#remor imagine

[the-s1lly-corner]

((Ignore if requests are closed))

*bursts into your room*

Remor x a male Tsundere reader? Pretty please?

*leaves.*

((have a nice day))

Remor x tsundere!reader

So soso sorry for getting to this late, since it took so long imma just. Skip the queue for this post, just this once since you sent this like.. last week?? Maybe more? And I just remembered it 😭😭😭

Need to write remor stuff, need to come up with more ideas for his character since theres not that much

So funny thing I tend to bounce around on how remor treats you as a partner. Because on one hand I can see him being a tsundere as well but I can also see him being dramatic as hell and treating you like royalty...

Perhaps he treats the relationship like it's not that serious but is very much loyal to you, only trying to look cold and distant due to him being the prince and darkness.. needing to keep up appearances, you know?

He finds some of your mannerisms charming on most days but there are some... days where his patience is short and it does get on his nerves, though it's easy to read him when its one of those days

Probably calls you a brat, although it's mostly light hearted when he says it

Loves when you start being a little shit to others, he thinks its funny. Free entertainment

Actually he kind of encourages you, besides what are they going to do? You're the prince of darkness' supposed boyfriend!

Likes that you're not afraid to get mean, he thinks kindness is gross and overrated though dont be mistaken, he still demands respect

[askthefranmily]

Do you have some songs you associate with the Fran bow characters? If so, who, and why?

🦈OH BOY YOU’RE IN FOR A TREAT

💛Fran💛

Hitorinbo Envy, specifically the Jubyphonic cover: the little girl in the animation looks like her, but it also reminds me of her struggles with losing her family, and finally finding one again with her silly little whimsical dads and her cat.

ALSO

Child of the stars by Fish in a Birdcage- this one I think would definitely be Itward to Fran. HE LOVES HIS DAUGHTER SO MUCH AUAGAGH.

💀Itward💀

Dan the Dancer by Mitski: Itward is really loving, he loves his daughter and his big fluffy husband and he loves all of the kids he’s a friend to. He loves to the point where it can even hurt him, like with Clara and Mia. The more romantic lyrics are more of him and palontras because I love them 💁

🌸Palontras🌸

Bird Song by Florence + The Machine: To me this fits him because it’s both him trying to repress his past but also his own darkness that the kamalas bring out in him.

🌳King Ziar🌳

Fallen Down by Toby Fox:

He just gives sweet grandpa vibes, and this song reminds me of that.

🐈‍⬛Mr. Midnight🐈‍⬛

Kagerou Days (also the Jubyphonic version, or any version rlly! That’s just my favorite one, and it’s in English): this one I feel like is Mr. Midnight towards Fran. I headcanon that the Mr. Midnight we see in the game that talks actually came from an alternate reality, and his Fran died. Fran’s REAL Mr. Midnight died (that’s why we see the cat in the grave) Itward helped bring them back together because there was no way they’d be able to find each other on their own. Mr. Midnight has seen Fran die, and I imagine is really heartbroken over it, and wants to do anything to keep her safe.

🩸Remor🩸

For the Departed by Shayfer James: because he’s MEAN and NASTY and tbh I just think this specific villain-coded song fits him really well.

🎭Mother Mabuka🎭

Who Is She? by I Monster:

I think this one explains itself

☀️The Great Valokas☀️

Dawn by CircusP: I think this one also explains itself

And a little wholesome bonus! I think My Love Mine All Mine is really cute for Itward x Palontras but also the franmily as a whole, THE WHIMSY DADS JUST LOVE THEIR KIDS SO MUCH AAAAA 😭

I’m ATTEMPTING to make nice playlists on Spotify for them! I’ll post them here as I finish them, but if y’all have any songs you think fit you should let me know, I’ll give them a listen and maybe add them!!!!🦈

[heidi891]

Sebastian Sallow: Evil or Innocent?

I’ve seen people expressing two discrepant opinions: either Sebastian has been manipulative from the beginning and deserves to be sent to Azkaban or he’s just a victim of his difficult circumstances. I don’t agree with either of these.

Firstly, there’s some truth in the statement that his circumstances are difficult. His uncle was abusive to some extent, though I wouldn’t paint him as malicious. He most likely had PTSD, he had no experience nor support in raising children, there were no education nor therapy available. Yet he had to deal with a wayward teenager and the only way Solomon knew was “tough love”. Unsuprisingly, he ended up hurting his nephew.

Sebastian—like Harry Potter—ended up distrusting adults and looking for solutions to his problems on his own. His loneliness and lack of support (a few classmates don’t constitute appropriate support) led him to feel more desperate about Anne’s condition since he saw her as his only true family. This also led him to research the Dark Arts in hope to find a cure.

I don’t think he’s been manipulative. I think he’s never had the greatest social skills to begin with as he’s had to deal with emotional abuse and lack of proper support for most of his life. He was more likeable in the beginning, then his desperation kept growing, as was his infatuation with the Dark Arts.

I suspect the relic was influencing him negatively, amplifying his desperation and anger, making him more reckless and aggressive. For example, when we encountered goblins near Isadora’s house, he had some normal reaction, while later, after finding the relic, he became hateful. During the In the Shadow of the Relic quest Ominis comments that Sebastian is behaving strangely, not like himself. Of course, it might be just a sign of his further corruption, but the relic’s influence might also be a factor.

However, if that is the case, then Solomon was probably affected by the relic too, since he was the one who destroyed it. That might’ve made him more aggressive too and led to that unfortunate duel in the catacomb.

Sebastian’s situation is sad. But he has commited a murder. Solomon is dead and is not coming back.

I refused to learn the Unforgivable Curses and chose to oppose every stupid idea that Sebastian came up with. Unfortunately, the game didn’t give me much to choose, my character ended up saying “Not sure, but let’s do this” every single time. It made her complicit in his actions to some extent and made the final choice more difficult. However, if the murder was ever found out, my character could be found guilty too for hiding the crime. Sebastian isn’t her close family, he’s just a friend she’s known for a few months. Is he worth risking going to Azkaban for?

Some people claim Sebastian is remorseful afterwards and I’m not convinced (including his reaction when he’s not turned in). He’s clearly upset and overwhelmed by what’s happened. But is that true remorse? Does he understand his grave mistakes? Does he want to atone for his crime? There’s too little information in my opinion. Can he get better afterwards? Well, he’s still alone. He’s more alone than ever since Anne has cut contact with him. He’s got only Ominis and the main character. And how has it worked out so far? They were faintly protesting, but kept enabling Sebastian. Why should it change now? And Anne is still dying, so Sebastian may find another Dark artifact, claiming it’s the last time.

Last but not least, Sebastian keeps ignoring Anne’s wishes. He’s focusing on his pain and loss, he’s not there for her.

While, as I’ve said, I don’t view him as evil and manipulative, I also don’t see him as innocent and justified. He’s emotionally unstable but also very gifted which together with his lack of strong moral beliefs make him dangerous.

Azkaban is a terrible choice. Enabling him further is a terrible choice too.

I imagine my character has some influencial family in the Wizengamot and IF Sebastian is really remorseful, he’ll end up like Hagrid—expelled but free.

[smokescreenstuff]

Fran Bow AU? Elaborate as deeply as possible O.O

:D

So much info under cut

When Smokescreen was a youngling, his brothers were killed. The deaths of Prowl and Bluestreak were said to be done by Decepticons. Smokescreen himself, was there to see the aftermath. The trauma was enough to have him sent to a mental hospital.

At the hospital he met many other younglings who had gone through their own traumatic experiences. His doctor, Ambulon, gave him a new medication that helps him see a world not meant to be seen. Smokescreen runs into Remor a few times, scared of the beast who wishes to claim his spark.

With the help of a toy version of his cybercat, Midnight, he escapes the hospital. Midnight was given to Smokescreen as a gift from his brothers. Once Smokescreen makes it through the maze he manages to make a door that leads him to a home.

Smokescreen meets Rack n' Ruin. Conjoined twins, put together by a mad mech. The twins hated each other and wished more than anything to be free of the other. Smokescreen is tasked with separating them, and with some clever thinking, he manages to kill them and escape. Though the killing part was accidental. He didn't know the spell could do that.

Finally reunited with Midnight, Smokescreen wanders across a bridge. Remor destroys the bridge and Smokescreen finds himself in Ithersta. His body made of plush and fabric. Midnight helps him in his journey in the new world. Smokescreen finds a notebook, which tells him many things about the horrible things he's been seeing. He even befriends a doctor named Palontris.

Once leaving Ithersta, and returning to his body, Smokescreen meets Itward. They hop onto his ship and Smokescreen learns more about this Ultra Reality. He even helps defeat a Kamala. Unfortunately the ship goes down and Smokescreen crashes, losing Midnight again.

Ambulon finds Smokescreen and takes him to a cemetery, where they find the graves for his brothers and himself. Though in Smokescreen's grave, is a cybercat. He manages to figure out he can slip in and out of the Ultra Reality without the pills. Smokescreen finds himself unconscious.

Waking up to see Barricade standing in front of him, ab old friend of his brothers. Barricade had chained Smokescreen to his berth and left. He escapes and finds himself in a twisted version of home. Strange creatures at every turn. Finally, he manages to wake Mabuka.

Inside Mabuka's spark is a waiting room for a doctor's office. Very strange. Once his number is called, Smokescreen enters the doctors. He encounters Remor again, who tries making Smokescreen think he was the one to kill his brothers.

Smokescreen enters the office and finds Ambulon and Midnight, who Smokescreen attempts and fails to free. Barricade walks over with someone else. Shockwave. The con had been using the mental hospital as a cover for sick experiments, and Smokescreen was about to be his next subject.

Smokescreen is shot, but Midnight, Itward, and Palontris all come in for the rescue. Barricade is killed and Shockwave is flung far away. Smokescreen is revived from the brink of death and Ambulon is forced to forget Smokescreen completely.

After a long time of traveling with his new friends, Smokescreen decides to finally stop and join the Elite Guard. After a while he convinces himself it was just his imagination. A way to deal with the trauma. But he was quite wrong. Alpha Trion knew this, but never shared the information.

Once Smokescreen arrived to Earth, the Ultra Reality began to slip through once more. Smokescreen found Kamalas holding tight to his friends. Though a Volakas, a being of light, stayed close to Optimus.

