#percy would try to make a pun of some kind

[wisteria-lodge]

hi op!! hope you're doing well. genuine question, but do you think lucius pays his taxes? he makes public donations and associates with the ministry to a rather personal extent that i imagine he at least forks over some to whatever department at the MoM handles taxes but he does strike me as the person who'd at least find ways to evade being taxed (writing off business dealings as personal purchases to avoid getting taxed for them, donating to charity to get a write-off for the money, having some under the table deals so what taxes he has to pay for wiltshire are rather minimized) but what do you think?

Now I'm thinking about how taxes work in the wizarding world.

Okay, so one of the interesting things about HP is that pure-blood wizards are sort of stuck in the 1700s. There are a few aesthetic/fashion details from the 1800s, but in terms of tech level and the way the world is set up, we're still pre-industrial revolution. Which makes sense! The wizards never had an industrial revolution, and split away from the muggle world in the late 1600s.

(Phillip Pullman was also doing a psuedo 1700s-1800s thing for his children's fantasy series at around the same time. Cannot prove that JKR has any knowledge of His Dark Materials, but another English author writing a similar kind of book? Stealth-setting a book in the 1700s isn't such an out-there choice.)

That means a lot of the issues people have with the HP world building are really just issues with... life in the 1700s. Why is there no mental health care? 1700s. Why is the Hogwarts curriculum so weird? 1700s. Why is slavery okay? 1700s. Why is there no drinking age, and you can just purchase drugs (love potion) over the counter? 1700s.

In a similarly 1700s way, the Wizarding World seems to be composed of semi-autonomous fiefdoms, which report back to the Ministry of Magic. On paper, the Ministry has has control over Hogwarts, St. Mungos, the various pure-blood estates. Whether or not that's that's totally true... I mean the Ministry tries and fails to take over Hogwarts in Book 5, and in Book 2 they clearly *try* to prosecute the Malfoys for holding dark contraband, but never get very far.

Here's what I would do, if I were writing something political based in the Harry Potter universe. The Wizengamot seems to be the oldest ruling body (its name is a pun on the Wittengamot, which is from the 7th century.) So probably those seats are inherited (House of Lords style) possibly with a magical component involved. New members can be added, but only by existing members voting them in. The Wizengamot serves as the High Court (as we see - more normal cases are processed by the Council of Magical Law, and Arthur is really wrong-footed when he hears Harry is getting a *Wizengamot* trial.)

They also probably have some sort of pass/veto power, and the power to elect/replace a Minister of Magic. (the position was "offered" to Dumbledore multiple times, but he turned it down. So he's definitely not campaigning in a general election.) I doubt they actually *write* laws - that seems to be handled by the more bureaucratic-flavored Ministry members like Arthur and Percy, who do *not* sit on the Wizengamot.

I'd also have it so that taxes were handled in a more 1700s style. There'd be a lot of sales tax, which the Ministry would be able to enforce because I'm pretty sure they they oversee food production. There would also be a fee for the various Ministry-run procedures like booking overseas portkeys (and legal-social functions? the officiant at Dumbledore's funeral and Fleur's wedding is pretty Ministry coded.) "Pay a fine" seems to be a pretty common punishment in this world - which isn't a tax, but definitely a way for the Ministry to make money. I wonder if people like Ludo Bagman *bought* his position. It would be very 1700s of him.

Then there's property tax, and this is where the the old pure-blood families on the Wizangamot come in. I think the Ministry presents a budget to the Wizangamot, and *they* make up the difference, among themselves. At which point yes of course Lucius finds ways to weasel out of paying if he doesn't like the current minister, if he doesn't like the deal he's getting, if he's just feeling pissy that day, whatever. But at the end of the day, they collect their own taxes from the various spheres they control.

Now we're getting into headcanons, but I think the Malfoy money comes from primarily being landlords. At *very least,* Malfoy Manor has a magical satellite village (a la Hogsmeade or Ottery St. Catchpole) that they just own and probably low-key police. (they probably also just own a chunk of Wiltshire.) I also highly, highly doubt that the Malfoys gave up all their ties to the muggle world post Statue of Secrecy. If every new Muggle Prime Minister has a meeting with the Minister of Magic, then... I bet every time Lloyds of London gets a new CEO, Lucius Malfoy shows up to say, "We get 1.5% off the top. My bankers will be in touch." Goblins don't care about the Ministry's laws even slightly, and there's got to be an exchange rate if Hermione's parents can show up to Diagon Alley and buy her books.

All of the old pureblood families are going to have their own *thing,* their own under-the table agreements and sweetheart deals. The Blacks strike me as being big into shipping, probably because they're so based in *London.* But yeah, at least to me, this is the sort of thing that gels with the universe that we see.

(Hogwarts and St. Mungo's would be funded the same way, on a smaller scale. A huge part of St. Mungo's budget just seems to be the Malfoys. And Hogwarts has a board of governors who under normal circumstances raise money and make decisions on how to run the school... but they don't seem especially powerful these days. I'll bet it's because whatever endowment Hogwarts has/whatever funds Dumbledore has at his disposal *are* enough to run it... which is why Dumbledore can do whatever he wants, and becomes an almost independent political entity.)

[11queensupreme11]

Hi Queen ❤️❤️❤️

But he was desperate. They all were. Poseidon was wrecking the entire ecosystem with his nonstop storms and earthquakes

As he should, for once, he's doing something I can approve of, no, that will do nothing, but it's something.

Reading about them losing their heads... well, I kinda can see why she wants to go back, like, good friends, and having Sally as mom has to be really cool.

But then Hera shows up and I remember why she just should forget about them and ride Annubi's dick. It's one of the worst characters out there and you know, I'm pretty good at blinding myself of everyone's worst character traits.

No one worst than Zeus, that's also true.

Anyway, here in Colombia, we call two persons who sleep with the same person "hermanos de leche" which translates to "Milk Siblings" So, what I'm saying, is the bond between Hades and Poseidon has just got deeper, brother by blood and milk, thanks to Percy.

(Omg, can we start calling that threesome hermanos de leche?, you know that is funny)

Adamas is a better person than me, I'd care less about who Percy should marry, I'd just take her to my home and play some video games and maybe eat pizza if we want. Boo away those lunatics who think they best way to get the girl is inappropriate touches and some gifts (I'm not complaining tho, is really funny)

Adamas should get a trophy with "The world's best uncle that doesn't fuck his niece". In a Modern AU he gets Percy's custody and they just spend their time traveling in his car.

He heaved out a sigh. “You’re as bad as Zeus. Are you sure you’re not his daughter instead?”

“You’re trying to insult me, but jokes on you, my uncle’s actually cool,” she harrumphed. “Unlike you. Loser.”

Someone make a react fic and just make Zeus vomit at the thought of dealing with Percy's madness.

GO PERCY, CALL RA FOR HIS NEGLIGENT BULLSHIT. Maybe her showing how she cares about Anubis, is going to make him better... or worse, but. maybe he would accept her in the family. Anubis needs a captain after all.

Artemis... maybe after all of this she would try to join her, like Thalia did. Talking about her original world, here we know she would join and a few minutes later some god comes and has sex with her to stop that.

You know all of this is very traumatic, and for one, I'd never trust a man's intentions again, even if I trust him. You never know when his lust is going to attack after all.

But here Artemis is that good mix of being cautious but not afraid of men. PJ Artemis and her group were shocking to me with their behavior and at the beginning, I didn´t like them for that, is good to see her more like a protector of those who need help, rather than a misandry that wants to erase all men (at least that's how I remember her, maybe is all those fic's fault and she was very tame)

All that time with Artemis was a good rest before all going to hell (pun intended) again.

Wondering how Apolo is going to be, I don't really have an opinion about him. Yes, he's obsessed, but so are the rest, so I'm waiting for what's is going to make him different, his own kind of yandere.

He's pretty cute tho, and love being shirtless, so I'm rotting for him.

(Anyway, Nico would look amazing as Percy's companion. You know my girl needs someone who is on her side and sees why she doesn't want to marry some god. For her mental health, at least.)

we're gonna get a lil more ra later on before this act ends, so everyone's gonna see his insight to what percy said to him!!!! (ra and percy interactions are just too funny for me, i can't let him go LMAO)

and omg a pjo reacting to arsenic blues would be so funny (and also very traumatizing for the pjo characters tho) imagine pjo!zeus being so offended that percy likes ror!zeus more when, in his eyes, he's just some wrinkled lil goofball (but that's why she likes him zeus, ur a fucking piece of shit 😒)

i always love your lil end notes about nico, you want him to survive me so bad 🥺💖💖

[poindexters-labratory]

Could we please have all of the Michael lore. All of it.

Or hallucinogenic fear gas....

:0!! Not the fear gas... Not again...

Oh goodness, all of the Michael lore?? Well, you are indeed in for a storm (pun intended) :3 It will be in bullet points for optimal reading

Part One covers everything from Wild Cat to the end of Before the Storm <3

CW for mentions of trauma, emotional neglect, homophobia, assault, underage drinking, and child death

Michael is part of the early X generation, being born June 15, 1965.

Was a very sweet little boy growing up, making friends quickly and taking teasing not too seriously.

Was a momma's boy but was enamored with his father's inventions and ideas.

Hated getting a little brother, per trying to figure out all kinds of ways to get rid of Evan (he was seven years old and very jealous of the attention)

Getting a little sister was much easier because he was older and liked looking after her.

Had a permanent grudge against his mother because of his parents' divorce, her taking away his sister, and flying across the ocean, leaving Michael and his brother behind

Getting into those teenage years, he was definitely one of the town troublemakers and seemingly had a burning hatred for his family. His father was... odd, his mother abandoned him, and his brother was an annoying little shit.

He had two friends his sophomore year of high school, Percy and Tulio. Tulio was a kid kinda like Michael, an outcast of sorts, and Percy was a new neighbor from down his street who eventually made his way to the football team.

He met Tulio through his English class and William sent Michael to greet the new neighbors by himself with a pie, meeting Percy while introducing himself.

The three of them are seen together often at parties, restaurants, and school events, they are best friends, getting into trouble, disappearing for hours, the two boys becoming essentially a part of the Afton family. William cared for Percy and Tulio like his own kids. It takes a village.

The fourth member of their group was a boy from the next town over that Percy came from, named Sam. Sam was a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints and Mike and Tulio were very unsure of him for a while. Sam and Percy's families were friends, but they were not. Very much not. But they pretty soon became friends after Sam's mother sent him to stay with Percy's family.

Michael often butts heads with people of authority, his father not really much of an authoritative figure in his life, but he doesn't do well in the presence of teachers, school officials, police, or Henry.

Michael was a very smart kid, but he just didn't like school. He was able to get his grades high enough to pass, but he never wanted to excel. That wasn't the sort of attention he desired.

He was an artist though, but through his teenage years, he kept that more on the downlow. Didn't really want anyone to know.

Mike might've been smart, but he wasn't a good kid to his dad. He would smoke, drink, badmouth William, steal his car, and bully a wide range of people, even his own brother and father.

After his father's accident, his behavior both got better and worsened. He started treating his dad with more respect and kindness, but also envied the attention he got.

William tried to combat Michael's emotions toward his lack of attention with love bombing him, including impulsively buying Michael a sports car for his seventeenth birthday.

Michael had gotten so talented at art at this point in time, to the point that his paintings and figure drawings had been shown in state fairs, so he had plans to attend college in California as an art major. Henry wanted him to stay in-state, but Will pushed for him to leave. Possibly some projection.

His senior year, Michael found out he was bisexual because of Jeremy Fitzgerald, a childhood friend of his that moved away to California and came back senior year of high school.

He found him very attractive and at first, he had no idea what to do or what the feelings were. So, for a bit, Mike ended up having a strange one-sided hatred for Jeremy. They ended up dating after that short bit.

