#my wife looks like an owl hoot hoot

[spentgladiator]

[lunnybunny12]

Stolas x wife reader (happy families)

(part 1)

Masterlist

Requests open

A Goetia party was always a talking point in hell. And for good reason. From kings to lowborns, everyone and anyone from the Goitias were invited.

The hall was practically dripping with wealth. Ladies draped with the finest silks and velvets, in floor-length gowns and sprinkled with jewels and gems. The gentlemen, groomed to perfection, wore luxurious suits with matching: shirts, hats, tailcoats and cloaks. The smell of the fine food, collected from all across the seven rings drifted through the air along with a strong smell of absynthe and incense.

It was a classy affair, at least you would've thought so if you weren't 5 years old. In your little bird brain, you hated these parties. Granted this was your first one but you couldn't imagine anything more boring. So far you have been: stepped on, pushed and pulled in all directions, danced and if you smiled any more your lips would fall apart.

Your mother, on the other hand, lived for them. When you were small your mother would always pawn you off to a babysitter so she could be at a party. Every year she would work for at least a month to prepare for the occasion.

Not a single feather was out of place that night. Her talons and beak were buffed and polished and there wasn't a spec of anything but elegance ( and annoyance) on her.

"(Y/N)! stop fidgeting you'll ruin my dress" she crowed, dragging you behind her.

"But Mama I-"

Your mother sent you a look that choked the words in your throat and bent down to dust off your dress.

"No buts. you be on your best behaviour. I won't have you embarrass me in front of a king"

Faster than you could comprehend, your mother composed herself and shoved you in front of her.

You slammed face-first into something. Tears were pooling at the corners of your eyes when a sweet voice said "Oh goodness, I'm sorry are you alright?

The boy in front of you was around your age maybe a year older. He was an inch or two taller than you and had 2 large, kind, red eyes that met yours.

"This is my daughter (Y/N). Isn't she just... Precious" your mother said pulling her face into the biggest smile you'd ever seen.

Your eyes travelled up to who she was talking to. The man toward over you and your mother. His blood-red eyes stared down at you like he was staring into your soul.

The owl grumbled to himself before planting a fake smile on his face.

"Isn't she darling? Allow me to introduce my son... uh. Fuck, what's your name?"

"Stolas, father."

"STOLAS! of course. My son, Prince Stolas."

The young owl lowered his head earning a slap.

"Don't bow to THAT one. They bow to us." The man hissed.

Your mother grabbed the back of your neck and forced you into a bow, making you slip and fall into Stolas, who caught you.

"(Y/N)!" your mother whispered sharply, tearing you away from Stolas and dragging you behind her.

The whole time you felt your mother's claws dig into your skin making you wince in pain.

Eventually, when your mother let you go you managed to sneak away and scurried to the first place you could find, under a table.

It wasn't the worst place to hide, the tablecloth draped down to the floor on all sides so you couldn't be seen. Through your misty eyes, you'd see shadows pass by. If you weren't so upset you'd actually enjoy your little nook.

"Hello?" someone hooted to you.

You immediately dried your face and tried to stand, hitting your head on the underside of the table.

You locked eyes with the young prince, who by this point was fully under the table with you, and fell face-first to the ground in embarrassment.

Stolas crawled to you with a slight giggle in his voice. "Are you ok?"

"Yes Your Highness I'm fine. My head hurts that's all." You mumbled into the carpet.

"Here let's get you to sit up. I can't really hear you."

Stolas could see that you were upset, your eyes were still puffy and your face was wet.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

You sniffled and fake smiled "Im alright Your Highness"

"Please call me Stolas" he lowered his head to a bow

[jadewolf22]

Some Peace and Quiet

Aura x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Fluff, idiots in love, ect…

Summary: Just a quiet, peaceful night at home with your beloved Aura. 

A/n: This is my first time writing Aura… I hope I did her justice… And thanks to @milfsloverblog for giving me the little nudge I needed to write this. 

A/n: I know I have like 3 series that are still waiting on the next chapter, but I've seen so many requests for an Aura fanfic I knew there was no way I was going to be able to work on those again until I got this out there.

Word Count: 901

Quiet nights sitting around a fire with a cup of tea in hand had quickly become one of your favourite ways to end the day since you and Aura had taken up residence in the woods. The chirping crickets, crackling fire, and occasional hoot of an owl were like serotonin for the both of you, allowing you to relieve yourself of the stresses of the day while you nursed on warm tea. 

You sighed in content, leaning back against your chair and looking up at the stars as they shone through the treetops, branches shaking in the gentle breeze. A light snore drew your attention to your wife who’d fallen asleep not long ago, her empty mug dangling precariously from her fingertips. A quiet laugh escaped your lips as you smiled, finishing off the last of your tea before you stood, calling her name as you shook her shoulder.

“Aura, my star,” you cooed, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face as she stirred, “Come on. I think it’s time we head off to bed.” 

Aura groaned, watery-blue eyes fluttering open as her face morphed into a pout from having been woken. Even now, after almost thirty years together, your heart still skipped a beat everytime she looked you in the eyes. Though she no longer believed it, you found her as beautiful as the day you’d met. Sure her hair was now silver instead of blonde, and sure more age lines graced her face, but to you they were never flaws or imperfections, just simply new things for you to adore. You smirked, placing a kiss to the tip of her nose as you opened your arms to her, a silent request for her to stand—but she insisted on being stubborn. 

“Come on, Aura. Don't be petty. You’re tired and we both know it.”

“I am not!” she insisted, though the large yawn that followed quickly disproved her words. You crossed your arms, face forming into an I-told-you-so kind of look and Aura sighed. “Alright, alright. Fine.” she muttered using the armrests to help push herself out of the chair. 

Biting the inner corner of your lip to keep from cracking a victorious smile, you snaked your arm around her shoulders, pulling her against you as the two of you headed into the trailer. Taking Aura’s mug from her, you set about washing the dishes from dinner as Aura went to change and freshen up for the night. When you came to join her, Aura was seated on the edge of your bed, attempting to take a hairbrush through her ever-untamable mane of silver hair. You had to stop yourself from laughing when the brush snagged on yet another tangle and Aura let out a curse, pulling the brush away from her hair and tossing it down on the bed. 

“Why don’t you let me do that?” you offered, coming up behind her and resting your hands on her shoulders.

“Good luck.” she muttered, her tone both annoyed and clearly exhausted. The poor woman was going to collapse soon and you knew it. 

Gathering up your comb and her brush, you sat down behind her and set to work, picking away at the tangles with the comb before smoothing them out with the brush once you’d loosened them enough. This act had become a nightly ritual between the two of you since you’d moved out here and, even now, Aura still doubted your ability to detangle her hair when she couldn’t. She sighed with each tangle removed, wincing every now and again when your comb snagged on a particularly large one. Once you were finished, you stood, kissing the top of her head before putting away the brushes as she climbed into bed. Blowing out the candle that lit up the trailer—all save for the one on your nightstand—you crawled into bed beside Aura, wrapping your arm around her as she snuggled into your side. It was her favourite way to fall asleep, tucked up against you with your arm wrapped around her, humming as you played with her hair absentmindedly. And you loved it too, the way her body fit perfectly against yours, the faint traces of jasmine and sandalwood that clung to her hair and skin from the soap she used to bathe, even the way her warm breath tickled as it danced across your neck. 

“Good night, my star.” you whispered against her hair, breathing in her scent as if you would never get to do so again. 

Aura hummed, pressing herself impossibly closer to you, tucking her head into the crook of your neck and whispering against your skin, “Good night, Y/n.” You felt her press a kiss to your collar and, without another word, she was fast asleep, her breath slow and deep as a soft snore crept from her mouth every other minute. 

Chuckling quietly so as not to wake her, you twisted your upper body around carefully, blowing out the last candle before resuming your earlier position. Staring at her silhouette as moonlight crept in through the thin curtains covering your windows you breathed a final, “Sweet dreams… Aura.” before draping your other arm across her hip and allowing sleep to wash over you like a wave of warm water, falling asleep beside your love like you had so many times before, the both of you content and blissfully happy.

[shugar0cone]

“Are we bad people”

-summary-

A y/n x Alastor story where they where the killers Alastor was reporting. Oh and y/n is questioning it.

About a month ago I found out my husband was the killer he obsessed about. My reaction was dumb except for throwing up from the realization on his deer meat being off. I could not believe what I seen but at the same time I knew deep deep down he was it, but i could not come to the term of it. I loved my husband more deep than I should have.

“Alastor?” I looked at him, I never had fear over this man, sure he could kill me but if he wanted too he could, we slept in the same bed for Christ sake. “Yes, my dear.” He was digging the hole for Mr.Johnson, he cheated on his wife when he was on a business trip, too much fat to get real proteins out of him. “Why.” I really had to think of how to word this. He was bi polar snapping from the Alastor I know to the Alastor of the night in the shed. “Why, do we murder.” He stopped his shovel. I tensed, my screams couldn’t be heard this far out, animals would eat me in seconds, and if I ran fuck what am I saying mans got legs of a giraffe. I held alastors shot gun, I was scared, for the first time in my life. The owls stoped hooting, crickets went silent. “Darling.” I snapped out of my thoughts. “We kill the bad people.” I thought about it, he was right. We killed from the whores to child abusers. We did kill the bad, but does that make us good?

Surprise surprise we both ended up in hell. I constantly thought about that night. The night of why, why we killed. Maybe now it’s different, for him it’s power, fear, and entertainment. I just wanted to punish the bad. I was feared as much as AL, having a small area in the pentagram. It was the cleanest and most organized area anyone who disobeyed and called out they met with ME, then never was seen again.

It was late one night. I watched over my people or citizens I don’t know how to put it. Deep in thought, wondering what I’ll do for this, that, and more normal overloard shit.

