#my king just hasn’t been able to get it done yet

[taevincii]

I lowkey need the Bengals in the playoffs so they can beat Kermit and his chiefs 😭 I fear Joe and Josh are the only ones who can.

The Bengals need the Colts and Dolphins to lose today to increase their playoff chances. So root, accordingly!

[the-witty-pen-name]

Electric Touch (1)

Steve Harrington x F!Reader

Word Count: 1.5k

Synopsis: Inspired by "Electric Touch" by Taylor Swift ft. Fall Out Boy

Steve has not had the best time in recent history when it comes to love. He knows he shouldn’t put all this weight on a first date, but he can’t help it. His mind is overrun with thoughts of you- with him, being the one. Maybe this time, he’ll have finally gotten it right.

A/N: Can be read read as a follow-up to "The Love Triangle from Hell" or can be read as something entirely separate. This reader is not the same as the one in that series- but it's the same Steve in my head (if that makes sense??)

Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI; smut (not overly explicit); piv; oral (f) receving; kissing; cursing

Steve never used to be anxious leading up to a date. He’d be calm and collected- confident. He was charismatic… once. Now, a terrible dry spell and terrible heartaches later, he’s met someone. And he so wants tonight to go well that he’s been pacing since getting ready a whole hour early. Eddie joked Steve was going to set sparks on the carpet from the friction. Steve couldn’t help it- he’s desperately trying to rid his body of this nervous energy. He needed to get it out of his system before you arrived. It was just hanging out, he tried to calm his nerves. Just breathe. He just so desperately wanted this to go well. 

He didn’t want to put too much pressure on this. It’s just the first date he’s had in a while. Not that you were calling it a date- no one has officially said date, but fuck- Steve wishes tonight is a date with you. He hasn’t been able to get you out of his head since he met you- completely by happenstance. It’s always when it happens- just when you decide you’re done- giving up completely on dating, you meet the person who you’re willing to get yourself hurt again over. 

“It’s just watching a movie, Steve,” Eddie tries to calm his friend’s nerves. He’s sitting at the little bench they have by their front door- leaving soon for a date of his own tonight. “You’re still King Steve,” he teases and in his frustration, Steve flips him off. “You just need to channel that lady killer energy- not all of it, but the good parts,” Eddie offers advice and Steve shrugs. Steve goes over to the window, peeking outside to see if your car is pulling up yet. 

“I really, really like this girl,” he groans, flopping onto the couch dramatically. “I can’t keep fucking up.”

“You’re going to if you don’t stop overthinking this,” Eddie points out. He shrugs on his jacket. “I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Steve says with his hands over his face. He waves Eddie away dramatically. With an unintentional slam of the front door, Eddie is gone- leaving Steve to his own devices as he tries to pull himself together. 

Steve has not had the best time in recent history when it comes to love. He just wants what everyone else seems to have- all of his friends managing to have love figured out at this moment. He feels like he’s being left behind- and he knows he’s missing out. He knows he shouldn’t put all this weight on a first date, but he can’t help it. His mind is overrun with thoughts of you- with him, being the one. Maybe this time, he’ll have finally gotten it right. 

You’ll show up, and you'll be just as shy as he feels- because maybe, just maybe you’re feeling the same way as him. You’ve been thinking about him just as much as he’s been thinking about you. You want him. It’s finally that fucking simple. He wants you to want him, to crave his company as much as he hopes for yours. You’re perfect for him, and maybe he’ll be perfect for you. Fate finally lets him have someone who wants him- he wants his soulmate. Maybe you’re her. Maybe tonight will go well and it’s the start of something wonderful. 

He imagines how it will feel to have you so close, sitting flush against his side. Your perfume will smell so good, and your skin against his will feel so soft. He wants to wrap his arm around your shoulders, and pull you in closer. He imagines what the weight of your head will feel like on his shoulder and if your hair will be ticklish as you rest in the crook of his neck. He wants to experience what it would be like to be close to you like that. 

He wonders if you’ll be as nervous as he feels, or maybe you’re so much braver than him and make the first move. Maybe you’ll kiss him, leaning up as the credits roll and your lips taste so sweet from your lip gloss. Would you kiss him slowly? Would it be one of those chaste, perfect first kisses? Or would you be more needy, more desperate? Just overwhelmed with the feeling of being close to him like how he would feel. Maybe you’ll climb into his lap to let him know you want to go further- you need to be closer, and he’ll happily oblige. Whatever you want. 

How would it feel if you pressed against him? He imagines how beautiful you’ll look in the dark, the TV light making a halo around your body he so badly wants to know. How perfect would your legs rest around his waist? Would he be able to feel the heat between your legs through your clothes? Would you moan? God, he wants to know your pretty sounds. Would you want to take things further? Would you ask between fevered kisses which bedroom was his? 

If you wanted, he’d lay you down and just worship your body if you’d let him. Would you? He imagines how you’d look- your hair played out across his pillow. He can see you in his bed like you were always meant to be there. It’s a space he wants to have completely taken over by you. He’ll be so gentle, if that's what you’re needing. He’ll take his time, pull back your layers as you let him. Maybe you’ll be more impatient, wiggling under his touch until he gives you exactly what you’re craving- what he’s craving to give to you. 

He wonders what you’re wearing- if maybe you picked out any of it just for him? He won’t ask, but he’ll imagine you doing just that. You want to look your best, the same way he does. He wants to put in the effort for you- he’ll spend hours to make his hair the perfect messy, he’ll overthink every sweater and shirt in his closet and he hopes that you did the same. Maybe you left your apartment with clothes strewn everywhere because you also couldn’t settle on what you wanted to wear. Maybe you’ll practice conversations in the mirror as you do your makeup like he did as he ran product through his hair. He’ll make sure to appreciate your efforts. 

Would you let him take it off? After all your hard work, would you let him get underneath it all? God, he knows you’d be so perfect. Would you let him kiss you absolutely everywhere? He imagines kissing your ankles, up the length of your gorgeous legs, before he settles your thighs- your beautiful thighs- on his shoulders. He wants to roll his tongue into you and kiss your wetness, and spend hours there if you’d only let him. He knows he could make you feel so good if you just give him a chance. 

He wants to know the feeling of your hands tangling in his hair. He wants to feel you tug him closer, and he wants to feel you coming apart for him. He imagines the grip of his hands on your thighs to keep you steady when the feeling starts to become too much. He’s got you. He wants you to know it’s okay to just let go. He wants to know how you feel in every sense. He wants to feel your body shake and hear your pretty moans for him if he makes you cum with his tongue. 

He wants to feel your skin, he wants to feel the sheen of sweat between your bodies. He wants to kiss your salty skin and whisper how much he loves you as he pushes into you for the first time. He knows you’ll feel so good. He knows you’ll take him so well. He just wants to stretch you out, and he knows you’ll look so pretty on his cock. He wants to kiss your pretty tits, and squeeze them and lick your hardened nipples. Anything- absolutely anything that would make his girl feel good. He wonders if he’ll ever get the chance to worship you the way he wants to. The way you deserve. 

He’s let his mind wander too far, and he knows he needs to reign himself in. He sits up, and goes back to the window again- perfect timing. He sees the headlights of your car as you pull into the driveway. He takes a few deep breaths, shaking the thoughts he should not be thinking about right now. He fluffs the pillows and fixes the blanket on the back of the couch, trying to think of anything not sexy to calm himself down. 

Hair in the shower drain, double shifts at work, dirty dishes…

Buzz

His thoughts are interrupted by the buzz of the intercom. 

“Hey, Steve, it’s me!” he hears your cheerful voice through the speaker. He can’t help but smile and it melts his heart. He has a good feeling that this is going to be the start of something really great. 

“Come on up,” he says, pushing the button to buzz you in.

TAGLIST: @sunshinepeachx @downbear @fanlifeaamt @exploding-bonbon @losingmygrasponreality @skiddypiddy @andvys @djodirt @moonlightsolo @kyga01 @sheisjoeschateau @melaninjhs @v3lv3tf0x @purpleeyeswithgoldensparkles @sunshine-mrk @danymunsonharrington @mrsjellymunson @fanficfantik @the-unforgivenn @punkrockmlchael @keeryhours

[unholy-screeching9]

Captain King dice doodle?

He’s probably yelling at someone to get back to work 😔‼️

So I’m posting this doodle here for the sake of answering this ask, but just in case for anyone new - I have a pirate au for Cuphead! It’s mainly centered around King Dice and the Devil (plus the King’s Court), and the writing/artwork is still in the works, but my point is that this au also has a blog on tumblr! You can find it here: @thedevilsrevengeau

That blog is where most (if not all) my Cuphead pirate stuff will be - so if you’re interested in asking about/seeing more of it, I’d follow the au from that account!

Anyways YES I have a little pocket of free space to relax/do what I want before finals start to REALLY pick up, so I was able to get this doodle done :)) ENJOYYYY!

(ALSO if you wanna see even MORE about this au that hasn’t been posted yet, you can check out my discord server for the thread!! The link is in the pinned post on my bio, or you can join from this link here: https://discord.gg/PY3JtWDXG2 <33)

[lovelykhaleesiii]

Betrothal from Hell

HEADCANON

PAIRING: Aegon ii Targaryen x fem!Reader, Aemond Targaryen x fem!Reader

WORDS: 1,293.

SUMMARY: How the Targaryen princes react to hearing that you’ve been betrothed, and not to them…

WARNINGS: dark!aegon, dubcon, somnophilia, mentions of pregnancy, dark!aemond, implied murder. MINORS DNI!!!

A/N - I rushed this, but I felt the urge to write. I actually can not get enough of these two, it’s not normal.

AEGON ii:

It made Aegon livid that he knew you’d already been betrothed to another.

His family had made plans since he was just a mere babe, of his reign as King.

Although, the plans hadn’t yet been set in stone & he could always amend them, for he knew once he was crowned no one could question his high authority.

But for now, he was just a Prince. You were highborn, and yet ripe of womanhood a suitor had already been favoured for you.

That wouldn’t stop Aegon.

Having grown up royal and spoilt, Aegon was taught the royal decrees. What to do, what not to do by order of the Faith.

In his calculating mind he knew the loop holes that were necessary sacrifices he’d have to make to save you all for himself.

It would tarnish your reputation. Gods your family might even disown you.

He didn’t care. The primal instinct in Aegon, the countless thoughts of your maidenhood being corroded by another was close to driving him mad.

If he could, he’d have the man killed by order in an instant, although, he knew this would cause problems down the line in his reign, and for now he was still yet just a Prince.

He’d have no choice but to spoil you for himself before you were to be wed.

Aegon and yourself had a few fleeting moments, although you’d stop yourself before you’d given into the lust as Aegon would.

And when you’d told Aegon of your betrothal, ruling that it would be the final time you’d see him, he couldn’t bare it.

He hasn’t slept properly for the weeks to come, drank even more wine if that could be possible, and succumbed to loneliness. No whore in King’s Landing could fulfill the numbness he felt if he’d lost you completely.

The more he thought about it, the more his plan came to life however.

And so it was, Aegon decided that you swell with his child and his child alone.

He knew if he persisted and pursued you long enough he’d be able to cave you into carnal pleasure, and so be it if not, he’d take matters into his own hand.

He didn’t want to risk you turning him down, so he arranged for a maester to create a tea spiked with some herb that would make you helplessly less aware, less alert. He even threatened to kill the maester if he’d so much as whisper his plan to another.

He’d sneak himself into your chambers at night and forcing himself into you.

You’d thought you’d saw Aegon on top of you, and convinced yourself it was a dream. Allowing your deep conscious to feel one last round of pleasure with Aegon even if it was only a dream.

However you began feeling strange the next few weeks to come, you felt more tiresome without even having lifted a finger, felt tender in certain areas & you couldn’t manage to keep food down.

Your mother had a maester come in to see you and had no other explanation to give (very hesitantly as he knew you were still not wed) that you were with child.

You’d never felt so confused, never so lost until Aegon presented himself to your family estate, wanting to speak to you in private.

It was only when he found himself alone with you, did he confide in you his intentions and what he had done.

“I did it for you, my beloved. I couldn’t bear the thought of you with another man, let alone to lay with him.”

Aegon instructed you to inform your parents that you were to end your betrothal. “You can conspire whatever reason with your family. Just tell them, that in return the heir to the Iron Throne, himself, would marry you.”

You were left speechless, even hurt. And yet, you found yourself obeying your whatever command Aegon set.

It wasn’t easy letting your betrothed know, his whole world turned upside down. You hadn’t mentioned anything about Aegon, nor the child that began to grow within you.

Aegon flew you back to King’s Landing, you begged for him to give you a months time before you both were to be wed, although the more you showed the less time you had, and more people would begin to connect the dots. Many supposing you’d seduced Aegon to this marriage when in actuality, it was the opposite.

As the time grew on, the hatred and betrayal you felt began to fade, as Aegon catered for your every needs. He carried himself as the true King that he was believed to be, and despite his family criticising his choice in you, they’d come to realise how good you were for him.

AEMOND:

You were petrified of breaking the news to Aemond that you were betrothed.

You loved Aemond in every possible way and if it had been your choice, he would’ve been the one you’d wanted.

He was all you ever wanted.

However your family had ties with another, and before your birth, they’d made commitments of their firstborn daughter being wed to your betrothed.

And your family was renowned for their loyalty.

They did not think Aemond to be lesser, although that was definitely what he assumed.

“Your father does not think I’m worthy, not your mother, a good enough son for her.”

You tried to plead your case to Aemond countless times, you’d retold the story many a times and yet he was in denial.

Before you could even apologise for the guilt, having felt you led Aemond on for far too long, he remained silent, storming back to Vhagar before flying into the sky, leaving you lonesome.

You’d returned home to your family hastily discussing plans, which you remained oblivious to.

They knew how you felt and had hoped you’d changed your mind, or more so your feelings.

They tried everything, to nudge you closer to your betrothed, arranging play dates and feasts, although there was always something or rather someone in the way.

Aemond did not like to share.

He’d met with your family a fair few times, even dined with them. For God’s sake, he was Prince Regent, it was an absolute honour to serve him under their roof.

And yet, still they stuck by to the word they’d decreed over a decade ago.

It was only the morning after, did your mother rush into your room, her eyes strained and reddened.

“My dear Y/N, something terrible has happened.”

And so she explains the freak accident that had befallen your late betrothed.

Found dead ashore, near the cliff side of his family’s estate. A clean slash to the throat.

