#that also manifests in her i guess? both shadow creatures and the little guys from the lunar island will be hostile towards her

[automatonknight]

juuust realized that actually wx would probably also be a little bit jealous of walenty because as a werething she has connections to the moon

[fic-chi]

100 Prompts in (late) celebration of hitting 200 followers

This was truly a rough year for us, eh? Some of us who made it through the pandemic, the shitstorm that is the American govt, and all around bullshittery destiny through at us have made it through, and, boy, an I so proud of you all! I've been having a hard time myself. 100 prompts aren't as easy as I anticipated, but here it is! As always, if you like my prompts or use them, please tag me! I'd love to see your interpretation!

1. "Nothing short of hellfire could possibly keep me from coming home."

2. "The skies weep when you tell me goodbye."

3. "There's a real possibility, right now, that mom let in a racoon the house thinking it was Bubby."

4. "Mad at you? I thought you were mad at me."

5. "No one, not even you who were so cruel to others, deserved to be punished in this way."

6. "I don't remember my past lives, but I guess it's innate to find you every time."

7. "Sometimes, we have to sacrifice things in order to keep the ones we hold dear safe. Sometimes, the thing we must sacrifice is ourselves."

8. "I-I didn't know you'd be home, but I got you an "I'm sorry for embarrassing you at the dinner" cake."

9. "Honey! The kids took another stray home!"

10. "Humans are vile creatures, yes, and ridding the Earth of them all could solve so many problems. But, to rid the world of human violence, it will also rid the world of human kindness."

11. Sleepy are the hearts that await a love most deserved.

12. "You do some bad things, but that doesn't mean you're a bad kid."

13. "This is nothing but a small price to pay for the privilege of cherishing you."

14. From their fingers, they casted one last desperate spell, hoping it would hit before darkness claimed them forever.

15. She sat in the dark, allowing the cold embrace of shadow lull her to bed.

16. He clung to what he could, his fingertips tearing away from the bones leaving streaks of sticky blood on the concrete walls.

17. "The world does suck, but I'll be damned if I'm going through it alone."

18. "Don't think too hard on that. He's one of those high intelligence, low wisdom guys."

19. "Every wish you made with your heart was heard. I promise."

20. "They say when you're drunk, you forget, but I seem to miss you more."

21. "It must be magic or something because I can't think of a reason why you're still here with me."

22. Soft candle light danced in the shine of her eyes like how the stars danced in the sky.

23. Everything she touched became so beautiful.

24. Forests of sunflowers, radiant as can be, were the domain of sprites and me.

25. From her bag, she pulled out a golden feather quill to make her final wish.

26. A trio of siblings, a band of brethren, to be forever connected both on this plane and whatever plane awaits them.

27. "Y'know, sweetie, everyone deserves to be loved even when you, yourself, believe you don't deserve it."

28. The bed already felt empty before he left.

29. "After all you've done to me, I must be drunk to still love you, but I haven't touched a drink since you left."

30. She was like a painting come to life with such perfection in her imperfections.

31. She held his face in her hands, lightly rubbing his cheeks, knowing that tomorrow will only bring heartbreak.

32. "I cry for you, feel for you, but who will do that for me?"

33. "Can't you take me home one last time?"

34. With his life fading ever more, he sweetly uttered their name as his body crumbled to nothingness.

35. "Dear diary, I'm back on my bullshit, and I'm not sorry."

36. As much as the loneliness ate away at her heart, she couldn't risk letting anyone in her heart to destroy what little she had left.

37. "Perhaps, you never needed to get piss drunk to forget someone. Lucky you..."

38. "I-I'm really trying here, but you're making me feel like my efforts are unappreciated."

39. The same nightmare plagued them these past several months when  things from the nightmare begin to manifest in real life.

40. After the loss of their creator and purpose of existence, an Android is met with a dilemma in the form of a lost baby.

41. "You have to get this right because you can't go marrying an orc and braid like you don't have thumbs."

42. "I know this is awkward because I never meant to release the great devil of the 7th Circle of Hell nor have intentions of making a deal, but I did make too much pasta again."

43. "My Hell ain't fire and white hot coals. My Hell is a big beautiful home with an equally big yard with no one, no family or friends, to share it with."

44. "Dying ain't too scary, but, I'll tell you what, if dying means I'll be alone on the other side, you can consider me terrified."

45. "Either my parents were cursed with over sensitive children, or I was cursed being born into a cruel family, and I don't know which is worse."

46. "Let me return to a time when everything was still perfect."

47. "Take this heart from me! The weight of a human heart is too much for me to bear."

48. "So many words bubble up in my throat when I see you, but all I want to tell you is you're beautiful."

49. "I can't even remember what I was worried about when the sight of you melted away all my anxiety."

50. "From just the simple touch of our fingertips, I already felt the sparks, baby."

51. Her eyes, just the right shade of amber, caught mine, and time slowed and only we existed.

52. "I could never let you go. Not even the strongest of winds or hottest of fires could get me to."

53. "I, uh jeez, I really wanted to say something, but I got all caught up in your radiance."

54. Curse my weak heart! Tomorrow, I will confess my feelings to him or forget it all!

55. "Theft! There's been a theft! My heart's been taken!"

56. "Pfft, you're not as scary as you make yourself out to be, ya know."

57. "You're either hungry or angry so have some pancakes first, jerk!"

58. "You didn't have to pack your whole house for a day trip!"

59. "You're a real piece of work, ya know, but you're hot so I guess I can let it go."

60. "I gotta thank sober me later for setting out the hangover kit."

61. "It's not hard to read you when you wear your heart on your sleeve."

62. "Gosh, my hands are just so cold! If only I had mittens, or gloves, or even the warmth of another pair of hands."

63. They felt like their mind was slowly losing itself the more they stayed in the same room as that person.

64. "Hey, give me some of your burdens to shoulder, too. You don't have to be afraid of me leaving you because of them."

65. The loving dreams have ceased, and my heart is missing its piece.

66. "I can be his mama AND his papa because, as long as that child needs a loving adult in his life, I'm not going anywhere."

67. In my dreams, I only see you, but my eyes open, upon the shiny light of day, and are pleasantly surprised to find my dream sleeping peacefully next to me.

68. "I'm afraid if I don't tell you now, you'll have lived your entire life not knowing how you had my heart and will always have it."

69. "Nice."

70. The world stopped and held it's breath as we danced under the moon, and your eyes captured the light of all the stars.

71. "Oh, spare me the lecture. I know you wish I was more like my brothers and sisters, and I'm sorry my existence itself is a pain, but you could at least pretend to love me."

72. "Oh, child, it doesn't matter that you were born of me or not because I can't imagine how to love you any more without suffocating you!"

73. "Sweetie, no matter what happens between us, you'll never be a mistake to me because there's no way I could ever stop loving you."

74. "Ain't nothing wrong with crying and snotting and drooling all over the place, sweetheart. Gotta let all that shit out so your heart don't have to carry all that hurt."

75. "I don't want you getting lost in the crowd so I guess you can hold my hand or whatever."

76. "I didn't buy extra food for you! I just happen to redeem my points on the night you were coming over... that's all."

77. "God save us all. I think your brother went to fix the fridge again."

78. No one could have survived that, yet he fervently rubbed his dear friend's hands and face, hoping that the pinkish blush color would return.

79. "Daffodils, honey, pine, and nectar, but the sweetest of them all is something that cannot be replicated, duplicated, or copied: you."

80. "I'm most afraid that, in my mind, you will be nothing more than a distant, flittering memory."

81. "Promise me! You must promise me that, in another life or another time, you'll find me again."

82. And then I was given a choice: love or reason.

83. "Why am I still a monster if she loved me?"

84. "My heart doesn't flutter for you anymore."

85. "Stay by my side... please."

86. The rumble of the bus lulled them to sleep, their hairs tickling my neck as they slowly drifted to my shoulder and to the land of dreams.

87. "You don't understand! There is- no, there must be something wrong with me, fundamentally... otherwise I'm, I'm just a terrible person for no reason."

88. "I want you to make me just another lovely memory for you to look back on. Can you do that for me, love?"

89. "The taste of your lips left me breathless."

90. "What good are my eyes if not to soak in the magnificence that is you?"

91. "Countless times I've poured my heart onto paper, proclaiming the absolute passion in my heart for you, but it always ends with me waking up."

92. "It breaks my heart to see that I haven't got yours while, at first sight, you've stolen mine."

93. "You are a beautiful candle flame for your warmth and comfort is something I can never grasp."

94. "I, normally, am eloquent, well spoken, among many other things, but, around you, I've become speechless."

95. "An anchor to the ship in my mind, you've become more than a friend in my eyes."

96. "Days, or months, or years have passed. I cannot tell you which for even a minute without you is eternity."

97. "I feel like I'm floating with you."

98. "You may not deserve someone to love, but am I not deserving to love you?"

99. "Even when you think you've hit rock bottom, and everyone's left you, I'll always be there."

100. "It was tough, huh? I'm so proud you got through the thick of it."

[madammuffins]

Character Creation

Character Creation Tag Game, tagged by the lovely @vhum s I’ll be focusing on are Abidan and Zee from Red Flags ( a work in progress that I’ve been neglecting in my slump but can be found on WattPad HERE)

1) What was the first element of your OC that you remember considering (name, appearance, backstory, etc.?)

