#simply because it had happened so many times before

[velvetvexations]

Antigonism

ANTIGONE: I'll do my duty to my brother - and yours as well, if you're not prepared to. I won't be caught betraying him.

What is antigonism?

Antigonism is a transfeminist mode of thought specifically for transfems that embrace solidarity with other trans people, as well as those who are intersex and the queer community in general, under the belief that it's vital to recognize we're all equally oppressed and capable of doing lateral harm to one another

Beliefs of antigonistic transfems include but are not limited to:

accepting that transandrophobia exists

being mindful of exorsexism

not policing the terms that intersex people use for themselves

awareness that other AMAB people can present as feminine without being some kinna insult to us

recognizing that racial hegemony and the cishetpatriarchy are radically different systems of oppression and any comparison between the two, while possible, must be made with exceptional care

rejecting the "reclamation" of radical feminism

finding it appalling to demand that other trans people define themselves as privileged for not experiencing the same things as us - especially when they do in fact experience much of what is commonly, inexplicably cited as unique to transfems.

Isn't that just trans unity?

Trans unity is also great! But I feel like transfems who explicitly reject trans radical feminism could do with a word that is more forceful and specific. Some would prefer that this just be considered the default, and the vocal minority of people who think transfems are oppressed by other trans people should simply be treated as weirdos out of step with the rest of us, but I think there's value in making a strong statement with a term like this.

I've seen a lot of people who legitimately feel like shit because the vocal minority has been so loudly terrible that it's affecting how comfortable they are with random transfems whose opinions they don't know. I understand the temptation to just say they need to touch grass or whatever, but even aside from the fact that things like anti-transmasculinity within the community isn't purely limited to discourse on a dying social media website, I feel like that's blaming them for their reaction to being treated cruelly. I think antigonism could help drill in that there are tons of transfems who back them up, and that they don't need to search for keywords to know that person is safe.

Because, like, that happens to me, too. So many times I've seen a post I really liked and thought was insightful, only to have my distrustful nature lead me to doing such a search before reblogging and being gravely disappointed with the results. That fucking sucks, yall.

Why "antigonism"?

In the legends of Ancient Greece, Oedipus had two sons. One of them, Polynices, would eventually go on to wage war upon his brother, Eteocles, the king of Thebes. There were many telling of the story, some in which Polynices had a very good reason for doing so and some where he didn't.

Polynices and Eteocles both killed each other in the war, but Creon, who took power after, unilaterally declared that Polynices was a traitor. Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, however, simply does not give a fuck what Polynices did or did not do. When Creon orders that any who try to bury Polynices will be put to death, she proudly does so anyway.

The most famous teller of Oedipus's family history, Sophocles, wrote a play about the war, but it's lost to time and so we know nothing definite about what version of events is canon to Sophocles' play starring the titular Antigone. Considering that the whole point of Creon's character is his dogmatic clinging to law over sense, his assessment of Polynices as being in the wrong for going against authority doesn't clear things up.

I emphasize this because I don't want to seem like I'm framing other trans people - transmascs especially - as requiring forgiveness for some vague past sin. Quite the opposite, just as they treat us as their sisters in spite of that minority of transfems who are awful to them, we must recognize that they're often the first to shut down transmisogynists amongst themselves. Ultimately the point of Antigone's actions in defying the law to honor her brother is that things like that are entirely irrelevant. The fact that the person accusing Polynices of being evil is a jackass, and we know there were versions of the story where Eteocles had it coming, is even more reason to look past his "crime."

ANTIGONE: I owed it to him. CREON: I had forbidden it. ANTIGONE: I owed it to him. CREON: Polynices was a rebel and a traitor, and you know it. ANTIGONE: He was my brother.

Does that mean we should not call out other trans people who are transmisogynistic or otherwise treat trans women badly? Of course not. But we have no more right to abandon or spit on them than they do us, which so many of them refuse to do in spite of the hostility they've often faced. To be an antigonist is to believe that we can do no less for those who do so much for us, and the creation of the term is intended not to spur more to do that so much as to give a name to those who've already been doing that.

Finally, I understand that the plot of Antigone revolving around Polynice's burial might feel grim. Critically, however, Antigone ultimately dies as well.

ISMENE: I must yield to those in authority. I think it is dangerous business to be always meddling. ANTIGONE: You have made your choice, you can be what you want to be. But I will bury him, and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy. I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me.

We are oppressed by the same forces. We are allies in the same fight. We are friends, lovers, and family. An antigonist is a transfem who believes that all trans people will live together and die together. We are committed to sharing the same fate with our siblings, one way or another. Antigonists see us all as bound together, headed for the same destination, and we would not for a second ever want it to be otherwise no matter where that road leads.

One more thing!

Even if this terminology doesn't catch on, I hope this effort means something to anyone who sees this. <3 Your sisters do love you, I promise.

[prythianpages]

A Thousand Feelings | Rhysand's Sister

Azriel x Carina (Rhysand's Sister OC) | Years have passed since Carina’s death, and Starfall hasn’t been the same. Everyone has mourned her absence alone, the once joyful night now marked by grief. But this year is different. Carina’s memory reaches out to them, drawing them together once more and shining bright, even reaching the distant borders of Spring.

warnings: angst, mentions of death, grief, inner circle mourning a loss, Tamlin also grieving and going through it a bit

a/n: Dia de los muertos (day of the dead) is one of my favorite holidays & I've been wanting to write something to share my feelings about it. And of course, I was also inspired by a song, Humbe's Fantasmas.

The streets of Velaris are quiet, the stillness thick and solemn, and the streets lie empty in reverence. Businesses and shops have closed early, their fae lights dimmed in anticipation of the yearly migration of spirits. Starfall, a silently beautiful holiday.

But when you’re missing someone, Starfall is deafening. The sky is different, the air is different. Everything is different.

The stars still shine the same, bright as ever against the dark. But every time Azriel looks up, he feels a scream tearing through his heart. A raw, endless cry of longing and grief.

Because the one he loved with all his being, the one he’d gaze up at the stars with has left. And with her, she’s taken all the light that used to fill Velaris, the laughter that used to echo down the halls of Rhysand’s townhouse, the joy that warmed his heart.

Now, every Starfall is a cruel echo of past years when she stood by his side, her hand wrapped in his and eyes wide in awe as she gazed up at the glimmering blue night sky. Now, he stands alone, feeling only the faintest warmth from memories that are fading too quickly. Now, he is forced to watch every day as the world goes on without her.

Azriel thought it was cruel how the city seemed so unchanged. As though nothing had ever happened, as though she’d simply vanished and the world had barely blinked in response. The small crepe stand, where he’d spent countless mornings waiting for her to choose a flavor only for her to always pick the strawberries and cream, still set up each morning, the nice older fae vendor smiling just as brightly as before. 

As he walked further down the cobblestone streets, he came across another favorite place of hers–the craft shop. He had so often found her, her hands stained with paint or glitter. How many times had he pulled her away from there, laughing as she made excuses, promising just a few more minutes. Now, he walked past it, with faltering resolve because he’d never step through those doors again. He no longer had reason to. And despite the heavy ache in his chest, the shop stayed open, as lively as ever.

Then, there was the bookstore. The mural she had spent days painting still glowing in shades of purples, blues and greens. She had painted her favorite view, the Sidra River on Starfall. The mural shone just as brightly as it always had, its colors unfaded by time. It seemed to mock him now.  

Carina was a part of this city, and yet somehow it went on without her, indifferent to the hole she’d left in its fabric. His heart twisted painfully. How could everything feel so normal? 

But what Azriel couldn’t see was the way the crepe vendor now served her favorite flavor every morning with a wistful gleam in his eyes. The craft shop owner left a set of her favorite brushes by the door, never selling them. And the bookstore staff polished the mural every week, making sure the colors stayed as vibrant as the soul who painted them.

Azriel continued down the familiar path he walked through every night he stayed in Velaris, unaware that the city mourned with him. His wings were tucked in tight and shadows hidden amongst them, silent yet attentive to their master’s tensed muscles. It was only when he finally reached the gates of his destination that they had slithered out to open them for him. 

His breath became shaky as the house came into view. It was the house he had bought for Carina. A place of sanctuary they had chosen together after marrying. Now, it is a sanctuary for animals. It’s what she would’ve wanted. When she lived, stray kittens and pups and smaller critters would find their way to the house, as if they knew of her gentle and loving heart. 

And though Azriel had been indifferent to animals at first, who was he to say no to her? He’d do anything for her. He still would and it’s why he came often to check up on them. He couldn’t bear living in the house without her so he hired someone to help.

Azriel always made sure the house was warm and safe and full of food. His devotion to this place was his devotion to her.

