#they really could still make a equal dragon weapon if they wanted to

[animalstamp]

Day 4: Undead (Equal Dragon Weapon)

Now this here isn't even a fully canon monster but it still pops up in discussion because its existence holds such horrible connotations. The only image of it shows the disrcated body of some kind of elder dragon. Ripped apart but not appearing as rotted as it should be.

No worries tho! It's not real....But it could be.

Even if the Equal Dragon Weapon is not canon there is a few different games that give support to its creation still being a possibility.

The weapon is an elder dragon. The main body is fairly similar to a Fatalis in shape. Fatalis and its weapon often talk about how its parts continue to torment the hunter who is bold enough to wear it. It’s implied that Fatalis is undying.

In Monster Hunter Stories (1st one) you fight against some monsters that are covered in armor not dissimilar to the one that the Equal Dragon Weapon is covered in. These EX-monsters are controlled against their will to fight by the scientist Dr. Manelger. (For some reason this information was hard to find.)

Multiple depictions of the MH world’s people being able to create titian-sized machinery and just as much evidence of using monster parts in their creation.

[metalhoops]

Steve was used to climbing out windows. Before his junior year, he’d made a habit of entering through and escaping from girls' houses unnoticed. He was stealthy. He’d learned how to scale trees and tread lightly across roof shingles with the deftness of a nocturnal animal. Yet, for the first time, he found himself escaping his own home. There was a first time for everything, right? 

Steve’s parents were home. The second Steve saw the familiar BMW pull into the Harrington’s driveway, he knew he wanted to be anywhere but home. His parents were only palatable when he had good news, but all he had to tell them was that after their last visit, The Mall had burnt down and he’d gotten a new job at a video store. He really was doing the family proud. He didn’t want to deal with it, not today. 

That’s how he found himself crawling out his bedroom window, shimmying across the guttering and trying not to sprain his ankles as he dropped onto the lawn. He headed out back, past his pool and into the woods. Usually, it was the last place you’d find Steve. He kept expecting to run into a Demogorgon or something equally as nasty. 

He walked for a while without direction, trudging through the underbrush until the rustling of leaves behind him set his teeth on edge. His body moved before his mind had time to keep up. He spun on his heels, hand scrabbling to the forest floor in search of a weapon. It supplied him with a fallen tree branch, almost too large to heft comfortably, but he did it, running on adrenaline. He came face to face with a familiar, wide-eyed boy. 

“Holy shit, Harrington. Take it down like ten notches,” the boy grumbled, showing his upturned hands as though trying to calm a startled animal. 

Hawkins was a small town, the kind of place where everybody knew everybody. Steve knew the boy with deep brown eyes and dark hair, halloed by fallen leaves, was none other than Eddie Munson, or as he was colloquially known, ‘The Freak’. They’d gone to high school together. He thought the guy was due to repeat his senior year, again. He didn’t know what he was doing alone in the woods. 

“What are you doing?” Steve asked.

You couldn’t blame him for being on high alert. Even if Eddie was someone he’d grown up with, that didn’t make him safe. Steve was still riled up after running down Billy Hargrove with his car. He was paranoid. He’d had a rough couple of years. 

“Collecting sticks,” Eddie breathed, indicating the large bundle in his hand. 

“Collecting sticks?” Steve echoed. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe him. He couldn’t fathom why the guy was doing it.

“Yeah, I’m making a miniature log cabin for my D&D campaign, and you know, miniature logs are just... sticks—you don’t care, anyway. Sorry for startling you, my liege.” Steve tilted his head, thinking the acronym was familiar. 

“Is that the dragon game, with the Demogorgon and junk?” Eddie looked at Steve like he’d sprouted a third head.

“How the hell do you, Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington, know what D&D is?” 

Steve wished people would stop calling him that. Every time he heard the stupid nickname it felt like someone was rubbing chunks of asphalt into his gravel rash. He wondered if Eddie felt the same about his title. 

The old Steve would’ve used it just to spite the guy, to see what buttons he could push, not because he wanted to but because it was expected of him. It wasn’t an excuse. He knew that. Instead, Steve shrugged his shoulders and told the truth, something the old Steve never would’ve done.

“I babysit some nerds who play it,” he confessed. 

Eddie looked at Steve in wonder. He was puzzled, amazed and, for once, a little intrigued. He’d never looked at Steve like that back in high school. The two rarely crossed paths and when they did, they never spoke. Sure, Eddie ranted about ‘jocks’ as a whole, but Steve had always just been one piece of a puzzle. It would seem redundant to yell at a patch of blue and grey for being a picture of the sky. 

“Why did you need to take up a babysitting gig?” 

To answer that, Steve had to embellish a little. Maybe he no longer liked lying about who he was, but he couldn’t exactly dump the cosmic mind fuck that was The Upside Down on some unsuspecting guy. 

“I needed money.” 

“You needed money? What, did you get cut off?” Steve shrugged in response. 

“Christ, what did you do? Piss in a family urn? Trash the house? Get a girl pregnant?” Eddie questioned.

“I think generally existing was enough to do it,” Steve mumbled, kicking at the dirt beneath his shoes. 

Eddie let out a low whistle. 

“Hey Harrington, think fast,” Eddie called, throwing the bundle of twigs in his direction. Steve dropped the branch and grabbed the bundle with wide eyes. 

“What was that for?” Steve choked. 

“What are you doing in this neck of the woods, anyway?” Eddie asked instead of responding. Steve shrugged, still cradling the bundle to his chest. 

“Avoiding my parents.” 

“You got any plans for the rest of the day?” Eddie spoke. Steve responded with a shake of his head. 

“Well, you know, this really is a two-person job, so if you wanted to come back to my place, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” 

For some reason, Steve agreed. 

Eddie had a habit of collecting strays. 