Abidan: Nothing special at first. I just wanted this absolutely broken person. I think at the root of all people, the one thing everyone shares is their brokenness. We all have trauma and we all think our trauma is awful. But we aren’t awful. That’s the core idea of Abidan.

Zee: For a while, when things were going really, really bad in my life I just was like “WHat?! Am I cursed? Do I have some demon that’s just fucking things up for me?!” And... well, tah-dah! Years and mental stability later, Zee’s born.

2) Did you design them with any other characters/OCs from their universe in mind?

Abidan and Zee were both built completely with one another in mind. Their character concepts are as tightly interwoven as their abusive relationship and codependency is.

3) How did you choose their name?

I have a fetish for biblical names. I love things that aren’t common and are unique.  Also I really loved that old PS video game where you were Jen, an alien half breed that could morph into all these different forms and you have your little goblin friend who turned out to be, like, and angel trapped as a gargoyle. It was called Primal, the game. Anyway. Zee is actually short for Zephaniah which means God has hidden.

4) In developing their backstory, what elements of the world they live in played the most influential parts?

Zee: Zee is the “dark” half of the world. A necessary evil. A natural darkness, let’s say. She lives in the split dimension from the human world that all fae/magical creatures fled to when the industrial age reached it’s peak.

Abidan: Abidan is somehow purely human and yet the embodiment of good in the human dimension (realm, whatever). Somehow magic in it’s purest form has manifested itself and taken root as his soul causing him to attract all sorts of creatures naturally mischievous.

5) Is there any significance behind their hair colour?

Zee: Yes. I’m just tired of the age old bad/evil = dark/black. I think it’s sort of poetic that she’s kind of ethereal in appearance.

Abidan: Again I’m going more for irony in making him mixed raced. Plus I love the contrast between the two.

6) Is there any significance behind their eye colour?

Zee:

Sort of. Again the imagery, I feel like her appearance is to lure people in and trap them.

Abidan: Aside from genetics not really. His eyes are a hazel just because I like the idea that he has these brilliant greenish brown eyes against darker skin but... y’know. That’s just me.

7) Is there any significance behind their height?

Zee: Currently Zee is about 5′8″, tall for the average woman - but she’s also a “demon” who can be literally anything - a ball of light, a dragon, a mass of limbs, a nightmare. She just prefers feminine shapes and decided on a human form for a particular case. She likes being taller because she enjoys the attention and the power.

Abidan: He’s 6′.5″ Kinda tall, but not super tall. His limbs are thin and don’t quite fit his body. Long and gangling. Awkward. That is absolutely on purpose.

8) What (if anything) do you relate to within their character/story?

This story is kind of the outlet for all my abusive situations I guess. I mean, not outright. But it’s kinda therapeutic in a way and maybe that’s why I’m struggling with actually writing it - because it’s so stuck in me. Because it hurts. These things hurt to write about, to try and describe and translate into words - the fear, the comfort of the repetition. The expectation, being able to play a moment and know the outcome will be violence. It’s hard to... idk.

9) Are they based off of you, in some way?

Zee: Zee is complex in she is the abuse that I endured from my family and my lovers as well as the woman that I wish I had been and am striving to become. She’s in no way healthy, and she certainly is more one thing than the others.

Abidan: He is me, or how I feel like I was viewed and treated. This thing - this pathetic, awkward, ugly creature that had something people would just eat at and eat at and eat at until there was almost nothing left and yet somehow I still had more to give. This unending fount of love and support and... naivety and codependency. Abidan is everything I hated about myself and everything I try to preserve and everything I admire in other people.

10) Did you know what the OC’s sexuality would be at the time of their creation?

Zee: Yes. Zee don’t give a fuck. She’s just there to complete her mission - get her deal done. Sex is just sex, she doesn’t feel anything for humans or other demons. It’s not in her job description.

Abidan: I struggled a lot with Abidan. A huge part of me wanted to make him a gay man, then I wanted to do a lesbian couple, and then I struggled even more with the idea of not being able to correctly portray that and being demonized for it. So I stuck with the traditional male/female romance between the main characters, however it’s a gay romance that sparks the beginning of Zee’s spiraling abusive behavior.

11) What have you found to be most difficult about creating art for your OC (any form of art: Writing, drawing, edits, etc.)?

All of it. Like, I know these characters. I know them intimately. i write them in my head daily. But actually forming their story is... difficult and I don’t know if it’s a mental hangup or if it’s emotional... so I’m not going to push myself.

12) How far past the canon events that take place in their world have you extended their story, if at all?

Their story is almost completely finished in my head. It’s just not written.

13) If you had to narrow it down to 2 things that you MUST keep in mind while working with your OC, what would those things be?

Zee: (1) She is not ‘evil’, she is a creature of her world. Her behavior is normal and expected. “What is chaos for the fly is normal for the spider.” is very much a quote that defines the difference between their worlds, humans just happen to be the flies. (2) She is NOT healthy, she is NOT ‘good’. She is not ‘right’.

Abidan: (1) Everything that can go wrong will go wrong for him (2) Everything is his fault always all the time and he just wants someone to love him

14) What is something about your OC that can make you laugh?

Zee: She is always vexxed about the fact that she can’t be a shadow.

Abidan: The most mundane things turn into disasters and it’s so great.

15) What is something about your OC can make you cry?

Zee: She will never experience a good relationship. She wants one, some part of her craves it. She’ll never have it. Never.

Abidan: He’ll always love Zee. Always. He’ll hate her for the rest of his life but it will always be his fault and he’ll always blame himself and he’ll spend every moment over analyzing and replaying every detail thinking and rethinking... because if he had just done something, anything, different then maybe they would still be-

16) Is there some element you regret adding to your OC or their story?

Not yet. I mean, all the dark tones are difficult but I don’t regret them.

17) What is the most recent thing you’ve discovered about your OC?

Zee: She’s got these amazing moments where she’s so good and decent and it make you wonder... “Why?”

Abidan: Fuck this kid is an honest to God romantic.

18) What is your favourite fact about your OC?

Zee: I’ll never get over the fact that she was a dragon for a few hundred years.

Abidan: He’s such a fucking marshmallow. Just a soft, sweet guy

Tagging: @storyteller-kaelo @cececatina @lizziewriting @inkspilledqueen @clingingtowords @minny-king @inexorableblob @moraleewright @pens-swords-stuff @coffeeflavoredcookies

[kfdirector]

Student Awareness of Nonstandard Danger Society

The afternoon finally came.  Niewitzski watched as the students were clearly taking initiative; Craig and Tracey were setting up laptops with audio-visual equipment, Joe and Mario were sitting at the back of the classroom, smiling with satisfaction, and Stella was, of course, supervising.  Niewitzski kept his directive simple: “I want to know what we know!”

Stella saluted.  “Sir, at my direction Freshmen Reubens and Washington built a timeline of the data feeds from all sensors and collated all information!  Freshmen Reubens and Washington have valuable results to report, sir!”

“Neat.  Who found out...whatever it was?”

The two freshmen in glasses looked at each other and didn’t volunteer.

“Sir, science is a team effort!  Now then, Freshmen Reubens and Washington will make the report, sir!”

Craig turned on a projector and pulled down the screen at the front of the room.  Tracey stood by the screen, and gulped.

“Relax, Miss Washington.  This isn’t for a grade.”

“Well, yes.  Umm.  This is the monster from the 27th.”

Niewitzski looked at the slide, and could not disagree: it was the monster from September 27th.

“I mean, uh, this is the monster when examined under wavelengths visible to the human eye.  This is what you saw. Next slide, Craig.”  A very similar monster appeared, only in shades of red.  “This is the monster when examined under a segment of the infrared portion of the light spectrum.”

Niewitzski frowned.  “O-okay....”

“Freshman Washington!  The faculty advisor of SANDS is missing the significance of this data!  Please elaborate!”

“Oh, right, okay.  Um, overlay, Craig.”

The visible-spectrum slide was now overlaid on the infrared slide, showing two monsters, side by side.  Niewitzski still didn’t - oh.  Oh? The monsters were side by side, but the backgrounds were in sync!

“Um, as you can see, I hope, in infrared, the monster leaves a perfect after-image of its previous location.  With this particular infrared filter, we can see where the monster was about twenty-two seconds in the past.”

“That is - that is not how infrared works.  That’s insane.”

“Sir, it gets much more insane!  Prepare to have your mind blown, sir!”

“Um, let’s just skip ahead and overlay the ultraviolet filter, Craig.”  Several slides were bypassed with quick clicks. “This is the monster in a ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, at the same time stamp.  As you can see, with this particular filter, the monster can be clearly seen at a different location. If you fast-forward ahead in the video - yes, like that, this is the location that the monster appears at in the visible spectrum about twenty-two seconds later.”

“We’re past insane and into impossible.  Ultraviolet light does not see through time.  That’s not how anything works, not even a little - ”

“Science has only begun to be slapped around for its lunch money, sir!”

Tracey gave a small cough.  “Um, I need to point out, Mister Niewitzski, that under the infrared and ultraviolet filters, light was only emitted from the monster’s past and future locations, not from its present one, while every other object behaved normally.  Also, the readings we got on Friday night were largely consistent, although the time separation was only nineteen seconds.  Okay, Craig, next section, please.”

The screen changed from false-color images of monsters to something that looked like an oscilloscope or an EEG - that is, there were a lot of waves being charted on the screen, and Niewitzski had no idea what any of them meant.

