#like i saw a post that said that one of the reasons fae is good autism rep is because she has a love interest and a lot of autistic

[rainbowsparklecur]

i think a lot of my problems could be solved if i learned that someone having a different opinion isnt a direct threat to me

[offtorivendell]

A new article that came out on E news and states that fans speculate the next book will be about elriel also mentions that "the teacup foreshadowed her fate of being made into high fae" which reminded me of your theory.

Hi anon! Thanks for stopping by.

If you mean this news article, then yes I heard about it recently!

Firstly, it shouldn't need to be stated, but this is all in good fun. If your first reaction to this incredibly innocuous post is to be nasty about it then please take a deep breath and go outside. The fresh air will do you good. I don't know anybody who thinks that anything NOT from SJM or BB is actual confirmation.

Weirdly enough, the tea post got a few random reblogs a few days ago for no apparent reason, so who knows what was going on at the time. I'd pretty much forgotten about it - given everything that's happened in the Maasverse recently it's not been important, for spoilery reasons - but either way, whether the author of the article saw it or not, I do hope that tea will feature in Elain's story, as it would be so appropriate for a Seer to read tea leaves!

Also, while I don't think the ring is cobalt blue - it does seem more purple to me - Elain did glow in a purple gown, so... my clown makeup remains lol. 🤡

“You came,” Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends. Gone was the ill-suited black dress from the ball, replaced by a gown of amethyst velvet, her hair half-up and curling down to her waist. She glowed with good health. - ACOSF, chapter 58

As an aside, apparently people are being nasty about the long book = biggest wingspan comment? Idk, I thought that was clearly a joke (and not even one made by an Elriel at that). It even reads as ship neutral to me, no matter how the E News author took and used it. I hope whoever made it knows that it was actually fucking funny, and clearly in good humour. I'm sorry people are being crummy about it.

Anyway, like the rest of the fandom, I'm hoping that we're all put out of our misery early next year with some sort of direct FMC/main couple confirmation.

🕯️🕯️🕯️

[twstwinnie]

Hello, i just discovered this blog and i really want to read your work more. If you don't mind can i request malleus x reader where reader feeling empty or brunedout due to study and overblots. You can edit it as you like or write as headcanon or one short it depends on you. Well have nice day/night.

♚ Tea for the Prefect : Malleus Draconia

tags: hurt/comfort, fluff, burnout, reader is the prefect, gn! reader, ch.5 spoilers!

desc: upon noticing your growing distress, malleus takes matters into his own hands and bestows a gift of relaxation upon you. sleep well, dear prefect.

a/n: finally being more consistent with posts!! thank you for the request! I thought this was a lovely concept and a great opportunity for some lovely stress comfort fluff! also, I love writing for malleus! the reader in this is the prefect, but the reader is not explicitly yuu! with that, enjoy! — winnie <3

Time is fleeting, whether he likes it or not.

Such is a fact that Malleus is painfully aware of. Every day that passes is but a fraction of his extended lifespan.

That is until he met you.

Most people talk about time flying when one’s having fun, but for Malleus, time slows when he’s with you. Being in your presence reminds him of all the little things life has to offer. Despite his extended lifespan, he chooses to live in the present nowadays simply because you’re a part of it.

That being said, he’s still able to pick up on things when they happen so suddenly.

Like your fatigue.

Malleus is unaware if your fatigue slowly built up in terms of a human lifespan, but to a fae like him, it seemed almost immediate. However, he knows full well that it isn’t without reason.

After Ashengrotto’s overblot, he conversed with you out of curiosity, questioning how you used the advice he’d given you earlier. That’s when he learned that you’d been handling student overblots since your arrival on campus. Lilia further confirmed this fact, noting your involvement in Kingscholar’s overblot as well.

He didn’t realize how emotionally taxing it must’ve been until recently.

After Schoenheit was pulled from his overblotted state, Malleus appeared. He witnessed the aftermath firsthand.

More importantly, he could see the exhaustion in your eyes. He noticed the way you tiredly limped backstage once he’d repaired the stadium, and saw the way you brushed off your situation.

When he asked you about it, you insisted that it was nothing.

After that conversation, many things clicked into place for him. Not only did you deal with these treacherous battles without the use of magic, but you did so in tandem with your studies and other responsibilities. You had an incredible amount on your plate and everyone seemed content to continuously pile more and more atop it. He had to wonder if you truly ever allowed yourself the opportunity to rest.

Malleus, in good conscience, cannot sit by and allow you to remain in a perpetual state of stress and exhaustion. You’re precious to him, his dearest treasure, and if he can prevent you from losing your luster, he will.

Given your mortal lifespan is already so limited, he refuses to watch you crash and burn out.

So, he decides he’ll lend you some much needed assistance.

After a week of testing and schoolwork, the weekend finally arrives. The first thing Malleus does is convince Grim to stay at Diasomnia for the weekend. Silver (and, begrudgingly, Sebek) agree to watch over the small feline. A promise of food is all it takes.

Then, Malleus gathers various things he remembers that you like from your various conversations: tea, biscuits, warm blankets, and a book about gargoyles that you’d wanted to borrow from him.

With that, he sets off to your dorm, announcing that he’ll return the following morning. The fae certainly hopes you won’t mind him spending the night. Either way, he merely wants you to relax. Surely, you won’t turn him away.

Upon arrival, he knocks curtly on the door. While he typically preferred strolls around the quiet forests of Ramshackle, he didn’t mind having a day in at your request. You seem to enjoy cozy things when stressed, so he hopes this is enough.

You soon answer the door, a panicked expression on your face. “Tsunotaro! Have you seen Grim? He ran off earlier, and he didn’t say anything!” you insist. Malleus gives you a simple smile.

“He’s spending time with Silver and Sebek at Diasomnia. My apologies, I thought he left you a message. He’ll be there for the weekend,” Malleus explains. You heave out a relieved sigh, leaning against the door frame.

“Thank the Seven! He really needs to tell me before he runs off… but wait. Really? He’s staying at Diasomnia? Are you sure you don’t mind…?” you ask nervously. Malleus chuckles and shakes his head.

“Lilia is in charge for the weekend. I assure you, he can handle a few unruly creatures. He quite likes the challenge, actually. He doesn’t mind,” Malleus starts. “Actually, I was hoping you’d allow me to stay with you. I’d enjoy your company.”

You regard him with wide eyes for a moment before stepping aside. “Sure, I don’t mind. Come in,” you say. “Ah, but it’s a bit of a mess. I’m sorry— it’s been a hectic week.”

Malleus walks in and glances around. Sure enough, it’s a bit disorganized. Papers are strewn across the floor and judging by the mess of blankets by the table, he’s certain that you’ve been sleeping while studying.

“No need to offer apologies to me, Prefect. Actually, it’s fitting for the topic of conversation I wanted to bring up.” Malleus continues, “from what I’ve noticed, you seem overwhelmed. I’ve even heard that you’ve been falling asleep in class. Are you resting properly?”

He watches as you deflate, walking over to the couch and sinking down into it. With a sigh, you respond.

“I’m glad someone noticed. I’m exhausted, Tsunotaro. Our useless Headmage doesn’t help with overblots or money, so I’ve been working at the Lounge on top of everything else—

“Not to mention, I need to help Grim study so he doesn’t get caught in any dealings with Azul again. With everything going on, I hardly have time to sleep! I’m so tired… I’m really sorry, Malleus. I’ve been so busy that I’ve hardly had time to spend talking with you,” you mumble sadly. Malleus walks over and seats himself next to you.

“Why apologize to me, dear Prefect?” he questions. You huff and lean against him, shutting your eyes.

“I actually enjoy your company, but I’ve been so busy. I’ve skipped so many of our usual late night walks. I miss spending time with you,” you express. Malleus can’t help but give a fond smile in response. He gently runs his fingers through your hair as he hums.

“I’ve felt deprived of your company, but I’ve never once blamed you for such a thing. Don’t you think you’re the last person who owes anyone else an apology? You’re an unwilling participant in all the messes you find yourself in,” Malleus mentions. You sigh quietly.

“That’s true, but if I don’t take care of the overblots, who will? We both know Crowley won’t do a thing,” you mutter, a tinge of bitterness in your tone. Malleus chuckles lightly.

“Forgive me if it came off in this manner, but I wasn’t suggesting that you change your ways. I quite like you the way you are now, even with your needless prying into dangerous trouble,” he teases lightly. “All I’m requesting is that, when you find it’s too much to bear on your own, you allow me to take care of you.”

You pause. Met with silence, Malleus turns to face you, shocked to find your face red with fluster. You let out a shaky breath and smile, looking down.

“Don’t say things so cryptically like that, Tsunotaro. If you do, someone might mistake it for a confession, y’know,” you mumble under your breath. Malleus regards you with a gentle expression, placing a finger on your chin and lifting your head to meet his gaze.

“Perhaps I wish for it to be taken in such a way. Have you considered that? If you’d prefer me to properly court you in order to be convinced, I don’t mind. Though, I thought it’d be best to inform you of my intentions at the very least,” he says with a smirk. You find yourself speechless, unable to tear your eyes away from his gaze.

Malleus awaits your response patiently, and once you find your bearings, you sputter out a response.

“I-I’ve never considered that, but I’d be happy to accept your feelings,” you whisper. “Oh, but no courting— please, I can only handle so much embarrassment. I don’t wanna know how far you’d go if I let you court me.”

Malleus smiles, leaning in to peck your lips softly before pulling back. “I’d only go as far as fae tradition allows. Alas, I’ll respect your wishes. If you accept my feelings, will you allow me to take care of you?” he asks. You return his smile and nod.

“Please. I’d appreciate it, Tsunotaro,” you say. With your permission, Malleus quickly gets to work.

A quick spell organizes the disarray that was once your lounging area. Then, he steeps the tea and prepares the snacks that he brought. He refuses to let you lift a finger to assist, insisting that you remain seated.

Once he pours you a cup, he’s happy to see the way your tense frame relaxes as you take a sip. Your dull eyes regain their shine as you both chatter away about whatever you please.

When he notices you yawn one too many times, he carries you to bed, much to your embarrassment. After changing into more comfortable clothing, he joins you in bed.

Sitting up, he allows you to wrap your arms around his waist and lay in his lap. In one of his hands, he holds the book you’d wanted to borrow, reading the contents aloud to you. With his other free hand, he gently runs away the knots in your back.

Malleus glances down every couple of minutes. Your expression of bliss and comfort brings warmth to his heart. It’s a far cry from your exhaustion earlier, the bags beneath your eyes slowly fading away.

“Mm… Tsunotaro. ‘m gonna fall asleep soon,” you mumble tiredly. Malleus hums in acknowledgment, shutting the book and setting it on the nightstand.

“Then sleep, my dear,” he insists, idly running his fingers through your hair. You shift your body to look up at him.

“Will you stay here? Please?” you ask. Malleus smiles, leaning down to kiss you gently.

“As promised earlier, I’ll remain by your side. When you awaken, I will be here to greet you, so fret not,” he assured gently. You grin, leaning up to steal another kiss before laying back down.

“Alright then. Good night, Malleus. And thank you for helping me.”

Malleus smiles.

“Of course. You needn’t thank me. You’re my dearest treasure, and these simple things are merely proof of that,” he says. He watches quietly as you quietly drift off into slumber, your built up exhaustion finally catching up with you. Smiling, he leans down and kisses your forehead gently, whispering one last thing before falling asleep by your side.

“Good night, dear prefect.”

— fin.

[glossamerfaerie]

Gwyn = future High Priestess?

This is an out-there theory, one that I’m only mildly attached to. But we’re going to wait a long time for the book, so why not indulge in wild speculation, haha. This was inspired by a headcanon I saw about Gwyn and Az being the reincarnation of High Priestess Oleanna (who dipped Gwydion into the Cauldron and gave it to Fionn to overthrow the Daglan) and Enalius (Illyrian warrior who possibly fought the Daglan at Ramiel; original wielder of TruthTeller). It’s a fun crack theory, but Oleanna got me thinking about High Priestesses. We learned a lot about them in ACOMAF due to Ianthe, but they’ve been a non-entity since ACOFAS.

Let’s review the facts. Spoilers for the entire series under the cut. It’s a long post, sorry!

There were 12 High Priestesses before Ianthe died. I don’t know how succession works or if that’s the maximum number possible. I’m inclined to think 12 total slots because it’s a nice round number. I doubt it’s tied to court lineage since they seem to operate independently (if occasionally collaborating with the High Lords). It’s unclear how they gain the position; we know that Ianthe (Tamlin’s childhood friend and a nobleman’s daughter) was the youngest High Priestess and lived in the Spring Court before Aramantha. She fled to Vallahan during the 50 years of tyranny.

Among the High Fae, the priestesses oversaw their ceremonies and rituals, recorded their histories and legends, and advised their lords and ladies in matters great and trivial… […] … Priestesses could marry, bear children, and dally as they would. It would dishonor the Cauldron’s gift of fertility to lock up their instincts, their inherent female magic in bearing life, Ianthe had once told me. So while the seven High Lords ruled Prythian from thrones, the twelve High Priestesses reigned from the altars, their children as powerful and respected as any lord’s offspring. — Feyre’s thoughts in ACOMAF

We later learn that Rhys dislikes Ianthe (for good reasons). But!! His dislike isn’t limited to her. He has an issue with all High Priestesses.

