#not my proudest moment but who am i to deny an idea

[ninoochat]

[thewitchofbooks]

Konnichiwa~ How about...family headcanons for ikepri suitors???? You can chose whoever you want~ thank you! 🤝🤝

Hello there~You didn't ask for someone specific, but I didn't want to come to conclusions, so I wrote for everyone, haha. I hope you like it! Also, thank you for the request! 

Game: Ikemen Prince 

Type: Headcanons 

Characters : All the characters

Warnings : Kind of spoilery, I hope it is okay, lol,my English,the characters might be ooc. 

~Chevalier Michel 

🔹Chevalier becomes a bit more gentle when you two start your own family.

🔹Sometimes, you catch him smiling at your children and playing with their chubby cheeks. They always giggle and hug him. 

🔹He tries to tell them how much he loves them, more with his actions and not so much with words. But they know he absolutely loves them. 

🔹"I love you too." You heard him once say. You peeked inside the library and saw your handsome husband kneeling in front of the youngest, who was crying. The moment your kid heard that, he/she was grinning as he/she threw himself/herself at Chevalier. 

🔹Then Cheva walked out (after a lot of awkward but comfortable cuddles on a small chair. 

"Chevalier?" You said his name. 

"What?" You smiled and asked. 

"What did you say before?" Chevalier frowned. 

"Nothing that concerns you, dummy." You laughed as he walked away. 

🔹Once, you went to wake Chevalier in your shared bedroom, only to see a large lump and a lot of smaller ones, covered with the fluffy blankets. 

🔹Now you have to wake them all up, but you gave up a few hours later and slept with them. 

🔹Chevalier is very clever and very strong so, sometimes, he teaches his children. 

🔹Every night, he reads them to sleep. 

~Clavis Lelouch 

🔹You were in for it when you agreed to start a family with Clavis. 

🔹If your children didn't look like him, they surely took his character. 

🔹Clavis will be coming back after work and instead of being greeted with deep bows from the maids, he gets greeted with buckets full of sparkly confetti and glitter. 

🔹He is very proud of them but he doesn't want you to have a lot of headaches. 

🔹Clavis always makes time to play with his children. He is being sweet and he helps them however he can. 

🔹He teaches them to not be too open with suspicious people and if they get in trouble, he shows them how to get out of it. 

🔹He let's them keep pets. And if you're allergic to furr, it's okay! None of these pets have furr at all! They can be from small, little snakes to big birds and fishes. 

🔹He is trying his best. 

🔹Your children love him and they show it all the time. 

🔹Clavis is getting attacked with love, which he wasn't used to. He was completely shocked. In the end, he got used to it and he adores it. 

🔹There will be days where you'll wake up with sketches on your face and your husband laughing with your children. 

🔹They are very adorable when they're sleeping together, Clavis arm wrapped protectively around them (and you, of course).

~Leon Dompteur 

🔹Leon is a very loving man. You and the family you both made are his oxygen. You're the most important reason to keep loving and enjoying life at the fullest. 

🔹There are days where Leon has finished with training his army, so he takes you and your children for rides with his horse. 

🔹You ride in the city and go straight to the food section. 

🔹He spoils his children very much, you have to stop him. Do they like sweets? He'll walk through hell to buy cakes, chocolates and everything else. (or ask Yves to bake fresh cakes, lolol). Do they not like sweets? What are those? He never heard of them. (He still eats them.) 

🔹Leon always tries to find new activities, just to make sure his children are having fun in the palace, or outside. 

🔹Everytime they do something troublesome, like breaking glasses and plates with their father, they try to play innocent. 

🔹If they have nightmares, Leon will help them through them. 

🔹He always tells them that they don't have to 'stop seeing nightmares' to be brave. Braveness is when they search for someone they trust, because opening up is harder than keeping it inside.

"But dad, when I'm sad and I don't tell anyone... am I weak?" Leon wiped his kid's tears away. 

"No. You are strong. But if it is something too hard to keep to yourself, you can share it with anyone you trust." 

~Yves Kloss 

🔹Yves is a big tsundere and he is shy. So, when you asked for a family, he blushed and tried to deny it. It wasn't working. 

🔹His eyes light up everytime he looks at his children. They're the most adorable children in the world. And his world is made with you and them. You are all the matters. 

🔹After his royal duties, he bakes cakes, the children are decorating and you have to watch the chaos. 

🔹Before having a family of his own, he found it bothersome and annoying to have things all over the place, but he got used to it. 

🔹He is sneaking kittens in the palace for them to feed and pet. Where did those stray kittens you show on the street when you were shopping? Yves doesn't have any idea what are you talking about, but you now have to sleep in your shared bed with foolur freshly bathed kittens. 

"Are you sure you don't know them? They look comfortable around you." You said, your brow raised. The kittens were sleeping on him. He blushed and glared at you. 

"Hmph, I don't know them! No, lay down Snowflake, we aren't fighting with your mom." He stroked the white furr and the small animal fell asleep again. 

🔹He gives to the children gorgeous clothes and he brushed their hair, putting it in the best hairstyles. 

🔹At night, he praises them for being kind. 

~Luke Randolph 

🔹Luke grew up in a bad environment, so he makes sure that his children won't ever have to grow up like that. He could give his life in a blink of the eye to do that. 

🔹He doesn't spoil his children too much, because he wants them to be down to earth. For him, his role as a prince is not important, but his family is. 

🔹The children are tripping on his long legs while they're playing outside and he sleeps. 

🔹Luke is a Disney Prince. That means all the animals love him. He gently cradles small fragile butterflies, or cute little birds to show them. 

🔹Luke is taking them for walks in the forest. As the time goes on, more and more animals are attached to their gentleness. 

🔹If anyone dares mess with his children, they are in for a big surprise. Luke will take them down and fight them until he is sure that they won't bother them again. He won't kill someone though, only hurt them enough for his family's safety. 

~Sariel Noir 

🔹Sariel is a very busy man and you know that. So when he asked you if you wanted a family, you were super exited. 

🔹By the time your children are born, their bedrooms and everything inside is already ready to use. 

🔹Sariel seems pretty strict, but he has a soft spot for your family. 

🔹He helps them study all their lessons. If they don't understand something, he'll go out of his way to search it up and give them all the information he gathered. 

🔹After babysitting the Princes, he takes a few books filled with fairytales and reads to them in his soothing voice. 

🔹Sariel loves his kids dearly and he protects them from harm, even if it means being in the shadows. 

🔹The children love to hug him and cling on him, while he is giving lectures to the Princes. (translation = scolding Clavis.) 

🔹Sariel was lonely before, so he won't let anyone hurt his family. He'll let his people "clean up the dirt". 

🔹Sariel kind of spoils his children, and you, because he is weak for your eyes and pouts. 

~Licht Klein 

🔹Licht seems distant from afar, but his family gets to see his true colours. 

🔹Whenever his children are playing or doing something else (that isn't harmful), he smiles softly, his red eyes fill with love and adoration. 

🔹He is scared that someday, they'll have the same bad luck his brother and he had. 

🔹That's why he always keeps an eye on them. 

🔹Licht was never troubled if he died, until one of his children told him he/she loved him so much, that he/she will make him the proudest dad in the world. 

🔹Licht's eyes are wide open and he thinks about his choices again. He'll have to live in order to help them grow up. 

🔹He is very supportive with their choices, unless it's something bad for them. 

🔹At nights, he sings to put them to sleep, his smooth voice calming the down completely. 

🔹You can find the m all sleeping together on a chair. 

🔹He won't admit it, but he loves sweet food and his children are no better. 

~Nokto Klein 

🔹Nokto became a whole new person when you had your children. 

🔹He still stayed playful for them. 

🔹Nokto is happy when they are happy, he is sad when they're sad... 

🔹He despises it when they hurt themselves, physically or not. 

🔹He is also scared like Licht. He doesn't want then away from each other. He wants for them to be happy. 

🔹Before they were born, he was scared that he wouldn't turn out to be a good father. He was scared of rejection. 

🔹He lived with the same fear, until his children run up to him and hugged his legs. 

"Dad! Thank you for taking us with you! We love you so much!" They said happily. 

🔹Nokto.exe has stopped working. 

"I love you too." He quickly hugs them to his chest, trying to keep the tears in. 

🔹He is teasing them (in a good way) till there's no tomorrow. (with uncle Clavis). 

🔹The children, with your help are making presents for him. He gets so happy! 

🔹His past self still haunts him, but he doesn't let himself fall. He is strong. 

🔹Nokto doesn't take risky jobs anymore. He takes better care of himself for the sake of his family. 

🔹When stormy nights fall, his strong arms are ready to close you and the kids to his heart. It's his promise of never letting go, even in the scariest times. 

~Rio Ortiz

🔹Rion is as exited as a puppy! 

🔹Right after they are born, they are in his arms, cuddled up to him. 

🔹Rio travels with them in other places (for personal reasons). He shows them all around and does anything they ask. 

🔹Are they hungry? A whole buffet is made for them. 

🔹They have his heart and mind. Sometimes, he is scared they'll think he is annoying, but they always tell him how much they love him. 

🔹He takes time off his work and plays with them in the garden or in their Rooms. 

🔹He always hear their problems. If he can help it, he'll tskr care of them. 

🔹Rio won't let others hurt his children. If someone tries and he is in front of the scene, his hand might slip and he the other guys might get hurt. 

🔹At night, he cuddle with them and they all wait for you to read them to sleep. 

~Jin Grandet 

🔹Jin was feeling bashful. He really wanted a family with the most beautiful person in the world (you). 

🔹Like almost everyone else, his character changed a bit. He spends more time with his family. 

🔹His children like to climb on his back and go fit walks. His back hurts, but are they happy? They it's worth it. End of the conversation. 

🔹There are days where he is too tired so he takes food and drinks (not alcohol) and sets them on the king sized bed with you and the kids. 

🔹He is manipulating Yves to cook (lol), but Yves does it for his nephew(s) /niece(s). 

🔹If the children are terrified from the nightmares or other scary things outside of the windows, they'll run to him, crushing him on your bed. 

🔹When morning comes, they are all over the bed, sleeping soundly. 

THE END~

AN: I'm writing from my phone now, but I'll fix it when I'll get my laptop! 

NadiaSilver~

Also, fun fact: When I first started the game, I fell asleep while reading/listening the prologue, because Sariel and Chevalier were speaking! I love their voices and I want them to put me to sleep every night, lololol.

[psychemeanscure]

PART 30

They are in the middle of a topic with her parents about the time Zilo finally convinced her to experience the Nightclubs of Mexico for the first time where she ended up knocking out a drunk stranger humiliating a girlfriend in front of a whole crowd and of course, who would rather talk about it proudly other than the inviter himself yes it is. She cannot believe that her foster parents will actually invite the young Alcaziar. If only she knew he’ll be much closer to them than now, she wouldn’t rather have introduced him back then.

“You did that, mi hija? If It was me, I would also do much than that. You did a good job, honey...”

A grand compliment from her mamá followed by laughter around her for she can only think of a silent grudge in mind, stern look wishing to throw Zilo on its own grave. ‘Aish. This dimwit.’

Including, the prudent man who’s chuckling beside her. “I can’t argue more. If you could only saw what happened that time, I am the proudest. She did a good job indeed.”  

She’s lying if it didn’t make her fluster because she did that she needed to hide her bashfulness by glancing her dinner plate instead. Though not long before a realization slip into her. A sudden frown which came so easily, a piercing lobe ready to kill someone in an instant. “Wait, what?! You were there?”

He can only purse his lips in-between, learning how deadly her stare at, taking a bite of his steak instead. He was busted. How table shifted in a snap that it was his turn to get cornered yet not wanting to face his defeat, he restrains his composure, reminiscing the moment he witnessed everything right in front his eyes. An unbothered Jang Taeyoung responds to her. 

“Uhm, including you dancing your surprisingly infamous moves after smashing someone with a bottle. Yes, I was there.”    

She can only torture her own spoon and knife. Fisting both of it as if literally choking the man who’s currently talking to her. She’s been holding enough. If not because of her parents’ presence, she can definitely make an outburst already. But enough is totally enough. Processing every single detail that had been unwanted to her knowing for years and would possibly still if this dinner would have not happened in the first place. A deepening exhale she needed to ponder, a bloodshot eye obligated to stay hidden. A masking coldness finally responded onto his belated actions. “Let us talk.”

A pure emphasis of three syllables she firmly put into words at last. “Honey? Is there’s something wrong?”

That subsequently noticeable to her parent’s eyes. “Uh. Mamá, I think a little misunderstanding is---“for Zilo trying to cover up, ended up being jolted by the harsh dumped she did with her utensil. Turning to face her parents with a subtle smile. “No. Nothing serious, mamá. It’s just that I and Taeyoung here, needed only to discuss something important. Isn’t it?”

 Coping how she wanted it to be for so he played along, curving the same decisive smile as her. “Yes! yes, it is. Actually.”

 “Oh, is that so? Then you better be.”

 Giving her foster mom another of her smile, she responded. “Definitely, Ma. So, if you’ll excuse us please.” Before turning a glare attention to the one she assumed accomplice. “Including you.” Gulping for his safety, he tried to defy. “Wait what? Sis, me? Why do I have to be drag as we--- Ah, ah, ah. “

But it was too late, for Zilo been literally dragged by Sung Eunyoung already. Pinching his ear as he has been towed with them outside. “O-Ouch! It hurts, eh?” finally releasing from her hold, he complains eventually while rubbing his now red ear. “Shut up. You owe me otherwise. And when did my mom become your mom, huh? Ugh.” Bringing her arms crossed as she targeted the two of them this time. “Now,” her first word, eyeing between the currently grumpy youngster and Jang Taeyoung who remained cool on his own, tucking both hands in its pockets.

 “Care to explain to me what was happening, huh? You, two?”

 “Hey! Don’t ask me, you ask him.” the swift defense of Zilo indeed, the moment her sight stop at him by which he’s been answered with her piercing stare. Jang Taeyoung, needed to blow out an air. “I was supposed to, alright.”

 “What?”

 “I was supposed to when I said I’d like to tag along.”

 “Then, why didn’t you?”

 A smirk came to him flawlessly. “Well, you teased me. You even dared to decline my request so… might as well make use of it against you, right?”

 “Seriously?” shrugging off, he beat her by his words. “I told you, you never know.” For she can only groan in frustration. “And you knew about this.” Passing her accusing anger to Zilo instead. “Hey, I just learned about him few days ago as well!”

 “I’m not buying it.”    

 “I swear, Sis. The last time we’ve talked, I don’t have any idea at all. Cross my heart, I’m innocent. ---- Hey, back me up!”  a matter of truthful excuse from the youngster himself actually as he intended to ask Jang Taeyoung even to prove his innocence. Just to be ignored. “Well, except for being chess buddies. Yes, he is telling the truth.” butting a different back up instead.

 “Damn it. That’s a foul!”

 Just to receive the smug face of his brother. “Chess buddies? And few days ago, you texted me--- yah! You, dimwit! Come back here!!”

 She cannot continue her sentence anyway for Zilo taking the chance to escape, sprinting back inside her parents’ home. “Mierda. Yah! You still owe me, you cul---“for she dared try chasing, only to be gripped by her loco. “Let go…”  

 A warning she hoist to convey. Just to simply responded by a chuckle. “You’re laughing?” a sarcasm she needed to voice out. Shaking his head with quirkiness, he replied. “Screws on you. Like who’s talking now?” a playful parallel he wanted to tease. “Tss. Shut up and let me go.” A consecutive warning, she obliged to embark yet rather felt the rubbing circles of his thumb on her hand. Before she knew it?

 She was already trap by the softening sight she least expected. “I’m starting to doubt, Sung Eunyoung.” Stared by the globes that seems to dive into the depths of her soul. He succeeded.

 “What really beat you into anger,” he went to caress her shoulder. “was it because I was late to tell you about it?” chills of his touch that just flows onto her veins so naturally. “Or was it the fact that I intended to scratch you with my presence?” coming closely as he lifts her chin up, “Admit it, Eunyoung...” filling the last space between them, he continued.

 “You waited for me.”

 And it was a statement. ‘He doesn’t know.’ Of course, he doesn’t. How can he when he’s been absent to her all those years. Drown by the trances of their long stares. Dazed by the concealed feeling screaming to break free. Not until she has been reminded by one sensible thought in mind.

 ‘He played to me. He played to me, otherwise.’ Fighting the last pride of herself, she avoided his gaze. Averting her face to look sideways, she retorted. “I bet Zilo told you that nonsense.” Denying the truth for her own.

 “He didn’t tell me anything.”

 “Liar.”

 “You are.”

 “Don’t be so full of yourself, Jang Taeyoung.”

 “Am I?”

 For to shut her eyes, is her last resort. “Enough.”

 “You sure?”

 “Jang Taeyoung.” The piercing coldness innate her. But too late as Jang Taeyoung already towering over her. Caged by his emanating presence, admitting her obvious defeat. She has lost. “Look at me, Eunyoung.”

 But she didn’t for the next thing she knew, it was his softest touch waking her up to reality, once again meeting the eyes of the man who creates chaos of her whole being. The reason of her vulnerability.

 “All along, I thought it was the guilt that holding you back to me when it was actually you waiting for me.”

 The drizzling rain, answered for her. It was too sudden that Jang Taeyoung needed to dragged both of them to a nearest shade. Except for the fast downpour of skies, it was their heaving hearts that’s left in deafening silence. Stuck by the sight of his intertwining hold which only help her unrevealing emotions to surrender. Is she ready though?

 He needed, to look at her. Right before a chime from her parent’s doorstep broke it. Just as how she glanced to the person behind it. “Mamá.” Pulling away from his hold, leaving Jang Taeyoung halfhearted.

 “Mi hija, Taeyoung. I think both of you should need to continue your conversation inside. It’s raining cats and dogs already.”

 They had to look at each other for a while before turning back to her foster mom. “Sure, Mamá. We’ll follow. “Smiling to the both of them, “Alright, then.” Her mom answered.

 “And oh! I already ask our housekeeper to clean a room. This rain might stay long. The three of you should better stay for the night. Zilo already went up first as well.”

 Reminding them another, before finally deciding to go back inside. Entertaining their unresolved tension once again, she broke the silence. “W-we…” for she had to clear her voice the moment she’s been stare by his awaiting lobes. “I think we should go back inside.”  

 As quickly as her words, she turns her back to go ahead of him too late for his gripping hand swiftly taking her wrist, making her go back close to him. “Hear me out tomorrow. Will you let me?”

 His straight request as all she can do is agree.

“Okay.”

[catsandstrawberries]

Proud of You

Pairing: OT7 BTS x graduating reader PLATONIC! (also could be seen as 8th member)

Summary: Due to the coronavirus, your whole senior year has been destroyed, chewed, and spit out by the universe. You start to get depressed once your robes come, but the boys know just how to make you feel better.

Warnings: The reader kind of gets depressed, Americanized because American graduation and Korean graduation are a little different, like 2 swear words, but nothing else. Lots of fluff!

A/N: This is intended to be for high school seniors but words for college seniors as well, could be a stand alone read or a continuation of Real Family. 

“(Y/N), your package came!" 

I ignored Namjoon’s yell and cuddled back into the multitude of blankets that swaddled me in a large cacoon. 

Quarantine was not faring well with me. 

