#so they must continue to work as the bullets fly

[cheapshrimpysheep]

Broom Flying Tutoring

SUMMARY: How would it be if they were assigned by Coach Vargas to help you with your flying lessons?

CHARACTERS: OB Students (Riddle, Leona, Azul, Jamil, Vil, Idia & Malleus)

TAGS: Fluf; GN Reader

WORD COUNT: An average of 340 words per character.

CONTEXT: Seeing how bad you were doing in the flying lessons Coach Vargas decided to pair you with another student. Either with someone who is good at it to help tutoring you or with someone who is struggling just as much as you are for the two of you to help each other. But what if they also have a crush on you?

Coach Vargas chose him for being one of the best students in the class.

He's a great tutor, strict, but good. If he has a crush on you, this will be a great way to show himself off to you.

He will tell you all the technical stuff like: How to position your legs and feet; What back posture you must have; Where to focus your attention; etc. “Hands at half past noon! … twelve thirty…”

When you fail, he will not be as "tyrant" as he would be with his Heartslabyul students. He knows you don't have magic and you’re trying your best. But he will still be strict with you. His way to caring.

When you succeed at an exercise, he will congratulate you with his smile on. He'll also use it as a proof that it is not impossible to you and that you can do even better if you two keep practicing.

If you are on the same broom for him to make a demonstration, he would be the one in command, and you would be holding onto him from the back. Thank the Great Seven you can't see his blushing face from where you are.

If you fall from a great height, he will use magic to save you because he knows he's not strong enough to catch you alone. And then will run to you to check if you're not hurt. Once he sees that you're okay, he'll sigh and tell you to be more careful. You almost gave that boy a heart attack.

Coach Vargas chose him because, despite being the best at the class that’s not enough to pass. So, if Leona doesn’t help you Vargas will not pass him.

He's the worst best teacher ever. He is the best because he can actually make you fly on the broom by yourself at the end of the day. But he’s the worst because of the way he does that: with a lot of smug and pretending he doesn't give a dam about you.

When you fail, he’ll sigh, put your fingers to his forehead like you're an idiot, and tell you to "try again, herbivore." as if his technique is right and you're the only one failing.

When you succeed at an exercise, he will give you his signature smug smile and tell you something like “See, it’s not that hard if you do as I say.” He will continue with the simplest exercises, hoping that will be enough for Vargas until the end of class. He just wants to end it and go take a nap somewhere. Maybe on your lap as thanks.

If you are on the same broom for him to make a demonstration, he will be behind you with his hands on yours to show you how to control the broom. A guy as prideful as him is not the little spoon type. He will eventually lean on you out of laziness, and as a way to mess with you.

If you fall from a great height: The minute before that he would be making fun of you, and the next he will reach to you on his broom like a bullet. He'll catch you on his arms, sigh annoyed and tell you how clumsy you are and how much work you're giving him because of that. Secretly relieved that you're okay.

Coach Vargas chose him because sometimes is good to pairing two people that are equally struggling to help each other, for them being more comfortable with someone at the same level.

If he has a crush on you: THIS IS HORRIBLE!!! He’s going to look like a complete idiot in front of you. NO! You should not see him like this! Please assure him that it's ok and you will not think less of him for that.

He only can help you as much as you can help him. Best case scenario: you will exchange observations about what you may be doing wrong and somehow overcome it and actually improve on your flying skills.

He doesn't have the same problem with you as he had with Jamil. You’re helping him as much as he’s helping you so that’s already a well-structured deal.

When you fail, he’ll smile charmingly at you and encourage you to keep trying.

When HE fails, he will be extremely frustrated and irritated by that. But will make his absolute best to hide it so you don't notice. He’ll hesitate to try again. He already humiliated himself in front of you once, he doesn't want to do it again.

When you succeed at an exercise, he will congratulate you with a smile, but a fake one. He is happy that you succeed, but now your one step better then him. His not mad that you’re getting better, but if you keep that pace, you'll be so much better than him you'll look down on him. No! He's exaggerating and he knows it. You're not like that. But he still wants to look good, especially on your eyes.

When HE succeeds at an exercise, he will be extremely proud of himself and vocalise some on that. And if you praise him for his good work, he will feel both even better and flattered. If he blushes (he will), he’ll hide it from you.

You’ll not be at the same broom. Too dangerous for the both of you.

If you fall from a great height: he would probably already be on the ground for safety in case that happened. He will use magic to slow your fall and then catch you in his arms. “This is why I don't risk going to high.” Once he realizes he's carrying you bridal style, he'll gently set you down, maybe apologize, and try his best not to think about it too much. He needs his focus.

Coach Vargas chose him because he knows he’s a good tutor and have the profile of one. He just hopes this goes better than with Azul.

Of course, it does! He’s a great and a patinate teacher and you’re a good student despite your difficulties.

When you fail, he’ll be totally chill about it, at least on the outside. He will try to continue improving his teaching to find the best technic for you. You're not as insufferable as Kalim, so he has no problem helping you. And if he has a crush on you, oh the pleasure to be your tutor is all his.

When you succeed at an exercise, he will not just congratulate you, he will do that with his rarest and biggest smile. As if that conquest belonged to both of you. As you are one of the few people who genuinely appreciates his work, you deserve that smile.

If you start praising his work as a teacher, he'll hide his blush with his hood and tell you that's nothing special, that you are the one who is a good student.

If you are on the same broom for him to make a demonstration, he will be behind you with his hands on yours to show you how to control the broom. He genuinely believes that's one of the best ways to teach you, but he needs to concentrate on the teaching and not on your positions. He is a mix of blush and smug.

If you fall from a great height: he would probably already have made one our multiple plans in case that happened. He´s ready for anything. He will catch you with no problem and make 100% sure you're okay. Maybe he's not blushing for holding you in safety because he probably already made something similar with Kalim or so. The fact that it's you it’s just a sweet and delightful bonus for him.

Coach Vargas chose him because, like Riddle, his one of the best students in the class and have chances to be a good tutor.

And like Riddle, he is a great tutor, strict, but good. Just put the extra that besides him wanting to teach how to fly on the broom, he's also teaching you how to look fabulous doing it. No one tutoring by him will look sloppy on a broom!

And if he has a crush on you: EXPECIALLY YOU need to look as beautiful as he sees you.

When you fail, he’ll sigh and do a mix of incentivise you and demanding you to keep trying. “Come on, my spudling, you can do better than that. Put it a little more effort.” The “my” part is if he has a crush on you ;)

When you succeed at an exercise, he will congratulate you. He’ll maybe even tell you he’s proud of you. But then he will keep demanding more for you to reach your full potential. His way of caring.

If you are on the same broom for him to make a demonstration, he would be the one in command, and you would be holding onto him from the back. He'll tell you to grab on tight and don't fall. As fi you could control that part. And then to pay attention.

If you fall from a great height, he will catch you flawlessly. And then scold you. Telling you that that’s why you should have a good posture on the broom. Looking elegant was just a plus. Weren't you listening? Unfortunately for you (or not), the more he scolds you means the more he likes and cares about you.

Coach Vargas chose him because of the same reason he could have chosen Azul. sometimes is good to pairing two people that are equally struggling to help each other, for them being more comfortable with someone at the same level.

If he has a crush on you… NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! Coach Vargas can’t do this to him. Besides being a total noob and already being humiliated in the public square during classes, now he has to do it in front of you? He never selected the hard mode on this! Please assure him that it's ok and you will not think less of him for that.

Do you REALLY want to learn how to fly? I mean, you could just try to hide from everyone and pretend you don't exist until the end of the class. He can compensate you somehow for dragging you with him. Make sure you don’t fail at the class.

What? You want to learn how to fly AND help him too?! Damn you really are a weirdo, hum? Hey, don't get him wrong, better than being a normie. F-fine… he will try… but don't complain if you both fail the class because of him.

When you fail, he'll probably start telling you things like "See, this kind of stuffs are nightmare-mode for noobs like us." and "Keep trying will just be a bad-management of HP." But don’t listen to him. Be as stubbornly positive as he is stubbornly negative. Even if is just to prove him wrong. Nail that level!

When you succeed at an exercise, Pum pum pum pum pum, level up. But for real now, he will probably say something like you levelled up. If he was indifferent to you, he couldn't care less about it and would keep saying that's just a waist. But because he does like you and maybe even has a crush on you, he will be more like: “W-wow, you actually did it! That’s so… um cool… An achievement unlocked for sure!” He’s actually impressed by you.

You’ll not be at the same broom. Too dangerous for the both of you.

If you fall from a great height, he’ll probably panic, but will still be able to cast a spell to save you and make you land carefully on the ground. “Y-y-y-y-you okay?” He’s more scared than you. Once you assure him that you're fine, he’ll look sulky and be like: “This is like one of those traps for greedy players and none of us have high enough HP or AC for that!”

Coach Vargas chose him probably because he (like anyone) could tell that you two were close and feel comfortable with each other. Plus, he also being one of the best in class. Since he can also fly WITHOUT a broom.

He’ll try his best, but he will not be a good teacher. This because he flies instinctively. And it's hard to teach someone how to do something when you just… do it.

That and he will probably past more time admiring you and your effort and talking about humans not being able to fly and other subjects that actually teach you. He’ll basically forget you two are still on a class.

When you fail, he'll not think much of it. After all, you’re a human who doesn’t know how to fly and you don’t have magic. In fact, he's more expecting you to fail that you succeed. (��No, really, you’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about. I wasn´t expecting anything from you to start with.” Remember?)

When you succeed at an exercise, he’ll be surprised. A good kind of surprised, despite if he trying to express it, would not sound so congratulative. More like: for a human with no magic that was indeed impressive. And of course, he will be smiling with proud at you.

If you are on the same broom for him to make a demonstration, he will be behind you with his hands on yours. To show you how to control the broom? Maybe. But maybe more just because he wanted to be this close to you, like his hugging you. He’s also behind you because is the best way to protect you as well.

If you fall from a great height… what great height? No matter how high you would fly, he will be right next to you. In or out his broom. If you fall from your broom, he’ll catch you right there. It will feel more like a fall from the bed. And he will be enjoying you safe on his arms maybe too much. “Um… you can put me back on my broom now, Tsunotarou… I’m fine, I promise.” With him, you will be the one blushing.

If you would like to read more from me, you can find it in my pinned post: INDEX

[probablyasocialecologist]

Now, the United States appears happy to bypass the Palestinians in the discussion of how many of them should have to die. The State Department talks of dealing with a “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza without mentioning who has caused it. In American papers of record, Palestinians almost always seem to die from mysterious bombs that theoretically could have come from anywhere. CNN will report on the spread of disease and the treating of innocent children with deep wounds, but the initiators of their suffering are downplayed. NPR will play audio diaries of doctors working in emergency rooms without adequate staffing, equipment, or medicine, but fail to mention how Israel’s systematic targeting of hospitals brought about these horrors, in direct violation of international law no less. This type of talk comes so naturally that it is almost reflexive. Attributing blame, connecting dots, and reporting the full picture requires acknowledgement of the reality on the ground in Gaza. It would require going past easy-to-read IDF statements, jeopardizing Israeli contacts and imperiling press access to IDF-guided tours. It would require confronting the fact that a majority of Americans and Brits back a ceasefire in Gaza, and acknowledging that the actions undertaken by Israel would be unconscionable to anyone who has eyes and doesn’t have a heart like a cinder. Therefore, the tried and tested methods of denial return, diminishing returns be damned. To the American, war, when abetted by Americans, must always be draped in some sort of impenetrable fog. Bullets fly from unknown places, infections and starvation spread just because, and suffering is abstract and inevitable—up until an ally might be blamed. The only motives to be given prime time coverage are America’s: always moral, always undertaken to protect the international rules-based order.

[pluckyredhead]

Did I just read your Super Sons primer from 2020 at 3 am on a Monday morning because I'm having a real normal one? Maybe?! I'm wondering how you feel about how they and their relationship has developed since then. IMO it's... Pretty bleak. 😩

I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT IT. (Also here's the primer for anyone who missed it.)

So I will say that 95% of everything Jon has been in since he got aged up has been hot garbage, but I do think the exception is when Damian is around. But let's take it from the top!

First of all, I don't necessarily think they should de-age him again. Generally speaking I think it's better storytelling to focus on fixing things moving forward, rather than undoing things moving back. Sure, if DC came up with some big cosmic event that reset Jon to 11, I certainly wouldn't complain, but I'd rather see them, uh...do literally anything with Teen Jon that doesn't suck.

But yeah, aging Jon up to begin with still makes me livid because:

I want my baby to have had a childhood.

It's fully character assassination for Lois and Clark. They would NEVER let their 11-year-old go to outer space with a supervillain. Lois would NEVER just abandon him out there, and Clark would NEVER respond with "Well, I'm sure he's fine, wanna have marathon sex?" I honestly have no idea what Bendis or his editor were thinking.

They have not done a single interesting with him since!!!

Putting this behind a cut because it got LONG. Also spoilers for Beast World in there.

I've said this before, but I have to assume that Bendis wanted to age Jon up because he wanted to write a Legion book. But he also in his wisdom decided to bring Kon back into continuity at exactly the same time, which means we have two nearly identical Superboys that DC didn't and still doesn't know what to do with. Kon clearly couldn't have joined the LOSH because he already had a team, but you know what Super teen was available, and not 11, and who has a history with the Legion that goes back almost as long as Clark's? KARA. But I will save that rant for another day.

And honestly, Kara dodged a bullet, because that Legion book was unreadable. Bendis at his most Bendis-y wall of text interrupt-y conversations and no plot. If I give Tom Taylor any credit it's that the second he got his hands on Jon, he torpedoed Jon/Imra as a ship. GOOD.

And when the LOSH book finally went out with a whimper (that JLA/LOSH miniseries! what was that!!!), we entered the Taylor Era. Taylor's quirks are less stylistic and more narrative than Bendis's. You can spot Bendisian dialogue at twenty paces, but a Taylor comic tips its hand when it sets up a really interesting premise or a really high stakes threat and then immediately undercuts it with a little wet fart noise of nothing. To wit:

Jon's starting college! This will be an interesting challenge for him to readjust to normal life after six years in a torture-volcano and an indeterminate amount of time in the future, and also considering he never graduated from sixth grade. I wonder what will - oh no he dropped out after three pages. (He has done NOTHING in his civilian identity since, btw. I guess he's too busy hovering just behind Dick at all times to work on his GED or whatever.)

Jon is going to confront Ultraman! Finally the comics will have to engage with all the trauma he must have - oh no Ultraman's dead.

Jon is trapped in the Injustice Universe! This is a really dangerous universe that might make him question everything he knows about - oh he just lectured everyone and flounced off home.

Beast World is a perfect example. Taylor seems to think that having a hero effortlessly solve a problem makes them look badass, but it's actually the effort that makes them look badass. So like, we spent five months keeping the Kryptonians and other A-class heroes away from the spores because the spores are attracted to power and if a Super got spore'd everyone would be in big trouble...but then in the last issue, they just have Jon fly up to everyone with a spore in them, wait for the spore to jump at him, and catch it? That doesn't make the Titans look smart or Jon look tough. It makes all of them look like idiots because it it was that easy, why didn't they do that in the first place?

On top of that, Taylor doesn't ever really earn relationships. Jon and Jay is the obvious one. Jay has no personality. There's no chemistry between the two characters. Jon might as well be dating a cardboard cutout labeled "Proof of Queerness." (Or "Bernard." Ahem.) But we're supposed to be like, yes, give Tom Taylor a GLAAD award for using queer characters as props, when he's going to turn around and kiss Chuck Dixon's ass on social for being homophobic about Jon? UGH.

Honestly worse for me though is the Jon and Dick relationship. Because Taylor is writing both characters, we're supposed to believe that there's this close mentor-mentee bond there? I don't think they EVER interacted before the Taylor era. (And don't even look at me with that retconned-in scene of Dick finding lost baby Jon. You're telling me that Superman, with his X-ray and telescopic vision, needs to call Bruce and Dick for help finding his own son? Fuck off.)

Anyway it all combines to make basically every Jon appearance for the past three years profoundly unsatisfying. Even the stuff that isn't by Taylor never goes anywhere. Remember when he was jealous of the Super Twins for two panels? And then everyone forgot about it forever? SIGH.

HOWEVER.

However.

If there is one thing that Bendis and Taylor and every other writer got right, it's that Jon is crazy bonkers in love with Damian always and forever. Jon has been written like shit since 2019, but he has also not wavered in his devotion for even one single solitary second.

THE EVIDENCE:

This is the first thing Jon does when he gets back to Earth:

He then tells Damian he's contemplating not joining the Legion because he'll have to leave Damian behind. Damian tells him to go and then come get him if it's cool.

