#like i know the crown keepers at least love him so much

[screechingfromthevoid]

Orym is giving very "I have fallen in love again and that feels like a betrayal to my dead husband" energy.

He's also giving "I care so much about my friends and I have to protect them but the love I have for one is so strong that it's distracting me AND it's not fair to the others"

Like there is so much love contained in the Orym and also so much guilt.

[fairylibe]

yandere.ᐟ vogel × reader head canons.

660 words. yandere themes. may be ooc. features: darius vogel, nica schwarz, ring schwarz.

꒰ summary ꒱ what if an interest turned into something… more?

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ darius 𖦹 vogel ೀ 🪽

was this so-called “love,” or maybe it was a twisted obsession? regardless he had fallen too deep with (…or was it “for”?) you to go back to a point before he knew you — far too deep.

admittedly, it was initially just an interest he had toward you. he wanted to get to know you, as you were crown’s fairytale keeper.

but it was as he was getting to know you, as he spent time with you, that he came to a realization.

although the whole of humanity is inherently flawed, there was one exception: you. maybe it was because, while you remained grounded, you also remained pure. while you looked kind, there was still a gentle fire in your eyes. everything about you was a perfect balance.

even if you weren’t cursed, he felt you were fit for his “family” — and more.

because you were the one and only perfect being in his eyes; that must be why he was drawn to you. the fact he could be so close to that one perfect thing was enough to send shivers, an illusion of “love.”

“ this world has no need for those impure souls who steal the bird’s song away. i will rid the world of all of them, so won’t you sing for me, fairytale keeper? ”

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ nica 𖦹 schwartz ೀ 🍒

he normally wasn’t one for much deep affections, so what was it with you that made him think about you so often? maybe it was because even when he would act friendly with you, your reactions felt so… genuine.

yes, those reactions felt so raw — he almost couldn’t believe it himself. whenever you two ran into each other, he would casually greet you, calling you “robin” and teasing you. he gets more of a kick every time you make a retort, claiming it’s worth teasing you (playing with you). he enjoyed making you dance atop his hand.

but despite being the one teasing you, it almost seemed as though you would sometimes play with his feelings as well, making him feel something between love and bitterness.

so he would hold your hand, and play with your feelings in turn, like he would a toy. so that if you fell in love with him, he could watch you pine in an unrequited love.

he may not be able to reciprocate your feelings, but at the very least, you can fall into a bitter warmth together.

“ i told you that all you have to do is not hold my hand, but if you’ve taken it of your own will, won’t you become my plaything? until there’s nothing left to lose, for me… and for you, robin. ”

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ring 𖦹 schwartz ೀ 💍

there is no such thing as being too protective when it comes to ring. at first, he had tried to push you away, because what reason was there for you to get close to him? if dari had ordered him to kill you, he would do exactly that.

and yet, you had reached out a hand to him, asking for a friendship. nika had warned him — “you can’t make friends with them, ring” — and yet the hand that reached out to him seemed so warm and gentle…

it was a somewhat fragile friendship, and it felt like a single word from dari or nika could shatter it to a million pieces, seeing as you two were in different organizations. and yet, you had shown him so many firsts.

eventually, he became scared, anxious, even. what was this feeling?

he wanted to protect this friendship he had with you, he wanted you to show him more and more “firsts,” he wanted to protect you.

“ if dari orders me to kill you someday… i would still do it. that wouldn’t change — i owe him my own life. but, if that were ever to happen, i would kill a part of myself after for you. ” if he were to remember you, would you show him more firsts after the last?

fin.

꒰ tag list . ꒱ @drachonia @weepinglycoris @letter-from-afar @.comment to be added or removed!

[judesmoonbeauty]

Jude Jazza's PV Dissection ☾.

Beneath the cut for event and other suitor's route spoilers. This is just for fun, and please feel free to kindly share what you think! To be honest, I don't think I have anything interesting to add, but here goes it...

My First Thought: Let’s just state the obvious and say that Jude’s route is going to be ANGSTY and WILD!!! That much is definite by watching the PV, and that’s pretty much what we see in his events as well. The animation was beautiful. There’s a A LOT of recycled CGs, and majority of his lines come from his gacha cards and bond stories, but it gets the job done.

However, I feel like Jude is still very much under wraps. His PV barely gave us anything to go on that we don’t already know about, or haven't theorized. I’ve watched it like 15 times. I counted the number of hands on the clocks to see if there were 13 (there’s not), and paused to search the outline of Big Ben, and things like the shadows to see if something was hinted or hidden, but nothing.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it didn’t give us anything at all, but before we get into that, let’s just recap the premise of Act 2:

In Act 2, Kate has already been the fairytale keeper for one full week, and that’s when Vogel enters the picture with the claim that they want to be “friends” with Crown. Harrison knows that they’re lying about something, and Darius, as we learn, is looking for “family members.”

Now…..

Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick - The ticking clock is very prominent in his trailer, and that makes sense because Jude’s fairytale curse is associated with time. His icon is an hourglass, and he is very cognizant in events/routes about wasting time. Additionally, it’s interesting to note that several of Jude’s events often mention specific lengths of years that have passed, such as, Dark IF, GHR, Island Lust, and a bond story.

As far as the PV goes, I think it may be hinting that Jude is running out of time in the sense of accomplishing a goal, which will in turn fulfill a promise. Our average life span today is about 80 years, but back then it was much shorter, and I feel like Jude needs a lot of time to accomplish what he is doing. It could be that a single lifetime is not enough for him to accomplish it, but he is going to try anyway. Such as? Him traveling to the moon. I feel like the PV points to this at the outset with that giant full moon behind Big Ben. I think this may be a CG we get.

Conversely, it could be that he is running out of time in the sense that he is dying of an illness. We know for a fact that he suffers from seasonal asthma (which is triggered with enclosed spaces filled with smoke), he smokes himself, but he also suffered from childhood malnutrition, and that can cause a lot of issues. Still, I don’t know how strong of a theory this is as Jude has no problem with physical exertion or activity……not looking at that one other gut I love in IkePri.

Additionally, a part of me feels like he’s just tired and he wants to die. To be honest, all these guys have some kind of death wish in one form or another, but in terms of Jude, Ellis said that he looked like he was going to fall into the river as he looked at the moon while chain smoking, and Roger said Jude looked like he was vacantly staring at the moon as if he had given up on something.

Notably, in Roger’s past records, we learn that Jude uses cigarettes to fuel his rage to keep him living, and Kate also mentioned in his Cruise Liner event that anger is a great motivator.

So, for all intents and purposes, Jude is being kept alive by his own rage, cigarettes, the promise he made, and Roger. THANK YOU ROGER! That’s what I feel at least.

Rewinds/Record Scratches: I think glitchy rewind/record-scratching sound is being cleverly used to note the different tones we are going to see in his route, like I mentioned before, it’s going to be angsty and wild (that’s what I feel anyway).

However, I will say that a part of me feels like it’s a nod to all the times he says things like, ‘once you’ve lost something, you can’t get it back.' How many of us wish we could rewind and do things over or see someone we’ve lost again, even if it were just for a minute?

Jude said in Roger’s route that once someone is gone those left behind are stuck feeling a void, and I think he’d do whatever he could to rewind time if that were in his power. However, cue that jazzy music and we find ourselves in the interior of a…..

Warehouse: No doubt by the docks that Jude frequents for deliveries, and while it’s nothing major, it does indicate one of the settings we will likely be at. Although, this is pretty obvious to most of us because in both his first event and his one year anniversary event, they are at the warehouses by the docks.

Personally, I loved the detail of the seagulls, not that is important in anyway, but I just got excited to see a visual of it instead of just imagining it. However, I am hoping to see something different in terms of what we’ve already seen in both of those events. Kate getting caught by someone who broke their contract with Jude or is after Jude, and she is caught in the middle. Is that too much to ask?

Papers: We quickly shift to an office like space, whether this is located at Raven or at Crown, there is something very important to note in this scene, and that’s not only the rows of books behind our clever mobster, but the bulletin board that has notes stuck all over them.

At first, I thought that this could be business plans, product information or designs, business targets, or information about the personal lives of those whom Jude makes contracts with. Ultimately, I think that these are engineering designs and research papers that he’s written and/or reviewed for……moon travel. If you look closely, one paper in particular has a definite design on it.

Why am I so hellbent on this? Because Jude says himself in his bond levels that he’s trying to nab all the researches and scientists that he can as quickly as possible, and that he was going to have Ellis look into the authors who wrote the papers he had been reading. On a random note, I don’t think this would be his office space at Raven, but his personal office or room at Crown.

About that Bridge Scene: You know, the one where he looks completely over this shit as he smokes a cigarette? Then all of a sudden he shoots you that look like he’s gonna tear you up because he’s annoyed, and you’re like: Impregnate me, please? That one. So, the night that Ellis met Jude, Ellis said that he was standing on the bridge looking like he was about to fall into the river.

I believe this may be the second CG we may get of Jude in his route, and I want to know why he goes to the bridge? Is there special meaning to it? Did he visit that place with his loved one? Was a promise made under the moon? Is this were he wants….things to end? And forgive this last bit, but I can’t help but think of the song ‘Moon River’ when he’s at that bridge.

Ah, to hell with it, It’s too pretty not have posted again:

How long: When we get to the scene of Jude and Kate in a somewhat awkward rain scene (I agree with my friends, her sprite looks out of place), he asks Kate how long she is planning to stick next to him. Here again, we have a form of time being hinted at, and Kate’s time with Crown should end in three weeks time.

Still, we don’t know how far along we are in his route when he asks her this question, so it’s difficult to say how much time Kate has remaining with him at this point. What we can guess is that she’s been at Crown long enough to have seen Jude do horrendous things - all of Crown - for that matter.

Additionally, she will have seen the filthy underbelly of England at that point, perhaps in the form of drugs, SA, human-trafficking and the like, if his events are any indication of that. Not to mention his cruel attempts to force her to give up on being fairytale keeper. So, how do you think Kate will answer, and will her answer disrupt his plans??

Unhinged, Possessive, Obsessive Jude: Is he really though? I think so. This is what I think will be the third CG - belonging to his Mad Love End. Did you all see those eyes??? He is UNHINGED, and I am HERE for it. I think it really drives home the point too that he is going to make her pay for placing a curse on him for the rest of her life - that’s Judese for - I’ll make you pay for making me love you for as long as you live.

Seeing him that expression in his eyes and the way he plays with her hair, (this is also a thing Jude does in his events), really exemplifies the phrase that he also uses in that their being together is madness.

Thinking about it, it really wasn’t until the Island Lust story that we started to see a small glimmer of Mr. Jazza’s jealousy, and that’s because Jude is often cold and controls any emotions that could be linked to her romantically. But we slowly start to see this change with Island lust, I gushed how he didn’t like Kate thinking about the other Crown members when he was near her, and in effect, ignoring him.

In the Jude vs. Nica event, we got even more of his jelly side when he learned that Kate and Nica are on a first name basis, even though they just met. CUTEST THING EVER.

And finally, in his Dark Mafia card, Jude is ready to commit murder over the guys who are looking at Kate. So, I’m really looking forward to seeing how jealous or possessive he may get once he gives into his feelings.

Pocket Watch: The time shows at 10:10 pm. Is this significant? I can’t say for sure, but there is nothing odd about the pocket watch itself. The only thing I noticed is that the hands on the pocket watch aren’t moving.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything, but let’s throw out a random idea I had about the watch actually being broken. It doesn’t work. The time stopped at exactly 10:10 pm, perhaps some incident happened during that time when it stopped, and Jude wears it as a memento. Ultimately, I don’t place too much stock in this because there's really no basis for it, but let's say we've covered our bases with this and move on to the last, but certainly not least...

My Evil (or sin), is an unfulfilled promise: His tag line at the end….I don’t believe this is related to Jude’s fated demise. I have an inkling that Cybird may go the Disney route for his fate, but that can be a discussion for another day….maybe. What I do believe is that this emphasizes Jude’s compellation to pay back an unfulfilled promise (essentially what amounts to a betrayal).

I don’t feel that he MUST pay back betrayals that others experience, but if he is involved in a case in some manner of speaking (like for missions), Jude has been known to carry out revenge, such as he does to Anne’s father in GHR. Also, in the "Evil Behind the Scenes" event, Jude allows the husband of the wife who was unfaithful take care of things behind closed doors (it said it was supposed to be talking, but Ellis was in the room too, and who knows what the husband did). It’s interesting, because Jude mentions that while he has no interest in harming women, betrayal must be repaid, so whatever happened happened.

This would make sense as to why Jude does everything he can to fulfill his own promises. But, what if he fails to keep his own promise……what happens then? Hope to find out soon.

That's all I could dig up. They really gave us nothing, but everything at the same time?

Honorable Mention: No eye Kate...please stop treating my girl this way cybird!

[kurishiri]

epilogue . . . “ the medical record of the love between the hunter and me ”

— this translation may not be 100% accurate or may contain creative liberties for characterization or narrative flow purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost or claim these as your own!

— this is the epilogue story for roger’s past records, which is available after sending hearts 700 times. this is told in kate’s point of view, and takes place after they become a couple, so i would personally recommend reading this after you've read at least one branch of his route. (but it's not necessarily required!)

— cw: roger without glasses 🤭, nsfw (fade to black), a bit unedited.

It was the early afternoon, the weather clear, a little after Roger and I had become lovers.

“Your medical records could use some polishing, lil lady.”

That was what Roger said as he called me to the laboratory.

Roger: I asked Victor for your diagnostic tests, right? As for your weight——

Kate: Don’t read it out loud!

Roger: Humans are about the only living beings that care about every little thing about their weight.

Kate: Well, I can’t argue with that, but still...

Roger: It’s all well and good you grew up big.

Even after becoming lovers, it seemed Roger’s tendency to lack delicacy sometimes was going strong.

(Well, that said... I also love that about him too.)

Kate: Wait, I’m pretty sure filling in my medical record won’t make much difference... there’s not much point...

Roger: ‘There’s not much point,’ you say?

Kate: I mean, what you want is data on the Cursed ones, right?

K: As much as I’d love to be of help to you, I’m not Cursed myself...

Roger: Hey now, don’t go saying sad stuff like that.

R: Kate, as my special fairytale keeper, you’ll need to continue to accompany me on missions from here on out.

R: And that’s already asking for more danger than a normal person. That’s all to say,

R: if I get to know you on an even deeper level, I can save you more.

With a broad grin, Roger’s canine tooth peeked out.

That smile alone was enough to make me happy...

(To think Roger’s thought this much about me!)

The happiness at having become his lover spread through my entire body, and I gave him a broad nod in turn.

Kate: If that’s the case, I’ll answer anything!

Roger: .........Anything, huh.

In my enthusiasm in answering, I missed Roger’s words, which came in a whisper.

Roger: Then, let’s start the examination.

Kate: Alright, I’ll be in your care!

Roger: What’s your type, lil lady?

(.........Huh?)

Kate: Is... is that needed for the medical record?

Roger: Very much actually. I’m a former doctor, so you think I’d go around asking pointless questions?

Kate: W-well, besides, we are dating already, so do I really need to say my type out loud...

Roger: Your type could be different, even if we are dating. So I have to ask, just in case.

(Is... that true?)

There was no hesitation in Roger’s tone, so it would be strange not to be able to answer.

My type, huh——Roger’s figure popped into my mind then.

Kate: Uhm, I like to watch someone eat a lot, I think.

Roger: Eat a lot, you say? Ahh, so you mean me?

Kate: T-that’s not necessarily the case!

Roger paid no mind to how flustered I was from him hitting the bull’s eye, instead asking the next question.

Roger: Okay, next. What’s something you’ve found fun recently?

He asked the question so quickly to me, I felt I had to answer quickly.

Kate: Something fun is... ah...

K: Yesterday, I had some very hot food, and it was so spicy I ended up laughing.

Roger: You’re talking about the one we were eating together, right? I remember that too.

Kate: ...Eh, ah...

Roger: Okay, next. Who in Crown do you find the most charming?

Kate: That...

I didn’t even have to mull over it; that was just how charming Roger was.

(...Oh no.)

——This is definitely not for filling in the medical records.

But by the time I realized, it was already too late.

Roger: What, keeping quiet? Then, let me ask a final question, for a bad patient.

Roger’s fingertips poked over where my heart was.

Roger: You’ve been teased so relentlessly, and yet your heart’s beating so fast... why is that?

Roger has the ability to hear sounds up to 100 yards away.

So it came as no surprise that he was aware how fast my heart was beating.

Kate: Please don’t listen in...

Roger: No can do, your heart’s the one that’s too noisy.

R: See, it’s going thump thump so fast, it’s pretty cute.

Kate: Uu...

Roger: Oh? You’re going to cry? In that case, by all means, feel free to. I’ll be happy about that.

(T-this man, I swear——!)

I threw him the sharpest glare I could muster at a grinning Roger.

Kate: I thought this before we got together, too, but why do you always have to do things like this!?

K: You say you don’t like doing anything unnecessary, but then you go and do exactly that!

Roger: That’s because I want to take care of you.

R: Because your crying face is cute.

R: Because I want to talk more with you.

R: And because, if it’s with you, I don’t find any of it unnecessary.

R: I’ve got loads of reasons up my sleeve. You wanna hear more?

He hit me with one sweet reason after another as if being shot by a gun, rendering me unable to respond.

No matter how frustrated I got at his teasing, I ended up on the palm of his hand,

and I end up wagging my tail in happiness, like a dog.

I really do like Roger.

(God... I really want to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him right now.)

But, if I wag my tail so easily for him, I wouldn’t be any different than Ale.

(I’m the woman who’s been trained by Roger, so I need to have some kind of comeback.)

(After all, I’m not someone who just falls on the palm of others!)

Regaining my composure, I tried to act out a confident, capable woman.

Kate: Haven’t we talked enough about me? Now you answer my questions.