As much as you’d wanted to feel bad, it didn’t flow naturally.

And as much as you would come to deny it, you knew all to well who the killer might’ve been.

Although, the last you’d seen Aemond you two were completely alone. If anything, know one would’ve known it could’ve been the Prince for many knew that he was occupied with a royal tour with his family.

And it seemed no one had spotted a dragon in this vicinity, for Aemond would disclose to you later the details of his plan.

“It was all for you. I did what I did, for you Y/N.”

You’d convinced Aemond it was best not to rush into announcing your newest betrothal to the Prince Regent himself. It would make it all too suspicious.

You would allow for your family to grieve and yourself, before Aemond would ask for your hand in marriage.

Your family still besotted and defeated, did not fight this.

“Mayhaps, the Gods wished for our daughter to wed the Prince, who are we to deny you a husband?”

[snowdice]

Big Bang Editing Story [Day 121]

I started writing this fic while editing my Big Bang story years ago, but am going to continue doing it for other things now that Kill Dear is out. I will write and publish 100 words of the story every time I finish doing whatever task I’m doing. If you’d like to block these proceedings, please feel free to block the tag ‘proofread stories.’ I will reblog this post with the parts of the story I do today. Edited chapters are linked; everything else I’ve done so far is under the cut.

My Master Post Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 32 Part 33 Part 34 Part 35 Part 36 Part 37 Part 38 Part 39 Part 40 Part 41 Part 42 Part 43 Part 44 Part 45 Part 46 Part 47 Part 48 Part 49 Part 50 Part 51 Part 52 Part 53

Chapter 54 (Patton)

“I still can’t believe he’s allowing this,” King Thomas said from next to Patton. The two of them were standing at the edge of the arena outside the horse stable, watching from a safe distance.

“If he hadn’t tried to bite me earlier, I’d think he was a different horse,” Patton agreed.

“He doesn’t even let Logan ride him,” the king said. “At least not ride him and give him directions.”

Patton was very aware of that. Logan did on occasion choose to get up onto Mr. Apples’ saddle. However, Mr. Apples was always the once who got to decide where they went after that. Logan had no say.

With that in mind, Patton, Logan, and every stable hand who’d heard about the prospective riding lessons had tried to convince Virgil to learn to ride on a different horse. Virgil was just as stubborn as Mr. Apples however and had insisted. Logan, being the only one who could be around Mr. Apples without risking being kicked, had become his de facto tutor.

Not even Logan could have expected that within a week, Virgil would be able to control Mr. Apples. Though perhaps ‘control’ was the wrong word. Nothing could control Mr. Apples, but for some reason, Mr. Apples seemed willing to do as Virgil asked.

Even right now Mr. Apples was trotting around the training arena like he was a well-trained trick horse warming up with his rider.

“Logan told him we could go on an actual ride today if the lesson went well,” Patton told the king. The lesson seemed to be just getting over because Logan said something to Virgil and Virgil started to climb off. Mr. Apples was patient and still as he dismounted.

“Do you think he’d mind if I went with you?” King Thomas asked.

Patton shrugged. “Mr. Apples might.”

“Mr. Apples definitely will,” the king replied. “I’ll come anyway.”

Logan had walked over to where Patton and the king were standing while Virgil fed Mr. Apples some apple pieces as a reward.

“I hear you’re going to go riding today,” King Thomas said.

Logan nodded. “Mr. Apples seems to listen to him well enough,” he said.

“I might join you if that’s alright. Where are you kids going?” the king asked.

“I was thinking the main forest path,” Logan replied. “It’s not a particularly difficult route, but it’s also a part of the castle grounds Virgil hasn’t been able to see yet. Loraine told me it has been recently cleared after the winter.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” the king said. “Are you going now?”

“Once Patton and I saddle up our horses,” Logan said. “You can come.”

“Great,” the king said with a smile. “I’ll ask for Bella’s saddle to be brought out. I haven’t gone on a ride yet this week.”

He turned then to walk towards the stables leaving Patton and Logan alone.

“Do you think he’s been acting weird?” Logan asked, turning towards Patton.

Patton frowned. “No,” he said. “Not really.”

“I’m just wondering why he wants to go horseback riding with us.”

“He likes spending time with you?” Patton guessed.

“Yes,” Logan said, “but typically in a setting that doesn’t involve Mr. Apples.”

Well, that was fair.

“I mean, it’s not too weird,” Patton said, thinking back through the last couple of days. King Thomas had been a bit… clingy.

“He’s been hanging around a lot,” Logan said, echoing Patton’s thoughts with narrowed eyes. He glanced back at Virgil. “You don’t think Virgil let something slip, do you?”

“He didn’t say anything,” Patton said. “I think your dad would say something if Virgil let slip he was an assassin somehow.”

“Unless he let slip something that didn’t quite implicate himself but invited suspicion.”

“Your dad doesn’t seem suspicious,” Patton said. At least, Patton didn’t think he did. He hadn’t been acting mean in any way. In fact, he might have even been acting nicer.

Logan frowned. “We should keep an eye on him, especially around Virgil.”

Patton bit his lip.

“What?” Logan asked.

“Are we ever going to tell your dad about Virgil?” he asked.

Logan hesitated. “I don’t…” he trailed. “I’m not sure.”

“It just feels weird lying for so long,” Patton said. Patton didn’t lie a lot. Sure, maybe he’d pretend to not know what Mama was talking about when sweets went missing from the kitchens or he’d pretend to not know what Logan’s birthday gift was, but he’d never lied about anything serious before now.

“I know, but,” Logan glanced back at Virgil once again, “even if we did decide to tell, we’d have to convince Virgil everything would be alright beforehand. I don’t think we’re at that point yet. He was terrified of Father until a few months ago, and he’s still cautious around him sometimes.”

Logan was right, of course. Virgil was getting more and more comfortable around the king, but he figured any of the progress made would go down the drain as soon as they brought up telling King Thomas about where exactly Virgil had come from. Patton didn’t know if Virgil would ever be comfortable enough.

“We should go get our own horses,” Logan suggested, and Patton nodded.

Patton and Logan’s horses had already been saddled by the stable hands in anticipation of their ride and it didn’t take long for the king to saddle his own horse, Bella.

The forest path at this time of year was very pretty, Patton thought. The tree branches now had small green leaves on them after having been barren for the entire winter and flowers were starting to grow. In a few weeks’ time it would be even prettier, but it would also be harder for the groundskeeper to maintain as well as it was right now.

Virgil really did seem less anxious around King Thomas now. The path was only wide enough for two horses to go at once, and he didn’t seem to mind that he and the king ended up next to each other while Patton and Logan lagged behind. In fact, he and the king seemed to be having a nice conversation about the local wildlife.

However, if Patton looked close enough, he did sort of see what Logan meant. Virgil may not be anxious talking to the king now, but the king himself seemed just a little bit nervous at least at the beginning of the ride.

He seemed to relax a bit as they rode (even laughing when Mr. Apples tried to bite him when he got too close).

Logan had been teaching Virgil the basics about things like animals, but there was still a pretty big gap in his education when it came to anything that wasn’t about training to fight and kill. King Thomas seemed more than willing to answer any of his questions when it came to the animals and plants around them even if they were sometimes a bit silly.

He’d seen a bird that looked like a dove. (It may have even been a dove, but Patton hadn’t seen it.) This had been a source of endless confusion for him.

“But shouldn’t it live in the dovecote?” Virgil asked.

“Not all birds live in a dovecote,” the king explained again.

“But it’s a dove,” Virgil said with a frown.

“Not all doves live in a dovecote,” the king replied.

“But it’s a dovecote,” Virgil argued. “It’s for the doves.”

“Yes, but there are also wild doves,” the king said.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Virgil replied.

“What about it doesn’t make sense?” the king asked with a laugh in his tone.

“Doves go in the dovecote,” Virgil said.

Patton was starting to have trouble following this argument.

“Dovecotes are made for doves,” the king said, “but not all doves go in dovecotes.”

“Why?”

This seemed to stump the king momentarily, but he still answered after thinking for a bit. “Doves existed before people got to them,” the king explained. “People caught and trained some of them, but there was no way to catch all of them. So, some stayed in the wild and continued with their lives like they had been before humans. Plus, sometimes domesticated doves fly off and never come back. Sometimes they might die, but other times they may have just gotten lost and had to build a new life somewhere far away. Or maybe they even decided that being a trained dove working for humans wasn’t for them, so they decided to go off on their own.”

“You let them do that?” Virgil asked.

“We can’t really stop them in the end,” the king said. “People can try, but it never ends up working as long as they can fly.”

Virgil thought about this. “I still don’t understand,” he said, “but okay.”

“We should take you to the cliffs,” the king suggested.

“What are the cliffs?”

“The castle grounds were built for defense,” King Thomas explained. “The edge of the grounds to the North is a large river and overlooking it is a huge cliff. It’s a good place for picnics and for birdwatching. It’s a bit of a trip, but now would be a good time of year to go.”

He glanced over his shoulder back at Logan and Patton. “What do you boys think about going to the cliffs sometime? Maybe in about a week?”

Logan squinted at his father suspiciously. It wasn’t so much the fact that the king was asking them to go to the cliffs. They did that every so often. However, this time, it only supported Logan’s claims that the king was hanging out with them a lot recently.

“Sure,” Logan said, after a moment.

“Sounds fun!” Patton said cheerily right after, trying to cover for the lack of enthusiasm in Logan’s voice with his own. Judging by King Thomas’s expression and Logan’s tight-lipped scowl, he may have overcompensated.

“Great,” the king said. “I’ll” make sure to make arrangements when we get back to the castle.”

Chapter 55 (Logan)

            Virgil was beginning to be able to read some of the common instructions in magic books, but Logan still made sure to read out the instructions to him at least twice before setting him loose. He’d started to jot down notes to himself about things, though these notes were not words, but various symbols that only made sense to the boy himself.

            Logan had asked about their meaning at one point and received an answer that, while earnest, was unintelligible. The symbols were mostly just pictures of things to represent certain steps in spell casting, but they were filtered through Virgil’s rudimentary penmanship and often bizarre perception of the world.

Though, despite the fact that Logan could not often decipher his chicken scratch, it did seem to help him produce impressively quality charms even as Logan began to introduce more complicated processes to make them. He was a very good student even if he didn’t have the best foundation for learning.

“I add lavender for the next step, right?” Virgil asked, his finger on a word in Logan’s magic book.

“That is correct,” Logan confirmed.

Virgil looked back at the book and mouthed the word ‘lavender’ to himself before turning back to his potion. He grabbed a few sprigs of lavender and threw them into the cauldron.

The liquid popped and bubbled violently, but Virgil didn’t flinch as he once would have, prepared for it now.

After the lavender, Logan knew that it would have to simmer for 5 minutes. Virgil looked down at the boiling liquid, contemplating it for a long moment.

“Can I soak a knife in it?” he asked.

“What?” Logan asked.

“Can I soak a knife in the potion once it’s done?”

“In that potion?” Logan clarified. “In the emergency hand warmer potion?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I think a hot knife would be useful,” Virgil said.

“For what?”

Virgil shrugged. “Cooking food on the road,” he said, “burning wood, stabbing someone and immediately cauterizing the wound.”

“That is… not a standard use for this potion,” Logan said.

Virgil titled his head at him. “Would it work though?”

“Well, I don’t know,” Logan contemplated. “Perhaps. The potion can cause burns if one uses too much of it or if it is used without an appropriate layer between it and the skin. If one were to pick a knife with enough surface area and let it soak long enough, it could in theory get hot enough to do as desired. Hmm…” he thought about it. “There would perhaps be the problem of the potion not sticking to the knife very long as it is intended to soak into fabric. However, cardamom could solve that issue as long as it doesn’t interact with any other ingredients. Let me see that spell.”

Virgil stepped out of his way so he could study the page. “Yes,” Logan said after scanning through all of the ingredients. “I think cardamom would work for something like that. Let me go find some.”

He turned to walk towards where he kept his supplies of potion ingredients. Virgil followed on his heals.

“Can we use a serrated knife?”

“Oh, that’s a good idea, Virgil,” Logan said, nodding as he searched through the cupboard that should hold the coriander. “The knife being serrated would help keep the potion stuck to the blade after many uses and would increase the surface area.”

“That was certainly my intentions,” Virgil said smoothly. There was something odd about the tone that had Logan turning to him and blinking at him. Virgil just smiled at him innocently and Logan turned back to the cabinet finally locating the coriander.

“So how are we going to use that?” Virgil asked.

“We’ll put it in right before the last step and let it sit for about 3 minutes,” Logan said. “If it doesn’t quite work, we may need to make another batch. There are options other than cardamom, but that’s the first idea that comes to mind and it a lot simpler if it works.”

He continued to speak of the many other options they could try as they returned to the caldron as well as how they could test the hot knife. It was already about time for the next step and Virgil did it without interrupting Logan’s rant.

Virgil listened to his suggestions with interest all while still making sure the potion he was making was progressing well.

Logan did eventually take over to finish the potion with the revised steps he’d come up with and they ended up with a potion that looked perfect except it was a few shades darker than the one they’d originally been planning to make.

“Well, it looks good,” Logan declared. “We will need to acquire a knife to test its effectiveness, however.”

“There are a few good ones in the kitchen,” Virgil pointed out. “I especially like the one 10 inch one with the black and white handle.”

“You have been eyeing up the kitchen knives?” Logan asked.

Virgil rolled his eyes as though that was not a perfectly reasonable question to ask him. “We should steal that one,” Virgil said.

“Do you think we’ll be able to sneak past Ms. Heart to steal a knife from her kitchen?” Logan asked.

“We can’t,” Virgil said.

Logan almost didn’t believe him… and then he remembered the water pouch incident. “It’s the dinner rush,” Logan said. “We should probably wait for a bit.”

Virgil was shaking his head. “The dinner rush is the best time,” he said. “Everyone will be distracted, and all of the knives will be out and in prime stealing position.”

“And if Patton’s mother catches us messing around in her kitchen during her busiest time of day, she will have Father ground us for a week.”

“Then we just won’t get caught,” Virgil said.

“I’m not sure if it’s that simple,” Logan said with a frown.

“You can stay here if you want,” Virgil offered. “I’ll just go by myself.”

“No, I’ll come too,” Logan relented, though he did still have some reservations about the idea.

He let Virgil lead him towards the main dining hall. By now, Virgil knew the kitchens and dining hall very well.

