking out, that sword from earlier is cursing to high heaven for no apparent reason. Cleric unhelpfully remarks how it was a bad idea that we impulsively killed the evil dude bro, yes wow thank you for the help

Eventually everything’s fine. After a few round of shouting “NO ONE TOUCH MY FUCKING NIECE OR YOU DIE” after said demonic niece is kinda mindlessly attacking everyone, we eventually do some good ol blunt force trauma and a bit of magic and BOOM. Mili’s back. Although they do have permanent black ritual markings on them but its fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinee (its not)

We find a note on necromancer dude bro that his employer was from another island, so that’s a lead yay Find Out Next SessionTM but at this point I really don’t care as I’ve already started tying Mili to my chest and walking back to the village

I go back to Zekk’s house, hand off Mili, explain everything that happened, give a super heart feel apology about how I pretty much killed Mili (even though I really didn’t but also as we all know Illeka is an angsty birb who’s steadfast in the idea that their existence hurts everyone they love so yay <3) and then I leave as fast as I can before anyone can protest sure was nice visiting my family after i’ve been away for a few months sure am glad that my inner thoughts about staying away weren’t justified whatsoever hmmmmmm

A session or two passes. We try to assassinate and elf’s evil parents and fail, we get into a Fake Dating Being Someone’s Children Au with a dragon. The selkie keeps trying to date everyone, even thought they’re already married to a necromancer princess and a boat (long story) and inbetween we head to that island that note i got was talking about and turns out it was to a place where all your inner demons and anxieties manifest into reality and taunt you, until youre slowly broken down to the point where the evil dictator on the island can “magic” away your problems with puppet strings. fun for the whole family!

Anyways, after our party fights out evil neon-blue clones, I get a lead from dictator dude that the employer I’m looking for is a Rito that’s good with magic, and was last seen headed east, in the same direction we just came from. fun.a

So I’m kinda low on leads, other than the fact that theres a magic school in the east, but in between we have to deal with the fact that husboat (again, the boat that is married to the selkie who is also our entire party’s form of transportation across the ocean. wait a sec did I mention that we weren’t in Hyrule? We’re not in Hyrule, this is a flooded land with a bunch of islands. Think wind waker) was being chased by pirates. also these pirates were the ones that raised the selkie, and also they kinda also slaughtered an entire island of halffoots in their time with the pirates, and also that island was the one that the halffoot in our party grew up in. So basically that’s some cool tension and drama. Anyhow, back to moi

One talk about how “no we cannot kidnap aNOTHER priest” to the selkie and elf later... magic school! Magic school is pretentious and I hate it. Everythings glowy, they don’t allow you to fly over the gates. There’s puffy noble middle aged men and children in bedazzled cloaks. There’s magic in the air and I swear I would choke and die on the glitter and rainbows of it all. 

Half the party is off getting into cloak fashion, I head off with my dragonborn friend Ness because highfive! We’re the only one’s with morals in this party! Morality pals! (This is saying something considering I am true neutral and she’s chaotic good but we might as well be clerics in this party...)

My morality pal and I and hanging around, then we catch word that there’s this transfer student that no one has seen in a while and “oh I wonder where she could be” and all that jazz from other students. Mortality pals are like “ok let’s go look for her” so we drag the rest of the party off of their larceny spree and look around.

Eventually, after I spot a tattered cloak roaming the halls that matches the description of the gossip, we find the transfer student.

TURNS OUT (unsurprisingly honestly given the way the dm framed stuff) this transfer student is someone I know. She’s standing there, in the middle of the room, preparing to do some ritual or something. She’s standing there, my life purpose, my one and only goal, literally the only reason I’m still going in life, my arch nemesis, my target, my mortal fucking enemy. It’s Kala.

Ness sees a demon dog in the background and says hi, ruining our element of surprise, but to be fair, she doesn’t know it’s Kala. 

Kala whips around from her table thing. We make eye contact. Her face suddenly shift from confusion to surprise to bewilderment to shock to happiness. 

Happiness.

“Illeka I thought you were dead!” Kala runs towards me, but I’m too shocked to move.

She’s smiling. It’s not sadistic, it’s not...harmful, it’s just genuine joy. For a moment I thought I saw a tear in her eye. 

Kala hugs me for a long moment, before letting go. “So how did you survive?”

...

In my head I’m thinking, “oh you fuck face”

THE. AUDACITY. OF. THIS. BITCH. 

“HOWD I SURVIVE” UH NO THANKS TO YOU FOR ALMOST KILLING ME FOR YOUR STUPID RITUAL WHATEVER THAT KILLED TALAKO WTFFF

ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO PULL THE SAME TRICK AGAIN??? GONNA PRETEND TO BE ALL SENTIMENTAL AND NICE JUST TO TRY AND KILL ME LATER ON? HA OK OK

how about instead, I do the one good thing, the one worthwhile thing I can do in my entire life...just one simple course of action that might hope to make up for the mountain of regret that is my entire existence. 

I am finally going to kill you.

Kala’s staring at me, eyes curious, head tilted as if all she ever did was ask what I had for brunch. 

I blink once, and my neutral expression, faintly coated with shock morphs into determination.

I roll for initiative. 

- - - - - - 

It’s 1am. 

So have a cliffhanger, kinda. 

If anyone bothers to read this far, congrats! Your reward is me being lazy. I’ll tell you what happened sometime tomorrow if anyone really wants to know :P Long story short, it doesn’t end how I, and therefore probably you, would except. 

[luv4fandoms]

Laying Claim (Castiel x Witch!Reader)

@ladyofhellhounds

So with that in mind, this is what my brain came up with, idk why XD, I hope you like it 😊

(Also guys, my mom and I finally got to the Godstiel part of Spn I've heard so much about, and pretty much our reaction was the same, just "oh sweety, no, what are you doing?)

Word count: 2,476

Pairings: Castiel x Reader

Warnings: Cussing, Demons being asshole, unknown claiming? Fluffly Cas, Angry Cas

Today's the day! The anniversary of when you first joined the Winchesters and their guardian angel one year ago. You had met when a coven in your town had started killing people, you were going to find out for yourself but...Well after all, if they wanted to do the dirty work of searching, why not let them?

Though you still did some digging of your own after you found a hex bag in your gutter, silly little girls, just a bunch of soccer moms who thought Harry Potter was real. Needless to say the demon they had sold their souls to at their little slumber party wasn't the type to give them back, and with a little help from one of your spells, the pieces fell right into place for the Winchesters to slay the demon...

Only problem was the bitch knew about you, and used her last breath to spill the beans, so you really weren't surprised when the trio came barging up to your house. The two boys seemed to want nothing more than your head on a platter as well, thinking you were linked to the coven, but the third, the third simply stared at you, seemingly trying to decipher you as well as commit you to memory. It wasn't hard to know what he was, the gift of sight as your grandmother called it, allowed you to see the large black wigs that rose behind him.

'Interesting' you had thought, remembering everything you had ever read about angels.

"Tell you what" you spoke, stopping the argument the boys were having.

"Have your little friend here read my mind, or memories, which ever he prefers, and see that I have never harmed anyone" the boys looked to the angel who seemed to have broken out of the trance he was under at the sound of your voice.

"Cas?" The shorter man asked, to which 'Cas' simply nodded and made his way over to you, he lifted his fingers, placing two on your forehead while closing his eyes, a moment later he opened them and nodded at the boys.

"She's telling the truth, she hasn't hurt anyone, she actually helps people, and was a target of the coven herself" he told them.

"See? I told you, now, would you care to join me for some tea?" You asked, eyes never leaving his blue ones, oh you could get lost in those babies.

"I even have pie" you added with a smile as you finally turned to the other two.

 That had been the first time you had a civil conversation with the trio; Sam and Dean, two orphan hunters following in Daddy's footsteps. And Castiel, the angel who decided to fight his own kind to protect humanity, interesting. You offered your services should the boys ever need it, figuring they would never take you up on it, but hoping to be able to see the stoic angel once more, and low and behold...

They called. For almost a year now you had been helping them, being a researcher, going with them on cases, even using your magic to take down baddies. The work made your feel alive, but not as alive as when Cas would come around. Something about the angel's presence alone makes your body feel electrified, and when his piercing blue orbs met yours you swore your heart stopped. Lately though, he started treating you like a child who was incapable of keeping herself safe.

The first time was while you were helping the boys with some demons, a reason for Cas to be present, and you hadn't thought much past trying to slow down your heart rate when he grabbed you and pulled you to his chest, shielding your eyes as he let out a blinding light that killed them all.

The second time though, you had been against a neat of vamps, one which you and the boys were handling just find, but just as you were about to drop the vamp that was advancing towards you, a silver blade pierced it's neck, quickly taking it's head, and when it fell it revealed Cas standing behind it. He stated that he needed to speak with Dean and Sam about something, so that is why he located you all, but you began to wonder when you were the first one he healed, and he stood extra close to you as he spoke.

The third time you started to grow annoyed. You were just fine by yourself, could handle yourself against the werewolf, and in your opinion, kicking ass. Sure you had taken a few scratches, and your arm hurt like hell from the deep claw marks, but you held your ground...And then right as you were about to give the killing blow with your magic, that all too familiar angel blade made an appearance once more.

"What the hell Cas that was my kill!" You told him, less angry about the fact that he finished the fight and more about the fact that he had done it so often recently. 

"You're injured" he simply stated.

