#return to my portal roots

[the-scoreboard]

@headphone-the-idjit dragged my ass into portal again so I’m dragging their ass into making OCs anyways here’s ‘Failsafe’ their literal only job was to take over if GLaDOS lost her shit but they fucked up so now they have to socialize

I am not apologizing for photo quality

[ghostbsuter]

"Excuse me?" Jazz's voice echoes in the meeting room in space. She gains the attention of the heroes immediately and sees them tensing up in at her appearance.

Behind her, he swirling green portal is open, waiting for her to return.

A blond, coat wearing man, curses upon seeing her and gives a half bow. "Princess Jasmine," he speaks up, eye twitching.

"What brings you here?"

At the greeting and reveal of her title, few others fall into bows, the lady at the head of the table, wonder woman?, gives her a smile.

Her eyes pin the green skinned man to his seat, who in return tilts his head at her.

"My brothers birthday is soon," she focuses on the man again. "I'm simply here for a present."

The man tenses, another curse slipping. "Ah– king phantom, right? I wasn't aware his birthday would be so soon."

Jazz ignores him, calmly walking to the Martian and placing a picture of Mars before him.

"The tales of your people have brought much interest to my brother. He became a big fan." She tells, sharing her intentions at his light poking.

"I ask for a signature, it would make his day."

Martian Manhunter, alien hero, and once upon a time, a father even smiles. He's delighted yet feeling a deep-rooted sadness. The tales of his people continue to spread in the afterlife, it seems.

Jazz leaves quickly after, not before giving Diana a number, they are cousins after all.

Danny will love her present.

[loki-hargreeves]

In Another Life

Pairing: TVA!Loki x Reader (I tried to write it as a gn!reader) Warnings/Tags: angst, mentions of death (nothing graphic), Loki is a bit emo, romantic relationship Word Count: 1.8k Summary: PROMPT: wrong timing // When working with the TVA, Loki certainly doesn't expect to run into you. Especially after what he thought was a final goodbye. A/N: Using this prompt list by @ivystoryweaver . It's been too long since I last wrote for Loki so I'm going back to my roots with this one 🎃

Earth...2011....Timeline???

Loki steps out of the bright orange portal, straightening his suit jacket as he takes in his surroundings. It's definitely Midgard, or Earth as Mobius would call it. By the looks of it, they're in an alleyway somewhere and it's supposed to be 2011. If this timeline is anything like Loki's original timeline, he should be safe to roam these streets without people freaking out.

"So... we're looking for a needle in a haystack," Mobius sighs and rests his hand on his hip. The man glances at the device in his hand, one that's supposed to lead them to the temporal anomaly.

"I doubt it'll be more challenging than when we were looking for Sylvie," Loki smiles tightly. He is confident in his skills to track down the anomaly and figure out what's really going on in this timeline.

Mobius simply shrugs and looks at the end of the alleyway, into the town that is basking in sunlight, "maybe you're right."

"You know I'm right," Loki corrects him and takes the lead, walking out of the shady alleyway. They have a job to do.

It doesn't take very long for Loki to realize that this place is familiar, too familiar. After walking around town for a few moments, he knows it's not just his imagination. This is where he met you, in another timeline of course. All those years ago.

When Loki was younger, before Thor's attempted coronation and all that, he used to sneak through these portals that even Heimdall couldn't see. One of them would lead to Midgard, to this very town. At first, it had been fun, mostly something he did out of curiosity. Exploring the realm without being watched. Loki had been intrigued by people and their customs.

Then he had met you.

To this day, the Trickster's heart swells at the shared memories. To think the god of mischief had fallen for a mortal. If Thor or his friends had found out, Loki would've never heard the end of it. Looking back now, something like that would've been the least of his worries.

The few years you had spent together were brief yet some of the best years of his existence. You had fallen for him, not knowing he was a god, a prince or any of that. No, you fell for Loki for who he was. Saw the sides of him he kept hidden from everyone. And in return, Loki had seen just how wonderful humanity could be. How you, as an individual, made him believe in love. Selfless, real, passionate love.

Then Loki had trusted you with the truth. For a while, everything had been beautiful. No one on Asgard knew the prince was sneaking off to Midgard to see this mortal, and no one on Earth knew or tried to come between you. It had been just the two of you and nothing else mattered.

It's why Loki feels a mixture of overwhelming emotions swirling within him as he walks the familiar streets. It may be in another timeline and things could very well be different here, but many things look exactly the same. Everywhere he looks is a memory that unveils from the depths of his mind. He swears he tried ice cream from that shop once after you insisted he'd like it. You had been right of course.

"Weird…" Mobius mutters, his eyes glued to the device. "We're getting closer to it. It ain't moving at all," He explains and points at the red dot on the screen.

"Perhaps the anomaly is asleep?" Loki suggests, trying to figure out why it isn't moving. Something doesn't feel quite right though.

"Well they won't see us coming, that's for sure."

Loki just nods, too occupied with other things to even respond properly. Is it a coincidence that the anomaly has led them here? To a place so important to Loki?

Soon enough, Loki and Mobius are looking out to a field behind some houses. The sun is beginning to set, painting everything it touches with a golden hue. It's beautiful, just as Loki remembers it. That field out there is perhaps too familiar. By now, he's concerned about the coincidences. If the anomaly has anything to do with you, Loki isn't sure how he'd handle himself.

Do you even exist in this timeline?

A lump forms in his throat as Loki thinks about it. He had to say goodbye to you once already, over a decade ago. It might not be a long time for a being such as him, but a decade without you has already felt like a lifetime. Time is cruel, especially to mortals. What is even crueler is fate who had decided that the brief time you were promised in the first place would be cut so much shorter.

Loki had come to see you one last time without knowing it was the last. You hadn't been well. It was both a blessing and a curse that there had been enough time to say goodbye yet it had been the hardest thing Loki had done. Holding you, telling you how much you meant to him and promising you that he would find a way to cure you. That he would bring you to Asgard and make everything better, knowing damn well there was nothing that could be done. Now all these years later he can only hope that he had told you what you wanted and needed to hear before your time was up. Was it the right or wrong thing to do to create false hope? Did you know?

"What's going on?" Mobius asks with worry, noticing that Loki froze up. He knows Loki well enough by now to know when something's not quite right.

"This place," Loki shakes his head and decides to slip out a hint of truth without revealing too much, "I've been here before."

The wind plays with the flowers growing out on the fields, carrying the sweet late summer scent with it. There's a few people out there, some on a picnic as others read in the shade that the trees offer nearby. Everything about the scene seems serene. Once upon a time, Loki had been out there with you watching the stars. You loved his stories about all the places he had been. Loki recalls how deeply curious you were about the universe and all the beings living here.

"Do you think that's a coincidence?" Mobius asks with growing concern. Sure, Loki has been to a lot of places, he's a century old being but this still seems fishy. For all the places an anomaly could be hiding in.

Before Loki can answer, he sees someone.

There you are.

Healthy, living and breathing. You're in that shirt he remembers you loving so much because it had been a gift from a friend. You're walking down a path, on your way home presumably. That smile, so sweet and happy, is powerful enough to hit Loki's soul like a punch to the gut.

According to the TVA device, it's 2011. In Loki's timeline, you never saw 2011 yet in this timeline you're smiling and safe. Walking home as if nothing bad has ever happened at all.

Loki holds his breath, unable to peel his eyes off of you. There's only a few dozen feet between you and him but it feels like an ocean. After a decade of mourning you, to see your face like this is surreal. Even for him. Only now does the multiverse and multiple timelines feel like a reality. He's being hit in the face with the cold, hard truth that in other timelines everything can be so familiar yet so different all at once.

Mobius follows Loki's gaze, quickly noticing what has taken his friend's breath away. He has read Loki's file a million times so of course he recognizes you. Or rather this version of you. You're the one that got away, the last piece of happiness in Loki's life before the 'downfall' as some call it.

"Um... if you're wondering, they're not the anomaly," Mobius is the first one to speak, just trying to be reassuring. The device shows that the anomaly isn't moving so it can't possibly be you as you stroll down a path.

Loki nods, unsure if he should be relieved or disappointed.

"Of course," he clears his throat and takes a deep breath. It's surprisingly difficult to find his words in this moment. Then Loki looks back at you as the path brings you closer. With each step, his heart begins to race like crazy. What is he supposed to do? Should he say something? Would you recognize him?

You notice the two men just standing there, in strange brown suits. One of them in particular seems struck by the sight of you. Strangely, he doesn't scare you. He's cute.

"Hi," You smile at him as you walk past the man. Perhaps you look like someone he knows? That is the only sensible explanation that comes to mind. Not that you think of it too much, as they are just strangers.

Loki is frozen. You walk right past him. For better of for worse, you have no idea who he is. That kills that tiny piece of hope Loki felt in that moment, that hope that he can't deny no matter how hard he tries. After all this time, he still misses you. He's still trying to fix everything.

"Hey," he manages after a while, unsure if you even hear it as you don't stop to talk. Of course, you don't have any reason to. It's not really you. In this timeline, this universe, this other you has places to be and see. As bittersweet as it is, Loki tries to find comfort in the fact that in another life, you get to live even if it's without him.

Mobius looks at the screen again. Suddenly the red dot vanishes. The temporal anomaly just jumped timelines.

"Darn it," He curses and puts the device down.

Loki doesn't question it. He wants to see you make your way home safely. A part of him wants to run after you, talk to you, get to know you all over again. But he can't. Loki is stuck to the ground like a statue and he knows deep down that another you can't replace what he knew existed in the past. Nor would it be right.

As you vanish into a building, Loki finally tears his eyes away. His eyes sting with the threat of tears. Somehow, in this moment, it feels like he's gone back to his own time when he had just said his final goodbye. Loki can't forget, no matter how much he wants to, when he came to visit you but you had already passed. He could bury you but not these emotions.

"Hey, I'm sorry," Mobius puts his hand on Loki's shoulder, trying to offer him support.

Loki just nods and tries so hard to toughen up. As if seeing another you didn't just shake him up from the core.

"It's alright," Loki insists, "where were we?"

Mobius doesn't buy it but he won't pry either. Loki will talk if he wants to talk.

"The anomaly jumped," Mobius reveals while tapping the device, "kinda weird timing if you ask me. Didn't move the entire time and-" Mobius hesitates, unsure how Loki would react if he spoke your name. He decides not to.

"It's like we were led here on purpose. For you to see..."