“Stay here,” he said. They were in a hallway a few feet down from the staff entrance to the kitchen. “I’m going to do some reconnaissance.”

“What type of reconnaissance?” Logan asked, but Virgil had already disappeared before his very eyes. With a blink, Logan looked up and saw a dark figure disappear onto a balcony overhead.

Well, Logan really had no choice but to wait there for him. It wasn’t like he could follow him. He could hear the clatter of silverware on plates from the dining hall down the corridor as he impatiently waited. It only took Virgil a bit over five minutes to return. He dropped suddenly from above and landed in front of Logan in a crouch.

“Well?” Logan asked, letting a bit of irritation into his tone so Virgil knew he was displeased. Virgil did not seem to care.

“Got it,” Virgil said with a wide grin, brandishing a large kitchen knife.

Logan flinched back at the unexpected sight of a weapon.

“You said you were doing reconnaissance!” he sputtered. “Not…” he trailed off remembering that while they weren’t in eyesight of anyone right now, they could be in earshot of someone. He lowered his tone, “stealing the knife already.”

“I was doing reconnaissance,” Virgil said with a shrug, “and then I used the information gathered by that reconnaissance to steal a knife.”

Logan narrowed his eyes at him.

Virgil just smiled. “You would have gotten in my way.”

“I would not have,” Logan insisted.

“How many times has Patton’s mom caught you stealing food from the kitchens in the past?” he asked.

Logan pursed his lips. “That is Patton’s doing,” he said.

“Sure,” Virgil said with an eyeroll. “I’ll have you prove it some other day, but for now,” he twirled the knife around in a way that made Logan cringe even though he did seem to have an expert handle over it. “We have a knife.”

“Right,” Logan agreed with a nod. “We should continue the experiment.”

Virgil stored the knife away… somewhere on his person, and they snuck back to Logan’s rooms.

When Virgil handed over the knife, Logan did have to admit it was a perfect specimen for their project: long and saw-like with a heatproof handle.

Logan carefully set it in a shallow dish and proceeded to pour the potion they’d made onto it. They let it sit for a little under half an hour before carefully pulling it out of the concoction with tongs and letting it airdry. Meanwhile, Virgil suggested they set up a testing area with various old sheets and clothing. They’d even found and decorated an armor stand with an old suit that Logan particularly disliked.

“Well,” Logan said once he’d tapped the handle and had not gotten burned by the potion. “I think we can test it now.” For safety, he made Virgil put on thick heatproof gloves before handing him the knife.

“So how do I make it work?” Virgil asked.

“The original potion works through light friction,” Logan said.

“So just start stabbing things?”

Logan went to respond, but before he could, Virgil had already twisted around and sliced through one of the sheets hanging in Logan’s potion room. There was a sizzling noise as the knife cut through the sheet like it was tissue paper leaving two aflame halves flapping about.

Logan leapt forward to tear the pieces of sheet down and the two of them stomped on the flames to put out the fire.

“It’s perfect,” Virgil said with a grin once the charred remains of the sheet were extinguished.

“It does seem to work as intended,” Logan agreed.

“Let’s do it again,” Virgil said.

“Er, well, perhaps we shouldn’t…,” Logan started, but Virgil had already set his eyes on the armor stand they’d set up. That suddenly seemed like not such a good idea to Logan.

He stabbed the armor stand viciously. It went up in flames instantly. Logan’s eyes widened as the blaze only seemed to get bigger as Virgil drew back the knife.

Virgil did not seem to share Logan’s worry as he turned and stabbed another piece of hanging clothing, setting it ablaze as well.

“Virgil, no! You’re going to burn the room down!” Logan yelped.

The armor stand at that very moment decided to fall to the ground. They had, perhaps, not set the testing area up as well as they should have because it fell directly onto one of Logan’s rugs and set that on fire as well.

“Oops,” Virgil said, eyes wide.

Above the sound of crackling fire, Logan heard a tapping on the door between his bedroom and work room. It opened slightly after a moment and Logan’s father’s voice called out as he was sticking his head into the room, “Um, what do you mean Virgil… is burning the room down!”

The moment Logan’s father fully processed the presence of the flames, he was bursting into the room. He at least remembered that there was a fire extinguishing powder stocked in Logan’s work room even though that fact had slipped Logan’s mind in the chaos. (Perhaps Logan should have thought to set it out when they were testing a fire knife, but Logan would just add that to his growing list of regrets.)

The king managed to put all of the fires out within 30 seconds of poking his head through the door, but the fire left in his eyes when he turned to them afterwards was perhaps more dangerous.

Virgil slowly hid the knife behind his back. It was probably a bit late for that.

“What were the two of you doing in here?” the king asked.

“Nothing,” Logan said. Virgil shot him a look that told Logan what the boy thought about his lying abilities.

Logan’s father put his hands on his hips. “‘Nothing’ set the rug on fire?”

“We may have been doing a small experiment,” Logan said.

“What experiment?” the king asked.

“…I do not wish to say.”

“Logan.”

“Virgil wanted a fire knife.”

“A what?”

Virgil frowned over at Logan. “Your resistance to interrogation techniques is deplorable.”

Father turned to look at Virgil and obviously spotted the fact that Virgil was holding something behind his back.

“Give it here,” Father said, though his tone was a bit gentler with Virgil than it had been with Logan.

Virgil debated it for a moment, but then offered over the knife with a pout on his face. Father gingerly took it and the fire-resistant gloves from him. “Where did the two of you even get this knife?”

“You can’t tell her,” Logan said.

“You stole a knife from the kitchens?!” the king asked.

“We borrowed it,” Logan said.

“Can it be used for cooking anymore?”

“…Well.”

“In the intended manner.”

“No.”

“Then you stole it.”

Logan just frowned and looked away.

“I’m going to go put this in a secure location,” Father said, grimacing at the fire knife in his hands. “No more experiments for you two for a month. I’ll sic Patton on you.”

With that, he picked up what was left of the fire extinguishing powder (just in case) and turned to exit the room.

“Well,” Logan said once he was gone. “That was irresponsible.”

“I could steal it back from him.”

“N-no don’t do that.”

“I definitely could though,” Virgil said.

“I did not hear you say that,” Logan said, putting his hands over his ears. “I am not responsible for any more of your actions in this matter. I am going to the library.”

He walked out of the room then and Virgil followed him to the upstairs library. He said nothing more about the fire knife, but Logan would be a fool to suppose he forgot about it.

Chapter 56 (Thomas)

“Good day for a picnic,” Helen commented as she handed over the basket Thomas had requested from her a few days before. He was taking Logan, Patton, and Virgil to the cliffs today and it was perfect weather for it. Spring was truly here, which meant that those of Thomas’s duties that had laid dormant over the harsh winter were about to start up again.

The world had been on pause for a bit considering no armies or agents from any kingdom could get through the snow the last few months, but the concerns of last fall were showing their heads once again.

Thomas had just gotten word a day ago that the queen of Lamir had routed out a second assassin hiding in her ranks over the winter. The assassin had been sent shortly after it was made clear that the queen wouldn’t bow down after the assassination of her mother. Luckily, the assassin sent for Queen Cecil had not managed to complete her mission during the winter months.

While there had been no similar attempt on Prijaznia soil, Thomas couldn’t help but feel it was only a matter of time now that the snow had melted. They were already working on increasing security in the coming weeks and, though it was doubtful an assassin had managed to hide in the castle all winter without revealing themselves, they’d be closely scrutinizing all of the newer staff members.

It would be a stressful time in the coming months, which is why, despite everything Thomas needed to do, he was still going to take his son and his son’s friends on a picnic today. Logan had already started taking on royal duties as of late, but he still hadn’t taken them all on quite yet. Considering this was last summer before Logan was of age, they should at least try to take advantage of it where they could. Patton was a year younger, but the sentiment held for him as well.

Then there was Virgil. Despite their best efforts, they still didn’t know enough about Virgil, but Thomas was fairly sure he’d never had a summer to enjoy until now.

“Thanks for prepping lunch for us,” Thomas said to Helen with a smile.

“No problem,” she said waving them off. “I put in some of Virgil’s favorites.”

“Great,” Thomas said. “Do you know where the kids are?”

“Patton said they were going to go pet the cats, so I’d guess they’re in the gardens.”

Thomas thanked her again and told her to have a good day before exiting the kitchen. There was a nearby door that led straight towards the part of the gardens Patton and Logan had always favored. He figured they’d either still be around there or they would have wandered towards the stables by now knowing that they’d be taking horses to the cliffs.

So, he decided to simply walk the normal path from the door to the stable, hoping to find them.

His prediction ended up being hilariously correct. They were indeed on the path Thomas had chosen. It was clear they (or at least Logan) were attempting to make it to the stable. However, as was typical, a portion of the party had been waylaid by whimsy.

Logan was standing further down the path, arms crossed and frowning as he watched his friends. Patton and Virgil were surrounded by cats. Patton was sitting down, holding two of them in his lap and watching Virgil’s legs being swarmed by the rest of them, maybe two dozen in total.

Virgil looked confused, but not unhappy about the presence of so many cats. He was leaning down to try to pet them all.

Logan met Thomas’s eyes as he approached and waved a frustrated hand at the two of them. Logan couldn’t help but smile.

“Virgil fed one of them,” Logan complained as though he wanted Thomas to somehow go into the past and prevent this crime.

Patton and Virgil looked over at Thomas, noticing him when Logan addressed him.

“You’re going to make Princess Marisol jealous,” Thomas said. Logan frowned at Thomas as he used the ‘Princess’ label for the cat.

“Princess Marisol decided not to come,” Virgil said with a shrug. He continued to pet one of the cats.

“She’s probably sleeping on my pillow,” Logan said, sounding grumpy.

Thomas just chuckled. Princess Marisol was technically Logan’s cat, at least that’s what the kids said, and she did spend much of her time in the royal rooms. However, she was very clearly actually Virgil’s cat. Virgil just spent a lot of time in the royal wing as well.

In fact, Thomas still didn’t know where Virgil was supposed to be sleeping. He and Mr. Deknis had actually tried to tail him a couple of times, but he always ended up sleeping in Logan’s room those nights.

Knowing Virgil, he might just sleep in the walls. Though that still did not answer the question of where his parents or guardians were. They still had not figured it out. Thomas would assume he was an orphan who’d snuck onto castle grounds for safety, but Virgil had told Mr. Deknis during their first meeting that he was supposed to be in the castle, and it had not been a lie.

Then again, it had slowly become apparent that Virgil was good at dodging the multrum’s powers. It was starting to seem more likely that he’d somehow inserted a second meaning into his answer to Mr. Deknis that night than he somehow had some ghost guardian no one was able to locate working in the castle.

“She deserves the pillow more than you,” Virgil said, bringing Thomas’s thoughts back to the situation at hand. The look of audacity on Logan’s face made Thomas chuckle.

Thomas cut in before it could become a fight. “I could get Princess Marisol a pillow, so she doesn’t sleep on yours. Or we can get you a new pillow if you’d prefer, Logan.”

“It’s not about the pillow for her,” Logan argued. “It’s about her inflated sense of superiority.”

“She deserves it,” Virgil declared. Thomas could tell he was just trying to rile Logan up, and Thomas was sure Logan knew it too, but still his son reacted exactly in the way Virgil wanted him to.

“You have enabled and encouraged this behavior from the start!” Logan seethed.

“She’s a Princess.”

“She is not a princess!”

Patton shook his head while squeezing the cats in his arms, completely used to this behavior at this point. He ran a chin idly over one of the cat’s heads while watching the argument.

“We’re never going to make it to the picnic at this rate,” Thomas said to him, “and after your mother made all of this wonderful food.”

“You’re the dad,” Patton said. “Make them stop.”

And, of course, Patton did just mean that he was Logan’s dad with that statement. However, when he glanced back up at the silly argument still going on between his son and the cat covered boy on the ground, it did almost look like a fight between siblings.

Especially with the dark hair and stubborn but mischievous look in Virgil’s eyes, Thomas could almost imagine the boy being his own child.

He shook away the thoughts and glanced at the picnic basket in his hand.

“We do have a lot of food in this basket,” Thomas said, pitching his voice up so that Logan (and more importantly) Virgil would hear them clearly.

Virgil immediately turned to look at him, abandoning all interest in antagonizing Logan to look at the basket curiously.

Thomas was never sure if he should be amused or worried about how food motivated Virgil often was.

“What’s in the basket?” Virgil asked.

“I’m not sure,” Thomas said. “Patton’s mom made it. We’ll just have to see once we get to the picnic area.”

Virgil nodded in understanding and began to gently scoot all of the cats out of his lap. Logan rolled his eyes, but didn’t seem inclined to continue the argument he’d been dragged into. Virgil and Patton got to their feet and they continued on their way towards the stables.

The horses Thomas had requested be prepared for their trip were already in saddles, though the stable hand who had been handling Mr. Apples seemed a bit dirtier and more exhausted than the rest.

The stable hand seemed as happy to hand Mr. Apples over to Virgil as Virgil was to have Mr. Apples handed over to him. Thomas received Bella with a smile and Logan and Patton got their own horses as well.

The Cliffs were about half an hour's ride from the main castle. There was a mostly well-maintained path to it, though it was easy to get lost if one didn’t know the way. Mr. Apples knew the way perhaps better than Thomas himself and seemed annoyed by the fact that Thomas was trying to lead the way.

Virgil and Thomas ended up side-by-side whenever the path allowed it to placate him.

He still marveled at how willing Mr. Apples was to let Virgil ride him, especially when he tossed his head in Thomas’s direction, a horse’s equivalent of giving Thomas a stink-eye.

“Are you excited for the picnic?” Thomas asked the boy beside him.

Virgil glanced over at him and nodded.

“I am too,” Thomas said. “It’s always beautiful this time of year. I’m glad I could find the time to take you all there this year.”

“Are you very busy?” Virgil asked curiously.

“I am king,” Thomas reminded, “and now that the world isn’t snowed in anymore things will be busy.”

“With the war?” Virgil asked.

Thomas paused for a few seconds. “Yes,” he confirmed. “With the war, but you don’t need to worry about that.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Virgil asked.

“You’re just a kid,” Thomas said.

“I’m 14,” Virgil said.

Thomas glanced at him. “Exactly,” he said, “a kid, and luckily, you’re in a place that can afford you the luxury of being one.”

“What do you mean?”

“The war has been mainly fought on Mocnejsi soil in recent years. Our boarders have held strong against invasions. Unless something goes horribly wrong suddenly, it would take a long time for the main conflict to get here. The only real threat in the castle would be assassins sent after me personally.”