“While the creatures were active, Mister Niewitzski, signals were being broadcast on several little-used radio bands that sort of resemble brain waves.  When the creature from the 27th was shot by Officer Gale, and when the creature from Friday was struck by your car, the signals became erratic.  At the moment they vanished, the signals went completely flat.”

Niewitzski stroked his beard.  “That sounds really unlikely, although not seeing-through-time unlikely, but potentially very useful.  About how far away could these waves be detected?”

“Um, there were really strong signals.  Probably throughout the metro area.  So, using a radio direction finder tuned to the frequencies I’ve noted on - next slide, Craig - we could track these monsters.  Both monsters used the same frequencies.  Also, these are almost completely unused by normal radio traffic.  So, any signal on them at all above the standard atmospheric noise could function as a good early warning system.”

The teacher grinned.  “That frees us from the police scanners.  But...why and how are the monsters broadcasting their thoughts on the electromagnetic spectrum?”

“Sir!  With Freshman Reubens’ input, I have arrived at a hypothesis, sir!”

“With Craig’s input?  Uh oh.”

“Sir, these beings are clearly in flagrant violation of many laws of science as we know them in this universe!”

“Right.”

“Therefore, sir, I propose that they are not native to this universe!  The monsters have found themselves here, and they possess a set of characteristics that are, in their native universe, perfectly reasonable and internally consistent characteristics for monsters to have!  However, in this universe, some of these characteristics are perhaps measured in different ways, or along different axes, than they are in their home.  Therefore, sir, while in this universe, they are walking incarnations of dividing by zero!  I am aware that it is possible in higher math to approximate division by zero, but in normal math it results in two equalling one, so please bear with the metaphor, sir!  With every step, they are throwing up read-errors in the very nature of reality, and those manifest as these violations of science!”

“...you came up with this theory on Craig’s help, yes?”

“Freshman Reubens’ input was invaluable in the formation of this hypothesis, sir!”

“I bet it was.  I’m with you one hundred percent up through, maybe, the first sentence, that they’re not from around here.  Everything after that is...it, ah, needs more data.”

Stella shrugged, as if she hadn’t just spent a minute vehemently shouting this theory and so wasn’t that invested in it.

“Question.”

Tracey called on Joe, at the back of room 203.  “Yes?”

“So, if we wear glasses with ultraviolet filters or whatever, we can see where that thing’s going to be twenty-two seconds before it gets there?  So Mario and I can see where it’s going to swing and we can then be, y’know, not there when it does swing?”

Mario muttered.  “Twenty-two seconds is a longass time in a fight.  Give me just two, please.”

Niewitzski slammed his fist on his desk for dramatic emphasis; Craig jumped.  “Okay, yeah, that’s the problem with this part! This all violates causality in a big way, I mean, straight up time paradox here!  How could we see where that thing’s going to attack next, when the very fact that we’d just make sure not to be there would cause it to not bother attacking there in the first place?”

Tracey sighed.  “I don’t know, Mister Niewitzski.  All we have our observations on the cameras with the filters.  We should test this further in our next battle by equipping the four of you with headsets that apply the ultraviolet filter in real time, and see what happens.”

“Even if it causes a time paradox and breaks the universe?  And what do you mean, four?”

“Sir, if you think I’m going to keep staying in the van, you’re some kind of shithead, sir!”

“Um, well, and we won’t know if a time paradox breaks the universe until we try, sir.”

According to legend, Niewitzski had heard, right before the atomic bomb test at Trinity the scientists had done calculations to determine whether the atmosphere itself might catch fire.  It was the only comparable situation that came to mind, and yet it had both lower stakes and more qualified scientists working on it.  “So, last question, then: why are they here?”

Craig spoke up.  “They’re being summoned, Mister Niewitzski, that’s still my guess.”

Niewitzski waved that off.  “These are apparently things from another dimension.  Magic conjuring circles aren’t going to do the trick.  Do you really think Tony Hayes - assuming he even was responsible - was really the first one to muck around with magic and see if it could work?”

“Maybe he was the first one to find something that worked!  Magic is all about the experimentation, Mister Niewitzski, that’s why they even have Books of Shadows.”

He did not find that plausible.  “Humans have been screwing around with magic for probably longer than we’ve been hitting rocks with other rocks, and Tony is the first guy who finds something that works?  I’m doubting that.”

“Hey, Coach,” Mario cut in.  “Summoned doesn’t just mean ‘by magic’, does it?  Maybe there’s some government or university lab that’s playing with weird science.”

“That’s possible, I guess, but ‘Coach’ is really more Joe’s thing.  Okay, that’s...well, I can’t think how they would stumble on this, but apparently the natural laws I’ve been leaning on all my life aren’t as ironclad as I’ve been hoping.  Hmm.”  He scratched his beard.  “Can these things be summoned remotely, or are they being sent from a central point?  All of the attacks that we know about are in this county, which is suggestive, but we’ve been relying on police reports until now.”

The students nodded.  “So, we need to use the radio frequencies Miss Washington listed to prepare for the next attack.  Even more important than destroying the monster will be tracking its initial appearance, and the time it is in existence before being spotted, as well as its location.  With a few more data points, I think we can apply some principles of geographic profiling to narrow down the origin of these monsters, and thereby stem the problem at its source.”

And, hopefully, that source would not be, say, anyone he knew personally.

“SANDS, are you with me?”

Of course, they were.  All the way.

Even to the point of Craig volunteering to shimmy up a radio tower and install an antenna to aid in their new monitoring plan; Tracey using her careful handwriting to forge backdated paperwork protecting the SANDS’ right to operate as a school club; Mario helping Niewitzski repair his car; and - well, the less he knew about what Joe and Stella might be doing to arm or finance their operation, the better he felt.

But yes, they were with him, all the way.

[esseastri]

Megan Reads Oathbringer (part 8)

AAAAANND WE’RE BACK!

Hello, fronds, apologies for the brief hiatus, but I had to pause the reading/liveblogging because I was busy finishing my novel. YEP, I FINISHED WRITING MY BOOK, WHOOO! And then it was December, and there was Christmas, and traveling, and retail job at Christmas, and Star Wars, and what little time I had to myself I spent chilling because I was exhausted, but ANYWAY, I’M BACK, FRONDS, LET’S GET ON WITH THIS.

Part 8 encompasses pages 557-666 (previous parts) 

whooooops where did I leave off, OKAY INTERLUDES

Why...why are we doing anything near Aimia? Listen: Axies the Collector is cool, but two-thousand-cremlings-in-a-trench-coat was waaayyy too far over the horror line for me. I do not want more of this.

So...there’s a third storm? But this one is stationary and around Aimia?

MORE REASON NOT TO GO THERE

Whoa, that sure is a side effect of Soulcasting... #yikes

Or is it not soulcasting? Is it something Radiant?

Oh fuck. Fine. This is fine. You know, the previous Stormlight books didn’t have this much body horror in them.

Ahh, shit, wasn’t there an Oathgate on Akinah? I don’t want a direct line to  two-thousand-cremlings-in-a-trench-coat.

“the creatures that accompanied the spren” So...like......their Cognitive shadows? the versions of them still in the Cognitive Realm even as bits of them manifest visibly in the physical? Or...something else?

I’m sorry, did they just...die?

What the

What even is Aimia, really?

Mmmkay, actually, I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know the secret of Aimia, I am not interested in being EATEN by two-thousand-cremlings-in-a-trench-coat.

Genuis!Taravangian is an asshole. I’m not surprised, I’m just. Stating a fact.

!!!! Are his secretary and the Dustbringer a thing? Are they together? Get it, girls!

I still don’t trust the Dustbringer.

Aslo “the most likely to accept their cause” Why? Is the “cause” like...destroying the world? I don’t remember if we know the Diagram’s endgoals.

...There’s a danger line for the “too smart” end of the sliding scale? Smart.

Also his name is Vargo? Vargo Taravangian? hehehehehe

IT’S NOT ABOUT DESERVE.

I think I hate him.

Dumb question: if Taravangian wants to take over Alethkar--presumably so he can take over the world--then aren’t he and Dalinar working toward the same goal? They both want a unified Roshar. So why kill Dalinar instead of working with him? The logical solution is to work with him, since he’s more charismatic and has a higher chance of actually succeeding, and then kill him off after he’s succeeded in laying the groundwork, and take over from there?

Not that I’m encouraging this, I’m just saying: Taravangian needs to sort out his priorities.

“kill those children” seriously, fuck this asshole, what a douchecanoe.

Also Renarin the wild card HECK YES.

The farming question can be easily answered: Progression.

Not all the Radiants’ powers were battle powers.

“the part of the world that mattered” OH FUCK YOU. That’s not how it works. It’s not about deserve. It’s about having the ability to help, which gives you the responsibility to help. If you can, then you should. No exceptions. No “matters”. Everyone matters. Everything matters. Everyone deserves to be saved.

Except maybe Kylo Ren, but that’s a different story.

Buddy. Odium already made a deal. He wants out of it now. Also he’s not a spren or a god, so why should your pathetic rules hold him?

Oh. Duh. Somehow I didn’t connect Listeners and gemhearts? But of course they do. How else would they bind spren? They infuse their hearts.

Oooohhhhh snap, they done got possessed.

Aw, Venli...things not going your way anymore?

