#sort of harrowing in a practical sense though

[strawberryswitchblader]

intrusive thoughts are just so funny as a concept my brain will go “well what if you ran into this wall and you broke your neck and your skull cracked open and there was blood all over the place” and im just like ok *continues unloading dishwasher*

[mamisfavmosher]

Can you write bloodline!reader x jd poly where after she felt hurt by Roman's manipulation she joins the judgment day after damians cash in and kiss reader on the ring

Thanks for the request!

manipulation kills // poly!judgment day x fem!bloodline! reader

I was filled with anger and rage. The harrowing realization had immediately hit me after one of Roman's lies backfired. He had made some weak excuse and thought he covered his trail. The flame burned high within me, though. I was humiliated and had been dragged along -- lied to in front of millions of people. Led on to believe that I was doing the right thing.

I was still conflicted as I watched the match play out in front of me. Roman had been set to fight against Jey Uso tonight. There had been a dispute within the Bloodline and they decided they would settle it with a title match for the WWE Championship, the winner taking the score. Watching from ringside, I was discreetly cheering for Jey, but this won't necessarily end well either way. They had been butting heads for weeks now, and as a member myself, I knew that a fight with Roman was never a fight to be won.

Jey and Roman had both been able to pin each other a few times, but never long enough to take the win. They were fighting with everything in their beings and it showed. I could see the frustration in their faces, the tension between them coming out in the form of kicks, slaps, and cheap shots. The crowd was enjoying the back and forth energy, but all I could feel was a sense of disgust. The feeling of betrayal had crept up on me throughout the match as I observed Roman, our so-called "tribal chief", attempt to beat down his cousin.

I didn't know how much longer I would be able to put up with this. All the lies and misunderstandings that only lead to anger and disputes within the crumbling faction. It would only be a matter of time before Roman turned on me directly.

Unless I did it first.

I looked on as Jey powerfully attacked Roman, the bigger man landing on the ring mat with a loud thud. All of a sudden, like a flash of lightning, Damian Priest was running toward the announce desk. He practically threw his Money in the Bank briefcase down onto the desk, shouting at the ref to make sure he knew what was happening. Priest slid into the ring and easily took Jey out, knocking him to the ring side. He waited for Roman to stand back up and performed a Southside of Heaven on him, pinning him for the win.

The crowd cheered and booed in absolute shock, the arena filled with an air of utmost surprise. More screams erupted as the rest of the Judgment Day appeared in the ring beside Damian Priest, holding his arms up in victory. The ref bestowed to him the WWE Championship, the four gothic members holding it high above their heads.

Unbeknownst to me, Rhea Ripley had noticed my shocked state, still standing in ring side, but not moving to check on Jey or the tribal chief. She had motioned for a microphone and yanked it into her grasp.

"The Judgment Day runs all of WWE!" She shouted into the arena. "We are the most dominant faction here and no one can stop us. Not even the Bloodline." Her words ignited the energy of the fans. "You see..." Rhea hopped out of ring and made her way over to me. "The Bloodline not only lost their tribal chief champion tonight, but they just lost another member." She quickly grabbed my hand and helped me onto the ring, pulling me to stand next to the other members of the dark group.

Behind the scenes of the whole show, I had been getting to the know the Judgment Day members in my free time away from Roman and the boys. They were all incredible people, and not to mention, part of the reason I realized Roman was manipulating the Bloodline to bend to his will. They pointed out all the signs to me, helped me sort out my feelings, and aided in the harsh realization of what was happening. It didn't make it any easier, though.

The Bloodline had acted as family figures for me as I worked my way through the industry, struggling to grasp at improvement. They took me in and taught me everything I know. Roman himself had taught me to be aware, and maybe he taught me too well. As time progressed within the faction, we all grew irritated with the way the tribal chief was treating us, but we knew there wasn't really a way to fight it. That's when Jey started taking a stance. The Judgment Day acted as a protective barrier around me, defending me from any of Roman's backlash. This only caused him to be wary of my relationship with them.

I was taken from my thoughts as I saw Roman being handed a microphone of his own. This won't be good.

"What are you talking about?! The Bloodline is strong and we aren't losing any members tonight." Roman was angry, everyone could tell.

"Man, could you be more delusional?" Damian laughed out. "Look around you! You caused this!" He gestured to the Usos watching from ringside and Solo Sikoa pacing back and forth on the ramp. "You've been a terrible leader. Nothing to be ashamed about," Priest snickered as he shrugged his shoulders. "Not everyone is leader material. But, unfortunately for you, we are taking a member from you tonight. Whether you like it or not, man." He slung an arm around my shoulders and protectively pulled me into his side.

"That's right! She's the Judgment Day's girl now!" Rhea exclaimed, shooing her hand at Roman who was fuming across the ring.

"And we suggest that you stay away from her or we'll make sure you never see her again." Finn threatened, slightly standing in front of me to block Roman's view.

"Yeah! Better watch out! She's ours now!" Dom smiled and ruffled my hair before raising Damian's hand with the championship belt. The crowd erupted into loud cheers as Roman backed away up the entrance ramp.

Damian looked down at me lovingly. "Welcome to the Judgment Day, babygirl." He smirked at me before gripping my jaw and pulling me into a sweet kiss. The crowd screamed even louder at the display of affection from the new champion. The rest of the group surrounded us, each of them welcoming me into the group with kisses and hugs. I happily laughed as Damian hoisted me onto his back, carrying me up the ramp to the backstage area.

I already felt more appreciated and loved in this little family than I ever did in the Bloodline. Roman never would have defended me and pulled me to safety the way the Judgment Day did. And within this group, I found a new home.

[paradoxcase]

Gideon the Ninth audiobook, through to the end of Chapter 31

Cytherea is described as having "biscuit-colored curls" which I kind passed over the first time I was reading. She's described elsewhere as having light brown hair; American biscuits aren't any kind of brown, if they're made right, but Muir isn't American, either. In Britain, it's my understanding that "biscuit" refers to any hard flat cookie with a stamped design, but those come in all sorts of colors. Does "biscuit" mean a secret third thing in New Zealand?

Gideon says "it's stupid for a cavalier to watch their necromancer die" which I think sort of foreshadows Gideon rejecting Harrow's instruction to survive her

Gideon asks Cytherea why she came to Canaan House in the first place, and I feel like Cytherea's answer is about when she came the first time, nearly 10,000 years ago? She talks about how the Seventh wanted her to die beautifully and she though the Emperor had her best interests more at heart than they did

She says: "If they could figure out how to stop you when you're mostly cancer and just a little bit woman, they would" about the Seventh, but that's exactly what John did to her, isn't it?

And then: "I'll probably live forever, worse luck, whatever happened to One Flesh, One End?"

Palamedes pronounces "golem" exactly like "Gollum" and that amuses me

Harrow thought the secret to Lyctorhood was a secret power source in Canaan House they were supposed to discover - I guess to the extent that the consumed cavalier's soul is a power source, she wasn't exactly wrong

Camilla: "The last thing the Warden needs is an introduction to Lady Septimus" - pretty funny in retrospect

Palamedes after Harrow removes the plug Cytherea put on the Seventh lab's keyhole: "Did you hide the last key, too?" He was right about that

Colum is described as having a "perpetually scratchy voice" which I missed the first time, but it does match up with his voice here

Mayonnaise Uncle thinks Gideon's red hair might have come from the Third, which is I guess some extra information about the distribution of phenotypes in the Empire, but the only other redheaded House character we know of is G1deon (I almost wrote "Pyrrha") (who, ironically, is not biologically related to Gideon Nav unless he was like John's cousin or something). Mercy had "pink" hair, but I don't know if that means like, strawberry blond, or like, literally dyed pink. I guess it's been 10,000 years, so things might be a bit different now

Colum: "The next time we meet, I think it's likely one of us will die." Well, it wasn't the next time they met, since they both showed up to hear Cytherea tell a very fake story about why Protesilaus was already dead just after this, but I think it's the next time they are both in the same room together than Colum dies, so, yeah

Teacher says something about a "poor child" and Gideon doesn't know who he's referring to and I don't either even on the second readthrough. I guess it's possible that he's just talking nonsense, because he's a weird construct, but he's been saying things that consistently make sense in the current context throughout the whole book, so I don't really buy that

The scene where Corona is practicing with a sword and challenging Gideon to a duel feels kind of like she's anticipating being left behind by Ianthe and is trying to lean into the idea of becoming a cavalier after this, since she can't pretend to be a necromancer without Ianthe. We know from the Fourth teens that Ianthe has been sneaking into all the locked doors and reading the theorems at this point

When Naberius comes to collect her, he says "I won't tell her". I guess he means Ianthe?

Is that really how "beatified" is pronounced? I don't think I've ever heard it spoken before. Wiktionary seems to agree that it is

If I had listened to the audiobook first, I definitely would have misheard Gideon talking about "narking" on Harrow as "knocking" and been confused

Palamedes: "All I ask is that you put some pen and flimsy in my cell so I can start my memoirs." Yeah, that's not what you wrote when you were actually confined to the River bubble for months, haha

Narration: Suddenly [Cytherea] seemed impossibly old.

Cytherea claims that John was against soul siphoning. So, the thalergy siphoning that was a fundamental part of Mercy's challenge, and which the Second House uses regularly on enemies, is totally fine and cool, but Mayonnaise Uncle send Colum's soul away temporarily to generate power is wrong. You know, Mayonnaise Uncle is actually a lot more sympathetic on the second readthrough

Mayonnaise Uncle also really had Cytherea's number in this scene and no one listened to him, he was the only one saying that Cytherea was suspicious and everyone else was disgusted by this, including Judith. No wonder he was so sour in Harrow's River bubble

Harrow wants to use Protesilaus' head for necromancy and everyone else is unhappy about this. But this isn't strange for the Nine Houses - the Canaan House skeletons were made from the dead just like the Ninth skeletons were, and just like the Sixth skeletons were in Dr. Sex, not to mention Ianthe's use of Babs' body. Like, if we are going to start complaining about the desecration of dead bodies now, I think that starts to call into question the entire way that the Nine Houses uses necromancy and has been using it for the past 10,000 years. I'm not sure any of the other necromancers really have that high ground

Palamedes says Cytherea only has days left to live, she definitely giggles at that

In the pool scene, Harrow says that the calculations for the deaths of the 200 children were very precise, and that the babies contributed the most thanergy. Now I'm wondering if Gideon failing to die might have messed up those careful calculations in some way? Obviously Harrow was still born a powerful necromancer, and it still worked overall, but now I'm curious

Harrow about John's blood ward: "I knew it had to open for me" because she was the descendant of Anastasia. She never questioned that there might have been some other reason it opened

[scham-wcan]

Cinwin, Cinder having a hard time falling asleep maybe?

Okay baby lets knock this one out of the park

She felt cold, as if submerged in a tide of bitter blackened water; sucking her downward and downward until the only light around Cinder was the bleeding light of her golden eye. Screams felt like goo stuck in her throat, inching into her as if the fluid around her thickened in her maw. A hand of flesh clawed furiously, all but clawing and striking to just try and climb upward. Though where her left arm should have been sat practically an anchor, tethered into the darkness of the blackened liquid further down. The blackened ligament burned Cinder, streaking her in furious pain as it lurched upward over her, crawling like an insidious bug until it scoured the left side of her face. Cinder felt a scream of anguish belch into the fluid around her strike as the monster delve toward her eye.

Gasping, shaking, Cinder shot from rest in a fit of movement. The fluid was gone, each breath now replaced with a cold and dispassionate heave for breath. Slowly, her senses returned to her. She was in her bed, the covering was. The night beyond the window glowed quietly as the whirl of the apartment’s vent worked away. In her mind, however, Cinder continued to heave. Cradling herself forward as she brought her knees to her chest. One had wrapping around them, as the other merely nub of a limb rested at her left knee.

Before Cinder’s rapturous mind forced her from bed, however, the Fall Maiden flinched at the sudden touch of something at her shoulder. It was firm, well sort of, demanding, but inadequate.

Cinder turned as she still heaved for breath and watched as Winter forced herself upward onto an elbow; haunted by her own dreams of sleep in the moon’s light.

“Bad dream?” Winter’s voice sounded deeper, lower, succumbed to the harrows of sleep.

Though Cinder could do little, thoughts of abandoning their bed lifted from her as she felt a burning tear slip from her eye. “Y-yes..”

A lengthy, embarrassing, yet loving noise lulled from Winter. Her hands moving from Cinder’s shoulder and below her up and around the nightmare stricken Cinder’s hip. Pulling her close as she hummed quietly.

“My darling, I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t mean to wake you-?” Cinder tried, tiring herself as she tried to turn over to face Winter, though finding little success in her grasp.

But all Cinder was met with was a low shush and a heavy kiss at the nape of her throat. The act dispelled the thickening rot which she had felt in her throat alone, but Winter’s hum made Cinder burn with tears.

“My Ashes, I will be here with you all night, every night. Don’t be scared.” It was likely Winter being too emotionally confused, too tired, and too loving at that moment. But what Cinder felt, was the warm embrace of her partner around her hips and waist, pulling her whole form in close to her. All of her warmth was readily countered by Winter’s chill, the sensation of which Cinder quickly felt herself coming to rescue within.

[latte-virgo-lion]

I'm working on categorizing some information for the site of mine I'm working on, and thought I could share some of it here - so here's some information about my world in relation to yours

Technology

Our technology is a mix of what you would call "Steampunk" and "Solarpunk", and we did not have the same "industrial revolution" your world did, though we did have one. As far as I can tell, we also do not have plastic - though I imagine it may exist in certain places, it's nowhere near as prevalent as in yours - we do have a fair amount of glass pollution and light pollution though.

Things are usually made more by hand, though automation is becoming becoming more prevalent here, which is why I persued education in engineering. From what I can tell, our worlds share that in common. What our worlds do not share in common, is tactile magic.

While your world has digital technology, ours has magic (in a way), that's considered a scientific fact. 'Magic' is an antiquated term, but it works the same. There are certain gems and materials that hold power here, and can be altered or "programmed" in order to curate specific results. Some are saying we may be able to find a way to infuse metals with these materials, but similiar to your mythology of Fae, strong metals like iron and "magic" usually cannot coexist, which makes it very difficult to make anything that lasts, and makes it impossible to automate with our current robotics.

We do have electricity as well. Automobiles we do not have - we have electric bikes, and trolleys and other similiar public transportation. We do not have airplanes as you do, some smaller models have been made that are electric, but nothing that can carry people as they do in your world. We do have zeppelins and other air balloons though, just a tad different than the ones in your world - it's somewhat harrowing that both of our worlds have had catastrophic incidents with these air balloons; we had a worse incident than your Hindenburg - I believe due to our technology advancing to the point we have zeppelins that match the occupancy of your airlines. Thankfully accidents of that sort have become far and few between nowadays.

"Magic" also does not work in the sense of spells or witchcraft, I've done some research on the subject, and it's much closer to chemistry in practice, though there are such belief systems in our world as well. As an example, I have a choker necklace with a "programmed" gemstone that obscures my ears and tail. They're still physically there, and have sensation; but they have a veil of sorts that obfuscates their appearance, so I look "Normal". It can give off an uncanny valley appearance, I've heard, so it's not perfect.

[iviarellereads]

Harrow the Ninth, Chapter 27

(Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For detail on The Locked Tomb coverage and the index, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Third House icon) In which Harrow fulfills a promise.

Harrow loses time before waking up. She tries to dredge up a spike of adrenaline, but her pituitary gland is taking a much-needed vacation after her five-day waking terror.(1)

After an embarrassingly long time, she realizes she's in Ianthe's bed,(2) and Ianthe is nearby practicing with her rapier. She reassures Harrow that she can handle anything big brother Duty wants to throw at them to get to her, and suggests Harry get more sleep. In the end, it's the scent of Ianthe being familiar, and Harrow's yearning for anything familiar, that lets her drift off again.