“I find the High Priestesses to be a perversion of what they once were—once promised to be. Ianthe among the worst of them.”

[…]

“The High Priestesses have burrowed into a few of the courts—Dawn, Day, and Winter, mostly. They’ve entrenched themselves so thoroughly that their spies are everywhere, their followers near-fanatic with devotion. And yet, during those fifty years, they escaped. They remained hidden. I would not be surprised if Ianthe sought to establish a foothold in the Spring Court.”

“You mean to tell me they’re all black-hearted villains?”

“No. Some, yes. Some are compassionate and selfless and wise. But there are some who are merely self-righteous … Though those are the ones that always seem the most dangerous to me.”— Feyre and Rhys in ACOMAF

Notice how Rhys talks about the High Priestesses. A perversion. They’re corrupt — he’s implying that they don’t serve the Mother’s will with good intentions.

The High Priestesses hid and escaped Aramantha’s wrath while the High Lords suffered. Like most organized religions, these High Priestesses seem power-hungry and selfish. It sounds like SJM was inspired by Dune’s Bene Gesserit. Their motivations have changed from the High Priestesses of Oleanna’s time. Rhys’s cynicism was warranted: we later learn that Ianthe was resentful of bowing down to the High Lords, allying herself with Hybern to gain influence.

But!!! Not all of them. Rhys himself says that some are compassionate. I wonder who he’s talking about?

“You speak rather informally of your high priestess.”

“Clotho does not enforce rank. She encourages us to use her name.” — Nesta and Gwyn in ACOSF

While we meet Clotho in ACOWAR, she is NOT referred to as a High Priestess. To be fair, Feyre is briefly introduced to her so she wouldn’t know unless someone said so. In Silver Flames, the High Priestess status is linked to Clotho’s name at least five times in the text. I presume that Clotho was a High Priestess before the attack that led her to live in the Library. The text implies that Clotho — along with Rhys and Mor — is the person who created the sanctuary.

Five days later, Cassian sat before the desk of the library’s high priestess and watched her enchanted pen move. He’d met Clotho a few times over the centuries—found she had a dry, wicked sense of humor and a soothing presence. He’d made a point not to stare at her hands, or at the face he’d only seen once, when Mor had brought her in so long ago. It had been so battered and bloody it hadn’t looked like a face at all. He had no idea how it had healed beneath the hood. If Madja had been able to save it in a way she hadn’t been able to save Clotho’s hands. He it didn’t matter what she looked like, not when she had accomplished and built so much with Rhys and Mor within this library. A sanctuary for females who’d endured such unspeakable horrors that he was always happy to carry out justice on their behalf. — Cassian in ACOSF

IMO, Clotho doesn’t have much communication or power over the High Priestesses or temple governance. They might know she lives in a Night Court Library with many vulnerable priestesses, but they likely don’t know the details or precise location (after all, the existence of Velaris was secret until recently). Clotho seems wholly focused on the Library and not the outside world.

Remember what Rhys said to Feyre?

“Some are compassionate and selfless and wise.”

Rhys is likely talking about Clotho, the anthesis of Ianthe’s character. He has to be. What other High Priestess is Rhys acquainted with where he can make that assessment? By his own account, they stick to Winter, Dawn, and Day. None of them were imprisoned Under the Mountain because they hid, so he wouldn’t have met them there.

Which brings me to this:

“At the Court of Nightmares. I allowed her to visit after she’d begged for years, insisting she wanted to build ties between the Night Court and the priestesses. I’d heard rumors about her nature, but she was young and untried, and I hoped that perhaps a new High Priestess might indeed be the change her order needed. It turned out that she was already well trained by some of her less-benevolent sisters.” — Rhys in ACOMAF

Before Aramantha, Rhys was interested in fostering a connection between the Night Court and the High Priestesses. He hoped that a brand-new High Priestess could change the organization. It didn’t go well. I’m not going to quote the entire passage (Chapter 21 in ACOMAF) because it’s a long flashback, but Ianthe shows up naked in Rhys’s bed, attempting to grab his genitalia without his consent. He doesn’t kill her because he doesn’t want to deal with the High Priestesses, but he uses his power to threaten her.

She’d hounded him relentlessly—stalked the other males, too. Azriel had left last night because of it.

[…]

Rhys leaned close to breathe into her ear, “Don’t ever touch me. Don’t ever touch another male in my court.” His power snapped bones and tendons, and she screamed again. “Your hand will heal,” he said, stepping back. “The next time you touch me or anyone in my lands, you will find that the rest of you will not fare so well.” — Rhys flashback in ACOMAF

We know that Ianthe is a grade-A bitch, for many other reasons I didn’t mention (poor Lucien). But you know what’s interesting about Ianthe now?

Ianthe is DEAD. Unless the High Priestesses appointed someone else to the twelfth position off-page, there are currently ELEVEN High Priestesses in Prythia. One spot is potentially open.

And… I wonder who can possibly take on that role? Someone pure of heart and devoted to the Mother. Someone who would mark a return to what High Priestesses OUGHT to be for the Fae. Someone who already has positive ties to the Night Court. Someone who would encourage Rhys to develop a relationship between the Night Court and the High Priestesses, something he wanted to do centuries ago. Maybe a certain teal-eyed Valkyrie priestess that we met in ACOSF.

Gwyneth Berdara

I know what you’re thinking: but Gwyn is already a Valkyrie and researcher at the Library?! She’s helping train the other priestesses! She might have relevancy in the Illyrian rebellion storyline with Emerie and Az! She doesn’t have the TIME to become a High Priestess!!

To which I say… excellent point, lol. It does seem like a lot of responsibility to shoulder. But I’m uncertain whether the High Priestess position needs to be a 24/7 gig. Clotho is at the Library and seemingly not that concerned with the outside world. To be honest, I’m unsure if the High Priestesses are even in frequent communication with each other post-Ianthe’s death. They might be scrambling with the High Lords back in power and unable to exploit the power vacuum anymore. Remember that Hybern attacked the temples and killed priestesses in order to steal the Cauldron parts; I imagine the High Priestesses are still grieving and recovering from that loss. They might be a perversion, but none outside Ianthe allied with Hybern. The High Priestesses aren’t a lost cause just yet. They simply might need someone (Gwyn) to set their priorities straight and refocus their goals in aiding Prythian and worshiping the Mother.

Clotho is compassionate and wise, but seems uninterested in untangling High Priestess politics. She can’t even control Merrill in her own library. I adore Clotho, but I don’t really see her confronting the other High Priestesses and enacting social reforms. Clotho will support Gwyn, but she won’t be the one to initiate change.

“Only Clotho can really make her fall in line, but Clotho lets her have her way, mostly because Merrill throws those windy tantrums that can send everyone’s manuscripts scattering.”— Gwyn in ACOSF

And honestly, maybe the High Priestess responsibilities are light for Gwyn. Maybe she just chills in the Night Court and oversees ceremonies/holidays for Rhys. That’s basically what Ianthe was doing for Tamlin’s Spring Court in ACOMAF/ACOWAR.

I also think it’s OK for the Valkyries to have other responsibilities. I see Nesta as a diplomat or emissary in other lands and courts. Emerie might take a central role back at home, training and helping Illyrian women. Just because they’re Valkyries first doesn’t erase their other identities.

Gwyn has been training as a priestess for her entire life. She’s experienced discrimination due to her nymph heritage, from Merrill and probably other priestesses in Sangravah. I believe Gwyn can enact real social change within the High Priestesses, advocating for species inclusivity and a return to their original duties (like in Oleanna’s time). No more power-hungry political schemes — the Mother and citizen wellbeing should be their #1 priority.

Aside from her personality, Gwyn is a good candidate for two reasons. First, Gwyn is foreshadowed to have strong magic (she glows while singing!). Gwyn’s voice inspires Nesta to have a vision of the Harp. Maybe Gwyn has fire magic from her Autumn grandfather. Maybe she has abilities from her nymph grandmother. Maybe she’s starborn. The possibilities are endless. The point is, Gwyn is magically powerful enough for the role of High Priestess.

Second, I suspect that she’s related to the Autumn Court and Eris. As a High Priestess, Gwyn would have the trust of two High Lords: Rhys and Eris (let’s assume Beron dies soon, lol). Per Rhys, the High Priestesses have mostly entrenched themselves in Winter, Day, and Dawn. That means Autumn (Eris) and Night (Rhys) currently have no connection to the High Priestesses. Gwyn would bridge that gap.

Assuming that Gwyn is Lucien’s grandniece or some other relation, Gwyn also has ties to the Day Court and Helion. I’m very sure that Gwyn and Helion will be fast friends over their love for pegasi. 😉 Having the ear of three High Lords would cement Gwyn’s status as a High Priestess.

***

Anyway… I wrote all this and now I’m not sure at all. 😅 What do you think about my theory? Too out there or a genuine possibility in the Gwynriel book?

[blues824]

So I saw your requests were open. Could you write something for a reader who believes humans are inherently flawed? Like they think people are born bad and don't change easy, and are easily swayed by selfish things? These ideas came from things that happened to them as they were growing up. (The reader is also human, and fully acknowledges this, and does there best to be nice to set them apart from the rest? Sorta like Rollo's hatred for magic, but toned down a notch.) Thank you if you decide to write this, and have a nice day!

It’s alright, Anon! I chose the Diasomnia crew because I love writing for Sebek and Malleus. @animusicnerd was so kind as to allow me to use her lore post

Gender-neutral reader.

Malleus Draconia

He learned about your belief when you both were on a walk through the night. He doesn’t quite recall what brought up the topic, but he was saddened to hear you say such things. He believes that everyone has flaws, but it’s one’s duty to either embrace them or reject them.

He understands where you’re coming from, since the things that you experienced weren’t the best example of his beliefs. Those humans were people that rejected their own flaws and projected their own insecurities on you. In fact, the faes back in the Briar Valley felt the same way as you do about humans.

However, his dream is to unite the two. If he can get you to see past the flaws that were bestowed upon humankind, then you both can come together (preferably in matrimony) and show everyone that faes and humans can get along. Not just that, but he could get you to see that you could help solve the problems that your people like to create.

Lilia Vanrouge

You told him about how you believed humankind was inherently flawed when you were learning about the war between humans and fae in Briar Valley, and he was helping you since he was a general in the war. Even though he saw the ferocity firsthand, he didn’t particularly agree on your viewpoint, but he saw where you get that ideology.

In the war against humans, he had seen and learned about the reasoning behind them attacking, and he agreed that their reasoning was absolutely horrible. However, their behavior did not set a precedent for other humans. He believed in Malleus’s dream to unite the two and increase the human population and half-fae population for more diversity.

He hopes that he can get you to see that not all humans are bad (for example, you), and that even though you had bad experiences with them that they aren’t the example you should base humanity as a whole off of. He will be patient since trauma doesn’t go as easy as dirt and grime does with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but he will be there every step of the way to your emotional recovery.

Silver

You at first steered clear of him, and that made him chase you (think of that moment in Sleeping Beauty when Phillip sneaks up on Aurora). Your heart is conflicted because Silver has shown nothing but kindness to you, but your mind is telling you that you can’t trust him.

However, if there was any lesson that Lilia drilled into his son, it was to never give up on the people that you love. So, he begged you through letters (this man stayed up with Sebek so that the poet-in-denial could help the sleepy human write letters that could possibly make you swoon).

Silver is one of the few humans that reside in the Briar Valley, and he knows that he has one fatal flaw: his exhaustion. However, since he was chosen to be a knight of Malleus, he had to have the virtue of a knight to enter knighthood. With this reasoning, you grew closer to him. Now, the two of you can be seen in each other’s arms as he naps and you just bask in his company.

Sebek Zigvolt

You also steered clear of him, but you were also conflicted considering Malleus and Lilia gave you a good impression on faes but you had a bad impression of humankind. As the wise Bo Burnham once said, “a half-good-half-bad-half-boy”. 

He learned about your personal philosophy, and he too was conflicted. He also grew insecure of himself, and tried to lower his tone around you to try and give you a better impression. He tried to convince you that he rejected his human side constantly, but it seems as though it got in his way again.

It was through a poem that he wrote to you that contained a line from your favorite book that really got your attention. You realized that he tried to understand you and even tried to change himself for you, and you saw that maybe people can change. So, you went to him one day and placed a kiss on his cheek, which let him know that you returned his feelings.

[acourtofthought]

Nesta Knows (sounds like an advice column)

I had a recent anon that sparked this post so thank you anon! Nesta has always been extremely overprotective of Elain, to an unhealthy degree (for both Elain and her).   So it's REALLY strange that we get this: "Why are you letting her marry that bigoted prick?"   "He has good reason to hate your kind.  As do we all." "That's bullshit and you know it." "I thought you were leaving". "You have a damned opinion on everyone else in the world.  Why not tell Elain she's marrying a monster? "She deserves better than someone like that." "Indeed she does".

