#she's only 24 but she carries herself like she's a lot older

[kycdai]

last night i actually had to check tomoko's bio to remind myself of how old she was

[shenachigans]

THE KEY TO HER HEART | Cassandra Kiramman

PAIRING: Cassandra Kiramman x Fem!Reader

CW: angst with a hopeful ending?, spoilers for season 2 act I, canon divergence, in Caitlyn’s pov, no dialogues (except one), mentions of death, mentions of reader being married to a man and having children with said man, mentions of pregnancy, mentions and implications of being in the hospital deathbed, tragic-ish love, 1950s Hollywood inspired in terms of homosexuality-ish, mentions of homophobia, back in the old day women are expected to marry a man, they kept their love for each other hidden until the end, reader is also a matriarch of her own family like Cassandra, most likely ooc Cassandra and Caitlyn

SUMMARY: Caitlyn receives the Kiramman Key to unlock knowledge privy to the Kiramman matriarchs. She also unlocks a memoir of her mother’s past, specifically with the person she loved the most through old photographs and unsent letters.

A/N: I realized a lot of my published work is composed of the “letter narrative” as I call it and this one has a bunch. It’s similar to my first Cassandra fanfic, the only difference is there’s death and grief involved. I have yet to finish the season, but her funeral and the memorial were hard to watch. I miss her so much. 

A/N (12/11/24): Reading it while listening to “I Can’t Hear It Now” by Freya Ridings/Arcane on loop is a whole other experience...

WORDS: 2,669

(FANFIC IS UNDER THE CUT!)

When her father handed her the Kiramman Key her mother wanted her to have, Caitlyn knew she was truly gone. She was now the leader of House Kiramman too soon, without the guidance of her mother, Cassandra. It was a position she deemed unworthy of, but her mother reassured her of the merit of her birthright. Only when she thought her relationship with her mother would progress, the world decided to strip that opportunity from her. 

Filled with grief, loss, and vengeance, especially after the attack at the memorial, Caitlyn decided to view what her mother had in store for her. First, it was the presentation of the ducts, the toxic air in the fissures contained by her mother’s instructions, allowing the people of The Undercity to breathe. She could use the passageways of the ventilation system and the Grey to locate Jinx, dismantle Shimmer, and neutralize any agents still loyal to Silco. Second, was a drawer of letters and photographs in a compartment at the bottom of the desk. It had nothing to do with the Kiramman Clan, but something to do with her mother’s personal life when she was younger.

The drawer seemed to be a memoir, maybe something left to be forgotten as dust covered its contents. Everything was held together with twine, completed with a battered tag, showing how old the letters and photographs were — possibly older than Caitlyn herself. She gently grabbed the bundle of memories in her hands, flipping the tag over to see what was written, the ink smudged by droplets. It wrote: My old love, in Cassandra’s handwriting. Her mother had a lover? 

Caitlyn swore her breath hitched when she untangled the twine to reveal the secrets Cassandra carried. She wanted to see who her mother loved so much, that she had a collection of their time together, but she wasn’t expecting several photographs of you to appear. After all, you were her mother’s childhood friend, her closest companion and confidant. 

It was clear in Caitlyn’s eyes that you two had a platonic relationship. Did she read it wrong? She saw you as an aunt, a second mother beside Cassandra; she never realized that her mother loved you romantically. This doesn’t make sense. You had a husband and children of your own, just like her mother. You and Cassandra would get together and gossip about your spouses and children. She had proof, she had accompanied you two when she was a little girl on several occasions. What did Caitlyn miss? What was kept hidden?

Did her mother love you more than her own husband? What about you? Did you love Cassandra too? Caitlyn flickered through the photographs, putting the letters aside for later, it was clear her mother was devoted to you. She never imagined her mother would ever use a camera to capture your beauty throughout your shared life. It felt uncharacteristic of her to do so, to have her mother be deeply in love with someone other than her father. 

Now that she thought about it. It seemed like Cassandra changed when you passed away. Gone was the warmth she wore on her sleeves as she became distant and even more stubborn, pretentious, and selfish, perfecting her façade as a politician. She now realized how her mother tried to tone down her grief during your burial, to appear as if she only lost a good friend. Caitlyn was too entangled in her own emotions of also losing you to realize how deeply your sudden death affected her mother. She was still too young to comprehend how you died, Cassandra never told her. It was too painful to recount.

Maybe all this time, Cassandra was still grieving your loss till the day she died, having failed to protect you and prevent your death, so much so that her efforts were transferred onto Caitlyn so she could avoid the same fate. She started to understand her mother’s actions a little more, not that she condoned them after the seclusion and restriction she felt all her life. Her mother meant well, even if it hurt. Cassandra didn’t want to lose Caitlyn as she lost you.

After observing each photograph, soon came the letters. Caitlyn skimmed from the oldest letter at the bottom pile to the newer ones at the top. These words were never meant to see the light of day, never meant for someone else to see, especially not you or an outsider like Caitlyn. She can’t believe how raw the emotions she felt from her mother’s words. Caitlyn cannot do justice to her mother’s letters by explaining their contents. You simply had to read them to feel Cassandra’s love for you, but you were gone, unaware that your dearest friend saw you as her whole world even if she could not display her heart at her sleeves due to the societal expectations in the past.

Caitlyn saw smears of ink in many places, making it hard for her to comprehend the smudged words, but she knew her mother cried writing and possibly reading them. These letters were a diary, a collection of paper with words akin to a symphony of her love for you. Caitlyn wondered if you were aware of Cassandra’s feelings and simply did not comment on it, or if you and her mother shared the same situation, loving each other in the shadows as your respective families were in the spotlight of attention.

Was writing letters something Cassandra did in her free time? Because there were so many, it would take Caitlyn some time to skim through all of them. It felt like an invasion of privacy, but maybe her mother wanted someone to know her feelings unless this parcel was supposed to be discarded before Caitlyn took over as the Kiramman Clan Matriarch. Still, Caitlyn couldn’t help but go through it, you meant a lot to her too, and she felt the connection between you two that had faded since your death years ago. The world had taken you and her mother too early, Caitlyn only had her father left, hoping his grief for Cassandra wouldn’t make his life wither and leave her too. 

The letters started with Cassandra realizing she loved you; appreciating your beauty from inside and out. She expressed in detail the moment she knew she was in love, from how her heart threatened to beat out of her chest as your hair blew in the wind, the purple petals from the grand ivory-barked tree swayed with you. Caitlyn recognized it was the sacred place she and her mother shared near the fountain on the outskirts of the city, a place where they never argued and remembered your presence together.

“...We went to the place you enjoyed the most, Y/n. I came to share your love for this park because you were always there with me. I never thought you would take my breath away like you had today. You were beautiful, you have always been. 

Today felt different, however. The sight before me was something that came out of books. The wind picked up and your hair danced with the purple petals that floated around you. Your smile directed at me made it seem like I was in a fairytale my mother used to tell me as a child. It was a sight to behold, and I knew then and there, that I had fallen in love with you...”

The following letters were short, but filled with admiration and love. Cassandra appreciated you in many ways Caitlyn never knew in each letter, expressing her appreciation for everything you did, your character, appearance, and how you treated her. Her mother was so youthful, so happy whenever she was with you. It broke Caitlyn’s heart when the letters started to take on another tone; one of loss and hopelessness.

“...Why must society be this way, my love? Why am I prohibited from loving you the way you deserve? I am shackled by these expectations placed upon me, and I’m ashamed that I have to hide in the dark to be able to express my love. I’m a coward for not throwing everything away so I could love you publicly. I wish to have you by my side, to call you my lover, my beloved wife, without the consequences of society. I was overjoyed when I realized you loved me too, but it pained me that you were also hiding your love. You were as careful as I was with concealing how we felt for each other. Do you know that I love you too? I wish for you to know, but I’m scared of putting you in danger.

I wouldn’t know of your feelings if not for the day my parents announced my engagement. You had shown a crack of your true self from your poised façade. It pained me to see the sullen expression on your face. You tried to hide your turmoil, but I knew the news broke you as much as it did me. I wanted to cup your face and hold you in my embrace, to feel your warmth against mine as I whispered words of love, saying that we would still have each other as our duties befall us. 

I wanted to kiss your troubles away, but I did not let myself get carried away with such intimacy. Any hint of something more as friendship in anyone’s eyes would lead to forced separation… I don’t want to lose you. I’m sorry, Y/n, but I need to build distance between us to avoid suspicion. Please forgive me… I despise myself for being powerless to protect you from the pain I would cause you…”

Caitlyn read the following letters, Cassandra expressed her guilt for keeping you at arm's length when all she wanted was to have all of you, to be with you the way you both wanted, but such a thing never happened when the two of you started your own families. She apologized in many letters as she realized how you started to pull away from her. Caitlyn tried her best to decipher the smudged words that filled the loose paper. Her mother didn’t want this, didn’t want to pretend she felt nothing for you other than a platonic friendship, that she didn’t love you. It was cruel. 

There was a large time gap between the letters. Caitlyn decided that her mother tried to focus on her duties as the Kiramman Matriarch and her relationship with Tobias by severing her attachments to the letters. Cassandra must’ve been carrying Caitlyn somewhere during this time, not wanting the memory of your relationship with her to cause stress and emotional turmoil during her months of pregnancy. 

The letter that followed was something close to reconciliation even if the distance was still there. You and Cassandra must’ve accepted the fate of your separated lives and decided to continue what was remaining of your friendship. Caitlyn was surprised she was the catalyst of this event. 

“...I was nervous about meeting you again after months of no contact, Y/n. I didn’t know what to expect after you distanced yourself from me. I still remember the pained expression on your face when I told you we shouldn’t see each other anymore. I never hated myself so much for being the cause of your pain. I have never done anything but hurt you. So, I was in disbelief when you easily agreed to the invitation I sent out of the blue to meet Caitlyn. 

You must’ve laughed at my audacity for wanting you back after pushing you out of my life, that you only agreed to this because your kind husband convinced you so. I hate to say I’m relieved you have wedded a respectful man. I know you are safe in his hands when I can’t be there to do the same. 

I was faced with an impassive demeanor when you arrived at the Kiramman residence, and I didn’t know if our friendship could be salvaged, but when you held Caitlyn, I saw a glimmer of love shine in your eyes. The smile that broke from your façade when you cradled my daughter with so much care made my heart swell at the sight. Then you met my gaze, and it felt like that day in the park all over again. I knew I was still in love with you, and you felt the same, even as our love dwelled in pain and loss because of the world we live in…”

The last letter on the pile was tattered compared to the other ones. It was difficult to understand because of the ink smudges, shaky handwriting, and teardrops… Caitlyn knew what this letter was about and could see how her mother struggled to write this one. The unshakeable grief that filled this page hurt Caitlyn. This must’ve been the fork Cassandra faced when she decided that writing more letters would only cause her more pain than solace as she thought about you.

“...I failed you, my love. I failed to protect you from your curiosity and compassion for The Undercity. The world was too cruel to take you from me, our relationship had only begun to blossom its fruits. The time we spent rebuilding what was lost… How could I sleep at night, knowing I could’ve prevented your death? I will never be able to live with the guilt of hurting you even until your last breath. 

I should’ve listened to you, I should’ve been more open-minded about creating the ventilation system for people of the fissures. Was this the world’s response to my selfishness, to take you away from me? I feel so empty without you, the grief is tearing away at me. I couldn’t bear hearing Caitlyn’s cries when I told her you would no longer be with us to spoil her, to love her like your own. 

Everything that happened to you is all my fault. No amount of apologies would bring you back, but I am so sorry, Y/n. The Grey I could’ve contained with my influence and resources ate at your life, poisoned your lungs, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. 

It tore at my heart to see you fighting for your life, hooked to machines, but everything was a lost cause when the grip of your hand on mine loosened and lay limp between my own. Your eyes became distant and empty as the light in them faded, but you still held the smile I fell in love with, muttering the words I longed to hear for decades: ‘I love you, Cassandra.’ I couldn’t respond in time, I failed to say that I love you too… because you were already gone… 

I promise I will let the people of The Undercity breathe, just as you had wished, my love…”

Caitlyn now understood why her mother completed the project. She did it for you. It was a grand and equally dangerous project that took many lives and resources to complete, and here Caitlyn was, planning to unleash the gas that killed you to look for a criminal who killed her mother and many others. 

After reading the letters, Caitlyn wondered several things. Would her mother be happy again, now that she has reunited with you in the afterlife? Would she be able to express her love after hiding her true feelings for you for so long? Caitlyn hopes she can because she knows how much her mother was alive when you were around, even in moments of joy and sadness. She wanted her mother to be happy again despite the pain in her heart that she was no longer there with her and her father.

.

.

.

Meanwhile…

“I finally got to see you again, my love… Oh, how I missed you so… My life was never the same when you left… I can’t believe you’re back in my life… and in my arms… I love you too, Y/n… I love you so, so much, dearest.”

© shenachigans — do not plagiarise, translate, repost, or copy.

[rainbowberriesandcookies]

Orihime's weird food combinations actually make a lot of sense-

It's one of those things that in the moment, it's used for comedic relief when other characters see her or hear about her weird food combinations but honestly there's also a lot of subtlety that makes me wonder if Kubo has more personal experience growing up poor or with food security because my god it makes too much fucking sense.

We know that Sora and Orihime had abusive parents who were described as the types of people that would hit a child until it stopped crying and that Sora intentionally hid her away from them to take care of her.

Chances are, their parents never taught Sora how to cook or take care of himself properly, and growing up, he likely had to feed Orihime little bits of what he could put together before he was able to turn 18 and run away with her.

At the start of the story, Ichigo says that Sora died three years ago and at the start of the story, Ichigo and Orihime are both around 15 years old. Which means Orihime was no older than 12 when Sora died.

Have you seen what 12-year-olds left to their own devices eat? And eventually, we find out that Orihime is taken care of by a distant relative who only sends her money as long as she keeps her grades up. Given that she lives by herself, it's likely only enough money to ensure that Orihime isn't homeless or starving - but not enough to actually buy proper meals.

And if it is - Orihime likely doesn't know what a proper meal looks like. From how Sora described their parents, he likely had to raise himself as many children do in abusive relationships, and then had to raise Orihime. But children often learn things from their parents like how to cook, clean, etc.

Another character with a similar home life that Orihime reminds me of is Taiga from Toradora.

Until she met Ryuji, Taiga pretty much lived on convenience store food as her parent(s) only sent money every so often. Likely - once again - it was just enough to make sure she wasn't homeless or on the streets but not enough to be able to afford cooking proper meals and Orihime - like Taiga - likely doesn't really know what normal food or meals really look like.

And as early as the volume 2 character profiles, we learn that Orihime is supported by relatives.

At one point, she's even seen eating bread likely because it was all she could afford.

In Chapter 14, Orihime just brings an entire loaf of bread and a can of red bean paste to lunch and as early as Volume 2 we learn that she's supported by relatives - yet we also know that she lives alone which even as early as this it can be assumed that they're fairly distant and only do so out of obligation rather than love.

Come Chapter 450, this is elaborated on even more

She outright mentions that a distant aunt pays for her living expenses and sends her less when her grades go down. And here, you can see her recounting what she heard about her parents being "really abusive" from her brother all with a smile on her face despite the fact that it's a pretty somber.

Another hint to the food insecurity is how Orihime looked at the donuts earlier and Riruka upon hearing this, let Orihime eat as much as she wanted.

It's in her own way, but Riruka clearly understood that Orihime didn't really have a good home life. But she's a tsundere so Riruka has to say that she doesn't want them anymore instead of outright saying she feels bad and doesn't want to deprive someone who likely has never really had too much food security of food that's right in front of them. The typical "It's not like I care or anything" from tsunderes like Riruka.

Jumping back to earlier chapters-

Orihime joked with Tatsuki about having to carry around a sleeping bag and sleeping outdoors after being kicked out of her apartment following the hollow incident in Chapter 24.

Given that Tatsuki didn't appreciate the joke and up till this point, she's one of Orihime's closest friends, chances are Tatsuki knows that Orihime has a precarious living situation which is why the joke didn't come off as funny because Tatsuki would also know that Orihime is the type to just smile her way through all of her troubles.

So combined with what we know...

As early as Chapter 4 her apartment was damaged as a result of Ichigo's battle with Acidwire, in Chapter 14 she brings bread and red bean paste to school to eat and in Chapter 24 Tatsuki doesn't appreciate her jokes about having to be in a sleeping bag until she finds a new place before admitting that she's actually staying in a hotel.

Chances are her grades slipped to the point she couldn't afford rent anymore or the damage to the apartment was that bad - either way the result was a pretty big strain on her already tight finances.

