#reincarnating to your past is certainly something else

[meekmedea]

i’m obsessed with you presidential run post!

especially the part of hilarius winning and then in turn immediately trying to recruit coriolanus and clemmie.

i have this imagine in my head where he invites them both to the heavensbee mansion for dinner and it’s so elaborate (and it’s literally just for the three of them) and he’s like “so. you may be wondering why i have called you all hear today”

“hilarius it’s just the three of us. sit down.” -clemensia

“i have an important proposal.”

“we know we can’t handle being the president on your own, heavensbee.” -coriolanus

OMG I'm glad you liked - it was your poll that spawned the post!

AKGHKH the dinner! Hilarius attempting for professionalism (Clemmie and Coriolanus aren't having it).

ahh now I've got some more thoughts.... heh.

`

The Dinner

Let's face it, there's no way they don't both say yes. For completely different reasons though.

Coriolanus -> for political reasons + spending time with Clemmie

Clemensia -> purely to keep Coriolanus in check

Hilarius counts the dinner as a success

`

The school year under Student Council President Hilarius Heavensbee (aka the year that things got DONE)

People have quickly figured out that if you want things done - go to Clemmie or Coryo. They WILL get you results quickly. If you go to Hilarius, there's a slight delay (+ he makes you go look for those 2 anyways)

Inadvertently, 2 factions have been created. Neither faction head has realized this. Yet.

Eventually the tension reaches Clemmie and Coryo. "What do you mean we can't fund [insert thing A]?" / "Because we have to do [insert thing B] first!"

Felix sneakily suggests they depose the other faction head (Coryo), Clemmie reluctantly turns the offer down because she's not breaking the rules!! She's going to get her way and nobody will dare to say that she's done some underhanded means to get it.

They force have Hilarius to make the final decision. (The rest of the student council fears taking a side)

Hilarius: I recruited you two so I don't have to make decisions! Why am I being forced to make decisions! (Secretly he fears them too - being stuck in a debate between them isn't for the weak of heart)

Hilarius probably does make the two of them work together for something - "To show that the student council is united on all fronts," - Hilarius, probably.

Once they figure out a rhythm, things are relatively smooth sailing, with occasional squabbles.

Hilarius goes down in Academy history as THE most successful student council president.

[sh1-n0bu]

dan heng, Dan heng IL (hsr, romantic)

Dan heng received a mysterious mail. The letter was cased in a beautiful elegant white and gold envelope. The envelope is decorated with small real golden roses and gold stripes decorating the sides of the envelope. The effort can be seen on the envelope alone about how.. How much emotion is put into this letter.

The letter itself is nothing short of elegance, the hand writing is.. Uniquely familiar to dan heng for some reason. But he couldn't tell why. The letter was unsigned and it is fully unknown who the sender is and how it arrived here.

My dearest dragon,

I wish to be able to stand by your side.. Though you may not remember me, no, i know that you don't remember be, but alas i am indeed was once, and is still, you, your past self's, imbibitor lunae's husband. His "mate" If you will.

My heart broke when i heard the news that he was sent to the shackling prison for a forced rebirth. And it broke even more when i heard that he, well, you, will be banished from the luofu. It has been decades, yet i still wish to be able to see you again. To be able to hold my, was once, lover again.

You don't know how happy- no, ecstatic i was when i accidentally saw you in the devine commission. You looked different, but also the same at the same time. I know it's you, dan feng. We were once, and is still bonded. I wanted to approach you, to hug you, to hold you again. But i hesitated, fearing that i might just be hallucinating. Or that you might no even remember me.

The latter was confirmed when you just asked me for directions, seemingly not recognizing who i am. It broke me deeply, but i do not wish to bring my burdens of the past over to you.

Therefore with this letter, this will be my final and last words dedicated to you. Dedicated to my, was once, lover.

my most beautiful sun.. I wish to be able to hold you again.

𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜! 𝙣𝙤𝙗𝙪’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚!

to: dan heng from honkai star rail

the events at the xianzhou luofu was certainly draining to the astral express crew. if not, more so to certain someone of the crew than the rest simply because it brought back so many old and unfamiliar memories to him. unfamiliar memories, feelings and emotions rushing through him with so much vigor, ones that doesn’t even belonged to him but to someone else entirely. so it would be safe to say that dan heng wanted nothing to do with his past reincarnation and his feelings and memories.

but you can’t just get what you wish for, right?

even after coming back to the familiar warmth of the express and its surroundings, accompanied by the feeling of safety his companions bring, dan heng was still restless. there was this… odd feeling inside him. as if something had been awakened and was begging to be let out for an inkling of a moment ever since he asked a stranger with an eerily familiar face about directions on the xianzhou.

he tried to escape the weird feeling of deja vu by sleeping yet it only served to bring more torment rather than rest that he so desperately seek. in his dreams, he would see his past self — dan feng, with the old familiar faces that he always sees.

there’s the foxian woman — bright, cheerful and full of life — jumping around, giggling at things and bringing forth joy to the group of five. there’s the light blue haired woman, whom he later on recognized as jingliu — cold as the element she wields and yet with a certain hint of warmth alongside it, sipping on wine from the small jade cup. there’s the arrogant blacksmith, yingxing and the former self of blade before he was tainted by mara — laughing along with his friends, pointing a few fingers and saying a joke. there’s jing yuan — younger, more wild, rebellious and with a certain hints of cockiness that his current jaded self lacked.

and then there’s dan feng, his past reincarnation, the one who brought this suffering and pain onto him, the one who is refusing to let him live on, the one who is so cold and cruel and… huh? was he mistaken when counting? why had this group went from 5 to 6? who was this new face amongst the group?

this new face that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere in his dreams, or was it memories?, was kind and gentle yet carrying a hint of strength under it. seemingly a simple man at first glance but proving himself to be more with the way he carried himself. elegant, regal yet so humane. this new man approached dan feng, greeting his fellow friends and comrades with a few jokes and podding here and there as he reaches the former high elder. but when reaching the high elder, the two shared a kiss. the vidyadhara visibly softening, teal eyes staring at the man with hearts in his eyes as his tail wraps around the man’s ankle possessively.

ah, that explains it. they were lovers. or in vidyadhara terms, in dan feng’s eyes, his mate. his other half. the one he promised himself and his life to for the rest of his life. the soft teal colored mark of a dragon on the back of the man’s neck proved it.

seeing them, dan heng felt an odd emotion swirling in his chest. was he… jealous? but how could be jealous when he was dan heng and not his past self? he was dan heng, not dan feng and that man was not his mate. yet he still felt it. that annoying green monster swirling in his chest and refusing to leave. but his jealousy was at least slightly explained when he woke up that morning, with the strange letter on top of his currently reading book.

teal eyes skimming through the letter, taking in every word and syllable, rereading it over and over again, did he come to a conclusion. sudden and unexpected but the astral expressers accepted and supported his decision nonetheless.

“himeko, i need to visit the luofu for… a reason. there’s someone i would like to meet. again”

with that, the dragon set out to reunite with his husband. with his mate. just a single moment to clarify the person’s words on the letter — was what he was lying to himself about. when in truth, he knew that there was more to it. the dragon wanted to meet his husband again. the dragon wished to hold his mate again. dan heng, wanted to reunite with his lover again.

“and this time, nothing will tear us apart”

[ofoceansandtombsanew]

Of All Things, I Became an Oceanid

You always imagined that if you woke up in the world of Genshin, the possibilities of being a Visionless wielder of elements and a slew of romantic shenanigans would lie in your wake. But when you instead find yourself in the body of an Oceanid with romance likely out of the question, your only conclusion is that the gods of reincarnation isekai hate your guts.

cw. you're an oceanid

pairing. navia x reader, kaeya x reader, childe x reader (separate)

notes. don't feel like being an oceanid today? well go ahead and go to the series masterlist and see what your life could be if you were something else in genshin.

