#oh my dearest image on the $1 coin. i love you

[korpikorppi]

Miscellaneous posts 2021 masterpost, part 2

Links to stuff I've made in May - August 2021 (excluding the Untamed costume posts and the Untamed collages and most posts at @1000wangjis) to try to keep things in order somehow 🤔. Latest one on top.

No excuses, just Wei Wuxian's gorgeous face (during the 2nd siege of the Burial Mounds)

It's not always easy to be Jin Zixuan (the confession scene in ep25)

We three brothers stand here today to take an oath (3 Zun tragedy)

Oh look, it's purple! (JC and Zidian, single screenshot edit)

Like Da-ge, like Er-ge (JGY's type?)

Hanguang-Jun's newest head-piece (crack)

JC, WWX and LWJ at the Chang residence (kinda funny)

The single plank bridge (Wangxian goodbyes in the Burial Mounds, a bunch of screencaps, some text)

Wangxian word clouds (visualisations of the names Wangxian call each other in the Untamed)

Like fathers, like son (reblog of the earlier "Like father, like son" post with an image of WWX standing with Suibian added to LSH and LWJ)

LWJ and JC trying to stab WWX in the face (parallel screenshots)

LWJ edit #150 (reblog from 1000wangjis, Kneel! for Hanguang-jun!)

Could I be forgiven (XY in black and white, birthday post)

In this lifetime (WWX's morning walk in the Cloud Recesses)

I used to see you as my soulmate (single screenshot Wangxian edit)

Battle couple (Wanxian being two sides of the same coin in the Nightless City battle, b&w)

Wei Ying dearest, no! (WWX, having bad ideas about Bichen, crack)

LWJ edit #136 (reblog from 1000wangjis, LWJ with eye makeup)

How to be (cool) like Yiling Laozu

Ummm. A slightly n-s-f-w Wangxian edit from ep42.

Jiang Cheng during the Sunshot Campaign

LWJ edit #127 (reblog from 1000wangjis, 4 seasons in the Cloud Recesses)

LWJ edit #125 (reblog from 1000wangjis, WWX fainted on LWJs shoulder at Burial Mounds)

To accomplish the impossible (Burial Mounds, Wangxian as WN regains consciousness)

LWJ edit #118 (reblog from 1000wangjis, LWJ carrying A-Yuan)

Wang Yibo with the bunny (behind the scenes)

LWJ edit #115 (reblog from 1000wangjis, LWJ's umbrella)

Qishan - Nightless City (Qishan Wen, Clan portrait series)

One might be inclined to think these two are in love (two Wangxian screencap edits from ep44)

On the stairs of Jinlintai (WWX, LWJ and the single-plank bridge)

Hanguang Jun (portrait for the start of Hanguang June)

Qinghe - Unclean Realm (the Nie brothers, Clan portrait series)

Yunmeng - Lotus Pier (the Jiangs and WWX, Clan portrait series)

LWJ edit #100 (reblog from 1000wangjis)

The Untamed OST (list of links)

The canonical top 5 of best-looking young masters, with flowers

Sandu Shengshou at Nightless City

3 Zun at Nightless City

LWJ edit #83 (reblog from 1000wangjis)

The relationship between Lan Qiren and Lan Jingyi (a little bit of meta)

YLLZ (Yiling Laozu WWX in b&w and red)

Wen Qionglin (un-undead? Ghost General, single screenshot edit)

LWJ edit #75 (black Lan Clan emblem, reblog from 1000wangjis)

Almost (XXC checking on XY's injuries in Yi City)

LWJ edit #70 (Chief Cultivator LWJ in pastel colours, reblog from 1000wangjis)

Our greatest strength, our heart (JYL birthday post, single screencap edit)

Part 1 January - April, 2021

[lukalovesyou]

Reddie Playlist

Hey! Ok so I’ve been working on this Reddie playlist for a while now and I’ve finally decided to put it out! It’s available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. This 45 song playlist is takes you from before It ch 1 until after It ch 2 and it’s pretty much just Richie’s perspective with Eddie’s sprinkled in. It works best if you listen to it full way through without shuffling it, it’s supposed to tell a story! I’m gonna leave a guideline to everything under the links to the playlists so you can follow along if you want! I really hope you guys enjoy, please leave me feedback because I’d love that! Special thanks to my girlfriend @jivs-jam for helping me find songs and for owning the Apple Music Playlist. Another thanks to my sister for listening to it through with me before I put it out and to you for listening!