There was the cat he’d kept under the bed when he was six and the gathering of stray dogs that hung around the back of the trailer park that he’d been feeding for as long as he could remember. The same theory applied to people. He made friends with the loners, the weird kids, the ones with wide eyes and nowhere to go. He was a bleeding heart, so sue him. However, he’d never expected Steve Harrington to trigger his urge to protect and befriend. That really hit Eddie out of left field. 

Never in Eddie’s wildest dreams did he imagine he and Steve would be sitting across from each other at his small dining table, Steve’s knee pressed on the inside of Eddie’s thigh. The jock’s still hands held small bits of twigs in place as Eddie worked around him with his hot glue gun. The guy had seemed so lost, back in the woods, so unlike how Eddie remembered him. He knew about D&D for Christ’s sake. Eddie wondered if he’d woken up in an alternate universe because it seemed like Steve Harrington was actually a good dude. 

He asked Eddie about his goddamn log cabin, tavern. Then he’d pushed deeper. ‘Why do you need a bar in a game about dragons’? To which Eddie explained, of course, you do more than just fight dragons, which appeared to be news to Steve. Besides his friends, no one showed interest in Eddie’s ‘stupid little fantasy game’. With Steve, questions came thick and fast. Eddie loved every second of it. When he’d asked why Steve cared so much, the guy had shrugged his shoulders and muttered,

“I might be able to impress the kids.” 

Eddie decided to ask about ‘the kids’. He and Steve didn’t have much in common. Sure, the two could commiserate about high school together, but neither man was in the mood to do that. And god, Steve could talk about ‘the kids’. 

“I run a D&D club called Hellfire. If they’re starting high school this year, send ‘em my way. I’ll tuck your little ducklings under my wing. Keep the big scary jocks away from ‘em,” Eddie noted, feeling comfortable enough with Steve to take a jab at him. Steve surprised him again by snorting out a laugh.

“Make sure you do. That Jason kid’s a senior, right? Total psychopath. The kid would peg basketballs at pigeons.” 

By the time the sun set, the boys were in stitches and had a fairly decent log cabin to show for a day’s work. Eddie was surprised that the idea of Steve leaving set a pit in his stomach.

“Hey, Steve? We should do this again,” Eddie proposed, and Steve was too quick to agree. 

“I have work tomorrow morning, but how about the afternoon?” 

Eddie hadn’t expected the guy to be as keen as he felt. 

“It’s a date,” Eddie agreed, before promptly wanting to shove his head through a miniature log cabin. A date? Really, Munson? 

A flicker of amusement crossed Steve’s face as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his too-tight jeans. Mind out of the gutter, Munson. You were doing so well. 

“You’re weird, you know that?” Steve remarked, running his hand through his trademark hair, and yeah, Eddie should’ve expected that. 

Now Steve was going to call him a Freak, the ‘King Steve’, he’d heard about would make an appearance and Eddie would be glad he dodged a bullet by cutting his crush off at the knees before it had the chance to grow legs. 

“Weird is good,” Steve corrected, seeming aware of Eddie’s inner turmoil. 

“One thing I’ve learnt about myself since high school is that I like weird.”

Oh, no. Eddie was so gone for Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington. 

Read Part 2

[bionicle-ramblings]

Onto our boy himself:

Onewa!

@chancetimespace I hope I did him justice!😅

I mentioned in the intro post he was trying to get his honor back and make a name for himself.

Before the AU takes place, he was actually a renowned carver and was working his way into knighthood, as he was skilled with handling weapons and was pretty well known for building statues and a few buildings. People had a lot of respect for him, knew he was someone that was reliable, even though he often had a chip on his shoulder. By all accounts, he was honored as a skilled architect and an artist. He was also able to support his family(namely his parents and younger siblings) pretty easily, and had really made something of himself.

So what happened?

A night where the village was attacked and he not only worked alongside a fugitive to save everyone, but then also didn't think to capture or alert the guards that the fugitive was even there in the first place. And when he tried explaining what had really happened, most people didn't believe him, as a rival carver who saw everything twisted the events and spread it like wild fire. It cost him just about everything, as his titles of artist, carver, builder, etc, were all stripped from him and his family was left in shambles. Hard times fell on them and most family members blamed him for it, doing so to his face and behind his back.

The only one who really believed him and was still in his corner was his friend Matau, who had heard what happened from his travels(we'll get there when we get there), and offered what he could to support his friend, even offering to helping supporting his family and offered Onewa an easy way out; "Long-travel with me! You never know! People in the North love a good share-story, especially when the hero's someone like them!"

As much as he appreciated it, he turned both down and instead did whatever work he could, much of it being physically taxing for hum and not paying well because people knew who he was and didn't really trust him.

He started getting ideas when someone from a group of ten returned from a journey, being in pure hysterics and going on about a princess locked in a castle and being guarded by a dragon, one that was cunning and ruthless and killed the rest of his group. The dragon also guards a vault, but no one's been able to get close enough to it.

While everyone fretted about an unstoppable creature and a poor girl doomed to die in its clutches, Onewa really got to thinking about what he'd heard and tracked down the princess's family, who revealed their daughter was indeed trapped, having been trapped under a curse and now with a dragon, and they don't have the means to rescue her; everyone they send winds up never returning.

It's here that Onewa offers himself and himself alone to take on the task: he will rescue the princess and bring her home and defeat the dragon, but in return, he wants the treasure in the vault and he wants to be able to be a carver again. They are skeptical on letting him go through with it, but Onewa never mentions that in saving someone who really might need help, he'll get his honor back and show that he's good for something. And if he fails, at least Matau will mourn him.

After some negotiations and talking, the family agrees and Onewa prepares for his trek and his mission. His own family is even more livid, but this time it's the kind of anger where you don't know how to express that you're scared for your son/brother, so it comes off more as, "You're a fool and an idiot and this will literally be the end of you," rather than, "We don't want you to do this because what if we never see you again?"

The only one to really voice the latter is his sister, who makes him promise he'll come home.

