#so if someone is exhausted while studying she’ll use a tiny bit of magic to put them to sleep

[palilious]

"why go to sleep when the girl of your dreams is right here" - Colette, probably

Template was done by @yoteako ! (Though this is technically the old version sorry yote)

[theinariakuma]

“There are no limits” - can I request this prompt with Lucifer please🥺👉🏻👈🏻 Or Diavolo (tumblr asks are broke and I can’t change what I’ve written without deleting everything) 💛💛💛💛

I know you’ve already seen it because I just can’t help myself. 

Angst Prompt:  “There are no limits when it comes to you. I’ll do anything to keep you safe.”

If you’d like to request a prompt, go Here

Diavolo x Female! MC x Lucifer

Rated: Mature for Themes of violence, death, gore. (nothing explicit.)

Read under the cut. 

It was bound to happen, something that Diavolo realized in hindsight. The current exchange students were trapped in his palace--not against their will, but having no way to go home. 

“Diavolo.” Lucifer’s voice was sharp. 

“I know.” The Prince looked out the window, brimstone fire and screams. “They have betrayed me.” 

A group had begun rioting against Diavolo after a rumor had reached the public. A rumor of the strongest demons in Devildom making a pact with a human. A non-magical, powerless human. 

They weren’t wrong. The female exchange student had ensnared the attention of many in Diavolo’s inner circle. The Avatars of the Sins had indeed made pacts with her, she had the attention and friendship of both Angels from the Celestial realm, and she had a tentative friendship with Solomon. Her kindness and caring personality had drawn in all of them. 

She offered friendship and love for all without asking anything in return. The pacts had not originally been because of even her own desire for a pact, but to help the relationship between the brothers. 

His mark of a successful exchange had been notified and it had caused the people against him to retaliate. 

It was late in the evening that the House of Lamentation and Purgatory Hall were attacked. No one was lost, however, the buildings were set ablaze. Cerberus had been set free against them. It was an image of horror to anyone unused to the brutality of the brothers. 

The twins had been the ones to get the little human. Her face and pajamas covered in ash and soot, coughing from the smoke she had inhaled--but alive. 

Lucifer had been a vision of death when he saw what had been done to his home. The home of his brothers and the grave of his sister. He showed the power he once carried as an Archangel and now showed as an Archdemon. 

Those that attacked the House of Lamentation had been slaughtered. Enemies of Diavolo and the brothers were of no use. 

“They nearly killed her, Dia.” The friendly name with so much anger behind it had molten eyes turning towards the Avatar of Pride. “She nearly died because of our enemies.” Lucifer nearly spat the words. 

“That wrath you once held is showing again, my friend.” It was the same level of wrath that had birthed Satan. Diavolo looked towards the cracked open door. Tucked into the massive bed was the young woman, her form tucked under the silken sheets.

Their enemies did not know that it had not been only Lucifer that she’d ensnared with her kind heart, but the Demon Prince himself. 

“I’ll destroy anyone that comes for my head… and anyone that comes for her, Lucifer.” 

Lucifer looked to the larger demon, his scarlet gaze was still sharp, his shoulders tense. He didn't like this situation. The rebellion had been because Diavolo was making progress and because of their little human. 

Both turned when they heard the tiny footsteps. 

She was so small compared to the two of them. When she arrived at the palace, Simeon had healed her throat--the damage done by the smoke and ash and Barbados had brought her some clean sleepwear after sending her to a bath. 

"This is because of me, isn't it?" Her voice was soft, somber. "Because of my pacts with you and the others?"

As her eyes looked to Lucifer, it was Diavolo that drew her closer. "You were just a reason in a sea of excuses to make a move, my treasure." 

Diavolo's feelings for the human hadn't been sudden, they were steady since he met her. Part of him was drawn by curiosity. She wasn't like Solomon. She was normal outside of her bloodline. 

He'd found excuses to see her, much to Lucifer's enjoyment. Where Diavolo allowed himself to be lost in her affection, their little cafe or study dates where she helped him or accompanied him places, Lucifer had been thrown off by her meddling in his family affairs. 

She'd quickly become important to both of the men. 

The warm embrace had caused her eyes to flutter shut, feeling fingers run through her hair. While Diavolo held her, Lucifer ran his fingers through her soft, sleep mused locks. 

"People like them… they always look for reasons to defy someone trying to keep the peace." Lucifer spoke softly, "Your pacts to myself and my brothers scare them." 

The public didn't think of the fact that they all had willingly bound themselves to the young woman. However, that is what they did. And had Diavolo not been the Prince, Lucifer expected that he would have chosen to make a pact with her as well. 

As the small woman was wrapped up in the embrace of Diavolo, the men were focused outside the window, watching the fires grow closer. 

Their civil war was coming closer, and they'd have to leave her. 

Large warm hands drew her back, earning a confused glance from the woman. When Diavolo cupped her face in his palms, he pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "There are no limits when it comes to you. I'll do anything to keep you safe." He paused, seeing the tears forming in her eyes. 

"We will do anything to keep you safe." Lucifer corrected the man, his fingers brushed her cheek. 

"Why… why does this feel like you're saying goodbye?" Her voice trembled, and the tears began falling, creating warm streams down her cheeks. 

Lucifer had taken her when Diavolo released her. 

"It is not a goodbye. It is a promise." His arms wrapped around her, kissing her forehead. "We will be back. You will be kept safe." Lucifer began walking her towards the bedroom.

"We love you, darling." 

When the door shut, Lucifer put a charm on the door. Only they or Barbados could open it… unless they all fell. 

"Lucifer! Diavolo!" Her voice grew into frantic screams as the men could see the door shaking and hear her small fists pounding on the wood. 

She knew she couldn't help them, but they didn't have to trap her in here. Each hit go the door grew weaker before she was sobbing, "Please…" Her voice was begging. 

"You can hate me for this." Diavolo's voice was low. "I asked Lucifer to do this when you came in." He'd take all of her anger. "I refuse to allow you near the battle. This room will be safe from everything… and it'll be opened when we return." 

The Prince's eyes were hollow as he heard the weak bang of her fist on the door. 

"Let's go. The sooner we clear this. The sooner we can get back." Diavolo turned, his wings out. Eyes locked on the fire before a sneer graced his features. "They want to defy me? They'll earn their damnation."

Lucifer looked to Diavolo, "She has no idea, does she?" His voice was low as his wings were out, his eyes looking at the crowd. Even for demons like them, it was only a handful of demons versus a full riot of demons of all levels.

"That she's carrying my child? No." Diavolo chuckled a bit. "My friend, should anything happen."

"Diavolo, nothing will--"

"Should something happen. I absolve you of your duty to me… and I request that you protect her… and my child. I know you love her as much as I do… but do not let yourselves fall into Grief like you did over Lilith. Help raise my child and live a good life."

"It won't come to that." Lucifer would not allow his friend to perish. Not when they had something so important in their lives. Their little human and the new life growing within her. 

-

Lucifer was hissing low behind his teeth, Devildom was a bloodbath. Blood ran from his hairline down his face, blinding his left eye. He was unsure of how much damage there was. 

His brothers were all as bloodied and exhausted as he was. The feathers upon his wings were burnt, and he wasn't sure if they'd grow back this time. 

Diavolo had fallen. 

The Demon Prince laid bloodied and still. 

Thai wasn't how it was supposed to happen. "You foolish bastard this wasn't supposed to be your end!" Lucifer hissed at Diavolo, somewhere wishing the insult would stir him awake. 

"He isn't dead." Barbados had only been able to influence things so much. He could see all and warp much, but even there was a limit to what he could do. This battle had no favorable outcomes. "However, he will not be awakened for a long time."

The way this battle turned out was the best scenario. 

The Demon King, Diavolo's father, had done something similar. He'd spent a millennium asleep, getting his energy back after the Holy Wars, before he vanished, leaving Diavolo in charge. 

"How long?" Lucifer's voice was tired, weak. 

"Worry about that later. Go to your human." Barbados spoke in a low tone. "I believe if she hears this news from someone else, she'll be far more upset. I'll take the Prince back." Idly Barbados looked around at the carnage. 

Yes. This had been the best outcome. 

Barbados told himself that even when he heard the grief filled sobs from the young woman. 

-

Fingers brushed the sleeping form of the demon, stock still and just barely warm to the touch. They were soft and prodding at his face. 

"You should wake up."

"...And why is that?" When molten eyes open, the child that had climbed up onto the altar bed shrieked, falling backwards.

Still exhausted and in pain had not stopped his fast reflex, catching the child by the shirt.