Idk, I should feel bad for her, but I don’t? She brought this on herself. And on her friends. And on her sister, who is still dead. This is her fault.

“The listener gods were not completely sane.” I mean, idk what you expected.

Though, neither are our gods, so I guess we can’t talk.

Seriously, what did Alethkar do to them?

Oh. Wait. Where was Jezrien from? King of the Heralds, right? Prooobably his idea to make the OAthpact? His fault they were bound? That’s probably what Alethkar did to them...

Oooh, the new epigraphs are from the library at Urithiru! Heck ye, Radiant archives!

Though Taln and the Stonewards need to take a chill pill on the self-sacrificing front, apparently.

(Eks would be a Stoneward, pass it on)

Wait, no, hold on--the whole of part three with no Moash pov? But I’m WORRIED about MY BOY.

I’m unnecessarily suspicious of literally every guard that’s not Bridge Four. But particularly of this Rial guy. What is he, Bridge Thirteen? I don’t trust him. At all. He’s too...glib? with Dalinar to be a proper bridgeman. Around other bridgemen, fine, but with Dalinar? I don’t trust it.

I’m with Navani. “The greasy man is...unfitting.”

ooohh, Dalinar...... he “reminds him of friends from the old days.” Tho, bud, how many of those died, betrayed you, or left to become ardents?

Dalinar should know by now to just...not trust people implicitly. Always question.

I really, genuinely can’t imagine how awkward Kaladin and Shallan’s excursion to Theylan City was. Didn’t they fly? Shallan was probably all SCIENCE!! about it and Kaladin was definitely grumpy “let me fly in peace” boy. Nerds.

Sorry, hold on--you’re counting on Kaladin “Impulsive” Stormblessed and Adolin “Disaster Bi” Kholin to make sure Elhokar doesn’t do anything stupid? That’s like asking two kittens to babysit the new puppy.

“I can’t afford to lose you.” AAaaahhh

omg, no, don’t give Kaladin land. What will he do with it? Turn it into the Land of Misfit Bridgecrews?

Five times...so what’s it been, 50 days? Not even? That’s so little time!!

“Or is someone else receiving [the prayers] instead?” ...Isn’t that just the most chilling thought.

There has to be an explanation beyond “The Heralds are nuts” for Shalash to be erasing herself from visual records.

I’m sorry, rockbuds blossom? and have fragrance? Stop and smell the rockbuds?

“I am a diplomat.” Yeah, and I’m a rockbud.

How is Taravangian such a good actor? Or is he really this emotional on days when he’s not a raging asshole of a genius?

Aw yis, non-hereditary monarchy! I love!

“Does it involve punching someone?” It’s Dalinar, so, what do you think?

“Stone-sinew, Herald of Soldiers.” But...Taln’s focus is bone? Ishar is sinew?

I suppose “Stone-bone, Herald of Soldiers” would be a little too ridiculous-sounding...

brb, changing my url to “stone-bone-herald-of-soldiers”

“It was as if Odium had a grudge against this one in particular.” SAD ABOUT TALN FOREVER: THE MEGAN STORY

I s2g Dalinar is the most Extra son of a bitch in all of Roshar.

HOw do I prove I’m not trying to take over your country? I know! I’ll let you stab me through the chest! This is the BEST IDEA.

oooooooo Tension, maybe?

TENSION!! THIS SHIT IS SO COOL OMG

Also his special power--resonance? right?--is listening and that’s delightful. Or...I’m guessing that’s what it is.

Heck ye, Renarin!

“Strength and passion, the Vorin way.” In other words...Honor and Odium....hmm

So it’s Kaladin, Elhokar, Shallan, Adolin, Skar, Drehey, and...who? Some other bridgemen? It’s gonna be a fun roadtrip, tbh.

Buddy, Shallan ignoring her problems IS a problem! Don’t support this impulse! Don’t encourage this!

omg of COURSE Adolin hates flying. Nerd.

“No wisecracks about missing boots?” No, because that wasn’t funny.

“First assess the area for danger, get the lay of the land. Then gawk.” I LOVE MY SON SO MUCH, WHAT A TRAVEL NERD, BUT ALSO #SAME BRO

...we knew that Elhokar had a kid, but every time I’m reminded of it, I get really weirded out. He’s not old enough to be a dad.

PLease meet up with Moash. Please. I’m dying. My crops are failing. My skin is dry. Help me.

the advantage of living through Bridge Four is that you can sleep well anywhere? Well, I mean. I GUESS That’s an advantage. Sort of.

OH of COURSE it’s an Unmade. We do have eight more of those to encounter and deal with.

Whose is this though? Kaladin’s? Or are Elhokar or Adolin finally going to manifest?

(This is assuming that my theory about there being one Unmade for each order of Radiants to defeat is sound.)

Elhokar is trying so hard to be good.

Also Shallan is mean to Kaladin again, news at nine. *rolls eyes*

So, it’s going to be Kaladin’s Unmade then.

Elhokar, you know that the more you tell yourself you’re going to fail, the more likely you will? Stop it. Have confidence.

“Adolin made you want to laugh with him.” Yeah, he doesn’t punch down.

Also, the Kadolin is REAL, and I’m living.

Kaladin really is too good for this world.

I’m sorry, the fancy lighteyes’ gated villas have guards to keep the refugees off their perfectly manicured lawns? Fuck that. Fuck them.

“I needed someone I’d trust with my life, or more. So I brought us to my tailor.” THIS CHILD IS A DISASTER AND I LOVE HIM

Oh snap! we’ve made it halfway through the book!

“Even his voice was adorable.” HONESTLY, people who don’t ship Shadolin: how? It’s so pure and good and supportive and wonderful!

How did Aesudan know the parshmen were voidbringers? And why did she order them killed only to desert the city?

I suppose fabrials do trap and use spren, right? So it makes sense that the yellowgold...voidspren? would be offended by that sort of...I guess, spren enslavement? Sort of? But why are they so concentrated here? Which Unmade is it and what does it do other than corrupt other spren? and influence people.

How To Corrupt Spren and Influence People, a new bestseller by Odium, found in stores near you!

“I am the only one here who has confronted one of the Unmade directly.” Yeah, you, the Kholin bros, and most of Bridge Four who protected you while you did your thing. But sure.

Kaladin, when will you stop seeing your brands as part of yourself and let yourself heal?

Aw, I’m proud of her, admitted Veil is--oh. “They are both equally fake.” Hon, no... please. Talk to someone about this.

Aharietiam, or as I like to call it, “that other stupidly long and impossible-to-pronunce “A”-word.”

Sorry, but the fact that Shallan takes pleasure in pissing Kaladin off-- “he glared at you in the most satisfying of ways” --is really....gross. Uncomfortable. I’m not here for it.

Like, yeah, teasing is fine, but like... if it strays over from teasing into Actively Pushing Someone’s Buttons Just to Make Them Angry, then it’s BAD, okay? It’s really bad. I can say from experience: it’s very bad.

Well, I mean, that explains why no one’s come back from the palace.

“As a connoisseur of things that have killed me...” honestly. what are we up to now? Poison bread. Shipwreck and drowning. Run through with a sword. Dear god, child, you need to be more careful.

Kaladin making bad puns and smiling is giving me life though. Petition for more.

So, the Skybreakers and the Windrunners did not get along? Justice vs. Honor, I suppose...not unexpected. Especially is one is corrupted.

Isn’t Ishar...Bondsmiths? Herald of Luck? Are you sure?

“He is now as mad as the rest. More, perhaps.” Yeah, I got that vibe from Edgedancer.

Shit. Of course he set himself up as a god-king.

(He and the Lord-Ruler should make t-shirts.)

Dangit, Ishar founded the Oathpact, so bang goes that theory about Jezrien and Alethkar and the listeners.

“The Stormfather hated to be misquoted.” Pppfffft.

HECK YE, Bridge Four got a sword!!

Also omg Navani invented alarm clocks. Bless her.

She packed him lunch! BLESS THESE ADORABLE NERDS. God, they are ridiculous.

Dalinar hitching a ride to Azir with Jasnah and her just going, “Byyyeeeeee” and leaving him alone is HILARIOUS to me.

I wonder if the color of the gemstones in the epigraphs correspond to the radiant orders. Like, if the Windruners recorded in sapphire, and the Lightweavers recorded in garnet, etc.

Okay, I went back and checked, and that seems legit. I’m going to guess that’s been #confirmed by people who finished this book earlier than me, but listen.

“covered by a magnificent bronze dome” Lift voice: “boobies” Me: snrk

SPIRITUAL ADHESION!? WTF THIS IS SO COOL

OMG, he brought them an essay, that’s magnificent. Especially because they all had to write essays to apply to be king. Or.. Prime? WHATEVER THAT’S HILARIOUS AND I LOVE AZIR SO MUCH

hello, I love Jasnah, this is news to no one, but girl wrote an essay in rhythmic meter and *melts*

...the Azish parshmen negotiating for pay is...very Azish of them. And the Alethi parshmen gathering for war is very Alethi. And the Theylan parshmen sailing off into the sunset is very Theylan of them.

HA, Dalinar just said the same thing in the next paragraph, go me.

LIFT ATE HIS LUNCH, I LOVE HER, HELLO BBY I’VE MISSED YOU

“The crazy spren who lives in the forest.” 1. I love Lift a lot. 2. uuhhh...we know the Heralds are crazy, and I assumed Odium was crazy, but Cultivation, too?? Is ANYONE here sane anymore?

oh wow they agreed.

didn’t...see that coming. Not with so much book left.