"So? I was still kicking its ass!" You defended as he walked over to you and healed you, causing you to groan and walk away from the confused angel.

The final straw had been tonight, the whole day throughout the hunt for a pack of demons who had intel on Lucifer, the boys and you had been in a somewhat good mood after you had bought them breakfast and explained the anniversary. The hunt had gone well, you found the demons, killed all but one and was grilling it for information. It was a tough nut to crack, even an exorcism didn't scare it. 

"We're not getting anywhere, let me try" you told them, causing Dean to immediately shake his head.

"Hell no, I'm not letting you near that thing alone"

"Funny, you say that like you can stop me" you stated while looking over at him, there was a silent stare before you sighed

"Just five minutes Dean, I promise you I'll be fine" before Dean could even open his mouth Sam spoke in your defence

"She's right Dean, and besides, he's in the trap, what can he do?" 

Dean was silent for a moment before his eyes met yours again.

"Fine, but five minutes is all you got" nodding, you made your way back into the room. 

"Ok buddy, here's how it's gonna go down" you started as you stood in front of him, but he only laughed while looking around.

"Boy toys now coming?" He asked

"Sorry pal, just you and me, now you're gonna-"

"You know I'm surprised your mate leaves you alone with them, he must trust you a lot, or he's an idiot"

"What the hell are you even talking about?" You asked, confused as to why he would state you have a "mate"

"Oh….Oh you don't know" he started laughing hysterically.

"Shut it!" You yelled watching as his laughter died down, but the smirk stayed.

"Sweety, you reek of him. His sent his all over you. Desperate protectiveness, longing, it's enough to make me gag, the best part is that he did this without you even knowing. A do not touch sign to anyone else, a claim on you, really that's horrible, and I'm a demon" he laughed again, while you digest the information, something had laid a claim on you? You felt like you needed a shower thinking that it could be any of the creatures you encountered in your year with the boys. 

"You know though, I'm not surprised you didn't know" it stated, causing you to look at it once more.

"You're such an idiot" and with that he lunged at you, knocking you back into the wall and knocking the air from your lungs. You were pretty sure you heard your shoulder pop while your vision blacked out for a moment. When you looked around you noticed the slow steady drip of water from a nearby pipe that had washed away part of the devil's trap, before your eyes were brought back to the demon's face as he straddled you, leaning in and taking a deep breath.

"I wonder how he would like it...If I laid my own claim to you" he smirked, and you tried to push him off as he leaned down, him somehow over powering your magic, but just as he was about to reach your neck, his weight disappeared from you and a crash was heard from the other side of the room. 

"W-wait I-I didn't know!" It started to plead as you watched Castiel slowly walk towards him.

"I didn't know she belonged to an angel I swear!" He pleaded again.

'Belonged to…' your mind started to remember little things that happened these past couple of months. Cas giving you his coat when you stood outside watching the boys do a salt and burn, Cas sitting next to your while you explained your favorite shows to him, by the end of the night you would be leaning against him and his arm would be on the back of the couch, fingers lightly resting on your shoulder. Cas listening to your music with you from your ipod in the back of the impala despite the fact he could easily poof to the location. And then there was Cas always swooping in when you were fighting things...did Cas...Lay claim to you?

You watched as he easily got the information and killed the demon, only then noticing that the boys had been pounding on the door trying to get in, upon the demon's death, it unlocked and they rushed into the room. 

"Y/N!" Dean started but Cas was quick to cut him off.

"Why were you not with her?" His voice rising slightly, the only indication besides the fire still burning in his eyes that he was pissed.

"We figured she" Sam started, but was also cut off by Cas.

"That she what? Was your bait to get information? You put her in danger!" A light blew out in the room.

"And we told her" Dean tried

"And you know she would not listen! You should have been in her presence at all times!" Another light, the bright flash momentarily illuminating the shadow of Cas's wings, oh, he was very pissed.

"Cas" you started

"This is exactly why I have to keep-"

"CAS!" You yelled, turning the room silent as you stood, grabbing your arm that you could clearly tell was broken.

"I came here alone of my own accord, they didn't want me to, but I did it anyways, it's not their fault"

"They should have protected you" he started, coming forward to heal your wounds, his eyes showed a different story, and in that moment you knew what he was really trying to say.

'I should have protected you'

"We need to talk by the way" you stated, looking at the boys then him.

"Alone" with a nod he grabbed your hand.

"I'll take her back to the hotel" he told the boys, and in a blink, you stood in your hotel room. You let go of his hand, making your way over to the bed and sat down, Cas didn't move as he stared at the carpet.

"Cas did you…."you started before realizing that this was going to be really embarrassing to ask.

"Did you ...Lay claim to me?" you asked, not meeting his gaze when you saw him look at you from the corner of your eye.

"...Not...Fully" he spoke after a moment, this caused you to look at him.

"What does that even mean?" You gave a short laughed and watched as he sighed before coming to sit next to you. 

"Y/N I...I have feeling for you...Ones that someone would only have in the presence of a potential mate" he states turning to look at you.

"Wow sweety we gotta get you into now days language" you said with a chuckle, before adding.

"So..You have feelings for me?"

"Yes, I thought it was wise to push them away at first, you would be in danger if anyone after me, found you. But as time went on I found them...Harder to repress, and I found myself claiming you before I even realized it" He states, looking down as if weighted by shame.

"We have different versions of claiming"you laugh, thinking back to what the demon had said

"He said I smelled like you" Cas nodded, still not meeting your eyes.

"It's the first stage of claiming someone, we cover them in our scent, it's not perceivable to your senses, but to other beings it lets them know that you belong to someone" he explained, "So every time you sat next to me or gave me your coat?" He nodded, before adding.

"My grace also leaves behind a scent" he added.

"Your grace? Do you...Use it often?" You asked.

"To protect you yes" He nodded

"So this was why you have been jumping in front of monsters for me?" You asked, again he nodded.

"You know I can take care of myself" you smiled

"But it's my job to protect you" he stated, finally meeting your gaze.

"Because you're my mate?" You asked with a laugh, but noticed his cheeks darken at your words.

"I'm not your mate…"

"Yet" You smirked when he looked at you with wide eyes.

"I have feelings for you that someone would only have in the presence of a potential mate" you smiled, watching as he scanned your eyes for any sign that you were untruthful.

"But I can still take care of myself" to laughed.

"But It's my-"

"Job to protect me, tell you what, if it's your job to protect me, than it's my job to protect you" you told him as you leaned in, watching his confused expression as you pressed your lips against his, they were just as soft as you always imagined they would be, and your hand came up to cup his face, his stubble lightly scratching your palm as you felt his hand rest against your hip. You pulled away and looked into his eyes, the striking blue swallowed by black pupils. 

"As your mate" you smiled, watching as a smile spread across his lips.

"So...if putting your scent on me is the first stage...what are the other stages of..Laying claim to a mate?" You asked with a smirk, watching as his smile turned playful.

"There are a lot of stages, it could take all night" he replied.

"Well, guess we better get started" you spoke before pulling him down for another kiss, you were in for a long, blissful night with your new mate. Happy anniversary to you.

Hope everyone enjoyed it! Let me know what you think.

[bookdragonlibrary]

Halloween

“Hey Ed! Did you choose your costume already?”

“Not yet. But I think you might have an idea, amigo.”

“Duh! I have the idea since summer. Wanna hear it?”

“I’m all ears.”

“Did you watch the Mysterious City of Gold?”

“No, I see where you’re going and no. Besides, it’s not a couple idea?” 

“What do you mean? They are best friends.”

“I’m pretty sure they were... Wait, who are you talking about?

“Esteban and Tao! You already have the hair! Plus it would be really crash for Taos’ peer councelor to come as Tao, don’t you think?”

“My... hair?”

He tugges at a curl without thinking. When he was younger, he could spend hours trying to straitghten it, not hesitating to pull it hard with a brush. Not like it worked anyway...

“Yeah, they’re so crash, amigo!”

Ed bites his cheek to not blush, but he’s sure he failed.

“And we ask Tye to dress as Zia, I presume?” He jokes to hide it, pushing the attention somewhere else.

But he cannot stop himself for imagining his friend in that outfit and a light blush comes on his cheek. He take his composure back, hoping that his dark skin had hidden it. Wasn’t his best idea.

“Do you think he would accept?”

Bart didn’t seem to have noticed. 

“This was sarcasm, amigo”, Ed replies with a smile.

“Ah. It’s Zia? I thought it was Tia... That would have been even funnier.”

“I heard the new season was in Japan, so maybe Sam could find a cosplay too. Maybe Tye would come along if Asami does it.”

Bart cocks his head on the side and Ed explains this new retro concept. He doesn’t need patience just for Bart’s personality but also for his lack of knowledge of the present, even if he learnt a lot since he arrived, but most of it weren’t useful for daily conversation as his special interests were often about facts, science or even art and litterature. 

“Bart, why... why didn’t you ask to Jaime for this?”

“Why would I? Blue doesn’t have Tao’s hair. Plus he does a duo costume with Traci this year. That would be weird if we do a trio costume, right?” he adds with a sad smile.

Ed doesn’t know Traci well, but he knows from Tye they are going out since summer as all the Team and the Runaways spent time together, hanging around all over the country thanks to the Zetatube and also to his dad giving acess to Sam, Tye and him. So he could go to Mount Justice beach and still be on time for dinner in Taos. Sometimes he loves his papá’s technology even if it has to bring him away and take his time.

