#sorry i probably have a very different idea of Aether than most of you guys do hjbjdhfh

[sphylor]

okay gotta preface this by saying that i dont have any personal experience with muteness like this. please let me know if anything about this is wrong (beyond like. the biology of it fhhf i already know thats Messy at best here)

but what if Aether has a really hard time with not being able to fully heal people sometimes? and what if he has a hard time listening to his patients' wishes when they go against his own wants? (under the cut cus it got too long)

after the transition he was of course one of the people by Dew's bed the most, helping heal him with his quintessence. most of the things he can heal even if they take time. he managed to close the gills that were quickly drying out on his neck and sides, he healed the wounds from where Dew's fins had to be surgically removed, he soothed any burns on his skin. but Dew's voice was left completely destroyed after the transition. Aether managed to get the swelling and inflammation down and reduce the pain whenever he needed to eat or drink but he could repair his vocal cords. he tried and tried repeatedly. he used quintessence, he made Dew drink silly amounts of warm honey and lemon. he tried to get Dew to do vocal warm ups but it just ended up causing him more pain.

by this point Dew had honestly accepted the fact that he would never be able to talk again. he at first felt bad for Aether, seeing his desperation to help Dew get his voice back but soon he felt angry that Aether was so focused on it. like it was the only thing that mattered about Dew. that he couldnt be happy that Dew was still alive and there and present right in front of him or respect Dew's acceptance and try and do the same. Mountain noticed both Aether's obsessive desperation and Dew's frustration and stepped in. when he took Dew out on slow walks around the grounds or when they were in the greenhouse together Mountain started to teach Dew sign language. he was still learning it himself but he had learned enough to teach Dew. and Dew was genuinely so grateful for this. he finally had a way to communicate again without writing everything down. they spent rainy days in the library together reading old books about ghoul sign language that even had illustrations (lets just say that ghoul sign language is something well documented and the abbey has lots of resources on it jhsfbjhd)

Aether found out about this all eventually though and got pissed at Mountain (im imagining that at this point its still only Dew Aether and Mountain and the others havent been summoned yet). Aether accuses Mountain of giving up on Dew and his recovery but Mountain points out that Dew has accepted what has happened and that they were both doing the work to adapt to this new change. Aether's still annoyed and insists he can heal Dew and Mountain gets Angry. Dew, who was napping in his room but got woken up because of the shouting, finds them arguing. Mountain explains why to him and Dew thinks for a moment before turning to Aether. he signs something to him, his anger clear. Aether looks to Mountain to translate and he coughs his throat and tells him he said "you're being a selfish prick. stop thinking that you can fix me when there's nothing that needs to be fixed. stop thinking about me in terms of your own wants. i dont care what you want. this is what i want so fucking deal with it." (or something to that effect djfhjd)

getting those words from Dew finally gets it into his head that hes fucked up and he goes off to think about it. when he comes back after a day of being locked away in his room he signs an apology out to Dew. Dew rolls his eyes and signs out "i can still hear, idiot" but hes got a small smile on his face and knows that Aether was just trying to show him he is trying and willing to make the effort now. Mountain is stood behind Dew like a guard dog the entire time glaring at him but he softens a little when he sees Aether clumsily sign out the apology.

they all learn more sign language, the ministry holds ghoul sign language courses for anyone who wishes to attend (Copia is at every single one. it was his idea in fact hjsfbhj), all new summons are taught ghoul sign language alongside english if they dont already know it, Aether learned a lesson and Dew is happy and content with the way he is.

some other little bits:

i think that Dew can still make a fair few ghoul noises like purring and chuffing and chittering etc etc i think ghouls have two sets of vocal chords (i dont care if this wouldnt work theyre demons from hell if thay can have knots and tentacle dicks they can have two sets of vocal cords shbfjhs) one for ghoulish sounds and one for speech and it was mostly Dew's speech set that got affected. his other set got affected too but that just means all his sounds are a little crackly now dhjbfj

ghouls are pretty good at nonverbal communication anyway with ear flicks and tail movements and eye stuff etc etc so sometimes Dew doesn't even have to sign to communicate as a lot of ghoul conversations can happen in complete silence hfshjs

he of course still has to write a lot of things down especially when communicating with people outside of the abbey when he doesnt have another ghoul around to interprate his signing. but also after new ghouls are summoned too before theyve learned enough sign language to understand what Dew's saying dhsjfb hes patient with new summons. hes less patient with ignorant humans and often signs obsceneties and insults that they will of course never be able to understand while he smiles sweetly at them dsfhjhbdfhjb

what if Dew was left permanently mute by the element transition?

[the-psychotic-blueberry]

Liyue Chapter

aka, me summarizing a random idea about a hermit genshin isekai fic I'll probably write but wont Pt.2

ft. Grian, Scar, Jevin, Ningguang, Yelan, Yanfei, Xiangling, Aether and Paimon

Summary: Scar becomes the richest man in teyvat, and people think Grian is an adeptus and is very done, and Jevin is not having a good time with other slimes.

  Grian and Scar, wake up on that giant rock that looks over Liyue Harbor, Scar gawks at the scenery for a bit before Grian realizes that they are in a different world. 

   So they fly down the mountain, and somewhere along the way they stumble onto a bunch of ores (cor lapis, crystal chunks, magical crystal chunk, etc.) And Scar, being very intrigued by the shiny, mines it with his netherite pickaxe instantly, and instead of dropping one, it drops about 4 due to the fortune III enchantment on his pickaxe. 

   So they decide to head to Liyue Harbor, and both Scar and Grian are very much excited about where they ended up. They both take a few pictures of the buildings for reference in case they wanna build something similar, but then Grian notices the stares that are aimed at him and wonders if it was because of his huge parrot wings (they are big because watchers are CANON here) but just shrugs it off.. 

  A while later, Scar is now currently haggling and selling off the ore that he just casually yoinked to Shitou, the boss of the jade mystery while Grian is to tired to stop him and just went to Third round knockout and sat down and ordered some tea and bamboo shoot soup.

   Iron Tongue Tian obviously took interest in parrot boi, because how can you not? His wings makes up most of his sillhoutte. So the dude makes up a story about a half adeptus with rainbow wings on the spot to get his attention, which did but he just didn’t notice. “Oh? What a coincidence” and acts all oblivious to it. He didn’t really understand the concept of an adeptus but listened anyway.   At some point, Scar came back and asked for some soup as well. But then pointed how he didn’t have the money to pay, and then pulled out a bag of mora, which he got from successfully selling it to Shitou. Which he assumed was the currency of this place. Scar had asked for the bill but they said it was on the house for some reason. They had no idea why (Scar just thought it was because nobody can resist his good times), and went on with their day.

 They decided to check the old woman selling kites and toys from across the street. As they were checking it out, (Scar wanted to buy a really big kite, y’know the dragon one?) a child walked up to Grian and asked if they could touch his big colorful fluffy wings, and yes he agreed. The child very much enjoyed it:D. 

   After a while, the child’s parents saw them touching his wings and immediately called them back and apologized for the child “I’m sorry oh great adeptus, please don’t mind my child.” and Grian’s just there like ???

   What he doesn’t know however, is that people think he is an adeptus. He didn’t realize that the world could sense his watcher aura and people started to notice, but the citizens confused it for adeptus aura.   He just waves them off and says he doesn’t mind and he thinks the child is pretty cute (though the family just thinks that he just literally gave the child an adeptus blessing or smthn)  and says goodbye. Scar finally gets his kite and they both head to Yujing terrace to fly it, and then gets hit by the idea of “How much mora do you think I can make?”

And then somewhere along the lines, Scar somehow becomes the richest person in Teyvat within a week. (Meanwhile somewhere in Snezhnaya, Pantalone heard rumors that some guy’s net worth is larger than his and fell over and couldn’t get up like a dramatic turtle)

   Liyue is not okay about this. Somehow he evaded breaking the law despite not knowing it, Yanfei and Yelan can’t find any flaws or any heinous intentions from him. Ningguang is shocked about the fact that there is another Jade chamber flying about, but it’s built over a mountain that definitely wasn’t there the last time anybody checked. Scar and Grian had somehow built themselves a whole mountain and a home because of how decked out they were and how many resources they already had.   The only difference however, was that their home was also free to the public, meaning that anyone can go in and out as they wish so long as nobody does anything bad. What made it even more welcoming was that there was a Jellie panda sanctuary on the mountain. 

  They asked where it came from, Grian would not say anything.   Rumors started spouting from the Liyueans about how Scars' riches and success had come from the adeptus that accompanied him. And now whenever Grian goes out to go shopping, people keep coming over to him to ask for blessings. Grian was usually either very annoyed, or decided to take advantage of it. (He heard people started to assume Scar was some kind of reincarnation of Rex Lapis and was very much done)

   Meanwhile, Jevin had actually woken up near the entrance to Qingce Village, he was perfectly fine at first… Then a bunch of different slimes with different elements started following him like ducklings and he immediately left since the slimes were bothering him a lot. He tried to ask for help from the locals… but they obviously ran away because he is also a slime, but just a sentient human-shaped one. So now he is just stuck in a tree, with all the slimes surrounding him.   A few days later, Aether and Paimon received a commission from the guild about a group of slimes that were led by a scary looking slime person and have been terrorizing the villagers. Along with Xiangling and Guoba who decided to join, they went over to check it out andddd…   …Cliff hanger :)

Bonus: Meanwhile in the depths of the Chasm, you can hear the faint hums and whispers of an old man mining away in the caves.

[lazycatmeowsalot]

of instincts and desires

summary: aether didn't know about the difference in gender in teyvat. paimon never told him about it (she probably didn’t know as well, being a genderless being), so imagine his surprise when he found out from an argument from rather protective xiao about his supposed gender.

background: omegaverse AU, xiao x aether main pairing, zhongli x childe background pairing 

free talk: listen, i just read a great omegaverse yaoi manga about an omega having a child and finding an alpha that treats him so well and the story is just awesome! i just cannot not write an omegaverse with aether and xiao! so without further more, the story begins!

Of all the people Aether encountered in his long journey, Xiao was the most reluctant and unwilling to accept his help. “I don’t need your help!” Xiao would always shout when he held his hand out and the emphasis was not lost to the traveler.

He sometimes wondered if it was asking someone for help that bothered the adeptus or if it was because Aether, in particular, was the one who wanted to help.

He had asked Zhongli about it one time, but the god in a mortal’s skin told him that it was probably Xiao’s instincts aching up. There was no additional explanation and Childe immediately followed the statement with saying that he understood where Aether was coming from. 

“We’re in the same boat, comrade! This guy,” the eleventh harbinger put his shoulders on the retired archon’s, who didn’t even flinch at the sudden closeness. “He’s so overprotective as well despite knowing how strong I am!”

Aether didn’t get what Childe meant until it was forcefully on him.

The day started off nicely and the traveler found no issues with his daily commissions. He had even managed to get more info on how to finally travel to Inazuma.

Then, Aether suddenly experienced an extreme fever on his way to Wangshu Inn for errand. Paimon would have suggested to let him rest, but he left his pixie-like companion with Xiangling because he thought that it would be a quick errand.

He certainly didn’t expect to get sick on his way.

“It’s just a couple of miles away,” he muttered to himself in encourage. In all honestly, he could have chosen to rest instead of continuing on but the sun’s almost setting and he already saw the inn. He might as well have it done already.

The traveler dragged his burning body to the top without realizing how the people below glanced at him in concern and worry, seeing his symptoms. “Miss Verr—“ just as he was about to greet the owner of the inn, he felt faint and his eyes blurred.

Aether prepared himself for the pain of collapsing at that moment but it never came. Instead, strong arms managed to break his fall and steadied him. He blinked in confusion, the fever still in his system.

“You,” the familiar growl made him realize who saved him from his fall and golden eyes tried to focus on the angry adeptus holding him tightly. “What are you doing here?”

“Xiao...?” Aether managed to say before his body burned up again. He felt the other stiffen in respond and suddenly, aware of their position, he tried to push Xiao away. “I’m sorry...I’m feeling sick today. My errand...I’m supposed to bring these goods here.”

“Just...a minute...I’ll go home and rest after...”

“Go home alone with your heat? Are you stupid or what?! Do you want to be attacked that badly?!” 

There’s a different kind of anger in the adeptus’ voice and Aether felt quite small for angering Xiao further, but he really didn’t mean to get sick.

Wait, what did he mean by heat—

“Heat? Attacked? What are—”

“You’re a stupid omega if you think that you can take on any alpha in your heat! No matter how strong you are, do you think that you can stop them?” Xiao didn’t seem to notice his confusion, still very much angry at his apparent heat—whatever that was. 

The adeptus put his hands around him and his eyes glowed in intensity and hunger that almost drowned Aether. “You can’t even stop me!” he spat so consumed with the words he uttered and the traveler realized that it was out of protectiveness and restraint. “If my instinct had gone against my reason, I would have taken you and you wouldn’t have been able to stop me.”

Something in Xiao changed as if the strings attached to him broke and left him broken. Like how he resigned himself from his mission and duties, the adeptus accepted that he would probably be a “danger” to Aether.

Aether didn’t know why but his heart ached at this.

“Would you just listen to me?! I don’t know why you’re acting this way!” the traveler didn’t snap often because he needed to be the calm one in most situations. He wanted to help and being angry never helped, but he didn’t want Xiao like this. He didn’t want the adeptus suffering emotionally like this.

“I don’t understand why you and everyone thinks that you have this instinct to act like this! I don’t know why having a fever will make any difference in fighting when I’ll be resting it away! I have no idea what you mean by heat or anything like that! I’m confused and frustrated!”

“I’m not a mind reader! I won’t know what you expect me to do if you don’t say anything!”

Silence answered to his rant and he felt pairs of eyes stare at him. He stubbornly looked down in shame at his outburst. He thought himself better than this. Xiao didn’t need to get yelled nor should the other have yelled at him. They should be having a conversation, not this shouting contest.

“Traveler,” Verr Goldet broke the silence with a serious and grave tone and he straightened up, seeing the seriousness in the owner and the guilt in Xiao. “Do you not your gender?”

“You’re an omega, a rare male omega and they’re usually the submissive partner of an alpha.”

[eri-baby]

chongyun crushing on a shy/dense noble fem!reader

a/n: this idea has been on my mind for a long time now, and i'm finally posting it! chongyun is probably very ooc, but listening to his character's voice-over's gave me the idea that he's just an earnest guy and i found that adorable.

i picture that chongyun first saw [ ] at a banquet where all the wealthy and influential were invited. she was quiet, reserved, rarely speaking to anyone. it was hard not to notice her when gossip about her was circulating all around the room. they called her a mist flower because she's "a cold person" and yet they appreciated her beauty. [ ] is expected to become one of the leaders of liyue in the future, maybe even one of the qixing, because of her family's influence and her being a well-educated young woman. chongyun ignored the rumors about her and respected her resolve to make liyue a better place.

from that day onward, chongyun wanted to know more about [ ]. they were similar, after all. chongyun and [ ] were both cold in the eyes of the public. he thought he would be able to get along well with her. he had nothing but respect for her.

whenever he had a comission, he asked clients or locals within the area about the noble [ ]. he discovered that [ ] often travels around liyue to personally watch over the state of each area. if anything were ever amiss, [ ] herself is the one who creates solutions and funds them. she shut down businesses that were swindeling people, found new jobs for the innocent workers involved, and earned back money for the victims. he found more admiration for her.

xingqui turns out to be somewhat childhood friends with [ ]. they spend time together every now and then. xingqui described her as a well-meaning girl who can never get her point across because of how awkward she is. she focuses more on the problem at hand and solving it rather than interacting with others which makes her come across as prickly.

chongyun was excited when he heard that [ ] had spoken about him. she asked xingqui about the young exorcist, and commented that exorcists like chongyun help maintain liyue's glory. it took him two months to stop centering all conversations around [ ]'s passing comment.

he has attempted to speak with her, even frequenting areas she was said to be seen in often, but the most he would get were glimpses of her before she scurried off or was escorted away by one of her chaperones. it disappointed him greatly that he never had the oppertunity to speak to her since he was so invested in her and her work.

i think he would barely realize his own feelings for a total stranger. xingqui and xiangling are sick of hearing about [ ]. they're scared of the day [ ] actually talks to chongyun. she's the only other thing on his mind other than training and exorcism.

he was disappointed and ready to give up on ever talking to [ ] after months of trying, until he was assigned to a comission in her estate. apparently weird things have been happening in her room. items have been misplaced, at night there were whispers coming from the closet, banging noises were coming from the walls. it caused her family great distress.

chongyun was, needless to say, stressed about making an appearance in [ ]'s household. how should he introduce himself? how should he speak to her? will he be able to speak to her? what should he bring? he bothered both xingqui and xiangling as he asked all these questions over and over again. xingqui was so annoyed that he finally relented, telling chongyun that lady [ ] is fond of the glaze lily flower. chongyun was gone before any of them could say another word.

the local florist in liyue harbor had not even a single glaze lily in stock. chongyun had to go all the way to a faraway town where a different florist was. he was lucky it was a colder day. with a boquet of glaze lillies in hand, he was ready to travel back to lady [ ]'s estate. on the way back, he passed by a little girl who was in tears. the little girl had dirt stains on her clothes but no injuries. she begged him to save a girl who had gotten trapped in a cave. the little girl was looking for her doll and she asked the girl, who's physical description matched [ ]'s, to enter the cave with her. the girl relented but inside they were attacked by a ruin hunter. the girl managed to get the young child out of the cave before rubble fell over the other entrance. it had been a long time but the girl still hasn't turned up.

chongyun immediatly dropped the glaze lillies in his hand and rushed to the direction the little girl pointed in. the cave had two openings, one of which had been blocked by rubble. chongyun went through the second one. he found at the other end lady [ ] fighting off a ruin hunter with her bow. chongyun finished it off for her.

he immediatly dropped down beside her and asked her if she was okay politely. she had no idea what to say, in fact she wasn't even expecting any help, and nodded quietly. he noticed that her ankle was swolen so he used his cryo vision to ease her pain. he quickly helped her up, even carrying her despite his fear of triggering his congenital positivity. he was lucky that the weather was cold and so was the cave, and that [ ]'s body temperature was also cold because of her vision.

