#patches alright bear wizard

[the-grays-of-ink]

You and me having an important discussion (bear to bear)

[0ccuria]

Val'eth and Gale - What was their first kiss like? and if they get married, who proposes? :)

[ Ship Questions ]

Val'eth has lived a fairly long time thanks to the Astral Sea. He's done and seen many things that it's hard to surprise or get any reaction out of him now.

He's loved Qi'zyr'ra for a large chunk of that time, he's not shy when it comes to intimacy and is very open with his advances.

But it was different with Gale. It had to be done right, done perfectly.

They're laying beside each other in a patch of grass late one night, and while Gale is looking up at the stars above, rambling on about their beauty, Val'eth is instead looking at him with adoration. He's bored of the stars. Centuries spent sailing within them had dulled their luster.

Yet this istik - Gale - looks upon them with pure awe and wonder. There is a touch of whimsy in his soul that Val'eth thought he'd never experience ever again.

It begins with a light brush of the hands, initiating the physical contact. He interlaces their fingers and snuggly grips to lock the hold in in.

"Gale," he speaks gently - nervously - and The Wizard turns to his side, giving Val his full attention, looking at him expectingly. The scent of their perfumes and oils mixed into the air, creating an amalgamation of expensive taste.

"Our time may be short," he begins, "to not follow through with my feelings - to deny myself, and you, the opportunity to express what we both know to be true..."

Val'eth presses his lips against the knuckles of Gale's pampered hand before pulling themselves together, closing the gap that was between them. Then, a moment spent to gaze into The Wizard's Astral veiled eyes - he saw home within them.

He brushes loose hairs back and tucks them behind Gale's ear, "may I kiss you?" He finally asks, a shiver in his voice.

Gale raises a brow and smirks, "do you need my answer in writing? Quit with the formalities, we're clearly past that threshold..." He chuckles before leaning into the Gith's embrace as he finally joins their lips - an explosion of adrenaline along with the release of tension spread throughout their bodies, ending in a buzzing tingle at their fingertips.

Val'eth would cup the nape of Gale's neck, ensuring that they couldn't part as his tongue was accepted into the growing intensity of the kiss - expectedly tasting of the wine and fruits still lingering on their breath.

Just as the rising heat of desire within their cores overtook them both, Val'eth stops, pulling back as he comes to a sudden realization. Gale looks at him with rightful confusion - did he do something wrong?

Val'eth sits up and sighs heavily, "I'm sorry... I..." he then stands up, brushing away the dirt from his clothes.

Gale follows suit, "is everything alright?" He frantically asks. "I've never been so intimate or... anything with a Gith before. If I've offended-"

"No," snaps the Gith, "you could never... but this feels almost cruel - to pluck our heartstrings so." He states, going against everything he had just confessed.

"I can't..." he added.

"Can't what?" Gale asks.

Val'eth inhales sharply, "I can't."

He storms off, disappearing into the darkness of the trees that lead to camp before Gale can get an answer, leaving him to worry in confusion.

Val'eth's heart had been wounded far too greatly once before. It could no longer bear the sting of another, should things turn dire for them both.

It was better to cut the stem now rather than let this flower blossom.

************************************

Did not mean for that to turn into a tiny ficlet lmaoo, but there you have it. A real mess of emotions and some angst.

I can't say for sure if they will get married or not tbh. I've yet to finish Val's run and idk if I want to make it end on a happy or even more tragic note 🥲

[queengiuliettafirstlady]

The tale of the Bear and the Princess

Fandom: Ikemen Prince

Pairing: Luke x OC (Julie)

Tag: Mention of abusive situation Hurt Comfort First meeting Fluff

Word Count  3.260

Author’s Note: Here it comes a multichaptered fic, centered around Luke and Julie, prologue to all the Luke fic I have written for those who are curious to know more about their relationship, seeing how it all started, have a nice reading. 🥰

Tag list

Tag list

@kissmetwicekissmedeadly @aquagirl1978

@william-rex @candied-boys @writingwhimsey

@fang-and-feather @moonstruckmelancholic

@wistfulwanderingone @rjthirsty

@ike-garden2024 @jollibeeshappiness @starzyquee              

@maeko-kun @rkmaru

You can find me on AO3 as QueenJuliet 😊

This contain my personal headcanons, it is alright if you do not agree with me just do not come at me for them please. Thank you for everyone who will like, reblog, or comment please be gentle with me english is not my first language so please do not leave rude comments I apologise for eventual errors I hope you will like it 😊

Chapter 1 

The first time he met her was by chance, the beginning of a tale that would have enveloped them both destined to make history.

It was a normal day at the village, afternoon was slowly melting into early evening when suddenly something heavy fell on the grass with a thud, it could have been an object for the harshness in which it was thrown on the ground but the feeble whimpering coming from it told otherwise, only when the door slammed shut the figure cloaked in a cape that has seen better days, stood unsteadily on his feet, it was not anger nor disappoint the one painted in the boy eyes but mere resignation, used to being treated that way, much to no one surprise and everyone indifference he was thrown out of his house, per usual, after a pretty heavy fight between him and her mother’s husband, due to the harshness he had scolding his little sister, right now curled with the woman who must have been his mother, but it was sheer clear from the way they treated him that he was not welcomed, no more than an outsider in their family, good only to cause ruckus. 

He slumped his head on his chest stomping away from the ground he was thrown into, carelessly wandering around the forest as he ever did, little by little he reached the border of his village overlapping with another hidden to the view surrounded by the thick forest full of vicious beast he mindlessly walked through, it is not like he was afraid in truth he was indifferent to them, he was used to being hurt from all the strong slaps and more he received from his father so many time, and yet the mere idea the ones he took could spare his sister the pain make him sigh in relief, almost happy for protecting her so well.

His wandering had brought him in the rosy village just behind the hills, nestled in a valley surrounded by a thick forest, all sort of fables and superstition circulated on it, despite the bond that linked their villages together, some said it was inhabited by witches and wizards, some that they practised both light and dark magic he never paid much attention to the rumours, even though he must admit the strange noises coming from the messy bushes as the sun set below the horizon and the darkness take hold of it did not do much to reassure him, even more cause the light had long faded covered by the thick foliage of the trees above his head. 

Felicity was its name, pretty reassuring, too bad he felt anything but, the curious gazes of the beast ogling at him gave him goosebumps, not desiring to be in the place of whoever decided to wander in the forest after sunset, like him, mindlessly he scrolled through it, carelessly looking for a patch of grass soft enough to be his bed for the night, his eyes scrolling through the vegetation admiring the busy bees buzzing from one flower to one another, when suddenly a splash of green appeared in his peripheral vision, unconsciously he walked toward it to get a better glimpse of that, there huddled under a tree there was a figure at a first glance someone may have mistake it for a bush but he noticed raven curls billowing in the wind he was to lend his hand to help her to her feet when suddenly he was taken aback as she raise her head, a pair of chartreuse green eyes were staring straight in his leaf green ones, enough to settle disarray in him.

A memory rushed in his mind, he clearly remembered to have already meet her, once during a party at her house he wandered to, she was sitting in an armchair swinging her legs in the air almost kicking it out of boredom to the long talks of the adults, a sense of belonging overcame him as he settled his eyes on her, a strange prickle in his heart he found no explanation as he gently closed the distance with little step, sheepish and a little embarrassed the smile he offered her almost shyly, her smile so tender and pure he swore to protect with all himself, replacing the soft frown curling her lips as she turned to face him, her eyes a delicate shade of chartreuse meeting his bright green ones, staring at her in a daze as she tilted her head to a side suddenly interested by his presence, pushed by a desire to make her happy, without thinking twice, he gave her the bear he used to carry with him everywhere, he would have surely missed him but he could have found another because he far preferred for his companion to stay with her instead, confiding she would have treated him nicely but judging by the excitement when she took it hugging him close to her chest, he knew his plush was in the right hands, her voice sweet like honey as she spoke a single word but worth more than thousand for him

“Thank you.” and then she smiled at him and it was like the sun has dawned for him alone, it was the first time someone ever did, it was bright and warm and he felt all the words he had melt like snow in summer, feeling his heart prickling with a pleasant sensation and a sort of carefree happiness he has never felt, he did not ask her name and neither did she, they were only children at the time and yet he had the sensation his desire to meet her again would have been for once satisfied.

Months flew by and they continued to meet from time to time, speaking no more than few words just basking in each other company, he begin to link her with what he believed to be happiness her smile brightening his day no matter how cloudy it was, sometimes they met at each other houses unaware of the way their families got close but still he could not say he was anything but thrilled to see her again whenever he had the occasion, and the warm smiles she gifted him with told him she loved his company as much as he loved hers.

Almost as if they were waiting for this moment since the beginning, the clogs of the universe start to spin faster, following a path maybe written already above the stars, creating a bond nothing could have sewered forged by the asters for kindred spirits and soulmates, destined to be together.

Now they were both grown up, almost, he acquired a sister and a family of sort, well he did not felt like he was part of but still, and her… she acquired beauty he was sure of it even though they were both still children he could see something charming in her soft features, something he had no doubt would have pushed every boy he knew to do her biddings, but for now she had to settle with him as he rescued her, she was still shaking from the coldness of the wind, he was to approach her when something caught his ear, giving him the chance to notice a rageful dog growling ready to attack, he did not know what to do expect that he could not allow it, not wasting any time thinking it through he threw a rock at it once he caught his attention he started running through the forest, tiredness begin to crept into him he climbed up a tree watching with a triumphant smirk on his lips as the dog barked at him from the ground, until finally giving up and walking away, he did not know how much time passed but when he returned to the ground a light rain had just begun to fall covering everything in sigh with tiny droplets of water still shining under the few light rays of the sunset, he sighed heavily resignated to spend yet another night napping huddled under a tree with its huge jacket as only provisional shelter.

He was to walk away when something stopped him in his tracks, two tiny arms wrapped around his torso while that same honey like voice echoed in his ear, his heart racing wildly in his chest thanking all the universe for making him meet her once more giving him the possibility to save her from that dog, his body moved on its own accord as he wrapped his arm around her form while his hands went to stretch his hood to cover both their heads under it

“Thank you for saving me.” her wide pure eyes looking up at him like he was his saviour, gratitude shining through them curling his lips in a soft smile

“Nevermind it was nothing.” 

“Not for me, that dog was really mad.” 

“Why so ?”

“I dunno, he followed me all through my walk.”

“Weird.” she sighed softly huddling closer to him, her warmth seeping through his skin as they both stood still hearing the soft pit pat of the rain on the leaf surrounding the, her eyes gazing at it like in a daze looking closer she really did look even cuter than what he remembered, her dark curly locks falling on her shoulder in harmonious contrast with her fair complexion, underlined by the emerald dress she wore, simple yet elegant like her, his heart racing faster at the happiness of having met her again words he believed to be too shy to pronounce blurted out of his tongue 

“We … we already met, do you remember ?” he was afraid to hear her answer and yet he was curious at the same time, relief spreading in him as she nodded enthusiastically                               “Yes at my house.”

happiness enveloping him whole as he has always felt when he was with her, feeling bold enough to ask a question that intrigued him far longer than he could say

“I don't know your name yet.” 

“Julie.” she huddled closer to him under its hood, her gaze glimmering with curiosity as she looked up at him 

“And you ?” 

“Luke Randolph.” 

“Luke.” she taste his name on her tongue, it tasted like honey wrapped in her sweet voice like a warm cup of milk in winter, it almost tasted like home, he thought a forlorn shadow feel over his usually bright eyes dripping over his lips

“Oh Luke you must be freezing.” her ever kind voice moved something in his heart, making his eyes get misty as she brushed her fingers on his cheeks drying some tears he hoped she would have mistook for raindrops, he gulped collecting his composure before speaking

“Nevermind.”

“Please don’t play though you may catch a cold in this wind.” she stared at him with concern as she pulled away from him, now that the rain had stopped she had no need for him anymore, that though break his heart more than he could say, even more because he already missed her warmth, her name echoing in his mind forged with the bud of affection, -Julie what a pretty name it was, it really suited her but he was sure that even the most weird names would have sounded just as good on her, he was still in a daze, making sense of his luck, when then she took his hand, he did not know yet but his whole world was going to change for the better.

“I have to return home and you are coming with me.” her voice strangely authoritarian and assertive despite the impression her short stature and tender features gave out otherwise, taken aback by the sudden change he felt his mind numb with questions, but if she did not seemed to mind to bring him home neither should him and so he followed obediently, admiring how she seemed to orientate in that strange tangle of plant, unaware of the fact they had walked some traits more than one time because she did not know the right path herself either.

The evening seems to go by in a blur, the comfort and warmth he meet in that house left him so dumbfounded he could not help but mull over it until late at night, laying in a soft warm bed next to hers, he may have thought all that was a dream, if not for the soft weight of the blankets surrounding him, or her sweet voice eliciting him to pay attention to her

“What were you thinking ?” he shook his head to clear his mind, turning his attention to her fully awake in her bed, reading something that from the cover looked like an illustrated book, 

“Nothing.” he had no words to express himself, used as he was to be ignored or chided for everything, noticing his empty gaze she put her book down leaning over to him 

“You look pale. Are you alright ?” her eyes glimmering with concern as she brushed a soft warm caress on his cheeks making his eyes grew misty at that simple gentle touch he was not used to

“You must have caught a cold, don't move.” she wandered around the room and some noise after she was at his side again, sat on his bed, his old bear had now appeared on the pillow moving him more than one could say feeling his heart burst with all the affection he always yearned but never received in all his life, gently he wrapped his fingers around the bear paw smiling tenderly at the recollection of that fond memory, made even more sweeter by her soft voice  

“Take him.”

“Are you sure I can ?”

“Of course he will help you sleep better.” once she assured he had took the bear in his arms she slide under her duvets looking carefully at him, smiling at his heartfelt words 

“Thank you.” 

“Nevermind.” she settled better under the blankets, their soft voice resonating  in the cozy room.  

“Sweet dreams Julie.” 

“Sweet dreams Luke.”

It was the first time someone ever told him that, usually he would sneak in a made up bed on the floor with the blankets and the pillow he could find in the wardrobe, the little voice of his sister the only one bidding him goodnight and sometimes not even that, having found shelter in their parents bed, leaving him alone and cold on that hard floor rummaging through what has he done to them for being treated so, despised ignored and pushed away much to his dismay feeling his heart used to being treated like some sort of spare son no one wanted to deal with, not part of that same family he should have been, at least in theory, belong to.

Her sweet face and steady breath comforted him that he was not alone, seeing the smile of his bear eliciting him to let himself wander in the land of dreams, maybe if he was lucky enough he would have discovered all that was not a dream. 

The sun shining through the curtains of the window at his back he was almost afraid to open his eyes and hear the rageful yelling of his father as he urged him to wake up and be useful for once, not feeling lucky enough to see his adorable sister first thing in the morning, let alone hope for his reverie to be real, tentatively he opened an eye then another scanning his surrounding, the room of his dreams was still there, she was still there stifling a yawn engulfed under the blankets, he caressed the bear blissfully hidden under the duvets.

He was still making up his mind about the day before while he admired her eyes fluttering open, slowly focusing on him and it felt as the sun, now high in the sky, had just dawned for him alone when as she smiled at him nuzzling her head in the pillow

“Good morning sleepy head.” a light fairy light chuckle resonated in his ear, a song he would have not turned down to wake up to every day from that moment on

“Have you slept well ?” her question took him by surprise, he nodded but seeing the curious glimmer in her eyes and not desiring to elicit her concern he fretted over to reassure her with a proper answer

“Your bear really helped me ya know.” her carefree smile warmed his heart along her soft giggles

“I am happy to hear that.” her tiny arms stretched in front of her, he admired the light filtering through the curtains drawings figures on her blankets as she stifled another yawn in her hand, followed by him, it was a bit before noon when they finally got up to take breakfast, a whole banquet of honey treats and fruits cakes of all kinds were displayed for them both, mouth watering indeed but it was really alright for him to feast on them ? What if they would have been mad at him for taking advantage of their kindness ?

Doubts lingering in his minds gnawing at his heart, he was about to reply he was not hungry when his stomach growled, he slumped his head on his chest shame washing over him, raising shyly his gaze on her only at her sweet voice 

“There is no need to be shy, eat to your heart's content.” her smile brightening her features, managing to calm down the rush of panic surging in him, he reached to take an honey muffin from the plate at the same time she did, his fingers brushing lightly over hers heat crept up on his cheeks as he fretted over to whip away his hand, admiring a rosy blush rise to her soft cheeks as her fingers withdraw along his, shyness overcoming them both, he managed to control as he took a muffin placing it on front of her before she did the same for him, meeting her gaze as they smiled at one another, before munching away their breakfast, sating their hunger with all the delicious food ogling at them from the table.

Pleasant hours flew by in an instant and before they knew it the afternoon was already peeking at its door, guilt gnawing at his heart when he told her he had to come back, to cook for his sister that is, the soft frown on her lips break his heart more than her words

“I understand.” he brushed his fingers on her cheeks to cheer up her dull smile

“Thank you for everything.”

“It was nothing.”

“Not for me.” her bright green eyes widened as she stared at him disbelief, 

“I am happy with you.” her heartfelt confession warming his heart more than the smoldering sun ever could

“I feel the same.” he took her hand mimicking the gesture he saw in one of the book he learnt to read from, brushing his lips on hers

“I will come back to you, wait for me.” a smile so bright as to put the sun itself to shame light up her features

“Do you promise ?” 

“I do.” 

“Alright then see you later,” her eyes crinkled with happiness as she kissed his cheeks, giggling at his cheeks turning red. 

“See you this evening.”

“I can't wait.”

A soft promise he followed, much to their happiness, as he come back for her alone, looking forward spending time with her as much as she did, desiring to make her happy as she made him, learning everything only to see her smile, their hearts growing closer to one another entangled each day more with affection, destined to become something more than companions, in everything accomplices down for any adventure their minds could think of.

[bakersstreetirregulars]

Super Fashion Week- Part 1

💫 Is it my turn to do this again? Wasn’t Moonlight planned to announce it?

🪄 I tried to get her. She was kinda busy with something else. You’ll be fine. If you can defeat a dragon, then you can do a broadcast for an online blog! [leaves the room]

💫 Alright… I can do this. *ahem* Hello everyone. Tonight, I’m going to commentate on Fashion Week and the finals between Chocolate Bonbon Cookie and Sour Belt Cookie. They are competing against each other in the finals and will both work with an intern of their choice to design the better outfit… which their competitor will show off on the runway. Who wins? That is actually not known yet.

Fashion Week Internship

You see… you are actually going to be an intern for one of them. When everything is all done, you will get a Super Epic costume depending on who you choose. Think of those two events back in the City of Wizards where you chose between two sides to pick your final reward, such as Moonlight’s costume and a special lobby design. It should be similar… I think.

I’m not one to start a dispute since I would probably cause a big mess in here trying to break up an argument, but who would you side with?

Work with one side and start off as an intern as you work your way up to being a professional designer across 4 different maps. High scores and completing missions will grant even more rewards than the costume itself, such as free crystals and even Rainbow Cubes!

Sour Belt Cookie

She’s known for her work with scissors to break traditional Cookie fashion codes, and now she’s coming as our first playable Cookie this month. When her skill activates, slide when the scissors overlap with a patchwork outline in the sour belt to score points and create all kinds of clothes. Assemble all three kinds in one cycle for bonus points! With her Magic Candy, golden patches can appear in the sour belt for you to cut out. Cut the patches needed from golden sections for an even bigger bonus! Her pet Pterosatchel creates a bunch of Accessory Jellies at given intervals to score points!

The Treasure of the month is the Fashionista Spotlight! At given times, the spotlight shines on the map, turning any Bear Jellies that get caught in the spotlight into Fashion Bear Jellies!

Did I do good…?

🌰 You did great, Cream Puff! We just need to pause for a short break due to the image limits of Tumblr. Oops!

