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certified-sloth · 2 years ago

Note

Hey!! I was wondering if u could do headcanons with all the boys (especially Lucifer and Diovolo🥰) with an S/O who’s parents got divorced when they were super hound but still get saddened by it? Their S/O sometimes thinks that it’s because of them too.

U don’t have to do this if it makes u uncomfortable tho! Have a great day/night (love your work btw)!😊😊😊

Why did it take so long for me to finally finish this TT

Thank you! Have a great day/night for you, too ^^

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Lucifer

To say the least, he definitely knew about your parents divorced through your paper when they were picking out an exchange student

He tries to avoid talking about your parents. He really does, but he can't help but falter whenever you have that sad look

For example— you walk into his office while he was working away the neverending pile of paperwork

And you just smile at him and accompany him in silence

Lucifer would look up from his work every now and then to see you spacing out

"You really do look like you have something to tell me." Is what he points out to snap you back to reality

"...please don't be mad."

"Why would I be?"

"I just... wonder, you know- you and your brothers had God as your dad, right? Did you ever have a mother?"

Well, he doesn't really know about that. He simply existed to play his part as an angel back then

"What is this about?"

When you refuse to answer, is when he stops his work completely, puts his pen down, and sits beside you

It was his way of telling you that you had his full attention

"Did you remember your parents?"

It was a wild guess, but Lucifer is very observant

The eldest had a habit of noticing even the smallest things that it's very easy to read people like a book

Upon the mention of your parents, you simply lay your head on his shoulder, smiling almost bitterly

"I can't really forget, no, I'm just... sometimes, I wonder if it was my fault that they divorced."

"No, whatever happened, it was never your fault. You were a child, you knew no better."

The mighty avatar of pride held you close

Instead of letting it get to your head, he answered your former question

It ended up with him telling you stories of back in the celestial realm

He admitted that even without a proper, physical parent like humans do, it was a little lonely

The avatar of pride admits things he never normally does, and all of that was just to help you feel better

If it helps, he'll take you out somewhere nice or anywhere you want

He'll be willing to play both roles of a parental figure if it makes you feel any better

Mammon

He's just... There

I like to think he gives great hugs

So whenever you have a flashback about your parents and you blank out while he tells you details of his schemes, he just stops talking and pulls you into a hug

He didn't really know what got you spacing out this time, but it wasn't the first

But he does know how to comfort you

No matter how scummy his brothers call him, he's the next person to look for comfort from aside from Beel

"you scared me for a second there, spacin' out like that..."

He tries to keep up his act of being reluctant, but he really was worried for you

"Do you... Ever feel like it's your fault that people drift away from each other?"

He'd flinch at that

He'd sputter in slight panic, but when you hold onto him closer—when you hold him so desperately...

He just... Freezes, and all train of thought is out of the window

"I feel like... I feel like I was responsible for what happened to my parents—"

"stop that."

He won't let you finish, he'd stop you

He doesn't mean for you to misunderstand, he just hates it that you're guilty for something you couldn't control

"I don't get it with you humans, if it don't work then, there's no point! But don't put yer kid in a position where they gotta be the one guilty?"

Is what he rants, but in the end he just scoops you up in his arms

He has like... A few grimm to spare from his modeling gig

...do you want anything? He'll buy it for you

Leviathan

To Levi, he only knows a decent amount of why divorce happens through anime

He was an angel once, he wasn't created the way humans do

So, for him... he didn't really know how to console you

Especially now that you and him are practically a thing, he'd feel how envious you were whenever you see a family so happy...

Unlike your family, who was broken for a long time

Sometimes, he thought that the reason you desperately tried to fix his relationship with his brothers

Was because you couldn't fix your own

He'd notice how sad you look whenever you have an anime marathon with him about family

And whenever it happens, he'll silently scoot closer and hesitantly hold you

He's clumsy with affection and comfort

He doesn't know what to do but follow how fictional people do it

He can't even say any generic words that he listened to before

It makes him sound so fake when that's the last thing he'd want to do to you at a time like this

He ends up listening to you and nervously rubs your arm with his thumb lightly in comfort

And if you don't want to talk about it—

Both of you just stay there in silence

Just holding each other like it was the end of the world or something

"Not the day?"

Is what he asks, and if you nod in confirmation

He'll push through and hold you tighter in an attempt of security

It was a reminder that he was going to be there for you for a long time

"Ok... let's stop watching for today."

Satan

Of course, divorced parents come with trauma and other issues /lh

So, he practically notices these little quirks of yours

He already took notice of them the first time you came to the Devildom

It made him curious, but he didn’t pry, and frankly, he didn't really care that much at first

But as time grew by, he just happens to take more care with you and topics about family

He's careful of the topics you two talk about, but not too careful to the point that it'll make you misunderstand his intentions in a bad way

He just didn't want to make it uncomfortable for you.

If given the chance, he'd likely take you to places where you could heal your inner child when you didn't have the time due to how your parents divorcing had occupied your mind for all those years

If you're comfortable enough, he'll read out wholesome family stories for you until you fall asleep

And if it ever crosses your mind that you and him would end up separated like your parents did...

He won't promise you emptily, no

He'll take you in his arms, telling you that it'll work out somehow

He won't promise with words, he'll live up to you each day to make sure the worst never comes

Because truth be told, he's just as afraid of separation as you are.

Asmodeus

Asmo never had to worry in all honesty

But sometimes, he'd see you in places that Belphie usually frequents

Either the attic, or the planetarium...

You mostly slip away from crowded areas, moving to places that give you a slither of comforting silence.

"Darling? Why are you out in the cold?"

Is what he'd ask you, approaching you and carefully putting his scarf around you as you looked up at the stars from the Planetarium

"Have you ever had that one place you run to whenever you feel the need to run away?"

When you don't receive on answer from him, you look away from the stars and hug your knees closer to your chest

"My parents aren't together anymore, but I think they gave me this awful habit of slipping away whenever things got overwhelming."

"But there isn't anything wrong with that?"

He doesn't understand why there should be anything wrong with avoiding overwhelming situations, he thinks it's a way of self-care

"I mean the overwhelmingly loud arguments... Back when I was younger, I'd slip away when things progressively get worse."

It was like a coping mechanism, when the brothers argue, it reminds you of the old times you had to slip away to protect yourself

Even if it wasn't directly about you

"Oh honey..."

Asmo would wrap his arms around you and you stay like that as he keeps you company

Or if you're not fond of skinship, he'd sit beside you, also hugging his knees against his chest as he watches the stars with you

Both of you silently sat there most of the time but he makes sure you're alright, telling you things that he know would brighten up the mood

Beelzebub

He doesn't know

He probably finds out later when you're comfortable enough to tell him though

It happens on your late-night kitchen journeys

He'll stop eating for a moment, a bit upset that he can't hold you immediately with how greasy his hands were from the food

I like to think he's conscious of touching you while he's eating, so he takes a moment to wipe his hands with a clean napkin

He picks you up, and sits you on the kitchen counter

"It must've been hard for you."

You were practically trying to smile at him, a helpless way to assure him.

"It was a cold home. My parents were barely present emotionally. They were there for me physically, but it felt like they weren't my parents with how they talked each other down whenever it was their turn to take care of me."

He doesn't know how to comfort with words, he knows he won't be much of help on that regard

So he leaves you sitting on the counter, shuffling across the kitchen to make do with what's left to make you a simple samdwich

And if he were drooling at the sight, he'd wipe it away and brush it off

It was for you, so when he finishes, he'll give it to you, hopeful that maybe it would make you feel better.

Belphegor

You know how he's this spoiled brat who always does what he wants?

Well, that's exactly the case as to how he finds out about your parents

He just joins you in bed that one time, eventually invading your dream

Of course, he was expecting you to be somewhat conscious in your dream so that both of you could spend time together compared to real life

But what he didn't expect was to see you in such a young state, trying to understand the situation of your parents arguing

He saw you just standing there, helplessly trying to call out to your parents who were busy fighting over who takes custody over you after the divorce

Quietly, he moves closer behind you, covering up your eyes with the palm of his hand as he manipulates your dream into something happier

Something... that you knew would never happen again

He turned the dream into the happiest moment you could've been with your parents

It was when you cried again that he started to panic and approached you with a troubled look

He liked taking care of you in your dreams, he was the closest to humans before, and he still couldn't grasp how complex human emotions were

"Was this too much...? Should I have changed it into something else?" He asks you worriedly

The illusion of your parents disappeared from the bed of flowers you stood on

All that's left of the huge space, was you and Belphie.

Wordlessly, you came up to hug him instead of asking him to console you with meaningless words

Both of you know that Belphie can't do that, even if he tries, he's bad at it

So both of you resorted into silence as your best way of comfort.

Belphie hugs you, and let's you have his way with him, patient, and always willing to wait until you're ready

Bonus!

Diavolo

Yours and his situation wasn't far off

Although it was like yours, he was still raised with emotional neglect

The demon prince wasn't attached to his father per se. He was confused with the king's intentions of his future.

The moment they chose you as the exchange student, he knew that both of you felt this connection like a flick of the switch

He grew up lonely, and if you had your parents present without an ounce of emotional comfort

Both of you would ride the same boat

In rare moments of exclusion, the both of you just sit together, childishly trying to create a fantasy where both of you had parents that actually catered to your needs

"It must've been hard."

"Me? No, no— I had Barbatos with me. But what about you? Did you have anyone?"

"I'd like to think that I did."

In moments of vulnerability, the both of you filled the room with "what-ifs" for your childhood.

"I think I'd handle my emotions better if I were taught well."

In moments so rare, both of you would ask each other questions of worth

"Do you think I'd be a fit ruler to substitute my father if I had molded myself exactly the way he wanted?"

"...no. You're doing great even without it."

And in moments so quiet, you'd end up asking...

"I still wonder if it was my fault."

"I don't think it was."

In such precious moments, both of you revel in each other’s comfort

Practically assuring the other, getting a laugh or two

And sometimes, bitterly ask for things you know you couldn't have

It was a moment where both of you had to accept that it was reality, and you can't change that reality without the consequence of guilt and sorrow in the end.

#request #om!#obey me shall we date #obey me scenarios #obey me headcanons #obey me imagines #lucifer obey me #mammon obey me #levi obey me #satan obey me #asmo obey me #beel obey me #belphie obey me #diavolo obey me

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takerfoxx · 1 year ago

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Okay, okay, trying to catch up on some shit. So, let's put the whole High School DXD thing to bed, because analyzing and critiquing ecchi harem schlock that swings way above its weight class is weirdly fascinating to me!

So. Season 4.

Right, let's just address the elephant in the room. The new studio, and with it, the new art style.

...

Not really a fan.

Like, I know what happened, I know why there was a switch, I know they're trying to emulate the art style of the light novels more closely. I just liked the older style better, especially when it comes to the facial expressions. It used to be so vivid and detailed. Like, one look and you'd be able to tell immediately what a character is about and what they're feeling. Now, everyone just looks kinda stone.

I will say this though. Like the style switch in Pokemon, what we lose in detail we gain in fluidity. Those fight scenes were sick, especially when they dispensed with the artillery and went for hand to hand. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Okay, art style's different, don't really care for it, but I can adjust. How's the season itself?

Again, mostly a mixed bag, which I suppose comes with each season adapting two books each. You just tend to like one kind of story over the other, and here, I definitely preferred one arc over the other.

Like, the whole hunt for Kunou's mom was...fine, I guess. Kunou's cute and I don't object to her, though the cast is getting really crowded. And I did genuinely enjoy just watching the gang get to go on vacation and have fun together.

What I didn't like was who was behind it. I'm sorry, but so far, the Khaos Brigade just isn't working for me, mainly because they keep throwing all these new names at us. Like, okay, I know Cao Cao and the rest of the Hero faction go and become their own thing later, cool, but for now, it's another gaggle of stuff that we've seen before.

And I really didn't like how this was supposedly the challenge that caused Issei to fall into despair and almost give up. Like, really? Issei? After everything else he's vanquished? This is his darkest hour?

I totally buy him needing tits to activate his hidden strength and get back into the game, though. And, okay, I've complained in the past about big, climatic battles being derailed by some cool new character just dropping into the middle of things and solving the problem. But this time I'll let it slide, because we get the OG Monkey King himself, and he's kind of awesome.

The Boob Dragon thing is pretty funny for its ridiculousness, though really? This is considered wholesome children's entertainment in the demon realm? Okay.

Kinda bummed how similar the demon realm and its inhabitants are to normal humans. Like, evil it up! You're demons! Where's your demonic class?

Okay, so the first arc was kind of eh, but the second might very well be one of my favorites so far. For one, the rating games are one of my favorite aspects of the series so far, because I love tournaments and we get to see the other characters shine a little.

Also, Sairaorg, man. What a fucking chad. Dude gets born without powers, is disinherited by his asshole father, almost loses his mom to illness, but reforms himself into a massive physical powerhouse through sheer will and training alone. Plus, he respects the hell out of Issei in a "Game recognize Game" sort of way and wants punch it out with him. Respect.

The rating game was awesome. Yes, there was a bunch of new names again, but it worked better this time and they were able to shine through action. And I laughed my ass off when Issei foiled his opponent's attempt to seduce him because he was so offended at the violation of the proper way to do a strip tease. Man really takes his ecchi seriously.

Issei and Sairaorg just punching the shit out of each other was so goddamned anime. They keep getting more and more power ups, keep giving these heroic speeches, and you kind of want them both to win. In the end, Sairaorg still fighting on despite having passed out long ago through sheer determination alone? Magnificent.

Okay, I'm going to say it. I like Sairaorg as a rival way more than Vali.

Oh, sweet! Ravel's here! I like her. And she and Koneko are immediately petty toward one another, as it should be.

#high school dxd

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bat-birdsandshadows · 2 years ago

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"Why should I give him to you back?" ask the creature. The batfamily didn't know what to call this creature. They assume the gender is female from the voice. The creature look like a smoke with featureless look. Then slowly the creature form some kind of feature that look like woman. They somehow manage to track this creature thanks to John Constantine. John in the background slowly walk away from the scene. The creature notice but choose to ignore him

"You can call me Phoenix for now. Now give me 10 reason why I should give Tim back to you. You dismiss him and call him crazy"

Phoenix then point to Jason and Damian

"You two try to kill him"

she look at Bruce

"You never told him you love him nor say he is your son too. Not some placeholder or replacement"

she then look at all Batfamily then sigh

"He's in deep sleep. Unless you could awake him. He would continue to sleep like that" said Phoenix as she wave her hands. A bubble appear with Tim curl up inside the bubble. He seem not wearing his Red Robin costume instead wearing dark red shirt with jeans pant. something they never see Tim wear. They walk close to the bubble but seem couldn't pop out the bubble "Unless we make a deal much better or you could awake him there's nothing you could do that could wake him up" said Phoenix as she remove Tim from bubble to bed in medbay. She already could guess which one the bats would choose first "We would try to awake him" said Batman. Phoenix just shrug. Although Batfamily couldn't see her face much they feel like she just smirking then poof disappear "I don't think you could awake the kid no matter what even with magic unless you want him to be in danger. Sorry I won't help you guys more than this" said John then disappear

Batfamily try their best to awake Tim. Be it normal way or drastic way. Hell they even try magic to awake Tim while Phoenix just watch them struggle in amusement. Most of their magician allies give same answer like John. They could do nothing much without putting Tim in danger. They even eyed Phoenix warily even though she float far away from them.

After few months without success Bruce grit his teeth and ask Phoenix what kind of deal she want to make. Like what she told Tim really is sleeping even when Dr Leslie come to check him it only result with he is sleeping so they could only hook him with IV to keep Tim healthy and hydrated. "What deal you want to make?" ask Bruce one day when he approach Phoenix who flying afloat beside Tim. His children all available in the room. Everyone already made the decision to make any deal as long they get Tim back. If Tim could make a deal to bring Bruce back then they would do the same thing too "Excellent. I start to wonder when you gonna agree. You guys truly stubborn like what I heard. So the deal is simple.

1)Be a family. Proper family? Dysfunctional family? Anything resemble good and healthy family relationship

2) Take the DAMN THERAPY. When I said therapy I mean all of you including you Bruce

3) Please communicate well. Like talk if you have problems with each other. Or TELL you love them? Told them by your words not just action! If anything I want you guys have good communications

4) don't be such emotionally stunned person. Try to be more open with your emotion at least around your family

5) Don't be such self-sacrifice idiot! These is definitely to all of you

You got any complains?" ask Phoenix. Batfamily are so speechless with her terms that no one spoke yet. None of them expect her to make these kind of deal "How are you gonna make sure they do follow your terms miss Phoenix?" ask Alfred "I would be in this living realm of course. So yeah, I'm gonna stay here" said Phoenix "I feel like there isn't much to be complain. We agree to your terms" said Alfred "Excellent" said Phoenix as she clap her hands.

The room become clouded with smoke and as the smoke dissipate stand a brown hair woman with blue eyes wearing casual clothes "Hi! I'm Phoenix but you can call me Celine" said Phoenix or now Celine then walk to Tim bed. She shake Tim slowly "Wake up Timmy" said Celine in gentle voice. Timmy grumble as he slowly open his eyes "Celine?" groggily Tim look at Celine "The one and only, wake up. Don't you feel hungry?" ask Celine. Tim sleepily nod as Celine slowly remove his IV and all thing necessary for him to move more freely "Wash your face first. The breakfast would be ready soon" said Celine as she turn to Alfred. Alfred nod as he gesture her to follow him leaving batfamily swarming sleepy Tim

"You certainly have odd motive miss Celine" said Alfred "I don't like to see this family almost ruin. Also could you help me hunt a certain clown? He cause to many dead in Infinite Realm that we kind of had enough sooooo..." said Celine as she walk with Alfred "I would do my best" said Alfred

Batfamily Prompt

Tim out of option made a deal with some creatures to help him bring Bruce back. The creatures agree with the deal is Tim need to follow them back. The creatures bring Bruce back from time stream. After assure Bruce is alive and well, Tim follow the creatures back.

