#they both were the product of a broken oath

[echo-stimmingrose]

Percy was laying on the ground, arms crossed, glaring at the sky.

Thalia saw this, crossed her arms and layed down with him.

Thalia: Fuck this

Percy: What are you doing?

Thalia: Matching your energy

Percy: Why?

Thalia: Why not?

Thalia: Tell me, who are we pissed at?

[awkwardauthorwrites]

Confessions

Word Count: 2.8k

Themes: fluff, pining

Summary: Vaylin drops a little truth on Gale 

Disclaimer: @shadowwheartt and I got far too invested in our playthrough/characters and we both think we’re funny so here’s the product of that. More to come?

Vaylin is a drow oath-broken paladin. We have headcannoned that Amren a half-drow rogue, is her younger half-sister. Both women are bhaalspawn in our little world with thier shared parent being Bhaal himself

Gale narrowed his eyes as he watched Amren laugh at something Astarion had said. The vampire spawn was sitting far too close to her for Gale’s comfort, his arm slung around the back of her seat as he leant in to whisper something in her ear. Amren’s laugh rings out across the camp and her hand slaps down on Astarion’s knee as she unconsciously leans against his side while she tries to catch her breath. He takes a deep swig from his goblet of wine, a frown marring his brow, before he pushes himself off the fallen log he’d been sitting on and skulking away in the opposite direction. His path takes him across the camp and straight past Shadowheart’s tent, where the cleric and her ever-present companion, Vaylin, both sit outside sharing a bottle of wine. 

“Hey, Sparklefingers, why the long face? Did someone dogear a page in one of your precious books again?” Vaylin asks, her tone light yet incredibly snarky as he tries to walk past them.

“You know, I’ve never quite understood how you and Amren can share so many features and characteristics as sisters, and yet your words always cut like the sting from a death viper while she comes across as docile as a newborn tressym,” Gale bristles at her words and gives Vaylin a levelled glare. Vaylin snorts as she takes a sip from the bottle, her laugh turning into a cough as the liquid goes down the wrong way. 

“Docile?” Shadowheart lets out a soft laugh and grabs the bottle of wine from Vaylin so she can take a sip herself. “There are dozens of words I would use to describe Amren, but docile is definitely not amongst them.” Gale’s shoulders slump slightly as Shadowheart gives him a sympathetic smile and wills himself not to look at the smirk that’s no doubt lingering on Vaylin’s features. “What’s the matter, Gale? Unlike some people,” she shoots a look at her girlfriend who remained unaffected, “I understand the value of a pair of friendly ears when one is struggling.”

“It’s just,” he lets out a sigh and waves his hand in the direction he came from, where Amren and Astarion are no doubt still sitting together closer than friends should. “It’s nothing. As much as I would like for there to be.” He hears Amren laugh again, the sound softer this time, and tries not to linger too much on how he’s probably missed his chance with the female rogue. Of course she was curled up beside the fire with Astarion, the vampire spawn was everything he wasn’t - charismatic, attractive and refined. There was no wonder Amren fell for his charms. Gale was far too deep into his self-deprecating thoughts to notice Vaylin let out a yawn, clearly bored by the conversation and pouting wizard already. Shadowheart elbowed the oath-broken paladin in the side and sent her a reprimanding glare before looking back at Gale with a concerned expression.

“Nothing wouldn’t include a certain rogue, would it?” Shadowheart asked.

“Two of them, actually,” Gale admits. Shadowheart peers around his frame to where both Astarion and Amren are sitting together, whispering about something they’re too far away to hear. Despite her better judgement Vaylin takes a peek as well, her nose wrinkling as she realises just why the wizard is looking so downtrodden. 

“I’m not sure who has worst taste, Astarion for being into Amren, or…ugh, nevermind,” Vaylin reaches for the wine bottle again and takes a long drink, as if she were trying to wash the unsaid words from her mouth. 

“I have neither the time nor patience for your riddles or your half-veiled insults tonight, bhaalspawn,” Gale crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Speak plainly or don’t speak at all.” Vaylin raises a solitary eyebrow and takes a slow sip from the bottle of wine, her gaze unwavering as she stares him down. She would sooner rip her own tongue out than admit it aloud, but there were stirrings of respect at his newfound backbone rising within her. At least she thought that’s what it was, it was buried so deep within her it could have very easily been indigestion from the vinegary wine they were drinking. Gale seemed to realise after a moments silence that she had taken his words literally and had decided not to speak at all and he couldn't help but roll his eyes at her antics. 

“Will you please just put him out of his misery?” Shadowheart turns to look at Vaylin, an amused smile playing on her lips.

“What do you propose I do?” The drow scoffed, “Light him on fire?”

“You know perfectly well that is not what I meant,” Shadowheart nudged Vaylin and took the bottle of wine back from her. “You’re not getting this back until you tell him.”

“Tell me what?” Gale asked, frowning in confusion as he watched Vaylin give Shadowheart a withering glare. Both women ignored him as they stared each other down, waiting for the other to break first.

“You’re a sadist,” Vaylin groaned in defeat, tipping her head back dramatically.

“You weren’t complaining last night,” the cleric quipped. Gale felt his face go warm as Vaylin looked back at Shadowheart, the heat obvious in her gaze.

“Can someone please tell me what I’m missing?” Gale repeats, hoping to draw the attention back to him so he didn’t have to witness the pair eye-fuck each other in front of him. 

“Every single target whenever you cast…well, any spell really,” Vaylin turns to him with a saccharine smile. 

“Tell him or there will be more than one person left unsatisfied tonight,” Shadowheart nudged Vaylin again, a little harder this time. The oath-broken paladin looked at her girlfriend with narrowed eyes as the meaning of her words sunk in.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Are you willing to test that theory?” Shadowheart asked innocently, her fingers toying with the pendant on the necklace Vaylin had gifted her. The charm was in the shape of an orchid and Vaylin had painted it blue herself so that it looked as similar to a night orchid as possible. It sat on the end of a long chain and rested in the valley of her cleavage, and although the drow needed no prompting to look there anyway her eyes were immediately drawn in by the movement. She sighed deeply and braced herself as if the words she was about to say physically pained her. 

“She’s in love with you, you blithering idiot,” Vaylin spits out. Gale feels all the breath leave his lungs and his face burns as the words settle in his head. 

“Very tactful. Well done,” Shadowheart remarks dryly, allowing Vaylin to snatch the wine from her again. 

“She’s…she’s what?” Gale repeated. His knees felt weak and he slowly sank down to sit on the ground. Vaylin was always throwing back-handed remarks out at his expense, surely this had to be one of them? He glanced at Shadowheart, who leant forward in concern as he sat with them, her hand reaching out as if to touch his own before she pulled back again. Shadowheart wouldn’t be that cruel to him though. She made the odd quip in his direction as well, but that was all friendly banter, and something he returned all too often in kind. He felt as if his mind was racing at a million miles per minute as he tried to figure out if what Vaylin had said about her sister was all in jest or not. 

“Oh, sure, feel free to join us,” Vaylin rolls her eyes as he sits with them. “The more the merrier.”

“Behave yourself,” Shadowheart glares at her. “Do you have the capacity to be compassionate for at least two seconds?” Vaylin scowled at her girlfriend and instead of replying took another sip from her wine. “Gale, are you alright?” she turned her attention back to the wizard when it became clear that Vaylin wasn’t going to speak anymore.

“Is it true?” he asks, his voice no louder than a whisper. He didn’t dare to hope that it would be, he needed the confirmation. He needed Shadowheart to tell him that Vaylin hadn’t been lying and that it was true that Amren cared for him as deeply as he cared for her. 

“She could have said it better,” Shadowheart glances at her girlfriend, who gives her a sweet smile in return, “but yes, it’s true.”

“She loves me?”

“Yes.”

“But…but Astarion -” 

“I’m going to say this once,” Vaylin looks at him, her tone stern, “and if you ever tell another person alive or dead that I said this I will deny it with every ounce of my soul. In terms of a love interest she could do…much worse than you, I suppose.”

“That almost sounded completely sincere,” Shadowheart looked at the drow with a small smirk, “I’m so proud of you.”

“If I didn’t know any better, Vaylin, I’d say you were warming up to me,” Gale teased.

“Fuck off, wizard.” Her body language made it extremely clear she would not be saying anything further to him that evening, whether it was an unwilling compliment or a scathing insult. Gale just smiled to himself and bid Shadowheart goodnight, ignoring Vaylin completely as he walked away from the tent and gave them both some privacy. 

He wandered back in the direction he had originally come from, his steps feeling infinitely lighter than it had before his conversation with the prickly drow and her girlfriend. He suspected the drow liked him more than she let on, and although her softer side was only reserved for their cleric and her sister, he could see she was (albeit begrudgingly) slowly getting used to his presence and the affections that he held for Amren. 

He knew her behaviour came from the horrors of being raised as a bhaalspawn, and although he wouldn’t admit it to her, he found Vaylin’s strength and resilience admirable. Hers and Amren’s. Although they didn’t share a mother, both women had been sired by Bhaal himself and only found out about the other during their teens. It had been a difficult journey for them to renounce their fathers ways and leave his cult, but here they both were, trying to prove that their unfortunate bloodline did not define who they were as people. 

Gale approached Amren and Astarion, who broke apart to look up at him as he neared. Amren’s face lit up with a smile as she took note of him and for a brief moment he stopped and wondered if he’d always been so blind. Gale prided himself on his intelligence, there wasn’t a puzzle he couldn’t solve or a spell he couldn’t cast without a little work first - so how had he not noticed the way Amren looked at him until now? Her lavender eyes - the only indication of her half-drow lineage - all but reflected every single thing he felt for her right back at him. He gave her a warm smile as he sank into a seat beside her and only offered Astarion the briefest of looks as he spoke to the male rogue, unwilling to look away from the woman next to him. 

“Could you give us a moment, Astarion?” Gale asked. Astarion gave him an affronted look, pressing a hand to his chest dramatically as he looked between Gale and Amren, a smirk playing on the corner of his mouth. He knew, of course, what was about to happen. It was glaringly obvious to everyone in the camp how the pair felt for each other - everyone except them of course - and even though he didn’t particularly fancy being a third wheel in the performance, he couldn’t help but put up a little bit of a fight at the request.

“Is everything okay, Gale?” Amren placed a hand on his, her expression laced with worry. Gale felt his heart thump in his chest as her skin brushed his and for a moment he wondered if her touch alone would be enough to help him get through the days that the orb in his chest demanded more magic. 

“Everything is…wonderful,” he admits, breathing out a quiet laugh. “I just need a moment of your time. Alone.” He gives Astarion another pointed look, silently hoping he would take the hint and give them some privacy.

“Star,” Amren nudges him gently as she murmurs his name. “Can you give us a few minutes, please?” Astarion sighs in mock exasperation, but can’t help but smile and nod at her request, the nickname she’d bestowed upon him warming his heart. He ruffles Amren’s hair playfully and easily dodges her hand as she tries to swat him away before making his way across camp to sit with Shadowheart and Vaylin so he can eavesdrop and relay the conversation to them both. Gale doesn’t say anything for a few moments and Amren takes his hand in hers and squeezes gently, calling his attention back to her. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything is fine,” he assures her. He catches her hand in between both of hers, lacing their fingers together. “I didn’t plan on this, I’m not quite sure what to say.”

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Amren teases lightly. “Is the famed Wizard of Waterdeep at a loss for words?”

“No,” Gale shakes his head with a quiet laugh. “But Gale Dekarios is.” He meets Amren’s gaze and brushes some hair away from her face before letting out a quiet sigh. “I just had a talk with your sister.”

“Oh gods,” Amren wrinkles her nose. “Whatever she said to you now I’m so sorry, Gale. I’ll have a word with her in the morning about being nicer to you.” 

“There’s no need. She actually behaved herself this time.” Amren gives him a look, clearly not believing a word he had said and he can’t help but laugh at the expression. “Alright, she was mostly behaved. I’ve definitely had more harrowsome conversations with her than this one.”

“What did you talk about?”

“You.”

“Me?” Amren pulls back in surprise. “What about me?” Gale releases her hands to run his own through his hair to ease the slight anxiety that sits in his chest. 

“If things were different, if we were back home I could have done this better. I would have taken the time to properly romance you and lavish you with gifts and treat you exactly how you deserve to be. I would have taken the time to come up with a rousing speech about all the different ways I care for you instead of deciding to confess this all to you on a whim and feeling like the ground has been ripped out from underneath me…but that’s what you do,” his gaze turns tender as she watches her expression for any sign that Vaylin and Shadowheart had been lying to him. “From the moment I met you I feel like the ground has been ripped out from under my feet and I’m falling and you’re the only one who can steady me. You’re so special to me, Amren. I care about you more than I can express.”

“What…exactly did Vaylin tell you?” Amren asks slowly, her voice hoarse and her cheeks flushed.

“I want to hear the words from you. I don’t want to repeat something that I heard secondhand.”

“Gale…”

“I love you, Amren,” he takes her face in his hands, his forehead pressed lightly against hers. “I am utterly and hopelessly in love with you and I sincerely hope what your sister said was true and you feel the same way about me.”

“Of course I’m in love with you,” Amren feels her heart melt as his eyes slide shut in relief and his body physically relaxes. “How could I not be, Gale?”

“I had thought there was something between you and Astarion,” he admits. He opens his eyes again in time to catch the amused expression on his face. 

“No one compares to you, Gale Dekarios.”

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that. I didn’t particularly fancy making an ass of myself as part of your sister’s whims.” Amren laughs softly at that and leans in a little closer so that their lips are only a fraction of an inch away.

“Careful now, Gale, she is the reason we’re finally having this conversation. I’d say you owe all of this to her,” Amren teases. Gale groans playfully, but there’s an undeniable happiness on his face as he takes in Amren’s smile. He tilts her chin up slowly, his eyes flickering from her, down to her lips and back up again.