[glimmerglanger]

out of his system - jangobi fic

ALRIGHT SO, the prompt for subobi week today is one of my squicks. BUT, I still want to post something and also I have too many ideas. This particular idea is a bit of an au I’ve been plotting for a while (thanks @mocha-bear). I don’t actually have any of the rest of it written! This is set pretty early on in it, though….

Anyway, this is Jangobi (is my first written piece of Jangobi stuff that’s more than a snippet going to be pure spice? Yes, it is.) AU where things went significantly worse for Obi-Wan during/after Bandomeer and he never got back to the Jedi. Technically an AU where things went slightly BETTER for Jango and he ends up free to do what he wants earlier than in canon after Galidraan. So, he’s working as a bounty hunter and has been for a bit. He’s….around 29 in this. 

Technically, if this had a prompt to fill, it would probably be sex work? So, warnings for Obi-Wan being in a brothel (not capable of giving full consent to anything). Not safe for wizards. BJs. Spicy. This is the F+J of subobi week, in that it is eventually going to be a 60k fic, whoops.

~~~~~~~~

Jango knew well enough he had no reason to go back to Trolk VI. As far as shitty planets on the Outer Rim went, it wasn’t particularly impressive. Most of the economy seemed generated by the fighting pits or the pleasure houses surrounding them.

Jango had little interest in either of those pursuits. 

Most of the time.

He’d visited pleasure houses before, though mostly because the places seemed to draw his bounties in the same way that a wailing, dying thing drew the attentions of a starving predator. He’d bagged more than one bounty while they were in the middle of….their business. 

His visit to a pleasure house on Trolk VI had not been such a success story. He’d ducked into the building in a rush to avoid the group that had already shot him twice - someday, he’d learn to stop walking into ambushes - and he’d barged into one of the rooms for the same reason.

His plan had been to hide somewhere, or go out the window again. But his pursuers had been close and there’d been someone on the bed already, stirring around in a loose, gossamer gown, and he’d thought, ragged-edged, that the people after him had no idea what he looked like, out of his armor.

His pursuers had apologized, moments later, when they opened the door to find him on the bed, stretched - miming the act of a good, hard fuck - over it’s first occupant, one of his hands over the kid’s mouth, just in case he got any bright ideas about screaming, even as dark spots had swam all across Jango’s vision.

He’d managed to avoid passing out until after the door shut again. 

It had been a shock when he woke up again. Even more of a shock to realize that the whore had bandaged his wounds, neatly, and even applied bacta. He’d been a pretty thing, Jango had registered, but most whores were, and Jango hadn’t had the time to consider it. He’d left, dropping some extra credits on the bed, and never planned to think about Trolk VI again.

And he didn’t, really.

But he did find himself thinking about the whore, his copper-red hair and wide, surprised eyes, and the unusually thick and battered collar around his neck. His thoughts kept spiralling around to the boy - over and over - and distraction wasn’t something he could afford. Not in his line of work. Not in his life.

Obviously, he’d needed to get his fixation out of his system. And so he ended up back on Trolk VI, in the pleasure district. He walked into the house through the front door, sneering at the proprietor behind his mask, half-sure that the woman wouldn’t know who he was talking about - he hadn’t gotten the whore’s name, after all.

But they must not have had many other male humanoids with reddish hair to choose from. She tittered happily enough, told him he’d made a good choice by selecting Ben - evidently the boy’s name - and waved a hand to have him led up the stairs.

The house was well-off. HIgh-end. It didn’t stink of sweat or sex; instead some care seeemd to have been taken to ensure it was all pleasant scents, soft music, dim lights. Jango ignored the droid’s request for a tip when he was delivered to a door he remembered.

He stepped into the room quietly. Nothing had really changed, he noted. A bed predominated the room, covered in soft fabrics. There was a bench along one wall, a chair. Hooks, here and there, on the walls and ceiling. He could imagine a use for each.

And each use was connected to the only other figure in the room - the boy, Ben - sitting on the side of the bed, a container of bacta open by his hip, a gossamer robe slid off of one shoulder, revealing an array of fading marks, skin shiny from the bacta application. 

He blinked over at Jango right away, eyes stunningly blue, his hair a tangle around his jaw - like someone had been playing with it - and his mouth reddened. His drooping robe did almost nothing to hide his shoulders and chest - there were marks there, too - or the traces of a flush over his throat.

Jango looked at him and felt a kick in his gut, almost shocking.

He couldn’t recall, really, the last time he’d felt directed desire.

He’d begun to think he just wouldn’t, ever again.

Ben recovered first, which was a lurching shock, and tilted his head to the side, eyes narrowing just a little. He asked, his voice all wrong for a brothel in the Outer Rim - Jango heard that accent on his clients from the Core, and nowhere else, “Should I expect armed men to burst in after you, again?”

There was something satisfying to being recognized so quickly, but, then, he was sure he’d made an impression, last time. Jango shook himself, snorting, and said, “Not this time. Disappointed?”

Ben’s mouth quirked, just a little. He wasn’t….acting in quite the way Jango expected from a whore. Certainly there was no fawning about as he dipped his fingers once more into the bacta, spread a line of it across his shoulder, and asked, “Only a little. And you recovered?”

Jango remembered, clearly, blinking his way to consciousness with his head in Ben’s lap, the boy trailing gentle fingers over his brow, murmuring some strange lullaby that had seemed familiar from somewhere and--

He shook the thoughts away, taking a step forward as the boy closed the bacta jar and stood, carrying it across the room. “I’m well enough,” he said, looking at the fading marks across the boy’s back.

There were reddened marks, fading, long and straight. He recognized lashes, when he saw them. There were other imprints, on his shoulders and arms, fingerprints, perhaps, and the shape of a mouth, here and there.

And below those marks there was scar tissue, old and ragged. Uglier than he’d have expected on a pleasure slave. Especially one so lovely as this boy, who had to be worth more undamaged. Taken with the heavy, ugly collar around his neck - something Jango hadn’t seen on any of the brothel’s other….employees - it was leaving him with multiple questions.

He crossed the room while Ben arranged the bacta, apparently unconcerned, even when Jango touched one of the marks, with just one finger. “Better than you,” he added, and the boy looked over his shoulder, robe sliding a little further down his back.

“Apologies,” he said, “sometimes the bacta takes a while to work.”

Jango frowned, shaking himself again. He hadn’t come here to chit-chat with a whore. He’d come here to - to burn away his fascination with this boy, before it distracted him any further. Considering the sight of his glove on Ben’s skin wasn’t helping with that. It didn’t matter that, for whatever reason, he didn’t like the marks.

It had been a long time since he fucked anyone at all. That was all. Years, he thought.

His body had, obviously, had enough of waiting, and his head had fixated on Ben, because he’d been warm and pliant, when Jango stretched over him, because he had a red mouth and clear eyes, and legs a parsec long. He’d fuck the boy, get it out of his system, and move on.

Decided, he took a step back, and snapped, lifting his helmet off, “Do you waste so much time with all your clients?”

“No,” Ben said, agreeably, meeting his gaze evenly. “I’m very adaptable.”

Jango wondered, sudden and dark, just how adaptable he was. He said, voice getting thicker, “Help me with this.”

“Of course.” Ben had long, clever fingers, Jango noted, removing his armor quickly and steadily, setting each piece aside carefully. He was tall, too, all stunningly long legs and with a hint of coltishness still about him, not fully grown into his shoulders. 

It felt...strange, to be out of his armor in front of someone else. But Ben had seen it all, already. He’d seen Jango bleeding out, and had decided, for whatever reason, to patch him up instead of leaving him to die and stealing the armor and the rest of Jango’s credits.

The beskar alone would have been enough to buy out whatever price the boy’s owners wanted for him, unless the boy was something really special. 

It made no kriffing sense that Ben had kept him alive. People didn’t do that, didn’t just - help, for no reason at all. Especially not when it would serve them better to do otherwise. Jango caught Ben’s wrists, when he reached for the closures at Jango’s belt, and said, roughly, “You could have killed me, before.”

Ben looked over at him, down, just a bit. He didn’t slouch, made no effort to make himself look smaller, which--Jango realized he quite liked. “Kill you?” Ben asked, tilting his head to the side. “Why would I kill you? I don’t even know your name.”

“Is that a prerequisite?” Jango asked, and realized, with another hot lurch in his gut, that he wanted to hear the boy say his name. Maybe scream it, a few times.

Ben shrugged. He said, dry, “It seems a bare minimum to know, before killing someone. Don’t you think?” 

“You’ve got a mouth on you,” Jango said, and heard the appreciation in his own voice, unplanned, just...blossoming there. Alarming. He was supposed to be here to fuck this boy, to get rid of the thoughts that had plagued him. It was past time he made some progress in that direction. He released Ben’s wrists, handled his belt on his own, and said, “Maybe you should make better use of it.”

“As you wish,” Ben said. He raised an eyebrow at Jango and kept eye contact as he sank down to his knees, lovely and with that wisp of a robe still around him, half-obscuring his body before he hesitated and….shrugged it off, letting it pool around his legs.

He was lovely as Jango remembered; lovelier, perhaps, without Jango’s blood smeared across his skin. Jango bit his tongue, reached out, and fisted a hand in the boy’s hair, Ben still looking up at him, and said, “I expect to be impressed.”

Ben’s mouth curved, sharp, just for a moment as Jango jerked his slacks open with his free hand, just enough to pull his cock out and he didn’t know exactly when he’d gotten so hard. Maybe as soon as he’d stepped into the room.

“I aim to please,” Ben said, and before Jango could make a reply, the boy pulled forward just a bit against the hold in his hair, and licked across the head of Jango’s cock, and--

And it had been a long time since anything touched him but his own hand. He hadn’t even wanted to fuck his fist, for an age. He’d been….not content, really, but willing to just ignore erections until they went away.

He swore, tightening his grip and rocking his hips, sliding his cock into the hot, wet perfection of Ben’s mouth. The boy kept his eyes upturned, staring while Jango watched his cock slide past reddened lips, draw back again all wet and slick. And it was -- perfect.

Jango’s jaw clenched shut, hard, and he slid his other hand into Ben’s hair, too, the waves of it catching at his gloves - he hadn’t gotten as far as removing them - as he held the boy’s head just so, fucking into his mouth.

He could feel Ben’s tongue, rolling against the bottom of his cock, and the boy sucked, noisily, in time with each shallow thrust, loud, his mouth and cheeks getting wet, even before Jango swore and anchored him in place, pushing further.

Ben’s eyes fluttered, when Jango properly fucked into his mouth, into his throat. He felt the boy restrain a choke, watched his eyes get shiny and wet, cheeks getting blotchy with red, the color spreading each time Jango shoved forward, his breath hitching and wet, and still, he kept his eyes open, staring up and--

Jango blinked and jerked his head to the side, swearing viciously when he came, knowing, with a strange, twisting feeling, that he was never going to forget those blue eyes just watching him, the entire time. 

He ground his hips forward and then pulled on Ben’s hair, dragging him back and off.

The boy gasped for breath, audibly gulping at the air, and Jango dared a look back at him, kneeling there on the floor, mouth and jaw wet with spit, mouth brilliant red, breathing so hard his whole body shook with it, one of his hands braced on the ground, apparently for balance, even as he glanced up and asked, his voice wrecked and hoarse, “Impressed?”

“I’m getting there,” Jango rasped back, taking his fingers out of the boy’s hair. He had - at least - another hour of time. He found he very much wanted to use it. Perhaps even extend the arrangement. He’d had a few very good jobs. He could afford an entire night, easily. He exhaled, want curling down his spine, and ordered, “Go on, onto the bed. I want between your legs again. Properly, this time.”

[rikalovesrice]

Douxie x Reader (#2) - About You!/Remarkable

Reader : Has a difficult home life. You live in the shadow of your popular, straight-A, athletic older sister and often go unnoticed by your parents. You wonder if there’s more to your life, if you’ll ever be more than a forgotten child. If you’ll ever be more than what your parents see you as, what your sister sees you as...what everyone seem to see you as : Unremarkable. 

Then....You meet Hisirdoux Casperan. And one night when you were particularly upset with things at home, you went for a late night stroll and saw him...You discovered that things definitely aren’t as they seem.

And, well....The rest is history!

You’re a pizza delivery girl part-time, often using your scooter after hours and not damaging it at all to assist Douxie, Archie, and Zoe in their late night hunts. You allowed Douxie to take it for a spin one night. Yea, never again. (Explaining all the damage to your manager was a nightmare like Douxie can’t drive anything except a magic ship)

You carry your dad’s old metal baseball bat for good measure (cause, you know, you’re not a freaking wizard).

And so.....

- After dropping off your last pizza, you check the time on your phone. It’s about an hour before Douxie’s shift as Benoit’s ends. You’ve made it a small tradition to hang out there until it’s time to roll. So you cruise over, park your scooter, and head inside, one server already starting to make your usual. You greet everyone kindly as you take a seat on the couch.

- Douxie backs out of the kitchen door with trays full of food and milkshakes. As always, he acknowledges you with a smile. And as always, your heart skips a beat.

- You pass the time by reading a novel you got from Arcane Books, sipping on your hazelnut latte made with almond milk. You feel a light tap on your head and look up from your book to see Douxie leaning his arms on the back of the couch. They’re about to start shutting it down so Doux is gonna start cleaning. You lend a hand, picking up trash wherever you see it.

- For good reason, Douxie allows himself to be the last to leave the cafe every night. You’re texting Zoe when one of Douxie’s co-workers, putting on his jacket to leave, speaks to you.

- “So how long have you guys been dating?”

- Your fingers freeze and you look up, confused. “Um...Dating? Who’s dating?”

- “Uh, you and Doux? You’re always comin’ in and waiting for him, aren’t ya?”

- You hope the co-worker can’t see the heat blossoming across your cheeks. You honestly hadn’t thought about how this looks, you coming in here every night for past week or so and staying until closing. Always leaving with Douxie like...

- “N-no! It’s not like that. We’re just friends.” You hope you sound convincing because it’s true. “Us and two other friends like hanging out after work, is all. Nothing else!”

- There’s a small pang in your heart but you quickly sweep it aside.

- “What are you talking about?” Douxie walks over, looking ready to head out for the night.

- “Uh, n-nothing!” you say, smiling through the awkwardness. Feeling and ignoring the co-worker’s suspicious gaze, you stand up and move to Douxie’s side. “Um, ready to go?”

- “Um...Yea.” Douxie’s a bit perturbed, noticing that you’re flustered as you brush past him and hurry out the door.

- Making the coast is clear, you two round the cafe and head into the near pitch darkness of the alley. Douxie secures his bracelet and wills a ball of blue light to form in his palm, bathing the alleyway in soft light. You retrieve your dad’s baseball bat from behind a trashcan. At the concrete back of various shops, where rows of alleyways converge, Zoe and Archie are waiting.

- You give Zoe a hug and Archie a couple scratches behind his ears.

- The typical arrangement : You drive, Zoe’s tiny self sits on the pizza box behind you, and Douxie rides on Archie, who’s shapeshifted into a horse.

- It’s quiet. Way too quiet. And then, before Zoe can finish yelling your name, something slams into the scooter. You nearly bang your head on the wall as you’re thrown out of your seat and onto the ground. Zoe’s already back on her feet, volts of pink lightning sparking between her fingers.

- You slowly but purposefully get back on your feet, groaning and your head spinning, and set the scooter back upright. Douxie and Archie, now a dragon, are in front of you, shielding you from the threat.

- You hear the bone-chilling sound of congested snarls, wheezing, and clicks. Under the glow of magic, you see the faint shape of white, cloudy, veiny eyes like the undead. Thick dribble oozing from a wide, crooked mouth crowded with rows of needle-like teeth. Claws like icicles for fingers. A tail thicker than your entire body thrashing against the ground so hard you feel your bones tremble. You wonder why the creatures seems to be getting louder. And then, to your horror as you look to the side, you realize there’s two of them.

- “Ghouls...,” Douxie says, the word shaking and breathy, laced with terror. The runes circling Douxie’s bracelet glow brighter. “(Name), you need to get out of here. Now.”

- “Wait, what? No, I’m not leaving you guys!” You take hold of your bat.

- “You don’t understand, (Name),” Zoe says, sounding just as grim. “These are ghouls. And all they want is human fle-”

- The ghouls lurch forward, bashing their disfigured faces into a blue barrier of Douxie’s magic. They rake violently at the barrier and their mouths snap wildly, spit flying, growling and gurgling.

- “Go, (Name)!!” The force and urgency of Douxie’s voice coupled with how hideous and frightening the ghouls really are have you mounting back on your scooter and taking off in the opposite direction. “Go with her, Arch! Keep her safe!”

- The barrier breaks and the ghouls begin to clamber after you. Douxie isn’t having any of that and he quickly subdues one with a rope of magic, engulfing the monster in blue flames for good measure. Zoe surges forward, pink electricity flaring around her, and zaps the second ghoul into submission. 

- Archie’s flying beside you. “What’s going on? What are those things?” You’d seen plenty of scary monsters now but those abominations were a whole other level of horrifying. 

- “Ghouls,” Archie says, anxiously looking back. “They consume and crave human flesh and only human flesh. We must get you to safety!”

- You felt your insides turn to ice. Two adults and one teenage boy had mysteriously and recently disappeared without a trace. Nothing left of them except splatters of their blood. And as the fear of being the next victim crawled under your skin, you screeched to a stop as something leapt from above, landing heavily in front of you. The terror spikes tenfold. A third one.

- Archie immediately goes on the offense, blasting the ghoul with fire before shapeshifting into a bear, tackling the foul creature. “You must go, (Name)!” Archie claws the ghoul in the face. It retaliates with its teeth, biting Archie in the shoulder.

- You speed your scooter past the scuffle. But hearing Archie’s pained cries, you heart clenches and you know you can’t leave him. The ghoul has Archie pinned to the ground, mouth still latched onto and claws raining down on him.

- “Stop it!” you screech, head pulsing wildly with adrenaline as you rush the ghoul with your bat, swinging as hard as you can into its head. It’s enough for the thing to reel back and let Archie go. And definitely enough to make it angrier. Your stomach plummets when it turns its attention to you, but you stand your ground, brandishing your bat. “Leave Archie alone! It’s me you want!!”

- The ghoul howls and goes for you. You don’t know what’s happening. Somehow, you manage to avoid the first couple of swings of its claws. The next things you know, you’re on your side on the ground, your right arm suddenly wet and warm. There’s horrible ringing in your ears. The world is spinning. In fact, you almost don’t even notice the ghoul above you opening its mouth wide, ready to finish you off. Then there’s fire. Fire and fire and fire. It just keeps going and the ghoul tumbles away from you, writhing and yowling. 

- An exhausted Archie shapeshifts back to his smaller dragon form and hovers over you. “(Name)...! Oh no...Oh no!” Archie nuzzles your face. You moan, trying to turn over but Archie carefully lays a paw on you. “Don’t move, (Name). You’re...You’re badly injured...”

- “So...are...you...M’sorry...” You can’t really hear yourself. Lacerations are evident by patches of wet, sticky fur. There’s a cut over one of Archie’s eyes. You black out for a second. And when you wake up again, you’re in someone’s arms. A black sweatshirt against your cheek. A skull necklace. The smell of old paper and cats and burnt cloves.

“(Name)...,” Douxie says, cupping your cheek, his golden eyes wide and swimming. “(Name), you’re going to be alright. I’ve got you...I’ve got you.”

- For some reason, as soon as you register Douxie’s face, your eyes burn with tears.

- “M’sorry....I’m sorry....I...I...” You couldn’t do anything. You got in the way. What were you even thinking? Idiot. Useless. Just...useless as always.

- “Shhh, love,” Douxie whispers, brushing hair out of your face. “It’s alright. Hold still for me.” His bracelet glows and magic swirls around his hand. Douxie murmurs an incantation, touching his fingertips to your head, then to your arm. You sigh in relief as the pain begins to lessen, relaxing further into Douxie’s arms, your head lolling against his chest. 

- Douxie grips you closer to himself. “I’m sorry...I’m sorry. I couldn’t...” Seeing you in this state, he’s reminded in one second centuries of loss. Of bloodshed and violence. Of people fading, drifting away right in front of him. And now you....