Cue chaos and confusion also misunderstanding happen.

#batfamily #batfamily au #batman #tim drake #nightwing #red hood #robin #john constantine #tim made the dumb and yet smartest decision #batfamily though he died #but no he just sleeping #like deep sleep #no one seem couldn't awake him #Phoenix find this situation amusing #she now understand what Tim said about how ridiculous Batfam could be #because they are ridiculous #which mean Phoenix could use it to her advantage #or to be exactly Tim advantage #not like Tim would realize that

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callme-pako · 3 years ago

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Spoiler Warning HELLUVA BOSS EPISODE 6

BLITZØ BIGGEST FEAR

First of all this episode FUCKING rocks. The animation was so perfect and the lighten/shading or composition was absolutely perfect I FUCKING love it.

Blitzø is afraid of intimacy and drives other away from him. That's the short answer to this blog. But it's more complexed than that...

Moxxie quotes this very important sentence: "I believe your subconscious is trying to tell you that you simply cannot fathom proper intimacy but also crave it as well, it's rather unfortunate, sir, considering it's often how you treat those that stand by you such as myself. Are you worried I may have enough of it one day as well?"

It's the fact that Blitzø's subconscious know that he can't understand proper intimacy but he is also craving it. How can you crave something that you can't understand? Blitzø doesn't understand proper intimacy because in his eyes the only thing that is close to intimacy for him is sexual intercourse (sexual relationship). And Moxxie said that he doesn't understand proper intimacy which; The closeness between people in personal relationships. It's what builds over time as you connect with someone, grow to care about each other, and feel more and more comfortable during your time together. It can include physical or emotional closeness, or even a mix of the two.

That's what Blitzø's doesn't understand he doesn't know what's the closeness in personal relationships are, he never stayed long enough to build it over time and connect with someone. We don't know how close he and Verosika were when they were dating we just assume because that they had a very sexual relationship because one of them is literally a s*x Demon and by the way that Blitzø didn't show any sympathy of what he did (stealing her credit card and driving away to the Wraith Ring and spending all the money on horse riding lessons).

Not only did Moxxie said that Blitzø is treating other with what he thinks is intimacy, he also stated that Blitzø is afraid of what if the people that he treats that way might have enough of it and leave him behind. There is currently one character that treat Blitzø with love...

Stolas, Stolas loves Blitzø and doesn't treat him like a plaything, the fact that he came to the human realm and saved him is an act of true love or proper intimacy. In Blitzø's dr*g trip Stolas ask him if he was afraid of loving and Blitzø still kept walking towards him while chains are appearing. I think that one of the reasons why Blitzø keeps running towards him is 'cuz if he doesn't do it then his past will start to haunt him even more and sees Stolas as his escapism, he may also keep going to Stolas 'cuz he is giving him what he is craving, Intimacy. Stolas is the only one that gives it to him, he should be happy that he finally found what he was always craving. But there is something that he doesn't fully recognise with Stolas.

Normally when someone shows him intimacy he drives them away and claim that he's better off alone. (Robotic) Fizzarolli is saying that he's trying to say that to everyone but he knows that it doesn't work that well. Verosika is saying that he keeps shoving everyone away until they resend them for being a SELFISH SHITTY SHIT FUCKER. They're both saying that Blitzø isn't better off alone and that he can't accept anyone's help.

But it's different now with Stolas and the others, he is in chains because he searched for Stolas himself. At first he saw Stolas and IMP as an escapism for his past thought that he could just leave them all once he feels better but he didn't. He got attached to them even though they don't always wants him but they still stay with him.

Blitzø got attached to them but Stolas got attached to him, how the table have turned. Now that Stolas got attached to him it is much harder for him to just leave him behind. He don't need to worry about the possibility of Stolas leaving him, so he has nothing to worry about, except the fact that he still is afraid of proper intimacy that Stolas gives him he has no other choice than staying with him. If Blitzø leaves Stolas then he was no way to continue his business he will likely loose Millie and Moxxie, because without a business how else will they pay the bills and the food, how else will he take care of Loona, 'cos no Stolas means no Grimoire, no Grimoire means no IMP, no IMP means no money and no money probably means no reason for M&M to stay.

That is why he is in chains and that's why Stolas is the holding the chains, if he cut off Stolas of his life, he will also automatically cut off the new life he me made with IMP.

Blitzø's biggest fear is cutting off Stolas and that's why they portrayed it like that with a fancy stare case and wings, wings that symbolise his escapism. He finally found what he was searching for and now he can't leave it behind.

'cuz if he does then he'll die alone another thing that he fears

Ending up all alone is another thing that he fears and that will happen if he cutt Stolas off his life. Without Stolas he is alone that's why he was worried that Striker may kill the only thing that keeps him from being alone.

This episode also showed that Blitzø actually fell in love with Stolas, even though this was mostly a Moxxie X Blitzø centered episode, they did a great job showing that he fell for him.

Overall this was a great episode and I can't wait to see what The SpindleHorse Studio has in store for the last 2 episode of season 1. They really out done them selves for this masterpiece.

See you next time

#helluva boss blitzo #helluva boss #helluva blitzo #helluva striker #verosica mayday #fizzarolli #robo fizz #helluva moxxie #blitzo #stolas #vivziepop #vivienne medrano #spindlehorse #vivzieverse

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darkacademicfrom2021 · 3 years ago

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The Adventures of Silvertongue and Olive

<<Previous part Masterlist Next part>>

Warnings: homophobia, and Loki not knowing he's a Jötun (I put it as a warning 'cause it's just straight up sad).

5- Love is an arrow

The training room was bigger in Asgard, Leaf thought. He stretched the thread and untensed the shoulders, closing one eye to guide the arrow. He hit the target exactly in the middle, perfectly done. Loki clapped slowly from the doorframe.

"Since when were you there? Why do you keep watching me do things without letting me know? That's stalking".

"I'm making up for all the times you've done the same in the library", Loki said, crossing his fingers behind his back and walking to his spot. A dagger appeared in his hand. "Do you know how to throw daggers?".

"No, but I could try", said Leaf, and Loki scoffed.

"It's not that easy".

"Let me try".

Loki gave him the dagger, and Leaf put it over the arch, stretching the thread as if it was an arrow. Loki chuckled.

"That's not how you throw a dagger. It won't work".

Leaf ignored him and hit the target with the dagger, slicing in two the previous arrow. Loki gasped dramatically, very theatrical. But, underneath his acting, he was a little impressed.

"It works", said Leaf proudly, shaking his hair away from his face, and handing him the arch and an arrow. "Now you try my thing".

Loki accepted the arrow and refused the arch. Leaf laughed. He closed one eye, made the dagger and arrow disappear from the target, and pointed with his free hand at where the arrow should land. He threw it as if it were a dagger and it hit the target exactly in the middle.

"You're very good".

"I can say the same".

They stayed in an awkward silence for a while. Loki thought of something to talk about.

"So, your dad's dead", pointed out. He then realized, maybe it wasn't a good conversation starter. It wasn't even a question.

"Indeed".

He mentally slapped himself.

"What happened?".

"Someone killed him".

"Yes, but why?".

"Why would anyone kill a King?".

"You think it was your sister, pray tell?".

Leaf stayed in silence, but then answered,

"No, of course not".

"That didn't sound really convincing".

"She's incapable of taking action by herself for anything. She's probably just glad someone did it for her".

"You really hate her, don't you?".

"Just as much as you hate your brother, I presume".

"Touché".

They talked, and mocked, and showed magic tricks, and even taught each other how to throw daggers and arrows the proper way. Loki knew the prince's real name yet decided to stay with Leaf. Leaf did not like his nickname a lot, and barely flinched every time a relative would call him that, but somehow, he wasn't bothered by Loki saying it. He didn't know. And, of course, he didn't like not knowing.

"Why do you not enjoy Leaf? It's pretty", he asked, and Leaf played with the tip of an arrow over his lips. The sun was setting, and they decided the roof was the best place to be bathed with the marvelous golden hour's rays. Leaf scoffed.

"It's not".

"It suits you".

"I bet it does".

"I wasn't being sarcastic. It's not silly or anything if that's what worries you", said Loki, speaking barely in a whisper. The place was so silent they could've swore they were the only ones on the realm. Loki's gaze rested on Leaf. Leaf's eyes avoided him, with a trace of embarrassment.

"It's not that", he clarified. "It's Leaf, from… leafy".

"Leafy? Well, that does sound a little silly, to be honest, but…".

"I think it's the variant of… fruity, would you say?", he muttered, and Loki stayed quiet with his eyes wide open. "It's a slur".

"A homophobic slur", musited Loki under his breath. "Your parents call you that?".

"Everyone calls me that. They called me like this for so long, the nickname stayed as a normal name. Though I'm sure they remember where it started", he explained, and then hurried, "though they never meant it to offend me. It's just a joke".

"I don't see you laughing much".

"I'm… used to it. It's fine".

"That's the saddest thing I've ever heard", said Loki, standing up. "I'm re-baptizing you", he decided, looking around. The prince of Vanaheim laughed. "Would you like to stay in the forest-theme? What about… ah! I know!", he appeared a book in his hand -a big, dusted book that barely fit over his hands-, and scanned through the pages quickly.

"What are you doing?".

"Look. Here. This tree is perfect for you".

"The… Olive? The one that gives those weird looking fruits?".

"The trees thrive in places where others may wither–and olives don’t only thrive, but thrive for century after century", read Loki aloud. "Olive trees will produce loads of fruit in the cruelest heat and driest gravels of Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheim, Svart…".

"Very interesting. But, why?".

"Well, you kind of resemble him".

"The tree?", he asked, raising his eyebrows and reading the page again. Loki nodded, a bit embarrassed. That all sounded so cheesy, completely unlike him. "I like it".

"Besides, being gay and a royal? Definitely a challenge, I would know. Yet they love you, it shows. You do thrive in places where others may wither", added Loki, and the prince immediately denied with his head.

"I'm not! I'm not gay. They call me that because… I don't know, I'm not", he stuttered.

"Well, I wither", clarified Loki. “I would know”.

"Oh".

"I suspect it may be one of the main reasons they're always trying to get me to lose to Thor in the competitions for the Throne".

"Really?".

"What other reason could there be? I'm good at everything they asked me to be. I wish to be King and to do it rightly, I'm pure Asgardian royal blood, I'm not focused on anything other than ruling if I'm asked to… The only mishap for them would be to have a bisexual King".

Olive stayed silent, sinking in that information. Maybe if he told them he was, in fact... not straight, he would be free from his royal duties. But, wasn't that the main reason he wanted to be free from them after all? To not have to bear the judgement inside the Palace? He could just sink his sexuality very, very deep down, where it would never be found. Marry a girl he wouldn't love. Pray he doesn't get to be King. Pray his secret is never unveiled.

"Do they know? Or do they just suppose it?".

"Oh, I'm very queer", laughed Loki, laying on his back and staring at the sky. Olive did the same. "I've never even had to say it. It was just an implicit characteristic of me. Besides, I can change into whatever form I wish to".

"Really? Like what?".

"Like a cat. Or a snake. Or my brother. Or a woman", he counted. "Thor said in Midgard they call this genderfluid. I'm not entirely sure, because, yes, my gender sure fluctuates, as well as my body, but… I can also turn into an animal, or an object. It's not only my sex and gender what fluctuates. It's my entire being".

"That sounds so fascinating. Can you turn into something right now?".

"Of course. What would you like me to turn into?".

Olive drew a hand to his lips, and Loki's gaze followed instinctively.

"Can it be an object? Like an apple?".

"Please don't eat me", said Loki with a grin, and behind a halo of green lights, he shapeshifted into a golden apple.

"Can you speak like this?", Olive asked, and the apple remained silent and still. "What about… an ant?", and the apple soon transformed into a small ant. Olive put a finger on the floor and Loki climbed to it. He walked around his nail for a while, and Olive observed amused. "And can you go bigger?".

He left Loki very carefully on the floor, and Loki thought for a moment before deciding on a huge lion. Olive gasped, pulled back for an instant, until the lion began to act like a very big cat. Olive patted his head and scratched behind his ears.

Loki finally shifted back into himself and growled, shivering. He took off a lion's hair from his tongue, disgusted.

"The bigger the form, the harder it is to get back to normal", he explained.

"How so?".

"Sometimes it works weirdly. I once turned Thor into a dog and back to himself, and next day I threw a ball and he instinctively ran towards it".

"I always thought he seemed like a golden retriever".

"Leaf!", called his sister from the nearest window, "get back, Mother wants us to try on something for the party!".

"Going!", answered Olive, and getting back to Loki, he asked, "party?".

"Apparently. Might be because of the engagement, so it’s more like a formal dance than an actual party", he clarified. "I'll introduce to you some lady friends you could invite as a companion, if you need to".

Olive got disappointed, and wondered what he was originally expecting.

"I'd love to, see you then".

"Good night".

(Taglist: @lucywrites02, @louieboo87, @the-departed-potato, @jesuswasnotawhiteman, @idontknow296, @beksib, @spythoschei, @geekwritersworld, @whatafuckingdumbass, @mysticunicorn7 @shadowolf993, @joscelyn02, @t00-pi, @selfship-mishaps, @sallymagnoliaposts, @deadgirl88, @enderslove)

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caxsthetic · 4 years ago

Text

DEMON'S PRAYER — Kita Shinsuke x Reader — Angels&Demons!AU

Episode 1: Last Task

Type: TV Series (Multiple Chapters)

Cast: Kita Shinsuke, Suna Rintarou, Oikawa Tooru, Akaashi Keiji

Storyline: You were just another soul to be bound, another task that he needed to complete. That was what inside his head when the king gave him the mission. Yet now as you hummed giddily in the kitchen, with his shirt engulfed your figure — he started to feel unsure.

Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Mature

Darkness. It was the only thing that predominated in this bottomless pit called hell. The freezing temperature biting the skin without mercy, sending shivers down the spine for those who just arrived. There was no intense fire that burned, such a contrast to how humans portrayed this realm.

Everything that unfolded here was just melancholy. Poor soul dragged forcefully by the reaper, some of them wailing — begging to be released. But some of them just had their head hanging low, accepting the twisted fate that they got themself into.

He could only snicker, at how those humans acted as if they didn't just kill their own kind, acting like bullying and stealing someone's virginity was not a sin. They never thought about any consequences that might come at the afterlife. Or maybe, they just never foreseen what waited for them after their heart stops beating.

His brown orbs glowed in the dark, amused as he looked down to where the reaper twins just got back from earth. Both of them always had some entertaining soul to drag. Usually, they even made fun of the once human, spitting some snide comment about wasting their life.

It was no surprise that one of the twins wished to be born as a human. From the longing look inside his greyish orbs, or how he seemed so harsh over all of the ungrateful sinners — the silver-haired reaper didn't enjoy the chance of life that was given for him.

Kita could not really see the reason why one of the twins seemed to seek a mundane life. Either demon or reaper, they were born as something more. They were gifted, all above humans that were just a tiny goldfish compared to them.

Ah, it was rude for him to call humankind like that. But it was the truth, at least from his point of view. Demons, just like angels — were both creatures created by the supreme. Both had artifice that was a lot higher than humankind.

Angels and demons stay in their own realm to do their jobs, worshipping the supreme deity. Or as for the demons, they were lurking under the shadows, doing all the impossible jobs to take care of all the sinners in this universe.

Kita never cared much about how everyone said the supreme just playing favourites by keeping the angels in heaven, and demons in hell. It was not like he did all the tasks for the omnipresent anyway. As long as he knew he could do anything if he had the king's trust, being good in front of the supreme was at the bottom of his list.

Propping his chin with a hand, his legs dangled at the edge of the palace's rooftop. He just got back from a task a few hours ago. Once again, of course, ended up in success. If his counting was right, he only just needed to finish one more assignment from the king.

Just one more before he could be granted the power to bend the rules as much as he liked, to go anywhere as freely without anything tying him down. Just one more, before hell being told to bow for him.

He really couldn't wait to be the king's right-hand man for all eternity.

"Kita-sama~" He gritted his teeth when his eardrum caught the familiar sing-song voice that belonged to his junior. "Don't ignore me like that, Kita-sama. I know you can hear me." It grew closer and closer to his side, wanting his attention so bad.

He didn't have to turn his face around to recognise who it was. The wind that suddenly occurred due to the flap of wings, causing his straight hair to dishevelled a little.

"What is it now, Suna?"

Suna Rintarou, another demon that clung to him ever since birth. All of the other demons always made fun of him, saying he was too pretty, too delicate to be called a demon. Even with the higher-ups, they were all used to calling him an imposter — an angel in disguise.

But when Kita became the only one who stood for him, guiding his path to be a real demon, all the whispers stopped. Suna was a lot more destructive, sadistic, having no mercy to any soul. His pretty face was just a facade, because behind it all, was a demon who never hesitated to decapitate sinners.

Sometimes, even to some innocent creatures.

"Satan's called." The younger demon stated mindlessly. "Saying about giving you one last order or something, Kita-sama."

Kita released a sigh with how careless his companion acted just now. Manners, something that the dark-haired demon always lacked off. Just because they were creatures which didn't really sound like they would care for such courtesy, they really had the utmost respect toward each other.

"You did not just call the king with his real name." His finger went up to his temple, trying to massage the headache that wanted to come. "How many times do I need to tell you that we address Satan as the king?"