With that, he leaves, and everyone has now heard what he's planning to do and equally bid their farewells and wish him luck, as he really is going to need it.

He's not alone, though: Matau has tagged along and won't be leaving because if Onewa wins against this dragon, he wants to see it, and the GLORY it will bring them both is terrific to even think about: "They'll cheer-hail us! Write songs! Drink-toast our names! WE CAN HAVE OUR OWN STATUES!"

[markantonys]

Shielding and caging the Dragon being Tower law changes a lot but it does set up early how the Tower doesn't view Rand as an actual person but as a weapon.

yeah it's an interesting change! it's also interesting to think about because of course we viewers who know and love rand are indignant about people wanting to treat him like that, but when you really think about it........................doesn't this actually sound like the best possible Official Policy the tower could come up with? i mean, the last dragon caused the apocalypse and nearly gave the whole world over to the shadow, and female channelers were basically the only line of defense and the only reason the world didn't completely fall. of COURSE the surviving aes sedai would make a policy of "when the dragon is reborn, we'll keep him in custody to make sure he can't go rogue and break the world again, and that way we can ensure he fights for the light at the last battle." of COURSE they want to set things up so that they'll be in control of the situation from the getgo next time and won't have to scramble to keep the world from falling apart like they did last time. they have no idea of what kind of a person the next dragon will be, they can't predict what he might do when the last battle arrives (especially with the taint on saidin still in play), so of COURSE their Official Policy would be to take control of the situation themselves rather than cross their fingers and hope for the best. (and this applies to siuan specifically too: she DID try the "hope for the best" approach for 6 months only to discover that it completely did not work, so at that point she thinks their best option is to start playing by the book and following the Official Policy.)

and it all comes down to the Series Theme about people needing to take a leap of faith and trust each other to work together, rather than a bunch of individuals all fighting each other for total control of a given situation (and rand himself needs to learn this lesson, and does when he trusts elayne and egwene and the generals to take care of the larger-scale battle while he focuses on his confrontation with the dark one).

it's also a good parallel/foiling situation, because yeah, most aes sedai view rand as a tool rather than a person, and yeah, the tower policy is to cage him, but then we also have the seanchan viewing female channelers as tools rather than people and collaring and enslaving them in order to use them. and that foiling was particularly apparent in this episode with rand & egwene both in captivity, and some people took it as "look, the show is showing us that aes sedai are just as bad as the seanchan!" (🙄) but i took it as "look, the show is showing us that things aren't all sunshine and roses for female channelers either and they too are oppressed!" another Series Theme: male and female channelers have more commonalities than differences and should band together to support each other! which i hope the show will do more with than the books did, since the books basically executed this concept by saying "the world is better when women work under male leadership" rather than "the world is better when women and men work together as equals"

[jinxofarc]

omg ofc??? grabby hands!!! if you wanna share im all ears!!!!

WOOOO I AM JUMPING I AM VIBRATING.

Alright. So I first got inspired by this panel from Reze’s arc:

I really liked the concept of Makima actually having a “friend” and not actually lying about this. But who could the control devil possibly have as an equal?

Her relationships are almost always doomed to be one sided or have an unhealthy dynamic due to her nature. Her very essence is conquest and her namesake is control, her power comes from fear of those concepts and thus she can never truly open up and be vulnerable without risking her power.

This is one of her main motivations for optioning pochida, a person who only knows chaos is the closest she will ever get to an equal.

And thus I created the Chaos Fiend to be the yin to her yang and her homoerotic frenemy.

(Disclaimer!!! This was drawn for me by a good friend who’s currently taking time away from the internet and requested not to have his name attached)

So this is Eris!!! Her name comes from the god of chaos tho I may eventually think of something for original. I used old dragons for inspiration on her design, having her horns large, hard to ignore and her teeth sharp. She has a much harder time living among humans given her chaos nature, it’s hard to hide her devil qualities. Therefore making her life live life in the country.

She was raised by the government with Makima as an experiment. While Makima was being brought up to be a mastermind behind the scenes and to make contracts with powerful, important people, Eris was raised to be sort of a bio weapon. Their original plan was to make the perfect weapon for Japan, using both the control devil and chaos devil as one.

Of course that didn’t work cause there’s no way to control the chaos devil. It’s the essence of her being. So she runs away to rebel in the most “spit in the governments face” way, and that’s living in the country and being a farmer. She wanted Makima to run away with her (COUGH denreze parallel) but she’s unable to give up her control in the government. She still visits her, unbeknownst to anyone, because they will always be tied together by their opposing natures (or something more).

[thateldribitch]

Wukong: Evil, Evil Family Man

So like any normal person, I've been reading Journey To the West after I watched a Lego show--hyperfixations go brr, etc. But I just want to say I am fascinated by young Sun Wukong.

This man is arguably evil. Or at the very least, he's a metaphor for impulse and the ID. He largely does whatever he wants, and to an extreme degree of passion. He doesn't really have self-control.

First thing he does when he lands in a place that has humans? Beat up a guy and take his clothes. First thing he does when he gets all his powers? Murders a demon that dares to take his monkey subjects. And his solution? Terrify a kingdom and robs it of all its weapons.

But there is a genuine, passionate love and kindness to him as well. While not much else matters to him, it is so easy to see that he loves his people so much. At every opportunity, he tries to better their lives.

He gets genuinely excited when he finds the stone palace beyond the waterfall. He immediately shares it with the monkeys, and actually rules them as a kind king. He's never cruel to those closest to him.

After the Monstrous Demon King attacks, he trains them to defend themselves, after the first big demon attack on Flower Fruit Mountain. He makes sure they can be armed properly, too (again, by robbing a kingdom.)

At every opportunity, Sun Wukong tries to extend the lifespans of his monkeys as well as his own. First case? When he strikes all of their names from the records of the Dead. I also haven't gotten to this point, but I also know he steals a bunch of immortal peaches for the same reason.