In retrospect, I had it a lot better than most people. I was surrounded by my seven brothers who I loved unconditionally and didn’t have any issues with food shortages or internet issues, but I wouldn’t be able to graduate. That was hard to come to terms with. After twelve long, hard years working at school, and only to be denied all of my senior privileges, seeing my friends, and the top of the cake, graduation. It honestly sucked. But, instead of facing my feelings, I’ve camped out in my bedroom listening to Lo-fi and pretending as if my mental health wasn’t suffering. 

”(Y/N)!“ I groaned with protest, rolling out of bed with no care about my ragged appearance. My hair stuck up at odd angles, and my baggy t-shirt and sweatpants weren’t the most attractive outfit I’ve worn. I trudged towards Namjoons shouting voice, ignoring the flambergasted look Jin gave me, and Yoongi’s voice shouting at me to take a shower and that I smelled like Hoseoks dirty socks. 

"Oh, you look…” I gave Namjoon an annoyed look, 

“dead to the world? Depressed? Annoyed? Sad?” I finally looked down at the package, a medium-sized box shipped from the school. 

I frowned, a sneaking suspicion about what it was creeping up on me. I picked up the box and carried it to the kitchen island, quickly grabbing a pair of scissors from the closest drawer and cutting open the top of the cardboard. My frown only grew as I spotted the robes and cap inside the box, the robe that I would never wear because my diploma was going to come shipped to me, like a useless piece of paper. 

I ignored the crowd watching me from the sidelines and crawled back to my dark hole of depression, otherwise known as my room. Little did I know the boys were setting a plan into motion before I even shut my door.

Netflix seemed to be my only saving grace. My little kid floaties as I attempted not to drown in the big kid pool. I was just about to finish one of the most important cinematic moments in history, Jane giving birth in the tv show Jane the Virgin. But the show all of a sudden started to buffer, and soon a notification on my computer was telling me the wifi connection failed. Aggravated, I tried to re-type the password only for my computer to tell me it was wrong. I stomped to my door, ready to scream at Jungkook for messing with the wifi only to find the exact boy and Jimin standing in front of my door.  

“Uh, hi?” The two looked very suspicious and both their hands were behind their back as if they were hiding something. 

“Is something wrong?” Jungkook asked, trying to bite back a smile as if he knew he was messing with me. Before I could interrogate him Jimin was elbowing him in the ribs, 

“don’t be a brat, Koo.” Jungkook grumbled, and suddenly Jimin was shoving a cardboard box into my arms, the same cardboard box with my graduation outfit. 

“Wha-" 

"You should try it on.” Jimin pushed, a gleaming look behind his eyes that told me he was planning something. 

“Why-" 

"If you don’t try it on and come show us, then we won’t tell you the new wifi password.” My jaw dropped as Jungkook let a sly smirk cross onto his face. Those sly dogs. I sent a harsh glare to the two of them, 

“fine, but I’m choosing dinner tonight.” Jimin exchanged a glance with Jungkook then ruffled my poor excuse of hair, patting down some of the large knots.  

“You drive a hard bargain, deal.” I couldn’t help but smile at their ridiculous antics but before Jimin could shove me back into my room Jungkook was adding, 

“be sure to brush your hair though, you look like the walking dead." 

The door shut before the hairbrush I threw could hit his head.

——–

The body length mirror in front of me only made me more anxious and sad as I looked over my uniform. The robes weren’t exactly attractive, but they fit, and the sad memories of never being able to walk with my friends or give a speech, fully appreciate the process of graduation only soured my mood. I ran a hand through my freshly brushed hair, I styled it slightly in preparation of being included in a V-live or some other event that showed my face to the public. I wasn’t an idiot, the boys wanted me out of my room, and to look nice so I assumed they would show me off to Army to try and lift my spirits. I didn’t want to do this. A part of me wanted to crawl back into my bed and snuggle under my fluffy blankets, call Jin and tell him that I wasn’t feeling well. They might buy it if I lie and say I’m on my period. Even though I was close with the boys, that was the one thing that always freaked them out, and got them off my back. Just mention blood coming out of their younger sister’s vagina and you’re no longer being teased, a full proof plan. I sighed and leaned against the cool wood of my door, my hand hovering over the metal doorknob. Maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad idea, just smile and take a few pictures then you can go back to your room, yeah 30 minutes tops, then I’d be out of there. 

With that final boost of confidence, I opened the door only to find Yoongi standing at the end of the hallway, dressed in the fancy blue sweater he only wore to important events. 

"Is this a blue sweater event?” I questioned jokingly, but his gaze was still locked on my outfit, and once I got close enough he fiddled with the tassel on the top of my cap.

“I’m so proud of you.” I snorted at his cheesy words, raising an eyebrow, 

“for what?” He shrugged as if it was no big deal and offered his arm out to me,  

“for being you.”

Yoongi led me into the dark living room, and my eyes barely had a moment to adjust before the lights were blasted on. My own eyes winced at the onslaught of light, but once they adjusted my heart did cartwheels at the sight in front of me. Gold and silver balloons and streamers hung around the room, inflatable letters spelling out graduation hung at the front of the room where Namjoon stood in front of a pedestal, the other boys lined against either side, creating a clear pathway for me. They were all dressed in nice clothes and once I got close enough they each handed me a slip of paper, diploma, written in crayon or colored pencil highlighted at the top of each paper. A personal message below each of them. I couldn’t help but laugh at that, especially after seeing Hoseok misspell graduation in crayon and have to cross it out to rewrite it. Once I was finally in front of Namjoon, he looked at me with one of the proudest and genuine smiles I had ever seen. 

“Wow, (y/n) looks so much better in her graduation robes then you did Jungkook,” Taehyung whispered cheekily and an embarrassingly loud laugh erupted from my chest at his words and the comedic look of betrayal that crossed Jungkooks face. Namjoon cleared his throat and then glared at the two before turning to face me, 

“Dear class of 2020, It is my greatest honor to be your commencement speaker as you head off to do great things in your lives, as you face graduation day, ready to take on a life full of brand new colors, a palette of opportunities and-” Namjoon filtered off and loosed the bow tie around his shoulder before walking around the pedestal and standing in front of me. “(Y/N), I am so proud of you. I can only imagine how hard this must be for you, balancing all the things you do, from school, to work, living with us, I know we aren’t the easiest family-" 

"Excuse you I’m fucking fantastic and (Y/N) appreciates me and our relationship,” Jin spoke up unashamedly, but a grin spread over his face and he was suddenly showing us two thumbs-ups which transferred into hearts. 

“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, we just want you to know that we’ve seen how hard you’ve worked and that we will always be here for you. Even after you get your diploma, and face other big events in your life.”

I couldn’t hold back, and my arms were instantly wrapping around Namjoon in a bone-crushing hug, tears forming in the corners of my eyes as Namjoon spoke, 

“congratulations (y/n), you graduated." 

I’ve been through a lot with the boys, a lot of good memories. From concerts to hangouts, to awards, that time Jin got his tonsils out and thought Namjoon was Britney Spears, but this by far was my favorite memory with them. Or at least a close tie to the Britney Spears moment. Before I could wipe away the tears forming in my eyes Hoseok popped a confetti launcher, the loud bang scaring me out of Namjoons arms as Hobi attacked me in a hug. 

"Our strong girl graduated.” He wrapped his arms around me and jumped up and down excitedly, forcing my body to jump with him. 

“Let her go Hyung, I want a hug too.” I jumped into Tae’s arms as soon as Hobi let go of me, and smiled while he gently wiped away the tears trailing down my face. 

“You better be hungry (y/n), because I made every single dish you ever remotely mentioned you liked.” At the mention of food, I suddenly became aware of the onslaught of smells coming from the kitchen, sensations that made my stomach growl in hunger. Jimin pinched my cheek adoringly and I swatted his hand away, 

“I know we said you could pick dinner, but Jin-Hyung really wanted to cook for you-” I cut him off and stood on my tippy toes to kiss his cheek, 

“thank you Jimin, really." 

"Don’t thank Jimin, this was all my idea!” Jungkook shouted from the other room while Jin smacked him for trying to get into the food without the rest of us. 

“Excuse you! This was a joint effort, don’t try and get all the attention.” Yoongi joined in on the shouting while Namjoon sweated, 

“if anything I should get extra credit for giving the speech-" 

"You begged to do the speech!" 

I chuckled while Tae wrapped an arm around my shoulder, 

"Congratulations graduation girl, you deserve it.” Before I could thank him, shouting erupted from the kitchen, while Tae blanked in front of me. 

“Shit, they got into the silly string.”

[bereft-of-frogs]

3. Do you have any upcoming WIPs? How far along are you with them? + 4: Tell me about one of your abandoned WIPs. Why did you abandon it? + 5: Share a snippet that you’re proud of from an upcoming fic/chapter. + 17: What has been the proudest moment for you so far since you started writing? ---- Sorry, i am very curious :D

Thanks for asking! Questions are from this list, if anyone wants to send any more!

3. Do you have any upcoming WIPs? How far along are you with them?

The two I’m currently focusing on out of my sea of WIPs are what I’m calling the ‘twin bastard WIPs’: aka, the grotesque fic and ‘variations on a redemption arc 1′. I’m calling them that because they’re both similar despite being in different fandoms. They’re both about the same length, they both deal with dark themes (including torture, always fun), there’s a lot of overwrought emotional conversations - and I was having the same problems with them. Specifically, I’d put them aside and let myself get distracted by other works and then when I picked them back up I would have like...the same series of revelations every single time. Like, ‘oh I should do this and this, and THIS is the real motivation for this character behind the mask.........wait I’ve already done this.’ So I decided to just focus on these two until they were finished, which is going...umm...okay.  (There was not a ‘variations on a redemption arc 2′ when I made this pledge and then wrote three pages of it in a notebook...)

I would say I should be done with both by the end of the summer? Hopefully? well, the grotesque fic has a deadline now and I’m making good progress on the other (though I have fight scenes left to write blegh I always procrastinate writing fight scenes).

4. Tell me about one of your abandoned WIPs. Why did you abandon it?

I rarely consider WIPs abandoned. Either they were never really WIPs to begin with, just snippets of ideas and dialogue I had no intention of expanding on in the first place, indulgent scenes I just wrote for myself, or I still have hope to finish them. Two slightly longer ones though that I would call abandoned:

- last year to combine a whumptober prompt with a bad things happen bingo square (hunting season + surrender) I started a Star Wars fic but the worldbuilding never came together and I subsequently learned there’s an arc of The Clone Wars that did almost the same thing (one day I will actually watch The Clone Wars....it is not this day, though I do have a friend who might bully me into it soon) so I just scrapped it.

- I had another earlier version of the ‘Team Revengers on the Ark’ type semi-episodic fic, but I ended up pilfering some individual scenes for ‘pain and other human sensations’ and I ended up liking where I went with that a lot better (even for things that didn’t affect the larger series plot, like the Grandmaster’s return) and never really cared to go back and continue this version

5. Share a snippet that you’re proud of from an upcoming fic/chapter.

from ‘variations on a redemption arc 1′

“You’ll let him die?”

The thought of it leaves him momentarily breathless. But he still says, “Yes. I would let him die a Jedi.”

Silence falls between them. Qui-Gon expects Dooku to leave. But he doesn’t.

“I cannot deny,” Dooku says after a few minutes of quiet. The roar of pain has dulled to a steady throb. “That once I would perhaps have answered as you did. That I would have perhaps had the sense of honor to let you die rather than fall. But I have watched too many Jedi cut down in service of a mission that failed long ago, and I will do it again.”

file this under, ‘willing to put up with writing 3 separate fight scenes because I am in love with this one exchange’

[additional note: the second ‘variations on a redemption arc’ isn’t actually a sequel but just another fic along the same lines, with some divergences, which is why I really want to finish this one first, because first of all I keep getting distracted and losing track of the complicated emotional and political motivations, but I also don’t want to mix up themes since they’re taking place at very different narrative points. it’s just a funny placeholder title haha, because the other day I was like ‘wait isn’t this just another variation on the same narrative’ and then was like ‘eh, two cakes’]

not from the grotesque fic, but the conclusion to an accidental trilogy about ghosts and hallucinations:

“You see, in this I preferred the old Thor. He’d spare me these sorts of conversations, bury it down deep and act as if nothing’s wrong.”

Thor’s gaze is level. “You’re asking me to act like nothing’s wrong?”

“Yes.” Loki would vastly prefer never to have this conversation. He’d much prefer that Thor dismiss any of his new oddities as simple quirks and let him suffer in silence until it all fades. He turns back to his counting. 5…10…15…20…

“I know you’d prefer to avoid this talk, but see, that’s what got us in this mess in the first place, brother.” Thor sounds weary. “I let you suffer in silence until it didn’t fade, until it all blew up in my face. And you ask me to do it again? To repeat history?”

Loki stops counting cans. He was certain that he had not said any of that out loud. He turns and opens his mouth, but before he can demand an explanation, Thor says, “How’s the inventory coming?”

Only the Thor he was looking at hadn’t said anything, and the voice came from behind him.

Loki turns. Thor stands in the doorway, looking at him with an innocent smile on his face. Loki glances back to the crate where his brother had been perched. It is empty. He turns back to the Thor in the doorway, face feeling very cold and something unpleasant in his stomach. “What?”

“How’s the inventory coming?” Thor asks, a bit slower this time.

This was just the first piece I wrote of this conclusion, still far from making any decent progress on it but I like it!

17. What has been the proudest moment for you so far since you started writing?

Tie between 1) any jokingly angry comment (like obviously not any actual nasty comments but the ones where people are like HURTS SO GOOD) 2) actually scratch that, when I finally got the first ‘you’re disgusting’ comment on one of my extremely rare actual Thorki fics, I was pretty proud of that too 3) any time I get to a place where I read back a fic of my that I’ve posted that hasn’t gotten a ton of comments or kudos and I’m like ‘hell yeah this is fire, I don’t care if the readers don’t appreciate you, fic, I appreciate you’. Which might sound sort of full of myself but it’s always a nice place to get to where it’s like...hey the validation is nice but also I just really like this work. wrote it for an audience of one, me, and me is happy so that’s a win.

Feel free anyone to send more asks! I will theoretically answer them at some point this evening as procrastination from actually writing

[alexajanecollins]

Mixed family, Mixed feelings - Part 4

Without the kids this time!  Here you can find: Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 💙

Weeks had passed since you told Ben everything about the calls you had been receiving from Lucas’ school about the boy getting in trouble more and more often. Lucas had promised Ben he was going to behave and act better, and he was very truth to his words. You hadn’t received any calls anymore, the school only calling Ben for the minor things such as the amount of times Lucas had forgotten any books at home or didn’t do his homework.

It wasn’t the usual Wednesday evening but the middle of the week without the children at the house. Ben was invited to a gala/ award event, meaning he asked you to be his plus one and the children were sent away for the night. You had gotten so used to having Lucy and/or Lucas around that it felt very weird to not be with them for a moment.

Lucas was spending the night at Maxims. His mother and you getting along very well, the boys practically always together. The both boys being able to drive their bikes to school the next day. Lucy on the other hand was spending the night at Bens parents. Lucy loved being at their place, Bens mother always treating her with the many things you deny her time after time. But that’s what grandparents are for right? You knew, and for sure didn’t mind.

“How do you feel about being without Lucy?” Your best friend asked, chances are your best friend is a professional make-up artist who gladly said yes when you asked her to do your make up for the event. “Don’t start me on this. It’s like a piece of me is missing.” You said with a bit of laughter, closing your eyes for a second as she worked on the eye look.

“I can imagine, like, you and Lucy are like always together.” She smiled as you nodded. “My little princess, I just can’t live without her anymore.” You added looking at yourself in the mirror for a second. “Wing or not?” Your friend asked as you thought about the right answer. “Wing sounds good.” You nodded looking at your friend in the mirror, a nod coming from her as she finished your make up after a while.

“Our ride is here in 30 mins.” Ben said while walking inside of the room, his dressed shirt still unbuttoned as his tie was hanging loosely around his neck as well. “Can you manage to be ready on time?” He asked and your friend laughed for a second. “My job is done here.” She smiled while she started to pack all the items she had used before. “You still need to help me with my dress.” You said while getting up from your seat.

“I think she is referring to you” Ben said buttoning up his shirt after he tucked it into his trousers. “Yes, I am.” You smiled with a nod. “The dress is in the bedroom. I am sure you will love it as much as I do.” You added and your friend smiled walking towards the bedroom excited to see your outfit for the evening. “Well don’t you look handsome.” You smiled moving the tie under Bens shirt collar, a smile on his face as he realised you started tying it as well.

“Thank you.” He smiled, his hands resting on your waist as you tapped his chest when finished with the tie. “Now go change, we can’t be late.” He said and you nodded, a quick peck on his lips before you rushed towards the bedroom. “Gross.” Ben laughed to himself wiping away the bits of lip gloss he now had on his lips thanks to your kiss.

“Someone is going to steal the show for sure.” Your friend smiled as she sat down on the bed, a big smile on your face as you entered the bedroom. “Not what I want to achieve but maybe.” You laughed shaking your head. “Let’s get it on, before he really gets annoyed for being too late.” You said and your friend nodded helping you with the dress and your heels.

“Thank you again for helping me with everything for this evening.” You said walking down the stairs together. “Pleasure doing business with you.” She laughed while putting on her sneakers at the door. “Always a pleasure.” You added and she nodded, quickly giving you a hug before she shouted a goodbye to Ben who friendly replied before she left.

“Ready?” He asked and you nodded. The both of you leaving the house, your ride organised by the event waiting for the both of you outside. “You know what’s really sad about this evening?” You asked, holding Bens hand in yours looking outside the window as the car left the house. “What is?” He asked surprised for a minute. “That we don’t have this evening for just us.” You smiled, Ben finally understanding what you were referring to.

“I am sure we can arrange a childless evening more often if that is what you desire.” He smiled moving your hair behind your shoulder, his lips attached to your neck pretty soon after. “That actually sounds like such a good idea.” You smiled squeezing his hand for a second as he placed some soft kisses on your skin. “Okay stop this now, before I ask the driver to turn around and bring us home.” You said pushing him away from you, Bens laughter filling the car as he knew exactly where your soft spots were.

After a while the car dropped both of you off at the venue, Ben leading you inside greeting the people and stopping to chat with some others time after time. You smiled as you reached your table for the evening, your company of the evening surprisingly some  people you knew already. “Thank god they assigned us together.” Masons wife smiled and you nodded while taking a seat. “I wouldn’t survive this evening without being seated with someone I know.” You said, and the both of you laughed for a second.

“Would you mind taking a picture of us?” You asked her and she smiled taking your phone. “Lucy would have loved this.” You said tapping Bens leg to catch his attention for a second as he was talking with Mason. “What?” He asked but smiling as he saw what you wanted, a couple of pictures quickly taken as the both of you posed for them

The evening filled with speeches and prizes collected by the people who earned them. “Didn’t know you even were in for a prize tonight.” You said as Ben took a seat again after giving a speech to thank some people, his second men’s coach of the year price. “You don’t always have to know everything.” He smiled kissing your cheek for a second.

The event comes to an end after a while. Most people already heading towards the other venue close by for the afterparty. “Please tell me you are joining to the after party, right?” Mason asked and Ben looked at you for a second for an answer and you nodded. The evening filled with a lot of dancing, laughter, serious conversations and enough alcoholic drinks.