Now that the Ultra Reality is slipping back into Smokescreen's view, he is confused. He doesn't know what to do and doesn't wish to seem insane. He stays quiet, but for how long?

[emperorpookie]

Your tags to the shower snacks post!!! YOU GET IT! EXACTLY! Eddie would love it, hell he would bring Steve food while he showers. It would have the added benefit to see a wet naked Steve in all his glory but also that boy knows about the beauty of shower snacks.

Bahahaha! THANK YOUUU!!! HE'D BE A LITTLE SNACK DELIVERY MAN!

{ Okay so this turned into a longer thing than i anticipated, so I'm gonna remore it, but... have a small little ficlet thing i guess!!! Hahaha! Oops!!! }

Yo the first time steve showers at Eddie's he comes out and back into Eddie's room, drying his hair, his clothes sticking to him cuz he's one of those weirdos who barely dries off before struggling into his clothes while still damp, and he's like "what's that little make-shift shelf for in there, man?"

And Eddie is digging in his desk drawer, not really paying attention and he's like,

"Snacks. What else would it be for?" He says this nonchalantly, still digging for god knows what and steve just stares before shouting,

"I KNEW IT!" and scaring the bejesus out of Eddie who finally spins around, hand on his chest like,

"What the fuck Harrington?" His chest shaking as he tries to breathes, and Steve just points at him and is like,

"I KNEW other people had to get hungry in the shower. Nancy and Robin made fun of me BUT I KNEW!" his hand shaking as he continues to point at Eddie who is smiling now, about to start fucking full on giggling when Steve shakes his head, hands falling to his hips and he's like,

"I could kiss you right now. Fuckin knew it." And he breathes the last part, mostly to himself but then he looks back at Eddie he's... a very deep shade of red. And oh.

OH.

And it takes about seven seconds for Steve's brain to catch up and realize Eddie is that color because Steve said he could kiss him, so he closes the space between them, towel forgotten on the floor and he's like,

"Can i?" And Eddie just gulps, eyes huge as they look at Steve, his chest moving irregularly as he struggles to breath.

"Can you?" Eddie asks, brow furrowed, blinking rapidly, his eyes moving over Steve's face like he's trying to fucking speed read Steve's features.

"Kiss you. Can I kiss you? Please?" Steve asks, using his manners an everything. And Eddie barks this adorable incredulous sounding laugh, that Steve takes for a yes, because Eddie had gone another shade darker, so Steve kisses him.

Soft, and sweet, because Eddie clearly is new at this, his hands shaking at his sides, he hadn't even moved to touch Steve, just stood there and moved his lips clumsily against Steve's.

Steve pulls back and smiles, Eddie's eyes stay closed for a moment, and Steve briefly sees the look of concentration that had been on Eddie's face, brows furrowed before they rise high on his head when Steve pulls back and Eddie sways forward, chasing him without meaning too. His eyes flutter open and he smiles when he sees Steve smiling.

"Well shit. If the shower snacks got me a kiss, i can't imagine what my other dumb ideas might get." He breathes, laughing as Steve moves Eddie's hands to rest on his hips, he smiles and moves forward again, pressing close as he says,

"If they line up with my dumb ideas as well as that one, i can imagine just fine." He wiggles his eyebrows and smiles against Eddie's lips as he lurches forward, kissing Steve again.

It's still clumsy, and awkward, but it's also sweet, and warm, just like the rest of Eddie.

[alexkaneinq]

Cultist's Gamble: Round 4

1 Heart Date with Eric Fernward:

He doesn't see the vampire doctor for a few days, doesn't see the woman who cornered him either, but he asks some of the bartenders about the guy who comes in for wine early in the morning and they all roll their eyes and say he's a weirdo, but he tips very well for working outside of their usual hours and never causes any fuss, so he figures that the vampire took his advice to heart. That's good enough for him. Remore is a city that is, rather famously, devoted to stamping out the 'darkness' that tries to creep in along the edges of their society. There is little tolerance for half-born supernaturals, none for full-blooded ones, and immense danger to anyone else who does not fit the mold here, and he wasn't lying when he said trouble for one of them means trouble for all. 

It is late autumn already and it will be two new moons after the new year comes that his people will be ready to enact their ritual. He is to stay here for that time, ensuring that no one has started to look for them. But late autumn means that the sun sets earlier in the evening, and he is still on shift when the vampiric doctor enters the establishment. It's fairly busy this evening, and Kasper is not the only server working in the establishment, but his section is full, so he doesn't imagine he'll actually see that much of the man. Not until he goes to one of the booths further back in the bar to deliver drinks and finds that the group of rowdy young men have bequeathed the table to the vampire. 

"Dr. Fernward, it's nice to see you again. I don't suppose the men who were here before will be needing these drinks?" 

"It's nice to see you again, Mr. Kosk." He says with a smile that doesn't show his teeth. "And unfortunately, no, they will not. But they were kind enough to pay for your services and leave a handsome tip for you before they left." He gestures at a small pile of coins on the table. 

"That was very kind of them." He says with some amusement as he places the fee in one pocket and the tip in his other so he doesn't end up having to count out the coins again when he goes to deposit it in the register. "I don't suppose you want five beers before your shift at the physician's laboratory?" 

"I can't say I would, but I am interested in a glass of something red." 

"Of course." He keeps his smile placid and cool as he starts to turn back towards the bar. 

"And Mr. Kosk?" 

"Yes, doctor?" 

"A personal touch would go a long way in helping to better integrate you into the city." His smile is just as flat and insincere as his own, even though his voice sounds cheerful and warm. Kasper has to wonder if all vampires are so terrible at hiding their predatory nature, or if this is something unique to this one. Either way, his meaning is plain and he turns to head back to the bar. 

He has no sigil to protect him from the vampire's compultion, no one that he actually trusts to not start a fuss if he tries to call attention to the other man. He doesn't even see anyone in the bar tonight who has an insignia of the church visibly on their person which means there is a good chance that even if he did make a big scene, there really may be no one in this entire building that would actually be able to resist his abilities. So he goes to the bar and gets a glass of red wine, and as he turns to bring it back to the table, he trips, sending the glass and its contents crashing to the floor along with his body, making sure to cut his hand on the shards of the cup as he pushes himself back up. 

"Ah," he hisses. 

"Shit, Kasper, you alright?" The bartender, Lonnie asks, leaning over to get a look at him. This isn't the first glass broken tonight, and it won't be the last.

"I'm okay, just cut my hand. Here, gimme another and I'll actually be sure to make it to the table before I go take care of it." The mess on the floor cleans itself. It must have been a very expensive enchantment to have placed on the tavern, but being able to ensure that the floors stay clean without having to allot time to the task is convenient and has helped this establishment become the one that more well-off folk come to. 

Lonnie doesn't argue. There are other orders coming in and with her and Fredrickson behind the bar already a bit crowded when servers have to go back into the kitchen to bring food, no one else is allowed to pour drinks for the night. She pours a fresh glass and passes it over the bar to him. He takes it and as he goes, he holds it and his injured hand closer to the glass, letting some of his blood drip inside. 

"Very theatrical." Dr. Fernward says as the glass is set in front of him. 

"I'm not certain I know what you're talking about. Will that be all, doctor?" 

"Pantheon, no." He says, not able to take the Light Wielder's name in vain without having his tongue turn to ash behind his lips, but certainly aiming to sound more human with the curse. "You're injured and I am a doctor. I would prefer to see to you here before you end up needing to come to my office." 

Kasper isn't sure that he actually wants that, but he has no good public-facing reason to deny him. So he sits down at the booth and watches as the doctor reaches for the small medical kit that is hanging from the pouch at his belt. 

His hands are frigid through his gloves when they take his, but he is as gentle and practiced as any physician he's seen before as he takes the glass from his palm and cleans the wound. 

"You have some very thick calluses and many scars over your hand, Mr. Kosk." The other man remarks evenly as he works. "What else do you do in your spare time?"

Rituals that allow him to bypass the sight of the gods. Things that require him to slash open his palms and have for many years. His blood may not tell the doctor anything about his profession, but his skin may be betraying his secrets. "I've tried a number of things." He says easily. "Whittling, leather work, cooking, I'm no master of anything, and I do have a bit of clumsiness to me, but I enjoy learning new things." 

"Fascinating." The doctor says with more of that false cheerfulness as he finishes bandaging his hand. "Well, hopefully you won't have any more accidents. If you ever do, feel free to come and visit me at the lab." 

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for your assistance, doctor." 

"Of course."

He's allowed to stand and he makes sure that his mind is ready to focus on the task at hand as the vampire picks up the wine glass and takes a sip. 

Date rating: 4, the date is fine. 

"What a unique flavor." The other man says of the blood and wine mixed in his cup, but he brings no greater fuss, so Kasper moves on to see to his other customers. 

The vampire still leaves a pretty good tip when he goes though. 

Scenario: 

The vampire wanting his blood becomes something that happens every few nights, and he isn't able to pull off that same routine each one. He doesn't want to try to repel him by using his own wards against him, doesn't want to prove that he is something other than a human who may be sympathetic to supernatural beings, so he begins to draw his blood in his own home and keeps a vial of it in his apron. It's suspicious, but if someone catches him with it, it's very likely that they will simply think he has been commanded to do so under the control of a vampire. And just because the doctor hasn't tried to warp his mind, doesn't mean he feels any less coerced into providing a portion of his meals every few nights. 

Result: Failure

Bad End Counter: -1

It's a truly horrible position he's landed himself in, especially since the other humans in the bar seem to know instinctively there is something not right about the doctor and they tend to clam up or leave soon after he's entered, but he has to stay in it to maintain his cover. So he bleeds into vials and feeds the monster who has decided he belongs to him.

Start Here | First Round | Previous Round | Next Round | Last Round

[cellohorsead]

A French Mare and one hell of a bellyache-induced food coma. Golly!

