#locke rambling about metals and magic

[magnomia]

metal magic system save me...

i should be focusing on my college report due in like three days, but i'm hyperfocused about applying our chemistry lessons to my story. metal based magic, different metals like aluminum or gold or tin affect the nature of one's magic. you cry "mistborn!" and i hear you, but this is a little different than allomancy.

instead of ingesting or consuming metals, they're buried inside one's body, embedded into their heart or organs, acting as a conduit that enable them to harness the energy around them. it's what allows them to cast spells and gives them magic. the most common metals are gold, copper, silver, and aluminum, though the kind of metal does not dictate the magic's level of strength like some sort of hierarchy, instead it describes the nature of it.

for example is gold -- since as a metal it is soft and the most malleable, that means if your metal is gold then it is not very effective for combat, though the area of effect can be increadibly wide and thinned down, the most powerful being able to affect an entire kilometre with their magic. because of its softness and its ability to be molded easily, the users can find more creative uses for their magic, making it more general, at the cost of its lethality and the ease of casting it (due to its heaviness and density). and another property of gold is it's highly conductive to electricity, which means it's the most conducive to working with technology. what does that mean? i'll come back to that later.

the routine is similar with other metals, the magic's nature is reliant on the metal's properties. aluminum is lightweight and thus easy to cast, but increadibly soft meaning the magic is less likely to be used for damage purposes. it's nonmagnetic and nonsparking, which gives it an advantage over other metals that are susceptible to lodestones and fire. silver is both malleable and ductile, it affects quite an area and can also target points with precision (yes that is my comprehension of ductility applied to magic) but it's also hard and lustrous, it has the capability of dealing damage with ✨ style ✨. yada yada, you get the whole deal.

now iron is a special case. it's rare to find someone whose metal is iron, most of the time it would be alloys like steel and wrought iron, but pure iron is like drawing the shortest lot. first is its magnetic, or at least one of its form is, meaning magic can easily be dispelled by a few well placed lodestones. it's hard, dealing plenty of damage, but also brittle, easily countered. but the most important part is its highly reactive and easily rusts/corrode. considering these metals are placed inside one's organs, the body forming around it and treating it as its own organ, oxygen filled blood readily flows through those metals, and oxygen with iron means disaster. essentially, being born with iron is a congenital disease unless given treatment like attaching a sacrificial anode which needs regular replacements.

alloys could be formed from iron to make it more stable, but seriously, how are you going to heat up a goddamn organ to high temperature and keep the guy alive? i haven't yet decided how and why people are born with kinds of metals, i'm tempted to handwave it away and plead "soft magic", or environmental factors, because i am certainly not delving into eugenics.

so currently that's everything about this part of the magic system, there's still the aforementioned connection with technology and catalysts that i'll explain in another post. but this was fun to think up of while i procrastinated on my report. this was me using my chemistry lessons for worldbuilding, except, you know, after it's useful to hyperfixiate anymore. this info is going to be useless to me in the next semester but what can you do.

... actually maybe i can worldbuild something with my report too.

[valsverse]

— general dating hc's

pairing: percy jackson, annabeth chase, leo valdez, piper mclean, hazel levesque, jason grace, frank zhang (respectively) x gn!reader

word count: 3.0k part two

percy jackson

• underwater kisses!! all the time!! being a son of poseidon has its benefits. the whole experience is just magical fr. it's like being in a whole different world, where nothing else matters except for the two of you. the sensation of your lips touching, your bodies intertwined, and the sound of your breathing mixing with the water is simply unforgettable. the way your hands hold onto each other, the way your eyes lock, and the way your heart beats as one, it's a feeling that can't be replicated anywhere else.

• percy 100% teaches you how to skate. the first chance he gets, he'll lead you onto the smooth, concrete surface of the skate park with the intent of teaching you!!

he patiently guides you, holding your hands and rolling you along while walking beside you. he teaches you how to shift your weight, how to balance, and how to stop. and every time you stumble, he makes a huge show of catching you in his arms LMAO. like, it's not that serious, percy.

whenever he's skating alone, he can't help but think of you. :(( the way your hair sways in the wind, the sound of your laughter, and the warmth of your hand in his. he would often skate in circles, lost in thought, imagining you by his side. <33 (all the other skaters think he looks like a fool, but he doesn't care.)

• now don't tell me you two do not have matching jewelry, because you DO. he learns a lot about your style and preferences, (he knows if you look better in gold or silver) and the pretty necklaces and stuff are just a bonus!!

he wears a necklace with several charms all the time, since it was a gift from you! some of the charms include an ocean charm and a tiny silver skateboard that dangles from the delicate chain. whenever he misses you, he would reach up and touch the necklace, feeling the smooth metal under his fingers, and smile. <33

• whenever you explain things to percy, he nods his head in agreement, but you notice his gaze flickering towards your lips ever so often. you don't know what he's thinking, but his expression provides a pretty obvious hint as to what may be on his mind.

• growing up as a child of one of the big three can certainly take its toll on anyone, even percy. after a long day of training and preventing new campers from capsizing the canoes while racing with the naiads, all he wants is to melt into your embrace.

he sneaks into your cabin with you as soon as possible, laying down on your bed, a deep sigh escaping his lips and he stretches his neck from side to side, relishing in the brief moment of peace. his arms are outstretched, inviting you to join him, as he longs for the comfort and safety of your embrace.

it's clear that being in your presence has a calming effect on him, reassuring him that everything is going to be alright. <33

annabeth chase

• annabeth has a penchant for discovering new things to learn and become deeply invested in, and she talks to you about her newest interests all the time. when you take the time to listen to her ramblings about her current passions, she gets so excited!!

sometimes, you spend hours in the library researching the concepts and terminology she speaks of, just so that you can engage in a meaningful conversation with her instead of just nodding along. the effort is well worth it to see her reaction; the way her face lights up as she smiles, leaning in to give you a big kiss on the cheek as a reward!!

• but sometimes annabeth rambles way too much. like, wayyyy too much. i'm talking hours on end. while her voice is soothing and you enjoy lying in her arms while she speaks, it can be a lot at times.

and annabeth only stops talking when she's finished gushing. unless you kiss her first.

although she tries to act like your affection doesn't work on her, complaining with phrases like, "why did you do that," or "you didn't let me finish." but her tone clearly softens. her eyes crinkling at the corners, and soon enough her facade breaks and she can no longer hold back a smile. <33

• you guys still use pinky promises. it doesn't matter if she personally thinks it's trivial, she does it for your sake because she values your belief in it. and if anyone dares to make fun of it, she'd be glaring daggers at them the entire day. if looks could kill, they'd be dead.

(and after you two interlock pinkies she kisses the palm of your hand to seal the deal.)

• annabeth isn't big on PDA, but she definitely steals kisses when people aren't looking.

• annabeth love, love, LOVES reading to you!! especially when there's nobody around and it's just the two of you, your head on her lap as she reads aloud about the wonders of Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture... whatever that is. (but she makes it sound interesting so you don't care.)

• overall 10/10, what a queen.

leo valdez

• he's your portable heater fr. leo keeps you warm by holding you close. it's particularly convenient when you're nestled on his lap or resting against his chest.

• this man can COOK. he mainly cooks food from his heritage because it's a way for him to connect to his roots, but if you ask him to make a particular dish for you, he'll do it, no questions asked. it's a common sight to catch a glimpse of him in the kitchen, diligently chopping ingredients and following the recipe to your favorite dish, getting himself completely covered in smoke and steam by the end of the process, but the result is always delicious so neither of you care.

he'll often call you into the kitchen to taste-test his newest recipe, shoving the dish in your face and urging you to try it like, "here babe, taste it!!" with the brightest smile as he eagerly waits for your feedback. he values your opinions a lot!

• him calling you petnames in spanish >>> omg. among his favorites are "mi amor" (my love), "cariño" (darling), and "corazón" (sweetheart). he usually rotates between those three and it never fails to bring a blush to your cheeks because like, hello??? how could it not??? he's always quick to notice your reaction and can't resist teasing you, playful remarks leaving his lips like, "a little flustered now are we, mi amor?" 🙏🙏🙏

• no matter how long you've been together, leo still flirts with you like it's the first time he's seen you. he'll brace himself against the nearest doorframe and unleash the cheesiest pick-up line known to mankind. despite their predictability, you play along. the game ends when he asks you on a "first date."

• leo spends a lot of time tinkering in his workshop, so whenever boredom sets in, (or if he's just thinking of you) he likes to put his creativity to use by making various small creations with you on his mind. these items range from keychains, to mini jewelry boxes, and even small flowers carved out of metal scraps. (you now have enough to make a bouquet.) your nightstand and shelves are absolutely littered with his handiwork, and you take pride in owning each one of them. <33

• leo's the type of guy that twirls you around while hugging. there's something incredibly spontaneous and thrilling about the experience — just when you think he's only reaching for your hand, he suddenly lifts you off the ground and spins you around, generating a moment of pure joy before gently setting you down once again, and leaning back in for a normal hug.

• he's so whipped for you it's not even funny.

piper mclean

• piper hates being categorized as a typical child of aphrodite due to the expectations and assumptions that come with the title, especially given the reputation of some of her siblings. she's always quick to reassure you that she won't break your heart and that her love for you is truly genuine.

• piper has a soft spot for when you play with her hair; running your fingers through her choppy locks and especially when you braid it. when you gently scratch her scalp while brushing your nails through her hair, she gets lost in her own little world.

• piper isn't afraid to show you off if you're okay with it. like she's in a beautiful, loving relationship, why wouldn't she?? also she's a hand swinger FR. 🙏🙏🙏

• you guys have matching bracelets!! nothing fancy, just a bunch of multi-colored beads on a string, but she loves them so much. sometimes you dedicate dates to making these bracelets just because it's one of her favorite pastimes.

she has one with your name written on the beads, a couple with the titles of the albums you listen to together, as well as ones with your preferred color schemes. just anything to remind her of you. <33

her collection is so big that they now stack up to her arms. maybe it's becoming a problem.

• while piper doesn't like flaunting her wealth, if she sees that you have your eye on something she'll immediately buy it for you. no questions asked. you don't even need to say anything.

maybe you'll bring it up ONCE, not even asking her to buy it, just mentioning you were saving up for a particular item, and the next day it's on your bed with a note from her. when you ask her she'll just be like, "weren't you talking about it?"

• while piper is pretty self-conscious about her singing, she'll do it if you ask her to because she trusts you. if you're having trouble sleeping, she'll lay your head in her lap and sing a short melody, and it works every time. once you drift off, she’ll place a tender kiss on your forehead, (or multiple) and express how much you mean to her, because she can't be this sentimental when you're awake.

she's so in love omg.

hazel levesque

• she's the absolute sweetest girlfriend you could ever ask for! her sweet and loving nature is simply amazing and her love for you knows no bounds. she goes above and beyond to make you feel appreciated and loved in every way possible.