Turns out the Legion is cool. Jon comes and gets Damian. The Legion isn't happy about it and Jon threatens to leave if Damian can't stay, while gazing adoringly at Damian's unconscious body cradled in his arms:

Eventually LOSH is canceled and Jon comes home and starts following Damian around by listening for his heartbeat. LIKE PALS DO!

Then Damian gives him a pep talk!

Then there's this ABSOLUTE CUDDLE:

The way Damian nuzzles into Jon's shoulder! Can you even stand it!

And then there's this:

The climax of Son of Kal-El, btw, is one of the several times Jon is saved by Damian and confides in Damian and turns to Damian for comfort or advice...and Jay is just sort of standing there off to the side. I am fully aware I have ship goggles on but the degree of emotional investment Jon has in these relationships is not the same.

Then they had a special issue teamup:

Then we got Dark Crisis, and I actually love this interaction between them, because they are very different people with very different upbringings and this feels extremely in character to me for how they would both handle the loss of their fathers:

But even when they disagree, they still instantly support each other. Jon comes back with information? Damian makes a plan:

Also, we got the 2022 Pride issue where Jon, Jay, and Damian go to Pride together. I know that story is...contentious...but leave me here with Damian sulking while Jon and Jay kiss, okay?

Then we get Adventures of Superman, which is objectively awful, but Jon does spend his whole time in the Injustice universe thinking about Damian like the seagulls in Finding Nemo saying "Mine? Mine? Mine?"

This whole arc is truly hilarious. Jon finds out that Damian accidentally killed Dick and his response is to a) go find Batman and yell at him for not supporting Damian enough for accidentally killing Dick, and then b) go find Damian to be like "Wow, that must have been really hard for you (accidentally killing Dick)." There's being ride or die for your BFF, and then there's whatever the fuck Jon has going on.

(Meanwhile there's an incredibly uncomfortable scene with him and Injustice Jay where Jay "tests" him by trying to get Jon to cheat on regular Jay. So. That happens.)

And then just this past month we got Nightwing #110, where we learn that Jon is still listening to Damian's heart:

He completely freaks out watching Damian in danger, and immediately intervenes when it looks like Damian is about to kill someone because he knows what matters the most to Damian. Also, this happens:

YOU WIN THIS ONE, TAYLOR.

AND THEN THEY BICKER I LOVE IT WHEN THEY BICKER:

AND THEN DAMIAN LETS HIMSELF BE VULNERABLE BY ASKING JON IF HE HURT ANYONE WHILE HE WAS A KITTY, AND JON GIVES YET ANOTHER SPEECH ABOUT HOW DAMIAN HAS NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG EVER, IN HIS LIFE, AND DAMIAN STAGGERS OFF, LEANING ON JON.

This isn't even getting into the Trinity backup stories in Wonder Woman, which, like...Tom King is not valid but Jon and Damian are such an old married couple in them? It's truly incredible?

It took me like 45 minutes to parse Jon's line here as the general 'you" and not specifically Jon saying Damian wasn't straight. But like..."That's for straight people, which has nothing to do with us" is a hell of a thing to say, Jonathan.

I ALSO haven't even talked about DCeased because it's a different universe, but! Jon sitting with Damian while he dies??? MY HEART.

IN CONCLUSION:

Yes, they should never have aged up Jon.

Yes, most of his appearances since have been terrible and bland.

But OH BOY, do he and Damian remain in love.

[laiqualaurelote]

First Lines

Tagged by @nostalgicatsea (forever ago but I'm only getting to my tags now). Thank you!

Rules: list the first line(s) of your last 10 (or however many you have) posted fics and see if there’s a pattern!

speak easy, swing hard

When the shots rang out in the Arc, the band didn’t stop playing. It was twelve minutes into the new year at a Stark speakeasy and the joint was jumping, the floor crammed with gin baby socialites essaying the Charleston, mobsters clustered around tables, petty thieves circling and dipping into the pockets of the unwary; when the bullets started flying the crowd screamed and sought to scatter but the bandleader barely blinked, just led his crew full tilt into another chorus of ‘I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate’ while the singer, a svelte Sokovian songbird in a shimmering scarlet number, sidestepped a bullet that buried itself in a piano leg and kept right on crooning, All the boys in the neighbourhood know she can shimmy and it’s understood, while all hell broke loose on the dance floor.

well-versed in etiquette, extraordinarily nice

“You must know, Mr Crowley, that this is to be my last job,” said Jane.

all the men and women merely players

In with the wind blows the news that the Players are coming to town. 

constant as a northern star (constantly in the dark) 

Sachiko Crimm meets Ted Lasso for the first time in a Lidl.

The Lady With The Recorder Asks The Questions

“You took out the line about the threesomes, didn’t you?” 

ain't practical, a world you can't touch

Just a whole lot of aiming, he’d told Cornelia once. But it’s Martha Myers who misses.

maybe everything that dies someday comes back

“He don’t look like much,” said the client. “You sure he’s the chap we’re after?”

a song that will keep sky open in my mind

We knew Eli was back because of the baby. We could hear it crying clean across the wheat fields. 

can't start a fire without a spark 

It was a whole thing when Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham blew town together and ran off to start a rock band.

A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Piracy

Day seven of my return to the high seas, wrote Stede in his journal. Since Lucius was no longer around to take dictation, the journal existed only in his head. Morale is low, I will not lie.

Patterns - I'm a big fan of in media res (it worked for Homer and it works for me) and so I like to start in the middle of things. I'm also trained to write hooks for people with short attention spans, so my first lines tend to be crunchy. The one exception is the first on the list, which is from speak easy, swing hard, the 1920s Prohibition-era Avengers AU I wrote for @nostalgicatsea as part of @marveltrumpshate. I wanted it to evoke the wild, chaotic tempo of a hot jazz number (something like the intro to this) so most of it is a pile-up of a long run-on sentence, and the writing continues in this fashion until Tony shows up to calm things down, whereupon the paragraphs go back to being a brief couple of lines each. I learnt this trick from seeing how translators handle action sequences in wuxia novels.

Tagging: @leupagus, @themardia, @auntieclimactic, @nagia-pronounced-neijia, @eisoj5, @swallowtailed, @justplainsalty, @bropunzeling, @st-clements-steps, @sagiow and anyone else who'd like to do this!

[whyareyouhere66]

(Loki anon here I’m sorry I’m still in my fixation and I love ur writing 😭)

Loki x son reader were Loki wasn’t in reader’s life very often and reader slowly grows to hate him for it. But reader ends up going through the same path Loki did by terrorizing Earth/trying to rule it to show he can be better and stronger than his father. I can’t decide how it would end- like reader gets imprisoned after Loki tries to stop him or like, they talk and make up?? Idk😭

(Loving that the only plots I can come up with are full of daddy issues LMAO)

You’re so real for that bro-

never be sorry you’re amazing

I hate being late on requests, I don’t know if you’re still in the Loki fixation I’m really late but I hope you enjoy either way <3 

DNA - !Father! Loki x Male Reader

CW: Loki was kinda a shit dad, mentions of guns in beginning, timeline may not be 100% canon, lazy proof read, long

X

Chaos tumbles in the streets, shouts echoing  from the crowds. 

Ruckus in a small town, built into a crevice in the mountain, it’s far too easy to cause havoc on its streets.

People are rushing to see what has happened at the small museum just down the street to the various neighborhoods, though get pulled away when they see the people running the opposite way. Half aren’t even sure what they’re running from.

The front doors to the museums walls burst open suddenly, a tall figure strutting out of the frame. 

Y/n Odinson, in all his grace.

A few gasps come from the witnesses, eyes widening upon seeing the man. The before untouched museum now holds shattered windows, it looks broken. 

A few spikes of glass crunch under Y/n’s boots, a trail of shards gathered around the door. It takes another moment for people to see the pendant swinging from his clenched fist.

“Stop, now!” The first officer to arrive at the scene, holding a gun in front of him. Just a minute too late, he’s running to catch up. 

A second one appears behind him a moment later, but doesn’t chase, instead crouches behind the hood of his car and points his own gun towards Y/n’s clenched fist.

“We’ll shoot!” He shouts, hearing the sirens of backup following behind. Y/n doesn’t flinch. 

“That doesn’t sound too smart,” The man speaks nonchalantly, further frustrating the cops behind him, “but if you must, I suggest now.” There’s a sly grin on his face when he looks at them over his shoulder. 

So, they do.

A bang pierces the air, and suddenly a bullet is flying. Y/n knows it’s headed his way, but it’s too late anyways. For he was gone the second the trigger was pulled- puffed away with nothing but an imprint of dirt and blue fog left behind. 

People look around, confused.

He’s escaped, and he holds another piece with him. 

***

Y/n Odinson

10:37 pm 

In the dark room, I notice there’s few sources of light for me to work with. 

The window, the clock, and the lamp just to the right of me. 

Even as it becomes later and later into the night, I’m still sitting here, hunched over this damn desk with two of the same  things placed in front of me- one being the necklace stolen mere hours prior. 

Its jewels reflect in the light of the lamp, red and green jewels lining a silver chain. It shines the brightest compared to the dusty old book beside it.

I continue to stare at it, before a frustrated groan rumbles out of my already sore throat. 

“This isn’t going anywhere…” I mumble bitterly. 

I grab the book, pages squished between the leather cover. I run my thumb down the engraved cover, it’s patterns bumping under my finger. There’s a pad of dust on my thumb when I lift it again, a trail left behind on the leather. 

I’m so close- I feel it. Yet in the back of my mind it feels like I’m so, so far. 

The lights coming in from my window distract me for a moment, and I look at all the buildings I’ve looked at everyday. It’s all the same, like I’m exactly where I was yesterday, no more progress than the day before. 

Slowly, my gaze turns back to the desk.

After my father fumbled the Tesseract that first time, I felt even more determined to surpass him.

 To take on the world better than he could have ever imagined, make him feel as stupid as he looked.

I had thought that maybe going a more logical route would be more successful than his try, try, and try again strategy. 

And sometimes I think it’s working.

And then, there’s moments like this, when I’m hunched over a desk with a mind as blank as a void, that I think it really isn’t. 

I run my hands down the side of my face, the heels of my hands pressing into my skin. 

The god of mischief was just as good of a father as you’d expect. 

I remember the nights still, when he shouldve been home, stuck in that run down apartment with his face plastered across the tv, a big mischievous smile because he thought what he did was significant.

It makes me flinch how much I’ve grown to be like him.  

There’s a small crack between the holder and the 3rd gem of the necklace, a gap that would be hard to notice from any other angle. I reach out my thumb, and run it gently along the crack a few times as if to smooth it out. 

Another sigh, and I stand up from my chair. I’ll figure it out. I have to, I’ll do it and I’ll become better than he ever was, as low as that standard may be. 

I just have to do it right.

***

“He did it again.” 

“Who?”

“Who do you think?”

Bruce looks between Tony and the computer curiously, standing up from his work. 

“Don’t tell me.” 

Across the room, Mr. Stark sighs. 

“That son of a bitch.” He mutters, fingers pressed against the bridge of his nose. The headline, big and bold on his screen, “Precious necklace stolen from small town museum- the work of Y/n.” 

“He’s up to something.” Bruce says, moving so he can read the headline over Tony’s shoulder, who just groans.

“He’s not just planning something- he knows something.”

Bruce glances back at the brunette man, “Should we do something to stop him?”

The answer is obvious. 

“We have to.” Tony sighs as his face leaves his hands. “We need him anyways.”

At this, Bruce looks at the man curiously. “We do? Why?”

Tony stares straight into the pixels of his screen.

“Because I know what he’s planning.”

***

It’s a slower day in downtown DC.

I can’t decide what I’m doing here, nor what I want to be doing. All I know is that I’m getting closer and closer to the capital with no plans of turning around.

There’s a corner coming up, and I turn, not expecting to see the woman around the corner when I do.

Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, looks at me expectantly as we make eye contact. 

“Well hello.” She says smoothly, giving me only a second to process before lunging for me. I feel a tingling in my palm, sparks of blue seeping through my fingers. 

“Oh, what a nice surprise.” I mock her, and she’s about to reach me. But just before she can make contact, I’m out of there again. 

I leave her on the sidewalk with nothing but the same blue fog as always, appearing back in an alleyway a few blocks down. Thinking I’m alone, the sparks fade from my fist. But another voice makes itself known before I can even turn around.

“-well that was easy.”

I spin around only to see Captain America at the other end of the alleyway. My eyes narrow- they’re kidding.

“Well doesn’t this work out well.”

Another glance behind me and I can see that Natasha has caught up to me much quicker than I had expected. I raise an eyebrow. 

“So you brought a friend? That’s nice.” I remark, before throwing a swift punch her way. She jumps back, just before I can hit. 

Arms wrap around my neck before I can process anything else- the strong grip from Captain catching me off guard. I try to pry him off of me, leaning my head down and without a second thought I bite him as hard as I can.

With a yelp, he pulls back. 

Blue fog surrounds me before I’m suddenly behind him, swinging my fist so it collided with the back of his head. He stumbles, holding the spot where I hit.

“He bit me!” He yells.

“You strangled me.”

With a groan, and the roll of her eyes, Natasha pounces on me again.

There’s struggling as she pushes my body backwards, but I continue to fight back until she suddenly backs away from me.

Confused, I step towards her. But her foot comes at me quicker than I can comprehend.

Next thing I know, my head collides with the strong metal of a shield. Fuck.

“Good work.” I hear faintly, as I’m stumbling to the floor. 

Words morph from Natasha’s mouth, but everything goes black before I can hear anything else.

***

“What are we gonna do with him?” 

Natasha stands across from the glass jail, circular in the center of the room. A bit dehumanizing, really, like some sort of exhibit. My unconscious body is still slumped on the floor, next to the one chair inside the cell. 

“Better yet- where did you get him?”

Thor asks, standing next to Bruce, Steve and Clint. His strong arms are crossed over his chest, and he’s looking around waiting for an answer.

“We think he’ll be useful in the plan against Thanos.” Tony answers, far too nonchalant for the situation, “he might be looking for the same stones we are.” He spins around in his chair, back now facing the computer he was just looking at to look at his teammates. A sound close to a scoff comes from Thor.

“You know that’s my nephew, right?” He points to my body, “unconscious in your little glass cage?” 

Tony rolls his eyes, rolls his head to the side. “I am well aware, Thor.”

“Wait, hold on-“ Bruce speaks up, processing far slower than Tony would like, “so we just kidnapped him? That was the plan?”

Natasha clicks her tongue. “Pretty much…”

“And are-“

Small plastic wheels scrape the floor as Tony abruptly stands up. So impatient, he claps his hands together to grab everyone’s attention.

“Glad we’ve established the obvious, how about we let me talk now.”

Thor immediately brushes him off- much to Tony’s annoyance. The muscular man steps forward and raises an eyebrow at the shorter man, who looks up at him with disinterest through the thick frames of his glasses. 

“What does Y/n have to do with any of this?” He asks with crossed arms. Tony sighs. 

“He recently stole this from some small town in the west,” Tony hands the blonde man a picture of the necklace, “looks important, part of a plan. We think he’ll be a good weapon against Thanos, and it’s a good excuse to see what’s up with the necklace.”

Thor examines the picture, eyes flickering to the glass occasionally. It still feels a bit absurd, though. 

“You really think he’s up to something big, huh.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t exactly be surprised.” Everyone’s gazes turn to Clint, “he is Loki’s kid, isn’t he?”

Thor doesn’t respond, he doesn’t have to because Tony is talking once more.

“Oh he’s Loki’s kid, alright.” He says.

“So, how do we plan to get him in on this, exactly?” Steve finally steps in.

It goes quiet, for a second, though the awkward glances are quite loud. 

“…I mean…we could get Loki in on this too.” Bruce answers after too long of a pause. Immediately, Thor shakes his head with a mighty laugh. 

“Oh no, no we aren’t doing that.” 

“That would work.” 

The blonde man snaps his head over to Tony. 

“Uh, no. Believe me, it wouldn’t.”

But he is once again ignored, instead walking away from the room and leaving the rest of the curious Avengers behind. But Thor follows. 

“Stark!” He shouts, following him out and down the hallway despite the sigh that he is met with.

“What, Thor.”

“You will not bring Loki here.” He says firmly, even if the words don’t make it through the stubbornness of Tony’s brain.

“And why’s that?”

“It’s a horrible idea-“

“You got a better one?”

Becoming exasperated, Thor throws his hands up before the drop to his sides. “I’ll do it, I’ll convince him.”

Tony scoffs. “Right, cause you’re so good at that.” He goes to walk away again, but still, Thor persists.

“It won’t work if Loki tries-“

“How do you know? Hmm?” Tony gives Thor a look, something so knowing that it frustrates Thor to no end, “when was the last time you talked to Y/n? Or Loki, for that matter?”

He wasn’t going to get anywhere with this. Tony’s too stubborn, too head strong to negotiate right now. So, Thor only shakes his head. 

“Fine, do it your way, you’ll see.”

“That we will.”