There was a flicker of light coming from the window and then the door was being thrown open, small but mighty footsteps making their way toward him.

“Mr. Azriel!”

A young fae girl threw her tiny arms around his leg. A soft smile curved his lips as he patted her head, his shadows curling affectionately around her small frame in response. From the doorway, another figure appeared—Bess. She stepped out with a sheepish smile. Bess was the fae Azriel had entrusted to help him run the sanctuary. She had been a long time friend of Azriel and Carina and shared the same love for animals as they did.

"Good evening, Azriel," Bess greeted, nodding to him as she coaxed her little girl back to her side. Her daughter grinned up at Azriel, giggling as one of his shadows playfully brushed over her arm.

“We were just heading to my parents’ to watch the stars. All the animals have been checked on and fed."

“Thank you,” he murmured.

"Shadow ate—" The girl paused, concentrating as she held up her tiny hand, counting her fingers slowly. His heart gave a pang he could not suppress as he looked down at the little girl by her side.  "One… two… three! Shadow ate three banana slices. He almost ate Peach’s slices, but I stopped him. It wouldn’t be fair for Shadow to eat four and Peach only two.”

“Oh, of course,” Azriel replied. He mustered a small smile as Bess smoothed her daughter’s hair, her eyes full of fondness. How many times had he imagined coming to this house to see an image like this before him. But instead of Bess and her daughter, he’d dreamed of it being Carina and his daughter. Their daughter.

When he looked up, Bess’s gaze met his, soft and knowing. 

“And then the butterflies hatched from their little chrysanthemums—” The girl babbled on.

“Chrysalis, Rina,” Bess corrected, chuckling. But at the sound of the name, her name, Azriel’s chest tightened.

Bess had named her daughter after Carina. She had still been pregnant when Carina passed, carrying the child that now stands before him. Yet he felt certain that Carina still saw her, still got to meet her in her own way. 

“She’s going to be the loveliest of girls with the loveliest of names,” Carina had whispered to Bess the moment she learned her friend was expecting.

“She? How do you–”

“Just trust me.”

“Chrysalis,” Rina corrected herself, continuing on her story of how the butterflies had emerged and fluttered about, captivating not just her but the kittens.

“Sounds like you had quite an eventful day.”

“Oh, yes!” Rina beamed looking up at him with bright eyes. “And now we’re going to wait for the stars! Would you like to come with us, Mr. Azriel?”

“Thank you but I think I’ll keep Shadow company tonight.” Azriel politely declined.

Bess’s smile faded slightly, her brows knitting in concern. “Are you sure? We’d be happy to have you over…”

Azriel held her gaze for a moment, seeing the quiet worry in her eyes. No one should be alone on Starfall, he read. But Azriel had spent every Starfall since her death alone.

So he managed a nod. “I’m sure.”

**

Azriel’s shadows stirred as he stared at the house. It stood quietly under the dark night sky. Ivy draped along the porch railings and up the walls. Night-blooming jasmines blossomed in the garden, their petals glowing softly. Moths and butterflies fluttered around, drawn to the pale flowers.  Every now and then, a firefly would blink, casting a tiny spark of light before disappearing back into the dark. Some of his shadows couldn’t help themselves, fluttering about just as the moths and butterflies did, to chase after the fireflies.  

Crickets chirped nearby and occasionally, there was the sound of a faint splash of a frog in one of the ponds he had made. He could also hear barking coming from the shed he had built in the backyard. A purring sound followed by something rubbing up against his leg pulled his attention downwards.

Azriel crouched down to pet the gray cat at his feet. Carina had named her Smoke, inspired by her smoky gray fur. Though she cared and loved animals deeply, she was not creative when it came to names. Smoke closed her eyes briefly, content with the loving pets from Azriel.

The cat was selective with her affections. Only Carina and Azriel ever earned her trust, Bess still slowly earning it. Moments later, Smoke’s kittens, barely a few weeks old, bounded out from the shadows, eager for his attention as well. His heart warmed at the sight. If only Carina could see them…

After a couple of moments, Azriel stepped inside, where he knew a little bundle of black fur awaited him. Shadow. Further proof of Carina’s lack of creativity with names as the small bunny with dark fur blinked back up at him. Carina had a long history of rescuing animals and finding homes for them. She drove her parents and Rhysand mad and though Azriel feigned annoyance, he honestly didn't mind it.

Shadow had been the first animal Carina brought to this house. She had found him by the Sidra, scared and injured. Despite his small size, Shadow had made his distaste for Azriel’s shadows clear, hissing at them and even biting Azriel a couple of times when he got too close.

But there was a time where Carina had fallen sick, leaving Azriel to care for him. The two came to a mutual understanding and eventually grew close. By the time Carina had recovered, the bunny was following after Azriel as if it were one of his shadows, living up to his name.

Cradling Shadow close, Azriel let his gaze drift down the dim hallway toward the grand staircase. He hadn’t ventured upstairs in months, maybe even a year. That part of the house had been theirs alone. A private corner of the world where they could escape, untouched by anyone else’s presence. But tonight, he felt drawn to it, tugged towards it in the wake of a dream of Carina. In it, he had been content to just hold her while she embroidered. He held her tighter in his dream, dreading the moment he’d wake up.

Setting Shadow gently back in his cage, Azriel made his way toward the stairs. One of his shadows rushed to him and curled around his ear. The message it gave had his muscles tensing in alarm.

Someone was in the house. 

His shadows coaxed his gaze to one of the rooms. Carina’s studio. The door was always closed and locked but tonight, it was wide open. His hand instinctively gripped the dagger strapped to his thigh as he approached, moving soundlessly until he reached the doorway.

Standing in the studio, holding a paper bag, was Rhysand. A scent drifted from the paper bag that Azriel knew well. Strawberries and creme. Carina’s favorite.

Rhysand seemed lost in the room, surrounded by countless paintings, sketches, and memories brought to life by Carina’s hand. She had painted Rhysand, Azriel, and Cassian atop Ramiel, the three stars of Night Court glittering above them. Nearby, a sketch captured Mor mid-laughter, a glass of wine in hand, while Carina’s mother beamed beside her. Her desk overflowed with paintbrushes, pencils, and scattered paper. Above her desk, two portraits hung proudly. One of Carina’s mother and one of her father. 

But Rhysand’s gaze was fixed on a larger portrait leaning against the wall between the former High Lord and Lady of Night.

Carina loved painting everything and everyone but herself. She especially loved drawing Azriel, her greatest muse. One night, he had asked her to draw herself. She had paused and looked at him, a strange but profound look in her eyes. One he didn’t understand then but he understood now. She knew she wouldn’t be here for long.

His throat tightened as he stared at the painting, grateful she had left him something so precious to hold onto. Her beauty, even in paint, commanded attention. She shared her brother’s sun-kissed skin, raven-black hair, and striking violet eyes. But Carina’s hair tumbled over her shoulders in silken waves, a single, captivating streak of white framing her face, her brow on the same side also streaked with white.

A mark her mother always said was a blessing, kissed by the moon herself.

“I thought I’d bring these,” Rhysand said quietly, holding up the bag. “She’d never let me come here without something for her.”

Azriel’s heart clenched. He hadn’t expected to see Rhysand here, but of all people, he understood the pull of this place. Azriel had lost his partner, his wife. But Rhysand had lost a sister, his twin. The studio held the weight of memories, settling heavily on his chest.

Since becoming High Lord, Rhysand had refused to celebrate Starfall publicly. Everyone who had made the holiday joyful was gone. His father. His mother. His sister. Carina had always looked forward to Starfall, making grand arrangements at the House of Wind so they could all watch the stars migrate together.

Starfall was a celebration for those that had passed, to honor those migrating souls. But to celebrate it for Carina rather than celebrate it with her…

 It was a truth Rhysand did not want to accept, even though it’s been years. Nor Azriel.

They stood side by side, silent as they gazed at her portrait, almost expecting her to step out from the canvas, to fill the room once more with her warmth and laughter. Rhysand set the bag of crepes on the table below the painting, and Azriel noticed the slight tremble in his fingers.

“I thought... I thought it would get easier if I came here,” Rhysand admitted, his voice cracking. “But it’s as if I’m still waiting for her to walk through that door and tell me it’s all been a bad dream.”

Azriel nodded, his gaze not leaving the portrait. “I feel the same,” he murmured. “It’s hard being here but keeping this place and taking care of it...it’s the closest I can get to her now.”

A sudden, loud barking came from outside, disrupting the silence that had followed. Rhysand straightened, sharing a brief, wary glance with Azriel as the sound of a door splintering rang through the house. In an instant, they were on high alert, Azriel’s shadows coiling around him, ready to strike.