Orihime's odd food tendencies aren't just to make her quirky, but one of the only ways she knows how to survive. After all - a lot of people who live in poverty or struggle with food security eat and enjoy strange meals like mustard sandwiches where it is just bread and mustard or sugar sandwiches where it's just butter, bread, and sugar... A lot of struggle meals honestly involve some type of bread because it is cheap and filling.

Bread is one of the cheapest food items you can afford and while everyone else thinks that her food combinations are horrid... there is at least one person who appreciates them.

Rangiku!

And from what we know, Rangiku also had a very similar upbringing where she was found starving and alone by Gin. He offered her persimmons, a fruit that when eaten at the wrong time is very sour but when it's ripe it's mushy/soft. Because of this, persimmons can be something of an acquired taste - and when they're dried the flavor of them is even more concentrated

All in all, her quirky food habits are a subtle nod to her upbringing, and thinking about it now, it makes sense as to why it never really sat right with me when people would callously make fun of her food combinations or rather treated them like a genuine character flaw to mock and demean her over.

It's used for comedy because when you hear certain struggle meals, they really don't be making any sense and sound disgusting! Yet at the same time, it's a result of having to make do with what you have and your tastes revolving around that.

Even with the consistency of Rangiku, someone who was found starving enjoying her food combinations - it makes me wonder if Rangiku is no stranger to eating weird things or combinations on occasion. It also contrasts with Toshiro who was shown not really enjoying the food combinations, but unlike Orihime or Rangiku, he's never really been shown starving or hungry in his backstory because he had his grandmother and Momo with him.

Because of that, it's kinda hard to chalk up Orihime's weird food tendencies and growing up poor to be a "lucky coincidence" because the other person who enjoys them too grew up similarly to her - where food was scarce. Given how seemingly well thought out it is, it makes me wonder if Kubo himself may have either had or knew someone who struggled with food scarcity.

[evansisasadist]

This is a one shot about Audrey and Percy Weasley, how they meet and fall in love and what happens after. I've been working on this for ages so please enjoy <3

The playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lpnKJskTx1N9dzHaqfsNe?si=IP7CfRU1RUaPnNk7X20hbQ&pi=9KgWvDqGTX2K1

A Rainy Night in Soho

24/11/03

Audrey Whitman is 23 years old and a part-time waitress in a cafe in central London. The rest she spends going to auditions and teaching classes. Because she is going to be an actress, it's not her fault that she got screwed over when some posh girl's daddy paid for her to take her role in one of the pantos. She got the lead role four years in a row in her local youth theatre. Audrey can sing, dance and act. And last year she got cast as part of the ensemble in Cats.

She can even do a halfway decent Australian accent. She sometimes uses it, because after three hours of being on your feet and politely answering tourists' questions it becomes a bit boring saying that you're from Newcastle and yes that is in England. Especially when it's been deemed the festive season and East 17 had been begging her to "stay another day" all day. For Christ's sake, they're only halfway through November.

She notices the regulars and there's one that shouldn't catch her eye but somehow does. A tall, lanky man who looks only a couple years older than herself. He's got a mop of ginger curls, a plethora of freckles and some horn-rimmed glasses that shouldn't look good on anyone but somehow suit him. He's come in everyday at around half past one for the past six weeks and each time orders the same thing. Tea with one sugar and a blueberry muffin. Every single day. Sometimes he'll even come in after work and get one for the journey back home. Audrey's seen him when she's picked up shifts.

She assumes he works in civil service although Audrey's never actually asked him. He just looks like the type too. He's here now and sits down at his usual spot. She makes his way over and asks him the same question she's asked for God knows how long.

"What can I get for you, love?"

"Chocolate chip muffin and tea, please." The change surprises her.

"Have you ended the love affair with the blueberry then?" she says, laughing. He laughs a little as well, chuckling under his breath. It's sweet.

"Gone off it. Too much of a good thing, I suppose." This is the most she's heard him say in a month and it's a pleasant surprise.

"Never mind, chocolate chips are my favourite, best of the lot."

"My mum makes them. I haven't been home in a while and I missed them."

"Where's home for you then? You don't seem like a native Londoner. I'm not either, if you couldn't tell by the voice."

"I like it. Distinctive voice, especially here. I'm from Devon, if it matters. Went to school in Scotland though."

"Boarding school eh? Knew you had to be posh." Audrey says, smiling.

"I-I won a scholarship." He says somewhat sheepishly, as if he's apologising for something.

"You look like the smart type." It's true. The man's hair is curly and flops down onto his forehead with a surprising lack of grace. He wears suits and carries a big brown satchel. To Audrey, this is the pinnacle of smartness.

She wants to talk to him before her name is called from the counter. "Audrey! Table three needs cleaning!" She smiles at the stranger apologetically and continues.

"That's me. So what was it-chocolate chip muffin and tea?"

"That's right."

"Good. It'll be out soon, love." He turns red when she addresses him. In all honesty, he ends up looking a bit like a tomato.

"Audrey's a pretty name," he says, his face still very flushed.

"Thank you. What are you called then?"

"Percy. Percy Weasley," he says with a note of pride.

"Well then Percy Weasley, your chocolate muffin will be out soon."

Audrey walks away, smiling. She likes this Percy, even if he does seem a bit posh. She grabs the cleaning supplies and gives table three a quick wipe before rushing to the kitchen with his order.

"Tea with one sugar and a chocolate muffin on the side. Table 1," she calls.

Her friend, Jodie, appears from the side. "Saw you talking to the ginger lad. What's up with him?"

"I think he works in civil service and he's from Devon but won a scholarship for a school in Scotland," she tells her importantly.

"Right." Jodie looks at Audrey, her eyes meeting hers. "He was looking at you in the way guys do when they fancy someone."

Audrey doesn't answer. Instead she just stares at the ground. She'd be lying if she said she didn't find him attractive. Tall, smart, And he seemed nice enough.

"Aude, you don't think he's fit do you?" Jodie says, obviously surprised. "I mean-he's ginger for Pete's sake!"

Audrey laughs a little bit. "Just because your ex was ginger doesn't mean all of them are bad."

Jodie's nostrils flair. "Yeah right. The muffin's ready," she mumbles, pushing the plate and cup towards Audrey.

She takes it and walks right over to Percy. "Your order. Just how you like it. One sugar"

Percy looks at her, "Thanks. Do you do this full time?"

"God no, I'd go mad if I did. I'm an actress. Well-I'm trying to be, West End's been my dream ever since I was tiny."

"That makes my job seem really boring. I work in um-civil service," he says.

"Well that's probably more stable than my job, " she remarks.

"Audrey. C'mon it's just before lunch. Get him gone," her boss whispers into her ear in passing.

"I'm really really sorry I have to-" she says. She doesn't want to go. She wants to talk to him more, he's interesting.

"It's fine. I-I get it. See you tomorrow," Percy says, smiling.

"See ya!" she calls, smiling back.

****

19/12/03

He comes back everyday after that and every single time they talk for as long as her co-workers allow it. And during the course of these talks, Audrey realises that she has a massive crush on him. Percy's smart, funny, sweet, shy and he cares.

She learns a lot about him. He has seven siblings, two older and four younger. All boys apart from his little sister. She also learns that he's a fanatic about the Beatles and the Smiths. It's a bonding point when they learn that their shared favourite song is "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."

And the best thing about him is that Audrey thinks he likes her back.

One day he comes after work. The sun set at four and he's here at seven thirty. Audrey's just finishing up and there he is, his eyes cast down on the floor.

"You alright?" she asks, her voice soft. Mariah Carey is blasting in the background and it seems woefully inappropriate for reasons that Audrey can't quite place.

"No." he chokes. His voice sounds heavy and when he looks at Audrey his eyes are puffy and red.

"Oh Percy." she says. "I'm off in five. Wait for me outside." He nods and she finishes sweeping the floor in record time. She rushes to the back, tells her boss that she's clocking out for the night, puts on her clothes and lets down her curly brown hair.

He's waiting for her outside the shop, hands in pockets. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

"Can we walk?" he asks. She takes his hand and he lets out a little "oh!" of surprise. They end up settling in the doorway of a closed shop. Audrey shivers slightly in the cold, even though she has a jacket on. "Are you cold?"

"A bit." He's wearing a long coat and he wraps it around her. "That better?

"Aye. It's perfect." They stay silent for a minute till she speaks. "What's happened?" The Christmas lights illuminate the dark streets and Audrey thinks that it's beautiful.

"I don't want to go home for Christmas." he says after a bit. "And I don't think I'm a good person."

"I think you are." she replies almost instantly. And she's not just saying it out of politeness. Percy Weasley is good, she's sure of it.

"My brother died five years ago and nothing's been the same since." A tear rolls down his cheek and Audrey places her hand on it, stroking it. It's only then she appreciates his height. She's barely 5'2 and he must be at least 6'3. She just reaches his shoulder.

"It's ok," she whispers, still stroking his cheek. "It wasn't your fault."

"He was a twin. They were identical. Fred was the one who died and George nearly drank himself to death after. He's got a girlfriend now but I can tell he wishes it was him. I wish it was me too."

"It wasn't your fault." she says again.

"It was. I left and didn't talk to my family for nearly two years because we kept arguing and they were on the right side and I was scared. I missed my brother's wedding and then Fred died and I wanted to die too. My dad got hurt before that and I didn't even ask how he was because I was too fucking stuck up." His tears are coming fast now and his glasses have tear stains on them.

Audrey's always been good at comforting people but now she doesn't know what to do. So she does what feels right. She leans up and hugs him and it doesn't matter that she's standing on tippy toes. He hugs her back, his arms strong as he leans down and buries his face in her neck. They stay like that for a while until he breaks away. "I-I'm sorry," he mumbles.

"Don't be. Don't ever be sorry for that." she answers, her voice strong.

He looks into her eyes, his are blue like the sea and she's been told that her's are like chocolate. And then he moves closer and she does too, leaning up to kiss him. It's not a desperate kiss, like the drunken ones in clubs. This kiss is soft and tender and sweet. She can feel his hands in her hair and suddenly he's the only thing that matters. They break apart, both smiling.

"How long?" she asks.

"Ever since I saw you from the window. You're why I keep coming back."

"Oh Perce," she says, the nickname coming naturally. "I like you too."

"I like you lots, Audrey."

He smiles at her and she smiles back and God, it's perfect. "Fag?" he asks. "I don't normally smoke but still."

"Me either. Special occasion for both of us." He laughs as he pulls a box out of his pocket.

Percy hands a cigarette to Audrey and searches in his pockets for a lighter. "Shit I forgot it. Oh well." He takes out a long wooden stick from his pocket and points it at the cigarettes.

Audrey bursts out into laughter. "Alright magic man. You need two sticks to light something on fire."

Percy looks momentarily confused and then goes bright red. "Right yeah. My fault."

"Luckily I have a lighter." She searches in her pocket and elaborately brings one out, handing it to him. They both stick their cigarettes in their mouth and lean closer together. He lights both of them and pulls her closer as they smoke.

"Percy?" she asks, taking a drag.

"Yes?"

"Let's have fun tonight. It's Saturday tomorrow and we're in London."

"What do you suggest we do?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. And he looks so handsome that Audrey might just stop everything. His glasses framing his freckled face perfectly. His curly hair that falls down his forehead to the point where you know he's styled it, or at least attempted too.

"Finish that and then we'll go." They both stub their cigarettes and she takes his hand as they walk through the streets of Soho. They can hear the carol singers and Audrey imitates them. There's some girls stumbling through the streets singing Girls Aloud at the top of their lungs. She starts to sing along under her breath.

"When the beat of the drum goes round and round." She sings.

"Into the overflow, where the girls get down to the sound of the radio." he replies, singing it back at her. He's got a deep voice when he sings and Audrey looks at him in surprise.

"You can sing?"

"I guess. I was in the choir at school." he says, somewhat shyly. "And I taught myself how to play the piano and guitar. My family didn't really have the money for it and I got some old hand-me-down books my brothers hadn't used."

"So musical genius as well as academic prodigy?" she asks, smiling.

"No, just a kid who liked to listen."

"Well that's good because I've been told that I talk people's ears off."

"I don't mind. I like hearing you talk." he replies, looking at her deeply.

"Well thank you." Another thought strikes her. "Also how on earth do you know that? You don't seem the clubbing type and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't listen to it willingly."

"I go to clubs sometimes. It's nice to dance where nobody knows you. I'm 26, not 50."

"Well I have got to see that. Y'know I'm trained in contemporary, jazz, hip hop and tap?"

"Well I think you're probably better than me." Audrey feels a splat of water on her hand and looks up to the sky "Did you-?" asks Percy before there's a crack of thunder and the rain starts.

"C'mon let's go. I know a place." she says, pulling him along. She takes him to a lively old man's pub and they step inside their faces flushed from the cold. She's been here before, one time with her ex and a couple times with her mates,

"Merry Christmas you two. There's a table back there," says the barman, speaking with a strong cockney accent.

The pub's packed, with tinsel hanging from every possible surface and shiny wooden tables. They sit down and Percy insists on buying her a drink, pulling out a crisp ten pound note as he does so. They both get gin and tonics and sit down talking about everything under the sun. After about an hour and a half, during which they have several more cocktails before settling on a glass of mulled wine each.

At this point everyone in the pub is drunk or at least tipsy and Audrey feels considerably lightheaded as she stares into Percy's eyes. Someone puts a song on a record and Audrey's eyes go wide as the start of "Fairytale of New York" plays. The whole pub starts singing along to Shane McGowan starts his ballad. Percy starts to sing along too and as the instrumental bit starts he holds out his hand to her. "Care to dance?"

Audrey doesn't even reply, just takes his hand and drags him up to the open space where there's several other couples, though all considerably older than them.

He holds onto her hand as he twirls her and she sings Kirsty MacColl's verse.

"They've got cars big as bars, they've got rivers of gold..."

They both laugh as the pub sings and they dance, he spins her around and she goes as fast as she can. They sing the duet at the top of their lungs and eventually their voices are the ones standing out amongst the crowd.

"You were handsome" she sings at him.

"You were pretty. Queen of New York City." he replies.

"When the band finished playing they howled out for more. Sinatra was swinging, all the drunks they were singing. We kissed on the corner then danced through the night." They sing together, still dancing.

They go through the whole insulting each other bit and then carry on with the song.

"And the bells are ringing out for Christmas day!" The song finishes as the music goes on and everyone cheers. Audrey looks up and kisses him again and this time he lifts her up so they're eye to eye. When they finish, some old man wolf whistles and another guy shouts "Get a room!" while the woman beside him slaps his arm.

"They're young and in love. Leave them be." she says and Percy sets Audrey down and she can see that his face is bright red.

They each get another drink before leaving and as they do an old couple stop them.

"Sorry, do you mind if we take a picture of you two. You just remind us of when we were your age." Audrey can see the resemblance. The tall, balding man has glasses and the woman is short and has dark brown curls and eyes just like Audrey.

She looks up at Percy and he looks down at her and they both say "Yes" in perfect unison.

"Where you from?" the man asks. "You sound Geordie."

"That I am." she says proudly. "Moved down here for work."

"Oh right." The man pauses for a minute. "What about lover boy here?"

"Devon." Percy replies. "About an hour and half away from Exeter by car."

The man looks poised to ask them another question but his wife interrupts him. "Stop interrogating them! Now let's take that photo."

They take the photo with the woman's camera and Percy gives her his address so she can send the photo later.

"How long have you been together?" the man asks just before they leave and this time Audrey's the one that goes red. It doesn't really seem possible that this is the only time she's ever been out with Percy, everything just feels so natural with him.

"Umm-" she stutters before Percy cuts her off.

"Audrey. Would you like to be my girlfriend?" he asks, turning towards her wearing a massive smile.

"I'd love to." she replies, smiling back.

Percy then turns to the old couple, who are both staring at them in shock. "About ten seconds." Audrey hugs his arm and she thinks that this is the happiest she's been in years.

"Oh my god Bert!" the woman exclaims and she hugs him. "They really are just like us."

"What do you mean?" Percy asks.

"I asked her out when my friends thought we were already dating. After a Beatles concert." Bert replies.

"We love the Beatles." Audrey says.

"Us too."

The conversation ends with both of them wishing Merry Christmas to each other and making promises to stay in touch. They walk out into the streets and it's nearly midnight but Audrey's not tired.

They walk hand and hand in silence. They don't really need words. She looks up at him, smiling from ear to ear. She won't say it, not yet. But she's pretty sure she loves him. Even if they've only been dating for 15 minutes.

"Thank you." he says quietly, looking right at her.

"For what?"

"For saying yes. I would've looked daft if you said no."

"Oh Percy" she pauses for a second. "I don't think I could've said no."