So you're an Oceanid now.

You suppose there are worse things you could have turned into. God, imagine if you turned into a hilichurl or something like that. Yeah, you'll take being a graceful water being over a hilichurl any day.

You can talk, you can wield Hydro and you can go literally anywhere you want as long as water is present. It's honestly not that bad of a deal, you can be Mx. Worldwide if you so desire it.

As for finding company with your fellow lochfolk? That's not really much an option, all things considered. As it stands now, Oceanids follow one simple rule.

You stay in your lake, they stay in theirs and you call it a day.

Kaeya

Considering Springvale's small pond is already taken, you decide to call dibs on Starfell Lake since after Rhodeia made even the waters of the Dawn Winery bitter, you figured it would be better to try a source lake not connected to her spot in Liyue

To be honest when it came to being an Oceanid, you figured you didn't really need to become the companion of any of the characters

You're more than content to stay in your lake and mind your business. But truthfully, it does get boring, so when you saw Kaeya's reflection peering into your waters, you popped your head up to say hi almost instinctively

Apart from a brief look of surprise, that's the extent of your attempt to seem regal and mysterious in front of the Calvary Captain

"A water faerie so far from Fontaine? I can't believe my eye; this is the certainly the last thing I was expecting to see while out on a stroll."

It's not everyday you meet something so exciting and considering what happened after encountering the Traveler and Paimon, Kaeya decides to listen to his instincts that there'll be a lot to come from interacting with you

Because of this, Kaeya is a frequent visitor to your lake besides the people who occasionally stop by to clean the statue of the Seven

You ask him about the daily gossip of Mondstadt and he asks you about the life of being a water faerie, a fair trade even if most of your information is based on your memory of the Genshin wiki page and the limited personal experience you have

Kaeya's made a joke about how your meeting is something one might read in a romance novel, much to your embarrassment

Is he serious or no?

It's not like there haven't been any Human/Oceanid relationships in this game so it isn't completely out of the ordinary when you think about it...

At the same time though, you don't want to look super eager

One particular night, a long silence fell over you both when you asked him about his family. He tells you a bit about his past, about being adopted into the Ragnvindr family and his present less than savory relationship with Diluc

You ask if he's lonely to which he asks in return "do I seem lonely?" yet there is no bite in his tone nor is there any sarcasm either. his gaze is thoughtful but miles away from your lake

"Yes" are the words on your non-existent tongue yet you can't bring yourself to say it, all while a warm hand brushes against your watery cheek much too quickly

Navia

Being an Oceanid in Fontaine pre-Neuvillette's judgement was pretty much impossible, thankfully you airdropped into Teyvat after that deciding to call an area near Poisson your home

As to how you met Navia, you heard her crying by the sea as she does sometimes after getting new flowers for the grave of her father and much like the Spring Faerie of Springvale, you answered the call and swam to the surface

She thought maybe you were Melus or Silver, or maybe some other lost soul of Poisson. You quickly let her know that wasn't actually the case, much to Navia's initial disappointment

But Navia is an optimist, first and foremost. So she won't let the reality of the situation get her down and would ask you a bunch of questions. Afterall, Oceanids are thought to be practically extinct in Fontaine after Egeria's death so she doesn't want to waste the opportunity to learn more about you

And boy do her questions range from genuinely thought provoking to so silly it leaves you both in a fit of laughter

It's a first meeting that does Navia good, there she was so sad and then you came and turned the entire situation inside out. She promises to make you macarons as thanks, if lochfolk can even eat

Truthfully, you don't know if you can either. It's not like it's necessary to eat as you are now but fuck it you want to find out for yourself

Navia is also quick to invite you live in the waters of Poisson in general, or at least settle in if you ever want to visit and see the town for yourself

You take her up on the offer to have, if anything, a change of scenery and to see more people out and about than you normally would

You truthfully enjoy a nice yap session with Navia, it's never boring when she's around even if the most you're doing is watching her dish out orders from your comfortable pond in Poisson

But the best hangout sessions you have are when you are a good distance from the place and she can chat with you freely. She'll bring a basket of snacks, a blanket to sit on and you'll chat the day away

Sometimes she'll even bring a sketchbook and attempt to draw your portrait. Navia isn't the best artist but you enjoy looking at her artwork nonetheless

A small secret of her heart though is that Navia is quite sure that as a young girl she dreamed of something like this. Meeting an Oceanid by lakeside and falling in love before willingly being taken into the depths of Fontaine to eternally perform a watery dance of love

Maybe she can't do some of those things as the boss of Spina di Rosula, but maybe the former... maybe she's just been reading too many romance novels

Childe

When it comes to Childe, you truly lucked out in becoming an Oceanid when you lost the isekai 50/50. Because if you were something couldn't talk like a Thunder Manifestation or a Geovishap... you'd be assed out

For he, Tartaglia, is constantly finding ways to become stronger and that includes fighting mythical beings he comes across

But hey, Childe is no barbarian. Anything that can talk and beg for its life, for the most part, isn't a viable option for honing his skills

So congratulations, you narrowly avoided becoming a hashtag in someone's twitter bio twice in a row

Childe quickly laughs off your near brush with death and he dodges the spout of water you send his way. Sadly, he's somewhat charming when he says "come on, in my defense I didn't think you had any real intelligence! Now that I know we can easily become buddies, I'm sure!"

Maybe it's guilt (you doubt it), maybe it's a bit of youthful wonder permeating his soul (you're sure it's this), but he makes it a point to visit you while he is in Fontaine

Yeah, you lost another 50/50 by being airdropped into Fontaine during its Archon Quest but miraculously the water isn't painful. Maybe it's because you're technically not from this world and it grants you some sort of immunity? You're not sure

You are sure of, however, the fact that Childe comes to visit you like he gets paid for it

Apparently he wants to chat it up with you so he has plenty of interesting stories for his younger siblings when he visits them next time he is in his homeland

You sadly have a soft spot for it seems for war criminals that also happen to be family-oriented so you indulge him begrudgingly despite the rocky start to your friendship

When he gets arrested, you don't see him for a while and you admittedly grow worried when he doesn't show up even beyond the crisis of the prophecy coming to fruition but isn't like you can just discreetly find a fatuus in a city, let alone a Harbinger

Childe comes to see you soon enough though when he's recovered a substantial amount (barely any at all)

He laughs at you worriedly berate him for being so careless. "I just had to make sure my favorite Oceanid didn't miss me too much, that's all"

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS I ADORE YOUR WRITING!!!

“I need you, why do you always leave me?” With Narinder from Cotl with a reincarnated mortal s/o who always dies young? I’m such a sucker for this kind of troupe oh my lawd

Thank you so much and have a wonderful day/night!

Ong this trope is so good it hurts </3

Request more angst/horror prompts here!

.......

"Lamb, you must perform the resurrection ritual again."

"Narinder, it's barely been two days.." With a weary sigh, the sheep closed their gospel book, already becoming irritated with their former master's blunt request. "I may have taken your role as death, but even I have my limits. I can't just do that ritual whenev-"

"I had to bury my spouse yet again."

".....oh." A small pit in formed in their stomach, knowing exactly who he was talking about. "Again? What happened this time?"

"Some fool thought it would be funny to dare [y/n] to eat a deadly dish...and they accepted it, only to die puking their guts out." Narinder huffed, although deep inside it killed him to know that your death this time around was entirely avoidable.

He never thought he'd ever care for a mortal..much less one of Lamb's first followers, who somehow kept dying young and became the first one they resurrected.

Your existence has become a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth, and he wondered when they'll finally accept that you're simply not meant to live a prolonged life.