Hauling the child back onto the uncomfortable Altar, Diavolo sat up. Idly thinking his father must have vanished to avoid this bed.

Bright, familiar eyes gazed at him. The familiar shade mixed with his features and hair made him smile. 

His son was beautiful and everything he had imagined the day he realized his treasure was carrying. 

"Papa said you might not wake up for a long time." His nose wrinkled, "But Barb always said you'd wake up when you would." The pout on the child’s lips reminded him of himself when he was a child.

Diavolo listened, a light smile gracing his features. "How about you show me to your mother and father? Because I believe I was asleep for long enough. 

The child paused, "Momma said you are my dad. But so is Papa." He shrugged, as if the though was too annoying to focus on before he hopped off the bed. "Follow me! But be careful, Henry is being mean again."

Diavolo found his body aching with every step, however he followed the child through the tunnels. Henry, the giant snake, would not bother them, not with the uncontrolled energy still coming off Diavolo.

The palace still looked much the same. His portrait up in the main room, however there was an added image of Lucifer, his Treasure, and the boy in front of him. 

Devildom needed a king while he was gone and Lucifer was a perfect choice. 

"Dia…" A breathless voice called out in surprise. 

Dressed in a comfortable dress, his Treasure was in front of him. A bit older in appearance, stronger in magic… Something he could practically taste. And against her shoulder was a young infant, the gentle motions of her bouncing the baby making him smile. 

"I'm back, my Treasure." To him, she was more beautiful than the day he left her side. 

[apprentice-lex]

Dear anon, thank you for this wonderful ask! <3

Yes, the Courtiers would sever their ties with the Devil. It would be a process, and ultimately, it would happen because the MC gave them a new perspective on humanity. Before they met the MC, it was easier for the courtiers to not care for humanity; the courtiers changed themselves through the deals with the Devil and became immortal, powerful creatures - as years passed, they slowly forgot the woes and sorrows of humanity, it became easier for them to slip into a cold, uncaring mindset regarding these creatures whose lives are so brief and whose woes are so laughable. Especially those courtiers who made those deals to escape and forget said woes themselves. Some of them suffered as humans. Some of them detested their own human weaknesses and the fears that consumed them whole - so they made deals to rise above said fears and pain. And now, the MC enters their lives, and they are slowly made to remember their own humanity. It isn't easy. With the memory of it, the fear and hurt return as well. But being with the MC is worth it. By then, there isn't much the Courtiers would not do for the MC. Immortality and uncaring power of their non-human nature would ultimately part them from the MC forever. So they accept the pain, face the fear, in order to stay at their beloved's side. However, it isn't easy... There is the fear and the pain they forgot... but there is joy too. And all of it is coming back. They need to re-learn so much. (Warnings for alcohol, violence/injuries, blood, and implied self-destructive behavior.)

Valerius

- he's relieved. He's so relieved to be freed; for all his feigned confidence and bluster, Valerius was terrified by the changes he'd undergone.

- he seems more cheerful, more unburdened, more himself. You find yourself invited to accompany him to dances and soirees more often, instead of him just shutting himself in his study and wallowing in self-hatred while he pretends to work.

- there was, however, an incident. He'd forgotten that he no longer possesses the resistances he once did; his human body is simply not as strong.

- you find him slumped over in his chair, face obscured by long, tangled hair, bottles of wine around him half-empty and overturned, rich crimson dripping off the table and soaking into the carpet. When he doesn't respond and doesn't stir, you realize at once what had happened, and rush to get Valdemar.

- Valerius wakes to you holding his hand - and the first thing he does is smile feebly at your worried expression. "You'd care..." he says in a quiet, shaky voice. "Of course I'd care, you foolish, insufferable..." instead of finishing that sentence, you kiss him. And despite his biting humor and disbelief at finding you at his bedside, Valerius kisses you back as if he were a man drowning and you were the very air he was so desperate for; where his words fail, his desperate kisses convey just how much he was afraid to lose you because of his own mistakes.

Valdemar

- human Valdemar is... a handful, to say the least. They've probably been a demon the longest of all the Courtiers, and they forgot so much.

- it's easy enough to anticipate their patients' needs and tend to their ailments. But themself? Oh no. It takes an incident - they collapse in the middle of a surgery - for you to realize something is seriously off. Once they have a blanket wrapped around them and a cup of tea in their hands - the surgery in the capable if less experienced hands of their assistants - it becomes obvious what's wrong. They are exhausted, dehydrated, and starving. Oops, they forgot they were reduced to a flesh vessel, after decades of relying on their supernatural stamina and abilities.

- that's it. You sternly tell them they are now in your care, and surprisingly, Valdemar doesn't protest. You don't dare leave them unattended, so they sit at your side with their blanket and their tea, as they watch you prepare something to eat. It's endlessly fascinating to them. When you place the food in front of them, they have no complaints. They tentatively taste it, only for their eyes to widen in pleased surprise at the taste - regardless of your cooking skill level. They savor every bit of the food and praise you; in truth, they spent so long being nonhuman that every taste and sensation is new to them.

- after, they ask to hold your hand, they marvel at the texture of your skin and how nice it feels. For once, they're not viewing another person as merely a potential experiment. Still, their scientific curiosity remains. Only, now they're approaching commonplace, everyday things with wonder. They marvel at the taste of soup, the softness of a pillow, a butterfly in flight. For once, everything around them is more than just facts and scientific potential - there's sensation and beauty.

- the most wonderful and fascinating thing, however, is still you.

Volta

- the first time she eats and feels sated, you have to hold her in your arms for a while as silent tears of joy and relief stream down her face. She thought she would never know respite from the hunger again.

- she forgets that her limitations are different now that she's human again. So, be prepared to stay at her side while she has to stay in bed with a stomachache, because how was she supposed to remember that eating ten slices of pie would be a bad thing now? She'll whine and complain and ask for cuddles. You can make her a cup of mint and lemon tea to help settle her stomach, and you'll earn her eternal gratitude. But you'll also have to stop her from having a few biscuits with the tea. It's a process...

- she can properly taste things now, not just devour them to sate the yawning emptiness that once plagued the core of her being. And she will be so happy about all the amazing flavors, she'll bring you bites of food at all times, to share the wonderful flavors with you. Her enthusiasm is adorable.

- once she truly realizes she doesn't have her powers anymore, and that you have to rely on each-other more instead of her being able to call on her demonic form, she's terrified. She can't protect you anymore, what if someone harms you? She begs you not to leave the mansion. You have to sit down with her and gently explain to her that it's okay, you were human all this time and nothing happened, humans aren't helpless, and you can protect each-other. Once you reassure her, she is surprisingly fierce, protecting you with all that she is; although now she is just a short, tiny woman with an adorable fearsome glare. Of course, you won't tell her that outright, but you find her confidence both admirable and adorable.

Vlastomil

- the two of you make sure that his transformation, the loss of his powers, happens in the privacy of his chambers, where he can get used to his mortal body away from prying eyes.

- when the supernatural strength and the eternal life drain slowly from him, with the Devil's magic, he is left terrified and trembling, staring down at his shaking hands, looking at them like he's seeing them for the first time. What is this sensation? Cold? He forgot he could feel anything but comfort from it. What is this sound? Is it his heart? It seems so much louder and faster now that it regained its human properties. A thin sheen of sweat forms on his brow, and he swipes it away curiously. So many sensations. Discomfort and hunger and cold, so many things he's so unused to feeling. Completely overwhelmed and despairing, he reaches out to his one source of comfort, reaches to embrace you.

- Oh. How his mortal heart quickens as he wraps you in his arms. How wonderful the warmth of your skin, your sheer presence. How differently your presence feels now - he can no longer sense the blood rushing through your veins, he can no longer sense your bones shift as you move - the things his demonic form could sense. But he can hold you in his arms, in awe of how warm and alive you feel, holding you tightly against him until his mortal heart syncs up with yours.

- he presses a kiss to your forehead and laughs breathlessly, still trembling, tells you that there will be so many things he will have to re-learn, but that he is looking forward to learning how to be human again, with you.

Vulgora

- they... forget, a few times. The first time someone challenges them after their transformation, they rush into battle with no regard for their safety, forgetting they are not immortal, forgetting they can bleed, forgetting that they can feel pain now.

- the first strike that gets through their guard stops them dead in their tracks - rage drained out of them, the expression on their face one of wonder, their eyes wide as they softly touch their fingers to their lips, and their hand comes away bloody. What a curious sensation, pain. Their lapse in concentration is all their enemy needs. For the first time in ages, Vulgora loses. They are beaten practically into bloody pulp; they are lucky nothing was broken.