Why in the world, when she's so against Elain doing anything dangerous and all she wants is to protect her, would she let her enter into a family where both the father and son have hatred to the point where they make it their life's mission? It was one thing for the humans to dislike the fae (as they all did) however, it's a way of life for Graysen.  Where Nesta even ADMITS to Cassian that she knows Elain deserves better. Yet Nesta never said a word.   And Nesta felt bad that Az was struggling, that she understood why it was he lied about the fire (if she is in fact referring to Elain and not thinking it’s about Mor or the scent of the mating bond itself) but she thinks NOTHING of of Elain and Az actually ending up together.  She doesn't give it a thought.  When Nesta likes to interject her thoughts on everything else in Elain's life......WHY does she think nothing of E/riel? I know it’s probably so farfetched but is the reason Nesta never said anything to Elain or had major thoughts on either situation because she somehow KNOWS they were not going to amount to anything?  And therefore neither scenario came with the threat of anyone taking Elain away from her? On that note, is that why Nesta was so volatile when she first met Lucien and for many times after?  One might say that it was because she blamed him for what happened and I’m sure that might have played a small part but Feyre explained why Lucien wasn’t at fault, Feyre explained that Lucien was her friend, Nesta saw him helping out the IC.  She witnessed Lucien only ever trying to help Elain and showing concern for her yet she was still extremely hostile.  Is it because she instinctively knew Lucien would be the one to take Elain away from her in the end and she wasn’t ready for that because her own identity was so wrapped up in being Elain’s protector?   Which makes some sense when you consider that she finally began softening towards Lucien in her book, once her relationship with Elain started moving in a healthier direction.  I think there’s even more evidence of that transition for Nesta when she took the rose carving from the cottage that was made for Elain and she placed it somewhere she could see rather than throwing it in a drawer (which could represent her still holding on).  But at the end of the novel, we see her part with the carving, placing it on her fathers gravestone as a “permanent marker of the beauty and good he’d tried to bring into the world” but with the dual symbolism of her finally letting go of Elain.   And I do think those are the final pieces that needed to fall into place before an Elucien book, Nesta realizing that she can’t constantly be the one protecting Elain from the world and not clinging stubbornly to the wrath she leveled at Lucien.    

[been-taking-muay-thai-classes]

there are magicless humans in twisted wonderland too, (i think sebek's dad has been implied to not have magic. and the glorious masquerade event also mentions townspeople without magic using little gadgets that use magic to perform tricks like sparks/fireworks)

yuu is weirdly pointed out as a magicless human in the school (specifically. bc there are no magicless ppl at a magic technical school), but i think it's to also imply they come from a world without magic.

i can't remember who made the post but there was someone who tried to make sense of the biology of magic in people in twisted wonderland. they said stuff about the relationships of potential for magic and actual magical ability in the humans, and how fae (or maybe just malleus) are beings made OF magic. and iirc the post also went into the reasons why a magic school would even exist and be exclusive, is due to potential in people not being the same so not everyone goes to a magic school bc that potential of growth isn't worth nurturing.

YESS YESSS

I remember that post. I read it several times because I remember actually being co fused about the potential for magic thing.

As I understood it, the idea is that everyone in Twisted Wonderland has the potential for magic even if only a select few have a potential worth nurturing (and that from those few, there's even a smaller few who are good enough mages??? Who are invited to NRC, hence the whole thing with Kalim for example not being invited to the school making Jamil think he is inferior, because then he would've received a letter sooner either there or for a different school like RSA but nobody has really explained what ACTUALLY happened there).

So that's the part that confused me. If everyone has potential for magic in Twisted Wonderland, then Yuu is truly an anomaly as they seem to lack that potential entirely. But if there are creatures (human, beastmen, merfolk) who also have zero potential for magic, then surely Yuu could have a mostly regular life in this world if for some reason they cannot go back home.

Here I think about the tools we've seen in the game such as the ghost camera, the magitool hammer found in the guest room and, most notably, the magiwheels.

The ghost camera and magitool both work just fine regardless of how much magic someone has, but the magiwheels/blastcycle are stated in book 5 to require magic to be used to their full capacity. But one of the npc's wonders first if one can even ride the blastcycle without magic so I looked at that as definite proof that yes, there are people without magic in this world too. I mean they have regular cars and buses and planes too, but anytime I saw people talk about magic in Twisted Wonderland I saw everyone sort of agreeing that wveryone has just the littlest bit of magic just not enough to count for anything (mentioning the laypeople of the first halloween event because laypeople implies they are magical just without the training to use said magic) so I was left on the fence.

But yeah, when looking at relatives of the boys we often get either explanations of which relative was a mage (Kalim, Sebek and Epel all hint at a female relative also having notable magic) or sometimes a relative that, oddly, didn't have it like Sebek's dad (sidenote I believe this also hinta at fae regularly having magic. It's actually implied that one reason Briar Valley has so little technological advancement is because they use magic for everything which would make sense given how fae are understood on general real life lore). So until explicitely stated otherwise (or someone from jp twst can confirm) I chose to believe that Yuu is only an anomaly because they are a magicless student in a magical school, not because they have no magic whatsoever in a world were that doesn't happen. It honestly just makes more sense lorewise given the special magical tools and schools and other such gadgets.

Thanks for the message, it really helped me clear my ideas about this point :D

[twistedtummies2]

The Scarlet Pirate - Chapter 3

This is the third of a six-part "Chapter Story" for my OC for Twisted Wonderland, James Killian - based on Captain Hook from Disney's Peter Pan. (Also featured are Smitty McCarthy, based on Smee, and Matthew Satyr, based on Peter himself...oh, and Nakoda - my Kaa OC - also has a role here.) The basic premise of this story has been in my mind for almost as long as James has, but for numerous reasons, it wasn't till just within the past few weeks I finally got a chance to develop and write it out.

The result is, I think, the single longest "Chapter Story" for any of my OCs for TW I've created so far. Take that information however you will. So long as this tale, that it went from a planned three-parter, to a planned five-parter, to now being a six-parter, standing at approximately 150 pages in total! Hopefully, all the work and length will be for the best. XD

As is typical for my Chapter Stories, I will be posting this one chapter at a time per day over the course of this week. For future reference, you can find the previous chapter here.

You can find the next chapter here.

WARNING: While this story, throughout all six parts, does not FOCUS on my kinks, there are instances of very mild stuffing/belching related content sprinkled throughout, as well as various instances of implied or near vore situations. If you're into these things, good on ya. If you aren't, just be warned they will show up here and there, although not with any degree of spectacle.

With that said...I hope you enjoy.

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Once you and your friends decided to join in the skirmish, the ambush at the Dwarf’s Cottage became a real battle. Azul raced to Sebek’s side, the octopus and the crocodile holding out their Magic Pens like wands. The Royal Sword students had their own magical equipment at the ready. Two of them - one dressed in a rabbit-skin hood, the other in a similar garment resembling a red fox - stepped forward, and thrust out their Pens, sending sparkling white shots of Cosmic energy at the Night Raven pair. Azul and Sebek swiped their pens through the air, summoning protective barriers to parried the shots, then each thrust out their own magic conduits. From Azul’s side, a pillar of water suddenly burst out of the ground, soaking the Fox and knocking the sputtering RSA member over. He floundered as he loosened his grip on his Magic Pen; it fell to the ground as he toppled, drenched to bone. He began scrambling in the mud to try and find it…only to yelp sharply and begin to “dance” as Azul began to send icy darts shooting his way, aiming at his feet with a sinister smile. Meanwhile, Sebek used Leaf Shot, over and over again, launching bundles of floral power towards his enemy. The Rabbit, however, guarded against each shot, and then raised their own Pen, summoning a bolt of light energy to try and strike Zigvolt down. The crocodile-fairy, however, was quick to dodge the strike, leaping to the side. He smirked as he twirled his pen tauntingly. “Is that how you want to play?” he grinned with a sort of eager growl. “Then let me show you THE TRUE POWER OF DIASOMNIA!” What looked like a stormcloud formed over Sebek’s head; the Rabbit stepped back worriedly as vibrant green sparks of electrical power seemed to surround the half-fae. Sebek’s eyes began to glow brighter, till they were pools of neon-green light, as he crouched into an almost predatory stance.“Strike through the stormy heavens, O Lightning!” Sebek intoned, in a strange incantation, then roared with victorious intensity: “LIVING BOLT!” ZOOM! Sebek darted forward, his whole body shrouded in electricity, and slammed into the Rabbit. The RSA student yelped and flew backwards from the mixture of speed and strength combined. Another pair of RSA students saw the attack on their compatriot - the ones dressed as a Bear and a Skunk, respectively - and hurried to their aid, Pens at the ready. They hardly had time to even think up a spell, however, before Sebek thrust out his hands and sent volleys of lightning shooting towards them. The pair yowled as they were shocked violently, then fell to the ground, knocked unconscious by the power of the spell. Sebek snarled and cracked his neck, his eyes returning to normal as he breathed heavily, letting his power die down. Azul had paused in his torment of the Fox, clearly quite startled. “Goodness me,” he murmured, and slowly smiled. “Most impressive, Sebek, I must confess! I can see why you’re so proud of your abilities!” Sebek smirked over his shoulder. “Ha!” he barked out, jabbing a thumb at himself. “Such ability pales in comparison to the Great Malleus, but no proper guardsman of his worth should have any less skill!”

“Indeed!” Azul agreed, a hint of greed in his eyes (which Sebek did not catch). “You know, perhaps there’s another way to use your power, provided the expenditure of energy isn’t too great. There ARE a lot of people worried about overusing electrical-” “ASHENGROTTO, BEWARE!” Sebek suddenly shouted in warning, pointing towards the Fox. Azul had barely enough time to whip around before the Fox pounced on him bodily, knocking the octopus-man’s Magic Pen out of his hand as he tackled him to the ground.Sebek worriedly shuffled as he watched the pair roll about on the forest floor, kicking up dust; the Fox had spotted the edge of the paper clue in Azul’s pocket, and was trying to snag hold of it, while Azul was trying to keep him from doing that. Sebek knew he should do something…but with the pair tousling around the way he were, he was afraid any offense or defense offered might affect Azul instead of his opponent.

While the crocodile and the octopus were dealing with those four, Smitty McCarthy was not idle. He’d tried to slip away from the direct line of combat…but he hadn’t gone far before a golden spark suddenly flashed in his face, nearly blinding him. The spark was a yellow pixie. She hovered in front of Smitty’s face and blew a raspberry at him, tauntingly twitching her wings. “K-Kes!” squeaked McCarthy, and suddenly frowned as he clapped his palms together to try and catch her. “C-Come here, you little…!” Kes thankfully darted out of the way. Smitty, not fully realizing this, opened his palm to see if he’d gotten her. Which gave Kes a chance to shoot forward and force the cap over Smitty’s eyes. The small man squealed and blindly staggered around, trying to grab hold of the pixie, who easily avoided his grabbing fingers. Finally, Smitty gained better balance, and tore the hat off his head and away from his eyes. “Hey!” he snapped. “That’s not very nice!” Smitty swung his red cap around and around his head as he tried to catch Kes inside of it. The sprite (being, appropriately, spritely) darted about his head with astonishing speed, swifter than any buzzing insect as she flitted about, jingling her pixie bells teasingly. She swooped down between Smitty’s legs, and as he tried to catch her, he twisted himself about and yelped as he caused himself to trip over his own feet and fall onto his bunce. Kes came swooping back again…but Smitty - now QUITE irritated - successfully swept his hat up and caught her inside it. “Gotcha!” he grinned…but his amusement was short lived as, suddenly, Kes jerked inside the hat and - WHAP! - ended up smacking Smitty in the face with his own headgear as she flew about inside the small cloth prison. Smitty yipped and yapped like a puppy, stumbling and staggering as his own headgear seemed to cartoonishly attack him, the pixie dragging him around with uncommon strength for a creature so small. “S-Stop moving!” yelped Smitty. “Come on, Kes, I’ve already…YIKES!” The pixie dragged Smitty clean off his feet and into the bushes nearby, where he tripped a second time, and went rolling down a small incline on the other side. As he lay at the bottom - clothes dusty, glasses askew, empty hat in his lap. Kes zipped into the air with a smug smile, crossing her arms boldly as she looked down at him. Smitty just pouted and fixed his glasses. “Kes,” he said, with darkness that would have sounded threatening if ANYONE who WASN’T Smitty McCarthy had used it, “This means war.” Kes giggled in reply, and zoomed away, with Smitty scrambling to his feet, slapping his hat back onto his head as he gave chase. Of course, yourself and Grim could not be left out of the picture. You weren’t sure what you could do on your own terms, in magical combat…but you hadn’t gotten this far by being totally helpless. You still had your wits, for a start. You hurried to stand beside Grim. The cat-like creature hissed, fur rustling and bristling, as the Twin Raccoons approached you both, wielding their Magic Pens. “Aim for the one on the right,” you suggested. “Nya! On it!” grinned Grim, and took a deep breath before sending a jet of cerulean flame in their direction.

