#like if he was raised in a colony that was only just brought into fire nation hands w the earth vs fire tensions being sky high

[aro-aizawa]

i really don't know where i got my longest running atla headcanon from, all i know is i've thought it for over a decade and seamingly no one else thinks it 🤔

[a-boca-do-inferno]

medicine (caesar x human!reader)

summary: The ape colony is short on painkillers for humans, except Caesar learned a lot in his time living with them. Lucky for you.

warnings: period mention, interspecies (mild)smut

words: 1.9k

notes: lol yeah another one... im just enjoying it while i can ok. my vacation ends next month 💀 boa leitura!

It couldn’t be later than midnight. You hissed as your cramps only got harsher and harsher. In the cold everything became much worse, and this time was no different. You curled up towards Maurice to try and borrow some warmth from his fur, yet it felt helpless; your body shook like a leaf, and the pain in your womb was ridiculous.

Noticing your distress, Maurice wakes up from his sleep and signs with a worried expression, “I call Caesar?”

You shake your head even before he can say his name. The ape king had more important matters to attend to than your stupid human cramps. On top of it all, it was his resting moment now. You wouldn’t bother him with this. “No. Let him sleep.”

“Herbs?”

“Doesn’t work.” You grunt in frustration, signing with a frown. “I’m fine. By morning it will get better. It’s just the cold.”

“Winter start now.” Maurice argues, still with his gentleness in every word. You only nod in response and he insists, pointing towards Caesar’s tent. “Talk tomorrow. He can help. Lived with humans… before.”

Your eyes fell on the king sleeping a few feet away from you. Could Maurice really have a point? Perhaps Caesar indeed knew some trick to help with period cramps. You did hear he was brought up with human parents, which meant he must’ve had a woman around—you never touched on the subject out of respect, since you two weren’t close. Exchanging a last look with the orangutan, you displayed another short nod. A wave of pain reached your abdomen again and you sighed quietly, burying yourself in ginger fur, despite it being fruitless at that point.

The next day, the colony was awake as soon as the sun was out. It was a rare morning with sunlight and you thanked heavens mentally, appreciating the heat, even if mild, radiating from the star above. The pain had subdued considerably and you took the opportunity to help with supper. Sometimes you helped Maurice in school, but being on your feet proved to make matters worse those days.

You settled around the fire with the girls who tended to cooking. As you were in the middle of grilling fish, a hand touched your shoulder and you turned to face Caesar beating a tight expression. You stood up immediately to greet him, showing your respect for the king. You tried your best to look obedient to his power, as you were well aware of their history with humans, and his reaction was always the same—a dismissive hand gesture, green eyes softening gradually. However, his gaze remained serious now, and you gulped in anticipation.

“Cramps?” Caesar points to your stomach, his gravelly voice a low sound.

Your cheeks heat up and you want to roll your eyes, but refrain from doing so. Maurice and his gigantic mouth. You had hoped he’d forgotten about last night’s talk. Gesturing sheepishly, you stare at the floor. “It’s fine. The sun helps.” You motion upwards to prove your point.

Caesar glances at the pink sky and notices the big star almost fading in the horizon, then back at you. Your inability to keep eye contact with him didn’t go unnoticed, either, making him narrow his green orbs. The muscles in his jaw jump, and he grumbles, his face unimpressed, “sun not here at night.”

“I know, but...”

“But?” He challenges, raising a brow. The king crossed his arms over his chest, a gesture that made him even more menacing. You were used to his imposing presence—the tall and muscular build, the scars on his body, the permanent look of seriousness—yet there were few things more intimidating than seeing Caesar like this, with his displeasure directed at you.

You take a deep breath, trying your best to sound convincing even though you felt like a child being reprimanded. “But I have Maurice to…”

“Maurice... ratted you out. Like humans… say.” Caesar cuts you off with a hint of amusement, in contrast with his dry voice. Carefully, he takes your shirt in his large hands, lifting the fabric to expose your belly without so much as a request for permission; not that he needed it, anyway. His calloused fingers made goose bumps on your skin while navigating your soft form. He lets go of you and signs sharply. “Need medicine. Can’t stay like this.”

You furrow your brows. “They don’t work, Caesar, but it’s okay. It’s just a couple of days. It’ll go away.”

He stops for a moment, contemplating your protests. His gaze flicks to your eyes, acute and intense, making you shrink under his scrutiny. “Not okay. Pain… too much.” Surely the ape would never let you be writhing in pain every night, no matter if it was but a week. With a final huff, Caesar then orders, “you stay with me tonight.”

“But I...” At the look he shoots you, you know there’s no more arguing. The king has spoken. With a defeated sigh, you nod and watch him step away on his hind legs, towering over the others. You mutter under your breath, “God, I miss democracy.” 

As the day went on, you did your best to ignore the annoying throb in your abdomen, knowing you'd be glared at by Caesar if he caught you grimacing again. A low hum of crickets began to fill the night air as the apes settled down around the fire. The hour grew late and the campsite gradually became quiet, the crackling bonfire the only source of light and life. 

You were eating fish alongside Maurice and Rocket, laughing at something the ginger spoke about the kids in school today. On the other side of the circle, green eyes kept vigilant over you with no subtlety at all. You couldn’t help but feel your cheeks burning at the attention. Caesar finished his meal, glancing towards you through the darkness as you remained by the fire after everyone was gone. He slowly made his way over, his massive figure casting a shadow as he approached you. 

With some lightheartedness he signs, extending a hand, “time to rest.” Your eyes follow his gestures and you take his palm. He guides you toward his tent in considerable silence before closing the curtain-like branches draped over the entrance, hooting faintly as he points to his nest. “Lie down.”

You obey him, your breathing slowly increasing its pace. You clasp your hands over your stomach anxiously, intertwining your fingers. “What are you gonna do?”

Caesar scans over you for a moment, noting the tension in your demeanour. “Massage.” He grunts, moving to sit next to you, his muscles rippling with his every movement. The ape pries apart your hands, replacing them with his own much larger ones, his palms settling on your abdomen similar to how he did earlier. He eyes your reactions closely. “May… I?”

You didn’t respond with words, silently granting Caesar permission to go on with his idea. Hooting again, a sound that almost felt like he was trying to soothe your nerves, his rough skin made contact with your tender one, brushing and squeezing it in fairly skilful ways. In spite of the awkwardness of the situation, you found yourself relaxing under his ministrations, your eyelids fluttering shut from time to time. The ape didn’t say much as he worked, green orbs fixated on your expressions while continuing to move his hands in small circles over your womb area. His face was nearly unreadable, the usual stoic frown now replaced by a look of concentration.   

The ape kept going, a low grumble escaping him every now and then as he tried to maintain the pressure at a certain point to make the pain dissipate. You had no idea when it shifted in nature, yet all of a sudden, his movements seemed a lot more sensual than anything. Your interior was only getting hotter by the minute, accompanied by the clear flush on your face. It’s the hormones. It’s the hormones. It’s the hormones. Your attempts at making yourself believe in those affirmations were unsuccessful, pathetic at best; and it all came down crumbling when the quietest moan left your throat, causing Caesar to freeze and stop with the massage.

You stare at him with widened eyes, embarrassment and fear encapsulated in your features, and you immediately sit up and sign in desperation, your tone just as urgent, “I’m… I’m sorry, Caesar, please. It was just…”

A dark look passed over Caesar’s face as he watched you stumble on yourself with apologies. Without a word, his stare dropped to your body once more, the fingers in your abdomen applying more pressure against the flesh, feeling the heat as you reacted to his touch. He could smell your scent changing and a guttural sound escaped his lips as his green eyes glanced at you unblinking, his hand slowly drifting down your womb and stopping on your pelvis deliberately. 

You inhaled sharply, in surprise and excitement, the realisation hitting you like a brick. The ape curled his digits and resumed the massage, his nostrils flaring as he huffed, clearly aroused. Your faces stood inches apart, his hot, heavy breath against you blowing your hair lightly. You put your arm around his neck and he grunted in appreciation, his expression softening at the way you whimpered in pleasure, begging for more. His fingers rubbed circles on your clit through your clothes in a steady rhythm, causing you to bury your face in his furry neck, gasping.

“I’m gonna…”

Caesar heaved in your ear encouragingly and it was the final straw. You came against his hand, squeezing your thighs in reflex whilst he kept massaging your heat through your orgasm. The ape king continued to look at you eagerly and you tried to get out of his grasp, ashamed of what just transpired. He swallowed thickly, holding onto your forearm to prevent you from scooting away, and pressed your foreheads together.

He hooted, grabbing your palm and taking it to his leg. Your gaze followed his movement and you noticed how excited he was, too. Your mind was hazy from your high just a few seconds ago, then it dawned on you that he felt as aroused as you by what happened. It wasn’t just you and your period hormones. It never even crossed your mind that it was possible for him to desire you this way. You cupped his cheeks as your heads stayed pressed to one another, closing your eyes, his scent intoxicating your system.

Caesar nuzzled your cheek, inhaling the sweet smell of you in as much as he could, making sure to memorise each and every inch of your scent under his touch. He ran his hand to place it on the nape of your neck, guiding your body towards his, until you were sitting on his lap, straddling his massive frame. The action brought your chest flush with his, a low rumble escaping him when your curves brushed his bare skin. He found the crook of your shoulder, his tongue trailing a path over the sensitive area, making you shiver. The king huffed again, his free hand sliding up your leg to grip a handful of your flesh, pulling you closer—his grip kept you in place, letting him claim you in any way he wanted.

“Cold?” He hums, still nuzzling you.

The sensation causes you to blush deeper, caressing his chin. “Not anymore.”

“Cramp?” Caesar rasps inquisitively, placing a warm palm on your belly again.

You snort and shake your head. “No. Your medicine worked... Thanks.”

You can swear there’s a smirk on his lips as he nods once, holding your hips protectively. “Good.” He presses you closer to him and huffs, and you understand it right away. Your doctor’s appointment wasn’t over yet, it seemed.

[the-air-nomad]

Can you do more Fire Lord Ozai x reader? He's hot, and there's almost no fanfic with him (sorry if my English is bad)

I hope that you will like it!

A NAIVE DESIRE

You come from a noble family in the Fire Nation. So ambition and thirst for power run through your veins.

You are the fourth child in your family, so you had to fight for everything you have. Life has never been easy for you, being condemned to be the forgotten child of your family.

Although you had all the comforts and riches anyone could want, you always wanted more and more.

You have a charming nature, you are beautiful, intelligent and a fearsome firebender.

So it wasn't hard for you to be invited to a ball held in honor of Fire Lord Ozai.

Since you are already in your 20s, you have decided that this will be the perfect opportunity to find a fiancé who will help you climb the social ladder of nobility.

With this desire in mind, you dressed in a lovely dress that hugged all your curves. Over the dress, you wore a cape that had a phoenix bird embroidered with gold thread. You instructed your servants to tie half of your hair in a bun and let the other part fall freely down your back. You put a fine gold chain around your neck and chose some ruby ​​earrings. Finally, you put on blush and red lipstick. You fixed your golden mask and left your house heading for the palace.

Once you arrived at the palace, you flashed charming smiles everywhere and spoke to all the nobles who caught your eye.

Everyone wore masks so it was relatively hard to tell who you were talking to without the person introducing themselves. But you ignored this crucial detail.

From the moment you stepped into the ballroom, you felt watched. At one point, you managed to make out the person who refused to take his eyes off you. He was a man, about 40 years old, and had amber eyes. You realized the man was probably part of the royal family. But you brushed that thought away, convincing yourself that he was most likely just a distant relative of the royal family, a descendant of Sozin's sister. Why would the Fire Lord be staring at you?