K: It’s not fair if I’m the only one doing the answering.

Roger: Hmm? Okay then, ask away.

Kate: “What’s your type,” Roger?

I returned the question that had left me flustered before back at Roger, and I inwardly chuckled to myself.

(Hehe, it would be nice if I could make Roger feel the same way I did, even just a little.)

——But, my intentions were seen through all too soon, to my disappointment.

Roger: “My type” is someone who’s much like a dog, and someone who can think for themself.

R: And if you have the spirit to try and get back at me for what I did to you, all the better.

R: Ahh, come to think of it, someone like the one right before my eyes is really my type.

Kate: Wh...

Roger: “What’s something you’ve found fun recently?”

R: Right now, this moment.

Kate: Ah...

Roger: “Who in Crown do you find the most charming?”

R: If you count as a member of Crown——then it can only be you, Kate.

I could only blink in response as Roger’s strong arms wrapped around me.

My ears were pressed against his warm chest...

Roger: Here, listen to my heart.

Being hit with those sweet words on top of that, I felt myself going dizzy.

Kate: I think my heart’s being too noisy... so, I can’t tell.

Roger: Pfft, hahahaha!

R: Guess that makes it my win.

Seeing him laugh so happily while patting my head, that sort of innocence was rare coming from him, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

(...Jeez... I really am no match for him.)

Kate: Hehe, I don’t recall this ever having been a match, but I surrender.

I was always on the palm of his head, and that was so frustrating it was unbearable.

But, I’m not someone who will fall into anyone’s palm.

(Roger, you are the most special to me, and I wouldn’t replace you for the world.)

(That’s why, I will happily fall into the palm of your hand.)

Roger: What’re you talking about, isn’t it too early to surrender?

The hand that had been on my head slipped before grabbing and lifting my chin.

Roger: We’ve only just become lovers. So we have to get to know each other more.

The eyes before me pierced me with a heat that resembled a hunter aiming for his prey.

He didn’t even try to conceal that heat, and it brought out my desire as well.

Kate: ...What do we need to do, in order to get to know each other deeper?

Roger: Let’s see now, first of all...

Kate: Mn, nn...

While kissing me, Roger lifted me before pinning me down on the lab table.

Roger: Do I need to spell out the rest... lil lady?

Just thinking about what he was going to do made the bottom of my stomach throb.

As if seeing through my desire, Roger’s fingers traced my thighs before they made their way in my underwear.

Roger: ...Hm?

(Ahh, jeez...)

I removed Roger’s glasses, and in an attempt to divert him from my embarrassment, I turned my face away.

Kate: ...I know, but still... tell me.

Roger: .........Alright, I’ll tell you everything.

—— Time skip ——

As the night deepened, Victor and Roger’s shadows were present in the lounge.

Victor: Oh, right, Roger. About Kate’s medical records...

Roger: Ahh, that. I have it here.

Victor: Thank you, that was quick as always. Oh? This date...

V: To think you’ve taken such detailed records on her since the day she started as a fairytale keeper...

Roger: Well, yeah.

Victor: I’m sure if Kate knew, she would be delighted.

Roger: No, best to keep that a secret.

R: Since the day I met her, the thing I liked the most was giving her a bit of trouble.

Fin.

← main story 👑 ecb story 🪞🍻

full masterlist 🍻

END NOTES: i believe this basically concludes my translation of roger’s past records! and a big big thank you to everyone who read to the end! i had fun translating this story, since in addition to roger, we can see a variety of other characters being featured — and they even feature a chapter where crown is just being the dysfunctional found family they are 🤭

i hope this story can serve as a good starting for roger’s route (and perhaps future routes too, though in the end we still don’t know too much about victor, haha). i’d love to hear your thoughts 🥹🙏

[orym-blossoms]

I have talked quite a bit about this in the past, but given where we are in the campaign now and what has just happened, I wanted to put down some thoughts in a maybe, hopefully coherent kind of way. Mostly the thoughts chase each other around in my head going “brrrrr” so here’s hoping they cooperate.

Since we have known him, Orym has been on a Mission. When he first linked up with the Crown Keepers he had been on the road, presumably on his own, for at least four years, possibly five. At some time during those years, Keyleth charged him with finding out information on the attack that killed Will and Derrig to make sense of what happened that day. Early on he’s quiet, thoughtful, reluctant to take the lead, and honorable to a fault. Even as he opens himself up to create connections with this motley crew, he still guards part of himself. In fact, in the time we see them together he never tells the Crown Keepers about his family. The only mention we get is when he is asked by the Wildmother if he will continue on and Orym says, “For him, I will.”

None of this is to say he doesn’t feel connected to his friends, who manage to take him on a journey away from his primary directive, and–given the fact that Orym was alone at the beginning of ExU–it’s safe to say these are the first people he’s connected with in a long time. It was while he was with them that he started practicing the Zeph’aeratam again. Being part of the group with Opal and Dariax and Fearne and Dorian and Fy’ra showed Orym that the world was bigger than his grief.

But still, he kept it to himself.

After the events of ExU Prime, Orym and his two best friends from the Crown Keepers, Dorian and Fearne, went back to Zephrah. A place that I would argue Orym probably had returned to seldom, if not never, since Will and Derrig’s deaths. It was sometime during this journey that Orym told them both about his family, likely the first people from outside of Zephrah to know their names and what they meant to him. These friends went with him to continue his Mission, to try to help him get closure. And when Dorian left, Orym kept hold of the means to keep in touch, because Orym had gotten closer to Fearne and Dorian than he had gotten to anyone since he lost his family.

I would love to know what, if any, kind of conversations Orym had with Dorian and Fearne about Will and Derrig, especially Will. Because as the weeks went on, Orym did forge bonds with Bell’s Hells, he did start to tell more people about the ones he’d lost, but always at a distance. He kept the memories of who Will and Derrig were to himself, even as he was honest about how much he missed them. Did Orym take the chance to tell Dorian and Fearne about what they were like when they were alive? Because it’s clear that Orym is bereft, and angry, and lonely, and goes to sleep every night with them in his thoughts. Is there anyone else alive who knows the secrets of what Will and Orym were like when they were together, just the two of them?

There is nothing secret about the pain and anger he feels, but what about the joy?

The Mission as it was originally put to Orym is over now. They know everything about how and why Zephrah was attacked. That doesn’t mean Orym is stopping, because Orym isn’t the kind of person who could stop when someone is in danger. But the single-minded drive toward Otohan, toward answers and justice or whatever Orym thinks Will and Derrig would have wanted from him in this, was the mortar Orym used to build up his walls. He’s standing on a precipice of a vast future and he’s alone because he has made himself alone. His grief has made him alone. And there are so many complicated reasons why Dorian is the one he is finally, actually reaching out to now that there is no more path to shuffle down. 

I’m not sure if Orym even knows who he is anymore without this grief, without this Mission. In his mid-thirties his whole adult life has been spent married to Will, or grieving Will, or searching for answers for Will’s death. In the middle of the world ending, how do you decide what comes next?

A million episodes ago Orym offered to be the one Imogen could lean on, and then, after she walked away, he reached out to Dorian on the Sending Stone. I think Dorian has been the one Orym thought that he could lean on for a long while now. And I think that is intrinsically tied to his Mission, this journey, and his grief.

[thedinanshiral]

Evanuris Who's who

This is just my personal and very intuitive interpretation of the Evanuris signature symbols. I base my take on recent art, general Evanuris lore and previous depictions of them, primarily mosaics from the Temple of Mythal in DAI. I know others have done this with nicer graphics but everything here is homemade and made with love -on my phone- so please bear with me..

First, from the trailer we got the first depiction of all these Evanuris symbols

Andruil and Ghilan'nain are explained here.

Elgar'nan: it's front and center, as he's the top authority among them. Also, shows up in the trailer mural, implied to be one of the future enemies in the story and he's elvhen God of Vengeance so i'd say if anyone's gonna show up to get even with Solas that'd be him.

June and Sylaise: Possibly the Evanuris we know the least about, and if Solas didn't comment on them at the Temple of Mythal in DAI i'd say they were ok-ish? Either siblings or married (or both, because mythology). Most people think the sun-like one is Elgar'nan as he's the sun in the elvhen pantheon but Sylaise is the Hearthkeeper and nothing else remotely references fire or heat. Her mosaic at the Temple of Mythal shows her wearing a crown of leafs, of which this "sun" could easily be a stylized version. As for June, God of the Craft, all i have is ..it looks like a helmet.

Falon'din and Dirthamen: as Guide of the dead Falon'din is represented in the mosaics as holding a shepard's staff so i assigned him the symbol closest to a staff. As for Dirthamen, as Keeper of Secrets he's depicted in mosaics covering his mouth with both hands. On this first picture, simple 2D, neither headpiece can be fully appreciated, but one could say the "staff" one fits in the empty space of the other one, and these two were said to be inseparable, twin souls, with a bond that trascended any labels, shadow and reflection of one another.

Now, onto the vinyl covers. The first one here is Arlathan pre-disaster. We see the city with all its spires watched over by a huge dragon that for completion's sake i assigned as Mythal; while she lived, the world was in order, more or less. There's also a mysterious tiny figure below, hooded and holding a staff that kinda looks like Elgar'nan's symbol; at first i thought it could be Fen'harel but it actually fits as Elgar'nan or one of his people, because it's still possible he's responsible for her death.

And now the best part, the alternative cover presents a much darker scenario, Arlathan falling. With the city crumbling down, a different, visibly aggressive/hostile dragon watching over it with horns that, yet again, resemble Elgar'nan's symbol, and hanging from the edge of its wings we see heads, each wearing an Evanuris headpiece. The mysterious hooded figure is gone here, the floating ground it stood on already gone.

Once i put the names i noticed this placement, where the lovers are across each other, and the twins are directly facing each other (as you would a mirror); i found it a bit curious because this only works if we go with my assigned correspondences.

Speaking of the twins, let's check this concept art for a bit. It depicts the party of heroes fighting off drakspawn while two dragons say hi in the background. But is it really two dragons? I see two heads ..but also only two wings. Could it be a double headed dragon?? Concidentally two Archdemons remain, and people have speculated what better way to fuck up Thedas than with two Blights at once? On top of Solas taking down the Veil and reshaping the fabric of reality, again. No such thing as a boring day in Thedas.

Important to note is the remaining Archdemons correspond to the Old Gods Razikale the dragon of Mystery, and Lusacan, dragon of Night. If you adhere to the theory that says the tevinter Old Gods are actually the Evanuris -i've wrote on this extensively-, one possibility is Razikale corresponds with Dirthamen (dragon of mystery? keeper of secrets? potato potahto, same thing) while Lusacan corresponds with Falon'din (dragon of night? guide of the dead? darkness all around). If we've been right about these equivalences then this piece of art would be showing indeed a two-headed dragon, the Twins. Their bond so strong, so transcendental, so inseparable they return to the world as one, for a recharged Blight.

The only tiny detail against this is that Razikale is referred to as a she, whereas the twins are presumed to be male, however i don't let this take from my fun because ancient elves were very particular and their perception of sex and gender must have been like nothing we can think of today.

[inconmess]

Now that I have some time to collect my thoughts after the exam, here are some of the thoughts that have been running through my head.

Ashton is straight up not giving any shit about Liliana

Orym tries but it is really hard for him and I loved watching the two of them snap and not cut corners today.

Other than that, I loved Imogen's stance on Liliana on a technical standpoint, not trusting her but at the same time cooperating enough to try keep her on your side as an inside man? Genius.

Liliana is in too deep on the other hand, maybe not about the motives of the Vanguard but on the release of Predathos in itself. Like Ashton pointed out correctly, she is self delusional and if she doesn't remove those tinted glasses, she's gonna lose her daughter.

Also, what the fuck is wrong with her??? Leaving them all in the state they are in at a very likely active warzone and vanishing? Yeah, I suppose it took some power but she could at least ensure their safety??

Orym with Otohan's sword and storming off *chefs kiss*

Finally some emotional check-ins going on, clearning the air out. Though I am curious about Laudna and her comparing them all to being creations. I mean, in a sense, it is true I suppose...

Imogen is "destined" to release Predathos as it is a part of her.

Chetney was turned into a werewolf

FCG was literally built

Fearne was specifically made to be born on one of the Ruidian flares. And Fearne taking up the Shard also, I suppose.

Ashton was in a ritual which made them Earth Genasi and then later on were literally patchworked by Milo

Laudna was merged with Delailah and is technically kind of her vessel of sorts

I think Orym isn't the only one who wouldn't fit under the "creation of destiny" or "has been created" thing unless I am missing something...

Orym and Imogen's convo and how the two of them talk about family and his partial breakdown at the situation (I miss FCG too 😭)

And finally the sending and Orym's cry for help 😭😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Someone give that man a hug?!!!

Speaking of Dorian, I love how the episode cut to the Crown Keepers after the sending and personally, it made sense for it to come at that particular point.

Listen, I would've loved to have some more time with the Bells Hells and their grieving but. But.

Orym, in his last message to Dorian (which he had received and is headed to Zephrah as a response btw) asked him to meet Keyleth, so chances are, at the time the Hells came back, Dorian is at least halfway, if not having reached Keyleth.

If that were to be the case, there is a high possibility that the Crown Keepers are with Keyleth when the Hells are meeting up with her. and narratively, there is some shit going on with the Crown Keepers that are still unaddressed and just can't be brushed off lightly.

Maybe, maybe Matt had been planning on introducing them much later in the episode. But Orym's sending also gave a perfect opening because Matt (or Robbie) cannot send a reply as Dorian without knowing the outcome of whatever is going down with the Crown Keepers, as seen in this episode.

Therefore, the sudden cutback to the Crown Keepers made total sense in a narrative manner because at this point, if Dorian is going to be actively involved henceforth, the Crown Keepers are dragging along. Opal and the Spider Queen influence what will happen in the future quite a lot more than I think many may expect because

a) Opal has personal ties with Orym and Fearne and

b) the way the Spider Queen is going about the fight, if something bad happens and if someone is hurt super bad, Orym and Fearne have to know too, just like Dorian needs to know about FCG.

and c) Well, most of the Crown Keepers are involved with the Gods. Fy'ra with the Wildmother, Morri with the Duskmaven and Dariax with the Observer.

And with the recent lore bomb pointing towards Aeor, I am pretty sure the hells are going to follow up on that just for FCG's sake (maybe even call in F.R.I.D.A for the ride, please call in F.R.I.D.A!)

I am pretty sure I am spiralling at this point but at the end... all I want to say is, I love the way the episode went and ended. I cannot wait to see more! If it airs on Tuesday or Thursday alongside the Crimson Mirror finale or the Thursday after that? I can wait patiently for that arc of the Crown Keepers to end cuz I am pretty sure at the end of it, at least 2 of the Keepers are going to join with the Hells and one is going to be Dorian. Mostly.

Apart from that, I am just gushing about how the battle went between Opal, Ted and Spider Queen vs the rest of the CK!

The crystal shard memories that are liable to corrupt or shatter? Opal being related to the Luxon shit? The sheer memories and the Spider Queen's insistence on Opal leaving or killing her friends and forcing her to make an option? So much drama! So much fun!

I might have to catch the 2nd rebroadcast to truly appreciated the second half but. But *chefs kiss* loved it today

I got introduced to C3 with the Crown Keepers and hell if I don't love those babies.

[darushi-chan]

HOTD Modern AU where everyones dragons are some kind of reptile or amphibian.  Sooo, I finally gathered the courage to add my own stuff to the HOTD fandom, lol. I love reptiles, specifically Komodo dragons, I’ve made like 3 different college projects with them and it was impossible for me to not see Vhagar as one, I’ve seen other really good takes with old grandma V being a snapping turtle, an alligator and so on, and then I decided to imagine my own modern AU were all the Targaryan dragons in HOTD are some kind of reptile pet! -Because Targ shenanigans they do have a special bond with their reptile friend (Thats the only way you get a croc and a Komodo to dont eat you, lol). -The dragon keepers are a special reptile breeder company, the Targs are like one of their most important clients . -To add more lore and stuff I like the idea of them living in a made up european country called Valyria, like Genovia from the princess diaries, or at least just a modern westeros and Valyria being their something something big company where they work. -If they live in Valyria they do have the monarchy problems, but without the murder plis, Aegon ll its like fuck you all and runs away to Italy or France and starts a wine company called “The usurper” xD.  -Because I like Jacegon, Jace goes along with him so he doesn’t die from bad decisions and because I think he’ll be more reliable with the new company stuff hahahahaha, Aegon just tests the wine ok 😂?  -Lucerys its also like, the crown? No thanks, and goes to college to study literature, also in the some college as Aemond, who’s in a History major, they’re roommates 👀. -Joffrey its even less interested in the crown and decides to help his grampa Corlys with Driftmark. -I’m mexican, I dont know how Dukedoms and all that fancy european stuff works, Driftmark can be one of those or something, I’ll do some research after the reptile drawings ok xD? -That way the crown can go to little Aegon the younger without anybody dying yay. -Rhaenyra its not that ok with this, but she loves her kids, and hopes little Egg doesn’t run away too.... Im just starting with my favorite incest deranged couple, Lucemond 😚. I think its obvious this is not completed at all 😅, but I was really exited about it and wanted to talk about it after being working on it all day 😄.

More stuff about the not dragons! -They can’t live the hundreds of years of the dragons, so lets make them live as long as their owner lives, an average 80-90 years, for this HC sake hahahaha, specially because turtles, komodos and crocs are able to live long lives too! So lets make all the other special Targ reptiles/amphibians live longer too 😝. -This makes Grandma V, Vhagar ll, because Vhagar l was Visenya’s, when Laena dies in some kind of accident Aemond claims Vhagar ll so she doesn’t die, specially because she wasn’t that old then, wiki says Laena dies at 27, I havent thought that much about what happens in the Driftmart incident, but something happens 👀! -Then the Viserys l Balerion it’s Balerion ll too! Vissy T gets to keep his croc and makes him an awesome enclosure, lol. Alicent never goes there 😂, but Viserys likes to see when the servants feed him or to just chat with his friend, he has this really nice enclosure like in the zoos where you can go like underground and see them swim.

