#notp: dead birds turn me on

[stainedglassthreads]

for the character asks: Toriel :)

if she’s already been requested, how about Ralsei or Asgore?

Toriel has not been taken yet, but thanks for giving me an excuse to talk about her. I think I'll do both her and Asgore.

Toriel

favorite thing about them: I love the way that, while her and Asgore's kids are very much her and Asgore's kids, they're not carbon copies of each other either. I also love how, despite being compassionate and nurturing and moral, monsters in the Ruins describe her as 'intimidating' while flavor text describes her as acting 'aloof'. It's such a shame that a lot of fanworks don't really go into the more unemotional and distanced aspects of her personality.

least favorite thing about them: I wish we saw more of her grief in-game, rather than implied by extra content. I also have to admit, it's kinda sad that most of her development happens offscreen, and her confrontation with Asgore is more comedic than emotional and meaningful. Toby is great at creating these characters who have all these depth if you dig into them, who the fanbase proceed to take at face value.

favorite line: "What are you doing? Attack or run away! What are you proving this way? Fight me or leave! Stop it. Stop looking at me that way. Go away!" (Love how it parallels Asriel's boss fight dialogue.)

brOTP: Toriel and Sans. Obviously.

OTP: None. Aroace queen.

nOTP: Despite thinking that exploring their relationship has a lot of potential, I think most Post-Pacifist Asgoriel does a really, really, really bad job of exploring their relationship. With a few particulars in mind…

random headcanon: Like Asriel and Asgore, she too has a weapon she can summon and fight with. It's a big fucking anime sword. It's just the goddamn Dragonslayer.

unpopular opinion: She is the Dreemurr portrayed as a 'good person' most consistently, but she's mischaracterized and flanderized just as often as the rest of the family. Also where are the Toriel-centric AUs that have zero romance. Where are they.

song i associate with them: Just Another Day and I Miss the Mountains, both from Next to Normal, feel apt.

favorite picture of them: don't really got any

Asgore

favorite thing about them: He's Just Some Guy. Toriel paints him as a remorseless villain. His subjects paint him as a savior. But he's just. Some guy. You find him watering the flowers. He sees his dead child in you. He tries so hard. He wishes there was another way. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. He remarks that today's a perfect day for catch, shortly before trying to kill you. He gives you every chance to turn back. He chooses not to dodge. His attacks leave you with 1 HP.

He still has to kill you.

He still can't.

He still might.

least favorite thing about them: Release the Forbidden Ending where he adopts Frisk and we get to spend time with him like we did Toriel, Papyrus, Undyne, Alphys, and Sans, Toby. Release the Forbidden Ending where Flowey is left fuming with jealousy and rage because BOTH his parents tried replacing him. RELEASE THE FORBIDDEN KING DAD ENDING

...Also I want Asgore dodging onscreen, reminding the fandom that yes. He is capable of dodging. It's just that you remind him of his dead child.

favorite line: "Birds are singing... flowers are blooming... perfect weather for a game of catch." Original flavor gets overshadowed too damn much by Sans' version.

brOTP: Asgore and Undyne. Asgore teaching Undyne how to kick his own ass and being proud when she does. Asgore desperate yoinking Undyne out of his kitchen. Asgore teaching Undyne piano. Undyne making friends with two people who might remind her of Asgore.

OTP: I don't think I really consider it an OTP, I don't go looking for content of it or anything. But Asgorudy's kinda sweet. Two older men who had some rough past experiences with love, who fall in love with each other.

Sansgore also has potential, methinks. Imagine the comedic awkwardness of Toriel and Asgore having to make up with each other not because Asriel was revived, not because they're getting back togther... but because Sans is dating Toriel's ex.

nOTP: I don't hate Kingdings but every time I see Gaster imply that Toriel never loved Asgore, or that Asgore was too good for her, I start hissing.

random headcanon: The reason he keeps giving children too much responsibility is that, due to a crippling lack of people in positions of authority in the war, he was dumped with the responsibility of housing and fielding complaints of monster refugees. I also like the headcanon he had a stupidly large number of older siblings in line for the throne before him and wasNEVER meant to be king.

unpopular opinion: He and Toriel and more similar than they are different.

song i associate with them: I've Been. Also from Next to Normal. "And I've never had to face the world without her at my side/Now I'm strolling right beside her as the black hole opens wide/Mine is just a slower suicide..."

favorite picture of them: I like his battle sprite. I like how he can't even look at you.

[quinnmorgendorffer]

puckert, klaine, and blunder for the ship ask meme

thank you! and ohhhh boy lol

Let’s start with Blunder - which I obviously ship way too much lol

What made you ship it?

Just the whole show? Lol I think like most people it was all of “A New Attitude” and the “SAME!” scene. It just blew my mind to see this sort of plot from a sitcom? Like, I remember the first time I saw it back in 2013 I was just so amazed they even had them have sex and everything like. God. What a TIME. 

And lbr, I got so fixated on it because I just finished grad school when s5A came out and all my hyperfixations have happened when I’ve been transitioning to a new part of my life. G/lee was going into undergrad, Crazy Ex was going to grad school, etc. 

What are your favorite things about the ship?

The mountains of meta I’ve written on them just…I love that they are truly same but also not-same enough to balance each other out. The fact they truly understand each other so naturally. The fact they both actually do respect each other - even if Tony truly is the better magician. The fact they are both so truly, truly DUMB in every sense of the word. Like, you know there’s the fandom thing of just referring to any characters you like as dumb and all, but they are truly, truly SO FUCKING DUMB.

And, god, in the finale when Tony goes from yelling at Sally to just smiling and speaking so softly to Gob…the ultimate dynamic of him just melting in front of this goofball is everything.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Lol I think all of us think very similarly about the two of them, right down to the sexual dynamic. 

Puckurt - ship it (regretably to this day)

What made you ship it?

Honestly, it started with fanfics. I was a senior in high school during s1 (ugh if THAT doesn’t age me so fucking much…) and went on ff.net to see what people were writing and was a little surprised there was SO MUCH Puck/Kurt, since I assumed it would’ve been Kurt and Finn what with the canon crush/love Kurt had for him. And after that I just kept watching and started seeing things and this would be the best summary…

What are your favorite things about the ship?

THE PATRIOTISM. Lmfao, okay, there was this thing that literally every time they had a scene together, or even like NEAR each other, Kurt would wear stars and stripes. Like, when I ran Puckurt Week the 2nd time, it was planned purposefully over July 4th just for the Stars and Stripes theme. It’s quite possibly the best gifset I ever made lmao. Also in the “Me Against the Music” scene, everyone is coupled up in the background with canon couples - Tina/Mike, Finn/Rachel - and then Puckurt are together like WHAT EVEN. 

Beyond that, they just had a lot of sweet moments people just ignored like okay, Kurt’s dad was in the hospital in a fucking coma and little sweet fucking Noah “Puck” Puckerman, knowing Kurt didn’t want to hear about people praying for his dad, FUCKING TOOK HIS NANA TO TEMPLE AND PRAYED FOR HIM SINCE HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO NOT HAVE A DAD AROUND!!! “MY BOY KURT!” THE BARBRA-VENTION TO STOP RACHEL’S NOSE JOB!!! THIS LAUGH!!! THE PARALLELS IN THEIR STORIES!!! “THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON, PUCKERMAN: TRUE LOVE”!!!!

And, again, I am all about the complementing dynamic. Bad boy Puck loosens up Ice Queen Kurt. The redemption of it all. Enemies to friends to lovers. God, I keep trying to make myself get over them but I know I never will.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Just the fact I still like it, probably? For what used to be the most popular Kurt ship, I’m sure it’s considered not cool to like it anymore. I mean, part of why I want to not ship it is, not just because I don’t want to be so attached to Glee, but because of what Mark Salling did/turned out to be. He’s scum and I had very much separated him from the character of Puck by the time he got arrested but STILL…

And now for the negative - I hate Klaine with a fiery passion

Why don’t you ship it? 

Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start, and then go from there with just (some) of my complaints (all of which and more could be found here lol)

Blaine calling Kurt unsexy (while knowing Kurt has a crush on him). Blaine saying Kurt was trying too hard with “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” when he’s way more over the top. Him saying he wouldn’t go for Tony in WSS and then SINGING ONE OF TONY’S SONGS FOR THE AUDITION. Him literally PULLING KURT DOWN AND TRYING TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM WHEN KURT SAID NO REPEATEDLY Kurt and then KURT had to apologize for not being his “gay bar superstar”!!! If that was a girl, we all know people wold’ve called it out for what it was. and I cannot believe people still shipped them after that.

Then you add in how Blaine flirted REPEATEDLY with Sebastian but got mad at Kurt for texting another guy, and  Blaine cheating on Kurt and getting mad that Kurt was spending time AT HIS JOB and not paying him attention? The fact that just a few weeks after he was in a gay bashing he was upset that Kurt had muscles and was seen as hot because that was his role? I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE SHIPPED THIS AND STILL SHIP THIS!! Like it seriously concerns me that people like them so much!!! I’m all for liking ships that aren’t morally okay but the fact that people who like them think they’re HEALTHY…I don’t get why they like them.

(it’s because they’re all hot for darren and used kurt as a self-insert, like, literally, that’s what all klaine fanfic turned into)

What would have made you like it?

I actually liked them at first, but I hated them by the time Blaine kissed Kurt. If they had kept with the dynamic of Blaine being this mentor/ally who helped him build his confidence…if he had stayed consistent to his “Never Been Kissed” personality, I would’ve been on board.

Despite not shipping it, do you have anything positive to say about it?

They still did my favorite version ever of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and it will forever be on my Christmas playlists. And, I discussed this recently with a friend, but, honestly, “Never Been Kissed” truly was a landmark episode for television no matter what Klaine turned into and no matter how much the quality of the show went down with it. 

Send me ships!

[queen-of-bel]

Naoya!

favorite thing about them: I flip flop a lot on what my favorite trait of Naoya is, and I think I have three that consistently are my "favorite":

How principled he is. In Yuzu's eighth day, after Metatron announces that YHVH is forsaking humanity, Naoya states that while he didn't anticipate this, he's still pleased nonetheless because he got his wish of YHVH abandoning humanity. If Kazuya became the overlord, Naoya would kill two birds with one stone, both freeing humanity from YHVH's ordeals and getting his personal revenge, but clearly he is still satisfied if only the former has been fulfilled.

His resourcefulness. I absolutely LOVED learning how the demon summoning program worked. Also, taking God's punishment and turning that around to kill God? 10/10

This man is so petty. Using Romans 3:1-10 in the demon summoning program's boot sequence? I still would kill to know how the devs found such a fitting verse in the bible for this game.

least favorite thing about them: I feel like it's cheating to say his outfit, but honestly? In terms of writing, I feel like Naoya is one of the few characters that I consider to be perfect. Everything about him is so well-explained, and his motivations/emotions are so heartbreaking and understandable.

favorite line: Yeah, I can't choose just one. For the sake of the game, I'll say this one, because I'm still in law route feels hell:

"As the Earth tender, I offered God my finest crops. But what God wanted was blood! ... That's why I killed you! I pierced your heart over and over, and offered Him blood!"

brOTP: Lokiiiii. This is still one of my fave things I've ever drawn:

OTP: me UHHH no one honestly this man is too fucked up for me to see him being in a relationship. Maybe in his next lifetime once his punishment is over.

nOTP: inc*st shippers dn-fucking-i.

random headcanon: I'm trying to think of a hc that I haven't posted here and I'm blanking. Gonna go with my fave one which is that sometime after Kazuya kills God, Naoya just disappears for a while. No one knows where he went, and nobody can get ahold of him. He actually took a secret trip to offer wheat once more, as a final cathartic release for all of that resentment.

unpopular opinion: I..... really don't know what's considered an unpopular opinion? So no clue T B H

song i associate with them: shoutout to @sirenshadows for finding what is now my fave Naoya song.

"Memories as heavy as a stone. Cain was angry. And he moved in a blood red fury. So now one brother's dead. And one brother's born"

favorite picture of them:

thank you for asking!!

[hello-robin-goodfellow]

FICTIONAL CHARACTER ASK: ROMEO MONTAGUE

TAGGED BY: @princesssarisa​

@ardenrosegarden​ @giuliettaluce​ @gravedangerahead​

Favorite thing about them: Oh my sweet boy, he is a sensitive poet that only wants to distance himself of violence and to share his love (for Juliet and for love itself) with the world.

Least favorite thing about them: That fact that when Tybalt kills Mercucio, he blames Juliet for “turning him affeminate” (weak) and decides to kill Tybalt in relation, believing this will prove that he is “man enough”. This obviously is the biggest mistake he ever commited.

Three things i have in common with them:

-His melancholy.

-I also can sometimes find dificult to communicate my true feelings to friends and relatives.

-I also love Juliet Capulet.

Three things i don’t have in common with them:

-Nobility status.

-Training to fight with a sword.

-I can’t improvise poetic dialogue the way he can. And i don’t have his french.

Favorite line:

“I fear, too early: for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night's revels and expire the term Of a despised life closed in my breast By some vile forfeit of untimely death”.

 “What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand Of yonder knight?

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night”.

“ If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss”. 

“But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night. See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek”!

 “She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head As is a winged messenger of heaven Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds And sails upon the bosom of the air”.

“ Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this”?

 “Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can, It cannot countervail the exchange of joy That one short minute gives me in her sight: Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then love-devouring death do what he dare; It is enough I may but call her mine”.

“Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy Be heap'd like mine and that thy skill be more To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue Unfold the imagined happiness that both Receive in either by this dear encounter”.

“This gentleman, the prince's near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf; my reputation stain'd With Tybalt's slander,—Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper soften'd valour's steel”!

“ This day's black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe, others must end”.

“Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now”!

“O, I am fortune's fool”!

“Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel: Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love, An hour but married, Tybalt murdered, Doting like me and like me banished, Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair, And fall upon the ground, as I do now, Taking the measure of an unmade grave”.

“ It was the lark, the herald of the morn, No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east: Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. I must be gone and live, or stay and die”.

“ Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death; I am content, so thou wilt have it so. I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye, 'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow; Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat The vaulty heaven so high above our heads: I have more care to stay than will to go: Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so. How is't, my soul? let's talk; it is not day”.

 “Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor: Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear As will disperse itself through all the veins That the life-weary taker may fall dead And that the trunk may be discharged of breath As violently as hasty powder fired Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb”.

“Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness, And fear'st to die? famine is in thy cheeks, Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes, Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back; The world is not thy friend nor the world's law; The world affords no law to make thee rich; Then be not poor, but break it, and take this”.

“I pay thy poverty, and not thy will”.

“There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murders in this loathsome world, Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell. I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none. Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh. Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee”.

“How oft when men are at the point of death Have they been merry! which their keepers call A lightning before death: O, how may I Call this a lightning? O my love! my wife! Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet3040 Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, And death's pale flag is not advanced there. Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? O, what more favour can I do to thee, Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain To sunder his that was thine enemy? Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet, Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe That unsubstantial death is amorous, And that the lean abhorred monster keeps Thee here in dark to be his paramour? For fear of that, I still will stay with thee; And never from this palace of dim night Depart again: here, here will I remain With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here Will I set up my everlasting rest, And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death! Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! Here's to my love”!

“O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die”.    

brOTP: With Mercucio and Benvolio.

OTP: With Juliet.

nOTP: With Rosaline, Benvolio, Mercucio and Tybalt.

Random Headcanon:

-His favorite colors are: blue, green, white and silver.

-His favorite fairy tale is Rapunzel.

-His favorite greek myth is the love story of Orpheus and Euridice.

-In a Modern Day Everybody Lives AU i made in collab with @giuliettaluce​, he becomes an English Lit and Poetry professor. To know more about it, read it here:

https://giuliettaluce.tumblr.com/post/617050378210590720/modern-headcanon-romeo-and-juliet

Unpopular Opinion: Yes, Leonard Whiting is a good actor and he was a very good casting choice for the role of Romeo in the 1968 movie. But the cuts of many of his lines, like the one where he thinks that killing Tybalt as a regaining of honor and his dialogue with the apotecary, tones the characters actual complexity and intelligence way, way down, and is the cause of the popular misconception that Romeo is an impulsive bratty teenager.

Song i associate with them: 

Flor, Minha Flor (Grupo Galpão), wich is the theme of Grupo Galpão’s montage of Romeo and Juliet: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koIO15cI-8Y

Favorite picture of them:

Sir Ian Holm, 1967

Dolhai Attila, 2001

Adetomiwa Edun, 2010 

Eduardo Moreira, 2012/13

Lucien Laviscount in the Still Star-Crossed series, 2017

[fedorasaurus]

For the questions about the character, could you do Nash, fang, and bison? Sorry if it’s too much, but thank you in advance

No problem! I enjoy discussing characters that I’m fond of.