“Right,” Virgil said. There was an awkward pause in conversation before he spoke again. “You’re winning the war then?” he asked.

“Something could always happen,” Thomas said, “but for the most part, yes, we have quite the advantage right now.”

“Oh,” Virgil said.

Thomas shook his head as they were coming up to a narrowing of the path. “Anyway, today is a day to not think about war. Today we’re going to have a lovely picnic and do some bird watching.”

“Right,” Virgil agreed from behind Thomas as Bella took the lead (to Mr. Apples discontent.)

When the path widened again, Thomas did his best to direct the topic to lighter subjects and soon they made it to The Cliffs.

Chapter 57 (Virgil)

Virgil had never been to a picnic. At least, that’s what Patton had informed him when Virgil had described his past experiences of eating outdoors. Logan had agreed even though he’d admitted that the definition of “picnic” was only eating a pre-packaged meal outdoors which Virgil had done plenty of times.

From what Virgil could tell, the main difference was just how much stuff one brought to a picnic.

In addition to the basket full of food (that Virgil still hadn’t gotten to look in yet), the king had brought a large soft quilt that he had Logan and Virgil spread out on the ground for them all to sit on.

Patton and Logan had also packed some things themselves to bring along. Logan had brought along a book to read, and Patton had brought along a board game (thankfully not checkers but something Virgil did not recognize). Virgil hadn’t brought anything (except for the fire knife he was definitely not supposed to have and was definitely not letting the king see) because he hadn’t known he was supposed to bring things. He wouldn’t have known what to bring anyway.

The blanket was soft and a much better alternative to sitting on the ground, especially because, while there was grass at the top of The Cliffs, there were also a good number of rocks.

The king set the picnic basket in the middle of the blanket once it was spread out and then lowered himself down to sit on one side. Patton quickly followed him, already fiddling with some of his board game pieces, though he wasn’t setting it up yet. Virgil highly doubted that Logan was going to be allowed to read his book unless Patton eventually got bored of the game.

However, they would, hopefully, be allowed to make use of the basket the king had brought along.

Virgil followed the king and Patton’s lead and got to his knees on the blanket across the picnic basket from the king. He peered at the basket curiously.

He didn’t quite know what picnic food was, but Patton had told them they’d be getting ‘picnic food’ and he was very curious about what that meant.

King Thomas smiled at him. “Let’s see what Patton’s mom packed us, huh?” He reached for the basket and flipped it open as Logan sat next to Virgil. “There is a lot more food than usual in here,” the king said, sounding amused. “Let’s see.”

He began to pull out packaged food and glanced in each package to identify it before setting it out.

“We have a few types of mini sandwiches,” he said, putting them down, “and some pasta salad.” He set down the bowl.

“We also have… er something else.” He showed it to Logan.

“They’re hot cauliflower bites,” Logan said instantly upon seeing them. Virgil perked up in excitement. That was one of his favorite foods.

“Ah,” King Thomas said, but shrugged and set it down. “We also have two desserts apparently: cookies and mini apple pies. That last one’s a bit extra for a picnic.”

“They’re very good,” Virgil said happily.

“And we also have.” King Thomas paused, looking confused. “Chicken alfredo?”

“Yes!” Virgil said.

“Why do we have chicken alfredo for a picnic?”

“It’s a Virgil picnic,” Logan groaned. “She packed us a Virgil picnic.”

“Hey, at least momma sent us something too,” Patton said.

“I think I’ll stick to sandwiches for today,” King Thomas said. He looked at Patton and Logan. “Do either of you want…?”

“No,” Logan said. Patton shook his head.

The king nodded and offered the entire covered bowl of chicken alfredo to Virgil. “Here, this one’s yours,” he said.

“Really?” Virgil asked tentatively. It wasn’t exactly strange for people here to offer him food, and he’d expected and anticipated getting to eat on this venture, but the king of the country offering him an entire bowl of his favorite food was something else.

“It’s not really my idea of a picnic food and you seem excited for it,” King Thomas said with a warm smile, still holding it out.

Virgil took it reverently. Despite the time it had taken to get to the cliffs, the bottom of the container was still warm. Virgil assumed it was one of the heating spells the kitchen sometimes used.

“Thanks,” Virgil said, setting it in his lap.

“Of course, Virgil,” the king said.

The bowl was enough for four people to have a little bit, but for one person it was a lot. Still, Virgil was offered a little of every other food in the picnic basket (and he ate a good number of the hot cauliflower bites).

“Where do you put all of that?” the king asked when Virgil finished polishing off the chicken alfredo bowl.

[thegreatcaptainusopp]

ive seen you talk about usopp's dream a lot, and i agree with a lot of your points (basically all of them lol) except for one: the part where you say he's already achieved his goal and simply needs to realize it.

ive always seen usopp's goal as being similar to zoro's, in the aspect that neither of them will be satisfied until they themselves can determine that they've achieved their dreams.

for zoro, he'll be able to say that he's achieved his dream once he, as stated before, has beaten mihawk in a fight (and also helps luffy become king of the pirates, if i've read it correctly).

and for usopp, despite it being a lot more vague, he also has a self-determined goal like zoro. "become a brave warrior of the sea". i personally don't think its simply a matter of him realizing he's already one, but another matter of him only being satisfied once he thinks he's done enough to warrant the title- just like zoro will only be satisfied once he thinks he's done enough to warrant the title of "greatest swordsman in the world".

ah, but these things are pretty up to interpretation, right? i'm not here to say you're wrong or something, hopefully it doesn't come across that way! i just think it's interesting how similar usopp and zoro's dreams are, i wanted to share. :]

Hi! I really like the connections you’ve made here between Zoro and Usopp’s dreams, and I do agree they share a lot of similarities. I think they’re the only two besides Luffy whose dream is to achieve a specific title (king of the pirates, world’s greatest swordsman, brave warrior of the sea). Unlike Luffy, however, Zoro and Usopp’s dreams don’t have a commonly agreed upon path to reaching that title (for Luffy, it’s finding the one piece). You’re totally correct in that both Zoro and Usopp have defined their own terms of when that title as finally been achieved, and they’re the only ones who can basically say that the dream has been achieved.

However, I think there is a very specific difference here, and it’s one that led me to say that Usopp has already achieved his goal while Zoro has not. And this difference is this: Zoro has already defined the specific action he needs to do in order to achieve his dream, while Usopp has not. Therefore, we can see that Zoro has not achieved his dream yet by his own terms, while Usopp, as his terms are yet undefined, may be able to claim that his dream is completed.

Zoro has made it clear from the start how he intends to claim that he is the best swordsman in the world, and that is to defeat the current best. He has indicated that the current best is Mihawk, therefore, he wants to beat him in combat in order to achieve his dream. He’s expressed that specific goal, even promising Luffy that he would engage in this specific duel in order to get to the title. It’s completely self inflicted: he could potentially already claim that he’s the best swordsman in three sword style, for example. But for Zoro it doesn’t work that way because he won’t think he’s achieved his dream until he completes the specific action he wanted (like you said in your ask).

Usopp, on the other hand, has very much not done that. We don’t have a specific action that he needs to complete in order to achieve that title, and as far as I know he hadn’t indicated anything specific that will demonstrate that he’s finally achieved his dream. So in my opinion, as he hasn’t expressed what exactly will make the goal completed, we can claim that it’s already been reached. At the end of the day, like you said, he’s the only one that can declare he’s achieved this title, but I think if he stepped back and took stock of what he’s done up to this point, he may be able to declare it achieved based on all the brave things he’s already done.

I think another element of this is that Usopp is a special case because of his insecurities. Part of the journey that he takes emotionally through the series is confronting his self hatred and realizing that he is enough as himself, that he is already a warrior and can accept himself as he is. In my opinion, realizing that he’s been the brave warrior he wanted to be all along would complete this journey and allow him to overcome those insecurities. Zoro doesn’t have the same emotional journey here to go through, and therefore doesn’t need to have that specific realization.

This is a really interesting conversation, thanks for prompting this train of thought!

[shadowqueenjude]

Lucien x Nesta friendship drabble

Nesta introduces Lucien to her chosen family! @sonics-atelier I wrote it :)) Nesta surveyed the Autumn Court male coolly. She could see the similarities between his face and Eris’s. Her sister had not overstated his cruel beauty. Since she was now married to his brother, and he was in turn mated to Elain…she supposed she would have to get to know him now. That didn’t mean she was going to make it easy on him. She let pure dismissal freeze over her stare as she looked him over. Lucien Vanserra did not balk from her stare. A ghost of a smirk flitted across his face as she continued to stare him down. “Are you admiring my metal eye, or just contemplating killing me, Nesta Archeron?” Nesta couldn’t help the small smile that spread over her face. There were few who could tolerate her spiciness. Cassian had been unable to; he had loved her spiciness, sure, but only when it was directed at others. Not him. But both Lucien and Eris loved it. It must be those Autumn court genes.

“I was just wondering…” She gestured to that eye. “I forgot who made that for you. Or did you make it yourself?”

Lucien laughed. “By the Cauldron, no. I have a very dear friend in the Dawn Court who specializes in this sort of thing. She herself has a metal arm, you know.” Nesta straightened. “What is her name?”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you want to know?”

“Just for a friend,” Nesta said evasively. Lucien snorted. “You’re going to have to give me more than that horseshit if you want me to reveal her name.”

“What’s the big deal?” Nesta snapped.

“I don’t know you,” Lucien said simply. “I’d like to know why you want to know. You’re married to a brother I haven’t had a proper relationship with in centuries and possess incredible powers in the Dread Trove and that death magic you got going. Forgive me for being cautious.”

Nesta sighed. She wanted to argue further, but he wasn’t exactly wrong. “Fine. One of my friends, Emerie, is an Illyrian. The Illyrians have a barbaric practice of cutting their women’s wings. So… I was wondering if this friend of yours could possibly make her metal wings.”

Lucien gaped. “Are you fucking kidding me? How is such a practice still occurring after all this time? Hasn’t that stupid Inner Circle done anything about it?”

“Apparently not,” Nesta said. “But about the wings…”

“This seems within her ballpark. Why don’t I take all of you to see her? Nuan will be able to judge better than me.”

Nesta nodded. “Let me talk to Gwyn and Emerie and get back to you.”

Later that day, Gwyn and Emerie arrived in tow with Nesta. “Do you really think she’ll be able to make the wings?” Gwyn asked. Her teal eyes were as large as saucers and filled with hope. Emerie was taut as a bowstring by her side, not daring to voice the hopes in her mind. Lucien only smiled gently at Gwyn. “Nuan hasn’t failed yet.” As if in emphasis, Lucien’s metal eye whirred to focus more fully on Gwyn. Emerie jumped away, cussing, but Gwyn grinned. “That is so cool.”

Lucien smirked. “It gave me the ability to see things that nobody else can see. So, in a way, losing my eye was a blessing.”

“How did you lose it?” Nesta asked.

Lucien turned to her. “You probably know that Prythian was ruled by that tyrant Amarantha for fifty years.” Nesta nodded. “Well, I told her to go back to the shit-hole she crawled out of. So, she clawed out my eye.” Emerie’s jaw dropped, and Gwyn murmured noises in awe. Nesta raised her brows, impressed against her will. “That’s exceptionally brave of you.”

Lucien shrugged. “I don’t respond well to threats or tyrants.” Flame sizzled in his brown eye. Nesta smiled. “Neither do I.” Lucien laughed. “I figured as much when you made a death promise to the King of Hybern.”

Nesta smiled at Lucien. She didn’t know him well, but she had already decided she liked the male.

“I’m not sure I can winnow all three of you,” Lucien said. “You should probably bring my brother, Nesta.” Nesta nodded and came to get him.

Lucien was left alone in the room with Emerie and Gwyn. “Who cut off your wings?” Lucien asked. Ok, maybe not the best icebreaker, but they’d asked about his eye so it was only fair. Emerie grimaced. “My father.”

Lucien swore, low and vicious. “Asshole father. I can relate.”

Emerie scoffed. “Wonder what it’s like to have decent parents?”

“Beats me,” Lucien said. He turned to Gwyn. “Do you know?”

Gwyn shrugged. “I barely remember mine.”

“That’s a step up from being traumatized by them, I suppose,” Lucien said, and the three of them laughed.  Nesta returned to the room with her husband in tow. “Lucien, can you take Gwyn and Emerie?” “Yes,” Lucien said. He avoided speaking to his brother. “Hold on tight, my ladies,” Lucien said softly to Nesta’s friends. Gwyn was positively beaming at him, and Emerie was little better. Nesta wasn’t sure if she should be glad the two of them were so comfortable in another male’s presence, or irritated that they’d fallen for the Vanserra charm so quickly. Not like she could talk, though. Eris had a shit-eating grin on his face as Nesta faced him. “Looks like my brother might just steal your friends away from you.” “That would only make me as friendless as you, Eris.”

Eris chuckled. “Why do I need friends when I have you, Nesta Archeron?”

Nesta blushed as Eris winnowed them away.

The dawn court was exquisite. The colors in the sky were so soft and comforting, like honey. It wasn’t quite as beautiful as the Autumn Court, but it had its own charm. It was a little chilly, and Lucien was about to offer Nesta his cloak when Eris beat him to the punch. He shrugged, offering his cloak to Gwyn instead, who gladly took it. He led the way to the metal workshop he had frequented countless times to hang out with his good friend. Nuan squealed in delight when she saw him, running over to hug him. “Lulu! I missed you!!”

Nesta turned to Lucien incredulously. “Lulu?”

Lucien rolled his eyes. “She earned the right to call me that after she made my eye.”

Nesta and Eris wore identical smirks on their faces, and Lucien was about to roast the shit out of them when Nuan spoke again. “Are we here for the Illyrian?”

Emerie stiffened ever so slightly. “I stopped being Illyrian the moment my father cut my wings. I am a Valkyrie.”

“As you say,” Nuan said.

“Yes, Nuan. We were wondering if you would be able to make prosthetic wings for her.”

Nuan inspected the shredded wings. “This has been cut highly unevenly,” Nuan said. “I may have to cut a little bit more off to make it more even. Under a faerie drug, of course, so she wouldn’t feel anything.”

Nesta said, “Emerie? Are you ok with that?”

Emerie was staring at Nuan. “If I let you do that, would you be able to make wings for me? Would I be able to fly again?”