“Darling why all the sulking!” He popped up out of nowhere I was used to it by this point. “I’m not sulking hun.” I pushed my hair back. “Just.” I breathed out. “Watching the devil ducks fly or..” I cut down twords two ducks fight the other bitting its head off. “What ever those freaks do.” I laughed. “Ah.” He stood right next to me. “I hate it when ya lie, darling.” He got frustrated. “I know you.” He said laughing. He grabbed my chin, looking at me. His eyes made contact with mine, I looked down ashamed of what I’m going to say

“Are we the bad people…”

A/N: Wow! I like this honestly it’s hard bc I’m used to putting oc’s names and not y/n and some might be vague anyways thanks for reading hun!

-Shugar

[hypnogold]

In Crescent Park, the moon hung low in the sky, casting long, eerie shadows across the deserted path. It was well past midnight, and the distant hum of traffic barely reached the quiet park. The occasional sound of a lone owl hooting and the rustling of leaves in the breeze were the only signs of life. Yet, in one secluded corner, three figures stood still—watching, waiting.

The trio was dressed identically in shiny metallic golden AC Milan soccer jerseys, their crisp white collar shirts peeking beneath the shimmering fabric. Their red-and-black striped ties added a sharp contrast to the surreal glow of their outfits, making them almost seem like they didn't belong in the darkness. Hypnotic spirals swirled in their eyes, lazy grins on their faces. They stood in a circle near an old bench, silently observing the path that cut through the park.

The first of them, cigarette in hand, leaned casually against a tree, his hypnotic spirals flashing slightly in the dim light. The smoke curled lazily around him, as if drawn to the strange energy emanating from the golden uniforms. Behind him, the other two stood close together, smiling confidently, their expressions far too calm for the strange, almost predatory atmosphere they created.

"Someone's coming," whispered the tallest of the three, his voice barely cutting through the silence. He gestured down the path where a lone figure stumbled forward, a little wobbly, clearly coming back from a long night of drinking. He was one of many—the kind who left work late and stopped at a party to unwind, just sober enough to make it home, just drunk enough to ignore any warning signs.

"Perfect," the man with the cigarette muttered, pushing off the tree. His smile widened as the group stepped forward, moving in sync, their golden jerseys gleaming under the faint glow of a park light.

The unsuspecting man, in his business attire, barely registered them at first. His tie was loose around his neck, his jacket hanging lazily over one shoulder as he fumbled with his phone, trying to send a message. It wasn’t until he felt the presence of the three men that he looked up, pausing mid-step.

"Hey, bro," one of the men called out, his voice unnervingly friendly. "You look like you could use some company."

The businessman blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Uh… no, I’m good, thanks." He stumbled a little as he tried to keep walking, his instincts telling him to move faster, but the alcohol slowed his reflexes.

"Come on, bro, don't be like that," the one with the cigarette said, flashing him a grin. "We're just chillin'. You should hang with us for a bit. No need to hurry home."

The man hesitated, but something about their gaze—those swirling hypnotic eyes—froze him in place. His mind wavered, and he felt an odd pull toward them, an invisible force urging him to stop, to listen. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. "I… really should go. My wife’s waiting."

But the men were closer now, forming a semi-circle around him. One of them—the leader, it seemed—placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm but not aggressive. "We’re not here to mess with you, man. Just take a minute to relax. You’ve had a long day, haven’t you?"

The man’s resistance faltered. "Yeah, I guess… it has been a long day."

"Exactly, bro," the second guy said, his hypnotic grin widening. "You deserve to chill. We’ve got something that'll make it all better."

In an almost rehearsed motion, the man with the cigarette reached into his backpack, pulling out a gleaming golden soccer jersey—the same as theirs. It shimmered under the dim park light, the fabric practically glowing in the dark.

"Try it on, bro," he said, offering the jersey like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The businessman’s eyes locked onto the golden jersey. It looked… inviting, comforting in a way he couldn’t quite explain. His thoughts, muddled by the alcohol and the strange energy radiating from the three men, grew fuzzy. "I… don’t think—"

Before he could finish, one of the others moved swiftly, slipping the golden jersey over his shoulders, right on top of his work clothes. As soon as the fabric touched his skin, a wave of warmth rushed through him, his mind spinning as the hypnotic spirals from their eyes seemed to intensify, mirrored in his own gaze.

The businessman tried to resist, but it was too late. His body relaxed, his muscles going limp under the weight of the golden jersey. His breathing slowed, his thoughts dulled, and that lazy grin spread across his face, matching the expressions of the three men.

"That’s better, isn’t it, bro?" the leader asked, clapping a hand on his back.

The man, now one of them, nodded slowly. "Yeah… better…"

The trio smirked as they looked at their newest recruit, already slipping into the same hypnotic daze that had overtaken them. They knew it wouldn’t take long before he was like them—another golden-bro ready to bring more into the fold.

As they led their new brother deeper into the park, their eyes scanned the path, waiting for the next poor soul to wander by, someone just tipsy enough, just tired enough, to fall into their golden trap. Now there are 4 of them.

And so the hunt continued.

[ezralovrr]

STOP ATTACKING ME! - A short Helluva Boss OC Drabble

Yeah I’m not gonna lie.. I don’t really like Stolas, I’m sorry. His whiny attitude about how Blitzo doesn’t love him is honestly really annoying. So here’s my frustrations being put into a small story!

(Also this basically serves as an origin story to Raya’s rivalry with Stolas.)

Stolas likers, I’m sorry in advance. This one isn’t for you.

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The Goetia palace was lavishing as ever this evening; the crystal chandeliers sparkled in the evening light, the constellations painted on the ceiling seemed to glow, and the polished marble floor reflected the silhouettes of the avian royalty of Hell.

While Stella flounced about on the ballroom floor and squawked to her peacock acquaintances about her stupid husband, the owl prince Stolas stood 10 feet away from her, meekly sipping on some rich wine. “Witch.” He hissed under his breath. He was dressed in his bathrobes, as he couldn’t bother to get into his more formal attire. It’s not like anyone would care, anyways. Pity, pity, pity…

Andrealphus gave his brother-in-law a snide glare as he strode over to his cackling sister, who was loudly singing about what foolish things her husband had said this week. She did like to torment him, so this was nothing new to the owl prince.

Stolas huffed and ruffled his feathers, a look of sadness creeping up on his beak. If only his “star-crossed” lower-class lover Blitzo could whisk him away from the “Still Not Divorced” party, leaving his teenage daughter Octavia to sit awkwardly with her mother…

His train of thought was interrupted when he heard someone yelling mildly as they struggled to climb over the balcony rail. Stolas’s ruby eyes lit up, and he dashed over to the balcony he was standing next to, grabbing the arm to pull his lover up to the pala-

It was a human.

“Oh.” Stolas sighed. Regardless, he helped her up and into the palace, as he didn’t wish to be rude. “My apologies. I thought you were someone else.” He briskly turned to an imp waiter, trying to offer the woman something to drink or nibble on. She refused politely, though by the look on her face, she wanted to discuss something with the prince.

“It’s alright. I actually wanted to ask you about something regarding your.. affair.” The words “affair” seemed to haunt Stolas. Affair was far from what could be described about his loving, totally sincere relationship with Blitzo. “…Right then. Please, pray tell, what do you wish to query me?” Stolas adjusted his bathrobe to appear decent.

“Why do you still chase after that imp?” She shot him a subtle yet icy cold glare. Stolas felt his heart quake. “…What- What is your name..?” He asked the human. She gasped lightly and adjusted her corn-colored hair. “Raya. Why do you wish to know?” She tilted her head up at the prince. “I- …With all due respect, miss Raya… I genuinely feel a strong, warm connection to that little imp.” Stolas stared off into space as a sick warmth spread to his beak.

Raya clenched her teeth, clearly annoyed he was trying to change the subject. As he started to ramble on and on, she felt slightly agitated and wanted to square the conversation back. “No- no, you’re not listening to me, your highness.” She spoke out, causing the owl to hoot slightly and shut his beak in mild shock.

“…Like I said, you’re chasing after someone who isn’t interested in you. You deliberately harass the poor man, exploiting him for your pleasure and to keep his business afloat, and even prioritizing him over your daughter not once, but twice. You flaunted your first affair to your wife. And I get that she’s awful, but it doesn’t give you an excuse to do so. You spend all your time wailing and waiting for your imp prince to rescue you from the wicked witch, but you’re just living a fantasy. A sick fantasy in which you leave your daughter alone as feared. And no amount of coddling could change that, which is why you need to take the first step and accept that Blitz. Doesn’t. Love you.” Raya went on a long-winded rant, essentially calling out the Goetia prince for his attitude and actions.

Stolas was horrified, his legs were shaking like a great earthquake, his heart heavily beating as sweat trickled down his beak. It was true, but he didn’t want to accept it. He hated confrontation, he hated owning up to his mistakes and recognizing his flaws. And then, right before she could deliver the verdict…

“STOP! STOP IT, PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU! PLEASE, STOP IT!” Like a child, the owl prince screeched and stumbled back, crocodile tears streaming down his face as he made a scene. “No- wait- I- I didn’t mean to. Your royal highness, I apologize. Please, just breathe and think rationally for a second…!” Raya lightly raised her hand to soothe the prince.

“WITCH! SHE’S RAISING HER HAND AGAINST ME! SOMEONE, PLEASE TAKE HER AWAY!” Stolas cried out, dark blue feathers slightly falling from his body.

The orchestra paused as the royal avians turned to the scene. Andrealphus raised an eyebrow, mildly confused at the behavior of his brother-in-law. Stella, however, had a wicked, almost proud grin on her face. Two hellhounds grabbed Raya by the forearms while she was distracted from attempting to ease the prince.

