#the first time i heard allie i remember going ‘hold on WHAT did you just say’

[patrickztump]

if i was one of the twenty random people selected to have allie replaced with my name in 2011 and, after saying it repeatedly, patrick stump said “tonight we ought to do naughty things” i would have a stroke

[captainamericasmotercycle]

Hiiii. I hope you are well. I would like to request a Cregan Stark x reader where they’re newlyweds and Cregan is doing everything he can to get reader to like him as she barely talks to him and keeps to herself because her mother basically told her to not expect him to be a kind gentle husband like the ones she’s read in books. The two slowly grow close once reader sees the effort Cregan has been putting in. Thank you!

i've never written for cregan before so i hope i did him justice <3

warnings: uncomfortable talk of women? (from your mother and sisters), you are his first wife (rickon doesn't exist yet), canon divergent, reader's family is not specified

a/n: this could possibly have a second part... all feedback is welcomed!!

When the news broke that Lord Cregan Stark was looking to take a new wife, your father was not hesitant to offer up your hand.

Your family resided close to the North, and your father needed Lord Stark as an ally in case any conflict arose suddenly. Within only a single moon, Lord Stark agreed to take you to wed.

It was not in your plans to be forced into a marriage, but rather find someone to love and live a long and prosperous life with.

"You know he is not going to be kind, not like the silly tales you read of," your mother, of course, prepared you for your impending doom of a marriage, as she implied.

You wanted to die. If only you were not a high-born lady, you could choose your fate.

"You cannot expect him to tend to you every moment of the day, at all even," you remember your older sisters joining the two of you, helping you to know what will become of you.

"He will take you as he wishes, and you will comply."

"You will lay with him until he finds pleasure and discards of you."

"But.. will I find pleasure?"

They laughed at you, both of your sisters and your mother. You did not wish to be trapped in a loveless marriage.

"No, if anything, he will find some cheap whore to busy himself with, until it is time for you to give him heirs."

"You mustn't talk to him unless spoken to first-"

"And you mustn't speak your mind, ever."

They filled your head with their advice until the day of your wedding. It was a small gathering just within the walls of Winterfell. Your family attended, as well as Cregan's uncle, a couple members of his council, and his half siblings.

During the post-ceremony celebration, you stayed timid, smiling gently whenever Cregan looked at you, or when your mother sent a pointed expressed to you.

You watched your brother, brothers-in-law, and father, eager to drink, but Cregan refrained.

Cregan tried to hold your hand, or lay his hand over your knee, succeeding in doing so, but you shied away from his touch, your body freezing up.

At the end of the night, the celebration winded down and you retreated to your new chambers, apart from Cregan's. You knew that he would be in to consummate the marriage soon, so you prepared yourself, trying to find a place in your head you could go to escape.

As your maidens dressed you for the night, a soft knock was heard on the door, one of your maids scurried to see who would come at such a late hour.

"My Lady Stark, it is your lord husband."

Lady Stark. Quite the title.

"Let him in, and leave us."

She and the other maids left the newlyweds as requested. He stood at the door, quite the ways away from you.

"Did you enjoy the celebration?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Please, call me Cregan, I am your husband now."

"Yes, my- Cregan," he moved slightly towards you.

"Have I done something to offend you?"

"No, my lord."

"Cregan. And are you sure?"

"Yes, Cregan. I apologize, husband if I have not been attentive enough. I can be better, I promise. I can be a good wife," you begged him.

He said your name softly, seeing the utter fear in your eyes, "You have been perfect; there is no need for you to upset yourself."

"Have you come to consumate the marriage?"

"I figured you were too tired. Do you want to?"

You were taken aback by his question, you hadn't expected him to ask about you.

"I- I think I would prefer to rest," you bowed your head at him.

"As you wish, wife. I will see you in the morn," he walked to you and gently kissed the top of your head, then retreated to his own quarters.

-

The morn came and you were still not talking to him. Maybe you were just nervous to be away from your home is all and you just wanted some time to adjust to your new life.

Weeks passed and he tried to talk to you, but you only answered him with short responses. This worried him, what had he done to hurt you?

He decided to send you a new pelt, incase you wished to explore the gardens or the outside walls of Winterfell. He hoped to hear from you about the gift, but no word came back except for a thank you from your maid.

He did not understand why you would not talk to him. He began sending flowers almost every morn with your meal, he gifted you a horse, (which you had not even attempted to see since the first time he showed you), and he even went as far as obtaining you a direwolf pup as a wedding gift. The pup became as reclused as you.

He became frustrated with his failed attempts to connect with you, sulking around Winterfell, and it was very apparent in his commands.

He hadn't taken a trip to the wall in weeks, and he commanded his men to finish outrageous requests; lashing out at anyone who questioned him or seemed to breathe the wrong way.

You had not been eager to seek him out or talk to him, not even trying to leave the walls of Winterfell to explore the nearing city; just staying in the comfort of the castle's library and your chambers.

He wanted to see you, to build a bond with his new wife, but most of the time he was unable to find you; it seemed that you were hiding from him.

After almost a moon of short interactions and dodging his every move, he was ready to beg, luckily he finally cornered you in your chambers.

Instead of a maid coming to fetch you for supper, Cregan insisted that he go instead. He pushed open your doors, finding you sitting with a book near the window, your much larger direwolf pup at your feet

Your head shot up at the sudden noise, louder than you were used to at this hour. You set down your book, ready to stand at his presence, but he stalked over to you rather quickly.

He dropped to his knees at your feet, startling you, he stated your name, "Please tell me what I have done, I wish to see you, to speak to you."

"You have done nothing, husband. I will speak if you wish it."

"No! I want you to speak freely, what has made you shy away from me? I am trying to know you, to love you. Please, just tell me!"

Your gaze softened, "You want to love me?"

His face changed to confusion, "Of course. Have I dont something to make you assume otherwise?"

"Not you..."

"Who. Tell me. I will have their tongues."

"My mother... and my sisters. They spoke that you would not be kind, that I should not speak freely near you... that you would be too busy with cheap whores to notice me until you wanted an heir."

He set his large hands on your knees, "Every word of that is so untrue. I married you because I want to love you. Let me."

You looked at his eyes, yearning in them, "I want you to love me."

He pulled you to stand with him. He tugged you by the waist into him, peppering you with kisses, one near your eyebrow, one on your cheek, one on the tip of your nose, and finally one at the corner of your mouth. You smiled at him and his actions.

"There's that smile I so desperately have been wanting to see for over a moon."

You set your hands on either side of his face, kissing his lips softly, "I'm sorry that I have been so distant, I should have seen your efforts."

"I hold no grudge against you wife, I am just happy you are giving me another chance," he kissed you again.

"Shall we go to supper?" You nodded as he took your hand.

"Good. I think my men will be pleased to hear of our reconcile. I fear I have been more than unpleasant," you kissed his jaw.

"Well, we owe them an apology don't we?"

[starsdotalk]

Couldn't resist writing my own, this is my first time so NO JUDGING PLZ 🙏🏻 (excuse for the grammar mistakes, English is not my first language 🥲)

You once had a family in which you hold very dear to you, a fantastic one at that. Movie nights in the weekends, shopping sprees with your mom, teaching your little brother his homework, and helping your stepdad with his mechanical shenanigans. The normal domestic family one would always dream of. Everything was great! What else could you ask for?

----------------------------------------------

You remember that memory, you and you family were going to a museum. Your brother shouting your name to hurry up because "We will arrive to a longgggg line! I don't like waiting!" You we're sleepy, your movements were sluggish, you didn't feel like going out of your bed. Your stepdad told you that you could just sleep in the car on the way to the museum, that made you quickly get ready and hopped in the car.

On the road, You four were singing along to a song you don't remember much. Arriving and then walking in the museum was okay, strolling and looking at some animals that went extinct. Your brother went crazy when you guys arrived at the dinosaur section.

Everything was great! That is until the ground started shaking. it was slow at first, barely felt, and then it started shaking so fast that the T-Rex skeleton structure started to fall off one by one. The ground was shaking, so was your body. You felt terrified, the only thing that took you out of your terrified state was the reassuring hand of your mother holding yours and your stepdad's gaze that shouted a million reassuring words.

People were screaming, crying, running, and shouting. You were a brave kid, you didn't shout or cried. Amidst the chaos, you lost the warm feeling of your mother's hand Interlocked with yours, your father's gaze, and your brother's tight embrace.

You were alone and terrified. Standing alone in the middle of the room with tears spilling from your eyes, your mouth shut even though you want to shout for your family. What could a nine year old even do in a terrifying situation such as this? The next thing you know, the light is out.

You were welcomed by a white ceiling, Your eyes blurry, and your head throbbing in pain. A nurse comes up to you, was her name Alice? Alex? Ally? You don't remember. Her words were inaudible to you, probably asking about how you feel.

Then you remember what happened, your mom, dad, and brother where are they? Are they okay? What happened?With a small and broken voice, you asked about them. The nurse opened and closed her mouth as if unsure if she should tell you. For a few minutes she just kept pondering, you weren't an impatient child like your brother, but you felt as if you have his impatience right at this moment.

You asked again, clearly frustrated and confused. The doctor speaks up, when did he come in? He apologizes, says something about how they did everything they could, but still couldn't save them. What are they talking about? You were sure you heard your mom just calling out to you earlier, aren't they outside the room? They should come in, you want to see them.

You couldn't figure out what emotions was written all over the doctor and nurse's face. You we're always around joyful people, not whatever they we're feeling right at that time.

Suddenly a knock was heard on the door, your uncle stepped in the room. No mom, dad, or brother. Where are they? Are they still asleep?

You couldn't figure out what expression he was wearing again, it was similar to the doctor and the nurse. You didn't care because the next words your uncle let out was one you will never move on from.

"They're dead, your families dead." He says, his voice was odd, it had something more to it than normal. Your nine year old brain couldn't believe it. Them? Dead? No, your mom was calling out to you earlier, you heard her calling your voice!

You didn't take it lightly, you we're a child. A child mourning the lost of it's family.

----------------------------------------------

Fast forward to a week, you're in another city, a city far away from home. Your uncle couldn't take you in simply because he was a busy man. So here you are, Infront of your biological father's doorstep.

It's scary here compared to the lush green grass and blue blue skies of your home. A guy named Alfred accompanied you inside, it was empty. Clean yet empty. Very empty.

No toys laying around the place caused by your brother, no sweet scent of a dessert your mom was making, no dad fixing whatever he could find fixable. Where is he anyways? Where's your biological father? You were expecting a warm welcome. He's your biological father after all, the man your mom made you with.