(For context, I only recently reached the point where SWK gets outraged at his low rank in heaven and wants to be known as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.)

Regardless, I think all of the above were done to make SWK a more sympathetic character. Because these are not the actions of a creature that is solely a monster. He loves his people fiercely. He will do anything to protect them and care for them, be that violence or crime. This man saw a bunch of monkies and his first thought was that he loved them.

So by all accounts, at this point before the Journey? Sun Wukong is a villain. He has one redeeming feature, and that is he loves his people so much.

Because even though we might want to call all the generals and rulers of Heaven assholes, we see Sun Wukong, in Lego Monkie Kid, after the Journey. After he's learned from all his mistakes, and after he's had his heart broken and his temper tamed. Before the Journey? He is a monster.

He's powerful enough to subdue dragons and demons, to the point where they fear his mere presence. He can fight gods, intimidate kings of the dead, and he is greedy. No matter how much power he gets, he's not satisfied (he will never be satisfied🎶.) He gets layers of immortality because he just wants it. He gets power because he wants it, terrorizes dragons for armor and weapons because he wants it, and he wants, wants, wants like a black hole.

Heaven was not wrong for thinking of him as a threat. Because he didn't care for anyone but his monkies. They tried a non-violent approach. They tried to give him a small role, just to test him out. Even if it was just a stable boy, essentially, it was still an honor. Were they awful to do it just because he looked like a monkey? Yeah, pretty messed up when you think about it.

Communication could have been better all around. But still. He denies his appointment out of sheer arrogance.

This Sun Wukong is dangerous. He guards what he has with ferocity, and only wants more.

The Lego Monkie Kid Wukong is a depressed little skrunkle who can't communicate to save his life--but is a whole lot more controlled and level-headed.

[digitalmidnight]

Ridiculous Kirby Headcanons

Unashamedly silly headcanons featuring the dream team with little to no basis that I can not fit into a fanfic at the time. In no particular order at all with cherry picking from various Kirby media.

Potential Bandana Dee backstories for why he is so high ranking

Adoption into position after Crystal Shards

Literally just walked up and said he's the new kings advisor one day and King Dedede said "K"

Found as child and Dad instinct says protect him, but King Dedede doesn't want to admit to having soft spot at the time so Bandee gets funky title and such.

Made King Dedede a cake and it was so tasty he made Bandana Dee the highest position he could

Just happened to be the closest Waddle Dee and kept getting more responsibilities. Ended up being good at it, it became an official job.

Things that would be funny if Meta Knight didn't know how/what to do, but Galaxia did

How to cook, however all of Galaxia's recipes and advice are ancient so it just looks like Meta is bad at this

A whole language that Meta Knight is pretending to know but it's just Galaxia translating for him the whole time

Dancing

Any weapon besides the sword, assuming Galaxia can still help him if he isn't holding her

Random and obscure facts that make Meta Knight seem well-read

Misc.

Meta Knight's favorite flavor is chocolate. He thinks it's a secret. Everyone in dreamland knows this is a fact.

Meta Knight and King Dedede, despite being highly intelligent in their respective fields, have the world's stupidest internet search history.

King Dedede has every clothing item in every color in animal crossing. He exclusively wears custom designs and the two very expensive crowns. His wand outfits are cosplays.

Meta Knight and Dark Meta Knight have equal drawing ability

Bandana Dee has eaten something, such as a leaf, to see if he could have a copy ability like Kirby.

Kirby has a random fear that pops up sometimes that if he eats a certain food he will gain a copy ability from it and become that food.

Meta Knight owns a pair of stilts. He did not buy these

Kirby has broken into his friends' bedrooms to have impromptu sleepovers

Meta Knight accidentally confuses the names of the members of his crew in much the same way a parent might say their dog's name instead of their child's. Nobody corrects him.

King Dedede is excellent at reading people because he discovered it gives him an advantage at chess and some other games he is determined to win

Waddle Dees learned their "charge at you and attempt to tackle" attack from King Dedede

Bandana Dee prints out fanfiction and binds them. He does not admit to reading fanfiction

Despite being a horrible cook, Kirby has learned to deep fry foods scarily well

King Dedede and Kirby recommend each other cooking shows. Meta Knight watches them too but will never say anything about it

Bandana Dee collects souvenirs from his adventures such as really cool rocks

Kirby has a better range of taste buds than an average human. This does not mean he has better tastes in food than an average human

King Dedede has attempted to get a pet dragon for his castle as all castles deserve a dragon. Kirby was 100% on board with this idea.

Meta Knight plays Cookie Clicker casually

Bandana Dee can not hover because he can not hold his breath. He can swim because he does not necessarily need air

Daroach sometimes sleeps on the Halberd without telling anyone, wakes up on a different planet, leaves to steal stuff, and accidentally gets abandoned on the planet leading him to have to call either his squad or Meta Knight to go pick him up.

Susie has modded video games involving robots as bad guys to make it so the robots win

Sailor Waddle Dee was the Waddle dee who stole Kirby's cake in squeak squad and has told nobody about this

Magolor makes prank DIY videos that encourage stuff like microwaving metal. Taranza falls for these posts.

Marx only texts in L33t speak

Kirby's past friends do visit him or call him at least once a month and on his birthday

Kirby owns Kirby merch. So does Bandana Dee.

Meta Knight has never gotten rid of a gift from a friend. He has many shoeboxes filled with crayon drawings from Kirby

King Dedede can draw realistically however gets too bored to finish the picture unless it's something he is really passionate about

Bandana Dee and Meta Knight are fishing buddies. Kirby and King Dedede are too technically but they keep falling asleep

Meta Knight rage quits Co-op games with the rest of the dream team.