You acted like you didn't know you were being watched. You carried on with the evening as normal, although the man's gaze had begun to give you chills.

At one point, the man approached you. You tried to ignore him but the man you were talking to basically ran away with a look of pure terror in his eyes. You raised an eyebrow and then ignored the urge to flee to the colonies forming in your stomach. You turned to the man with a charming smile and he kissed your hand.

Calm down, it's just a distant relative of the royal family. The Fire Lord wouldn't waste his time looking at you like a creepy stalker. Isn't that right?

The man practically dragged you to a secluded corner of the room and started complimenting you. He said it was great to see a splash of creativity among all the boring guests. Then he started talking about war and destiny.

You looked at him, trying not to shudder at the fever with which he spoke of destroying the other nations. You mentally prayed that this man was not a general.

After what felt like an eternity, he looked you intently in the eyes and said that it was most likely fate that brought you together. He said that you two are the only ones capable of rebuilding the world because you are basically two phoenixes in a sea of ​​blind dragons.

At this point, you knew you had gone too far tonight.

You knew very well that the fire lord was a sadistic and possessive man. So you continued to act like you didn't realize who you were talking to.

You changed the subject and started talking about mythology, hoping to bore him. But you did the exact opposite. He started telling you various stories and even talking about prophetic dreams he had had.

You smiled, hiding your fear as best you could and wanting to run and hide behind your mother's skirt.

You almost cried with happiness when several ministers called Ozai.

But your happiness was ruined seconds later when Ozai grabbed your arm and started dragging you around for the rest of the evening.

As the hall started to empty, you tried to make up excuses and say you didn't want to bother him. He grinned and told you not to worry about it.

He pulled you closer and put an arm around your waist, holding you tight.

An hour later you yawned and asked Ozai to excuse you as you were exhausted. He raised an eyebrow and thought for a few seconds.

And then he grinned and started walking towards his quarters dragging you along. You calmly asked him to let you go, but as you got closer and closer to his bedroom you became frantic. At one point you even tried to push him away and run away. But he laughed and picked you up starting to carry you to his bedroom.

Ignoring the strange looks the guards were giving you, he entered his bedroom still carrying you.

He sat down on the bed with you on his lap. He took off his mask and so did yours. He cupped your chin and looked deep into your eyes.

Ozai: Hush, my queen. You're just tired and stunned. You are a clever woman and you will make a wonderful queen for me. And we will rule the world together.

Silent tears begin to fall from your eyes. But he ignores them and kisses you.

Although I do not own the characters from avatar the last airbender, this work belongs to me! I sincerely hope you liked it. please rate it and leave a comment! follow me to see my next posts! Don’t forget that the request are open💖💖💨

You can buy me a coffe if you want:  buymeacoffee.com/TheAirNomad

[yes-i-write-fanfiction]

Hey have you seen Arcane? Well what if TFA Megatron found techno-organic reader like this scene? https://youtu.be/S6Yb2DjakZo?si=cZJORssGa_yGaPUs

Pitiful.

That's the first thought that crosses Megatron's mind when he finds them. Collapsed on their knees in front of the unconscious frame of their mentor, the building burning behind them and acid rain pouring from the skies, they wail. Their cries echo through the night, their screams piercing and spark-wrenching like tiny knives.

He's seen them before. Knowns who they are. Blackarachnia's little pet project. One of two, actually. Techno organic like Blackarachnia, clones made in her image. Two born bio-mechanical lifeforms. What purpose they serve, he does not know. Megatron has never interacted with them, never felt the need to. What Blackarachnia does in her free time does not concern him. The clones were small, something Blackarchnia had promised would change as techno organics they had the ability to grow grow, and easy to manage. On the rare occasions Megatron did see them, they always kept close to their mentor and never disrupted her work.

As far as new frames went, he supposed that they weren't too bad.

They were soft though. And this was not the fault of their partially organic nature. No, if anything, Megatron would blame the autobot coding that Blackarachnia hailed from. She could wear the decepticon badge for the rest of her functioning but it would not change the fact that she had been raised as and amongst soft sparked autobots. It was hardly her clones fault for inheriting her natural weaknesses. Hopefully, with time, it could be trained out. Until then, their faults were on full display for everyone to witness.

When not shadowing their mentor, they were always seen together, as if being apart was painful. The bond they shared was deep, so in tune with one another that one could almost be tricked into believing they shared one mind. Always so quick to comfort, to reassure and support one another whenever one of them faltered. Soft words and touches meant for only those particularly close.

Like family. And Megatron supposed they were. Sisters, some would call them. They certainly looked the part. And they had the loyalty of that as well. The only bot they ever really listened to was their mentor, anyone else would be ignored. Bratty. Another trait that would have to be trained out of them.

Blackarachnia frequently brought her clones with her on her scientific excursions. Claimed that experience would teach them better than any texts could. Agreeing with this sentiment, Megatron allowed it. It was on one of these excursions that Blackarachnia and her clones had been taken captive by a group of autobots that just so happened to be patrolling through the sector. Embarrassing, they weren't even part of the Elite Guard.

Usually, Megatron would have left her to figure this out on her own, since she had been the one foolish enough to get captured in the first place. After all, he has no place for incompetent fools in his armada. But Blackarachnia was an asset. She was useful and Megatron had plans for her. The clones were simply collateral. It mattered not to him if they returned alive or not.

So, uncharacteristically, Megatron had joined the rescue. Just to make sure that his asset was safely returned. According to his sources, Blackarachnia was being temporarily held on a neutral colony moon bordering autobot territory. The facility was small, not even a proper prison, just a warehouse filled with raw materials. An improvised location. The autobots hadn't expected to capture a decepticon, after all.

It was supposed to be an easy rescue. Swoop in, deal with the autobots and leave.

Megatron hadn't expected for the warehouse to be on fire by the time he and his decepticons arrived.

The air stank with chemicals and the fire roared like a wild beast, kept well fed by whatever had been stored in the warehouse. Not even the mildly acidic rain could temper it, the heat evaporating the raindrops before they could even hit the ground.

This was where Megatron had found the clone. He hadn't even been looking for them, his optics peeled for their template instead. But their cries of anguish had led him to them.

Loathe to admit, it takes Megatron a few kliks to even register that Blackarachnia is there as well, his optics focused on the small form on the ground. They appear unharmed yet they are screaming as if someone had torn out their t-cog. Their small, clawed digits dig into the ground, carving shallow grooves and their optics were leaking a clear solvent. Tears. Another trait of weakness they had inherited from Blackarachnia, though this time her organic parts were to blame. Cybertronians can't cry. It is a biological trait meant to express either fear, sorrow or grief.

So what is the cause of their hysterical crying?

Blackarachnia, while badly damaged, appears alive. Simply unconscious. Her armor is heavily scorched and bent out of shape in some places but not to the point of deactivation.

Megatron's optics scan the immediate area. Fire, collapsing walls, supporting beams melting under extreme heat.

Yet no other clone in sight. He supposed that would suffice as far as reasons went. It still didn't explain what had happen though, why the warehouse was on fire and why Blackarachnia was hurt. The lone clone would have to be questioned but their current emotional outburst had to be tempered first.

His decepticon gathers around him, staring down at the clone but makes no attempt to calm it. Of course, it will have to be him to do it.

Slowly, Megatron goes down on one of his knees. Makes himself appear smaller so not to frighten the clone. It feels beneath him but he bears with it. The clone isn't even looking at him, too caught up in their sobbing.

"Hello, little one," he says, voice low and gentle, so unlike his usual cadence. "Where is your sister?"

Finally, the clone looks up. Helmet in their servos, they gaze up at him with optics slowly sharpening into focus. It's like they only now realize that he's there. Their open, vulnerable face changes into a scowl a single second before they launch at him.

Megatron steels himself, prepares for an attack, but the clone simply loops their arms as far around his neck as they can go. Not to choke, but to embrace. They bury their face against his chest plating and he can feel them tremble.

"She left me."

A single sentence yet a powerful one nonetheless. It tells him... well, not a lot but Megatron now supposes he understand why the clone is in such distress. Abandoned by their own kin, someone they trusted and loved. Megatron have killed for less.

His optics flicker to Blackarachnia's unconscious frame. The arms around his neck tightens their hold. "She is not my sister anymore," the clone grits out, sorrow drowned out by anger, by hatred.

Hatred. That he understands. More than anyone else. Megatron has seen it in his soldiers, felt it burning his own thoughts. He knows that it will consume them from the inside out, fester inside their spark until it blows up and leaves them crashing and burning until there's nothing left but a smoldering corpse and wasted potential.

Unless, of course, he controls it. He's done it before. Thousands of times. He's molded it, turned a dying flame into a festering inferno that doesn't kill its host but drives them. Makes them stronger. Hatred can be as much of a strength as it can be a weakness. And for the first time, Megatron actually sees the clone. Sees what they could be, what he can turn them into. When they had their sister, they were weak, too reliant on familial bonds. But now?

They can become whatever he wants them to be.

Megatron's arms slowly raise and his soldiers watch him as he embraces the clone, hugs them back. Their small, techno organic frame is warm, warmer than any regular cybertronian would be. It almost feels like they are searing into his armor.

Sobbing softly against his armor, Megatron soothes them. "It's ok." The acid rain blends with their tears. "We'll show them." He feels their digits claw into his neck cables but finds that he doesn't really mind. He'll allow this last moment of weakness from them. "We'll show them all."

The thunder sounds like a judge's gavel, decreeing his words as law.

[yikes-kachowski]

"Not to mention, I don't think the equalist movement is completely without merit. I actually have a lot of thoughts on equalists and nonbenders in general in meta and in universe."

I 100% agree, would you mind elaborating on this?

I swear had my thoughts on this written down some where but it looks like I do not. So @shalheretical is usually the one who handles these types of questions for me, but I'm doing this one. Sorry if it's not as good as it could be.

I want to start with the meta because I like to use the meta to inform the way nonbenders are seen in their society. In the meta, nonbenders have three ways they can be: evil, useless, or good at everything warriors. All nonbenders who are good and useful have to be smart and perfect at fighting and usually can't fight benders alone. Other nonbenders in any position of power are either evil and conniving or stupid and naive.

Nonbenders are also less spiritual than benders. They don't consider the environment. That's constant. In the show, in the comics, a nonbender looking for ways to become equal to benders or provide for their community is usually careless toward the spirits. They are almost insulting nature by thinking they can have power.

Bumi's plotline of being disconnected from his cultures because he can't bend was "solved" by him getting bending. After he gets his bending he tells Tenzin, "I never felt like an air nomad." Tenzin tells him, "Well you are now." Why only now? Why not you've been a part of your culture all along? Why couldn't the writers find a different way aside from giving him bending?

Fanon has this issue too. The issue i lovingly call "the bumi problem." When trying to solve the way aang and katara made bumi feel excluded they say "he trained with sokka and suki, and became a great warrior." That's not the issue though. He doesn't need to be sent off to other people, he needs quality time with his own parents in his own culture. His siblings get a sacred practice that they spend hours paracticing with their parents each week. Obviously, bumi wants that too. But no one says "he learns how to cook air nomad food with aang" because that makes his skills less important. It's not about the fighting ability, it's about the culture and love. Now, in universe stuff. Bending is tied with power, inherently. The avatar, most powerful person, can bend four elements. That's how they show they are favored by the spirits and they are in charge. The fire nation sought to wipe out everyone who wasn't a firebender. They used their own nonbenders as canon fodder. (This colonial fire bending supremacy could have taken some hold in the places they harmed)

In TLOK they show nonbenders literally havinng to watch what they say around benders because it's so easy for them to be bullied into silence. The bender that harmed them for speaking their mind being Korra, by the way. Not to mention later when we hear them pleading "youre our avatar too."

