#the merlin vid 'alone'

[sixohsixoheightfourtwo]

Teen Wolf - Stiles Stilinski - Moves - vid by Sisabet

[lexa-gui]

I can't believe I'm finally done! I had a blast making this video, it's been my baby for ages. It's my take on a more darkish continuation of canon. Mind the TW in the video description! This video gets a lot darker than its canon basis.

Here's a thorough explanation of everything in the vid (also TW for attempted suicide):

So! Basically, I kept canon the same here, except for a couple of things. Merlin doesn't age physically (unlike what we see in the show's ending) and Kilgharrah gets replaced with a GoT dragon xd (what can I say the VFX are much cooler). Whenever you see bearded merlin though, that's an older post-Arthur merlin. And the video jumps back and forward a bit.

It starts with an older post-Camelot Merlin (00:05) (during the witch burnings), and then there's a clip that's supposed to be earlier on when Gwen is still alive and queen (00:15) (after Arthur's death though). It's a battle/invasion that I'll leave open for interpretation because I didn't think through it a lot xd, but it can't be in Camelot (the city) itself obviously, because of the sea. I'm thinking they went to a coastal fortress to defend themselves against the invading Saxons.

Then we have more battles (00:23) (I'm thinking the one in season 4, where Merlin calls on Kilgharrah, since he's supposed to die in season 5).

Then we have some visuals for the great purge (00:33).

I leant on a couple of fan theories: that Merlin is magic itself made flesh and blood, and that his birth was a direct result of the great purge (that is to say, because such a great amount of magic was snuffed out suddenly, it concentrated and poured itself into merlin -- basically balance, and magic being this immutable force that can't be created or destroyed, only transformed and passed on).

Then we get to see Merlin through the ages, until the present day (01:10), struggling with his immortality. There's a callback to Camelot and the witch hunts (01:25), and then we get Camlann! Where he called on Kilgarrah this time! (01:36) It is intercut with a later post-canon scene, where Guinevere has been captured by some warlord or another at some point (01:45). Leon goes to Merlin for help and rescues her (this is not long after Arthur's death, which is why Merlin still looks like he does in canon).

At (01:56) we get Camlann again.

Then we have Merlin losing Gwen and Leon to the years (02:01), and we see the impact of being alone throughout eternity on his psyche. We get some nightmares (02:19), mostly centred on Arthur (because they'd absolutely be -- #merthurforlife).

There's Merlin talking down some soldiers going after him during the witch hunts (02:36). In (02:43) we see Merlin in Avalon lake (now I'll be honest here, my intention wasn't to put Merlin on the isle, since I'm not sure if it's even supposed to be accessible xd but I couldn't find a way to put him on the other margin, so let's just assume all is well xd).

We get Merlin in present-day (02:44), still chasing breadcrumbs (and maybe even starting to doubt his sanity a little bit? -- see "Was King Arthur a real person?").

And then,,,, the attempted suicides (02:49). Because you can't tell me a person with Merlin's behemoth amount of trauma wouldn't develop a major depression after lifetimes of waiting around alone -- not even knowing quite what he's waiting for or if it'll ever happen). Aaaaaaand (03:06) Merlin has maybe lost it a little bit. I think he tries to venture into necromancy and some,,,, not-great stuff (magic-wise).

But we catch a glimpse of Arthur at (03:19) so either it worked or... well, you decide.

Also at (03:11), we have a painting of Gwen in the background of Buckingham palace. It was commissioned by Merlin sometime during the renaissance period (does not mean that the painting itself is renaissance style). He made sure it found its way into the royal treasuries and it is displayed to this day, so it would probably have been the work of a famous artist. (In reality, it is a very beautiful portrait by Thérèse Schwartze that I have edited to feature Angel Coulby).

[forsakenwitchery]

Can everyone just leave Tom alone damn it.

Like clearly Teresa has been manipulating him his whole (?) life.

And now the whole gang immediately jumps to 'ooooh he’s the bad guy' any chance they get.

Honestly, I’m tired of this whodunit 'mystery' on WIndy.

Like we’ve seen almost everyone on this show seriously hurt/kill/nearly kill someone, even Hoyt, like, twice. But at this point it’s pretty clear Tom wasn’t going to kill the Collinses AND tried to stop Shane from doing that, but like I have a feeling even once they resolve it everyone would be like, ‘But you initially agreed! Oooh such a bad person!’ And I’m tired of WIndy scapegoating Tom. Yes, he’s not THE good person™ but every other character acts as if he’s the only one who’s done fucked up things. He isn’t. 

I wanted to make a vid just about just Tom this week, but 1x12 just left me... Tired af. Like even Gus saw Shane torturing Tom and still went, 'yeah, um, you’re bad, I’m arresting you'.