***

By the time I’ve woken up, it’s far later in the afternoon. 

I try to sit up, head throbbing from the start of a migraine, when I realize I have no clue where I am. 

The edges of my vision blur together while I stumble up, so dizzying I nearly have to sit down again. Below me, my knees feel weak, like they could give out at any moment. But I stand anyways, stand and wait for the feeling in my muscles and bones to come back to me.

“Well, look who’s awake.” 

I whirl around, just close enough to knocking myself out again, and watch the figure outside of this…glass wall, stand up.

“Stark,” I mumble, rubbing the sore spot on my head, “should’ve known it’d be Stark.”

“Good morning to you too, Y/n.” 

I turn to see Natasha once more, how familiar. She’s leaning against one of the desks, and next to her are Bruce, Steve and Thor. I raise an eyebrow.

“Thor.”

He just nods awkwardly. “Hi Y/n.”

I look around, spinning, and chuckle. “Really brought in the whole gang, huh?” 

On the other side of the glass, Tony takes off his glasses to wipe at the lenses carefully. He looks uninterested as usual. 

Someone tries to talk to me again, but I’m already feeling the sparks of blue on my skin once more. 

“Uh, hey-“

“He’ll be fine.”

My head bangs against glass, and I’m sent back stumbling.

“What the fuck-“ My hand flies to my forehead, where I can already feel a bruise forming.

“The glass is a strong barrier,” Steve winks, “can’t get out.”

His cocky gaze makes me uncomfortable, but I should’ve known it wouldn’t be so easy. Nothing here ever is. 

I scoff, clicking my tongue. “Do you treat all your hostages like circus monkeys or am I just special?” 

“I’ll let you decide on that one.” Tony replies, settling his glasses back onto his face. “Now let’s get down to business.”

The room, now that I get a decent look at it, is pretty artificial. A large computer, followed by a smaller computer, scattered paperwork, a few glasses stained with the remnants of alcohol. Just about what I’d expect.

My uncle is sitting back, next to Banner, his big arms crossed against his chest. He doesn’t look as calm or boastful as usual, instead glancing at the large doors. I furrow my eyebrows, following his gaze, but no one is there.

“We know you’re planning something.”

My eyes flicker to Steve, meeting his expectant gaze. I raise an eyebrow at him mockingly.

“Oh? Well that’s wonderful, though I thought I was quite obvious.”

Steve rolls his eyes, not amused. “Yeah, well, we are too,” he takes a step closer to me, “and we want you to be a part of it.”

I pause.

Visibly processing, it takes me a minute.

“…what?”

“I saw your little necklace heist the other day, since you’re so good at stealing think you could steal some stones for us?” Tony cuts in, raising an eyebrow at me. 

“You want me to steal stuff for you.”

“Well, and other stuff.” Bruce shrugs. He flinches away from my deadpan.

With the click of my tongue, rubbing my face, I turn back. “And why would I do that?”

Tony shrugs this time, “you might be interested to know we also are recruiting someone else.” 

I raise my eyebrow. “And who would that be?”

He doesn’t say the name, just gives me a look and by the glint his eyes I can’t tell if that’s better or worse. A voice suddenly sounds out from the doorway. 

“I’m going- good god I’m going, no need to shove-“ 

…

No.

I snap my head to the door. 

They’re joking.

The tall, unfortunately familiar figure of my father walks in. He looks almost the exact same.

Big gold thorns stick out from his helmet, a green robe on. When he turns to see me, I see his expression falter. For a second, he even looks nervous.

My eyes dart to Thor’s, who looks at me apologetically and shrugs. Then I look at Tony, eyes going cold. 

“If you wanted to persuade me to do something, Stark, he’s the last person you should’ve brought.”

I can see Thor out of the corner of my eye, how he’s looking between me and my dad, waiting for something to happen. But I refuse to look at Loki himself, even as he awkwardly sighs.

“Y/n.” He says, but I don’t respond.

“…what’s happening here.” Tony too, is looking between the two of us curiously.

“Should we leave?“ Bruce gets cut off by Thor. 

“I told you, Stark-“

There’s so much noise, so many voices, i squeeze my eyes shut to block them out. Why would they bring him here? Whose damn idea was this?

My fingers prod the skin over my temples, trying to clear my head, to think. Which, feels much harder since that blow to Captain’s shield over there. I wish I could make them feel like white noise against my ears.

Something someone says, who I assume is Banner or Natasha, catches my attention though. 

“I say we leave them alone for a bit, how about that.”

“Yeah I don’t want to have to watch this anymore.”

I’m realizing now their presence is better than the sole company of my father. 

“Wait-“ I turn around, them filing out of the doorway, “Thor.”

He doesn’t look at me, instead leans over and whispers something to Loki that I can’t hear. “Thor!” 

And, he’s gone.

An uncomfortable silence suddenly takes over the room, and I feel pressured to turn away. He clears his throat behind me, and then to my dismay, he talks.

“Y/n.”

I say nothing, and he sort of scoffs.

“Ah, the silent treatment, right.”

A quick breath escapes in disbelief, my anger is rising too quickly. I turn to him halfway, “would you rather I talk? Cause I don’t think you’ll like what I have to say much more.”

I can’t tell if he rolls his eyes or not. 

“Can we at least talk?” He asks next, and I start to feel the dents in my palm as my fingers clench tighter.

“Fine, do it.”

He didn’t seem to have expected that answer, because he takes a moment to continue. 

“Well, I…” he pauses, “well what do you want me to say?”

My lips fall in disbelief, and I look at him with a pinched expression.

“Are you serious?”

The internal battle of his brain becomes visible as his gaze darts away from mine, struggling for words. 

“Look, I know I wasn’t really there,”

“No really? I think I saw you more on tv than I ever did at home.” I say hoarsely.

“I, I was busy-“ he breathes out pathetically, each croak of his voice irking me. 

Locked in this, what is this, a cell? A cage? Put on display in front of the man I shame the thought of. I run my hands down my face, barely able to look at him. 

“Yeah, real busy running the world right?”

“What’s that supposed to mean.”

“Well wasn’t that your end goal? Rule the world?” His shoulders recoil from my words, “become the most powerful god there is, right?” I look at him with exhausted, yet knowing eyes. I can tell by his silence, his face, he knows I’m right. I scoff and turn away, there’s no point in this anymore.

Moments of silence pass, I can still feel his presence behind me, looming like a shadow. By the time he speaks again, his voice has changed- more cautious, more delicate.

“I never thought I was cut out to be a father.”

And god that hurt, more than I’d care to admit. So I stay quiet.

“Thor was always the favorite,” he continues with a shaky laugh, “and he wasn’t even my real brother. So…”

The breathes he takes are louder, slower. 

“I’ve never really known how to, y’know, do that.”

I feel myself turning closer and closer to him, feeling the words he wants to say sting my tongue. 

“…have a family?”

“…yeah.”

His eyes have softened, pupils small like a speck against his iris. His throat strains against his skin, swallowing the lump in his throat to will himself to keep going now that he’s started.

“I should’ve been there.”

I know.

“But I wasn’t…and I should’ve been.” One pale hand pulls the helmet out of his messy hair, dropping to his side. The gold lightly smacks his thigh, yet his eyes never stray.

“My father wasn’t, and I wasn’t, and now…”

I finish the sentence for him.

“And now I’m just like you.”

My voice breaks as I say it, and part of my heart does too. 

“Which, no one deserves.” He laughs, but when I turn and watch his face I see the redness in his eyes, and the shakiness behind his smile as well as how it falters when he sees my own red eyes.

“I’ll fix it.” He almost whispers, voice brittle, “or I’ll try to, at least.”

And it’s not until now that I realize, that I know, I want to. 

My voice is too numb to speak, so I just nod tearfully. He swallows again. 

His eyes flicker to a panel just outside of the glass, and he reaches for it. I don’t have time to question before the glass doors are opening in front of me. 

He doesn’t say anything as I step out, and instead he hugs me.

I also realize I haven’t been hugged in a very long time. 

“I’ll do everything I can, Y/n.” Is what he says to me, voice hoarse against my ear and I hug him back with the strength I have.

“You better.” I mutter back, I can’t forgive him now, but with the warmth of his hold, I pray we’re both right.

[yzeltia]

FFXIVwrite2024 11. Surrogate

Characters: Fuyu'li cen Zwhan, Koana, Ahi'a, Azdaja, Vrtra Expansion: Dawntrail Rating: T Summary: Koana learns of Thavnair's worst kept secret. Notes: Dialogue from Lvl. 98 The Protector and the Destroyer

Fuyu’li swallowed as he made his way up the stairs of Vollok Shoonsa, Azdaja and Ahi’a flying at his side. Arriving at the top, Koana, Tural’s Vow of Reason, waited on him with an extended hand. “You must be the envoy for Thavnair. Welcome to Tural. I am Koana. I am sorry we have to have our alliance begin with us asking for your aid. Is the Satrap far behind? Our counter strike is about to begin”

Azdaja screed as Fuyu’li took the other’s hand and gave it a firm shake, swallowing a little as he looked around the large palace then back to Koana. “Yes, I am here to represent Thavnair. I am Fuyu’li Zwhan, husband to Satrap. With me is his sister Azadja and our son Ahi’a” he said. “Vrtra is out calling for aid and will be leading the aerial advance and has asked me to join you here on his behalf.”

Koana stared at Ahi’a then looked back to Fuyu’li, swallowing any questions he may have. Both pushed their glasses up the bridges of their nose before advancing further up the stairwell together and to the balcony that overlooked Tuliyollal. The Alexandrian fleet continued to hang menacingly in the air over the coast.

“Such marvels. If they were not an impending threat I would love to tour the inside of one. It far exceeds anything I’d ever seen from Garlemald,” Fuyu’li breathed out.

“Agreed. I had a chance to lay my eyes on the Ragnarok of Old Sharlayan and even its technology pales in comparison. If things go in our favor then perhaps we will get to preserve one to see how it works…though I fear it is made of the electrope which is only native to that of Alexandria.”

“Preserve? I am uncertain that will be an option,” Fuyu’li said, tilting his head at the sky.

“Surely if we best their ships one shall land in the harbor. Or are your weapons so advanced that you expect complete destruction?” Koana asked.

Fuyu’li looked at Azdaja then back to Koana. “What do you know of the Satrap of Thavnair?” he asked, Azdaja screening behind him.

“Not much more than he is beloved by his people. My interests overseas have admittedly been rather focused on the Sharlayan culture,” Koana admitted, ears flitting as he heard a roar from the sky.

“Well, you see. Vrtra he’s…,” Fuyu’li started before his ears perked too. “Ah. Well, he’s here.”

Vrtra soared through the skies overhead, starting his attack on the Alexandrian airships. Koana leaned forward, hands on the stone railway as he watched in awe. Fuyu’li watched Koana, moving to stand beside him as he figured out the situation. “Right in the nick of time…Tuliyolall shall never forget this debt.”

Azdaja let out a scree of approval as Vrtra took a hail of bullets. Fuyu’li watched, fingers digging into the stone before letting out a sigh of relief as the dragon roared and pressed on with his advance. “For Vrtra, your friendship will be enough.”

Koana nodded, then let his attention wander over the city as his people and allies pushed back Zoraal Ja’s army. “We will hold out, Lamaty’i. So keep your eyes forward and do what only you can do. Finish this and return home with Anille…safe and sound.”

Fuyu’li blinked then pulled Ahi’a into his arms, letting Koana have his moment.

[kranagok0]

The perfect team.... Maybe

Molly and Hilda are practically strong. I mean, Molly can literally stun her opponents. Hilda, for her part, has a sword. Seriously, he still has that sword from the 'Witches' episode in his room.

You have to see the skills and techniques that this strange duo have.

Let's start with the oldest; Hilda

Our blue-haired girl is, as I have calculated thinking about the extensive possibilities there are, about 13 years old. And in just those 13 years of existing in this life and we have seen the things she can do. His vast experience consists of;

+ Swordsmanship (enough to beat another boy his age with weapons experience)

+ Hand-to-hand combat.... I think so. Hilda's fight with that ghost is still something up for discussion for me.

Now your possible abilities. From what I believe, and also what I have seen that the Fandom has created in some fanfics, Hilda may have some abilities that have not been shown to us or that she could have in the future. Such as;

+ Creation of protective amulets. and possibly, from what we saw in Johana's flashbacks as a child [in the part where Astrid faces the spider-toad], creation of attack amulets.

+ The ability to fly. We cannot deny that it could ultimately grow wings at any moment.

+Become a troll. This is something I've noticed that almost everyone gives to Hilda in fanfics, so it stays. Possibly it's some kind of shapeshifter magic or something, I don't know.

+Altered perception of reality. In other words, she tried to fight against many beings that, to be honest, in one move sent her to the other world. Even so, the girl did not cower when there were punches.

Alteration of the mind. We literally saw Astrid seal Johana's memories from her entire childhood. Don't you think that's some kind of fairy magic? This is the possibility With this we have a great variety of techniques, now imagine the possibilities if you combine them to make a combo or a new technique.

Now it's time for the other girl in the group;

Molly Blyndeff. This girl is not far behind, no sir.

+ Dumb. This word is literally Molly's ability summed up, because that word is her ability. This ability allows him to have at his disposal a wide variety of techniques with which he can influence his opponent, from reducing the amount of damage received to disabling the abilities of others. An example of this is when Molly makes a soup ball that Giovanni made disappear, thus demonstrating that her ability can influence that of others.

+Mind control. Or something like that. Molly can stun someone so much that she can make them follow her orders, more or less. With Car Crash it was because he touched it and told him it was a car he wanted to crash, says his team friend. And boy did it work.

+Silence. She can cancel the sound just like Corazon, a One Piece character, did. Not whether in this case you must maintain physical contact with another person if you want that ability to remain with the enemy.

Possible skills;

From what I have seen in Epithet Erased, the concept of the word is the ability that your power will have from said word. We've seen Giovanni make ranged attacks and create cursive potions.

To Randal Murdock the power to imbibe his ability (turn into gold) and continue moving. It was literally a power up that I didn't expect.

Zora Salazar can imbue her power into her bullets and other weapons to have a lethal effect.

Who says Molly couldn't do any of those things? I mean, Molly hasn't tried any of that so she could manage to imbue some gloves or some armor with her power to stun any attack against her physical integrity. Imagine that she could stun the organism of the human body.....

Oh my mother, now that I start to think better about her ability, I'm starting to notice that this girl could dominate an entire district if she wanted to.

It would practically dumb down your entire biological system and could practically give you a critical failure in your organs. THAT GIRL DRESS UP AS A BEAR BECAUSE SHE'S LIKE ONE! They look cute but in reality they are cold and uninspiring creatures.look at those eyes

He is the embodiment of evil.

Okay, I think I got a little off topic, but I got my point across about what these girls can do and their possible powers.

With that I leave this question for you;

Who else do we add? I have someone else in mind, I'm already going crazy with this and I won't stop for a moment. I would like to see your opinions and other relevant comments, so comment. Without fear. That's all for now, see you later.

bye

[taixuandream]

Interview

To what end must one suffer to light the world up for just one day? There was no forgiveness for the sins of the past, yet there was no spot in hell for an immortal. There was no end to this mission. Sick and twisted, to forsake a girl so young to a life where they could never know peace. Yet Fu Hua never blamed those who changed her. A fate worse than death, to live forever, alone, and to lose oneself in the journey.

Fu Hua never blamed MANTIS for their experiments, she never blamed her master for succumbing to the Honkai. Fu Hua never asked why she was doomed to lose it all. Over and over. Death after death. Everything she ever worked for, slipping with each life. This loneliness was what she deserved. She welcomed this fate, even if it was never her choice. She wasn’t strong enough to watch time crawl on without her. For as slow as time moved and erased its past, she would walk slowly forward, never faulting. Spirit never broken, she would rather die again than look back.

If Fu Hua were to ever falter, she would crumble. She could only keep going because the past could never follow. While she never changed, memories came and went along with time. Lost amongst the sands. Feathers drifting off the wings of a bird, born again and again from the same ashes, yet still to the sky it took. Free to fly, yet still shackled by fate. 

To purge the Honkai, no matter what. The villages she would burn, the people she would kill to see that end… There was no redemption. The happiest finale she could hope for was the business end of the sword.

Why did it have to be me, Elysia? 

There was never a choice for what brought her here. Nothing in her life had ever come for free. She did not get a say. It was best to embrace her shortcomings and look to the future than to get lost in the past, hoping for something that would never be. 

This world was unforgiving to those with its best interest. It festered in corruption and chaos, allowing for Honkai to spread without remorse. It is crushing, a weight that one could never hold on their own. The world would only bend to those who saw their mission through to the end, regardless of their intention. Perhaps that is how she survived so long.

While she could never find recompense for harm she’d done, she could certainly resolve to fight for what she believed in, finally. She could stride the distance between her and tomorrow.