Here it is!!

~Storyline~

Key:

•Richies POV

•Eddies POV

•Both POV

•important song

•song quote

By your side by Mellah

This song is meant to establish their friendship as it’s the beginning of the playlist. Richie and Eddie are best friends, obviously, and they always have each other’s back.

“You need not ask me for more ‘cause friend I’d give you it all, to have and to hold, when you’re down, when you fall”

La Lune by Madeon ft. Dan Smith

Richie is beginning to feel differently about Eddie as he’s getting older even thought nothings really changed between them. He can’t pinpoint what’s wrong but he’s worried about the change.

“Does it matter if we change? Does it matter at all? Don’t you worry about me, Friend, don’t you worry at all”

could this be love? By saturn 17

Richie realizes that his feelings towards Eddie are no longer simply friendly and have crossed over into crush territory. He notices everything Eddie does and he absolutely admires him. By the end he’s trying to push it down and convince himself his feelings aren’t real.

“I’ve never felt like this before. Oh, I’ve never had this feeling till I saw her. She’s making me feel like this could be love, but who knows, could it be love?”

Walking All Day by Graham Coxon

Pretty much just Riche doing anything to make Eddie smile or laugh. He just wants to be near him 🥺

“Walkin’ all day with my mouth on fire trying to get talkin’ to you”

Wonderwall by Oasis

Richie wants to tell Eddie everything he feels but he can’t.

“Because maybe you’re gonna be the one that saves me cause after all, you’re my wonderwall”

Sleepover by Hayley Kiyoko

Richie wants him and Eddie to be more than friends but he knows he can’t tell Eddie that. Like in La Lune, they are doing things they would usually do, like have sleepovers and such, but it all feels different now.

“Even when you’re next to me it’s not the way I’m picturing, no.”

Why Not Me by Alexander Rybak

Richie is happy that they’re friends but he wants more. He’s distraught that he isn’t what Eddie might want.

“You wonder who your date will be. I wonder, Katherine, why not me?”

Daisy by Zedd

Eddie is beginning to catch feelings for Richie as well. He acknowledges how troubled Richie seems and wishes he could tell him just how much he means to him.

“Let me show you how a kiss should taste. Trust me, I won’t give your heart away. Why you running, running, when I’ve got it right here? Oh, I would love you if you let me.”

Space Age Love Song by A Flock Of Seagulls

Just imagine Richie and Eddie doin cute shit like going to a museum or whateva and falling for each other even more without the other one knowing 😌

“I saw your eyes and you touched my mind, although it took a while, I was falling in love.”

Your Love Song, Pt. 2 by HUNNY

I usually just imagine Richie singing to this song in his room thinking about Eddie but for the purpose of this playlist, Richie is finding it harder to mask his feeling. Eddie seems to be vibing, though, so Richie begins to think he might just have a shot.

“Baby, I want to be part of your love song. Maybe I already am.”

Boyfriend by Big Time Rush

This is self explanatory (and self indulgent.) Richie isn’t saying this to Eddie bUt he’s hyping himself up so he can finally ask Eddie out.

“Don’t be scared to come, put your trust in me. Can’t you see? All I really wanna be is your boyfriend.”

Jenny by Studio Killers

This is the get together song!! Richie finally tells Eddie how he feels and Eddies gay ass obviously recuperates his feelings. I personally imagine them in their Freshman year of high school when this takes place, just to put things into perspective.