When she wakes again, she sees Ianthe on the floor, shadowed and surrounded by her own blood, trying to cut off her faulty replacement arm with no success as it heals as quickly as her knife can penetrate.

It was with very little trepidation that you dropped to your knees beside her.(3) You rolled her onto her back--and she looked at you with terrified eyes, half-blue, part-brown, with fragments of lavender. Her mouth was an ugly twist, contemptuous of herself. You had seen that expression a million times in your mirror, but never on her.(4) "Harrow," she said unsteadily. She was trembling. "You're a fool," you said. "How I crave your honeyed words," said Ianthe. Her mouth was almost purple from the pain. "How I love your tender compassion."(5)

Harrow realizes the problem, the arm needs to come off all at once, and tells Ianthe to find something to bite down on. Ianthe looks confused for a moment, then tears off some of the lace on her skirt and rolls it into a bit for her teeth. Harrow examines her, touching Ianthe's ribs to get a sense of her skeleton through the Lyctoral resistance to necromantic scanning.(6)

It was so easy. Now that you had slept, everything was easy. It was as though you had been walking in a lead casing, and now you were free. As before any difficult work, you prayed out loud: prayed for the rock to go unrolled and for the closed eye and the stilled brain; prayed for a woman you loved(7) to assist you in disrobing a woman you did not,(8) but whose bones you would sacramentally adore.(9) You kneeled on her thighs and unsheathed a great shank of bone from your knuckles--Ianthe bucked, just the once(10)--and you sharpened the edge to a translucent, liquid thinness.

With a single swipe, Harrow takes off the whole arm at the seam line, and cauterizes the meat. She then regrows a new arm from Ianthe's stump, skeleton-only with just enough flesh to connect nerves and tendons to move it effectively, with Ianthe's own flesh as a pattern.

Ianthe picks up her rapier, and tests it with that hand, appearing to finally be able to use it. She goes out to test it better, leaving Harrow alone for a paranoid twenty-five minutes before returning, gloriously relieved. Even Augustine approved, hideous as the limb is, and offered to gild it.

"I'm real, I work. Harry, I am a Lyctor." Her jubilance was infectious. It did not hurt you. You were not a Lyctor. You said, "You may feel free to thank me anytime you so choose." Ianthe was suddenly beside you on the bed. She had dropped her rapier among the bedclothes and for the very first time brushed the dry distal tip of her new pointer finger against your cheek. You were vulnerable, but you did not pull away. She tapped you on the cheekbone, and once on the tip of your nose, and then lastly pressed her naked finger to your bottom lip. "Thank you?" she said. "Harrow, you loved that."

Another moment, in which the narration notes how close they are, how Ianthe's nightgown "gapped, somewhat, at the front." Ianthe says she knows how to thank Harrow, and Harrow is bemused, still riding high on being Harrowhark Nonagesimus again, of having performed a small sort of miracle.

Ianthe took her finger from your lips, looked at you, and smiled a phosphorescent and confidential smile. She said, "I'm going to help you kill the Saint of Duty."

=====

(1) I obviously can't and don't particularly want to relate to this specific experience but I have experienced not being able to pull an emotional reaction out of myself which is heckin weird. Do not recommend. (2) How intimate! (3) So, I've seen a lot of people compare this to a sort of sex scene, and you have to admit… there's a lot of overlap. Ianthe struggling to accomplish something animal and failing on her own, Harrow dropping to her knees to serve. The real, raw way they see each other in this moment. (4) Harrow knows self-contempt all too well. She hasn't spent a whole lot of time actively in it in this book but I think we've gotten enough of a look at her through this and Gideon to understand that much. (5) And again, this sort of dirty flirting talk between them. Ianthe's primary form of communication seems to be sarcasm sometimes, but she knows Harrow knows what's going on here. (6) Ribs, or something else nearby, eh Harrow? [suggestive eyebrow waggle] (7) The Body. (8) Ianthe. (9) Harrow reveres all bones. (10) Now that I pointed out the sex scene parallels this starts to look real pornographic, doesn't it? Boning and bucking and not quite alliterative connection about it but nevertheless an air of tension.

[thegoosewiththemost]

Hospital Stay

Request for @nak3d-snak3 ! Please send in more requests if you have them.

Yoooooo! How about a reader that has a hospital stay? My moms appendix burst in June and she had a month stay in the hospital :/ I feel like bj would be fine on the outside but be a wreck on the inside (maybe encountering some lingering spirits as well)

- nobody notices the filthy zebra striped man slip past the pristine glass doors of the hospital and into the waiting room of the ER, sharp eyes taking no time to find you. These are familiar grounds for him, a past haunting ground that he would prowl in the hopes of conning desperate and unlucky newlydeads.

- BJ’s hair is streaked through with black, and though his face doesn’t show it, his obvious concern for you is spelt out in the clear from the way he grips your hand tightly. Your dimly flickering spirit flares a bit at his familiar touch and in the harrowing situation he finds you in, he gets a bit of an ego boost to see how well you react to him.

- hospitals are one of those strange crossroads for people and spirits alike where many cross paths, or have their fate steered one way or another. Everyone usually sees the inside of a hospital at least once in their lives - it’s like a waterhole where people of all sorts gather whether they’re born, living, sick, dying... or dead. It’s a congregation of life and death.

- some people don’t even make it through the long queue that awaits them at ER, falling instead into another line at another more sinister waiting room down below.

- BJ finds himself growling in impatience as you wait together, watching the clock tick and the impossible monitor hanging above you showing the newscast. He is desperate for you to get seen and treated as soon as possible. It’s not your time yet, but just in case, he tells himself, he will be there to meet you on the other side. The knowledge of this calms him, knowing that even in the unlikely event that you do pass, you will not be alone.

- when you finally get seen, he sits with you - invisible to everyone else - watching your treatment/surgery with silent intensity, making sure to hold people responsible if they hurt you.

- there is nothing worse than being powerless to do anything to help you. BJ is out of his depth and so he has no choice but to put his faith in complete strangers.

- if he was clingy before, boy is he even more clingy now. BJ practically never leaves your side for as long as your stay lasts, giving lingering spirits a nasty side eye if they even so much as dare to enter your room. Your spirit is still weak and despite your tendency to see the deceased, there’s nothing you can do yourself to defend it, a job with BJ takes on with a lot of anxiety and determination.

- most mean no harm, but there is always a small subset who take joy in causing hurt and inflicting themselves upon the weakest of the still-living.

- you wake up one day to see a menacing man standing in the corner of your room. The doctors and attending nurses don’t see him and BJ for once, is not there, having stepped out to find something for you. His eyes are dark, the kind that doesn’t reflect in the light and an open wound in his stomach alerts you to the fact that he is dead. A Lingerer, as BJ would call them.

- you try to ignore him, hoping that he will leave, but instead he approaches with inhuman speed, clamping an icy hand onto your shoulder. Gasping at the sudden pain and unexpected cold, you cry out for Beetlejuice. You don’t even make it to say his name three times before you feel your mind being shoved roughly out of the way, a stronger presence settling into your body and taking control.

- BJ, who is down in the gift shop and filching a few hand knitted blankets for your use, feels the sudden pulling of his name being called and knows immediately that you’re in trouble. A sense of dread falls over him as he realises that his relaxed vigilance has caused something terrible to happen to you.

- when he teleports back, he can see what has happened. Your words are measured and clipped and the ghost who hangs on your shoulder speaks his words through your mouth. “I want to be alone. Let me get some rest.” The ghost leers at him, unaware that BJ is also dead and can see him just as clearly as anyone else.

- the smirk on his face is just as quickly wiped off as he sees that BJ’s fury is directed, not at the puppet he has possessed, but at him. The surprise makes him release his grip on you and the second he does that, he tries desperately to scramble out of the room, only to be blocked by one very angry demon.

- “I don’t think so buddy.” The shock and realisation in the ghost’s face is apparent as Beetlejuice reaches out and catches him easily by the throat.

- “please.. it was an accident, I swear!”

- “oh yeah? NOT BUYING IT.”

- “c’mon man, it was one time, It won’t happen again.” You can see his pale fingers trying to pry Beetlejuice’s large hand off his neck.

- a faint sizzling can be heard as the unfortunate ghost claws at the burning at his throat, screaming and kicking.

- “I’ll cut you a deal, wanna keep haunting? Make sure no one else gets the bright idea to come and mess with them. And if I see you around again... you won’t be so lucky.” Flame bursts at the fingertips of his free hand for extra effect.

- the ghost, dropped unceremoniously onto the tacky linoleum floor nods appreciatively and makes his exit while he still can.

- As soon as he leaves, BJ is by your side immediately, checking you over to make sure that you’re ok. His hair is tinged yellow and white with worry and fear for you, constantly apologising with wet eyes. His greatest unspoken fear is that you’ll be hurt because of him and it literally just happened.

- He doesn’t leave your side again after that, too worried about another stunt happening when he’s out despite your insistence that he’s being overly paranoid.

- cuddles in the bed with you, if you’re able to give him enough space. He’s too worried to sleep on top of you as he’s so prone to doing when you’re at home so he just awkwardly sleeps on the side of the bed with more space, being careful not to come too close just in case he breaks anything.

- always awake. To make sure nothing sketchy is going on. Checks your medications and dosage before you take them to make sure you’ve been given the right ones.

- always a bit growly when strangers touch you, even though he knows it’s necessary for them to do so.

- too scared to play tricks on the healthcare professionals in case it backfires and puts your health in a precarious situation. He’s not above playing tricks on people who are shopping down in the streets below though, causing havoc from the window of your room and enjoying the ensuing chaos of people being confused and scared from his perch. He’s not sure if he’s doing it to grasp at some sense of normalcy in this situation or if he’s doing it for fun anymore.

- cracks jokes to make you laugh and hide his anxiety.

- 100% cries when you’re asleep or not looking. He can’t stand the sight of you being so weak and sickly.

- you always know when he cries because your sheets end up suspiciously wet and you can sometimes hear him sniffling over you or talking to you/telling you what he’s afraid of when he thinks you’re unconscious.

- you can tell he’s constantly fearful for you, even if he tries to hide it behind his humour so you comfort him as best you can with gentle touches and affirming that you’re going to be ok.

[bonky-n-steeb]

𝐶𝑂𝐷𝐸 𝐵𝐿𝑈𝐸

𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙑𝙀 𝙍𝙊𝙂𝙀𝙍𝙎 𝙭 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍

𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬: Steve is angry on you for behaving recklessly and you decide to let him take his anger out on you in a very unprofessional way...

𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: Unprotected sex, spanking, shower sex, rough sex, hair pulling, handjob, choking, PWP (porn with a very little plot... wait who am I lying to? It’s porn.) 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙊𝙍𝙎 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝘿𝙉𝙄!

For my sake, your sake, your mom’s sake and for the betterment of the entire world, if you are a minor, please do not read this!🔞

Beta’d by the wonderful @lex-the-flex But all mistakes are mine

This is my first time writing smut, so please be kind 🥺 It’s filth... absolutely filth, even I can’t believe I’ve written this 🤦🏽‍♀️ I hope to god my mom never finds this and Marvel is probably gonna sue me for writing this.

“Steve!”

You exclaimed as he shut the door right in front of your face. Closing your eyes, you pressed your face to the door and sighed. You wanted to bang the door until he opened and explain Steve that all you did was your job. But you didn’t, instead you went to your own room next door and sulked.

You and Steve were on a mission to take down a hydra base. For the first few days, all you both did was map out the building. Once sure enough of your plans, you had finally breached it this morning.

In the beginning everything was just as expected. But then during the fight, you had spotted a man aiming his gun at an unaware Steve and like the love crazed woman you were, you shielded Steve with your own body.

Gladly Steve realised it before the damage was done and quickly held the shield in front of your both, deflecting the bullet. At your stunt, he had clenched his jaw and given an angry glare to you and had resumed fighting.

You had thought that was the extent of his anger at your carelessness, but apparently you were wrong. Steve hadn’t spoken a word to you after that. He had been silent throughout the entire ride to the hotel.

As he kept on fuming with unspoken anger, you tried your best to mend the situation by repeatedly calling out his name and talking about random things to yourself.

You actually didn’t know why he was angry. Agreed it was a stupid decision to be standing in front of a bullet, but you did it to save your teammate, at least that’s what you justified it with.

The truth was you were hopelessly in love with Steve Rogers. Soon after you had joined the avengers, you and Steve had become best friends. You hadn’t even planned on befriending him, forget about falling in love.

But with all his charm and naivety it was impossible not to fall for him. Not to mention his godly body. With the way he sometimes got flustered in front of you, you thought he felt something for you too, but you canceled it down by calling it wishful thinking.

While you both shared all your problems and worries with each other, you kept your emotions under wraps.

When you had seen the man aim his gun at Steve, your heart had literally stopped beating. The thought of living in a world without Steve in it was much more harrowing than your own death. So you did what you had to.

But now his silence was speaking louder than his words. It wouldn’t have felt this bad if he had scolded you or given you one of his long boring lectures, but this tactic of not talking with you was hurting you much worse.

The entire time you stripped out of your Kevlar suit and bathed, your mind was occupied by Steve’s silence. No matter how much you thought, you still couldn’t understand what had made him so mad.

After all, signing up with the avengers meant you would get into fights and get injured. The mantle of being an avenger came with a few broken bones.

And you weren’t the first to make such risky decisions during a mission, there had been many before you and there would be many after. So what was all this fuss about?

As you were pacing around your room, chewing your bottom lip, you stopped suddenly and took in a sharp breath. You couldn’t go back with this mess. Whatever it was, you had to sort it out and for that you needed to talk.

Deciding that it was now or never, you stepped out of your room and stood in front of Steve’s. You placed your ear on the door to check for any activity but there was none. You hoped to god he hadn’t fallen asleep.

Gathering all the strength you had, you knocked on the door, once, twice... thrice. But there was still no response. This had your mental alarms ringing. Steve sure wouldn’t ignore you this much, what if he was in danger?

Thinking of the worst case scenario, you crouched down and started picking the lock with your hair pin. As you opened the door and entered the room, you finally heard the noise of cascading water.

You huffed out a breath of relief. All this time he was just taking a shower and you thought about the possibilities of him getting murdered; you sure were an over thinker.

You didn’t know why but your feet weren’t retreating from the room. The sane part of your brain was telling you to go and come back later. And yet you stood awkwardly straight in the middle of his room.

You didn’t know how it happened, you swear to god didn’t realise. But all of a sudden you were standing in front of the bathroom door. You were burning with warmth from head to toe and you could listen to your heart beat in your ear.

Placing one hand on the door and the other on the knob, you tried to think for a moment. But somehow, your brain couldn’t process anything, except Steve. You slowly turned the knob and the door creaked open.

If Steve asked you what you were doing, which he definitely was going to, you would answer that you were sleepwalking or maybe you were possessed by a horny ghost. You wondered which one was more plausible.

The sight which greeted you was better than any you had ever seen. Steve was standing with his broad back facing you, glistening under the trickling water droplets.

His muscled expanse was stretched out magnificently under the shower, the water making rivulets into the grooves of his chiseled back. He straightened visibly under your watchful eye as he became aware of your entrance.

You waited for his scolding as you nibbled your bottom lip. You waited for him to tell you how immoral and indecent this was. You waited for him to fire you on the spot.

But nothing came from his side except strained breaths. It was as if he was doing some physical exertion by standing ramrod straight. As he tensed, his back muscles flexed even more and you wanted nothing more than to lick up the water drops.

Your mouth had fallen open and you were already panting and his body wasn’t the only thing wet. Seeing that he was neither bursting with anger nor reprimanding you for your actions, you decided to let your eyes wander further.

Your body lit itself on fire the moment you eyed his sculpted glutes. It was definitely, undoubtedly America’s ass. God, the things you wanted to do to him and the things you’d let him do to you.

You looked up to see Steve had turned his head a little and was staring at you through the corner of his eye. Taking that as a hint, you walked further until you were inside the shower.

The water seeped through your clothes as you stood right behind Steve. You were so close that the only thing in front of your eyes was his broad back. Yet he didn’t turn to face you.