Jaime and Traci did spend a lot of time together with their new love slowly blooming, didn’t realise sometimes they let their friends behind. Cassie was fine and spent more time with the other girls of the squad. But Bart was all alone and so used to be clinged to Jaime he wasn’t really close with the other members. He was close to Gar but he had to leave the Team months ago. Ed knows Bart could be shy when he’s in a new environment or with new people. And people he barely talked to was as new for him than a stranger. Hopefully Virgil was there and bring him along with his times out with Ed. 

The first time, he was taken aback when he saw his crush appear out of nowhere with Virgil behind and his soft knowing smile, as if he didn’t know what he was doing. Bart was fidgeting all the time, unsure if he had a right to be there, afraid of forcing his way in, until Virgil’s kindness and himself being chill made him at ease. Sometimes Virgil and Bart talked about nerd stuffs he barely undersands but he ignores if it’s because of lack of vocabulary with the language barrier or his own lack of knowledge. Virgil’s clear explanations and Bart’s ramblings helped him so he wasn’t completely lost about the subject. He never saw Bart like this, all serious. No, he was still chill as if he was talking about the weather and not electronical materials and he was still rambling as usual. But it’s all the details he knew about a difficult topic which amazed Ed. So he just listened during most part of the conversation but Bart was still aware of his presence as he explains something whenever Ed frowned at a word or a concept and that made his stomach tighten. Virgil remained silent during this moments and Ed was glad to him for that. 

“Yeah, fine. Whatever. I didn’t have any idea anyway...” Ed finally say, trying to not be too overwhelmed. But maybe it sounded too cold instead?

“Crash!” 

Preparing his costume wasn’t complicated. It was ready pretty fast. Even if Ed was so excited for this day to come, he doesn’t bring his hopes too high. That would be just two friends hanging around at a party. Two single friends, sure. Nothing more.

As he slowly spent more and more time with Bart, Virgil step backward, giving them moments just the two of them. He is closer to Cassie now. With the Team splending in two parts, Cassie was also invited to the Runaways hanging out to not be left behind and alone. And it wasn’t the Team and the Runaways anymore, but one group of friends. Sam became close to Traci thanks to the double dates with Tye and Jaime. Ed was happy for her; she had difficulties to make friends outside the Runaways, certainly because of the language and culture barriers. Traci being half Asian was the bridge she needed.  

The party is tonight. Ed cannot really think about it with all the preparatives he still needs to do. Of course, Tye had refused to come in a Zia’s outfit even if Sam found the idea really cool. But Ed is unsure if he is glad it would be just Bart and him or stressed to not have a third person to not make it awkward. Nobody discussed about the closeness of Bart and Jaime as everyone knows how Bart is: clingy, touchy and a hugger monster and also because they know how much they had to go through together. But how would they react to Bart and him being close? During all the Reach invasion, no trauma brings them together, not in the War World or even in the Reach ship as Ed didn’t know Bart and Gar were in the next room and was barely aware of the other teens around him through the pain. In a way, he relieved it isn’t the trauma or the pain who made them friends, like they were destined to be not matter what. Their friendship is dued to their personalities and not the Reach or being both meta and abducted because of it. He doesn’t want to own this aliens anything. Not even his powers. But still, their friendship is due to normal facts, meaning he could expect “normal” reactions to their closeness. 

He needs to focus on what he’s doing. Like preparing enough food because Bart– Urgh. He went in the kitchen anyway, checking if they would have enough. They have no alcohol beers and cocktails and punch also withtout alcohol, so basically fruit juices, but “cocktail” makes it sound fancier. Especially with a little umbrella in the glass.

When his friends arrive his fears are blown away. With Bart’s entrance, another feeling blooms instead. Bart was really cute in this cosplay. He even created Esteban’s famous necklace with paperboard.

Jaime and Traci have a Disney matching costume as Aladdin and Mulan. Sam was dressed as Haku and Tye as a cowboy, affirming there is nothing more terrifying than colonialism. Ed shares a look with Jaime to decide which one is going to explain it to Bart who frowns. Virgil chose Darui from Naruto and Cassie Sakura from the same universe. Ed thanks him to also took a matching costume with his own best friend. Gar arrives later, transform in a half way between human and animal to look like Michelangelo from TMNT. He was accompanied by Perdita, dressed like Belle, here incognito. Some of her guards are dressed as benevoles helping the Center for the night if anything happens. But he doubts it would be necessary – or even usefull – as Perdita is always surrounded by heroes during the party.

“Ed, mi amigo! You... you don’t wear your costume?” 

And Ed hopes he didn’t imagine the quick sad look on Bart’s face.

“I... I didn’t have a chance to put it on. You know, too much to do. I didn’t see the time passed. But it’s ready in my room. Just give me the time to–” 

He teleports right in his room. He didn’t mean to. He was just too embarassed, blushing too much, wanting to reassure Bart but not doing too much about it either. Now he isn’t sure to put the costume on even if he really wants to, his fears kicking again. Everything is too much. His feelings are a mess, he is overwhelming, completely loss and– He needs to breathe. He needs to tell him, he needs a clear answer, because walking on this string giving him headaches and he wants to stop his hopes before they get too high, before it’s too late to prevent the heartbreak. Or maybe it’s already too late. He doesn’t know. He doesn’t even know what he feels for Bart. Or he wishes it’s true. He wishes he can hide from the truth a little longer, just to be sure he is ready. But he also needs to stop lying to himself: he would never be completely ready for this kind of answer. 

He breathes and put the yellow poncho on. A little part in him still whispers he didn’t imagine things. 

He teleports back in the party and finds his friends nearby. He exhales and walks toward them. 

“Your costume is really crash, Ed!” Virgil complementes, his knowing smile on his lips again.

He would have glare at him to stop if he isn’t blushing already. 

“Edo-kun, you look like the character so much”, Sam approves. “And yellow really suits you.”

“And there’s even a bit of red in it”, Jaime notices.

“Your costume is so crash”, Bart zooms next to him, clinging at his arm. “Where do you buy it?”

“I didn’t. I sewed it mysel–”

He put his mouth shut. Now Bart would probably teasing him because he can sew, a old useless hobby...

“You can sew? This is so crash, amigo! Is there a talent you don’t have?’‘

“I... Uh...”

“Apparently, speaking isn’t one of it”, Tye teases.

Ed rolls his eyes. His friends would be the death of him if Bart’s cuteness doesn’t kill him before. 

“And you, my friend, how did you make your costume?”

“Oh! Grand– I mean Iris bought me regular clothes and helped me costumize it. And Milagro made the necklace! It’s crash, uh? Oh! And she made one for you.”

He reaches in his pocket to give him the present. The necklace was a golden crescent moon to match his golden sun. Ed blushes slighly as he just viewed them as matching love necklaces and quickly push the thought away. 

“Thanks, Bart. But I thought it was Zia wearing the second necklace?”

He smacks himself mentally. He should not have said this.

“It’s not Tao? So moded... I was sure he was him...” 

“It’s ok, I like it”, he reassures while put it on. 

And that’s what enough to make Bart smile again. 

The group talks, mixing with the rescuing teens. Ed is glad to be able to give them something common, to show them they can still have a normal live, powers or not. Some of his friends are dancing, like Traci bringing Jaime on the dance floor with Bart’s help. But the other are shyly stay on the side of the gymnasium. At this picture, he smiles to himself.

But seeing Bart dressed like that, with the same necklace and his usual cuteness, is too much. He walk to the public restroom of the building and put water on his face. 

“Ed, are you ok? I saw you rush in. Are you sick?” 

He turns his face to see Bart. He takes a paper to dry his skin, giving him time to recompose himself and find a good excuse.

“It’s ok. I was just too warm over there, you know, with the crowd. Not really a party type”

Well, half true. The Center opens only few weeks ago so it was pretty empty for now but party was never truely his thing.

When he looks back at his friend, he knows he is doomed: Bart has chocolate all over his lips as he is casually eating a brownie.

“Bart, you have... on your... Just let me help.”

Without thinking about it, Ed takes a new paper, puts some water on it and cleans Bart’s mouth. He really should have think twice  because now he is really close to his lips which are red again and somehow a little shiny with the water. He is lost in his thoughts and at the same time living an out body experience as it moves on its own and kisses Bart.

It is slow and gentle. His lips feels soft under his own. He can still taste the chocolate and ice sugar. He cups his cheek, resting his forehead against his and breathes, finally finding peace in the middle of all the emotions mixing during the night. 

Then panic rises again as he realises what he just did. He steps back.

“Bart, are you ok? Was it ok? I’m sorry, I didn’t–”

Bart’s look makes him stop. He was speechless and his eyes had widened. Ed can’t see if it is because of chock, surprise, fear or disgust. His friend opens his  mouth but looks over his shoulder almost at the same moment. 

“Guys, what is it?” he answers to the comunicator. “Emergency? Yeah, I know, but... Ok, here in a flash.” He looks back at him, as if he realises Ed is still here. “An emergency mission with the Team. Found a new meta facility. I... I have to go.”

Before he can say anything, Bart is gone. 

He screwed up, didn’t he?

When he quits the restroom, Ed wants to talk to Virgil, then remembers he left with the Team too. So he looks for Tye and Sam instead, clutching at his necklace, ignoring if he wants to keep it or tear it. They stay with him, a little away from the party, waiting for him to break in tears or get mad or anything, at least a reaction. But Ed just stay silent, still clutching the pendant.