“I wanna ruin our friendship, we should be lovers instead. I don’t know how to say this cause you’re really my dearest friend.”

I Wanna Waste My Time on You by The Crookes

This is the beginning of the “Honeymoon” phase of their relationship, a theme that prevails for the next few songs (until Yellow Cloud). They spend every second with each other, more than normal. It’s just a feel good new love type song. The idea of escapism is started here and prevails until the end of their teenage years.

“I wanna waste my time on you, waste my time on you. Spinning round the skyline, when everything was new.”

Lay By Me by firekid

Another song in the “Honeymoon” phase. Very wholesome and cute, just two idiots in love.

“I’ll show you the world tonight as long as you say you’re mine.”

Talk Too Much by COIN

Richie’s a Trashmouth. That’s it. You can imagine they’re on a date, idk I just had to do it to em.

“You know I talk too much. Honey, come put your lips on mine and shut me up.”

Yellow Cloud by Trixie Mattel

As they become more serious and as they get deeper into their teenage years, Eddie dreams of getting out of Derry with Richie in tow. The “Honeymoon” phase of being overly clingy may be over, but they love each other just as much as before.

“When we’re older, we stay the same. Couple of losers who won the game.”

Everlong by Foo Fighters

Richie wants nothing to ever change between them, but he’s afraid that he might do something wrong, his inner insecurities attacking him. He just wants everything to work out, and Eddie assures him it will.

“And I wonder when I sing along with you if everything could ever feel this real forever, if anything could ever be this good again.”

Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys

Richie and Eddie talk about the future outside of Derry.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older? Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long. And wouldn’t it be nice to live together in the kind of world where we belong?”

Come on Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners

I imagine this song as their first Homecoming dance together, probably around their Sophmore year of high school. Richie is hyping up his boyfriends obviously. You can take this song with its intended meaning but they babies so 🥺 imma pretend I didn’t hear that.

“Come on Eileen. Oh I swear, at this moment you mean everything.”

Two Men in Love by The Irrepressibles

They feel so deeply in love as the relationship slowly builds and they plan on running away with each other after they graduate. I also imaging them coming out to the losers about their relationship in this song.

“There’s a strange love inside, it’s getting louder, and louder, and louder, and louder, and louder. There’s a danger I can’t hide. Who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am. I’m in love.”

Roman Holiday by Halsey

Richie gets his licence during his Junior year and they escape Derry for the weekend. This also symbolizes Eddie’s wish to run away with Richie and how that want keeps getting stronger.

“Feet first, don’t fall, or we’ll be running again.”

Eddie Baby by Felix Hagan & the Family

This boy is in love. That’s it. Oh and it’s like near the end of Junior year.

“Oh Eddie, baby, Won’t you come to my arms tonight? I beg and plead you please succumb to my charms tonight.”

18 by One Direction

It’s their Senior year and Eddie gets accepted into a good school out of state. Eddie promises to visit/write/call Richie until Richie has enough money to leave Derry and join Eddie. They both reflect on their relationship over past few years.

“All I can do is say that these arms were made for holding you. I wanna love like you made me feel when we were 18.”

Eddie My Love by The Chordettes

Richie writes Eddie a letter after he leaves for college. Eddie obviously doesn’t get it, and if he did he still wouldn’t have known who Richie was.

“Eddie, please write me one line. Please tell me your love is still only mine. Please, Eddie, since you’ve been gone.”

Malibu 1992 by COIN

Richie and Eddie “break up”, aka Richie never hears from Eddie again and he accepts that he’s probably never gonna hear from him again. Richie convinces himself that Eddie has grown tired of him. He revisits the Kissing Bridge and mourns the loss of his relationship. He tries to convince himself that he’s over Eddie but he knows he can’t be.

“Oh, I did it again, I did it again. Oh I did it again, I must still want you. Our names carved in the pavement, sealed by what’s left of our handprints, now.”

Slow Dances by Winnetka Bowling Leauge

Richie is leaving Derry to pursue standup in California. As he drives away from his hometown he thinks of Eddie one last time. Then he forgets.