Suna could sense the irritation that dripped on each word being spoken, even though the intonation was flat and filled with no emotion. Yet he knew the superior demon long enough to recognise the stern expression that showed disapproval.

"Sorry." It was such a short apology, but with how he landed his feet and closed his wings, Kita knew that the younger demon really meant it. Even though Suna could be so scary at the point everyone didn't dare to be within one-metre range with him, he always had such a different personality when it came to the brown-eyed demon.

“Just remember it next time.” And no matter how many times the younglings made mistakes, Kita always put a blind eye to it. “Where is the king? Throne room?” He stood up, dusting his clothes delicately even though there was nothing that stained the fabric.

“No, Sa— I mean, the king is in the garden right now.”

Kita raised his eyebrows in confusion. Everytime a demon was given a task, the king would be there in the throne room, wearing his almighty crown made of fire. And for three hundred years, he never thought that the king would even invite him to come to the garden — the place where it was exclusive only for the higher-ups.

“Alright.” Suna smirked when he heard the answer, always so straightforward. “I see that smirk, Suna.” But it changed into a flabbergasted one in an instant.

“Sorry. You just always amused me, Kita-sama.” Brown orbs pierced into his soul, as if telling him to continue his words. “The king just called for you, in his garden that all of us lowlife demons never see with our eyes. Yet you didn’t look afraid or nervous at all.”

“Well, when you said it like that.” Kita chuckled lowly from the honest words, flailing his black wings as he was ready to take off. He pondered a little, never thought much about it before since he only focused on his goal. “We all already met the king anyway, right?” His feet stride to the edge of the roof, turning his face towards the younger demon. “So why should I?”

And without even waiting to see Suna’s response, he let his body fall into the open air graciously. His eyes fluttered close, focusing on how the wind grazed his wings. He remembered everything, the different intensity for each metre he already dived in. It felt heavier every time he got lower and lower. Just a little more, a few more seconds.

His colossal black wings spread to the side in an instant as he turned his body to face the ground, smirking as he felt proud with himself. Just like any other day, he could reach the ground even faster with this method. A dangerous one actually, a unique talent of him that there was no other demon willing to try. Ticking another list for the king to like him even more.

Every demon was busy with their own job and tasks. They had to assign all the sinners with the right punishment, making sure that each of them understood well that hell existed and created for them to reflect. All the cried out, all the weeping soul and painful scream — it was just another sight that was common to happen.

He soared through every level of hell, down into the coldest place where he could even see a puff of air slipped from his mouth when he breathed out. It was mysterious as to why the king had his palace right on top of the mountain, but decided to have the lowest level for his oh-so-called garden.

Kita slowed down as he saw the blue fire that burns on the looming gate of the garden. He was hesitant to land, knowing exactly what kind of feelings that he would get by making contact with the lowest ground. But the king demanded his presence, and it was not proper for him to keep his wings spread in front of the devil itself.

He hissed a little when his bare feet touched the black soil. Every time he took one step forward, a trail of blue hue could be visible from where he stood before. It was fire, right underneath the ground was the scorching blue fire that the temperature was controlled by the king.

Finally standing in front of the gate, he looked down to his palm that had a burning scar from where he was still a little demon. It still haunted him sometimes, the searing sensation when his skin made contact with the blue fire. But he needed to believe the king, wishing that the gate temperature was lowered for him.

His hand pushed the gate so easily, and he couldn’t help but smirk in awe as the fire engulfed his finger. It was as if he touched nothing, as if the fire was just a mist. He was still in starstruck when he walked past the gate, following the trail of blue hue that led him deeper into the garden.

This was the first time he landed in this level with a real purpose. Back then when he was just a naive demon, curious about what lay within the deepest level of hell, he just knew that he despised fire — kinda tragic for a demon wasn’t it? But that was exactly what he felt after he burned his feet and palm, one that he felt the second he landed here around two hundred years ago.

Though right now as his orbs caught all the glimmer on the leaves vein, he forgot about the nightmare that once occurred in his life. There were no other colours in this place except black and blue. Even the plants, it had the exact structure like what he usually found on earth, but it was more extraterrestrial than those green seedlings.

Yet it still captivated him as he walked through the forest-like area; tall trees filled his vision, and with all the blue lines around its veins, making him think that each plant was so much alive. Another living creature, trapped as they could do nothing but grow.

“Fascinating, isn’t it?”

His eyes widened when the familiar smooth voice rang right on his ear. The way his body jerked slightly, resulting in a chuckle to boom through the entire space he was in right now. “Don’t be so uptight now, Shinsuke. You know I will never do my favourite demon no harm.”

Arose in between the gigantic trees, red eyes pierced into his soul. With a sight of the king, he immediately got down on his knees, lowering his gaze to the ground to show respect. Just like any meeting that they had beforehand though, he would get a chuckle from the king, indicating to him that it was enough, that he didn’t have to bow down.

Kita stood up gracefully, standing still on the same spot as he waited for any kind of information about the next assignment that he needed to fulfil. The king circled around the fountain that was installed in the middle of the space. Instead of water cascading down the black surface, it was fire. Overflowing from the top and down to the lowest pond.

“You must know why I call you here, right? That younglings having quite a big mouth, I know he would have no filter when it came to you.” It must be Suna. He thought. After all, there was no other young demon that was dared enough to talk to him.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Then come here, Shinsuke. Take a look at the pond.”

He didn’t hesitate for a second, eager to gather as much information as he needed to. The once blue fire that filled the pond twirled into something else, a vision revealed in front of his eyes. There was a glimmer of earth, tall buildings and people passing by. From just seconds looking through the pond, he already knew where he should go next.

Now he just needed to know who. Which poor soul that he needed to bring to hell? What kind of sin that he needed to make sure the next human did?

Laugh, that was the first thing that he focused on. She looked so warm that it was even sickening for him, how could a human smile and laugh so freely to everyone who greeted her after all. He squinted his eyes, wanting to see her even closer. The way she gazed at everyone was nothing that he could see as a sinner.

There was no evil inside her, she just kept giving and giving. Not even one taking anything from the others. He parted his lips, wanting to ask what was exactly his task would be. But before he could emit a word, the vision fast forward to her slamming an apartment door.

Not even a second after that, she slid down into the floor, burying her head as she sobbed uncontrollably. He was frantic by now, deep down he just wanted to ask what happened to her, why she looked so fragile. Most importantly, why did she have to be dragged into hell?

She’s not even a sinner, she was just someone who needs help. He needed an answer, he had to know now why someone who was already broken, became his last mission? What kind of turmoil that the king wanted to see? Kita couldn’t look away from the pond, eyebrows furrowed as his mind wandered.

And as if the king knew what he was thinking right now, four words whispered to his ear — echoing inside his head as the next assignment.

“Make her kill herself.”

Previous ⤟ MASTERLIST ⤠ Next Up

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"Demon's Prayer" Enthusiast:

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polin-erospsyche · 4 years ago

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I often find myself agreeing with your TID posts! I agree that JCM triangle is not going to be like WTJ, bc I believe that this relationship worked bc in the end CC knew that Jem would eventually have his life with Tessa. Here is different bc JCM don't have a "death sentence". I think their triangle is going to be like Clary/Simon/Jace but it's gonna be more angsty bc J and M are best friends. C may have a brief phase where she's w/Math but then she'll end up w/J after a lot of angst. lol

That’s cool! Thanks for the validation! Sorry it took me a while to answer. I started to answer on my phone before I realised that I wanted to give you a proper answer so I’m sorry if this is a bit long (actually it’s much longer than I thought it would be ooops). Also, it took me a minute to understand who was JCM and WTJ, I’m really slow 🤣

I believe they are completely different from each other and we’ll see that in the next couple of books. We know that James and Matthew will butt head and that it won’t necessarily be about Cordelia. Honestly, I’m not surprised, when I read Chain of Gold I had a weird feeling that they were not on the same level. I felt like Matthew was more attached to James than James to Matthew. I’m not saying that James does not love Matthew, of course he does, a lot. I’m just thinking that because of the nature of their own demons James is preoccupied by being controlled by a cursed bracelet and the shadow realm and Matthew is desperately running from his own shadow, holding onto anyone who could be able to love him and James, as his parabatai, is perfect (little does Matthew know that because of the bracelet James is not able to love him fully without reservation). Once again, I’m not diminishing James’ love for Matthew, I just think that maybe it’s not as much as Mathew wants, you can totally contradict me on that. So already, from the beginning of TLH, for me, their bond is fragile. Honestly every time I was reading a passage with the both of them, I always had a weird feeling, like I was walking on egg shells and that it was a push and pull relationship, it might have only been because James was under the curse though.

Comes in Cordelia, James’ childhood friend and the girl he is in love with, although he doesn’t know it yet. Matthew falls for her or maybe he falls for the idea of her (that’s arguable). I personally think that even if he means well, he will slip at some point. From a narrative perspective it makes sense to me. You’ve got those three characters that are carefully balancing at the moment but they are at the edge of a precipice and one of them has to move to make all of them find a new state (I hope this makes sense). So, I think that at some point Matthew is either going to let it out and tell her that no, she does not need to marry someone who doesn’t love her or he’s just going to straight out kiss her. No matter how it happens I have a feeling he’s going to blame it on alcohol (I have to thank @cecilyfightwood for that). Cordelia is going to be taken aback but I don’t think she’s going to be completely against it, which is where your thought of ‘they might be together for a while’ comes in. I’ve seen people judge Daisy for maybe falling for Matthew because that just means her love for James isn’t strong enough, but I mean come on! Give the girl a break. She doesn’t know what we, as readers, know. She is persuaded that the boy she loves is in love with another and she might feel a little toyed with after what happened in the Whispering Room (although these two idiots both agreed it was just pretending, really I just want to facepalm myself repeatedly at this point). What she believes is that she’s going to have to marry someone whom she loves, who doesn’t love back and she’s going to have to see him deny his feelings every day in front of her while acting like he loves her (that’s a great storyline for us, in reality it probably feels like a personal kind of torture). So yeah, if there’s someone as kind, attentive and funny as Matthew around I’m not surprised that she’s going to try and forget about her heartbreak. However, I don’t think they’ll be together, I think they’ll toy with that line for a while. I have a feeling there might come a point where Cordelia won’t know her own feelings towards Math.

I think that James’ bracelet being taken off and his realisation of his feelings for Cordelia might come too late. He doesn’t know that Daisy loves him either, actually I reckon he probably thinks she doesn’t. And if he catches Cordelia and Matthew together (it doesn’t have to be a kiss or anything, it can just be the way they act when they are together) he might ultimately be the one to decide not to say anything and let them be happy. However, compared to Jem and Will who were never jealous of each other, we’ve seen Matthew get very jealous of James and I think we might see James try to distance himself from Matthew to better deal with his own unspoken jealousy. James believing that Cordelia likes Matthew and Matthew knowing (I think he’ll know) that Cordelia is still somewhat undecided between the two will make animosity and tension grow between them. I don’t think they’ll fight specifically about that but I think it’ll be underlying their argument. Eventually, I think Matthew will see that he does not stand a chance against James. I think Matthew will get hurt because instead of coming to terms with his own demons and learning to love himself he’ll have latched onto two people (by leaving home in Chain of Iron I have a feeling he is trying to distance himself from the people around him) who ultimately will choose each other and not him. I’d like to think that he’ll probably drink even more and then he’ll have someone shake him awake which will spur him into starting to forgive himself but not before he has a talk with Charlotte (that boy just really needs to talk to his mum not matter how impossible it might seem for him). I believe it has to get a lot worse for Matthew emotionally, before it can get better.

But yeah all of this to say that they are definitely not the same as Herongraystairs and they’re not the same as Clary/Simon/Jace either. From what I know (I’m not the best placed to talk about this) Clary chose to be with Simon to get over Jace but never actually loved Simon in this way because it was always Jace, and both Jace and Clary knew that they had feelings for each other the whole time. I don’t think Matthew is going to be used. I think that James/Cordelia/Matthew don’t know any better and ultimately whether what I say is true or not they don’t want to hurt each other, that’s not their goal and so no matter what happens the tragic thing is that none of them are to blame for whatever’s going to happen. It just eventually comes down to lack of communication, miscommunication and bad timing. Of course, if you want to blame someone Tatiana and Belial are perfect for that (I refuse to blame Grace after just one book).

Anyway, if you’ve read all of this, sorry for my long-ass answer and thanks for coming to my Ted talk. Hopefully I’ve added somethings instead of rehashing things that we already knew. And as always please let me know if you don’t agree with me and why so we can chat!

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let-it-raines · 5 years ago

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I don't really know what I want, but I do know that I want Captain Swan in the Enchanted Forest! Ready, set, go!!!

So, found this little thing when I was trying to find my grocery list of all things. lol. So I obviously had to post it for you guys 😘

Found on ao3 | here | if that’s more your jam!

Rating: Mature

-/-

A long white cloak trails behind her, the bottom of it brushing against the floor to pick up dirt and other small pieces of nature covering the ground. There are grass stains, brown and green streaks marking the ornate piece of clothing, but it will be cleaned and cared for until her cloak is as white as snow.

He would know. He’s seen every marking on this particular piece of clothing be wiped away, whether by servants or a touch of magic, and the next time he sees her wear the cloak, it will be as if it is fresh from the seamstress and placed on her back with no interference.

‘Tis like that every time.

Killian chuckles to himself and wipes his knuckles along his lips while he reaches with his hook to dust away any dirt that has clung to his own leathers. He may not have a team of women behind him to make sure he stays laundered, but he can at least make himself look presentable. After all, the princess has come all this way, dodging her guards and her companions and anyone who might recognize her from the portrait of her hanging in the royal Governor’s office not half a mile from the ports where she’s milling about now.

She’s quick, that one, has more smarts than those who have dedicated their lives giving her the lessons that are supposed to educate her, but there are still some things that slip her mind after all this time.

Like wearing an ornate white cloak and leaving her golden hair falling down in waves over her shoulders instead of tying it with a ribbon and hiding it away. She reeks of royalty or some other kind of high-born woman, and high-born women do not come to a fish market where there might be pirates about.

They are scoundrels. Shouldn’t she know that?

“Smee,” Killian calls, hopping down from his post until his feet land heavy against the solid wood of the Jolly Roger, “make sure the place is spotless by nightfall. Every damaged board better damn well shine.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” his first mate says, tugging on his red knitted cap. One day the man has to get something a little more discreet. Maybe he and the princess can teach each other how to blend into a crowd.

With a sauntering step and a swing over his heavy coat around his calves, Killian quickly walks across the deck until he’s descending from his ship and moving across the uneven docks. Misthaven is one of the richest kingdoms in the realm, full of potential for water imports and exports, but the King and Queen have never put much more than one gold piece into repairing things. Maybe they would invest more if they knew how much time their beloved daughter spent time here.

Or maybe they would whisk her away so she could never see the sea again.

The docks are full with throngs of people milling about, each of them carrying a basket or parchment-wrapped fish, but Killian doesn’t pretend he’s about to stock up on supplies. He’ll do his own fishing if need be, and if not, he’ll find their fishermen when their supply is fresh and not a day or two old like they are today. Cutting out the middlemen and all.

She is currently talking to a vendor who sells baked goods. He believes her name is Ariel and that her husband works in the fishery, but he has never made their acquaintance. He tends to keep to himself and let Smee and Scarlet deal with making the acquaintances of the locals in each port.

“Thank you,” Emma sighs as she passes over a few coins in exchange for what Killian assumes is her favored sweet bread. “I’ll see you soon, Ariel.”

Ah, so he was correct in her name.

Killian knows Emma isn’t expecting him to be standing behind her by the way the emerald of her eyes widens and she nearly drops her food. It is endearing, and he struggles to keep both corners of his lips from turning up. In compromise, he lets one side smile while he slightly squints his eyes, mimicking the look she claims he gave her the night they met.

He knows what look he gave her, and it certainly wasn’t decent enough to be seen in broad daylight.

“Captain,” she says slowly, narrowing her own eyes.

“Milady.” He leans down and mockingly bows. She must be resisting the urge to roll her eyes. She so despises when people bow to her. “Enjoying the shopping?”

“”Tis a nice day for it, don’t you think?”

“Of course.” Killian steps closer to her but stays far enough away to be proper. He may not know the names of everyone here, but they certainly know his. Say what you will about Captain Killian Jones and his following of wenches, but he lives by a code, one he does not take lightly. He won’t do anything to impede upon Emma’s reputation, at least publicly. “Might I suggest looking at crustaceans near my ship. I haven’t bought any myself, but the word around the village is that they are divine.”

“You’ve been listening to what people have to say?”

“Oh, you know me. I’m a man of the town, a man of the people you might say.”

Her lips press together in a small, timid smile before she begins walking toward his ship, her cloak whipping behind her and her hair being blown in the wind.

She’s an ethereal beauty, this one.

“You’re not supposed to meet me on the docks,” Emma murmurs. “It makes it too obvious.”

“Darling, if you aren’t going for obvious, might I suggest not wearing a snow-white cloak when everyone else here is in shades of brown with slightly torn clothes.”

“Says the man wearing leather and a vest that’s nearly unbuttoned down to his navel. That’s not exactly inconspicuous.”

“I’m a pirate, love. I’ve never been inconspicuous.”

She turns to him, squinting her eyes once more, and he simply winks before nodding his head and turning her on her way toward the Jolly. No one pays them any mind. Everyone is too lost in their own worries and their own business to look at the two of them, but nevertheless, he urges Emma to pull her hood up and tug it around her face. As long as no one recognizes her face, all will be well. She’ll simply be the maiden who climbed aboard The Jolly Roger with him, and he’s got enough of a reputation that the news will not be of any substance for gossip. It will simply be another day for him.