The promo for 1x13 looks amazing but Abby jumping from, ‘Tom’s bad’ to ‘Tom’s good’ to ‘Tom’s bad’ in the span of 48 hours without asking any questions is just... No, nope. Looks very pretty and next week I’ll probably be jumping from joy, but not now.

Tom needs a break and a hug. I need a break and to stop getting so attached to characters. I feel like I’m back watching Merlin when they tried to blame Morgana for literally anything and everything and it’s not a good feeling. :/ I literally don’t have it in me to vid this week, sorry.

[ladyofthelake]

I wonder what it's like to be popular and get your posts and edits and fests noticed 😔

[fanhackers]

How the visual image of the star can contribute to the actor/character resonance?

Earlier, in this post, we have talked about Jenkins’ idea of how fans, in the process of slashing, might read the body of characters (especially in media fandoms). We also talked about in this post I quoted Cathy Yue Wang on how Real People in RPF can appear as Derivations of the characters they resonate with. Taking these points farther, maybe it can be said that the viewer reads the characters into these bodies that appear on the screen. Martin discusses a fanvid where this happens on a dietetic level: the plot itself turns the bodies of the actors (shots from documentaries or behind-the-scenes footages) into the reincarnated or immortal version of the characters they play.

The final sequence of the vid, in which a shot of Arthur and Merlin looking out over Camelot fades to a shot of Bradley and Colin standing and looking out over Caerleon (from The Real Arthur and Merlin) sums up the layering of “Arthur and Merlin” and “Bradley and Colin”: a shot of two actors, standing where the “real” Arthur and Merlin reunited. Again, the inter-textual (sic!) relationship between various texts and sets of texts is a site of play for fans in exploiting their meaning-making potential. The effect is also one of mythologising James and Morgan: in saturating images of the actors with images of their mythic characters and their narratives; they become the bodies of stars as they are mythologised. This vid and ones like it demonstrate again that it is not alone the industry producers who undertake the project of mythologising. Fans engage in the same thing, though they may not call it that. RP fans are preoccupied with the resonances that produce the star.

MARTIN, ANNA (2014). WRITING THE STAR. STARDOM, FANDOM AND REAL PERSON FANFICTION.

Based on this, it appears that the visual elements not only inspire fanworks (fanvids or fan art) but might even motivate the mythologisation of real people. What are your experiences?

[couragehopelovefaith]

Merlin & Morgana | Exile I literally screamed when I saw that someone had made a vid of these two with this song... and screamed even louder when I realized that that someone is AnneSoshi. This song alone has made me emotional and teary, but now... I am weeping my eyes out. Watching this show is always such an emotional rollercoaster. (Seriously, I ship both Merthur and Mergana, have watched edits of both of those pairings during the last few days... and now I am so wrecked.)

[justlikeeddie]

otp meme

List your Top 5 Canon and Top 5 Non-Canon OTPs. Then, tag 10 people to spread the love, and so on and so on…

I was tagged by @rcmclachlan! It’s fun to excavate your fandom history!

This is a GOOD QUESTION in that, y’know. What is a canon OTP? (What is a pairing? What is canon? What is ‘is’?) The answer, for this post, is “whatever made it easiest for me to split these into two sets of five”.

CANON OTPs

Aziraphale/Crowley, Good Omens

This is canon. “Fight me”? No need. Fight Michael Sheen.

Do say: “And when I’m off in the stars, I won’t even think about you!”

Don’t say: Hey, have you thought recently about the fact that Crowley’s snakeskin shoes might actually just be his feet?

Look at an art: A little ancient Grecian collusion by @seraph5

Read a fic: nothing but the wild rain by @singlecrow

Have I written it? In a desperate exercise in exorcism immediately after watching the show, yes: Going Native and Riding in Cars With Demons. And I have about five WIPs in charliekellypepesilvia.jpg frantically plotted notes stages. Watch this space. (For some time. I’m a bizarrely slow writer.)

Flint/Thomas, Black Sails

Do say: “People can say what they like about you, but you're a good man. More people should say that. And someone should be willing to defend it."

Don’t say: I was enjoying the show so much that I ignored the fact they made captain flint gay but to wrap up the series on the notion he would put his sword down to pick daisies with his male lover is just too much to bear. I miss the 90’s

Look at an art: Journey into the Dark by @riisinaakka-draws

Read a fic: Unaccommodated Man by @septembriseur

Have I written it? Yes, although astonishingly, I only ever finished one fic: Some Affair.

Strange/Arabella, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

Do say: “The excitement of it was very much to see how you would look at me. The excitement of life was very much to see how you would look at me.”

Don’t say: HE WAS A MUCH WORSE HUSBAND IN THE BOOK AND HE LET HER DIE AS A TREE (I know. I know)

Look at an art: Padua by @cobbledstories

Have I written it? Not as a foreground pairing, although I do have a very detailed Strange/Arabella/Grant fic that lives eternally in my head in the hope it will one day fit a Yuletide request.