“You would need to relearn how to fly, of course, but yes, I can perfectly make usable wings for you.” Silent tears poured down Emerie’s face, and Nesta and Gwyn moved to embrace her. Lucien’s heart strained at the camaraderie, the easy acceptance and understanding. Something he had had himself, once upon a time. He shut down the thought.

“How much would it cost?”

“Seventy faerie bits, but for my favorite customer, I’ll give you a 15-bit discount,” Nuan said, swatting his arm playfully. Lucien grinned. “You honor me, my lady. And how long will it take to make?”

Nuan thought. “I was actually halfway into a wing project, which I think I can perfectly mold to fit her wingspan. Overall, probably a day?”

Lucien turned to his companions. “Are you all fine with staying?”

Nesta arched a brow at Lucien. “And do you have a place where we can stay?”

Lucien gasped in mock horror. “Of course I do! What sort of male do you take me for, Lady Death?”

“Certainly one with a death wish, foxy.”

“I’m perfectly happy to stay if everybody else is,” Eris said. “It’s not like I had anything specific going on today.”

“Same,” Emerie said. Gwyn nodded in agreement. “Then come with me, everyone.” “Are you ready?” Nuan asked Emerie. The jagged edges of her ruined wings had been evened out so that Nuan could attach her new microfiber wings. “They’re not quite bat wings,” Nuan admitted. “They’re closer to Peregryn wings, but that just means they’re softer and more flexible. And more colorful, if you’d like.”

Emerie’s eyes widened. “You mean I can make them whatever color I want?” “Of course.” Emerie grinned at her companions. “How cool would it be if I had purple wings?”

“It would match your friendship bracelet,” Nesta said.

Lucien snorted. “You guys have friendship bracelets? And you were making fun of my friend’s nickname for me.” Nesta grinned at Lucien. “Yes we have friendship bracelets, and we are not ashamed, foxy.”

Lucien shrugged. “If you say so.”

Later, Nuan carefully approached Emerie with the purple wings. “Hold still,” she commanded. The wings were very complicated, with many interlocking pieces, but finally Nuan got them on.

“Flap,” she ordered. Emerie obeyed and was stunned to feel the wings obey her. Nesta and Gwyn were squealing in the background, Eris’s hand squeezing Nesta’s tightly. Emerie sobbed over and over again, thanking Nuan for the gift, and Nuan hugged her. “It’s no better than you deserve, Emerie.”

Later, when Emerie, Gwyn, and Eris had all left, Nesta and Lucien were left alone together.

“You’re not bad, for a Fae male,” Nesta said. Lucien laughed and shook his head. “A glowing recommendation. I’m going to tape that to my wall. Nesta Archeron said, and I quote, ‘you’re not bad.’” Nesta smiled. “You must be very well-connected, if you know a tinkerer like Nuan.”

Lucien shrugged. “As the youngest of seven sons, I wasn’t particularly needed or wanted. Perhaps it was a good thing. I was able to study for longer than my father allowed my brothers before shoving them out the door to rule over some territory within our lands, and I could train for as long as I liked, since no one believed I’d be dumb enough to kill my way up the long list of heirs. And when I grew bored with studying and fighting … I learned what I could of the land from its people. Learned about the people, too.” “That sounds far more High Lord-like than people like Beron or Rhysand ever will be.”

Lucien let Nesta see all the power simmering in his veins. “That’s why my brothers tried their very best to break and kill me.” Nesta smiled. “Perhaps you could take over the Spring Court from Tamlin. Or rule over Hybern. There’s a power gap there, isn’t there?”

Lucien nodded. “I don’t know you very well, but I can’t think of anyone more suited to rule,” Nesta said. Frank. Honest. “You’re not so bad yourself, Nesta Archeron.” They may not be friends just yet, but there was a budding relationship there. It hadn’t taken long for both to grow to respect the other immensely.

[ghost9whore]

Lightning’s Reign and Thunder’s Roar VI

Male oc x house of the dragon

This one’s for you @jamieclearwater2314

His soft mews were enough to make any man lose his head.

The way his body moved under mine made heart race.

The loss of him would start a war

(Rhaenys’ P.O.V)

“It’s the King’s tournament for his heir and your father is on the king’s small council.” I told my youngest son

“I understand that but why do I have to go?” My son asked back

“It’s rude for you not to go and you’ll be able to see your cousin Rhaenyra” I countered

“No that’s not what I mean it’s just, Queen Aemma has had 4 pregnancies in the past year every one of them has died” Caserys remarked

“Sigh I know but we still have to go for your father and the king.” I finally spoke

That seemed to get through my youngest’s head. He agreed to go but however became excited for it when he learned Daemon would be coming as well.

The Next Day

I decided to accompany my husband on the boat instead of riding Meleys and racing Caserys on Rayraxs. Caserys had struggled in taming his dragon but, one day it seemed like they had clicked. Rayraxs listened to Caserys and Caserys only. My son had still refused to hold his dragon in the dragon pit but didn’t ask my husband and I to make a space for him. They flew together with a speed that is unmatched. Meleys and I were once known as the fastest but upon inspection at my son we were quickly outmatched.

(Caserys’ P.O.V)

King’s Landing hasn’t changed it still has the same stink it always does. The smell of wine and sex an unforgiving scent. I wished to ride on my dragon however Rayraxs had to stay on the far side of the kingdom as to not frighten the people and because I still refused to hold him in the dragon pit.

I was walking around the halls of the King’s Castle when I stumbled upon my cousin Rhaenyra. She hadn’t seem to notice me. She was lost walking away from her mother’s room. I swiftly walked up behind her to spook her and make my presence known.

“Hello dear cousin” I started

“Hello Caserys you startled me” she responded

I linked my arm under hers as we continued to walk.

“How are you doing cousin?” I asked her

“I’m well excited for the tournament” she replied

“Haha I mean with your mothers pregnancy. You will not be the only child anymore” I continued

“I’m happy that my father will finally have his son and I hope that my mother doesn’t have to continue having children.” she confessed

Her confession did startle me. Normally it would be considered treasonous for someone to wish the queen would stop having children and it’s uncouth for the princess to admit that. She as well seemed startled.

“I’m sorry I don’t know why I told you that please don’t tell-“

“Rhaenyra it’s ok I won’t tell anyone” I cut her off comforting her

Rhaenyra’s face soften at my statement. She thanked me and told me she had to go as she was late for her father’s meeting. I didn’t believe we were close enough to share things like that. So why did she tell me that?

(Daemon’s P.O.V)

Walking up the steps of the Castle of King’s Landing feels much better knowing the gold cloaks and I made this city much safer and that this castle would one day be mine.

Entering the throne room I see my prize. What everything I have done has been for, my seat, my power. The Iron Throne. Sitting on this throne feels even better I connect to the seat as if it was made for me. Reveling in my throne I’m interrupted as my niece walks in.

“What are you doing uncle?” she asks me in High Velaryon

“Sitting” I chuckle responding back in Velaryon

(Caserys’ P.O.V)

The cliff near the back of the king’s castle were the only space big enough that could hold Rayraxs as the dragon pit wasn’t a suitable option and he desired to be close to me. I had told him to stay yet if I was in danger he would destroy the entire city trying to look for me. My mother instructed me to greet my father and the king after their small council meeting. Then, after I was to ready myself for the heir’s tournament my mother said that the king was never truly a dragon rider so dragon back wasn’t his favorite scent.

Getting closer to the small council room I hear speaking it’s coming from the council room. I investigate the sound to find a small crack in the wall near the room. This crack is not guarded and is secluded enough that no one could see me here. I begin to listen to the conversation so that I’m able to hear

“Queen Aemma must have this child, If the realm is left to Daemon it will devolve into madness.”

“Daemon is the king’s heir and until this child comes he will stay the king’s heir”

“I can offer a different solution for a different heir.” This voice I recognized as my father

“Corlys you would have your wife as the heir?”

“Rhaenys was stepped over but has produced two male heirs. The throne should go through us.” My father responded to the man

“Enough because you sit as the King’s table does not make you his equal. You forgot yourself Corlys.”

“Your son Caserys would make a better whore than king” another man said

That statement about me was something I had heard before as well as my father. However, that still didn’t hold his anger I could hear him stand up and slam his hands on the table as he stood up.

“Silence do not speak ill of Lord Corlys’ son. My son will be born soon and I will not hear anymore of this until he is” The voice spoke that I recognized as King Viserys

The meeting was coming to an end I needed to leave to be able to greet my father and the king. I slipped out of the crack and walked a few steps down before walking back to see my father exiting the small council room. He looked a little disturbed his hand reached for my arm as he pulled me away before anyone else could see me.

“What are you doing here?” He asked me angrily as looked around

“I had to come to greet you and the King” I told him

“Not here you can greet the King at the tournament” he spoke to me

I could tell he was angry at the the man would made the whore comment at me but I didn’t want to bring it up as he would be angrier that I was listening. I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that the man was right.

I would make a better whore than anything…

The tournament felt as a cover. That their was an underlying issue that wasn’t being spoken about. King Viserys had left halfway. The first tournament player has asked for my mother’s blessing calling her the queen who never was a restraining title. Daemon had asked for Rhaenyra’s friend Alicent’s favor which felt like he was mocking me and the last player named Criston Cole had asked for Rhaenyra’s favor. In the end Criston Cole had won the tournament but the news spread of Queen Aemma’s death and suddenly no one could care for the tournament. Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon had all left my parents as well.

The news was found out to be true. Queen Aemma and her son Prince Baelon had passed away. Their funeral were to take place in the morning. How quickly this joyous day has turned sad. Rayraxs had been staying away as he wouldn’t stay in dragon pit but wasn’t allowed free reign. The funeral was to be as expected. Rhaenyra seemed more angry at her father than mournful with him.

Daemon spooked up behind me.

“Such a tragic what happened to the King’s Heir” he spoke in a whispered manner but I felt the bits of malice in his voice.

He spoke and walked away before I could response to him walking towards Rhaenyra. His expression changed and softened when he spoke to Rhaenyra it seems his words continued to fuel her anger towards her father. Syrax was waiting on top of a rock near Queen Aemma and Prince Baelon’s bodies. Rhaenyra looked to her father to say the word but he was too choked up. That seemed to anger her more and she spoke the command words instead of her father.

“Dracarys” she said with tears in her eyes.

And with the fire went King Viserys’ heir

The whole castle was in mourning of the Queen and Prince’s death or so I thought.

I heard that Daemon rented out an entire whore house in the street of silk to celebrate his new throne. His entire city watch in toe.

Listening to my father speak about Daemon’s actions made me wonder how the King reacted. It didn’t take long before I learned that Daemon had been disowned as heir. He had no heir so my father told me that Otto Hightower had recommended another person. My father told me this because she was my friend and cousin. He felt that our houses should have been united and we should keep the Targaryen’s close.

The King’s heir is

Rhaenyra Targaryen

A/N: it’s been a while and I’ve been very busy with finals but now it’s over and I have something else in store that I’m excited to share

[heyheyitsjae]

So the trailer for The Minecraft Movie (sorry, “A Minecraft Movie”) came out a couple days ago. I had a lot of thoughts upon seeing it, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head, and have been combing through other people’s takes the last few days, so I’ve been itching to talk about it. The trailer is currently sitting at 500,000 likes vs 900,000 dislikes, so obviously it hasn’t been received well. Even the official Minecraft channel hasn’t uploaded it, only linking to WB’s upload. I thought I’d go back to the beginning and give my thoughts on progress as stuff from the film came out. 

So the first major red flag for me was when they announced the film was going to be in live action. I could not for the life of me fathom that decision. Minecraft has such a goofy and stylized world that it would only really work in animation, and we’ve had plenty of excellent Minecraft animations over the years to prove that. The Fallen Kingdom Pentology, Villager News, Cas van de Pol’s shorts, Kelpilox’s memes, Hapico’s stunning 3D shorts, and of course the official update trailers. Time and time again Minecraft has proven that both hilariously funny and epicly badass content can be made in its world, often by the fanbase. 

And yet, they chose to make the film in live action. The only way I could possibly think of this working would be if they entirely ditched the blocky aesthetic, and made it a high fantasy like Lord of the Rings, The DnD Movie, or even The Princess Bride. There’s plenty of fantasy elements like Creepers, Endermen, and Piglins that could keep something like that grounded in Minecraft’s world, even if it would be an odd choice. 

Then the birthday short came out. For those of you that don’t know, as a part of the 15th anniversary of Minecraft they put out a short on YouTube and Tik Tok of Jack Black and Jason Momoa cutting a cake and wishing Minecraft “happy birthday.” The actors weren’t even wearing any sort of outfit or costume for the film, and their acting felt very strained and terrible. I had my fingers crossed that they just cheaped out because it’s a promotional short, but it was still a bad sign. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2f0fPzZNPWw 

Then concept art started to leak for the film. While there were a couple of designs I did find cool like the Spider and Elytra, others like the Pig and Villagers concerned me and looked pretty doofy. These were obviously created by a variety of artists, so there was no telling who’s vision they would go forward with, and I saw it as a bit of a coin flip. 

Then the actual trailer came out, and… oh boy… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE2YZhcC4NY&t=1s 

For a start the opening shot didn’t seem all that bad to me. Yeah real life Minecraft is still a weird concept, and that archway looked unnatural, but at least some level of effort seemed to have gone into it. 

And then the actors showed up and all hope dropped. Their implementation into the film felt really awkward and lazy. Every shot they’ve got an awkward glow around them, either a result of being poorly green screened or needlessly backlit. They often feel out of scale with the environment and there’s a decent amount of shots where they don’t even cast a shadow. They feel so unnatural in this world. It makes you wonder, if all the backgrounds and mobs are gonna be done in CGI anyway, why not make the humans CGI and the whole thing an animation from the get go? 

The wardrobe of these actors is also a strange one. One that stands out as odd to me is Momoa has blonde hair, a brown beard, AND a pink jacket? At least make his hair and beard the same color it just looks awkward. 

And of course the king of awkward stand-outs is Jack Black as Steve. They didn’t even try, they just threw a blue shirt on him and called it a day. They could have at least trimmed up his beard. It’s especially odd they went with Black given Jason Momoa is right there!? Momoa has the perfect skin tone, right beard shape, and roughly the right amount of muscle mass to be Steve. The only thing that doesn’t really line up is his hair is a tad long, but if they were gonna put him in a wig anyway that’s not a hard fix. 

Most of the delivery in the teaser also feels pretty stiff and none of the jokes land. So far it’s got a strong “gulp, he’s right behind me” vibe that I’m not digging. 