At least he hopes so.

His crew stop their repairs to watch he and Emma moving aboard, but the moment Killian makes eye contact, they all turn away and quickly return to their tasks. They know not of who Emma is to the kingdom, but they know who she is to him. They are also aware that his companion is none of their damn business.

“You do not have to shoot daggers with your eyes at them, you know?” Emma laughs.

“I was doing no such thing.”

“You know you can’t lie to me. I can tell.”

“One of the worst bloody things about you.”

“Ah, see, but I know that you’re lying when you say that.”

Killian huffs underneath his breath before stepping in front of her so that he can look in her eyes. They’re a mixture of emerald and gold, two treasures any pirate would be happy to possesses, and the sunlight brings out the colors of her eyes until they are the most gorgeous thing in his sights. Then again, they didn’t need the sunlight for that.

“Do you always insist on being so frustrating?”

Emma’s lip curls up and runs her finger down the center of his chest, twisting her nail into his tufts of hair. “I know you like it, Captain.” She steps closer, her lips brushing against the shell of his ear, “and you know there’s no point in denying it.”

“And if I were to deny that I enjoy finding you frustrating?”

“I think I’d have to coax the words out of you,” she whispers. “Now, isn’t there a novel you had talked about showing me? Down in your Quarters?”

“I know you are teasing me, love, but I did pick up a few new stories for you in the Southern Isles.”

“Yeah? Have you read them yet?”

“Aye, but I don’t think that would have kept you from taking them.”

She kisses the underside of his jaw before walking away. “You know me so well, Captain.”

Bloody temptress.

The waves move beneath his feet as he follows Emma, not bothering to explain himself to any of his crew except to tell Smee he’s not to be disturbed unless they are under dire circumstances. Even then, he doesn’t want to know unless it is not something that can be handled without him.

Priorities and all.

By the time he is below deck and in his Quarters, Emma has already unclasped her cloak from her neck and draped it over the windows, dimming the room and providing them with the privacy they need when meeting during sunlit hours. He much prefers the safety of the night and the blanket that the darkness covers them with, but it is easier for Emma to meet him during the early afternoons when the sun is high in the sky and the crowds in the villages are full.

He will take her whenever he can.

“What’s this one about?” she asks as her fingers flip over the delicate pages of one of the novels he has laid out.

Killian shrugs off his coat, the weight falling off his shoulders, before he steps up to Emma, pressing his chest to her back and rolling his hips into her delectable backside. He runs his lips over her jaw before settling behind her ear. She’s sensitive there, and small bumps always rise on her porcelain skin whenever he runs his lips against the shell or allows the hair on his chin to brush against her.

“This one is about the structure behind ships and how to improve the speed of our sails.”

“You have a Pegasus sail. What do you need this for?”

“I enjoy learning about ways to improve. I wouldn’t want to be caught unaware.”

“No,” she sighs as his teeth nibble against her, “you wouldn’t. Do you expect me to read this?”

“That one wasn’t for you. Grab the one with the white ribbons tied around it.”

Emma leans forward enough that he loses his grip on her and that his lips fall away, and he takes the opportunity to start unlacing her corset. He takes pride in being able to do just as much as any other man with his hook, and for the most part, he’s able to. However, he appreciates that Emma has loosened the first few strands and that he’s able to undo her dress while he presses his lips to the back of her neck, breathing in the vanilla scent of her soaps and the flowers of the potions he knows she slathers on her wrists and her neck.

“Tales of Arendelle.”

“A collection of love stories,” he tells her as her dress begins to fall from her shoulders. “The rumor is that most of them are true, if not embellished the slightest bit. One in particular caught my eye for you.”

Emma shrugs her shoulders to help him get her out of her dress until she’s left in nothing but a thin white shift. “And what was that?”

“A princess who fell for a pirate.”

Her head is thrown back in laughter, and she turns around to face him, her lips parted and cheeks flushed. “That is a little too on the nose, even for you.”

“What? You do not care for hearing a story similar to ours?”

“Who says I’ve fallen for you?”

“You do.”

Emma hums and deftly unbuttons his vest, dragging her mouth along each patch of skin that’s uncovered. “I don’t seem to recall saying anything of the sort.”

“I wrote it in my logs if you’d like to check.”

“I think I’ll have to take your word for it.”

“That would be a first.”

She huffs and pushes him back until he’s stumbling to his bunk and propping himself up on his elbows while he watches Emma dispose of her shift until she’s left wearing nothing. Her skin has always been so beautiful. In the summers, it is a darker color that makes the rosy tint of her nipples blend in more, but now she’s as pale as the snow that occasionally coats the ground. She’s like porcelain, but she does have her imperfections.

He thinks he loves every damn one.

Well, he knows because he loves her. Ages have passed since he has loved someone, but he knows the feeling enough to know how he feels on the days when he is able to see Emma.

On the days and weeks and months when he isn’t as well.

Emma quickly undoes his leathers, each brush of her fingertips stirring him to life, before she carefully takes off his brace with his hook, kissing all of the permanently red scars there. She’s the only one who has seen this part of him besides the men who helped heal him, and she’s the only one who will ever see the red scars and the place where his body is broken like it was not before.

He’s got a reputation to uphold, one of a fierce pirate captain who survived losing his hand to the Dark One and who takes what he wants when he wants it, but none of that applies to Emma.

None of it has ever applied to her.

She is the sun in his life when two hundred years have been covered in dark clouds that have blocked all light out.

Light looks a hell of a lot like emerald eyes and golden hair with a smile that’s worth more than any treasure.

“I’ve missed you,” Emma finally says as she tosses his hook to the floor and crawls on top of him until her knees are pressed on either side of his hips, her folds pressing against his cock until he can feel exactly how much she already wants him. “The next time you leave, I either need to come with you or you have to be away for fewer months.”

“How do you propose you come with me?”

Her hands run across his cheek before pushing his hair back off his forehead. “I simply leave my parents a note that there’s no need for me to be with them as they have dinner with diplomats and royals from different realms. I’m simply something pretty for everyone to look at. They don’t need me.”

“Ah, but you know how that is not true.”

“It is.” She shifts her hips and rubs herself against her while arching her back and letting her locks cascade in flowing waves down her back that remind him of the sea on her calmest days. “My brother is the one who is tasked with being the diplomat, with taking over it all, and I do not wish to be him for a moment.”

“You’d make a wonderful queen, my darling.”

She laughs and leans forward to finally press her lips into his. They’re as soft as always. He has never quite been able to figure out how it is possible for her lips and her skin to be as soft as silk, but he’s thankful for it. He’s thankful for the way that her mouth expertly moves over his, pulling and pushing, taking and giving, and for the way her hands thread into his hair, tugging on the strands until their noses hit each other’s cheeks. His hand finds her hair, anchoring there, while his stumped arm wraps around her back until her breasts are pressing into his chest hair.

Many a siren has tempted to lure him into their graces, but none has been so successful as Emma.

“I do not want to be queen. I’m thankful the laws couldn’t be changed to make me so. I want the freedom I cannot have behind those stone walls.”

“You are my queen, my love.”

“And you are my freedom.”

Emma shifts once more until she’s sinking down onto him, her warm walls enveloping him and pulling him into her as heat stirs deep in his belly. It’s always been like magic between the two of them, like the light magic that flows from Emma’s fingertips and emanates from deep within her, and he’s often thought that she loses control of her magic when they’re joined like this. She has never mentioned it, never discussed feeling it like this, but there is something about the way his skin prickles and his heartrate picks up that has him know that something about this is different.

Something about her is different.

Killian has never been a fan of magic. It has taken everyone he loves and his hand away from him, but he is undoubtedly a fan of Emma’s magic.

He is undoubtedly a fan of every part of her.

There is not much to her movement today. Emma is controlling the strokes and controlling how both of them feel. She always prefers this position to any other, and he cannot say that he blames her. It allows her walls to squeeze him and for her to keep the pace when that is something he would normally do. It allows for their lips to constantly stay connected, only straying in order for him to wrap his mouth around her rosy peaks or for Emma to bite down on the underside of his jaw. It allows them to be connected in every single way, and while Killian expected their coming together after so much time apart to be fast and harsh with heavy strokes and no soft affection, it is the opposite of that.

He has a particular penchant for taking her from behind and allowing himself to sink all the way inside of her with his hand firmly on the roundness of her bottom, but he will never complain about having her like this.

He will never complain about having her in any way when he was never supposed to have someone so good in his life.

“I have thought of you every day, my love.”

“So you’ve kept your promise then?”

“Aye,” he sighs, pulling his lips away from hers and pressing his forehead to hers as sweat begins to drip down her back and hit against his arm. “I have dreamed of your voice, of your taste, of the way that you look when you want me. I have dreamed of the sound of your laugh and the way that you could spend all day reading without wanting for anything. I have dreamed of nothing but you.”

“I thought of you every day, Killian.”

“Good.”

He wraps his arms around her waist and carefully shifts them until Emma is on her back and he’s caging her in. When he slips out of her, he hisses, but he easily pushes himself back in until he’s controlling his strokes and their tempo. She’s unbearably wet, and when he pushes her knee back to move even deeper inside of her, he knows that he won’t last too much longer.

Emma is too irresistible for that.

The breathlessness of her moans and the way her eyes flutter closed every time he presses inside of her nearly cause him to perish, but he presses on, wrapping his fingers around her thigh and digging his nails into her skin while his arm rubs into where they are joined. She’s always been a fan of that and a fan of the way the roughness of his skin feels, and he can’t help his own smirk.

“You are incredible, my love, my darling, my queen. I need nothing more than you and this. I need nothing more than us.”

“Killian,” Emma whines, her back arching, “please.”

If she wasn’t so breathless, he knows she would have words about his terms of endearment for her.

“Please what? Tell me.”

“Faster,” she pants, and he obliges, leaning forward and biting into her collarbone before soothing it with his tongue, moving in and out of her until she’s a quivering mess and her limbs barely have any function.

When she falls, it is to his name, a breathless whisper that is only heard by him, and Killian treasures the sound, committing it to memory and allowing himself to treasure having her in his arms. He will not leave for many fortnights now, will be seeing her as often as they are able, but every moment like this is a moment he wishes to commit to memory and to be able to mark down as easily as he marks his gold in his logs.

Her magic is everywhere, flowing in the room and surrounding them, little pinpricks of pleasure intensified until he’s falling too.

There is nothing else in the world like this.

There is no one else in the world like Emma, and he has traveled to all of the realms and lived for centuries. Time stood still for many a year, his body and face not aging, and as much as he dreads lines appearing around his eyes and the darkness of his hair fading away, he thinks growing old with Emma would make it all worth it.

If only they could.

“I love you,” Emma whispers later. They haven’t redressed, are still only covered by the cloth on his bunk, and her fingers are trailing through the matted hair on his chest and the silver chains that lie there while he reads to her from another novel he brought home for her. This one is another tale of love, but there are no extenuating circumstances. It is simply a man and a woman who love each other and are able to live their life together.

“Aye, I love you, darling.”

She nuzzles her cheek into his chest and sighs. “I told my parents I had a suitor while you were gone.”

“You jest.”

“No, no. I did. I – fuck, Killian. I’m nearly twenty-five now. We’ve been seeing each other for two years, and I do not want to be with someone else. My parents are proper people. My mother has lived her entire life as royalty, and she isn’t going to allow me to wait to marry for much more time. I have already put it off for long enough.”

“Emma, your parents will never approve of me. I know you see this side of me, but to the rest of the world, I’m a pirate. I’ve stolen and killed and caused damage in my path. I have hurt people who did not deserve that hurt.”

“You don’t do that anymore.”

“I do if it’s necessary.”

“Killian.” She moves away from him and manages to find space on the bunk to sit up and cross her arms over her chest, not bothering to cover herself with a sheet. “I am not kidding. I have told them I have a suitor. I have started the process, so I can finally stop living my life in secret. If they don’t approve of you, I can leave. I’m not the heir. I don’t have a responsibility. I can live with you, and we can go wherever we want, do whatever we want.”

“I will not ask you to leave your family for me.”

“You’re not asking me. I am telling you that this is what I want!”

He arches a brow. “And you’re sure?”

“You were away for four months. I thought through everything. I know every possibility, and as much as I am hoping for the most favorable outcome, I’m prepared for the worst. My parents will always love me. I have no doubt of that, but if they cannot accept that I will be unhappy living as the wife to a man I do not love, then I must leave. Will you take me away if it comes to that? Will you?”

Killian hesitates. There is nothing he would love more than to no longer have to meet Emma at odd times and only at certain days, but he knows deep within his heart that her parents will never accept him. He was once a lieutenant in Emma’s grandmother’s Navy, but he’s no longer that man.

Maybe to Emma, but not to the world.

He reaches up and tucks strands of her hair behind her ear. “I will do anything you ask of me as long as you are sure it is what you want. Your heart’s desire, love. That is all I want you to have.”

“My heart’s desire is you.”

“Then we shall tell your parents, and I will prepare for every outcome.”

Emma’s smile is one of the most beautiful he’s ever seen before she falls back against his chest and wraps herself around him. “You said there was a tale of a princess who fell for a pirate? How did that one end?”

“I shan’t spoil an ending.”

“Even if I ask?”

His lips softly brush against her temple. “Our ending will be better than that of the book simply because it is ours and ours alone, my love.”

#cs prompts #cs fic #cs ff #cs fanfic #captain swan fic #captain swan ff #captain swan fanfic #captain swan

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spacesuitsforemergency · 4 years ago

Text

The Rise Of Iron Maiden

Chapter 5: The Return of Iron Maiden

Word Count: 2.9k

Originally Requested by: @amateurwriterbigdreamer

Previous Chapter: Failure to Launch

Next Chapter: Whatever it Takes

A/N: hope y’all don’t mind it from Tye’s POV, it just adds to the story and develops his character. Y/N gets her character arc going too towards the end.

5 YEARS LATER

•

Tye sighed in boredom as he wandered around the halls of the Avengers Compound, his home for 8 years now. He was 21 now, legally an adult. He could’ve gotten his own place 3 years ago, but he felt he would truly be alone if he did that. You lived with your parents and younger sister in the countryside, your dad wanting to isolate you from the hero life. This meant Tye hadn’t seen you for almost two years now, his only friend left was taken from him. He knew Tony didn’t mean any harm, he just wanted his daughter safe, but it still confused him.

Tye was always confused these days. He lived with Natasha Romanoff at the Compound, the only one left that was willing to stay with him. Clint had disappeared off the face of the planet, despite not being taken in the Snap. Tye was lost without his own best friend, Jaime Reyes. Jaime and him stuck together no matter what, and Tye never knew what to do without him. He was confused, on why the world seemed to take everything away from him. His mother, his father, his grandpa, his best friends, his team, his mentors...

“...Will you find out where he's going next?” Natasha asks holographic Rhodey. Tye realized he walked into the meeting room, where Natasha was having her weekly check in with the other teams.

“Nat...” Rhodey trailed off.

“Please.” She took a shaky breath.

“...okay...” Rhodey nodded, saw Tye, then cut off his side of the connection.

Nat started to cry miserably, and Tye didn’t know whether to make his presence known or just leave. He decided on the latter, turning to walk out silently.

“Tye?”

Tye winced, feeling like he was intruding. He turned slowly, a pang of sadness stinging through him when he saw the sorrow in Natasha’s eyes.

“Nat, Uh...Sorry, I didn’t mean to just barge in-“

“It’s okay.” She chuckled, wiping her eyes. “You want some dinner?”

“Uh...no, I’m good.” Tye shook his head, seeing the half eaten PB&J on her desk. “See you’re eating healthy.”

“Oh, what’s the point of keeping up a proper diet anyways?” She laughed, despite the few tears rolling down her face.

“Good point.” He cracked a grin, which she rarely saw the young man do. “So...anything bad happening anywhere?”

“No. Everything seems under control.” Nat shook her head. “Why? You worried about something?”

“It’s nothing, mom.” Tye shook his head. When he didn’t get any response, he looked up from staring at the floor, seeing Natasha staring in surprise at him. “What?”

“You called me mom.” She said, the shock evident in her voice.

“I did? Oh...uh...sorry, I didn’t mean to it just kinda-“ he started to awkwardly walk away.

“No no no!” She stood up, clearing her throat and a smile spreading across her face. “It Uh...you think of me as a mom?”

“I mean...yeah.” Tye mumbled, embarrassed. He wasn’t used to letting his emotions or thoughts be exposed like this. “You practically raised me ever since I got...stuck here. I’ve always looked up to you.”

“That...really?” She smiled wider, tears running down her face again.

“Oh don’t cry! This is sappy enough as it is!” Tye grumbled as Natasha laughed at his reaction. She rounded the desk and pulled him into a hug, Tye stiffening at first. He eventually grew comfortable enough to hug her back, feeling safe in her arms. It reminded him of his mother’s hugs, but somehow Natasha’s were more...genuine. Loving. It was nice. Something Tye wasn’t used to.

“I’ll tell you a secret, kid.” She ruffled his hair as she pulled back. “I’ve always wanted a son, and I am so happy you’re the one.”

“Okay, that’s enough love and affection for one night, Nat.” Tye shuddered, making her laugh again.

“Don’t you mean mom?” She teased.

The mother and son (sort of) whipped around when a hologram popped up, seeing footage of what looked to be a security camera.

“Oh! Hi. Hi! Is anyone home? This is Scott Lang. We met a few years ago, at the airport? In Germany? I got really big, and I had my mask on. You wouldn't recognize me.” Scott Lang, AKA Ant Man waved at the camera.

“Is this an old message?” Tye asked.