“I don’t know who will be the proudest.” You said leaning your back against the front door as the both of you arrived back home. “Me, Lucy or Lucas.” You said taking off your heels and dropping them at the door, your feet already aching from wearing them the whole evening. “Lucas will be like – wow nice – and Lucy will be like – WOW NICE.” Ben said saying the first words very uninterested while he said the last in a very exciting tone, just like Lucy would say it.

“What about me?” You asked walking up the stairs backwards, very slow as your eyes focused on him since he followed. “How would I react?” You asked, Bens tie already untied and hanging around his neck as he started unbuttoning his shirt with a smile on his face. “I think you would be all over me for the night, extremely proud, wanting to show me just how proud you are.” He smirked as your eyes widened with his words, a giggle escaping as you turned around and rushed to the bedroom. “How sure are you about that?” You asked in a teasing way, Ben quickly rushing after you.

“Very sure.” He smiled moving his one arm around your waist, the tie thrown somewhere in the room. You giggled the minute he lays the both of you down on the bed in one swift movement. “Are you sure? Like you haven’t been as fit since you became the coach. And this was a long evening.” You said, your fingers running through his hair as you laughed. The boy moving to lay on top of you, his hands squeezing your waist.

“I can show you just how fit I still am.” He smiled; his lips pretty soon attached to your neck. The soft spot he just knew made you feel weak all the time, your hands soon moved to remove his shirt. “We need to arrange these childless evenings more often.” You whispered, both of you agreeing as the night ended in the both of you exploring each other’s bodies all over again.

tags: @ellarrose @rosie7703 @shewritesfootie @cam-blog98 @riccivrdo @chilly-me-softly @bbychilly @bichotaa @champagne-coys @pulisic10 @furiouscaseofastudent @quacksonlover81 @kingkepa

[blazogirlsoneshots]

The Man Across the Way (Edmund Pevensie x Reader)

Everything in Edmund’s apartment was orderly and calm. Dishes were never left in the sink and all blankets were folded while not in use. Bookshelves were in alphabetical order with bookmarks tucked in each one. Every Saturday, Edmund would put on a classical playlist and attack almost no existence mess as if he were a soldier again. One could argue that the strict cleaning regime made the already empty apartment even more desolate, but Edmund would hastily deny it. No matter how lonely he truly felt Edmund would keep it to himself. He didn’t want his siblings to worry.

Edmund would start each morning with a cup of tea, a podcast, and laugh from observing the chaos from the apartment across from his. While Edmund’s home was orderly and something of a constant in the havoc around him, his neighbor’s home was the polar opposite. 

Their living room resembled a jungle with the number of plants strewn all over the place. Post-it notes covered the walls as a backdrop to the castle made out of coffee mugs. Every other day a newly formed blanket fort would go up and come down. Edmund was pretty sure that there was a cat somewhere in that mess, but never fully saw it. They would play their music a little too loud and have their TV on at some ungodly hour, but Edmund didn’t mind. The person across from him made his apartment feel less like some pod from some freaky sci-fi movie and more like something slightly connected to the rest of the world.

Y/N thought the man across from them was a little strange. He didn’t really seem to have any hobbies, just work. Honestly, he could be a robot and Y/N wouldn’t know the difference. Not to say that he wasn’t nice. They had interacted a couple of times at the convenience store across the street and he had nothing but pleasant. All little formal for a quick chat with someone purchasing far too many containers of ice cream while wearing pajama pants, but who was Y/N to judge. Y/N had even run into his siblings when he had first moved in. They were a nice bunch, if not a little loud and almost overprotective of their brother. 

Yes, Mr. Robot-Man-Across-The-Alley was a weird fellow, but that only intrigued Y/N even more. His siblings were full of life, so why was this one so different? He was the kind of person you wished would write a memoir because you just knew it would be a page turner. That wasn’t creepy, right? It was just Y/N’s version of people watching with a subconscious recognition that the man across the way was just as lonely as Y/N.

There is a reason we like zoos so much. We like that we can observe potential dangerous creatures without any fear of being hurt. It’s a quick no strings attached situation that most people can get behind with little to no thought. That’s why both Y/N and Edmund had been hurtling into a downward mental spiral as they examined the item sitting on their tables. 

It had started as a normal day. Edmund, going through the motions for the thousandth time while Y/N was ecstatic with the fact that they had managed to get out of bed before noon. They had departed their respective apartments around the same time with similar intentions. Edmund had run out of tea and had decided to treat himself at the corner coffee shop. Y/N had a meeting with an old friend that they were most definitely running late for. 

It had been an accident. Y/N didn’t mean to bump into Edmund and had most definitely never intended for his precious drink to go flying. There had been hurried apologies and the stuffing of cash into the other’s hand as they had hurried to get back to their day. It wasn’t until a very disgruntled Edmund had hurried away did Y/N notice the journal that had fallen on the ground. 

“Hey, Mr. What’s Your Face! You left your journal,” Y/N trailed off as Edmund ran off. He clearly wasn’t listening and now Y/N was left late for their meeting with a leather-bound journal that they now had the burden of returning. 

Edmund should’ve known better than to try something new. It was just one of those things that had a habit of backfiring on him. As he went to pull his keys out of his pocket, his fingers wrapped around something else instead. Bemused, he pulled out a golden bracelet that had been melded into a vine pattern. He felt slight stirring in his chest as he recalled seeing the dwarves creating other items similar in nature. He could almost hear the clinking of the harmers and the shouts of the workers. The feel of their soft wrist as Edmund wrapped the band around their wrist as his lips were met with a soft kiss. 

Edmund quickly snapped himself out his waltz down memory lane as the most important fact about this bracelet hit him, this was not his in any way shape or form and was most likely the person who had spilled his tea all over him. Yay.

Y/N didn’t think there was any way they could make their apartment any more a mess than it already was, but you know sometimes the universe likes to test you. After a rather hasty meeting with Jill, Y/N had noticed the lack of weight on their wrist and then proceeded to lose their shit. That bracelet was the last connection they had to a life that they never tried to remember anymore and Y/N wasn’t about to let that slip away too. Returning the journal had become the last thing on Y/N’s mind as they descended like a hurricane onto the poor, unsuspecting apartment. 

It wasn't until there was a soft knock on the door did Y/N stop their reign of terror. Y/N threw the door open to find Mr. Robot-Man-Across-The-Alley standing with a look of pure panic across his face.

“Um, hi. I live in the building next to you and-”

“Yeah, you’re the robot man. Can I help you?” Y/N interrupted with little to no thought about the annoyance flooding their voice. 

“So, I think I may have acquired something of yours. We bumped into each other earlier today. You spilled tea all over me.”

“Oh, shit. Sorry about that. Do you want some more money or something?”

“No, can I come in?” Y/N nodded and Edmund entered this enclosure of the subject he had been causally observing for a few months. 

His internal panic was cut off as Y/N let out a grown and smacked their forehead. “Aslan’s mane, I am so forgetful.”

“What?” Y/N made no acknowledgment of Edmund as he felt every system in his body shut down.

“Here, this is yours.” Y/N dug out his journal from under a pile of hand-drawn maps. “You dropped it when and I was meaning to give it back, but I may have gotten slightly distracted.” Y/N chuckled as they looked around the disaster zone.

“Funny you should mention it because I think I have something as yours as well.” Edmund slipped the bracelet out of his pocket and handed it to Y/N. He should’ve covered his ears. Pure joy flooded Y/N’s face as tears began to pour down their face. 

“Thank you so much. You literally have no idea how much this means to me. I was going to tear apart my whole apartment just to find this thing,” They squealed. “You are my hero now or something. In fact…” Y/N hurried into their living room and floated through the many plants. They then ran back to Edmund with a tiny succulent cradled in their palm. 

“Here,” They said breathlessly, “I want you to have this.”

“No. I couldn’t.”

“I insist. Besides you need something to liven up that barren wasteland you call an apartment.” Edmund blushed and smiled down at the small plant.

“Thank you,” he whispered. 

“No problem, I’m Y/N by the way.”

“I need to leave.” 

Y/N walking away as Edmund didn't do anything. 

Y/N crying as Edmund marries someone else. 

Y/N closing the door as Edmund tried to apologize.

Y/N’s tombstone causes all of the life to leave Edmund as he stares in horror.

“I’m Edmund.”

 A/N: I have been working on this for three weeks and I am so proud of it! It’s kind of a sequel to Not My Proudest Moment, but it can be read as a stand alone. I plan to part two to hopeful be up by next week. Thank you for reading and here is link for some petitions for you to sign.

previous/next

masterlist  

[fletchphoenix]

He’s Helpless

so i saw @betrayedtraitor ‘s post about Donella being the ultimate mom at the varigo wedding and couldn’t resist writing some supportive Donella :)) enjoy! I’ll try to link the OG post but ya!

--------------

Donella was happy.

Sure, Hugo had fucked up royally and betrayed her in order to help his boyfriend open the Eternal Library and, consequently, get possessed by her old partner, but he had found his happiness. She wasn’t one for sappy shit like soulmates or changing yourself at the last minute for the one you loved in order to make them happy - she used to despise it and think it was some bullshit trope for lonely people to indulge in, but somehow her son had well and truly proved her wrong.

She’d trained him up since he was a child to be the exact model of what she was - a thief. She taught him how to defend himself from attackers if he had to, how to steal and remove any trace that he was ever there, hell, she’d even trained him that the world was cruel and unforgiving, and that any hope you had would be crushed in an instant. She taught him love was simply something that people used to build you up and make you think you had purpose before they revoked it almost immediately. She really thought he’d accepted her ideals fully.

And then Varian came along.

Of course it would’ve been Ulla’s son to change her son’s mind. He’d inherited the moonstone blue, wide and curious eyes that his mother had, and her obsession with alchemy that she’d also passed on to her son. Maybe that’s why Hugo had gotten so attached to him, having someone so similar to his age and with the same interests, of course after years of having just Donella around him who was interested in alchemy, he’d instantly connect with someone else with that very interest. 

It didn’t surprise her when Hugo had told her that he and Varian were together romantically. In fact, she had a bet going with Cyrus to see how long it was taken (which, by the way, she’d won, thank you very much) and supported the couple endlessly. They were adorable together, the pair clearly loving each other more than anything else in the universe and willing to do anything for each other.

What did surprise her was how long the proposal took. It took far too long for the pair to finally decide to propose, Donella was sure she’d turn to ash before they even decided to bring up the option to each other. So when it happened, needless to say she celebrated silently and tore into Hugo as though she were a starving animal and he was a piece of meat.

“I am very disappointed in you, Hugo. Very very disappointed.” She declared, pacing across the marble floor in the hallway, the heels of her boots clicking against it as her son gripped onto the hand of his now-fiance. They must’ve been scared, both boys shaking in each other’s arms before she turned her head to look at them. “I mean, really. You’re my son and you didn’t even propose first! I seriously can’t believe it! You seriously took so long that he had to take matters into his own hands!” 

“Oh my g-Mom, you literally had me terrified!” Hugo complained as he leant forward, frowning at Donella and kissing Varian’s forehead as Varian cackled from laughter. Donella smiled softly and subtly as they held each other, nodding in approval towards her son-in-law before turning her back to them.

“All jokes aside, I really am happy for you two. I’m just disappointed it took you so long considering how many hours I’ve sat through you gushing about Varian and how he’s the ‘only person in the world for you’.” Hugo’s face flushed at that comment, his fiance smirking as Donella chuckled. “Anyway, get back to the party.” She ushered them back in with a smile before the widest grin in her life appeared on her face and she headed back in.

It was her proudest moment for her son to come to her for advice about her vows, though she’d never expected for his original draft to be so...long. She swore he’d been going on and on about the boy’s freckles for a whole month before finally moving on to something else. It was her fault - she’d tried and tried and tried to stop the boy from talking too much when he was a child, though it was a habit he never broke out of. He made a massive deal about a lot, and though it was useful in their previous line of work, they were good, (mostly) non-thieving people, and the need for an overbearing and..very weirdly specifically detailed explanation of something was no longer a necessity. 

“You’ve been talking for 40 years about freckles, Hugo. Just-come here and let me show you how to do it.” she complained, leaning forward and taking a quill, dipping it generously in some ink before proceeding to examine the speech. Editing and crossing things out left,right and centre, she finally settled back with a sigh and looked at her son. “I know you love him, Hugo. I can tell. But seriously, some of this is just...not needed at all.”

“What do you mean?” the blonde asked cluelessly, sitting beside her and fixing his tie, “I think all of it is quite relevant.”

“You talked about how he snorts when he laughs and how many freckles he has, followed by a detailed description about their shapes, sizes and if they join together to make a constellation. That..it’s sweet but I felt like slamming my head into a wall and praying that it knocked me out completely for three days. Just...try something like this.” She began, picking up some parchment from the table and beginning to scribble down some notes, handing the sheet to her helpless son. “That can be your starting point.”

Hugo took a glance at the paper, cringing at the monotonous words on the page. “I...okay, these are truly something else. I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.” He muttered, before something flashed over his face. “Oh ma. That reminds me. Me and V have been talking and uh..we wanted to know if you want to officiate the wedding. We thought you’d be the best pick for it so...what do you think?”

Donella’s heart soared at the prospect, though her face would never reveal the true extent of her emotions. Her son was really giving her the honour of officiating the wedding after everything that had happened between them. A tear must’ve welled in her eye, as Hugo’s face shifted into a frown. “Ma, are you okay? You..you don’t have to do it.”

Hesitantly, she pulled her son into a tight embrace, the boy seeming stunned before reciprocating the hug and holding onto her. “Yes-yes I’ll do that for you, Hugo. It would be an honour.” Donella declared, her face buried in her son’s shoulder as she let a few stray tears loose.

She was so proud of him when he read out his vows without a hitch, the abridged version of the original speech was marginally better thanks to meticulous planning from their combined efforts. “Are you crying, ma’am?” Cyrus questioned as her son stood hand in hand with his husband at the altar, their fingers intertwined and looking picture perfect, almost as though they were in a dream.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Cyrus.” the woman declared as she raised a tissue to dab at her eyes while the ceremony continued in front of her. Hugo’s eyes shone with pure joy, matching his husband’s gleeful expression as they finally exchanged rings and shared a kiss with each other. She could even hear their friends, notably the Queen, King, Star princess and Firecracker (as Hugo had declared them) cheering and laughing out loud as they finally tied the knot.

And though she would later deny it, she still indulged herself in a few glasses of wine and rambled on and on about how Hugo was as a child, despite his pleas and begs for her to stop. She couldn’t help it - she was a mother after all and she was sure Ulla would’ve done the same if she were here.

Still though, as she looked at her son and the way he shared his first dance with his husband, he knew the pair were destined to be together, and that fate truly did exist as well as soulmates and all that lovey dovey shit she had been so quick to deny prior to their meeting. So as Donella leant back against the body of her once-henchman Cyrus, whose other arm was wrapped around his wife, she accepted the fact that she was content with whatever the future had to hold for the pair.

Donella was happy.

[halothenthehorns]

THE HOUSE-ELF LIBERATION FRONT

I was originally going to save the opening for this chapter for the end of the book, but then I was looking at my notes and saw I already had a crap ton for that, and this really is a pressing enough question to get in now. Thanks for all the lovely reviews and support!

HPHPHP

Try as they might, even in the face of the dragon nightmare from the last few chapters, neither Sirius nor Remus had forgotten their intentions to try and have a private conversation regarding what they'd finally had confirmed for them in Moody's first lesson. Something had happened to Harry the night his parents were killed, something involving Lily and her ability to save her son, and the two desperately wanted to try and talk about it out loud in hopes sharing some ideas would make some sense, but without the others around. They loved Lily like a sister and this was going to be hard for them to focus on, neither of them wanted the other three around as it would only be worse.

Neither of them had a clear idea what could even be said, but they'd always come up with their best ideas spit-balling to each other, so Remus decided to get the worst of it over as he blurted, "have you ever heard of anything that Lily could have done to save Harry?"

  Sirius chewed on his answer for a few minutes, denying that he was holding back a yawn, as he said softly back, "nothing comes to mind, and I've been trying to figure it out since I first heard about this. Nothing can block the Killing Curse."

"You don't think it's just something undiscovered," Remus tried to wheedle, "not even a rumor that you can work with?"

Sirius shook his head and insisted, "not a peep, and I can't imagine how that would change in the next year. I wish we'd said something about it to Harry in the Shack," Sirius' face twitched with the most base hatred one can hold at the mention of that place before continuing and ignoring it, "but at this rate it doesn't look like the three of us are going to be in the same room for a while. Merlin knows if we even know then."

Sirius knew quite a few things the others didn't from his Black heritage. As a child, he'd questioned one to many things and if they regarded their ancestry he usually got an answer, though the vile nature of them really have led him on the path he was now. The fact that Dumbledore had suggested the Fidelius Charm for them to hide under meant that this must be the most powerful thing Dumbledore could find to keep them alive, so it clearly wasn't any good magic that had saved Lily. Then again, it had been Dumbledore who said that Harry had been saved by the love of his mother, and even back in the first chapter it had been implied Dumbledore might have some idea of what had happened, but hadn't shared it with Harry.

It was another of those questions where they just couldn't help but wonder what their old headmaster was doing to their lives. Did he know and was keeping it from them, to what end? Did he figure it out after the fact, and decided Harry was too young to know? Not unreasonable, but still information Dumbledore shouldn't even be the one to share, it should be Sirius' decision at least now.

They talked for as long as they could until they couldn't take it any longer. The vision of Lily dead in front of her wailing child was most certainly going to feature in their nightmares tonight as long as they had lingered on the subject, so while neither wanted any rest, sleep took them before either had even made it to the stairs.

James grinned as he came down the stairs the next morning, with the baby in his arms, to see his two friends passed out on the sofas. He'd known from the moment he'd left they were going to stay behind and talk about something, and he knew his friends well enough to guess the topic. The sight wasn't even that unfamiliar, in school they'd often gone down to the common room late at night to pick apart each others brains and fallen asleep down there.

Remus slept like an Inferi, dead until activated, but Sirius was usually a light sleeper so even as James tried to creep past them into the kitchen, Sirius began stirring. James only just got Harry into his highchair when Sirius entered from behind.

The two chatted in sleepy mumbles for a few minutes before Sirius shook himself hard to fully make sure he was awake before he dug in for something he knew he needed to talk about.

"Alright Prongs, out with it," Sirius sighed, hopping up onto the counter and swinging his legs around in an attempt to just look bored, but the tense set of his shoulders made it clear Sirius actually thought he was in trouble.

James frowned, struggling for a moment before plastering a grin on he knew full well Sirius wouldn't buy, but hoping his friend would take the hint and stop asking anyways. "Don't know what you're talking about."

Sirius eyed him for a moment, clearly considering this very thing, as he knew that there weren't many things James wouldn't tell him. If he wasn't talking without some hard prodding, then it was either something about Sirius himself, or James wanted to handle it himself. Sirius had just decided he really would drop it, if James wanted to be silently jealous then Sirius wasn't going to keep at him, when Ron's face flashed across his mind. Sirius had never even met Ron, but he could understand where Ron was coming from in his anger. He was more frustrated the boy hadn't stood by his mate, but Sirius didn't want something to linger in James if he could get it out of him. So instead he pressed, "go ahead and have a yell at me, something. I know my interacting with Harry is bothering you."