Your hand shivered despite the warm water as you touched his back. That simple contact passed an electric current through Steve and you could hear his audible gasp.

Keeping one hand on his back, you moved your dominant hand further onto his chest. After palming his abs for sometime, you snaked your hand further down.

But before you could reach your destination, a strong hand curled around your wrist, limiting your movements. “Don’t.” It was the first word he had said to you after the mission.

His voice was hoarse and deep and you wondered if it was possible for you to come just with his voice. “But what if I want to?” You really were possessed, because you definitely didn’t have this much confidence.

Unexpectedly, your defiance worked and he loosened his hold, though he didn’t remove his hand. When you finally touched his warm cock, which was standing hard proudly, you moaned and buried your face into his back.

“Fuck.” Steve cursed as you rubbed him. You had heard him cursing a few times before, but listening to it now just melted you into a puddle. You pressed your face further into his back as you kept palming him, his hand was still on your wrist as a reminder, though he wasn’t guiding your movements.

You wondered how he would fit inside you, as you were barely able to curl your hand around his massive length. One second you were jerking him off and the next you were pinned to the wall, facing him. You blinked rapidly to steady your senses.

The hand he had used to pull you forward was now held against the wall and you had placed the other on his chest. His entire body was blushing hard and his face was just as flustered as yours.

Steve placed his hand gently on your cheek, a stark contrast to his previous actions. He bent down and pressed a soft kiss to your lips as first but he didn’t go any further.

Looking up at him through hooded eyes, you stared at him in confusion. Noticing the question on his face, you realised he was asking for permission. Nodding your head rapidly, you replied with a breathy yes.

That’s all it took for him to smash his face into yours. His kiss wasn’t a perfect or a practiced one, but what he lacked in experience, he made it up with his passion and edge.

You were actually tongue fucking each other and you didn’t regret a moment. You were close to eating each other’s faces off when you finally parted.

You panted and arched your back, exposing your neck as he sucked down your jaw to your neck. Without giving you a moment to gather yourself, he tore your tank top right through the middle.

And the only thing your mushy brain capable of saying was, “Holy shit.” It was the hottest thing you had ever seen. The way his arms flexed as he tore the fabric made you gush.

He discarded the now useless tank top carelessly on the floor and bent down to suck your nipples. You were about to go to sleep and thus weren’t wearing any bra. You let out an unholy moan at the sensation and the sight of him suckling you.

You carded your hands through his hair only for him to take your hands and pin them back to the wall. “Oh Steve.” As you moaned his name, he looked up at you through his lustrous blue eyes.

All of a sudden he let go of your hands and nipple and as you whimpered in dissatisfaction, he quickly tugged your pants down. He practically growled at the sight of you naked in front of him.

He placed his hands on your ass as he knead it while simultaneously kissing you stupid. He shifted his hands from your ass to your thighs and in one swift motion picked you up.

You hadn’t ever been picked up by anyone before and for once you were glad that Steve had taken the serum. He carried you out of the shower and into the room.

You were going to complain about how you were going to ruin the carpet with water when he all but gently threw you into the bed, face down.

You gathered yourself on your hands and knees just as he positioned himself behind you. Steve didn’t know what got into him when he saw your ass perched up in the air, but he went absolutely feral.

He wanted to talk and tell you things, but currently he was incapable of doing anything but devour you. He placed his huge palms on your ass and started kneading, but the thing he did next, took you by absolute surprise.

He spanked your ass, hard. At the contact you let out a loud surprised shriek. You had no idea captain America was a kinky little shit, not that you were complaining.

While you were turned on beyond your senses, Steve mistook your surprise for pain. He snapped out of whatever haze had taken over him, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

You looked back at Steve with confusion. “God. No. Steve, you didn’t hurt me. I liked it.” You said with such shyness as if you hadn’t just given him a handjob moments ago.

“Do more.” You asked and he delivered. Steve understood that you wanted it rough, and who was he to deny. He spanked your ass thrice more, alternating the cheek, in quick succession, only to rub it gently later.

He kept up with the contrast of quick spanks and gentle kneads until you sobbed with wrecked pleasure and delightful pain.

When you came back from your blissful high, you realised Steve was pressing soft kisses to your back. You strained your neck at an odd angle and pulled Steve in for a kiss.

It was gentle and filled with adoration and love, a great disparity to what just happened. Steve was rutting against your ass as he deepened the kiss.

Parting from the kiss, he took hold of his cock and jerked it a few times before rubbing himself against your drenched folds. You were already so dripping that you didn’t need any extra stimulation.

Finally he pushed in the tip and you moaned like in heat at the sweet pressure. Gladly he gave you a moment before pushing slowly further, inch by inch.

No matter how wet, or in a sex haze you were, you both knew he wasn’t easy to take. All the while, Steve was muttering praises and soft words to you.

When he finally bottomed out, you both moaned out with pleasure. After giving you some time to adjust, he pulled back only to push back in with a measured but powerful thrust.

“Oh fuck!” Overcome with pleasure, you slapped a hand on the headboard to hold yourself steady while you clutched Steve’s ass with the other to hold him as close to you as possible.

He began with slow yet hard thrusts but soon he changed rhythm and started fucking you in earnest. The headboard rattled against the wall as Steve held your shoulder with one hand and supported you both with another placed firmly on the bed.

You had got a hundred dreams about Steve railing the shit out of you. But nothing matched the actual thing.

Steve experimentally wove his fingers through your hair and when you let out something between a moan and a demand for more, he clutched and pulled it tightly making your eyes roll back with euphoria.

“Stevveee, I... Stevie, I’m close,,... oh fuck!” The only thing you could do was moan wantonly and take everything Steve gave you.

Just as Steve felt your walls quivering, he pulled out. He groaned with frustration as you were so so close. But before you could formate any words, he flipped you around.

“I want to watch you as you come for me.” He said bending down to press a kiss. This time, he entered you in one swift motion.

Curling a hand around his neck, you held the head board with other as you arched into his touch. He was grunting loudly and his voice was having more effect than it should have on you.

You were close, so very close, but you needed more, something more. “Steve, choke me.” You whimpered. Steve faltered for a moment before realising what you had said.

When Steve placed his hand delicately on your throat, which you had exposed to him, you knew you were going to have the best orgasm of your life.

Steve squeezed your throat, and at that very second, you orgasmed like never before. Your toes curled and legs shook uncontrollably as you babbled nonsense.

You felt as if you saw the deepest crevices of the universe and snorted the most powerful drug as white pleasure enveloped you.

Steve, in spite of his super soldier stamina, gave in to pleasure as your walls hugged him tight. With a shout, he came deep within you.

After the pleasure faded and the fatigue had set in, you both laid limply within a tangle of limbs and in each other’s embrace.

“Steve.” You croaked as he kept on prepping you with kisses. He only hummed in response. “I love you.” At that the kisses stopped.

You worried if this was the end of everything, but when you looked up in his eyes, you knew it was just the beginning. His eyes were filled with love.

“I love you too.” He smashed your lips once again and you responded just as enthusiastically. “I can’t think of living without you. You mean everything to me.

When I saw you in front of the gun, I was so scared. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to save you.” You caressed his face as you said, “But you did. And I know you always will Steve.”

“That I will.” You knew that Steve would keep you safe. You knew that in his warm embrace, nothing in this world would touch you.

“Steve, if you ever get mad at me, talk to me, scold me, give me on of your boring lectures if you want, but please don’t stop talking to me.”

“If ignoring you is going to lead to this, then I’ll probably give you the silent treatment.” He chuckled as you punched him playfully.

You couldn’t believe you were in love with this goof, or that he was just as in love with you.

[sylverstorms]

Bela x Maiden ----Songbird Ch. 5

Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4

Ever since you were little, you've always hated thunderstorms.

Maybe it's because you were almost struck by lightning at the fragile age of five. The deafening crack of thunder and the harrowing rumbling of the ground left a scar in your mind that refuses to fade. Now, every time the sky flashes stark white your body automatically locks up and braces for the impact.

The rain was just a soothing drizzle during the initial hours of your shift. It was only after you stepped into the auditorium that the nightmarish booms began.

You grit your teeth and try to focus on your work, but your whole being is on edge. Your breathing feels shallow. Your hands aren't steady enough to be trusted with delicate objects.

From the corner of your vision, the large piano at the center of the chamber gleams in a promise of comfort. You approach it slowly, carefully; it would calm you to play, except you aren't foolish enough to touch a single key without permission. The sound is bound to attract unwanted attention... and you value your fingers.

But, surely, admiring the proud instrument while you meticulously polish its surface cannot be a crime...?

“Fitting, that you would be assigned to this section.” A familiar voice comes from behind you and you nearly jump. The damn storm made it impossible to hear anyone's approach.

Perhaps you should count your blessings it is Bela that crosses the threshold towards you, rather than one of her sisters. Better the devil you know.

“Good evening.” you greet quietly, though it's actually the small hours of the morning. “I am almost done here, so I could leave if you need the room.”

The blonde comes to a halt in front of you, a slight frown settled over her fine features. “Your heart.” she comments. “It's beating erratically.” Then a faint, teasing little smirk curls her lip. “Are you that excited to see me, or?”

The sky decides that is a good moment to light up, illuminating the grand chamber through the flimsy drapes covering the windows. Every molecule in your form tenses.

“Um. Just happy to see you.” you lie, in a way you know doesn't sound very convincing.

When the roar of thunder comes, despite your best efforts, you jolt. You only come to your senses after the booms have completely faded...

And realize, with great embarrassment, you practically leaped into Bela. Your hands are so tight on her biceps her outfit is left crinkled as you shakingly release your grip.

Momentarily, you wonder if she's mad, but one look up dispels your fears. She's merely observing you like a curious cat, as she often does.

“Astraphobia?” she asks. You mutely nod.

It doesn't help that the castle is the tallest structure in its vicinity either, towering above the forest and the village. If lightning is to strike anywhere near, it has high chances to do so directly over your head. You try not to think too hard about that or you won't be able to function at all.

Bela walks around you and takes a seat on the bench before the piano. You feel that's your cue to leave, until she turns around and looks at you expectantly.

“You may join me, if you wish.”

Seven small words that make you pause. Surely, she isn't being nice out of the goodness of her heart, yet you can't find it in you to be difficult right now. You gladly take the distraction.

“Do you play?” Bela asks when you slide next to her, on the furthest edge possible.

“Well enough.” you reply.

“Show me a duet that's not too difficult.” she speaks, eyes alight with a sort of eagerness that renders her face softer, almost unbearably beautiful.

You focus on the keys in front of you so your traitorous eyes stop being drawn to hers. And you may have pictured it strange at first, but you find that it's surprisingly easy to instruct her on what to do and when. The few times you both mess up your timing you chuckle and start over.

The storm outside fades into the background as minutes tick by.

“Who taught you to play?” you inquire after you finally succeed in playing a part the piece right and take a break.

“There was a maid, professional pianist, a while back, but... Daniela saw to it that the lessons didn't last long.” Bela makes a sour face at that. Poor woman, you think and hope you don't meet her end.

Then again, it's going to come sooner rather than later in the castle, isn't it?

“Well if anyone is to off me... I'd rather it be you.” You won't have a choice in the matter, exactly, so you wonder why the words leave your lips at all.

Bela turns to face you fully. “Why is that?” she asks.

Because you find an odd type of comfort in her pretty face, is what you think yet cannot say. Because you would accept death just a little easier if it was brought by her cool hands around your neck, or her fangs into it. Because there's a poetic irony the angsty artist in you appreciates, being attracted to your killer.

Bela's face becomes illuminated by white once more.

You do not have time to brace for it.

Lightning strikes the castle so swiftly, so suddenly, your breath is stolen from right within your lungs. The sheer sound drives you to a cry, your legs and spine ache from the stress and you cannot breathe—

Until you feel inhumanly strong arms grip at your sides, bringing you back to reality.

Yellow eyes are the first thing you see when you open yours. They're close, too close, glowing from within like cinders. Your nails are sunk into Bela's shoulders as if she's the only anchor left in a tilted, unsteady world. The distance between you is nonexistent, her colder body keeps yours pinned against the smooth lid secured over the piano keys, even though ‘trapped’ is the last word that comes to mind.

For a moment suspended in time, neither of you moves.

Then, instead of letting go and apologizing, you hook your nails a little firmer into her. Hypnotic amber eyes darken like the sky outside as she leans closer...

“If anyone else were to touch me like you do, they'd be missing their fingers right now.” Bela whispers in the sliver of space left between you. You do not doubt it.

A cool thumb and pointer move up to grip your chin. Every inch of you they accidentally brush over along the way is left humming.

“What are you doing to me, Rhiannon?” her lips brush over the very edge of yours with the words.

There is one thing you'd regret if you were to die tomorrow, or even sooner than that. And that is not confirming whether her mouth really does feel as soft and good as it looks.

You close the last millimeter separating you, lips finally slotting into hers with a sigh.

Bela doesn't really move for a hot second, frozen still, though you aren't dissuaded. Perhaps it's terribly selfish, yet you will take what you want from her like she has taken from you, so many times.

A nip on her lower lip gives you the opening you need to slip your tongue into her velvet mouth, dipping ever-so-slightly in, coaxing hers to indulge you. She tastes like expensive wine and God, everything about this is so wrong and so utterly gratifying at the same time.

Bela lets out a tiny, throaty moan that you know will haunt your lonely nights in bed. She surges forward to meet you with equal passion in the kiss, her hands roaming your stomach and sides. The thought she can all too easily crush you if she loses control of her strength shouldn't be such an immense turn on, but it is.

Neither should the faint pain from how hard she's pressing your waist against the piano, yet your body is thrumming, all too willing to unravel under her. The apex of your legs is starting to ache and the way her thigh keeps them parted isn't helping. You've only moved against each other a little and you're already so wet, you can barely keep yourself from grinding off on her.

If she were to touch you there now, you're sure you'd come instantly. You almost push her fingers down, too...

But Bela hastily draws away from you, alarmed. Her hand grabs yours and immediately pulls you sit back on the bench, just as a ginger head peeks into the room.

“Hey~ I heard music.” Daniela’s deceptively sweet voice comes. Bela does a far better job controlling her breathing than you are. “Didn't know you were here with your little songbird~”

“Yes and you're staying yards away from this one, Daniela.” There's a little growl in Bela's voice that's so insanely hot—

What's wrong with me?

“You can't just hog one of the most interesting maids!” The younger sibling complains in a very younger-sister fashion. You'd know.

“Don't be annoying.”

“Don't be a dull.”

Bela huffs and her eyes fleetingly meet yours. “The human's just finished her shift, anyway. She's going to bed before she collapses on us.”

The human.

Yeah, that stings.

Daniela lets out an overly dramatic sigh and walks into the room just as Bela guides you up and around her. You don't miss the way she keeps her body between her sister and you until she's made sure the redhead harbors no secret plans to pounce.

“Get going now.” Bela orders, flat and expressionless as she looks at you. It almost makes you want to slap her, but you muse dying for that probably isn't worth it. Even if right now it feels like it might be.

The human. The distasteful way she said it plays on repeat in your head. Yes, the human whose mouth she had her tongue in, mere moments ago. The human she stared at with such blatant desire you felt you may burn from that alone.

The human.

You bite down the acidic ‘fuck you’ that's on the very tip of your tongue and taste iron.

Then you nod, turn and walk away in quick steps. You're so frustrated you throw your clothes at the nearest wall when you enter the showers near your room.

The cold water, you find, does little to ease the want gnawing at your insides. You get to bed rubbing your thighs together, but you're far too stubborn to give in and relieve yourself of the tension Bela has caused.

You don't want to think about her or the way her gorgeous damn face can go from soft to ice-cold in milliseconds. Or her stupid low moan or her full, silky lips that you now intimately know the exact feel of.

Yet that's precisely what you see in your dreams, her lithe body hovering above you in the dark.