OOOHHH SNAP HE REMEMBERS. HERE WE GO HERE WE GO AAHHHH

Every time I’m reminded that Adolin is only, like, 24yo, I have to tell myself that I was about that old when WoR came out and he’s not actually a child.

Anyway, 12yo Adolin is a gift. “Neat!” this kiddo aahhh

“It was gratifying to see how much one could accomplish in both politics and trade by liberally murdering the other fellow’s soldiers.” PUNK!DALINAR NEEDS TO LOOK AT HIS LIFE AND HIS CHOICES AND RECONSIDER HIS WORD CHOICE AT THE VERY LEAST

hugs are un-Alethi. this is why they have so many issues. they are emotionally constipated from lack of hugs.

“The other son” fuck you, punk!Dalinar

also “she’d never be a great scribe” yeah, that’s ‘cause she’s left-handed, you Vorin jerks

haaaa, he has a point. That even if he and Gavilar know that he wouldn’t ever betray Gavilar for the throne, Gavilar’s advisors aren’t stupid and will find reasons for Dalinar to be...elsewhere.

“Storms, I don’t deserve her, do I?” NO YOU FREAKING DON’T

tbh, I’m not even sure present-day Dalinar deserves her. Like, he’s better now, but he’s still... a soldier. He’s still a strategist. And Evi deserves a soft, gentle person who loves her.

Evi deserves the world, tbh, and I’m Upset because she’s going to die and I’m going to be Sad.

[ramennoodlesandnarusasu]

A kiss never forgotten

*Chap 1: A drunken night*

*Chap 2: A blurred night*

*Chap 3: The bath house*

*Chap 4: A Thousand pieces*

*Chap 5: Heart beat*

*Chap 6: Surprise*

*Chap 7: Sunsets, trees and you*

*Chap 8: What now?*

*Chap 9: Healing the unfixable*

*Chap 10: So, this is it?*

*Chap 11: What now?*

*Chap 12: Kids and kisses*

*Chap 13: Its time*

*Chap 14: Tears*

Chap 15: Somethings different?

Naruto looked at his face in the mirror, his face was drained of pigment, eyes strained and heavily blood shot. He hadn’t seen Hinata or his children in over a week, it was killing him to not go over there and literally bash the door down.

It was hurting Naruto, all of this felt like hell to him, not seeing his children, worrying constantly about what Hinata may have said.

Has she said something bad about Naruto? Or worse about Sasuke?

What if they hated him? What if they wanted nothing to do with him now? Did he ruin any chance of having a happy relationship with his children so he could chase his own happiness? How could he be so selfish?

“Naruto your up again? This is not helping, thinking the worst situations. Baby please just give it a week more before you go and talk to her?”

Naruto looked up at Sasuke with deeply heavy eyes, he wanted to hope that he was right that he was only over worrying about the whole situation but in reality, he was crumbling inside, his mind at that moment was his worse enemy.

“Sasuke it’s been a week, she hasn’t come to see me and what if she told the kids some horrible stuff about us?”

Sasuke adjusted his silk night gown whilst keeping constant eye contact with Naruto. He moved forwards slowly. The light bouncing off of Sasuke’s silk gown danced around smoothly creating a midnight sky colour.

Naruto was so mesmerized by his boyfriend, he could not mentally comprehend how he always looked like an angel that collapsed straight from the heavens at all occasions especially considering he just got out of bed.

Sasuke’s hair was loosely dangling in front of his eyes, his long fingers struggled to move some strands which had broken free and started to bother his vision.

Naruto tensed when Sasuke touched his shoulder to comfort him, he slowly came forward and pressed his warm lips on Naruto’s cheek, leaving a trail of butterflies which set Naruto’s skin on fire.

“Naruto, look at yourself.”

Naruto did exactly that, he saw a man drained of sleep. Purple skin deepening under his eyes, golden hair messily tangled in several knots. How has one week of worry turn him into this? How could Hinata do this to him again?

“Can you honestly tell me that worrying is helping? You are running yourself to the ground.”

Naruto was so sleep deprived and swamped with various emotions that the next thing he did he would regret so deeply.

“You would have no idea what I feel Sasuke, you barely see your daughter, I don’t know what kind of family you are trying to hold onto…”

“Fuck I’m sorry, I…”

Sasuke quickly removed his hand from Naruto’s shoulder. “Naruto, don’t treat me like I am your enemy. I am not Hinata, I am not the person who ran you down to the ground. You weren’t yourself for how many fucking years? Your family may have seemed normal from the outside but fuck sake you have been crumbling since the words, I do.”

Naruto was exhausted and mad, he was taking out his pain on Sasuke when all he did was give a shit about him, something he didn’t have with Hinata. How could he be treating Sasuke like this?

“I know I’m sorry Sasuke, I was out of line, forgive me?”

“Hmph”.

Sasuke potted whilst crossing his arms in frustration, but his breathing had seemed to simmer down to normal capacity.

“I just wish I could see my kids again Sasuke.”

“And you will, in time, if you really want you could go barging in right now, it’s your house after all. But wait one more week, I promise it will be okay.”

Naruto looked at crimson eyes which still seemed a tad pissed off and put his faith in them. If those eyes, warm lips and hands would lead him to salvation, he would follow them till the ends of the earth.

“Okay Sasuke.”

“Bed?”

“Hm, yer okay.”

-1 week later-

“I’m nervous Sasuke.”

Sasuke placed a loving hand on Naruto’s shoulder, reassuring him that it will be okay.

“Huh…okay, let’s go.”

Naruto raised his hand, lingering for a few moments in anticipation before knocking three times on the door.

Silence, torturing silence. And then, noise. Food steps coming closer and closer, each creek of the wooden floor becoming louder, echoing in Naruto’s ears. Each creek striking more and more fear into his already flustered heart.

“Naruto, Sasuke… Thank you for coming, we have the house to ourselves so be comfortable.”

Naruto and Sasuke shared a small glance of suspension and fear, but nothing could have prepared them for what they would hear in the next hour. They followed Hinata into the house. They were hit by the scent of fresh baked cookies and rich coffee beans, a welcoming house full of life and colour.

Sasuke wasn’t moved by the homely feel of the place, his defences where still up and ready to jump at any time to protect Naruto from crumbling once again because of this woman.

“Hinata cut to the chase, why did you tell Naruto to come today and pre-warning I’m not afraid to fight a girl.”

Hinata looked up at Sasuke with wide eyes, but in 2 seconds she was laughing hysterically pushing tears aside.

“Sasuke trust me I don’t want to fight you, I actually called you over to apologize, have a seat and I can explain.”

Naruto and Sasuke were hesitant but ultimately complied with her. Once everyone was seated and served cookies and coffee Hinata let out a long sigh.

“So… I wanted to explain what happened to me that night and why I reacted so terribly.” Hinata tossed her dark hair away from her face, she sipped on the coffee slowly as if trying to manifest this conversion in her head, struggling to find a starting point to her plea.

“Look I have nothing against you two, but I was really drunk and I was really upset… after Naruto left, I was so lonely and I realized I had let go of someone really special… I was being selfish.”

Naruto was shocked he didn’t know what to think anymore, last week Hinata was being…well, a bitch.

“But Hinata you said all those things, about me and Sasuke...?”

Hinata stood up angrily.

“You don’t think what I said to you hasn’t haunted my mind this entire week? It took me so long to even get the courage to ask you over.” Tears filled Hinata eyes as she shacked furiously in place.

“Sasuke, I’m sorry, I truly am. I was jealous, I was selfish. Me and Naruto were miserable together, I know that better than anyone else, then why… why did I want him back again?”

Sasuke didn’t looked phased, he just calmly looked at her with a stone-cold expression plastered on his face, whilst Naruto on the other hand seemed like he was about to go into cardiac arrest.

“Hinata, you properly realized what I great human being Naruto is and started freaking out about what you were going to do without him in your life, let me recommend something for you.”

Naruto looked at him with pissed off eyes.

“Sasuke don’t, Hinata has been through a lot as well.”

“Why are you defending her…still? After the shit she pulled last week, after that disaster of a marriage?”

Sasuke stood up from his chair, scraping the wood in the process from sheer force.

Hinata put up her hand towards Naruto to shut him up.

“No, I can take it. What is it Sasuke?”

“Well Hinata you have been a mom for a long time and let’s not sugar coat it… you have been living off Naruto for many years, with him out of the picture you were stressed about who you would be… The wife of the Hokage is no more and let’s not forget if Naruto wasn’t nice enough to let you keep this house you would also be homeless. So, I guess this is why you are stressing out… my advice is to find something your good at and start working again, find a passion or something and stop living in Naruto’s dam shadow, be your own fucking person.”

Sasuke took in a deep breath and glanced over at Naruto who was absolutely shocked. His jaw hitting the floor and eyes widened in disbelief. Hinata was looking down towards her coffee, a face full of sadness and annoyance.

“It pisses me off to say this… but Sasuke is right.”

“Hinata no, don’t say that.”

“Sasuke is right Naruto, you can’t be defending me for the rest of my life, protecting me from every little thing. I guess I needed to hear that… thanks Sasuke.”

“Don’t worry, blatant truths are my specialty.”