James groaned as he leaned on the counter beside him and muttered, "I'm not angry Sirius, not really. What can I even say? Fine, I'll admit it bothers me that you're the one Harry's been looking to for advice, but it's not like I'm there and he's choosing you over me, I'm just not there." The pain that tore out of James' throat even as he got that last part out made Sirius all the happier he and Remus had their conversation last night without Prongs around. He didn't need any other stress on his life right now; and since it hadn't done them much good in the end, it really would have just made things worse for him right now.

Even as the rest of the house stirred James and Sirius managed to keep up a lighter and friendly banter between them now, even having gotten it out in the open had made James feel just slightly better.

The two looked far happier than they did going in as they sat down for the next chapter. Everyone took the spots they had before, James even passing the baby to Remus again while Lily sat next to him.

It was Lily's turn to pick up the book where they'd left off, which she did with only a slight tilt of unease. Harry had just survived the first task, surely nothing too bad was going to happen in the very next chapter.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were heading up to the Owlery in search of Pig,

"Nice to hear the trio of names again," James smiled.

so that Harry could send his letter to Sirius about how he'd gotten past his dragon.

"Best letter I'll have gotten in ages," Sirius smirked, before catching sight of Harry and quickly adding, "not that I'll have any doubts you could do it even without my advice."

Harry was filling Ron in on everything Sirius had shared with him about Karkaroff, and while at first shocked at the news, Ron quickly agreed he was an obvious suspect.

"Didn't miss this though," Remus grumbled testily. He may have forgiven Ron, but his attitude was going to still bother him for a while longer.

Pointing out what they'd heard on the train about Malfoy saying his dad and Karkaroff were old friends, now they knew from where.

"Got a point there," Lily sighed, remembering back to that moment and how they'd hoped they were just being paranoid in thinking the same.

Ron did add though that if it was Karkaroff doing this, he'd be feeling stupid now, Harry had only got a scratch from the first task.

"Hopefully that's the worst you do get," Remus agreed.

They found Pigwidgeon, but Harry began having difficulties tying his letter to the minute owl.

"Got to love the little guys enthusiasm," Sirius grinned, still unrepentant he was the reason Ron had that particular owl.

Ron had to snatch him out of the air to hold him still long enough before releasing him again, Ron still babbling about his confidence now Harry was doing so well he had no doubts Harry could win this tournament,

"I'm more focused with you living through it, then fourth place would seem like a blessing," James huffed.

While Harry agreed, he couldn't quite seem to do so out loud, something of what Ron said lingering with him. He couldn't have really won though, right?

he was being serious.

"No, I am!" Sirius blurted with the proudest smile on his face like he'd just made the end of all jokes.

Lily knew ignoring him wouldn't actually make him stop, but it was still better than retaliating and letting him keep going.

Harry knew Ron was being overtly kind because of his previous attitude,

"Not that it's really helping," Remus grumbled.

but Harry didn't deny either that he smiled in appreciation.

Hermione frowned at Ron though, reminding Harry had a long ways to go before he should start thinking like that

"She's such a buzzkill," James snorted.

seriously.

"I still don't believe she could do any sort of believable impression of me," Sirius sniffed, this time James did reach around and smack him for it.

Ron told her to stop being such a sunshine.

"It's good to be agreeing with Ron again," Lily chuckled.

Harry watched Pig soaring away with a heavy roll of parchment, his letter to Sirius had been filled with every bit of detail Harry could offer about his match with the dragon.

"I can imagine that giving me a combination of heart failure and pleasure," Sirius nodded.

"I'm just glad you didn't get a chance to make an appearance," Remus scoffed, "you would have pissed yourself in the stands and drawn attention to yourself."

Sirius stuck his tongue out at him.

Ron caught his attention by saying they should head downstairs for Harry's surprise party.

"Well it's not a surprise now!" James threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Wish the surprise was they hadn't done it," Harry rolled his eyes.

Ron was right, the moment they stepped into the common room they found it decked out for a party. The twins had gathered everything they needed from food to entertainment, plus Dean had used his art skills to put up posters such as Harry's battle with the dragon, and a few of Cedric's head on fire.

The Marauders gave appreciative laughs at that, though Lily and Harry couldn't find it that funny. At least Cedric was okay for it.

Harry finally felt able to laugh along and chat with everyone, Ron and Hermione by his side all night. He hadn't felt so happy in months, and he wouldn't have to worry about anything again for months.

"All bright spots that I will cherish as long as I can," Lily agreed.

Lee had come over to talk to Harry, and had grabbed up his golden egg to investigate it, then asked Harry to open it for all of them to hear what was inside.

"Now that would have to be classified as cheating," Remus raised a surprised brow. "Getting the whole of your house to help you with that."

"I wouldn't put it past anyone else to be doing the same," James waved him off with honest curiosity of what this was going to be.

Hermione tried to say that was against the rules, but Harry quietly reminded her so was her helping him past his dragon, too which she grinned.

"I just love it when Hermione points out the rules when they don't relate to her," Sirius snorted.

After more prompting from the rest of his house, Harry did indeed open the seal on the egg, and it fell open with a wail of noise. The high pitched shrieking was horrid, the only comparable noise was the saw music at Nick's deathday party.

"That sounds like a pain in the ear," Remus winced in sympathy, rubbing at his own ear in just the thought.

"What on earth would be making that noise?" Lily asked as she tried to guess what this had to do with the tournament's second task.

"Banshee," Sirius offered with a frown.

"No, I heard that once," Harry corrected, thinking of Seamus' boggart, "and this wasn't that."

"Hard to really guess since we can't actually hear it," James pointed out with a pout.

Harry had to struggle to get his wits about him before shutting it back, everyone now watching him with a bit of fear. Seamus pointed out it sounded kind of like a banshee, maybe Harry would have to go against one of those next.

"I'd still take that over a dragon," Sirius shivered.

"I don't think that's it though," Lily frowned, "the tournament usually has three separate events, not the same thing like getting past a creature every time."

Neville stuttered that it had sounded like someone being cursed with the Cruciatus.

"You can't fight that," James shivered in disgust at the thought.

"And there's no way that would be in the tournament," Remus agreed.

George told him that was ridiculous, they wouldn't use a curse like that on the champions. Then he offered it had sounded like Percy's singing, maybe Harry would have to go after him in the shower.

"I like his suggestion the best," Harry grinned as they all burst out laughing at that suggestion. For some reason what George had said seemed to linger in Harry's mind. Why would Percy be a stand out at his next task though, he shouldn't even be there.

Fred then offered Hermione a jam tart to change the subject, which Hermione did not take.

"Why?" James asked innocently enough. "Do the twins often spike the food?"

"Rule number one of the Gryffindors," Harry shrugged, "don't take anything the twins offer you without expecting something."

"Now where have I heard that before," Lily rolled her eyes as the Marauders all smiled at that.

Fred grinned at her, promising he hadn't done anything to them, it had been the custards he may have tampered with.

"Which clearly means he's done something to those tarts," Sirius' smile widened.

"Unless he was trying to double cross them," Remus grinned as well. "The twins wouldn't tell what they'd spiked, so of course people would be fooled into thinking the creams are okay, then they'd eat those anyways."

"You boys worry me," Lily told them before James could continue the convoluted idea.

Neville, who had just bitten into a custard cream, choked and spat it out.

Causing all five of them to cackle. That could have been the joke all along of course, just to make someone think they'd eaten anything.

Both twins laughed at his response, before promising it was all a joke. Hermione took the offered food, but then asked how had they gotten all of this? Fred quickly said that it had all come from the kitchens, the house-elves had been begging to give it to them. They'd go fetch him something exotic if he asked for specialties.

Sirius smacked his lips in appreciation. He'd loved testing them to the limits to see what they would bring him, and they'd never let him down.

Hermione asked where the kitchens were.

"I see Hermione's taking your advice," Lily grinned. She really hoped Hermione would meet these house-elves and see how most were treated.

Fred at first went into all the details of it, before cutting himself off as he scrutinized Hermione and asked why she wanted to know.

They'd been so stressed for so many chapters in a row, that perhaps they're continued giggling of anything the twins did was possibly being exaggerated, but no one seemed likely to stop soon either.

Hermione quickly tried to act innocent, but George wagged his finger at her, telling her not to go getting ideas of rebellion into their head.

"That could be some potential mayhem," James smirked.

"Kind of wishing we'd thought of that," Sirius agreed.

"You value your meals to much to try and put the house-elves up to anything," Remus snorted.

Fred agreed they'd all be pissed if she put them off their cooking.

"Unless Dumbledore specifically told them to stop, nothing would actually put them off their cooking," James corrected, shuddering in horror at the very idea.

Neville caused a distraction by sprouting the feathers of a canary.

Which drove any talk of house-elves back out the window and a nice new round of laughter, no one in doubt it had been the twins.

In between his own laughter, Fred managed to apologize and admit it had been those creams he'd hexed. Less than a minute later and Neville had molted, then joined in the laughter.

"Good to see he knows how to laugh it off," Remus said warmly, thinking of previous times something like this had happened and very glad Neville had never once seemed to turn bitter about this.

Several people were murmuring in curiosity at the twins idea, as both boys quickly called to all listening ears that they were selling these Canary Creams for only seven Sickles.

"I can not put into words how excited I am they're still on about this!" Sirius squealed, bouncing in his seat at this new idea of the twins.

"They clearly have a gift for it," Lily agreed.

They went up to bed much later, and as Harry was laying down in his bed he pulled out his miniature Horntail and placed it on his bedside cabinet.

"Wait, so you kept that little dragon!?" Sirius asked in disgust.

"Yes," Harry shrugged, "but he ran away that night. I don't really know where he went either, I always wondered if Crookshank's ate him."*

"I hope so," Sirius muttered, while Remus went a little wide eyed and demanded:

"Did you say a dragon got loose in your common room, and you never reported it, or even looked for it!?"

Harry looked honestly confused as he asked, "Ah, no. Why would I?"

Lily suddenly released a burst of laughter and gasped, "Oh Merlin, I'm just picturing that thing getting out and going to live in the forest or something."

"I hate you right now," Sirius scowled at her. Even if he did know the magic of it would make it vanish after a few months, he didn't even want to picture running across one of those in his Forest.

Harry watched it curl into itself and begin to snooze, thinking as he drifted off himself Hagrid wasn't all wrong, they weren't all bad those dragons.

"Yes, yes they still are," Sirius grumbled mutionisly. He didn't care Harry had got past his, he still wanted nothing to do with the beasts.

December was hitting the castle with icy winds and mounds of snow. The warm fires and thick walls managed to keep the worst of it out inside the school, but Harry pitied those from the Durmstrang ship.

"Oh I'm sure they have it charmed on the inside to be plenty warm," Lily corrected, at least hoping Karkaroff would do this for his students. Even an old Death Eater had to at least pretend to care for his students, right?

"Even if they don't," James rolled his eyes, "don't they come from somewhere even colder? This can't be anything new to them."

Beauxbatons didn't look much better in their caravan, though Hagrid was commonly seen making their stay as comfy as possible. So far he'd kept to the task of providing their horses with their prefered drink of the single-malt whiskey, the fumes of which often drifted across the grounds and made the Care of Magical Creatures class going lightheaded. This was not helpful, as they still needed their wits about them around the skrewts.

"At least their blast ends will keep you warm," Remus muttered as he tried to repress a smirk.

Hagrid began a lesson by pointing out that he wasn't sure if they hibernated,

"Hagrid's extensive knowledge of these things really keeps me warm," James frowned. He liked Hagrid as a person, but that didn't change the fact he really wanted his son to drop both of his extracurricular classes lately.

so he'd prepared some boxes for them to try out, all they had to do was lead them inside. There were only ten of them left, apparently their kill drive had not been walked out of them.

"At least their dropping numbers is encouraging," Sirius chuckled.

The class did not look encouraged to be trying to force the brutes into pillow lined boxes.

"Can never deny Hagrid's enthusiasm though," Lily murmured in an almost affectionate tone.

The task did not go as planned, as the moment the skrewts realized they were being nailed inside mayhem broke loose, and soon the ground was strewn with smoldering blankets.

"Sounds like a disaster zone," Remus raised a brow, still unable to wipe his own smile off his face.

"Sounds like a party," Sirius agreed, both boys half regretting Kettleburn never did get these for their class. At least they'd know the end result of whatever Harry was dealing with.

The majority of the class took off running, Malfoy and his group in the lead as they hid inside Hagrid's cabin, but a few stayed out to help round them back up.

Hagrid was trying to convince his students not to go frightening them as Harry and Ron were forced backwards, throwing sparks at the skrewt advancing on them, the stinger on its back quivering to strike.

"I am genuinely certain the skrewt isn't the one frightened in this situation," James's brows just kept traveling up his forehead, like he was torn between wanting to laugh along with his mates at something involving these fascinating beasts, and the ever perplexing question of Hagrid's sanity regarding them.

They were momentarily distracted by noticing Rita Skeeter leaning against Hagrid's fence.

"I really wish Hogwarts had a stricter visiting policy," Harry snapped. He'd been quiet and only mildly concerned about his well being with the skrewt around, at least he felt safe in the knowledge Hagrid would handle it in the end, but the moment she was mentioned his annoyance went right back up.

Hagrid jumped onto the last skrewt then, pinning it to the ground long enough to loop a leash around it before turning his attention to Skeeter and asking who she was.

She quickly stated her title, and Hagrid frowned at her as he stated Dumbledore had banned her from the school,

"Ha!" Sirius released a bark of righteous laughter. Finally, Dumbledore really was still good for something!

"I think Hogwarts needs security," Lily sniffed, "guards around the school or something to stop her waltzing in the front gate, especially as Dumbledore specifically said she wasn't allowed in."

"Guards on gates yes," James approved, "but inside the castle and on the grounds? Come on Lil's you'll kill all the fun."

'As if Harry needs any more fun,' Lily mentally grumbled, thinking it would solve a few of the problems they'd had, but wasn't going to argue the point for now.

as he dragged the last skrewt to its comrades.

"That should really be telling us how indestructible those things are," Remus shivered, his mind still slightly distracted from Rita by those things. "Hagrid, landing on that with his considerable weight, and it's still able to walk!"

"I really wish Hagrid would tell already where he got those things," Sirius agreed.

Rita pretended not to hear that as she asked what these creatures where, and Hagrid told her with some pride.

Rita was confused, saying she'd never heard of them and asking where they came from.

Hagrid flushed in shock and didn't immediately answer, leading Harry's heart to sink as the question first occurred to him.

"His answer's just all kinds of encouraging," Lily muttered. They'd already guessed sure, but his not answering wasn't improving their mood.

Hermione stepped in by diverting attention to Harry, asking him how interesting he found these creatures.

"Why would she draw attention to you!" James spluttered in outrage. "That's all you need is for her to launch another article soon as she catches sight of you!"

"I can't blame Hermione," Harry sighed, "I'd have done the same thing if I'd thought about it long enough, to divert attention away from Hagrid."

Harry quickly agreed after a prompt stamp to his foot from her.

"That wasn't necessary," Remus snorted, he knew Harry would have agreed without it.

Rita was very pleased at seeing him again, at once launching into questions for him, such as was this his favorite class?

Harry agreed at once, noticing Hagrid beam.

"Still true," Harry grinned unabashedly. DADA may have been one of his best classes, but Hagrid would always be his favorite teacher, no matter err, the interesting things he brought to said class.

Rita asked Hagrid how long he'd been teaching, her eyes lingering on the still fearful students inside Hagrid's place and the remaining ones outside who were all slightly injured from the ordeal.

Hagrid admitted this was only his second year.

"And he's off to a great start," Sirius couldn't help the sarcastic spew. "Nearly sacked his first year, clearly up to something at least minorly illegal this year."

"Got to love Hagrid," Harry agreed without the same tone.

Rita was definitely interested now as she asked Hagrid if they could set up an interview.

"She's insane!" Lily scowled. "Hagrid will know that's a mad idea just from what she's already done to Harry!"

"You'd really think she'd take a hint," Remus agreed.

She wanted to pick his brains for their Wednesday article on zoological creatures for the Prophet, perhaps feature these Bang-Ended Scoots?

"Think I like that better than Hagrid's name for them," James snorted.

Hagrid quickly corrected their proper name, but did indeed agree this sounded like a good idea. Harry got a very bad feeling as they set up a later time to do this, but didn't know how to warn Hagrid with Rita watching.

"Don't know what you're bothering to be subtle about," Sirius rolled his eyes, "I'd shout it in her face what a terrible idea that was."

"I knew the moment I really said anything to her she'd twist it," Harry sighed, "if I had told Hagrid not to in front of her who knew what she'd put in her next article about me."

Considering she'd most likely be doing it anyways, Harry's caution most likely wasn't going to be useful, but they couldn't blame him for trying.

The three of them headed off to the castle uneasily, wondering what Rita was going to say about Hagrid. Hermione was worried Rita would find out Hagrid had imported those skrewts illegally.

"Yeah, I absolutely believe that," James sighed as he rubbed at the bridge of his nose.

"Hagrid wouldn't admit to that though," Sirius reminded with plenty of confidence.

Ron did remind though that Hagrid had been in trouble before and Dumbledore hadn't done anything against him, worst that could happen was Hagrid would have to get rid of the skrewts.

"Worst?" Remus repeated with a light smirk. "I'd think he'd call that a good thing."

Then Ron corrected he'd meant best.

"Is there an echo in here?" Sirius snickered while Remus rolled his eyes at him.

They all laughed as they headed off to lunch.

Harry found Divination that afternoon very enjoyable again.

"There's something I never thought I'd hear," Lily laughed.

"Don't know what you're talking about," James told her with an almost straight face, "I think she's a lovely one."

"For a laugh," Sirius tacked on before they all started laughing again.

They were still tracking planets, and Trelawny was still trying to insist all the horrible ways they were going to die, but now that Ron was his friend again, they were a snickering mess as Trelawney went into the details of Pluto.

"Well that is the Roman planet of the Greek God Hades, lord of Death," Sirius rolled his eyes, "wouldn't surprise me that's her favorite."

She tried to keep up her mystic tone as she watched Harry reprovingly, stating how some would find it best to take her class without the frivolous attitude.

"And I would think," Lily shot back, "that you would take a bleeding hint, and realize Harry doesn't give a single care of you're bleeding predictions."

"Some people just can't take a hint," James told her with an earnest smile, making Lily give an indulgent grin back.

She trailed off into how just last night she'd been absorbed in her orb, gazing into its powers, and whispered to the class if they could guess what she'd seen.

Ron muttered under his breath a reflection of a glittering bat.

Lily had to actually pause for several minutes the boys were all laughing so hard. A combination of all the pent up stress leading up to the dragon, and this by far being the most lax chapters they'd had since Harry's name had come out of the Goblet was making them all a little punch drunk with giggles.

Harry fought to keep his laughing repressed even as Trelawny dramatically finished with, death! She finished with an obvious look at Harry again, who yawned.

"That was a kind response to what I was thinking," James wheezed out.

"Still didn't get through her thick skull," Sirius snorted.

As they were leaving, Harry was complaining that it may have had more of a hit if she hadn't used the same line over a hundred times now.

"My point exactly," Lily shook her head.

Pointing out if he'd died every time she said so, he'd be a walking miracle.

The good mood was still persistent enough that they all chuckled at Harry's comment, but it didn't quite erase the reminder that he'd actually had some pretty close calls that made them feel Harry wasn't exactly wrong either.