Was she strong? Strong enough to purge cities and their populations of Honkai, yet still weak enough to be stabbed in the back. Strong enough to tear down superhuman warriors, yet weak enough to die to one bullet. She was never strong enough when she needed to be, only strong enough to make the weak succumb to an unforgiving pyre. 

Yes, she was strong. She was made to be without permission, forced to fight and continue on by nothing but herself. She could walk away at any time. 

The fire of Garuda would encompass her, as it had once before. As she stood amidst the crackling embers, the girl who was consumed by the need to kill had perished herself. Each breath carried a weight that even Atlas could not withstand. As her fingers drifted through the walls of the inferno, every muscle seemed to twitch so rapidly that it would ache and numb in an instant. Each dead body that she stepped over would melt away, crisping instantaneously, charred to the point where any sort of disturbance would cause them to disintegrate. 

Strength at the cost of her sanity now tamed. Freedom was so close, finally attainable.

She was already remembered. Among the Shenzhou, she was remembered as Phoenix the Celestial. A merciless teacher of immense power, one who was put down by her very students. Among her fallen comrades, a reliable and young soldier, one who was protected until they could go on no longer. Among her friends of this new era, she was a leader of her own, one who sought to keep them out of trouble and in class on time. 

Even for all those memories, it was her who kept walking forward, alone, as she had always been. Does it even matter, with how long she had lived? How they remember the Fenghuang of Vicissitude does not matter.

Her roots now cinders, there was nothing to return to. The opera singer she once saved, the hero fallen from grace, the countryman she found comfort in, the 13th Herrscher, who was the most human of them all. All her fears died with the Flame-Chasers. 

All Fu Hua could do is hope to light the world up, for just one more day. 

[melishade]

Attack on Prime: Alternative Scenes Part 1

Main Story

So as promised in a previous poll, I did say that I would show the alternate scenes that ultimately got cut or altered from the published AOP work. I'm going to have to break this down into parts because there's a lot to explain and I'm certain I can't fit it all into one post.

So the first thing we're going to talk about is Megatron's breakdown in Chapter 77: Monster. Originally, I was going to have the Warrior Cadets be kidnapped and taken to a military base and Marley would refuse to go get them back despite the Warrior's insistence. Megatron, would feel sympathy for the Warriors' plight, and decides to go and rescue them himself. Colt does try to stop him and this is how the scene plays out.

Colt saw Matthew within the weapons, equipping himself with guns and bullet. He gasped when he saw the man reaching over towards a sword hanging on the shelf, coming to the conclusion that he was seriously doing this.

“Matthew, what are you doing?!” Colt whispered. The teen jolted when Matthew aimed the rifle at him, but immediately lowered it once he recognized him.

“Colt, go home,” Matthew ordered as he continued gathering weapons.

“Matthew, you can’t be serious,” Colt demanded, “Going into enemy territory on the off chance that they’re all alive.”

“The four of them were specifically targeted and kidnapped,” Matthew declared, “The enemy must be holding them for ransom. They might be Eldians, but they do have value to Marley.”

“And what if you’re wrong?” Colt asked, not wanting to get his hopes up over a whim, “What if they decided to kill them, kill my brother?”

“Then I’ll bring back their bodies so you can bury them,” Matthew answered without hesitation as he strapped the rifle to his back, “Go home, Colt, and keep your mouth shut about this.”

Colt immediately got in front of Matthew. “I’m going with you.”

“No,” Matthew immediately shut down.

“But Matthew-!”

“No,” he repeated in a stern voice, “I’m not going to have another person die because of me. You stay here and you keep your mouth shut.”

“Falco’s my brother!” Colt exclaimed, “Gabi, Udo, Zofia! They’re just kids! Please, I have to try and save them! You have to understand, right?! Wanting so badly to protect your family!”

Colt was worried he might have said the wrong thing and ruined his chances of going with Matthew. Matthew placed his hand on Colt’s shoulder, surprising the boy.

“I do understand,” Matthew proclaimed, “But if Falco is alive, I’m not letting him come back to a dead brother.”

Megatron hit Colt in the back of the neck, causing the boy to collapse on the ground unconscious. He grabbed the boy and some rope before tying him up. He carried the boy on his shoulder before shoving his body within a weapon’s closet. He had to move quick and fast before anything got worse.

----

“Colt!” Pieck gasped as she found the boy tied up, trying to free himself from his bonds. Pieck and Annie began to untie him while Magath stomped over to him.

“You better explain yourself-!”

“Matthew went to save them!” Colt shouted, “He’s going into enemy territory to try and save Falco, Gabi, Udo, and Zofia!”

“Why didn’t you stop him?!” Reiner demanded.

“I tried!” Colt reasoned, “I tried to stop him or even go with him, but he knocked me out before I could do anything else!”

“Do you have any leads?!” Magath demanded.

“No,” Colt whimpered, “I couldn’t get a damn thing.”

Zeke began to tremble as Pieck began to comfort Colt while Annie watched with guilt. This was bad. If Matthew managed to find them in enemy territory, all hell was sure to break loose. No one would be able to survive the flying titan’s wrath.

“We need to find him,” Magath declared, “Search the area and ask people if they saw Matthew. We need to find out exactly where he went.”

The scene was meant to convey Megatron's growth as a character in not wanting to needlessly put anyone in danger. Before he just didn't care or threw his own followers off of the Nemesis, but Megatron is forcefully keeping Colt out of the fight because he didn't want him to die.

The breakdown still happens, obviously, I'm pretty sure that I kept Udo alive in this situation, but I know the end result did play out a little differently.

The Marleyan troops watched in horror at the aftermath of the attack. Bodies littered the front lawn. The grass stained with their blood as their frozen expressions were one of fear and agony. The front doors of the base were torn to shreds. They saw body part remains all over the floor from grenades that went off and bullet holes within the wall.

“What the hell?” Porco breathed, “Did…did Matthew do this?”

“There’s no way he could’ve done this, right?” Colt reasoned.

Everyone jolted as a Middle Eastern soldier came running out of the building. He stumbled in front of them and fell to his knees, lifting his head at Magath to show the tears in his eyes.

“Please!” he begged, “I’ll tell you everything I know! I tell you about my informants! Everything! Just don’t leave me alone with that monster!”

“What monster? What are you talking about?” Magath demanded.

Pieck gasped and Annie looked ready to throw up when they saw a red figure step out of the building. Magath turned his attention to the man and realized it was Matthew, and he was…drenched in blood. He was holding a rifle in his right hand, but it didn’t look like he was paying attention. Matthew looked so…out of it.

“Matthew…,” Magath trailed off, “What did you do?”

There was no quip. No sarcastic response. Matthew didn’t say a word, and was clearly lost in his own world.

“Matthew,” Magath demanded in a more stern voice.

Zeke decided to take the risk and walk up to the titan, despite Magath demanding for him to come back.

“Sir!” Reiner hissed.

“Matthew,” Zeke began as he reached his hand out for the titan, “Matthew, it’s us. The fight is over.”

Before Zeke could even touch Matthew, the titan grabbed his wrist and crushed it in his hand. Zeke cried out in pain before Matthew hit him in the face with the butt of the gun, knocking him backwards. Zeke choked as Matthew shoved the gun into Zeke’s mouth. Before Matthew could pull the trigger, Reiner and Porco jumped on him. They tried to pull him off of Zeke, but he didn’t move for a second. Matthew smashed his elbow into Reiner’s jaw before grabbing Porco by the neck and throwing him aside. Zeke began shaking as he saw the expression on the flying titan’s face. It was pure rage. It was pure fighting instinct. The titan believed he was in a dangerous situation and was merely trying to live. To fight for his life. He was pretty much screwed!

“Matthew, stop!” Falco screamed as he and the others ran outside the building, “It’s Zeke! You’re going to kill Zeke!”

Zeke saw that Matthew was hesitating to shoot him, now that Falco made himself known. He glanced over at Falco, but not once did he remove the weapon from his mouth. Zeke glanced over and saw that Gabi and Zofia were carrying and unconscious Udo.

“Please!” Falco begged, “No more killing! No more! You’ve done enough!”

Zeke could feel the gun shaking in his mouth. He could see Matthew coming back to reality before turning his attention back to him and letting the rifle slip from his grasp. Zeke choked on his spit as he grabbed the gun and threw it away from his person. He rubbed his neck and sat up, watching Matthew walk away from him.

Pieck and Annie took a step back as Matthew passed them. Magath held onto his radio while the soldier kneeling down trembled in fear.

“Matthew-,”

“This isn’t my blood,” he finally spoke.

“…How many?” Magath hesitantly asked.

“What does it matter?” he rhetorically asked, “They’re all dead anyway.”

“Matthew, this is psychotic!” Magath proclaimed.

Magath stiffened when Matthew chuckled darkly. “I thought this was what you wanted. War, bloodshed, victory. You and everyone else here have stain your hands with blood, but you glorify it. You say what I did was psychotic, yet you unleash titans on a whim to devour and destroy. You call me a monster? Take a look in the fucking mirror.”

Magath watched as Matthew continued walking forward, leaving behind a trail of blood. Something told him that this was the reason Matthew didn’t want to be apart of the Marley military.

Megatron's dialogue near the end felt a little bit forced. I don't particularly like it. TBH. But Falco was originally supposed to snap Megatron out of his rage, but it ends up becoming Pieck for foreshadowing reasons. Now because Megatron obviously lost his shit and is a danger to be around, Marleyans are actively avoiding him.

Everyone stayed away from Megatron on the train. They clamored at the other end of the cart while Megatron isolated himself on the other end. The titan was curled in on himself. His body curled in the corner next to the window, and he held his knees tightly to his chest. He rested his head on his knees, blocking his face from the rest of them. He was still covered in blood, but the blood had dried onto his clothes and into his hair. It was still leaving stains into the seat, something Magath would have to tell the conductor when they got off.

Pieck wanted to hand him a blanket, and stood up to try and give Megatron one, but Porco quickly grabbed her arm and sat her back down.

“Not now,” Porco whispered, “Not worth it.”

Pieck turned to Reiner who shook his head no.

Magath could only see the man’s rather small form. The confidence and carelessness the man radiated was now gone, and all he could see was a broken man. A broken man…that didn’t want to go to war and now he knew why.

Zofia and Falco kept their attention to Udo while Gabi looked at Megatron’s form. This was all her fault.

Zeke was still trembling as he rubbed his sore neck. He underestimated the destructive powers of this titan, and he knew that was something he had to watch out for when he set his plan into motion. But…why did his state bother him so much?

It was too loud. Everything was too loud. Megatron couldn’t hear his own thoughts as the voices drowned them out. He was covered in human blood, but all he could see was energon. He was quiet, but his entire body was trembling. He just wished everyone would just shut up! None of them would shut up! Their screams wouldn’t shut up!

“I would rather die than put my life in your hands!”

“You bastard! You monster!”

“Go! Leave this planet!”

“MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER!”

“I never should’ve saved you,”

Megatron’s whole body froze in fear. No. No. No!No!NO!NO! Not this! Please not this! Primus! Unicron! Whatever! Please make it stop!

“I never should’ve taken pity on you in the mines. If I didn’t save you, Cybertron wouldn’t have suffered. Innocent Cybertronians would still be alive. You’ve killed innocent humans. Tried to take over their planet. Your bloodlust couldn’t be satisfied. You twisted hypocrite. Instead of dismantling the Council you became them. I should’ve taken your advice: I should’ve left you to rust in the mines. And it wouldn’t matter then: you didn’t even have a name when I found you.”

Megatron slightly lifted his head to see Cybertronian feet in his vision, but did not raise his head to see the being. But he knew…he knew who that was.

“…please…,” Megatron spoke, “…mercy…”

“You don’t deserve mercy. You deserve to die.”

“…terminus..,” Megatron pleaded.

“Matthew,” Magath spoke as he hesitantly walked up to him. The Commander saw him twitch, but didn’t bother to lift his head.

“Matthew, we are here,” Magath informed quietly.

Magath watched Matthew stand up with his head hanging low. The man noticed the blood on the seats and nearly threw up.

Megatron dragged himself out of the cart and off the train. Before he could react, Pieck quickly placed a blanket over him before backing away.

“T-to prevent stares,” Pieck reasoned, “It’s a bit of a walk and-,”

Megatron walked past Pieck and adjusted the blanket over his head to avoid seeing the stares of the humans. The members there followed close behind and in front of him, keeping a close eye on him to try and prevent him from lashing out.

Megatron wanted to cover his audio receptors. He could hear the humans whispering. They were about him, he knew that. About how he was a monster, and why he was covered in blood. That he was a freak, a demon, a monster. Memories of the war keep crashing into his skull and he just wanted it to stop!

The others kept their eyes on Megatron as they continued walking towards the compound.

This scene ends up getting cut off, but Megatron is walking through the streets and everyone is staring at him in horror and fear. Megatron ends up cleaning himself off and isolates himself. Now, Magath was supposed to feel bad for Megatron as of this moment because of how destroyed he is.

Magath was about to knock on the door to Matthew’s room, but stopped when he felt a presence behind him. He tensed when he saw Matthew standing ominously behind him. He seemed to be wet from his shower. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and Magath could see all of his scars.

“What are you doing here?” Matthew demanded.

“I came to talk to you,” Magath answered.

“No,” he answered as he pushed Magath aside to open the door.

“It’ll be quick,” Magath reasoned.

“No,” Matthew repeated.

“Matthew please-,”

“Shut up!” Matthew shouted, causing Magath to flinch. Magath took a step back as Matthew loomed over him.

“I’m sick and tired of your bullshit,” Matthew growled, “I’m sick and tired of your military bullshit. If it were up to me, I would have killed you all. You all make me sick. Come near me again, and I’ll rip you apart.”

Magath jolted when Matthew slammed the door to his room. Magath sighed as he pulled out a form.

“I’m sorry,” Magath apologized, “I took advantage of you. I forced you into a situation you didn’t want. It was my fault you had to go through something traumatic over a stupid law. If anyone deserves to be ripped apart, it’s me.”

Magath slid the paper under the door. “This form is for a leave of absence. You can fill it out and I’ll come to pick it up. You can use this as a chance to leave Marley. I know desertion is a treasonous offense, but Commander Calvi and I can look the other way. For your sake,”

Magath got up and sighed. “I know it means nothing, but thank you, for all you’ve done to help us.”

Now after this, Megatron ends up confronting Armin. And originally the scene was going to be just Armin. Not Armin and Mikasa because I had built the emotional relationship to be around Armin and Megatron. But after the Hizuru OVA and the impact Megatron had on Mikasa, I had to include her. Prior to all of these events, Armin and Megatron were talking and Megatron was asking how Armin felt about him. After a lot more forceful prodding from Megatron, Armin says this:

“I don’t know!” Armin shouted at him, “I really don’t know how to feel about you!”

Armin rested his hands on the table and took a deep breath. “Megatron, you’re not a good being. You’ve done terrible things. You destroyed your home. You killed people that weren’t involved in your war. You tried to take over another planet full of humans because you saw them as inferior. You made a deal with the devil, a deal that is actually affecting everyone on this planet, because if you die, Unicron might come back.”

“Armin-,”

“You might have been risking your safety to help the humans on the island, but it’s not because you want to be better,” Armin continued, “It’s because you to make up for what you did to Optimus. I don’t fault you for that, but that’s probably the only thing you’re honest about. Tell me something: would you kill me, if I affected your chances of making things right with Optimus?”

“No-,”

“And there’s the problem,” Armin cut off, “We both know you’re lying. You would stoop to any length if it means Optimus can forgive you. Majority of the Survey Corps from the coup are still alive because you see us as nothing more than pawn in that game. And you would kill any of us if we got in the way of that.”

Megatron didn’t respond, allowing Armin to continue.

“Did you know Levi told us you blackmailed him?” Armin brought up, causing Megatron to stiffen, “Levi told us, willingly, about how you were going to tell us he had a connection with Kenny. You were going to get us to turn on him. Humanity’s strongest. Do you have any idea what would have happened if you did that? None of us would be here at all! We would’ve had no guidance! No leadership! Kenny and his soldiers would’ve killed us all! And then-…,”

Megatron was startled when he saw tear in Armin eyes.

“My best friend nearly took his own life because of you,” Armin reminded, “He’s been feeling so worthless, and I’m scared he might just take his life one day. The friend who stood by my side in Shingnashina against bullies, when Reiner and Bertholdt broke down the wall, when we were placed in an orphanage for three years until we joined the military. Damn it, I watched him get eaten alive and I couldn’t do shit about it!”

Megatron reached out towards Armin, but Armin slowly backed away.

“I think I know what I think about you,” Armin proclaimed, “I’m scared of you. I’m so terrified. I have no idea if you’ll kill me because I know your secret, and you think I’ve told someone else. I don’t know if you’ll kill my friends in a pass of anger. Sometimes I look over my shoulder, and wonder if you’ll kill me. And…I don’t know if I’m going to live in the next couple of seconds. That’s how scared I am of you.”

