#oops this got too long-winded again lol

[fish-bowl-2]

That moment in your obsession with Ed Edd n Eddy where you have a hard time finding the character design remotely as ugly as some people frame it to be.

[entishramblings]

Watcher of Wanderers [Legolas/F!Reader]

A.N: this was intended just to be a mini one-shot to get back into writing. although, I will admit I got carried away. oops. heh.

Pairing: Legolas X F!Reader

Song Inspo: Mountain Meditation by Chantress Seba

🌬️ I highly recommend listening while reading

Summary: Legolas senses a presence following the fellowship on their journey and it seems to be particularly fond of him.

Disclaimer: all mythology related to the reader was made up for plot purposes lol. not canon.

Word count: 5.6k (once again, idk why I’m like this)

Warnings: comfort, fluff, loneliness, flirting, suggested sexual innuendos, stalking sort of (yes, again, I know. you’re just gonna have to read it I can’t explain it)

Additional Content: moodboard linked here

MASTERLIST | AO3 | WATTPAD

When you are nothing but a breeze that passes through the travelers’ bending hair. When you are nothing but a tickle that brushes upon the vagabonds’ breaking skin. When you are nothing but a whisper that hisses upon the wanders’ deaf ear. When you are nothing but alone, you too are a voyager.

That’s what (Y/N) was, wasn’t she?

She sailed through the years, watching every war and every battle. She observed every lover as she observed every enemy. She attended to them all, from their start and to their end. She perceived them hunt—first for food and drink, the simplest things, then for more. She witnessed them build—smaller creations in the beginning, then large structures that reached deep into her sky. She gazed at them as they grew, in mind and body. They began as little screaming balls of flesh, then sprouted into large beings that walked and talked. They produced more of themselves. They multiplied. Families, they had called it. She saw each one of them go by, twisting with desire as they did with age. Each was sneaking to find something—riches, power, hope, love, safety—but it didn’t really matter. She just bore witness. She bore witness to the happiness and to the dread. Yet, even when it was dark and desperate, she did nothing. She was silent—as she was meant to be.

Cursed to ride the winds for all of her immortal years.

Cursed to guide them and bend them.

Cursed to behold them.

Cursed to be them.

Alone.

A Watcher of Wanderers.

She was unescorted, unattended, and unchaperoned. She was unaccompanied as she wove through the desolate lands of Arda. Through the oceans, through the deserts, through the mountains, she bent and bellowed. But (Y/N) didn’t need anyone to accompany her, for she simply didn’t exist—at least not in the way one would think.

But after so long in solidarity, watching and observing, (Y/N) wondered what it would feel like to be more than what she was. She wondered what it was to taste and touch, to smell and see, to live and breath.

She thought how pain must feel. How did it bring red to the surface of their skin? How did it bring tears to their eyes? How did it bring screams to their throats?

Still, she wandered more.

She thought how laughter must feel. How did it bubble in their chests? How did it bring water to their faces? How did it bring glee from their mouths?

Still, she wandered more.

She thought about how love must feel. How did it soften their gazes? How did it bring drops upon their cheeks? How did it bring proclamations to their lips? How did it feel to welcome in another soul? Was it safe—not that she would know what safety felt like.

Still, she wandered more.

As each day passed and each traveler followed, she continued to question, guess, inquire.

Some of these creatures were more in tune with the natural currents of the word. It was the immortal beings, distinguished by the pointy ears that lent them an air of otherworldly grace and their lightning-quick reflexes. They were not just any immortals, but those whose lineages stretched back to ancestors who had walked among the Valar themselves. At times, (Y/N) entertained the fantasizing notion that they possessed the rare ability to hear her, though she recognized that this belief was nothing more than wishful thinking. As a watcher of wanderers, she liked these ones best.

Yet that did not mean that others did not catch her eye, for she was curious of anything unusual from the regular patterns of life. And when nine—born of various blood—walked together, her curiosity peaked.

So, she followed them.

One was a Maiar, but not like her. He shared the same celestial origin, shaped as one of the spirits meant to aid the Valar in their worldbuilding endeavors. However, his form differed greatly from hers—a form (Y/N) yearned for. She had seen him many times before, puffing his pipe. He had many names, but most knew him as Gandalf.

Two more figures accompanied him, mortal beings aging like the rolling seasons. Burling and tumbling they went, with their countless heavy weapons. One emanated kindness, his heart a wellspring of warmth. She had seen him before too. But the other, he was….troubled.

Another was one of the immortal, graceful, pointy-eared race—elves, she recalled. He was fluid and elegantant. He was observant and evaluating. He was tranquil yet vigorous. (Y/N) liked this one. She always had liked the elves.

From the mountainous regions of unyielding stone came another companion—a burly and gruff figure. His anger resonated in the sharpness of his words and the boastry of his laughter. (Y/N) could feel his temperament through the earth's vibrations. It wasn't always pleasant

Next, matched four more. They were stompers and stumblers, in a clumsy sort of way; yet, it was evident that they held no desire to ravage the earth. If anything, they seemed to harbor deep affection for it. The sad one broke her heart, the kind one warmed her soul, and the last two made her giggle….and sometimes she thought the elf could hear it.

See that was the thing.

Initially, her fascination led her to accompany them, drawn by their sheer otherness—such a strange assembly of beings walking in unison. But as she ventured alongside them, she felt connected to them. She got to know them, and one seemed to know her….sorta.

The first time she noticed such a thing was when a sound of joy escaped her being.

The two silly ones, which she found out to be named Merry and Pippin, were cracking jokes at one another and performing a game of riddles. As they did so, they ended up breaking into an argument. The most ridiculous words they called each other: mushroom murderer, squash squisher, beet beater…..

She couldn’t help but release a whisper of amusement, and when she did, the elf—Legolas—abruptly halted. His eyes brimmed with uncertainty, and he swiveled his head, as though searching for someone.

But he couldn’t….

No…

He couldn’t have heard her….could he?

Of course, occasionally, all could hear her. In moments of anger, she would unleash her fury with deafening howls and piercing screams, causing gusts to bellow and trees to tremble. Her yell created a hollow sound as it funneled through the rest of the world—echoing upon mountains, bouncing off houses, riding along hills, drifting through the farmer’s mills. It took much frustration to create such a ruckus of vibrations. However, just a faint breath of joy? There was no way the elf could hear that….right?

…..

The second time that a strange encounter occurred was when the group stopped by a deep river. Legolas had wandered a little way away from the group where the trees were denser and the light was less, and oh of course (Y/N) followed.

There, the elf stripped off his clothing, letting the moonlight bend and dip upon his muscled form. The cool night air played gently against his bare skin as he ventured into the water, welcoming the invigorating sensation. With his hands, he meticulously scrubbed away any lingering grime, running his palms across his arms and fingers through his damp hair until no trace of dirt remained.

Gently, he laid upon his back, floating at the surface of the smooth river.

(Y/N) watched as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply and repeatedly. Meditation, she recalled the elvish creatures of the world calling it.

Eager to draw nearer, (Y/N) gracefully glided closer, brushing ever so lightly upon the surface of the ripples. She circled him, her gaze drinking in every detail of his form slightly obstructed by the water—his elegant facial features, his sleek hair, his sculpted biceps, his toned abs, the sharp v-line of his lower abdomen, and, she couldn't help but notice his rather large…

A soft giggle escaped her lips, her warm breath brushing against his cheek.

Instantly, Legolas sprang upright, his feet finding a place upon the rocks beneath the now turbulent ripples. He swiftly pivoted, calling out, “Who’s there?!”

(Y/N) was still, shock and uncertainty shrouding her.

Legolas' cerulean eyes darted anxiously from side to side, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He moved with haste, continually spinning around in search of…..something.

“You…you can hear me?” (Y/N) whispered.

He did not respond and his state did not change. There was not an ounce of any recognition across his features.

…..

The third time that Legolas was startled by the curious enigma that appeared to be haunting him was when the fellowship had set up camp for the night.

Gandalf and Legolas were on watch, their attentive gazes shifting from the crackling fire to the perimeters of their camp. Mithanduil contentedly puffed on his pipe, releasing wisps of smoke that ascended into the night sky. Legolas was methodically sharpening the tips of his arrows, preparing for the inevitable fight. The ambiance was strangely peaceful, with the imminent dangers appearing to be held at bay, at least for the moment, even in the face of the dread.

However, this serene atmosphere suffered a sudden intrusion, initiated by (Y/N)'s ever-present curiosity.

She loved watching the creatures of Arda. It was her favorite pastime over the eons. Well, her only pastime. After all, she was a watcher of wanderers. For, as her shapeless form, there was nothing more she could do with her existence.

Therefore, when the elf began to draw whetstone upon the tops of his arrows, (Y/N) wanted to observe. She crept closer to him, becoming entranced by the rhythmic and tranquil nature of his movements. Drawn into the spectacle, she leaned in further and further until, unintentionally, she brushed lightly against his form.

His hand instinctively reached for his shoulder as his wide cerulean blues initiated their frequent and fervent scanning of the dim surroundings—a routine that seemed to be occurring with increasing regularity nowadays.

Gandalf’s gray eyes drifted upon the elf curiously, his bushy brows lifting in questions.

“I swore…” Legolas began, still peering about the campsite. “I swore I felt…something.”

The wizard’s inquiring gaze only deepened, imploring the elf to add more to his rather empty statement.

Noticing Gandalf's unspoken request for more information, Legolas continued, "My apologies, Mithranduil. Lately, I've been sensing a presence. Yet, when I search for it, I'm met with nothing but emptiness and confusion."

Gandalf huffed before pressing his lips to his pipe again, his gaze drifting away in a dismissal of danger. “It is probably just (Y/N).”

“(Y/N)?” He questioned, still puzzled.

Gandalf glanced at Legolas, and with a nonchalant hum, he spoke again. “The spirit of the wind. A Maiar with a form that knows no shape.” He rolled his eyes as he gruffed out an additional mumbling sentence. “She has a particular fondness for elves.”

Legolas, still flushed with adrenaline, only stared at him. “I—I do not understand.”

The wizard’s gray gaze drifted back to the elf, who was clearly seeking answers. “(Y/N) is one of the Maiar, tasked many ages ago by Manwë to help shape Arda. She still lingers in this realm, often stirring up her usual mischief as she follows wanderers on their adventures."

Legolas frowned. “If she wanders this earth, why can I see her not?”

Gandalf drew another puff from his pipe before responding, "She was cursed to be without form, unlike myself."

“Cursed? But why?”

The wizard raised his bushy brows once more. “Her mischief irked many—especially Manwë.”

“What sorts of mischief do you speak of?”

Gandalf shrugged. “Inconsequential pranks and harmless tricks. Quite frankly, an annoyance to us all, but not dangerous.”

At that very moment, a gust of wind swept in rather forcefully, causing the wizard's beard to billow and lifting his hat into the air, sending it spiraling down to land by his feet.

Legolas's lips parted in surprise as the wind subsided, and Gandalf let out a string of curses and grumbles.

"I believe you might have offended her," Legolas remarked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

The wizard snorted, his irritation obvious, as he picked his hat up and placed it atop his head once more.

….

As the weeks continued on, Legolas took notice of (Y/N)’s subtle presence.

It seemed she was indeed traveling with them. On scorching hot days, a refreshing breeze would rise and caress them gently, offering some much-needed relief. As the autumn months settled in, that coolness transformed into a warm breath flowing through the air, comforting them. When they kindled fires, little gusts rushed forward, providing oxygen and nurturing the flames. If an item of clothing or a parcel were dropped, it would be delicately carried toward a hand ready to collect. It was as if the wind—(Y/N)—was assisting them along their quest.

It was particularly noticeable to Legolas that she often lingered in close proximity to him. Her presence seemed to envelop him frequently, becoming unmistakable and distinct.

When Legolas would be tasked to collect firewood, a gentle breeze would follow him. It would brush leaves out of the way to reveal dry wood and small sticks, perfect for kindling. The wind murmured songs among the soil, almost as if it were beckoning him to dance.

When Legolas would be hunting for food, a calm drift would search alongside him. It would twist through the brush, startling small prey to reveal them to him. The wind breathed wordless encouragement to him, as if challenging him to impress her.

When Legolas would be walking upon hard terrain, a playful gust would walk with him. It would blow his hair away from his face to reveal his features. The wind sent flirtatious laughter upon his elvish ear, chasing shivers along his nerves.

When Legolas would be changing out of mud or blood covered clothes, a devious wisk would linger behind him. It would push his tunic and undershirt upwards to reveal his muscled form then make his extra clothing scatter. The wind whispered sultry glee to him, teasing him in efforts to show more.

This mischievous presence that shrouded him seemed to flirt with him—challenge, play, and engage. Of course, Legolas recalled Gandalf's earlier assertion that the wind spirit held a particular fondness for elves, but the true depth of this fondness had only become apparent as her companionship persisted. He couldn't deny that their ongoing interaction held a certain allure, for he would be lying if he said their little game did not entertain him.

When the fellowship was in Moria, however, silence reigned. The usual gusts and breezes that had accompanied them were absent. It was as if the very air mourned with them. Yet, as soon as they exited, with grief heavy upon their soul, a quick adrenalized wind came to find them. It seemed to brush around the rocks, taking in the pain of the travelers and trying to process what it meant. Though, as the wind noticed one was no longer there, she took to sending warmth their way in hopes to soften the sorrow—shrouding Legolas for just a moment longer than the others.

When the fellowship was in Lothlorien, (Y/N) came too. Rustling up trouble among the elves with flirtatious gusts, lifting skirts and sweeping away cloaks, fostering much annoyance and embarrassment among the immortal elven folk. However, those brushes of wind often struck Legolas more than any other.

When the fellowship—or rather the three that remained—took to sprinting across Arda, the wind ran alongside them. It pushed them forward with encouragement, almost too eagerly and too persistent. It was as if she was whispering ‘hurry hurry’ in their ears—as if she possessed knowledge they did not. Though Legolas suspected neither Gimli nor Aragorn noticed the subtle guidance of the wind.

A watcher of wanderers indeed.

As the group arrived in Rohan, their hearts brimmed with renewed hope, for they had gained the knowledge of Merry and Pippin’s life and the presence of Gandalf.

Following Mithranduil's expulsion of the sorcery that had ensnared King Théoden, the weary travelers were ushered to various chambers where they could refresh themselves and find much-needed rest.

Legolas opted to bathe immediately, determined to liberate himself from the accumulated dirt and grime that had clung to his body through the arduous months of travel. He eased into the in-ground basin, the soothing warmth and enveloping steam creating a cocoon of comfort. He tended to his skin and hair with meticulous care until he finally felt rejuvenated. Elves did not like to linger in grime.

Emerging from the bath, he stepped into the adjacent bedroom, where his gaze was drawn to the open windows, allowing the cool breeze to waft in. The wind seemed to recognize him instantly, rushing forth with an almost mischievous enthusiasm. It nearly yanked his towel from his waist! It was only through his quick reflexes that he narrowly avoided a less than modest reveal.

Legolas ground his teeth. “(Y/N),” he mumbled in a chastising tone.

In response, the wind seemed to giggle, as if playfully toying with him.

He rewrapped the towel and hastened to close the windows, yearning for a night of undisturbed peace. Normally, he would tolerate (Y/N)'s whimsical outbursts, but on this night, his weary body and mind craved respite and tranquility.

Legolas changed into more comfortable attire and settled into his bed. He allowed his heavy eyelids to drift shut, for he craved sleep. But after a brief moment, they snapped open.

He watched as the curtains shifted ever so slightly, followed by the tapestry on the wall and the drapes above his bed. The blanket beside him rustled gently, and then, there was no movement in the room.

She hadn't left when he closed the windows.

She was still here.

Though he couldn't see her, he was acutely aware of her presence…right beside him.

The elf couldn't help but blush, a warm crimson hue creeping up upon his ears and cheeks. Oh, if his Ada knew he was flirting with the wind….

In an effort to divert his thoughts from such matters and avoid giving (Y/N) any indication that he was dwelling on them, the elf shifted onto his side, turning away from the playful Spirit whose home was the sky.

…..

Legolas took notice of (Y/N)’s presence among the battles at Helms Deep and the Fields of Pelennor; although it wasn't until the latter that he knew for sure she was actively fighting alongside him.

Amidst the relentless chaos, the elf wielded his two silver blades, using them with deadly precision to cut the throat of one orc and immediately behead another. He swiftly pressed on, eliminating as many of the enemy forces as he could.

The men around him were growing weary, their energy dwindling, but Legolas continued to stand firm, even though he too felt the drain on his strength.It seemed the dark forces had taken notice of the relentless devastation he was causing among their ranks, as they began to single him out. Hordes of orcs began converging on him, and Sauron's archers took aim. However, the arrows meant for him didn't find their mark. They veered off course, curving with an unexpected gust of wind, plunging directly into three orcs nearby.

Legolas whipped his head around in astonishment, but it took only a moment for him to grasp the source of this unexpected intervention: (Y/N).

As he continued to take down orc after orc, she remained by his side, using her ethereal presence to force the creatures back into one another, granting Legolas a distinct advantage and a brief moment to catch his breath. She deflected arrows aimed at him and extended her helping hand when he faced the Oliphaunt. She even lifted him up with a gentle drift when his footing faltered. (Y/N) followed Legolas throughout the battlefield, her commitment unwavering, even after the war had drawn to a close.