Their muscles relaxed only slightly as familiar footsteps echoed through the hall, quiet but unmistakable. Cassian appeared in the doorway, breathless from breaking in through the back. His eyes widened in surprise, taking in Rhysand and Azriel.

“I–I didn’t think anyone would be here,” he admitted, a sheepish tone slipping into his voice. a slight sheepish tone to his voice. “If I had known you were here, I would’ve knocked.”

“No, you wouldn’t have,” Azriel deadpanned.

Cassian’s mouth quirked up in acknowledgment. Azriel was right. Barging in unannounced and loud had always been his style. Carina never minded it, though. Somehow, she’d always seemed to know he was coming, greeting him with a bemused smile rather than annoyance while Azriel would glare from behind her.

“I dreamt of her and I thought she would like to see a dear friend again,” Cassian said, pulling a small rag doll from his coat.

The faded fabric was frayed at the edges, and a patch covered where one arm had once torn. It was Carina’s doll—the one Cassian had accidentally ripped one night. He’d felt so terrible afterward that he’d begged her mother to teach him to sew, spending hours pricking his fingers to stitch it back together. The doll had never quite looked the same, but Carina had cherished it even more, carrying it with her everywhere. After her passing, she’d left it for him on his bed with a letter. She had written letters for all of them.

He set the doll next to the crepes Rhysand had brought, a silent offering.

Before any of them could speak, a sharp, indignant meow cut through the air. Azriel’s shadows tensed again, hovering near the door as more sounds drifted up from downstairs. Rustling, footsteps…sniffling? 

“Stupid cat,” came a familiar voice, thick with tears, louder with each step. “I brought you, your stupid salmon…only the best, for Carina’s spoiled little brat…” The voice trailed off as Mor appeared in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise the same way Cassian’s had just a couple of moments ago. “What are you all doing here?”

Mor glanced between the three males, eyes lined with silver.

“It wasn’t planned.” Azriel said.

“So we all dreamt of her last night, didn’t we?” Rhysand asked quietly.

They all looked at each other, eye glistening with tears and a shared understanding that needed no words. For years, Starfall had come and gone, each of them grieving Carina alone in the darkness. Too shattered to reach out, yet silently yearning for each other’s company. They had mourned in solitude, drowning in their quiet sorrows. A grief Carina would never have wanted for them and she most certainly would not have wanted them to spend Starfall, her favorite holiday, apart. 

Mor’s gaze drifted to the desk where a small portrait of Carina rested, capturing her cousin’s warm, spirited smile. Her features softened, and her hand rose to her chest, fingers grazing the silver mood ring that hung on a simple chain. It clashed with the golden mood ring she wore on one of her fingers but she hadn’t cared. Carina and Mor had bought the matching rings together at one of the night markets. On nights when Mor wished to be closer to her beloved cousin, she wore the ring around her neck.

Her gaze then landed on the crepes and doll carefully placed in front of her portrait. She then decided to unclasp the necklace from her neck and placed it gently in front of Carina’s portrait. An altar had formed–a small collection of memories now laid before Carina’s portrait. 

“Do you remember,” Mor began, her gaze still fixed on her cousin. “How she’d make us toast Starfall with raspberry wine? She’d insist it had to be raspberry, even though none of us liked it.”

Cassian chuckled, shaking his head. “Not a single one of us had the heart to tell her.”

Azriel’s lips curled into a fond smile, a rare warmth softening his features. “Oh, she knew,” he revealed, sharing a secret they’d kept for years. His gaze grew distant as he remembered Carina’s delighted grin, the gleam in her eyes as she’d pour each glass herself, ignoring the grimaces as they took their first sips. “But she said it was ‘tradition.’”

Rhysand let out a soft exhale, violet eyes glittering with both amusement and sadness. “Her own tradition, mind you, not one she inherited.”

“Well, we should keep up the tradition, right?” Mor turned around to face Azriel. “Do you have any?”

Azriel nodded, his throat tightening. “Yeah,” he managed, knowing there was still a stock in the cellar—bottles he’d left untouched and unopened since the last Starfall they’d shared with Carina. “I can get us some.”

A few moments later, he returned with a bottle, his shadows carrying five glasses. The dark tendrils handed a glass to each of them, setting the fifth in front of Carina’s portrait. Azriel filled her glass first.

“It’s clear to me Carina didn’t want us alone tonight,” Mor said, cradling her glass to her chest.

“She would’ve never wanted us alone,” Cassian murmured in agreement.

“She would’ve absolutely hated it.” Azriel chimed in, his voice barely a whisper. He looked down, feeling a pang of regret and guilt. “I’m sorry. I thought it would’ve been easier alone…”

Rhysand placed a hand on Azriel’s shoulders, a look of pure empathy on his face.  “I thought the same. But I’m grateful to be here now. With all of you.” He raised his glass. “Carina has brought us together this Starfall and we’ll spend it together as she would’ve wanted.”

“To Carina, the sweetest and most loving soul.” Cassian raised his glass toward her portrait. 

The others followed after him, each lost in their own memories. As they toasted, Carina’s violet eyes seemed to shine with a spark of life. Just then, the doors to the balcony swung open, and a cool breeze swept through the room, rustling papers and lifting brushes. They felt it—a presence. Something familiar and bittersweet.

Starlight trickled through the window, casting a faint glow around the room. 

Rhysand’s breath caught as the faint hum of a melody drifted through the air, one his mother used to sing on Starfall nights. He could almost hear the distinctive footsteps of his father, the crinkling of his old leather boots. And then—the clear, bright sound of Carina’s laughter, echoing as if from a dream.

Cassian’s eyes shone with unshed tears, his hand reaching out to clasp Azriel’s other shoulder. Mor reached for Rhysand’s hand, squeezing it tightly, and he returned the gesture, pulling her close. In that moment, they were united by the memory of the female they’d all loved.

As Rhysand looked at Carina's portrait, a tear traced down his cheek. Happy Starfall, sister.

Azriel looked up at the sky, already shimmering. They all stepped out onto the balcony. The world seemed to fall silent, even the animals still as the first star streaked across the sky. It’s as if they also knew that Carina would be amongst those migrating spirits. Along with her mother and father. Along with Cassian’s mother. 

A thousand emotions surged through them. A mix of sorrow, gratitude, and love that blurred the line between the past and present.

They say that when someone you love dies, a part of your soul dies with them. They had each felt it—that aching void, the heavy absence. But as they stood together, they came to understand something else. When someone you love passes, a part of them remains with you. They remain in every cherished memory, in love and in moments like these. 

Carina may have passed, but her memory lived, woven into the very stardust that fell around them. She had come to them tonight, reminding them that her light would remain in their hearts, glowing a little brighter with every Starfall.

"En esta casa no existen fantasmas. Son puros recuerdos. Son mil sentimientos, de lo que vivimos cuando tu estabas aqui." which translates to "In this house, ghost don't exist. Only memories. A thousand feelings of what we lived when you were here."

Meanwhile in Spring Court…

Tamlin sat slumped against the rough bark of a tree, his gaze fixed on the night sky. A sense of immense guilt gnawed at him. It was Starfall tonight. He knew this because the holiday had meant so much to Rhysand and Carina. His friends. Or at least, they used to be. The twins had always spoken of the streaking spirits that lit up the sky in the Night Court.

But here, in Spring, the migrating stars were hidden beyond the distant horizon. Still, he couldn’t tear his eyes from the stars that dotted his own skies, searching for something he couldn’t quite name.

Would Carina be among them tonight? he wondered, his heart heavy with regret. 

Tamlin couldn’t shake the feeling that her death and her mother’s was his fault. His choices had led to this moment, to this hollow loneliness that sat like a stone in his chest. He lost everything that night. His family, his friends.

But he deserved to feel this way, to feel this pain. 

Rhysand hated him, he couldn’t even look him in the eyes at the first High Lord meeting after the tragedies. And Rhysand had every right to. It was all Tamlin’s fault...

Tears pricked at his eyes and then he felt it. Something cold yet comforting like the softest of touches. Startled, he raised his hand to his cheek, feeling the dampness against his skin. He looked up to the sky but there was no rain, no storm clouds in sight. When he brought his hand up to his face, he saw pure stardust glowing back at him.  

And then he saw it– a second star. It soared across the sky, coming closer and closer. It disappeared into a pool of water just in front of him, lighting the still surface. The pool shimmered, turning to liquid starlight.

A starpool, bright and ethereal. 

Tamlin wiped hastily at his eyes before leaning forward to get a closer look. He reached out a hand, his fingers brushing along the water’s edge. The water lapped gently against his hand, coating it in the same stardust residue that coated his cheek.