- they wake to you tending to their wounds, and when their eyes flutter open you see in them humbling realization in place of anger, you see fear. They are mortal. They can bleed. They can die.

- they don't stop. Of course, they heed your advice to be more careful, and they train twice as hard now, to make up for the "shortcomings of mortal flesh." But the realization that they can bleed now, and that they can die doesn't stop them. They'd do both for you, gladly.

[wolfie-dragon-rider]

In Good Hands, a Dragon Prince fic

Summary: AU where Zym doesn't chew off Rayla's binding at the Moon Nexus. With her binding getting tighter and tighter, the group has no choice but to amputate Rayla's hand. Thankfully Callum is determined to make sure Rayla is as comfortable and safe as possible. Mild Rayllum, but can be read platonically. Lotsa angst in this one. 

Length: just under 5k words Rating: T for serious subject matters and graphic injuries Genre: Hurt/comfort, Whumpy angst

A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome to my first Dragon Prince fic! Right now I'm intending this as a one-shot, where Rayla eventually makes a full recovery and is still the badass warrior we know and love even with just one hand. However, depending on how the second season plays out, I might continue this, try to make a sort of Amputee AU for the entire storyline! Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!

Rayla's eyes were wide as she looked at the tiny dragon stumbling towards her. The minute-old creature looked at her face, before turning to her left hand.

The one that was turning black.

The dragon, Zym, reached out its tiny claws to her hand and pulled himself closer, before lowering his jaws to the binding. The Dragon Prince chewed for a few seconds, but the ribbon held fast as it had done against everything else she had tried.

"Oh, it's okay, little one. One miracle is enough for me today," she said, trying not to ignore the tears that sprang in her eyes. She was truly happy that the Dragon Prince was alive and well, and that there was still hope for peace. But she had still climbed the Cursed Caldera with hope of her own, hope that the miracle healer could save her hand.

Zym looked sad, but then he turned back to Ezran and smiled again, hopping away awkwardly on untrained legs. Callum kneeled next to the dragon, hesitantly reaching out his hand.

She didn't want to ruin this happy moment, so she stood up as quietly as she could and walked around the two humans playing with the dragon and went to Lujanne. Maybe this moon mage would know something about cancelling a moonshadow enchantment.

"Uhm… Miss Lujanne? Can I ask you something? You see, I have this… assassin's binding on my wrist, and… eliminating the target of the binding is impossible. Do you know how to undo it?" she asked softly, lifting her left arm to show the older woman.

"Oh no. There is no way to undo it. This is silk grown by the most ancient Earthsoil Elves, and enchanted by elves of every Source. This binding will only release when the target's soul has been released from his or her body. I… I am sorry," Lujanne said. Her eyes shifted between Rayla and the two princes, and she was sure the moon mage knew exactly who the target was.

"H-How long?" Rayla eventually whispered, turning away from the humans. Ellis and Ava had joined the little dragon, though Ellis was looking up at her suspiciously.

"Until it… falls off naturally? Less than a day, I think. It's probably better if the hand is… removed with surgery before then, however. That way the wound-" Lujanne was interrupted by Ezran's shout.

"Look!"

They followed his outstretched finger to see a purple light shooting across the sky in their direction. Rayla reached for her weapon, but before she could grab it the light shattered into dozens of glowing orbs.

"You are being tracked. You should leave this place, now! Take my griffin, she'll fly you to the base of the mountain. I'll use illusions to distract whoever is hunting you. Find a safe place and… amputate that hand. I'm sorry, Rayla, but I can't do it. There's no time," Lujanne said, grabbing one of the floating orbs and examining it.

"But... " Rayla didn't know what to say. She knew Lujanne was right, but she didn't want to leave yet. If she went down there to the world of humans she knew all hope for her hand was lost. But there was no hope up here either.

"I'm sorry for calling you a fake. I wish I had time to study your magic. Callum would love it too. Thank you for helping us," she eventually said as the humans climbed on the griffin. Ava didn't look happy with it, but clung to the feathered neck anyway.

"Rayla, come on! I know a place where we can hide!" Ellis called, and she reluctantly turned away. Callum helped her climb on, gently grabbing her wounded arm and holding her steady when the griffin spread its wings.

"Good luck, and stay out of sight! Rayla will need a few days at least to recover! I'll buy you as much time as I can!" Lujanne called as the griffin took off.

Rayla wanted to feel wonder at the fact that she was flying, that she was riding this incredible creature, but her binding tightened more and she just groaned.

"What was she talking about?" Callum softly asked as Ellis and Ezran whooped and cheered at the flight.

"The binding. It's getting too tight. Lujanne said… she said it's best if we cut off the hand ourselves. Callum, I'll need your help," she whispered, trying to seem strong. Trying to seem like it wasn't bothering her.

"I… I see. I read a few books on anatomy. I'll see what I can do. And we can get that animal doctor from the village, he'll be able to help! He won't tell anyone either! He kept quiet about the egg, after all," he said as the griffin flew low over the trees near the base of the mountain. Ellis was giving it directions.

"Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe he can look at Zym as well. I want to make sure he's completely healthy," she whispered, leaning into Callum a bit more. He was warm and safe somehow.

"There's our logging camp! It's abandoned for the spring, so we can hide here for a while. No one will come here. No winter, no humans!" Ellis said, making Rayla chuckle.

"I heard that one before. But I trust you, Ellis. You're very kind," she said, noticing Callum's expression darkening in the corner of her eye. But before she could ask about it, the griffin landed gently. Ava was the first to jump off, followed by Bait. The kids went next, then Callum, who helped her down with blushing cheeks. She could have climbed down by herself, but it didn't feel insulting right then. Instead she felt… comfortable. Taken care of.

No, these were silly feelings. Feelings she should be having with her family, with Runaan and her parents if they hadn't run away. She had to be strong now. Her hand. She had to focus on that. No time for anything else.

The sun was just coming up when they entered the hut in the center of the logging camp. It contained a few beds, a large table, and some chairs. Rayla noticed a large axe in the corner and gulped. Her own swords weren't suited for the task ahead, but she didn't like the idea of that axe anywhere near her either.

"We need to get the doctor and bring him here. Ellis, how far away is the village?" Callum asked as Ezran sat down on a bed. The little boy was clearly exhausted, and so was Zym. The moment she sat in a chair fatigue gripped her as well. Oh dear, she wasn't sure if she could get up again.

"Not far. A twenty minute walk maybe?" Ava agreed with a happy bark.

"Alright then. Ez, you stay here with Rayla. Keep an eye on Bait and Zym as well. You two need to sleep. Especially you, Ezran, you barely slept last night either! Ellis and I will head into town to get food and the doctor. We'll be back soon," Callum slowly said,

"Callum, wait!" Rayla immediately regretted her outburst. Of course his plan was logical. But for some reason she didn't want him to leave. She didn't want to be alone with Ezran right now. He was the reason she would lose her hand. And although she'd never harm him, she didn't want the boy to feel guilty.

Callum looked at her oddly, and she realized he was expecting her to say more.

"Just… stay safe," she eventually said, and he smiled.

"Of course! You as well. No crazy acrobatics with that arm!" he chuckled, before walking out with Ellis and Ava.

The door shut with a bang, and after that was silence. Rayla turned around to talk to Ezran when she realized he was already asleep. Bait was lying near his chest as usual, but Zym was trying to burrow into that spot as well. The glow toad grumbled, but eventually made room. Ezran's only reaction was some mumbling in his sleep.

Rayla made her way over to the other bed. She had to keep watch over the dragon prince, so of course she wouldn't sleep. She'd just… lie down for a second. Just to rest her legs.

She was gone the moment her head hit the pillow.

"Oh no, it looks like he isn't here!" Ellis said when they found the doctor's stable locked. Callum wondered if it was still too early, the sun had barely come up after all.

"Looking for the animal doctor? That wolf of yours looks fine to me, Ellis!" said an older woman exiting her house next door.

"It's not for Ava. We found a, uhm…" Ellis' voice drifted off, and Callum jumped in.

"I was passing by town when my horse fell sick! Ellis here offered to help me get the animal doctor," he said, chuckling nervously.

"Okay… Well, you just missed Doctor Lake. He had to go to Andrew White's farm, apparently there's an outbreak of cow fever. Not sure when he'll be back," the woman said, and Ava whined sadly.

"Alright, thanks. Uhm, let's see if we can find someone else?" Ellis said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the center of town. Callum was unsure what to do now. An outbreak like that could take the doctor all day, and Rayla didn't have that long.