Sasuke looked at Naruto and grimaced, Naruto still didn’t know what he was feeling. His face was as white as a ghost and his expression may as well looked like he saw one as well.

Naruto was used to being the one that had to bend, to accommodate. Did Sasuke just make Hinata change…? Did she really just say that… that she was wrong? Nothing was making sense to Naruto’s brain, he was not used to this at all.

“Naruto, we should go soon.”

Sasuke was walking over to Naruto, bringing his slender hands forward to reach for Naruto and pull him up before Hinata stopped Sasuke, laying one defiant hand on Sasuke’s shoulder.

“Please, let me fix this? I feel like Naruto hasn’t forgiven me yet.”

Sasuke’s eyebrow rose in annoyance, his shoulder tensing in frustration.

Naruto got up still in utter confusion.

“Um Hinata, thank you. I promise it will be okay in time okay, when…” Naruto stopped mid-sentence.

“When what Naruto? Tell me!” Hinata’s eyes turned desperate for restitution, for forgiveness. She needed it, she had to hear it if she was going to survive the guilt that was eating her from the inside out.

“When can I tell the kids about me and Sasuke?”

-Silence-

The room rang quiet, the floorboards making more noise than any living creature in the room.

“Oh, well… I guess whenever you’re ready, but…”

Sasuke and Naruto now both tensed with anticipation, what was Hinata going to say? Did they already know…

“Can I please be a part of it, I want to show to you guys I support you two, so can I help as well?”

Naruto looked at Sasuke with absolute shook, a wave of relief washing off his face. Sasuke also had a slight glint of relief in his eyes but he was much harder to read unlike Naruto who was practically crying from happiness.

Naruto moved towards Hinata, taking her into a tight embrace.

“Thank you Hinata.”

-

The two ex-lovers smiled and wiped away tears that escaped their eyes.

Sasuke was happy for Naruto, unbelievably happy for him. And in that moment, it hit him, he had never been so invested and joyous for someone else… he was falling for this man so quickly it was nearly terrifying how Naruto could evoke so much emotion in him, but he knew he would never replace this, never in a million years.

-

Naruto woke up different, much different. He felt as light as air, like he slept on a bed of clouds or something like candy floss. He tugged out of the blankets stretching each muscle whilst nearly melting off the bed and gently landing on the cold floor which was weirdly refreshing. He looked down towards Sasuke who was still peacefully sleeping, his hair falling on his lips, hands softly cupped near his white pillow which cradled like beautiful face, so at peace.

Naruto smiled and walked out, going straight for his daily shower.

The water was gloriously warm it slowly washed away everything that had happened, revealing a different Naruto. He walked out of that shower, changed, lighter and new.

His skin glowed, it radiated like golden sand on an isolated beach, his freckles danced softly across his masculine body, he was more painting than person at this point. The perfection that was the man who walked out the shower was no mere human but more a god finally at peace.

Naruto walked to the kitchen, surprised Sasuke hadn’t woken up yet, his curious mind had him double and triple checking the room to see if he had finally woken up.

He toasted some bread and started to heat up some coffee. He took a bite of his toast and sipped on the steaming coffee, it all went down happily making his stomach dance in joy. Everything was different, for some reason the coffee tasted sweeter, the air sweeter, his body lighter.

Naruto finished his breakfast, leaving the plates in the sink for later. He walked over to the room, slowly looking in to see a sleeping Sasuke. He curiously looked at Sasuke, questioning the absolute impossible.

“Sasuke never sleeps in…”

Naruto started to walk forward ready to wake his boyfriend, but before his fingers could touch warm skin he retracted. He walked out and decided to let him keep sleeping, after all he felt strong enough to walk out that door, into the world alone.

-

Naruto walked out of his new house, a beautiful little brick house on the outer area of the village, near the forest a beautiful little house with many small animals crawling all over. He loved this new area, this new house, this new feeling.

This was one of the first times Naruto was going to work without Sasuke, it was widely strange but he felt strong enough to not need him. He felt for the first time in so long that he could stand on his own two feet and feel strong, secure and happy.

He had never felt so refreshed and alive. He practically skipped to work, smiling at each villager that passed by.

Naruto picked up some apples to nibble on at work, talking a little bit to the merchant, who was widely inquisitive about the new merchants coming in from other villagers.

Naruto reassured him that Konoha Merchants would not be affected by the changes to occur, that they would actually profit from this decision. The merchant sceptically looked at Naruto but took out his hand to shake Naruto’s and told him he believed in Naruto and his choice. The merchant even threw in some extra apples for free as a gift for Naruto.

Naruto happily accepted and was on his way to work.

-

Naruto walked into his room, the paper work seeming less intrusive in his room, the atmosphere clean and welcoming. The sunlight coming in from his window welcomed him in, pulling him forward to his seat.

“No Sasuke?”

“Oh Kakashi, nah I let him sleep in.”

“Tch, why not me too?”

Naruto smiled brightly, chuckling lightly at Kakashi’s comment.

“One-day Kakashi if you work harder then maybe, just maybe, I will give you half a day off.”

“So, either something really good happened or Sasuke is mystical in bed for you to be in such a good mood?”

“Yeah something amazing happened yesterday, but we have work to do Kakashi, don’t think changing the subject will let you off.”

“Dam”

-10.30 am

Sasuke ran into the room bashing down a pile of paper work Naruto had neatly stacked together.

“Your cleaning that up” Naruto said whilst lovingly smiling at Sasuke from his desk.

“I’m so sorry I’m so late, why didn’t you wake me up?”

“Yeah why didn’t you wake him up?” Kakashi said sarcastically from his corner.

“I wanted to let you sleep, plus you looked way too cute to wake up.”

“Pff, I would have woken him up with a brick.”

“Oh, hush sexually frustrated grandpa” Naruto mocked whilst standing up from his chair.

Naruto walked over to Sasuke and took him into a deep kiss, long enough for Kakashi to start making gaging noises in the background.

Sasuke was still a tad flustered from the sprint, but he was soon soothed into Naruto’s embrace. Something about his beating heart, his hugs and his scent just calms Sasuke in seconds. By the time Naruto let go of Sasuke he was fully composed and ready for some paper work.

“As I said Kakashi it was a good day yesterday.”

“Honestly what the fuck happened? Or do you have some magical sexual powers Sasuke?”

Naruto ignored Kakashi by taking Sasuke into another deep kiss.

-

7 pm

The day was drawing to an end, a perfect day for Naruto, work went so well, everything falling into place smoothly. Kakashi, Sasuke and himself had worked throughout the day without a break, but it hadn’t seemed draining to Naruto he was still wide awake filled to the brim with energy, he was so deliriously happy, he had never felt so alive.

Naruto stacked the last papers into their files whilst Sasuke and Kakashi teased each other on the opposite side of the room. Naruto looked at the last piece of paper that was in the room, he packed it away neatly in the file named ‘A’. He closed the cabinet and let out a deep breath and smiled.

He turned around to look at the room, it was empty, actually empty, everything was done. He couldn’t believe it after months of being under so much pressure he was done. Naruto could feel a small tear escapes his eye, which he quickly wiped away.

He let out a happy and accomplished sigh, walking slowly over to Kakashi and Sasuke.

“Hey guys let’s go out to celebrate, we finally after months have finished every paper in this room.”

Kakashi looked at him with questioning eyes.

“Fine…Ille pay.”

“Wahoo!”

“You would think we was broke and homeless” Sasuke said whilst rolling his eyes.

“You would think you had your job because you were talented but in reality, you only got here by sucking dick” Kakashi proclaimed back in annoyance.

“Oh, burn Sasuke, even I can’t save you from that, that was good Kakashi.”

Naruto high fived Kakashi whilst walking out the door, whilst Sasuke stayed behind literally engulfed in flames, preparing to kick both of their asses.

-

Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi walked out the room laughing and smiling. Joyous and proud energy literally seeped off their bodies like rays of sunshine. There boisterous energy followed them everywhere they went, infecting others as they went along. Soon enough they lead a group of friends to the bar to celebrate a night of drinks and laughs.

*Chap 16: Its time*

[airmidtheawakened]

The Collector, Part 2

Welcome back, all! When we last left off, a supernatural entity had broken into my cabal's home in search of an heirloom watch belonging to Sinopa's friend Isaac. I'd taken the watch and fled the scene, hoping to lure the creature away from my friends. I popped back into existence in Papa Bear's foyer. Both he and Arathnos were waiting for me, dressed in pajamas. It was just past midnight, after all.  Papa Bear didn't seem mad, but he never really emotes much, so I wasn't exactly comforted at all. He said it was okay for me to stay there for the night. Arathnos brought me to a guest room. On the way there he got a phone call from Saki. (I should probably mention that at this point Saki'd decided to join the Silver Ladder and Arathnos, already being a member, had taken over as Saki's mentor.) Saki said he and the others had tried to get to Aces' place, but the car broke down. Arathnos called a cab for them and let them know I was safe. After that I crashed for the night. The next morning was... surreal. I woke up to Arathnos blasting trumpet music from his phone. I mean, it's nice that he came to wake me up, but I couldn't help but feel he was trying to be extra obnoxious with his choice of alarm. But maybe that's just me. He'd brought me some clothes to wear. They were all businessy ad stuff. Pencil skirt, blazer, you know the drill. I asked what the occasion was. He said I had a meeting with Papa Bear. Now Papa Bear may be a stick in the mud, but he doesn't actually care much what I wear, so the insistence on business attire through my off a little. Of course Arathnos wouldn't tell me any more than that I "had a meeting." Because he's super frustrating like that. Once I got dressed Arathnos led me to Papa Bear's study. And who should be waiting for me there? Papa Bear, of course. And also Pinstripes. Because of COURSE my luck would be that bad. 