Exhausted and burdened by grief and relief, the mortal, battle-weary soldiers sought solace and took to rest, heal, and eat.

Legolas volunteered to wander the battlefield in search of any survivors.

He tread carefully, his feet moving softly over the blood-soaked and red-stained earth. The ground seemed to bear witness to the agony, uncertainty, and hope that had marked their strenuous journey. Legolas had never anticipated surviving the trials that had befallen him, yet here he stood, alive and persevering against all odds.

With a heavy heart and the absence of survivors to be found, Legolas, fatigued and drained, decided to make his way back to his comrades who were attending to the wounded and offering peace to those in need.

In a sudden fierce gust of wind, Legolas found himself surrounded by an unexpected swirl. Swiftly, he whirled around, his keen elven senses alert, just in time to witness an orc raising an axe menacingly above his head, poised to strike.

However, Legolas was not met with such a gruesome fate. The wind seemed to rise against the approaching beast, as though an invisible force hindered its advance. However, that force began to no longer be invisible. A strange, translucent figure began to materialize into the opaque form of a woman. She stood, her back pressed against his chest and her front pushing firmly against the would-be assailant. With her arms raised high, she held the axe at bay, preventing the deadly blow from falling upon the elf.

Legolas' lips parted in astonishment, his eyes widening as he struggled to comprehend the event unfolding before him. But everything transpired too swiftly for him to intervene. The figure solidified, to the point that he could feel her against him, and the axe came down at an unusual angle, slicing into the woman's side.

A cry escaped her throat, and she collapsed to the ground, her pain echoing through the air.

Suddenly thrust back into the harsh reality of battle, Legolas swiftly grasped the knife strapped to his belt. In one fluid motion, he drove the blade into the orc's heart. The creature gurgled for a moment, blood pooling from its mouth, before finally collapsing lifeless.

Without hesitation, Legolas fell to the unconscious woman crumpled at his feet. His heart clenched with dread as he noticed the crimson stains spreading across the delicate, iridescent fabric that cloaked his form.

"No, no, no," he murmured, his hands pressing against the wound in a frantic attempt to stop the bleeding. Panic tinged his voice as he glanced at her face, his voice rising in desperation, " (Y/N), you foolish Maiar. Why did you intervene? Why did you put yourself in harm's way?" His bloodied hand gently cupped her cheek. "Wake up. Come on, wake up!"

She remained unresponsive.

Swiftly, Legolas gathered her into his arms, keeping one hand pressed against the bleeding wound, and hurried towards the makeshift infirmary.

Pushing the doors open, he called out in a voice laced with fear, "Aragorn!"

Immediately, the urgent tone drew the attention of those nearby, even in the midst of the ongoing chaos of the healing ward. The Ranger, alerted by the distress in his friend's voice, swiftly moved past the curious onlookers, with Gimli at his side and Gandalf following not too far behind.

“A-an ax to the side. She’s bleeding heavily,” he sputtered out. “Please.”

Pointing to a makeshift bed, Aragorn commanded. ‘Get her on that cot! Quickly now.”

Gimili, entirely bewildered by the unfolding events and his friend’s frantic behavior, called out, “Laddie, who is that?!”

Legolas, gently placing her form on the cot, didn't even bother to look at his dwarf companion as he replied. “(Y/N).”

The dwarf shook his head and raised his hands in confusion. “Who the fuck is (Y/N)?!”

The elf sent Gimli a quick, almost exasperated glance. "The wind!" he snapped back, a bit too sharply.

Gimli’s eyes drifted around the room, his confusion turning into concern for his friend’s well being. “The wind?” he questioned. “Did ya happen to get knocked in the head, tree boy?”

It was Gandalf that chimed in. “(Y/N), a Maiar, the spirit of the wind. She has been with us throughout our journey.”

Aragorn shot the wizard a brief look as he swiftly cut away the mysterious, translucent fabric cloaking the woman and began tending to the deep, bleeding wound.

“With us the entire time?!” Gimli bellowed. “Then why haven't I seen her once?"

Gandalf peered over Aragorn’s shoulder. “She doesn't have a corporal form. At least, she didn’t. I’m afraid this is the first time any of us are seeing her.”

Legolas ran his bloodied hands through his hair, his fingers trembling with anxiety as he stepped back. His chest felt constricted with worry while his eyes remained fixated on the woman as Aragorn worked. “Can you do it, Aragorn? Can you save her?” he implored, his voice quivering with a mixture of desperation and hope.

The man met Legolas' gaze. His determination to save her was unwavering, even in the face of this strange reveal of a profound connection between a force he didn't know existed and his dear friend. Seeing Legolas’ pain, he responded firmly, "I will try."

Gimli, moving to stand beside the wizard, watched the scene with a mixture of concern and curiosity. He couldn't help but murmur, "I've never seen him so frazzled before." His words were filled with a deep sense of empathy for his elven friend, for this had clearly shaken Legolas to his core.

Gandalf let his gaze shift from the elf to Gimli, offering the dwarf a knowing look in response.

The watcher of wanderers had now become a wonder to the wanderers themselves.

……

Legolas sat in a chair beside (Y/N). He was quiet and still as he watched her chest rise and fall steadily. Aragorn had successfully treated her wound, preventing infection, though she remained unconscious. She rested soundlessly, her expression peaceful—despite Legolas’ bloody handprint, now brown, dried, and cracking, that lingered upon her cheek. Her features were graceful and elegant. Each curve and bend of her face accentuated her beauty. He wasn't sure what he had expected her to look like, though how she appeared made sense with her temperament. He could see her flirtatious streak, her mischievous tone, and her protective aurora. She was exactly what wind would be: strong yet gentle, fierce yet calm, emotional yet stern.

He watched over her, just as she had watched over him. So intently, that he didn't notice one behind him until a hand pressed firmly upon his shoulder.

"Legolas," Aragorn began, his expression filled with gentle concern as he inquired, "How do you know this woman?"

Legolas sighed, keeping his gaze on her. "She has been traveling with us," he explained.

The sound of wood scraping against stone told the elf that the Ranger pulled a nearby chair over to sit next to him.

“So Gandalf said. Though I do not understand,” Aragorn admitted.

Legolas shifted. “I started to notice strange occurrences—unexplained events.”

Aragorn raised a brow, “Strange occurrences?”

Legolas felt his cheeks heat as he cleared his throat. “Yes, yes, but more importantly, I noticed something helping us. Consistently.” He paused, “I asked Mithranduil about it and he told me of her.” He shook his head. “He said she was cursed to watch us—us inhabitants of Arda—and not be able to walk among us.”

“Then how is she here now before us, like this.”

Legolas glanced at his hands, a hint of nervousness in his expression. “I asked Mithranduil that too,” he admitted. “He said her sacrifice must have ended her limbo.” He then let his eyes land on his friend and he spoke once more, his tone almost fearful and definitely shy—something Aragorn had never seen from the elf. “If she doesn't survive, because of me, will Arda have wind no longer? I haven't felt a single breeze since she fell.”

Aragorn sighed. “I do not know, my friend. I do not know.” He reached forward and placed his hand upon his shoulder. “Please go clean up and rest. You are no good to her like this. I will take care of her, I promise.”

Legolas hesitated, “But what if she wakes?”

The Ranger sighed again, “If she wakes, I will send someone to—”

He was interrupted by a soft groan escaping from the lips of the Wind Spirit.

Instantly, both Legolas and Aragorn turned to look at the woman.

Her eyelids lazily blinked open, and she gradually became aware of her surroundings. A frown creased her face as she emitted another groan. Her hand moved slowly, making its way down to her bandaged side.

"What... what is this feeling?" she murmured to herself, puzzled by the sensations.

To her astonishment, Legolas responded, “Pain.”

She scrambled to sit upright in bed, the pain surging through her body but the sheer force of adrenaline propelled her actions. “You–you can hear me?” she whispered, eyes wide.

Legolas moved closer, taking a seat on the edge of the cot. In a gentle tone, he answered, "I can hear you. I can see you." He tenderly raised his hand to her cheek, resting it on the dried bloody mark already there. "And I can feel you."

A hushed gasp escaped her lips as she reached up to touch his hand. "It's... it's warm," she remarked, her voice filled with surprise. "I didn't expect it to be warm."

The elf smiled gently in response.

A mischievous smirk then graced her lips, and her gaze, rather unmistakably, wandered down his figure and briefly settled upon his pants. “Is everything this warm?” she inquired with a teasing tone.

Taken aback by her words and her brazen gaze, he cleared his throat. A noticeable flush crept across his cheeks and ears as he broke eye contact. With that, Legolas turned to face Aragorn, who stood behind him with raised eyebrows and a playful grin forming at the corner of his mouth. “My apologies, Aragorn.” He glanced back at the Wind Spirit. “(Y/N), this is—”

She interrupted him, her eyes on the other man. “I know who he is,” she said with confidence. “Aragorn, son of Arathorn the second, also called Strider or Wingfoot, Chieftain of the Dúnedain, and the Uncrowned King of Gondor.”

The expressions on both men's faces contorted, morphing to sheer astonishment—how did she know all that?

(Y/N) grinned sheepishly. "I am the wind," she confessed. "I see and hear a great deal."

…..

The Minas Tirith Castle was cloaked in the deep shroud of a late moonlit night as Legolas walked through its ancient halls. The soft flickering of torchlight painted wavering shadows on the weathered stone walls, lending an atmosphere that resonated with the weight of its history. His footsteps were silent as he moved, and his thoughts followed suit, meandering through the corridors of his mind.

However, up ahead, a figure bathed in a gentle glow caused Legolas to abruptly halt in his tracks, his thoughts instantly converging on the woman.

“(Y/N),” he called out, approaching her. “What are you doing away from the House of Healing? You shouldn't be out of bed. You should be resting!”

She let out an exasperated sigh, not appreciating his chastising tone. "I am a watcher of wanderers, Legolas. Therefore, I too am a voyager. It is not in my nature to stay still."

Legolas released a heated breath through his nose. “That may be true, but you now have a corporal form. No longer are you just a breeze.”

She rolled her eyes, shifting her feet to hide the persistent pain emanating from her side. “I may not be a breeze any longer, but I still control all the winds of Arda. I could knock you on your ass in seconds, injured or not.”

Legolas chuckled lightly. “I never would have gotten involved with the wind if I knew she was so temperamental,” he teased.

(Y/N), suppressing a grin, responded with a snarky retort. “Oh, so we are involved, are we?”

The elf sent her a look, trying to hide his expression of amusement. “I would be naive to think that all the times the wind flirted with me, it was just a ploy.”

“Maybe I enjoy a ploy from century to century, Legolas,” she replied.

He laughed lightly at her jest, then took a step closer, his demeanor shifting to one of seriousness. Gently, he pressed his hand to her bandaged side. “(Y/N),” he began softly. “Why did you do it? Why did you get in between that orc and I?”

She looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with sincerity. “You know why.”

“Say it,” he commanded.

“Because,” she began, her tone becoming shy and soft. “Because, I—I love you.”

Instantly, Legolas wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her close to him. He pressed his lips fervently against hers. As their mouths met with equal intensity, he tasted the essence of the wind. And oh, it tasted of adventure, suffering, and joy. It tasted of warm bread from the north, bitter nuts from the east, clear water from the south, and fresh fruit from the west. It tasted of eons and eons of wandering, yet still, she tasted of home. Her hands found their way into his golden locks of hair, twisting and tugging it lightly. He allowed her to siphon off his heat, for the wind was often cold and bellowing. Though, he could tell she was taking more than just his warmth—she was taking his love; and oh, he gladly gave it to her.

…..

Everything Taglist: @lea----b @aredhel-of-gondolin @princecami @the-fandoms-georgie @jazziwritestolkienprimary @swimming-in-stardust @elvish-sky @red-riding @brun-lieve @hey-its-nonny @mirclealignr @sydney-1209 @laneynoir @straysugzhpe @runningfeather @finallyforgotten @kaiawrites @commanderawkward @xxbluestrifexx @slytherinambitious @redbirdbluebird333-blog @desert-fern @skairipakomtrikru @genderfluid-anime-goth @skairipakomtrikru @hemera1227 @sotwk @sirenofavalon @hobbitsesoftheshire @asianbutnotjapanese @mgchaser @heavenshumour @mgchaser @heavenshumour @casuallyeating-blog @cheari

Everything But Spice Tag: @goldfearless @cauliflowertree @heranintomyknife23times @mxmia @unethicallypleistocene @amessofmultifandom

Legolas tag: @dark-angel-is-back @mylittle-escapingdreams @abandoncloud9 @aphroditesmoon @carojasmin2204 @high-sea-husbands @aheadfullofsteverogers

add yourself to my taglist

[beybaldes]

Karma is the guy on AFC Richmond, coming straight home to me!

summer sleepover masterlist

roy kent × gn!famous!reader (loosely inspired by Taylor swift and Travis Kelce)

summary: “kisses with a height difference” requested by two anons <33

an: okay you can actually thank the queen of my heart @onceuponaoneshotfanfic for my sudden (although potentially one night only we’ll see if I get my uni essay done lol) return because she reposted a celebrity prompt list and it got my mind whirring oops love you tally thank you for breaking my writers (and reading) block <33

“Hot.”

One simple word had sent your 68 million instagram followers into an absolute frenzy, and half of them, you were pretty sure, didn’t even know who Roy Kent was.

“‘So nice of them to put this football player on the map?’ They do know I was famous long before you ever were, right?” You only laughed as Roy grew more frustrated, allowing him to scroll through your Twitter account while you made the both of you some breakfast.

“Hey, maybe they have a point?” You tried to stifle your laughter, knowing Roy’s eyes would be sending daggers into your back, though only for a moment so he could continue winding himself up over the things people were tweeting. “I mean Richmond tickets have now sold out for the rest of the season.”

Roy knew you were only joking. Well, kind of. The two of you had been together for just over a year now, recently celebrating your one year anniversary, but besides the odd article about each of you potentially seeing someone, no one knew you were together - let alone that you even knew each other. Keeley had been blowing up Roy’s phone since she saw the comment demanding to meet you, her favourite superstar, and you’d woken up to 37 missed calls from your dad, furious you hadn’t told him you were dating Chelsea legend Roy Kent.

Above everything, you’re still in disbelief Roy tried to hard launch your relationship in the comment section if your most recent instagram post on a random Tuesday evening.

“Hmm, and I’m sure your next tour is going to sell out 10 times faster now the world knows you’re with the great Roy Kent.” Roy had given up on reading tweets speculating about what his comment meant and if the two of you were together, instead choosing to press his bare chest agains your back, wrapping his arms around you from behind as you finished up breakfast. Fortunately you knew, Roy Kent or not, your next tour was going to sellout. Though you’d rather have Roy be by your side for it.

“Maybe if I’m lucky.” Putting down your fork, you turned in Roy’s hold to face him, standing on the very tips of your toes to press a lovingly slow kiss to his lips. Since dating Roy, you were certain early mornings were for breakfasts that take too long to cook and kisses that end too soon for your liking. Roy’s grip on you tightened and he dipped his head slightly, making the kiss as easy on you as possible. When you began to pull away, he only ducked his head further to press his lips back against yours. “Mmm, although I’d already consider myself very lucky.”

“That you are.” Roy murmured against your lips, immediately pressing them flush against yours when he’d said his piece. “And so am I.”

an: okay short and sweet but I’m hoping to get back in to writing and get up to date with my requests now that I’m settled at uni and with my new job. Missed you guys hope you all are well <33

[bloopitynoot]

Reading TGCF: Chapter Two

For those who don't know, I am reading TGCF for the first time and sharing my thoughts!

If you have not read it, there will be spoilers! Consider this a warning.

Also- if you want to follow along, I am aiming to post updates daily. You can find all the posts in the tag Bloopitynoot reads TGCF. You can also check out the intro post for context on my read BUT if you followed along with my SVSSS read, the rules and vibe are the same.

Today's tea: Masala Chai!

I am so excited my ink replacement came in for my pen so I can finally use the fancy boy again. The last two chapters have been gel pen and it just isn't the same.

Knowing this though- ignore all of the ink smudges XD I got too eager with the new ink and it is a mess LOL

Let's get into chapter two!

I was nervous that for some reason this chapter was going to be a POV switch or something BUT no! Fuck yeah let's get into the bride eating monster quest! p47

okay but the fact that out of 1000's of weddings only 17ish brides went missing makes me think that these brides didn't want to get married and opted out voluntarily. p 47

Xie Lian definitely: thank fuck these two are at least competent. p48

Honestly I am convinced that his weird way of doing things RE: sleeping in the bushes, was part of what led to the happenstance of his ascensions. Like this guy taking the untraveled path just caused him to bump into things that got him merits. p50 (my running theory at least).