"Is there any other doctor?" he asked. Ellis frowned.

"There's Mr. Wheelwright, he used to be a medic soldier. But I don't think he'll like Rayla. He reaaaaaally hates Elves," she said, and Callum sighed. A man like that would rat them out in an instant. Then they'd have to flee town again, just like yesterday when that man with the sunforge blade-

Callum's stumbled when he realized it. That blade could cut through anything. Ava barely managed to catch him, pulling him back to his feet with a questioning growl.

If they couldn't use it to cut the ribbon itself, then it should still be perfect for cutting off her hand.

The thought made his stomach turn and sent chills down his spine, but he forced himself to think about it rationally. The blade would cauterize the wound instantly. No risk of infection, no blood loss. It'd be better than him trying to stitch it back up.

"Ellis… Do you remember that man who was showing off his dagger in the square yesterday?" he slowly asked, trying not to reveal too much of what he was planning. This little girl shouldn't have to think about that.

"Sure! He's been staying in the inn for the last couple of days," Ellis said, clearly confused by the question.

"I need that dagger. Rayla needs that dagger. Do you think we can… steal it?" he whispered, looking around for any eavesdroppers.

"I doubt the innkeeper would let us go into his room," she sighed.

"Maybe we can find a back door or something," Callum said, trying not to let his nervousness show. Just a few days ago he would never have considered stealing from a stranger like this, but they had no choice. If he tried this surgery himself without it, Rayla might-

He couldn't finish that thought. No, that couldn't happen. Too much depended on them. Rayla had to be with them when they return the Dragon Prince, and if she had to recover for who knows how long, if she'd even recover at all… All out war might break out. Callum didn't want to think about how many people would die if that happened.

Ellis looked a little unsure, but she might have been stopped by his harsh exterior to question this. A minute later they arrived at the large inn, and Callum looked around the building.

"Do you know in which room he's staying?" he eventually asked. The streets were still deserted, so he wasn't too worried about guards.

"I think he's in the best room. It's around the back, on the upper floor. He's spending his money pretty quickly," Ellis said, gesturing at an alley next to the inn. They walked in there and went around to the rear of the building. There was a large gate, and based on the smell Callum assumed it led to a small stable for the travellers' horses. Ava barked, leading to Ellis quickly shushing her when the horses winnoughed loudly.

"If we had Ezran here he could talk to the horses and have them tell us what's happening inside," Callum chuckled.

"Ava doesn't get along with horses very well," Ellis said, before pointing up. "There's an open window there. I think that might be the big room dagger guy is staying in."

"I guess I'll have to climb up. Can Ava give me a boost? You should stay here on watch," Callum said, trying not to show his nervousness. That man was a trained soldier, what would he do to some stranger in his room stealing his stuff?

Still, he couldn't let that stop him. So he awkwardly climbed on top of the large wolf and pulled himself up to the windowsill. He held his breath as he peeked inside. The only movement was on the bed, where the man was lying under what looked like a mountain of blankets. It slowly moved up and down with his breathing. Callum pulled himself up a little higher, and spotted the sheathed dagger among a pile of clothes.

The muscles in his arms burned with the effort of climbing through the window, and his right hand buckled as he tried to get his foot on the windowsill. He all but rolled inside with a loud bump. Time seemed to freeze as his eyes locked on to the sleeping figure, but his soft snores continued.

Callum forced himself to crawl forward, keeping one eye on the soldier and the other on the scabbard. His sketchbook swung awkwardly at his side, but he didn't dare to adjust it.

Just as he grabbed the scabbard the man mumbled something, and before he even thought about it Callum had drawn the dagger, pointing it towards the bed. The soldier just turned over again, apparently not noticing the heat of the sunforge metal under his blankets. Callum could feel sweat drip down his fingers. How much was from the heat and how much from nerves he didn't know.

Finally Callum lowered the weapon and carefully put it back in the sheath. His hand instantly cooled, and he forced himself to move back to the window.

As he crawled back he thought about what just happened. Had he been prepared to kill that man? A person he didn't know, who had committed no crime? Callum didn't want to think about what he would have done if the man woke up. Would Rayla have done it? He liked to think so, but she had admitted she couldn't kill the guard outside the castle that fateful day.

Ellis was yawning when he poked his head out the window, and he quickly climbed back out. Halfway down he slipped and fell in the snowy mud. The dagger fell next to him, thankfully not leaving the scabbard.

"Let's go back to Rayla and Ezran before anyone sees us," he told her as he put the scabbard in his backpack. As they left the town, he wondered if he was a wanted criminal now. Maybe when this was all over he could return the dagger. But right now, Rayla needed it.

Rayla woke up to a slamming door and a wolf licking her face. She tried to raise her arm to push the animal away, but pain shot through her when the hand moved. The burning sensation woke her instantly, and everything from the past few days raced through her head.

Oh great moon, she was going to lose her hand. She sat up, groaning in pain at every move her left arm made. The hand was almost completely black now, and it tingled like she had been sleeping on it. Everything in her wrist hurt, and she could see the blackness spreading down her arm.

Rationally, she knew what was happening. The blood vessels were closed up by the tightening binding, so the blood was stuck on either side. With no fresh blood flowing in, the muscles and skin would die.

But every time she tried to think about that her mind went blank, like it couldn't accept that. All she could do was stare in horror at her black fingers.

"Rayla. Rayla! Can you hear me!"

She jumped, suddenly realizing Callum was talking to her. He looked awful. His hair was greasy and matted, and his eyes were bloodshot and weary. But she could still see something in his expression that made her want to trust him with this.

"Sorry, I just… still tired, I guess. Did you get the doctor?" she asked. Callum sighed and sat down next to her on the bed. Ava and Ellis were talking to Ezran, who was still lying in his bed. Meanwhile Bait grumbled, squirming out of the boy's grasp and making his way to the dirty floor to catch some bugs.

"He wasn't there. Had to go to some distant farm, and he won't be back until tonight probably. So it looks like it's just us. But… I got this. It should make things easier," Callum said, taking something from his bag. It took her tired brain a minute to recognize it.

The sunforge blade? But�� How? Did you-" Callum shook his head.

"Don't think about that. It'll all be fine. We'll return it when we don't need it anymore."

Rayla wanted to argue, tell him it was wrong to steal from a random stranger, but then she saw the look in his eyes. They were filled with shame. And suddenly she knew he already agreed it was wrong.

But he had still done it. For her? For an elf he met just a few days ago?

No, of course it wasn't like that. It was about the mission. She had told him just two days ago, the gesture was all that mattered. A Moonshadow Elf, a daughter of the Dragon Guard, returning the Dragon Prince to Xadia along with the human princes. If she couldn't make it back, the entire world could plunge into open warfare.

That's why she had to do this as well. She let the world down before, she couldn't do that again.

"Well then… No time like the present, I suppose," she whispered, briefly glancing at Ezran before looking away again. Slowly, on trembling legs, she stood up and walked towards the children.

"You two should go to the village again. We'll need food, and the doctor will need to come here as soon as possible. You won't attract much attention. Take Bait and Ava. We'll look after Zym," she said, trying not to let the gravity of the situation show. Ellis looked confused, but Ezran seemed to understand somehow.

"Alright! Let's see if they have jelly tarts!" he shouted as he jumped to his feet.

"Here's some money. Be careful spending it, okay? Only get what we really need," Callum said, apparently catching on to her plan. "That means no expensive jelly tarts. Get some bread, vegetables, dried meat. And… see if you can find a pharmacist who sells pain medicine. Just… Just in case."

Ezran frowned, clearly catching on to who that would be for. Rayla wanted to argue, insist she wouldn't need it. She could fight through the pain.

But in that moment she didn't dare. Memories flashed through her mind of an old neighbor who had lost a leg. He sometimes groaned and screamed in his sleep from the pain, even years after the accident.

"It's okay to be afraid of things," she remembered Ezran's voice clearly saying that. Maybe the little boy was right.

Either way, she didn't have much choice right now.

"Alright, we'll go! We'll be back with the doctor!" Ellis said, and the two kids ran towards the door. However, Ezran hesitated before going outside.

"Are you… sure it's gonna be okay?" he asked, voice so soft she could barely hear it. It was so unlike the bubbly optimist she was used to, and she realized he was scared too. Maybe he felt guilty.

Before she could answer, Callum walked over and kneeled next to his brother. They had a conversation that Rayla didn't hear, though she caught something about guilt.

Ezran eventually wiped at his eyes and ran out. Callum sighed deeply, and the little dragon looked very confused. Zym quickly cheered up when he saw her, though, and he awkwardly waddled over to lie next to her.