The First Raccoon wasted no time, and jumped into the air, flipping over his twin as they swapped places. The Second then somersaulted towards you, decreasing the distance; as he landed on his feet, he aimed his pen, and shot a bolt of cosmic light your way. You ducked the attack, while Grim yelped and bounced out of the way of a similar strike from the First Twin. The pair of Royal Sword students giggled mischievously, and - seemingly just to show off, they both cartwheeled in opposite directions, passing each other in parallel patterns and then bouncing off the trees, flying through the air as they shot at the same time, each aiming for one of you. Once again, you both only barely managed to sidestep the magic shots. “Wh-where do I aim now?!” Grim exclaimed, rather puzzled by the movements. “Keep your aim on the right,” you said through your teeth, as you both backed up, the pair of Twins nimbly landing and beginning to creep towards you. “It doesn’t matter which one is which; what matters is beating them. Don’t fire till I tell you to.” Grim nodded to show he understood. Moments later, the Twins in the Raccoon hoods threw themselves back to back. They each aimed again and fired once more. Once again, you and your feline-esque friend managed to dodge the magical strikes…and the pair began to somersault, one spinning so that they somersaulted at the same time, with one’s legs in the air each time the other’s made contact with the ground. “Nya! Now they’re both together!” whined Grim. “That’s perfect!” you insisted, and pointed, perhaps more dramatically than you meant to. “FIRE NOW!” Grim grinned and once again breathed out a jet of blue flame. The one in the air at that moment yowled, as sparks of fire ignited the seat of their pants. Alarmed, their Twin stalled; knees buckled and they both tumbled to the ground, the one with their pants on fire rolling to try and put out the flame. “Hit the other one!” you shouted. “Right!” yapped Grim, and sent a second volley of fire towards the untouched Twin…who soon was left in the exact same position as his brother, the pair comically rolling about about in the dirt. You and Grim smirked at each other, and the little demon jumped up as you gave each other a high-five.

All the while, as this was going on, Matthew Satyr and James Killian continued to duel. Thrick-thrack-thrick-thrack! The cane and the metal baton clipped against one another in quick, precise motions from either side. Satyr grinned all the while, while James glared back, his own expression damnably serious. Finally, Satyr swiped at Killian…but instead of blocking or parrying, the man in red skipped back, before thrusting in a powerful lunge.

Nakoda Spivak watched all of this action, unsure of what to do. It seemed like everyone else was managing quite well without him. He looked up towards one of the nearby trees and smirked…perhaps there was still a way he could contribute. Hissing in his usual snickering way to himself (or perhaps snickering in his usual hissing way, take your pick), the naga ran over to the tree and began to climb. Matthew - who was still hovering a small way above the ground, having not touched down once at all - flew up higher into the air, and flipped over James’ head. He spun back to face Killian, just in time, as James whirled about and swung at him harshly with his chosen staff. Satyr ducked out of the way, and as he came up, swung his baton in an uppercutting motion. James blocked it readily, and the two weapons scraped against each other as each backed up and circled the other. “Sure you don’t wanna throw in the towel, James?” teased Matthew. “Not today, Satyr,” sneered his opponent. “I awoke this morning with a tune in my soul: ‘Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, I’m going to win today!’” “Nicely sung! Shame it’s a lie,” giggled Matthew. James just narrowed his eyes. “Your tongue is as unimpressive as your abilities, half-fairy,” he responded. “My victory is inevitable. If I were you, I’d just give up.” “If you were me, James, I’d need a haircut.” “BAH!” exclaimed James, and whipped out his cane again. Satyr blocked the strike, and then another as James spun around and swiped in a wide arc with his “blade.” The crimson battler then swung the weapon in a low arc, as if to try and smack against Satyr’s knees. Matthew, however, lifted his legs, and hovered upside-down in mid-air, before parrying another strike. Seemingly surprised by this skillful defense, James stepped back, hesitating for just a moment… …And at the same time that hesitation took place - “AHA!” - a shrill cry came from the Fox, who leapt off of Azul, holding up the rolled-up piece of paper in one hand as Azul tried to scramble to his feet. “MATTHEW!” the Royal Sword Student called out. “I’VE GOT IT! I’VE GOT IT!”

All froze and looked towards the source of the sound. The fallen RSA students sat up, alerted and awakened. You and Grim halted your cheers, while Kes and Smitty - who had been running around in circles - paused in their merry little chase. All were focused on the boy in the Rabbit’s hood, holding the paper aloft. Only James and Sebek moved. Sebek lifted his Magic Pen, ready to attack the Rabbit. At the same time, with Matthew’s back to him, James finally saw a chance, and prepared to hammer the heavy end of his cane - the golden topper - onto Satyr’s skull, intending to conk him out. Matthew Satyr must have sensed something, though, because he rocketed out of the way. James spun around clumsily, thrown off-balance by his own momentum. Satyr then shot forward and reached for his ally. “Grab hold!” he called out, and the fellow in the Rabbit hood reached up and took hold of his captain’s arms. Matthew managed to pull Rabbit out of the way and into the air…at the exact same time Sebek sent a ball of fire flying forwards. FWOOSH! “WHA-A-AGH!” screamed James, as he wound up getting hit by the fireball instead. When the flames finally stopped pulsing, James stood there, clothes and face humorously blackened and scorched. He coughed out smoke, eyes crossed… “S-Smitty…” he wheezed out…and promptly collapsed flat on his back. “AH! JAMES!” Smitty yelped, and jogged over to see to his friend. At the same time, Matthew set Rabbit down, and made a gesture to his team. The RSA students all went scampering into the woods, disappearing from view. Satyr grinned and tauntingly waved the clue around in the air like a flag, well over all of your heads. “Looks like the game’s gonna go to me!” he teased. “Anybody wanna try and stop me?” “Ssspeaking.” WHAPP! Matthew Satyr cried out in surprise as, without warning, what looked like the end of a large, fat snake’s tail wrapped around one of his legs. He looked to see Nakoda Spivak - in his true form - finally make his presence known. He grinned smugly at Satyr, even as the Royal Sword captain tried to kick free. “H-Hey! HEY! LET ME GO!” Matthew yelled. “Sss-sss-sss-sss! I sssussspected you might try to essscape through the air!” taunted Nakoda, and then looked down. “Sssomebody, quick! Take a shot!”

Sebek responded to Nako’s call by reeling back, ready to send another spell towards Satyr. James, however, was sitting up at that moment - Smitty had cast a spell to mend his outfit and clean him up - and when he saw what Sebek was doing, an almost feral look came to his eyes. “LEAVE HIM, YOU CURSED CROCODILE!” he roared at the top of his lungs, and suddenly sprang to his feet and charged forward. “HE’S MINE!” Sebek let out a grunting snarl of confusion, as James crashed into him shoulder-first. The attack wasn’t enough to knock Sebek over, but it did throw off his aim. A shot of dark magical energy went flying from his Pen, not towards Satyr…but right into Nakoda’s face. “SSSYAGH!” screeched Nako, clutching said face as the energy exploded against him. “MY EYES!” Matthew took the initiative to whip out his baton once more. Using it and Nako’s distracted state to his advantage, he managed to not only work his ankle free of the snake’s grasp, but knocked the end of Nako’s thick tail off the tree entirely. Thrown off by all of this, Nakoda suddenly let out a scream as his whole body lost control, and he went falling, tail-first, from the tree. He was sent spinning around the a thick branch some of his sales rested upon, then smacked his face against another on the way down, before finally collapsing into a bundled heap of coils on the ground, his humanoid form laying senseless atop the pile. “Oooooogh,” groaned Nakoda, his eyes spinning not with hypnotic power, but with pure dizziness. Matthew laughed so hard he had to clutch his stomach, then winked down at James. “Thanks for the help, old pal!” he taunted, and saluted with the hand that held the paper. “See ya when we get the chest!” So saying, Satyr let out a shrill crowing sound - like a rooster’s call - and flew off, disappearing into the treetops. “Nako!” you cried out, and ran over to check on the naga. “Are you alright?” “Not even the ssslightessst amount,” moaned Nakoda, slowly unwinding himself and massaging his jaw where he’d struck one of the branches. “Ssso much for that plan…” The naga began to unwind himself…and suddenly blinked as he heard Grim giggling at your side. “And what is ssso funny, pray tell?” he sniffed. “You've got a knot in your tail!” Grim answered, and pointed it out. Sure enough, somehow or other, during the fall, the end of the naga’s thick, fat tail had gotten twisted into what looked like a figure-eight knot. Nako glared, baring his fangs. “‘Oh, ha ha ha, you’ve got a knot in your tail!’” he babbled, mocking Grim’s words and voice. He then sighed before returning to his usual tone as he worked to try and tug the knot open again. “Urgh…keep sssniggering at that, and I’ll make you PART of my tail, ya sssilly little…!” “BUFFOON!”

Sebek’s shout startled you and Grim, making you turn around. You saw James and Smitty backing away as Sebek advanced on them both angrily. “I HAD A CLEAR SHOT! THE SERPENT HAD HIM IN HIS GRIP!” roared Zigvolt. “WE JUST LOST OUR BEST CHANCE AT THE TREASURE THANKS TO YOU!” “L-Leave him alone!” Smitty squeaked, trying to block his way. Sebek snorted and shoved him aside, before grabbing hold of James by his lapels. James gulped nervously, eyes very side, as Sebek’s fanged teeth were now dangerously close to him. “Give me one good reason not to eat you alive right now!” snarled the crocodile. James opened his mouth and closed it a few times, taken aback and unsure of what to say. His face was red again, this time you knew not with anger. “S-Smitty!” he finally coughed out. “Do something intelligent!” Smitty responded by running in a circle, like a chicken with its head cut off…before rather humorously trying to pull on Sebek’s coat in a vain attempt to pry him off. “S-Stop! Hey!” Smitty exclaimed. “Let him go!” Both Sebek and James watched this sorry sight before looking at each other with matching, bland expressions. “You need to get better friends,” Sebek droned. “I don’t have friends!” James spat back, angrily. “You won’t have much of anything soon enough,” Sebek said darkly, licking his lips with a vicious sort of smile. Before Sebek could - if he even planned to - make good on his threat, Smitty stopped tugging at his coattails. This was due to approaching footsteps, which, in turn, heralded a hand falling onto Sebek’s shoulder. Zigvolt looked back and slightly downward, soon spotting the rather stern face of Azul Ashengrotto. “That’s quite enough,” the octopus said to the crocodile. “Let me handle this, Sebek. I’m the team captain.” Sebek narrowed his eyes…but obliged, releasing James and stepping back to give Azul the proverbial floor. Smitty stepped aside in turn, even removing his cap and bowing his head.

Azul smirked, seemingly pleased with these shows of obligatory supplication, then frowned anew, hands on his hips as he looked at James with one eyebrow arched. “Well?” was all he said. James looked at Azul for a few moments. His expression had become blank. Finally, he bowed in his usual over-the-top, particularly courtly and elegant fashion, so low that his nose practically seemed ready to touch his toes. “A thousand pardons, Captain,” he apologized, in an effusive sort of tone. “I allowed my emotions to get the better of me. It will not happen again.” Azul huffed through his nostrils, tilting his head down and adjusting his spectacles in a way he frequently did when he was displeased. “Is that all you have to say for yourself?” he demanded to know. “I am afraid so,” admitted James, rather morosely. There was an awkward pause. The two looked into each other’s eyes…then Azul’s expression softened. He sighed through his nose. “Under other circumstances,” he said, at last. “I’d have you sitting out the rest of this hunt. As it stands, you’re lucky, James.” “How?” Nakoda asked, as he returned to his human form, coils reverting to legs, scales and claws receding as he dusted off his magically-reformed trousers. “Those Royal Sssword morons have the clue!” “Of course they do,” snorted Azul. “Then why are we lucky?” you asked, as you and Grim approached curiously, your whole team gathering in a semi-circle around Azul and James. “Because they aren’t the only ones,” replied Azul, and smirked, tapping his temple with two fingers. “I hope none of you were so foolish as to think I wouldn’t have MEMORIZED what was on the paper.” “Nya-ha! Then we still have a chance!” Grim exclaimed. “A very good chance,” Azul nodded, then looked up towards the sky, peering through the treetops above. “But for now, I think we’d better call it a day. That battle has already exhausted us all, I’m sure, and I’m pretty certain the Royal Sword students are feeling the same. There won’t be much more hunting today. Our best option is to find a place to camp, and then work from there.” “Can’t we just camp out here?” suggested Nakoda, indicating the cottage. “If we could, we would, but I suspect that would come to bite us in our proverbial rears later,” snorted Azul. “The point of this is to outmatch the opponent and prove one’s survival techniques. I don’t want to be the one Coach Vargas punishes for utilizing the cottage as a presumed loophole.” Everyone shuddered in agreement.