The Team comes back few hours later with the rescuing metateens. Without the poncho, Ed tries to put a fake smile on his face while welcoming the new students. He avoids Bart’s look as best at he could, not sure what he would discover in his eyes. Tye and Sam joins him, both helping with his work and his feelings. He wants to go see Virgil so much to tell him what happened and ask how Bart was during the mission, his old self or not. But he has responsability first and those kids went on so much more trauma than he did this night. He isn’t a priority right now, no matter how his heart is currently a storm. 

After the welcoming and helping the kids have a room and rest before registration and all the administration work the next day, nobody has the heart for party anymore, tired from the mission. Ed goes to cleaning the room as an automate, his body moving so the mind doesn’t have to think or the heart to feel anymore. 

“Ed?”

With a blank mind, he doesn’t hear it at first. He notice the presence when a hand rests on his forearm. He turns himself to discover Bart, still in his hero costume, with an unsure look.

“Can– can we talk?” 

“You sure you want to talk?”

Bart doesn’t answer. Not with words. He cups his face and kisses him back. Well, with hours delay, certainly. But now, he isn’t afraid anymore of what could come next. Ed frozes an instant, melts in the softness again, taking Bart by the hips. He teleports them on the roof where nobody can see them, interupt them again, where he feels they’re alone in the world. 

“Why? Why did you do this?”

“Freaking out or kissing you?” he chucles nervously, a little out of breath. 

“Both.”

“Ed, I like you. But you don’t like me. You can’t. I’m not what I seem to be. You don’t like a real person. Just a joke.”

“I know you. You’re clever, funny, kind, you care of others. You’re stubborn and determined. Can you dare tell me there’s something wrong on that list? You can’t fake all those.”

“But you don’t know...”

“Your trauma? What you have been trough? It’s ok, you can tell me with time, when you’re ready. I will listen to you, I will confort you and I will still accept and love you after that. I won’t ask for it. I promise. We all have traumas. Heck, Gar said we can’t be true heroes without it, right? I hide sides of myself too, you know.”

Bart is looking at him, his eyes widened as he never sees them. But he can’t place what he sees though. What is hope? Acceptance? Realisation?

He cups his face, pushing him even closer to him, drying the tears forming with his thumbs.

“I know you think noone loves you, that you can’t be loved. I know it’s something you never knew or remembered, that you’re afraid of it. I promise you I do love you. I will show it to you, until you believe me and after.”

Bart bursts into tears, Ed holds him closer. He kisses his forehead, his eyelids, his cheeks, his lips. Bart hides his face in his neck, his scent calming his mind while Ed breathes in his hair, smelling the peach perfume. 

“You know, I was always afraid to hug you.”

“You can do it all the time you want. I don’t mind your crashing hugs”, he smile to his hair.

Bart kisses him again, more passionnate. Ed descends on his jaw, on his neck. He goes slow, doesn’t want to scare him, but still overwhelmed with hapiness and the love he can finally expresses.

“Ed...” Bart moans lightly.

The older boy quickly pushes away.

“You ok? Was it too much?”

“Sorry my skin is really sensitive and your slowliness excites me.”

“Ok, maybe it’s better if I stop.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s ok, don’t apologize.”

Bart hugs him, tears dry and his big smile back on his lips. 

“Oh, Ed?”

“Hm?”

“I lied to you...”

“About what?” 

“I was the one making the necklaces. I was afraid you find that weird.”

“So you have talent in your hands too? Not only the foot?” 

“We can say that.” And Ed can feel his smile against his neck. 

“It’s ok, chiquito. I like it even more.”

“So... Are we boyfriends now?”

“Do you want to?”

The little boy nods against his chest. Ed pets his hair, still can’t processing they had the same size merely a year ago. Bart vibrates in his arm, a quick regular path. The panic rises once more, not quite the same one. 

“Something wrong? Did I–?”

“I’m so happy! You’re my boyfriend now. We’re boyfriends!”

Ed smiles fondly at him, waiting for him to slow down to hold him closer as if he won’t ever let go. And maybe, in a way, it’s true.

“Te amo, novio mio.”

—————

Why I feel is worse than my previous pieces? --’ Sorry for the light angst by the way!

I know Ed is drawn after Spike Spiegel so I wanted to suggest someone new :) 

I totally see Tye casually dropping bombs like that. Was it ok? :/ What do you think of the other costumes? Oh, by the way, does someone know the accurate word for Tao’s “cape” in this show? It’s a poncho or something else?

Thanks to @gegeru I realised I wrote their first cosplay together and kiss for the @zetaflash-week day 1: firsts without even knowing it xD

Day 1 ; Day 2 ; Day 3 ; Day 4 ; Day 5 ; Day 6 ; Day 7

[maraleestuff]

Merlin fic idea

I'm a bit late to this, but I have an idea for a fix-it fanfic that I'll probably never get around to writing

(This idea is aimed at Morgana x Gwen / Merlin x Arthur shippers, but I'll try not to make it too ship themed if I can help it. Disclaimer: I'm writing it as it comes to me, so we'll see what happens)

So imagine:

Arthur survives after Merlin's magic is revealed. (Like maybe he summoned Kilgarrah earlier...)

Mordred and Morgana survive and get a huge redemption arc. (I don't really remember what happened with Mordred, but I think Merlin and Morgana fight one last time after Arthur is injured?)

- Maybe Morgana is able to be reached. There's still a small, good part of her -- only a fraction of who she was years ago, after years of the hate and the fear -- but it's there all the same. Perhaps Merlin reaches Mordred too, to the boy he knew, and all he can do is apologize, which isn't worth much -- but Mordred reaches out to Morgana. Not for Merlin, but because of Morgana, the kind woman he knew all that time ago.

- Morgana has just overpowered Merlin when Mordred reaches her. Reaches that warmth inside all that cold; reminds her of the good, of the briefest glimpse of her childhood before becoming Uther's ward -- before the nightmares, the terrible visions, and her magic --

- It's a distant memory. Hardly tangible. She hesitates on the killing blow to Merlin -- Emrys, her doom -- only briefly.

- Yet long enough for Arthur to promise that he will lift the ban on magic.

- Morgana laughs. It's broken, twisted; she knows how close to death that Arthur is. The promise was empty and hollow.

- But somehow Merlin convinces her. Promises he will do anything if Morgana will help save Arthur's life, even if it meant giving up his magic forever. (They were both born of magic, two sides of the same coin, sure his magic could be connected to Arthur as well?)

- Progress is slow, getting Arthur to the threshold of the Old Religion. And despite the uneasy truce of the three sorcerers, it was really difficult to ignore the years of trying to kill each other. Merlin can't sleep, not with either near a nearly unconscious Arthur. Morgana almost slits Merlin's throat when a twig snaps, and Merlin nearly threw Mordred across a river when he stepped too close to Arthur.

- As it turned out, Arthur was able to be healed the same way that Merlin's magic was restored. It took all of the magic that the trio had, leaving them almost unconscious; Merlin was shocked to wake and find Morgana and Mordred gone, and incredibly relieved to find Arthur alive, breathing, and only slightly irritated at Merlin.

--

Arthur and Merlin return to Camelot, a bit bruised and definitely different. But there is distance between them, noticed by everyone who knew of Arthur's bumbling but earnest and kind servant. (Merlin, despite not being officially relieved of his duties, spends most of his time helping Gaius treat those injured in battle. Strangely, though, once the shock passes, Arthur starts the ground work to lift the ban on magic.)

- As expected, there is disbelief. King Arthur, son of the Uther Pendragon, was suggesting leniency on the practice of sorcery?

- It takes many long sessions of listening to the complaints of Uther's major supporters, the fear and disbelief, before Arthur makes any progress in assuring his people that he wasn't enchanted or being impersonated in any way, and his people were not in danger at the mere mention of magic.

But finally, when the time is right, it's official: magic is no longer outlawed in Camelot. And Merlin, the unassuming, clumsy servant who was always at Arthur's side, was officially the Court Sorcerer/ Wizard/ Warlock of Camelot.

- Naturally, there are many reactions. Disbelief, laughter, anger, some fear, which Arthur is mostly able to stave off after some close calls to some unruly assassins.

- But Merlin is consulted on all magical matters, from concerned citizens to curious children to even aspiring wizards. He helps Arthur figure out the difficulties that came with allowing magic: the loopholes, the limits, and making sure the people abide by it. (Another long process.) Merlin also meets with the Druids often, sometimes with Arthur himself, to assure their safety, sanctuary and assistance. He often takes their council in magical matters, as well as Kilgarrah's, and even learns from them about the history and practices of magic.

- George becomes Arthur's official manservant, but he doesn't complain when Merlin swoops in because it's highly amusing how the servant gets under Merlin's skin. (Plus Merlin is a better servant -- and better company, which Arthur would never admit.) It also makes Merlin more attentive without him realizing it.

--

In the next year after magic is allowed, no one hears much of anything about Morgana or Mordred. There's disappearances of known witchhunters, but otherwise it's as if they disappeared.

- Fate eventually throws Arthur, Merlin, and his knights together with Morgana and Mordred. It's many adventures and many months before they even begin to trust each other. Even then the people of Camelot refuse to trust Morgana, Merlin and Arthur feel about the same, and they come calling for her head.