Ron agreed he could be some new kind of ghost.

"Your own original species," Sirius nodded in agreement.

"No thanks," Harry shook himself, he didn't like to think about dead things much.

Ron was at least pleased that they didn't have homework from her, hoping Hermione did as he always loved not having to do any while she did hers.

"Always something to lord over your friends," Remus agreed.

Hermione didn't meet them for dinner though, and though they went to the library to find her, she wasn't there either. They did find Krum, and Ron at first began a whispered debate of whether he should ask for their autograph, but then he caught a group of girls doing the same and lost his enthusiasm for the idea.

"Don't see why," Sirius stated, a wide grin creeping across his features. "I'd think it would actually encourage him to go get that autograph, go back to the girls and show off-"

Remus begged Lily to cut him off before they had to hear anymore.

The two boys had just made it to Gryffindor tower and had opened the portrait to go inside when she caught up to them, at once trying to drag Harry back off and babbling that he had to see something!

James spluttered a bit in shock, unable to stop the worry as he demanded, "now what!?"

"Relax," Harry soothed with his head cocked to the side, he felt nothing bad for this. "Hermione looked excited, not upset."

Lily eyed him for a moment, gauging how truthful that was, but when Harry clearly meant it she did keep going with honest curiosity.

Harry tried to ask what was going on, but she just wanted to show them!

They ran off after her, the Fat Lady calling behind them in annoyance that they shouldn't bother apologizing for leaving her open!

"Has anyone?" Sirius rolled his eyes. She was testy this year.

She'd just stay here wide open until they got back.

"Fairly certain she's not allowed to do that," Remus snorted.

Hermione dragged them all the way back through the castle, down to where the Hufflepuffs came up for their meals.

"Ooh," the Marauders said in understanding, though they remained just as confused as before. Hermione must have found the kitchen, and the house-elves, but that really didn't explain her excitement. Harry hadn't shown any enthusiasm for her S. P. E. W. gig.

Harry still remained as baffled as the others, but when understanding struck and he realized where Hermione was taking him, he also couldn't stop some happiness bubbling up in him as well. Something good was going to come of whatever was going on, he was at least sure of that.

The passage was brightly lit, with all sorts of paintings of food lining the walls.

"I don't know how the Hufflepuffs stand it," Remus said tragically, "having to walk past food so many times a day, how can they not be constantly hungry."

"Glad I don't have to know," James grinned, "though I bet they're on the best terms with the elves out of all the houses."

Harry realized where he was just as Hermione stopped in front of a large painting, asking if this was more spew stuff? Hermione tried to say it wasn't, but something else, but Ron laughed and asked if she'd finally changed the name to House-Elf Liberation Front?

"HELF?" Sirius snorted, "honestly that one's not as bad. Least it would be a little harder to make fun of."

Hermione promised this had nothing to do with that, she just wanted to show Harry something.

Harry was watching them all curiously, but clearly they had no more idea than him what was so exciting Hermione was going on about it.

She turned back to the picture of fruit, tickled a pair, and a handle appears which she quickly wrenched open and pushed Harry inside.

Harry only got a glimpse of the enormous kitchen, with all sorts of cooking supplies and a warm fireplace,

"Ah that brings back the best memories," Sirius' grin kept stretching wider.

"That place was as familiar to us as the Forest by the end of our first year," James agreed.

when something tackled him around the middle, squealing about Harry Potter!

Lily blinked down at the pages in shock as her mind tried to process what elf would be down in the kitchens squealing over Harry, none of them should have even met him.

When she looked up at Harry to see if he had any ideas, she saw him blinking in shock, his mouth flopping uselessly, and though she had a curious idea as the only elf this could be, she still read.

Harry glanced down at the elf hugging the life out of his middle as he gasped out Dobby.

"Wh-what!" Sirius spluttered, his face quickly flipping from shock to outrage the fastest. Despite his pleasure in the justice Dobby had dished out to Malfoy, Sirius still held no love for the critter that had genuinely tried to maim Harry at some point.

"I knew it!" Harry yelped in relief, clearly noticing no such feelings pouring off of his godfather. "I just knew I'd run into Dobby again! What on earth do you think he's doing there?"

"Best guess?" Remus offered indulgently at Harry's clearly laughing features. "Dumbledore might have hired him. Last we heard he was looking for a paying job, Dumbledore would be the first in mind to indulge in such things."

"I think that's brilliant," Lily agreed, ignoring the still flabbergasted James and stone faced Sirius.

Dobby agreed it was indeed him as he released Harry and stepped back so that he could properly see him. Dobby still had the same features as the last time Harry had seen him, but looked much different in the clothes.

"Yeah, like the fact that he's wearing clothes," James chuckled as he shook off his own disbelief.

He'd done an even more odd job of putting together an outfit than most wizards at the World Cup.

"And that's saying something," Lily giggled.

Wearing a tea cozy for a hat, a tie with horseshoes over a bare chest, kids soccer shorts, and one black sock Harry identified as the one he'd given the elf to earn this freedom, plus the other which was orange and pink striped.

Sirius couldn't keep it up any longer, he cracked and started snickering with the rest of all the garments, but Sirius' was still tinged with unease. Last time Harry had been in danger, Dobby hadn't exactly been helpful. This year Harry was actually in more danger than he had back in his second year, and Sirius was kind of terrified what the little elf would do when he found out this time.

Harry asked what Dobby was doing here, and Dobby squealed his excitement that he was working for Dumbledore now, he and Winky!

"And Winky?" James did a double take in surprise.

"I never thought about it," Remus cocked his head to the side, "but what does happen to house-elves when they get sacked. When Harry said he knew he'd see Dobby again I didn't think about it much, but Winky?"

"Honestly, I don't think anyone has a clue," Sirius shrugged absently. "It's so rare to even fire one, what Crouch did really was an extreme."

Harry finally noticed Sirius' disinterest in Dobby, and frowned slightly at him. He'd really been hoping that Sirius had officially gotten over his hatred of Dobby, but clearly he wasn't fond of him either. At least he wasn't spouting death threats again, yet.

They were surprised to hear about Winky as well, so Dobby led them over to see for themselves.

Winky was sitting on a stool in front of the fire, also wearing clothes, but unlike Dobby's odd put together Winky's matched well with a blue skirt and matching blouse.

"So elves do have a sense of clothing," Lily giggled, her fondness for Dobby managing to increase as she realized he just enjoyed standing out.

However, Dobby's were so well cared for they all looked new, Winky's were stained and burned in several places.

"Ooph," Remus winced for the poor thing. He couldn't even begin to imagine what would be going through an elves mind at being separated from a master they'd so clearly loved. Hopefully Winky's state would impress upon Hermione what most elves were really like, freedom did nothing good for them.

Harry greeted her kindly, but she merely burst into tears.

"I feel like that happens frequently," James cringed at the idea of a girl, even a female house-elf, crying.

Hermione tried to comfort the little thing, but Dobby took no notice and kept beaming up at Harry, asking if he'd like some tea, having to speak a little louder over Winky's cries.

"Oh that sounds lovely," Sirius managed to chuckle amidst all the still strained faces at hearing about Winky.

Harry agreed, and almost instantly six elves appeared with a platter of treats and fresh tea.

"Do they just have all that in waiting?" Harry asked in surprise.

"It's prepared in advance, and then kept magically at temperature in case Dumbledore, or any of the staff, ever have a call for it," Remus shrugged.

Ron was impressed at once as he took some, but Hermione just frowned and declined.

Harry asked Dobby how long he'd been here, and Dobby said it was his first week.

"Ah, well at least I feel slightly better," Sirius muttered under his breath. He gained stunned looks from the others as they finally guessed where his mind had been, but Sirius just shrugged and really did relax back. He hadn't been able to help it though, if there was something powerfully magical enough to con the Goblet, he'd put money on a house-elf. Dobby had done some pretty deranged things in his stride to help Harry before. Clearly though, Dobby really hadn't anything to do with this.

The others wanted to call him out on such a strange train of thought to them, but Harry was so relieved to see Sirius didn't look so uptight at the mention of Dobby anymore he pleadingly waved his mother on, who heeded him.

Dobby had come to speak to Dumbledore, because he hadn't been able to find a position anywhere else. It's very difficult for a dismissed elf to find more work.

Winky's volume continued to increase at that reminder.

"I can imagine that being a sore spot for her," Remus winced, kind of wishing Dobby would take this conversation elsewhere as it was clearly upsetting the poor thing.

Dobby kept going with his explaining, saying everyone he'd talked to just shut the door in his face when he said he wanted paying for his work now. The elves that had been helping them started to edge away from Dobby at his saying that, like they thought he was being rude.

"To them it is," James agreed.

Hermione was happy for Dobby though, praising him for being like this. Dobby gave her a happy smile as he agreed, but reminded that all the other wizards had been much ruder about it.

"Ooh that poor thing," Lily frowned.

"What was he charging?" Sirius suddenly started smirking. "I honestly might have taken him up just to piss off me own. Kreacher would go mad if he had competition, well more barking."

The boys laughed along, even Harry not because he found it funny, in fact every time Sirius mentioned Kreature lately he got a nasty twist inside his innards, but just happy to see Sirius had quickly jumped right back to his old joking ways.

Dobby liked his work, but he wanted to wear his clothes, because Dobby liked being free.

"Anyone would love being free after living with the Malfoy's their whole life," Remus shuddered in full agreement.

The Hogwarts house-elves had now started edging away from Dobby, as though he were carrying something contagious.

"Doesn't seem to be gaining him many friends though," Lily frowned in sorrow for the poor thing.

"Like he cares," James scoffed, "most house-elves don't care about friends, Hogwarts is actually unique in having more than two on hand. Like Dobby said, they live for their work, so long as he's getting that he'll be more than happy."

Winky just kept up her crying as Dobby mentioned having gone to visit her and finding out she was free as well, to which the girl threw herself off her stool and began beating the ground in misery.

Lily was fidgeting terribly as she kept going, the worst feeling was that she didn't even know how to help Winky. She had no idea how to go comforting any elf, she'd never heard of one in this state! It was not a comfortable feeling for Lily who had always strived to help as many of those around her.

Hermione dropped to the ground beside her, still trying to comfort her, while Dobby continued with a bright smile of Winky's screeching.

Sirius really couldn't stop the uncontrollable shaking of his shoulders as he imagined this scene, Dobby just ignoring the fact that Winky was having a breakdown and just chatting casually with Harry.

It was then Dobby had the idea of where two elves could find work, Hogwarts of course. Dumbledore had been more than willing to pay Dobby for his work, a Galleon a week and one day a month off.

"Ouch," Remus winced, "didn't expect Dumbledore to cheap him so much."

"I don't think I'll blame him for that," James disagreed with a curious look, "think about this, it's the first time I've ever heard of a house-elf even being paid, maybe what would be considered normal for us would give the little guy a coronary. He'll most likely build up to it, I hope," he concluded, waving Lily on curiously.

Hermione was shocked at such low wages, but Dobby quickly disagreed and said it had been him beating Dumbledore down from his original offer of ten Galleons a week and weekends off. Dobby shivered in fear at the very idea of so much riches.

"There you have it," James's smile turned downright smug at having guessed this.

"Wipe that look off your face, it's not that hard to work out," Sirius snickered with no force.

Dobby liked being paid, but he liked his work more.

Hermione kindly asked if Winky was getting the same,

"Eesh, this isn't going to go well," Remus winced. If Winky was losing her mind over talking about this, he couldn't imagine discussing such other things like paying would help.

but then Winky switched. She stopped crying, but looked to Hermione with outrage. Winky was properly ashamed of being dismissed and would be doing no such thing as pay.

"There's the typical attitude," Sirius nodded, wiping his brow as if relieved the world still worked right.

"I still don't get it," Lily grumbled. "Crouch was horrible to her, what's she got to be so upset about?"

"Their minds don't work like that," James gently reminded. They'd gone over this a bit, so he didn't press his point, and neither did Lily.

Hermione was shocked at her, stating Crouch had been terrible and Winky should be happy, but Winky wouldn't hear it as she pressed her hands over her ears.

Lily still couldn't help but mutter a few bitter 'brainwashed,' comments in between reading that.

Dobby explained for them Winky was having troubles adjusting, she still didn't realize she could say anything she wanted about her old master.

Harry asked in surprise that house-elves couldn't do this.

"You haven't figured that out," James shook his head. "Remember how Dobby acted the last time he almost spoke ill of the Malfoys, and they're the definition of bad wizards."

"I was just confirming for all of them, not just Dobby," Harry defended.

Dobby quickly agreed they weren't allowed to do this at all very seriously.

"Never had a house-elf try to be me," Sirius smiled, ducking on instinct when James made to swing at him again.

It was part of the house-elf law that they were never to speak ill of their masters. Dumbledore hadn't forced this though, he'd told Dobby he could call him a barmy old codger if he liked.

"I think he's been called worse recently," Remus chuckled, "but he's got a point."

Dobby gave a frightened giggle at the very idea before quickly saying he had no want to do so, Dobby loved working for Dumbledore and was happy to keep his secrets.

"Most people would for him," Sirius muttered with a frown starting to edge out his good mood, he didn't want to think what all secrets Dumbledore was hiding.

Harry couldn't stop a smile himself as he reminded that Dobby could say whatever he liked about the Malfoys now.

"This could get fun," James still stayed in an optimistic mood, he didn't want this good chapter to be ruined just because of Dumbledore.

Fear crept into Dobby's eyes as he agreed he could do this, if he wished. Dobby even squared his shoulders and admitted that the Malfoy's were bad Dark wizards.

"Well it's a start," Remus indulged.

"Give it a few more years and he might even call them really bad Dark wizards," Sirius rolled his eyes.

Dobby seemed to realize what he'd said though, and rushed to the nearest wall and began beating himself over the head for it.

"Oh that poor thing!" Lily groaned. Even freed of those Malfoys, poor Dobby was still forced to act like that.

"I'll stop him," Harry said with confidence, he'd had plenty of practice.

Harry had experience with Dobby doing this though, so quickly seized him and didn't let go until Dobby stopped. Dobby thanked Harry, admitting it was still hard to do so, but Harry encouraged he'd get better with practice.

"And I'm sure Harry'll be happy to help," James grinned.

Winky was furious at the pair of them, telling Dobby off for speaking like that about his masters.

"I think not," Remus sniffed. "If we have them enslaved, the least they should be able to do is speak their minds."

"You keep that in mind if you ever meet mine," Sirius rolled his eyes in disgust.

Dobby stated back that they weren't his masters anymore!

Winky glared at him as she called him a bad elf, then bemoaned her poor Mr. Crouch. What would he be doing without her! Her family had always belonged to the Crouch's, her mother and her grandmother, oh what would they say to bad Winky!

"Wonder why they've had all females," Lily asked.

"Some just prefer a gender," Sirius shrugged when he realized he was expected to answer, "I'm sure it doesn't actually have any difference."

Hermione tried to be firm with Winky, telling her it was Crouch's own fault and he was doing just fine without her.

Winky slightly perked up at the information someone had seen Crouch, and Hermione agreed he'd been coming around because of the tournament, he and Bagman.

Winky looked very angry at the mention of Bagman, stating Crouch had told her all about that bad wizard.

"Well that was extreme," Remus cocked his head.

"I don't like him much anymore," James agreed, "but he's irking me. What has Crouch had to say about him?"

"Guess Winky took Crouch's complaints about how he runs his department literally," Lily offered with a shrug.

Harry couldn't help disagreeing with them, he really felt like there was something he was missing about Bagman, something Crouch would know about, and he really hoped Winky would elaborate on this.

Harry tried to ask what she meant, but Winky refused to speak anymore, saying she would keep her master's secrets, then started sobbing again. Dobby didn't seem to notice as he chatted with them some more about what he planned to do with his wages.

"What would house-elves even do with their money?" Sirius suddenly asked as the idea had never occurred to him.

"You ask just as I'm fixing to read," Lily rolled her eyes at him.

Dobby had plans to buy a sweater next. Ron heard this, and seemed to have decided to taking a liking to Dobby,

"He grows on you," James agreed while Sirius still tried to deny that was getting more true the more Dobby showed up.

and offered his Christmas jumper, so long as Dobby didn't mind maroon.

"Well that was sweet," Remus grinned.

"Though sort of agitating," Lily grumbled, his mum probably went through a lot to make those and Ron was always complaining about them and now he was just giving it away. At least it was for a good reason.

Dobby couldn't have been more pleased as Ron agreed they'd have to shrink it a bit, but it would go with his tea cozy.

"There's a sentence you don't get to hear much," Sirius grinned.

They made to leave then, the other elves popping back up and trying to give them more sweets. Hermione refused, but the boys stuffed their pockets.

"Never had a more memorable flashback to my school years," James beamed.

"This ought to become a regular occurrence now," Sirius agreed.

Harry called a goodbye to Dobby, who quickly asked if Dobby could come visit Harry, which Harry agreed at once.

"Aww, I honestly can't wait," Lily beamed, at least there was something good to look forward to.

Ron was laughing as they left about the twins, who'd always made it seem like a task to get stuff from the kitchens, but they all but gave it away.

Hermione wasn't really listening as she said what a good thing it was for the other elves to have Dobby around. They'd see how happy he was and realize they wanted the same.

"I, yeah no I can't picture that one bit," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"They'll treat Winky with more respect than him," James agreed, "and she's in disgrace, but at least she's embracing it."

"In fact hopefully this'll help Hermione more than anyone," Remus added hopefully, "she'll realize Dobby's the odd one of his bunch, maybe look into the ideologies and mindsets of the common house-elf and see how much damage she could do with this running group of hers."

Harry hoped they wouldn't take a long look at Winky instead.

Hermione tried to insist that she'd just cheer up once the shock wore off.

"It's already been how many months?" Sirius raised an odd brow at Hermione, "I think she's fooling herself."

Harry wondered what Winky's, and Crouch's, problem with Bagman could be. Hermione offered it may have something to do with Crouch complaining about how Bagman ran his department.

Ron scoffed he'd rather work for Bagman than Crouch, at least the first had a sense of humor.

"A good point I can't deny," Sirius nodded along. He was an annoying bugger when he came to Harry, but still leagues better than Crouch.

Hermione laughed as she told Ron not to go letting Percy hear him saying that.

Ron agreed Percy wouldn't work for anyone who could take a joke, since he wouldn't recognize one if it danced naked in front of him in Dobby's tea cozy.

Causing one last release of laughter in the room, a very good omen for how this morning was going as Lily passed James the book.

HPHPHPHP

*Was anyone else insanely disappointed when this thing was never mentioned again? I think it would have been adorable, or at least had a few funny moments if it had just popped up once or twice again.

[probably-not-star-lord]

Purely Physical (Loki x Reader)

A/N: I haven’t written in ages so like you’re welcome for this trash

Request: heyyy i love your writing and was just wondering if you were interested in a Loki x reader where the reader is just a random punk chick whos afraid of emotional intimacy and shes trying to tell herself the attraction she feels for Loki is purely physical, but even she herself finds it hard to believe, no matter how much she wants to...? in all these fics the girl is like very anxious and romantic and shy and i would love to read abt a different girl character for once...:)

Summary: You have never believed in love. The mere thought of being in a relationship with someone horrified you. That is, until you met Loki, of course.