“Ma’am, it’s nothing personal. We’d like for you to leave the premises at once.” One of them barked at her. “No, wait-! I’m not done! Octavia! Princess! Please just know that my door’s open if you wish to have a safe space!!” Raya called to the Goetia princess as she was dragged out of the ballroom. Octavia, while mildly confused, as put at ease as she went to go comfort her tantrum-throwing father.

Raya was tossed outside of the Goetia palace, and she hit the pavement upon impact. “Respectfully, you are disallowed from entering this palace again.” The other hellhound affirmed her as they shut the doors. “Damn it all…” Raya sighed and picked herself up. She shivered slightly, mildly irritated that her confrontational approach didn’t work out in the end.

Just before she was about to leave, the door opened and closed quickly. Raya turned around, finding a prideful Stella exiting the palace. “Well done. Really, darling, well done!” She slowly applauded the human. “What?” Raya mouthed to no one in particular.

“You really took the words out of my mouth. Although I’m still mildly disgusted that the imp-sucking excuse of my husband is being coddled right now back upstairs… you really said some things I wanted to hear for a long time.” Stella smiled lightly, offering a hand for the human to shake. Raya stared down at her hand, then pulled her lavender cardigan sleeve a bit over her palm before accepting the handshake.

“I’m… honored, I guess.” She awkwardly brushed a piece of hair out of her eyes. “Well, I must head back to the Still Not Divorced soirée. Just keep in mind though… I admire your bravery.” Stella curtsied lightly before taking her leave and re-entering the palace.

Raya stood there, flabbergasted. Although her mission was unsuccessful, she at least felt satisfied voicing her thoughts on the prince.

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And that’s the end! I’m gonna be honest, I’m not really keeping up with the show anymore, so I tried to write the characters to the best of my ability.

[adorablegorilla]

Major Spoilers For Lone Trail below:

Kirsten: "I've come to make an announcement, Olivia Silence is a Bitchass Motherfucker! She HOOTed on my fucking wife! That's right, she took her little feathery owl dick out, and she HOOTed on my fucking wife! And said her dick was "tHis biG"! And I said that's disgusting! So I'm making a callout post on my Twitter.com, Silence The Owl, you got a SMALL DICK, it's the size of this wallnut except WAY SMALLER, and guess what?! Here's what my dong looks like! *BWOOM!* That's right baby! All point, no quills! No pillows! Look at that it looks like two Planetary Debris and a S.H.A.F.T! She fucked my wife so guess what I'm gonna fuck Columbia! THIS IS WHAT YOU GET! MY SUPER H.A.M.H.R.R. PISS! Except I'm not gonna piss on Columbia, I'm gonna go higher. I'M PISSING ON THE SKYYYYYYY!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, JACKSON!? I PISSED ON THE FAKE SKY YOU IDIOT! You have 23 hours before the piss drrrrroplets hit fucking Terra, now get out of my sight, before I piss on you too!!"

[biscuitblinkeu]

All You Had to Do Was Ask [2]

Kim Jisoo x Fem!reader

Word Count: 4562

Quick!: You’re still getting used to your wife, and she hopes your over it sooner than later. After learning that the sweet-swoons that come from her lips are reserved for you, you don’t know how to act. You try your best to contact your brothers but to no avail, the forest is against you. Turns out all you had to do was ask!

A/N: Got it out faster than I expected, and my sister helped a lot so I’m grateful for that. But this will probably be the normal word count for every chapter now on!

Jisoo seemed to grin at that, much wider than before. She leaned in close, her hands moving up from your ankles before resting on your thighs firmly. “Shall I show you how it is, then, darling? Would you let me be the first to deflower you?” Jisoo purred, eyes gazing darkly at you. You were certain she saw you shiver. 

You were afraid of this woman. She was making you feel things, making you nervous with her intense gaze and her touch. You were scared of the way she spoke and the way her voice sounded whenever she used it, the way it made your knees weak and sent tingles down your spine. She made your skin crawl in such an odd and exciting way. 

The feelings were foreign, and you weren’t one to go exploring just for the fun of it. You pushed her back by the shoulders gently; she didn’t resist. “I’m sorry, but I-I can’t,” you said weakly.

“Can’t or won’t, my love?” You stayed quiet, prompting Jisoo to huff. “That’s a real shame, however, I’d never force you.” Jisoo sighed, taking a few steps back much to your relief. Her ears flickered and she crossed her arms, looking at you with comprehension. “This is going to be difficult;  you make me…ravenous.”

You must’ve had a look of pure horror on your face because she chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. “Get those silly thoughts out of your head. I thought I made it clear I didn’t want to kill you?”

“Right,” you said dumbly. Maybe she didn’t want to kill you now, but later was uncertain.

Jisoo hummed, looking around the room before gazing at you again. “You will have to know some things, a few rules; and you will pick up things as time passes, but know, in every way possible— I will have you. I do not like sharing; I’m very possessive over what is mine,” she voiced seriously. 

You nodded and Jisoo smiled and approached again. You tensed up when she leaned down and unexpectedly gave you a kiss on the forehead. Her lips were soft and warm, and they lingered for a few moments. “Have a goodnight, I will see you in the morning, my love.” She began to walk towards the sliding door.

“You’re not sleeping in here?” You blurted, heat blooming at the back of your neck when she turned around and grinned, canines on display. Why did you even ask her that? You don’t want her to sleep beside you anyways, nor did you care about marital normalcy after being revealed. 

“I’m aware that’s a part of marital duties, but I’d like you to be more comfortable with me first. It wouldn’t do if you jumped out of your skin every time I shifted in bed or touched you now would it?” And without waiting for a response, she was gone. 

You sat there for a few moments, then let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. With its release your shoulders sagged and you curled in on yourself, head down; legs tucked up to your chest. It was quiet (save for the occasional hoot of an owl and crickets). Inside, however, there was an internal loudness— of thoughts.

Don’t, you told yourself sternly, just, don’t.

Don’t cry. Don’t think about anything.

 It will be okay. Everything will be fine.

…

But it wasn’t fine, no matter how many times you told yourself it was. Assaulted by images of your family, tears escaped your eyes and you sniffled and you sobbed, pushing yourself towards the headboard where you rested your head on the large pillows. You cried till you couldn’t produce tears anymore and till your head was throbbing; and by then you were truly exhausted.

As you began to slip into sleep, you could still feel Jisoo’s lips. The sensation still lingered on your forehead like a ghost, and you couldn’t stop yourself from remembering the feeling, the gentle pressure that left your skin buzzing, because strangely it brought you comfort.

…

You awoke to a sudden bright light infiltrating your closed eyes and the sound of humming. You opened your eyes gradually, vision somewhat foggy and dark, to see a figure standing by the now open window. You didn’t remember a window being— oh. You frowned.

You were still here. Away from your family. A Kumiho’s bride. 

“Good morning, Mister! — Or should I say Ms.?” She giggled. “I hope you slept well?”

The voice was Keo-woo, who you identified as the more energetic servant, not to mention the familiar jungle of the bells she had in her hair. You blinked, sitting up slowly. Your mouth was dry, and you were glad to see a glass of water on the nightstand. You drank it at a leisurely pace, watching the child-servant bounce around your room.

“I find it strange that if humans sleep too long, it has consequences, and if they sleep too little, it also has consequences. I bet it's fun to sleep though,” she rambled.

You cleared your throat, “You…don’t sleep?”

“Oh, no, that’s impossible. I have to keep working during the day and night. I’m physically unable to go to sleep anyways— I don’t even have eyes,” she told you seriously.

She doesn’t have eyes? Is that why she wears a mask? If so, you didn’t dwell on it and instead asked, “Then how do you get energy? Eating?”

“By playing!” She giggled, clapping her hands. “Would you play with me sometime? Jisoo doesn’t always have time to and playing with Jiseul is always so boring— and you seem like fun!”

You paused to take another sip from the glass before answering. You wanted to say: No. No, I am not a fun person to play with and please leave me alone (well, maybe you were still unsure if you should just accept how things were now and were unfairly taking it out on Keo-woo.) But she was so happy and so excited, and you were tired, so you swallowed your petty reluctance and nodded, giving her a smile. “Yeah, sure.”

Suddenly Keo hugged you tightly, which made you grunt slightly from the pressure, but you still accepted her affection with a small chuckle.

She retreated. “Yay! Thank you, thank you! I promise it’ll be fun! We could play hide and seek or tag or…” she rattled on, bouncing in place in front of you. “But oh— I’m getting carried away; I have to get you ready for the day. You didn’t get to take a bath last night after you arrived with everything happening, so we’ll start with that, okay?”

You nodded wordlessly, deciding to let her do her job and not give her a hard time. A bath would be nice, you thought as she led you out of the room and into a luxurious bathroom adjacent to it. 

The first thing you noticed was the large bathtub, the same size as the wall behind it, which was steaming and had flower petals floating in the bubbly water. The room had a delicious scent to it, reminiscent of jasmine and vanilla. There was also a large mirror on one side, its border made of gold. Flowers lavishly decorated the room, and you found yourself unable to look away. You’ve never seen those types of flowers before.

Keo-woo stopped in the middle of the room. “Taking in account how the village-servants bathed you— those barbaric, uncultured servants with no… All I want to say is we do things differently here and that'll make you more comfortable. Normally I’d help you bathe and do things, but I’m sure you’d want to bathe yourself? Have some time alone to relax?”

You nodded. 

“And before I leave, there’s a robe hanging up over there, along with undergarments Jisoo procured. Your outfit will be waiting in your room, and I’ll come back to help you with your hair, okay? Great.”

The door shut behind you with a click as Keo-woo left and you double-checked that it was locked. Then you took off your clothes and stepped in the bathtub. You sighed at the feeling of warm water against your skin, and relaxed into the bubbles until only your head was left. You eyed your clothes at the side of the tub distastefully; another reminder of your situation.