-Helaena’s kids can have little geckos or something cute like that, I need to think about it 🤔.

-Im not very sure about Caraxes being a red Tegu, they’re awesome, but I don’t know if I should make him be something else, any thoughs anyone 🤔? If you have any other ideas that are different from the ones I have so far let me know 😉!! The only ones that Im very sure about are Vhagar and Arrax, I’m really in love with the idea, and I also like them all being something different, except for Silverwing and Vermithor uwu.

[cantstoplovingjude]

Underneath the Black Veil: Victor Ch.1

This is from Ikemen Villains EN, Cybird owns everything.

Soft rays of sunshine illuminated the study in the palace.

The aroma of Earl Grey tea and freshly baked scones drizzled with honey wafted through the air.

While I ate, I proofread my report to Her Majesty.

Victor was the one who'd served me the delicious tea and scones, of course. And speaking of Victor...

Victor: "Oh, that Jude. He ripped another shirt of his!"

Victor: "Well, he is very well-acquainted with the edge of a knife, so I suppose it can't be helped."

Victor: "Ah! The buttons are coming off Harrison's jacket! He's so troublesome."

He was cheerfully sewing repairs into the clothes of the Crown members.

Kate: "Haha. I see you're hard at work, Victor."

Victor: "I certainly am! And when Jude sees his neatly repaired clothing. I just know what he'll say."

Jude: "Ya sewed it up for me? Not bad for Queenie's right-hand man. Appreciate it."

Victor: "Heheh, and then I'll get one of his rare smiles! And then Harrison will say..."

Harrison: "You're so considerate, Victor. How about I take you out for lunch sometime?"

Victor: "Heheh, and then we'll finally have a lunch date together! Just imagining it makes my heart race!"

(...I highly doubt either of them will say those things.)

Regardless, I was doing my job as Fairytale Keeper, working once again alongside the ever lively and cheerful queen's aide.

Being with Victor felt comfortable, and honestly it was the place I could relax the most.

The only problem was that his homemade sweets were too delicious, and I ended up eating way too much.

Victor: "Oh, that's right! I was just thinking I needed to alter something of yours as well."

Kate: "What?"

I widened my eyes when Victor snapped his fingers and produced a piece of clothing.

It was a beautiful, jet-black wedding dress.

Kate: "It's lovely!"

Victor: "Isn't it? It's a one-of-a-kind item, so it's not your size just yet."

Kate: "Hang on a second, Victor. I'm not following you here."

Obviously, I had no recollection of buying such a beautiful wedding dress, nor did I have the occasion to wear it.

Victor: "Hm?"

Victor: "Oh! I got ahead of myself there! I'm so silly!"

Victor shrugged and put the wedding dress aside, then gave me a serious look.

Victor: "There have been rumors circulating amongst couples in London about a certain organization called Amour."

Victor: "Supposedly, those who join the organization and get married at their facility can obtain 'eternal love'."

Kate: "This is the first I've heard of it. It sounds like fortune telling or a superstition. It's kind of laughable."

Victor: "Oh, I thought so too. Before the disappearances happened, at least."

Kate: "Disappearances?"

He explained the whole story to me.

Apparently, many couples who went to Amour's church disappeared.

Victor suspected there was something sinister happening, so he and William began to investigate.

The two of them discovered that the leader of Amour was behind it all.

Their theory was the man killed the couples to steal the money they'd been saving for their future together.

(That's horrible.)

I thought it was odd that Victor and William hadn't taken action yet, if they discovered that much so far.

Kate: "Is there any reason no one's condemned them yet?"

Victor: "Well, the leader doesn't usually show his face in public."

Victor: "He only appears at the wedding ceremonies."

(Oh, then that explains the wedding dress.)

Kate: "So in the other words, I'm going to have to pretend to be engaged to someone and infiltrate Amour."

Kate: "And when we have our wedding, the leader will appear and we can condemn him."

Victor: "Precisely! You're always so quick to catch on."

Kate: "So? Who's going to be my fiancé?"

Victor: "Well, as you can see by all these torn clothes, the members of Crown have been quite busy lately."

Victor: "Right now, I'm the only one who can accept the mission."

Victor: "In other words, Miss Kate..."

Victor: "Will you marry me?"

Kate: "Victor..."

Victor: "I, Victor, swear that I shall always protect you. I will never make you feel anxious or sad. So, what do you say?"

The way he looked at me with his eyes that sparkled like jewels made it difficult for me to say no.

Kate: "I'm the Fairytale Keeper after all, so I have no choice but to say yes. Please, let me go with you on this mission."

Victor: "Really?! Thank you, Kate! I'm so happy!"

Seeing how thrilled Victor was made me happy too.

(Come to think of it, this will be my first mission with Victor.)

(Except, wait a minute. If worse comes to worst... can Victor fight?)

He was fully competent with his work and household chores, but I'd never once seen him anything remotely close to combat.

And no matter how many times I tried to imagine it, all I could see was him happily skipping down the hallway.

(Well, that just means I'll have to protect him if anything happens!)

It would be a major incident if anything happened to the queen's aide.

Victor: "Now, let's give into the darkness of our wicked hearts. And also have a blast!"

==========

After we packed our bags, we headed to Amour's church.

Follower: "Welcome to Amour!"

The followers dressed in pure white clothes greeted us at the door.

We told them we'd like to have a wedding, and they all smiled brightly at us.

Follower: "Very well, then. First, we'll conduct a test to see if you two truly love each other."

(A test?)

(I guess I should've expected that, but... now what?)

I anxiously looked over at Victor, who firmly squeezed my hand.

It was like he was telling me it would be all right.

Victor: "Yes, of course. But you know, love is very difficult to prove since you can't see it with the naked eye."

Victor: "Therefore..."

Victor: "If I can make Kate smile in an instant, will you take that as proof that we love each other?"

The follower conferred with each other and then nodded at his suggestion.

Victor: "Thank you so much for being flexible, and for being so generous!"

Victor: "Now, everyone! May I have your attention, please?"

Victor: "I have here an ordinary jacket, but I'm going to shake it and make Kate's favorite flower appear!"

Follower: "...I guess he's doing some kind of magic thick?"

Victor: "Now, watch carefully. I'll shake the jacket and..."

Victor: "Ta-daaa!"

All of a sudden, a white dove flew out of Victor's jacket.

Followers: "Eek!"

Victor: "Whoa! Why doves?!"

Follower: "Open the windows! Quickly, open the windows!"

Kate: "I-I'll help you!"

Everyone quickly opened the windows, and the dove gracefully flew out and up to the sky.

(That startled me!)

Kate: "Heh..."

Victor: "Hm?"

Kate: "Pfft, ahahaha! Another dove?!"

Kate: "I swear, every time your magic tricks fail a dove appears! Ahaha!"

Follower: "Haha... That surprised me! I certainly wasn't expecting a dove."

Victor: "Well, all's well that ends well. She did end up smiling, after all!"

Follower: "A promise is a promise. We shall acknowledge that you two truly love each other."

Victor: "Wow, really? Thanks!"

The followers all chuckled with chagrin as they stood around Victor.

(I was afraid of what would happen if he failed, but he didn't only make me smile... He made everyone else smile too.)

Follower: "Well, then, let's hold the wedding tomorrow morning. Until then, you're free to do as you please."

End Ch.1

[pippastrelle]

Bulletpoint liveblog of C3E91 let's go!

Second half: Crown Keepers

Oh, is this where the Crownkeepers come in? I heard that. Haha I always wonder what it's like at the studio hiding the fact that, like, Robbie is there.

AABRIA! God, I want to know how her hair and makeup is done. It's so different and so cool nearly every time I see her. She's got such style.

Moment to appreciate the music they play during the art reel at the end of the break.

CROWNKEEPERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I actually never fully watched Kymal so the bunny woman was a surprise XD

The collaborativeness is nice, asking Anjali about her sister.

ahahaha god this platform. DON'T WHIPLASH MY EMOTIONS LIKE THIS! I'M CRYING OVER ORYM AND ALL!

….Me not having watched Kymal might confuse me for the next two hours.

Black lipstick will never not get me. Aimee.

Is Dorian going to reply to Orym's message??????

Good on Matt for starting off.

(Pleeeeease may they say this woman's name). Her character's Morrighan. Whoa, a champion of the Matron of Ravens.

The Crownkeepers have been having a real swell time.

(Fy'ra Rai has always been a great name to say). So, sent by the Wildmother to protect them.

Aww, Dorian feeling some consequences of his avoidance.

From an above-table perspective, I'm surprised they're all feeling so lost? I wonder if it was planned and if Aabria's going to suddenly give them a direction, or if they're reticent to set too much in stone?

OPAL'S BETRAYER GOD CHAMPION DESIGN IS SO SICK; I LOVE IT!

Sleep as an exhausting void… Creepy.

"Can I hear him?" "Make a wisdom save." Terrifying. "Shouting at you while running backwards." What a description.

I do love Opal, too. Such a situation but still trying to retain that image of her.

"We gotta get these chuckles out not." Whimper in terrified player.

I love Aabria's GM-ing in a lot of other things (ACOFAF is S-tier), but I think this highlights why I found EXU Prime harder to get into. The Crownkeepers tend to lack a motivating goal from the off-set, making it a bit hard for me to figure what they're trying to do and why.

Still, starting off with PVP might be the wakeup!

HA! Matt Mercer doing the ad read. Love it.

Spider Queen is intimidating and poor, poor Opal.

Holy shit, Opal's raising into the air and burning the forest. Hahaha make Aimee choose which friend to destroy. Awwww forcing her into PvP!

Goddddddd Aabria is the Betrayer God here.

Black eyessssssss. Magic second set of arms.

God, imagine being Aimee rn.

27 on initiative??????

THE DARIAX ROLLS RETURN!

At least Opal can communicate her panic.

HASTE ON OPAL???? HA! VENMO TO HASTE THE ENEMY!

The Dariax rolls balance Morrighan's.

Aw, sweet with Morrighan and Opal whispering telepathically.

Amazing image of stone cold Opal in contrast.

I like how Matt and Aabria pop in with lessons for the others. Nice to see players propping each other up.

CRYSTAL RAPIER? NICE!

"She's just a little guy."

Absolutely fair, seeing weird shit for your Betrayer God Champion friend and just wanting to knock her the fuck out.

Kind of Anjali to tally up the numbers as they roll.

Eeeeeek, ripping a rapier down her thigh.

OPAL DOESN'T TAKE THE DAMAGE????? IS THAT A REACTION OR????

TED!

Hahaha "if Opal did crossfit".

(I googled it. Morrighan is played Erica.)

Oh christ Ted's helping. I wonder how much Morrighan knows about Ted.

"NONONO STOP!" as verbal component for Shield is fantastic.

I don't trust that this is Ted?? Does Ted know Opal's fucked right now??

"Why's the first thing you do drawing blood?" Well, because it's D&D.

Haste lets you go get a hotdog from Arby's. Vax knew this well.

Aabria's English accent is so American-version-of-English but I like how it sounds anyway.

Let the ashhole return, cowards!

Yeah, Robbie, this is a weird situation. Dorian's just choking on his flute. Yeah, trying to restrain Opal is a good plan. NO! NAT 20 minus 1 + 4 plus 13. Aimee/Opal, go! Get! It!

Nice, Aabria, failing forward is a lesson we can all incorporate.

NAT ONE PLUS 13?? ROBBIE! Cannot catch a break.

T_T Fy'ra being betrayyyyyed again. Ooh, very very cool from Anjali calling for a flashback.

(We still never got the response to Orym. Has that happened yet or it that going to be the bookend? I'm curious what this is going to mean for the actual campaign. It's a really fun idea to bring in another GM for a section. Sure, more Actual PlayTM than homegame but Matt at least gets to play.)

Haha Anjali welcome to the DM club! I know about this from the Ginny Di video. Anjali DMed an official lego game.

Can they free Opal?

Ohhh. The Wildmother wants this? Am I misunderstanding? Shit.

They can't separate Opal from the crown.

Love how different people set their dice.

Never take advice from GM Aabria :P

Holy shit these guys roll high.

I hardly ever see people take the dodge action.

I do like Opal a lot.

So the Spider Queen is just trying to full take over Opal. I wonder if Teven or the other Betrayer God Champion had this sort of thing happen.

GO AWAY FOREVER??? THEIR MOTHER DID THIS TO OPAL AND TED?? Evalux? A splinter group? I'M SO CONFUSED AND INTRIGUED! THE BEACON'S INVOLVED??? How tf did they get it in Byroden? So there's a splinter of Luxon followers who split themselves in one life instead? God, I hope the main cast get to watch this.

…..And Opal has no memory of it. Will we ever get this information?

Erica continues to roll like a god.

The turns have felt both long and fast. I've still got, like, an hour and a half.

I love how Matt describes/contextualises things, even as a player.

HA! CYRUS IS HERE?!

ROLL PERFORMANCE FOR HANDJOB

A 7!!!!!

Bless is good. Dariax panicking is great.

XD God initiative takes a long time in a big group.

THE ROLLS! THE DARIAX ROLLS!

Ah! Dariax is a bard! Yeah! So cuuuute for the Double Ds. "THE PERFORMING ARTS IS WORTH IT!"

So. All of them are blind in the darkness. Awesome, awesome move, Aimee.

Hahhahahahaha right. Warlock. No spell slots.

XD It's such a long game. No loo breaks.

SQUIRREL SPIDER FTW

Gotta love Cyrus. "NO DON'T SHOOT!" The himbo persists.

….Matt, what did you get for the WIS save?

PALADIN COMES IN FOR THE SAVE!

Hahahaha "that could can see". Okay. Blind mistystep? …..I'm sure 8 will get it.

Aww, attacking your friend's going to leave a bad taste in your mouth. Lay on Hands is good.

I appreciate Aabria's helpfulness as a GM.

Fy'ra good teammate.

Opal, again, is amazing. I love how she tackles such complex things in her very Her way. Preserves drama and humour in her self-absorbtion.

I wonder how Opal washes her hair under that crown?

Well, some allowance for fighting when Opal attacked them? Obvs harder emotionally than logically.

Aww everyone got to see the memory of Opal and Morrighan bonding.

HA! LOVE FY'RA BEING COMMANDER!

Dorian is forever clanking with all the instruments he carries. T_T 9 to dispel fails. Good plan though. Until back into the darkness he goes.

I like the idea of going back to the Crownkeepers, especially as a perspective on Opal and Dorian, but I'm two hours into this section and still don't quite get the full significance of it. Which is a shame. I still have faith, but I think this encounter would be more enjoyable if I understood better why we were seeing it in the Bell's Hells campaign.

I've always respected Opal/Aimee going in on being the asshole sister. Getting to see that perspective.

The gem flashbacks are cool.

"We can both be coins." "And we're richer for it!" Amazing. Great pun. Love Fy'ra. Love Ted coaching Opal.

Max offering blind Dariax up on a plate. Respect.

I LOVE MATT AS DARIAX! SO FUNNY!

Con sorcerer is smart.

Aabria has no luck against Dariax.

I'm sure that 9 WIS will help perception.

BARDIC COMES IN CLUTCH!

DIMENSION DOOR IS A BONUS ACTION?!

I. Love. Opal. Aimee plays her and her struggles and her relationships with everyone so well and nuanced. Dariax is a well-done character too. Real even behind the humour.

I leapt too, Aimee. Holy shit what the fuck, Spider Queen?

(Fuck you, Twitch, for skipping, my god).

Oh god, Cyrus, don't die.

Nooooo, Dariax. Living nightmares. Him and Dorian seeing their nightmares.

Spider Queen Opal wtf.

Pick up next week? Huh. I… am confused by this. Interesting encounter. I liked the drama between the Crown Keepers. But, again, I don't understand the significance for the Bell's Hells? So I reckon next week will be first half Crown Keepers, second half Bell's Hells. Huh. Interesting episode. It was fun, though I really don't deny still being on the edge of my seat to find out what's happening with the BH.

[jazlynriddle]

Welcome to your life - Pt 3:

It's My Own Design Ch 19:

Summary:

Ominis fought to control his expression, to keep his hands from trembling. Five years. Five years since he'd seen his parents, and this. This was the reason they'd given him the honour of their time? This was the reason they'd sought him out at Hogwarts?

The bitterness welling up within him was thick enough to gag on.

New year, new allies, new responsibilities, new avenues of revenue, and new aspects of their own Ancient Magic to explore. As the Keeper and their partners enter their last year at Hogwarts, it remains to be seen if the new school year will bring with it new problems or adversaries, but they are confident in the strength of their relationship with Sebastian and Ominis. The three of them would endure, no matter what befell them.

And if they were wrong?

What a joke, they would suffer no alternative.

Warnings: Sebastian x MC x Ominis! Drug Addiction! Spoilers! Slow-burn corruption! Dark content! Fucked up 1800s orphanages! MC has no love for Anne or Solomon! Dubious happy ending (it's happy for MC, Seb and Ominis at least).

You can also read on AO3! (chapter specific warnings below)

Notes:

Warnings: Torture, mentions of past sexual assault.

God, I am so tired, I'm seriously considering dropping my upload schedule and just posting when I have a chapter ready, because meeting this deadline was painful. But at the same time, I know that’s because this and last chapter’s notes required like its own chapter’s worth of thought and writing, and next chapter will be less heavy and back to moving the plot along-

And I shouldn't have started uploading a second fic at this timing lol, that was some terrible planning right there. I really didn't think the notes for that one would end up being so much work too.