He kisses her again and they walk to Oxford Street to see the lights. It reminds her of when she was a little girl and she had begged to go to London to see a play. Her parents had taken her and her brother and they had stopped to see the lights. They were just as mesmerising then too.

"Pretty aren't they?" Percy asks.

"They're beautiful."

They stay like that for a few minutes, each of them not saying a word. It's colder now and Audrey starts to shiver.

"Do you want to go to a club? I'll show you I can dance" he asks after a bit.

"Do you have anywhere in mind?"

"Let me show you." He leads her to an alley and then takes her down several side streets until they reach a grimy looking building that has a modest queue. She must've given him a look because he does the raised eyebrow thing again. "Just trust me. I know the people who work there."

He walks to the side and knocks on the back door. A girl with short dark pink hair and piercings opens it. "Who is-oh Percy!"

"Hey Leanne." he replies.

"Come in. Davy's by the bar and- who's this?" she asks, looking at Audrey.

"This is my girlfriend." he says proudly, gesturing to her.

"Hiya. Me name's Audrey." She notices that her accent's coming out more and more now that she's drunk. Ah well. Best he gets to know her properly early on.

"Well come in then. It's proper cold out there." Leanne opens the door and club songs can be heard playing while the smell of alcohol fills Audrey's nostrils.

"Thanks." Percy leads her inside, nods to Leanne and then leads her inside.

It's filled with girls dancing in tiny dresses and shirtless boys with drinks in hand. It strikes her at this moment that they're not at all dressed for the occasion. She's in her denim skirt with tights and a white top and Percy's still in his work clothes, though he did take off his tie a while ago.

"Where are we going?" she shouts, trying to be heard over the music.

"To see some of my friends! You'll like them, I promise." he calls back, leading her by the hand.

He takes her to a corner where a man and a lady are sat with drinks in hand. They both look like they're mid-40s and the woman is resting on the man's outstretched arm. The man looks up at Percy and immediately stands up and hugs him.

"Percy!" he says in a thick accent. "How ya doing?"

"Good Davy. I want you two to meet someone." He holds up his and Audrey's intertwined hands. "This is Audrey, she's my girlfriend."

The woman gives a little scream and then immediately goes to hug both Percy and Audrey. "Thank god for you Audrey. We were getting worried about him being in the flat all alone. I'm Mandy by the way."

"How do you know him?" she asks curiously.

"What's a Northern girl like you doing down here in London?" Mandy asks.

"I'm an actress. I'm trying to make it big on the West End." she tells her proudly.

"Well good on you love. You asked how we know Percy, right?"

"Aye."

Mandy laughs and hugs Percy's shoulders. "Have you seriously not told her?"

"Told me what?"

"Percy sings here every Tuesday night. Fridays and Saturday's too in the summer. And he does it in our pub sometimes. Been doing it for about five years now, haven't ya?"

"And we've been trying to get him to do it more. But he's always at work." Davy alternates the last bit with fake jabs at Percy's shoulder. "You should come see him."

"I will." This new bit of information just makes Audrey fall for Percy more. He's tall, smart, kind and he sings? She's starting to think that this must be a dream and that Percy Weasley is nothing more than a figment of her imagination. Audrey pinches herself slightly and it confirms that yes, this is real.

"I just wanted her to meet you guys. You've looked after me ever since I moved here and you were there for me when Fred died." Percy says sincerely.

"Aw Perce. We're just some 40-something olds and you're young enough to be our son." Mandy says.

"Now what are you kids still doing here?" Davy asks, his dark skin shining in the strobe lights. "Go out and dance!"

Percy takes Audrey's hand as they dance on the floor. There’s bodies pressed up against them but they don't care. He dances with surprising coordination for someone so lanky and tall. The opening for "Crazy In Love" plays and everyone in the club screams. Percy spins her and they dance, both slightly unsteady on their feet. They move closer together and eventually their bodies touch as they dance. They point at each other as the song goes on and he lifts her up into his arms again as they're noses touch, his long and slender meeting her button one as they kiss. His hands are holding her waist and her’s are in his hair and it's drunk and slightly sloppy and Audrey doesn't care one bit.

She doesn't know exactly how she ends up at his flat but from what she can remember there was a tight feeling that squeezed her chest and the sound of wind rushing past her ears. She assumes it's simply the passing of the tube. What she can remember fully however, is them stumbling into his flat and her kissing him harder than she's ever kissed anyone before.

"Do you wan-?" Percy asks nervously.

"Yes." Audrey replies with full force. He takes her hand and leads her to his bedroom. It's neat and tidy but she's not focusing on the bed. She's focusing on him.

He kisses her again and then she's unbuttoning his shirt. There's a faint scar on his upper chest and she thumbs her finger across it. "How'd ya get it?" she whispers.

"Fighting" he replies with a small smirk.

"I knew you were trouble."

"Well I haven't always been good"

"I don't believe that." Then she sees his arms, covered in faded scars. He notices her looking and puts them around his stomach, looking down at the floor. "Hey-" she says, "I don't care. They don't matter to me."

"Really?" he asks, his voice small. Audrey's heart breaks a little bit then. How dare anyone tell him that he should hide them?

"You're beautiful either way." she says sincerely. "An-and these-" she holds his arms and holds them up "They're just proof of what you've been through and how strong you are." And then she leans up and kisses him with a sort of desperate urgency. Audrey doesn't ever want to come up for air because Percy's like oxygen. His hands are in her hair and he tugs at her shirt. She pulls it over herself and they both undress till they're in their underwear.

"Au-Audrey" he stammers.

"What is it?"

"You're perfect." he says and then he pulls her onto the bed and she laughs. He's gorgeous, skinny but firm. Lanky but lovely. She sits up and he places his hands on her waist. Audrey can feel them shaky and he's touching her like she could shatter at any moment.

Their bodies melt into each other and it's bliss. She never ever wants to leave him. He's perfect and they kiss and kiss and he keeps a steady hold on her.

They stop for a second and Audrey says breathlessly. "I think I'm in love with you."

He looks up at her, his hair messy and ruffled and kiss marks adorned on his cheeks. "I think I'm in love with you too." he replies. And then he kisses her again and again. And when they finish and just before she falls asleep in his arms, her last clear thought is "I'm going to marry him one day". She doesn't think a life without Percy Weasley is a life worth living.

****

Audrey's eyes flutter open. The cold winter morning's light is streaming through the crack in the curtain. Percy isn't next to her and she closes her eyes for a second. Of course it was too good to be true. Why would she have anything good happen to her?

And then she hears a man singing from the kitchen. She can't make out what it is but Percy's here. She sits up and realises he's left a button up shirt and some plaid pj bottoms for her to wear at the end of the bed. Audrey puts on the clothes, goes to the bathroom where he's left a toothbrush out for her. She cleans her teeth and then makes her way to the small, rectangular kitchen.

Percy is sizzling some bacon in a pan and singing along to the radio. He doesn't notice her standing there, leaning against the door frame. "So I started walking her way, she belonged to bad man Jose! And I knew, yes I knew I should leave when I heard her sayyy!" he sings while cracking an egg.

Audrey begins to sing softly under her breath, "Come a little bit closer, you're my kind of man. So big and so strong."

Percy stops in his tracks, looks towards her and breaks out into a big smile. "Come a little bit closer. I'm all alone and the night is so long." Audrey carries on, singing louder. He stretches out a hand which she takes almost immediately and they slow-dance in the kitchen. The song finishes and she kisses him slowly, savouring the taste.

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

They get married two months later in the local registry office, a month after Audrey finds out about his world. Two years later Molly arrives, a little girl that's the spit of her father but with her grandmother’s slightly terrifying temperament. And then three years after that Lucy Diamond follows, with black hair, freckles and green eyes and all of her twin uncle's mischief.

Audrey gets a couple of roles here and then but mainly sticks to teaching classes. But when she does get roles, Percy goes whenever he can, eyes shining as he watches his wife perform. And he always makes sure to greet her with a bouquet and a kiss.

Percy works his way up the ministry, loses his hair slowly(though Audrey thinks he looks handsome as ever) and joins a band at the age of 45, becoming their lead singer.

Molly grows up to become the head of a major wizarding makeup company and marries at the age of 27 to a magical lawyer called Winston Jones. They go on to have a son called Nicholas and twins Vera and Jasper.

Lucy follows in her father’s footsteps and forms a band with her muggleborn best friend, Owen Lee Coleman. Together they take the wizarding world by storm, her with a high voice that sounds like a nightingale and him with his low but gentle one. They even break into the muggle scene and become a hit act, headlining festivals across the world. Lucy goes on to have a little girl named Ruby Lee Weasley, named for Rubeus Hagrid and her best friend.

*********

19/12/2053

They're older now but Audrey's hand still feels the same in Percy's as they walk the streets of Soho. "Baby," she says softly, "Doesn't this remind you of when we were young?"

"It does love, you know it does." he replies as the snow pounds their faces.

They cross the road and stand outside the cafe she used to work at. 50 years to the day that they fell in love. It's changed hands many times since then but the memories haven't . The spot by the window where he always used to sit, the corner where they shared their first kiss.

"I was lucky then love and I'm lucky now." Percy says and she smiles up at him. "My dancing girl."

"My magic man," she replies, "God you remember when you told me?"

"You screamed, cursed me, asked if I needed an exorcism and then if I was real. Course I do love." he replies, laughing gently.

They walk on, past the club that Davy and Mandy used to run and straight into the pub. The decor's at least thirty years out of style but it doesn't matter. Not to them.

"What can I get you?" the boy at the bar asks them.

"Two G and T's love." Audrey replies and they take their drinks as Percy pulls out his wallet for his bank card.

They take their drinks and sit down in a corner, sipping them slowly. Percy looks handsome still, even with the last little scraps of ginger hair hanging on to his head. "Remember when we took the girls here?" he asks her.

"We should take the grandkids, do you think they're too old for it now?"

"Probably love. Nicky's 18 next year and Vera, Jasper and Ruby will be 16. Doesn't matter though, they all know how we met."

"We could do it during the school holidays, Golden anniversary present. Invite Owen and Priya too and obviously Cynthia and Rohan." Owen's family are like an extra set of grandchildren to Audrey and Percy, helped by the fact that they've known Owen since he was thirteen years old.

"Tiny Dancer," Percy says, calling Audrey by the nickname he used when they first got together. It makes her feel all fuzzy inside, like she's still twenty-something and newly in love.

"Magic man?" she responds.

"Listen to the song." is all he says and she does. "It's our song Audie."

The opening of Fairytale of New York plays and the pub joins in. Audrey grabs Percy by the arm and starts to sing along with a younger couple. He spins her round and Audrey's still light on her feet, though of course their movements are slower. "When you first took my hand on that cold Christmas eve, you promised me Broadway was waiting for me," she sings.

The song goes on and when it ends the pub bursts into applause for them and the younger couple to their side. The girl is short, around Audrey's height and the boy is just taller than Percy once was, and they both wear glasses. She brings him into a kiss, pulling him down by his tie.

"Remember when you used to do that to me?" Percy whispers into her ear.

"Shame you don't wear ties anymore."

"I wear them for weddings only."

"Darlin', d'ya wanna ask them for a photo?" she asks and before he can answer, she drags him by the hand to the couple who are both very flushed in the face.

"Hiya, we just wanted to say that you remind us of how we were when we were young." she says.

"Really?" asks the girl, "How long have you two been together?"

"50 years exactly," Percy replies, "Married for 50 in February, we got married very quickly."

"That's amazing!" the boy exclaims, "We’ve-“ his face drops as he turns to the girl, “We’re not together Prachi."

“I know Toyin." she says earnestly. "Do you want to or shall I?"

"Do what?"

"Ask me out." Audrey smiles as her and Percy watch the pair.

Toyin stutters before saying panickedly “Yes-yes of course. Prachi, would you like to be my girlfriend?”

“I’d like that very much,” she replies.

"You know, he asked me out in this very pub." Audrey remarks and Percy smiles down at them.

"Well if we end up getting married we'll be sure to invite you." Prachi smiles. "Though not in two months!"

Prachi has long black hair that runs down her back and Toyin has cinnamon brown skin that shines as he smiles at her.

They exchange contact details and take a photo all together. A song comes on the speakers and Prachi exclaims "Oh I love this one!"

Percy looks nonplussed as he says casually, "That's our daughter's song."

Both Toyin and Prachi stare at Audrey and Percy at this revelation. "Sorry-" she splutters, "Your daughter is Lucy Weasley? As in of Diamond Lee?"

"The very same, we're Audrey and Percy Weasley." Audrey says, smiling. She took his last name after they got married, given that there was an Audrey Whiteman that she kept getting confused with. And because she loved him and his silly magical name.

"That's so cool!" Toyin says loudly, "And you know Owen Coleman too?"

"Well given that he used to come round to our house for dinner and we're Granny and Grandad Weasley to his children, I'd say we do." Percy replies.

"Can you tell them we say hi?" Prachi asks.

"Will do."

They dance some more and then bid their farewells to the younger couple, though not before whispering in Prachi's ear "You'd better tell him about that wand." Her eyes go wide as she stares at them.

"You-of course you're magic too. I should have realised, is it both of-" Audrey nods towards Percy, "Just him? I'll tell Toyin, promise."

And with that, Audrey and Percy Weasley step out into the snowy Soho night. A drunken boy and girl walk their way, screaming out "Love you to the end" by The Pogues. And Audrey hums it as she leans up to kiss Percy, her magic man.

"I love you Audie." he says.

"I love you Perce."

Three months later, the invitation for the wedding of Prachi Joshi and Toyin Adeyemi comes in via owl. 

[wexhappyxfew]

how old are the silver bullets girls?

HI ANONNNNNN! please know my reaction to this immediately went a little like this:

me as i’m about to start rambling about the girls and their ages because these little things bring me so much joy and i am so happy you asked this (truly….always open to questions like this about the Silver Bullets girls i’m more than happy to provide commentary!!!)

-> these are all their ages in 1943 <-

Annie: 23, second oldest in her family, oldest girl in her siblings so automatically always seems to take on the older-mentor role with people. why she fits the role of command pilot so well.

Francis: 22, had to grow up quite fast in her childhood so she feels a little older than she actually is at 22, but is one of the most mature people on base.

Bessie: 24, she graduated from Barnard College in New York City before joining up in the war effort and here she is!

Carrie: 22, was halfway through college when she joined the war effort and has intents of finishing. that or flying planes still, but she fits that mix of adulthood but still youthful.

Kennedy: 22, similar to carrie with her vibes of entering adulthood but still withholding youthful tendencies. came from quite a wealthy background too so sometimes she feels she had to grow up too fast.

Vivian: 24, same as bessie, both who are the current oldest of the crew! people thinks she always very maternal and one of the wisest people they can go to. a lot of life stories and experiences too that people find comfort in :)

Judy: 21, the youngest of the group!!!!! people really see her as their little sister, and she’s usually a little bit more naive and youthful. very hopeful and usually one of the happiest crew members. but she still feels innocent and like there’s so much experience left for her to see in the world. people are always looking out for her.

Marianne: 22, one of the girls who is in that same age of being an adult but still feeling young — sometimes wonders what she’d be doing if she wasn’t here but she does a lot of future-thinking for herself and that usually makes her feel older than she normally is.

Margie: 23, a ball of sunshine, sometimes judy and her are two peas in a pod and then she’s best friends with kennedy who is a storm cloud and she’s the sunshine and it all makes sense. friend to all, always cheering people up. usually needs some cheering up herself.

Paulina: 22, only just turned 22 by this time, so she still feels like she can say she’s one of the youngest alongside judy. young at heart, carefree, and always a shoulder to lean on. she’s got your back more than anything, and a ruthlessly loyal to her folks and her crew.

Birdie (since passed): was 25, previous command pilot for Silver Bullets before she was KIA. was like that protective, maternal older sister to the crew. always would provide advice and stories and back up her girls. one of the best there was!

[edgelessvoid]

I'm late to this but who cares here's my thoughts on them

further explanations on a lot of the points below the cut (it's really long read at your own risk)

For starters english isn't my first language so if I mix up my terms or words I do apologize.

Also, a lot of my analysis comes from the RL manga mainly, as well as Rhine focus events and op materials such as module lore, voice lines, op rec and op files, if you haven’t read it I get it it’s a lot but I’d highly recommend you at least read the manga to get a better grasp of the context, however I will add the source of any and all screencaps I put here so it’s easier to double check.

Also also I will be skipping points that are unnecessary to explain or that are headcanons that are based purely on vibes, this thing is already long enough.

Age difference: 500+ and 30-40

TLDR Muelsyse is probably centuries old but is very vague about everything concerning her life and past, switching identities every so often to avoid getting herself killed due to her position in the world; Saria is at least 38 by the time Lone Trail happens.