“That’s how I knew you, talking with your fast hands, saving all your slow dances. I wish I was there with you.”

La Belle Femme by HUNNY

Twenty One years have gone by since Richie left Derry and Twenty Seven years have gone by since Pennywise terrorized the Losers Club. Richie gets his call from Mike and remembers all the losers- especially Eddie. He remembers his crush but not their relationship. While he doesn’t think he still likes him, he mourns the “lost opportunities” from decades ago.

“What I would do if I was with you in the other room. Dreaming of you, is all I can do, from the other room.”

Sober Up by AJR

Once he sees Eddie again, he’s like “shit I’m still gay” and drinks a shit ton of alcohol, so basically just what happens in the movie. He also reflects on all he remembers now, not just stuff about Eddie but the losers in general.

“Won’t you help me sober up? Growing up, it made me numb, and I wanna feel something again.”

Happily by One Direction

Best way to summarize this is “Wait Eddie you got married? You mean to like a woman?”. Richie is pretty much just jealous of Myra and he wishes he could have Eddie to himself.

“I know you wanna leave, so c’mon baby, be with me so happily.”

Self Control by DallasK

As they return to the townhouse, Richie knows in his mind that both he and Eddie need to leave before Richie does something he’ll regret, especially because Eddie is married. He never verbalizes it.

“I wanna hold you close but I keep telling myself that you should run away cause you got somebody else.”

Parking Lot by HUNNY

Richie’s upset over missed opportunities. He wants nothing more than to be with Eddie but he know he can’t. Unbeknownst to him, he’s wasting his time with Eddie by worrying over lost time.

“I should’ve kissed that girl in the parking lot, I never told her what I wanted to say. I could’ve cracked my head in the parking lot, you never know.”

Raspberry by Grouplove

Eddie has feelings for Richie and gets flustered over him as if he were a teenager again. He tries to explain it away and rationalize it in his mind.

“Cause I was walking in a dream, what you mean? How you been? I never knew I’d get so red.”

Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

They are about to go against Pennywise for the second and final time. They both mentally promise themselves that when/if they get out of there alive they’re gonna confess their feelings to each other. They can’t waste anymore time withholding how they feel.

“And I need you now tonight, and I need you more than ever, ans if you only hold me tight, we’ll be holding on forever.”

Fight for Me by Barrett Wilbert Weed (Heathers)

Eddie believes he killed Pennywise and Richie has never felt more in love in his life. He wants Eddie, nothing more and nothing less. He wants to make him and Eddie work. Then like Pennywise is homophobic or whateva.

“And hey, could you face the crowd? Could you be seen with me and still act proud? Hey, could you hold my hand and could you carry me through no mans land?”

Breezeblocks by alt-J

Richie confesses his feelings for Eddie to Eddie before he dies.

“Please don’t go, Please don’t go. I love you so, I love you so.”

Arms Tonite by Mother Mother

Eddie wants to tell Richie that he feels the same and he knows he doesn’t have a lot of time left.

“I cried in the afterlife. I cry hard because I have died and you’re alive”

Smarter Ways Of Saying It by HUNNY

This is the death song. I don’t know what else to say besides I’m sad.

“I ask you to hold my hand as we fall asleep and I forget your face.”

(I Just) Died In Your Arms by Cutting Crew

Eddie is dead and he regrets so much in the afterlife :(( my heart </3

“Oh, i just died in your arms tonight, it must’ve been something you said.”

Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol

Richie is in denial about Eddies death and he has to be dragged out of Neibolt. So just think of the “we gotta get him outta here” scene.

“Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine and we'll walk from this dark room for the last time. Every minute from this minute now we can do what we like anywhere. I want so much to open your eyes cause I need you to look into mine.”

How to Save a Life by The Fray

Richie regrets not making good use of time and he blames himself for Eddie’s death as the losers comfort him in the quarry.

“Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend, somewhere along in the bitterness.”