The sight made his heart ache. It can’t be, he thought, looking back up at the sky for answers. There were no more shooting stars. Just the steady gleam of the ordinary ones blinking back at him. A breeze stirred through the clearing, cold yet oddly soothing. It whispered through the branches, through the leaves, a murmur he couldn’t quite decipher, but in his heart, he understood.

“I forgive you,” it seemed to say and he just knew it was her.

Tamlin’s composure shattered completely. He buried his face in his hands, not caring over the stardust that smeared his face. His tears spilled freely now as he leaned over the water, his shoulders shaking.

The weight of his grief, his guilt, his longing for forgiveness—it all poured out into the stillness of the Spring Court, witnessed only by the stars, the quiet voice of the night and the starpool that had been gifted to him by her.

[masterlist]

a/n: There's not much details about Starfall other than it being migrating spirits so I tweaked it a bit to resemble Day of the Dead more. I love this holiday so much and look forward to hearing memories of loved ones that have passed away. For the inner circle, I imagined the death of Rhysand's sister hit them all hard and in this particular au, I could see them suffering alone. But Carina definitely would not have wanted that so she visited them in their dreams and brought them together. Hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse of her. I can't wait to write more about her!

I debated a lot on whether I should've included Tamlin's bit or not but decided, why not? I think about him a lot and how alone he must've felt after becoming High Lord.

General tag list: @scooobies, @kennedy-brooke, @sillysillygoose444, @lilah-asteria @the-sweet-psycho

@daycourtofficial, @milswrites, @stormhearty, @pit-and-the-pen, @mybestfriendmademe

@loving-and-dreaming @azriels-human @mrsjna, @adventure-awaits13, @lorosette

@alwayshave-faith

[chernabogs]

Just to ask, but how long did the human fae war last??? Like I'm confused

Fae Wars

Mmmm I can't really tell you a definitive timeline for how long it lasted, or when it began, mostly because the years are still quite vague! I can kind of provide a rough estimate based on what we know, though.

From what we gather, humans had kind of been inching into Briar Nation for resources for about a century before we got to Lilia's dreamscape. This doesn't necessarily mean that the war began a century prior. By the sounds of it, Heinrich's arrival and his father's illness kicked it all off, placing the war at about maybe a decade long so far during Lilias dream—give or take a few years. This also depends on gestation of a dragon because Raverne was in the first diplomatic venture to the humans, and he is Malleus' father, so it could even be less. But for logic sake we'll say a decade of tensions.

In terms of an end date, this is wishy-washy, too. When Lilia found Silver at Wild Rose, it was implied that the area had just become available for people to go to again and that it wasn't contested land anymore. The war could have ended before then, and it was simply treaties and logistics keeping that land unavailable to access. We know that the war (or residual after effects) did extend a bit into Malleus' life as well, as implied by his initial perception of humans before Lilia and Silver.

Malleus is 178. Lilia was about 300 during the duration of his dream, so about 290, maybe, when the war began. He's 700 now, and Silver is 17, meaning Lilia was about 683 when he found Silver. The war, therefore, could have spanned from 393 years to less. We don't know what happened to Heinrich, although it's also implied there were subsequent squabbles between other nations regarding the resources after Meleanor died (considering the state of Wild Rose, how Silver needed to be put under a sleeping spell for his protection, and that KoD did die in a battle at some point). Whether or not fae were involved in this (fae who lived in Briar Nation prior, that is) is unclear.

So, tl;dr, there isn't really a way to put a timeline to it. The war could have fallen apart after Meleanor died and Lilia was exiled. It could have also dragged on for many years under the direction of Baul by Maleficia's orders. There's 393 years between when the war may have started and Lilia found Silver, so we only know that it took place over some time in this span of years.

[canihaveacalmtime]

You met a boy back at secondary, you remember he was around your height at the time, heck he was also looking as depressed as you now but we'll get back to that later.

You remember he was being bullied by the popular groups around the school because he looked like a freak that always studies and read books. Though, you saw him as a normal human, not as how he dressed up and on the other hand, you were also a coward at the time so you could only chose to help him after the bullies had gone.

By the last year of secondary, the boy changed into an intirely different person and actually listened to what you suggested him to wear, what type of hair fits him and how he should make his appearance more attractive to others. You really enjoyed the last year with him and not have to worry about those bullies anymore. For him, he thinks that even after this year, you and him can still be friends for the next many years but for you, this is the last year that you will live here as so many things had happened with your family life that forced you to move back to the countryside, you don't even know when you'll move back to the city but seeing you friend looking so happy right now, you didn't even had the courage to tell him anything about your leaving.

But the day he found out about you leaving, it was already too late. As he hold the letter in his hand, trying hard to not tear it apart, a part inside him begin to develop an obsession to get you back, to make you come back and to have you back in his arms again.

.

.

.

You eventually returned back to the busy city streets after 6 years long and for the next 2 years, you've been working under a CEO's assistant so consider that, your rank is just right above the servants and under everyone else.

But more over, you knew who your CEO was the moment you met him for the first time or is it really the first time for you? But to be honest, you didn't knew the boy that's just around your height back then, shy and timid can grow up to become such a man that sits above every one else.

Of course, he doesn't recognized you, you've changed too much either in a good or bad way, it's so hard to say you back then and now are the same but especially, you didn't actually want him to recognize you. You basically left him in the cruelest way possible a friend could do so you can't imagine how horrible of a life he could give you if he finds out about your old identity.

Unfortunately for you, the CEO's second in command one day asked for all the workers' profile to be recheck and your 'friend' learned about who you really are but as a calculate person, he chose to observe first before proceeding any actions. As the more he observed, the more negative details he saw like how you always look sleep deprived and have a habit of hugging your head during a chaotic events like monthly worker training or party arrangements, all of those reminds him so much of his old self.

He tried to approach you, to help you like how you help him back then but a coward will always be a coward as you always intentionally avoid him. The moment you see him in your sight, you act like someone has called you or just simply turn around and walk somewhere else.

.

.

.

The avoiding went on for a long while until one night, you were ordered to come into his office for a talk but when you arrived, the scene in front of you made you frozen in place and not even dare to move an inch.

On the floor was his old bullies, tied up and continuously begging for mercy while your boss, the CEO, just standing there menacingly with his favorite gun in his hand. You hsve seen him using it in the practice ground countless times and even familiar with whenever he use it on someone but that is just hearing from the outside not witnessing it like this.

Before you can react, one of them was shot in the head and was now on the ground. One by one, they fall down upon the CEO's bullets begin shot and the moment the last one was shot, you immediately book it out of there only to eat a bullet straight at your left leg before you can even reach the doorknob and fall down onto the wood floor.

What shock you more was that he still remembered when you told him about how your left leg is much weaker than the other one and is now using your own weakness against you.

"Perhaps you shouldn't have said anything important about you to me."

His leather shoes clanking on the floor as he slowly walk over to you laying on the floor, who is hugging their head trying to figure out what had just happened seconds ago.

"Seeing you laying there so helpless and in pain really make me both satisfied as a revenge and sad but it has to be done, right? Can't have you keep on running away from me forever."

Your vision begins to fade away as he pick up your body in a bridal style and the last thing you feel before completely falling asleep was a kiss placed on your forehead in a very tender way.

"Sweet dreams, the light of my life."

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

I know I barely uploads anything often but as my #1 excuse: life is hard 😔

[talesfromawannabejournalist]

@kittenfangirl20 They eventually did have the baby they always wanted, to raise together that is. Adam had birthed a girl and they gave their little princess, Eden. To remind them of where they met and where their story began. The little princess was adored and loved deeply by all her family. Her brother Cain was especially protective over her.

Speaking of those two they were reinstated into Hell’s society NOT as Lucifer’s bastards, but as the first born princes. That doesn’t mean they left their farm, oh no, it just meant that their parents, plus BOTH siblings would have to visit more often, especially for holidays. As for the now Queen of Hell he was starting to become much beloved by many of his subjects, particularly the lower class Hellborn. Whom he helped with making them be seen as equals. However, most importantly he rewrote the truth of the history of Hell.

He told his side of the story, of what happened, how he was forced to be the mother of humanity all because of the selfish actions of the first woman. Who still even after years remained in the dungeons, and she will remain there till the end of time itself. Now the royal family sat on their balcony little Eden, now two years old, sat on her mothers lap as Adam cradled his little one while he waited for his husband. The door opened and Lucifer came out with a tray full of ribs, his queen’s personal favorite. He set them down on a small table and took his place in the seat beside Adam.

Lucifer: any type of refreshment my dear?