"I know," Loki quickly spits out, sensing that Mobius is being wary. He isn't stupid. He can't help but suspect something strange is going on as well. It can't be a coincidence that they were led to this timeline, chasing some anomaly who vanishes as soon as Loki saw you. Loki is the god of mischief after all and he can tell when he's being set up for something.

Then the question is, who is the anomaly and why would they bring them here?

A/N: Writing this made me feel like it was 2017 again when all I could do was write weird angsty Loki fics with no real plot, just yapping.

Also, I've been busy so for writober I'm using a bunch of prompt lists (some were for september) and I'm picking and choosing prompts instead of going day by day. It's helping me get out of my writer's block without too much pressure ❤

[obsessive-valentine]

Hello,

what if reader tries to act nice and docile just so that childhood fae yandere lowers his guard but later tries to escape and how will he react after her failed escape..wil he be angry or amused..(Sorry English is not my first language )

Btw love ur work ❤️✨the childhood fae yandere is my fav✨

Fae Childhood-Friend x GN!Reader

How did you read my mind so well, I was actually just thinking about short one shots for each yandere with an escaped reader. Crying makes this yandere weak so he’s not as charismatic and put-together in this one lol. Also appreciate the compliment and your English is great! ❤️

This particular night while you lay awake beside him you’d worked yourself up and felt particularly brave. But not anymore, not now you’ve been running through the dark woods for what felt like an hour. The trees are thorny and stretch on forever with their leaves successfully covering the whole sky, not even moonlight could peer between the leaves to light the way slightly. You could have sworn your eyes closed if it weren’t for the firefly like bugs floating around and shimmering pools of water here and there.

Scrapes frequently clawed into your skin from prickly branches leaving a sting, at some point you began wondering if the branches were twisting and bending to reach you and claw at you more. And if the roots and needles were trying to grasp around your bare feet- leaving you to stumble rather than run... maybe you should have stayed in bed.

...

He hadn’t fallen asleep fully, he closed his eyes resting and waiting for your return, after you tiptoed out of the bed room presumably for a drink or to use the toilet. After a while he begrudgingly sat up and called with a slight of annoyance in his tone he called your name. The lack of reply made him get out of bed and search for you to drag you back to bed. His whole face darkened knowing you weren’t in the house at all, he gritted his teeth and rushed for the front door.

“Fucking idiot” he wasn’t sure if he was saying that about himself or you. He didn’t bother grab a coat or shoes and opened to run out the door into the cold winter with just his thin night shirt and trousers on. He knew exactly where to look.

...

You didn’t get far until the angry roots and branches began to bend and creak to scrape you, the forest was coming to life and became darker and horrifying the more you ran. At some point you ended up on the forest floor crying, exhausted and terrified. The forest made awful noises and you could see the sky though the thick canopy of leaves, you wasn’t sure if it was bugs or the cold pinching and biting at your exposed skin but it hurt all the same.

Everything ached and all hope of finding that portal was long gone. “Darling?” You heard a exasperated voice, and rushed feet, during his trek through the forest he was angry thinking about the paragraphs of lectures he’ll shout at you, that was until he saw you sitting defeated and broken on the forest floor “my sweet idiot, it isn’t safe out here for your kind” a pitiful tone but oddly full of love, you looked up to see him, all his anger melted away and he just wanted to protect you.

He knelt down in front of you and almost flinched from how cold you’d gotten when he went to wipe away tears and dirt from your face. His face reminded you of when you were both kids, how he desperately would try to stop your crying and distract you from the sting of the scrapes on you knees after you’d fell, but this forest was anything but the idillic nature you both played in. “Your okay now. I’m here” he hushed and brought you into a embrace as he caught his breath.

You hadn’t realised you began to cry again until you heard yourself sob out “I just wanted to go home” his embrace tightened at the thought of you leaving him. He whispered you name in your ear before instructing you “Calm your breathing” and you did, you understood the power he held over you, his ability to put you in a trance like state. And unlike the first time he used it to kidnap you, you are great full -you want suffocating on your breath anymore and sunk comfortably into his arms.

“This is your home now love, it just hasn’t grown on you yet ~but you’re mine you always have been, I can’t let you leave again” he murmured into your hair as he lifted you from the ground, you didn’t have the energy to argue with his words. The walk back was quiet, the woods behaved for him -nothing reached out to scratch or bite at you now, no beady eyes followed you and the forest top now let the moonlight shimmer through.

He carried you out the trees, through the gates, into the garden and then into the house much like the first time you arrived.

...

You expected a scolding and if he was honest he expected to be much more angry with you, that you would put yourself in such danger just to get away from him. Instead here you sat, on the counter in the bathroom in front of him as he (as carefully as he could) disinfected your scrapes -after a rather painful shower with the water dancing on your wounds, like it was making fun of your failed escape.

He only spoke a few words- just reassurances, at a loss of what to say, not wanting to upset you more. Instead he let his actions speak. He detangled your hair gently and helped you into pyjamas. He wasn’t even a bit angry but rather disappointed in himself, you looked so fragile and exhausted and it’s all his fault and insensitivity.

For a man with usually so much to say he truly didn’t know how to comfort his beloved, you looked exhausted so he brought you to bed but before he dragged the blankets over your body for the second time that night, he had to be sure he could sleep without being worried you’d run again.“Love, listen to me” he grabs your face gently “I know it’s a lot and I understand why you did it -but you can’t go outside alone, it’s dangerous and I’m not just saying that for my own benefit. Promise me, love” you tiredly nodded, you wouldn’t go back into those woods again it doesn’t play fair. Nothing about this realm is fair.

He nodded appreciatively, believing you. “we’ll talk more in the morning” he blew out the dim candle on the nightstand and lay down with you, with one less worry about his dear human.

You let him drag you into his chest and found comfort in it, so much so you fell asleep. He didn’t usually hold you like this, fae aren’t really touchy creatures and make for peculiar lovers. He’s a much better lover than most fae due to his history with you, being acclimated to your human emotions through the years growing together, but he still had some improving to do.

He’d been expecting and even cocky at times -telling himself you’ll come around, that you have to because he’s all you have, forgetting that you’re still just a human with different definitions of love. But not from now on “I’ll make you fall in love with me, I’ll make you feel more loved than any human could and you’ll never want to go back. I want to make you happy like i used to”

He takes this as a challenge, prove to you that you’re the only one for him and he for you. Because he is, you just haven’t realised yet.

[masterblooky]

I feel like everyone is underestimating how connected to everything is this season. Lizzie, Jimmy, and Mumbo’s death was connected to like five other things.

Gem opening the portal is like the root of half the incidents on the server

Everything that’s happened feels like a large cosmic coincidence. Everything is so closely intertwined. It’s brilliant. Everyone and no one is to blame for anything.

for example if everyone went to Lizzie’s birthday, she would have never gone invisible horse riding to cheer herself up and even if she did she would have the health to withstand Jimmy’s attack. But on the other hand, if Joel hadn’t been the only one to come, she wouldn’t have gone to the end to help him out.

so who’s to blame? Gem? Joel? Everyone else? Lizzie herself?

And then returning to everything being a coincidence, (mentioned this in my other post but) Martyn going red in the end and Lizzie, the first red, dying in the end. Lizzie watching Martyn fall off and then Lizzie falling off later on.

Gem bringing (almost) everyone to the End. Lizzie failing to bring anyone to the End. The two of them being the substitutes last season.

Whenever Scar is given a chance to be on a team with Grian on it he has a task preventing him from doing so

Everything has been a coincidence or a result of falling back on careless habits.

So when there’s no more room for coincidence. No more habits to fall on. Gem, who’s new and has no old habits to fall on, who has a Reputation for bloodshed, can be used to start the chaos all over again and begin the self perpetuated cycle all again.

[addicted-to-dc]

Hobie Brown/Spider-Man X FemmeFatale!Reader - Red Lipstick

I had to take a break from the Miguel brain rot and shift to the Hobie brain rot. This idea has been stuck in my head for days, so here it is!

Contents: Fluff, teasing, flirting, kissing, Hobie being handsy. Nothing too much. Just that I had too much fun writing this. 1k wordcount

Hobie’s seen you here before, and every time you saunter through HQ he can’t keep his eyes off of you. You practically look like you walked off of a pinup poster, the snug black dress hugging you in the right places with the fur and heels nearly making him walk right into a wall. Nearly.

He knows you’re from that Noir universe, you and your Spider-Man fighting against crime and fascists… It’s like you were made for him. Don’t even get him started when he sees you all dolled up in your suit. It’s driving him mad just not to speak with you. It made sense to not try, especially with how close you were to your Spider-Man.

One day after a very successful mission, he returns with one thing on his mind: talking to you. As soon as he steps through the portal and sees you, he takes it as a sign to approach. Your laughter only urges him forward.

“Please, Parker, you know I’m classier than that.”

Your smile curls upward, a playful look lighting your eye as you notice him. Hobie takes his mask off, giving you a curt nod as he stops in front of you. You look at Parker, your smile growing even more. “Consider it done, lay the file on my desk. I’ll go over it when I get back.”

“You’re a doll, (Y/N).”

You shoo Parker off with a smile, returning your attention to him, “Hobie, is it?”

The tension immediately melts from his shoulders as soon as you say his name. You invade his senses, your sweet perfume scrambling his brains for a few seconds. “Yeah, I wanted to introduce myself. You take my breath away every time I see you, Love.”

“You certainly don’t hold back the charm, do you, angel face?” you ask, taking an experimental step forward before leaning close. “Is that a gift for me?”

Hobie smiles and presents it to you with a bow. You gracefully pluck the box out of his hand. Your eyes curiously watch him as you open the box. Looking down, you see a lipstick case. Picking it up, you take the top off and twist, revealing blood-red lipstick. Without even looking at him you open a mirror he swears you produce from thin air.

As soon as you swipe the smallest amount of color on your lips he smiles, “I knew red would look amazing on you. Fascists hate it, y’know?”

You flash him a dangerous smile as you finish applying the lipstick. He’s sure he’s grinning like an idiot, but it’s worth it. Reputation be damned, you’re something special. You place the mirror and lipstick into a small handbag. It clicks shut gently.

“It’s a lovely gift,” you say, moving closer to him to peck his cheek. You pull back, admiring your handy work. “It looks just as good on you.”

“Maybe I can borrow it sometime, get back to my modeling roots,” he quips. His heart nearly stops at the sound of your laughter. “I’ll see you soon, yeah?”

Before he can react you give him another kiss, your lips sealing over his for a few moments before you pull away slightly. “I’ll be waiting, Darling.”

You stroll away into a colorless portal, turning around to blow him a kiss. He catches it and holds it close to his lips. You shake your head at his antics and disappear with the click of your heels.