“We’ll need to find a place to set up, then we’ll split our group up,” Azul went on. He then turned towards James. “As for you…be on your best behavior, James. I can only be so lenient after something like that.” James bowed his head. “Me ears shall remain eternally open to thy admonition, sirrah.” Azul narrowed his eyes. “Remember who you are talking to, James,” he warned, somewhat darkly. “Don’t sell me anything. Just say yes or no.” James seemed to twitch before finally uttering a drab sort of, “Yes.” Azul smirked and nodded, then beckoned for you all to follow him. Nakoda and Sebek stepped into line quickly behind him. Grim soon trotted after them on all fours. You were about to follow, but paused when you noticed James and Smitty lingering behind. James was looking down towards the ground, his expression grim and sour. Smitty stood beside him and gave him a nudge. When James looked his way, the smaller man gave him an encouraging smile and a thumbs-up. James smirked for a moment, but the smile didn’t quite meet his eyes. You approached. “Hey,” you said, catching Killian’s attention as you gave him an encouraging look as well. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. And…just remember, it’s only a game, alright?” James chuckled in a sort of humorless fashion. “A trite sort of sentiment,” he replied, then smiled back in a benevolent, grateful sort of way. “Thank you, all the same.” “No problem,” you nodded, and then gave Smitty a smile. “You take care of him, okay?” “I always do,” giggled Smitty. You smiled wider, and then turned to catch up with the others. You had no idea, as you turned away, the way both Smitty and James’ expressions turned cold as frostbite itself. “They’re upset with us now, James,” Smitty observed. “Indeed. Normally, I would be bothered by that,” James nodded. “This time, however, I suspect it will prove most fortuitous.” “Then the plan is still going the way it should?” “Oh, most assuredly, Smitty. If things tonight go the way I hope, then all these hiccups will be minor bumps in the road.” “I don’t think I like it, James…” “Nobody is asking you to like it, Smitty. Just do what you’re told. When we split up, you know what to do, don’t you?” “Aye, James. That I do.” “Good boy, Smitty. Then let’s get moving…we’re not getting any younger, you know…”

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Night had fallen over Sage’s Island. You stepped out of the tent you’d made for yourself and Grim, one of four made at your team’s site. All but one tent was meant to house two students at the same time, the odd one out being Nakoda’s. He preferred to sleep in his naga form, which meant, under the circumstances, there wouldn’t be much room for anybody else. “Unlessssss,” he had suggested flirtatiously, “Anybody wantsss to join me in my coils tonight.” No one had been either desperate or foolish enough to agree…but you’d come close to saying yes, you were almost ashamed to admit. Your group had selected one of the open areas of the forest typically used for Camp Vargas events. It was familiar to all of you, and close in proximity to both the cottage and the mines, which seemed to make it a wise choice. You looked around at the site briefly. Sebek, Nakoda, and Grim were seated around the campfire, all toasting marshmallows and munching on s’mores. Azul you could see seated on a tree stump nearby, holding a piece of paper: he’d taken some time to write down the clue from his memory earlier, and was trying to puzzle it out. You approached Ashengrotto and knelt down beside him. “Need some help?” you offered. Azul smiled at you, the firelight glittering off of his glasses. “Ah, good evening, Prefect,” he greeted warmly, then tilted the paper. “I still haven’t figured this mess out. Can you make heads or tails of it?” You peered closely at the coded message. At least, you presumed it was a code. Otherwise what you read aloud was total nonsense… “Up the Yours…Two Tens in Three Feet…Stay Left…Ten Fours Increasing. No, sorry. I don’t have any idea.” “Neither do I,” admitted Azul. “I have many skills, but secret codes aren’t typically among them.” “Well, look on the bright side,” you said, patting Azul’s shoulder. “At least the Royal Sword team probably doesn’t know, either.” “We can only hope,” Azul replied with a slight sigh. GRRRLLLB… Azul winced as his stomach suddenly let out a deep, whining gurgle. He flushed with embarrassment as you chuckled. “Trying to solve it on an empty stomach won’t help,” you teased. “I ate enough earlier,” Ashengrotto lied. “Your belly says otherwise,” you teased.

Just then, chortling laughter and the sound of music caught both of your attentions. James and Smitty had just sat down beside the campfire. Smitty was holding a mandolin, strumming on it as he and James led the others in a song… “Hey! We’ll heave ‘im up and away we’ll go! ‘Way me Susianah! Aye, we’ll heave ‘im up and away we’ll go! We’re all bound o’er the mountain…!” You smiled and stood up, offering a hand to Azul. “Come on,” you said, tossing your head towards the rest of the group. “Let’s get something in your stomach. Take a break.” “I’ve had more than enough calories and carbs for the day,” insisted Azul, looking a little more flushed. You rolled your eyes. An appetite three times bigger than any human being’s, and yet Azul was one of the few at NRC who even CONSIDERED curbing that hunger. Criminy, you said! “Come on!” you urged again, not taking no for an answer, and forced the cecaelia-in-disguise onto his feet. He stumbled slightly before walking with you as you led him towards the campfire. “No one’s out here to judge you.” “Except for our other classmates,” grumbled Azul, adjusting his spectacles, as they nearly fell off his face from your forceful ministrations. “Our classmates,” you reminded him, “Include Sebek, Nakoda, and Grim. You really think any of THEM are gonna make fun of you if you eat a little more than usual?” Azul gave a weak smile and chuckled. “Touche,” he returned with a nod, then frowned. “But if I need new pants when this Event is done, I’m blaming you.” “You know better than to threaten me with a good time,” you returned crisply. Azul gave a sly smile in return. “Ah! Prefect!” James greeted, waving a hand theatrically through the air as the two of you approached. “And Azul! Please, sit down by the fire!” “That’s exactly what we plan to do,” you said, and the two of you took a spot beside James. Earlier, while setting up, you’d all brought four large, hollow logs and arranged them like makeshift benches around the fire in a vaguely diamond-shaped pattern. The arrangement of seating, in clockwise order from your point, was the following: yourself, Azul, James, Smitty, Sebek, Grim, Nakoda. “Mmmmm…didn’t think the sssnacks ssserved around thisss camp would be good eye candy, too,” teased Nakoda, his expression typically sultry as he addressed you once you sidled beside him. You blushed and just nudged his side with a grumble. He answered with his usual snicker.

“Where have you two been?” you asked James and Smitty. “We saw you both leave camp a while ago.” “Oh, I was out practicing my fencing, in case of another attack,” said James, then looked at his partner. “Smitty? What about you?” “What? M-Me?” Smitty squeaked and laughed a bit nervously. “I-I was just, um…looking to make sure we weren’t anywhere near the other team’s campsite. I-I didn’t want things to get messy, y’know? I was r-really happy when I saw the s’mores!” “Indeed!” said James, munching on one himself. “A simple but forever attractive staple of campground feasting!” “Well, aside from indulging in sugary confections, what else are you all up to?” Azul ventured to inquire, addressing the entire camp. “We heard music.” “Oh!” Grim chirruped, between bites of his s’more, “Smitty was teachin’ us a few scene chantings!” Azul blinked. “...Scene chantings?” he repeated, greatly puzzled. “Sea shanties,” giggled Smitty in correction, fiddling with his spectacles before showing off his mandolin. “They’re old songs that sailors used to sing when out on the open ocean. Kind of helped them to have something to sing when they were either working or out for long, long periods with not much to do.” “Smitty and I grew up along the docks in our hometown,” James said. “His father is a fisherman, and my father was a merchant sailor. So we both learned a few, as a result.” “Hmph. I hate to admit it, but the one you were just sharing was quite catchy,” huffed Sebek, and stuffed a s’more into his mouth. He chewed it up and swallowed it, before thumping his chest and belching thickly. “UUURRRP! Oof…I had no idea so many humans were so musical.” You blushed. He hadn’t even excused himself… “Rude crocodile,” you heard James mumble, but when you looked towards him, you suddenly noticed that, for the fifty-millionth time in the time you’d known him, his face had turned almost as red as your own. “Oh, that one was nothing!” grinned Smitty, who seemingly noticed neither of your reactions to Sebek’s eructation. “Here, this one’s sort of spooky, but it’s got a nice beat, listen…” So saying, Smitty took a breath, then strummed a few opening strings on the mandolin, before beginning to play it in earnest. His voice turned playfully “rough” as he began to sing the song…

“Dark and quiet are the devils in the deep! So slow and silent, so you’re swallowed in your sleep! With a tail and a tooth, an’ I’m tellin’ ye the truth: you’ll be boilin’ in the belly of Behemooth!” As Smitty paused to see how the rest were liking, his eager smile fell as he noticed how Nako, Azul, and Grim were all grinning in your direction. “Uh…what’s going on?” he asked, innocently. “N-Nothing,” you peeped, trying to avoid looking any of the teasing, grinning fellows in the face. “Is there more?” Grim asked, innocently. You gave the cat-like critter a look of pure betrayal. “Oh, a bit more,” nodded Smitty, and played his mandolin before singing again: “Ship set sail with their sights abroad! Suddenly, the suction of a cephalopod has ye thinkin’ twice! Well, take my advice: a mutineer should also fear a firin’ squad!” “Goodness, that’s a dark one,” you laughed nervously, noticing that not a single person present had looked away from you once. In fact, at the mention of the word “cephalopod,” Azul was licking his lips. “Well, that IS a catchy one,” Ashengrotto practically purred. “Hmph. I don’t see what all of you are giving the Prefect so much attention for,” harrumphed Sebek. “Their fear is to be expected with such topics, there’s no need to mock them for it.” “It’s not fear they’re mocking me for,” you mumbled under your breath, but you were secretly somewhat glad Sebek was perhaps a bit too meatheaded to realize your flustered, blushing, heavy-breathing, heart-racing reactions were NOT due to deep terror. “If you think their reaction is worth noting,” Sebek went on with a smirk, and gestured towards James. “You should see how the Codfish is reacting.” Eyes now turned away from you towards James, who was blushing more than ever, and suddenly seemed very interested in the light of the fire in front of him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, in a shaky sort of way. “Awww, come now, James,” crooned Azul, and scooted closer. “There’s no need to be embarrassed. Why don’t you tell us YOUR thoughts on that shanty?” “My thoughts are that we should hear a different one,” was the bland reply. “Okay!” Smitty said cheerfully. “Let me see, I could try-” “No, no, one more time!” Azul insisted. “Yesss,” agreed Nakoda, a gleam in his golden eyes as he grinned till his face seemed to split. “In fact, why don’t we sssing it all together?”

James went from bright red to pale as a sheet. “Oh, please, no,” he almost seemed to whimper. “Ha! Thy cowardice only gives incentive to me, human!” boomed Sebek, with a vengeful smirk. “McCarthy, strike the tune again!” Smitty seemed a bit befuddled, but shrugged and obligingly began to play the same song again. This time, everybody began to sing…everybody except yourself and James, that was… …But as the singing went on, so did other things. Nakoda Spivak suddenly slung his arm around your shoulders, and tugged you closer to him. “Dark and quiet are the devils in the deep…” He turned your face towards his own, causing you to freeze up. He was so close, you could kiss him, if you wanted. “So slow and silent, so you’re swallowed in your sleep…” You nudged him back with a very faint “meep” sound, and he just laughed between lyrics, rising to his feet as he did so, swinging his hips to the beat of the music as he began to slink his way around you. “With a tail and a tooth, and I’m tellin’ you the truth…” He bumped you with his hip. “...You’ll be boilin’ in the belly of a Behemooth!” You let out a louder meep from that, nearly toppling off the log and headlong into the fire…then stiffened as Nakoda pulled you back with his arms, hugging you from behind, and thus preventing you from falling into the flames. You looked at his face nervously as he nestled himself into the crook of your neck with a serpentine sort of nuzzle, and an equally slippery, supercilious smile. Hoping to pry your attention away from the sensual serpent, you checked on James’ reactions. Azul was being no less coy with him. The octopus had picked up a pre-made s’more and was inspecting it as he sang… “Ship set sail with their sights abroad…” He popped the s’more into his mouth, and swallowed the entire thing whole in a single gulp. His fingers flashed across his neck, tracing the lump in his throat as it went down. “Suddenly the suction of a cephalopod…” Azul smirked in a sideline sort of way towards James. The crimson-coated cavalier had been watching everything with rapt attention, his eyes following the path of the s’more as it fell into Azul’s trim belly, behind his costume. “Has ye thinkin’ twice. Well, take my advice…” Azul patted his stomach and licked his lips, winking at James behind his glasses. “A mutineer should also fear a firin’ squad.”

You weren’t sure what part of this whole exchange you’d witnessed impressed you most: the look of James almost sputtering and steaming, clearly flustered beyond belief; seeing Azul being so uncharacteristically seductive with his own appetite; the fact that nearly everyone else seemed oblivious… …Or the fact you could somehow focus on that with Nakoda nuzzling your neck and holding you close and tight in his arms. “S-Smitty!” James finally squeaked out, in a voice that cracked more than a Nutcracker. “Please, PLEASE play a different tune!” “Oh! Okay, James,” Smitty said, spritely, and tuned up his mandolin. “How about…‘The Song of Captain Sham’? Oh, I guess he shouldn’t have oughter, but he threw her in the water! And then a flounder downed her; that’s why they never found her!” “No! No, d-different than that!” eeped James, who was looking into Azul’s unblinking eyes, his face increasingly rosy while Azul’s was increasingly sly. “Um…alright, then let’s try ‘Fish in the Sea,’ eh?” suggested Smitty. “Then up jumps the shark, with his fine rows of teeth! He says, ‘You eat the dough, boys, and I’ll eat the beef…!’” “I would like to say not that one either!” you piped up, whimpering a little as Nakoda licked his own fine teeth. Smitty looked disappointed…then grinned broadly. “Oh! I know! ‘Ode to the Falling!’ That’s one of James’ favorites: And as we suggested, you’re slowly digested…!” “NO!” both you and James yelped at the same time. Smitty squeaked and jolted back. “Uh…s-sorry,” he peeped in apology, looking a little hurt at the shout. You and James sighed, while Azul, Nakoda, and Grim all sniggered. Sebek just rolled his eyes. “You humans are scared of the strangest things,” he mumbled, eternally oblivious. You and James gave him equally dry looks. “I think I’m going to take a walk to clear my head,” said James at last, easing himself away from Azul as he stood up. “Do be back in time for dessert,” crooned the half-cephalopod, with a slightly sinister smile that quirked his beauty mark. James gave him a sort of blushing, bashful look, and then marched away. You watched him go, and felt a sudden urge to follow. “I’m, uh…I’m gonna join him,” you said to the others. You started to stand…only to sit down again as Nakoda kept a grip on you. “Ah…Nako, could you please let go?” you asked, quite nervously. Nakoda’s smile was truly ravenous. “What if I want you to ssstay?” he teased. “Serpent!” snapped Sebek. “The human may be weak and feeble, but they have the right to go and stretch their legs if they so wish!”