The racketeering from the triads also unfairly targets nonbenders as does all violence in the atla universe. They are the most helpless in any given situation. Hiroshi Sato brought his daughter up training in self-defense. That shouldn't be a requirement for nonbenders to feel safe.

The police in their universe, have a specialized team of metal benders to violently restrain people with whips.

In their universe, it just takes one bad night from a bender for your whole home and livelihood to be destroyed. This goes back to the racketeering, but also just one drunk earthbender getting angry. And the law does not seem to protect them.

Beyond that, imagine being raised your WHOLE LIFE knowing that the spirits didn't bless you, but they did bless the fire nation soldiers that murdered your grandparents. And they did bless the triad member who steals half your paycheck.

The nonbenders also seem to be shoved into on neighborhood according to TLOK season one which is just uncomfortable. Is there nonbender red-lining? Are they all so low income they can only afford to live there?

Lastly, in TLOK, after the equalist movement is brought down (firstly, i find it sort of disappointing in a meta way that nonbenders could only be granted power from a bender) no one even entertains the idea of looking at ways to make things more equal. No one even considers it. Anyway, those are just some thoughts. This isn't 100% solid, but it's angles to consider. I find it interesting anyway. If you have a different perspective feel free to share :)

[asfateentertwines]

Futures

Neteyem and Ao'nung lead the Metkayina

Ao'nung becomes the Ole'kytan of his clan with Neteyam as his mate

Neteyam always planned to go back to the Omaticaya but he finds his home is with Ao'nung

It hurts him the most of his siblings, the forest always feeling like home, but he brings his culture to the oceans too

He and Spider cultivate and explore the forests along the coast

They aren't the same, but he helps them to expand

They create homes there where a few immigrants will eventually settle, but they also make themselves a little home in the trees

It's much like the one he grew up in and he and his siblings each have a hammock there

It's their safe place as a family

Ao'nung is his clan leader but he's this right hand, it's also the way they officially merge/ally their clans

The two have two kids

They have an oldest boy and a younger daughter, a parallel they both snicker at

Their boy takes after Ao'nung in personality but Neteyam physically. He's headstrong and stubborn, a trouble maker in a way that reminds Neteyam of Lo'ak

Still, they both work really hard so that he doesn't end up with the same pressure they both grew up with

Having an oldest son brought up a lot of painful memories but they work really hard to break the cycle

It takes a lot of healing but they get there

Their daughter, on the other hand, is a very laid back, very relaxed personality

Not much phases her

She's a strong diplomat but truthfully has little motivation to take on leadership, she's a complete opposite to her Dads but a refreshing reminder that war is over

She makes them slow down and enjoy their time again

They joke a lot that Ewya gave them their children to heal them just as much as they were to raise them

Spider mates Rotxo young, they're the second pair to officiate their relationship (Lo'ak and Tsireya are first)

Spider works a lot in dealing with the remaining humans post-war

All soldiers are forced back to Earth under threat of death. It's a scary change to Na'vi culture, but Jake ensures it's a must. The citizens of the colonies are treated similarly, the only exception being those with children

They're allowed the raise their children on Pandora until they can be sent back or they're to leave immediately with their children left behind

This is where is hurts Spider the most as it drudges up bad memories, but still, it's a must

He works in managing those sent back and those remaining. He helps them to adapt to Pandora and understand before they're sent to Earth

Similarly, he helps the fostered children left behind to understand the world they've been left on

It's coincidentally how he and Rotxo get their first daughter

Anea is the second child of the next generation and the second human born on Pandora. She becomes one of three born there. Spider and Rotxo adopt her at about 6 months

Their next children won't be for another 6 or so years when they adopt two Ash na'vi boys.

Spider becomes very close to the Ash clans during the war and they're the sons of a dear friend that dies in a skirmish a few years after the war (the end of the war doesn't necessarily bring immediate peace)

The boys take some time to adapt to their new lives and parents, but soon they have a little family of 5

The older boy is a lot like Neteyam and Ao'nungs oldest and they bond quickly, but the younger is much shyer

He becomes attached to Rotxo and so Rotxo often has to work with the younger boy as his shadow

Their last child is several years later and is a little metkayina girl. She's a lot like Tuk was and finishes off their little family

Spider spends a lot of time helping the younger children of the village and teaches them about Ewya with Kiri since he's unable to do some of the typical jobs

still, he works as a diplomat and helps Neteyam in exploring the coast

Rotxo becomes a warrior and works closely with Ao'nung as another level of support. He's a warrior and a diver, but volunteers at the cook fires regularly

Kiri is the last to mate but the first to settle into her calling

She takes after her birth mother as a teacher

Although she stays with the Metkayina, she spends many years traveling and visiting the other tribes. She helps them to connect with Ewya and explore the other cultures

When she settles, she mates to another Metkayina woman and raises a human son, the last human born on Pandora.

The child is slightly younger than Spider and Rotxo's Anea, but he is the last of his kind

She raises him with her mate but initially adopts him herself with her mate coming in when he's a few years old

Despite being able to fight and her experience in war, she doesn't lift her weapon again once the war finishes

She sets up schools her travels before settling down with her own, though she still goes on occasion to continue it on

She becomes a master storyteller and learns to be patient with the children, deciding to teach so that history won't repeat itself

Eventually, she also teaches about Earth

Her lessons cover anything and everything she can

She makes it her mission that stories will never be lost, not like when hometree fell

Lo'ak and Tsireya are the first couple to mate and the first to get together, much to Tonowari's disbelief

Tsireya becomes Tsahik and Lo'ak a warrior

It's a bit of chaos with them being mated and their older brothers being mated on top of also being Ole'kytan and Tsahik respectively but they make it work

They're probably the simplest couple and they just seem to fall into place

They have three girls, the oldest being an accidental pregnancy about a year into their relationship

All three are little menaces but both are absolutely wrapped around their fingers

The oldest has a few year age gap with the younger two but their youngest are barely a year a part

All three are very close and team up often with Spiders boys to cause trouble throughout the clan

Neteyam still has to clean up after his brothers and it seems the tradition passed onto his son with his cousins

They have a lot of trauma to heal from but they went through a lot of it together

They're one anothers rock

They boast about being the ones everyone goes to for relationship advice since they're been together so long

They were also the most experienced with babies aside from Rotxo because of Tsireya's youngest sibling

There was a brief period where Lo'ak had to lead the forest people for their father and it was probably the hardest part of their relationship

They were apart but also on opposite sides of handling it with Tsireya a healer and Lo'ak a fighter

In the end it did make them stronger though and it's what ended in their mating

[renee-writer]

The Fire Chapter 11

AO3

“Right,” he settles in to tell his story. It is the first but far from the last time I see and hear the art of Scottish story telling, a part of my birthright, “Claire, you recall Mary McNabb?”

 

“Yes.  Rabbie’s mum. Is she…?”

 

“Aye. Things were getting bad here. After the Raising and after I was brought back from the brink of death, a story for later, I feared losing everything  everyone. There was a bounty on my head.

 

I thought if Jenny and Ian turned me in that it would be enough to see them through. They were no longer hanging the rebels, only jailing them.”

 

“Only?” Mama breathes.

 

“I know. They were starving. I had a duty to see to them. Jenny was furious but… she is a practical woman and understood the need for it.

 

Before I gave myself up, Mary come to me. She was as frail as the others, more so perhaps as Rabbie was her priority.”

 

Mama nods. She understands a mother ‘s sacrifice.

 

“She wanted to do something to thank me, offer a spot of comfort. She told me she knew what was between us, Sassanach, and wasn’t trying in any way to be that for me. Just a good memory to hold me over.

 

I was turned in the next day. Prison wasn’t to bad,” he chuckles, “not as bad as it could have been.  Not that it was a place I would recommend,” he shakes his head, seemingly shaking off the whole experience, “I received a letter from Jenny. Mary was expecting.” He sighs and stands up, pacing around in front of us.

 

“There was nothing I could do about it, being where I was. I received another letter telling me of the birth of my son. She named him William James.

 

Another came,” He swallows and I see the tears gather in his eyes, “she passed a month after his birth. Jenny said the bleeding hadn’t ever stopped being heavy.

 

After a year, I and all with me, were pardoned. Most were sent to the colonies. I pleaded to return to my family and baby son successfully.

 

He is ten now a lovely lad, braw and stubborn, all me.”

 

“My other brother,” I say with a huge smile, “ I have went from just mama and I to a whole huge family.”

 

He looks at me. “Aye. Would you like to meet him?”

 

“Yes absolutely!” a quick look at mama, “Right?”

 

She is smiling. “Yes Jamie. Let us see your son.”

[moonfurthetemmie]

Untitled.MP4

Previous | Next | First (with warnings)

Part 17

oh we're writing normally now for a bit?? okay

1.1

Zuli listened attentively as Mercury listed off things they needed. Various chemicals and where they could usually be found, for his next attempt at a cure. Any still-sanitary soap he could scrounge up, if possible. And food.

I might need to scavenge farther than usual for edible mushrooms, Zuli thought idly, his gaze being drawn to Mercury’s arm, where he was mindless scratching. He’d been doing that off and on for the past few minutes. He must’ve gotten into something.

…A horrible thought slowly formed in Zuli’s mind.

“....Mercury.”

Mercury stopped and looked up at him. “Yeah?”

“What’s on your arm?”

Mercury blinked. A look of fear slowly dawned on his face, and he pulled up his sleeve.

There was a white patch on his forearm, like a rash. The contrast with Mercury’s dark skin was startling.

Zuli expected panic. From himself, from Mercury. But Mercury’s horrified expression only changed to grief, while Zuli’s dread turned to a grim certainty.

“...That’s it, then?” Mercury said quietly, staring at the white patch. “It’s over? All of this…everything…hours and hours of trying to find a cure, to survive…”

“...If you’re infected, I probably am too,” Zuli said.

Mercury just squeezed his eyes shut. “I…I don’t think I’m anywhere near close enough to- to-”

His voice cracked. Zuli took a deep breath. Memories from a time that seemed to be decades ago came to him.

“If we’re already doomed, we might as well go out in style.”

Mercury looked up in surprise. “Wh-”

“A bang, if you will.” For the first time in what felt like ages, Zuli smiled. It was a wry, sarcastic smile. But it was a smile.

Mercury’s eyes widened. He pulled his sleeve down and looked at all of the chemicals on the table.

“...Do we even have stuff to make a bomb? Are you sure that’d even work?”

Zuli stood, and came over to the table. His mind felt like it was racing. They didn’t have much time, he knew. They might have to throw some safety measures out. But if they could save even a little time…

“Some of the failed cures still slowed the disease, right?” he asked. “And they weren’t all fatal?”

“I…yes?”

“Take them. I’ll take one too. We’re going to need some extra time, but we have enough stuff to make a few bombs, and a good number of firebombs.”

Mercury’s eyes got that old glint back to them that they got whenever he was trying to make a plan. “Fire…And the Colony wants to absorb the manor once we’re all infected. We’ll have to delay them until it closes in, but if even a little bit of it catches fire…”

Zuli began gathering things from around the office. Anything that could burn, or start a fire, or explode; things for casings, too. Anything that looked like it could be useful.

“Do you know how to make a bomb?”

“No. Do you?”

Zuli set a pile of things on the desk. “I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t. Otherwise, we’d be much more likely to just kill ourselves and destroy the office than anything else.”