- “She’ll be fine, Doux,” Zoe says, resting a hand on his shoulder. “This...This isn’t anyone’s fault. It’s not your fault.”

- “I’m sorry,” Archie says. “I couldn’t protect her...”

- “No, Arch, you saved her,” Douxie says, finishing his healing spell. Douxie holds you closer still. He doesn’t quite understand the squeeze in his heart looking at your sleeping face. You’re so frail. So small in his arms. So, so vulnerable to the dangers lurking in Arcadia compared to himself and Zoe and Archie. And yet...

- “She just about gave her life for me,” Archie whispers, pressing his nose against your temple.

- “You’re so strong,” Douxie whispers above you. “So...remarkable. And you don’t even know it.” Douxie lifts you up, cradling you close. “Let’s get her home.”

Aaaaaaand you decide to take a break from the hunts. Because you’re feeling low and worthless, and also cause Douxie’s worried sick. But after getting into an argument with your materialistic, vain, and conceited sister, you rush out into the night, baseball bat in hand, and end up bashing a monster in the face. Because you don’t want to be like her, even if you feel worthless. 

- “(Name)?!” Douxie says, rushing over to you, already scared for your safety. “W-what are you doing? Are you sure you want to -”

- “It’s okay,” you say, meeting Douxie’s eyes. “I know...I know I can’t do much. But I can at least do this!” You swing at a monster just as it jumps at Douxie’s back, sending it sprawling. Huffing and puffing, you manage a smile. “I’ll do this... with you.”

And Douxie knows you will. He knows you can.

He knows, he sees, how remarkable you truly are.

[jadekitty777]

One Last Mission

It’s here! It’s here!! Welcome to my only entry for STRQ week! Did I have plans to do more? Maybe. Did I have the time or motivation? Not at all. But uh, this one is a bit of a monster of a story so, hopefully, it’ll make up for my lack of participation.

Day 2: Team Mom @strqweekblastoff

Rating: T

Words: 10k

Summary: All her life, Ruby wondered what had become of her mother on that last, fateful mission that took her away. The wrong question to Jinn might just provide the answer she’s sought for so long.

But knowledge always comes with a cost, and this time, the price is too high to pay.

Ao3 Link: One Last Mission

~

The end of the world was held in five simple words:

“What knowledge do you seek?”

Panic filled her headspace as Ruby struggled to break the grip of the Grimm arms holding her, pleading with all she had, “Jinn, don’t answer her!”

As the ethereal being spied her over Salem’s head, she could almost pretend the look on her blue face was sympathetic. “I told you the next time I was summoned, I would be answering a question. I never said it would be yours.”

“But-!”

Any further protest she may have had was cut short, as with a wave of Salem’s hand, Ruby suddenly found herself pitching face first into the ground. Her aura, already flagging, crackled across her face, and she felt the sting of the blow, the dizziness in her brain. She heard her name get yelled by more than one voice – blending together in a garbled cry that she couldn’t begin to decipher. Had that been her uncle’s raspy shout? Weiss’ piercing wail? Jaune’s weakened whimper? She couldn’t even begin to tell.

The first thing she could did understand as the ringing in her head dimmed was Salem’s commanding tenor, “-Trust that none of the rest of you will think to interrupt me.” Then, to the genie, “I apologize for their manners Jinn. There will be no further outbursts. Now, you have one question left.”

“That is correct.”

“A pity, that, but I can work with it.” A deep breath, then, “I wish to know: where is the Relic of Choice hiding?”

The shakiness in Ruby’s vision cleared just in time for her to see the way the thick blue smoke filled the room, clouding everyone else out of view until there was nothing but herself and the vision before her. The familiar sight of Ozpin’s circular office greeted her, nearly the same right down to the cogs turning from above with the nostalgia of easier times. The only thing out of place to her own memory was the desk, crafted out of wood rather than the metalwork and glass she knew.

Behind it, a much younger Ozpin took shape as more smoke willed him into existence.

“It all started with a plan.” Jinn’s omnipresent voice filtered in from what seemed to be everywhere.

Ruby heard footsteps approaching from behind, spotting how the last wisps faded into a stark white cloak as the person stopped beside her. Already knowing who she’d see, it took all of her strength to look up.

There Summer Rose, her mother, stood. Decked head to toe in combat gear and more serious than she ought to be, her voice held little of the warmth Ruby recalled. There was only firm resignation as she spoke, “You know this is our best chance, Oz. My semblance is the only alternative we have. You have to trust me.”

“I do.” Her former headmaster heaved a deep sigh, laying his arms across his desk. “But I can’t ask this of you.”

“Then it’s a good thing you’re not.” Was her mother’s clipped reply.

He shook his head. “We don’t even know if this intel is fresh. It could very well be years before she enacts it. Or it might even be a red herring. A way to get the relic out in the open.”

“And if it’s legitimate? We can’t take those chances. And we certainly can’t hope for ten years when we might not even have tomorrow.” She waved her arms outwards, her cloak billowing around her with the impressive gesture. “If an attack is coming, the relic cannot be here. You know as well as I do that if she gets Choice, this is all over.”

“Summer, please. Consider what’s at stake. Not for the world, but for yourself.”

Her mother took several steps forward, until she was right in front of the desk. “I have. That’s why I have to do this. I refuse to let my children grow up in a war and I especially refuse to lose another family.” She reached out, placing a hand on his forearm. “So please Oz, let me do my part.”

Though his eyes were hidden behind the glare of his glasses, Ruby could clearly see the grimace across the old wizard’s face. “Very well. I’ll summon Olivia.”

“Thank you Oz.” Summer said, her body bowing a bit with relief. “Thank you.”

They dissolved away into smoke as Jinn’s voice flooded in once more. “And so, with a final goodbye to her loved ones…”

Ruby sucked in a sharp breath as she found herself in her own home, surrounded by furniture she barely recognized and family pictures on the wall that had long been changed out in her youth when the pain became too much for dad.

It hurt, watching him embrace her now, not even a pinch of worry to his face. “Now don’t you worry. I can handle things until you get back.”

“I won’t.” Her mom replied as she pulled away, reaching down where Yang was clinging to her leg. “Because my big girl is going to make sure daddy stays in line, aren’t you?”

“Hehe! Yeah!”

“Mama!” Ruby’s eyes fell back to the floor, where her smaller self stood, barely three years old and still wobbly on her feet. “I wanna upsies!”

Summer reached down, scooping her up into her other arm, cradling them both against her. “Mommy’s gonna be back soon, she’s just got to save the world first, okay?” She kissed the tops of their heads in turn, murmuring, “I love you.”

“…and with false reassurances…”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Her uncle asked as walked her to the port where the ferry to the mainland was waiting.

“No, no. It’s a simple thing, really.” She laughed. “Tai’s going to have more of a handful than me. I can trust you to watch out for them while I’m gone, can’t I?”

Qrow sniggered as she looked up at him beseechingly. “Alright, alright, no need for the puppy eyes.” He wrapped an arm over her shoulders. “I’ll hold the fort until you get back.”

“I know you will. I’ll be back before you know it, promise.”

“…The brave huntress set off on a journey that even Oz knew not her path.” The next scene was brief but haunting, seeing her mother standing at the aft of the ship, watching Patch disappear on the horizon as silent tears tracked down her face.

“Her travels led her far from home and not without strife. Alone, she faced the monstrosities of the world drawn by the hidden relic she was transporting. Worried of the weight she carried, she rested little and moved often, always straying from towns whenever possible. Yet, it was neither her exhaustion nor the Grimm who would begin her end.”

“Hey there sweetheart.” A tavern blinked into view, a man who looked more like a grizzly bear leering down at her mom. “Those are some beautiful eyes you got there.”

“It would be man.”

The tavern morphed into a grassy field, her mother standing still as she faced the same grizzly man. Beside him, another person appeared next to him. Then another beside them. One by one, the shady characters materialized, until they formed a tight ring around her.

Summer looked left. Then right. Then back at the first man. “Beautiful eyes, huh?”

He grinned wickedly. “Nothing personal doll. They’re just worth yer weight in lien.”

“If only it were your weight in lien, then it might be worth the beating I’m about to give you.” She replied as she reached for the weapon at her hip.

All at once, the mob attacked. Ruby could hardly keep up as she watched her mother weave in and out of strikes from her opponents, her return blows equally devastating but with a tinge of desperation to every movement as she used every opening given to her. But for every person she managed to bring down, two more stood in their place.

“She fought valiantly and on a better day, she may have even of been victorious. But fighting is not always about who is stronger.” The chilling sound of her mother’s scream sent shivers down Ruby’s back. “Sometimes, it’s simply about who is lucky.”

She watched the ringleader deliver a swift palm strike that caused her mother to go flying across the field. Energy crackled furiously across her body as she struggled to get back to her feet, more uncoordinated than a newborn deer, and though Ruby knew it had to be a semblance of some kind, she couldn’t say what had actually just been done.

“Alright,” The leader panted, waving to the few still standing. “Clock’s running. Gouge her – carefully. Our collector isn’t going to want damaged goods.”

Summer scrambled for her weapon, panic clear on her face as the bounty hunters approached her.

Even as her stomach twisted with sick, Ruby couldn’t look away.

“And sometimes…”

Jinn’s voice was nearly overtaken by the windy howl that cut through the field, clouds of black and red appearing in the sky before a figure dropped from the heart of the storm, bringing down a rain of fire and fury as she landed between Summer and her opponents.

“…It’s about who will aid you in your greatest time of need.”

Ruby had to wonder what her sister was thinking right now. Her own mind seemed to buzz uselessly, unable to comprehend the woman now there. Unable to believe the way Raven rose from her crouch, stepping forward across the scorched grass with a look of ferocity that was a direct mirror to Yang whenever she most wanted to protect someone.

“Branwen.” The man spat the name like a curse.

“Griff. You and your little ragtag team are awfully south this autumn.” Despite her expression, her voice was calm. In control. “Would you care to tell me what your ugly mug is doing in Branwen territory?”

He scoffed, though his eyes strayed warily as her hand rose to her sword. “Just leaving, actually.”

“But boss we can take her and get the-!” One of his lackeys started to protest.

One that was cut off by a solid smack to the back of his head. “Shut yer trap! Only someone who doesn’t value their life would say something that dumb.”

A screech in the distance punctuated that statement, far enough away that there was time, but too close to ignore.

Grimm.

Griff gave the horizon a disdainful look, before snapping his fingers and waving his recovering team into action. “Alright ya lowlifes, lick yer wounds and get along already.” As they started to pick themselves up and retreat, some of them having to help their limping fellows, he gave the bandit one final look. “Enjoy being at the top while you and your lot can, Branwen. It won’t last forever.”

Raven only smiled patronizingly. “We’ll see.” Once they had all disappeared, she shifted her head to the side, asking, “What’d they do, steal your wallet?”

“Hah, funny.” Summer grumbled, only to hiss in pain as another crackle of energy sparked along her frame.

Raven turned, the bravado she carried falling away as quickly as she fell to her knees.  “What are you doing here? Didn’t Qrow give you my warning?”

“Actually, what he told me was a mysterious informant tipped him off about there being a suddenly high demand for silver eyes on the black market.” She replied cheekily. Her face smoothed into something softer as the other woman grasped her hand, staring intently down at her palm. From her angle, Ruby couldn’t figure out what was there. “It’s nice to know you care though.”

Raven blinked, before scoffing, “Don’t read too much into it.”

“I also won’t read into your unusually well-timed entrance.”

Despite everything, Ruby couldn’t help but crack a smile. She never knew her mother’s sense of humor was so sarcastically sassy.

The mirth didn’t last long, as another ear-splitting screech drew their attention southward again. Raven frowned, standing and helping Summer to her feet. “Come on. I’ll get you somewhere safe and then I better tail after Griff.”

“Well… getting away might be the hard part. What with this trinket and all.” Summer murmured and from the folds of her cloak, produced the hidden relic.

Raven’s eyes nearly fell out of her head, her voice three octaves higher, “What is that doing here?!”

“We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

“And so,” Jinn spoke up as the scene shifted from a field to a forest, where her mother sat on a log while Raven paced to and fro restlessly. “With her options limited, Summer informed Raven of the secret plan she and Ozpin had agreed upon to remove the relic from its original housing and relocate it in hopes that their enemy could not so easily discover it.”

“How reckless can you get?! Doing this alone? I can’t believe-” Whatever Raven couldn’t believe was cut off by her own frustrated growl.

Her mother averted her gaze to the foliage between her feet. “We couldn’t risk it. The more people who know, the more chances this’ll fail. And I didn’t want Salem to be able to follow any obvious leads.”

She paused in her pacing, turning to her. “So why tell me?”

“Because I have a feeling this is bad news.”

This time, when Summer showed her hand, Ruby got a good look at what had Raven so preoccupied before. Right in the center of her palm was a stain of red glowing numbers. 170:24:32. As she stared at it, she noticed the last number shifting from 32 to 31. Then 30. Then 29.

Ruby felt her throat close up with sudden clarity just as Raven spoke up, “It is. Griff’s semblance is a death counter, but it has a trade-off. He gives away a portion of his lifeline to put a time limit on someone else’s. He’s always been a high-risk, high-reward kind of guy – but even he doesn’t tend to use that trick unless his target’s being particularly difficult.”

“Heh, well that’s a compliment.”

“Summer! This is serious!” She’d started pacing again, a franticness about her as she carried on, “I don’t even know if there’s a way to undo it. No one he’s ever used it on has ever come out of it alive, that’s for sure!” She reached up, gripping her sword tightly. “That’s why I need to go track him down, beat him into turning it off if I have to.”

“And if he can’t?”

“Then I’ll slit his throat.”

The declaration was said with such certainty it made Ruby’s stomach drop, but her mother continued on, nonplussed. “Raven you can’t just murder all your problems away.”

The look she shot her screamed ‘Wanna bet?’

“There’s also no guarantee that’ll work. It might just keep going or, worse than that, go all the way down to zero.”

“Yeah but-”

“But none of it matters.” Summer spoke over her – but what she said next left the world in silence. “Because I never planned to come back after this mission was complete.”

It felt like the ground below her was forever tipping, leaving Ruby permanently unbalanced as she took in those fatal words. Even knowing Jinn couldn’t do so in what she presented, she so desperately wished this was all a lie. Because this couldn’t be real, right? Her mother wouldn’t abandon her family; not like…

Raven’s gaze had darkened considerably. “What are you saying?”

“I thought about it the entire time. I knew when I locked the relic away, I was the biggest liability in all this. If Salem figured out it was me, it wouldn’t take much to get me to talk.” She laughed, but it sounded hollow. “As you’ve always told me Rae, my heart’s a little too big. I’d crack the minute she even so much as side-eyed Yang or Ruby. And if I went home, I’d lead her right to them.” She trailed off, looking down at her hand. “But now with this and you, it solves everything. My connection to this will be gone and you’ll be the key. It’s per-”

Face twisted with rage, Raven crossed the clearing in seconds, gripping Summer by her cloak and yanking her up until her feet didn’t even touch the floor. “DO YOU EVEN HEAR YOURSELF RIGHT NOW?!” She shook her vigorously. “You’ve lost your damned mind! You’re asking to die Summer!”

“I’m not afraid of that.” Despite hanging in the air, her mother never seemed more steady as she met the other woman’s gaze. “The only thing I fear is failing the people I love. If I have to give my life to make sure theirs aren’t miserable, then so be it.”

“Mom!” The cry left Ruby almost involuntarily, forgetting for a moment she was only a vision.

“You, stupid-!” Raven tossed her down to the dirt. It was hard to tell what emotion she was shaking with, most of her face hidden behind her dark hair and only the grit of her teeth visible. But when she looked up, the sheen in her eyes was obvious. “Do you really think so little of yourself Summer that those who love you won’t miss you when you’re gone?”

Summer stared back, before she lowered her head. “Of course not. You know, it’s funny almost. I thought there was nothing I wanted more than to live my life out as a huntress; but when I became a mom, I found another happiness I wanted to keep just as much. If I could have it both ways, I would take it in a heartbeat.” She rose to her feet, their gazes meeting. “So yes, it tears me up inside, knowing how much our family’s going to hurt when they realize I’m not coming back. It’s really awful of me to put them through that.”

“Then don’t! We’ll figure something else out, okay? So you can stop all this nonsense talk about-”

“But,” She interrupted, clasping a hand around Raven’s arm, “This is about more than just me and what I want. Everything and everyone is at stake. People I vowed to protect to the end.”

Raven jerked back some, shaking her head. “What do they matter? It’s not like they’ll ever even know.”

“It’s not about the recognition, it’s about doing what’s right.” She sighed, looking down at her hand where the clock was still ticking. “Look, I know you think I’m just throwing away my life – but it’s never been about living long, Raven. It’s about making it count.” She curled her hand, tucking it against her heart. “My story might be ending here, but I never lived it meaninglessly. If this is the last thing I’ll be able to do for everyone, then I’m happy.”

It was strange. Ruby had always known her mother had given her life for the people. Growing up, she’d even idolized it. Wanted to be just like her and all the other heroes of fiction her sister used to say were just like mom. Knew without doubt, that if their positions had been switched, she might even be saying these same exact words.

So why did she so desperately want Raven to change her mother’s mind, right here and now?

Instead, she sighed, the look of acceptance breaking Ruby’s heart. “You’re really not going to change your mind, are you Sums?”

“Afraid not!” She replied, oddly chipper. “So what do you say? One last mission together?”

“Tch.” Raven looked thoughtfully towards the trees, eyebrows drawing down. “…Fine. On one condition.”

“Name it.”

Like the words were a cue, the bandit made good on her name as she suddenly darted forward and faster than Ruby could catch, Raven unclipped the relic from Summer’s belt and leapt backwards. “We’re doing things my way first!”

“Huh-!? Raven!” Summer cried, trying to chase after her – but it was futile for the other woman had already tossed the relic into air, shifting after it. The raven cawed as it flew over the treetops, her mother giving chase as everything fell away into smoke.

“It was a desperate hope that had Raven calling upon my sister that day.” Jinn orated, the new scene revealing itself like a theater curtain being dropped. The forest slanted upwards, the trees leaning forward with the weight of gravity. On a large boulder that jutted out from the hill’s peak stood Raven. As she peered down from her perch, so did Ruby.

At the base of the hill, her mother stood. She was completely out of breath, one hand pressed against her chest while she braced the other on the trunk of a tree. Still, her gaze did not waver from Raven’s own. “So? What are you going to do now? Force me to cooperate with you?”

Only Ruby heard the snort and scathing grumble, “Don’t think even a relic’s strong enough for that.” She placed the crown atop her head, saying louder, “You can go hermit yourself into whatever corner of this pitiful world you want. But I’ll be damned if I let you just kill yourself.” She tapped the blue jewel in the crest of the diadem. “You in there, choice… creature?”

“You need to say her name.” Summer instructed, seemingly having accepted her fate as she sat down on the ground.

A pause, then Raven said with tentative uncertainty, “Moirai?”

The reaction was instantaneous. The gemstone on the crown suddenly glowing so bright Ruby had to shut her eyes or fear she might go blind. A soft, shifting noise filled her ears, barely perceptible yet definitely there, like the sound of a running hourglass that she could only hear if she held it close. Once the light in her eyelids was gone, she dared a peek, looking around for the ethereal being.

It took her a moment to spot Moirai, lounging atop Raven’s head. Where Jinn was larger than life, she was but a small speck of a thing, barely larger than a blue jay – the same shade as one too. Her face was obscured by a hood that covered most of her face. Upon her back rested a wooden wheel that seemed to of come from a seamstresses’ antique workshop.

The fae rested her hands underneath her chin and in a voice as tiny as she was, asked, “Oh it’s been so long since I’ve been out to play! Whose fate do you wish to change?”

Despite her obvious surprise, Raven didn’t hesitate. “I need you to have Griff release his semblance on Summer.”

Ruby’s heart jumped with hope.

“I’m afraid this is something I cannot do.”

Those words broke it a second time.

Raven’s fingers curled into fists, demanding hotly, “What? Why not?”