“Can I kiss you?”

“You better.”

[aloneinthehellfire]

... Always

It's You And Me, Always: Part 10

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

It’s You and Me, Always [Masterlist]

Summary: You and Eddie have been best friends since elementary school and you both assumed that friendship was all you were destined for. However, when you both experience Chrissy’s supernatural death, you are pulled into the secrets beneath Hawkins and find that your feelings for eachother aren’t what they seem.

Warnings: swearing, visions, mentions of death, descriptions of Vecna’s curse, death, most likely loads of plot holes tbh

Word Count: 3.2k

[A/N: THE FINALE!! finally finished this after five months lmao. I hope this ending is good enough and thank you all so so much for the love and support :) until next time]

<- Part 9: The Battle Begins

... ALWAYS

When the bats finally got close enough to end Eddie’s most metal concert ever, he threw down his guitar and the boys quickly make their way off from the roof.

They could hear the bats clawing at the walls once they slammed the door shut behind them, standing back to back after a moment of celebration before it was shattered by the demobats crawling through their fortress.

“Y/n!” Eddie shouts out, head whipping around to catch a sight of you. Even when they had moved through the trailer, you hadn’t been stood there waiting.

“Maybe she climbed through the gate already!” Dustin suggested, eyes wide and focused on the furthest door from them. The bats were tearing through and they needed to get out. Fast.

Eddie shakes his head in response, peering out of the window into the darkness, while Dustin did his best to climb up the rope. He knew you would have waited. He remembered the look on your face when he told you to stay inside. You wouldn’t leave him.

“Eddie, come on!” Dustin yells out from the other side, staring up at where Eddie springs into action and grabs onto the rope.

“Is she there?” He grunts, beginning to raise himself up the material.

Dustin does a quick look around, a frown on his face. He then calls out for you, venturing a little further from the gate. Nothing.

“I can’t see her!”

Eddie freezes, looking back.

They had led the bats here, just as planned. They were to get out and stay out, a popular opinion of the group. They had a plan. But you weren’t here.

It only meant one thing; you had ran out into the Upside Down.

Eddie knew you had been having visions, cautious of the way you’d been acting since War Zone. You weren’t ever hiding it as well as you thought. But Eddie just prayed that they had more time.

“Eddie!”

His eyes drift to where the boy stood, begging. He hated to leave Dustin, feeling like his actions would be the product of a broken promise. But you needed him.

How could he just leave you out there, being cursed, when he had made an oath? You and him. Always.

Eddie lands on his feet.

Dustin was yelling and screaming at him as he hastily cut the rope, severing the connection that held the danger. He wouldn’t bear it if Dustin followed him to a deadly end. At least this way, Eddie could lead the bats away from one of his sheep.

Ignoring the boy’s protests, he slammed into the door and sprinted out into the dark, calling your name.

Your heavy breaths were the only things keeping you tethered to life. Your eyes never left the figure in front of you.

“My name is Henry” His dark and twisted voice spoke, tilting his head. “I’ve been watching you for a long time”

You don’t respond, taking a step back. He stiffens his posture.

“I was so very… intrigued” He begins, moving towards you like you were his prey, “When family finally came back to visit”

His eyes drifted around the attic and you swallow your fear.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” You ask, part of you angry that he had left you alive with the memory of your parents’ death.

Vecna extends his hand. “You have the chance to join me”

“No.” You shake your head, stepping back. “I’m not a monster.”

“It’s in your blood, Y/n Creel”

“Don’t call me that.” You grit your teeth, skin crawling. Vecna just shakes his head, like you were just a disobeying child.

“You shouldn’t hide from what you truly are”

“I am nothing like you!”

“Oh, but you are”

You hear screams from within the house, turning to the noise just for a second. In that time, Vecna had gotten closer, glaring down at you.

“You could save her” He whispers and your eyes widen. It was Max. “All you have to do is join me”

“You want to destroy Hawkins.” You state, remembering Nancy’s earlier visions. “You want to kill a little girl-”

“SHE STOLE EVERYTHING FROM ME” He bellows and you flinch away from him.

“Good.” You spat and he narrows his eyes.

“Stubbornness runs in the family” He tuts, staring down at you with a piercing glare, “I, for one, could never tolerate it”

With the flick of his hand, you were thrown across the attic, crashing into a pile of boxes with enough force to knock the air out of your lungs.

“You should be grateful I kept you alive” Vecna growls and you gasp for breath. “To become what you’re destined to be”

“And what’s that?” You pant, staring up at his cold stare.

“Powerful”

You simply shake your head. All he was saying meant nothing to you. You weren’t powerful. You were barely living.

“You belong here with me” Vecna says, extending a hand down to you “Stand by my side, and I will show you what greatness you are capable of”

The echoes from downstairs had faded to nothing. Either Max had escaped, or… you didn’t want to think the worst. Judging by the persistent look on Vecna’s face, you knew it was the former. Which meant you could escape too.

You slowly stand, ignoring his offer and holding his stare, raising your chin.

“I will never join you.”

He simply tilts his head, retracting his hand.

“Wrong choice”

Just as he raises his arm, you sprint from his clutch, crashing through the attic door with as much haste as you could muster.

“Y/N!!” His voice boomed. But you didn’t stop.

Every exit was blocked one way or another, a frustrated yell leaving your lips. You didn’t want to die. As much as you prepared for this to happen, you weren’t ready. How would you ever be ready?

“We could have achieved so much together”

You spin around, tears streaming down your face. He had backed you into a corner now. You had nowhere to run.

“Remember this place, Y/n?” He questions and you close your eyes, back pressed against the front door, the cool glass sending a chill down your spine. “Look”

You shake your head, refusing.

“LOOK!!!!!!”

Out of fear, your eyes snap open.

You see a memory playing behind him, your younger self at the top of the staircase, eyes wide.

Your father floating, the stomach-churning snap of bones. Your mother’s screams.

A choked sob was all you had to react with, slowly sliding down the door into a sitting position.

“You wanted to die with them” Vecna taunts, reading your thoughts as clear as day, “You blame them for leaving you all alone”

He was right. Everything he said was true.

“Are you ready to join them now, Y/n?”

You feel yourself suddenly lifting from the ground, vines shooting out of the walls and leaving pieces of plaster scattered all over the place. They clung onto your wrists and ankles, pinning you against the door, and you scream.

Vecna slides a vine around your throat with the tilt of his head, leaving you choking for air.

“Your suffering will end soon enough” He promises, raising an ugly claw and hovering it over your tear-stained face.

You struggle as much as you can, tugging against your restraints, but you weren’t strong enough.

Eyes rolling back into your head, you wait for the numbness to coat your body into an eternal slumber.

...y/n… can you hear me...

With a gasp, Eddie discards the bike and takes off on foot, the demobats now drawn far enough away from Dustin and his trailer.

He takes a breath, glancing back at where the creatures swarmed.

He knew the trailer park like the back of his hand, the plan to get back to the trailer and out of the Upside Down already forming.

And then he saw it. A figure stood in the middle of the road, arms outstretched. They slowly lifted off the ground.

Eddie’s eyes widened.

“Y/N!” He cries, rushing towards you as fast as his legs could take him.

He barely manages to grasp onto your fingers before you’re suddenly out of reach, a sob leaving his lips. He couldn’t be too late. He can’t lose you like this.

“Y/N! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!” He shouts as loud as he can, desperately jumping to gain height and drag you back down to him. “WAKE UP!”

He cries and yells until his throat is sore, the feeling never relinquishing his attempts to bring you back. He had done it before, back at the Wheelers, the first time you were cursed. He could do it now. He could-

But then your arm snaps.

“NO!” Eddie screams, dropping to his knees.

He had failed.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he couldn’t bear the sight of it, chest tightening with every echo of a crushed bone. He failed. He failed. He failed.

Then, with a wave of silence, he looks back up just in time to see you drop from the sky. In a flash, he flies forward and catches you in his arms.

“Y/n…” He whispers out, breath caught in his throat.

Every limb was broken, your head hung back. Your eyes were closed, blinded by the run of blood down your soft cheeks.

“No.” Eddie cries, tears dropping down onto your body as he held you closer. “Please… don’t leave me. Please come back. Please.”

He can’t feel your heartbeat.

“Come back to me.” He begs again, praying that whatever miracle saved you from the bats would happen again. But you don’t respond. He knows you won’t respond.

Gently brushing the hair out of your face, he presses a long kiss to your forehead, eyes squeezing shut.

He was wrong to think he could ever be the hero. Because here you were, dead in his arms. And he wasn’t there to save you.

“It’s you and me…” He tries, but his voice was faltering. How could he say it when it wasn’t true?

A loud screech sounds behind him and his stomach drops. In the fear, he had forgotten about his original mission. And now the demobats were flying towards him.

He should have ran, like he always did. But you were dead, something he could no longer control no matter how badly it pierced his heart. This, right here, was something he could control.

To finally not be a coward.

He raises his spear, equipping his metal shield, and runs towards the flock. There was no sadness to his actions now. All he had running through his veins was pure rage.

As the bats collide with his shield, Eddie should have looked back at where you lay.

If he did, he would have seen that miracles did still exist.

Opening your eyes, you focus on the shadow of Vecna walking away from you, the world around you fading to dust and forming into a world of dark and fear.

You felt numb, and you weren’t sure what was happening to you. Were you dead?

...please… don’t leave me…

“Eddie.” You gasp.

With the snap of his neck, Vecna’s eyes dart back to where you struggle to stand, his eyes widening. He was surprised. Shocked.

Afraid.

“Impossible” He breathes, striding over to you.

But he didn’t make it far.

It was as if he ran into some kind of invisible barrier, the force ricocheting and throwing him across the crimson plane. Your eyes widened.

“You’re meant to be dead!” He roars, raising his arm.

You wince in anticipation, but nothing happens. He stares at his arm as if it was his enemy, glaring back at you with a snarl.

“YOU-”

Whatever threat was to be said was suddenly broken by the image of a woman and a young girl appearing beside you. His face drops.

You look either side of you with a confused and scared gaze. The older woman smiles at you while the young girl gives a little nod. You had nothing to be afraid of.

“How?” Vecna simply asks. But it wasn’t directed to you.

“Henry.” The woman shakes her head slowly, stepping forward. “You knew this would happen.”

“Henry.” The little girl speaks up, tilting her head, “You can’t kill her.”

“Yes I can” He insists, raising his chin.

“No.” The woman simply states, glancing back at you before returning to her stare, “This family is special. It always held a balance, as we worked together. Your power only ever caused death. Hers is to bring life.”

“You can’t kill her, Henry.” The blonde girl repeats as if it was an inside joke, “She is the only one you can’t truly hurt anymore.”

Vecna slowly points his stare at you as you stand helpless, barely understanding the situation.

“We’ll see about that”

“It’s you and me…”

Turning back, you can clearly hear Eddie’s voice calling to you now.

“Go.” The woman says, nodding. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt you.”

The small girl smiles and you slowly nod, backing away. But you couldn’t leave without any kind of answer.

“Who are you?” You ask with a frown and they share a look.

“Family.” The woman announces and you let out a breath.

“Thank you.” You quickly say before running towards the window before you, the image too dark to understand.

You didn’t look back to see if Vecna was following. You ran straight through the portal and watched as everything burned brighter around you until…

Until you blinked, a painful gasp filling air into your lungs. You felt a dull ache across your entire body and for a moment, you couldn’t move.

Looking down, you managed to catch a glimpse of a bone shifting back into place and you could have thrown up from the sight. But it didn’t hurt. How come it didn’t hurt?

With a shaky breath, you realised you had died again. The woman’s words, the idea that you brought life? What did any of that mean?

As you manage to sit up, your eyes widen, looking around you.

Your hearing slowly builds back to normal and you catch the noise of a yell, the flutter of wings.

Scrambling to your feet, you turn to see Eddie caught in the middle of a swarm and your heart drops.

Because a bat had managed to rip the shield from his grasp, his spear clattering to the ground.

That many bats… he wouldn’t survive.

You rush over, bats somehow blocking your path by swooping and clawing at your face.

You stumble back. This was Vecna’s doing. He had found another way to hurt you.

Eddie cries out in pain and you can’t take it anymore.

Covering your face, you sprint against the force, holding your ground, until you finally made it towards Eddie.

Bats had bitten into his side, one wrapped around his throat.

You quickly scoop up his fallen spear and stab it straight through one currently tearing through flesh.

It lets out an ear-piercing screech before dropping limp.

You continue to slice and attack, some bats managing to claw at your own skin. But you don’t stop. Not when Eddie needed you.

When the tail wraps your neck, you find yourself screaming against it, kicking your legs as you were almost dragged away.

Your vision was dotting over just as the bat suddenly let go. It dropped to the ground. Then another. Then another.

Demobats scattered the earth around you and you pant, scrambling over to Eddie.

He was rubbing at his neck, eyes set on the dead creatures by his head.

“Eddie?” Your voice was hoarse, but loud enough for him to whip his head over to you with a wince.

“Y/n?” He frowns, eyes wide. For a moment, he was frozen. “Y/N!”

He suddenly lunges at you, ignoring the shooting pain in his side as he does so, and pulls you into a hug.

“Jesus fucking Christ, I thought…” His voice was a whisper, cracking.

“I know.” You cry into his shoulder, clinging onto him.

When he finally pulls back, he gently brushes the hair out of your face before tears gleamed in his eyes. He was wiping at something on your cheek and you frown, placing your hand over his.

“How… what-” He shook his head.

“It’s a really long story.” You sigh and, unexpectedly, he laughs. “Are you seriously laughing right now?”

“I’m sorry.” Eddie chuckles, a smile already creeping onto your lips at the sight of his dimples, “I just-”

He looks into your eyes, flickering between them. “Nothing.”