Speaking of a second fic, if ya'll interested, I have been uploading a second fic, Heavy Is The Crown! It's Ominis/Sebastian, a what-if the Keeper wasn't MC, where that MC fucked off and did their own thing and Sebastian got super depressed without their support and Ominis just went off the rails in an attempt to keep Sebastian Sebastian. If you're interested in some dark ass porn with a happy ending (because I only write happy endings), feel free to hop over there haha

Oh that reminds me, remember how I said this chapter’s notes wouldn’t be as long as last? Well, I seem to have lied... oops, I swear I didn't mean to- x’D

Edit: Forgot to add that I'll be skipping an upload again, I've got painful new year family reunion stuff to deal with OTL so the next chapter will be in 4 weeks!

FYI, some less common terminology that I use in this chapter; The term “guttersnipe” was a slur used to refer to homeless children who lived or spent a lot of time in the streets, scavenging in gutters for sustenance. And a “constitutional” was a posh way of referring to a walk or stroll for health. The terms “guv” or “guv'nor” are short for “governor” and were slangs used to refer to a superior or someone higher than oneself in the hierarchy, kind of like “boss”. Oh, and a reminder that “bobby” was a slang for police.

There was a faint click as the Keeper snapped a silver collar shut around the neck of one Frederick Taylor. His unconscious form sprawled out on a thin mattress in the third cell of Dìon's dungeons, chained by his wrists and ankles to the cot's metal frame.

Slipping a finger under Borgok's goblin silver collar, the Keeper tugged on it just once, confirming that it was loose enough to breathe while remaining secure, before straightening.

“Here you go.” Sebastian grinned, offering them an open jar of E-Pain energy.

Giving him a fond nod of thanks, the Keeper slipped their wand into the opening of the jar and withdrew the tiniest sliver of energy. Sebastian had always seemed oddly enthusiastic about helping them with their work. Even back when they were exploring together in fifth-year, and - aside from that one time he'd gotten impatient - it'd only become stronger as time passed.

They did wonder from time to time what Sebastian got out of being their faithful assistant, but it was cute enough that they didn't see the need to question it too much. Setting such thoughts aside, the Keeper cautiously lowered the small bubble of energy onto the band of silver and with a hiss the red smoke fizzled, melding into the metal and turning it bright red.

Before they could do anything else however, there was another faint click, and the Keeper leaned backwards in surprise, when the man let out a shriek and jolted awake, his eyes snapping wide open and his body going shock stiff. The Keeper observed with intrigue, the red that glowed in his pupils for a brief moment, before fading as he went limp, trembling on the mattress while sweat beaded on his brow.

“Well, a very good morning to you, Mr. Taylor.” The Keeper gave him a sardonic smirk. “Would you mind telling me what you're feeling?”

They could hear Sebastian snickering behind them, and Frederick's wide eyes darted about, his chest heaving for breath, and the collar around his neck - once again - empty and silver.

“Who- wher-” He gasped out, trying to move and, realising that his limbs were chained down, immediately began struggling against them.

“Your wife placed a bounty on your head, Mr. Taylor.” The Keeper explained, watching impassively as he froze, staring at them in shock. “I accepted the job and as such, you are now at my mercy.”

The man stared silently for several minutes, and they started to wonder if he was too hung over to think. See, that's why the Keeper never let their ol’ gov'nor push them into drinking alcohol. That shit was too unpredictable, and they'd never felt safe enough to try something that could potentially cost them their self-control.

Rather abruptly however, Frederick's face contorted with fury, and he practically launched himself from the cot, or at least attempted to, serving only to jostle the mattress and rattle his chains.

“I knew she still had money from her parents!” Frederick seethed, his face red with anger. “Fucking lying cunt!”

Sebastian and the Keeper both stared at him incredulously as he cursed and swore up a storm. Really? That was what the man was focused on?

Becoming irritated - when it didn't seem like he intended to stop anytime soon - the Keeper slapped him soundly across the face, glaring down at the pathetic man imperiously. “You seem to be under some misconceptions. Mrs. Taylor only offered me a percentage of your assets - as well as your person - in payment.”

To their surprise, the man glared back at them, his eyes crazed. “You really believe she can't afford to pay you? Didn't know mercenaries took charity jobs.”

“I'll sooner believe the woman offering me money than the man who beat his wife and killed his elf.” The Keeper scoffed.

Though, they supposed he did have a point, could they really say they were abiding by Ominis’ wish, for them to avoid targeting innocents, if they didn't verify guilt? A contractor could say anything after all. Perhaps they should do something more next time. This man, on the other hand, was already as good as convicted of the crime of abusing and murdering his elf.

“Elf? I didn't- it's- Tobbs is dead?” Frederick stared at them in disbelief and the Keeper sneered, he wasn't even denying the first allegation.

They ground their teeth together in anger. “You left your elf without supplies in a cave infested with spiders, what the fuck did you think was going to happen!?”

The Keeper's hand twitched with the itch to drive their Fear-coated dagger into his thigh, but they restrained themselves, it wouldn't do to put him into a coma before they'd run a few tests with the collar first.

“How’s it my fault if the elf died in there!?” The man spluttered. “Thought it could handle a few bugs. Them house elves are so damn powerful, and what do you care? The thing was my property, it's my business what I do with my elf and my bitch wife.”

Their vision went red, that indifference, irresponsibility, the fucking apathy.

Not my problem, I just hand out the rations, kid.

Don't bother me, I'm on break. Bein’ a bobby ain't easy, urchin. Now scram.

It's your own fault for fighting. Just give them what they want.

God only punishes the sinful, child. Think about what you might have done to deserve this, then pray for forgiveness and accept your punishment with humility.

Just because it doesn't hurt you. Lazy, callous, haughty ignorance that sealed the fate of those beneath these scum. Did the man think elves could cast magic when they were starving to death? No, he just didn't think, didn't care enough to think further than his own convenience.

Wilful stupidity was truly sickening. Letting one think themselves unburdened by the guilt and accountability of all the evil their very ignorance brought about and allowed to propagate. Turning away from the domino effects of their actions and inaction.

Ignorance is bliss only for the ignorant. It's hell for everyone else.

Pushing the problem to someone else over and over, and who gets left carrying the bag? The ones at the bottom of the rung, those whose only sin was being born there, those who did nothing but their best, and got nothing but hate and disregard. Close your eyes, look away, bury your head in the sand, but the problem remains, the suffering remains, and it just keeps getting passed on, growing larger and larger each time.

There's always someone further down the rung. Always someone to inherit all the pain and anger. All the injustice and cruelty.

High-minded filth, it burned within the Keeper's clenched fists, the near endless rage that only grew every time they had been kicked aside by people who could have helped them. Hollow eyes filled with disgust and mockery, looking at the Keeper like all the street children were beneath them.

Die. Every last one of you.

Sebastian's eyes widened when the Keeper went from standing stiffly by Frederick's cot, to strangling the life out of him within a split second. He was frozen for a moment in surprise, but at the man's choked gurgles, he moved forward to grasp their shoulder.

“Love, you know if you kill him we won't be able to run Ominis’ tests, right?” Sebastian chuckled nervously, freezing when he got a good look at their face under the dim light.

Their pupils had dilated into pinpricks, an almost rabid variant of enraged insanity that he'd never seen before, no joy, no distance, he didn't think they'd even heard him.

He'd seen them grinning wildly as they slaughtered Ashwinders, had seen their greedy and almost child-like delight when experimenting, their panic when they'd lost control of their magic, and their ecstasy when taking Pain energy or when he brought them pleasure. He'd seen their broken and lonely grief when the Hebridean Black died, he'd seen their cold analytical gaze, and even sadistic playfulness.

He'd seen so many sides of them, had so many different reactions to them, from arousal to pain to amusement.

Now, Sebastian felt something new prickling in his chest, fear.

There’d always been a sense about the Keeper, like they were somehow removed from everything that happened around them. Like they were watching the world play out before them with impassive interest, and he’d found that fascinating. Whatever they were experiencing now, however, was something visceral and almost familiar.

He wasn’t sure why, but the memory of casting the killing curse on his uncle flashed through his mind. He felt like what they were feeling was hurting them just as much as they were hurting Frederick right now, and - for the first time - Sebastian felt like that anger was standing between him and the Keeper, like a wall.

“Hey, love, you need to stop.” Sebastian reiterated, pulling at them and trying to pry their fingers from around the man's neck.

Now their attention finally turned to him, and for a brief second, he felt that fear spike when the anger in their eyes was also turned on him. His hands lost their grip on the Keeper’s, before something far more unexpected happened, pain bloomed on his cheek and the sound of impact rang in his ears, his vision abruptly turned to the side.

It took a few seconds of stunned silence for him to realise what had even happened, touching a hand to his cheek in disbelief, they'd just backhanded him.

His eyes flickered to the Keeper’s face and their horrified expression. He took an instinctive step backwards and they immediately flinched, before reaching out to him.

“S- Sebastian, I- I'm sorry, I didn't- I wasn't-” Their uncharacteristic stammer, the tremor in their voice, and their cold fingers brushing lightly against his hot cheek, snapped him out of his shock.

“It- it's okay.” Sebastian shook his head, taking their hand slowly. “I mean, we're even now.”

He chuckled weakly, thinking of the time he'd attacked them in the Undercroft when he was furious about Poppy and when he'd lashed out at them verbally on the mountain. They might not have blamed him for those incidents of him hurting them, but it didn't change the fact that he had.

He left their cold hand to rest on his cheek, and wrapped his arms around their waist, holding them close, listening to their shaky breaths by his ear. He knew better than most how easy it was to lose control when emotions are running high. To take an action that feels right in the moment, only to wish you could take it back when all was said and done.

The Keeper shook their head, trying to make sense of what just happened, they'd hit him. Sebastian. They'd hit Sebastian. How did that even happen-

They'd just- what was he thinking? Trying to stop them when they were this angry. No, it wasn't his fault. They'd lost control in front of him, of course he'd try to stop them. This was Sebastian, the bravest idiot they'd ever known. They couldn't blame him for their own loss of discipline.

They clutched at him, fingers clenching tight in the cloth on his back, burying their face in his shoulder. “I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you, I just- I was so angry-”

“I know. You were just trying to shake my hand off.” Sebastian's voice was soft and warm, understanding and gentle in their ear, and the Keeper took a deep breath, letting his steady presence calm their nerves.

There was relief mingled in the mess of feelings clogging up their brain, relief that Sebastian wasn’t angry or blaming them, gratitude that he was offering them comfort and support while they came to terms with what had happened. The deafening heartbeat pounding in their ears gradually quietening in his embrace.

To their immense irritation however, the coughing and choking man on the cot chose this moment to splutter. “W- what? Not gonna- not gonna finish the job? Fuckin’ psycho.”

The Keeper wondered to themselves if the man just had no survival instinct or if his brain had stopped working with a combination of alcohol and oxygen deprivation, but his next words gave them pause.

“Do it. Kill me, not like I have anything left. Fucking muggle bastards were right, guttersnipe like me have no future.” His mutterings were bitter and resigned. “If they hadn't died... if I'd been born to richer folk, or rich magical parents, I'd never have married that bitch, I'd have had everything I wanted, I'd have been happy, I wouldn't have ended up here...”

The Keeper stiffened at his words, a distant memory that they'd long buried surfacing in their mind. Spitting into the face of the man who would spend the next five years fucking their throat, using them and whoring them out to his lackies, screaming their defiance at fate.

...there's no difference! No difference between us! If I had what you have-

So, you think you'd do as well as me if you had my wealth, my power? Think you'd never need to beg again?

Better. I'd do better.

Very well, let's play a little game then, pretty bird...

They squeezed their eyes closed, pressing their face harder against Sebastian's shoulder, taking a deep breath of his scent, trying desperately to force the rest of that memory away, the disgust and fear they'd felt then. Icy phantom hands on their body, prying their thighs apart, touching places that made them want to vomit.

“Crucio.” Sebastian's voice was now hard and cold, rumbling from his chest under their ear, and the sound of Frederick screaming was soothing to their agitated heart.

They were safe now, they were powerful now, they had Sebastian and Ominis. The Keeper's skin prickled, they wanted to have Sebastian's warm hands on their body, wanted his nails to scrape away the lingering itch on their knees and thighs. Wanted to taste Ominis on their tongue again, wanted to vomit till their stomach was empty and fill themselves with Ominis and Sebastian instead.

The Keeper shook their head as the screams eventually ceased, struggling to suppress their thoughts. This wasn't the time for that, they'd come down here with a task. There was only a week of the Christmas holidays left, and they needed to focus if they wanted to reassure Ominis before school started again.

They loosened their grip on Sebastian, leaning back while he peered at their face with concerned eyes, and the Keeper sighed, giving him a soft kiss. “I'm alright now, thank you.”

“You sure?” He asked, brushing a hand over their hair gently and they could feel that touch in their heart.

With a strained smile, the Keeper nodded. “I just- he brought back some bad memories.”

“Do you... want to talk about it?” Sebastian asked tentatively, shifting on the spot with an adorable awkwardness.

They chuckled fondly, comforted to see that nothing had changed. “Maybe later. For now… I should probably get back to work.”

The Keeper pulled out a wiggenweld and offered it to Sebastian, who gave them a bemused grin that clearly said, ‘really? Me first? The one who got an accidental smack, not the guy you strangled and I then subsequently crucio-ed’.

Shrugging, the Keeper gave him a smirk, which got them a soft huff and an eye roll, before he took the vial and raised it to his lips while they turned their attention back to Frederick. It was... surprising that the man was perhaps not the well-off fucker that they'd expected.

A part of them was deeply unsettled to find that the pathetic creature lying on that cot was like them, that someone who'd survived coming from the streets could become exactly like the people who'd oppressed them. It challenged their belief that only those who had not suffered like they had, could be so unconscious, so uncaring of the suffering of others.

They'd thought it was their suffering that separated them from the other entitled spoiled children that ran about Hogwarts. That their roots were the source of the rift between them and the people who didn't understand how fortunate they were, but perhaps not.

This man had the same understanding of the world that the Keeper had, that one's birth and circumstances dictated their lives, yet it didn't make him more aware of the suffering of those beneath him. He hadn't learnt the same lessons they had.

What was different? They wondered. Being admitted to Hogwarts at eleven instead of fifteen? Was that enough to change his trajectory so vastly? The Keeper knew they couldn't take full credit for all their achievements, a lot of them were only achievable thanks to their fortune and the power they'd been born with.

They did however, take pride in their efforts to make the most of the opportunities they'd been given, all the hard work and constant struggle to become stronger, smarter, and wiser. Sebastian had shown that same dedication to personal growth, as had Ominis even in spite of his fear of change. Perhaps for reasons unknowable to them, Frederick simply hadn't and thus never came to this realisation.

The Keeper shook their head, whatever the case, these were questions they would never get an answer to. The man had essentially murdered Tobbs, beaten his wife and left his child to be torn apart by a wolf. With that track record, leaving a man like him to his own devices would likely result in yet more harm, but it didn't matter how he'd ended up here. Not to them at least, not anymore.

Regardless of the path he'd been placed upon, Frederick had ended up in their way thanks to his mistakes and, unfortunately for him, those mistakes made him someone they could use, without hurting Ominis. The Keeper needed a test subject to protect their interests and unlike Fredrick, they weren't going to blame anyone else for what they were about to do.

This had nothing to do with justice or righteousness or moral high ground, nor because he deserved this fate, he was simply going to suffer and die for their future.

For the future that they needed, and anyone else in their way would suffer the same fate.

That was all anyone could do.

Taking a deep breath, the Keeper set aside their thoughts and musings, taking the half-empty vial that Sebastian returned to them and carrying it over to Frederick.

“Unfortunately for you, you're no good to me dead. Open your mouth.” The Keeper ordered the wary man lying on the cot and when he made no move to follow their instruction, they narrowed their eyes sharply. “This is either going down your throat or your windpipe. Choose.”

Taking their warning seriously, the man opened his mouth, and they dumped the remaining wiggenweld into it unceremoniously, before setting aside the empty vial and picking the jar of E-Pain energy up again.

The collar had activated and injected the Pain immediately last time, even though they hadn't pressed anything or cast any spell. What had activated it? The Keeper frowned as they extracted another tiny bulb of energy with their wand, before setting the jar down and grabbing Frederick by the hair to hold him in place, while they refilled the collar.

Once again, however, the collar immediately injected all its E-Pain till it was depleted.

They ground their teeth in frustration, what were they doing wrong? They'd even gone with E-Pain rather than any other variants, so that it would be as close to what Ranrok had worked with as possible. There also didn't seem to be any change in the collar once energy was added, how did Ranrok tell the collar not to inject? Or when to inject?

The Keeper continued trying three more times, with varying amounts of energy, but the results remained the same. Each time, the collar immediately injected every drop of energy bound within it, and every time, it caused Frederick visible amounts of pain.

“Argh!” The Keeper kicked one of the cot's legs in frustration. “Why does it keep releasing immediately?”

“How about we take a break for now? We can have tea with Ominis and try again after we're refreshed.”

The Keeper didn't need to look to tell that Sebastian's expression was concerned, and while they itched to snap that they were fine, they knew it wasn't true. They were still on edge after what happened and they would be the biggest hypocrite if they told Ominis to get some sleep to refresh himself three days ago, and didn't follow their own advice.

Taking a breath and forcing down their pride, the Keeper swallowed and turned to give him a stiff nod. “You're right. We can come back after tea.”

Sebastian gave them a hopeful smile and held up their satchel for them to drop the jar into. With a grateful nod, the Keeper took their satchel and led the way out of the cell towards the staircase. They could leave Frederick chained to the cot for now, since they would be coming back in just an hour or so.

Still, it was hard to imagine that a break would help, this was the first time they'd absolutely no leads whatsoever and it was indescribably frustrating.

As they climbed the stairwell, the sound of Sebastian's footsteps came to a halt behind them, and the Keeper stopped as well. “Sebastian? Is something wrong?”