For the longest time that Mumu was talked about (esp. in Dorothy’s Vision) as being old, like centuries old, however in her files it’s stated that she’s in her 30s, here’s my reasoning as to why both make sense at the same time.

(Dorothy’s Vision – DV-4 After)

(Muelsyse’s Operator Files – Archive File 1)

There are many instances of Muelsyse being portrayed as “different” from the rest of the world, and yes it can be directly tied to her being an elf, but I also choose to interpret such “uniqueness” as her having grown such perspectives over exceedingly long times and scarring experiences, when the timeframe is big enough, one’s opinions can differ wildly from the norm.

(Lone Trail – CW-5 Before)

(Lone Trail – CW-ST-4)

And yet for this “uniqueness”, Muelsyse’s file still talks about her life like any other, growing up in an orphanage, graduating college and working. But would it be a wise idea to carry the same identity lifetime after lifetime, for someone who is so susceptible to originium, and being as active in more populated and social areas? No, even keeping herself on the downlow wasn’t enough when Ho’olheyak caught her and very nearly killed her by stuffing originium down her throat.

(Dorothy’s Vision – DV-ST-1)

It would make sense that Muelsyse has to be more cautious with her own identity, as she has chosen to live in a world full of originium and people with less than good intentions, so if asked about her past, she can tell it like it is, only keeping unsaid the fact that these events may have happened multiple lifetimes ago.

(Lone Trail – CW-5 Before)

(Lone Trail – CW-5 Before)

Now for Saria: As far as I have searched there’s no real indicator of Saria’s current age but even a simple assumption that she studied any 4-year major and immediately after went to found RL with Kristen and Muelsyse, she’d be at the very least 38 by the time Lone Trail happens in 1099, as the majority of college graduates are aged around 22 to 24 depending on the major, and Rhine Lab was founded in 1083 by Saria, Kristen and Mueslyse, chances are she’s older if she studied any more than 4 years which isn’t unreasonable.

(Rhine Lab Research Report #1 – Terra Historicus (CN)/Lone Trail (Global release)

Vibe:

Saria, an unmovable mountain that stands tall, a mortal with a grand vision that has risen so much it might as well touch the sky itself. Muelsyse, the flowing ocean upending fleets and crashing violently against rock, all to follow the whims of the moons above, stretching its waves as tall as it can, it could never match the might of the mountain it surrounds, yet it will probably outlive it. And looking far away from them is Kristen, the shimmering sky, so promising, and at the same time unreachable.

Repressed/Open:

Saria is just a repressed calcium brick, both from how she was raised to ignore her feelings and her absorbing those teachings and fueling them into productivity. Mumu is more open in comparison to Saria but she's still reserved about it in general.

No libido/Terminally horny:

Just because Muelsyse is reserved about her sexuality doesn't mean she's not constantly horny for Saria, what else can I tell you other than she's down bad. Saria is initially neutral about the whole deal but becomes progressively hornier for Muelsyse, even more so than her on occasion.

Aggressively romantic/Allergic to PDA:

Muelsyse is a very emotional, affectionate and caring person, but she also understands that Saria is very unaccustomed to PDAs, so she tones it back to a level where both feel comfortable. Saria however is not an emotional person; she’s often perplexed by displays of affection of any kind but does warm up to them with time.

Mentally ill/stable:

Neither is mentally ill, they're just grieving, Saria is a lot more self-destructive about it than Muelsyse though, emotionally stunted calcium brick and all.

KMSing over being in love/Blushing giggling twirling hair:

When they first got together, Muelsyse was a bit more outwardly excited. Both were torn on their feelings for each other as they are still grieving, but Muelsyse has also been yearning for Saria for longer so that dampens the blow (it doesn’t).

Doomed/Blessed by narrative:

Both are doomed by the narrative but. Come on. Mumu is that comfort character that gets put thru every trauma in the universe, I add some extra trauma because she is a long lived and as will probably outlive Saria if the originium doesn’t kill her first. Behold some highlights of Mumu experiencing the horrors in real time:

(Muelsyse’s Operator Files – Archive File 3)

(Expeditioner’s Joklumarkar – Expeditioner Interviews Kin 01)

(Dorothy’s Vision – DV-4 After)

Big/Little spoon:

Saria is usually the big spoon, but Muelsyse also gets to be the big spoon if Saria’s tail allows it.

Weapon/Wielder:

Not so much weapon/wielder dynamic to me so much as it would be combat capabilities, in arts Muelsyse destroys Saria, but in hand-to-hand Saria does break Mumu like a twig.

(Lone Trail – CW-10 Before)

(Dorothy’s Vision – DV-4 After)

The pajamas:

Saria wears old people pajamas, they're comfy and no one uses them to show off so why bother with something flashier. Mumu isn't flashy either but she still retains her sense of fashion even when picking pajamas.

No game/Insane game:

Mumu has mad game but she turns it down very often. Saria has insane game but she's too dense to see it.

Functional/Soggy loser:

Mumu has her shit together, Saria on the other hand, while being a very capable person, is still a certified failwoman; far too stubborn and strict for her own good.

What brings them together?

It's hard to talk about Saria and Muelsyse without talking about Kristen. Saria promised to protect Kristen and her vision.

(Records of Originium: Rhine Lab Manga, ch7 p38/72)

Muelsyse went out of her way to meet Saria and Kristen

(Muelsyse’s Operator Files – Archive File 3)

Muelsyse went on to start Rhine Lab with both of them. Even when talking between the two, Kristen came up in many conversations.

(Lone Trail – CW-10 Before)

And now, Kristen is forever out of reach to the both of them, so what now? Do these memories they had mean nothing without her now? To me, their answers would be no, Saria has fully admitted to being willing to do it all over again; And Muelsyse has expressed how deeply she cares for both Kristen and Saria. They are brought together even more because they’re the only ones who understand just how devastating that loss is to the other. They also play off of each other's energy incredibly well, Mumu’s lighthearted yet slightly distant humor and Saria's deadpan and matter of fact mannerisms elevates their dynamic a lot.

(Records of Originium: Rhine Lab Manga, ch-s1 p2/8)

What kept them apart?

Opposing approaches to the same issue, talking about both Kristen and RL as a whole, Muelsyse tries to improve the situation from the inside for her own personal goals e.g. finding a new world rid of originium; Saria doesn't necessarily try to improve the conditions of RL so much as tries to shield and fix the mistakes that it has made and from the outside, following her own methods to try to make Kristen understand how far she’s strayed from their vision of RL.

(Records of Originium: Rhine Lab Manga, ch8 p88/92)

(Lone Trail – CW-10 Before)

They collaborate on occasion but it’s clear after the Diabolic Crisis that they no longer see eye to eye in a lot of issues and now act very separately.

(Dorothy’s Vision – DV-ST-1)

The meet-cute*:

This one comes with a gigantic asterisk because I'm taking it from the events we explicitly see, it's fair if you think it could've happened far earlier, and it's one of my own hcs, but this is just the one event I feel makes the most sense in canon.

It’s far from the first time they met, but the first time they talk on a deeper level than a coworker relationship, In Lone Trail it’s somewhat alluded to Muelsyse still being slightly outcast from the core in the early days, and as Rhine Lab grew, they all settled into their roles as directors and start to lose touch with one another, only reconnecting a little during Ifrit’s case and after Control has halted their investigation into the Haydn1 lab “accident”, Saria from continues to look into things, with Muelsyse wanting to help out.

(Records of Originium: Rhine Lab Manga, ch6 p42/72)

Skipping forward to ch 8 where the manga switches perspectives back to them, Saria feels dejected because she believes there’s not much else she can do to help Silence and Ifrit, even if she is aware of how much pain Ifrit is in, and how Silence is involving herself in constantly more dangerous territory.

(Records of Originium: Rhine Lab Manga, ch8 p10/92)

Muelsyse can only empathize so much with Saria’s situation, acknowledging that she is mostly looking out for herself, having other options than RL. After that, Saria reminds her that no she doesn’t, so Muelsyse jokingly says she’s only looking to survive.

(Records of Originium: Rhine Lab Manga, ch8 p12/92)

Yes, I do believe she’s joking here, why would she threaten to kill Muelsyse when she has even less evidence against her than Parvis, when Saria hasn’t really commented on doing something similar to him when he is in fact doing something far less funny pretty openly by now.

The reductive tropes

If the last 9 pages worth of word vomit on my end do not convince you that this ship is in fact very appealing, here’s the list of reductive ship dynamics and tropes you can tack on:

Gruff/Dainty, immaculate aesthetic.

Mortal/Long Lived, you can squeeze a lot of angst out of this dynamic.

Also the shit Muelsyse says in Lone Trail, cmon.

(Lone Trail CW-10 Before)

(Lone Trail CW-ST-3)

Fell first/Fell harder:

Mumu fell first, how did she fall for such a loser fr (affectionate). Mumu also fell harder, feeling something after a long ass while of feeling dead inside for centuries? Hard to top that.

Who confessed first?

Mumu is the only one with enough emotional intelligence to carry them through the first years of their relationship, it does get better tho.

The touch segment:

Take it for what you will, it's just the vibes they give me, I added in hair bc I feel like Muelsyse would like it if Saria played with or cared for her hair, Saria is neutral about her own.

Conglaturations you made it to the end :D

[musings-ofmuses]

hey, isn’t that DAPHNE “PHE” COHEN-LEVY, who looks a little like MAUDE APATOW? i hear SHE is a TWENTY-FIVE year old CIS WOMAN who works as a SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER @ ASPEN CREEK TOWN HALL who has been in town for TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. they ARE a member of one of aspen creek’s founding families. you can usually find them at SUNNYVALE COMMONS or THE BACK ALLEY BREW. if you ask me, they remind me a lot of DANCING UNDER METEOR SHOWERS, PASTEL RETRO SWEATERS COVERED IN PATCHES, THE SMELL OF SAGE AND LAVENDER, AND THE GLOW OF THE TV PLAYING 90S VIDEO GAMES. just keep an eye on them & see if their true colors shine through!

Full Name: Daphne Angeline Cohen-Levy Nickname(s): Phe, Daph, Phi-Phi (Cohen family only) Age: 25 Birthday: September 3rd, 1999 Astrological Sign: Virgo Place of Birth: Aspen Creek, North Carolina *Parents: Mother (50+) and Father (50+) *Siblings: Older Sibling(s) (26+) and one Younger Sibling (21-24) Children: N/A Pets: Dionysus “Dio” (6-year-old Ragdoll cat), Nyx (2 ½-year-old Oriental Shorthair cat), and Purrsephone “Sephie” (4-month-old Ragdoll cat) *Relationships: Ex-Boyfriend(s) (wanted connection) and Current FWB & Possible Romance (wanted connection) Scars: Three small scars from having her gallbladder removed Tattoos: N/A Other Physical Distinctions: Many prominent birthmarks all over her body Sexual Orientation & Gender: Heterosexual and Heteroromantic ;; Cis Female Occupation: Social Media Manager and Events Photographer for the Town of Aspen Creek

bullet points

• tw: mention of broken bones, medical issues, chronic illness •

○ summer was still hanging in the air as the clocks turned to midnight. at that moment, on friday september 3rd, 1999, daphne angeline cohen-levy was welcomed into the world on her exact due date. that ‘fun fact’ seemingly predicted her future, as she grew into a child that thrived off perfection and preciseness.

○ before she was able to make a stake for herself in the cohen-levy family, daphne was soon thrust into the dreaded middle child role; always feeling overlooked and underappreciated. the constant feeling of both being too old to get away with her frankly normal childhood behavior yet being too young to participate in activities her older sibling(s) could persist even into her adulthood. it feels as if she is always being told by her parents that she's not accomplished enough but she can't possibly know what's best for her because she's 'so young'.

○ since she began to talk, daphne has had some kind of nickname. in her younger years, it was phi phi (a name that has lingered in the family's lexicon much to her dismay). middle school? daph. and though daph still sticks around, for the majority of people she is known as phe.

○ even if it was only one part of her hyphenated last name, phe grew up knowing the weight bearing the 'cohen' name meant in town. it was a status symbol; there had to be a reason her mom kept it after her marriage, right? but it also carried an expectation. they were virtually the pseudo-figureheads of the town. the last thing phe wanted to do was rock the boat. this self-induced (but also slightly parentally implied) pressure fueled the girl's already existing proclivity towards perfectionism.

○ they say you're either a horse girl, a mermaid girl or a princess girl growing up but phe opted for a secret forth option: the dancer girl. thank you for the music by abba must have been written about her since it seemed that she too had truly been dancing before she could walk. phe was balletcore before it was trendy (just ask her childhood bedroom: tacky mid 00's hot pink ballerina silhouettes splashed across her sheets and any bit of merch that said 'dance' was the vibe all day, every day) . by the age of two she was placed in dance classes, and the cohen-levy parents knew they were never looking back. phe's whole heart and soul lived in dance. there was nowhere she felt more free nor more herself than in a dance studio

○ her love of dance and horribly competitive nature that thrived off the need to be the best at everything poised phe perfectly to enter the competitive dance world. she started going for titles at six with her dance company's elite team and would prove to be a reliable winner as the years went on. the girl has lost count of how many titles she has won and is currently storing at least three rubbermaid boxes full of trophies and crowns in her parents' attic (since only so many will fit in her small apartment). 'first place' was like her drug. the young girl would wind herself up into such horrible, anxious knots wondering what she did wrong if she was even a tenth of a place below first. that's why she tried to land there as little as possible.

○ when she wasn't at competition, phe was shut up in her room playing all the classic cozy games. her summer nights and free weekends were filled with whatever sims or harvest moon game was out at the time. to this day, she still can be found with a blanket wrapped around her, a bowl of chips by her side and her little virtual life on the screen in front of her.

○ she is also a blossoming cat lady. she has three currently and they are her pride and joy.

○ despite pushback from her parents, phe decided to major in dance. she hoped to continue in competitions for a while and soon transition into either performing with a ballet company or owning her own studio. however, at nationals during her third semester, there was a part in her dance where she went down to one knee. everything before that was going swimmingly; a shoo-in for first place. when that knee hit the stage though, all phe remembers was hearing a loud crack and feeling as if her entire leg had exploded. she was soon whisked away to the hospital where they discovered her kneecap had completely shattered, requiring her to get a full knee replacement. 'devastated' wasn't a strong enough word for the feelings that overcame her when she found out she couldn't dance for at least a year after the surgery.

○ but everyone in her family had one question on their minds: how did a completely healthy nineteen-year-old's knee completely shatter from a simple landing? well, after extensive and invasive testing, the culprit was revealed: systemic lupus erythematosus causing osteoporosis. it made sense; she had been feeling achier than usual (chalked up to her getting older and less flexible as she grew), got exhausted so quickly (usually blamed on lack of sleep or doing too much), and was starting to see a rash pop up across her cheeks (which was misdiagnosed as eczema). she thought the year ban on dance, though? once she heard her doctors recommend she not do any professional dancing ever again at the risk of her doing irreparable damage to herself as he condition continued to progress, the sound of her heart shattering felt louder than hearing her literal bone split open. her whole life had been planned by her since she was seven. and now? she had to start back at square one.

○ after a gap year of healing (and moping. and crying. and wallowing), phe went back to school to get her social media marketing degree at the suggestion of her parents (most jobs would accommodate her body becoming less mobile over the years as her lupus progressed). if this was the path her life was to take, it was time to throw everything she had into starting off on the right foot. getting both her BA and MA in social media marketing plus getting a 4.0 GPA both times was absolutely a coping method for losing her past love.

○ being a part of the cohen family meant getting a job at town hall wasn't the hardest thing in the world. plus, this role (that may have been made for her) was supposed to be easy. it was basically getting town news out online in a fun, aesthetic, and trendy way. her older coworkers were glad to have someone who actually majored in all of that 'tech nonsense' to deal with what they saw was frivolous. unable to do the bare minimum, though, phe has also dedicated herself to completely recoding the town's website and has volunteered to be the events photographer (a class she added on for credits in undergrad that became a side hobby for her). again, see how we used the word supposed?

○ when the shoe (aka news of her uncle's (the MAYOR's) affair) dropped, work suddenly got very stressful. she had to sift through all of the comments, deleting and banning people left and right. phones rung every hour of the day, asking for a comment. and now? now she has to do full seo damage control.