“Didn’t think I’d really leave you, did you?” You smile sadly, leaning into his touch. “We have a deal, remember?”

“It’s you and me.” He nods.

“Always.” You finish, and he pulls you closer, capturing your lips with his.

Leaning your forehead against his with a breathy laugh, your hands slip around him to rest gently behind his neck. “I love you.”

A tear slips down Eddie’s cheek with closed eyes, cherishing the moment for as long as it could last. Forever, he hoped.

“I love you too.” He replies.

“Eddie?!”

You both look over to where Dustin was limping, raising your eyebrows.

“Shit, man. Don’t ever just leave!” He yells at the boy, shifting his gaze to you. “And you! Don’t you leave either!”

“I’m not going anywhere.” You promise, and he rolls his eyes. “No, seriously. I think I could be immortal.”

“Yeah.” Eddie laughs, but you stare at him. “Wait… seriously?”

“Like I said,” You shrug, standing and offering a hand to him, “It’s a long story.”

He gladly accepts your hand with a grin, meeting your height. “Then I guess it’s a good job we got a little while longer.”

“Adorable.” Dustin sighs, patting you both on the shoulder. “How about we share secrets and braid eachother’s hair after we get out of the terrifying alternate dimension?!”

“Jesus Christ.” Eddie mutters, looping an arm under Dustin’s to help the boy walk. “What the hell did you do to your ankle? You just cannonball back through the gate or something?”

“Well, I wouldn’t have had to if you didn’t cut the rope.” He grumbled and you shake your head in amusement.

As they continued to bicker, both secretly glad to be by eachother’s side, you look back one last time at the nightmare around you.

You knew this was far from over.

“Y/n?” Eddie calls out and you turn back to him. Dustin made his way into the trailer while Eddie stepped closer to you.

“You okay?” He asks, cupping your face in his hands.

“Ask me tomorrow?” You sigh and he nods, placing a kiss on your forehead.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.” His hand finds yours and clasps it tightly, leading you to the gate that would take you home. With him.

Even if hell would reign on Hawkins again, you felt safe like this; Eddie’s touch calming all the anxiety in your veins. And, as he flashes his infamous grin your way before fashioning the rope to freedom, you knew exactly what your future held.

As Eddie joins you and Dustin back into reality, he can’t help but just have to be beside you. He didn’t think he’d ever want to willingly leave you again.

Walking away from the Upside Down, your fingers laced between his, the words of promise echo through his mind, knowing they were a vow he would always keep.

‘It’s you and me… always.’

taglist: @aedicn | @yourdailymemedelivery |@toobsessedsstuff | @tayhar811 | @idkidknemore

thank you to everyone who has read and followed this story. it got so messy at one point but i just wanted to deliver an ending that would make everyone happy

until next time

[vampire-exgirlfriend]

⭐ chapter one/the foundations of the Karstarks

oh i love this!

So the Karstarks as we know them are not in their original iteration. When i was first plotting/outlining, they looked very different. Originally, Lynara had died about ten years prior to the start of the story and there were only three children: Harrion, Torrhen, and Wylla. There was less of an age gap between the three of them and Beron had no idea what to do with a motherless daughter and was basically going to let Wylla run wild because what else could he do? Early Beron was much more pliant and weak and Wylla grew particularly manipulative because of that.

But something about that just...didn't fit - even in the early, much darker version of the story. So I created Lynara Flint of Widow's Watch. And with Lynara came Rickon. And then Beron began to grow more hard, more cruel, totally taking a shape that I hadn't planned for, but decided to roll with. So Rickon became the product of a few weeks long affair with Lord Roderick Umber, both an act of protest and escapism on Lynara's part (somehow no one has noticed that that kid is blonde). Beron is the product of an uninvolved Karstark father and an overly involved mother, Berena Bolton, who he grew to emulate in every way. He was the second son of Lord Cregard Karstark, and there was a lot of animosity between him and his elder brother, Hareth.

Harrion resembles his father both in bearing and in physicality, and for a long time, Wylla resented him for this. She couldn't stand to look at him because she couldn't see past the younger face of the man who had abused (both physically and mentally) herself, her siblings, and her mother. But there is a gentleness in him, a caring side reserved only for his siblings, his mother, and his wife (and now son). He is a hard man, a stern man, a man who holds oaths and honor in very high esteem, and that is going to have a lot of consequences when he has to decide which bonds to cling to when the Dance truly kicks off.

Torrhen and Wylla have the sort of sibling bond that I think is very rare. They love each other unendingly; they are genuinely friends and allies, and he was always her protector. Torrhen is the opposite of Harrion. In looks, he takes after his mother, and he and Wylla look so similar as to be mistaken for twins (even though he's much older than she is). He's a charmer, a flirt, and seems to have this very "go with the flow, it is what it is" attitude. Obviously, there's a lot more than meets the eye with him, and all of the drinking and fucking and sport is hiding the softer parts that their father attempted to beat out of him.

Lynara was married entirely too young, much like Alicent was, and there is also a large age difference between her and Beron. She was sixteen, he was pushing forty, and she was pregnant with Harrion within a few months of their marriage and had Torrhen only two years later. Then there were the miscarriages, which was when Beron began to really show how much like his own mother he was, and why there is such a large age difference between Wylla and Torrhen (he's seven years older than she is and Lynara lost four children). When their third child was a daughter, he flew off the handle, and that genuinely broke something in Lynara. He had taken this lively girl and broken her down in a way only someone with a flayed man on their banner could. Which was why Rickon was such a surprise when he came along four years later. But with the birth of a third son, Beron's rage quieted slightly. So Rickon rarely saw that side of his father, and in a lot of ways, wants to emulate the strength of his bearing and be a "true" Northman like his father and eldest brother. But there's a shyness in him, a petulance that we see more in Wylla than we do in her brothers, but his heart is good and he is very much his mother's son at the end of the day.

I absolutely flew off the handle with this one, feel free to ignore me lol

[0fconquest]

a rapid rundown of this muse in conjunction to cahir and the other muses i write in this world-building.

he was born in 1080 aw during the final stretch of fall and was really only one hundred and twenty-eight years old when he was slain in battle. theoretically old in mortal years, yet, young in terms of elven years. he wouldn't be reincarnated until 1287 aw, well after the fall of kingdom.

anluan was not born in meath, rather, he was born in loston - an empire north of of kingdom said to be tied closely to amis, the goddess of the moon. he was reborn in the village of neverwinter, only a two day ride from loston.

in both his previous and his rebirth, he lost his parents to the neurosophic plague well before his 50th birthday. an odd thing for elves, as they often require some form of guidance before developing memories of their previous lives just before or around their 100th birthday.

he would only discover the topple of kingdom after regaining memory and seeking out its ruins. what originally became a path to find welcome within court once more became bitter realization that reign had ended.

anluan was brought from loston by a man claiming to be his father, who sought to offer the gift of proposed divinity to sitting king in exchange for refuge after being excommunicated from his own home. the king took the boy in, but had the individual posing as his father executed.

like the likes of killian and other divine advisors to the crown, anluan was raised between something of a temple and a knight. paladins of meath were not permitted worldly romantic attachments. it was believe that the oath to the crown and war god took prescience, and while this was occasionally broken under wraps, it was very much something poised at face value despite the constant randomization of the paladins.

like many of elven decent, anluan is very off-putting in terms of presence when he is not making an effort to make himself seem as though he fits. given he, like others, are products of reincarnation ... his soul dates back to incredibly early days in which elves settled on continent. its ancient and inhuman.

he has a very silky kind of voice, it's often low in tone and feels like a sirens song. he also has reflective eyes in low light due to elves natural inclination to see in dark spaces, and his ears are incredibly sensitive to touch and sound.

drawings of anluan from his life before reincarnation often depict him as a tall, silvery-haired man in knights attire. most notably is what is considering the ode to his passing, in which his hair is braided around the sheat of his blade and adorned with blue poppies per kingdom tradition.

the scar acquired much later over left eye is deeply ironic, considering it was an arrow plunged into that eye that killed him in prior life.

[waterdhaviancheesecake]

43 please!

43- Undone

I wrote two, whoops :)

First:

                The silent night was all to loud for Evander. Any joy that Halsin had been found and the Grove was free was far back in his mind, veiled by the sorrow that clenched around his heart. The pressure was breaking it. The tiefling children would be safe and, Ilmater willing, no more would become orphans, but the same could not be said for the goblin children. They were innocent, whatever cruelty they had shown the caged bear was a product of their upbringing. Were goblins not all children once too? Who would care for them now? In their faces he saw the children of the warriors he had slain during his service. Evander felt no better a man now than he was back then, cutting down any who stood in his way to protect their families.

                “Hey, soldier.” Karlach’s voice cut through the noise not like a sword but like a warm breeze through stagnant smoke. His tense shoulders unknotted as he realized she was exactly who he needed in this moment. No one understood better than she what haunted him in his dreams. “Can’t sleep?”

                “No,” Evander sighed. “Care to join me?”

                “Sure,” Karlach nodded with a warm smile. She sat beside him with a quiet groan, no doubt sore from a day of slashing and hacking through the horde. “Wanna talk about it?” Sharp instincts as always.

                “No… I’ll be alright I think,” he said. In realty, he simply didn’t think he could speak of it at the moment, as much as it may release part of the burden. Maybe another time. In the meantime, her presence was more than enough. “But if you could stay with me a while…”

                “Say no more. To be honest I can’t sleep either.” She placed a hand against her chest and cleared her throat. He could see now the glowing sheen of sweat over her brow.

                His broken spirit. Her corrupted body.

                “We got dealt a bad hand… didn’t we?”

                He didn’t need to elaborate. Both had been mere tools used and broken in the self-interest of greater powers. Something both were given constant reminders of.

                “And we just keep paying for it,” she said. The sadness in her eyes contrasted the slight smile on her lips. “Chin up, soldier. I won’t give in if you won’t.”

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

And now for a slightly lighter sort of nsfw one because uhhhhh well :))))))

A journal entry by Evander -

                Sleep alludes me once again. Although this time instead of images of past horrors my dreams have subjected me to something else entirely. I’m… conflicted on how I feel. What would Amtas think if he knew I had such dreams about another man?  Perhaps he would want this for me. Even so, I fear welcoming another into my heart will mean he truly is gone forever. How can I let go of my sweet Amtas, my sunlight incarnate?

                But Gale… he is the stars which fill the empty tapestry of the empty part of my soul with their light, spinning tales of beauty and devotion. He’s awakened within me a craving I haven’t had in many years, a hunger I thought was all but gone. As I lay in my bedroll waiting for sleep to claim me, the illusion of his scent fills my tent and I feel my tongue tingle like that of a man who hasn’t eaten in weeks and discovers a warm, flavorful feast spread before him. As I drift he appears before me in my dreams as bare as the day he was born and whispers into my ear promises of pleasures beyond mortal understanding. I’ve felt the phantom sensation of his hands sliding down my chest as he sits atop me, and I am his royal throne. I’ve taken my oath in the waking world to serve him as he sees fit, and in my dreams he claims more from me than my sword and shield.

                I am unraveling, it seems. When the sun rises I will greet him as if he hadn’t unknowingly bewitched me through the night. He will smile, unaware that my mind has imagined the taste of his lips. He will greet me, unaware that I have heard his voice cry my name.

                My love, my Amtas, forgive me. Were he to ask, I’m not longer certain I could resist.

[casuallyimagining]

Been to Hell & Back Again (8)

Jeon Jungkook x female reader

Summary: As king of the Underworld, Jungkook likes to think he manages his domain well. It’s organized. He’s well-respected. It’s productive. He’s successful. So then why is his relationship falling apart? Genre: Greek Mythology AU, Hades AU, Angst, Fluff, established relationship Word Count: 1,655 Rating: T Chapter Warnings: unhappy relationships

Notes: Based on the story of Hades and Persephone (with some Orpheus/Eurydice), mostly on the Hadestown version of the story. Sister story to Been to Hell.

Thanks to @aroseforyoongi and @justasparkwritings​ for beta-ing this and for putting up with my needy ass with these fics, and to @sugasbabiie​ for the assistance with the angst. And thanks to @jin-fizz​ for the amazing banners.

Previous | Masterlist | Next

It’s easy to lose yourself in the Underworld. Down there, the power of the five rivers all pull on you at once. Lethe, the river of forgetfulness. Acheron, the river of woe. Cocytus, the river of lamentation. Phlegethon, the river of fire. Styx, the river of oaths and promises.

Do you know why Persephone is forced to return to the Underworld? It’s not her love for her fiance, though I’m sure that would be reason enough. No, it’s because of the fruits.

When she and Jungkook were still pretending they weren’t in love, he left her alone to attend to some business with the foremen of the factories. She plucked a pomegranate and ate six of its seeds.

But the trees were watered by the River Styx, and in eating from the fruit, she unknowingly made an oath to live in the Underworld. One month for every seed she ate.

And, of course, she fell in love with Jungkook. Returning to the Underworld for six months every year would ensure she could have the best of both worlds: she could still care for the mortals up above, and she could be with the man she loved.

But for Jungkook, there was always something in the back of his mind that reminded him that if she had never eaten from that fruit, she would have never returned to him.

You leaned against the railing of the bridge looking down at the River Styx. The water was full of garbage--it always had been. The river was the final resting place of mortal misery, where hopes and dreams go to die. The pollution--old trophies, diplomas, tokens of love, broken toys--floated idly by. You focused on a stuffed pink bunny stuck in a little eddy near the bank.

After leaving Taehyung and Eurydice in the park, you couldn’t bring yourself to go home. You were frustrated with Jungkook, sure, but you were frustrated with yourself more. You knew he had gone to the surface and brought her down. Why it had affected you so much to hear them say it, you had no idea.