Mu Qing is SO dramatic, "But when Mu Qing saw that his statues had been hideously sculpted, he would either secretly destroy them and make people start over, or appear in dreams to express his displeasure. This went on for a long time until the grand believers learned that they had to find an artisan master who could sculpt beautifully" p51

This temple feels off. Like what is going on with this woman with the torn skirt. pp54-55

RIP Nan Feng's social skills p55

omg. This poor guy just wants to sincerely help her with her skirt situation but she (rightfully given the circumstances, girl same, i'd choose the bear in this scenario) thinks the half-naked Xie Lian is a freak about to do horrible shit to her. p55

Nan Feng & Fu Yao seeing Xie Lian's wrecked torso: omg who did you fight???? Xie Lian: the wind lol p56

oh shit and he has a mark of the cursed shackle? (I'm assuming his neck? or are there more because he was banished more than once??). p57

By lol. This is so silly. Now I know why the chapter was titled "Tremendous Masculinity". This is so embarrassing, what an oops. p59

When I was reading this part I thought that the "sin" was the altar in the temple breaking when Nan Feng and Fu Yao were fighting but NOPE, Xie Lian is over here like "damn. That was a perfectly good steamed bun that landed on the floor". p62

okay okay okay! I take back my previous belief that the brides were willingly leaving because HOLY SHIT girl's HEAD just fell off!!!!! 65

This chapter was too short!

I wanted to get into the bride snatching but we had a temple side side quest. This is fine, because now we have an actual monster a foot, but now it means I have to wait until TOMORROW to read about it.

Until then!

[lifeofclonewars]

Not a band kid but want to read the Marching AU?

Then I’ve got the post for you! This one! Here’s what marching band/DCI is all about in the simplest terms I can put it aka its time to channel my inner High Brass Section Leader During the First Week of Band Camp again. Also I'll try not to infodump too much, oops. I can guarantee it'll be long, though.

People who do know instruments and are looking at this for fun, enjoy. But be aware that I'm taking this simply so I may describe things in a way you disagree with.

First things first! What is marching band?

Marching band is a group of people who decided it would be cool to walk in a certain way so they could play their instruments and make shapes on the field, lol. If you've ever been to a football game, they're the musicians who go on the field during half time.

It has its roots in military bands, thus the uniforms looking the way they do and marching in time and always starting marching with your left foot. Bands have played for football teams for ages and the early 1900s was about the time they started to make shapes while they played.

Many high school marching bands compete against each other. Yes, there are even state and national level competitions! Other high schools just do "show bands" aka they don't compete, might go to some festivals, and are mainly there to help the crowd have fun. They also tend to be at least a smidge more relaxed than competition bands can be.

All bands involve a variety of wind instruments and a drumline. Many bands also have a colorguard and/or drill team that performs with them. More on them later.

DCI

DCI stands for Drum Corps International. A drum corps is a marching band with just brass instruments and percussion. DCI also has color guard members. Sorry, woodwinds. Specifically, DCI is an organization that has a variety of bands all across the USA. Throughout the summer, they put together marching shows and compete against each other. The season ends with nationals to see who did the best that year. It's an intense program, involving "touring" around to various competitions and quite literally eating, breathing, sleeping marching band. They actually have an age cap at 21 but if people, say, 22 or older wanted to keep marching there's the DCA which is similar but not the same.

(They've got a website and there's plenty of YouTube videos out there if you're interested in learning even more!)

Who's Who?

Band Director

The person in charge. They're the one that decides what the band will be doing and when. They teach music and marching and everything else in between. They delegate a lot of things to the band leadership (aka the people below).

Drum Majors

The people out there waving their arms. They're conducting the music to help keep the band together as well as marching at the right speed. They also help teach things and check that things look good. They don't march on the field itself, usually, though stuff they do can be involved in the show. The thing they stand on is called a podium.

Section Leaders

Each type of instrument is called a section. Section leaders guide the other people playing the same instrument as them. They will hand out papers, help demonstrate what the band director and drum majors are saying, run sectionals (aka moments where the band divides up into instruments to practice) and so on. They do a lot to help boost morale. Also, they're usually in charge of attendance, lol.

Squad Leaders

If there's a lot of people like in my college's band, sections might be split further into squads. In the case of my school, squad leaders help make sure everyone feels included. They also help pass out papers the section leader hands to them, run parts of sectionals, and help demonstrate. One of them will step up if the section leader is out of commission temporarily.

Marchers

A marcher is just another term for someone in the band who's out there performing. Since they're not, ya know, conducting with the drum majors or anything. Section and squad leaders are marchers with additional duties, basically.

How To March

Roll-stepping

Remember how I said marching bands step a certain way? That's called roll-stepping. Basically, it involves pointing your toes high so your heel hits the ground first. Then you "roll" your foot until your toes come off the ground. Repeat with the next foot. This is how bands can play without the music sounding like everyone's walking around.

Rollsteps come in a variety of sizes, the most common being an 8 to 5. That just means it takes 8 steps to get 5 yards, since 8 counts are common in music and there's 5 yard lines all over the football field. Roll-stepping also involves your feet hitting the ground at the correct time and on the right foot. Don't worry, it soon becomes second nature and you don't even have to think about it as you learn a new show.

There's also a fancy thing called a jazz run. I never learned how to do it in HS but I know it exists. It's a way to run while marching. Trust me. It's basically running on your toes and making sure the top half of your body doesn't bounce too much.

Where To Go

You might be thinking, "Okay, cool, I now kinda know how they march. But how do they know where to go?" Great question! Band directors have sheets of paper that are designed to look like the football field. On it, it has where everyone is supposed to be, how long in the music it'll take to get there, and so on. This is called a drill chart/sheet. These are given to the drum majors and section leaders as well, so they can help people find where they need to go.

Each marcher is assigned a designation based on their instrument. For example, I am T11 this year. This means that I am the 11th trumpet player. (For reference, we go to T39 this year.) The person to my right when we make a square might be T13, since they try to keep instruments in the relatively same spot.

That's not always the case, though! During our pregame show (aka when we play the fight song and the Banner and all that since this is a college marching band), I'm between H4 (H as in French horn) and R8 (R for trombone since the trumpets took T). So on and so forth with the rest of the instruments.

There's a sheet of paper for each shape made on the field until the entire show is clear. Marchers get a condensed version of this called a "dot/coordinate sheet" (since each spot you have on the field is a "dot" since that's what you look like from far away). Dot sheets only have your dots on them, though they do have how long each move is. You practice with help from the dot sheets until you memorize where you need to go and don't need to reference it as much anymore.

Different Directions

I'm gonna keep this one as simple as possible. There are ways to stand so you can still face front while moving sideways. You can also move backwards in a variety of ways. Some of these involve rollstepping while going backwards. Others involve being on the platforms of your feet. Either works, but it depends on the band director's opinion for which one a band will use. The main goal is to always face front, unless...

Direction of Travel Marching

Sometimes a move will be "d.o.t." (not to be confused with a dot). This just means that, instead of facing front, you face the directon you're going. At the end of this move, the marcher faces front again and continues on as normal.

If a d.o.t. move is particularly long, a single drum major will usually be on the back sideline to help everyone stay on beat. The other drum major(s) will stay in the front for when everyone moves back.

Music

Marching bands can play all kinds of music. I've done classical, jazz, rap, pop, rock, salsa, 80s hits, and more. Usually, you don't see a marching band have music on them as they perform on the field. At certain points while practicing, they will! Almost all music performed is memorized, but while learning dots, a marcher will have something called a lyre. This is a little folder that holds the music and attaches to the instrument. This allows them to write notes to help them remember where to go and when.

Basic Field Things

The side you're playing towards is called the front sideline. The other one is called the back sideline or back field. If you're gonna face the endzones, most band directors just say "face the endzones." There are also marks where they set the footballs to begin play. These are called hash marks. They're used to figure out where you stand, but otherwise aren't really relevant.

Instruments

Instruments used in marching band aren’t the same as the ones used for concert band. As I said, Drum Corps are made of brass, percussion, and color guard. Marching bands, on the other hand, also include woodwinds. The Marching AU is a sort of mix between both a drum corp and marching band organization, so it’s based on my experiences in marching band but set up with as much of my knowledge of drum corps as it can be.

In other words, it’s mainly based on what I’ve experienced but it’s only brass, percussion, and guard, no woodwinds. Sorry to everyone who wanted to see their fave play a woodwind in this AU. It's unfortunately not happening.

Brass Instruments

High Brass

High brass is called as such because they have higher ranges of notes they can play in the overall scheme of things. This is similar to violins, sopranos and tenors, and flutes, just specifically within the brass section.

Trumpet

Alright, we’re starting off with the instrument I play for marching band (no this isn’t biased, what are you talking about).

Here's a cropped version of me holding mine during a game day section group pic. Don't mind the scribbled out school logo:

Trumpets often are given the melody of the song, though they are sometimes given accompanying parts (like if you're playing a song that's on the radio that uses trumpets for small fanfares, you bet you're gonna be playing the fanfare instead of the melody for that song). Trumpets are easy to hear amongst the band since they are bright and high. I love it but some people are a lil biased against us because certain people really love playing high every chance they get.

Marching French Horn/Mellophone

Fun fact! I also play the French horn for concert band. However, for marching band, things are a little bit different. French horns, normally, have the horn face the back. But when you're on a football field, you need it to face to front. As a result, they made a type of French horn that faces the front to march with! A mellophone can also be used. For the sake of simplicity, they are pretty much the same, you just use different types of mouthpieces, amongst a few other small differences.

Bands who don't have marching French horns have mellophones and they sound very similar. They are good blending instruments aka they can play at the same time as a variety of instruments. French horns are grouped with high brass because they can play high, though they also could fit in with the low brass, depending on the song.

John Williams likes to use a lot of horn in his pieces, and not just as off-beats or long tones (what we normally get). Horn players like John Williams :)

Low Brass

Similarly to how high brass plays high, low brass is made up of instruments that play on the lower end of the range. In orchestras, instruments with similar ranges are cellos and basses. For voices, this is like altos and (also) basses.

Baritone

In concert band, we have something called a euphonium. It looks like a mini-tuba, in a sense. (Tuba and euphonium players, pls don't @ me.) Baritones are essentially the marching version of a euphonium. Or at least that's how it was explained to me. This is what it looks like:

Much like a marching French horn, the bell is facing front instead of a different direction (up in this case). Also, this picture makes it look small. It is not. It is twice as tall as a trumpet and twice as heavy. Sometimes they get the melody, but when they do, it can be tied to the rest of the low brass. They often play various accompanying parts or long notes.

Trombone

Trombones! The only brass instrument with one giant slide instead of valves (aka the button things) to press. They're pretty cool. Often, when the low brass gets the melody, these guys are loud and ready. They also play a lot of accompanying parts and long notes. They also have the ability to do something fun called a glissando which is kinda like when you brush your hand up and down a piano except it's a wind instrument.

These peeps also get to do something fun called a trombone suicide, on occasion. Don't worry, the goal is that nobody actually dies. It's just a cool trick that involves bending and twisting over each others' heads to wow people. I'm not describing it very well. Here's a link to CSU doing it about a decade ago to help: here.

Contra

The most massive instrument you'll ever see on a football field: a contrabass bugle aka the marching tuba aka a contra. These things are MASSIVE. Imagine a tuba. Now imagine carrying it all on one shoulder while marching. Boom. One of the most impressive things you'll ever witness and they're not even marching yet.

(This is the contra section from 2013 Carolina Crown aka one of the DCI corps.)

Many bands opt for sousaphones instead. They're the tubas that wrap around your body. Both my high school and college use them. But DCI uses contras, so this AU has contras. Go them! Much like the rest of low brass, expect them to be loud and excited when they get the melody. You can only play so many long notes before you go crazy. They deserve it.

Percussion

Percussion is split into two groups: drumline and pit. Some bands don't have a pit (like my high school). Most do, though, and we'll include them in this AU.

Drumline

For some reason, the most popular part of the band. Like, no matter what, if the drumline performs, the crowd goes crazy, even if they slept through the halftime show. Idk, it's odd to me. But drumline members are pretty cool.

There are multiple types of drums in a drumline: bass, snare, tenor/quads. There are also cymbal players. Basses are the only ones that come in different sizes. They also make slightly different pitches.

Drumline's main job is to help keep the band on beat and also to sound really super cool. They also get to do fun tricks with their sticks (or with the cymbals) because their instruments are attached to a harness that lets them use both their arms to play.

Pit

Ah, the pit. Sometimes also known as the front ensemble. The people in the marching band who are playing instrument but not doing any marching. Gotta love them. They play a variety of instruments you usually see in a concert band. Most of them tend to be mallet instruments (aka things like marimbas or xylophones or vibes).

Many DCI shows will have a drumline and a pit feature (whether or not those are separate depends) because they're that cool. Sometimes, they bring in instruments not usually used in pit for added affect like electric guitars or recorders.

Here's the Bluecoats pit performing off-field. It looks pretty much the same thing on field, just with the rest of the band behind them.

Color Guard

Have you ever noticed people waving flags around on the field? That's the color guard! That's pretty simply what they do: dance and march with flags to the music the band plays. They can also use a variety of other things like sabres (aka fake swords), rifles (also fake, lol), ribbons, hula hoops, and whatever else the color guard director desires.

Sometimes instead of a color guard, there's a drill team. This just means a dance team that may or may not use pom poms. Other times, the color guard itself dances to the music. They are given additional roles to unfurl giant flags over the band at times and add a lot to the show.

(For one of my favorite guard performances, check out Drum Corpse Bride by The Academy. Here's a bad action shot of it:)

and now, onto...

Uniforms

Most band uniforms are pretty forward, even if they have silly names. You always have a base layer. This is usually something everyone has access to, such as a band shirt (that may or may not showcase that year's show) and some sort of shorts or pants.

Then comes the pants. Fun fact! They're actually overall-like things, and they're called bibbers. They usually zip in the front and have adjustable leg lengths.

Then comes the jacket. Pretty straight forward. Zippers are often hidden and depending on how complicated the zippers and various clasps to keep it closed and tidy are on it depends on how likely you are to need someone to help you zip up.

Many bands put pieces of fabric on the arms of the uniform over the jacket. These are called gauntlets. Yes, like the armor piece. Vague military history and all that. All bands will use gloves as well.

Next comes the hat. It's called a shako and the feathers that stick out of it are called a plume. The plume is detachable, so you can wear the shako without it. All hair must be tucked into the shako at all times it is worn. Don't worry, there's an adjustable string inside to help it stay on your head properly and find the room for hair. There's also an adjustable chin strap.

Marching shoes do indeed exist. They have a rounded heel to help you (supposedly) roll step better. They're very durable since they have to go through a lot, lol. When practicing, marchers just use tennis shoes, though.

Some uniforms have capes that'll attach. Others will have shakos that look more like helmets than hats. It all depends! That's the fun part. Drum major uniforms will also look different than the bands' uniforms. Often, this is with the color of the bibbers, but not always.

Color Guard uniforms are a lot like dance costumes, in a sense, with leggings. They can also use a type of marching shoe or jazz shoes. Their uniform will either match the show's theme or look similar to the band's uniform.

This is the Sand Torrents' uniform. It's pretty standard for a marching uniform. If you'd like to check out the shako and/or the rest of the uniforms in this AU, check under the marching au tag!

Miscellaneous Band and Music Terms

Call Time: The time you're expected to be there. For rehearsals, this usually means ready to begin warmups on the field. For performances, this usually means in full uniform

Drill: When used as "the drill" this just means the show and the specifics within it. Could also be used to refer to the drill chart. It depends on context

Visuals: Any fancy stuff added to the drill. This could be lunges, dancing, horn flashes (aka moving your instrument to a different angle) and so on

Horn angle: Instruments must be held at 10 degrees above parallel to help the sound travel better

Block: To be in block means to spread out on the yard lines to go over basics

Basics: Quite literally the basic skills of marching. These can be used as warm ups once they've been mastered. They're used to help make sure step sizes are right, that everyone remembers how to do different moves correctly and so on

Slides: How you stay facing front while marching sideways

Cleaning the drill: Making sure everyone's marching is looking good and making the shapes its supposed to

Parade Rest: Much like military parade rest, not quite attention but not at ease.

Attention: Ready to play at a moment's notice. This involves the top of wind instruments being perpendicular to the ground and hands in position to play

->->->->Without instruments, attention is having your right hand over your left with your arms at a 90 degree angle. This is how you march when you're learning the show without your instrument yet.

Horns Up: Bringing the instruments up into playing position

Horns Down: Bringing the instruments down from playing position and back into attention

Relax/At Ease: No longer being obligated to stand at parade rest or attention. Do whatever you want (within reason... please pay attention).

Competitions: Much like competitions for other events, bands are judged and given feedback. Awards are usually given for best overall, best sound, best marching, best drumline, and best color guard

Rehearsal: Practice time :)

Set: A lowkey way to call the band to attention ("You should be set"). OR the movement from one place on the field to another. Basically, a subset of the music

And that's everything! Thank you for reading this gigantic article of a post. Hopefully that'll be enough to get you through the Marching AU with some knowledge! And don't worry, it's not a quiz -- you can always refer back to this as you read.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask! Whether as a comment, a legit ask, or a dm, I am always down to answer questions about marching band!

[autumnapricot]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers! Spread the self-love 💞 because I love your fics <333

ohh, thank you 🥰🫶🏼

(warning: major yapping incoming. no seriously.)