Before we get to the moment you’re all waiting for, a couple of little side complaints on minor things. 

Something I noticed in the trailer that super bugged me, but I’ve only seen one other person mention so maybe I’m overreacting, is the logs on the scene where they meet Steve. For some reason the bottom railing has the logs rings facing up toward the crenelations or sideways into each other, but the crenelations have the logs facing sideways toward the camera!? Not only does it look really bad, but that’s the kind of thing that would take a lot of extra effort to do in-game, placing and breaking two extra blocks for each bump, only for it to ruin the build. 

And then there’s the crafting table. This scene was a bit quick, blink and you’ll miss it, so I didn’t give it much thought on first viewing. I just assumed Mamoa put two buckets and a chain on the table… but he didn’t. He threw like, six iron ingots and five cobblestone, onto the table and it somehow worked. The items on the table weren’t even lined up with the crafting grid. It’s the literal fucking name of the game and they couldn’t get it right!? HOW, HOW DO YOU FUCK UP THAT BADLY!!!

Okay now we’re on to the REAL bad bit! The mobs in this film are a train wreck. They are a shining example of what I mentioned before, either you make this film entirely animation or entirely live action. This awkward halfway point just creates an uncanny valley feeling that’s disturbing to look at. Most of them feel A.I. generated. 

The Sheep and the Llama are obviously the worst contenders. They look like something a parody YouTuber would throw together for a grossout short in 2013. I’ve heard some people try to defend this movie by saying “it’s just for kids, don’t be so hard on it.” I can’t think of a single five year old that would piss their pants crying in fear if they saw this thing pop up on screen. They are horrendous. 

Then there’s the Wolf. The Wolf doesn’t look as bad in comparison. There’s something off about its lips and hind legs, but I think obscuring it in shadows is saving us from the brunt of whatever the hell could be going on. 

And then there’s the Creeper, which is an… interesting choice. A lot of people have complained that it’s fuzzy, but looking at the poster it seems a bit odder than that. It looks like its skin is made of a dirt like substance and its fir is grass, which is… a choice. For those that don’t know, the original description we were given of Creeper skin was that it was “crunchy like dry leaves.” This has led to basically everyone assuming Creepers are plant-like creatures, with most people giving them scaly skin. I suppose grass fir fits with being plant-like, but it’s not scaly or dry at all. To be fair, a lot of fan theories have suggested Creepers could be made of peat moss, and it looks a little like that, but it’s still off. 

That then brings us to the Piglins who… honestly don’t look that bad. I think a combination of smaller eyes, less fur, and not being based on a real life animal makes them a lot more digestible than the other mobs in the film. I also like the use of Ghasts as airships. That was a concept we saw in one of the Fallen Kingdom songs that Minecraft almost implemented into canon with Minecraft Legends. While these Ghast airships are nowhere near as cool looking as either of those examples, at least it’s something. But there’s a lot of stuff to talk about with the Piglins aside from their appearance, so let's get into it. 

The first is a common complaint I’ve seen people make: how they’re able to breathe in the Overworld, when normally this causes Zombification. We *might* have an answer to this. In Minecraft Legends the Piglins tried to invade the Overworld. They brought with them huge Nether Spreader devices that spread Netherrack and heated the air, while the Horde of the Spore bred and spread mushroom fungal spores into the air. The spores made the air breathable for Piglins, and the heat presumably killed off the virus. 

Now that made sense for Legends, but doesn’t really make sense here. After the Piglin Invasion, the Horde of the Spore was hit hardest by the war. While survivors of the Horde of the Hunt remain in the Crimson Forests and the Horde of the Bastion remain in the Bastion Remnants, Piglins have since abandoned the Warped Forests, with Hoglins even developing a fear of the Warped Fungi, leaving the Horde of the Spore extinct. 

During Legends the Piglins had giant machines and an entire third of the army dedicated to making the Overworld breathable, while this trailer seems to show the much smaller modern Piglin army, so I have no idea how they are keeping alive. 

The other big issue that rises with the Piglins being here is… why? In Legends the Piglin Invasion at least sort of made sense. In the base game we had the Ruined Portals revealing travel between the two Dimensions was once more common, and the Bastion Remnants hinting that Piglins were once more populous and militaristic. Legends answered both of these by implying that the Piglins once tried to invade the Overworld, but after their four abusive kings were killed the few survivors split up and determined the Overworld not worth their efforts. 

The Piglins went from a militaristic and imperial force determined to conquer, to a small band of tribes that, while territorial, are ultimately friendly. They’ve become far less united and greedy (assuming they even were that greedy, Legends is a story written by the victors after all.) Based on the outfits, and Steve being alive, it seems the Piglins in this film are the *modern* Piglins. The chill dudes that give you enchanted boots for gold and compose fire mixtapes. The whole turning an entire race in your story into mindless evil monsters for Legends was already something that didn’t sit well with the Minecraft fanbase, especially with how adorable Piglins are, so using the friendly version of them as the bad guys in the film is an odd choice. We already have a group that raids villages, the Illagers, and a group that's yet to get the story spotlight, the Undead, both of whom would’ve been more logical and interesting villains for the movie. 

That brings me to another minor point that I think is worth bringing up here. I’ve heard some people complain about the portal at the start and while I agree it shouldn’t be blue, it's not for the same reason they do. A lot of people claim the portal should be purple, which is actually not true. Purple is the color of the Nether Portal yes, but we know from Minecraft Story Mode and the Infinite Dimensions April Fools Snapshot that that portals in this world can be basically any color, with each Dimension getting its own color, so the idea of the human world not being purple makes sense. 

But I think this shade of light blue is a bad choice, for one simple reason. The plot of Minecraft Legends was: Piglins decided to invade the overworld, so heroes from a far off land were brought in through a light blue portal to fix it. So far, the plot of this film seems to be: Piglins decided to invade the overworld, so heroes from a far off land were brought in through a light blue portal to fix it.

We’re just doing Legends again, which I cannot fucking fathom. Why the hell would you make a “Minecraft” movie and then base its plot on something exclusive to one of the sequels. Where’s the logic in that!? It’s especially baffling that Legends of all things was the one they decided to go with. Filming for this film didn’t start till earlier this year, sometime after February, meaning that things like actor schedules, lot rentals, and creating props probably weren’t set in stone until like, last August. 

That was well after Legends was the biggest critical and financial flop of any Minecraft spin-off (sans maybe Earth, but that never really came out.) This film had already been delayed time and time again, presumably because the script wasn’t up to snuff, so one more delay after it had been proven that people didn’t want to see that story wouldn’t have been that big a deal. Then again, Legends wasn’t officially canned until a couple months before filming and Black and Momoa probably have busier schedules and had to be booked further in advance. But it still feels like a poor choice that they had time to course correct on. 

Although there is ONE thing that sets this story apart from Legends. It appears to be going down the Jumanji route. Now while you could argue Legends already was an Isekai story, at least in that case it was someone traveling from a Minecraft world to another Minecraft world. Here we’ve got another fucking instance of a bunch of people being sucked into the videogame world. 

As people have mentioned before, having Jack Black in here is automatically giving Jumanji vibes, but even ignoring that I’m so damn sick of every single videogame movie being an Isekai. It is so annoying that game worlds aren’t allowed to exist as their own thing. The protagonist always has to be some outsider from the real world sent to this strange and kooky realm, and it’s just annoying. Videogames are fun when they have rich, fleshed out, and lived in universes, and reducing that to either “I’ve been trapped in the game” or “I’m unfamiliar with this world at tall” robs them of a lot of their wonder. The Mario Movie did it, the Monster Hunter Movie did it, the Sonic Movie did the reverse of it. We need more Detective Pickachu type films, where we explore people from a far out place in that far out place. 

Now let’s shift gears into less of aesthetic annoyances and more into potential spoiler territory. 

Something that I didn’t notice while watching the trailer, and I’ve only seen one person point out, is that The Seer from Minecraft Legends shows up at one point, surrounded by a crowd of Piglins. Now I would assume this movie is non-canon (it’s not made by Mojang and previous stuff not made by Mojang, like Story Mode, have been non-canon.) But if it IS canon, The Seer being there has interesting implications for the series lore/timeline. 

First and foremost is the idea that the Seer and Steve are alive at the same time. Steve is in both the base game and Dungeons, both of which were agreed to happen in a similar time-frame anyway. (Dungeons has both statues of the Ender Dragon being alive during the Arch-Illager’s reign and statues of her getting slain.) But Legends is agreed upon taking place hundreds if not thousands of years prior to the events of the main game. None of the ruined and abandoned structures of modern Minecraft are in it and it depicts the origin of most of the series main races/factions. 

In order for The Seer and Steve to be alive at the same time it either means The Seer is immortal and has been hiding in the background for a while, or Steve is both immortal and MUCH older than we thought. Of the two the first seems more likely, and creates interesting potential for The Seer. They’re the only major antagonist from any of the three main games to not either be befriended or killed (I’m sure someone in Story Mode survived I’m forgetting about) and so their story is unfinished. They also serve as a great explanation for the Piglin army.

The Piglins only attacked during Legends because they were ruled by tyrannical kings who borderline enslaved their people and had a might-makes-right mentality. With all these kings dead, and no army left to maintain their rule/order, of course the survivors would become more independent and less militaristic. It was a logical way to transition from how they’re depicted in both games. If anyone was going to revert the Piglins to their old ways, it would be the ancient hag who advised that cruel council, the only one their violent king showed an ounce of respect or fear to. Seer’s reinstating the old ways, the only question is why now? What took them so long to strike? 

But there’s another potential wrinkle in this plot that could make it more complicated, in an honestly annoying way. Throughout the trailer we see the main kid in the red hoodie is holding a strange glowing blue cube (that totally isn’t just the Tesseract from Marvel.) What this device is hasn’t been explained, but I’ve seen two popular theories going around. 

The first is that it’s a Beacon. In which case, sure, whatever. The other is that it could be the Orb of Dominance and this is the Orb’s origin story, of how it became an all powerful evil artifact. That would make this film a prequel to Legends, establishing how The Seer got their hands on the Orb and got their good standing with the Great Hog’s council 

I… don’t like that. For two main reasons. The first is that this would just exacerbate the Steve is immortal problem, you’re really gonna tell me he was there for EVERYTHING!? The second is that it really drags down the Orb of Dominance’s cool factor. The way it's depicted and talked about in Dungeons implies it's some sort of manifestation of an eldritch entity hellbent on destroying or conquering everything it comes into contact with, who has been vying for power since the dawn of time. Now it’s… something(?) that the humans brought with them. While still mysterious, I suppose, it sounds a lot less cool now (although let’s be honest, it was always a little dumb.) 

Also slightly off topic but I just want to mention, PhoenixSC made a video reviewing the teaser, and WB copyright struck him and forced him to mute a portion of the audio. Now you might think “oh well they own the trailer they’re allowed to do that” but no, it wasn’t anything from the teaser they took down. You know what it was? A couple minutes of a fanmade Minecraft short-film Phoenix was praising for being better than the official thing. Not only is that footage they don’t own any right too, but reviewing things is well and truly covered under fair-use. 

That’s an absolute scumbag movie. Combine that with the recent controversy Jack Black is getting into and I say please, just don’t watch this film in theaters. It’s clear not an ounce of care or love went into making this. It already looks like such a by the numbers and cheaply put together thing. They can 100% do better and we 100% deserve better.

[gx-gameon]

For your Yugi Raises Jaden AU, I would love to see how the DM gang reacts to Jesse and Jaden's crush??? If you ship spiritshipping

Oh I’m so excited to talk about this. Look over here for the beginning of Spiritshippjng in this Au and will pick up where we left off.

So Jaden calls Yugi once a week. The two are super close and he likes talking to his Dad. It’s also just nice to have someone in his corner when things get rough. He knows he can always ask for help (he’s just awful at actually asking)

But the day after his duel with Axel he goes to call Yugi and asked Jesse to come with him. And this is BIG because all the other characters know that Jaden doesn’t like having anyone around when he talks to his dad.

So the two get all cozy on the roof and call Yugi. (Note:Jesse has no clue who they are calling besides they are Jaden’s Dad. So he’s super shocked when he sees Yugi)

Yugi is also surprised. Jaden has been super serious about not telling anyone at duel academy about his family. So to see someone else with him is surprising.

Now their reactions

Yugi

Yugi is surprised at first. Because 1. His son never calls with anyone and 2. Why is Jesse Anderson at Jaden’s school. He knows about Jesse. If Pegasus lists him as the 4th greatest duelist in the world in cannon (probably the 5th in this Au because Atem is here) then there is no way the DM crew aren’t at least a little aware of who the kid is.

But Jaden introduces them with a “hey Dad I’d like you to met my best friend Jesse!” “Jess this is my Dad Yugi Muto.” And Yugi knows this is special. Jaden hasn’t referred to any of his friends as HIS best friend yet. Sure they have claimed (and fought) over that title but Jaden has never used it. Until now.

Yugi is friendly and welcoming and is able to strike up a conversation with both boys. Asking what Jesse is doing at Duel Academy as he knows Jesse is from North Duel Academy. And Jesse is sitting there a little in awe that the King of Games knows who he is. They talk about the transfer program. How Jaden and Jesse met. What they’ve done together.

And see Yugi is not an idiot. He can see the soft look in Jesse’s eyes when he looks at Jaden. He can see the way his son lights up around Jesse. He’s never seen Jaden like this when discussing his other friends. Yugi is a strategist, he knows how to read people, and he can tell that these “best friends” won’t be just “best friends” for long

I’d like to think he’s taken the video call on his laptop. So his phone is in his hand and he’s furiously texting Seto, Atem, and Mokuba, as they are the ones in the building, trying to get one of them to come and join him on this call. (We will talk about them in a second)

Over all Yugi likes Jesse. He knows he’s a great duelist, but talking to the kid shows him he’s got a good heart.

He is very respectful of his cards, and his ability to see spirits is new information but good information, as Yugi knows how much the Spirits mean to Jaden, Atem, and himself.

He knows how lonely Jaden has been and even if he’s wrong and this doesn’t progress to be anything more, he’s happy his son found someone he trusts this much. Because introductions them to Yugi, revealing his identity as the ‘prince of games’ is a huge deal to Jaden.

He just hopes that Jesse doesn’t betray that trust. He’s putting his faith is Jaden’s choice and he hopes it’s not the wrong move. He knows just how much a betrayal of this level with crush Jaden.