Maybe it was the fact that he had threatened to find someone else. Maybe it was that he had walked out on your argument. Maybe it was that he seemed to loathe everything you loved about the mortals and their world.

Maybe it was all of the above.

You weren’t surprised to hear footsteps approaching you on the bridge, and you were even less surprised when he leaned against the railing beside you, his shoulder almost brushing against your own.

He was quiet for a while as he stared down at the river with you. Your eyes remained on the pink rabbit swirling and dunking into the water, only to sputter out along the rocks before being caught by the current again. Round and round it went, an endless cycle.

A sharp inhale caught your ear. “I’m sorry,” Jungkook said, his normally deep and confident voice was soft.

“You tempted her.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“You left me alone in our apartment to go and tempt her.” You were surprised at how flat your voice was. You felt like you could burst into either flames or tears. You weren’t sure which would make you feel better. Your voice, however, remained steady against the emotional war within you. His silence was deafening. “What are you so afraid of?”

“What?”

“They’re just kids in love.”

Jungkook sighed, and you could see him run his hands through his hair in your periphery. “You don’t understand.”

“I think I understand more than you know.”

You turned to look at him then. His hair was disheveled, his eyes were soft and kind, but there was something else in them. He was hurting. You hadn’t seen him like this in… you had no idea how long it had been. A century? More? Jungkook couldn’t hold your gaze, and his eyes darted down to the water. Little by little, your anger dissolved.

“You know,” you began softly. “The way she looked at him up there, it was like he hung the moon just for her-”

“Artemis wouldn’t be very happy to hear that-”

“I used to look at you like that.”

His head hung low, his dark, slightly curled hair hanging in curtains in front of his face. “She means nothing to me.”

“I know.” You moved closer to him, your shoulder brushing against his. Maybe it was because he seemed so vulnerable, but you wanted nothing more than for him to hold you in that moment. “But she means everything to him.”

“So?”

“I think you should let her go.”

“You know I can’t do that. She signed the contract.”

“You wrote the contracts. You can rip hers up.” You sighed. “He loves her, Jungkook. He came all the way down here just to find her.”

Again, he was silent, staring down at the water as he rubbed the palm of his tattooed hand with his thumb. He clenched and unclenched his jaw as he thought. “Then what?” he questioned finally, turning his head to look at you.

“What do you mean?”

“I let them go. Then what? It’s getting to be that time of year. You’ll leave, and then what am I left with?” He shrugged. “I let them go, I lose the respect of the shades. I lost you a long time ago. What am I left with?”

“You haven’t lost me,” you told him quietly, reaching out to brush some of his hair out of his eyes. “I’ll always return to you.”

“Would you, though, if you didn’t have to?” He sighed. “I wrote the contracts for the shades. But I wrote that one, too. A long time ago. Back when Styx was a nymph who supported Zeus in the war. I could rip it all up. You wouldn’t have to come back.”

“Oh, Jungkook.” You took his hand, your eyes falling back to that pink bunny still caught in the current by the rocks. You had a feeling you knew what it was like to be caught in the swirling, drowning eddies. You squeezed his hand and repeated: “You are my sun, my moon, and my stars. I will always return to you.”

His brow furrowed and he opened his mouth to respond. But before he could say anything, a scuffle in the road before the bridge drew both of your attention. Taehyung stalked toward the bridge, Eurydice hot on his heels. She was holding his hand, quietly begging for him to stop.

Jungkook chuckled dryly, his head falling as he let out an exhausted huff before he turned to the couple. “I honestly can’t tell if you’re brave or stupid.” He pushed himself away from the bridge railing before crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I guess it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

“I’m not leaving without her.” Taehyung’s eyes were hardened with determination, and he stood in front of Eurydice, as if trying to shield her from Jungkook’s anger.

You watched as Jungkook’s tongue poked into his cheek. “I tell you what. You’re a singer, aren’t you?” He pointed to the lyre hanging from Taehyung’s back. Taehyung nodded. “I’ll give you one chance. Sing me a song. Impress me. If you succeed, well… we’ll see.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Eurydice was standing beside Taehyung now, her hand firmly clutched in his.

“He’ll become one of my shades. You can spend eternity together here.” Jungkook shrugged. “Of course, neither of you will remember anything, but eternity’s eternity.”

Taehyung’s eyes were wide. “Really?”

“One song. One chance. Right now.”

Eurydice looked like she was going to cry. You smiled sadly at that. Her mind might not remember Taehyung, but it seemed as though her heart did. She squeezed Taehyung’s hand before letting him go, taking a step back to give him room to perform. He slipped his lyre off his shoulder and began to play.

“King of Shadow, King of Shades,” he sang, his eyes focused on his hand forming the chords.

“Oh, it’s about me,” Jungkook huffed, leaning back against the railing of the bridge.

You stood beside him in silence, listening to Taehyung’s song. It was the story of how you had met Jungkook. But when he got to the chorus, you felt Jungkook stiffen beside you. The melody was simple, but it was hauntingly beautiful. Taehyung’s voice floated up and down the scale, moving rhythmically through notes and half-notes, falling down, then jumping up an octave.

Carefully, you reached out, your hand finding Jungkook’s. You squeezed his fingers. You hadn’t heard this song in decades. There was no way Taehyung knew it. There was no way.

Jungkook had written it for you.

“Where’d you get that melody?” Jungkook questioned. His voice was soft, and he sounded absolutely flummoxed.

“Let him finish.” You squeezed his fingers again.

“You didn’t know how, and you didn’t know why, but you knew that you wanted to take her home. You saw her alone there, against the sky, like she was someone you had always known,” Taehyung sang. “It was like you were holding the world when you held her. Like yours were the arms that the whole world was in. There were no words for the way that you felt, so you opened your mouth, and you started to sing.”

When he launched into Jungkook’s melody again, you felt your heart swell. Truthfully, you had forgotten about it. Jungkook had hummed it nonstop when you had first started dating. But then he had abandoned it for more complicated melodies.

Jungkook squeezed your fingers, and for a moment, you thought it had been an accident. But then the pressure came again, and it didn’t let up. Softly, you heard another voice join Taehyung’s as he repeated the melody. You smiled softly, gently leaning into Jungkook’s side as you listened to him hum along.

As always, your feedback is appreciated. Feel free to pop into my ask box with questions or thoughts about the series. I’d love to hear from you!

Previous | Masterlist | Next

Taglist: @sugasbabiie​, @springbean, @horanghae18, @todosmash, @debicaptain-saturn, @staerryminimini, @lostatthebarns, @sevenpersona​​​​​​

[popurikat]

Trying to make sense of parts of Future (Mystery Skulls)

Since my last analysis went so well I thought I’d make this post as well, especially because Future really did confuse me and I know others might be lost as well; so lets discuss this together! It will be lengthy as I am basically spewing my thoughts out right on the videos immediate release date (there will be a read more option after my first thought to avoid long positng). Well first things first, I wanna address that I've been curious about what kind of spirit Arthur's arm could be (since I am not too well acquainted with any canon on its background part at least) and I think I have concluded that the closest thing to it could be is a Tenome; which is a Yochai that possesses a man's body and moves the eyes to the palms. "found lurking in cemeteries, hands outstretched, as if he has only recently lost his vision and is searching for something. Get close enough, and you’ll find out in quick succession that a) he’s not blind, but looking with eyes embedded in his hands, and b) what he’s looking for is a snack." (fyi, most of my mythos information is coming from Wiki just as a heads up)

And sure enough he found a great source for his hunger. Something he has been EYEING since the start. Which now leads me to my next points on the video...

At first watch I was convinced that each strand found on Mystery’s heart represented a singular soul bond, I thought that blue was for Vivi, Green was for the hand, pink for Lewis, purple for Shiro, Yellow for Lance, Orange for Arthur, and black and white were unknown. Which, didn’t settle right for me. SO I went in and re-watched the clip a couple more times and saw this:

Vivi’s (blue created after she got hurt) and Shiro’s (white created after she died) strands were connected to the strands located next to them. A start and an end. Mystery’s promise to Vivi to stay at her side for generations as he was spared upon prior defeat of Mushi. And then of course we have the promise of power and sustenance for Shrio as they held a symbiotic relationship for most of their lives that was only severed due to an interference. These double strands of fate are especially clearer in the scene with Shiro in Future. As the black strand gets clearer the more she gets injured or emotionally hurt, it eventually leads to the leak of the white strand on her death. Meaning; Black/white=Shiro; Purple/Pink=Lewis; Blue/Green: Vivi; and Orange/Yellow: Arthur. And why am I inclined to believe Lewis and Arthur are apart of Mystery’s heart? Well that's because those two were the only ones fully streaming before Vivi’s and Shiro’s appeared. We know that Arthur lost an arm to Mystery and discovered his identity (ergo losing most of his trust in him) insinuating both strands to arise early on of his color scheme, as well as with Lewis’ death occurring under the protection of Mystery when they were grouped and having his soul go restless/ in pain. It wouldn’t make sense to add family members or side characters not included in the mainline story to this grouping unless they would play an important role in the finale, which isn’t likely since we have only one more video left as Ben stated it was going to be a 5 video series. I am also inclined to believe each person has two strands because of Kitsune lore: “ Kitsune keep their promises and strive to repay any favor. Occasionally a kitsune attaches itself to a person or household. They follow their word of honor. They become self-destructive if they break a promise, and when someone else breaks a promise, they become deadly enemies.” Plus, It would make sense as to why in this short battle Mystery sprouted his last 3 tails when it came to Vivi and Shiro and how their connections affect his power. (more on this in a bit) But, furthermore; if anyone else notices, the Band-Aids on the heart are also remotely located on the sections of Vivi’s and Shiro’s strands specifically because for both, Mystery has vowed to protect them and has failed. 

Now then lets talk about a few things on Mystery’s ultimate form shall we? The final form of a Kitsune, its celestial form as shown here is called a Tenko. (yes I am aware of the Kumiho, but that is a fully evil, flesh eating, 9 tailed fox that specialize in illusions and well Mystery has never been portrayed as human). The Tenko makes even more sense when taken into consideration that Mystery’s third eye (typically a form of wisdom connected to overpowering the mortality of ones self) opens. So how was this done in such a short amount of time? “Kitsune do not accept aid from those who are not willing. they do not ask for help, and as such, most aid must come from another's initiative. Kitsune are emotional and very vengeful. Kitsune will lose their temper at the slightest provocation. Once someone has earned a kitsune's enmity, the kitsune will begin enacting revenge that can become quite extreme. On the other hand, those who have earned a kitsune's trust and loyalty will see a friendship that can last through many trials. Freedom is very important to the kitsune. They do not accept being forced into something they do not wish, and do not like being bound or trapped. Doing so weakens the kitsune.” Mystery as we know is very much controlled by his emotions, going head first into things constantly based on reaction and his inability to control his power under distress. His tails arose in the fight sequence every time he fulfilled his oath AND used 100% of his form/power. Therefore, his tails grew because he wasn’t holding back anymore, not his grievances, not his appearance, nor his hesitance in his evident distress of being bound to two entities that both required his aid.  My last note on these images comes from a tumblr user’s reverse audio clipping (https://nebulous-rain.tumblr.com/post/633555549749952512/ok-so-yknow-that-one-reversed-part-of-future). The rewind of the clip of Mystery’s transformation plays “When I’m With You”, which yes, cool a possible Easter egg to the next song! BUT what is this song about? Let me just bring up the first line of the song: “You got me hanging by a THREAD...I wish I could turn back time...I wish I could rewind life...” and before the chorus “I’m gonna make it right”. We know that this can refer to rectifying the wrongs of Lewis’ death, but more accurately to do so we need to defeat the evil inside this mutt that is pulling the strings of this whole fiasco. And this might just be the intro portion of the next mystery skulls mind you as we’ve also gotten many false starts with the previous two videos where hellbent used “every note” and future used “enemies” alongside the main song. BUT WE HAVE TWO YEARS ANYWAY, WHY BABBLE ON ABOUT THIS. LETS MOVE ON!

Hearts in this series have not been just for identifying the dead or for aesthetic purposes, they are the life force of each powerful legend. I am actually surprised to see Shiro have a heart as she started off as a creation from Mystery and therefore her lifeforce is just his blood and without it she is nothing. I am curious about her color pallet though, her heart is purple and pink. Lewis’ is gold/yellow with touches of orange. And Mystery’s is just red, but it has a mix of everyone’s essence within it to keep it tied and whole. Shiro’s could be colored this way in reference to Lewis’ aid to help find her creator; which would explain why Mystery surrounds himself by color as he required outside help and how Lewis’ heart is yellow in reference to how recently Arthur helped him remember his friends/hidden memories. One thing we have learned about hearts is that they can be broken repeatedly and can be ripped apart from the body, but they can be repaired too through resolution/hope. Lewis restored his heart in hellbent by using Vivi’s flower petals and finding hope that he will get revenge, only for his heart to be repaired again through Arthur’s touch. Shiro may have withered away, but her heart is essentially not broken, she’d need Mystery to restore it as it was flung into space (and that again relies on Mystery finding his sanity and finding it in himself to even bring her back). And as for Mystery himself, he’s gonna need the whole gang to reach out to him to extract the parasite within and restore balance. I really want to know more about the heart properties and how they give their users their powers as well Vivi is able to summon her strength through a material connection (bat) that function in its own way as the vessel a heart does since its connecting her to her ancestry.