“It’s the front gate.” Nat stared in disbelief.

“Ant Man? Ant Man, I know you know that. I need to talk to you guys.” Scott shouted.

Nat typed a few things into a control panel, and the door opened. Scott looked between the camera and the door for a moment before finally letting himself in. Scott found his way to where they were standing, in complete shock. Scott Lang was supposed to be dust right now, along with half the universe.

“Scott? Are you okay?” Tye asked the man, now nervously pacing.

“Yeah. Fine. So you do know me? Or are you just going with the name I gave you?” Scott asked.

“No uh, my friends broke into your house a few years ago. Before the Snap, remember a guy in a spider suit and another in a beetle suit?”

“Right! The Bug Squad!” Scott smiled excitedly. “That was so cool.”

“Scott, focus.”

“Right. Have you guys studied Quantum Physics?”

“Only to make conversation.” Nat said, though neither guy could tell if she was joking.

“Sorry, no.” Tye pursed his lips.

“Alright. So... five years ago, right before Thanos, I was in a place called the Quantum Realm. The Quantum Realm is like its own microscopic universe. To get in there, you have to be incredibly small. Hope, she's my...She was my...She was supposed to pull me out. And then Thanos happened, and I got stuck in there.” Scott explained.

“I’m sorry, that must’ve been a long five years.” Nat said.

“Yeah, but that's just it. It wasn't. For me, it was five hours.” Scott shook his head rapidly. Tye looked at his mom, bewildered.

“See, the rules of the Quantum Realm aren't like they are up here. Everything is unpredictable. Is that anybody's sandwich? I'm starving.” Scott asked, already shoving half of it into his mouth.

“Scott, what are you talking about?” Tye asked, crossing his arms.

“What I'm saying is, time works differently in the Quantum Realm. The only problem is right now, we don't have a way to navigate it. But what if we did? I can't stop thinking about it. What if, we could somehow control the chaos, and we could navigate it? What if there was a way to enter the Quantum Realm at a certain point in time but then exit at another point in time? Like... Like before Thanos.” Scott slowly explained, motioning wildly with his hands.

“Wait, are you talking about a time machine? Like from Back to the Future?” Tye raised his eyebrows.

“No. No, of course not. No, not a time machine. It's more like a... Yeah, a time machine. I know it's crazy. But I can't stop thinking about it. There's gotta be some way...There's gotta be...some w... it's crazy.” Scott rambled.

“Scott, I get e-mails from a raccoon, so nothing sounds crazy anymore.” Natasha scoffed.

“So who do we need to talk to about this?” Scott asked them. Nat and Tye exchanged glances again, both knowing the answer.

•

You tapped your fingers impatiently on your windowsill, looking out the window of your bedroom.

You had received a text from Tye Longshadow for the first time in months, and they were coming to your house. You were sworn to secrecy, so that your dad couldn’t prepare for the attack. You were anxious, wanting to see them so bad.

Your dad had isolated you from anything that had to do with being Iron Maiden. That included a lot of people in your life. You were mad at your dad, for taking you away from what little you had left. You missed Tye, you missed Natasha and Steve, and Rhodey and Dr. Banner. Thor and Clint, even though they weren’t really around anymore. Even Nebula and the rude raccoon. You were forbidden from putting on the Iron Maiden suit, and you didn’t know why you listened to him. You were an adult, you could make your own decisions. Plus, you’d never listened to him before. Maybe you listened this time because the guilt of not listening before the Snap dragged you down. But it also dragged you down as a person. You weren’t as happy or sarcastic anymore, you’d lost the classic Stark Charm™️.

You looked at the photos on your window sill, smiling sadly as you reminisced about what felt like your past life. One photo was you and your team after your first official Avengers permitted mission, all beat up and tired, sitting at a pizza booth. The other was of you and Peter in middle school, holding the first prize ribbon of the science fair. The last was of you and Eduardo, the love of your life. Peter had snuck a picture of you two sitting across from each other at a diner, smiling and looking into each other’s eyes. Your fingers were intertwined in the picture, and all you wanted to do was feel his hand in yours again. To hear his voice in person, not just from old videos. To smell the scent of his fancy cologne. To look into his beautiful, big brown eyes. To feel his lips on yours...

You look up when you see a black Audi pull into your driveway, and you bolt downstairs. Your mother was thankfully working in her office, so you didn’t get scolded for running in the house. You ran down the gravel pathway, passed your dad and little sister, running to your last friend standing. He let you hug him, and to your surprise he hugged you back.

“Good to see you.” You say as you pull away from Tye.

“Yeah, you too.” He nodded.

“You still wear a headband, I see.” You grin teasingly.

“You still haven’t gotten taller, I see.” He retorted.

•

“Now, we know what it sounds like...” Scott trailed off after the heroes explained their (currently) hypothetical plan to you and Tony.

“Tony, Y/N, after everything you've seen, is anything really impossible?” Steve asked. He knew you had taken up your time studying everything, following your father’s footsteps.

“Quantum fluctuation messes with the Planck Scale, which then triggers the Deutsch Proposition.” You mumble, lost in thought.

“Can we agree on that?” Tony asked his fellow Avengers. They all look at each other, clueless. “In Layman's terms, it means you're not coming home.”

“I did.” Scott shrugged as Tony handed them drinks.

“No, you accidentally survived. It's a billion to one cosmic fluke. And now you wanna pull off a...What do you call it?”

“A time heist?” Scott suggested, a goofy grin on his face.

“Yeah, a time heist. Of course, why didn't we think of this before? Oh, because it's laughable? Because it's a pipedream?” Your dad scoffed.

“The Stones are in the past. We can go back and get them.” Tye explained.

“We can snap our own fingers. We can bring everyone back.” Natasha added.

“Or screw it up worse than he already has, right?” Tony raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t believe we would.” Steve said confidentially.

“Gotta say, sometimes I miss that giddy optimism. However, high hopes won't help if there's no logical, tangible way for me to safely execute said time heist. I believe the most likely outcome would be our collective demise.” Tony ranted.

“Not if we strictly follow the rules of time travel. That means no talking to our past selves, no betting on sporting events-“ Tye listed.

“I'm gonna stop you right there, Tye. Are you seriously telling me that your plan to save the universe is based on Back To The Future?” Tony asked his ex-mentee. “God, I’m gone for a couple years and you start saying stupid shit like this?”

“...no.” Him and Scott mumbled in unison.

“Good. You had me worried there. 'Cause that'd be horse shit. That's not how quantum physics works.”

“Tony...We have to take a stand.” Natasha tried to persuade him.

“We did stand. And yet, here we are.”

“I know you got a lot on the line. You got a wife, daughters. But I lost someone very important to me. A lot of people did.” Scott said desperately. “And now, now we have a chance to bring her back. To bring everyone back. And you're telling me that won't even...”

“That's right, Scott, I won't even. I have kids.”

As if on cue, Morgan runs out onto the porch, your dad picking her up.

“Mommy told me to come and save you.” She said shyly, weary of the new faces.

“Good job. I'm saved.” Tony kisses her on the head as he picked her up, before turning back to the heroes. “I wish you'd come here to ask me something else. Anything else. Honestly, I...I missed you guys, it was...Oh, and table's set for seven.”

“Tony, I get it. And I'm happy for you, I really am. But this is a second chance.” Steve tried to reason with him.

“I got my second chance right here, Cap. I can't roll the dice again. If you don't talk shop, you can stay for lunch.” Tony said, and it stung when he didn’t point to you too. You watch him leave, ignoring his orders to come inside.

“I’m in.” You tell them.

“Won’t your dad...?” Natasha trailed off.

“He’s not in control of me.” You shook your head. “If there’s even the slightest chance this will work, I’m in.”

“It’ll definitely work if we have a Stark with us.” Scott grinned.

“Glad to have you back, Iron Maiden.” Steve pat your shoulder.

You smile, not hearing yourself be referred to by that name in such a long time. It made your heart fill with pride, and fueled your determination.

“Y/N Stark.” Tony said from the doorway.

“Don’t leave without me.” You tell them, glaring at your father as you push past him.

“Y/N, where are you going?” Your dad demanded.

“With them.” You spat as he follows you upstairs. “I’m going to try. Unlike you, I have hope.”

“It’s not that I don’t have hope. I just can’t risk any of this.” Tony insisted.

“Any of what? What kind of life is this, dad? Sure it’s great for you, but did you ever stop to look at it from my perspective?” You ask as you grab a bag from under your bed, tossing your photos from the windowsill into it.

“All I’ve ever done is protect you.” Your dad says through his teeth. “Why are you doing this? To get back at me?”

“No dad! I’m doing this because I want everyone back! This is my chance to save everyone! It’s my fault Thanos did this in the first place! If I was stronger, Eduardo would still be here! Peter! Jaime! Bucky! Wanda! The Guardians! Doctor Strange! Sam! Don’t you care about any of them?”

“Of course I care about them! But I care about my family more!”

“They’re my family!” You yell at him, the frustration that you’ve been bottling up for years finally pouring out.

“So that’s it?” Your dad scoffs and shakes his head in disappointment. “What if you screw this up? Huh? What if you make things worse. You’re willing to risk your mother’s life? Your little sisters, for your boyfriend?”

“You know what? Yes.” You snap, zipping your bag up and tossing it over your shoulder. “Not just for him. For everyone. For my life. I want my life back, and apparently that’s something you can’t give me.”

You storm out of your room and down the stairs, seeing Morgan sitting at the table, eating lunch. She grins when she sees you, looking at your bag.

“Where are you going?” She asked as you walked over and kneeled next to her seat.

“I’m gonna go see some old friends for a little bit. Think you can hold down the fort around here?” You ask her.

“Yeah.” She smiled.

“Are you sure? It’s gonna be tough without me.” You tease her. “You’re gonna have to make sure daddy does the laundry right, you know how he always mixes up the soaps. And you have to make sure to save daddy from mommy’s scolding. Think you can take it, soldier?”

“I can take it.” She nodded happily.

“Alright.” You hug her. “Love you, kiddo. See ya later.”

“Bye.” She waved at you until you shut the door, and walked down to the car with the others.

“Iron Maiden and Apache Chief, back again.” Tye fist bumped you.

“Iron Maidens back in the game!” You cheer happily.

“He’s scared.” Natasha said to Steve and Scott.

“He’s not wrong.” Steve shrugged.

“Yeah, but I mean, what are we gonna do? We need him. I mean, we managed one Stark, but we need both. No offense, Ms. Tony Starks Daughter. What, are we gonna stop?” Scott rambled nervously.

“No, I wanna do it right. We're gonna need a really big brain.” Steve shook his head.

“Bigger than his?”

#the rise of iron maiden #eduardo dorado jr x stark! reader #tye longshadow #natasha romanoff #scott lang #steve rogers #tony stark #morgan stark #pepper potts #avengers endgame #marvel #request #young justice #peter parker #spiderman #jaime reyes #blue beetle

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ograndebatata · 5 years ago

Note

Hi! I don't know if you're still taking prompts for the "Mateo's Wizard Ways" one shots (I know my request is a little late XD), but would you be willing to do one with Mateo teaching Sofia more about the amulet?

Hello.

Well… first of all… I’m really, really, really sorry that I have taken such an inordinately insane amount of time to get around to this. I wish I could have some sort of concrete explanation as to why… but… well… I won’t try to explain.

On one hand, it’s true that my life has been insane over the last year.

On the other, I confess that the answer to this prompt got a bit out of my control, in the sense that it grew much larger than I had intended. In fact, it grew so big that I decided to split it into more than one part, in an attempt at making it easier to read.

However, I still wanted to give it, and I hope you are still willing to accept it, and that you still enjoy it.

As I said, this has been split up, so this is only the first part. There will be at least one more, maybe two.

I’ll really try my best to make those take less time to come out.

I hope you enjoy this one as is, and I hope that you will enjoy the following ones as well once they’re out.

///

Credit note: Thank you to @lostbutterflyutau and @zoeology31 for their help with a small dilemma concerning a certain part of this fic. Your help has been greatly appreciated. :)

///

Mateo’s Wizard Ways

Sofia

Tales At The Fair - Part I - Encounter

At the end of the first day of the first All Kingdoms’ Fair since Elena’s release from the Amulet of Avalor…

He must be hearing things.

At least, it was what he thought as he heard his name whispered from somewhere as he walked through Castillo Park very after hours, trying not to disturb the sleeping campers while he looked for places where his help might be needed and tried to guess what was being sold in each stand so that he knew which ones would be the best to visit when they were open.

But then he heard it again, louder and closer than before.

“Mateo!”

He frowned at the sound. He swore he knew that voice, but there was no reason for the one it belonged to to be here. Was the extra work he’d been doing since Shuriki’s return driving him insane?

“Over here!” the voice repeated, more firm and forceful and yet still in the same hushed tone.

He swore his eyes doubled in size at the sound. It was her voice. He’d never forget it after what she had done for Avalor. But how could she be here? She should be at school an ocean away!

The hushed beat of someone tiptoeing through the grass edged toward him as if to challenge that thought. It sounded slightly heavier than he remembered it, but the rhythm was still familiar, as if the person approaching had grown up since he last saw them. As Mateo turned towards the sound, he saw a short figure moving away from a group of sleepless children that Armando was entertaining.

His mouth opened in a silent gasp.

“Sofia?” he whispered.

He blinked slowly and deliberately, half-thinking that the poor light and the sleep creeping up on him were making him see things. But it was the youngest princess of Enchancia alright. Although she had grown up since he last saw her, and the purple tunic and pink leggings she was wearing were different from the dress he had seen her in, her pale complexion, blue eyes and caramel hair were recognizable even under the dim starlight and the glow from the few lamps that remained lit throughout the park. But he barely had time to confirm that before she wrapped her arms around him.

“It’s great to see you!” Her tone was just as hushed as before, but the joy in her voice and her smile were no less genuine for that.

Despite his amazement, Mateo returned the hug, even as a wave of questions surged in his mind.

He knew Elena and Sofia wrote to each other. Even he and Sofia had exchanged a few letters, mostly on important dates like Navidad or each other’s birthdays or La Semana Santa. But neither had ever visited the other since, and this seemed an odd time of the year for her to do it.

“It’s great to see you too,” he told her as she stepped out of his hug. Whatever questions he had, they could wait for basic politeness at least. “But what…" he trailed off, suddenly unsure of how to ask the question without sounding rude.

“What am I doing here?” Sofia finished for him with an amused, but understanding look.

Mateo could only manage a nod. Then, as it hit him how such a question could be taken, he raised a hand in appeasement.

“Don’t get me wrong; it really is great to see you. I just thought you’d be in school at this time of year.”

“I am,” she clarified. “But the Ever Realm Academy set up a field trip to Avalor’s All Kingdoms’ Fair for a practical experience in diplomacy. Amber wanted to come, and I thought it might be fun.”

Mateo raised an eyebrow. “Your sister’s also here then?”

Sofia opened her mouth to reply, but then shut it as if she’d remembered she was about to share some kind of secret she should keep. Mateo tried to keep his own expression neutral, but his eyebrow itched to move farther up his forehead.

“Yes,” Sofia at last replied. “But she’s asleep.”

Mateo tried even harder to will his expression as it was, rather than have it turn ‘too sympathetic’. From those words alone, and the fact that Sofia had been with the group of children Armando was entertaining, he already knew that she couldn’t sleep. And he had a good idea as to why. But he kept quiet; bringing it up could make her feel even worse.

"I see,” he said, mostly to let her know that he was paying attention.

But even that seemed to give away too much, judging by Sofia’s probing look.

“Do you want to go for a walk while we catch up on things?” he offered. “Maybe it will help you be sleepier.”

Sofia only shrugged, something about the gesture suddenly making the bags under her eyes stand out.

“It’s worth a try,” she added afterwards, as if she had been afraid a mere shrug would sound too rude, but still failing to hide the lack of energy in her voice.

Mateo pushed back another sympathetic expression as he and Sofia moved to a quieter part of the park. He had seen Sofia apprehensive or scared before, but this display of sullen tiredness contrasted so much with the chipper joy he remembered from her that it was almost scary.

Not to say he blamed her. With what Elena had told him of what Sofia had gone - and to a degree, was still going - through, it was a near miracle she wasn’t any worse off. But knowing why she felt as she didn’t made seeing her like that more pleasant to see.

“How’s your family?” he asked as they got farther away from the tents, though still within sight of the guards posted throughout the park. “Is everything alright with them?”

He barely hid a wince when he saw Sofia’s sullen tiredness edging into sadness. Whatever the reason, that was an unpleasant topic. The urge to apologize reared up within him. He pushed it back down, unsure if doing so wouldn’t just throw salt on the wound.

“Yes, everything’s alright with them,” she replied. “But…”

Her voice faded, and her eyes turned downwards as if she had been about to say a swear word rather than to start some explanation. It reminded him of Elena, who even now - though much less often than in earlier days - was sometimes reluctant to share some of her burdens despite inviting everyone else to share theirs with her.

Mateo didn’t know Sofia as well as he did Elena, but he could imagine how busy she would be, now that she was at a more demanding school and still had juggle her schoolwork with all the extra duties he knew she had. Keeping her sorrows to herself would only make things worse.

He gave her the same smile he used to soothe Olivia whenever she got nervous or messed up some spell.

“It’s alright if you want to talk,” he soothed. “I know it can help.”

She looked back up at him, her eyes still with a flicker of nervousness as she held her left pinky.

“I’ll listen if you feel like sharing it,” he reassured, trying to keep his voice as gentle as possible, hoping to make it clear through his tone alone that he was giving her a choice, not a demand.