- It's Gwen, of all people, who stops the execution before it begins. She not naive, though, and would rather not see Morgana again if she didn't have to. But she knew for certain one thing: there had been enough death. Morgana has to live with what she has done and who she has become.

- No one's quite sure what to do with her, but Gwen spends many sleepless nights listening to Arthur just breathe. Morgana played a part in healing him, she knew, but she also played a part in his near death -- both are incredibly hard to ignore. Not to mention the torment Morgana had put her through.

- Drawn to the dungeon, Gwen stands before Morgana's cell. She's not even tempted to free her, even knowing she could do so -- whether leaving Morgana a fugitive or in exile. But Gwen only stares at the woman she used to serve, turned over in her cell, her hair falling back over her partly ratted dress. There were cuffs around her wrists, not to restrain her; they were enchanted to block her magic. It was a touch that no one could really argue with.

- Gwen remembers who she was all those years ago. Morgana, bravely defying Uther, or encouraging Arthur to follow his instincts. Herself quiet, the daughter of a blacksmith. Oh, what the years had brought. How they'd changed so much.

- It was after many of these nights that Morgana finally broke the silence, her voice rough. She demanded to know what Gwen wanted. Despite the time working with Arthur and Merlin (and then disappearing), Gwen hadn't seen much of her. She'd felt ill during Morgana's appeal, but had glimpsed Morgana when the guards took her to the main hall.

- Gwen couldn't bring herself to speak. Not right away. There was too much to say, and she didn't even know if she wanted to try. But after time, she managed.

- Morgana told her that, after leaving Arthur and Merlin, she and Mordred took shelter near the edges of Camelot. She didn't bother killing Merlin or Arthur because she was barely awake when Mordred carried her away. They took shelter in a small, nameless village. Eventually they heard word that magic was allowed in Camelot, from a group of rogue Druids who refused to follow Arthur's rule -- they were afraid of the moment Arthur followed in his father's footsteps.

- They decided to stay with them. The group traveled around the kingdoms, hunting those who had hunted them. In the meantime, Morgana decided what she wanted -- whether she would try to get the throne from Arthur or not. In the end she had been captured while tracking a witchhunter -- one that Arthur and Merlin were trying to protect Camelot's people from. It was Percival who had insisted on bringing her in.

--

Gwen and Morgana slowly make their way into tentative friendship. It's more at the surface at first, and both refuse to let their guard down. But feelings surface in Gwen -- old and new -- which had been pushed down.

Arthur and Merlin also grow closer. It's inevitable with nearly rebuilding Camelot as they know it.

Everyone's in denial. Especially with obvious complications.

--

I'm not really sure where this ends with their relationships. But here's the ideas that I got:

A) Arthur and Merlin "leave" Camelot to live together in Ealdor. Merlin trains a promising apprentice to be the new Court Sorcerer, but is often bombarded for advice through letters or visitors. At the same time, Gwen (rule was turned over to her) and Morgana marry and rule over Camelot together. (I have no idea if it would happen or how, but everyone's gay and happy. Also Gwaine and Lancelot are alive.)

B) Sort of the same, but Arthur and Merlin rule over Camelot while Gwen and Morgana go to live with the Druid nomads.

--

Tl;dr: Everyone lives (ideally), and magic is no longer outlawed.

Note: I'm aware that realistically it would be a lot for anyone, especially Gwen, to trust Morgana again after all she's done. There would be a lot of trial and error, and as much as I love the ship, it couldn't just happen after canon.

As for Murther, they're both pretty much a package deal at this point. Although there would be a lot of Merlin explaining their adventures further, without Arthur at death's door, they'd be even closer through the thick of it. Whether or not they end up romantically involved.

There's a lot I probably didn't think of, but this idea wouldn't leave me alone. Feel free to add on if ya like!! :)

(Also I dont know how to spell Gwen's full name, or the Morgana x Gwen ship name. So.)

[sevenincubistolemyheart]

How would the incubus react if y/n was nearly raped when she was out getting some errands ( or something ) and was attacked by three horny teenagers? The incubus will of course be super angry, but will they go as far as maybe killing??

Warning A/N: This contains triggering content, including rape, violence, and very serious discussions about murder. Do NOT read if you are sensitive to these topics. 

A/N: I know someone very close to me who has experienced rape, and it is a disgusting vile action that no woman or man should ever have to go through. Therefore, I put a lot of thought into this ask and it’s quite lengthy. It’s more a fic than a typical character ask. 

Sorry if the reactions are jumbled a bit! When there’s a line. that’s a time skip, so you may need to jump around!

Thank you for asking this anon, it was a fascinating topic to look at from the eyes of my characters, and I’m honored you trusted me to write such a serious topic.

Seokjin:

Seokjin had told you not to go out late at night without one of them. He’d been terrified something like this would happen to you. And now it had. He’d overheard you fighting with Taehyung earlier so he let you go alone, knowing you needed some time to yourself.

That was a mistake.

The bowl he’d been planning to use to bake cookies crashed to the floor with a loud bang as it no doubt dented. That didn’t concern Seokjin at the moment. What concerned him was the way you were absolutely petrified and in physical pain.

His typically kind eyes narrowed to slits and he dialed an old friends number.

He had to find you. Now. By any means necessary.

When Hoseok came in with you in his arms and he first took in your trembling, shock-ridden form the first thing Jin wanted to do was murder the degenerates that dared to put you in this state…but he knew the other boys had that covered, and right now, you needed him more.

Hoseok gently set you down on your feet and Jin takes over, guiding you through the process of getting you into a shower and leaving once he saw you could stand and move properly. He kept one ear on the bathroom as he retreated to the kitchen to make you soup, knowing your stomach probably couldn’t handle anything else.

He makes quiet conversation with Hoseok about what the others are planning to do and they both wince whenever you let out a particularly pained cry.

Jin’s hand tightens on the wooden spoon he’s stirring with, but he forces himself to calm with difficulty, knowing that in the end, the 3 boys would pay.

Namjoon:

Namjoon hated humanity. He hated it. Hated the way they turned on the closest of friends for sex, money, or power. When he went out to feed, he relished in finding Mortals who hated his kind and tried to hurt them without reason and giving them a reason to hate them.

It made him feel happy, to get revenge for his unjustly tortured brethren, and he’d always found fear particularly appetizing to his palate.

That’s all he wanted to do tonight, and since he refused to do it to you and didn’t want you to see that side of him fully, he ducked out, and began following the immense disgusting desires of a trio of men, intent on making them his meal for tonight, whether they wanted it or not.

The last thing he expected was to find you there, shivering and shaking as you begged the boys to let you go and not to do what they were about to as they bent your arm painfully behind your back.

Namjoon saw red.

He only came back to himself when he registered you screaming his name and tugging on his arm, voice desperate.

“Namjoon! Namjoon please you’re scaring me!!!”

He blinked a few times, and looked down at you, realizing he’d slammed the 3 mongrels against the alley walls with a mere flick of his wrist.

He ignored you, pushing you behind him wordlessly before he approached one of the men pinned, now looking down at Namjoon in terror.

“…You wanna tell me what the fuck you were thinking about doing to this innocent girl?”

The ringleader spoke up from behind him. “Innocent? She’s a filthy monster fucker, she’s anything but innocent. She’s a who-” He cut himself off with a strangled scream before his voice was taken from him as his finger suddenly bent at an unnatural angle causing you to whimper before you were pulled into a warm chest.

“Don’t look.”

Hoseok:

Hoseok was proud as Hell about his marks on you but the sudden sharp pain in his wrist made him remember they also had a very important purpose. When Jin dialed him and Yoongi seconds later, telling him your location, he didn’t even question how he knew. Being the eldest out of all of them Jin has more connections with others of their kind then they do, after all. Plus, he was too worried about you to care currently.

When he found you in the alley, along with Namjoon and 3 men he presumed to be your attackers he pulled you into his arms, and he held you tighter to him as Yoongi arrived seconds after, not wanting you to see the unnatural angle the man’s broken finger was now at. 

“Don’t look.”

Even as the others showed up, you kept drifting back to him and his comfort. He was nothing but kind to you, and he seemed the calmest out of all of them but that was only because he was bottling his emotions so well for you. 

He made sure to not leave your side, even when you left his arms to confront Jimin and Jungkook. He could’ve killed the maknae when he frightened you even more. What was that idiot thinking using his voice when you were already on the edge of breaking down as it was!? He glared him down but sighed and relaxed when he apologized, still miffed, but he understood the youngest’s anger. 

Hoseok carried you home and for once you didn’t even protest too spent mentally, emotionally and physically. He noticed the wind was getting colder but before he could do anything Taehyung took his hoodie off and laid it over you like a blanket. 

Once you were safe in the shower, he and Seokjin made quiet conversation over what they planned to do. 

Yoongi:

Yoongi chuckled as he came out of the darkness, eyes black and draining whatever light remained in the dingy alley.

“Shut your fucking mouth.” He ordered the teen coldy. Taking the choice from him as he instead did it for him. He smirked as he took in the boys silent mouthing for mercy, to not hurt him anymore though he didn’t bother to respond, instead turning to Namjoon when the younger glared at him.

“Oh c'mon Namjoon, no need to hold back. It’s not like they deserve mercy after what they just tried to do.”

Namjoon’s gaze darkened with all he wanted to do but he still shook his head. “…I agree with you. But I don’t want her to be scarred more than she already is.”