NOW to finalize, I offer you two queries:

WHO IS ARTHURS HAND REACHING FOR!? I know it seems like Mystery, but that would be counter productive for the hand demon if he has Arthur interfering with his control. Is it still after Lewis as we’ve seen previous times where his arm acts up only in Lewis’ presence and when specifically other “magic” is at play? If so, is the goal to ward off Lewis and Vivi from defeating Mystery? Is Arthur gonna use the arm to find his own power as we’ve seen when he is able to momentarily cease control of it he kinda ruins anything electrical he touches and well, electricity is currently running rampant in there.

and lastly, I am really curious how touch sensitive hearts are, We know that even the smallest of brushes can detect memory/links to the person holding it (as seen with how Shiro managed to get soul flowers in hellbent), but the fact that Lewis was so in touch with the feeling of Arthur EVEN THOUGH ARTHUR GRABBED HIS HEART THROUGH HIS METAL HAND MIND YOU!, that he still managed to feel the disturbance instantly. So my question is, is the touch sensitivity reliant on how close someone is to someone? I would like to say yes cause when Shiro touched his heart he didn’t react instantly, he felt her rummaging his memories and was awoken, but he didn’t kick her butt by fully reforming until after she had long since stepped on his heart and then forced the memory of Mystery to arise. But yeah, its a nice little detail.

Either way, thanks for reading! Feel free to add on, comment, or even dm me about more Mystery Skulls information and theories! Love to hear them!

[seyaryminamoto]

How much was azula and zuko blinded of the propaganda?I have seen someone say that" azula knew the propaganda was a lie and there evidence was the fire nation were willingly to burn ba sing sa to the ground so azula should have known better"

O_o um, no offense intended to that person but... where’s the evidence that Azula ever had any doubts about the Fire Nation’s supremacist views?

I can outright point at a key dialogue where Zuko blatantly proves he’s not blinded by his father’s propaganda: Book 1, episode 3. Zuko directly tells Zhao: “If my father thinks the rest of the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool!”, quoted right out of the wikia. So... heh. Zuko seems to be critical of his father, of his conquest, of his colonialist pursuits...

... And yet he proceeds to continue chasing the Avatar, fighting against him, outright committing treason against his own nation by releasing Aang but ONLY so he could be the one to turn him in personally, still saying things like “My honor, my throne, my country, I'm about to lose them all.” (Book 1, episode 13), telling Iroh “I want it back. I want the Avatar, I want my honor, my throne. I want my father not to think I'm worthless.” (Book 2, episode 1), introducing himself in this manner: “My name is Zuko. Son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai. Prince of the Fire Nation, and heir to the throne.” (Book 2, episode 7), and the list goes on :’) basically, insert everything nefarious or gray Zuko does through the three seasons, and factor in that Zuko has proven he doesn’t believe his father’s propaganda since early Book 1... you get the picture.

So... what that line in “The Southern Air Temple” ends up telling us is that all his actions are self-serving! :’D Which takes away from Zuko’s big speech to Ozai, namely when he says that the argument about the war spreading the Fire Nation’s greatness was an “amazing lie”. No, it wasn’t an amazing lie, and no, he didn’t believe it, at least he didn’t ever since the show began, as far as we saw. Therefore... I give no free passes to Zuko over any arguments that he was doing Ozai’s bidding or acting in his behalf. No one who says “my father is a fool” with such conviction in the show’s very THIRD EPISODE can pretend he was completely unaware of how wrong the Fire Nation’s direction was until he finally had his change of heart and awakening to the goodness of the world. He knew it was wrong. He did everything he did because it didn’t matter to him that it was, his throne and honor mattered more. 

And considering I could quote at least three different instances where he talks about the throne as his own, or meant to be his own, I think it’s damn clear it was constantly on his mind. The only occasion when he says anything about wanting to do right by the Fire Nation itself is with Mai in the Boiling Rock... and by then he’s “redeemed”. Ergo, he’s supposed to know better at last. Before redemption? Zero signs that Zuko believes the Fire Nation needs new guidance and that he realizes the problem is Ozai’s propaganda and ideological indoctrination. That line in episode 3 suggests he KNOWS his father can and should be questioned, but later on he doesn’t betray any interest in doing so until he outright confronts him in The Eclipse. And that’s the thing: Zuko knows Ozai is bullshitting everyone, but it’s not his problem. That’s not why he’s doing what he’s doing. He’s not here to further spread Ozai’s gospel, he’s here to get the Avatar and earn his ticket back home, and he’ll do ANYTHING to achieve that.

Meanwhile, Azula... anyone can say she’s not blind to the horrors the Fire Nation has committed, that she’s an active participant of the war, that she’s her father’s enabler too... sure. But I don’t think ANYONE can say with any degree of certainty that Azula had broken out of the Fire Nation indoctrination on any level by the time we meet her in the show. Azula, as far as I’ve always seen her, is a product of her upbringing: she is sheltered, troubled, capable of dismissing any moral dilemmas in the face of any mission, absolutely unwilling to fail at anything she ever does. But really... where’s the evidence that she KNOWS the Fire Nation isn’t inherently superior to the others? Where’s the evidence that she knows Sozin’s doctrines are just excuses? I’m not saying she’s not smart enough to figure it out, I certainly write her that way myself... but I don’t think there’s anything you can point to in the show, the way there IS, objectively, with Zuko, to say “Yeah she’s 100% aware that the Fire Nation supremacist ideals are BS and she just follows fit with them because she wants a throne for herself.”

In contrast: how many times does Azula say the word “throne” in the show?:

“The fact is, they don't know which one of us is going to be sitting on that throne, and which one is going to be bowing down.” (Book 2, Episode 20) -- not the Fire Nation throne, but Ba Sing Se’s. Ergo, a throne she took via strategic prowess... that she then abandoned and left in Joo Dee’s hands SOMEHOW (why... Azula, just... why?? xD) before returning to the Fire Nation instead of merely relishing in having obtained MORE POWER!

... That’s literally it.

Where Zuko constantly talks about “his throne”, Azula only displays genuine, overt, blatant interest in becoming Fire Lord when Ozai directly offers her the position. She doesn’t shy away from it at all, of course, but when she’s seen talking about her alleged future as Fire Lord, her wording is... curiously different from Zuko’s:

“My father asked you to come here and talk to me, didn't he‌? He thinks I can't handle the responsibility of being Fire Lord. But I will be the greatest leader in Fire Nation history.” (Book 3, Episode 20)

This isn’t even fully healthy Azula, so using her behavior here as representative for her genuine views is a tricky thing to do. And yet... she says she will be the greatest LEADER? She’s not looking at the throne as something she is owed, she’s looking at it as a challenge she needs to prove herself worthy of. She’s not looking at a crown or a throne exclusively: she’s looking at LEADERSHIP. She’s ambitious enough to think BEYOND obtaining the power, and instead she’s already thinking of how she’ll use it.

This is a fundamental difference between both Zuko and Azula. Azula’s motivation wasn’t the throne, or a crown, or anything like that until the finale. If she’d wanted more political power, like I always say, she would’ve stayed in the Earth Kingdom and ruled over Ba Sing Se herself, getting high on the thrill of finally controlling a nation of her own. She’s the main artificer of the take-over, the Dai Li literally answer to her, and yet she didn’t stick around: she left the city for other people to deal with rather than going wild over her newly acquired power. Doesn’t this speak lengths about Azula’s priorities? And once she’s finally being offered the throne she does value, her troubled mind is set on LEADERSHIP. And while of course someone can argue she’s just vain and wants to be remembered forever, kind of like Zhao did, the question of what kind of leadership Azula has in mind is still worth asking: if she didn’t want the Earth Kingdom throne, it suggests she actually cherishes the Fire Nation above all else, and another nation’s throne doesn’t suffice or particularly prove fulfilling for her beyond the initial conquest. Prioritizing the Fire Nation, WITHOUT being Fire Lord yet, above Ba Sing Se’s throne... strongly suggests a belief that the Fire Nation matters more than anything else. And that’s basically what the Ozai propaganda impresses upon his people.

For further evidence... I present to you the Fire Nation Oath:

“My life I give to my country, with my hands I fight for Fire Lord Ozai and our forefathers before him. With my mind I seek ways to better my country, and with my feet may our March of Civilization continue.” (Book 3, Episode 2)

Just one reading of this oath explains Azula’s actions and motivations immediately. Recapping her actions throughout the show: 

She finds Iroh and Zuko under Ozai’s orders, attempts to take them home peacefully, then they rebel, she fights them and regards them as traitors, loses, still intends to continue chasing them after her defeat.

Gathers new allies for her quest, comes across the Avatar, decides to take him down, fails, decides she has two targets now.

Chases the Avatar, fights both him and Zuko, narrowly escapes before being defeated, all be it to fight another day.

Helps in the Drill’s operations in Ba Sing Se, nearly stops Team Avatar’s scheme, fails again once Aang finishes their plan perfectly.

Follows Appa, fights and defeats the Kyoshi Warriors, takes their uniforms, impersonates them and breaks into Ba Sing Se while no one’s the wiser.

Acquires crucial information about the enemies’ plans to attack her nation on the day of the Eclipse.

Acquires the support of the Dai Li, captures Katara, Zuko and Iroh, overthrows Kuei.

Offers Zuko one more chance to fight by her side, attempts to fight Aang and Katara by herself, then is shown willing to fight Zuko as well as those two until she joins forces safely with Zuko and they defeat Aang and Katara.

Takes Zuko home as a hero, he hides crucial information about the Avatar, Azula attempts to set up a trap so Zuko takes the fall if the Avatar isn’t dead.

Offers Zuko advice about not visiting Iroh so he stays out of trouble, which he disregards to no consequences.

Goes on a chaotic vacation with her friends.

Gives Zuko a history lesson with more than a few harsh burns.

Tells Zuko he should go to a war meeting, which he attends later to no consequences, and she was right to say he was expected to be in it.

Intervenes in the war meeting and cuts off Zuko before he says the wrong thing, Ozai extrapolates Azula’s suggestion into his perfect, megalomaniac villain plan, and she’s shown perfectly satisfied with supplying her father an idea he values.

Organizes and leads the resistance against the invasion, stalls the Avatar’s group, keeps her father safe.

Visits the Boiling Rock, presumably upon finding out her brother infiltrated the prison, and in all likelihood suspecting he didn’t do it alone, considering that she immediately barges into the interrogations about the escape attempts rather than appearing at Zuko’s holding cell.

Fights Sokka and Zuko, nearly dies when the Warden decides to cut the line but saves herself by flying off, loses her shit when Mai betrays her, gets chi-blocked, sends her friends to prison.

Attacks Team Avatar in the Western Air Temple, takes a near-fatal plummet but still manages to survive and return home while the enemies escape.

Intends to go with Ozai to set fire to the Earth Kingdom, loses her temper, Ozai loses his, he offers her the role of Fire Lord and becomes Phoenix King.

Loses herself to paranoia gradually, hallucinates her mother, pushes everyone away, agrees to fight an Agni Kai with Zuko instead of merely commanding to be crowned disregarding Zuko’s intrusion.

Loses the fight against Katara, is sent to an asylum.

I think there’s quite a lot in here that suggests Azula’s actions are meant to uphold the values and beliefs of the Fire Nation Oath. She gave herself completely to her missions, to the point of even facing deadly peril more than once. She fought many battles, lost a LOT of them, and yet she never backed down. She is by far the most strategic character in the Fire Nation side of the story, switching her tactics constantly while the show progresses... and what is she after? Victories. For whom? Herself? Why... again, if it were just for herself, why abandon Ba Sing Se, the crown jewel of the Earth Kingdom’s Ultimate Conqueror? Why allow Zuko to share in that big achievement, too, instead of merely locking him up someplace and taking all the credit for herself?

There’s seriously zero reason to believe Azula DOESN’T live by the Fire Nation Oath. I, personally, don’t see how any of her actions indicate she’s questioned her nation’s indoctrinated creed in any way. Do I think she’s smart enough to know that the war wasn’t about spreading “greatness”? Sure. Does this automatically mean she was doing everything she ever did for herself, and not for the Fire Nation AND her father? Absolutely not. And that’s where Zuko and Azula are crucially, fundamentally different: Zuko’s concerns are PERSONAL. Zuko’s battles are PERSONAL. Zuko wants HIS honor, HIS throne: Azula never says any similar words in the entire show. Azula’s biggest display of ambition is claiming she wants to be the Fire Nation’s greatest leader. Ambitious, yes, BUT... an ambition that is perfectly in line with the oath, again, especiall with this line: “may our march of civilization continue”. Whereas Zuko’s words and actions throughout the show honestly don’t strike any legitimate chords with the Oath, as far as I can tell?

And I’m relying on the Oath because it’s literally the only solid evidence we have of actual creed and speeches the Fire Nation people are taught. While we can make plenty of guesses as to what else their education includes, by judging Fire Nation people’s actions and behavior, the only solid things we have are the misinformation the teacher attempts to give the children in Aang’s classroom and the Oath she makes the children recite. I think it’s safe to guess most Fire Nation people would know that Oath by heart, and probably attempt to live by it, too.

But like I said, where Azula’s actions can easily be interpreted as morally awful ways of displaying the “values” present in the Fire Nation Oath, I don’t see how Zuko’s actions EVER had anything to do with those values. They plain didn’t. And that isn’t a bad thing, objectively speaking: it means Zuko wasn’t insanely attached to the Fire Nation to the point of valuing it above his own life, after all. And yet, it puts a spin on Zuko’s actions and behavior that definitely doesn’t do his character any favors: no, his actions aren’t motivated by the Fire Nation Oath or any similar creed, they’re motivated, above all else, by the hopes that his father will return his birthright and honor to him. And his redemption is, of course, coded as him realizing that Ozai doesn’t get to decide whether he has honor or not! Which... again... is a blatant way of saying that Zuko’s true motivation wasn’t “doing Ozai’s bidding and advancing the Fire Nation’s war”, it was his honor, his throne, and everything to do with what he’d lost after his banishment. The whole show is full of obvious signs that Zuko’s not motivated by any beliefs greater than this -- such as the fact that he returns home as a hero and it feels WRONG to him. It’s not only because his father now respects him under the false pretenses that he killed the Avatar, but also because he plain feels out of place and isn’t happy at all! Why? Because he “got everything back”, and it feels off. Why is it off? Because he wants honor and he doesn’t feel like he regained it at all in the first half of Book 3. Then he turns his back on his father and chooses a whole different path and he’s finally at peace with himself, so much he can’t even bend anymore :’D but the point is, simply, that there’s no evidence anywhere within the show that Zuko honest to gods was acting out of anything but his own, personal needs rather than a constant pursuit for the Fire Nation’s advancement.