[farshores]

So. Paarthurnax

Heads up this is really just me rambling my thoughts as best i can lol

The grandpa dragon, mr.mario, the big guy behind the dilemma quest that isnt really handled all that well.

I feel like his attachment/appreciation of mortals isn’t all that great in the grand scheme of things. Not to say this is a bad thing though! Paarthurnax is old, really old, he’s lived through so much - so his perspective on mortals/humanity/etc. would be much different compared to someone part of that group. Where one might see loss & war harrowing, Paarthurnax would see it as just the way mortals are. Not to say he doesn’t feel or grieve, he expressed joy in being able to converse with the LDB, & later, other dragons; he grieved over Alduin’s death, because despite everything, that was his brother. But I feel like the intensity of this vs his feelings of joorre are different, ‘Nax isn’t going to feel for ever mortal war - if anything he might accept this is their fate to burn themselves to the ground. He might attach to the LDB or other mortals he personally taught, but understands their lifespans are but a blip compared to his. Hell, being up on that mountain for so long, he’s most likely extremely disconnected to anything in general - focusing on the Way of the Voice rather than current events.

I feel like this would conflict with LDBs more passionate about what is going on, like Tei. To shrug off this conflict & sit idly by because “it’s how things are” would potentially be seen as horrible, or even disrespectful, to them - despite Nax not meaning it in a cruel way. Sure, you can strive for peace, but is being completely neutral/passive as cruelty goes on truly the way? Hell, in Tei’s case - when they came to him for aid in the CW - they see it as cowardly, first you just sit there as Alduin returns & now you can’t put in a little effort to end this war as quickly as possible? Because of your meditation routine? (Obviously this isn’t a shared view of every LDB out there, just Tei’s lol)

But you also gotta consider he was Alduin’s former second-in-command. And now one of two powerful beings come Alduin’s demise at the LDBs hands - something that would make certain factions wary despite his ways to atone. The Blades paranoia of Paarthurnax is well-founded, even if the game didn’t address it all that well lol. We truly don’t know if he would keep up with his teachings; it was a god’s will to have him assist in the rebellion against Alduin, but who’s to say he’s still under that pressure anymore? Who’s to say he isn’t biding his time? Can you truly go off his word? That’s the dilemma here & truly one only the LDB can solve, be it passively or violently.

And going back to the power bit, who’s to say the LDB isn’t going to be seen as a threat that needs responding to? Well......Okay, personally I feel like Nax doesn’t mind the idea of two thur. He’s very much open to it & think it provides an opportunity to spread the WotV or potentially set up the LDB as an heir of sorts should he meet his end by another dovah. But that might not be something the LDB sees, y’know? Even if working on not following their draconic nature, it’s hard to ignore the fact that you & the former second-in-command are practically the top dogs in dragon terms.

Referencing to Jeer-Tei again, they saw this as a potential threat. Alduin attacked Helgen he sensed Tei as a threat to his rule, Miraak nearly killed Tei because they were a threat (and asset) to his return & potential rule over Tamriel. In my LDBs perspective, having two potential leaders of dragon hierarchy at one time means danger to them or their loved ones - so they were leaning towards responding first rather than waiting for something to happen. Tei still did attempt a truce though, granted it fell through after they escalated a conversation with him. Killing him was the right decision that had to be made, regardless of the reactions that would follow.

uhh idk where im going with this but tl;dr Paarthy is super disconnected/unattached to mortal affairs n such due to yknow....living forever n being old as fuck - which can lead to potential tensions with some LDBs perhaps. And also there’s like....reasons why the Blades or LDB might want to kill him, even if it’s not agreeable to the other party - it’s a grey issue imo & man i wish Bethesda approached the quest for it better ngl

[merakiui]

hello!!<3 can i request an angst scenario (it can have a happy ending it's up to you!!) childe x fem!reader where they are together for some time and she didn't know he's fatui (she hates them bc her parents were in debt and overall they ruined her life and he's too scared to tell her) but she finds out and wants to broke up?? THANK YOU

In which you discover Childe’s ties to the Fatui.

cw: angst, debt, small mention of depression as a result of debt, female reader note - I woke up and chose pain with this one. >:) it also got long;;; oops!

You hate the Fatui. And although that’s such a strong, hurtful word it's your true feelings. You’ve never experienced their wrath firsthand, but you have witnessed what it can do to people. Your sweet, loving parents, who took loans out of the bank in order to pay for repairs to their shop, were reduced to frightful messes at the mere mention of that harrowing F-word.

It’s horrible to see them in such a state, especially since a few agents had come by once and practically demanded the money. As a result of such a distasteful discussion, you refuse to go into any sort of monetary career: trader, merchant, and even a wandering saleswoman. You’ll find a way to make things right by getting a job that will bring in lots of riches for your poor parents. Then the Fatui will have no choice but to leave your family alone.

Your own funds have dried up, having gone into another Fatui agent’s gloved hands. You can’t even argue because you have an inkling as to what will happen when you finally run out of money to give. Ever since this entire debt charade, your parents have become hollow shells of their former selves: paranoid, depressed, and starved of the happiness that comes with being in a regular, debt-free family.

Childe tunes into your rant as if someone had just turned on the switch that designates his listening skills. The two of you are sitting on a lovely hilltop, watching the stars twinkle in and out of focus. Liyue Harbor can be seen from afar, glittering in warm colors of gold and red. If Childe remembers correctly, another festival should be right around the corner. He’ll have to take you when he finds time to slink away from his work.

Speaking of his work, he’s never actually told you about it. When you asked, he simply said it was a job that allowed him to travel. It sounded like a traveling merchant to you—perhaps even a fishmonger specializing in exotic types—considering he was seemingly loaded with Mora. It made you jealous that he was so well-off with his finances, but you couldn’t complain when he so readily emptied his pockets for your sake.

“And then that stupid agent shows up at our door right when I get home! It’s the worst timing ever. My parents were pretending to be out of the house and I showed up and ruined their plan.” A heavy sigh tumbles from your lips as you flop back onto the grass, where Childe fixes you with a lopsided, sympathetic grin. “I hate it. They’re not even themselves anymore. It’s like they lost all sense of life. I’m picking up as many commissions as I can, but it doesn’t even help. The Fatui just take it all faster than I can save it.”

“They’re the worst, aren’t they?”

“And the sky isn’t blue. Of course they’re the worst!” You inhale softly. “No use getting mad about something that already happened, though.”

“You’ll just give yourself more stress and you don’t need that.” He joins you on the plush grass, turning his head to look at you rather than up at the inky night sky. “I can help with your commissions, you know. I’ve been itching to smash some hilichurl camps.”

“I can handle it myself. It’s fine.” Only it’s not and you’ve started realizing that. “Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Funny. I was going to ask you something, too!”

“Oh. Uh...”

He chuckles, staring at you with blue eyes that don’t sparkle. “There’s this festival coming up and I wanted to take you. It’ll be just the two of us for one night. You can forget all about work and money—”

“What about you? You said your job has you traveling all over the place. That’s why we’ll rarely see each other in the future. Once you’re done here in Liyue, that is.” You move onto your side, holding yourself up on your elbow. “I don’t think it’ll work.”

“Well, my boss doesn’t have to know. It’ll be our tiny secret!”

You roll your eyes, smiling a little. Deep inside you’ve always felt like something was off about his story. For the past few months, he’s remained in Liyue and once you even caught him slipping into Northland Bank when you were running some errands. You hope he isn’t in a similar situation concerning debt and poverty. No, he wouldn’t need to be. He’s shown you just how many lavish things his funds can afford. Why would he be in debt if he has a stable job?

“Are you...doing something bad?”

You could’ve phrased that better, but it’s already out in the open now. Sheepishly, you avoid his befuddled stare, opting to watch the moon as its light becomes obscured behind a dark cloud. An airy chuckle escapes him, but he doesn’t say anything. His silence confirms your fears and it dawns upon you that he hasn’t been truthful this entire time.

“This mask.” It’s in your hands before he can stop you. You’re tapping at it with a finger, equal parts curious and apprehensive. You refuse to beat around the bush; your doubtful gaze catches his and it hardens at once. “You’re Fatui, aren’t you?”

He sits up calmly, holding out his hand. “That’s quite the accusation, my dear. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”

“I’m not jumping to any conclusion. I’m right, aren’t I?” Now you’re sitting up, staggering to your feet to find some sort of leverage over him. He’s taller than you and far more powerful than he once let on. “Childe, why would—“

He sighs, lowering his hand out of defeat. “I suppose there’s no point avoiding it now. You were bound to find out one of these days.”

“One of these days? What? Like, when my family’s on the streets because the Fatui took our house?”

It hurts that he wasn’t honest and it hurts even more knowing that he has the power to help. He could’ve spent his time working out ways to get you out of debt, yet he decided to shower you in affection and useless trinkets! Trinkets that are only good for selling and receiving money to pay off the debt. You could cry; that’s how much it hurts. And when he makes no solid effort to comfort you, the tears begin to form.

“Of course not. I’d never let that happen!”

“Then why would you lie about it? Why not help me? Why can’t you just be honest? You always avoid questions you don’t want to answer and I hate it! I’ve been with you long enough to know that that mask is bad news. I was just waiting for you to confirm it, but you didn’t.”

You think it’s selfish for wanting his help—for wanting help from a Fatui agent, no less—but you’re too upset to care.

“(Name), you know that’s—“

“What else haven’t you told me? What else have you lied about? I don’t care if you’re trying to protect me. I’m already on a list. The Fatui still show up to my house and you just...let them. Why?”

“If I interfered, it would look bad in front of Her Majesty. You know I can’t go against her orders. I want to help you—I do. But...”

You’re fumbling for new words, at a complete loss with yourself. No matter how many questions you spout, he’ll evade them like they’re optional. And even if you want answers and honesty more than anything right now, you know he’ll fail to provide it. You shove the mask into his hands, shaking your head in disbelief. A swell of emotions overcome you: sadness, anger, and regret. You feel utterly betrayed. The sweet Childe, whom you once thought was your perfect match, is working for the Fatui—the people who have turned your life into misery.

And that’s probably not even the half of it.

“Let’s break up,” you say before he can spin another false tale. Another easy excuse to avoid this downfall. Childe stops short to stare at you in surprise and it’s weird to see that emotion scrawled across his face. He’s usually smooth and collected; he always knows what to say and how to act. Not this time, though. “It’s not going to work if we’re together while the Fatui are hounding my parents. And they wouldn’t approve of our relationship either.”

“Now, (Name), wait a moment. You’re not thinking straight. You’re just—” He struggles to find the correct words and in that small moment between foggy clarity and paralyzing uncertainty he plasters another plastic smile on. “Look. I know you’re upset, but I didn’t mean to lie to you. I was going to tell you eventually. Just had to find the right time to do it, you know?"

“I know. And that’s why we should go our separate ways.” Like Childe, you also put on a faux show, building up your walls as high and strong as his are. You don’t think you’ll last another minute in his presence, as you’re far too close to tears. “Thank you again for tonight. I’ll take my leave now.”

Rather than pain, it’s bitter when your lips fall upon his soft cheek. And the gesture stings harder than a slap on the wrist. 

The searing pain returns when you pull away and begin the descent from the hill as fast as your trembling legs will allow. You refuse to look back and fall into his arms in hopes that he’ll reassure you. The fact that he doesn’t chase after you—doesn’t even call out—stabs your conflicted heart and it’s more than enough confirmation. Childe isn’t exactly boyfriend material. He’s callous when it comes to a battle and he’s driven by his own ulterior motives. Surely this relationship was just a means of spending his extra time when he found himself bored and lacking a fight. Maybe he thought of his work when the two of you were on secretive dates. Maybe his heart was empty when the two of you were intimate. Maybe you were just the glue holding this crumbling bond together.

Childe remains on that hilltop, watching you disappear into the distance. And it’s then when realizes he’s lost you. The feeling is different from the battlefield and it’s far more real than when he’s snooping around as a Harbinger. You’re just a normal, good-natured citizen and he...ruined that part of you. With his ties to an enemy that has crushed your family. He’s partly, if not fully, responsible for what transpired just now and for the first time in a while real guilt gnaws at him. He’s left wondering why he did all of that—why he couldn’t just face your questions head-on.

It’s his fault, isn’t it?

On that windy hilltop, under the silent, disapproving darkness of the sky, he’s left to pick up the pieces of a fractured relationship. And it’s all because he couldn’t admit the truth to his precious girlfriend.

In a way, the Fatui have taken something from him, too, and he’s not sure if he’ll be able to patch it up with honeyed promises. 

Looks like we won’t be going to that festival anytime soon...

[azusaluvclub]

my all out!! ships ... the masterpost you didnt ask for

im gonna keep this short and sweet and say that i have 0 explanation or defense for any of these , but goddAMN did i grasp at straws to make em make sense . having ao!! as my hyperfixation for half a year has had some harrowing results tbh

if im not alone in these pls let me know or smth :D otherwise enjoy (or dont)

goshozome + hirota ;;;

⋆ .. all of these are rarepairs tbh

⋆ gosho notices hirota first, whenever they go to watch jinkou play against tenjiku ! rlly admires his strength on the field and finds himself wanting to get to know him lol

⋆ is the one to initiate their first convo after a practice game together and hirota thinks hes an absolute pest- reminds him too much of the flashy, pretty boy types in dramas, but waaayyyy more charismatic (and actually nice lbr)

⋆ gosho probably gets hirotas number from kamo afterwards (thx kamo ...) and messages him that night w some goofy lil "hello ! (^０^)ノ" and hirota is just left wondering .. “who tf ..."

⋆ once he figures out its goshozome, he decides that hes even MORE of a pest- still replies to him tho ?? he rolls his eyes about it but he cant help but find him amusing ; its not long before hes looking forward to their chats :D

⋆ over time they start to talk more and while they dont have the most in common personality-wise, they find that they have similar likes and hobbies (aside from rugby ofc) that they can talk about for hours- even their differences and separate interests make for good conversations ! 

⋆ the first time they get together is probably to do smth a bit more fun as per goshos suggestion, like bowling (naturally, seeing as hirota is a bowling god), mini golf, or even ice skating- smth that gets em out, but where they can still chill and talk afterwards ! 

⋆ also, most places like that provide snacks + appetizers 2 share soooo ;))) while its not exactly a "date", its definitely a place to start

⋆ in all of this though, hirota ends up learning a lot more about gosho and that, in spite of whatever misconceptions he had about him, he really just wanted to be friends- and honestly ? this makes hirota feel rlly fuzzy deep down :( not that he admits it, coward

⋆ them actually getting together though is definitely a gradual thing . i feel like goshozome wouldve realized early on that he didnt want just a friendship with hirota, but it took hirota much longer to figure out that his own feelings werent totally platonic lol- its not until wellll into their college years that they decide to give dating a try :)) 

⋆ their friends were not surprised when they started dating ; probably more surprised w how long it took . esp kamo, who def caught the pair making goo-goo eyes at each other like a bajillion times before they made it official- hirota may have thought he was being lowkey about it, but gosho wasnt even trying tbh- 

⋆ overall they have a really sweet relationship :(( i see gosho as the type of boyfriend who can be a lil overbearing in his affection (though it comes from the heart ofc, he just doesnt like being discreet about the person he loves imo), so hes always reminding hirota of the million and one reasons he loves him, gifting him things, taking him places, etc, and while hirota doesnt mind be flattered like that, he never really gets used to it either lmao- gosho calms down about it when theyve been together longer and the newness wears off a bit lmao

⋆ hirota, on the other hand, is a bit more subtle about that sort of thing :)) its the little things that goshozome loves tho ! hirota cooking him his favorite meal (goshos canon type is good cooks so I MEANNNN...), giving him something that reminded him of gosho, or simply saying “i love you” is enough to make him melt- knowing that hes appreciated and thought of like that will never fail to make him absolutely weak smh

⋆ but yeah, theyre just really happy together :(( 

⋆ to add some more fun lil things ,, hirota has a fascination w goshozomes hair tbh . loves running his fingers thru it when theyre cuddling and such (seriously wants to know what product he uses to get it so ... soft..)