[1] will o‘ the wisps

quite obviously, lol! this story just has a special place in my heart, for the fact that i‘ve had the ground idea for so long, all the details that went into it that for most part probably even went unnoticed to the readers but were so important for me personally, the planning of things, the way i had like a list of the details and easter eggs and everything. also, the name (not to toot my own horn) but i truly had the biggest *oooohhh!!!* moment when i found this title for the story and it just fit so so perfectly. the vibe when i wrote it. yeah, just a lot of love. also it‘s my most „hit“ fic i‘ve ever written and wow, i would have never ever imagined to get this reaction to my writing, ever. like i saw the fics from other brilliant amazing writers in the fandom that‘d get 1-3k kudos and i was like what the hell, that‘s crazy much. and then wotw hit +1k kudos and i was (still am) mindblown by that because imagine 1k people irl telling you they love what you wrote? insane. and all your guys comments and asks and i‘ve gotten some of the greatest comments eeeveron this fic, like, just wow. i write for myself because i just have these ideas and words and stories in my head that i need to get out and one day decided to upload because i thought maybe a few people would perhaps like it, have a little joy with it, but of course validation is always amazing and nice, so this reception is mindblowing for me. also i now kind of wish i could rewrite some parts of the story, do some plots more or different or just write differently, but i always hate kinda hate my fics after a while and think i could have done better. but still, so much love for this fic <3

[2] friday night; i‘m in love

just for the vibe of this fic, it‘s my second fave :)) i remember i had such a good time writing this—it was the first time i went to a park to write and i stayed in that park for hours and just…wrote. this fic. and the song makes up the whole vibe of that time of that summer when i wrote this, so. just vibey. reminds me of good times but also somehow bad times. i got a comment that said „so this is what loneliness feels like“ and for someone reason that has stuck with me a hell of a lot.

[3] shores of forgiveness

this is not f1 but motogp, which is a rather little fandom on ao3 and at times idk what possessed me to write this, but, for some reason i do like it? idek. i don‘t even ‚ship‘ rosquez because oh my god, what a fucking mess that „relationship“ or well, that whole..thing..is. but that‘s somehow exactly what i love about them because fuck me that shit hurts and i lived through the split of worlds!! 2015 sepang. the press conference before? marc’s face? i wanna crumple like a leaf in the wind and to be carried away by them so fast that not even any fleeting emotions would ever graze me again. the coldness of 2016. 2018 argentina?? bro what a time to be alive (not!!). you need to know the whole rosquez lore to understand because my god. it hurts too good. literally as of this week’s events…imagine your childhood idol and absolute hero and later friend and now arch-nemesis still going on podcasts t.e.n. years later and still shit-talking you into the ground about how you’re the worst person to have ever lived and the worst thing to happen to this sport and entire nations hate you and and and!! well, ANYWAY, back to it: i don‘t remember the whole thing anymore actually. but still third! byee (fun fact: i have a rosquez playlist that literally consists of songs to scream in the car in anger and heartbreak, and it‘s my kinda therapy oops. as you can see, i am very invested in them still)

[4] but if it ain‘t you (it‘s a lie)

idk. sometimes i forget about this fic oops. but i do like it, i like me some soft besotted absolutely gone in-love alpha charles and cutie-patootie omega max. i don‘t even like the smut of this. actually why am putting this on fourth?🤣 buuttt i also remember the car rides where i listened to the song and then just randomly sat down, wrote this in one sitting, done. i think i wrote this at work even. well well well

[5] now, i am become death

listen. liiisten. i don‘t even remember writing this whole thing. literally two weeks ago i randomly looked through my works, saw this, halted, and was like—who wrote this? me?? when, where??? when did these words ever spook my mind? i reread it and yk what, it‘s fifth. no clue what‘s going on but hey. swords and blood!

anyway waaay too many thoughts, i’m so sorry, thank you! 🩵🤍

[skiller0dani]

Secrets | Part 3

M A S T E R L I S T Other Masterlist Harry Potter Masterlist

smut | shy!hufflepuff!reader requests info w.c | 3.9k summary | You begin to discover that moving on from Sebastian isn't as easy as you thought it would be.

This was always meant to be more of a Sebastian story, but Garreth is having a bigger role than I expected. Oops lmao but that's why this might seem Sebastian-biased. It was always intended to be a reader x Seb story. Who knows how the story will evolve as I write it though! I never plan the parts ahead of time, I usually just wing it when I sit down at my computer.

I know some of you wanted this to be slower, but I didn't plan on this being longer than 4 maybe 5 parts (knowing me it will be lmao). Perhaps I'll write a slow burn Sebastian story in the future, this was never going to be long enough for that. I hope you still enjoy this anyway!

Song This Song too lol

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4

The worst part about a breakup is catching yourself falling into old habits that you don't need anymore. Like how you only realize you don't need to go to the Slytherin common room before lessons when you're already halfway there. Or that you don't need to grab an extra muffin at breakfast because Sebastian slept in again. Taking notes twice in Defense Against the Dark Arts, unnecessary. Reaching for his hand in the hallway only to remember he isn't there hurts more than you'd care to admit. You could feel Sebastian's eyes on you sometimes, whenever he was actually at school. According to Ominis, Sebastian has spent a lot of time disappearing from the castle and leaving the grounds altogether. Not that you were asking about Sebastian, you were just...making conversation.

You tried not to worry about him, after what he lied to you about. You tried not to even think about him at all, because when you did you thought about Solomon Sallow. Thought about Sebastian killing him, thought about his poor sister who was all alone now. Thought about how Sebastian kept this from you for the entire 18 months you two were together. He pursued the Dark Arts, taught himself the Unforgivable Curses and used them. All of them! Thinking about it made you want to cry all over again, made your stomach twist and turn. You felt so angry, heat and rage engulfing you at the mere mention of Sebastian's name. Beneath the anger is sadness unlike anything you've ever known. You feel like your heart has been crushed, left in pieces and you have to dig them out and put them back together. You didn't even know how.

Garreth helped, you spent all your free time with him, like you used to before you and Sebastian got together and he practically banned all contact with Garreth. Now you know why. Sebastian knew Garreth would tell you the truth, he knew Garreth would do what he couldn't. Sebastian felt threatened by Garreth, that much was obvious. Oddly enough, Garreth seemed threatened by Sebastian too. You mostly helped him with his potions, the two of you spent a lot of time wandering the castle grounds looking for ingredients. Which is where you found yourself currently, slowly strolling the grounds. Fall was in full swing, the leaves slowly turning orange and falling from barren branches. The wind had a cool edge to it, slowly sweeping in winter.

"You think Leaping Toadstools would be easier to find...seeing as they're leaping and all..." Garreth complained, his eyes scanning the ground for the red caps of the mushrooms. Your shoulder was pressed against his, your cheeks tinted pink from the chill. Neither of you mentioned when you kissed him...but you thought about it more than you cared to admit. You were beginning to think about him more often as well, your mind drifting to places it hadn't been since before Sebastian. You hate that this happened. That moments in your life are now categorized as 'before Sebastian' and 'after Sebastian'. You never wanted there to be an after.

"Perhaps they shrivel in the cold. Or simply burrow further..." You muse, the grounds were oddly bare of Leaping Toadstools. They usually gave you quite a fright- leaping out when you least expected it. Now you couldn't hear the thump thump thump of their enthusiastic leaps.

"What do you need them for anyway?"

"They have a powerful healing property, along with other effects. I'm hoping to dilute them into a new drink I'm making." Garreth explained, his eyes lighting up suddenly.

"Aha! Gotcha." He smiled victoriously as he pulled a few Toadstools from the ground, tossing them into the bag he brought along. You felt the cold breeze now that Garreth had knelt down, his body heat had kept you at a comfortable temperature.

"C'mere, I'm cold." You whined, bringing a smile to his face.

"Patience, brilliance takes time." Garreth retorted, making you laugh.

"Brilliance? Anybody can pull Toadstools. It'll take more to impress me I'm afraid." You tease, feigning an unimpressed tone.

"Yeah? Guess I'll have to make such an amazing drink, you'll be begging me for more." Garreth rose to his feet then, his green eyes a shade darker as he looked down at you. Your cheeks flushed, though you didn't know if it was from the cold or his close proximity. His chest was nearly touching yours, and there was this look in his eyes. It made butterflies erupt beneath your skin. Yours and Garreth's friendship had this new dynamic that was different than before...this tension. It wasn't something you were protesting however.

"It'll take quite a lot to make me beg Weasley." You fired back, slightly breathless as your eyes glanced down at his lips for a second.

"I'm never one to shy away from a challenge." Garreth shot back, playfulness gleaming in his eyes before he briefly glances over your shoulder. He's angry with himself as soon as he does because he knows you'll follow his gaze. Sure enough you look behind you and your eyes land on Sebastian, who was walking through the main gates from beyond the castle grounds. You take a step away from Garreth subconsciously, your gaze not leaving Sebastian. Sebastian's eyes meet yours, but he looks away just as quickly. He kept his gaze on the ground, he seemed different. Utterly defeated. It crushed him to see you with Garreth, but he usually saw you with him more often than not.

You almost wanted Sebastian to lash out, to yell at Garreth, to break something, to do something Sebastian would do. But this? Slumped shoulders, and not even a word spoken to either of you? He's completely given up, and you wanted him to at the very least fight for you. But he isn't. He's accepting your choice, which you should be grateful for. But it's just so unlike him, so unlike the man you fell for. The man who isn't afraid to defy the law to fight for the people he loves. Where did that man go? Garreth watched your eyes linger on Sebastian as he walked into the castle and he grit his teeth. It's been weeks and you were no closer to letting Sallow go than the day you kissed him in the Gryffindor common room. He knew this would take time, knew that when you fell you fell hard. He just needs to give you more time, your heart was opening up to him day by day.

"Ready?" Garreth asked after a few more moments of silence. You quickly nodded, following Garreth back inside to his potions station in the Potions Classroom. Luckily Professor Sharpe was seen making his way to Hogsmeade so you wouldn't have to think of a way to get rid of him. He didn't exactly appreciate Garreth's creations being brewed in the classroom. Actually he probably didn't want Garreth to brew them at all. The castle was cozy and warm when you entered, and the heels on your shoes clicked softly on the marble flooring. You were ashamed to admit this, even to yourself, but you scanned every face you passed. Hoping you'd see Sebastian, hoping he would stop you and Garreth. Hoping you could yell at him, and that he would still be standing there after you did.

But you didn't see him, because he never waited. Never confronted Garreth, never tried to talk to you. It made you so angry, did you really mean so little to him? Were you just a piece of ass for him? Someone he can say he conquered? Another notch carved on his bedpost?

"...you in there?" You heard Garreth's voice then, looking at you with concern. Maybe pity. Had he said something to you?

"Yes. Sorry." You apologize sheepishly as you make your way down the hallway to Potions. You follow him to his table, and sit down on one of the stools as Garreth drops the bag he was holding onto the floor. He turns the burners beneath the cauldron on, letting it warm before he turns to you.

"What's got you in your head so much?" He asks softly, his worried eyes on you. His gaze was making you feel all hot and tingly.

"Sebastian." You said honestly, much to Garreth's dismay. He was hoping the more time you spent with him the less you'd think about Sallow. You really are under his spell. Garreth was trying to be understanding, and maybe he was just biased because of how deeply he dislikes Sebastian.

"Eventually, you won't think of him at all. Just give it more time, you're heart is still healing." Garreth says gently, turning back to face the cauldron once the water starts to bubble. That's what you're afraid of, that someday Sebastian won't even cross your mind when once he was your everything. You have a hard time letting people go.

"I hope so. I just want to feel okay again." You say softly, and Garreth hums in agreement. An idea hits him then, perhaps this is you extending an olive branch.

"Speaking of which...I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend. We could go to the Three Broomsticks, get some sweets at Honeydukes. I'll buy you anything you like." Garreth tries to play it off casually, but you can see the blush dusting over his cheeks.

"Like...a date?" You ask for clarification, your heart thumping heavily in your chest. You feel a rush of excitement shoot up your spine, and you try to keep the smile off your face.

"Yeah, like a date." He confirms, throwing you a smile that makes your insides melt. You feel the tension growing in the room, it's nearly suffocating. You wished Garreth would just touch you, the way Sebastian had. Like how Sebastian ran his hands over your bare skin, how he pressed his lips against your-

Why are you thinking about Sebastian?

"I-I'd love to go on a date with you." You say, suddenly feeling bashful. You want to kiss Garreth so badly its nearly consuming you, but you don't want to rush things for him. You don't want to rush things for yourself. He had a point when he turned you down that day...your heart is still trying to heal from Sebastian. You might just be emotional and confused, and you're still thinking of Sebastian. Even now, the very moment you agreed to go on a date with Garreth.

"Great! I'll meet you outside your common room after lessons on Friday." Garreth beamed, and you couldn't fight the smile as it made it's way onto your face.

You know what Sebastian would say if he knew what you were doing. You knew the look he would give you, arms crossed with one brow raised. You used to take night walks all the time before you started dating Sebastian! You knew how to bat your eyelashes at the prefects, and you knew which prefects harbored a crush on you. You knew of these roses that had begun to grow just outside the castle grounds, and you thought they'd made the perfect base for a blush. You weren't one for makeup but your date with Garreth was this weekend and you wanted to give makeup a try. So after Garreth had said goodnight, you waited until he was far enough away and snuck out of the castle and into the night.

Though, in hindsight, that may not have been the wisest decision.

Perhaps Sebastian was so protective because he knew of the dangers that lurked beyond the castle grounds. Clearly he'd had more run ins with danger than you previously anticipated. Maybe if Sebastian hadn't gone and screwed everything up, you wouldn't be off wandering a little too close to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. You blame all of this on him, and you hate yourself for still loving him. The moon was shining brightly overhead as you searched the prickly rose bush for the reddest rose, you needed the color for your rogue to be perfect. Maybe if you hadn't been so enthralled you would have heard the twigs snap in front of you. Maybe you would have seen the dark silhouette looming in the trees.

"Look what we got here boys..." You hear a voice say, making you jump. You feel a sickening chill run down your spine as 3 dark figures emerge from the trees. Poachers, you recognize the leather jackets they're wearing. You glance behind you, the castle is still in sight, but too far away to run to. You'd never make it. You raise your wand, you know the defensive spells but have never actually had to use them. The roses in your hands drop to the ground, your entire body is shaking.

"You're out late, breaking the rules naughty girl?" One says, his teeth yellow and his breath reeking of booze. You skin crawled when he said naughty girl. The sultry tone made you feel sick, you could see their eyes raking your figure up and down.

"Was j-just about to head back. Goodnight gentlemen!" You say hurriedly, keeping your tone light and polite so as not to offend or enrage them. You try to hurry past them, hoping they let you leave.

They don't.

"Where are you going in such a hurry? Don't care for our company?" Another man asks, taller than the other one.

"N-Not at all, I don't want the prefects to notice-"

"To notice what, love? That you're a dirty slut who likes to tease older men?" The shortest of the three says, his voice low and his pupils blown. You felt sick with the way he spoke to you, and panic was slowly taking hold of you. What would Sebastian do if he were here? Show them no fear and attack first, probably. Unfortunately for you, you were nothing like Sebastian. Your palms were shaking as you glanced over your shoulder, the only thing behind you was the Forbidden Forest. You were sure to die if you tried to escape through there.

One man grabs your wrist, yanking you against his body. You scream, fighting and thrashing against him. He reaches up and slaps you hard, your cheek splitting open just under your eye. He sneers at you, clearly entertained by the terror on your face. You feel tears pushing at your eyes, leaning away from him as he begins to inch his face closer to yours.

"Stop! Let me go!" You're yelling and crying, watching with panicked eyes as the other 3 men slowly close the circle around you. You squeeze your eyes shut, willing this to be over. For them to let you go.

"Confringo!" You hear someone shout, and the 3 men are blasted off you. Fire ignites their clothing as they scramble away from you, and you nearly cry from relief when you see Sebastian quickly yanking you behind him.

"S-Sebastian!" You cry, your hands instantly grasping onto the back of his robes.

"Mind telling me what you're doing out here, dove?" Sebastian asks incrediously, his shoulders rigid as he uses his body to shield yours.

"T-Trying to make blush!" You squeak as the 3 men rise to their feet, fury in their eyes.

"You've got to be kidding. Blush?" Sebastian asks, exasperated. The shortest of the men got burned worse than the others so he turns and hightails it as soon as he's on his feet. The other 2 look Sebastian right in the eyes, their wands raised.

"Stand back sweetheart, let me deal with them." Sebastian orders and you don't hesitate to follow his instructions. You press yourself against one of the trees, standing at a safe distance with your heart lodged in your throat.

"Bombarda!" One man shouts, an explosion bursting from the tip of his wand.

"Protego, Stupefy!" Sebastian is quick to send the blast back at him, sending the tall man flying backwards. Luckily these men are all drunk, and while they were itching to pick a fight they weren't exactly in the best condition to do so.

"Confringo!" Sebastian yells, sending a blast of fire at the last man who turns and runs after his friends with his britches still on fire. With the immediate danger gone, Sebastian turns to you again.