Kirby has all of his friend's favorite foods memorized

The only person to ever beat King Dedede at chess is Kirby. Kirby has only played chess once and needed his friends to tell him how the pieces moved every time

Meta Knight can't drive and that's why he hired Captain Vul

King Dedede shows affection through gifts, mostly food related. Bandana Dee shows affection through acts of service. Kirby shows his affection in many ways, but especially physical affection. Meta Knight shows affection by rigorously training those he cares about so they can defend themselves

Marx has attacked someone else for being a food thief. He has standards and stealing food is a line one shouldn't cross. Marx has stolen food before and will do it again.

At least one of the Meta Knights' names aren't their real name, however they never corrected anyone and so it just kinda stuck

Bandana Dee has good attention to detail which allows him to find an absurd amount of 4 leaf clovers

[falcor-thee-luck-dragon]

Bad Dreams - Bucky Barnes x Avenger (f)reader

Summary: You and Bucky are adjusting to civilian life after the Blip, some nights he needs you more then he realizes.

Warning: bit o angst, soft Bucky, fluff

Masterlist

It had been a long fucking five years alone, sure you had Nat and Steve around at the Avengers Facility. But no matter how much time you spent with them doing whatever to keep your mind busy, at the end of the day, you were undoubtedly alone. You liked it that way at one point in your complicated life as an Avenger, but after the blip, you absolutely despised it. 

No one had expected what would have happened to be so terrible and tragic, or it to even go the way that it did. You had never even heard of Thanos or what the fuck kind of weirdass monsters could exist from other parts of the galaxy until they showed up knocking. How rude huh.

Life was peaceful before hand, well for the most part; you were an Avenger, someone who was part of the team. A conjurer of flame and ash, a Phoenix held within that was not afraid to use your power, and you used it well.

Then as per usual, shit went down and low and behold you met the one and only James Buchanan Barnes, Steve’s old friend with the metal arm and troubling history. Not to mention a face to die for, or at least one that would cause a bit of a chaotic scuffle between your two friends. They clearly had other priorities apart from yours at the time which was keep Steve out of jail, don’t burn anyone, and refrain from flirting with his 90 something year old friend. You tried your best in most of those areas. Most of them. 

Nonetheless, you fell hard and fast for the blue eyed man, and him the same for you, his feisty little firecracker with a heart as big and bright as a dragons. So when he went to Wakanda to lie low and get some much needed help. You followed.

With a heartfelt goodbye and a lasting kiss, he went under for a couple long weeks until Shuri and her expert team of scientists were able to fix what those bastards at Hydra had done to him.

For a short yet blessedly peaceful amount of time did you and your dark haired lover live safely within the Wakandan borders. In a small and beautiful little village by a lake, a hut all your own to shelter you from the heat and rain that poured hard onto the earth, and most wonderfully of all you had Bucky.

Life was simple for the first time in a long time, you spent the days helping out the locals and teaching the children how to properly swing a stick in defense, you know completely normal leisure activities. Spending the evenings making a big fire to tell stories under and cook the best food in Wakanda.

And the nights? You spent those wrapped up in Bucky’s arm, although most times you would be the big spoon which he loved more then anything in the whole world. Telling you it’s not just because you’re naturally warm, but that he’s been admittedly a bit touch starved from the years alone and lost. And for that you would always hold him closer.

Then that fateful day came crashing into your lives like a waterfall against rock, your friends had shown up claiming some being called Thanos was coming to take a stone out of Vision’s head. Yeah that was a new one.

The battle wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either, you were able to save many lives by scorching the beasts that pursed onward. Letting whips of flame slash hard against the enemy with great skill and force from your bending. Then the world seemed to still, and the wind swayed the trees oddly.

Then HE came, the Titan from another world, he threw down all in his path without an ounce of mercy or remorse. You and Wanda were so close, so damn close to stopping him, but then he threw you back with the whole force of the gauntlet and a moment later Vision was dead.

Your head was bleeding and a fresh scar had marked your jaw in a bloody red slash from the impact. Though your mind didn’t have time to register nor care as Thanos abruptly disappeared into oblivion, leaving a confused Thor in his wake. Much like the rest of the Avengers.

Then to your horror, one by one, your friends began to turn to ash and dust. Gone. You raced for Bucky nearby, praying to who’d ever listen to spare him or you for that matter. You just needed ten more seconds and then you could have held him one last time, touched his precious skin, ran your fingers through his long dark locks.

Looked into his ocean blue eyes, but no, the universe laughed as you gasped in panic, then it snickered as you screamed. Cheering you on as you sobbed in a cyclone of your own fire until the ground was scorched to shriveled dry earth. And no more tears could fall, your throat raw and heart broken in two.

Your world was gone, a memory forever kept locked inside your heart and soul. He was gone, he was your world, Bucky made your life better and you his.

For the coming months you were a mess, an angry and frustrated wreck of a person. Functioning by sheer will power and Natasha to keep you afloat in your new dreary little world of nothingness. You envied Steve for his ability to keep most of his shit together, and where almost enraged by Tony who had everything still intact. Pepper and a child on the way, how cruel the universe appeared.

You would wake up in the middle of the night sweating, your heart racing a mile a minute and usually part of the wall behind you would be burnt and blackened. You never set fire to anything thank god, but fuck, your heart hurt so much.

You wanted to scream most days, but as one year rolled into two and then three, the dull dreary ache in your body subdued to a tiny flicker of sadness. It became almost nonexistent during the day as you went about Avenger business, only to burn hot and angry at night.

You wanted to move on and forget, but you couldn’t, he was too important. They all didn’t deserve to go like that, none of them. And so another year passed, then it was year five since the blip, more months passed on. Until out of nowhere something or perhaps someone miraculous lit the way into a new sense of hope.

Resulting in the return of everyone who had been lost before, including your Bucky. And from that moment after the battle, when at long last you had finally found him, you knew life would never be the same.

——

Rain pours relentlessly from outside your apartment window, a rhythmic pitter patter near your bedside that aids in keeping you asleep and unbothered for the time being. No sooner do you reach the climax of your dream that consists of you being chased by a giant monarch butterfly with no weapon but a sandbox plastic shovel, do you wake. Strange dream.