Morse/Joan, Endeavour

Do say: “You mean the world to them. You mean the world…” [trailing off in tears]

Don’t say: You do realise he’d make her miserable and she deserves better? (I KNOW)

Cry at a simple gifset: :′′(

Have I written it? No, happy to let the show itself continue to take anything that Morse might hold dear and crush it into the dirt, no need for me to help.

Jake/Amy, Brooklyn 99

Truly the opposite to Morse/Joan in every possible way, aside from the involvement of law enforcement personnel

Do say: “There’s a typo in this crossword puzzle.”

Don’t say: …Title of your sex tape. (Or anything about Season 6, which I haven’t seen yet.)

Look at an art: Jake & Amy by @ivy6am

Have I written it? No, because Brooklyn 99 is an example of that rare and complete joy, Show That Textually Contains Literally Everything I Want From It And Then Some.

NON-CANON OTPs

Sam/Gene, Life on Mars

My “formative” tag on Tumblr is probably overused, but, like. Extremely. Formative. Truly the ur-fandom in terms of my future trope and fic interests. God bless you, weird mid-00s genre experiment broadcast at a particularly impressionable point in my teens.

Do say: Gene Hunt constructs intricate rituals that allow him to touch the skin of other men.

Don’t say: The ending of Ashes to Ashes is canon.

Watch a vid: There Is Too Much Light In This Bar by AbsoluteDestiny

Read a fic: Tangible/Intangible by @lozenger8

Have I written it? I went back to this fandom for Bent for Yuletide a few years ago, but everything else was written when I was literally 17, so caveat lector.

Merlin/Arthur, Merlin

Genuinely wondered whether I should have included this in the canon list. Two sides of the same coin? Merlin's mum desperately trying to get them together about halfway through the first series? “I was born to serve you, Arthur”? As ever, in thinking about this, I’ve just made myself furious again that this objectively fucking stupid children’s TV show remains one of the most emotionally and erotically resonant pieces of media I’ve had the misfortune to consume.

Do say: “I could take you apart with one blow.”

Don’t say: “I could take you apart with less than that.” (It’s been nearly eleven years since this exchange aired on children’s TV and I’m still reeling)

Watch a vid: Alone by sisabet

Read a fic: Past Imperfect by @thehoyden

Have I written it? Yes, although, again, I was a teenager and didn’t really know how to words: Cross You Off My List. I also have a passionately-planned and half-written epic about the ten years of their evolving relationship from boys 2 men (not the band), and its delicate balance between private interaction and public performance, which I thought I was finally going to finish for the ten-year anniversary of the show last year, but at this rate, might be done in time for the twentieth.

Fraser/Kowalski, due South

Do say: “Partnership is like a marriage, son.”

Don’t say: Anything that will wake the Vecchio anon.

Watch a vid: Goody Two Shoes by @laurashapiro-noreally and pipsqueak

Read a fic: Kowalski is Bleeding by @cesperanza

Have I written it? Weirdly way less of it than makes sense for the amount of time that this was my primary fandom, but yes, published some time after the fact: Homecoming and Poles.

Strange/Grant, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

Surprise double-entry for JSMN! Except not at all a surprise, because I am into so many aspects of this book and show that I could probably have filled most of the ten entries with JSMN rarepairs. (Please, talk to me about the criminally underexplored sexy class politics of Strange/Childermass.) But anyway, Strange/Grant was, somewhat to my surprise, my takeaway pairing from the TV adaptation.

Do say: “There are any number of magical things my friend could do to prove it,” while looking like you’re about to combust from how excited you are by the prospect.

Don’t say: HE WENT TO VENICE IN A PUDDLE WITH NO GOODBYE (I know)

Look at an art: Major Grant by erebusodora (technically only one half of the pairing, but it’s just a very nice painting)

Read a fic: Wilderness by @the-omnishambles, ie The First Strange/Grant Fic On The Internet

Have I written it? Yes, went a bit mad in 2015. A peculiarity of the Iberian Peninsula (long, slightly sad); An England that is dead (shorter, sadder); and Sound and Vision (no redeeming features).

Charles/Erik, X-Men

Again… IS THIS CANON. Explain any single thing that happens in any of the X-Men timelines if this pairing isn’t at LEAST unconsummated canon

Do say: “I couldn’t disobey you even if I wanted to.”

Don’t say: Sorry, what exactly was the plot of X-Men: Apocalypse?

Look at an art: A sketch by loobeeinthesky (the watch!!!)

Read a fic: Wisteria by by @columbinepurples

Have I written it? Yes: The Width of a Circle.