Atem

Atem is the first one to respond you Yugi’s text messages. (He always comes when his Aibou calls. And he’d never ignore a message about Jaden, he’s also the one not currently working in a project)

He walks in pretty early in the conversation, making himself known as soon as he walks in and greets Jaden. And he instantly sees why Yugi was texting them asking for them to come join the call. Because why is another person with Jaden right now?

Again he knows of Jesse. Had watched his tournament. Had heard about him from Pegasus. He did not expect him to be hanging out with his Nephew. Their little prince.

He’s not mad, just surprised. But Jesse had always seemed like an honorable duelist, and now that he’s had the opportunity to talk to him, Atem likes the boy.

He’s impressed with Jesse’s ability to see spirits. Even more so with how he treats them, “they’re my family.” He thinks with a little training Jesse could probably make them physical when he summons them.

He’s even more happy with what he sees from Jaden. The way his eyes light up. The way the two boys look at each other. Atem is trading glances with Yugi because they can both spot what’s happening.

At the end of the call he likes Jesse. He’s a fantastic duelist, seems like a kind boy. And has made a strong enough impression on Jaden to have the boy introducing him to his family. And that’s the most telling part of all.

Atem trust Jaden’s judgement. He hopes that Jesse will be the friend Jaden’s always long for (maybe he’ll be more, but Atem’s not one to put pressure on other people’s relationships)

Mokuba

Mokuba was actually working when the call took place. He was able to join towards the end of the call.

He did a hard double take because, why is someone else here???

Mokuba is scary.

Not in that he’s trying to intimidate Jesse. Oh no he’s very pleasant to his face. But Mokuba is looking up EVERYTHING about Jesse Anderson. He knows everything. Where he was born, his parents, school history, all social medias were found, and I do mean all. Probably had his medical records to.

Mokuba just letting the conversation flow while he’s doing the world’s most in depth background check. Because that’s a stranger sitting next to his nephew. And while Mokuba is the nicer of the Kaiba brothers, he’s just as vicious when he wants to be.

To be fair he’s done this with all of Jaden’s friends and duel academy. As soon as Jaden mentions someone Mokuba and Seto have a file on them. They haven’t done anything with them, yet. But when Jaden finally tells his friends who he is, if things go poorly, Mokuba and Seto have plans….

It is the fastest he’s ever put one together. And he has to admit he likes Jesse. The boy balances Jaden well.

Mokuba knows how lonely it is to grow up as a Kaiba. And while Jaden’s childhood was very different. It was still lonely. Mokuba’s glad Jaden finally has a friend he trust.

But he’s also catching the soft eyes Jesse is throwing Jaden’s way and he’s adding it to the file. He’s got to tell Seto everything later.

Seto

Seto is not on the call. Yugi’s message was very calm. “I’m on call with Jaden, if you’d like to join.” Nothing to cause panic. And while Seto would normally drop everything to spend time with his family, he can’t always.

He was in a big corporate meeting. Something he couldn’t leave. Though he did play with the idea of opening his family’s video chat and just putting himself on mute, listen in with an ear bud. But ultimately he decided against it.

Mokuba sends him a message later telling him to “call me when you’re done.” (Mokuba knows Seto’s schedule)

Seto call Mokuba as soon as the meeting is over. It’s extremely late and he assumes that Jaden and Yugi’s call is over by now, he’s right. But you can imagine his surprise when he calls Mokuba expecting a business update, or some gossip from the dweeb squad that he totally doesn’t care about (he does) but instead is greeted with “Jaden got a boyfriend.”

He breaks his phone.

Just crushes it (like the water bottle in DSOD)

He quickly realizes that he can’t get any more information since he did that and rushes to Mokuba’s office. (The two were heading home together anyway) and storms in there demanding to know what Mokuba means. “If this is a joke I’m not laughing” it is in fact not a joke. At least not entirely.

Mokuba tells him all about the call with Jaden and Jesse. And while Mokuba was only there for the tail end of it, he’s calling what he sees. But don’t worry Seto, I already background checked the guy. (Hands over giant stack of research)

The ride home is spent talking about Jesse Anderson. Looking at his family, his history, his dueling record, anything Seto can think of. He’s not above crushing this kid in every way imaginable. He’ll do it with his wealth and power, or demolish him and his precious deck on the dueling field.

Once they get home he storms toward his and Yugi’s room. He needs more context and information. Mokuba has provided a lot but he wasn’t there for the whole call. Yugi was. He’s also great at reading people. His husband will definitely have some insight on how to best crush this boy.

Yugi sees Seto storm in and before he can ask what wrong Seto is ask five different question about how to best crush Jesse Anderson. And okay, nice to see you to. And part of Yugi is amused. He knows how Seto is. Finding enemies everywhere, waiting for the worst. This is Seto protecting those he loves. But it’s misplaced right now.

Yugi calms him and they talk about the whole video call. Yugi doesn’t think Jesse’s a treat at all, but he’s not going to stop Seto from coming up with his back up plans if he’s wrong. But right now their son has a friend that he trust, just a friend (for now).

And it does help to calm Seto down. But he’s not going to trust this kid until he meets him himself. He’s planning to cancel any meetings next week that way he can be here for their son’s next video call. He wants to hear about this kid from Jaden himself.

Yugi know Seto is still on edge, but there is something else Jaden talked about that has him worried. Professor Viper and his Bio-bands. He was concerned after Jaden and Jesse told him about feeling tired after the duel, Jesse even mentioning that Jaden passed out after his battle with Axel. And that they weren’t the only students feeling this way.

Yugi and Seto both know something is up. There not the type to sit around and wait for something bad to happen. Time to look into Professor Viper.

Joey

Is not a part of the video chat but hears about it by the next day.

He’s so excited that Jaden’s got a friend he trust enough to bring around them. Thrilled.

When he finds out that there maybe a crush, he’s fine with it. He trust Jaden. But if Jesse ends up hurting his littlest buddy well, Joey’s coming for him.

But he’s not to worried. He hasn’t met the kid yet, but from what he hears from Yugi and Atem he seems to be a good kid.

Tristian, Téa, and the rest of the Gang are much the same as Joey. Happy for Jaden and waiting for more information. Because fight now the boys are just friends. (Please calm down Seto)

But they are incoming things about Viper that are concerning.

The next time they call him has joined the group and they are getting ready for Adrian’s dueling party. Jaden and Jesse are getting closer but they’re both worried. After all Hasselberry and Jim were both hospitalized after they fueled each other. Yugi insists that they don’t participate in Adrian’s party (they weren’t planning on it) and Seto is ready to fire just about everyone at the school. (Again)

But they still need to figure out what Viper is doing. Seto can’t just show up at the school and fire Viper. How would he know what was happening at the school without Jaden telling him. The Bio-bands aren’t in and school documents that are being sent to Kaiba Corp. Viper’s done a great job at coving his tracks. Walking in and asking why students are getting hospitalized so often might work but again, how would they know that? They need a little more time. But until then Yugi and Seto tell the boys not to duel with their duel disks until they figure this out.

Another week passes and this time when Yugi calls Jaden he doesn’t answer. (The crew is going to find Viper) and normally Yugi would wait for Jaden to call back, he can get distracted. But with everything going on Yugi knows that’s not the reason Jaden isn’t picking up. Something happened.

One text to Seto ‘Jaden didn’t answer.’ Is all Seto needs to ready a helicopter. He’s going to Duel Academy and taking care of this. Yugi, Atem, Joey, and the others are coming. They’re done waiting. They’ll call it a surprise exhibition or something but they are going to that school and getting to the bottom of this.

If only there was a school when they arrived.

In n conclusion the relationship is to new for any of them to take to hard of a stance on it. But their feelings drastically change once the students are sent to the spirit world. Even more so when Jesse is the only student who does not return.

[themultifandomgal]

From 2010- Funeral

2012

Part 24

Trigger warning- religious talk and talk about death.

“Hey” I see Liam and Harry walking into my bedroom wearing all black and a sad smile “the errm… the cars outside” Liam says as I look at myself in my black dress in the mirror

“I don’t think I can do this” I tell them looking down at my feet “I don’t want to do this”

“I know, but you’ll regret it if you don’t. We will all be by your side”

“How have I lost another person I love?” Tears start to spill from my eyes as I turn to face Harry and Liam

“ m’so sorry YN” Harry says opening his arms out and I run into them. Harry strokes my hair while holding me

“Guys we have to go” I hear Zayn say

“We’re coming. Come on” Liam takes my hand and leads me downstairs and out of the house where my dad is waiting with the other boys and Emma. Reluctantly I get into the car that’s following the hearse with Alex’s mum, dad and sister who are all crying. The boys, my dad and Emma will be following us in another car.

The drive to the church is quiet, expect for all of our sobs. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off the hearse in front where I can see his coffin. My hand never leaves his mothers. Yes I’ve lost my love, but she’s lost her son all because of a drunk driver who still hasn’t been caught.

Once the car has stopped we slowly get out. I immediately go to my dad, holding on to his arm. I notice many of our old school friends, even James is here with I’m guessing his boyfriend. Not wanting to interact with anyone I follow Alex’s parents into the church and we take our seats

“The grace and peace of God our Father, who raised Jesus from the dead, be always with you” the priest says sprinkling water on the casket

“And you” we all reply

“We gather here today to celebrate the life of Alexander Williams, who has now returned to his home with Our God, The Father. I’d like to read a passage from the Old Testament. Wisdom 3:1-9 The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

But they are in peace. For if to others, indeed, they seem punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their judgment they shall shine and dart about as sparks through stubble they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect. The Word of the Lord” tears spill throughout the whole reading. I wipe the tears from my face with the back of my hand “I’d like to invite Alex’s partner YN up here to read his eulogy” shakingly I stand up and walk to the front of the church where the priest was

“I wrote and rewrote this so many times. I didn’t know where to start. So I decided to just start with saying that Alex was the kindest human I think I ever knew. I don’t think he ever had a bad bone in his body. We met at high school, I sat next to him in maths which we all know was not my strong suite. Alex helped me when I was struggling. He loved his family and….” I choke up a little while reading. I wipe my tears and take a deep breath “sorry. He loved his family and friends and would have done anything for them. He also cared about others, strangers that he saw on the streets. More often than not he would be giving money to some sort of charity. I will forever be grateful for the time we spent together and hope I could only be half the person he was” I now turn to the coffin “I will always love you Alex, I hope you rest in peace” I kiss my hand and place it on the coffin before going back to my seat.

The priest talks some more, we do a few prayers before finishing up the service with the Lords Prayer.

“Why don’t we go for lunch?”

“Not hungry” I reply to Emma wrapped up in a blanket on the sofa staring at the TV that’s not even on

“Then why don’t we take cookie for a walk?”

“Dad took her earlier” I reply

“Come on YN. It’s been a week since the funeral”

“My boyfriend died, was killed by a possible drunk driver who hasn’t been caught yet so I’m sorry that I’m sad and grieving” Emma sighs at my response

“I know your trying to push me away, your hurting, but I’m staying here. You can yell at me all you like but I’m not going anywhere” I turn away from Emma and stare at the TV again

“I’m sorry” I whisper hating that I shouted at Emma. She’s grieving as well “I just keep thinking that this is a dream, a nightmare that I’ll wake up from”

“I know, I’m so sorry your having to go through this again” Emma pulls me into her side letting my cry “Alex will always be here with you. Why don’t we do something to honour him”

“I’ve wanted to get a tattoo for my mum. Maybe I could get one in honour of Alex as well”

“Love that idea, but before you book a tattoo and get it done maybe we should have a shower and brush our teeth Hmm?” I give Emma a little nudge

“Thank you for being here and not leaving me to deal with this”

“Always”

[leavethemtorot]

you can forget about all the the things you've done (but what about the rest of us?)

Once again talking about cannibalism. A lot of research went into this so I hope yall enjoy

Warnings: Mentions of Cannibalism, uses of bone

Rosie sat there, baskets by her side and fingers braiding rope. Yet even as her body stayed busy, her mind wandered. Thinking of the beans and potatoes that were ready to harvest, of the clothing that needed to be dyed and mended, of all the things that needed to be finished before the chill settled in and began killing the plants. She would have to go help shortly, but until the trades happened she could sit here, braid, and think.

A branch snapped.

The song on her lips that she had barely been aware of suddenly stopped. As she looked up at the potential threat, she smiled. It was only Gene.

“Good morning, Gene. You’re early for once. Maeve hasn’t even come by yet.”

“Hey Rosie, wasn’t expecting you today. Where’s Sarah or David?”

“Resting. It’s going to be one of the last warm days, so there is much to do. I’m turning nine soon which means I must pull my weight.”

She picked up one of the baskets, motioning for Gene to sit before going through what was in the basket. Rope, potatoes, garlic, onions, mushrooms, a few pieces of mended clothing, mushrooms, and a rare jar of pickles. All spread across 3 baskets just for Gene.

“The information and equipment you dropped off was so helpful, David wanted to make sure you got a bit more this time. No blankets or mats are finished yet, maybe in a week or two?”

Gene blinked, shocked by the surprising amount of crops the group was giving up. The cannibals were typically far more stingy with their food, only giving rope, some blankets, and dye in excess. They must’ve really been able to get supplies with the knowledge of the barge shift. 

“I- Thank you Rosie. And pass my thanks to Sarah and David as well. Here.”

She handed over the two baskets he had been carrying. Inside was scraps and coils of hair, paper, bandages, a few pieces of glass, and the hard earned treasure of 3 medical needles. It always paid off to treat the clan well. They had somehow figured out how to grow a few crops despite only rotten food coming onto the Isle and the barren dirt preventing everyone else from growing. Oh sure the Mims had figured out some things, but mainly used them for their drug supply.

There’s a few members who ze had always been glad weren’t deemed as traders or negotiators. Rosie’s father for instance, the Horned King still had a reputation from his actions when the Isle had first formed. People still have the scars and memories of the lives lost. But Rosie? She has only been nice and actually has a head for negotiations. It’s such a shame that unless she leaves she will never realize her full potential.

Rosie’s eyes widened as she suddenly reached into her skirt, pulling out a beautifully carved knife.

“Oh, I almost forgot. This is for you.”

Gene swallowed before plastering on a smile and grabbing the bone dagger. It was long with a heavy point and clearly well crafted, but there was no doubt in cos’s mind that it was made from human bone. It knew distantly that bone made several tools, that they would be sustainable for the group, and when broken could be used for other tools. Ae had even used a bone tool with sie’s father, but that had been animal bone, not- not human.