All your senses flooding back into you as you feel for your lover in the darkness, your eyes still closed as you do so. Your hand slides across the crinkled bedsheets to no avail, the spot next to you is undeniably empty and rather cold.

oh, Bucky.

Cracking one eye open you glance at the alarm clock where it reads 1:10am in big red letters, illuminating the nightstand that it sits on. You take in a deep breath and roll onto your back to stare up at the ceiling, this has become a reoccurring event with Bucky in the following months since his return.

In Wakanda things were different, it was like a nice prolonged vacation away from all your problems and responsibilities of the world. Now, you two have an apartment somewhere in New York City all your own. Bucky goes to therapy and does his best to integrate back into his new role as a civilian while you work as an Avenger part time. The other half used for being a supporting loving girlfriend to Bucky and a hacker on the side for extra cash in the bank.

You get it though, he’s adjusting the best he’s able to manage right now, and even when he swears the nightmares are gone for good. You know him too well to believe that shit, you can see it in his eyes, he may have been a master assassin at one point. Now he’s with a skilled and almost equally as weathered Avenger who’s seen her share of people really going through it.

It’s not like you were doing any better, you’d wake up screaming in the dead of night from another nightmare involving losing Bucky again. That only lasted for a month or so, but still, it sucked and hurt every damn time. So you get it, nightmares can be a bitch.

Blinking the bleariness out of your eyes, you yawn into the darkness and take a moment to listen to the sound of the rain. It’s peaceful and calm, and though you’d like nothing more then to roll over and fall back into the dark comfortable void of sleep. You long to see Bucky again, even if you saw him not even two hours ago.

Pulling the blanket off of your body, you slowly sit up and face the blurry window that overlooks the glowing city, well more so the park close by. Pushing some hair out of your face, you stand and take a brief moment to stretch before letting your right hand emit a beautiful blue flame.

It proptly lights up the dark room into a shadowed yet still visible one, with a lazy proud smile, you move for the opened bedroom door. Your flame lights the way down the hall until you wander past the tiny kitchen and stop in your living room to the sound of heavy breathing coming from the far end.

You give a lopsided smirk to no one in particular as you pad over to the man who’s sweaty and shirtless on the wooden apartment floor in nothing but his boxers and a single blanket that’s not covering much. Well he sure looks like a hot mess, your hot mess that is.

He gives you an apologetic glance before staring tiredly back at the nearby wall. You extinguish your flame and gently nudge his leg with your sock, “How’s the floor?” You ask with a tinge of humor to lighten the mood.

He lets out a breathy laugh before looking back up at you, “Solid.” Quips Bucky in reference to the hard floor and perhaps his take on the makeshift bed, always one for a bit of humor huh.

Chuckling you crouch down to better meet his shadowed gaze, “I guess so,” You mutter with a shrug, “....afraid I might burn you in my sleep?”

Shaking his head, he gifts you the flash of a smile, “No. Not this time Y/N.”

You smile back before sitting down next to him, you look down at his hand before reaching out to take it without any resistance, “I know it’s the nightmares Bucky.” You whisper softly, your eyes sincere and true, “You don’t have to hold it all in okay, I don’t.....I don’t want you to do that.”

Letting out a reluctant sigh, Bucky frowns, “I know Y/N....I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, I just love you too much to see you hurting. I’ve missed you for what feels like a hundred goddamn years and I don’t want you to slip away from me..” You add with a sad smile, “Never again.”

Squeezing your hand gently, Bucky nods, “You’re not going to lose me okay. I promise you that much alright. I love you Y/N.” And he means every word.

“That’s good then. Can you at least tell me something to ease your mind from what’s bothering you?” You ask with a hopeful smile, “Please. Remember what the therapist talked about with speaking your thoughts and feelings....it’s like emptying a treasure chest or some shit.”

“Right.” Laughs Bucky, “Can’t say you’re going to find any gold in here.”

“Shut up I don’t care.” You muse with a shrug, “I’m here to listen.”

“As the lady wishes.” Retorts Bucky with a half-assed bow that caused you to break out into a small smile at his cheekiness.

“Wait.” You pause.

“What?”

“Can we sit on the couch for this I wanna lay next to you.”

Rolling his eyes, Bucky fakes his annoyance as you patiently await his answer, “Fine.” He confirms, quickly standing up and taking you with him, “But you gotta lay on me I’m kinda cold now.”

Bucky falls onto the large comfortable couch with a dramatic huff as he pulls you onto his shirtless body, “Weren’t you just all sweaty?” You wonder with a raised brow as he quickly wraps his arms around your waist.

“Yep.”

“Gross.”

Bucky chuckles, “Well you’re making me talk about my feelings.”

“That’s because you won’t talk about them with your actual therapist.” You sass back.

“I hate it when you’re right.” Mutters Bucky into your cheek as you snicker at his adorably dramatic self.

“I think your brain short circuited and misplaced the word hate for absolutely love and adore.”

“Maybe.” Adds Bucky as he steals a sweet kiss, “I’m still working through things you know.”

“Okay smartass. Now tell me what’s on your mind.”

His chest rises as he takes a deep heavy sigh, he stares out the nearby window that keeps the rainy city from being bothersome. You can’t completely see his face due to the darkened room, but you’re close enough to see the way his face turns into a frown.

Suddenly you think maybe you shouldn’t have bugged him to speak about his nightmares. Until he purses his lips together and glances those big beautiful blue eyes down at you, the flash of a smile revealing itself in a split second.

To give him a bit more confidence and perhaps to calm his nerves, do you reach a hand up to gently caress his stubbled cheek, “Was it the Starks again?” You whisper softly in question, knowing how much it still haunts him. Among all the others.

Closing his eyes, he leans into your touch, “Not this time.” Mutters Bucky before taking that hand in his as he rests his head against the couches puffy arm. “Someone else.....Someone who got in the way. Wrong place wrong time.”