"I am Chongyun, from an exorcist family. I was heading to your home, Lady [ ], to deal with the evil spirit in your room, until the little girl you had rescued stopped me and asked me to help you."

"I... see. We'll have to double your payment for saving me, Exorcist Chongyun."

"Oh, no! My services are free of charge!"

she became quiet and smiled to herself. he could hear her quiet giggles, making his cheeks heat up slightly. he worried about his congenital positivity.

both of them were somewhat awkward and dense. the truth was that they were both panicking. chongyun had no idea what to say and neither did [ ].

chongyun was the first to speak after a few minutes of awkward silence

"I'm sorry I don't know what to say to you."

"I have no idea what to say as well."

they both laughed together about being dense in social situations. from then on, conversation flowed somehow a little easier because they found that they had something in common. the more they spoke to each other, the more similarities they found.

it turns out that her reputation of being a cold person was a result of her being misunderstood. [ ] doesn't know how to say things other than straightforwardly, and when she panics she has a tendency to freeze up making her tense in conversations.

chongyun as well had a one-track mind. everything he did was to become a better exorcist, which made him terrible at conversations especially outside of the exorcism business.

she spoke about the responsibilities of supporting the nation of liyue and her dream of traveling every inch of their lands and waters because she wanted to be one of the pillars of liyue in the future. it was her dream to become a qixing, like ningguang, to support liyue's growth.

he shared his dream of becoming the greatest exorcist. he wanted to find an evil spirit or demon that wouldn't avoid his congenital positivity, and to be able to control his congenital positivity. his dream was to rid the world of all evil spirits as the greatest exorcist in all of history.

they each shared the hardships of reaching their dreams and their desires to reach their goals. it was everything and more than he imagined talking to her. he had always wanted this oppertunity to speak to someone similar to him.

they reached the outside of the cave only to be met with servants from [ ]'s estate. she was taken away from him and rushed back to her home while he was thanked for saving her. apparently there was no evil spirit in their estate, at least not a real spirit. they were abyss mages planning something terrible again and [ ] was the victim. her family sent servants to pick her up from this town, only for them to hear from the little girl about what had happened. chongyun was greatly compensated for his help. he didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to [ ].

weeks had passed without chongyun seeing nor speaking to [ ]. he sent her a "get well soon" present but received no response. each passing day made him more and more depressed, which xingqui was not used to. xingqui told him that [ ]'s family was probably trying to keep her away from the public and were being overprotective but it didn't make anything better.

aether came in with paimon and a package in hand. he had somewhat a smug smile on his face, having some awareness of chongyun's crush on [ ]. he said that he had been comissioned by lady [ ] to deliver the package to chongyun directly. without allowing aether to finish his sentence, chongyun took the package from the blond's hands and carefully opened it.

inside it he found a letter and a jade insignia. the jade had an intricate glaze lily symbol carved on it with other symbols chongyun could not recognize. he brought out the letter and read it.

Exorcist Chongyun,

I apologize for not sending you a thank you note earlier nor seeing you at all these past few weeks. I haven't found a perfect oppertunity to escape from my family until now. My leg is fully healed, and I can even run. Please be assured that your present and the glaze lillies you had intended to give me have reached me. The little girl I was helping gave them to me and said they were from you. Thank you for such thoughtful presents.

I am aware that you don't accept payments, so instead I have sent you this as a gift. It's an insignia that identifies colleagues of mine and allows them to enter into one of my private and personal cottage. Rest assured, there will be plenty of cold sweets for you waiting there and the cottage itself is kept cold.

Please see me at Guyun Stone Forest. The insignia will lead you to me.

From [ ].

he barely finished that letter and he was already out. as the letter stated, the insignia did lead him to the secret cottage. on one of the mountains, there was a contraption made of stone that he would place the insignia in and then a stairway would appear. it led him up to a snowy floating island with a cozy cottage.

[ ] was sitting on a swing supported by a tree and waved to catch his attention.

"Greetings, Exorcist Chongyun."

"Hey, Lady [ ]."

[benchqpr]

@jaypostssometimes @sunlitmcgee hehehe ok ok so

it's not very fleshed out much but it's basically like. what if ctommy did kill cdream in the disc finale. but the idea of revival got them thinking.

they all kind of want cwilbur back (and since ctommy doesn't die here, he's not trying to stop cwilbur from being revived). they join forces with ceret i think, and also cjack because how could i leave out my little guy.

i haven't thought much about the exact plot because this is honestly just a fix-it au in a trenchcoat. some things prior to the disc war finale are also different (like exile is shown to go on for a year). but so far i've been mainly thinking about the mechanics of life and death and revival.

i feel like non-canon deaths should still play some part in the story— taking inspiration from the qsmp, i figured that each "non-canon" death would be more like getting downed. if someone can't patch you up in the next few minutes, you properly die and lose a life.

most servers have the natural default of 3 lives, but some servers are warped due to magical reasons (i will probably explain more about my whole servers and magic headcanon later). hardcore worlds are an example, like phil's hardcore world which is saturated with godly presence.

that's off topic. uhhh. i think when a person loses all of their canon lives, their soul gets like- split in half? heart and mind. heart is usually what gets left behind to become the "ghost" part, although it depends on the person's last thoughts and emotions. glatt is one of those rarer cases when the mind is left behind.

the other half goes to limbo, which i feel is a representation of a person's mental state and their perception of the world. i think the time passing more in limbo than in irl is kind of stupid and mostly just an angst thing (never forgetting the day cranboo had canonically been in limbo longer than he'd been alive) so i'm scrapping that.

wilbur's train station; he feels everything is temporary, everyone is constantly on the move, going from one destination from another without thinking. the shadows on the train station he passes are how he thinks of other people. he only spends a few months there, and he's in a terrible mental state the whole time, so limbo doesn't really shift or get more cheerful.

at revival, the two halves become combined again and the person reappears, whole, back at spawn.

the revival mechanic is something i'm still working out— i feel like there should be some kind of stakes beyond just losing the ghost of that person, like having to sacrifice a life of equal value. the process is also very very rickety and whoever is doing the revival should have to commune with some kind of god. sometimes the gods just straight up don't appear, which is a sign that you messed up colossally in the set-up.

i haven't figured out who exactly is the god of what yet; XD i imagine is a gatekeeper between realms, namely the gatekeeper of the end. there's a gatekeeper of the nether and of the aether and of limbo as well, but they don't matter too much.

i assume the revival process would require summoning the god of death (who is not kristin, because i just... don't feel very comfortable writing her?? sorry). that's where you have to sacrifice someone, an eye for an eye type deal. i wouldn't put it past any of benchtrio to offer themselves up to the god in exchange to cwilbur's life, especially ctommy.

whether the soul is Actually equal or not is entirely up to death's whim. of course, they have to be of the same species, you can't just crush an ant and expect it to fill the hole in the afterlife left behind by a human.

funny enough, i think the god would choose cranboo instead. cclingyduo obviously object to this, but they're all at the ritual, so according to death xe can claim any of them.

cranboo's limbo would not be like in canon. it kind of resembles the end, albeit unintentionally (well i intentionally did it, but cranboo does not see the world as similar to the end, it just kind of slips through the cracks). the people are silhouettes, just like in cwilbur's limbo, but they have color and are noticeably different, as opposed to how the train station just has generic shadows.

^ artist's shitty rendition

i don't think people should be allowed to communicate across limbos unless given very special specific powers. cranboo certainly has special powers, but not that kind.

anyways, with their mind being left in limbo and the fog of memory being lifted, they probably remember their entire life, including what they did while enderwalking. i will elaborate on this in a different post but i am a very strong believer in time traveler ranboo so maybe karl will be important in the au, idk.

in terms of what little i do have of plot: cphil does not approve of cwilbur's revival. i don't understand why he did in canon. he's the angel of death, and even if wilbur is his son, he's very accustomed to losing people he cares about, so he probably just mourns on his own. he's very principled, so i doubt he would be very happy learning that cclingy literally summoned the god of death xemself to grab cwilbur's soul through the veil separating limbo and the overworld.

he'd probably be even more upset to learn that they're planning to go into limbo itself to go and get cranboo and cheat death. that'll probably be fun to write!!!!!

cwilbur meanwhile is probably having the worst time of his life because he was probably very fine with being dead, even if limbo sucked. he's just as terrible as he was in pogtopia, just more quiet about it. the overworld is also very overwhelming to him. he's also hard of hearing. that's not lore related or anything i just need the world to know.

uhh WOW this has gotten long shit um to cut this short. no burger van but just as much ctnt homoeroticism, while cbench act out the plot of orpheus and eurydice (sort of)

get c!alliumduo'd. does anyone wanna hear about my au idea

[silverandarsenic-hcs]

Could you please please please! Do Papas/cardiac and ghouls reacting to S/O being nervous to do anything because their trans, or coming out to them? (FTM and MTF)

First post in a long time and it’s not even my work! This is something @solofreakk answered for us FOREVER ago that I never even go around to pressing the 8 buttons to post it. How absolutely lazy can I be. But please enjoy (-kat) 

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*cracks my knuckles* alright Oingos and Boingos and Those Who Are Neither i’m gonna do my best at this as a trans/nonbinary guy but i definitely don’t speak for everyone’s experiences, so… if you don’t like this i apologize. I want everyone to be supportive of you so if they sound repetitive I’m sorry! And I apologize in advance for not including MTF :( I just feel like trans women and men can have some similar experiences but in the end I don’t think it’s my place to write for them. If there are any trans women out there writing stuff for Ghost i would say Please Shamelessly Shout Yourselves Out In The Replies Ladies.

Papa I: He’s a bit too old for most activities that would reveal you being trans imo. A pride parade is too crazy for him, he doesn’t have the energy to go to the pool or something. If you did he’d just lay there in the sun with a ghoul waiting to open an umbrella when he’s about to start getting too crisp. So if you didn’t go swimming, or take your shirt off, it literally would not raise any questions. He’s not in the water. He might make an offhand comment about how you should enjoy yourself but you could very easily tell him you’d prefer to be sitting with him, and you melting his old man heart like that kills any other question he might’ve even had. If you do end up explaining it to him later, he kindly reminds you there’s nothing wrong with knowing who you are. Encourages you to feel comfortable around him, you shouldn’t feel like you have to hide who you are because of your past. No further questions asked. You can say what you’d like about yourself but he won’t press or get in your business.

Papa II: This man is totally comfortable with nudity. You being opposite is… weird. He’ll ask. Are you insecure? You can say it’s something like that. He’ll be able to tell that you’re kind of dodging the question and he’ll leave it alone. But you’ve piqued his curiosity now. He’s gonna watch you just a little bit closer than he did before. He’ll suggest you guys take a swim, or go to the beach, and when you shoot that down too, he’ll ask. “Is there a reason why?” You can try to make excuses, or be vague, or say a half-truth, but those mismatched eyes see right through you. He probably already knows. When you ask him if he does, he’ll just wrap you in a nice strong Papa II Rare Tender Hug™. “It’s nothing to be ashamed about, you know. It’s okay to decide you’re not what everyone said you were. It’s part of becoming your own person.” Would probably be more bold in asking what your future plans are for yourself. Later on quietly reminds you not to bind for too long, or helps you with shots, or is making sure you’re laid up in luxury if you get top surgery. Supports you even if you’re gnc and don’t bind or don’t plan to transition and would impart his death glare upon anyone who dared to misgender you or treat you poorly.

Papa III: Hope no one shoots me down for saying “Papa III trans man” but *eyes emoji*. He’s gonna recognize your behavior immediately. You sweat at the idea of going to the pool or the beach, you don’t wanna change in front of him, you get nervous if someone calls you pretty instead of handsome. He’ll see you very very discreetly tugging at your binder, or taking deep breaths. And he just knows. And he’s elated. He’s like “OH I AM GONNA MAKE YOU FEEL SO HANDSOME.” Immediately deploys plan “Compliment Anon ‘Til He Dies”. He’s telling you that your hair looks great today, your laugh is so masculine, I love the way your arms look, That shirt is so handsome on you, I’m lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life. Anything it takes to have you know how great you are. If you’re busy melting over the compliments, you might not immediately realize he’s caught on. You’ll probably think he’s just doing his regular Papa III schmoozing. Eventually, it clicks in your head. He’s lauding on you ‘cause he knows. So because he seems so cool with it, you finally work up the nerve to tell him. And he smiles at you and he’s taking his shirt off and whoa whoa WHOA HEY IT’S WORK HOURS MAN- oh. Oh. I see. That’s why. He buttons his shirt back up and pats you on the head and asks if you wanna get top surgery too, and if you say yes he’s literally writing you a check on the spot. He wants you to feel as comfortable in your body as he does in his and if you have any dysphoria woes he is all ears. He’s seriously like ride or die for you bro.

Cardinal Copia/Papa IV: He thinks your nervous behavior is totally normal, only because he is also nervous all the time. So he doesn’t even read into it. He’s totally clueless. You don’t wanna go swimming? Okay, yeah, actually he doesn’t really want to do it either. He’s pale, he’d just get burnt. Let’s stay inside all day in our pajamas. You don’t wanna put your pajamas on in front of him? That is also ok, hell let’s change in different rooms. You don’t even have to explain yourself, he just Gets It™. Eventually if you start wondering why he hasn’t asked about your odd behavior, you’ll just ask him. “Did you notice that I’m kinda… weird, about some stuff?” He’ll say he’s weird about stuff too, why should he pry into your personal business? So you press on and tell him you’re trans. You don’t want anyone else to know, for a myriad of reasons. You might start rambling about it, complaining about stuff, talking about what you want. And he’ll just… listen. Nod sometimes to let you know he’s hearing you, and you can keep going if you want. Finally you’ll end it with an exasperated and maybe slightly embarrassed sigh, but before you can apologize he’s pulling you into a hug. You are free to talk about it as much as you want, especially if you don’t tell anyone else. You’ve got all this stuff weighing on your mind and no one to vent it to, and he’s flattered you finally felt comfortable enough to let him know something so personal. 

Dewdrop: Dare I say it… I headcanon Dewdrop as trans too… He’s much more like me though, feisty and kinda gnc. Like III, he’s gonna catch onto your behavior immediately. He’s not gonna make any moves to let you know that he knows, though. Just quietly be in your corner. Well, as quiet as Dew gets. He’s gonna… violently be in your corner. If he finds out someone misgendered you or committed some related act he considers a heinous crime, they’re losing some teeth. He’ll take a chunk out of them if someone isn’t there to rein him in. Eventually when you confide in him that you’re trans, he’s telling you that’s cool. You ask him why he’s so chill about it and he’s just smirking at you. “What…?” You ask. “Seriously, what? Why- ooohhh…” You’re free to not bind around him because most of the time, he doesn’t. He’s not gonna judge you for anything. Whether you wanna be traditionally masculine or be lax about gender norms, he’s gonna tell you you’re cool as Hell no matter what. Admires your courage in coming out to him and will take your secret to the grave.

Aether: First may I start this off by saying I may or may not have asked Aether, like irl, if he said “trans rights”. To which Aether kindly and genuinely said, “Does [Aether] say “trans rights”? Of course trans rights!” So there you have it Fosters and Peoples. Mr. Quintessential Ghoul himself did indeed say trans rights and I’ve never been happier to have asked someone that. I digress… He’s not gonna focus too much on odd behavior or nerves. It’s not because he’s got his head in the clouds, it’s just because this is a Judgement Free Zone™. If and/or when you come out to him, expect him to say, “Hell yeah, you do what’s right for you!” He’s got your back. If you want help with something, say an outfit or you need a new binder, he’s gonna help you figure it out. If you ask him not to tell anyone else, his lips are sealed. 

Mountain: He is so used to being taller than everyone else so if you’re a short king (like me 5’3 man gang rise up [but not too high]) that does not make him ask any questions. He’s also out of your business when it comes to how you dress, or messing with your shirt, or not wanting to do certain activities, etc. He just… it’s not that he doesn’t care, it’s that he’s chill about everything. So chill in fact that eventually one day you just casually mention it. And he’s like, “Neat, you have lore.” Which is hilarious. He’s probably likely to ask if you’re making sure not to wear your binder for too long. He wants you to take good care of yourself, y’know, you’re really cool and you should treat your body kindly. He’ll ask if anyone else knows and if you tell him you’d rather they not find out immediately, he’s already giving you a thumbs up and making sure any question directed at your gender is immediately shot down.