Mercury narrowed his eyes at him. “Why do you know how to make a bomb?”

Zuli bit his lip. “...You’re not going to believe me.”

“Try me.”

“I was training to be part of a…a sort of elite military force in my AU.”

Mercury raised an eyebrow. “Unless you were training to be a munitions officer, I don’t think I do believe you.”

“In all honesty, I hadn’t even gotten in yet. I was mostly training myself. The intention was more to learn how to defuse a bomb, but I thought learning how they were made might help with that.”

Mercury stared at him for a moment, and then laughed. It had a note of despair in it, but he laughed like he’d just heard the funniest thing in the world. 

“You should’ve gotten Jasper to bring you stuff to blow a hole out of the dungeon ages ago.”

“Maybe. I thought someone would figure out what I was up to and tell Obsidian, though.”

“Would’ve been worth a try.”

“And risk getting killed? Or worse, brought upstairs being made part of the team?”

Mercury laughed again. Zuli couldn’t help the smile that grew on his face. At least they could laugh at something before their impending doom.

[lordgrimoire]

One School Takes All, a snippet on an OC, Simone Lupin

Guel for a long time had thought little of the suits, until the bipedal LIN-013 was brought to the school, where it performed well in duels, for example, he was currently training with one of Suletta’s “Candidates”, Simone Lupin, Eldest Son of the current Heir of the Lupin Company, and while not head of Lupin House in Asticassia his piloting record was quickly raising brows. Jeturk house was thus far the young man’s only loss.

Guel dodged another swing from the shorter Mobile Suit, watching with caution as Simone’s own custom LIN lunged at him, pulse lasers blasting away. He’s gotten the hang of it’s slower acceleration, if I don’t stop that he’ll be able to chase me for days. Guel fired his thrusters, launching away from the Fiddler while staying inside of its “Killing Field” as the LIN was meant to be a long range fighter, though many refits had brought it more into line with brawling suits, as the LIN looked nothing like many of the humanoid mobile suits, instead looking like a large bipedal crab.

Guel saw his chance then as Simone attempted to make more space, putting Guel right game here the Pulse Lasers needed him to clip the top of his suits head, the LIN had to sacrifice a large amount of its speed for its armor, and its own thrusters were slow and lacking to some degree, so Guel charged, bringing his Sabre across the top of the LIN’s head, clipping off the fabric banner that the Lupin’s placed there in lieu of a plume.

His comms crackled to life as the LIN powered down its weapons, just as Guel noticed he was down the left arm of his Desultor, which had planted itself like a pillar over twenty meters away, the rather iconic “Quick Crush” bite marks of the LIN’s single clawed hand evidence enough as to what had happened.

“Drat, sorry boss.” Guel smiled to himself, he liked the Lupins, they rarely cared for politicking outside of their factories and personal colony station so having that house seemingly double its precense this year was now something Guel was happy for.

“You still passed Simone, report to Earth House with two of your best pilots, your the only one who managed to ding me today outside of people from Grassley and Piel.” The LIN bowed at the waist, an awkward moment more akin to bobbing in place.

“Will do boss! Any advice?” Guel thought for a moment.

“Suletta and her Aerial rely on Speed and Range, your in a suit that is arguably tougher than hers, if she takes a hit that inhibits it, try to shield her as best you can.” Simone’s feed, depicting the scrawny and short Pilot in his seat, sweating bullets, showed his uneven teeth, his smile stretching up towards his eyes. “So drag em into a brawl if they try to get in close after that? We can do that easy!” Guel smiled and saluted the first year, watching as the LIN jogged off towards the Lupin House hangers.

[floridamanmike]

Ninjago/ATLA AU bc there's not enough of those.

Lloyd is the avatar and the Fire Prince and this boi is going thru it. He begins Fire Bending Training very young so by 10 years old he's pretty good but has not mastered it. When he was 11 he accidentally waterbent while feeding the turtleducks with Wu. Wu of course was like 'well shit' and helped Lloyd understand what it meant and also kept it a secret bc Garmadon would either get his son to help him take over the world or if he couldn't he'd probably just imprison him (to make sure he's not reincarnated.) He does actually care for his son but he cares about power just a bit more. When Lloyd turned 14, he and Wu left to travel the world and find teachers for Lloyd so that he could defeat Garmadon. They left at night undetected and now are being hunted down by the Fire Nation. Wu for 'kidnapping' and Lloyd to be brought back to the palace.

Fire Lord Garmadon. After taking the throne he decided he wanted to take over the world and started the war. :|

Wu. This mans never helped out in the war because he didn't agree with it at all. He hung out in the palace doing whatever it is the fire lord's brother does and helping raise Lloyd. When Lloyd was like 2 he left on a 'spiritual journey' for about a year- he just kinda wandered around the world.

Firebender Jay but he only uses lightening bc he went a little backwards in his self taught learning adventures. He accidentally figured out he can control lightening before fire. Upon trying to firebend he either can't even produce a spark or he basically just combustion bends but really badly and it explodes in his face. He doesn't keep trying bc he doesn't really care. Lightening is cool af dude who needs fire. Grew up in the middle of nowhere in the Fire Nation at Ed and Edna's Swap Shop. (Basically a junk yard.) Ed and Edna are nonbenders. (lmao just imagine you own a swap shop and someone just leaves a whole ass baby and takes a lamp or something while ur sleeping) Wu and Lloyd met Jay not long after they left the palace. They were taking back roads and less populated areas to remain unfound when they stumbled upon the Swap Shop. They figured, 'hey we should get less nice things because rich people are very noticeable actually.' Jay who is 16 was like 'mom and dad can I please join these travelers who are actually the fire prince/avatar and his uncle (jay saw a wanted poster) because a- the avatar needs to learn to control lightning bc it would be useful, and b- I want to travel please please please' and thus Lloyd and Wu gained their first moron.

Non-bender Misako. She left to find the avatar when Lloyd was still a baby- not knowing the avatar is her fucking son - bc she wants to stop FL Garmadon and figured committing treason wouldn't be the way to go about it. She wanted to take Lloyd but Garmadon wouldn't let her.

Cole (17) is an earthbender. He wanders the earth kingdom climbing mountains and shit after running away from home. His dad is a performer in Ba Sing Se. After Lilly died, Lou just threw himself into it, ignoring everything else and forcing Cole into dance lessons more often. He didn't want Cole using his bending/fighting because he relates it to Lilly's death. (Instead of resting and receiving treatment for her illness she continued fighting in the army until she got too sick to continue.) Wu meets Lilly while he's off doing his soul searching. Later when he's trying to find teachers for Lloyd, he searches for her, and they come across Cole instead. Cole had been taught by badgermoles after he ran away, and also earned cash by occasionally joining fighting rings in random towns and is a skilled earthbender so he joins to teach Lloyd and beat tf out of the fire lord.

Firebender Kai (16) and Waterbender Nya (14). Kai is a blacksmith and they live in an Earth Kingdom colony. He figured out he's a firebender when he was 12. Nya still hasn't figured out she's a waterbender. They don't know their parents were benders bc they died when Kai and Nya were both pretty young. (FALSE they were arrested bc mixed relationships were illegal in the fire nation. Kai and Nya don't know this bc from their pov their parents just kinda didn't come home one day.) Maya went with the warriors as a healer when they left the Southern Water Tribe. She and one of the men had stayed behind in a nearby earth Kingdom town bc he was wounded badly. She met Ray while he was making blacksmith deliveries. Wu finds Kai and Nya in the village when he's looking to repair Lloyd's sword. He learns of Kai's hatred of the war, and Nya's desire to Do Something and they end up joining the crew. Lloyd and Kai train together since Kai hasn't really had any proper training, and Lloyd is still learning firebending.

Zane (18) is a waterbender from the Northern Water Tribe. His fighting style is like 97% ice, 3% water. Wu and the gang travel to the NWT to find a waterbending teacher. (On the way Nya gets pissed at some fire nation soldier and accidentally freezes him - learns she's a waterbender) When they arrive, Lloyd starts his training under the prev. Master of Ice (do we ever learn his name??) but he won't teach Nya - very Pakku of him - She gets pissed off and Zane is like 'Master why not teach her? She clearly possesses the ability and desire to learn? To which Ice is like fuk that shes a girl. Anyway Zane agrees to teach Nya since he's pretty much a bending master already and Lloyd is like well I'd rather learn from a guy who's not a prick, too. Ice gets mad that Zane is teaching Nya and Zane is like well if she can't learn in the NWT perhaps we should leave so that she isn't in the NWT and then she can learn. Thus Zane has joined the group.

[acemapleeh]

how about some more stuff about the fae?

Always happy to appease the Fair Folk

Summary: A newly acquired colony was now under Arthur’s care. In the month he’s been residing with him in the former French colony, little progress had been made in having the child open up to him. Perhaps some midnight stories of fairies and folklore might bring them a little closer together.

Characters: England, Canada

Word Count: 3265

il était une fois

Montreal, Quebec, Late Summer of 1763

Arthur rubbed at his eyes as he sat back in the wingback that was nowhere near as comfortable as his own back home or even the one in Massachusetts. The fire was still warm as it crackled in its hearth and the rum he brought to his lips was just as sweet and bitter. He hoped his business here could be finished soon. He had finished peace negotiations in Europe months ago, his pride swelling as his empire began to rise above those around him. Come victory came the spoils, including a little boy who was once under Francis’s “care.” Arthur had seen him, no, seen wasn’t the correct word. He caught glimpses of him in the trees and grass, occasionally clinging to Francis’s coattails. The first real look Arthur got of the lad was when he had stood in front of his crumpled guardian.

A boy.

One who didn’t even stand to Arthur’s hip with eyes full of tears stood arms raised to protect a man who barely gave him second thoughts.

He didn’t even know how to respond, the gun that was still raised and aimed slowly lowered in confusion.

The boy’s cheeks were puffed out in an attempt to look strong, that not even the Arctic winds could knock him down. He didn’t utter a single word but Arthur knew he had every intention of protecting the man bleeding behind him.

Arthur had yet to hear a single word from the small child. Even upon proper introductions and taking him under his care, the child would only look at Arthur with icy blue eyes. 

It felt as though no real progress had been made in the month Arthur had been residing in the former French colony. At first, he was simply worried the stupid frog hadn’t taught the boy English but it was clear he understood when Arthur or the housekeeper spoke to him. He had even tried speaking to him in French to try to warrant a response but even that approach proved fruitless.

Matthieu, he knew his name was though he quickly corrected it to Matthew, seemed to be perfectly content wandering the house and garden in silence, staring out into the woods through the cracks in the fence. 

Arthur had asked the few fairies who had followed him and his people across the ocean to watch over him. Reports came to his study at the end of the day. Matthew’s behavior was never anything concerning. He played in the garden, napped wherever he felt most comfortable, attended his lessons, and once had organized the bookshelf in the parlor. He joined Mrs. Cooper in the kitchen and followed her around the house as she cleaned, mimicking her actions in trying to dust or sweep. At this point, Arthur couldn’t even tell if the boy saw the flower fairies or simply ignored them as they tried to play with him outside. What sort of stories Francis had put in Matthew’s head of wolves and devils eating children and hobgoblins playing mean tricks in the middle of the night, he didn’t want to know. The man had his own folklore and legends as they all did; fées they were called, Margot la fée was uttered in Central Brittany. They, like his own, were ancient and beautiful beings. Some had teeth as long as their hand, while others donned marine plants, mussels, or periwinkle shells along their back. Some said they were a cursed being, condemned on Earth for staying neutral during the angels’ rebellion: these half-fallen angels became faeries.