• she definitely loves to go horse-back riding with you. the sensation of the wind blowing through your hair, the warm sun kissing your skin, and the gentle sound of the horse's hooves rhythmically hitting the ground beneath you — it all feels like pure magic, especially since hazel is sharing the moment with you!

• over time, hazel got more comfortable with kisses. the first time you two shared a kiss, she timidly brushed her lips against yours before rapidly withdrawing, her hands instinctively covering her face in embarrassment.

but as time went by and your relationship progressed, she soon began to relax and gain confidence, especially with you relaxing and guiding her through every step of the way. <33

PDA isn't really her thing, but when the two of you are in private, she WILL shower you with kisses on various parts of your body, including your forehead, cheeks, neck, lips, and anywhere else she can reach. i feel like she'd especially love kissing your nose. it's quite endearing to watch her stand on her toes to give you a sweet smooch if you're tall, or simply grab your face and plant a gentle kiss on your nose if you're shorter.

• hazel is doing her best to learn about your interests, but like many things in the today's world, it's a learning process for her. but your help makes her feel more at ease in this modern world. there is still a lot that hazel doesn't fully comprehend, so she values the historical insights you share with her.

• hazel's love languages are acts of service and gift giving. she loves the way your eyes light up when she pampers you. she's also so patient when she helps you with your sword-fighting!! she goes the extra mile to help you master any technique, training with you for hours on end just to see your smile. she patiently guides you through each step, offering advice and encouragement along the way. her joy comes from your progress and happiness.

• okay this is a small thing but she always lets you have the last bite!! whether you're dining out or sharing popcorn at the movies, hazel is always mindful of ensuring that you get the last bite/handful. <33

she's so cute omg.

jason grace

• i think most of us know how touch starved this man is, but he slowly eases into romantic gestures. after a long day of praetor duties, all he wants to do is melt in your arms as you whisper sweet nothings to him.

jason loovvees resting his forehead against yours. it just brings him a sense of comfort and solace, really just your presence itself makes him feel safe. <33

• jason grows to love hand-holding! it starts off with just linking pinkies, but progresses when you take his calloused palms into yours. from the second you two intertwine hands, he's hooked.

he doesn't really know how to initiate hand-holding, so he often makes excuses like, "here, let's compare hand sizes." or "aren't you cold? let me warm up your hands for you." and proceeds to take both of your hands in his without waiting for a response because he just can't ask upfront. :(( (don't worry, he gets over it as the relationship progresses.) his GRIP on your hand is so noticeable LMAO. it's like he's afraid you'll disappear if he lets go.

he most definitely places kisses on your hand. 🙏🙏🙏 i'm talking regency era jane austen style kisses to your fingertips or palm, looking away with a visible blush. <33

• hear me out, considering his expertise in combat, this man has gotta have some beefy arms okayyy?? like, it's hard not to stare at them. and once he rolls up his sleeves, it's all over FR.

he does it without thinking at first, whether it's tidying up his cabin, strategizing battle plans, or sometimes just mindlessly sighing and rolling up his sleeves when something's on his mind. but he starts to notice how your gaze lingers on his forearms a little too long to be considered "normal", and once he figures it all out, he's having a whole field day with it.

basically, he makes a point to show off his arms around you whenever he could. it drives you crazy, and guess what? he's well aware of it. you know this given that he'll occasionally flash one of his rare jason grace smiles, which later transitions into a grin with a slightly raised lip. 🙏🙏🙏

• he's such a gentleman fr. even little things like holding open doors for you even if it means waiting a few extra moments, offering his sweater when you're cold without hesitation, or fixing up a plate for you during dinner, he's always trying to make life a little easier for you. <33

frank zhang

• frank gives the best bear hugs! (both literally and figuratively.) in the early stages of a relationship, he may come across as a bit awkward. not because he doesn't want to initiate anything, but rather because he's a bit unsure of himself. he takes his time to get to know you and build trust before stepping up his game and expressing his love in more obvious ways. as time passes, he becomes more comfortable and eases into the relationship at a sweet and slow pace, making sure to respect your boundaries and wishes. :((

he loves holding you and making you feel loved, so cuddles aren't uncommon. he takes care to express his affection in a way that makes you feels comfortable and appreciated!! he's always asking you, "do you feel alright?" or "is this fine?" because what may be okay one day might not be okay the next.

typically, he prefers to be the big spoon, but he's is also happy being the little spoon, because he believes that vulnerability and intimacy go both ways in a relationship!!

• frank has the ability to shapeshift into tons of different animals, and he uses this to his advantage while cuddling with you!! imagine waking up to find a cuddly koala bear clinging onto you protectively one day, and then the next day, holding a sweet and adorable tea-cup sized labrador puppy in your hands. the cuddling possibilities are endless!!

• your decision to date frank despite any challenges along the way has had such an impact on his self-esteem. like, seriously!! every word of praise you offer him is treasured, and he adores being around you; in fact, he flourishes in your presence. your encouragement has really made a difference in his life. <33

• he love, love, LOVES holding your hand!! he seems to find every opportunity to intertwine his fingers with yours, and in moments of stress or anxiety, he'll often tap or lightly pull on your hand as if seeking reassurance because your touch brings him a sense of comfort and safety.

• considering that frank's height ranges from 6'3-6'6, you're probably shorter than him. and yeah, he definitely utilizes his height advantage around you.

he loves by approaching you from behind and embracing you, regardless of your own height, and another plus is that he can easily lean down for a kiss!!

his height is particularly convenient around high shelves or objects that may be out of your reach. his height also provides a sense of protection and security for you because he can easily shield you from any harm that may come your way!

overall, 10/10 would date again.

a/n

WHY DO MY FICS KEEP GETTING LONGER AND LONGER LMFAOO.

i wanted to keep this fic relatively short but omg i could not fit everything i wanted in one post. part 2 maybe??

i love writing hc's because they're a lot more casual but my next post will probably be a regular oneshot. :))

xx, val.

[itsguysnightitsironic]

Some human skin and bone

The yassification button glitched, so sorry for your loss.

Did this take years of my life? Yes.

Did it take making at less three before realising I used their identifying colours to render them? Also yes.

Drawings without the dramatic light under the cut with some very long ramblings.

(I'm pretty sleep-deprived right now, excuse my weird grammar and ramblings.)

They are in order of making.

HOOTSIE

-She was the first I drew of the bunch, and I based her mostly on a baby I saw in a hair salon. She had these big un-blink-able eyes and these adorable chubby cheeks that just made sense that Hootsie had.

-To try to union the owl and bear parts of an owlbear, I gave her this very puffy ENORMOUS fur coat with a feather jacket under it. To define where in her original design the fur and feather separate.

-Also the claws, since Hootsie has claws, it's your decision to decide if they are REAL or if Gricko made them for her in wood.

-Her makeup it's designed to scream "OWL" and her original markings, from the big eyes, and eyebrows as owls horns, to the line to symbolise her beak.

She was very fun to draw, brain empty, just owlbear.

GIDEON

-You know the whole "re-inventing the wheel"? Well, this was a "drawing Mace by accident over and over again"

-Credits to Beth Mello for inspiration for the splash blood makeup, which it's just so pretty

-I don't know where the metallic horns came from, I know it's inspired by something but it is so locked in my mind and I can't pull the strings to know where it comes from.

I showed this one to one of my old art teachers and he said "It looks like me when I was younger" and now I can't unsee it.

Your genishi is my retired art teacher now, so sorry for your loss.

GRICKO

-Did I ask my father to pose to draw his old hands? Yes. Yes, I did. And I had to make them more rough and hairy because he has "selling wristwatches on tv" hands? Absolutely.

-I based his hair on a member of Metalica, Kirk Hammett. Now that he's older, he has this very pretty long curly greyish hair that just felt very Gricko.

-I cut his fingers. Well, only the right hand, he has the other one but it didn't grow correctly so it's more like little little finger without nail. So he has four fingers, in his original goblin design he has four fingers and so does the human version now, we don't know what happened, Gricko probably doesn't know either.

-The makeup had to have the most eccentric in-your-face eyeliner ever. With some green highlighter to remain of goblin skin, blue and white dots for his magic and to link him with Hootsie's little blue gems, and body paint inspired by Britons war paint. (Which are drawn after two of his totems.)

Lighting for this one was weirdly easy... The ocarina wasn't.

FROST

-As someone who is pretty young and it's starting to grow white hair already, I can say, that whatever it's happening to him it's more from stress than genes. What ghost scared you, sir?

-I fought with his face so much, I had his body ready for days but not the face. I wanted to keep the expression that Frost has in the original, mostly the smug smile he has.

-Credits to Freja Bermann for inspiration for his makeup which it's inspired by multiple of her looks inspired by the solar system.

-I just realised that by giving him "horns" and two dots to symbolize his tiger ears it looks like the froggy chair of Animal Crossing.

I'm not changing it. This is our little secret.

KREMY

-How do you draw an alligator as a human? How??? DRAW??

-You know what, drawing hands it's only fun if it's old people's hands. They have more texture and can be a bit rougher. They can define a character's life so well... For example, here Kremy has four fingers, you can decide if he got it cut off by fucking around, bitten off, or if he gifted it as a sign of faith to his patron, you decide.

-You hear about "Give Gideon a cowboy hat" get ready for "Give Kremy opera binoculars"

-His makeup was inspired by cabaret, just dramatic eyeshadow and eyeliner. There are markings as gator skin around his eyes and nose. And a fake beauty mark because why not?

Drawing Kremy it's always fun, even if I get tortured first by trying to structure his face.

I can't bring myself to do Torbek, Twig and Petunia, sorry, I'm very tired.

AHHHHHHHHHH.... Have a cupcake 🧁.

[leahnardo-da-veggie]

A Perfectly Normal Schoolgirl, part 6

Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here, and Part 5 here. Thanks for reading :))

We snuck L past the security guards at school using Dane as a human shield. It was… Awkward, to say the least, but L seemed to derive amusement from it.

At 6am, nobody was in school. The hallways were lit only by the grey post-dawn and the red of the security cams. L eyed them nervously as we walked down the halls. “How can you be so calm, surrounded by those things? They terrify me,” he said, when we rounded a corner and escaped their gaze.

“If you aren't doing anything wrong, you've got nothing to fear,” I quipped. “Now listen, this entire hallway has no cameras, and I'm pretty sure it's not just a design oversight. Mrs C and her brood are using this place for something.”

The walls were too-pristine, lacking the grime and stains that permeated the rest of the school. I tapped them regularly, hunting for a hollow spot. “There's a secret doorway somewhere… I've never quite found it, but it's gotta be somewhere.”