"Are you alright?" He's distant, won't meet your eye. His shoulders are still slumped, and there's a hollow look in his eyes. You nod, feeling adrenaline rushing through you. Your entire body is thrumming with anxiety and this tremendous need. He eyes the cut on your cheek, reaching up to gently wipe away blood before it runs down your cheek.

"Y-Yes." You stammer, slowly gravitating towards him when you hear sounds coming from the forest.

"Risking your life for blush eh? What's the special occasion?" Sebastian is making small talk, he knows you're still angry with him. You've spent the last 4 weeks completely ignoring him, you're just scared. Which is why you're opening up to him now.

"D-Date with Garreth!" You rush out before you have a chance to remember who you're talking to. His jaw locks.

"Oh."

"Sorry." You say instantly, sometimes you're too nice for your own good. You suddenly remember that Sebastian killed someone, he explored the Dark Arts. He almost lost himself to Dark Magic and worst of all he lied to you about it. You feel rage simmering under your skin, your palms twitching.

Slap!

Your palm makes contact before you realize you even moved at all. You see a red palm mark on his cheek, but he doesn't look angry. He looks sad, which is how he usually looks these days.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I even did that!" You explain hurriedly, but Sebastian shrugs you off.

"It's okay. I deserve it." He says softly, his eyes briefly meeting yours. He's right, he does deserve it. That doesn't mean you want to hurt him, that's not who you are. You still feel your body shaking with adrenaline, can feel it coursing through your body making you squirmy and an uncomfortable heat to surge through you. You eye Sebastian as you take a step closer to him, your body thrumming with energy. You've never been in danger like that before. Never seen Sebastian fight anybody before other than a duel in the hallway. It was...hot. His cheeks were slightly flushed, one still red from your palm. His lips were parted, his eyes downcast as if he were afraid to make eye contact.

Perhaps Sebastian had rubbed off on you, perhaps he awakened an animal inside you that day in the Undercroft. Perhaps you wanted to slap him, kiss him, and then slap him again. Perhaps you just might.

"What are you oomph-" Sebastian is cut off when you fiercely press your lips against his, taking him entirely by surprise. Your lips move hungrily against his, your arms winding around his shoulders while he holds tightly around your waist, crushing your body against his. You kiss him with an intense need, your lips moving against his. You part for air briefly before pressing your mouth against his once more, desperation driving you. You're angry with him, so angry you can feel it burning beneath your skin. You feel so deeply betrayed, and you don't know if you'll ever forgive him. Luckily for you, you don't need to forgive him in order to kiss him. Sebastian will happily take any contact you give him, anything at all is better than the icy nothing you've been giving him the last few weeks.

"Been needing you Seb, needing you to make me come." You whisper against his lips making him groan as he gently presses your back against one of the large trunks of the tree.

"Thought you hated me." He says against your lips.

"I do." You confirm, your hands pulling desperately at his belt. Your words sting, and he would be lying if he said they didn't crush him. But he deserves it. Deserves every ounce of anger you have and more.

"Please touch me, do something. Please." You beg breathlessly and instantly Sebastian is dropping to his knees before you. He'll do anything to earn your forgiveness. Anything. Before you can comprehend what he's doing, he's throwing your legs over his shoulders to hold your entire weight as your feet dangle off the ground. Your back is still against the tree and you feel a heartbeat from between your legs as you gaze lustfully down at Sebastian.

He's turned you into an animal.

Sebastian pulls your panties to the side before leaning forward, instantly latching his mouth onto your cunt. He buries his face into you, his tongue already lapping at you and drawing sweet moans from your mouth. One of your hands winds tightly into his hair and the other reaches up to find purchase against the tree.

"Oh fuck, S-Seb don't stop." You whine, and Sebastian swears you've never looked more beautiful. You grind your hips against his face, shamlessly using him for your pleasure. You've been so pent up the last few weeks and you couldn't as easily jump Garreth's bones. You tried, and he said to slow down. You feel guilt prickling at you when you remember your date with him in a few days, and you're here with your ex-boyfriends head between your legs and you're whining and begging for more.

Sebastian suckles your clit, his tongue licking long stripes from your entrance to your clit before he circles it with his tongue. He continues the motions that make your heels dig into his back, continues to flick his tongue against your clit, causing you to yank on his hair as your orgasm approaches. Sebastian moans against you, his eyes closed and he looks like he's in absolute heaven between your legs. You grind against his mouth as your orgasm builds, and Sebastian lets you use him. He wants you to use him, its far better than not having you at all.

"G-Gonna come Seb, don't stop. Don't you d-dare stop." You warn weakly as you moan softly. Sebastian smiles against your folds, which are puffy and glistening with your slick. He's gonna be nursing a hard on the entire way back to the Undercroft, where he's been sleeping every single night. He continues to swirl his tongue against your heat, dipping it inside and making you come instantaneously. You release all over his face, and he makes sure to lap up every drop until you're shaking and convulsing. Sebastian carefully places your legs back on the ground, his hands holding your sides to help you stand on wobbly legs.

Slap!

Your palm makes contact with his other cheek, and Sebastian looks both stunned and turned on as he turns his worried gaze back to you. He looks almost afraid you'll hit him again, you just might.

"I hate you." You spit at him, readjusting your skirt and heading back towards the castle, leaving a confused Sebastian behind. He realizes at once that he brings out the absolute worst in you, but you bring out the best in him.

"Are you alright?" Garreth asks you the next morning as he walks you to lessons. Your mind had been drifting, he could see it. Could see the dazed look on your face, the faraway look in your eyes. You hug your books to your chest, a blush searing hot on your cheeks. You're certainly not going to tell Garreth you had been thinking about Sebastian's head between your thighs last night, or that you were wondering how long you would last until you caved and sought him out again. Your eyes caught Sebastian's as you turned for Charms, but you quickly glanced back at Garreth.

"Yep, fine!"

TAGLIST: @weezley @eddiemunson4ever @idcabouttumbl @saturnawa @valyrra @cerulione @dilucente @riokunova @theknightssecrets @rinascere-di-fiore @sallowapologist @kaixoly @cosmicmadwoman @turnip-milk @tarirose

[shearlin]

Word count: 11084 (...oops)

Chapter 9: Legend

First || << Previous || Bonus - Epilogue

*runs in, tripping and falling with notes spilling out of my hands*

I'm here! It's here! I'm done, I did it!!!

Hi! It me again! :D

This chapter was rough. It was so hard to write for no reason. Actually there were many reasons, but it would be too long to write them all here, lol.

I anticipated that this chapter would be long. I planned for it. It was supposed to be long... not 11k long though, holy shit.

Anway, enjoy! :D

Nervous tension hung in the air as they were setting up the camp, desperate to do something with their hands and help around where they could, since Hyrule shooed them all away from unconscious Legend, who was laid down on the ground after they managed to coax some of the green potion in him before he passed out. Setting up some bedding to transfer him on became priority and they all jumped to it, as the traveller was finally able to properly examine his state.

Magical exhaustion. Nothing they haven’t seen or dealt with before. Goddesses know that Hyrule himself used to pass out at least once every week, before they finally convinced him to take it easy with after-battle healing, especially if he had casted any spells beforehand.

But Legend seemed to be unproportionally affected when compared to their past experiences with the traveller. He was pale and shivering, despite how burned up he felt to the touch. There was blood flowing from his nose that made their healer panic and made Twilight practically fly over the ground with the veteran curled to his chest, so they could get as far from the collapsing dungeon as possible and treat his condition fast .

Legend was always so vigilant with his own reserves. They never saw him drain himself like that.

Logically, they knew he would be fine with some rest. Hyrule was much more composed now. Concerned, yes, but nowhere near the panic from before. Still, their worry remained.

They managed to finish setting up the camp, transfer Legend to a more comfortable position and change out of their armour before Hyrule finally rose up from his spot and moved closer to the fire.

“He'll be okay, but he probably won’t wake up until morning and even then the fatigue will persist for a couple of days at least. He got really low. Dangerously low. But he should be fine for now.”

A feeling of relief swept through the clearing.

Warriors picked up the care after the veteran then, while Hyrule brewed some of his herbal mixes to help with Legend’s fever, Wild ready with his slate to store it hot and fresh for when it will be needed.

While the sense of worry never really left them, the rest of the afternoon passed with no further surprises.

It wasn’t until evening meal that someone brought attention to their resting companion again.

“As much as the circumstances of this are not ideal, the fact that Vet is not able to hear this conversation, gives us a unique opportunity.” Four glanced around to make sure everyone was paying attention. When satisfied, he put down his spoon and preemptively raised his hand. “Everyone who got a personal gift from Legend, tailored to their needs, abilities or experiences, please raise your hand.”

Looks of confusion and concern brightened into smiles as all eight of them ended up with their hands raised.

“I knew it! Fess up, old men, what did you get?” Shouted Wind pointing his finger in Time’s direction, getting only a cryptic smile in return.

While they were trying to coax the answer from Time, Sky lowered his hand to put it behind his head, looking uncertain. “Not sure if my gift counts to be honest. It's not really a thing …”

“What did he give you then?”

“Oh, you know…” a smug grin crept on his face as he nonchalantly pulled out his harp to strum a few notes, dragging the moment out. “A heart-to-heart in the middle of the night and a song he clearly has emotional attachment to.”

...

“Oh, come on!”

“Not fair!”

“You're right, it doesn’t count, disqualified!”

Read the rest on Ao3!

[devouredbyflame]

Good morning! It’s Ari, again.

I might drop by to DM sometime, but since I’m about to work, I didn’t want to be rude and just DM/start a conversation to throw questions at you and run off lol I’d rather DM to get to know someone if that makes sense. I thought it might be more appropriate to drop little questions here if any really drive me nuts while I’m reading your blog in the meantime.

If I ever ask anything you don’t want to share, feel free to say so! I’m trying to understand what I’ve read you say about finding your path yourself and avoiding echo chambers when you should be learning from the Divine, so I’m gonna try to limit my questions, but between my having ADHD, anxiety, and just generally being kind of detail-oriented, I still find myself fixated on specific details a lot

So with that ramble out of the way (sorry, I’m kinda long-winded, I’m sure you noticed in my email lol) my actual question(s) for today!:

(I see how long this got, so for a summary, this jumble of questions is about the likenesses of Deities you mention putting on altars)

In your first post about altar creation, I saw you say one of the things you need is a likeness of the Deity you’re making it for. It might be a silly question, but what really counts as a “likeness”? Is it just anything made with the intention of being His likeness? Or are we supposed to make an intuitive guess? I could see maybe going by personal UPG, but assuming we’re just starting out and not confident in anything like that, trying to make the altar to connect in the first place, I’m wondering how we know what we’re looking for.

Since I’m not able to practice openly at home, but my family knows I was a bigger fan of Hiddleston Loki than the MCU itself, I was thinking of finding a good/affordable figure of MCU Loki. So if the owner of the household rifles through my things, as she’s prone to do, and she finds a candle, a marvel figure and a couple of (to her) random things in a box, she’s more likely to think it’s just a box of knickknacks. But I’m afraid this will be seen as some kind of joke, I don’t want to be too familiar, in case I’ve been wrong about my connecting to Him so far.

Final thought- do Deities even really have human-looking appearances? I see Loki appearing differently to different people, especially as a shapeshifter, but is it really a thing that any of Them look a certain way? Like I’ve read you talk about meeting Him face-to-face when He has possessed people in front of you, and how He’s your roommate/in-and-out-of-your-body way of being with you now. But is there a way you “see” Him? And is that a way He’s appeared to you, in a dream or meditation or something, or is it just kinda a creative idea of how He looks?

Sorry for the length, and any errors! I’d stop to edit it down and fix run-on sentences, but I’m already kinda late starting work (oops). So I hope you have a good day! Hopefully I’ll have time to actually chat this weekend, if you’re open to that!

Hi Ari! You're totally fine. I love answering questions so give me what you got and I can do my best to further clarify for you. And also, I am ADHD so I 100% understand the need for detail-oriented clarification. My numerous questions is how I got to where I am today because I would ask Loki so many things about how stuff works so I can better grasp the nature of the concept. I am more than delighted to share what I've learned, how it works, and why it's been successful and that's kind of the point of my being here.

My answers are also really long-winded and mostly because I have a lot of knowledge and experiences and very few places to share it so bear with me.

So, in regards to the likeness question, I would say anything that is made with the intention of it being the Deity in question would be the best point of reference. However, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be an obvious representation, just something that is synonymous with Their energy. Like, if you had a candle vaguely in the shape of the Deity in question or a clay model, a doll, or a picture that reminds you of Them, that also works. The purpose is to draw the energy of that particular Deity into the shrine which means you would need to "open the door" to both sides. Like, the Deity would need to know it is for Them as well as you so you can look at it and go, "ah, yes, that is the God in question." You would think They wouldn't care because They know your heart and your intention, but it is easiest when the object is designed with the God in mind.

That being said, I personally had MCU Loki on my altar for a year or two when I first began, knowing Loki probably was aware of my situation and that I needed to be closeted until I had my own place to live. I don't think it would necessarily be a problem if you have Tom Hiddleston instead of Loki Himself. When I got my own place, I got Him a statue carved out of wood and quite a bit of art by various artists I've found who I think draw Him really well.

The whole debate about whether or not Loki cares for MCU Loki itself is complex and I can possibly get into that in more detail if anyone is ever interested. But based on my experiences with Him, He has indicated that no, He doesn't really care for it to be on your shrine. It's fine if that's what you need to be conspicuous. He only really seems to care if you don't ask Him if it's okay. The point, I think, He wants to make is that by asking Him His opinion, He will make it okay because you gave Him your reasoning and didn't just assume. Which makes sense considering a shrine is a Deity's possession and not a devotee's after the point of making it a shrine. So, as long as you're asking His permission to use it on His shrine, I think that's absolutely clear with Him.

I cannot speak for Him, but I sincerely doubt He would ever wish to put you in the way of any danger when it comes to His shrine being made. However, I know Him to be very possessive of His belongings and prefers giving His consent with certain things. If you invite Him when creating a shrine, He will more than likely give you a sense of what you need to be doing for Him and whether or not it's okay. If you don't trust that, using a pendulum, flipping a coin, or other "yes/no" random generators are helpful. I wouldn't worry too much that you are afraid of insulting Him just because you don't have an option.

Just don't ask Him multiple times the same question because that's when He starts giving false answers. It can get aggravating but typically He doesn't like having only one-sided answers and would prefer to say both "yes" and "no" because He tends to swing both ways when talking about the nature of Himself as well as the Gods since it's never only ever just one single way.

I think He does mind Tom Hiddleston being used as His likeness if you have no reason to hide your shrine and if you don't ask His permission to so so He may say "no" but then "yes" later on given His consent and an explanation of your reasoning.

Now, I don't know your situation, obviously, and there's no reason for you to get into more detail about it to some random stranger on the internet but I will point out that having a shrine is a lot less obvious than you would think. People won't know what they are looking at if they are not pagan. I kept my shrine on my desk for the years I was closeted and my ex who was an atheist as well as my Christian parents did not know what they were looking at unless I specifically told them what it was. Even then, they were confused. I think unless the people you live with know what a pagan is or what a shrine should be, you likely are going to be fine even if they go through your belongings.

I recommend keeping it in a shoe box somewhere or an even smaller box that's tucked away somewhere no one will get to it even if they are looking. It's probably for the best regardless because it would keep other energy from getting to it that would be less than savory and could interrupt the energetic transaction between Loki and yourself.

Also, in regards to appearances, no, Loki does not have a physical appearance whatsoever. He is energy and energy does not have a form that we can see clearly with our two eyes. He likes to call Himself an "orb of light" and that He "floats around all day and does not do much of anything on this physical plane except wait around for stuff to happen."

I have seen Him manifest physically before but it is not human-like nor is it remotely something that is a common occurrence. It looks like glimmers of golden light that shines in the corner of my eye and flashes before it can ever be seen fully. My cats see Him all the time, actually, and watch as He zooms around the apartment and plays with them since cats have a keener sense of vision than we do.

So, no, He does not have any actual human-like qualities. However, it is my understanding that the way we perceive Him is translated by various triggers in our brain. Just like how we visualize a person as they are described that we haven't seen before, Loki essentially has a means to assist people with seeing Him who may have trouble recognizing who He is so He gives a common appearance. He's explained to me that when it's important for someone to know who they are looking at, He will appear to them as a lanky ginger with long red hair, golden eyes and pointed ears. But if it's not, then He can show up as anyone He wants to in any way.

So I suppose it's both the way He wants to be seen and also our own brains piecing together visuals that He triggers and we conceptualize as vaguely human but very obviously not given the amount of energy that resonates off of Him. So it's both intentional that He looks the same way to a lot of people while also being intentional when He doesn't. Regardless of where, how, and why He manifests, though, He feels the exact same way all the time and you'll know who He is just by being in His presence. So, I suppose, also, it doesn't truly matter about what He looks like on your shrine.

I hope that answers your questions (probably more info than you ever asked for) but I'm always open to clarifying things here and otherwise and that goes with anyone who stumbles on my blog. That's why I'm here. Also, yes, please DM whenever you want! I love meeting people. It's my favorite. Talking about this shit is my jam.