You relaxed in the tub for a while before actually scrubbing your skin and rinsing off. Once out, you dried off with a towel and then curiously looked at the undergarments laid on the dresser. They weren’t lingerie in any way, just regular and cotton. You picked the black bra up, surprised because you could actually fit it. It was the same with the underwear. Keo-woo said Jisoo got these? How did she know your size?

You then crossed the room and reached for the robe, putting it on. The soft, almost velvety feel of the material as you pulled it across your skin made you smile. The robe came down mid-thigh; and the sleeves ended at your elbows. It had a belt that you tied around your waist to keep it closed.

Opening the bathroom door, you peaked in the hallway not really wanting to be caught by stray servants, or worse, by the Kumiho. You tiptoed to your room, relaxing when you locked the door behind you.

Your clothes were indeed sitting on the vanity mirror’s chair. You pushed the robe down your shoulders, causing it to pool at your waist and forearms, and were just beginning to reach for the clothes when you heard a sneeze. 

(“A-chiiaaa.”)

You yelped, turning around so fast you felt slightly dizzy for a moment. Heart beating against your ribcage, jaw slackening more as you recognized the figure sitting on your bed that definitely wasn’t there before. 

Dressed in a beautiful black dress and a matching bow that tied up half of her hair, contrasting her white ears, she sat on the edge of your bed, facing you. 

Jisoo sniffled, scrunching her nose. “It’s a bit stuffy in here, you should open the windows,” she murmured. She uncrossed and crossed her legs, putting the right one on top of the left one now as she leaned back on her hands. She then stared, dark eyes trailing from your partially-covered thighs to the open, top-half of the robe where they lingered. She knew the undergarments would look good on you. 

You picked up your jaw that briefly fell on the floor and scowled, pulling the robe more securely on your shoulders hastily, causing her to pout. “You— Why are you here??”

“Is it such a crime to want to see my wife before breakfast?” She asked as she stood up, making her way towards you.

“Yes!” You hissed, clutching your robe tighter in the front. It is when you're not fully clothed! (In hindsight, maybe you shouldn’t be talking to a Kumiho with such an attitude.)

Jisoo stopped in front of you, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Is that so?…” She trailed off. Then you were abruptly pulled flush against her by the hips. Your hands flew to her shoulders, and you pushed yourself back to create what little space you were allowed.

 “Jisoo…” You warned, unsure whether to try and push her back again or stay still. The smell of her perfume, mixed with an underlying scent of something you couldn’t place; something intoxicating, tickled your nose. 

Nonetheless, her face was too close— all her picturesque features were magnified and her eyes looked almost black, yet they were expressive. They flickered across your face, familiarizing themselves with your features. They were searching. For what? You were absolutely clueless. They roamed your face, finally landing onto your lips.

“Jisoo.” You said again, more firmly. 

She looked at you again, bringing her hand up to your face. “I do so love the way you say my name.” She teased, running her fingers lightly against your cheeks. You gulped, trying to swallow past the lump that suddenly formed in your throat; despite the heat that radiated from her touch, you didn’t dare move, afraid of being burnt.

“You– what?”

She smiled. “I’m sorry for startling you, darling. But I don’t regret it, you’re beautiful.”

“Do you say things like that to everyone that gets sent to you?” You mumbled. Jisoo heard, and a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes.

If she was going to respond, she didn't have the time to, as a knock sounded at the door. It opened a moment later. Keo-woo was holding a tray with hair clips and accessories. The servant looked surprised at Jisoo’s presence.

She regarded Jisoo, bowing her head slightly, before shuffling over to the vanity next to you. Jisoo let go of you, taking a step back. She raised an eyebrow at you, silently saying she would come back to this. 

“Which one is prettier?” Keo-woo turned to Jisoo holding a beautiful black clip that had gold flowers engraved onto it, and another, a gold-toned, metallic, rectangular-shaped clip.

Jisoo smiled and pointed to the metallic accessory, “That one.”

You sat yourself in the wooden chair in front of the mirror, as directed by Keo-woo. You locked eyes with the fox-demon in the mirror. “I shall see you soon,” Jisoo intoned. She left the room, and you stared at the door with a sinking feeling. You were subtly chastened just now. Earlier, you’ve said something you shouldn't have said.

“You’re still not dressed?” Keo-woo whined. “Hurry, I can’t do your hair unless you get dressed first!”

…

After you got ready, you and Keo-woo made your way to the dining room, and were currently walking side by side.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why was Jisoo in your room earlier?” Keo-woo asked.

“She said she wanted to see me before breakfast,” you told her honestly. 

“She's made an exception this time I see.”

“An exception?” 

“Jisoo is very busy: she doesn’t usually show up for breakfast,” she told you. 

“I see…” You wondered why it was different now that you were here. Did she not eat breakfast with her past offerings?

You took a left turn, and down the hallway was a singular, grand door. You stopped and stared at the door. It was made of dark oak, designs of different foxes and landscapes were carved into it, along with a language unfamiliar to you.

“What’s written here?” You asked.

 Keo gave you a glance then shrugged slowly. “Only Jisoo knows, but I wager it’s the fox god’s language.”

Then the doors opened slowly, revealing a dining table that was elegant and long, containing fine polished wooden chairs with engraved roses and small flower decor on the legs. In the middle of the table there was a bouquet, and several platters set out already. There were glass windows all around the room, illuminating the crystal table with light that reflected prettily on the walls - and on the Kumiho who sat on the far end to where you entered. You suspected you were supposed to sit directly across from her, on the other side of the table. You began heading over, stopping when she called your name and gestured to the seat beside her. 

“Please, sit near me, darling.” She practically purred, smiling widely. You only nodded, hesitantly coming over to the spot. Once you were seated, she grinned and gestured to a taller, masked servant, who opened a steel door. Out rushed servants carrying covered, metal plates of food. A variety of dishes were placed at each seat (20 in total including your seat). Placed in front of you was a breakfast reminiscent of one you would eat back in the village. Compared to the other dishes, it was less extravagant, more simple, but it made you smile.

“I thought you would want something from home? Or if it’s not to your taste you can eat something else if you’d like?”

“No, this is fine, really. Thank you. But are you not eating?”

“I prefer not to eat what I like in front of you, it may be grotesque and ruin your appetite.”

You nodded stiffly. Grotesque? So she eats humans after all? Noticing you tense up at that, she clears her throat. “What I eat is nothing near what you could be thinking.” 

You nodded, feeling strangely reassured. Popping the yolk of your egg over rice and beef, you brought a portion to your lips, only to pause. Beside you, where a plate of cooked salmon was placed, silverware hovered in the air, cutting the salmon with a knife. It was like someone was eating next to you, yet they were invisible. Then you looked around and noticed all the other plates being eaten up by invisible individuals. What in the world?

Jisoo chuckled. “Some of the servants prefer to stay unseen, they can be very shy. Do not be alarmed though.”

Breakfast passed by surprisingly without incident, and you quickly got used to the invisible servants. Still, you found yourself unable to finish anything, no matter how tasty it looked, with Jisoo burning a hole through you. You felt self-conscious. She attempted to make small talk and ask about your life as you ate, but you avoided any serious conversation. And despite brushing most things off, she was content with just about anything from you, even if you said one word. 

“I don’t tell that to everyone that gets sent to me,” She speaks at some point, quiet, referring to the interrupted conversation earlier. “And you suit the word beautiful the best. Is that so unbelievable?”  

You didn’t say anything, stuffing a spoonful of rice in your mouth to hide that you were flustered. You could feel her stare on you, as if she could read your thoughts, but you refused to meet her eye. Once you had finished your meal, she rose from her seat and came behind you and lifted your chin, placing a kiss on your head. “I have some errands to run, so I’ll be taking my leave. Feel free to explore the manor, and take a servant with you.”

…

Jiseul and Keo-woo pulled you aside as soon as you left the dining area, immediately dragging you outside to a large open garden. Upon seeing it, a small gasp left your mouth, and you became entranced. There were roses, daffodils, sunflowers, wisteria, lilies, and about every flower you could ever imagine, even your mother’s favorite type, a chrysanthemum. They were potted symmetrically, even planted on small hilltop mounds with numerous stone statues of foxes and yokai. Crystals and gems shone in the dirt, seemingly powering the plants with nutrients as they glowed every few seconds. In the middle of the garden there was a large water fountain in an octagon shape, surrounded by vines and ivy. 

Your focus was broken by a sharp tug on your arm by one of the servants, and you glanced down to see Keo-woo. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She asked, referring to the luxurious garden. You nodded, and she made a small noise of approval. 

“Jisoo planted the garden herself!”

“Ah, she did?” Your lips parted in awe. “No wonder it’s so pretty. I’ve noticed a lot of flower memos in the manor, Jisoo must like flowers a lot.” 

“Yes she does,” Jiseul chimed in, then took your other arm. “Let’s play a game.” 

“Alright,” You said fondly. “What kind of game?”

“Hide and seek—and then tag, please? Please?! This is the perfect space!” Keo-woo begged.

You nodded at that, slightly overwhelmed by such energy they had. Hide and seek was a different matter, whereas there were plenty of places to hide, like in the greenhouse, forest, and gardens. You got found every time when they were the seeker (and you believed they were cheating, using their abilities maybe, because you had some pretty good hiding spots). 

During tag you found yourself chasing them the most due to how much you got tagged and how fast they were. You all were careful not to ruin the flowers by dodging with light steps. 

“Alright,” you heaved at some point, all breathless and flushed. “Why don’t you two keep playing and I'll take a little break?”

“Okay!” They said simultaneously, running off to continue their little games. You sat on a nearby stone, relieved you were off your feet. They were coming up with another game, something about being a knight. They were playing pretend. Jiseul wanted to be the knight, which erupted into an argument since Keo-woo wanted to also be the knight. She argued that he was too timid and she was far more courageous. 