Swiss: Swiss is too focused on having a good time and being good to everyone who deserves kindness to worry about why or why not you don’t want to go to the pool with them. You’ve got your reasons and that’s enough, although he’ll sorely miss you because he could use the extra help in fending Dew off in the water gun fight that most definitely will end in bloodshed if Aether doesn’t step in. Eventually he’ll convince you to maybe go, but not before you cave and tell him you can’t be seen with your shirt off. He’s smart enough to know what that means. No worries! And you know what? In solidarity he just won’t take his off, either. Will support you regardless of how you choose to present yourself and will sometimes casually gift you a new shirt or something, “because I think you’d look really handsome in it.”

Rain: Tender boy. He literally would not pry or push you to tell him anything you didn’t seem like you wanted to say. If you come out to him, that’s completely on your terms. I think he might eventually have a feeling, but he’s not going to make assumptions about you and will let you tell him when you’re ready, and even if you never do, that’s ok too. When you do tell him, he’s completely supportive and won’t make you feel any less of a man about yourself. Is a bit sad to know that you may struggle with dysphoria and he wants you to know that you’re a wonderful person, inside and out, even if you don’t always see it.

Cirrus: She notices your odd behavior, but she’s polite and chooses not to say anything about it. She doesn’t want to make you feel like she’s judging you or scare you or make you uncomfortable. She probably doesn’t flat out make assumptions about you, but she does think about it occasionally. Eventually when you come out to her, she completely understands. Sings her praises about how nice it is that you trust her enough to tell her something so personal about yourself, and says she’s thankful to have such a great person in her life. Also she’s always been your protective mom friend, but if you need anyone to get punched for saying anything transphobic, just let her know. Mama bear has got you. Mama bear has got claws. Hell, Cumulus will even help beat someone up. She doesn’t even need to know the reason. If Cirrus is verbally or physically abusing someone that’s good enough reason for her. You now have two powerful and protective mom friends, use this power for good.

Cumulus: She’s not gonna notice if you’re acting nervous or weird about anything. She’s focused on hanging out with you and having a good time and making sure you’re having a good time and that fun things are happening. If you go to the beach and don’t take your shirt off, not weird. Neither of you are even in the water, you’re probably making an impressive sand castle on top of a sleeping Mountain. If you’re at the pool, she’s okay with sitting on the side talking your ear off about anything under the sun (which currently includes all the other ghouls as it was a family trip to the pool). She wouldn’t notice if you tugged at your binder or had a higher voice or anything someone might think would be conspicuous. If and/or when you eventually come out to her, she’s like “Ooohhh, okay!” And honestly? She might forget. And then remember. And then forget again, and remember again. It’s just another thing about you, like your hair colour or what music you like. Doesn’t make you any less wonderful to her, and wouldn’t change anything about your relationship.

- @solofreakk

[9worldstales]

MCU Loki: Speculations on the “Loki” series

So, for the fun of it I’m gonna speculate on the whole “Loki” series.

For start Time Variance Authority.

In the comic the TVA seems to represent the lawful alignment. It doesn’t mean it will do the same in the “Loki” series, Marvel sometimes change things but let’s pretend they left this unchanged.

Before you start thinking this is a good thing, let’s remember the lawful alignment doesn’t define the moral axis of something, merely the ethical one. General Thunderbolt Ross and the Krees can be considered as lawful as Captain America and Rhodey, only the first two are lawful evil while the last two are lawful good.

Karl Mordo in “Doctor Strange” instead moves from lawful good to lawful evil.

For the TVA what matters are the rules. They are, of course, sure that respecting the rules is a good thing, and if this requires to wipe out an entire temporal line… well, no problem of theirs.

In short the TVA are your sort of guys who might decide that no, the Avengers shouldn’t have gone back in time and hamper with the timeline and save half of the universe because… it’s against their rules.

Here they seem worried that Loki has changed things. I would argue that it’s the Avengers that went back in the past and change things but let’s explore what it means if Loki didn’t met up the same fate as the one of the ordinary timeline.

Well, for start the Bifrost doesn’t get repaired as Thor used the Tesseract to repair it.

This might mean that, for start the Nine Realms will have to do without Asgard’s protection but, in more MCU terms that Thor won’t be able to go back home. There’s to wonder if he’ll manage to make peace with Jane and reach for her when she will be possessed by the Aether.

If he doesn’t, as a result, the Aether can fall more easily in Malekit’s hands, who will attack Earth directly instead than Asgard.

We might not end up having Thanos because the Dark Elves win and wipe away people themselves, turning the whole series in a variation of “War of realms”.

Okay, no, I don’t think we’ll get “War of realms” but it’s a pity.

What I wonder if the fact that they have Loki and Moebius interact is because one is chaotic and the other is lawful and the theme of the story is going to be this.

Chaotic again, isn’t necessarily evil, it only means you don’t respect the rules.

Scott Lang from “Ant-Man” is chaotic good for example. The Vulture from “Spider Man Homecoming” is chaotic evil.

Same as Karl Mordo Loki tends to change his moral axis at need. Prior to “Thor” he’s chaotic good, in “The Avengers” he’s Chaotic evil, in “Avengers: Infinity War” he’s back on being Chaotic good again.

So the whole show can open the discussion of how respecting or not rules should be tied to moral values. We shouldn’t respect a law aimed at hurting others… but we shouldn’t break law carelessly either as there will be consequences.

For example…. There’s a scene showing Loki in Pompeii.

Should the people in the city be warned mount Somma (yeah, it’s mount Somma which erupted, what will remain of it after the eruption will be named Vesuvius) is about to erupt and therefore saved or should we let them all die because, after all, their death is kind of already happened from Loki and Mobius perspective?

It’s a question that, in a way, was opened and ignored in “Avengers: Endgame”. The Avengers decide to save all the people that were blipped away by Thanos… but what about the ones he killed previously?

The half of Asgardian refugees, Heimdall, Loki, the dwarves on Nidavellir, the people on Xandar he wiped away to get the power stone, the people that die in the battle of New York, that was still caused by Thanos even if he didn’t oversee it personally, Gamora’s family and people?

Thor arrives in Asgard and is forced to face that most of the people there will be dead… would it have been really bad if he warned them against Hela so that more could survive? If he saved his mom and then asked her to find an alternate way to get the same ending with the Dark Elves only this time it doesn’t include her dying?

It’s questions worth making because they touch our moral axis as, if we do nothing, we let those people die/dead.

For a greater good? How can we know the result and for who’s the greater good? For us?

So anyway this has the potential to be cool, because when the lines on the moral axis blur and you don’t know anymore if something is good or evil, the decisions are taken by the ethical axis.

And someone lawful would just say ‘the law says so therefore letting those people die has to be the good choice’ while someone chaotic would say ‘screw the law, it can’t be good, I’m gonna save my mom and worry about consequences later’.

And this is awesome material for a story.

Though, of course, they can also take inspiration from “Agent of Asgard” in which old Loki, despite thinking that nothing would change even if Loki were to try to be good, still changed the past so that Loki could have a better chance at life and could make a more informed decision in the end.

(the scene of Loki’s decision is “Agent of Asgard” is AWESOME and way better than whatever redemption arc the MCU came up with by the way so I’m all to get that if they do the appropriate work)

Going on.

In the comics Mobius is a bureaucrat, cloned for his job and who knows nothing else but it.

Of course Marvel can portray him differently but let’s assume they’ll run with this.

So it can be that for Mobius everything is just ‘data’ and people are merely ‘entities’ and this not because he’s evil but because that’s how he has been taught to live.

He studied all of Loki’s life, but that’s it, for him they probably were data, not someone’s life, just a list of facts with no emotional value attached.

Studying Loki’s life is a job, and he might dedicate to it with the same mind setting of a student studying Caesar’s life.

He might not stop to wonder how painful the stabbing was, how horrible it could have been to see that his son was among the stabbers, how desperately he attempted to protect himself as he tried to flee and how brutal the others were as they continued to stab him even when he fell and lay there defenceless.

All he might care for is he died in 15 March 44 BC, attacked by around 60 men and stabbed 23 times, one of the stabs given by Brutus and that’s it. And then on March 15th put on Tumblr a stabbed Caesar salad and joke on his death because, by now Caesar is no more viewed as a person, just as a historical record.

For Mobius Loki might be just a record and even if Loki sits in front of him, he’s no more than data and someone to use. If Mobius gets an arc in which he develops he might learn to view Loki as a person, which doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll stop being lawful.

He might learn to feel sorry for him but still say ‘but the law says this is it’ or he might shift his ethical axis.

It would still be an interesting plot.

And for Loki too there’s potential for things to be interesting because he might, for once, to feel in control.

Most of Loki’s life is dictated by him not being in control.

He didn’t get to decide to be a Frost Giant, picked up by Odin, raised by an Asgardian and revealed the truth too late. He didn’t get to decide to be the less favoured son and he came to believe nothing he would do would make him worthy in Odin’s eyes. He was sent by Thanos to conquer Earth, manipulated by the sceptre. And now the TVA has captured him and they’re forcing him to cooperate.

If he’s given the power to affect the past he might grow to believe he’s actually not forced to submit to other people’s choices but that he’s in control of his fate.

It’s part of the point of “Agent of Asgard”.

Old Loki came to believe no matter what he did, he couldn’t change things, he would always be the ‘god of lies’, but the Loki of “Agent of Asgard” instead decided he would be something else and became the master of his own fate.

It would be a good development.

Of course, I’ve not the slightest idea if Marvel will go according to this route.

There’s really too little to judge and I’ll admit I won’t like it much if the point is not so much to save Loki but save Lady Loki because, no offence to Lady Loki who might have an even worse past than Loki, but it’s Loki the character I grew to love and I wish would be saved.

Last but not least, as I feared the whole ‘You've literally stabbed people in the back like fifty times’ quote produced a lot of discussing when it shouldn’t have.

Like, we miss most of the content but, from the look of it, it’s not like Loki, on his own, decided to pay a visit to the TVA and to help them. They captured him, he even though they wanted to kill him, they very likely forced him to cooperate.

Now, in this case any guy with an ounce of brain does what Tony did when he was held captive by the Ten Rings and they asked him to build them weapons if they don’t want to end tortured or killed. They say ‘yes’, gain their trust and then build a Iron-Man suit behind their back with whom they can stab them. In the back, yeah, because that’s what people with a modicum intelligence and no magic hammer should do with guys who overpower them and held them captive.

It’s a basic survival skill, not a proof you’re untrustworthy. People don’t own captors to be trustworthy to them and this message must never be allowed to pass.

You has to be trustworthy with people who deserve it, not with people who force you to be subservient.

So yeah, I hope Loki will stab the TVA in the back because no matter how lawful an righteous they feel, they clearly impose to everyone their law and no matter how much they claim they make the world better, they’re clearly sacrificing people.

[megucarecord]

Rating Genshin Impact Character Designs (Pt. 1)

Hey y’all! I’ve been thinking of doing this for a really long time and I decided to finally stop being lazy and do it. So this is going to be a review of all the playable characters in Genshin Impact from a design perspective. I don’t really have any prerequisites to make this list worth anything (unless you count one year of a fashion/sewing class in high school lol) but hey idk, seems fun?

Gonna be super long (10 characters) so putting everything under the cut.

Disclaimer: I don’t actually hate any of these designs, nor do I consider my opinions “fixing” them, this is just for fun. 

Character: Lumine

I have a lot of conflicting feelings about this design. The hair and basic build are fine, very generic but that’s unsurprising for any character that is working at least partially as a pseudo self-insert. The color scheme is also very bland - and is one of the reasons I originally thought that Aether was automatically Geo traveler and Lumine was Anemo traveler. I think that adding more colors would’ve been a good thing, but also would’ve required a revamp of the dress itself, so maybe not the most practical thing, even if I think the dress is a bit too busy. The biggest changes I would make would be to get rid of the fancy part of her stockings as well as the extra flow/ruffled back of the skirt, which is just a bit too much considering the top layer of the skirt is already quite detailed (in a very nice way) and that could’ve just been extended. I also have to admit that though the scarf is very impractical and showy, but it reminds me of a costume from a series I like so I actually like it a lot, although you could definitely term it unnecessary.

Rating: 7/10

Character: Aether

Okay ngl this character design kinda slaps. Firstly, I love that Aether has long hair, it’s a good contrast to Lumine’s cut (and contrast should be super important with characters that are siblings/parallels of one another) and idk long braids are kinda cool. I love that the outfit has distinctive colors, which give the character personality and keeps him from being washed out. The design is much more streamlined than Lumine’s, and although I’m not a huge fan of midrifts (a theme in this post I’m sorry) there’s not actually much I’d change in this design. Except maybe make the cape a scarf to better match with Lumine. This is definitely the superior design in terms of the siblings in my opinion and I think the lack of intricacy fits the image of “traveler” better. It’s not my favorite and there isn’t anything that really stands out in the design, but it’s really solid and I like it.

Rating: 9/10

Character: Albedo

This design has a lot of potential, but I think in the end it’s just a bit too busy (which will be a theme in this game haha). I like the hair - in general I’m glad Genshin isn’t scared to try a bunch of different lengths and styles on guys because if not everything would become painfully boring. I also like the clothes for the most part. The boots are especially sleek, and I like that despite being a Geo character they gave Albedo a bluer, darker color scheme. I think it fits with his mysterious sort of quietly menacing vibe (this man is Frankensteining something I know it). But it really starts to get a bit too much with the coat. I think he needed a coat, again it fits the character, he’s in the middle of a frozen tundra and he’s also a magic scientist man, he needs some sort of coat. But I think the chain and the strap across the front is a bit too much. If I were the designers I would’ve continued with a sleeker theme, make the sleeves longer, the gloves shorter, if you wanted some ornamentation maybe a pack of vials on his belt. Overall very good design, greater color scheme, too busy. Also can we appreciate his banner art? It’s so good I love it.

Rating: 8/10

Character: Amber

Okay first I’m gonna say her card art is super cute. Love the pose, love the style. All gut. Now let me say that this outfit had potential but then it sorta... fell flat. I like the color scheme for the most part, except the white cause idk white is boring and in the game it looks kinda latexy, but I understand wanting three colors and black might be too close to brown. That being said, I hate stockings. Stockings are just the worst, they’re impractical, hard to put on, uncomfortable, should only be worn with dresses. No knight of Favonius needs stockings. Might I suggest pants or shorts? Or like cool pseudo armor plates like with Lumine. Also though I do like the jacket and the leather stomacher design, I think a bomber jacket might suit the character better, because idk they’re cool and they make me think of Amelia Earheart, although that’s such a culturally distinct thing I can’t blame them for not thinking that way. Again the jacket is still very cool, love the stomacher, and love the cuffs.. The belt is lovely and like I said love the embossed designs, but ultimately this design is too impractical, and too bland to get away with being impratical for me. So... yeah.

Rating: 5/10

Character: Barbara

Barbara! Our fav crazy nun. First I’m gonna thank her for having an attack of pure magic then I’m gonna say I hate the color white apparently because I also didn’t like it here. I’m pretty sure she’s supposed to be a novice (could be wrong), so I’d flip the colors, have the accents be white and the main color navy. But idk that’s just me. Overall I quite like her design. It’s a pretty good balance between simple and detailed. I don’t even hate the stockings. I’d say the least good part is the top, the bow and the weird collar is just... ehh? but I don’t think getting rid of the collar would help though. I’d say ditch the bow, make the dress connect to the collar, keep the off the shoulders cold sleeves. I really like the ruffled part of the top skirt. Idk it’s the best part of the design. The hat makes her look like a nurse not a nun though. maybe make the hair ties for the ponytails little veils, might fit better. Overall mostly nitpicks, it’s a strong design.

Rating: 8/10

Character: Beidou

Firstly I’d like to apologize to the Beidou I pulled before never using her (forgive me ily); next I’d like to admit I don’t love her design. I haven’t really harped on the lack of armor on these characters - because I’m not sure how I’d integrate armor into all them without making them bland af, no one wants people running around in full plate armor how tf you supposed to climb in that - but I still wouldn’t’ve put her in a leotard and boots only when she’s a canonical fighter, without even the armor accents on most of the other character. I know that traditional qipao would probably be terrible to fight in, so I’m not going to complain about them slitting it - I actually quite like it I think it’s cool and sleek and fits her vibe - but I will complain about them putting her in a leotard underneath. As someone who dances I can assure you no one in their right mind would want to fight in a leotard, which yes I know isn’t the point and I can’t blame them for not thinking that way. Anyways, I think leggings/stockings and tall boots are quite cool so that’s prolly what I’d do, streamlines the whole design too, gives it a sense of connectivity (idk I’m weird and I don’t look at this character often so yeah). I like the top of her design, although I’d prolly replace the fur on the cap with a large collar, sort of pirate-y or Navy-like. Also let me just say I love the hair and eye patch. Fits her reckless sort of character to hate her hair whipping around, and the eyepatch really sells the concept of her having fought for years. The hand guards didn’t need to be flared, but I don’t mind them being there. Especially since handling a Claymore would definitely rip up your hands if you didn’t have protection. Also the boots though impractical are very cool so... yeah.