“oh.” Slips from your mouth quietly, you’re not sure what else to say, but you’re still hoping he’ll speak a little more about it. “Do they have anything to do with your list?”

It’s a shot in the dark, but you’re well aware of Bucky’s goal to make amends with his past and the people tied with it, maybe someone might be linked to it by chance.

Bucky takes another weighted breath, you can just sense how terrible he feels about this person. “Bucky take your time, it’s okay I’m right here.”

Looking for a positive sign you watch as he closes his eyes once again before moving his head a little bit so that it rests against yours, “I know....it’s just, difficult.”

“Always is.”

“Yeah.”

Kissing your forehead, his flesh arm wraps around your waist as he makes himself more comfortable before continuing, “I was in some government building at night.....tasked with eliminating some special high end target. I finished the mission in under a minute, but uh....there was a civilian who saw everything.”

“Oh shit.”

“Yeah.” Mumbles Bucky against your skin as he takes a moment to gather himself, soon he shifts underneath you once more before letting out a soft breath, “I shot him.”

A bang of sadness washes over you in that brief second and then a sparking anger for what Hydra had forced him to do. You keep silent and wait for Bucky to continue on with his story.

“That guy I killed. He um....he uh, he didn’t deserve that....but I had to.” Bucky’s voice is shaky as he puts his words together, “And you know what’s the worst about this?”

“I’d like not to imagine it but I know you should tell me.”

“You remember Yori?”

“Of course, he takes us to that great sushi place sometimes.”

Bucky squeezes his eyes shut as he hugs you tighter against his bare chest for some kind of comfort, his voice nothing but a regretful whisper, “I killed his son.”

Your eyes soften as he reveals who this mystery civilian was, “Damn.”

“Out of all the people in this world and I meet the man who’s son I murdered for Hydra.”

“That’s almost a sick joke.”

“I know. God I’m so fucked up.”

“No.” You protest softly while he hides his face in your neck, “I know you’ve heard this a thousand times but that wasn’t you. It wasn’t the real James Buchanan Barnes alright, you didn’t have a choice. Those fuckers took that away from you.”

“I know Y/N, but I still did it.”

“Bucky look at me.” You ask kindly, to your genuine surprise he lifts his head from your neck to look into your determined gaze, “You’re not the only one here who was manipulated and had their freedom taken from them by Hydra. I’ve done terrible things too, but you know what? We were never truly ourselves then, they molded us into their weapons and now.....they can never touch us again. You understand me?”

Tears whell up in Bucky’s shimmering eyes at your truthfully honest words, he had temporarily forgotten that you were once an unwilling participant in Hydra’s mind stone experimentations many years ago.

“I understand....” Mutters Bucky as he swallows hard, “what would I be without you?”

Giving him a small tearful smile, you gently wipe away a stray tear from his cheek, “A little bit more alone I’d say.”

“You’re a hundred times braver then me you know that? I couldn’t image five years without you and these fucking nightmares.” Admits Bucky as he moves to rest his head in the crook of your neck, “I’d go insane.”

Appreciating this close proximity and his heartfelt confession, you smile into the darkness, “I think I did. Thing is about shitty situations like that....life moves on and finds a way. I have you now, I thought I would lose you forever.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

“Me too.”

[some-ghoul]

GAMEPLAY: Engage > Fates > Awakening > 3H.

Engage emblem rings are really neat and the weapon triangle meaning something again is rad plus it removes pair ups. Which is really fun as far as a gameplay mechanic for strategizing. Having little skills and focusing hard on weapon triangles and where you need units positioned it ACTUALLY made me think which is saying a lot with usual fire emblem games being a, ok I'll send in a nuke and they will fix it (3H and Awakening had bad problems with this).

Fates class system and weapon differences, god and conquests map design?? Plus the unique weapons they added in next to the different types of class seals you could to min max and make an astra general was always fun.

Awakening had fun but repetitive. Having a good amount of skills to mess around with but once whenever you had galeforce why have anything else? Pair ups were very neat and a nice addition but they did kind of make it easier because why wouldn't you pair units up that way?

3H being able to change to ANY class and almost everyone being a Swiss army knife with what weapons they could use sorta took away from the actual strategy from it since you could throw in Byleth and any unit you spoon fed exp to for perfect class stats and wipe the floor with everyone. Battalions were also kind of busted too. Neat that there was a NG+ mode though and I did appreciate that. Overall though I turn my brain off and the game goes on.

STORY: Awakening > Engage ≥ 3H > Fates.

I might be biased for all my hours burnt into Awakening but I genuinely really like the story of it and the time travel thing is really cool! If you don't romance Lucina or Chrom though it does kinda lessen the character growth Lucina goes through. But it has a lot of neat subtle call backs to the previous series, I just wish there was more from the shadowy figure that was Chrom's evil war loving father. Wallhart was rad and I want more antagonists like him that are unapologetic about who they are. Overall, really neat and the xenologue with Lucina's timeline is really good and still chokes me up at times.

Engage is basic, but Dragon Quest basic. Once you get into it and are set into the journey it is enjoyable legitimately. As far as the story goes sure it's generic but overall it flows pretty well. Also I legit like Alear as the protagonist everyone loves since it makes sense due to them being dragon Jesus. There are some... Generic and cheesy bits every now and then but cliche can be fun! Overall pretty solid and enjoyable.

3H is very complex, and that's a good thing and a bad thing. If the different routes were done in a way to where they were written equally and well it would be really neat! Unfortunately it feels very unfinished at worst and poorly written at best whenever you come in plot contrivances. HOWEVER it has the fucking dark souls problem where all the interesting things in the world and nation is hidden away in walls of texts in the library. I really liked it at times but I know it's not that great unfortunately.