Arthur hadn’t heard Francis speak of them in many years.

“The faeries have been gone since we first sounded the Angelus and sung the Credo,” Francis had sighed over a shared bottle of wine one starless night so very long ago that Arthur couldn’t remember the date. “But as time moves on, the Church will diminish, we will no longer sing the symbol of faith, we will no longer ring the bell and interrupt our daily, earthly routines and turn to thoughts of God, of the Blessed Mother, and of eternity. Then, the faeries will return.”

He had read the literature from France from the past century, retelling old folktales was currently quite popular, especially in the court of Louis XIV, though not all the works from Madame d’Aulnoy were what Arthur would call suitable for children. Perhaps in a desperate attempt to try to connect with Matthew, Arthur had bought a copy of Charles Perrault’s ‘Tales of Mother Goose’. 

Night after night, the routine seemed to be the same. Arthur would be in his study until Matthew stood next to his desk and waited patiently for Arthur to notice he was there (which, ranged anywhere from five to thirty minutes). The child would lead the way to the nursery, climb up the little steps leading to the bed and Arthur would tuck him under the blankets. The book would be handed over, Matthew selected the story he wanted to hear and Arthur would read until the lad was fast asleep. 

Even though it was their routine, he still found the whole thing quite odd. He was used to Alfred who would come barging into his study when he spent far too many hours at his desk, demanding to be picked up and put to bed. Arthur would always oblige and there would be times work had to be finished. Alfred would climb into Arthur’s lap and wait, not so patiently, for his father to finish the last bit of paperwork. He would drag Arthur by the shirt to the nursery until he was picked up properly and put to bed by Arthur’s hand. The two would fuss on making sure Alfred’s face was washed and his bedtime prayers were said properly and unrushed before storytime could begin. He laughed at the tales, trying so hard to stay awake to hear the end by making sure he could see the pages of the book and read out loud himself. Without fail, as they approached the final page Alfred’s eyes would grow heavy and he would fall asleep with his head against Arthur’s chest.

On some nights, Arthur would return to work before heading to bed himself. Before he did, he would check on Alfred once more for the night only to find the boy jumping on his bed and climbing over furniture pretending to be the brave Sir Lancelot or the heroic Robin Hood, swinging about the little wood sword Arthur had crafted for him.

Matthew would lay his head against the pillow, staring at Arthur as he read on. French or English, it didn’t seem to make a difference. 

He had read every story the book contained at least three times in each language and he was now worried the boy would get bored. Arthur attempted the other night to bring a new book into the nighttime routine. Matthew sat upright against the cushions, thumbing through the new piece of literature with quiet content. Like always, he selected a story that piqued his interest and slid the book across the duvet to Arthur's hands.

He fell asleep soundlessly and when Arthur checked on him for a second time in the night, Matthew would be facing away from the doorway exactly where he was left. He could recall perhaps a single time he found the boy sitting on the bench by the window, staring out into the night with the glossy beads of a rosary reflecting under the moonlight between the gaps of his fingers.

Francis had given Matthew a fully French and useless name full of Saints to try to bless him with good fortune, not unlike his own. Arthur often scoffed at how good that did him and couldn’t help but think the child would befall the same fate.

Arthur longed for his own days of youth where sleep came so easy. Most nights he sat awake, reading, drinking, writing, whatever was quickest to make his eyes grow tired. Thinking on it, even as a child he was always a light sleeper. Even in the company of his brothers and sister, his ears were alert for any threat that dared creep by. He almost couldn't remember a time bags didn't grace the underside of his eyes. 

Perhaps the boy really was his son.

Another sip of drink that went down quite nicely. The chair was actually starting to feel comfortable now and he let a quiet sigh of content.

In the space between the crackling of firewood, there came the sound of the stair that never settled. Arthur set his glass down and peaked past the back of the armchair. Mrs. Cooper had already gone to bed for the night surely. Even she wouldn't chastise Arthur this late to head to bed.

He watched the open archway, about to call out for whomever to come forward when Matthew's small form stepped into the faintest of the hearth's glow. The poor thing looked like he hadn't any real sleep since Arthur laid him down a few hours ago. There were tear stains on his cheeks and his eyes were puffy, one sleeve covered hand rubbing away proof of despair. 

“Matthew? My dear boy what on earth are you doing awake at this hour?” he slowly rose from his seat, crossed the room, and knelt at eye level to the young child. “How long were you waiting to come get me?” It was a habit he noted a while ago. There were times Arthur would forget to not only feed himself but even Matthew would be out in the garden or playing upstairs a little too long past teatime. It wouldn’t be for another hour or two for the lad to remind his guardian he needed to be fed. Worse were the days he would go from sunrise to sundown without reminding anyone he hadn’t been given any amount of attention. 

Arthur didn’t expect a verbal response but waited patiently as the child grabbed at the fabric of his nightgown, wrinkling the material as he pulled and twisted his hands about. He looked like he was trying hard not to burst into tears again. Silently, Arthur opened his arms and he was surprised at how quickly Matthew threw himself into his chest. He could feel wet patches forming on his shirt as the small fists bunched his waistcoat. The sobs were muffled as Arthur hoisted him in his arms, holding him securely as he stood upright.

Two extremes, he thought to himself. Tears that were quietly staining his shirt that had been delayed for God knows how many hours versus the wails and screams that shook the night the second something was amiss. Arthur had learned how to deal with the latter, the years and resources he put into Alfred’s well-being he thought were enough experience to deal with a second child.

Now he found himself pacing about the parlor, hushing a child who even though was the one who stepped into his hold, still felt stiff and uncomfortable. 

“Are you feeling alright Matthew? Do you feel ill?” he finally asked. He hadn’t felt a fever or noticed any rashes on the child’s cheeks.

Curls bounced softly as Matthew shook his head, face still hidden away.

“A bad dream perchance?”

There was a pause as Matthew’s grip tightened.

Arthur thought back to earlier that day, how tired the lad looked at breakfast and even still after he took an afternoon nap. Just how long has he been having trouble sleeping? He felt guilty for not picking up on it sooner though Matthew was hardly speaking up regarding his own well-being. He only sighed. Feeling bad about previous misjudgment wasn’t going to solve any current problems. 

“Let’s have some fresh air shall we?” In the back of his mind, a memory was faint but held dearly of his mother who would do the same for him upon awakening in the middle of the night from fright. His siblings attempted the same when she was gone and he would always find himself straying into his garden during the witching hour to try to freshen his mind. Even in the middle of winter, he would bundle Alfred and himself and breath in the crisp night air after a troublesome bought of night terrors.

Not sensing any objections, he carried Matthew outside through the backdoor. Past the planted rose bushes and the garden gate was the unknown. Almost instantly upon setting his foot past the threshold of home and onto the foliage and earth of the forest, he felt Matthew relax. The tight bundle of nerves he was holding loosened and his face finally tore away from the fine wool of his waistcoat.

Arthur could hear the chimes of the fae, a familiar and calming sound.

“Feu follet.”

The voice was so quiet Arthur wasn’t sure he heard it at first but he saw the boy pointing forward, past the line of the trees where he knew the St. Lawrence River flowed. There were the floating sprites resembling the like of fireflies, lights that Arthur had always called will-o’-the-wisps. Spirits of the dead that could either lead you home or to your own death.

Caught staring, Arthur had nearly tripped over something that had scurried past his feet.

Then... laughter. A quiet one just below his ear. It was sweet and warm. A sound Arthur didn’t even think Matthew was capable of making. ‘Lord, that’s a depressing thought.’

Just a few yards in front of them was a little white dog, one that resembled a snowbank or white cloud that almost seemed to glow in the night. The way Matthew was looking at it was almost as if the pair were already acquainted. He babbled something in French, something that sounded like he was scolding the creature in the way a child would. Not very earnestly as he continued to laugh.

The dog ran forward into the bushes, reemerging a short distance as an equally white, fluffy cat who stared at the pair. Matthew was squirming in Arthur’s hold now and he let the child down. He had never seen Matthew display such energy before, one that was nearly akin to the kind Alfred displayed on a daily basis. He ran towards the cat and Arthur followed in suit, quietly noting the fairies dancing along the dirt path. They didn’t seem to be bothered by the presence of this being so neither would he.

They continued down the path, the white being darting in and out of the greenery, changing shape each time and amusing Matthew with each transformation. Arthur scratched his brain for any stories Francis shared with him for an answer but none were coming to mind. As they approached the banks of the river, Arthur knelt beside the pair, where the creature had now taken the form of a white bear cub the same size as the child was.

“Is this a friend of yours Matthew?” he asked, kneeling beside them. “Could you introduce me?”

Matthew was quiet for a long moment, the bear gnawing on his golden locks and licking his cheeks affectionately as he thought.

“C'est un lutin.” he answered simply.

“Un lutin?” Arthur repeated, he ignored how his questions weren’t entirely answered. The name he’d heard before. It was akin to the brownies, gnomes, and elves back home but had looked nothing like the creatures he was familiar with that shared the name. “Are you quite certain lad?”

He nodded, running a small hand through the fur in a calming manner. “He doesn’t like the salt you put by the gate.”

Arthur made a quiet noise in his throat. It was a safety precaution he always did. He wasn’t familiar with these woods or the creatures inside it. How was he to know Matthew had befriended anything that resided among the trees? He bit his lip and clicked his tongue in thought. This was the first time he had seen Matthew genuinely happy since he met him and the lad seldom asked for the basics let alone things that brought him joy. He sensed no evil from the creature nor did any of the other fae voice concerns of it. 

Gently, he placed a hand on Matthew’s shoulder. “Perhaps we should clean that up, hm? As long as he behaves, he can stay with us. I expect no pebbles in my shoes or the ax dulled, am I understood? You are to be responsible for taking care of his well-being and making sure he doesn’t interfere with my work.”

Matthew was nodding so eagerly to where Arthur feared the boy would give himself a headache. He was on his feet and practically bolting back to the house in a matter of seconds, calling for Arthur to hurry. He couldn’t help but grin, cheeks almost hurting from the joy that had sparked in his chest. He had come into the woods prepared to tell Matthew stories, to sing about the stars and trees the same way his kin had always done. Perhaps the woods comforted the lad just the same as they did for Arthur.

‘Progress at last.’

Upon arriving home, Arthur set work to moving the salt scattered earth about the tip of his shoe, trying to bring in clean earth instead. For good measure, he took a ladle full of water from the well to dissolve whatever concentrated salt piles were left. “There we are, that should do just fine. Come inside both of you. Matthew, I have to clean you up before putting you back to bed.”

Carefully and silently, they crossed into the garden and into the home, the little bear obediently at Matthew’s side even as Arthur brought out a damp cloth to wipe his bare feet clean of dirt, dead leaves, and twigs. As they ascended the stairs, Arthur suggested names for the being, all of which resulted in Matthew making faces of displeasure.

“I think Humbert is a perfectly good name. No? Picky are we?”

“He says that name isn’t very good.”

“Did he now? Suppose we’ll just have to keep trying in the morning.”

Back in bed, Matthew lay, comfortably under homemade quilts and his new companion seemed to have no intentions of leaving anytime soon. It comforted him, knowing the boy would be looked out for even during times Arthur would be unable to. As the child’s breaths slowed to something relaxed, Arthur dared to lean forward to kiss his crown good night.

Not a stir.

Arthur slept well that night, feeling actually rested at breakfast.

Matthew had joined him downstairs and Arthur actually heard the boy running down the steps. His hair was a disaster, all knots, and tangles but the child was babbling in rapid French about his dreams and the fairies that had surprised him when he woke up that morning.