However, now that he himself was in the cult and wedded to you...he saw things differently. From a new perspective.

After you died once right before his very eyes--and not through the Red Crown--he suddenly understood that same grief Lamb endured ugh after they killed one of their spouses, who became mind-controlled by Shamura.

He thought of them as weak.

But not anymore.

Not when it became his turn to suffer in a similar fashion, counting the hours (or days, even) until Lamb could resurrect you.

He lost count of how many times you've died since then, although he knows you aren't trying to kill yourself on purpose. You were very "accident-prone" and sometimes did stupid things that you shouldn't have---such as accepting a dare to eat a "deadly dish" stew.

You might've been a fool for that, but he still loved you.

Unfortunately, not even the golden skull necklace Lamb gifted you provided any protection from death....besides old age, of course.

At least Narinder knew you'd never pass away naturally, but knowing it couldn't spare you from other causes didn't make him feel any better.

"Fine..I will do the resurrection at dawn." Lamb finally caved, understanding how much you truly meant to him. "But you must talk to [y/n] about this. With each rebirth, they slowly forget more and more of their past lives."

"....is that so?" The black feline raised an eyebrow, surprised.

This was new information to him--although he never exactly had the chance to revive somebody over and over, except for his former vessel whenever they foolishly perished during a crusade.

But they were very different.

They were nigh-immortal...you weren't.

"First they forgot how they previously died, then they forgot which shelter they slept it, and then they forgot how to cook their favorite meal...you see where I'm going with this?"

He didn't speak, afraid that his former vessel was correct. But it's not something he wanted to think about at all...even though it's certainly possible.

Suddenly he was beginning to realize the repercussions of the same doctrine that got him exiled over a millennia ago..

"I can't watch over them all the time..as their spouse you're gonna have to step it up, or else...they might-"

"Just do the ritual, please.."

Lamb's ears flicked up with surprise, never expecting Narinder to grovel at their podium. The only other time he acted this way was when he begged them to kill him instead of sparing his life, although it didn't do him much good as they chose mercy.

But this time, they felt a bit of pity for him.

He must truly care about you.

They simply nodded. "I will need more bones."

.........

You found yourself back in a familiar place:

Floating over a glowing red sigil, followers in hoods kneeling all around you, Lamb's eyes glowing with a powerful energy....and you expelling ichor from your body in a rather disgusting display.

You never did get used to puking out this black magical goop.

But once you landed on the floorboards of the temple, you sighed in relief, wiping your mouth on your sleeve before gazing at everyone surrounding you.

"So...what have I missed?"

A few of them uncovered their hoods and greeted you, happy to see you return to the land of the living. Others kept their distance, looking rather annoyed that Lamb decided to resurrect you for the umpteenth time.

One, however, stood there motionless, refusing to remove his own hood.

You looked to him, watching as he approached you, being unsure of his intentions. Although judging from the way other followers hastily moved out of his way...this person must have held great influence over them.

The fact that he had three glowing red eyes was most alluring.

Have you met him before?

Before you could ask him who he was, he suddenly grabbed you by the wrist. "H-Hey! Ouch!" You winced, feeling his claws slightly digging into you as he began dragging you out of the temple.

"Where are you taking me??"

"....stop talking."

His voice was low and quiet, and also....sad?

You were immensely confused by this mystery follower's behavior, especially as he led you to his hut--one that was more decorative than the standard shelters on the other side of the cult grounds.

While you remained silent, you couldn't help being bedazzled by the outside of it, although you didn't have time to really get a good look around the inside.

Because the next thing you knew...

You were pushed onto the bed, with him crawling onto it and laying beside you. Then he uncovered his hood, two long cat ears flicking upwards as his eyes met yours for a brief moment.

And in that split second, you swore they were filled to the brim with tears.

You blinked, afraid to speak considering how angry he sounded just moments ago, but you were even more perplexed when he flopped onto your chest. From his throat, a purring sound rumbled, and you could feel it throughout your entire body....and in your very soul.

"Please..don't do this to me..." His ears flattened.

"Do....what?" Reaching down, you awkwardly placed a hand on his head, slowly petting his fur and hoping it provided him some comfort. "I don't know what's wrong, but..I hope this is okay."

Your uncertain tone only further devastated Narinder. This was exactly how you'd comfort him after his nightmares. He only ever allowed you to see him in such moments of vulnerability, so you never needed to ask for his permission. You would simply do it.

Had you forgotten that, too?

Was that damned Lamb right after all?

Were you forgetting.....him?

"I need you, why do you always leave me?" He mumbled, heartbroken as the tears slid down his cheeks, droplets splattering onto the symbol adorning your ragged shirt. "With each new life, I-I'm...losing more and more of you, [y/n]. I don't know if you are cursed or if it's fate deciding to test me....o-or maybe Lamb's followers wish to see me suffer....but...I'm so tired of watching you die and being unable to do anything about it. I've taken you for granted.."

"................."

".....forget it. You don't even know what day of the week it is..why do I bother trying?" With a sniffle, he reluctantly removed himself from your arms, believing he blew his last chance to save your memories..

Now you were acting like a total stranger to him, and it honestly felt as though you had already died before you even left the temple.

Maybe this was a sign that he needed to stop and move on.

Maybe he simply wasn't destined for love.

Maybe this was karma for all the atrocities committed in his name.

Maybe the next time you perished, no matter the reason, he'll-

"It's easy to forget things like that, Nari...but how could I ever forget the love of my life?"

Blinking through his tears, Narinder felt his breath hitch when your hand gently grasped his own. He looked back at you with astonishment, before glancing down at the matching rings that still adorned your fingers.

Then he gazed into your eyes, seeing your smile.

"You..remember me?"

"Of course I do, you silly kit---woah!!" You were suddenly tackled back onto the bed by your husband, feeling him nuzzling up to you and purring even louder than before.

But you simply giggled and held him closely, petting his fur in a comforting way. "I'm sorry for scaring you...it takes a while for all my memories to come back. D-Did I do anything dumb last time?"

"Just...promise me you'll never accept a dare from anybody again." He huffed, trying to hide the fact he was still sniveling like a helpless kitten.

"Alright." You sighed. "I promise to be more careful. I'll try harder to watch my back, too."

"Do you swear it?"

"...I swear it."

"Good."

[roguelov]

Reader is best friends with Rose Walker and is with her during the dolls house plot (rather than Lyta) and Matthew accidentally spills the beans that the reader is Dreams soulmate

Oh my poor heart loves soulmate tropes

You were out on the beach with Rose and Hal, handing out ‘have you seen me’ flyers to anyone who would take one. You glanced around, trying to spot Rose. One moment she was by your side, the next she disappeared. Luckily and thankfully, you found her. But, your eyebrows furrowed together. Rose was crouched down speaking to a bird. You strolled over. At first, you were trying to be sneaky, however, you remembered what Rose told you.

Dream of the Endless, The Dreaming, Rogue Nightmare, Dream Vortex, and lastly a raven.

“So, is this Matthew?” You asked, popping up behind the pair.

Rose leapt up and the raven squawked out in surprise.

Rose gasped, “(Y/N)!”

“Fuck! You can’t do stuff like that,” the raven, Matthew, shouted. His feather ruffled in annoyance.

Your eyebrows shot up, but you quickly laughed. There really was a talking raven. You knelt down to Matthew, and smiled warmly. “Sorry.”

Matthew’s eyes flickered between you and Rose. His eyes connected with Rose and silently asked ‘you told?’

Rose nodded.

Standing up, you looked up to Rose. “So, what’s the problem?”

“Oh, uh, nothing. Matthew here was just talking about how Dream could help. When I fall asleep we’re going to try to find Jed in the Dreaming,” she explained.