Rating: 6/10

Character: Bennett

One of my main team and prolly the closest thing I currently have to a DPS I have conflicting opinions on Bennett’s design. I think it’s a pretty good design all things considered. His belt and all his packs would be busy if you didn’t know Bennett’s character, but considering he’s a wanna be adventurer, I think it works pretty well. Although I don’t know why his extra belt straps are so long... or even exist?? Idk kinda weird. His top is... ehh? I don’t really like it, I think partially because I don’t think Bennett would wear a midrift shirt like this (midrifts where there shouldn’t be midrifts or, as I like to call it, being MagiReco-d) and partially cause the color, though understandable in such a busy design, is kinda bland. I think that’s why the collar works instead of being too busy, we needed some color. If I had to changed the design I’d get rid of the midrift and get rid of those weird extra belt things. Also that one random dagger star thing on one side of his blue collar is just so weird and random and like why does it exist? But overall I like the design, and it doesn’t bug me when I’m playing with him. I think it’s a good example of how busyness can accurately portray a character. Well done.

Rating: 8/10

Character: Chongyun

Another character who I own but have never played, though my friend has him on their main team and they look super cool. I’m not gonna lie I love this character’s design. Firstly the color palette is so good, the white feels like it works to offset all the blue hues - which I love that even the darkest parts of his design are blue not black - so it doesn’t feel bland or irritating, especially with the gold giving it a sense of luxury. I also like the choice to have a tunic that extends to the pants, I think having only white pants would be too bland - again white it a meh color for designs - so it really gives it some necessary details and color. I also like the jacket, again it gives the design a sense of detail while being simple enough not to feel like too much. Also I have no idea what the outfit would look like without the jacket and I have a feeling that answer would be Not Good, so... yeah. Some nitpicks; the left arm band thingie golden cuff is kinda too much and seems impractical and irritating. And... that’s it. I know the slippers are impractical, but I think they work, he is an exorcist not an adventurer after all. Overall, probably second favorite design in the game. Great job

Rating: 10/10

Character: Diluc

Give Diluc a high ponytail, I’m begging you. Lol anyways personal preference aside (which is impossible this entire post is personal preference) I like this design. I think the color works and the whole outfit is a good reflection of Diluc’s character, closed off, luxurious while also a bit ragged and uncontrollable. Yeah. I like it. I do think the thing chain accessory is kinda random, and I don’t think there’s anything about the design that knocks me off my feet, but I do really love the design overall. Also the gloves, good gloves. Suggestions? High ponytailed Diluc. Nothing else. Also though he’s not in this post I like that this outfit is very streamlined and simple compared to Kaeya, it’s a good portrayal of their differing views and opinions through fashion. Because unlike with the traveller siblings I think these brothers have a dynamic where contrast is better than parallel.

Rating: 9/10

Character: Diona

Okay so though I’ve never interacted with this character I skimmed the wiki and I love her backstory it’s hilarious. Also since I never interact with her I don’t have many opinions about her design except why does she only have one sock on? Honestly relatable moments. I think the extra ponytail is kinda weird and excessive considering the hat and I’d prolly make the hair orange to match the ears but overall very cute design. What do bartenders look like? Idk. Oh and also there are a bit too many colors roaming around, but I get it. Overall fairly generic but kinda cute. I still think midrifts are bad.

Rating: 7/10

And that’s it! I hope this didn’t come off as “lol these designs are gross and I’m superior and we should fix them” because no. No one should take any of these suggestions seriously. Except maybe the ponytail one lol. Anyways I hope at least one person likes this cause this took forever and I kinda burned out after a while. Next post if I make it will be interesting cause it includes my least favorite design. May you all have lovely playing and if you love a design I don’t honestly more power to you. Bye!!

[missmeela]

Prompt 11: Ultracrepidarian

Master List 

Meela felt a sudden prodding on her butt cheek. And then again. Her head thumped, but it was more than enough annoyance to rouse her from her slumber.

"Meela. Hey, Meela. Wake up, dear. You've got your job to do."

Meela peeled her face off the cushion and looked up at a man dressed in elaborate red robes. The man, seeing that she was now suitably aroused ceased his poking.

"I am Winstan Woodward of the free state of Hingashi. And I must say, this is no way to run a business. Anyway, the cat-girl over there said I should ask you to make a drink."

Meela frowned deeply. She pushed her legs off the couch and dropped her feet down to the floor. She looked over to see F'anni trying to look busy behind the bar with a feather duster.

"Yes, I suppose I could fix you a drink if there is nobody else."

Winstan nodded and stepped to the side.

"Well, I'm very much glad of that. I've travelled a very long way. I was told this place was welcoming to everyone, but I'm not sure that I've seen that yet."

Meela plodded her way over to the bar, staring daggers at F'anni. Rounding the bar, she turned to face Winstan.

"So, what can I get you?"

Winstan took a seat at the bar and bounced on the stool to verify its sturdiness.

"You see, the problem is, my dear is that I'm very much used to the finer things. I'm not sure you'd have something to suit my refined palate."

Meela looked on the back shelf and found a bottle of Hingan whiskey. She placed it on the bar and looked to Winstan.

"How about this?"

Winstan eyed the bottle and fluttered his hand.

"Oh, I suppose it will just have to do. It is so very ordinary, though."

Meela poured him a double measure and set the bottle back down.

"Most people drink Limsan whiskey. Unless they have a particular favourite."

Winstan scrunched up his nose.

"No, I don't like the idea of that. So, which variety of cat-girl are you? I'm a bit of an academic and I'm writing a book."

"Miqo'te", Meela corrected, "And I'm a Keeper... of the Moon."

Winstan nodded some and took out a book to take notes.

"So you're from the Shroud? Which part?"

Meela shook her head, she really didn't like this guy, but she wouldn't be so rude as to just walk away.

"Actually, I grew up in Ul'dah, which is in Thanalan."

Winstan struck through some of his words.

"No, if you're from Thanalan, you must be a... Seeker of the Sun."

Meela frowned.

"No, I am most certainly a Keeper. We are different."

Winstan looked at her and gestured with his pen.

"So were you kidnapped by a tribe of Seekers and forced to live with them?"

Meela was amazed at how quickly she was getting annoyed.

"My mother travelled there before I was born. And well, that's where I grew up. In the city. In a house. Not in a tribe."

Winstan hummed and struck through more of the words.

"So you're atypical. I can't write about one person. It should be about what all Keepers of the Moon are like."

He picked up his glass and gestured to the wand at Meela's hip.

"I see that you wear a thaumaturge's wand. Did you buy that in Ul'dah? Use it to intimidate the rowdy patrons, do you?"

Meela looked down at the wand and shook her head.

"It's a tool. I just keep it handy should I need it."

"Ah, well I'm not intimidated by it. I know all about the arcane arts of Eorzea. I'm sure they don't teach it to every barmaid in the area. Besides, shouldn't you be taught conjury?"

Meela shook her head.

"I've never really had much skill for that. But I did try a few times."

"Never mind, my dear. I suppose you missed out on your teachings because you grew up in the wrong place. Not everyone can be adept at the arts. But did you know, that according to the elemental wheel, thaumaturges can only cast spells made up of fire, wind and ice?"

"No, that's not quite correct."

Winstan flipped through some pages of his book and pointed at a rough drawing of an elemental wheel.

"No, you see I have it written down here; fire, wind and ice, then water, thunder, earth."

"That should be lightning, not thunder. Thunder is a spell. And some people prefer to say levin. But Thaumaturgy is fire, ice and lightning."

Winstan shook his head.

"That's not what I've got written down here. I'm sure your local thoughts seem correct to you, but this is meant to be an academics book."

Meela stepped out from behind the bar and walked over to a bookshelf. She plucked a book from the middle and walked back behind the bar. She opened the first page and sat it down in front of Winstan, pointing at the opening paragraph.

'The ancient art of Thaumaturgy focuses on the channelling of aether through natural stones. The traditional schools of Thaumaturgy are grouped into the elements of fire, ice and lightning.'

Winstan read through the words and then flicked through some of the pages.

"Well, as I said, these books probably reflect your misguided local teachings. If I wanted an expert on Thaumaturgy, I'd surely go to Ul'dah where the Thaumaturge's headquarters is located."

"But that was written by the Thaumaturge's guild."

Winstan shook his head and took another sip from his glass.

"I'll be sure to take it up with them, then. Okay, well I'm done with you now. I can't write anything interesting about you, you're too atypical."

He looked around the room at the other staff members.

"What about that cat-girl, dusting? Maybe she could spare some time to talk to me if she's ordinary."

Meela looked at F'anni and felt like repaying the favour of her rude awakening. But she turned back to Winstan and shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but after the dusting, she's got laundry to wash. And it's Miqo'te, not cat-girl. You'll find your time in Eorzea a lot easier if you don't use that term."

Winstan didn’t seem dissuade and started looking around for some other staff members to bother while Meela took the chance to make her escape.

She was usually more welcoming, even to someone so annoying. But, she could have another go after a few more hours of sleep in her room, in a real bed, and maybe a few cups of strong coffee. Although she very much hoped Winstan would be gone by then.

Master List

[mymarvelbunch]

Be Your Own Hero - Steve Rogers x Reader (Part 2)

Masterlist

Summary: (Y/N) has lost all her family and most friends in The Decimation (I refuse to call it The Blip). Refusing to believe their deaths are permanent, she dedicate years to find a way to reverse it. When she finally finds something that might help, she searches for the Avengers. It’s Steve Rogers x Reader, but there is also a lot of Badass!Reader. Also, Non-American!Reader. If you are American, think of a country you’d have loved to be born into :D

Warnings: a brief mention of guns, but nothing serious.

Note: Y/Co = your country. Y/Ci = your city; Y/N/L = your native language.

So, there is some worldbuilding in this one and a few things that differ from canon, for no other reason than I liked the idea I had haha. It’s not much, just to help the plot mostly.

Previously: You took a deep breath and said, in a low voice, the sentence you read as being the password for entering a Sanctum (...).The woman arched her eyebrows. You bit your lip, waiting for her to call a psychiatric ambulance, but she simply smiled. “Follow me, sister.”

Part Two

You were guided through a huge number of corridors. The house was much lager than it looked on the outside; probably a result of magic. Eventually, the woman stopped by a large door. She opened it slowly and gestured for you to get in. “The Master is waiting for you.”

Waiting for you? Now that was interesting. You thanked the woman and got in, hearing the door closing behind you.

A red-haired woman, who looked to be 50 years old, was sitting down in a brown and green carpet at the center of the big room. “Welcome, Y/N. I’ve been expecting you for some time.”

You blinked and took a few steps in her direction. “You knew I was coming.” It wasn’t a question, but she answered anyway.

“Yes. And I know why you are here.” The woman smiled and stood up. “Normally, I wouldn’t let anyone enter the Sanctum just like that, but I see great promise in you, Y/N Y/L/N. Let me guide you to our library.”

You followed her, awed by her words. You had expected a lot of obstacles in your way to get to the Sanctum; it was a secret order, after all. But the Master herself was leading you to the place where you could get all your answers. It seemed too good to be true.

“With all due respect, ma’am”, you said as you walked through more corridors, “How can I trust this is not a trap?”

She stopped walking and turned to look at her. “You are wise to suspect it. It all seems so easy, right? But remember all your effort to find out about this place. Besides, there isn’t much else you can do now but follow me, is there?”

You nodded. She was right; you had to trust her if you wanted to make any progress. Also, what was the worst thing that could happen? Death?

It wasn’t like you had much to live for. You wanted to live, sure, but you wanted even more to bring your family back. It was worth the risk.

After a few more turns, you reached an even larger door than the first one. The Master opened the door and got in with you. “Here”, she said, “you can find books on all information regarding magic that we know of. I can’t guarantee you will find everything you’ve been looking for, but I can help you finding the right books and manuscripts.”

“Why are you doing this?”, you asked politely. “You may have predicted my arrival, but how can you know I’ll use this information for good?”

The Master smiled softly. “I don’t know, exactly. I’m not in possession of the Time Stone, so my powers are a bit limited, and they have weakened shortly after the Decimation, for reasons I’d rather not tell you now. But I have enough power to be sure of your good heart, Y/N. I can’t predict whether you’ll be successful or not, but I’m sure you are on our side. I have faith in you to do what none of us have had the cleverness or the courage to do.”

That said, she started walking. Too stunned to reply, you followed her.

January 2021

The Master, who politely refused to give you any other name to call her, was true to her word. All writings regarding alien life and the Infinity Stones were handed to you, and you even had your own room. Other sorcerers showed up every now and then to offer you food and water. Always surprised by their kindness, you couldn’t help but ask why.

“The Master has been mentioned your arrival since last year”, they’d say. “She said you were a sign of hope. If she trusts you, so must we.”

It all seemed so easy, and you were overwhelmed with gratitude. Many times you asked how you could thank the Master for such generosity. Her reply was always the same: “Save the universe, Y/N. There is no need to do anything else.”

Of course, ‘save the universe’ was no easy task, but the Master’s faith in you strengthened your resolve to reach the bottom of the mystery behind the Decimation, and find a way to reverse it.

Your reading was slow. Despite all the help, and despite having quit your job to fully dedicate yourself to your research, the sorcerers couldn’t be with you all times, and half of the writing wasn’t in Y/N/L, but in freaking Sanskrit. Google Translate wasn’t the most reliable way, but sometimes the only one to find out what the texts said. So far you gathered the following information:

There were six Infinity Stones: Time, Space, Mind, Reality, Soul and Power. They were created along with the universe itself.

The Stones were somewhat sentient, though the extent of this was still unknown.

The Tesseract was the Space Stone. The Aether was the Reality Stone. Vision had been powered by the Mind Stone.

It is unknown how any of the aforementioned Stones ended up on Earth, even though there are mentions of the Tesseract since World War II.

The whereabouts of the Soul and Power Stones were unknown. They likely had never taken to Earth until Thanos’ arrival.

The Time Stone, which the Master had mentioned on your first day, had been in possession of the Masters of the Mystic Arts since Medieval times.

The last known guardian of the Time Stone had been Stephen Strange, a former neurosurgeon who lived in New York. According to the Master, Tony Stark witnessed his death and said he was a victim of the Decimation. His testimony was trusted by Strange’s sorcerer colleague. It was unknown how exactly the Time Stone was stolen; Stark didn’t tell.

Until mid-2016, said Stone was guarded by a woman called Ancient One. The Master said information on her was unlikely to be useful, so you didn’t try to find more.

If one gets all six Stones and manages to conceal their powers somehow, it is possible to make any wish.

It was useful information, and it gave you hope. The last point explained why Thanos had to gather all Stones to do what he did, but it also opened a possibility. If you (or anyone else, for that matter) managed to get back the Stones, you could use them to wish for everyone who was dusted to be brought back.

Now, what could you do to get them?

Suddenly you remembered something the Master said on your first day. Her powers got weaker shortly after the Decimation, for reasons she’d “rather not tell” you then. Would she be willing to tell you now? There was only a way to find out.

The next time a sorcerer came to your room, a young man this time, you asked to be taken to the Master. Nodding, he guided you to her room. The Master seemed to be meditating, but showed no trouble in your sudden arrival. She was probably waiting for you, you thought.

“Good afternoon, Y/N”, she said. You greeted her back. “How may I help you?”

You sat down on the carpet in front of her. “Master, you told me your powers have weakened shortly after the Decimation, though not immediately after. You said you knew why, but wouldn’t tell me on my first day. Would you be able to tell me now?”

The Master smiled softly, like she always did when talking to you. “First, tell me what you’ve learned so far.”

You told her all your findings, and the conclusions you reached thanks to them. “I don’t think I’d be able to do this alone, of course, but... if I find the Stones, figure out a way to conceal their powers... I’d make a wish. For everyone to be brought back.”

“But what about Thanos? Don’t you think he’d try to re-do what you reversed?”

“Well, we don’t even know if this guy is still alive. If he is... I’m not fond of the idea of killing someone, Master, but maybe there is a way to permanently prevent Thanos from getting the Stones again.”

The Master nodded, but asked no further questions on that matter. She probably didn’t agree with you, but... well. Like you said, you probably wouldn’t do it by yourself.

“I think you are ready for the answer, Y/N. The reason behind my weakened powers is because the Time Stone no longer exists as it used to.”

You frowned. Was that a riddle? “I’m sorry, but could you explain it a little better for me, Master?”

“I am not much well-versed in the Stones, Y/N. I became a Master rather recently, and before that my studies were focused on other matters of the Mystic Arts. Some of what you told is new information for me, I must admit. However, what I know is that someone attempted to destroy the Time Stone, and likely the others as well.”

You took a deep breath. It couldn’t be. “But your powers have only weakened, not disappeared. It means the Stone is still out there.”

“Yes, Y/N, but I’m afraid it’s not in its natural form.”

You stood up. “There must be some information on what happens if you try to destroy a Stone”, you concluded. “The Stones are responsible for the universe’s balance and its very existence. If the universe still stands, the Stones are still present.” A pause. “You said Stephen Strange’s colleague survived the Decimation. Do you think we’d be able to contact them?”

The Master nodded. “What would you like me to ask?”

“If they know what happened to the Stones, and what happens if someone tries to destroy them. In the meantime, I’ll try to find the answers myself. Please, Master.”