And like I said before, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It probably makes his redemption “easier”, to a fault, since there’s less to address. Do I like it? No. Do I think Zuko is fundamentally a better human being than Azula because he questioned Ozai and she didn’t? Considering how many awful things he still did while proving he could question his father, not a chance. Do I think Azula is fundamentally a better human being than Zuko since her actions do seem to follow fit with what Fire Nation indoctrination looks like? Considering what that indoctrination entails, and the deeds she proves capable of to uphold it, the answer would once again be “not a chance”.

In short: neither buying the Fire Nation indoctrination or questioning it makes either Azula or Zuko objectively better people. Both are capable of amoral deeds and actions that should never be supported, encouraged or excused :’D and while I absolutely will impress that they have different motivations, which codify their actions, I don’t think Azula’s deeds would be objectively any worse if someone SOMEHOW finds solid evidence that she truly didn’t believe in any of these doctrines, just as I don’t think Zuko’s would be any better if it’s proven (though... I’d be pretty sure it can’t be) that he’s just as brainwashed as everyone else in the Fire Nation.

On a final note, directly answering your final concern there: both Zuko and Azula are shown reacting to the notion of Ba Sing Se being burned to the ground. Heck, Ursa is shown reacting to it too. If we need a refresher...

If this is somehow proof that Azula “understands” the FIre Nation is evil (How? She’s laughing like it’s a perfectly happy revelation? So is her mother? So is her brother? How does someone watch this scene and interpret this as “this messed up family KNOWS they’re the BAD GUYS!”, rather than “this messed up family thinks burning a city down is GOOD?!”), then it’s also proof Zuko and Ursa do. And they still laugh just as she does.

If the person in question was talking about Azula’s intervention in the war meeting? Zuko’s reaction shows he thinks burning down a continent is evil. Zuko’s betrayal of the Fire Nation shows he didn’t want anything to do with that (his reluctance to share this information with Team Avatar, however, is highly illogical?). Azula’s behavior doesn’t suggest at all that she thinks burning an enemy nation is anything but a sign of superiority, something both Ursa and Zuko are totally fine with in the scene above, and her suggestion, yet again, is something that is perfectly in line with the Fire Nation’s morally reprehensible values. As such, it’s not something that proves Azula somehow was acting of her own accord and is immune to Fire Nation indoctrination and propaganda, by any means.

So.

I’d think that answers that. :’)

[pumpkin-bread]

Oh lord and these poor Goldspun kids finally have their art. This took so long they’re not only grown up but RTB.

I lost the file. I recovered the file. Here.

Lapis - Brocade

Lore under the cut

Dragons love gold. Dragons love jewellery.

But you know, it all needs to come from somewhere.

Asteria’s family has been owning and guarding their own mine in the Shrieking Wilds for uncountable generations, taking the surname Goldvein to signify their heritage - and hard-fought ownership.

The Goldveins and their hired mercenaries fought off many a clan that attempted to stake their claims to the land, until one day it was all set ablaze in one last ditch effort to force the veilspun out.

Only Asteria would survive, trapped deep within the mine’s tunnels while her home was burned to ash above.

She would wait, consumed by rage and grief and driven half-mad by starvation, until the invaders finally made their way down into the mine. Then, she burnt away the last of the support beams she’d been carefully whittling through. In a few short moments, the tunnel the rival clan had been investigating collapsed on top of them. The few that weren’t crushed on impact were left to starve amongst the veins of ore they so coveted.

Asteria would later swear an oath to The Behemoth that she would continue on, and in time, she hired new guards who were made to swear their loyalty as well; to both her and the Gladekeeper - for the gods didn’t take kindly to such oaths being broken.

That mine, encircled by burnt trees and bare ground, has remained under her ownership since. The mine reopened in part, and production continued - albeit much more slowly, as she was the only miner and jeweler left. The guards she employed would later become close as family, and she would eventually marry Gavor, the head of them all.

She carefully teaches each of their children the art of goldsmithing, making sure her family’s legacy is passed on.

They have no claims to the mine, however. She quietly awaits the arrival of a perfect heir - but until then, nobody else can touch it.

[bookocd]

Light As Air Chapter 4

This is the next chapter in my Fenrys Fanfic! If anyone would like to be tagged or has prompts for future chapters let me know :) 

Thank you for reading!

Tag List:

@wxstedhexrt

Summary:

In the aftermath of Kingdom of Ash, Fenrys finds himself connected with a mysteriously powerful fae female. With the confusion of her past and vast amount of power, the Aelin’s court becomes weary of Fenrys’s involvement.

Fenrys is still reeling after Connall’s death and while joining Aelin’s court has been a dream, his nightmares are still plagued by Maeve.

Vel will do anything to get the help she needs, but her past controls her emotions, and her hopes for the future clouds her judgement.

Maybe together they can mend what has been broken, but Vel’s strange origins will continue to keep them apart.

Links:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4:

Vel felt like death. 

The area behind her eyes was pounding, her throat was sandpaper as she painfully swallowed, and for some reason her neck felt stiff as a fucking board. 

Her back cracked as she tried to sit up, and ended up only getting her elbows under her enough to prop the rest of her upper half up. 

Opening her eyes slowly, and a couple of blinks later, her blurriness dissipated. 

Am I in an adult size bed? Vel thought as her eyes widened with shock. The room she was in was larger than her father’s whole cabin. While the only piece of furniture was the bed she was on, the stone floor was extensive and the ceiling felt miles away. The floor to ceiling windows made her breath catch. 

Moving slowly, she got her legs off one side of the bed and took her time lifting herself up. When she felt confident in her walking abilities she went toward one of the windows. She looked out onto the city bathed in golden light from the retreating sun. 

Wait am I in the palace?

“Oh my gods,” breathing out the words as her panicked body retreated back toward the bed. She knew that she was in the castle, but she had no recollection of how she got here. Her confusion gave way when all the memories of the incident unfolded in her head. 

She needed to get out of here. The thoughts in her head going a million miles a minute. 

They must think I’m either crazy or fucking terrifying, Vel thought to herself as she started to pace, or that I was trying to kill the queen. It was that thought that had her looking for the exits. The two windows were obvious, but the idea of using her powers made a shiver run down her back. 

To the right of the bed, there was a single wooden door. Finding her self in front of it within seconds, she tried the handle, which surprisingly turned. Opening it slightly, voices drifted toward her. Focusing on the voices was easy, but she didn’t recognize the person who was softly talking.  

“She is physically fine. Her hands…” Vel stiffened and knew at that moment the voice was discussing her. The light female voice continued, “Well you’ve seen her hands, and I can’t figure out what or who would have done such a thing. I truly have never seen anything like it and Yrene would need to be called in for further evaluation. I think it would be a similar situation to what was expressed to Lady Elide for her ankle.”

Vel had heard these names many times during her spying, but she was confused as to the situation that was being discussed.

A gruff voice, another that she had never heard, came into the conversation by saying, “We shouldn’t be discussing helping her with past injuries, we should be discussing what to do with her.”

The first voice started taking again, like no one had interrupted her. “The process to fix them would be long, but I want to discuss something else.” The voice changed into something slightly sadder instead of factual. “Have any of you seen her back?” 

Her knees almost gave out at the question. 

Vel’s heart was beating out of her chest and she finally looked down to see that she was in a gown of some sort, one that was only pulled together in the back by ties. Her back was completely exposed. Tears starting to fill her eyes, she still continued to listen to the painful conversation. 

“What do you mean? What is wrong with her back Marna?” The voice wrapped around her like silk, and she knew that it was the golden wolf talking. Her heart calmed and her eyesight was no longer blurred by tears. 

“Um, during the initial exam we noticed that she has scars—”

She was cut off by the obvious voice of the queen, “Whipping scars?”

“That’s what I assumed at first, but upon further inspection they are not from any sort of whip or torture devices. She has two perfectly parallel vertical scars, which look to be many years old and almost surgical in nature. They are completely healed, but both of them are raised, like two mountains. I think something was put under her skin, because they are both hard to the touch, like bone. I was trained at the Torre for over 50 years and I have never seen anything like the injuries presented in this female. I’m sorry to say that this patient is out of my depth.” The breath she let out was tired and she then asked, “Do you have any more questions for me your Majesty?”

Aelin must have shook her head, because Vel could hear faint steps moving until they were too far away to hear. 

Vel wasn’t surprised that the woman was confused and no one except her family had ever seen her back. She had long ago let go of any anger her deformities caused, but she still felt extremely exposed by the whole conversation.

“I don’t care what scars she has,” the gruff voice spat out. “She obviously can’t control her magic and can’t be trusted. I say we get rid of the problem before it gets worse.” 

A growl sliced through the air. “That is not up to you, Lorcan. And if you touch her I don’t care what promises I’ve made or that we are in the same court, I will rip out your fucking throat.” 

She believed in that moment that the golden male would never allow anyone to hurt her. She had no clue what to do with that information, but she smiled all the same. 

—

Silence. 

Fenrys’s chest was shifting up and down with impressive speed, mimicking his heart, and he had moved closer to the room with his sleeping mate inside. 

He would kill Lorcan if he shifted an inch in her direction. It took all his effort to not kill him as a smirk slid onto his face. 

But the violence ebbed away when Elide smacked the back of Lorcan’s head. The incredulous look he gave his fiancé was fucking hilarious and he knew everyone in the hallway was trying not to laugh. 

“Lorcan isn’t going to get rid of anything or anyone,” Elide’s small but strong voice eased Fenrys slightly. “But Fen we do need to discuss what to do,” she said, with a continuing glare to Lorcan, as if daring him to say something else. 

“She needs training.” Rowan had stayed quiet throughout the day. He was silent after Vel unfroze everyone, he was silent while they brought her to the palace, and he was silent during and after the healer’s exam. He continued, “What happened earlier I’ve only seen one other time in my life.” 

“Rowan what are you talking about? I thought it was just a self imposed burnout, like what I did in Mistwood,” Aelin replied. 

“No Fireheart, you literally let your magic overpower you and take control, but this female forced her power down, so far down that I couldn’t even detect it.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I knew a fae once that was so scared of her own power that she refused to let it out. She went crazy and in the end her magic killed her from the inside out. The fainting and shaking was one of the first symptoms that her body and mind were deteriorating. Honestly it’s so rare and terrifying to watch,” his eyes turned downcast as he continued. “It was slow moving, but she didn’t have the power that this female has, so I’m not sure what the timeline is here…” He looked at Fenrys and he could tell what he was trying to say. This female would die sooner rather than later. Fenrys’s heart dropped to his stomach. 

“Then we train her,” Fenrys said, like it was a given.

“Fen, what if she doesn’t want our help?” Aelin asked quietly. The question hadn’t crossed his mind. 

“I have a way with female’s Aelin. I mean I got you to give me the blood oath didn’t I?” The smirk didn’t hold its full luster, but Aelin still let out a sharp laugh. 

“You didn’t get me to do anything, only realize that you would be lost without my wisdom and guidance boyo.” 

“Whatever gets you to fall asleep at night sweetheart.”

Rowan, who was pointedly not smiling, said, “Trust me she isn’t thinking of anyone but me when she’s falling asleep at night or should I say losing sleep at night.” 

With that, Lorcan turned away grumbling that no one ever listened to him and Elide followed asking why she hadn’t been losing sleep at night lately. Her yelp bounced off the cobblestone walls as he threw her over his shoulder and patted her ass. Fenrys knew exactly what they were going to do and he gaped at them as they turned for the staircase which led to their bedchamber. 

Turning to his queen and king he saw them with serious expressions, but he spoke before their warnings could come. 

“I’m going to go check on Vel,” he said while walking away. 

Fenrys was forced out of Vel’s room by healers, so he hadn’t seen her in hours. His heart started to race as he reached the oak door and slowly opened it.

Vel was laying in the king sized bed, right where he left her. The sun was setting so the room was slowly darkening. Her skin was near glowing, like it was a product of the moon, and her hair was a living shadow. He found himself at her bedside without remembering moving his feet. 

Taking a seat on the bed beside her shoulder. Bringing a hand up to move a stray black hair out of her face and he allowed himself one second of contact with her cheek. Heat raced through his body and a second turned into a minute. 

Gods she is beaut—, his thought was interrupted by sudden movement.

His hand was suddenly turned in the wrong direction and legs shot out and forced him into the air, landing on the bed next to the female he thought was asleep. Within a moments time he was on his front, face smothered against the pillows with a knee pushing against his spine and hand trapped in a death hold. 

Hair suddenly was tickling his neck and a breath was hitting the back of his ear making him shudder… a shudder she most definitely felt. 

Vel’s voice sounded almost playful as she said, “Didn’t your mother teach you not to touch a girl without permission?”

Fenrys was happy that he was on his front, because his cock started to strain in his pants. He had never been turned on while being overpowered by a female. 

“Let me up and I can show you everything I’ve been taught,” his voice muffled by the pillow.

“I doubt you could teach me anything I don’t already know.”

“Oh you would be surprised sweetheart.”

With another flash of limbs and grunts, Fenrys was suddenly on top of his mate with her arms pinned above her head. The exam gown had bunched at her waist, leaving her upper thighs exposed and his legs were straddling her waist, with ample distance so his hardness wasn’t against her softness.

Her eyes widened when she caught view of his likely hungry gaze. 

“This is a much better position to teach you in.”