Jet Pack Blues by Fall Out Boy

Richie re-carves R+E into the Kissing Bridge and remembers everything. All his childhood/teenage memories, all the good and bad times, but most importantly he remembers his relationship with Eddie. He leaves Derry, still remembering everything even after he arrives back in California. He wishes Eddie could have gone home with him.

“I’ve got those Jet Pack Blues. Fight off the light tonight and just stay with me. Honey, don’t you leave.”

In This Shirt by The Irrepressibles

Richie wishes he can tell Eddie just how much he means to him. All he has to comfort him once he gets back home is some of Eddies belonging that he took with him, including a few of his hoodies.

“In this shirt I can be you, to be near you, for a while.”

Take On Me (MTV Unplugged) by a-ha

Richie is beginning to go through all the stages of grief and is slowly coming to terms with Eddies death.

“I’m odds and ends but I’ll be stumbling away slowly learning that life is ok.”

Letter by Mother Mother

Richie uses writing as a way to cope, whether it’s writing his own comedy routines (finally) or writing Eddie letters that he knows will never get to him no matter how hard he tries.

“I miss my lover, yeah I write letter everyday. The only thing is that my lover don’t ever write me.”

Vanilla Twilight by Owl City

Richie has finally come to terms with Eddies passing and has begun to live his life like he normally would, the only difference being the support he now has from his friends. He still thinks about Eddie daily, however, and still loves him all the same. He could never forget him.

“But I swear I won't forget you. Oh, if my voice could reach back through the past, I'd whisper in your ear, ‘Oh darling, I wish you were here’”

Thank you if you’ve made it this far!! I really hope you enjoyed!! I have an Alternate version of this playlist I’m gonna finalize and put out soon. Anyways have an amazing day/night! Again, I hope you enjoyed!

[hufflepuffmarlenemckinnon]

Of the Essence 9/22

A Marauder’s Era Fanfic

Pairings: Blackinnon, Jily

Rating: Teen-Mature for language and sexual themes. I will warn for the two later chapters that get a little steamy.

Word Count: 22k+

Summary: Sirius and James semi-inadvertently invent a new potion. It’s consequences to Sirius’s personal life are anything but straightforward.

A/N: I am a complete failboat at using Tumblr as a platform for my fic, but I am giving it a go and moving my current WIP over from here.

Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6 Ch.7 Ch.8

Chapter 9; The Sunflower

Marlene,

I wanted to send you this flower because it looks like you. Sunflowers are both stronger and prettier than roses, I think. Additionally, it’s almost certainly a Hufflepuff. Look at it. You know it’s a Hufflepuff. I hope you like it. Maybe you’ll reconsider letting me take you on a date?

-Sirius

Marlene folded up the parchment that the letter had been written on. She didn’t even want her sister to see it. It was embarrassing.

She felt like such a coward. She’d snuck away and avoided him because talking about the strange thing that has developed between them would have been hard. Even just thinking about it was uncomfortable. How could she talk to him about it when she didn’t even know what she wanted? She couldn’t reconcile the feelings bubbling underneath the surface with the image she wanted to portray. She was supposed to be sure of herself. Steady. Persistent. An exemplary Hufflepuff.

She’d tried to tell herself it was all just confusion brought on by the intense physical chemistry they had. He was probably still a giant wanker and she’d just imagined the sweetness and sincerity. That line of self-delusion didn’t hold up to this flower.

“You have an admirer.” Sandra Cresswell, a fellow 6th year Hufflepuff noted from across the breakfast table.

“I dunno. It’s just a flower. Nothing really.”

“Who sends people sunflowers? That’s not very romantic. Aren’t roses the done thing?”

Marlene shrugged. Despite herself she felt defensive of her sunflower. He’d sent it because he thought it looked like her. That was more personal… and more romantic… but she wouldn’t say that out loud that would make it seem like she approved. Which she didn’t.

“Did it come signed?”

“No. I guess it’ll have to be a mystery sunflower then.” She lied.