Adam: hmm, I’m thinking red, goes best with ribs in my opinion

Lucifer smiles and with a snap a large bottle of Cabernet along with two goblets appeared and poured the two. He handed Adam his but before he could even have a sip he felt Eden try and grab his drink. He laughed and held it away from her

Adam: no, no, no sweetie that’s not for you

Eden whined and made grabby hands to which her mother simply bopped her nose with his free hand

Adam: oh don’t be like that, Heaven knows as my daughter you will have plenty when your older.

Lucifer chuckled and reached over to deliver a gentle kiss head. Lucifer: I love you, so much, thank you for giving me three beautiful children, and thank you for being a mother to all four

Adam: heh that’s what you said yesterday

Lucifer: and I will continue saying that until the end of time or if I should ever perish

Adam: well in that case, I love you to the moon and back, and I thank you for loving me

He put down his drink to grab Lucifer’s hand and squeeze it to which Lucifer brought to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on it. The Queen smiles at his king and turned to watch as the evening turn to night feeling all well in their world

The End💗

Mother of Humanity

Adam sat underneath his favorite tree in all of Eden. The one where he and Lucifer would spend their time under the shade laughing, talking, and sometimes even singing together. Nowadays he would go to when he needed a place to think. It had been about a month since both Lilith and Lucifer left, and a month since the angels had decided what to do with the stake of humanity on hold. Lilith was meant to be Adam's wife, the mother of humanity. Instead, she chose to throw all of that away while taking Lucifer with her.

That left them with a difficult decision, should they make a new woman? For what if she turned out exactly like Lilith and abandoned her duties as well? And the next one, and the next one, what if no matter how many times they try to create a new woman she would turn out the exact same? Then like a flash it hit them, they already had a loyal human who could play that part without question, Adam! Now, some might be confused, Adam was the first man, the future father of humanity, his body was not meant to carry children only produce.

That was when they got the most genius idea to become a woman. Only half the time though! By day he would be a man and at night he would be a woman, Eve, they would call him when in that form. They explained however that when he was finally blessed with a child, for nine months he would be stuck in his Eve form. Then when the baby was finally born, he would return to his natural form. Until night fell or the blessing happened again.

The angel's crisis regarding the true beginning of mankind was over and humanity would finally blossom and spread Earth. When Earth was finally suitable for humans until then Adam and the first generation of humans would stay in Eden. So long as they followed the one rule of course. As for Adam, he felt conflicted, though he always did dream of getting to become pregnant, it was always his angel who fulfilled that wish as they started a family. He loved Lucifer, yet he chose that horrible, horrible witch over him. Not to mention that the elders didn't even bother with asking him what he thought or what he wanted, they simply gave him this new responsibility.

Now he sat in his Eve form, and he looked the same, he now just had a vagina, large breasts, that were slightly bigger than Lilith's, a curvaceous backside and torso, long brown hair, and no facial hair whatsoever. All in all, it was Adam but now as a woman. Yet one feature of his body never changes his warm brown eyes. He sighed once more staring up at the shining rays of the moon. That's when he heard it, 'swoosh' 'swoosh'. The sound of heavy wings descending, he stood up prepared to greet one of the elders, hopefully, Sera, when he gasped. In the distance, a familiar angel stood with a familiar-looking woman. Not wasting any time, he sprinted his way over to the couple.

Adam: LUCI! LILY! OVER HERE, ITS ME!

The two turned in shock as a woman came tumbling toward them. Assuming it was Adam's new bride that they both heard of being created they stood to attention. Lucifer stepped forward ready to greet the second woman when he was cut off surprised by the second woman scooping him into her arms and giving him a great bear hug. He blushed as his head was smushed in between her sizeable bosom. It caused Lilith to stare bitterly at the sight. Once Lucifer was out of her hold he looked up at her beaming face. His brows furrowed as he saw tears start to fall from those strangely familiar eyes. Yet the smile still remained

Adam: Oh Luci, I missed you so much! I thought you were gone forever. The angels told me you wouldn't return, but you did, you really did. It doesn't matter though I'm just so glad you're back! You finally came back, for me, right? Because you know I love you, right?

Lucifer's eyes widen to the sizes of dinner plates, this woman not only acted as if she knew him since forever, but just declared her love to him.

Adam: Luci? What's wrong Lucifer?

Lucifer: (gulps) How, how do you know my name?

Adam: Luci it's me, I know I don't look like myself, but it really is me. It's your best friend Luci

Lucifer took a full minute to scan her face trying to see if she was in any way joking or lying. It was when he started to really stare deeply into her eyes, those eyes. Now he knew why they looked so familiar, those eyes, they were, she was,

Lucifer: ...Adam?

@kittenfangirl20

[not-so-plus-ultra]

Okay, maybe unpopular opinion time, but I started watching DanDaDan (ADORE it so far) and some of you are starting to become the meme of "that one friend who is too woke" about what happens in the first episode

TW for sexual assault + CW light DanDaDan spoilers if you haven't watched it yet. Its gonna be a bit ranty

First of all I wanna preface this with saying that, if Momo's scene with the aliens impacted you and / or you found it triggering, that's extremely valid. I am not claiming it isn't, specially for people who have any kind of sexual trauma. What I'm gonna say is not about that

What I mean is; I think we have gotten so used to a very big number of anime using sexual assault as a "funny" gag, having characters violate other characters' physical boundaries, or having a token perverted / incestuous / p*do character, all in the name of terrible "comedy" or fanservice, that we have started bracing up for any mention or showcase of sexual assault to be treated as a gag or as a "sexy" thing; specially when it comes to female characters, because sadly they're the victims of this 99% of the time. This, without going over the sexualization of characters in general, even when mundane things are happening

It's a sentiment I understand and share. I hate all of these tropes and "jokes" and it makes me really sad when a series I otherwise like has to include something like that. I actively criticize these kinds of things no matter how big a fan I am of a work in question

However, I think because of all this, we have forgotten that media can choose to use scenarios like that as an actual Bad thing to show. A bad and unfortunate thing that happens to a character that isn't used as comedy or as fanservice

I had heard about the sexual assault scene in DanDaDan prior to watching it, and I had decided I was gonna skip that scene, as I am someone who is both disgusted by these things and has trauma related to them. However while skipping quickly through the scene I thought it didn't look as bad as I was bracing for, so I decided it was something I could stomach. I was really surprised when I saw that the scene was strictly being handled as a bad thing happening to Momo, and that it also ultimately ended up with her escaping her assaulters before anything truly scarring happens

No jokes about the situation per se, no compromising shots other than the fact that she was in her underwear - and regarding that, the fact that she was built like a normal girl, her proportions and physical features weren't presented in any objectifying or exaggerated way, and through the whole scene she was fighting against it and being uncomfortable instead of submitting to the situation or being made to blush and get flustered about it like you can Disgracefully see in many other instances of other shows

DanDaDan is ultimately a horror / paranormal series. It's not as dark as others and it seems it doesn't pretend to be, but bad things are bound to happen. I think that, as long as you do it tastefully, almost any subject can be used for those bad things. Sexual stuff is sadly EXTREMELY misused in anime, and tbh in media in general, but I don't think it has to be a taboo thing to have your characters go through as long as youre not being weird about it

Furthermore, I think it's pretty clear that, at least the parts that have been adapted of this manga so far (I am not a manga reader btw, I have only seen the 5 anime episodes that are currently out, so if the manga later proves me defending it wrong, I'm sorry, and I'd like to hear it), are in part talking about bodily autonomy

Our mcs BOTH get assaulted, but nobody online ever pays attention to Okarun losing his genitals as him also having been assaulted simply because it's presented in a more unrealistic way. His initial motivation in the series is to retrieve his genitals, and even when he seems to have gotten them back the first time, something is still wrong (another part missing) and he can't just go about his life normally again as if nothing had happened, which I think is a clear metaphor of a victim's feelings after having been assaulted; and what is more, our first arc ends with the revelation that the ghost who did that to him seems to have done it to protect the place she's bound to, a tunnel, from men, for we get told that many girls have gotten sexually assaulted, killed and dismembered in it

About Okarun, I DO get that his situation is shown in a bit of a silly light because haha penis, but I am also afraid that people would have reacted a lot more if he was a girl losing his genitals instead even if it was painted in the same light. Both Momo and Okarun got out of the situation fighting, both of them were brave and as nonchalant as they could to their assaulters, but it's only Momo's situation which gets treated as the bad one. Both get terrible things done to them ! And both of them are being shown as bad things !