His eyes were as bright as gleaming icebergs during the midnight sun.

“Blessed with fairy-locks have you?” Arthur asked as he helped Matthew sit at the table where warm porridge sat waiting for him. “A lucky lad you are, they’ve taken a liking to you. It’s bad luck to untangle them right away. Best leave it be for a few hours.”

As Arthur worked away in his study that day, he left the door open a crack so he could listen to Matthew play throughout the house. The laughter would put a smile on his face, but a part of his heart ached for his other son.

Hopefully soon, the two could meet and thrive under Arthur's roof together.

[thebeebi]

your little games pt. 1

pairing: Jungkook x reader

warnings: smut with a story, non-con, mention of r*pe attempt, implied murder and many more! Read only if you are okay with these topics!

genre: historical AU, 18th century?

word count: 2.7k+ [part 1]

a/n: Finally I got to do a Jungkook fanfic. I am actually happy with this one. So please let me know what you think! Enjooooy! ♥ 

You ran away from the man who tried to take an advantage of you. You stabbed him and escaped. Escaped to the arms of the handsome captain who was even worse than the man you just killed.

I must run away! You looked around yourself, trying to not notice a dead body on the floor. Still numb from the thing you did to the older man. The fear of being found made you keep going. You took all of your things and kneeled next to the body. Looking away, you patted around his pocket to find the key to unlock the room. The room you were forcefully locked in. You quivered with fear but the possibility of being caught kept you going. Taking off the bloody dress, you put on the new clean one and shoved the old one into the backpack. You hugged the bad and started walking towards the door with the key in the right hand ready to unlock the world of freedom. Hesitating for a bit, you stood still and wondered what is awaiting you out there. You felt fear once again but decided it was better out there than in this hellhole. You run out of the door fast, passing by the kitchen downstairs, stopping in front of the door frame, but instead of the door, there was a heavy curtain. You pushed it a bit to the side and the fear within raised even more. Someone was there. You backed away looking for another exit, but the feeling of someone following you was there. Your breathing was fast and you felt like you could not go on but the freedom was so close. The heartbeat was fast but your steps were faster. You finally found the exit and ran out of the house you were held in. You run, run far away from the place not knowing what direction you were going in. You just wanted to flee from that place. Maybe if I get lost, it would fool the person who is after me? You thought but was confused because you did not hear any footsteps behind you. Is my own heartbeat cause of me not hearing well? You kept on running through the streets of the town, passing by the huge shops, the empty market, around the mansions and the small looking ordinary houses.

People were looking at you but you did not care. You were exhausted and even though you were scared, you stopped for a second to catch a breath. You felt the stinging pain with every breath you took but you were okay with it. As long as you were far away from that place. You noticed how the air changed and the smell of salt and water hit your nostrils. The eyes that were closed before opened widely and you looked up. The heavy fog caused you not to see anything but the fire torch on the side of the house. You weren’t sure where you were, so you slowly started heading towards the only source of the light. Not like you had any other option. You did not want to return to the fog-filled darkness, so you walked towards the fire torch. You could hear the sound of the waves hitting the rocky wall and screeching noise of wooden planks which were presumably used as the floor on the ships, but could not see anything. You did not even know where you were exactly heading to. The sounds were coming from each side and the only source of light disappeared right in front of your eyes.

“I swear to God, it is her! We found her! Come on, Taehyung! Take her.” You turned towards the voices looking surprised at two men approaching your shivering body. They knew. They are coming for me. You were sure they were the people who were following you. You could not move so you stood there waiting for her fate. “Hey there,” said the blonde one of the duo and smiled from ear to ear at his companion. “The captain will like her. What do you think, Taehyung?” The brown-haired man licked his lower lip and simply nodded. “Definitely. This one will work.”

You could feel yourself trembling under the perverted gazes of the men who were too close to your liking but could not say anything. You knew you had no right to do so. The only thing left within is your strong will. The only thing no one can take from you. “Where are you taking me?” you whispered softly. Taehyung laughed and winked at the older man next to him. “She is willing, Jimin. He will love it. Only if I could, I would love to be in his place tonight.” Said Taehyung biting his lower lip once again. “Just a bit further,” said Jimin and tilted his head to the side pointing at the slowly ship that was slowly showing up. “On the board of Bangtan. Let’s go.“ And so you followed him, while the other male was right behind you. There was no chance of running away. You were surprised by the new setting, not understanding why they were taking you on the ship but it did not matter. My life if not mine anymore anyway. You thought as you willing held Jimin’s hand to hop on the wooden plank that connected the docks with the ship. He swiftly let go once you were on board making sure that no one else saw, that he touched the captain’s lady. He pointed towards the direction and asked you to follow him as he led you towards the wooden door hidden at the and of the hallway. In front of them, he halted his steps, took a deep breath and softly knocked three times. Without waiting for the response, Jimin opened the door and made his way inside, into the captain’s cabin. The unfamiliar man stood up from the table. Only if you weren’t so scared, you could have noticed that he was tall, well built and that his eyes were deep brown. The man had brown slim fitted trousers, that were too tight around his waist and the snow-white shirt was unbuttoned down to his hips. It showed his muscular broad chest. He looked a bit like a pirate but also as a demon. His dark hair was up to his chin but the best part was his face. It was like he was made by God’s touch. His nose was straight, but from the profile, you could notice a tiny bump on it. His plump lips were the ones Eve would kiss every day in the Eden but suddenly he was here. And you were well aware of that. He was there and so close to you. If only you weren’t in this situation, you would do anything to get to know that man. When he smiled, your knees went weak. He came closer to you, he measured you from the bottom to the top, not missing any detail on your body.

“I see you did your best today, Jimin. I bet it took you long before you found this gem.“ Said the beautiful man still looking at you. “Not really, captain.” He replied and Taehyung swiftly added: “We found her near the docks, she was very willing.” Taehyung smirked as he looked at your body hungrily. The tall man nodded and slowly started walking around you. He was not touching you by anything than his dark lusty eyes, that were appreciating every curve of your body and your breasts which looked like they were moulded by the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite. The backpack you were holding in you hand went back against your chest, as you were trying to cover from the longing gaze of the captain. The dress you changed into was of thin fabric and you regretted not changing into male clothes back then. The tall man stood still in front of you, smiled, but you weren’t looking at him. You refused to look at him wondering how is your fate going to look like from now on. The two men that brought you there were smirking, satisfied with tonight’s present for their captain.

The tall man moved to the side, so Jimin could whisper something to him. You briefly looked around the cabin, but could not see anything. Even though you looked strong, from the inside you felt like you were about to break down. You were tired, exhausted and confused. You could not imagine the trial on the ship, but because you did not know anything about law and these things, you thought that you would be sent to some colony for killing a man. Or so you tough. Oh God, when I think about all of my childhood dreams… When I think about how I wanted to run away from poverty just to be almost raped by that old man. I wanted to have an easy life. But I will be sent to prison or some unknown colony for the sin I committed. You sighed as you got reminded of the reasons why you ended up in the room with the man who tried to take advantage of you. I killed a man, they caught me and now I have to accept whatever the fate prepared for me. You shut your eyes tightly and bit your lower lip nervously. With the saddening thoughts, you went numb. You were guilty. They caught you and now you have to wait for the trail. You were so deep in the thoughts, you did not hear two men that brought you there left.

Your thoughts were interrupted by the deep chuckle of the man standing in front of you. He bowed. “Welcome. What is your name, little one?” He smiled. “Y/N,” you exhaled but when you saw him tilting his head you added softly “captain.” He nodded and walked towards the table. “That is a very beautiful name, Y/N. My name is Jeon Jungkook, but my friends call me Jungkook. Have you eaten already?” You hesitated to give him an answer but nodded at the end. “Wine, maybe?” Jungkook asked and took the bottle to pour himself and then brought a bottle closer to you. You shook your head to reject a drink and looked down on the floor. Captain laughed silently at your reaction and walked to you until he stopped closely. He took the backpack you were holding eagerly and threw it to the other side of the cabin still keeping his gaze on you. He was addicted to your beauty and dress which provided just a tiny coverage of your curves. Your skin was reflecting the light from the candle placed on the table. The captain saw a beautiful woman sitting in front of him with an exquisite bust that was showing above the cut of the dress. As you were breathing, your breasts were rising and falling down. For Jungkook it was a beautiful sight he could not get enough of.

He came even closer to you and wrapped his arms around your waist, lifting you up. He covered your lips with his. You could feel a hint of bitter wine, the taste your father liked. You were so surprised and reminded of the past, that you forgot to protest and stood still, letting the man kissing you. You could see yourself out of your body, but when his tongue slipped into your mouth a wave of emotions came crashing down of you. Most of all you felt excitement when this tongue opened your soft lips and entered inside. From somewhere within, you felt a weird feeling which was strangely comforting. You knew if the circumstances were different, you would like the situation you were in. Captain stepped back smiling but you could see his eyes were filled with lust. When he pulled his hand away, you gasped as you felt your dress falling down to the floor. For a moment your eyes met, but you interrupted it by trying to lift the dress back up but his hands held your shoulders and pulled you into his embrace. It was when you realised that the man wanted. What he was doing. You knew you could not do anything. Your body was weak from what happened earlier today and the running just exhausted you so much, you could not do anything. You were trying to push him away. You ran away from the disgusting man who tried to take advantage of you just to run into the man who will do the same. The embrace of Mr Brown this afternoon was strong, but Jungkook’s arms were made of steel. You could not push him away to free yourself. While you were moving your hand on his body, by accident you pushed captain’s shirt down of his shoulders and it made its way down to the floor. The only wall between your bodies was a tiny material of your bra. Your lost your breath whenever he covered your lips with his and then he continued kissing your face and the top of your bust. You could feel how was his hand sliding down your back and suddenly your bra was unclasped and fell down. The exposed breast was covered by his broad chest. When you felt the heat he radiated, you strongly pushed him away and for a second you were freed. He laughed and took that as a cue to take off his shoes and trousers.

He smirked, “You are playing your little games well, but there is no way, that you would win.” He was looking at your naked bust and you could see the passion in his eyes. You were more beautiful and charming than he was wishing for. On the other hand, it was your first time seeing a naked man and it was terrifying.  You stood still until the captain walked closer to you once again and when he did, you screamed and turned around ready to run away. You wanted to, but his strong grip on your waist halted any action you tried to do. The grip was strong, but it never hurt you. He did not try to do you any harm. You bowed down to bit into his hand. Captain cursed and pulled his hand back to rub the hurt spot. You took it as your cue to run but tripped and fell down to his bed. In the second he was on top of you, pressing you into the mattress. You felt like every movement you did was just encouraging him. The hair that was in a bun before was now ruffled and you could not breathe. “No!” you screamed. “Stop it! Let me go!” Captain smirked and whispered by your neck. “Oh no, little one. No. Not anymore.”

With that, he moved and for a second you could not feel his body. But soon again, you could feel as his hard member was looking for something in between your thighs until it found something. He entered you a bit and you in fear lifted your back from the bed, trying to escape the pain you started to feel. He could hear something between a scream and groan from your mouth when you felt the strong pain in the lower parts of your body. Jungkook moved back a bit surprised. You were weakly laying on the mattress shaking your head. Jungkook softly touched your cheek and whispered something you could not hear, but your eyes were closed and did not want to look at him. He was moving gently above you, kissing your hair and forehead and kept on caressing every part of your beautiful body. You weren’t moving even when you felt his gentle thrusts becoming more aggressive and soon enough he entered fully because he could not control himself anymore. You could feel that your body was about to break with every trust of his body and soon enough your eyes were filled with tears.