But the welcome was far from your expectations. It was cold, shivering even. Only the Alfred guy made the place less horrifying.

How will your life go on? You were still mourning. And your dad not welcoming you made you feel worse.

Alfred says he's busy, that he will go and greet me later. You obviously believed him, he looked trustworthy.

He leads to a room, it was clean and smelt like cleaning materials. It was quite huge for the nine year old you, bigger than the room back at home.

Alfred offered you to eat, you denied, saying you were tired from the long flight and needed rest. He let you, obviously.

So, now you were staring at the dark ceiling without the glow in the dark stars you had back home. The room was quite, you didn't like the smell. The house was huge and scary. Maybe one day you'll find this house warm and you'll consider this place your new home.

Or maybe not.

Who knows?

Author's note:

THIS IS SO SHORT, IM SORRY 😭

I might make the next chapter longer, so, don't worry 😜

[tanglepelt]

Dp x dc idea… more of a mini fic 108

Dani is melting in front of Danny’s eyes and Danny is panicking. He reveals that he and Dani are halfas. Begging his parents to help stabilize Dani. That he couldn’t watch her melt away. his parents don’t take it well. Chasing him out of the lab.

He barley got Dani and him out with minimum injuries.

Danny had no access to proper supplies, and risks going to vlad.

Offering to be the perfect son if he saves Dani. Making him promise she would be safe and stable. Telling him all that happened. That his mom wouldn’t accept him, she didn’t even accept Danny.

He has a bad feeling when vlad eye flash red and he agrees.

After a few test the fruitloop announces he got the dna necessary to stabilize her. That he will easily synthesize the necessary components. But he wouldn’t hand over the cure unless Danny proved what he said. That he was capable of following orders and being the perfect son.

He was Holding a vial of some liquid. Telling Danny to drink it.

Vlad wouldn’t kill him right?

So he drinks the mysterious liquid. Last thing he heard was that when he wakes up he and his sister would be safe. Which confused him. Why was Jazz involved.

When he woke up things were too big. Why was everything so big? Looking around they were in a cage… on with no roof. Then he saw Dani. Dani was small. Tiny a mere toddler. Maybe 5 at the most. Wait. No no no. He was the same size.

Vlad: i hear you’re awake little badger. How unfortunate. I was hoping to move the three of us before hand. It’s not as if you’ll remember any of this. I was planning on erasing it once we were across.

Vlad was standing in front of a portal. Not his ghost portal. One separated and with a deficient design.

Vlad: this dimension simply isn’t safe for my little family. I recently recorded an artifact that will allow us to jump dimensions. One time use unfortunately. With no stable portal not even your allies will find us.

Yea. No. That’s not happening. Danny didn’t agree to be turned into a toddler. Nor loose his memories.

He wasn’t going with the fruitloop. He just had to phase out of here. He couldn’t get himself to fully phase. Only a hand.

Vlad who hadn’t even looked up from the now glowing portal: “even you should have realized your powers aren’t working. It’s why i needed more dna samples. To fix both my children. Far to young, body’s to frail to handle them all. You’ll slowly grow into them.”

The fruitloop finally turned to face him and Dani. Approaching them. Picking them up. Did he really just pick him up?

No.

This was not okay with Danny. So he started hitting, kicking and squirming. All while Dani stayed asleep.

Vlad: Daniel behave. Act more like your sister. The portal is only one way trip. You wouldn’t want to be left behind now would you.

The fruitloop was only getting close to the portal. He had to act.

One way trip… Act more like his sister. Act like Dani.

So.

He hit the man as hard as he could. Until the man let go and essentially threw them to the ground oh so close to this new dimension. He didn’t have time to think.

They were so close to the portal.

He just grabbed Dani chucked his shoe at vlad to unbalance the man and fell through the portal.

**

Jonathan and Martha Kent certainly weren’t expecting two toddlers to fall out of the sky into their field. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time they took in two children.

Their oldests could do with some younger siblings.

Even if they did have to coax the two twins?siblings? inside with pie later that night.

[us3rnam3-r3dact3d]

remembering again the full extent of what forever is

Ao3 | 3.6k Words | William's POV

TW: Blood and injury, angst, hurt no comfort, self deprication and hatred, intimidation and threats of harm/death.

“Solaire.” David Shaw’s voice was steady on the other end of the line, even as William heard the not so muffled sounds of rowdy wolves in the background. “This is a courtesy call. Doesn’t have to be anything more.”

"Alpha Shaw," William replied, "what can I do for you?"

“I just kicked the shit out of one of yours.”

_

Alexis makes another play for Sam after finding out he is leaving the House of Solaire. David intercepts. William cleans up his mess, fifteen years late.

William Solaire is not a kind man.

William had a cellphone, but he rarely ever used it. It was mostly for the purpose of reaching his few, non-clan contacts. His most common calls were to the Department, hour long affairs of waiting on hold, talking in circles, and nearly pulling his hair out trying to get even the simplest things done. 

So, when he heard the insistent buzz of his phone somewhere in his office while taking his morning (evening) coffee, he was surprised. Most people didn’t call him. He had clan members who vetted and handled most communication coming in to him, sorting out what was pointless, what could be handled by lower ranking members of the House, and what actually needed to go to him. There were only a few people who had his direct phone number. His progeny, both of whom were avoiding him. Samuel, who was avoiding him even more than Vincent and Alexis were.  Porter, who would only call if he were in a situation he truly couldn’t get himself out of, which was unlikely, seeing as he was in Skyside for a short vacation after the business at the Summit. 

He had fumbled with his coffee, opening every drawer in his desk before finally finding it under a stack of file folders on the bottom right. He huffed and answered the call just as it was about to be sent to voicemail. 

“Solaire.” David Shaw’s voice was steady on the other end of the line, even as William heard the not so muffled sounds of rowdy wolves in the background. Will didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of this particular outcome. Most likely because he and Shaw rarely if ever communicated directly. Their territory agreements were initially set in place by Shaw’s father, whom William had known professionally for many years before his death. It was out of respect for Gabriel Shaw that William made no move to encroach on Shaw territory after he died. It would have been too easy. Such a young alpha, so inexperienced, and riddled with grief. He had instead allowed David Shaw the time to grow into an alpha in his own right, subsisting off of more than just his father’s memory. It was a wise investment. The Shaws were a valuable ally to have, even if that allyship was becoming tenuous due to his actions at the summit. They were valuable, but fatally mortal. Shaw and his pack were not built to understand William’s thoughts and actions. He thought that a kindness of sorts. “This is a courtesy call. Doesn’t have to be anything more.” 

“Alpha Shaw.” William spoke to David Shaw with respect, just as he had his father, just as he did during their first meeting. Even that broken, snappy young man had always been called ‘Alpha’ in William’s presence. “What can I do for you?” He checked his watch, a beautiful, green faced thing that Vincent had bought for him. He had forgotten that. He blinked and refocused. It was nearing midnight. Too late for the Shaws to be incredibly active. 

“I just kicked the shit out of one of yours.” 

While they didn’t speak frequently, William had had his fair share of conversations with Shaw over the years. He had never heard him speak like this, or indeed sound so angry, so outraged. 

Will’s cold heart seized in his chest. 

“Samuel?” William breathed, but felt foolish as soon as the name left his lips. Shaw audibly scoffed. Of course not. For one thing, Samuel was no longer a member of his clan. For another, he was the mate of one of Shaw’s wolves. If he did anything to hurt his mate, William could see Shaw protecting his own over Samuel, but from what he knew about the man, Shaw wasn’t the punishment type. 

“No.” Shaw snapped. “Alexis.” 

“Ah.” William sighed. That pounding of fear and pain in his chest from an hour or so prior. Alexis got into trouble often, and his connection to her pain had distanced over the last fifty years. It certainly wasn’t as present as Vincent’s still was, as the echoes of his own progeny’s emotions were. Betrayal, sweet and cloying, still sat heavily in his throat. “That, I will admit, makes more sense.” 

“She’s drunk.” Shaw replied. “At least… Sam says she’s drunk. I don’t know how it works for vampires.” 

“It’s possible.” William confirmed. “She must have fed from another vampire.” 

“Yeah.” Shaw ground out. “She certainly did. She stepped foot on my territory. I’m entitled to defend it and my pack.” 

“Absolutely.” William said. He ran his hand over his face and fought not to sigh straight into the phone’s receiver. Stupid. She was now his only heir and she was encroaching on tenuous ally’s territory. She would be the death of him. 

“If you’d like to collect her, I’m looking right at her. Or I can hand her over to D.U.M.P..” 

“I’ll be there momentarily.” 

The Shaw den was well known to him. He had never been inside himself, but most of Dahlia was split between their two groups in terms of territory. The den was familiar to him as he was sure Wonder World was familiar to David. He carried a healthy level of suspicion and respect about the place, just like he did the people who inhabited it. Power respects power. Like calls to like. 

He knocked. It felt silly to knock. He entered every room with the certainty of his presence. He rarely had occasion to knock, but it would most likely be uncouth to appear inside of the den unannounced when they’d been attacked by someone bearing his blood mere hours earlier. Shaw’s Beta answered. He’d met the man once before, but was embarrassed to say that he couldn’t remember his name. The wolf grinned and stepped aside, ushering him in. 

“She’s healing already.” The Beta reported. “I’m sure she’ll be good by sunrise, given how much blood Sammy says she must have drunk.” 

It was uncomfortable to hear the endearment on the wolf’s lips. He shook off the instinct to demand respect for his Duke. Samuel wasn’t his Duke anymore. 

“I have no doubt that she’ll recover.” William smiled politely. The Beta had a casual air about him, but William could feel the raised hackles of every wolf they passed on the way to the Alpha’s office. It wasn’t an unusual sensation for William. He was, more often than not, the most powerful being in any room.

They rounded a corner to a small corridor of open offices, and Will spotted Samuel on a plush leather couch, bent over his knees and taking exaggerated breaths. His mate was sat next to him, blood dried over their mouth, rubbing small circles into Samuel’s back. 

Will moved before he even thought. He was knelt before Samuel in an instant, searching for his eyes. He heard the heart rate of every wolf in the room pick up. The Beta stilled and held out a hand. Everyone froze. The only sounds were the hammering of half a dozen hearts and the snarls and growls of Sam’s mate, startled into a defensive position by his sudden movement. 

William didn’t touch. He knew that this wolf’s claim to Samuel was more powerful, more sacred than any he’d ever had. Still, seeing him shake, struggle to breathe, made Will’s throat tight. 