Nash

favorite thing about them - I really, really like that they put a “face” to the “dead best friend” that Guile’s whole motivation revolves around in Street Fighter II. Making Charlie Nash a playable character in Street Fighter Alpha gives a whole other level to the lore beyond a vague relation to one man who would eventually avenge his murder. Both of them being real, lovable characters makes me appreciate them that much more, and puts that much greater of an emotional impact on Charlie’s death and resurrection.

least favorite thing about them - (THIS ANSWER CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE GENERAL STORY OF STREET FIGHTER V) It disappoints me that Charlie gets killed off in multiple games and other media. The first time is fine, but was it really necessary to bring him back in SFV, only to have him sacrifice himself at the end, to no avail? I understand that the plot is maybe going for a theme of the futility of seeking vengeance above all else, but it gets complicated when you consider that Charlie was pushed along as hard as he was by Kolin pressuring him to accomplish HER goals. I’d have preferred if they let him, you know, reunite properly with Guile and team up to fight Bison together, rather than him feeling obligated to take the challenge on alone. Let Nash live for once, eh, Capcom? There’s more to him than “dead best friend!”

favorite line - Shameful, but his “you nervous?” taunt gives me the shivers, bigtime.

brOTP - Hands down, his interactions with Rashid are so pure. A little one-sided due to Nash’s coldness during the story, but seriously, the way Rashid is so open and friendly to him despite having just met this grumpy undead man, it makes me want to see the two of them hanging out more. He’s good for his mental health!

OTP - GUILE GUILE GUILE GUILE I’ve been shipping GuileNash since I first ever got into the SF series with Street Fighter Alpha a million years ago. I love them so much, you wouldn’t believe. My heart melts over best friends in love!

nOTP - Charlie/Bison isn’t really my jam.

random headcanon - Nash and Guile have a lot of stupid inside jokes between them. When they reunited during the storyline of SFV, it was a reference to one of the jokes that made Charlie smile again for the first time in years.

unpopular opinion - I don’t know if this is unpopular or not, but I prefer his young, pretty look over his SFV zombie look with the greenish parts stitched on. I get it, he’s been resurrected, no need to drive the point home THAT hard with “Frankenstein’s monster” aesthetics! But, that said, his new look has grown on me quite a bit!

song i associate with them - Maybe Monster, by Starset, if we’re talking Street Fighter V era.

favorite picture of them - I commissioned this artwork of Captain Commando Nash from AirSlasher on Twitter a while back, and it turned out so damned good, I’ve used it as the background image on my tablet ever since:

(This post is getting long, so the others are going under a pagebreak!)

F.A.N.G

favorite thing about them - His whole… over-the-top 90′s villain shtick. His high-energy personality and screechy voice not unlike a squawking bird, it slays me!

least favorite thing about them - As much as he cracks me up, I got real uncomfortable when he started threatening the kid characters. Even if it was empty threats, come on, dude. You don’t threaten kids.

favorite line - “LORD BISON WAIT FOR MEEEEE!”

brOTP - I love his banter with the other Shadaloo bosses. Both Vega and Balrog have that fantastic family/rival dynamic going on with him.

OTP - F.A.N.G / M. Bison is really, really good, man. I have… fanfics.

nOTP - I’ve seen F.A.N.G / Rashid, and I understand that people started shipping them before there was actual story context to make it… bad… but yeah… I’m uncomfortable with that ship. I mean, I guess Rashid is a kind and forgiving dude, but it would take a lot in my eyes for that ship to be good for me. Rashid deserves someone who doesn’t gloat about hurting people he cares about.

random headcanon - The reason M. Bison is a sexy silver fox in SFV is because that’s F.A.N.G’s type. If he’s responsible for bringing the boss man back, he’s gotta have him looking his BEST.

unpopular opinion - M. Bison is technically the “big bad,” but honestly? F.A.N.G is the main antagonist of Street Fighter V.

song i associate with them - Nnnghh stupid and obvious answer, but Poison, by Alice Cooper (also the cover by Groove Coverage which is more my music style preference than the original, as great as AC is!)

favorite picture of them - No picture in particular, but I really like his Nguuhao outfit. He was cute when he was young and had long hair!

M. Bison

favorite thing about them - Sexy silver fox.

least favorite thing about them - He killed my favorite Street Fighter character at least once, so I can only enjoy him but so much!

favorite line - Not a specific line, but the time in SFA3 when he called Sodom a piece of trash and then suddenly became interested in fighting him when he said he wanted to show him his special moves was pretty great. It’s such a M. Bison thing to give a person the time of day when they offer to show him their strength, even if that person is a big goofy weeaboo who maybe isn’t entirely prepared to fight a supervillain, but who has a hell of a lot of heart.

brOTP - Depending on the continuity, I could definitely see him being bros with Zangief and/or Sagat!

OTP - F.A.N.G / Bison is still amazing, t-trust me guys.

nOTP - Bison/Nash, Bison/Guile, but also I really don’t ship Bison/Rolento at all anymore. I know I was big on that for a while, but man, I’m way more inclined nowadays to want the villains hook up with a loyal villain in their own faction, you know?

random headcanon - After possessing Rose’s body, M. Bison held onto some of her traits, such as a sense of fashion and a love of taking baths. Considering that they share a soul, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have overlapping interests despite being on opposite sides of moral alignment! (Anyway, he’d look amazing in her sort of fancy clothes, and also that stink man is in need of a bath, if you ask me)

unpopular opinion - I don’t want Tumblr’s rules to get on me about this, but let’s just say I see him as being the ah… submissive type, if you know what I mean!

song i associate with them - Uhhh maybe Telepathic by Starset? I’ve been listening to a lot of Starset lately. The songs that come to mind are usually from their albums!

favorite picture of them - Did you mean “the best M. Bison alt costume in the entire series?” We got ourselves a sexy silver fox in a low-cut leather suit with his tiddy out and everything. Does it get better than this?

Honorable mention: this part in the Street Fighter Animated Series:

[ramblinganthropologist]

Writober 2019 - 18 (Hurt/Comfort)

Setting: That Actor AU, Dragon Age II

Summary: Seriously, though... does that count as RPF?

---

Nothing like lunchtime in costume to create weird situations.

“Ugh, I need this thing off now.”

Briala grimaced as she grabbed her arm by the elbow and twisted. It went round a few times, and then popped out of the socket. She rotated her affected shoulder and sighed in relief as she placed the prosthetic on the table in front of her. It needed to charge anyway.

Across from her, Malcolm was also in costume with similar lack of fucks to give. At least this time neither of them were in armor. Talk about uncomfortable; she usually had to eat standing if they stopped at an armored scene. At least in Dragon Age plain clothes, she could sit.

Best of all? Her pants had pockets for her phone.

“We're dong that scene after lunch, so you better put it back in.” Malcolm was on his phone, stretched out in the chair so he could accommodate his larger frame. At the angle he was sitting, she couldn't see what he was reading. Part of her had hoped she could guess from the reflection coming off his head, but... no, that was just in comics.

She shrugged her shoulder and hopped into a chair to check her phone. “My shoulder is killing me. Damn thing is heavier than I remember.”

At least her phone was working. The last time she'd had it on, it had been open to one of her guilty pleasure websites. The jury was still out on if reading fanfiction about the character you played was considered weird, but she was pretty sure it was a bit off. Whatever, not like she had ever cared about what people thought. It tended to come with the territory when you were a one armed transgender gremlin.

Briala hummed as she scrolled through her fanfiction list. “Hey, question.”

“No you cannot use me to get better cell service.” Malcolm deadpanned as he kept doing whatever kept him glued to his phone. That caused the elf to roll her eyes and stick out her tongue. Not that he saw it – damn millennial kept looking at his phone.

Said the millennial. Briala was honest.

“No, I have a legit question.” She held her phone out, displaying the screen. “Would shipping Moses and Avery be considered RPF?”

Not that she did – that was her NOTP honestly. But still, did it count?

Malcolm didn't answer her query for a good minute. At least she got to watch as his face flashed through a number of emotions, the most major one being confusion. That was the one he settled on, eyebrows knit together.

“What?”

Briala nodded to her screen. “RPF. Real person fanfiction. I mean, they were both people, but we're also playing them and there's the Tale of the Champion and all. So are they characters or like... is it creepy?”

Malcolm's face journey only continued. “I'm... not sure. Why are you even looking for that?”

Because she was lonely and single and Avery Hawke had become something of a self insert for her in the last couple months?

She at least played it off with a one-armed shrug as she took her phone back. “Just curious I guess. I don't ship it. Moses was too gay for that.”

“You're damn right he was.” Was that a hint of pride in Malcolm's voice? “Is Champion stuff really that big in Database of Dreams?”

He had moved over, casting a shadow in order to look at the dirty details. Just because of that, Briala had to turn up the brightness on her phone screen. She probably would've been able to see it regardless,  but it was the thought that counted. He had human eyes, after all.

“I mean, Avery and Moses is kind of small. I fell ass first into that one. The canon stuff is obviously the most popular.” She paused, making a face herself now. “Again, can I even call this canon? Something feels weird about that.”

Navigating the waters of historical fiction crossed with biography was tricky, especially when it came to the fan-written smut penned centuries later. Briala had a feeling she probably should have been more concerned... but eh. They were all dead anyway.

“Not weird enough to keep from bookmarking a lot of Avery and Isabela, I noticed.” Malcolm had the ghost of a smirk on his face. “Which one is more popular, Moses and Fenris or Moses and Anders? And please don't tell me Cullen or Sebastian are popular.”

…

“Bri-”

“I'm not saying jack shit, dude.”

Yeah, awkward feelings all around on that one. People were weird. Like, there were better choices right the fuck there than Cullen of all people. Even centuries later, it was still clear what a massive douche the guy was. And she wasn't just saying that because she was a lesbian – she knew dicks when she saw one.

Malcolm shook his head at her reaction. “Wonderful. I can only imagine the horrors contained within those.”

“I can only imagine too because I don't read them, just judge them hardcore.” Briala kept scrolling. “And to answer your question, it's slightly edged towards Anders with some fluffy stuff and angst depending on who's writing the bird man. Fenris tends to have a lot of hurt-comfort stuff, but the fluff there is adorable.”

Made sense, given the two men's backgrounds and histories. If anyone deserved that particular genre, it was those two. Of course, H/C wasn't exactly her thing. When she wanted fanficiton, she went straight for the PWP.

No shame in the game – just good smut.

“Huh. Might have to check that out later.” He shot her a blank look. “If I get addicted to reading fanfiction about the character I play, I blame you.”

Briala chuckled as she put her phone back in her pocket. “Then you better blame Maria, because she's the one who got me started.”

“That... is surprising.” A timer went off in the background – they had to wrap things off before going back to filming. “Better put your arm back in.”

Her chuckle tuned to a groan. “Damn it, already? Feels like I just took the damn thing off.”

Back in went the arm, with the familiar pop that always caused her to shudder as the nerves connected. A few adjustments, and nobody would look too closely. Post production would cover the rest up, and then it would just be the annoying fans who minded.

And really, fuck them.

“Well, let's go pretend we didn't just read fanfiction about this scene.” Briala hopped up onto Malcolm's shoulders like a good little gremlin to get into character better. Together, the two of them headed back towards set and the rest of filming.

Later, maybe they would share recommendations with each other. While she hadn't worked with the man for very long, she had a good feeling his taste wasn't total shit. At least he wouldn't be sending her Moses and Varric.

Now that was just crack.

[i-will-be-your-krantt]

Oh my god Kassandra for the niche asks

Oh shite you’ve discovered my weakness - talking about my bisexual god Kassandra. (It wasn’t a very well-kept secret, but still.) So YAAAS thank you.

There might be tiny spoilers bellow, sorry.

Send me a character and i’ll tell you…

A song that reminds me of them:

I know I know it’s about a man and his boat but listen, the chorus especially is such a damn mood for Kassandra on the Adrestia.

‘’You should have turned back sooner,Cause the Reach it owns this bay, And you can’t out run her and you can’t outgun her,And you know you’re gonna pay!’’

What they smell like:

The smell of the ocean clings to her hair like she’s known nothing but a life at sea. The scent of salt, sweat, and the oil used to light the fires aboard her ship can follow her around for days after coming ashore for a contract. While on land she normally smells of weapon oil, blood, smoke, and the earth. Unless she’s spent a lot of time recuperating in a village, or crouched in a field of flowers waiting for a target that is.

An otp:

Kassandra and Brasidas. (Or Alexios with Brasidas, but Kass is pretty much it for me and I love him as Deimos.) Ubisoft truly did us a dirty when they decided to not include Brasidas as a romance option.

A notp

Kaspasia. No. Just, NO. I don’t usually have notps, because it’s all about circumstances, you know? Two characters that had nothing at all in common in canon can get on like a house on fire in a canon-divergence fic. I can read and enjoy pretty much anything that is well written. Aspasia however, deserves to get Sparta-kicked off a mountain and nothing will convince me otherwise. (Except… maybe in a Good!Aspasia fic. Like ‘’I only joined the cult to bring it down from the inside, but now I’m too far up the ladder to get out without being discovered as a mole and the woman of my dreams is currently stabbing her way through Greece to find out who I am gods help me’’ AU… ah fuck. See? I cannot do it. I will always find a circumstance that works.)

Favorite platonic/familial relationships:

Barnabas. Kass would tear through rock barehanded to get at whoever hurt her pseudo-dad/uncle. Barnabas is the best thing that ever happened to her, he’s the family she chose along with Phoibe and Herodotos. They and her girls aboard the Adrestia is home now.

Phoibe. My child. My baby. My precious little one. Every time I got to see her on screen my heart filled with warmth, my pores cleared, the birds sang and my crops prospered. Phoibe is Kassandra’s adopted daughter and you will pry that headcanon out of my cold. dead. hands.

Deimos. What’s not to like? He’s such a little shit and I love him. Best little brother ever. Plus, depending on where you travelled from this interaction is fucking hilarious. I completed several naval contracts and killed three cultists on my way to that island. (Not to mention all the wildlife I offed once I got to shore.) I literally left a trail of sunken ships and general mayhem in my wake and his deadpan ‘’why are you like this?’’ stare in this screenshot is giving me life.

A headcanon that is popular in the fandom but that i disagree with:

That Aspasia has a soul, I guess? Pfft nah, I’m not sure to be honest. So far I haven’t come across a hc that I disagree with. But headcanons are usually for the creator’s own enjoyment so if I ever saw one I disliked I probably just scrolled past and forgot it.

The position they sleep in:

Sprawled out on whatever soft bedding she could get her hands on before passing out. I’m talking starfish meets octopus, a staropus hybrid. Whatever is closest will get absolutely smothered if they’re not careful. However Kassandra is a very light sleeper that has always got her hand holding on to that broken spear. Usually hidden underneath her pillow or cradled like a baby to her chest in its sheath. For stabby reasons. But also because it’s one of the only things that makes her feel safe outside of her room on the Adrestia.

A crossover au i’d love to see them in:

Odyssey+Hercules… because of that Medusa episode. Let her romance the snake lady pls. I am begging you ubisoft. It’s Ancient Greece! She’s Bi! Let her smooch Medusa.

My favorite outfit they’ve ever worn:

These two are my absolute favorites so far in the game. I’ve tried but I can’t decide which I like best so here have two:

[jojotier]

I have a one-track mind so talk abt my boy Ogata a little more :3c

A bastard and yet………….. a bastard whom has some of my heart,

Favorite Thing: Canon-wise, my favorite thing about him is definitely how driven he is- and by God, is he driven. No matter how much flack I might give him for not seeming to have an outstanding character motivation, whatever that motivation is, he has an outstanding amount of drive in getting there. The multiple betrayals show that, but so do all the times that Ogata puts things aside to attempt to work with others, including Sugimoto’s group or eating with their group and Hijikata’s. Plus, his respect of the elderly is really sweet!