Her eyes started to flick between his face and the ground, her hands twitching as if she was trying to repress some sort of nervous tic, even as she sped up in what looked like another attempt at suppressing the same thing. Mateo did his best to both keep up and to keep his face as calm and patient as possible while Sofia decided if she should tell him or not.

After a while, she let out a breath and started to speak.

“I just feel like I barely see them anymore. Me, Amber and James all have more hours at school than at Royal Prep, and James is at a different school now, and schoolwork itself is harder. And things may be quiet, but Mom and Dad still have a kingdom to rule.”

She let out another sigh. “Amber is the only one I can actually spend time with as a rule nowadays, but even we still spend most of it studying.”

This time, Mateo did not hold back his sympathetic look.

He could relate. Since he had become Royal Wizard, he had much less time to be with his mother as well, especially now that he was so busy trying to track down Shuriki and her allies before the witch - or rather, the daemonfirma, to use the proper name for female beings of Shuriki’s kind and to not offend any of Sofia’s witch friends - finished her training with the Scepter of Night. He thanked his lucky stars that his mother had friends of her own to spend time with, just like he did (whenever he wasn’t cooped up in his workshop at least), but he still wished he could make more time to be with her.

“I’m sorry about that,” he managed to get out.

Then words seemed to die in his throat as hesitation took over. Should he add more on the topic, or should he change subjects? He could tell talking about this made Sofia sad, but like he had said himself, talking about it could be good.

And it seemed Sofia didn’t have a lot of chances to talk, and possibly even felt she was burdening her sister enough already if she hadn’t woken her up.

That settles it then. He thought.

He took a discreet breath, and, trying to sound as natural as possible, carried on, “Are things at the Ever Realm Academy going well, at least?”

Sofia pursed her lips, as if she either didn’t know how to answer, or even whether she should answer. Mateo waited for her to decide. All around them, crickets chirped soothingly, as if to let her know that even they could wait for her to be ready to speak.

“Well enough, I guess,” she eventually replied. “Most of the teachers are nice enough, most of the students also are, and most of the subjects are interesting.”

Mateo let a few moments go by before, trying his best to sound calm and reassuring rather than as worried as he was starting to feel, he echoed Sofia’s earlier word.

“But?…”

Sofia actually stopped walking at his question, as if the effort of answering it was enough that she couldn’t do it on the move. Then, she let out a tiny sigh, and looked up at him with an edge of sadness in her now slightly wider eyes. Overhead, a small cloud cast a veil over the moon.

“I miss a lot of things from Royal Prep,” she breathed. “Mostly my friends.”

Mateo managed to repress his raised eyebrow, but she either noticed the twitching in it or was afraid of how she may have sounded, because she added, “I mean, I still write to them, and I manage to see most of them once in a while, but…”

“But it’s just not the same thing?” Mateo finished, now letting all the sympathy he felt come through.

Sofia nodded, her shoulders dropping. Mateo rested a hand on her right shoulder, briefly squeezing it in sympathy. He could understand why she would feel that way. He’d never had friends his age until he got to meet Elena and got close to Gabe and Naomi, but even before that he had been able to picture how awful it was to lose someone he cared about. And he already had his moments where he missed Gabe because the now Captain of the Guard was busier now that he had new duties. He could only imagine how it would be to mostly lose touch with Elena, or Naomi, or Gabe now that he’d gotten so close to them.

“No new friends?” he eventually managed to ask.

Another moment of silence went by, as Sofia hesitated. “A few,” she managed to reply. “But the Ever Realm Academy isn’t the best place to make friends."

Strange. Mateo thought, thankfully managing to keep it from actually turning into a word.

He couldn’t talk much without ever having been to a school that only taught royals, but as far as he could understand, the Ever Realm Academy shouldn’t be that different from Royal Prep, other than the students’ ages. Could that somehow play a role in why it was more difficult making friends there? Could it be due to so many students apparently being in what Mateo knew some parents called the 'typical troubled age’? Or was it because they were already old enough that downplayed versions of some ‘royal conflicts’ that sometimes happened between adults were already starting to develop?

“And school itself isn’t the same thing either,” Sofia went on as she resumed walking, Mateo following her. Then, looking like a child who realized they’d let a swear word slip out, she turned to him. “It’s fine for the most part, really! But there’s a lot I liked about Royal Prep which they don’t have.”

After a few seconds of silence to give her time to start, Mateo asked himself, “Would you like to tell me what it is?”

Sofia kept walking as she pondered his question. At first, Mateo let the silence remain, but then it dragged on, and a frown itched to come onto his mouth. Had he pushed things too far by asking that? Or had he misinterpreted Sofia’s remark when he thought she actually wanted to talk about this?

Time kept passing by as they strolled through the park, during which Sofia kept her lips pursed in thought. From time to time, Mateo looked around to ensure that they were within sight of the guards and to check that there was no place where his immediate assistance would be needed. More than once, he caught Sofia sneaking looks at him only to look away at the last moment, as if whatever she had to say concerned him but she wasn’t sure if she should ask. He always pretended not to notice, hopefully well enough for the princess to believe the deception.

After a long moment of silence, Sofia let out another sigh and again turned to him.

“A lot of things, I guess. The teachers, for instance. It may be nostalgia talking, but I think a lot of the teachers at the Ever Realm Academy are not as good as the ones at Royal Prep.”

Mateo made no comment. At least to him, his own teachers had never been good by any measure of the imagination. They either had tried to pretend he didn’t exist or had actively avoided him like the plague, no thanks to the fact his family had been on Shuriki’s sights for years. So he wasn’t the right person to have an opinion on average teacher quality.

Now not waiting for him to reply, she went on, “I also miss some subjects or activities. For instance, we don’t have flying derbies there. All flying horses they have are for transportation services, whether for students whose kingdoms can’t afford flying horses and for any long trips the teachers need to take. Nothing else.” After pausing to take a breath, she added, “There’s no ice dancing either, or any theater. And on actual subjects, I miss enchanted painting and enchanted gardening.”

Again, Mateo kept quiet. Sofia seemed to have a lot to get off her chest, and he thought it would be easier for her to keep doing it if he didn’t interrupt her.

“At least I’m still learning magic,” she added. “And the Ever Realm Academy does have a great elective magic class.”

Despite his best efforts to prevent it, one of Mateo’s eyebrows rose inquisitively. He willed it to stop before it went too high, but it was more than enough for Sofia to give him an inquisitive look of her own, the question plain as day on her features.

“I’m glad you’re liking that,” Mateo added. “But I’ll admit I’m confused. As far as I can tell, I never got the feeling you were a huge fan of magic when you came here. Not that you ever seemed to hate it or even dislike it, but…”

He trailed off, as if suddenly robbed of the right words to use, but no more seemed to be needed.

"It’s not my really top favorite thing ever,” Sofia explained. “But I do like it, and of all the elective subjects the Ever Realm Academy had to offer, that was the only one that seemed appealing."

Interesting. Mateo thought.

He had no idea what kind of elective subjects the Ever Realm Academy had, but for Sofia not to find any of those appealing, he imagined they weren’t pleasant.

"Besides, with the kind of life I have, I never know when I’ll need it,” Sofia added as if voicing an afterthought.

The moment the sentence was out of her mouth, she immediately put her hand to it and looked at Mateo with wide eyes, her pale skin flushing red as if she’d said a swear word. Mateo again tried to pretend he didn’t notice, but this time it was too late - he knew his eyes had widened a fair bit from her sudden reaction.

Again as if she was afraid of how she must have sounded, she quickly added, “Don’t get me wrong, things are mostly calm. And I do have people who will help me with magic if I need it. Mr. Cedric will help me with anything magical if I ask him. So do his niece and sister, and his father, and my friend Lucinda and her parents as well. And my friend Desmond will share what he’s learning at the Institute of Science and Alchemy if I ask him.”

She stopped there, her gaze strangely intense as if she was trying to check how convincing her lie was. She must have found it wasn’t much, for she added in a murmur, “But still…”

“It’s alright,” Mateo told her, again with the same reassuring smile he used with Olivia whenever she was nervous. “I get it.”

To a degree, at least.

While there seemed to be plenty of truth to Sofia’s words, there also seemed to be something else to them.

But what?

If it was magic-related, why didn’t Sofia just talk to him? Was she too nervous about being straightforward and asking for it outright? And if so, why? She had never seemed like the type of child that had problems asking for help.

Given what she had said about the ‘kind of life she had’, maybe she felt she shouldn’t be asking for help for some reason.

Or maybe she felt she had been asking so much help for so long that she was starting to get ashamed of it.

Or maybe he had just gotten the wrong idea when he first met her, as all things considered, he didn’t really know her all that well.

Or maybe it was simply the fact that she was growing up - after all, she would be thirteen within months - and could be getting to that age where she didn’t want to seem so childish and wanted to solve things on her own. If Isabel was younger than Sofia (time spent frozen in a painting aside) and was like that sometimes, maybe Sofia had a bit of that streak as well.

Whatever the reason, Mateo wouldn’t force her. But he’d make sure to let her know his help would be available if she wanted it.

Hoping that doing so wasn’t a mistake, Mateo took the most subtle deep breath he could and smiled down at Sofia as he offered, “You know, if there’s anything about magic you need help with and you don’t mind asking me, maybe I can help you.” He made it a point to assume a sheepish look, and added, “I know, it’s not very likely, but no harm in trying, right?”

His tone felt forced even to his own ears, and he knew his quip was far from the most brilliant one in history, but for the first time, amusement sparkled in Sofia’s eyes, though it was immediately replaced by apprehension, as if whatever she wanted to ask was hard to bring up.

Willing his mouth to stay shut and still, Mateo forced himself to look as reassuring as possible while he waited for her to make up her mind. He didn’t know if he could help her, but whatever she wanted, he’d do his best to help her with. The only way he’d refuse was if it was something she wanted to hurt someone else or herself, but he knew her well enough to be sure she wouldn’t want those things.

Time dragged on, the chirping of the crickets suddenly sounding like a drumbeat building up the tempo.

Then, Sofia let out another sigh and asked, “Do you know any spell or potion that can make people sleep without nightmares?”

And that was all it took for his heart to drop like a block of iron.

He should have figured.

Of course Sofia would want that. After everything Elena had told him, it made far too much sense.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t change the answer he had for Sofia. It was the same he had given Elena herself when she had asked him for the same thing once she started having bad dreams over her 'big test’, as well as the same answer he had given Isabel when she had asked him for such a potion after everything she’d gone through over the last weeks.

It was an answer he didn’t like giving, but it was the only honest one he had.

“I don’t. I’m sorry.”

I can only imagine how much you’d want it. He added inwardly.

Some of that must have shown on his face, because the look Sofia gave him after he spoke was far too understanding.

“Elena told you about Vor, didn’t she?” the Enchancian princess murmured.

Mateo winced as if he had been punched in chest, self-consciousness and embarrassment suddenly coming down on him like an anchor dropped onto him. His eyes darted about as subtly as he could make them, trying to fall everywhere but on Sofia, and yet always picturing a reproachful, offended look on her face.

While it was indeed true that Elena had told him about Vor, he had never actually expected for the topic to come up in conversation with Sofia, much less for it to be brought forward in such a direct and blunt manner. After all, how did one discuss being trapped in a magical amulet with a psycho trying to torture them to death?

A sudden warmth settled on his forearm. Mateo’s eyes flicked to it, and he saw that Sofia had rested her hand there, and was still giving him an understanding look.

“It’s alright,” she told him in a comforting tone. “I told her that she could tell you anything she wanted, as long as you promised not to tell anyone else.“

Though the weight around his heart faded, Mateo could only keep staring. He knew indeed that Sofia had given Elena permission to do that before she had started sharing Sofia’s secrets. But still, he couldn’t help but feel awkward standing before Sofia now that she actually knew Elena had shared so much with him.

"I know what it’s like to have to keep secrets,” Sofia went on, her face downcast again.

This time, Mateo managed to nod. One of the things Elena had told him was how Sofia kept a lot about what she went through from her parents, so that they wouldn’t always be beside themselves with worry at the trouble she might be getting into. He couldn’t say he agreed with the idea, but he got where she was coming from. While he’d never wanted to keep the same kind of secrets from his mother, he sometimes mused on how she hadn’t gone mad from worry from everything he’d been through since becoming Royal Wizard.

"I’m so sorry you had to endure that,” he said as he brought forth another smile, putting his hand over hers. “I can’t even imagine what that would be like.”

Sofia’s composure shattered like a frail crystal hit by a boulder.

Then, before Mateo could even kick himself for saying the worst possible thing, she flew into him and buried her face in his chest.

“It was horrible!“ she cried, her body shaking as she wrapped her arms around him like a vise and shed her tears into his robe. "It was dark… And the Amulet was scary… And there was nowhere to run… And she kept hitting me… And it hurt so much…”

Any further words died off in her throat, her sobs suddenly doubling in volume, as loud as church bells in the quiet night. His heart leaping, Mateo looked around, as if the whole campsite had suddenly woken up and half of them were shouting complaints at Sofia.

Things weren’t quite that bad yet, but all the guards Mateo had made sure to remain within sight of were already looking at them, and he thought he could see a few shifting forms inside the closest tents. He had to do something soon, otherwise Sofia would have yet another woe on her list.

His eyes narrowing into a focused look, Mateo drew his tamborita.

“Calmatude!” he whispered forcefully as he smacked the drum before swishing it in a counter-clockwise circle around them both, a golden-orange line of Maruvian symbols following in its wake.

Once the drum got back to its starting point, the line of symbols turned into a loop which then expanded into a sphere that ballooned around them both in a radius of about four steps, faintly glowing through the night and casting a goldenrod hue through the area for about ten seconds. Mateo kept the tamborita raised as he checked the result, just in case he had to do it again, but as it was supposed to, the invisible bubble seemingly faded into nothingness, though its presence could still be sensed by him and anyone who knew what to feel for.

Relieved that the spell had worked, Mateo put his tamborita back into its holster and hugged Sofia, trying to convey through that gesture that she was free to keep crying.

And she would be. For at least the next hour, no sound either of them made would come out of the sound muffling spell Mateo had made, while the two of them would still be able to hear any sound coming in from the outside and be able to react to it. And as they were still in sight of the guards, they were also in a good position to be alerted to visual signs of danger.

Fortunately, it seemed he had done it on time. The shifting forms inside the closest tents seemed to have settled down, and while the guards he could see looked surprised at the sudden silencing of Sofia’s sobs, neither came to ask questions.

That was a relief. Sofia was already dealing with enough without adding that to the mix.

Thankful to have that concern out of the way, Mateo kept hugging Sofia as she let out her burdens.

Eventually, her sobs faded into hiccups, and then into silence, as Sofia pulled back from his chest and looked up at him, her eyes red and her face streaked with the remains of her tears.

“Are you feeling better?” Mateo asked.

After a sniffle, Sofia managed to give him a small smile.

“A bit,” she replied. “Thank you. I’m sorry about this, but…”

“It’s alright,” Mateo interjected with a small smile of his own. “We all need a good cry sometimes. And I know we haven’t seen each other in a long while, but we’re still friends. I’m glad to help you whenever you need.”

Sofia gave him a slightly bigger smile at those words, but then it shifted into a startled, even scared look, as if she’d just had a sudden thought of a very unpleasant sort. Mateo’s heart leapt again as he wondered what it could be, but it settled down the next instant as he saw her looking around, as if she had suddenly gotten afraid a whole crowd was staring at her.

Trying to be as comforting as possible, he rested a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I put up a sound muffling spell around us. Until it fades, nothing farther than two or three feet from us will hear anything we say.��

Sofia turned to him at his reply, her shoulders deflating from relief. But at the same time, her face scrunched up in puzzlement.

“Then why do I still hear the crickets?”

“It’s only one way,” Mateo explained. “We hear sounds from the outside, but no one outside hears us.” Realizing that Sofia might not be entirely comfortable with the idea, he added, “But I’ll let it down if you’d rather I did so.”

Sofia waved the suggestion away.

“It can stay,” she said, her voice a heavy, tired sigh. “For all I know, I’ll need it again.”

Mateo forced back a grimace at the remark, as if the words had torn a chunk of flesh from of him. Something about the matter-of-fact way she said it… he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it just struck him as wrong that someone as young as Sofia had already gone through so much. He knew she was capable and brave, but she was still young. And the kind of ordeals she had gone through were enough to affect even many adults. It was a wonder Vor was the only source of her nightmares.

Hopefully not a too frequent one. Mateo couldn’t help but think.

The inner remark bringing borth a sudden doubt, Mateo stepped forward and rested a hand on her shoulder again before he could stop himself.

“How often do you have that nightmare?” he asked.

Sofia rubbed a hand across her face, wiping off the tear streaks smattering her cheeks.

“Not often. At first, I had it every night. After about a week, it started becoming rarer, and before tonight, I hadn’t had it in months. But tonight, for some reason…”

Mateo nodded. He didn’t need more details. Nightmares could be weird. Even now, eighteen years after it happened, his mother still had nightmares about his father’s death for no apparent reason. Inner demons seldom warned before striking.

“Now I know what it was like for Elena,” Sofia went on. “To be stuck in a place the size of a palace bedroom, with only copies of your reflection to keep you company, not seeing anything outside the amulet beyond what’s closest to it, being unable to do anything but wander around and hope someone will get you out…"

She left the sentence hang there, her eyes wide in fear at the thought. But even as Mateo felt his sympathy going out to her, he couldn’t help a frown of puzzlement at her words. The idea was nothing short of terrifying for sure, but for lack of a better description, something about what she said didn’t make sense.

“And I still had Prisma as company, and I spent less than two hours in there. It must have been a thousand times worse to be trapped there, all alone, for forty-one years.”