○ though she is being held together by a string with the structural integrity of one of her most worn pointe shoe's laces, phe puts on a front of complete calm and perfection. she's had years of practice, after all. does she spend nights at the bar to just get away from the chaos and let loose a little too often? maybe. but that's okay. she can keep it together just a bit longer. the gossip train can't last forever, right? .....right?

wanted connections/plots

any and all, please! she is a very new muse and subject to change so please feel free to reach out <3

[bookswithsyd]

Found Family and a Passionate Purpose | Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

So I recently got the urge to watch some anime on the side while doing work, and this caused me to stumble upon Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, so today we are going to take a look at this adorable bear-themed anime

What you need to know

With this being a pretty calm anime, there’s not a whole lot to know if you wanna jump into this one. The tone of the first episode is an adorable slice of life following Yuna, a 15-year-old girl who is obsessed with video games, and who gets thrown into her digital world. She now wears a bear onesie to get OP powers and aspires to have a good time in her new home.

Yuna’s bear suit is the main talk of every new place she goes. This show is riddled with bear puns upon bear puns, comedy being at the forefront of the show, but don’t be fooled by the bear suit altogether, there are some real emotional moments that will get you out of nowhere.

My thoughts on the show

I decided to give this anime a chance after starting my free trial of Crunchyroll and this was the first suggestion under the slice of life tab. I had seen the Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear manga at Barns and Noble, but never really thought to get into it. Seeing the anime cover made me think that it would be a nice show to put on and have playing on the side while writing scripts. I should have learned by now that the anime I put on the side are ones that I really come to enjoy.

This is a relaxing show to watch. Yuna befriends many people, not just in her new hometown, but people in regions that she visits on her many adventures. The show really develops a sense of Found Family through Yuna accepting Fina as an apprentice and taking on a big sister role. In her previous life, Yuna mainly played games and was estranged from most of her family. She doesn’t seem to have much connection to others prior to Fina, and after her, she collects friends by the dozen. She becomes a guardian for a group of orphans, takes on an older sister role for young girls, and even helps relocate multiple families to her region to help them set up restaurants, making sure to house and support them in every way.

Yuna finds purpose in protecting those around her and takes on every quest no matter where she is to save people she doesn’t even know because she grows to hate seeing innocent people suffer. She goes from a girl who only carried about her game stats to someone who throws herself into danger.

I think that this show is aimed a bit more towards a younger audience, but I still enjoyed it at my old age of 24. The bear suit Yuna wears might be cute, but it truly is overpowered. She can fire off magic with her paw gloves and store an endless amount of materials, like a Black Viper. Yuna mentions in multiple episodes that without her bear suit, she is just a weak teenage girl. One of the best abilities is her two bear summons who become adorable key players throughout the show. These things can shrink down to cub size and are incredibly strong.

Right now, this show has two seasons and I was able to watch all of them spread out over about 4 days. This was such an amazing show that I just did not want to stop watching. It was just so easy to watch, there was no hard-to-follow plot or random obscure moments scattered throughout that made the show a little too out there.

There were moments, mainly when Yuna would do something overwhelmingly nice for someone, that would pull at my heart and it really made me feel something. I never would have thought in a million years that an anime that follows a girl dressed in a bear suit would make my eyes water, but here we are. There are moments where the characters show real emotion and that combined with the light-hearted majority of the show makes this a perfect watch.

Who would I recommend this anime to?

So first things first, who would I recommend this anime to? I would recommend this anime to anyone who wants a calm slice of life. The progression of the show breaks down to a “dilemma of the week” type of deal with Yuna tackling different issues plaguing those around her. There is an inkling of a main overall story, but most of that ties to the building up of the town and Yuna learning new abilities she gets from leveling up.

This show may not have anything major to keep track of, but it does hit you with the accessional emotional moment when something extremely sweet and happy happens, this is typically tied to developing a character and helping you become more invested. I never would have expected a show focusing on cute bears to be something that would make me tear up multiple times. This show does an amazing job of blending light-hearted moments mixed with emotional ones that pull at your heart.

[universeofdreams]

Top Pilot Pt. 2

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Avengers x Fem!Reader

Genre: slight angst, fluff

Warnings: mention of side-character death, short mention of alcohol and cigarettes, lightly mature language, explanation of mc's mothers death PLUS a shit ton of technical talk

Wordcount: 1867

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Summary: Y/n finally meets Stark at the Expo and even has to pay his coffee. Then she flys out for a reconnaissance-flight and has a weird feeling in her gut that didn't came from one of her colleagues flirting with her.

════════════════════════════════════════════

After Peter left, Y/n decided to just go and exercise until it was evening, she didn’t even remember that the time was going round so fast when she looked over to the clock on the oven display, which showed already 6pm. 

„Fuck.“ She muttered and hopped into the shower. 

When she came out he only had one and a half hours to get ready, that was why she hurried a lot, did her hair and slipped into the dark blue dress, tailored for her. The pilot looked sleek but very intimidating, like she always did but the dress was different, made her look a bit older and wiser, cooler and wealthier than she actually was, her hair slicked back slightly and her heels were neatly polished. 

Her cat nestled against her leg and an incredible amount of hair got caught on the fabric of the dress, which made her scowl and slightly pushed Mr. Whiskers away, he meowed offended and went back to laying on the couch, when Y/n stored her mobile in her clutch, took his coat and left, locking the door. 

The driver was already waiting for her to escort her to the Expo. On the way she scrolled through Instagram, smiled when she saw that Wade also texted her. Wade? Oh yes, Wade Wilson, they knew each other, they met one time downtown at midnight, Y/n shared her beer with him just like hier cigarettes. 

Jumanji: Yo dumbtruck, tonight’s Stark Expo? You gonna look like a business w doing business huh?

Y/n: Shut the fuck up jumanji, im working, instead of doing the wade wilson style and just hanging 'round home

Jumanji: Fuck you Y/n you’re a horrible friend.

That was it, the conversation didn‘t last longer. 

She arrived at the back of the Expo and someone opened the door, leading her backstage. Employees here and there, fixing things, carrying machines around until a certain red haired woman came up to Y/n and introduced herself as Pepper Potts, the head of Stark Industries and Y/n did know her. 

„You’re the colonel of the Air Force, right?“ 

It was the ex-boss Tony Stark who appeared behind her, sunglasses still on and his suit was crumbled, just like Y/n imagined him to look alike. 

„Yeah“ 

He nodded and Pepper walked off with saying „Good that you’re here, I just want you to see the new things.“ Which had him shocked. Tony stayed there and he began to shovel the little snacks that were on the table into himself. 

„Not hungry?“ He asked the younger one and ate another cookie, because Y/n just shook her head. 

„What’s your name kiddo?“ 

„Hanson.“ 

„And your first name? You‘re more of a silent one huh?“

„Y/n’s my first name, sir.“ She just said, leaning back and folding her legs. „I’m not a silent one, I’m just bored.“ 

„Bored because of Pepper?“ 

„No, I wear that expensive dress because I have to sit here and watch. I’m a pilot, always on the run, Pepper‘s a nice woman but I‘m just not here to sit around you know.“ She stated to make her ambitions clear. When she looked up into Tony’s eyes she just saw him laughing.

„You’re intelligent, right?“

Y/n just shrugged. Tony sat down next to the young woman and laughed even more. 

„Are you bored, Sir?“ 

The female asked and one of her strands hung into her face as she leaned forward, elbows on her knees. Tony nodded. 

„The food is great though.“ 

Now also Y/n nodded. „Want to go drink a coffee?“ The 24-years-old asked and Tony nodded and got up. „Come on, if you want you’re free to drive this baby here.“ He said while pointing to the orange Audi, which got Y/n excited. 

Since she was a little girl she was also interested in cars, now she had the chance to drive one. „Okay sure, I’m driving, I’m choosing where we go.“ 

The girl smirked and took the drivers seat, started the motor and waited for Tony to sit down, when he did Y/n drove off to a small coffee shop around Manhattan. They both entered the store and Y/n immediately got greeted by a smaller girl with blond hair. 

„Hey Y/n! Long time no seen, what can I get you?“ She asked, her smile wide because he hadn’t seen the colonel in what felt like ages. 

„I‘d take a normal vanilla macchiato and for him-“ „an espresso and a whiskey please.“ Tony finished his sentence and Ciara smiled and started working. 

Both of them took a seat in the back of the shop and started talking about trivial things until Stark noticed the ring on Y/n’s ring finger with which she played the whole time. 

„So young and already married?“ He asked the younger girl who just shook her head.

„Actually, it’s Ciara‘s wedding ring.“ She pointed at the girl that suddenly came up with their drinks. 

After she left, Tony signalized Y/n to go on. „After her husband, my best friend, died, she gave it to me because it caused her too much pain.“ She explained and took a sip of her drink. „So you’re just a scapegoat? How did he die?“ 

„He was in the same formation as I was, just enlisted in the Air Force, his plane got shut down, it was his first flight.“ 

„Oh.“ 

And it was the only thing Tony said.

„I saw videos of you flying a B2, you’re doing that often?“ „I don’t care, my major gives me a mission and I do it, it’s that easy.“ 

„Someone’s unscrupulous, huh?“ And he laughed again, so did Y/n. When they were done with their coffee, which also the pilot payed, Tony drove Y/n back home. He fed his pets and then left to go to sleep, because tomorrow will be the hardest day, an important escorting flight.

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The annoying alarm woke her up at 5am, meeting the cold and hard wall opposite of her bed. Dallas was laid next to her and also woke up, licked across Y/n's face as a good morning and made the young woman literally jump out of bed. 

„Fuck! Isn’t it hard enough to just wake up at 5am? Now I need to shower again Dallas! Bad boy!“ She muffled and shuffled into the bathroom only to shower again. This time she did her hair neatly with gel so that her hat and the bun wouldn’t look horrible on top of it.

In a few seconds she was in his uniform, fed the animals, grabbed a granola bar and left the house just to take the bus to the air force base.  

„Good morning Hanson!“ 

„Mornin‘ Mick!“ 

Small conversations everywhere she went on her way to the hangar, passed a lot of friends which always smiled at him. 

„Looking pretty Y/n!“ Someone yelled, that could only be Mosly Winston, the guy that always tried to hook up with her. „I always do, who do you expect me to be to not look good?.“ She stated confidently when the other one caught up at Y/n’s pace, following her. 

„Are you free for lunch break?“ The blonde asked and smirked at Y/n who just shook her head. 

„No? Why?“ “I thought we could spend our lunchtime together!” The male recommended with a sheepish smile.

„Man Winston I’m working here, besides we’re not even dating.“ She defended herself and kept walking until they arrived at the hangar. Mosly had been quiet for the rest of the walk, not daring to say a word to the woman.

„Listen, Mosly, it’d be wiser to not follow me if you don’t wanna jump into one of those jets.“ She smirked and walked to her own plane. 

„Y/n I know no one who’s that focused on those jets, I wouldn’t never jump into this cockpit.“ Winston admitted and walked away, waving the younger one goodbye. 

She took a last sip of coffee, talked to her comrades and then climbed up the ladder into the cockpit.

When she held the control stick in her hands she felt at home, looking around to make sure everything’s set the way she needed it to be, made some adjustments to the instruments around and then was ready to go. She put on the helmet and fondled the side of the plane where her name and nickname ‚Y/n ‚Flying Ace’ Hanson‘ stood and smiled to herself while thinking about the many times she flew operations with the raptor and always was the best one performing, in general she was very happy how it all was right now. 

The hangar was her second home next to her flat with the two animals but that’s where she worked and her mom would’ve said that she should always feel comfortable at her workplace and indeed, she did. 

Her mom died from cancer and she wasn’t over it yet, especially because she was a really loving woman, supporting her no matter what she did and she always made sure her daughter was well. But just as Y/n expected, she didn’t like the idea of her enlisting the Air Force and she as really mad when she told her because her mother wanted her to have a wealthier life. She told her to leave and never come back as the disgrace she was now in her eyes and it broke the little girl she was back then.

A few days later she died and left nothing but a letter full of disappointment for her own daughter, the one she gave birth to. She cried for days, months, didn’t go to work and felt so responsible for her death as if she influenced it, but obviously. 

Back to the reality, she still smiled to herself and closed the cockpit, waved some of the other pilots and started the engine. The plane rolled down the hangar and left it, in front of it the long runway, behind it the rest of the formation. 

She was always the first one to depart, one of the advantages of being a Colonel Lieutenant. 

Usually the takeoffs were smooth and perfect but today was something wrong, as if the jet didn’t want to leave. There were complications with the lifting and one of the copilots asked through the intercom if her jet was okay but that was right when Y/n adjusted the manual control and got the short plane up into the air. 

„Yep, all done, she just didn’t wanna leave today. We’re good.“ She spoke into the comm and started watching the rest take off. 

„Kay m’lady, we’ll do that today?“ She told the raptor as if it was a fragile human being, as if she needed to care for its emotions. 

„Raptor 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, you on?“ Was her job to ask into the comm and got six times a ‚yes‘ back, which was great. She then started recording the flight. 

„Reconnaissance-flight number 2, Raptor 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 are with me, Colonel Lieutenant Y/n Hanson, they are under my protection, no weapons on boards, we’re on reconnaissance.“ She stated and started streaming the surroundings of the jet with the technology she build inside. 

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[marleysimms]

[MADISON BAILEY, CISFEMALE, SHE/HER] ever heard about [MARLEY SIMMONS]? Out here on the road, they have a reputation of being [INSIGHTFUL AND CREATIVE] but also [CALLOUS AND SARCASTIC], no wonder they’re called [THE LA REJECT]. According to local legend, they’re [TWENTY-TWO] and when they pull up to camp not a soul can mistake the sound of [KIDS IN AMERICA BY KIM WILDE] following them. Some say they carry [HER DAD’S LUCKY GUITAR PICK, A RUSTING LIGHTER, AND HER SONG JOURNAL] and have been traveling with [THE BOHEMIANS]. [e, 24, she/her, est]

hellO and sorry for being INSANELY late to the party !!! i have had the worst and busiest week but i will be able to be online starting tomorrow !! in the meantime, have marleys backstory !!

Marley Simmons was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, but it wasn’t where she belonged. That’s what everyone had always told her. Everyone in the Simmons family was musically gifted, sure, but Marley was different. Her mom and dad both played in a local band that was lucky to scrape together two gigs a month, and her older sister Mallory really took to the cello. But Marley’s gifts extended to anything and everything music related. Not only was she singing before she could even talk, but she could play nearly every instrument she picked up, and she had a real gift for songwriting as well. And on top of all her talent, she had this infectious energy that everyone seemed to be drawn to. As a child, she never really had the /warmest/ personality, but everyone wanted to be her friend. And even though she was always the rowdiest, most rambunctious child in the room, her teachers all thought she was a hoot. People really were just drawn to her, so Marley had no doubt in her mind that someday, she’d make it big.

Things in Marley’s life took a sharp turn right after she turned ten. Another local Portland band was asked to open for the Talking Heads on their tour, but they were down a lead singer. They offered Marley’s mom the spot as long as she was okay with leaving behind her family and quitting the band (formerly known as /High Five/) she’d spent nearly a decade being a part of. She jumped at the chance, and while she kept in touch with her family for the first few months of the tour, they eventually stopped hearing from her at all. Marley, Mallory, and their dad were all heartbroken, but they kept moving forward. What else could they do?

From then on out, Marley’s life looked a lot different. Her dad was a bartender, meaning he wasn’t around most nights. And even when he /was/ home, he wasn’t really there. Not mentally, at least. Seeing his wife abandon him and their children really changed him, and he wasn’t the tuned in father he always had been. So Marley spent the remainder of her childhood being raised by her older sister. And she became even more determined than ever to make something of herself. Part of her wanted to be able to provide for her dad and sister after everything they’d all been through. But the other part really just wanted to be able to say she found more success in the business than her mom ever did.

The second Marley graduated from high school, she headed for LA and never looked back. But she wasn’t prepared for what she’d find there. She spent her whole life hearing everyone talk about how talented she was, and how big of a star she’d be. So she’d never really considered the possibility that she’d fail. But that’s exactly what happened. Marley spent nearly three years in LA trying to get her big break before giving up. She thought about going home to Portland to be with her family again, but she couldn’t face them. She couldn’t face anyone who’d believed in her. It felt too much like she’d let them all down. So she took to life on the road. She knew it would probably break her family’s hearts all over again, but she felt like she needed to do it. She needed some clarity that she knew going back to her hometown would never give her.

[fionaapplerocks]

Fiona Apple - Harper’s Bazaar interview April 1998

last part:

In the past, Apple has spoken of having distinctly separate selves: the unruly, crazy brat and the controlling parent whose 24-hour job is to monitor and appease the brat, occasionally letting her out. She admits that the brat emerged last year during her acceptance speech at the MTV awards, where she won Best New Artist.  Apple, potential belle of the MTV ball    became Carrie, prom nightmare.  (Her rebel sermon included the following: "I'm gonna use this opportunity the way I wanna use it... What I wanna say is... this world is bullshit and you shouldn't model your life about what you think we think is cool.")  "Everyone was trying to keep this smiling thing going," Apple recalls, "and when all of a sudden I went up there and I was like the drunken asshole at the party who yells out," here she gets giggly and snarl-screams, "Mom,    you're fat!"  She regains composure.   "And everyone's like, Oh God."