You let out a low impressed whistle. “Really? God, I still can’t wrap my head around all of this. How are you doing it?”

Rose sighed, “Honestly, so much weird stuff has happened in the last month this feels like nothing.”

You chuckled.

“You know you could join them,” Matthew suggested.

You pointed at yourself, “Me? Why would I?”

“I’m sure Dream would love it.”

You raised an eyebrow. “And why is that? He doesn’t know me.” I certainly haven’t met this Dream Lord, you thought.

“Well, you’re his soulmate,” Matthew explained matter-of-factly. “I know he wants to -“

“Whoa, hold up. I’m his soulmate.”

Soulmates exist?

Matthew froze. Wait. Shit. He wasn’t supposed to say anything. “I - I, uh, I mean you’re not not his soulmate, you’re someone close to Rose so he also is interested in meeting you and nothing else,” he nervously rambled.

Definitely not his reincarnated love, he thought.

You squinted your eyes at the raven, and clicked your tongue. Turning, you addressed Rose. “Rose, this is your decision. If you want me there, then I’ll come.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off of Matthew for a moment. Was it true? You don’t seem bothered or interested. Maybe, you simply didn’t believe the talking raven. Yet, she knew something. She remembered the sly questions the Dream Lord asked about you, and he saw how his eyes lingered on you when they walked past you in your dream.

She finally looked at you. A smile slowly pulled on her lips. “I want you there.”

“Then I’ll be there for you.” You smiled in return.

[howtodrawyourdragon]

In A Different Form

Chapter 2 - Provide

Summary: Set long after THW, the dragons never left. A Reincarnation AU. In his old age, the Night Fury wants to be left alone, but that doesn't stop a youngster from seeking him out.

Warnings: /

Rating: Teen and Up

Words: 1 330

Fandom: How to Train Your Dragon

Characters: Hiccup, Toothless

Pairing: Toothcup

Author's Notes: I just headcanon Toothless as a grump when he's this old and without Hiccup. He feels like he would just be a grump at that age.

Enjoy!

-XOXOX-

There’s a routine to the Night Fury’s night that he prefers to go completely uninterrupted. He had two lifetimes of surprises, raised a litter of triplets in one, the rest of his he wants to be predictable and peaceful.

He wakes up as the sun sets, though there is no literal day and night cycle down here in the Birthplace, the place he retreated to after his Human’s death. Since then, he has gotten used to a nocturnal life again. The Day was for Him.

Curled up on top of a nest made from soft plant matter gathered from the area, he wakes up. He’s old, he needs the cushioning now. When he stretches every inch of him, there are several pops and a wing springs back into place. Being as old as he is has its advantages, such as the respect he gets from most other dragons, but then there are also disadvantages such as this. His power and mind are still very much there, but his body is worn.

Sauntering out of his den with the occasional bone on the ground, he greets the outside world. The luminous stones who provide this area with light are dim, making it almost as dark as the real night would be.

The mouth of his cave leads him into a rather sizeable clearing. There are rocks, there is a line of trees and bushes, soft grass makes up the ground and is also most of what his bed is made out of. It looks like the forests from up top on the surface yet not, there is a somewhat alien quality to them. Or that is certainly what he thought when he first moved down here so long ago.

The Night Fury takes a cautious look around, almost expecting to see that runt of a dragon from the night before, he had a feeling he might be stubborn enough to show up again. Instead, he’s nowhere to be found and his agitation with life in general alleviates a little. The Night Fury stretches his wings again as wide as they can go now that he’s outside. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, he walks his usual path down to the creek.

He takes this path every single night, he has for years and years and years. By now, there is a perfectly Night Fury-sized trail that takes him right to his personal waterway.

Arriving there, he bends down to quench his thrist and wet his throat. This creek runs through a little serene clearing with a short rock wall to his right. Just like everywhere else in the biome he decided to live in, the green is luscious and thick. This one, just barely not a river, gently falls from the rock wall and flows past him.

When a twig seems to snap under the weight of something, he looks up and scans his surroundings. Age has meant nothing to his senses yet.

Eyes narrowed, he looks around before spotting two eyes staring at him from within the coverage of trees and bushes on the other side of the flowing water. Their owner blends in perfectly with the darkness he hides in. He recognizes that green color, how could he forget? They look so much like that meaningful green from his memory.

The Runt from the night before has returned after all.

The Night Fury growls in his direction, though he should’ve known by now that he’s been caught. He makes it known just how unwelcome the other is. Low to the ground and eyes narrow, the Runt slinks away.

His growling ceases and he straightens. Annoyance fills him again. He likes his days to go by undisturbed and this young Night Fury is already promising to be a bother. Still, he’ll have to try. With a leap and a flap of his wings, he climbs up on the rock wall and makes way to his usual hunting ground.

-XOXOX-

Since the loss of his tailfin, his Human took care of him for as long as he could. He made him prosthetic replacements that were almost as good as his original, he helped him steer it and the dragon always prefered flying together over flying alone. Even when he gave him the option to, all the Night Fury wanted was him. There was always something about the two of them in the air together that just felt perfect.

Sometimes, it was as though they became one living, breathing being. A connection he has never felt with another since.

Their entire life together, they were partners and he made his replacements. Up until the very last one the human ever made for him. His Human had hoped it would last him for a long time, so that he would continue to soar through the sky for the both of them long after he was gone.

It was the best one he ever made, it lasted the Night Fury for many years before it finally broke and then there was no one to fix it for him.

Since then, the Night Fury has had to adjust to hunting alone.

From the top of a cliff, he watches. He stares down into the depths of a deep pool of water. It is almost perfectly circular and so deep he can’t even see the bottom, there is just darkness. In his younger days, he probably would’ve tried to see what was on the bottom and he would most likely be urged by a certain someone’s curiosity.

Neither of them had many good experiences with water, but down in the Birthplace, where everything is just a little bit strange, his Human would’ve been curious enough to risk it.

He has a daughter somewhere who shares that trait with him.

The Night Fury stares down into the impossible body of water and spots a school of fish nearby. Without making a sound, without even disturbing the crumbling edge of the cliff he lurks from, he makes his move.

Or he would’ve, if the Runt didn’t swoop in to catch some of those fish for himself, scaring the rest of them away to the depths. He growls as he watches the young annoyance. Either he’s trying to get under his skin or he’s bold enough to do something even stupider and that is woo the older one.

The Runt glides upwards, claws of his left foreleg streaking across the water before his wings flap to get him the rest of the way up. He performs a showy loop and a roll before veering off towards the cliff and landing with a bounce.

A fish head and a couple of tails poking out between his teeth, he watches his elder as he growls at him, disapproving of his interruption. Foolishly he dares closer and the Night Fury wonders why he just won’t take a hint. When he’s in clawing distance, he lowers his head and finishes what the other perceives as an insult by offering him the fish he caught.

With a bark and a swipe of his claws, he lashes out. The younger Fury jumps away, startled, but unscathed. He’s annoying, but there’s no reason to hurt him. Turning his back towards him, the Runt spreads his wings and quickly takes off. Once more, the Night Fury watches that left hind leg that seems to keep catching him off guard for a second time. He snorts disapprovingly in his direction, then he looks down at the fish.

It wasn’t meant as an insult, he knows that. The young fool is absolutely trying to offer himself up as a mate by showing just how well he can provide for the other in his old age. If he meant to insult him, he would’ve done something very different that does not involve timidly giving his catch.

Still, whatever his intention, he knocks the fish right over the cliff and back into the water, even though the entire pile is dead.