You watched them bicker with an amused smile, yet your eyes were sad. They reminded you of your brothers. One energetic and seemingly always joyful, the other much calmer and rationalistic, making sure the other stayed safe. You felt a heavy feeling settle over as you reminisced, and a sharp pang to your heart that left you longing. You couldn’t help but wonder how they were doing. Did they miss you too? Were they doing well? They must, and you hoped they weren’t incredibly worried. Were they eating well? Taking care of themselves? Did Dong-woo keep her word? You hoped she did. And as you sat there wondering and worrying, you had an epiphany. You would send them a letter, some form of communication to let them know you're alive and well. 

…

It was the morning of the next day, and you were determined to send a letter to your brothers— behind Jisoo’s back. With the help of Jiseul, you had managed to gather the necessary supplies to get started writing the letter, although you had some difficulty. Your letters were quite long, and you knew you needed to get your point across in a shorter way. When you were satisfied with your letter, you were ready to send it. 

Although, sending it, and even making it to the sending process proved harder than you imagined.

After your first draft (because you had to write a new letter after something went wrong) was finished, you took a break and went to the bathroom. You came back to a crow hopping on your desk, having come through your open window.

“Shoo!” You hissed, flapping your hands. The crow tilted its head, unbothered by your presence and began poking around your desk. “Get lost!” You tried again, getting closer.

The crow then picked up your letter— how it picked that out of any of the papers scattered around your desk was beyond you— and preened its feathers.

“No!” You yelled, raising your hands up. “Drop it— hey!” The crow had flown off with your letter. 

The second letter you made, you kept your window closed. No birds were going to steal it this time. But the bird wasn’t the only obstacle. Whether it was the sky suddenly deciding to pour on your way to the south-gate mailbox, Keo-woo mistaking it for garbage, the letter flying away with the wind, or some random dog named Dalgom snatching it from your hand and chewing it up— you could not get that letter out. Jisoo didn’t mention that she had a pet!

One, rather sullen day— the third day of trying to send a letter secretly— Jiseul entered your room without knocking. He stopped in front of you and stared till you barked What?! at him. He asked why you gave up.

“Because I have no more options! Sending a letter clearly won’t work—” 

“We could sneak out,” Jiseul suggests.

“Sneak out?” You asked with raised brows. 

“Yes. We can go and see your family.”

“Really? But why?”

“Your moping is very depressing.” 

You frowned but didn’t argue. 

“We’d have to do it tonight though. I know the Barrier’s weakest location for tonight. Perhaps you could pass through.”

“Let’s do it.”

…

You could see the barrier nearing with each step you took towards the edge of the Forest, following behind Jiseul carefully with your hand in his. It was dark, almost too dark to the point you couldn’t make out anything besides the white clothing on the servant in front of you. Numerous sounds echoed around you both - the cries of birds, the wails of animals, and the branches snapping underneath both of your feet. After several minutes you made it, and in front of you was an almost translucent barrier, reflecting dull colors of the outside area. 

“This is it,” Jiseul said, stepping aside. “The weakest part of the barrier. All you have to do is walk through within five seconds of me opening it, and then—“ 

“Sneaking out, are we?” A booming voice filled the atmosphere, and you flinched. All of a sudden the sounds of the Forest got quiet, dying down to the lowest whisper as if the creatures themselves were scared.  

“I think we should go back,” You fretted. “She sounds— Are you kidding me?” You groaned. Jiseul was gone, just like the time before. 

Jisoo sounded close. And you were getting a strong sense of déjà vu. You took a step back from the barrier and hit something solid. The familiar scent of the Kumiho enveloped you and you knew you've done it now. “Jisoo!” You gasped, attempting to quickly move away but she reached her arms out, swiftly circling them around your waist tightly and pulling you back. “Jisoo, I—”

“Shh.. You should’ve asked to leave, I would’ve taken you myself. It would’ve saved you from all this trouble of coming out here late. You don’t even have something warm on,” she chastened.

“How did you know I was…?” 

She turned you around, “I know everything that goes on in this forest.” The animals are her eyes and ears, the Barrier her trap and defense.

“Why did all my letters fail to make it out?” You couldn’t help but ask. Was your bad luck her causing?  

“It was not my doing, I assure you. The forest and those dwelling in it are a living barrier. Nothing gets in or out without my permission. It’s merely a protective measure. But if you had asked…”

“…Right.” You looked down to avoid her eyes. If you weren’t so cautious around Jisoo, getting around on your tippy-toes, fearing what would happen if you made a mistake, you wouldn’t be in this situation. She’s implying all you had to do was ask, and she would’ve let you and-or helped you. 

“What do I have to do to get you to understand I’m not all bad?” Jisoo wondered, taking your hands in hers. She smoothed her thumbs over the skin there, tracing miscellaneous shapes. There was something sullen about it, almost like she was disappointed in you. 

“I don’t know,” You murmured. “I just—I’m scared. I don’t know if I can trust you or marry you when I was whisked away from my family in a matter of hours— to come here. And all the stories I’ve heard? It’s just…hard.” 

“I understand, and I truly apologize. I cannot get rid of your doubts with a snap of a finger, but I do hope you will come to learn that a lot of those stories aren’t true.” she said sincerely. 

“Yes,” you whispered.

Jisoo squeezed your hands. “How about we visit them? Would you like that? It’s much better than sending a letter.” 

A/N: Trying to get out of the habit of using “…” to break up scenes or time skips lol. And I hope y’all realize that when I write purred, growled, or what not, I don’t mean it literally… It’s more of a tone thing- like, for example, purred is like a seductive tone? 🙁

Would you like to continue?

[cauldronlakefiles]

OWLan Wake

So, we’ve all noticed the owl symbolism throughout the game, right? Saga’s visions of an owl when Alan’s text is being read, the crow doll "looking like an owl," the poetry talking about an owl, Alice’s shirt -hell, there’s an owl hanging over Alan’s head! He lives in the Parliament (a group of owls) Tower!

Three owls. . . hmmm. . .

Alan is represented through an owl, specifically, a great horned owl.

Great horned owls are widespread across North and South America.  They’re a large bird, weighing up to 5 pounds, and are known for their “hooting” calls. Their talons are ridiculously large, comparable in grip strength to much larger birds like the golden eagle. They have asymmetrical ear holes that are designed to locate prey down through triangulation of sound, and their eyes are among the largest of vertebrates. Their feathers are combed so that they can fly silently to avoid alerting prey. They’re predators, and efficient ones at that.

In fact, they have the largest prey diversity among raptors. They’ve been called the “tiger owl” for their propensity for attacking humans and quite grievously injuring them (I actually know this firsthand. Ow. *sob*). Supposedly they’re the only raptor that has been known to kill humans, but all I could find was speculation, so take that with a grain of salt.

Owls in western myth are presented as a symbol of wisdom and prophecy, as their large eyes are said to see through the soul and into the future, and, in Christian society, a harbinger of death and omens. They are said to be connected to both the spiritual and the material world, and guide humans through the underworld. In Greco-Roman mythology, the owl was the symbol for Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare and Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and prophecy (represented by the little owl, Athene Noctua). Notably, an eagle owl, Ascalaphus, was a familiar to Hades, the god of the underworld. Additionally, Lilith, wife to Samael (who was referenced in my post here), name means “screech owl” or “great owl” and is represented by a horned owl, and may be the Mesopotamian goddess of the night.

Most importantly, in my opinion, they are associated most prominently with seers. Back in the days of ‘yore, prophets and seers would use a symbol of an owl to market their skills. They believed they were guided by the all-seeing eye of the owl to relay information to their clients. This has marked owls as demonic familiars to witches.

I think that it would be a crime not to mention Sam Lake's major inspiration, Twin Peaks. Great horned owls are a reoccurring symbol throughout the series.

"The owls are not what they seem."

[mickimagnum]

Devin's Dude Ranch: Episode Six

*the episode opens with a shot of Echo Valley Ranch at night. Crickets can be heard singing and there's an owl hooting off in the distance somewhere.*

*the contestants are sitting around the living room, engaged in various activities, oblivious to what's about to happen*

*suddenly, the door to Devin's room swings open and she exits. she makes her way to the living room.*

*she stops in front of the fire place. confused, everyone stops what they're doing and turn their attention to her. she can tell they're nervous, so she smiles at them reassuringly*

Devin: "Good evening, fellas. I have an announcement to make. Earlier I received a note instructing me to pick two of you for a date. Tonight."

*the guys shift in their seats and lean closer*

Devin (continues): "And I've decided to pick two people I haven't gotten to spend a lot of time with. So, with that being said. If you would be so kind, I would like for...

Devin (continues): "Stan and..."

*Stan smiles up at Devin and nods*

Devin (continues): "Milo to join me tonight."

*Milo beams at her from across the room, barely able to contain his excitement*

Devin: "Alright, you two. Go put on something warm and meet me outside in the back pasture in twenty minutes."

*after a time lapse, the next scene shows a sped-up shot of Stan and Milo approaching Devin outside. She's standing in front of a makeshift movie screen*

Devin (cheerfully): "Hi guys! I thought we'd watch a movie tonight. Have some popcorn, chat. That kind of thing. What do you think?"

*Milo steps forward and nearly trips over his feet*

Milo: "That sounds amazing!"

Devin: "Easy there, cowboy."

*Stan smiles apologetically at Devin, unassumingly on Milo's behalf before speaking up:*

Stan: "Count me in."

*the three take their seats on the crates opposite the screen*

Stan: "Thanks so much for picking us to come out with you tonight. I'm just happy to get more time with you, and the fewer guys that are around the better."

*Devin chuckles*

Devin: "I can image. I'm sure this is hard for you all. Especially as things progress."