None of this means you personally can't be uncomfortable with any of the mentioned scene; after all, they're portraying something horrible that happens in real life. And again, I get that in Momo's case, although unrealistic elements are involved, the situation she's put in can look closer to a real life assault, and thus, it can be more triggering. But the fact is that the sexual assault of both characters is being used to showcase a terrible thing, it's not there just for a gag or for people to put their eyes on the characters' bodies, and I personally just think it's silly when I see people lump in the situations in DanDaDan with series like Undead Unluck, when the former is portraying assault as not only a genuinely bad situation but also as part of the many points I think the first act of the series makes about bodily autonomy, and the later uses it as a reocurring "funny" gag (I have seen people say it gets better later, but still, it's still used as a gag at some point)

This is brought to you by me seeing people on Twitter compare DanDaDan's assault scene to incestuous characters from other animes like Yuri from Spy x Family, Makoto from Saiki K., and Lance from Mashle. I am a big fan of two of those three series and let me tell you: those characters can fuck themselves, I don't find haha incest jokes funny or necessary in any piece of media

[galstelperion]

hey, alma. i have been following you for a while and i like many of your takes, you always seem level-headed in this fandom, but i think you missed this time around and that post wasn't it. i'm not writing you this to make you feel bad! please, believe me, my intent is not to bring you down or anything of this sort. but the user you were talking about is getting witch hunted by celeb0rn fans, and she made that post because she has been harassed by haladriel-antis and celeb0rn fans for months and months, simply for her interpretations of the show. she never attacked anyone personally, she never rebloged anyone's takes to dismiss them. she just expressed her dislike of celeb0rn fans' own witch hunts and their own insistence that they get galadriel the right way. so it was quite disappointing to see haladriel shipper such as yourself add fuel to the fire that is eating up our fandom right now. turning on each other for celeb0rn is a bit of a waste, isn't it? and we know that the majority of celeb0rn stans aren't genuinely his stans, they are just antis.

i think the fandom is getting more and more toxic, not sure what it is about. im not writing you this so that you answer to this ask, i know you probably weren't coming from a bad place, but i just think this time your post had consequences that you did not intend to happen.

Hello anon, since you seem to be at least cordial, I will respond to this ask and it will be the last time I address this situation:

"we know that the majority of celeb0rn stans aren't genuinely his stans, they are just antis."

This is the root of the problem here. I am saying this in the kindest way possible. Yes, you are allowed to dislike a character. You are even allowed to bash said character in your own spaces. A line is crossed when you make untrue statements like this. The attitude that the majority of "Celeborn stans" who also happen to enjoy Haladriel are just antis is inaccurate and has made a lot of people incredibly uncomfortable. It has made me uncomfortable as someone who is friends with many multishippers who like and explore dynamics with all of these characters involved.

As I said in my original post, I do not ascribe to this all or nothing mentality to shipping or fandom in general. The idea that there is only one right way to like and consume this ship is hurtful and makes many people feel ostracized and unwelcome in this space. I say this as someone who doesn't even care for Celeborn as a character at all and have actively shit talked him around mutuals who agree with me. But I also say this as someone who has been friends with the most incredible Haladriels for 2+ years at this point, Haladriels who have written 100k+ word fanfictions, Haladriels who have dissected and analyzed lore back to front since the early 2000s, who are also interested in exploring Galadriel's dynamic with Celeborn! *gasp* Don't put me in shackles and drag me to the town square but someone who likes a character you don't isn't a crime! It doesn't make them any less of a Haladriel. It doesn't make them "antis in disguise"

This sort of mindset has been permeating the tag for many months now. I never felt inclined to really say anything about it until these broad generalizations were being made by people who I've personally never even seen before here. Like my good friend @nocaptainonthisship has said, "I've been in this fandom since its inception two years ago" isn't a dick measuring contest. It's saying I've been here. I've seen it.

I don't know a whole lot about this account that you're referring to in the ask. I don't even know anything about these people supposedly harassing them either. I don't condone that. I have refrained from @'ing them at all either here or in my original post so as to not to contribute to pile-ons if that is indeed happening. I did block them about a week ago after continuously seeing these actively hostile and confrontational takes about who can and can't be considered a real Haladriel based on their character preferences. Feel free to block me if that is the approach to fandom you want to have. It will certainly never be mine.

[cryptid-killjoy]

Seven wild and free. Alive.

The concept wasn't something he even bothered to fathom while on the other side. Seven was one of those people that always made due.

Now here they were on their march back to living.

Seven noticed the changes in Feral from Nola too, but all that was null and void by the time he saw his mothers. The Fate Sisters were a commodity to most in the divination arts and all the mysteries of that entailed. To Seven though, his emotional baggage simply just being the son of Lachesis was what was heaviest in his chest. So many questions were in his head that were left unanswered. It was easy to see why he wasn't told considering the double agency and neutrality the group often maintained. He answered many of his own questions without ever asking. Still, there was something about not having that choice that fractures something inside. He wasn't even sure why it hurt. He wasn't even sure it would mean anything to Boogie family or any extention thereof whether genuine or just to use. Strange feelings it evoked. Quite bizarre actually.

Linen snapped him out of his thought train.

"Oh linen. What I would do for some linen."

Pierre was bringing up some great memories for both Zero and Seven. Doing. What he would do. Orgies. "Mm. Maybe it's who I would do? We get to have real sex again."

The kind they controlled, not Hellians. But, oh did he remember the orgy at the Magisterium? "Oh yeah, my man. First day, great day. Brigette right in there. A queen at the center of the utopia of love. What happened to that? Can't wait to get back to days like that."

Zero hadn't moved back due to Frankenstein chaos at that point so he missed that day, but his eyes widened as the only non-bi boy there, gay as all get out. "That's so you guys. Just as long as I can get back in the middle of you guys." Now they had Zero fantasizing of the old days. The three boys just wanted their lives back to the way it was.

Seven pulled a face when Pierre went on about flirting with his mothers. That was so Pierre. He had to laugh.

He put on his big boy pants and down the hill they went.

Piper would greet Pierre first. "There you are." She'd put her hands right up to his face, a look of adoration on her own. She was so excited. The anticipation for this was such a build up. She was so careful to smooth his hair over his brow, thumb his cheek. Then she'd shimmy her shoulders before she couldn't take it another moment and take him into another big hug, warm, and inviting, more clingy than Piper had ever been known to be. She didn't want to let go this time.

"Fashionably late. Always fashionable. My beautiful Pierre."

She kept looking at him more longingly than she had in the past, but it had been so very long. Perhaps? Plus, he said yes. Maybe somewhere in her there was a little part of her that needed to hear a yes unlike the day he closed her and the rest of the familiy away when he was up in his bedroom. He had Thomas in time loops, the whole bit, such a disasterous day. She tried so hard to convince him that day. It broke her heart. This time he said yes. It was enough. Her heart was settling. Maybe there was more to it, but that layer contributed.

"I'm just so glad you made it in time."

Yes, time. They were on a ticking clock tonight even for this.

Then there was Seven who was face to face with not only the two mother who had no idea he was coming, but the one that did. It was Atropos smiling wicked for managing to keep her secret while Clotho squealed at the sight of their boy. His biological mother stood silent too taken aback with her hand on her chest.

It took his breath away because when he met her eyes it was like he knew she knew. Of course she knew he knew now. They all knew he knew everything.

"Uh." A sound of some sort started to drop out of Seven's mouth but she stopped it.

"Later son."

Then the other piled in for the hugs Zero was expecting and he looked over at Pierrie in that told ya, there it is, kind of way, like they just knew it was going to happen. He followed Pierre's idea and piled on for a group hug whether he was wanted or not. It got the ol' witch laughing at the rememberance of how this friend of his was never far behind.

"I knew." She'd boast one last time and gave Pierre and Zero a too proud of herself look with a twinkle in the eye she had left. "How are you, Pierre? Enjoy your travels?" She'd always liked her son's friend and spoke as if he'd merely been on a vacation.

Then she'd pass the magic eye over to Lachesis, the Fate sister of the past. This was Seven's biological mother.

The Fate sister of the present with her arms around Seven would say, "We should spare no time."

Then the three would glare at each other with some discord on their faces and huddle up like a team to chat among themselves.

Piper got a little nervous because she already promised Pierre that Seven could be alive too. She got the green light from one sister so she assumed it was a green light all around. Now she wasn't so sure. Luckily, they were just discussing which timeline's thread to pull for Seven. It was a delicate matter to match if they were to make such an exception. When they finished their talk they'd come out of the huddle with unanimous.

"We have decided. We are ready. Seven first."

Piper agreed. "Let's get right to it." She wanted to waste no time and was slightly annoyed at Seven being first because this was her thing, but it was their power she was playing off of. She had no room to complain.

Lechesis would take Piper's hand. "We'll get you as close as we can."

"Yes. I know."

"You can do this."