In my form of degeneracy, we have ourselves this super respectable, very stoic Prench mercenary mare who would wring your throat like a cheese grater, but uh... oh my. To tell you bluntly, Partisan Remore had one hell of a meal. Instead of the standard bland rations like Hardtack, stale oats, and the occasional preserved salt pork Yes, I will defy dietary logic for cartoon reasoning, she got something the noble class tends to dine on. Freshly made breads so soft it could be used as pillows, sizzled freshest fishes caught from the most exquisitely maintained ponds, exotic cheeses plucked from the finest of farms, desserts drizzled by the world class pâtissiers without even a single dollop of mistakes, and the richest taste of the premium wines straight out of the priciest casks to ever exist. Suffice to say, she was living the high life!

Unfortunately, Partisan Remore isn't exactly the type with proper mannerisms in this high life. To say she was regretting her decision is putting it lightly. So overstuffed and beyond full, she is likely going to struggle even breathing correctly for a good while. A food coma is gonna set in within that food baby of hers, that's for sure. Bloated beyond belief within that petite athletic frame of hers!

"Gllourgllr... blruourrglbrnnlll... GroouuUUAAaahhh... ChrruouUuurGlrrbblllLll..."

Let's hope her achingly stuffed gut is better off than the state our Prench mare has ended up in. No doubt that it's gonna be quite the chatty beast from such decadent gluttony. Can't even imagine how all that is gonna be sitting in there like a big iron ball of a calorie bomb either... dummy horse...

[tuulikannel]

I've been thinking about Fran Bow recently. This... is mainly just a collection of random thoughts and theories. Might add more stuff later if I remember other things. Spoilers ahead, naturally.

So... one question obviously is how much of it is real, and how much is just Fran's imagination,which is of course a question that is basically impossible to answer, and I think I'm going to ignore it, at least for now.

I'm honestly more curious about whether or not Fran killed her parents. It has been hinted at so many times. I think already in the first chapter there was bloody text on the wall, saying something like "it was not me," and when she saw the dead nurse in the cafeteria, she also exclaimed that she didn't kill her. All these denials make it sound like she does have something on her conscience.

Remor does claim she killed her parents. But... the thing is, can we really trust Remor? He wants to make Fran feel as bad as possible, of course he would claim that. Although... talking about Remor. That name... almost sounds like Remorse. Fran's remorse after killing her parents? Remor tells her that she is the manifestation of his desires, but maybe it's the other way round. Maybe Remor is the manifestation of Fran's remorse and guilty feelings.

Now, if Fran did kill her parents... how did she do it? She's just a little girl, could she really slice them up like that? In that flashback we simply see her stabbing her father repeatedly. Then again, she did slice through that poor beetlepig without any trouble... Even so, you would imagine two grownups could fight off a little girl, but... let's imagine she attacks first her father. Even if she's behaving strangely, most likely he doesn't believe she'd actually attack him. She hits him, her mother screams (she did hear a scream from her), and then she attacks her mother... who's too shocked to fight back. Who knows? And here's another question - were the parents really killed as brutally as they were in what is possibly Fran's imagination?

Of course, there is the possibility that if Remor is real, he could have possessed Fran and given her super strength. Or then Fran found her parents dead, snapped and started stabbing the dead bodies...

...I honestly wonder how good her relationship with her parents really was. There was that text in the asylum... "Daddy wasn't there, Mommy would not care." And most of the stuff on the walls were hints... so yeah. I wonder. It does seem like Fran honestly misses her parents, but it is perfectly possible that she loved them dearly and still had this deeply buried anger inside of her, if they were negligent. I'm of course not saying parents aren't allowed to go out and have fun, but there was that scene where they went out and left her with Aunt Grace. So yeah. Maybe that happened often. Who knows?

Also... in the beginning, Fran said that "everything is fine, it feels like heaven." This same line was later said by the other Fran in Ithersta, the one sitting on the throne who killed the cat. And I wonder... "everything is fine." isn't this like a line that people keep on telling themselves exactly when everything is not fine?

In any case, honestly... Fran is not alright. She's no qualms whatsoever to kill the beetlepig, and just wrench out that poor skull's teeth. And her reactions to the awful things she sees is simply much too normal, most of the time. She's clearly not okay. The question is, was she okay before her parents' death?

There's so much about split personality and the two sides of the brain and all that tho in the game. Maybe Fran has some kind of a case of split personality? And the freaky side we see at times is her other side? (Of course it could have been just intrusive thoughts.)

But there's one more thing I wonder about... what made Fran so special? (Unless... all that was in her mind, and it was just her thinking she's somehow special?) In any case, Oswald was interested in twins. Why would she care about Fran? Is just being the daughter of a twin enough?

Here's one wild theory... what if Fran was a twin too? Maybe that other Fran she kept on seeing was her dead twin sister? This is very random, but there was that child you could see in the basement of the asylum, who said something like "I've been denied the path to life"... Maybe they're experimenting on the connection between a living and a dead twin... (Yes, I know, I'm pretty much in the realm of fanfiction here XD)

Annnnnnd here's one theory @solarsavoy just made after finishing the game, and I love it. The little Fran in the beginning of chapter 5... what if that is the real one? Who has imagined all of this... She knows about all the people, including even Leon, has a drawing of Fran flaying on Palontras... Hmm. I just realized she doesn't know about Mr. Midnight which kinda complicates things. But even so, I like this theory: the little Fran is the real one. She's crazy, and has a very vivid imagination. Who knows if she killed (or at least tried to) her parents in reality too? Cause Daddy wasn't there, Mommy would not care...

[we-are-trickster]

Hiiiii trickster!!

I know it’s been a while since you talked about your Fran bow fic, but I was wondering: I planned on commissioning a friend to do a drawing of Remor (as you describe him anyway) and was kind of wondering if you had a picture or something you imagine his hair looking like? I’m not the best at visualizing, so I’m not the best at describing, beyond him just having.. long red hair. Thank you in advance!!

So let me just dump some old sketches and headcannons here. X3

This is one of my first concepts for The Third Option - the moment where Fran chooses to accept Remor as his own person deserving of understanding and compassion. I was definitely playing fast and loose with their appearances as I hadn’t yet settled on anything (still really haven’t…) this is would have been from about 2016?

Fast forward a bit to 2017 and I’d settled on a more dreamlike look for Fran - keeping her hair shape pretty similar, but playing around with her clothing. Remor’s style is starting to solidify more, still trying to strike a balance between his in-game appearance and my headcanon.

This is where I really started to nail down Remor’s Thin Line look. These are from 2020. He’s rather thin and spindly, but he dresses in layered robes to hide his shape. Hair is long but has some layers on the top, sometimes little wisps escape his shroud, giving his Shield that bloody, veiny look similar to his in-game appearance. The three concepts are an armored, under layer, and robed appearance.

This is one of the most recent sketches, where I was playing around with a more demonic appearance. Though it does convey a lot of the main things I see in my head for my version of Remor - long, flowing hair that’s a bit wild and untamed, flowing surcoat or robes for the DramaTM.

Remor in the Thin Line series is meant to be a shape-changer, something I might explore more one of these days, so I’ve also never felt the need for him to have a fully set-in-stone appearance. It’s more about getting across his general vibe - wild, untamed, and dangerous. Also, he’d typically only show his hair off while relaxing in the 5th Reality, preferring to keep it hidden in all other situations and places beneath his shroud.

Hope this helped some! It was enjoyable to meander down memory lane with these sketches!

[linuxgamenews]

Unlock the Adventure in Remore: Infested Kingdom RPG

REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM turn-based tactical RPG game released for Windows PC, but is also coming to Linux. Thanks to the imaginative team at Black Anchor for bringing this experience to life. Now out today on Steam Early Access. Let me introduce you to a fresh and exciting experience from WEBZEN. A well-known creator and distributor in the digital entertainment sphere. They've got something lined up for us - REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM RPG. This isn't just your everyday game; it's a turn-based tactical RPG that's ready to shake things up in early access on Steam. Plus they also have plans in mind for native Linux support.

....supporting platforms like Mac / Linux is definitely what we want ideally.

While all of this may sound promising, it's important to note that the initial focus during early access is on adding fresh content and enhancing the user interface and experience. Black Anchor is planning to expand REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM onto other platforms, but that will happen only after they have fine-tuned all the features of the RPG. Keep in mind, that they are a small indie team and have to prioritize their goals. However, there's a silver lining - Unity 3D is being used for development. Which gives us a solid foundation for Linux support in the future. Including Proton, for the time being. So, what's the REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM turn-based tactical RPG all about? Imagine being dropped into a medieval world that's been hit by a catastrophic infestation. You're not just wandering around; you're there to survive. This means you've got to explore every area, gather critical supplies, and stay out of the way of the Infested. These creatures are dangerous and they're out there, wreaking havoc.

REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM RPG Early Access Trailer

But it's not just about staying alive. The way you interact with the setting is key. You need to be smart about it - sneaking around in the dark, keeping a low profile, and choosing the perfect moment to engage in combat. Speaking of combat, it's not just about brute force. You've got a whole arsenal of historical weaponry at your disposal. Now, let's talk about what you can expect in the REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM RPG, while in early access. You've got 7 different maps to explore and 3 characters to play. And weapons? There are more than 14 types to choose from. Plus, it caters to everyone, from newcomers to seasoned players. While offering three levels of game difficulty - Vengeance, Suffering, and Despair. But there's more. They've introduced a new mode called “Recurring Nightmare”. If you're up for a real challenge, this is where you'll find it. em>REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM offers a perfect blend of tactical combat and RPG gaming, with a huge variety of weapons to choose from. Feedback is a big deal, and the developers have been paying attention. They've made adjustments based on what players have said, like tweaking combat damages and introducing a new stat called "Armor". You can find all the details about these updates in the official Developer Note on Steam. REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM is not just another RPG title to add to your collection. Since this is a journey into a world that's harsh, challenging and demands your best strategy and skills. It’s all about immersing yourself in a medieval apocalypse and coming out on top. So, if you're ready for something that will test your limits and give you an experience like no other, keep an eye out on REMORE: INFESTED KINGDOM in early access on Steam.

[suhyla]

I feel islam isn't very compatible with the idea of a man and a woman in love.

The first argument in support of it would offcourse be polygamy. But then I thought that generally muslim women are not self independent and hence they are completely destroyed by divorces or if their husband die, hence polygamy is a good idea to help out such women so that every poor women has a support of a man. So maybe polygamy was pro woman. And after all the world is just a test. And hence people have to make sacrifices.