Now as a character, my favorite thing is simply how versatile he is to write! Like with most other characters, for aus you have to put them in roles tailored to fit them. Tsukishima can take the role of a reluctant final boss who gives the protagonists the chance to escape fairly, but never the role of the big bad threatening the cosmos with a black hole in his skull. Sugimoto can take the form of an immortal who’s fallen in love with humanity and love for humans itself, but never the role of a needlessly violent criminal who would go out of his way to harm defenseless people. With Ogata, you can honestly stick him in almost any role, provided you do enough tweaking to his backstory and/or end goal to pursue! It makes it easy when you’re building up an au, and his internal monologue is just generally hilarious. That, and I’m a sucker for easy angst, from time to time…

Least Favorite thing: Every single fucking time he spouts psuedo-intellectual bullshit I lose some of my domestication. “There’s no such thing as god”, “no one is untouched by sin” yea bitch we been knew!!! My 11 year old sister said these things while t-posing the other night before playing roblox it’s not that goddamn serious. He has the philosophies of every male screenwriter talking about how their indie movie is different because the main male character just feels like he doesn’t fit in, you know, like he’s just different and sees the world different from all the sheeple in the world. Probably would wear hipster scarf and glasses combo too. 

Favorite Line: “Think I can cut a line from your asscrack to your asscrack chin to make a full body asscrack?” or something to that effect. He’s so fucking ridiculous. Especially when he tries to be edgy hvkuhvf

brOTP: Ogata and gun. Next

OTP: In canon, I can’t see anyone with him- as he is now, the dude is totally, wholly unempathetic of other people. He needs to do something about the mess that is Himself before he even looks in the vague direction of a romantic relationship. OUTSIDE of canon though? I’m a super strong proponent of Ogata and Tanigaki, just because they both balance out well and because Tanigaki is the only shooter ever to Best Ogata in a sniper battle in Golden Kamuy. I truly believe that outside the confines of canon, Ogata’s begrudging respect of Tanigaki’s skill as a hunter and soldier could bloom into something more…

nOTP: OSugi, though it didn’t always use to be that way. Back before Abashiri, when Ogata had a fighting chance of being with the group, I could maybe begrudgingly see it happening. But after Abashiri and the shit he pulled in Karafuto? It’s a hard no from me chief, because let’s face it… after this, Asirpa won’t want anything to do with Ogata. Since Sugimoto’s with her, neither will he. The only reason he saved Ogata was for Asirpa’s sake, and Ogata may just hate him even more for going out of his way to make Ogata’s worldview false, by not letting Asirpa kill him, as if divine intervention were keeping her “Pure”.

Random Headcanon: His Granny absolutely fucking hated people. I headcanon her as a bitter old bitch who was constantly talking about people behind their backs and who went shooting for fun. She hated everyone- except her little grandson, quiet little Hyakunosuke, whom she coveted more dearly than the world itself. He would bring her “gifts” (dead birds) often as a child, and though she often was too busy working to accept them all, she made sure to sit down and cook one of Ogata’s birds with him at least once a week. I feel as though even though his Granny wasn’t around as much as she’d have liked to have been, Ogata knew she loved him, and in turn loved her dearly back. Plus, knowing he was the absolute only one his Granny loved was a great ego boost, and might have played into his view that people (particularly seemingly Worthy people, like Sugimoto) are interchangeable with himself.

Unpopular Opinion: If you got hot and bothered by the eyesucking scene in 188, I’m sorry to break it to you, but you’re into eye vore now. That is literally all I could see with that scene. I actually didn’t find the scene sexual at all- if anything, it was just uncanny and mildly disturbing, especially since I have a little squeamishness about Things Being Near The Eyes, much less a mouth.

Song I Associate with Him: This Ain’t a Scene, It’s a God Damn Arms Race by Fall Out Boy. It’s edgy already (a plus for Ogata!), but the central theme of “fuck everything up for the hell of it” fits with what I think the central motivation of Ogata’s character may be, lol

Favorite Image: Hm…. this reminds me of a simpler time……… a time when I used to stan Ogata

[alewyren]

final fantasy!

I wasn’t sure if I should include Bravely Default or not because ohhh man I have some fuckin Thoughts, so I’ll just do one for mainline FF and one for Bravely Default.

The first character I first fell in love with: 

Tidus left a strong impression on me as a kid due to the way FFX ended, and I still really like him, but I wouldn’t say I was ever in love with him. On the other hand, Fang from FFXIII turned me gay.

The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: 

Kuja, I think? As much as I will maintain that he is the objective best FF villain until the day I die, and as much as that outfit is IC for him, it’s still, uh. Not good. It’s not even that it’s too feminine, it’s just fucking ugly, lmao. Doesn’t make for a great first impression. But god fucking damn, he is very, very good. Maybe at some point I’ll whip up a meta about him, but I’m not sure what to say that hasn’t been covered already.

The character everyone else loves that I don’t: 

Sephiroth. He’s got a cool design, a great theme song (those chosen by the planet, not one winged angel), and a phenomenally intimidating presence. But the thing is, as far as FF7 itself is concerned, he’s barely a character. He’s long dead by the time of the game and exists only as an echo of the past and a manifestation of Cloud’s psychological problems. By the end, he’s more Jenova (who herself is more a force of nature than a character) than himself imo. He works because of what he represents, and the mystery surrounding him, not because of who he is. Hailing him as the “best FF villain” misses the point. I feel like Squeenix themselves don’t get what was great about Sephiroth, since we keep getting these immensely fucking bland villains like Vayne, Caius, and Ardyn that are clearly trying to recapture the Sephiroth magic by focusing on the cool factor or the relationship with the protag or whatever when none of that is why Sephiroth worked in FF7 to begin with.

The character I love that everyone else hates: 

Vanille. Yeah the English voice direction was awful, yeah the noises she makes when riding her eidolon are immensely fucking uncomfortable, but she’s actually a really interesting character who deserved more time to shine, and I maintain that she should have been the protag of FF13 rather than Pink Squall. Since she has like, y’know, a much more direct hand in the entire plot of the goddamn game.

The character I used to love but don’t any longer: 

uuuuuuuhhh I really don’t know. Maybe Kain. I used to think he was the shit but now I’m just like “haha, mr. friendzone at it again.” Or maybe Cloud, thanks to Advent Children taking a steaming dump on his personality in the name of fanservice.

The character I would totally smooch: 

FANG. SHE IS SO FUCKING HOT GOOD LORD I’M GAY. Also Rydia. Uh, adult Rydia, that is.

The character I’d want to be like: 

Fang is pretty goals, but she’s a bit more butch than I personally see myself, haha. Maybe Celes, sans heterosexuality and poor taste in dudes. She’s very cool, strong, and sexy.

The character I’d slap: 

Squall I guess? Cheer Up Emo Kid!

A pairing that I love: 

Kuja/Terra! I’d toyed with the idea before thanks to Dissidia 012, but NT sold me forever. There are a lot of reasons these two work so well, the most important being that their interactions are absolutely fucking precious. The reason he freed her from Kefka’s control in the first place, apart from wanting to stick it to the asshole clown, was because he empathized with her, but when she thanked him later he downplayed the hell out of it. Terra genuinely tries to reach out to him, and he’s receptive, but aloof, and acts so theatrical about it (”If that is what Her Highness wishes.”) It’s… cute? Like, they’re both pretty damn emotionally stunted due to their, uh, irregular upbringings, and there’s so much potential there! *slams fists on table* GIVE ME MORE

A pairing that I despise: 

Come to think of it, I don’t think I have a single genuine notp in the entire Final Fantasy franchise. Even ships I don’t really care for, like Cecil/Rosa, Locke/Celes or Wakka/Lulu, I wouldn’t say I hate them, just think they’re lame and poorly written. I guess Kuja/Zidane? Yeah, yeah, I know, rich as fuck coming from me, but I just don’t like them romantically at all. The most important reason being that they’re ugly as sin together.

and now, the bravely default hot takes nobody asked for but that I will rant about at literally any given opportunity.

The first character I first fell in love with: 

EDEA!!! I love her SO MUCH! She’s an adorable, precious ENTJ child who’s so headstrong, but naive, and so endearing. Her design (in the first game–blue is not her color) is great, and she has some of the best class outfit designs as well. She’s also the main melee bulk of the party, which I find immensely refreshing in a franchise where the girls are usually mages or rogues. 

Her character arc is pretty basic, sure, but it works. For starters, she’s the best handled rebellious princess I’ve seen, in that she just flat out turns on Eternia–everything she’s ever known–with scarcely a second thought. Not because she feels trapped by the burdens of being royalty or whatever, she’s just stubborn and willful and has an iron sense of right and wrong that she’s willing to fight for above all else. Which, I mean, yeah, evil empire, but it’s not that simple. Which is why her arc is about reconciling with the fact that it isn’t all black and white, and embracing her role as eventual queen of Eternia. 

The writing is pretty hamfisted, what with her literally calling things “black and white,” but she’s 15, so I’ll give it a pass. Yeah, I know the American version aged her up to make the fanservice shit less gross, but it doesn’t really work when her character is about overcoming her childish worldview, lol. Like, she’s a babbu. You can’t just change a number and make her less babbu. Her theme song is literally called “Baby Bird.” Maybe just don’t fucking sexualize characters who are meant to be read as childish in the first place? She deserved so much better than the writing she got in Bravely Second, which I’ll… get to later, but she was still an absolute delight. Did I mention she’s also hilarious? “Oops, my foot slipped.” “You just DROPKICKED ME!”

The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: 

Yew. I mean, I don’t love him as much as Edea, but Bravely Second was kind of a hot mess, if fun, and his arc pleasantly surprised me. He kind of had a similar arc as Edea in the first game, but in the opposite direction. Over the course of the game he gradually overcame his rich, upper class nerd privilege worldview and became Woke ™, and then used his privilege to help people. By contrast, Edea still had to go through the journey of getting past her simplistic worldview, but whereas she was quick to recognize the fact that her world was wrong and had to learn not to see things in extremes, Yew had to work to claw his way outside of that box in the first place. The plot twist about his brother was obvious as hell but like, whatever, it was fun. His mask didn’t even cover that much of his face, how did he not know,

The character everyone else loves that I don’t: 

Tiz. He’s boring, not much else to say there. Except, his design in Bravely Second had me excited as hell because he looks so emo and ow the edge and I was really excited to see what they were gonna do with him, but his personality is… exactly the same as the first game? Why bring him back at all? For that matter, why kill him off in the first place? I know they were going for some meta shit, but like… why?

The character I love that everyone else hates: 

Airy, but idk if that counts because I love her for precisely the reasons everyone else hates her. Even if I think the good end should have been obtained by seeing through her ruse and blowing up the crystals rather than just going along with what she says and repeating the same fucking sequence of bosses over and over…

The character I used to love but don’t any longer: 

Ringabel. Mainly for shipping reasons and because I’m increasingly exhausted with the whole chivalrous pervert trope, especially when Edea was very much underage in the first game, lmao. He’s a good character objectively speaking, but a lot of his potential wasn’t capitalized on and I still don’t get how Alternis did a complete 180 from his brooding initial personality, to… that. Or why there were AU Ringabels in the ending sequence of the first game when I thought the whole point was that he was a spanner in the works who shouldn’t have been part of the party in the first place, and that’s how they managed to foil Airy? Or, it should have been, if they didn’t literally just go along with what she said until the end despite his very clear warnings that she was up to some shady shit. The final stretch of Bravely was a fucking trainwreck, nothing new there.

The character I would totally smooch: 

Edea. But like, a forehead smooch, because she’s a babbu. Though she is 18 for real this time in Second, isn’t she? And she’s matured considerably by then too… hrm.

The character I’d want to be like: 

Edea post-character development. She’s got her shit together, and she’s still strong-willed, outgoing, and adorable as all hecke.

The character I’d slap: 

Yulyana. Fuck the quirky pervert trope, seriously. It’s not funny, it’s never been funny, and it never will be funny.

A pairing that I love: 

Well, Agnes/Olivia is the only pairing that I straightforwardly ship, and I’ll never not be mad that they just, like. Forgot about Olivia in the final stretch of the game. Like they really just killed her off for shock value, huh? Okay Sure.

I like Edea/Alternis a lot too, but it’s complicated. Reading through D’s Journal during a blind playthrough left way more of an impact on me than Ringabel’s dumb flirting, but they definitely have a lot of shit to work through before they get together. They obviously both genuinely care about each other, though Edea’s got other shit on her plate to worry about rather than Alternis being a lovelorn, emo weirdo. But like, he’s not only so emotionally distant from her despite his feelings that she doesn’t even know what his face looks like, but he’s got a weird possessive streak towards her? It might be a translation thing but the phrasing “I would have taken you as my wife” is a bit. Iffy. Especially considering a. the age gap and b. she outranks him. Of course she’s having none of this shit, but I do like the idea of them both maturing, actually bonding like human beings, and getting together when they’re older, ie: when Edea is queen and Alternis has learned to accept his fate as a permabottom. Childhood friend loyalty kink is my passion, and like, while Edea is very much a take charge no nonsense lady, she struggles with personal relationships and emotions. They both do, and that’s why their relationship is so complicated and interesting. I’d love to read slowburn of them.

A pairing that I despise: 

Rindea. But wait, you say! Didn’t you just write a whole paragraph on how you like Altdea? Well, yes. I do stand by that, and I enjoy the ship because of its problems rather than in spite of them. Rindea is. Not that. While Altdea is  a flawed relationship that I’d love to see mature into something functional along with the characters themselves, Rindea is a disgustingly written trainwreck that shits on all that potential, as well as Edea’s entire fucking character, constantly.

I don’t hate the very idea of these two as an item. The problem is how badly said item is written. Even though Rindea has the same problematic base as Altdea, which is treated as flawed, it just completely fucking glosses over all of that, everything that actually makes their relationship interesting, in favor of generic hetero pervy slap slap kiss tsundere bullshit. Yes, Ringabel’s feelings for her run deeper than that, but that’s basically all that their dynamic, their actual interactions, amount to. And for some reason she’s into it? Like, I’m sorry, but fucking when and why did she develop feelings for him? Was it before or after she learned about his true identity? Is it because he’s Alternis or in spite of it? Hell, how did she feel about that revelation in the first place? All of that is very much worth addressing, but they LITERALLY NEVER DO.

Did she just secretly like his annoying flirting all along because no obviously means yes? Like, Ringabel still fucking carries all the baggage associated with being Alternis but the game doesn’t give a fuck! It’s overbearing and weird when Alternis comes onto Edea, but when Ringabel does it it’s peak romance! He loves her so it’s okay! And we don’t know anything about Edea’s feelings for him because the game just never fucking goes into it! It’s just assumed that she must like him back! Hey, here’s a thought! Maybe if Ringabel actually loves her so much he could respect her feelings and lay the fuck off! Oh wait, no means yes, right. And don’t even get me started on Bravely Second, jesus fucking christ. You seriously mean to tell me that, according to Yoko, my girl’s only personal damage is being tfw no bf? Nothing about the stress of ruling a nation or any of her other relationships? Nothing even about how her feelings for Ringabel might actually be more fucking complicated than dokidoki take me with you ringabel kun? Absolutely Fucking Disgusting.

Listen. I like problematic ships, but Rindea is just fucking bad, and it’s made worse by the fact that canon thinks it’s good. At this point they’ve missed so many opportunities to actually expand meaningfully on Edea’s side of the relationship that it’s a lost fucking cause and I want it to die in a fire. Good lord I hate this ship and it’s exhausting being an Edea main when it’s the entire fandom’s OTP. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

I ranted more about this ship as well as the other canon Bravely ships in this post and will probably do so again when presented the opportunity.

[zerogender-onlyswag]

For the ask the bird mom pearl

Yay I got TWO!!!

Fav thing: Her VOICE. Bitch can sing

Least fav thing: I know she can’t help it but her obsession with Rose drives me bonkers

Favorite line: (honestly she’s got a lot of funny one liners, but..): “You always SAY you’re going to be the crocodile and then you never commit!!”

brOTP: Pearl and Connie!!! I love the teacher-turned-friend dynamic they have

OTP: Pearlmethyst all day everyday

Notp: I’m probably going to get shit for this but Rose and Pearl and Mystery Girl and Pearl. No matter what angle I approach it from I have trouble seeing Pearl’s relationship with Rose as healthy and liking a random stranger because she looks like your dead ex is also not healthy

Random headcanon: (this a little nsfw…): Pearl is WAY kinkier than she lets on but is kinda uncomfortable about it. Amethyst digs it

Unpopular opinion: sorta covered it with the Notp, but Pearl’s relationship with Rose is and was unhealthy and unintentionally toxic for Pearl.

Song I associate with them: Hmmm kind of a lot but mostly only with my headcanons and my ship and not a lot for her specifically, outside of her songs in the show.