In turn, but only if you’re bored and like making a list as much as I do, tags for:

@confusinglyamusingly

@butteronmyroll

@johnnyvod

@the-omnishambles

@sixohsixoheightfourtwo

@cribins

@septembriseur

@itsmapes

@deputychairman

@drawsaurus

(You don’t… have to go into as much detail as this… I think you’re just supposed to say who the pairings are, but listen I’m staying with my parents this week and I have a LOT of tumblr downtime)

[sapphicguinevere]

Repeat: allonsymp4 used altered vids/audios. That she refuses to link her sources is more than a bit damning. Also libelous. If she truly is only 20 years old, she's treading a dangerous path. Mind you, I've looked at her twitter and youtube profile and ... I think she's coldly manipulating queer culture and part of Merlin fandom to up her youtube numbers and earn more cash.

dude stop being a coward and come off anon or leave me and my friends alone

[randomslasher]

IsitbadthatIfeltguiltybcofthepost?

There’s no need to feel guilty, anon. There’s no shame in leaving a fandom that isn’t providing content you’re interested in. 

That’s the problem with limited content fandoms, though. I see it a lot in fixed-content fandoms like Lord of the Rings or Merlin--fandoms where the source material has ended and the fandom is limited to fan contributions. You don’t see that quite as often anymore, what with reboots and franchises becoming the new normal, but it still happens. And as far as a youtube series goes, there are just a lot of competing channels that offer content on a far more regular basis. So what ends up happening is that during the hiatus, people find other ways to occupy their time, content drops off, and the fandom begins to stagnate. We do get new viewers who pop in and breathe some life into things, but a lot of the long-time fans start to feel a lull. And it makes us a target for things like the hate drama that happened a few weeks ago. If there’d been new content around that time, the hate would’ve been quickly buried in a flood of new gifs, posts, stories, theories, and art surrounding the new video. As it was, there was little here to drown out the haters, which gave them a lot of encouragement to keep going. 

Again, this isn’t blame. This is observation. But it’s a pattern I’ve seen before. 

My hope is that with the new writers and staff Thomas has mentioned, he’ll have the manpower to keep to a more regular schedule, and perhaps to provide filler content between major episode releases--tweets, cosplay, snapchats, instragram stories, whatever. I feel like that could breathe a LOT of life into the fandom, and it’s always been my personal belief that not every sides video has to outdo all its predecessors. In all honesty, my personal favorite vids have always been the more light-hearted ones like the Christmas video or the Q&A--and the numbers would suggest I’m not alone, as those videos have a significantly higher number of views than the longer, more intense ones do. I’m fine with Sides videos that don’t provide deep life lessons--in fact, I often prefer them. And I feel like the amount of pressure the team is currently putting on themselves to make each episode bigger, better, longer, and flashier is working against them, not for them. 

But again, these are just the opinions and ramblings of one old fandom grampa who has been around for awhile and seen things fall apart before. When I stop recognizing people on my dash because they’ve changed their URL, icon, and theme to fit a new fandom, I start getting worried and nostalgic, but that doesn’t mean anyone owes it to me or anyone else to stay in a fandom that no longer interests them. And as I said, I’m doing it too--I’ve been watching Buzzfeed Unsolved and have started following a number of blogs in that fandom, because the appeal of a fandom that has consistent content updates is very strong. 

I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty if they’re leaving, nor am I attacking Thomas and co or saying they’re doing something wrong. I’m just relaying my own observations. 

[that-is-vexing]

For @mordredeggsy: Same-age Hartwin meeting in a nightclub.

(note: Harry is based on this vid/clip that Mordred showed me because they’re a wonderful human being)

Eggsy, Jamal, and Ryan were lurking.

Well, actually, Ryan was drinking, Jamal was flirting, and Eggsy was swaying to the music. Ryan was drinking to forget that he’d been dumped, again; Jamal was flirting with a pretty young woman whose name Eggsy had already forgotten; and Eggsy was waiting for the dance floor to get a little more packed.

He didn’t like dancing unless he was alone or in the middle of a large group. He was good--he was very good--but he was insecure. Which never failed to make people laugh. It was almost painful.

Eggsy looked around and saw that the floor was filling up. He finished his drink and headed for the dance floor.

On the way, he passed another bloke that he’d been eyeing all night. The bloke was around his age, with hair that desperately wanted to curl, a cleft chin, and what looked like tight leather pants. Ryan and Jamal didn’t mind Eggsy’s penchant for going home with other men; that, as Ryan had pointed out, left more women for them. But back to the man in leather pants and a dark t-shirt. He was looking at the dance floor with great longing, but something held him back.

Eggsy wondered if he should offer to dance with him. But then he was past him, and diving straight into the mass of dancers.

“I'm on tonight you know my hips don't lie And I'm starting to feel it's right All the attraction, the tension Don't you see baby, this is perfection.”

Eggsy got lost in the music, moving his hips in an approximation of what he’d seen in the video, raising his hands with everyone else, grinning at nothing as he danced. It was glorious.