“Your respect for me is touching,” you drawled, sarcastically. “Oh, you’re welcome!” grinned Sebek, clearly not picking up on said sarcasm. Nakoda pouted. “Aww…but I don’t think those sss’mores were enough to sssatisssfy me,” he keened, and grinned anew. “Perhapsss you could help there, hmmm?” “Nako,” Azul spoke up, strictly. “None of us will be eating the Prefect tonight. We need them, for a start.” “Nya! I know I need my minion!” Grim meowed. “Who else is gonna buy me tuna cans?” “I continue to be astounded by how much my classmates care for me,” you droned. Nakoda pouted more…but finally sighed and relented, releasing you from his grip. “Ssspoilsssportsss,” he hissed, in a long, languid, languorous sort of way, emphasizing each ‘s’ most deliberately. You blushed and stood up quickly, straightening up your clothes before you began to walk away from the campsite. You paused just a moment to look back. “Will you four make sure Azul actually eats enough tonight?” you asked the others. “Can’t have our captain leading without proper nutrition.” The other three all agreed (much to Azul’s embarrassment), and with that little victory assured, you followed the same path James had taken.You could hear Smitty striking up another song behind you, but you didn’t stick around to pay much attention to the lyrics. James Killian did not go far from the campsite. He paused just a few yards out of proper earshot from the rest of the party, the light from the fire visible like a beacon through the darkened greenery. He removed his bandana as he sighed, leaning back against a tree. He fanned his flushed face, sweat beading on his brow, as he pressed his free hand to his chest. A quiver went through him from how fast his heart was beating… “Odds, Bobs, Hammer and Tongs,” he muttered to himself, and shivered as he seemed to hear some of the lyrics echoing in his mind…as, even with his eyes closed, he could recall the looks and the actions. “They’ll be the death of me…” “I’m pretty sure, someday, one way or another, someone in this school will be the death of me, too.” James opened one eye at your greeting. When he saw you approach, he stepped away from the tree. You could see his fingers trembling slightly as he put his bandana back on. “Prefect…did I worry you?” he asked. “I-I assure you, coming after me was…hardly necessary, I…I just…” “Needed to get away from gorgeous guys who could swallow you in just a few bites and turn you into part of their hips, if they REALLY wanted to?” you guessed. James looked at you. He seemed simply stunned, as if you had tapped upon some long-hidden, dark, diabolical secret. “You didn’t make it that hard to figure out,” you chuckled, and offered a bashful look of your own, similar to the one he’d shown to Azul. “I…feel the same way. A lot.” James’ expression shifted. He laughed nervously, hands fiddling with the frills of his shirt. “Heh heh…I…suppose I CAN be…quite obvious, c-can’t I?” he conceded. “It’s a weakness, but…I suppose it’s my only weakness…” You decided not to comment on that, instead cocking your head to the side.

“Is that why they call you ‘Codfish’?” you checked. James blushed more and nodded. “I…supposedly taste quite similar,” he admitted, mumbling with embarrassment. He coughed, clearing his throat. “I imagine that I hardly have to tell you this, but…I’d prefer to keep this matter to myself as much as possible. Not everyone at the school knows…yet…” “Well, most people know about MY, ah…interests,” you chuckled. “Trust me, it’s not gonna take long.” “Oh, joy,” James drawled sarcastically. His tone made you giggle. A moment later, and he was chuckling alongside you. Then it was his turn to tilt his head. “Is this the only reason you came after me?” he asked. “Not exactly, but it was a big part of it. I wanted to be sure my observations were correct,” you confessed. You paused, then added: “It’s…honestly comforting.” “Comforting? What is?” “To know I have a friend who shares these…fascinations,” you said. “For a long time I felt like a lone sheep among wolves. It’s…kind of neat to know I’m not alone now.” James’ expression shifted. His blush began to recede slightly. He looked you up and down. “Is that so?” he murmured, then spoke aloud: “In that event, could I trouble you for a favor, as a kindred spirit?” “That depends on what you have in mind,” you shrugged. James paused, then took a deep breath, and spoke frankly. “I know where the treasure is.” You gaped. “What?” “I saw the clue, and I figured it out,” said James. “The secret to the code is that you have to be looking at the opposite in every other line, and to use simple replacements in the lines between and after.” That sounded very confusing, and your face must have shown it, because James laughed. “Honestly, it’s much easier than it sounds.” “I think you’d better explain, anyway.”

“Well, first of all, ‘Up the Yours.’ That almost sounds like an insult…” “Take out ‘the’ and it IS an insult…” “Right. But it’s not, it’s a code: what is the opposite of up?” “Well…down, right?” “Right. And what is the opposite of yours?” “Mine,” you said, then your eyes widened as it clicked in your head. ‘“Down the Mine!’ They’ve hidden the money chest somewhere in the mines!” “That’s it! Good form, Prefect!” James congratulated. “The next line is one where I mentioned math and replacements: ‘Two Tens in Three Feet.’” “Two Tens equals twenty,” you said. “But what does it mean by Three Feet?” “How much is three feet?” “A yard,” you said, then realized it with a snap of your fingers: “We have to walk twenty yards! That’s so simple!” James nodded, clearly pleased you were getting it. “Now you’re catching on!” he winked. “Okay, so, two lines left… ‘Stay Left.’ The opposite of ‘Stay’ is ‘Go,’ so we Go Left.” “Correct.” “And Ten Fours Increasing…that’s Forty More!” “Correct again!” “So, if you put it all together, the clue means: ‘Go twenty yards down the mine, turn left, and in forty more yards you’ll find the treasure!” “Exactly!” James said, with a sharp clap of his hands. “Bravo, my dear Prefect!” “James, that’s genius! I’m amazed you figured it out so simply!” you laughed, then your smile began to fade. “But…wait…what does this have to do with a favor? And why haven’t you told Azul?”

“Because after today’s fiasco, I think Azul may be hesitant to listen to me on this treasure hunt,” said James, honestly. His eyes turned soulful as he approached you. “I need someone he WILL listen to, who will give him the answer. And I know Smitty well enough to know he’ll bungle the riddle and give a wrong direction somewhere.” “That’s fair enough,” you murmured, and narrowed your eyes. “But…are you sure? I mean…I hate to take credit for you solving this, and I’m sure Azul would listen if you really had valuable info…” “I’d rather not take the chance,” said James, holding up his left hand placatingly. He then placed it upon your shoulder, looking at you closely. “Prefect. Can I trust you to keep my findings secret and give Azul the answer tomorrow? I think for now we should all rest.” You looked James up and down…then nodded. “If you’re sure, I’ll tell him. Every word you told me,” you promised. “But I have to check once more: you really don’t want any credit at all?” “Credit is nothing,” James said, seriously. “I’ve already caused enough trouble through my ego. The least I can do is make sure my team - my crew - wins in the end.” You smiled slightly. “That’s…a surprising amount of humility, James,” you praised. “Alright. I’ll do what you say.” James grinned back, gratefully, and patted your shoulder. “Thank you, my friend,” he said softly. “You’ve been most helpful.” “Oh, so now I’m your friend?” you teased. “And I thought you said friendship was an illusion.” “We all make mistakes,” James shrugged. You laughed, and brushed James’ hand away. “Whatever. I’m gonna head back to camp. Don’t stay out here too long,” you suggested. James answered with a salute, and watched as you marched back towards the glow of the campfire. Once again, you had no idea of the menacing, cruel look that suddenly fell across his face once you’d turned around. He looked at his left hand - the hand that had touched your shoulder - and chuckled sadistically to himself. “So easy,” James Killian cackled to himself.

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Sometime later, James returned to camp. The fire had been put out, and nearly everyone at camp was asleep. The only light still shining came from the tent he and Smitty shared. James crept into the same tent. He found Smitty McCarthy already asleep, snoring in an almost musical way in the sleeping bag he had set up. The light came from a lantern in the corner of the tent. James nudged Smitty with his boot. “Wake up,” he grunted. Smitty mumbled - “Five more minutes, Mom…” - and James sighed, nudging him a little harder. “Smitty, wake up!” he snapped. Smitty snorted in the midst of a cough and finally opened his eyes. He fished his glasses out from somewhere and put them on, then smiled widely. “James! You’re back!” he cheered exuberantly. “I was getting a little-MPH?!” James glared coldly as he clapped his right hand over Smitty’s mouth. “If you yell so loudly again,” he warned, “I’ll use my left.” He lifted it, indicating the tattoo upon it. “You don’t want that, do you, Smitty?” Smitty paled and shook his head. “Good man,” James chuckled, and removed his palm before turning serious. “Did you find them, when the others were out looking for food and firewood?” “Aye, James,” said Smitty McCarthy. “That I did.” “And did you achieve your other goal, earlier this evening? Before we all gathered at the fire?” “Aye, James,” Smitty said again, this time almost sounding sad. “I…I took her, and…and I left a message, like you said. They were all asleep already. They never saw me. I-I guess the Royal Sword guys go to sleep sooner than we do…” James just bit his lip, holding back his excitement. “Where is she?” he asked, like a small child. Smitty seemed to hesitate, conflicted. Then sighed and pointed towards the lantern. “She’s been watching this whole time,” he admitted, very quietly. James looked at the lantern, squinted…then his face lit up with evil glee. He lifted the lamp and peered into it with a greedy, eager sort of expression. “Perfect,” he almost growled to himself. “Hello, my little lady. I think you’re going to be of great use to me very soon…” James Killian had to hold back his laughter as Kes the pixie desperately banged at the walls of the lantern, face pleading and bells muted by the soundproof glass. Smitty McCarthy watched the scene with great worry, eyes flitting between the pair. He wasn’t sure whom he felt worse for.

To Be Continued in Part 4…

[azuresins]

Obsessed with the notion the Phantomhives are descended from/are part Si... it would explain almost everything. Our!Ciel's cat-eyes that were never addressed or explained. Why people are so drawn, why they're otherworldly and beautiful, why the Royal Family assigned them the position of "watchdog" yet, also saw them as a threat and wanted to get rid of them, how they can see supernatural beings without trying to...it might even explain Vincents youthful face... it also adds weight if Undertaker was one of them or connected somehow, there's so many more layers if that is the case... even small things, like having an affinity for sweets and having powerful emotions like Our!Ciel's revenge, fits... I've read so much fae folklore over the years... they love dairy, and they love sugar... they love being mischievous. They adore playing games. They are neither good nor evil... You know what they hate? Fire. And, their home being disrespected.

Thank you so much, putting this under a cut because it's long and I actually feel like talking about Tanaka??? If only because. I've been thinking a lot about him and what his part might have been in this... a lot of it is speculation... I'm taking this rant into a very different direction. There's a reason why a lot of anime/games have celtic influences. (tw: Suicide mention)

I'm trying to be very careful with my wording here because I know these come from two entirely different cultures, and they're in no way the same at all in most regards especially manners of worship and I can't get into all of the detail it deserves... this is more-so coming from others who have also drawn comparisons (please don't think I'm the only one for the love of god, this is what practitioners of Shinto and celtic historians have said, and it's reflected in a LOT of anime/japanese media). But Shinto, and some Celtic beliefs and mythos, have a lot of overlap... (I also think Japan and Ireland also have a lot of things in common, period, that people don't consider but that's for another post) in that each of them believe that "Spirits" (very loose term here!) can inhabit, or live in, forces of nature, animals, rivers, trees, ect. and that they can be good, or evil, or neither. And both cultures believed strongly in the role of spirits, and... death? The reason why I bring that up, because I think that if Tanaka knows what they are (assuming the Phantomhives really are what I think they are 👀), he's altogether not that shocked about it, and has deep respect and reverence for the family. To be honest I think he knows and has known for a while, and I am very stuck on it because I think it's very interesting? Tanaka is underrated in general. Samurai, historically... weren't supposed to live after their "Master" died. Traditionally, they're supposed to kill themselves. Even when these rigid rules started to die out and they were finally allowed to trade Masters (as long as they had permission from both parties), it was an extremely shameful thing to lose a Master as a Samurai, if that happened... and they were forbidden to learn any other trade, or take another job until they were disbanded completely in the 1870s. Ronin (ex samurai) were treated like crap!!! Tanaka would have been alive, when these rules/laws/practices were still in place. I think he's interesting because Tanaka found a realllllllly awesome loophole when he became a servant to a British/Western family. Because, he's always going to have another Master or Mistress to serve, as long as Phantomhives kept having children. Even if one Master died, another one would immediately take his place and still need him. The rules applied differently in England because in Japan servants weren't necessarily inherited the same way... this way, he'd always be safe, in that sense. Even after those rules no longer applied at all and Samurai disbanded completely... I'm sure he ADORES the Phantomhive family (if that wasn't already obvious) and while we really don't know his backstory... we don't know if he's a Ronin, or if he went to work for the Phantomhives willingly/legally by Japanese standard... but I'd imagine either way? He is extremely loyal to them and he probably wouldn't leave his home country, for just any old family. I think he knows what they are...he's been with them through too many generations not to. Even Sebastian probably doesn't frighten him all that much... he's seen some shit, I am sure and I am also sure he's fine with it. In all likelyhood he probably has a deep reverence for them to be honest if he's religious, or spiritual at all... It just...makes me deeply sad that he feels like he was responsible for what happened the night of the twin's birthday because (lol) obviously there was a reason why he felt he couldn't use his sword. Someone was protecting the perpetrators, someone he felt like he couldn't raise his sword to, attack, or kill. :( ... There's only so many people it can be, I'm afraid. If Real Ciel was there that day and had some small part to play in what happened even if he wasn't the mastermind, Tanaka can't be expected to raise his sword against his own Master, can he?

