#squirrels everywhere but she never sees them

[stinkywrinkles]

Early morning adventuring at the park!

[milkweedman]

I ended up needing to decant the exhaust dye when I put the next 2 ounces/56 grams in, which I still have not added back in, and the new fleece is already dark with color. I'm going to let it cook overnight regardless just because I think it's good practice but wow, buckthorn berries are crazy potent for a natural dye. This was like one scant double handful (I didn't weigh them RIP) of dried berries and I'd be surprised if I got less than 6 ounces (130 grams) of dyed wool out of it.

[marvelfanfn2187a113]

Protector

Requested by @captaincvans

Dean Winchester x little sister!reader, a little bit of Sam Winchester x little sister!reader

Synopsis: your big brother Dean has always been your protector

It started when you were four years old. Dean answered one of John’s phones, and was shocked to hear your tiny voice on the other end.

“Who is this? How did you get this number?”

“My mommy,” you were sobbing into the phone, and Dean’s heartbeat picked up. Had someone hurt the little girl on the other end? “My mommy said to call if-if bad things happened. She said it was my daddy’s number.”

To say Dean was shocked would be the understatement of the century, but he forced himself to remain calm, if only for the little girl who clearly needed help. John had gone out on a job, and Sam had walked to a nearby store to grab some supplies.

“Ok, well where’s your mommy?”

“The monster…he-he…” you broke down into sobs, and Dean didn’t need to hear anything else.

Dean was usually used to waiting for John’s orders before doing just about anything, but somehow now he knew just what to do. Every instinct inside him screamed to help you from the moment he heard your voice.

He didn’t know then, but that instinct would follow him for the rest of his life.

…

Dean’s relationship with you was different than his with Sam. Dean had practically raised Sam, but he literally raised you. The older the boys got, the more John left them for hunts. And there was the age difference; he was only four years older than Sam, but Dean had already grown up and started hunting by the time you came into his life. And after John died, the two of you became closer than ever, and he took on his role as caretaker even more seriously.

So, needless to say, hunting wasn’t in the cards for you. Of course Dean taught you how to defend yourself, but he knew that once you started hunting, you’d be stuck in that life forever, and that wasn’t a choice he was going to let you make as a teenager.

A part of you always wanted to fight him on it, not because you thought you’d love hunting, but because your big brothers risked their lives on an almost-daily basis, and you wanted to be there to help them. However, it didn’t take long for you to realize that being on a hunt would just put them in more danger; Dean would be so worried about you that he wouldn’t keep his head on straight. You weren’t going to be the reason he got distracted and killed on a hunt.

So you stayed behind.

But that didn’t mean that you were always safe.

…

“Crowley I swear, if you touch one hair on her head-“

“Let me guess, they’ll never find the body?”

“Oh no, they will,” Dean’s fists were clenched so hard, his palms were going numb. “They’ll find it, and they’ll keep finding it. Little bits, everywhere, maybe I’ll even drop you in a couple of different states. I’ll cut you up nice and slow, it’ll take weeks before you’re dead, and that’s if I’m feeling generous enough to let you die at all.”

“My my my, someone is very protective about his little pet. However, your mummy should’ve taught you some manners, because you see…” Dean flinched when he heard your screams over the phone. “I don’t like to be threatened, squirrel.”

“Ok, ok!” Dean relented. Your screams stopped.

“Good. Now, here’s my ultimatum,” Crowley’s voice rose in anger, “If you ever want to see this little runt again, the first thing you’re gonna do, is drop the attitude, and show some respect!” Crowley cleared his throat, and returned to his easygoing, neutral tone. “After all, I am the king of hell. And then, after that, you’re going to stop meddling in my affairs. That’s not so bad, is it?”

Dean was about to throw out a snarky response when your voice broke in.

“Don’t listen to him, Dean. He’s just a liar, he’ll betray y-“ your desperate, frightened voice cut off with a high-pitched scream, and Dean could swear he heard Crowley laughing.

“Now now, darling, that’s not very nice. Name-calling is for children. Oh that’s right,” Crowley’s laughter started up again. “You are a child.”

“Stop it!” Not seeing what was going on was driving Dean insane. He could only imagine what Crowley was doing to you. “Alright, Crowley, you get what you want. Just let her go!”

The screaming stopped again.

“Now, that’s sweet, Dean. But I’m afraid I don’t exactly trust your word. So, I’m going have to keep your little rugrat here for a little longer, just to make sure you make good on your promise. Deal?”

“No no no, Crowley you can’t just-“

“I think we’re done here.”

The click that followed might as well have been an atomic bomb.

…

“We got a location.”

Dean had never jumped up that fast in his entire life.

“Finally, let’s go.”

“Dean, hold on,” Sam placed his hand out, stopping Dean in his tracks. “We don’t know how many demons are guarding it.”

“You know what, Sam? I don’t really care. There could be a thousand demons in there for all I care. She’s in there, so I’m going.” Dean brushed past Sam, who reluctantly followed him into the Impala.

“I’m just saying, it would be nice to have a plan.”

“I have a plan.” Dean peeled out of the driveway and sped along the road.

“The plan is get her back.”

…

You heard them before you saw them. It would be impossible not to; the screaming of demons and the thud as bodies hit the floor wasn’t exactly quiet.

However, when the door burst open, it wasn’t your brothers who came in.

Crowley rushed toward you, his hand outstretched to grab you and teleport you with him. A split second before his hand reached your shoulder, the demon blade whizzed past his ear and struck his arm, throwing him off balance and onto the floor. Before he could get back up, Dean was on him, not even bothering with the knife as he pounded on Crowley’s face. Sam rushed in after him, grabbing Dean by the shoulder and pulling him off.

“That’s enough, Dean! Just use the kni-“

Before either brother could move towards the demon blade, Crowley had disappeared.

“No!” Dean slammed his fist against the wall, and was about to do it again when he heard it.

“Dean?”

Never, not even when you were little, had Dean ever heard you sound so small; so fragile. He turned, his gaze instantly softening, his fists relaxing as he rushed to your side. He quickly untied the ropes holding you to a metal chair, and as soon as you were free you collapsed into his waiting arms.

“You’re ok,” Dean’s eyes stung as he gripped you tightly to him. “You’re safe now, I’m here.”

“Is she ok?” Sam stepped up behind Dean, and Dean reluctantly pulled away to check you for injuries.

There was a gash along your cheek, and he saw several cuts on your arms and legs, but what really worried him was the blood covering the front of your shirt.

“Baby, can you…” Dean touched the pool of blood dripping down your stomach. You lifted your shirt a few inches, and he saw a deep cut running along your ribs. Blood was still gushing freely from the cut, and Dean quickly removed his top layer of flannel, pressing it against the wound.

Sam flinched when you cried out, and Dean winced.

“I know, I know it hurts honey. I need you to hold it there, though.” You took the shirt from him and he nodded, “Yeah, good, press it tight.” He glanced around one more time to be sure no demons were coming, before he scooped you into his arms. You cried out again when he jostled you, and he tried to ignore you as he turned to Sam.

“You gotta watch my back, I’ve got her, but I don’t know if there are any more demons still here.”

Sam nodded, taking the demon blade.

“Alright, I’ll drive.”

…

“Do we need to take her to a hospital?” Sam glanced to the back of the Impala, where your head was resting in Dean’s lap as he held his shirt against your cut.

“I’m ok,” your voice was quiet, almost sleepy.

“We should take her in,” Dean insisted.

“It doesn’t look like she’s lost that much blood,” Sam hesitantly argued.

“Dean, I’m ok,” you turned your gaze from your injury to your big brother. “Really, just stitch me up. I’ll be fine.”

Dean relented hesitantly, mostly because he didn’t put it past Crowley to try to alert local authorities to all the bodies he’d left in his wake saving you. The last thing you needed was to be stuck in a hospital while Sam and Dean got arrested.

“Alright, ok. But you gotta stay awake, understand?”

You were silent for a few seconds, and when your voice lifted he could hear the tears you were trying to hold back.

“He wouldn’t let me sleep.”

Dean felt the white-hot anger rising in him, but he forced it down.

“You…but you were gone for three days.”

“I know. But ev-every time I tried to sleep…” you picked at one of the cuts, and Dean got the picture. He glanced up to see Sam gripping the steering wheel with all his might, his knuckles turning snow-white.

“I’m sorry,” Dean’s soft voice was only beat by the softness in his eyes as he looked down at you. “I’m so sorry. But you gotta stay awake just a little bit longer, I’m sorry.”

You knew he wasn’t just apologizing for that.

“Dean, it’s not your fault.”

He turned to look out the window, and you knew he didn’t believe you.

“Dean,” you tried to raise your voice, but it just sent you into a fit of coughing. His head whipped back to look at you, and he squeezed his hand under your head, lifting you up a little so you could breathe.

“Honey, don’t talk, don’t talk. You’re ok, just breathe.”

“Dean,” you took a deep breath, “Dean it’s not. It’s not your fault-“

“Shh, shh,” he insisted, eyes flitting nervously over your face. “Kiddo please, don’t talk.”

“Then say it.”

Dean sighed, and you knew he wouldn’t mean it, but you wanted him to say it anyway.

“It wasn’t my fault.”

…

“I’m sorry,” Dean winced when you sucked in a breath, trying desperately to stay still as he sewed you up.

“I’m ok,” you insisted.

“Ok, I’m done,” Dean tied off the last stitch, and you hesitantly stood and headed to your bathroom to shower off the blood that was all but covering you.

Dean sat on your bed while you were gone, staring down at the blood on his hands, disgusted but somehow unable to get up to wash it off.

He stayed there until you returned, a clean shirt and your pajama pants on. You stepped up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He glanced up, opening his mouth to speak before closing it again. You tugged on his arm without speaking, and he followed you mechanically as you pulled him into your bathroom.

You turned on the sink water and guided his hands under the flow, rubbing his hands until they were clean and your blood was running down the drain. You handed him a soft towel, and he slowly dried his hands.

The two of you stood there in silence, unsure of whether to move or not. Then suddenly, the two of you moved in sync. He opened his arms just as you moved towards him, and he wrapped you into his arms. One of his hands cradled the back of your head, while the other rested on the small of your back. You felt his chin rest on the top of your head, his arms tightening around you.

“I’m so sorry,” he choked.

You wanted to tell him it wasn’t his fault, but you knew that you could scream it til doomsday and Dean still wouldn’t believe it. So instead you said what he needed to hear.