“You’re so whipped.”

Gwen lands next to him, chuckling at his grin. Hobie shrugs, messing with his watch to get a portal back home. “Yeah, what about it? That woman’s fucking stunning.”

He couldn’t wait to see you again. Even though the red was an immense hit, he used his five-finger discount to get another gift for you. Finding another color that would compliment you wasn’t hard, he knew that everything would look good. As soon as he saw the metallic red one he had to snag it. He excitedly opens a portal to your universe. He steps through, immediately taking in the view of the dramatic lighting and architecture. 

“I didn’t think you’d show, angel face.”

He smiles and turns around, finally seeing you. You’re in your trench coat, but a more casual look compared to your usual suit. The red lipstick is on your lips, your smile looking more devilish than ever. 

“Got a bit distracted,” he says, holding another gift to you, “but I think it’s worth it.”

You close the distance, leaning in close as you gently unwrap the gift. It’s another tube of lipstick. You take it and place it into a pocket. 

“You not gonna try that one out for me?” Hobie asks, grinning widely when you pull him closer with his belt loops. 

“Help me take off this lipstick, Sugar, and I will.”

Hobie nearly groans at your request, leaning to capture your lips with his. He feels the pigment coat his lips after each passing kiss, driving him even more insane than you usually do. You bite onto his lip piercing and pull back, smiling when he grabs your hips and yanks you close. 

Your eyes feel heavy as his hands wander, sliding down to your ass to knead it. You bite your lip to silence yourself. He doesn’t like that one bit. Sliding his hands down even lower, Hobie grasps your thighs and lifts you onto him. Your dress hikes up just enough to wrap your legs around him. His lips migrate to your neck, spreading the red lipstick all over your neck and chest. One of your heels slips off your foot and falls to the ground, your composure gone as you dig your nails into his scalp and pull.

He reluctantly releases your neck, eyeing up the red spread all across your skin. You’re breathing wildly, trying to slow your breathing when he tries to go on for more. You hold him back, laughing breathlessly. 

“Your place or mine, Sugar?”

[occasionallyprosie]

The Look of the Hero

Chapter 1: "Bending the Knee"

After a string of particularly nasty battles, resulting in a deficit of healing items, the heroes end up in Legend's era just outside Kakariko. Only… the supposed relationship Legend has with the town turns out to be just a bit different than what they thought. Warriors especially isn't happy with what he discovers, and he knows Sky and Twilight won't be either.

Next>>

Read On AO3

----

Legend had Hyrule slumped against him, his arm looped over his shoulder. The others were staggering behind as he led the way to the closest town and safe settlement despite how much panic it sourced in his head.

His hair was still pink, it hadn't faded since Twilight begged him to change into a bunny while the rancher was sick. He was in his red mail—it was stronger and better protection than his hero's tunic—his hair had grown out significantly—Ravio and Wind like to braid it so he grew it out for them— and he didn't have his contacts in—he lost them in his fight with Yuga.

The panic about his appearance thrummed in his mind as they arrived at Kakariko Village and where it was nestled in the mountainside.

"Is that... Link?"

Legend looked up and spotted the woman who stood at the path, holding a crate of books.

“M—Miss Purah!" He called. "I have wounded, is there—"

"Come!" She said quickly, already rushing further into town. "I'll have the infirmary ready for a dozen."

"There's nine—" he sighed as she disappeared from view. He shook his head.

"Purah?" Wild asked. “I have a Purah too.” His voice was pained, most likely due to the rather deep gash in his side which he couldn’t even rest a bit as he helped Four, who had a broken leg.

"My... An old friend," Legend said. "I grew up in—near Kakariko. Come on. They'll help us."

Please don't let them call the elder.

They filed into the infirmary. Legend made sure everyone got to a bed as the medics quickly began to fuss over them. Just as he got Time into one of the beds, Purah dragged him to the last one and sat him down herself.

She wrapped his bleeding arm in a bandage as they spoke in quiet whispers. She didn't give him a potion—they both knew the elder disapproved of that—but she ran a hand through his hair.

"Link..." she breathed, worry filling her eyes.

"I-I haven't been able to fix it," he whispered. "I became a bunny again and last time it faded to blond but my roots are coming in and—"

"I'll fix it. I'll fix it, Kit," she promised. "Your clothes too, I’m sure I have some spare somewhere. Sahasrahla may be on his way if anyone mentioned your return—"

The door swung open.

Legend knew who it was before he even looked, it was the way the door was opened, the way they stepped into the room with a step, step-thud. Purah shifted to block him, but they both knew it was no use.

"Ah. Link."

Legend forced himself off the medical bed—ignoring both Twilight and Warriors telling him to not to—and dropped down on one knee, propping an arm on it and bowing his head.

"Elder Sahasrahla," he greeted blankly.

He didn't hear a response, but he also wasn't given permission to stand. Pain burned through him, his rib was still injured and his knee in bad condition too, his—Purah hadn't had time to help him bind it, but that wasn't something Sahasrahla would care about.

"So who are our guests?" Sahasrahla asked, moving further into the infirmary. Legend didn't dare move his ears to listen easier, keeping them straight back and hearing the medics continue to work with the other heroes. He begged one of them to speak up, knowing he wasn't granted permission to say a word.

"Kit, please," Purah whispered to him as Warriors spoke up and introduced them. "You’re badly hurt."

He barely glanced at her, meeting her worried eyes and saw her reluctantly give in.

The others spoke up, thank the goddesses, and explained the situation to Sahasrahla. They explained the time travel and the portals they all followed, Legend had hoped they'd mention how sometimes they had no choice but to enter a portal, but nobody did and he knew that dug his grave deeper.

Purah slipped a new bracelet over his wrist, almost silently pleading with him not to lose it in their tongue.

Once Sahasrahla was satisfied by the information he was given, he made that clear.

"I see. I will not bother you all any longer, though I must speak with Link."

"No—"

Purah went silent when Legend hit her leg.

"Was there something else you wished to mention, young Purah?"

Legend needed her to stay quiet, but of course she didn’t. "Elder, Link is still injured. He requires healing—"

"Purah," Legend spoke, daring to break his silence. He didn't raise his head. "I'm fine."

"Link—"

"See, he's fine. Let's go, young one."

Legend rose. He nearly fell back again but managed to play it off as bowing again as Sahasrahla left. He forced himself back to his feet and followed without looking any of his companions in the eye.

The villagers looked sad when they saw him, blood soaking the side of his tunic, the slight limp in his step from rolling his ankle on a rock while fending off a monster.

Sahasrahla led him to the elder's home and Legend promptly dropped to a kneel as soon as they entered, hoping his blood didn't drip to the carpet floor.

Sahasrahla moved around him and he held his breath, preparing for the oncoming scolding and pain.

And like clockwork it came. A hand grabbing his hair and forcing him to raise his head.

"What is this?" Sahasrahla hissed. "And amongst heroes too? I do not know why some wore blue, or red and purple in addition to it, or why one wore full armor, but this is not the look of a hero."

He pulled his hair painfully and suddenly he was ten again, fresh after his first adventure.

"This hair must be fixed," the elder said lowly. "Burn this wretched pink out, and cut it too. This is far too long for a hero. And your eyes—"

Link only barely kept his face impassive and kept the tears from forming as Sahasrahla grabbed his chin now, grip punishing, and further forced his face up so he could see his eyes.

"Red is not the color of the hero. Green or blue are his colors, we were kind enough to allow you to choose blue for your eyes. And that goes for your clothing too."

He practically threw Link's face aside, the kid teenager barely managed not to fall over with the force.

"What was that the woman said? You required medical attention? And that cut in your arm... do not think I didn't see your limp either, Link. Tell me."

"My injuries are shallow and unimportant, they will heal by dawn," he forced out.

"Bah!" The elder's cane smacked his face, breaking open his lip. He barely kept himself from making a sound, or reacting to the hit. "You should not have been injured in the first place! You were trained better than that, boy."

"Yes, Elder."

"You will fix your hair, and your eyes, and your clothes. I best see a real hero next time you enter my village."

"Yes, Elder."

"And remind that woman, Purah, that you are nobody to her. Remember, Link. You are a Hylian, an average nobody, you have no ties to this village other than visiting to sell produce."

"Yes, Elder."

He managed to get back to the infirmary without collapsing, but that meant nothing for the moment he reached the bed.

Legend woke up pained, but to his shock, he didn't see the ceiling of the Kakariko inn. 

He saw the ceiling of a room he hadn't slept in since he was eight. 

It took him a second to realize it, and the moment he did, he shot up.

Any pain that flared through him was promptly ignored as he pushed himself onto his feet and leaned against the tabletop that was once covered in papers and pencils and paints and oils, it still was but far neater and organized.

He knocked over a chair and he knew it, he leaned back against the table, breathing heavily and blinking spots from his eyes.

The door opened and he froze up.

"Schol—Link? Are you alright?" Warriors. The blur of color brought the familiar voice toward him. He shook his head to try and clear the daze of injury and overnight healing.

"Captain?" He had to make sure.

"Yeah—You gave us a bit of a scare there, Scholar," he said and gloved hands guided him to sit on the bed he had near leapt from. "Miss Purah let us stay in her house, she said the old man—the elder, I mean, isn't allowed to enter a home unwelcome no matter his status."

Legend nodded. "It's against tradition, the home is to be protected against all evils, even emotional ones. If someone wished to enter, they can't cause any distress or lead others in the home to feel in danger, and as hosts we had to make sure any guests felt protected."

"The Sheikah are secretive in my time, I didn't know that," Warriors said and finally his vision was fully cleared and he could meet Warriors' eyes. "We need to talk, Link."

Legend grimaced. "Do we?"

"You walked away from the medics while extremely injured. We've had this talk before—"

"I didn't have a choice," Legend snapped, dropping his gaze and avoiding eye contact. "It won't happen again."

"Link," he flinched back from that damned name, Warriors reached out to grasp his arm, "what did that man do to you? You came back with a fresh bruise on your face and a cut on your lip that I know for a fact wasn't there before."

  Because Warriors had been the one to check Legend after the fight, because Warriors was their field medic and knew every single injury shown or mentioned.

Legend refused to look at him but Warriors was moving so he'd meet his eyes. What was worse was he met those bright blue—a soft cobalt color, almost metallic or maybe aquatic in shade—eyes, he felt a surge of fear at the reminder of the absence of contacts in his own.

He brought a hand up to cover them, forcing out a breath and ignoring the small flare of pain when he brushed a sensitive bruise.