Apple imagines that one day more people will relate to where she's coming from. They'll see that there's a kernel of humor in almost everything she does.   "Nobody has a sense of humor," she says.  "Everything I read is," she starts kicking the couch, "'Fiona Apple, lighten up.' What do you do? All you can do is do what you do, like your friends, do your shit, and try to laugh."

She lightens up.  I ask her if there's a song on the radio that's her guilty pleasure.  She smiles wryly and offers "You Make Me Wanna," by Usher.   She used to hate the Spice Girls, she says, "but I have to say, now I sweat Posh    Spice so bad.  I like her best because she never smiles in pictures.  She also    said once 'If you don't like us, then just have a laugh at us.'  She doesn't care if you get the joke the way she wants you to.  So from now on, Posh Spice is my girl."

Sometimes, says Apple, the best jokes are the ones only a few people get.  Last November, Courtney Love announced that she and Billy Corgan, lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins, had been trying to speak to Apple but that Apple's management was keeping them at a distance. Her concern, Love stated, stemmed from an impression that Apple, while doing a jailbait turn in her slick, stylish "Criminal" video, was being exploited as she romped about somewhat unhappily in her underwear.  Apple eventually met up with Love and    Corgan at a party.  "We kind of joked about it," Apple says.  "She wanted to be there for me like an older    sister.  I told her, 'Bitch, you're out there wearing your underwear too,'"  she says laughing. "She said something to the effect of,    'I'm a grown woman, and I can do that.' Courtney's one misconception about me is that she thinks I'm nine years old."

She may no longer be a child, but for Apple, who first went to private school, then to public and night school, and then studied at home, the entertainment industry is just more school; it's all a popularity game.  Apple remembers all too clearly the days when she was called a dog by her classmates because she had unruly hair, wore glasses and kept to herself. Adding insult to injury was the fact that her older sister, Amber, was pretty and popular.  When I tell Apple that this scenario reminds me of the film Welcome to the Dollhouse, she says: "My shrink told me I should see it, and I did. Life was bad for me back then, but not that bad.  Actually the sister in that film reminded me of Amber, because she was pretty and popular but also very sweet."

Later I ask    Apple's sister about those days. "I almost collapsed when she told me she thought I was like that sister twirling around in a tutu in Welcome to the Dollhouse," says 22-year-old Amber, who currently plays the ingenue in a Venice, CA, production of the musical called A Happy Lot. "When I was younger I would feel bad because I got a lot of attention, and I was aware that Fiona felt lonely and unsocial. But I always    had this feeling that everything Fiona felt had knocked her down as a child was    contributing to something good that was waiting for her."

I ask how Apple's rape affected the family.  "I was very angry," she says.  "It    happened at a time when she was developing as a woman, coming out of her shell.  It was such a blow.  I was so afraid that she was going to retreat.   But she was so strong.  She learned to lift herself up.  I remember her reading Maya Angelou's book of poems.  She used to sleep with that book."

If Apple is, in her sister's words, "a compulsive truth teller," lately she has been developing a new policy of discretion, at least where relationships are concerned (she will say that although she's not seeing magician David Blaine anymore, the two are still close).  "I don't want to get into my personal life," she says. "It's just not worth it, you know?" She pauses for a moment, a mischievous spark in her eyes, and brings up the name of a woman whose send-up of her MTV acceptance speech on a comedy album made her cry: "I'm going out with Janeane Garafolo.  Could we just pretend I told you that?"

Apple has spent three days in the studio working on her follow-up to Tidal, but she's not happy with being here.  She feels rushed.  There is the title: Initially called Corrupt, it's morphed into a variation that Apple spells out on my pad: OKerupt.  She explains in a dry tone: "It's like, okay, erupt. Like I'm going    to erupt on this album." Or you could read it "Oh, corrupt," as Apple also does, but you'd have to hear her say it wearily to really get it.

Track titles    include "Limp," "Paper Bag," "Fast As You Can," "On the Band" and "Love Ridden" -- "like plague-ridden," she adds. This collection of songs is not nearly as introspective as Tidal, she    says, but at this early stage, who knows what shape the album will take?  Of the song    "Limp," she explains, "It's    about when people try to make you feel that there's something wrong with you, because they have a need to be a savior.  They make you feel like you're crazy just so they can be the ones who help you.  But I'm not going to give them the opportunity anymore."

We've been talking for three hours.  At this moment, Andy Slater strides into the studio.  Apple looks up.  Artist and producer-manager speak in the shorthand of an old married couple.  Apple says "I'm going to have to..." and then reading the expression on his face adds "What?"

  AS:    "You have to what?"    FA:  "Go."    AS:  "Home?"    FA:  "Shopping."    After a brief silence, Andy says: "Do you want to work tonight?"    FA:  "Record?"    AS:  "We should work tomorrow."    FA:  "I thought I already said we    weren't."    AS:  "You know what?  Jake wants to use the time.    I'm going to let him use the time."    FA:  [arms crossed in front of her, defiantly]: "Good."

Andy slowly walks out of the room. Apple looks ahead, silent for a moment.   Yes, she confirms when I ask, Jakob Dylan will be taking her unwanted studio time tomorrow. "You just witnessed a big step," she says.  "Because the option is always there for me to work.  He'll mention it, and I will say yes.   And that's why I've killed myself in the past." Fiona Apple pats herself lightly on the arm. "Good girl," she whispers, and then exhales. fin

[hopefulstarfire]

Have some quick profiles for the yugioh ocs!!

Katherine "Kat" Grace Mercer

She/her, 15-18, pan.

Stage name is Kat Pegasus.

Younger sister of Cecelia Pegasus.

Lost her sister and parents within a few months of each other at the age of 8. She has since lived with her godparents, Vance and Chelsea Griffin, and also tends to crash with her brother-in-law and godbrother often. She still goes back to her family ranch every so often to visit her Uncle Wes.

Duels with a plant based Deck. Her ace cards are Fallen Angel of Roses and Queen Angel of Roses.

Got to beta test Duel Monsters and it's one of her favorite things.

Seto was the only person to beat her and she has had an intense rivalry with him ever since they were 13. Then he loses to Yugi and her immediate thought is "Well, great, I gotta beat short stack here too."

Loves gaming, the color pink, fashion, baking, steak, Funny Bunny, her queen Dolly Parton and doing anything for the Aesthetic. Hates paparazzi, crowds, mushrooms, Weevil Underwood and having to cook anything that's not ramen.

Has a service dog (a German Shepherd) named Lola.

Wants to stream and play Duel Monsters for the rest of her life; has some worries about one day running Industrial Illusions herself.

Iris Ophelia McGinnis

She/her (also will respond to they/them, may be more she/they actually), 19-22, demi bi.

Bastard child of Steven Nezbitt.

Lives with her Mom, Meredith, and her younger brother, River.

Tries to look after her Mom a lot, who deals with MS. She's also her beta reader since her Mom wants to try and become a writer and move away a bit more from the law world.

Met Seto and Mokuba when she was just shy of 14 when Nezbitt tried to arrange a marriage between her and Seto. This has since been called off since Seto took over the company and she views the boys as her brothers.

Doesn't really Duel, but does carry around a deck that's a mashup of cards so she can play with Mokuba and River. Seto is pissed she won't Duel him.

Is in school to become a nurse and is going to school off of scholarships and has some AP credits under her belt. She also works two part time jobs, one at a cafe/bakery and one at a bookstore.

Has one best friend she hangs out with during any free time she actually has and that's Alister...who is secretly not who she thinks he is.

Loves reading, thrift shopping, astronomy, gardening, baked potato soup, sitting in the park, comfy hoodies, quiet quality time and spamming her friends with tiktoks to let them know she's alive even if she's not feeling sociable. She hates porkchops, crowds, her job at the cafe, her deadbeat dad, weapons of destruction, bowling (bc she always loses and Seto makes fun of her for granny bowling) and sand.

Wants to become an APRN and later decides she's going to work in pediatrics!

Maddox Ryder Griffin

He/him, 24-27 years old, bi.

Kat and Cecelia's godbrother and Maximillion's best friend. His parents are Chelsea and Vance.

Lives with his twin daughters, Dahlia and Dinah (5-8 years old), and Max, having moved in with him shortly after his ex-girlfriend, Paige, abandoned him and their daughters. Considers Kat more like his sister and Max like his brother than anything else.

Uses a Spellcaster Deck; his ace is Magician of Black Chaos.

Currently works for his family company, Griffin Security, and is the one in charge of I2s security, just directly above Croquet. He's also acted as tournament comissioner several times before, to help keep the very loose rules of the game instilled before it finally got real rules (which was the biggest relief for him ever).

Protective of Kat and Max both, but he's never afraid to call them on their shit when he needs to.

Also has a German Shepherd for a pet that's a few years older than Lola named Diesel.

Loves punk rock and heavy metal, Nickelback, sitcoms, cooking, crab legs, camping, swimming, getting tattoos, his pickup truck and singing. Hates when there's no structure/rules to games, even mild cheating, overly controlling people, artichokes, and any reason to have to wake up early on a Saturday morning.

[tu-sugar-mami]

Tales of the side of the road: Day #1)

You're an overworked, sleep deprived, tired barista at a pretty strange coffee shop. You don't really complain, since the payment is good and you have a lot of free time, with the shop being pretty much empty and customers walking in only once in a while. The place is big, well equipped, somehow there's wifi, and you love doing what you do even if sometimes you wish you could go home. You could say the building is placed in the middle of nowhere, in a road connecting two barely populated and pretty hidden towns. The only other building anywhere in a few miles is the convenience store, an old and beaten up OxxO across the street, the cashier doesn't speak much though.

The owner is a bit... how to say it? Cryptic, to put it slightly, but that doesn't bother you at all, you barely see them, and now that you think of it perhaps the only time you spoke to them is when you were hired.

You've seen your fair share of weird stuff in three years of working here, and you even made friends with the local cult, although with a rocky start when they tried to sacrifice you to their deity. It turned out for the best, since you gained regulars that always came in with the freshest gossip. And yes, you may have gotten a small curse because of the first encounter, but hey, being occasionally possessed by a dark goddess do come handy when one of the diverse side effects is super strength and you have to lift heavy boxes of ingredients for the drinks. Because, let me tell you, the drinks you make are not regular stuff.

You specialize in a very complex form of beverages, with basic color code names, but with a flawless, delicious, magnificent taste. At least to those who are meant for.

You see, customers here are very unique, and many have tried to eat you several times before you made it clear that you were not on the menu. They learned to not underestimate your skills manouvering a broom.

Anyway, today is a specially slow day. Not even Gary —a cultist of the highest ranks, who loves his double shot 'blue' coffee— has passed by yet and you can't help but wonder what or who held him back. Though your inquiry doesn't last long, when you hear voices outside and the approach of hurried steps.

It's almost nightfall and it starts to get chilly when you get ready for yet another endless night shift. You find it odd that other people aside from Gary would swing by the shop at this hour, but well, it is your job to serve them after all, and so you tighten your apron and ready your notepad.

Like i've said before you've seen a lot of not so ordinary stuff, and when an uncommonly tall —and absolutely gorgeous— lady along with three younger, shorter women wearing at least 10 layers of cozy clothes walk in you're absolutely unfazed and instead welcome them with the brightest smile you can muster.

"Hi! Welcome to Itsy Bitchy Spider, home of the best coffee in all 24 miles around. What can i get for you today?" You say, bringing the women's attention to you.

The tall lady seems a little thrown off by your warm welcoming. Or by the weird name of the franchise, or perhaps because she wasn't expecting a fragile-looking human to be behind the counter, who knows, but she usher one of the younger girls —a brunette one, who wears a creepy but charming smile peeking from under a thick scarf— towards the counter and clears her throat. "Hello, yes, my daughter got into a little bit of a situation earlier and she has to clean herself up. We're on our way to a very important meeting and she has to be presentable."

It's only now when you notice that said daughter has bloodied clothes, and when she lifts her head you can see that there's blood dripping from her chin too. But again, not the weirdest.

"Sure ma'am," You say with a smile, wich has her giving you a curious look. "the bathroom is on that black door over there." You point and the girl goes on her way, almost skipping. Kind of adorable, you think, like a small child would be, except much older and dangerous. "So, is the cult holding a meeting? That'd explain why Gary hasn't come by." You say casually. The woman is about to answer when another uh, you suppose is a daughter too, suddenly points at the pastries countertop.

"What's that?" A redhead girl asks. She looks excited and genuinely curious about a colorful piece of a cake. You don't make them, and honestly you don't want to know what's in them, but you know they're suitable for any kind of customer that walks in, so you pull out a piece and arrange it on a plate, decorating it with red syrup, the red syrup.

"Try it, it's on the house." You wink at her while sliding the plate towards her and she looks at you like you just handed her a priceless jewel.

"Really?" She says, but is more a formality since she's already pulling the plate closer. "Look Bela! Look what i got!"

"No, Daniela you shouldn't eat that. Your tummy will hurt, you know this." The tall lady says as she grabs the plate and pull it out of Daniela's grasp, which is easy given her height. "We're sorry, but we can't take this. We have a very strict diet." She hands the plate back to you.

You smile and gently take the plate away, aware of the sad puppy eyes the redhead is giving you. You discreetly, almost as if it wasn't your intention, you put the plate within her reach and keep talking. You pretend not to notice when the girl sneakily grabs the plate and runs back to her sister to share her prize.

"Ma'am, i assure you it is perfectly safe. You're not from around here, are you? Well, let me get you acquainted with the place." Not wasting any time you quickly prepare a concoction of 'red' coffee and top it with regular whipped cream while the lady's gaze is fixed on every move. "Here, try this."

"Try what?" The dark haired girl has returned from the bathroom all freshened up and looks curiously to the tall glass you slide on the counter. "Oooh, that looks nice!"

"It is nice. It's one of the house's specials. We call it 'red coffee' though it's up to you discover if you like it."

"Cassandra, i don't think we should..." The lady seems hesitant, but when you rise the glass as close as you can to her face and she takes a whiff you can clearly see her pupils dilate. "What... is that?" She asks, breathless, as if she's just found something she craved for so long and didn't even know it.

You smirk, knowing that you guessed correctly about what would work on her. "Why don't you take a sip and find out?"

"Mother, i think you should give it a try." The blonde girl, the one who hadn't said a word since she first entered says. You notice that there's some cake frosting right on the corner of her smiling lips.

"Perhaps i should listen to you, Bela. Let's see, shall we?" The mother takes the glass from your hand, tiny in comparasion to hers, and she guides the brim of the cup to her red lips. She cautiously takes a sip and as soon as the liquid touches her tongue and she tastes, the drink is downed in seconds.

"So, what's the veredict? You like it?" You say as you put the lid on the last of another three cups of the same drink that you finished making while the cup on the lady's hand was being emptied, ready to hand over to the girls.

"It's exquisite..." She says, and you can see the awe on her face. "How?"

"Well, that's a secret, isn't it? You can come by whenever you like, we're open all day, every day." You look behind the four women and spot a grumpy looking man wearing sunglasses and a hat just outside in the parking lot. Odd when there's no sunlight to protect his eyes from, but you don't judge. "Looks like someone is looking for you." You point past them to the guy.

And sure enough:

"Alcina! Where the fuck are you? Miranda is waiting for us, we're late!"

The annoyed expression on the lady's —Alcina, now you know— face almost make you laugh, but you don't want to be disrespectful and instead you just cough a little. "Looks like we have to part ways." She says, putting the glass on the counter delicately. Her eyes are glued to your own and you can see fire in them. "For now."

The lady turns around and walks away with determination and elegance in her stride and behind her the daughters follow with the grace of young gazelles. One of them, the blonde girl turns her head enough to see you over her shoulder and waves goodbye. You wave back.

"Have a safe trip!" You say. Much, much later you'll call this 'day one', when Alcina first entered your life, but for now:

Alcina... The name feels sweet like honey in your mouth and you smile. You can't wait to see her again.

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@thejennystuttle here it is the first one i finished. I got carried away, srry. Hope u like it?

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If you love my work, buy me a coffee?