[meguwumibear]

i started rewatching true blood recently & it makes me think of your vampire sukuna work cause in the tags you mentioned true blood LOL!!! i too originally watched the show for eric northman & im rewatching again for him like ive got him on the mindddddd

eric northam..........rip sookie i wouldve been his he minute he asked me to be. the plotline with his maker in season two never fails to make me emotional no matter how many times i watch.

anyway i was obsessed with the show when i first caught wind of it and ngl it really set the tone for how i write vampires. the idea that drinking a vampires blood both heals and connects you to them for as long as you live is soooooo sexy to me. the vampire sukuna piece was never expanded on but i think in the tags i do mention that when the mc bites him at the end of the second little piece it heals all the harm sukuna has caused them thus far. well in my minds eye being bitten by a human awakens something (masochistic) in sukuna. he keeps the mc around because he likes that they'll sink their nails into him (and because due to the shared blood he can tell he turns them on oops). i dont have a ton of lore for that universe but i definitely picture him keeping the mc around. he's verrrry touchy. likes the contrast of the mcs warm skin against his own. i fear your feet do not touch the ground when he is conscious and home. he ignores all the biting and scratching until he's ready to fuck all the fussiness away.

[420thewritersroom]

Wilted Cherry Blossoms, Dark Thunderstorms, Burning Hopes: Rekindled Embers

Howdy! Funny to see me back here, eh? After long overdue breaks and writers block, I finally feel motivated enough to continue this "Oops, Kung Lao is dead again" AU! Finally! Chapter 5! We continue our journey with our heroes as we inch closer to a inevitable conflict with the returned Kung Lao!

"But 420Writer, I barely even know or remember what happened before we got here!"

Well too bad! :D

Naw, but I anticipated that there will be returning and new readers who will be confused and wondering how all of this started. That's why I REMADE AND SLIGHTLY POLISHED THE PRIOR LAST 4 CHAPTERS! You can find the newly remastered chapters below. But let's say you want to read the old, unpolished, barely seasoned chapters of old? Well don't worry! I made sure to link the older versions of the prior 4 chapters for those nostalgic of the retro.

It should be said that I haven't been in the MK1 fandom for a while. I don't physically (or digitally) own the games, missed all the prior seasonal villains, and I've yet to watch the Khaos Reigns DLC. So the prior chapters and chapters going forward is most likely going to be deviating from what "canoncially" happens in the MK1 game, especially with Khaos Reigns. And who knows if I'll care enough to be canon compliant with what happens in the DLC lol.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy this new chapter! For those new and experience, the AO3 version will be updated soon as I FINALLY discovered how to change text colors in AO3, but it's going to take some time to not only upload the new chapter but update the older chapters with my new knowledge. So keep an eye out for those who are eager to read it on AO3!

Wilted Cherry Blossoms, Dark Thunderstorms, Burning Hopes: Remastered

Johnny takes a step, then another, then another, taking his sweet ol time to climb the stone stairs that led to the Wu Shi Academy on the exceptionally steep incline of the mountain. Every step made Johnny come to the annoying reality that he was definitely getting up there in age, practically pushing 40! You know, if being exactly 30 is deemed "pushing 40." His legs ached, the sun beamed harshly on his sweaty back, and Johnny wheezed by the second. The moment Johnny reaches this damn Academy, he's going to put it into Liu Kang's thick skull to finally build a damn elevator for this place. It's fucking ridiculous that if anyone is even remotely interested in training with the Shaolin Monks, they have to climb these long ass stairs just to reach it! If they make it to the Academy, that is! They'll most likely walk back down, not finding the trek worthwhile.

And this is where Kenshi would butt in, saying, "That's the whole point of it, to test those who would be worthy to learn the secrets of the Shaolin." In which Johnny will call bullshit. The fact that they want to train here should be a good enough reason instead of building a million steps to reach their front door! Before long, Johnny finally made it past the last step, collapsing on the stone ground the moment he could fully see the front entrance to the Academy. The actor takes this moment to lie on the cold floor of the Academy, taking long breaths as he regains his strength. Above Johnny, he felt a shadow, a presence, loom over him, grabbing his attention as he's met with a fellow Monk of the joint.

"Mr. Johnny Cage, an unexpected visit," The Monk greeted Johnny with a calm and composed demeanor, his voice a soothing contrast to Johnny's frustration.

"Would've called beforehand," Johnny lets out a winded breath before continuing, "but your monastic 'creed' doesn't believe in cellphone service."

The Monk giggles, "It pleases us to see you return after so long, nonetheless. I hope the trip here did not cause you further trouble."

"Nah, other than your ten billion flights of stairs, getting here was a piece of cake," Johnny grunts as he picks himself up from the floor, dusting himself off and flicking an ant off the back of his hand. "I came here to speak with Liu Kang. It's urgent, and he's gonna wanna hear this."

The Monk doesn't act a hint surprised by this request, instead nodding slowly, "I will see if Master Geras will meet you, Mr. Cage."

"Woah, woah. Geras?" Johnny momentarily walks closer to the Monk as he expresses his confusion.

"My apologies; I forget myself. You haven't been here for some time. Master Geras has been overseeing most matters concerning Earthrealm since Lord Liu Kang retired to the Fire Temple. He will be happy to hear that you have come to speak with him," the Monk briefly explained.

Johnny lets the Monk lead him into the Academy and place him in one of the many unoccupied rooms of the Academy. In this momentary state of isolation, Johnny takes a moment to contemplate what the Monk said earlier. Johnny knows that Raiden meant everything to them. He was the heart and soul of their friend group. And while Johnny does believe that disbanding Earthrealms defenders was a...Decision...That Liu Kang made, Johnny saw it as the Fire God taking a vacation. Because looking back to how everything fell apart, none of them had a moment to grieve for themselves.

While they did bury Kung Lao, their new lives as Earthrealms defenders didn't grant them the luxury to properly accept Lao's death. They were in the middle of stopping Shang Tsung and General Shao from their usual villainous schemes. Johnny doesn't even remember what their deal was back then. If he had to guess, the typical "world domination" or "finding some powerful artifact to make themselves into a Super Saiyan" or some shit like that. So, the moment they finished the funeral, they had to get back into gear. Using Kung Lao as motivation to get back at the bad guys tore them at the seams more than they thought. No one suffered more from that than Raiden.

Johnny couldn't shake off the guilt he felt about Raiden's situation. He wished he had done more for him, been a better friend. Even before the official dissolution, he and Kenshi were only sometimes around due to their personal agendas. It was a shock to Johnny & Kenshi when they found out about Raiden and Kung Lao's relationship, even though they had been dating for over 2 months before they were informed. This revelation only added to Johnny's guilt when Kung Lao was taken from them. He realized that he didn't know the Fengjian bros as well as he thought. So, Johnny hoped that being a closer friend for Raiden would help lessen the pain for him. He would get to know the man better, visit his joint more often, and he could fill that void that Kung Lao left behind. Not say that he would want to date Raiden, goodness no, he's already taken. Well, in hindsight, he wasn't taken then, but still. He just, Johnny wanted to be there for Raiden.

But it didn't end up like that. Raiden drowned himself in his work, training, and sadness, which eventually turned into anger. And it took some time for Johnny to stop blaming himself for what happened to Raiden. But Liu Kang? The Fire God? Inactive for nearly two years? Now, Johnny didn't have proof that Liu Kang had been slacking for that long. But, typically, Geras wasn't really in the picture. For a long time, Geras was only known by him, the other Earthrealm warriors, and Liu Kang, and that was it. Very few knew who Geras was or even saw him around the Wu Shi Academy. And considering his massive responsibility with that Hourglass thing, Geras was rarely around for any other activities. Homeboy's entire personality is maintaining the Hourglass and the timeline.

But to hear that one Monk mention him by name AND that he's overseeing matters involving Earthrealm specifically? Either this guy is finally getting out of his time-warp bubble, or the situation with Liu Kang is worse than he could imagine. Before long, Johnny hears the unmistakable sound of mystical sand conquering together as Geras manifests in front of the actor.

"Johnathan Carlton, you seek an audience?" said Geras.

Geras looked different this time around. Well, not that different. All that Johnny noticed was that there was a bit more hair on his head, no longer the smooth Mr. Clean shave anymore.

"Well, look at ya. Getting out of the house, huh?" Johnny smirked as he extended a hand for Geras to shake.

It takes Geras a moment before it clicks in his head that Johnny intends to shake his hand. He hesitantly reaches for the actor's hand before wearily shaking it. Guess Geras is still getting used to human interactions.

"Due to changed circumstances, I had to step in for the sake of Earthrealm in case unforeseen dangers were to emerge." Geras plainly explains.

"Yeah, about that. How's rocket thunder?" Johnny makes mock punches in the air, insinuating that he's talking about Liu Kang. "I thought you were supposed to be looking after that Hourglass, not replacing Liu Kang as Earthrealm's protector."

"I am not 'replacing' Liu Kang," Geras sternly corrects. "Lord Liu Kang needed…Some time away from his duties. What happened to Raiden truly took a toll on his mental state. So, I agreed to perform his obligations until he was finally fit to serve as the realm's protector."

Johnny can tell that there was a bit more Geras wanted to say. Not that there was anything that Geras did that betrayed his usual stoic tone and face. But hang around the guy long enough, and you start to notice subtleties that are tell-tale hints of anger, sadness, confusion, stuff like that.

"Damn…That bad, huh? Um, how's Liu now?" Johnny rubs the back of his head as concern presents itself in his tone.

"He has progressed recently."

"Ok, gonna leave it at that?" Johnny stares at Geras, hoping that he would give more context to the whole "progressed recently" thing. But Johnny knew he would have to settle with Geras being his usual cryptic self.

"I was informed that you wished to speak upon an urgent matter?" Geras plainly and thankfully asked, breaking the silence between them.

"Well, I was hoping I would speak with Liu Kang in person about this."

"He's currently not in a state to handle critical matters at this time-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I figured. But, I guess you're the best next thing." Johnny clasps his hands together and breathes in heavily. "We're dealing with a possible zombie apocalypse."

Geras's silence was either perfect comedic timing or him processing what Johnny said (definitely the latter). But he eventually replies with, "A zombie apocalypse?"

"What, Dragon Fists never let you watch horror flicks?"

"I'm not versed with mortal entertainment."

Johnny sighs and nods his head, "Ok. Essentially, dead people are coming back from the grave and doing some shit that might spell the end of the world or something like that."

Geras finally seems to perk up by this. "What proof do you have of this."

Oh...Shit...Johnny didn't really think that far ahead. The only person who had evidence was Kenshi. Well, he only had Kenshi's word, but what reason would his boyfriend have to lie to him about a possible zombie invasion after all they went through.

"Well, if it makes ya feel better, Kenshi was the one who told me. Would've came to tell you in person, but he's working at the moment. So I came in his place." Johnny wasn't sure if stating Kenshi's line of work would further benefit Kenshi's word, but he did promise that he wouldn't talk about his position in the FBI. "Also, we might be in more trouble than we think. Kenshi said that Kung Lao had returned. From the dead, that is."

As Johnny expected, Geras's stoic face subtly changes into a look of alarm. "Kung Lao is back from the dead?"

"Yeah...You make it sound as though he's done this before. Wait, did this happen before?"

"Come with me. Liu Kang will need to hear this." Geras wastes no time teleporting them to a new change of scenery; sand particles coalesce around them before dispersing, revealing the Fire Temple where Liu Kang resided. "Quickly."

Johnny didn't need to be told twice as he tailed behind Geras.

-

Within the Fire Temple, Liu Kang meditated in peace. The past couple of years and some months have been troubling. Raiden's near downfall and descent into a darker mindset shook Liu Kang to his core. Every other occurrence in his timeline that reverted to Kronika's vision, Liu Kang was able to power through them. But Raiden, Liu Kang had a visceral reaction to the threat of him becoming what Lord Raiden would succumb to. The threatening thoughts of starting over, undoing the damage Titan Shang Tsung had done to his timeline. It was like a succubus whisper that tickled his ears night after night, day after day.

Not a day goes by that he doesn't thank Geras for what he has done for him. He was picking up the pieces falling around Liu, trying to keep him from committing the same actions that Kronika made. Liu's unsure if he would live with himself if he really did turn back the clock and try to restart everything. Even more terrifying, if he would even regret doing so in the first place. He's even more thankful that he took Geras up on his offer to allow him to take the reigns as Earthrealm's temporary protector.

Even with his eyes closed, Liu could still see himself standing before the Hourglass, contemplating if he should take that first step. To make that one "minor adjustment."

None of this was his fault. If Titan Shang Tsung hadn't discovered his realm, if he had caught onto the tell-tale signs sooner, then he could've prevented Tarkat from happening, from Kitana losing her mother and nearly losing her sister, from the Lin Kuei brothers becoming divided...From Raiden becoming a dark visage of himself...From his best friend...From Kung Lao dying...

But he can fix this. He can command the Hourglass to reverse the clock. He knows the future that will befall his friends, and he can make it all disappear. Liu Kang can still see himself performing the ritual, wearing Kronika's crown and carrying out the ritualistic dance as he attempted to reverse the clock.

"Lord Liu Kang, what are you doing?"

Liu Kang still remembers hearing Geras's voice before he materialized before him, trying to convince him to stop what he was doing. Liu Kang still remembers seeing his reflection. He wasn't trying to look at himself in the mirror of the Hourglass, but as an item created with a reflective surface, he couldn't help but notice something terrifying. The bags under his eyes, the subtle scowl on his face, a look of discontentful purpose that blazed in his eyes. He looked like a shadow of his former self, a warped version that was getting eerily close to the Liu Kang that was twisted in Shang Tsungs' image.

Liu Kang remembers the conflict in his heart and mind—a battle between reason and feeling. Every fiber of his being argued for dominance in being the final arbiter in what his ultimate decision should be. An inner struggle so tough, Liu Kang couldn't bring himself to settle on this side or that. He barely heard Geras trying to whisk him away from trying to reset the clock.

"Lord Liu Kang, I don't want to have to tear you away by force from the Hourglass. But I will if you give me reason to."

"...Then, I suppose you will have to deliver on that promise..."

Liu Kang still remembers their fight, fire and sand clashing together as they tried to overpower each other. Geras was holding back, and his intentions were heavily clear: he only wanted to incapacitate the Fire God. Liu Kang shamefully cannot say he was attempting to do the same. There was a conflicted desperation to win the kombat. Deep inside, Liu Kang needed to win. He needed to fix the damage Titan Shang Tsung left in his wake. Yet, Liu also needed to lose. He had to be stopped from committing the same actions Kronika did because Liu Kang knew that it wouldn't stop from there. A taste of the absolute power he truly had with the Hourglass would send him down a spiral he tried to avoid. Liu silently begged that Geras would stop him.

Yet, the opposite happened.

All Liu Kang remembered was Geras screaming horrifically, then just as soon as he heard it, it stopped. Liu Kang stood before a dead Geras. His body was torn in two; viscera and blood littered the area around him; the head was nowhere to be found. What remained of Geras burned to a crisp as two fiery dragons, one red and the other blue, chewed on the remains of the time observer.

Liu Kang won the fight.

Within minutes, an hour if he's lucky, Liu Kang could've used that time to prepare the Hourglass and gather the necessary energies to reverse the clock. Yet, the Fire God was frozen, staring at his disfigured, woefully unrecognizable friend, who now ruined the zen garden surrounding the Hourglass. Suddenly, his mind was blank, the struggle between what he wanted and what was right vanishing as quickly as Geras.

"What have I done?" Liu Kang remembered thinking.

Liu doesn't remember the passage of time between when he was alone in the presence of the Hourglass and when Geras slowly reconstructed himself back together. Geras broke the spell holding Liu Kang in place, placing his hand on the Fire Gods' shoulder and giving a concerned squeeze.

Liu Kang couldn't bring himself to explain himself, couldn't even utter an apology. Where before there was a whirlwind of emotions that brought him to the conclusion of tampering with the Hourglass, now all that remained was a guilt-ridden void and emptiness. There was no scramble to form the right words, be it to convince Geras of what he was doing or to ask for forgiveness.

There, Geras suggested that he take over matters involving the realms and the Hourglass, urging Liu Kang to step away from his responsibilities and mourn. And Liu did not argue. Had Geras not stopped him, he could've become like Kronika, constantly restarting time until he "got it right." Or worse, he could've transformed to be like Titan Shang Tsung, ruling his timeline with an iron fist to exert his vision of how events should play out.

In his time of isolation, Liu Kang used this "vacation" away from his duties to recenter himself. To come to terms with what had happened, not only since Kung Lao died but also since the events that resulted in their fight with Titan Shang Tsung. But his journey of self-healing wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for Shujinko. Such an unlikely confidante he became to be. Ever since he wiped Shujinko's memory, the Fire God has mostly kept his distance, for he hasn't forgotten the events that led to Shujinko being neutralized. Liu Kang figured that the young student would further this distance upon re-discovering the incident that led to him being magically amnesic.