“Samuel,” he said softly. Sam didn’t look up. He could see better from this vantage point. Samuel’s knuckles were bloody but long healed over. There was a mess of red on the side of his neck. 

Alexis had bitten him. 

William felt anger boil in his stomach like acid. He hadn’t felt like this in fifteen years, since the night he’d carried a shaking newborn from Alexis’s house. 

“Oh my boy,” he said softly. He looked up to Sam’s mate, who was swallowing growls and trying not to flash teeth. He could smell Alexis’s- his- blood on them. He shook his head. “I am so sorry. I will deal with her.” 

“You should have already dealt with her.” Samuel’s mate sneered. Sam stiffened. “She fucking bit him.” 

Will didn’t reply to the disrespect. He owed them this. He owed Samuel this moment. He wouldn’t let his damned pride take that from him. 

He stood, let his hand grace over Sam’s hair as his mate’s growls subsided. 

He knocked gently, unnaturally on the Alpha’s office door. 

Shaw was sat at his desk, his face and hair splattered with blood, inspecting his battered knuckles as he stared down Alexis. She was sat across from him in one of the plush, maroon chairs for visitors. William could almost convince himself that she was having a civil meeting, sitting politely with her back to him. As he stepped closer, though, he could see the strange tilt to her head, he could hear her ragged breathing. 

“Solaire.” Shaw nodded, his face grave. He indicated lazily towards Alexis. “She’s fucked up but she’ll live.” 

William rounded the chair and got a good look at Alexis. Most of the minor damage had healed, leaving behind smudges and splatters of blood and dirt where there were once cuts and scrapes. The worst of it, though, was still healing. Someone, most likely Samuel’s mate, had taken a bite out of her neck and shoulder. The meat of her shoulder was oozing blood down her front, staining her torn dress from blood red to black. Her throat was pried open like a clam, the pearl of her exposed trachea fluttering as it tried to maintain its structure. Her blackened eyes were hazy as they glared back at Shaw. Her arms twitched, her inch long, sharpened nails digging into the crushed velvet arm of the chair. Will imagined that, if she had the strength, she’d be biting for anything with a pulse, Shaw included. One of her hands jerked towards him as he came into her line of sight. He took it gently in his own. 

“Your kindness does not go unnoticed.” William replied to Shaw. “And it will not be forgotten. If I may, what exactly happened?” David nodded slowly and ran his fingers through his hair, which had begun to go stiff with blood. 

“Sam was attending a pack meeting.” He said after a moment. “That’s his right. His mate is a member of this pack, so he is too. Your progeny-“ he sneered as he looked at her, “-invited herself. My Beta and I met her at the door and barred her from stepping foot in our den. She was… unsteady. Sam asked for privacy and stepped out to take care of it. His mate followed. By the time I smelled blood she was already on the ground. It took three of us to get my wolf off of her.” 

Alexis coughed and squeezed his hand, her lips curling up in disgust or anger. William couldn’t keep his attention on her face for very long. He didn’t know if it was the echoes of her pain or his own that filled him up when he did. 

“I apologize for my clan’s intrusion on your territory.” 

“And-“ Shaw raised his hand, his face twisting, as though apologizing for the interruption. “-and the intrusion on my pack. Sam is the mate of one of my wolves. That makes him a full fledged member of this pack.” 

William’s brow furrowed. He was well acquainted with vampires’ sometimes antiquated ideas about shifters and other mortal empowered races. The idea that a vampire would lower themself so much as to identify as part of a pack above their own Clan of origin was shameful to many older beings like himself. He couldn’t help the shiver of prideful objection that tried to overtake him. It was his blood in Samuel’s veins. That part of him screamed to draw him back, to collect him away from harm, to have him and understand him and protect him in a way that Shaw never could in his last fifty-odd years on this earth. 

But that was the same instinct that screamed in Alexis to cross territory lines. That was the same instinct inside of her that turned Sam, even when he begged her not to. That possession before love, before respect, before care. That ugly part of her that William punished so readily came from him. 

So he swallowed it down like blood in his throat. Hot and bitter and unkind. Samuel did not belong to him.

“I want to be very clear to you, William.” Shaw continued, his voice teetering on the edge of control. William imagined that it was only the mutual respect the two of them had cultivated that kept Shaw from losing his grasp in decorum entirely at this point. “Sam is mine. He is a member of my pack. He belongs to his mate. And he belongs to me. She touched what is mine . Sam asked me to keep her alive, so I did. But if he had allowed it, I would have killed her, regardless of any allyship.”

“You openly admit your willingness to kill my progeny?” William asked. His voice was purposefully blank of anything that would give away his position on this issue. Shaw was treading on dangerous ground. Many kings had killed for less.

“Yes.” Shaw replied easily, as though he were unaware that that word alone could be the punctuation on his life. Shaw knew it. William could see it in those dark, steady eyes. “In order to make this next part stick in her brain.” Those dark eyes shifted to Alexis, who was struggling to sit up properly in her chair. Her neck was fluttering closed, healing slowly. “If you come onto my territory again, if you hurt a member of my pack, if you so much as look at Sam in a way that displeases me, I won’t take his wishes into consideration. He wants you left alive out of some sense of Maker loyalty? That’s fine. But I won’t let the opinions of a single pack member revoke my right to protect what is mine. Do that shit again, and you’ll meet your end between my teeth. Do you understand?” 

Alexis bared her bloody teeth, gasping down air and blood. 

“He’s mine.” She gasped, voice ragged and popping. “In a way he can never be yours. When you’re dead and gone, he and I will still be here. And when I’m ruling monarch of the House of Solaire, I’ll do what I please with him.” 

Silence rang through the room. William swore he could see Shaw’s teeth grow and sharpen in his mouth. Heat bubbled up in his own chest. Shame burned through him in a way it never had before. 

Will’s hand snaked to the back of Alexis’ neck, cradled her nape in a gentle hold. He had made the decision before she even finished talking. 

“Alexis will never have her invocation rights returned to her.” William said softly. Two sets of predator’s eyes snapped to him. “I will give my own ability to invoke her to Vincent.” 

“ Vincent ?” Alexis screached, jerking under his hand. He held fast, his nails digging into the tender flesh. 

“He is a closer ally to the Shaw pack than he is to me, now.” A rueful smile curled around his elongated fangs. “Should something happen to me and Alexis become monarch of the House, someone outside of her control will hold her invocation rights. Vincent is a kind man, and will not abuse that ability over her. And he loves Sam. More and better than I was ever capable of.” William cut his gaze to Shaw. “Is this satisfactory?” Shaw stared him down, unblinking, and unafraid of a trance or threat. It was rare for another empowered person to meet his eye. He supposed that was why he had always liked Shaw so much. He was unafraid of William’s power, but not ignorant of it. 

“That’s a big thing to give up.” Shaw sighed, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. “I find it hard to believe that you would hand over any power, let alone something so… useful.” His lips curled around the word with disgust. Shaw was far from the first mortal to find invocations distasteful. Wolves. They so valued their freedom, their democracy. Short sighted, fast fading, mortal creatures. William had seen Shaw’s father pass through life in the blink of an eye. Shaw would do the same. Already, his brow was creased with premature worry lines. The quiet, twenty-year-old Beta had become the intimidating, thirty-year-old Alpha would become an old man would become a body in the ground. He aged, and he would die. He could not protect Sam, not in any meaningful way. In the long run, it would fall to William. This was the least he could do for Sam, who he had failed in so many ways, so many times. 

“I care for Sam more than I value this power.” He admitted softly. “And… I am more ashamed of my progeny’s actions than words can describe.” He folded his hand over his chest and bowed his head. William had not bowed to anyone in centuries, not since his Maker had forced him to. William knew with a frightful certainty when his Maker’s blood had adorned his body like a brand new, tailored suit that he would bow to no one ever again. And yet here he was, his head inclined, his back bending under the weight of his progeny’s actions, his actions. Shaw sucked in a breath as Alexis jerked. He knew how rare this was. “I beg the forgiveness of your pack and its Alpha.” Shaw bristled under the formality. 

“Yeah well…” he huffed. “Get her off of my land and keep her off.” 

“Happily.” 

Shaw left the office to move Samuel away before William and Alexis made their leave. Sam didn’t deserve to hear her screeching as she spat venom into Will’s face, into the face of his only ally left in this town. WillIan’s gaze froze her in her spot even as she craned to catch sight of Samuel through the door as Shaw left. The shadow of Shaw’s imposing figure blocked his pack from their view. 

“I think,” William said softly, his voice stilling Alexis’ frantic movements, “that it is time to reorder my Court.” 

Alexis finally fell into silence. She blinked up at him owlishly, her blackened eyes brimming with… something. Anger, perhaps. Or grief. 

“What?” She breathed. He brushed his knuckles against her throat and let what little magic he could externalize flow into her. His magic knew hers, had known hers for fifty years now, as well as it knew himself. It was his blood in her veins, afterall. Everything that she was he had been, he was. 

Her wounds closed over slowly. She winced at the sting of his magic, rarely ever used to heal. Samuel would have made easy work of those injuries. William wondered if someone had stopped him from healing her. He doubted that Sam would have let an injury lie unless under direct order from his mate or his Alpha. 

He was so good. And it was Alexis’s blood in him. It was William’s.  

“You do not want to rule a House.” He replied. “Not truly. You want power over those around you. And you want the freedom to do what you please. But you cannot have both. To carry power over others is to be tied to them, to belong to them. That is something you have never understood.” 

“Will-“

“It would be a kindness, I think,” he said, “to save you from the burden of the crown.” He bent to lift her up into his arms, cradled her head until it rested, limply, against his shoulder. She spasmed for a moment but eventually gave in to his hold. He was reminded of a night decades ago, holding a slight, bloody thing in his arms in the woods outside of his territory. She fought his every touch, his every kindness. He remembered, even then, even in the dying tilt of her, the hunger that rang through every bone. That was there before him, but it was so familiar she might have inherited it. Perhaps that was why he had turned her. Perhaps that was why he had allowed her to live after what she did to Samuel. Perhaps that was why she had remained on his court, in his line of succession. 

No more. William Solaire was not a kind man, least of all to himself. The parts of him that had bled for Alexis stopped here, in this room, in an unfamiliar office in the territory of the only ally he had left, an ally he might have strengthened or lost tonight. 

“You are my progeny.” He said softly, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head through her blood-matted hair. “I will care for you for the rest of your life.” He closed his eyes to his next words, let them wash over her unobserved. He owed her this, at least this. “But if you touch Samuel again, Shaw won’t have to kill you. I will do it myself.” 