Yoongi turned to where you were cradled in Hoseok’s arms, eyes softening as they returned to their normal state momentarily before flickering back to black.

“…I want you to take her home Hoseok. She doesn’t need to see this.”

This caught your attention and you struggled against Hoseok even as he held you back with ease. “No! What are you gonna do?! You can’t hurt them!” You flinched back into Hoseok as Jimin seemed to appear in front of you out of nowhere, eyes also an inky black, but his anger seemed to be directed at you as well, unlike the others.

Jimin:

Jimin was just hanging out at home, playing video games with Jungkook and Taehyung when he felt such an intense rush of fear and panic all at once that it made him gasp and clutch his chest as he dropped his controller. Jungkook and Taehyung looked over at him in worry before they both winced as well.

They shared a look, and one second they were all in the living room, the next they were gone.

Jimin was furious, whoever had made you this frightened would soon be feeling the exact same way if he had anything to say about it.

When he heard you all but beg Yoongi and Namjoon not to hurt them as he arrived with Jungkook and Taehhyung, he immediately lashed out.

“Can’t hurt them? They were going to hurt you are you fucking kidding me?! I’m gonna do a lot worse than hurt them!”

He shouted, his voice booming in the silent alley.

Your eyes teared up at the reminder but you stood up for yourself nonetheless, leaving Hoseok’s embrace as you stepped forward to poke at Jimin’s chest in anger.

“It’s not them I’m fucking worried about you idiot! Did you ever stop to think about what’ll happen to you guys if this ever got out!? I would never forgive myself if any of you were hurt, or arrested because you were protecting me.”

Jimin softened at that, black fading from his eyes as reached out to caress your cheek, and it was only then that he fully took in your form, your messy hair and destroyed clothes clearly showed the men behind him weren’t just planning to hurt you as he’d assumed…they were planning to rape you. His eyes were black again in milliseconds.

He reached this conclusion at the same time as Jungkook and none of the others were fast enough to stop them both from reacting.

Jimin lunged for the other lackey opposite Jungkook but he went in to kill, and would’ve, if Yoongi didn’t manage to grab him and force him to meet his gaze.

“No, you don’t. I’m pissed too..but death would be too quick for these animals. Don’t show them such a kindness.” 

Jimin’s eyes widened in surprise but he mulled it over before nodding. He could tell Yoongi meant what he’d said. He had a plan, and Jimin trusted him, so he reluctantly backed down.

Taehyung:

It was a stupid fight, really. In hindsight, he never should’ve let it escalate to the point it did but he couldn’t help teasing you. You just looked so cute when you were angry, he never thought you’d be genuinely upset at him for not taking you seriously. Still, he played the part and got angry himself since he really didn’t mean anything bad by it.

When you stormed out, he promised himself he’d give you 5 minutes before taking off after you. If you shooed him away, then he’d comply but just follow at a distance, so he could make sure nothing happened.

But then Jungkook and Jimin needed a third player for their video game tournament and he thought you’d be fine…only to realize just how wrong he was when he felt his heart stop. He’d fucked up and when he saw you in that disheveled state, scraps of clothing barely clinging to your body, his eyes widened in horror.

He seemed oddly calm despite the situation but that was only because he was so shocked and guilt was eating him alive. When Jungkook’s true voice came out and you hid your face in his chest in fear Taehyung instinctively circles his arms around you and began to mumble consoling words, feeling you quickly breaking down. 

You were going to start hyperventilating at this rate and that wouldn’t be good for any of them but he somehow managed to calm you down enough to just quietly cry into him. 

You left shortly after and he let Hoseok carry you back, too absorbed in his own thoughts as he tried to fully process all that had occurred. 

He ran a hand through his messy hair and sighed through his nose in frustration. This was all his fault. If he’d just went after you like he intended this never would’ve happened.

Jungkook:

Jungkook would be absolutely livid. He has had to hear these disgusting thoughts from much of the Mortal species, but especially the male populace. It makes him sick, and he’s saved many a woman from being assaulted by picking them up himself.

He doesn’t consider himself a knight in shining armor by any means. He does still have sex with them and feeds, but it’s all he can do. And you can bet the male who dared to have such thoughts about his companion gets threatened if he can find them afterward.

But this time? This time it was personal. They targeted you and he couldn’t have that.

Once he put it together, he dragged the remaining of the two lackeys towards him before the others could react and had his hands wrapped around his neck, sharp teeth bared dangerously as he grinned down at his captive as he tried futilely to fight against his supernatural strength.

Jungkook cooed at the male as he begged him to stop with the little breath he had remaining as Jungkook restored his voice just to hear him beg.

“Aww am I doing something to your body that you don’t want?”

His voice went from sweet to so twisted and genuinely demonic you took a step back in genuine fear. You didn’t even know their voices could become so demented and altogether inhuman.

“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you attacked an innocent woman just to fulfill your sick perversions. Oh, the fun I am going to have with the three of you…”

“Enough.”

Jungkook’s head whipped around and he bared his teeth without thinking at Namjoon who merely hardened his glare.

“I said enough Jungkook. Or do you want to scare her more than you already have?” His voice was cold and stoic and he merely sighed as the man tried to run once Jungkook let him go to look at you, letting Yoongi pin him with his own hand movement.

You were hidden in Taehyung’s chest, trembling violently as Hoseok stood protectively in front of you, staring at Jungkook with clear disapproval in his gaze. 

Jungkook’s eyes didn’t lose their black appearance but he did force his voice to return to normal, knowing Namjoon was right. He shouldn’t do this with you here.

 The last thing he wanted was for you to be scared of him. 

“I’m sorry angel, I just got angry. I won’t do it again.” He apologized, voice gentle even as his fists were clenched. You needed to leave so he could fully take out his quickly rising hatred without fear of scaring you any further. 

“Take her Hoseok. You too, Taehyung. We’ve got these 3.”

Yoongi spoke up then as you peeked out from Taehyung’s grip, clearly about to protest. 

“You have our word we won’t kill them. No matter how badly we want to.”

You relaxed a bit at that, and looked up in surprise as Namjoon walked over and kissed your forehead, a surprisingly gentle action you never would’ve expected from him.

He merely smiled at your bewildered expression. 

“…We’ll be home soon babygirl. I promise.”

With that, you were off.

You don’t know how long you scrubbed at your body for, but when you stopped the skin was red and raw and your eyes burned from how hard you’d cried. If Namjoon hadn’t found you…

You shook your head as you felt the shakes starting up again, clenching your fists as you exited the shower after turning off the water. It didn’t take you long to slip into the big shirt Jin had left for you, and he’d left you a pair of new underwear as well, somehow knowing that you’d never even be able to look at the ones from earlier ever again. 

In fact, your entire outfit was gone, or what was left of it anyway. 

You’d never been more thankful for your close bond thanks to the mark than in that moment. 

You exited the bathroom slowly, sitting numbly at the kitchen table as Jin, Hoseok and Taehyung’s heads all snapped up to watch your movements. 

Jin placed a bowl in front of you and you looked down at it with hesitance shining in your eyes. You’d already thrown up in the shower during your breakdown you really didn’t want to eat anything. 

“Sweetheart, please.” Jin’s voice was gentle and pleading and once you met his gaze you knew he’d got you. 

You sighed, but reluctantly picked up the spoon and began to eat. The boys continued to stare, but you had a feeling that would become something you’d grow used to after what had happened. You made it halfway through the soup before pushing it away and Jin smiled at you gratefully. 

“Thank you. Now then, I think it’s important for you to know that we’re not gonna touch you like we usually do unless you ask for it.”

Hoseok nodded and slid into the seat besides Jin’s, Taehyung doing the same on his other side. 

“You’ve just gone through something horrible, and the last thing we want is for you to think we’re ever going to violate you like those…” His teeth clenched, fists clenching hard enough to draw blood underneath the table where you couldn’t see. “Heathens who tried to defile you.”

Taehyung picked up where he left off after a moment of hesitance. 

“We…We care about you, you’re not just food to us anymore. You’re so important to us, and we’re never going to let anything even have a chance of that happening again okay? I’m so sorry that I didn’t follow you, I never should’ve let you leave alone.”

Taehyung’s voice cracked and you panicked, shaking your head. “No, don’t you dare fucking blame yourself Taehyung! We had a spat and I was the one who chose to leave. I could’ve just as easily gone to my room but I chose to leave. This isn’t on you.”

“And it’s not on you either.”

You flinched violently at the words that came from the gentle voice, glaring before you could stop yourself at Jimin in the doorway, leaning casually as he observed you with knowing eyes, 

Your heart lurched in pain and you forced a scoff even as your eyes burned again. 

“Shut the Hell up, don’t you fucking patronize me.”

Your voice was filled with defensive venom now, too scared of being weak and vulnerable in front of them. 

“Who’s patronizing? We’re just telling the truth. It was those monsters that assaulted you out of nowhere.” 

Yoongi’s voice cut through the tense silence that followed, walking in and casually sitting beside you.

“Do you actually believe it’s your fault for leaving the house? Don’t be stupid, you know better than that.”

You scoffed at that, turning your glare to him, though it died a little as he merely watched you quietly, clearly ready to take any anger you had without complaint. 

“That’s not why. It’s my fault because I left looking the way I did.”

There was a sudden rush and you jumped at the feeling of being pulled out of your seat none too gently, forced to meet Jungkook’s intense gaze as he snarled at you. 