Late that year, he discovered his dad was gay, and didn't really know how to feel about that information, confiding in Jeremy with the secret.

Sigggh, Jeremy then confided that information with the rest of their school. The problem with that is that there was already a lot of dangerous speculation that William is a gay man. He already got in enough hot water as a feminine person. If anything happened to Michael's father now, after his life-threatening accident, Michael's heart wouldn't be able to take it.

Jeremy and Michael break-up after Mike brutally physically fights him in school after finding out the source of the gossip. Jeremy gets sent to the hospital because of this fight. William pays for Jeremy's hospital bill and no charges are pressed against Michael.

Michael's attitude takes a sharp turn the second half of his senior year of high school. He felt betrayed and let down once again. He became increasingly aggressive, apathetic, unsympathetic, and had a general disregard for his own safety and the safety of others.

Henry wanted to send Michael to a military school to whip him into shape, but William strictly forbode it.

His friends tag along in his behavior, much too intimidated and fearful to say much of anything about it.

The main victim of this behavior was Evan, who became a fun target because of his elevated paranoia and anxiety after the events of his father's accident.

William was too gentle with Michael for his own good, and a bit terrified with Michael's recent behavior. He could've tried to mediate the situation better, but he was still recovering from his accident both physically and mentally. On top of that, he had to work in both Fredbear's and Freddy's interchangeably, managing the locations (Remember the tasks in FFPS, that's basically the jobs Will had to do, minus murderous animatronics).

The week leading up to Evan's twelfth birthday, Michael gets increasingly more jealous of the attention his little brother was receiving. Michael's behavior gets worse and worse throughout the week, William away, preparing for Evan's party, but able to keep an eye on his young son with the help of the Fredbear CCTVs.

It all comes to a head on Evan's birthday where he, Percy, Sam, and Tulio put him in the Fredbear animatronic's mouth, it's programming and the air pressure build-up causing Evan's skull to crack under said pressure, and he has a seizure while still in Fredbear's mouth.

A few nights later, Evan passes away from an inoperable brain aneurysm. William and Michael are devastated.

After Evan's death, Michael and his father only got into more heated arguments more often. Michael blamed himself for what happened and couldn't stand to be around his father much longer as he watched him deteriorate into a shell of a human being.

So, he stayed until just after he finished high school, per his father's request, and then he got the hell out of there. Packed up his necessities in his car and left his father to himself, alone in their home. And he drove all the way to Los Angeles.

He heard about Charlie's murder from his father that fall of 1983, but he couldn't bear himself to go back to that town for the funeral of another child he thought of as a member of his family. He should've never went back at all.

[moss-and-marimos]

info dump to me about whatever media, OC's, albums, or anything else that comes to mind! :D (if you want to, that is)

infodump incoming about my dnd character

Grahhhhhh Percival makes me actually wild, hes a triton, he looks like this, sorry If ive showed you him before I cant remember

but this guy makes me actually wild. hes so unwell hes got so many issues. we've finally started getting a little into his lore in the campaign and I got to call his sister last session which is a big step, and hes finally getting comfortable with the party calling him nicknames which is a big deal because like very very early on campaign I told the other players that he was the type to silently judge you if you called him Perci instead of Percival if you weren't close with him, but last session was the first time one of the other people slipped and called him perci and I got to be like 'he doesnt react negatively' and theyre all like omg we got nickname privileges and im very happy about it at the same time unfortunately though, a lot of his development is kinda gonna go down the drain now because we've got a new player joining the campaign and its really gonna mess him up, he was finally feeling comfortable in the character dynamic, they just saved his life literally and that means a lot to him, but now a new person is joining and thats going to feel like a big betrayal of trust he had a party before this one a few years ago, when he was a lot newer to the surface, and they didnt really care about him or treat him well, and so to get healed by the others meant a lot, because the other party wouldnt heal him unless he was fully downed, always saying that he was overreacting because he was a kid (he was 16-17 at the time) which just wasn't true, this guy has a high pain tolerance and is used to hiding injuries from adults, and so to 1. see his party immediately heal him and for even the pacifist to start taking the fight seriously once he got seriously injured meant a ton, and 2. that they didnt immediately freak out at his blood being the 'wrong color' (his blood is blue) also meant a ton to him. this guy has issues he has so many issues. hes got some kind of complex about not being human enough and it messes him up, but the party has all been nice about him being nonhuman and it means a lot, even though he still tries to mask a lot of his nonhuman traits around them

in the future at some point the campaign is going to go back to the undersea and im trying to figure out how he would react to that. even though hes a fish and comes from the ocean, ever since he left at 16 I dont think hes ever, or at least not often, gone back. his parents were really awful, and hes scared to step very deep into the water because, even though he can breathe underwater literally, metaphorically it would feel like drowning. I think he might be able to put it aside for a little bit for the sake of the party and having to teach them how to move around underwater and stuff, but I definitely think it would mess him up pretty bad. he would also be happy to see his sister though, she's an artificer, and is probably going to be the one to give them the stuff that allows them to breathe underwater, he cares about her a ton and vice versa. ironic for him to be a fish with a fear of the ocean

fun little details about him: - he has a sending stone flavored as a seashell, his shell phone we call it, he uses it to call his sister and thats the only contact it has, and its a cowrie shell (his sisters' is a conch) - He really idolizes his sister, she pretty much raised him, she's the reason he dyes his hair white and wears it in a ponytail - This fish is transgender 💪💪💪 so is his sister too - He can bioluminesce and its one of his stims is that he makes the lights flash up and down his forearms - his name is a fish pun based on the genus perciformes

We got to do a thing recently where he was like actually scared, because he has a lot of issues with bodily autonomy and so being mind controlled is one of his worst fears/triggers, and there was/is a very real potential for that to happen, and its one of the first times the party has ever seen him scared and I love describing the changes in his body language. Most of the time he presents himself very confidently for lack of better term, very open body language, but when hes scared that changes, he doesnt lean back as much, his tail flicks, he clutches at his forearms (especially since one was recently injured when he almost died) and leaves claw marks in his leather bracers, etc

I have more I might put in another reblog bc this is getting really long

traumatized with so many issues -> 🐟

[lunaroceanic]

Annabug Chase and Purrcy Jackson! The first in a series of crossover fanart for Miraculous Ladybug and the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus series. I plan on doing all the main characters from PJatO and HoO!

[myth-carver]

Rambly ass liveblogging impressions of Legend of Vox Machina ep 1 Japanese dub by a pro translator

I am literally just copypasting all the stuff I wrote in Discord lol...

so I started ep 1 in Japanese and my first impression is... the person they got to play Vex sounds startlingly like Laura holy shit 😂

the writing in the first couple minutes was ok, they preserved some of the jokes fairly well but ofc some things just don't translate very well

the opening with the LotR type dudes was still pretty funny but the names of the merc groups I didn't feel like they completely succeeded in keeping the joke there, unsurprising since that would be a hard reference to translate

oh I turned on the Japanese subtitles and they're a straight translation of the English rather than being CC of the Japanese dub, damn. I mean that's great for Japanese viewers that want the closest-to-the-original experience that they can get but less helpful for yours truly lmao

writing this down for my own notes/amusement...

Personal pronouns and grammar:

Vax: ore. so far he's bog standard modern Japanese male like you'd hear as the main character of basically anything anywhere lol.

Vex: watashi, speaks kinda femme with ~wa on the ends of her sentences

Pike: watashi or atashi, probably watashi, will listen for another one. grammar is pretty bog standard modern Japanese girl style but it's funny to hear her use ~deshou bc I'd picture her being the type not to break out desu/masu with her friends personally

Keyleth: watashi, so far bog standard modern Japanese female, she feels a little less formal than I would expect

Percy: ore. he's a lot more informal/less old timey-sounding in Japanese than he usually is in English, but tbh there's not a good way to translate the way he talks that wouldn't also make him sound like kind of a weirdo/imply unintended stuff so it's probably for the best

Scanlan: ok he first used boku when seducing the tavern keeper's daughter but when he's alone with VM he uses ore. Boku has got more of a like softer nonthreatening image to it and musical artists often use 'kimi' and 'boku' for their 'you' and 'me' in song lyrics, so I could see him using it on purpose to try to project that 'romantic lead' kind of image lmao. Ore is more what you expect to hear a typical young guy use, it's kind of macho.

Grog: ore, not much to say here, he's exactly what you'd expect a big macho bruiser dude to sound like. He doesn't quite have Travis's funny sideways way of phrasing things unfortunately, it's more standard Japanese. They did not use any dialect or anything to sub for the accent but that sort of thing is hard to translate.

oh my god I got to Scanlan's bedroom scene 😂

they don't really translate the joke in the song alas, like I think it's still a funny scene without it but

"My lady's rose I will pluck/My love it's time for us to (fuck)" got turned into "Kimi no hanabira wa / Mou boku no mono sa" meaning "Your petals now belong to me" or "your petals are now mine" they didn't try to put in a pun here but they did keep the meter and rhyme lmao

amusingly when Percy asks Scanlan to put on some pants, they kept that exact line in Japanese, but "pantsu" in Japanese means specifically underwear so Japanese Percy is asking something a little different 😂

Japanese Scanlan is very polite to the tavern keeper. 😂

I feel like the dub writing is pretty sharp. I haven't checked out the more direct translation in the subtitles yet but they gave the dub script to a competent dialogue writer. the gang is as funny to listen to bantering with each other in Japanese as I would expect Vox Machina ought to be.

ironically in some ways it's easier to listen to than the original cast bc they're just actors doing a job and less self conscious about the fact that they're Acting as their D&D characters lmao

it's not quite the first time the CR gang ever got into a recording booth as Vox Machina but almost lol

lmaoooooo when Keyleth's like "Vex and Vax only care about themselves" Japanese Vex and Vax are like "we'll fucking kill you"

boo when Scanlan's like "I want to bed everyone in the realm" they translated it as "I want to bed every girl in the realm"

not surprised though sigh

they translated the "drain the basilisk" joke pretty directly but Japanese viewers if they're into this kind of cartoon do probably know what a basilisk is so

...ok I really like Scanlan's actor

when he gets on a roll he resembles Sam kinda like 3/4ths of the way lmao and he can do the falsetto shriek thing

and I do feel like he captures the spirit of the original performance pretty well, even thinking about the original tabletop performance

oof they tried on the "introducing Vox Machina" song but that one was a lot rougher than the previous song 😂 I imagine adapting all these songs was probably pretty hard to pull off

oh my god I can't decide if Kima sounds so off bc they're having her use really polite grammar since she's talking to Uriel or if they really just gave her Generic Girl Femme Grammar, god I hope it's the first one

but she used "kashira" ffs

that's like something you expect to hear out of the mouth of the main character's sweet middle aged anime mom who's gonna die in the 2nd scene lmao

....lmao Pike's dubious blessing is funnier in Japanese tbh

I felt like Ashley didn't quite know what to do with the scene in the original version, or maybe the dialogue was just a little off idk? but Japanese Pike flubs it up a little bit and is like "I'm sure everything'll be, uh, super awesome!" that kind of mood 😂

it's the same idea as the original ofc but maybe a little better executed

I'm ngl obviously nothing can beat the original Critical Role cast when it comes to the actual voices, but I kind of like the dialogue writing better in Japanese 😂

I think so far my only real gripe with the dub is they should've used Keyleth's speaking style for Pike and Pike's speaking style for Keyleth lmao. neither of them sounds totally off, it's not super bad or anything, but Pike sounds a smidgen more goody two shoes than she should and Keyleth sounds a smidgen less goody two shoes than she should

I'm sure that just comes down to, y'know, the person doing this adaptation is only working off these episodes to interpret who these characters are as people

one thing that is interesting to me is Japanese Percy and Vax are very very close in speaking style

it feels like Vax leans sliiiightly more toward "nice approachable guy in his 20s" and Percy is slightly more clipped/businesslike, but very slight differences at best

ok that's the end of ep 1, I'll probably finish watching the dub later

it is still so surreal to me that you can now watch Vox Machina speaking like 9 different languages 😂

[youarestellarverse]

WIP Wednesday - Grover&Percy 4/20 fic

Ack, I forgot it was Wednesday! Whoops.