“What are you-,” Megatron stopped himself short when he realized what Armin meant.

Armin thought Megatron would kill him for speaking his mind. He thought that, and Megatron felt disgusted. Hadn’t he proven that he-!...Wait, why was he making this about him? What did he even do to prove to Armin that he wouldn’t hurt him?

He was so secretive because of fear of being taken advantage of. That’s happened with the Decepticons; it was normal for him. But that was no excuse. All he did was yell at him, mock him, physically hurt him, threaten him,he did nothing to prove he could be trusted. And he thought he could come to Armin and ask his opinion of him.

“If you’re going to kill me, please don’t make it look too gruesome,” Armin pleaded as he shut his eyes, “I don’t want my friends to-,”

“I heard enough,” Megatron cut off, “And I’m not going to kill you.”

Armin opened his eyes and noticed a conflicted expression in Megatron’s eyes before he deactivated the holoform.

So when Megatron returns to Armin, he's extremely broken, and Armin is so tired and so done with dealing with him. And some of the dialogue is still the same in the final draft, but the build up is different.

Armin rubbed his eyes in irritation as he dragged himself to his home. It’s been a rough couple of days, what with Megatron and Arcee, and the possibility of there being a fight between the Autobots and Megatron. He knew Megatron did terrible things, but he never knew the extent of them. He knew Megatron destroyed the planet, and that could’ve been argued that the civil war on both sides caused it, but… tearing out someone’s voice?! Killing his own followers who didn’t bother to follow him?! Leaving them in an alternate prison?! What the hell was wrong with him?!

Armin covered his eyes and groaned in anger. To think that he might have defended him?! He saved Eren to get on Optimus’ good side. He helped humanity so Optimus could trust. He blackmailed Levi. He threatened him to keep his mouth shut. He punched Jean. He…told him his truth about why he stayed here, when he didn’t have to. He comforted him when he grieved over Eren’s lifespan. He…advised Mikasa on what to do. He saved his own life when he didn’t have to.

Armin shook his head. No! …no. He’s tired, delusional. He can’t deal with this. He’s not worth it.

Armin lifted his head, and wanted to scream his head off at the sight. Megatron was sitting on the steps of his porch with his head hanging low.

Megatron wasn’t worth it.

“What the hell do you want?” Armin demanded, his voice hoarse and tired.

Megatron didn’t responded, and Armin, too tired to care, walked past him to his door.

“I told you that if you wanted to kill me, to make it quick and non-violent,” Armin hissed as he opened the door. He didn’t bother to lock it. Megatron would just break it.

Armin walked over to the kitchen and browsed through the drawers. He was thinking of something hot to eat. If he was going to die, then he would die on a full stomach.

Armin heard footsteps hit the wood floor. He glanced over to see Megatron’s shadow pass by. He heard something press and recognized it as Megatron sitting down on one of the couches.

What was he even going to do about this? Maybe, Megatron was here to kill him. Maybe he wasn’t. He felt the device in his pocket. He had a safety net now.  He could press the button, and Optimus would come to his aid. He would just have to stall for time. But…what bugged him the most was Optimus’ proclamation.

Armin grabbed some vegetables from the cabinet and walked over to the counter to cut them up. Looks like he was making soup.

Armin began cutting up a carrot and raised his eyes to see Megatron just sitting on the couch with his head hanging low.

“I do not believe that Megatron will kill you,”

Armin continued cutting the carrot, losing his train of thought.

“Why do you believe that?”

“Because you chose to listen to him. You chose to give Megatron the benefit of the doubt.”

Armin cut through the edge of the carrot.

“I believe that he might trust you,”

Armin winced as he cut his finger and he dropped the knife on the table. Armin cursed under his breath as he saw that his finger was bleeding. He looked up and grew tense when Megatron walked over to him.

“Let me see the wound,” Megatron ordered as he moved his hand to grab Armin’s.

“It’s a cut. Nothing more,” Armin responded as he pulled his hand away.

“I know how to treat wounds,” Megatron informed.

“Doesn’t mean I trust you to do it,” Armin declared.

There was silence between the two as Armin’s attention drifted towards the knife on the table. Armin noticed that Megatron didn’t follow his gaze as he turned back to him.

“Can I eat first, before you kill me?” Armin demanded.

“I already told you I wouldn’t kill you,” Megatron proclaimed.

Armin pushed past Megatron. “I doubt that. I mean be honest: it’s not the first time you’ve lied.”

“Aren’t you bold,” Megatron remarked.

“I’m gonna die; I have nothing to lose,” Armin shrugged.

“I told you I’m not going to kill you!” Megatron exclaimed.

“And I’m suppose to believe that?!” Armin shot back, “After all the shit you put everyone through, you just expect me to believe you when you ‘decide’ to do one nice thing?! The same shit that Bertholdt and Reiner put everyone through but more?! I mean, Reiner and Bertholdt might have sympathy, they might feel guilt! But you?! You don’t even have the guts or the decency to say ‘I’m sorry’! At the very least to the Survey Corps! No amount of apology is going to change the fact that you destroyed the lives of everyone on Cybertron! Including the people you wanted to ‘protect’ from the caste system!”

“You better watch what you say next,” Megatron warned.

“Or what?!” Armin laughed, “You’re going to kill me?! Mutilate my body beyond recognition?! Make sure I can’t walk again?!”

Armin picked up the knife. “Take this knife and shove it in my chest?!”

Armin rammed the blade through the cutting board. “Your tactics work on someone who’s afraid of dying in the most horrific way possible! I’ve already been through enough shit by you and everyone else who was an enemy to the walls! And even if you do kill me, what exactly would that do for you? Huh? Eren would do everything he can to destroy you! So would Mikasa! And Optimus,”

Armin laughed as he mockingly posed for Megatron, which his hand on his chest. “’My greatest enemy and truest regret.’Honestly, I’ve never heard such bullshit. Play nice with Optimus, but treat his allies like shit. What exactly is killing me going to do for you? It’s going to make Optimus hate you all over again. Feel betrayed, feel like shit, cast out all over again. You know, for someone who’s been fighting for over four million years that would be a really stupid move on your part.”

Armin grunted as he struggled to remove the knife from the cutting board. “And to think I would’ve defended you,”

“…you…were going to defend me?” Megatron asked quietly.

Armin yanked the knife out of the board and sighed. “I was, but how could I do that after hearing everything you’ve ever done spill out of her mouth.”

“She-,”

“Has no reason to lie,” Armin cut off, “Now…I genuinely believe that there is no way for you to make amends with Optimus. I don’t think you even feel remorse for the things you’ve done. And if you really wanted to make up for all the horrible shit you did,”

Armin shoved the knife to Megatron’s chest. “You’d take this and shove it down your throat.”

Armin stormed off to the bathroom, not bothering to look back at Megatron’s reaction. When he reached the bathroom, he slammed the door shut before locking it. It wasn’t going to do much; he knew that.

Armin pulled out the device from his pocket and stared at it. But maybe it could buy him time for Optimus to get here. He might be throwing his life away at the moment, but he didn’t want Eren and Mikasa to suffer because of that.

Armin placed the device on the sink before he began to wash his hands, cleaning his wound in the process. What was he supposed to do right now? He wanted to eat at the very least, but Megatron was probably waiting outside to chop his head off.

Armin slumped to the ground and rested his head on his knees. He could try waiting this out.

Hours past, but Armin couldn’t sleep. Because impending doom was waiting on the other side of the door,…and Armin’s stomach wouldn’t shut up. Armin stood up and took a deep breath before deciding to unlock the door. Megatron was screwed if he killed him or if Armin sounded the alarm.

Armin rubbed his neck as he walked out the door. He didn’t see Megatron as he made it to the kitchen. He noticed that the carrots and the cutting board were gone.

“Well, looks like you do know human etiquette,” Armin remarked, seemingly to thin air, “Let’s hope you didn’t throw the carrots away. That’d be a waste of money.”

Armin noticed Megatron’s leg moving on the floor on the other side of the kitchen. Armin opened a drawer and grabbed a loaf of bread from a bag before shutting it and walking over to Megatron. Armin saw Megatron curled in on himself, clutching his head with both hands and covering his ears.

Armin sat a good distance away from Megatron, crossing his legs and leaning his back against the cabinet drawer. He didn’t bother talking to Megatron or reaching out to him. He’ll just see it as a threat and retaliate.

Armin took a bite out of the bread and chewed. Why was he still here? Why didn’t he just run out the door? Why did he leave the device in the damn bathroom?

Armin decided to test something and stomped his foot on the floor twice. Megatron flinched and lifted his head to see Armin take another bite out of the bread.

“Got hungry,” Armin informed, “Thought the holoform only last 24 hours. What are you still doing here?”

Megatron didn’t respond, causing Armin to roll his eyes in response.

“Right, you need to kill me first,” Armin began.

Megatron slammed his fist into the wall. “How many times do I have to say I WON’T KILL YOU?!”

“Maybe another four million years,” Armin responded, “Again, tell me, how I can trust you with that? You want to make things right with Optimus, sure, but you will go to any lengths to get what you want. You care for Optimus, but you don’t care about us. You don’t even know humankind very well to even pass judgment on whether we get to live or die. We’re just a means to an end.”

Megatron shut his eyes and rested his head against the wall.

“And what about me?” Armin demanded, “You called me ‘Pax’ before I told you not to in order to save your skin. What even am I to you? Am I someone you respect like Mikasa, or am I just a reminder of Orion Pax: someone that is never going to come back?”

“…I don’t know,” Megatron answered.

Armin shook his head. “This is what I mean. Even if you were trying to gain Optimus’ trust or have him forgive you, how would he know that your actions aren’t selfishly motivated? How would you get him to believe that your actions were genuine and not a front? I mean, I know that any kind action towards us is a means to get on Optimus’ good side. So I’ve just learned not to expect much.”

Armin could see the guilt written on Megatron’s face. He was practically an open book at this point. He was genuinely guilty about his actions, but Armin couldn’t be sucked into that. It could just as easily be manipulation.

“…what can I do…to get you to believe me?” Megatron asked Armin.

‘Nothing,’ Armin wanted to answer, but thought it over. Optimus said that Megatron might trust him, but Optimus has known Megatron more as an enemy than a friend. How would Optimus know whether or not Megatron trusted him? Or didn’t want to kill him?

“Why do you suddenly value my opinion?” Armin challenged, “I thought you hated humans.”

Megatron looked down at the floor. “You listened.”

“…you want me to believe you?” Armin began, “Tell me something you have never told another soul. No one on Cybertron, on Earth, not your most loyal followers, or even Optimus. Be raw. Be honest. And maybe I’ll believe you.”

Armin saw Megatron contemplating the request, debating whether or not he should say a word. Armin was ready to call it and contact Optimus. He stood up to move-

“D-16,” Megatron spoke.

Armin stopped and looked down at Megatron, but Megatron kept his gaze to the floor.

“What is that? A code?” Armin asked.

“…My first name,” Megatron answered.

Armin widened his eyes in shock. His what?

“Miners were only given codes; not proper names,” Megatron continued, “We were expendable in the caste system. If one died, another took their place. I had no purpose down there. No meaning. I was always stuck underground. I didn’t know what the sun or moon was. There was a mining accident I was caught in. A ‘Bot came in and saved me. He said it was because he was sick and tired of seeing others die in the mines. He…we made an arrangement. I’d helped him and he’d tell me about life outside the mines.”

Armin saw a genuinely sincere expression appear on Megatron’s face. “He never told me how he ended up underground, but he taught me how to read and write. He taught me about Cybertronian history; the life that flourished outside. He was the first Cybertronian I’ve ever met that showed me compassion and kindness.”

The expression on Megatron’s face turned sour and sorrowful. “He was old, and required more repairs and energon intakes. He never took mine, regardless of that. That day…the guards must’ve caught him, and they were prepared to make an example out of him. They were going to beat him, but he would’ve died with how many whip lashes they were going to administer. I tried to intervene, but I was constantly beaten back. Everything happened in an instant after that. I remember grabbing a pickaxe on the ground. I remember attacking the other two guards. I was about to attack the guard hurting him, but I hesitated at the last second. The last possible second.”

Megatron covered his eyes with his hand. “That guard killed him, so I took his own life. I remember hearing the metal crunch as the axe ran through his vital cable. I remembered the energon staining my armor. I remember…being mortified at what I did. I tried running; the other miners were holding the guards off…but I didn’t get very far.”

Armin sat back down on the floor. “…what happened to the body?”

“…they found no use in melting it down for parts,” Megatron answered, “They simply disposed of it.”

“If I were to go to him tomorrow, and ask him who ‘D-16’ was, would he know that it was you?” Armin asked.

“…No,” Megatron responded, “I never told him the details of my life before the gladiator arena. But, I learned a valuable lesson that day: kindness got you nowhere. Sentimentality got you killed. You could never put your trust in someone, because you never know when they’re going to disappear.”

“…I’m sorry that happened to you,” Armin apologized.

Megatron chuckled sadly to himself. “It doesn’t matter in the end. I became those same Cybertronians who oppressed the caste system. I killed so many, and ruined so many lives. I do deserve to die for what I’ve done. I told myself I would continue on and accept whatever the universe threw at me,…but I can’t even handle the weight of my actions or the consequences of it. If I didn’t have Unicron’s blood in my spark, I probably would’ve ended my life long ago. But here I am: a coward. Unsure of whether or not a cold abyss awaits or Unicron taking over my body once more,”

Megatron looked at Armin. “Why are you still here?”

“It’s not like I have anywhere to go,” Armin reminded, “You are in my house after all.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Megatron proclaimed.

“…even if I tried I wouldn’t get very far,” Armin said.

“That’s still not what I meant,” Megatron said, “You really could have left any time. You could’ve told Optimus or someone else that I’m talking with you. You could’ve told and gotten protection. Why didn’t you?”

“…because I’m human,” Armin answered, “With human nature, we’re always destructive; always violent. If the titans didn’t exist and the Eldians weren’t the scapegoats, we’d be clawing at each other. The damage down to Wall Maria and the loss of territory proved that. We sacrificed our own people just to survive. Eren, Mikasa, and I were spared because we weren’t old enough to go, but we were orphaned. We had nowhere else to go but the military. Our lives were ruined because other humans across the sea judged us without knowing us.”

Armin smiled sadly. “Yet, I still believe that we can get along. I believe that there can be peace one another. With the Marleyans we have on the island, maybe there’s a chance. Maybe we don’t have to unleash the Colossal Titans and kill people senselessly. Maybe…this conflict doesn’t have to end in bloodshed.”

“Even though they destroyed the life you knew?” Megatron asked, “Not very wise. Not everyone deserves that chance to do something right. Especially someone like me,”

“Stupid of me, I know,” Armin sighed, “But…maybe I’m just giving the benefit of the doubt.”

Armin rubbed his eyes in irritation. “I’m going to bed. If you’re going to leave, please shut the door. I didn’t hear you shut the door earlier. I don’t want someone coming in the middle of the night.”

Armin stood up and was about to walk back to his room, but stopped when he felt someone grab his arm. He turned to see Megatron’s holoform kneeling down in front of him. He reached out his hand towards him and Armin instinctively flinched. Megatron appeared to have hesitated, but decided to reach for Armin.

Armin shut his eyes, worried that he might have pissed Megatron off even more that would warrant the titan to kill him. He was debating whether or not he should have kept his mouth shut that he didn’t know that Megatron’s hand went behind his head. Armin quietly gasped when Megatron pulled him forward and touched Armin’s forehead with his own. Armin opened his eyes and saw that Megatron’s were closed.

“I am sorry,” Megatron apologized.

“You-…you’re what?” Armin whispered in shock.

“I am sorry,” Megatron repeated, “All I have done to you is hurt you, mock you, and threaten you. I have done nothing to help you and I have hurt the ones you care most. You were one of the few that chose to understand me, and yet…I have done nothing to understand you.”

Armin heard Megatron chuckle sadly to himself. “I have been through too much, and actions like trust and compassion do not come easily to me. I have stood alone for long time. However, that is no excuse for the actions I’ve done, the beings I have killed, and destruction I have caused. Cybertronians like Arcee have every right to despise me and want me dead. You and the Survey Corps have every right to fear me. Armin, you have every right to be suspicious of my actions and my motivations. But know that…,”

Armin felt the hand on his head beginning to tremble as Megatron opened his eyes, choosing to look at the floor instead of Armin. “I trust you. With every fiber of my being, I trust you.”

‘This…this couldn’t be real…could it?’ Armin thought. It had to be. Megatron would never do this. He never even thought Megatron was capable of doing this! But this wasn’t a hallucination or a dream. Megatron just admitted he trusted someone, a human being no less! He wouldn’t have told him this, asked for his advice, or even talked to him if he didn’t. This was real. And he had to do something.