And then someone tapped his shoulder.

He turned, surprised, to see the man he’d been watching. The bloke looked nervous, then took a breath and asked, loudly to be heard over the music, “Can I dance with you?”

Eggsy grinned again, stepped closer, and slid his hand around to the small of the other man’s back. “Absolutely.”

He was a horrible dancer--but it was a charming horribleness; cute, even. Eggsy smiled and corrected him with gentle touches, not as presumptuous as that first touch. He might have been bad, but he learned quickly. And he danced steadily closer, until they were so close Eggsy could feel his breath on his face. They were of a height, and that was absolutely wonderful.

But... Eggsy was reluctant to offer sex. So they just danced, until their lungs burned and legs ached. Then Eggsy took the other’s hand and led the way to the bar.

“What’s your name?” he asked as the bartender poured their cocktails.

“Harry,” the other answered. “What’s yours?”

“Eggsy.”

“That’s an odd name,” Harry said, then looked down, embarrassed. Eggsy grinned.

“Blame my mum. She’s the one who came up with it.”

“Who’s this?” Ryan demanded, stumbling over to them. Eggsy sighed; he’d have to take Ryan home, since Jamal would probably go with that beautiful young woman.

“This is Harry. Harry, my mate Ryan.”

“Hello,” Harry said. Ryan just sniffed and knocked back the rest of his drink.

Eggsy and Harry talked for a while, until they were rested again. Then Harry took Eggsy’s hand and tugged shyly; Eggsy gladly stood and walked with him to the dance floor.

By the time Ryan was kicked out, Eggsy was sure; he wanted Harry. But not yet. Not yet. So they exchanged numbers, and Eggsy collected Jamal, and they went to rescue Ryan.

~

Harry was humming when he stumbled through the door of his flat that he shared with his best mate.

Merlin looked up from the telly he was tinkering with and frowned at Harry. “Don’t tell me you actually spoke to him,” he commented flatly.

“I did,” Harry replied proudly. “He taught me to dance.”

Merlin ran a hand through his already-thinning hair and scowled. “He’s bad news,” he insisted. “Did you forget who his stepfather is?”

“I don’t care.” Harry stumbled to his chair and fell into it, beaming at Merlin. “He’s wonderful.”

Merlin rolled his eyes, but said nothing more, leaving Harry to his reminiscing. Harry hummed to himself as he went over the encounter in his head, ignoring the vague disappointment that Eggsy hadn’t asked to come home with him. He’d’ve had to decline anyway; Merlin had made it clear he was not moving from the living room tonight.

But Harry still had his number, and Eggsy had promised to meet him next week. That was good enough.

[fasterthanyouvidia-blog]

Going Out is Not Training || Self Para

Quidditch. School. Studying. Initiation training. Work. Gym. Vidia's schedule was jam packed. She didn't have time to sit and bullshit. She didn't even get to see her roommates long enough to say hello. She didn't mind the lack of social interaction but she didn't even get time to trash talk the little putos she enjoyed messing with.

“Vidia! You're here!” Helen was a cute little thing. Her sweet disposition reminded her of her best friend. Maybe that was why she showed up. Vidia missed Felicity and Helen was the next best thing.

“Yup. Why are we here? What kind of lesson could be learned here?” The two young women stood outside of a wizarding nightclub as the music thumped from inside.

“Your first lesson on balance,” Helen grinned.

“Clubbing isn't balance.”

“Your balance issue isn't physical, it's mental,” She waved for Vidia to follow her. “You're so intense. You don't have time to relax. You don't have time to make friends. So, tonight, you'll be hanging out with us.”

“Are you kidding?” Vidia’s eyebrow peaked to one side.

“Nope.”

“I have friends.”

“We both know that's a lie. You have people you drink with and people you bully.” Vidia's jaw dropped as the sweet young girl spoke so candidly to her. “So, no alcohol. You need to socialize sober. Have fun. That's your training for tonight.”

“And if I can't do that?”

“We'll repeat the lesson,” Helen flashed a sweet smile and linked arms with Vidia as they were let through the velvet ropes.

The flashing lights and hum of chatter gave Vidia the urge to order a drink. She looked around and exhaled. She was there for some stupid lesson on balancing her life. It was bullshit but she agreed to all of the crap. She wasn't about to turn around now and give up.

The light danced around the rows of liquor bottles behind the bar as she followed Helen to the group sitting in the V.I.P. section. “Here you go,” Helen stepped up on the platform where everyone sat.

Claire, Graham, and Rodney greeted Vidia as Trina scoffed and ignored the new addition to their party. “Hey, Vid!” Graham was a little too close for comfort. “Let's go dance.”

“No,” she hissed into his ear.

“You're supposed to be training. Finding your balance.” His grin was wicked and Vidia wanted to punch him for it. However, she knew Helen wouldn't be too thrilled about that.