Stan: "It hasn't gotten any easier. But, you're worth puttin' up with all the others for, Devin. 'Least till I run 'em off."

*Milo scoffs*

Devin: "That's very sweet of you to say, Stan. Unless you're Milo..."

*Milo grunts in agreement but doesn't interrupt*

Devin (continues): "So, tell me. What are you looking for in your next relationship?"

Stan: "We're just divin' right in?"

*Devin smiles*

Devin: "That's what the show's about, they tell me."

*Stan shrugs*

Stan: "Fair enough. I want an equal partner. Someone I can rely on when the chips are down just as much as she can rely on me. A lover. A friend. Someone to raise a family with. And grow old with. That unconditional love type of bond that will survive a hundred lifetimes and countless battle scars. You know, I've been married twice now. Lost my first wife to leukemia. And my second one, well, turns out she didn't care for me much. So, I'm hoping what they say is true; 'third time's a charm.' and all."

*Devin sits back, visibly moved by his answer*

Devin: "Thank you for being so genuine, Stan. That means a lot. I'm sorry to hear about your first wife. And, well, all of it. You deserve better than that and I hope you find what you're looking for."

*Stan smiles at her*

Stan: "Thank you, Devin. I appreciate it."

*Devin then turns to Milo*

Devin: "What about you, Milo? What are you looking for in your next relationship?"

Milo: "Well, full disclosure, I haven't been in a 'relationship' since high school. And she shattered my heart into a million pieces, so it didn't end well. But, what I learned from that experience is that I want to be with someone who wants the same things out of life. If they're not going to support my dreams it's not going to work and vice versa, you know? And everything else Stan said sounds about right too."

Devin: "Okay. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate your candidness."

*Milo grins at Devin*

Milo: "You're most welcome."

*Stan can be heard grumbling under his breath just off camera. something about "stealing his answer."*

*Devin returns her attention back to Stan*

Devin: "Okay, here's a fun question. Since we're getting ready to watch a movie, what's your favorite genre?"

Stan: "Easy. Western. But especially westerns mixed with sci-fi. I love both, honestly."

Devin: "That is the most you answer I've ever heard."

*Stan chuckles*

Stan: "What about you, missy?"

Devin: "Oh, I'm a horror fan. 100%"

Stan: "What, you like all the blood, guts, and stuff?"

Devin: "No. I'm more into the creepy, supernatural stuff. The kind that makes you question whether or not it's really happening."

Stan: "Oh, yeah. I like those. I can't stand the gore-fests, though."

Devin: "I'm not a big fan of them either. It feels cheap."

*Devin turns to Milo again*

Devin: "What about you?"

Milo: "You're going to laugh."

*Devin and Stan speak up at the same time:*

Stan: "Probably."

Devin: "We won't."

*Milo sighs and stares at the ground before muttering:*

Milo: "Musicals."

Stan: "Did the boy just say musicals?"

Devin: "He did."

Milo: "Look, I'm a musician okay? I enjoy the music. The singing. The dancing. They almost always have a happy ending. What's not to love?"

Stan: "The fact that they're terrible."

*Devin pinches her nose to try to stop the snort laugh that escapes anyway*

*after choking it back she says:*

Devin: "There's nothing wrong with that, Milo. Let's, uh, watch our movie."

*the film begins to roll*

Stan: "What movie is it?"

Devin: "Hamilton."

*Stan lets out a whimper and Milo gasps in excitement*

*Devin giggles*

Devin: "I'm totally messing with you, dude."

*Stan sighs with relief and Milo looks deflated*

Devin: "It's Saw X."

*They both look at her in horror*

*She cackles this time*

Devin: "Calm down. It's College Cram."

*the group enjoy cheddar popcorn as they watch the movie*

*when the movie is over, Devin turns to Milo*

Devin: "Milo, I had fun with you tonight. Thanks for hanging out with me."

Milo: "Anytime. And I mean that."

*Devin then turns to Stan*

Devin: "Stan, you are always entertaining to be around, but I really appreciate you opening up to me tonight."

*Stan looks both surprised and pleased*

Stan: "It was my pleasure. I look forward to our next time together."

Devin: "Alright, fellas. It's time to head back in. I'm cold and I don't know about you, but my bed is calling my name."

*at that, the three get to their feet and prepare to say their good nights*

*Stan pulls Devin into a hug and after a few beats they separate and he heads back toward the house*

Stan, in diary room: "Tonight felt good. It felt good to get more time with Devin, especially with less competition around. And it felt good to get my history off my chest. She's a good gal. Women like her are rare. I knew already liked her, but tonight makes me want to fight for her even harder now."

*Milo hugs Devin, but as she pulls away, he reaches up, cradles her face, and plants a kiss on her mouth. she is clearly caught by surprise and doesn't really move to kiss him back. after a moment he pulls away, smiles down at her and then turns and walks back toward the house. she's left standing there, confused.*

Milo, in diary room: "Yeah, tonight was awesome. I knew I had to get out of my head and be bold if I was going to make an impression on Devin. So, I kissed her," *laughs nervously in recollection* "I've never done anything like that," *stands there a moment, thinking back and then his face falls* "Oh, Watcher. What have I done?"

Devin, in diary room: "Tonight was...interesting. I mean, I really enjoyed hanging out with Stan and Milo. And I felt Stan opening up to me, but I'm still don't really feel a romantic connection. There hasn't been that jolt like I've felt with some of the other guys. Which I hate because I really like him as a person.

And then there's, Milo. What was going on with him tonight? There was this level of immaturity happening that I didn't see before and it kind of turned me off to be honest. And the way he kissed me....it was just odd. I'm honestly just really confused about the whole thing."

Milo submitted by @belsasim James "Stan" submitted by @natolesims

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[fanfiction-artist-prototype]

favourite act 3 dialogues so far, a collection

(i love this mainly bc im like. ah. the 'looking back after killing cazador as a spawn and realising you were acting not dissimilarly to the man you hate so much and that you could have become just like him all over again if you'd gone through with it' is just delicious)

Lae'zel is just so tired, she's really going 'for fuck sake we have withers, a selunite demigod and her wife, scratch and the owl bear. must we take in *more?*'

CASSANDRA! YOU'VE KNOWN YOU WERE A CHILD OF BHAAL FOR A FUCKING DAY! STOP TRYING TO TELL EVERYONE! ALSO??? Babes im trying to redeem you so hard why are you making it so difficult for me to *not* pick 'recently unemployed, i quite like murders?' bc your intelligence stats make that so in-character

--

(honorary bloodweave 'and they were bunkmates' setup)

--

(back to quotes)

(i love Orin. I love the relationship she has with Durge. She'll kill them, want them dead and to take over their life from their position in life to their room to *everything* that could be them because she needs to know what made her the lesser choice; why did Bhaal have to *make* another bhaalspawn when she was right there?

But it's the inflection when she says he's been whispering in their ears; it's the anger, the indignity. I like to take it not as a 'you are shameful for falling for it' even though she obviously references that he could twist them when they had their memories, i take it as aimed *at* Gortash. He's taken her sibling, her rival, and twisted them against what Father wanted to the point she found she had to and then was able to usurp them! And then, then he dares to take advantage of their amnesia and try and turn them against Bhaal once again. Anyway. Love this gal, she's a hoot.)

(also i forgot to screenshot but what do you MEAN Orin thought that the best way to impersonate Gale (who i had be the companion who got taken from camp - which i immediately reloaded to avoid bc im trying to do stuff for his character quest rn damnnit and it isn't time to go straight to the temple!) was to imply he ran away and that she castrated him??? that's so funny)

(Orin being described as a sulky child has got the brainworms (ha!) wriggling ngl)

(also it's always lae'zel. she's at max approval each time as well!! like couldn't it be Yenna or smthing? like have a whole 'look at the murder-kin thinking it can *protect* life? Trying to make up for all those you've cut shorter than this one?? Also i kind of need Lae'zel for heavy hitter stuff as well but we can push through for now!)

(Us in general is my fave part of this game. What do you mean that technically to the outside world my durge looks like she's wandering around with a dog, a cute kitten/cat and a raven (from the He Who Was reward gloves) trailing after her!? AHHH.)

DENIAL IS A RIVER IN EGYPT-

Durge why are you like this.

Is there truly anything bouncing between their tadpoles that isn't some form of sarcastic comment?

WHEN I TELL YOU I WAS KICKING MY FEET AND GIGGLING.

Like. Durge. this is so funny, you've known you were a bhaalspawn for like a *week* what do you MEAN you've already figured out appropriate blasphemes?"

THIS LINE RIGHT HERE IS WHAT INSPIRED MY ENTIRE FUCKING TAKE ON DURGE IN SCION ON SCION VIOLENCE. THIS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR MY INTERPRETATION OF 'THE URGES'

Literally i am not kidding when I say this is one of my fave lines. The context, of Karlach seeing her friend (maybe even her best friend, her fucking *sibling* in all but blood) getting to fix themselves, getting to choose to live knowing she can't, she's fucked it isn't going to work. And yet, she can only be proud. Makes everything hurt so bad-

*stares in that one playthrough where i didn't realise letting her kill the nightsong was her bad route and was like 'yeah lets let her become a justiciar* Yeah babes. It'd be a real shame wouldn't it. (also love her just as much as Karlach, like parallels)

look. I'm an astarion simp through and through and I DO NOT CARE THIS LINE GETS ME EACH TIME!! He's like. This is great and all but since we're not questioning what the fuck withers is im going to focus on the sickening sweetness and BLEH too much. Too much emotional trauma yet to be resolved this is a little nauseating ' i love him. so much.