His expression was troubled. “What that man said earlier. Am I doing the same thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“He blamed his wife, his parents, for the mistakes he's made. He blamed his elf for not protesting his own negligence.” Sebastian's expression became pained. “I-”

He sat down on a step and the Keeper slowly lowered themselves to sit beside him, brows furrowed in concern.

“I've been having this thought.” Sebastian whispered, like a confession. “That I wish Anne had told me that she didn't want me to save her at all costs. Am I doing the same thing? Blaming a victim for not telling me that she didn't approve of what I was doing? Should I have pressed harder till she told me the truth, was I the negligent one? Should I have stopped?”

“No.” The Keeper shook their head. “I highly doubt Frederick's wife encouraged him to hit her, in contrast, Anne acted like she wanted to be cured. I was there, I saw how excited and hopeful she was when you brought her a Shrivelfig. I heard her agree to the ritual, even after you told her it required a dark sacrifice. It's not your fault you believed what she was showing and saying.”

Sebastian watched them silently, and they took his hand. “She told me that she knew you meant well, she just didn't believe that it was possible to break the curse, she believed Solomon. That's why Anne felt your actions were not worth the risk, it's not your fault she agreed with Solomon. We'll show her that it's possible and I'm sure it'll change her mind.”

His eyes were starting to regain some of their brightness, and the Keeper placed a soft kiss on his forehead. “You're nothing like that pathetic man. Anne changed her mind and didn't explain herself to you or give you the chance to change course. It's perfectly reasonable for you to wish she had been honest with you.”

They still remembered the look on Anne's face when Sebastian killed the goblin with Imperio to save her life. That was probably the point when her view of him had started to change. That look of fear, like she didn't know him. She'd stopped trusting him, and for what? Saving her life in a societally unacceptable way?

How was what Sebastian did any different from killing the goblin with a blade? Or Solomon, who was also killing the attacking goblins - just with legal spells - or the villagers who used cabbages to do the same? It wasn't like Sebastian had been violent towards her like Frederick had his wife.

Anne never even tried to talk about her misgivings with Sebastian or Ominis or even the Keeper themselves, if she was worried about Sebastian, she could've said something. There were so many things Anne could have done besides simply agreeing to the ritual when Sebastian told her about it. Though, they knew why she hadn't, because deep down, she did want to be cured. Of course, who wouldn't?

Even so, if you say and do one thing, but mean another, you can't blame the other person for failing to read your mind and figure out what you really mean. If you don't state your boundaries and limits clearly, you don't get to be righteously furious when someone steps over them.

It wasn't her fault for being torn, but it was on her for not communicating her feelings and boundaries to Sebastian.

“Thanks, I think I've been needing to hear that for a while.” Sebastian sighed, giving them a grateful smile. “You're right, as usual. And it's not like I didn't try other things. I mean, I am fascinated by Dark Magic, but I did try everything else I could think of. I know the healers know more healing magic than I could ever know, so I was looking at every unconventional method I could find.”

“Yeah, you begged me to use my Ancient Magic when that seemed like a feasible solution.” In a way that had shown how much he believed in them too, the Keeper returned his smile fondly, a pang of sadness in their heart… and how little he thought anyone could care about him.

Please. If not for me, then for Anne.

The Keeper had wanted to laugh in disbelief, silly boy, they had far less reason to risk antagonising the Elder Keepers for Anne, than they did Sebastian himself. He had done so much for them already by then, it was so sad that Sebastian didn't think his earnestness and effort would inspire any sort of reciprocation from them.

That Anne would somehow be favoured by them purely for... what? Being a girl? For looking weak and pitiful? For dying from a curse? There were so many innocent children dying on the streets every day. If the world worked that way, there would be far less suffering than there was.

The Keeper wondered if Sebastian had expected that because his uncle favoured her for reasons he couldn’t understand. They kind of wanted to ask, but...

“Speaking of Ancient Magic, why not try using it on the collar? Or maybe try using Frederick's own pain to fill his collar?” Sebastian asked, his eyes sliding off to the side, and the Keeper understood that he was trying to change the subject.

Well, that was fine, Sebastian was the type to think further on his own over time, the Keeper gave him a small smile but shook their head. “Ranrok didn't have Ancient Magic, nor any means to extract E-Pain, so that's unlikely to be the solution. Though it's certainly a brilliant idea to try using his own E-Pain, I'll do that when I figure out how the collar works. Good thinking.”

Face brightening at the praise, Sebastian got to his feet and offered them a hand. “Let's talk about this with Ominis then, he might have some ideas too.”

The Keeper nodded and took his hand, letting him pull them up, and the two went together to find their pretty boyfriend.

It took a while, but they eventually found Ominis in the first-floor library.

The Keeper poked their head through the wooden doors, spotting the blond standing by the northern wall, through the hollow rows of yet empty bookshelves. Before they could even call out, Sebastian flew past them - and the shelves - tackling Ominis with a big bear hug, while the Keeper followed at a more sedate pace.

“I was starting to wonder if I would be having tea alone today.” Ominis gave an exasperated chuckle as Sebastian peppered his face with happy kisses.

“You can thank Sebastian for dragging my arse up here.” The Keeper gave him a fond grin, before looking up at the portrait that Ominis had been mounting on the wall. “This is a good spot. Good afternoon, Professor Fig.”

“It's very nice to see you again, my young friend.” The elderly man in the painting smiled down at the Keeper with familiar warm eyes, and they felt a twinge of pain in their chest at the sight. “I'm told that you were with me in my last moments, I'm very sorry that you have to carry that.”

“It's been difficult, and I'll admit to having missed you more than I expected.” The Keeper shrugged and was rather happy to see that the portrait - bearing Fig's memories - understood their brand of affectionate humour too.

Fig beamed proudly, and clasped his hands together with that boyish enthusiasm that often had them forgetting that he was almost a century older than them. “I'll never be a replacement, but I'll do my best to give you the support he would have.”

The Keeper gave him a grateful nod. “How far back do your memories go?”

“Just after you went to subdue the Lord of the Shore.” The portrait answered with a playful glimmer in his eyes. “I stopped by my portrait for the last time, before going to meet you in the map chamber.”

“Alright, I'll extract my memories of you - past that point - and stop by later to give them to you.” The Keeper nodded.

“Excellent, I appreciate you giving my secondary frame a wonderful view of the sunrise, and I look forward to hearing how your adventure with the Graphorn unfolded!” Fig bounced in his portrait with palpable excitement and the Keeper could feel the empty place in their heart finally begin to ache a little less.

If only they could have a portrait of Lodgok too, but no witch or wizard would paint a goblin, and once more, they cursed the senseless bigotry against goblinkind.

“You subdued a graphorn!?” Ominis exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes filled with alarm.

The Keeper chuckled, reminded that the boys were still present and observing the interaction with interest. “Yes, I still have the Lord of the Shore in my vivarium back in Hogwarts’ room of requirement.”

“You own a graphorn!?” Sebastian exclaimed in amazement, his eyes wide with excitement.

The Keeper laughed and patted Sebastian on the head. “You'll get to see him when our vivariums are ready for me to move them into. Wait till you see my phoenix.”

“A phoenix... that's incredible. How did you find something so rare?” Ominis murmured and the Keeper was rather relieved that he wasn't kicking up a fuss about the graphorn. Maybe he thought they'd managed to win it over without a fight, and they certainly weren't going to correct him, unless he asked directly.

“There were poachers after it and Deek asked me to rescue it.” The Keeper answered simply with a shrug.

“Ugh, wish we could visit the legendary Room of Requirement to see what it looks like.” Sebastian grumbled, dropping his chin on Ominis’ shoulder.

“Maybe closer to our graduation, when Professor Weasley isn't as much of a concern.” The Keeper grinned wryly, and Sebastian glanced at the portrait with some uncertainty, but to his apparent surprise, Fig didn't seem disapproving of their words, in fact...

“A wise choice!” The portrait of Fig laughed. “And I am certain she won't mind you sharing the secret before you graduate, it'll be your last chance to see the wonders of Hogwarts. And, strict as she may be, Professor Weasley understands what the school means to many of its students.”

“I'll take your word for it, sir.” The Keeper chuckled and before they could speak further, Sebastian's stomach made a soft sound. Giving him an amused smile, they pressed a kiss to his pink cheek. “Shall we head to tea then?”

“It certainly sounds like we should.” Ominis giggled, drawing a pout from Sebastian for their amusement at his expense, before Ominis pressed his palms together, beaming happily. “Oh, and Tibsy said she made cheesecake for tea today, the milk finally finished ageing.”

Wearing an eager grin, Sebastian made no protest as the blond took his hand and pulled him towards the stairs. The Keeper was about to follow, when the portrait spoke again.

“I see that you've become very close to Mr Gaunt and Mr Sallow.” Fig smiled softly. “I'm glad that you've found people to love.”

“I-” The Keeper paused, swallowing around the thickness in their throat, thinking of what they'd done only a while ago in Frederick's cell. “I'm- I thought... I thought I knew what that meant. But I'm not sure I do. I'll admit that I’m becoming scared. I have so much power. I'm not sure I'm the right person to wield it. I'm not sure I won't accidentally hurt those I love.”

The professor's eyes were sad and sympathetic. “You can never really know if you'll hurt others in the pursuit of your goals, no matter how well intentioned. My dearest Miriam didn't intend to leave me, but she was only human, and we all make mistakes. I cannot tell you how deeply I wish I'd stopped her.”

They closed their eyes, they'd hurt Ominis this way too. Even Sebastian both had and had been.

Fig smiled. “But I say that only with the knowledge that she would not come home. I know, deep down, that I never would have stopped her. While the result caused me grief, I do not begrudge her for chasing Ancient Magic, thinking only of the good it could do. I don't blame her for doing what she believed in, even if it ended up hurting me. I'm sure they feel the same way, as do you.”

The Keeper gazed into his eyes as the professor spoke. “Don't expect yourself to be perfect, it is not possible to be truly worthy of power, we can only try our best with the power that is given to us.”

Nodding slowly, the Keeper allowed his words to sink in and gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you for your advice. It’s good to have you back, Professor.”

“You are most welcome, my young friend.” The elderly portrait beamed brightly as the sound of footsteps returned.

“Rove? Yu comin’?” Sebastian called out, his mouth full of cheesecake as he poked his head back into the library, brown eyes peering curiously at them.

“I'll see you later then, Professor.” The Keeper gave Fig a nod of farewell and followed the brunet out of the library.

“...so, Sebastian suggested that we take a break, and we left to find you.” The Keeper took a sip of their tea, still feeling slightly uncomfortable after explaining what had happened in Fredrick’s cell, but at least it was over and done with. Though they'd left out Sebastian’s casting of the Cruciatus curse in their retelling.

“I swear, it barely hurt. I was more startled than anything else.” Sebastian insisted, before shoving the last bite of his cheesecake into his mouth, and the Keeper gave him a grateful smile.

“Well, I'm glad that you returned to your senses without anything worse occurring.” Ominis frowned with some concern. “It must have been a pretty awful memory he brought back.”

“...memories. He reminded me of the people who turned a blind eye to suffering. My suffering.” The Keeper sighed. “But I guess, I now see how easy it could have been, to turn out like him.”

“Well, you didn't. And that's what matters.” Ominis’ voice was firm, and the Keeper considered the likelihood that he often worried about such possibilities too. It was pretty high.

“Yeah, if you had, we probably wouldn't be here.” Sebastian nodded, leaning over to steal a bit of Ominis’ cheesecake with his fork, only for the blond to catch him by the wrist, his eyes narrow, and Sebastian retreated with a pout.

“I'm not sure if that's reassuring or not.” The Keeper chuckled.

“It should be, it means we wouldn't be interested in having anyone else in your spot.” Sebastian shrugged and took a drink of his tea.

“Guess I’ll have to work hard to keep you two invested.” The Keeper leaned back in their seat with a wry smile.

“Don't overdo it though, taking a break isn't the same as quitting.” Ominis had a knowing glint in his eyes as he said this, and Sebastian's face lit up, when Ominis cut the remainder of his cheesecake in half and held it up in his direction.

Watching with a fond smile, as Sebastian happily took the offered bite, the Keeper nodded. “I'll keep that in mind. Though, speaking of working hard, I plan to ask future contractors to provide evidence of guilt, memories perhaps. I didn't need to do so with Frederick, since I already know his crimes, but I won't necessarily for future jobs. I'll need to do my part to keep my promise.”

Ominis’ eyes widened with some surprise, before a pleased smile covered his face.

“I see, well, I very much appreciate the effort. And for my part, I've almost finished putting up the portraits.” The blond paused to pat Sebastian on the head. “Just left the three in the Keep and Anne's primary portrait, to be put up in your study.”

“I can do that later.” Sebastian nodded, his eyes slightly distant, perhaps thinking about his sister again.

“Thank you, for setting them up while Sebastian and I were occupied these last three days.” The Keeper leaned over to give Ominis a kiss on the cheek and the corners of his eyes crinkled happily at the gesture.

The Keeper and Sebastian had taken some time - before they'd gone to find the Rowdy Rogue - to walk the castle walls. Looking for the best places to put up portraits, that would facilitate quick communication and allow the portraits to perform some level of lookout capability. Then they'd left the actual placing to Ominis and gone about their work.

As per their order, the three commissioned artworks had arrived with three linked replicas each, allowing each portraits’ subjects to travel between three separate frames. It'd cost them a small fortune to afford three of each, for a total of nine portraits, but hopefully the surveillance they could provide would be worth the price.

They'd already visited Eleazar Fig's primary portrait in the first-floor Library, and his secondary was placed in the outer wall's Southeastern flanking tower, positioned so that he could survey their territory from a window.

The Keeper watched as Sebastian's gaze drifted to the portrait of his parents that hung just across the room, on the wall a few metres from the wash closet, in view of both the dinner table and the tea corner where the throuple were having their refreshments.

While the dining hall was still in dire need of decorating, they'd already outfitted the room with an elegant mahogany dinner table and eight high backed chairs. As well as a small round tea table with four little mid backed chairs - which they were seated at - flanked by another two armchairs, and a sofa, backed up against the wall that stood between the dining hall and the workshop.

The furniture was mostly mahogany with a blend of Slytherin colours bandied about, in honour of their Hogwarts house and they felt like the portrait gave it a more homely feel. The late Mr and Mrs Sallow shared their primary frame in this hall, while their secondary was placed in the outer wall's Eastern flanking tower, and the Keeper felt a pang of sympathy at the wistful glassiness in Sebastian's eyes as he gazed at them.

Honestly, the Keeper wasn't sure they'd feel anything if they ever found a portrait of the people who'd brought them into this world, but it was nice to imagine that they would. At the very least, they'd be grateful to have had the chance to honour the unknown couple for allowing the Keeper to meet Sebastian and Ominis.

The tertiary portraits of all the artworks they owned, would be placed in the Keep tower to the northwest, in the room where Anne's tertiary portrait would be keeping a lookout, while her primary portrait was in Sebastian's study and her secondary portrait was in Ominis’ study.

This would allow the Keep tower to serve as a communication centre, so that - should any of the portraits spot something suspicious in their direction - they could alert Anne, who could then bring the information to either boy's study, or pass the message to Fig if the Keeper or their partners were in the Library, or the Sallow couple if they were in the dining hall. Not to mention, if the portraits could get the attention of the elves, it would also make it easier to send the message to the Keeper.

While they still hadn't acquired Noctua Gaunt's portrait yet, once they did, her primary portrait would be placed in Ominis’ study, with her secondary portrait placed in the outer wall's Southwestern flanking tower, to cover what was currently a blind spot.

“Will the two of you be free after tea?” Ominis asked casually. “Since your latest job is done, I thought we might take an evening constitutional down to the lake and then perhaps warm up together by the fireplace before dinner.”

The Keeper grimaced, they hated to disappoint him, but. “Sorry, I'm not sure I can afford to, I thought to have a light dinner in the dungeons so I could continue working on the collar. We have but a week left before school reopens, and I think it's more urgent that I figure out how the collar works and what makes it different from the armlet. That we may test the effects of C-Pain overdose on Macnair and put your mind at ease.”

Ominis’ lips pursed into a thin line. “Have you got any leads?”

“Not really.” The Keeper sighed, rubbing the bridge of their nose to ease the headache that was already returning. “I still have no clue what triggers the collar to activate. It just keeps injecting all the E-Pain immediately.”

Ominis heaved his own sigh as well, frustrated that he hadn't gotten to spend as much time with his workaholic partners as he'd hoped to this holiday. They were always busy with something or another, and since they'd been taking Sebastian with them to work, he'd been left alone in the quiet castle with his thoughts and worries, more often than he'd like.

At the same time, he appreciated that they were putting in all this effort with him in mind, so he couldn’t exactly begrudge them for doing what he'd asked them to. He rather resented being put in this position. Honestly, how had he ended up living with two partners, yet almost never got to go on relaxing dates with them?

“Well, I doubt I'll have much more to contribute with regards to the collar. If my lonesome would be enough, I can take that walk with you, Ominis.” Sebastian suggested tentatively, clearly hoping to take some of the pressure off the Keeper.

Ominis’ eyes widened in surprise, he’d have thought Sebastian would rather experiment with the Keeper than take a boring walk with him, and he felt a pinch of shame for feeling bad for himself and merely whinging about the situation in his mind. He’d heard the apologetic tone in the Keeper’s voice, and it wasn’t like he had any reason to feel like they just couldn’t be bothered to spend time with him, they probably weren’t eager to have dinner in a dank dungeon cell either.

Though, he knew that if he said anything, his partners would assure him that it was understandable to feel frustrated about the situation, and then offer him the choice of having them spend the evening with him or continuing their work, and he wasn’t exactly eager to take on the responsibility if his selfishness delayed their tests past the holiday.

So, folding his arms, Ominis decided to think instead, of ways to get their work done faster, so they would be free to spend more time with him. What were they least likely to have tried already? He knew the Keeper was proud, and that both they and Sebastian suffered from the tendency to forget that prior wisdom could still be useful, even if circumstances weren’t always the same.