Obediently, Dane joined me in hunting for the secret passage. L surveyed the hallway with bland curiosity, then stepped up to a random spot. “This one,” he announced, grinning smugly at me. “Still got a thing or two to learn, eh, little sister?”

I glared at him and tapped the spot he indicated. It slid apart seamlessly. “Holy shit,” Dane said, stepping up and peering into the hallway that lay beyond. “That's pretty cool.” he paused. “I wonder if there's other tunnels like it around.”

“Have you taught the boy nothing?” L gave him a little shove and walked into the hallway, leaving me to follow. “These are everywhere. In fact, magic is everywhere, so long as you know where to find it.”

I laughed. “You know the camera's are still watching, right?” 

L jumped like a frightened mouse. “Where? I could've sworn it was safe,” he said, hunting for the telltale stare of a security cam.

“Hah! Gotcha,” I jeered. “Still got a thing or two to learn, eh, elder brother? Especially about sniffing out lies.”

The look of affronted rage that passed over his face made me snort. “I bet you're wishing you didn't offer to help out,” I told him.

Stubborn bastard that he was, he shook his head. “No, I don't. Irritating beast though you are, Kat, you are my sister.” He gave my nose a playful tap. “By the by, your little mortal is about to get himself killed.”

I snapped my head around to find Dane far ahead of us, at the end of the corridor. He was wrestling with a locked door, trying to open it with brute force. “Dear gods! Dane, quit that immediately. We've got no idea what's on the other side,” I snapped.

Dane didn't listen. “My parents are in there,” he yelled back, slamming his shoulder against the metal door. “I can feel it.”

I threw my hands in the air and hurried to aid him. “Your senses can deceive you, you know,” I warned him as I studied the door. “Even odds this is a trap.”

Nonetheless, I lifted my foot and kicked. The door flew off its hinges with a satisfying crunch. I'd be damned before I'd admit it to L, but there were some things I missed about not being surrounded by cams. This was one of them.

Dane watched me with eyes like saucers. “Wait- If it's a trap, why're we walking in?”

“Because it being a trap never stopped me before,” I replied, winking. 

Taglist:

@coffeeangelinabox, @dorky-pals, @calliecwrites, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @shukei-jiwa

@thewingedbaron, @pluppsauthor, @cowboybrunch, @wylloblr, @possiblyeldritch @ramwritblr, @urnumber1star, @fortunatetragedy, @bigwipscholar, @ratedn

@vampirelover890, @possiblylisle, @illarian-rambling, @the-ellia-west

@finicky-felix, @evilgabe29, @glitched-dawn, @rivenantiqnerd, @dragonhoardesfandoms

@drchenquill, @everythingismadeofchaos, @owldwagitoutofyou (Anyone else who wants to get added can tell me in the comments, pm me, or send me an ask about it!)

[foxwithashortsword]

I’M SORRY???

Can you elaborate on this au pls im curious

Yeah, that probably does need elaboration.

Okay, I do believe I made a post on Fox before, but regardless, I will do a small recap.

This happens post-future during Steven’s road-trip. He goes up to Hurricane, Utah, a fun nowhere town, because he heard about a one-of-a-kind attraction type thing. Animatronics and performances of the bygone 80’s. And we know Steven loves robots.

And naturally, if you’re familiar with any lore of Fnaf (five nights at Freddy’s) you know this place is absolutely not safe and haunted as hell. But Steven doesn’t know that, and he checks it out despite Connie’s warnings about overpriced bad pizza.

And it’s not long before Steven is approached by a charismatic employee about a one-day job. The endo skeleton is broken and one of the suit performers is sick, and everyone is so sad that Foxy (the animatronic) can’t perform. And Steven is excited because who can say they’ve piloted a robot before and gotten $250 outta it.

Right, and naturally, this employee is not a good person. A murderer, responsible for every bad thing that’s happened at this place. And Steven gets inside this metal and fabric suit full of springs and metal barbs. These are called springlocks, and they line the entire interior of this suit to hold the actual robot inside for when a person can’t pilot it. And yes, they’re a death trap. Think the Iron Maiden torture method except the spikes actually go all the way through.

This man springs those locks on Steven when they’re alone in the back room by undoing the safety clamp on the back of the neck, and it’s a bloodbath from there. There’s YouTube videos demonstrating a springlock failure if you wanna see that but yeah, it’s a rough way to go out.

Thankfully, the gem wasn’t shattered and magic was just enough to keep him from kicking the bucket all the way over. But he is stuck inside the building, which quickly got shutdown as the blood stench and all the criminal investigation caused business problems. The process for Steven to be able to walk inside that suit is long and agonizing, and his mind is on a downhill slope.

There are different ways this AU can go. Bad or Worse. The art made by the lovely @swordmahes was of the better of the two. In which Connie and the gems finally track him and bust him out before he goes insane. Scars are left from the springlocks, his vision is damaged, and his personality is definitely altered. But he gets better, gets physical therapy, and continues living. Probably eventually going after the guy who did it too.

The worse option is the opposite, he loses his mind, beyond saving, a killer machine with nothing but fight or flight instincts trying to stay alive.

Fnaf was the first thing I ever actually got invested in, so naturally I mixed it with my other big interest. It’s gruesome and awful but that’s my brand. Anyways, yeah, hope you enjoyed my AU rambling.

[oblivions-dawn]

And ⭐ back at you for your favourite scene from Breathless or Petrichor!! 😊

OH . . . . OHHH . . . . . . HMMMMMMMMMMM

I really haven't discussed the sequel a lot because I'm not very far into it, and I know the next few chapters will probably become my favourite . . . HOWEVER. That being said. I have to talk about this [long] part in Breathless' Chapter IV, The Hunt. I think I'm going to ramble between stuff a lot sooooo I'll put stuff under the cut if you're interested in my nonsense ldfjgkldjg [also, a warning: there is violence, blood, and gore.]

Vigdis began to move through the thick overgrowth with Serana close behind her, her freckled hand habitually wrapped around the hilt of her sword. The floor beneath her boots suddenly shifted— And then gave way. “Shit—!” “VIGDIS!” The hunter plummeted through the air for two seconds too long—then plunged into bitingly cold waters. The liquid swirled and bubbled around the unexpected intruder, who wildly kicked her feet until her head broke the surface with a gasp. “Oh, that never gets old.” Icy eyes snapped up in bewilderment. A Breton man in dirty black robes peered into the wrought iron cage that surrounded the well of water, his hands behind his back as he smiled sadistically. “You’re different from my usual subjects,” he mused. “But no matter—you’ll do. Begin the preparations, Lindaen.” “Yes, Master Sild.” She bared her teeth into a snarl as Sild turned away. Lindaen—an Altmer in similar robes with an old key looped through the rope wrapped loosely around his waist—approached with a leather book and quill, which he proceeded to clumsily pry open and scribble in whilst sparing the occasional glance at her. Forced to stay afloat lest she drowned, Vigdis swam up to the bars and tugged on them to test their strength. The rough, partially rusted metal dug into her hands, but otherwise didn’t budge. The assistant, still occupied with his notes, was just out of reach; the dark scar on his forehead indicated that he had learned that lesson rather recently. She grunted loudly in irritation as adrenaline coursed through her veins. How in Oblivion would she—?

RIGHT OKAY SO. SO!! This is Rannveig's Fast. You know this dungeon, you've seen it, you've fallen down that stupid trap. WELL. This is moment is very tense because it's the first time that Vig and Serana have been separated so suddenly AND IT SHOWS. THEIR PANIC IS THERE. And just Sild being the calmest fucking bastard while Vig is SCRAMBLING to figure out WHAT TO DO. FOR THE FIRST TIME VIGDIS FEELS FUCKING TRAPPED AND I'M TERRIFIED FOR HER

“It’s no use, you know,” the Breton tsked as he leaned over an enchanting table. “There’s no way out of your little predicament. And the more you squirm, the more painful—” Shtk! An unnatural gurgle wormed out of Lindaen’s mouth as blood suddenly sputtered from his golden lips, his gray hazel eyes wide. The book slipped from his hands and slammed to the ground; the quill flittered to the moist stone floor. His knees buckled—he fell forward—and his body slumped lifelessly against the bars of the cage with a muffled clang. As the last wisps of life in his gaze were snuffed out, he bowed his head to reveal the ice shard that dug into the base of his skull. “You BITCH!” Ice-blue eyes lifted to meet glowing persimmon ones set in obsidian scleras. Dark hair framed a familiar pale face that morphed from fear to relief. Serana stepped forward—then instantly hopped back behind the doorway to dodge the arc of lightning Sild had cast at her. The vampire’s gaze switched to the new threat, aflame with anger. Spells of icicles and electricity flashed across the room as the two mages engaged in a heated battle, Serana trapped behind a wall whilst the warlock summoned a magical ward for protection. Vigdis hastily seized the rope on the dead assistant’s waist and grabbed his key. With one hand wrapped around the bars, she pulled herself up just enough to reach the lock. She cursed under her breath as she fiddled with it impatiently. Her heart drummed loudly in her ears; every second seemed to work against her as the spells became increasingly less frequent; ice shattered, lightning crackled— Click. The door swung open. Vigdis swiftly hoisted herself out of the well and looked up to see Sild unsheathe a glass dagger. He charged towards Serana with a scream of rage—

And then Serana comes!! But Sild is a powerful sorcerer and they get stuck fighting each other, and Vigdis is trying her damnedest to get OUT of this cage, out of this water, because Serana needs help and they need to deal with the immediate threat--AND SHE GETS OUT! But Sild is going at Serana WITH A KNIFE

In a blink, Vigdis bolted to intercept his attack—and caught the blade in her right hand. It cut into her skin and blood flowed freely down her palm, her wrist, her arm. She gritted her teeth in unbridled fury as he stared back at her, dumbfounded. She tightened her grip; smoke and fire brushed against her tongue. “How did you—?” The hunter drew her own dagger and plunged it into the side of his neck, then ripped it across his throat, his head almost completely detached. She was showered in sanguine fluid; it sprayed onto her freckled face and fiery hair. Then, she violently tore the jagged blade out. Sild collapsed to the floor, motionless. For a moment, everything was still—save for the hard, ragged breaths and sporadic water droplets that filled the air. Blood gushed from the warlock’s neck and pooled beneath his body. Upon seeing her bloodstained reflection in the crimson liquid, Vigdis realised she still held the glass dagger. She loosened her hold and let it clatter to the ground to inspect the fresh, deep laceration on her palm. Charcoal leather boots came into view. “That was really stupid of you,” Serana chastised, her voice quiet. “I saved your ass,” Vigdis rebuked with an icy glare.