[zorosdimples]

tell me which of your faves sees those moles and remarks that those places are where they must’ve kissed you in a past life 🎤 hehe

ajax ahahahhhh hm… my more romantic faves make the remark unprompted. it likely comes up when i say something negative about my moles; they insist on worshipping and comforting me.

zoro isn’t familiar with the concept until i mention it to him offhandedly (i hc that he has moles, too). initially, he scowls and tsks at my words; he’s familiar with reincarnation and past lives, but he has never been religious, and isn’t one to believe in myths.

but the more he thinks about someone else’s lips mapping every sliver of skin on my body, it makes his jaw tick. he’s not well-acquainted with jealousy—it sits bitterly on his tongue. and he certainly doesn’t want to imagine anyone’s lips other than my own on him.

it’s weeks later when brings it up: we’re in bed and he’s tracing constellations on my naked back, connecting all of my moles together, pressing kisses to each and every one. it started as a joke on my part (there are too many to count), one that zoro took as a personal challenge.

“it must’ve been me,” he murmurs hotly against my flesh.

“hm?”

he sweeps a scarred palm up my spine and nuzzles against my neck before nipping at my ear. “if anyone kissed you in a past life, it was me.”

[adrift-in-thyme]

So for your First AU, which member of the Chain would intrigue First the most, and why? What are his dynamics with the others likely to be like? (Or is that too spoilery to ask lol)

Sky definitely intrigues him the most. He's his successor, the one who made it to Skyloft when First didn't, the kid who loved Zelda (Hylia's reincarnation) so much he returned to the surface to find and save her. Heck, he faced Demise just like First did, but won. And to First that's...pretty amazing. He's extremely proud of him to say the least.

As for the others...

Wild: him and First get along surprisingly well. First gets the failing Hyrule thing in a way no one else really does. So, once that tale comes out, Wild can't help grow closer to him.

Time: he tolerates First. He certainly respects him as a good man and a skilled warrior, but it takes a long time to go beyond that. There's a barrier there that's kinda similar to the one between him and Sky.

Legend: I'm still working out this one. For now I'm thinking they get along pretty well. First isn't afraid to speak his mind in the least, especially when calling people on their crap, and Legend can respect that. As for First, he comes around to seeing the soft side Legend hides, and, well, he definitely gets hiding oneself for protection.

Wind: definitely gets along well with First. He thinks the guy is soooo cool. And naturally, he melts First's heart immediately. (First tries not to mention that his first thought upon meeting him was something like, "who in Hylia's name let A CHILD into the group??")

Hyrule: at first Hyrule is a little awestruck by and insecure around this "perfect knight." First is everything he feels he's not. But Hyrule's skill with magic and connection to fairies fascinates First, and he urges Hyrule to acknowledge his talents. This leads to them being friends

Warriors: he and First get along very well. For Warriors it's almost a relief to have a fellow army man to commiserate with. First has seen the horrors of battle ten times over and as a leader he understands the pressures Warriors has -- and continues to -- endure. Besides, they enjoy teasing one another about their almost identical armor. (No one can understand why they look so much alike, though several theories have floated around group).

Four: for now, I'm saying they are more acquaintances than friends. First is intrigued and mystified by him, and he respects Four's strategizing ability as well as his skill at remaining cool and collected. And Four thinks this knight from the past is interesting. But they don't interact much, and it doesn't truly go beyond that.

Twilight: tbh I'm still a bit lost on this one. I think they would get along well enough, despite having drastically different backgrounds. They wouldn't have the easy-going teasing relationship Twi and Wars share. Perhaps, something closer to the respectful professionalism Time and First have for one another. (Twi is definitely warmer to First than Time is though).

[wellthebardsdead]

Riiju-Lei: I was wondering if you could help us with something else besides the whole end of the world business ay?… *removes his helmet and unties the fabric from his forehead showing his third eye*

Neloth: *turns around* Oh and what would that b- *drops the black book he was holding* VORYN?!

Kaidan: Who?

Riiju-Lei: *eyes suddenly rolling to the back of his head again* oh no-

Taliesin: *literally dives catching him in his arms as he collapses* Xel?!

Xelzaz: *already has the potion ready* I’m on it!!

*a few hours later*

Riiju-Lei: *awake and tiredly sipping tea after coming out of yet another fit* please someone just kill me I can’t keep going on like this.

Neloth: *inspecting his features and comparing them to very very old notes he’d taken on house dagoth when he was younger* oh hush you’re fine. There’s simply a part of your brain attempting to block out something that could potentially hurt you. And given what your friends told me I’m guessing it’s Ur Dagoth attempting to possess your body when you’re already Voryn Dagoth.

Kaidan: But- he’s not he’s Riiju-

Riiju-Lei: that’s just the name my adopted mother gave me… I don’t know what my real name is or who I am or who my birth mother and father were…

Neloth: Indeed. Besides, even though it’s been well over a few hundred years I still remember your face very well from my time in the council. You were a real thorn in everyone’s side. Honestly the only difference I see between you now and you then is now you’re actually polite and- oddly pleasant to talk to.

Riiju-Lei: da always said manners cost nothing…

Neloth: a shame your father didn’t raise your past self then, really the only person who liked him was Nerevar and-… hm… I wonder…

Xelzaz: What is it?

Neloth: Nerevar. Of course. He’d certainly know how to help you but, where he is is a bit of a mystery.

Lucien: isn’t he y’know? Dead?

Neloth: what? No no. He got killed yes by the tribunal but he came back in another form and walked as himself for so long he returned to his former chimer glory. He seems to have an extended life thanks to Azuras blessings. *sighs* lucky bastard.

Kaidan: any idea where he might be kicking around then? We could certainly do with his help if it’ll stop these fits.

Neloth: Well, no. As I said his location is a bit of a mystery. He goes off on long journeys for months, years even at a time. And only really returns to morrowind to attend to temple business as the hortator, or to restock and rest before he suddenly up and takes off again. He could be anywhere in tambriel as we speak.

Riiju-Lei: *sighs* great…

Neloth: Oh don’t look so upset. I’ll do my best to help you, if you can gather me some more information on these. *holds out a heart stone*

Everyone: NO!

Riiju-Lei: *instantly falls into another fit* ugh no-

*Meanwhile*

Captain Veleth: *standing on the docks with the councillor & second councillor* I’m telling you. Lad just grew a third eye.

Lleril Morvayn: that is concerning but… considering he also helped us get the mine back up and running and saved your life, and now he’s looking into these ash spawn attacks for us… let’s keep it away from the temples ears for now.

Adril Arano: I have to admit I am concerned sir… if he is the reincarnation of the sharmat-

Lleril Morvayn: Then we inform lord nerevar. *looks up to see a ship sailing into port flying the indoril banners* and speaking of which…

[slantedknitting]

Had a very productive 4-day long weekend! Got about halfway through my @ficreadingchallenge bingo card. 13 fics below, mostly Merlin & Merthur fics.

new (to me) pairing: people we’d be together by lyryk BBC Merlin | featuring Freya/Gwaine | Mature Summary: names of poisons, names of handguns, names of places we’ve been together, names of people we’d be together

lyric title: Feel It In My Fists by thesongistheriver BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Explicit Summary: Merlin felt strong arms lift him. He wanted to protest, to stay and hear what else Gaius might say, but the knights were already carrying him off the training field, and he sank into oblivion. ~*~ An assassination attempt on Arthur leaves Merlin seriously injured. In fact, he shouldn't survive ... but he does. And that brings a lot of other questions to the fore.