The Master assured you she’d try to reach the other sorcerer soon. Pleased, you thanked her and headed back to your room.

Four months later

You gathered more information on the Stones, but not what you truly wanted to know. The New York sorcerer didn’t know much either. All he knew, thanks to an Avenger he didn’t name, was that Thanos left Earth with the Stones even before people started to become dust.

So far, you found no records on attempts to destroy the Stones. There were only notes on the dangers of an ordinary human being coming in contact with them; apparently, the only safe Stone was Time, out of the four that had been on Earth at one point or another.

Eventually, all writings were read and translated, and you still didn’t have the information you were looking for. But you couldn’t give up. You’ve been on this for nearly three years now, and you were closer than ever; you wouldn’t give up simply because one piece of information was missing.

If only it wasn’t the most important piece require to find the Stones... you’d have already boarded a plane to find the Avengers with what you already had.

You began to take the book and manuscripts back to the library, putting them back in place carefully. As you left to get another portion (you got a lot of documents), a section caught your attention: Physics.

At that point, anything could be useful, so you headed to that section. It had been years since you actually studied Physics (it wasn’t a subject in Med School), so you’d probably have trouble understanding it, but at least almost all books were written in Y/N/L.

Near the end of the bookcase, you found some books about Quantum Physics. Your thoughts stopped abruptly. Where did you read that term before?

Ant-Man’s suit is said to be based on Quantum Physics, which is what allows him to shrink and get big in the blink of an eye...

The Infinity Stones exist not only in macroscopic form, but also in quantum form, in the Quantum Realm, allowing them bring balance on all dimensions of existence.

You sat down on the library floor, ignoring the mild pain in your butt as you did so. That was the answer! If the Stones were physically destroyed, they could be found in the Quantum Realm! But how could you access it?

Scott Lang had been reported missing since the Decimation. He even featured on Buzzfeed Unsolved back in early 2019, after footage showed him and the Van Dyne family on the top of a building. Suited up as Ant-Man (no one really knew they were the same until the footage leaked), he entered a van and never came back, even after the Van Dyne were shown being dusted. The police searched the entire van, but there was no trace of Lang.

Many theorized he entered a machine that was inside the van, given it seemed Hope Van Dyne was working on a machine. Was she supposed to take him out and back to the world? If so, was he stuck somewhere?

At that moment, a thought overcame you:

You had to get that van.

August 2021

The Master contacted other sorcerers around the world, and most agreed that your theory was plausible: the Infinity Stones could be in the Quantum Realm. Nobody knew how to safely reach it though, so that van was your biggest hope.

You went back into hacking. You knew Scott Lang had lived in California, and you managed to get a still of the footage with the van’s plate. It took you quite some time, but you finally found out where the van was stocked.

The Master offered to open a portal straight there, but you concluded that safest option was to go legally, by plane. You were already planning on breaking into the building and possibly steal that van; the less crimes you committed, the better. Besides, it was the United States you were talking about. One of the most paranoid nations in this world.

The plan was simple, though not easy: board a plane to Los Angeles, get a hotel room (previously booked of course, because the visa department always asked for hotel address beforehand) near the place where the was located, figure out to break into the building, do it, turn the van on and hope for the best.

It was a highly flawed plan, but the best you’ve got so far. If things went wrong and you were, say, deported, you could just ask the Master to open a portal straight to the Avengers facility and tell them your findings.

(Plan B should probably plan A, but you really wanted to get to the Avengers with everything ready. That way they’d be more inclined to take you seriously.)

Plane tickets were expensive, but spending a year in a temple without spending a single coin in basic needs helped you save money for that very moment. On your grandmother’s supposed 93rd birthday, you landed on Los Angeles.

As you expected, you were asked many questions about your intentions and when you planned to go back to Y/Co. You had bought a ticket back to Y/Ci for two months later and showed them. You also claimed that you were a tourist who planned on visiting all cities your late family had wanted to go. You had yet to book hotels for the other cities, could they please recommend you some?

Nobody suspected a thing, much to her relief.

The building where the van was located was near some famous restaurant, where some celebrities often had dinner at, so you presence on that street wasn’t suspicious at all. On your first night, you showed up at a restaurant across the building.

“All tables are reserved”, the waiter said. You were expecting that already.

“Is there any possibility of getting a free table tonight? I mean, even if I’m the last person to get in. My friend recommended this restaurant and I was looking really forward to it.”

The waiter sighed. “You should have made a reservation then, but if you are willing to wait...”

Exactly what you were hoping for. With luck, you’d have to wait all night to get a table (if you got one), which gave you a lot of time to watch the building and find out about its security.

As it turned out, after 11 PM there was only one guard, seemingly unarmed. It surprised you; weren’t Americans inclined to have guns everywhere? Maybe things had changed after the Decimation.

On midnight, the waiter came to you and said there was no way for them get you a table. You feigned sadness and thanked him for his kindness. You had gotten the information you came to find.

On the following night, you went to a theater nearby and watched the latest DC movie. You weren’t even looking forward to that one, but it was good way to pass time.

You left the theater past midnight. Perfect. You sneaked inside the building with surprisingly little trouble. Finding the van was slightly harder, since you didn’t want to use a lantern, but eventually you did.

Before beginning the challenge of turning the van on without its key, you inspected its entirety. Was there truly a machine inside? If it was an ordinary van, the footage would have been just a camera trick, and you’d have to find another way to get into the Quantum Realm - which would certainly require a trip to other planets, something you didn’t know if was possible or not. For seconds, you prayed for a machine to appear.

And appear it did, in the back of the van. There was even a panel with some buttons. It looked like something that came straight from the 80s, but you didn’t care. You pressed a couple buttons and waited. Suddenly the lights turned on and the machine started moving fast. You jumped to the side just in time.

The van doors opened and a human being was tossed out. You heard groaning and approached them. The building was still dark, but, thanks to the machine lights, you could see their face clearly.

It was Scott Lang. Ant-Man. Back from the dead.

Not exactly what you were expecting, but okay.

Next

-----------

Finally! Next part will feature our wonder boy Steve.

I always found it strange that Thanos wished to destroy the Stone and they just... obeyed and self-destructed. This part features my theory on what actually happened, since it’s what makes the most sense.

Taglist (open!): @autobotgirl15-blog​ @starstrucknature @cheeseburgersstuff​

[marvelousbirthdays]

Happy Birthday, ptl4ever419!

April 19-a Bucky/Darcy fic where Darcy’s in the ‘40s somehow, for @ptl4ever419

Written by @backwardsandinhighheels

Darcy landed with a thud.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Darcy forced her eyes open to see a pair of a pair of really nice brown eyes. Squinting, she managed to resolve them into one blurrily handsome yet vaguely familiar face. 

“Where are my glasses?” she realised out loud.

“I - uh - you must've landed on them.” The still-blurry guy pressed the broken pieces into her hand. “I'm sorry.”

“It's not your fault,” she assured him. “I shouldn't have -” She paused. What had she been doing? The last thing she remembered was being Jane in London as gravity went haywire, a portal opening beneath her feet… “Where am I?”

“You must’ve hit your head pretty hard - you’re at the boarding house on Bay Meadows Ave in Brooklyn. Here, let me walk you inside.”

Before she quite knew what was happening, she was upright and gripping her helpers’ arm as he escorted her up a set of stairs and inside. “Marta, hi. One of your neighbours took a bit of a tumble down those stairs of yours.”

“Oh no!” A blurry figure hurried towards them and took Darcy’s arm. “Come and sit down.”

“Will you be okay?” the guy asked, hovering nervously.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine, Bucky, thanks for helping out. I’m sure you have places to be.”

Darcy noted her saviour’s name as he ducked his head and retreated while she was led to a couch. “I’m not -”

“You must be Daphne, right?”

“Darcy, actually.”

“Sorry, Darcy. We were expecting you two days ago. Where are your things?”

“They’re back at -” she blinked. “This is going to sound really weird, but I think they’re in London.”

“In London?! What are they doing there? I didn’t realise you were a Brit.”

“No, I’m from Pennsylvania, I was in London with my friend.” Oh no, Jane. She probably thought Darcy was dead.

Mind you, Darcy had assumed the same thing after Jane had pulled her own disappearing act a few days ago.

She patted her pockets and found them empty. “Can I borrow your phone? I’ll just give her a -” Darcy squinted at the fading light streaming in from outside. There was a five hour time difference back to New York, but it had been nearing mid-afternoon in London. “What time is it?”

“Just past five.”

“Just past five?” Darcy yelped. She had a very bad feeling about all of this. “Wait, what’s the date again?”

“November 15,” Marta said, and Darcy relaxed. Too soon. “November 15, 1942.”

“Oh.”

First, Darcy explained she wasn’t the awaited Daphne, which Marta took quite well.

Then, Darcy explained where she had been and what she had been doing up until about half an hour ago, which was received with a tad more disbelief.

“What are you going to do?” Marta asked once she had stopped laughing, seen Darcy was serious, and swallowed her doubt.

“I have no idea,” Darcy confessed. “Apart from get my glasses fixed. They didn’t survive the trip.”

Marta took the offending frames and tutted, a bit calmer now she had a problem to solve. “That’s no good - but a bit of tape will put them right. And until Daphne arrives - if she arrives - we have a spare room. You can stay there for a while, get your feet under you.” She waved off Darcy’s thanks. “I’ll ask around, see if anyone has some spare clothes as well.”

“While you’re at it, see if there are any jobs going. I don’t know how long I’m going to be here.”

“Good idea. We can ask around at dinner; most of the girls are off work by then.”

Despite Marta’s protests, once Darcy’s glasses were taped back together, she helped set up and serve dinner. There were about thirty girls at the boarding house; one of them - Louisa - lit up when Darcy listed off her skills.

“You can type? I can introduce you to my manager. We’re always looking for more typists, especially ones with experience.”

Darcy thought back to her years at college and her time transcribing Jane's notes. “Yeah, you could say I’ve had some experience with typing.”

Louisa’s manager was indeed eager to hire Darcy after seeing her touch type. The typewriter certainly took a bit of time getting used to - especially the lack of a backspace key - but it was simple enough to adapt. It was more difficult since her repaired glasses no longer sat quite right, but it had been a long time since she had needed to look at her fingers or screen to know what she was typing.

Sooner than she would have thought possible, Darcy's life fell into a pattern. Breakfast with the girls, out to work all day, then back for dinner. Inquiries into Daphne revealed she’d eloped out West instead of travelling to New York and the room was officially free.

One week after she landed, however, her new routine had a welcome interruption.

The good looking guy in the boarding house lobby stood at her arrival. “Darcy?”

Darcy peered at him through repaired glasses until the voice clicked. “Bucky, right?”

“Yeah, I wanted to check in on you - that was a nasty fall you took. I stopped by a few days ago but they said you were at work?”

“I got a job typing at Harper & Brothers.”

“Oh. Oh, that’s good.” Bucky paused, and Darcy had to fight the urge to ask if she knew him. “Well, it’s good you're okay. Listen, I was wondering if you wanted to step out sometime?”

“Step out? I - are you asking me on a date?”

Bucky’s smile faltered. “Do you already have a fella?”

“No, I don’t.” She gave it a moment’s thought, weighed the pros and cons of getting attached. “You know what? I think I’d like that. What did you have in mind?”

The smile returned full force. “I thought we could grab dinner, maybe go dancing afterwards.”

“I should warn you, I’m terrible at dancing.”

“I’ll tell you a secret.” Bucky leaned in, glanced from side to side conspiratorially. “So am I.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Then we can go be terrible at dancing together.”

On their third date, they doubled with Louisa and a friend of Bucky’s - one Steve Rogers, shorter than Darcy in her heels and extremely familiar to the girl who scoured New York for Thor after Loki’s invasion. Afterwards, Louisa admitted that while Steve was nice enough, a second date would not be forthcoming. Darcy wasn’t really listening; instead, she was kicking herself for falling asleep in Grade 10 history, because now she knew why Bucky Barnes was so familiar, and if only she could remember what happened to him…

Thinking of Captain America, however, brought Thor to mind - and with him, the stories Jane had told her of Asgard that night before she fell to New York.

“Heimdall?” she asked, sitting on her bed and feeling rather silly. “It’s Darcy Lewis. I work with Jane Foster, who is kinda dating Thor. Or will date Thor, I don’t know how this works, it’s all very timey-wimey, you know? She said you could see through time and space. If you’re there and listening, can you tell Jane where I am?”

There was a hesitant knock on her door. “Darcy? Are you okay in there?”

“Yeah - yeah I am. Just talking to myself.”

Marta stuck her head in. “Good. I was worried you had, um, company. They don’t like us having visitors like that.”

Darcy opened her eyes wide and frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You know - a, um -” Marta scowled as Darcy dissolved into a fit of giggles. “You know very well what I’m talking about!”

Weeks rolled into months. Darcy spent Christmas with the girls and New Year’s with Bucky. The weather started getting warmer and their dates meandering through Central Park later and later.

It was on one of these dates, somewhere in the Ramble, that Bucky drew her to a stop. “Darcy, we’ve been stepping out for a while now, yeah?”

She counted it up in her head. “Almost six months now. Why?”

“Would you say we’re going steady?”

“Six months of dating, not seeing anyone else in the meantime…” She peered at him. “You’re not seeing anyone else, are you?”

“What? No! I was talking with Steve about it and was thinking… if we’re going steady...”

Darcy’s eyes grew wide as he pulled a box from his pocket. To her relief, it was a little too large to be a ring.

He flicked it open to reveal a simple silver heart on a long chain. “Will you be my girl, Darcy? Wear this for me?”

She nodded mutely and turned, lifting up her hair so he could fasten it around her neck, but guilt settled in her stomach as she faced him again. “Bucky, I need to tell you something.”

“You call me anything, Darce, you know that. Unless you’re married, then I don’t want to know.”

Startled into a laugh, she elbowed him in the side. “I was trying to be serious!”

“Okay, okay, I can be serious. Look at me, serious. What is it?”

She tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and started them walking again. “I kinda don’t know how to say this. You know how I told you I was from Pennsylvania?”

“Yeah, and spent some time in Virginia.”

“Well, that’s true, only I was born in 1986.”

“Was that your address? The postcode?”

“No, the year.”

“I - I don’t understand.”

“Believe me, I don’t get it either. One minute I’m in London in the year 2013 and the next I’m -” she waved a hand to encompass the enormity of New York.

“But how?” Behind the confusion, she could see the interest sparking in his eyes. They were already planning to visit the World Expo in June - his idea, not hers - and his fascination with how the world could be reminded her somewhat of Jane.

She gave him the rundown as they walked back to the subway and to the boarding house: elves, aether, convergence, portals. To anyone listening in, she was sure she gave the impression of lunacy, but Bucky listened with solemn curiosity.

“So that’s it,” she finished, standing on the steps of her accommodation. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”

“I don’t care. You think that changes how I feel about you?”

Darcy answered his indignant question the best way she knew how, until the door behind her swung open, light spilling onto Bucky’s as he drew away from her.

“Are you going to stand out there all night?” Marta asked, and Darcy could hear the smirk in her friend’s voice. She turned to reply with something equally snarky - and her foot slipped. Arms windmilling and clutching at air, she lost her balance...

Darcy landed with a thud.

“Darcy!” Jane threw her arms around her. “Oh thank goodness, I thought I'd never get you back.”

“Wh- Janey?” She looked around, at the familiar equipment in the unfamiliar lab, a lump of loss growing in her throat. “Where an I? When am I?”

“We're in New York, at Stark Tower. Oh, you've missed so much! SHIELD pretty much imploded, so we don't have to worry about them, and we're living down the hall with Captain America, of all people, and his best friend, who has somehow also alive and well, if you can believe that - Darce, are you okay?”

Darcy nodded, head and heart pounding, the locket heavy at her throat. “Yeah, yeah. I think I'm going to be just fine.”

[thebookkeeperslibrary]

The Time Page’s Wish: Ch. 9 - The First Mission

Fandom: Time Warp Trio

Author: The_Bookkeeper_96

Rating: G

Summary: It’s been four months and Uncle Joe is still missing. On his twelfth birthday, Joe decides it’s time to track him down. One wish lands them in the middle of a revolution. And it seems the only way to get them home is with the help of some untrustworthy thieves. As long as they don’t take The Book for themselves.

Read on AO3

Magical sunrises or not, getting up before the sun is in the sky sucks.

Joe stretches his arms out in front of him, letting out a huge yawn. He knew this was an important day. Cassius had stressed how key his awakening will be for his magic training. Not to mention how much better Joe would feel afterwards. He couldn't wait for these headaches to go away. He'd barely gotten any sleep last night because of them. Though in fairness, it could also have been his excitement for today's adventure.

His glass ceiling gave him a perfect view of the sunrise. The windows were dimmed enough that the light didn't blind him, but still allowed him to see the natural beauty of this strange world. The streaks of pink, orange, and purple slowly faded into a crystal blue sky. Only a few smears of green remained.

Joe slips out of bed and quickly gets dressed for the day. He has no idea what to expect and hopes he's dressed appropriately. Walking out into the main hall, Joe finds most of the others already gathered.

"So, we're really the only students at this school?" Sam asks. He, Arwen, and Juniper are immersed in conversation.