And of course Vigdis is fucking stupid and hot and sexy AND STOPS THE KNIFE. WITH HER HAND. IT'S SO FUCKING SYMBOLIC. These two have . . . BEGRUDGINGLY worked together for so long but Vigdis keeps protecting Serana in the most VIOLENT ways and FUCK. FUUUUUCK. And that moment when Vigdis sees her reflection in the blood . . . . I have this whole 'I'll be a monster for you' thing and just. The reflection. In the blood. Of a man she just murdered so violently just because he might've managed to hurt Serana. UAHGHGG

The vampire narrowed her own persimmon gaze and placed a hand on her hip. “Yeah? And is this the part where you reject my help again?” “What’s the fucking point,” the hunter grumbled, annoyed as she held out her hand. “You just do whatever you want anyway.” Serana raised a dark brow in surprise. A half-amused smirk curled her pale lips. “Good to know you’re finally learning,” she teased. Vigdis merely rolled her eyes and suppressed a flinch when Serana’s cold hands gently caressed her freckled one. The gash had begun to throb painfully yet faintly; the playful smile dissipated into a worried frown. “My healing spell will help, but it won’t be enough. You’ll have to stitch it.” The vampire carefully hovered her hand over the wound. A warm golden light radiated from her pale palm; the skin pulled itself together until it was nothing but a fragile red line. After Serana dropped her cold hands and stepped back, the hunter carefully flexed her fingers to test it. She inclined her head in satisfaction—and relief—when it didn’t reopen. “It’ll do,” she muttered. When she glanced back to Serana, their gazes locked. Ice-blue eyes silently analysed soft pale features, even as a subtle pink hue bloomed across normally ghostly cheeks. The vampire suddenly yet awkwardly looked away, her bottom lip caught briefly between her teeth. She cleared her throat.

Then this. THIS. THISSSSSSSS. Vigdis giving in to worrying, to caring, to looking at Serana more properly . . . to know that I've been getting closer and closer to them acting on their silent feelings both excites and pains me. It's moments like this that I live for. THIS is why I write, damn it.

Anyway, uhm, hope that was . . .interesting dlgjldkjgkdf SORRY I RAMBLE SO MUCH

[empressofthelibrary]

Okay, for the ask game: 62 (Magic) , and Bailey and Annie from Skullgirls?

(For reference: https://skullgirls.fandom.com/wiki/Annie )

(Ah, Annie of the Stars! I haven't played Skullgirls in forever, I ought to fix that)

Bailey cursed, stumbling as the door turned her out on an unfamiliar street. She caught her footing and whirled, just to see it swing shut behind her -- Metal now, not wood, and branded No Public Access.

"Broom closet my ass!" Bailey yanked on the handle, but it wouldn't budge -- unless she felt like breaking the lock, anyway. "Stupid Gavin and your stupid haunted magic house!" She snarled in frustration, kicking the brick wall. Her heavy-soled boot thumped against the doorframe. "I already bought the damn movie tickets!"

She'd swung by Gavin's place when her bedroom door had opened into her best friend's parlor. It seemed that the spirit of Lowell Manor had decided she'd been away too long. Bailey had assumed that she'd be able to get away with a quick visit, then pop back home in plenty of time for her evening plans. And maybe it would be nice to pick Gavin's brain over this... not-a-date with Jonah.

But things never went according to plan.

She'd found Gavin working on a magic circle in his basement. Three concentric rings of complicated runes, the lines and loops precisely arranged. He'd been too focused on his work to really listen to her, sitting up in the middle of her ramble to curse and declare he'd grabbed the wrong pillar candles. Bailey, wanting to help, had opened the closet door he'd pointed to.

And now Bailey found herself standing in what sure looked like a studio lot, between two bland buildings, with no clue what city or even part of the world she was in.

"At least it's summer," Bailey grumbled, planting her hands on her hips and rolling her shoulders back. "Means I'm still north of the equator."

"Oh, seriously?" A new voice made Bailey's head turn. A teenage girl, teal braids hanging on either side of her head, stood at the other end of the alley. She was dressed in dark greens, thigh-high boots and a longsleeved dress with a high collar. A patch covered one eye, and she held a stuffed rabbit in the crook of one arm. "So much for my break. At least it means I'm on the right track."

Bailey glanced around, but didn't see anyone else this girl could be talking to. "Me? On what track?"

The girl opened her arm, and the rabbit -- clearly not a plush -- hopped to the ground. A sword materialized in her outstretched hand, shimmering into existence. "Don't play ignorant. Dressed like you are, you've got to be one of her enforcers."

Bailey took a step back, glancing down at her own outfit. Heavy knee-high boots, fishnets and cutoff shorts -- LA was so much hotter than New York had been -- and a black halter top that maybe had a little more cleavage under that mesh panel than was appropriate, now that she looked again. The fingerless, elbow-length gloves were maybe a bit much, as well. "Dressed like -- What is that supposed to mean?" Granted, it wasn't exactly a casual outfit, but it hardly screamed 'fight me.'

But Bailey never got an answer. The stranger leapt at Bailey, blade slashing through the air.

Bailey jerked to the side, barely dodging the strike. "Woah! Hey, kid, didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with knives?"

"Be quiet," the girl snapped. "I won't let you stop me! I will find the Skullgirl, and I will stop her!" She swung the sword again, driving Bailey back.

"Look, I just got here!" Bailey raised her hands defensively. "I don't have a clue what you're on about! What's a skullgirl?"

"Either you've allied with the Heart," the teenager insisted, "or you want its power for yourself!" She pointed the sword at Bailey dramatically. "Whichever way, you're going down. I can't let this evil cycle continue!"

Bailey kept backing up, staying on the defensive. I'm not fighting a middle-schooler, she thought. Even if she is trying to stab me and acting like I'm some kind of supervillain. I don't like it, with my face bare, but there's only one acceptable way out of here.

In a flash of light, gold-feathered wings bloomed from her back, magical tattoos brought to life.

The teenage swordswoman stopped in her tracks, left hand raised to shield her eye. Bailey took the chance she'd bought herself, launching herself into the air. Wings pumping, she rose into the sky --

-- And found herself wheeling above a city that didn't look like anywhere she knew.

"Where in all sixteen gods-damned hells AM I?!"

[musekicker]

Feel like rambling about some one sided Mandarin/Antauri in the games master Mandarin au.

As is most things involving this au and games galaxy in general, talk of abuse and one sided relationships under the read more.

It's not a shock that the games galaxy has access to a lot of technology ( or the newer magic tech mods that can do things beyond most magic and most technology alone.) and one such technology is what's referred to as a permanent collar.

These things are of a metal like material and looks like a simple ring with a gap in it at first. That's until it's put around the neck of the piece that's to wear it. Then the ends just meld together. No locks, no seams, and said to not be able to be cut off. Also has a tracking feature and can be customized to look different even when around the neck.

It's not something every piece has or all game masters would spend the points on.

That said, Mandarin quickly got that kind of collar for Antauri.

[toomuchdickfort]

Random thought: if it weren’t for fancy healing magic, Lucky would be scarred as hell. Like... beyond the whole ‘holy shit she’s not that old’ thing?

[insane-arcane]

Heyy, this might sound weird but could you write something about jayce with a female teen reader? (Platonic ofc)

Yk that scene in the first chapter where jayce was being judged by the council? Could you write something about the reader defending him and comforting him after he was kicked out from the academy?

Btw, sorry if i dont explain myself very well, english is not my first language. And feel free to ignore if you dont wanna write this, its ok. Have a good day/night ^^

Reminder that I only write gender neutral X Readers

~~~

"But this isn't magic!" Jayces mom seems panicked as she wraps metal fingers around your arm. Her eyes are wide and so are Jayces as he looks back at you. You'd been silent this whole meeting simply standing back as support but as the council voted to end your friends future you had to say something. You had to do something. Her lips move silently begging you to stop and let this take it's course, let her son take the small punishment he was getting and not anger the council into worsening his sentence. You desperately want to listen to the woman that acted so much like a mother too you. But this was his dream.

As the light suddenly shone on you the crowd watching gasped as your name was one spoken and known by many. The council seem surprised but remained silent their eyes locked on you. As you swallowed slowly stepping forward you refused to back down. You stood up straight and held an air of confidence as you looked back at the council. This was everything Jayce worked for so you nodded at his mother and gently pulled away. She holds her hands to her chest eyes full of worry as she watches you both.

"what are you doing?" Jayce whispers over his shoulder a strained smile on his face as he tries to remain composed. You walk closer to him and eventually despite the fact he dwarves you in size you stand at his side.

"Saving my best friend." You respond keeping on your fake smile as you wring your head for things to say as the council quietly speaks amongst themselves.

"this is too dangerous, it could tarnish your name. your families legacy." He snaps quietly and you simply hum.

"Let me ask you one thing Jayce." He stops and stares at you, brown eyes searching your face as you hesitate before taking a deep breath, finally finding the right words. Or more importantly, the right question. "Do you believe in your Hex Tech?"

"More than anything." He doesn't hesitate. He doesn't stop to think about it. He just says it. And you believe him. You know deep in your heart, mind, and soul he speaks the truth.

Taking his hand as the council finally quiets down you squeeze it tightly. Squeezing back he sees your eyes flash for a second but he knows your not scared. Not for yourself at least.

"Than you better not be wrong." You threaten before standing at attention for the council.

"This is most unusual (Y/N). But as a reputable member of the community and someone who has helped the council you may speak on your friends behalf." Mel states intrigued and you make a mental note to pay her back quickly she doesn't get any heinous ideas. Taking a deep breath you let go of Jayce's hand and step infront of him so the council focuses soley on you. All those times Jayce rambled on about his latest project to you would finally pay off.

"HexTech is a new innovative way to study the arcane and give everyone a chance to use it without being magically inclined. No longer will biology determine if you can use something so beautiful and mysterious. Piltover is the city of progress and peace. This HexTech could be used for medicine, healing. Transportation and redistribution. Building and construction. It's not just magic. Magic is unknown and mystic in nature. This is simplifying and applying the Arcane and what we know about it to something we already understand. It's unknown science!" The council goes silent as you speak and stepping backwards never breaking eye contact with your audience your hand wraps around Jayces. Your House ring shining on your finger for them too see.

"Hear me council as not only a friend but a fellow businessman, I as House (L/N), friend of the Kirammans and Jayce, student of Heimerdinger am offering my opinion that Jayces idea could revolutionize technology forever. I would personally endorse him if the Kirammans for any reason chose not too and would take any blame for a project going wrong. My family has worked with you for generations since the beginning of Piltover and my great great grand father has funded many of Piltovers public and private buildings including the University Jayce and I now attend. My family is known for their word and their generosity. My father once had a spot amongst you before medical reasons made him retire. I am asking you in the name of Piltover but also the memory of my father, let us bring Piltover into a new age. Let us do something that's never been done." You state with confidence and finesse as you wait for their judgement.

Seven eyes look back and forth at each other debating what they should and shouldn't do. But Mel's never leave you or Jayce's form.

"... It must be all in favor or a vast majority." She hums finally looking away from you and to her fellow council members. They begin whispering. Mel raises her hand than Mrs. Kiramman. You look to the others.

Bolbok was close with your father but you knew him accepting anything related to the Arcane would be hard. Hoping your relations was enough for him to take a chance he shakes his head no. Shoolas neck peice turns and she glances at Mel. Mel gives her a look but Shoolas shakes her head no tapping her golden claws against the table. Glancing at Salo, Hoskel, and Heimerdinger you wait.

Hoskel lifted his hand as Mel had but Salos nose cringed. He shook his head and out of spite and no love for you he said no. Staring at Heimerdinger as he'd break the vote his golden eyes stars at you.

"professor please..." You mumble but he simply looks away. You feel tears fill your eyes at being rejected by the very people who'd call you family.

"(Y/N) as tempting as your offer is the majority has ruled four to three. Jayce's previous sentence will be his punishment. He will not have jail time nor community service but he is never to step onto University grounds again and his research will be disposed of."

"This meeting is adjourned." As Heimerdinger hits a gavel against the table you feel the tears start to come. Turning as you hear shuffling you see Jayce quickly leaving as people begin to file out of the room.

"Jayce. Jayce I'm sorry!" You state reaching for his hand but he pulls away. Turning to look at you he smiles as he gently cups your face using his calloused thumb to brush tears away from your face.

"Don't be. You did everything you could." Lifting his hands he pushes your hair back before he kisses your forehead. Feeling more tears in your eyes at the council's betrayal and your friends life falling apart you grit your teeth and relish in the softness before the sadness washes over you in waves.

"Jayce don't do anything stupid." You beg but opening your teary eyes he's gone and your alone in the council room with only strangers to watch you fall apart.