BFFs: The Best Thing by lancelitttle BBC Merlin | featuring Merlin & Gwen | General Audiences Summary: The castle servants have a secret that they won't share with Merlin.

fix-it fic: And Tomorrow by pumpkabitch BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Teen + Summary: After he dies, Arthur wakes up ten years in the past

future AU: Telekinesis by cassan_astaroth BBC Merlin | Merlin & Arthur | General Audiences Summary: Arthur wasn’t sure what he had expected when he finally met Merlin again, but watching him destroy a whole solar system of planets in a bout of anger certainly wasn’t it. -- In which Arthur gets reincarnated only a few moments before Earth is swallowed by the sun, and has to adjust to a new life in space. He is sure everyone he knew is gone, but are they really?

rarepair: In the Cave by paintedpigeon BBC Merlin | Merlin/Leon | General Audiences Summary: Merlin and Leon cuddle for warmth in a cave full of Uther's knights, and Leon has something he wants to share.

inspired by another fanwork: I will show you how to dance by (currently anon) BBC Merlin | Merlin/Lance | Teen + Summary: For a few weeks now, Merlin had been attracted to a human home. At first, he had strayed in this direction accidentally, following the wind and sounds, only coming close to the property. Then, he had realised to whom this house had once belonged to.

oldest fic in the fandom: Compass by missdeviant Raven Cycle | Gansey/Blue, Adam/Ronan | Mature Summary: It was one thing to see the women of 300 Fox Way bare-breasted in a pagan rite. It was something else entirely to do the same with boys.

author’s oldest fic: Secret Release by fifty_fifty BBC Merlin | solo Merlin | Mature Summary: He didn’t often do this, in truth he tried to do it as little as possible. But sometimes, sometimes… he just had to. He was only human after all. A sheepish smile crossed his lips as he remembered with embarrassment the first and only time he’d attempted it at home in Ealdor. His mother was out at a neighbour’s for the evening. He shook his head, no never inside again. The broken crockery, the carpet of grass, the newly grown tree in the house... Only outside from now on, as far as away as possible from others and only when he was desperate and he had to admit after a day like today, he was desperate.

time travel: Finding the Right Time by Diamond_Raven BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Mature Summary: Following a hostile takeover of the time travel agency, Agent Arthur Pendragon is left stranded with Agent Merlin Emrys in the distant past. While waiting to be rescued, he and Merlin have to figure out how to live as flatmates in the 20th century and cope with the thought that they’ll never get home again, all while figuring out what the word home really means.

newest fic in the tag of your choice: Day 2 – Heat by EmptyBucketOfFucks BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Mature (tag of my choice was “wet dream”) Summary: Summer is approaching, and the heat gets to everyone.

small fandom (<1k fics): Lazy Mornings by Geekygirl24 Shades of Magic | Rhy/Alucard | Teen + Summary: Rhy sighed fondly, shaking off the lethargy, reaching over to brush a thumb across his lover’s cheek, easing him awake.

unhappy/bittersweet ending: Fly away, my Merlin by raimosorsa BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Not Rated Summary: "Fly away, but remember to always come back home."

:)

[fixfoxnox]

I was thinking about one of your older posts when you mentioned how reincarnation works in the sito world (long, prolonged deaths) but theoretically, what would the story have been like if it was the opposite?

i.e. in this case Ghost, Gaz, Griggs remember bc the three of them were taken out with a bullet and were immediately gone. Bc I can totally see a different story where Ghost’s obsession with the mask and persona came from being haunted with his first life, and his slow spiral trying to find Roach again, and going through his own catharsis of accepting the things he was given in the new life and moving on.

Idk just a thought lol 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is a super interesting concept and, assuming everything in SiTO world/the changes stay mostly the same its just that Ghost/Gaz remember, it would certainly be interesting. (Griggs would probably remember too but idk that I'd use him much)

I think Ghost would handle things much the same in terms of Roach, in the way that he wants to get back to something similar to his old life.

Where I think Ghost would differ, is that I can picture this making him into a much darker character. Like he has this knowledge and these skill sets and he is going to use them to try to make this life better, to make this life safer.

So like first thing, I imagine his backstory doesn't happen the same. His family still die, but like the people who killed them in his first life? He kills them long before they even get a chance to turn bad. Because the story of how he loses them in the new life is different, he isn't able to prepare for it.

He absolutely kills Shepherd before the man can even form Shadow company. He kills him and makes it look like an accident so there is someone else in his place. Because of this, when the 141 team up together the events of MW2 don't actually happen the same way.

The missiles still get to Hassan and they still have to stop that, but the plot with Shadow Company doesn't happen because there is no Shadow Company. Instead its like KorTac or something helping them out.

Ghost still wears his mask and he's constantly keeping his ear to the ground for word about Roach. Is constantly telling Price that he should be "looking out for any possible new members" for the 141.

Because he and Gaz never really met in the first life, I imagine they end up much like Jackson and Roach in terms of they work together for years before realizing that the other remembers. When they do realize, they become closer and help watch out for one another better, but neither really wants to talk about the past, so they don't much.

One of the more interesting changes would be his relationship with Soap. Obviously he was used to an older and more mature Captain MacTavish, so I think this worlds Soap catches him off guard a bit. He's definitely still keeping a jealous eye on him, but because Roach isn't there yet he isn't really worrying about any of that so he ends up liking/getting along with Soap more. I still don't necessarily think he'd fall for Soap, but maybe he would become super good friends with him at this point.

Ghost also uses his knowledge of the past world to essentially keep an eye on Makarov and take him out before he can get too far into his rise to power. He does a #assassination on the guy during one of his leaves lmao.

When Roach finally rejoins the team, I think he's probably struck by how different yet similar this Roach is. This Roach is just much lighter and fluffier overall and he, somehow, finds himself quickly falling harder for Roach.

Meanwhile Roach, similar to his first life, when he first joins the team he gains a huge crush on Soap. Ghost can definitely tell, but he finds that he doesn't mind as much as he thought he would.

The team are definitely surprised at how quickly he opens up to and tries to befriend Roach, Gaz is the only one who knows why. Again, similar to the first life, through training and spending more time with Ghost, Roach falls head over heels for him and within like three or so months of Roach joining the team they're probably dating.

Then you get like several months later when Ghost realizes that Soap has developed a thing for his boyfriend again. And he knows he should be angry, like he was in his first life, but this time because he and Soap are closer and, he admits it, he's fully understands why Roach had a crush on him at one point, he finds that he's more willing to share this time around.

So he's just cuddling with Roach one day and is randomly like "hey do you want me to ask Soap if he'll fuck you?"

And Roach is naturally an absolute blushing and stuttering mess at the question. He assumes that Ghost has picked up on the fact that his crush on the man was still lingering but Ghost is like "I didn't even notice that babe I just know he wants to fuck you and hey, I might be willing to share if I get to watch."

So you get Soap/Roach/Ghost that starts out as Soap and Ghost both dating Roach, but not each other. Then slowly as time goes by and they're in this relationship longer, Soap and Ghost just naturally shift into dating each other as well.

But yeah, essentially I think Ghost would go much darker than Roach did and use remembering his past life as a way to justify going around and killing anyone who he perceives as a threat to himself or the people he cares about.

He definitely obsessively looks for Roach again, but probably wouldn't manage to find him on his own. It would only be once Roach joins the 141 in the new world that they meet again.

[narwhalandchill]

(4.7 TCG leaks but Big Lore Implications? Maybe)

Well. This is (was) certainly an interesting Moment.

See. narwhal coming in TCG right? i obviously lost it we are all aware. so i was checking that shit out Instantly the second it was uploaded onto hakushin to see the kind of playstyle theyd given my beloved

but there was something else. see. tldr the narwhal starts at only 5hp but it basically eats all your discarded cards to increase its own max hp and dmg dealt (also takes into account the dice cost of the discarded cards). which i Love its so on brand and lore accurate. but anyway. its ult is to summon the electro dude whose dmg and duration is also affected by the cards eaten and their dice cost. such a cool kit right?