“I’m ok.”

…

You weren’t the only one who hadn’t been able to sleep during your captivity, and you knew it. Dean looked horrible, his eyes dark and his hair greasy and sticking out in strange angles. You didn’t think you could convince him to eat or shower, not yet at least. He hadn’t left your side in the hour since you got back, and you figured he would want to watch over you while you slept.

So, if you couldn’t make him eat, you figured you at least knew a way to make him sleep.

You let him tuck you into your bed before grabbing onto his arm as he turned to go.

“Stay with me,” you insisted. He nodded and reached to grab a chair.

“No, with me,” you lifted a corner of the blanket. Dean didn’t speak, he just climbed in next to you and let you lean against his arm.

After a few minutes, Dean’s breathing evened out and you smiled.

He was your protector, always.

But maybe there was some ways that you could save him, too.

[novastarrs]

I Can Explain|| Clarisse La Rue

Paring: Clarisse La Rue x Demeter’s Daughter Reader

Summary: You find a bear cub while walking in the woods and bring him back to your cabin.

REQUEST ARE OPEN

——

Nature has always been your favorite thing in the world. No matter if it was plants or animals, you were attracted to it and they were attracted to you. When you were six your father walked down stairs after hearing rustling in the kitchen, assuming it was just you trying to get a snack.

Imagine his surprise when he found raccoons in the kitchen with you petting them like they were dogs. As you got older it made more sense on why you loved nature because your mother was Demeter meaning animals adored you to death and your couldn’t say no to them.

This is the reason you found yourself in a sticky situation.

While walking in the woods you ran into a baby bear and couldn’t find its mother and you couldn’t just leave the little guy so you know what you did?

You scooped him up and ran to your cabin, how did no one notice a little fuzzy bear in your arms? You had no clue but you weren’t complaining.

Once you reached your cabin you locked the door and when your girlfriend tried to open it, you panicked.

You knew for a fact Clarisse wasn’t going to rat you out to Chiron or Mr. D because she loved you way too much for that but she’s already given you a talk about taking in animals after the flying squirrel incident.

Naturally you did what felt like the best solution…you threw a blanket over your new friend and ran out the door and quickly closed it before Clarisse could see inside and your temporary roommate.

A surprised look formed on her face but as quickly as it appeared it was gone as she smiled at you. Not a cocky smirk like she normally gave people to keep up her bad girl persona but a real smile that was reserved only for you.

“Hey, buttercup.” She said walking over to you and pressing a quick kiss on your lips, looking at you with so much adoration that you basically melted.

She never failed to make you feel shy under her gaze.

“Hi.” You said shyly, leaning your back against the door and holding onto the handle tightly.

Clarisse was the daughter of Ares and the children of said man noticed everything and she definitely noticed the nervous look on your face and the way you were gripping the door knob.

“Are you ok?” Clarisse asked crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow and you had to stop yourself from looking at the way her muscles flexed as she moved.

“Yeah, I’m great!” You said immediately, looking at her with big doe eyes and an awkward smile.

She knew you were lying but she didn’t push you for answers, knowing you would come to her when you were ready to her what’s on your mind.

“Anyways can I come in? I want to tell you about the new kid.” Clarisse tried to reach behind you to open the door but you shook your head.

“NO!” You shouted surprising both of you since you never raised your voice, clearing your throat you continued. “Uhm, my cabin is super messy. Let’s go to your cabin instead.”

Without waiting for her to respond you tried to usher her down the steps of the balcony when a crash came from inside your cabin and Clarisse didn’t miss the way you tensed up or how you avoided looking her in the eye.

“(Y/N), who’s in your cabin?” She slowly asked, grip tightening around her spear that she carried everywhere and you had to stop yourself from snorting at the accusation it was a person.

“No one.” You replied just as another crash came from the room.

Technically you weren’t lying, a person wasn’t in your cabin but an animal most definitely was.

Rolling her eyes, Clarisse moved you aside gently and barged into the room. Her spear glowing with electricity ready to fry the person her girlfriend was trying to hide.

You quickly followed her and your jaw dropped at the sight of your decapitated stuffed animal that was in the jaw’s of your new friend who was currently messing with the stuffing that was carelessly floating in the air and covering the floor.

Clarisse just stared at the sight in front of her for a moment before she slowly turned her head and raised an eyebrow at you but you just smiled.

“I can explain…”

[thisapplepielife]

Written for the @steddiemicrofic June challenge.

Packrat

June Prompt: Stuff | Word Count: 483 | Rating: T | CW: Language | Tags: Established Long-Term Relationship, Moving, One of Them is a Packrat, And It Isn't Steve

"How'd we end up with this much stuff, Jesus Christ!?" Eddie shouts from the other room, sounding exasperated. And he's not wrong. For living in such a small apartment, they've sure gathered up a lot of shit that they are now having to pack.

Steve doesn't dare tell Eddie it's him. That he's the goddamn packrat around here, so he says nothing, continuing to wrap the dozens of mismatched fast food glasses with cartoon characters splashed on the exterior, in sheets of newspaper. 

Eddie saves, collects, everything.

Glasses, Happy Meal toys, and honestly, why is this grown man ordering Happy Meals? Steve is unsure, but he's got proof by way of a drawerful of toys, mixed in with the takeout packets of ketchup, and for some godforsaken reason, the twist ties off sandwich bread. Like, hundreds upon hundreds, all snarled together in their junk drawer. 

Stuff, everywhere. 

Steve gets it, he thinks. It's from the way Eddie grew up, wanting, needing, saving scraps for a rainy day. Steve never had to do that, and doesn't hang onto things he isn't absolutely sure he'll need again. 

Do they need forty-seven empty butter containers? Steve's pretty sure the answer is no. His mom gave them a huge set of Tupperware that she definitely had no need for herself, because she doesn't cook, but that she bought at some home party to impress her friends.

But Eddie deemed the Tupperware to be too nice to use everyday, so now it's squirreled away, and they're stuck reaching in the fridge, playing the 'is this really the butter?' game.

Now. Here they are. 

Steve's packed butter containers and Cool Whip containers, and a few empty pickle jars, putting them into boxes, when he's pretty sure they should have just gone straight into the trash.

But, he's been in Wayne's house. Wayne's kitchen. And well, Eddie didn't suck this out of his thumb. He learned it from the man with a wall full of caps and mugs. 

And since Steve loves them both, more than anything, he'll pack up these things that should have been long thrown away, and cart them over to their first home. 

Eddie comes waltzing into the room, Steve's nailbat pinched between two fingers. He must have made it to the back of the closet, then.

"Do we really need to keep this?" Eddie asks, holding it up, like it's offending him.

Steve wants to grab two fistfuls of bread ties, and ask him the same goddamn question.

Instead, Steve just says, "Yes, we need to keep that. Just in case."

"I mean, it's been eight years," Eddie wheedles. 

"I feel better knowing it's there," Steve says, and that's the god's honest truth. He does. He sleeps better knowing it's waiting, just in case.

Eddie shrugs, but has the audacity to say, "Okay. It's just a lot of stuff."

Steve won't kill him.

Probably. Maybe. 

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddiemicrofic and follow along with the fun! ❤️

[lostinforestbound]

Absolutely no one asked for this but I really needed to get these out of my system, so today I present to all of you, my:

General Lia and Cal Headcannons

Please please please share if you have random headcannons about these two! I would love to hear them! I also may make a Part 2 to this because I think about them a lot.

Lia

Lia is a very sappy drunk. When she drinks too much she'll be very emotional and teary eyed. She'll actively tell Cal and Rolan how much she loves them. Cal is very used to it, but it throws Rolan off every time.

She absolutely loves animals! If Tav doesn't beat her to it, she would absolutely take every stray cat in Baldur's Gate and keep them, much to Rolan's dismay. If he put his foot down about them not staying in the tower, she would at least go out and feed them when she has time.

When she was very young, despite odds of her losing, she would've absolutely stood up for both Rolan and Cal when they got bullied. Not just standing up for them, she would genuinely beat the shit out of anyone who dared to hurt them.

Their mother would chastise her for it at first, but eventually, she would've taught little Lia how to properly defend herself in case it happened again. She would also tell her how proud she is.

In their dynamic, Lia usually is hunting or foraging food for them if they run out on the road. She's fantastic with a bow, so she successfully hunts down rabbits, squirrels, and pick up safe berries. She has a little booklet with her that tells her which are poisonous or not.

I think she would be genuinely fascinated by druids, but the Grove incident would've put a very sour taste in her mouth. She'll probably revisit the topic in the future, but definitely not soon.

She loves doing arts and crafts of sorts! It absolutely her favorite past time outside of training or shooting her bow, such as shaping clay or building small trinkets out of wood. She also really likes puzzles, and would spend some quiet time by herself solving them no matter how long it takes her.

Lia can be forgetful of dates. She often forgets Rolan's birthday, Cal's, and sometimes even her own. The only date she remembers clearly is the day of their mom's death. When it happened it destroyed her, same with Cal. Rolan helped picked up the pieces, and she didn't realize until much later he didn't even get the chance to grieve properly.

She doesn't like fighting with Rolan, she really doesn't, but sometimes she feels as though he lacks empathy. That he should care about other people more, not just themselves. This has caused the start of many fights, much to Cal's misery. Sometimes she would go as far as calling him selfish.

She won't admit it out loud except when drunk, but she's inspired by Rolan. Not as much as Cal maybe, but his ambition and seeing his determination left a huge impression on her. It's partially why she's still so headstrong.

Cal

Cal is a talented cook! When he was old enough to do so, he took over Rolan's kitchen role when they were still young. While many mishaps happened in the kitchen due to some clumsiness, he made fantastic dishes with what they had. They didn't look pretty, but tasted amazing.

Cal, without fail, always remembers Rolan's birthday. Rolan has mentioned the date once in passing, and he never forgot it. He always gets a gift for him, whether something he bought with his own money or something handmade.

Their mother was usually the one who got Rolan gifts, including a small cake. After she passed away, he was determined to still get Rolan something. Anything.

That is the first time Cal ever baked a cake. It was an absolute mess; flour everywhere, some batter on the ground, and some icing on his face. The cake, in all honesty, looked awful. But Rolan insists it was the best cake Cal has ever made for him. Rolan cried later that night because he's never felt so appreciated.