“I am only able to complete requests within human possibility.” Moirai explained. “The one you call Griffith Grayson harnesses a semblance of which there is no reverse. The trading of his lifeline to bring death to another is permanent.”

“What if I told you to make Griff stop breathing?”

The wheel on the fae’s back turned once. “It is something I can do, but it will not bring the result you desire.”

Raven’s eyes darted about as she thought. “Then… make it so Summer doesn’t die when the timer runs out!”

“This is something I cannot do.”

“No. Nonono.” She shook her head, pacing along the rock.

Moirai hummed. “Is there perhaps another’s fate you wish for I to change?”

“I… I need to think.” Raven muttered.

The fae began to fade away into luminescent glitter. “When you wish upon my services, speak my name once more.”

“There has to be something…!”

“Though Raven would try again and again to find a way around this cruel and deadly fate,” The blue fog drifted across the forest, revealing evening had fallen. Raven had settled down on the rock, hunched over. Her hand was pressed against her forehead, mumbling frantically to herself. “Even with eternity, she would not have found the answer to Summer’s plight. For there was none. And eventually there was no choice left-”

A hand appeared in a cloud of smoke, held out to Raven in clear askance. As she looked up at it, the rest of Summer appeared, looking down at her with a solemn smile. “Come on. We need to go.”

Defeat slumped her shoulders and Raven took her hand.

“-But for her to accept it.” The forest was gone in a blink. “With their time limit clear and their destination just barely within reach, they made their way across Anima together.” Ruby lifted her head as the sky formed above her, watching a raven coast through the clouds. “Alone, the distance would have been impossible for Summer to manage on foot. However, Raven’s transformation, gifted to her from Ozma, and her own kindred linking semblance cleared the many miles they needed to traverse.” Rock shot up around her, forming a great cavern. A few feet away, her mother stood, brave and tall as a dozen Grimm all leapt at her at once “All the while, Summer’s own ability kept their way clear and safe.”

A familiar, bright light filled the area and everything disappeared.

“It was on Summer’s final hour that they finally reached their journey’s end.”

Though aged with time, the land that spread before her was one Ruby was shocked to realize she recognized. The stone path had weathered and cracked, vegetation growing over most of the brick and the stairs that had once been so immaculately placed in the face of the rock of the canyon now lay broken and uneven. Yet still, the yellow flowers were still the same, spreading out like a golden blanket across the land and the snow-capped mountains in the distance had the same, unmistakable jagged peaks.

This was the God of Light’s former domain.

A scraping noise drew her attention to the left, seeing her mom huddled on the bottom step. She was trying to draw her hood more tightly around herself. Her face, having lost almost all color, nearly matched the white fabric and her eyes seemed unfocused and dim. Yet, a cawing from above drew her gaze skyward before she struggled to her feet, having to support herself against the rock just to get up.

The minute she let go, she began to fall.

The raven dove and in a flurry of feathers, reformed into human as Raven caught her just in time. “What about stay put don’t you get?”

Despite her failing health, Summer laughed. “Sorry, sorry. Spot anyone?”

“Not a soul.” Raven took on more of her weight, slinging one of her arms over her shoulders. “You were right, no Grimm for miles either. I can’t believe a place like this exists.”

“I wanted to bring Ruby here, one day. This place was always so safe and pure. Without silver eyes, it’s impossible to bypass the Grimm that surround the borders here. But my people would travel here every year to pray to the God of Light and bath our newborns in the fountain. Before, well-” She breathed deeply. “We should get moving.”

Raven snuck a glance at the pale hand laying limp against her collar, expression hardening, “Right.”

The inside of the canyon had seen the most change. The tree was completely gone and the once grandiose lake of a fountain had become nothing more than a mere piece of decorative stone in the center of the area, no larger than the one that had once stood in Beacon’s courtyard. The two were now sitting on the basin’s edge. Raven’s eyes were drawn down to the water, seemingly mesmerized by the random spots of golden light that bloomed across its surface. Her gaze drifted to Summer’s reflection, watching as she pulled out the relic and dropped it into the fountain.

The single ripple that disturbed the surface echoed across Raven’s face, leaving sorrow to settle. “Summer…”

“I’m sorry.”

The apology was so unexpected, both Ruby and Raven looked at her simultaneously – though only Raven could follow with, “For?”

“I had thought,” Her mother’s sentence was broken by a sigh, “Of all the people I knew who would miss me, I wasn’t sure you were still one of them.”

“Oh… I suppose I earned that.”

She shook her head, discreetly rubbing away a tear budding at the corner of her eyes. “I’m sure it feels like I’m just trying to get back at you in the cruelest way possible. I’m sorry for putting you through this. But it’s been nice, really. I’ve missed being around my best friend.”

Before she could say more, a hand was offered to her. She looked to it, then the woman offering it.

“Didn’t I always tell you to save the sentimental speeches for after the mission?” That telltale sheen was back in her eyes.

Summer chuckled wetly, reaching out to clasp Raven’s hand in her own. “I guess I can listen to you just this once.”

When Ruby had first learned what semblances were, she remembered how she had pestered her father all day about every single one he’d ever encountered. Though, he never told her the name of the person it belonged to. It was rude, he had explained, like telling other people’s secrets without their permission. So, Ruby didn’t pry too hard – except for the one she wanted to know the most.

Watching it now, she could hear her dad’s long ago words playing back in her mind.

“Your mom’s semblance was like nothing I’d ever even heard of before. She called it Aura Lock, and that’s basically what it was. She could take a piece of her aura or someone else’s and turn it into a key that she used to lock something else up – and only the person whose aura was used to lock it could unlock it again, even if it was months later. In fact, from what we tested, it didn’t seem to have a time limit at all. As long as whoever was the key was still alive, whatever was locked up would stay that way.”

Red flowed down Raven’s arm, collecting around where their hands were joined. As Summer pulled her hand away, she tugged the aura up with her until, like a rubber band stretched too thin, it snapped away from its original owner. The glowing energy condensed together, taking the shape of a skeleton key, the bow of it designed like Raven’s emblem.

Her father’s narration continued.

“When she first told us, I thought: No way was that useful. But your mom was always creative and smart. She could lock up weapons’ gears so they couldn’t transform. Or stop guns from firing. Or dust canisters from ejecting. One time, she even locked up a beowolf’s jaw so it couldn’t bite. But even when she wasn’t using it on the battlefield, she found other uses. We made a habit of locking away our supplies in tree trunk hollows during long missions or in inn closets when we were in less trustworthy towns.”

As she watched her mom lower the key to the water, the glow of aura spreading delicately along it’s smooth surface and climbing up to overflow along the sides of the rim, the last of her dad’s words faded to memory.

“It’s part of what made her a great leader and an even greater person. She always knew just what to protect.”

The aura dissipated, making the fountain appear no different then before. Summer reached for the water once more, fingers gliding unnaturally along the water as if it had become as solid as ice, crackles of red light following her touch. A perfect, impassable barrier.

In the reflection of the water, Ruby could see the clock as it ticked down into the final ten minutes.

Summer drew back. “Okay. It’s done.” Then, as if gravity had become twice as strong, she drew back further.

Raven caught her before she could topple onto the concrete.

Jinn’s voice, almost forgotten, made Ruby startle as it boomed all around her like a knell. “With her mission complete, Summer passed on the last of her duty to Raven.”

The scene vanished to white only to partially reform with nothing more than the fountain and the two women, no longer sitting on it, but on the ground before it. Raven’s back was braced against it, looking down at Summer whose head was resting in her lap. The sight tore at Ruby’s soul.

“And said goodbye.”

“You know.” Raven murmured. “There’s still time. I could bring you back.”

“And let this be the last they remember of me?” Her mother’s words were coming out stilted and slow, like she couldn’t quite find the energy to speak. “No. I can’t do that to them.”

“But…”

“It’s okay. Really. I want their last memory of me to be something good to hold onto.” A pause. “You remember what I told you, right?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“Tell it to me.” She urged softly.

“Summer-”

“Please. One more time.”

Raven exhaled heavily, reciting out, “Salem is going to locate a vessel to take in the powers of the four maidens. When she does, the fall maiden will fall and Beacon will be next. When Choice is discovered missing, she’ll turn to Haven for Knowledge. I need to make the spring maiden go missing before this. No matter what.”

Summer hummed in agreement. “If all else fails?”

“Get Knowledge out and keep it from Salem’s hands.”

“Good.” She breathed, eyes falling shut. “You’ll make the right calls, I know it.”

Raven’s laugh was more of a sob. “I don’t know how to do that without you.”

“Sure you do. You did it today. You’ll do it again.”

Ruby felt tears slip down her own face just as they did on Raven’s. The woman bowed her head, praying for an answer, “Why do you have so much faith in me, huh?”

Summer smiled, a bit of that sassiness still shining through. “Can’t say I was wrong, seeing as you’re the one here now.”

“You’re insufferable!” She cried.

“I love you too Rae.” Her head lolled, coming to rest against the other’s stomach.  “Hey uh I’m… really tired.”

“Rest, then.” Raven reached out, taking her hand in hers. “I’m right here.”

“Thank you…”

As the two disappeared into smoke, Ruby doubled over, feeling the weight on her chest that had always been present since the loss of her mother become inexplicably heavy.

The last words of Raven’s words trickled in with a breaking whisper:

“Summer? …Summer.”

It all was lost to the static in her own mind, the weight growing and growing until all she could do was scream.

Ruby never saw Salem’s domain reappear into existence as silver light flooded forth from her eyes.

Then there was nothing but darkness.

~

Consciousness came back slow to Ruby, spurred on by a high-pitched whistle. Everything came back at a snail’s pace, with the aching of her body and in her head being the most prominent details. The rest of it followed. The warmth and crackle of a nearby fire. The fading scent of Weiss’ expensive perfume clinging to the blanket she was wrapped in. The sound of talk, becoming clearer by the second, around her.

Her sister’s voice was closest and came back in first. “-Think she’ll ever come?”

“Are you going to be okay if she does?” Weiss, somewhere to her left.

“I… don’t know.”

“No matter what happens, we’re here for you.” That was Blake this time, further away. “All of you.”

Ruby blinked away the blurriness in her eyes as she opened them, asking groggily, “For what?”

That turned all attention onto her immediately. Yang, sitting right beside her, exclaimed, “Ruby!”

The noise went straight to her headache. “Too loud.”

“Sorry! Sorry…” She placed a hand on her arm, the cool metal wracking free a shiver. “How are you feeling?”

Ruby took a moment to take stock of herself. It felt like all her nerves were on fire, leaving her skin aching. “Everything hurts.”

It was a strangely familiar feeling. She’d felt it only once before.

…Right after the attack on Beacon.

The memories flooded back all at once and she jerked upwards, ignoring the protest in her muscles. “Wait, what happened?! Where-” She took in the walls of the refinery office around her, the sight quelling some of her panic but only increasing her confusion. “We’re back at the base? How did we – where’s Salem?”

“It’s okay Ruby.” From the other side of her, Weiss’ calm tone cut through her fearful fog. “We got out, thanks to you.”

“Me?”

Yang’s hand was on her back now. “Yeah! You blasted Salem good sis.”

“I did?” She knew her eyes had activated, but to think it had had an effect… “Where is she now?”

“Retreated, for now. It’s giving Mantle and Atlas a chance for a breather.” Blake was the one to offer from the opposite side of the fire. Held in her hand was the culprit of what had awoken her – a tea kettle.

Ruby looked from it to the room once more, giving it a more critical sweep. She spotted Oscar sitting on a crate nearby, seemingly deep in thought as he stared unseeingly at the ground. Talking with Ozpin then. Her uncle was pacing back and forth on the upper level of the refinery, everything about him restless and angry.

No one else was around.

“Where’s Penny? And Jaune? And- everyone?”

“They and the Happy Huntresses are collecting as much hard light dust as they can to surround the crater with.” Yang explained. “With the heat off of us for now, it’s the best chance we’ve got to fortify some of our defenses before Salem strikes again.”

Ruby frowned, realizing everyone else was out working hard while she’d been tying up the rest of their team. She started to get up. “Well then what are we doing? Let’s- ow. Owowow.”

Weiss guided her back down onto the roll out mat. “You need to recover first, you dolt.”

“But-”

“She’s right kiddo.” Her uncle called, leaping down from the catwalk to their level, striding over. Her whining must have caught his attention. “Your aura’s practically at nothing. Take some time to rest, okay?”

She knew even if she tried to disagree, there were at least four other people who would leap up to agree with him, so she just pouted and said, “Fine.” A glint of something in his hand drew her eye. “Uh, Uncle Qrow? What’s with the knife?”

“Tch. Just trying to call my dumbass sister.” He tapped the tip of the blade to the palm of his opposite hand. She realized sickly both it and the blade were covered in blood. “It’s an old calling card of ours.”

Ruby processed that, recalling how Raven had leapt from the sky when her mom was struck down, the timing too perfect to be coincidence. Yang had mentioned something similar when she’d come to her rescue after Neo had knocked her out. “Her semblance tells you when you’re hurt?”

“Yeah, and how much too. So, she definitely knows I’m trying to tell her that I’d like to be graced with her presence.” Qrow replied with a roll of his eyes.

“I mean,” Yang spoke up, fire burning underneath her tone, “If she doesn’t want to answer, then why bother?”

He frowned at her. “Firecracker, I ain’t gonna tell you how to feel ‘bout all this. I don’t even know how I feel. But, she needs to know she’s in danger.” He strode away, slicing the knife harshly along his hand. “Now if she’d just stop being so damn stubborn-!”

As if to spite him, the world split into black and red before their very eyes, the telltale howl permeating the space.

Noticing how immediately Yang tensed up, Ruby shifted closer to her sister until their arms were pressed against each other’s. She herself tried to put on a brave face as she waited for the woman to emerge.

“Finally.” Qrow grumbled under his breath as he tossed away the knife, before raising his voice enough to be heard over the din, “Come on out Rae. You’re safe.”

Despite the assurance, Raven still walked out of the portal with her hand on her sword, inspecting the room guardedly. Wherever she must have anticipated walking into, a broken-down factory in the poor slums of Mantle was definitely not it, but it did get her to relax minutely. The second sweep of her eyes was completely focused on them, though it was hard to say what she was looking for.

Ruby could feel the shaking of Yang’s hand start up, when Raven lingered on her the longest.

“Miss Branwen. Good to see you.” Ozpin, roused by her presence, greeted jovially.

She only returned the sentiment with a suspicious, “Oz.” Her grasp finally fell away from her weapon though as she turned back to Qrow. “Alright little brother, what do you want?”

“Just had a question.” He replied with a flippant casualness that Ruby recognized in herself when she was purposely trying to irritate her own sister.

“You bothered me for an hour to ask a-”

He spoke over her tirade, “So. When exactly were you going to tell me you knew where the Beacon relic was this whole time?”

Quick as a whip, Raven snapped back, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure.” He drawled. “Just like you also don’t know that the intel you gave me after Amber’s attack came from Summer, right?”

It was devastating watching the speed in which Raven put the pieces together, the mask she wore more heavily than the one on her hip cracking as she did.

She looked from Qrow, to Yang, to Oz. “Where’s Knowledge?”

The room was abruptly stifled with regret and shame, easily seen in her uncle’s slumped shoulders, Blake’s lowered ears, Yang’s grit teeth, Weiss and Oz’s averted gazes.

Ruby, with failure crushing her heart and remorse constricting her tongue, could only stare back when the woman’s questing eyes met hers.

It was all the answer Raven needed. “How much does she know?”

“Enough.” Qrow answered shortly.

“All of it.” Ruby corrected. Then, because it was only fair she knew, added, “We all saw it. Salem asked the question right in front of us.”

Her face went pale. “She’s here?!”

“Withdrawn, at the moment.” Ozpin interjected, his tone heavy as he looked to one of the industrial-sized picture windows that lined the walls. What a picture it was, the masses crowded and huddling together while the skyline beyond them had grown dark as night, scarlet electricity sparking along the darkness erratically to reveal the features of thousands of Grimm that made up the miasma. “But I fear it won’t be long before she and her forces regroup and swoop back in.”

Raven took a few steps forward, her horror mounting. “That’s – No. This doesn’t make sense.”

“Oh, let me guess? More information from Summer you were hiding?” Her uncle’s hands curled into fists. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me any of this Raven!”

“Not telling you was the point! If no one knew where Choice was, then she’d never find it.”

He threw out his arms. “Oh yeah, great plan! How’s it working for you?”

“Why does it even matter right now?” She waved back to the window. “Nothing Summer knew had anything to do with genociding an entire continent!”

Qrow stalked over, getting right in her face. “It matters because we could have made different decisions. We led her right here – but we could have put Knowledge back!”

“Where there were no Huntsman left to protect it? She’d only come back for it!” It was uncanny how similar they looked at that moment, eyes blazing and teeth bared. “It was safer to take it away.”

He scoffed. “Was it? Or were you just trying to protect yourself a little longer? I’m sure Summer would be so proud.”

Ruby opened her mouth, about to protest – but Raven’s rage was quicker, shoving her uncle back. “Oh so that’s how you want to do this, huh? Alright, fine. Why don’t you fucking explain to me what you think you’re doing dragging our kids into this war! Really just spitting on her grave, aren’t ya?”

That seemed to be the final straw that had Yang surging to her feet, voice bellowing over the room. “Seriously?! You’re saying that now?”

“Don’t-”

“No, you don’t! You don’t get to come waltzing in here after twenty years and think you have any say in how I live my life!”

Raven rolled her eyes, “First of all, you’re nineteen. You’re also,” She held up a finger, ticking off more as she listed out, “Untrained. Sloppy. High-tempered. And way in over your damn head!”

“You don’t know that!”

“Bullshit I don’t! You signed a death certificate without reading the fine print! I told you,” She glanced to her brother, “I told all of you, that we were fighting a fight we couldn’t win. But no one bothered to listen to me.”

“Well maybe if you acted like you cared about anyone besides yourself, we would have! But that’s too hard for you, isn’t it mom?” Yang spit the last word like it was a curse.

With how angry her uncle and sister were, Ruby knew they missed the split-second glimpse of Raven’s expression falling to hurt before she schooled it back into something cold once more. But that was enough for her to finally get to her feet, speaking over them all firmly, “That’s enough.”

The reaction was instantaneous, the room falling quiet as everyone turned to her.

“Look, we didn’t ask you to come here to yell at you.” She gave a pointed look to Qrow and Yang, before her gaze landed on Raven. “We wanted to tell you that you’re Salem’s new target. So, you could know you needed to run away.”

The laugh that left Raven was as broken as the one she’d once given her mother. “Kid, I don’t think you understand.” She turned back to the window, staring into death itself. “There’s no where left to run anymore.”

~

When Ruby was young, the word ‘Raven’ was like a curse in her home. So much so, she started to equate this unseen and unknown woman to an earthquake. The mere mention of her would shake up the household like nothing else, and who it affected most depended on the day. Sometimes it was Yang, who wouldn’t find peace until she broke something. Sometimes it was dad, who would sit on the porch steps for a long time, completely silent. Sometimes it was Uncle Qrow, who would leave the house and not be back until all the bars closed.

Despite the years, it seemed Raven still had that nature about her, if Qrow’s abrupt absence and her sister gearing up to follow had anything to say about it. Her only consolations were that at least her uncle would return sober and Yang would only break some Grimm rather than her toys.

“You’re sure you’ll be alright?”

Ruby was thankful for the teacup she could hide her face in, just so Blake couldn’t detect any of the irritation she was feeling. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful to her friend’s honest concerns.

But she also just… didn’t want to be around anyone right now. A hard task to accomplish, when in an overcrowded safety zone, but she’d make do.

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She reassured once she’d lowered the cup. “Yang needs you too. I think I’m just going to rest some more.”