Favorite picture: the whole progression of faces she makes when Amethyst is a horse.

[cathcacen]

100 writer's prompts: assign each of the prompts (or most, if you get sick of it) to a pair of our RP kids!

Took a while, but boy has this been fun! A HUNDRED MINI DRABBLES AND JUST AS MANY HEADCANONS.

Some have been replaced from the GDocs file I shared before, to better spread around the character love! And I’m sure there’ll be edits in the morning when I’m awake. XD

Enjoy!

1. “You said it’sus against the world.”Lars and Arlais |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Youkeep saying it’s us against the world, but you’re wrong.” The tempers areflaring, and she knows she’ll regret it in the morning but daddy’s dead and shehas no time for self-serving indignance. Arlais is red in the face, fistsclenched as he bears down upon her, and she straightens to her full height toglare straight back. “You’re wrong, because we are the world. All of usare the world – me, and Mae, and everyone else in that house on the hill. Ifyou want to stand on the opposite end of the world that daddy built, be myguest, but don’t drag me into your shit.”

2. “You’re myperson.”Mae and Lars |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’sdown at the creek on her favourite rock, lying on her back with her fingers inthe water when he finds her. He wades across and flicks some water in her face,and she laughs, wriggling over to make room for him. “You okay?” He nudges herelbow once he settles by her side. The others are still laughing and chattingat his farewell dinner. “You ran out of there pretty fast.”

“Yeah.”She turns her head to face him, curls brushing her temple. “Just needed someair. You should be packing – you’re leaving in three days.”

“Iknow.” He shuts his eyes and lets out a breath. It’s nice by the river, withthe cool water and the crisp air and leaves flicking lazily overhead. “I justwanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Hm?”Her voice lilts a bit.

Hesmiles broadly. “You’re my person. Gotta make sure I leave you laughing andsmiling, right? It’s the last I’ll see of you for a year after all.”

3. “I’m flirtingwith you.”Kaunis and Lear |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He’sso damn unattainable, but she’s had him on her mind for weeks now. They’d had acommunal sparring session that day, and the way he’d moved had gotten her allhot and bothered. Eala had laughed at her for it afterwards, but she knows thatbitch has tried before. I’ll succeedwhere she failed.

Shewaits until he’s alone before sidling up to him. He looks a little wary, butshe carries on the conversation, content with his awkward, mulish responses.Eventually, she gives up and goes on the offensive. “Four, you really aredense, aren’t you? I’m flirting with you.”

Heraises a brow at her, and she rolls her eyes. Then she kisses him, and tries togrope for gold – and it isn’t until he throws her off with a yell and stalksaway that she realises he must prefer men after all.

4. “I can protectmyself!”Taranis and Lear |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Theyelling permeates the halls and corridors of the keep, waking half theinfirmary and sending the soldiers into an amused frenzy. “FOR GODS’ SAKELIEUTENANT, I CAN LACE UP MY OWN BRACERS AND I CAN DAMN WELL PROTECT MYSELFTOO.”

5. “You own me.”Lochi and Kyri |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Don’t ask myopinion when you’re just going to do what you want.The vixen’s voice is sharp in his head – his familiar is clearly angry at him.He chuckles softly, reaching out, and is glad to find she isn’t too proud topress her head into his palm. “Of course I’d listen. After all, you practicallyown me.”

6. “What the hellare you doing?”Rei and Ora | RaindropPendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP |OT3 | FamTP |

She doesn’t expect tofind anyone home, but a few soft clinks from Lear’s study alerts her to hispresence. They share a wall, so when he doesn’t respond to her tap with their predeterminedknock, her suspicion is aroused. It’s Ora she finds seated at his desk, wide-eyedand panicked at being caught. “DON’T COME IN HERE.”

“What the hell are youdoing?” The two have been feuding for weeks. Lear had spent days hunting actualdemons, terrorising the huntress with rubbery bits of skin after, and Ora hadretaliated by replacing all his pants with tight, bright-red leggings. “Youaren’t going to set his study on fire, are you? Because we kind of need a roofover our heads, and if it spreads…”

“Not his study.” Orashakes a small leather bag, grinning. “Just his ass. I’ll buy you a new chairafter this, I promise.”

She stares at the huntressfor several short seconds before deciding it isn’t worth the trouble talkingher out of this. “Be careful you don’t touch your face after you dust his seat.”

7.“Just look at me!”Taranis and Lear | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP|

He’shad a big fall and the world is swimming, but when the nearby footsteps giveway to the shape of a person he recognises, he can’t help but be relieved. Learsteps into his line of vision, and he’s just about to call out to the man whena flash of colour causes him to flinch.

“Justlook at me.” Lear tugs off his eyepatch, fully revealing the bright red orbthat gleams where his left eye should be. He watches, horrified, as theLieutenant digs around in the socket, and struggles to scrabble away when thething is offered to him. “Come on, drink up, Captain.”

Hecan’t help it. He screams.

8.“Why did you do this?”Taranis and Lear | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP|

He’sread and re-read the note so many times, and it’s been passed around just asmuch, so the little scrap of paper is well crumpled by now. His hand tremblesas he throws it at Lear where he currently lies – wounded, exhausted, andcovered in stings from Cydaea herself. “You piece of shit.” He’s trying very hard,but knows the shouting is inevitable. “WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!”

9. “How could you? I trusted you.”Taranis and Heulan | Raindrop Pendants| OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He can’t quitebelieve Heulan has this kind of violence in him, but there they are anyway, themonk a force of righteous fury. He grunts as Heulan shoves him up against thewall, and struggles to shake him off - the monk is stronger than he looks. Whatthe hell?

“How could you?”Heulan’s voice is raised - just enough to be heard, but nowhere near full-blownyelling. Somehow, the alternative is less scary. “I TRUSTED YOU!”

10. “I’m done withyou.”Ora and Lear | Raindrop Pendants | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“DAMN IT, LEAR!” She’sshouting too loudly and it’s rude, she knows, but one way or another, this isthe last time Lear pulls a fast one on her. “I thought the damned poison spikeswere bad enough but this is downright juvenile! I’m done with you and yourArreat War tapestries. You’re so disrespectful!”

He smirks at fromwhere he sits at the breakfast table, sipping tea. She wants to slap his face. “You’rethe one who keeps calling them demon skins. Who’s disrespectful now?”

11. “Stop pushingme away.”Theron and Ora | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP|

He’s never seen hiswife as despondent, nor his daughter as petulant. It hurts him in ways he’dnever expected to be hurt. A few months following her move across the countrywith her new husband fresh out of high school, he takes the car and drives toher. When she opens the door, eyes wide and startled, he reaches out to grabhis daughter and relishes in her warmth as he wraps both arms about her. “Youhave to stop pushing me away.” His voice is hard, but he needs her tounderstand. “Baby, we just want the best for you.”

12. “I can’t dothis without you.”Lars and Mae | RaindropPendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Thewind is turbulent about them, tugging strands of hair from the thick bun atopher head. Where they stand, high upon the edge of the waterfall, she can seethe edges of the forest, and the silhouette of Westmarch further to the South.In stark contrast to her own uncertainty, Mae is standing right at the edge,laughing, arms thrown up as he greets his friends. When he turns to her, hiseyes are bright, and he stretches out a hand, willing her to follow. “Come on,Lars! I can’t do this without you.” He pauses, then shakes his head quickly.“Okay, I can, but it won’t feel the same, so trust me? Take the leap with me?”

13. “This ‘lifething’ is meaningless without you.”Mae and The Great Natural Wonder that is Sanctuary| Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hecan feel the salt of the sea on his face, the wind in his hair and the firewithin. The earth beneath his feet pulses, and he can feel it all, the vibranceand life of the world around him. A little bird sings a song in a branchoverhead. He takes a deep breath and lets out a contented sigh. What kind of life would we live without youall? He knows the answer well. It wouldn’tbe life at all.

14. “Please smile.I need you to smile.”Lars and Mae | RaindropPendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Shehadn’t meant to start crying. In retrospect, it was somewhat embarrassing, butonce she’d started she couldn’t stop. She’d fallen down chasing after anelusive white hare with Mae, torn her dress, and scraped her knee. Mommy’s going to shout at me.

There’sblood and sand clinging off the broken skin of her knee, and Mae is flailing infront of her in a frenzy, eyes wide in panic. “Don’t cry, Lars!”

Sheshakes her head at him, covering her face with her hands. Part of her wonderswhy Mae isn’t laughing at her – most of the bigger children laugh when thebabies cry, but Mae is all kindness and warmth. She lets out a shocked breath whenhe kneels, grabs both her hands, and presses gentle kisses to her bruised,bloodied knee. “Please smile? I need you to smile.”

Shegulps down some air. It still stings, but she smiles for him, and he holds herhand the entire walk home.

15. “You know thatyou don’t own me , right?” Strahan and Sehrai |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Youdon’t get to make decisions for me. I’m not your wife. I’m not even your girlfriendanymore.” Sehrai brushes past him, and he watches her disappear into theSouthbound ferry. He waits until the ferry has departed, saying the goodbyes inhis mind. Did I love her? He doesn’tknow – but it doesn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.

16. “Let me go!”Ora and Ceth | RaindropPendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP|

Thelittle boy laughs as she tackles him into the grass. His legs are shorter, soit isn’t hard to catch up to him. Still, she knows he likes when she at leastpretends to have a hard time chasing, so she gives him a head start. Shepretends to gnaw at his shoulder as her hands tickle his side. “I’m gonna eatyou!”

Cethwriggles, breaking out into fits of laughter as he struggles, and fails tothrow her off. “Let me go! Ma!”

After,when she’s done tickling him into submission, they lay together, his head uponher chest. He snuggles closer, stifling a yawn, and she holds him closer. “Ilove you, baby.” She smiles into his soft hair. “I love you so much, you know?”

He’shalf asleep, but manages to respond. “I know. I love you too, ma.”

17. “I didn’t knowyou were a stalker.”Strahan and Silene |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hefinds her out in the open in a tree, legs swinging off a high branch. There’sbeen too much fighting as of late – among the soldiers and among the people athome, so he’s eager to get this weight off his chest, at the very least. Hestrides right up to her tree. She ignores him, and he leans back against thetree trunk, sighing tiredly.

“Ididn’t know you were a stalker.” Thankfully, she doesn’t sound irritated. Giventhe way their last conversation had gone, he’s grateful for it. “I thought I did all the stalking.”

“Youstalk things to kill, though.” He shuts his eyes and pinches the bridge of hisnose – the headache isn’t helping. “So I’d rather you didn’t stalk me.”

18. “I’m nevergoing to do this again!”Ora and Heulan | RaindropPendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Thenurses and obstetrician swim in and out of focus as she braces herself to push.Everything hurts, and even though Heulan’s stuck to his promise, to wear thatstupid-ass T-Shirt she’d printed for him weeks ago, she finds no relief inhumour. He’s there, though, laughing through his tears as he holds her hand andkisses her forehead. By now, her mother and father will be on the way, ready towelcome their first grandchild into the world.

Onlygrandchild, if she has her way. “I’M NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN!” The shriek echoesin the room, drawing a nervous laugh from her husband even while the doctorsettles in between her legs. “FUUUUUUUUUUUCK!”

19. “What’s wrongwith you?”Rei and Ora |Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

“Holyshit, Ora.” She finds the redhead crouched in a corner, whimpering like a baby.It happens once in a while – Ora frequently gets into unsavoury situations,with the worst of them requiring actual medical attention. “What’s wrong withyou this time?”

Oralets out a shrill, pained cry. “We were hiking and I took a pee, and I think Ihave poison oak where nobody should have poison oak. HELP ME!”

20. “I wanted to makesure you were okay.”Ora and Erika | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She hadn’t expectedto find their young housekeeper crying in her bathroom, but she’s fond of thegirl, so the sight is more than troubling. “Erika, what’s wrong?” Ora kneels bythe edge of the bathtub, where the pretty, dark-haired woman is currentlysitting, wiping at her running eyeliner. “Hey, talk to me. What’s wrong?”

Erika sniffles, herface blotchy and pink - a mixture of embarrassment and shame. “Nothing.”

She hands the youngwoman her soda, patting her lightly on the back. “Either your boss is givingyou hell, or your boyfriend is. And I know I’m an amazing boss, so if you needme to go beat up your boyfriend, just say the word.”

“N-no, Miss Ora. I’mokay.” Erika holds the soda glumly, looking down at her feet. She manages afaint smile after -  it’s a little odd, but she shrugs it off. It’s a personalsubject after all.

“I just want to makesure you’ll be okay, so… call me anytime, okay?” She pats the young woman’shand lightly, then straightens. “Go home. I’ll finish cleaning up for the day.”

21. “Can I stay?”Heulan and Delessa |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Itwouldn’t be proper, but the judgment of men is nothing to the truth presentedbefore the gods. The woman before him is crying, and clearly in need of afriend. He rights his robes and sits down on a chair, and waits it out. Whenshe stops, clearly embarrassed, he beams at her. “Can I stay? I’ll cook us somedinner, and we can talk.”

22. “It’s you. It’salways been you.”Ethan and Lear | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hedoesn’t know why it hasn’t occurred to him in their three months of therapy,but it’s all suddenly clear to him. His brother-in-law sets down afreshly-brewed cup of tea, and his mind is instantly pulled back to that day inRei’s apartment – artisanal spiced tea, individually bagged with whole cinnamonshards, star anise, cloves, and other spices he can’t recall. Lear’s made itclear enough to him, that his relationship with Rei had begun before the Dzisnaincident. The wheels turn in his head, and it finally clicks.

“Ohmy god.” He points at Lear, who simply raises a brow. “Shit, it’s you. It’salways been you. You’re the affair!”

23. “After allthese years, I still love you.”Rei and Lear |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Iknow a stupid, naïve, self-important seventeen-year-old can’t possibly knowlove – not without some measure of uncertainty, anyway. But I’m not seventeenany more, and I still love you.” She’s tired of holding it in. If it ends here, it ends.

Hestares at her like he has no answer, and she’s certain it’s because he doesn’t.He tries for a light, courteous smile. “You’re just mixed up and unhappy,Anarei. The loneliness will pass.”

Shelets out a weak, incredulous laugh. “No. I’m not lonely. I’m just dumb enoughto love you, even after all these years. So now it’s your turn to decide. If youwant me, say the words. If I don’t hear anything from you, I’ll know to moveon.”

24. “Have you toldhim?”Ora and Renia ft. Ceth |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Oraknows she’ll have to tell Ceth someday – tell him why there are days it hurtsso much she can’t get out of bed, and why she sometimes screams in the middleof the night and can’t sleep until Gramma climbs into bed and strokes her hair.But it’s difficult, and she doesn’t know how to say it. So she goes another daywithout spitting out the words.

Renialevels her with a look that’s at once pitying and understanding. The questionin her eyes says it all: Have you told him?

Shegoes to the older woman and lays her head upon her shoulder. “Just one moreday, mommy. Let him be happy one more day.”

25. “How are yougonna name her?”Rei and Ora ft. Heulan |Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

“Soa girl this time, huh? Have you all decided on a name?” She grins as shereclines in her seat at the Seracs’ home.

Beforeher, Ora’s belly is large and round, and she’s rubbing it with one hand as theother brings a chocolate éclair to her mouth. She takes a bite, sighing incontentment, then chews and swallows before answering. “Cake.”

Somewhereinside the kitchen, Heulan corrects her, his voice exasperated amidst theclattering of pots and pans. “CATE.”

Oragiggles, then winks at her, mouthing: It’sso fun to piss him off. “CAKE.” She says, louder.

26. “I’m tired ofrunning away.”Niall and Lars | RaindropPendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Inall the time he’s known Laori, he’s never seen her this worried. She paces theinfirmary while the newcomer sleeps, then at times, he wonders at the way sheglances to the exit, to where the city’s gates stand, her legs just a breathaway from breaking into a run. Once or twice, he sees her actually taking a fewsteps beyond their barricades, but the pull of her recovering friend isevidently too strong, and she always comes back.

Threenights into the newcomer’s arrival, he catches Laori sitting by herself on thesteps of the enclave. It’s a clear night, so the gulf is visible from wherethey are. Further north lies her home. She glances up with a smile when hesettles by her side, and he squeezes her shoulder lightly. “Homesick?”

“Alittle.” She rubs at her arms, then slumps forward. “I didn’t think home wouldcatch up with me all the way down here, though.” Her voice lowers, and shemutters. “Should’ve gone straight up to Xiansai instead.”