Yet, as the saying goes, Liu Kang would not look a gifted horse in the mouth. When one is in mourning, the most dangerous situation to be in such a state is isolation. It breeds thoughts and ideas that impede the healing process and could reverse the steps needed to reach acceptance. Shujinko sometimes reminded Liu Kang of when he was young and mortal. With this, albeit renewed, fresh start for Shujinko and the new training direction, he was far from the man he once was or even became. Humility was definitely a significant factor in shaping Shujinko. Still, after the revelation of what he was before when he became a threat to the realms, Shujinko became timid. Shujinko, based on what Liu had heard from his new teachers, had become reserved, his heart not being in the fight, perhaps stemming from the fear and shame of what he had done before. And Liu could see it in his actions. Everything Shujinko handled, he handled with great care, terrified care. As though picking up a cup would cause him to copy the abilities of said cup, should it possess any.

Shujinko was careful with how he fought with his teachers and fellow students. He was innately frightened of becoming that prideful and reckless man who could've overtaken the world. But with his fear came stagnation and faultful self-crippling. He had great power that required greater responsibility, and knowing he abused this power before, Shujinko couldn't bring himself to use even 2% of his own capabilities. Liu Kang recalls when he first merged with Raiden and his Revenant self. His body felt familiar, yet new at the same time. His power, his knowledge, his strength, his everything was exemplified to seemingly untold bounds. It was him, yet it wasn't at the same time. And on top of being the Keeper of Time, the creator of this new universe, and the protector of Earthrealm, there was much responsibility Liu Kang practically had to re-learn himself, even still learning to this day.

Liu Kang can empathize with Shujinko's weariness and reservations to fully commit to a fight. In hindsight, Liu almost feels silly that he didn't step in sooner to help with his insecurities. But he's going to rectify this error now. Now that he and Shujinko have been having these small lunch dates together. Liu Kang focuses his breathing, allowing himself to tune into the blazing dragon hearth in the middle of the room, the wind blissfully blowing, rustling his clothes, and swaying his hair. Shujinko might be arriving later than usual; he's typically here by now with a tray full of food.

Liu Kang lets out a relaxed sigh, the cracking of fire kindle gracing his ears. In this silence, this solitude, Liu Kang contemplates the knowledge he had obtained since his ascension. The role of Earthrealms Defender, as a Fire God, is not one that can be taken lightly. Only when he walked in Raiden's shoes and then some did he realize why Lord Raiden was...Like that. Some knowledge is not meant for mortal ears, and some worries are not meant for mortal hearts. Like a much-loved child, Liu Kang only realized now why Raiden did what he did, said what he said. To share his memories, his time as a god, the hard decisions he had to make, and the even harder improvisation he had to live with. It's almost frustrating knowing the truth but knowing how it felt and how it would feel to be on the other side of that truth. The wish that there was a way for him and Lord Raiden to find a middle ground, that there was some way that Raiden could digest what he was experiencing and communicate it with him, and for himself to have the patience to understand. Then again, they were damned from the start. Kronika was always going to ensure, one way or another, that they would fight to the death, whether they wanted that outcome or not.

And Liu Kang reflects on his role today. Is he falling into that same pitfall? Withholding truth because it is not a mortal's place to make sense of his reality. Or trying to explain his truth, only for it to be misunderstood because mortal comprehension cannot begin to imagine or sympathize with the path he must take. This balancing act of honesty and veiled truths. At least Liu Kang is fortunate to have Geras by his side, a confidant to express his worries and feelings. Did Lord Raiden not have that for himself? He can assume Fujin and Raiden did not always see eye to eye, and that disconnect between them may have left his brother out of the equation. And based on Lord Raiden's memories, he didn't interact much with the other gods outside of Earthrealm, lest it was business.

A memory surfaces as Liu Kang focuses on these trailing thoughts.

A middle-aged man sitting alone in his temple, much like he was. Contemplating, meditating, but there was a disturbance, a peace he could not reach. Concerns of prior un-reconciled events, fears of incidents yet to come, the insistence on planning for and around those possible occurrences, and how best to maintain an already waning peace.

Liu Kang pities the Raiden that was before. How he must've suffered alone with the weight of his responsibilities with no one to share that burden. Even with those whom he would've considered close friends, how unfair it would've seemed to ask for sympathy from a mortal who can do little to calm his weary nerves. There was more to protecting Earthrealm than simply swinging fists at a life-or-death tournament. The politics involving it would be much for a mortal to comprehend. And Raiden clearly felt that strain.

That mortal affinity swells in Liu Kang's heart; how he wishes he could've done more for Raiden than he already has. That loving anger, that longing feeling that Raiden at least tried to let him into his world, to attempt to understand him more. But Lord Liu Kang knew that was a foolhardy wish in hindsight.

"You have many admirable qualities. You're handsome, patient, caring, determined, and good-willed. These are aspects that anyone would fall for and would be lucky to have you as their significant other. And…Perhaps, in another life, I could return your feelings. But I cannot provide you the happiness you think I can give. The amount of responsibilities and burdens…I'm sorry, but I just wouldn't be able to emotionally and physically give back to you."

Even in hindsight, Liu hates how right Raiden really was.

He hears the wind pick up slightly, his nerves prickling as a powerful presence suddenly appears nearby. Liu Kang opens his eyes, eyeing the many openings of the Fire Temple. Particles of microscopic granular materials, sand, conjure and coalesce on the far end of the room. From the miniature duststorm emerged Geras, proud and mighty. Liu Kang's heart skips a beat; it's been a while since he and Geras met face to face after that prior incident. To see him here was surprising nonetheless.

"Geras...Johnnny?" The sudden accompaniment of the Hollywood Star takes Liu Kang further aback. He hasn't seen Johnny Cage since he verbally disbanded his champions. To see him here...

"Nice place you got here," Johnny whistles, admiring the temple.

"Lord Liu Kang, an urgent matter requires your..." Geras spoke hastily, only to pause for a moment. "Wisdom."

Liu Kang can see it in Geras's focused eyes, a hidden glint that Liu knows far too well. He didn't want to disturb the Fire God, but something had happened, something terrible.

Liu Kang raises his chin, filling his body with the godly confidence that he wore so well. And, in a small way, thought he lost. "Speak freely, Geras."

Geras slightly bowed, stepping aside so that Johnny was more visible. "Johnathan Carlton has urgent news to relay regarding Kung Lao; he has returned from the dead."

With alarm and intensity, Liu Kang straightens his posture more than ever before, "What?"

"Oh, so we're just jumping right to it?" Johnny looks between Geras and Liu Kang, "I figured we'd ease him into it, you know? Try to reel him in before just dropping that bomb on him."

"What do you mean, 'Kung Lao has returned from the dead?' Who informed you of this?" Liu Kang stands up, stepping closer as he stares at Johnny.

"Um, well, Kenshi told me," Johnny says flustered. Suddenly, he feels like he's 10 years old again, sitting next to his mom & dad in the principal's office, trying to explain why he kicked a kid trying to replicate his dad's kung-fu moves in the movies. "He was in Japan, looking for some, um," Johnny snaps his fingers, trying to remember the name. "Jade-O Tai-Gah Ban-Doh, something like that," Johnny's "shining" Japanese doesn't impress either Geras or Liu Kang. "But they're in cahoots with some people named the Black Dragon, and they were doing some shady stuff, then, boom, Kung Lao was alive."

"Did this Jade Tiger Band organization recently revive Kung Lao? Are you sure it was him?" Liu Kang continues to press.

"I dunno. Kenshi was the one who saw the whole ordeal, not me."

"And where is Kenshi now?" Geras's blue eyes glanced occasionally at Johnny, but his attention primarily remained on the Fire God, analyzing him.

Johnny debates if he should come forward now about Kenshi's occupation. I mean, Kenshi was not only doing FBI work, he was actively on the look out for any suspicious activity from Outworld and other similar realms. He's literally the Men in Black! He can't imagine that his line of work did not eventually cross, at least, Geras's ears. Then again, he did promise...

"He's working right now. Something urgent came up, business stuff." As if Johnny could sound any more convincing as he rubbed the back of his head.

There's a nerve-wracking silence before Liu Kang takes the first initiative, "Geras, the Hourglass."

That's all Liu Kang had to say to have the construct nod along with him, the pair leaving the room without Johnny in flames and sand. "W-wait, what about the Hourglass?" Johnny is too late to ask as the pair disappear without him.

Just as they vacate the Fire Temple, Shujinko rushes with a tray full of food, huffing as he reaches the inner sanctum. "My apologies, Lord Liu Kang, but I was held...Back..." Shujinko looks around the empty space, wondering where the Fire God had gone. His brown eyes meet the actor, eyes widening. "Johnny Cage?"

"Oh. Uh, hey," Johnny flashes his quick signature Hollywood smile. The moment he notices the food tray, his stomach begins to rumble. "Say, um, you don't intend to eat all that, right?"

Geras and Liu Kang materialize in front of the Hourglass, the massive relic standing at attention.

"We need to find him, quickly. Goes as far back as you can!" Liu Kang expresses his urgency as he watches Geras approach the Hourglass.

"It is not something that can be easily accomplished. My duties away from the Hourglass means I have missed significant passages of time. I will not know where to look nor how far back to go. And depending on where in time Kung Lao may have been, he could be anywhere."

"Try Fengjian." Liu Kang says with no hesitation.

Geras looks back at Liu Kang, an unspoken question that's only apparent in his eyes. A silent conversation occurs between the pair, communicating solely with their eyes. Liu Kang can't say it's 100% what Kung Lao would do. Based on personal, future experience, he only became an undead, a Revenant to be exact, because of Quan Chi's manipulation. But the moment he was allowed his own autonomy, to put it bluntly, the dead crave the living and all that once brought them meaning.

As though Geras found something that Liu Kang unspokenly said that was agreeable, Geras waves his arms about, conducting the ritual dance as the sand within the Hourglass coalesces and swarms within the glass. "Where should we start?"

"Any time within a year and a half. All we need is evidence that he's out there."

The pair watched the Hourglass, sand synthesizing as Geras sought through prior hours, days, and months. In the construct's eyes, he's wandering a desert, a sandstorm dangerously blowing in his face. Under normal circumstances, the fast-flowing particles would be enough to skin him, suffocate him, blow Geras off his feet. But Geras is master of this inner, hidden realm as he walks through the storm undisturbed. Through the rushing sand, outlines of buildings and people walk in reverse from him, passing him by as they perform actions as though they must do so backward, their speech incomprehensible. Nothing is evident in this tempest of sand; everything is blurry and obscured.

Geras stops in his stride, raising his hand and snapping his fingers. The sandstorm immediately settles upon his command. The surrounding area was built upon nothing by the microscopic particles; every building, plant, material, and person was walking pillars of sand. No longer were these figures moving in reverse as time in this realm resumed as it should. Geras looks into the sandy crowd, seeking out Kung Lao's body. He should be fortunate that Fengjian is relatively small, but size isn't so much the problem; it's time.

Liu Kang watches Geras closely as he scours through the Hourglass, waiting for the inevitable reveal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boy does it feel good to be back. Let's look forward to more chapters in the future!

[blupengu]

Okay, I thought Le Salut emotionally devastated me? Wrong. Weak sauce. I think I inadvertently went in order from happiest to most depressing salvation ending oops…💀

Big fat spoilers for everyone’s salvation ends under the cut!! I’ll add the order I did them in first in case somehow someone finds this and is curious but hasn’t done them all yet

Just wanna say though, thank you Virche Evermore for gifting us with not one, not two, but FIVE(!) long-haired boys, god damn! I would like to shake Yomi’s hand because the art and character designs are so *chef’s kiss,* long-haired anime boys are superior 😂

Also random aside, the first few notes of the salvation theme before the piano comes in gives me such……… indescribable feelings? That underlying dissonance fills me with like such a desperate but forlorn desire to go back to simpler, happier times before the melody becomes more hopeful 😂 (this might be a weird pull, but it gives me Giygas theme prayer for safety vibes from Earthbound 👀)

Adolphe -> Mathis -> Scien -> Yves -> Lucas (yes I saved him for last because I am a Lucas simp I admit it. I saw some comments say it was uhhh not the happiest ending LOL but the heart wants what the heart wants 💀) Boy this is gonna be a LONG post

Adolphe

Love things being solved with guns lmfaooo, guess we’ll go by each scene that the game goes through. Also since I forgot to mention this in my Le Salut rant, I LOVE all of Ankou’s CGs, he is so pretty! The very first one you get stopping Ceres from killing herself? Impeccable. When Adolphe’s pointing a sword at him while his hair’s blowing in the wind? Show-stopping. Him eating the lycoris? Peak *I saw a man so beautiful I started crying* 😩

LUCAS AND NADIA ARE ALIVE! NADIA IS RECOVERING!! LUCAS IS GOING TO THERAPY!!! As mad as I am that ankou died, this is the best timeline oh my gosh the way I (˶‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅˵) when I heard Nadia, the relief I felt for these two blonde bitches y’all…

LMAO JEAN. Oh my evil hot butler being forced to take care of a baby as his punishment is so *chef’s kiss,* scien has wonderful ideas, I desperately want fan art of this 😂 ah… they did say Rosalie was pregnant though when she was killed, didn’t they… oh now it hurts a little more… I hope he, Mathis, and the kid become a loving family 😔

What the FUCK Yves eating the lycoris bulbs coming in clutch though??? And Hugo still being an A+ Yvesexual I approve 😌

Scien is the BIGGEST mvp though in practically every route my god

This was such like a nice, tight little bow to put at the end of what I guess is the true route? But I love it because all our boys are happy (Ripperoni ankou 🫡)

Mathis

Sweet baby boy, too good for this world… Dahut why tf are you blowing shit up in his route this don’t involve you go away 😂 (still love him though…)

Oh… OH. Mathis was ACTUALLY baby…?? o_o (kinda 😬 how Jean got the cells but uh, let’s ignore that shall we?) Rosalie, Camille, Mathis happy family AU when??? Aaaw Jean did care about Mathis deep down TT_TT (like waaaay deep down), and thank you Scien again as always.

Lmao Ankou’s just casually showing up like, “here take these sweets, it’s made of my blood! Haha no of course I’m joking it’s just normal candy” 👀 Not much else to say about this end, it was cute! I’m glad at least one character got a real happy ending 😌

Scien

Bruh I forgot how disrespectful Scien is to everybody lmaooo, guess we back to sandwich dispenser… I’m glad Dahut’s our friend in this route though!

SALOME WHAT THE FUCK! Oh bruh hell nah, she did not just do that I stg… oh bitch she really killed Dahut huh. YOU JUST KILLED YOUR SON!! GIRL, THIS MAKES ME MAD AF 💀 (this also made me realize they share the same bang style 😭)

Not much else to say about this one either, I’m glad it’s happy (other than Dahut… and they’re never gonna find out about that, huh… ಠ_ಠ), and looks like the kiss CG’s improved! 😂

Yves

Bruh Yves needs therapy so bad, he’s such a good boy though 😂 Ngl his full name is kinda sick, Yves Noirge, guardian of the Lycoris, named after the flowers of misfortune? That goes hard af

Please… please give her the Magic science juice first so you don’t die before you get to her… no? Aight then I guess the power of love stopped you from dropping dead LOL (this kiss CG was also pretty nice! Hooray the artist has improved 😂)

Cannot believe they put in the effort to change Scien’s sprite so he’s missing an arm though lmao, and Ankou just kinda showing up to solve problems is always great

Y’all Yves and Ceres are so mentally I’ll for each other… and two kiss CGs!! They really saved the nice ones for the end huh 😂 Good for Yves! It’s not a super happy ending, but at the very least things are hopeful, and that’s all I can really ask for in this game…

Lucas

I am. Upset. I miss when all we had to worry about was the cage 😂

*internal screaming* Boy oh boy this one absolutely wrecked my shit. When I looked at the flow chart and realized it would split off AFTER Nadia and the killing spree… 😬 like bitch I don’t wanna go through this again 💀 okay okay though, this one’s definitely gonna be long (sorry in advance), I guess I’ll just tackle the scenes chronologically:

Seeing Dahut hiding from Lucas really just made me shout “LOOK WHAT YOU DID!!” at my TV now knowing what we know lmao, but also… why was he unsure about Capucine’s involvement…? Like he knew Capucine was Ortie and he must’ve known that Capucine was running the hospital Nadia was in… also knew he was abusing Lucas and doing fucked up human experimentation, Dahut so why are you surprised??? I would’ve pulled Nadia out if there the second I became friends with her, a huge chunk of this is your fault 😭

But bruh… this is not a salvation end… it’s a despair end with more CGs and trying-to-talk-with-a-slit-throat-while-coughing-up-blood ASMR wtf 💀

(Poor Lucas saying “I can’t do this anymore” was so relatable lmao sweetie the game is doing you so dirty I am so sorry, like oh my god make the pain stop… what do you mean it’s only gonna get worse?!)