[therealvinelle]

Carlisle wouldn’t want to be human

This really goes for most of the Cullens, Rosalie excepted (I think Edward would last one day without his telepathy and superpowers before this happened (well honestly I think his denial would keep him from ever admitting this but this isn’t an Edward post so we’re cutting this thought short right now before it spirals)), but I see both Edward and general fandom just sort of take it for granted that if anyone offered Carlisle a miraculous human again pill (and I’m just picturing that as some hokey pill being sold on ad TV) he’d praise Jesus and swallow that down immediately, and I’ve to see anybody argue with that so here I go.

First of, if Carlisle were to suddenly find himself human again I have every belief that Aro would materialize and go, “My dear Carlisle has been made a human? How tragic! Never fear, old friend, I’ll fix that for you. Om nom nom.” and then Carlisle would not be human. And I’m only half joking when I say that, because Carlisle has a lot of friends, and while his animal diet is all well and good, if he were to actually do something like this they’d be very sad his human obsession has gone too far and stage an intervention. “We’re doing this because we love you, Carlisle. Now please try not to be too delicious. Om nom nom.” And then we’re back to Carlisle being a vampire again, though with slightly longer hair this time.

More seriously, if Carlisle was offered this miracle pill, then as a doctor he’d probably be less than enthused about it. He was there to see what happened to the Native Americans when the Europeans came carrying brand new disease, and after viruses and bacteria have had 350 years and a globalized planet to evolve, our seventeenth century priest is going to be in trouble. He’s unvaccinated to boot. He also has a completely different intestinal bacterial flora than modern humans do, which I imagine would not be fun for his digestion. This guy would be a sickly, constipated mess.

As for the main reason - why would Carlisle ever want to be human?

Before he’d mastered his thirst, then he’d probably feel obligated to. For as long as he hadn’t mastered it there was always the risk of him losing control and killing somebody. In his early days he certainly would have jumped on the chance. But none of this is a problem anymore.

So, to take the reasons why he wouldn’t say yes in the present day - first of, why would he not want to be a vampire? He is past worrying about his thirst. His vampirism is at this point purely an asset to him. It makes him great at his job. All his friends and family are vampires. If he were to become human again, he’d not just suddenly suck at his job (as I imagine he has incorporated his super senses into his work to the point where he would pretty much have to learn everything anew if he still wanted to be a doctor), his brain would be slow and limited, and he could never see his cherished friends, people he has known for centuries, again. He’d have to start over with another fake identity in a new place, and sure, this time he could stay until he died of old age, but he’d still be lying to everybody he met about his identity. Carlisle is very much a social butterfly, and he’d be unable to form meaningful friendships when he could never get truly personal with anybody.

In other words, Carlisle would be signing himself up for a lonely life of being average if not bad at his work. And his work is incredibly important to him.

Then there’s the fact that as a doctor, modern viruses aside, when it comes to health problems Carlisle has seen it all. He would know better than everybody that even if the modern viruses don’t make him a sickly mess, even if he doesn’t join the statistics of people who die in tragic accidents, he could still get a brain aneurism at the age of 24 and his human LARP is over. And who knows, maybe he had some nasty disease lurking in his DNA just waiting to ruin his life had he lived long enough, such as ALS. But assuming that Carlisle says “I’LL RISK IT”, even if he makes it to an older age, aging is no joke. Dementia, gout, incontinence, the general and inevitable decline of his body - this is the looming shadow hanging over all our heads. For an immortal who has seen countless humans succumb to it, why choose this?

And for what?

So he could have kids of his own, presumably with Esme?

He has a whole family. Rosalie and Edward especially are his children. Just, this guy loves his whole family so much, I can’t imagine he’d throw them aside in favor of some faceless toddler concept. I also don’t think he’d even want kids of his own, but I think that’s for another post. And also mostly a vibe.

So he could grow old with Esme?

Again - why? She’d be just as much an outcast as he, and face all the same health risks (except I suppose for the modern viruses, she hasn’t been dead for that long). I can’t imagine he’d want to sit idly by and watch her either die ahead of schedule, or live long enough to become unable to care for herself.

Then there’s the fact that at most he’d have six or seven decades. To him, that’s just the blink of an eye. And, again, a very unpleasant blink where he loses everything, is less intelligent, and slowly dies.

Lastly there’s the fact that the human he was is dead, his time has passed. Carlisle doesn’t belong in the human world any longer. He interacts with it because helping humans gives him joy and meaning in life, but he’s a man out of his time and this brave new world is not the one he once lived in. He would not in any way belong, and I think he knows that quite well.

Just, the whole idea that Carlisle would want this is founded on Carlisle having some sort of innate worship of humans where being human is inherently better. I’m sorry, but that’s Edward. If Carlisle felt this way, he wouldn’t be turning others into vampires, and he wouldn’t have vampire friends all over the globe. To him, thirst isn’t a problem, and his vampirism means he can save more humans than he otherwise would. The remaining concern would be God, but Carlisle’s life philosophy is that being a vampire is not by itself a sin, so he’s fine in that regard too.

In summation, I think Carlisle is quite happy being a vampire, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

[alyssadeliv]

The Forgotten One

First       Previous

Chapter 4

Everything hurt. Her body felt as if it was on fire, her limbs were heavy and her head was pounding, she tried to open her eyes and understand her surroundings, but they refused to cooperate so she sought to use her other senses to identify where she was, even in a lot of pain she couldn’t forget her training, so she remained calm until she knew what she’s dealing with. It only takes her a couple of seconds to remember what happened. The attack on the League, the Temple crumbling to the ground and her being trapped under it. After that it was a void, so she must have passed out at some point.

She could tell she wasn't still trapped under the rubber because she could feel the softness of a mattress under her and not the hard temple training grounds, it was either nighttime or she was in a room without windows. She couldn’t hear a thing that indicated that there was another person with her, but she can identify cars in a far distance, so she must be close to a city. She feels cared for, so rules out being captured for now. 

She isn’t sure how long she laid there, but streams of lighting start to appear somewhere above her from what she can see with her closed lids. The sun is up when she finally can open her eyes.

She is in a bare room, that must be used as storage from all of the boxes around. She’s in an attic in an elevated part that contains just the bed, an iron stair makes way into the second part of the room, she can see from her position that the only way out is through the trap door on the floor, although she can assume that the lighting coming from above her must lead to a balcony. She feels better now, her pain is gone and her limbs ultimately start to obey her again. She had just sat up when the trap door started to open.

She prepares herself for what is to come, she does not have any weapons and she’s not sure she can beat another assassin in a fight in her current state, even with the pain now gone. To her surprise is her godmother that enters the room she’s resting in. She carries a plate with food and a glass of water. She has a warm smile that Marianne has only seen a couple of times, normally reserved for birthdays and celebrations, but still reassures her that she’s safe and cared for. 

“It's good to see you’re finally awake. Gave us quite a scare”

“Where am I?”

“Safe” With her tone she can tell that the conversation is over, so she simply accepts the plate that is offered and starts to eat what's been given, a tasty sandwich with a red tart at the side. If it was any other person that came into the room she wouldn’t have been so quick to accept the food, but she knew that her godmother would never hurt her, she was one of the only people she trusted with her life, like a second mother to her.  

“How do you feel?” Sabine asks only after the food is gone. 

“Surprisingly fine. The pain is gone and I feel normal again. How is this possible? Where are we? How long was I out? What happened with the League? What happened to Damian? Is he here? Is he safe?” The questions jump out of her mouth before she can control them. Rambling has always been a trait of hers, one that she thought to be long under control. But given the situation, she can’t blame herself to look after answers. 

But Sabine calmly answers every one of her questions. She doesn’t get into details about the attack but she understands that one of her grandfather’s star pupils betrayed them and orchestrated the attack to take the Demon Head power to himself and rule over the Order of Assassins. Sabine and Master Fu were together at the Temple when it all started and went to look for her, only to realize that she must have thought the same and went to look for them. They saw her being crushed by the falling debris, and they were the ones that dug her out. 

She died. 

That piece of information stays in a loop in her mind. She died. Master Fu brought her back. Being brought back to life wasn’t impossible, she knew that her grandfather had been doing that for centuries, but he needed the Lazarus Pits for that, and she knew the symptoms of someone that used them, she had seen them first hand from her grandfather or when she was in charge of training a recruit that her mother had taken pity on. She was only ten, and the boy 13 at the time. One of her most proud accomplishments. Her grandfather was so proud of her for training the next generation, even if the boy was technically older than her. She knew the symptoms and she definitely wasn’t brought back using these methods.

“Master Fu will arrive here shortly, he can explain it better”

“Where is here? Where are we? Where's Damian?” She’s desperate, she needs to know where her baby brother is. That he is safe. “Please tell me he’s here!”

Sabine has a heartbroken expression on her face, and that's all the confirmation she needs. The tears roll down her face before she can stop them. All her efforts had been in vain, Damian wasn’t here. 

“We are in Paris. He’s not here, but he’s safe” Her godmother tries to reassure her, she dries the tears in her face and strokes her hair trying to comfort the distraught girl. “He’s in a safe place as well, your mother made sure of that. But for now, you can’t go after him, Master Fu will explain why, you just have to trust me when I say I only want what’s best for you”

She then proceeds to tell her best-kept secret so far. She’s married, and they are at her husband’s house, above his bakery. She tells her of how in one of her missions she met the love of her life. But because of her, she knew she couldn’t leave the League just yet, she needed to be there for little Marianne and her bright smiles, to make sure the League didn’t kill the kindness in her. She always visited Paris after a mission. It became some kind of ritual, and no one ever questioned it. Her husband, Tom, knew about her lifestyle and knew that she couldn’t just leave her goddaughter behind, he respected that, even loved how caring his wife was. Sabine begs Marianne to not be guilty that she couldn’t have a better kind of life because of her.

“The best thing in my life is knowing that I helped raise the most selfless and kind woman, I’m so proud of what you become. Never forget that.”

By the time Master Fu finally arrives she’s just so tired. But her need for answers is bigger, so she allows her godmother to guide her to the living room. When they get there she’s surprised, to say the least. Her master is there, but he is not alone. He’s accompanied by two very anxious Kwamis.

“Marianne is so great to finally meet you! I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long!” Tikki, The Goddess of Creation addresses her. But she stays there stunned. She grew up learning about these entities, preparing for the moment she would get to meet them, but there she stays, unable to properly function. So much has been happening in the last 24 hours, and she feels like she’s in shock.

“Great job sugar cub, you broke the kid” Plagg, The God of Destruction comments.

“She’s probably just surprised to finally see us, don’t be rude”

It feels surreal to see these mystical creatures just bickering like children in her godmother’s husband’s living room. She almost feels like she’s dreaming. Feeling her discomfort, Master Fu decides it is better to address the situation.

“Come sit Marianne. It’s time I give you some answers.”

For the next hour, she learns a part of history she never knew about.

Her Master calmly explained to her that by the time they were able to release her from the ruins of the temple, it was too late. But something in him knew there was still hope. Because she was Tikkis chosen, her soul takes more time to disconnect itself from the physical world, so The Grand Guardian did something that wasn’t wrong but still considered taboo. He asked Tikki to use her energy in order to anchor her spirit back into her body. He didn’t use the wish from the Miraculous, so it wasn’t as dangerous. That had only been done once, somewhere when the pharaohs were still in power. One of the Guardians had fallen madly in love with a woman chosen by Tikki, but she got sick and died. Consumed with grief he ordered the Kwami into bringing her soul back.

Because it had happened so long ago they didn’t know the reaction it would cause in her already existing powers. So, for now, it would be better if she stayed in Paris, close to her Master’s, where she could finish her training and receive guidance if needed. They still didn’t know the situation within the League, so it was best to lay low for a while.

So there she stayed. For a whole month, she lived with her godmother and got to know the man she called her husband. It was funny, that the super badass and strict woman everyone knew would turn into the warmest person when around the baker. Marianne could tell they loved each other very much just by the way they looked at the other. In the League love was not something that happened very often. So it felt nice to be in contact with something so pure. 

She also kept going on with training, just like Master Fu said they would. It was as if her life was completely new but completely equal to what it was before. She would wake up early, eat something, normally delicious made by Tom, and go to where her master was living, a massage parlor that served as a disguise from his real job as her teacher. They would start by meditating and then move into physical training. It was different, Fu wasn’t so young anymore so now she tended to train alone. She missed her brother so much that it hurt. Knowing where he was but not if he was okay. She wished that there was a way for her to contact him, but knew it would be safer if she didn’t. Just knowing he was with Father makes her feel a little better, she remembers her Mother’s stories of the fearless Batman, so if the time comes she knew he would be safe.

Nothing out of ordinary happened so far, her powers kept the same, maybe a little more intense, but nothing she couldn’t handle. But they were confident that there would not be any other side effects so far. Everything was back to normal, or that’s what they thought.

Imagine their surprise when on one of their meditation sections the both were suddenly overwhelmed by the intense energy that they received. It was dark, nothing like she ever had felt. 

“Master, what was that? I have never felt something like it” Her teacher looked like he had seen a ghost, pale and with an anxious expression

“I’ve only felt this type of energy once. We must prepare, something bad is on our horizon. It’s time to activate your miraculous”

“What? Are you sure Master? Please tell me what is going on!” She pleaded.

“The Peacock and the Butterfly Miraculous, a long time ago, when I was just an apprentice, were thought to be lost. This was when The League and the Order were constantly at war. Some of my fellow disciples got greedy. They wanted the power the Miraculous had to offer, they thought themselves worthy of wielding their power and destroying the League of Assassins. There was a fight, and the first Temple of The Order was compromised. Some of us escaped, but we lost a lot. That day… I felt the same type of energy. I believe somewhere in this city, someone is preparing to cause chaos. We must be ready for when it happens.”

“How do we do that?”

“We need to find the Cat Miraculous wielder”

Next

There is a little easter egg in this chapter, let’s see if anyone can tell what it is! The taglist is still open so feel free to ask to be tagged! Please tell me what you thought of this chapter, I’m dying for some feedback

Taglist:  @macncheesemonster @jumpingjoy82 @silversaphire12 @jinx-jade @swiftie-miraculer13  @greatcatblaze @megaafangirl @ramos123 @theamityislife @maskedpainter @toodaloo-kangaroo @nyx-in-line @ketchupqueenboiiii @iamabrownfox @lozzybowe @user00000003 @kashlyn @msshadows97 @ira-sairain @stackofrandomstuff @myazael @frieddonutsweets @asrainterstellar @our-preciousss @laurcad123 @nyaabinch @rverfades @thefangirlwholiterallydies @astoriaandromeda @unnamed2357 @little-lady-bird @imdaqueenie

[wallwriterstuff]

Foundling ||Caius Volturi x Daughter!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of neglect and absent parent

Words: 4176

Taglist: @thelastemzy​ @kpopgirlbtssvt​ @a-avaunce​ @college-is-coming​ @alecvolturiswifeforever​ @broskibowser​ @volturidoll13​ @raindancer2004​ (hopefully this actually works this time!)

Summary: A request for @like-rain-or-confetti​ 

Caius has done a lot of terrible things over the course of his life, and the one good thing he did do he was never allowed to keep. After centuries of waiting, she finally gets to confront him for all of his deeds, the good and the bad. 

Most who knew Caius knew him for his rage, but not very many understood where that rage came from. It was like a chronic disease that plagued him always, the slightest things setting his volatile mood off. No, the blonde king was a ticking time bomb and whoever came across him knew all the while to tread carefully lest they lose a limb at best, their head at worst. His reputation proceeded him, his brutality well renowned, so the Cullen’s witnesses knew better than to cross Caius when he was busy warmongering, and he most certainly had tried his best to instigate something given that the Denali had had to inhale their sister’s ashes.  

“We cannot know the child will not be dangerous!”

“Regardless they have been consorting with werewolves, our sworn enemies.”

Edward could only hold his family tight and pray for reprieve, watching Caius scrabble for any excuse to end those he held dear because of one mistake. Granted, that mistake had grown rapidly to be the very centre of his world and he would not trade his daughter for anything, but despite her lovable nature Renesmee was very much his creation and the very reason his whole family was now in danger. It was a difficult conundrum to wrap his head around and he still didn’t have all the right answers but he had people on his side to support him, and for Edward that was enough. Caius didn’t relent. Marcus spared him a pitying glance, Aro’s eyes less forgiving but nonetheless understanding, and Edward caught the briefest glimpse then of everything that made Caius what he was. The root of all of his anger and hostility stemmed not from his lack of gift as so many assumed, but from a small, infant girl.

He couldn’t quite contain his surprise. Aro was very good at controlling his thoughts around him but this one had slipped free. Caius looked so much softer in this memory, all of his rough edges filed away. For once, his eyes were not filled with hate and fire but wonder and trepidation, a bit of fear perhaps. Edward recognised those eyes immediately even if he didn’t understand how he had found them in Caius’s face of all people, because those were the eyes he had looked at Renesmee with when he pulled her free of his mate’s womb. It was the doting, adoring expression of a father who held his world in the centre of his palm. Caius was not voting to kill Renesmee out of fear for their species, but out of centuries worth of spite, spite that Edward had what he could not.