“Well, I guess it’s nice that someone’s thinking of you.”

Was it? She’d almost prefer to forget about the whole thing. She’d certainly rather not talk to Sandra about it.

She managed to shut that conversation down but she wasn’t as lucky when her brother and sister dragged her to the corner table of the Hufflepuff common room. The twins were two sides to one coin. They were an unstoppable force together when working against her. She found the whole twin arrangement unfair. She’d taken the issue to her mum more than once.

“You’re not getting out of this baby sister. Where is it?” Grace asked with the utmost authority.

“Where’s what?”

“The love letter you received this morning. Word gets round.”

Lucan was such a gossip. It was near impossible to keep anything from him. She hoped he didn’t actually have sources who could see through walls or he might know way more than she was comfortable admitting to anyone.

“It was just a flower. No love letter. It’s nothing.”

Marlene felt sure that Helga Hufflepuff was rolling and restless in her grave. Lying to family… Pushing someone away for the sake of pride… Had the hat even made the right decision?

“Right and I’m the Queen of England.”

“All hail her Majesty, Queen Lucan.”

“You’ve been acting very strangely, baby sister. It’s almost like you’re… happy… or something. Don’t think we haven’t noticed.” Grace sounded like she was making an accusation.

“Am I generally morose?”

“No, of course not, but this is different. I catch you smiling for no reason.”

“Well maybe I’d been reading a good novel or something. Can I have some peace, now?”

“Why? So you can day dream about whoever sent you the love letter which you very clearly got?” Grace was quite confident in her assertion.

“No! I will do no such daydreaming! I don’t even like him actually…”

“So you admit there was a letter and you know who it was from! Ha! Caught you.”

“Oh Lucan! I’ll bet it was Sirius Black. He asked after our dearest baby sister a while back, after our herbology class with Gryffindor. And you know she turned him down prior to that…”

“I still can’t believe you turned down Sirius Black…” Lucan looked horrified.

Marlene shrugged. She didn’t want to talk about it. It was weird. Sirius Black was weird. People weren’t generally so confusing. Why couldn’t he have been like other people?

“Marlene do you even know who he is? I’d think you’d probably be a bit impressed if you did.”

“He’s some Gryffindor who knocked into me in the hall and gave me some line about being pretty when I’m mad? I dunno. Is he some sort of wizard chess champion or something? What’s so great about him?”

She deliberately failed to include the subsequent encounters she’d had with him. She hadn’t told a soul about it, and would have preferred to keep it that way. Her brother and sister and Merlin only knew who else knew she’d told him to bugger off. It wouldn’t cast her in a very flattering light if they knew she had gotten overly fond of kissing him and then spent the night in his arms wondering if her whole concept of him was a mistake…

“His brother is in your year. Regulus Black. He’s a right bigoted wanker, no? And from what I hear, Sirius was disowned over a year ago. He comes from a family of the very worst sort of blood supremacists. But he refused to be like them. He wouldn’t back down or pretend. So I guess that he hasn’t lived at home since before his 16th birthday. That’s… well… he might have given you a cheesy line… but you can’t deny the guts that must have taken.”

Marlene stared off into space. She hadn’t expected that. She thought he had just been some arrogant tosser who was used to getting whatever he wanted.

But now her own family was trying to convince her that the Gryffindor who had held her and made her laugh despite herself was some kind of brave principled aristocrat who’d been disowned by his own family?

They wouldn’t lie, of course. So it must have been true. But… that…why would he…

She felt so confused. Even more confused than she had before, which was no small amount.

“I hate to admit it Marls, but Lucy is right.”

“Will I ever convince you lot to stop calling me Lucy at school?”

“Nope. Sorry, Lucy. But you were right about Black. He’s got principles. He’s not a bad bloke. Just annoyingly popular.”

Marlene let out an exasperated groan. She couldn’t process all this.

“It’s ok Marls. You don’t have to… accept his weird flower offerings or whatever, but just know he probably means well. It’s entirely possible he’s never had to pursue anyone before.”