I present bonding over pot brownies.

"I remember you telling me once that you thought of yourself as my protector."

"I never really stopped." Grover, his smile turning confessional, drapes his arm over the back of the couch. "I just try not to nag you so much, especially now that you have a boyfriend who'll do it for me."

Percy grabs onto Grover's hand like they're little kids. 

"It baffled me back then, but I get it now," he says, strangled. Maybe he'd be embarrassed, if he weren't so stoned. "I need you, dude. I can't talk to anyone the way I can talk to you— not even Jason. I'd be a total mess if I didn't have you in my life." 

"I'm glad he's there for you when I can't be." Grover might be choking up a little too, or maybe the effects of the pot just make Percy perceive his eyes as especially reflective. "I need you, too. No matter what, I'm proud to call you my best friend. You could decide to drop out of school and become a garbage collector¹, and I'd still respect and admire you. You're my brother, man. I love you, and nothing's going to change that." 

It's as though Grover's presence is a weighted blanket, heavy and warm. His smile is a sunbeam piercing cloud cover, and his voice is the color of wild, ripe strawberries, so dark red they're nearly maroon. Sweet, familiar, vibrant. 

"I could drop out," Percy repeats. "It's still before the cutoff date, so I'd get all my money back." 

Grover, seeming to understand that he's hit on something, nods encouragingly. 

"Iris has been hinting about promoting you to shift manager at the cafe anyway, hasn't she? You could take on some more hours, save up a little money—" 

"—and move in with Jason sooner." 

"Which would make him very happy," Grover adds. "And also make Thalia happy, because then you don't have to use her apartment for all of your trysts."

Percy feels his face fall. Grover raises a curious, worried eyebrow.

"Thinking of Thalia reminds me of my mom," Percy explains miserably, sliding down the couch and resting his head in Grover's lap. "I don't want to let her down. She worked so hard to make sure I'd succeed."

"That just means you have to change your definition of success." Grover puts a comforting hand on Percy's head. "Right now, success is taking some time off from school because it's making you miserable, and focusing on your job and your family instead because those things make you happy."

Percy can almost hear it in his mom's voice. He closes his eyes and lets Grover braid his hair— which is hilarious, when he realizes his joke to her became prophetic. 

"You're the smartest person I know." 

"Counting your Ivy League boyfriend?" 

"He's told me about a million times he only got in because his dad is an alum." Percy cracks open one eye. "Which is probably true, although I do think he could have gotten in on merit. The point is, he's a close runner up, but that's not the kind of smart I'm talking about anyway. He's brain-smart. You're heart-smart."

For a second time, Percy blames the brownie for his emotional outburst, but he likes laughing uncontrollably over his own (probably not actually) brilliant pun a lot better than bawling over a broken guitar string. 

Grover collapses with him, which is the cherry on top of the brownie sundae. 

Eventually, they open Grover's laptop and find a stream of the Lions versus Crimson. Jason's in, and he's on fire— he leads Columbia to a landslide victory, which makes Percy's soul glow with pride. 

Grover dozes off shortly after the game wraps. Percy can feel the weed encouraging him to do the same, but there's something he has to do first. 

He's not sure if the text he sends Jason's burner makes any sense, but he's pretty sure he manages the general idea. His phone is still in his hand when he falls under.

¹ This is a reference to a classic by antistar_e called Ten Things Percy Loves About Having Sex, which I highly recommend and consider a formative influence on my writing style!

Presently just under 5600 words.

@elaborateruses @perseusjackson-jasongrace 😘

[repairgirl]

5. mistakes were made

word count: 1.3k

t/w: n/a

The group piled into Piper’s car and headed to one of her many houses where the party would be held. Leo crammed in next to you, squishing you against the door filling you with a familiar sense of déjà vu and reminding you of your time spent visiting him in the hospital. Four people in the backseat was technically illegal, but you were teenagers, right? The last kind of people to obey the law. 

“So, you’re back on your feet, huh, Sparky?” 

Leo grinned at you. “Yep. All it took was some magical godly food and some strong convincing from the Beauty Queen herself.” 

Piper shot a death glare back at him. “Call me that again and I’ll crash the car,” 

Leo waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” 

Nico cleared his throat. “Beauty queen,” he mumbled in a voice almost identical to Leo’s. 

“Nico!” Will scolded, but it was too late. Your eyes widened as you realized what was about to happen. 

Just to prove a point, Piper halted the car, making Leo bang his head against the seat in front of him. “Owie,” he said, rubbing his forehead. “Rude.” 

Nico and you burst into laughter.

Piper’s house was decorated to perfection. Summer decorations hung from the wall, and beachy music played through speakers that filled the house with music. Once everyone got there, you laughed and talked about everything from the recent shenanigans at Camp Half-Blood to the latest news with the gods. Hanging out with your friends who you had known for so long was a wonderful feeling, but a bittersweet one at that- this was the start of the last summer you would be entirely spending together. 

The party went on swimmingly- no pun intended. Throughout all the games the crew played together, beer pong, chicken fight, and paranoia, the tension between you and Leo started to increase. Everyone could tell, especially Piper. Which is why she absolutely just had to suggest the two of you go together for your last game: 7 Minutes in Heaven. 

She had gathered everyone around the bonfire to dry off, since it was getting dark and everyone was still shivering from the pool water. The group huddled close to each other, yours and Leo’s shoulders a centimeter away from touching. It was a nice feeling. 

“Listen up, everyone, here’s how this is going to work,” Piper announced like a drill sergeant. “Traditionally, 7 Minutes in Heaven is played by everyone tossing in an item and people picking that item to determine who goes in the closet together.” 

“Hah, the closet,” Nico snorted. Will elbowed him in the ribs to shut him up. 

“Anyway,” Piper continued. “We’re not going to do it like that. Instead, two people are going to be chosen by me and Annabeth to go into the pool house for seven minutes.” 

Percy scrunched his nose. “Why do you get to make all the rules? And why are you taking my girlfriend away from me?” he pouted. 

“Because this is my house, and I said so, Jackson.” 

You and Leo giggled at Percy’s sulking once Annabeth got up to move and be near Piper. 

Piper gave you a sly smirk as she saw how close together Leo and you were sitting, and the second you noticed you shot her a death glare in an attempt to warn her not to try anything. Of course she took that as an invitation. 

“Okay, people, first off is-”she started but was quickly cut off by Annabeth’s hand clamping over her mouth. “Frank and Hazel!” Annabeth finished. You had never been more grateful for her

Frank shrugged his shoulders and headed into the pool house with Hazel trailing behind. “Alright, I guess.” 

It was pin drop silent until the timer his the halfway mark. Leo turned to you, his eyes wide. 

“What do you think they’re doing in there?” 

You shrugged. “Dunno. Couple things? Kissing, maybe.” 

Nico looked skeptical. “It has been awfully silent.” 

The timer hit seven minutes, but there was still no sign of the pair even after Percy shouted “Time’s up!” 

Finally, twp minutes later, the pair came out, hand in hand. Hazel was grinning like crazy. 

“Looks like someone had a good time,” Leo teased, wiggling his eyebrows. Frank just glared at him. 

“And that is a perfect transition into our next pair,” Piper announced, her eyes gleaming. 

Oh no, you thought. Maybe if I start running now, I can make it away in time. 

“Leo and Y/N!” 

You wanted to crawl under the bench. Leo just laughed, playing it off like it was no big deal. “C’mon, Pipes. For real?” 

“Yes.” 

He looked at you and shrugged. “Might as well get it over with.” 

The silent walk to the pool house was agonizing. There were so many things you wanted to say, so many things you wanted to do, but were unsure which was the right one.

Your hands were basically shaking as you sat down in the pool house and shut the stall door. 

“Hi,” he breathed. 

“Hey.”

“So, this is kind of weird,” he said, scratching the nape of his neck. “Seeing as we’re just friends and all.” 

Your heart sunk to your chest. “Right, just friends.” 

The next few minutes were painfully silent.

Leo avoided your eyes and started fiddling with something from his pockets. Maybe it was because he was nervous. Maybe it was because he sensed what was about to happen, and was trying to avoid it. But either way, and despite the warning signs, you let your heart speak on impulse instead of your mind

“Leo, I think of you as more than a friend,” you blurted, then immediately regretted it. 

He looked up for a brief second, raising an eyebrow at you. There was no going back now. 

Once your words came, they didn’t stop. It was like you couldn’t even control what you were saying, no matter how hard you tried. 

“Fuck, I mean… Seeing you in the hospital made me realize how much I care about you. How much you mean to me. I-I think I like you.” 

Leo opened his mouth and closed it, almost as if he was holding back. He looked scared, shocked even. Leo, the funny guy, the guy who always seemed to be talking, was now silent.

You dug your nails into your palm, your heartbeat pulsing in your ears. You were sure you had made the wrong choice. 

“Please say something,” you begged. 

Leo sighed and stopped fiddling, but struggled to meet your eyes. “It’s just, I don’t know if I’m ready for another relationship again… I- I need some time to heal.”

Calypso. How could you have been so stupid to forget about her? Leo’s last girlfriend left him an emotional mess after she ghosted him and left to travel the world without even bothering to say goodbye. Of course he was still hurting. This had happened barely a month ago. You had misinterpreted all of his platonic touches and looks and glances as romantic, a fatal mistake.

Leo seemed to read your mind like he always did. “Y/N, please don’t take this the wrong way,” he cooed, reaching over to hold your hands in his. “I hope we can still be friends. You mean so much to me too, and I don’t want anything to change between us.” 

Your eyes brimmed with tears, but you willed them to stay in, and you willed yourself to stay composed for another second, just for his sake. “Alright. Friends,” you agreed. 

Just then, you heard the familiar iPhone alarm sound blast from outside. “Time’s up!” Percy enthusiastically yelled. 

Leo got up and smiled at you, clearly satisfied with what had happened. Meanwhile, you were trying not to fall apart. 

His familiar chocolate eyes locked with yours, the beautiful eyes you would never be able to look at the same way again. That’s what broke you. 

“I’m sorry. I have to go.”

You pulled away from him and ran, far away from the pool house, the party and the rest of the world, hearing whispers of the wind trail behind you as you left.

yours truly || leo valdez x fem!reader smau

a/n: OKAY NOW SHIT IS STARTING TO GET INTERESTING!! today i sat down and plotted out the ENTIRETY of this story using a whole ass freytag’s pyramid. i actually have plans about where i want it to go so now hopefully updates will be a lot more frequent :)

masterlist < previous > next

taglist: @slytherindaughterofposeidon0

[harringtonsbae]

Hi!!! Can I have a male matchup for Harry Potter in the Golden Trio Era?

19, Southeast Asian with Spanish descent, Libra, Bi Pan and Genderfluid, ENFJ-A/ENFJ-T, and a proud muggleborn Ravenclaw. Short (5'1"), chubby with kinda cherubic-like face, chic messy/wavy brunette hair, chocolate brown eyes, oriental skin, and boyish-emo sense of fashion with korean makeup look.

Really quiet, soft spoken, distant, and timid around random people (to the point they think I'm modest, demure, immaculate, and educated) but once I finally open up it's totally opposite---super talkative, rowdy-mouthed, laughing loudly on a daily basis, creative, talented, expressive, swears like a sailor, very clumsy, witty, passionate, religious, very supportive, unfortunate, super childish, determined, thriving, speaks with sarcasms, has a lamest sense of humour, gets excited so easily, skittish, forgetful, and unashamed to be myself but can be awkward around the strangers. Nice and kind to good people, but an opposite who isn't

Opinionated and EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE, in terms of academics and extra curricular activities (even I'm a procrastinator---I still ace them like what kind of sorcery I did?) that's why I got frustrated and dissappointed quickly if I failed, because I thought people I know is pressuring me, but I tried to keep moving forward once I already cheered up.