⋆ whenever they get into petty arguments , hirota will 9/10 times threaten to turn goshos bird into stew ,, or fried parakeet ,, 

⋆ in spite of this he actually does find pete (???? i think thats its name but dont ask me ..,) super cute :( 100% supportive if/whenever gosho wants expand the family lol, once theyve settled down

⋆ once they get older and have the funds for it, i think itd be cute if they opened their own lil restaurant together ! its mainly hirotas since it was probably his dream from the start, but gosho helps out a lot with it — be it helping in the kitchen, w the decorating and such, or the actual hosting/waitering part, hes in it with hirota 100% :))

⋆ i see them as both being pretty family-oriented ppl, so they definitely keep close with each others families + they all get along p well ! i like to think that, w them both being older brothers, their lil bros are relatively around the same age and so they hang out a lot during family get-togethers and such- whether they actually get along or not ? wellll u can decide lmao

adachigahara + takebe .

⋆ chaos x chaos enabler .

⋆ likely started talking during a post-match function, probably after rugby nationals and shit- takebes bffs w marodo + i like to think noka + sumi are a lil friend group w them, and i feel like theyre the cluster of personalities that adachi would fit right in with (would he want to tho ...), so it made sense for them to start mingling lol

⋆ how the two started talking outside of rugby stuff ?? BEYOND me . for the sake of this it doesnt matter, but i dont think it was long into them talking + developing interest before they decided to go on a date lol

⋆ their first date is probably at an amusement park ! maybe a lil cliche but i think theyre both fun-loving people so it seemed like a good idea lol

⋆ try going on a few of the rides, but adachi gets queasy every . single . time . so by the fourth ride they agree to just play the different games instead (which is fine, bc adachi was looking foward to that part anyways-)

⋆ adachi keeps trying to win the stuffed animal prizes to add to his collection but loses p much every time- takebe offers to try his luck, and gets it in one go :D (and gets stuck carrying their loot the rest of the day lol) ends up winning some big, light blue cat plushie that permanently resides in adachis bed :)))

⋆ venture into a haunted house attraction and take turns screaming + clinging to each other when they get scared- adachigahara tried playing it off like he wasnt scared at first but ,, neither of them would be that good with spooky stuff lbr :’)

⋆ end off the date by sharing a giant ass sundae at one of the food stalls <3 

⋆ after a few months of flirting around and going out, they actually put a label on things :D nobody was expecting it other than the people closest to them, mainly because they are so ... different, per se ? but theyre happy together so their friends are happy for them ofc

⋆ takebe was definitely drawn to adachi for his personality :)) but can you really blame him ? hed be fun as hell to be around ; even if they arent doing anything in particular, takebe will still find himself entertained by whatever ramble adachi decides to go on about- (at this point takebe knows 90% of the sagami gossip lol)

⋆ (also, not that it matters buttttt ... takebes type is literally “black hair in a bob” and like . how else would u describe adachigaharas hair ? lmao do what this info what you will)

⋆ for adachi, i think hed really like the more passionate/ambitious + bolder sides of takebe, once he gets a chance to see them lol :,) esp since he seems p simple on the surface- (tho i feel like theyre both passionate people, just about different things- takebe mostly about his goals and such, while adachi is just passionate about everything smh) adachi is takebes #1 supporter tho :D

⋆ definitely the type of couple to be matchy-matchy w things ! matching keychains, mugs, accessories, blah blah blahhhh

⋆ because he knows goshozome, adachi has gotten a ton of hair tips and products to pass onto takebe :D probably the only cure to his insane bedhead atp

⋆ spend a lot of their bonding time just doing silly shit, but its some of their favorite moments shared :( be it watching some ridiculous show on tv, doing shitty karaoke in their living room or tripping over each other playing just dance, or indulging in some self-care, they have a lot of fun together </3

—

to summarize , these are the only two ships i really had a lot to say about :D but if u want me to be real i have like . a shit ton more that linger in my brain as cute concepts (kokuto + marodo,,,, for example,,,) but idk how to make them work logically LMAOOOO so yeah . one day perhaps .... i will speak em into existence ..........

but !!! if anyone reads this pls let me knwo about your own rarepairs or ao!! ships in general ! or any general headcanons ,, idc honestly , im just open to any convo about ao!! atp lmaoooooo soooo :D hmu bitches

[beautifulterriblequeen]

AMA reread headcanon #2

I’m having further thoughts about Moonshadow assassin capabilities after rereading this ama question, which basically asks, Why didn’t Viren hide Harrow in the dungeon or somewhere, away from the Moonshadow assassins?

The given answer says, “I think hiding him anywhere was never really an option. The Moonshadow assassins would have had ways of locating him and slipping in no matter where he was...”

My initial guess, last fall, was this: since there already seems to be some kind of internal life-force sensor that Moonshadows can use--the way Lujanne simply touches Zym’s egg and determines that his life is fading--perhaps that skill can be honed and shifted from merely sensing all life around you in a beautiful symphony, to seeking one life force in particular, no matter where it is, for the purposes of hunting it down and taking it. A sort of Moonshadow Cerebro, if you will, which probably takes a lot of practice to achieve, and maybe a lot of focus to hold onto during a mission. Perhaps this is what Runaan was meditating on, the morning of the full moon: Harrow’s and Ezran’s life forces, pinging softly in the distance, somewhere in the castle.

Yeah, creepy and dark, turning a Moonshadow connection to life into a tracking skill for death. *shudders* I love it.

But yesterday, I was staring at this line and wondering whether there was more. See, it’s one thing to sense your target no matter where they are. But it’s another to do that slipping-in thing that the creators mentioned.

Viren says in S1E2 that Moonshadow assassins can “penetrate any defense.” Any at all? How would that work if you put Harrow behind a slew of locked doors? Magical barriers? Defensive monsters? All of the above at once?

One of the other AMA answers, paraphrased on reddit, got me thinking:

"Moonshadow elves partially slip into a dimension of the moon granting them full stealth mode."

If a partial shift into the dimension of the moon grants invisibility yet leaves them present this dimension, what would a full shift grant?

Here’s my guess, then, for a second layer of Moonshadow assassin skills that can be put to use on a mission: an accomplished and practiced assassin can focus their life force during a full moon and project themselves fully into the dimension of the moon--the world that Rayla visited in TTM. Doing so is basically dying, and they have to be perfectly poised and precise in order to come back into the real world exactly where they mean to--and not inside a wall or something--within a probably-short time limit like the 7 minutes it takes your brain to die if you lose access to oxygen or something. It’s a very risky move! But if anyone is going to push themselves to the limit of death--and beyond--to accomplish a mission, it’s a Moonshadow assassin.

The implications of such a skill are fabulous. Only the best assassins can probably do this, and they'll probably need a completely full moon to do it. But the effect would be terrifying. There you sit, surrounded by three dozen guards, behind eight magical wards, where not even a stray spider can sneak in, and suddenly there's a whisper of movement right behind you, and then you're dead. And not one of your guards sees a damn thing. They’d panic and bolt, and the word would get out: Moonshadow assassins are unstoppable.

The key here is what Viren believes the assassins are capable of. He knows better than to try to hide Harrow. His only suggestion was to try to mislead the assassins with a soul switcheroo, which could call back to the idea of Moonshadows being able to track a single life force. Whether Viren expected their tracking to follow Harrow’s body instead of his soul, or simply to be confused by two separate sources, I couldn’t say. But his soulfang solution seems like the TDP equivalent of trying to hide your heat signature from infrared scanners by hopping into a hot tub with a breathing straw.

So here I am with this really cool headcanon about a powerful and frankly dangerous Moonshadow ability, and I ask myself, Self, what kind of cool thing could this ability be used for?

I’m so predictable. You know where I’m headed, right?

I am super invested in Runaan's story arc, and in his character development. I'm eagerly awaiting S4 to see what happens next! We all want our favorite broody assassin set free so he can go be dramatic and stabby and also soft with his husband. It's basically a universal headcanon at this point that Runaan will be freed from his coin at some point, in some way.

You know which version of “Free Runaan” I'm not sure I've ever seen? Runaan rescuing himself. Considering his thematic elements and his coding, that's actually a really important idea. People in trauma aren't helpless damsels out of a fairy tale. They're people. And they deserve agency just like everyone else.

Within the plot of TDP, such a concept would need to be folded in with everything else that’s going on, though. Rayla still has to find her truth, and to deal with her motivations and choices. She deserves agency, too, as does Ethari, Callum, Claudia, Viren, Aaravos, Nyx, and anyone who might get included in the coin storyline.

It would be great to see Runaan use a Moonshadow dimension-slip to escape his coin to somewhere else. Where would he go? Well, there are a few possibilities, but “the real world” probably shouldn’t be one of them. If he can get out of hell on his own, and then need some guidance getting back to the real world--and to his family--from there, that lets multiple characters decide if and how much to lend a hand.

Trauma lies. It tells you that you’re alone, the only one who feels so horrible. But that’s not true. It’s never true. So the more characters who contribute to Runaan’s freedom, the better. Especially since it’ll be really good for him to experience, considering he’s spent his life holding everyone at arm’s length. It’ll be a good message of cooperation, and of forgiveness, and those are some of TDP’s strongest themes.

But so is agency! Having a voice, having a say in your own fate. I’m not sure how much of a say Runaan has really had in his own fate. That’s some information I’m also eagerly awaiting! Seeing him get to participate, even a little, in his own rescue from the hellcoin would be amazing, and maybe it could happen with a cool, scary, dramatic Moonshadow power like being able to walk in the land of the dead for a few minutes or something.

Runaan’s a badass, okay, show it to me, give. But also, just imagine some wild twist like Rayla struggling for most of S4 to find him and her parents, fighting, making allies, learning secrets, doing stealth stuff, figuring out who to trust, all building up an absolutely stellar arc for her, and at last she somehow gets that coin pouch, and she dumps it out, and while she’s so relieved to finally have found her parents again... Runaan’s coin is blank. Dun Dun DUNNNNNN, cue the credits!

[galli-writes]

(Click here to read on Ao3!)

fandom: Teen Titans

pairing: BBRae

genre/warnings: AU - Canon Divergence; Implied/Referenced Abuse, Abusive Parents, Childhood Trauma, Graphic Depictions of Violence

additional tags: Angst, Family Issues, Friendship/Love, Protectiveness, Slow Burn, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Love Confessions

summary:

There are a few things that Beast Boy knows for certain:

He’s 21….and a total lightweight. He’s a vegan (but not like…a pretentious vegan). He’s not going to be single forever.

And the Teen Titans are the only family he’ll ever need.

a/n: Hello everyone! I am finally back--though in a way I guess I never really left. I've been working on this fic on an off since I last posted, but things have been so busy that it's been rather slow going. I'm going to try REALLY hard to keep to a more consistent schedule going forward. The fic is entirely written, but needs some pretty heavy editing. I'm going to shoot for an upload every other Friday from here on out. Thank you all so much for being patient!

Chapter 5: A Helping Hand (words 6,264)

It wasn’t often that Beast Boy played hooky. At least, not when he thought there was a good chance Robin would catch him. Skipping practice was a serious no-go, outside of a few exceptions. Beast Boy knew he wasn’t a good enough actor to feign sickness. The ‘family emergency’ excuse existed strictly as a formality for obvious reasons. Reasons that were starting to seem less obvious now. 

The letter in his drawer was already old news--at least to him. Beast Boy knew the contents of the note by heart. The memorization wasn’t intentional, but the words swam around in his head constantly nonetheless. A symptom of a much larger disease, as Raven might have put it. So he’d moved on to obsessively deconstructing and reconstructing the many packages that still littered their living room. Not that doing so had given him any more insight into who Nicholas Galtry was. Or why he had had possession of all of his parents’ things. Or why they were here now. Among the many disjointed thoughts that rattled in his brain, one consistently nudged its way to the top of the pool. That one was also tucked neatly away in a drawer in his room. Though he hadn’t dared to look at the picture since first putting it there.

Beast Boy glanced behind him at the clock in the kitchen. He’d been here an hour already--someone was probably already out looking for him, Robin’s orders. He quickly shut the box he was currently sorting through. It had been the same as all the boxes before it--filled with priceless, nameless items from another place and another time. He felt like a thief, searching his own belongings, not knowing what exactly he hoped to find among them. Each time carefully packing the boxes back as he’d found them. Like a thief, hoping to cover his tracks.

“There you are.”

Beast Boy flinched, instantly shrinking back from the box in front of him. He turned around to face Cyborg looming over him.

“Man, I’ve been lookin’ for you everywhere ,” Cyborg said, a twinge of frustration in his voice. “What the hell are you doin’ up here?”

“Nothing,” Beast Boy said, anxiously getting to his feet. “Just...hanging out.”

Cyborg frowned. “Well maybe you should come ‘hang out’ at training.”

“Training?” Beast Boy repeated automatically.

“Yeah, you know...the thing we have scheduled every single afternoon? At the exact same time? Every day?” Cyborg said, cocking an eyebrow at him. Now he seemed more confused than frustrated—a switch that was very typically Cyborg.

“Right. Training. I was wondering where everyone else was,” Beast Boy answered. It was a poor excuse, but it wasn’t actually a lie.

Cyborg sighed, but there was a hint of a joking smile on his face when he spoke next. “Let’s just get down there before Robin kicks both our asses, okay?”

Beast Boy nodded, and for a moment it was as if the boxes behind him ceased to exist. It currently felt like there were two worlds jammed under one roof, and now that he’d been pulled out of the one behind him, he saw just how much he preferred the one in front of him. Even if it meant getting his ass kicked.

The training field had come a long way from the public school playground it resembled when they’d first settled into the Tower. It was Robin’s ongoing project--adding another ropes course, integrating fully automated sparring dummies...there were even obstacles designed with each of their abilities in mind. Beast Boy was sure that Robin had a Pinterest board dedicated to the fiasco for all of the crazy things he was constantly adding to it.

Which is why Beast Boy was confused to find that none of it was being used.

“Oh no. Don’t tell me--”

“Yep,” Cyborg said, walking the opposite direction of Robin’s martial arts art display.

“Dude, I suck at hand to hand.”

“Probably why Robin thinks you ditched,” Cyborg shrugged.

In the distance, their three remaining teammates were gathered in a clearing at the opposite end of the field. Starfire stood leaning against a tree on the sidelines, water bottle in hand. In the center of a well-worn patch of grass, Robin and Raven circled each other in what seemed to be a never-ending dance.

“So when you said Robin was gonna kick my ass...you meant that literally, didn’t you?” Beast Boy said with a frown.

“Well it might not be Robin who kicks your ass,” Cyborg smiled. “It could be Star, or Raven, or yours truly.”

“Wow, thanks,” Beast Boy grumbled. He knew Cyborg was only teasing, and Beast Boy had been the first to admit that the skillset wasn’t exactly his strong suit. But the remark lingered in his mind a second longer than he knew it should have.

“Okay, so maybe it’s not really your thing, but hey,” Cyborg said, placing a hand on Beast Boy’s shoulder. “Practice makes perfect. You’ll get there.”

“Dude. I turn into animals for a living. Most of which don’t even have opposable thumbs,” Beast Boy said, flexing his own in front of his friend. “I don’t need to be good at something I’m never gonna use.”

Cyborg merely shook his head dismissively. “Never say never, man.”

“Okay, Robin ,” Beast Boy replied with a smirk.

As if on cue, Robin and Raven’s dance came to a halt as soon as the words left Beast Boy’s mouth. He had figured they were still out of earshot, but maybe he’d been wrong.

“There you two are,” Robin said as the two of them stepped into the loosely defined dirt ring. He glanced down at his watch and then directly at Beast Boy. “Beast Boy, you’re twenty minutes late. Practice starts at four. You know that.”

Any trace of teasing Cyborg had expressed instantly evaporated when Robin spoke.