Warnings: swearing, fluff, kind of implied smut, major thirsting for Loki

-

You’ve never been the relationship type. The whole idea of settling down with one person for the rest of your life scared the shit out of you. Most people wanted the domestic life that led to a white picket fence with kids and a golden retriever prancing around the yard. That was the kind of life made for people who planned the color scheme and table settings for their fairytale wedding in a binder all tied up with a silver ribbon. You couldn’t be caught dead wanting that kind of bullshit. One could say you feared commitment or had emotional intimacy issues, but, in reality, those just weren’t your kind of dreams. That was, of course, until you met the one.

Loki.

His long, black hair and cold fingertips fill your stomach with butterflies. You can practically see the reflection of a wedding arch in his piercing green eyes while you listen to him speak. He almost allows you to believe that you want to settle down and be with him forever. That’s not what you want. That has never been what you want. So why did Loki make you want all of that?

You try to convince yourself it’s all purely physical. Loki will casually be standing in the kitchen of the Avengers compound, gracefully leaning against the island, and you’ll visualize him thrusting into you with your bare ass on the granite countertop. During meetings, while a mission is being discussed, you’ll stare at his thighs and want to straddle him, wondering what it feels like to get him so worked up that he would have no choice but to ravish you right then and there in front of the other Avengers. It might be twisted, sure, but sex crosses your mind more often than the idea of a cute love story. Especially if the sex is with Loki.

Yet, sometimes, your mind wanders elsewhere. You imagine Loki curled up in bed with a good book, turning the pages and inviting you to sit beside him as he reads aloud his favorite parts. Sometimes he’ll be sipping coffee in the morning, delicately making small talk with Tony or Steve, and you wonder what his cool cheek would feel like against your lips for a quick, morning kiss. When his hands run through his hair you desperately want to know what his fingers would feel like interlocked with yours on a nightly stroll around the city. Despite your supposed emotional intimacy issues, you can’t help but feel something so fucking emotional for Loki.

Enraged with yourself, you turn to Thor, your closest friend out of the Avengers, for help.

“Y/N, I have no clue why you don’t just tell Loki how you feel,” Thor states, gesturing to something that isn’t there. “He would be delighted to hear it.”

You groan. “Yeah, maybe. But, you know me, I don’t work that way.”

“I don’t understand, Y/N. Everyone works that way. We were born to love one another!”

“Thor, let me put it this way,” you begin to explain. “I’m the kind of girl who lets some guy take her home to have decent sex and then I leave before sunrise. That might be referred to as the walk of shame by most women, but those are some of my proudest moments.”

Thor thinks for a moment before speaking. “Well, you can always just have sex with Loki instead of telling him how you feel.”

“I wish,” you exhale. “That man could have me any way he wants.”

“Perfect!” Thor beams. “Tell him that!”

You chuckle, patting Thor on the back. “Thanks, honey, but I don’t think I could handle the casual sex thing with Loki.”

“I thought you love casual sex...”

“I do! You know I do! It’s just...” You let out a deep sigh. “No matter how much I try to deny everything there’s always going to be something more with him, you know?”

“Yes, I think I understand.”

You nod solemnly. “Thanks, Thor.”

“Anytime, Y/N.”

Suddenly, without warning, a figure materializes in the room. It startles you at first, but Thor is immune to this sort of thing. The tall frame in the green outfit becomes recognizable once you have a second to adjust to the sudden interruption. 

“If I may interject...” Loki says, pointing a finger. You study his finger and ponder the ways he could tease with it. “The Captain told me to retrieve you both for a brief meeting this afternoon.”

“What’s it about?”

His eyes study you for a moment, almost as if he is glancing over your figure. You’re sprawled across Thor’s bed, lying on your stomach, hugging the pillow that rests beneath you. Your sweatpants grip your curves nicely and the tight tank top you paired with them leave little to the imagination. He watches you adjust under his gaze, sitting up slightly with a small, confident smile. Loki has always liked your confidence, never becoming too shy or awkward around him. Bringing his thoughts back to the discussion, he answers your question. “I believe it is regarding an upcoming mission, one that I am not allowed to know many details about.”

“Huh, I wonder why that is,” you tease with a sly grin.

Thor laughs loudly. “You’re lucky we even let you stay in the compound.”

“Hilarious,” Loki says with a straight face. However, he struggles to withhold his smile when he sees you laughing. “Sometimes I consider going back to wanting to kill everyone when you make comments like these.”

Thor furrows his eyebrows in frustration. “Don’t say that brother, Steve could hear you and take your words literally.”

Loki glances outside the ajar doorway. “No, I mean it,” he insists, loudly. “I am certainly going to force my way back into being the King of Asgard then eventually rule over all of New York.”

“Shut up, brother!” Thor scolds, getting up from his bed and slamming the door.

Loki laughs at his brother’s anger, looking at you as you roll your eyes at him with a playful grin. “Was that really necessary, Thor? He’s obviously fucking with you just to get you worked up.”

“Sarcasm, I believe is what I was using,” Loki adds. Thor says nothing and sits back down on the bed. “Lighten up, brother, we all know you’re the true King of Asgard.”

“I don’t know,” you contemplate out loud. “I think I could see you being in a more...dominant role.”

Holding your gaze confidently, Loki smirks. “My dear, I don’t have to rule over a kingdom to do that.”

You raise an eyebrow at him, seductively licking your lips. “I mean, if you did just so happen to be a king, I would have to get on my knees for you.”

“You say that like you don’t want to get on your knees for me anyway, love.”

Thor coughs to gain the attention of the two of you. “I would prefer to not be here if this conversation gets any weirder.”

You chuckle, unembarrassed. Thor knows how you are and how attracted to Loki you have become. “Sorry, babe, my mistake. You can leave if you’d like.”

Loki motions to the door. “Perhaps it is better that you leave Y/N and me alone. I would like to have...a word with her.”

“This is my room!” Thor defends. “You’re the ones that should be leaving me alone. I don’t want the two of you to...have your word...in my bed.”

Sighing, you tilt your head at the god with an exaggerated look. Loki nods understandingly. “My room, then?” you ask.

The door to your bedroom is barely shut before Loki has you pushed up against it, peppering kisses along your jawline. You let out an excited gasp, one that he covers with his hungry lips. The pace of your heartbeat quickens as he kisses you, and you know that you can’t do this with Loki just once. You want his lips on yours until the end of time. Almost hating yourself for it, you push a hand against his chest. He stops immediately.

“What’s wrong, my love?” His worried eyes dart across your face, looking for an answer to his question. He brushes a strand of your hair behind your ear delicately and your heart nearly melts.

“Loki...”

“Yes, darling?”

Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath. “As badly as I want this...and you know I want this so fucking badly...”

He chuckles. “I do...”

“I can’t go through with this if...if...fuck.” Your words stop and you find yourself choking on what you want to say. This has never happened to you before. You’re usually so calm, collected, and sexy. There has never been a man that made you want a relationship and you should be completely satisfied having a good fuck with Loki, but you want more. “I can’t go through with this if it’s going to be a one time thing.”

“My dear,” Loki whispers, kissing your lips softly. “We can do this as many times as you like.”

Moaning quietly, you give in to the kiss. It becomes hungrier, more passionate, Loki’s hands traveling down your ass and gripping your thighs. He picks you up, your legs wrapping around his waist as he carries you to the bed. As he sits, lips still on yours, you maneuver yourself to straddle him. It feels even more amazing than you ever imagined. You want to stay like this forever, and you curse yourself for desiring such things. Loki changed you, making you feel things that you have never felt before. The words can’t stay in any longer.

You pull away from the kiss. Loki smiles and locks his eyes with yours. Where you are, where you want to be for the rest of your life, it feels safe. You have never felt more secure than in Loki’s arms. It washes over you instantly, but you know the feeling has been there all along. You’ve never felt it before, and you sure as hell have never said it. But, here with Loki, you know that now is a perfect time. You have to let it out. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

“I’m so glad you said something,” Loki admits. “Because I have been in love with you since the moment I first laid eyes on you...and I’ve been falling more deeply in love with you every day since.”

“Really?” You smile brightly, asking for reassurance. Loki nods. “I never thought those words would mean so much to me.”

“Well, to be honest, I didn’t quite think you were the loving kind.”

You laugh quietly. “Says you...”

“I became the loving kind when I met you, Y/N.” You blush for what is most likely the first time ever. Loki brings a hand to your cheek, the cold of his fingertips competing with the warmth on your face. He kisses you sweetly and you nearly melt into him. “And what about you, my love?”

“Only for you, Loki, only for you.”

[glorifiedpigeon]

Fluffuary - Touchdown!

A DLAMP oneshot!!! Drake has the worst crush situation, seeing as it's the same situation four times over! Remus insists he give asking them a shot though. Maybe something good will come out of it all in the end!

Link

Drake watched as the school’s head cheerleader and the star quarterback flirted at the edge of the field. The yearbook photographer was taking photos of the player’s warm-ups, and snarking in their direction, while the school newspaper’s main journalist interviewed the coach rather nearby. The four most popular and ineligible boys in school. Drake just had to have a crush on each and every single one of them.

It was sophomore year when rising football star Virgil Storm was asked on a date by spunky little cheerleader Roman Castle. It was quite the surprise when the two of them revealed a plot to ask yearbook photographer Logan Berry to the junior prom about a year later. Then, at the prom, all three of them had danced and made out with the school paper’s most well known fluff-piece-writing journalist, Patton Love.

Drake hadn’t been to prom last year. He’d been with Remus Castle, smoking and defacing the school while all the teachers were at the hotel for the prom, complaining about how Remus’ brother was too hot and stealing all of Drake’s crushes.

“Sounds like you’re crushing on the A List pretty hard there,” Remus had teased, and while Drake had denied it, he’d been absolutely crushed on the last Monday of the year, the first Monday after the prom, when he heard the rumors.

Then, of course, the four of them went traipsing through the halls, hand in hand in hand in hand. Drake could’ve screamed. He was sure he screamed. He definitely passed out. It was not his proudest moment, but that was last year.

This year, he’d spent nearly the whole time watching the four of them with a dreading envy. This was their senior year. The five of them would graduate after this, and those four would go off to college together, adjusting their dreams for one another like the perfect polycule they were, and Drake would be on his own.

It was the last game of the season. Virgil would be moving on to swim team in the spring. Drake had never been to his swim practices, but he’d seen him changing in the locker room. There’s no way he’d survive watching him at swim practice. He’d barely made it through the one competition he’d attended. Virgil was just…

“Are you thinking about Virgey’s big fat-”

“Remus, we are in school!” Drake hissed at the disgusting teen leaning towards him and invading his personal space. It was bad enough that Remus had decided to sit so close when the bleachers were so ridiculously empty.

“School’s over! They can’t censor me on a football field, I can say what I fucking want, and if I wanna call my brother’s boyfriend’s dick a tasty as fuck man sausage then I shitting will!” Remus said, throwing in a few unnecessary curses for good measure. Drake flushed bright red.

“You are embarrassing me,” Drake muttered.

“Oh good!” Remus cheered. “At least I’m doing something right.”

Drake’s eyebrows jumped as he came up with an idea. “You know, there is one thing I’m thinking about.”

“Hm?” Remus asked, almost disinterested.

“Roman’s quite flexible, I wonder if he could suck his own-”

“Gross! Nope! That’s enough, shut up, dude, that’s my brother!!!” Remus shouted.

Drake smirked. “Revenge is sweet.”

“I hate you,” Remus pouted. “I mean, it’s not like you weren’t already thinking about Mr. Quarterback’s man meat-”

“Please call it literally anything else,” Drake said.

“Dongbanger,” Remus supplied.

“I rescind my request,” Drake replied quickly. “That was somehow worse.”

“But then you gotta drag my gross slimy brother into this! Maybe I just wanna imagine my best friend getting fucked by his crushes in a super not gross way, can’t you just give me this?” Remus asked.

“You are the most sex-repulsed asexual I know,” Drake stated, frowning. “Why are you like this?”

“It’s different when I’m joking with you, man. I don’t know. Look, just ask them. They’ve already got four phalluses in that sausage party-”

“Why did your saying this ‘professionally’ make it even more uncomfortable for me?” Drake asked.

“-just ask for an invitation!” Remus finished, throwing his arms up in a wide shrug. Drake frowned at him.

“I don’t want- that. Not yet, anyway, I want an actual genuine connection. We don’t have that with one another,” Drake muttered. “They probably don’t even know me.”

“Pssh,” Remus waved his hand dismissively. “You’re my best friend! Roman’s gotta recognize you at least.”

“I doubt it, I’m never at your house,” Drake muttered. Remus sighed.

“Okay, you know what? If you go down there and ask all four of them out before the game ends, then I’ll stop talking about sex until graduation,” Remus proclaimed. Drake looked at him skeptically. Remus pursed his lips. “At school only.”

“Aha. Fine, I will make an effort,” Drake muttered. “But if they reject me, then you don’t get to make any comments of a sexual nature whenever you’re around me.”

“Drake, buddy, if you get rejected I will shave my baby mustache,” Remus snorted. Drake was taken aback. Remus would never make a risky wager on his mustache. He had made plans to grow that thing out into a masterpiece. His dream of winning a mustache contest was as old as he himself was.

Drake made his way down the bleachers and to the fence separating the crowd from the field. He stood there awkwardly for a moment, seeing Roman now running some stretches with the other cheerleaders. A blonde girl pointed at him then, and Roman turned to look at him. He blushed bright red as Roman made his way over.

“Oh, hey! Drake, right? Does Remus need anything?” Roman asked. Drake was feeling hot from his fingertips to his ears, now.

“Oh. No. Um, I actually had a question,” Drake said.

“Oh, well, shoot!” Roman prompted, bouncing on his toes, and waving a pom pom invitingly. Drake bit his lip.

“Um. Are you and your boyfriends in an open relationship?” Drake asked. Roman blinked, then he grinned, his cheeks turning a rosy pink.

“Drake, are you asking your best friend’s brother on a date? Isn’t there a bro code about that sort of thing?” Roman asked.

“I think when your best friend encourages it, then you may as well go ahead and ask his brother. So? Are you, um. Are you all interested?” Drake asked, and Roman gasped.

“All of us?” He asked, another grin on his face. Drake covered his face with his hands.

“Yes, all of you.”

Roman chuckled. “No one’s asked for all four of us before. You might just have a date, then, Drake. I’ll bring it up to them. Meet me outside after the game, to get your answer?” Roman asked. He batted his eyelashes as if on instinct, and Drake melted.

“Okay,” he said weakly. Roman flashed him a final grin, before darting back to join the other cheerleaders. The bleachers were beginning to get crowded, so Drake hurried to rejoin Remus and grab his seat.

The game started dully. Drake didn’t come out of love for the sport, and Remus didn’t come for any reason except that Drake came. Drake came to watch Virgil while he was off the field, wiping sweat from his face, and dunking water over his head. He came to watch Roman flip through the air and land doing a perfect split. He came to watch Logan take photos, and chat with the cheerleaders between routines and the benched players.

Seeing Patton today was a bonus. Patton sitting next to him in the bleachers was a down right gift from god.

“Hi, Drake!” Patton greeted. Drake spluttered.

“You remember me?” He asked.

“I mean, you did shout at me during a class debate in our freshman year?” Patton reminded. Drake felt himself going red as Remus cackled behind him. “It was very memorable.”

“I am very sorry,” Drake insisted. Patton giggled.

“You said so then, too! Roman says you want to ask us all on a date,” Patton said, and Drake felt like melting through the bleachers would probably be the most satisfying way to end this conversation.

“If you don’t want to, it’s fine-”

“No, no, I’d love to!” Patton interrupted. “If Virgil and Logan agree, that is.”

Oh god. Patton leaned into Drake’s shoulder, resting his hand on top of Drake’s. Melting would be both convenient and inconvenient at this time.

He glanced at Remus, who merely gifted him with the sight of two thumbs up. Drake felt the blood rush away from his face as his friend made to leave. Oh god, Remus was going to leave him here with his entirely undignified gay panic.

“Where are you going?” Drake asked, trying not to sound too freaked out. “The game’s barely started.”

“Football isn’t really my thing,” Remus announced. “I’m going home. Don’t you two get uncomfortable on my account, mkay?”

“Oh- have a safe trip home!” Patton called after him.

God, an utter sweetheart, wishing a traitorous wretch like Remus a safe trip.

If, later that evening, Drake wound up making out with the four most popular and most ineligible boys in school, and becoming the most envied and ineligible boy in school, then… that was his own business.

He’d thank Remus for leaving him without a ride home next time he saw him.

@tsshipmonth2020

[mintytrifecta]

Someone That I Used To Be chapter 2

Chapter 1:https://mintytrifecta.tumblr.com/post/618489689649840128/someone-that-i-used-to-be-chapter-1 AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22818781/chapters/55016005#workskin Guess I messed up His first mission was to stop something dubbed "The Mississippi Purchase". Apparently the Spanish treaty to put their goods and trades in the area outraged enough people that a war started over the area. Napoleon made a move to protect land sitting on what is now known as Mississippi and caused even bloodier battles. Yellow fever mixed with bloodshed mixed with hate and distrust led to greater wars and much less development in technology. Dakota was part of the group sent in as undercover agents to be seated in Thomas Jefferson's governing party. He was the one who brought up the idea of offering the purchase and in turn, less bloodshed. Which surprisingly worked and went successfully. Until it didn't. Coming back into the fixed future, Dakota scanned in to find records of his mission, but none were there.The Agency he was part of never existed. Which means, neither did he…Dakota freezes for a moment before regaining himself.Well, no matter. This could be a clean slate! A new beginning. Dakota did the best he could to ignore the weight on his chest. Guess I made a bad call Dakota had been in the Bureau for a few years now. Gave himself a complete makeover and change in personality.Yet he couldn’t find himself removing his glasses. The only artifact left from his timeline that he possessed. It wasn’t particularly special, just another pair of sunglasses he got during one of his missions and decided to keep, he told people. He doesn’t know why it means so much to him. He heard his stomach rumble. 'Enough thinky time more feedy time.' Vinnie ended up wandering into the time vehicle operations facility. Wasn’t today the test for new recruits or something? Eh who cares he’s hungry and wants a burrito.Upon entering a vehicle he found it was occupied. The person sitting there looked suspiciously familiar. And had terrible taste in lollipops. But I have no idea After a shortcut through some dinosaur ages, Dakota and the person in the car he was in arrived at their destination.Twenty first century Danville. His food-buddy started ranting about how what he was doing broke code and rules for how time vehicles should be used and how he should follow these rules as if anyone working for the Bureau gives a damn about the rules aside from rookies and judges. And then he found kids in danger. Well we can’t have anyone dying when we’re nearby now can we?(It wasn’t until he met the kids, years into the future, that he realized why the boy’s smile had been so hauntingly familiar) (it puts a weight on Dakota’s chest) What I could have done different Turns out his food-buddy is his new time travel partner. Dakota inwardly cringes at his first impression. God, this won’t end well for him. Surprisingly, Food-buddy er- Cavendish doesn’t rat him out. Dakota opens his eyes and shakes hands with his new partner. One little choice Dakota sits up in his bed, early in the morning. One small action He realizes where he knows Cavendish from. One coincidence of thought He killed him. And the lights went out. Dakota fumbles with his glasses in his hands, unable to bring himself to go back to sleep. He stands atop the Bureau roof, watching the pale glows of electrical illumination below him.  If he were in his original time, something of this magnitude would even be imagined.The brightest of people would have never seen this beauty.Yes, to one from a world like this one it would pass as a regular night.  But in a world unlike this, the glow of the lights and technological wonders seem almost like magic. How fortunate, Dakota thinks, that humanity has the gift of imagination. The eerie darkness of the stars above give comfort, as well as doubt. No matter what timeline, the stars never change. If Dakota tells his child self he finds comfort in stars, why he’s sure the child will laugh at him. But he can’t help it.The stars served him as a constant reminder to keep wonder in his life. To never go back to living carelessly. To have empathy. Dakota sighs. What if, he thinks, what if one day he travels back in time; what if one day the stars go out. What will he do then? He’ll be left unguided, alone, with no light left. He doesn’t want to be who he was. He’s changed. Or so he hoped. I never thought Dakota did his job without a second thought. Who cares who got hurt as long as he finished the mission. Things really die As Dakota did more and more time traveling missions, the heavier he felt. It never really dawned on him what he's done. Oh how he wishes he could take it back. Not in real life Dakota remembers how he and his friends would try to fantasize a better land for themselves. One where they didn't have to cower in fear, one where they could all be happy together. So why does he feel so agonized now that he's there? In real life He avoids Cavendish for a week after they met. He couldn't look at him anymore. It makes him want to vomit. There's no such thing as ghosts. Dakota can't touch firearms anymore.The mirrors know this and mock him with familiar faces. I am not a hero Dakota tried hard not to mention anything to Cavendish during their time together, but he found it progressively harder to keep his mouth shut. I am not a movie star Dakota smiled at his partner going off on another tangent about how famous they'll be once they complete a big mission. Vinnie lets his smile fall for a second after he realizes that Cavendish was famous before the timeline changed. He took that dream away from him. Dakota brings his smile back after Cavendish asks if he's okay. I am not a genius, I know Ask Dakota and he'll tell you Cavendish is the brains of the duo. He's figured out things much faster and better than Dakota ever could.Ask Cavendish and he'll tell you Dakota is much smarter than he lets on.  I am not a monk Dakota seldom finds himself getting mad. He considers himself even-tempered and flexible.So when Cavendish and Milo almost get caught by the pistachions, Dakota does what he rarely ever does. He snaps and tries to attack. He'll deny any accusation of breaking down the night after. I'm not special Dakota doesn't know why he does it. Why keep sacrificing yourself for just one person over and over again.He tells himself, Its Cavendish what're you gonna do? He tells himself, Anyone else would have done the same.He let's his mind drift off to the Island. Do any of the Dakotas there regret what they've done? I'm the same as anybody else Dakota screamed at the judges. In his fit of blind rage he let's it slip he's changed the timeline without authorization .