I may come off as stubborn, feisty, tough, demanding, and harsh if I get really angry also demanding and intimidating if things aren't all right, but my deeper self is sensitive, insecure of my physical appearance (some people around me makes fun of it and it's rude), and fragile who cries easily also has strong beliefs and reasoning, like fighting for my dreams to the point it'll become a debate because of my brashness. But I'm also willing to help or give up something as long I can, they think I'm selfish, but not really---I do have biased sentimental value and I have a different way how do I care---by being supportive and giving gifts also teaching them, in addition I have an emotional overwhelm, I get flustered too quickly, blush on compliment, and melt over wholesomeness.

My interests are arts, choir, night sky, makeup, fun/deep/dumb conversations, Christianity, documentaries (about saints, real crime stories, and inspirational people), reading interesting stuffs, talking about social issues, and creative writings.

My hobbies are are singing, drawing, roleplaying, listening to music, chatting/browsing on social media, conceptualizing, writing, and reading some stuffs. I'll include making corniest jokes/puns, sleeping, and dancing when nobody's around or walking like a model if I feel so bold (even I'm terrible at both xD). I also used to learn Italian language a bit.

Oof- I love you! Ron Weasley! Yes another Weasley!

•Ron loves you, no questions asked

•He has a VERY soft spot for people who are shy when they meet new people, but are really open when they are themselves

•It’s a reward for him when he gets to see your true self.

•You may not see eye-to-eye at times but it normally ends in really good makeup sex sweet cuddles on the the couch or in bed.

•Listen, this man would follow you anywhere anytime

•Would try his ‘lame’ nose jokes on you (I don’t know if you’ve read cursed child or not)

•He loves to join you in funny dance parties/runway shows that only you two get to do probably ends in sex

•He would definitely think roleplay was just for sex until he met you:

“What do you mean ‘Do you want to roleplay?’ Isn’t that for sex?”

•Ends up loving it, but he would never admit it

•He has the Weasley family sex drive for sure, so don’t even underestimate him

•When he first started dating you he would try to be romantic by going to your house and throwing rocks at your window until you either open it or look at him through it. There’s definitely a speaker playing some cheesy song in the background

•Later he takes you to go sit somewhere in a field and watch the stars while talking about anything

•Okay, so you guys are a literal power couple, no one ever plays games with you two because you guys always win

•He is smitten with you no doubt

•He probably gets jealous of Percy when he starts trying to talk to you about documentaries, social issues in the wizarding world, and would probably try to start debates with you. Your Ron’s world, one that he wouldn’t share ever, period

•Ugh you guys are a power couple and I can not stress it enough

I hope this is good! I’m still new to shipping people lol

Lots of love, babes<3

[thebisexualdogdad]

Teen Wolf the Camp Half Blood AU

Co written with @inhumanshadows

The kids and their parents:

Scott - Poseidon

Allison - Artemis 

Stiles - Hermes

Derek - Ares

Lydia - Aphrodite

Kira - Athena

Danny - Apollo

Malia - Demeter

Isaac - Apollo

Brett - Dionysus

Theo - Hades

Liam - Hephaestus

Jackson - Aphrodite

Aidan - Ares

Ethan - Ares

Jordan - Hephaestus

Hayden - Demeter

Mason - Dionysus

Corey - Hermes

· So Stiles and Hermes kids love to fuck with the Artemis and Ares kids while they are training

· Alison is the only hunter that doesn't travel with the goddess

· The Hermes kids will lay paint grenades and wait for the ensuing carnage.

· Stiles also is like a third Stoll sibling

· Derek is the one who saves Stiles' ass from getting kicked

· Derek stops his siblings from attacking Stiles like every other week

· Brett and Mason throw the best parties every Friday night

· And it's the only place all the cabins truly get along

· Those parties defy expectations in that alcohol isn't a big part of why everyone gets along

· It's just everyone hanging out and relaxing

· And it's the best place for everyone to hang out with their significant others

· Those who are dating are seated next to their S/Os or dancing

· And those who are crushing on each other are being set up by their friends or desperately trying to make a move

· Hayden is trying to get Malia to just go talk to kira

· Scott is asking Percy advice about talking to Isaac and it's going swimmingly

· pun intended

· Malia finally kisses Kira when they are dancing together and Hayden "accidently" bumps Malia closer to her

· Malia is furiously apologizing when Kira kisses her to stop her rambling

· And everyone at the party is like finally! 

· Being from Aphrodite Lydia is embodies love and is the most romantic girlfriend

· Lydia and Alison are talking about their favorite things about camp

· Stiles is sitting in Derek's lap making out.

· And nobody knows where Danny or Aidan are cause they snuck off to fool around in the woods

· "They'll be fine" is the general consensus around the party.

· Corey and Mason are cuddled together, enjoying the stars

· And Theo is basically grinding on Liam on the dancefloor

· There is not a cabin on site that Stiles and the Hermes kids have not annoyed the shit out of

· Nope. And Stiles doesn't care that it could cause a prank war.

· Scott likes to sit at the bottom of the lake by cabin 3 to think and get away from it all. · Isaac has been looking for him and just stands on the pier "I can't breathe underwater..."

· "Just float with me then" 

· And they float on their backs, holding hands, looking up at the cloudy skin

· They lay there for what feels like an hour and then go into the cabin to lay together. Thankfully Scott's powers make drying off easy as hell

· Theo and Liam are the chaotic boyfriends, they are getting into trouble all. the. time.

· They're basically always on cleanup duty after dinner

· And they are always sneaking out after curfew

· Usually to steal food from the kitchen

· And they always get caught by the furies that patrol the camp after curfew

· Danny and Aidan are the athletic couple they are always working out together

· They make it a competition every time

· Meanwhile Stiles is in the background eating chips like "i wonder what it's like to be in shape"

· Derek snags the bag out of his hands. "well time to stop wondering and start doing

· Stiles is whining but Derek makes him go on a run with him

· "This is torture! You're trying to kill me! You're a horrible boyfriend!"

· "No I'm making sure you don't have a heart attack from all the junk food."

· Derek assures him that they'll start small

· Stiles agrees to be a little healthier but Scott still sneaks him snacks when Derek's not looking

· Derek knows. He talks to Isaac about it.

· "Idky they're sneaking around. I never said that Stiles had to cut out junk food completely."

· Isaac: "Simple... our boyfriends think different"

· "They share one brain cell and currently neither one of them has it"

· "exactly. But if it gets stiles to be a bit healthier... it's a step in the right direction"

· Meanwhile Jordan is busy forging a new collapsible spear

· Which Stiles takes from his cabin and is messing around with it and accidentally spears his foot

· Everyone hears the scream and the Stolls carry Stiles to Danny

· Danny heals Stiles while Derek is scolding him for being so dumb

· "In my defense... I was left unsupervised"

· Parrish is like "with my spear which you stole!"

· Stiles "oh calm down worry wart you can make another one'

· Parrish is inspecting the weapon. "You aren't getting out of this that easy

· Jordan makes Stiles clean out the entire Hephaestus cabin 

· Stiles is like what's the big deal and then immediately regrets everything when he sees all the dirt and rust

· Jordan pats stiles on the back. “Here’s the instructions and supplies. Good luck. I’ll check on you in two hours.”

· When Jordan does come back Stiles is sitting on an upside bucket eating donuts 

· "Stiles!" 

· "What! I need energy!"

· “You haven’t cleaned a thing!”

· "Look at that corner it's spotless!" 

· "There's a spiderweb Stiles" 

· "That's mister webs home I'm not destroying his hard work!"

· Jordan is not happy.  · “I’ll be back.” He leaves and brings Derek back. “Here mave you can get him to do it

· "Stiles, if you don't clean this cabin we will be doing 5 laps around the lake" 

· "What?? That's insane!" 

· "Babe the Ares kid doing 10 before breakfast"

· “Exactly the Ares kids! They’re like their own military.”

· “Come on Stiles. There’s a lot to go...”

· "Ugh fine. But I'm having an entire pizza when I'm done"

· “We’ll see...”

· Meanwhile Thiam are fooling around in the showers

· As they always do though with Theo being in Hades there's absolutely no rules about coercing with other campers so they always have a place to fool around in his cabin

· Nico is typically off with his boyfriend so the place is empty and even then. Theo had Jordan install soundproofing

· Lydia often kicks Jackson and the other Aphrodite kids out so she can have alone time with Allison

· Some think Lydia is pushy but Jackson knows to listen to her

· Allison, Lydia, Malia,Kira, and Hayden also have girls night in the Aphrodite cabin

· Makeovers, spa days, general destressing. While the boys are jumping from the roof of cabin 3 to the lake

· And they have water guns which Scott doesn't need and he just makes full on waves crash on people

· Someone inevitably loses his shorts

· It's usually Danny which no one complains about

· If it’s someone else no one complains either

· Everybody is gay and just horny teenagers

· Malia often takes Kira for strolls through the woods and points out every kind of flower

· Malia makes the best flower crowns

· She makes Hayden wear one too whenever she gets pouty 

· "Turn that frown upside down little sister"

· Hayden is like whenever you ask a kid “is that a smile?” And like 5 seconds later they are smiling and laughing

· Hayden would never admit but she really likes having Malia as a sister

· She loves her sister. And she wouldn’t change it

[eponymous-rose]

Talks Machina Highlights - Critical Role C2E96 (February 25, 2020)

Tonight’s guests are Taliesin Jaffe and Liam O’Brien!

Announcements: The Chicago live show and C2E2 are imminent! The live show will be on Thursday night, but an hour earlier than usual, at 6 PM Pacific/8 PM Central! Liam will be at the live show, but unfortunately has to leave C2E2 early and won’t be able to make it on Sunday. On Friday, the first behind-the-scenes video for The Legend of Vox Machina animated series was posted on YouTube, introducing the writing team!

Episode 96: Family Shatters

Stats for this week’s episode! Of the 16 times Caleb has cast Teleportation Circle, the M9 have remembered to contact someone prior to their arrival 7 times. Of those 7 times, they were successful at contacting someone at the location only 3. Taliesin: “We’re playing this game like Skyrim, we’re just going through people’s houses breaking pottery.” Caduceus got the straw hat that he gave to Clarabelle in episode 31, about 188 in-game days ago. There were 17 cow-related puns. Dani: “Is that above or below average for a Critical Role episode?”

“Clay was kind of built relatively quickly. I didn’t give Matt a ton to play with. I gave him the order in which they left, I gave him Clay’s attitude and his impression of his family members, which was usually just one sentence, and some basic idea of what their power set might be if they had one. I always thought of him as, from a family perspective, of what would have happened to Percy if nothing went wrong.” He was happy to be the one to run the family business and just hang around at home and run the shrine. “I think the rest of the kids’ wanderlust probably put them at odds quite a bit.” He liked being able to play that conflict and show what Caduceus was like when he was annoyed. Cad took after his father, the girls generally wanted to leave, and Colton is “just sort of a doofus.”

Caleb was an only child, so seeing this many kids was a lot. “They clearly had their grudges and their different dynamics with each other, but that’s normal, for sure. Caleb’s very unfamiliar with it.” He also keeps looking at Nott and thinking about how everything he’s doing is about wanting to rebuild his family, whereas Nott is so conflicted about going back to hers. “He doesn’t understand it, but he doesn’t want to push it” or judge her for it. “I thought I had a really defined direction at the start of the campaign, but my seven best friends have knocked it silly.”