But then i saw what they Call the knight summon guy in the first uploaded version of the card kit in ENG

...SHADOW OF THE ANCIENT WHAT NOW????

and like. okay. okay. thats pretty fucking insane this is why i was looking so forward to the narwhal getting a card bc . sometimes tidbits like these just. Happen thru TCG. just casually like that (like parsifals Curiously Familiar Appearance for another relevant one).

bc like. an ancient nemesis huh. on one hand could reference surtalogi since the descriptor for the phantom in 4.2 patch previews in several languages (not sure what the in game stuff says these days) did have some similar wording to surtalogis CN title. also obviously fuels my personal foil hat agenda of surtalogis whole "keeping this very much sentient cosmic being as a Pet TM" being something that from the narwhals POV is very much like. a demeaning act of imprisonment and being used against its will as a pawn (im such a surtalogi hater dude. i Dont trust him). so like thats one option for the. whos the nemesis whose shadow is summoned. its surtalogi. but also ancient is a funny wording for when the guy is very well around to this day so

then theres the other option. bc the narwhal 4.6 namecard speaks of ajax intent on challenging the narwhal again and references hunting for the same whale the "third time" which like. most simple route u could just be seen as. okay despite just freezing up during their 1st encounter at 14 and doing jack shit to "challenge" it he still considered that the "first" hunt, fontaine was 2nd and next is 3rd.

but theres also the. what if the first hunt was the historical ajax of the myth? whose reincarnation our ajax may be? bc if His destiny was also to oppose the narwhal back then in celestias grand plan and possibly had the same constellation tying him to it too. would THAT be the ancient nemesis the knight in the narwhals stomach is the afterimage and shadow of? hmmmmm.

like dude i was. Actually losing my fucking mind bc this might be THE closest thing to a direct confirmation that If ajax has reincarnated over the samsara/cycles whatever . if That is the case. then this "ancient nemesis" being og ajax would then Very Much Imply that both his and Our Ajax' destiny in all incarnations has Always been tied to the narwhal in some way and that his "role" and "duty" in celestias decreed fate is to be its counterpart and opponent (read: tragic soulmate) . of Some sort. like yes inconclusive still but this couldve been such a massive fucking deal dude

Anyway .

then they removed that descriptor in the next update to the beta info on the new TCG cards 😭😭😭😭

so now its just called a dark shadow whatever 😔😔 this is So Sad. but. i have Witnessed the original so its not getting out of my head. what does it meannnnn

why would the narwhal be emulating its nemesis as the force that protects the source of its power that lies within it (like. we Had to be eaten in order to get close to that source in the AQ fight)??? did it eat that doomed soulmate nemesis (og ajax moment Surely) in the past and is now carrying its remnants and constructed shadowy afterimage within itself?? or does it represent some sort of control/power source surtalogi (if hes the nemesis) has inflicted upon the narwhal in order to keep it weakened and/or sufficiently subservient to be kept as a "pet"???? MANNN

obviously. since this was a clearly incomplete beta version text (like the narwhals kit was unfinished in ENG during this part) that was Very swiftly deleted (whacking myself over the head for not checking what CN said while this version was still up) its not like. something that can be referenced as legit confirmed canon lore for the narwhal since its not making it to live. but im just. Curious. like. even if its outdated text that was removed. Surely there HAS to be a Reason that description was originally written to describe the dark shadow summon.

so is this a case of. its no longer meant to represent an ancient nemesis, that was old ass lore for the phantom knight dude thats never going to happen and thats why they cut it. like fair enough it happens. old pre launch beta genshin stuff was directly a honkai sequel/spinoff but they changed that. it could always just be that

ORRRRR then. hear me out. that its STILL true but that the writers simply realized they dont want to reveal their cards (ha ha) on the subject just yet??? they dont want to leak this potentially Massive lore drop through a random TCG update?????? we arent meant to know the meaning behind the shadow just yet????????? 🤨🤨🤨 Surely

anyway. forever mourning shadow of the ancient nemesis as a descriptor . but i Have to post it here so that yall can at least know. this existed. this WAS a thing. so whats it mean...

(also if this turns out to be all legitimate and og ajax Was the ancient nemesis. Possibly the funniest way my original "who the fuck even thought the purple dude in the whales stomach was going to be childe" take from way back could be Technically proven wrong JSJAISJSJSISKD . if it was ajax. but just not. this one)

[hungrydolphin91]

Talestober 2023 Day 25: At Your Lowest Point

Being an angst lover I had SO many options for what to put here— writing characters at their lowest point is kinda my go-to. But ultimately I couldn't resist using a snippet again from the emotional climax of my angsty sormik post-game zesty fic Falling Awake because it breaks my heart every goddamn time. @v-voeux just in case you wanted to read it too.

Massive spoilers ahead for my ongoing fic, and please refer to this tumblr post to get the full context of the story 'cause there's a lot going on here (it's also 1st person POV in case that throws anyone off):

The last memory is Mikleo, alone, in an underground library. Windowless alcoves filled with thin candles provide a flickering amber light to read by. He sits upon a crumbling stool, eyes darting between lines as his breaths grow more and more rapid. Excitedly, he begins to read aloud:

'Having witnessed the awakening of five Empyrean Lords, I can say with some degree of certainty that they are not the stoic, unchanging beings the legends make them out to be. They can be influenced by the souls that are sacrificed to them, and seem to take on the memories and even personalities of the deceased. In a way, the soul lives on, reincarnated as a god.'

Mikleo wets his lips, swallows. His mind must be racing, because mine certainly is. I mean, souls reborn as gods? It sounds similar to seraphic reincarnation, like Mikleo's rebirth after Michael killed him as a baby. With that kind of precedent, it seems possible, but so, so dangerous. You'd have to be—

Desperate? Lonely? Ambitious? The seraph before me is all of those things, I realize with growing dread. He's empty, nothing to lose, everything to gain. He's tired of enduring the chaos of the world around him, expressing his fears only through his pen. He refuses to watch any longer, not when there's finally something he can do.

Even among his fervor, I can see some hesitation on his face, calculating the risks, weighing the costs. I want to shake him by the shoulders, yell at this ghost until he sees sense. What about you?? Is our dream really so important that it's worth it to lose yourself along the way?!

For a moment we lock eyes, my present and his past seemingly one. Then his gaze slips past me, as though he's listening to someone else.

"'My dream will live on, so long as I don't forget.'"

The echo feels like a knife twisted into my heart. Even at his lowest moment, Mikleo sought advice, comfort, reassurance, from me. If only I had been there to tell him just how wrong he was. If only I had been there to catch him when he fell.

Mikleo's head lowers, lengthy silver hair streaming down his chest. His eyes slowly close as he surrenders himself to the finality of his choice.

"This is… all I have left."

It IS all he had left— words, and memories. Our dream is all I left behind, and he held onto it so strongly it led him here, standing opposite me as the earthen historia recedes from my sight.

[gakriele-lvs-blog]

I found the idea of keeping all of your memories even after reincarnating a morbidly fascinating concept, even more so if this extends to a group of friends who can't bear the mere idea of being torn away each time it is time to close your eyes and await for the next life to start.

Imagine yourself, your BFF, your partner, and maybe that one a little to the side friends. All of you live a fairly normal life as humans in boring Earth, one dies after the other and once is your turn to join them you close your eyes and... you wake up as something else.

You can be born as anything, a person, animal, creature, monster, or even God, somewhere on the same alien planet or dimension at the same time. The same applies to your friends. None of you remember in detail your past lives, but you do remember those friends and the emotions that came with them. So on top of that, you obtain a sixth sense which allows you to always know where they are but not who they are now.

You are the destined Hero meant to slay the demon king- wait, Alex? What do you mean you are the- well, okay this is awkward. Well, I'm 80% we fuck at one point in our last lives but I'm not sure that will solve everything... this time.