Dakota and Cavendish are sent back to the 21st century. The weight on his chest is back. You and I Dakota and Cavendish.Cavendish and Dakota.That's how they're remembered. Their friends think they're inseparable. Dakota thinks they're fragile. We were always a mess The day Cavendish left him to find the alien ship was one of his worst days. He didn't know why he left. Or to where. A creeping feeling in the back of his head told him that Cav found out.

Dakota didn't sleep that night. Drinking our bourbon The day they came back from Octalia was one of his proudest. They found Cavendish and helped save an entire planet for God's sake. The party they had lasted for hours.Dakota didn't leave his side. Screaming in the streets. They went back to their jobs at P.I.G. and tried explaining what happened. Block only laughed and sent them back on their mission. Dakota has never heard Cavendish as angry as he was then. When I saw you coming It gets close to the date he killed him. Ice and rage in your eyes Nightmares and anxiety seize him day and night. I put on my Armour and my shield Dakota wasn't going to be deterred. Cavendish had enough to worry about anyways. And raised up my sword He shut himself in and cried.  Not once did he tell Cavendish why. I am not a hero He killed people! I am not a movie star How unforgiving is that! I am not a genius I know Why did he go through with it?! I am not a monk Dakota screams. I'm not special The weight on his chest gets harder and harder. I'm the same as you Tears spill. And you Cavendish bangs on the door, demanding to be let in. You were there too  You drove that train Dakota grabs his hair. Right through my heart Blood splattering on the ground. You Pale dead eyes. You were there too Dakota dries his tears. You drove that train He comes out and they don't speak about it. They don't say a word until the next day. They pretend everything is normal. He wants to scream. Right through my heart Dakota leaves their shared space for the day. But I guess it's time He comes back late at night. To put that to bed He enters their house without knocking. But I guess it's time Dakota sighs. To let the dead be dead "Hey Cavendish? We need to talk."

[thebrochtuarachs]

To Begin Again: Chapter 9

Jamie passes through the stones on Beltane to 1968.

CHAPTER 9: REVELATIONS CONTINUED / Roger and Mrs. Graham have a surprise and Claire gives Brianna a gift. A short scene chapter before the Frasers head up to Lallybroch.

A/N: This is just a short chapter with two scenarios in mind that I've always wanted to write. Short scenes involving Roger, Mrs. Graham and Bree. It was important to me to establish these relationships and connections and really show the forging bond within this family and the important people around them. I am so excited for the Frasers to head up to Lallybroch and for Claire and Jamie to finally (!) have some alone time together in the next chapter! Thank you so much for reading. I know its takes me a while to update but rest assured, this story is constantly on my mind. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated and if you want to send a prompt, please feel free to message them! :) ❤️

CH: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 AO3

Sitting by the tree with their arms wrapped tight around each other had been pure bliss after what had been an emotional night for Jamie and Claire.

Releasing 20 years of hurt and pain had taken a toll on them but nothing beats the satisfaction of finally being in the arms of the person you long for most in the world. After a brief while, they both agreed to head back inside and back to their room where they promptly fell asleep.

The following morning, they came down to their family having breakfast. Bree, Roger and Mrs. Graham were all in the table already starting with their food.

“Morning” Bree said. Pointing towards the table for them to join in.

Once they sat down and settled, Claire noticed Bree and Mrs. Graham kept looking wide-eyed at Roger.

“What is it?” Claire finally asked, saving them all the trouble.

“Ah,” Roger heaved a sigh, put down his utensils and went for his briefcase. He pulled out a paper and handed it to the couple. “I hope you don’t mind. It was Mrs. Graham and I’s idea, thought we’d sort it for you guys since we had the time and we know people around. It wasn’t hard to come by…We thought it will help to get him all the other things he might need.” He trailed off, just looking at Jamie and Claire’s speechless faces.

“Roger, this is, uhm…” Claire began, stumbling out the words, then finally looked at him with tears nearly falling from her eyes.

“Thank ye.” Jamie finished for both of them. “This is above and beyond for what you’ve given me and my family.”

Mrs. Graham and Roger used their connections to give Jamie a copy of his “birth certificate”, making him a legitimate citizen of this century. Moreover, they knew Jamie, at least, needed that document to get all of the other IDs and documents he will need in this time.

“Did you know about this?” Claire turned to their daughter who was openly chuckling at their loss for words.

Brianna smiled and nodded at this, “Roger and I thought about it when we were preparing for Da’s birthday. I hope it was a wonderful surprise”

“It is.” Claire immediately replied. “I honestly hadn’t thought about all this, about Jamie’s legal situation here…” she trailed off again.

“There’s just one document we couldn’t get though” Roger hesitatingly said.

“What is it?” Claire asked for the second time that morning.

“There is no record anywhere of yer marriage from before the current war, we thought it be harder to justify to our friends why its such if we tried to get one for you. It’s not hard to remedy though, for yer situation.

Claire looked at Jamie as he reached out and took the document from her hands. She was relieved that in the three days Jamie has been back or even after in their years apart, Jamie can read her as plain as an open book. He already knew what she couldn’t say.

We’ll talk about it later.

“Thank ye again.” Jamie said in final.  

“It’s no bother and we’re happy to do it. After everything else ye’ve been through together, ye deserve this chance.” Mrs. Graham said as she grabbed another bannock. “Now, eat up and we’ve got some errands to do”

-

It took all day but when Jamie, Claire, and Mrs. Graham, arrived home, they had acquired a passport and ID card for Jamie. The question of Claire and Jamie’s civil status were, thankfully, not brought up by either of them and that was fine.

By the time they got home, Jamie excused himself to freshen up before dinner and Claire found their daughter by the fireplace in the study, helping herself to a small dram.

“Oh, you’re here” she said surprisingly.

“Just got home”

“Da?”

“Upstairs.”

She offered Claire the glass which she took as Brianna poured herself another and they settled by the large chairs.

“When?” Brianna asked.

“When what?”

“When did you know that you loved Da and you wouldn’t go back?”

Claire looked at the fire and chuckled. “Give me a minute to rack my brain.”

Bree raised an eyebrow in a silent, questioning “why”.

“No, it’s not a question of whether or not I love him. The timeline is just a little complicated - on my end at least.”

“Why so?”

“Well, if you ask your Da that question, he can answer you right away.” Another hearty laugh between mother and daughter filled the room.

“I think it was a gradual and unexpected thing for me.” Claire began. “When I went through the stones, I was scared and confused. Then I met Jamie and he became my only friend in the Castle. Your Da was sneaky though. I knew there were lots of times he’d spend time with me just because or I’ll find him looking at me out of nowhere. It started as little innocent things but I knew overtime that he had a crush on me. I tried to deny it or push it off as friendly, tried to not get too attached to him as I still planned to get back to my own time and to Frank as well. But that was until we were kind of forced and arranged to be married.”

Bree could see the glint in her mother’s eyes as she recounted this part of the story. There were faces of her that was new to her and Bree thought that maybe that’s what being in lovelooked like.

“Our first night together, well, it was…ugh, mandatory…to be together. But after that, well…” Claire blushed and shrugged pertaining to the obvious.

“Mama, keep it PG” Bree joked while taking a sip.

“All I am saying is… despite my reluctance to still admit my feelings for Jamie at that time, and my plans still to return to my time even after we were married, a part of me enjoyed being with Jamie, enjoyed being married to Jamie - and not just physically, mind you. He knew my mind was at battle with everything going on but he just had a way that made me feel at ease all the time, whether it was with a kiss, a hug, a touch in the hand, or giving me my own space. He just knew and I think I’ve never been with anyone who knew me better than I knew myself, not even Frank. Again, we go back to the little things. And despite my strong independence, I found myself relying so much to Jamie and slowly, I just couldn’t imagine life without him. After that, I knew I had loved him more than I ever loved anyone and it was enough to keep me in that time. As long as I was with Jamie, I was okay and that simply was it.”

“But that doesn’t really answer my question.” Bree insisted.

Claire thought a little bit more. “The first time he took me back to the stones - that was when I knew my heart, finally admitted to myself that my heart was with him. He tried to send me back but I didn’t go. I spent a long time in front of that stone, thinking of every possible scenario, tried to be logical and reasonable about this life changing decision. But at the end of the day, everything led back to Jamie and I chose him. Shortly after that was the first time I told him I loved him, which was at Lallybroch.”

Bree nodded in understanding as Claire took her fill of the whiskey.                                                                                  

“Frank was a love in my life - but Jamie is and will always be the love of my life. We are meant to be together. That’s the only explanation I have for my ability to travel through time – it was so I could find him, love him, and for us to just be together.” she said straight and plain. “So…” Claire toyed with her left ring finger and slid off the gold band she’s been wearing the past 30 years and handed it to her daughter. “Jamie never asked me to take it off because he knew Frank was an important part of my life – but he isn’t anymore, he hasn’t been for a long time. I hope you understand.”

Bree took the ring and held it close for inspection. From F to C. Always.

“Why are you giving it to me?” she asked.

“You loved Daddy, I think he would appreciate you having it, plus, it seemed a much better idea to give it to you than throw it away. You can do whatever you want to it and it will be fine by me.” Her mother allowed.

“Thank you, Mama”

“You’re welcome”

A moment of silence passed through and Claire knew more questions were coming from her daughter. It the first time in a few days that they’ve had a moment to themselves after Jamie had arrived. They did promise each other honesty, too, back at the stones and she plans to follow through with that. She was ready to tell everything, but she thought if her daughter was ready to hear it.

“Were you and daddy ever happy?” The question put Claire out of her reverie and she looked directly at her daughter’s eyes as she answered.

“We were happy raising you together.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Do you really want to know?”

“All the truth is coming out now, might as well blow it all out in the open”

“Can you handle more?”

Brianna laughed and shrugged. “I don’t know but I’d rather know now than be surprised again later”

“Alright,” Claire said as she took another good sip of her drink. “First and important thing to know is that Frank loved you with all his heart. You were his greatest joy, his proudest accomplishment.” Claire paused and thought if she should go on but Brianna was looking straight at her, she couldn’t stop now.

“After the war, we thought about our options about having a family and he was sure that adoption was not for him. He wanted a child of his own blood and flesh. I was not happy with that decision but I was young, then, and he was my husband and what his last say goes. When I came back and told him everything, he still wanted me back despite knowing for a fact that my heart was no longer with him. A part of me believes he wanted us back together because he truly did love me and another part of me thinks he just wanted to continue to look what society deemed the right thing for us to be. I withheld the pregnancy until the last moment. He was happy at first but when he slowly realized that I was, indeed, with another man, he almost tried to hit me but he held himself. After much thought and counsel, he still took me back with the condition that we raise you as his own and forget Jamie.”

“Why did you agree to his terms then?”

“Because I promised Jamie. I promised that you and I will be well taken care of by someone who loved me, someone who would’ve loved you. That is all he wanted for us.”

We moved to Boston and we tried to be together but we couldn’t. Most of it is on me because even though I kept my promise to not speak of Jamie to Frank but I think he knew that Jamie was still constantly on my mind. Eventually, we just agreed to stay together, legally, but have separate lives. He had his work, I was in school. We supported each other, for old times sake, at least.”

“And you?”

“I must admit that it was difficult going through the pregnancy. I was in a new place with no friends or family. Frank felt the distance between us, I was heartbroken for Jamie…it was not a happy time until you were born. When I held you in my arms, I have found my life and purpose again. You are the child Jamie and I badly wanted and I see him in you everyday. He made me go because he loved you and we lived because I loved him enough to keep my promise. Believe me, if there was a way to stay, we would’ve done it in a second.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Faith” she huffed, unwilling to look at Bree’s eyes. “And Jamie” she followed. “I promised him that I’ll keep you safe. That’s why we decided that I had to go back to this time. If I stayed there after the Battle of Culloden, I am almost most certain that we wouldn’t survive. Every traitor got hunted down and killed throughout the highlands and they will not know I am pregnant for it was too early for me to show. They will have no mercy.”

“But Jamie survived” Bree followed somberly.

“He did” Claire, not really the religious type, suddenly found herself saying a silent prayer of thanks to a higher being for bringing him here in her time and to have her daughter too.

“And Faith? What about her?” Bree asked, hoping to know more about her older sister. Claire just briefly touched the topic in their storytelling in the past week. She understood that it was – is– painful for her mother to relieve that memory.

“We lived in a very unpredictable and chaotic time. We were Scottish socialites in France, doing all these deceitful things to save a war from happening. In the process, we’d made enemies who tried to harm us. Then the war happened and we were in battles. Everything just went from bad to worse so quickly. Just the stress of it all, I think, was what made us lose her. It was beyond heartbreaking. I was ready to die.”

Bree tried to hide the surprise she felt on her mother’s blunt revelation.

“Yes, it was that intense. I was mad at your father, mad at the world, mad at God. You should thank one Louise de la Tour for keeping me alive until your Da found me.”

“Da found you?”

Claire shrugged and shook her head. “There’s a lot more to tell, my love, but I’ll be enjoying this conversation more if both Jamie and I tell it to you”

“Speaking of Da, are you going up to Lallybroch tomorrow?”

“Yes. You’ll follow us the day later after you’ve finished your class?”

“Yes. Already have Roger and Mrs. Graham to come with me too”

“Good. I think the food is ready” smelling the aroma of a hearty dinner down the hall. “We should head out” Claire stood and offered a hand to her daughter who quickly took it.

-

Jamie was asleep when Claire entered their room. His traveling through the stones can be compared a little bit as jetlag as the man acclimatized to this time. Four days he’s been in her time and she still can’t believe their luck.

Sensing her, Jamie, with still eyes closed, reached out a hand which she quickly took as she tucked herself in under his arms. They both hummed in contentment at the same time.

“Was it a good talk?” Jamie asked.

“You always know do you?” Claire funnily retorted, squeezing herself closer.

“Well, there is only one person I know that can tear you away from me that long and I can smell her scent on you.” Jamie smiled as he buried him face in her curls.

“It was a good talk but next time I want us both to tell it. It’ll be a good bonding experience for us.”

Jamie gave a sleepy Scottish grunt. “I canna wait to go to Lallybroch, Sassenach, and see what ye’ve done wi’ it.”

“I can’t wait to go back to Lallybroch with you.”

“Tomorrow, then.”

“Tomorrow. But now, you have to get up because dinner is ready”

[polar-stars]

2nd out of 5 parts of an ask by @smokeprincess24

Mika Aldini

👹 How does you OC act around different people and how does their personality change to match the environment they’re in? How do they act with: friends, family, strangers, children or their lover(s)?

Mika has some hesitance in exposing her soft, romantic side to others and is prone to deny it. She only lets people she truly trusts have insight into some of her rosy fantasies. Her mom is the one who she’s most comfortable talking about such things. 

Other than that, there’s not much of her behavior that differs depending on who she’s talking about it. 

🍅 How easily is your OC embarassed? What subjects make them flush and why? What event has made your OC the most embarassed they’ve ever been?

Mika is VERY easily embarrassed. Wether it’s about her being too obvious about her crush on Hiraku and it being pointed out, or her father’s way too open display of his love and affection for his only child…there’s a lot that can make Mika flush. 

💥 Are there any emotions your OC doesn’t know how to deal with, doesn’t understand or hates having to feel? Any reason behind this?

Actual heartbreak is something she’ll greatly struggle with. She has not quite suffered from one yet but has only seen it in works of fiction. Mika always knew in the back of her mind that its something that happens, however she won’t be prepared for just how deeply it can hurt. Given that she always sort-off idolized romance and only ever looks at the pretty parts of it, it’s definitely something that’ll make her feel very miserable.

She’s generally rather inexperienced with feeling plain vulnerable to begin with. Another emotion she’ll struggle with (rather soon) is guilt. 

🏀 Does your OC have any skills that people wouldn’t expect them to have? Do they have a hobby or pass time that others would consider strange or weird? How did they learn this particular skill or pick up this hobby?

Mika knows both how to ski and snowboard! People know that she’s rather sporty but the fact that she possesses these skills is a little surprising to some because many find it hard to picture the sun-loving, fiery Mika in snow to begin with ahdhd. 

Well, she’s not an all too big fan of winter and when she does end up in a snowy area during the cold months she does believe that doing sport is just the best way to deal with it. 

⭐ Does your OC like to sleep alone or do they enjoy sharing their bed? Have they been to any sleepovers? Have they ever been camping? What did they think of the experiences if so?

Mika has not much experience sharing a bed yet. It’s something she imagines as very comforting and lovely though and she wishes to experience it someday with someone she loves.  

🍏 When your OC says “I had a bad day” what does that tend to mean? Is it really as bad as they’re saying or are they being a bit dramatic?