[echoghost1]

Five Fav Fics

got tagged by @jackdaw-sprite to pick 5 of my favorite fics that I've written! (here's their list)

this is gonna be hard cuz I have over 100 to chose from... ( ╯□╰ )

at least they don't have to be complete right?

Under the read more are the ones I chose

These aren't in order, just five that I picked

Carnival Mythika

Summary: What starts as a fun day at the carnival takes a turn after an innocent mistake. Danny gets separated from his friends at the carnival and asks the fortune teller for help to put him in the right direction, or maybe just back to the place he last saw them, the Cryptid Zoo.

Reason: this fic is my baby 😭 it's practically a novel and it really won't be that hard to change a few things and make this an original story because of how much of an AU it is. It's not done yet and it's taking me forever to write mostly because I keep having to take breaks because the emotional parts are so fricken heavy. Danny goes through it. he has a horrible time and it's all emotional trauma If you haven't read it, which it's an over 60k incomplete work with lots of angst and heavy topics, so I don't blame you. BUT if you wanna just read ch. 3 and let me know what you think （*＾-＾*）

Lively Conversations In Dead Man’s Land

Summary: Danny goes on a voluntary field trip to help his suffering grades.

Reason: This is one of the first fics I ever wrote way back in 2013 during PhannieMay (now DannyMay). The prompt was Western and I just went ham with a fluffy GrayGhost field trip fic. I had so much fun writing it and I still enjoy it today.

Quoth the Librarian, “But I’m Alone?”

Summary: Eleanor loved her job at the school library. She always made sure to come in early to make sure everything was just right before the students came. Today something beat her there.

Reason: One of the many fics I wrote for my first phic phight (2021) that I liked but it didn’t get much traction. The premise is simple, just a “what happened to this side character after a scene from the show” + making up a random OC that may never be used again.

Parallels

Summary: It's amazing the things you learn on a field trip.

Reason: My take on a reveal fic where Maddie & Danny try to have a normal mother-son bonding time during a field trip only for Danny to get triggered by something innocuous. A big part of the reason I’m proud of it was because I figured the trigger was so obvious but every comment that mentioned it was surprised by how perfect it was despite having never thought of it themselves.

A Night in La Casa del Sol

Summary: La Casa del Sol is an abandoned Bed and Breakfast on the North end of town, which like any good dilapidated building, has the reputation of being haunted. Paulina may act like an airhead, but she can still put two and two together. If her favorite ghost only comes out of hiding when there's another ghost around, she sure hopes her Abuela was right about the place. Danny is fist clueless, and then just confused, but mostly wants to make sure Paulina doesn't get hurt. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? Another sleepless night?

Reason: Even though it took me a while to add the final chapter to this one I think it was worth the wait. I had fun with a more classic haunted house type horror of Paulina and Danny exploring the old B&B together. That and that last chapter man, I don’t want to spoil it if you haven’t read it or if you did and forgot (it has been three years since I posted that final chapter lol)

And honorable mention goes to...

I think it would be illegal for me not to mention jackdaw’s favorite bedtime story 😜

Lost and Found

Summary: His parents had always warned him about the dangers in the woods.

Reason: Fae AU! Lost Time flavored Fae AU even! Also, like I said, Jackdaw really enjoys it If you don’t believe me check the comment section on that fic But I also really like it too. It was fun to write and it had my two favorite things, an au and taking an idea someone else did but putting my own spin on it! Fun fact: the final spoken bit of dialogue was actually the very first line that I thought of. It’s what made me write this story. It was just so good. And I’m happy to report that it did in fact pay off

[a-court-of-moonlight-and-ire]

I just saw a very good post in the anti tag about the issues with the IC making Nesta dance with Eris, and the reason Im not reblogging it is that I think it has some pretty bad and wrong shit to say about Nesta, specifically her age

First of all, it leads with that godawful "the brain isnt fully developed until 25 (therefore youre actually still a child until your mid-20s)" talking point which is just wrong, like scientifically, the brain is never truly 'fully developed' because it never stops developing because past a certain point brain development has very little to do with your age and more to do with your personal experiences. Also, 'development' when we're talking about the brain is not synonomous with becoming more mature or improving somehow. Like, if you suffer some trauma thats going to affect your brain development in ways that have to do with your life experiences so far and with your material circumstances and very little to do with your age (unless youre an actual child who has less rights and less control over those things o guess)

The OP of the post goes on to be like "Nesta was turned fae when she was 24, presumably the way the cauldron turned her immortal is by slowing down her aging to an astronomical degree, which means that shes going to mentally be 24 years old for a long time after this, thus effectively making her a child for the next eternity" and then, presumably to legitimize the absolutely asinine argument that a 24 year old (previously) human adult could be a child in any world, they go on to say some shit about high fae not reaching maturity until theyre like 50 which Im prwtty sure is wrong

Like, SJM is a bad writer and a worse worldbuilder so everything about everything is just a big inconsistant mess, but as I understand it, high fae and illyrians seem to age like normal humans until they hit their mid-20s and then their aging slows down to an astronomical degree, the thing about fae aging slower is something said by Alis in the first book so it its either something that only applies to lower fae or its one of the many things that got retconned from ACOTAR to ACOMAF. In other words, fae would physically develop the same as humans, brains and all (not that that matters anyway, as ive already detailed in the previous paragraph)

The thing that kills me about this post, the thing that makes me call it very good except for this aspect, is that its primarily about the IC putting Nesta in danger by putting her in contact with a guy who, as far as they know, is a dangerous misogynist with absolutely no regard for her safety. Thats an absolutely horrible thing to do to an adult woman, especially one whos recovering from severe trauma, and there is no need to make it seem even worse by infantilizing her like that. Yes, thre is an age gap between Nesta and Eris which contributes to a pretty weird power dynamic, but ultimately the reason that dynamic skews towards Eris is that hes older, not that Nesta is younger. Eris is a guy who with centuries of life experience who is characterized as manipulative, who likely spent a big part of those centuries learning how to be manipulative in the most effective way possible, and Nesta is a normal adult woman, thats the issue here; not Nesta being a "child" and Eris being an "adult"

[romanticatheartt]

I want to rant a little so before y'all attack me I ship Elucien so pls chill the f out. As always my problem is the fans (AND NOT ALL OF THEM). And if you don't agree with any of this please be respectful or just unfollow or block me, I'm not looking for an argument :)

The hate Feysand or IC gets from different sides of the fandom is funny to me. When they don't want to blame their favorite character, they put it on IC. And I'm specifically want to talk about Eluciens.

It's a little long so ->

Idk what's their problem and I certainly don't want to know (I didn't even know there was a problem but apparently is) but I found this out unwillingly when Tumblr thinks I would enjoy these kind of posts or when people don't know how to tag properly lol

So it seems Eluciens have problem with IC because they don't let them communicate without being watched and if they leave them alone they'll be getting along instantly...

First of all have y'all forget the fact that they have been alone? After the war Feyre specially leaves them alone and let them talk. No one watches and there's no one there to make them uncomfortable. And If I'm not wrong there is one other time before he leaves for the search of Vassa. My point is the times they've been watched, was because IC didn't trust Lucien not because they have problem with his bond with Elain. The bond is sacred to them, they'll never have any problem with that trust me.

So the fact that you don't take into account that maybe Elain is really not ready to be with Lucien is beyond me. That you take away her agency and turn it into someone else's fault.

You don't want to accept that Elain just had a messy break up, she still mourns her human life, she's somewhere she doesn't belong to and is utterly lost. You want to completely forget that and blame it on IC while they're their biggest supporters.

I'm pointing out to Morrigan, Rhysand, Feyre, Cassian and maybe Nesta (after acosf)

Morrigan who's power is truth and asked Feyre to let them figures it out themselves even tho Feyre was trying to get them to talk to each other. She asked Feyre to not interfere even tho her intentions were good.

When Rhysand stopped Az because he knew there's no thoughts behind his actions. And when he didn't answer him about Mor or when he questioned the Cauldron he instantly had to stop it. (Probably because Tam/in said something similar about his bond with Feyre and he saw his brother is turning to someone he hates.) And while I didn't like the fact that he kinda decided for Elain, he also didn't know what she really wants but whatever it is he turns the events in favor of Lucien and Elain or let's say somewhere with less heart break. He wants them to at least have one chance before they do anything else. Because let's be honest if Rhys knew Az and Elain would've been happy together and Azriel would genuinely love her, he wouldn't have brought all those political reason as to why they can't be together. He would've find a way to make it happen. Rhysand is the person who wants for his family to get to their HEA. So it's completely obvious to me that he wanted to give Az reasons as to not think with his d*ck as always.

And they love LOVE to bash Feyre for even commenting on Cauldron being wrong. Listen so here's the thing: Sjm wanted to bring this question as a way to show that her mates are never wrong, they're suited for each other and 90% endgame. And since the first 3.5 books are 1st person and its Feyre's story, it had to be questioned by Feyre. This was an author's choice and not Feyre genuinely believing that. And it was a question that leads to Rhysand explaining how untrue it is. It was just a way for Sjm to show her mates are not wrong for each other. Feyre wasn't forcing this idea at all. She's new to all of this even tho she's been living with them for a couple of years. Compare to everyone else who has been born fae. She has the right to question things. (And they always come up with this question: what if someone question Feyre's bond with Rhys wouldn't she get mad? Um... No. Because she's seeing and experiencing the result of accepting the bond and it has clearly worked out for her. And beside being mates, she loves him. Being mated was a bonus point for them. So she probably wouldn't care if Cauldron was wrong. The mating bond isn't the only reason they're together. One day I'll write a post about the mating bond and why I think it can't be wrong but that's for another time.)

And Cassian is on board with them because he, like Feyre and Rhysand, knows how it's like to be with your mate. And we see him looking at Lucien with pity. And he also notices that night court is definitely not for Elain.

And Nesta literally said this in hofas:

“I’ve been in the Fae realms long enough to know that there are forces that sometimes guide us, push us along. I’ve learned to let them. And to listen.”

... I MEAN, I MEAN!!! *read it in timothée chalamet voice*

In acosf she called Elain out on her behavior. So you see, everyone is somehow rooting for Elucien and want them to at least give it a chance.

I said all this to prove that IC shouldn't be blamed while Elain (and maybe even Lucien we've never read either povs) don't want to take a step toward each other--for now. I guess it's just easier to blame IC for something that's literally not their fault. Everything they did after Lucien came into Velaris was understandable. They didn't trust him and he proved his somewhat loyalty to them or at the very least to Elain. And this was back in acowar so things has changed!!! But let's not forget that in the last winter solstice, Elain sat furthest from Lucien and it was her choice!! Her not giving Lucien a chance (yet) is her choice. Not wanting to be alone with him is her choice, please try to understand.

Still holding a grudge when circumstances has changed after acowar is just petty imo...

[amrv-5]

5, 6, 29!

HELLO PRAX AND GOOD AFTERNOON!!!! Thank you for contributing to my Procrastination Effort o7

5. What’s a fic idea you’ve had that you will never write?

Generally I never say never. However when I was initially fucking around with the idea of Somewhere to Get To, I had considered it starting in the far future. Like, 2010s, and it would have started with a little vignette about one (or several) of Hawkeye's patients just living life (was trying to play abstractly with the question that comes up over and over again in S2G2 of, like, was it worth it for Hawkeye to have been there? What did the world gain from it? Etc.) Reveal that Hawkeye in fact is recently dead, and then a slow fall back into the primary plot with our young(er) Hawkeye. But this 1. felt weird 2. didn't work and 3. made me sad, so I chopped it. It's still around in one of my docs I think but it sucked.

6. Are there any fics from others you reread all the time?

Fff. ouughhh. Okay this is gonna be LONG and cover many fandoms sorry. Okay. So:

In general,

Designations Congruent with Things by CWR is something I reread every few years in order to have my brain exploded about how I'm never going to write something that good and also to catch feelings about wanting to be known and loved even when you don't like yourself, and to cry a little about humanity's drive for knowledge, etc.

Also Pacific Rim, irisbleufic's "Anthology" series. Haven't reread it in a while because it makes me like believe in love and the good of humanity and stuff. 'S brilliant. The end scene with Newt and Boston and the sky....... sticks with me still 5 yrs later. Awesome.

Also Welcome, Wanderer from singlecrow (TNG) which makes me crazy and is a great great great playful interesting multi-textual piece, dense and fun and fascinating and fae and good. It rules.

And the entire Controlled Burn series by jimmymcgools in Better Call Saul, of all places (some of the most gorgeous lyrical prose I've ever seen frfr).

[voice of a guy digging through his bookmarks and downloads] I can't believe I forgot "There Are No Gays in Football" by Malu_3, Merlin fandom. Changed me. The wrangling of fame and identity...

Speaking of Merlin, Pianos are made for Falling by fishwrites. Nodame Cantabile AU, kind of. Blew my mind as a teenager and I still love it. Makes me cry.