“Have you tried asking the Elder Keepers for assistance?” Ominis suggested after a moment. “Professor Rackham was Isidora's teacher, wasn't he? Perhaps he might be able to offer some insight.”

The Keeper hummed thoughtfully and Ominis continued. “Sebastian and I can take that walk to the lake together, before warming up by the bedroom fireplace, then perhaps you can join us for dinner at least?”

“Of course.” The Keeper nodded, seeing and appreciating that he was trying to compromise. “If I manage to make some progress with the Professors and get this done quickly, we can at least spend Christmas day together next week.”

To their relief, Ominis’ face brightened at their agreement. In all honesty, the Keeper didn't think Rackham would be of much assistance, it wasn't like he'd ever interacted with Pain energy himself. Though they supposed it was possible that Fitzgerald might have some ideas, since Isidora had been closer to her, but they were also reluctant to make the cautious elders aware of their intentions to use Pain energy as a means of controlling their test subjects.

That being said however, they weren't going to make the mistake of dismissing a suggestion from Ominis out of hand, again. Especially when they could see that they were already treading on thin ice with him.

They'd just have to think of a way to broach the problem with the Elder Keepers, perhaps it wasn't the worst time to start easing the portraits into accepting the direction they were headed...

The Keeper's steps were slow and thoughtful as they made their way through the second Basement floor, before stopping outside the room that they'd placed the Elder Keepers’ portraits in, just to the left of Sebastian's study.

Knocking twice, they opened the door and poked their head in. “Professors?”

The inside of the room was rather long and, on the slightly concave false wall, stood the four portraits, whose eyes tracked the Keeper as they entered the chamber.

“Well, it's a surprise to see you outside our classes at my secondary portrait, what can we do for you?” Professor Rackham greeted with a smile.

The Keeper blinked at the professor, now that he’d mentioned it, this was indeed the first time they'd sought his counsel rather than instruction, perhaps they'd be able to use that to their advantage.

“I have acquired an artefact that was made by Ranrok and I'm struggling to figure out how it works.” The Keeper answered, bowing their head respectfully. “I was hoping to seek your guidance and experience.”

“An artefact of Ranrok's!?” Rookwood exclaimed. “How come you by such a thing?”

“His uncle happens to be Sebastian's blacksmithing mentor.” The Keeper explained, they would keep the details vague for this one, the portraits didn't need to know that they'd committed murder to acquire it.

“A goblin instructing a wizard in smithing? What an unprecedented arrangement.” Fitzgerald murmured thoughtfully.

“And why is your lover cavorting with a relative of the goblin who sought to abuse the fruits of Isidora's crimes?” Bakar, of course, demanded.

“I think it should be obvious enough that Ranrok's uncle isn't like him, given that he's teaching a human goblin-craft.” The Keeper rolled their eyes, and, to his credit, Bakar seemed to concede the point with a tilt of his head. “He knows nothing of Pain energy, so you needn't be overly concerned.”

“But what is this artefact and what do you seek to do with it?” Rackham asked with a small frown, clearly more concerned about their intentions, which was reasonable.

“It is a device designed to forcefully inject Pain energy into a person, causing pain to its wearer. However, I've been unable to figure out how to control it.” The Keeper grimaced. “It keeps injecting all the energy I place in it immediately.”

The reactions were, as expected, varying levels of outrage and shock, and the Keeper simply endured the cacophony of exclamations until the portraits stopped speaking over each other.

“That sounds to me like you're already using it!” Rookwood's voice finally rose in clarity above the rest and the Keeper sighed.

“Look, you’ve already given me ample warning that I do not know the effects of consuming this energy, that I can't control it.” The Keeper shrugged. “And you're right. I don't know, and I can't control it till I do. So, I'm finding out.”

“At the expense of someone else!?” Rookwood exclaimed, aghast.

“Should I just risk my own corruption and death then?” The Keeper snapped and the portraits went rather abruptly silent. “Shall I stroll into the maw of the unknown and leave the Repository unguarded in a room in Hogwarts, just waiting for a child to wander across?”

As they spoke, Bakar's perpetually hostile and suspicious expression seemed to change, and the Keeper thought they saw a glimmer of what looked an awful lot like respect, beginning to form in his eyes. Which was ridiculous, of course, so they pushed the thought aside and continued.

“Your trials are all solved and beaten, and you are all here, buried in a fortress in the middle of nowhere. There is no path laid out for a future Ancient Mage. You've gambled everything on me.” The Keeper spread their arms wide with a sardonic smile. “Shall I die and take it all with me to the grave?”

The room was still and silent for many long moments, as the corner the Elders had been forced into, sank in.

“If it's any consolation, the man I'm testing it on is a murderer and a cheat. A man who regularly beat his wife and starved his elf, a thief and a drunkard.” The Keeper shrugged. “And the one who will experience an overdose in my place, is the bugger who spent a year trying to kill me.”

“Committing crimes doesn't mean they deserve torture and death.” Rookwood narrowed his eyes sternly at them. “You don't have the authority to judge.”

“And who does?” The Keeper cocked an eyebrow at him. “A well-paid court judge? The victim? Let's not pretend anyone truly has the right to cast judgement, I am merely choosing to sacrifice the lesser of two evils. Or in this case, the greater of two evils. Better to sacrifice someone further down the ladder to hell, than an innocent, no?”

“Nobody should be sacrificed at all!” Rookwood declared.

“Ah yes, nobodies like Richard Jackdaw and everyone else who might have stumbled into the trial grounds, right?” The Keeper sneered. “At least I pick my victims.”

“That- that wasn't- we were doing what was necessary!” Rookwood shook his head.

“Oh, I see, that makes it alright then.” The Keeper scoffed. “Well, I've decided that this is necessary too.”

“That's why you shouldn't meddle further in this to begin with! What's necessary keeps growing!” Rookwood slammed a fist on the side of his frame. “You need to stop. If this needs sacrifices, then find another way.”

“There isn't always another way. I think that they have a point here.” To everybody's surprise, it was Bakar who spoke next, his eyes regarding Rookwood with a solemn weight. “What has four hundred years of waiting gotten us? Sometimes, one must weigh the scales and choose who should be prioritised.”

The portraits stared at Bakar, the Keeper included, before it clicked in their mind.

Bakar had chosen to cast the killing curse on Isidora, despite knowing how deeply Rackham would grieve for the child he had practically raised. Despite the dishonour of killing her from behind, for a man so proud, that must have been a difficult decision. Yet Bakar had chosen to kill the woman that he too had taught as a child, a woman who was hurt and broken, to save his friends and the innocent children of Hogwarts.

The greater of two evils.

“Thank you, Professor Bakar.” The Keeper smiled.

The man narrowed his eyes at them and folded his arms. “Don't mistake me, I still remain unconvinced that you are not merely another power-hungry craven. I simply agree that it would be in everyone's best interests to keep you alive, to safeguard the Repository. For now.”

The Keeper snorted, well, they'd take it.

“Percival, please say something.” Rookwood turned to Rackham, his voice quite distressed, and in all honesty, the Keeper was surprised that it was the affable rotund man who was so resistant. Then again, Professor Rookwood was also the one who had been swayed by his guilt for his descendant's sin of cursing Anne. Emotions were always so fickle and unpredictable.

Rackham sighed. “I'm afraid I have to agree with San Bakar...”

“...Percival...” Rookwood murmured with a frown.

“We can't pretend we didn't make the same choice.” Rackham wore a bitter smile. “Just because we didn't swing the blade ourselves, doesn't mean we didn't kill young Mr Jackdaw.”

“We must protect the Repository from falling into the hands of someone we have no influence over, or allow it to corrupt innocent children.” Fitzgerald nodded slowly. “We cannot simply wish for reality to not be as it is, we made our choice, and we must do our best with our lot.”

“We can but trust that our friend here will constrain themselves to what is needed and no more.” Rackham eyed the Keeper expectantly. “And they have not yet given us reason to doubt them.”

“Yet.” Bakar added.

Rookwood sighed. “If that is the consensus, I will protest no further, but I don't like your attitude towards sacrifice, child.”

“I'm simply used to sacrifice. Should I cry for you? We both know it wouldn't change reality.” The Keeper huffed and folded their arms. “Are we done? Can we get back to the problem at hand?”

When there came no response, the Keeper fished out a collar from their satchel and dangled it from their fingers for the portraits to see. “As you can see, there aren't any buttons on it, there's just a needle on its inner side.”

“And you say it immediately injects any energy placed in it?” Rackham pinched his chin between a thumb and forefinger.

“Yes. I need to figure out how to control its output.” The Keeper nodded. “I thought you might have some insight into the workings of such magic.”

Rackham hummed. “All Magic is neutral. Like a rock that rolls down a hill, there is no intent, simply action and reaction. You've said that Pain energy seeks out a host.”

“That's what I've observed.” The Keeper nodded again. “It seems like Pain energy is drawn to itself, not unlike gravity's pull.”

“It could be that the energy is simply following its nature in absence of human will.” Fitzgerald murmured thoughtfully.

“Indeed, it is the will of a caster that gives magic purpose. We align magic with our will.” Rackham explained.

“But that's magic that comes from us.” The Keeper frowned in some confusion. “This is Pain, an emotion, a sensation, can it even have will?”

“Is not everything humans produce part of a cycle?” Rackham asked with a small smile. “We can't cast magic if we're too weak to do so. What gives us strength? Food, water, time consumed for rest. We convert resources from the world into magic within our bodies. Every magical creature does this, even goblins.”

“Well said, Professor, even emotion comes from us and can be directed, we channel our feelings into our work, after all.” Fitzgerald agreed.

The Keeper's eyes widened, the memory of Ranrok blasting red smoky energy from his palms flashing through their mind.

“...I see! I need to absorb the energy first, align it with my will and then pour it into the vessel! Thank you, Professors!” Shoving the collar back into their satchel, the Keeper sprinted from the room, excitement pumping through their veins.

They needed to test it out. Now.

“Sorry to make you wait, Frederick, I hope you didn't need to use the loo.” The Keeper grinned as they re-entered the cell. “It'd be annoying to have to clean your mattress if you should soil yourself.”

The man watched them warily as they stood beside the cot, and they gave him a wry smirk. “Don't worry, this will be quick. I have a dinner date to get to.”

They pulled out a jar of E-Pain and took a sliver of it, breathing it into their body and holding it, like one would hold their breath, their mind filled with a single instruction; Empty all energy into subject when he speaks.

Then they placed the tip of their wand at their lips and opened their mouth, blowing the smoke back out and collecting it with their wand. The bubble of red and black smoke still looked completely unchanged, and with a pinch of anxiety, the Keeper lowered it to the collar around Frederick's neck.

The man whimpered in fear, clearly expecting the pain that would come after it was filled, though, hopefully that wouldn't happen. The energy fizzled and bubbled as it melded into the collar, and for a long anticipatory moment, the Keeper watched Frederick, half expecting him to jolt in pain.

But it didn't happen.

“Yes!” The Keeper crowed with victory and Frederick flinched at the sudden shout. “It worked!”

“Wha-” He gasped in confusion, only for the collar to click and then he was choking on the word, thrashing and wheezing with pain as the collar emptied its meagre contents into his body.

The Keeper stumbled back with a giddy laugh, they'd have to take a few minutes later to suck Ominis off for suggesting that they ask the Elder Keepers for guidance. What an amazing way to be reminded that, just because he was often swayed by emotion and could be rather irrational, that didn't mean he couldn’t also be brilliant and still be correct. God, they loved the prissy blond.

They'd probably need to have Ominis scan their body as they filled the collar to be certain, but they didn't feel like they'd taken a hit either. A pity, but at least that meant that they wouldn't need to worry about messing up their dose schedule. Thank Merlin for that too, stepping down their dosage felt god awful.

Chuckling, the Keeper extracted a larger bulb of E-Pain - a little over twice the prior amount - gazing at it and wondering to themselves how they'd portion it out. Percentage? No, that would cause each violation of instructions to have a diminishing impact. Duration of effects? Ooh, that might work, the slivers seemed to last for about ten seconds, they could go with five seconds then.

Raising the bulb to their nose, they inhaled it, instructing the energy to; Inject five seconds worth of energy every time he lifts his leg. They then placed the energy - which should be good for four injections - into the collar, amused when the man flinched, trembling as they unlocked the cuff around his ankle.

“Lift your leg.” The Keeper instructed and for a moment the man hesitated, so they pointed their wand at him. “Lift it or you'll get to see how my Cruciatus compares with my boyfriend's.”

Flinching, Frederick lifted his foot off the mattress, and it promptly slammed right back down when the collar activated. One, two, three, four, fiv-

The man coughed and wheezed as his body went limp. Excellent, that worked. Next, the Keeper bodily grabbed the man's ankle and forcefully lifted it off the mattress. Immediately, the collar activated again. So, it also applied if someone else physically forced him to take the action, now, what about magical?

“Imperio.” The Keeper levelled their wand at Frederick and a dopey grin formed on his face.

Though mildly disturbed by the expression, they went ahead and instructed him to lift his leg. The collar promptly clicked, but curiously enough, it didn't seem to cause him any pain. The man simply continued to smile like a loon. Was it because the emotional pain was being blocked by the bliss that came from the Imperius curse? Fascinating. They would have to test it further to see if it would be different with P-Pain or C-Pain.

Breaking the curse, the Keeper withdrew the last dose from the collar and inhaled it once again, this time instructing it to immediately inject once placed. When they returned it to the collar, Fredrick immediately began thrashing again. So, they could alter the instructions too, perfect.

Still, if filling the collar required that one absorb the energy first and align it, how did Gnarlak continue using it to control the dragon? The collar would surely have run out of energy over the last three years, and they couldn’t see the paranoid goblin trusting anyone else to do it for him.

Unless...

“Hold your breath, your next will hurt.” The Keeper chuckled when Frederick quickly took a breath and held it, before they released a small amount of aligned energy into the collar, instructing it to inject its entire payload if Frederick breathed.

Then they took another small bulb from the jar and lowered it into the collar as well. Several more seconds passed, before Frederick finally ran out of air and couldn't help but take a breath, and was promptly injected by the collar.

The Keeper watched with delight as the collar emptied itself in its entirety. So, mixing aligned energy with neutral energy did - in fact - cause all the neutral energy to become aligned and adopt the same orders. That was convenient, that would make it easy to top up the collars when they were running low.

Checking the time with a quick tempus, the Keeper closed the jar and shoved it back into their satchel. Waving their wand at the cuffs, they released Frederick and left him to curl up on his cot, shivering as they left the cell with a spring in their step.

If they hurried, they might be able to join the boys while the two were still warming up, and give Ominis that thank you blowjob.

Notes:

Trivial notes first;

The reason I made the Imperius curse nullify injected E-Pain is because the Imperius curse is capable of making someone even commit suicide, ignoring the pain that no doubt should be happening. It also seems like it's not any negative impact on a person that allows someone to fight it off, Harry for example, seemed to do so because he’s the main character. Honestly, Imperio is one of the most annoying spells in a world building sense (right after the Avada), like, it's supposed to be something you can gain a resistance to, and I know some people think it’s because Harry felt the bliss unnatural because he was abused, but um, then Ominis and like, a lot of people would be immune. And it can make you do superhuman things with unknown limits, it's just a real headache to work with as a writer unless you're just using it as a cheap convenient plot twister.

Also, I’m trying to use hyphens more in my writing, not sure if it’s good though, what do you guys think? Is it good, or should I just stick to tons of commas?

Okay, that's the trivial notes done, on to the serious ones!

I hope the parallel between Frederick hitting his wife and the Keeper hitting Sebastian was clear. They both did so as somewhat of an accident at the start, and the difference here is that unlike the Keeper, Frederick continued that instinctive/defensive/reactionary response of blaming the person that you just hurt, for you hurting them, because you feel guilty and need someone else to blame for your own actions.

It also doesn’t help that his wife didn’t help Fredrick come to terms with what he’d accidentally done, but that was understandable since she doesn’t have the trust in him that Sebastian has for the Keeper, especially after he tried to hit their kid. That’s why it’s important to establish trust with small things, so that when a big thing goes wrong, when you make a big mistake, as all people do, the trust and strength of the relationship can carry you through it.

Another parallel is between Sebastian and Anne and Frederick's wife. All three of them looked at someone, Sebastian at the Keeper, Anne at Sebastian, and the wife at Frederick, with fear. Unlike both Anne and Frederick's wife, Sebastian took the effort to reach the Keeper, to understand them and was willing to take the pain that comes with helping someone in distress.

(Though I think Frederick's wife has more cause to fear Frederick than Anne did Sebastian. Like, Anne, Sebastian was defending you, not attacking your baby.)

That's why Sebastian gets love, while Anne gets a dead Solomon, and Frederick's wife gets a dead husband haha

Also, like, Anne, you were giving Sebastian mixed signals, like you essentially tell Sebastian “cure me pls” and not give him boundaries, and Solomon is trying to stop Sebastian from curing you. Obviously, in order to fulfil your wish, he's gotta take Solomon out of the equation. You can't have your cake and eat it gurl.

Actions and words matter, and when they don't match up, it creates doubt, uncertainty and unreliability. Communicating and working hard to maintain trust is vital to any relationship, the moment you slack off, it’ll start sliding downhill. You don’t get married and stop courting your partner, you don’t just bank on the blood ties between family, and you can’t expect past goodwill to keep a friendship healthy, Sebastian.

The only reason Ominis was even considering sending Sebastian to Azkaban was because his trust and goodwill for Sebastian had been slipping. Sebastian was so focused on saving Anne that he stopped putting effort into keeping Ominis’ trust high. It’s not enough to not be mad at Ominis for not supporting you, Sebastian, he needs to feel valued.

But, at the same time, it wasn’t like Sebastian could spare the energy to be a good friend, not while going mad over trying to save his sister, so, it’s the kinda thing where nobody’s really the asshole, the situation just sucks.