What’s keeping Cad with the Nein? “Caduceus is not ready to go home at all. He’s not done with his walkabout. He feels like he wants to see a bit more. He feels he has an intense debt to pay. He feels he has a mission to see everybody else through, at the very least. Or at least he’s telling himself that. So he’s saved his home, or at least he thinks he’s saved his home, and his family’s all right, so now it’s debts that must be paid. He’s not somebody who thinks you can just get off the bus.”

“Caleb was going to ask [the hag] about the ability to travel backward through time, not really believing that she could do that, but was still like, show me what you’ve got.” Even if she’d said it, he would have thought she was a liar. “Probably would’ve offered to kill the M9″ in exchange, then would’ve turned around to hit her with a surprise Disintegrate. Liam notes repeatedly that nothing could possibly have been as cool as what Laura wound up doing.

On the Nein not worrying about places Cad considered sacred ground, Caduceus “is fine with conflict. He doesn’t even really have to have conflict, he could assert himself if he were so inclined. It’s that he’s aware that there are limits to what these people can do. It’s very much the philosophy of ‘children and drunks can do no wrong’.” He’s picking his battles.

Was there a defining moment where Caleb started seeing the Nein as family? No single moment. “It’s like love by a thousand cuts.” Liam notes that he’s still not sure how Caleb would react if he suddenly had the means to carry out his plans. “He’s got the recovering-addict mentality.”

Cosplay of the Week: an amazing Pumat! (CriticalHitical, photo by Minniemooncos on Twitter)

Taliesin notes that Caduceus is definitely feeling more connected to the group. “If anything, Caduceus is really embracing his role as the spiritual guide to the group. He feels like he really has a lot to offer from that perspective of being the roving therapist. Or at least, he thinks he’s a roving therapist.” Liam notes that Cad is the most mysterious of the group to Caleb. “He’s the most religious character I’ve ever played, too. He’s fun! He really came together very nicely.”

On Caleb being more lighthearted on occasion: “He’s been out of practice being a human being for a long time.” The Nein’s brand of ridiculousness is rubbing off on him.

Why hasn’t Cad been pranking the Nein? “They don’t treat him poorly in that way yet. Siblings, man. I have quite a few siblings, and there is an energy. It’s the same way like when you’re around your parents, you revert to a 15-year-old.” Same with siblings. “There’s just something-- just the urge to torture them is so overpowering.” The moment he got the whistle, he knew exactly what he was going to do with it. Liam was reminded of Taliesin’s real-life siblings while watching these interactions in the game.

On Caleb’s laying on compliments for the Traveler: “The thing about time travel is it’s so implausible. It’s so implausible that I could see us finishing this campaign and Caleb will still have it in the back of his head for the rest of his life. But maybe Artagan could help with that. He certainly sees the potential in Artagan, and it was a balance between wanting to support everything Jester has devoted her life to, so it just felt like everyone was ready to write it off. Life is often like this, life isn’t what you thought it would be, it is what it is. Let’s not damn this yet, let’s feel it out. And if I can use this situation to possibly eradicate ultimate evil, that’s a win.”

Cad found it tough to have family and friends in the same room and play both roles. “I don’t know how much it came across that he was trying to keep them, not necessarily separated, but ‘family, guys, guys, family, ANYWAY.’” He did want to get his family on their way as quickly as possible. Cad is the equivalent of his early 20s, so something like 85-120 years old for a firbolg. 

Liam is asked about the conversation between Caleb and Yasha on watch several episodes ago. "You know what one of the best parts of that scene that played out was, is about 20 minutes or 30 minutes before that happened, I texted Ashley at the table and said, ‘Want to take watch? I have nothing planned, it could be fun.’” He wasn’t expecting it to go that far. “I think he had such an extreme reaction because he felt that he had done a good job of hiding things, and he was suddenly worried that he was transparent, that everyone had been able to read him this whole time when he’d thought that he was-- well, he’s a little in love with Jester Lavorre, and has been for a while, uselessly in love with her. The waltz was probably a little pebble. And in that moment-- this doesn’t play out verbally too much in the show, but he just was worried that this thing that he’s never going to admit to because it’s useless, she’s finding herself, and has her whole life ahead of her, and has other people around her who care about her and are a whole lot better for her than he is. And he’s aware of the way those two [Fjord and Beau] feel as well. It’s just there in the background fucking up his shit. It’s really just a problem. Big fucking problem.” 

Fan art of the week: a gorgeous Clay family portrait! (by Teaweltzer on Twitter)

On Clay being absent for the renewal of his home: “I don’t think his arc’s ending off-screen. I think his arc ends when he comes home to see what’s become of it.”

Is Caleb worried about Beau since the confrontation with her father? “Of course he is. She’s ignoring all the advice that she gave him. He doesn’t like to see her that hard on herself when she’s so competent and probably the backbone of the group. It’s the most judgey Caleb’s been of anybody, really, but he’s very aware of the pain of family and personal stuff. She knows her, and even though he broke his shit in half, he could still see the dynamic in the room when we visited his family, so he feels for her. We need you and we love you and we will miss you, you don’t fucking get to go.”

Each of the temples has a secondary god; what was the Blooming Grove’s other god? “The Blooming Grove is for the Archeart because it is a gift of beauty. It’s the Allhammer, the Changebringer, and the Archeart. It’s kind of a powerplay from the Wildmother, in my opinion. They’re all three based off of very specific types of funereal practices that are common throughout the world.”

Caleb saw giving over the transformation spell to Essek as a returning of one of his many favors. “Caleb likes Essek a lot. They’re like two highly gifted kids at school together. And, you know, he’s quirkily charming and handsome. There’s just no reason not to, in his mind. Outside of the M9, he’s probably the only person that Caleb would see as a friend that he’s made. Everyone else is just sort of scenery around the M9.”

What’s next for Cad? “It’s a little bit of finding himself, or at least finishing himself would be the way to put it.” (cue snickering from off-camera) “He’s also vaguely aware of some of the things that are going to possibly emotionally damage the party on the horizon, and he wants to be ready to deal with, in vague order, whatever’s going to happen to Jester, and then whatever’s going to happen to Fjord, and then whatever’s going to happen to Nott, and Yasha, and Caleb. He doesn’t know how to deal with what Beau’s going through. It’s the one thing he has no experience of, because he has no experience with that family dynamic. When he met people with that family dynamic, it was always at the end of it.”

Some fans sent in death whistles. Brian encourages Taliesin to play one on the plane.

The hat for Calliope was a last-minute thought. The flute could also have gone for Colton, depending on “who I could sneak up on”.

Caleb took a symbol of the Archeart from the Labenda Swamp. “I think it was familiar to me. I think I might have either correctly or mistakenly thought it reminded me of the woman who helped Caleb in the Sanatorium.”

[halothenthehorns]

All in the Family

Chapter 109: Percy and Padfoot

Sirius slammed down on a very sturdy desk, but all he upset was a very old bottle of ink that spilled over his lap and would soon stain the wood if he didn't fix it. Peter felt as if he were being bodily slammed into a bed, but he sent up such a cloud of dust everyone's sneezing and coughing only doubled as they'd been doing it upon arrival.

One peek out the window made this all the more strange, they were back at the Burrow.

"Surely they weren't hanging around Grimmauld Place for so long this home started resembling it," Sirius said in disgust, picking up the now dripping book and siphoning the ink away, though the cover still remained an inky black and bothered him greatly.

"No, I think it's just this room," James corrected quietly as he gazed at the empty closet. He couldn't even imagine Arthur and Molly's distress at their child who'd abandoned them, but he didn't think cleaning his room would be top of the list. He tried to picture it, if Harry had turned out like Malfoy or something and James couldn't be so proud of this future kid of his. The idea was unbearable and he hadn't even convinced Lily to like him yet.

Lily watched his look of honest sympathy, and it took her breath away. She'd never imagined he could hold any kind of emotion except pigheadedness, and here he was, caring about this family's troubles with an unmistakable expression.

When Sirius Black actually read out the chapter title, she startled more in surprise of remembering there were others in the room than such an odd chapter title. It was no wonder they were in Percy's room then, but what did that have to do with Sirius's animagus? His better half, she mentally concluded, as at least he couldn't talk like that, unlike now when he read highly obnoxiously about Harry waking up and writing out a secret letter to him. Not that she'd deny Harry's letter was very clever, certainly no outsider would get it. She just didn't think he should be laughing quite so obnoxiously about Harry's genius.

Peter listened with a grimace as Harry got to the owlery and spotted another of those demon horse things, he'd honestly stopped mentioning seeing the same all their time in the forest by third year as his friends had stopped laughing by then and just rolled their eyes. Sirius had even accused him of this being a stupider running gag than making puns about his own name. The fact that Harry was mentioning it so frequently made him hope he'd figure out what they were, Prongs's kid had a very good track record of that.

Lily smiled as Cho made an unexpected entrance, and when all was said and done, gave Potter the most obvious look one couldn't miss from Pluto. "It's nice some Potters know how to talk to a girl without making an arse of themselves."

"They talked about Quidditch half the time," Potter had the audacity to widen his eyes and look innocent of what she could mean. "I'd love to discuss that with you more Evans, you just never seemed to take to it."

"Surely she meant the part about how she'd defend you from Filch, Prongs," Sirius Black corrected with a hearty snicker. "You can go order as many dung bombs as you like in front of her and she'll be your alibi."

Lily scowled and considered storming into the empty closet behind her and slamming it in their face just to vent as Potter laughed. She turned to face the empty coat hangers regardless, and so when her heart skipped a beat in surprise at Hermione reading out the paper and Sirius Black's real current whereabouts, nobody noticed that she actually winced in concern for the idiot.

'For Harry's benefit,' she mentally corrected herself quickly. If Sirius Black got caught in this future, well, Potter had been more miserable and down-hearted than she ever could have believed back when all that had been going on in third year. If he went back there now, it would only be worse for everyone, including her own kid having whatever parent he could ripped away like that for such a ghastly unjust reason.

She turned back slowly to eye him now, and was fascinated to see him reading the whole thing with his chest puffed up and complete swagger for how foolish he found his godson's worries. He even went into the next article about that Podmore fellow like nothing had happened. She knew that was bravado, he'd been more dejected than Potter during that Azkaban mess, and found it fascinating he chose to play it off and get a rise out of his friends by laughing about it all in the end.

Was that really their answer to everything? It certainly seemed so the longer she watched. They really were a fascinating bunch of idiots. Maybe when they got back she'd steal bits of their hair and study some potions on them to see if-

"Yes!" Regulus whooped in triumph, launching himself onto the bed beside Peter, but now bouncing on it in excitement as his older brother described Harry and Ron skiving off homework for double Quidditch practice. "This is going to be the most fun we've yet heard! I can't wait for the tournament when we get back to ours!"

It was the most undignified thing they'd ever seen him do, probably to ever go on in this room honestly. It had been a choice between this display his mother would kill him for, or finally bursting into tears and trying to hug Sirius again for watching his brother try to keep reading like that. After only a few bounces, he definitely preferred this.

Peter laughed and after a moment got up to jump on the bed with him, spraying them all with dust once more. Being back in this particular room had only reminded him he'd spent so many years here hiding out as Percy's pet, like a curse was on this room and everyone in it, he definitely needed to just not think for a few moments.

Alice laughed and finally stopped rubbing at the back of her hand in worry for that school, of Neville getting a detention as well. Sirius Black nearly fell off the desk laughing at the two, and then decided to jump up there with him and continue reading like a loon. The other two watched with indulgent smiles, and likely would have gone up there with them if there had been room.

Frank and Lily exchanged exasperated looks at the lot of them, but neither could repress a smile through the whole practice even as the Slytherins showed up and tried to make larger arses of themselves than usual.

It wasn't until Percy's letter showed up that Sirius finally slowed, and it wasn't because the springs gave out. He tried to keep reading it and bouncing, but by the end his knees started shaking and he almost fell off and busted his head on the desk.