“Andmiss the chance to partake in all this?” He gestures around the burningbuildings in the commons below, giving her a wry smile. “Surely not.”

Shelets out a laugh, and for a moment, he wonders what had happened to make her soeager to leave home in the first place. “And we wouldn’t have met then.”

“Yeah.”He catches her eye. “Are you okay though?”

“Mmhmm.”She turns away, glancing back towards the infirmary building down the street.“I guess I’m just tired of running away.”

27. “You’re myhome.”Lars and Mae | RaindropPendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Noneof them sleep particularly well in the days after Malthael’s death. She joltsawake near midnight, Niall and Lios flashing in her mind. It’s a struggle toget comfortable, and she can’t seem to find the right posture. Eventually, Maestarts to notice when she wakes, and it’s on one of those cold, terrifyingnights that he finally rolls over onto his back and pulls her up into his arms.

Shelays her head on his chest, letting out a breath. He’s warm, and just beneaththe hard muscle, she can hear his heart beating. We’re still alive. She snuggles closer. “Do you ever miss home,Mae?”

Hesqueezes her before answering, half asleep, “You’re my home. Now go to sleep.”

28. “I have nowhereto go.”Ora and Renia | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

It’s raining. Shemarvels at just how cliché the scenario is as she stares out the window of herbus; it’s cold, Dolly Parton is singing a sad song of heartbreak on the radio,and she’s surrounded by complete strangers who pointedly turn the other waywhen they catch glimpses of her red-rimmed, teary eyes. Not two hours ago,she’d caught Dillon in bed with their eighteen-year-old maid. She’s pretty, Orasupposes, in a buxom, exotic sort of way, with dark skin and pretty olive eyes.She’s everything I’m not.

The lights in herparents’ home are on when she finally gets back. By then, she’s soaked through.But it’s when she sees her mom’s face, filled with surprise, concern, andheartbreak that she finally breaks down again. With her face against hermother’s chest, she sobs, “I have nowhere to go, mommy. I’m so sorry.”

29. “I didn’timagine our first date like this.”Ora and Heulan | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP|

It’sa nice, sunny day, and she’s enjoying the warmth of the sun upon her face andshoulders. They’ve been bicycling around the park all morning, and she’s eagerfor the packed lunch he’s made them that’s sitting in the back seat of his car.He hands her a slice of quiche packed in a box. “Carrot, zucchini, onion, andsundried tomato. And don’t you dare pick anything out.”

Shegiggles at him, but digs in without complaint. They eat in silence for a fewminutes, and when she flops down onto her back, he smiles softly and tucks hersunglasses properly into place. She meets his eyes and beams. That’s when theverbal diarrhoea strikes.

“Ididn’t imagine our first date like this.”

Heraises a brow, and she’s suddenly aware that she’s said too much. Mortified,she turns away to hide her face, shrieking in embarrassment as she does. “IMEAN, A DATE AS FRIENDS, BECAUSE FRIENDS CAN DATE TOO.”

30. “You’rejealous.”Lars and Ceth |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Shecan’t bring herself to look at Ceth the entire week he and Cel pack, and by thetime the day arrives, her friend is close to breaking point. He’s pesteredIliev about it and she can’t help but feel bad for it. So when he shows up atthe stable where she’s brushing Siggy down for the day, she doesn’t excuseherself hurriedly.

“Wantto tell me what’s wrong?” It’s not often that Ceth looks annoyed, but today hedoes, and he has every right to. It’s not his fault he fell in love, and it’snot his fault he lives so damn far away. “Or are you going to avoid me now thatI’m married? What is it?”

Shepresses her forehead against Siggy’s neck, frowning. “It’s not that.”

“What,then? Are you jealous?” He folds his arms, then immediately lets out a soft‘oh!’ as realisation sinks in. He’s inherited his mother’s intuition. “Oh gods.You are jealous, but not of Cel.You’re upset at me.”

“I’mnot upset. I’m just pre-emptively missing my best friend now she’s moving awayto live with you.” She tries not to sound petulant, but thinks she fails. “Iknow it’s dumb.”

“Lars,no.” Ceth reaches out to grab and hug her, and she slumps against him. “That’sthe most important friendship in your life, of course it isn’t dumb. Things aregonna change, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. And for what it’s worth, you’realways welcome at the farm.”

31. “I can’tbelieve you talked me into this.”Heulan and Ora |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Northernersare a rowdy bunch – he’s met a few on his travels, and the Druids of Scosglenare every bit as loud and raucous as their Western Barbarian brethren. Ora’slaughing, flowers and leaves bouncing off the huge autumn wreath on her head ashe tosses his robes at her. She treats his yellow sash with reverence, gentlyand carefully tucking it around her neck, then slings the rest of his robesover her shoulder where they sag against her small frame. Opposite themud-filled ring, his first opponent is cracking his knuckles, a good-naturedsmile upon his face. “I can’t believe you talked me into this.”

32.“I fall for the worst ones.”Ora and Huei ft.Renia | RaindropPendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’ssitting on the steps of Heulan’s house on the phone with her mom, watching theclumsy little puppy waddle about the curb. It’s been a long day, but the sightof the cute little boy makes her grin in a giddy, silly sort of way. Already,three people passing by have glanced her way, all looking vaguely amused at thesight of her giggling at the puppy’s antics. “I’m glad you and daddy had a goodValentine’s day! You should come up soon and meet our new baby.”

Hueisniffs at some plants – then, before she can stop him, he squats, and lets outa dump right on the steps. “Oh, shit!”

“Whathappened?” Mom sounds amused on the other end. “Did the baby do somethinggross?”

“I’llcall you back.” She sighs heavily as she gets to her feet. “I fall for theworst ones.”

“Youknow you love him.”

“Ido, and I love you too.” She hangs up, digs in her jacket for some napkins, thenuses them to clean up the hot mess. Huei wags his tail at her as she bends toscoop him up after, and she can’t help but giggle as the little black puppylicks her nose. “Damn it. You have me wrapped around your silly little paws.”

33. “You don’t haveto do this.”Rei and Ora |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

It’sbeen weeks since Ora had returned from Entsteig, but she’s still too skinny tobe allowed. Heulan doesn’t let on much, but she knows he’s concerned, so shesummons Ora to her study one day and asks her outright if she knows what’sgoing on. The answer isn’t exactly pleasant, but she’s grateful for Ora’shonesty. Blood sickness.

Overthe course of the next month, she digs up every single tome that mentions thesubject. She consults with Deiadra to see about developing a potion for thesickness – one with less devastating effects. Once that’s set in motion, shecalls Ora back into her study and lays out the plan. Treat the symptoms as theyarise. Keep faith. Hope Deiadra works her magic.

“Youdon’t have to do this.” Ora grips the edge of her desk, her knuckles pale. “Butthank you.”

34. “What if I’m notgood enough?”Ora and Renia | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Her mother’s voicehas the magical effect of calming her down, so she dials the number, biting hernails while she waits. It’s just a little bit past ten, so her parents willlikely be awake, winding down for the night. Her mother answers soon enough,sounding confused and concerned. “Ora? Why’re you calling so late?”

“We kissed.” She’sstruggling to breathe. It wasn’t that it had been unexpected, but Heulan is sogood to her - so good as a person, and she’s terrified at the prospect ofruining this relationship too. “Mommy, I kissed a boy and I really like him.”

“Heulan?” Her momsounds amused. “Sweetie, that train was coming at you whether you realised itor not. He’s good for you.”

“I know!” She wails,throwing her hands in the air. “But what if I’m not good enough for him?”

35. “I don’t needto prove anything to you.”Theone and Lorath |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’sso very tired, and she wishes papa were there. But he’s not and she feels sodamn alone. Mae spends all his time locked up with General Haile, planning forthe coming battles. When she isn’t trying to make sure her boyfriend is atleast eating, Lars goes on long scouting missions on her own. Niall trains withSerrah every single day, and she joins them from time to time, but it’sdifferent somehow and she needs her family. But most of them have retreated toSharval by now, and she has no one to talk to.

It’snot Lorath’s fault, but she’s in a foul mood when he shows up to share theHoradrim’s latest plans. He probably means well, but when he points out herrecent lack of focus and her tired eyes, she doesn’t hold back. “You think Ishould go back to Sharval too, don’t you? Little Miss Theone, too pampered andtoo precious to fight? I don’t need to prove anything to you; I’ve lost lovedones to this war too, and if you think I’m going to abandon my cousin to faceMalthael on his own, you’re wrong.”

36. “You still loveher?”Taranis and Ceth | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hefinds the young boy at the foot of his parents’ graves long after the guestshave gone. A small bunch of yellow flowers rest before the new gravestone, thefirst offering, the most important offering. He steps up to the boy, placing anarm around him. The scene is almost too familiar. He recognises it, andsomething flares inside – something bitter and sorrowful.

“I’mangry at her.” Ceth still has a child’s voice, but he already sounds older.“I’m so angry at her for leaving me behind.”

Hebites his lip; he recognises this sentiment, also. “But do you still love her?”Ceth doesn’t answer straightaway, so he gives the young boy a light squeeze. “Ofcourse you do. You’re mad because you love her. I promise you, though – Ceth, Ipromise you, your mother will never be far from your side. As long as you keepher in your heart and mind, she’ll never leave you.”

37. “Stop thinkingabout them.”Rei and Ailey | RaindropPendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP |OT3 | FamTP |

Herstudy feels so damn cold. The shelves are too empty, filled with vials that havebeen washed, sterilised, and then sterilised again. Despite the new batch oftest potions bubbling away on her work table, she knows there’s no replacingwhat she’s lost. She’s still sulking when Ailey pops in, freckled nosewrinkling at the sight of her so grouchy. “Seriously, are you still upset?”

“Hekilled Beagan.” The words come out more petulant than she’d intended, but godsshe’s mad.

“Rei,the fact that you kept a mutated potion worm around for years is disturbingenough, but to name it too…”

Shescowls, hating the way Ailey actually sounds a little bit relieved. “You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“Iam!” Ailey laughs lightly. “But maybe it’ll help if you stop thinking about it.”

38. “You make mewanna die.”Lars and Henri | RaindropPendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Thestupid cat’s got out again, and she’s been looking for him without success fortwo hours now. It’s hard to track when all she has are stone steps, so it’spast midnight by the time she finds the tabby. He’s up in a tree on the edge ofa nobleman’s courtyard; at the sight of her, he lets out a plaintive meow,calling out to be rescued.

Sheswears under her breath, then glances furtively about. This late at night, thestreets of Westmarch are usually deserted. She’s all alone, so she starts toscale the wall without a second thought. “Come here. Gods, you make me wannadie.”

Itisn’t until screams pierce the night that she realises she’s not alone, afterall. The cat lets out a yowl and darts away, using her as a stepladder; hedisappears into the night, and she’s left to stare at the master and mistressof the house. The guards descend upon her quickly enough, and she barely hastime to curse the damn cat for his betrayal before they drag her to theauthorities for attempted break-and-enter.

39. “Make me.”Strahan and Haekel | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He knows he’s takingtoo damn long looking through the new designs, and that Parts has somewhereelse to be, but he’s having so much fun. Three hours pass before he realises,and by the time he glances up, Parts is glaring at him, equal measures excitedand agitated. “For fuck’s sake, Bones, will you just tell me what you thinkalready?”

“I’m not done yet. Irefuse to give you an incomplete assessment.” He holds the part - a new,fully-mechanised design for elbow joint replacements, to his chest. “You can’tmake me.”

40.“This isn’t the guy I fell in love with.”Lorcan and Ora | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hehates when she tries to make excuses for Dillon. For someone so smart, Ora canbe so damn dim where her husband is concerned. They’re sitting at a gelato café,but Ora’s has already melted into a gooey, chocolate-strawberry puddle. It’sunlike her to be put off by dessert, but she’s been a little distracted thesepast few months. She’s lost far too much weight and it shows in a bad way. Itdrives him up the wall.

“He’snot a bad person.” She swirls her ruined gelato around her cup, dark-lined eyeslowered. “This Dillon you know now, he isn’t the same guy I fell in love with.”

Helets out a sigh and pulls away her cup. “Ora, I don’t think that guy is comingback. Maybe it’s time to face facts.”

Shelooks up at him, eyes teeming with tears. It’s a hard truth, but someone has tosay it. The only thing he regrets is her broken heart. Wordlessly, he reachesout to take her hand under the table. He lets her sob, pointedly staring down acouple of curious passers-by. And when she’s done, he hands her a napkin,bundles her up in his jacket and takes her home.

41. “You’re hurtingme.”Rauen and Lear | RaindropPendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP |OT3 | FamTP |

“What’sthe matter, Four?” He digs his boot into the prisoner’s fingers, squashing theminto the ground; he won’t remain tied up like this for much longer. The tormentorsare on their way with their snazzy contraptions, but he’ll be damned if hedoesn’t get in his own dose of torture first. “Aren’t you happy to see me? Aww,you’re hurting my feelings.”

42. “I just wannaforget about this.”Niall and Lorath |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

It’sbeen hours since he’d gotten back from scouting the nearby woods, but theimagery of the two Virkovians bathing in the little pond is still fresh in hismind. He has his face in his hands, hating Lorath for even daring to suggestthat he should’ve joined them after all. “I can’t believe you’re making fun ofme, you bastard.”

Lorathhad needled the story out of him without much trouble. He’s evidently stillamused, and the grin upon his face is broad and bright. Despite the airs heputs on, the Horadrim has a mean streak when it comes to humour. “I’m notmaking fun of you. I’m merely insinuating that swimming nude with two attractivepeople can’t be that bad. Especially when it’s this obvious you like the blondeone.”

Hegroans aloud. “I just wanna forget about this, so please shut your mouth,Horadrim.”

43. “I’m glad youcame.”Rei and Karalir |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hethrows her flat onto her back, and the pain sears through her all at once –bones from the earth pierce her thigh and calf, and she can just see the onethrough her abdomen if she strains hard enough. Strahan is probably dead, and I’m going to die here too.

Karalirleans over her, his aqua-blue eyes gleaming at his prize. “I’m glad you came.”His voice is honey smooth as a spear forms in his hand, off-white, veined withred. “Goodnight, sweet girl.”

44. “You can sing?”Niall and Lars ft.Mae | Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP| NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

They’veonly just made their way into the manor’s courtyard when soft singing catcheshis attention. The two women are singing at each other, laughing and testingtheir voices as Amaethon’s robin flits between their shoulders. Lars’ voice islower and stronger, but she can hold a tune and it works well alongside Theone’ssweeter tones. He quirks a lopsided smile.

Later,Mae tells him all about the time he and Lars had sung together in a tree.

45. “You’re alwayshaunting my dreams.”Estarra and Saul | Raindrop Pendants | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

They haven’t met inyears, but the man is much changed. The lines beneath his eyes have deepened,and his shoulders are slumped. He’s spent the years wandering - she’s seen itall. “I still think of her, you know. Every day.” He tells her. A bitter smilecurls his lips, not quite reaching his dark, weary eyes.

She manages a smileof her own. “You’re always haunting my dreams.” She takes his hand. “The bothof you.”

46. “I don’t trustyou.”Arlais and Theone | Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP| NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

They’ve been friendsfor years - the eldest of the pack have to stick together after all, and he’shappy to have someone of equal fervour where it comes to keeping the littleones in line. It’s fun, and he especially enjoys when Theone starts to yell.

He doesn’t want to besurprised, but he is when Theone takes her cousin’s side in the first of theirsquabbles. She finds him hours later, angrily chopping up firewood behind hishouse. But he’s too pissed off to talk and Theone’s temper rivals his own. “Idon’t trust you anymore,” He growls.

“That’s just bloodyperfect.” Her voice and face are both hard. “Because I don’t trust you any moreeither.”

47. “Kiss me.”Rei and Lear | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP| NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’s never hurt himbefore. They’ve always been rough, jostling against walls and trees,heavy-handed pressure, nails and teeth and vice-like grips included, but thisis a first. He yelps and cries out in pain, bucking against her so hard shefalls off the edge of the couch. He looks slightly sheepish as he leans over tolook down at her, and she’s just about to apologise when she realises he’s gotblood blooming down the side of his shirt.

“Oh my god, you’rehurt?” She pulls her bra back into place as she leaps to her feet. “Shit - whydidn’t you tell me?”

“I’m okay, Naveau.Kiss me and it’ll all go away.” He grunts tiredly as she props him up and ripsoff his undershirt. There’s a cut on his side, taped up beneath a layer ofgauze and cream. “Knife fight went bad. Don’t worry.”