But the concept of man having multiple spouses in Jannah so much supports this incompatibility. Because even in Jannah where there is no requirement for a man's support for a woman. Still Allah is promising men 72 virgins. Even in heaven a man and a woman love is not celebrated. And also women's jealousy is taken out of them so that they don't oppose the idea of sharing their man with a hundred other women.

Why is islam so much about satisfaction of male sexual desires

Lol, let's talk.

Jannah is not all about a person's sexuality.

We are promised many things in Jannah. Fruits, rivers, palaces, no ill feelings, eternal happiness - and of course, spouses.

﴿لَهُم فيها ما يَشاءونَ خالِدينَ كانَ عَلى رَبِّكَ وَعدًا مَسئولًا﴾

[Al-Furqân: 16]

"And they will have therein all that they desire, abiding in it forever, and that will be [upon your Lord] a promise."

Everyone will have a spouse because having a partner will make us happy, and no one will be alone in Jannah.

We frequently read in the Quran that we (both men and women) will have "spouses" or ازواج, so reading this hyper fixation on virgins honestly sounds like basic uncreative Western discourse. People make it seem like men will just be given women to please them, and that's all women are there for. If we actually read the Quran, it easily becomes clear that that's not the case.

Relationships in Islam are about companionship.

Are we forgetting that Adam was alone in Jannah, and Allah could have given him hoor. If that was all a man desired, then surely Allah would have given Adam, the first man, that? But He knew that the cure for Adam's loneliness was a partner. Someone to complete him.

Hawa, the first wife in Islam was meant to be a friend. There's narrations of Adam wanting to speak to the angels, but they were all busy and he had no one to speak to.

Allah gave him Hawa so that he would have a friend, not just someone to find pleasure in. A spouse is supposed to be a friend, someone you're at peace with. Someone you share love with.

﴿وَمِن آياتِهِ أَن خَلَقَ لَكُم مِن أَنفُسِكُم أَزواجًا لِتَسكُنوا إِلَيها وَجَعَلَ بَينَكُم مَوَدَّةً وَرَحمَةً إِنَّ في ذلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِقَومٍ يَتَفَكَّرونَ﴾

[Ar-Rûm: 21]

And it is among His signs that He has created for you wives from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them, and He has created love and kindness between you. Surely in this there are signs for a people who reflect.

And here again, there is a duaa from the Quran.

﴿رَبَّنا وَأَدخِلهُم جَنّاتِ عَدنٍ الَّتي وَعَدتَهُم وَمَن صَلَحَ مِن آبائِهِم وَأَزواجِهِم وَذُرِّيّاتِهِم إِنَّكَ أَنتَ العَزيزُ الحَكيمُ﴾

[Ghâfir: 8]

"Oh Allah, and enter them into the gardens of Eden that You promised them, and whoever was righteous from among their ancestors, spouses, children - verily You are the Aziz, the Hakeem."

Why would we be taught duaas asking for our partners in Jannah if Islam didn't honor those relationships? We are literally being taught that love is forever - it's not till death do we part, it's till we meet again in Jannah (where we will be happy together forever).

We see how precious love is in the Prophets' lives. Ayoub was sick and lost everything but remained patient. When did he break down? When he saw his wife, whom he obviously loved, sell her hair for his sake (due to his chronic illness). Yusuf could have easily fallen into a mistake with the wife of the Aziz. He certainly had desires, he's a man. As a man and a Prophet of Allah, why shouldn't he able to do what he wants? If it's all that a man would need in Jannah, and that was all a woman was good for, then why wouldn't Allah allow it here? But he didn't- because Islam doesn't recognize sexual relations as a partnership. Lust isn't love, it's not a relationship. It's illegitimate. That doesn't change just because it's a man. Ibrahim didn't marry Hajar because he wanted another woman, he married her at Sarah's insistence- because she couldn't have a child.

Moreover, literally polygamy is not exclusive to Islam. Historically, Islam's "4 women" rule was to limit men from having too many spouses, not to allow them to go from 1 to 4. Many men at the time had more than one wife, some a lot more than one. Suddenly, they couldn't any more.

Finally, if Islam focused so much about the satisfaction of male desire, it would not have prohibited sexual relations outside of marriage and the family? Men have these desires but Islam came to put some ground rules. To tell them they couldn't just use women. That a relationship was about companionship, commitment, and responsibility. Islam prohibited so called "pleasure marriages" in which men would "marry" women temporarily to satisfy their desires and then divorce them after. Because that is antithetical to an Islamic relationship.

These things honor a man and woman's relationship. Please read the Quran and sunnah, and you'll discover how special love is between a man and a woman in Islam.

[the-s1lly-corner]

Idk if requests are open but I saw your Remor x Vox reader and I loved it, could I request Remor with a Lute s/o?

remor x reader who is like lute

love to see that people are starting to request fran bow stuff again! hooray!

notes: reader is gn, reader is not explicitly an angel but they can be viewed as one- they ARE winged but other than that not much is said on their appearance

cws: edit

he has one of your feathers stashed away somewhere in his home; you can call it a trinket or memento but to him its a weird possession thing for him- hes... a little... hm...

i like to think that his body is covered in feather-like pieces of shadow, and if possible you both exchange a feather to put onto each other- your feather somewhere on his body, and his weird shadow mass somewhere in your wings

your loyalty makes him feel a certain way, hes reassured that youre never going to doubt him or stray- and it kind of tickles his prince mindset a bit

if youre his specific guard that was assigned to him or otherwise chosen.. hes not going to care about hiding the relationship in favor of keeping things looking professional

your fierceness and unforgivingness gets him riled up, especially when youre both bouncing off of each other with plans to make the lives of others worse

your intensity is amusing as well, when you spout threats and promises of violence you get a chuckle out of him- he may sometimes offer you his own ideas for what he has in mind

weirdly enough the dynamic is similar to the one lute and adam have, with the main difference being that one is a theatre kid who thrives to spread despair and darkness, while the other is his loyal righthand man

[silverandarsenic-hcs]

Different versions of the Ghostie Boys

so i said before that there’s two different versions of most of the ghost characters in my head at all times but both versions exist in totally different universes they never mix. This is because i wrote a book about the devil using most of them but it was before i knew what i know now, so they’re a little different but in a good way. V2 or V3 is how they are in said book. this is gonna be long so strap in. also i dont listen to canon because i hate it and its wrong 

Nihil: V1 he’s just a wack old man whos probably high on painkillers and baby asprin all day. lazy silly grandpa who would rally his grandkids against their parents in a small child army, just for the heck of it. was still a shit dad, but makes up for it by chilling out and being a good grandpa. Was only harsh when he was younger because he wanted his sons to turn out better than he did and he loved them. V2, he’s the worst man you could imagine. He only ever had kids because he’d rather die slowly and painfully than have his bloodline leave the church. he never respected or honestly, cared, about any of his kids. pushed them until they hated him and rebelled, or succeeded out of spite. i don’t think hes ever hugged them or that it ever once occurred to him (that is, when he was around and the nanny was on a break)

Papa I: V1, hes the sweet old man who just wants to knit and read his books and bird watch and send postcards to his grandkids from his small cottage in the middle of the woods. V2, he’s a brutal but quiet man. He has nothing nice to say and so he usually doesn’t say anything. he never paid attention to his younger brothers and wanted the papacy from the beginning, and didn’t care about anything else.

Papa II: V1, he’s a party boy and will drink smoke fuck or snort anything you put in front of him. he’s the life of the party and keeps people around the time for no reason except what else is he supposed to do? Be alone. Sounds less fun than a weekend trip to Vegas. not one really for responsibilities. V2, he cares way more about being papa, and doing the best job possible. rules the church with an iron fist. still loves to have a good time, but in a much more reserved and refined. drinks fine scotch in private rooms at the club. has never will never and never wants to fall in love. V3 of him doesn’t really exist that far from V2 but i loosely based Lucifer on him which i think is very fun and sexy. marry me, mister.

Papa III: V1, the classic chaotic iced coffee drinking roller skating vodka chugging boy we all know and love. the sarcastic wild child that none of his brothers have ever been able to control. never really cared for the papacy, but he came to terms with the fact that he had no choice a very long time ago, so he just tries to make it fun and still doesn’t listen to any of the rules. V2, we have our beloved extravagant forlorn papa. he writes poetry and lets his heart lead him to anyone he can fall in love with next. he’s a good papa, out of spite, but also because he has the most to prove. he never listened and no one really ever believed into him, so he was determined to be the best papa the world had ever seen - and do it with style. anyone whos ever seen him look less than perfect has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. V3, is the same as V2 but has a little bit more chill (only cause he’s literally a billion) 

Cardinal Copia: V1 copia he’s just a silly awkward rat boy who somehow stumbled his way into the church one day and they took him in like a stray. Now he’s a papa and has no clue how that happened, but he’s just happy to be included. arguably loveable weirdo, who cares about his ghouls more than anything, and just wants to be accepted by the previous papas - he knows its unlikely, but he still tries. V2, who im much more fond of, has been evil from the start. He knew what he was doing from the first time he joined the church, and anything that threatened his ascent to the throne would be removed swiftly and without remore. He knows everyone loves an underdog, and that pretending to be a silly innocent little guy would get him far - but only so far. V3, he’s just a quite old man who’s happy just to be the wise advisory to whoever is really in charge. I like this one and evil copia equally. 

Aether: V1, fun older brother to the ghouls. packs them snacks when they go on field trips and teaches them important life lessons. he loves his friends so much that he wont even let anything close to bad happen to them, because he’ll always be around. thats pretty much how i write him all the time. V2, not very explored, is Evil Aether. he’s copias right hand man the same as always, but they’re really just plotting ways to overthrow everything and take over. In secret, Aether is just waiting for his turn to overthrow the cardinal and become a Papa in his own right. He’s sick of taking care of the ghouls like they’re children and only does it to keep up the look that he’s nice and normal. V3 is kind of like V1, but he’s not afraid to tell it like it is and won’t spare your feelings over the truth if he thinks its what you need to hear. he’s my fav

Swiss: V1, chaotic slut man who loves to cause problems but mostly just in other peoples relationships. kinda vain. him and dew are the terror twins of the church and honestly probably whatever country they’re in at any given moment. Aether knows better than to try and keep him contained, so he’s pretty much free to do as he pleases. V2 is fairly similar, but a little more vein and a little more refined. Still besties with Dew but doesn’t have the time to keep up with him 24/7. Also fucks things up but in a more malicious way bc he just wants to watch the world burn I guess. V3 is the most different (just between you and me, i forgot about him when i started the book and added him in later cause i fell in love). He’s kind of a douche, and doesn’t have an element assigned, so he’s the nerd ghoul. he’s insanely smart and hates almost everyone so he just fucks off to tinker with his shit and read books - I think because he has a superiority complex, but thats not my business. I love every swiss and would also marry him. just me swiss and papa ii in a weird love triangle / throuple.