Anyway, like with Macnair and Selwyn, like with Frederick, the root of evil acts is often banal, benign, until it isn't. It starts out subtle, disregard for some people because they don't fit your idea of normal or correct or worthy of respect. Because they don't make sense in your world view. It always starts small.

I think it should be (hopefully) pretty clear that the Keeper's anger at Frederick here, is not entirely just because he forced Tobbs to stay in the cave where he eventually died. It's the indicator of a lack of care about another life that is so deep seated, that Frederick can't even see anything wrong with his mentality. It bleeds into the rest of his life and behaviour, the way he hurts others with his selfishness.

Much like how the reason we throw the entire piece of bread away is not because of the slight dusting of mold on the corner. We throw it away because that visible mold is an indicator that the rest of the bread already has poisonous roots spread all over its insides. His words and actions are an indicator of a corruption inside that is almost impossible to be cleansed, especially if the person doesn't see anything wrong with his state.

Hypocrisy, apathy, indifference, disregard for empiricism, unrestrained reactionary responses, aversion to critical thought and introspection.

These are some of the hardest elements of human nature to shake when they have taken over the brain because they make it harder for the person to want to change especially if they've driven away the people with the strongest natural ties (family and childhood friends) and highest chance of convincing them through emotional attachment.

Why is emotional attachment the most likely to convince them to change? Because people like that tend to have a more active amygdala (the emotional center of the brain).

I like to believe it's possible, but... well. Difficult. At least. And the Keeper definitely doesn't have the grounds to do that. They're equally as fucked in the apathy and indifference towards harming others category. They're too angry. Yet another product of pain, of suffering.

But whether we can save these people or not, whether they can change or not is not the point. Criminals and the insane are humans too. Human rights do not end once a person's convicted, the law isn't perfect and there are 100% innocent people sitting in jail.

The Keeper then, at least, acknowledges that they could very easily have been Frederick. That they too, have the seeds of apathy within them. That's step one. Being able to see yourself as the person you hate. Being able to see how easily you could have ended up being like that too. How anyone and everyone could have been like that too.

If we are stronger, it's entirely because we were lucky enough to be. Lucky to have the genes we do, or the mind we were born with, or the parents we were born to, or the country or time we were born in. It is arrogance to take full credit for any strength one has.

Nobody can say “I wouldn't have done that in your shoes”, because I am not in your shoes, I am not in your mind, I am not in your body, I do not have your genes, I do not have your history, I am not you.

The only person you can judge is yourself.

What we can say, is “You shouldn't have done that, here's why, now we need to fix it. Will you help me? If yes, great, let's fix it together. If no, then alright, sit over here and reflect on the reason I gave you, while I fix it for you.”

I believe in rehabilitation, redemption and basic human rights. If a person cannot help but cause harm, that doesn't mean we shame them for it and punish them for it. We stop them for the greater good and treat them with as much kindness and respect as possible, while confining them for the safety of the public. We do not call them “stubborn” or “evil” even if they are legitimately beyond saving.

It's natural to feel negatively towards people like Frederick or even the Keeper, but we must both acknowledge and then look past the natural disgust, anger, revulsion and the fear that comes from intuitively understanding that "I could easily be that person".

We mustn't give in to the impulse to say "you must deserve your unfortunate circumstances. That's why I need not fear becoming you, because I am good, I am better than you, and I don't deserve your life."

Monsters are made, not born.

And crying about the monsters that have already been made or attacking them for existing, doesn't do anything. That just makes the monsters more monstrous.

We should try, to help the monsters we can, restrain them with as much dignity as we can afford them, but as I've said before, the best way is to prevent them from existing to begin with. Take away the factors that create people like Frederick. Take away the factors that create people like the Keeper. And, despite how hot they are when angry, Sebastian and Ominis too.

Of course, that's not to say that we should endanger ourselves for others either, we should do what we can within our means. I'm not gonna pull the trolley problem, but take for example, if a person was hanging off a cliff, and saving them would endanger you because you don't have safety measures, I think it's well within your right to not attempt to save them.

But if you have a safety harness and there's no danger or cost to yourself, you really should help that person, because you would really appreciate that if you were the one hanging on that cliff. If you can save the person without danger, and your job is rescuing people, and you don't rescue that person, not only are you not doing your job, that's called negligent manslaughter.

So, yeah, it's sad when we see a tragedy like Frederick, whose life simply did not equip him with the tools or the support needed for him to change. His parents died, his adoptive parents failed to guide him, his wife who had the greatest opportunity to help him, unfortunately, did not have the awareness to know how to help and was too afraid to and he ended up in the hands of people, uninterested in offering him a second chance.

It's honestly not that different from the malice of Macnair and Selwyn, directing all their anger and hate in the wrong direction while Frederick flees from all his problems.

Sebastian had the Keeper and Ominis to give him his second chance and support. Eliza had Ominis give her a second chance and James’ support. Those are examples of the significance of having BOTH second chances and support. Second chances without proper support are useless.

Without the right support, Frederick only ever did his best for himself in an immediate sense, and spent barely any effort on self-improvement, whereas Sebastian was constantly trying to grow. People can't think of others’ suffering when they themselves are suffering. When everyone's lives are better, that empowers them to extend empathy and grace to others.

And while the Keeper doesn't think to this extent because they're not as aware of how the system works, even if you don't think ignoring something bad “hurts you” directly, the way the system works is that, irresponsibility and disregarding other people's suffering, will still eventually come back to bite you in the ass one way or another. The more times you turn away when shit happens, the worse things get.

A quick example is homelessness, if you ignore them, they just get more desperate and aggressive, and they stress the typical citizen with fear of becoming them. If the homeless were given proper care and homes, they can contribute to society, which improves everybody's lives.

Also, while we're absolutely sculpted by our circumstances and environment, the same circumstance doesn't always create the same result. What works for me doesn't necessarily work for you. Putting someone through your own suffering will not necessarily turn them into you. A concept all parents should really be taught.

A pair of identical twins are still different people even if their genes are almost the same, even if they grew up the same way with the same people. If we met ourselves in a parallel universe, or even our past selves, we're still different people.

So, key takeaway is this, don't coat things you do in the clothing of righteousness to feel better about yourself. Nobody is better than anyone else, regardless of how much smarter or skilled or educated. One can be more qualified for an action or decision, but everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Even a judge in a court is not a god bringing divine righteousness down on the sinners.

One can be superior or inferior in an area, a skill, in knowledge. But no person is themselves superior or inferior to others. Once you start thinking it's possible, well, it's a slippery slope and you won't notice yourself sliding down it till you reach the end, and can no longer recognise yourself in the mirror.

Also, I just realised, I basically turned Sebastian's questline into Arcane. (Which I binged from start to finish a few weeks ago, it's so good, I highly recommend it!) (SPOILER WARNING FOR ARCANE! For the first 4 episodes or so.) Sebastian is Powder, the one who killed someone while trying his/her best, the one who only wanted to help. Anne is Vi, blaming Powder/Sebastian for Vander/Solomon's death and leaving Powder/Sebastian broken and pleading for her to come back because they need her. The Keeper is Silco, the one who's fucked up in the head and what people might consider a "bad person", but who is trying their best in their own way and whose love is very real. The one who would do anything for Powder(Jinx)/Sebastian. The one who understands, protects, and supports Jinx/Sebastian, and thinks Jinx/Sebastian are perfect the way they are. Ominis is Ekko, the one who lives with regret for the choices he made that contributed to the disaster that happened in the cannery/catacombs.

[vaultedvagabond]

This is literally only for me but I am going back to 2014-2018 and relistening to the Panic! albums (and hearing Pray for the Wicked and Viva Las Vengeance for the first time). I was super into them and then had a recoil from them as my tastes matured but now I am relistening to get opinions on them not fueled by cringe or nostalgia. Reviews below the cut

1: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

It's Fever. It's literally Fever. Do I even need to review this. It's the best album of course it is. The lyrics and melodies are so fucking good. Despite literally every other emotion I have about him Brendon can fucking sing. Every song here fucks so severely and even my 2018 cringe rejection of my music taste can't change that

Rating: 100/10

2: Pretty. Odd.

This album is a bit too in love with the Beatles for my tastes. I will still vouch for Northern Downpour to my grave though. I recently watched a video essay that inspired this project that pointed out Ryan Ross references works by Arthur Rimbaud 5 times. These works are themselves a metaphor for Rimbaud's experiences being taken from an abusive situation by an artist he idolizes who takes advantage of him, gets him addicted to drugs, and eventually driving Rimbaud to quit writing forever at 21. The comparisons to Ryan Ross and Pete Wentz are obvious and it gave this album more depth. The last album before the process of stripping this band for parts to serve Urie's Ego having the line "You don't have to worry we're still the same band" hurts. I can speak so much on this album but the seeds of the split are clearly though so it feels bittersweet.

Rating: 7/10

3: Vices & Virtues

This album sounds a lot more like Fever, and a lot more like what I think of Panic! as sounding like. This album clearly represents the sound that Urie's half of Panic! wanted to make (with Pretty. Odd as Ross's half). The lyrics are /noticeably/ worse without Ross, they are very blunt and lack the cleverness in early Panic! I still really like the songs though, Mona Lisa and Calendar fuck so hard.

Rating: 8/10

4: Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die

OK here is where I can feel this band becoming dollar tree Imagine Dragons, but at least with this album it can technically still be called a band. I do enjoy some songs, This is Gospel was a hit for a reason, and I still enjoy Far Too Young to Die. I am listening on youtube to not completely ruin my Spotify forever, and watching the music video for Girls/Girls/Boys made me so angry its just so smug and self serving. The writing in this album is honestly just bad. It is still blunt but now is lacking in lyricism and flow. This is the point where Panic becomes pop. I would not be upset if this album played in the background somewhere but I would never seek it out.

Rating 4/10

5: Death of a Bachelor

OK I actually didn't hate this one. This feels like a natural progression of Brendon's music. If it was released as a solo project and had less ego I would really enjoy this. The writing is better than the last 2 albums, and I didn't expect that. It's not Ryan Ross levels but it isn't awful. I like this album. The one issue is so bad I am deducting a full 2 points from the rating for it, because it is an indicator for whats to come. The Emperor's New Clothes, with it's chorus "I'm taking back the crown/ I'm all dressed up and naked/ See what's mine and take it/ Finders keepers losers weepers", is a direct sequel to This is Gospel, a song about how Spencer Smith's struggle with addiction led to him leaving the band. I do not need to go into how disgusting that is, and it shows how he treats the band and the music. With this lens the entire album is a celebration of Panic! being "his" now. I have not listened to the next to albums but I know there is more of that to come.

Rating 5/10

6: Pray for the Wicked

If Death of a Bachelor was a fairly solid album soiled by Brendon Urie's ego this album is much much worse while also feeling like watching Brendon Urie jerk off over what a cool lifestyle he lives. A few songs had catchy parts universally ruined by the choruses. Every song feels polished and soulless to the point of a MCU film. Engineered to be popular and make money with absolutely no substance. The writing is bad but honestly if it was good it would still be ruin by Urie's ego. I am not looking forward to the next one.

Rating: 0/10

7: Viva Las Vengeance

This rating is bafflingly bad. Brendon might be a bad songwriter but he is a good singer. I don't know why he sings so bad. Leaving aside the vocals, the songs are either his attempts to replicate other popular songs with no understanding of what makes them great or self pitying songs to make us sympathize for him. Hearing a genuinely patriot rip off of Born in the USA, a wish.com version of Bohemian Rhapsody, and then a song in response to the fact he got caught saying the N word and being sexually inappropriate with fans is an insane experience. Local God is insane. I think Ryan Ross deserves to kill him. His efforts to paint himself as almost famous or not really making any money fall flat after he spent an entire album singing about how rich and famous he is. The entire experience is like seeing someone crytype on tumblr in between doing bad Queen karaoke. No one should ever listen to this album.

Rating: -1000/10

Conclusion

This was an insane journey. I am glad I did it, as it helped me separate my feelings of Panic! being a thing I liked when I was younger and more immature from my genuine enjoyment of some of their music. While the end of this project bummed me out so bad I had to relisten to Fever while I write this, I feel confident in the way their music affected me and the joy I found in it. I really wish that Panic! died after Pretty. Odd. and everything else was a spiraling train wreck of Brendon's solo career, but I am glad that songs like Golden Days and Mona Lisa got made. I am glad Brendon isn't making any more music and I hope Ryan Ross and every other member discarded by Brendon are having a nice life

[wolffallsintodanmeihell]

So I was talking to my bf the other night and made this rec eps list for fun. The idea pretty much was like to challenge myself to see if I had to recc someone who was hesitant to watch the entire show due to length and wanted to get a general gist, which eps would I recc for them to get a good feel, esp if they've maybe onIy had prior experience fics/art or want to delve on that but wanted to have an idea of canon first. I llimited myself to 15 eps with 5 extra "reccomended ", my focus being character dev eps and plot stuff like the lead up to reign storm, valerie's plotline, danielle, etc.

To be honest it was kinda hard at points lol, esp since DP is episodic moreso than plot heavy so it's not really like making a list for like a long running battle shonen or something, but hey this was fun to do fndnd.

Also again this is not a "you must follow this or else" type thing, I only did this for fun, I'll even link the tiermaker I used in case someone has their own version and opinions they wanna post as well which I'd honestly love to see.

To explain my reasonings

Req. Tier

Mystery Meat - First ep of the show, get introduced to main cast, set up yada yada

Parental Bonding - Introductuon to Paulina, first ep we get an idea for Sam and Danny's relationship.

What You Want - Tucker only really has two episodes during the show, so at the very least the first one focusing on him would be good to have to delve a bit into him.

Bitter Reunions - First Vlad ep, esp since he's Danny's arch-nemesis would be weird not to get introduced for later on.

My Brother's Keeper - Jazz finding out about Danny's secret, plus I really feel this is a great episode showing their dynanic and getting to learn more of how Jazz is.

Shades of Grey - best character Valerie gets introduced here, so felt it was pretty important to include esp for later on.

Public Enemies - This is the first episode where the status quo is changed and now Amity Park is just generally aware of Danny. Thinking he's an enemy yeah, buttttt still aware of Inviso-Bill i nearly typed in buffalo bill

Maternal Instincts - Danny and Maddie getting screentime together, Vlad's second appearance, and the start of Maddie straight up hating his ass lol.

Memory Blank - Mainly chose this one since it's where we learn how Danny first had the accident, so hey backstory stuff.

Reign Storm - The whole plotline with Vlad and Pariah Dark's ring and crown, more Valerie development, it's a fun episode imo. Too bad this didn't get followed in S3 but-

The Ultimate Enemy - Do I really gotta explain lol, Dan and Clockwork, Danny finding out Jazz knows his secret, etc etc like it's pretty much the episode every reccomends.

Flirting With Disaster - Big development for Valerie showing how she's developed imo, continues the Danny and Valerie stuff from Reign Storm, also again I'm biased towards Valerie lol

Reality Trip - Look I'll just be blunt I fucking love this episode, like it's genuinely my favorite of the three specials. It's a fun adventure, I love the Danny being revealed plot line, it's an exciting watch, could not leave it out.

Kindred Spirits - Danielle introduction plus more Vlad development as well, plus depending on your watch order I think this is counted as the S2 finale?

D-Stabilized - More on Danielle and Valerie's plotlines, and for a general bias honestly find it to be a pretty good episode and if any I'd say are "required" from S3 it would def be this one.

Recc. Tier

These were the most difficult cause there's still a bunch of episodes I'd rec.

Life Lessons - First ep where we see Danny and Valerie learn about each other outside of a negative context, plus pretty funny episode.

King Tuck - Again, Tucker barely gets any episodes so I do think his should be watched. Similar reasons to what I put for "What You Want".

Secret Weapons - First ep post-TUE where we see how Jazz and Danny are now that they're both aware she knows his secret. Get more development between them and more Vlad screentime too.

Eye for an Eye - This was such a hard one to choose between D-Stabilized and it, but I felt the former was more important in the end. Sets up the Vlad becoming mayor plotline that gies throughout S3 and also it's just funny like Vlad really rigged an election over a prank war with a 14 yr old.

Urban Jungle - I'm personally not the biggest fan of this episode, plus it's not really a special despite being advertised as such, but it does introduce the ice powers Danny gets that stays with him till the end so I felt it would be a good one to have listed as well.

Fun fact I actually had an earlier ver that incl. Million Dollar Ghost over Public Enemies, but when I thought about it I felt the latter had more bigger impact than the former simply setting up a plot line that Reign Storm goes more into anyway. Plus I really wanted to include Control Freaks cause it introduces Freak Show but again was limited 😭😭

Also it's very hilarious that for all the villains who's episodes I couldn't include, Desiree got BOTH her episodes in, like damn her impact 🤣

Anyways here's the Tiermaker I used in case someone wants to do their own!

[kurishiri]

03 . . . alfons main story (with letter)

꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ notice ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ this translation may not be 100% accurate or contain creative liberties due to characterization or narrative flow purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost these or claim these as your own!

— cw: fluff?? in alfons route??? guys pigs might fly in the sky next- /lh

Ever since I had become Alfons’ ‘mission-only exclusive fairytale keeper,’ I put my energy into keeping as much distance as I could possibly get away from him.

(No Alfons to the right... and no Alfons to the left either. Which means I can get through the day without being found by him.)

Or, that would be nice, but he was also much like an apparition, appearing in the most unexpected times and places, so who knew where he’d pop up next...

Alfons: A very good day to you.

Kate: Eek!?

He didn’t make so much as a footstep as he popped up behind me, blowing into my ear and making me jump.

Kate: My heart was about to fly out of my chest, Alfons!

As always, I glared at him whilst hiding both my hands behind my neck, and he — as always — donned a smile laced with amusement.