When the storm ended, and everything was calm, he became once again the sweet, gentle man. When he finally pulled out, you turned to the side and let out all the tears you were holding in. With the closest blanket, you covered your face and your now filthy body so he could not look at you any longer. Jungkook was confused. He looked at the beautiful woman laying next to him. Jungkook was adoring the beautiful curves of her hips and soft thighs he was holding just a few minutes ago. He reached in to touch you, while wondering what went  wrong – how you were willing to come to him at first and walked into his cabin, then how you were playfully protesting but still thrusted against his length in the bed – and now you were crying in front of him with the blood on the sheet. What made you turn into a prostitute, little one?

Part 2

 a/n: I really hope you liked this one, I wrote it today and decided to surprise you all! :)

[augment-techs]

Do you have hc/thoughts of a teen Skull trying to raise spike?

....yes, but you'll have to forgive me if I go a little...incoherent in writing them down. Especially most of my thoughts are on the possibility of what could happen in the comics, with only a little of the live action as optional. *ahem* I (and a happy few) are of the opinion that it is a much better option in that Skull did not get some girl pregnant and find Spike on his doorstep after Bulk left for the colonies, after Skull had gotten a steady job with employment. That would be too easy and...so boring. I like to think that, at sixteen/seventeen, when Rita and Zedd were still about and being total assholes, Rita decided to be especially sick and experiment on humans in an effort to get stronger Putties. Guess who got picked for the experiment? In the aftermath of what was probably the most painful birth in Earth's history (though this was in the palace on the moon, I might add; with no anesthesia and no help), Skull woke up to find himself in a medical room in Grace Sterling's Promethea, completely wired to about fifteen machines to make sure he didn't have a seizure or start coughing up blood. Liquids and medication and supplements pumped into him every hour, and the promise of multiple surgeries in the days, weeks, even months to come--including a transitional one for his genitals because of the mutilation he went through just to have the tiny, two pound infant in the incubator right next to Skull's bed. I should like to think that this took place when all of the original Rangers were still around; Billy Cranston and Kimberly Hart especially. Billy having totally freaked out when Skull was brought in with almost all of his color gone and a tiny infant that switched back and forth between a human and a putty form; Kim having a level head and going to give the infant contact and comfort while Skull flatlined and had to be brought back twice in twenty-four hours.  Bulk would be in that weird in-between of being worried for his best friend, anxious about the baby, and ready to burn down heaven if it meant he could slaughter Rita Repulsa himself. But when Kim put the baby in his arms, it was something that put all the fire out in him, because Skull was both mother and father to this tiny little one. And when it settled on a human visage, it looked so much like pictures of Skull that Bulk almost cried. Now, because there were so many people in the know about this, it was slightly easier to take care of little Spike, because it takes a village after all.  But Skull still got kicked out of his house by his mother when she was told what the infant was and where it came from. His older brother tried to reason with her, but he had already moved out and didn’t have a key to even help Skull take things out of his room, and couldn’t even offer a place to stay as he only had a one-room apartment where the kitchen and the bathroom were in the same corner. So he flip-flopped, staying for short stints in other people’s houses, on sofas, looking for a job, trying to finish high school, trying to get scholarships, and all the while being without medication for his anxiety and post-partum depression. Oh, and since Spike is an alien, he has a few alien additions to himself that I think would be interesting. He’s part Putty, but he can only change into other animals or beings from other worlds--he CANNOT turn into other people. And when he changes form, he’s bound by it; he can speak in animal form, but very badly. And each transformation takes energy, like exercise.  He started being able to change at about a month old, and had more intelligence and knowing than a normal human--like a human being if gestation to ACTUAL full term was plausible without killing the parent carrying them. Also, Skull started lactating because of the stress and hormones and being emaciated from the birth and suffering one of the side-effects of regaining the weight, so Spike was breastfed like so many medical experts say babies should be. (IT HURT A LOT.) Skull got lucky and became popular in music circles in producing off-the-cuff soundtrack pieces for commercials that snowballed into his own works after moving in with Billy and becoming close. Spike didn’t really care that his two daddies never got married. In fact, he was a little annoyed when all four of his closest uncles (Stan, Bulk, David, and Tommy) all had wedding ceremonies that he had to go to, being the ring bearer in ALL of them by the time he was seven.  He takes his position as oldest cousin (dear lord, how many cousins he has through the Power Ranger generations is ASTOUNDING) very seriously, even if he is still a huge clown most of the time. He’s the one who J.J. came out to as trans first, when the little guy was just eight, and Spike almost decked Grandma Oliver when she said J.J. was too young to decide such a thing. He also almost throttled the woman when Tommy and Kat had J.J. diagnosed on the autistic spectrum and she said he should go to a therapist to be fixed, too; so though he was held back, none of the adults that mattered ever gave him a hard time about it. Skull adores his son and has never done anything to stunt his growth or make him believe he’s unwanted, but there were hard time, too. The after-effects of the pregnancy--traumatic as that already was--left him with the insistence of the doctors and scientists who worked on him to visit them at least twice a year, with varying results each visit. Many scientists that would go on working with other Ranger teams--Hayley, Fairweather, Kendall, Billy himself--would all remain professional and rather loving around him, considerate over his and Spike’s needs, but there was always new blood that saw them as little more than lab rats. And that often left Skull feeling worse than when he went in for a check-up. Then when Spike turned sixteen, Skull had him go train with Bulk in Panorama City, stating that he needed a little time to work on new material, but in actually he got sick with something unknown that caused multi-system organ deterioration. Billy was his rock through all the tests and surgeries and trial runs of alien medications the Blue Ranger picked up, and Skull did heal by the time whatever was happening with the Samurai Rangers ran its course, but he never did tell Spike about how close he came to almost dying in those two years. Billy swore never to tell him, either. Something akin to actual wedding vows: they would never do anything to scare the people they love most. ...And they would also scare off the first few relationships their son brought home. Mia was a nice girl, but clearly working through some things and using Spike as a test run. That gamer duo who were friends of the Samurai Green Ranger were friendly and considerate, but gave Skull high school flashbacks. And they were all quietly in the know that dating Jayden Shiba was just Spike’s way of trying to help the poor idiot realize his true feelings for Antonio; romance was never an option. Sometimes Skull feels worried that his son will never find someone good enough for himself, but Billy is constantly there to reassure him, “Hey, there are infinite worlds out there. Anything’s possible.” Also, Spike cannot become a Power Ranger because of the magic residue from Rita’s machinations still cloying to his genetics, but the Grid does see him as worthy enough to use as an aid from time to time. Usually Orange, but sometimes Gold and Bronze, too.

[attackfish]

Do you have any AUs where Katara and/or Sokka grow up in the fire nation?

Sort of. I have one where firebending Katara is kidnapped and put in a Fire Nation military school and I have one where Avatar Sokka is kidnapped and brought to the Fire Nation palace, but in both cases, they are rescued. I also have ones where Katara or Sokka are swapped for Zuko or Azula. But I don't think that's quite what you mean. For a while, and maybe they still are, fics where Katara or Sokka were kidnapped by the Fire Nation were popular with people setting up certain captive/captor tropes and plotlines for romances with the Fire Royals, and I have never been here for those tropes. But anyway, setting up an AU where Sokka and/or Katara are raised in the Fire Nation without relying on those tropes is a difficult proposition.

1. So how would I do it? Well... Kanna has soldiered on since her daughter in law was murdered by the Fire Nation, and her son left to fight them. It certainly hasn't been easy, but she has managed. And then Bato sails home, sorely wounded and in need of care. He tells her that Hakoda has been captured, hauled sway in chains by the same people, the same nation, that murdered his wife. When Bato is well enough to travel, she packs up his ship and tells him she will be leaving the South Pole, and he can either take her and her grandchildren with him, or she can leave him behind. He agrees to give her a ride.

2. He leaves her on the Earth Kingdom coast, just south south of a Fire Nation garrison. She trades the thick, well treated pelts she brought to the local Earth Kingdom villagers, for coin, coin she uses in the black market to buy secondhand Fire Nation clothes. And once she's altered the Fire Nation clothes to fit herself and her grandchildren, she uses the rest of the coin to book passage on a ship bound for the Fire Nation islands. Bato, who knew of her plan, had rightfully called her a fool, but she once, a long time ago, sailed from one end of the world to another, just to break off a marriage. She will sail into Fire Nation waters for her only son.

3. They land in a moderately sized town, one that until the war began, had only been a backwater fishing village. But now the need to ship supplies to and from the colonies as made the town prosper. Kanna eyes the new buildings and merchant houses with a strange mix of acceptance and fury. She finds herself working for one of those merchants as a housekeeper, and sending Sokka and Katara to the free school. She smiles and spins a story about being mixed, from a Northern Earth Kingdom colony town, and joking about how her mother always said there was a lot of Water Tribe in her family. Every morning, she warns Sokka and Katara to keep their mouths shut and never let on who or what they are.

4. And yet, day by day, she sees them changing, becoming more comfortable in their Fire Nation identities, as Sozu and Kazara, in school, with the other children, eating Fire Nation food, and playing Fire Nation games. It keeps them safe, but she doesn't have to like it.

5. And slowly, she pries out the information she wants, the information as to where the Fire Nation would take a high profile prisoner, like the Southern Water Tribe chief. She gives her notice, pulls the kids out of school, and books passage again, to a town closer to the remote island fortress known as the Boiling Rock, where the Fire Nation is keeping her son prisoner. But there are more than one remote island prison in those same waters, and more than one woman from the Southern Water Tribe living in secret along this island coast.

[autumnslance]

FFXIV Write 2021 #10: Heady

“We maybe should have waited for the old men after all,” Heustienne mused, hands in the air.

Aeryn shrugged, raising her hands as well. She could have kept fighting the heretics perhaps, but she was getting tired and sloppy; trying not to kill them took effort, and they seemed to be an endless swarm.

Also, Heustienne was bleeding, a steady seeping that could easily turn bad if they kept resisting, if Aeryn couldn’t get a moment to heal her.

“Bring them to Avengret,” the heretic leader wheezed past the bruises Aeryn had left him with.

Aeryn grinned. Progress of a sort; meeting the dragon would go a long way to finding a way to resolve all of this.

Bladed weapons pricked their backs, forcing them to move. They stumbled forward, divested of their weapons as they were led into the old outpost, deep in the Dravanian wilds.

Aeryn glanced around, trying to identify the architecture; a broken nautilus motif caught her eye, and she nodded to herself. This place was near enough to have once been a way point of the Sharlayan colony. Not many dragons came this far into the hinterlands away from Sohm Al, the valley through which the Thaliak River flowed having little appeal to them.

She kept an eye out, and followed her captors. As they did, she reached out to the local elements, silently asking for help.

The roof in the center of the old stone keep had been knocked out, just like the old tower in Coerthas’ eastern lowlands—another odd location to find an elder dragon, but Avengret seemed to lurk in unexpected places to do her recruiting and hide. Aeryn was certain some of the heretics around them to be disenfranchised hunters from Tailfeather and treasure hunters from Idyllshire, lured to the dragon’s side.

There was evidence a dragon roosted here, but the creature herself was not present. Aeryn continued to look around, noting the old Sharlayan designs, the sconces currently empty given the day and lack of an aetheric pulse to light them. The heretic leader looked around. “Where’s Johon? We need to call our lady.”

“Here,” a shaky voice said. An older man shuffled forward, too thin for his frame, grey-streaked dark beard and hair scraggly. Aeryn wondered how long he had lived on the fringes among the outcast. He held out a pipe to his leader, then frowned at Aeryn, peering at her. “You seem familiar.”