He had no money as he was too young, so this would also be the first time he's ever stolen something. There was an higher class noble talking down to a commoner one day, so he took the opportunity and snatched one of the books in their stack when they weren't looking. That was Rolan's first ever magic book; he still has it with him always.

As their mother was a seamstress, Cal also picked up sewing. His other job within their sibling dynamic is clothing repairs, but mostly for himself and Lia. Rolan insists he can fix his robe by himself with a simple mending spell.

Cal is a very giggly drunk, though I don't believe he drinks that often in the first place. Only on special occasions such as the Tiefling party. If he drinks a little too much, he'll get real sleepy and end up passing out somewhere quiet.

When he was younger, any time he would cry after having a nightmare, he would go straight to Rolan. His big brother always held him close and put on a light show, no matter the time of night. Sometimes he goes to him and lies about the nightmare, just to see the magic show. It helps him go to sleep.

Cal looks up to Rolan more than Lia, though he loves Lia just as much. He sees Rolan as an inspiration, even when he can't do magic himself. He never fails to remind him that he's family and that he'll always love him.

I don't believe Cal is a crybaby, but he's definitely more prone to crying than the other two. He feels his emotions very strongly and aggressively. He's not afraid of crying either, he thinks it's very healthy to let yourself weep once in a while, even if there's no good reason for it. He honestly wishes Lia and Rolan would cry more; maybe then they won't explode at each other so often.

[d0g0r0t]

Hello

Can I please ask for some fluff with Toby pls 🙈

Toby fluff hcs!

Got me kicking me feet and shit

Before you guys started dating he didn't know he had a crush on you until Tim told him

Toby: she's cool and strong and pretty and-

Tim: so you have a crush on her?

Toby: what

Tim: you literally just expressed to me you have a crush on her..

Toby:... no I didnt..

Tim: yes the fuck you did

Toby:.... nuh uh...

Yea....

But when it finally clicked to him he had a crush on you he couldn't get the thought of you out of his head

He would draw you along with your name on literally everything, his hand, walls, floors, tables, paper. If it can be drawed on he'll do it

He saw you in everything and it actually started to effect his performance on missions and overall life

That tree over there? Sees your face. The sky? Sees your eyes. The grass? Sees your hair. The dirt? Sees your skin. Everywhere he goes he always sees you and he always becomes a hot mess

Everything your around he always gets super quiet and anxious and his face is very clearly red, his heads down and he always fiddles with his fingers and sleeve trying his best to make himself look small.

EVERY SINGLE TIME you talk to him his stutters and tics get super bad and it makes him frustrated cause he feels like you'll be weirded out. But when you don't care he can't help but feel butterflies in his stomach.

He's always staring at you when your around. He doesn't really realize that you guys are making eye contact and that you caught him.

When he finally got the courage to ask you out and you said yes. All he said was "Ok" and walked away. The moment he was alone he was jumping up and down, kicking his feet, screaming into his pillow and overall fan girling over you and the fact you guys were dating

The first few days were so awkward

Everytime you were near he would glance over and smile at you and give you small very awkward compliments "you look very pretty today... well I mean you look pretty everyday!" "You remind me of a jelly fish.. fuck wait that sounds so weird.."

He gives you little gifts. Probably stole them

He BEGS all the girls in the mansion for advice on how to be atleast a decant boyfriend

LIGHT NIGHT CAMPFIRES. Will take you by the hand and hold you close making sure your safe and he doesn't lose you in the dark and starts a nice warm fire for just the two of you as you guys eat snacks and do silly couple things

He gets really off track and will start following random squirrels and will be really sad when it runs up and hides in a tree. "Awe man the squirrel ran away :("

He's a human dog.. that's it he's an actual dog stuck in a humans body

He follows you around LIKE A DOG.

everytime you speak to him he always gets really happy and he stims and gets all giddy

He gets even more happy when you guys get physical. He's never really had any good physical interactions so the first time you were gentle with him he started to cry because you were so nice

Doesn't really understand boundaries. He's always on you one way or another and doesn't think about you personally, your just in his arms and that's all that matters

But when you tell him the boundaries he broke he'll get really sappy and upset with himself and won't shut up about how sorry he is

Back to him being an actual dog he growls when people get to close to you ad he holds you tightly in his arms with his head on top of yours. "Mine >:("

HELP I HAVE SO MANY MORE HCS I JUST DONT WANT THIS TO BE TO LONG 😭

Also i accidentally posted this to early and couldn't UNPOST IT. So if you saw it before it was finished no u didnt

[obessed-with-fictional-men]

oh my sweet Gale

I will admit, the very first run through of this game i found Gale annoying, pushy, dumped trauma everywhere, narcissistic in his knowledge of magic, and the need to prove how right his in in the subject. I often found myself thinking and saying out loud "omg shut up"..... buuuuut... having romanced him...... i found that his personality traits are the exact same as someone born as a child prodigy, had his ego inflated, alienated by everyone around him, and made to think he was superior by someone higher up just to then land on his ass.

I wont go through what i think of his character development because each play through is different, and for each player its different... but this is what i think of him over all.

Gale doesn't know how to talk to people. He doesn't have social queues that almost everyone else picks up on. Gale has spent, up till the tadpole, the exception in a lot of the situations he was put into and thus it became his default personality. Yes, for those of us who have romanced him (keeps romancing him) we see someone haunted by their past choices and watch him grow. We see the nerd that he is, but this is more about the potential Gale before we meet him. So bare with me.

He was a child prodigy and put into a prestigious school where he flourished. I can only image how his professors loved him and his fellow students less than enthusiastic response. You know what happens when you become the teachers pet? You become ostracized by your fellow peers. You know what happens when you are really good at something that usually takes A LOT of practice for others? You either get used or don't make friends. Gale has had ONE story that involved other people and it didn't involve friends, he was at a bar and defused a brawl with ale. He has openly admitted to Tara being his only real friend.

Now this isn't to say Gale never had to work at his magic or arcane knowledge to get him to where he is in the game when he first meet him. He was an archmage and the chosen of Mystera, but his innate ability to wield it as a young boy is what got Mystera's attention. Gale has stated that she was his teacher first, then his muse and finally his lover. You can only imagine how special he felt when Mystera chose him to be his guiding hand..... and then to be a lover? I don't care who you are..... That shit would have to inflate your ego. That shit would make you feel like you were SOOO much better than your fellow peers. You would have those toxic thoughts and comments of "yeah, well Mystera chose me! So who needs friends/criticism/physical lovers/ect". What do you typically do when you catch the attention of someone you highly regard? You try to impress them and do what you can to be even more impressive! So Gale's ambition grew to newer heights. I cant imagine what Mystera poisoned his mind with while they were together. Like, i get she told him to just be content with the things were.... but come on Mystera... you couldn't have expected him to stop striving to be better with a simple "nah, you're cool how you are. you don't need to be my equal". Not when the poor man has spent the last 2 decades of his life striving to be the best. His most important years for growth and development have been spent on trying to impress others.

Gale learns of a way to possibly convince Mystera to allow him into her domain and it gets a carnivorous orb shoved into his chest, dumped, stripped of his titles and holed up in his tower without nary a reason why. That had to be the biggest blow he has ever received in his entire life. His act of what he believed to be a sure fire way into getting what he wanted ended up taking almost everything away from him. If it wasn't for Tara, i'm sure Waterdeep would have succumbed his to orbs blight. The man locked himself in his tower and turned away all his colleagues and family.

So imagine, you are this lonely person... squirreled away from others and any social interaction. No one to talk to except your pet *sorry Tara* and all of a sudden you find yourself on a ship.... with a parasite in your brain and then your thrust into an adventure with a bunch of strangers. You have this orb in your chest that could blow at any time and you cant really explain WHY you need magical items.... but that if you don't get them.... everyone is in trouble.... you find your group facing monsters and doing weird ass side quests.... and at any given opportunity, you like to drop a knowledge bomb on the group.... just to find that some of the group members don't like your input... or don't listen at all.. which doesn't sit well with you. You've been told how right you are for like... 20 years... You haven't been given many acts of kindness since becoming an adult, what with your abrasive "im more knowledgeable in everything and i've slept with a goddess" personality, so when you see your fearless leader doing something nice, you approve. You grown to trust this leader enough to tell them the truth.... knowing full well they may turn on you, but they don't! You continue to watch them, and share moments of magic with them, you fight along side them, and what is this? Are you starting to develop feelings for them? Are they reciprocating these feelings?

He gets a death sentence slapped on his back and these new budding feelings he has for you need to be made known. What better way than to show you how much you mean to him than to literally paint the sky in the weave for you. To take away the Shadow-lands curse and SHOW you something better. He thinks 'the most perfect night would have to be some place im comfortable and vulnerable.... so that i can SHOW them. This is me, Gale. This is my whole world and at the center of it, my very heart'. he is literally showing you who he is. he is this studious... lonely man.. who sits in front of his fire place reading and researching... or out on his terrace watching the sunset with a book. Like, do you accept this version of me that you have not seen yet? *Not to mention the weave/ astral projected 3 gale gang bang you get while spinning through the cosmos. He is such a show off... or he just isnt confident in his own physical/ mortal ability to woo and wow*

To watch Gale throughout my few play throughs grow as a person and learn that having to much ambition can oft lead to ruin... and watch him change to just be content with himself as he is... i get a lot of comfort from it. I haven't gone down the God route yet, nor have i tried to make him more villainous, but who knows lol.

I have a lot thoughts on pre-tadpoled Gale and how his life up to that point made him who he is when we are first introduced to him. Gale is definitely my comfort character.

Sorry for the rant... or maybe im not. Once again... these are my thoughts from my multiple play throughs.

[rowretro]

✧𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓✧

WARNINGS: Blood, gunshots, death

✧CHAPTER 6✧

✧tag list✧: @chlorinecake @nikisdubblchococake @enhypensccstarlight @strwberrydinosaur @sunghoonsbeautymark @strawbsj 

After a few weeks of staying indoors for days on end, Riki finally let y/n take the baby out. It's not because he didn't trust him or anything, there were just so many rival gangs now running after him. Riki really wanted to quit being a drug lord, maybe start a successful company that's harmless and no where near illegal, or a little dance class so he can lay low and do something he's passionate about.

But once you pick up a gun, it's hard to let it go. Y/n decided to take the baby to the park, as it seemed reasonable, she carried the littlun, as she walked through the garden areas "look there! it's a little squirrel!" y/n cooed, as she turned the baby to face the squirrel, the baby giggled, clapping. Riki smiled, following after. "You have any idea on what we're going to name him?... he's almost ten months old" Riki asked as Y/n thought.