"I just didn't want them to see this. They're too young. Especially Ezran, I don't want him to feel like this is happening because of him," she eventually said when the silence became unbearable, and Callum nodded.

"I figured. It will be difficult for Ezran, I think. But he'll understand eventually. I think he'll be okay," he said with a forced smile. It disappeared when his eyes fell on her hand again.

"So… I think you're gonna have to talk me through this. Although swordfighting was part of being a prince, battlefield medicine is not," he said, chuckling awkwardly, and she blushed. There was her dorky Callum again. Despite the pain she couldn't help but smile.

"Alright, I'll do my best. Though I seem to be the teacher all the time. How about after… all of this, you teach me something? Maybe drawing? I always wanted to draw," she said, unsure why she was talking about silly stuff at a time like this.

"Heh, I'll do my best. Maybe I can teach you sign language as well, it's really useful and cool. Then you can talk directly with my Aunt Amaya. I think she'd like you if you two met on better terms," he said quickly, before turning bright red all of a sudden.

"I mean, it's gonna be harder with just one hand, and even if that wasn't the issue the four fingers would still complicate matters, but… we can try," he rambled, clearly nervous, and she avoided his gaze.

"Thanks. I'd like that. Really," she whispered, before sitting down at the table.

"Soooooo… How are we going to do this? Should you be lying down, or sitting, or... " Callum asked, grabbing the scabbard and fiddling with it.

"We should prepare some stuff first. Clean towels, disinfectant. I guess the sunforge blade does simplify things a lot. I'll… I'll sit down here and put my arm on the table like this. That way I won't have to look," Rayla said slowly, trying to stay calm and remember her training.

"Okay. Towels and disinfectant. I can do that," Callum said, running around the room to check all the cupboards.

"There's some cloth in here. A bit dusty but otherwise clean. And I found a bottle of whiskey, I guess that's the best disinfectant we're gonna have," he eventually said while she tried to take off her left glove with one hand.

"Let me help with that," he suddenly appeared next to her, and she jumped a little. With oh so gentle hands he grabbed the cloth and pulled it around the black numb fingers. His fingers were trembling slightly.

"I'll cook some water to clean the towels. Should be easy with the dagger," he said after they got the glove off. Well, it was off up to the binding. That damn binding. Callum filled a metal bucket with snow and carefully put the dagger in it. It instantly began hissing and melting, and Rayla hoped the bucket itself wouldn't melt.

"You're gonna have to cut right here," she said, flinching when she ran her good hand over a specific line next to the binding. "That'll keep the bones intact and separated. At least until the doctor gets here. The blade will cauterize the wound, but you should still cover it with the towels,"

"Ooookay… right there. I'd draw a line if I could see my charcoal on this," he chuckled, though she could see the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"I trust you with this, Callum," Rayla whispered while he cleaned the towels in the boiling water. Even though she couldn't see him from her seat, she could sense him tense up.

"Thanks. I guess? I'll do my best," he said awkwardly, and it made her smile.

"I know it must have been hard to give up that Primal Stone. But… You're still amazing, even without it. I'm sure you'll be a truly great mage one day. You'll be able to study under the greatest masters of Xadia," she said.

"Thanks. That means a lot. And… And I know you'll still be a great warrior, and climber and runner and everything, even after… this," he said, before walking around the table again and pouring the whiskey over the towels. She didn't answer. It was suddenly too real, too close. All she could do was stare as Callum laid out his limited tools next to her arm. The towels and alcohol, the dagger in its scabbard. Its glow contrasted starkly with her dull dead hand.

"Ready?" he eventually asked with a deep sigh, unsheathing the dagger. Rayla gulped.

"I'm scared."

It tumbled from her lips before she could stop it, and her head dropped. She couldn't face Callum like this.

"So am I. But today is a day for miracles. You can do this, Rayla. I believe in you. And… if you believe in me, then that's all I need to attempt this," he said, and she slowly looked back up in his eyes. There was fear there, but also something else. It was how he looked when doing magic.

"I'm glad you're with me. I'm ready. I think," she said, putting her arm flat on the table and looking away. She heard Callum's rapid breathing as he positioned the dagger.

"Here, right?" he asked. She didn't want to look. She just wanted to pretend this wasn't happening, that she was back home with her parents and Runaan without even a thought of becoming an assassin.

But that wasn't possible. She had to be strong now. So she looked down and tried not to become sick at the sight of the dagger hovering over her wrist.

"A little closer to the binding. Yeah, like that," she said, before turning away again and closing her eyes.

"Slow or fast?"

"Fast, but… but keep it in place for a second when you're… through. So it can cauterize."

She tried to think of a lullaby her mother used to sing for her. That one always calmed her.

Yes, little girl, the Moon is black

But in a few nights its light will be back

Until then the Stars will shine at night

And the Sun will always be daytime's knight

The Earth is steady and the Sea is calm

And the Sky makes sure everyone is warm

So each Source keeps us safe and sound

The magic always going round.

Rayla sang it in her head, silently wishing for her mom to hold her as she sensed Callum preparing to cut. A tear ran down her cheek.

Then the blade dropped and all thought left her brain.

She screamed. She screamed harder than she ever had in her life. Her arm bucked, and Callum grabbed it with strength she didn't know he had. Her wrist, her stump was pushed against the blade and she could feel every nerve in her arm on fire.

Then came a different fire. She couldn't think about what it was, all she could do was scream and cry and beg for the pain to stop.

It didn't stop, even when her throat was hoarse and her face wet with tears. Her vision was blurry, and she could barely think. She looked down and caught a glimpse of something black and red, and she immediately squeezed her eyes shut.

"I'm sorry Rayla. I'm sorry. It's over now. Just rest," Callum's words sounded muffled, like she was underwater.

"Is it off?" she asked through a raw throat.

"It is. I cut where you told me to. Didn't go through any bones. And it's disinfected and bandaged now."

Callum's words didn't make much sense to her numb brain. She just wanted to lie down and never move again.

"Let's get you to the bed," he said, standing up and moving to support her. In retrospect, he basically carried her. Her legs wouldn't support her weight, and she doubted she could have kept her balance. The room span around her.

She fell into soft blankets and pillows, and the pain didn't seem as bad in this soft bed. A chirping sound reached her ears as Callum pulled blankets over her. Though her vision was still blurry she recognized the little dragon who was moving right next to her arm. Then she looked up at Callum.

"I'll just clean this up and get you some water," he said, turning away, and suddenly her right hand flew out and grabbed his wrist.

"Don't go. Please don't go," she whispered, and he looked frozen for a bit.

"Alright, I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here," he eventually said, sitting down next to her and grabbing her hand in his. Her remaining hand. The thought made her stomach turn, but feeling Callum's warm hand somehow made it easier to ignore.

"Thank you," she managed to whisper before falling into an uneasy sleep. In her dreams she saw her parents again in their little Moon village, but Callum and Ezran were there too. Her left hand was completely white, but it still felt warm in Callum's soft grasp.

[gionamim]

BRIANNE TJU,  CISFEMALE, SHE/HER.  —  looks  like GIONA MIM is  attending   AURORIA UNIVERSITY  in  auradon.  they’re  the  NINETEEN  year  old  child  of MADAM MIM,  which  means  they’re  from  THE ISLE OF THE LOST.  heard  they’re  SOCIABLE  &  LOYAL,  but  can  also  be  RECKLESS  &  FORLORN  ;  we all have our bad days.  people  normally  associate  them  with  LETTING MUSIC LEAD YOUR BODY , MUSHING A PIE ONTO SOMEONE’S FACE , STOMPING AROUND IN BOOTS TOO BIG TO FEEL POWERFUL ,  CLOSING THE DOOR SO NO ONE SEES YOU WISHING ON A STAR —  

hello hello !!! it took me way too long to plan this child but now that she’s here im so excited for her !! pls if u like cabaret, magic, baking, and bitching, then step right up !!!