Mountain: Both versions are super similar. V1, he’s just super chill and smokes a shit load of weed and wants to lay in a field w no shoes and do his thing. loveable oaf that gives good hugs but only when you ask. V2, has no chill and is the most antisocial person that has ever existed, so he still smokes a lot of weed but now it’s just so he has an excuse not to talk to anyone more than he has to. Much prefers to be left alone to do whatever, and pretty much never goes out with the other ghouls unless it’s somewhere they’ll be distracted. 

Rain: I’m going to be frank with you. Short and sweet. V1 sweet little rubber ducky baby who likes bubble baths and holding hands and never really goes out, but thinks the rest of the guys are entertaining. The ghoulettes are his moms. V2 gay little slut. that’s all.

There’s no different versions of Dew because all i can think of all the time is him eating a truck load of irish spring so he can shit bubbles and chugging fireball at the bar with Swiss while they try and score (the pauly d and vinny of the church, if you will) 

This one is my bad, but i don’t write the ghoulettes as often as i should have so i don’t really have anything to say about them either? They’re in lesbians with each other and live in a little cottage with a lot of cats. they’re the exact same in my book. i still love them and will give them more attention in the future.

- Rosie

[enby-hawke]

Chapter 25- The Void Take You

Read From Beginning

Ship: Malcolm/Leandra, Mara/Carver Sr.

Words: 7108

Tw: implied tranquiliziation, implied child harm

It took a couple of days before Mara could be put on the list of accepted visitors for Carver. As soon as she was cleared, she drove up to Kirkwall’s prison just outside of the city, a tower with iron walls, barbed wire fences, and flat concrete. There was not a hint of green, no sign of life in the land except for the miserable prisoners exercising in the yard in their orange jumpsuits.

She couldn’t imagine Carver living here for the next couple of years. She couldn’t bear the thought of what it was going to do to him. She didn’t know how she was even going to survive being a single mother. She’d let herself feel safe in thinking she’d be able to count on Carver’s support, but she should have known better than to think the Maker would be kind to her. She knew what a cruel God He was.

She walked into the prison, checking in with a guard and putting her purse through a conveyor belt where it would be inspected. She was patted down by a woman guard, though Mara wasn’t sure why all this fuss was necessary. What was she going to do? Sneak a phone in her pussy and magically phase it behind the glass to him?

After they checked her identification, and made sure she was actually on the visitors' list and had an appointment, she was led into a blank white room filled with windows and chairs. She saw inmates already talking to their loved ones, children, husbands, wives, aunts, and nephews. She saw Carver waiting for her in the far end, his coffee-brown eyes lighting up with warmth when he saw her.

Mara fought tears as she walked across the room and sat herself down in front of him. She could hear the overlapping voices of the other prisoners' conversations, the dividers giving some semblance of privacy.

Carver picked up the phone that hung on the wall and Mara did the same. She sniffed sharply, not sure how to school her face. “I don’t understand. Aren’t you nobility? Why haven’t you made bail?”

Carver looked down at his neatly trimmed nails. “Considering everything that’s happened, I’ve been officially disowned. Technically my name is no longer Carver…”

Mara twisted her face. “Of course, it is.”

Carver lifted his eyes, his smile sad but genuine. “I’m glad you came. I really needed to see your face.”

Mara’s heart cracked. “I needed to see yours, too.” But not like this. Mara’s heart was shattering seeing Carver so defeated. She blinked back a tear she was fighting. He looked so much smaller in his orange jumpsuit, so much more human. His shoulders were sagging. She could see the stress lining his forehead and wrinkling his bloodshot eyes. His cheeks looked sunken, his beard and hair dull, and he looked so, so tired. Carver was a man full of love and life, and here he sat before her broken.

Carver closed his eyes, his face tense and strained. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Mara’s heart twisted in pain. “Why are you taking the blame? This isn’t your fault.”

“It is,” Carver gritted his teeth. “I knew better. I knew it, and I let it happen anyways.” He finally opened his eyes, wet and glistening. “I’m just sorry that it seems that you’ll have to raise your daughter by yourself after all.”

“My daughter?” Mara’s eyes scrunched up, confused and hurt. “What happened to her being our daughter?”

Carver’s lips made a wobbly line as he sniffed sharply, clearing his throat. “My lawyer says the usual punishment for this is about twenty years, but they are emphasizing my good record so it looks like the judge will let me off with ten. With good behavior, they say I can cut it in half…” Carver sighed raggedly. “But even five years is a lifetime for a child. It wouldn’t be fair to her.” Carver looked down, clenching his fist. “But the prosecution is pushing for the full twenty since I refuse to show remorse for my actions, so honestly I’m not sure what will happen.”

Mara found herself angry at his confession. “Why wouldn’t you show remorse? I don’t give a fuck if it’s not real. Carver, you have a daughter to think about now!”

Carver flinched, his shoulders dropping further than she thought possible. “I’m just so tired of lying I’m not sure if I can actually convince anyone anymore.” Carver looked up at Mara, a tender smile in his bleary eyes. “I’m not expecting you to wait for me. If you find someone else that makes you happy, I don’t want to take that from you.” His smile turned bitter. “I’ll probably be a completely different man by the time I get out.”

Mara was choking up, the tears bursting up through her throat. “Then we’ll both just get to know you again.”

Carver twisted his face. “Mara-”

“No!” she shouted so loud the guard’s head turned, and then the tears started to fall off her chin. “You’re the father of my child. I’m not just giving up on you! Don’t you give up now, either!” She reached out, wanting so badly to bring his face in for a kiss and tell him it was all going to be alright, but she just pressed her palm against the glass. “Please, Carver,” she pleaded, her voice desperate.

The tears Carver had been fighting sprang from his eyes and he hunched his shoulders in a sob. He looked embarrassed and he wiped his face with the back of his large hand. “I’m sorry,” he gasped out. “I thought this was my last chance. I didn’t think I’d ever have a real family.”

Mara smiled through her tears. Neither did she. “That’s what we are now, Carver. Family.”

Carver’s shoulders shook as he cried and he pressed his pale palm against hers, his warmth faint against the glass. They stayed a few moments like this, knowing this moment would change them forever. 

Then through Carver’s tears, his lips grew an eager smile, so much brighter than before. “When I get out of here, will you marry me?” His dark wet face twisted in a grimace. “I’m sorry… this is probably not the right way to ask… and it’s much too soon…” His red-rimmed eyes met hers, “But I think if I had you to look forward to, the time would pass easier.”

Mara’s heart was soaring with joy at his question. And even though she was sitting in a prison, she felt like the luckiest woman in the world to land a man as pure as him. “It’s not too soon,” she slapped on one of her mischievous grins, her tongue tucking to the corner of her mouth. “With all the time we have, we can take it slow and get to know each other as you wanted.”

Carver’s glistening coffee-brown eyes lit up like the sun, warming her. More happy tears ran down his cheeks. “Is that a yes?”

Mara gave a playful salute winking at him. “That’s a hell yes, Officer.”

Carver shivered in delight, a devilish smile back on his lips. “The things I’m going to do to you when I get out of here.”

Mara’s smirked back, leaning forward so he could see down her cleavage. “We should start making a list.”

 —

Mara was engaged. Leandra wanted to be happy for her, but she found the green sickness of envy twisting her heart. Mara had a bright future, and a wonderful life to look forward to. Mara was going to have an amazing family while Leandra had lost just about everything. She remembered to count her blessings, telling herself she should be grateful that she still had Mara, and a wonderful man like Jaheem by her side, but she couldn’t find it in herself to be satisfied.

She felt like such a terrible person. She knew at best it would take Carver five years to be free, and those five years would be full of hardship and bitterness, but it felt like there was a light in Mara’s future, while Leandra was going to forever fumble in the dark. She tried her best not to let her envy show, but anytime Mara started looking up wedding details such as what dress she wanted, what kind of cake she should have, what the wedding venue should be, or asking Leandra’s opinion on that ‘list’ she and Carver were making, Leandra felt the jealousy pitting her heart, and it was getting harder and harder to fake her enthusiasm.

Leandra was too tired to cry anymore. She moped around, ate a lot of ice cream, and binge-watched so many shows, but eventually, sadness got boring. She knew she should technically be looking for a new job. It wasn’t like she had the income to just be sitting around acting like a lovesick depressed child, but she still couldn’t show her face anywhere in public. The news of her humiliation had finally reached Lowtown, too. Now every man was treating her like a piece of meat and she had become a social pariah. 

When Malcolm gave back the ribbon, she didn’t know what to think. And then she woke up one morning and realized she was furious at him. Malcolm gave up on her. He said he’d never do that. She thought he would chase her forever. She knew she told him to get out of her life, but she realized now she didn’t actually want him to listen to her. And she found that confusing, which made her even angrier.

She thought of giving her ribbon to Jaheem just to see if Malcolm would go crazy again, but she realized how terribly cruel that would be to Jaheem. Jaheem was so understanding, so caring, and patient. She tore her hair out in frustration. Why wasn’t she falling for him? He was dependable. Charismatic. Likable. Moral. Honest. Kind. Perfect. She wanted to give Jaheem the ribbon, but she knew while she cared about him, he didn’t have her heart. Malcolm had stolen it long ago and even now he refused to give it back.

She couldn’t sort out the mess of her feelings, so she decided to focus on another mess. So what if Brett denied her article? She still had the Council of Five’s letter. She still knew the truth. Leandra spent the better part of the morning drafting up a post on Headscribe, a social media site, informing the world of what she knew so far. It went something like this:

“My name is Leandra Amell, and I know right now I’m famous for all the wrong reasons, but I hope you’ll take time out of your day to listen to what I have to say.”