“Well that’ll be it then. I’m a challenge. That’s all. I’m sure he’ll get over the novelty of it.”

She was sure that if he was really all that fantastic then he wouldn’t keep wasting his time on her, anyway. He’d find someone better.

Later that night, with her curtain pulled around her bed Marlene got out her sunflower, which she’d charmed to stay fresh, and looked at it.

This was really sweet. No one had done anything like this for her before.

She wished she remembered what exactly was so awful about him, the first time she’d met him. All she could remember was the feeling. The impression of revulsion stuck with her, rather than any sort of actual behavior that had been really awful. She put a lot of pride into her instincts being good when it came to judging a person’s character. How could she be that far off base? What had it been?

She could think of several things that were not awful in the least…

The memory of his hands all over her sent a shiver up her spine.

She wished he hadn’t gone and done that. It was better when she didn’t remember what he looked like. That was only the first hurdle, but it had been hard to reconcile the undeniable fact of being physically attracted to him, with the fact she’d wanted him to leave her alone. She had rejected him several times already and it would be embarrassing to swallow her pride like that. It would have been easier if he just left her alone and moved on with his life after the first time.

It would have been easier but she couldn’t quite put her heart behind wishing it hadn’t happened. Worse than that, she kept hoping he’d find her again. If Marlene had the map, she was sure she wouldn’t have been able to stay away from him. She was going to have to admit to herself that somewhere along the line she’d grown fond of the irritating git. But she didn’t really want to draw attention to the whole bizarre ordeal and she wouldn’t go confront him in front of people.

Besides, what would she even say? ‘I still don't know what to make of you as a person, but I do know that you’re absurdly hot so please come sneak into my bed again’? That would be unfathomably rude, especially after he’d sent the flower… She couldn’t be so callous to someone who liked her enough to find a flower that actually did resemble her quite a bit. He was right. It was a Hufflepuff.  

Maybe Sirius Black wasn’t so bad.

[mystisnykoto]

Into the Machine (pt.25)

Iris slowly opened her eyes, as white light surrounded her from every angle. She looked over herself, finding herself to be healed of her wounds and have her arm returned to her. A smile grew over her face as she pat over her body.

“I'm... I'm real? But, my arm... Is this a machine?” Iris asked aloud to no one. “This... doesn't feel digital.”

“Because it's not...” called out a voice, booming loud, but calming. A dark figure appeared in the distance and slowly walked closer to Iris. “I was expecting to say 'my look at how you've grown!' but it seems you found a way to do the opposite,” the voice chuckled. Iris stood in shock as the figure stepped closer, their face revealing through the light. “Hello, my child.”

“F-father...?” Iris asked. Iris trailed off as tears began to well up in her eyes. She bit her lip, quivering as emotions overtook her. “Oh gods, father!” Iris cried out as she rushed forward and hugged tightly to her father's leg. “Gods, I've missed you so much!”

“I'm sorry to have left you alone for so long Aeslyn, or is it Iris now?” her father laughed as he knelt down to wipe away Iris' tears. “It's who you were inside, and you grew to be a beautiful young lady.”

“F-father... wh-why... how are you here? Where are we?” Iris asked, stumbling over her words. Her father sighed, as his smile faded.

“This... this is the eternal leyline. The border between life and death. If you are here, it's...” he paused choking back on his own tears. “It is because you have died, or are very close to it.” Iris stood in shock at her fathers words as panic and despair washed over her.

“N-no... no I can't be dead... I still...” Iris choked out as her panic infused with her voice.

“I know... I know... It's not something that is easy to accept or deal with. But... it is something that needs to be accepted...” her father spoke, patting Iris lightly on the head. A warmth spread through her, calming her nerves as she felt her mind start to accept her situation. “You fought so hard...” he started, as scenes from Iris' past seemed to surround the two of them. “You were weak and sickly, hardly able to walk properly. You took initiative, and ran away from home after my death. You spent the last of your coin to secure passage from Sharlayan to Vylbrand. Somewhere you got mixed up, took a ship to Thanalan, where you were attacked within the city walls and left for dead.” Iris cried, watching the scenes play out again before her. “You were rescued by a lalafell named Nonoya, given a new form more closely resembling your soul, but... well not exactly your true self.”