ANYWAY in MASH, Maple Syrup by Granspn when I can emotionally handle little Hawk, and "these are the days of miracle and wonder" also by singlecrow (Radar in the field, plus also Hawkeye's century of the atom speech are 2 indelible MASH ficdom images to me). Homecoming by yaroantheo also murks me every time.... the wedding scene....... I'm sure there's others but these are the ones coming immediately to mind.

29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic.

Fuck. I forgot I was working on a modern AU Beejhawk just to prove to myself that I thought it was possible to do while maintaining the spirit of the show. I don't think I'll ever finish it. A chunk of that here:

Hawkeye woke him by pelting him with a ballpoint pen. 

“Hnf,” BJ said, opening his eyes, disoriented: he saw only a span of featureless beige tile. His proprioception lagged, struggling to inform him where and how he was positioned in space. He felt briefly as though he was floating, released from the perpetual falling of earthly gravity, and then groaned as direction reasserted itself. He was face-down on a floor somewhere for some reason.

Another pen contacted his face and he flinched. “Stop.” 

“You’re an hour-fifteen late,” Hawkeye informed him from somewhere far above. 

BJ’s body jolted into action without consulting his brain. He slammed his head against the underside of a table. Memory was coming back to him in pieces—a late case, scrubbing out, vision greying and fuzzing at the edges, sitting down in the mess, deciding to have a cup of coffee with Hawkeye who was only halfway through his own shift. He’d fallen asleep, evidently, or lost consciousness and then fallen asleep, but how had he ended up underneath the table?

“Which case?” BJ asked, nauseated with exhaustion, uncertain what day of the week it was, only tentatively sure of the month. Fabric shifted over his torso as he hauled himself out from under the table. Somebody had draped a lab coat over him as he slept. 

“Hunnicutt v. Hunnicutt,” Hawkeye said, voice calm and unemotive, which was a kindness. 

“Oh, fuck,” BJ said, closing his eyes, dread walloping him. He debated the merits of lying back down and sleeping until his next shift began or he died of a widowmaker—not that he’d be leaving anybody widowed once Peg’s lawyer was through with him.

“Hand me those pens, will you?” Hawkeye asked, like he hadn’t just used them as artillery. 

[azsazz]

cc3 anon

spoilers below cut

CC Anon! (I’m so sorry if you’re sick of me)

I said they can regrow limbs because Baxian ate Ruhn’s hand off in prison and Ruhn was fine once the Gorsian shackles didn’t stop his regenerative healing. Just like how the wings just grow back if you cut them which I thought was so stupid when Micah cut Hunt’s wings off in CC1. No one has any real handicaps in this series beyond their own ineptness.

Yeah I remember that happening and knew that Hunt could regrow his wings but I didn't realize or remember that apparently anyone can do it lol. oh yeah for sure i love how they had hidden powers too and everything just literally seems to happen out of convenience for them lol. no one is putting in any real work.

The antidote was too easy. The parasite bit was so stupid. I’m actually surprised there was barely any mention about synth after CC1. I figured maybe they’d try to manufacture it properly to give the humans abilities if they wanted to fight. I’m pretty sure they said it was being sold on the streets so maybe that comes back for book 4 idk!

LITERALLY IT TOOK LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO FIND THE CURE COME ON. why even have it as a plot line if its so easy to fix...smh like there's no element of surprise for ANYTHING anymore. not even the mc deaths because it happens in every damn book. the only reason she brought amren back to life i swear is because at that moment she was like oh i should interconnect these series.

The Viper Queen upset me so much because she can’t dress! Every jumpsuit worse than the last! WHY WAS SHE ONLY WEARING JUICY COUTURE SWEATSUITS AND HIGH HEELED SNEAKERS I DIED

YES five different bonus scenes for different editions?? I hope no one actually bought all the editions to read them :/ They’ve already posted them here 😭. And in their bonus scene, ONE MONTH after the war, Ruhn and Lidia get married 😶

I saw videos of people buying them and it made me a lil sick lol. like thats fucking over $100? That's insane to me. Literally Ruhn and Lidia did not fuck around they said we're moving in and getting hitched. wouldn't be surprised if she's pregnant in the next book lol.

I wonder if the fourth book would mostly be about rebuilding and any political conflict from after the war. I hope she wouldn’t try to introduce another supernatural villain to stretch out the series. Watching TOG become a 7 book series in real-time and whatever ACOTAR has become, I’m confident in her ability to extend a series whether it needs it or not.

I honestly can't see it being about rebuilding and politics unless it was another characters pov because bryce made it clear that she doesn't want to be in charge? which i find selfish that she became queen and immediately shut down all fae politics and then basically is like figure it out yourself i want nothing to do with it lol? like what? take some fucking responsibility for once girl. i was thinking it could be more tharion based because of the end. i'd actually like to see him an sathia get together i think they would be a good couple.

Like they literally shot Sabine’s face off and she was fine after a little bit of first light 😭😭

Actually so dumb...no one has the ability to die here i guess, even with the parasite. smh

[lovesick-nagi]

My abuser's posts about me and why I've been gone. { Pt. 3 }

{ Part 3: What Stylus told their friends, and their last ditch "efforts" on tumblr }

!! VERY important, I ask that you read. Boosts are very appreciated, only trigger warnings here are discussions and belittlement of abuse !!

This is my final entry in this post chain on the person behind the abandoned account @stylusscomms .

So, after all this, how did they abandon their account? Well, leading up to this they got in one last horrible idea, and posted up a statement from one of their last remaining friends after all this, that being yet another person I know to be their ex. They have since deleted this.

As one asker points out, and another asker confirms, every single part of this post was in extremely bad taste and was an insult to the entire community of survivors. Especially to me, because it was in reference to trying to defend my abuser's intentions as well as bring a post directly to me. This person has never so much as talked to me, but is speaking this way about my personal trauma. And of course, they are an early childhood friend/ex of Stylus'.

Multiple excuses for his actions are parroted here, that being his exes or his memory loss, or that I didn't say enough to make him stop, that he didn't mean to, and it was a "miscommunication". All of which I've talked about in my last posts. I told him clearly and firmly to stop multiple times, but he didn't! His exes were victims of him! And by now, we all know what "playfighting" looks like to Stylus, because they've punched someone in the face and broken their glasses. I don't really blame this person though, because this is very clearly just what Stylus has made the situation out to be.

The worst part is, Stylus went on to clarify the post's deletion was because their ex wanted it taken down, not that Stylus themselves saw any issue with it. They seem to still be diluting themselves to the point where they would have no idea why, and were confused about why their ex seemed to be upset at them. Again, they had to be painstakingly told through the efforts of multiple people in their askbox in order to acknowledge this, but of course that didn't last either.

However, in this post, they talk about a "formal apology", that must be good, right? Well, in their second last post, we get to see that...kind of.

In this post they apologize for what they've done pretty basically, as if a public post of "Sorry I abused you" would ever be good enough, I mean they didn't even reach out privately. For all they know, I could have never seen this, so clearly they weren't that eager to make amends. They had all these people in their askbox personally coaxing them through making a personal apology, and they couldn't even do that. There is also another new excuse this time, probably due to the fact that they couldn't dump all the blame on their ""abusive"" exes anymore. Based on all we've gone over, as well as their constant need to try to come up with "reasons" for abuse, im not inclined to believe this a single bit.

But at the end of this whole post, which could have maybe been taken in a genuine attempt at an apology, what's the last thing they say to me, their abuse victim?

That's great Stylus. What a way to end an apology. The last thing you have to say to me is a nitpick about my identity, and a WRONG one at that.

I've never used Fae/Faer, I use Fey/Feyr/Fem, which I created, and as the creator, I can say is not meant to be inherently connected with the fae in the first place, it is simply meant to give They/Their/Them a feminine flair, along with obviously sounding similar. The problem is I did not tell you I went by this verbally, nor did anyone ever call me by these pronouns verbally, so there was no room for a "mistake" in this form to be made, and no excuse for this mischaracterization of my identity !! It says so on my profile, and as you said yourself, you were not blocked during any of this !!!

AND, as it clearly states on my profile, and as they know from being "friends" with me, I AM PAGAN !!

This is a ridiculous jab at me at the end of a supposed apology. I can guarantee you yourself have not done the research and practice into the fae that I have, and this is along with the fact a lot of pagans have attested that this set of pronouns isn't even offensive in the first place !! I would know !!! If the fae had a problem with it, I can assure you I would be well aware by now due to my practice.

It should also be said that the only note on this post was a reblog saying the exact same thing, that this end note was both incorrect and discounted the entirety of their "sincere apology".

It was also over the course of this entire situation that I was being sent asks saying that they were, concurrently with their posts about the situations, continuing to spread their false claims and frustrations against not only me, but their exes in the system server that they mod and frequent. Making us out to be the "toxic friend" and "crazy exes", when they abused us and SAed me. I have no words.

I cannot even describe how horrific it is that someone like this could even be in a space with this traumatized community, but even worse, as someone who holds a high position, with power. Someone who is trusted. And to use this platform to spread this stuff about us? It's just plain gross.

To sum this all up, the response they have given to the situation has disgusted all survivors who have seen it. Instead of opting for a personal apology like everyone urged them to do, they got their ex on their blog defending them, deleted it because their ex probably realized how vile and victimblaming it was, Stylus then went on to post a subpar public "apology" I very well may have never seen, along with another flat out lie about me, before abandoning their account altogether.

It is clear that they do not care about the truth, as their efforts to disguise it through this whole situation have been continually called out. They continued to make very easily debunkable lies and mischaracterizations of anyone they could in an effort to victimize themselves in the face of their abuse on others, and even in the end, as they are running away from yet another false allegation they made being exposed, they sprinkle in one more attempt at demonizing me, their victim, at the end of an "apology".

I'd like to thank all askers involved for defending my name, as well as my experience as a survivor of Stylus. I'm sure anyone who has seen my posts in response to false claims or information knows how passionate I get about disproving it, which is why when faced with this I obviously had to decimate them with the consequences of their own actions. All I can say is, if they thought they could just get away with everything they had done, that I would stay silent at their treatment of me and my name yet again, they were very mistaken. I was simply the wrong person to do this to, and if they really wanna apologize, they can apologize to me directly.

I'm all ears, Stylus.

[acourtofthought]

Hey bestie!! So I was lurking in the Reddit (which tbh, has been improving massively…I actually saw one of the people who was nasty to me in the past terminated their account which was comforting lol but anyways)

I saw someone post about how they see similarities between Mr. Darcy and Azriel and I was like…..where? 😭

Darcy is socially awkward and aloof…Azriel is socially intelligent and calculated. Like am I tripping? What are the similarities? Besides, I suppose, the surface-level one that they’re both quiet—but their motives for being so are sooooo different. 🙈

And before you ask, yes, they do sail that way 😂

🧼💖

Hello my dear friend!!! ❤️

Isn't it nice to enjoy your online experience without being worried about being attacked by certain people in the fandom? Even though those interactions shouldn't matter, they can cause a very negative physical reaction (stress, anxiety, etc.). At least they have for me in the past.

I guess if you want get technical, Az and Mr. Darcy are both a bit arrogant at times.

But you know what? So is Rhys. So is Cassian. So is pretty much every single fae male in SJMs books. And the ways Az is arrogant versus Darcy are not remotely comparable.

Yes, Mr. Darcy is withdrawn and aloof because of struggling in certain social situations as Az can be but like you said, they are that way for very different reasons. And around his friends, it seems Mr. Darcy is forthcoming with his thoughts and emotions (given that he at first expressed his concerns to Mr. Bingley about Jane's affections towards him and later when he corrected his error). We're told by Rhys and Cassian than Azriel is closed off even with them. Az is also full of rage whereas Mr. Darcy is not.

And honestly? I think Az is calculating but I don't find him emotionally intelligent or logically intelligent at times (or even well read). He's a bit of a loose canon and I think when you're somewhat unhinged in your approach to things, it comes across as not thinking things through.

Az has prejudices against the Illyrians and Darcy had a certain opinion on those he considered "inferior" but I don't know that was so much a prejudice as being due to the fact that there were very defined classes and social statuses during that time and those of wealth normally traveled within certain circles. Which sounds a lot more like Lucien in book 1 when he had a similar mindset regarding the fae and humans (credit to SJM for addressing Lucien's past opinion of humans by having him develop a friendship with two humans (three if you count Feyre) and living in the human land for a spell. Which is sort of like Darcy correcting his mistake with Mr. Bingley and Jane, acknowledging that he misjudged the scenario and making amends).

Az may know how to behave in social settings because he's observed it and is playing the part but it doesn't read as completely sincere to me versus Mr. Darcy who is a consummate gentlemen by nature (exactly as Lucien comes across).

I get that E/riels want their pairing to be comparable to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy but I don't see how anyone could reasonably make them more fitting of that comparison than Elucien would be. Yes, Lucien is better in social situations than Mr. Darcy but beyond that he embodies P & P. Looking over the books you see where he incorrectly judged the humans, where he acknowledged his mistakes, where he's living his life in a way that shows he's made amends. He's well spoken, well dressed, holds in his emotions even when angered as there's a proper way of handling things (and not hiding intense rage behind a façade the way Az does). He respects formality and not because he thinks it's important to others.

Anywho.....what you said 😂

I hope you're having a good week so far!!! It's nice getting a message from you ❤️