“Shut up.” She runsfor the first-aid box in their rental and gets to work. The cut is not toodeep, but it’s crystal clear to her now, why he’d winced so hard when she’draked her fingers down to his navel. “Damn it, if you’re too injured for thehanky panky stuff, just say so next time.”

“I’m never tooinjured for the hanky panky stuff.”

She throws him adirty look and he shuts it. Minutes later, she finds him watching her, grinningin that winning manner. “Stop staring at me.”

“It’s not often I getmedical attention from a half-naked doctor. Let a man live.”

She wraps the injuryup, then pulls on his discarded business shirt, too lazy to shimmy into herdress again. “Well, tonight, we’re going to live the Netflix and No Chillexperience.”

He taps his lips. “Iget kisses and snuggles, right?”

She rolls her eyes.“Yes, you big baby. Now find the remote while I go make us some tea.”

48. “You’ll eatthat?”Strahan and Isobel | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

The little girl laboursso damn hard, but it’s only a few sad sprouts that grow from her garden, acouple of thin carrots and a straggly stalk of celery. Still, she’d tried hardand had even made a fuss of cooking them up in a watery soup.

Mother, father, andRei are late coming home that night, so it’s left to him to try out the oily,lumpy, and slightly mushy stuff. He drinks it all down, eager to protect thelittle girl’s feelings.

Later, in need ofsome food, he sneaks down to the kitchen. Izzy pokes her head out of her roomas he passes, grinning sheepishly. “I know dinner was terrible, but thanks foreating it anyway.”

49. “Can I borrowyour shirt?”Fischer and Hayes | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

There’s been way toomuch tequila. One too many martinis. A couple of bad decisions. She hadn’texpected to end up in the manwhore’s bed, but here she is anyway, tucked intothe crook beneath his jaw, his arms wrapped firmly about her middle. Fuck.

He grunts groggily asshe wriggles away. “Leaving already?”

“Shut up.” She rollsout of bed, digging around for her clothes. The party dress she’d put on forthe hospital’s gala from the night before lies crumpled by the door. She’s notabout to do the two-day walk of shame into work. “Can I borrow your shirt?”

50. “Can I keep it?”Lochi and Flynn | Raindrop Pendants | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He hasn’t visited inyears, but the twins are surprisingly civil when he does with his new family.When she isn’t busy knitting warm clothing for Chryse - to keep you and thelittle one inside warm - she spends time with Mae. That leaves him withplenty of time to dig deep, returning to his roots and heritage. In time, Flynnjoins him in the woods, and they tread the underbrush together. He feels alivein these moments, his other senses heightened by the magic of his people.

He’s just returningto himself one day when he feels something soft brush his leg. Flynn’s voice issoft beside him; the man kneels, then straightens with a flourish, letting outa wry chuckle. “You caught a feather.”

Soft chirping fromabove alerts him as to the feather’s origins. A meadowlark nearby rustles hisfeathers. He chuckles softly, then nods at his half-brother. “So I see.”

“Can I keep it?”Flynn sounds surprisingly genuine. “It’s nice to have a memento of our timetogether. I’ve enjoyed your company.”

He blinks, a littletaken aback and a little touched. “Of course.”

51. “You weren’tsupposed to love me.”Ora and Heulan | Raindrop Pendants | OTP| NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’s terrified.Azmodan’s forces had been so close to winning the day after all. Heulan hadalmost died from that mana injury, and she’s at once furious, touched, andsaddened. He’s sleeping now, paler than usual, his skin clammy to the touch. Atsome point in the day, he’d woken up just long enough to tell her not to worry- as if that would help matters any. She can’t sleep, so she makes her way overto his room, clambering into his bed and curling up by his side. “You weren’tsupposed to love me,” She whispers.

But he did, and does- and because of that, he’s hurt. I can’t let that happen again.

52. “I hate you.”Mel and Mia | Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Mia has every rightto be happy, she knows, but something in her gut stirs at the sight of hersister, at first human flesh and bone, and then fur and tail. She watches asthey run together - Mia, Mae, and their father, wolves in a pack she has nobusiness longing to join. And when Mia comes home one day, Ikaika fresh on herheels, she can’t help but feel her heart snap in half.

It’s inevitable, butthe day comes when Mel finally snaps at her sister. It’s over something stupid- they’d been arguing over whose turn it had been to do the dishes, and she’dblown up, all the pent-up jealousy of the past few years erupting in one shortminute. By the time she’s done, Mia is staring at her, glassy-eyed through hertears. She immediately regrets her decision, but when she reaches out, her twinbacks away, angrily wiping away her tears.

Mia’s words are coldas ice. “I hate you.”

53. “Can’t you see?I’m broken.”Lars and Lear |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Shewakes feeling groggy and her head hurts. There’s a throbbing in her temple thatcorresponds with the vague memory of a falling brick. They’d been walking alongthe main street, deep in discussion about the new maps requested by ScoutmasterYleris. She hadn’t seen it coming.

That bloodybricklayer better have a grand apology planned out.

“How’reyou feeling, Lars?” Uncle Lear’s voice is mild, but if he’s sitting with her inthe infirmary, he’s definitely worried.

“LikeI want to throw up.” She doesn’t want to worry him further, but a day off wouldbe welcome. “Can’t you see? I got hit by a brick. I’m broken up.”

Helets out a laugh. “Clearly not broken up enough if you’re trying to weasel yourway out of work tomorrow.” He lays his hand on her forehead, and she catcheshis smile. “Fine. Take tomorrow off, then. But you’re to stay in bed andrecuperate. I’d better not find you outside chasing birds with Mae. Understood?”

Sheshuts her eyes and tries for her best obedient smile. “Sure. Thanks, UncleLear.”

54. “Someday?Someday.”Lochi and Chryse |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Thehorses are all set and he’s ready to go. It’s not a short journey by anystretch, but he’s been away from home too long and he misses his mom. They’vemapped out the journey – a boat to the edge of the dreadlands, and then a fewdays’ ride to the water before sailing northwards once more.

Chryseisn’t pleased at being left behind, but he has a very good reason. He needs tofocus, and he can’t do that when she’s there. Still, she deserves some closure– at least for now, so he takes her hands. “I’ll be back soon. It’s notforever.”

“Dowe still have a chance?” She’s never been afraid to speak her mind. He knowswhat she means. “I know you have to do this and I’m so proud of you – but couldwe? Someday?”

Hesmiles and kisses her knuckles. “Someday. Six months.”

55. “Don’t stopnow.”Lars, Cel, and Mae |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Cel’shair is full of life; the soft waves are lustrous and silky soft, like AuntieChryse’s. Lars tries to not be envious, but Cel is always happy to let her playwith it. The braids are full-bodied; she’s halfway through when Mae darts inthrough the door, flailing. “Averard says the crater is doing something cool!Let’s go, Lars!”

Shebrightens up, almost running off before Cel yells, exasperated, “Don’t stopnow!” The exasperation is soon replaced by genuine laughter as Mae takes up theother half of her hair. “Oh my god, you two are hopeless.”

Theyfinish the braids at the same time – quickly and perfectly, then drag Cel withthem to go see the sights of nature together.

56. “Shut up. Yourvoice makes me want to kiss you.”Tychol and Ahnja |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Inall the months they’d spent together, he’s really only heard Ahnja angry acouple of times. The first time, he’d been newly wheelchair-bound and depressed,and in fit of panic had lashed out at his mother. He’d apologised immediatelyafter, but Ahnja had told him off for it. He can’t remember what had caused thesecond incident, but one thing remains clear – Ahnja tolerates attacks againstherself, but it’s when others are unjustly berated that her temper flares. I’m paid to take your shit, she’d yelledthat one time. So if you’ve got anytantrums to throw, throw them at me.

Lookingback, he doesn’t really know how he got so used to having her around. He findshimself inevitably irritated when she’s not around these days. In starkcontrast, the world feels better somehow. Brighter and kinder when she’saround, humming as she fetches and returns his books.

They’veonly just finished arguing about something ridiculous. He can’t even rememberwhat had set them off, but by the time they’re finished, he’s gripping the armsof his wheelchair so hard that his knuckles are pale, and he’s panting. “Do youpiss off all your charges like this or am I just especially fun?”

Shefixes him with a hard look. “Shut up. Your voice makes me want to kiss you, andfailing that, it makes me want to smack you with the heaviest book I can findin here.”

Theystare at each other for a moment. Then, before he knows it, he’s laughing sohard tears are streaming down his face – and she’s laughing too. Seconds later,she’s kneeling on the floor by his chair, and he’s reaching for her, lipscrashing together as they laugh and cry in turn. They embrace. The world brightensagain.

57. “I want you.”Lochi and Chryse |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

It’sprimal instinct – it has to be, because how else can he explain the way hisheart is beating so fast he can hardly breathe? She has a pull about her, andhe both loves and hates the way she can twist him into knots. All it takes is atouch of the hand, feather-light upon his skin, fingertips tracing thesensitive areas behind his ears. She straddles him, both knees digging deepinto their mattress. His mother is just next door, and further down thecorridor in their Scosglen home, both his brothers will have retired for thenight.

Heflips his new wife over onto her back, and grins as she lets out a yelp ofsurprise. “I want you.” He growls into her ear, and feels her shiver beneathhim. “But let’s try to keep the screaming to a minimum tonight.”

58. “You wanna dothis here?”Rei and Lear |Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Areyou ready for Peru?” Sagen jogs up to their designated meeting spot – a smallclearing in the woods some kilometres from her base. It’s past dinner time andthe sky has long darkened. They’re on civilian territory. No one will thinkanything of their presence.

Shegreets him with a light kiss, then holds up a syringe. “Just about. But I needa booster, and if I ask the boys back at base they’ll wonder why.”

Heraises a brow, then laughs. “You sure you wanna do this here?”

“Sure.”She hands him the syringe before dropping her pants, relishing in the way hiseyes shift, his lips curled in an amused sort of smile. “It’s not like youhaven’t poked me with pointy things in the woods before.”

Sagengets down on his knees, and she inhales sharply as his breath warms against hernavel. He grabs her hip, holding her steady, then lands several soft kissesupon her skin, down the front of her thigh. “Don’t tense up now.” His voice isteasing, and as she reaches out to slip her hands in his hair, he sinks theneedle in.

59. “I’ve been inlove with you for centuries.”Lochi and Chryse |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Despiteall your shouting tendencies.” He plucks the strings of his harp, the melodyflowing easily off his tongue. “I’ve been in love with you for centuries.”

It’smeant to be a fun little song. A play on words. But when Chryse throws herselfat him, laughing, he knows he’s done something right. “That’s terrible.” Shegiggles softly, arms wrapped about his shoulders. A pause, then he feels herlips on his cheek. “But I love you too.”

60. “Shut the hellup.”Haekel and Lear ft. Marclai |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hehas to give it to the bastard – Four is resilient. The piece of shit is brokenup on all fronts, physically, emotionally, and mentally, but he still has thegall to glare at them as they enter the tent where he is being held. He mouthsoff – of course he does, and it takes everything in his power to hold back hisfist and not just punch his other eye out.

“Shutthe hell up,” He growls. Marclai hands him a water skin and he takes pleasurein watching Four fail to resist as he forces the liquid down his throat. “Andjust drink the goddamn water.”

61. “Are youashamed of me?”Tychol and Theone |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He’snot clever like papa, and he isn’t strong like mama. He’s afraid for his lifeand the life of his family. Grandmam helps him through the darkest hours, butwhen she’s teaching with Auntie Chryse and he’s home with only Theone and hiscousins for company, he’s terrified. When he closes his eyes, he sees thedemons. The monsters who’ve threatened them all – the monsters to come. He seesDeath.

Oneday, he wakes screaming and there Theone is, wide-eyed, shocked, but holdingonto him, fingers clutching his shoulders as if her life depended on it. “I’msorry!” He gasps, because tears are a sign of weakness, and Theone is thestrongest person he knows. “I’m sorry, I had a nightmare.”

Shesqueezes him tightly, pressing a fierce kiss to his head. “Don’t be afraid,baby brother. I’ll protect you.”

Hesniffles against her chest, his voice coming out shaky. “Are you ashamed ofme?”

Theonegrowls. “Never.”

62. “Let’s runaway.”Mae and Lars |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hefinds her sitting up in bed, blonde curls piled atop her head with a fewstraggly strands framing her face. In stark contrast to the other times before,she’s silent, her face an impenetrable mask. They’d taken the bloody mess fromthe room earlier, and he’d seen to it that the remains had been taken care of,gently wrapped and placed in a little wooden box. Tomorrow, they will returntheir baby to the earth, to rest alongside the girl and boy from before.

She’sstill staring into blank space when he sits and takes her into his arms,pressing his face into the side of her head. “Lars?”

Hiswife doesn’t say anything. He knows what she’s thinking – he’s always known.Guilt. Desperation. Helplessness. An ache as old as time itself. The fire inthe hearth offers its condolences, and he can feel Averard’s presence justoutside the window. The wind howls. Howalone she must feel, he thinks, even as his friends whisper outside. But she isn’t really alone, is she?

“Let’srun away.” He kisses her shoulder gently. “We’ll have one another. We’ll haveAverard. And Sanctuary.” Let me show you– let us show you that the road doesn’t end here.

63.“We all cry sometimes.”Rei and Lear | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’s all alone whenshe opens her eyes. Everything hurts, and she flinches when she opens her eyesto find sunlight streaming in through the cracks in the window. A soft whimperescapes her – she manages to turn, and is immediately greeted by the sight of acasket on the opposite end of the room.Oh, gods. Is that Strahan, or is that Lear? Or are the both of them dead?

She starts tohyperventilate. Vials and cups crash to the ground as she stumbles out of bed,sweeping through the things on her bedside table. She lands on the wooden floorwith a loud thump, tangled up in sheets, trembling. When she presses a hand toher side, her palm comes away bloody. She crawls towards the casket, and getshalfway through before the door opens and Lear rushes in. “Anarei, what—”

Somehow, she managesto hold back the tears. His words from long ago resound in her head. I don’t want to see that face on you,alright? He helps her back into bed, and she clutches the bloodstainedsheets to her chest, too afraid to even look at him. It’s Strahan in there. My brother’s dead. She shuts her eyes andbites back a sob, and that’s when Lear pulls her in, laying a hand upon hercheek. “It’s okay. We all cry sometimes.”

64. “Can I hug you?”Niall and Serrah | Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He’s exhausted. Hehasn’t slept in days, but there’s so much work to be done. They’d lit the pyresnot two hours ago, when the sun had started to sink into the horizon. In allthe time he’s known Amaethon, he’s never seen the man this distraught. Thatwas his baby sister, after all.

The manor is deathlyquiet. Laori is curled up on the steps with Celandine, whose other side isflanked by her husband. Inside the house, he knows Amaethon will be holed away,too busy blaming himself for what had happened. Miharah will most likely bewrapped up in the embrace of her parents, along with the rest of her family.It’s Serrah who needs his attention now.

He finds his youngapprentice in her room. She glances up as he sits by her side on the bed. Heknows she’s expecting to be sent away - and if he’s honest with himself, it’swhat he’d want, too. But that’s not the promise he had made, and it’s not theway to protect the young girl. He’s grappled with the decision, and though hedoesn’t like the conclusion he’s arrived at, he knows it’s necessary. “Are youokay?”

“Sure.” It’s a suddensort of greeting. She probably thinks I’m sending her away.

He lets out a sigh.“I’ve asked Laori and Theone to join our training sessions. They’re going to begiving you a taste of brute force and destructive magic. We’re going to startat dawn tomorrow, and we’ll continue to do so until you’ve learnt everythingyou can from them. Then I’ll find someone new to join us, and we’ll startagain. When we aren’t training, we’ll be going on missions with the Horadrim -real missions, so I need you to visit the armoury tomorrow evening and see whatthey can do about getting you a better set of armour. Do you understand?”

The young girlfinally looks up at him, and he smiles at the sight of her wide eyes, surprisein her gaze. When she speaks, her voice is oddly affected. “Can I hug you?”

65. “Seriously,again?”Bryn and Taranis |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Seriously,again?” Mother wipes the blood from his hands – a boy’s hands, no bigger. Hervoice is strained as she checks for deeper wounds that might require stitches.He’s been at it all day, trying to repair the closest Horadrim waypoint. Itlies in the ruins of Harrogath. He’d snuck there before dawn. Aislinn had toldhim that the waypoints had once been magic – magic enough to transport manthrough time and space. “Taranis, father’s dead. You have to accept that,okay?”