[chaosrealm]

Bereavement

Description: Grief overwhelms Aella. || Word Count: 724 Tags/Warnings: grief, hurt/comfort, loss of a child, brief mention of nudity, and dismemberment. (AO3 Link)

Reiko had woken up to an empty bed, a space usually filled by the woman he adored most in the world — his beloved wife, Aella. At first, he thought nothing of it, as it wasn't uncommon for her to check on her patients or the recruits. 

But after he had checked those particular tents and she was nowhere to be found, he felt dread rise in his chest. He harshly interrogated Aella’s squire, but she didn’t know where she was either. 

Panic sets in, Reiko’s hands tremble as he takes up his spear and jogs toward the gate. He shouts at the guards to open it. 

“Open the damned gate!” 

The gate opens with a loud creak and Reiko steps out, darting his gaze in all directions. Sounds of the forest overtake his senses - crickets chirping, owls hooting. Even in this time of war, with all of this tension, nature persists. Until it doesn’t. 

Deep within the forest, an explosion of red bursts from the ground and encompasses the sky above. Reiko sprints into action, using the beacon as his guide as he darts through the underbrush. His arms and legs glow their familiar shade of red as he slides to a stop behind a large oak tree. Now standing only a few yards from the beacon, he looks around for signs of anyone having been there. 

Still breathing heavily, Reiko’s eyes widen at the sight of a trail of armor leading up to the pillar of magic. An armor he had become familiar with seeing every day and helping take off at night. The exact armor he had to help adjust to accommodate a growing belly - a belly that carried his daughter. 

Reiko shudders as he remembers grieving alongside Aella, vowing revenge against the miserable wretch Quan-Chi for what he had undoubtedly done with their child. He reflects on all the time he spent holding Aella as she cried, wilted into their bed, and refusing food. 

Reiko knew that it was Aella who was responsible for this beacon of magic, which continued to spread across the sky. She had lost control and exploded in grief. 

Whipping from behind the tree, Reiko lowers his spear. What he feared most stood before him. Aella was at the center of the beacon, nude and crying uncontrollably with her arms outstretched. Magic wildly flowed from her hands, both toward the sky and around her as she hovered, lost in herself. 

Never had Reiko seen her use her magic in such a large capacity. She was in more excruciating pain than he’d realized. 

“Aella, my light, you must come back to me!” He shouted, dropping his spear to the ground. 

Cautiously, he approaches the violent whirlwind of magic and tries again, “Aella? I need you here with me. Please come back to me.” 

Face to face with the barrier separating them, he reaches for her. It falters for a moment, as if it was distinguishing his intrusion as either friend or foe. Ultimately his hand slips through. 

Gently, he takes one of her hands in his, “My light, please return to me.” 

Aella’s feet return to the grassy forest floor beneath her, magic slowly disappearing overhead and retreating into her hands. 

Her sobs don’t cease as she falls into him, clinging to him as he gently guides her to the ground in his arms. 

Reiko looks over her body for wounds but finds none. Holding Aella close, Reiko breathes a small sigh of relief. 

Thank the elder gods she is unharmed.

“I-I’m sorry.” She sobs, “I should’ve come to you instead of exploding like this.” 

Reiko shakes his head, cupping her face in his hands, “You have nothing to be sorry for, my light. You are in pain, I only wish I could take it all away.” 

He pressed a soft kiss on her temple, not detecting the rustling in the bushes until a large figure stood before them. 

“Reiko?” Shao’s deep voice breaks the silence, “What happened here? Is she hurt?” 

Reiko doesn't respond, gazing into the darkness of the endless moonlit forest. Quietly, he envisions the agony he will unleash upon Quan Chi. He thought about feeding his corpse to the vile demons that resided there, and watching as they tore him limb from limb….

Perhaps it was time he paid a visit to the Netherrealm.

[erroramended-blog]

Sketch dump extravaganza!

So, the end is near. The end of the owl house that is. I’m excited, and nervous, and happy and sad, and all sorts of other feelings all at once. This show really meant a lot to me, and this is the first time I’ve ever been THIS involved in making stuff for a fandom. It really helped me grow in both my art and my writing, so as a sort of sent off, I put together this! It’s a look back on my Owl house journey in the form of sketches I never posted, process pics, and unfinished works, along with some creator commentary!

Starting it off with a ton of Hunter! Hes been my most drawn victim subject, and one of my top faves. Above is a number of sketches I never finished and a few alternate goof arounds. Sometimes when I feel stuck trying to capture an expression I draw the most basic version of what I wanna get across, both for my amusement and to get out of the funk. More to see below the cut.

This next one was started during the hiatus after Yesterdays Lie and never finished. It proved a bit too challenging at the time.

That background was waaay above my skill level at the time, so this is as far as I got. You’ll notice, Willow is the only fully drawn character. I just really liked how she was coming out.

I already wanted Hunter to be part of the friend gang before he’d even met Willow and Gus, and I wanted them all to have a fun human realm adventure hiking and having a picnic. Here are some sketch highlights.

Hunter found a good walking stick, and then Flapjack found one too. Ghost in a cat backpack, Gus with a dandelion.

Next up is an early imagining of what Belos’s final form might look like.

With a scared Hunter for scale. It was also related to my long running fanfic (good days bad days and all the days in between)  written during that same hiatus along with a few other arts.

Hunter was not the only character I liked to make suffer. Here are a few Raine sketches related to that fic (on the right) and a few unfinished pieces from after we met Terra (On the left)

Next up, in a continuation of the Raine suffering. (And my terrible goofy looking thumbnail sketch on the upper left.)

Sketches from my happy then sad Raine and Eda fanart, featuring dead (or mostly dead) Raine. Fun fact, both the content, and style used here were inspired by the short animated film Fuelled, in which a cat wife seeks revenge for the murder of her cat husband. (Ok, it was actually inspired by a Fuelled fan AMV set to Mitski’s Because Dreaming Costs Money, My Dear, but still, beautiful film, go check it out.) For a change of pace, here’s something cute.

Big happy family with young bats, and baby Hunter. This was going to be for an unfinished fic I started in which the bats are already Raine’s adopted kids, and, unable to let baby Hunter suffer, Raine kidnaps him, and goes to Eda for help. Happy family shenanigans ensue.  Here’s a chunk of that fic. (and we’re back to suffering for both Raine and Hunter, so be warned) -- “Eda, I-I am so sorry to show up like this, but—” Raine swallowed hard, and looked over their shoulder into the distance. Fear in their eyes, like something was going to pop out of the woods and get them. “I did something...and I am in so much trouble and...and I didn’t know who else to turn to.” The kids behind them looked up at her with a mix of fear and hope. One of the younger ones clung to Raine’s pant leg, looking especially weary. “You owe me an explanation.” She said, stepping aside. “But it can wait. Get in here.” “Thank you,” They said, sounding beyond relieved, and absolutely exhausted. The kids followed them inside, and Eda paused in the doorway, looked out into the night, unsure what she was expecting to see. Nothing was out there. “Hey, Hooty.” Eda said quietly. The house demon sleepily gave a hoot of acknowledgment “Keep an eye out. Let me know if you see anything.”  With that she shut the door, and turned to face the...complicated situation she was suddenly faced with. Raine had set the youngest child down on her couch. There was a wad of bloody gauze secured to the kids ear. “Do you have any healing supplies?” Raine asked, firmly focused on the injured ear. “Anything for pain?”  

“Yeah.. uh, I’ll grab um.” she said, moving to fetch the kit. The whole situation was bizarre and confusing, but getting everyone taken care of had to be the first priority.

One of the kids followed her. 

“Do you have any food?” The little pony-tailed kid asked. Truth be told, no, she didn’t. Not much anyway. She really needed to keep more around, especially now that she had— oh, she should mention that. It’s a good thing he was a pretty heavy sleeper.

“Kitchens that way” She said, pointing “Don’t burn the place down. Help yourself to what you find. What are you, five?”

“I’m ten” The kid said “Hunter is five. I’m not five, I’m not a baby.”

“Good for you.” She said, digging through the half depleted healer's kit. “Don’t touch the bottle with the apple on it.”

“Katya,” Raine called, worry in their voice “Where did you go? Come back here please.”

“Sorry!” said the kid whose name was apparently Katya. The kid ran back to the living room, and Eda followed. She handed over the kit.

“It’s not much,” She said. “I can see about whipping up a pain potion. I gotta look up the doses for a kid — how old is...”

“I told you, Hunter is five!” Katya said, exasperated. 

“Katya, please.” Raine said, sounding more tired than frustrated. “Yes, he’s five.”

--

Next up, an unfinished crossover between Owl House and Hades Town

Set to the song Doubt Comes In, with Raine as Orpheus and Eda as Eurydice. I never finished it because I didn’t like how it was turning out (and it was way to much work, lol.) But I still love the crossover. Some highlights below.

Next, sketches from things that did end up finished.

And a few alternate poses and expressions from finished stuff.

Here’s King, and an itty-bitty Eda.

And some post Kings Tide sketching.

Another happy family type sketch from waaay back

and lastly, me!

Its me as an owl house character, featuring a spider beast form, and non-binary cape! So there you have it!

In it’s final secret title message to us, Owl House thanked us for watching, so I want to thank it back for all the entertainment and inspiration it gave me (And thanks to those who have followed, liked, reblogged and commented on my art and writing along the way.). I’m gonna miss it, and I wish it hadn’t been cut short, but I’m looking forward to its last episode. Goodbye Owl House.