I should elaborate a bit on Pinstripes before we continue. I mentioned before that he was an infernal, which is like a spirit but from the Abyss instead of the Supernal realms. They're all nasty bastards. They don't a sustained source of energy to manifest physically like spirits do, but they still work under the same ban/bane rules as spirits and scale in power in a similar fashion. Pinstripes was apparently a pretty infamous one, since he was known by name among people who study these things. His actual title is The Collector, and he went around taking things that have a build up of sentimental value and then... pawning them off, I guess? I dunno. He was kind of batshit, and I'm not gonna spend any of our valuable time trying to piece together his motives. So Mr. Collector was sitting there with my master, looking all chipper and cordial. He said he wanted to talk. I told him he should have talked last night, when I offered to bargain with him. He didn't seem to see what the issue was. At least he wasn't shooting at me. Apparently he didn't want to waste time dealing with my cabal, so he was willing to make a deal. He'd leave us alone if we made it possible for him to get the watch. Now I couldn't just give it to me, because *no,* that would be too easy! We had to give it to Isaac's brother, Chris, and Chris had to give it to the Collector. Something about rules of inheritance and ownership and all that jazz. That was the point where I realized the Collector had killed Isaac the night before. If I’d stayed behind I might have been able to save him. But I also could be dead now too. I still don’t know if I made the right choice. What I did know was that there was no way my cabal could stand up to the Collector on our own, so I agreed to his proposal. But I wanted it in writing. So we drew up a contract, signed it, and had Arathnos used his fate magic to magically binding. If either party broke their end of the bargain the universe would come down hard and fast on them. It wasn't specified how, but I would not want to walk around with an ill-fate curse hanging over my head. With that, the meeting ended and the Collector left to see about stealing a lucky half dollar from a kid. I told him he should offer to trade for it. He said he'd rather just point his gun at the kid and see what happened. You have no idea how much I hated that my cabal wasn't strong enough to take him. So there I am, feeling overwhelmed and underprepared and guilty as all fuck when Papa Bear decides it's time for a lecture. He was not happy that I'd run away from the fight. I told him we were all supposed to be running, that I went back when I realized SiSi and Isaac hadn't caught up with me, but that wasn't enough. Papa Bear said we should have stayed together, fought together, and if it came to it, died together. How was I supposed to lead my team if I left them behind? How was I supposed to lead them if I didn't have faith in their abilities? He said he was *ashamed* of me. He really knows how to rub salt in a wound, my Papa Bear. I promised him I'd do better. I really, really wanted to make him proud, you know? He'd done so much for my cabal and I'd been such a brat... I told him I'd wrap up the business with Pinstripes without any further casualties, and vowed to be a better student from then on. Papa bear seemed... satisfied, I guess, with that answer and let me leave. Arathnos offered to call me a cab. I accepted, but I had to make a phone call first. He let me use the house phone and *even* gave me some privacy to talk! After I asked him rather firmly, of course, but you have to be thankful for the little things. I had to call my dad. I was hoping I could call him before he heard about what happened at the duplex on the news. Unfortunately the news reached him first, and when I called he was freaking the fuck right out. He'd tried reaching my cell (which was a lost cause; it probably broke when Arathnos summoned me through it cuz I didn't have it with me when I got there), and when that failed he dropped everything to make arrangements for a trip to Boston to give me a what-for. I know it was entirely justified - I'm his precious baby girl and he didn't think I was safe - but it was also insanely inconvenient. I tried to convince him that I was okay, that I wasn't even home for the break-in, but I've always been a terrible liar and Dad saw right through me. He said he'd be in Boston at 5 pm. I promised I'd be there to meet him. I really, really hated having to lie to my dad. I wanted more than anything to be able to share the new world I'd discovered with him. But life isn't fair, and I had to find a way to balance the mundane and the magical without causing either to implode. Until then, though, I had to get back to my cabal and make a game plan for my deal with Pinstripes. The cab Arathnos had called was waiting for me. Of course it wasn't a normal cab service; this one was run by a tiny little goblin named Jibblet. Like actual faerie goblin. Well I mean, not actual faerie - Saki tells me goblins and faeries are two separate types of creature - but they're from the same realm so you get the idea. The driver was a nice little guy. Rough around the edges, yeah, but he had a great sense of humor. He got me to Aces' in no time flat. Saki met me at the door. He gave me a big hug and said once the business with Pinstripes was over that he was gonna throttle me. Which is only fair, seeing as I'd threatened the same once we got him back from the Quincy Hellhouse. We went to the kitchen and I explained what I'd found out about Isaac's brother. Apparently Lipsy had spent the last three hours holding a séance with Isaac's ghost, so they'd already learned most of the same information I had. Things had gotten a little heated between Lipsy and SiSi on the subject, though, so I was advised to tread carefully around them. I also learned that the Collector had destroyed Edgar’s physical form in the fight, so Lipsy was down a familiar until Edgar spent enough time gathering energy in the Shadow Realm to be able to remanifest on our side of the Gauntlet. I decided to run my deal with Pinstripes by Saki first. Better safe than sorry, you know? I knew SiSi was going to be out for blood and didn't want to agitate her more. We thought it was best to promise her a future shot at Pinstripes. We'd go through with the deal now, get stronger, do more research, and go at him full force once we had more magical firepower under our belts. She actually took it really well when we sat down with her and Lipsy. "I can be patient," she said. That's our SiSi: always looking at the bigger picture! With that, we made preparations to go confront Isaac's brother. I think we'll save that for next time. See you then, Darlings!

[tsw-story]

Chapter 3 - The Devil Went Down to Alberta

The three of them stood lurking in an alley like a group of  loitering hooligans. Deena, crossing her arms, now had her hair done up in loops, even though neither of the boys even noticed her have a chance to change. She was mostly quiet, which seemed to be the norm.

“What are we looking for?” Kevin asked quietly. “I don't see anything.”

“Normal people don't have magic eyes,” came a quiet, slightly frustrated response from the witch.

“Magic whats?”

Eldrian inspected the time on his phone, but looked up to Kevin's confusion and spoke. “Magic eyes. It's what lets wizards get away with a lot of things without others finding out. It lets you see what others can't. Wizards have them, and spellbreakers have them. Demons too, usually, and some other things. Sorry, Kev. You don't have them, so just try not to get murdered.”

“Gee, thanks,” muttered the ginger boy in response. “But what are we waiting for? We're standing still. Is it supposed to come to us?”

“No, no. My friend wanted to meet up first. She probably has more information. See, she hates phones. If we can meet up, she'll do that instead.”

Only a moment longer was needed before the alley lit up in flickering flames. In front of them a hole in the concrete pulled itself open. Smoke and intense heat burst forth. A figure rose up from the depths of hell, and it was a young looking woman. Her hair was a reddish brown, and her skin was something similar, surprisingly. She looked to be a shade of orange, or at least very tanned. Dark red horns curled up from the top of her head, and short wings to match protruding from her back.

Her clothes were minimal, but likely what someone would wear in a place of fire—like summer in California. They were ornately designed and matched her theme of crimson colours. A tiara-like headband of rubies also circled around her forehead.

“Oh. Hey, Lucy,” Eldrian said casually.

“Hi, Eldrian. You have new friends. Hah! Good to meet you three. I'm Lucy.”

Kevin, trying to look discreet, was trembling. His eyes widened as he took a quiet step backwards in retreat. A shaking word escaped his mouth.

“Devil...?”

“Basically,” Eldrian said quickly. “Demons, devils, whatever. It's all the same thing.”

Deena finally spoke. “Impossible. No. You're not the Lucy, are you? As in, the Princess of the Demon World?”

Lucy laughed nervously. “Yeah. That's me. Satan's daughter. Let's not make a big deal out of it, all right?”

“A demon you met with was Lucy?” Deena stared immediately at Eldrian. “How?”

“She helps me fight demons. I get a call, we meet up, then I go fight the demon. Usually I don't get my butt kicked.”

“Usually,” Lucy chimed in. “Anyway, guys. Let's calm down. There's a demon running around somewhere named Rend Devilclaw. He's escaped before, twice, which is incredibly embarrassing on our part. It's our job to make sure demons don't get into your world. He needs to be contained. Rend might be small, but he's still dangerous.”

“Devil...?” Kevin repeated under his breath.

Eldrian put his hand on his shoulder. “You'll get used to it.”

“Will I though?”

“So, Lucy! Tell me a bit about this Rend fellow. Where do you think he is?”

The Devil's daughter sighed. “I don't know where. He's short, as black as a shadow, and has both razor-sharp teeth and claws. Don't get near him. He'll shred you apart. That little bastard is known for always trying to grow his power, so who knows what he'll do.”

“Look for large slashes made in walls and other objects,” she added. “His claws can cut through almost anything, and he can't help himself.”

“We'll handle it, Lucy,” Eldrian said confidently.

“Do your best. I have a lot of work to take care of.��� She smiled, and a portal to Hell peeled open on the concrete floor. The flames welcomed her back through, and it sealed without a trace after she disappeared.