The girls both nod, but Juniper is the one who answers. "It used to house hundreds of students, but Rowena said that they had to shut most of the school down several years ago. Now, it's just for future Warp and Aether Wizards and their companions. But each Wizard is only allowed to bring three people with them. They really want to minimize the amount of people here."

"Why?"

Fred stands off to the side, eyes drifting over the room. He spots Joe and waves him over. "I am so glad you finally showed up, dude. Sam's been nerding out all morning."

"I'm trying to learn about our new home." Sam crosses his arms and narrows his eyes at Fred. "Maybe you should too since you're the one who wanted to come here in the first place."

Fred puts his arms behind his head. "It's a magic school on a magic planet with magic students. What else is there to know?"

Sam groans and looks to Joe for help, who rolls his eyes in response. It's too early to deal with Sam and Fred's drama. Instead, he scans around the room. "Where's Tessa?" he asks, noting that she's the only one missing.

"Sorry I'm late." Tessa struts into the room, almost as if she was waiting for her name to be announced. She yawns and rolls out her shoulders. "Ro and Cas wanted to squeeze in some last-minute training, and toss in a lecture or two," she mumbles the last sentence under her breath. "Is everyone ready to go?"

Tessa whips out a golden piece of metal from her belt, juts it out in front of her, and a white blade slices through the air. The metal sings as she waves it around, carving intricate patterns into the air. The golden handle, designed to look like shooting stars, wraps perfectly around her hand. The white blade extends almost three feet away from her. The gold design continues onto the blade of the sabre, shooting stars decorating it all the way to the tip.

The trio jumps away in unison, a mix of emotions on their faces. Sam is terrified, while Joe and Fred are much more curious about the weapon. "What's that?" they ask together.

"My Focus?" Tessa holds up her sabre. "It helps me control my tears. Wouldn't be very good if I tore this entire planet to the middle of the desert."

"What's a tear?" Joe stares her weapon up and down. Would he get one of those too? He tries to imagine himself swinging a cool sword around, and finds he quite likes the idea. He wouldn't just be a Warp Wizard. He'd be a Warp Warrior.

With a smirk and quick flick of her wrist, Tessa cuts her sabre through the air. A resonating crack sounds through the hall, opening up a purple portal. It's identical to the one the girls fell through last night at dinner. "This is a tear."

"A tear is Tessa's equivalent to your warps." Juniper explains. "She can rip a hole in the fabric of space-time and travel anywhere or anytime in the universe. Though her ability to travel through time isn't as strong as yours. Her strength is lateral movement."

Fred scratches the back of his neck. "Uh, last time I checked, Joe can't warp us anywhere without The Book."

The girls stare at Joe. "Sorry, I guess everything we know about you is theoretical from our studies. Warp Wizards are supposed to have complete control over time. I'm sure you'll get there once you start your training."

"You really can't warp without your book?" Tessa shrugs. "I guess that makes it your Focus. Shame, you could've gotten a darb weapon as your Focus." Her sabre retracts, and she places it back on her belt.

"A darb…? Nevermind." Joe crosses his arms. "My book is cool. It can stop time, warp us into the past and future, and-"

"Doesn't sound like much of a weapon. And without any training, you're going to be completely defenseless on this mission." Arwen exchanges looks with Tessa. "Which is probably why we're being forced to go along."

"Mission? I thought we were just taking Joe to be awakened." Sam steps away from the portal, still waiting to transport them to their destination.

"Yeah, but we have to get there first. If this is anything like Tessa's journey to be awakened, we're in for a few good fights."

"Fights?" Sam steps back even farther. "You know, on second thought. I think I'm going to stay right here. Where it's safe, and there are no fights."

"Awesome!" Fred clamps his hand down on Sam's shoulder, making him stumble. "A little action will be good for you, Sam."

"No, a salad is good for you. A nice walk through the park is good for you. A fight is not good for you!"

"Does he do this often?" Tessa watches Sam, a small crease forming in the center of her brow. "I can't listen to this the entire trip." The other two girls nod their agreement, each one watching Sam with a nervous look on their faces.

"He lives like this," says Fred, rolling his eyes.

"Well, now we know who the fun one is in your little trio." Tessa shoots a wink at Fred. "And if you guys are ready, we need to get going. It's going to take at least a day to get there, probably two."

The girls step into the portal and silently disappear. The boys, not having much choice, follow them through. Joe and Fred, pulling Sam with them, push through the portal. The purple gateway vanishes from the room, with no trace of the kids left behind.

Joe expected walking into a tear to feel like a warp. It did not.

Warping was like being pulled down a drain with lots of spinning that left you feeling nauseous. Excessive warping back to back could actually make Joe vomit. Tearing was like being shoved through a miniscule hole in the wall. It hurt. A lot. His body stretched and thinned out, twisting at all angles. He kept stretching and stretching. His skin burned and eyes watered. Everything was stretched as far as it could go. If this lasted any longer, Joe would rip into pieces.

It was over as quick as it began. A thousand rubber bands smacked against his skin as his body snapped back into place.  Blinking away the tears, Joe watches as a new world fades into view.

"Where are we?"

"Earth, actually. Home sweet home."

"Does your home look like this? Because mine definitely does not."

Before them lays a city of ruin. Ancient, dilapidated buildings of marble and stone are sprawled out in a large circle. The pathways carve an intricate maze throughout the city. In the center of it all, a large castle looms. Several towers had fallen down and most of the walls are cracked.

The town is surrounded by a lush, green jungle, and in the distance, the sound of a crashing waterfall can be heard. Mountains and volcanos rise high into the sky, smoke pouring out from the top of some.

"This place is incredible!" Fred runs over to the edge of the cliff they landed on. The city sits miles below them. "But why are we here and not there?"

"The city is protected by a magical barrier. This is as close as I can get us. We'll have to walk the rest of the way."

"That's a lot of walking."

"Oh, come on. It's good for you." Arwen gives Fred a rough pat on the back. "For the jock-type, you sure are lazy."

"I am not."

"So, how do we get down there?" Joe, being more cautious than Fred, stands a few feet back from the edge of the cliff. He studies the city far below them. "Do we have to climb down?"

Tessa chuckles. "If you want to die, but there is path." She gestures to the gap in vegetation next to her. A dirt trail leads into the jungle. Joe can barely see ten feet before it disappears into darkness.

"Uh, it's a little dark."

"Good thing we have magic then." Tessa's hand sparks with purple lightning. Within a few seconds, the lighting forms a small ball in the center of her palm, the occasional spark still shooting off. "Shall we?"

"So where are you girls from?" The six of them have been walking for a while. The conversation comes and goes. They'd been walking in silence for too long. It had been making Joe uncomfortable.

The walk itself was nice enough. They were surrounded by vibrantly colored trees, flowers, and vines. The sounds of exotic birds resonated throughout the jungle. In different circumstances, this would have made a lovely vacation destination.

"Well, Arwen and I are from Boston," Juniper begins. "But Tessa is from-"

"Everywhere!" Tessa quickly interrupts her friend. "I'm a traveler of sorts, but I've been in Boston for two years now."

"That's what happens when you grow up in a circus," Arwen mumbles under her breath.

Tessa purses her lips, a stray spark of lightning striking the air. "Don't be jealous that my life is more exciting than yours, princess." She focuses again on the ball of energy in her hand, calming the lightning before any other stray bolts could escape. Her eyes are intensely dark.

"Wait, did you say Boston?" Fred looks from Juniper to the large, red B on Arwen's shirt. The dots slowly connecting in his head. "No, no, no." He digs his heels into the ground and folds his arms over his chest.

"What's wrong with you? Boston's a nice city." Sam raises an eyebrow at Fred. The whole group has stopped to stare at him.

"No city that is home to the Red Sox is nice." He speaks the name with such contempt that most of the group flinches. Fred places his hand over his heart. "Pure Yankee blood runs through my veins. I can't go on some quest with a Red Sox fan. It's sacrilege! I'd never be allowed back into Yankee Stadium!" He gestures to Arwen's shirt, sneering at the villainous letter.

"I'm surprised he knows how to use the word sacrilege," Sam mutters to Joe, who nods in agreement.

Arwen glances down at her shirt and shrugs. "Okay, whatever." She takes her shirt off, leaving her in just a blue tank top, and ties it around her waist. "Better, Yankee Doodle? Can we get going now?"

Fred's mouth open and closes like a fish out of water. " But, but…" He's at a loss for words. This was not the response he was anticipating. "You don't care? You have to care! The Yankee, Red Sox rivalry is the greatest rivalry in baseball history. Fans are sworn enemies of each other. How are you okay with all this?"

"I don't really care about sports," Arwen says, and Fred stumbles back in shock. "It's kind of a family thing to support the Red Sox, but I'm not into it. If you want a rivalry, go talk to my father. He'll give you the fight you want." She turns away and continues down the trail, abruptly ending the conversation.

The other kids follow her, and Fred drags his feet in the rear. He runs his hand down his face, his eyes narrowed at the ground. He begins to mumble to himself, but everyone leaves him to puzzle it out on his own.

Joe quickens his pace to catch up with Tessa. It's time for him to get some answers. Everything had been moving along so quickly, he hadn't had time to ask anyone any of the questions that had been buzzing around inside his mind. And he had a lot of them. "So, a circus, huh? That's pretty cool."

"Huh?" Tessa momentarily takes her attention away from her magic and blinks at Joe, as if she just now noticed he was there. "Oh, yeah. It was sort of a circus, carnival hybrid. My mom was a fortune teller, and my dad was an illusionist. Before this," she nodded towards her hands, "I was training to be an acrobat. But once I discovered my powers, I started focusing on them more."

"How did it happen? How did you discover your powers? I got The Book as a gift for my tenth birthday, but I didn't know I could do magic until my friends, my sister, and I warped to ancient China and there was this huge army, but only like twenty of us. One of the solider shot an arrow at my sister and was able to slow time right before the arrow hit her. But I've never been able to use magic like that before, and that was the only time that happened until Paris last week. It kind of seems like I can only use it in high-stress situations, but that doesn't seem very useful. I mean, you can use your magic whenever you want. You clearly have amazing control over it-"

"Joe!" Tessa snaps. She had been grinding her teeth through his entire speech and couldn't take it anymore. The ball of light in her hands had darkened and more lightning bolts were shooting out. "If we are going to be wizard partners for life, you have got to talk less. Your innocence is charming, bunny, but annoying."

Joe's cheek flare crimson. " Sorry, it's a bad habit… wait, did you just call me bunny? And did you say partners for life? Like marriage? I didn't sign up for that. That's-"

"You're doing it again, bunny." Tessa shoots him a sidelong glance before returning to the ball in her hands. The color gradually lightened back up, and the sparks died down. "Do you want me to answer your questions or not?"

Joe nods, finally silent. He gives Tessa all his attention, ready to learn as much as he can. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this excited about something.

"When I discovered my magic, I was eight and it was a complete accident. It almost killed me. I was practicing my aerial acrobatics, and my ropes came loose. I fell thirty feet towards the ground with no net to catch me." Joe opens his mouth to ask why she didn't have a net, but a quick glare from Tessa shut him up. "So, I panicked. As I was falling, all I wanted was to be safe. My eyes were closed, and I was screaming. Next thing I know, there's this loud cracking noise, and then my body felt like it was being pulled in a hundred different directions. Then it was over. I landed on something soft. When I opened my eyes, I was back in my tent, laying on my bed. I opened my eyes just in time to see a purple portal above my head disappear. No one else in the troop had seen or heard anything. I thought I had imagined the whole thing until I accidentally opened another tear two months later."

"What happened that time?" Tessa's story had only given Joe more questions, but he was fascinated with her. This was the kind of exciting life he had always wanted to live.

"And yes, I did call you bunny before. I think it's very fitting for you." Tessa ignores Joe's other question. "And I also said partners for life. Being a Warp or Aether Wizard is a life sentence. So, yeah, it is kind of like marriage, minus any romance." Tessa gives Joe a pointed look, wanting to make that part very clear. "And for the record, I don't have as much control over my powers as you think I do. I've only been at the academy for a few months. I've learned a lot, but after seeing what Rowena can do, I know I have a long way to go. Anything else, bunny?"

"Well, I, I guess not." Of course, Joe had a million more questions. What powers did Tessa have? Did she know all the powers he would have too? Was bunny a permanent nickname? But he needed time to process everything he had been told. Besides, he knew if he asked Tessa anymore questions, she would snap at him again. He didn't need that right now.

He concentrated on the path ahead of him. Soon, they would be coming upon the city. Not long after that, Joe would have his powers awakened. As long as he lived through the process, he tried not to think about the alternative, he would be a full-fledged Warp Wizard with crazy awesome magical powers. Everything he ever wanted would be happening. He just had to make it through the rest of this mission. Simple enough, right?

[trickstersantana]

[Para: Tina/Elliott/Santana] Of Tales and Reunions

Who: Santana, Tina @cohentoplaywithmagic , Elliott @ellnaturae , and two mysterious individuals.  Location: Yanaka Cemetary, Tokio, Japan Time: 10th May, 2018 Summary: When the free time starts, Tina, Elliott and Santana has an encounter with someone who has been insisting her to met outside campus and also has contacted with the group.  Triggers/Notes: Death talk and lying liars who lies

Santana got out of the cementery with Elliott and Tina nearby. She looked at her phone and the last weird text she recieved, now that she has ‘free time’. They said the place where she was, and the clothes she was wearing, and there were all from the mysterious stalker that somehow keeps getting more and more information about her. She looked around to find whose stranger was the person behind it. “Hey guys, wait a moment, I have to reunite with some weird person who is stalking me and probably beat them out” She warned the others without giving them any context whatsoever.

Elliott was walking next to Tina hoping they could go next to a most cheerful place. He had been lost in thought for a while, even if the place was beautiful cementeries always reminded him how fragile human life is, and that made him think if someday he would just lost everyone he cared about. Suddenly the words "reunite with some weird person stalking me" got him back to reality "Wait what?" he asked out loud turning to look at Santana and then looking at Tina trying to find confirmation that he heard right.

Tina seeing all the cherry blossoms, no one could blame her from thinking about the Ouran Highschool Host Club and slightly imaging who everyone would be in that anime. The ceremony was beautiful but her weeb brain was caught up in spinning her own AU version of it. A soft smile on her face as she was humming...okay slightly singing the theme,"Kiss...kiss fall in love," as she mindlessly walked along with Elliott but her thoughts halted when Santana spoke. "What in the....Santana you are what?" She looks at Elliott nodding because, he had heard right.

Someone in the crowd got closer to the group from behind, they walked fast without doubt, with the determination of someone who expects to be instantly loved every time someone sees them. “Hay everyone!” A cheerful young voice called to the trio, while waving their hand effusively to greet them. “Thanks for waiting for me even when I’m late!” said the short, white, black haired teen with the backpack. They looked like every annoying younger sibling that ever appeared on a sitcom combined into one. They pointed at Tina “Hay Silent Cry for Help and Professional Hugger! Nice to meet you for realsies!” They exclaimed excited, and looked at Santana with a triumphal smile. “I told you I always get what I want, Senorita!”

Santana looked at the voice calling to them, and if she could, she would look at the camera like she was on the office. “You must be kidding me.” She said irked, looking down. “Is this you, really? What are you, six?” How the fuck a kid got her number. “Who the fuck are you?”

Elliott frowned so confused he thought his eyebrows will fall off his face. Was that the same person sending him weird messages about a farm full of Shedim in Texas? "What the fuck" he let out.

Tina feels a chill as this stalker, was literally a stalker. When she hard the name 'Silent Cry for Help' ...like they had actually found them in Japan and they weren't a NYADA student. "Who even are you?" She looks at the little kid, in agreement with Santana, like what the aether was a child doing stalking a Shedim, Trickster Spirit and a Witch?

Someone smiles brightly, they love strong reactions, but quickly frowed. “I’m not six! In three years I’ll be basically an adult!” they complained, but quickly smiled again. “Who do /y’all/ think I am? I left y'all enough clues, didn’t I?” They said with a big grin.“Guess my name”

Santana rolled her eyes. She didn’t trust this kid. She really didn’t trust this kid, and she knew what kind of distrust this was. “Rumpelstiltskin”

Elliott looks at Santana and the kid, did she have any idea who he was? He found himself trying to remember the anonymous messages but he gave up easily, why did he have to follow this kid's absurd game? "An asshole" he said as if that was his guess.

Tina could not believe that the kid was for real. Santana said it so casually  about the kid appearing up. She laughs at Santana's answer and in parcel agreement with Senpai's answer. "A three year old who shouldn't even be on Tumblr."

Someone suddenly doesn’t feel that much welcome. “Wrong, wrong, wrong!” they said with teary eyes. “You guys are so mean!” they complained chocking back tears. Luckyly for them, the cavalry was coming. A suspicious man with a suit and sunglasses put his hand on their shoulders, and looked at the team through his sunglasses. “She isn’t here, llorica. You lost”  He said non-challand. “Is the kid bothering you?” he ask the group of adults making a teenager cry. 

Santana froze when the man appeared. This wasn’t happening. He couldn’t be here. Not with Tina and Elliott. This has to be an illusion. “’Dad’? The fuck are you doing here?”