She gasped as she turned to Riki "Let's name him Pluto! a small planet with a big heart~" Y/n smiled as Riki sighed "Sweetheart- you named a tree, a fish, a Heeseung and a stray cat Pluto when you ate that brownie- think of a real baby name" Riki explained as he laid down a picnic blanket. "You're one to talk, Riki Jackson, Rizziki, Junior Riki-" Y/n started listing as Riki stuffed a marshmallow in her mouth.

"You know the view here is so pretty... it feels like its been forever since we've been out-" Riki blurted as Y/n was choking on the marshmallow, somehow swallowing it down "Lawd- why did you get the massive ones- and why'd you shove it in my mouth while I was talking?..." The girl asked with a frown as Riki mischievously giggled.

"What do you think about the name Kyle?... baby Kyle?" Y/n asked as she smiled at the baby, the baby babbling back. Riki turned to face the duo, "You know what, Kyle sounds good, it's cute, and when he grows up it'll be cool too... Come to daddy baby Kyle~" Riki smiled, as Y/n placed the baby on the picnic blanket, Riki watched as the little one crawled to him, with a little help from y/n.

Smiling, Riki took the baby in his arms, rubbing his nose against the baby's nose, "My little Kyle~" Riki cooed as the baby yanked his hair. "Aaah- Kyle- Kyleee- Something tells me you're going to be a trouble maker-" Riki whined softly, as the baby giggled at his reaction, pulling his hair a little more As y/n giggled.

After a fairly long day, Riki drove the three home, the baby asleep in the back with y/n beside. The silent drive was interrupted with multiple, ear-piercing gunshots, making y/n jolt, Riki's eyes widen as he cursed under his breath, to their luck the car and windows were bullet proof. Those motherfuckers were everywhere. swerving every obstacle in their way, and driving off the road, taking a shortcut into a much more secure, area.

Once Riki finally lost them, he turned behind to see Y/n was perfectly fine, the baby still peacefully sleeping. In fact the baby was awfully silent the through out the whole commotion. That's when it hit them. Y/n checked the baby's pulse. "Fuck- Riki there's no pulse!" Y/n exclaimed. The girl lying the baby down on a safer surface as Riki called the doctor.

Sunoo immediately picked up, hearing Riki's hysterical voice as he explained the events. "Riki, stay calm okay? just listen to my instructions" Sunoo calmly instructed Riki to do CPR on the baby... but not a single change, he then changed to mouth-to-mouth, and yet again no change...

Not stopping, He continued, never giving up "Come on baby Kyle, you can't leave me, I didn't take you to lose you like this please." Riki begged, as he continued giving CPR to the littlun. The sudden sound of a baby crying finally reached their ears, the tears leaving Riki's eyes, and hitting the baby as y/n snuggled the baby close to herself, crying in relief "Congratulations Riki you have given birth!" Sunoo joked, despite the situation, but Riki didn't care to get mad or react, he was just so relieved to have his son.

Not wasting any time, y/n gently slipped the headphones on the baby, Riki engulfing the both of them in a loving hug. "God those fuckers..." Riki mumbled, as his fists clenched. Y/n softly held his fist, the anger that was coursing through his veins disappearing almost instantly as his teary eyes met her glossy ones, "Riki... you saw what happened... i-if we fight back- t-they'll only aim for the baby, they know your weakness now Ki... I didn't want to say this before, but maybe this is a sign Ki... you need to stop getting blood on your hands" the girl explained, her eyes hopeful as Riki pulled away from her, slowly.

She was right... If he continued, things will only get worse, but if he stopped, the consequences that follow his past actions would at least be lessened. Riki kissed her forehead, and the baby's forehead, staring back into her eyes as he held her hand. "For us, and our future... I will let go of all the mafia ties..." Riki sincerely told her. He's already seen a pure, little soul lose his everything and almost his own life, he's seen his mother get killed by his own father, and he's even subjected his dear y/n to all this danger. All of this NEEDED to stop...

✧𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓✧

[lienspien]

I feel like all the Skittles have SOME sort of weird thing that's going on with them. Tw mentions of blood and dissecting

Barty is batshit crazy. Wild, messy, and all over the place. Almost terrifying. He makes ur mom jokes and threatens to kill or hurt or fuck someone who's messing with him. He also learned how to do his own tatoos and piercings, thats why he has a new tattoo or piercing every month. He finds it fun and silly to be stabbing his ear and shoving a piercing through it, likes the sting cause it gives him adrenaline

And there's Pandora who says the most out of pocket shit. She has weird visions sometimes and seems to be everywhere and knows everything. And she's so incredibly calm while saying the wildest shit ever that it scares some people. People never hear her footsteps, and she just shows up randomly. Her voice is so calm and peaceful that it really doesn't fit her liking in scary creatures

Then Evan, who is just as off-putting as his sister. Unlike Barty, who is chaotic, he's more reserved and calm. But sometimes does creepy stuff and acts like it's normal. He is weirdly fascinated with disecting humans and animals. Also has a weird interest in teeth and dead animal corpses. He probably learned how to preserve them somehow. He has a like thing where dead butterflies are stuck to and he wakes up everyday to admire it as a way to start his day.

Dorcas has an interest in lucid dreaming and shifting and all things psychological. Sometimes she'll say stuff like "oh I sent a message to you in your dreams, you got it, right?" Most of the time, you probably won't get it, but it happens sometimes. Mostly to the slytherin Skittles and Marlene. She also learned to do nonverbal spells earlier in her years because it helps give her more control over her own mind. She has definitely learned and did research on why the imperius curse does what it does to its victims

And Regulus, though never to admit out loud, fucking loves astrology. He learned about it through Pandora, and since then he's been doing astrological readings. He just finds it cool how something like a time of birth, the position of a planet, the moon phase of your birth, and all can say a lot about a person.

Anyways it might not fit some characters but it's how I think of them and I love them this way cause imagine like Pandora walking up to Barty and say "certain plants can bloom above dead corpses" and Barty suggests that they have to see it happen for themselves

Or Dorcas coming up reg like "did you get my message?" And Regulus said "yeah, it's written in the stars that your relationship will go well don't worry and stop pestering me in my dreams"

Or Barty making a new piercing and Evan suggesting that he should make a piercing out of one of his insects legs and Barty was really close to doing it before Reg stopped them

Or Regulus catching squirrels for Pandora to keep in her little squirrel cage and have as a pet that'll probably die because Evan keeps feeding it the wrong food

Sometimes, the Skittles all get hurt except for Dorcas, and she says stuff like "yeah because the universe is protecting me. I'm their favourite mortal"

Barty getting slightly unsettled and maybe a bit flustered when he sees Evan so focused on learning how to use his new dissecting tool, just tweaking it here and there for his own liking yk

Regulus in a bad mood cause today's horoscope says that it's going to be shit.

Yeah they're weird

[youcouldmakealife]

SOTM: Willy/Owen; shared interests

For the prompt: Willy/Owen

Feat. the spectre of ScratchnMoney being trouble tweedles.

When Tate was a kid, he had a brief obsession with science experiments. The usual suspects, the sort that come in kits for curious kids — anything that would change colors, or ominously bubble, he was officially intrigued, and if a volcano was involved, Tate was there no questions asked.

They were all simple chemistry, really, but it was fascinating to him, that he could follow the directions and something like magic would happen. It wasn’t magic, of course, but science; he knew that. It was, in fact, the entire point. But still, it felt like it. Even when he knew exactly why it was happening, exactly what he was doing to make it happen, understood the scientific basis of things, at least as much as a curious but not particularly scientific kid could, it still felt a little impossible.

He told that story to Owen, years ago, one of those nights on the precipice, and Owen had smiled through it all, a little one that said he understood, maybe better than anyone, and Tate felt like if he leaned in right then, that would have been it. Turned it into a capital M Moment, the kind they’d be retelling for years, ‘and that was it for me, right then, that’s when I knew we were meant to be together, the night he told me about magic and science, or a little of both’.

So Tate had asked if Owen wanted another drink, and even though Owen said ‘I’m good, Tate’, voice low, everything still imbued with double meaning, Tate got up, and he went to the bar, and by the time he returned, a drink in hand, the moment was over, the window closed. Owen excused himself not long after, citing a class the next day, even though Tate knew tomorrow was his evening one, and Tate went home and took a freezing cold shower, feeling like he needed to punish himself somehow.

It didn’t even work. Tate’s spent far too much time in ice baths for a cold shower to feel like anything but training. And training cannot be punishment. The moment training starts to feel like punishment, that’s when it’s all over for him. And one day it will be, he knows that. He still dreads the day that comes, but a little less than he used to.

Part of that’s three Cup rings, nestled in velvet and glass, a career for the record books even if he hung up his skates tomorrow. Part of that has a lot more to do with a kid working his way through science experiments, less interested in the explanations than the doing, the seeing something new, doing something new. Of being the instigating force. Wanting to see what happens.

*

When Owen was a kid, he spent most of his free time in his backyard. He watched the ants go about their business, the worms appear whenever it rained, the birds fight over the feeder him and his dad had set up, the squirrels scavenging the remains. He had a pair of binoculars he brought with him everywhere, watched the world through those, far away enough not to interfere, but close enough for a front row seat.

He liked the science kits too, the kind Tate loved. They were a default gift for him from family members that knew he was a nerdy kid, but little else. They weren’t particularly targeted about it, Owen recalls. He had the volcano, the kitchen chemistry, but he also recalls rock kits, simple robotics, fake fossils to excavate. An ant farm, though he never used it, thought it was cruel to put them in his room when they could be free outside, and anyway, his mother would never have allowed it, as squeamish about bugs as she is. She probably thanks God every day he didn’t become an entomologist.

But generally, Owen was told to go outside, get some fresh air, act like a normal kid. Which probably didn’t mean ‘go stare at ants in the backyard with binoculars’, but they didn’t really care too much, as long as he wasn’t underfoot, being just a little too unlike either of them.

That was the look they shared sometimes, Owen thinks — ‘did this come from you? Well it didn’t come from me’. Not fault, exactly, blaming one another for this child of theirs that made no sense, but bafflement, incomprehension. It made it easier to come out a decade later, already knowing his parents didn’t understand him at all. Not easy, but easier. Came out and then ran off to the furthest school that offered him a full-ride. They could afford it, his parents, had been saving up for college since he was born, but he didn’t want to owe anyone anything. Why should they have to pay for something they didn’t, couldn’t, didn’t want to understand?