“Don’t you ever believe a word those mongrels said. I don’t care if you go out in your bra and panties it doesn’t give anyone the right to lay a hand on you unless you give explicit consent.”

You swallowed and looked over his shoulder as Namjoon spoke up next, the sardonic smirk on his face unnerving you, despite knowing it wasn’t really directed at you.

“Even we know that much. And we’re fucking demons, and demons that specialize on feeding off sexual encounters no less.” 

He scoffed. 

“This only reaffirmed for me how downright deplorable humanity is. I would’ve ripped them limb from limb if it hadn’t been for my promise to you.”

That made you abruptly remember. Your face was neutral but you couldn’t help but ask. 

“What…Do I want to know what you 4 did?”

Jimin approached you then and patted your head with a soft smile. 

“No. No, you don’t. Just know that you will never see them again, and we didn’t kill them, just as you asked.”

You hesitated but you could feel from your bond that he was being truthful. You nodded and stifled a yawn making the boys immediately perk up. 

“Bedtime. Do you want to cuddle, or would that make it worse?” Jimin went to move away but you shook your head quickly. “No! I want to, Please. I…I’ll feel safer if you guys are with me.”

They nodded then, and smiled and though you couldn’t manage a smile of your own just yet, you knew they’d be there to support you until you could.

A/N: If you ask anonnie, I’ll elaborate on what the boys did later(you can ask them specifically and I’ll answer in character), but this got entirely too long and I feel bad keeping the other character asks waiting lol. It ended up being 3.3k. Oops. This was a very important topic to me personally and I sincerely hope I did it justice. Please, do let me know your thoughts.

Thank you all for reading!

[huntertales]

Part Four: Let It Go. (Pac-Man Fever S08E20)

Episode Summary: Concerned about the physical toll the second trial took on the reader, the boys force her to take a break from hunting until she heals up. So, when the geektastic hacker Charlie Bradbury stumbles upon a case and finds the trio, she talks her way into letting Dean teach her how to be a hunter-in-training. While happy to see “her highness”, the reader and the boys feels Charlie is hiding a secret that could get her killed. Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader Word Count: 1,543. (This is a pathetic update whoops lol)

Previous Part | Supernatural Rewrite Masterlist

You enjoyed seeing Charlie on the unexpected visit to Kansas that turned out to be for a different reason than you first expected. And while these past few days were stressful and full of twists you never expected to endure, at the end of it all, things turned out okay for everyone. You and the boys treated Charlie to a room in the bunker for her to stay in for the night before she headed off tomorrow morning. You tried to cheer Charlie up from the hard dose of reality she had to face with her mother by telling her stories of your past. Embarrassing memories she couldn't read in those God awful "Supernatural" books. It was enough to bring a smile to her face while she was able to kick up her feet and enjoy a few beers with the boys. 

The next morning you hoped you were sending off Charlie off on her own with more a clearer conscious from the things she did with one less weight on her shoulders. You made your way up the steps to the ground level and followed behind while Sam carried Charlie's bags for her and Dean walked in sync with you. 

“So, thanks for saving our bacon.” Charlie said to the younger Winchester. If it wasn’t for him and taking down that second djinn you had no idea was there, all of you might not be alive. Sam merely chuckled to himself and reassured her that it was nothing. "And you," You saw her index finger point itself in your direction. "You know it was stupid what you did." 

"I know, I know." You said, shrugging your shoulders at your actions that were probably stupid from someone in your condition. You were already pushing your body in limits that you probably shouldn’t. "I'm never going to hear the end of it from the boys. Dream root doesn't have much effect on the body. I'll be okay, Charlie." 

"Of course you're gonna be okay. Those books portray you as, like, one tough customer. If anyone can get through these trials, Y/N, it's you. Most importantly, you're gonna be a great mom." Charlie said. You felt your lips stretch into a small smile at her kind words. You mumbled a thank you. "Also, I better get a call when baby Y/L/N-Winchester is born." 

"Oh, you will. And it's just baby Winchester. One day their father will formally propose to me and we'll get married. Right?" You linked arms with Dean and looked up at him, wondering what his response was going to be at the mention of the possibility of wedding bells in the future. He found himself smiling in the kind of way that was genuine, even with excitement  at the thought of being able to keep the promise he made to you. "First thing's first. I'd like to complete the trials and then have the baby. We'll see what the future holds when everything calms down. Maybe you can even stop by sooner..."

"Yeah. You really should come back and dig through our archives." Sam gave a suggestion to Charlie he knew she couldn’t refuse. "You are definitely a Woman of Letters." 

“I like the sound of that.” She said, breaking out into a smile at her new title.

Charlie reached up to her tippy toes to wrap her arms around Sam's body when he bent down to give her a hug as his final goodbye towards her before making his way back into the bunker. You broke out into yet another smile when it was your turn to say goodbye. You stretched your arms and pulled her into a tight hug, mumbling that you were going to miss her. And how everything was going to be okay. She heard those words a lot in her life, but coming from you that sounded like the truth. You pulled away from her and waved goodbye before heading back into the bunker. As you made your way to the stairs, you found yourself momentarily stopping when you had that feeling again. The fluttering in your stomach that made you realize the baby was moving. It was trying to kick, maybe even punch. You chuckled to yourself and made your way down the stairs and back into the bunker, leaving Dean to say his goodbyes in private. 

“Well, thanks for stopping by, Charlie. Always wanted to get ‘Tron’ed.” Dean said. “What’s next for you?” 

“Gonna go by the hospital. Got to let go, right?” Charlie felt her happiness dwindle slightly at the mention of her plans that she had to do in order to fully move on with her life. And that was to share her final moments with her mother before letting her be at peace. Charlie kicked a rock with the heel of her foot before looking back up at Dean, knowing he harbored two people that he would do anything for. And even been on the brink of death a few times. “What about you? You gonna let it go?” 

“Never.” Dean admitted to her, the ends of his lips stretching into a smirk. 

“That’s Y/N and my boys.” Charlie muttered underneath her breath. She fell silent for a moment, not sure what else she could say that would be perfect for her goodbye to Dean. She stared down at the ground for a second before looking back up at him, deciding on something she couldn't resist saying to him. "I love you." 

“I know.” Dean responded back in the way that only seemed fitting.

Dean remembered what he said about Charlie when he first met her a few years ago, back when she risked her life to help them. She was like a sister he never wanted. And she was that. She was like his little sister, the annoying nerd that he'd do anything for. He kissed the top of her head before pulling away, letting her do that needed to be done. As he watched her walk away back to her two door obnoxiously yellow colored car, he found himself feeling more...optimistic in a way. Charlie always had that effect on him. He could be at his rock bottom and she'd still talk him up like he could do anything. She was a little ray of sunshine. 

He made his way back into the bunker in search of his little brother first. Sam was sitting in the library, of course, with his nose buried in some books while doing research. When he saw Dean coming forward, the first thought in his mind was that he was about to get ripped a new one for letting you come along to the hunt when Dean specifically told him not to. Instead, Sam was taken by surprise when his brother pulled him into a hug. the brotherly kind that needed to be shared every so often. Just to remind one another that much as one another could bicker and be a pain in the ass, at the end of it all, they loved one another. And only wanted the best.

Dean found you in the kitchen busying yourself with making breakfast that consisted of something that looked a little bit strange. You mindlessly licked the tip of your thumb to clean off the substance to your meal, not realizing your boyfriend was heading your way until it was too late. Your expression fell slightly at the sight of him. You knew once you and him were alone he was going to lecture you about the stupid things you had done. And thinking more about it, he was right. But it wasn't in your nature to sit on the sidelines. 

“Okay, look, before you go off, just let me say this—you were right. I should’ve laid low. And I sure shouldn't have dragged Sam into this mess. I know. But I couldn’t help myself. Charlie was in danger.” You said, telling him the reasons why you were against his orders. “I promise I’ll take it easy from here on out—”

You were about to finish saying the words that he would have loved to hear just a few days ago to reassure his mind. Instead you found yourself cut off by the feeling of his lips on yours, pulling you into a kiss that took the breath out of your lungs. Your eyelids slowly fluttered shut to enjoy the feeling that Dean could give you with a simple little kiss. You weren't sure what you did to get this reaction out from him. When he pulled away, you found yourself staring up at him, curious to what made him suddenly feel like being affectionate today. 

“What do you say we find our prophet?” Dean asked you. 

You smiled at the question you answered with a simple nod of the head. You wanted nothing more in this world than to get Kevin back and make him finish translating the tablet. You wanted to only get these damn trials over with, but you wanted to start enjoying life again. The way you were fighting for. You grabbed your breakfast and headed into the library with Dean, you and the boys cracking down on finding your prophet boy to bring him back home. 

[Next Part]

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[pixiestickers]

@rayllum-week prompt: Fireflies

This will likely be my only entry for the week as school is still going strong and taking up most of my time. This is essentially a flashback scene for my fic The Relief Next to Me from a chapter that isn’t finished yet. But it works as a oneshot here. 

Traveling through Xadia, Rayla took familiar routes. Ones she’d grown accustomed to using during her life as an assassin. A life that seemed so far away and yet still proved useful. It was absolutely essential that they avoid detection, and Rayla knew which hills to climb, what dirt trails to trek, and all the deep forests they could hide in. Sometimes they traveled by day. Other times at night. It all depended on the landscape and those occupying it. And as their unlikely trio of elf, human and dragon moved along, making as little noise as possible, she experienced a vague sense that the world was uninhabited. That they were the last of their kind. Just her, Callum, and Zym. It went on like that for weeks.