Piper gave a firm a nod. Then she looked at Pierre. "You have to trust me. I can only take one of you at a time. I won't be long. Just a few moments to you here. Then Seven and I will be back and it shall be done. Then it'll be your turn. When it's your turn it'll seem longer." She looked over at Seven so he understood she was also explaining it to him too. But she knew if anyone would understand how strange time manipulation could feel it was Pierre, so she didn't bother going into great detail.

Then there was Seven. He looked to his friend Pierre for the first time after seeing his mothers again. He looked more in awe than the first time Pierre opened his mouth. "I think I'm still stuck on you pulled his off. Here goes nothing. See you on the other side?" He thought he was being clever since they were already dead and now they were coming home.

That one got his mothers' cackling. They always liked a nice pun or joke. Atropos would chime in, "Well, the chicken did cross the road to be there."

"Last time you take tourtist recommendations from a chicken eh son?"

"You're telling me." Seven laughed a bit feeling more at home at least surrounded in their old humor.

The fate of the future quick witted as ever said, "Oh, I don't know. Something tells me he's braver than he used to be," as she glanced so sly and affectionately all the same at Pierre.

"Come on girls, focus." Another would pull a dull and lifeless thread from her pocket, one with two frayed ends.

It dawned on Seven then how his mothers fought and refused to cut his thread to realize the state of his string. Can't fight fate. A reaper always comes. It touched his heart anyway.

Then another Fate would pull out a still shiny colorful thread brimming with light and roll it off a spool inspecting it closely.

"Here. Right here." She'd show Piper the right spot.

This is when Piper would finally stop clinging to Pierre. He'd probably be able to feel her recluctance to leave his side. She'd reach her hand out one last time and squeeze it. "Really. I won't be long." The fear of losing this opportunity was real. Everything had to go just right and also before the clock on the night ran them out of time.

When Piper would leave his side Zero used that opportunity to take it. Something about the veil being extra thin and his own emotions being extra had his body just as thin. It kept flickering from his tangible state, to his skeletal, to his ghostly right at Pierre's side. He didn't let go either even as it continued to fluxuate. Used to being Dr. Frankenstein's Igor type helper he couldn't help but keep his eyes on those strings. He was paying close attention to detail even if he didn't understand it all.

But, this was it. Piper would take Seven's hand and pull out a purple hourglass quite similar to one given to Pierre. As long as there weren't any last words from Pierre to stop anything or change his mind it would all begin. The magic that would have Zero and Pierre in anticipation for just a few minutes. Five at the most. But, for Zero it would be the longest five minutes of his lifetime.

It terrified him when he realized they weren't traveling to the netherworld. Zero thought he was going to ghost dog out and run after them in skeletal form. He thought he'd tag along for the whole thing, whatever was going to be done. Whatever this magic was - was beyond his reach. Something about that was beyond creepy for him and Zero was hard to unnerve when it came to spooky stuff. Yet here they were in anticipation and this time it was Zero pulling a bit of the Scooby clutching, not a full Scoob with a jump, but he had his full body turned in on him while his kept peeking out. It was just beyond his scope of understanding. He was like a nervous dog with separation anxiety waiting for his other owner to return.

“Hell Maketh the Man,” Pierre said, always letting Seven stroke his ego, fill it up higher. It was probably the only reason why he was sane in any sense after being down in the Netherworld. This guy right here, this touch of familiarity, this touch of home, this touch of love.

“Back, back,” Pierre affirmed as they made their way towards the doors, hardly anyone looking at their backs as they left the great hall. “Like living, breathing, witches again, Seven, free and wild.”

He could imagine it now. His own body. Feeling the sunshine on his skin again. Going to Paris, shopping with Piper, sunbathing at Deauville Beach with the boys - Zero always looked like he needed a tan. Of course, he assumed that somehow, he would be rich again. Life without money was just such an out-there concept that he could not imagine it. Even if Piper were his sugar-mommy, he could live with that.

Just to feel the damn sun again. That’s something that his mind kept going back to. It was hot in hell, definitely. The humidity fucked with his hair. Made it all poofy. Almost made him look like Bastien. But it didn’t have the same sort of heat as the sun. It wasn’t warm, and welcoming, and nurturing and playful. It was … just fucking fire.

He was out there in the night air again, looking at the streetlights and the city that was half familiar. Looks like some things have changed around here, but he wasn’t bothered by that. He was a little curious about his house, wondering what had happened to it. Last he had heard was from Seven, when it had been taken over by the homeless and most of his stuff was trashed. If he stuck around in Feral, maybe he’d be able to reclaim it. He liked that elevator thingamajig. That had been fun.

He was bouncing on his feet like a damn school girl, the three of them still close together, huddled, as they made their way down the mountain. “As much as I do love the leather-daddy look in Hell, my body is craving some linen, big time,” He agreed with Seven, thinking about decking the three of them out in diamonds once he got rich again.

Oh yeah, the school had closed down. It felt like it’s been AGES since Pierre had to think about school. The last time was when he was basically doing a bad cosplay as a jock, had quit the Football team, and became the school loser. If he had been in his own skin during that time, Pierre wouldn’t have been able to handle the humiliation. But since it had been Ronno … it was kinda funny.

“Halloweentown was the shit,” Pierre agreed. He’d been there for a short time when the school closed and a lot of them had to transfer over to Halloweentown temporarily. “But the Magisterium was pretty sick too. Hey, remember that orgy we all had right outside? Now that was beautiful.”

Memories at the Magisterium flooded back as they got closer to the Forbidden Forest, and the demolished building, all of it cleaned away by now. Turned into something else. Hanging out with Seven. With Piper. Giving her a piggyback the first day that they met. School dances, Zero. The Valentines Day dance and making out with River Laveau. Now, who would have thought it would have been that duo that had the shortest lives?

“You should,” Pierre said. “Open it up. Shit, if I get my money back, I’ll invest in that, dude.” He said this all sincerely, imagining it with Seven. He’d gotten a lot more comfortable with the idea of being around the dead - even if he was still a bit skittish about some things. You don’t get too used to things in Hell, that’s why it’s Hell.

He was still thinking about those things when he took note of their surroundings, of the voices. “Dude, it’s your moms,” He said, nudging Seven, having no idea that they were going to be there either. Seven, the one who had enough moms for the three of them. He nearly chuckled as that thought came into his mind. He wasn’t nearly as worried as Seven seemed to be, rubbing his hand on his shoulder. “Come on, we’ll all give them a little love if it makes you feel less embarrassed,” He raised his eyebrows. “We’ll do a big group hug.”

Because if Seven knew Pierre, a bit of flirting with his moms was not totally out of the question.

That confident grin stayed as he walked down to Piper, his boys in tow. He gave a friendly nod to Seven’s mothers, and of course he was looking over Piper again - she seemed to glow in the moonlight - and then there was the tree. By instinct, he started to hum the song that he had written for her, played for her down by this tree an age ago. Though some of it had been cut away for Oogie’s tables, many of the limbs still remained, stretching up and strong towards the sky despite the ever-burning fire within.

He was right up against Piper’s side, gently kissing the side of her head. “You know us, fashionably late,” He hummed into her raven-colored hair.

[digitalfantome]

First Date.

He thought about taking her to Kasama, to make up for the time he stood her up, but as Natalie had teased him relentlessly: he was a man of grand gestures. So, he made a reservation at Noma, booked them a flight to Copenhagen and rented the same boat he stayed his last time there. It had been one of the happiest and calmest moments of his life, so it just felt right to take Sydney there to add to those happy and calm memories.

Her reaction when he told her about his plan was priceless; her eyes widened, shimmering, and she jumped on him, grabbing a fistful of his hair, kissing him hard. They had been fooling around for some time now—something that started during one of their many cooking sessions for the menu—but no official date had ever happened. You’re crazy, d’you know that? she murmured against his lips. He only smiled, kissing her.

He bought a camera just for the trip—their very first trip and official date—to capture all the important moments. He had never seen Sydney so excited before and happiness looked so beautiful on her; talking his ears off, snatching the camera off his hands because Carm, stop taking pictures of just me. We gotta capture all this! and he didn’t argue that there was nothing worthier or prettier than her in the whole universe.

Dinner was beyond incredible and he blushed while explaining some of the process behind some of the dishes; her deep brown eyes showering him with her full attention, prying out of him every small detail he could remember about his first time there. His heart almost broke free from his rib cage when he told her about the invisible cat he took care of and she burst out laughing, without a care that others were watching them.

Afterwards, they took a walk around while holding hands, fingers intertwined, and had she asked him for anything in that moment, he’d give to her—no questions asked. But she simply kept talking about anything and everything—past, present and future all jumbled up—and he hung onto her every word, still having no clue how someone like him could lucked out so hard in life. Can’t believe I almost missed out on this.