He carried her home, tucked into his arms and weeping. He prayed that, come morning, his progeny would still be his, that the ache in his chest- her chest- would ease. He prayed that, one day, he would pay back all that he owed. 

For all of his riches, he doubted he would ever wrap his hands around enough. That, William thought, had always been his problem.

[ryin-silverfish]

Stray thought: something I found the "SWK is manipulated into the Havoc!" take often obscures is his fear of death. Y'know, the very reason he begins his quest for immortality in the first place, and I'm glad the LMK show at least paid some homage to.

Death is but one of the many sufferings that accompanies existence and samsara itself. So is his fear of death and the desire to avoid it. The problem is? The way desires and attachments work, getting what you want doesn't solve the deeper issues.

First, he sets out to avoid death for himself. Then he did that, and also made death null for as many of his fellow monkeys as he could find. But it isn't enough, no.

His own immortality will not grant the safety of all of his subjects, his friends, and all the good stuff he has ever gained that rightfully belong to him, mind you, and he is responsible for. So he just needs to find a way to hold onto them, forever and ever and ever.

Since he has an abundance of creativity and intellect, but not the wisdom to match, his solution is to find the "Hows" rather than asking the "Whys".

Keep stacking up the powers, the immortalities, the allies, the weapons, the victory counts——which eventually became its own rewards, the thrills, the satisfaction of getting away with yet another daring heist, the feeling of invulnerability.

But let's go on a tangent and talk about book!SWK. When he came back after getting banished, he found his monkeys bullied by the Monstrous King of Havoc, wrecked the guy, and rescued his subjects. Immediately afterwards, he emptied the armory of Aolai Kingdom to arm his monkeys and robbed the dragon kings blind to arm himself.

Yeah, seeing a bit of a connection here. He is pulling off these heists to protect against perceived threats to him and his people. Then, moving on to the First Havoc, when he came back to his monkeys, he was surprised at just how much time had passed since he departed for the Celestial Realm——10+ years in the Lower Realm!

Yet, after the First Havoc is resolved, he happily stayed in the Celestial Realm for half a year, without remembering that meanwhile, at least a century had passed for his monkeys and demon allies. In a sense, he had become detached from his subjects, despite his first instinct still being "bring my buddies all the divine wine" after he got sober and returned to them.

I don't know you, but I feel like he probably expects everything to stay the same while he was gone. He isn't yet selfish, but certainly self-absorbed, in that he doesn't seem to realize that his actions can have consequences for people other than himself.

Like, if he is in his old "Monkey King" mindset, he may have comprehended that the Celestial Realm will treat him and his monkeys as a single entity that will be collectively punished for his misdeeds. But by becoming the Great Sage, he has drifted away from his duties as a king, which sets the stage for his behaviors during the Second Havoc.

After the 72 caves of demon kings have all been captured during the first wave of attack, his reaction is basically "lol, at least they didn't get any of my monkeys". This, I think, is the point where he is showing true selfishness instead of just being self-absorbed. Like, if I were one of his non-monkey allies and I heard that, I'd be pretty pissed.

The thing with the unrestrained freedom of the Havoc is, by cutting himself loose from all the rules and norms and disregarding every potential consequences, he is also unknowingly severing his tethers to others and alienating himself from his people.

Which is how I interpret SWK becoming so disheartened when his epic battle with Erlang terrified his own subjects into a rout, he just turned and fled——he realized that they, too, were seeing a monster.

He is no longer fighting for his people's safety, but an idea of them, who will always look up to him and do okay without him and never perceive him as a threat, and when that idea is shattered, so does his will to fight on.

I feel like the same could be said for his pursuit of immortality and power: it started off as a way to rid himself of existential fear and defend against concrete threats, but the list of "things I must do to secure my happy eternity and what is rightfully mine" just keeps growing longer and longer, until he's only focused on that sweet, sweet feeling of reward whenever he ticks off a checkbox and tunes out everything else.

After all, the more you have, the more you can potentially lose. A never ending cycle, exacerbated by his desire to never lose, until it all comes crashing down, figuratively and literally.

Back to LMK: People always point out that Azure worships this idea of SWK, and never quite sees SWK as his true, flawed self. Which I agree, but also: SWK does this too. He, too, loses sight of the actual people he's fighting for.

"I did it for US!"

The thing with a claim such as this is, multiple people can all try to do everything for the idea of "us", instead of something that may actually help each other, then feel wronged when their efforts essentially amount to nothing.

"We were all on a path of self-destruction."

For this statement to land, the self-destruction has to genuinely be each character's own doing. The fallout can, and is indeed magnified by what the others did or didn't do, but ultimately, the causes of their consequences come from within themselves: their own obsessions and attachments.

And making SWK the exception, the innocent figurehead and scapegoat, removes the complexity from the character while outright ignoring the few implications of the show that actually have some basis in book canon and are kinda interesting.

I rest my case.

[piffany666]

My new grease fire life

A swap au with jean, Duke dandy, intern and dennys

Chapter 1.

(Disclaimer: since Duke dandy has confirmed himself within the series that he is gay this intern will be exclusively male)

The back of Duke's head hit the wall he was leaning against as he groaned, he had left his lighter on his bead side.

He decided not to best himself up for it to much tho, while he did make a habit of smoking at work, it had been a chaotic couple of months so he decided it best to cut himself some slack.

If he thought about just how chaotic his life had been as of lately he gave himself a headache, how so much could happen within the span of so little time he didn't know. How he went from "back ally pot head" to "D list mafia goon" he just...didn't know.

Or at least he tried not to think about it...

His co workers where cool enough tho, listening to Bing and Boom fight on the regular provided him with enough entertainment to last a lifetime and his boss wasn't that bad either, another anomaly considering Duke's genral behaviour towards him and his son, but Bing and Boom had told him that such attitude was similar to that of a guy who used to work with them that he "ought not to mention" so that was probably why he got away with being as disrespectful as he had been, apparently the guy who bing had told Duke he "ought not to mention in front of the boss" had made off with a suitcase containing thousands of dollars worth of pokemon cards that they where planning on laundering, upon hearing this for the first time Duke couldn't bring himself to stop laughing.

But in any case, something Duke found interesting about that story was how he managed to even get a hold of that suitcase. Apparently, according to the brothers, the intern had shot the girl who had the suitcase in the hand, causing her to drop it. He and his predecessor left the scean with the suitcase, and the next thing the brothers knew, the intern was alone in the accounting office with no suitcase and no accountant.

Duke didn't know why he couldn't stop thinking about that story for a long while after he was told it, maybe it was because he felt bad because according to the boss everyone was so impressed by the interns actions that day that they where all planing on letting him in on the gangster shit Bing and Boom got to do every day but due to their accountants disappearance somone needed to handle finances leaving intern trapped in that office. Or maybe it was his curious-ness regarding that old accountant, who's name Duke couldn't muster up enough fucks to give to remember, and what could have happend between him and the intern that lead him to give up the suitcase or-

Duke suddenly heard the door to the accounting office open along with the sound of Bing and Boom's voice.

"Thanks intern, Boom get in the car. Duke, we're done here, you comin' or what?"

Duke didn't move from his position against the wall, there was no way he was doing any gangster shit without his mandatory smoke brake so he figured he'd test out what the boss was willing to put up with and take the rest of the day off.

"Nah, I'm good. Maybe I'll catch you up, but probly not"

"Oh...alright then...?" Bing was clearly sceptical but that certainly wasnt stopping Duke.

Boom also seemed concerned

"Are you sure Duke? The boss will be mad"

"Yeah I'm good big guy, besides if the boss isn't going to get mad at me for saying his son should've been swallowed by his wife he's not going to get mad at me for skipping a day's worth of work"

Duke heard a snicker coming from the open doorway of the accounting office, the intern closed the door behind them and stood outside still laughing at Duke's coment.

"Did that really happen?"

Duke wasn't sure if he was talking to him or the brothers but regardless Bing answered.

"Oh yeah you should have been there intern, the look on his face was hilarious!"

"I can imagine, wish I was there to see it..."

The look on interns had face darkened, Duke thurowed his eyebrows at this.

"Hey, come on, intern. we talked to the boss, and he said that if we find a new account, he'd group you in with us in a second!"

Bings attempt at reassurance was sweet but seemed to do nothing.

"It's cool, don't worry about it... now don't you guys have gangster shit to do?"

Intern's smirk returned, but it wasn't the same as before.

"Oh shit, yeah, you're right, Boom! Get in the car!"

"Buy intern!"

Boom waved from inside the car before it sped off.

Intern gave him a small wave before they went out of sight.

Duke just stood there a moment staring at him, he'd had a total of 4 actual conversations with him all of which where just in passing maybe now was a chance to change that?

But before he could ask intern if he had a light on him, the intern turned to him and asked:

"You want a light for that, or are you just gonna hold it?"

Taggs:

@pinkcocopuff-aqualoid (thank you for the name) @jarromir (thank you for the encouragement) @lozerboylucas (thank you for the ask post that started all this) @escapedaudios (and thank you for making these hot losers)

[ae-azile]

Lost & Found: Chapter 2 Preview

He welcomes Big into his bed again that night. The thought of being alone is off-putting, and Big seems okay with staying. In fact, he seems as relieved as Chan feels to have company.

“Did Khun Korn give you today off too?” Big asks as he slips under the covers next to him, “I didn't see you around.”

Chan gives Big a sort-of motion with his hand before turning onto his side to face Big, “I met him for lunch. Played chess and discussed a book he decided we both needed to read a couple of weeks ago. He's worse than Tankhun when it comes to needing a guard around to entertain him.”

Big snorts, “I doubt it.”

“It's true,” Chan says, “He's incredibly needy and annoying.”

And then, he remembers that he is talking to a guard under his supervision.

“I mean…” Chan says, correcting himself while Big fails to hold back an amused grin, “He's…an intellectual who wants his guards to take part in his hobbies.”

“Like father, like son.”

“Pretty much,” Chan says, but he remembers not minding so much with Tankhun. Granted, Tankhun was eleven when Chan started, he wasn't kidnapped for six more years. Back then, he was a child who had an unfair amount of responsibilities and pressure on his shoulders. Chan hadn't minded entertaining Tankhun.

He wishes he hadn't been on leave in London when the kidnapping occurred. It is why he has kept his trips short and rare since.

“But it wasn’t so bad this time,” Chan says, “He didn't keep me. I was allowed to work from here and focus on scheduling. How was your day?”

“Khun Kinn had a few meetings,” Big says, “Porsche attended a couple of them, or he sat out in the lounge with me on standby.”

Chan raises an eyebrow at that, “He didn't have you go in to be on guard for Khun Kinn? In case things went wrong?”