"Look, the Elder has certain expectations and I—"

"So he did that to you."

"Captain—"

"No. Did he or did he not hit you?"

Legend didn't respond but Warriors pulled his hand down from blocking his eyes. Piercing metallic blue eyes cut through Legend as Warriors forced him to meet his eyes.

"Link—"

"Stop it," he tried. "It's not—It's not a big deal, I know better—"

"Vet, you’re a kid."

"I'm not!"

"You're underaged in every era that has an age of majority!"

Warriors squeezed Legend's shoulders, trying to get the younger hero to just see what he was talking about. He was one of the few people who Legend actually told his age, which was surprising seeing as they were the least close for a while there.

Warriors had seen how dynamics played out from the beginning. Wind and Legend were a pair from the start, likewise Sky and Wild seemed to get along well while Twilight and Four were near inseparable. Warriors had been happy to have his baby brother—even if he wasn't a baby anymore—at his side again, and Time didn't seem to mind sticking closer, besides, his Sprite seemed to have gotten a Sprite of his own as Hyrule always seemed to follow after Time.

As time went on, Warriors had noticed the dynamics shift. Wild gravitated more towards Legend, who also attracted Hyrule into their little trio. Wind latched onto Time. Warriors found himself finding a strong feeling of camaraderie in Twilight and Sky. Four flitted around each group with ease.

And things kept shifting, generally reverting back to their very first pairings, but they came to a balanced mix where everyone was mostly comfortable with everyone.

 Yet, it took a long time before Warriors could actually connect with Legend. After he did, it was a night they needed to gather information and they were paired off, that Legend confided his age to Warriors.

The captain never expected their veteran to be seventeen, much less sixteen when they first met and turning seventeen within a couple months of gathering together, but that was the case. It became more obvious with time, but nonetheless, the teenager sitting in front of him was mature beyond his years...

That didn't mean he wasn't still a kid, and people who'd known him since he was little would know that.

Even if he didn't, the elder had no right to strike Legend.

Warriors squeezed Legend's shoulders gently and spoke fast enough that Legend didn't get a chance to argue without interrupting. "I'm not calling you a child, but you’re still a kid and even if you weren't, he has no right to raise a hand to you."

Legend scowled. "It was a cane, first of all—"

Warriors gaped. "A cane?!"

Legend seemed to realized that was not the right thing to say if he wanted Warriors to stop worrying or pushing. "It doesn't matter! It's not a big deal and it was perfectly avoidable if I was just—"

To the captain's surprise, Legend floundered for a moment, scrambling to find words, which was extremely uncharacteristic of their scholar.

"—if I just—I know better than to come to Kakariko like this." He gestured vaguely.

Warriors frowned. "Like what, Link."

He didn't like how Legend recoiled at his own name.

"Like... red and-and... not... not green," he said weakly, trying to hide his head in his hands again but Warriors quickly caught his face in his own hands. He was careful not to touch his injuries, but gently made him look up.

Red. Red like his eyes, dark and deep like rubies, in certain light they looked like fire, lava at the depths of volcanoes, and in other light they glinted like pools of blood.

He brushed his thumb under Legend's eye, gentle and careful. "Red like these?"

Legend grimaced and nodded. "I... I have contacts—I had contacts, blue ones, I lost them when I fought Yuga and Ganon last time but... I-I thought... I hoped I didn't need to replace them."

And if he wasn’t supposed to come here without them, he didn't intend to come back to Kakariko at all.

"Red like your tunic too?" Warriors added, raising an eyebrow and Legend nodded. "Why can't you wear red or let your natural eye color be there?"

He winced. "Because heroes don't look like the shadows they defeat."

"Who told you that?" Warriors asked.

Legend gave him an incredulous look. Warriors sighed.

"Did others than the elder tell you that?"

"Most of the old folk," Legend huffed. "Only Momma and Aunty said I shouldn't need to change to be a hero."

Warriors studied his face, the way his shoulders were drawn in and how he avoided eye contact. The way he spoke, quiet and almost hushed rather than just soft.

"Okay—Listen, your appearance doesn't define how much of a hero you are," Warriors told him firmly, well aware he was being hypocritical. "We can get Sky and everyone else who came before you, whoever they're making you emulate, talk to him and handle this."

"You can't—"

"You've never mentioned a mother before, Link."

Legend flinched again and Warriors wondered if he just shouldn't call him by his name.

"I... I don't have a mother," he corrected himself firmly.

“Then who told you that you didn’t need to change to be a hero?” Warriors needed him to stop holding onto this now-obvious lie he was expected to tell. Someone, the elder, had done something to make Legend deny his own mother. “Kid, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we aren’t exactly the most homogenous group, goddesses, the only ones with blue eyes are the Rancher, Champion, and Sprite. The Sailor has green, Traveler’s and Smithy’s are brown, mine are gray, and the Sky Knight’s, I swear, jump between blue and white.”

Legend snorted. “White? He isn’t the Old Man.”

“There’s a difference there and I stand by my words.” Warriors grinned a bit, he got him to laugh. “My point is, would you expect any of us to change our appearance for the sake of… what? Tradition?”

“No…” He almost smirked at how petulant Legend looked for a moment there. “But that’s—That’s different! You’re all—You…”

“We’re what?”

“You’re hylian,” he near whispered. “I…”

“I’m part Gerudo,” Warriors admitted. “My great grandmother was a Gerudo. Not to mention that the Skyloftian is human, and the Traveler’s half fairy. Kid—“

“But you’re part hylian, both you and the Traveler. Sky founded Hyrule, he’s the Chosen Hero, you think anyone debates whether or not he’s a hero?”

“Why does our blood matter? Why does our heritage matter?” Warriors pressed. “Come on, we both know that you don’t care that much, you’re just trying to justify it. Why are you actually worried about this?”

The long beat of silence that followed proved Warriors was right, the way Legend hunched in on himself.

He whispered something, far too quietly for Warriors to hear much less understand.

“I can’t hear you, kid.”

He glanced at him, then—still quiet, still barely a whisper, but just loud enough that Warriors could hear—repeated himself.

“He said he’d exile them… my mother and my aunt… Aunty could survive, she’s a warrior, we—they’re trained for survival. But Momma…” Legend trailed off. “She’s a scholar, not a warrior, she knows the theory but… Not to mention, Sahasrahla has all of the warriors under his thumb, Sheikah assassins, and if I… if I go too far, he’d send them after them.”

He was being threatened. His kid brother was being threatened, forced into this role by an old guy in power.

Warriors held back his fury to push pink locks back, and guide Legend to stop looking down at his lap to look him in the eyes.

“We won’t let him, you hear me? I’ll take Sky and the Rancher, and we’ll have a talk with him. We won’t hurt him, but we’ll handle it.”

“You’ll handle it?” Legend looked almost scared, eyes going wide and staring at him. "You can't hurt him. He's not--He isn't a bad person, Captain, he's just... set in his ways."

Ignoring that Legend was literally defending his abuser. “We’ll handle it, and I swear, he won't be... physically harmed, I can't vouch he won't take a hit to his ego though." He knew the other two would be absolutely ecstatic to… talk to the elder. “Do you trust me?”

“I do! I do, you’re—Of course, I trust you, all three of you, you’re my—But—you can’t just… Can you?”

He gently squeezed the back of his neck, pulling the younger hero closer and pressing his lips against his forehead. Legend went slack, inhaling sharply.

“We’ll take care of it," he said softly against his forehead, pulling away to look him in the eyes, "just trust me.”

“I… Okay,” Legend nodded slightly, something sad and resigned in his eyes. “Okay. I trust you.”

Next>>

[ckret2]

But to actually answer the "so what are the themes here" question @thedemonsurfer asked, which I like, totally skipped over answering: here's all the stuff I came up with the last time I talked about titles with friends, including titles that aren't quite good enough (and/or are jokes) and talking about the actual themes of the fic:

One title can't do EVERYTHING, there's probably no perfect title out there that'll go "okay so head's up this fic is about bill slowly making friends with everybody while fighting every step against becoming a better person and also a bunch of agonizing identity/dysphoria issues from being trapped in an ill-fitting body and also a major theme is that redemption can't come from Purification Via Punishment but from offering second chances even to people who don't deserve it so that they have a space to grow and also we're trying as hard as possible to keep to the tone & episodic style of the show and also 60% of the cast has issues from being Burnt-Out Former Gifted Kids. Even the ones that are still kids." But like. It'd be nice if a title at least did one or two of those

Fic title that's a song lyric but the lyric is from a song by Robbie so it's really stupid

I'm not against "lighthearted description of what's going on" since that IS a running gag in how i've been "titling" the chapters, and it WOULD both tell what's going on and do a better job of suggesting the tone what you're gonna get out of this fic

Bill Cipher Makes Friends. This Is A Warning The power of friendship, remorse, murder, and MABEL My Little Triangle: Friendship Is Magic Friendship Is Cosmic Horror Okay this is a joke title i won't go with because i don't want the title to be a mlp allusion but this does, unfortunately, unironically successfully capture several major features in the fic: friendship; cosmic horror; bill finding agony rooted in what should be positive relationships and attributing his self-professed "insanity" to the wrong sources; the collision between the friendly gentle earthly mundane and Bill's vast eon-spanning alien history; it sounds goofy; and it doesn't sound like many other fics

Not to give away too much; but in the broadest/vaguest possible sense, the portal is making a return. Which means... i realized recently... bill vs doors is, in fact, a theme with actual symbolic significance, and not just a running gag. I accidentally walked my way backwards into turning a plot convenience to keep him from escaping into something connected to a major plot point. so like. I could actually drop a door reference and it wouldn't be inappropriate.

Bill Cipher & Friends Vs. the Cosmic Horror of Doors It's not a good title but by god you'd know exactly what fic we're talking about "Haha the cosmic horror of doors because the goofy curse means he doesn't know how they work." / "oh no wait the portal is a door to cosmic horror"

"The door is open..." 30 years later, Bill, trapped in a dumb body with a dumb curse: "I literally cannot tell if the door is open"

He literally has been... Working for 1 trillion years,,, to GET A DOOR OPEN "Bill, I don't think it's the curse. I think you're just naturally bad at opening doors." "I'll kill you if you say that again."

So there's our themes.

[aro-in-danyl]

Alastor as a "Gift from God" AU part 2

I'll have you know it is very difficult to write from the POV of God so you get Roo instead. I had to look up bible verses for this.

PART 1 here.

-------------------

On the day of the first extermination cleanse.