He came back eventually, of course. He wasn’t planning to, and then he was planning to leave as soon he finished his Masters. And he did leave, for a little while, but he missed it too much to stay away. Things work out like that, he finds. Some have said you can only love what you understand. Owen doesn’t think that. He thinks trying to understand is an act of love, though. The greatest one there is, at least in his view.

*

It’s Money’s fault, as so many things are. His sister gets him worrying about what he’s going to do to pass the time in retirement, and that begins a frantic search for a hobby that isn't hockey or his literal other half. It doesn’t go so well. His efforts range from gardening — he kills it, and Tate doesn’t mean it slangily — to tipsy painting with Scratch and Owen that Tate was not allowed to join. Apparently he’s ‘too good at it’ and ‘needs to quit being awesome at everything because it is both obnoxious and enraging’, which Tate takes as a compliment. A rude as hell compliment: Money’s specialty.

All of this inevitably gets Tate thinking about retirement. He isn’t particularly worried about passing the time; he knows that his retirement is going to come with a job offer, one that he’ll probably take, if not necessarily immediately — Owen’s always wanted to go to South America, and Tate’s looking forward to going with him — but it also gets him looking back, thinking about what else interested him before hockey became his entire life.

Money keeps picking up all the stereotypical childhood hobbies in his quest, cycling from doodling to Lego, to declaring war on Lego, to making horrible beaded bracelets then foisting them on poor teammates, and Tate ends up idly looking at science kits, because he figures it's just a matter of time before Money gets there.

There are a few that haven’t changed much — kids are always going to like making volcanoes, and who could blame them? — but they’ve evolved significantly since he was a kid; for starters, they have kits for adults now.

Tate knows better than to pick anything that even approaches Owen’s field of expertise, which limits his options considerably, until he wanders into the technology branch of STEM. The robotics kits have certainly progressed in the last two decades. You can apparently even build a robot bartender. Tate didn’t know he needed that in his life, but he does. He absolutely does.

The box arrives in Kansas City while Tate’s in Dallas, Owen sending a string of question marks, then a smiley when Tate texts, Don’t start it without me. It’s a few days after his return they unbox it in his basement; it’s massive, but so’s Tate’s downstairs bar, and obviously that’s the best place to build a bartender.

“It’s not exactly like the ones we did as kids,” Tate says. “But I didn’t know if any of the chemistry ones would be too much like work.”

“Is playing street hockey with the kids on your block too much like work?” Owen says.

“Touche,” Tate says. “Also, ouch. They said this one’s for grownups, so no inviting Scratch and Money.”

Owen laughs. Tate loves his laugh, how easily it comes, how Tate’s misfit band of oversized children is something that delights Owen, rather than something he endures.

“You can build a bunch of different models,” Tate says. “Bartender, camera dolly, catapult — I mean it, do not invite Scratch and Money. They’re not allowed anywhere near a catapult.”

That laugh again. “You just got it so I’d build you a robot bartender, didn’t you?”

“Come on, a robot bartender is awesome!” Tate says, and Owen’s smiling at him the way he smiles at Money sometimes, as fond as it is amused. “And I’m going to help, obviously.”

He doesn’t know how much he’s going to help, but he’ll do his best. He never allows himself to do anything less.

“Let’s build a bartender,” Owen says.

Tate’s fist pump is quite restrained, at least in comparison to the guys he works with on a daily basis, but it makes Owen laugh at him anyway. But as always, there's warmth behind it, so as always Tate doesn’t mind.

[irisopranta]

The Girl From Gridania - Part 6

Part 6 of Iris’s origin story. She's in Ul'dah, where she meets a fairly interesting rogue. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Word Count: 3075

It has been quite the trip so far. The boisterous life of Limsa Lominsa was something Iris expected to an extent. However, she was shocked to the extent it was. The smell of stale ale and tobacco smoke made the air thick to breathe in, to the point that she had issues breathing. She couldn’t understand how the citizenry could live without gasping nature’s fresh air. Glad that she found herself in in Ul’dah. Though it is just as bad as Limsa Lominsa, it at least seemed to be contained to the tavern and the back alleys.

She was able to deliver the missive from the Elder Seedseer to the Sultana. The mission was all and all a success and all she needed to do was return back home. It would be a few days before the airship could take her back to Gridania. The streets were unusual. Stairs were everywhere and wrapped all over the city. She decedent down a set near the Sultana’s throne room. The halls were just as twisted as the stairs.

She returned to the city square, looking around where she shall go to explore. She spotted a green cloth leading outside and decided to follow it. She walked through the the door way to be greeted with desert’s arid air. The markets were bustling, a sight that she never saw in Gridania. The stalls were side by side, brimming with all sorts of goods. The shopkeepers calling out for potential buyers.

I should be able to find something for everyone here. She hummed in her thoughts. She double check her purse to see how much gil she had on her. 30,000, that should be plenty. The stall next to her was selling various pieces of jewelry. Many of the pieces were more suitable for men. Cuff links, large chains, even some decorative knifes were laying on the counter. As she looked intently at them all, she place her thumb on her chin, staring at a knife that had some delicate metalworking, gold and silver twisted between each other as though they were vine. The guard were two groups of three leaves that laid over each other. The thought of giving it to Ephault tickled her a bit.

“Something caught your eye there miss.” A lalafellin man behind the counter broke her concentration. He looked well kept, however, Iris did notice that his clothing were quite old. Quite shocked that they still were holding up as it seemed the seams could fall apart at any moment.

“Well yes actually.” Her voice hummed at him as she pointed at the knife. “Its quite a nice piece.”

The man smiled, “A fine piece indeed, made by Miss Serendpity herself.” The name means nothing to Iris, however, she could at least tell the the lady was quite skilled at her craft. “If you want it, it will be 15,000 gil.”

Her face reeled back. 15,000 gil, that seems too much for a non functioning knife. Would Euphalt even like it if I got it for him? She sighed. “15,000 seems quite a lot for a nice looking knife without much function. Would you be willing to go down to 8,000?”

The lalafell scoffed “8,000? That’s way too low for such an exquisite piece. 14,500 if you must try to barter.”

“I must insist on 9,000 then, The poor thing is ill fitted to even skin a squirrel. Purely decorative I say.” She huffed out those words, slightly disgusted at him. Then again this seemed par of the course with any Ul'dahn customer she ever had to deal with at her mother’s shop.

“Then I refuse to sell you the piece.” He huffed. “Away with you, disgusting street urchin” He shooed her away in his anger. However, in that moment it was as though Nymeia was smiling upon Iris. The man’s shirt seemly fell apart. He gasped as he didn’t seem to notice that his clothing were in such a poor state. His face turned redder than a rolanberry from the embarrassment.

Iris smiled, knowing she could take advantage of this situation. Normally, she feel bad, but in this case she felt she could make an exception “Well, wouldn’t look at that. How about a new deal? You see, I’m a seamstress, and quite a skilled one at that. I can fix your shirt situation, but in exchange, you give me the knife and why not those emerald cuff links as well?” She pointed at a set that were also on the counter, figuring they were make a good gift for her father.

“I would rather Nald’thal take me to the seventh hell than part with that much money.” He grumbled.

“Very well then. I guess I will take my leave. Good luck trying to selling things without a shirt.” Iris turned away from the stall and started to walk away.

“Wait” the lalafell called out to her. She stop walking. “I think I can part with those. I’ll just consider it a business expense. Yes an expense.” He nodded in his nervousness. Iris return to the stall and even walked behind the counter. She looked at the scraps of silk that were scattered over the floor. It wasn’t the highest quality of the material she had seen. It had seemed that the fabric at the seams were way too wore. Mending it would make shirt too small for him with no seam allowance to work with

“Hmm, I think that I would need to get new fabric to just make you a new one. Is there a place to get fabric near by?”

He nodded “Yes the weaver’s guild is just down that corridor.” He point into the direction of the guild. Iris gathered all the pieces and started to head to the guild.

She went down the corridor that was before her. The walls were lined with mannequins and bolts of fabrics. Fine silks and linens in bright hues. She shouldn’t be shocked as these would be more suitable for the city’s arid climate than the furs and hides one may get in Gridania’s damp and cold climate. There was a double door adorn with gold and brass. Iris opened the door, only to be greeted by clattering looms and scissors snipping away. The room that she found herself in was filled to the brim with many people. Many of whom were moving fabrics about or steadily stitching away making garments. The scene is more familiar to her than the rowdy taverns of Limsa or the scene that she had just subjected herself to.

She looked on to see what everyone was working on. One on a dress fit for a noble lalafell, complete with lace and ribbons. The colors were a stunning red, something that would be too bold in Gridania.

“Something caught you’re eye I see. Though I don’t think you can fit into that.” A boisterous voice called out from behind her. She turned around to see a large but well dressed roegadyn. “The name is Redolent Rose, the leader of this fabulous guild. We are weavers and tailors. Is there anything we can do to help you miss? Mayhaps you would like a new dress? While the one you are wearing is quite lovely, it’s ill suited for this climate with how thick it is.”

Iris closed her eyes to ponder his offer. Humming and hawing it over she spoke “While I like that offer, and your dresses do look amazing, but I’ll pass on your offer. I can’t imagine they would be cheap. After all I’m only here for another day or so while I wait for the airship to take me back home to Gridania. Plus I’m here to get fabrics to fix a shirt.” Pulling out the fabric that were under her arm.

“Ah from Gridania are you? I’ve been meaning to look at the fashion trends there.” The roegadyn looked over the Elezen woman again. “So this is what they wear?”

Iris chuckled. “Sort of. I’m a seamstress myself so I might be more fashionable than my fellow citizen. I did make this myself.” She twirl her skirt a bit to show the fullness and lace trim a bit.

“Yes I see. I feel inspired, my dear.” He paced around her, looking at her garments. “The verdant greens, the brilliant blues. Yes, I think I must make this the report for the week. My dear you are absolutely stunning.” Iris face was red from blushing from his comment. She felt a bit light headed. Was another vision about to the appear in front of her or was the complement too much for her to hear from someone that skilled about her outfit.

She gathered herself. A cough escaped from her throat and gave the gentleman a smile. “Why thank you. In any case, can I look over what fabrics you have here? I have a job to do.”