Elliott didn't trust the kid, it made him feel bad that he was sad because he looked young and small, but there was something off. When the older man approached them he felt something else change, he had felt something similar in the past, distrust, but this was so much strong, that man, for Elliott, seemed dangerous. He wasn' sure what to do but he wanted to be alert in case something happened, so he moved closer to Santana though not very far from Tina, he wanted to be ready enough to protect them if something went wrong. "Wait... what did you just say?" he looked at Santana extremelly surprised.

Tina could feel the black blutterflies in her stomach fluttering harder at the appearance of the other man. Her palms feel a little sweaty from two strangers that seemed to know them more they knew about them. Everything felt uneasy and uncomfortable. Their is a tight grip on her phone, not in hopes to use a spell but a chance to call anyone who was needed since magic was limited here. Her eyes shot at Santana when the word 'dad' left Santana's lips. Aether this was not gonna be good at all.

Someone stopped crying but seemed annoyed. “Is her!” they said pointing at Santana. “I won and you have to keep your part of the deal!” they pouted to the old man. The man looked at Santana, not recognizing her. "I haven’t seen you in my life” he said. 

 Santana sometimes forgot she looked totally different now. She felt how unconfortable was always to be with more than one trickster, and she only had to deal with 2, and was used to way more, not like Tina and Elliott. But it still was her dad, in the flesh, if this really wasn’t an illusion. And he didn’t recognize her. She has to show him who she is “I can’t believe you dared to come again, you Old Bastard, you didn’t just betray me back them, or the rest of your so called ‘family’, you betrayed the mere concept of trust. We forgave too many things, but this one won’t be forgiven. Right now, I would stab you for 2 dollars” She exclaimed, pointing at him, very threatically, while her ‘Dad’ started laughing. “Niebla!” He said recognizing the speech “It sounds so weird in english. What the hell happened to you?” She smiled slightly relieved, but she has to take a little control of the situation. “Oh yeah, I got an haircut. But alright. Ehm. Guys, this is... what’s your name right now, ‘Dad’?”   “Pedro”  “This is my ‘dad’” She said doing the quotation marks ”Pedro and... ‘Dad’, those are my... classmates Techy and Nine.” She looke at Elliott and Tina. “I recommend you not saying your names or revealing any kind of personal information” She whispered with a smile. "And I don't know who that is" she said pointing at the kid. 

Elliott couldn't stop looking at Santana's "dad" , he felt such a strong feeling of distrust coming from him that he wasn't even sure if he could let his guard down from now on, he assimilated what Santana was just whispering to them and nodded "Yes, I'm Nine... nice to meet you" he said, though it kinda sounded like a question.

Tina the unease in the air was starting to thicken. She looks at the exchange between Santana and her 'father' trying to see the emotions that lingered between them yet something felt off about it. "Yep , I'm Techy," she said with slight warmth in her voice glad to be called Techy witch again.

The man in the sunglasses laugh at that ‘nice to meet you’. He pointed at the kid. “This is my new kid. I found him in the trash and adopted him. He is so fucking annoying” He said with a smile full of pride. “Kiddo, entertaint those two while me and your ‘sister’ have a talk” he said and pointed to be just 3 meters separated from the rest.

Santana looked the kid with hate “No” She just said, visibly bothered by the whole thing and with too many things to say that she didn’t even knew were to start.  “One moment” She excused herself to Elliott and Tina. “I’ll take care of this. Sorry” She said and followed the man. Inmediatly they started to argue in spanish. Like they were whispering really loud it was basically just normal talking. Anyone who knew the language would just hear the whole thing.

Someone smiled and winked. “Surprise, onee-chan! Told you you were going to be amaze~” they were really happy again, and couldn’t stand still. “Professional Hugger is called Elliott and is a satanist, and Silent Cry for Help is Tina Cohen-Chang and she’s into New-age electronic music” they informed. “And we are gonna be super friends!” They were more than happy to be a distraction.  “So so, Hugger, I suspect my last messages didn’t arrive, but the other satanists in the farm are fine! And Silent Cry, I can give you my url if you really want to!” They got a notebook and a pen from their backpack. “Do y’all want me to draw for you? I’m going to draw for you.”  They said pretty determinated and with bright wishful eyes.

Elliott was very conflicted part of him wanted to be with Santana and somehow help her out, but it seemed like actually a family thing that Santana and her "dad" had to deal with, and either way the kid seemed suspicious as well, so he didn't want to let them out of his side. It was kind of cute, almost like they were for real a innocent child, and he was starting to feel bad for talking to them aggresively "Er... sure" he said knowing pretty well those Shedim were more than dead, but at the same time, how do you break those news to a kid? "Ugh, right right, let's draw something" he also took out a pen and a notebook from his own bag and tried to do a funny drawing for the kid. Maybe sort of playing with them would keep them away from doing mischiveous things.

Tina could not help but worry about Santana as she spoke to her "dad" privately as they started to talk in Spanish, frowning a little that she never took high school Spanish. The little kid was trying to out Tina and Elliott but messed up quiet a lot. "Sure...I'm an electronic music specialist," which she could easily do with her magic. She watches as Elliott and the kid started drawing, which wasn't something for her, she just watches them. "Sure, it would be nice to have your URL." she smiles, a chance to know,"But if you don't mind me ask, because you seem a little young, but are you over 13, since you have to be 13 to use Tumblr, don't you?"

Someone was glad everything was coming along just fine. They knew it. Everyone just ended up loving them in the end. “What do you want? Your fursona,ponysona, centaursona, zootopiasona, prettyderbysona or villagersona?” They asked very fast and very thrilled to show their art skills. “I’ll write it in your drawing, Silent Cry, just tell me what you want! You know I wanna be just like you. Just like you before you decided to ruin yourself, of course, but who am I to judge?” They frowed at Tina’s question. “I’m an adult in horse years” They said very convinced as if that was an answer. “I am just very short for my height! And now that we are talking about it, I wasn’t found in the trash we met /next/ to a trash can in the streets it’s totally different!”

Santana and her ‘dad’ keep arguing for a while, she started to talk more, as she was explaining something. The man put his hand in his mouth trying not to laugh. Santana looks unamused. 

Elliott looked at the kid confused, he didn't know what half of those things they say meant but he randomly picked one "Zootopiasona?" he said a little scared of what he picked "Is that like... zoo... like an animal version of me?" he frowned confused. He wasn't sure if the kid wasn't for real or if his life was as fucked up as to be living near a trash can, but he was starting to wonder if that how things worked with Santana's dad. Sort of taking advantage of weak kids  in need that he found and training them to do what he wanted. Gross. "What do you want me to draw for you?" he asked.

Tina was trying to keep up with all the sona style drawings that the kid wanted to do. So he was that side of Tumblr.  "A sona is like persona, if you were in the world Senpai. Like Zootopia, the disney movie!" She explains to Elliott before her attention draws back to the backpack kid. "Hey what the spell do you mean 'before I decided to ruin myself' mean?" Feeling all the offence to that statement, though it was meant to be flattering this person knew how to make it sound unflattering by all means. "Yeah...that didn't answer my question."

Someone answered Elliott “Neight, is not that simple” with determination while starting to draw, and Tina explained it in their place while they nodded. “Draw me Seiun Sky” they said all happy, expecting everyone to know what they meant. “You know what I mean! Giving up what you love the most... to be something you aren’t supposed to be. We are very alike! Just that I’m still working on improving, and you instead decided to completelly ruin yourself when you were perfect as you were. But if you are happy with that...” They said with a shrug, still smiling. “I’m grow up enough!”

Santana keeps looking annoyed, and the man starts laughing without shame. After a while she starts laughing a little too.

Elliott looked at the kids confused as hell, he also couldn't understand what they knew or didn't about Tina or what they were trying to imply, but the more he thought about it the more he saw the kid as just that an annoying kid to set them apart from Santana "I don't know what or who that is" he replied looking over them to where Santana and her dad were talking or laughing or discussing, he wasn't sure what was happening at all "What do you mean she ruined herself?" he got offended too since they were insulting one of his dearest friends "Tina is amazing"

Tina can feel her confidence starting to slip. Her mouth feeling a little dryer as someone was calling her out about being who she is not suppose to be. Did they meant her being a New Age? Or something about her parents? What did this person even mean? She wants to ask but she is too afraid to know a truth, Santana and Kurt gave her too much of that (for the better or worst). When she hears Elliott, his words reminder that she is awesome. "Guess you know me from what you seem online," she lightly shrugs it off,"I am happier." She looks over at Santana and her 'father' wondering if this laughing was something she was happy about.

Someone wasn’t dissapointed Seiun Sky wasn’t know, because it means they could introduce her to people, so they just took their phone and opened a folder with thousand screenshots from anime, and showed Elliott a white haired anime girl with animal ears and tail. “This is Seiun Sky, from Uma Musume Pretty Derby. It’s a sport anime that is ALSO an idol anime, with horse girls” They keep showing Elliott screenshots of the show while talking really intenselly about it “You should totally check it out if you have any taste for good things. Look they live with normal people and they have special clothes they can wear with their tails and all, it's really nice...” They could had talked hours about that show, but stopped to laugh at Elliott response about the comment on Tina. “Hihihi, is that natural loyalty or she ordered you to defend her? I can’t say what I mean here, you should know that” They explained like a know-it-all. They listened to Tina’s answer and smiled. “If you are happy that’s what matters, isn’t it?” they just said and keep drawing.

Santana and her ‘dad’ stopped laughing, and apparently he was explaining her something, while she listened, crossing her arms, pretty serious while nodding, and sometimes doing a small comment. After a long time, progressively even that started to sound like a heated discussion. “You know what?” Her ‘dad’ said. “Let’s put an end to this argument. Now. Kiddo!” He called and both walked to the group. “Be preparing to get going. And you, Nine, or whatever your name is” he said pointing at Elliott, and asking, very seriously “Can satanists shoots rays trought their eyes or not?”. Santana muttered annoyed “No they fucking don’t y ni siquiera estabamos hablando de eso! ”

Elliott was horrified at the level of fetishization those poor horse girls were going through, and he was also so confused as to why that show was in any way good quality content "Erm..." he looked down at his notebook and decided he wasn't going to draw that at all, he was also getting angrier at the moment when the kid said he could be controlled by Tina "you know what" he closed the notebook "i dont even know why should i pretend or care for anything you got to say..." he was going to say more when Santana and her dad approached "No, we can't" he replied almost at the same time as Santana.

Tina "doesn't give a flying flip about the crappy anime that this kid was trying to talk about. As her fists balled to the side to what he was insinuating that Tina was doing to Elliott,"How dare you even think that. I would never do that. Not to anyone," she spoke through gritted teeth.  She was just was done as Santana and Elliott were. She wanted to go away from that child.

Someone complained “Eeeeeh, but we are friends! Why are y’all suddenly so mean? I feel sad now!” but they were told to prepare to go, so they ripped the page of their drawing and gave it to Elliott anyway. “I know Zootopia doesn’t have horses but I don’t know how to draw other animals” They informed offering the drawing with a pride that only a teen with a Sonic OC on devianart could have. It was really bad, but it was a cartoon horse with Elliott’s clothes. It had written ‘With love from Oliver’ 

Santana could note everyone was very unconfortable and hated every second of it. It wasn’t enough to encounter her ‘dad’ with all that it means, it had to be with Elliott and Tina. A wave of shame suddenly hit her and she crossed her arms again. Now to see what bullshit will he come up with now. “Told you” she said, but he smiled like it was just the answer he wanted to hear. Of course. She rolled her eyes and he started to talk “That’s perfect, because now that you all know that’s bullshit I can finally tell you the tale of that time I met the Unkneeling”

Elliott took the drawing anyway even though he was so confused, if he had to choose an animal to draw himself as, he would choose a sheep with really cool horns. He saved the drawing on his own notebook noticing the name, but he wasn't done processing that when he heard Santana dad's words "What did you say?" he asked surprised.

Tina , herself was feeling wound up the the child but they matter litter and their love for Zootopia. Aether they drew Ell as a horse. No not important. She places a hand on his shoulder, making sure that he was alright as Santana's father was talking about him or too him.

The man with the sunglasses started monologing a story that sounded like had been told more than once. ”It was just the Unkneeling, the one who brought her to the world also know as the Author, me, and more than a dozen of  mercenaries about to corner us and kill us. The two of them started to argue about what to do, and the Unkneeling ended it up with a ‘I’m going to do whatever I please anyway’ while the other asked her to not do it, something aobut not wanting whatever shit to happend again.” He said like it wasn’t important. “Anyway, the Unkneeling get rid of her make up if you know what I mean, daringly stept up against the mercenaries. They weren’t impressed, and the leader ordered her to get on her knees with the confidence of a man who had done that a thousand times and was always obeyed. She keep standing tall. And she asked him to repeat the order, that she must not hear it clearly. So he did...” He keep saying, still unfinished, but doing a dramatic pause to breathe.

Santana knew a lot of her ‘dad’ stories, and almost all of them started with people trying to murder him. She wondered if this one has some truth in it, but if it was a fucking joke she was ready to punch him in the face.

Elliott was very confused, was that man really trying to say that he knew a Shedim who wouldn't kneel? That sounded to good to be true, especially coming from someone who would lie. "So she didn't kneel?" he asked surprised anyway, even if he thought it could be a lie, he may also be hopeful.

Tina didn't know whether or not to trust the things Santana's 'dad' was saying, not because he was a trickster (okay maybe a little bit) but from the way Santana always seemed to talk about his family.  She listens but her eyes watch Elliott, slightly worried if this was lie filled with false hope.

The man with the sunglasses checked for a second his public reaction’s, and answered to the most interested one. “She didn’t, she mocked him for failing and invited the others to try instead. She was pretty encouraging, saying ‘C’mon, put some more efford into it! Said it louder’. She even made the gesture of starting to, and then got back up again while cackling. Their faces were priceless” He narrated laughing at the tale. “After that she said ‘I’m going to count to 10 so you better start running’ and at 7 there were no mercenaries left. It was increible” He keeps laughing for a while. “She also shoot lasers through her eyes. Anyway, the mercenaries were gone, the Author was freaking out and I said ‘It looks like you need of my services so this keeps being a secret and you two get out of this situation’ and the Author said ‘You put us in this situation’” He said, using a high pitched mocking voice for the Author’s voice. “You know how women always complain about that... I took care of it. The Author said ‘you can’t tell people about this” And I said ‘ehhhhh I’m going to’, because, it is too good of a story to not tell, it was amazing. She said ‘What is the point of covering it if you are going to tell it anyway? Please just don’t say it, please’ so I started to explain what was the point and the many nuances of the circunstances. The Unkneeling interrupted me to say ‘If you are going to be a dick anyway, can you at least add some absurd detail like... I don’t know, that I shoot lasers through my eyes or something like that so it all sounds even more improbable and people won’t believe you?’ And I said ‘Now that I can do’”

Santana was bitchy smiling outside but screaming inside and the little kid was just looking at her ‘dad’ very confused about the whole thing.

Elliott was starting to believe maybe the story was right, but at the same time the more he heard it looked more like a lie "Well... that's something..." he wasn't sure if he should have more hope or not but he didn't lose anything trying to ask "Is there any way of finding her? I have a lot of questions about... satanists" he asks.

Tina tries to keep up with Santana's "father's" story but she felt confused as anything, though she kept a stern face on looking between Elliott and Santana for their reactions. Though the fact that he spoke about the Unkneeling, was something like that even possible? There had to be, anything was possible.

The man with the sunglasses contained a laugh "Someone is really desperate...but sure, I do have the email of the Author, she surely knows." He said gesturing to the kid so they give him the notebook to write it. "But she lives in a zone... just like this one." He said pointing around"And she will probably say she doesn't know what you are talking about if you ask her directly...and, why would I give this to you for free?" He asked when he finished writing it and folded the paper showing it in his hand.

Santana get close to Elliott. "We don't want it, right?" She said and tried to gesticulate to her friend how this was not really a good idea. "You can like, go away now." She said to her fake dad, feeling bad about it but also feeling bad about the current situation.

Elliott looks at Santana then at her dad, he knows he should agree with Santana, he probably didn't have good intentions, but It was something he couldnt just let go of it "Because your hija's friend are your friends?" he tries really hard knowing he is probably saying that word in the worst pronunciation possible.

Tina adds in her two sense,"Tana's is normally right about these kinda things. You shouldn't want it." For once she was actually taking Santana's side and affirming it out loud.

The man with the sunglasses laughs even more with that answer and hands him the paper. "I'm convinced. That's her work email for her books. She knows english" He just said, and looked directly at Tina “Why shouldn’t he want it?” Asked, and waited for an answer before warning the the kid. "We have other things to o now, so we’re leaving now. Bye, Niebla. Good luck all that and try not to die" He says giving her half a hug half a pat in the back and ready to go, while the kid waved at them goodbye.

Santana didn’t return the hug but also feel it was too short. “Same to you!” she said and felt the mood improving considerably with two tricksters less on the mix, but still too many mix of feelings to be any calm, she looked at Elliott and Tina after a while and fake laugh. “Well. That was something. Let’s just forget about all this and not talk about it and Elliott I highly recommend you to throw that paper to the trash”

Elliott looked down at the paper, Santana may be right, it could be something weird, someone trying to trick him, the email could lead to trouble, but it also could lead to answers. "Yeah, maybe I should, when we find one" he says putting the paper on his pocket pretty sure he is not going to throw it away.