[ PROFILE ]

NAME: giona giulietta mim

NICKNAMES: gg

AGE: 19 

HEIGHT: 5′1″ (smol)

BDAY: november 2 ( scorpio! )

BIRTHPLACE: camelot

DEATHPLACE: .....camelot

FEATURES TO NOTE:

vk colours: pink and green and black

tattoos of constellations dotted and lined on her left calf: the lyra, and scorpio

dotted by herself

she has no pulse, no heartbeat

she doesn’t bleed

body temperature is cold

her skin heals quicker than average, if damaged

DOESN’T LOOK ‘DEAD’ (no dead skin, no disconnecting limbs)

she actually looks pretty perfect lol thats the star in her heart ayyy

when she’s truly happy*, she glows (like a halo around her head)

*truly happy = well ..... it’s a case-by-case basis

ON THE ISLE: it wouldn’t have been a full halo ... just more like a sparkle in her eye 

[ BACKGROUND/ SUMMARY AT THE END OF THIS SECTION  ]

madam mim has always been an average witch, but the way she gains excessive power momentarily is by eating the hearts of other witches, wizards, and magical creatures. this was how she fought merlin, way back when. and when she was defeated, she was furious, distraught, ashamed, embarrassed, but mainly furious

she spent years trying to find the perfect heart to consume, the one that would give her the ultimate power to defeat merlin once and for all (petty bitch)

she REALLLYYYY just hated losing and its SO PETTY BUT SHE LETS IT DRIVE THE REST OF HER DAMN LIFE

and it took her years and years. TOO LONG, in fact. because by the time she found one, the creation of the isle of the lost had been found, and she was running out of time.

she figured out that the way to beat merlin was to use his own tools against him: LOVE, BELIEF, GOODNESS. and she was losing power, so there were no pure hearts to be found easily (though snow white had plenty of children, they were too heavily guarded), so she sought other means. 

she studied the lore of stars. she charted, planned, and waited for the next fallen star. it is said that if you were to consume the essence of a star, you would be filled with the purest magic of all, an everlasting, and sustaining magic. 

a week before she’s meant to be thrown into the isle, she finds a star. 

but it’s not all she thought it would be. the essence of the star was so pure, it was fading in her evil hands. in its raw form, it refused to be consumed, let alone touched, by her. so she wrapped it up in a cloth (its light already fading slowly), and scurried away, seeking another way to keep the star and ultimately eat it. 

bear in mind this is all just to defeat merlin 

she experiments quickly, using millifractions of the star and testing it on different creatures: she finds out that if she chooses the little woodland creatures and let them eat the heart -- and she eats their hearts...she’s awashed with the intense magic. 

but how to find a large enough heart that will stay alive all these years in the isle? she decides to find her child. the child she abandoned decades ago, the one where she can’t even remember where she left it. 1 year old, wandering the woods, died in the cold of winter. but she knows where it would have gone -- to the land of the dead.

and there, she finds a wizened old skeleton (elder gutknecht) telling her that she simply cannot take the dead out as she pleases -- but madam mim uses the last of her magic to find a way and now she finally has a capsule in which to keep the essence of the star

she keeps it in her daughter’s heart. and as soon as it is in there, the girl comes back to life -- well, an almost-life. she has no blood rushing through her veins, no heartbeat. she doesn’t feel pain or exhaustion as a living girl does. 

on the isle, mim begins a MIM’S MUSICALE -- a cabaret show and dinner theatre. giona is the cleaner and the waitress, as soon as she was old enough to carry a tray of food and a mop&bucket. it helps when your child’s half-dead and somehow seems more energetic at night. 

this is where mim’s ego truly thrives bc even tho she’s lost her shapeshifting powers, its still like 7 nights a week, ppl going to HER place to watch HER perform (like they have a choice lmao)

probably gives herself awards

fast forward to 12 yrs old: mim is settling into isle life but still impatient for when she and the other villains can break out. she hears giona singing while washing the dishes from the night before. the girl can sing. and, yes she was losing patrons bc mim’s performances are just too abstract for ppl to like (clearly). so she forces giona to become the new act. makes her perform, sing, dance, every night. 

mim almost forgets that there’s a star in this girl’s heart. she almost forgets, until she sees those small moments when giona’s in the kitchen, when she thinks mim can’t see her; baking a small cupcake from whatever ingredients she could find, and though there’s no magic allowed on the isle ... there is still something unnaturally bright about that girl. and she hates her for it. 

this ‘goodness’ and ‘purity’ thing is very merlin-y and she HAAAAATES THAT

HATES SUNLIGHT, HATES BRIGHTNESS, HATE, HATE, HATE!!!

BLACK SORCERY IS IN !!! MERLIN IS OUT !!!!!

so she works giona to death (sort of). and tells her she’s ugly. and bullies her into low self-esteem. 

16 years old: mim is getting more restless about being trapped in the isle. she decides to take action again. she begins to teach giona the mim magic, which is hexes and jinxes and shapeshifting, and ofc, a hatred for merlin. 

but by this time, giona’s made up her own mind about her life. and she won’t let her mother live it. 

SUMMARY: giona was dead and brought back to life with star-essence that mim put inside her heart, so she will eat the heart when giona breaks her out of the isle and then she’ll use that star magic to destroy merlin and be considered the greatest sorceror once and for all mwahahahaha. also the star thing is a complete secret, mim hasn’t told ANYONE and giona has no clue about the glowy thing.

WHAT CLOSE FRIENDS OF GIONA WOULD KNOW:

she has no heartbeat, her body is sort of cold, doesn’t bleed, doesn’t need as much sleep

probably if they’re the kind of friends that like ... are genuinely good for each other lmao, they probably saw a bit of giona’s ‘glow’ when she’s truly happy

[ PERSONALITY ]

100 bad bitches can’t tell me nothin’

still a sort of mini-mim because giona also has a very short temper and is prone to just .... never letting things go lmao 

hates her mother: found out at a young age that actually, she’s not ugly, and she’s not stupid and she starts to drown out mim’s nagging and bullying

but still, in the middle of the night (bc for some reason she feels more active at night and cant sleep), she hears her mother’s voice in her head and cries herself to sleep

loves music & shows & plays & acting & performing:  but hates being forced by her mother to do everything. she hates being forced to sing by someone, she hates being told what to do

hate hate hate !!!!

loves to bake: little cupcakes and muffins and baked goods, and cookies ofc, and bread, she loves to make all kinds of bread and pastries. at least, that’s the dream. on the isle, she’d be lucky if she could find clean flour. so far, she’s only made cookies and tiny cupcakes.

these foods are only reserved for her friends, and they are all SWORN to secrecy that they will never tell her mother

loyal to a fault: once she feels she can trust you, she will never let u go. it’s ride or die. growing up with a mother hell-bent on hating her, she began to appreciate the few friends she made on the isle, and will do absolutely anything for them

still tho she’s like ..... she’s a bitch first and a friend later 

loud as hell and speaks her mind and would probably get a tattoo that says NO RAGRETS.

loves magic: CAN’T WAIT TO USE HER POWERS AND TURN INTO ??? A BIRD ???

doesn’t know anything about her heart: all she knows is that her mother tells her to keep herself safe, otherwise all that “business of trying to bring you back to life will be for nothing”. 

so yeah, she knows she was dead. but she just believes her mother used necromancy to bring her back, and it clearly didn’t work the whole way because she’s not fully alive

but you wouldn’t even know it unless you tried to find a heartbeat

[ how they feel about heroes/villains ]

giona only hates one thing for sure that is her mother lmao

merlin ???? will be fun to see but like otherwise doesnt give two shits, will probably praise him and send him a cupcake to thank him for defeating her mum

operates on a “if you mess with me, i will mess with you back” basis

doesn’t want to join any squads that plan to ‘ruin auradon’ because to her its just hakuna matata bro let it go why can’t you just be happy we’re actually here ?? lets fuckin run away !!!

[ CONNECTYONS ]

from the isle:

VKs who regularly came to MIM’S MUSICALE and saw her perform! she will hate the reminder ty 

MIM probably also hired a few weekly performers, ppl who performed once a night so if ur muse was a performer on the isle pls hmu !!!! 

VK friends that giona met and has them try her tiny baked goods 

they must love the cupcakes and cookies OR ELSE >:(

now in auradon:

those who know magic, who would investigate/recognise why she glows when she’s ‘truly happy’ and tell her that she’s a STAR and that her mother is probably planning to EAT HER

DEAD PEOPLE TO BOND WITH OVER BEING DEAD 

women/nb to squad up with and go shopping with and basically pls give her a girl squad she will fight anyone for you and you can do each other’s nails and just MAKE HER TRULY HAPPY W REAL FRIENDS AAHHH

someone to show her the kitchens :0 and take her grocery shopping :0

MAGIC PPL TO TEST-DRIVE MAGIC WITH. i’m talking fun duels, and pranking people pls.

musicals ?? to join ??? where she can finally play the roles she wants to play, and sing the songs she wants to sing ??? amazin

[ MAD MIM MAGIC ]

shapeshifts into any animal !

shapeshifts their size ! can be teeny-tiny or gigantic

shapeshifts their features to look a little different ??? like can look hideous, or more beautiful, or taller, or with bigger ears -- but can’t change into a whole other person

potions and hexes and jinxes take more concentration, but she can do it

[ NOTES / STAR THINGS ]

oKAY SO !!!!

the star part is greatly inspired by Stardust, the movie, especially the part about her glowing when she’s truly happy

mim is essentially growing her child to one day be able to eat her heart, gain the infinite powers, and defeat merlin

but since giona is the star (over the years, the star became a part of her heart), rather than someone who consumed it, the magic works differently for her. so she glows, and she heals easily, and she is awake more at night. with giona, the star ecomes a way of being rather than a power-source.

if her heart were to be taken out, she would go back to being dead, with no hope of a second life as an undead or zombie, because the star is the only life giona actually has. once it is gone, she is nothing.

giona can still do all of madam mim’s typical magic ! shapeshifting is the big one, and her thing is pink-green coloured animals. 