Mika, much like Chieko, has a leaning to be overdramatic at times. So a „bad day“ from Mika-understanding is most likely a string of some annoying and frustrating events, but something she’ll most likely be over with the next day. 

🐉 How religious is your OC? Do they pray to any god(s) or do they not believe in that kind of stuff? What is their view of religion in general? Where do they believe people go when they die? If your OC is not religious why not and what do they believe in otherwise?

Mika is Christian and she’s registered in the Catholic Church, but later in life actually finds herself leaning more towards Protestantism. 

She does believe in God and visits Church to important occasions like Christmas, Easter and so on but she does not go there every Sunday. 

💧 What is something from your OC’s past they’re the most ashamed of and why? What is something they’re really proud of? And lastly what is something in their past that could make them shake with dread?

She’s mainly embarrassed by some of her more intensive outbursts over more trivial things but what she’ll truly look back upon in shame will come later on. 

What she’s so far the most proudest of is the time when she cooked for the Trattoria-Aldini-Branch in Rome and the practicum Takumi arranged her in Mizuhara’s “Ristorante F” after her graduation from middle school, as preparation for her Stagiares. 

🐟 What was your OC like as a baby? What were they like as a child? A teenager? An adult? How do you think they’ll develop ten years into their future? Twenty years? Will they live to old age?

Mika, as baby, was pretty loud and demanding. She began crawling relatively early and began crying and screaming the moment she wanted something. She certainly kept her parents of her feet.

Mika was a happy, adventure-loving child who certainly enjoyed to be outside a lot. She learned swimming at an early age and her love for dancing showed as soon as she could walk, honestly. She had always been a little feisty but to her family she’d also expose a love for plushies and Disney princesses.

As a teen, she’d become a confident and bold individual who’s tired of being the sole young chef of Tuscany and out to find a worthy rival. Mika certainly lives for the thrill of the challenges of Totsuki and practically embraces the competitive atmosphere. At the same time, her love for Disney movies involving princesses has ultimately developed in a deep fascination with all things romance and a strong longing to experience it herself.

As an adult Mika will have grown in experience regarding romance and does see everything a little less through rosy lens. She’ll remain a strong individual in her adulthood, who knows what she wants and how to step up against anyone who decides to be an obstacle. She’ll be a little calmer though and have her temper under a bit better control. 

🍇 Does your OC have any bad habits? Does your OC have any addictions like smoking or drinking? How did they fall into these habits and why? 

At times she does loose her temper a bit too quickly and it’s not always necessary to yell right away. She also tends to procrastinate when it comes to studying tings unrelated to cooking.

She drinks on parties and she does have a little tendency to party a lil’ harder than necessary sometimes. 

🔮What does your OC think is their best trait. What is actually their best trait? What about their flaws? Are they one to admit these flaws or do they like to pretend they’re perfect?

Mika thinks her best trait is her courage and I’d agree with her on that! 

A major flaw of her’s is that she can be a little bit inattentive to the people around her at times. She’s very unaware of this though. 

🌸 What’s a sentence that would make your OC’s day better? One that would make them laugh? One that would make their day worse? Why? What words would you have to say to them to completely ruin their day?

“Yukihira Hiraku is about to have a Shokugeki!” is a sentence that always puts her mood up. She loves watching Hiraku’s Shokugekis! She gets to see the person she admires in action and it’s also just a great experience overall as his matches are certainly thrilling, captivating and the rest of the audience is very into it as well.

A sentence that could ruin her day is anything that suggests something bad happened to Hiroshi. She’ll either end up pissed off at whoever might hurted him or worried for the rest of the day. 

🌷 How much effort does your OC put into their looks? Do they care much about how they’re dressed or what their hair looks like or are they not bothered? Could they be considered a snob or a slob?

She has a pretty well-developed fashion sense and does take her fine time choosing her outfits, no matter the occasion (unless it’s a school day because y’know then she knows what to put on: the uniform). She also takes good care of her skin, possesses some make-up skill and takes VERY LONG to shower. It’s all things she honestly just picked up from her parents mostly. 

❤️ What inspired you to make this OC? How long have you had them? How have they changed in the time you’ve been developing them?

Mika is one of the oldest Fanchilds of mine. She’s the fifth to ever be created, I think. She was created on that faithful night in 2016 where I decided to create more fankids after I had designed Chieko a few days or so earlier and took my drawing-tools to bed to sketch and color them ahdhd. Takumi/Ikumi is one of my first ships in the series as well and, back then, I didn’t saw much else option for either of them...so my decision to let them have a child was pretty automatic.

Mika did not change all too much over the years, really. What mostly got added recently is her frustrating love-triangle situation and also her story was just ironed out more over the years ahdhd but character-wise she remained more or less the same. Takumi and Ikumi honestly share a lot of the same character traits in the end and I think that’s a reason for that. 

🧡 What traits of your own do you see in this OC? Are they a little bit self-inserty? Don’t be shy, we all put parts of ourselves into the creations we love!

Hm, I don’t think I have all too much in common with Mika. She’s very brave and challenge-enthusiastic and I’m....one of the greatest cowards you’ll ever meet being frank. 

What we do share I guess is a strong love for the sea. Also, I do enjoy dancing (although I am not anywhere near the level she is) And I mean, she cooks Italian which is one of my favourite cuisines...but there’s really not much she takes after me ahdhd. She has much more in common with my mom than me being real. 

💚 Are you writing anything with this OC or planning on writing anything for them? Do you rp with them or are they just for fun to mess around with?

I have a few ideas but I don’t know if I’ll get to it soon.

💗 Ramble a bit about this character!

Mika, Mika, our beautiful helpless romantic Mika. Did I mention already how greatly her love-situation frustrates me? I really want her, the romance fanatic, to get happy with someone but ahhh who?? She’s also one of my first OCs and actually pretty dear to me and ahhh, WHY?!

But meep, aside from that and my whining about a situation I drove myself into; Mika is honestly really fun to write and I love the trio she’ll have going on with Kimiko & Hiroshi. It mirrors the classic Sōma/Megumi/Takumi-Trio in certain ways but it won’t be an exact rehash either so ahh. I’ll just enjoy writing this I think. 

[pantsusnifferr]

2019, healed up and ready to work towards a better 2020

As per the tradition I started last year, (haha can barely be called a tradition with it only being a year old.) am gonna be writing down my thoughts and reflections about the previous year, before penning down my thoughts and goals for the year looking forward.

Even though I had a lot of goals last year (maybe some more optimistic than others) some which I ultimately didn’t accomplish, I still managed to hit some those goals and accomplish a lot more!

These are the goals I had last year:

1. BE SERIOUS WITH ART

2. BE HEALTHIER (SUCCESS)

3. MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS (SUCCESS AND MORE!)

4. LEARN HOW TO DRIVE (LOL)

5. LEARN NIP SPEAK

6. LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE BASS

7. RESTART YOUTUBE/TWITCH

8. TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE BUSINESS (Succ)

Maybe I’m casting my net too wide, maybe I wasn’t exactly serious about those goals in the first place...who knows?

But the fact that I came into 2019 as an unhealthy, Lonely wreck with a crazily unstable business, and emerged from it with double the sales of last year, drastically improved health (still fat though haha) and people whom i care about (and i hope they care about me too), is a really comfy feeling altogether.

2019 is really a roller coaster with its fair share of ups and downs but I’d like to think that the past year alone has presented me with a lot of opportunities that i have thankfully taken. (As opposed to the me a couple of years before who’d stupidly let these opportunities pass as i would be too lazy or couldn’t be arsed.) Watching a friend of mine do the things she wanted without fear of the unknown just made me want to try more and live more!

Health ♥

I started the year badly when my endocrinologist told me that i might develop diabetes over the next couple of years if i didn’t take care of my health properly. I was already a doomer about my health at that point, thinking that everything would be too hard to do and it was probably too late for me to do anything about it....in hindsight perhaps it was because i probably needed that kick in the balls to get my arse off to do something about it.

It was only until a couple of months down the road i had a skin cancer + kidney failure health scare that got me wanting to better my health. Now THAT was the perfect kick in the nuts i needed. At the moment, health issues wasn’t the only thing that was coursing through my mind. I WANTED TO LIVE.

Perhaps it was the realisation that i haven’t really lived at all, perhaps it was the realisation that my life was in a mess and i wasn’t satisfied. Maybe its the realisation that i lack control in my life all these times.

I don’t really know to be honest, all i know is it made me want to try. To try to live more to try to be healthier...afterall there’s nothing wrong with trying right?

So i started with my diet, and i found out that counting calories and eating healthy food actually isn’t that bad at all! In fact a lot of my favourite meals are actually pretty healthy! Just gotta cut out the garbage...

And Running! Oh my god...it isn’t like how PE classes were like back in Primary or secondary school! Couch to 5k is really fun to do and I’m so Glad my friends whom offered to teach me how to gym back then are open to the idea of me joining them again. Also went hiking with other friends and hit the gym together with them too!

All in all I’ve lost about 17kg in total and I’m on the track to lose even more in this coming year. Also i ended the year with my lab reports where my blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and kidneys is healthy and fine!!

School 🏫

So 2019 is also the year which I’ve started school for the first time in 4 years...(haha 8 years if you don’t count NYP and their ‘school’ stuff. I felt surprisingly at ease during my lessons and studying for the exams, (granted i missed a couple of assignments if not i would’ve gotten an A for my marketing module grrr)

Still, i should study a little harder and not rely on the power of last min cramming aaa..

That being said, things will be looking forward as Long as i could keep my grades up!

3.6 GPA though, 73% reee

ART 🎨

Haha i drew Peni Parker this year...Didn’t sell any though, but it still remains one of my proudest pieces as of yet. Also i did a reprint of the Sayori keychain and I sold out for another year! Yay!

I’m Glad i got to meet new friends and some other anons who’re in the pursuit of doing art. A little disappointed that i didn’t go further into it last year but here’s to a better art year in 2020 yeah?

FRIENDS AND RELATIONSHIPS 🐝

Managed to be a better person overall and fixed my personal insecurities, made new friends and found closer friends with those who’re important to me. I tried to be more outgoing and open minded with the people i meet and to the people around me. Hanging out with friends, trying new things and working with each other to grow as people is something I’d want to do even more in the coming year.

I am so Glad i found people who’re as like minded as me. Online and offline, in the beginning of this year, a friend from Finland came over to visit Singapore and i hung out with her together with new and old friends. Made me feel like a normie for the first time in my life. 10/10 will do again.

Although its a shame that i wasn’t able to do the same for my extended family, mainly my cousins and childhood friends. I Guess over the years we’ve just become different people with different lives. I even managed to miss one of their 21st birthday parties oof...

I’m going to double my efforts to try and reconnect with them again! They’re important to me and i should treat them as such!

COMPANY 📈

Nothing much to say here, even though business in the individual months were pretty garbage, we’ve still managed to emerge from the year with 100k more in sales than the previous year! Bringing that total to almost $250k in sales!

Still not a huge fan of plants and stuff tbh, but i really cannot deny that this business provides me with financial stability (at least for the time being) that allows me to pursue my other interests and hobbies.

Also by some miracle we’ve managed to keep a 5.0 rating for the entire year lmao. Also did our first corporate and wedding gifts!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

Got a Nintendo switch!

Found more gaming and weeb friends!

Made contact with old classmates and friends!

Got a new camera!

So what’s next for 2020?

I want to have less regrets! Become a nicer and kinder person, yet be firm in my principals. LIVE MORE! EXPERIENCE MORE! DON’T BE AFRAID, DON’T BE LAZY

HARD WORK AND GUTS!

Rekindle ties with those whom i deem important to me.

Start my YouTube channel as a Vtuber and myself

Start YouTube channel for company

Join the weeb club to find more gamer weeb friends!

Study hard!

Learn weebspeak maybe?

Continue to work hard for health and company!

Learn 2 songs on either the bass on ukulele

Draw at least ONCE A MONTH (shouldn’t be too hard do it lazyass!)

Be more confident and social!

Here’s to an awesome 2020!

[pinkpuffballdude]

Who is Celestia sparrow and what happened with the wizard :0

OKAY. SO. I am HONESTLY not in the mindset to write this rn because some SHIT just went DOWN in our campaign but ALSO this is a great way to destress. Anyway if this comes off as uhhh real weird that’s why. Let’s go.

So to start: me and my friend, @clericjester, have been playing Pathfinder together with my brother and two of his friends for about eight years. Celestia is my character, and has been that entire time, and Thela is Sage’s character. Both of us are rouges, but I multiclassed as... multiple things now, but mostly a bard, so I’m the charismatic one of the party. We’re also the two hardcore RPers of the group, so we’ll go off and do side adventures sometimes, when they come over and were like “hey dad*. Pathfinder.”

*my dad is our DM. It’s very convenient. 

This was one of those times.

It started with an already canon event, where the party split up in a city to go off and find... something, it doesn’t really matter now, but Celestia and Thela went off together and ended up in a bar. Thela got approached by some random thug and offered a TON of money to go and rob a house. We, being a pair of greedy bastards, of course accepted, and hashed out a plan in which Thela would go do the actual breaking in, being the sneakier one, while Celestia stood outside and distracted the guards so they wouldn’t bother her. And that’s what happened! 

Except Mr Thug Man neglected to mention that it was a fucking powerful magic users house that we were stealing from, and so after we got away unscathed (okay that’s a lie, Thela broke into his writing desk and got some cool shit, but also set off some kind of alarm? maybe? and nearly got caught by a pair of GOLEMS) he CHASED US DOWN and has been sending us to this crazy bullshit dimension occasionally where everything explodes.

But first! We thought we’d gotten away! We ran away from the building, the guards didn’t catch us, we met back up with the group, it was all good! Until my DAD was like “okay so you’re on the road to where ever, here’s a map, arrange yourselves in this square” and we’re all like OH GOOD COMBAT and two GLASS GOLEMS you know, the two from the wizards house, came up the road and made a beeline for Thela (and Celestia got on her riding dog and RAN away because FUCK that, but they didn’t care about her cause she had no loot!) and Thela climbed straight in the air and the party almost left her to die, but defeated the golems instead and then turned to both of us and were like WHAT DID YOU DO and ever since we’ve been denying our wizard crimes.

Note: we don’t actually know if he’s a wizard! we don’t even know if he hates us! we just call him a wizard for ease of discussion. 

Later, we were all in a tower in a mad scientists castle, and us two were trying to figure out what the hell the stuff we stole actually did, by trial and error. We already knew that the rods we’d gotten were Immovable Rods, hence the climbing into mid air, and a couple other things, and had moved on to the fountain pen we’d stolen. We scribbled all over the walls of that tower, writing whatever we wanted to, trying to figure out what the hell it’s purpose was. “It’s just ink you can see with Detect Magic!” we said. “It doesn’t even do anything cool!” Okay, said my dad. So you can see it with Detect Magic. “Yeah!” So you can see any of it with Detect Magic. “Right!” From anywhere, he said, with great patience. We looked at each other. We looked at the walls, now absolutely covered in whatever random shit we could think of, in magical ink, visible from anywhere, written by a pen we stole from a wizard who was actively after us. “oh no,” we said, in unison, and immediately jumped into bed and pretended it never happened. Continue lying about our wizard crimes.

I think... after that he met us on a road somewhere, just. literally in the middle of the road, as we were travelling, whole parties there, and the BASTARD teleports us to aNOTHER DIMENSION, and LEAVES US THERE, and tells us that we should “hurry up, wink wink nudge nudge”, and gives us a timer, thing. We are in the middle of a jungle. long story short we make it to the check in point with minutes to spare, and as we leave the ENTIRE FUCKING PLANET EXPLODES. ALL THE OF THE TREES ARE EXPLODING, THERE’S A GIANT DUST CLOUD OF ALL THE DIRT GETTING KICKED UP, IF WE’D MISSED THE CHECK IN WE WOULD HAVE FOR CERTAIN DIED. Thankfully we get teleported out, and the Bastard confiscates all the cool samples we took from there and lets us go. And we go on our merry way! We’re miles from where we started! Stop being such a trickster god!

Later on we were staying at a hunting lodge, right, and there was some stuff that we still hadn’t figured out, like a silver bracelet that as far as we could tell didn’t do anything when you put it on. So we’re at this lodge, it specialises in werewolf hunters, right, so this lodge is FULL of werewolf hunting fanatics. This is important. There’s been a string of murders within the lodge, and no one can figure out who’s doing the killings and we’re going all detective on this shit, which means the party is split up. It’s fine, were safe, whatever, but this does mean that Thela and Celestia are alone and outside under what turns out to be a full moon (I bet you can see where this is going). We’re at a dead end, we can’t find anything, so THELA thinks it’s a GREAT IDEA to pull out the bracelet and just. put it on. We hadn’t actually put any of the items on, or used them that much, until we knew what they did, but no! she just. Pulled it out. And put it on. 

And immediately turned into a fucking black wolf, bit Celestia, and jumped over the twenty foot high wall (that’s about six meters for all you metric heathens out there). Sage was not in control. Thela woke up the next morning in their shared room! and they had one of the hunters track her trail from the yard all the way around to their room, which as soon as he got there they regretted because a fucking werewolf had gone into their room and Thela was now a werewolf who became an npc when she was a wolf oh my god what are we gonna do. The answer to that, of course, was keep it hidden until she fucking JUMPED UP INTO THE BOYS ROOM AND RAN THROUGH THE HALLS, AS A WOLF, TEARING SHIT UP, THROUGH THE WEREWOLF HUNTING LODGE, WOLF THELA NO. Anyway that’s one of the proudest moments of my life because Celestia was able to convince the most bloodthirsty of all the hunters that the boys were simply playing some sort of game, that for some reason involved running through the halls screaming WEREWOLF, THERE’S A WEREWOLF IN THE BUILDING. I peaked. So Thela ended up hiding in the shadows (and Celesia’s room) for the next three days until the full moon ended, by witch time we were able to talk the boys down and get on with our lives, and the adventure. Also the murderer was the soft drunk boy, as possessed by an angry murder werewolf ghost. That was a trip.

Fun fact about Thela’s lycanthropy: I don’t think it’s true lycanthropy, because 1) shes got a silvery tattoo that 2) tells her which animal she’s gonna become that 3) changes, depending on what turns out to be multiple factors. One of them is location, but right now she can always be a tiger because she’s wearing a tiger belt. 

The latest and greatest wizard shenanigans were when he showed up and teleported us and a monk named Balance (who was aptly balanced on a fucking chain when we met them), and who he for some reason wanted to stop guarding a randomass bridge, BACK to the exploding planet. This time, pre exploded! There was actually stuff to find there, and we got four exploding snails out of it*. AND a bunch of samples. The check point this time was a moving platform because this man only finds joy in our suffering, but he didn’t meet us when we got out, AND we’d gotten to our destination in three days instead of three weeks, so...

And Thela’s tattoo didn’t show anything while we were there? Like, either she couldn’t shift or if she did it would have been into the Void? We didn’t test this. 

*so they actually rapidly compress into spheres when threatened, creating a shockwave similar to a bomb. Reusable slug bombs!

And today after our Lovecraftian Experiance (which I can also talk about, if you’d like) the tattoo looks. Twisted. But only to Thela. I think hallucinations are in order. Also I want to peel off my skin, but that has nothing to do with Bastard Wizard.

So that’s the story of our wizard shenanigans, thanks for asking!