They were left in quiet solitude. The sun was beginning to set, and not a soul was seen in their general area. All that greeted them was the wispy breeze whistling softly between the alley walls, but an unsettling sensation fell upon their shoulders—a chill down their spines. There was no sign of a demon here. They had to move on.

“So, I guess we should start looking around,” suggested Eldrian. “But where?”

Deena sighed. She clapped and rubbed her hands against one another as she took the lead, nudging both Eldrian and Kevin aside. A single word escaped her lips.

“Easy.”

“Easy?” repeated Eldrian.

“You've been hunting demons, yet you know so little about them? Follow me then, boys. I'll find you your demon, but only because I'm feeling generous.”

She smiled, though neither of them saw. It might have been something they couldn't have comprehended in the first place. It might be less terrifying to simply run into the demon than see a genuine smile on the witch's face.

The three marched through the darkening streets, looking for clues of Rend Devilclaw's whereabouts. It brought them down alleys, blocks, and all around that area of town. Eventually they made their way between a pair of buildings to a place their witch was confident could hold their prey.

“The markings I've been following lead in here,” Deena said, gesturing to an old metal door in the front of an expansive warehouse.

Eldrian nodded. He moved up to the door and twisted the knob but to no avail, as it seemed to be locked. A simple wave of his hand caused a loud click, and the door pushed itself open in front of him. The moonlight slowly illuminated the inside room of the incredibly large building.

“Did you just unlock this door with your mind?” whispered Kevin.

“You're easily impressed,” Eldrian said in response, laughing quietly.

“If you can do things like that, are there... wizard assassins?”

“It's best not to think about that.”

“Hurry up,” Deena grumbled. “Let's take a look inside.”

They stepped into the seemingly abandoned warehouse. Eldrian raised up a hand, and bright light manifested itself as an orb above his palm. It raised up to hover in the center of the room, and it lit the majority of the area like a miniature sun. Various bits of wooden debris revealed themselves, as well as old barrels and crates. It was silent and vacant otherwise.

It seemed that way, anyhow. Eldrian yelled out in agony as an array of daggers cut down and open his back. Blood soaked the back of his shirt as he fell to his knees, and the suspect responsible was quick and short. It was difficult for them to notice the black creature scurrying past their legs. They finally got a look at the culprit. He was short, but his fingers stretched out as deadly claws, and his cat-like eyes pierced a stare towards them—toothy grin present on his face.

“What the hell is that?” Kevin shouted.

There was little time for chatting. Rend bolted towards them with his claws heading straight for Eldrian's face. But he was repelled as the wizard raised his struggling hands to conjure an invisible shield of force to protect himself. The demon bounced off with a curse under his breath.

Rend dodged the sudden swing of a lead pipe which crashed and sparked on the concrete beside his feet. He looked to see a face of fear on Kevin's expression, but the mortal boy was still attacking. Kevin, however, was not a wizard. The demon licked his lips and was ready to pounce. It was short-lived, as Rend launched away. This was the result of a spell coming from Deena.

A growing energy had been appearing within Deen'a grasp—a swirling black orb of magic. It grew until the size of a basketball, and it fired from her palms into the side of the tiny demon. Shadow Ball!

“Damn it all!” Rend screamed as he smacked directly into a beam.

“You're coming back with us,” Deena said bluntly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Not until I've killed a wizard! And now there's two of you... I'll become twice as famous.” He grinned wide as a devilish snicker came through his teeth. It became slower, until he went silent and paused for a moment. “Wait. Where's that Eldrian boy?”

Limping with pain but still keeping strong, Eldrian was holding a readied stance to the side. He had teleported away when the demon became distracted. Blood dripped down from the wounds on his back, but one of his hands was raised and open. He brought it down to slam flat against the ground, and a glowing runic circle manifested itself around the point of impact. Earthen Grasp!

A fist of stone extended up from the floor to wrap around Rend's entire torso. It squeezed him tight and help him firmly in place, but it didn't keep him from trying to escape. The demon panicked and began to flail his blade-like claws, and he snapped his pointed teeth.

“Nobody's killing me,” the wizard said. He groaned as he made his way closer. “Give up. Lucy wants you back in the Demon World before you hurt somebody.”

“Screw Lucy!” he screamed.

“This guy is small, but he really freaks me out,” uttered Kevin from the back. “Let's call your devil friend already, Eldrian. Look at your back! You're hurt pretty bad.”

He nodded in response. “Yeah. I know. You're right.”

“Oh hell no!” shouted the demon again. “I'm not going down that easily. That would be humiliating. Across the land of elves, demons, humans, and more. I will kill them all. Never again will I be trapped. All will fear... Rend Devilclaw!”

His eyes shifted accompanied with a disgusting noise, like a terrifying reptile. Somehow his teeth grew even larger, and his famous claws became wider. In an instant, the stone hand around him shattered into pebbles under the growing mass of his body. What was once a demon the size of a dog, now seemed to be the size of a giant. He stood at nearly ten feet tall. His body became that of a body builder—tight and muscular. However, despite his gigantic form, his head was small and unfitting of the rest. It still brought fear to the three of them. They stepped back, and stared in awe at Rend's piercing glare down towards them.

Now with a much deeper voice, he screamed, and slammed his claws into the ground beside them. With a burst of magical momentum, Eldrian gripped Kevin, and they flew back to land a couple meters away from the point of impact. Deena did the same. They looked to see his claws having dug through the solid ground like a warm knife through butter.

“How did you find me, anyway?” Rend growled. His grin never faded.

“I did,” Deena stated. “Easily. You're not very discreet. There were claw marks everywhere.”

The ripped demon let out a boisterous laugh. “You didn't stop to think that it was too easy?”

“You... wanted us to find you, didn't you?”

“Clever girl. Now, you'll all be my dinner. Across the land of elves, de—”

Eldrian struggled to his feet, and lowers both his hands to his side. Between his fingers manifested a growing spike of solid ice. The shape extended to the length of a sword, with a tip likely sharp enough to pierce straight through somebody. With a swift motion he threw forward his hands and the frozen weapon fired like a bullet towards Rend's torso. Ice Spear!

It stuck into his arm as he raised it to block. The demon growled, but tore it out quickly, crumbling it to sparkling fragments in his powerful grip.

“We're fine. Right, guys? You're both wizards. Reality at your fingertips. Isn't that how it works? We're not going to die!” Kevin said in a moment of panic.

“None of us are dying,” Deena barked as she stepped back.

Quickly, she pointed her hands to the wall beside them as a spell began to take effect.

“Oh no you don't!” shouted the demon as he began a sprint forwards.

Eldrian raised both his hands up the moment Rend brought a hand down. An invisible force field halted the attack, but the wizard seemed to struggle. It was enough, however, and Deena was able to conjure a pale white door on the warehouse wall.

The energy broke, and Eldrian tumbled back.

It was like a charging bull. The demon bolted in their direction with his claws at the ready, but Kevin helped Eldrian to his feet. The three of them leapt through the opened door, and slammed it behind them. Rend's claws shattered the door into wooden splinters, but they were already gone. Besides him, the warehouse was empty.

***

“You're saying he became tall and muscular?” Lucy asked. She was wrapping bandages around Eldrian's bare back as they sat around him in Deena's dungeon home.

“Disturbingly muscular,” Eldrian replied.

“I'm sorry. I had no idea he could do that. This is much worse than I thought.”

“It's all right, Lucy. Nobody knew. The world is full of surprises.”

She let out a soft laugh. “I guess you're right. Now I don't know what to tell my dad, though.”

“Tell him we're catching that demon.”

Kevin looked to him. “You can't at least cast some kind of healing spell on yourself first, can you?”

“That's more of an elf thing, and I don't know any elves.”

“Well, what are we going to do? That demon was huge,” Kevin said dejectedly.

“We let him try to kill us. That's what he wants, isn't it? Two days. Two days to rest up, heal, and plan. We can't afford to wait any longer than that. I guarantee that if we let him know where we are,  he'll come.”

“But he was really horrifying.”

“That fight had me at my worst. Let's see if he can handle me at my best.” Eldrian snickered. “And with all three of us, we'll do it. We have to.”

Kevin let out a sigh. “I'm not very useful. Maybe I should stay out of this one.”

“You've been taking those kendo classes, haven't you?”

“Even so...”

Finally, Lucy finished bandaging up the injured wizard. She stood back up, and planted her hands firmly against her hips. An idea came to her. Her devilish gaze turned to Kevin as she approached him.

“Actually,” she hummed. “I might have something that could help with that.”

“I have something too,” Deena spoke up. They all turned. “Follow me.”

Without needing a response the short, white-haired witch began stepping out of the room. The four of them proceeded to a door, and she pushed it open. The room was a huge but crude naturally cave room. It was lit, however, with a series of magically glowing spots on the ceiling.

“I come here to practice things,” she added.

“And so can we then, right?” Eldrian asked excitedly.

She sighed. “You guys coming here is going to become a regular occurrence. I can feel it. Yes, you may use this room. Just be careful not to have the whole thing cave in on you.”

“And my thing?” Lucy muttered from the back.

Eldrian turned. “Right. Sorry. What kind of neat thing do you have to help me fight a demon? You've never given me something before.”

“I don't have anything useful for you. This help is actually for Kevin.”