[jadevndrmr]

JADE  VANDERMEER  2.0

 [  a  short  update  /  revamp  /  recap !  ]

first  things  first :

original  bio  for  your  ( optional )  perusal !  

i  decided  it  would  be  a  bit  long-winded  to  reword  it  over  bc  it  was  already  so  long  and  ramble-y  so  i’m  linking  it  and  then  just  using  this  post  to  explain  the  changes  made  to  her  instead  bc  as  u  know  i  am  very  lazy  :-)

aspects  which  remain :

her  parents   having  a  hella  turbulent  relationship  —  characterized  by  her  dad’s  ongoing  cheating  on  her  mum  and  eventually  moving  away  to  be  with  his  new  girlfriend  and  filing  for  divorce

jade’s  dream  of  becoming  a  musician  being  her  biggest  dream  in  life  and  being  prominent  at  the  forefront  of  her  mind  since  she  was  a  young  child

jade  being  theo’s  first  proper  friend  when  she  moved  to  hitheside  and  slowly  falling  in  love  with  her  from  that  point

jade’s  relationship  with  theo :

jade  fell  in  love  hard  and  fast.  she’d  had  crushes  before  on  people  at  school,  but  this  was  different.  at  some  point,  she  realized  that  when  her  heart  raced  around  the  other,  it  wasn’t  just  out  of  platonic  admiration.  when  she  found  out  the  feelings  were  mutual,  that  was  it.  jade  was  besotted.  they  were  still  young  and  maybe  she  was  naive,  but  jade  came  to  feel  like  theo  was  the  person  she  wanted  to  spend  her  life  with

but  when  jade  was  faced  with  the  decision  to  move  to  london,  she  knew  theo  wouldn’t  want  to  leave  hitheside  behind  and  go  with  her.  she  broke  things  off  hap-hazardly  and  impulsively,  without  even  considering  the  option  of  trying  the  whole  long  distance  thing.  her  dreams  were  calling  her,  and  she  wanted  to  answer,  without  anyone  affecting  that  decision

changes  regarding  her  reasons  to  move :

instead  of  moving  to  london  as  a  result  of  her  parent’s  split  and  her  mum  telling  her  to  go  with  her  dad  for  financial  stability  and  opportunities,  she  moved  a  little  later  in  life  ( aged  21 )  and  not  with  her  dad

at  seventeen,  while  studying  music  at  sixth  form  college,  jade  befriended  a  certain  archie  mcdonald  —  easily  one  of  the  best  performers  in  the  whole  college.  he  was  quite  crass  and   overbearingly  confident,  but  he  took  a  shine  to  jade  because  her  level  of  passion  about  music  seemed  to  match  his.  it  wasn’t  long  before  he  asked  her  to  join  a  band  he  had  started  with  his  sister,  layla,  and  their  childhood  friend,  hugo  moore.  they  were  calling  themselves  lost  oddity,  and  they  sounded  pretty  good—  perfect,  actually.  they  just  needed  a  guitarist.  jade,  confident  that  she  could  manage  her  time  between  both  this  new  band  and  the  silk  slips,  agreed  to  join

this  band  would  end  up  becoming  the  most  exciting  thing  in  jade’s  life,  when  archie  informed  her  that  he  had  a  few  connections  down  in  london  and  claimed  someone  was  interested  in  signing  the  band.  it  all  seemed  too  good  to  pass  up,  and  before  she  even  realized  it,  jade  was  impulsively  leaving  her  life  in  hitheside  behind  to  chase  her  dreams  of  making  it  into  the  limelight

jade’s  life  in  london :

the  band’s  first  few  months  in  london  was  the  most  enthralling  time  of  jade’s  life.  the  new  up-and-coming  producer  that  archie  knew,  had  a  lot  of  power  to  help  the  band  get  their  feet  in  the  door.  for  a  while,  things  were  so  exciting  that  there  was  more  than  enough  going  on  to  help  jade  take  her  mind  off  of  the  break-up.  lost  oddity  got  their  name  on  the  line-up  for  quite  a  few  important  music  events  around  london,  and  wrote  a  lot  of  new  music  out  of  their  tiny  shared  flat  in  camden.  it  was  a  magical  time,  that  first  six  months.  really  felt  like  something  was  going  to  happen

after  that,  it  felt  like  jade’s  life  began  to  flit  erratically  back  and  forth  between  good  and  bad.  it  began  with  her  entering  into  a  bit  of  a  rebound  relationship  with  archie,  to  curb  the  regret  she  was  starting  to  feel  about  leaving  theo  behind.  archie  quickly  proved  he  was  a  good  bandmate  and  an  alright  friend,  but  a  pretty  terrible  boyfriend.  their  on-off,  toxic  relationship  made  things  a  little  awkward,  but  they  challenged  the  chaotic  energy  into  their  music  and  were  starting  to  get  noticed  by  labels.  an  exec  from  jukebox  records  attended  one  of  their  gigs  around  this  point,  and  was  looking  to  sign  them.  he  contracted  them  to  a  year-long  trial  period  to  see  what  they  could  whip  up  in  that  time.  what  buzz  they  could  create  surrounding  them.  whether  or  not  they  had  what  it  took  to  make  lost  oddity  a  big  name  in  music.

fast-forward  to  the  band  achieving  some  modest  radio  play  and  starting  to  headline  small  venues  around  london.  a  consequence  of  this  was  her  bandmates  getting  way  too  big  for  their  boots,  especially  archie,  who  developed  a  taste  for  the  rockstar  lifestyle  far  too  prematurely.  every  other  weekend  he  was  dragging  the  band  out  to  club  after  club  after  bar  after  bar,  developing  dodgy  habits  and  unstable  behaviours,  rocking  up  late  to  band  rehearsals  and  ending  up  drunk  whenever  he  was  about  to  step  into  the  recording  studio.  then,  in  the  summer  of  2020,  their  permanent  contract  was  so  close  jade  could  almost  taste  it,  when  suddenly  it  was  pulled  out  from  under  her  feet.  with  just  one  month  left  of  the  trial  period,  they  were  dropped  by  the  label.  thanks  a  lot,  arch.

devastated,  jade  gave  up  on  the  band  and  tried  everything  she  could  to  make  it  another  way.  she  tried  to  start  a  new  band,  tried  to  stick  it  out  but  all  too  quickly  she  started  to  feel  like  london  was  swallowing  her  whole.  after  a  few  exhausting  months  of  giving  it  one  last  try,  she  gave  up.  the  new  year’s  eve  celebration  she  attended  was  the  last  bit  of  fun  jade  remembers  having  before  moving  back  to  hitheside  in  mid-january.

jade  2k21 edition,  featuring  theo :

jade  has  returned  to  hitheside  burning  with  curiosity  about  theo.  she  understood  the  other’s  decision  to  block  her  on  socials  following  the  breakup,  but  could  never  understand  her  secrecy  about  her  life  even  when  they  re-established  contact.  she  would  never  tell  jade  much  of  anything  going  on  with  her  life  back  in  hitheside,  and  it  left  jade  wondering  what  she’d  spent  the  past  two  years  doing.

she’s  moving  back  with  an  intention  on  getting  her  loudhouse  dj  job  back,  and  maybe  seeing  how  the  girls  feel  about  reforming  the  silk  slips.  she’ll  be  moving  into  the  spare  room  at  her  mum’s  flat  until  she  finds  a  job  and  can  get  a  place  of  her  own.

to  answer  the  question  i’m  sure  is  on  everybody’s  lips  in  hitheside:  no,  she  never  got  over  theo.  and  she’s  in  for  the  shock  of  her  life,  i’m  sure !!!!!!