Armin slowly moved his arms and wrapped his arms around Megatron’s abdomen, causing the titan to freeze in shock. Armin removed his forehead from Megatron’s own and rested his chin on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” Armin apologized, “I may not know how you feel. I know what it feels to not be needed, and the fear of the world casting you out.---”

Armin could hear Megatron quietly catch his breath, but did not for a second, turn to look. He wasn’t meant to. At the very least he owed Megatron this.

Yeah, so Armin was a lot more bold and showed Megatron mercy and compassion. However, I didn't feel that was earned enough, so I ended the final chapter with Armin merely saying 'thank you' to Megatron, giving the former warlord hope that he can be better.

Megatron returns to the compound and the Warriors and Warrior Cadets hug him, and Magath out of sympathy and mercy, does this which Megatron refuses:

Magath watched Matthew pet the dog and teach it to sit. The Commander sighed as he walked up to Matthew.

“You could’ve left,” Magath remarked.

“I know,” Matthew said without looking at him.

“Why didn’t you?” Magath asked.

Matthew merely shrugged.

“Well, it is official now,” Magath declared as he handed him the form.

Matthew looked up at Magath before standing fully and taking the paper. “What’s this?”

“I filled it out,” Magath explained, “Commander Calvi approved it. All it needs is your signature and you’re a free man.”

Matthew merely stared at the paper, causing Magath to sigh. “I know we’ve never seen eye to eye. I know that you hate me, but this is my apology, and my way of saying thanks. I know this doesn’t excuse what we did but-“

Magath gasped when Matthew tore up the paper. He kept on tearing it to little pieces as it sprinkled onto the floor.

“What are you doing?!” Magath exclaimed, “That was your out!”

“I can’t leave now,” Matthew declared.

“Why?!” Magath demanded.

Matthew didn’t respond, his gaze moving down to the ground floor. Magath followed that gaze and saw that he was staring at the five kids he was training for the past three years, going through another drill.

“I can’t leave now,” Matthew repeated, “Not when I still have to protect them.”

“Eldians?” Magath questioned.

“Children,” Matthew corrected, “They are kids. Frightened kids that have no business of being in a war. You know this; I know you don’t accept the Marleyan ideology. You know it’s wrong.”

Magath couldn’t respond as Matthew looked him dead in the eye.

“Once I’m sure these children are ready for war, then I’m leaving,” Matthew declared, “I’ll be out of their lives forever.”

Yeah, Megatron was originally gonna tear up the form and choose to stay willingly because he cared. But I ultimately decided against it because anyone seeing Megatron's break would not know how to treat him, and Megatron is so tired he kind of wants to be done.

(So that's enough for right now. I'm nearly broken my tumblr with this post, so I'll make a second part tomorrow. But this was the original thread for Monster and Regrets and Amends.)

[rhaenyyras]

another steddie snippet ~ steve helps eddie get ready for BATtle in the RV 🦇

It's a challenge not to stare too closely. Eddie looks up at the ceiling while Steve continues fidgeting with the clasp of the belt, his soft fingers brushing against the tight fabric of Eddie's jeans. The RV must hit a small bump in the road because the whole place jolts forward and Steve has to grab on to Eddie's thigh to steady himself. He waits for the RV to resumes its normal page and gets back to it.

Then in one swift movement, the belt is buckled up and it's done. Steve stands back, soft gaze glancing over the belt as it hangs loosely on Eddie's waist. He wants to joke that Steve take a picture but suddenly his throat is dry. Eddie spins around to get a look at himself in the mirror. The belt doesn't look half bad. Actually, it's pretty badass, except it could probably be a little tighter. Eddie also notices the silver chain that he usually loops on his pants is all tangled up on the belt so he needs to fix that up.

Eddie hops up onto the sink, apparently having not learnt his lesson to sit there while the RV is moving. He stretches back to unhook the silver chain from his belt loop and catches Steve in the mirror, staring very obviously as Eddie works on clasping his chain to the bullet belt. It kinda throws Eddie off, mostly because it's totally new to him that Steve is into dudes.

And of all the dudes, he's into Eddie?

It's going to take some getting used to. Steve looking at him like that. Eddie feels his cheeks burn red under Steve's gaze but he plays it cool. He flashes Steve a quick smile as he finally hooks up the chain to the bullet belt. Since he's already up there, Eddie decides to tighten his belt a loop or two. He unfastens it and glances up at Steve again.

"So, now that it's finally on..What are your thoughts on the belt?" Eddie arches an eyebrow. "Too much? Not enough? What do you rate it on a scale of one to total badass?"

Steve laughs. "Oh, total badass."

"Woah, total badass? Seriously, dude?"

Steve, in his best Eddie impression, smirks and says, "Seriously, dude."

Which makes Eddie roll his eyes and try not to smile.

Steve quickly adds, "Those bats will fly the other way when they see you in that."

Eddie snorts a laugh. "Pretty sure I'll be the one going the other way, but thanks. I appreciate your support."

Steve shrugs like it's no big deal. He watches quietly as Eddie readjusts the belt, looping it together and doing the clasp up all on his own. And under Steve's attentive gaze no less. Feeling pretty pleased with himself, Eddie grins and is about to start bragging when the RV hits another bump as it leaves the forest and moves towards the highway.

Only this time, it's a much bigger bump.

Eddie goes flying off the sink again. Luckily, Steve is there to catch him as he goes crashing to the floor. Where Eddie falls, Steve becomes solid and catches him. Somehow, Steve manages to keep his footing and holds them both upright, using a nearby wall for support to steady them.

The Winnebago resumes it usual pace and Nancy calls out a quick apology. Funnily enough, Eddie has zero complaints about the whole thing because it led to Steve catching him in his arms. And really, who could complain about that?

[ilikerafayelwaytoomuch]

Lemuria Pottery- Chapter one

Rafayel x y/n, pottery au?

You decide to take some pottery classes at a pottery studio run by Rafayel...

I rushed through the doors of the quaint, small, pottery studio downtown. l had always wanted to take a class here, drawn to the decor I could spot from the outside. The problem was, I had no one to go with. I had tried, and failed, many times to get someone to go with me. So I finally bit the bullet and decided to just take a pottery class alone. How bad could it be? Then I woke up late the day of the class, threw on some clothes and did my makeup on the way there. When I stepped, or really burst, through the doors, I was greeted by many eyes on me, which made me regret even coming in the first place. Even more so when it appeared everyone was there as a couple, or at least friends, but the closeness of many of them told me otherwise. “You must be (y/n)?” a voice asked. I turned to see a man tying on an apron with a smile. I nodded, stunned by his appearance and suddenly regretting my outfit choice. I had no time to really think, just throwing on some sweats and a tee shirt. “Glad you made it, there should be an open seat there,” he pointed to an empty station near the back of the room. I nodded and quickly grabbed an apron, as everyone else already had and sat down as quickly as possible. Off to such a great, embarrassing start.

The class was taught by the same man who had greeted me at the door. He introduced himself as Rafayel, the owner of the studio. We all got started, sketching a design and then learning to throw the clay on the wheel. The class I had signed up for was actually a set of classes, as I wanted to do this right. Today was the first of three. After Rafayel explained the basics of what to do, he let us try it ourselves, reminding us that today was more about getting a feel for the art, rather than completing our entire project in that class. I had decided to play it safe and attempt to make a simplistic vase. But that was more for next week, today I was just focusing on trying to understand what affected the clay and how. Needless to say, I was struggling. I took a peek around the room, watching a couple working together on their piece. Another couple just having fun with the clay. Rafayel walked around, helping those he could. I sighed. This was a terrible idea. I should have known the class would be filled with couples. I sighed, looking down at the clump of clay on my wheel. I couldn’t let my money go to waste though, so I had to make this vase and I wanted it to be good. So I began again, attempting to slowly press down my foot on the pedal and wrapping my hands around the clay to shape it. It thunked against my hands, the wheel beginning to spin too fast before I quickly lifted my foot off the pedal in fear of the clump flying across the room. Unknown to me, Rafayel had watched the scene, a small smirk on his face. “Try adding some more water to it,” he instructed me. I looked up at him, his presence only just being known to me. “Oh, uh, okay,” I answered. I moved my hands to the bowl of water next to me and dipped my hands in, adding water to the clay. I looked up at him and he nodded. So I continued, readying my hands and beginning to add pressure to the pedal to make the wheel spin. And it all went wrong. I miscalculated the pressure my foot was adding, making the wheel spin far faster than it should. The added water made the clay slide around, flinging small clumps of watery clay onto my face and clothes. I yelped, immediately moving my hands away and lifting my foot up. But the clay didn’t like not being held while spinning fast and it jumped off of the wheel straight towards Rafayel. He was quick, catching it before it hit him in the stomach. My jaw dropped in shock. “Oh my God…I am so sorry,” I said, stunned. “I- well, I don't even know what happened. Good God this is the worst. I’m sorry-” I began stuttering, still in utter shock. I heard a gentle laugh and looked to see Rafayel trying hard not to laugh. Failing, and bursting into laughter. 

“Is your foot made of lead? I’ve never seen a wheel spin so fast!” he laughed, causing some of the couples to look over and see what he was laughing at, some hiding their laughter from me. My face heated up and I began to sweat, completely embarrassed and feeling a panic attack approach. I lowered my head, screaming at my brain to calm down and ignore their laughter. Why did I think this was a good idea? Slowly, Rafayel crouched down and met my eyes, tears beginning to well up in them and I avoided eye contact. “Hey,” he softly said, attempting to grab my attention, but failing to grab my eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s no big deal, really. I’ve done plenty worse in my days. Why don’t you go wash up and then I can help you when you’re feeling a bit better, yeah?” I nodded, wanting to get away and honestly never come back to this studio again. “Head up the stairs and go in the door to the right. There’s a bathroom down the hall to the left, second door on the left, got it?” I nodded, though was a bit confused on where this supposed bathroom was. I was under the impression this studio only had one floor. Rafayel extended his hand to me and I nervously took it, him pulling me to my feet and nodding his head in the direction of a staircase I had only just now noticed. I quickly made my way to the stairs, not daring to look at anyone in the room. How embarrassing. 

There was only one door when you went up the stairs, so that’s the one I went through and was suddenly confused. I was met with the view of a cluttered, but chic living room. Does Rafayel live above the pottery studio? Why had he told me to go up here for a bathroom? Blinking away some tears that had escaped, I turned to the left to see a hallway and went down it to find a bathroom. It was a standard bathroom, though honestly it was much easier to calm down in than a typical public restroom. I sat on the edge of the bath, steadying my breath. Once I began to feel calmer, the embarrassment slightly less painful, I stood to take in my appearance. I had bits of clay everywhere. I winced at the sight. I turned on the sink and attempted to get off as much as I could, frowning as I realized my makeup would come off with it. It was that or clay all over my face, so I chose no makeup and clay. I took another deep breath before opening the door and heading back through what I assumed was Rafayel’s place. I felt like I was impeding on his space, but I couldn’t help but glance at the artwork spread throughout. There were gorgeous paintings as well as pottery, equally as aesthetic. I shut the door behind me and quickly made my way back downstairs and to my seat. Thankfully, no one seemed to pay attention to it. I knew most people wouldn’t even remember the fiasco, instead remembering how much fun they had with their significant other, but I surely would remember. A few minutes after I sat down, Rafayel came over to me. “I’m sorry again, I really didn’t mean to upset you,” he said, keeping his voice down for only me to hear. I shook my head. 

“You’re fine, really. It’s just a me thing,” I chuckled. He nodded. 

“Better now though? Wanna try again?” he asked. I nodded. He grabbed a nearby chair and sat it down next to mine, sitting in it. I grew nervous at the close proximity. He was close. “I’ll start with the pressure on the wheel, think of it like you’re driving, you don’t want to floor it. I’ll begin and then you join- are you listening?” he suddenly tilted his head, smirking. I snapped out of whatever that was and nodded. “You’re going to use the pedal and then I’ll join,” I repeated his instructions. He nodded and smiled. He pressed down, the wheel beginning to spin. Then nodded at me. I moved my foot next to his, pressing down. “Up a bit, you’re putting more pressure than I am,” he noted. I nodded, doing as he said. “There, just like that, yeah. Perfect. See? Now it’s at a manageable pace.” I nodded. He took his foot off the pedal, just allowing me to get used to it, encouraging me or telling me to let up a bit. “Now that you have that, try doing what you did earlier, but this time it's not spinning quite so fast. Make sure to use a bit more water and make sure you have a good hold on the clay.” I nodded and slowly did as he instructed, finally successfully making the clay move. I felt myself begin to smile, finally getting somewhere as the clay raised with my hands. “Perfect,” I heard Rafayel say, looking to see him smile before standing and placing a hand on my shoulder before going to go help a couple who was struggling. I spent the rest of the class getting used to the feeling of the clay and attempting to shape it in different ways. 

[yandere-fics]

Ok because I'm bored today: Pixie Darling thoughts

Abigail is incredibly protective of you. You're so small and delicate, she simply must take care of you. She gives you very sweet and tender kisses. All the time, but never lets you venture out of the house.

Theanna has a tiny throne for you on her throne's armrest. There's a bit of unrest in the kingdom over the strange marriage, she might even get you to do some spying if she trusts you enough to let you put yourself in a little danger.

Pauline is kinda mean. She makes fun of you for being so small, you must be dumb since your brain is so tiny. But she's also lovely once she lets her more tender side out, giving your wings tiny kisses before flicking your ass to make you yelp. One time you accidentally fell asleep in her palm and you looked so small and peaceful, she insists you can only nap in her hand from now on.

Ainsley adores you. She has you working as her little assistant, bringing her things and being her experiment when she needs to test things in tiny doses. She may even figure out how to temporarily grow you in size so the two of you can fuck hold eachother.

Bibi is a menace. She thinks you're sooooo funny, she simply must keep you around her at all times. She ties a string around your tiny little body and attaches it to her wrist so you can never fly away from her. Sometimes she yanks on the string when she wants a kiss. She lets you sleep in the hollow parts of her leg.

Elisha takes you on her adventures, that's probably where she met you. She lets you sit on her shoulder and chat to her, but you have to stay back when she's fighting.

Veronia is... something. You're so small and tiny she loves it, when she's in her dragon form she can't even see you. She keeps you wrapped up all nice and warm in her cave, pampering you and treating you like a little pixie princess. She has you bathe in golden goblets, wear earrings as necklaces, and in return she gets to run her tongue along your entire body from time to time, covering you in gross dragon spit and licking you until you cum.

Miriel is incredibly sweet. She loves you so much, even though there's a giant size difference she'd still have you be the dominant one in the relationship. She'd buy the two of you matching jewellery and sneaks you into work with her because she hates being away from you, one of the drawers in her desk has been reformed into a little bedroom for you to sleep in.

Eliza is a menace to society. She loves you because you're so cute and adorable. She puts you in her mouth sometimes. It's terrifying but she finds it so amusing when she spits you out and you're grasping for air covered in saliva.

Kassien sees your wings as a privelege you need to earn. If you won't behave, she'll stick you to a board with thumb tacks. If you continue to try and escape her, she'll cut your wings off, forcing her to carry you whenever you want to go somewhere. She also likes when you sit on her head and use her horns as handles. She's also still equally mean, forcing you to sit on a bullet vibrator as she turns the settings up all the way, the vibrations spreading all throughout your little body. If you cum before she gives you permission, she's gonna tape you to the bullet and leave you there for a few more hours.

Nikki is ecstatic. Her mate is so small you can be a part of her collection! Your fingernails and hair may be too small to collect, but she makes you a sealed dollhouse to live in so she can always watch and observe you, like a captured animal in an enclosure. She sits for hours and watches you, and when you get tired she scoops you up to nap with her, lying down on her chest.

I've already written how Runa acts but I want to add that she makes you roleplay with her anime figurines since you're the same size. "IT'S NOT WEIRD NOW TELL RIN-SAN THAT SHE'S YOUR BEST FRIEND"

-girlfailure

I love pixie darling so much

[nixie-writes]

Here's something I wrote while high on pain pills

I pulled the plot for this out of my ass and it's a little wonky because I was feeling wonky and now I'm wearing a wrist brace lol. Under the cut because it's 8 pages long lmao

Willow belongs to @willowaudreykeyes , Nixie belongs to me

Willow’s POV

It was a long day. I had many patients today, most of them arriving hoping to get narcotics, which I rarely prescribe. A lot of Hell has drug abusers. I did, however, prescribe Xanax to a young trans girl who had panic attacks when she thought about her family abandoning her. I felt bad for the poor thing, alone in a world that doesn’t support trans people very well. Regardless it had been a long day and I was ready to retire for the night. 

At least, that was the plan. I was taking off my bloody gloves when Alastor burst into my office, the body of a small child in his arms. The sinner child couldn’t have been older than 5. He was beaten, bruised and bloody. How did he end up in Hell? I motioned Alastor to put him on my operating table so I could get a better look at him. 