“I was supposed to,” Big says, inching a little closer, “But Khun Chatri made a few comments to me at lunch, so Porsche and Kinn arranged it so Gear went with them into the conference room.”

“Comments?” Chan asks. Big stays silent for a moment, then shrugs the inquiry away.

“So you're flying out on Sunday-”

“What comments?” Chan asks. Big looks reluctant to say. When Chan gives him a moment, only to still get nothing, he breathes out through his nose and pulls Big even closer. Big scoots in immediately, entering Chan’s space until their heads are resting on the same pillow.

“Nothing horrible,” Big says quietly, hesitating at first, but tentatively resting his arm around Chan. Since Big is doing it to him, Chan returns the gesture, “They were just inappropriate.”

“Inappropriate how?”

“He said that he would like some pre-trained guards, that whoever trains us must be highly competent, at least from what he's heard,” Big says, “He was pushing for a guard to be included in the trade. I'm not sure if he was actually serious. But he said I would be at the top of his list. That I was…pretty. That my duties would extend past standing on guard and that he would put…specific orifices to use-”

Chan picks his head up suddenly, “He said that?”

“It was cruder, but he had also been drinking-”

“No excuse,” Chan mutters, turning onto his back to grab his phone.

Big props himself up, “What are you doing?”

Chan doesn't answer as he creates a text with both Kinn and Porsche.

Chan: I will be changing the schedule around until the Chatri deal is closed and he is no longer regularly coming around the compound. Gear, First, and Job will be your guards throughout the rest of the week.

Kinn: Okay. I take it Big mentioned how Chatri conducted himself?

Chan: He told me Chatri made sexual comments and offers. While I realize the guards are expected to risk their lives under necessary circumstances, it is not a part of the contract for them to face unwanted advances or harassment from our so-called allies. I understand that severing the Chatri deal would cause tension and not be in the best interest for the family's various business dealings with him, but it is not acceptable for him to conduct himself the way he did this afternoon. He will no longer have access to Big.

Kinn: We took steps once we realized Chatri’s behavior might continue. However, I believe having Big stationed elsewhere during Chatri’s appointments will be for the best as well. I am glad he felt comfortable telling you, especially if the situation made him uneasy or upset. I will make sure to debrief with him in the morning so that he knows Chatri’s propositions were unacceptable and that he doesn't need to put up with that kind of situation should it ever arise again.

Porsche: We would never sell Big!

Good, because Chan might turn on the entire family and burn down the compound if a deal like that occurred. He doesn't put the threat out there though.

Porsche: I could tell it pissed Big off. I tried to get him to talk about it when we switched him out, but he remained annoyingly professional and stoic.

Chan: Which is why it might be important to make the guards' autonomy and expectations clear. This is not the first time something like this has happened - to Big or a few of the other guards. While I have told them to calmly but firmly set up boundaries with visiting allies and associates if something like this occurs, they might be more likely to do it if they heard it from Khun Kinn.

Kinn: I'm sure Pa has said something to them in the past.

He hasn't. Chan knows Korn has not said a word about situations where guards get harassed or asked for when it comes to a potential trade. Korn wants the guards to feel cared for and financially stable, but never secure or truly safe.

Chan: He hasn't, at least to my knowledge. We have several younger guards here who have various forms of trauma, little to no support systems outside of their coworkers, and might not know how to handle an imbalance like that. Big has seniority over most of them, but he is only 28. Chatri is twice his age, extremely wealthy, and should have never put Big in that position.

Porsche: Agreed! When he groped Big, I almost flipped out at him. 😡 If you had seen it, I KNOW you would have intimidated the shit out of the guy.

Chan looks away from his phone and stares at Big sharply, “He touched you?”

Big keeps his arm around Chan’s middle, “Are you talking to Kinn or Porsche?”

“Both,” Chan says, then lets out a harsh breath, “Were you ever alone with him?”

Big shrugs, “Just to escort him into the East Wing dining area.”

“Did anything happen during that time?”

“Comments,” is all Big says at first, but then elaborates, “He's done it a few times over the years, but he was surprisingly bold today. Maybe he is getting an early form of dementia and doesn't care about how he comes across anymore-”

“He's not,” Chan grunts out as he focuses on his phone, “He knows exactly what he's doing.”

“Clearly not if he thinks I'm worth throwing into a business deal.”

Chan pauses, then puts his phone back down on his chest, “I would say that you are wrong since your assumption seems to be coming from a self-deprecating place, but no human should be thrown into a business deal or bought.”

Big doesn't have anything to say to that, so Chan picks up his phone again. He wants details. He wants to know how bad it was so he can figure out a way to kill Chatri and not have it traced back to him. But even if it was, he would stand by his decision.

Chan: Elaborate on what you mean by “grope.”

Porsche: You guys are really close, huh? You sound so protective of him 🥰

Chan: Elaborate.

Porsche: 🙄 Fine. You should know, so I’ll tell you. Chatri was AWFUL to him! He was literally trying to push Big up against a wall and undo his pants when I turned the corner to meet them. Big dodged him and got some distance between them, but still! Pissed me off, and I could tell Big was pissed off too.

As Chan turns his head to look at Big again, Big jerks his own back slightly at Chan’s expression.

“...I'm sure they are making it sound worse than it was-”

“Stop,” Chan grunts before his phone pings again.

Kinn: I made it clear to Chatri that Big was never going to be a part of a deal and to refrain from touching any of our guards if he wanted to keep our connection positive and lucrative. And again, I will make sure to check in with Big tomorrow. Or tonight, if he is available.

Porsche: Since he just told you, I assume he might be nearby? You can send him over. We’d be happy to apologize for what happened, reassure him that we will advocate for him, and encourage him to advocate for himself if something similar happens in the future.

Chan stares at his phone for a minute, then glances at Big. They are both already in their pajamas. Big looks relaxed despite his day, and he is gently twirling the fabric of Chan’s grey t-shirt around his fingers.

Chan: He can meet with you tomorrow. Good night.

“Are you mad?”

Chan sighs, “Not at you. At Chatri. And at myself for scheduling you for meetings with him. I really wish you would have told me this has been an issue in the past.”

“He hasn't come around that much, not since he invested in the resort chain,” Big says, then focuses on Chan’s shirt again, “We weren't as close then.”

“No, but we were close enough. I mentored you,” Chan says, “I wish you would have come to me about it. I would have made sure it stopped being a problem much sooner. And if it somehow continued anyway, I would have done everything in my power to protect you.”

Big stares at him wide eyed before clearing his throat and looking away again, “It wasn't that serious.”

Maybe not compared to other things they have faced, but it feels more than serious enough to Chan.

“Just promise me you won't hesitate telling me if something like that happens again,” Chan says, “It doesn't matter who, but if you feel like someone is…abusing their power to manipulate you or see how much you will put up with…even if it's me-”

“Even if it's you?” Big says, lifting his head up, “What do you mean?”

Now, Chan is the one who feels tight lipped.

“Chan? What do you mean?”

Fine. He’ll just say it.

“I realize that our…friendship…” Chan starts, then briefly closes his eyes, “I realize what we are doing is not typical, especially with the differences in our rank.”

Big stays quiet, his arms still around Chan’s middle. Chan feels himself sharply breathes in with surprise when Big leans in and rests his cheek against Chan’s shoulder.

“I don't have a problem with this,” Big says, “If I did, I wouldn't initiate…things like this most of the time. It's normally me who starts it, Phi.”

That's true.

“You don't intimidate me. Sorry.”

As Chan huffs out a laugh, Big props himself up on Chan’s chest and Chan lifts his hand to run it up and down Big’s back.

“Are you uncomfortable by this?” Big asks him.

No. Maybe not knowing what is exactly happening between them is uncomfortable. Not knowing how to proceed or if he even should is also uncomfortable. But Big’s proximity, Big’s touch, and the closeness that has developed between them over the last year and a half is a comfort.

He wants Big to move back in. It would be so easy. They don't even need to redo the office. Big doesn’t seem to mind sleeping here in the bed with him. Last night, Chan offered. Tonight, Big was the one to ask to stay the night with him.

So maybe Chan isn't pressuring him.

“Do you…” Big starts, then tries again, “If you want me to leave-”

“No.”

“Or stop touching you…” Big says, then looks down at Chan’s chest. When he makes a move to lift himself off, Chan shifts his arm underneath him and pulls him back in.

“No,” Chan murmurs. Big - now resting inside the crook of his arm - looks up at him with a mixture of hope and hesitation. All Chan can do is lift his other hand to cup Big’s cheek. Big keeps his eyes on him as he lifts his own hand to keep Chan’s right where it is.

“I like you,” Big says, his voice sounding slightly strangled, “It's uh…It's a lot more than just like, but I don't want to fuck up everything between us if you don't feel the same way. So that's all I'm willing to say for now.”

[bucket-barnes]

Memories: Harry Hook

(That’s right, I’ve done it again, this time in my psych class. Have fun)

Harry has a few memories of his mother. He remembers her watching as his dad taught him to sword fight, how she always called him “kiddo”… and how she was the only person he ever heard say “I love you”

Harry was six when he started hearing things. It started small, hearing someone call his name when no one was there, hearing clock ticking when he wasn’t anywhere near his family’s shop…but then he started seeing things too. As he got older the voices became louder and the visions more clear, he’d always seem out of it, his maniacal laughter scaring people away and seeming unable to focus…but then there was Uma. Uma wasn’t afraid of him, she trusted him, she saw him as an ally, someone to be kept around…Harry liked having Uma around

Harry was ten when his mother died…sickness, a terrible way to go, really. He would always sit with mother while she lied in bed, he’d always tell her about what was happening that day, sometimes even bring her back a little gift that he “bought” from Jafar’s junk shop. His favorite thing he ever got her was a little pocket watch, it was damaged and stuck at 11:30, but it had a little design engraved on the back… a swan craning out it’s neck, surrounded in a frame of vines and roses, he always loved that watch

The day his mother died, Harry sat with her and told her about what happened that day, how he and Uma pulled a prank on Cruella deville and didn’t get caught, how Harriet beat up a guy who called Captain Hook weak, and how he even saw a little dove by the docks…though that one wasn’t real, just him seeing things again. When his mother died, Harry saw his father cry for the first time, Harriet tried so hard to shield him from everything, but there was no hiding him from that. Harry hugged his father tight and tried to tell him it’s ok and that everything will be alright, just like Harriet would do for him…but then the voices came, and it wasn’t just whispering, they were loud and saying terrible things, it eventually got so bad he had to let go of his father and sit in his room with his sisters until it got silent again