When the first sinner was slain, Roo felt the soul attempt to rise. A fruitless endeavor, for their sinful deeds in life and in death ensured her roots bound the severed pieces of the soul to her.

Foolish angels, in culling the herd and stifling even the thought of rebellion, they only made her stronger. Roo tightened her vines around the soul and attempted to drag it down, down through the 7 rings, and to her.

Attempted, because before she even got past the Pride Ring, a stronger force yanked the soul upwards. Enraged and in disbelief she tightened her hold around the other souls being slaughtered by the dozens, but each and every time they were ripped from her grasp.

At the end of the day, when the exorcists were flying up and away from the slaughter, the portal to Heaven opened and Roo latched onto the connection and demanded an explanation.

"Have you gone back on your word?" her tone was taunting but her desperation and anger festered, "These souls are mine. Their punishment is meant to be eternal!"

Roo did not expect a response, God had not spoken to her since The Beginning, and God had no foothold in hell - usually. Today, apparently, was an exception.

God spoke to her, "My creations all return unto me in The End regardless. You know I cannot bare to be separated forever."

Roo did not buy this, "What ever happened to 'Depart from me, you who are cursed' was that not written?"

"Said by a King, not I." God refuted.

"But within your holy text." Roo sniped, "You reward their sin, their rejection of you, by accepting them back with open arms?"

"If you think that is what will happen to those who reject me twice, you know me not at all." And perversely, Roo felt relieved at this admission. "The righteous will have eternal life, the sinful - upon second death - nothing."

"And keeping them from me was merely a happy coincidence?" Roo felt emboldened, God must see her as a bigger threat than she thought, "To twist the meaning of your eternal punishment to exclude me, why I'd almost call that a quality worthy of a demon."

The portal, which had only been open seconds, pulsed with the force of God's anger.

Roo laughed. "You fear me enough to risk your angels falling into my grasp once again. Do you think this latest stunt of yours will keep me weak forever?"

"My angels have learned to evade you since then."

"Careful there." Roo feigned concern, "Anymore hubris and I'll have to save you a seat in Pride. I could put you next to your favorite child, wouldn't that be nice?"

God ignored the taunt, "I know your roots grow stronger on Earth. More fall to you everyday. Faster than even my best angels can catch them."

Roo smiled at the admission. To have her work acknowledged by the being who created everything, everything that would someday be corrupted and belong wholly to her.

God continued, "It is a testament to your strength that The End may be sooner than I thought."

Roo stopped cold. Her strength came from corrupting the creations of God, but if there was nothing to corrupt...

Ah. She thought. Nothing truly is an eternal punishment.

"Unless," God hedged. "We come to an arrangement?"

Suddenly the reason for God's desire to converse with her made sense. Here she was, weakened from the loss of over a hundred damned souls, from an event that would become a yearly occurrence. Here God was, with the threat of The End poised upon their fingertips, attempting to force her compliance.

And it was working.

But God had shown their hand too early, "How utterly demonic of you! You want to compromise with me? To reason with me?" She used her roots to trip a flailing exorcist trying to remove its spear from a corpse just because, "What can you offer me?"

"I will not hasten The End before its time." God stated, as if the threat of nothing was enough now that she knew God wanted something from her that they could not get themselves.

"You do not want to destroy everything you've created; you want it even less than I do. What is it you desire?"

The last few exorcists were getting ready to return via the portal, their clothes splatted in shade of red and an abundance of gore. They had yet to develop a tolerance to the violence they were perpetuating. Roo knew, just as God did, that many of the angels after slaughtering their first few sinners, had ripped their helmet off and vomited in disgust and despair.

Roo could feel their shock, their inner turmoil, their sense of righteousness, their loyalty to heaven. With time, and more exterminations cleanses, they would learn to enjoy the bloodshed. Or they would break. Such was the way of war.

"I wish to create a gift for Lucifer," God began, "A gift that will challenge him, embolden him, and remain by his side."

Lucifer! Why did it always come back to him? Around them, the corpses of the damned littered her domain never to rise again, God's angels grappled with the weight of their heavenly duty, and her influence weakened for the first time in decades. And yet it was Lucifer that made God lower themselves to speak with her!

Roo reigned in her rage, "And what does that have to do with me?"

"I am creating something unlike anything I've ever created before." God directed her attention back to the weak angel who'd finally pulled their spear from a corpse, "Immune to angelic destruction. Stronger than a thousand sinners, with the potential to stand against my Archangels, capable of vengeance and retribution."

Roo salivated. "And you're sending it here." Roo let the last of the shattered souls in her grasp go, not even paying attention as it shot upwards and away. "You'd create such a thing and put in my hands the instrument of your demise?"

"Which is why I appear before you. You know sin more intimately than I. So I implore you to cast off a piece of yourself for this gift and I shall do the same."

"And what is this gift?" The exorcist was attempting to clean the gore from the spear and failing. "And why should I give you anymore of myself when you've already taken so much?"

"A human soul."

"You intend to create a soul destined to hell before its first sin and gift it to the being who prizes free will above all else. Do you imagine he will thank you?" Roo didn't care about Lucifer's feelings regarding this gift, she couldn't wait to see the fallout actually, but she couldn't help but point out the obvious.

"No," God said, "he will not. As for you, this soul will bring a new age upon your realm. They will be The Avenger of the worthy. And a nightmare to everyone else."

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil," Roo quoted. "Is that why you need me? You want to avoid going against your own words, so you seek to blame me instead."

She did not give God time to respond, "But you still haven't told me what I gain. What do I care for this promised 'new age' or so-called Avenger when I am still trapped?"

"And that is my bargain," God attempted to comfort one of the angels weeping over a small sinner's corpse but their touch fell short. Seems they did not have power over anything in her realm but exorcised souls, she mused.

"With a piece of us both, this soul will have a direct link to us in a way no fully mortal being has before."

Roo would've gasped if she was capable of breathing, "Speak plainly!"

"They could free you."

"What's the catch? Why would you give them this power?" She could hardly believe it. It was too good to be true.

"You have the chance to be free. But you must convince this soul to do so of their own free will, knowing fully the consequences of your freedom." Roo dismissed this, she was The Root of Sin for a reason, and this soul was destined for her realm anyway.

"You are forbidden from interfering with their life before hell. And you must find this soul yourself once they fall."

A minor setback, but the call of freedom was strong. Still, she was not so blinded by this opportunity that she wouldn't ask, "And what, do you, The Almighty God, gain from this bargain?"

"A hellborn will become your greatest adversary, they will attempt to redeem sinners and remove them from your grasp." The portal to Heaven began to close.

"And should they succeed, your chance to convince The Avenger will begin to close. And you will never know freedom."

"A time limit!" She should've known they wouldn't play fair, "How long?"

They turned her attention to the newly built Tower in the center of the Pentagram. The timer below flipped through the numbers at record speed until it hit 365. "Seven full moons after the clock strikes zero for the last time. Do we have an agreement?"

God's voice was strong as ever, but the portal was now only the size of a quarter. Roo knew manipulation and this reeked of it, how clever of God to wait until the last moment to share all the details when she had so little time to think of it.

"When in hell, you use the proper term." Roo pretended to scold them. She reached out to the fading tendrils of God and sunk her thorns in as deep into the connection as she could.

"We have a deal."

[my-great-big-book-of-fan-fiction]

The Taming of Man: chapter Sixteen - Dragon Shifting!Katsuki Bakugou x F!reader

I got this one out early because I'm exciteddd! Enjoy!

beyond the line break is 16+ due to sexual themes. read at your own discretion.

Words: 2,571

This is incredibly based on the song The Willow Maid by Erutan, I highly recommend giving it a listen for the best experience.

Warnings (above line break): Cursing, reader is She/Her and AFAB, Talk of kidnapping and death, He loves you sm omfg

Warnings (Past line break): Cursing, reader is She/Her and AFAB, lots of physical touch, kisses from the chest up, one singular hickey, vague speak of masturbation, just two inexperienced lovebirds

A long time ago, there was a beautiful faerie maiden, who lived in a tall, sturdy willow tree. The tree of life. They say all trees are the saplings of this tree. It had big, knotted roots, and long twisted branches, reaching to the sky so it could feed its many beautiful leaves and flowers and fruits. She lived in the center of the tree, just where the branches start, and she was known to all the plants and animals as being kind and loving. She tended to the portal, feeding the mushrooms all they needed to grow, and guarding it from all wrongdoers.

One day, as she was singing blithely in her tree, she heard rustling in a bush nearby. Being the naïve girl she was, she climbed down to investigate. She stopped at the base, among the red toadstools, and emerging from the brush was a big, frightful man. He had a giant bow and a quiver of sharp arrows, a hunter. The birds flew and the deer scattered, leaving only the girl and the man.

He called to her from the bushes, saying, "Come to me, fair maiden," but she only shook her head. She said, "I cannot, I am bound to this tree always and forever. Do not ask me to follow where you lead."

With a huff, he left, and the birds returned, and the deer pranced in, and all was well again.

The next day, the same thing happened, her singing and then rustling in the brush. She, as naïve as she was, climbed down to see what was going on. She once again stopped at the base, watching the man return. This time, he held a beautiful flower, golden as the sun, and extended it out to her. He said, "You have captured my heart, beautiful faerie, and I will want to wed you."

She shook her head calmly, saying, "I will never wed you, not ever, for I am bound to this this tree always and forever. Do not ask me to follow where you lead."

The next day, the same thing happened once more, except this time she was already seated at the base of the tree, tending to the flowers there. The man emerged, this time with an axe. "If you will not come willingly, then I will take you and your tree," he said, raising his axe.

She screamed in fear, cowering as he landed a blow on the ancient tree. "You and I will raise children, and we will be together for the rest of our lives," he ordered, hitting the colossal tree again.

She wept as he chopped down her tree, her energy fading with each land of the blade to the wood. She wept as the tree came crashing down in only three strikes, animals scattering and squealing with fear. She wept as he grabbed her, walking her out of her precious home.

All the while she wept and she wept, her tears hitting the ground, flowing back towards the clearing she was born in. They watered the land, their journey only ending in the clearing, where they gathered into a babbling brook. Her tears flowed over the portal, not drowning the mushrooms, but rather strengthening them, with her love and nurturing energy.

Meanwhile, The man carried her tree through the forest, making her walk with him, until eventually, she couldn't walk anymore. She collapsed, just at the edge of the forest, falling to her knees. He ordered her to stand, but she couldn't. She began to fade away, her life force pulsing out of her, fueling the forest with her newfound rage. She never wanted this to happen again, not to any other faerie, so with her energy she turned the forest into a shield for the portal.