Until it didn’t.

They happened upon a stream. Rayla waded through it, moving around a bend and out of Callum’s eyesight so she could clean off some days old grim from the underside of her uniform. Sweat and dirt were now old friends that she tolerated, but wished would visit less often. Lowering her top, she let the cold water lap her exposed skin, and savored the feel of it, knowing the musk she’d been suffering through for far too long would finally be carried away by the stream. This was different than the large bodies of water that provoked her gag-reflex. A simple slow moving current was a welcome comfort, and Raya relaxed, dipping her head underwater for a moment, but making sure to keep every sense attuned to the world around her. The birds singing. The song of the stream as it glided around her. The soft buzzing of insects.

And the pixie wings fluttering.

That, she hadn’t been expecting. Rayla glanced around expectantly, but the small golden creatures were nowhere to be seen and she felt a tiny twinge of disappointment. She’d only witnessed them once before but never forgot the sound- tiny bells tinkling in the wind- and was eager to marvel at their unique allure again. Pixies were good omens and also rare. So where were they now?

Something told her to look further upstream where she’d left Callum and Zym. It didn’t take long for realization to dawn on her that the reclusive pixies weren’t the only ones coaxing her to leave the water. Instinct, as sharp as a knife, told her something was wrong. Quickly, she pulled her top back up and touched one of her blades, then readjusted it. Walking out onto the embankment, she listened and waited, the pixie wings growing louder in her ears. Moving on the balls of her feet, Rayla drew both blades from her belt but kept quiet. Voices drifted her way and then a growl, followed by a scream.

Rayla no longer worried about stealth. She ran, the rocks under her feet creating a commotion to match the garbled yells and grunts of a struggle. The attacker spotted her too late. His hands left Callum’s neck, but her blade was already thrown his way. He fell down on top of his victim who struggled underneath the weight. Rayla hurried to retrieve her blade and rolled Callum’s assailant off of him. Seemingly gone from this world, yet aware enough to recognize another elf, confusion drew his brows together before he gasped. Violet eyes grew wide then closed. His breathing weakened and seconds later it stopped completely.

Callum sat up, coughing. Reaching around his neck he rubbed the area the elf had squeezed. His face contorted in pain and Rayla frowned. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, pulling him into her. Still wet from the water, her body soaked his clothes. “I shouldn’t have left for so long.”

“He wanted Zym,” Callum said, his voice raw from the crushing his throat had taken. “Called me a filthy human for stealing baby dragons. I tried to explain, but he’d already made up his mind.”

She glanced at the elf, blood pooling on the rocks surrounding him as if he were laying on a gruesome blanket. He had the markings of a Moonshadow elf, which made sense. They were in the vicinity of her homeland. A fact she’d been actively trying to avoid acknowledging. His clothes marked him as unimportant. No uniform or weapons beyond his hands. Just a common elf out for a walk who’d spotted what he thought was a dragon thief. She suddenly felt extremely tired. Rayla had never actually killed anyone before, especially not anyone of her own kind. Her training had always placed humans in the line of attack. Not elf. And not one who thought he was doing the right thing.

She looked back at Callum, his lips a pale blue, but slowly regaining color. Her eyes filled with tears. Zym ran up next to them and licked her face. “Zym gave him a good bite though,” Callum said. “Got the guy to scream.”

“That’s what made me run to find you.”

That and the pixies.

Rayla wanted to pat Zym’s head and rub his belly. That would’ve been a typical reaction to him doing something good. And protecting Callum was the best thing he’d ever done. But her heart was heavy and wiping away her tears, she said, “I’m just happy you’re both safe. I don’t know what-”

But Callum drowned her out in a fit of coughing and Rayla went to retrieve him some water from the stream, but not before washing the blood from her hands.

                                                   ~***~

In the hours that followed, Rayla thought over and over about taking the elf’s life. He likely wouldn’t be missed by anyone, but her reaction had been so forceful after catching Callum struggling with him. “I don’t think you murdered him so much as you saved me,” Callum said after she’d finally admitted the reason behind her disquiet.

He was right. But still, the elf’s death haunted her. “I saved your life, but I also took a life, and it wasn’t planned. I reacted to the situation with pure emotion, not instinct. I went against all my trainin’. I could’ve knocked him off you. I could’ve explained who we were. But my only thought was- save Callum.”

“And you did,” he replied, threading his fingers through hers. “Those few seconds it would’ve taken to rush up to us and explain might’ve been one too many. I’m here because of you.”

Guilt swelled inside her. Callum had nearly died and here she was, having a moral dilemma instead of comforting him. They held hands for a while and Rayla tried to think of anything other than the tang of blood still trapped in her nose.

                                                     ~***~

“Huh, that’s weird. Don’t fireflies only come out at night?”

Rayla flicked her eyes away from the ground and at Callum. Over the past hour, all her terrible efforts of trying to keep images of her blade protruding from an elf’s back had failed. But when she saw where Callum was pointing, a lightness rose in her chest. Pixies. It hadn’t been her imagination back at the stream. “Silly human,” she replied, smiling for the first time since the tragedy at the stream. “Those aren’t fireflies.”

“They’re not?”

“No, they’re pixies,” she repeated in a voice that was meant to playfully mock. “Magical creatures that mean good luck.”

Callum was skeptical. “What? I’ve never heard of pixies before.”

“And why should that surprise you? Humans are always gettin’ things wrong about us magical creatures,” she replied. “I’m gonna go see what good luck I can find. Maybe they know somewhere we can stay tonight.” When Callum’s brow furrowed in disapproval, Rayla grasped his hand. “Oh, don’t worry, you’re comin’ with too.” She arched an eyebrow.

“Oh, no,” he moaned, and she laughed. Callum hated this part of traveling with an elf but always willingly obliged. With a yank of his arm, she hoisted him on her back and he hitched his legs up over her hips. Then off she ran, following the pixies with Zym close behind, enjoying what he thought was a race. She pursued their golden trail and only stopped when the land did, skidding to a halt on a small cliff above a lake.

Pixies hadn't led her to anything she needed. A lake wasn’t somewhere they could stay, and it was definitely wasn’t something she wanted to cross. They were off the trail a bit, but Rayla knew this land well enough to recognize the body of water. It was one she’d actively avoided as a child. With a heavy sigh, she let Callum slide down and then kicked her foot in frustration against the ground. Only instead of a few clumps of rocks dropping into the water, a huge chunk broke free from the ledge. The surprise nearly made her lose balance. She fell backward into Callum’s arms just as a splash indicated the broken piece had met the water. Wincing over her mistake, she did a quick scan of the area to see if there had been any witnesses. No one. Just the three of them. She didn't smell anyone nearby either, but that was mostly because the tang of blood still saturated her senses.

It was nearing dark now. Soon the sun would be unable to guide her way. That was fine. Her vision worked well in the dark. But tonight wasn’t one for travel. And it would’ve been nice if her good omen had lived up to its supposed potential.

"Looks like the fireflies wanted you to take a swim," Callum said, chuckling.

Rayla leaned back hard against him, her weight making him stagger backward. Then turning on her heel, raised a finger and poked his chest. “Better watch it or I’ll send you in for a swim.” There was no truth behind her words. Callum knew and just grinned that sly grin she hated but also loved.

"I’m sorry for leading us on a wild chase,” she apologized, then paused to exaggerate a groan. “It’s just … seein’ those pixies got me giddy and after the day we’ve had … I just needed to look for something good."

Zym made a little whine of agreement or maybe he just missed the chase.

“But you did find something good,” Callum said in such a way that indicated there was a tease soon to come. “Any time you can force me to ride on your back is a good time for you to bring it up later and make me feel inferior.”

Rayla snorted. “And what about you? What good do you get out of all this?”

“Are you kidding?” He sounded exasperated. “You saved my life today. I think it’s worth one embarrassing piggyback ride. And besides, I always enjoy your company, no matter what my mode of transportation is.”

A lump grew in Rayla’s throat over how cavalier Callum was being. Here he had almost been snuffed out by the hands of another today and his only concern since had been to cheer her up. How could she be so wrapped up in her own moral crisis to not recognize that he was putting her needs before his? She didn’t deserve him.

And it was then she understood. That it was possible to survive. Her taking another life had altered something within and she’d likely carry that heaviness inside her from now on. It was a part of her just like Callum was. The dark and the light. But she’d never let the dark hold her hostage when the light was nearby trying its hardest to pull her from its depths.

It was becoming a theme with them. The light and the dark. Where one was, the other followed.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea,” she said, taking Callum’s hand and pulling him in closer for a quick kiss.

“Your idea is to kiss me?” he asked. “I’ve gotta say, it’s one of your better ideas.”

Rayla despised the girlish giggle he drew from her. Only Callum could make her shy this way. “No, you dummy. My idea is to find a way down to that lake and get some dinner for you and Zym.” Rayla refused to eat fish- anything that lived in water really- but could forage for berries along the way.

Callum tapped his chin as if he were thinking. “Not as good as your first idea, but I still like it.” He turned to Zym, asking “What do you think?” And the dragon yipped in reply.

By the time the three began walking again, the pixies were long gone, but Rayla had an inclination that despite what she first assumed, they’d worked their magic for her today after all.