Alfons: Hehe, but I do find it quite endearing, seeing you stand on your hair as you are doing now.

A: But worry not, my intentions are nothing short of pure now, so come here, won’t you?

Well, my trust in him was nothing short of nonexistent.

Kate: No thank you... and stop following me.

Alfons: Oh dear, your words ring so cold.

——Like that, while continuing to be bothered by Alfons,

I got to know the other members of Crown little by little in order to fulfill my duties as a ‘fairytale keeper.’

For example, let’s take Liam.

Although he was such a brilliant stage actor, very sensitive and a wonderful person to boot,

his Curse made it so he couldn’t suppress his curiosity, and he would occasionally go out with Alfons, whom he considered a friend, to do dangerous games.

(And when I say ‘dangerous games’... I’m not sure I want to know what that entails.)

As for Harrison,

I had come to realize that beneath his somewhat curt disposition was someone who would often lend a helping hand to those who needed it.

He was also quick-witted enough to slip past even Alfons’ eyes at times, too.

(I heard he had the Lying Fox’s Curse... which sounds about right.)

(But, his lies come from a kind place... at least, that’s what I think.)

And then there was Jude and Ellis, who were often absent from the castle due to their work at Jude’s company.

Jude was rather unapproachable with his sharp tongue, and he bore the Curse of the Thirteenth Fairy.

Meanwhile, Ellis, who was always gentle and kind, bore the Curse of the Thorns.

William and Victor were both shrouded in mystery, and I could never seem to figure out what those two were thinking.

But when I had heard that these two were the cofounders of Crown, I was surprised, to be sure, but I also felt it was a strangely fitting narrative at the same time.

(Both of them give off the impression that they are the last two people in the world you would want as an enemy...)

And then, there was Alfons. If I had to say anything about him...

(Whenever I ask the others questions about him, they all say more or less the same thing...)

And that is, ‘He is someone who relishes in others’ reactions, and loves to do things that feel good.’

—— Time skip ——

(Hah... I’m so tired.)

Today as well, the sun had set as I was gathering information on Crown as the fairytale keeper.

(Nothing like a cup of tea for a break.)

As I was brewing a cup, all of a sudden a hand reached out from behind without any warning.

Alfons: I see you have worked diligently today as well. Good job.

Kate: Wh—Alfons!?

Alfons: For the hardworking little robin, how about I personally brew the tea for you?

(Okay, but when did he come into the kitchen...!?)

Kate: Thank you, but no thank you. I can do it myself...

Alfons: I daresay there are a great many other things those words are better suited for.

With that, Alfons took the teapot from my hands before he started to brew the tea with elegant mannerisms.

(Ah...)

His gestures were so refined that without thinking, I continued to stare at him.

Such refinement felt almost tangible enough to make me think that this was not a superficial act, but rather the real thing.

Alfons: Here, it’s done.

He placed the teacup and the saucer on the table, and in an attempt to hide the fact that I was bewitched by his elegance for a moment, I accepted it in haste.

Kate: T-thank you very much...

When I looked into the cup, though, my eyes widened.

Kate: Wait, what is this tea? It’s all blue...

Alfons: That blue color would come from a herb called blue mallow. If you let it sit, it will eventually and gradually turn purple.

As if to prove his words then and there, the deep blue color started to change color.

It was as though the deep blue of the dawn sky was being lightly blotted by vermillion.

Kate: You’re right... I’ve never seen anything like this before...

Alfons: Go on now, have a sip.

I took in the beautiful colors with my eyes before I brought the cup to my lips, taking a sip.

Just like that, the fragrance wafted up my nose and drifted apart.

Kate: ...It’s really good.

(How long has it been since I relaxed like this...)

Gradually, the feeling of caution I initially had seemed to loosen before I knew it.

Alfons: I am glad to hear. But there is one more possible but interesting change this tea can produce. Would you care to see it, by any chance?

Kate: An interesting change...?

With a few drops of whatever was in the small bottle he used, this time the blue mallow tea changed into a light pink color.

Kate: Oh my gosh... it’s so pretty...! It’s just like actual magic...!

The change was so vivid and beautiful, I felt in high spirits, as though I were a child again.

Alfons: Hehe.

Hearing stifled laughter, I looked at him to find him looking at me with a smile playing on his lips.

Alfons: I take it you feel a little more merry now, no?

Kate: Merry...?

K: ...Did you do all of this because I kept avoiding you?

Alfons: Why indeed, for you see, I was hoping to have more opportunities to talk to you.

Kate: ...!

He booped my nose, and my heart skipped a beat in response.

Kate: And you doing these types of things is exactly why I avoided you, so please stop.

Alfons: Now whatever could ‘these types of things’ be referring to is beyond me.

Kate: ...Actually, you know what, forget it.

The memories of the sweet sensations we exchanged as lovers was engraved in my body...

(So every time he touches me, my heart twinges...)

The suggestive traces of that troublesome illusion just would not disappear.

(But then he goes and touches me anyway, even though he probably knows... and it really is wretched.)

Alfons sat on the table as he drank his own cup of tea, and I gave him a fleeting look.

Kate: ...You do know it’s bad manners to sit on the table while drinking tea, don’t you?

Alfons: Oh? Did you perhaps expect better of me?

A: Am I to assume that you feel someone who deceived a girl the day after they met, namely myself, is the model of sincerity and manners?

I wanted to hide the turmoil broiling in me, so I tried to change the topic altogether, but Alfons just used my words to make fun of me instead.

[1] Don’t remind me of that night. (+4 / +4)

[2] Sincerity is anywhere but in you.

[3] That’s not very nice.

Kate: Please don’t remind me of that night...

Alfons: Oh please, I implore you to remember it every night.

A: After all, is it not better for your mind to be filled to the brim with pleasure and fun?

A: And I take it you have been conversing with the others, no? In which case, they must have mentioned that I very much fancy pleasurable things.

As though saying he had seen through what I’ve been doing, he flashed me a bright smile.

But——

(Hm? Wait a minute...)

When I looked at that smile as a whole once again, I suddenly remembered a feeling of unease.

(Up until now, I had been so dumbfounded by his words and actions that I hadn’t realized this, but...)

Kate: ...What you said just now... was that all true?

Alfons: Come again?

(Ah... just what am I asking?)

Even I thought it strange.

But, for some reason, I felt I couldn’t ignore this unease that suddenly bubbled from within my heart.

Kate: I don’t know, I mean, just now... you...

K: I felt you weren’t genuinely smiling.

Alfons: ......... [surprised]

Seeming taken aback, Alfons blinked for a moment.

(Ah... but this expression... feels more genuine.)

I leaned forward and stared into his eyes, as though I could reach somewhere further.

But before I could reach that point, it seemed to mysteriously crumble before me...

Alfons: ...Is that the me who you wish to see?

...and painted on his lips was that shady smile I was all too familiar with.

Kate: ...What?

Alfons: Would it be safe to assume you prefer the me who appears to be having fun, when in actuality I am but an empty shell of myself, who is not having fun at all?

A: Hmm... so I see.

Kate: Since when were we talking about my preferences?

K: Can you not dodge my ques...

My words were cut off by his lips falling on mine.

Kate: ...!!

Alfons: ...Hehe.

A: Like this, I do implore you to keep your mind filled to the brim with thoughts of me.

When his lips parted from mine with a small sound, I could only stare dazedly back.

With a charming smile, he left the kitchen just like that.

(Ugh, he’s the absolute worst! Bloody wicked! Lowest of the low!)

I wiped my lips from having just been kissed before downing the rest of the now-lukewarm blue mallow tea in one go.

(The whole ‘I very much fancy pleasurable things’... and that smile...)

(I do really feel like he did dodge the question about whether those were genuine or not.)

Kate: Forget it, I couldn’t care less anymore...

All I wanted at this point was to not be toyed around by Alfons anymore.

——But perhaps because I wished for this...

(...He’s not here today either...)

Alfons, who had — much to my chagrin — kept me company, suddenly disappeared off the face of the castle, and then several days had passed.

(It’s not as though I’m particularly worried about him or anything...)

Kate: ...Have any of you seen Alfons at any point these last few days?

Roger: Ahh, well this isn’t anything new.

Elbert: I believe he is somewhere in London... probably.

Hearing those uncertain words made me suck in a breath, and I remembered something Alfons had said before.

(I believe he said that he considered himself “something like Lord Elbert’s attendant”...)

...not that I knew what he was implying when he said ‘attendant.’

But if that meant something like a butler, then I could get past him being proficient at brewing tea.

Kate: I was under the impression that he was your attendant, Lord Elbert, so is it really alright to let him do as he wants like this?

His blue eyes slightly wavered, much like a sea being blown by the wind.

Elbert: I would not say ‘attendant,’ per se...

E: Al is more like a childhood friend with whom I spent time with since we were young... perhaps.

Kate: Oh, is that so?

Lord Elbert was an earl.

(And although I am not an expert when it comes to titles of nobility...)

(...he might have used the term ���attendant’ because of Lord Elbert’s high social standing.)

Or maybe he has been with him like family or something along those lines?

Lord Elbert bore the Curse of the ‘Greedy Queen,’ and I came to know during my time getting to know the members that he was searching for beautiful things.

That, and Alfons was allegedly helping with that.

Lord Elbert always seemed to don a melancholy air about him, while Alfons seemed to have a perpetual smile plastered on his lips.

(These two are so opposite of one another that them being able to get along is a wonder.)

Elbert: So that is why... I hold no control over Al’s actions.

E: ...My apologies.

Kate: Oh, don’t worry about it! It’s fine, really. If he is not taking me along then I assume he’s not out on a mission right now.

K: But... about this ‘not being anything new’... does that mean you have some inkling as to where he is?

Roger: If I had to guess, probably either a pub, a social club, or some street corner.

Kate: Huh...?

Roger: His playmates could be women or men. Or something else entirely. ...What, you’re interested in that, lil lady?

Kate: N-not at all!

(It’s not as though I’m particularly worried or anything.)

But, I do find myself thinking.

(I wonder if Alfons shows a genuine smile in places like those...)

(Because if that’s the case, I wonder what it looks like——)

(...N-not that I’m really interested to know...)

Trying to calm my feelings, which wavered back and forth like a pendulum, I slapped my own cheeks a couple times.

Elbert: ...Are you alright, Kate?

Roger: You’re probably feeling a lot of things right about now, aren’t you? I’ll cut you a break.

Just like that, several days later, after being absent with not so much as a single word——

Alfons: It has been a long minute since we last saw each other, Miss Kate. How have you been faring these past days?

Having been notified by William that there was a mission, Alfons popped up in front of me, as though he hadn’t disappeared completely for some days right before.

to be continued…

It has been a while

What do you think of my strategy of pulling back if pressing you doesn’t work?

If the man who had been meddling you to the brink of annoyance suddenly disappeared just like that, I imagine you would think to yourself, ‘What happened to him?’ and your mind would become even more filled with thoughts of me, no?

Ahh, but by no means am I writing this letter as a means to shame you. Just that you seem to feel the tactics between men and women are a foreign concept, and you seem almost laughably inept at forgetting the partners with whom you spend a single night with, so worrying is but the natural thing you would do. I wanted to say these words to you, and that is ultimately what drove me to pen this letter.

By the way, word is that I have extremely bad handwriting... were you able to read through it?

Just imagining your face realizing that you struggled to read through this letter only to find out the contents are as nonsensical as my handwriting, brings me much amusement.

Well then, until next time.

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꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ tags🏷️ ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ @drachonia @.comment or dm to be added or removed!

[alanshee-keeper-of-realms]

Hey, OP! It's been five years since you've made the post, but is the offer to learning Ninjago Fandom Lore still open? You were there when the ancient scripture was written, you are a relic and lorekeeper of the past, and I am sitting criss-cross apple sauce and willing to hear ye olden tales. That is to say, I watched the show before s3 was even a concept, up until s5 started where I dropped it due to a combination of reasons, but I never forgot how I did want to watch it. And now over a decade later I learn this silly lego show of my childhood had a FANDOM, and I have missed all the moments with the community. Which seems very entwined with fan-show creator interactions to the point they throw OCS into their works and have fans send voice requests to sing the theme song and put it into the show finale. It's like the fandom is that child whose birthday you missed through being totally absentee. A shame :') this is my Pokemon, it's to us what Pokemon is to 90s kids. A show you could've been there since the Pilots and most of everyone is in your age range.

Of course I will always be up to speaking on the lore of the Ninjago Fandom!

Now for the newer anti groups this is your warning. We were the Wild West Kids so we did a lot of stuff that the Modern fandom would be ick about.

I guess that can be the first lore, the OG fandom had crackshipping everywhere, but some of these actually became a thing. One of the original now controversial ships that road a popularity wave alongside Jaya and, yes, Colya, was Greenflame.

Garsako was lovingly taken care of LadyMarissaGarmadon like they absolutely were crazy for it.

I was hiding in the corner with Zaya or Snow Phoenix as I called it

Bruisehipping was huge there was an artist called Blakkycat who was in the Tumblr side known for their Bruishipping Art I actually adopted their OC Chua, more lore

Serpentine Babies EVERYWHERE like everyone had a Serpentine Oc istg it was awesome Blakkys Bab Chua was one of these but he was popular due to his Shenanigans here's some Art for ya

That's Chua! So yeah I'm his caretaker now since Blakky left years ago. Blakky and I actually came up with a very Popular AU let's see if some of the Olders Remember this

Overlord Nya, and yes she's pulling a Katara and using the water in Blood to control it Blakky and I would talk for hours over this AU and the Fandom loved it just as much for a bit, Blakky created the Art I supplied Ideas.

This was I would say 2013/2014,

Season 3 oh man that was a trip, we actually Mourned Zane like held a funeral its funny now thinking it especially with how many times he's died and come back. We all really thought you know logically he was 100% gone

The Love Triangle thing was rough suddenly the Colya and Jaya fans were at each other's throats....people actually got hurt and friendships badly shattered a bunch of us were horrified like outsiders called us the most toxic fandom at least until Voltron stole that crown and we had Season 6 confirm Jaya. But this is why some wince at these ships

Nindroid Jay oh goodness Prpledragon created him and the Fandom was head over ass with AUs with this version I'm pretty sure you can still find the Comic Prple made partially for the AU

Then season 4 ohhhhhh man

I remember fondly the Tournament of Elements held here on Tumblr, like the whole fandom dozens of artists forming their own Art Tournament in honor of it

Then Zane was brought back and it was like we'd won the game celebrations everywhere lmfao

And the uproar that was Garmadons death

Ahaha I can continue but this is getting long so just let me know if you wish for more. I do indeed hold the texts and I'm more then happy to share

I have been Agent Alanshee, The Guardian Alanshee, The Winged Guardian Alanshee

And then Alanshee Keeper of Realms

For anyone who might recognized me

[essayofthoughts]

Okay, for shits and giggles: any C2 or C3 character of your choice, given you know just the barest things about them. I'm curious, and asking about any of the classic C1 characters you poke at feels Dull

For Reasons, I'm gonna go with Fearne.

favorite thing about them

Fae stealy vibes. A lot of people don't grok the particular sideways way that fae entities can operate at - Matt does, as evidenced by how he handles Artagan, but I think a lot of the fandom doesn't so much, with how I've seen Artagan (and consequently Garmelie) written at times. Fae aren't necessarily snide! They can be, but they can also completely forget something and flit onto something else. They can fleetingly fixate on a fun new idea.

And everything I've seen of Fearne shows that Ashley gets this. I am very much looking forward to watching C3 for this exact reason.

least favorite thing about them

I can't think of anything, but then I've not watched C3 so I don't have a full picture.

favorite line

Not really a line, but I love her stealing the... I believe Allhammer earring from the... I believe Loxodon. Elephant guy. And similarly, her thieving back and forth with Ashton. It's very cute.

brOTP

Chetney. Grouchy werewolf and cheerful fae faun is a combo I think is very entertaining.

OTP

@nanyoky has pre-emptively converted me: Callowmoore. Largely due to Nell, I do think that Fearne's fae possessiveness would actually help Ashton's own insecurities about being left behind a lot, in much the same way many people have speculated that Vex domme-ing Percy would help him with his self-worth issues. A persistent reminder that someone finds them worthwhile enough to hold onto and hold close, who will steal them from others, who won't see them left behind because they're hers. I think that'd help Ashton a lot and it'd also be a fitting culmination to the thieving game.

nOTP

*shrug emoji* Don't know enough for C3. I guess Orym, because he seems to be gay and not bi, and also because their platonic bonds as part of the Crown Keepers is a Good thing that helps to complicate the Bells Hells in a similar way to how the twins complicated Vox Machina, or, say, Caleb and Nott complicated early Mighty Nein. Pre-existing platonic bonds can make potential splits from the group more likely and that is fun. Yes, Laudna and Imogen knew each other pre-Hells, but we actually have a better idea what experiences Fearne and Orym share.

random headcanon

Fearne taught Mister to play patty-cake. It involved a lot of fire.

unpopular opinion

Fae conceptions of ownership and non/personhood haven't fucked Fearne up quite as people might expect. After all, she is fae. She knows those conceptions - she holds them and applies them herself - and so having them applied to her isn't really that strange.

It's not that which necessarily fucks her up.

But being left behind and forgotten does. The passage of time being irrelevant does. Because she grew up in what felt fleeting to her parents, and she was abandoned - and we know she holds onto what she finds and claims from her own, from Mister to Orym (resurrecting him) to what little items she steals.

song i associate with them

N/A

favorite picture of them

@agarthanguide's original Crown Keeper's art for her I think? Or... if I'm to be specific the second splash page. This one:

I like the glowy eyes and the play of light, the twist of the branch that Mister is on being so similar to the twist of her staff. I think it's really cool. Plus how, as the druid and so nature-based, she almost blends into the nature of the background. I think it's very clever and while I know Hannah may not have thought of it like that while drawing it, I still think it's very neat.

Send me a character and I'll answer for each of the above for them