A dragon?! Seriously?! You get to be a fricking dragon, you the elven queen, you the elemental of all life on the planet... and I a goblin of all things???!!!

You and your ex-BFF see each other for the first time in this life as it seeps in the realization of what's happening "So... you are here to kill the ambassador of this country, which is me..." - "...Correct" - "...Wanna talk about what happened last time or...?" - "Look, I haven't forgiven you for that, but also don't want to make this one personal so... let's talk later. Hopefully with a cup of blood or something, okay?" - "That's if we become vampires next but sure... Fair enough" *Gets shoot*

A cult meant to unleash horrors beyond mortal compression of all things, really? no judgment here but out of all the things you could have tried as a God this one is a little... eh, basic? And the whole sacrificing virgins gets kinda stale after a while, believe me, I know from experience that.

Does it look like I care whether or not you are a monstrosity born from the primordial soup originating from the blood of an eldrich god or something... We are going to a date and this time no planet-annihilating beams are getting in our way!

"Oh... What's it like having a tail?" - "I don't know, still getting used to that, what's like having a saw blade for a hand?" - "Extremely inconvenient, and don't get me started on my programming demanding that I gut you in half... I miss the tentacles" - "Well, I certainly don't miss having my body used as a source of primordial soup!"

[sinofwriting]

1,3,4 for the fic asks!

favorite fic you read this year

This question is so rude and mean and I have no words. Also, I choose five. And these are just some of the fics that I have reread so many times and yet I continue to reread because they are so good. (also everything is under the cut because this got long, lol)

beloved, if i had my way you'd be here to stay by eggyyollk: It's a Charles/Max fic reincarnation. Already I knew I was going to love it, but the writing??? I'm dead. (also, if anyone else knows of any lestappen fics with uh reincarnation/past lives, please let me know, i beg)

dancing on glass by yukierres: This is a Pierre/Charles fic and look, this fic is like crack. It hurts so much, I cry everytime, I scream, but it still so goddamn good.

i'm gonna make you feel (show you something real) by loodins: Okay, so surprisingly this fic has nothing to do with f1, but is a hockey fic for Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews. It has the teenage/single dad trope that I love and also some obliviousness sprinkled in.

let me be your man by landoslove: this is the best friends to lovers trope, with full obliviousness on one side pretty much for Max Fewtrell/Lando Norris. But also it's got like some outside pov (just the tiniest bit), which I adore more than anything.

and now last but certainly not least (i went in alphabetical order) we have

long story short (it was the wrong guy) by multi21: I fucking adore this fic. We've got a long ass secret relationship between Max and Charles. We've got Daniel who is convinced that Max returns his feelings for him. We've got protective best friend Pierre. Like, this a fic, I reread about once a week if not more.

3. fic that made you reconsider a ship?

Oof, I don't think I have one of these. I'm pretty much if I don't ship it, I won't read fic for it and even if I do, I'm still pretty firm on not shipping it.

4. favorite rarepair fic?

oh my god. oh my god. Rarepairs are my thing. Okay I just read this last week and have since reread it a bunch: wet wet wet by greeny1710 which is a Logan Sargeant/Max Verstappen fic.

I've also fallen down the PJO rabbit hole (and it's not even because of the tv show, yet to watch it) and this Luke Castellan/Harry Potter fic is beautiful: The Daughter of Hecate by Frostfire613

2023 fic rec ask game

[grumpyascianteddybear]

What If Part 2

So, this is a thing. A thing I enjoyed writing. Gonna tag some bitches. There might be oinons and it is certainly rude. Time to tag.

@seatedsacrifice

@atdutiesend

Walking out into the night air was refreshing after being down below. The cold gave him a rush that almost always cleared his head, yet tonight, it did not. Cyr was angry. Angry that he had to shoulder the burden of saving the world at the expense of friends, family, and a whole host of innocent people. Thousands died just so he would have a chance at victory. Who would fate take from him next? The only one keeping him together was his wife at this point.

There was a rage, one that he tried very hard to keep in check. It wasn't so bad before going to the past. There was also looking into that man's eyes. They were eyes that mirrored his one, the same two colors. Cyr didn't know who the man was, but it had caused something to start cracking in him. As if something unspeakable old was waking up, and it was even angrier than he was. It was an old anger that had simmered for a long time.

He shook his head to clear the fog the rage brought. Cyr knew the ancient thing would come out if he let the fog take over. That should be avoided at all costs, yet the anger refused to leave. It coiled in the pit of his stomach as they headed for the residential district. The fog closed in as he tried to keep things together. " If I seem weird in a bit, I am sorry."

There was a pause as his shoulders and neck rolled as if he was trying to get the joints to pop. It wasn't odd on its own, but how he walked also seemed to change. The way Cyr carried himself had completely changed, but it wasn't Cyr in the driver's seat anymore. That was even more apparent as he spoke, his voice taking on an almost entirely different timber. " Did you even think about what it would do to her?"

" What?" A smirk appeared at the confused sound in the voice of the other. Yes, Ophiuchus should need clarification. This was a man he had not seen in over 12000 years. Dionysus was very different now.

" Did you think about what your death would mean for your wife?" Dionysus asked again and, this time, turned back to look at Ophiuchus. There was a wide grin, though his eyes were not pleasant. The burning rage in them made the smile rather creepy to behold. " Did you even stop to think about what it would do to your daughter?"

The smile widened as the other seemed to spook. Yes, good, he should be scared. Dionysus was angry, and he was angry at a lot of things. He also had every right to be angry about these things. He had been hurt, he had been forced to butcher friends through his reincarnated self. A reincarnation that was now coming apart at the seams. To be expected, all things considered. CYr had been through more than any man should have to go through, and the only person they had not collectively lost was their wife.

" I tried to bring him back for Aurora; there was too much damage." Ophiuchus stated, voice small as Dion took a step forward toward him. Azem hummed at Elidibus and took a step back. The smile was still present, as was the anger. Though, there was perhaps a glimmer of something else.

" Well, I suppose it is good to know that you at least care about someone." Dion stated though it was rather condescending. Cared for his daughter more than his wife. What a shame, poor Hadianna. " You certainly don't care for your oldest friends. Hades didn't either, so I suppose that isn't surprising."

Turning, he headed off toward the residential district again. He glanced back one to assure the Ophiucus had started to follow. Dion knew that the man would be feeling very guilty once he saw the state of Hadianna. As they neared the house, a redhead emerged to greet them. Azems steps seem to grow light and a bit Hurried. Aidya was the only person that had not been stolen from them, at least the only one of importance to Dionysus.d

" Hello, Love." He stated as he came up, and a hand went to her cheek. His voice was like honey now, the earlier anger and malic gone. Dionysus had no anger where Aidya was concerned. Only adoration for his beloved wife, glad to still have. That his reincarnated self still had this one good thing was a comfort. It was a night and day difference, and the only look Ophiuchus would get at the Dionysus of the past. " I have brought her husband back. Anything short of that would only end in failure."

" I know I told you to do something quickly if you were going to do anything, but this was not what I expected. This is dramatic even for you." The woman stated as she leaned into his touch. There was a wary of the ascian that now stood before her in bunny form.

" Drastic times call for dramatic measure." Dion mused as he looked over at Ophiuchus. There was a dark smirk on his lips, and his bi-colored eyes almost seemed to glow. " Go on, you know where your dear wife is."

A hum left Azem as they watched the other male enter the house. Perhaps the guilt would destroy him. That would be a good show to watch. It was certainly destroying Cyr slowly. So many people, many old friends, lay dead at his reincarnated self's feet. The constant death and loss were slowly eating him, alive. Aidya was the only thing holding the poor Elezen together. Perhaps this twisted, rage-filled alter would be the only thing left when it was all said and done. It was hard to say.