The area came alive around the man, the trees tripping him, the moss burning him, the flowers shooting at him. He died there, the woods consuming him, and the portal was safe once more.

"That was different from the song," Katsuki remarked teasingly, glancing towards you from his place on the bannister. He was leaning on it now, his elbows and back resting upon it. "Well, we had to make it easy for kids to learn," you shrugged, smiling.

"Isn't that kinda gruesome for kids," He asked pointedly, poking your arm.

"Isn't the crying lady gruesome?"

"No, it's sad," he defended half-heartedly. He took in a breath, looking up to the sky in thought. "That story isn't about some random man, is it?"

"What do you mean," you ask. He wasn't...completely right.

"It's about dragonborne, huh?"

You went quiet. You really didn't want to tell the story like that, it didn't feel necessary. "I- Y'know, now that you mention it, it could be," you say dumbly, hoping to make him laugh.

He does, but with a shake of his head. "You got a lot of horror stories about us, doncha?"

"Well...me disappearing two days before my birthday certainly won't help," you sigh, looking down at the garden below.

"Your birthday," Katsuki asked incredulously.

"Yeah," you nod passively, not yet realizing what it was you were saying. "You got here two days ago," he stated, staring at you.

"Yeah...oh yeah," you giggle nervously. In all the commotion, your birthday has been an after thought. "Yeah, I guess it is my birthday," you mutter, giving him an embarrassed look.

"When were you gonna tell me, dumbass," Katsuki asked sternly, standing upright.

"I dunno, I forgot," you laugh. It was cute how serious he was taking this.

"Well...we gotta do something," he huffs, taking your hand to drag you into the room.

"Like what, It's already late," you say, amused.

"Just...something," he says stubbornly, stopping as he realizes there's nothing to do right now. "Or...or I could get you something."

"all the shops are closed...and you don't have to, we could just spend time togeth-"

"Wait here," he says hurriedly, his mind already made up as he leaves for god-knows-where. You sigh, a faint smile on your face as you sit on the bed. You guess you're waiting now.

10 minutes later, he returns, panting a little, his hands full with glittering gold and jewels. Bracelets, rings, necklaces, all spilling from his palms.

"Wha- where did you get all this," you ask, laughing as he unloads the gifts into your lap.

"Treasure room," he says simply, sitting next to you. "nobody'll notice."

You smile, leaning your head on his shoulder. "I don't think I can wear all this."

"Then pick what you can and I'll put the rest back," he says simply, resting his head on yours now.

"Are you sure?"

"Just do it."

You sift through the items, eventually picking out a gold ring with a ruby stone, a gold necklace with delicate flower charms, and a gold bangle with jade veins running through it. "There, Done," you say softly, setting them aside. "You're pickier than I thought," he teases, taking the rest in his hands.

"it's not that I don't like anything else, I just can't-"

"I know," he says, uncharacteristically gentle, before standing to put everything back. "Wait, I want you to stay," you ask sweetly, smiling as you put the jewelry on.

"I'll be back, idiot," he grumbles, watching intently as you put on his gifts.

"I know...but I just want you here now," you say quietly. You felt kind of pitiful, not being able to go 10 measly minutes without him, but you felt a wave of sleepiness wash over you and you didn't want to fall asleep while he was gone. "You can take them back tomorrow..."

Katsuki sighs, rolling his eyes with a faint grin as he sets the small pile down on his desk. Without another word, he takes you by your waist and lifts you a little, pushing you back so you could lie down without your feet hanging off the edge. He lays on top of you, his chin on your chest and his arms around your torso, eyes locked lovingly on your face. "this good enough?"

"It's perfect," you whisper, happy. Your hand moves to run through his hair, taking the opportunity to feel those horns. They were just hard little nubbins right before his forehead, hardly formed, but they were there. You moved on, idly scratching his scalp. This moment...to think you would have never experienced it, if you stayed and got married to some duke of nowhere.

Katsuki leaned into your touch, sighing in content. His hands began to slide down, moving towards your hips, before he stopped suddenly. They moved back up quickly, and his eyes flicked to meet yours. Despite his hard gaze, there was a bit of jittery nervousness there, like he was gaging your reaction.

"Whatcha doin," you asked, smiling at his expression. He relaxed a little, his face returning to it's general annoyance. "Tryin' to sleep," he grumbled, closing his eyes.

"No pajamas?" You yourself weren't wearing pajamas, but the flowy dress was comfortable enough and you didn't feel like changing. He, on the other hand, had on a button-up shirt, and slacks, and that old, important necklace.

He huffed, now painfully aware of his circumstances, and sat up a little. He discarded all of his jewelry, and in the need to spite you for "making" him do this, he took off his shirt and kicked off his pants then and there. He still had his boxers on, but besides that he was now clotheless. He laid back down, resuming the previous position.

"Katsuki," you say, clearly shocked and flustered. "What? Lemme sleep," he mumbled gruffly, his brows furrowed slghtly.

You opened your mouth to say something, but...was it really worth arguing about? Here he was, toned body on display for your eyes, each muscle defined from the effort to work every part of himself. You wouldn't say anything.

Scars littered his back, some deeper than others, and on his arm were the faint little marks from the thistles that punctured his skin so long ago. You brought your fingers to them, tracing the warm and indented skin, while you trailed your nails of the other hand delicately down his spine.

Katsuki's grip on you tightened a little, his head tilting to rest his cheek on your breast as he slowly opened his eyes again. He looked impassioned, hungry even.

"Quit it," he finally muttered, his voice low and stern.

You were surprised, he seemed to enjoy it just a moment ago. You stopped as he asked, your hands moving back to his head, but you asked, "Why?"

"Because..." he started, glaring at you not in anger, but in a more affectionate annoyance. Because the circles you traced gave him Goosebumps. Because your fingers set a fire just below his stomach. Because your wandering little hands made him want to grab you, hold you to him, make you squeal and writhe and moan all because he made you. "Because I said so."

"That's a shit reason," you laugh. Especially because you could tell he wanted to say more.

"You're a shit reason," he insulted half-heartedly, too tired and too distracted to come up with something better.

"I'm offended," you say impassively.

"No you're not."

"I could be. Do you really wanna take that chance, Katsuki?"

he frowned, unamused by your antics. "Why do you always gotta be so complicated?" He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath and sighing it out.

"Because I said so."

"Stupid," he chortled, grinning despite himself as he ran his hand slowly down your side, to your hip once more. He didn't move it this time. You didn't move it, either.

He opened his eyes again. You were staring back at him, your own eyes half-lidded, your lips curved into a sleepy smile.

He sucked in a determined breath, before planting a lazy, open-mouthed kiss on the space between your breasts, watching carefully for a reaction. Only because it was easy to reach. He just didn't want to lift his head up. He was tired, that's all. Yeah.

You glanced back and forth between his eyes, searching for some instance of teasing. He was genuine. Genuinely kissing you with that expression like you're his everything because you are. You didn't stop him, you simply closed your eyes. You leaned your head back. You brought your fingers down his back in encouragement once more.

He propped himself up and kissed you again, this time moving to your collarbone. Then on the top of your sternum. Then, hesitantly and gently, he left a long, bruising kiss on your neck, a hand of his supporting your head as he keyed in on the subtle whining in your throat. Perfect. So goddamn perfect.

He pulled back, cheeks pink as he took in the sight. Your lashes fluttered against your warm face as you opened your eyes to meet his. Your lips were parted, slow and slightly shakey breaths leaving them as you felt his thumb slide back and forth against your hipbone, his knee edging up and barely parting your own knees. There on your neck was the purpling hickey he left, sitting just above your shoulder.

You could feel his eyes trailing over you hungrily, and a wave of nerves washed over you. "I...I don't know if I'm ready just yet," you whispered, embarrassed.

He pursed his lips, glancing in thought to the pillow beside you, before sitting up all the way. "...That's fine." He sounded almost pained.

"I...I didn't wanna lead you on or anyth-"

"Shut up. Don't say stupid shit like that. You're not leading me on," he said, his words harsh but his tone so gentle. He laid back down, this time beside you. He took your hand in his, his thumb tracing your palm as he looked down to you, his gaze hard. "Don't let me do shit you don't want."

"...I won't," you say, almost amused. Here you were, thinking he'd be mad. He cared so much about you, he respected you, he loved you. The thought made your heart pound, it made your breath catch. Consent really is key, huh? maybe you were ready.

"Katsuki...your mom said that you can't reproduce before being in the mating stage. How does that...work?"

He seemed a little confused at your sudden intrigue. "Males don't have...semen when they're not ready." There were other words he wanted to use, but didn't for the sake of being clinical about it.

"Do you...? Y'know, with the whole thing about us working different than each other?" If he was already growing horns, there could be other things he may or may not have early.

"I dunno...'s not like I check. Why're askin' this shit? I'm tired," he sighed. Now that his horniness died down, he was left with nothing but the craving to sleep.

You grin, turning to face him on your side. "It's for your benefit, trust me," you sigh, your own eyelids heavy.

It dawned on him then. "I- well, I could check," he says quickly, although you can tell by his voice that even if he did some self discovery, he'd knock out so quick after it'd be useless to find out now.

"nah, go to sleep," you say softly, your hand moving to slide down his shoulder soothingly. He lets out a huff, but pulls you closer. "Fine...but tomorrow," he says pointedly.

You haven't the energy to argue.

Ooooooh premarital kissinggggg 🫢

Taglist: @sky-angel101 @the-galaxy-fiend @chixkadee @ssplague @sappho-the-kitten-tamer @andysdrafts @daria-rona @tanjirofan63 @aizawaslut09 @tsukiiomii @me1297 @qardasngan

[thesentientmango]

18 anger and pearl

Thanks for the prompt! 18: “I didn’t ask you to do that!” from this prompt list

Read on AO3

Orginization:

Pearl was an organized lady. She was the cleaning lady- she ran the post office- she had her shit together.

Or well she should have her shit together.

Pearl knew what it was turning into. It had started innocently. A pile of shulkers for a building project, all in a line nice and neat. She'd even been color coded.

But then ten shulkers had turned to twenty as she needed more and more inventory room and then that turned to barrels and chests strewn about whereever she needed it and soon.

Well it was what it was. A chest monster.

And Pearl, despite all her preaching of cleanliness, couldn't bring herself to fix it.

It wasn't that she was attached. Nothing like that. She was just… it was different when it was your own mess. More overwhelming.

But she could do it! Just… tomorrow.

She didn't do it tomorrow. Or the day after that.