“Ah yes, I apologize. I get quite excited seeing such a nice looking outfit. If you got a project to work on please feel free to use the guild resource miss.” Redolent Rose hummed into his thoughts. “Though may I ask for a favor in return?”

“A favor?” she inquired.

“Would you be willing to teach some of new recruits the techniques you used for your dress? I think it would be nice for them to learn how other locations handle their clothing situation. I will make it worth your while, a few bolts of fine silk for the trouble.”

“Fine silk you say. I think I can spare the time, though I would need to finish this job first. I have a nice knife and some cuff links to get.”

Redolent Rose let out a hearty chuckle, much in Iris’ confusion. “I thought I recognize that fabric. You happen to pull a quick one on old Totopigu did you?” Iris nodded. “Good, the man needed to be knocked down a peg or two. He tends to try to con travelers on the goods he sells. I don’t allow him in the guild because of it and the reason I don’t allow guild members to sell their work to him to sell. In any case get your work done and let me know when you can teach those recruits.”

Iris was amused with herself. I guess that lalafell doesn’t have many friends in the area. At least he isn’t liked by a tailor that has a lot of control on the textiles in the area. No wonder he needed her to do the work. Much luck to her that she could get those items from without spending too much gil.

She started her work. It wasn’t too hard, with all the tools at her disposal at the guild. They even have those fancy sewing machines that makes sewing so much faster. She was done in no time with the size of the garment being so small. She returned to Totopigu to give him his shirt. He was reluctant to hand over the stuff she asked for but he figured not to upset the elezen even more unless he wants to lose more items from his shop.

Iris returned to the guild and told Redolent Rose she was ready to teach his recruits. The roegadyn singal to other tailors and seamstresses near them. Before she knew it there were at least five of them looking over Iris and her outfit. They were investigating every stitch and hem. Asking how she made it. She could tell that they were very much new to the trade. Happily she was willing to spend her time to help instruct them. As thanks for helping him, Redolent Rose gave her some bolts of silk to take with her back to Gridania.

After all the excitement of teaching eager weavers, she was trying to carry the heavy bolts back to her inn room. The alleys between the markets and the inn were nothing like the rest of the city. It reminded her a bit of Limsa Lominsa, just without the hint of sea salt in the air. The heat from the desert may have made the stench of stale ale and vomit much worst.

As the sun started to set she quickly tried to make her way back. The weight of the bolts slowed her down a bit. The seedier folks were spying her down, making her feel uncomfortable. She started to pick up her pace a bit. As she turn the corner, a few cloaked beings approached from behind.

Were they the ones that were stalking me? She thought. “W-w-who are you?” She stutter. She dropped the bolts as they lunge at her. Everything went dark for her.

She felt warm. Burning hot. Her eyes were starting to flutter open. She saw nothing but embers and flames at first. As she wakes up a bit more there were others with her. All them were tied up just as she.

“Hee hee! Our Amalj'aa friends will keep you company!” A voice called out. Iris looked onto the direction it was coming from. A priest she could surmise, rather if her was truly a man of holy cloth was to be determined. “Hee hee! How long will you last, I wonder!?” He crackled. As he did the area grew darker. It was as though the sun was blocked out. It was blocked out.

It was pitch black barring the flames. As it did, a large beast appeared from the blacked out sun. It had glowing red horns and claws in as sharp as any bear she had seen. It’s nose was narrow. “Pitiful children of man! By my breath I claim you!” it growled. It spewed flames among those who were tied up. “Arise once more as my loyal minions! Feed my flames with your faith, and all who stand against us shall burn!”

The flames approached them. She braced herself as the flames radiated around her. As it consumed her, it felt warm and comforting instead of burning pain that one would expect. She open her eyes as the beast stood in front of her.

“All praise to Ifrit.” The voices behind her called out. She turned to only see the others in a trance.

The beast snared. “How can this be so? Are you already tempered by another?” Iris’ eyes were wide open. Ifrit burst out another flame towards the Elezen. As was before, it was warm and comforting for her. Ifrit can only growl in his frustration. “Minions take down this already tempered woman.”

The others started to move towards her. It seemed they all lost their minds. What can she do. It wasn’t like she were able to protect herself, her staff was back in the inn room and it doesn’t seem to be any other weapon for her to fight. Was this truly her end. As they were to pounced, a knife fell between her and the crowd.

"I've heard of bewitching women, but you certainly are at the top of the list for ones I've met." A male voice called out and a staff appeared at her feet. She looked around to figure out where he is. He appeared before her from the darkness. “Thancred here.” He gave a quick introduction before return his attention the the foul beast before them. His white hair contrast the darkness that surrounded them, his eyes were golden and bright. He had a certain charm to him that Iris recognized but he seemed a bit different that she couldn’t place her finger on it. Mayhaps it was his roguish look and speech that made her feel that way.

Those thoughts will have to wait however, the two were before a primal and one that just tempered a group of people. She picked up the staff that was at her feet. She got up from the ground and ran to the roguish man. “So what’s the plan?”

Thancred looked onto her. “Well, the best thing we can do is take down the beast. You’re a healer, back me up and keep me alive.” He dashed forth toward Ifrit. Iris eyes widen if not popping out of her eyes from his charging. He jumped up to slash at the beast’s face. As he connected, Ifrit knocked him back onto the floor. Iris knew he needed some healing from that fall. She seeked out the mana from the elementals to heal his wounds. As he was getting up Ifrit tried to swing once more at the rogue. Tried but Iris was aware and summoned a burst of water to knocked him off his attacking.

Thancred got back on his feet and started to slashed at Ifrit’s feet. He howled from the pain. Snarling, he brought forth more flames. It wasn’t directed at anyone but the heat felt is singed a bit of their hair. Ifrit was getting infuriate with the two, so much so the beast decided to summon big spikes of fires. “The nonbelievers must burn.” Big plumes of flames radiated from the spikes.

“Focus on those spikes.” Thancred shouted. He then took his daggers and threw them at the spikes. As one just impaled itself into one of the spikes, causing it to overcharge and explode. Iris took note. She charged up a water spell and aimed it at another one of the spikes.

Despite them looking sturdy, they seemed pretty weak against being hit. The other two spikes fell just the same after the two attacked them. Again, they exploded and the heat radiant around them. With the spikes gone the two can focus on the primal before them. Thancred pick up the daggers from the ground. He charged forth with the intention of attacking Ifrit. Iris, backing him up charged another water spell. The spell fired off, knocking Ifrit off guard. As he was trying regain his balance, Thancred striked him down, causing him fall down. The aether around him started to dissipate. Ifrit was disappearing with the aether.

Iris looked onward to the rogue that came to save her. How could he have found me? She thought as her face was twisted in bewilderment. The rogue flashed a smile, a smile that you expect a cheeky rogue to throw to charm a lady. He was about to speak up but Iris’ head started to spin. Another vision? No that isn’t quite right. Before she knows it her vision when black.

[candycandy00]

do you have any scary stories, experiences, etc from living in Appalachia 👀👀

I have a few! (This was such a fun ask, thank you, anon!)

First of all, let me get a couple of things out of the way: 1.) I don’t believe in ghosts/the supernatural, so keep that in mind. 2.) Movies like Wrong Turn make “mountain folk” or “hillbillies” seem frightening but they’re actually some of the nicest, most welcoming and helpful people I’ve ever met. If you get lost in the mountains they’d be absolutely delighted to help you. They’d invite you to dinner too. It’d probably be squirrel gravy but still.

That being said, I can talk about a few things. The first is a local legend. There’s a tiny little place very close to where I live called Graveyard Hollar (if you know anything about Appalachia, you’ve heard of “hollars”, which are little roads going into the mountains, many not even paved, where small neighborhoods are - I myself live in a hollar). It’s literally within walking distance from my house. Graveyard Hollar itself goes up a pretty steep mountain, and at the top is a very old cemetery (hence the name). Leading down from the cemetery, and going all the way down to the main hollar before you begin going up to Graveyard Hollar, is a small waterfall that stays dry unless it rains. 

All my life, I’ve heard wild stories about Graveyard Hollar and that waterfall in particular (because driving along the main hollar takes you right by the waterfall). I’ve heard there’s a werewolf that lives there (yes really). Apparently a guy with a convertible said it jumped into his car as he drove by the waterfall and tried to kill him. Who was the guy? Well a friend of a cousin of a boyfriend, of course!  

The most prevalent story about the waterfall, however, is that if you stop your car right in front of it and cut the engine (which will leave you in total darkness - there’s no streetlights in hollars!), you’ll see two glowing green orbs dancing around. If you let your window down, they’ll fly into your car and go home with you. Legend has it that two young lovers killed themselves there by jumping from the top of the waterfall to their deaths, and the green orbs are their spirits. 

As a kid, this was a popular “test of courage”. Every time I had a sleepover, I’d get my older brother to drive me and my friends to the waterfall and stop there, cutting the engine to look for the green orbs. I never saw them, but one time a friend in the car with us suddenly started screaming as if she’d seen something horrifying and wouldn’t stop screaming until we got home. She swore she saw the lights. 

Supposedly it gets wild on Halloween night. A guy who lives near there would never leave the hollar on Halloween. He said no one could pay him enough to drive by that waterfall on Halloween. He was a bit odd though. 

There’s a place nearby called Red Cedar, which is at the top of a mountain. It’s stunning, with a pack of friendly wild horses running around up there. Most of it is only accessible via atv type vehicles. My brother and his wife go up there all the time to have picnics and feed the horses and pick raspberries. If you want to see some gorgeous scenery photos of the mountains and horses, hit me up! 

Anyway, like I said he goes up there all the time and they’ve pretty much explored every trail. But one day he and his wife found a trail they’d never seen before. They decided to follow it, and after traversing some very rough and dangerous terrain (at one point nearly riding off a cliff), they found a very strange place. It was marked off by rope, and once they went inside, they found these very odd lanterns sitting around everywhere. I’m including pictures because these things are eerie. There was also a strange metal table right in the center of the area (my mom said “that’s where they do the sacrifices” lol). You have to understand this is an extremely remote area that was almost impossible to reach and took them a long time to get there.

Okay, this story is about a scary human encounter, which to me is much more frightening because humans are real. And I actually witnessed this and was involved. 

My mom and I live in a house. Behind us is a mountain. In front of us is a creek, then more land, then another mountain. Directly across the creek from our house is a piece of property we own. My brother and his wife and son lived there for a while. At this point their son was around six or seven, and he stayed at our house a lot. My brother worked the night shift in a coal mine. 