“Y-yeah...” Iris sobbed, letting out a small laugh as the images sped by.

“You nearly gave up, ready to simply call it quits on everything, when you met her...” the father paused, as an image of Ruri froze around them.

“Ruri....”

“She saved you, gave you hope that there was more to life than what you had dealt with thus far. You went on adventures, toyed with magic, shrank yourselves... and married, and settled down.” He smiled as he looked over Iris. “My dearest daughter, I was watching over you all of these days, and you've made me so proud.” Iris cried harder, smiling as she sobbed loudly, her chest heaving and quivering as her whole body shook. “You then... had a conflict with this one, Venatrix, the woman of whose face and form you were granted. You wanted only peace with her, until pushed to the brink, and only then did so to save your family. You stopped Venatrix and her machine, freed her soul and brought her peace. You saved your wife from untold amounts of hardship and despair. Had you not acted to stop Venatrix, the pain inflicted upon the two of you would tear you both apart, leaving you both dead.” Iris clutched her sides as she doubled over, crying so hard that her sides ached with pain. “Your sacrifice saved her, and Ruri will go on to live a long and healthy life.” The images spun by, showing a lonely Ruri growing old before passing away on her bed. “She will know no hardship for the rest of her days...”

“No...” Iris cried out. “I don't want this...”

“Come my child, we will watch over her, together if you wish...”

“NOOO!” Iris screamed out, as a wave of blue energy rippled out from her. “Look at her father! LOOK!” Iris cried as she pointed to the images around them. “She's alone, in every single one of them! She alone, and sad in all of them!” Iris pointed back to another, when they first met and to the last of them together. “Look at her smile! Look how bright and happy she is! Losing me devastated her!” Iris gripped tight to her fathers clothes. “Send me back! Send me back to her!”

“That... is not possible...” he replied. “Your body is gone and your soul will have no vessel to return to...”

“Send me back! I don't care what future you've seen! You leave me here for an eternity to watch her despair and slowly wither away, and I will do the same!” Iris pleaded with her father, as he looked away, his body glowing slightly.

“No... I've seen the future set for you, and it is best for all if you remain,” her father explained, turning away to leave. “You have infinite happiness here for all infinite time. She will join you here soon enough.”

“Time is infinite... then it will be an infinity before I see her...” Iris grunted out through grit teeth. “I will never see her, by your reasoning, if I stay!”

“Please, Aes... Iris, I'm just trying to save you and your wife... I have seen...” he spoke before Iris cut him off.

“I do not give a damn what you have seen!” Iris screamed. “I give no care to fate, or the destiny you have seen! If my staying is enough to sway the fates, then I will make my returning sway them again!” Iris shouted a fiery blue image of her real self towering over her as she grew increasingly angry. “Staying is a prison...” Iris' father stood silent and motionless, staring to Iris over his shoulder, before starting his walk away.

“You may go... you may become nothing if you do...” her father explained, his body slowly fading away.

“I would risk it all, if even for one last second with her, she is my wife! I love her!” Iris screamed as her vision shot straight to black, the last bits of her voice echoing through the hollow emptiness of the void. Silence enveloped her, her form scattered and destroyed as she became nothing.

“Am I... Am I gone...?” Iris asked, unable to hear her own voice.

Of course not silly! You're right here!

“Who... who's there?” Iris spoke out silently, as small points of light fell across her sight. The specs looked like snow, as her voice moved only as an echo.

It's me, who else would it be?

“I... just... I just want to see you again...” Iris cried, her intangible form burning as something touched around her head. The lights each grew brighter, combining and bursting with a flash.

Then open your eyes you goof!

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(Side Story #1)