66. “Is there areason you’re naked in my bed?”Rei and Lear |Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Youbroke into my house?” She stares aghast at the shirtless man lying in her bed.It’s been a couple of weeks since they’d last met, and she hadn’t beenexpecting him. Not that it isn’t a pleasant surprise. “You wanna tell me whyyou’re naked in my bed?”

“I’mnot naked, but I can be.” He winks ather. “Come on, tell me you aren’t pleased to see me.”

Sheis, and he damn well knows it, the cocky bastard. Still, he hasn’t just turnedup in her apartment like this before, and there’s an edge of desperation in hisface that’s foreign to her, so she kicks off her shoes, strips down to herunderwear, and climbs into bed. She holds him close, and they lay together – atpeace, content to simply be.

67. “What do youwant?”Strahan and Taranis | Raindrop Pendants | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

The ginger-haired boyis standing guard below the apothecary’s tower - for what reason, Strahandoesn’t really know. He’s seen the boy around the Naveau house - he’s friendswith the girls. You should get to know them, Madam had said, one cool,but gentle hand upon his head. They’re going to be your family too.

He makes his way overto the ginger-haired boy; he’s older and much bigger, and glowers as Strahanapproaches. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to see theapothecary.” He tries for nonchalance, but the ginger-haired boy is a littlescary. “Madam Lisanne.”

The ginger-haired boyrelaxes slightly. “Madam Lisanne isn’t home. It’s only her daughter up there,so you can come back later.”

“I heard Miss Deiadraknows her way around her mother’s work also.” He perks up, but is instantlysilenced as the ginger-haired boy glowers again. “…I’ll come back later.”

68. “I love your sardonicsarcasm.”Rei and Lear |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Thenight is winding down, but the newlyweds are still dancing at the centre of thetown hall. Tonight, it is decked in beautiful fabrics, fresh flowers and plentyof candles that have burnt low – to celebrate the couple, and to spite the war.Heulan and Ora have disappeared into one of the balconies facing the east, nodoubt to cuddle, laugh, and sway together to the soft, sweet music.

It’sbeen weeks since she’d confessed her feelings. Things have gone on as before –casual bantering, the occasional private lunch and library visit taking up theafternoons they’re both free from work. He hasn’t brought up their talk again,so she assumes the worst and decides he isn’t interested.

Sheputs on a pretty dress – a flowing silver gown that shows off her shoulders andwaist. She laughs with the bride and dances with her friends. A Keep Lieutenantkisses her knuckles, and she agrees to meet up with him for dinner later in theweek. It’s war, but we’ve got to findtime for the little pleasures after all.

Threehours later, she’s about ready to go home; there are potions to be experimentedwith and notes to make. But the sight of Lochi and Chryse swaying togetherstops her, and she stays, if only for a few minutes, to watch them, hugging hercloak to her chest. Lochi’s unseeing eyes are wide open in wonder, and Chryseis smiling, her own golden gaze affixed upon them.

“Theylook happy, don’t they?” Lear sidles up beside her, and she feels her hearttwitch. She thinks she’s gotten better at it over the weeks, but she’d be lyingif she said it didn’t sting to be beside him, surrounded by other happy twos.

Still,she’s trying, so she slants a smile at him and nods. “Yeah. They all do.”

“Areyou heading back? Need me to walk you?” He glances at the cloak currentlydraped over her arm.

“No.”She jerks her head towards the bride. “It’s your sister’s wedding, you shouldstay.”

“Dancewith me, then. Just one dance.” He smiles at her, his singular eye softening.“Come on, you’ve danced with everyone else.”

Exasperationmingles with mild amusement. She rolls her eyes, quirking a smile, but allowshim to take her cloak and drape it over a nearby chair. “Are you using me toavoid having to dance with the other girls?”

“No.”He leads her out to an unoccupied corner, laying her hand over his shoulder andtaking the other. He pauses as he looks at her, his smile deepening a bit. “Youlook really nice tonight.”

“Thanks.”She forces herself to look at his face. Everything’sfine. I’m fine, he’s fine, we’re all fine. “So do you.”

Theysway a little to the music, and she allows herself to relax. She’s had somewine, so her feet feel just a little lighter. Her pulse steadies after a while,and she lets out a contented sigh.

“Istill don’t really understand.” His voice is soft, and jerks her from thecomfortable silence. She meets his eye, tilting her head a bit. “What you saidthe other day, about how you feel. I haven’t forgotten, I’m just trying tofigure it out. Why you feel that way.”

Shefrowns, then looks down, the sudden revival of the topic taking her bysurprise. It takes a while, but she manages an answer. “It’s a lot of things.”

“Tryme.”

Partof her wants to run. She’s spoken up first so many times now. In contrast, hehasn’t given her much to go on – and she’d been doing well, too. Opening thecan of worms again doesn’t feel like a good idea. Still, she reasons, it isn’tlike she has anything else to lose.

Shelooks down at the floor, careful to keep their steps in sync. “I love yoursardonic sarcasm.” The words flow easily. “I love the way you take your tea,and how pedantic you are about steeping – exactly five minutes with boilingwater. I hate the way you roll your eyes when you think someone is being stupid– even more so when it’s directed at me. I hate when you run off by yourself,but I love that you stick to your plans and principles. I hate that you can’tsee what I see in you – a man who’s always trying his best. And I hate that Idon’t know how you feel about me, and that despite that, I’m here, again,telling you I love you.”

Shedoesn’t expect him to say anything in return, so it takes her by surprise whenhe does. Her breath catches, and she almost misses her step, but he’s a goodleader, and she manages to keep up. “I love the way you wrinkle your nose whenyou’re irritated.” He lets out a thoughtful hmm before continuing. “I love theway your eyes light up when you’re surprised – like they’re lighting up rightnow. I love the way you get excited when something bubbles the right way, orwhen you get a good patient that teaches you something. I hate that you’re sostubbornly blind to people’s faults sometimes, and that you care so much evenwhen it hurts you. I hate that you’re impatient and demanding, but I love thatyou know exactly what you want.”

“Oh.”She glances aside. Chryse is watching them from the centre of the room, a smilecurling deviously upon her lips.

“That’sall I have for you right now.” Lear shifts the hand upon her waist, placing itupon her shoulder, his finger barely brushing the raised scar on her neck. “Iknow it’s not what you wanted to hear, but I hope it’s enough.”

Themusic fades. She swallows, then wets her lips before looking up. His meaningcannot be any more clear. I need moretime. She lets out a sigh; inside, her resolve crumbles. “I hate that youhave this effect on me.” It’s not a difficult thing to admit; he more thanlikely already realises.

Hissmile is soft and a little grateful as he pulls her close to press a kiss toher forehead. It’s gentle, and it makes her tremble. “One step at a time. We’llfigure us out together, okay?”

And what if youdecide you don’t want this after all? She shuts hereyes, leaning into his chest. Shit. “Cometest some potions with me tomorrow.”

Hechuckles lightly. “Just don’t paralyse me this time.”

69. “You can’t beserious.”Deiadra and Rei |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

“Youdid what now?” It’s not uncommon for them to test their potions on themselves,but this one was dangerous. The wrong dose could’ve led to her sleepingforever, with no hope for reversal. That’s part of why she hates developingsleeping potions and their antidotes – the lack of willing test subjects. “Youcan’t be serious.”

Naveaushrugs a shoulder. “It worked. I had Ailey administer the antidote for reversalsix hours later. I’m alive, so it obviously works with no side effects exceptinitial grogginess and a bit of mild disorientation. Could be good forsurgery.”

“Youonly know it puts you to sleep, Naveau. You’ve no idea if it will keep apatient pain-free throughout potentially traumatic surgeries.”

Theyoung woman smiles, part sheepish and part smug. “I actually do know. But I’mnot opposed to a little more experimentation.”

70. “Opposites doattract, I guess.”Ethan and Lear | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Fore.” He sighs.“You really are a piece of shit.”

It had started outinnocently enough. He’d made an offhand comment over Family Dinner, about Learenjoying chicken a little bit too much - it was a running gag, after all. Thathad launched a series of questions about Lear’s obsession with the bird, andhe’d been obliged to apologise to the grouchy man-child later. He hadn’texpected to come home to this.

His kitchencountertops are filled with raw chickens, plucked, cleaned, marinated, andpropped up on roasting trays. He counts at least twenty. When he opens up hisfridge, another bird falls out - this one bagged. The shelves within tell thesame fowl story.

The bastard answershis phone with a smirk in his voice. “What’s up?”

“When the fuck didyou have time to marinate fifty chickens and break into my house?”

“Oh, come on. We justdidn’t want you to go hungry, and Vanessa will thank you for doing all thecooking.”

He scowls.“Sometimes, I really wonder why my sister fell for you.”

Lear lets out a barkof a laugh on the other end. “I guess opposites really do attract.”

71. “Go on. Tell meyou hate me.”Estarra and Ananke |Footsteps of Glory | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Shefinds Ananke sitting by the steps of Harrogath’s ruins, face covered in soot, asmall bag packed for the journey back to Kehjistan. They’ve become fast friendsover the past months, two pregnant women with tragedy on their heels. And yetonly one of them has become a mother.

It’snot love she sees in the woman’s eyes – it’s guilt and terror, tinged almostwith madness. “I’ve failed you,” Ananke whispers. “You deserve to hate me. Goon – say it. Tell me you hate me.”

“No.”Estarra frowns, settling on the steps by her friend. She’s seen their future. My last words to you cannot be words ofhate. “I love you, Ananke. I love you like a sister.” She holds the womanclose, shutting her eyes. “Keep your little one safe.”

72. “I dare you tokill me. Do it!”Fischer and Hayes | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP| NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She has to admit he’snot too bad. They’d gone on a good few dates - quick, casual breakfasts beforework, packed lunches at the park beside the hospital, and the occasional dressydinner at her favourite restaurant when they’re both off and able to enjoy abottle of red.

They’re at his place,toes tucked into a woollen throw under his coffee table, screaming at oneanother with remotes in their hands. His hero lands an attack and she lets outan irritated scream, kicking him in the shin. “Damn it, Hayes!”

“I dare you to killme.” He sneaks a kiss, and she laughs as his breath warms her neck. “Go on, doit. If you beat me, I’ll do anything you want later.”

73. “I just want to be alone.”Rei and Chryse | Raindrop Pendants | OTP| NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He’s gone off on hisown again. This time, leaving word only for Taranis – a three-sentence note:Gone to fight Cydaea. Stay clear of the crater. Back in three days.

She doesn’t reactwhen the news breaks. She stands there beside Chryse and listens as Taranis explainswhy Lear’s left her – again. Then she nods, thanks the man, and goes back toher work, stony expression and stiff upper lip barely detracting from the factthat her hands are shaking. She can hardly breathe, but she has to focus. Focus,damn it.

“He’ll be back, don’tworry.” Chryse looks like she wants to punch something.

“Please.” She barelygets the words out as she turns away. “I just want to be alone.”

74. “Don’t waste yoursecond chance.”Aelwen and Heulan | Raindrop Pendants | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She thinks of themoften - the little boy and girl from her old life, her young master andmistress. It’s been years and years, and she hopes they have grown well in herabsence. In her dreams, they cry while their Lord Father shouts. She tries toopen her mouth - to speak up for them, but it never happens, and she wakesknowing she’s failed them both. I’m only a housekeeper, she’d said then.But the words are always bitter in her mouth.

It’d never occurredto her that she would be back in this place of uncertainty. How am I goingto do this? She doesn’t know, but the Matriarch hands her the squirmingtoddler, all pudgy and cheeky smiles, and she feels her heart melt.

“You will care forhim. Naled will help you. Don’t waste your second chance.”

75. “I wanted herto be my wife.”Roethlis and Asha |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Allthis time, I wanted her for my wife. But a sixteen-year-old can’t possibly knowwhat that means, right?” He’s never talked back to his mother before. The yearshave changed his mind, however, and he’s grateful for it. His mother isobviously taken aback by the sudden outburst. But he doesn’t care – he’sthrough being her puppet. “I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me, mother, Ireally am. I do love you. But I’m not a dog you can pick up to fulfil somegrand destiny; I’m not even Medjai. All this time, I thought I wanted her, butit was you. You wanted her for me.And I will never let you play with my mind like that again.”

76. “I can kickyour ass, you know that, right?”Theone and Tychol ft. Lars | Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He’sbeen in a bad mood all day, scribbling furiously into a large tome and crossingout whole segments in sheets of paper, so it’s no surprise he’s grouchy atdinner. “Ugh, Tychol, you must really be deprived if an almanac can get you soworked up.”

“It’sall your boyfriend’s fault!” Her little brother scowls across the table at her,evidently still agitated over the writing. Tyrael had tasked him to work withLorath to compile everything they knew about the angelic host currentlyoccupying Westmarch and Khanduras – it isn’t going too well. “Can you pick asmarter one next time?”

“He’snot my boyfriend.” She flips her hair airily, reaching for the potatoes whileLars snickers into her soup. “Shut up, Lars.”

Tycholrolls his eyes. “Sure, Theone.”

Shepicks her fork out of her bowl and points it at him, hoping she isn’t blushing.“I can kick your ass, you know that? I can kick ALL your asses!”

77. “Those thingsyou said yesterday.. Did you mean them?”Deiadra and Arlais | Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Shedidn’t think it would hurt this much, but it felt about as good as a slapacross the face. The night before, in the midst of an argument with Taranis,their eldest son had stood to proclaim that they weren’t even blood. You’re not my real parents, he’d yelled.I don’t have to listen to you.

Arlaisis sitting at the breakfast table on his own, face in his hands, when shedescends. Taranis had left before dawn, mumbling something about smashing someboulders. Laori and Iliev were most likely hiding in the Naveau house, and Ioanhad never been one to actively participate in family feuds. It’s just her andher eldest now, and she wants him to know what she thinks of his words.

“Thosethings you said yesterday.” She sits down beside him, folding her hands overher lap. It’s hard to keep her voice level. “Did you mean them?”

Helooks up at her, and his eyes are filled with tears. There are no words. Shelets out a sigh, understanding. He doesn’t resist, so she reaches out to hughim. It isn’t until minutes later that he finally speaks, his voice a faintpeep – not unlike the little boy she had once known. “You are my mother.”

78. “I’m notpromise. I drunk.”Fischer and Hayes |Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Thelast thing she’d expected when she’d paged Hayes was for him to show up half inthe bottle. “What the fuck, Jamie?” She doesn’t get pissed off often, but whena mom loses her shit and attacks her husband and one-year-old with boilingwater, it helps to have a sober Plastics attending on hand.

“I’mnot promise, I drunk. And ‘m not on call.” He slurs as he struggles with theties of his plastic pullover. “Who’s the doctor?”

Sheshoves him into a room and imagines herself stabbing him with the IV drip. “Getyour shit together. I’m calling Lewis.”

79. “Stay in bed.”Theron and Renia |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hewakes to her sniffling in bed, and realises she’s caught the chill he’s beenbattling the entire week. She insists on getting up to do some work, but hestops her and rolls out of bed himself, groggy and exhausted, but determined.Over the next few hours, he labours in the kitchen, making a huge pot ofchicken soup and stepping out just long enough to pick up some hearty, crustydark bread. Then he goes home, sets up a tray on her side of the bed, and curlsback up against his wife. “Stay in bed with me,” He mumbles.

80. “Go home.”Ora and Lorcan |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Goback to base, will you?” Lorcan’s voice is steely as he pulls her from herfather’s body. The battle is coming to a close around them, with the last oftoday’s demon force charged down by the hunters’ horseback unit. She doesn’tsee any of it – all she sees is the cold, dead face of the man who’d raisedher. Lorcan is shouting again, this time loudly enough to snap her back intothe present. Hot tears streak down her face. “Ethinacae! You’re done here. GOHOME.”

81. “I don’t have ahome.”Ora and Dillon |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’srunning out of money and wondering what to do to earn more when he pops up inher peripheral again. When he approaches, she tilts her head back and does herbest to look threatening. She doesn’t know if she can take him – he’s muchstronger and older, and she’s only a skinny fourteen-year-old.

“Youshould go home, girl.” His voice is gruff, but not unkind.

“Idon’t have a home.” She looks at her feet. “Please leave me alone.”