So let me set the scene: it was a warm summer night, around 9pm. My nephew was spending the night with me and my mom. My brother was at work and his wife, my sister in law, was home alone. Me, my mom, and my nephew were sitting on the porch in rocking chairs (this is something country folk absolutely love). From our porch, we could see my sister in law across the creek step out on her porch to smoke. Now, we’re close enough that if we yelled, she could hear us, but we couldn’t have a conversation. So her son yells at her, she waves, and then he says he wants to call her. So he does. 

After talking to his mom for a few minutes, he hands the phone to mom, so they start talking. Now, next door to where my brother lived, there’s a small car wash. It’s really out of place because there are no other businesses nearby but oh well. It has an old pop machine (soda machine to you city folk) that’s always well stocked, and my sister in law often walked over to get a pop. On this night, we watched her walk over to the car wash, her cordless phone at her ear as she kept talking to mom. But before she could get her pop, she noticed something strange and decided to check it out. Someone was in the car wash owner’s truck, and it wasn’t him. She’d stumbled upon someone breaking into the truck and trying to Hotwire it. 

Against all logic, she yelled out “Hey! What are you doing?” And the guy climbed out of the truck. We could see him from our porch. This guy was freakishly tall, very thin and gangly, had long dark hair, and wore a dirty trench coat. He was creepy as fuck! 

My sister in law ran, back toward her house, and the guy ran after her! From our porch we watched him chase her. My mom was still on the phone with her, screaming “hurry! Run! He’s right behind you!” Also keep in mind her son was watching all this and losing his mind. The poor kid was screaming bloody murder. 

Somehow, she made back to her house and locked the door just in time. We watched him bang on her door, try to pry it open, etc. Her son was still screaming. Then all at once, the guy apparently noticed us. His head turned sharply toward where we were on the porch, and then he started running toward us! He ran straight down into the creek! 

I ushered my screaming mom and nephew inside and locked the door. The last thing I saw before closing it was the guy climbing up out of the creek on our side. After locking up and getting my gun, I looked out the windows on all sides and saw nothing. I called the police and after much begging they agreed to send a car out to check things out. That was over 15 years ago and we’re still waiting. 😑

That’s all I can think of at the moment. Aside from alarming animal encounters (like seeing bears, bobcats, packs of coyotes, snakes, etc.).

[fairytalewonders]

Cat Guessing Game

This is just something I wanted to do for fun - cat’s have been assigned different stereotypes about their coats of fur and what personality traits they have as such, so I want to see if people can guess the color of my cat’s fur based off of the descriptions I give of their personality or unique quirks. And there’s one secret lizard thrown in for the fun of it.

I’ll reply and if they get any right, but I won’t say how many. In a week’s time I’ll reboot with all of the correct answers. Let’s see how many correct guesses people get.

First up:

Apple Pie (Male)

Called Apple for short

A huge talker

Stubborn

Passive Aggressive

One of the smartest animals I’ve ever seen (We had to change all of the door handle to door knobs because he learned how to open the doors. He still knows how to open the door knobs but can’t because he doesn’t have thumbs.)

When he wants to sit on you, he will sit on you, you have no choice

Half-a-tail (The vet thinks the mother licked it off when cleaning him. No obvious signs of wounds. But I remember him having a full tail when he was born?)

Quote from mom - “I saw him leading a crusade into your room.”

Binx (Male)

A sweet himbo

Very vain (I can’t express to you how vain he is)

Likes to go for car rides

likes to eat bread, doesn’t want the meat with any sandwiches though. Just the bread.

Equal opportunist.

Gets sad if you don’t at least say hi when you walk past him.

Quote from mom - “He’s…. Special.”

Cheshire (Male)

Super sweet

The chilliest animal ever (will just let you pick him up and tote him around everywhere, but my mom says I get special privileges.)

A secret sadist (has tormented the Binx.)

Has the biggest eyes I have ever seen. (My brother says he looks like a crack addict.)

Causes mischief as a fun past time when bored

Chirps?

Quote from mom - “he can’t be the one tormenting Binx, look at his face.”

Mushu (Male - probably)

I have never gotten more attitude from an animal in my entire life. Which is saying something.

Lots of side-eye

Very chill

Doesn’t like loud noises

Lazy

Quote from mom - “I have more pictures of him than I do of my own kids.” (We haven’t even had him for a full year.)

Batsy (Female)

Runt of the litter, super tiny

Will launch herself at you without a second thought

Doesn’t like big cats

Super affectionate

Quote from mom - “She’s like a flying squirrel.”

Peaches (Male)

Super sweet

Quiet

Chill

Super affectionate

(Don’t know much about him yet, I kidnapped him from outside. He’s still recovering, super skinny, can count his ribs. But we’re working on it!)

Quote from mom - “No, I haven’t seen the stray cat recently.”

Now for this next section, this section is sadly for my babies that have already passed on, but I can’t do this and in good conscious leave them out

Crookshanks (Female)

Had asthma (Did not stop her from stealing other cats kittens [as far as she was concerned they were also her children, no matter what they looked like] and occasionally picking fights and somehow winning?)

Super sweet

Also the chilliest animal ever (It may be a competition between her and Cheshire)

Passive aggressive - (Whenever she was mad at me she would put her butt in my face because she knew I didn’t like it.)

Quote from mom - “Sarah, come get your cat! She’s still the other cats kittens again!”

Tiger (Male)

Blind

Super long for a cat

Skittish

Demanding when it comes to food (he stole my fries)

Vocal when it comes to asking for attention

Would always seek me out and follow me around even though he couldn’t really see me

Gypsy (Female) (My mom named her after our Romanian heritage. I wanted something Halloween based, but after she started called her that, she responded to it.)

Also a runt

Super quiet - loved her personal space

Follower me around everywhere

Didn’t like being held

(Didn’t live very long due to health issues)

Quote from mom - “Well, she lets you hold her longer than anyone else, even if it is just for three seconds.”

Anyways, this is just for fun. I’m curious to see as to what people will answer. By the way, here’s a hint, none of these cats are purebreds.

[fantasy-svt]

You're stuck with me now

Previous | Magic or Not Masterlist | Next

Synopsis: Carrying a curse for years, Joshua can not fall in love ever again. You, however, changed his thoughts on love all over again.

Pairing: Hong Joshua x fem!reader Word Count: 2.6k words Warnings! Abusive relationship (past), death

The elven kingdom, hidden far into the woods and unable to be reached if you didn't know it, was beautiful. The trees stood proudly, reaching for the skies and the sun could barely reach the ground through the leaves. Flowers bloomed that Joshua had never seen before in his life, not even from Flora, and the scent they emitted smelled like vanilla. When Joshua looked closer, he could also see the soft light that sprouted from the leaves.

Junhui was leading them down a path, loudly telling them to not wander off of it or they'd get lost. Thousands of creatures roamed around the area, which made it bit difficult to stay on the path for some. Wonwoo, for example, was so fascinated with his surroundings that he could barely keep his eyes away from the pages in his notebook, writing down everything that he saw. Both him and Wonwoo were here as Seungcheol's advocates, the man being unable to come by himself due to his new duties as the king-to-be. So Wonwoo came to talk to the elves about the truce while Joshua joined him for his own curiosity. As a healer, the elves were always some sort of inspiration as they were all great healers with their own unique methods and Junhui, unfortunately, didn't gain that knowledge.

"Come on!" Junhui whined loudly, pulling Joshua and Wonwoo along with him down the path. The boy was excited to see his family, Joshua couldn't blame him. He hadn't seen his family in person for years at this point, only through letters or spells could he talk to them and it was starting to take a toll on him. He missed them immensely, but he could only wish to see them again for the time being.

"Junhui! " A voice in the distance called out in elvish, but it was easily understood by the two non-elves as Junhui's name. The elf almost glowed as he saw his mother, running her way and throwing himself at her. She didn't seem to mind as she fell to the ground, landing softly in the moss beneath them as they laughed. Other elves started to gather, all glancing at Joshua and Wonwoo. The uneasiness in their eyes was clear, after all elves were not as social unless it was with animals.

Junhui was quick to explain to the others, words softly flowing from his lips as the elves listened carefully. One nodded before turning to the two, telling them to follow and they gladly did. They quickly reached the center of the kingdom, a city with in the middle a large tree with stairs leading up.

"That's at least a million stairs..." Wonwoo spoke, his eyes focused on the tree and his notebook long forgotten.

"Not a million. It's five thousand stairs in total, six thousand if you count the ones to the entrance of the palace." Jun replied and the pen in Wonwoo's hand clattered to the ground, making the squirrels around him flinch before scattering. Joshua was kind enough to pick it up, handing it back to Wonwoo before following Jun and the elder elf to the stairs. What he didn't expect was for the stairs to start moving the second he stepped on them. The stairs itself remained, but a sort of magic lifted him and started to ascent to the top floor.

"You didn't actually think we'd walk, right?" Jun asked with a bright smile, making his way up the stairs with glee. Joshua only shook his head as he started looking around again, pleasantly surprised with how different the view looked. Earlier it looked like a normal forest, but now it looked majestic. The light reflected everywhere, flowers were glowing and the animals were jumping around happily to a faint musical beat.

Arriving at the top, it was yet another marvelous sight. The branches went outwards, all covered in some kind of lights, and the leaves were some kind of golden color that reflected the light like a disco ball would. The doors were giant, life-like flowers and animals carved in to it that looked to good to be true. Inside was a giant room, the ceiling so high that it was barely visible and the throne itself massive as well. A woman sat on it, long dark hair and a crown resting right on top of her head with jewelry dangling down. She was majestic looking, a beauty that Joshua had never seen before.

Even then, however, Joshua's eyes were pulled from the queen to the other seat. You sat there, eyes focused on the man in front of the throne with crossed arms. The dress you wore was red and brown, flowing down your form elegantly and long sleeves hiding your hands. Horns peeked out from your hair, golden wires wrapped around them in beautiful patterns, and Joshua could also spot your tail besides your dress. You looked beautiful and Joshua wondered who you could possibly be, how important you were to sit besides an elvish queen.

"Like her, huh?" Junhui's voice rang out and Joshua gave the younger a short glare before glancing back your way. Wonwoo stepped closer, leaning down and asking who you were with his notebook ready.