Harry was eleven when he gained a reputation. Harriet always told him that if the voices got bad to go find her, but Harry added an extra step, if the voices got bad…play it up, laugh, smile, whatever, just act insane so people stay out of the way. Harry had gained the reputation of “Hook’s psycho son” though that didn’t stop his classmates from giving him heart eyes, so he also became the Isle’s heartbreaker, which wasn’t necessarily a bad reputation to have once he got a little older. Always feared, or a fantasy

Harry was sixteen when the hallucinations were at their worst. Everyday there were visions of violence and carnage, and the voices…the voices were the worst part, always yelling, always saying horrible, horrible things. Harry’s day always started with whatever strange medications Harriet found on the barges, and ended with him throwing up over the edge of the lost revenge. Uma and Gil would always stay close to him, tell him when what he was seeing was or wasn’t real, guide him away from prying eyes when the visions and voices got bad, and would help sell the act of his insanity…he had a reputation to keep up after all. One voice always stood out from the others, it wasn’t loud or vicious, it was soft and gentle…always saying “I love you”, it was the one voice Harry didn’t mind…reminded him of his mother

Harry was eighteen when he joined his father for a drink. He had indulged plenty of times, always with Uma and the rest of the crew, but never with his father. Harry’s vision of his father had been shattered long ago after he caught his father three bottles deep, swearing him out for a menagerie of things he did or didn’t do through mournful cries, though Harry didn’t really hold it against him…he knew his father was just trying to numb the pain of well, everything. The barrier has been down for a few months and Harry was getting overwhelmed, Auradon was a lot to take in and the hallucinations weren’t helping. On a crisp autumn night, Harry went down to the Jolly Rodger, sat down next to his father, and took a swig of rum. The two men talked through the night, about Auradon, Harry’s visions and the voices in his head, and about all the things Hook tried to numb, the pain of losing his wife, the pain of his oldest daughter growing up to fast, the pain of his only son hearing and seeing things that weren’t there, and the pain of his youngest daughter never truly knowing her mother.

That night, Harry barely slept, his mind was rattled by the rum and the voices were so loud, and yet, he could still here one… “I love you”

[idontknowreallywhy]

4 - Patience

Penultimate instalment in this ‘what is the earth without the sky?’ angst-fest. Although mischievous-hallucination-Scotty does add a degree of lightness if you ignore the actual agony of his existence. He’s been making me chuckle…

And I say penultimate because I’ve written the last bit too. Where it gets a little better. HOLD THE PHONE, DID I ACTUALLY FINISH A FIC??

Presence, Absence, Divulgence…

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚

One thing he would say for the drugs, they had dampened his hunger. He guessed they knew that which was why he’d barely been given anything to eat beyond bland nutrition shakes. Scotty kept scoffing cookies and pie at the foot of the bed and wouldn’t share.

At one point he was tucking into an outrageously large rib eye steak with fries. Virgil begged for a bite but he’d shook his head and wagged a finger with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Virgil threw a pillow at him and then regretted it when his brother disappeared for a while. Then the hunger did too, leaving behind only emptiness and an ache that made him nauseous.

Next time Virgil woke, Scotty was back and flicking popcorn at his little brother. Thankfully, now the sedatives and whatever else he’d been taking were wearing off, his reflexes were much better. He managed to reach out and catch several of the kernels, although kept dropping them and losing them amongst the bedsheets before he could get them into his mouth. His gross motor control was improving quicker than his fine motor, he reasoned. That was fine. He only needed to walk… maybe run, and that was a gross motor thing.

Maybe he could test that out now?

He’d realised the checks by the medical staff followed a very regular pattern. According to the glowing numbers to his right, they could be relied upon to appear every 30 mins or so, between 05 and 10 mins past the hour and between 35 and 40. Unless he did anything weird. When they’d found the pillow on the floor that seemed to have prompted some extra visits but as long as he kept being compliant and drowsy nobody came in between.

Except Dad. He’d been there a few times but after that first occasion post Virgil overhearing what he’d overheard… when Dad didn’t tell him anything new… Virgil pretended to be asleep while he was there. The most useful thing to come out of those visits was he’d heard his father mention a room number and “upstairs” to someone waiting outside the door. Virgil memorised the number - 726 - but decided not to ‘wake’ to ask about it. If he wasn’t going to be trusted with the information, he and Scotty would find out for themselves.

Dad had been weird anyway, ever since Virgil had punched him on the roof of the ranch. He couldn’t quite remember what had prompted that, or why he was there in the first place but he knew it had been Scotty’s fault. At some point he’d have to have a word with his brother about why he hadn’t stood up for him and explained how everything was perfectly safe.

Scotty himself just chatted away about flying and stories from the air force and that seemed to keep Dad happy. He suspected his father preferred hearing from Scott anyway, even though Virgil knew none of the stories were new. They had more in common. And as far as he knew Scott had never hit their father. Virgil tried to stop thinking about that. He suspected there would be a Conversation at some point.

Anyway, Dad had been here a few hours ago and probably wouldn’t be back again today. And it was currently 20 mins past the hour. So. As long as he was quiet…

Virgil carefully pushed back the sheets, swung his legs round and flinched as his bare feet met the cool lino. Everything ached. He reached out to Scotty to give him a hand up but his frustrating sibling grinned and backed away with his hands held out, beckoning, like when they were helping Allie learn to walk.

Allie. Virgil could feel in his gut that there was a Conversation due with his littlest brother too but the reason escaped him at the moment.

He blinked rapidly and refocused. He toddled on unpractised legs and slightly numb toes toward Scotty who backed away slowly until he stepped right through the wall.

The idiot.

Virgil wasn’t stupid enough to follow, the nurses would see him if he went outside his room. He rested his hands gently against the insipid green paintwork and then pivoted to walk around the outside of the small room until he reached the other side of the bed and climbed slowly back in, shoving Scotty over to make room. Despite getting a little tangled in the sheets which required some moderate flailing to put right, the prisoner managed to be appropriately restful-looking when the overly cheerful nurse arrived at 36 minutes past the hour. He maintained the act despite his maddening brother hiding under the sheets and poking him in the side. With a heroic effort Virgil kept a straight face and only allowed the giggles to escape once the nurse had left the room.

He practised twice more that day, the last time trying a little jog from one side of the room to the other which worked ok except the awful elastic-free pajama pants he was wearing slipped alarmingly. No matter, he’d just have to keep a hand free to hold them up. Scotty was no help at all, just leaning up against the wall and cackling in his ridiculous kookaburra way. Virgil had a mind to steal his jeans and make him wear the stupid pants of indignity, see how suave he’d look then.

But, idiot brothers aside, he was ready. All he needed to do was be patient. As well as A patient. Scotty had liked that one judging by the wink and the finger guns.

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚

He woke to the sound of a kerfuffle and Scotty shaking his shoulder. Multiple pairs of feet ran past his door and down the corridor and he could hear yelling and cursing from one of the other rooms. His eyes widened and Scotty nodded at him in confirmation.

This was their chance.

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚

next bit

[tonberry-yoda]

yeah. ✨illumi brainrot✨

sorry not sorry tee hee

I Hate That I Love You - Illumi Zoldyck

word count - 548

~~this is short and probably full of typos/mistakes. im bored and needed to write lmao~~

WARNINGS: mentions of blood/weapons, illumi being hot

You couldnt help but notice how Illumi watched you. Those big black eyes never moving from your hands whenever you used your nen or pulled out a weapon. He would watch your hands graze a knife and would watch patiently, hungerly.

You also couldnt help but fear the eldest Zoldyck. He watched you as if you were just an object, like he owned you. He was snobby and told you what to do and you were getting paid for jobs, so how could you say no?

But what scared you the most about him was that he was capable of compassion. Able to hold you in his arms, able to clean the blood off of your face, able to take you to family dinners.

You remember the first time he held you. You were crying and covered in your own blood and somebody else's. Illumi's doe like eyes stayed glued to your crying figure, shifting from your face to the rain falling beside you. He didn't know what to do, but something in his body shifted. For once, he could feel someone else's pain. For once, he felt... emotion.

He felt tears stream down his face as he squatted down to your level, grabbing both of your cheeks. He didn't say a word to you, but his eyes said enough. You wrapped your arms around the back of his neck and he carried you home in the rain, shivering from the cold air.

When you got to his house, he lowered you onto his bed and tended to your wounds as best as he could, hating your little winces and whimpers of pain. He didn't know what was wrong with him, but no matter what, he wanted you to feel better.

He claimed it was for the sake of not losing a faithful ally who was best suited for long missions, but he knew that wasn't it. There was something more to it. Maybe it was because you joked with him, even if he didnt laugh. Maybe it was because you smiled at him. Maybe it was because you made him feel differently than he had ever felt before.

Maybe it was because he hated being around you.

"Illumi," you had said around midnight. You were shaking and more than likely fever dreaming. "Illumi, hold me." Your voice was soft and sad.

Illumi stared at the ceiling. "Alright," he answered.

He pulled you into his arms and you wouldn't stop crying and shaking. You felt the bounce of Illumi's shaky breaths from behind you and the warm stream of his tears down your back. There was nothing you could do but let it happen as you kept crying, praying that the pain in your legs would go away.

It had felt like your whole system had stopped, however, when you heard soft shushing from Illumi behind you. He wrapped one arm around your waist and the other was busy rubbing little circles into your arm. "Love. Please stop crying."

And you did.

You didn't cry for the rest of the night. You only felt your warm, blood covered skin pressed against Illumi's cold skin.