But it was on her list. She was going to do this. She started at the pile. It was only getting bigger. She didn't even know where to start.

Pearl avoided her base for a few days after that. She had work to do! The shopping district needed work! She could repave roads and decorate portals. Anything to keep busy.

Hair stood up on the back of her neck and she ducked. An arrow whizzed by narrowly avoiding her head.

“Aw-” Scar said as he landed. “I almost got you!”

“Not fast enough!” She pulled the arrow out of the dirt. “What can I do for you Scar?”

“Oh nothing! I'm just doing my officer duties, you know patrolling, making sure everything is up to code.”

“You're such a good mall cop.”

“I know- wha- hey! I’ll have you know I am a valued member of the permit office department!”

Pearl shrugged, “if you insist!”

“Disrespecting the Poe Poe. Now if you hadn't created such an a-mayzing road here, I might have had to do something about it.”

“With your great expanse of power.”

“Exactly! You get it.”

Pearl rolled her eyes. “Yeah okay. I'm just doing a bit of terraforming!”

“Are you doing that at your base too?”

“Not really?”

“Another build project then?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Oh I just saw your chests while I was flying over your base! It looks like you're planning something big!”

“Oh- that.” Pearl tried to keep her face neutral but by the way Scar's smile slipped, she must not have been that successful. “It's just remnants from an old project. I haven't cleaned it up yet.”

Scar nodded knowingly, “Chest monster blues. Yeah I get it.”

Pearl clapped awkwardly, “Right. Well it was nice chatting to you but I better…” she gestured behind herself miscellaneously.

“Oh! Of course! Good luck!”

Pearl didn't fly home. But she flew away. She didn't want to admit the shame that was clinging to her.

Two days of roaming, two days of patching creeper holes, two days of destroying floating trees, two days of avoiding talking to anyone later, she finally got the nerve to return home.

The chest monster was gone. Or. It was mostly gone anyway.

Scar was rooting though the last of her things, putting them in different shulkers and he turned to fly towards her storage system, and bumped into her.

He jumped backwards. “Oooh- Pearl you scared me! You can't be sneaking up on a man like that!”

“What are you doing.” She asked flatly. He went through her things. He saw everything.

“I’m just helping a fellow hermit out! I know how these sorts of tasks can feel when-”

“No. No you don't.” Pearl cut him off sharply. “Why would you do this?”

“You seemed like you needed help!”

“Seemed? Seemed. I don't want you going through my stuff Scar.”

Scar put up his hands leaving the last of the shulkers on the ground. “I'm sorry- I was just trying to help.”

“I didn't ask you to!” She was raising her voice. She didn't care. “Don't stick your grubby hands all over my stuff! I don't need help!”

“Pearl-”

“Shut up!” Pearl tensed and untensed her hands, “Augh! You just don't know when to quit!”

Scar looked at her, hesitating for one second, before flying off.

Pearl pressed her palms against her eyes, before sitting down. After a moment, when she was no longer seeing red, she dragged her hands off her eyes and rested her head on her knees as he pulled at the grass.

There were two shulkers left.

[galactic-glamour-girl-posts]

OK but...WHY did Rosalina make Rainbow Road?

Not long ago I made a post about how Super Mario Party Jamboree seems to imply that Rosalina made Rainbow Road:

But that just raises many questions:

Why?

If all versions of Rainbow Road are variations of the same one, why does it look different every time it makes a reappearance? Does Rosalina modify it or does it change whilst she's not around?

If they are different Rainbow Roads, why does she keep making them?

How could Mario have met Rosalina for the first time in Galaxy 1 if he had been racing on a road she had created for years? Assuming Mario Kart is canon to mainline Mario, which... is unlikely, ngl.

I'm gonna try and answer all of these because overthinking the lore behind my comfort characters makes my brain produce the happy juices 🥰

OK, so first off...why?

Rosalina explains in Galaxy 1 that she visits Earth every 100 years:

But we've never seen her park the Comet Observatory on Earth, not just in Galaxy but in any Mario media (I think, please correct me if I'm wrong). I'm not sure if she's even able to park it, it may be able to function like a starship, but it's also a space station, maybe it doesn't work that way. Either way, I'm pretty sure we've only every seen it in the sky. The closest Rosalina has ever gotten to Earth (in the mainline games, unless you wanna count 3D World) was using the portal through the Gate to get to Gateway Galaxy:

You could assume that maybe she meant that they fly by the planet, but her story book would have you believe otherwise:

So how does she get to Earth?

By using Rainbow Road!

Maybe this is how it goes: once she gets to Gateway Galaxy (or maybe she doesn't bother and just flies the Comet Observatory within close range of Earth), she creates Rainbow Road, and walks along it to get to Earth. Once her visit is over, maybe she leaves Rainbow Road behind in case others wish to use it, and she leaves.

Why doesn't she fly down to Earth herself? Um...

Nostalgia...?

Walking reminds her of and reconnects her to her childhood, humanity and earthly roots?

Yeah.

Yeah!

See, she even walks at the end of Galaxy at the end of her visit to Earth and only starts flying once she returns to the Comet Observatory, showing that she is both figuratively and physically re-embracing her role as a cosmic guardian:

Totally viable explanation, clearly this headcanon is watertight.

Anyway...

So let's suppose that Mario and pals find Rainbow Road one day (by using a telescope, during an adventure, it doesn't really matter how) and, being the completely sane people they are, unanimously decide to race on it.

So yeah, that's my theory - Rosalina made Rainbow Road to walk to Earth on her centennial visits...but there's the problem: centennial. As in, once every 100 years. If there's a new version of it in every Mario Kart, do 100 years pass between every game? That can't be right, Mario and the most of the cast aren't immortal, so what gives?

Well...remember that cycle she mentions in Galaxy 1:

She explains that when stars die, they turn into star dust that scatters across the cosmos, which then reforms into baby stars, baby stars who will grow up into stars. She calls this "the cycle of life". However, keep in mind that baby stars (Lumas) can also turn into comets, entire galaxies, etc. We see the result of the most recent iteration of the universe's cycle directly in Galaxy 1's ending, where Mario welcomes the newly reconstructed universe.

The universe repeats a cycle of rebirth indefinitely, but the cycle never repeats itself in the exact same way; every iteration is at least a little different...

...sound familiar?

What if every version of Rainbow Road we see in Mario Kart is the version she creates in that specific iteration of the universe? Hence why none of them are "quite the same". It would also explain why Mario, Peach and the rest are still alive despite a new road being made - the Mario in, lets say, Super Mario Kart, is not the exact same Mario in Mario Kart 64, and so on and so forth. Sure, to Rosalina it's been another 100 years, but to them, they don't remember the previous versions of the universe. Either that or the cast are preserved (or revert to a younger age, maybe?) after each cycle, like at the end of Super Mario Galaxy.

Speaking of, the fact that we still have discussions surrounding the lore of both it and Rosalina is just another reason why they both continue to be some of the best things to come out of this franchise, even 17 years later.

Happy anniversary!

****BONUS****

Here's more potential "Rosalina created Rainbow Road" foreshadowing that I missed last time I talked about this:

I'm just saying, Nintendo associates her with Rainbow Road a lot, it almost seems like they've been trying to imply she owns it since the Wii era...

Or maybe it's as simple as "Rainbow Road is the popular space track, so let's make the popular space princess its mascot." 🤷🏾‍♀️

[staenless]

Here's my pitch for a Minecraft movie:

It's stop motion and pretty stylised as a result, not purely Minecraft blocky but pretty square.

MC wakes up in the woods, no memory, no idea where they are or what's going on. No it's not fucking Steve omg... There's a narrator, a kindly older person voice. Maybe with a bit of an accent. Idk, nice sounding. They explain this person woke up and is mad fucking confused. Cue person wandering around. They pick up some sticks, some flowers, they pet some cute sheep and just generally wander around. The narrator tells us this person is having fun, the narrator laughs when they jump in a river and see fish swimming. It's so cute! It's so happy!

"oh dear," says the narrator, as the MC notices the sun starting to set, "that's no good." our character realises there's monsters out and sets off running, panting crying through woods and fields until they see, on a hill, a house with light shinning out the windows. "No time to think," the narrator urges, "go! Hurry! Now!!" our character blunders up the hill, spiders on their hells, and bursts into the house slamming the door behind them.

They're scratched up, still crying and very scared but alive, thank goodness. Theyre also not alone in here. There's a man sitting at a crafting table, slowly whittling a wooden axe. IT'S STEVVEEEE!!!! Our hero tries to strike up a conversation with Steve, apologising for bursting in, asking what was chasing them, where Steve is from, what does he know about this world. But Steve is mute. He offers them some basic food and a bed to sleep in and, reluctantly, our hero takes both. They wake up bright and early the next day, monsters gone and sun shinning down. Steve leads them out the house and teaches them to live in this world. They chop trees, plant crops, lure animals into pens go mining etc etc. Our hero even builds their own house, fancier than Steve's, and they share a meal together watching the setting sun. Time passes and our hero meets a new comer to the world, lost and confused wandering the plains. They take them in, teach them to survive, help them build a house and the three eat meals together.

More people arrive, some are talented farmers, some engineer automatic farms, some build massive buildings, some go mining far deeper than they should and return beat up, but alive and laden with treasure. Our narrator follows this growing civilisation, clearly bursting with pride and cheering it's members on. They love these people, and while they won't meddle in their lives theyre certainly hoping for their success. All the while Steve labours on, silent but loved by this growing community.

One day our hero comes to visit him, but his house is empty. There's a not he left them, he's off to finish the final quest, and he wishes them all well. Not on our hero's watch!! Our hero and their closest companions root around Steve's house. He has maps, high level gear, and when questioning the other towns folk they find he's been stocking up on arrows and eye of enders - a useless item in most the towns folks eyes. Our hero holds a town meeting. Steve's left, to do something dangerous no less, and we can't just let him go alone. Steve was there for all of us, now we need to be there for him! Our hero and their closest companions set off for the end portal.

When they reach then end the find the dragon, strong and furious prowling a deserted end city. Steve is injured, badly, but alive, blessedly. They set up a small camp and care for him, they try to question him, what is this place? How did he know about it? What is he doing here. Steve doesn't answer their questions, he never does, but he gestures to his bow, then to the dragon, and the crew understand. Steve wants to, NEEDS to kill the dragon. They have to help him. It's hard, and scary, but as a team they make it work, baiting and running and hitting when the beats least expects. There's a few near misses, too close for comfort, but they win. The dragon is slain. In it's nest they recover a singular egg which they hand to Steve, his eyes wide and watering. His life's goal, completed. They head to the end portal together, none are sure what to expect when they jump through.