“Thank you.” The slight hesitation and uneasiness wasn’t entirely missed by the young girl, but she persisted nevertheless.

“You make sure to take care of us, you deserve to be protected.”

She smiled at the other before her head shot in a different direction. The faint sound of someone approaching, someone or something heavy.

“You best be on your way, Maeve approaches. You have tried so hard to not be seen and it wouldn't be prudent to be caught now.”

Gene nodded before standing with all of the treasure’s they had been bestowed with before disappearing into the night. Xe would return within a few weeks most likely seeking new blankets for zir’s ever growing refuges. But until them, per’s trades will be well utilized within her clan.

Rosie could only grin as the sound of a wheelbarrow grew closer. New blood. Or better yet Maeve has brought bodies. Perfect.

[crazyunsexycool]

Hey Val, how are you doing?

I was just wondering if you would be able to give us a little taster of anything you've written but not yet posted? I'm almost done binging all your writing 😢😢

🩷🩷🩷🩷

First of all, thank you for your support!!

Here is what I’ll do, I’ll post a few sneak peeks of Wips for either chapters or one shots I’m writing!

My Little Love:

“What do you say, Henry, should you have matching braids like your sister?” You joke as you comb through his hair.

“Mama.” He giggles. “No. I want my hair down.”

“Oh, ok. If you change your mind though, I can totally braid it.”

He laughs but pulls away while Lottie begs him to get braids.

“We’ll get him next time, sweet Angel.”

“Next time, mama.”

“Alright, time for shoes.”

You grab Lottie and head toward her room when you bump into Bucky who was dressed and ready to go.

“What is this about braiding Henry’s hair?” He was already giving you a suspicious look but the corners of his mouth were upturned.

“You next dada.”

Life, love and dancing with death

Civil War!Bucky Barnes x reader

A few hours later, in the middle of the night while you’re watching the world pass by your window you hear screaming. It’s muffled but you hear it. It dawns on you that it’s from the apartment below yours. Bucky was in trouble. Or so you thought, so you rush down stairs and knock on his door until it swings open. The sight before you is devastating. Bucky’s eyes were wide and distant, like he was lost in his memories. Sweat kept some of his hair clinging to his forehead and overall he looked terrified.

“James?” You called softly. “Is everything ok?”

He shook his head, eyes filled with unshed tears.

“What can I do?”

“Can- can I f-feel you?” He stuttered through the question.

“I’m here.” You reached your hand out and he took it before pulling you into his apartment.

Bucky doesn’t just hold you, no he clings to you. Desperate to wake up from his nightmares, to realize that he isn’t strapped to that chair anymore. You don’t know any of that of course and he isn’t going to tell you either. Instead he does something he hasn’t done in 70 years.

He kisses a pretty girl.

This is how it feels

Modern Prince!Ransom Drysdale x Reader

It was like breathing for the first time. Like seeing color in its true vibrant form. Hugh Ransom Drysdale, disgraced Prince, came to life the moment he saw you across the ballroom.

Ethereal and the picture of grace. A beauty beyond compare. As all royals there was an air of sadness that you masked poorly but no one seemed to notice or care. But Ransom saw it, he felt it in his soul. He had learned a long time ago that no one cared, especially when you screwed up and tore the family’s reputation to shreds.

If no one cared why should he? That was a lesson Ransom took to heart. It’s how he became the black sheep of the royal family and was practically a pariah. He was tolerated because his grandfather was King. He used his status as Prince to bed any woman he chose including the wives of foreign noblemen. At one point a war was almost started and even then Ransom didn’t seem to care.

Ransom watched as you were paraded around the ballroom by different eligible bachelors. It was clear that your father was using you as a bargaining chip and you knew it.

Love in times of war part 2

“I knew it was a bad idea to let her go out so soon.” Steve’s voice reached you but it was so hard to open your eyes.

“Too soon? Steve, she's been here for two months. You can’t keep her locked up.”

That was Bucky. They were having a whispered argument.

“It’s not about keeping her locked up. It’s about keeping her safe. She’s still the only person that knows the formula for the serum. Every agency and country in the world is going to come after her.”

“Steve?” You asked. Everything was blurry, all you could make out was shapes moving around and that caused you to panic. “Steve?”

“I’m right here. It’s ok.”

“I can’t see.”

“I know, it’s a side effect from the smoke grenades and the hit you took but it will clear up.” He reassured you while taking your hand. You breathed a sigh of relief at having him close.

“What happened?”

Oh Baby (might turn this into a 2part or mini series)

Single dad! Bucky x Single mom!Reader

Flustered, unsure and overwhelmed did not begin to cover the emotions Bucky was feeling as he walked into the room full of moms. A newborn strapped into the stroller and a backpack full of supplies strapped to his back. His long hair was pulled into a messy bun which allowed everyone to see how exhausted he looked.

“May I help you?” The instructor asked as she got closer to him.

“This is the class for parents with newborns, right?”

“Yes it is. Is your wife or girlfriend joining us?” The smile the instructor had plastered on her face was fake.

“No. I saw online that anyone could join. I have a newborn and I don’t really know what I’m doing. Thought I could give the class a try.” He scratched the back of his neck nervously as he looked around the room.

Almost everyone had a look of disapproval on their face which only served to make Bucky feel worse. He was out of his depth having to care for a newborn.

“Well it says that but this is really a mommy and me class.”

“Well the ad said anyone can join so where can I sit?” Bucky said with more confidence.

The instructor gave an exasperated sigh and opened her mouth to ask him to leave.

“There’s a free spot here.”

[egittae]

21th of Ethereal Moon, Imperial Year 1135

Well, this wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this.

An old song and dance by now in his mind, revolving around the same topic, questions and answers each time only to reach a conclusion that too wasn’t new.

The impossibility that was his revival, that it could mean- why did it even happen. Days where he spent thinking if this was an act of defiance against the Goddess where he ripped the pen from her hands and continued to write page after page in the book that was his life long after the epilogue had been completed, or if perhaps this was part of her plan all along and she simply chose to give him a second chance as there was something out there he had yet to do, and he could only truly die after he sees it done.

In both cases, the result too led to a wall. If he defied the Goddess, how come she hasn’t dragged him back to death yet? If this was her intention, then how come people much more significant than him- literal saints and greater kings and queens from the past, weren’t offered the same grace?

Sitting down on his bed, holding the shabby paper calendar he had on his desk, his eyes remained fixated on the date, moon and year. The number almost alien to his brain as it didn’t match any of the couple of memories it was able to gather.

Almost half a decade had passed.

Half a decade in which he didn’t exist. He wasn’t asleep or lost, just ceased. Only to return now, his organism seemingly unbothered by the fact he should’ve rotted away and become one with nature at this point- instead, it kept going. It wasn’t perfect, Lambert could tell whatever it was that happened to him did take a toll on his general health, but he was still alive and surprisingly healthy for a man that had been dead for years now.

The conversation he had with Matthias earlier, one he had actually thought to himself a couple of times before, returned to his mind. Lambert should be completing fifty years of age now- but how can he, when at least four of these years were lost? Was he fifty, or forty-six? Such a simple and almost stupid question to be stressing over, but one that sent his mind into absolute disarray because it was the most real proof of how abhorrent his situation was. Lambert could just say whatever number he wanted if others asked, but in the end he knew, in his own mind, that he…didn’t know the real answer.

Wallowing would only get him so far, in the end. Putting the calendar aside with a sigh and leaning on his elbows against his thighs, he stared at nothing in particular. It was only then that he figured- perhaps, the best way to approach his dilemma.

He closed his eyes, falling back into the fairly disorganized archive of memories that was his mind- searching for nothing specific but a key moment all the same. What he found were not one, but multiple short instances- all spoken in the tone of a joke, never taking the situation too seriously. He didn’t have to.

Lambert! Get down from that tree, you dumb arse- you will fall and split your head open! Have some more faith in me, will you? I can just walk it off anyway! Not if you die! Then I’ll get to not only walk it off but also haunt you!

–

And what would you do then? If you were to fall in combat. I have taken more than enough precautions for that to not be the case- and in the odd chance it does, I do have contingency plans on paper. Is that so… Yes. But please, Krima. Have more faith in me, will you? I am not so careless. Besides, I am not in the mood to let the Goddess drag me away so soon! I will just have a talk with her and she will let me go. Lambert, do not joke about this! Oh, you dummy…

–

If you were to die and then come back, what would you do? Haunt my brother. Stop always saying you’ll haunt people, Your Highness! Every single time! Hehe, that is the fun part, is it not? Hmm… It would feel creepy, wouldn’t it? Imagine, being fully aware that you’re a ghost…or an undead-! I think…I would feel really powerful.  Eh? Yeah, it would feel powerful, would it not? To meet the end, and then go back from it. The one boundary no warrior has ever gotten back from! The coolest king ever! I think I would wear that with pride.  With pride…

–

Maybe, instead of letting it plague his thoughts so much, he should just wear his defiance of death with pride. As his younger self, many years ago, would've wished.

[aegor-bamfsteel]

I saw your targaryens being terrible rulers post and i loved it. Do u have any unpopular stark rulers? I for one don't think cregan was that special, not a fan of him being on team rhaenyra (i just don't get why he was so loyal to her or jace, didn't jace ask for attacking kingslanding via dragons in the books?)

Anyways, ❤️ your posts.

Thank you for liking my posts; I’m glad they were able to give some information and maybe a little entertainment. Unlike the Targs, the historical Starks don’t really get a lot of page time, so it’s hard to say who did what or when especially during the Kings of Winter era. Some dishonorable mentions:

Rickard “the Laughing Wolf” Stark, who took the Neck (previously a region that kept to itself and allied with the other northerners to repel invaders) from the last Marsh King and forcibly married his daughter (if it had been a peaceful marriage alliance, that would’ve been mentioned)

All the Starks that ruled during “the Worthless War” for 1000 years, that cost thousands of lives for a region they eventually lost interest in. Special dishonorable mention is to whoever instigated the Rape of the Three Sisters (wiki said possibly Theon the Hungry Wolf), which seemed to involve indiscriminate slaughter of civilians and mass executions

Brandon “the Burner” Stark, for burning all the shipyards because his dad disappeared. The north hasn’t had strength at sea since, even though there were Essosi pirate raids from the east, ironborn raids from the west, and wildling raids from the north

Cregan Stark, for executing war criminals yet marrying one himself (cuz she smells like woodsmoke not flowers! Never mind she was burning smallfolk lands), for putting an end to a succession crisis due to bad family planning yet starting one due to marrying 3 times and siring 10 kids, then not naming a definite heir when his oldest son predeceased him

Some people talk about how House Stark is going through a redemption arc for what its rulers had done to others. And yes, there were several Starks who seemingly committed atrocities in the name of conquest, and others who aligned themselves with criminals for their own benefit, and still others who committed fatal mistakes not in the interest of their subjects. Even if they are the protagonist house, they aren’t and have never been perfect.

[wayfaringauthorofficial]

WIP EXCERPT

            Footsteps and whispers echoed through the palace as the investigation continued. Agents would no doubt have an update for their king after breakfast, but Christian didn’t want to think about that. He didn’t want to remember that his wife, the mother of his son, was missing. He just wanted to hold her, to tell her that everything was going to be okay. How would he bring her home? What could she be going through at this very moment? Christian didn’t know much of the Choctaw peoples’ enemies, or what they were capable of.  I need my tribe, he realized. I have to go see my sister… our other family. That might be the only way to find information on getting Tallulah home alive.

            But he couldn’t go yet. His cousins were coming in a few hours, if not earlier. Christian had promised to be home when they arrived, knowing Carter would have questions. He’d been studying foreign relations and war tactics in college. The boy was slowly becoming the man their fathers would have raised him to be, the type of royal a nation would be proud to call their ruler. Christian knew that Nick would be glad to see his brother succeeding today, if he could be around to witness it.

            So Christian showered and changed into a black suit, jacket unbuttoned as he left his corridor, heading for the library. There would be meetings and calls to attend to from his office, but that could wait. He wanted to be normal, if only for a moment. The king had just laid his fingertips on the oak door, beginning to push it opened, when he turned. The footsteps he’d heard behind him stopped as he locked eyes with Eddie, who flinched and lowered his gaze when he realized what he’d done.

            “I’m sorry- I thought you’d still be sleeping. It’s still dark.” Prince Edmund II bit his lip but didn’t flinch as each royal stood before the other. A cup of coffee was held in one hand, and it looked like it had just been poured. Steam curled and waltzed towards the elder prince’s face, begging to be sipped as they surveyed each other’s anxiety and pain. “I wrote my father, but he’s still in Vexeria, and hasn’t sent word on when he’ll be able to return. I wish I had better news for you.”

            Christian’s uncle had been abroad for the past few years, visiting private headquarters in hope of finding any sort of magic or resource that might assist in protecting their heirs and other relatives as the Fiora bloodline continued to grow.  New discoveries had been made, but it was never exactly what the king and his relatives were hoping for.

            And the king wasn’t sure why, but hearing these words sent fury to his heart, spiraling through his veins. Was this what his stepmother had felt all those years ago, when she looked at him? What went through her mind when she broke him, time and time again? Christian flinched as her icy glare appeared in the forefront of his mind, and all of those memories he’d spent his adult years erasing came rushing back, just as clear as when they’d happened.

            Running a hand over his face, the ebony haired man turned to rest his back on the wall. He didn’t raise his gaze to look at the dozens of family portraits on the opposite side, unwilling to have a replay of all of the loss and pain his bloodline had suffered. “Do you expect me to sleep-to get anything resembling rest- at a time like this? My wife is probably going through hell, wherever she is… and I have no idea how to go about getting her back.” Maybe his words came out harsher than he’d meant, and his years with his stepmother were still playing tricks with his head, but surely his cousin would understand. He always did.

            The prince flinched, taking one step back from his younger cousin as he knelt and lowered his gaze to the floor. It looked like he was debating something but thought better of it before speaking again. “No… I’m sorry, your Majesty. That’s not what I meant. Offending you was not my intention.”  He blinked once, twice, before Christian motioned for him to get to his feet. The two men stood side by side in silence until they both looked more uncomfortable than they had been just moments before.

            Christian moved to refill his glass, then thought better of it. If he was going to track his wife down, to find out exactly what had happened to her, his sister and agents would want him to do it with a clear head. He was older now, more mature than last time. This was not a time to forget the pain… not when he had his son to take care of.