The same mix between sympathy and puzzlement remained on his features. As much as he didn’t want to downplay what Sofia went through, and as horrible as what she mentioned seemed, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that her ordeal didn’t sound like Elena’s at all, and not only because Sofia hadn’t been alone inside the amulet.

“What’s the matter?” the princess interjected, a puzzled look back on her features.

Mateo held back a wince. Of course she would - again - notice the change in his expression and have questions about it. When would he learn to keep an expressionless face?

A bit late to complain, don’t you think? A voice chided in the back of his mind.

Yes. It was too late for that. Now the only thing he could do was to see if Sofia’s question was one he could answer.

“Did Elena ever get to tell you what being inside the Amulet was like in her letters?”

He hoped she had. If she hadn’t, the only way for Mateo to explain the matter would be if he told Sofia himself, and he wouldn’t be the one spilling Elena’s secrets. As fond as he was of Sofia, he wouldn’t betray Elena’s trust.

“Yes. Why?”

Some of his tension ebbing away from relief at being able to answer, Mateo explained, “Because what you’re describing about being inside the amulet doesn’t sound like what Elena went through.”

Sofia frowned at his words, her eyes clouded over in thoughtfulness.

“Now that you mention it, I had the same feeling. What I heard from Elena about being inside the Amulet wasn’t like what happened to me.” Her frown deepened, her eyes clouding over as she seemingly thought about something. “Why do you think that was?”

Mateo pondered her question, rifling through everything he knew on the Amulet of Avalor, and all his theories on it based on what he could only imagine still had to be discovered.

“If I had to guess, it has to do with the way the Amulet was used in each situation,” he settled on. “With Elena, it acted on its own initiative, and it wanted to protect her. With Vor, it was under your command, and it wanted to punish her because that’s what you wanted. But unfortunately, you were dragged along after the punishment started, so to speak, and after the request was made the Amulet wasn’t able to modify the terms of your wish on its own.”

Sofia’s frown faded slightly at his response, but some of it remained. He could only guess his answer had caused her to have even more questions.

“What exactly are the limitations of the Amulet’s initiative?” she asked, suddenly shooting questions at him. “And how could it even have any kind of initiative in the first place? Does it have an actual person inside it other than Elena? Is the amulet actually sentient? Does it have feelings?”

More tension left him at having managed to find another subject to talk about - even if it was a bit too related to Sofia’s nightmare to be ideal.

“You ask very complex questions. Magic objects can be at many different levels when it comes to sentience and autonomous action.”

Reading more questions in the way Sofia tilted her head and the way her eyebrows knit together, Mateo went on, “For instance, my tamborita is pretty much just an object. It needs me to tap it, and needs me to channel my magic into it when I cast a spell. While it does have inherent magic of its own, it’s still little more than a piece of leather and wood lying about, or worse, a peril to whoever tries to wield it without knowing how to.” He took a breath to gather himself. “But on the other end of the spectrum, you have objects like Aladdin’s magic carpet friend, who was - and may still be, if he’s still around somewhere - an entity all his own. He had a personality, he had feelings, he was self-aware, he could think so well that he would often win against Aladdin’s genie friend by a landslide when they played a game…”

Some sources suggest he could even feel pain. Mateo added inwardly, remembering what he’d read about some of Aladdin’s adventures and the reactions from the Carpet described in them.

As if his point had made her think of something, Sofia chuckled.

“I figured. Given the trouble Amber and I had with a carpet once, they’d have to be that way.”

Mateo nodded with a chuckle of his own, remembering the story he’d heard about the adventure Amber and Sofia had had with a wild carpet in Tangu.

Her face turning serious again, Sofia asked, “So, where does the Amulet lie exactly?” Sofia asked, her eyes lightning up in interest.

“I’m not sure,” Mateo replied. “The Amulet’s story is very long, and there are quite a few holes in it, including a very big one between the time the Maruvian civilization fell and the time the Kingdom of Avalor was born. And for most of that time, very few wizards had access to the Amulet, and none of those that did could properly study it. When you add to it that the Amulet of Avalor is like no other jewel that the Maruvians made… there just is a lot of room for mystery.”

His self-professed ignorance didn’t seem to deter Sofia. If anything, the interest in her eyes intensified even further, and her legs shook as if she had been about to take a step forward in interest but changed her mind at the last instant.

Holding back a smile as he realized the chance he had, Mateo offered, “Of course, I can still tell you what I know about the Amulet, but you might want to sit down. Even the little I know makes for a very long story.”

It only took moments after he was done talking for Sofia to sit down, the motion careful and poised and reminding him in a bit of an uncomfortable way of the times he had seen Elena interacting with diplomatic visitors she wasn’t particularly fond of. But the curious and eager glint in her eyes conveyed her true feelings well enough.

Again holding back a smile, Mateo sat down cross-legged himself, took a deep breath to gather his thoughts, and started speaking.

“Elena might have told you in one of her letters that her story doesn’t have one begininng; it has two.” Upon Sofia’s nod of confirmation, he went on, “Well, it just happens that the same can be said about the Amulet of Avalor itself. Its actual beginning was millenia ago, when one or more Maruvian wizards first created it, using secret magical techniques known only to them. But its beginning as the Amulet of Avalor under that actual name is more recent, from the days Avalor was first born as a kingdom.”

Pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts and his knowledge, Mateo added, “I don’t know much about the first beginning of the Amulet’s story, but I can tell you a fairly complete version of story of its second beginning.”

He hoped Sofia wouldn’t see through his half-truth. While he knew much less about the origins of the Amulet than about how it had become the Amulet of Avalor, he could tell Sofia the basics of that story as well if she wanted him to. But he hoped she didn’t want it. That version of the story was not only a bit sad for when his idea was to cheer her up, but parts of it were likely to give Sofia more nightmares.

To his relief, Sofia didn’t seem to notice anything suspicious. Her eyes remained just as eager as before, and she was even leaning a bit closer to him in anticipation.

This time not holding back his smile, Mateo went on. “And to tell you the story of how both the Amulet of Avalor and the actual kingdom came to be, I need to go back in time, to over three hundred years ago, all the way in the kingdom of Galdiz…”

He drew on his best deep and mystical tone as he let the sentence trail off, hoping for an improved storytelling effect. It was hard to say if he succeeded or not, but he noticed that if nothing else, Sofia’s eyes lit up at the reference to Galdiz, possibly because her mother had been born there.

Inwardly crossing his fingers, Mateo made a silent request for the right storytelling words, and then, after taking the most disguised deep breath he could, continued his tale.

#elena of avalor #sofia the first #fanfiction #mateo's wizard ways #prompt response #I'm really sorry it took so long #I hope you like it

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flyingthehedge · 6 years ago

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Hedge Riding Series: Hedge Riding Etiquette: Do's and Don't's of Interacting with Spirits

Once your mind is ready to travel and your bags are packed, you are set to ride! Or are you? Not quite! There are a couple of things I need to get through in regards to etiquette and safety, then I promise you will be on your merry way to the Otherworld.

When you travel to the Otherworld, there are a number of spirits, angels, ancestors, and other other-worldly beings you will encounter, and as with every situation, there is proper etiquette to be taken when interacting with these spirits and beings. Here is a complete list of the do's and don't's of interacting with spirits.

Don't's

Don't consume excessive amounts of alcohol prior to communication. I considered adding "don't use drugs" to the list as well, but because many legal plants help induce an altered state of consciousness, I decided to leave it off the list. Alcohol, however, is a depressant, thus slowing your reaction time and thought process, making focusing on the journey difficult. If you are able to successfully travel while completely smashed, you leave yourself open to spirit and energy influences that can bring you more harm than good. A good rule of thumb is to only travel with a clear mind. This ensures your safety.

Don't hedge ride when you are ill, anxious, depressed, or otherwise mentally and/or physically unwell. Like excessive alcohol consumption, traveling while your body and mind are unwell leaves you susceptible to unwanted entities and energies which can cause you to become sicker.

Don't take your animal and spiritual guides for granted. Your animal and spiritual guides, once you meet them, will bend over backward for you. That does not mean, however, that you can use them and take their power and wisdom for granted. If you mistreat your guides they will leave you. They are not your slaves, so do not treat them as such. In fact, no being you meet in the Otherworld HAS to help you, even if you ask nicely. Just like you can refuse to help someone, they can too. Respect their wishes and feelings as you would anyone else.

Don't speak first when meeting light beings, e.g. deities, angels, and other archetypes, in the Upper Realms. Many of these spirits and beings are significantly older than we are and follow ancient etiquette rules that "child" do not speak to their "elders" unless spoken to. Acknowledge their presence, but wait for them to speak.

Don't be afraid. While there are beings that can hurt you, especially in the Middle Realms, being fearful increases your risk. You know the saying, "Animals can smell your fear?" Spirits can too. Fear is a magnet. Furthermore, fear clouds your mind. It turns us into sniveling fools, which is the last thing you want to be while traveling in the Otherworld. Stay calm and focused, and you should have no issues.

Don't pry or continue to question once you have received an answer. If a spirit gives you an answer to a question, thank them for the answer and move along, even if you don't think they answered your question. More than likely they did; you have to figure out what it means.

Don't be rude or disrespectful. This is a given, I hope. Treat every spirit you meet with respect. Once you establish a relationship with your animal and spiritual guides, it will become more obvious what you can and cannot say and do with them, just as you build a relationship with your friends. Rocar, my raven guide, is very sarcastic, temperamental, and condescending. Because I have built a relationship with him, I can treat him the same way he treats me. It's our way of showing the other we love them. I cannot, however, do the same with my fox guide, Meka. She is much more formal and full of grace.

Do's

Do set a purpose for your journey. Why are you traveling? Do you have a specific question in mind?

Do protect yourself. Prior to riding, make sure you have taken the proper precautions to keep yourself safe. Put up wards, cast a circle if you want, have your hedge riding sachet, or whatever else you feel you need to keep safe. You don't want to bring anything back with you!

Do ask questions, but respectfully. The whole purpose of hedge riding is to seek guidance, wisdom, and healing. This means you need to ask questions of the spirits you meet there.

Do greet your guides at the beginning of each journey. The very first beings you see in the Otherworld should be your animal guides. Greet them when you arrive. They came because you called.

Do say goodbye. When you are ready to leave, tell your guides goodbye. It's the polite thing to do!

Do say thank you. Sometimes you will hear that you shouldn't thank certain spirits or beings in the Otherworld. I have found that it is safer to give a respectful thank you and move on. Do not be profuse in your thanks; many of them don't like to be fawned over but do appreciate acknowledgment for what they have given you. Sometimes your thank you can be a smile or a nod.

Do ask your animals guides if you can ride them before you do. I doubt you want someone jumping on your back and yelling "giddy up!" Your animal guides want the same respect. There will come a point in your relationship where you no longer have to ask, but until then, make sure you have permission first.

Do trust your gut. If you get a bad feeling about something, trust your gut; it isn't lying. Sometimes negative spirits will present themselves as beautiful, friendly beings and after a while, something will seem off. Pay close attention and will any negative spirits away by telling them to go away.

Do close the door when you are done. Let everyone know you are done riding and close the door you created between our world and the Otherworld. This ensures the uninvited do not come back with you and helps cut the cord between you and the Otherworld, making it easier to come back.

Do ground and center before and after riding. Grounding and centering prior to riding puts you in the correct mindset while doing so afterward brings you back fully to our reality.

Do write everything down. When you are all done, make sure you record your ride. There are many messages you likely received that will need interpreting. Writing it down helps you remember important details and allows you to revisit the messages regularly.

Do practice. Hedge riding and communicating with spirits is NOT easy. It takes time, energy, and practice. You may feel physically drained after the first couple of rides. That's normal. Once your mind and body get used to riding, those feelings should go away. The first couple of rides you may not do much. Sometimes it take multiple rides to even access the Otherworld. However, once you enter for the first time, it should be easy for then on out.

Most of these should be common sense, but there is no way I would send you out on your own without stating the obvious because while I may think they are obvious, some of you may not think so. In the next post, I will discuss hedge riding safety in more detail to ensure all of you are safe prior to riding. I have already touched on some of this in my preparation post but would like to give you some specifics as well. We are almost ready to ride!

Interest in the rest of the series? Make sure to keep an eye out for upcoming posts!

Hedge Riding Series

What is Hedge Riding?

Realms of the Otherworld

Focusing the Mind: Getting Ready to Ride

Preparation + Hedge Riding Sachet

Hedge Riding Etiquette: Do's and Don't's of Interacting with Spirits

Hedge Riding Safety Tips: Staying Safe Outside Our Realm

How to Hedge Ride + Flying Ointments

Seeking Your Animal Guides + My Animal Guides

Developing a Relationship With Your Spirit Companions

After You Hedge Ride: Coming Back to Earth

My Hedge Riding Experiences

Looking for more information on hedge witches? Check out my posts on the topic:

What is a Hedgewitch?

Hedgewitch vs Kitchen Witch

Meditation, Pathwalking, and Hedge Riding: Making Sense of It All

#hedge riding #hedgeriding #hedgewitch #hedge witch #hedgewitchery #hedgecraft #spirit communication #spirits #pagan #witch #wicca #wiccan #witches of tumblr

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dfroza · 4 years ago

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A wedding invitation

yet not all were open to respond. and not all those who did respond were allowed to stay.

and why? what is the “proper” attire for such an event?

it is the pure clothing of humility and grace, the grace of becoming known as a True daughter or a son of God who is Light and Love itself. and this is only seen clearly in the True illumination of the Son.

the single path (the narrow road) that leads the heart (the eternal spirit) to be “Home”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures is from the book of Matthew with chapter 22:

[Parable of the Wedding Feast]

As was his custom, Jesus continued to teach the people by using allegories. He illustrated the reality of heaven’s kingdom realm by saying, “There once was a king who arranged an extravagant wedding feast for his son. On the day the festivities were set to begin, he sent his servants to summon all the invited guests, but they chose not to come. So the king sent even more servants to inform the invited guests, saying, ‘Come, for the sumptuous feast is now ready! The oxen and fattened cattle have been killed and everything is prepared, so come! Come to the wedding feast for my son and his bride!’

“But the invited guests were not impressed. One was preoccupied with his business; another went off to his farming enterprise. And the rest seized the king’s messengers and shamefully mistreated them, and even killed them. This infuriated the king! So he sent his soldiers to execute those murderers and had their city burned to the ground.

“Then the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, yet those who had been invited to attend didn’t deserve the honor. Now I want you to go into the streets and alleyways and invite anyone and everyone you find to come and enjoy the wedding feast in honor of my son.’

“So the servants went out into the city streets and invited everyone to come to the wedding feast, good and bad alike, until the banquet hall was crammed with people! Now, when the king entered the banquet hall, he looked with glee over all his guests. But then he noticed a guest who was not wearing the wedding robe provided for him. So he said, ‘My friend, how is it that you’re here and you’re not wearing your wedding garment?’ But the man was speechless.

“Then the king turned to his servants and said, ‘Tie him up and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be great sorrow, with weeping and grinding of teeth.’ For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.”

[The Pharisees Try to Entrap Jesus]

Then the Pharisees came together to make a plan to entrap Jesus with his own words. So they sent some of their disciples together with some staunch supporters of Herod. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, we know that you’re an honest man of integrity and you teach us the truth of God’s ways. We can clearly see that you’re not one who speaks only to win the people’s favor, because you speak the truth without regard to the consequences. So tell us, then, what you think. Is it proper for us Jews to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Jesus knew the malice that was hidden behind their cunning ploy and said, “Why are you testing me, you imposters who think you have all the answers? Show me one of the Roman coins.” So they brought him a silver coin used to pay the tax. “Now, tell me, whose head is on this coin and whose inscription is stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Jesus said, “Precisely, for the coin bears the image of the emperor Caesar. Well, then, you should pay the emperor what is due to the emperor. But because you bear the image of God, give back to God all that belongs to him.”

The imposters were baffled in the presence of all the people and were unable to trap Jesus with his words. So they left, stunned by Jesus’ words.

[Marriage and the Resurrection]

Some of the Sadducees, a religious group that denied there was a resurrection of the dead, came to ask Jesus this question: “Teacher, the law of Moses teaches that if a man dies before he has children, his brother should marry the widow and raise up children for his brother’s family line. Now, there was a family with seven brothers. The oldest got married but soon died, leaving his widow for his brother. The second brother married and also died, and the third also. This was repeated down to the seventh brother, when finally the woman also died. So here’s our dilemma: Which of the seven brothers will be the woman’s husband when she’s resurrected from the dead, since they all were once married to her?”

Jesus answered them, “You are deluded, because your hearts are not filled with the revelation of the Scriptures or the power of God. For after the resurrection, men and women will not marry, just like the angels of heaven don’t marry. Haven’t you read what God said: ‘I am the Living God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

When the crowds heard this they were dazed, stunned over such wisdom!

[The Greatest Commandment]

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they called a meeting to discuss how to trap Jesus. Then one of them, a religious scholar, posed this question to test him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.’ Contained within these commandments to love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.”

[Jesus, Son of David—Lord of David]

While all the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus took the opportunity to pose a question of his own: “What do you think about the Anointed One? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,” they replied.

Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, could call his son the Lord? For didn’t he say:

The Lord Jehovah said to my Lord,

‘Sit near me in the place of authority

until I subdue all your enemies under Your feet’?

“So how could David call his own son ‘the Lord Jehovah’?”

No one could come up with an answer. And from that day on none of the Pharisees had the courage to question Jesus any longer.