Cue end poem

They wake up in the forest, in that same place they woke up the first time. The sun shines through the trees, birds sing, it's beautiful. It's their beautiful world. They trek back to town silently, and are welcomed with cheers and hugs. Steve places the egg over his fireplace. His quest is completed, the narrator tells us, but his friends quests are far from over, and Steve will help them every step of the way. The town holds a feast in the square under the setting sun, there's dancing and music and fun for all. Fade to black.

[v3ng3anc3-qu33n]

Liar. (Pt. 1 of Her Revenge Series)

"This wasn't meant to happen." I say tearfully as I look into his piercing emerald eyes.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Damian replies harshly.

"You have to believe me no one decent was ever going to get hurt." I say shakily.

"Get out. Leave. Now. You have 2 hours to leave Gotham before I alert the rest of my family of your villainy." He says coldly and foreign to me.

"What?" I say with disbelief "No! please! After everything, you're willing to throw everything away, not willing to listen!"

"I said GET OUT!" He shouts furiously.

I look at Damian, my eyes watering, focusing and unfocusing rapidly, my powers starting to overflow, but I take a deep breath, turn on my heel, and leave rapidly and furiously slamming the door to the manor with only him inside. As I walk through the busy streets of downcast Gotham no one bats an eye at me as sadness is expected here, I push past people not caring about there shouts of curses at me amd the dirty looks I get. I use my magic to open the door to my house, it's not large or tiny, messy or neat, cozy or cold, it's me. Chaotic in every sense of the word. I move to my room the usually comforting scene of Damians jacket on my couch making me feel neasus and tears start to slip out of my glassy eyes. Once I get into my room I see myself in the mirror. Bags under my eyes, splotchy skin, my face a mess, my clothes dirty, and my eyes glowing a vibrant (y/f/c) (for me it's violet I adore violet 💜).

"Mirror mirror on the wall please tell me why it all had to fall" I say sadly and lost.

"My apologies fairest, not all are welcoming to us who are different. Perhaps it is time to return to your roots..." as the mirror goes liquidesque and creates a portal to the bar.

"My dear sister why are you crying? How can big brother help?" ????????? Says worriedly with a glint of rage.

I sniffle sounding distant even to myself as if I'm not in control of my body. "Nothing.... I just.. I never knew it would be like this..." I say softly.

"You're always welcome home Princess we miss you" ???? Says in an uncharacteristically sweet voice.

"I agree with them I miss my bestie!" An eager and hyper voice chimes in.

"Yes Madame we all miss you. The choice is yours though." A serene voice says.

"I.. I need to think about it... love you all" I say softly and the portal closes the mirror going back to normal. I lie in my bed for the following hour wallowing in self pity until the pity and sadness ends and the fury sets fire. I open the portal again and just say..

"I'm coming home."

Truth I'm new to this I've been reading but not writing so please be kind! And if you want to leave kind comments and constructive criticism please feel free too!

V3ng3anc3

[mraprilfools]

Part 1

Previously on DwtRD

WELCOME TO PART 3 OF OUR SHOW EVERYONE! IT SEEMS THAT EVEN WHEN I HOLD YOUR HAND YOU ALL STILL MANAGE TO FUCK IT ALL UP SOMEHOW! IF YOU HAD SIMPLY CHOSEN TO KILL HIM WE COULD BE DANCING IN HELL TOGETHER MY DEAR, BUT IT SEEMS YOU AREN'T READY YET.

NO MATTER. I WILL TEACH YOU THE ERROR OF YOUR INDECISIVE WAYS.

OUR DEAR LADY @ladyadrasteia666 HAS RETURNED, IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING AND ENJOY THE SHOW!

A wicked blade of blackened roots formed easily between your hands. Its weight is familiar. Rather than hardened steel, it was closer to interwoven roots. Eyes sprouted from the surface, opening wide to gaze back at their master. Gnarled roots fed on blood bore beautiful lycoris flowers. The weight was familiar, once having been used to cut down countless Overlords and all the filth that Alastor had tossed into this realm.

Never had it plunged into the heart of an angel, and you found yourself wavering before such a prize. The golden blood of an angel was a rare treat, even if it would not ease the hunger clawing in your belly refusing to ever be sated. Like a most delicious treat, but reason had your blade hesitating. The angel’s three eyes locked on you. Narrowing into slits as his brow bent into a furrow.

Your sweating palm re-seated itself on the handle. Your eyes searched for the quickest and easiest place to cut him down. A single strike through the heart? You shifted your weight back, preparing for a thrust for the heart.

Kill him or Free Him?

Death or freedom?

Were you the kind of person who’d do anything to escape or did you earn your place here like all the other Overlords?

“I make things so easy for you, and you can’t even do something as simple as make a decision now?!” Alastor’s voice broke through stepping through the shadows again incredulously. He now stood between you and the angel, looking upset! Or as much as he could when he was always wearing that damnable golden smile.

"If his only crime is questioning a higher power... Then he knows that the system is broken. He has potential, and that should make him valuable, Alastor. Rather foolish of you to just want him dead. I'd go so far as to say it's unlike you." You argued. With a bit of boldness you attempted to cut Alastor while he stupidly lingered in line of your blade. However...

The blade of gnarled roots passed through a figure made only of mist and shadows. The smile on the deer’s face widened, and brilliant taunting laughter echoed through the land.

“You cannot kill me in here my dear! You’ll have to escape if you want to accomplish that. But to answer your question...” The gentleman bowed, turning his attention upon the gagged angel still staring at you, and only you with intense hatred.

“We must all make sacrifices my dear for the greater evil! I needed to be sure that you remembered who you were. But it seems you still aren’t ready to leave. A shame!” The glow in his eerie red eyes struck out a little more, the curling edges of his smile stretching until green stitches tugged at his grin. “Very well! You’ve lost your potential ally AND your sacrifice! I cannot tolerate such hesitation! That is for stories of redemption and hope. Our ballad my dear is something far more treacherous!”

With a flick of his wrist, the earth swallowed up the angel. To places unknown within this realm. Your disappointed host is now strolling around you with his cherry-tipped fingers locked behind his back. The disgustingly cute fuzzy ears bounced with each step.

“We cannot suffer a stall here either. Now, that just wouldn’t be entertaining. So we have our next choice! Disappoint me again and I will be MOST unhappy.” The filter of Alastor's voice cracked on the emphasized word, ominous dark symbols swirling around his microphone. It was a threat.

With a wave of his hand, he summoned forth three portals. The left displayed a beautiful bountiful garden on the other side. Prey and predator alike roamed without fear across the land. The middle boasted a world with a blood-red sky and a plain empty world where the blackened earth seemed to stretch on for eternity. The right was a cloudy utopia, where beautiful people adored with pristine white wings idly flew across the light blue sky.

“Pick a portal, any portal! We shall see if your pity for the Angel will last. Then when you are done, we will try this again! Unless I’m getting bored of course.” Alastor confessed, casually turning his attention away. “If our audience leaves us, then this show comes to an end after all. How fickle our lives are.”

“What are you talking about…? There's nobody here” You asked.

“Don’t worry about it, ignorance is bliss as they say! So which will it be?”

Part 4

[corvidcircus]

If you're still taking requests maybe how vergil and dante's s/os react to them coming back from hell eventually after the end of 5? :) I don't know how long they spend there but I know I'd go crazy if it was more than a few months... Love your writing! ❤

The Return

(post-DMC5, by roughly ten months)

Vergil's S/O-

you've been outwardly calm, and internally screaming

you were actually V's S/O

V told you about the whole situation just after he told Trish

the qliphoth was the first time you met Vergil, but he looked at you adoringly, just like V did

he softly assured you they'd be back, and leapt into the underworld within seconds of ending his bout with nero, leaving you scrambling to understand what was happening

you've been working to distract yourself from the fact that he's gone, and the fear he may not come back

you never really got to meet him, and he might be gone for good

it hurts

you hate it

the crew have noticed

you dont sleep well, you wont eat much, you're irritable and distracted

10 months later you are very close to giving up hope

youre on a job and suddenly both twins are just... there?

it throws you off balance and if it weren't for them covering you, things would've gone very poorly

you finish destroying the portal and the stragglers

you stop and actually see him for the first time

you don't remember moving, but you blink and you're across the room, crying, face shoved into his chest, clinging to him for dear life

he stiffens and then slowly returns the embrace

it takes a minute for you to get your breath back

you recognize pieces of the poet you knew, enough to gently tease him

"You're late, and in a lot of trouble," he winces apologetically

"but goddamn did I miss you."

that earns a small smile

("And I, you, my dove.")

Dante's S/O-

you're pissed, at first. mainly because before the Vergil fight you told him not to do anything ridiculously stupid.

mans had 1 job: he failed

after about 5 weeks, you start getting a little worried

the tree is mostly gone, so they must have succeeded in taking out the roots

the longer that goes by the more you think about something Nero said when he told the crew what happened

that they never said they had a plan to get back, in fact he seemed to think they may not be able to get back out of the underworld

the whole arcane research thing is not typically your go to for dealing with demons

why bother when hitting them with a sword is more effective

but without yamato, portals are hard to create, and even harder to control

you spend months running down any option you can think of to at least get to or from the demon world

it takes another 8 1/2 months to finally find something that you think might work

it doesn't

then after passing out, upset and exhausted, you startle awake at the sounds of the doors flying open

you must still be dreaming, because that looks like your devil

who's trapped in hell

right?

cue a dante patented stupid joke to diffuse tension

you quite literally vault over the desk into his arms and just feel that hes back

*hug*"I'm so happy you're back!"

and exactly 4 seconds later

*hitting him repeatedly* "Never fucking do that again!"

Bonus Nero's Reaction-

he's super fucking pissed off

ah yes lets leave the kid (with severe familial abandonment issues) suddenly without his family

remains fairly angry when the topic of either twin is brought up

but the longer that goes by, the more anger becomes distress, and eventually resignation

concerned, but unsure how to help Vergil's S/O

very bothered by the 'empty look' when he does jobs with VS/O

confused, exasperated, but not surprised at Dante's S/O's actions

a little tiny bit scared of the non-stop manic energy DS/O is embodying

first time seeing the twins back, he has way to many emotions to deal with so defaults to anger

likely throws down with either/both

the rage burns hot and fast this time, so the fight is messy and short

basically ends in him storming off and giving them the cold shoulder until someone makes the first move

(probably nero or dante lets be honest here)

*this is the headcannon version, there may end up being fully written one shots later