He brought his lips to your ear and pressed a kiss to the lobe. Then he whispered. "I hate that I love you."

~~~~~

hxh masterlist --- pinned post

@tonberry-yoda

[peanutpermit]

Y'all hear me out....

If Percy wasn't in agony when he was holding the sky.....

Story time ❤❤

Warnings:

Death

Gore

Not like the real book

And enjoy

Btw got this idea from somebody it was a comic but I don't remember the name srry❤

As soon as I take the sky off Artemis's back I fall to my knees immediately. I can't move at all through the pain,and through my fuzzy vision I can see Artemis fighting Atlas, and Artemis falling down the rocky hill. I start to panic, I can't move, see clearly, or talk under the whole pressure of the sky. I crumble seeing all my friends in pain and trouble. My eyes shut for a few seconds, but it feels more like a hour.

When I open my eyes again I am back at CHB, but it feels familiar.... Its replaying my first day at camp..

"You drool when you sleep..."

I hear a voice that belongs to 12yr old Annabeth

I snap out of it

My eyes burn I realize I never closed them, I'm hallucinating.

I hear Annabeth scream, when I see her on the ground trying to fight Atlas with the slash he just got on her already very injured body, she can't even stand from holding the sky for 22 hours.

All I see is red.

My legs start to shake and I blank out. Its like I'm not in my body, nor mind anymore,this has to be somebody else.

I hear myself yelling at Atlas

"Stop This Now.."

"Im sorry what did you say, Perseus Jackson!"

"Hey why don't you pick on somebody your own size?"

"WHO WOULD THAT BE PERSEUS JACKSON BECAUSE YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS TOO WEAK FOR ME."

I look back at Annabeth I'm not in my body, I'm not on my right mind...but right now I don't care all I see is red

"Don't you tell me she's weak, heck she's stronger than you!"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!"

"You heard me Atlas."

"Oh yeah? Perseus Jackson you made me do this." He knocked Annabeth out, and now she's unconscious laying down.

"ANNABETH........Atlas."

"She will die in about a hour without nector, or ambrosia and with all her friends unconscious she won't get any!"

My eyes start shaking in the complete anger I feel consumed by

"ATLAS.."

He watches in horror as I am able to get up from my knees, to my feet.

"WHAT, Y-Y-YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT DYING..."

He watches me slowly stand up my whole body buzzing from the weight of the whole sky on my shoulders.

I stumble towards him.

"I might not be able to walk straight with this on my shoulders, but you can't even walk right now watching me."

Atlas can't move, and can speak very little.

"E-even the G-G-GODS CAN'T HOLD THE SKY UP, HOW ARE Y-Y-YOU!."

my eye twitches, everybody is awake now watching me

as Atlas is frozen in horror I bend down with struggle

"I knew you couldn't do it."

"Oh I'm sorry I was picking my sword up Atlas." My eye twitches again

"Atlas if you are as strong as you say, I invite you to a sword dual ."

"......"

"Do you surrender Atlas."

"....."

I look down at the Atlas he is shaking and crying like a small ally cat in the cold rain.

I realize I am shaking almost as much as him my body starting to strain from holding all the weight my crazy burst of energy is fading.

"Atlas you gave me no choice but to kill you, you harmed everybody here. You killed Bianca Di Angelo, and Zoë Nightshade on this quest just to save Artemis, that you stole! You must suffer death in the most painful way for vengeance."

"Oh and don't forget before I let go of the sky....Catch!"

I drop the sky on Atlas as he struggles to catch it on his shoulders, he gets the burden I've been carrying for 5 hours, Annabeth for 22 hours...

annabeth,

Annabeth,

"ANNABETH!"

I run to Annabeth feeding her some of ambrosia.

"Are you going to be okay!"

"..."

She stared at me with wide eyes and slowly nods

"Okay Annabeth I'm going to help you after something."

I walk with a limp to Atlas my energy draining by the second really feeling the weight on me again

(Death and gore in case you wanna skip)

"Atlas I'm going to kill you, but I know Hades and I know for a fact your going to stay here as a spirit to still hold the sky its too heavy to move, so you are going to die and stay here forever holding the sky up got it?!"

My eye won't stop twitching I have no idea why it keeps doing that

I raise my sword and strike Atlas

(Death and gore part skip if you want)

I watch his body fall limp, blood covering his body, and gushing out of his head I cracked with Riptide

To my surprise he glances back at me until his eyes slowly roll back into his head

I look up to see the sky still up so I was right his spirit is still struggling with every breath, forever.

I rush to Annabeth not looking back at the lifeless body of Atlas.

(End of death and gore)

I fall to my knees exhausted

"Can you walk Percy?.."

I hear Annabeth rasp behind me

I try to stand again and I'm a little wobbly

"I'll be fine lets get everybody back to camp. AH my eye hurts a little I don't know why but it keeps flinching."

suddenly I start laughing uncontrollably like a maniac

my eyes start to cry, except its only the one that's been twitching.

My laugh dies down enough to whisper

"Help me it feels like my body is going to crush under this weight, my eye feels like its going to pop!.."

Annabeth Pov for a sec

I watch Percy crumple to the ground crying about the skies weight on him

I look Percy in his eye that hurts its slowly turning gray as he laughs like he's crazy

Then he collapsed

End of Annabeth's pov back to Percy

WAITTT guys PT 2 is going in my other tumbler account so......yeah

Other account is @sleepyycapybara

Pls check out pt2 on my main posting account

If you saw a mistake no u didn't 👀💀

Slayy see you laterrr❤❤❤

[first-drafts-only-table]

Unspoken

She knew that these were her last moments and she didn't want to leave, there were lots of things she wanted to do with them, especially him. She tilted her head to get a good look at him and she wished she hadn't, if she wasn't accepting that this was her end the he was worse, he was denying it completely. She didn't want to leave him, not in this state.

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out, honestly what did she expect? But she didn't stop her efforts.

He noticed her attempt.

"Don't force yourself to speak." he said gently while soothingly running his hand through her hair.

She only shook her head in protest. If and when she dies, not saying those words would be her only lingering regret.

"I...."

It was only a letter but it took an enormous toll on her, just saying this word caused her excruciating pain so why does she think she can finish the sentence? She who has never spoken ever since she could remember was trying to say something now. She needed to let him know, to tell him herself, she wasn't afraid of the pain, she was going to die anyway, even if it hurt, it won't hurt for long. It was worth the pain.

"love...."

She suddenly felt lightheaded and dizzy, she felt the urge to close her eyes. Her body became heavy and numb, but she will get those words out. It's now or never for her.

"You."

After saying the final word, she finally relaxed and allowed her eyelids to shut. An enormous weight was lifted off her shoulder and she could now die peacefully without any regrets. After all she said the words she wanted to say since ever.

"I love you too, Selene," his voice broke as he held the hand she reached out to him "So please don't leave me."

The beeping of the monitors told him that his one wish didn't come true. How pathetic it all was, he was a mafia boss who could everything but the thing he wanted the most in his life. What was the meaning of all his power, influence and richest if he couldn't save the person he loved the most in the end?

The hand he was holding slowly became cold, he was looking at her life less body but he couldn't bear it so his tears blurred it. He didn't think that it was fair, not after he got to hear her voice. That beautiful voice he had just heard for the first time, that voice he would never get to hear again. He really wanted to hear it again even it was to scold him.

He couldn't even attend her funeral, although she deserved him being there for her the whole time but the idea of seeing her covered in dirty was too much for him. In his job he had seen count less people die, people he considered allies, but none of them hurt him this way. It was as if she healed the broken part of him only to break him as a whole later on and now he had to collection the pieces all by himself.

A year later....

Since she left, they both haven't been well. One was always imagining her presence to the point that he couldn't differentiate between imagination and reality anymore. But, he, was worse, ever since he heard those three words he wanted her to stay even more. After she left he engages in things she would've never allowed him to, ahe wasn't here to stop him, after all.

Her sweet, delicate voice was the only thing he could dream about, a dream that would never become a reality.

He was currently driving his motorbike at full speed, she wouldn't have allowed him to do that, it was too dangerous. But what is danger know? What value does his life hold without her?

He didn't expect it to happen this quick as a truck drove into him, he was harshly throw into the concrete several feet away. It was supposed to hurt him but some how it didn't. He felt his warm blood pooling around his body and people surrounding him.

Suddenly he could see her so he extended his hand towards her, but she didn't take it. She didn't take him with her, instead she said,

"Take care of yourself, Ryan, live a longer for me, okay?"

He heard her voice again but he didn't like what she said. It wasn't fair that she gets to leave and he has to stay behind and suffer. Don't the dead know how much pain the ones left behind feel?

As much as he wanted to go with her he couldn't betray her only wish, the only thing she has ever asked of him.

A/N: This is a drafts that I've written a while back and decided to post. Hope you enjoyed it.

[desultory-novice]

What’s the implication of the Marx soul mask does that mean. Marx soul canonically existed?? Did magolor meet marx soul??????? I’m going insane (this is like the fourth thing rtdl dx made canon what the hell)

So, when I first booted up RtDL DX and got the "Merry Magoland" intro, I remember being a little confused.

Another place? Another time?

I started a new game in Japanese and while the text is BASICALLY the same (no mistranslations or anything) the implication here was much more like "at some point in the future Magolor built a theme park for his friends."

Which basically sets Merry Magoland as post-Star Allies/post-Forgotten Land. I mean, we'll need to wait for the inevitable Nintendo Dream interview to see if I'm right, but...

When I first joined the fandom, I didn't realize this was as hot a take as it turns out to be but, <HOT TAKE WARNING> I've never subscribed to the "all post-game modes aren't canon" thing. I play along with it because a lot of the fandom does, and "maybe Galactca Knight will finally be canon" is a funny joke, but I think people have taken the commentary from Planet Robobot too far, using as evidence that nothing post game is "canon." I don't buy it. I think you're just hurting your own Kirby experience by taking that too seriously. Maybe it doesn't happen in a linear fashion, maybe it's an AU or an alternate story, but are these games showing us things that happened, in one form or another? Yes, I say! (And I'll have more to say about that when I talk about...other things...)

--

(Merry Magoland mask spoilers below. Nothing but vague spoilers regarding the game itself. ....I think...)

But if you really want your brain broken in regards to Merry Magoland masks and questionable canonicity, there's also a mask of Dark Matter Blade's HWC-manufactured CLONE in Magoland, and that boss ONLY showed up in PR's "non-canon" mode. So, yeah!

Long story short, Marx Soul has always been canon to me. I'd say, either Magolor heard some of these stories from the characters, or (more likely?) he happened to witness some of these events himself during his (implied) many extra-dimensional travels.

Maybe every time you see the Lor passing by in the background as an easter egg, OUR Magolor is in fact on that ship, watching!

The thing you said at the end! I think that's probably one of the biggest points in favor of the Marx Soul encounter BEING canon in some reality or another space and time we don't see.

But yes, basically that! Without Marx (Soul) absorbing Nova's parts to survive/be energized enough to move again, we really don't know how else he would have survived or how he gotten back.