~~~

"Am I interrupting something?" Viktor questions and you want to hit him.

"Jayce step away from the ledge!" You yell ready to rush forward to grab him so he doesn't walk right over the edge.

Viktor holds out his cane and you stop tripping over it. Staring into his golden brown eyes in shock, he gives you a wink. Swallowing realizing you need a calmer approach you trust the scientists judgement. After all he came up to you after the meeting with one of Jayce's notebooks and a crazy plan to prove their professor wrong.

"And who's this?" Jayce demands as you sniffle trying not to think about how you just walked in on what could've been your best friends suicide. And how you and Viktor we're almost last because you were coming up with your plan and arguing about what to say.

"A fellow scientist. Someone who wants to make a difference." Viktor answers before taking a step closer holding out Jayce's main journal with his various notes. He opens it flipping to a page with an interesting diagram. "Your notes they are very good. A bit irrational in some parts almost insane in others." He teases waving his hand about before he chuckles. "But legible enough to understand and make a point out of. And your friend here. Your best and intelligent friend. From what they've said they care a lot about you. So if you don't mind and you really want to change the world step off the ledge like they've so kindly asked and listen to our proposition." He states with a wild grin.

"This is Viktor. He's here to help." You state stepping infront of the mad scientist so Jayce focuses on you and doesn't go through with what he was thinking of. "We're going to prove Heimerdinger and all the others wrong." You state firmly as you pick up Jayce's suicide note and crumple it into a ball. He watches eyes blown wide as you throw it at him. "So take the worst idea you've ever had and throw it away so we can make some really good ones. So we can show them all." You state.

Viktor nods in agreement and as Jayce steps away from the ledge and towards you both Viktor holds out the man's leather bracelet which held the Arcane rock. "Let's get to work." He hums and Jayce staring at the bracelet takes it and wraps it around his wrist before putting his hand out.

"Let's." He agrees shaking Viktor's hand on the deal to work together. Taking his book back turning towards you he smiles hugging you close. "Thanks kiddo."

"Any time. Now come on we gotta go." Pulling at the scientists hands you all exit the room ready to do something crazier than what Jayce was about to do. Hopefully it'd work.

[hyrule-kingdom-updates]

Siv couldn’t hear anything for one brilliant moment. 

There was a ringing in his ears, and his mouth tasted bitter. His eyes could only register a blur of assorted lights and colors, he didn’t even know where he was. Jail? Outside? Home? 

He blinked. 

Gold.

Then he remembered.

As our eyes focused, Assivus became acutely aware of the lack of air in his lungs and the arm pinning his neck against metal. 

“Go! Mipha!” 

Assivus reached up and tried to claw out of Arcadius’ grip, the vain attempt at escape only serving to tighten the hold. 

“Asivus,” Arcadius grumbled through gritted teeth, “I will always love you, but if you or anyone else here lies even a stern gaze upon my son, I am not afraid to—” 

He wasn’t listening. He continued squirming in his brother’s grip as he watched Mipha escape effortlessly. Kohga continued being useless off to the side somewhere as per his pattern…

At least Astor seemed to be handling himself properly. 

A knife flew into the wall as the prophet nonchalantly stepped to the side, not a glimmer of shock in his long dead eyes. 

“S-Siv!” The captain was still attempting to reason as Assivus thrashed, “I’m begging you to please—”

He tried to swing a fist backwards to sock Arcadius in the shoulder, jaw, or something to get him to let go. But of the swings that even managed to make contact, didn't seem to phase the captain at all. One might even consider that it would have been better to choose the brother with the greater muscle mass, but alas.

Mainly, as the conflict brewed, Assivus occupied himself with the audacity of still being at the mercy of this pathetic, rambling—

“—Please, I’m sorry that I—”

Boring. Asivus tried to slouch down and kick backwards at his brother’s knees. Unfortunately he still couldn’t get the angle on him. Off to the side, the sound of Kohga getting the wind knocked out of him could be heard, along with the echo of metal clattering on the floor. Mipha was spouting something as she readied a spear at Astor.

Asivus huffed in defeat. “Alright, I’ll bite.”

“—ago, that I might still be able to get you…W-What?” Arcadius knitted his eyebrows. “Bite what? I didn’t even ask a question, or say any exaggerations in need of—” 

Assivus sunk his teeth straight into his forearm. It didn’t take much force to get a scream out of him, most likely helped due to the arrow wound apparent through poor Arcadius’ palm. 

Despite it all, some unseen force that wasn’t mine seemed to give Arcadius the will to keep holding onto Assivus. But the moment’s shock and hesitation was enough of a window for me to break free of his grip and charge towards Mipha and Astor. 

Her eyes were locked on the seer. “But. You on the other hand…”

The trident soared, and Astor made no movement or indication of caring about the incoming promise of death. Assivus shoved his shoulder and conjured a sword of malice. The audacity of being ignored as some secondary priority bubbled in his mind. He swung upwards in a sloppy parry, the trident hissing at the contact, before clattering once more to the ground. 

Astor nodded his head, not even looking at him. “Appreciated.”

“Too lazy to magic up a shield?”

“I’m low on malice, that’s why you exist, no?”

“Get more of your own. My back’ll break from carrying this whole team.”

Astor muttered under his breath. “I only managed to siphon so much from that woman—” 

The creak of a metal hinge. The sound of a holy sword sliding up against its scabbard. 

It was Assivus’ turn to be tugged by the shoulder as Astor moved towards Link. 

“Now, one moment. Let’s help this hero learn to keep quiet, permanently.”

[myimaginedcorner]

"A VERY SPECIAL DAY" - SHOREN

As promised, here is the special prompt for SoJ's birthday!! I enjoyed making it, so I might consider doing another one if I see that you've enjoyed it, too!! ^^

(As usual, if you feel like you've spotted an error in the writing, please do not hesitate to tell me, it helps me greatly improve my writing!!)

*******************************************************

The sun was still yawning in its bed of mountains when the heir opened his eyes, greeted by the escaping stars that were about to leave the sky’s dark mantle. How long has it been since he last saw sunrise…? After he came back from that hellish trip, the beauty of a good night’s sleep kept Shoren in bed until servants started sieging his room’s doors, worried that the prince will miss his breakfast to His Majesty’s big displeasure. Royal duties and tight schedules weren’t made to enjoy one’s noble life – and yet, after his wanderings in the real world, Shoren saw life slightly differently than he did before.

Ah… he’s beating around the bush, isn’t he? Such memories were used to prolongate his rest, still laying on his soft, wide bed. There was no time for this today. Not today.

Standing up with a tired yawn, the prince allowed his bare feet to touch the castle’s naked stone floor, waking up all of his senses with a strong shiver from the cold marble’s stroke. With a wry face, he quickly made his way into his bathroom to bring his face a decent look, refreshing his closing eyelids with some water and brushing his blonde hair into its proper place. Five minutes later, a new, gorgeous man left his chambers with a calm smile, keeping his feelings under a mask of gentle happiness required by anyone who grew among the never-sleeping Court. Today, however, he needed to avoid as many people as it was only possible.

He had other plans in mind.

Stealing a loaf of bread and some jam from the kitchen – left there by a thoughtful chef – the prince made his quiet way into the eastern side of the castle, where an abandoned tower stood, closed to both visitors and servants. Once the Magician’s tower, now it had no use in the royal palace, as the Seers monopolised their close relationship with Hero’s monarch cutting the ancient link of magic and the crown. A heavy lock now hanged above the old, metallic door, one that Shoren didn’t take long to break with his own power. It was all oxidated, just like the door itself… no one was there to take care of this side of the castle, completely forgetting the history that hid within.

Screeching sounds of old wooden planks welcomed the heir into the ancient tower, keeper of many secrets, including his own. The spiral staircase that led towards the tower’s ceiling stood firmly despite the state of its deteriorated steps, creaking with only slightly ominous sounds each time Shoren put pressure on one of them. Slowly but confidently, the prince made his way towards the tower’s top, ignoring the half-ruined levels with locked shelves and destroyed chairs. The old pupil’s class, the library, the archmage’s office… all of that now existed far away from the main castle, locked in the academies, away from the common world. Mages enjoyed their new degree of mysticism, their self-inflicted segregation for years of draining studies: Shoren, however, never understood the beauty of travelling afar to learn something he could learn here, at Capital, with teachers just as skilled as the main mages of those schools that nonetheless allowed the nobles to interact and still carry their duties besides refining their abilities…

You’re rambling.

A shiver went up Shoren’s spine, making him shrink his eyes, his lips pursed tightly. Yeah, he was.

He had a mission here.

 *                                            *                                            *   

“Shoren, where are we?”