82. “I’m terrified oflosing you.”Strahan and Sileneft. Maika | RaindropPendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

It’s been hours sinceMaika had fallen asleep on Silene’s chest, the little girl curled up againsthis girlfriend. Silene strokes the girl’s soft dark hair gently, and he watchesthe pair of them for a moment, wondering how he could possibly live withouteither one of them.

The scans aren’tencouraging. He’d read and re-read them, then he’d sent Parts a copy with aspecial request - a cry for help. He knows his old friend will not refuse him,and he has faith in medicine and in science. He has faith in Parts.

What he lacks isfaith in himself. When Silene looks up at him, he goes to her and lays down onthe other side of her bed, taking her into his arms. She lets out a soft,relieved sigh. He knows it hurts her. He knows that’s why she’d signed the DNR- she’s tired. He can’t blame her, but he wants to keep fighting for her. Heneeds to.

She takes his hand.He squeezes it lightly. “I’m terrified of losing you.”

SIlene turns her faceinto his chest. “I know.”

83. “I can’t give youforever.”Flynn and Ingrid | Raindrop Pendants | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’s beautiful. Longblonde hair flows to her waist, flowers and vines braided in amidst ribbons.His bride is radiant - how could she be anything else but the sun, aftereverything she’s done for him?

She takes his handsand they stand before the priest, tall among friends and family. “I can’t giveyou forever,” She says. “But all my days on this Sanctuary are yours.”

84. “What’s goingon inside that head of yours?”Lars and Cel |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Celis busy icing a cake in the kitchen when she makes her way in and flops down ona chair. Training is going nowhere, and she’s both exhausted and frustrated.But Cel is patient and sweet as always, and hands her a slice of warm bananabread still fresh from the oven. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Sheslumps over the plate, poking at the cake with her fork. It doesn’t happenoften, but she doesn’t have much of an appetite right now. “I don’t know how tobe useful to my father in his old age, and I think I’m going to commitfratricide at some point.”

85. “I can’t saythat.”Iliev and Lars | Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

He’s been working ona speech for Ceth’s wedding for weeks now, and yet all the words seem soinsufficient. Lars drags him out to the river and meditates while he struggleswith paper and ink. By the time she’s done, it’s an hour later and he’ssurrounded by crumpled-up scraps. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say you lovehim, but he’s officially dragged away Virkove’s best pastry maker and should beashamed of himself.” Lars flops down beside him and stretches out.

“I can’t say that!”He cries, horrified. “He’d feel so bad for it!”

She grins, a littleslyly. “On the flipside, that means they’d come back here more often to makesure we get all the pastries we need.”

86. “How can I notmiss you?”Strahan and Maika | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Hehasn’t even planned out the entirety of his trip, but his heart already hurtsat the thought of leaving his daughter behind. She runs into his arms, and heholds her close, laughing as she prattles on about ginger buds and basilflowers. How can I not miss you,sweetheart?

87. “I thought youwere dead.”Ora and Heulan |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP |BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

There’sa veil, barely there, like water or air – she doesn’t know, but Heulan isbehind there, and it’s all she can do to hold back from throwing herself athim. The gods are merciful. Surely they can raise the dead. They’ve brought him back. She pushesaway the thought of his body, lying inert in the crystal arch. Cold. Unmoving.“I thought you were dead. Thank the gods you’re safe.”

Hisface crumples, and she realises then that the veil is there to stay. Auriellands gently beside her, and parts the veil – if only for a brief moment. WhenHeulan holds his hand out to her, her fingers sweep right through his. “I’msorry, Ora.”

88. “Did you enjoyyourself last night?”Roethlis and Roman | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

“Didyou enjoy yourself last night?” Roethlis glances up as his brother walks in.Roman is uncharacteristically chirpy for breakfast-time. He knows it’s becausehe’s been in the dungeons – it’s hard to miss the conceited strut of a goodfucking.

Romanlaughs heartily, clapping him on the shoulder. “You should go for a roundsometime. That frigid bitch – I’ll warm her up yet.” The man actually sounds proud, he realises with disgust. “Ican’t wait to hear her beg for that deadbeat boyfriend again.”

89. “You’re mine.”Lear and Cydaea | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Theadrenaline surges. He’s exhausted and hasn’t slept in hours, but he’s so damnexcited. Azmodan’s consort leers at him just below the steps. The plan is infull swing. She ends today. You’re mine.

90. “Just kissalready.”Rei and Lear ft.Taranis | RaindropPendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

It’s been a weeksince the Virkovian forces had started mobilising and moving to the Keep to theEast. Most of the soldiers have settled in by now, and by the end of the day,the stragglers will have brought up the rear. Down at the docks, crates ofmedical supplies are being loaded into the ferry. She’s checking through themand ticking off her list when Taranis and Lear approach, packed and armoured,apparently ready to go.

Taranis gives her aquick hug before disappearing to help with the loading. She hands off her listto her assistant, then turns towards Lear, managing a faint smile. It’s notforever - it’s not even a separation. He’s just two hours away, and she’ll seehim often enough on her weekly visits with the Keep apothecary. Maybe when the war ends, we can be together.Maybe when this is all over, we can love one another in peace.

Still, she’s gottenused to sharing spaces with him, and it’s not a parting she’s looking forwardto. But there’s more work to be done, and she knows he’s in full-focus mode, soshe tries to be brief. “For good luck.” She straightens, and finding noresistance, presses a light kiss to his scarred cheek. She keeps it friendly.Unaffected and casual. Somewhere in the ferry, she hears Taranis bellow,evidently exasperated, “Just kiss already. We have to go.”

Lear spares theCaptain a look, but smiles when he turns back to her. His arms envelop hereasily as he kisses her on the forehead. “Stay out of trouble.”

91. “You left me.”Taranis and Lars | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

It’sdark out and she’s terrified. Everywhere she turns, branches and twigs snap,and the fluttering of birds taking flight raises hairs on the nape of her neck.She’s not sure how long it’s been since she’d split ways from the party, but ifthey’re looking for her, they’re doing a terrible job. When she’s finallyexhausted herself walking, she sits, and stares at her feet. Somewhere in thetrees are surely wild animals who would want nothing more than little girl fordinner.

Don’t cry,she tells herself. Warriors never cry. She sings softly to herself, and themusic makes her feel a little bit better. But when the little orange-crestedrobin lands on the ground before her, she lets out a gasp, surprised, and backsaway. “Oh, it’s you.” She recognises the sweet little creature – he’s friendswith Mae, she thinks. “Are you lost too?”

Halfa minute later, her father crashes through the bushes, ginger hair in disarrayand eyes wide in panic. “Lars, thank the gods. I was so worried!”

Sheburies her face in his shoulder as he wraps his thick, strong arms around her,and barely gets out the words – “I was afraid you left me.”

Helaughs, sounding a little choked up as he squeezes her and kisses her head. “Don’tbe silly.” His kisses always make her feel better, and she’s happy to curl upagainst his chest. The little robin flits up and settles upon her shoulder.“I’ll never leave you, alright? But try not to wander off like this again.”

92. “I should’vestayed home.”Ora and Nolan |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Shecleans her father’s body and Lorcan helps her change him. When they’re done andshe’s alone at last, she touches the old man’s grey, lined face. Nolan Winthallis not a handsome man, but he’s the father she knows. She struggles to come upwith the words, and not a single one is sufficient to convey the depth of herguilt and regret. “I should’ve stayed with home, with you,” She whispers. “Ishould have spent more time with you.”

93. “It doesn’tmatter anymore.”Taranis and Rei | Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

She’dbeen unconscious for the better part of a week, so he’s pleasantly surprised tofind her awake when he drops in for a visit. Her colour is better and he’s toldshe’s eating now.  She looks up when heenters; he sits down and presses a kiss to her temple. “Good to see you’rebetter.”

“Hm.”She sighs, then slumps back into her pillows. The explosions had taken outseveral other field healers, and he knows she’s still shaken up about losingher assistant in the ensuing aftermath. He has to hand it to Azmodan – thebastard knows exactly what to do to push the fight in his favour. With most ofthe Virkovian militia stationed at the Keep, he’d mounted an assault from theWestern front instead, sending in his demons and catapults on ships under theshroud of the evening fog. Despite the losses, they’d somehow beaten the host, andVirkove continues to stand.

Herhair’s shorter, sheared off at the shoulders. It suits her. He flicks a flyawaycurl lightly, watching as it bounces off her cheek. “What happened here?”

“Toohard to untangle, after.” She shrugs a shoulder, seemingly unconcerned. Once,she might have been troubled, but it’s obvious she understands. The world isdifferent now, and so are her priorities. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

94. “Take yourshirt off!”Niall, Mae, and Lars |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Tyraelhad sent him out to scout the forests surrounding the city; there had been newsof some trouble with the thieves’ guild. With the local militia kept occupiedwith the rebuilding and final scouring of the city, the task had fallen to theHoradrim – or, apparently, the Horadrim’s allies. There’s laughter ringing inthe muggy air, and he frowns for a moment, confused. Amaethon and Laori aresplashing around in a pool; Amaethon spots him first, and stands, greeting himeagerly and throwing both hands in the air. “Niall! Take your shirt off and comejoin us – the water’s nice and cool today!”

He’shaving trouble thinking properly. The two are apparently naked, and completelyat ease. Laori glances back over her bare shoulder, bright-eyed and beaming.“Yeah, Niall! Come on in. The deal is nobody looks and tackling is free game.”

Helets out a chuckle he hopes isn’t too awkward. “Maybe next time.”

95. “We’re gonnadie. We’re so dead!”Lars and Naix |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Thereare demons hot on their tail, and the others in their party have longdisappeared into the trees. Naix has his bow drawn, but she wonders how hewould fare in closer quarters. The winged, horned demons charge in at themthrough the underbrush. She lets out a breath and readies herself. “We’re goingto die.”

“Yeah.”Naix’s voice is clipped and terse. “We’re pretty much fucked.”

96. “Sorry, did Istep on your moment?”Mae and Theone |Raindrop Pendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

Theone’sface says it all – she’s pleased with herself, her smug smile utterlyreminiscent of Uncle Lear’s when he knows he’s won a fight. He doesn’t get it,though – she’d helped him out after all, and they’d disposed of the Evil Treesmuch faster with two as opposed to one. “Thanks for helping me out!”

Shelooks annoyed at that and he can’t figure out why; but there’s more adventuringto be done, and now he has plenty of time to do it.

97. “I thought youhated me.”Ethan and Strahan | Raindrop Pendants AU | OTP |NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

It’s a sunny Summer’sday, and the family comes together again. Innocence and joy abound in thememories they’d shared, untainted by the horrors of the past years. Now thatthe war is over, they’re glad to laugh over barbeques, ice-cold beers on handand wine for the uppity likes of his sister and her new husband. Hans sits byhis side on the lawn, bouncing Maika off his lap.

They’re talking abouttheir first meeting. Hans had only just been adopted, a young, gangly boy - thechild of Mother’s deceased best friend. “I thought you hated me,” He grins.

Strahan snickers,then blows a raspberry into his daughter’s cheek. “I did,” He confesses. “Butif it makes you feel any better, I got over it real quick.”

“Aww.” He ruffles hisbrother’s slick dark hair. “I love you too, Hans.”

98. “I won’t letyou die.”Rei and Azmodan |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | (FUCK)NOTP| BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Thehairs on the base of her neck prickle as they descend, deeper and deeper intothe heart of Arreat. He’s taunted them the entire time; Ora is damned neargreen with terror and Heulan is all focus. Azmodan’s voice echoes in her head.

Ahh, how sweet ofthe little rat, to send a replacement for my murdered consort in the form ofhis own lover. Are you a virgin, sweet creature? How do you like it? I willshow you a better lover, one who will adore you. I won’t abandon you like he’sdone so many times. You will be my queen. And when I have won your heart andbody, you will sit by my side – and we will laugh together as I slay that foulbastard for all he has taken from me. For all the hurt he has caused you.Wouldn’t you like that?

Shegrits her teeth, her fingers tightening about the hilt of her sword. Taranisglances aside at her, and she shakes her head at him. Azmodan’s voice piercesher mind yet again, and she flinches.Don’t fear me, sweet creature. I won’t let you die. You’ll learn to love mycock soon enough. And if you struggle – well. I’m sure I’ll find a way to havefun with that, too.

99. “I wish youcould love me.”Ananke and Karalir |Raindrop Pendants | OTP | NOTP | BROTP | OT3 | FamTP |

Shewill soon be gone from the world – her body is tired and failing, but theregret remains. Karalir sits at the base of her bed, a dutiful son to the end.Still, she knows it’s not her he wants. It’s never been her. He’s his father’sson, after all. She loves him nonetheless. “I wish you could love me.” Thewords are softly whispered. “I know there’s nothing I can say to change yourmind, but I do love you, Karalir.”

100. “Saysomething.”Ceth and Cel | RaindropPendants: WM | OTP | NOTP | BROTP| OT3 | FamTP |

If you love her,you gotta tell her, Grampa had said. He’s afraid ofrejection, but he knows ma and pa are watching from above, cheering him on. Andmore than that, he knows Cel’s been waiting for him – because when love isstaring you in the face, you know. He takes a deep breath, clenching his fists,then pushes through the back door of the Naveau house and strides in.

Celgreets him with a bright smile as always, and shoves a cookie into his mouth.“Hi, Ceth! You got here early.”

Hechews quickly and swallows – the cookie’s made his mouth dry, but he can’t helpit. He has to tell her before he loses his nerve. It’s a terrible confession,all warbling and nervous, and by the time he’s done, he swears it’s the firsttime he wishes he hadn’t had a cookie at all. “S-say something.” He looks atthe girl – the pretty one with auburn hair, the one he’s loved forever, for herkindness and sweet nature, for everything she represents and everything she is.“What do you think, Cel?”

[queen-of-bel]

Naoya (from devil survivor)?

Favorite thing about them: It’s really difficult to choose just one thing, but if I had to... His backstory. The reveal about who he is, and the fact that he was able to turn his punishment in his favor? He’s also easily my favorite chaos rep in any megaten game. I’d 100% go with Naoya’s suggestion if I were in Kazuya’s shoes.

Least favorite thing about them: HIS MATRIX-PATTERNED HAORI. i hate it so much. i hated it when i cosplayed him. i hate it every time i try to draw him. yasuda thinks he’s sooo clever, but let me tell you, as a former software engineer, if any of my coworkers caught me unironically wearing something as hideous as that, they would be morally obligated to shoot me on sight.

Favorite line: “You hate me, don’t you? In the depths of your heart, you want to kill me, right?”

brOTP: loki, if for no other reason than the thought that naoya having to constantly swat away loki for being annoying as hell always cracks me up

OTP: can i say me tbh no one really. naoya is genuinely too fucked up of a person to handle a relationship. i already touched on it in a very lengthy analysis piece about his character, but naoya is very cold to the idea of regular friendships because he can’t afford to get attached to anyone. he warms up slightly to the idea of friendship on his eighth day, when he knows that this will be his last lifetime, but i think it would take a lot for him to actually open up romantically to anyone.

that being said, i think in vague hypothetical terms, shoji x naoya would be absolutely hilarious, just bc i can see shoji being the only person that naoya gets genuinely exasperated with and cannot reign in.

nOTP: i really cannot fucking believe i have to say this, but kazuya. i hope none of my followers are the kind of freaks who need to hear this, but please, please, please stop writing romantic/sexual fanfiction between two reincarnated siblings who are cousins in this lifetime.

random headcanon: whenever naoya goes to hang out with people, he pretends to not be interested in any japanese sweets (his vice), but after a while, he can’t control himself. he doesn’t want to admit to the whole group that he’s dying for sweets, so he nonchalantly offers to buy some for the entire group. everyone thinks he’s super generous, but really, he’s just a prideful little asshole who can’t admit that he the only thing he wants is to get that sweet bun shaped like a rabbit

unpopular opinion: lmaooo only like 5 people have played this game what are even popular opinions

song i associate with them: marina - living dead

several lines stick out to me in this song:

“Everyday I feel the same, stuck and I could never change... Was it really worth it? Did I really deserve it?”

“I haven't lived life, I haven't lived love, Just bird's-eye view from the sky above. I'm dead, I'm living dead.”

“Got bubble wrap around my heart, waiting for my life to start. But everyday it never comes, permanently at square one.”

favorite picture of them:

*slams fists on table* naoya is canonically handsome, but of course, yasuda couldn’t give us that bc he was too worried about the size of the ~anime tiddies~. manga naoya is what we should have gotten. i am forever bitter that we were robbed of what could actually have been a handsome face.

thank you for asking!

send me a character and i’ll fill this out