I parted his black hair and found a healed bullet wound. That explained how he died; it must have been recently if he still had the scar. I looked down at his arms and saw several scrapes but nothing severe. He had a stab wound in his stomach, covered by his hand. He seemed reluctant to let me see it. I gently pulled his hand away and examined the stab wound. It was shallow and not bleeding heavily, likely caused by a kitchen knife. His kneecap was busted, he would never walk properly again. The bone was shattered, I could feel the pieces beneath his skin. When I touched his kneecap he cried out in pain, recoiling. I moved on to his other knee, which appeared fine. Aside from the shallow stab wound and his busted kneecap he was okay; I could get him bandaged in no time flat. 

“Alastor, where did you find him?” I asked; Alastor looked away. “I caught a gang of demons hitting him. They’re past tense now but they were beating him badly. I found him like this,” Alastor explained in a hurried voice. “Can you help him?” Alastor begged. I knew he had a soft spot for children but he seemed especially concerned for this child. “I’ll need some supplies from the living world to patch up his stab wound, can you sit with him until I’m back? The bleeding has stopped but I imagine he doesn’t want to be left alone,” I requested. Alastor nodded his head in response. “I’ll take good care of him my dear,” he promised. 

Nixie’s POV

I was busy with Niffty, folding up clothes. I tried my best to mimic the perfect way she folded towels but I was no good at it. “Don’t worry Miss Nixie, you’ll get it eventually!” She encouraged me. I appreciated that she believed in me. I slowly folded a towel, freezing when I heard a door fly open. It was probably Angel coming back to the hotel high off his ass on Xanax again, so I ignored it and continued folding. 

I was almost done folding the clothes with Niffty when Willow appeared in the door frame. “Nixie, a word please?” She requested. I patted Niffty on the head and walked to the door frame, leaning on it. “What’s up?” I inquired, leaning on the door ledge. Willow told me about a young sinner child who came in severely beaten and she needed products from the living world to fully take care of him. I rose back to full height, surprised at what she told me. 

“Can I come? You know Hellborns can enter the living world,” I persisted. Willow looked hesitant but sighed and gave in. “Yeah, you can come. More arms to carry more supplies,” she agreed. I dusted off my work uniform and followed Willow to her room, where she drew portals to visit the living world. This was my first time visiting the human world so I wanted to present my best. 

Willow took a pen to her wall and drew a circle with odd symbols. “I assume the guy with a cane stuck up his ass taught you that?” Willow rolled her eyes. “No; I’m part angel, remember? I can transverse dimensions too. I learned this from Lucifer,” she explained as she finished the circle. The portal glowed and opened, revealing a blue sky, green grass and fresh air. It was a far cry from the stifling hot air of Hell. Willow stepped through the portal and I followed. 

Taking in a deep breath I sighed happily. “I could get used to this place, I see why sinners miss it so much,” I commented. I glanced over at Willow, who had taken a human form. Her hair was still brown but her skin was almond colored and she only had two arms. “What happened to you??” I asked incredulously. Willow rolled her eyes. “In the human world you have to take up a disguise so no one suspects you’re a demon,” she explained as if she expected me to know that. 

Lifting my head I imagined how I would look as a human - blue wavy hair, pale skin and with the same body type I had now. Taking a deep breath I concentrated as hard as I could and I felt magic swirling around me. When I opened my eyes I only saw out of one, the other blinded. It was weird not having depth perception. 

“It gets easier with time,” Willow assured me as she took off at a brisk pace. I followed after her, glancing around. Insects with pretty wings fluttered around. One flew right in my face and I jumped back. “Nixie, it's a butterfly,” Willow sighed. “They’re harmless. It just wants to know if you’re a flower or not,” I stood still while the insect landed on my hand and examined me with its proboscis, tasting my skin. I shuddered at the sight, I did not like the insects in the living world. After a few moments the butterfly lifted back up into the sky. “They’re pretty from a distance but I don’t want one on me ever again,” I commented as we continued our journey. 

As we briskly walked we came upon a garden. The flowers were many colors, more than the shades of red in Hell. I plucked a yellow flower with star-shaped petals and presented it to Willow. “What plant is this?” I inquired. Willow sighed, rubbing her temple. “It’s a daffodil Nixie. We need to keep going,” she insisted. I buried the flower so it could regrow and followed Willow, who was getting more irritated with me every time I stopped. 

We left the park behind us and found ourselves in a small city. Willow looked around, presumably trying to find the building where her supplies would be. I noticed a sign on a small gas station that advertised cigarettes. “Willow you stay here, I gotta make a pit stop,” I told her, walking towards the gas station.

Upon entering the gas station I was met with a rainbow of lights, blinding me for a moment. Glancing around I found the employee and approached him. “Hey bud, a pack of Newport 100’s please,” I requested. He asked for my ID. Luckily I was smart enough to have a fake one made by a sinner. I presented it and he looked at it for a full 3 seconds before passing it back to me and grabbing my cigarettes. I handed him the cash I had in my pocket and left, opening the pack to smoke a cigarette real quick.

Willow’s POV

I watched as Nixie entered the gas station, my face dead panned. I thought she came to help but instead she’s on a tour of this city. I couldn’t go looking in supermarkets for my supplies until she came out, I needed her help carrying supplies. I watched as she exited the gas station, lighting a cigarette in the process. I stomped over to her. 

“Nixie, the hell are you doing? We have an injured child and you’re worried about cigarettes??” Nixie shrugged. “They’re cheaper here than they are in Hell,” she reasoned. It was a good reason to take advantage of the cheap prices. 

“Well, keep your cancer stick away from me and let’s get these supplies,” I told her, taking her free hand to make sure she didn’t wander off again, and made my way through the city looking for the medical store. 

Alastor’s POV

With the two women gone I was left alone with a sobbing child. It was awkward. If this were an adult I would take immense pleasure in seeing them writhe in pain but this poor child was suffering and for once, I felt bad for him. 

“Tell me kiddo, who sent those demons to beat you?” I asked him, trying to weasel out information about my next target. The child coughed, his body wracking with the effort. “My… my father,” he replied. “He thought I was a mistake and wanted me gone,” he explained between grunts of pain. I felt a fire light inside my chest. Every child deserves a loving parent, but not every parent deserves a child. “What’s your name sweetheart?” I cooed, trying to relax the child. He looked at me for a moment before staring back up at the ceiling. “My name is Andrew,” he stated. So, Andrew’s father put out a hit on him. I knew a certain demon who talked about his unwanted son Andrew. I’d pay him a less than savory visit later, but for now I was focused on Andrew, who had his hands covering his stomach wound as though he was protecting it. 

“It hurts,” Andrew whined. I wasn’t sure what to do but I knew Willow had a stash of painkillers in her safe, and I knew the combination. Opening the safe I pulled out a bottle that read Tylenol. I knew it was a painkiller and emptied two pills into my hand. I put away the pill bottle and turned back to Andrew, filing a cup with water. “These pills will help with your pain. They’re not big, they're easy to swallow.” I soothed him as I approached. I held him down by his shoulders and dropped the two pills in his mouth, holding the glass of water to his lips. He drank fervently, swallowing the pills. “Can I have more? I’m so thirsty,” he sounded hoarse. I didn’t like it but I would have to use Nixie’s water to hydrate him. I reached into Willow’s fridge and pulled out a bottle of Nixie’s water. I held it to Andrew’s lips and he guzzled the water. When he finished he laid back down on the table, a little more light in his eyes. 

“I miss my mother,” Andrew hummed. I cocked my head to one side. “Where is she?” I inquired. “She’s still alive as far as I know,” he replied. I placed my chin on one hand, the other on my leg. “So how did your father die?” I asked. Andrew shrugged. “I don’t know. He never liked to be around me,” he explained. I felt my anger towards Andrew’s father continue to grow. 

“Don’t worry about it, try to get some rest,” I suggested as I placed a blanket over Andrew. He snuggled into the bed and shifted onto his side. His stomach was no longer bleeding and the scab looked good enough to hold. Exhausted, I sat in Willow’s chair and opened a book. How she did this every day was beyond me. 

Willow’s POV

I held Nixie’s hand like she was a toddler and finally found a supermarket that sold the stuff I needed for my patient. I pulled her inside and released her hand. “You have a little money, spend it wisely,” I warned her as I walked off to the pharmacy. I noticed Nixie running to the candy like a child and rolled my eyes. 

I approached the pharmacist. “Hello, I need bandaging, rubbing alcohol and self-adhesive sports wraps, please,” I requested. I knew I couldn’t make a cast for the kid’s knee but I could at least clean him up and wrap his knee so it doesn’t hurt as bad. The pharmacist looked like she really didn’t want to be there, but turned into the pharmacy to get what I requested. As I was waiting I noticed Nixie approaching me, eating peach rings. “Are you gonna be done with those before I need your help?” I inquired. She nodded, popping another one in her mouth. “I’m almost done, and it doesn’t look like anyone’s in a rush to get what you asked for,” she noted. I hated that she was right. Would they move faster if they knew it was for a kid?

While we were waiting a young man approached us, brushing his hair back with his hand. “What’s two pretty little things like you two doing alone? Don’t you want a man to protect you?” He asked, flexing his tricep while he brushed back his hair. Before I could respond Nixie snapped at him, “we both have men, we’re not interested,” she retorted. The man scoffed. “Clearly they weren’t interested in making sure you two were safe.” I could see Nixie’s one magenta eye narrowing, she looked ready to pounce on him. He turned his attention to me and approached me. “I’m sure I could show you things your boyfriend could never do for you,” he suggested. I didn’t understand the context, but before I could ask Nixie walked up behind him and kicked the back of his knees, making him fold to the ground. She grabbed him by a pressure point and pressed down hard enough to leave a mark. “I believe I said we both have men,” she growled. In her anger she was beginning to lose her human form, water dripping from her fingers. 

“Nixie, I think he gets the message,” I insisted. She snorted contemptuously but let him go. He spun on us. “You’re both a pair of bitches, you know that? I could do so much better than almond milk and the feminist behind me,” he snarled as he stood up to leave. Nixie grabbed a box of batteries and threw them at the back of his head and they landed. He held the back of his head but didn’t turn around as he left. I looked at Nixie. “ What did he mean by showing me something Alastor can’t?” Nixie just sighed heavily. “He was trying to have sex with you,” she responded in a blunt tone. She noticed the water dripping from her fingers and hastily wiped the water onto her work shirt to hide the evidence. 

“You almost lost your human disguise there,” I warned her. Nixie nodded slowly. “It’s harder than it looks to hold up a human disguise,” she retorted. “I have to focus on keeping this form and I just want to get back to Hell so I don’t have to wear a disguise for hours on end,” she muttered the last few words but I heard them. 

The pharmacist, who I’m sure hid during Nixie’s little spur with the guy who approached us, handed me my supplies. “Rubbing alcohol, bandaging and sports wrap, right here for you ma’am,” she passed the supplies to me. Nixie ate her last peach ring and threw away her wrapper. “What do you want me to carry?” She offered. I passed her the sports wrap. “Don’t get it wet or it won’t stick,” I told her. She nodded, tucking it under her arm. “Let’s get out of this pisshole,” Nixie suggested as she made her way to the exit of the supermarket.

Nixie’s POV

I took the quickest path out of the supermarket, rushing for fresh air. I had the sports wrap tucked under my arm just in case I began to lose my physical form again. Willow paced after me at a brisk speed, finally catching up to me. “That guy really got under your skin huh?” She mused. I rolled my good eye. “What bothered me was that he was trying to get you in bed with him; it’s perverse and nasty to pick up random girls when they’re alone or in a small group,” I ranted on for a moment, Willow nodding her head in agreement. 

“I wasn’t exactly comfortable with it either,” she agreed. “I was just wishing Alastor would form out of nowhere and handle him,” she admitted. I scoffed. “What, was I not your knight in shining armor? Am I not red enough?” I joked, giving her a snarky smile. Willow giggled; “no, you dispatched him just fine,” she replied. 

I grabbed a piece of chalk and passed it to Willow. “Get us out of here, I want to go back to the correct Hell-hole,” I told her. She got on her knees and drew a crude circle with the same symbols from earlier. Willow pricked her finger and dropped the blood onto the drawing and it opened a portal to Hell. She hopped down first and I followed her, happy to drop my human disguise. 

Alastor’s POV

I read a book while Andrew slept. His sleep was fitful, it sounded like he was having nightmares. I would have woken him up but I don’t know how to comfort a child after a nightmare. I am a nightmare. I looked up from my book here and there to make sure Andrew was comfortable. He occasionally mumbled incoherently, curling up under the blanket. 

I stood up from my chair and gently patted Andrew on the head. “There there, the nightmare is just that - a nightmare. The real world isn’t as bad as you think it is,” I tried to comfort him as he slept. As though he could hear my voice he relaxed a little, settling down in the bed. I sat down again and went back to my book. 

About two hours had passed when I heard the hotel door open. I didn’t hear Angel flaunting whoever he had sex with. I didn’t hear Charlie talking excitedly to Vaggie about hotel campaigns. In fact, I didn’t hear anything. Leaving the room and closing the door I walked to see who entered and froze in the spot. A demon, very similar to Andrew, stood in the foyer. 

“I want my son,” he demanded in a growl. I forced myself to not look in the direction of the clinic. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied. I knew he wanted Andrew. The demon approached me and grabbed me by the wrist. “Give me the boy or I’ll make sure you’re in the same condition he’s in,” he threatened. I snarled, grasping him by the throat. “No one who threatens the Radio Demon makes it out alive,” I threatened in return. I knew I could kill him with no effort. But I knew that Andrew, a 5 year old, still loved his father regardless of what he did to him. I didn’t want to hurt the boy. I threw the demon to the ground. “Leave this hotel or I’ll drag your soul through every circle of Hell,” I warned him. I really didn’t want to crush Andrew by killing his father but it seemed like I didn’t have much of a choice. 

The demon stared at me in uncertainty. Standing up he paced back a few feet. I already knew he was farcing an exit, and I was ready for him to rush at me. So when he did I summoned a tentacle, grabbing him by the arm. It pulled him down and he fought against it feebly. “The hell is this?!” The demon demanded. I snorted. “I warned you,” I taunted. Another tentacle grasped him by the throat, pulling him down to the ground. He writhed to get free but the tentacles only tightened. He was suffocating. For a split moment I worried about having to tell Andrew his father was dead but I couldn’t show this demon mercy. Not when he put out a hit on a child. The tentacle around his neck tightened until all he could make out were spitted nonsense. I watched with glee as he choked on his own vomit. His writhing had stopped, he had lost too much oxygen to move. He began twitching violently as his muscles restricted and begged for air. He jerked harshly for about 30 seconds before falling limp. I waited until I knew he was dead before I removed the tentacles. I approached his dead body and kicked him in the stomach. “Killing a child. No class,” I chastised him before turning around and entering the clinic. 

Andrew was wide awake, laying down, eyeing me with fear. “I heard my father. What did you do to him?” I didn’t want to go into detail about how I slowly killed his father. “He won’t be around to hurt you anymore,” I promised him. “Now get some more rest, the ladies will be back soon with the supplies they need for your wounds.” Andrew closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, swiftly falling asleep again. I sat down in my chair and returned to my book. 

Willow’s POV

Now that we were back in Hell I could carry all the supplies. Nixie gave me the sports wrap, surprisingly dry, and we headed back to the hotel. Nixie pulled out her phone and opened her GPS. “Alright, take two rights and a left and we’ll be there,” she instructed. I nodded my head in agreement. “I hope that kid’s okay, he’s been through so much,” I mused. Nixie hummed. “Alastor is watching over him. I don’t trust the guy with you but he would never hurt a child,” she assured me. I nodded my head in agreement. “Of course, he would never hurt a kid,” I reasoned with myself. It wasn’t him I was worried about. I was worried I couldn’t help the kid and I’d fail him, but I would never voice my insecurities to Nixie. She’d just go on a tangent about the patients I’ve helped and how capable I am of helping. Which is usually what I need to hear but right now, with a child’s life on the line, nothing could comfort me. 

Nixie and I followed the GPS, eventually arriving at the hotel. I fished out my key and opened the door, and gasped in horror. Lying on the floor of the foyer was a demon who looked eerily similar to the child I was caring for, dead on the ground. I approached the body to examine how he died. He had constriction marks on his throat and left wrist. He was suffocated to death. He hadn’t even begun to smell, this murder was recent. I knew who was capable of this - Alastor. Had the child’s father come back for him? I would never give up the kid to his father after what he’d been through but murder seemed excessive. Carrying my supplies I stepped over the body and entered the clinic. The kid was asleep and Alastor was reading a book. I cleared my throat and he glanced up, dog-earing the page he was on. I sat down my supplies as quietly as I could so as to not wake my patient and I beckoned him outside of the clinic. “Mind explaining the body in the foyer?” I inquired suspiciously. Alastor smiled ever so sweetly at me. “My dear, that was Andrew’s - the boy’s - father. He put a hit on his kid because he never wanted kids.  I simply gave him what he tried to give Andrew.”