James caught him, his forehead an inch from the corner, but he stayed slumped in his arms for a few more moments as what he really read sank in. The idiot was the opposite of him, but the exact same as him, leaving his family because he didn't believe the same as them. Now though, even that humongous bighead bothered to reach out to his kid brother and offer the same hand, something Sirius had never actively bothered to try!

James's laugh echoed oddly in the suddenly quiet room as they all waited for Sirius to spring back to his feet and keep going. "What was that your mother said about monkeys on the bed Peter?"

The two had abruptly stopped at Sirius's little fall, Regulus now holding onto the bed frame for support and frowning in concern. When Sirius finally did shake himself and keep going to Ron's reaction, it sounded oddly detached, and he winced with every rip he gave his brother's letter.

This bizarre reaction made sense to no one, how could Sirius be sympathizing with Percy of all people?

Sirius absolutely did not want to explain though while he was still kicking himself in the arse. He spoke of his own interactions with Harry almost all in one breath, and in the end found it oddly accurate as everything was being ripped away once more, that was clearly the only thing he was really good at.

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

I think you've mentioned the Percy Jackson series before in regards to Rick Riordan. Have you read it? And if you have, what's your opinion on it? I'm currently re-reading and I honestly forgot how good a series it is since I haven't read it since I first did in seventh grade.

I’ve read it, I loved it, I am all about it!  I’ve also read Heroes of Olympus and I’m about halfway through Kane Chronicles.

Percy Jackson was actually my gateway drug into Tumblr fandom — some college friends talked me into making my first tumblog for a Camp Half-Blood RP.  I spent two years playing Luke Castellan and/or Kronos, I quickly tired of forum-style RPs, and I switched to more traditional blogging.  And yes, I’ve always cared too much about meatsuits, whichever fandom they’re from.

Anyway, Luke Castellan is probably my favorite antagonist of all time, and I’ve used him as partial inspiration for my own villains (including Margaret).  This is because Luke:A) kinda has a good point, and B) does unforgivably terrible things to prove that point.

When you get down to it, Luke is right that every god in Olympus should be in prison for the way they treat their kids.  His dad (and great-uncle) performed horrific next-level gaslighting on his mom, and Hermes genuinely cared for her but was also like “eh, what’s one mortal more or less?”  Percy, Thalia, and Nico all watch family members die and grow up under desperate circumstances because the alternative would be any of their dads admitting that they exist.  Luke is right to be bitter, after becoming homeless at age nine and witnessing the impact of homelessness on Annabeth and Thalia.  Luke is right that “they’re from a different time” has never excused that kind of treatment of one’s kids, and will never excuse it.

What Luke is not right about is what he does with those beliefs.  He’s happy to let Percy get killed if it’ll sow chaos for the Big Three.  He sends Chris into the Labyrinth knowing that it’ll probably cost Chris’s mind and life.  He stands there and lets Annabeth — whom he claims in his diary is the little sister he never had – get slowly crushed to death by the sky in order to trap Artemis.  He’s willing to let Kronos destroy most of Manhattan if it means destroying Olympus along the way.  He poisons Thalia.  He gets Silena killed.

Luke is the quintessential rogue folk hero, an agent of chaos with intentions of gold, taking down the big bad establishment by any means necessary.  He’s Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy, Nate Ford from Leverage, Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows, Finn Rider from Tangled, Kelsier from Mistborn, Han Solo from Star Wars, Mal Reynolds from Serenity, etcetera.  Only, the thing is, Luke is the unromantic version of that trope.  Because we’re not seeing the story from his point of view as he zooms around being a debonair rogue who wants to save the world.  We’re seeing the story from the point of view of the people he manipulates and hurts in order to accomplish his ends.  Just because he’s got a good point, that doesn’t give him the right to destroy lives indiscriminately.

Not only is Luke a brilliantly subversive villain, but his role also casts Percy as an atypical hero.  Because how often do we see heroes in adventure series that defend the established order instead of trying to take it down?  How often do we see heroes that try to prevent violence and chaos instead of starting it?  Not only that, but how often do adventure series end with the hero and the villain meeting each other in the middle and finding common ground?  (Avatar the Last Airbender is the only other example that comes to mind.)  Percy learns from Luke, and Luke learns from Percy, even as they are actively working to kill each other.  And Luke’s impact survives long after he himself does.

My favorite part of Heroes of Olympus is just how much Percy comes to resemble Luke, when seen through Jason’s eyes.  He’s this older, tougher hero, one who cares deeply about his fellow demigods but is also shockingly cynical about the gods themselves.  He doesn’t hero-worship anyone (no pun intended), even literal heroes or literal objects of worship, and he doesn’t concern himself with high ideals as much as he does with keeping his friends alive.  Because Percy’s hero’s journey is not a traditional Campbellian cliché archetype, but instead about him coming to find the middle road between his initial naive faith in the gods and Luke’s bitter hatred toward them.  It’s about finding a path between Hermes-like chaos for chaos’s sake and Zeus-like order just to uphold tradition, about embracing the Classical ideal of heroes finding their own paths regardless of what their ancestors might have done.

[fezwearingjellybananas]

Tagged by the always lovely @annnesbonny, thank you

How many works do you have on AO3?

172

What’s your total AO3 word count?

866,426 words which is quite a few. I'm currently trying to see if I can hit a million by the end of next year but it's not so much a set goal as it is a game I'm playing with myself

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

There's mostly DCTV ones (mostly Flash but they can all be grouped as one thing), MCU and Agents of SHIELD, Doctor Who, a couple of The Adventure Zone ones, there's one Justice League 2017 film one and a few Flash Comics ones which are both more DC, a Good Omens one, Sherlock, one Librarians which is actually in a fic collection not tagged with Librarians because it was only the one fic out of all of them, I did write Harry Potter and Merlin and one Percy Jackson once way back when on FFN but they didn't make it over to AO3, so I think 13 unless you put all the DC and Marvel things together?

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Crossed Wires (DCTV, Barry/Eddie, I wrote this one in an hour after getting stuck for days trying to come up with something to fit the prompt)

Mis-sent (DCTV, Barry/Cisco, also a prompt fill for a ship week, it's a wrong number/college AU texting fic, figuring out the format was interesting)

"Just sleep in my damn shirt" (DCTV, Barry/Eddie, this was a prompt fill that didn't even get a proper title?)

Milk and Sugar (DCTV, Iris/Caitlin, this turned into a very long series, it was an accident but is also my little baby)

Flash Red; Vibe Blue (DCTV, Barry/Cisco, this remains the only fic I have stopped writing halfway through so I could run to Tesco, buy yeast, and bake bread because I was writing about baking bread and couldn't think of anything else until I had a bowl sitting in the airing cupboard. I made bread multiple times because of this fic.)

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

I do, I don't always know what to say, I often feel like I'm bad with words and knowing what to say to people, but I very much appreciate the comments so I do want to thank people at least

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Ashes to Ashes, it's the end of Inifinty War/very beginning of Endgame fic for the Marvellous Ladies of DC AU so there's a lot of character death (but it'll get better later)

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

I haven't for a while but I have, the Percy Jackson fic was a crossover with Doctor Who where Rory Williams ends up helping various Roman demigods during his two thousand years hanging around as a plastic Roman but that was just on FFN and I don't think I still have it saved. I forgot the Star Wars/MCU one (that makes 14 fandoms total, and was also only on FFN) which was Mace Windu's lightsaber poked him in the eye as he fell out the window after being zapped by Palpatine and he fell into a portal and became Nick Fury which was inspired by a conversation with my brother

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

I had a few "constructive critisim" comments that were just critisisms which is why I don't think I have anything on the FFN account anymore. I panicked.

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

I do not, smut is not my thing.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Someone asked once but I didn't hear anything after that so I don't know if they finished it or not

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

The Marvellous Ladies of DC mentioned above is a collaborative AU with @agentmarymargaretskitz

What’s your all time favourite ship?

I guess Westallen? That's the one that most commonly tends to slip in in other fics, and I do enjoy other ships featuring Iris and Barry seperately but also sometimes that just turns into poly with Iris and Barry together again

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I have had a Cynco role reversal featuring comic stuff too in the to write folder for so long that could be a long fic but keeps being put behind other things and not written so I might just stick what I have up in the AU Snippets collection

What are your writing strengths?

I have had some compliments on bits of dialogue recently which was nice

What are your writing weaknesses?

Spelling. I think I might need to work on descriptions more, I often feel like I mostly write dialogue and need more of the inbetween bits.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I think it depends? Suddenly switching languages can be quite jarring when you're reading, especially when it's to a languge you don't know and there are no translations so for something like that when the POV character is speaking in another language they're fluent in I would probably write in English and use the descriptor tag to note it's in another language, but if it's someone else speaking another language and the POV character isn't fluent I might use the jarring switch intentionally? If they understand some then you can incorporate translations into the text because they're going to be trying to translate what's being said either aloud or in their head and they probably will miss out bits of the conversation and misunderstand so having the character (and the reader) missing part of the information is kind of the point? And little bits, nicknames, the odd word, swearing in French so the pardon my French is used literally and using it to drop this other character actually speaks French too, that's fine, it's just the big paragraphs switching.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

It was a Doctor Who/Sherlock crossover (because I got into fanfiction because my friend sent me several to read) and I panicked about publishing it for months. I did not tell that friend I had published any fics.

What’s your favourite fic you’ve written?

I feel bad picking favourites, but I did enjoy writing Ghosting which is a DCTV Cisco/Hartley fic, that was for the Hartmon Halloween event and was different to what I usually write so was fun to play around with and see what works and what doesn't (and considering I started by saying "I'll do no research for this because they also don't know what's going on" I ended up reading a lot about plastering), and I had some really lovely comments on Ghosting which did all make me cry a lot.

The Milk and Sugar 'verse is possibly cheating because it's a series but I was working on that for a long time so I think I'll always have a bit of a soft spot for that one (and it gave me an excuse to read so much science, that series has sources). The Superhero in the Bath, The Night Shift, and Flash Red; Vibe Blue (all DCTV Barry/Cisco) were fun to write too, The Superhero in the Bath has one of my favourite openings, The Night Shift's literal kiss of life is probably my favourite kiss I've written (and my favourite "can I count this as a pun or not" bit), and the bread I made while writing Flash Red; Vibe Blue tasted good too, the recipe was on the yeast pot, it's my go to bread recipe now, it lives in my head. Outfits (DC, Hal/Barry/Iris) was for the DC Poly Week and was my favourite out of those prompts because it was just a little bit of fluff (fun fact about the DC Poly week, 4 out of 7 are Hal/Barry/Iris fics, if you read it as one 'verse it's snippets of their relationship in reverse order), Museum Visits (DC, gen featuring Barry, Iris, and a tiny Wally) was just short and sweet, Double Back (DCTV, gen from the Flash & Hawkgirl series which is Iris/Kendra with a side Barry/Cisco) was really fun to write (the whole series is but that fic is based on Flashback which is one of my favourite episodes) and Vibe and the Flash (DCTV, gen from the Tess Lives AU which features Barry/Iris) had a bit that wasn't planned but showed up while I was writing and I'm so glad it did (the thing those two have in common is I guess I enjoy writing Eobard Thawne being a dick), I really don't think I can pick one favourite, I think, even if there are hard points and some are from a while ago and I would probably do differently now, I've enjoyed writing everything I've written, it's why I wrote them.

Tagging @agentmarymargaretskitz, @starstruckpurpledragon, @incendiaglacies, and @squireofgeekdom if you would like?

[inspired-by-the-music]

Romantic: Junmyeon x Reader

Genre: fluff and happy endings; two literature teachers with feelings

Word Count: 2.5k

Note: y’all Suho has me feeling some kind of way & i just had this idea for this drabble (is it really a drabble? i went overboard lol) because i have been reading SO MUCH bc such is the life of an English major. so like... brace yourself for some total nerd talk? writing this was so much fun 

"Why aren't we together?" Junmyeon's gentle whisper draws your attention away from the novel you have been annotating in preparation for your Gothic Literature lecture.