"That's (Y/n), a Kirin. She's well respected around here, so don't offend her. Not that I think that's possible." Junhui laughed shortly before continuing. "She advises others, especially the queen. That is, when she's here. She travels a lot, helping people when she can. As a Kirin, she can heal any physical wound." This caught Joshua's attention the most, eyes moving back to you in bewilderment. If you could heal any wound, then...

"I can't heal that, unfortunately." A soft voice pulled Joshua from his thoughts, making him aware how all eyes had turned to him. You were still in your seat, but your eyes were fully on him and a kind smile was enough for Joshua to relax a bit. You stood up, making your way over to him before stopping when you stood right in front of him. Joshua was surprised at your height, even when you were only slightly taller than him. Then again, it shouldn't be surprising since most Kirins were 3 to 5 meters tall (between 10 and 16 feet tall). If anything, you were short since you only stood around 1.80 meters tall (5'9"). Nonetheless, you still looked ethereal to Joshua.

"Thank you." Your smile grew slightly and Joshua realized that you could read his thoughts, making him a bit self-conscious at what he was supposed to think. You gave a last smile before turning to Junhui, giving the elf a smile before patting his head softly.

"You've grown well in the past years." You smiled and it made Joshua wonder how old you were to say such a thing, especially since you looked around his age.

"I'm 24 years old, just like you indeed. I just haven't seen Jun since he was 13 and back then he was a little more..." You paused your sentence when you spotted Junhui's glare, chuckling to yourself softly before looking at Wonwoo. His eyes were on you as well, but you could hear all the questions and assumptions from inside his head. It made you dizzy, so you blocked the thoughts out of your mind and focused back on the two before you.

"Could we talk?" Your question was directed at Joshua and the man quickly agreed to this, wanting to ask you about what you had said earlier. So he followed you, back down the stairs and to a lovely home in the city. It was closed off from everyone else, but that seemed logical with your role here. Entering, Joshua was overwhelmed with the smell of roses and vanilla.

"I hope you don't mind those smells, it helps me clear my mind." You said and Joshua only replied with a 'I don't mind' before sitting down in a seat, thanking you for the tea that was placed in front of him.

"This is pu'er tea..." Joshua mumbled to himself, all too familiar with it thanks to Minghao's tea ceremonies that he always attended. You only smiled at him before nodding, sitting down opposite of him with your own cup.

"I can't heal magical wounds." You spoke and Joshua looked up, a bit of annoyance appearing in his eyes as his hand moved to his chest.

"How did it happen?" "I got cursed." Joshua was quick to reply, wincing at the painful memories. Not wanting to say anything, he just opened his mind and thought back to everything that had happened.

"You couldn't give up your friends..." You mumbled, eyes wide as you heard every detail of his life that he was willing to show.

A girl he loved and yet the same girl forced him to leave everyone he loved behind, to only have her for the rest of his life. He moved to the kingdom, away from his family and made new friends. Only for them to also be rejected by her. Days to weeks that he was forced to stay in a shabby house, chained to the wall by his wrists and forced to starve. Saved by the people he now called his soulmates, Jeonghan and Seungcheol. They brought him back, letting him see that what she gave him wasn't love in the slightest. She returned, breaking into his room to yell at him that she'd kill herself if he didn't return. True to her words, she shoved a dagger in her heart and cursed him with her final breaths.

You couldn't control the tears that slipped down your face, eyes moving to his wrists. Both covered in bracelets and now it seemed obvious to why he wore them. Gulping, you let your eyes move to his face again.

"That's enough, close your mind." You spoke softly and Joshua followed, blocking his thoughts and you nodded before getting up from your seat. You stepped closer to him, asking for permission to touch him. When he granted you that, you moved your hand to his shoulder and Joshua felt a relaxing energy run though his body. His worries washed away like they were nothing and for once in the last year, he actually felt relaxed.

"I might not be able to heal your mind with my magic, but I can help this much." You said as you walked back around to your seat to sit. Joshua only thanked you again before drinking his tea cup in one gulp. Joshua had hope when Junhui mentioned that you could help all wounds, but now that hope shattered just like it had when Jeonghan couldn't help him.

"Do you know her magic type? Born or learned, I mean." You asked and Joshua had to think about it for awhile. She had mentioned learning it, but he didn't know for certain anymore. Not wanting to think about her anymore, Joshua shut his mind once more and you held out your hand. Knowing what you meant, Joshua slowly let his hand touch yours and his body instantly reacted again.

"It's not a killing curse, I can sense that much." You explained, making Joshua open his eyes once more before slowly nodding. He knew that much, she had said so much when she cursed him.

"You'll be doomed when you love another."

"That's not very lady-like." A comment that normally would annoy you, now only made you chuckle. You had to admit that Joshua was right with his teasing, your skirt was pulled to your knees and the loose sleeveless top probably made you look very funny to others. You knew that Joshua only teased, however, as he came closer your way, you didn't even need your mind reading for that.

"Why are you out so late?" "Couldn't sleep..." You confessed and Joshua gave an empathic smile, sitting down on the bench as he looked to the stars. His eyes were drooping, but he refused to fall asleep. He didn't want to dream and Jihoon wasn't here, so there was no potion for him to not dream during sleep. So he'd stay awake until Jihoon returned and he'd scold the younger when he did for not make him some in advance.

You sat beside him, a bit closer than he expected you to sit, and softly sighed. Then you laid your head down on his shoulders, which made Joshua noticed that your horns had fallen off.

"It's normal, don't worry. It's like shedding." You were quick to explain, making Joshua nod in relief. His eyes remained on the stars for a few more seconds until he heard soft snores from you, only making a smile appear on his face as he laid his head on yours. Soon enough, he too fell asleep underneath the stars.

Joshua didn't expect to see you, not so early in the morning and certainly not during his meeting with Seungcheol. Yet you were, running in with the brightest smile and a paper held tightly in your hand. Joshua recognized it easily as a document of someone, but it wasn't until he read the name that he realized whose.

"She learned sorcery." You stated, which caused to room to go quiet as all waited for an explanation. Jihoon did seem to get it, patting Joshua on the back softly.

"You're not cursed, you haven't been since she died." You explained softly and that was something that everyone gasped at. Joshua got up slowly, walking your way and grabbing the paper from your hand, skimming over the letters before looking back up at you.

"I'm not cursed..." He softly mumbled before a smile appeared on his face, brighter than you had ever seen before. Then you were suddenly lifted off the ground, spun around by Joshua as he laughed freely. When your feet touched the ground again, you didn't have a chance to say anything as you were suddenly kissed. Joshua seemed to realize seconds later and pulled back, staring at you for a couple of seconds before dropping his hands. You just smiled at him, pecking his lips softly before turning to the boys.

"Sorry to interrupt you guys, I'll take my leave now." You said and the others laughed, shaking their heads.

"Take Joshua with you, he won't concentrate anymore!" Jeonghan yelled and Joshua took his shot, winking at his friend before dragging you out of the room. His smile didn't disappear, if anything it only grew brighter with every step he took. The walk to the garden wasn't for, not with how fast the two of you were running, and when you reached it, Joshua pulled you down to the ground. Sitting between thousands of flowers made you smile, liking how pretty they looked and the smell they gave off was relaxing.

"Stay with me. Don't leave, please." Joshua pleaded and you could hear the soft anxiety in his voice, one that only made your heart ache. Raising your hands to his face, you softly placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I won't leave you, ever. I'll travel to the elven kingdom from time to time, but I'll always come back to you. I can't and I won't leave you." You confessed to him, hoping that your sincerity was clear enough to make his worries disappear. Leaning his head in your hand, he nodded shortly and let out a sigh. He believed you, he wanted too. So he'd trust you for now and hoped that you would stay true to your word.

"I will." You promised again, kissing him a final time on the lips before giving him a reassuring smile.

"You're stuck with me from now on."

[im-immortal]

Small Miracles

Beth Greene is not dead. Though it is not for a lack of trying.

After eight long years spent in the CRM's grasp, struggling to find reasons to continue surviving, Beth finally finds her reason: Rick and Daryl are alive, and they are closer than she ever could've guessed. Now she must take advantage of her only opportunity to escape and track them down.

Along the way, she revisits all of the places that changed her into who she has become. And she is forced to remember who she truly is at heart despite how unrecognizable she finds herself.

But she has an unexpected ally along for the journey. Just the same as her, he is somewhat of a living miracle. Except he's no longer living... he's a walker.

Chapter 17 // Part 9: Grady Memorial Hospital

There is still plenty of evidence of the mass bombings that occurred right after The Turn, but more than that, there is evidence of time and weather eating away at everything. Nature is reclaiming what has been abandoned by humans. The once-pristine buildings are now covered in sprawling ivy and patches of moss, the neatly-manicured parks and lawns are overgrown and flowing out into the streets. There are flowers and lush green plants everywhere. The trees have grown taller, larger, more formidable than ever before. Strange fungi sprout up in even stranger places. Birds fly overhead, flocking from one tree to the next, making nests in the ledges of shattered windows and calling out to one another. Beth spots stray cats and wild dogs darting from one dark place to another, no longer accustomed to the presence of living humans and wary of the very sound, hiding away as soon as she rounds a corner or takes a step in their direction. There are field mice, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, and even deer in places where, a decade ago, they would’ve never dared tread. At one point, Mae stops and lets out a little gasp. Beth whips her head around, expecting the worst, but only finds Mae turning to her with a wide smile on her face. She holds out one hand and Beth sees multiple ladybugs crawling across her skin from where she reached into an overgrown patch of leaves stretching out from the shattered window of a convenience store.  “Look at ‘em!” Mae whispers loudly, her eyes filled with wonder as she watches the ladybugs crawl up and around her wrist and lower arm, some of them getting caught on the edges of her long sleeve. Beth feels something twist inside her chest. A memory flashes through her mind very briefly: a single ladybug settled on a leaf, crawling onto her finger as she patiently waited and gazed at it with a dream-like wonder. The first thing to bring a smile to her face in many days. Gale says, “A sign of good luck.” Mae carefully brushes the insects off her skin and back to the leaves they occupied. “Let’s hope so.” Beth doesn’t say anything, but she most certainly agrees. Only a couple of hours after noon, with the sun high in the sky and beating down upon them, they reach Grady Memorial Hospital. Beth stands in the middle of the street and stares up at the burnt-out shell of what was once a grand building. She does not dare circle around to the other side, already well aware of what awaits her there: the various abandoned cars, one of which she had been laid to rest in by her own family. She doesn’t even know if that car is still there. She doesn’t want to know.