[oathofmiami]

☠ — Here in Miami, Jayden Grayson, is said to be Famke Janssen’s  doppelgänger, but they are a 52 year old Vice President in the Crimson Reapers. They mainly identify as a bisexual female, and others have described them as a Leader, Loyal, & Vengeful .

■ .HISTORY. ■

Born in Sicily, Italy to a beautiful Italian single mother Jayden’s life has been rocky since the start. Her father was a low-ranking soldier in the Sicilian Mafia and her mother was a beautiful socialite. Her father was killed when she was only two years old leaving her to be raised by her socialite mother, who left her in the care of many just to keep her social status up. By the time Jayden was just five years old, the little girl was pretty independent and took care of herself for the most part. If she ever needed something she knew to go to Imelda, who was an older lady that lived in the house in front of them. Isabella -Jayden’s mother- started slipping into a bad path, three years after Jayden’s father’s death she began dating again. She started dating again, leaving five-year-old Jayden to spend most of her time with Imelda. The older woman was happy to take care of her since she had never been able to have any kids of her own, Jayden became like her daughter. She started spending most of her nights at Imelda’s house by the time she was 7 because she hated how some of the men her mom brought home looked at her. Imelda always made sure she felt safe and cared for something Jayden never understood why her mother couldn’t do. Having Imelda by her side through her youngest years is probably the reason why Jayden knows what love is. Why she was a pretty good mom when it came to her daughters. Imelda and Jayden started talking about Imelda officially adopting her by the time she was turning 13. Imelda was fitting a custody case against Isabella since she had more than enough proof to show that Isabella was being a horrible mother and was sinking lower into a bad path with every decision she made. Just a few weeks before the adoption was finalized Jayden was taken. Isabella had fallen into a pretty big debt with the local Mafia and she offered Jayden’s hand in marriage to the oldest of the godfather’s boys who was 7 years older than Jayden. After seeing a picture of Jayden, Giovanni Falcone thought his oldest child Aaden couldn’t ask for a better-looking wife. Jayden was brought to New York City with a broken heart. She had been so close to finally getting a family when this happened.

Jayden was kept in a boarding school from her arrival till she reached the age of 16. It was when she first met her future husband. His kind eyes and words worked their magic, but after complete isolation, Jayden hadn’t needed much to completely fall head over heels with the older man. At first, Jayden was treated like a queen, given anything and everything she wanted. Slowly over time, Aaden became more and more controlling, it became more noticeable after she became pregnant with their first child. At just 18, Jayden was getting ready to be a mother, instead of being the beautiful experience she thought pregnancy should be she was met with the complete opposite. The little freedom she had was taken from her, she no longer went out unless Aaden was with her or one of Aaden’s most trusted men. The isolation was driving her crazy so Jayden took up as many online courses as she could to fill up her time. She decided to go for a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management since her husband owned a large chain of hotels and other entertainment resorts. She figured if Aaden wasn’t gonna let her out of his sight she might as well do something productive, and learn the family business. At least the legal side she knew about.

Jayden convinced Aaden enough to let her go to University saying that she would be okay with being followed by one of his men as long as she got to study outside of their penthouse apartment. Even though Aaden was controlling and possessive of her, he seemed to have a sweet side every once in a while. He gave in and let Jayden return to actual school with the agreement that Bentley, Aaden’s right hand was to be her shadow as she studied. Jayden saw that as a small price to pay for something that she knew could lead her to a future away from him and his controlling ways. Having her first daughter didn’t stop Jayden at all, Gabrielle was her first true love, looking at the eyes of her beautiful baby girl. She knew she had to do whatever it took to make herself into something her baby would be proud of. Aaden wasn’t happy with the ego boost school was giving Jayden so like always he decided to remind her actual place in his big plan. While out celebrating with her friends her acceptance to Yale and getting her Associate’s degree, Aaden decides to have both Jayden and Gabrielle kidnapped. He used their sweet little toddler to lure Jayden and show her no matter how mighty she thought she could be she would be nowhere without him. That was Jayden’s resentment started to build for the man she once thought was the love of her life. She pretended to go along with his game, she was docile and sweet in his presence but her claws started to grow. He threatened the only life Jayden ever cared about and that was something she would never forget.

Just a few months later Jayden receives another positive pregnancy test but this time. She hides it as long as she can and pushes him away, thankfully he never gets mad enough to hurt her but he is always mad enough to break and shatter anything around them. Jayden knows it has to do with his secretary, he doesn’t insist on sex as much as he used to and she’s extremely thankfully because her bump is more noticeable. Like saved by the bell something big in Italy happens and Aaden is gone for months, in those months Jayden delivers her set of twins, a boy, and a girl. She swears by her three children that she would leave Aaden by any means necessary. She continues school and juggles her three children. By the time Aaden’s back, the twins are 3 months old and he is furious. It’s the first time he holds a gun to her head and unfortunately, it won’t be the last, he demands to know if she cheated on him but their baby boy has what is branded as the Falcone birthmark on his chest. Its looks like the outline of a Falcon, Aaden himself has it on his forearm. He lowers his weapon when the nanny open’s the boys’ onesie at Jayden’s pleading request. She is still hormonal from giving birth and breastfeeding something that comes to an end quickly after that.

Giovanni was extremely impressed that his daughter-in-law graduated at the top of her class at Yale with Masters in Business Administration and Management. Even with her three babies, she didn’t let her grades drop because the rage inside her grows deeper and bigger every day. Her only goal is to become more powerful than Aaden. At the age of 25 she starts taking over one of the biggest hotels in her husband’s chain, it’s taking a huge hit financially and Giovanni promises to make it hers if she can save it. No one expects her to, the whole Falcone legacy expects her to completely fail. Except it doesn’t it takes her 5 years but the hotel is back to its original prime. After a few months of incredible growth that’s when she notices it. The money laundering going on underneath her nose, she had made the business profitable enough again so it went unnoticed. She thinks about turning them in but decides to do something even better. She asks her father in law to let her help, he doesn’t want to at first but Jayden quickly proves herself. Making even better deals for him than his son would.

This is what leads her to travel to Miami. At 35 years old, she meets with the Godfather of The Crimson Reapers. They are thrown off by the fact that Gabriel Falcone wasn’t the one to show up but her. Gabriel was Giovanni’s younger brother and the consigliere of the Falcone Crime Family. Though Jayden didn’t show up with plans of an alliance, she had previously met Piero Agosti at a dinner at Giovanni’s house. Where there she was the trophy daughter in law by all means, but Aaden had long lost interest in his wife. Unfortunately for Piero, he witnessed the final time Aaden placed a gun to Jayden’s head. She had felt the dinner party go check on their young children and somehow the only one that seemed offended by the motherly gesture was the father of the children. Not only had he placed the gun on her head but pulled the trigger, Jayden’s body went numb and her breathing stopped as she choked on air as Aaden laughed. The gun had been empty but the cold metal against her Temple seemed to burn. Piero picked her up from the floor as the younger female sobbed against his chest. Her children were just behind the large oak door in front of her and she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Once she gained complete control of herself, she looked at Piero and offered him the better deal. The Falcone’s were simply gonna betray and use them to gain their resources but Jayden offered herself as a spy with the only request was protection for her and her children from the Falcone’s. She didn’t care that she had the next heir of the Falcone’s. She knew her son wasn’t the only son Aaden had. She just wanted them away from him before he hurt one of them. Jayden proved to be of much help and handed the Falcone’s on a silver platter to the Reapers. She officially took the Oath with the Reapers after everything was settled in their favor for the Reapers.

Once actually joining the Reapers, Jayden started from the bottom. She didn’t care, she was finally free. Her kids were happy and she was okay. They were all okay, but the scary part was that when Jayden put her mind up to something she aced it. Over the years she climbed the ladder alongside her savior Piero. She had his back just like he had hers when it mattered the most. No job was too big or too small for Jayden, she was never afraid to get her hands dirty so she shot for the Vice Presidency. She did everything and anything asked of her so it came to no shock when it was finally awarded to her.

■ .CRIME HISTORY. ■

Jayden has committed crimes from murder (from her soldier times to hit-woman days -- Jayden’s aim is something to be scared of), to Money laundering (her Casino in Miami and Hotel in NYC), Sale of drugs, and loan shark. Jayden wasn’t the type of woman to be messed around with. 

■ .IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS. ■

☓ Piero Agosti — The man who saved her from the toxic marriage she had with Aaden. He became support for her and like a best friend. He is uncle P to her three children.

☓ Children — Jayden lives and breathes for her three kids. Not a need to know, the fact that even though she considers her first daughter her first true love, her baby girl is her favorite. Her son well that’s the light of her eyes. She is extremely close to all her three children. Who aren’t children anymore, Gabrielle is 34-37 while the twins are 30-33. There is a 3-year gap between her oldest and the twins.

☓ Noah Bellamy —  Her favorite hitman. The man she trusts to get rid of any and every serious problem they face because even though his attitude might annoy her at times, he is the best she has seen in a while.

Jayden Grayson is a TAKEN character, who is portrayed by Famke Janssen and is played by Susie.

[bladeslost]

HEADCANON: FAMILY─THE MOTHER

Corvina Devereaux was a skilled necromancer, and member of the Black Rose, like her mother. She was initiated as an adolescent - and for a long few years, the cabal was all she knew. 

As she got older, though, Corvina’s attention started to drift elsewhere. Her ambition grew along with her potential - and though she was in denial about it, she was beginning to wonder if her best interest truly aligned with the Black Rose.

Her passions became less about politics and more about knowledge, and travel - and personal growth. After all, she’d have all her life to focus on politics. Her interest was in fact, wavering. However, feeling duty-bound by her oath to the matron, she ignored those feelings, and continued to work as usual, from the shadows. Whatever the matron said.

The desire to live out her life tugged harder when she fell in love with Taj, who she’d later marry. She met her beloved while on an assignment to retrieve a talisman - and Taj, a guild-mercenary, had taken on a job to find that same talisman. Corvina won that skirmish.

Although both were private people, they confided in one another & married that same year - later having two children: a son and a daughter. Corvina still did not speak about the Black Rose - until after they had their second child. Out of concern for several red flags, Taj pressed Corvina, and she eventually cracked. She told him of her oath, of the Black Rose - and that she had no longer wanted to be involved even before she met him.

Wary, Taj urged her to separate from the cult, and they came to the ultimatum that Corvina would become gradually less active as a member. 

However, a skilled necromancer can hear the whispers of the dead - as could Corvina. And she heard the phantoms warning her of her own demise, as a result of her broken vow.

She became increasingly paranoid as the weeks passed - and it did not go unnoticed - not by Taj, or the members of the Black Rose, or her son ( who she was particularly close to ). She was familiar with the matron’s tricks─unmatched by any of their mages, and wondered if they were product of her illusions; as a punishment for saying too much to an outsider... Or if they were indeed foretelling her death.

It became evident to her that the dead were truly warning her, and Corvina made a decision: her husband would need to take their children away, and with them they would take an enchanted amulet to keep them concealed. After all, the premonition had clearly stated that she would die. Not her family. Not Taj; not yet.

She made her husband promise that he understood the importance of them leaving and not turning back. She kissed her children and husband goodbye, and headed out─to confront the Black Rose.

She was ambushed in her home by a number of her colleagues, and though she was given a chance to explain herself, she was met with enough mercy when the pointed end of a staff found its way through her chest. Her death was swift.

Unfortunately, Taj caved and turned back, sending his children away to hide at the guild - because he could not stomach leaving his beloved behind to face death alone, because maybe he could help her. Save her. His death was not so merciful. 

And the children never made it to his guild.

( In the afterlife, Corvina has not and cannot forgive him for it. )

[objectofdesire2020]

HISTORICAL CONTEXT - What was the Meiji period?

The Meiji period dated from 1868 and lasted until 1912, during which Japan underwent significant cultural, social and political changes. This period witnessed the end of the Shogunate rule, which had been the hereditary military dictatorship of Japan between the years 1192-1867. The Shogunate rule was replaced by the rule of the Emperor Meiji, Prince Mutsuhito, who came to the Chrysanthemum Throne as the 122nd emperor. The 220-year old Isolationism policy in the Edo period, also known as Sakoku, had come to an end. 

The ‘Meiji’ means the ‘enlightened one’ and the motto was ‘enrich the country and strengthen the military.’ 

The American commodore Matthew Perry had led a military and diplomatic expedition to Japan and had opened up the country to foreign trade. There were a number of contributing factors that drove the West on this expedition: 

The growing commerce between America and China.

The presence of American whalers in the waters off Japan.

The increasing monopolisation of potential coaling stations by the British and French in Asia.

Perhaps the most important factor however, was what the author Edward Said discussed in his book Orientalism (1978). These Asian nations were considered ‘backwards’ and in need of being saved, and therefore the West imposed political control on these nations to save them. In doing so, the West asserted their cultural and political domination over the East and established an image of superiority. 

Japan sought to reach the same technological and modern advancements of other nations to remove this ‘backward’ association and develop its reputation as a militarily, financially and culturally power nation on an international level. Japan adopted the slogan Bunmei Kaika, which translates as ‘civilisation and enlightenment’ and refers to its process of aggressive modernisation.

In 1868, the Meiji issued a charter oath that declared: ‘evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based on the just laws of nature.’

In essence, the reference to ‘evil customs of the past’ is simply to everything in the past.

Examples include the removal of the samurai’s top knot. 

There were radical social, economic and political shifts during this 44 year-long ‘Meiji restoration’ period. 

A highly centralised bureaucratic government.

The Emperor was expected to accept advice from the group that had overthrew the former shogun, which in turn allowed a small number of able and patriotic young men from the Samurai, who emerged to control and establish the new political system.

In 1869, these hundreds of semi-independent feudal lords had been asked to give up their domains, which were later abolished and transformed into prefectures of a unified state.