[sunnyrealist]

Chapter 53: Late-Night Letters

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Previous Chapter Recap/Context: Because Sebastian was not allowed letters or visitors while in Azkaban, he was mostly kept in the dark as far as what was happening with Anne and his friends. After getting out of prison, he hesitated to visit the Feldcroft cemetery, more and more ashamed as the years passed. In a previous chapter, Sebastian and Kate went to the cemetery, where they learned that prior to Anne's death, she had married - the epithet on her ornate headstone read "Beloved Wife and Companion." This mystery threw Sebastian's world into turmoil, especially after realizing how difficult it would be to find out more, seeing as she had kept her maiden name. One of Kate's ideas, which she had encouraged even before this, was for Sebastian to reach out to his old friends, Ominis and Ruby. He had felt in the past that they were just better off without him (Azkaban left his self-confidence in shambles), but he agreed to think about it. This chapter takes place the same night as their visit to the cemetery.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x 24-year-old Kate Mayflower (my OC), the assistant librarian at Hogwarts

Content warnings: In general, this is rated 18+, so minors should not read or interact with this story. This chapter is quite tame but features emotional exhaustion, fear of rejection, and reliance on sleeping potions.

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! 🥰

Chapter 53: Late-Night Letters

Sebastian stares at the blank parchment, his quill raised but unmoving. How does one even begin a letter to someone they haven’t spoken to in a decade? 

Would Sebastian even still be considered a friend?

How could he even start to explain the past ten years? 

There is so much he couldn’t tell. 

What if Ominis had lost touch with Anne and had no information? She had disappeared after Solomon died…

What if Ominis didn’t want to speak with him at all?

Dear Ominis…

It’s two in the morning.

Sebastian, clad in green pyjamas, finally stands from his seat at the kitchen table, stretching and cracking his back. He pushes in his chair and yawns, rubbing at his eyes. He picks up the completed letter to Ominis, as well as a letter to Ruby, and strides to the window over the sink, opening it as carefully as he can. It squeaks shrilly; Sebastian clenches his teeth. The last thing he wants to do is disturb Kate’s sleep.

“Hootie,” he calls as quietly as he can. “Hootie!”

The night is pitch-black, but Sebastian’s eyes are used to the dark. He has been writing with the light of only one candle this entire time. He waits for Kate’s snowy owl, trying to make out Hootie’s yellow eyes amongst a world of shadows. Eventually, he notices the bird’s white silhouette, gliding towards the tree just on the other side of the window. 

Sebastian sighs as he weighs which letter to send first but quickly decides on Ominis. If either of them knows about Anne, it would most likely be him, their mutual friend of many years. 

“Hello, Hootie,” Sebastian whispers, holding out the wax-sealed letter. “Please take this to Ominis Gaunt.”

Living up to his name, the owl gives two low hoots, taking the letter in its beak. 

Sebastian murmurs, “Thank you,” and Hootie takes off almost immediately. 

He closes the window (again, an awful, squeaky sound - he will surely fix that another day) and leaves the letter to Ruby on the counter. He frowns at the eight rejected drafts still lying on the table, bunching them up into a large paper ball.

“Sebastian,” a quiet voice calls from the doorway as he vanishes them.

There, Kate stands, wearing a silken emerald robe and a look of concern. The candlelight flickers over her features. “Is everything alright?” she asks.

Sebastian rubs his face. “Yes. I… I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about Anne.” 

Kate nods, striding towards him and placing her hand on his upper arm. “I understand.”

“I wrote to Ominis,” he explains. “And I also wrote a letter to Ruby, but I’ll have to wait for Hootie to come home to send it.”

Her eyebrows raise, a smile tugging at her lips. “So you did it. That’s… wonderful, Bash.”

Sebastian looks down, conflicted. “I wouldn’t have done it if not for… for Anne. I just couldn’t think of any other solution. How else are we going to learn the truth? Someone has to know.”

Once again, she nods. “Yes, someone has to know. And… you won’t have to worry about Ominis and Ruby and how they feel about you for much longer. You’re giving them a chance… I… I’m so proud of you, Sebastian.” She pulls him into a hug.

He sighs, then melts into her inviting arms.

“Is there anything more to be done tonight?” she asks.

“No. I’ve finished.”

“Come back to bed with me, then,” Kate requests, searching his eyes. “I need you.”

Sebastian nods, taking her hand. She guides him down the hall towards their bedroom, but he hesitates as they pass the bathroom. “Maybe… Maybe I should take a sleeping draught.”

Kate looks at him for a long moment. “I think you should try sleeping on your own first.” She pauses and sweetly adds, “I’ll hold you.”

She guides him away, and once they are in the bedroom, Kate unties her robe, shrugs it off, and lets it fall to the floor. Sebastian has learned that she prefers to sleep in the nude. He mostly does, too, but always wears pyjama trousers or, at the very least, his shorts. He removes his shirt, settling under the covers. Kate crawls to his side of the bed, wrapping her arm around his waist and molding her body to his. 

“I love you,” she whispers, closing her eyes. “Good night.”

“Love you, too. Sweet dreams, angel.”

Though Sebastian truly does not believe he will be able to sleep without a potion, he finds himself becoming more and more drowsy as he relaxes into her embrace. Perhaps Kate is like an elixir all on her own. An all-powerful, miraculous one, able to relieve his anxiety… give him confidence once more…. make him feel safe and secure….. reduce his feelings of guilt…… ease his trauma……. lull him to sleep………………..

And just like that, he gives in to exhaustion without a fight.

[undercover-ballerina]

Hermione Granger and the Dramione Shippers - Chapter 12 - The Actual Epilogue 2019

Hermione stepped through the floo at 12 Grimmauld place and found herself in the midst of what seemed like a hurricane. Two trunks were piled in a corner, two identical owls hooted in their cages. Shouts came from somewhere on the upper floor. Hermione stepped away from the fireplace as the green flames spat out another trunk that she proceeded to levitate next to the other two. The flames lit up again and her daughter came out holding her black cat familiar, soon followed by her husband who was holding the carrier.

“Alya, put Pugsley in the carrier, please. Draco, get out of the way from the floo, I’m sure Ron will be coming through soon enough.”

Alya Granger-Malfoy, a wisp of an 11-year-old girl who had inherited her mother’s wit and her father’s smirk, nuzzled against her familiar’s soft, black fur before placing him in the carrier that her father was holding for her. Then, platinum curls bouncing, she ran upstairs to meet her cousins. Well, they weren’t cousins, really, but they might as well be since they had grown up together.

“Hello Auntie Ginny!” she shouted, already halfway up the stairs.

“Hi Alya, tell my kids to hurry up, will you? Godric knows I’ve yelled enough for today!” She entered the kitchen. “Hi Hermione! Hey there, ferret! Ready to be finally rid of your kid?”

“Hi Ginny! We won’t really be getting rid of her, though. We will be teaching her classes!” Said Hermione, quickly hugging her friend.

“Hey Weaslette! I can’t believe my precious little Wednesday is leaving the nest! I’m not sure how I’ll survive without our goodnight snuggles. I hope she’s sorted in Slytherin, I’ll just have to go read her a story in her dorm.” Draco said mournfully.

“Draco Lucius Malfoy! You will do no such thing!” Glared Hermione. “She will enjoy her years in Hogwarts like any other student and you will not smother her, or else! And, anyway, she will be a Gryffindor.”

The floo came alive and Ron came through, soon followed by Remus, his 14-year-old son who looked exactly like him at that age, two trunks and then Hyacinth, his 11-year-old daughter, and Hannah Weasley, née Abbott, his wife. Hyacinth was tall for her age and had Weasley hair but her features were softer and she looked very much like her mother, with dreamy brown eyes.

[thewatercolours]

King's Quest Ficlet: "Having a Blast"

 “Are you sure you don’t want to stop into that bakehouse, Graham?” Cedric hooted, tangling and untangling his talons in the king’s greying beard absently. He took an enormous sniff (somehow,) and Graham couldn’t help breathing in with him. The air wafted with spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves – all riding on a hot, fruity smell that even the running river couldn’t carry away.  “I’ve heard their pies are second to none, and only a silver coin each!”

In spite of the wonderful smells, Graham tried to round on the spectacled owl. Easier said than done to a creature sitting on his shoulder. “Are you crazy?” he barked. “We haven’t got a second to lose! There’s no telling where that scum of a sorcerer’s apprentice might have taken my family. Or what he could be doing to them right this moment.”

“Ooooh, that’s so. That’s so,” said Cedric mournfully, only to perk up a moment later. “But it would only take a moment. The pies are readymade. If I waited out here for you, it would only –“

Graham brushed him off, literally, so that the owl had to flap his wings to keep up. “No. How could I hold my head up when I face my wife and kids if I dilly-dallied while they were… well, let’s not dwell on that. Besides, I’m too spoiled to enjoy them, after Wente’s pies. And I’ve only got shiny gold coins, so I’d have to find a money changer, and that would take time too.”

Somehow, Cedric managed a shrug. “Ooooh, there’s a money changer in the town, and you’re heading that way anyhow, so -”

“That’s –“

What Graham’s rebuke might have been is anyone’s guess, for his words were drowned out a blasting wall of sound that nearly threw Graham off his footing. He clapped his hands over his ears, falling to one knee, gritting his teeth and squinting his eyes. He was uncomfortably aware of his eardrums – he hoped the pain was all in his mind, and that nothing had ruptured! And still the unbearable blare went on. Was it… supposed to be… music?

“WHAT’S THAT?” he shouted, only hoping that Cedric could hear him above it all. If the bird replied, he was entirely drowned out.

Graham looked about wildly for the source of the deafening sound. But all that lay before him was the town, which looked much like any town, with its water mill, red shingled roofs, and quaint chimney pots. A few townsfolk came and went up and down the main thoroughfare that led into the town’s midst. They smiled cheerfully, and someone even waved. They seemed completely untroubled by the assault of sound.

The king bunched his cape up around his ears. “Maybe I do need to track down that money changer, so I can buy some earmuffs,” he murmured to himself. “Or, you know what? That desert looked promising. I bet you anything I could find something useful in that desert. Yeah. Definitely way, way more pressing than going to town just now. Yep.”

And he turned on his heel, and was off.