Underneath that was a photo of the Council of Five’s letter.

“A week ago I found out that my parents are in debt to an underground slaving network called the Council of Five. My legacy is a lie. My family’s wealth is an illusion. We are actually deeply in debt to this Council and, instead of accepting that the Maker withheld his blessings on our House, my family chose to sell Kirkwall’s citizens and commit great acts of sin.”

“I am deeply ashamed of this fact, but cannot hide from the truth. I know my family is not the only one in debt. I know that this runs deeper than I can possibly imagine. Please someone believe me and help me stop this.”

She posted it, hoping that it would get some traction, but Brett was right. While there were a few who were appalled and wanted to know more about the letter, they were quickly drowned by comments of men asking her to post more pictures of her tits, people debating about just how many lovers she had, and others claiming she was trying to distract everyone with petty lies. It was a nightmare. Eventually, she had to stop reading and arguing with the comments. She was only torturing herself.

Sometime late in the night, the doorbell rang. But when Mara answered the door, a dark car with tinted windows and blacked-out plates sped off down the street so fast they left skid marks. They’d left an orange envelope on the doorstep.

Mara opened the envelope and then went as white as a sheet. “Leandra?”

Leandra was watching TV on the couch, so she walked up to Mara to see what she was looking at. What she saw made her heart freeze in terror.

There were several pictures gathered inside, each image of a different person. There was an image of Mara sleeping peacefully in her bed, her covers tucked up in her polka-dot duvet. There was a similar picture of Harvel snoring with his mouth wide open and drooling, his sheets kicked off the bed, making a lump around him. And there was a third picture of Jaheem eating at a restaurant, blissfully unaware that someone was close enough to stab him. On each of their faces were red x’s over their eyes. The fourth card was a message with words that had been cut out and pasted from different magazines. “Who goes first? Your choice, Leandra.” Underneath that was the Circle of Five’s inverted triangle stamp.

Leandra couldn’t speak, her words caught in her throat. In her terror, she immediately rushed to her laptop to take down the post she had made, only to find that it had been already deleted.

—

Malcolm stormed into the Pulse, clearing the dancing crowd with just a murderous look. He kicked down the door to Cross’ office, barging in.

Cross jumped at the sight of Malcolm, nervousness in his eyes. Still, he leaned back in his chair and tried to look casual. “Elf. I thought you’d show up sooner or later.”

Malcolm growled. “You saw the photos, right?”

“Saved quite a few to my personal drive for later,” Cross winked one of his stone-grey eyes, even as a low rumble sounded in Malcolm’s throat. “But I take it from the footprint on the door, you want to know who leaked them?”

Malcolm raised a clenched fist, his hand bursting into blue flames. “You’re going to help me find them, and I’m going to end them. And if you don’t help me, I’ll figure out how many Carta thugs I can kill tonight, and skip town in the morning. How’s that sound?”

Cross laughed boisterously, placing a dark, meaty hand on his belly. “Guess you finally found your balls.” He leaned forward with a lopsided smirk. “You know as soon as I saw those photos, I thought you’d take it out on me. So I told my boys to go down and visit dear old Atronia Lovelace, the author of your little article, and ask her who she got those photos from.”

Cross did always have a habit of being two steps ahead of him. Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “Alright, I’m listening. Who do I have to kill?”

Cross grinned wickedly. “Gamlen Amell. That’s your girl’s brother right?”

The flame died in Malcolm’s hand as he staggered back, hit by the weight of the news. “Gamlen?!”

Cross looked absolutely gleeful at the conflicted look on Malcolm’s face. “What a fucked up little family, right?”

Malcolm threw a spell at the ground, the flash of light singing the carpet. “Fuck!” What was he supposed to do now? He thought Leandra hated him now. If he went through with killing Gamlen, Malcolm might as well tie a noose around his neck.

Cross’ raucous laugh echoed through the office in time with the club’s thrumming beat.

Malcolm’s knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists, his eyes burning in hatred. He went to storm out of the room, but Cross’ voice stopped him.

“Wait, aren’t you forgetting something?” Cross placed two backpacks on his desk. “You’ve got work to do.”

Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “That’s a lot more lyrium than usual. I don’t have anywhere to stash that right now. I’m still unloading the last shipment.”

Cross pushed the bags forward. “Figure it out, elf. I ain’t asking.”

Malcolm knew how easily he could kill the dwarf, and with everything happening he seriously considered it, but it wasn’t like he could disappoint Leandra anymore than he already had. He did have a small fortune by this point, but if he was escaping soon, more cash couldn’t hurt. So he didn’t argue, grabbed the bags off the desk, and slung them over his shoulder. “I’ll text you when I’ve unloaded this.”

Cross grinned, his gold teeth shining with greed. “That’s a good elf.”

Malcolm bristled, almost punching the dwarf, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort of dirtying his hand. He did however knock a bottle of whiskey off the table as he left, making a mess of the floor. 

Malcolm didn’t have enough space in his room for this lyrium, so he needed to figure out a plan fast. Since he had nothing but time now, he had spent most of it training with Chef. He’d also started working on a spell to take care of the problem of leaving contraband unguarded, and he only knew one person he could ask to help him test it.

Malcolm doubled back to the Circle, practically jogging the whole way.

Leaving Leandra was the hardest thing he had ever done. He knew it was creepy to show up at her house, but he couldn’t think of another way to return the ribbon and tell her the truth about what Cross had done. He thought he owed her honesty, even if it wasn’t going to win him any favors at this point.

But still, when he saw Leandra in Jaheem’s car, the only color he could see was red. Seeing them together hurt worse than being flogged, than being imprisoned, than being cursed. When she leaned in to kiss Jaheem, Malcolm had to look away. He knew he would snap otherwise.

But now her favor had been returned, and though he didn’t feel better, he did feel lighter, like he was numbing to the reality of being without her. He accepted that his life would be full of pain and probably very short. Especially now that Carver had been arrested.

He’d need to escape the Circle soon. Meredith had a vendetta against him. With her as Knight-Captain, she would make it her personal mission to  destroy him. And while he didn’t have anything to live for anymore, he wasn’t quite ready to lay down and die just yet.

He crept back into the Circle and made his way into the apprentice quarters to find Charlie’s room. The younger apprentices slept in bunks beside each other, but the older apprentices were allowed their own room if there was enough space for it. In this situation, it was a blessing that there were fewer mages in Kirkwall’s Circles than others.

Malcolm crept into Charlie’s room and found him snoring away on his hard metal bed, drool pooling on his pillow. Malcolm cast a shadow across Charlie’s face and shook his shoulder, covering his mouth so he couldn’t scream very loud.

Charlie’s eyes flew open darting wildly. A short yell was muffled against Malcolm’s hand, before recognition set in. Charlie tore Malcolm off of him. “Dude, what are you doing out of the dungeons? If they catch you-”

“They won’t catch me,” Malcolm interrupted. “Shut up and listen, alright. I need a favor.”

Charlie blinked, sleepiness still in his brown eyes. “What kind of favor?”

Malcolm pulled the backpacks off his back and placed them on Charlie’s bed. “My room’s already full of shit, so I need to find a place to stash this. Just for tonight.”

Charlie looked at the bags, uncomfortable and tense. “What’s in the bags?”

Malcolm gritted his teeth, remembering that he was still tied to Honesty. “You don’t want to know.”

Charlie grimaced. “C’mon, dude. You know I’ll have your back, but don’t you think I should know what I’m getting into?”

Malcolm’s shoulders slumped. And then with shaky hands, he closed his eyes and unzipped one of the backpacks and showed Charlie the lyrium.

Charlie’s mouth gaped. “You’re a dealer?”

Malcolm grimaced, feeling the judgment. “Don’t tell Taylor, okay? It’s just until I can escape the Circle.”

Charlie looked down at the lyrium uneasily, his eyes wide and fearful. “You’re putting a lot of trust in me. This is a big moment.”

Malcolm rolled his eyes. “So, can I count on you or not?”

Charlie gulped. “Okay, man. Whatever you need.”

Malcolm started to look around the room and saw Charlie’s hamper. “Laundry was just done, right?”

“Yeah, yesterday.”

Malcolm grinned. “Perfect.” He dumped out Charlie’s clothes, put the bags in, and placed Charlie’s dirty clothes back on top, and then he rummaged through Charlie’s dresser and threw more clothes on to better disguise it.

“Dude, I still need to wear those,” Charlie groaned.

Malcolm waved his hand, further cloaking the bags by covering them in a wrinkled illusion, so they looked like just more clothes for anyone rummaging inside. Then Malcolm snapped his head at Charlie. “Help me test something.”

Charlie raised a thick eyebrow, yawning. “Yeah, whatever, dude. Just tell me what to do.”

“For now just watch.” Malcolm closed his eyes, concentrating to see the barriers between the worlds. He was always aware that there was this liminal space between realities. He could feel it every time he phased through the waking world and into the Fade. He reached out and touched it, slicing a sliver of reality like a needle threading through a cloth. A white line followed the tip of his glowing finger. When he pulled it away, the line bubbled open with a pop and a soft heavy humming filled the room.

Suddenly there was a hole in reality and it felt like the world was leaking into it. There was a heaviness coming from the hole, a strange aura emanating from it. It was just a white blank space like someone had erased part of the scenery.

Charlie gaped, unable to speak as he watched in terror.

That’s when Taylor popped into Charlie’s room with excited energy. “Charlie! Charlie, wake up! I need to tell you something about Mal-” Taylor saw the hole in reality and her eyes popped open as her mouth dropped.

Malcolm hunched over. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Taylor pointed to the portal. “What the fuck is that?!”

Malcolm hushed her and hurried to shut the door behind her. He shrugged. “I don’t know, yet.”

Taylor clutched a black grimoire to her chest. “What do you mean, you don’t know! What kind of magic are you experimenting with now?!”

Malcolm gritted his teeth as he grabbed a pencil off Charlie’s desk. “Look, I needed a place to start storing shit I can’t exactly hide in my room, so I thought I could make a pocket dimension, but I don’t really know if it’s stable yet. Now that you’re here, you can help me.”