Eventually, they made it back to the boat. He carefully undressed her with only the moonlight illuminating the room and bearing witness to their love; lying her down on the bed and showing to her with his touches and kisses how much he adored her. She said his name like a prayer, over and over again, and he shed a tear or two while guiding them to climax, eyes focused on her blissful expression.

They shared a cigarette while lying side by side and she intertwined their fingers again, tracing his tattoos with her fingertips. He couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with her. I love you, he caressed her cheek. I love you, too, she closed her eyes.

——— A collection of SydCarmy ficlets inspired by prompts of the #SydCarmyWeek2024.

← // →

[degenerateworm]

Need to know what your Wesker from the gaming HCs thinks of The Institute from the Fallout series. It's a caricature, so sterile and advanced compared to the wasteland it surrounds that it's an intentional narrative turn, dripping with allegory and metaphors to the dangers of assuming the role of creation.

I'm so deeply unwell trying to figure out if he'd get ideas, or cringe, OR BOTH, or be uncomfortable, or be too comfortable.

I am so so so curious what he thinks of Big MT - their situation, how they were all brilliant minds akin to his own with stunningly similar teachings that were destroyed by one man to prevent them from enacting bloody ruin - and the resulting insane Zero, Eight, Klein, Dala, Morbius and Borous. How they behave, how they echo out their original selves incomprehensibly, stuck in obsessions they can't shake any more than they can regenerate their brains' neutered nerve endings.

I can think of so many games that echo out the 'hey science, Do Not build the torment nexus, please' thing oh nooooo lol

Thank you for reading!

What's up Nshtn! Thanks for the ask!

---

In my opinion, his reaction would differ varying on what part your Wesker is from, mainly either pre RE5, or post RE5.

Pre RE5 Wesker would find it laughable that these game developers were actually trying to say something about scientific discovery, something that has been said a million times before.

He'd look at Big MT and view it as a failure, but one with so much promise. Including all the Think Tank members.

They had made so many incredible discoveries and inventions; Saturnite, the retrieval harnesses, cloaking tech and cyber dogs.

But their demise only showed their lack of ambition in Albert's eyes. They didn't go far enough. And they weren't aware of the traitor in their midst before it was too late, and they had all been turned into shadows of themselves.

Albert Victim Blaming Wesker.

In his eyes, they deserved it, because they were weak. And Albert? He is simply different™.

---

Post RE5 though is a whole different story.

Albert will empathise with the scientists, yet he will quietly admire Mobius' determination to stop the others before they can cause further damage to the Mojave.

After all, Wesker has now been humbled, irrevocably. He sees that even if he did succeed in his mission of spreading Urobouros, he could have damaged the world beyond repair, being what his so called 'godhood' could fix.

And he could have hurt you.

Secretly, Albert wishes he was like Mobius; wishes he had been able to see the reality in his complex fueled delusion, and stopped himself before he lost such a great part of himself that he felt empty inside.

Miraculously, Albert has you to help heal him, but he can't help but wonder what would have happened if you weren't there.

Would he go entirely mad, like the scientists of Big MT? He can only speculate.

But he knows that despite losing so much, he's gained a lot more than what he had.

Albert Whumpsker. He'll be okay.

---

Sorry I didn't get to cover the Institute in this one, I'll mull it over the next few days and if you want I can post that too. I hope you're satisfied, and thanks again Nshtn!

[batgeance]

god bruce fucking hates talking to wayne execs and financial advisors

[apocalyptic-byler]

thought about bill denbrough

[femmeroi]

kill yourself faggot

Our relationship is rough right now, but in a few episodes we will be married.

[waytootiredstudent]

[booasaur]

Something really amazing happened in France, and I think it'd help us in the US to learn about it. Forgive the long read, but I think this is genuinely great both because of what happened and how.

So as some of you might have seen, in a decision historians will debate for years (mostly to figure out just WTF he was thinking, even though he is alive right now and can be asked), the French president, Emmanuel Macron, currently in power and THREE YEARS before the scheduled election, seeing the far right rise in popularity decided to dissolve the assembly and hold snap elections.

577 seats were up for grabs. Remember that number. Since half of that is 288.5, 289 seats are needed for a majority.

The first round happened last week and boy, was it bad. The far right made HUGE gains. It won or was in first place in so many races. And Macron's party ended up third!

Overall, this is how things ended up after the first round:

Far right bloc: 33%

Left bloc: 28%

Macron's centrist party: 20%

Conservatives: 7%

The way the French system works is that if a candidate gets over 50% of the vote, they win outright, and some of the far right did manage that. But, many races went to a runoff.

Immediate projections after were that the far right bloc might win anywhere from 240 to 310 seats, a catastrophe.

A shameful swing to the far right leading to the first time they'll be in power since the 1940s? Yes, but maybe not??

This is where things get interesting.

Unusually, a lot of these runoffs are 3-way, instead of a simpler 2-way choice. And in pretty much every case, that helps the far right.

So on June 30th, the night of the first round, this is how things went down:

Immediately, the left parties put out the call: anywhere they were third, they withdrew and their voters would go over to whoever was running against the far right candidate. Their goal: form a "republican front" to block the far right. The far right cannot get 289 seats.

Macron's bloc was not so...motivated. Different people put out different instructions: in some places, if they were third, they should drop out, but only to help the center left, not far left, in other places, see how far you are, only then drop out, that kind of thing.

The conservative party simply said they won't drop out and won't give their voters instruction either way in races they're not involved in.

Late night developments:

More people in Macron's party are now beginning to realize the situation and starting to coalesce around whichever candidate can beat the far right one. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, from Macron's party, says clearly the priority is to block the far right. BUT, some Macron spokespeople on TV say they'll form a coalition only with the center left and conservatives, splitting the left bloc if needed. Some individual Macronists still saying they won't drop out, even if there's no hope of winning.

Lol.

So, now July 1st:

Only half so far. In one race, where the sister of Marine Le Pen (the far right leader and the face of their movement) was leading, the third place Macronist refused to bow out.

Excellent quote from another Macronist:

Perhaps realizing the same thing, that Macronist in the race against the Le Pen sister now drops out.

In some places, third place Macronists are dropping out DESPITE Macron bewilderingly telling them NOT to?

Halfway through the day:

Of the 311 3-way or 4-way runoffs, the number is down to 135 because of these candidates dropping out: 121 Left, 56 Macronists, 1 conservative.

Oh, there was this, in case people had any doubts about how terrible the far right are:

And to show the selflessness of the left:

July 2:

The deadline to decide if they want to stay in a runoff is today.

A dozen new third place Macronists who said they'd stay in have now dropped out. One got a call from both the PM Attal AND Macron to drop out, signalling the dawning understanding of the importance of this moment.

Even some conservative party members are now backing the left candidate who faces the far right.

A Macronist who had 30.55% of the vote in the first round and came in third to the far right's 33.11% and left's 32.73% and who would have been tempted to stay has dropped out.

The deadline to stay in or not has now passed.

Look at these far right shenanigans!

Macron still being a freaking loser:

July 3rd:

In the end, of the 311 3- or 4-way run offs, only 91 left. Some polls come out that have the far right getting between 190 to 220 seats.

July 4th:

New polls say the balance of the voting itself isn't transferring between the left and center and predictions have risen for the far right, now predicted to get between 210 and 250 seats.

July 5th:

New polls again, left voters now predicted to do better transferring vote to the centrists, decreasing the far right projections again.

However, scandalous reporting emerges: while Attal was trying to fend off the far right, Macron was not only NOT taking the far right seriously, he was undermining efforts to defeat them. His team shrugged off the first round results and celebrated a BIRTHDAY as the results were still coming in?

July 6th:

A few runoffs happened yesterday, nothing much unexpected, some left and center wins.

July 7th:

The day of reckoning. At this point, the expectations are that the far right won't come close to that 289 number but could still easily have the most seats.

GUYS.

It's over and the left are in the lead!

A LOT of cases where a leftist or centrist was 2nd in the first round and now won.

Amazing:

SO many lessons to take from this.

First, you have to vote! You have to. You can't do anything without voting. The freaking French, who'll protest for anything, are showing up to vote. If you're trying to achieve any kind of result and it's not going to happen by January 2025, you have to vote now.

But just as importantly, the left and center (and even conservative) parties made very key decisions. They were all lucky that Attal, who Macron chose, saw the big picture, bigger than indeed Macron could. A stupid selfish centrist leader could have still ruined everything if it were up to him.

TL;DR: After a disastrous first round in the national French elections where the far right was on the cusp of taking power, the left and center formed a strong coalition and through the power of voting and unity, overcame the far right AND their selfish centrist president to win.