The adventurer’s sweet voice sounds increasingly impatient as they continue to walk, their bandaged eyes unable to peep towards the surprise spot where Shoren’s taking them. Their hand, locked in a tight grip with the man’s hand through their long fingers, remains as the sole link that the prince left for them to their surroundings, guiding his old friend with gentle pulls between the rocks and grass of the hill’s pathway.

“We’re almost there, just a bit more,” purrs the blonde man with a wide grin, letting his voice become a second anchor by which the guided guest could stabilise its pose. “Careful here, you have a step in front of you.”

“High or low?”

“…Medium?”

“…You should work as a guide.”

Laughter disturbs the peacefulness of the nearby forest, whose ominous branches shake in brief disgust in front of such pure feelings. Shoren, taking the second hand of his companion, helps them jump off the last bit of the way, finally stopping near a deteriorated wooden door with chains and locks hung all around it. At first sight, it looks like the whole race of demons was sealed behind it – and yet, it is, however, just a trick to scare thieves off, so no one dares to enter the main castle through the back door of the old tower. Knocking off the already broken ‘security’ that he destroyed beforehand, Shoren opens the path with a strong creak of rotten wood, smiling with just a bit of mischief towards the doubtful expression that forms upon his guest’s cute face.

“We’re almost there.”

“Is this safe?”

“As safe as it can be!”

Although the adventurer doesn’t seem quite convinced by Shoren’s reassurance, they don’t protest when the man takes their hand and guides them inside. After all, it’s Shoren – he’ll never put them in unnecessary danger.

The screeching sound of the old stairs brings shivers to their skin, and Shoren notes how his friend’s lips get pursed from slight, unconscious nervousness. Slowing down even more, the man stands next to his companion and pulls them into his soft embrace, his gentle hands covering the adventurer’s waist as he provides a safety net for their stability.

“Just a few steps more…”

Shoren whispers these last words into their ear, feeling his own lungs shrink from sudden expectation as they overcome the staircase of the tower. With new, silent planks under their feet, the mage steps aside from their warm body, placing himself right behind them and starting to untie the bandage on their eyes.

“We’re there?” the curiosity within the adventurer’s voice brings Shoren’s smile into an even wider grin, full of excitement.

“Yes, we are.”

As the piece of cloth falls from the companion’s eyes, an audible gasp accompanies their first reaction, dying the heir’s pale face into shades of dark pink. In front of them, the highest level of the tower has been renewed into a wooden attic, with a wide, circular window embedded into one side of its conical ceiling. A small lamp hangs from the top of the tower, its dim light barely lighting up the entire room: that is, however, solved with many small candles, placed all around the attic upon small piles of books and on the floor. A pair of carpets lie right in the centre, with short-legged tables standing next to them: upon those carpets, two bags made of soft fur rest peacefully waiting for their new owner, their fluffy texture making them comfortable even for the pickiest guest. A corner of the room holds a small wardrobe with some tea and sweets, prepared for that occasional hunger that doesn’t bother one too much to go and seek some proper food. The window, decorated with some runes, lets the stars’ shining reach one’s eyes with all its beauty, losing no sky spark to the illuminated room and letting thirsty contemplators enjoy their constellations without seeking the realm of total darkness.

“Do you like it…?” Shoren’s voice trembles as he watches his most beloved creature walk around, inspecting each small corner of his most hidden secret.

“Like it?”

Their voice makes Shoren’s heart stop, his blue eyes staring without a blink into the depth of the most beautiful of pupils. He feels his lips dry instantly, together with his throat…

“Oh, Fate, you’re so cute,” the adventurer’s sudden laughter shifts Shoren’s expression from fear to slight confusion, as he feels a pair of hands wrap around his waist and pull him forwards.

“I love it. This is amazing,” purrs the adventurer locking their gaze with his blue sight, and Shoren feels how all his worry gets washed away with the sweet feeling of fulfilment. He’s ready to look into those eyes for the rest of his life, to lose himself in them and make them his reality. With only echoes left of past shyness, he reciprocates the warm embrace as they come even closer, their noses touching each other’s tips. Shoren knows that his lips are smiling way too widely for his own sake, yet he cannot do anything about it: instead, he just closes his eyes and rests his forehead against the forehead of the adventurer, his blood boiling within him from a well-known, thrilling, overflowing feeling.

“Happy birthday,” he murmurs, accompanied by yet another laughter from his friend…

No, not his friend.

His lover.

[infinitystonesonmymind]

A Witch And Android | Mother Figure! Wanda x Reader, Dad Figure! Vision x Reader

(Angst with a hint of fluff) Reader has pyrokinesis. Reader is about 16/17.

This is loosely based off of something that happened in my DR.

Steve said it would take an hour at the most to clear out a hydra base. He sent in Bucky, Wanda, and you to clear out and grab intel. He, Natasha, and Vision were backup if needed. The mission was routine and supposed to go off without a hitch.

As the quinjet landed, the recon team got out. “Get into position and wait for my signal.” Steve said over the comms. Wanda grabbed your hand and rubbed the back of it. “Follow protocol and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She kissed your forehead. “I know, Wan. I’ll be fine.” You rush over to your position.

“Wanda, there are two guys to the left of your position.” Bucky says. “On it.” Wanda uses her magic and takes the men out. “Let’s move out.” Bucky motions us to a metal door. Bucky opens the door and starts to clear the facility. You and Wanda follow closely behind.

“(Y/N), clear the room on the left, and I’ll get the one on the right. Wanda, stand guard in the main room.” You follow Bucky’s orders. The room has a desk with a computer and filing cabinets. “Steve, I have files and a computer. Maybe asbestos because this room is pretty dusty.” Nat chuckles.

“Download the data and search the files.” You start to download the data. A loud bang is heard from the back of the facility. Alarms start ringing. “The files were a distraction. Get out of there!” Steve shouts.

The door to the room shuts and locks. “I’m stuck!” You say and grab the door. You try melting the metal, but it’s too thick. You start shouting for Wanda and Bucky. You can hear them trying to pry the door open. “Self-destruct in 1 minute.” A robotic voice says over the intercom. “You guys have to get out of here!” Wanda starts to sob. “I’m not leaving you. I can’t go without you!” You use all your force to melt the door. You faint from the amount of energy exerted.

You awake in a bed. You assume it’s the infirmary from the beeping noises. You hear Wanda’s voice, but you don’t have the energy to open your eyes. Her hand is clutching yours for dear life. “Please be okay. I can’t lose my fire. You’ve given me the chance to love and be loved unconditionally. You’ve given Viz and me the opportunity to be parents. You’ve completed our family in ways you don’t even know. We can’t go on without you”

You squeeze her hand. “I’m not going anywhere.” You rasp out as you open your eyes. You see a puffy eyed Wanda and very concerned Vision setting on the left side of the bed. Vision has one hand on her shoulder and another on the bed. You move your hand and pat the bed for Wanda and Vision to come sit next to you.

Wanda moves next to you, and Vision sits by your feet. “How am I alive?” You weakly say. “I ripped the door apart and pulled you out.” Vision puts his hand on your leg. “I couldn’t bear to think of a world without you.” You nod and lean into Wanda. “Thank you.” Vision shakes his head. “There is no need to thank me. You know I will always try my best to protect you and Wanda.” Wanda starts to play with your hair. “I think you made it easy for him. The door was almost melted when he got there.” You gave her a small laugh.

“Thank you, guys.” Vision sighs. “You don’t have to thank us.” You cut him off before he can start to ramble. “I’m not thanking you for this. However, saving my life is a big deal. I’m thanking you for taking me in and giving me a family.” You choke up a bit. “I’m thanking you two for being the best mom and dad anyone could ask for.” Vision and Wanda lean in to hug you. You start crying a bit, and Wanda wipes your tears with her thumb. “We’ll always try to be the best parents for our fire.”

Tony stands at the doorway. “You know kid, the best parents usually are a witch and android.” You roll your eyes at him but he’s right. The best parents for you are a witch and android.

[works-of-fanfiction]

“This is Silly.” - Graham Coxon x Reader

Summary: The reader tries to treat Graham for Valentine’s Day.

Warnings: None, just short & cute.

Word Count: 1.5k.

A/N: For this, I imagined The Magic Whip era. There’s nothing in here to explicitly highlight Graham being older so you can read it however you please! This was originally going to be a smut oneshot but I liked it just like this (sorry if that disappoints) <3

Gif credits go to the creator linked on the gif.

_______________

“How long are you going to be? You’ve been in there ages!” Your increasingly impatient boyfriend calls from the other side of the bathroom door, his head pressed to the wood as his voice reverberates deeply through the room. You sit on the edge of the bathtub in the same spot you’ve been in for the past six minutes or so, fingers tapping on the porcelain and toes digging into the fluffy bath mat below.

“I’m not coming out! This is ridiculous.” You shout back, right hand flying to your mouth to pick at the skin around your fingernails. Graham rattles the door handle again only to find it still locked. He sighs, palm resting against the doorframe, thumb and forefinger absentmindedly picking at the peeling white paint.

“Come on, Y/N. Come out, please.”

“No. I feel silly.”

“But I bet you don’t look silly.” With his head still firmly pressed against the door, Graham listens out for any sign of movement in the bathroom. Through the gap at the bottom of the door, you can see his shadow and his feet shuffling around. Deciding to bite the bullet, you pull yourself to your feet and meet your reflection in the mirror, fluffing up your hair then immediately flattening it again - a nervous habit.

Graham steps back as he hears the lock turn, stopping when the backs of his legs hit the bed frame. The door opens slowly, your left hand clinging onto the handle as your right rests across your stomach in attempt to cover as much skin as possible. Graham leans against the bed frame, hands gripping the metal on either side of him as you fully step into the bedroom, the bathroom door squeaking shut behind you. “Ta-dah!” You chime unenthusiastically, waving your arms in the air only for a brief second before hugging yourself again and tiptoeing towards him. “Told you this is silly.”

“It’s only silly because you’re hiding yourself.” Graham says softly, body straightening as he reaches out to you, his fingers grazing your forearms that tightly clutch onto your stomach. “You look amazing. Now put those arms down.”

“I’m going to go change. This was a bad idea.” You turn to leave but he lunges forward and grabs your shoulder, bringing you back to face him. His hands grab each of your wrists and gently move your arms until they’re back at your sides. You can’t help but fidget as you stand before him, despite him seeing you in much less clothing than this hundreds of times before.

“Look at you.” Graham breathes, his eyes completing a full scan of your body before returning to admire your face, a blush spreading throughout your cheeks. You glance down at yourself and shrug, tugging at the sheer stocking on your leg with your toes to stop it from twisting.

“D - do you like it?” You ask nervously, resisting the urge to fold your arms over your chest.