Taylor set down the grimoire on Charlie’s desk, her news completely forgotten. Her glasses gleamed as she studied the portal with wide excited vivid purple eyes. “Gladly. Tell me, how did you create this dimension? I wasn’t aware you’d read Hugo Everette’s multi-verse theory. Did you actually just prove him right?”

“I mean, Enchanter Jakoby assigned that as an essay ages ago, but I wasn’t trying to break into another dimension, rather the space between dimensions.”

Taylor's mouth gaped open, her pointed ears twitching. “How, though?”

Malcolm walked up to the portal and placed part of the pencil in. “You know that moment in the Fade when you transition from one area to the next? There’s a similar dimension between our world and others. Kind of like insulation in the walls of a house.”

Taylor placed a delicate finger on her chin. “Yes, there’s a certain spike in the energy where you can feel the dimensional shift. There’s a lot of energy in liminal spaces such as portals. Could be an untapped source of power.” Taylor watched in interest as the pencil disappeared into the hole in the air. 

Charlie just sat there gaping like a fish as his two friends continued to talk circles around him. 

Malcolm took his hand away and the pencil just floated there, half of it gone. He scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, I thought that maybe I could keep stuff in between. Kind of like a portable suitcase.” He pulled out the pencil and it seemed just as normal as when he put it in.

Taylor snatched the pencil from him and balanced it in her fingers. “Fascinating, there’s a strange aura emanating from the matter. I’m not really sure what it is. Radiation?”

Malcolm shrugged again. “I have to do more testing to figure out how safe it is.”

Charlie was unable to say much at all. His knuckles whitened as he clutched the sheets of his bed, terrified.

Malcolm reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of lyrium. “So I’m going to leave this in for twenty-four hours and, if the vial is still active after, I think I can safely put other things into it.”

Taylor gaped at the lyrium. “Where did you get that?” she asked.

Charlie’s eyes suddenly shifted uncomfortably to his hamper.

“This is leftover from when I still worked at the clinic,” Malcolm quickly lied. He cringed, knowing that he just hurt Honesty, but hopefully being honest with Charlie balanced things out. Malcolm started reaching for the portal.

“Wait, Malcolm, we should do some more testing-” Taylor widened her eyes, trying to stop Malcolm from putting his hand in but he already had.

The hair on Malcolm’s skin started to stand up. “Funny… It feels like… static electricity, I think. My hand is starting to go numb.”

Taylor yanked Malcolm’s hand out. “We don’t know how safe that is, you idiot!”

Malcolm looked at his empty hand. “Well, I guess now I just wait and see if I can take it out later.”

Taylor studied Malcolm’s hand carefully, trying to see if there was any damage. “You need to be more careful when testing new magic. You don’t know what’s going to happen with these things. I mean, you don’t even know what you made!”

Malcolm stared at the white hole in the air. “I think I found the Void.”

Taylor and Charlie’s mouths dropped. Taylor pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “How can you possibly know that?”

“I don’t.” Malcolm gritted his teeth, but there was something familiar about the energy. “I just feel it.”

Taylor and Charlie stared at the gaping hole, the energy was not quite malevolent, just devoid of life and love and everything. It had this sinking feeling, like quicksand. Like if they left it open for too long, the hole would just eventually absorb everything.

Malcolm stepped up to the portal. “Well, the only way to know for sure is if I look inside.”

“Malcolm, no!” Both Charlie and Taylor shouted at once.

Malcolm rolled his shoulders. “It’ll be fine. Taylor’s a great healer and it’ll only be a second.”

Taylor pulled at Malcolm’s shoulder. “Malcolm, if your head explodes, there’s not going to be a thing I can do.”

Malcolm smirked. “The pencil didn’t explode.”

Taylor jerked him back. “We haven’t tested living matter.”

Malcolm shoved her off. “That’s what this test is for, right?”

Charlie rose from his bed, waving his hands up in warning. “Dude, monumentally bad idea.”

Taylor pulled at her coils. “Ugh, Malcolm, if you die, I’m not going to shed a tear, you hear that?!”

Malcolm cracked the tension out of his neck, only feeling slightly nervous. “Noted.”

Malcolm wasn’t even sure why he was doing this. But he had this burning curiosity that couldn’t be sated. There was just something strange about the energy. Was there actually a world on the other side? What if he could escape through that hole?

Before Taylor or Charlie could stop him, Malcolm stuck his head into the portal. Immediately his skin felt licked with static, his face going numb and losing warmth. His eyes stung, but he kept them open to try to comprehend what he was seeing. And he just couldn’t. There was nothing. No color. No light. No sound except the blood rushing in his ears. He immediately gasped, which was a mistake. There was no air. His lungs collapsed. And suddenly he felt woozy, and the white void faded into darkness as he lost consciousness.

He felt Leandra’s lips on his, her strawberry flavor coating his tongue, along with the taste of blood. “Sinag, wake up! Please wake up!”

There was blood in his mouth, pouring out of his nose and tearing from his eyes. He couldn’t breathe from the liquid in his lungs, but still, he could see Leandra’s lovely face twisted up as tears hit his chest. His heart hurt to see her in so much pain. She shouldn’t care about him. She should just forget him.

“You can’t die! You can’t! I need you!”

But he could feel himself fading despite trying to hold on with all his might. He tried to grab Leandra’s hand, to let her know everything was going to be okay, but his fingers were too weak to move. His eyelids were heavy and they fluttered closed, sinking into darkness as Leandra screamed in his ears.

And then a voice that could only be described as alien and heavenly spoke. “My poor children. I’ve heard your tears. There’s nothing I can do in this lifetime, but perhaps in the next you can find happiness.”

Then Malcolm saw lifetimes passing by his eyes in seconds. He saw his mother’s face as her eyes teared up, welcoming him into the world. Growing up. Watching her be beaten. Trying to escape his father so many times. That terrible night when he’d finally been taken to the Circle. All his failed escape attempts, desperately trying to find his mother again. Being shipped to Kirkwall. Meeting Charlie, Taylor, and Carver. Realizing he was a Somniari and that his only chance at living a long life was to escape the Circle. Getting into lyrium dealing to start saving up for his eventual escape. Killing thousands of demons and spirits. Meeting Leandra and experiencing the greatest happiness. Realizing how wrong he was about the Fade and how he corrupted everything. Losing Leandra and letting her go. Now here he was, trying to learn to live without her, and everything seemed pointless.

Did he want to die? Is that why he’d been acting so recklessly? He was just existing, passing time and waiting for the end. Perhaps he wanted to speed things along.

Suddenly he gasped awake, coughing as air finally filled his lungs. He opened his eyes to find he was still in Charlie’s room. That vision of Leandra blinked behind his eyelids. What a strange dream.

Charlie crushed Malcolm to his chest, sobbing heavily. “Dude, why the fuck did you do that?” There was snot running down his nose. “I thought we lost you.”

Taylor was busy writing notes in her notebook. “I told you he’d be okay.”

Charlie wiped some snot with his sleeve. “You cried, too, when he passed out!”

Taylor ripped the page out of her notebook. “And then I healed him, and realized the jackass was fine and just passed out from shock.” 

Malcolm rubbed his throbbing forehead. “How long was I out?”

“Probably close to an hour.” Taylor placed the page on Malcolm’s lap. “These were the calculations I made after creating my own Void. We tested with some live matter and honestly, Malcolm, you’re lucky passing out is all that happened.” Taylor opened up a Void portal and a dead mouse dropped out and plopped on the ground, twitching wildly for a few seconds before it finally stopped moving. “There is no oxygen in the Void, no matter at all for that reason. It actually seems like it will be excellent means for preservation, but it’s hostile to living life forms.”

Malcolm looked at Taylor’s notes. They told him how to make the Void bigger and more stable, Taylor’s best guess at what the Void was made up of, as well as notes on other things she’d tested and noticed in her observations about the mouse. It only took two seconds of being in the Void for the mouse to have a heart attack and die. Taylor was right. He was lucky to be alive.

"What did you see?" Taylor's eyes were eager and paying attention to Malcolm for the first time.

Malcolm blinked trying to remember. "Nothing. I saw nothing. Just a great big expanse of emptiness. It was definitely the Void." 

“Unbelievable, and you just stuck your head in.” Taylor shook her head, her cloudy hair swaying. "Malcolm, you are the biggest dumbass I have ever met." 

Charlie sniffed, wiping his wet face. “Seconded.” 

Malcolm noticed that Taylor and Charlie were sitting rather close, their hands on top of each other casually. Malcolm raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Taylor… since when did you start coming to Charlie’s room at night?”

Taylor’s purple eyes widened and she sputtered, unable to say anything coherent.

Charlie snapped his hand from Taylor’s, as if he’d been burnt, and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “She just comes in and shares research she finds. It’s nothing weird.”

Malcolm narrowed his eyes in disbelief. “Uh-huh.”

Taylor retreated from Charlie, grabbing the grimoire off of Charlie’s desk. “Since Carver was arrested, I know Meredith is not going to find the real culprit. So, after I was forced to hand over all my research, I spent the last couple days recopying what I remembered, and then broke into the library and stole the Fell Grimoire back to finish decoding the Formless One’s spell.”

Malcolm’s jaw dropped. “You stole something? I think I actually respect you now.”

Taylor snorted. “I neither want nor ever needed your respect, Somniari.”

Then Malcolm’s jaw then fell to the floor. “Fuck. Y-you know-”  

Taylor smiled confidently. “I know you have the power to help Charlie through his Harrowing.”

Malcolm tensed up as Charlie looked at him in confusion. “He can?” Charlie blinked at Malcolm. 

Malcolm looked back at Charlie, determination in his eyes. “I can walk in dreams. I’ve been preparing for your Harrowing, waiting for the night that they take you. When they do, call for me.” Malcolm put a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about, dude. Just trust that I have your back.”

Charlie looked down at his hands, an unsteady smile on his lips. “Okay, dude. Sure.” 

Taylor’s full lips curved softly upwards in peace. She then pulled open the book to the Formless One’s entry and pointed to part of the writing. “I also know that Somniari blood is needed to both summon and bind the Forbidden Ones. And there’s more.” She brought the book back to face the boys, her glasses reflecting the runes of the surface. “The Fell Grimoire says that Emerius, the land Kirkwall was named when it was part of Tevinter, was built upon ancient sigils. This book claims that even the streets are designed so blood pools to the ancient seals underground the City, to further thin the Veil.”