Blake frowned. “Are you sure that’s,” She spared a wary glance towards the second level, “…Safe?”

Ruby followed her sightline to the small office where Raven had holed herself into after the argument. Whether it was to hide away from them or the entire situation was hard to say.

Ozpin had gone up to see her awhile ago. The fact he hadn’t been kicked out yet was probably a good sign.

“Blake, you saw it all too. Do you really think she’s nothing but a bad person?” She asked. Blake didn’t know Raven the way she did or Yang did or hell, even how Weiss did. This was the first time she’d truly met her and Ruby felt she could trust her friend’s opinion to not be clouded by emotion like it was for nearly everyone else in the room.

As she’d suspected, her teammate contemplated the question for a long, quiet moment before answering in slow measure, “I think… that even the worst of people can still do good things. What she did for your mother was noble, but it doesn’t mean the bad she’s done doesn’t need to be atoned for.”

“Right…” It wasn’t quite the answer she’d been hoping for, but maybe that was why she needed to hear it.

Blake started to say something more, but a shout from across the room interrupted her, “Blake! You coming or what?”

Her ears flicked and she looked over her shoulder, then back to her questioningly.

Ruby only smiled. “Go on. I’ll get in touch if I need anything, promise.”

“Yeah, alright.” She agreed easily enough, before she hurried across the room where Yang and Weiss were waiting. “Coming!”

The doors shut with a clang and she was alone.

Ruby sighed, flopping over onto the duvet. She stared up at the ceiling, listlessly tracing the metallic rafting while her thoughts swirled together in a chaotic mess. What were they going to do now? While her eyes may have bought them some time, it was fleeting. They had a few more hours, a day at most, before Salem’s forces came for them. They had to be ready, because now with Knowledge’s power safely in her hands, she wouldn’t hold back a second time. The hard light dust Robyn’s crew had managed to pilfer would only hold so long.

How were they possibly going to protect everyone here? It wouldn’t even be comparable to the situation at Argus. With only a little over a dozen of them to face off against the threat, there was no way they could be everywhere at once.

People were definitely going to die.

Ruby’s idle eyes looked back to the office.

Unless…

She sat up, heart jumping with sudden hope. Raven’s semblance was tied to dad. They could evacuate everyone, right now! Between that and Jaune keeping her aura up, they could probably get it done in a few hours. But they had to get started now, before Salem was on the move again.

Determination zinged through her as Ruby rushed for the stairs.

She got about halfway up them before she paused.

But, was that the right call?

With everyone suddenly just gone, it wouldn’t take long for Salem to figure out what they’d done. Even if they had Raven go to Patch with the citizens, once their enemy deduced that Raven was willing to come to their aid… how quickly would she shift their targets to Yang or Qrow? After everything her mother had sacrificed to keep them all safe, was it right of her to so willfully put their lives in the crossfire that way?

Would she have to convince Yang and Qrow to leave as well? Would they even go?

Then, there was Raven herself. She was a wild card that Ruby had yet to understand. Even if she persuaded her to help them, which she was certain she could, would she willingly leave? She thought the answer was obvious but, after all Ruby had learned today, she wasn’t as sure on that as she once was.

She started up the stairs once more, slower than before. She didn’t know, but she was on to something. But even she’d admit she always led more with her heart than her mind. It was easy to stand for what was right; it was knowing the best way to do so that tended to trip her up. She knew if she brought it up to the others though, they’d help to finetune it.

Until they got back though, she could get started with the hard part – the part she was good at.

As Ruby reached the door, she was surprised to find it was open a crack, just enough to hear Ozpin’s voice slipping through.

“-Really quite unexpected, knowing we had another helping hand at Haven. I was wondering why things went so oddly well.”

A scoff. “Spare me. If I was that good at manipulating things, the little heiress wouldn’t have gotten stabbed.” The next part was so low, Ruby almost missed it. “I told Vernal to go easy.”

“Ah yes, plans never do go quite according to one’s machinations, as I’ve well discovered over the centuries. Such is the plight of allowing people to make their own choices, but I think we’d both agree that’s a gift that can’t be forsaken, yes?” After months without him, hearing that familiar mirth and kindness was like meeting an old friend again, leaving Ruby yearning with nostalgia for simpler times, when the world wasn’t at stake and her biggest enemy was her test scores.

As the silence held on, she shook off the memories and reached for the doorknob, deciding now was as good a time as any to interrupt. Light spilled into the dark room, almost touching the crates that Raven and Ozpin were sitting on. They both turned to her, their forms illuminated in the gloomy shadows cast from the gray clouds that clung to Solitas in a permanent storm.

“Hello Miss Rose, is everything alright?” Ozpin greeted her, gentle but guarded.

She wondered if he thought she would blame him for her mother’s choices too. “Yeah. Everyone’s gone off to help with the defenses.” She shifted from foot to foot. “I was hoping I could talk to Raven for a bit? Alone?”

The two shared a look, but when Raven nodded Ozpin got to his feet. “Of course.” As he passed her, she caught a flash of yellow, then Oscar was whispering, “Good luck.” She smiled back at him until the shutting door separated them.

She turned back around and was immediately pinned by that blood-red glare.

“Come to lecture me?” Raven asked sharply.

Ruby took a slow breath. Remember, she’s not as scary as she pretends to be. She squared her shoulders and strode forward. “No. Though you probably should be ready to hear it from Yang and Uncle Qrow again when they get back.”

“Oh, believe me I know.” Her eyes rolled back to the window, frown becoming more pronounced.

Ruby took the spot Ozpin had vacated. “I’m sorry they were so harsh. They’re just angry.”

“Yeah well, can’t say I didn’t expect it. Or that I don’t deserve it.” She sighed. “Figured you’d be the same.”

She sounded so weary.

Ruby tried to hold onto the advice Blake had given her or to mimic the way her family felt or even pull up the misgivings she’d had back at Haven.

Instead, all she could see was the woman her mom believed in, the one she entrusted her last request with.

“It’d be easy to be angry with you. Because you’re here.” Ruby clasped her hands between her knees, murmuring like she was telling a secret, “But it’s mom I’m angry at. Isn’t that awful? She gives her life for the world and I’m mad at her for it.”

She heard the crate creak as Raven shifted, leaning back on her palms. “You kidding? I’ve been mad at her for fifteen years. Always told her that her kindheartedness was going to kill her, one day. I hate that I was right.”

“Do you… hate her?”

“No.” She shook her head, smiling for the first time. “I admire her.”

Ruby blinked. “You do?”

“Always.” When Raven looked at her this time, the heat that had been there every time before had dissipated, leaving something almost kind in its wake. “You know, when I first came to Vale, I was sure I had the whole world figured out. That people were all terrible and only looking out for themselves. So, when I met Summer I remember thinking, ‘no way is this girl for real’.” She chuckled. “I couldn’t fathom someone like her. I thought she had to be naïve, clueless. Lost in some fantasy she’d made up, where people were intrinsically good. It was kind of annoying, really. She’d be the type of person to trust a pickpocket to hold her wallet – which she did once. Took me hours to track the little bastard down and get it back.”

None of what was being said was news to Ruby. Whenever dad or Uncle Qrow spoke of her mom, it was always with that same sort of reverence – until the person she imagined in her head was nothing short of perfect. But while Raven seemed to hold her up to a similar standard, her words sounded borderline exasperated, as if her mom’s antics had been truly exhausting.

It kind of made Ruby wonder if this was the same way Weiss viewed her, even as she brought her coffee after a brutal cram session.

The thought made her smile. “So, what made you change your mind?”

“Honestly, I think she was just so persistent, one day I just gave up.” Raven snorted, idly pulling at the red beads around her neck. This close, Ruby could see they had designs, faded from time, etched on them. One with feathers, one with dragons, and one with roses. “But also because… I started to understand. It wasn’t that she thought everyone was good, but that they all had an equal capability to be good. She’d tell me all the time that just because you make a bad decision one day, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a better one tomorrow.”

Ruby perked up a bit, at that. “Dad used to say that to me a lot, when I was a kid. I didn’t know it came from mom.”

“Oh Gods, it was practically her motto. It was so aggravating! But...” Her fingers curled around the rose beads. “It was also nice. Summer and I may not have seen eye to eye on, well, almost everything really. But no matter what, she always thought the best of me. She made me want to be that person she believed I could be and so, I tried. And, for a time… I found I liked the me I was.”

The omission of what came after that time needed no clarification.

Yet, the fact Raven was saying it at all told Ruby a league of things she once could only guess at.

…She hoped Yang might one day be able to come to those same conclusions. Maybe then, she could finally put her own turmoil to rest.

“I think you should try and like the you that you are now, too.” Ruby told her confidently, pleased with herself when Raven just stared at her in surprise. “And thank you, for telling me all this. It’s always nice to hear about mom.”

She followed her gaze when it drifted back to the sight outside yet again. “Not like I have anything left to lose.”

Whatever small levity they had found died out, as they stared at the overwhelming impossibility before them. Just as Salem’s army did, dread and terror also edged closer, threatening to overtake them.

“We’ll stop her.” Ruby assured.

“No. We won’t.” Raven bowed forward, coal dark hair so like Yang’s tumbling forth until it hid her face. A fire long gone out. “I tried, when we had Choice. I had to of made a thousand different requests. But every time when it came to Salem, the answer was always the same. ‘It can’t be done’.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. That was why, back at Haven, Raven had seemed so certain of what she was saying. She had known the truth well before any of them – and the cruelest twist of fate was, she couldn’t tell them how she’d come across that fact.

“How are we supposed to beat someone beyond even the Gods’ powers?”

That question, the weight of it, felt like it could crush them. Without the solution, there was no relief from the pressure. As Ruby got to her feet, she knew she could only stand against its attempts to hold her down as she said, “I don’t know. But I do know giving up is the wrong call.”

She turned to the other woman, seeing in her desperate, beseeching expression what the years of holding onto her mother’s last hope had done to her.

“I know how hard it must have been for you, holding onto that secret this long. It must have been so lonely. I wouldn’t blame you if you want to stop fighting. No one can ask more of you than you’ve already given. But,” As her mom had all that time ago, she held her hand out to her. “If there’s still something inside of you that wants to keep going, then we’d be happy to have you on one last mission.”

Raven looked from the offer to her. A smile pulled at the edges of her lips even as she shook her head. “Heh. Alright.”

She reached out, clasping their hands together.

“One more time.”

[douxie-casperan]

💫!!

[Makes vague hand waving motions because I’ve been working on this for several hours now and it’s Zouxie as all heck.]

I look to you - Whitney Houston 

Nothing to do, but lift my head I look to you And when all my strength is gone In you I can be strong I look to you And when melodies are gone In you I hear a song I look to you

~

Despite dutifully yelling an announcement of her arrival to Douxie's apartment complete with door swung wide, Zoe gets no immediate response from the wizard. Mite annoying when he said he'd be here when she text earlier to ask if she could stop by and harass him about borrowing a few bits from the shop. It's not that unusual admittedly, having to just nip out for something or getting engrossed with whatever he was doing but given his natural habit of being a charmer always out to put the best foot forward,? Well always seemed to embarrass him getting caught out by being a bad host. Probably a good thing she didn't kick the door in then, Mighta set the wards off given the last time it happened she was wearing steel caps which left a sizable dent that they were both left scramble fixing before the landlord found out. He nearly broke his self-censorship habit because of it to boot. Not her finest moment but hey, hands were full of takeout at the time. Needs must!

Shrugging out of the tatty patched-up jacket that had been shamelessly robbed when last here because of a chill, the door is clicked shut with a suspicious frown. Listening out for any signs or even a hint where they might be squirreled right now only to be greeted with continued silence. It's odd.  

"Greeting committee is being a bit on the lacking side today. You too, furball? Will bribe for at least a hello here!" She shouts from the back of the sofa with the newly dumped jacket, pressing her now bare elbows into it while leaning into it expectantly. No response again. Huffing with annoyance the witch snaps her fingers together to create a small orb that crackles softly in pink hovering gingerly just above glossy black nails. 

"My boys, your standards are starting to slip big time."

It is a simple enough tracking spell and while it'd fall under wasteful use technically, better to have something harmless to save her hawking the place particularly given his familiar is sticking close to him over offering any sarcastic remarks as he tends to. She frowns. That part is important because if this is for bad episode reasons, that means sound dampeners are up. Had been quite a while since the last but then they're as unpredictable as the tides at times... With a flick of the wrist, the hunt begins though she tries to keep her step light just to be safe. The light flits to and fro as though needing to get it's bearings first then dashes over to the closed door of his room, hovering dutifully outside. Yet another sign something had been put up to keep things in or out accordingly. Alright then straight up knocking and hoping they won't be too muffled it is.

The sounds on the other side are muffle vague at best though her patience is rewarded by the door opening enough to allow her to slip inside before quickly shutting again after. The man himself is here alright, sitting on the bed with back to the wall with his precious guitar held close to his chest and surrounded by pieces of paper that had been hastily scribbled on or scrunched up accordingly. One had already been claimed by a certain glasses wearing familiar to sit on because he couldn't resist the call of cat. That cup of tea is no doubt stone cold too. Giving the door frame a tap she gives him a smile to get a far more sheepish look right back and little more than a flicked ear by the other. Charming.

"My someone's been busy."

Naturally his first reaction is to scramble and make some space in the sheer disaster area that had been his current song writing project. Did explain the lousy reception though least for more positive reasons than she was suspecting.

"Hmn, a bit? Had something I needed to get out my head and guess the time got away from me a bit. Sorry love." It's apologetic as the gesturing hand is automatic because he can never keep them still. The other rifles under the pillow, probably hunting for a pen.

"Not left you hanging at the altar too long have I?"

Giving a small thank you for the speed clean, his familiar is ceremoniously scooped into the air with a surprised prrt? and his temporary bed stolen for her taking his spot. All is not lost however, he's given pride and place on her lap with a chin scratch before he can complain. Douxie raises a brow at the sheer display of blatantness though personally she finds how Archie plays favourites sometimes absolutely hilarious. He's complained enough times how he always gets told off if he'd tried to touch him there though having better scritching nails compared to how short he keeps his own probably helps tilt things in her favour.

"Nah. You get inspired you bunker up with the cat, it's fine! Only payment I demand is whatever you're working on," she replies nonchalant and waving at the stack of sheets.

"Gotta be something real good if you put a keep out sign and I'm already here. So c'mon, hit me."

"Sure I could do but I don't think it's ready. Still rough as heck and I can't seem to get some of the words to come together how I want them to," he groans. The hand now under his chin is perfect to sulk on.

"Been driving me nuts honestly. S'like my brain just dumped them there and expected me to put them together again without any real input."

"It just means she gets to hear the first draft and you get an opinion other than mine," pipes up a voice of reason with a yawn.

"You've been going around in circles for the past hour anyway. A fresh pair of ears is overdue."

Douxie seems to dither if to go ahead or not from the way his expression changes subtly between wanting to argue or just say to heck with it and yield to the pleading face and whined pleeeeeease. From how the instrument is moved back into a more playable position seems like the yes vote has won out even if he's still a little bit reluctant about it. Fingertips grace the strings to test them without committing to anything, a deep breath is taken for luck and then he begins to play.

~

On an eve of a night chilled with rain Did a door open to a world beyond Revealing a particular face On to be a future friend, another love With pursed lips and fire in her eyes Seeking shelter with the mundane

Thought nothing of it at the time like a fool Just wanted to be friendly Where could chat so innocently Enjoy that pleasant company All the while knowing Not getting attached was a hard and fast rule

We'd meet it'd seem again and again Upon desert shores and townships Admiring the ruins of ages and lives Share stories and freedoms Then part ways whilst knowing It was always a case of when

Messages would arrive upon a raven Crossing borders and seas Reminders that we're not alone Seeing the same sun, same stars Words to break the deafening silence But it'd never beat a real conversation

Because I lived for the ones with you

Somehow in the future Upon a leyline in California While making a stop with a delivery There would be a flash of colour And I would say Hey, I think I know her

I'd have both good days and bad Sometimes the cracks would show through Centuries of living does nothing it seems Covered in the dust and grime So I would deny and lie through my teeth And say everything is just fab

You're stronger than you know Over and over you'd say Team up with him and pin me down Hold those words to my face Then say together So don't hide away, let it show!

It still wears but gets better From the smile I carry you know it's true Nothing in the world can get to me I have a brother to help me breathe Plus someone to fight my corner too And know I'd always let her

Because I love living in this world with you

~

A beat passes as the last of the notes echo into nothingness.

Then a second.

Just as he is about to ask what she thought and probably apologise again for it being a little on the cheesy side, his stupid grey shirt is grabbed to yank him close enough to kiss him. I's great for hiding the blush sweeping across her face whilst miraculously not accidentally terfing Archie off too. Despite freezing in surprise, he quickly melts into something far softer and loving with a look that refuses to fade when their lips part again. It never gets old no matter how many times Zoe has seen him do it.

"You might be a sappy idiot Casperan, but you're my sappy idiot."

[marymacdonaldhadafarm]

EPISODE 1. 

WARNING: The following programme contains love, lust, and bikinis the size of a pirate’s eye-patch. 

Welcome everyone, to Amortentia Island. Last night, six couples arrived by portkey to our enchanted Island in the Mediterranean. Today, they’re meeting each other for the first time. In seasons past, you may recall we’ve traditionally invited singles to our villa where they’ve coupled up, broken hearts, found love, hate, and everything in between. In the name of love, we’ve decided to do things a little differently this year. Which is why all of our contestants are entering the villa already in long-term, committed relationships. Here they will test their loyalty, their compatibility, and… well, more on that later. It’s time to meet this year’s Amortentia Island contestants! 

Please give a warm welcome to…

Heidi and Ivan: You know him, you love him, yes, it’s Ivan! He was a fan favorite for many years on the Puddlemere United team before a terrible accident struck. To the heartbreak of many he has never been able to get back out onto the pitch, but it’s hard not to love just how intense and competitive Ivan still is. We’re even more excited for his lovely partner (and Healer), Heidi! While the chemistry between the pair could use some work, anyone who played on Puddlemere has our vote. Do they have yours?

Mary and Doc: The Obliviator and the Stripper, it’s a tale as old as time. With Doc fresh out of University ready to take on London, and Mary making good use of her ballerina skills, this is a couple to watch out for. Not only are they incredibly fit (if we do say so ourselves), they have bright personalities that refuse to be ignored. Can they keep up with the rest of the competition? Will they be able to stay loyal? These are questions that we demand answers to, and answers that we will get. Hopefully Doc doesn’t accidentally obliviate the rest of the competition. Either way, Mary is certain to dance her way into our hearts.

Dottie and Terry: Don’t let Terry’s hairy exterior fool you; actually, do. He is one big teddy bear. We can’t imagine he would do anything to disrespect his darling Dottie, potentially the kindest and most likeable contestant we have ever had on the show. Though we never want to pick a team so early on in the programme, it’s possible we’re a little biased towards these two love birds. We are concerned as to whether or not Dottie will have a hairball issue if things keep up. Terry might want to lay off the hair-growth potions. We hope he isn’t an addict. He already looks like he might be one for Fiendfyre Fitness. Those arms!