You didn’t want to admit it, but it had actually been Alex’s idea to surprise Graham with this particular outfit. The thing with Alex was that his ideas had always been either fantastic or horrendous, with absolutely no middle man. This idea had sounded great at the time when you were drunk and rambling about what to do for Graham for your first Valentine’s Day. For some odd reason, your intoxicated brain had penned Alex as the romance expert. You’d gone into town the very next morning, hungover with a mission to accomplish. After trying on various pieces in different colours, all more risqué than you could’ve ever imagined, you’d settled on a blush pink set completed with all the stereotypically “sexy” trimmings. Never in your life did you picture so much lace would be on your body at once. You felt like a mannequin in the middle of a fabric shop.

“I do. Y - “

“This isn’t really me... Is it?” You interject, one foot crossing over the other awkwardly whilst your nails pluck at the sparkly and unbelievably itchy piece of lace on your hip.

“It’s new, yes. But if it’s any consolation…” Graham pulls you in closer, resting back against the bed frame with your body situated between his legs. You stumble a little, cushioning your fall by grabbing onto his shoulders. You bury your face into the crook of his neck, his head turning to the left so his lips can reach your cheek. “I think you look incredible.” He leaves a soft kiss by your ear, the smacking sound loud and his breath tickling your skin. You can’t help but giggle, rubbing your ear against his shoulder.

“Really?” You mumble, voice muffled by Graham’s jumper. He reaches round to take ahold of your face, carefully manoeuvring your bodies until you’re opposite one another again. It’s impossible to avoid his gaze; it’s like his eyes are burning holes into your face, leaving marks wherever they land. Your skin is hot beneath Graham’s touch and the lack of space between your bodies makes the air feel humid and tight.

His reply doesn’t come in words as his right hand slips from your face to wrap around your back. His left thumb remains on your cheek as his fingers hook beneath your ear, slipping into your hair and lightly pulling it at the back. A slight whimper escapes your lips before the sound is consumed by Graham’s mouth meeting yours. What starts as a sweet, slow kiss develops into a bout of desperation and insatiable need, a need to have you as close as possible. Hands explore bodies, unsure of their destinations: clinging onto fabrics, slipping beneath garments, gripping onto clammy skin. The lenses of Graham’s glasses grow foggy, and you pull away to carefully take them from his face and set them down on the ottoman beside you. He squints a little, eyes adjusting to the room around him, carving out your silhouette in the moonlight glaring through the curtains. His hands never leave your body, like they’re fused to your skin, moulded to your shape like a sculpture.

“You really are beautiful.” He whispers, the back of his fingers grazing your cheek lovingly. You hold onto his upper arms, your fingertips stroking his soft woollen jumper as you remind yourself of just how lucky you are. Catching your reflection in the mirror behind him, you stifle a laugh as you spot your beet-red cheeks and messy hair. For Graham to find you beautiful in this moment seems crazy to you, but the look in his eyes is enough to convince you that he’s telling the truth. He’s always telling the truth. In fact, you’re not sure you can recall a single lie coming out of Graham’s mouth, not even a little white one. You’re still convinced that one day you’ll wake up and realise he was just a figment of your imagination.

“Alright!” Graham starts, cutting you out of your silent daydream. He bends, arm hooking under your knees as he lifts you up. You squeal, laughing as you kick your feet around.

“Gra! What are you doing?”

“You’re my Valentine’s gift, right?” He steps around to the side of the bed, placing you down onto the mattress. You scoot back, propping yourself up on your elbows and looking up at him with a devilish smile on your face. “Can I open my gift now?”

“Graham!” You grab the nearest pillow from behind your head and throw it at him, hitting him square in the face. “That’s filthy.”

“I didn’t mean it like that!” He protests, kicking the pillow up from the floor and catching it in his hands, throwing it back at you. You catch it, placing it back down beside you.

“Sure you didn’t.” You tease, crossing one leg over the other and extending your body.

Graham pulls at his right sleeve, sliding his arm out before the rest of the jumper follows. “Okay, maybe I did.” He drops it on the floor and climbs onto the bed, engulfing you in his arms and nuzzling his face into your neck, his hair tickling you. You laugh, wriggling beneath him and clawing at the back of his shirt. He feathers your skin with kisses so light, it’s like a thousand butterflies are walking all over you with barely-there footsteps and wings brushing against you.

You manage to fight him off, rolling the two of you over so you’re straddling him. His fingers rest at the top of your thighs, tracing over the lace trim of your stockings. You toy with the strap on your shoulder, trying your best to put on a sexy show for him. A smile plays on his lips as his grip on your thighs tightens, his large palms squeezing them. “Now I just have to figure out how to get this thing off.” You scoff, reaching behind you. Graham’s hands fly up to grab your wrists, stopping you from going any further.

“Leave it on.”

[kiki-shortsnout]

Intimacy prompt 34 and 37 for IronStrange pleaze?.

Oh I think Have I Ever is my favorite work of yours in intimacy because there's no way those 2 will get together without being dramatic first haha XD

Hey! Thank you for the ask, and thank you for the compliment, I'm happy you're enjoying these prompts!

Whew! I'm making some progress on these prompts!

***

‘Do you regret it?’

Tony pulled up his sunglasses so he could give him the full effect of his unimpressed stare.

‘Am I supposed to pluck the context out of thin air, Strange? Regret what?’ he asked, flicking his sunglasses back into place, and sinking his feet further into the scorching sand. He heard the breath leaving the wizard’s lungs as he sat up on the blanket, the shift of bare skin across the fibers of it.

‘No, because you know exactly what I’m talking about.’

Groaning dramatically, Tony flung his arms out behind him to support his weight as he leant back, palms stinging from the heat of the sand, glorious, smoldering heat. He didn’t answer straight away, keeping his gaze locked on Morgan leaping through the frothy waves, Peter a few seconds behind her, just as excited.

‘No. No, I don’t regret it.’

His divorce with Pepper wasn’t something he liked to talk about, but their relationship was well past the point of idle chitchat. Hours wedged together on an alien spaceship would do that. They’d stared at death incarnate together, had given everything they could to stop Thanos, and that formed a connection between people, regardless of their backgrounds.

Magical or not.

Tony sat up, inching closer to the shade Stephen had refused to leave the whole time they’d been at Malibu, and taking a moment to eye up his milky white skin. The man looked like he could get sunburnt in the shade. Using magic to tilt the umbrella so Tony could share, Stephen scooped up the seashells Morgan had found earlier, gleaming treasure she had entrusted him with their safekeeping.

It made him smile, how seriously Stephen treated her, and it made an unusual sensation stir in his chest, a feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time, not since he’d first started dating Pepper.

‘I think she loved the idea of me, what I could be, what I would’ve been if not for Iron Man,’ Tony said suddenly, watching his kids screech as the Cloak chased after them, shaking water from its fabric, indicating it’d been dunked in saltwater.

‘I wanted to be that man for her, I really did, and she’s still one of the most important people to me, not because she’s the mother of my child, but because I love her. I always will, just not in the way she deserves.’

‘Tony, this wasn’t an excuse for you to start tearing your self-esteem into ribbons,’ Stephen scolded.

‘I’m not, I’m answering your question. I knew, we both knew as soon as I leapt aboard the alien doughnut that it was over. We tried to work past it, all of us left behind in the five years you guys were gone tried to cobble our lives back together, but it…’ Tony sighed, scooping up a handful of sand and gazing at the millions of sun-kissed gems, fragments that created a whole.

‘I get it, I suppose it’s hard to love a hero, it’s hard to understand…unless you’re one yourself.’

‘I don’t blame her for wanting me to give up Iron Man, I get it, I just…couldn’t. I tried, but as soon as you came to me about Thanos, I knew I had to go…I didn’t stop to think about how it might affect her, jumping on another suicide mission.’

Tony reached over Stephen’s ridiculously long legs to reach his can of lemonade he’d left there earlier, grimacing at the warmth of the liquid, but grateful for the way it soothed his dry throat.

‘What about you, asshole, you got a special lady?’ Tony asked, deflecting the conversation.

‘Nope, no special someone,’ Stephen stressed the last part, watching the kids in the water and inhaling deeply.

Now that Tony didn’t know. He should’ve really, after the flirty little wink he’d given when they’d first met, but Tony had chalked that up to the man showing off his impressive skills. Tony wasn’t arrogant enough that he couldn’t admit Stephen had an extraordinary repertoire of skills, and the man could fight…but he didn’t have to verbalize it.

Strange had a big enough head already.

‘You were right, this…this was needed,’ Stephen said, waving a hand at the beach, indicating the this. Tony was distracted by the tremble in his fingers, the slender scars across his fingers and the back of his hands, revealing the trauma, the pain he must have felt having pins in his bones.

He could understand that, the story scars left behind, the proof of their hubris.

‘Well, I promised you both, didn’t I? Once we got back to Earth and everyone was saved, we were going to have a holiday. No outer space travels, no insane alien overlords trying to destroy us. Just us, the sun, sea and warm lemonade,’ Tony held his up in a toast, grinning as Stephen grabbed his own can and clinked the side of it.

Morgan had stopped running in the sea and was now digging a hole in the sand with her bare hands, watching as the tide came in and filled it, trying to create a moat of sorts. Lifting her head, Tony watched the briny breeze tease her salt-crusted tangles away from her face. His love for her startled him at times, how he could love another being as much as this. He loved Peter too, the kid had been his driving force to discover the trick behind time travel, and he’d risked everything to bring him home.

Thinking about them both made other feelings surface too, black oozing things that he tried to suppress, negative feelings about why his own father couldn’t have felt the same, if one day he would treat Morgan and Peter with the same cold-hearted disregard.

‘Tony, hey douchebag, you alright?’

The sun overhead burnt his gaze gold as he lifted his eyes, leaving him dazed and blinking back tears.

‘Yeah, sorry, I’m good.’

‘You drifted away there…anything you want to talk about?’ Stephen asked, his tone careful, trying not to probe.

‘Nah, Doc, just my daddy issues rearing their ugly head again.’

Stephen looked at him then, his aquamarine eyes glowing from the sun’s reflection, and Tony felt like his gaze was burning back the layers he swathed himself in, piercing his body and reading his mind. He couldn’t explain it, but he’d always had the sense Stephen knew more than what he revealed, that he could see things in the fabric of the universe that Tony was blind to.

Fourteen million futures, each a glimpse of a possibility, how many more of them were out there? What else had Stephen seen?

‘Tony, you’re a wonderful parent,’ Stephen argued.

‘How would you know!’ He regretted the snap, knowing it was part of his self-defense mechanism, but Stephen didn’t know him that well yet to recognize it for what it was, and he opened his mouth to apologize when he suddenly found a trembling hand across his mouth.