“Uh...four-twenty blaze it?” Beast Boy said with a shrug and a terribly awkward smile. The one that always appeared on his face whenever he didn’t know what else to say--which was more often than he would have liked to admit.

Robin closed his eyes, raising a hand to his temples.

Raven’s facepalm was much less subtle.

“Starfire are you ready to go?” Robin asked, shaking his head slightly.

“Mmm hmm!” Starfire hummed in response.

“Great. Then I’m gonna have you and Beast Boy up next.”

“Uh…” Beast boy shot a glance at Starfire, who was practically the living portrait of an Instagram athlete. “Shouldn’t I warm up first or something?”

“In a real fight, you won’t always get the chance to ‘warm up’ beforehand,” Robin said, crossing his arms over his chest. Which was definitely his way of saying ‘that’s what you get for showing up late’.

“Don’t worry, Beast Boy,” Starfire smiled. “I will try not to injure you too terribly.”

Beast Boy certainly began to feel warm now, to the point where he was sure his face was turning red.

In his peripheral, he saw that Cyborg had cleared the training ring and was now standing beside Raven on the sidelines. She leaned in slightly to her left, whispering something into Cyborg’s ear with a devious smirk.  

Beast Boy felt his stomach drop. He didn’t know what was worse. Starfire’s complete sincerity or Raven’s total lack thereof.

But he didn’t have much time to dwell on the thought before it was overtaken completely by a harrowing sense of panic. He had been posed for a fight, staring head on at his partner. But it was only now that his vision snapped back into focus, just in time to catch a whirling ball of green energy headed directly toward him.

He quickly swerved out of the way, trying to regain his balance. But before he could find his footing, another blaze shone at his feet, knocking him straight to the ground. He squinted, eyes beginning to water from the dust cloud that now surrounded him. He wanted to open his mouth to say something--make some complaint that he hadn’t been ready, that there had been no signal to start. But he knew that wouldn’t buy him any sympathy in Robin’s eyes.  

Of course, vying for Robin’s attention was even less of a no-go once the sirens started blaring.

Without so much as a nod from the leader in question, everyone took off in the same direction. Everyone except Beast Boy, who was still on the ground.

He pushed himself to his feet, the palms of his hands stinging against the soil. He knew it wasn’t personal. None of this was personal. Kind of like how the sense of isolation and strangeness he’d felt around his friends since the reading that letter certainly wasn’t personal .

But as he watched them disappearing now--not one of them looking back to see if he had followed--it sure felt that way.

So what if calling shotgun was more important than helping him up? He shook his head, now unable to hold back a self-satisfied smirk. No matter how much of a head start they had, no one was going to outrun a cheetah.

Within seconds, the ground flew under his feet like a treadmill set on max speed. When the garage came into view, Beast Boy was relieved to find that it was already open--and more importantly empty. In a flash, he transformed back, and with the same proud smile lingering on his face sauntered over to crack open the passenger door.

His smile instantly disappeared when he saw who was behind it.

“ Raven ?”

Even at her name, she didn’t so much as shoot him a glance. Raven just sat there, comfortably nestled in the passenger seat with her feet kicked up on the dashboard. She scrolled through her phone with a bored expression--like she’d been there for hours.

“How the hell did you beat me?” Beast Boy blurted out, feeling irrationally annoyed as Raven continued to sit there, chewing a piece of gum in silence.

“Want a piece?” she said absentmindedly, materializing a pack of DoubleMint from the locked glove box. There were dozens of other flavors inside--so many packs that they filled almost half the compartment.  “It’s Cyborg’s secret stash--but I won’t tell.”

Beast Boy ignored her. “There’s no way you could have beaten me here. I took a shortcut even you don’t know about,” he said curtly.

“Weird, huh?” she said, turning her attention back to her phone. “It’s almost like magic. ”

Beast Boy frowned. “That’s cheating.”

“And you turning into a cheetah clearly isn’t,” she said plainly. Then another sly smile crept onto her face. “Get it? A cheetah ?”

Beast Boy’s face scrunched up in even further annoyance. Without a word, he shut the passenger door, opening the one behind it. He already knew which seat he’d be directed to sit in. Though even calling it a seat was a bit generous. Nevertheless, he’d occupied it since day one because, of course, ‘he was the shortest and it just made sense for him to ride in the middle because if they were ever in a crash the height of the headrest wouldn’t do anyone else any good blah blah blah’. As if something as normal as a car crash would really be enough to injure a bunch of superheroes.  

“Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” Cyborg said, swinging open the door to the driver’s seat and hopping inside.

As the doors on either side of him opened and closed in perfect sync, Beast Boy was struck with another harrowing consequence of his seating arrangement.  

It was true that Robin and Starfire were relatively tame as far as couples went--at least in terms of explicit PDA.  It was only once in a blue moon that you actually caught them exchanging so much as a kiss on the cheek. But there was no denying the magnetic force between them. And it was times like these that Beast Boy felt less like a person and more like a glitch jamming the radio signal.

“Okay,” Robin said, flicking open the communication device on his wrist. A small holographic map appeared above it, marking several heat signatures as they traversed the grid on the screen. In an instant, an identical image appeared on a screen in the center console of the car.

“Looks like they’ve already hit Gorman street,” Cyborg said, glancing at the center console.  

“They’re moving fast,” Robin added, adjusting something on the device. “But only because they’ve sacrificed numbers for speed”.

“Well let’s just see if they can outrun this, ” Cyborg replied, revving the engine in response. Within moments, the Tower was far behind them.

Beast Boy leaned forward slightly to look out the window on his left. They hadn’t been driving long at all, but he had no idea where they were. Left and right, worn down warehouse buildings lined the streets as far as he could see. Overhead, a thick gray fog swallowed the entire sky.

“Starfire, I want you and Cy to go after the group of three heading west,” Robin continued, pointing to several figures on the map as he spoke. “I’ll go after the solo. Raven, Beast Boy—you two track the pair heading in the opposite direction.”

Raven didn’t outwardly protest, but her agitated sigh was enough to send its intended message.  

After what seemed like only a second later, the car skidded to a halt at the edge of a narrow alley. And without missing a beat, everyone else took off in their respective directions at full speed. This time Beast Boy could confidently blame the middle seat for keeping him a step behind.

“I’ll race ya,” Beast Boy said, throwing a competitive smile at Raven, who had surprisingly seemed to be waiting for him.

“Just hurry up,” she said plainly, looking to the sky.

The streets seemed even more bleak from above.

Every other street light flickered as if choking out its dying breath. Cracks ran down the sidewalks like jagged scars, and chipped paint and graffiti adorned the walls of the decrepit buildings. Beast Boy found himself wondering where everyone was--there were barely even any cars on the streets.

“Ow!” Raven exclaimed suddenly.

Simultaneously, Beast Boy felt his wings crumple under him as he crashed into her from behind. He screeched involuntarily, trying to regain his balance.

“Why are we stopping?” he asked--or rather squawked--momentarily forgetting he was still very much a bird.

Luckily, Raven seemed to get the idea. Without a word, she pointed to two shadowy figures slipping around the corner of a nearby building. She started to open her mouth to say something then, but Beast Boy was already locking in on the figures below.

Without a second thought, he dove sharply down toward one of the shadows in his sight. Talons poised, he only managed to graze the top of his target’s head. Or at least what he could think of as being the thing’s head, as the action felt more like skimming a silhouette than an actual person.

At the very least, the surprise of his attack was enough to knock the figure off balance and trip on some debris below.

Beast Boy landed nearby, skidding onto the asphalt. Back on two legs, he whipped around and morphed once more. A rhino was always a solid play when you didn’t quite know what you were dealing with. He kicked up the rubble under his front foot and ducked his head, preparing for a  running start. Then he let his momentum carry him forward--feeling the power of an entire stampede in his muscles--which turned out to be much more than he bargained for.

It was like the wall came out of nowhere. Or maybe he just hadn’t looked before leaping. Though his horn mdulled the impact slightly, Beast Boy felt every shard of cement as the crash sent a shocking ripple through his entire body. When he opened his eyes, he was back to his usual self again. But unlike a moment ago, his head was spinning, and he was on his back watching the dark clouds rolling above. His vision had doubled, even tripled, and he shook his head wearily in an attempt to focus on anything at all. Instead, he saw the shaking image of someone approaching him. And his gut told him it wasn’t one of the people they were after. It was something much worse.

“What the fuck was that?” Raven said, leaning over him with a disapproving pout on her face.

“Rhino,” was all Beast Boy could manage, his head still spinning.

Raven scowled, but extended a hand out to him regardless. When she yanked him to his feet in one swift motion, the gesture suddenly felt less sympathetic.

“We’re supposed to be working together , moron,” she said, her tone biting. “How the hell are we supposed to do that if you knock yourself out before we even catch up to the bad guys?”

Beast Boy didn’t have an answer for that. So he didn’t give one, which probably didn’t help his case any more.

“God, you’re useless,” Raven said, grabbing his wrist and dragging him behind him. “Come on.”  

They continued down the natural path of the alleyway uneventfully. And that was what worried Beast Boy most. If he wasn’t going to die at the hands of their enemies, he was sure he’d die of embarrassment knowing he’d let them get away. Again.

Luckily for him, if Raven had any more thoughts on the matter she kept them to herself.

When they reached what seemed to be the end of the narrow street, Beast Boy was somewhat relieved to find that it wasn’t the dead end he had been expecting. Rather, the space before them now opened dramatically into something resembling a large courtyard. The entire perimeter was lined by walls of surrounding brick buildings--the only other entrances and exits to the pavilion being opposing alleyways much like the one they’d just emerged from.

But the courtyard’s strange location certainly wasn’t the most interesting thing about it.

In the very center, shrouded by a cloud of steam trickling through a nearby grate, two figures turned abruptly to meet their gaze. Even though Beast Boy could hardly make out the eyes looking back at them, he knew their stare was a threat.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Raven said quietly, lingering in the shadows for a moment longer.

The words echoed in Beast Boy’s head, this time in his own voice. Then a wave of panic suddenly passed over him. He wasn’t actually sure he knew the difference between what was considered brave and what Raven would consider stupid. And he didn’t exactly have the time to mull it over.  

Raven stood next to him, arms outstretched, as a flurry of flying rubble began to swirl around the two figures like a vicious tornado. Everything pulled toward them like scrap metal to a magnetic core--everything from the pebbles on the ground to full sized wooden beams and crates that littered the edges of the arena.

Beast Boy searched desperately through this mind for something to do--something to be. A mouse? Small enough to go unnoticed, but way too slow to bridge the gap between the opposing sides in such a short time. He thought to the opposite end of the spectrum. A gorilla or a bear could give him a boost of much needed strength if he cut back on speed. But maybe that was too on the nose. Just like the rhino.

He bit his lip nervously, catching Raven in his peripheral again. They were supposed to be working together after all--and she had clearly taken the lead. But he had no idea how she expected him to follow.

And suddenly, it occurred to Beast Boy that that was the secret to the riddle. The one way he could truly and certainly ‘not do something stupid’ was by not doing anything at all.

For a moment, he was almost proud of himself for finally cracking the code. But the false sense of pride evaporated as soon as he realized what it implied. Maybe his only use was...being completely useless? And just like that, he felt his stomach twist in a knot again as a familiar sense of embarrassment washed over him.

“Hellooo?” Raven’s voice rang out suddenly, snapping Beast Boy out of his daze.

He turned to look at her, finding her in the same position, teeth clenched and arms shaking ever so slightly as she held her pose.  

“I said not to do anything stupid ,” she snarled. “Not ‘don’t do anything at all’!”

Beast Boy blinked hard, absorbing her words--the hint of need in her voice, however faint. And suddenly, miraculously, his feeling of uncertainty disappeared as quickly as it had come.

In a flash he was a mighty T-Rex, half as tall as the building behind him. Charging forward, he reached down and fished out one of the criminals from the fading cyclone. Grabbing the figure by the arm, he swung them into the adjacent wall with ease, a cloud of dust gathering upon the point of contact. A hit that would probably kill the average person; but Beast Boy knew that right now he was just buying time.

From the corner of his eye, he caught the second figure starting to pull out a small radio, shielding it from the winds as they spoke into the device.

But before they could utter more than a sentence or two, Beast Boy spun around, sweeping them off their feet completely with his enormous tail. The person went flying at a ninety degree angle from the last, and he watched as the body hit the crumbling wall with a ‘definitely unconscious’ crash.

Morphing back, Beast Boy stood tall, admiring his work.

Raven appeared beside him a moment later, surveying the scene.

“Not bad, huh?”

“I warmed them up for you,” Raven said matter-of-factly. But Beast Boy couldn’t stop himself from brandishing another self-satisfied smirk.

Raven automatically went over to the first fallen figure, pushing directly past him as she went. Beast Boy took the hint and headed the opposite direction, preparing to inspect the second wreckage site hound dog style.

Bombarded by a multitude of different scents, he realized that he wasn’t exactly sure what he was looking for. He hoped he would know it when he came across it. And he did--when something cold and metallic brushed up against his nose.

With an obnoxious sneeze that sent his floppy ears soaring, Beast Boy took a step back from the dust cloud he had created in front of him. He squinted, coming back up on the area after the dust had settled to find a small coin-like silver disc buried in the ground. But it looked incomplete somehow, like it was only one half of a whole, given several small divots on the surface of the disc. And there was something else mixed in with the scent of the cool metal. Something thick and tangy. He followed the scent further until he found its source.

“Uh...Raven?” He hesitated, instinctively pulling back from the spot it had led him to.

Directly at his feet, the second figure lay face down in the rubble. Their clothing made it difficult to tell what kind of injuries they sustained, but there was blood. Lots of blood.

At the top of the neck, just under their hairline, a perfect silver circle was embedded in the skin--a corresponding piece almost identical to the one on the ground a few yards away. Except this one was covered in miniature circuits and drenched in the dark red liquid oozing from underneath it.

Beast Boy quickly turned back to pick up the first piece and compare the two. He was certain they had once made a single whole. But the half he inspected in his hand seemed to be no more than the covering to the blood caked battery beneath. There was some writing on it though--and maybe that could tell him something .

In a moment, Raven was beside him again, abandoning her less interesting finds at the other end of the courtyard.

“What is it?” She asked, leaning over to try and get a better look at the item in Beast Boy’s hand.

“I don’t know,” he replied, squinting at the object as he tried to make out the markings engraved on its surface. “A...R...S…,” he read slowly. “It looks like there’s more but I can’t make it out.”

Raven extended her hand, and Beast Boy automatically dropped it into her palm for a second opinion.

“Whoever these people are, they must have something to do with that break in,” she said, flipping the silver piece over in her hand. “I guess Robin was right.”

Beast Boy looked down at the body again with a frown.

“Okay, but we still don’t have any more of an idea what they’re after.”

Raven didn’t say anything. She just stood over the body, staring at it intently--in a way that suggested more than just superficial intrigue.

Suddenly, the small metal badge embedded in the figure’s skin was enveloped in a purple haze, and Beast Boy watched in horror as it began to peel away from the flesh underneath like a perfect silver scab. Leaving behind a gruesome red ring of skin, it slowly floated up and over into Raven’s open pocket.

Beast Boy swallowed hard at the sight, a bitter taste in the back of his mouth. For a split second, he was worried he was about to revisit breakfast in the worst way.  

“Dude...what the fuck ?” he said, eyes darting between the site of the impromptu surgery and Raven’s slightly blood stained pocket. “That’s nasty.”

Raven didn’t even blink. “Yeah, well so are you and Robin still keeps you around so...”

Beast Boy took a step back from the scene, the scent still of blood still lingering a little too strongly for his liking. And after watching Raven pull off something like that without so much as a moan or a grunt from the disc’s owner, he wasn’t so certain the victims were just napping anymore. He tried not to think too much about the potential fate of the person at his feet. He hated the possibility of pushing that boundary--even if they were ‘the bad guys’.