I am glad though that even though we stabbed our boy in the throat we are still going after Capucine’s ass together! Seeing him scared was so satisfying aah, GET FUCKED CAPUCINE HELL YEAH YOU BETTER BE AFRAID BITCH!! Even with 0 pints of blood, Lucas is still kicking down doors and kicking ass, what a king 👑 the man must be leaking everywhere (like sir we cut an artery, there must be a fountain coming out of you), love the “man too angry to die” vibes 😌

Bruh the siblings face to face is so fucked. Was not expecting Dahut to have already been there and playing dead though! Even though you’re kinda the reason Lucas and Nadia’s lives got so fucked, I’m glad you helped in the end 😌 get fucked (again) Capucine!! I’m very glad Nadia was the one to claw the shit out of that garbage man 🔥💯

Aha, the touching sibling reunion is SO super duper fucked 😭 they did not have to describe how Nadia can feel the other body parts and how much it hurts… like Jesus fucking Christ honey I am so sorry you’re in this game, this is too much suffering for such a sweet character 😩

God I am so absolutely devastated, his dying CG was pretty at least… ಥ_ಥ this ain’t fair though y’all… what is this injustice for Lucas?? Like this is some Shakespearean tragedy bullshit… Whoever decided his gravestone CG needed THREE variations is sadistic lmao 😭

My crops are dying, my skin is dry, everything is pain… I guess all we can really do is take some solace in the fact that he gets a happy ending with Nadia in Le Salut…

I don’t think the salvation theme music ever even played???? I also realized this motherfucker’s been wearing high heels the whole time while on his murderous rampage??? WORK BITCH damn 💅

Phew this rant for just Lucas probably could’ve been its own post honestly lmao but oh well, the man changed my brain chemistry… guess it’s time to pray for the FD to be localized. Please our lord and savior Scien, let it be soon, Lucas deserves so much better than what he got 😭

Well guess that’s it for my rambling posts about virche evermore!! This game was a wild ride from start to finish and I loved it, time to make shitty memes to cure my brain rot (sorry if this post was incomprehensible LOL)

[sheliesshattered]

So it turns out I completely forgot to take any pictures of my last sewing project. Oops. In fairness, it's a gift for my mother, whose birthday is tomorrow, and I didn't want to post any pictures until after it had arrived at her house and been opened. But I still meant to take some pictures, if not of the process at least of the final product. It wasn't until I got home from mailing it that I realized I full on completely forgot to take any photos at all. Oh well. Maybe Mom can snap a picture or two for me since I flat out forgot. Pics of that if/when I actually have them, lol.

But I'm already into my next sewing project, and I've resolved not to make that same mistake again. Which, really, is nearly the same mistake as I made with my fleece dress last month, when I didn't take any pictures at all until all the major seams were sewn. After documenting so much of my sewing throughout 2023, I seem to have completely forgotten all about taking photos of my works-in-progress the last couple of months. I aim to get back on course with this project, though!

The project in question is a hooded wrap sort of thing, made from the black and gray brushed cotton herringbone that I got a bolt of on ebay a couple of weeks back. After washing the bolt, it looks to be about 43" wide and roughly eight and a half yards long. I want to make an overdress for my fleece dress out of it too, but I think this wrap project will only take up about a yard and a half, maybe two, so I should have plenty left for an overdress. And then I can wear the wrap and the overdress together, potentially.

But really the thing I'm sewing this for is my birthday, which is coming up in about seven weeks. I have somehow talked Jack into going to Disneyland and spending all day in the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge area so I can pilot the Millennium Falcon as many times as possible, and doing some original costuming "Batuu-bounding" while we're there, too. Because I am nothing if not a costume nerd, and my life-long love for Star Wars has recently been reignited, so what better way to spend my birthday than dressed up in one of the best examples of 360 degree set building that I've ever seen.

After combining a bunch of pieces from my closet and my costume boxes, I've come up with an outfit that I like the look of, for a general purpose Force-sensitive smuggler pilot: my every-day tall Doc Martens with wraps over them, leather-look leggings, the vest from my Moment cosplay, and various accessories from my pirate-core and Wasteland days. I may need a better shirt to go with it, but I'm hoping to hit up Goodwill at least once or twice between now and then and see what I can find. The final choice will depend on a bit on the weather that week, which in late February in southern California can be literally anything from the cusp of freezing to 80 degrees, sunny or rainy or windy or some combination of all of them. I won't really know until the weekend beforehand.

Besides a shirt, the last piece I really want to add is this hooded wrap, both for practicality -- warmth in the morning and the evening, and keeping the sun off my head at midday without messing up my hair too much -- and for just the drama of a big hood and drapey wrap. I based the hood pattern on the hooded Vuvalini jacket I made for Wasteland Weekend way back in 2016, but took it in a bit both in width and depth (since I'm not trying to catch the wind with this one, and won't be wearing a fluffy scarf with it).

Over the weekend I drafted a pattern and made a mock-up, but the mock-up is really kinda ugly, since I used left over fabric and made a part of it significantly smaller just to save on fabric, so it's one of those mock-ups where you have to squint and imagine what the final product will look like. Not going to bother taking pictures of that. But it did serve the purpose of clarifying some design elements and finalizing fit, so still worthwhile.

With the hood pattern drafted and tested, and measurements for the long wrap bits figured out, I went ahead and cut it out of the herringbone fabric. Here it is all cut out, three pieces for the hood and two pieces for the back:

I'm doing french seams on this project, both to combat the fabric's tendency to fray, and to keep all the inner seams looking pretty when the hood is down, etc. Tonight I sewed up the first set of seams on the center back of the wrap, and all three hood pieces (as modeled by my sewing ham):

Tomorrow I'll press those narrow seams flat, and then sew each of them again a bit further in to completely encase the raw edges (ie a classic french seam). Next step after that will be attaching the hood to the right angle formed by the wrap pieces coming together in the center back. I did this, with shorter and narrower pieces, in my mock-up, and it's a little bit fiddly but not too bad. I didn't french seam the mock-up though, so we'll see if that adds any headaches to this.

Once both stages of the neck seam are done and the hood is attached, the last step will be hemming! And it's a lot of hemming, lol. The shorter edges of the wrap (starting from the top of the center back, where it meets the hood) are each 48" long and 18" wide. I actually haven't measured the outer, longer edge, nor done the math to figure out what it must be given that the center back is cut on a 45 degree bias, but let's just say it's a lot of inches. And then there's the hood opening too, which was cut to have a generous drape. Many many inches of hemming, really probably better measured in yards.

I need to play around with a couple of options, see if I like the look of top stitching or if I want to do the whole thing by hand with invisible stitches, but right now my assumption is that I'll end up doing this by hand. I actually enjoy handsewing hems, so that's not the worst thing in the world, and I've got plenty of time to get this finished before I plan to wear it at the end of February. I do have at least one other sewing project I'd like to tackle for our Star Wars Batuu-bounding day, and I'd like to leave room for other things to come up at the last minute too, so I'm going to keep buzzing through this just as quickly as I can. More pictures tomorrow, in all likelihood.

After I call my mom of course, and wish her a happy birthday. And beg her for photos of that thing I made for her, lol.

[bereft-of-frogs]

dark ocean duology | star wars (jedi fallen order)

A post-Fallen Order AU in two parts: After narrowly escaping the Inquisition’s clutches on Nur, Cere and Cal are not whisked from the water by Merrin’s intervention. Instead, they must embark on their own journey back to the Mantis. Wounded, ill, and trailed by the dead, they make their way through winding underwater passages and echoes of the past to make it home.

Featuring: oceans (both literal and metaphorical), the dead (also both literal and metaphorical), choices, and some much-needed catharsis.

part 2: to stand at the edge of the sea | chapter 2: under the great unfathomable deep, he sank

“We might have another option,” he says. “I maybe know a place where we could find plenty of replacements for the nav and comm systems, the right age even. Guaranteed.” “Where?” “Oh, just a massive scrapyard full of old Republic-era ships, that I happen to know my way around.” Cere looks at him with a flat, humorless expression on her face. “You want to go back to Bracca. Cal nods. “I want to go back to Bracca. Ok, well, want is a strong word…” - - - They’ve traversed the meandering pathways under Nur’s dark oceans and escaped the Inquisition yet again, but they’re far from out of danger, and a long way from reconnecting with the Mantis. All they’ve got is a stolen ship with a broken navigational computer and there’s only one place in the galaxy they might find a replacement. There’s just one other problem: Cal is dying. He’s been dying from the start. Cal just really, really doesn’t want to die on Bracca. - - - chapter 2: Arriving on Bracca brings back painful memories and too-vibrant echoes, as Cal gets sicker and they, er…accidentally kind of take a hostage. Oops? Desperate times…

[ link to ao3 ]

Ok now I'm really going to be late to work. I'm digging the Wednesday posting schedule but it is a lot to get done by 8AM lol. Anyway, I'm sorry about this, have fun, and I'll see you next week.

[ part 1: chapter 1 ] [ part 1: chapter 2 ] [ part 2: chapter 1 ]

[ series link ] [ spotify playlist ] [ post image credit ]

[thegeminisage]

ok, i got about an hour and a half to play some zelda!!! i'm in rito village cuz i got my frog armor. my map says there's a chasm here so i'm gonna get some korok seeds and see if i can find it

god i miss kass.

i havent ben back here since i did the wind temple, so there's a lot of sidequests lol

ok, i NEVER would have found that chasm without help. the opening into the cave is SO tiny

off to a fantastic start. landed by a yiga hideout AND a lightroot!!

oh! it's isolated! i guess that makes sense cuz in the overworld it's surrounded by water. i was gearing up to do some Depths Exploring though, i kinda miss it??

i notice mineru didn't meet me. so she really is only in one little section until i do the dungeon. blegh

oh, it's not a proper yiga hideout, there's just a diary. something about a weapon with blue stone. PLEEEEASE be a timeshift stone please please please (guy who knows it wont actually be a timeshift stone)

CRYSTALLIZED ZONAI SHOP LETS FUCKING GOOO

aw and a schema stone

siren call of the depths: i kinda wanna explore more. i was gonna go back up to rito village and knock out some of those sidequests but fuck it

as with the overworld i have a lot of the eastern section knocked out and have barely touched the western half. so i guess i'll go clean up in the east. unfortunately i have not been marking ANY of my boss encounters bc i didnt want to look at this map too closely so i'll probably wind up doing them all again lol

i don't know, am i taking some of the joy of exploration out of the depths by looking at this map early? i guess so, but i don't want to forge on without it, and the internet has spoiled me for the whole thing anyway. besides, they're not detailed enough that you can really tell what it'll look like once you get there. i think some surprises will still remain

i am going to turn on hands i think lol. that's one surprise i DON'T want, not down here

i guess if things get too hairy or tedious i always have my bike...it's been so long since i learned about them, yet since then i've barely set foot down here at all. i was doing koroks. so it's been a REALLY long time since i've properly explored down here.

tiny dark spot by hateno so im starting there. warped to a nearby root and found the two new ones i need pretty much instantly without even using the spoiler map - they were just hidden behind a wall

i read somewehre that the weapons the ghost soldiers hold for you, the unrotted ones, will only be weapons you've already broken above. which is stupid cool but then WHYYY do i never get royal broadswords...they're my favorites...

another mine...i guess that's to be expected. why do they all have the names of the cities above though? like, hateno didn't exist throughout the ages, it wasnt in oot or whatever. you can't tell me every city in hyrule is 10,000 years old. i guess lin's sheikah slate is naming the mines and using the names of the villages it knows? but IT'S 10,000 years old too. i love totk but the way it breaks the lore is so fucking frustrating, especially since i was finally excited about the lore actually being COHESIVE for the first time after skyward sword.

ooh, this diary mentions a hidden yiga academy behind a waterfall in gerudo...i've been spoiled a bit for that questline too but i feel better that i found the tip organically

oh. i found a "researcher" lol

LMAOOOO she's asking me to pick my own demise. incred

good GOD what is that...i shouldn't have answered...i picked burny bc i actually hate freezy more but what in the name of god

i mean i killed her basically instantly but that was a little alarming! i wish i got a schema stone for one of THOSE

MORE refinery shopping. i already have enough for one battery upgrade and i'm close to getting a second

oop yeah there's upgrade #2

and another schema stone!

ok, doubling back to check and old map mark i missed...

GLOOM TREES BAD

oh it's cap of the sky! i actually already have one of those lol but i can sell this one

ok, let's see...there's a tiny dark spot under gut check rock, so i'll get that next...

i have like. 630 arrows lol and it's a good thing too bc i got spotted by a monster camp and just took them out from a tree

zonaite really isnt hard to collect...like, at first having to get 4000+ to max your battery seemed impossible. but the hard part is that the refineries don't sell a lot at once so you either have to warp around or wait to turn it all in lol

i like how weather attack makes food useful again? like i stopped making food to help me with heat or cold bc i had armor...BUT i can't have armor to defend me from the elements AND the attack up from the elements at the same time. if i want both, i need food for one or the other! it's very clever. now i need to be more mindful when cooking instead of just doing the same health and stamina refills over and over

i really hate how hard the lava air effect makes it to fucking SEE down here. jesus

killed a flux construct. sick nice etc

found a proper yiga hideout >:)

minecart tracks??? i want a cart too... :(

sadly lacking in cart to cart combat. 0/10 stars

ok, working my way down towards the spring of power. i want those bargainer statues lol

i like exploring the depth a lot better when shit is lit up. i didn't realize until now but it's exhausting not to be able to see ANYTHING. i think that's why i got so tired of it so quickly before, even though i was also having fun poking around. finding one light point after another is fun and that requires darkness but it's also really difficult to navigate the terrain when you can't see AND there's gloom

found my mf statue. i cant believe i walked right past these before...you wouldn't know they're there unless you're looking :/

YESSSSS HOOD OF THE DEPTHS...finally.................

i had almost 700 poes so i had plenty to buy with lol

ANOTHER yiga hideout!! have i done this one?? it looks familiar...

oh yep lmao i sure have. bummer. at least i can mark it off my map :/

ok, thats all i have time for!!!

[invisiblegarters]

Dangerous Romance Ep 4

Here we are again! When we last met, Kang wanted to get a reward for being a good boy, but dad didn't care if he was or wasn't and got him what he requested for his birthday anyway. Kang was very sad, so Sailom gave him someone to be a good boy for.

"That means Sailom can't control you." Grandma. Give it a little bit of time, he's working on it.

And I think she knows, in some way. Because she seems to know that telling Kang she'll find him a new tutor if he can't pass his midterms is exactly the motivation he needs to actually study. Especially when Kang feels responsible for making sure that Sailom doesn't wind up beaten up at the end of the month (apparently this has happened before, which is horrifying. My guess that the time when Kang found him is the first time it went as far as threatening to burn his skin off with an iron, though. Still, it's terrifying because that means the escalation has been happening for a while).

Aw, studying montage. Cute.

Oop, a metaphor. Thank you Kang for hitting that particular nail right on its head, we might have missed it otherwise.

"Do I really have any influence over you?" Yes, Sailom you really really do.

I don't think Kang is gonna pass. But I appreciate how much Sailom believes in him.

And there it is. F in chem. For a second there I thought that Kang wasn't gonna tell Sailom he failed one. But he did. And aw, the reaction was good. Seriously though, it is impressive that he only failed on subject if he usually fails most of them.

The little glance up at Sailom was cute. Oh, Kang. Your face is gonna give you away every time. Perth and his teeny tiny little expression changes that let you know exactly where his character's head is at.

Do they...not know that they can still hang out if Sailom isn't tutoring Kang anymore? Because they totally can. I guess Sailom might be busy with all his jobs but also, it's not like they're never gonna see each other again.

Sailom out here collecting all the umbrellas.

I love Auto.

No but seriously you two can still hang out. Are we really doing this "different worlds" bullshit when no one even seemed to care in the first place that you two were spending all the time together? Although well, highschool. And I guess it's different when you have an excuse. But still, this pining music and longing glances stuff is a lot. Boys. Get it together (but don't actually get it together, I'm having way too much fun watching this you two are ridiculous).

PIM. HI.

Aw damn you show. I was hoping sports day would be an excuse for them to hang again. They were both clearly hoping for it.

It worries me that Sailom's issues look to be snowballing. Are we gonna get the escort bits sooner than later? I won't pretend that I'm not looking forward to that.

Faster than I thought. Not complaining. Even if he doesn't do it right away we're getting the ball rolling and I am so here for that. Let's do this!

Oooh that meal looks good.

Escort escort ESCORT.

Oooh Kang is disappointed. Look asshole, not all of us have money. This is just making me think of 3 Will Be Free though.

Lol but Pim is far too observant not to see what's up with Kang here. I mean, I think he's also just worried. He's got a whole protection complex going on with Sailom right now on top of whatever else he may or may not feel, so of course he's not going to like the idea of Sailom playing escort for cash.

Aw Pim you're sweet but this has to chafe. Sailom still has his pride. My bet though is that he'll reject Kang's offer where he accepted Pim's, because the pity probably feels worse coming from him. Let's see if I'm right!

Oh but that offer is...damn. Okay. Sailom's pride can't be worth more than that, although I have to wonder if this will introduce a new dynamic between them because he has to know that it was Kang's doing that Grandma made that offer. I feel like at some point Sailom's need to take care of himself is going to butt heads with Kang's need to take care of him. Financially, I mean, since Kang certainly seems to like being spoiled in other ways, lol.

And ha! Cohabitation hijinks to ensue? Guess we'll find out next week.

Oh, they better not be doing a Pim has a crush on one of them thing. Please. I like the dynamics without that. Plus I'm still hoping for a ViewJune pair up in this drama. Do the right thing, show!

In conclusion, this better not be the end of escorting, dammit.