How long has he been standing there? You wonder, looking up to find him sitting in the chair on the other side of your desk. A cup of coffee stands tall to the right of your mug that has long gone cold. He brought you coffee from that cafe down the street again. Raising his eyebrows, he takes a long sip of his drink-- probably green tea-- and you notice that his glass is half empty. 

Oh. He's been here for a while. 

"I'm sorry." You smile, embarrassed, while closing the book. As if they threaten to distract you from Junmyeon, you turn over your notebook to free yourself from the gaze of your scribbled handwriting. "I didn't know you came in. You should have said something sooner."

"Ah, I know better than to distract you from reading," he begins as though he hadn't done just that moments ago. Setting his cup down at his feet, he leans across your desk, takes your book into his careful hands, and grins. "Frankenstein. Again." 

Reddening at his quiet teasing, you explain, "It's for the class I'm teaching this afternoon."

He returns the book and, tapping on the title, he points out, "You didn't need to reread this. It is definitely one of your most frequent reads, so you know it like the back of your hand."

Just a few years your senior, Junmyeon is the youngest Associate Professor in the university's Literature Department. While your other superiors have taken a polite interest in your potential as the newest Assistant Professor, none are quite as interesting to talk to as Junmyeon. He is intelligent, well-spoken, and-- quite frankly-- charming. 

His charms have little to do with his handsome face, perfectly styled black hair, or impeccable wardrobe (he looked like a literature professor in an almost fictional sense); they are more like personality traits that are expressed when he brings you coffee, when his knuckles knock on your door to ask if you will proofread the draft of his dissertation as if you are an intellectual equal, when hie tilts his head and thoughtfully furrows his brow after asking your opinion on the Drama Department Productions he insists on watching at your side. 

And now-- now he expresses his charm by winking, thus wordlessly reigniting a feud that was born soon into your first meeting. While your studies focus on Gothic Literature, his are dedicated to Romantic Poetry-- the poetry that boasts about individualism, idealizes nature, and details spiritual, emotional, and physical passions. Although your thesis explored Gothic themes as an extension of those Romantic ideals, you and Junmyeon have fallen into a habit of playfully arguing as if your fields are at odds. 

"I won't apologize for having good taste. I'll stick to my Gothic horror stories." You reach to pull the book out of his reach. Holding the book safely in your lap, you bite back a mocking grin. "And you can stick to your Romantic--"

"Ah, there it is," he jabs an accusatory finger at you. "There's your air of superiority. I hate to remind you--" his smirk assures that he is all too happy to say-- "that your idol Mary Shelly and mine, Mr. Percy Bysshe Shelley, experienced the most passionate of loves. That means our areas of expertise must be somehow compatible."

Calling Mary Shelley your idol is perhaps an exaggeration, although you do admire her for writing Frankenstein, but you don't argue with Junmyeon about that. Instead, sounding very much like the youngest person in the room, you say, "I wouldn't really say that I ship Mary and Percy--" Junmyeon gasps, flattening his hand over his chest, over his beige vest. "I mean, their union was kind of scandalous. Mary was only, like, 16, and Percy's wife was pregnant--"

"It was true love!" Junmyeon claims. 

You disagree, but you don't want to dissuade him from such a harmless conviction.  You opt to joke, "Well, that's very Romantic of you." 

Junmyeon often gripes about his students' tendency to confuse romantic (themes related to love) and Romantic (a particular movement in Literature), so you expect him to glare at you. He tries to, but he quickly succumbs to the desire to laugh at your pun. 

"Okay. That was a good one."

No, you think, it wasn't. But Junmyeon has a particular interest in what you would call 'dad jokes,' so it is only fitting that he should wipe amused tears from his eyes as he recovers from his laughter. 

As you set to drinking the coffee he had been kind enough to bring for you, he asks, "Did you actually hear what I asked you earlier? Were you just stirred from your studies by the sound of my voice? Or are you just politely withholding your answer?"

"Hm?" 

He asked something? 

A faint blush dusts over the bride of his nose as his gaze flickers to your bookshelf that is overflowing with textbooks, novels, and film adaptations of select works. He studies the shelves-- wheeling his chair closer to them so he can trace his fingers along the titles-- although he already knows their contents. From the shelf, he plucks a small artificial skull, a reference to a scene from Hamlet, and he turns it over in his hands.

He is uncomfortable. Not enough to leave your office, but enough to fix his eyes on the skull to avoid your curious stare. 

It is clear that you shouldn't ask him to repeat the question, so you close your eyes and will the memory to the surface of your mind. What did he say to catch your attention? 

'Why aren't we together?'

You must have dismissed it because you didn't understand its meaning. Together? In this moment, you are. You sit together in the same space talking about things that (although matter little to the rest of the world) are important to each of you. What other togetherness could Junmyeon want? 

"I'm not trying to avoid answering," you say when the silence has endured far too long. "I just don't quite understand what you asked." 

Gingerly placing the skull back on the shelf, he turns to face you. "I asked you why we aren't together." When you blink at him, confused, his discomfort dissolves into amusement. Laughter crinkles his eyes, and he exclaims, "You really know nothing about Romance!"

You are too grateful that his moody spell has passed to take genuine offense at his remark. "I know plenty! You're just not very good at explaining what you mean." 

"I wasn't aware that I need to spell it out." His eyes glitter as they always do when he is ahead; he usually is ahead. "We understand each other. We share the same passions, the same interests, the same hobbies. Yet we aren't so similar that it's boring to spend time together; otherwise, we wouldn't have these long chats, and we wouldn't attend plays together, and we wouldn't be going to that art exhibit after classes today."

Anybody else might be unnerved by Junmyeon's habit of speaking in essays, but you embrace the challenge of following his point. Nodding him along, you quietly wait for his monologue's conclusion. You do not try to predict where his thoughts will lead. 

"We spend a lot of time together, and we enjoy that, or at least I enjoy it." 

If he would break to breathe, you would assure him that you do enjoy his company. He keeps speaking, though. 

"Often-- more often than not-- we are together. And when I went home alone last night after we left the bookstore, I wondered why we aren't together. Afraid that I might make you uncomfortable, that I might ruin our relationship as it is, I decided that I should keep that question to myself. When I saw you sitting there, so deep in thought, and beautiful, I couldn't do it, though. I couldn't bury the question. I wondered aloud why you are not my girlfriend."

As if he hasn't ended his speech by dropping a bomb, Junmyeon's eyebrows shoot up, anticipating a response. Your replies are usually swift. Most of your time is spent quietly reflecting on a variety of questions. Usually, Junmyeon's questions are mere verbalizations of matters you have already considered. Usually, your answers are mere verbalizations of previously reached conclusions. Usually, his questions do not stun you into silence. 

"Well," you stutter, and Junmyeon gawks at witnessing you jumble words for the first time. "I-- you know-- first of all-- I never imagined that someone like you would want someone like me." 

Expecting that there must be more to your perspective, Junmyeon limits his reaction to a downward jerk in the corner of his mouth. However, as he realizes that you aren't prepared to say anything else, he leans forward in his seat, lowers his eyebrows, and his typically calm voice jaggedly confesses, "I don't know what you mean. What is the difference between 'someone like you' and 'someone like me?'"

"Just look at you!" You cover your face as soon as the words have blurted out of your mouth. Keeping your hand over your eyes so you don't have to see his reaction to your outburst, you continue, "Aside from the fact that you're much more beautiful than I--"

Uncharacteristically, Junmyeon interrupts. "I disagree." 

"Wait your turn." You drop your hand to shoot him a warning glare. "You'll derail my train of thought." 

"Some trains should be derailed." He crosses his arms over his chest. "I am not more beautiful than you. Even if I were-- and I am not-- that is no reason why we shouldn't be together. Appearances shouldn't matter."

It's impossible to decide if you're blushing more because of Junmyeon's insistence that you are beautiful or because you have said something so shallow. Reaching again for his drink, he gestures for you to continue your response. 

"Um, appearances aside, you are older than me. You're smarter--"

"I disagree," he repeats shortly. A line deepens between his eyebrows. "I'll concede that I am more educated, but that does not mean that I am more intelligent."

You allow, "be that as it may, you are technically my superior. I am an Assistant Professor, and you are an Associate Professor."

Junmyeon replies, obviously disheartened by your response so far judging by the slumping of his shoulders, "There is no dating ban among faculty." 

"That's not the issue." Your face burns. "I'm just-- I'm trying to explain that we aren't together because I have never considered that you were interested in anything other than a professional acquaintanceship."

Laughing, he repeats, "Acquaintanceship." He smiles fondly while joking, "I've heard of friend-zoned, but never acquaintance-zoned." Once he is no longer amused, he admits, "I do want more than a professional acquaintanceship, and I want more than a friendship." 

As your blush deepens, he leans back into his seat, flustered. "I understand if you don't feel the same way. Take all the time you need to explore your feelings, but if you decide that you don't want me, don't let it be because of something silly like thinking you're not pretty enough or smart enough or--"

"I didn't say that I don't want you." Your argument is brief but stable. Now it is Junmyeon's turn to sit back and blink at you. "I said I don't understand why you want me. That is not the same as saying that I don't want you." You bite your tongue just short of professing, 'I have every reason to want you.' 

Understanding at last, Junmyeon closes his agape mouth. Moments pass in silence as you try to decide whose turn it is to speak. 

Junmyeon claims it is his. "I don't think I can explain it well with words, but I think-- I think I can show you over time. I think it will make more sense once I am your boyfriend." 

You are not sure what he means, and you are too struck by his stutter to press him for an elaboration. 

If you are honest, you will admit that it doesn't matter why Junmyeon wants to be together. It doesn't matter if he changes his mind first thing in the morning with the rising of the sun. This moment of being on the same page at the same time, of sharing the same gaze, is infinite. 

"I'm not expected to dress up for our date tonight, am I?" You rise to your feet, clutching your notebook in one hand and Frankenstein in the other. "I don't think I'll have time to change between class and the art exhibit."

Junmyeon beams as he stands. While sipping his green tea, he carries your coffee and walks with you to your classroom. "I think you look lovely as you are." 

He sets your drink down on your desk. Content that there are no students or other professors nearby-- cautious not because he cares who sees but because he respects your modesty-- he brushes a gentle kiss against your cheek while you are busy troubleshooting the testy projector. 

Gasping, you reach to trace your fingers against your cheek, and he laughs at your reaction to his first act of affection. "There's one reason why I am falling in love with you." He points at your growing smile, careful not to discuss intimate matters too loudly now that you aren't tucked away in your office. "I have never known anybody so expressive."

As much as you enjoy the fluttering of your heart, you are eager for Junmyeon to leave so you can finish preparing for class. Stealing a glance at your watch, you ask, "Don't you teach that Wordsworth class right about now?"

He dreamily props his head up on your desk, gushing, "How romantic-- you already know my schedule!" His playfulness quickly fades, and he strains to catch the time displayed on your wrist. "What time is it?"

"3:30."

He gasps, "I'm late!" And darts out of the room. 

Just as you are catching your breath, just as you are realizing that you are Junmyeon's girlfriend, that this otherwise boring Tuesday now marks the start of something new and exciting, his head pokes back through the doorway. "Hey, let's drive to that exhibit together, okay?"

You are about to scold him for keeping his students waiting and for distracting you from your work, but you falter at the sight of his sparkling smile. Besides, if you argue, he will stay longer; although that is exactly what you want, that is not the responsible option. You nod, "Okay. I'll see you after class."

"See ya!" He waves and sets off to his classroom two doors down, where you hear him announce to his students, "Sorry I'm late! I had romantic matters to tend to."