“Whatever,” she nudged past him and made her way to the dance floor.

It was a different feeling to be on a dance floor sober. It didn't bring the same pleasure or satisfaction as it did in the past. Even Graham’s arm that slid around her waist sent a wave of different feelings than what she was used to. “Hands off,” she tried to move forward but he pulled her back. “Let go, Graham.”

“We’re just dancing,” he spoke closely to her ear so he could be heard over the music.

“You don't need to have your grubby hands all over me,” Vidia pulled his hand off her hips and took a large step forward.

“Come on, Vid,” he closed the distance between them again. “It'll be fun.”

“I can't hit you but just know, I want to,” then she left the dance floor.

Vidia was having a shitty time. She used to love going out. One night of sober socializing didn't seem like it would be a struggle. It was. It was a major struggle.

Claire and Helen were off doing Merlin knows what over at the bar. Trina and Rodney were off talking to one another. Graham quickly recovered from Vidia's rejection and moved on to some other female.

“You shouldn't look so down,” Vidia rolled her eyes as she heard a man speak to her. When her eyes ventured a look it was Alf March, Guild Commander. “Isn't Helen’s lesson supposed to have you looking like you're enjoying yourself?”

“Guess it's not a good lesson.”

“It's a great lesson. You're just a sucky student.”

“Excuse me?” Vidia couldn't believe her ears. He barely knew her.

“You heard me. You want to join the guild and these people are taking time out of their schedules to train you. Appreciate the gift that is their knowledge and at least try.” Alf leaned against his elbow against the small table between the two of them.

“This is not how I enjoy myself,” she said begrudgingly.

“Well, how do you enjoy yourself?”

“Lots and lots of alcohol,” She said with a grin.

“Then let's start you off with a shot or two,” Alf held his hand out for Vidia to take. She wasn't going to tell him that Helen said no alcohol. What Helen didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

“Cheers,” Vidia raised the glass then knocked it back as quickly as possible.

Alf and Vidia had a few rounds before she felt happy enough to be looser and more sociable. “Are you ready to play nice?” His whiskers tickled her ear as he leaned over to ask the question. Vidia simply nodded. “Good.”

His hand laced with hers and guided her to the dance floor. Alf and Vidia moved together and she was in her happy place.

“See you can have a good time,” Alf whispered as his arm held Vidia around the waist.

“You like being right, don't you?”

“Yeah. Who doesn't?”

“Not many people, I suppose,” Vidia turned to face him as they danced.

“How is your training going?” Alf asked making small talk.

“It's alright. It's better now that I've had a few drinks.”

“Graham and Rodney both seem pretty interested in what's happening over here.”

“And?” Vidia peeked over her shoulder. Graham looked angry but Rodney seemed concerned. Graham was just upset because Vidia turned him down. She knew that would happen. Although, Rodney’s concern was more of a mystery to her.

“Just an observation.”

“Is being observant a Guild requirement?”

“Not entirely. It doesn't hurt to be, though.”

Vidia ran her finger down the center of his shirt, her finger gliding over the buttons as the past. “Why are you here? Just to check on my training?”

A cockeyed grin curled on his face. The thick whiskers on his face concealed much of the deviousness but Vidia knew it was there. “I was curious what all the fuss was over the bet.”

Vidia rolled her eyes and pushed herself away from his embrace and headed over to the bar. She was tired of the bet. Why did it even matter? She wasn't there for sex or anything in the realm of sex. She wasn't brought to the Guild for her sexual ability. She was offended that the bet was a huge topic of conversation among the members.

“Vidia,” Alf followed her. “We're having a good time, aren't we?”

She snapped around, “if I was a man would this bet even exist? Is what's in my pants all that matters? Or who for that matter? I may not have been the most chaste of girls. I slept with a lot of people. But fuck all of you who think it's okay to bet on when I would sleep with Graham.” Her chest heaved with anger.

“Relax, Vidia,” Alf called for a water from the bartender. “I didn't mean to make you upset. I was just seeing what was up.”

“Well, you've seen. So, you can go.”

“Want me to make sure you get back okay?” Alf asked as he handed her the water.

“I'm fine,” Vidia's reply was short as she sipped the ice water. “Bye, Alf.”

“Goodbye, Vidia.”

Vidia sat at the bar staring at the glass as the ice slowly melted. She slowly cursed Graham for even existing. She cursed Rodney for telling her. She cursed everyone who made the bet.

Her thoughts drifted to wonder why they never made ice that didn't melt. Witches and wizards could do spectacular things but they still have ice that melted and watered down drinks.

“That looks like some deep thought,” Vidia wanted to swing her fist around and hit whoever pulled her from her mind but she stopped. It was Rodney. “Are you okay?”

“I will be.”

“What happened with Alf?” He took the stool next to her.