Aeryn shrugged. “She gets that a lot,” Heustienne said dryly. The two women exchanged grins. The heretics hadn’t seemed to realize yet who they had caught.

The leader snatched the pipe from Johon and blew a few notes into the device, the sound sharp and strong in the cool air. A moment later a distant roar answered.

Both women tensed as another roar soon came, closer and accompanied by the beating of wings. Soon the shadow fell over the space, and Aeryn sucked in a breath.

Avengret wasn’t the largest Aeryn had ever seen of course, but the red dragon was larger than most, impressive in her graceful form, covered in scars that bespoke a hardened warrior. She landed lighter than expected, wings unfurled as the heretics swayed in the wind of her arrival, a near religious fervor shining in their faces.

“My children call, and so I come,” her sonorous voice was bone-rattling deep, and her burning orange eyes turned to the captives. “What treasure have you brought me today?”

“Ishgardian dogs seeking to continue their purge of the righteous,” the leader said. “They lie like the others about peace. We present them for your judgment.”

Avengret laughed, the sound vibrating teeth and stone as she stared steadily. “Nay, this is a homecoming. A wayward daughter has returned to me.”

Heaustienne scowled. “I am no daughter of yours, Graoully—”

“SIlence! I’m not speaking to you,” Avengret snarled. Her head swung closer to Aeryn. “You. You’re one of mine.”

Aeryn blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“My blood sings in your veins, little one.”

“I’ve never drank a dragon’s blood.”

Avengret laughed. “No, no you never have. The potency is diluted, as to be expected. But I know your scent.” She tilted her head. “I had wondered at the name of Nidhogg’s killer. Ssssstriker,” she hissed.

The heretics started, staring now at Aeryn while Heustienne winced.

“That’s it!” Johon exclaimed. “Corran’s foreign wife; you look much like her. Gods, I haven’t thought of them in years.”

Aeryn’s head pivoted from the older man back to Avengret, who was grinning in the way only dragons could, every sharp tooth in her mouth visible. “You...So you knew my parents,” she said to the heretic. “They were….farmers,” she said.

Avengret laughed. “Your father was so much more. Until we were betrayed, and his potential cut down by a lance, like so many others.”

“Aeryn, what’s she talking about?” Heustienne asked.

“I have no idea. My father was killed when dragons attacked our village, coming after—” She stopped, throat suddenly tight like it had become that day. She remembered again the anger radiating off Alberic, tall and terrifying to her child self in his shiny dragoon armor, bloodstains marring the surface.

“Dragons came to aid your father,” Avengret said, mirth still coloring her tone. It quickly shifted to rage. “When that thrice-damned Azure Dragoon sought us out! He wounded me so deeply I slept for over two decades, and missed my lord’s call! If I had been there, had been well enough, I would have aided his crusade--I would have stopped you!”

Everyone else in the room, even her own adherents, stepped back as the dragon thrashed her tail and beat her wings, claws digging into the ground as she snarled at Aeryn.

Aeryn stood her ground and took a deep breath. “Good luck with that,” she said. Silently, she reached for the local elements again, asking nature for help as she had learned in the Stillglade Fane to supplement her red magic. The heretics still had her rapier.

Avengret chuckled again, rumbling and colder than her fiery nature suggested. It was disturbing how swiftly she switched from fury to this calm. Her orange eyes remained focused on Aeryn, as if naught else existed.

And then she began to Sing.

Aeryn gasped as her veins ignited, a primal part of her responding to the dragon’s call. Heustienne’s panicked shouting of her name seemed malms away though she knew her friend was right next to her, perhaps even grasping at her as the weight of Avengret’s Song forced Aeryn to a knee. She felt as if she could soar through the sky yet was falling-down drunk at the same time, the overwhelming power of the Song shrieking through her blood.

The wind asked if she was all right. The water asked if she needed help.

Aeryn screamed, answering them with an emphatic Yes! The water was cold mountain runoff, chilling the fire coursing through her. The canyon winds lifted her to her feet, whipping through the room and knocking the heretics about like leaves. She pulled on the water again, combining it with the wind and the now-controllable fire.

Avengret reared back, her own maw glowing as she prepared to let loose her breath. Aeryn’s lightning was faster, striking the dragon and many others in the room, uncontrollable without her weapon foci. The wind and water howled, loosing an ice storm on the room.

“Aeryn!” Heustienne cried out from across the room. She had struck the man holding their weapons, retrieving her lance and Aeryn’s rapier. “Let’s go!”

Aeryn backpedaled, taking a moment to send one last burst of aether into the sconces around the room. They lit with a green flare, the force field shimmering through the room just as the two women dashed out of it.

“What the hells—?”

“Emergency magic containment,” Aeryn gasped. “Won’t hold her for long, but long enough to leave!”

“Traitorous child!” Avengret roared from behind them, already tearing at the old Sharlayan devices. “You will pay! You are mine! Just ask the man who once wore Azure!”

“I will,” Aeryn muttered as they fled, her head and heart still aching from the memory of Avengret’s Song.

[mydreambatfam]

Batfam Fancast part 7: The Drake Family

The ever unusual Drake family.Father Jack,mother Janet,Stepmother Dana and son turned vigilante Tim Drake.

The Drakes are wierd. Their backstory is that of rich socialites who love archeology .Yet socialites are not the ' get your hands dirty type.' By making them new Gotham weathly and by making them people pf color, you add depth to how they act. By making them Asian American you bring opputunities to create unique stories within the establied canon.

This also adds a layer of intrigue. Ask and asnwer questions on what its means to be Asian American and not fit the mold in many areas.This will contrast greatly with the Cain family who will be casted in part 8.

Obviously I have to stretch the canon as well as add a bit to bring more depth to these somewhat hollow parental characters. I sort of want the Drakes to be a much more grouded or opposite of the Martha and Thomas Wayne. New money, young-ish,neglectful instead of attentive towards their son.

To be specific I made them Filipino minus Dana. The history of the Philippines before its colonization is almost all lost. 333 years of Spanish Colonization, Chinese influence, Japanese invasions of World War 2,and American occupation really led to many colonial mindsets to present day. A sort of silent epidemic of sorts within the Philipines culture and many Filipino Americans still plagues to this day

Janet Jackson Drake

Good old Janet Drake, from what little details I could find she was a doting mother at first but just like her husband neglacted Tim as he grew.

To add some extra stuff to the character, she is a heavy investor in archeology, her wealth comes from the digs in Asia and Africa she uncovered and subsquently donating to museums in the west.

Additionally to add fuel to the fire to canon she was raised by her rich father, the Irish Dutch American side of her family who gained custody after her mother gave him to her, hoping to give her a better life away from the Philipines.This leaves her growing up never experiencing the other half of her heritage.

Shannyn Sossamon is an actresses best remembered in the 2001 film A Knight's Tale and Season 3 of TV show Sleepy Hollow. She is part Filipino and was originally the lead before recasted for the upcoming show The Cleaning Lady.Her million dollar smile and varied career shows she can make the tragically short role memorable.

Jack Drake

Papa Drake, he developed from forgetful and neglectful at first , to over bearing and protective close to abusive, and died shortly after becoming more understanding and upstanding towards his son.

For Jacks canon extenstion I thought best to make him fourth generation Filipino American. Jack naturally became more American than Filipino. This can tie nicely with his finacial struggles and other story arcs. Clashes of Americana and Filipino culture within Jacks story arc where he loses all his money .He could even move into a middle class city home that has a large Filipino community. Like Woodside Queens,NYC or Jersey City,New Jersey

He became a archeologist and met Janet through his time in Gotham bringing artifacts to her museums .He made his riches in investments during the .com era. He pulled out just before the collaspe and when he married created Drake Industries with Janet.

Alain Uy is one of those underutilized actors that only get sterotypical roles. The Filipino American finally got the main role in the 2020 crowd funded indie hit The Paper Tigers. He plays a divorced husband trying to balance work and fatherhood while he tracks down his sifu's killer. He brings such a lovely preformance and showed his skills in drama, comedy and action.

Dr.Dana Winters (Drake)

The second wife to Jack and stepmother to Tim. Her presence cooled down her husband and brought a much needed mother figure to Tim. In canon she was Jack's physical therepist where they fell in love somehow, florence nightingaled.

To bring some more depth I see her as a former member of the MSF (Doctors without borders), helping mostly in Southeast Asia. She just moved to Gotham but previously did her residency under Leslie Tompkins. She now worked in private medicine for rich people.When Jack lost his fortune she became the bread winner and moved to a middle class Filipino community in downtown Gotham with him.

For her story arc its the little moments that count for her.Due to her time in MSF she is much more grounded and actively encourages Jack to go back to his family's roots, causing him to experience his heritage through his neighborhood. She also instead of helping Tim in making chicken soup for a sick Steph, she makes arroz caldo instead.

The big question now , is she dead or is he alive? Last time we saw her is Bludhaven getting psychiatric care after Jack's death. In pre New-52 canon Both Tim and Alfred checked up on her till Bludhaven blew up.

For this instead of the whole Bludhaven incident we'll go the Dean winchester route and have Zatanna mindwipe of her memories of Tim and Jack after she recovers mentally in Bluhaven.She coughs it up to amnesia and Tim insists on her moving on with her life.She lives happily up in southeastern Connecticut in a private practice once more. Now at peace. Similar to the Three Jokers storyline Tim and Alfred go check on her from a far.

I wanted the actress to be close in age but look younger than Alain Uy. She also had to give off the look of someone in the medical field, worldly and down to earth compared to Jack and his rich background. Best known as the main lead for Covert Affairs, Piper Perabo is a Hollywood veteran since the 2000s. She can definetly bring the heartebroken tale of Dana Winters Drake to screen.

Tim Drake (Wayne)

Tim Drake, considered the best Robin that brought the Batman back to his much more controlled self after Jason's death. A master strategist and detective Tim was the first Robin to be given his first solo series. He might be a prodigal son in many cases but has been shown to be consistently relatable and down to earth, when he is remembered by writers nowadays.

To add to his canon he is very much a floater of sorts as a teen, able to fit in many group. But his small arcs should deal with the unusual case of Rich Asian American kid in a mostly white private school and neighborhood community. I can say from experience as a middle class Asian kid who grew up in the suburbs. They never truely see you as human. Enless you grew up with them and are close friends. This perspective should contrast well with familial aspect of the batfamily and adoration Robin gets from both heros and civilians alike.

Tim finally gets a chance to interact with community away from the riches and glamor when his dad goes broke. What is a nightmare for Jack is a awakening for Tim, exploring much of the Asian enclaves and communites in Gotham with Steph and Cass tagging along. He finally sees life beyond the gated communites and mcmansions of the rich in Gotham and sees the ups and downs of the working class in the city. This should inspire the Neon Knights Foundation shown in his time as Red Robin.

For casting choices I never found myself so frustrated. Finding a young actor who is Pinoy and can carry a character like Tim is like finding hay in a needle stack. Almost no one in Hollywood cast a filipino as a main character enless he is a one dementional comedic character or there to check off a box. Even then when I expanded my choices to southeast Asian american I was still stumped with the same problems. I almost gave up and went with the usual Ryan Potter or Brandon Soo hoo. Ryan a fan favorite fancast and Brandon who is of equal caliber. So I went the Shannon Lee route.

Eddie Liu is Chinese American actor who had a platter full of characters till he got his big break in the CW reboot of Kung Fu. He steals the show whenever he is on screen and has that main character energy. He is also a Long Islander, so New Englander and New Yorker all in one. He is by far the best choice I found playing the teen wonder and later Red Robin.