A constitution establishing an elected parliament. 

The rights and powers of the hereditary lords were limited.

New standardised tax laws were established. 

A well-developed transport and communication system. 

The start of the railroads in Japan began with the locomotives brought to Japan by both Matthew Perry and then by Russia in 1853. 

The intellectual movement Rangaku; known as ‘Dutch learnings’, was the source of Japan’s Western knowledge which also included technological information - notably Tanaka Hisashige (1799-1881) used this knowledge to create numerous inventions such as the Myriad year Clock in 1851.

The first commercial railway lined opened between Shimbashi and Yokohma in 1872, and in 1893 Japan had made their first steam locomotive. It was carrying 2 million passengers by 1880. 

Industries boomed:

A coal mine was founded in 1869 and operated at first with British assistance, in which it operated over 8 mines. 

The textile industry soared, and indicates the clearest pattern of cooperation between the private sector and the state. Government had responsibility over the wooden manufacturer.

In 1880, silk provided 43% of Japan’s export trade. 

A highly educated and enlightened population, that was no longer limited by feudal class restrictions.

Previously, school had only been available to children in higher classes, yet it became available to children across all classes, in a more Western-based education system. 

The intellectual movement Rangaku, had come from Dutch traders in Dejima. 

In 1871, the Japanese government established a Ministry of Education, with the aim of both improving the standard of living and dissolving class identities.

An increasingly growing industrial sector based on latest technology.

In 1870, Japan underwent an Industrial Revolution, which first appeared in textiles; including both silk and cotton, which had been traditionally made in home workshops in rural areas. 

By the 1890s, the textile industry began to dominate the home markets and successful began to compete with British products in both China and India. 

This was a means of catching up with the West, and to equalise in status and reputation diplomatically. 

Urban life and society transformed:

New architectural styles for public institution buildings and family homes emerged. They were built in brick rather than traditional wood.

Urban populations had the means and leisure to support a new mass culture, and their search became known as Ukiyo-e, which means ‘the floating world.’ This concept encompassed an ideal world of fashion, popular entertainment and the discovery of aesthetic qualities in everyday life, actions and objects - the equivalent to the ‘roaring 20s’.

A popular entertainment district was Yoshiwara. 

Classes became equal:

The Samurai lost their class privileges - they were allowed to wear two swords; one shorter than the other, and were allowed to behead a commoner than had offended them. 

The Daimyo no longer received money from the domains they owned but instead the government invested in them and provided them with pensions - allowed many to chance occupations to farmers, business owners and trades people.

Farmers had ownership of their land and had to pay a 3% land tax.  

Social discrimination had ended and people were at liberty to practise any religion. 

Women were given the same rights as men - right to equal pay, choose their own occupation and spouse, and could inherit and own property using their own name. Despite this notion of equality, women were not treated as equals to men - they did not obtain the right to vote until 1946. 

Interest in spreading diplomacy:

Japan’s Iwakura mission in 1871, witnessed the voyage of Japanese statesmen and scholars across both Europe and America, with the objective of spreading awareness of Japan’s newly reinstated Imperial dynasty and equally to explore Western modern industrial, political and education systems.

Hope to strengthen Japan and to remain a sovereign nation in the eyes of the Western colonising powers, and also importantly make itself a colonising power. 

[se-ono-waise-ilia]

Aedion Ramblings

I have thoughts about Aedion.  Full of angst.

We meet him in HoF, and he’s super mysterious and powerful and in control of the scheme he’s been pulling off for years as general of the Bane under the king but not actually.  I like this character!  Totally see how he’s related and how he and Aelin are going to get along super well! ...right??

Then in QoS he’s rescued and we are so happy for him! Now his life is about Aelin, just what he thought he wanted.  But as the story progresses, he finds himself becoming the supporting character in his own life.  Again, that’s what he wanted, but he’s definitely struggling with the lack of control since Aelin took charge.  And his struggle is most obvious when she surprises him with schemes.  He really doesn’t handle it well, and he never actually learns how to handle it... But we see the start of him having chemistry with Lysandra, and that’s pretty cute!  And he’s caring towards Evangeline, aaawww. Then we read EoS, and I personally get very excited to see General Ashryver lead the Bane!  Take charge Aedion with all his soldiers that he’s totally bros with!  But we don’t see that, and we never actually see the joy of him reuniting with his much anticipated Bane!  Ugh The lack of control continues to crumble this character as the Lords of Terrasen just rip Aelin apart, and essentially disregard him.  The rest of the book continues as he is just kind of there following everyone, his only moment of leadership and glory is when he made the killing shot of the water wyvern.  (Epic - but really his only shining moment in the whole book). Don’t get me started on his relationship with Gavriel.  I just finished KoS and I’m not emotionally ready to analyze that beautiful character. (who, unlike his son, was comfortable and graceful in following along in whatever plan needed to be done). Aedion really starts becoming unlikable when he criticizes Aelin in the marsh.  So harsh.  But the reality is that his plans for what to do wouldn’t have worked out anyway.  He really can’t handle this.

He has a super cool battle sequence on the ships, and his request of honestly with Lysandra is super commendable and sincere.  Such a romantic!  ...sucks tho that Lysandra isn’t honest and hurts Aedion by not telling him about the fact that’s she’s a key player in the worst case scenario scheme.

That’s so sad.  Aedion didn’t ask for physical affection or romantic commitments, he just asked for honesty.  As the foundation for a trusting relationship.  And that was the one thing Lysandra actually lied about being able to provide.

Don’t get me wrong, the names he called Lysandra upon the grand scheme reveal (and continued to call her) were awful, but it was absolutely the turning point for Aedion.  The 2 most important things in his life were protecting Aelin and serving Terresan, and he hasn’t been able to successfully do either.  He was willing to add Lysandra to one of the most important aspects of his life, someone he could love and understand, and she hurt Aedion in the one way he really can’t handle: being deceived, out of the loop, and out control.  

And then we just sadly watch Aedion spiral and suffer in KoS.  Again, I was hoping to see him reunite with his bros in the Bane (anyone also dying to meet his best friend/ ex who’s his second in command?!  Or was Aedion’s bisexuality shoe-horned into EoS just for LGBTQ inclusion?  Was his bff/ ex actually Kylian?  We never find out *mad face*). He continues to mistreat Lysandra as a bi-product of all the depressing things he feels about himself.  And he becomes very unlikable as a character.

I actually started rooting for Lysandra x Ren.  Lysandra did what she felt was right, Aedion couldn’t handle it, and I shipped them no more.  Lysandra deserves someone who understand her priorities, and embraces her for it.  Also, Ren was very sweet and treated her like a proper lady.  And he has some skeletons in the closet too, so he and Lysandra might have been a good fit!  And Aedion needs someone honest who will always include him in schemes.

I honestly don’t think Aedion earned Lysandra’s forgiveness, and I think the book should have ended with them not together.  It should have had a Nesta situation, where the character was so broken from the events of the story that romance was not the path to forgiveness and healing.  

To take my opinions a step further, I also don’t think Aedion should have taken the blood oath.  

He and Aelin don’t have the best relationship.  It started off as fun sibling banter in QoS, but in EoS it became emotionally unsupportive on both sides (he didn’t believe in her, she continued to deceive him without realizing the emotional consequences).

Aelin had time as a teenager and young adult to have a variety of travel, adventures and lovers to learn who she is and what matters to her as an individual.  Aedion never had that.  He went from child in training, to soldier, to double spy general/ lover for information, to supporting role in Aelin’s court, to demoted general, to very miserable man.

KoA should have ended with Aedion not accepting the blood oath, and there being some hint at independent adventure so he could discover himself.  With his best friend/ ex boyfriend and other Bane bros (inner court style).  

After that adventure, maybe Tower of Dawn style how Chaol had a significant emotional healing journey, THEN he is truly worthy and wanting of the blood oath, and THEN Lysandra and he get together.  And she eventually proposes, as implied in that adorable beach scene in EoS.  On her own schedule.

[utilitycaster]

what are the best multiclasses for wizard in your opinion? I feel like I see fewer multiclass wizards compared to other spellcasters

I think there’s probably a reason for that to be honest; I think the appeal in being a wizard is the singlemindedness - you have access to a massive spell list, you have tons of versatility with your spells, and like, why would delay your chance to take some of the most iconic high-level spells in the game by wandering off and fucking around with other classes? I mean speaking as a person who has done a round or two of grad school it’s not exactly the best time to become an expert in say, the greatsword, unless you get course credit or free pizza out of the experience.

Mechanically, also, a wizard build is going to have high intelligence and then often the second-highest score is going to be constitution. You could go either the con or dex route, as illustrated in that Handbooker Helper video in which Brian W. Foster rides a black chair like he’s the cool teacher, but like, mage armor lasts 8 hours and even if you managed to max out on dex that means your AC is a fun and flirty 18 when assisted by spells (23 for a single round with shield) and you probably have like 35 hit points at level 8. So constitution it is. Great. You’re very smart and you can hold your breath for 3 minutes and can capably house some whiskey if needed (shit, you really are a grad student), but turns out you need more than that to multiclass. Meanwhile the other casters already have a head start on the mental stats for monk or ranger (druid, cleric) or paladin (bard, sorcerer, warlock), or for a different caster class, and since they can wear armor and get a better hit die, or in the case of a sorcerer they can call their mom who is a fucking ancient dragon if shit goes down (and/or take a level in paladin) their physical stats might not be a total embarrassment.

That said here are a few ways to multiclass if you are so inclined that I think could work out in a fun and interesting way. I suspect that unless someone who has a wizard is multiclassing for highly specific story reasons in which case they have something in mind, or unless they tried a wizard and were like “actually fuck this” but don’t want to switch characters, they’re probably still not going to want to dip too far into another class since, you know, spells.

- Rogue. You get light armor, some weapons, an extra skill and expertise, and sneak attack (and thieves’ cant although not sure how helpful that will be) with a single level investment, and cunning action with two which will help you get out of melee if you somehow ended up there. You’re already inclined to probably be decent at investigation so throw that skill point and one expertise into stealth and congrats you’re a pretty okay rogue. When it comes to multiclassing into rogue for 3 or more levels, especially if you play someone who can do damage at a distance, assassin seems like the obvious choice since you can crit on your spells and sneak attack. Arcane trickster is very cool as a main character build but if you’re already a wizard there’s not much point. (tl;dr take 1-2 levels of rogue for improved AC, a little extra damage, a few extra skills, and the ability to disengage/dash/hide as a bonus action which saves you the need to use misty step all the time)

- Fighter. Most of the armor and all of the weapons are now available to you, as is a fighting style (defense is an obvious choice here) and second wind (1d10? for a wizard? holy shit). Another level will give you the greatest ability, action surge, aka “I cast fireball and then I cast fireball again, yes it is still my turn, yes fuck you”. Beyond that, honestly I’d go battle master unless you decided to really lean into the magic weapon thing of eldritch knight; much like arcane trickster the appeal diminishes when you already have the entire wizard spell list at your disposal. (tl;dr take 2 levels of fighter for significantly improved AC, a way to heal yourself, and a way to cast two spells on one turn, and weapons I guess if you even want them when you can cast two spells on one turn once per rest)

- the other battling classes can be ignored unless you rolled wicked good on your stats and can dip into paladin because divine smites are fucking broken (I get why they cap out at 5 or 6 d8 otherwise every high level charisma caster would take the Paladin Trial Period Levels and then dip before they had to take an oath and like, “be a good person”). Monk and ranger don’t give the same ROI as fighter or rogue, and you can’t cast when you’re raging so like, fuck that.

-the other casting classes can be good. Unless you take warlock your spell slots will continue to accrue normally so at least you can do spells that scale up, and unless you take sorcerer you get some armor proficiencies and a d8 instead of a d6 for hit dice. I’d recommend against sorcerer (sorcerer dipping into wizard isn’t a bad idea but wizard base with sorcerer, while a hilarious and frustrating story, doesn’t expand your spell list much, you get like 2 sorcery points total, just not worth it. Better to be a high level sorcerer who also has some wizard spells and arcane recovery). I’d also recommend against warlock unless, again, story reasons or the easily recharging low level spell slots are what you’re after. And finally you can’t cast in wildshape and again, you are a wizard and if you didn’t want to cast all the time...why did you choose the casting caster who casts as you class. So druid’s out if you’re just focusing on build and not story.

This leaves bard and cleric, two of my favorite classes, and they are both good choices. Both will give you at least light armor proficiency, and cleric will give you medium armor and shields as well. If you’re charismatic, one level in bard gives you something productive to do with your bonus actions other than misty step and access to the core healing spells; two levels gives you song of rest aka 1 free wizard hit die plus expertise. If you’re wise, one level in cleric also gives you a pretty great set of first level spells that has very little overlap with your existing spell list; two levels gives you the ability to tell zombies to get the fuck out. For clerics, you do need to have a deity in mind for the start (Silly multiclasser, trial periods are for paladins) but that does give you a bonus; at this point it depends on story but life domain is good if you’re taking cleric levels for the healing; light, grave, trickery, or tempest is good if you’re doing it for the combat (but also you can heal now), and knowledge or forge just makes sense for a wizard even if they’re not the showiest domains necessarily. Nature is a weird domain honestly and you can ignore it.

Unless again you have good story reasons I’d only dip 1-2 levels in another casting class so that you still progress reasonably well into high level spells, but you already had to pick a cleric subclass anyway. For bard lore is the obvious choice and again if you have story reasons you already stopped reading. I mean, a lot of other people did too, but you definitely did.

(tl;dr your best bet mechanically for casters are 1-2 levels in bard or cleric)

final note: I don’t have whatever book the official artificer build is in but that might be an option if you’re leaning in that direction; at the very least you get like 50 attuned items out of it. Mystic, while intelligence-based, is a bad class and it should feel bad.