Malcolm’s heart dropped to his stomach. “What for?”

Taylor’s voice quivered. “To bring the Forbidden Ones through.”

Charlie’s medium brown skin went completely pale. “Why would anyone want to do that?”

Taylor flipped through the end of the book. “I don’t know but they did try, and it was a disaster. Apparently, they spent ages trying to breed for a Somniari to be sacrificed but none survived to the awakening of their powers.” Taylor jabbed a finger at a couple of lines of text. “However, they found their Somniari in a slave and sacrificed him. The book is unclear on exactly what happened. There’s a time gap in the entries.” She flipped through the end of the book, showing how sparse the written records became. “When it picks up again, Emerius was completely destroyed. Apparently, almost everyone died. The Chantry had to come and pick up the pieces, and the newly established province was named Kirkwall. This research was deemed too dangerous and the Fell Grimoire was locked safely in the Circle’s vaults.”  

Malcolm blinked, his head still pounding. “Fuck, that’s… fuck.”

Charlie nodded, his face blank with horror. “I don’t understand half the things you two talk about, but you’re scaring the shit out of me.”

Taylor looked at Malcolm. “You’re the Somniari. You’re still probably our best chance at finding this abomination before they Tranquilize all of us. Have you sensed anyone that feels off?”

Malcolm rubbed his chin, thinking back on strange encounters. “You know that one dude that always hangs out with Orsino feels creepy. Q-ball.”

Taylor nodded, her face grave. “I’ll start watching him and see if he’s acting suspicious.”

Malcolm gritted his teeth. He wasn’t sure if he should really be dragging Taylor into this, but it seemed like Taylor had somehow gotten in the middle without even trying. “Alright, I should head back to the dungeons before they catch me out of my cell.”

No sooner than he had finished speaking, the emergency alarm started blaring loudly, the air vibrating with sound. Malcolm jumped to his feet. “Oh, shit, they must have found my cell empty.” Malcolm dug through Charlie’s hamper and grabbed the bags he hid. “There’s no time to do more testing. They’re going to be tearing apart rooms now.”

Taylor raised her eyebrow. “What is that?”

“No fucking time for your big nose, Taylor. We gotta get out of here.” He opened another Void, stuffing the bags inside.

He grabbed Taylor’s hand to drag her out of the room when she said, “Wait, wait, wait, I need to hide the grimoire.”

Before Malcolm could ask how, Taylor had opened another Void portal, stuffed the grimoire inside, and then popped it shut just as fast. Then she shot Charlie a warning glance. “Get back in bed.” Her head snapped to Malcolm as she grabbed his hand. “We gotta go.”

Malcolm and Taylor both turned invisible as they exited Charlie’s room, the alarm still blaring.

Malcolm could see the faint distorted outline of Taylor in the hall. “You going to be okay getting back to your dorm?”

“Of course. Just hurry before they catch you,” she snapped back and then started dashing away back up the stairs.

Malcolm ran in the opposite direction. He made his way back into the dungeons and paused, having found Templar-Recruit Trudeau’s broken body on a bloody pile on the floor, his face contorted in horror similar to Matthew's. There was a crowd of Templars guarding Malcolm’s empty cell.

“Do not rest until you find him. He’s killed a Templar on watch.” Templar-Luitenant Jiminez ordered the two other Templars away, and they split off in opposite directions, aiming their guns at the shadows.

Malcolm’s heart sunk. A Templar was killed while he’d been missing? Malcolm didn’t know how he was going to get out of this one.

He closed his eyes, falling asleep slightly so he could reach into the Fade. He connected to each of the Templar’s minds and muddied them, so they didn’t notice Malcolm walk past them and back into his cell,locking the door behind him. And then Malcolm hooked his Fade strings deep and twisted them, rewriting their minds so they didn’t remember he was missing. The Templars blinked blankly, unsure of why they were even standing outside of Malcolm’s cell in the first place.

That’s when Meredith came marching down the stairs of the dungeon, her shrill voice ringing the halls. “Where is the elf?! How could you lose him?!”

Luitenant Jiminez blinked at Meredith. “What? Who did we lose?”

“Hawke!” Meredith’s voice boomed against the stone.

The Templars all looked at each other in confusion. Luitenant Jiminez pointed at the cell. “But Hawke’s been in there the whole time.”

“Then why did you report him missing from count?”

The brown Templar was thoroughly confused. “I reported him missing?”

Malcolm gritted his teeth, considering rewriting Meredith’s memories too, but the more he messed with people’s minds the more chances someone would find out about his Somniari powers. And he couldn’t be sure, given Meredith’s paranoia, that she wouldn’t be able to see through his strings. Malcolm tried to think of a cover instead and like most of his plans, he quickly pulled down his pants.

“How could you all be so careless! Hawke is dangerous, cunning! You can’t underestimate him for a sec-” She opened the door to Malcolm’s cell to find him squatting over the hole that served as his toilet, taking a shit.

Malcolm groaned, playing up his annoyance. “You always have impeccable timing, Stannard.”

Meredith marched up to Malcolm, red-faced. “Where were you? How did you kill Trudeau?”

Malcolm narrowed his eyes, farting loudly. “I was here the whole time and I didn’t kill Trudeau.”

Meredith went red, her blue eyes popping with blood vessels. “That’s it, elf! This is enough suspicion for me to have you Tranquilized and believe me I’m going to enjoy doing it.”

That’s when all the Templar’s walkie-talkies went off at once. “Please note, apprentice Getran Becker was not found during tonight’s bed check. We believe we have a runaway on our hands.”

Malcolm’s heart sunk. Getran Becker was just a stupid sixteen-year-old elven kid who barely knew life. Meredith was going to use this chance to destroy him.

Meredith snapped up, a bloodthirsty smile on her lips. “I guess we have a hunt, boys.”

Malcolm wiped his ass, quickly pulling up his pants as he stood up. “Wait, Stannard. You know that’s just a kid who’s scared shitless. This is his first offense. Don’t throw the whole book at him.”

“My men are dying. This mage is a risk I cannot tolerate.” Meredith glared at him, her blue eyes cold and merciless. “If you’re not careful, I’ll make room for two brandings in my schedule tonight.”

Malcolm gulped, his eyes cast downwards. He knew he was hanging by a thread, and he wasn’t eager to cut the string.

Meredith’s heavy heels marched away, as she smirked gleefully. “We’re going to keep you in here until it breaks you, Hawke, and I’m going to enjoy seeing you broken.”

And then she slammed the door shut and locked him back inside.

[the-blackholeus]

I just had the strangest idea...

What if Remor (Fran Bow) of my AU met the King of My Beautiful Paper Smile...

Just imagine, Remor, who is now king of the fifth reality and ruling it with an iron fist, finding the dimension of My Beautiful Paper Smile.

And since it is filled to the brim with pain and suffering, and basically a gigantic table with endless portions of delicious meals for him and his Kamalas, they of course made themselves right at home, joyfully feasting, and becoming stronger than ever before.

Yet almost nothing happens without attracting the King's attention, and as the reports of "Strange, unnerving creatures that roam the dark" were made in massive amounts, he decides to investigate.

[decennia]

Hey there! Could I be added to your taglist for Althea please? ^.^ And also, what’s the meaning behind her fic title?

Ofc! Added 🥰

Okay, so, A Funeral March in Eight came about when I'd been briefly researching funeral traditions (for a book, I swear). And I came to notice that the musical procession was divided into sections, or, as they call it in music, movements. Typically, there are only four, but it all depends on the composition.

The "eight" began in reference to each of the Harry Potter films, the Deathly Hallows being split into her school year under the tyranny of the Carrows and the Battle of Hogwarts, movements seven and eight. But eventually, The Eight™ came to represent the eight deaths in Althea Abbott's life, the ones that affected her most. They don't really fit into their respective movements, but the idea of the Eight being representative of the deaths rather than the films is still fairly new to me, and it was more of a serendipitous realization than a fully planned out thing. They are listed as follows:

Quirinus Quirrell (although she hadn't been remorely close to him, his death was the first she'd been exposed to, and set the tone for how her school years with The Chosen One would really play out as opposed to the fantastical imaginings she'd conjured hearing of Harry while growing up)

Cedric Diggory (listen I'm not ready to revisit last night's pain, but Althea really loved him and it hurts)

Sirius Black (she grows close to him in Order of the Phoenix when they are in Grimmauld Place together, as she and her tamily go into hiding following the death threats her mother begins to receive. She is there at the Department of Mysteries, and sees the death first-hand)

Lorelei Abbott (the whole reason why Althea is an Abbott and not some other name, is because of Lorelei. I remember Hannah having been taken out of Hogwarts during the beginning of her seventh year because of the death of her mother, and I really wanted to explore that a bit. It was also the entire reason I decided to name the fic A Funeral March in Eight)

Albus Dumbledore (listen, I know we — as readers — can all see what a shit Albus is, but to his students, he was their hero. And Althea is unfortunately not exempt from this. His death hit her hard, as she believed he was their last true defence against Lord Voldemort)

Cantankerous Nott IV (sentenced to life in Azkaban was barely a triviality to the already elderly Cantankerous Nott, so when he passed, of natural causes in his cell, Althea felt no pity. But she did have reason to feel joy [reasons will be made clear in OoTP])

Nymphadora Tonks (she was everything to Althea. Althea saw her as her hero, both bonding over being Metamorphmagi, Tonks being such a badass, and a Hufflepuff to boot. Her death was incredibly difficult for Althea to stomach, because she'd always perceived Tonks as invincible. With Dumbledore, she could see the mortality in his age. With Tonks, it was different. Althea was made Teddy's godmother by Tonks before her death)

Fred Weasley (they were great friends, the Weasley Twins and The Hufflepunks regularly finding overlap in their common interests. They also danced together at Fleur and Bill's wedding [she is there as Wlibur Prewett's date. Coincidentally, Theodore Nott also happens to be there, as he is related to the Delacours through his mother, Bedelia] and Fred promised to go with her to Romania where she'd dreamed of studying Dragonology under Charlie Weasley. Althea never fully healed from his death)