“You know, that actually wasn’t too bad,” Beast Boy said suddenly. His laugh was stifled and unconvincing, but he knew Raven wouldn’t likely acknowledge his discomfort, which was a bit of a relief in its own right. Regardless, he turned on his heel and made a purposeful decision to start walking away from the scene in hopes that she would naturally follow. Luckily, she did.  

“The fight? Or having to be alone with you for more than five minutes?” She said, overtaking him by a step or two. “Because if you’re referring to the latter I’m gonna have to disagree.”

“I mean, but it works. We work. Sometimes,” Beast Boy said, though he was unsure why he was still talking. “It’s like...you know,” he droned on as they walked. “Like oil and vinegar.”

Raven noticeably began to slow her pace. “Like what ?”

“Oil and vinegar. You know. It’s like our flavor ,” Beast Boy said, making some attempt to clarify with a hand gesture.

It was here Raven stopped completely, turning to face him.

“ This ,” she said gesturing between them in return, “is not a flavor .”

Beast Boy shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. “Well I still think it’s a good metaphor.”

“Why? Raven replied, mimicking his pose. “Because we can’t stand being together and naturally repel each other?”            

“Buuuuut,” Beast Boy added pointedly, “sometimes when you put us together you get an affordable and delicious salad dressing.”

Raven paused. She closed her eyes, raising her hand to her temple in a deep, meditative stillness before opening her mouth to speak. “You know, sometimes I really wonder how I haven’t killed you by now. Even accidentally.”

Beast Boy frowned. “Just to be clear, you’re the vinegar in this situation.”

The two began to walk again, but Beast Boy only made it a few steps before Raven thrust a hand out in front of him, stopping him mid-stride. And this time it didn’t seem to be because of anything he’d said.

“What?” he blurted out stupidly. At least this time Raven would be able to understand him.

Raven was completely still for a moment longer, her eyes slowly scanning the area around them. “You didn’t hear that?” she said quietly.

“Hear what?” Beast Boy said, again the words feeling stupid and redundant the moment he uttered them.

“Something other than the sound of your own voice,” Raven said under her breath.

Beast Boy looked all around them, just as Raven had. But he didn’t see anything. Let alone hear anything out of the ordinary.

“You’re just being paranoid,” he said, lightly pushing her arm back down to her side. “There were only two of them. You saw on Robin’s map.”

Raven didn’t seem too comforted by the reminder.

Beast Boy moved slightly to meet her gaze, which was focused somewhere far off in the distance. “I’m tellin’ ya. Oil and vinegar.”

Then, with a little more force than he expected, Raven pushed pushed past him and began to walk again.  

“Where are you going?” Beast Boy said, somewhat startled.

“Home.”

“Didn’t you wanna sweep the area first?”

“Not if it means twenty more minutes of this,” Raven said, waving her hand dismissively. “Besides, I’m just being ‘paranoid’.”

“Okay, well so much for working together then I guess,” Beast Boy said, rolling his eyes.

Raven shot him a look over her shoulder. Then, in an instant, she froze, eyes growing wide as she opened her mouth to say something.

But Beast Boy beat her to it.

He wasn’t sure the noise he made was completely human, even if the small blade twirling in the dirt just past him hadn’t completely hit its mark. He bit his lip to keep himself from another outburst. It had only grazed the side of his calf, but that was enough to bring him to one knee. He knew that if it had hit him the way it had been intended, he’d be on the ground.

Suddenly, everything around him was engulfed in shadow--and Beast Boy wondered if this was what people meant when they talked about ‘blacking out’. He really hoped that wasn’t what was happening. Not in front of Raven of all people. And not over a glorified paper cut .  

A moment later, finding he was still very much conscious, Beast Boy was relieved to find that Raven was the source of the shadowy dome that now surrounded them on all sides. But the relief didn’t last long.

Beyond the opaque screen of darkness, there was a ceaseless blur of motion. Hundreds of tiny silver sparks rebounded off the outer edge, like hail raining down in a terrible storm.

Beast Boy glanced up at Raven from where he knelt on the ground. She was gritting her teeth, brow furrowed and eyes aglow. She didn’t so much as blink when he looked at her, which wasn’t a good sign.

He looked around frantically. Every direction depicted the same terrible scene. Every direction—except for one. It was only now that he noticed how soft the earth was underneath him. How the asphalt of the alleyways seemed to melt away as they worked their way toward the center of the courtyard. And that gave him an idea. An idea Beast Boy didn’t allow himself to think through.

There was something reassuring about being so close to the ground. But the transformation into a badger probably hadn’t been the best for his wound. His leg was starting to ache even more now, and he realized that would probably make digging all the more difficult.  

But before he could test his hypothesis, a voice rang out over the crackling of bullets, clear and strong and demanding to be heard.

“Do you have a death wish?,” Raven yelled, her voice cutting above the static.  

“What do you think?” Beast Boy said, instantly morphing back. The words came out as sharp as the blades whirling around them.

“Well I guess it’s a good thing gophers are bulletproof ,” Raven said with a laugh dripping with anything but humor.

“ Badgers . It’s a badger .” Beast Boy could feel the adrenaline pulsing in his veins like wildfire--even though he knew the reaction was unwarranted, especially given the more concerning matters at hand.

“Really bad time for an argument, Beast Boy. Really bad time,” Raven bit back.

For a split second, Beast Boy thought of going ahead with his plan anyway. Then it occurred to him that he’d probably already used up what little luck he had for the day.

“Okay, so what’s your bright idea?” he said, struggling to hide the growing annoyance in his voice. But all things considered, he really hoped she had one.

“Not dying. That’s my plan,” she said, shutting her eyes tightly.  

Beast Boy looked around nervously--though he wasn’t sure what he was looking for.  

“Can’t you just...teleport us out or something?” he said, biting his lip.

“Teleportation or force field. You get one .”

The second Raven spoke though, she was interrupted by a noise that overtook even the hammering of the bullets around them. The short metallic pings were swapped for one firework-like explosion, the ground beneath them trembling just enough to make Beast Boy second guess his balance. From the looks of it, their attackers hadn’t been so lucky.

The bullets raining down on them slowed to a drizzle--then seemed to stop completely after a few stray shots. But not because the remaining gunmen had ceased fire. Rather, the firing now seemed to be directed somewhere else entirely.

Before Beast Boy could figure out where everyone else had turned their attention, his own focus was redirected again as he felt something cold on his wrist. A hand, gripping onto him with what felt like an unnecessary amount of force.  

Beast Boy felt the ground sway beneath him again uneasily until it disappeared completely, the hard dirt and asphalt replaced by rough gray concrete. When the scene before him came into a clear focus, his stomach lurched. With a primal desperation, he reached out, searching for the hand that had just let go of him. Now he was the one holding on like his life depended on it.  

In front of him now was a perfect aerial snapshot of the pavilion. They had to be at least ten stories up, given the size of the figures below them.

“Um…”

Beast Boy looked up, heart still pounding, though he wasn’t sure the vertigo was responsible for the anxiety he felt now.

Raven was staring at him--or rather their hands intertwined--with a clear level of discomfort. What kind, Beast Boy couldn’t tell.

“You can let go of my hand now,” she said slowly.

Beast Boy flinched, releasing her hand from his own as quickly as he had grabbed it. His knuckles were stiff, flushed by the strain of his grip.

An awkward beat of silence passed between them, broken only when Raven turned to grab something from her pocket.

“What are you doing?” Beast Boy asked, terribly conscious of the slight crack in his voice.

“Calling Robin,” Raven replied, an audible ring echoing from the blood-spotted comms device now resting in her hand.

The two waited for another excruciatingly long moment until the ringing came to an abrupt, unanswered halt.

“I guess he’s busy,” Beast Boy shrugged. But something snagged in his stomach at the thought. Robin probably was very busy. But Beast Boy wasn’t sure he really believed that was why he hadn’t picked up. He took out his own pager anxiously, already flipping through the contacts on the main screen. “Lemme try Cyborg.”

The dial tone cut off after the first ring.

Raven paused for a moment then looked up at him. “I don’t even have a signal.”

Beast Boy looked down at the device in his own hand. Neither did he. “Huh. Well that’s...weird.”

“Yeah,” Raven said, a definitive frown forming on her lips. “And that’s not the only thing that’s a little weird.”

As she spoke, Raven stared down at the pavilion below them, unblinking. She seemed intently focused on...something. But Beast Boy wasn’t entirely sure that it was the fight happening on the ground. A fight that was becoming increasingly hard to follow, even for someone who was trying to keep up with it.

Beast Boy scanned the turf once, then again through the eyes of a hawk, hoping for a better view. Squinting beyond the cloud of dust, he finally was able to hone in on the action--and more importantly, their attackers’ new target.  

The man stood out like a current rolling on a still sea. Rather than trying to dodge the attacks of his pursuers, he danced through the waves with an impossible accuracy, almost as if he were intentionally trying to attract their shots. And he did--like hungry flies to a show horse. Only he never seemed to get bitten. The flies bit themselves. They bit each other. Falling one after the other around him as they continued to follow him further and further away from the center of the pavilion.

Just before the man disappeared into the shadows of the opposite alleyway, Beast Boy finally caught a glimpse of his face amongst the swarming insects--his shiny black hair and toothless grin glistening in the artificial night.

[cloudninetonine]

Follow the light

Prologue

Synopsis: A Genshin Impact/Avatar x fem!reader

A/N: Yeah, so, this is becoming a series (NO I AM NOT ABANDONING MY DBH STORY I AM JUST WRITING FOR MORE)

I don’t Genshin Impact nor Avatar franchise

Warnings: Nothing in this one I believe

“I can help you”

Through the swarm of darkened red and black, you could see him. Face stricken with panic, eyes wide and hand reaching out, out to you, whose vision was slowly fading from the myriad of her blocks, impairing your vision at a frantic pace.

This couldn’t have been right, possibly? She had already taken him, he had disappeared right before you eyes before she had dealt with you. So, what was this?

The voice called out again.

“But first, you must find me, only then, can we truly begin our journey”

He was almost gone, you were almost swallowed by the darkness, but you couldn’t leave him behind, you wouldn’t!

You used all the remaining strength within you to reach out to him, to grab him, to- anything! You didn’t want him to disappear again!

“No! You can’t take him, give him back!”

Your begging fell on deaf ears, only a single crack of light remained, his fear stricken gaze burning right into your soul.

“Please, (Name), find the light, find me, find Raava….”

You couldn’t lose him again!

“Give him back! Give me back my brother!-”

“Aether!”

“Hey, (Name), wake up already!”

The voice was loud. Super loud. A kind of loud that made your ears ring and ground your teeth together, that kind of loud. By the sounds of it, they were obviously right next to your ear, wailing out your name like the world around you was up in flames, burning away at your surroundings in a harrowing chaos.

But within consciousness, came sense and with sense, awareness of one’s surroundings. You knew that there was no fire, it was certainly warm in your space, but it was from the proud sun that leaked in through your window, particularly weak in the early hours of the morning, nevertheless still just as cosy.

“(Name), come on!!!!”

Your body was jolted by a pair of small hands, shaking you back and forth violently, even when you finally popped an eye open, glaring at the figure with an exhausted frustration.

Hair was white, thick and cropped around her face with dark purple eyes that shone in the early light, small, fair body floating just a few inches above you, hands rocking you violently in an effort to have you awake. Furthermore, She was pouting, cheeks puffed out, eyes narrowed- the whole works and she let out a huff when noticing your stare.

“Finally!” The small person cried, poking at your cheek “Do you know how deep you sleep!? Paimon’s pretty sure she woke up everyone else in the temple with her yelling!”

“More like screeching.” You sassed, whisking on a drowsy grin “You sound like a banshee, Pai.”

Paimon gasped in offence “You take that back! Paimon sounds nothing like that!”

“Whatever you say.”

Finally, you heaved yourself out of bed, glancing around your room nonchalantly with Paimon yammering on in an outrage, her arms waving around wildly as she spoke.

Raava. The word echoed in your head, resolute and strong as you went about your morning routine, mind focused only on what it could mean. A name? A place? Some sort of item? You had no clue, couldn’t properly fathom it, not with the little information the voice had been giving you. Who even was the voice? Was it this Raava? Also how were you supposed to find...them? You truly were stumped.

But the picture of Aether, of his wide, panic struck eyes, hand reaching out towards you was tugging at your hope. That promise, the words of “I can help you” tugged at your hope. If they could really help you, if you could finally find your brother, you were gonna pursue this and you were going to find your answers.

“Hey! Are you even listening?!”

“Nope” You responded, tying your belt around your attire.

“(Name)!”

Laughing, you patted down your outfit, then grasped Paimon’s hand gently, tugging her closer to your level. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been preoccupied.”

She tilted her head “Is it because of your dream?”

The shock in her words was probably evident on your face because a second later she continued, her face sympathetic “You called out your brother’s name again.”

Oh.

“Are you okay?” A nod wasn’t enough to satisfy her worry “Are you sure? You can tell Paimon!”

“I know, I know.” Patting her hand, you finally pulled away and headed to the door, her following close behind. 

The Eastern Air Temple was a beautiful place. Standing tall and proud within the center of a archipelago, the temple was a ways off from the mainland of Teyvat, mostly secluded from the rest of the world to allow the Air Nomads to practice their way of life peacefully, away from the noise of the other nations, just like the other Air temples.

You had awoken here after your battle with the Unknown God, dazed and weak, the Air Nomads had taken you in and had practically integrated you into the life of Air. It had been coming up to four years, learning the ways of this world, the language, the culture, until 2 months ago, when you had found Paimon, splashing about off the shore of one of the surrounding islands, close to drowning.

You had fished her out yourself, her introducing herself as a spirit of guidance and you had been friends since.

“Hey, Pai, actually” The two of you had been heading to congregate with the other nuns for morning meditation when you had finally found the courage to turn to your partner, her eyes focused onto you when you both paused “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course!” Her hands rested on her hips “You can ask Paimon anything! Except things she doesn’t know, you’d have to ask someone else about that”

Your laugh made her grin triumphantly.

“Well, I don’t know if this is in your knowledge or not, but, I wanted to ask if you know what...Raava is?”

Paimon’s reaction was instant. Her face overfilled with shock and confusion, blinking owlishly at your slowly tensing figure before finally she was able to speak once again.

“Raava” She started, oddly serious despite her constant giddy nature “Was the spirit of light and peace, she kept the world safe from darkness and chaos”

You hesitated before asking tentatively “Was?”

“She was killed 2 thousand years ago”

The words hit you hard.

Raava was dead? The thing, which you had finally found was a spirit, was dead? And had been for 2 thousand years!? Then what happened now!? What did that dream even mean now!? If Raava was dead how could you possibly find her!?

“Are….are you sure?” At Paimon’s nod, you deflated, falling back into the staircase wall with a sigh “Then...what did the dream mean?”

“Your dream? You said it was about your brother!” She chastised, puffing out her cheeks.

“It was! But some voice kept telling me I needed to find this Raava and I-”

“Wait, wait, wait-” Shaking her hands before her, Paimon leaned closer. She still seemed just as serious as previous, though from the light that was gathering in her eyes, she seemed a little...hopeful, like whatever you would next say were like a present for her that you were hiding behind your back “Your dream said to find Raava?”

“Yes, that’s why I asked-”

“Was there anything else?”

You paused “It mentioned that Raava could possibly help me find Aether”

Silence hung for a few moments, Paimon’s face uncomfortably close to yours as you shared intense eye contact. A few other nuns walked past, watching in intrigue as the exchange went on, but not doing much else before Paimon finally reacted, screaming in delight and dancing around you excitedly, as though you had told her you two were having a ten course meal.

“Finally! Finally!” She cried, hooting loudly “She’s finally returned! She’s finally back!”

“What-” You yelped when she grabbed your hand, dragging you in the direction of the meditation area “Paimon! I thought you said she was dead!?”

“I’ll explain later but we need to tell Nun Tsering the news!”