‘Because I’ve watched you with them. I saw you with Peter on the ship, the sheer horror in your eyes when you thought you’d brought him to his death, I could literally hear your brain trying to think of a way to send him home. With Morgan, Tony, you worship the ground she walks on, you’re caring, attentive…’ Stephen trailed off, a slight redness to his cheeks as he let his hand fall.

Tony went to warn him that he was burning from the sun when he caught sight of Stephen’s gaze fixed on his lips. Feeling daunting, he let the tip of his tongue come out to wet his bottom lip, suppressing his laugh when he saw Stephen’s blush deepen, his gaze turning back towards the sea.

He could do one of two things here. Ignore what had just happened and go back to the carefree attitude they were enjoying at the beach, or address the issue and explore the possibilities of what it could mean for them. Despite how quickly his brain tended to work, the way it could create possible scenarios and see them through in order for him to select the best one, Tony found himself hesitating.

‘When you said it’s hard to love a hero…were you referring to yourself?’ Tony asked.

Stephen didn’t answer for a moment, his gaze now on the Cloak shielding the kids from the worst of the sunshine, its collar dipping down as it tried to examine the castle Peter was building beside Morgan’s moat.

‘It’s not hard to love you,’ Stephen answered, his words nearly lost in the breeze.

‘I’ll have you know it’s near impossible to love me,’ Tony joked, his mouth moving faster than his brain. ‘I’m a mess, I forget about people when I’m inventing, I’ll always put the safety of Earth before my partner-’

Stephen’s mouth on his made his ramblings stop, the touch of shaking fingers on his jaw felt like wind brushing over sunburnt skin, blistering and soothing in equal measure.

‘It’s because of those things that I like you,’ Stephen murmured against his lips. ‘It’s not the idea of you I love, Tony Stark, I know who you are. Fourteen million versions of you.’

Despite the surprise he felt at this revelation, the clench in his gut from the anticipation of what this could mean, Tony smiled against his lips, leaning closer.

‘Sorry I didn’t ask,’ Stephen whispered across his mouth. ‘Can I kiss you again, Tony?’ His free hand covered Tony’s on the sand as the other continued to sweep across his jawbone, down to his throat and back again.

‘I could be persuaded,’ Tony agreed with a laugh, pretending to fight off Stephen’s tongue invading his mouth, falling back to the ground dramatically. ‘Why, Doctor Strange, I didn’t know you had it in you!’ he mock gasped, wriggling away from Stephen’s lunge, and getting to his feet as he scrambled down to the water.

‘Prepare to eat seawater, Stark,’ Stephen growled from behind him, giving chase.

He’d never seen himself in this position five years ago, hadn’t been able to see past the frigid metal walls of the doughnut ship as he hurtled forward on his suicide mission, but he was glad events had led him here. Looking over his shoulder at Stephen’s skin gleaming in the light as he pelted after Tony on the beach, he screamed for Morgan to save him, cackling as she ordered the Cloak to stop the Sorcerer Supreme.

This wasn’t where he saw his life at all, divorced, a beautiful daughter, an all but adopted mutant child, a sentient Cloak and a potential wizard boyfriend, but he was happy.

For the first time in years, he could say with complete honesty that he was content with his life.

[the-broken-truth]

Hi, it's the same anon who requested for the whole reader with the bow thing and I have only ONE thing to say: Perfection 🤩🤩 It was AWESOME and OMG, I can't stop gushing about it. Sorry 😅 But if it's not too much, do you mind making a part 2? You can conclude it if you want in part 2. I'm curious to know how she's going to react to when she finally gets kidnapped. Oh, you can make it like she's deathly scared of injections like me lol, I have a HUGE fear of them. So, like she's fighting some assassins and suddenly Damian pulls a sneaky move and sneaks up on her and pierces a needle into her skin and BOOM! She gets kidnapped. Btw, reader/ Alexa's inspiration to being single comes from the maiden Greek goddess of hunting Artemis. She's my inspiration too and she needs no man to take care of her :) Sorry for my rambling TvT And hope you have a nice day thank you <3

Broken Truth (Tail waves): So, Alexa shall have Trypanophobia - an extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles; I think I can make those words dance. I'm glad to know you liked it and Artemis is actually my favorite Greek Goddess.

Athena (Somewhere Else): WHAT DID YOU SAY?!

Broken Truth (Shivering): NOTHING! LET THE WORDS WEAVE TOGETHER BEFORE I'M DONE FOR!!!

[Unknown Location]

[Alexa groaned as the aching in her head began to fade a bit before she opened her eyes - a white fog was all she saw; blinking a few times removed it and made her sight clear again and she took in the unfamiliar environment around her. She was in a brick room & from the light that came from the barred window - it was still daytime. The door that was across from her was black metal and - from the sliding viewer in the door - she could tell she was in a cell of some kind; a prisoner's cell? She wasn't sure. When feeling got back to the rest of her body, she looked around to see she was cuffed to some kind of metal wheel, her wrists & ankles secured over her head and spread apart so that they wouldn't touch each other.]

Broken Truth: For reference - Think of the contraption Heteric had Bruce secured in they captured him & Damian in Batman: Bad Blood.

Alexa (Looks at the contraption that held her - at the computer that as hooked up to it and the wire's connected to the machine, connected to her) (Thinking): 'What is this? How did I get here? Where even is here?'

[The girl knew panicking would get her nowhere so she closed her eyes and focused - trying to remember the last thing before she woke up here.]

[She was... She was in Gotham, she remembered that - making portals around her house. Why was she making portals there? She went deeper into her mind and found the answer - She received a present, no - it wasn't a present, it was a sword. A sword from the League of Assassins. Now, she remembered - It was an invitation from Talia Al Ghul & Ra's Al Ghul: An Invitation to join the League of Assassins, to join their family as the Wife of Damian. When she unsheathed the blade - there was a time & a location; they wanted to meet her. She knew they weren't going to leave her alone until she spoke with them.]

[At Midnight - The top of the Warehouse in the Abandoned Industrial District; the place she killed Talia's men with a single arrow.]

[Alexa's feet splashed in the shallow puddles that the pouring rain made when they reached the room - in her Archer's Gear but with her neck gaiter down, showing the glare on her face as she stood before Talia Al Ghul and her Assassins, her hand clenched around the sheathing of the sword she was given. While the protective clothing was waterproof, her dark brown hair was soaked in the downpour.]

Talia Al Ghul (Smiling at Alexa): I see you've got our invitation. What's your answer?

Alexa (Frowns and throws the sword to Talia's feet): I've told you the same thing for the last 6 months - I want nothing to do with you, your son, your organization, or your father! Nothing! I want you to leave me the hell alone and stop chasing after me as if I owe you something!

Talia Al Ghul (Frowning): I thought you would say that. (Snaps her fingers) Secure her for transport.

[The Assassins that protected Talia charged at Alexa, causing the Archer to summon her bow and begin the battle. Even in close combat, Alexa's skills with her bow her unmatched - one by one, Talia's men fell but she didn't look concerned. When the last one fell, Alexa pointed her bow at the green-eyed woman with a glare of hatred in her eyes.]

Alexa (Lightly Panting): You gonna stop sending men after me now?

Talia Al Ghul (Closes her eyes and nods): Yes.

[Alexa began to lower her bow until she saw the smile on Talia's face.]

Talia Al Ghul (Smirking and opens her eyes): Because we have you now.

[Alexa was about to question her when she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck - the effect as instant. Alexa became sluggish as her vision blurred, making her drop the bow in her hands making it dispel away. Alexa began to fall forward but she was caught in the arms of another - the harder she fought, the more exhausted she became until her mind slipped into nothingness.]

Alexa (Opened her eyes - a glare upon her face as her brown eyes began bleeding gold): Those bastards... They drugged me and abducted me.

[Just then: The door on the far side of the room & two people walked in - The Familiar Face of Talia Al Ghul & An Older Man - He looked dangerous - he must have been the Head Demon: Ra's Al Ghul.]

Talia Al Ghul (Walks over to the bound girl with a smile): I see that you are awake.

Alexa (Narrows her eyes): What? Expected your little knockout serum to last longer?

Talia Al Ghul (Walks over to the computer and sits in the chair before it, typing away on the keyboard): A Cruel Method but necessary - without it, we couldn't have gotten you here unscathed.

Alexa: Maybe you should have just let me the hell alone like I asked you to do.

Ra's Al Ghul (Shaking his head): Out of the question - My Grandson loves you & you are more than worthy of becoming one with the Al Ghul family; you just need some time to realize that.

Alexa: If I didn't 'realize' that 6 months ago - then it's not gonna happen.

Ra's Al Ghul (Looks at Talia): Anything?

Talia Al Ghul: No, Father - nothing out of the ordinary. No genetic mutations could have caused this use of Elemental Magic. She appears to be completely human.

Alexa: Because I am! Gods, you both are morons, just like that overgrown child who can't accept 'no' for an answer.

Talia Al Ghul (Raises from the computer and stands before the bound Alexa): You just act accept the fact you are destined to be with my son.

Alexa (Scoffs & Chuckles): If I was destined to be with your son - The Oracles would have told me but - just like the Huntress Artemis - I don't need or want a man to take care of me when I can take care of myself.

Talia Al Ghul: It doesn't matter what you say - you shall be one with my son, he is away with his father for the rest of the month but that gives us enough time to groom you into a proper partner for Damian.

Alexa (Chuckles before full-blown laughing): AHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Ra's Al Ghul (Narrows his eyes): I fail to see what is funny. With your hands apart, you cannot summon your bow or arrows, thus you are trapped here.

Alexa (Takes a calming breath): You really think my power is limited t using my bow and arrows - False, that's just what I prefer in a fight. (Narrows eyes with a wide smirk) Just where do you think the power in my arrows comes from?

[Before either Father or Daughter could answer - Alexa's right hand opened widely as blue electrical sparks danced along her flesh before spreading to the contraption that held her. Talia moved away just in time thinking the thing was going to blow but all it did was open the locks and Alexa was free, her hand still sparking with electric power as she lifted it to her face.]

Alexa (Smirks at Talia and Ra's): I do love the look on a person's face when they realized they bit off more than they could chew. (Holds her hand out in their direction - a blue ball of light begins to form in her palm)

[Ra's and Talia get out of the room just as a blue bullet of hot blue flame shoots past them and crashed into the wall outside the cell. Alexa moved her hand to face the wall that held the window and blasted it out - the smoke giving her cover to open a portal and jump through, it closed just as the smoke cleared and Ra's and Talia ran back into the room.]

Ra's Al Ghul (Clenching his teeth): Damn it, she's escaped us again. We'll never get her at this rate.

Talia Al Ghul: Relax, Father; I had a backup just in case something like this happened. (Walked over to the machine and clicked a few buttons on the keyboard when a small compartment opened and she reached in - pulling out a vial of blood)

[Alexa's Blood...]

[End]