Sierra and… The Butler? Does this kid have a real name? *announcer checks his script* apparently not. Sierra and The Butler, everyone: There’s something to be said about a married couple who’s trying to make it work, and when it comes to Sierra and The Butler, they’re trying to make it work. Between Sierra’s insistence that she was born into royalty—you might find yourself addressing her as Duchess—and The Butler’s own inability to stick up for himself, this is a marriage that could do with some fun in the sun. We’re a little confused what they saw in each other, but as they say: love is blind. Let’s hope neither of them stray too far away from those wedding vows.

Lexi and Brando: Anyone who’s looking for the perfect Friday night experience will want to look towards Lexi (or as she likes to call herself, Sexi Lexi), and Brando! These two are young, in love (maybe), and looking to make the most out of their summer together. Whether it’s playing beer pong for hours on end or strip poker (wait, does Brando even know how to play poker? We have our doubts. Just the stripping, then…), they are up for just about anything. We’d hate to see anyone come between them— ah, who are we kidding. Bring on the drama! It’s only July, and a lot changes with that cool ocean breeze.

Grace and Colm: You will never find a more dedicated and loving couple than Grace and Colm. These two long-term lovers have agreed to make the pledge to wait until marriage! Nothing is more impressive than making a serious commitment to the person you love when you’re not even getting laid for it. But will they keep that promise to one another? Will Amazing Grace be able to stand the ab-temptation? Will Colm, who boasts the last name Hart, truly save his own heart for Grace? Only a few drunken weeks at the villa will tell!

We’ve seen the audition footage and can attest these couples are all madly in love. One of them even sent us in some X rated proof of the fact (six guesses who). 

Let’s see how many of them were lying. 

Today, each couple will be broken up. Men, it’s your pick. Who will be your new significant other for the first week in the villa? You’ll share a bed, share romantic dates and intimate conversations… and there is nothing your girlfriends can do about it. But choose wisely— because anyone at the end of the week who is left without a significant other will be taking a portkey home. 

Oh, wait, did we forget to mention? Everyone give a round of applause for Jess! The only single girl in the villa. Will she go home (still) single in a week, or steal one of your long term boyfriends out from under your noses? That’s what we’re here to find out. Let the coupling up begin! 

Why don’t you start us off, Brando? Oh, and it looks like we’re going in hot here, folks. Brando has picked the only married woman in the villa—Sierra—to be his girl for the next week. How do you feel about that, Sierra? Ah, ouch. It’s a straight face from her. Don’t take it too hard, Brando. We’re not sure she has another facial expression. Must be the royal blood. 

Colm, step up to the broom, you’re next! See, now that wasn’t so hard? Like, your abstinent girlfriend could stay in any bed and it wouldn’t matter, right? Is that a tear we see? It’s alright mate, there there, it’s alright. 

At the end of the re-coupling the pairs stand thus: 

Brando and Sierra

Doc and Heidi

Ivan and Jess

Terry and Mary 

The Butler and Grace

Colm and Dottie

Lexi and her hand, we guess

Tune in tomorrow, same place same time, to see how the hell these witches and wizards are coping. Between you and us, we hope there’s a duel. 

[polarishq]

Meet RILEY MODI. They are FORTY years old and hail from TORONTO, CANADA . Riley embodies the star, ITONDA. They use he/him pronouns. Their faceclaim is AVAN JOGIA.

Itonda reminds me of breakfast for dinner, cloud watching, cluttered workstations, saying you like coffee but exclusively drinking sugary frappés, man buns, going absolutely fucking feral for Don’t Stop Believing, tangled headphones, too many cats (there’s no such thing), your mom asking why you’re up so early when you’ve yet to go to bed, experimentation, the secret ingredient is love (and whiskey), and a collection of mismatched glass bottles scattered on a windowsill.

BIOGRAPHY

“Yer a wizard, Riley” — except, unlike Harry learning his birthright from a lovable half giant on what would’ve otherwise been yet another miserable birthday, Riley was told this by one of his moms’ fishing buddies, during a commercial break on an ABCFamily broadcast of The Neverending Story. He was seven, the guy had a peg leg, his moms were at a pottery class slash pumpkin chuckin’ contest. And it wasn’t as though it was some giant revelation. Riley was perfectly aware of magic, since his family’s entire social circle was comprised of people who turned wine into water just for the hell of it. It was so commonplace that no one had ever taken the time to explain to Riley that they were different. They just were.

Riley wasn’t exactly what you would call a problem child. it’s just that his family put a heavy emphasis on self-love and letting life guide you in whatever path it felt best, and that meant that Riley grew up without ever truly being told no. Now as an adult, he still doesn’t respond well to authority, but it’s not out of any maliciousness. He was brought up to question everything, curiously and openly because to know is to grow. He’s also the first to admit that he’s not the brightest bulb in the shed, and he tends to not think things through. But it he makes a mistake, what’s the worst that can happen? He’ll die? Even that idea is just another unknown adventure in his book.

His natural inquisitiveness paired well (for him, not others) with his star mark. It’s a healthy mix (for him, not others) of curiosity paired with a good ass time. What’ll happen if you infuse your little cousin’s teddy bear with the transfiguring properties of a rubix cube? A hellish nightmare, but hey, at least now Riley knows. His mothers, even when exasperated with him and his potion mixing that often times required them to patch a hole in the roof, were nothing if not supportive. Their entire neighborhood was, really. Truth be told, it made him a little too desensitized to any real ramifications in the outside world. Oh well.

So, Riley went to Polaris not out of a want to learn or because he thought it was his best opportunity to grow or even out of boredom. The truth? One of the younger kids on his block promised to buy him something off the ice cream truck every day for a year if he actually went. It wasn’t until Riley got to Polaris that he realized he couldn’t benefit from the ice cream truck’s daily rounds seeing as how he was not in a different country. The Modi family motto isn’t “turn lemonade into lemons” for nothing, though. He’s here now, the campus is pretty fucking cool, and there is an entire population for him to test out some new magical creations on. Its a win-win. It’d be more of a win-win if goddamn Bradley would stop sending him daily photos of the ice cream truck, but hey. This is just a life lesson in disappointment.

INCLINATION

Always double check before Itonda gives you something, because you never really know what it could be infused with. Itonda’s gifts lie in magical infusions, therefore taking magical properties and putting them into other things, whether it’s a beverage, a table, a bed, or anything else. Past sponsorships of Itonda have been exceptional potionmakers and spellcasters, some can barely hold a wand. It all depends on the particular user, but one thing is certain, Itonda can be very dangerous if left to their own devices.

CONNECTIONS

Filling the role of Ethan King’s Bad Influence

Filling the role of Verena Bahk’s You Idiot

Two Halves of a Whole Idiot: Riley most certainly isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed (he’s not a big fan of thinking things through alright, it’s not his fault). Normally though, when left to his own devices, he’s harmless. With this person though — his buddy, his pal, the person he shares a singular brain cell with — there’s always the potential for accidentally dying or taking over Greenland. There’s also the possibility that they’ll get up to absolutely no trouble and be perfect upstanding citizens, but one can just never tell.

Penned by Jeanne ★

[goldenboywrites]

slow poison // scorp & albus

Prompt: patching up a wound

And if this is my punishment, then I want my crimes to fit

Scorpius’ eyes snapped opened at the sudden coldness surrounding his body. He drew his arms around himself and shivered, his head turning to look at whoever dared to disturb his sleep. He didn’t see anyone but all of a sudden felt a body against his and he groaned in pain when an elbow dug into his side. A hand, a familiar hand, came up to brush the messy blonde hair from his eyes. He caught it by the wrist and narrowed his eyes. “Fuck off,” He growled. 

Teddy Lupin got right in his face, plastering kisses across his forehead. “Happy birthday, cuz!” 

Scorpius rolled his eyes and pushed Teddy off of him. “Fuck offf,” He whined, reaching towards the end of his bed and pulling the comforter back up to his chin. “I don’t care about my birthday. I’m not celebrating it. Not today.” 

Today Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy turned seventeen. It was also the first birthday since losing his father. He was turning seventeen and his father wouldn’t be there to give him a watch as per wizard tradition. There would be no birthday dinner with Draco, Teddy, Albus, and Rose which honestly, was all Scorp had ever wanted for his birthday. And there would be none of Draco’s homemade chocolate cake. The only cake that Scorpius enjoyed eating, the one kind of cake he had requested for every single birthday. There was no point in celebrating his birthday. Everything he wanted was gone. 

But with Teddy here, Scorpius knew he wasn’t going to be able to wallow in self pity like he wanted.

“We’re going out tonight,” Teddy said in a matter of fact tone as he lay on his side and poked Scorpius’ chest with each word he spoke. “Just you and me unless you want me to invi-”

“No.” The blonde cut him off before he said that name. He couldn’t bear it. Since Draco’s death a few months ago, he hadn’t treated Albus Potter like a best friend. He couldn’t pretend to be happy. He wasn’t the Scorpius he was before. It was hard to hate the world when Albus was by his side. So Albus wasn’t by his side any longer. It was what Scorpius wanted...really. “I don’t want to go out, Teddy. Not today. It’s too hard.” 

“I know it is.” At first, Scorpius was taken aback by Teddy’s serious tone. Usually his second cousin was all fun and bubbly and rarely ever serious. “You at least have memories with your dad…” And he was a master of manipulation. Teddy sighed and turned onto his back, looking up at the ceiling, avoiding Scorp’s gaze. “I only have other people’s memories. I thought it would be nice if we spent the night together forgetting all the bad shit that has happened to us...but I get it...if you want...to stay here alone..”

Scorpius was backed into a corner and he knew it. He sighed, shaking his head. “What time?”

“I don’t want to be here,” Scorpius couldn’t help but whine. Teddy had refused to leave his side all day. Probably because he feared that Scorp would have changed his mind and refused to come later that evening. Teddy, like usual, was right. “This shirt is too tight.” Teddy had also, as a birthday gift, provided Scorpius were an entirely new outfit for the night. He assumed, but didn’t ask, that it was muggle attire. 

“You’ll feel better after a couple of drinks…” Teddy said absentmindedly as his eyes scoured over the crowd of the club for...something. “I thought I said 8 o’clock..”

Scorpius saw him first. Albus Potter was sitting at a tiny table off in the corner of the club nervously twisting his fingers. “Teddy…” 

“You’re being stupid freezing him out. You need him and he needs you.” Teddy’s arm looped through Scorpius’ and he tugged the birthday boy forward. “I know that you lo-”

“Teddy!” Scorpius pulled his arm out of Teddy’s grasp and glared at his cousin with full force. “Don’t.”

Teddy Lupin rolled his eyes rather dramatically and edged Scorpius towards the table. “Look, I know you have things to work through but he has something for you. Just hear him out. Can you do that?”

“Then I can go back to my bed?”

Teddy was exhausted already. “After a couple drinks you can go.” 

Scorpius was hesitant as he made his way to the table. Slow and steady because suddenly he found himself feeling light headed and knew it was because he was scared. Of Albus’ reaction. Of what Albus had for him. He sat across from Albus Potter and Teddy sat between them. He smiled at Albus and the two started talking while Scorpius gazed off to the side. He only turned his attention to the two when he heard Teddy excusing himself from the table. Apparently to get them all drinks. “Wait..Teddy..” But his cousin was gone. And Scorpius realized this was a set up.

“Hey…” Al’s voice was soft and uncertain. Scorpius wasn’t surprised. He had been a ticking time bomb for awhile now and usually any time the two were near each other, Scorpius snapped. “I know you don’t want to be here and I’m sorry that Teddy’s pulling shit..” It was just like Albus to apologize for someone else’s actions. He had done that his entire life. It was something that he admired about Albus but it also annoyed him to no end. “But I wanted to give you something. Not here...obviously. I know this kind of place isn’t your cup of tea…” Albus’ words trailed off into silence but he slid a tiny box across the table towards Scorp. With trembling hands, he reached out to take it. 

There was an emerald ribbon that held the box closed. Scorpius tugged at it and then lifted the lid. He felt the prickle of tears and a tightness in his throat. He didn’t dare look up at Albus but could see the other’s eyes on his face. “Your mom sent it to me to give to you. It was your father’s watch. The one his father gave to him on his seventeenth birthday. I guess it’s been passed down the Malfoy line for generations and your dad...well, he wanted you to have it.” 

A piece of Draco. He had a piece of Draco. Of course, Scorpius had gotten many of his father’s things after his passing. Astoria only wanted the money but Scorpius had wanted any piece of Draco he could get his hands on and he had to hide certain things before his mother threw them out. But his watch...this watch he had never found it. Yet here it was in front of him. It had been handed to him by Albus Potter. The boy Scorpius loved but refused to love because he was scared of losing another person close to him. Because if Draco’s death had taught him anything it was that you always love those you love sooner or later. 

“I’ve...I’ve got to...got to go,” Scorpius’s voice trembled and he grabbed the box and stood up. Albus looked alarmed but nodded his head. 

“Happy birthday, Scorp..” But the blonde was already walking away. 

He made his way out the back entrance of the club into an alleyway and finally felt like he could breathe again. The night air felt cool against his skin and it was then that he realized he had tears running down his cheeks. Scorpius looked down at the watch in the box and smiled. It was the only thing Draco had been allowed to keep from his father. The Ministry had taken almost everything else when they had investigated the Malfoys after the war. Most things that had belonged to their family had never been returned. Except that watch. Draco loved that watch and Scorpius loved it too.

With trembling fingers, he lifted the watch from the box. He held it up against the street light and looked at it. It was Draco’s alright and now it was his. It felt like maybe through all of the darkness some pieces were falling into place for Scorpius and he felt good about it. 

He should have known better. Because a second later all of that hope was extinguished. 

Scorpius wasn’t prepared for the quick, harsh shove to the back. He went flying forward, the watch falling from his grasp and he cried out as he heard it hit the ground and he felt it when the watch shattered. He stumbled but ultimately caught his footing. Turning around, he narrowed his eyes at the stranger. “What the fuck?” He spat out harshly. “Do you have a fucking problem?”

“Yeah, I do. You’re that Malfoy kid, aren’t ya? Wouldn’t expect to see ya at a place like this.” Scorpius scooped the watch up and looked down to see what kind of damage had been done. “Hey!” The stranger smacked it out of his hands and once again, Draco’s watch hit the ground. “I’m talking to ya, Malfoy scum.” 

“Stop it!” Scorpius hissed through his teeth. He had grown up with people talking poorly about his family. His grandparents and his father had paid for their crimes yet it would never be enough. There were people out there who would never forgive them for what had happened and the mistakes they had made. Scorpius hadn’t made any mistakes yet faced the consequences. “I didn’t do anything!” He wanted to cry that it wasn’t fair but he had learned fairly quickly that life wasn’t fair. 

“I lost family in that war! Because of your grandparents and your bloody father! I lost people I loved!” 

His back hit the building and the stranger had him cornered. “I’m sorry you lost people in the war but my family paid the price for their actions…” 

“Your family got off easy.” They hadn’t but many wizards and witches believed they had. “Your family got away with murder!”

Scorpius saw the man cock his arm back and he closed his eyes before the blow came. And oh boy did it come. He doubled over, coughing and gripping his stomach. The man grabbed him and forced him upright then time the punch landed across his face. The man’s ring tearing across his cheek. He cried out and brought his hands up to shield his face from further damage. But as he did, the door to the club opened and both Scorpius and the man turned.

“Oh my god! Oh my god!! Scorpius!” Albus looked like he had seen a ghost. He rushed forward towards Scorpius and as he did the man who attacked him took off running. “Wait!” Albus screamed and as he attempted to go after the man, Scorpius grabbed his arm and held him still.

“Don’t,” The blonde let go of Albus and slid down the wall until his ass fit the ground. He leaned his head against the wall and groaned. Then he brought the end of the shirt he was wearing up to his face and wiped away at the blood. “Let him go. It doesn’t matter.” 

Albus turned and looked at Scorpius in disbelief. “It doesn’t matter? Scorpius, he attacked you! You were attacked. Of course it matters! You’re hurt and you’re bleeding. And…” Scorpius watched as Albus saw the watch. He bent down and picked it up, shaking his head. “Your present…” He could hear the sadness in Al’s voice and he knew that it was broken. He had the watch in his possession for what...three minutes? And this happened? 

Scorpius wasn’t meant to enjoy anything. 

“Al...please.” He came to Scorpius’ side and bent down, brushing back his blonde hair away from his cut. “Take me home before Teddy sees. I don’t...he’ll worry and...please. Just take me home.”

Albus nodded and before Scorpius could blink they were back in front of Hogwarts. 

“I should...um..heal your cheek before we go inside. I know Teddy got special permission to take us out for your birthday and I’m not sure the Headmaster will appreciate you coming back cut up.” Scorpius nodded and closed his eyes as Albus pulled out his wand. Suddenly the pain he was feeling stopped. He reached out and ran his fingers across his cheeks. Nothing. Like it hadn’t even happened. 

They walked in silence to the Slytherin dorms. Albus went back to twisting and pulling at his fingers and Scorpius could tell he wanted to talk, but was scared of pushing Scorpius too far. All the blonde wanted to do was go to bed and forget this ever happened. It was bad enough that Albus had witnessed the altercation. He would tell his father and then Harry Potter would step in. It didn’t matter. The stranger was gone and the emotional damage to Scorp was already done. 

“Scorp…” They had just gotten inside the Slytherin common room when Albus turned towards him. His hands reached out for Scorp’s and the blonde jerked away.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” He said defensively as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Forget it happened. It’s not a big deal.”

“But you were attacked…” Albus’ eyes teared up and he reached for Scorpius again. 

“It’s nothing. Just drop it!” 

“But..”

“I’m going to bed. I want this bloody day to be over with already.” And that was final. Scorpius left Albus standing in the common room. He went to bed, pulled the covers over his head, and tried to forget the painful reminders of his family’s mistakes. 

The next morning came too soon for Scorpius. He sat up and winced at the painful feeling in his stomach. He looked down to see a decent bruise coloring his pale stomach. Another reminder. Thankfully that one would fade. As he turned to get out of bed, his hand hit something. He looked down to see the box Albus had gifted him last night. It was tied again, with another emerald bow. Scorpius didn’t have to open it to know what it was. But with trembling fingers he opened the gift. 

Tears welled in his eyes and he felt that familiar tightness in his throat again but still, he peered inside and saw Draco’s watched. Repaired and in working condition.

“Thank you, Albus,” He muttered to himself with a small, sad smile as he slid the watch over his wrist and vowed that he would never take it off.

[averagemarvelbitch]

Adventure Time!

Summary: During a game of D&D, Peter, Ned, MJ, Harley and Cassie Lang explain to a very curious Loki what a Dungeon Master is. Intrigued by the power a DM holds, and frankly appalled that these Midgardian kids are pretending to have adventures using only a badly drawn map and some dice, Loki decides it is time to give them a real adventure.

Or: The one where the gang is sent to a made up land as their D&D characters and all hell breaks loose.

Chapters: 2/5

Read it on AO3

Tagging @supernaturalyloki and @dreamdictator

---

Peter woke up slowly, shielding his eyes from the bright sun light coming through the trees. He blinked several times with a grimace, feeling like he had the worst hangover of all time. He heard other moans of pain joining his own and looked around, finding his friends all lying on the grass, hands on their heads , looking just as confused as Peter felt. And then, after a moment, he finally noticed what they were wearing. Cassie had a hat on her head, complete with an eye patch and a trench coat that screamed ‘pirate’. MJ was at her right, wearing a long, red dress and… horns. Michele had horns. Michele was red and had horns! Peter was pretty sure he was about to have a heart attack.