You can vividly imagine his clever grin as his students are split between guttural groans and pity-laughter. As you smile, you wonder when you started to fall in love with Junmyeon.

[catubarca]

Harry Potter Next Generation Headcanons

im bored. im full of emotions, and am rly missing the HP world... i just want to write down my headcannons for the next gen kiddos tbh.

please remember these are just my opinions? its okay if yours are different. im just bored and want to share my thoughts,,

Teddy Lupin

his name is Theodore Remus “Teddy” Lupin. it’s just what it is

I don’t care what JKR says, to me his name will always be Theodore

i can’t do this “Edward” stuff im so sorry,,,

h u f f l e p u f f

proper school uniform? never heard of it

messy hair, messy clothes

punk rock child

we’re talking like,,,at least two (2) lip piercings ok

absolutely terrible in herbology. do not leave this child alone in a greenhouse, bad things happen

fuckin hoards chocolate

its a problem

dating Victorie Weasley

random bursts of dancing

keeps a lock of hair pink for his mother

lives with the Potters, enjoys pretending to be Ginny to ground his siblings

“Lily, why aren’t you coming out of your room? Dinner’s ready?” “You said I’m grounded! You tell me!” “What? Oh, for the- THEODORE REMUS LUPIN-“

s m i r k s

effortlessly cool,,, but so so dorky,,, in a cool way

Victorie Weasley

ravenclaw!

looks a lot like her mother, Fleur, but inherited those Weasley freckles

a little confused a lot of the time

absolute sweet tooth (teddy abuses this fact a lot)

Mom Friend™

will help you with your homework

always got a book on her

super beautiful and like,,,, the absolute nicest person,,, but

cannot dance

like at all

adores Charms class

a softie you don’t want to cross

“I’m the oldest”

Dominique Weasley

inherited the Classic Weasley Red Hair™

idolises her Uncle Charlie

“I wanna save animals and work with cool dragons, just like Uncle Charlie does!”

Bill almost has a heart attack

always bringing stray animals home

(“is that a lizard in your pocket, Dominique?” “Yes! His name is Blob.” “You know how your father’s afraid of reptiles, sweetheart, you can’t bring it inside.”)

Gryffindor child

favourite class is definitely Care of Magical Creatures, she and Hagrid like to talk about proper care methods for rare creatures

perpetual dirt stains

BIG middle child vibes

doesn’t really label her sexuality… just kinda does what she wants rly

all the pets in Hogwarts love her

rumours are she’s got an innate, natural magical ability to make them all love her

(she feeds them under the table)

it’s a mystery

big advocate for animal rights

f e m i n i s t

willing to throw hands at all times

usually all smiles though

one of those people who use their whole bodies to laugh

kind of an accidental heartthrob

romcoms

Louis Weasley

looks the most like his mother

ravenclaw

absolutely filled with curiosity. always reading or talking or learning

random facts

(how do you even find that sort of information?

you don’t want to know)

coffee boy

sort of musically talented?

he and James Sirius preach the importance of skincare to all who will listen

secretly full of sass and dry wit

vry graceful and fluid

e y e r o l l

awkward smiles? can never smile properly in photos

on the ravenclaw quidditch team

Ravenclaw Prefect

(“You might be older, but I’m taller.” “Fuck off!”)

only watches High Quality™ tv shows/media

kind of a disaster, despite the gracefulness

Molly Weasley

Classic red hair

comes across as a bit uptight, like her father

I don’t care what you think. (She really cares what you think.)

E y e b r o w s

death glares

drinks like 5 cups of coffee in the morning

studies,,, like a lot

definitely a Gryffindor though

mom jeans

always ready to debate a topic. will destroy opponents.

has been trying to start a successful Debate Club for like 4 years now

naturally falls into the position of a group leader

would be a teacher’s pet, if she wasn’t ready At All Times™ to debate the relevancy of the course syllabus or outdated teaching methods

got into a fight with Severus Snape’s portrait in Headmistress McGonagall’s office.

(Dumbledore’s portrait was laughing, until she turned and ragged on him for a bit. Minerva thought it was absolutely hilarious, so she just let Molly go at it for a while).

full of rage towards everything, but wears a very careful mask of aloofness

to calm down, she likes painting her nails

she’s very good at it

she’s also very good at painting and art in general, weirdly enough

Lucy Weasley

G R Y F F I N D O R

adores shitty puns and has a terrible sense of humour

brown hair, not red

loves to prank people, which makes her Uncle George very proud

Percy complains about her behaviour, but makes sure he knows he’s proud too

(charming all the cauldrons in the potions classroom to scream whenever they’re stirred takes a more complex understanding of spell work than one would expect).

a pit of a punk streak

rly loves hip hop

high key drama queen

does she ever stop yelling? we’re yet to find out

average grades in terms of theory, but she’s the best in terms of applying information

especially for her pranks

has allies throughout the castle, from the portraits to the students

the bigger the prank, the better

but is a firm believer in “confuse, don’t abuse”

all her pranks are mostly harmless

is a surprising lover of older literature, like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, an influence of her sister

a bit rebellious

Fred Weasley II

name isn’t officially “the second”, but it sounds cooler

James Potter, Lucy Weasley, Molly Weasley and Fred Weasley are like the Marauders 2.0

says “squad” and “lit” unironically

niche humour

hipster vibes

avid music lover

smiley sunshine child

takes after his mother the most in looks, just like his sister

a chill type of gryffindor

plays quidditch, and is an excellent chaser, just like his mother

the absolute undisputed King™ of puppy-dog eyes

just,,,, beautiful

the True teacher’s pet

hands in his work on time,, asks lots of questions,,, likes helping students understand their work,, what a boy

can hella nyoom

runs so fast

look at him go

as you might expect, loves a good prank. always down for a laugh

Roxanne Weasley

Gryffindor and pROUD

absolute Queen tbh

was definitely Head Prefect or Gryffindor Prefect at some point

loved by the school

absolute legend

G I R L   P O W E R

infectious laughter

has a soft spot for Louis Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy

these poor disaster children,,,, they need a Mother

M O M

big mom vibes

mothers the hell out of all the first years

a feminist through and through

can be found nodding aggressively to Molly Weasley’s semi-deranged, furious ranting

YAAAASS

loves slang. uses so much slang. always up to date with trends and memes

has all the gossip

becomes a mess around pretty girls

absolute blushing, stuttering disaster around cute girls oh my god

her eye make-up game is killer

sparkly

Distinguished Lesbian

Rosie Weasley

did someone say Weasley™?

red hair and freckles and curls oh my

on the autism spectrum, has trouble socialising sometimes

hella passionate about stuff

hangs out with Scorpius and Albus, the Golden Trio 2.0

f em ini st

her jokes are the best. high quality sense of humour.

Ravenclaw

likes to read. it’s quiet in the school library, which is nice.

abysmal at herbology

surprisingly good at Care of Magical Creatures though? Animals are just,,, so much easier to deal with

overall, really good grades though

bit of a silent type, but she’s actually a riot to hang out with

actually pretty good at quidditch? She’s not on the team, and she’s not super interested in playing, but?? She’s not bad??

She can land a solid hit with a beater’s bat

(eyes you judgementally over the top of a book)

dry wit humour

will throw hands over chess

Hugo Weasley

hufflepuff

unbeatable at chess, like his dad

a lost puppy

someone please help this child

softie

kind of low-key emotional

so supportive!! and loyal!! high-key best friend material

foodie. loves food. please feed him.

takes a bit more after his dad appearance wise

loves to cook. spends lots of time with grandma Molly and his dad in the kitchen

Professor Longbottom is his favourite professor, because he’s more chilled and laidback.

other professors and classes fill him with Distress™

loves astronomy too

maths whizz, so good at arithmancy

(“uh, actually-“)

a little bossy, like his mother

is trying so hard

maybe a little too hard

a bit insecure and nervous, but so soft

please treat this child carefully and with love

James Sirius Potter

Gryffindor

L O U D

a fucking disaster child

what’d you expect, putting “James” and “Sirius” together?

DRAMATIC GASPING

flails his hands around when he talks

s t r u t s

bisexual mess, had a crush on both the Longbottom children at some point

is better than you at everything

including being a different gender

fuck you that’s why

so pretty

he’s so pretty

is thIS CHILD EVER NOT LAUGHING AT SOMETHING OH My god

laughs at everything

all the time

always

high-key emotional

badly timed finger guns

looks like a model in photos? wtf?

gets invited to Girls Nights™

wears nail polish and makeup

loves to yell at people about gender roles and defying stereotypes

TEA SIS

not on the quidditch team surprisingly enough, even though he’s pretty good

prefers to be in the stands, doing A+ commentary on the games

if he can get Fred to stop mid-air due to unbearable, suffocating laughter at least once a game it’s a win in his books

has it OUT for the hufflepuff quidditch team and no one knows why??

definitely makes puns on his name

it drives everyone insane

harry always replies he’s just making his namesake proud

that also drives everyone insane

smug lil shit

Albus Severus Potter

“It’s just Al.”

S L Y T H E R I N

will always find a way to get what he wants, eventually

“dad, why did you name me this way?”

unimpressed

sigh

hella smart. is topping at least five classes

Aunt Hermione is his favourite. She’s the fucking Mistress of Magic! All that power, the ability to make change and improve the Magical World as a whole-

sass master

the reason headmistress mcgonagall keeps a bottle of scotch under her desk at all times

the only potter child to inherit The Eyes™

absolute insomniac

kind of emo, but turns into a fucking softie around Scorpius Malfoy it’s hilarious

adverse to violence. prefers a verbal beatdown method

really tall? despite having shorties for parents??? no one saw it coming

(especially not Teddy. He’s always scared of losing his last few inches of height)

Functional Gay

he’s on the slytherin quidditch team, as a seeker

Lily Luna Potter

Gryffindor

FEMINIST

do not mess with lily luna potter

she may seem cute and sweet, but she will destroy you

inherited her father’s black hair

disaster lesbian

transfiguration is her favourite subject, by far

has no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life.

Existential Crisis Father-Daughter Bonding Time™

do you ever sleep?

takes after Ginny the most in personality

also, kind of the most like James Fleamont Potter in personality, too?

Loves to help her brother out with pranks, laughs at him when he gets caught and she gets away with it

The only one of the Potter Children who hasn’t got into a fight with Severus Snape’s portrait

because she just ignores him instead

loves talking to the portraits around the castle

Super good at Quidditch, is on the team as a Chaser

Quidditch Captain at some point

adores Hagrid, but who out of the Potter children doesn’t?

Idolises Minerva McGonagall

just as oblivious as her father

Scorpius Malfoy

Actually in Ravenclaw, not Slytherin, much to many people’s surprise

abSOLUTE DADDY’S BOY

super close with his dad

Draco is just so supportive of like everything he does (unlike his father)

classic blonde malfoy looks

actually really funny?

a cuddler. loves hugs. always leeching warmth off of someone

he and Rosie sometimes finger-tip-touch which is their version of a hug, because he know’s she’s not super comfortable with touch

was basically adopted by the Weasley’s and Potter’s

James Sirius will murder for this child

booknerd, always rambling to Al and Rosie about new books coming out he’s interested in reading.

has had a crush on Albus Potter since like 1st year

always worried about making his dad proud, and keeping up the Malfoy name

sweet tooth

he’s just,, soft. just a warm, happy child. he wants love, and affection. someone tell him he’s doing okay, please.

needs,,, validation,,,

he’ll tell you out loud that he has no favourite aunts or uncles, but he secretly really likes spending time with his Uncle Ron

they had a talk, once, in like the middle of the night at a sleepover with Rosie and Al, about feeling insecure in comparison to others, and learning to be proud of yourself for your achievements

there were a few tears, but it was nice

Ron was actually the third person he told, besides his dad and Rosie, about having a crush on Al

openly a disaster romantic. trash taste in romance novels.

always welcome in the Potter-Weasley households