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 22 (The Passion Translation)

A set of posts to accompany Today’s reading by John Parsons:

There is no fear in God's compassionate love, and therefore over and over the Spirit of God says, al tira' - "don't be afraid..." When we are afraid, we are believing the lie there is something beyond God's control or reach, and therefore God is "not enough"... In times of testing you must remind yourself of what is real. God formed you in your mother's womb, breathed into you nishmat chayim, the breath of life, and numbers all your days... Every breath you take, every heartbeat in your chest is ordained from heaven, and indeed, there is not a moment of your life apart from God's sovereign and sustaining grace. So what, then, are you afraid of? Dying? Judgment in the world to come? Being left unloved, bereft of home, abandoned, consigned to outer darkness? King David said, "If I make my bed in Hell, behold, you are there" (Psalm 139:8). Look, the LORD God is not only present in your "happy moments," when you feel "put together" and respectable, but he is present in your desperate moments, in your hunger, your thirst, and in your secrets. May we never lose sight of God's love, especially in times of distress and trouble, since we trust that he is always working all things together for our ultimate good (Rom. 8:28).

The Name of the LORD (יהוה) means “Presence” and “Love” (Exod. 3:14; 34:6-7). Yeshua said, “I go to prepare a place for you,” which means that his presence and love are waiting for you in whatever lies ahead (Rom. 8:35-39). To worry is “practicing the absence” of God instead of practicing His Presence... Trust the word of the Holy Spirit: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for healing peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). The Word always speaks hope.

Take comfort that your Heavenly Father sees when the sparrow falls; he arrays the flower in its hidden valley; and he calls each star by name. More importantly, the Lord sees you and knows your struggle with fear. Come to him with your needy heart and trust him to deliver you from the burdens of your soul (Matt. 11:28). Shalom means being free from fear.

This is a word for the exiles of every age: Be not afraid - al-tira' – not of man, nor of war, nor of tribulation, nor even of death itself (Rom. 8:35-39). If God be for us, who can be against us? Indeed, Yeshua came to die to destroy the power of death "and to release all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery" (Heb. 2:14-15). The resurrection of the Messiah is the focal point of history - not the "dust of death." Death does not have the final word. Indeed, because Yeshua is alive, we also shall live (John 14:19). May your chesed, O LORD, be upon us, as we wait for You (Psalm 33:22). [Hebrew for Christians]

7.6.20 • Facebook

As I’ve discussed elsewhere on the site over the years, the climax of the revelation of the Torah at Sinai was not the giving of the Ten Commandments (עשרת הדיברות) to Israel but was instead the vision of the Altar of the sanctuary (מזבח המשכן)... However -- as our Torah portion this week (i.e., Pinchas) makes clear -- the central sacrifice upon this altar was the daily sacrifice (i.e., korban tamid: קרבן תמיד) of a defect-free male lamb with unleavened bread and wine. The LORD calls this "my offering" (קרבני) and "my bread" (לחמי) [Num. 28:1-8]. In other words, the service and ministry of the Mishkan (i.e., Tabernacle) constantly foretold the coming of the great Lamb of God (שה האלהים) who would be offered upon the altar of the cross to secure our eternal redemption (John 1:29; Heb. 9:11-12).

The sacrifice of the lamb represents “God’s food,” a pleasing aroma (ריח ניחחי), for it most satisfied the hunger of God's heart (Eph. 5:2). Indeed, Yeshua's offering upon the cross represents God's hunger for our atonement, our healing from the sickness of death, since it restored what was lost to Him through sin, namely, communion with his children. God could never be satisfied until He was able to let truth and love meet (Psalm 85:10). [Hebrew for Christians]

7.6.20 • Facebook

Sometimes we say that we "hunger for God," but it is vital to remember that it is God who first hungers for us. God desires our love and fellowship. He comes to seek fruit among the trees - but does He find any? He walks in the cool of the day, calling out to us, but are we attuned to hear His voice? Do we accept the invitation to be in His Presence? When God “knocks on the door of your heart” to commune with you, what “food” will you be serving? (Rev. 3:20). Every day we are given an opportunity to “feed God” through expressing faith, hope, and love. Ultimately it is our obedience to the truth is what “feeds” Him: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22). [Hebrew for Christians]

7.6.20 • Facebook

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is Deuteronomy 9 where Moses goes over the History lessons of the people wandering about in the wilderness and preparing them to take possession of the land that would be Israel and the sacred ground of Jerusalem:

Moses: Listen to me, Israel! Today you’re going to cross the Jordan and enter the land you’ll take away from nations that are bigger and stronger than you. They live in huge cities that have defense walls as high as the sky. They’re big and tall, giants descended from the Anakim. You know all about them from the 12 spies I sent into the land—you’ve heard the saying, “Who can ever fight with the descendants of Anak?” So I want you to know today that it will be the Eternal your God who will go across the Jordan ahead of you. A blazing fire, He’ll destroy those nations. He’ll subdue them so you can destroy them quickly and take their place, as He has promised you will. When the Eternal your God has driven them out ahead of you, then don’t begin to believe He gave you this land because you’re so good and righteous! It’s just the opposite; He is giving you their land because those other nations are so bad! It’s not because you’ve conducted yourselves so well or because you have such pure hearts that you’re going to take the land; the Eternal your God is driving out those other nations ahead of you because they’re so wicked. He’s keeping His word, the promise He made to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I’ll say it again: the Eternal One your God isn’t giving you this good land because you’re so good. You’re stubborn, obstinate people. Remember—don’t forget—how you kept infuriating Him in the wilderness. From the day you came out of Egypt until the day you arrived here, you’ve been rebelling against Him.

Even at Horeb, you infuriated Him. The Eternal got so angry with you He was ready to destroy you! When I went up the mountain to receive the stone tablets—the tablets of the covenant He made with you—I stayed on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. I didn’t eat or drink anything all that time, preparing myself to receive these holy words. At the end of those 40 days and nights, the Eternal gave me those two stone tablets of the covenant. On them He’d engraved with His own finger everything He told you on the day you gathered at the mountain, when He spoke to you from inside the fire. The Eternal told me, “Get up, and go back down the mountain as fast as you can! While you’ve been up here surrounded by My holiness, the people you led out of Egypt have become corrupt! How quickly they’ve left the path I commanded them to stay on. They’ve melted gold and poured it into a mold and made themselves an idol! I’ve seen how stubborn and obstinate these people are. Don’t try to stop Me—I’m going to destroy them! I’ll wipe out every last trace of them under the sky, and I’ll make a bigger and stronger nation out of just you.”

The mountain was still blazing with fire as I hurried back down it, carrying the two covenant tablets in my hands. I saw with my own eyes how you had sinned against the Eternal, your True God: you’d cast an idol in the shape of a young bull!

Moses: How quickly you left the path the Eternal commanded you to stay on. Right before your eyes I took the two tablets, hurled them onto the ground, and smashed them to pieces. I went back up the mountain, and for another 40 days and nights I prostrated myself before Him, lying face down on the ground in grief and petition, not eating or drinking anything as before. You had sinned so seriously—you did what the Eternal had just told you was wrong, and this made Him furious! I was afraid He was so violently angry with you that He’d destroy you, as He said He would. But one more time, the Eternal One listened to me, and He spared you. I had to pray particularly for Aaron because the Eternal was furious with him for making the idol—He would have killed my brother! I took the calf idol you made, that embodiment of your sin, and I burned it up. Then I crushed what was left, ground it into tiny pieces until it was as fine as dust, and threw the dust into the riverbed that rushes down the mountain.

You and your parents were always making the Eternal furious! At Taberah, you whined and complained; at Massah, you were sure the Lord was going to let you die of thirst; at Kibroth-hattaavah, you said you were sick of the food He provided! At Kadesh-barnea, when you finally reached the promised land, the Eternal sent you in: “Go and take possession of the land—I’ve given it to you!” But you defied this direct order from the Eternal, your True God! You didn’t trust Him, and you didn’t listen to His voice. You’ve been rebelling against Him from the day I met you!

That’s why, at Horeb, I lay face down before the Eternal for 40 days and nights, praying for you: He said He was going to destroy you, and I knew He had every reason to! I prayed to Him, “Eternal Lord, please don’t destroy Your people! They’re Your own possession: You liberated them from another master—You brought them out of Egypt with overwhelming power. Remember Your loyal servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; please forget about how stubborn and wicked and sinful these people are. Don’t let their actions spoil Your greater plan. Otherwise, the people back in the land You brought us out of will be saying, “The Eternal couldn’t really bring them into that land He promised them. He actually hated those people, and He brought them out into the desert in order to kill them off.” Remember they are Your people, Your own possession, the ones You brought out of Egypt Yourself with such overwhelming power!

The Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 9 (The Voice)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, july 7 of 2020 with a paired chapter from each Testament along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs

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dfroza · 3 years ago

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if we don’t know truth then we cannot be free.

we simply must find rebirth and its eternal hope that refines the heart into the purest gold.

(inside, Anew)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 8th chapter of the book of Acts:

Now, Saul agreed to be an accomplice to Stephen’s stoning and participated in his execution. From that day on, a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem began. All the believers scattered into the countryside of Judea and among the Samaritans, except the apostles who remained behind in Jerusalem. God-fearing men gave Stephen a proper burial and mourned greatly over his death.

Then Saul mercilessly persecuted the church of God, going from house to house into the homes of believers to arrest both men and women and drag them off to prison.

Although the believers were scattered by persecution, they preached the wonderful news of the word of God wherever they went. Philip traveled to a Samaritan city and preached to them the wonderful news of the Anointed One. The crowds were eager to receive Philip’s message and were persuaded by the many miracles and wonders he performed. Many demon-possessed people were set free and delivered as evil spirits came out of them with loud screams and shrieks, and many who were lame and paralyzed were also healed. This resulted in an uncontainable joy filling the city!

Now, there was a man who lived there who was steeped in sorcery. For some time he had astounded the people of Samaria with his magic, boasting to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest among them, was dazzled by his sorcery, saying, “This man is the greatest wizard of all! The divine power of God walks among us!” For many years everyone was in awe of him because of his astonishing displays of the magic arts.

But as Philip preached the wonderful news of God’s kingdom realm, and the name of Jesus the Anointed One, many believed his message and were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon believed and was baptized! Wherever Philip went, Simon was right by his side, astounded by all the miracles, signs, and enormous displays of power that he witnessed.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God’s message of life, they sent Peter and John to pray over them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. For they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and were yet to have the Holy Spirit fall upon them. As soon as Peter and John arrived, they laid their hands on the Samaritan believers, one after another, and the Holy Spirit fell and filled each one of them!

When Simon saw how the Holy Spirit was released through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he approached them and offered them money, saying, “I want this power too. I’m willing to pay you for the anointing that you have, so that I also can lay my hands on everyone to receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter rebuked him and said, “Your money will go with you to destruction! How could you even think that you could purchase God’s supernatural gift with money? You will never have this gift or take part in this ministry, for your heart is not right with God. Repent this moment for allowing such wickedness to fill you. Plead with the Lord that perhaps he would forgive you the treachery of your heart. For I discern that jealous envy has poisoned you and binds you as a captive to sin.”

Simon begged, “Peter, please pray to God for me. Plead with him so that nothing you just said over me may come to pass!”

After Peter and John had testified and taught the word of God in that city, they returned to Jerusalem, stopping at many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the hope of the gospel.

Then the Lord’s angel said to Philip, “Now go south from Jerusalem on the desert road to Gaza.” He left immediately on his assignment.

Along the way he encountered an Ethiopian who believed in the God of the Jews, who was the minister of finance for Candace, queen of Ethiopia. He was on his way home from worshiping God in Jerusalem. As he rode along in his chariot, he was reading from the scroll of Isaiah.

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go and walk alongside the chariot.”

So Philip ran to catch up. As he drew closer he overheard the man reading from the scroll of Isaiah the prophet. Philip asked him, “Sir, do you understand what you’re reading?”

The man answered, “How can I possibly make sense of this without someone explaining it to me?” So he invited Philip up into his chariot to sit with him.

The portion from Isaiah he was reading was this:

He was led away to the slaughter

like a lamb to be offered.

He was like a lamb that is silent

before those who sheared him—

he never even opened his mouth.

In his lowliness justice was stripped away from him.

And who could fully express his struggles?

For his life was taken from the earth.

The Ethiopian asked Philip, “Please, can you tell me who the prophet is speaking of? Is it himself or another man?”

Philip started with this passage and shared with him the wonderful message of Jesus.

As they were traveling down the road, the man said, “Look, here’s a pool of water. Why don’t I get baptized right now?”

Philip replied, “If you believe with all your heart, I’ll baptize you.”

The man answered, “I believe that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of God.”

The Ethiopian stopped his chariot, and they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, Philip was suddenly snatched up by the Spirit of the Lord and instantly carried away to the city of Ashdod, where he reappeared, preaching the gospel in that city.

The man never saw Philip again. He returned to Ethiopia full of great joy. Philip, however, traveled on to all of the towns of that region, bringing them the good news, until he arrived at Caesarea.

The Book of Acts, Chapter 8 (The Passion Translation)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for monday, june 7 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A set of posts by John Parsons about humility:

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter but will not be able" (Luke 13:24). The narrow door is the way of humility, assuming a low position, crawling, if you will, and making yourself small... It is the way of the cross of Messiah, confessing the truth of our condition and trusting in God alone for deliverance.. The narrow door is the way of faith - trusting God’s compassion and righteousness given on your behalf. The large, wide-open door is designed for the crowd and its various idols. Beware of the world that seeks to assimilate the soul: beware of becoming part of the crowd! The individual is lost and overwhelmed in the midst of the crowd and its momentum. The crowd assimilates the soul, laughs at the notion of individual responsibility, and abandons itself to the gravity of fallen natural forces... The life of faith, on the other hand, refuses to regard the individual human heart as a triviality. Faith is an individual struggle, a walk into unknowing; it is the way of the sojourner who feels uneasy in this world of shadows... God is always with us and helps us stay strong and resolute, even as we struggle through the darkness of this age. Press on, friend: the day and the hour draw near! [Hebrew for Christians]

Our Torah this week (i.e., Korach) begins, "And Korah took" (וַיִּקַּח קרַח), which immediately suggests something about the character of the man. Though he was wealthy, esteemed among his tribe, and honored with the task of caring for the Ark of the Covenant, none of this was enough for Korah... There was an insatiable hunger, a "black hole" in his soul, an unrelenting envy, that drove him to madness and self-destruction. Korah was imprisoned by his own jealousy, arrogance, and spite. When he compared himself to Moses and Aaron, he felt overlooked, deprived, and therefore he justified in his desire to be honored. As an archetypal figure, Korach warns us against being swallowed up with egotistical envy or seeking the praises of men (Matt. 23:2-7).

In the Kingdom of heaven, worldly success is sheer delusion. There are open and hidden riches. There is a pearl of great price, a treasure "hidden in a field." These riches are regarded as "fool's gold" to those who love this world and trust only in the realm of the phenomenal, but to those who trust in the LORD, they represent all that the heart needs...

“And when the other disciples heard [that James and John sought prominence], they were indignant” (Mark 10:41). But why were they aggrieved except that they sought glory for themselves? The faults we see in others usually mirror our own... If your brother offends you, test your own heart to see where you share his fault... Or do you seek reward for your service to God alone? Do you request a “chief seat” at His table? Any “reward” in the truest sense must include empathy and service for the benefit of others. Heavenly rewards are never gained through self-promotion but through losing yourself in the father's business (Luke 17:10). We don't make old wine from new... What good is any “reward,” after all, if it were gained at the expense of your brother or sister? Is such praiseworthy? We can only look past ourselves and see others when we understand that we are in as much need of God’s mercy as they are... It is natural enough to want a blessing, but check your heart: the Apostle Paul was willing to himself be accursed for the sake of the well-being and blessing of his own brothers (Rom. 9:3).

The son of Zoma said (Avot 4:1): "Who is wise? He who learns from all people, as it is said: 'From all those who taught me I gained understanding' (Psalm 119:99). Who is strong? He who conquers his evil inclination, as it is said: 'Better is one slow to anger than a strong man, and one who rules over his spirit than a conqueror of a city' (Prov. 16:32). Who is rich? He who is satisfied with his lot, as it is said: 'When you eat the toil of your hands you are fortunate and it is good for you' (Psalm 128:2). 'You are fortunate' - in this world; 'and it is good for you' - in the World to Come. Who is honored? He who honors others, as it is said: 'For those who honor Me will I honor, and those who scorn Me will be degraded'" (1 Sam. 2:30). [Hebrew for Christians]

6.7.21 • Facebook

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

June 7, 2021

Likeminded

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)

This emphatic command, along with the parallel terms, helps us understand the concept of “thinking” the same thing. “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).

Such thinking also includes “having the same love.” There are two aspects of this love. First, the term itself (agape) would demand that all of Christ’s disciples “love one another: for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). This is often repeated to born-again believers so that our love for each other is so obvious that “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35).

Godly love then produces “being of one accord.” This phrase is the translation of the Greek word sumpsuchos, which is a compound of the preposition most often translated “with” and the word for “soul.” Thus, the agape that we are to share results in a connection “with-soul” that binds the “likemindedness” in agreement with the mind and spirit of the Creator God.

We are finally commanded to be of “one mind”—slightly different from the “likeminded” opening charge of Philippians 2:2. The initial words are auto phroneô—“his thinking.” The last use is en phroneô—one (way of) thinking.

The entire context of the opening verses of Philippians 2 is to think like Jesus Christ thinks. “Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). “Set your affection [phroneô] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). This kind of “thinking” must have God’s love and soul embedded in the very core of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. HMM III

A tweet by illumiNations:

@IlluminationsBT: Meet one of our illumiNations partners - Seed Company. Learn more at: https://seedcompany.com

6.7.21 • 12:01pm • Twitter

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