He had given up his daughter.

Caius was the first to leave the battlefield, his jaw twitching as he fought the urge to snarl, and even Athenodora didn’t dare follow him for a while. For those who knew him best they were able to feel the hurt radiating beneath all that rage, and for the weeks that followed even their own guard members felt unsafe in his presence. Demetri and Felix had caught one of the lower guard sneaking from the castle, his hand freshly reattached – Aro had let him go when he saw why the younger vampire had wanted to flee. Even Jane had been a little ashen once when she returned from the dungeons with him, Caius looking no more satisfied than he had when he went in while she all but collapsed in her brother’s embrace. As the weeks dragged to months, Aro couldn’t help but think it was time to do something. Caius had spent more time locked in the tower the week previous than he had with them, seeking comfort from his mate. It gave them plenty of time to talk.

“It has been centuries Aro, the man deserves peace.”

“I had thought time would heal this wound, that for the sake of Athenodora he might have moved on.”

“The love of a father is far stronger than the forces of time.”

So Demetri became the first of the guard to know of this well-kept secret the very next day. His shock was quite obvious, his curiosity to, but he knew better than to ask questions as Aro described the girl, thought of the infant she had been when they last saw her, and gave him all the information he might need to grasp her tenor.

“I trust your discretion can be counted on, dear boy?” Aro asked. Demetri had nodded once, then turned and left without so much as a goodbye to the others. The tenor was warm and vibrant, something he could easily get lost in. Demetri only paused in his searching to hunt here and there, rest briefly in a few hotels while he washed and traced the tenor in the forefront of his mind more thoroughly, but his feet carried him swiftly out of Italy and into Germany, through Eastern Europe and into Asia. He was surrounded by the colours and aromas of cultures he had not seen for a few decades. Usually Asia was quiet, the peoples having so many myths, legends and folklore that it was easy for a nomad to blend in, their slip ups often cleaned up by the humans that recognised the demonic nature of the mysterious deaths they left behind and tried to rectify the situation through prayer and ritual. It served as a better warning they were attracting too much attention than any Volturi visit could – they had trained the humans well in this regard.

Demetri finally stopped alongside a high rise building in Yokohama, Japan. The city was the second most populated in Japan, a good place to hunt and hide for a hybrid he was sure. The tenor was brightest here, many floors above him, and Demetri pondered exactly how best to go about engaging with his target for a moment. He could sneak into the building and into her apartment but he didn’t want to startle the poor girl, especially not since he had no clue whether or not she was gifted – he didn’t fancy getting his ass lit on fire to find out. He could always wait to see if she emerged, follow her from a distance, though that was another sure way to startle her if she caught him. Peeling away from the wall, he seamlessly blended into the human traffic on the pathway, pulling his phone from his pocket to search for a hotel as he walked along. He would withdraw for now, ‘bump’ into her on the street as a random passer-by and hope his obvious vampirism was enough to make her approach him.

It took her less than 24 hours to move and, dressed down in some casual clothes, he set out to follow her. Eyes covered by irritating contacts, he made his way through the Sankeien Gardens, following discretely as she took a leisurely stroll across the acres of land dotted with colourful spring blossoms and buildings older than most of the humans wondering the place. She seemed quite content to take her time, lifting her phone to take pictures here and there of flowers and views she liked. Demetri played the part of the awed tourist well, trailing her for an hour and a half before they seemed to have looped the entire expanse of the Gardens and ended up back at the pond they had walked around at the start. She sat herself on a bench, staring out over the water with mystifying blue eyes. She still stood out from the others around her though, her posture a little too straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, a child of her time out of place amongst modern mortals.

“You would look far less suspicious if you took a seat.” He had no doubt that she was talking to him. Lips twitching into a smirk, he did exactly as she asked. Hands in his pockets, he sat beside her on the bench, his eyes fixed on the pond before them. The shock of white-blonde hair on her head was almost proof enough she was Caius’s daughter, but he still had to check.

“The sakura blossoms make for a beautiful view, Carina.” He said. She visibly stiffened, her fast-fluttering heart pounding strongly in his ears. She had that vampiric twinge to her scent, something overly sweet that marked her as vampire and tangled nicely with the deliciously human side of her, much like Rensemee.

“Volturi.” She hissed quietly.

Demetri chuckled wryly. “So, my reputation proceeds me.”

“I have not been known by that name for many centuries. Only one coven would still recall it.” She griped, fists clenching a little in her lap. Demetri glanced at her then, taking in the sharp cheekbones and square jawline that he saw often in his Master’s face. The glare she wore was vicious.

“Do not make me use violence in a place as beautiful as this princess.” He threatened idly, gaze returning to the water as powerful lights threw beams across the surface, making it glimmer darkly. The sun had disappeared long ago or he wouldn’t have been out to follow her, the overcast day turning more quickly into night-time.

“So that is all, is it? I am to be hauled away from my home without negotiation or warning on the whim of a madman?” she sniffed. Demetri looked at her curiously.

“You speak ill of a man whom you barely know.” He mused.

“I know enough.” She retorted sharply, her eyes meeting his. The piercing blue made his curious mind race – because Athenodora could not be her mother so who had given her those eyes? – but he kept his expression cool and collected. Demetri stood to offer her a hand, one she eyed with distaste and distrust. He had no ill-intentions, but a little charm never hurt, especially not when he wanted to get his way with as little effort expended as possible.

“My contacts will not last forever, I will need to go somewhere more private to change them if we are to make the most of this evening before we depart.” He informed her. Her eyebrow arched high, her expression one of disbelief.

“What, pray tell, do you think we would be doing this evening?” she questioned. He smirked.

“It has been quite a while since I visited Japan, even then my last trip was to Tokyo. This is your city princess, show me why I should let you stay.” He invited. She scoffed.

“We both know your orders would not allow for such a thing…does your silver tongue work most other times?” she wondered, slipping her hand in his and letting him pull her up. He blinked in surprise as she dusted off the backs of her jeans. Most women took to his charm easily, but apparently Carina was as stubborn as her father.

“I…” he paused, wondering how to make her change her mind. She smirked, head shaking and sending silken sheets of straight blonde hair over her shoulder.

“It appears to be broken entirely now, I would get that checked this evening while I pack a few essentials, if I were you.” She was already moving away by the time his brain caught up, and despite her obvious disdain for the idea, she was packed and ready to acquiesce his escort to Volterra. For all her stubbornness however not even she could fight off the physical needs her mortality demanded, and Demetri found himself standing watch over the would-be Princess as she slept in a hotel in Florence. The even rise and fall of her chest gave him a pattern for his thoughts to echo, an endless ebbing and flowing of questions he couldn’t find answers to. Carina had not been forthcoming in giving any and he somehow doubted that the Masters’ would be either. She was clearly displeased to be here, her sleep interrupted several times and a small frown creasing her brow for most of the night. It was an expression he only saw when she was unconscious and let her guard down.

She woke to an unconscious man in their penthouse living space, the corpse of his wife already lay atop the glass coffee table while Demetri sat with an ankle resting on the opposite knee, newspaper in hand. With an ungracious snort, she dragged her prey back into the bedroom and slammed the door behind her for good measure, only opening it to toss the body out once it was drained for him to deal with. Demetri’s eyes rolled a little. He wondered if Caius knew his hybrid daughter was an eternally dramatic, angsty teenager, and questioned if putting them in the same room together was a good idea. It was bound to be like watching two fireballs collide. Trusting her not to run while he was away, he left via the balcony to dispose of their meals while she got ready for the day.

He returned to find her with her bag by the door, looking smarter than he had seen her during their travels back to Italy.

“How unusually refined.” He commented, stooping to swing her bag onto his shoulder. She scoffed.

“You are planning on offering me up like a pig on a platter like a good little toy soldier are you not?” she retorted icily, “I best look the part lest your silver tongue not be the only thing about you broken.” Demetri frowned slightly, watching her carefully as they played the part of happy couple departing their hotel suite. Gianna had sent a car, something with air conditioning and plush leather so they wouldn’t have to exhaust themselves with another run. For most of the drive the radio played quietly between them, her eyes concealed behind sunglasses and staring out over the luxurious rolling hills and fields of vibrant green. When he was certain there was not too long of the journey left, and therefore not enough time for her to throw him out of the car and turn it around, he finally broke his silence.

“You seem to believe the worst of your father.”

She heaved a weary sigh. “His reputation proceeds him.”

Demetri kept his eyes on the road, weighing his words carefully. He had been a member of the guard long enough to know Caius’s behaviour was not unusual, and he had been in the higher guard long enough to hear snippets of conversation amongst the wives, amongst the Masters’. Seeing the confrontation with the Cullen’s and sitting in a car with her now it was quite obvious to him the source of his Master’s vexation.

“And if his words and actions were fuelled not by anger, but grief?” he questioned, voice quiet. She showed no outward sign of having heard him but the most minute clenching of her jaw was enough to prove to him he had given her food for thought, and with that they lapsed back into silence. It was not entirely pleasant, and the air between them stagnated long after they entered Volterra. She kept her head held high, her expression aloof. It was obvious to Demetri how alike they were now – they both were grieving and wore their pain like armour. He paused only briefly at the doors, just enough time for her to steel herself with a sharp inhale, and then he opened the doors. She lingered behind him as he strode forward, bowing slightly and glancing among his Masters’. Aro waved him away without fanfare, his eyes fixed on the young girl behind him. She stood just a little taller than Jane, petite and lithe much like her father.

Caius seemed absolutely rooted to the spot, his nostrils flaring as he took in deep lungful’s of air that was rapidly becoming saturated with her scent, the scent he had inhaled like an addict off a baby blanket till it ran dry. Aro drifted down the steps to meet her, Caius’s fingernail’s scraping the wooden armrests of his throne as he struggled to keep a myriad of emotions off of his face.

“Dear Carina, how good it is to see you home.” He sighed, extending a hand toward her. She stared at it in disgust.

“If I recall you were the one who ordered me sent away in the first place. I did not return for you, so let us be done with this charade father.” She stepped around Aro gracefully, leaving him quite obviously dumbfounded and irritated, his hand slowly falling back to his side. Caius shot to his feet like he was ready to flee, but he remained stock still as Alec warily drifted closer to him, palms turned out and ready to defend his Master at all costs. The sight of him and Jane drifting to his side seemed to enrage her.

“Carina…”

“Do not dare call me that name!” she snarled, “How long did it take you to replace me?” she cast a filthy look in Jane’s direction and the young girl growled quietly in response. Demetri almost flinched.

“They were Aro’s acquisition, not mine.” He retorted. There was absolutely no bite in his tone, all his bluster gone despite his rigid stance. Caius looked more powerless than ever as she folded her arms, staring at him expectantly. She had worn a short-sleeved dress for the occasion and her skin shimmered faintly in the light drizzling in through high windows. The tension was palpable.

“Leave us, dear ones.” Aro ordered. Demetri hesitated, frowning slightly, and he could see Alec and Jane’s obvious reluctance to leave to. Another firm order got them moving however, and Carina glanced back at him with agonised eyes. Demetri paused, searching her face and finding nothing more than a terrified young girl who didn’t want to face a father she knew nothing about by herself. He gave her the slightest of nods, a small and encouraging smile twitching up his lips. They were barely out of the throne room when the shouting began, and it lasted for hours. Nowhere in the castle was exempt from the noise and it quickly spread like wildfire that Caius’s daughter had returned, and she had quite the mouth on her.

“So you refuse to even see me now?” Caius demanded. If his voice had wavered nobody was so idiotic as to comment on it. Fists clenched, she trembled with rage.

“Tell me what there is to see but a petrified old man who let centuries pass before he decided to step up as a father!” her words were precise and cut deeply.

“I thought of you daily!”

“Do not attach thoughts of me to the atrocities you have committed!” she spat. Caius had faltered at that. For hours she had done nothing but scream about what a monster he was, about the things she had heard he had done. He sank slowly to the steps leading to his throne, unable to meet her eyes anymore. His grip was so tight the marble crumbled beneath his hands and he was left grasping at air.

“I…I wanted this world to be made safe for you…I…I tried to do right by you…”his upper lip curled back over his teeth, his expression a mask of rage it had taken centuries to perfect, one that concealed an unimaginable amount of agony.

“Do right by me?” she asked incredulously, “You abandoned me! I grew up without you, with no caretaker who ever understood me, shunned from one place to the next because you had seen fit to throw me away! My own father could not bear to raise the freak he had created.” Caius’s head snapped up and for the first time in centuries, he took a deep breath. He tried his best to quell the rage that simmered in his core, to shove aside the guilt and the grief. His daughter matched him like for like. She was his reflection, a carbon copy of his rage, and fighting fire with fire was not going to work. He was finally defeated.

“My war against the Children of the Moon led me to your door. I watched, as the filthy beast stared through the window…stared at you…you slept so peacefully, entirely unaware that the coven I had tasked with protecting you had failed…when I, when I returned to glimpse you one more time you – you were already gone.” The mere memory pained him, shamed him. The Irish had moved on so fast he hadn’t even been able to track them, their scent confused amongst the stink of wolves. Carina swallowed.

“Why? Why not visit me?” she demanded. Caius remained silent. What could he say? “Answer me! You owe me this! I always wandered where you were, why you let me go so easily! You owe me these answers.” Caius could only stare at her. She had grown since he held her last, no longer able to fit in the palm of his hand. She was the size of a sixteen-year old with a mind a millenia older, capable of recalling every wrong doing and forming opinions on the level of injustice each one carried.

“You have your mother’s eyes.” He blurted. It was all he could think to say, but it stopped the conversation dead. The silence rang around them, deafening in the wake of their previous screaming match. What were they doing? Their sweet reunion sullied by such foul words…

“Who…who was my mother?” she asked hesitantly. Caius sucked in a breath.

“A peasant girl,” he confessed quietly, “One Athenodora took a liking to and insist we…play with, for a while.” His voice echoed back to him off of the walls, Carina’s flinch something he didn’t miss. She nodded slowly.

“So, I was not even born of love.” She whispered.

“Perhaps not, but that did not mean I did not love you, the moment I held you in my arms…you were so small, so fragile for this world…how could I keep you when our enemies lingered at our door? You had to be safe, and safe was…was far away from me.” He swallowed, unable to look at her anymore. He was surprised when she shuffled towards the steps, keeping a few feet between them but sitting beside him nonetheless. Even with the distance he could still feel her heat, her temperature radiating from her like he was sat by an open flame. Another prolonged silence prevailed between them once more, and Caius wasn’t sure how to chase it away. How did he own up to centuries of ignorance? Of wrong-doing? How did he make any of this better?

Carina sighed heavily. “We have really made a mess of this.”

He looked to her in surprise, his shoulders sagging slightly in defeat.

“We have,” he agreed quietly, “But I should very much like to fix it, if you will permit me to try.” Carina quietly contemplated what that might look like for them for a moment, trying to imagine a world where her father was in her life. It had been so long and she had grown up without him…it was difficult to imagine where Caius might fit.

“I don’t need a father. I have grown out of the need for one.” Carina said quietly. Caius snapped his gaze away, a stiff nod all the acknowledgment she received. What had he expected really? A happy reunion?

“I see.” He murmured, pushing to his feet. Demetri had left her bag by the door and he was quite sure she would have no trouble picking it up on the way out.

“I do need a friend,” she spoke up, making his head turn, “I am especially in want of one who might know more about where I came from, if you could point me in the right direction.” Caius swallowed, not quite able to believe his ears. A slow smile twitched his lips upwards.

“I believe I may be able to assist you.” He agreed. Carina gave him a weak smile in reply, and Caius silently vowed it would be the first of many she gave him.

“I shall find accommodation then.” She decided. Caius immediately shook his head.

“Not at all. You may have a room here, you are welcome to one.” He said hastily. He would not lose her so soon after he had found her once more. Carina’s eyebrows rose.

“Will Demetri be nearby?” she asked innocently. Caius couldn’t help the scowl that wormed its way onto his face.

“And why does the location of his quarters matter?” he retorted. Carina grinned impishly.

“Because the pretty boy is not as clever as he likes to think he is and I did, admittedly, enjoy tormenting him on the journey here.” She confessed freely. Caius tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips. Oh, oh she was his daughter alright.

“Something might be arranged.” He agreed.

“Wonderful.”

“If he is not cursing you within a week of your stay I will class your mission as a failure.”

“I will have him begging you to move him elsewhere I assure you.”

“Excellent.”