“OH MY GOD!”, Harley screamed in terror.

Everyone turned abruptly to see a dragon-like person, eyes as red as blood, and a mouth full of very sharp looking teeth. They all immediately got up, stepping away from the beast with gasps and yelps of terror.

“OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FACE?”

Peter narrowed his eyes, taking one step closer to the dragon. “Harley? Is that you?”

“WHO THE HELL ELSE COULD IT BE? I’M A FUCKING DRAGON, MAN!”

“Holy crap”, Ned said softly on Peter’s left, raising his hands and looking at them in awe, “Holy crap, I’m green”.

“Ok, what the hell is going on?”, Michele asked angrily and, by god, she looked even more terrifying now than she did in her human form.

“Ok, everyone just calm down. Harley, stop screaming!”

“I’M A DRAGON! OH MY GOD, I’M AN UGLY DRAGON!”

Peter ignored his laments and turned back to the rest of the group. “Ok, it’s obvious what just happened. Loki is messing with us”.

“Makes sense”, Ned replied with a nod, “He is the god of mischief, right?”

“He is DEAD, it’s what he is! LOOK AT ME”, Harley complained, touching his gigantic dragon face with a painful moan.

“What are you guys even complaining about? This is awesome! We’re basically our characters! And I’m guessing we’re in a far away land, ready to live an adventure! This is the best day EVER!”

“Easy for YOU to say, you’re a hot pirate!”

“Own, you think I’m hot?” Cassie asked, mockingly batting her eyes at Harvey, who blushed like crazy and was ready to retort before being interrupted by Peter.

“Stop that, you two! We need to work together here to fix this mess”.

They all jumped when a sudden, very loud clap of thunder filled the clearing. Smoke appeared out of nowhere and the gang covered their eyes, coughing. Finally, the white smoke dissipated and they noticed a tall figure in the middle of it.

“Dr. Strange?”

“I am Strange, the wizard, and I have come seeking your help, young adventurers”.

They all exchanged exasperated looks.

“Ok, I’m guessing we’re gonna have to play along with we want to get out of here”, Peter whispered to the others, who nodded in agreement.

“What troubles you, wizard Strange?”, Cassie inquired in a firm voice.

“Evil has penetrated these lands…”

Harley snorted. “Penetrated”, he repeated between giggles, earning a very stern look from Michele.

“… and only you can save the people from its claws. There is a town not far from here, where you will find food, ale and shelter, but first, you must defeat the beast that guards these woods. Slay the beast and the magic that surrounds this forest shall weaken and you, my brave adventurers, will be able to continue your journey to the cursed Castle of Vania”.

It was Peter’s turn to snort, “Castle of Vania?”

“Makes sense, I showed him the Netflix series last week”, Harley added with a shrug.

“Go now, brave adventurers, and good luck. But fear not, we shall meet again”, and with another loud thunder echoing through the clearing, Strange disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

“So… Any chance Harley is the beast we have to slay?” Cassie asked while Harley threw her dirty looks.

“I’m guessing not. We should take that path; it looks strangely lit when compared to the others”.

“Alright, let’s go”.

And so, together, the group started walking towards the lit path, feeling not entirely ready for an adventure.

---

They walked for what felt like hours through the dense forest, carefully watching every step and sometimes kicking some twigs they found on the way. The forest was strangely silent, no birds singing, no animals running around the bushes, just the eerie silence that seemed to weigh on them with every step they took. Suddenly, Michele stopped and raised her finger to her lips, gesturing for the others to be quiet.

Harley snorted, “We’re not even talking”.

Everyone turned to glare at him before turning their attention back to the clanking noise ahead. The sounds were somewhat weird, like a big old rusty machine, the gang thought as they inched closer to its origin. Suddenly, they saw a clearing a few feet down from where they were, much like the one they had found themselves earlier upon waking up in this strange world. Down there, scattered on the grass, were big cages with all sorts of animals inside, with goblins patrolling the place, carrying small swords and bows.

“Holy shit, those are real life goblins!”, Cassie exclaimed excitedly.

“Shhh”, Michele replied, “they’re gonna hear you. So, what are we going to do? You think maybe they’re the evil we’re supposed to end?”

“Strange said ‘the beast’, though. So goblins don’t make much sense”, Harley supplied with a shrug, “But we’re gonna have to deal with them to go forward, right? Look, there’s a path over there”, he pointed to the small pathway right across the clearing.

“Great, we’re gonna have to fight goblins!”

“I think Pete should probably go first, he has the most experience with those”, Ned said in a joking tone and then stopped, “Wait, do you still have your powers? Like, your Peter Tingle?”

“Ok, first of all, it’s called the Spider Sense. And second of all, no, I felt nothing, and I don’t have my web shooters so we’re on our own”.

“Oh no, he lost his Peter Tingle”, Harvey mocked him, making the boy glare at him.

“Guys, we’re our characters right now. So we have their powers. We use those!”

They looked at each other in awe, the information sinking in for the first time.

“Ok. Ok, but there are too many goblins down there. How can we fight them all?”

“Uh, guys…”, Harley said, with a smirk, “…In my hometown we have a song called… Far Cry 4”.

Cassie snorted loudly while Ned and Peter tried to control their laughter.

“I don’t get it”, Michele replied, confused.

“It’s a video game. He’s saying we should free the animals and let them deal with the goblins”, Peter explained.

“Cool, how are we gonna do that?”

“Pete can turn into animals! He could turn into a cat, go down there and open the cages with his tiny claws”.

Michele stared at him for a moment, “That sounds like the worst plan ever”.

“But it’s the plan we got so get going”.

Peter took a deep breath and closed his eyes. And then, after a minute, opened them again, throwing his friends a very confused look.

“How do I do it? Like, do I just think about it?”

“I guess? Yeah, try that”.

Peter closed his eyes once more and scrunched his nose in concentration. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, a small white cat was standing in the boy’s place. He looked at his own tiny paws and then shook his butt, as if preparing to jump. He meowed to the rest of the gang, ignoring their comments on how cute he looked, and turned to the clearing, going down the small hill and towards the cages with dexterity. He was careful enough to hid in the nearby bushes whenever a goblin passed by and made his way slowly to the biggest cage, where a big, brown bear sat, looking very sad. He got as close as he could, observing the bear. It had just occurred to him that, if he let the bear go, he’d probably attack not only the goblins, but his friends as well. Maybe I can talk to him?, he thought to himself.

“Uh, hello?”

The bear looked up and around, apparently searching for the origin of the voice, and finally set his big eyes on Peter, “Hello, little one. You should run before they catch you too”.

The voice sounded awfully familiar. Almost like… “Quill?!”

“That is my name, yes. What is yours?”

“Uh, it’s Pe… Eldrin. My name is Eldrin”, he introduced himself with a nod, “Listen, Quill, I have some friends over there, on top of that hill, and we’re here to free you and all the other animals. But we need your help! If I get you out of this cage, can you attack the goblins?”

Quill stared at him, turning his head slightly to the side, “That sounds scary. But I like the thought of being free again! I’ll give it a go, yes!”

Carefully as to not call attention to himself, Peter used his very sharp nail to open the lock on the cage ― something he was certain he’d never done before in his life, not even in his human form. Upon hearing the click, the bear opened the metal door with his head and roared in delight, walking out of the cage. The goblins, finally realizing what was happening, froze in fear as the gigantic bear glared at them. He huffed and roared again, and took off after the goblins, who panicked and desperately tried to get away from the huge beast.

“Ok, let’s get this party started, people!”, Harley said, watching the bear chase the goblins from a distance, before sliding down the small hill towards the mess. Ned and Cassie soon followed, while Michele, emitting a very faint red glow, floated down after them.

There were too many goblins. Even with the bear’s help, it was still a difficult battle. They fought as if they’d been using swords their whole lives, which was weird but still very awesome. The gang killed the goblins that came at them with ease. Apparently, it was much easier, morally speaking, to kill people when you knew they were just illusions created by the God of Mischief. While they fought, Peter continued his work, liberating more and more animals, including a huge goat that Ned was pretty sure was actually a horse in disguise.

“Hey, P… Uh, Eldrin! Tell the goat to hoard the goblins over there, I’ve got an idea!”, Harley shouted at Peter, using his sword to swiftly cut a goblins throat.

Peter did as he was told and very soon the animals were hoarding the remaining goblins into a corner. Harley, taking full advantage of it, put his sword back on its scabbard and turned to where the goblins were. Suddenly, smoke started to come from his nostrils and the rest of the gang watched, astonished, as he opened his mouth and fire came out of it, burning the desperate goblins until they were nothing more but a pile of ashes. Harvey turned around, looking at his friends with absolute pride in his face.

“Did you see that? I BREATH FIRE, you guys!”

The gang looked at him, completely baffled, before whooping and clapping, while Harvey took a bow. However, they were interrupted by an arrow that missed Ned’s head by an inch. Michele immediately turned to the source and raised her hand in said direction. The air around them suddenly became heavy and a smell of what they assumed was sulfur filled their noses. A red ball of light shot from Michele’s hand, hitting the goblin who had just attacked them right on the head. Everyone groaned and turned away as his head exploded in a thousand pieces.

“What? What’s happening?”  Peter asked, changing back to his human form.

“Remember when Danvers was showing us her powers and she aimed a beam at that watermelon?”

“Yes?”

“Yeah, Michele just did that with a goblin!”

“Well, it’s dead now, isn’t it? Jesus, it’s like you guys missed the frog dissecting lessons”.

“Yeah, sure, an exploding goblin head is the same thing as opening up a dead frog. Okay”, Cassie complained, looking very green.

“Well, they’re all dead now, so… Maybe we can leave the forest?”

“Wait… You guys hear that?” Ned asked, shushing his friends and stepping closer to the pathway.

A very loud, mechanical noise was coming from the next clearing. They couldn’t quite see what it was exactly, but they could tell it was big. They exchanged a worried look, thinking back on what Dr. Strange had said about some beast they were suppose to defeat, and started down the pathway, looking apprehensive. Upon reaching the end of the path, they finally saw it. A gigantic machine in the form of a beetle was standing in the middle of the clearing, blocking their way to what appeared to be the edge of the forest. The beetle turned around every so often, smoke coming out of its head, stomping its big foots on the floor.

Peter looked at the others with a grimace. “Well… Have you guys ever heard of this really old tale called ‘Empire Strikes Back’?”

—

Leave a comment and/or ask to be tagged // Feed my caffeine addiction

[klimtandbencbatch]

A Rhodey POV where he sees his favorite white boy fall in love with a wizard???

i did 3rd person sort of Rhodey POV because uhhhh i don’t write anything that isn’t 3rd person lmaoooo

James liked to think that he knew Tony Stark pretty damn well at this point.

After all the shit that they’d been through together, he’d learned just about everything there was to learn. Tony was loud, brash, and obnoxious. He was caring, and kind, and breathtakingly smart. He was strong, and he was troubled, and he carried the weight of the world on shoulders clad in iron and steel. He liked late-night crime television and hated watching the news. He liked going for walks or flights late at night. He liked freshly-made sushi and Eye of Aga-Mocha ice cream.

Which should’ve been James’ first clue.

“Rhodey,” Tony called from the living room as James rose from the sofa during a commercial break, “can you bring me the Ben & Jerry’s in the fridge?”

“Sure, Tones,” James called back, opening the freezer.

And there was the face of one Stephen Strange, staring back at him.

Not that it was odd. Tony was a fan of Ben & Jerry’s, James knew that. But it was usually his own flavor that he stocked his freezer with. And yet, here stood a lone pint of Eye of Aga-Mocha.

“The Doctor Strange one?” James asked, picking it up out of the freezer.

A brief hesitation. Embarrassment, maybe? “Uh, yeah.”

“…Okay.”

—————

The second clue was during a training exercise.

James and Tony were sparring, keeping themselves fit and exercising parts of the exoskeleton to ensure that it was working properly. Tony was wearing parts of the suit to match, kicking and catching punches as they worked together. It was going pretty damn well. They had a pretty good rhythm going.

Then Stephen Strange walked into the room.

He was dressed in the traditional training clothes of Kamar-Taj - tight, red, and revealing in all the right places. His arms were bare and flexing as he wrapped his hands, preparing for his own sparring session with one of the Stark tech fight dummies.

Speaking of dummies.

James didn’t notice that Tony wasn’t looking at him anymore. Which is what led to his fist colliding with Tony’s jaw.

The distracted mechanic went down in a heap, drawing Stephen’s gaze from across the room. The doctor looked concerned, striding over quickly to help Tony sit up. Then his eyes went to James.

“Why weren’t you watching?” He asked, his eyes intense.

“Woah, okay, I was doing fine until doe eyes over here - “

“Rhodey, it’s fine,” Tony said quickly, laughing around the quickly forming bruise on his face. “Just a little - slip up, that’s all. We’re fine, doc. Thanks.”

Stephen hesitated before nodding, checking Tony’s eyes briefly with his own before rising, giving both Tony and James an excellent view of his ass in his tight robes.

Tony didn’t stop looking, which meant that he missed James’ stern look.

Stephen Strange, huh?

It was a bit unlike Tony to not go full-out when he was interested in someone. Around Stephen, he seemed almost… shy. It was kinda cute. And also really annoying.

“Hey. Earth to Stark.”

“Yeah huh?”

“Pay attention next time,” James demanded, helping Tony to his feet. “Now, c’mon. It’s my turn for blocks.”

—————

“Tony.”

Nothing.

“Tony!”

Nothing.

“Yo, Tones. Tony!”

Tony’s eyes finally made their way back to James, a dopey sort of grin planted firmly on the other man’s lips. He was still clutching his slowly-melting mozzarella stick, and the grease that James had been trying to keep off of Tony’s pants was sinking into the fabric.

Still he smiled like an idiot.

“Yeah, sugar bear?”

James rolled his eyes, taking the half-eaten monstrosity out of Tony’s hand and tossing it into the basket between them. “You asked me for a guy’s night out, and all you’ve been doing is staring out the window. I’m the guy, this is our night that you asked for. What’s up?”

Tony shook his head, reaching for his drink and having a sip. “Nothing. You’re right, it’s guy’s night, and I’m being - “

“Oh my God.”

Tony looked up at James, innocent confusion coloring his features. “What?”

James was looking less than amused. Much, much less than. About as far from amused as you could get. “We usually meet up at P.J. Clarke’s. The one on third. You like it because - “

“The grill’s hotter there, better burgers,” Tony interjected.

“Yeah,” James said flatly. “But all of a sudden, you wanna mix it up. I don’t say no, I tag along. I wanna see my friend, wanna spend some time with you. Catch up. But you invited me to a goddamn TGI-Friday’s, and it’s right around the corner from Doctor Weird’s magical tiki hut.”

“Sanctum Sanctorum,” Tony murmured into the edge of his glass.

“Don’t start,” James said, crossing his arms and sitting back. “Don’t even start. Tony, man, why don’t you just - ask him out?”

Tony grumbled something unintelligible, looking down into his ice water with something like contempt.

James sighed, patting his back consolingly. “Okay. We don’t have to talk about it anymore. Alright? Not right now. It’s guy’s night. But if you ever do this to me again, no more guy’s nights. Ever. Got me?”

Tony nodded, looking penitent. “Yes, Platypus. I promise.”

“Good. Now, you’ve got a massive spot of grease on your pants, and it’s driving me insane. Clean it up.”

—————

Tony Stark was falling head over heels for one Master of the Mystic Arts, and James had a front-row seat. It was sort of adorable, at times. Tony would find out Stephen was coming to the compound, and he’d clean. He’d order the whole place to be cleaned top to bottom, and then he’d spend nearly an hour in his bathroom making sure he looked alright. He designed new bots for Stephen to fight, and looked for any excuse to talk to the sorcerer.

And it was working out in his favor.

Stephen was opening up. He would come around when Tony invited him, even just for chit-chat over coffee and tea. He thanked him for every improvement made to his sparring bots, and taught him a few meditation techniques in return. They talked shop and watched movies, shared ice cream and ordered takeout. Tony went to the sanctum a few times a week when Stephen was busy, and James assumed they kept up their innocent little flirting game that played out in front of his eyes.

Stephen was good for Tony. He made him happy, and helped him sleep, and made sure he put something in his body besides coffee and protein bars. He took care of him, and respected him, and saw him as someone to be valued. It warmed James’ heart.

And it was, for lack of a better word, adorable.

It was less adorable when James had a front row seat to the flirting and pining really paying off.

There had been a fight. A big one. A sort of rogue wizard’s gang had started up in Central Park, and it had ended up taking more muscle than everyone had thought to put them back down. Stephen had been the hammer, in a way - a massive forcefield spell followed by levitation, collecting them all at once for easier disposal.

But it had taken a lot out of him. He was currently slumped over on his knees, coughing hard as the magic convulsed through his body and made its way out.

Tony was roughed up, too. He’d taken quite a few blasts of energy directly to the chest, and his armor was broken and twitching as it tried to patch the holes back up. But he didn’t seem to care about that. He only had eyes for the doctor.

“Tony, you need to sit down,” James warned, coming over to try to stop his friend. “Your chest, Tones - “

“I’m fine,” Tony wheezed, pulling out of War Machine’s grip. “I’m fine. I gotta - I just - Steph - “

Stephen looked up as Tony came over, wiping a bit of blood away from his lips. Tony fell to his knees, his hands coming to cup Stephen’s cheeks. James couldn’t hear anything they were saying, but all of a sudden they were kissing, pressed desperately up against one another as the supers around them began to pick up the pieces.

James just watched for a bit before realizing what he was doing. He looked away, ignoring the desperate breathy sounds that Tony and Stephen were making as they pawed at one another. Finally, they pulled apart, their foreheads resting together as they breathed, in and out.

“You two done?” James called, turning to look at them again. “Jesus, Tony, you’ve done this to me twice, now, man.”

Tony chuckled weakly, resting against Stephen, their arms twined around one another. “Sorry, honey. Can’t help myself sometimes.”

“Well, I was getting sick of watching you two fawn over each other anyway,” James said, waving Tony off. “You guys need a ride?”

Stephen shook his head, his eyes glued to Tony’s face, his entire countenance light and airy as he held the man of his dreams in his arms. “I’ve got it. We just - need a few more minutes.”

“Yeah,” Tony laughed, kissing Stephen’s cheek. “We’re just gonna sit here and make out. You don’t need to hang around.”

“Alright. But I’m gonna give you the obligatory ‘fuck with Tony and you fuck with me’ speech later,” James warned the sorcerer.

He got a small smile back from the doctor, and a nod of the head. “Of course. I’d expect nothing less.”

James smiled, flipping his visor down and taking to the air.

He loved Tony. He was his best friend, and he wanted nothing but the best for him.

Stephen Strange was damn lucky he was the best.

So far.

[the-writers-wrath]

There is power, There is more.

It was just another evening at the castle. Then the headmaster entered his office, looking rather worried. He was tall, thin and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a cloak dark as the night sky, which swept the ground and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles in the golden evening light. He was pacing around the office, staring at the ancient books which were carefully placed in the antique book-shelves. The sound of his heeled footwear echoed in the quiet room. A moderately tall woman wearing square glasses and her signature emerald green cloak knocked on the old oak door. ‘You can enter, Minerva’ the old witch gracefully entered and greeted the headmaster with a courteous nod. “Good evening, headmaster. I assume that you are informed-” Dumbledore interrupted, “ - that Harry Potter is finally coming here, at Hogwarts. I know, Minerva.” “Of course, you know, Albus. My concern here is –” “I understand. The boy is new to the magical world, the people, and he must be scared. Help will always be provided at Hogwarts.” McGonagall shook her head and headed towards the door, “Anything troubling you, Albus?” she asked worriedly. “I fell alright, Minerva.” “Very well, I best be leaving. The students will be arriving soon. Good evening, headmaster.” Dumbledore shook his head and sat on a simple chair behind his neat and organized desk as the door shut. 

“You know what is coming, Albus?” an old, patched and frayed and dirty wizard’s hat asked from the top of one of the many shelves in the room. “You know more, my friend” saying this, he proceeded to the great hall. Minutes later another professor picked up the hat and it was placed on a stool facing all the students. Professor McGonagall guided the first years in the hall and they huddled together at least 5 feet away from the hat. A lot of students’ names were called. They were sorted.