Tina doesn't say a work to him, she didn't have just too.  She just stays silent watching as her father and the kid said their goodbyes and were ready to leave. "We'll try," she says to Santana but it was not easy to forget something like this. "Senpai, if you do email, let me know please." She tells him, already writing magic codes she could embed in the message if something fishy were to happen.

Santana fucking knows he is not going to throw the fucking paper but she'll try to convince him later. She wanted to go away anyway, maybe she could find another witch that didn't talk much around. "I forgot something at the hotel, I see you guys later, alright?"

[nemrut]

Untitled W.I.T.C.H. story

As I watched Cornelia, Irma and Matt step out of the portal, I frowned.

“Where are the others?” I asked, as I moved to hug Cornelia.

“Hay Lin had to help out at the Silver Dragon, Taranee was dragged along by her brother for something and Will’s mom kinda drafted her to assist with something work related. Honestly not sure, Will was yelling about needing rescue from evil paperwork and running but I’m not breaking into her mom’s workplace again. Red is on her own.”

“I love your teamwork,” I said, “Always so encouraging to see the Guardians of the Veil stepping up and show why it was them that were chosen to safeguard Infinity.”

Matt, the abandoned girls boyfriend rolled his eyes as Cornelia shoved me with a snort. “Shut up, you ditched us more than once for a sale.”

“And am I a guardian, Cornelia? Do you see me wearing these ridiculous tights?”

Irma clutched her chest as if her heart had been shot, a look of betrayal on her face. “How dare you! Ridiculous tights? It’s the finest fashion and armor Kandrakar has to offer.”

Cornelia was equally outraged. “We deposed the last ruler of this planet and we’ll do it again,” Cornelia threatened with a smile and I laughed.

“So, what’s the plan?” asked Irma and leaned over the balcony to see a lot of construction going on. “What’re you building over there?”

I took a deep breath, knowing that this might not go over all that well.

“Phobos’ weird Star Gate thing, on a really small scale.”

Cornelia, Matt and Irma spun around looking at me, eyes wide and mouths open.

“I’m sorry, I think the last fold did something to my hearing. I could have sworn you said something like building a fold portal to earth.” Matt’s voice got a bit shrill which couldn’t have been good for his singing.

“Yeah, that’s the plan.”

“WHY!?”

“Look, guys, it’s very simple. Yes, I may be the Queen of an entire planet and have magical powers akin to a literal goddess, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss electricity or the internet. Or good plumbing. Or refrigerators. Or modern medicine. Or tampons, well, magic kinda makes that way more convenient actually, but for all the others who aren’t me, tampons would be neat. Which is most people here, basically everyone else. You know, modern technology and science. All the good stuff. I want it here. For me and for them. I’m a giver.”

“Why do you sound like a villain when you say it like that?” Irma asked raising an eyebrow which I ignored.

“I’m not going to steal anything or kidnap anyone. I am going to take gold and jewels from our treasury here, change them to earth currency and get a lot of books. Thankfully our languages are similar enough and the most difficult thing is coming up with stuff anyway. With that already handled, all we have to do is to learn how it is done and try to apply it here, without the mistakes that you people did, of course. Earth people are bad at this, you know. Would be cool to have everything without wrecking the planet and nature. Here I am hoping magic will do the trick.”

“You people?” Cornelia looked baffled and incredulous.

“That sounds great and all, but you really just want the internet back, right?”  asked Irma at the same time.

“Oh yes, so much. Movies, make-up, fashion, movies, games, music,  electricity in general. I need it back, guys!”

“You said movies twice. Also, I’m not learning how to build steam engines,” Cornelia said, crossing her arms. “As if I didn’t have anything better to do than uplift this backwater hellhole. No offence,” she hastily added.

“Yes offence but that’s not why I asked you morons here. If I wanted technical expertise, or any kind of expertise for that matter, I would have bribed Taranee here. No, you lemmings are going to, for now, work as my gophers. Take a few of my subjects and give them an earth crash-course until they know enough to make transactions.”

Matt took out his smartphone, pushed a few buttons and read something for a few seconds before he spoke. “I just checked my schedule and it seems I’m too busy for that Elyon. Looks like I’ve to do anything else but that. Sorry for that, would love to help but I really don’t want to. Solid talk we had and good luck.”

“What he said,” Irma pointed at Matt and Cornelia nodded.

“Hard pass, gorgeous.”

Well, it’s not like I expected them to be helpful, especially after they told me they had ditched Will the way Caleb had his mother in the necklace.

“Way to be helpful, guys. Here you are, lounging in the lap of luxury and privilege that is western civilization and refuse to do give even a little bit of time to help those in need. For shame.”

“Said the wealthy, magically powerful very much not elected monarch.” Irma wasn’t impressed but then again, she had always been a sharp one.

“Yeah, didn’t think you’d buy that line either.”

“Honestly, in all seriousness, that’s your long term goal? Get a few books and build stuff that is way above the technological level of this world? Never watched all that much Star Trek but seems to remember that it was a bad idea there.”

“Well, I’m going to be cheating a lot. With magic. Like, the portal thing is there so that the fold will be permanently open to allow for cables in-between worlds. So it will be less inventing the meridian internet but rather accessing the internet and electrical networks of earth.”

“That’s possible?”

“Well, I could plug in the charger of my phone with a fold between my bedroom here and on earth. And as long as the fold is open, I even get a weak wifi signal.”

“Aren’t you stealing internet?”

“Oh, is miss mind control trying to argue morals with me?”

“Objection retracted.”

“But no, I would have paid for the Brown house. Of course, if I want to set up things, would have to pay for other stuff but I would first need to research what I would need exactly. And how to make it so that no one wonders where it all goes to.”

“Imagine the whole different worlds thing gets blown because Aldarn was shitposting on Twitter.” Irma seemed amused at that and crackled after a few seconds thinking about that.

“So, you’re going to have your people toil away in order to give yourself access to youtube and facebook. What was the difference between monarchy and dictatorship again?” Matt asked.

“The difference is fuck you,” I replied, shooting him a cross glare. “And having electricity and warm water and modern sanitation and all that is going to help everyone as well.”

“Easy there, your majesty,” Irma was barely holding back her laughter. “You really have gotten quite demanding and bossy over the last few months.”

“What? No, I’ve not.”

“Elyon, sweetie, you have. It’s not bad or anything, but you did get a bit more-“

“Like Cornelia,” Irma helped her finish her sentence for which she was rewarded with a cute snarl.

I, on the other hand, was aghast. “I haven’t gotten that bad, did I?” my hands went to my cheeks.

“Oh, screw you two bitches! You wish you were half as awesome as me.”

“Who are you going to send to earth to learn earth customs?”

“Well, Caleb seems like a good choice. He already has a solid grasp on a lot of things and it’s not like he isn’t there enough. Might as well do something useful when he is there. You know, pleasing Cornelia should take only a few minutes, lots of free time afterwards.” Cornelia flipped me off, the rude tramp. “My parents are probably going to be the main people taking the helm on that one. They’ve lived there for years, they know it very well, they are already established and our house serves as a nice basis. And they’re adults, so, yeah, that tends to make things easier than having a seventeen year old try to do this shit.”

“What was this crap about us having to take care of newcomers then? Seems like we’re not needed at all.” Irma sounded confused.

“Well, it would be helpful. But truth to be told, I’d like your more…esoteric help. Mainly Will and Irma, really, so it’s too bad she isn’t here.”

“Wait, wait, wait. You wanted us to abuse our powers to grant you unlimited access to technological facilities and applications? Brainwash people and infiltrate computer systems? That’s what you wanted us for?”

“You make it sound worse than it is.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Elyon, you must have confused us for the Guardians of Corporate Espionage when we’re, in fact, very much not that!”

“You’re so dramatic,” I complained to Cornelia. “I know Irma uses her powers to let herself off easy with tests and oral examinations. How is that any better than me wanting you guys to fudge the numbers in order to help tens of thousands of people.”

“Oh yeah, you’re really desperate to give Aldarn and the rest of the Rebellion access to porn and catvideos.”

Matt, Cornelia and I laughed at that and Irma flashed us a confident grin.

“Oh boy, I would pay to see that, to be honest,” Matt said, not even trying to reign in his grin.

“Not going to lie, porn would be a huge success here,” I admitted, “think it definitely has potential as a business endeavor but we don’t want to go too fast. Folks are in some ways a bit more conservative. It’s a medieval setting, after all.”

“You know,” Irma started, “I always wondered how close they are to our world.”

“Well, racism isn’t really a thing between humans, seeing they are living together with countless other races and this world has been aware of Kandrakar and other worlds for quite a while. That said, it still very much exists with regards to shapeshifters and other life forms. Lurdens as well. And whatever Tracker was.”

“How come they still haven’t technologically progressed if Kandrakar has been connecting them to so many different worlds?” Cornelia wondered.

“Phobos didn’t make things easier on that regard but before that, no idea. Maybe they like the aesthetic?”

“Well, Kandrakar isn’t exactly high tech either,” Matt said, scratching his chin. “I mean, it’s pretty much monks in robes and aether and whatnot.”

“But mostly because they have magic, right? No need for an electric heater if you can just magic the right temperature and stuff. Light, communication, heat, whatever, everything can be done by magic. Why bother with technology?” I said. “Which is different to here, because not every citizen is a wizard or sorcerer. And no magic in the world can replace YouTube, so, yeah. I want this done.”

Really, it was like herding cats with them. Every time I had them to a teensy thing, they started complaining and bickering.

[storylocke]

Connections 1

[While the ferry is made up almost entirely of Aether Employees heading back to the base, there are a few other, younger, passengers spotted here and there in the seats as well. Devin shifted awkwardly as he looked out at the people in the separated area through the hazy circular window on the door. He just couldn’t muster his usual frantic energy as the weight on his stomach kept him grounded in place. It was almost strange that as often as he sat in the quiet, spacious cabins of boats before, he felt overwhelmingly uncomfortable with the first-class setting and almost wished he could have been in the back where he could see a few other young trial goers talking it up.

At least he wasn’t alone. The boy slipped away from the door, staggering with the excuse of poor sea legs as he found a seat by the window. Looking at Hau, the boy appeared leagues out of place as he ran around the cabin to inspect everything he technically shouldn’t touch. Devin couldn’t help but grin as his friend hurried over to join him.]

Hau: Have you ever been on a ferry before?

Devin: No.

Hau: Me either. Or wait, I think I got to go one time, but that was probably when I was little to remember. [soft whistle as he places his hands behind his head] Hoo boy, this sure is a lot nicer than Kukui’s ship though.

Devin: [Gazes about the room again] I don’t know, I feel a little enclosed in this stuffy ol’ hole. [smiles at him] It won’t be nearly as fun as when we got to ride on the outside.

Hau: Yeah, probably not. [drops his arms as a new idea seems to hit him] But you know what might be fun? I’m gonna go see if the Captain will let us ride up there with them. You want to come with?

[Devin paused as he thought about it. Oddly, it seemed that after entering the boat, the howl of directions in his head had simply turned to a soft buzzing like Their power over him had been muted after leaving the hotel. Small blessings considering his discomfort with who would be joining them shortly. Still, just to be safe since they would be playing around with the controls to a large vessel, it was better to be safe.]

Devin: I’ll be fine. If they say yes, you can come back for me. I’m a little tired right now.

Hau: Alright! I’ll be right back.

[As he disappeared behind the little velvet curtain that separated them, Devin could only shake his head. Where did he get so much energy? They were the same age and yet seeing him almost made him feel old by comparison. Maybe it was the Voices had simmered down, he suddenly found himself missing that rush of motivation… Or maybe he should actually try some of those Malasadas. He nodded to himself in affirmation; next time Hau wanted to go grab some, he may just have to join him. Devin leaned back in his seat and heaved a sweet sigh at the momentary quiet and closed his eyes to take it all in. The moment was absolutely ruined as the third member of their current party seemed to have appeared in the room while he was relaxing.]

Devin: Boy, I never thought I’d see you again.

Faba: Indeed. If I’d known you were to be coming out here, I might have dumped you off myself.

Devin: [glares, but rather than responding, he merely turns his gaze out the window to the ocean]

Faba: [shifts in his seat as there’s some wry delight to see the boy is uncomfortable] …Is that all? Aren’t even the least bit curious to ask me how your parents are doing?

Devin: [turns back to show he’s still bitter to see him.] I don’t have anything to talk to you about. You never wanted to talk to me before. You’re one of my mother’s friends, but that doesn’t make you one of mine.

Faba: [he can get mad too, kiddo, and that look he’s giving is anything but friendly] Impudent little… [ahem] For your information, Mr. Yates, I happen to be someone very important out here. I would suggest you take this most advantageous opportunity into account on establishing yourself in this backwater region. Honestly, I wouldn’t care to bother with you either, but fate deigned to be against us this time.

Hau: [hurrying back] They said not right now since we’re about to leave. [stops short as he only just realized someone else had shown up.] Oh, hi Mr. Faba.

Faba: [Is so not amused with the boy, especially at being so rudely interrupted when he was trying to have a private conversation. Practically through his teeth as he holds his tongue from saying something else.] It is not “Mr. Faba.” I have a title, and I would respect that you use it if you’re going to address me.

Hau: Ah, sorry then, Mr. Admin-Commander-Boss-Sir. [His tone somehow seems so innocent despite how cheeky his grin is with only the slightest hint of mockery.] I don’t think I was there when you introduced yourself. I just wanted to thank you for letting us ride up front like this. [slight bounce of excitement] Almost makes me feel like someone important.

Faba: You don’t expect someone of my privilege to ride with you in the back, would you? I would like to have a word with Mr. Yates about the incident earlier. Alone, if you understand that much. Tell the Captain you are allowed in there on my orders.

Hau: [Realizes that this guy really doesn’t mess around. On the other hand though, he can understand that he wasn’t there for that hillside fight with Team Skull and while the guy did sound angry, he was telling him to do something he wanted to do anyway. Best not to push his limits, he just grins at him.] Sure thing. I’ll see you in a bit, D76.

Devin: … … … [nervously waves him off as he can practically feel the look he’s getting. Really, he was hoping he WOULDN’T have to spend this gods knew how long trip with the creep.]

Faba: [After the boy is officially gone] My, Mr. Yates, you have some strange ideas of companionship. I didn’t know you could have friends, and then you end up with someone like that? Interesting tastes you have.

Devin: [hmph] I only came with because Hau said he’d been invited too. Soon as I heard he got tangled up with you, I smelled trouble.

Faba: [Looks back at him in somewhat surprise. What do you accuse him of, brat?] A lesson in conservation is most important to children, as the destructive little monsters have little understanding or consideration otherwise. The Aether Foundation has made it their business to learn about all of the trial-goers and invites those most promising to the Aether Paradise for a tour. [cheeky grin] Not that you ever had any promise, but I did have to say something in front of my subordinate after you somehow managed to be of use in dealing with Team Skull.

Devin: [snerk] Oh, I heard plenty when I walked in on you guys. You threw me under the bus without even asking me; your people know without my help that you’re just lazy. If you thought I was going to be useless, you should have done that yourself. Unless you planned to watch me lose and THEN step in to make yourself look like you were protecting me. It doesn’t help your reputation now because you owe me.

Faba: Technically, I owe you nothing. My position puts me in a state that I don’t have to do anything without direct orders, and it was only after I invited you that our President decided you might be worth her time.

[They both sit in a long moment of silence, bitterly waiting for Devin to snap back as the boy just continued to glare daggers at the man. Devin remained unfazed, however, as he showed he knew himself to be in the right.]

Faba: [realizes the boy doesn’t believe him] I suppose you were just lucky to have shown up when you did, because our only interest before then was with Mr. Hau.

Devin: [confused] I just thought you invited him because of our help in the Diglett Cave. No offense to Hau, but he’s a worse trainer than I am. I don’t know how he could be more very  “promising” to you when he’s barely holding on in the trials.  It’s because of Hala? It’s because of him being in line for Kahuna, isn’t it?

Faba: True, that would be a point of intrigue alone under the circumstances we’re used to. However, the Kahuna aren’t chosen by such obvious means. In his case, our interest lies more with the cover-up leading to his current placement under Hala’s guardianship. It is for that reason we simply refer to him as “Mr. Hau” as Hala has very little to do with potential.

Devin: [About to comment to that when he remembers what Olivia said back at the trial.] “You’re just Hau, right? … Show me what Hau can do.” [softly to himself] I thought she was just being nice... [For the first time since they boarded, his stance with Faba softens.] Faba, do you know what’s up with Hau? I’ve noticed a lot of people seem to treat him… differently.

Faba: Nah-ah-ah~ [waggles his finger at the boy]

Devin: [huffs at him in slight annoyance] Fine, Branch Chief Faba. What does Aether want with my friend?

Faba: Ohoho? Do you honestly mean to say that you moved to that little island and no one given you so much as a hint?

Devin: My brother said the place is haunted or something. The kid there before me got killed in an accident.

Faba: [There’s an odd, very disturbing grin that spreads across his face. Oh to see the look on that brat’s face when he hears this.] Or so they claim in order not to make a fuss.

Devin: … … …?

Faba: But as I told you, the Aether Foundation likes to stay informed. Most recently we found out something very interesting.