[goddessjuliawicker]

WICKOFF

So, this was also requested by @margo-the-destroyer. So, I guess I gotta. Also, I’m glad I gotta.

·        who hogs the duvet

 Julia.But it’s completely by accident. See, Kady gets hot at night and kicks theblankets off, leaving Julia to cuddle in them and wrap them around herself.Then she wakes up, cold, and has to tangle Julia so that she can have blankets.

 ·        who texts/rings to check how their day is going

 Kady.She texts to make sure that Julia has eaten and is doing alright because Juliagets really involved with whatever she’s doing. She gets really into it andtends to forget about things like food and sleep and everything else. So, Kadytexts and checks on her every couple of hours.

 ·        who’s the most creative when it comes to gifts

 Kady.Julia is really good at finding practical gifts and things that match people’sinterest. Kady is good at finding weird shit. She’s good at finding that thingthat you didn’t know you needed but the second you say it it was everything. Like,Julia would get you a first edition book from your favourite series, Kady foundyou a sword cane.

 ·        who gets up first in the morning

 Julia.Even if she’s the last one in bed at night she’s the first one up in themorning. She’s got shit to do and sleeping takes up too much time. By the timeKady wakes up the coffee is already made, Julia is already showered and gettingon with the day. Kady likes her sleep and can occasionally get Julia to sleepin a little bit, sometimes hugging her tight in the morning and not letting herget out of bed.

  ·        who suggests new things in bed

 Kady.There’s a lot she wants to try and a lot of things that Julia wants to try.Kady only knows what Julia wants because Julia will ‘accidentally’ leave upwebpages of different positions or toys for Kady to see. So then Kady is theone to bring it up because she knows Julia never will.

  ·        who cries at movies

 Itdepends on the movie. Julia cries when the dog dies in movies and during movieswhere someone passes away after a long battle with illness. She also happycries at the end of animated movies and hopes that no one notices. Kady criesduring romantic movies and tries to hide it or makes up an excuse to go to thebathroom so Julia doesn’t see her tearing up.

  ·        who gives unprompted massages

 Kady.When Julia is reading or working Kady comes up behind her and starts rubbingher shoulders until she relaxes. These are usually quickly little massages but if Julia is really tense and hasn’tbeen sleeping well they can turn into full body massages that end with Juliaasleep and finally relaxed.

 ·        who fusses over the other when they’re sick

 Julia.Kady assumes people want to be left alone when they’re sick and, also, shedoesn’t want to catch whatever someone else has. She’ll be there, but she’s notgreat with illness. So, she avoids sick people at all costs. Julia makes soupand checks temperatures and makes sure Kady doesn’t need a doctor. She makessure Kady takes the proper dose of medicine (as Kady will occasionally justdrink half a bottle of cold medicine and declare herself to be fine.).

 ·        who gets jealous easiest

Kady.She’s always worried that Julia will somehow be taken away from her or that she’snot good enough for Julia. Julia has nice things, she’s brilliant, she couldhave basically anyone. Kady sometimes thinks that Julia is only with herbecause of their circumstances. That Julia feels like she has to be. She’s veryjealous and protective over Julia.

 ·        who has the most embarrassing taste in music

 Kady.One of her secret favourite artists is Kelly Clarkson. She watched AmericanIdol in a hotel room they lived in when she was younger and she just got kindof attached. She liked Kelly’s story and her music and she still listens to herwhen she’s having a bad day.

 ·        who collects something unusual

 Julia.It’s insects. It started when she was younger. She has shadow boxes ofdelicately places and labelled insects and arachnids. Kady thinks it’s a  bit creepy but she supports Julia,occasionally bringing her strange insects she’s found for her collection.

·        who takes the longest to get ready

 Kady.Mostly because she procrastinates. She doesn’t want to get into the shower,then she doesn’t want to get out, then she doesn’t feel like getting dressed orfussing with her hair. These things just take too much effort and she delaysthem for as long as possible.

  ·        who is the most tidy and organised

 Julia.Mess is too distracting. Kady is the type to leave coffee cups around her workspace and works better in  clutter. Kadyis used to clutter and chaos, Julia isn’t. Messes make things overwhelming andthere’s too much going on. Everything has to be a certain way or working andstudying become difficult.

 ·        who gets most excited about the holidays

 Kady.She didn’t always. Usually the holidays were just another day and she didn’treally celebrate. Hell, she never had anyone to celebrate with. Her mothertended to forget her birthday and big holidays were always ignored. With Juliait’s different. She has a family and someone she can share the day with. It’snever big or fancy or overly exciting, but Kady did get to decorate her firstChristmas tree with Julia and felt like a little kid.

 ·        who is the big spoon/little spoon

 Kadyis always big spoon. Julia is small and likes to be cuddled. Kady likes holdingher tightly and knowing she’s there, knowing she can’t slip away.

 ·        who gets most competitive when playing games and/or sports

 Julia.She grew up competing academically and every game is very serious to her. Shereally likes playing bridge even though Kady doesn’t entirely understand therules of it. With games like that Kady is incredibly laid back and tends toaccidentally win, leading Julia to try and figure out her strategy even whenthere isn’t one.

 ·        who starts the most arguments

 Julia.She doesn’t mean to but occasionally she overreacts too things that Kady saysor takes things too personally. Kady doesn’t like to argue and only does itwhen Julia is exhausted but refuses to go to bed. They don’t often fight andwhen they do it’s usually easily resolved once they calm down.

 ·        who suggests that they buy a pet

Kady.Except, she doesn’t so much suggest it as she does….bring a pet home. Juliacomes home to a cat just in the apartment. It was homeless and tiny and Kadydidn’t think it should be on the street like that, so  she brought it in. It takes a while for Juliato calm down over the random stray cat showing up, but she eventually grows tolove him. Even if he is the ugliest cat she’s ever seen in her life, Kady loveshim and they saved him together.

 ·        what couple traditions they have

 Tuesdaynight movies and sushi. It’s the one time when they actually stop what they’redoing and make themselves take a break. It was Kady’s idea when she realisedthat Julia had never seen Young Frankenstein and they watched it together. Thenit became a regular Tuesday night occurrence with them settling in and watchinga movie, switching off who picks the movie each week,

·        what tv shows they watch together

 Theydon’t really have time to watch television. Occasionally they’ll binge watchLaw and Order when the other is sick and have officially  seen every episode of SVU. Late at night whenthey’re working they’ll turn on X-Files or Twilight Zone to play in thebackground, sometimes getting caught up in the show and forgetting to work.

 ·        what other couple they hang out with

 Okay,you knew this was coming. You know me, you’ve seen my URL, you’ve seen me postshit. Obviously they occasionally hang out with Penny and Eliot. Penny stilllikes talking to Kady and there are still some feelings there and it gets hardsometimes, but he likes her as a person and misses talking to her. Eliot andJulia are both really good at bridge and like to play together.

 ·        how they spend time together as a couple

 Mostlyreading or working on magic. Their cooperative spells are amazing and they lovelearning and practising together. They don’t really go out much, neither ofthem really having an interest in shopping or going to wine tastings. They liketo stay at home most nights. Sometimes Julia reads Kady her favourite poemsuntil she falls asleep. Kady likes to make up stories to tell Julia aboutfantastic adventures int eh Great Unknown.

 ·        who made the first move

 Julia.It wasn’t exactly on purpose and neither of them really thought about it. Theyjust started growing closer and everything happened so slowly they didn’t evenrealise their feelings were changing. Then one day Julia just kissed Kadygoodnight without thinking. There was a long pause and a few seconds whereneither of them moved or said anything. Then Kady kissed her back.

 ·        who brings flowers home

 Kady.She doesn’t know the names of the flowers (and sometimes the flowers areactually weeds) but she picks up any yellow flower she sees because she knowyellow is Julia’s favourite colour. She learns that Julia especially likessunflowers and starts getting her those. Then later she finds out that Juliadoesn’t actually like cut flowers, she doesn’t like watching them die. So, shestarts taking Julia on walks through gardens instead, especially on days where Juliais feeling bad. They’ll casually go stroll through a garden, looking at theexotic and foreign plants with Julia pronouncing their Latin names perfectly.

 ·        who is the best cook

 Julia.She bakes bread and makes homemade pasta and desserts. Kady is really good atfoods that needs to be microwaved but not so great with a stove. She can sortof make spaghetti out of a box with a canned sauce, but they both quicklydecide that Julia should be the one to cook. She also stress bakes. Sometimesif she’s really stressed and can’t focus then the house will be filled withfresh bread and brownies.