It was finally, turn for “Granger, Hermione!”

As soon as the name was called, the sorting hat paused as if in shock. Another professor closely looked at this young, and nervous to-be witch. She sat on the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. She sat silently, waiting for the hat to sort in one of the four- three houses. She preferred not to be sorted in Slytherin after overhearing a conversation between two other girls, who were discussing about the houses their siblings had told them about. “Difficult. Where to put you? A sharp mind, brave heart, very ambitious I see,” a small voice said in her ear, the young witch couldn’t contain her excitement. “Anywhere” she answered quietly. “You don’t like Slytherin, eh?” the hat asked, and she thought “It’s just- I- I don’t like green.” “I know that you know I can look in your head. It is not about that. I believe you have true, undiscovered potential. You are capable of much more, and better. I see someone who’s always been on the outside, who has such thirst, such ambition. I think you perfectly fit the traits of any true, good Slytherin”, said the hat. “Very well, put me in Slytherin” she answered hesitantly. “But let me warn you, you are not choosing an easy path. It will be dangerous, since You-Know-Who’s whereabouts remain unknown. There is a reason that no muggle-born was sorted into Slytherin ever since You-Know-Who’s rise. I can put you in another house, Ravenclaw, perhaps. You’ve got a sharp mind, too” the hat reassured the girl, who started to feel more anxious. She sat there, still and silent. “I see,” the hat investigated her mind, it saw resilience and conviction. “I have been facing racism my entire life,” she tells it. “Here I have the power to do something about it. Put me in Slytherin.” “Very well”’ it said, McGonagall started worrying it might be a hat stall, but the hat announced just in time, “SLYTHERIN!”

Jaws dropped, eyes widened in shock and there were audible gasps. A little dark girl with a head of big, bushy hair, eyes like a bronze warship, walked over to her table with a perfect posture and bearing of a queen.

Two red-headed, identical twins started cheering and clapping, both wearing a green tie, which made her smile.

Though she received a few unfriendly glares, she maintained her gait. A Slytherin girl with a prefect badge gestured her to sit next to her. The twins were also seated right in front of her. The prefect was kind enough to ask how she was feeling, which was nervous and uncomfortable, mostly.

“How are you feeling?”

“OK.”

“Excited?”

“Uh, Yes.”

“Hermione. That is a beautiful name. Make yourselves at home.”

“Hello, Hermione.” one of the two boys said, “I am Fred,” “And I am George.” the other joined in.

“Welcome to Hogwarts.” George said.

“Thank you.” she replied.

A young girl peeked from behind a senior’s shoulder. ‘A muggle-born?’ a Slytherin commented from the other end of the table ‘How do you know?’ another one counter-questioned. ‘She looks like one!’ he clapped back. ‘Ignore them,’ the same girl said, ‘it’s in their habit. You will be assigned your dorm, soon. As soon as the ceremony is over, we’ll head to the common room, and there will be a list of you and your dorm-mates’. Hermione nodded.

A couple minutes had passed. Another few students were sorted.

Draco Malfoy was sorted into Slytherin. He went and joined two other boys.

Nott and Parkinson, too, were sorted into Slytherin.  

Now his name was called; the boy who lived.

“Potter, Harry!”

The dark-haired boy shyly went and sat on the stool and the hat was placed on his head.  

“Hmmm,” said a small voice in his ear. “Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There’s talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that’s interesting… So, where shall I put you?”

Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, “Not Slytherin, not Slytherin”’

“Not Slytherin, eh?” asked the small voice. “Are you sure? You could be great, you know.”

There was a slight pause before the hat spoke again.

“You are an iron-willed boy, I see a child, who has suffered but is so powerful and determined. More powerful than any child I have seen before. You are capable of more, more than you believe.”

“I — um,” he was confused,”‘Put me anywhere,” he said, finally.

“Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness,”

“I’d be happy to go in any house.” Harry sounded dull, he just wanted a place here. Here, where he might feel the slightest of happiness.

“Very well, then,”

The hat shouted “SLYTHERIN!’

The hall fell silent, everybody is more surprised than they were when Hermione Granger was sorted. The shy little boy with black hair and tan skin, who looks far too skinny and far too small stumbles over to the Slytherin table, trying his best to be invisible. His bright green eyes have a haunted look that he’s seen far too much for a child his age, and that looking back is not an option.

The only thing he wished, for now, was his new and only friend to be sorted in the same house.

The twins cheered and shouted with two other Slytherins, “We got Potter! We got Potter!” as if teasing only the Gryffindors.

Finally, “Weasley, Ronald!” was called.

The boy was confused, his new friend was sorted into Slytherin and he was sure he would be in Gryffindor. He thought he is too nice to be evil, and not mean like the Malfoy. He questioned what he thought were hard truths.

The hat was placed on his head.

“Hmm, a Weasley,” it said rather excitedly. “You say, Gryffindor?” Ron whispered, trying not to let the old witch in emerald robes hear.

“No,” said the small voice, “You were made for Slytherin,”

“Much like my two older brothers,” Ron thought.

“No. You, too, have brilliant potential, but greater than them.”

Ron sat there, quieter, waiting for the hat to sort him somewhere.

“I see a boy, who has been overshadowed by his over-achieving siblings. A boy, who has a great longing to prove that he can be something. A boy who is something, and something more. I can feel it. You have the mind of a general and the ability to face your worst fears and stand strong in the heat of battle.”

Ron thought it all sounds too ominous, but he knows his new friend is in Slytherin. He didn’t think of his brothers, they were much of a bother, really. He thought his brothers had already broken the tradition, he could handle it, too. Better, according to the hat. His new friend was in Slytherin, the only one who treated him like an equal, and looked at him like he was Ron, not just another Weasley.

“OK,” he tells the hat. “Put me in Slytherin.”

“SLYTHERIN,” the hat calls, just as the students think that they cannot possibly be more surprised.

And the gangly redhead that slinks awkwardly to the table in green, away from almost all his brothers, doesn’t look like much, seems to the casual eye entirely unimpressive. But there is a look in his eyes that says he is strong, he is capable, he is loyal without fault if only he can find someone who is worthy to stand by him. 

There is power there, there is more.

Source: https://welcometotheravenclawcommonroom.tumblr.com/post/171510997651/au-where-the-hat-knows-that-theres-a-storm 

[unfortunatelysirius]

Winter’s Kiss [Newt Scamander – Pre-Hogwarts]

♥ PROMPT ♥ [Requested] She would never be a disappointment to him. ♥ A/N ♥ Hopefully, lovely anon, this wasn’t complete shit! If it was, just be honest with me about it and I’ll redo it, lol. I really am praying that you’re alright with me making Hogwarts the setting! For some reason, I feel more comfortable in having my imagines set there. Hope you enjoy, though. Love you, darling! xx :] ♥ WARNINGS ♥ Swearing, Fluff ♥ WORD COUNT ♥ 1563

IT SHOULDN’T HAVE SHOCKED HER. Quite frankly, she should have bloody well expected it. Professor Goldberg was a blunt, formidable man, filled with hollow anger and steely-gazed facades. Y/N knew this—she knew this. People warned her, told her to keep her head down and avoid contact. He’ll hurt you, they’d whispered. You’re insecure and vulnerable; he preys on students like you.

He was the Slytherin Head of House, a Potions Master. He was arrogant, thinking himself so mighty that he could bloody well pass as the saint Merlin himself. He was also cold, vicious, and downright cruel. All three were traits he used as weapons against Y/N’s sensitive persona. He was a fitting model of Slytherin stereotypes, and this did not fare well with Y/N. It felt just as unsettling to Newt Scamander, her best friend and Potions partner.

She honestly hadn’t met to lose her scroll on wolfbane, but she was running a tad bit late to her first class of the day and when she checked in her bag for the crumbled parchments, her heart fell heavy at the barren bottom of her knapsack. Her breathing went frantic and she eyed Professor Goldberg, then her knapsack, then the devil incarnate—again. She knew his cruelty would not overlook her forgetfulness.

When he came by her table to collect more papers, he halted. His beady eyes, obscured by the half-moon glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, narrowed in on clasped hands. There wasn’t a scroll covered in scrawl anywhere in sight.

Professor Goldberg sighed in annoyance. “You are a disappointment to me, Y/N,” he said coldly. “Detention with Gamekeeper Rhys tomorrow night, 8 o’clock sharp.” After collecting Newt’s paper, he moved past their table swiftly, not giving Y/N another glance.

Y/N’s eyes brimmed with tears, and though she very much wanted to leave the classroom and flee back to her dorm-room, she knew it would only worry Newt. With a small bit of tension still flickering at the edges of her mouth, she smiled and went back to doodling on her parchment.

Newt was staring at her out of the corner of his eye. He couldn’t believe how heartless Professor Goldberg had been towards her, how rivetingly cruel. It was rather expected for him, especially with his evident disdain for Y/N, but it didn’t make it any less wrong for him to criticize Y/N at every turn. Even though Newt was a Hufflepuff through and through, he still had an urge to scowl and shout at the rigid potions master for being so bloody rude!

“Are you alright, Y/N?” he quietly asked Y/N, eyes concentrated on the side of her face.

Without a glance in his direction, her lips forced themselves into a cheeky grin. “Peachy!” she chirped. Anyone could see her demeanor wobbling. Newt needed to do something.

And fast. ———– Y/N was wondering the grounds when Newt suddenly appeared in front of her. He was breathless, cheeks puffed out in exhaustion, and the yellow scarf he usually wore tight around his throat was loose and hanging. When Y/N raised an eyebrow at him curiously, taking great interest in his disheveled appearance, he gave a grin.

“I have a surprise,” he said eagerly. “You want to see it?”

Y/N pursed her lips. She looked at him, and her face was saturated in anxiety. Her eyes blinked at him owlishly. “A surprise?” she echoed. A nervous smile slowly formed on her lips. “Not a bad one, I hope?”

Newt’s head went back and forth frantically. “No, no—it’s a good one, I promise! You’ll like it,” he said, voice lowering on the last few syllables.

Y/N’s eyes softened just the tiniest bit. “Okay,” she said. When Newt reached over and grabbed hold of her hand, a slight flush appeared on her cheeks. Oh.

“C’mon,” Newt said eagerly. “You’ll love it; I just know it.”

The pair walked all the way to the Quidditch pitch, in which several renovations were occurring. The only clear spot was the center, where a patch of sheer-green grass and a picnic basket awaited the two. There was a strange contraption hanging above, like a mix between a tapestry and canopy, and it was fluttering in the wind. A noise was heard, too—sounding like a Muggle projector, used for silent films, but also like a phonograph, clicking and zipping with the promise of recorded compositions. Newt beamed at the look of awe scattering across Y/N’s features and squeezed her hand for reassurance.

“This is beautiful,” Y/N whispered, turning to look at him. Tears were gleaming in her eyes. “You… you did this for me?”

It broke Newt’s heart to see the disbelief on her face, to hear the fear of rejection in her voice. He reached forward and cupped her cheeks, gently pulling her closer. Like a marionette, she stumbled towards him, eyes transfixed on his. “Professor Goldberg doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” he told her firmly. “You’re so beautiful and so… so smart. You shouldn’t listen to him, Y/N. You shouldn’t sell yourself short because of a few words from a prejudiced git. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

Y/N’s bottom lip trembled and she quickly threw herself into his arms. For a moment, Newt remained in a position of shock, but the feeling of her shaking body in his arms had him returning the hug. He buried his head into her neck, pressing a small kiss to the inner crevice where her jugular rested.

“Thank you, Newt. Thank you so, so much,” Y/N said.

“Anything for you, love,” Newt whispered back. “Now, how about that picnic?”

Y/N sniffled, wiped at her nose, and pulled back from Newt’s embrace. She looked up into his eyes shyly, tucking in a piece of hair that was slowly unfurling from its fixed position. “Yes, please.”

Newt gently held Y/N’s hand and led her over to the middle of the Quidditch pitch. There weren’t any wizards nearby, so the renovating had to have been over for the day—and Y/N was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. There was a light winter breeze and some snow sprinkling around, but none of it was laying—and Y/N could feel a tint of red forming on the tip of her nose.

It was a beautiful scene. Very romantic.

Y/N fell into a crisscrossed position on the blanket, and she folded her hands into her lap. A giddy grin was splattered across her face.

Newt reached into the picnic basket sitting beside them and pulled out a small container wrapped in aluminum. At the curious glances Y/N was sparing the container, Newt unraveled the aluminum to reveal a still-steaming pumpkin pie, the crust golden with honey and butter and light cuts in the middle.

“I asked the house-elves to make it,” he explained to Y/N. “Perks of being a Hufflepuff, huh?”

Y/N shook her head at him, but a smile was playing on her lips.

The two ate in silence for a bit, listening to the repeated scratching of the apparent phonograph and enjoying one another’s presence. The pumpkin pie was absolutely delicious, and there was a second piece served to both of them just for the hell of it; Hogwarts had an abundant supply, and it wouldn’t hurt for a single one’s wasting if it truly didn’t go to waste.

Y/N stared at Newt, a few crumbs of pie decorating the skin around her mouth. “Thank you, Newt,” she said quietly. “Professor Goldberg… he really hurt my feelings.”

Newt swallowed his last bite of pumpkin pie and smiled at her. He reached forward and wiped away the crumbs with the base of his thumb. “No problem, love,” he said. “You don’t deserve to be put down by anyone, lest of all a professor.”

“You’re the best, Newt,” she continued. “I… I love you for it.”

Newt froze on serving himself the last slice of pumpkin pie. A look of utter shock replaced the blissful expression painted across his face. He stared at Y/N, wondering if he’d heard that right.

“L-Love me for it?” he repeated.

Y/N nodded her head frantically. “You’re just so amazing. You’re so selfless and kind and sweet and just—you’re so, so lovely. I love you. I love you so damn much that it hurts. You do all these things for me… things I’d never expect of anyone, let alone you—my best friend.”

Newt nearly had himself a heart attack when Y/N grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a kiss. It was a simple peck, one without vigor but still bearing a lot of passion, but Y/N looked breathless and content the second she pulled away. Newt was staring at her, his eyes wide with alarm.

“Wow,” he finally managed. Y/N let out a giggle, and Newt slowly regained his composure. “I-I love you too, Y/N. I’d do anything for you—give you the entire world—just to see you smile. I really would.”

Y/N’s heart took another leap as they kissed yet again. And this time, there was a flurry of snow to sprinkle their hair and fill their kiss with the icy passion of a thousand moons.

[deadlyswarm]

Family is more than blood, ch1

It was an average day for Alice Warren and her child, Frisk. However things take a turn for the worst when their car is knocked into a river that sends them plummeting into Mt. Ebbot. Will they survive? and if Alice were to perish, who would care for Frisk? If the stories about monsters are true, how will they react when an injured mother and child fall into their midst?  Story under the cut!

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, birds soared above, and flowers bloomed around the riverbank. Alice Warren was driving down a road that ran by the river, which lead into Mt Ebbott. The trip was to find a good camping location, and plan the reservation. Though Frisk, her child, was only a few months old, the weather was beautiful and the campsite would be close by.  Frisk cooed in the back seat grabbing at tiny dangling stars above her seat, and all was well. However, the calm and serene drive would take a drastic turn as a truck began to appear in her rear view mirror. She had thought little of it, instead focusing on the road, nodding to the beat of music from the radio.  The music covered the slight screeching of tires as the truck began to swerve. Its speed increased and its movements became more erratic,  and then the truck hit the car carrying a mother and child right into the murky rapids.

Frisk began to wail, startled, but mercifully unharmed, while Alice was not so fortunate. The airbag deployed, causing her to take a moment to gather her bearings, until she felt water begin to seep into the car. Her instincts ran into overdrive, she quickly unfastened her seatbelt, thankful that it was undamaged. Alice moved with speed and efficiency, getting Frisk out of her seat, they needed to leave the car before it sunk…...THE RAFT. Alice remembered that Frank, her loving husband, thought to pack it early so they wouldn't forget it!  Luckily they had a sunroof big enough that she could fit through and pull Frisk up top, with the raft pulled from its place under Alice’s seat. She pulled the cord and it flopped down, and the car started to sink faster as it took on more water.

Alice put Frisk on the raft as the car dropped from below her feet. She swam , holding onto the raft, if she tried to get in the raft, it would tip. Though it wouldn't sink, Frisk could easily roll out of it, right into the cold and dark waters below. Ahead she saw a turn that, at this speed, would push the raft against the rocks and possibly pop it. Determined to save her child, she used what strength she had to move herself to the side of the raft that would take the brunt of the damage. Sharp rocks tore at her, as she was battered against the walls, but she would not break. A purple light began to glow around Alice.

*The need to survive and protect your child fills you with PERSEVERANCE.

As the river pushed onwards, Frisk’s cries echoed, as well as grunts of pain from Alice. Yet despite the waters becoming colder, despite being run into wall after wall, Alice held on. Eventually the river had calmed, as the two floated down the stream.

Alice felt her strength draining, it was becoming hard to focus, but then, she heard a voice. It was deep, but who would even be down here?

“ what the- …humans? How did…..wait is that a kid? hold on you two i gotcha.” The mother felt magic wrap around her soul as she and her child were lifted from the river.

“S-So….cold….”

“right, i know a shortcut one sec.” The last thing she saw was a bony hand reach out to her, before plunging into unconsciousness.

________________________________________________________________

Alphys watched through her cameras as a routine security check. She saw Sans making his way to his waterfall sentry station, when her mic started to pick up strange sounds. Sans had turned and lo and behold, two humans, an infant in the raft and an adult floating behind it. She gasped as she realized that the adult was turning blue from the cold, but thankfully Sans seemed to know what to do, as he vanished and a knock was heard at her door.  Alphys quickly opened the door and ushered in Sans and the two humans, she noticed that the child was now wrapped in his jacket, and still crying.

“S-Sans! Oh my god, what happened?!”

“ not too sure myself al, but we both know humans can't take extreme conditions like that. the older human is out of it, you should help her, i'll find something to calm the kid down.”

“R-Right!” She took the human to a nearby bed, gathering extra clothes and towels. After repairing as much of the womans wounds as she could, Alphys then turned her attention to the baby. She had to stop herself from squealing at the sight. Sans sat there rocking the child as it cried.

“its alright kiddo, you're safe. The names sans, what's yours?”

The baby sniffled, looking at Sans with her chocolate brown eyes. She wiggled in his grasp, snuggling more in his jacket and closer to him. Slowly the eyes began to shut, and her breathing became relaxed. Sans had gotten the baby to sleep.

“Sans oh my god, t-that was adorable.” a few flecks of blue appeared on sans’ cheekbones.

“well, i mean….i had a lotta practice with paps.” a weak voice came from the bed

“Hah…...Frisk likes you….” Both Sans and Alphys moved to the bed.

“Y-You're awake, oh my god, d-does anywhere else hurt? I did what I could to patch you up. I-Im Alphys, and T-This skeleton monster holding your c-child is Sans..” The mother smiled.

“Thank you…Alphys, and Sans..the legends were true then….”

“L-Legends?”

“ In my family, we were supposedly descended from the wizards who sealed monsters underground, the story was passed down, I was going to tell Frisk one day, hah.” Alice began to cough, putting a hand to her mouth, only to see blood when she pulled it away.

“ T-That makes sense, the wizards sealed us here to p-prevent a genocide…. B-but…...our magic can’t h-help you. Our magic affects the soul and the soul alone. Our f-food can provide nutrition to humans, and heal their souls…..but physical injuries take skill and practice and I could end up doing more harm than good….” The mother smiled at the worrying monster.

“I see…..I have one….last request, if….if i may.”

“O-Of course.”

Alice looked to Sans and her baby, and back to Alphys.

“When I pass, you may collect my soul to aid in your freedom, but please…..please don't hurt Frisk. Please let her live, give her a good life.” She looked to the skeleton with pleading eyes

“She already likes you. I must admit, you have a very comforting presence. I know it is a lot to ask of you, but…..I  don’t  have anyone else to turn to….”

Sans looked down at the child, now sleeping peacefully in his arms. This kid wasn’t even going to know anything about their own world, like the rest of monster kind, she was now trapped.”

“ alright, i promise.”