“That stupid bet,” she muttered.

“Oh,” Rodney tried not to laugh as he ran his hand through his ash brown hair. “Yeah, Alf isn't exactly the most tactful of men.”

“Really?”

“You're the one who said he was your type.”

“Shut up,” she swatted his arm.

“No way. I came over to see if you were okay. I should get praised not swatted!” He rubbed his arm and pretended to whimper.

“You'll be fine,” Vidia said as she rolled her eyes.

“I might need a kiss to make it better,” he leaned his arm close to her.

“No.”

“Come on, Vidia. I won't tell,” his frown pulled downward even more.

“You're pathetic,” she rolled her eyes as she kissed the spot where she hit him. “There.”

“Thank you,” he sat back in his seat. “You kissed my boo-boo.”

“Oh good merciful Merlin!” She swung her seat around to face him. “If I knew you were going to talk about it I would have let you sit there begging me for one.”

“What if I asked you for a real kiss?” His eyebrows bounced with his question.

“Nothing. Trina would kill you,” Vidia said with a laugh.

“But you'd be the one to kiss me. Why wouldn't she kill you?”

“Because you asked.”

“If Trina wasn't a factor, then would you?” He leaned in close enough to smell the hint of vodka on his breath.

Vidia leaned in and whispered, “No.” she flashed a grin and swung her feet around. With a bounce, she was off the stool and fading into the crowd.

She spotted Helen, Claire and Trina laughing with each other like the merry band they were. Vidia had zero desire to be the fourth woman in their little clique. As annoying as the men were, Vidia was better suited to keep up with them.

“Alone, finally.” Vidia turned toward the bathroom and ran into Graham, again.

“Go away, Graham. I'm not nearly as drunk as I need to be to tolerate you.” Vidia ducked under his arm and kept walking.

“You'd rather sleep with Alf than with me?”

Vidia whipped around to face him, “I didn't sleep with him. I danced with him. Big difference. And I'll probably never sleep with you. So, get over it.”

“Why not?”

“Why does it even matter? Get over it. Not everyone wants to sleep with you.” She pursed her lips as her arms met her sides.

“Because,” he didn't have much of a reason. He took a step forward and relied on his looks to make her change her mind.

“Get over it, Graham. Your life will be easier if you do.”

“I don't lose bets,” he hissed.

“Everyone has new experiences,” she patted him on the shoulder and side stepped around him.

His hand came around and grabbed her. Vidia was stunned as her back hit the wall, “Trina is right about you. You're nothing. Not even worth the seconds it takes to piss.”

His breath mixed with hers and he hungrily scanned her body, “whatever, Graham. Stop eye fucking me and let me go.” She tried to keep her usual demeanor but she was worried what he was thinking about.

“Everyone has new experiences, right?” Before his grubby hands could manage their way up her leg, Vidia’s palm met his nose. A gush of red flow and he screamed.

“I'm sure you've had your nose broken before,” she gave him a shot to the kidney for good measure. “Now you can piss blood and think of me for an extra few seconds.”

Vidia was done. Socializing with the other members wasn't going to work out. She had to accept that they didn't respect her enough for it to work. If they weren't going to respect her then she was done. She was leaving.

“Vid!” She heard Rodney’s voice once she hit the street. She really hated how he was so quiet when he didn't want to be heard. “Wait!”

“Just wipe my memories and leave me alone,” Vidia shouted as she walked.

“No,” Rodney caught up quickly. “What happened in there?”

“It was a failed lesson. That’s what it was. I don’t fit in with you guys. You don’t want me around.” She stopped and looked up at him. “So, go back to your friends.”

“We do want you around but you’re not the easiest person to talk to. You’re always so guarded with your snippy comments and foul language. Drop that guard of yours and you can fit in with us. You can fit in with anyone if you just stop acting like a bitch all the time.” Vidia’s jaw dropped. “So, get back in there and become our friend.”

“No,” Vidia was going to stand her ground. “You think you know me. Following me around for a few months doesn’t mean you know me. I like keeping people at an arm’s length. I actively avoid relationships. It’s not some sort of accident. I did this. I made myself like this.”

“Stop being so stubborn. Stop just fucking stop. You’re throwing this opportunity away because you’re afraid of being our friend? Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds? You’re willing to throw away an opportunity to be one of the greatest flyers of all time because you don’t have to like us?” Rodney held her by the shoulders. “Listen to yourself!”

“I don’t even know why I’m still standing here.”  With a crack, Vidia apparated to her room at her parents’ house.

“Ah, shit!” Rodney was there with her. “I got splinched!”

Vidia grumbled as she took a look at the part of his arm where he had a large gash. “Here,” She tossed a shirt at him, “for the blood.”

“Thanks.”