-----

Nun Tsering was one of the leading nuns of the Eastern Temple. She stood tall amongst the rest with long, beautiful grey hair that was tied in traditional nomad fashion and kind grey eyes that seemed to put every single person she talked to at ease. The woman had taken the role as your teacher and friend, a respectful woman that you had grown to care for during your time within the temple, she even knew about your past, with your brother, with the unknown God, everything.

So, when the two of you had finally arrived for morning meditation, Paimon claiming urgency, she guided you two away from the other nuns for a private chat without needing much else.

“So, what was so urgent, you two?” She mused as you walked in the gardens “You looked as though you had been chased by a swarm of lemurs”

Paimon got to it first, eyes wide with excitement “Raava has returned!”

That stopped Tsering right in her tracks.

Paimon went to continue but you stopped her with a motion of your hand, looking upon your master’s surprised face with lacking confidence. “Paimon is getting ahead of herself, but, I did have a dream about finding her, a voice told me I needed to find Raava, that she could help me find Aether, but...I don’t know…”

Your spirit friend huffed but once again she was stopped, this time by Tsering, who bore an expression of significance. “The voice, did it say anything else?”

“I, uh-” You thought back to the dream, to your brother, to the voice “It mentioned something about a journey but it didn’t specify much other than it being….our journey.”

Her eyes widened.

“Tsering-”

“Follow me.”

Once again, you were taken to an entirely different place within the temple, practically running after Tsering’s rushed steps with Paimon right behind, the two of you sharing a look of confusion until you had finally reached a door, with the pattern of the air surrounded by some weird contraption. The nomad was quick to send a blast of wind into two tubes, a large creak of the wood echoing all around you as it opened, revealing to you a giant room, filled with an abundance of statues, every single one different from the last.

“Woah!” Paimon cried as you entered, flying around to examine each with interest “These are the past Avatars!”

“Avatar? What’s that?” Following Tsering to the center, where the statues began to spiral into the middle, to where a single one that stood, you became more and more confused “Tsering, what’s going on?”

The Nun looked upon the statue with an emotion you couldn’t decipher, brushing away at the statue’s shoulders with a special care before she finally spoke “(Name), many eons ago, before the Archon wars, before the nations- any of the nations, there was a man named Wan.”

Wan….Why did it feel like you knew that name?

“He was the first Avatar.” She explained, “A man held the power of the four elements.”

“...but you told me a person can only bend one element?”

She finally turned to face you “Normal humans can only wield one element, but Wan wasn’t a normal human.”

Within the sanctuary, among the many statues, Tsering told the story of the Avatar. From Wan’s mistake, to his journey with Raava, to fighting and sealing Vaatu and the Avatar cycle. For hours, you sat, listening to your master as she spoke of the tales of the Avatars, all the way up until the Archon Wars, to…

“Avatar Ly was the last Avatar.” Looking up at the statue from your spots on the floor, Tsering bowed her head in respect “She was born into the violence of the Archon War and pledge to the people that she would be the one to stop this conflict once and for all.”

“Let me guess” You started, feeling your heart squeeze painfully “She died while in the Avatar state.”

The nun nodded solemnly “She was killed in a battle between Morax and Osial. She had to sacrifice herself in order to protect Liyue, but she could only use the power of the Avatar state to do so and it resulted in the death of Ly, Raava and the end of the Avatar cycle. It was said that Morax was burdened with much guilt over her death and erected a statue in her honour on Mt. Tianheng so that Liyue would forever know their saviour”

You took everything in with a breath, absorbing the information when Paimon finally cut in, her silence through this entire predicament a weird contrast to her usual self. “But, what does the Avatar have to do this?”

Actually, you had been wondering this as well, though kept silent during Tsering’s explanation, waiting for her to explain.

Her face was unwavering “I believe that Raava has chosen (Name) to be the next Avatar”

Your expression was comical, a mix of unbelieving and confused, trying to comprehend her words while Paimon openly gawked, shaking her arms and flying around like a headless chicken, babbling.

“But that’s crazy! (Name)’s not even from this world, forget about being a bender! Why would she pick (Name) to be the new Avatar!?”

You huffed “Thanks Paimon.”

“You’re welcome!”

“I know it’s hard to understand.” Tsering sent you a sympathetic smile “But it would make sense as to why Raava would reveal herself to you.”

“Reveal herself? But I haven’t even met her yet!” You cried incredulously.

“But (Name), you have. Who else would have spoken to you within your dream?”

She did have a point.

You cast your head downwards.

“I know this sounds rude but...I don’t want to be the Avatar, I don’t have time for a responsibility like that. I have to find my brother, I need to find this Unknown God too, I can’t just…”

You hated how the words came out, how it all sounded, but it was the truth. You didn’t want this power, you didn’t want that responsibility, you were already starting your own journey, now healed from your battle and understanding this world, you were soon to be on your way to find your brother and get your own power back.

Why did Raava pick you?

A warm hand was placed upon your shoulder and you looked up at the nun, uncertain.

“I know you are afraid, (Name), I can sense it from you, but you mustn’t” Her other hand came to rest on your cheek, wiping away the small tears that had gathered in your eyes “Raava is a kind spirit, if she has chosen you then there must be a good reason, you just have to ask.”

“But how?”

The nun smiled, leaning back to take a meditating stance. You followed.

“Close your eyes, focus and clear you mind.” Her voice was smooth and kind “If Raava was able to speak to you within your dream, it means that she is already with you, you just have to find her.”

“That….doesn’t really make sense.”

Her chuckle made you smile “It will, now focus.”

The sanctuary was very quiet, the only sound produced from the room was from the wind that flew in from down the hall, soft, almost inaudible, but you could hear it’s silent howl through the room, feel it surround the three of you as you meditated, feeling it’s calming effect wash over you.

Everything around you seemed to fade as time went on, the feeling of Tsering and Paimon disappeared entirely, the blow of the wind no longer cooled your skin, nor did it’s voice caress your ears, no, everything felt like...nothing and with that, you opened your eyes, only to be greeted with what you had sensed, nothing.

“Huh?” You span around, breaking your position to search for you friends in a panic, anxiety growing within the pit of your stomach “Hello!? Tsering!? Paimon!? Anybody!?”

No, no, you didn’t want to be alone. You couldn’t be alone. Someone had always been with you for so long, there was always a presence beside you, but no there wasn’t and you felt helpless, scared, desperate, a hopeless flurry of emotions.

You didn’t want to be abandoned again.

“They have not abandoned you, (Name).” 

That voice.

“And you are not alone.”

Her voice.

Your span back around, watching as a lightly slowly approached you, bright and calming.

“I am here with you.”

“Raava.” You breathed, unconsciously cupping out your hands towards her, letting her settle into your hold as you brought her closer to you almost protectively “You’re Raava.”

“Yes.”

Managing a small smile, you laughed “You’re smaller than I imagined.”

Her laugh surrounded you, warm, loving, bright and...peaceful. The spirit was different that you imagined, she felt like...a light within the darkness, pun not intended, but she felt as though she was a way out, like she was here to save you from your own unintentional prison, from your despair. She made you feel...safer, not entirely safe, but most definitely safer.

“(Name), I first want to thank you.” You furrowed your brows “Your spirit, it’s divinity, you were able to bring me back from death. I have returned because of you.”

“But I lost my power?”

“Before your power was lost, when you had visited our world, your’s and your brother’s power had brought forth enough light to save me. It would have taken another 8 thousand years for me to return, so for that, you have my thanks.”

The words lightened your entire being, bringing forth a teary eyed smile. You knew for sure, had Aether been here, he would have been the one in tears, he was soft like that, gratitude filled him with such a happiness that always seemed to rub off onto you too.

You missed your brother so much.

“But, I still require your help.” The spirit flew from your hands, reaching your eye level “I still do not have my full power, there had not been enough time after death to return me to my former self and I need your help.”

“What, how?”

Images flashed in your mind, statues, multiple states, all with a different figure carved into it’s pinnacle. “The statues hold the power of the Archons within them, if we were to find them, I would be able to use a fragment of their power to restore my own strength. So, will you help me once more, (Name)?”

It wasn’t a difficult question, but it did lead to a difficult answer. You wanted to help her, you wanted to help restore her former glory, but you already had your own mission, you had to find your brother, you wanted to find your brother and you couldn’t do that if your time was invested in helping Raava.

However, thinking back to your dream, you remembered her words, her promise.

“Raava, you said before, in my dream, that you could help me find my brother, is that true?”

“It is.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

“(Name), in return for saving my life, for bringing me back, I want to repay you and if that is to help find your brother, then that is what I will do.” She seemed to shine brighter, the light filling the area, reflecting off your eyes. “Merge with me, (Name), help me restore my strength and we will find your brother, together.”

You gasped, leaning you hand out once again only to stop short “If we merge, I’ll become the next Avatar, won’t I?”

“That is correct.”

“But I can’t even bend.”

“The power of the elements still resides within me.” She replied “It is weak, but it will be enough. Once I am back to my full strength, you will have the power of a true Avatar.”

That was all you needed. Finally, your hand made contact with the spirit, her light growing along with yourself until the void had vanished, leaving a blinding shine throughout the space.

Tsering and Paimon watched as your eyes finally snapped open, glowing a brilliant white that echoed through the room before they faded, staring at the two before you with a giddy grin.

Paimon cheered while your master smiled, her hand returning to your shoulder 

“Welcome back, Avatar.”

[dwellordream]

“…Both Vergil and Livy begin by putting down Homeric roots and anchoring their stories in the Trojan War. That makes a good deal of sense from a mythic perspective: the Iliad and the Odyssey were the most illustrious legends of the Hellenic world and so it made sense for the Romans, looking to claim a place in the Mediterranean, to make that claim through connection to this most illustrious of tales… And so both Vergil and Livy begin their story with Aeneas and his plucky band of Trojan refugees, fleeing the fall of Troy (though interesting, while Vergil tells the tale as a harrowing escape, Livy politely suggests that perhaps Homer’s Achaeans let Aeneas go, Liv. 1.1).

Aeneas (son of Aphrodite/Venus and a mortal man, Anchises) does appear, by the by, in the Iliad, though he isn’t a particularly notable or impressive hero (naturally Vergil will embroider Aeneas until he is presented as the equal of an Achilles or Odysseus because…well, wouldn’t you?). The Aeneid follows (with the aid of a major flashback) Aeneas as he shepherds his surviving Trojans from Troy to their prophesied new homeland in Italy (with a minor stopover in Carthage) and then covers also the war that breaks out between Aeneas’ Trojans and the local inhabitants (the Latins) when he arrives. Vergil cuts off at the climactic moment of the war (which in turn presents Aeneas as rather morally grey, a feature that is also present, as we’ll see, in Livy’s retelling of Rome’s legends), but Livy provides the denouement.

After a period of conflict (Livy presents two different versions of the exact sequence), Aeneas ends up married to Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus, king of the Latins (Livy calls them the Aborigines – lit, ‘the native inhabitants,’ Vergil the Latins; in both cases Latinus is their king) and the Trojan exiles and Latinus’ people form a single community at Lavinium, which in turn founds a colony at Alba Longa, both in Latium (the region of Italy in which Rome is, although note we haven’t founded Rome yet).

We then fast forward a few generations. Rhea Silvia, a priestess of Vesta at Alba Longa gives birth to twins, Romulus and Remus by (Livy expresses some doubt) the god Mars. The twins are exposed (for complicated royal-family-drama reasons we needn’t get into) and rescued by either a she-wolf or a woman of ill-repute (Livy isn’t sure which on account of Latin lupa having both meanings and clearly both legends existed, Liv. 1.4) and raised among shepherds in the hills of northern Latium. More politics ensues, Romulus and Remus, having grown to adulthood, right some wrongs in their home city of Alba Longa and set out to found their own city.

At which point Romulus promptly gets into a fight with and murders Remus over who is going to be in charge (this sort of intense moral ambiguity where the venerated legendary founder figures are also quick to violence and deeply flawed is also a feature of the Aeneid and can be read either as a commentary on Augustus or as some lingering Roman discomfort with their own recent history of civil wars running from 88 to 31 BC; we are not the first people in history to have very mixed feelings about how well people in our country’s past lived up to our ideals).

Crucially, Romulus forms his new settlement (prior to the fratricide) out of – as Livy has it – “the excess multitudes of the Albans and Latins, to which were added the shepherds” (Liv. 1.6.3). After this, desiring to increase the population of the city, Romulus sets a place of refuge in the city so that “a crowd of people from neighboring places, altogether without distinction, free and slave, fled there eager for new things” (Liv. 1.8.6) and were incorporated into Romulus’ growing city. Livy approves of this, by the by, declaring it the first step towards rising greatness.

Romulus quickly has another problem because all of these new settlers were men, so he concocts a plot to carry off all of the unmarried women of the neighboring people, the Sabines – an Umbrian people (we’ll come back to this, for now we’ll note they are ethnically and linguistically distinct from the Latins) – who lived in the hills north of Rome under the guise of a religious ceremony (Liv. 1.9-13). At a festival where the Sabines had been lured to under false pretenses, the Romans abduct and forcibly marry the Sabine women, while using hidden weapons to chase away their families (I should note Livy goes to some length to assure the reader that the captured maidens were subsequently persuaded to marry their Roman captors, rather than forced (Liv. 1.9.14-16), though what choice he imagines the unarmed, captive women to have had is left for the reader to wonder at in vain; in any event, we need not share Livy’s judgement or his effort at patriotic euphemism and may simply note that bride-capture is a form of rape).

The Sabines naturally go to war over this but (according to Livy) a peace is mediated by the captured women (according to Livy, unwilling to see their new husbands and old fathers kill each other) and the two communities instead merge on equal terms. In the midst of all of this, Livy does have Romulus set down a set of common customs for his people, which he thinks to have been mostly Etruscan (Liv. 1.8.3), the Etruscans being the people inhabiting Etruria (modern Tuscany) the region directly north of Rome (Rome sits, in essence, on the dividing line between Latium to the South and Etruria to the North).

Now we want to note two things here from this high-speed trip through the first few chapters of Livy. First is the deep ambivalence towards Roman violence here. Livy presents Rome as a city founded on fratricide, conquest, rape and sacrilege. Livy occasionally attempts to soften the impact of these legends (particular with the Sabines), but only so far. This isn’t really the place to unpack of all of that but suffice to say that I think that Livy’s willingness to open his history of Rome – practically an official history of Rome – so darkly speaks to a literary project still attempting to come to grips with the stunning civil violence which had gripped Rome for Livy’s entire adult life and had, as he wrote, only recently ended. And one day we also ought to come back and do a deeper look at how women function in Livy’s legends and histories (Livy’s account becomes much more properly historical as he gets closer to his own time); women, mostly Roman women, suffering (often sexual) violence so that in their sacrifice the Roman state might be enhanced is a repeated motif in Livy (e.g. Lucretia, Verginia).

But more directly to our topic today, I want to note at this point exactly the sort of society Livy is imagining the earliest Rome, under its first king Romulus, in particular that it consists of a lot of different peoples and heritages. We’ll come back to exactly who all of these peoples are (historically speaking) in a moment. But Livy and Vergil first create a Trojan-Latin fusion community, which produces both Romulus and Remus and their initial core of settlers (mixed in with other, apparently purely Latin communities), who then gather up shepherds from all around, and then invite literally anyone from nearby communities to join them (which must include Etruscan communities to the north as well as Umbrians and Falisci of various sorts from the hills) and then finally fuses that community with the Sabines (an Umbrian people).

So we have our very first Romans, as the first Senate is being set up (1.8.7) and the very first spolia opima – the prize for when one commander defeats his opposite number in single combat – being won (1.10.7) and the very first temple being founded in the city (1.10.7). And those very first Romans, as Livy imagines them, are not autochthonous (that is, the original inhabitants of the place they live), nor ethnically homogeneous, but rather a Trojan-Aborigines-Latin-Faliscian-Umbrian-Etruscan-Sabine fusion community. For Livy, diversity – ethnic, linguistic, religious – defines Rome, from its very first days.”

- Bret Devereaux, “The Queen’s Latin or Who Were the Romans? Part I: Beginnings and Legends.”