I crossed one set of arms, propping my hand on my chin with the other set. “Well he’s certainly a piece of shit but how do you plan on explaining to Andrew that his father is dead?” I asked him. “Ho ho! I’ve already told him. He looked relieved.” Alastor never made a move to help someone in need unless it benefited him, but here he was killing a child’s father because his father simply never wanted kids. 

Nixie peered around the corner of the clinic. “I hate to interrupt your makeout session but we have a patient to attend to and I have a meeting in an hour. Could we get this show on the road?” I rolled my eyes at her crassness. “Of course, let’s take care of Andrew,” I agreed. 

I gently roused Andrew and told him to lay flat on the table on his back so I could see the stab wound. It had scabbed over by now but still needed to be cleaned. I split the skin open and Andrew whined. I motioned for Nixie to give me the rubbing alcohol and she passed it to me, looking away as I poured it into Andrew’s wound. He cried out in pain. “It burns!” He wailed. I waited for his sobbing to end. “It only burns because it’s cleaning the wound. It’ll be fully healed in about a week,” I told him. It still surprised me how fast sinners healed from their injuries. 

Afterward I requested the bandaging and Nixie handed it over to me, willing herself to watch me at work. I gently wrapped his abdomen and back in the bandaging to stop any bleeding and prevent the scab from tearing again. I waved for the sports wrap and Nixie approached me with it. She examined Andrew. “He looks like he’s been through literal hell,” she commented. Andrew laughed wryly. “You could say that,” he hissed through clenched teeth as I wrapped his shattered kneecap. “No walking for two weeks, we’ll take care of you here,” I told Andrew. He nodded, eyes closed in pain. 

Nixie’s POV

While Alastor and Willow were tending to Andrew I went back to the foyer, where the dead body lay. I knew Alastor was going to eat the corpse eventually but I didn't want him to get blood stains on the carpet again and drive Niffty into a flurry. Grabbing him under the arms I hauled him out of the hotel, kicking the door open behind me. I dragged the corpse to the back of the hotel, away from prying eyes. No one would see Alastor eat him. I knew his sense of smell was keen and he’d find the body with no issue. 

Entering the hotel again I changed into more casual clothes - a pair of yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt. I sat down at my computer and opened Zoom, preparing for my meeting. 

Thirty minutes passed and no one had joined the meeting so I clicked off. Clearly the meeting wasn’t being held today. I walked my way to the clinic to check on Andrew. He was fast asleep and Willow was tinkering with some bottles of mysterious fluid. When she noticed my arrival she gave me a hush signal. As quietly as I could, I slipped up behind her. “What are you doing?” I whispered. Willow hummed. “I’m trying to make fertilizer for more of Hell’s plants.” So essentially what she always did. I walked to the door, waving. “I’m gonna do my own thing, you have fun,” I whispered as I left. 

I noticed Husk was actually attending the bar for once and approached the bar, planning to only have one drink. I sat down on an empty stool and requested a sex on the beach. He lifted an eyebrow in doubt but said nothing as he prepared my drink. When he passed it to me I chugged it like a shot of vodka, it was gone before it melted the ice. I was already tipsy but I had a stressful day and dammit I deserve to unwind. “Give me a shot of whiskey,” I slurred. Husk shook his head in disappointment and passed me a shot of whiskey. It burned my throat and chest going down but I wasn’t about to pussy out. I drank the entire shot in three gulps. 

“I’m impressed. Not many demons can chug straight whiskey,” Husk complimented. I giggled, most definitely intoxicated. “Oh Husk, you’re so funny! You know my body waters down the alcohol so it isn’t as strong, silly.” I was hardly aware of myself when a hand patted me on the shoulder. I looked over to see Willow. “Nix, I think you’ve had enough. It’s time for you to go to bed,” she suggested, Alastor behind her nodding his head in agreement. I lifted a finger to her face; “you’re not my mom,” I slurred, but obeyed her, standing up to walk to my room. “Goodnight kitty!” I called out in a sloppy voice before retiring to my room. Alastor sighed. 

Willow’s POV

“So, when’s the wedding?” I teased Husk. He snorted. “Ask that again and I’ll find a way to make you drink toilet water,” he threatened. I just shrugged him off. “I’m going to bed too, wanna join me? You can read a book while I sleep,” I offered. Alastor nodded his head; “I’d love to,” he agreed. We ascended the stairs to Alastor’s room for the night. Changing into my nightgown I asked him, “are you going to eat that body?” Alastor chuckled darkly. “Let’s just say they won’t find the remains”. 

[hanasnx]

chronicles | snips and skyguy: "combat."

WC: 0.6k | CHARACTERS: anakin skywalker, ahsoka tano SUMMARY: anakin skywalker and ahsoka tano must work together to defeat their enemy in the sky. NOTES: non-canon short story about their dynamic during the clone wars era. this may be hayden!anakin more than matt!anakin. WARNINGS: no ahsoka spoilers | combat sequence

“Ahsoka! Take the helm!” Anakin barks the orders, and she twists her neck to watch him retreat to the back. There’s no time to waste, no time to question, and she leaps into action. She doesn’t have her pilot’s license, but a speeder is way less complicated… Right? Her hands grasp the steering in time, hasty in smoothing out the ride which causes Anakin to stumble as he steps over the seats. “Watch it!” he gnarls.

“Sorry!” she yells over the noise. Anakin stands on the backseats, and loops his ankle into one of the security belts.

“Just—!” he begins, his tone credibly frustrated, but he softens it at the reminder she’s trying her best in her inexperience. “get me close.” he finishes, and she nods. The ignition of his lightsaber sounds behind her, and she pursues the enemy. One behind, two in front.

Overhead, the familiar and lethal sounds of a saber whirl, and she ducks instinctively. She picks herself up in time to see how Anakin’s blue weapon whirs past an assailant. Their ship dodges out of the way.

“You missed!” she informs him incredulously, but when she continues to watch, her Master performs his superior strategic prowess once again. Clapping his hands together, he utilizes the ship’s own momentum to crash into their own contingent. The vehicles exploding in a fiery collision as Anakin catches the hilt of his saber returning to him. Her jaw drops.

“One more, Snips, one more,” he tells her, glancing over his shoulder as the last contender gains on them. “Get ready. It’s coming up.” he warns her, and she remains attentive, prickling with anticipation. “Dive!” Without a second thought, Ahsoka obeys his command, shoving the controls forward so the nose of the speeder angles downwards. The entrance of the tunnel swallows them up, and rapid winds rip through Anakin’s curls as he closes his eyes, feeling out their surroundings. When the blasters activate, Anakin twirls his saber like a baton, fanning it out to cleave through the bullets. Ahsoka keeps her eyes forward, narrowly avoiding the bridged piping of the channel. Sparks fly as the speeder sideswipes the apparatus forking the path. “Ahsoka!” In one word he’s conveyed his distaste for her lack of focus.

“It’s dark in here, Master!” she defends, the gliding of the vehicle jarring and unsteady because of her trembling hands. However, he does not need to answer her in order for her to know what he’s going to say next. She must use the Force to anticipate.

If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have foreseen the end rapidly approaching, and her window to pull up close. With all her might, and her feet rooted to the floor, she yanks the steering back, fighting against the air resistance as she cuts through it to angle the mech upwards. She shouts in exclamation, giving use for the energy inside her as tears are torn from her eyes. Anakin’s hand grabs hold of her shoulder, having been forced to take a knee from the pressure.

The warmth of it grounds her. She quiets. Now acutely aware of her breathing.

“Level it, Ahsoka.”

She balances it out, and to confuse their opponent, she abruptly stops the vehicle. Anakin straightens to his full height. The enemy shuttle advances from the passageway, and it veers to avoid their stasis speeder. As it passes, the strength of Anakin’s entire body instills into one, concise purpose: batting it with his blade, slicing it in clear two.

[chaberkowepole]

I was in Warszawa stare miasto (Old Town) yesterday

And maybe it's all those stories, songs and poems that I have been infused with since childhood but damn. I never expected to be hit like that. By a city I have never seen.

Its beauty took my breath away. I hadn't expected it to be so pretty. And at the same time, every step was accompanied by immense grief.

They say pre-war Warsaw was as pretty as Vienna. If you've ever been to Vienna, you know what I'm talking about.

I was constantly wondering, which building is new and which one has survived the bombing. I have never felt the density of sheer history in the air as much as on nowy świat, krakowskie przedmieście and close to the castle. Not even in Rome, which obviously is objectively older and thus fuller with history. But this felt closer to... Home.

Those streets, they look very much like any other European Old Town, they're bustling with life and there's cafés and restaurants on every step.

And yet. After every few steps. There's a sign. Again. And again. And again. The Nazis killed people here. They lined them up and shot them here. And here. And here. And here too. And here.

[Image ID: Memorial Tablet commemorating Germans shooting 30 Poles, some of them randomly, on the street. There are flowers and znicze underneath. End ID]

[Image ID: Two Memorial Tablets, one commemorating Russian Crimes during 19th century partitions in which they destroyed Chopin memorabilia, along with his piano, the other commemorating Gymnasium teachers (secondary education) who continued teaching during WW2 German occupation. End ID]

[Memorial Tablet and flowers in Polish white-red colours, commemorating the wounded people from the Warsaw uprising that got treated in an insurgent hospital. German occupants seized it, shot some of the wounded and poured gasoline over others and burned them alive. End ID.]

And the castle, the king's castle that we raised from ruins. That Germans destroyed entirely. Like they bombed down the entire city. To not leave us anything. Because they wanted to erase our history and subjugate our people.

[Image ID: on the left, picture of the ruined castle 1944. Only rubble is left. On the right, the rebuilt castle. It is red in colour. End ID]

And rage, and grief I didn't know I still had carried shot up in me and I understood now why our resistance were shedding blood for those streets. I could almost feel the bullets flying in the air, like a weird time-echo I faintly picked up on through the layers of the years.

I think the right all too often co-opts this anger, this grief, and twists it to suit their purposes. But this is not a good reason to bury it, either. Buried anger like this breeds resentment. So for the first time, I let myself feel it and I wanted to do things to the Nazis and everyone who collaborated with them that I will not write down here.

But we shouldn't stop here. Instead, we could channel it to something productive. The same thing is happening to our Ukrainian neighbours, right now. How much their hearts must bleed when they see the streets of Kijv destroyed. Or any other Ukrainian city dear to them. It's their work, their efforts, their culture, their history. Their home.

So support Ukraine right now. Support Ukrainian refugees. Support All refugees that are escaping bombardements of their homes. Combat the ideology that leads to this destruction. In your own town, in our country. Support Polish Jewish people, Polish Trans people, Polish Lgbtqia+ people, Polish Disabled people, Polish Muslims. Elections are coming up, vote those right wing bastards out of this beautiful city, that we rebuilt again through sheer willpower.

[Image ID: on the left, the destroyed market square from 1945. There's rubbel lying everywhere, a group of people are standing in front. On the right, the same market square, today, rebuilt. Each house is very colourful and the walls are painted & decorated. A statue of the mermaid, Warsaw's emblem, is standing in the centre. Her arm is raised, holding a sword. Her other hand holds a shield. End ID.]

[korgbelmont]

Male MC (Will Redgrave) x Charlie Smith

Part 1

The first part of an alternate ending to Distant Shores, and it's a race against time as Charlie has been poisoned. But time has other ideas...

Written in the present tense

Tagging: @choicesficwriterscreations, @jerzwriter

Warnings: Talk and threat of death, violence, use of a gun

Word Count: 1005

Notes: I don’t own these characters, they are the property of Pixelberry Studios.

The first section is text used in Chapter 16, all text belongs to Pixelberry

An Alternate Path made on cooltext.com

I was thinking about this post I made ages ago, and decided to write a story sort of based on it

Will has finally reached the heart of the mysterious time temple, just as Charlie collapses.

Charlie - Nnhhhh...

Will - Charlie!

He drops to his knees and examines her side. The wound there is much worse, swollen and discoloured where the darts pierced her skin.

Will - Oh no... the darts must've been poisoned!

Charlie tries to brush is hands away.

Charlie - I'm... fine... We have... to stop... Admiral.

Will - I'm not risking your life. Not for him. It's not worth it.

Charlie - My life... is not worth... the thousands who will be at risk if we let the admiral win.

She grimaces and sits up a little straighter.

Will - Charlie...

Charlie - Don't cry for me yet, love. A little poison can't stop me.

Will - You better not die on me.

Charlie - I wouldn't dare.

Will, Edward, and Oliver get Charlie back on her feet. She sways, then manages to gather herself enough to wink at Will.

Charlie - Let's go save the world.

Will nods before drawing his weapon and stepping forward into the heart of the temple.

WHERE THE PATH DIVERGES

Water falls around them, with no sign of the Admiral or Robert. The four continue on up the steps. It's there they find the two before a portal.

Will - It's like the one that brought me here to this time.

Admiral - You're too late. And you...

His eyes fall on Oliver.

Admiral - You're a disappointment. Working wit--

Edward - If you were going to say 'Pirates', then I'd be looking next to you.

Will - So tell me, Robert, when are you from?

Robert - It doesn't matter. None of you will live to see the future.

Drawing his sword, Robert lunges at the group, but Edward intercepts, blocking Robert's blade with his own.

The Admiral reaches into the portal and pulls out a rifle from a time period Will recognises. His own. Acting on instinct, Will grabs Charlie, ducking down. Edward and Oliver do the same as the Admiral pulls the trigger, bullets flying.

Charlie - Will...

Will notices that the colour has drained from her face and he checks where the dart hit her.

Will - Dammit, it's getting worse.

Edward - Get her out of here!

Oliver strikes the rifle from his father and it falls to the ground. While a duel of father and son as well as that between Robert and Edward happen around them, Will's focus is purely on keeping Charlie conscious.

Charlie - Nnnnhhhh...

Will - Keep your eyes open...

The portal suddenly flares, and Will looks up to see that the Admiral and Robert have frozen. As has Charlie. Oliver steps back, as does Edward, both of them looking over towards Will.

Edward - What is this?

It was me...

The three men look over at the portal as the silhouette of someone appears. A woman who they have never seen before stands before them.

Edward - Are you...?

Magdalena - I am the one you know as the Pirate Queen, yes. I have watched you Captain Mortemer. You are a man of honour. And you, Oliver Cochrane, a man destined for great things.

Oliver - You know us?

Magdalena - I do. All of you. Including those out of time.

Her eyes lock with Will's as he carefully sets the frozen Charlie down, standing.

Will - Robert and I...

Magdalena - It is why I'm here. By coming to this time, you have unbalanced the scales of space and time.

Edward - Unbalanced the scales?

Magdalena - There is a way to fix this. Two of you must return to William's time. Only then will things return to how they should be.

Will - Wait two of us?! Not Robert and I specifically?

Will looks over at Charlie. Even though time has frozen around them, once it resumes, the poison will only spread.

Edward - I know what you're thinking, Will.

Will - Medicine from my time can save her.

Magdalena - Know that when you go, you can't come back. This would be goodbye.

Will nods, making his decision.

Will - I'll go.

Oliver - You're sure of this?

Will - I am. But I won't make the decision for Charlie.

Magdalena approaches Charlie, taking her hand and a glow appears from her palm. Charlie's breath are strained as Will takes her in his arms, helping her up slowly.

Charlie - Will...

Edward kneels down, giving her a smile.

Edward - There's a way to save you. But it would mean this is goodbye.

Charlie - All that matters is... stopping the Admiral.

Edward laughs lightly, taking her hand in his.

Edward - Always so stubborn.

Magdalena - The decision must be made. I can only hold this for so long.

Edward - Oliver and I can see to Robert and the Admiral. You two see to saving your life.

Charlie - You just want the glory of saving the world.

Both Will and Edward laugh.

Edward - All that matters is your life. And you can be saved by going with Will to his time.

Will - But this is your decision.

Charlie looks up at Will.

Charlie - You'll be with me?

Will - Always.

Charlie looks to Edward and nods.

Magdalena - Then the scales will balance once more.

Charlie - Tell the crew...

Edward - I will.

Will stands, taking Charlie in his arms and lifting her. Edward gives Will's arm a squeeze, the two sharing a nod.

Will - Goodbye, Edward. Thank you for everything.

Edward - Live well. Both of you.

Oliver gives them a nod and soon, Will steps through the portal with Charlie and Magdalena.

The next thing they know, their on the set Will left behind.

Steve - Uh, Will? Who's this?

Will - Call an Ambulance!

Steve - But--

Will - NOW!

Steve - Alright!

Steve grabs his phone and dials for Ambulance while Will checks Charlie.

Will - Stay with me...