“Wait here,” Vidia opened the door to her room and let the stairs glide downward. She was lucky enough to have parents that were magibotanists who kept all sorts of healing herbs in the house. She rummaged through their stores and yanked a few things out that would aid in the healing.

Rodney jumped when Vidia pulled the hatch door shut and spilled the herbs on the floor. “You’re an idiot. Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to do that? You don’t surprise side apparate with someone.” Vidia yanked the shirt from the gash and studied his wound. “I’ve had to patch up a few quidditch injuries over the years.”

“Have you ever lost a patient?” Rodney joked.

“Nope but you seem to have a death wish. So, does it really matter?”

“Nah, I just wanted to finish our conversation.” Rodney winced as Vidia pulled his arm closer for a better view. “You've got some bedside manner.”

“Our conversation was over. That's why I was leaving,” She said while pouring a salve on his splinched arm.

“I didn't say it was over.”

“Oh, really? And who said you were the boss of me, cadelo?” Vidia laughed as she examined her work as the gash began to vanish.

“No one. I just want to be your friend.” Rodney glanced at his splinched arm and nodded. “Look at you. If flying ever fails you, healing seems like something you can do.”

“Nah. That would mean I have to like people. That kind of gets in the way of my hate the world initiative.”

“Why are you like that? You're not a bad person. You can be nice.” Rodney shifted on the small seat Vidia had for her vanity.

“That's really none of your business.” Vidia began cleaning up the mess from doctoring his injury.

“I'm just trying to understand, Vid. Can you blame me?”

“There's nothing to understand. I don't want friends. Plain and simple.” The agitation was growing in her voice.

“But-”

“But nothing. Just drop it. You're all fixed up. You can leave now.” Vidia let the door drop back down for Rodney to leave.

“Vidia,” he stood up and almost hit his head on the slanted ceiling in the attic, “just talk to me. I'm here trying to be your friend. You say you don't fit in with us by how do you know if you don't try?”

“Rodney, if you say my name one more time,”

“What? You'll do what? You're too short to slap me. Can't break my nose like you did to Graham. Cut the big bad girl routine for like five minutes and be real with me. I'm just here trying to be your friend.”

“My best friend died. We were just kids and she died. I spent a day hiding in an old oak tree crying. I vowed to myself that I'd never feel that pain again. I wouldn't love or care for someone like I did for Lorena. So, if you don't mind, leave.” Her words were cold and distant. It had been a while since she said Lorena’s name.

“It's damn near impossible to do that,” Rodney took a step closer to Vidia.

“I do a pretty good job. I'm not going to say it again, leave.” She tapped her foot angrily as she waited next to the door.

“Come on. We just got going. Helen’s training lesson could still be somewhat of a success.”

“Go.”

“Fine. I'm leaving. I can apparate from here.” He said looking around.

“Doesn't matter. My parents left for some plant expo in Germany this weekend. They took the puppies with them, too.” Rodney laughed at the notion of Vidia having puppies.

“Walk me out then?”

“Fine.”

Rodney went down the ladder and Vidia followed. They walked in silence through her house. “You have a big family. I always thought Ridgewell was joking when he said Alberto had thirteen children.”

“Don't talk about my grandfather like you knew him,” she scowled up at him as they got closer to the front door.

“I've heard so much about him. It feels like I do know him.”

“Well, just shut up about it, okay?” Vidia felt a small twinge of jealousy. She knew very little about her grandfather. Since she decided to join the Guild, she felt like she didn't know anyone she was related to. Between her grandfather, Alberto, her mother’s parents, her uncle and mother’s betrothal and subsequently her parents falling in love, everything seemed to be so much more than what she was told.

“Can I get a list of what I can talk about with you? I have a feeling it's a much easier list to remember.”

“Quidditch. Alcohol. Girls. That's about it. Unless you're also into guys, that's something we can talk about, too,” she flashed a cheeky grin as she reached for the door.

“Sadly, I'm not into guys. So, just the three topics. I think I can do that. What if the girl is Trina?”

“Then keep it to alcohol or quidditch,” they both let out a chuckle. “She's probably going to be pissed at you for leaving.”

“She's not my girlfriend or my keeper,” Rodney’s tone was less playful than before.

“You sleep with her.”

“Do you answer to everyone you sleep with?”

“Touché,” Vidia opened the door and motioned for him to leave.

“Well, I guess I'll be going.”

“Night, Rodney.”

“Good night, Vidia.” Rodney hesitated in the doorway. “Give us a chance. You said we don't respect you. If you want us to respect you, then you need to give us a chance to.”

“I don't want your respect. I just want you out of my house and my life.” She shrugged and started to close the door.

“I'm not buying it. Somewhere deep down, you want to befriend us,” Rodney held the door open as he talked. “Just a chance. Please?”

“If I say I'll think about it, will you finally leave?” Rodney nodded. “Fine, I'll think about it but don't hold your breath, puto.”