And now that the epilogue's existence means we know people can (canonically ^^; ) "...go Soul" and survive, we have all the context necessary to suggest that Marx was seriously roughed up after the explosion, survived via Nova, went Soul, fought Kirby, and then, upon being cleaved in two, either had his own journey through another dimension/purgatory or he was found by Magolor immediately afterwards and returned to Pop Star after getting better!

Or he just...responded back on Pop Star after being cleaved in two! Because I still believe that most life in the Kirby verse doesn't "die" the way we humans think of death. I think "going Soul" is in fact dangerous, and maybe Nova being some kind of perpetual motion machine fused with Marx IS why he's still around, but mainly, I hold that there are very extenuating circumstances as to why the seemingly "perma-MiA" characters like Blade (spawn of a hive mind who had yet to develop full individuality/was reabsorbed back into the hivemind) Zero (died twice, may still be out there somewhere), Sectonia (still "alive" because fused with the dreamstalk), and Haltmann (literally had his soul data erased) have yet to revive.

Oh! And speaking of the being cleaved in two thing and Marx Soul, fufufu, I just want to shout and point randomly at my Marx is a Nightmare Wizard!possessed Noddy essay because I learned only recently that, unrelated to RtDL, Masked Dedede's "mask" absolutely has its origins in DARK MIND'S power?!

And if that's "word of god" canon, then there's no way you're going to convince me that Marx Soul's necklace didn't come from Nightmare Wizard in SOME form. (Sad that wasn't part of the mask render, btw. Since the sprite makes it so vague...)

[mountainofhistory]

Armed and Dangerous, Pt. 4

The Underground. The hiding place of the most despised youkai, the oni and the vengeful spirits that remained here. Udeki would finally slow down as she fell into the dark passageway down that led to the Old Capital. After all, now that she wasn't on the surface, she thought, there'd be no reason for the shrine maiden to venture down here. At least, she had to hope. Both that Kasen hadn't yet caught on, and that Reimu hadn't yet been engaged. Her time to secure an ally was limited, and there was only one person who came to mind.

She had to get to Yuugi.

Fortunately, the darkness of the cavern was hardly a worry to her oni eyes, and her obvious strength and identity meant that no feral youkai would dare to attack her - though she almost wished one of them would try, just so she could have a little fun. If her horns weren't so long, she could hide them like Kasen did... shame that wasn't an option, she thought. Either way, it meant that she could take leisurely leaps down the steep passageway, the so-called 'Deep Road to Hell' that was almost more akin to an underground cliff in some places. It wasn't a problem to her. In fact, she anticipated at this point that there would be no more problems.

Once she was deep enough, though, she started to see light coming up from the bottom of the hole. A few leaps more, and it began to level off, and though she couldn't see the source of the light, she could see easily what it illuminated - a long, nicely maintained stone bridge, decorated with lanterns, with a small shrine on the near side, a few hundred feet off the road. She'd heard Kasen talk about this place before - and in particular, she remembered, there'd be a troublesome youkai here. She had to hope that she could cross without incident. As she approached, however, it quickly became clear that that would not happen, a woman dressed in brown floating out of the shrine and over to her, piercing green eyes staring her down. She didn't bother to set herself down, instead floating on her back at eye level, a few dozen feet away.

"...Ugh. I was hoping when I heard someone coming down that they'd be fun to toy with," she called out, slowly drifting closer. "But I see that it's just you. I can't even get any fun out of manipul... hm. Wait a moment." By this point Udeki had stopped, more out of curiosity than anything, one clawed hand resting on her hip. A hand that belonged to an arm Kasen shouldn't have... and as that clicked into her mind, more details became clear as well. The length of the horns, the differences in her dress...

"What's this? You're not Kasen at all, are you?" Oh, this became much more interesting. Both for her, and for the oni before her. "...Fine, then. Are you a shapeshifter who's bad at their job? Or..."

"A shapeshifter, me? Aha, don't make me laugh," Udeki responded, cutting her off. "But you're right about one thing. I'm not Kasen. But I am Ibaraki. Part of her, anyway. Is that enough information for you?"

"...Oh, that's interesting. I never knew the missing arm had a form of its own." Both of them were smiling, but there wasn't an ounce of positivity in the air for either one. "But that means you're still a surface youkai. And as much as I can feel the envy radiating off of you, you don't belong down here. But you're not about to go home, are you?"

A nod from the oni was all the answer Parsee needed. Floating up higher into the air, she pulled four cards out of her sleeve, holding them up. "You know the rules. Beat four of these and I let you pass. Fail, and you turn around." The spell card duel rules that had been laid out were inviolate, after all - surely no youkai would dare to go against them. And before Udeki could even respond, Parsee was letting loose.

An intricate barrage of brightly colored bullets shaped like cherry blossoms and green orbs. Described in Marisa's grimoire as 'nothing special', but to Udeki it was the first danmaku she'd ever come across, aside from Reimu's unique attacks. She was an oni, though, and part of a deva at that. Her speed was incredible, and though she struggled, she was able to avoid the attacks - but what frustrated her to the point of snarling was that she couldn't find a way to get close. And she'd yet to develop any danmaku of her own... she was unable to fight back. When Parsee finally let the spell diminish, she was able to avoid being hit, but she clearly wasn't enjoying herself.

"Stop that right now. Is this some kind of game to you, hashihime?" It was the only response she had time to get off before Parsee turned to her second card. And as she did, she almost seemed to fade out of existence, replaced by a swift trail of those green orbs, just like before. This time, though, rather than spreading out in circles, they chased her. And though she was swift, eventually she got tired of running. She would just attack whatever was there, she decided. And she did do her best to try, with a punch that could easily break apart a stone wall - but there was, of course, nothing to attack. And it meant that she lost the game.

Parsee made absolutely no attempt to hide the smug smile that she'd earned from that outcome. Floating back down to the ground, she gently landed a dozen feet away from the oni, her arms crossed.

"You lose. Honestly, I was expecting better from someone taking Kasen's form," she gloated. Why not? She'd won, after all. And it felt good to win, even for a hashihime like her. And seeing Udeki's glaring, frustrated face made it feel even better. She could almost understand why the monster liked doing this sort of thing to her so much. Unfortunately for Parsee, though, she'd ventured a little too close. And when Udeki made her move, she couldn't possibly react in time.

Udeki had practically launched herself from the ground, and her foot slammed into Parsee's stomach at a speed and power that sent her flying at speeds that almost made her appear like a bullet herself. She fell into the ravine that the bridge spanned over, and Udeki's own satisfaction was hearing her knock against the wall on the other side before she fell into the water. She would almost certainly be fine in the long term, but for now, at least, she was out of Udeki's way.

"Tch... bothersome," she muttered, walking over to cross the bridge on foot now. "I don't like these spellcard duels the modern day youkai've come up with. I sure hope the oni in the capital have more sense than to bother with nonsense like that... well, if not I'll just deal with them the same way." Now that she'd crossed the bridge, it wasn't far now, she knew. She just had to make the last mile and she'd be at the city itself.

[chickenwaffles17]

the MINTerview (an interview with Knuckles the Echidna)

Q: Hey Knux, how are you?

A: I am good, possum.

Q: You know why you're here, right?

A: You want to ask me questions and write down my answers on some sort of form.

Q: Yup, that's basically it. I've got some questions here that are fairly generic and some that are more specific, feel free to, you know, not answer anything you're not comfortable with answering.

A: I have no need for these warnings. I am prepared for anything.

Q: Someone's motivated! Wanna introduce yourself?

A: I am Knuckles. I am a proud echidna warrior, trained since birth in all forms of combat.

Q: Ooh. What's your favourite colour and why?

A: Green. It is the colour of nature, and the- THE MASTER EMERALD!

Q: Whoa, Jesus Knuckles, sit down! U- sorry-

A: I have neglected my duty as guardian to protect the Master Emerald! I have failed my tribe...

Q: Uh- Oh geez- do you need to go handle that right now? We can cut this interview short, if you want- Oh, bye.

the MINTerview (an interview with Rouge the Bat)

Q: Thanks for filling in, Rouge.

A: No problem, Hun.

Q: We had some, uh... Family issues come up with the last interviewee, so I'm just gonna ask you some questions, is that okay?

A: Of course.

Q: Anything you don't want to answer, you don't have to. Um, what's your name? For the interview.

A: Rouge the Bat, Treasure Hunter Extraordinaire and lover of precious things.

Q: *laughing* I remember that introduction. Sorry, uh- what's your favourite colour and why?

A: Green, or maybe magenta. I look the best in the latter, but emeralds are extremely pretty.

Q: True that. What's your favourite food and why?

A: Pomegranates. They look like little geodes when you crack them open, don't they?

Q: I never thought about it like that, they do! I need to try one again, but they're so hard to get here.

A: Next time I find one I'll bring it back for you and I to share.

Q: Thanks, Rouge. Who do you consider your friends?

A: You, of course, Shadow. Hm...

Q: Maybe we can make that "allies?"

A: I'm afraid that doesn't expand the options, Mint.

Q: Um, well where were you born? If you can remember, of course.

A: I'd tell you if I could. I'm sorry, this interview might not be as interesting, as the others, Hun.

Q: That's... Well, it doesn't matter. How did you obtain your abilities?

A: Oh, you mean my athleticism, sneakiness, and beauty? That's all my doing. Training and experience do lend a hand, though. You trying to learn how to improve yourself, Mint?

Q: Um... Sort of? I figured it'd be a bit easier to earn my place on the team if I could actually lend a hand. What was your first impression of me?

A: I thought you were cute, in a rookie kind of way, but ultimately you were in the way of my- You're wearing the necklace!

Q: Gee, took you long enough to notice! I've only been wearing it every day!

A: Oh, Mint, you sentimental sweetheart.

Q: *laughing* Well, what do you regard as your nicest memory?

A: Hm. I was younger, definitely. I was flying around somewhere and saw something shiny in the corner of my eye. Naturally, I flew down to investigate.

Q: What was it? A gem?

A: No, it was a spoon.

Q: Oh. That's your nicest memory?

A: If you let me finish, you'd have heard the part where I found a rug not too far away from it, picnic basket and all. And the people holding the picnic were evidently loaded. They must've gone for a swim or something in a nearby lake, because they'd left all their clothes and their jewellery behind for little old me!

Q: And you took them?

A: Of course I did. I might still have those diamond earrings somewhere, but I doubt it. That's it.

Q: Nice! Would you describe yourself as introverted or extroverted? Why's that?

A: Hm. I'm not too fond of most people, to be honest. But, I do enjoy a good gathering every now and then. What would you say that is?

Q: Um... That might be omniverted?

A: What's the difference?

Q: Ambivert is introverted AND extroverted and being omniverted might be introverted OR extroverted? I don't really know. Uh, what's the best thing someone could compliment you on?

A: My physique, my jewels, my talents. I'm fairly easy to please, if I say so.

Q: Mm. Is a hot dog a sandwich?

A: What?

Q: *laughing* is a hot dog a sandwich?

A: No.

Q: Oh yeah, why?

A: ...I don't know.

Q: Well, thank you Rouge, you're the best!

A: Thank you, Mint. This was nice.