Oh god fates. I like fates genuinely and I would even say it's one of my favorite fire emblem games but oof, the story hurts in every path. You would think with revelation it would tidy up the mess that is conquest and birthright but it doesn't. It keeps you in the dark on a lot and it boils down to Corrin going, "Nah fam, trust me." And people LITERALLY TURN AGAINST THEIR COUNTRY FOR THE PROTAG WITH THEIR DOGS AIRING OUT!! The concept of Hoshido and Nohr fighting is really interesting of Nohr being a country that is in dire need of good land and resources and having to go to war for it but when you have Garon the evil king who ONLY DOES EVIL THINGS I cannot bring myself to view as 'complex writing'. Oh god and Valla, fucking Valla. Scarlet is doomed to die and Gunther will betray you no matter what. I hate the plot goddamn.

CHARACTERS: 3H > Engage ≥ Awakening > Fates.

I think the reason why 3H has stayed so high up on everyone's list of good fire emblem games is because the characters in the game are very VERY complex. Honestly I can't think of any student cast that falls flat and I don't care about whenever I go through their supports. I do think the Blue Lions and Black Eagles get the best written characters but goddamn if the Golden Deer aren't super charming! The different ideologies and writing for characters motivations are pretty compelling at points. I can't think of a support that actually makes me skip through or be bored with it. I love these characters and their motives. I want to see them interact more and it is what kept me so I'm ested. The lords are also really neat and I think 3 Hopes does a fantastic job of helping their problem in Houses because Edelgard goes from fascist to freedom fighter ina fucking heartbeat I'm that one. Even when opposed she seems like a person with genuine good intentions. I could go on forever about it. Hopes also made me like Byleth more than how much I didn't care for the silent emotionless protag, but Shez was also a very fun breath of fresh air too and especially with that cast!

Engage has a very colorful almost too designed approach with their characters, which I have mixed feelings on, but characters being a troupe and ALSO being interesting with almost any cast member is a good time! I'll be honest, I kinda hated Engage at first then I had supports with Alfred and met Yunaka. It got me hooked, then I did emblem bond conversations and it was fantastic to see old characters fully voiced and revisited. Especially since the more straight edged ones (Ike and Soren) are most of the time absolutely hating being around such unhinged people. The main cast of characters are very fun and their tropes are fun to be played off except I don't really care for the chef man who wants to just eat rocks. The lords are fun and Celine with her interactions to Fogado/ Best Boy Alcryst are really great and show that there is genuine care put into the characters writing. Oh god, Alear also brings a wonderful fresh take on the insert protag and I genuinely like them as a protag in this one everyone loves. And Alear plays it really fucking well! Being just likable, trusting, and sweet to folks because it's in their nature only to have other interactions completely disgusted by people actually worshipping them and what lengths they go too! It's a great bit! Engage is good, cheesy at times but the characters are fun.

Awakening characters are pretty one not and troupey but are still written in a very good way at times. Lucina and Robin are great. I also really like Tiki dialogue too it's great to have her back. The paralogues for dlc units were also good (minus Priam)! They kinda knew folks liked these characters and wanted to do more with them so they brought them back into the game. The child unit supports are phenomenal though. Owain is dumb and I fucking love him same with Inigo. And depending on who the father is their supports with them are even better with how they console/chastise their child in those dialogues because it's a reflection of them too! Again I'm kinda biased about awakening though so that's my take.

Awakening characters are one note, get kind of old after a minute, and the only good Corrin sibling dialogues are with his Nohrian siblings because they actually know him. Leo, Xander, Camilla, and Elise legitimately have good supports with their sibling and it's neat. However they literally rescues 6 Awakening characters for the massive roster and it shows. They don't really change and the only redeeming interactions for really good character convos are the ones in the paralogues with just the kids. Which, again, ripped from Awakening.

I've only played 4 FE games. How would you rank them amongst each other?

You can base it off of story, gameplay, whatever. Mine is mostly story with a bit of gameplay/format elements. Lemme know if you have any questions!

[bellara-lutare]

“She has the power to destroy, she can wipe out entire cities, and we certainly see that in ‘Fire and Blood,’ we see the dragons wiping out entire armies, wiping out towns and cities, destroying them, but that doesn’t necessarily enable you to rule — it just enables you to destroy.” Idk man, at this point you targ stans won’t accept that they’re the villains of asoiaf until GRRM spells it out for you. How much clearer can he be? Idk how to explain it to you that a sword is not the same type of weapon as a bomb. And it’s not really much of the choice she’s given them lmao, bend the knee or die in the most gruesome way possible. Bc we all saw what happened when the people of Kings landing didn’t choose her, since they perfectly remember what targies are like and don’t want to go through that kind of tyranny ever again.

yes he says that it gives you power to destroy but where does he say that destroy is all she does? every time grrm mentions the dragons he says that they could be used as a destructive force but not that that’s all they are/all dany uses them for

please show me the passage in the books where daenerys goes “bend the knee or i will have you lit on fire” (hell even after she has the 160 masters nailed to the posts to avenge the dead children she feels bad over it and doubts her choice) because show =/= books, the smallfolk in the show are a mindless hoard that d&d used as they pleased, like just a season before dany torched KL cersei carpet bombed the sept and destroyed one third of the city and everyone was fine with it? like lmao you cannot use show reasoning because it doesn’t hold water

now here are some quotes from  book!dany written by grrm’s own hand;

“A queen must listen to all,” she reminded him. “The highborn and the low, the strong and the weak, the noble and the venal. One voice may speak you false, but in many there is always truth to be found.”

“Why do the gods make kings and queens, if not to protect the ones who can’t protect themselves?“

“What good is peace if it must be purchased with the blood of little children?”

“A queen belongs not to herself but to her people.”

“I told you, I know our little queen. Let her hear that her brother Rhaegar's murdered son is still alive, that this brave boy has raised the dragon standard of her forebears in Westeros once more, that he is fighting a desperate war to avenge his father and reclaim the Iron Throne for House Targaryen, hard-pressed on every side … and she will fly to your side as fast as wind and water can carry her. You are the last of her line, and this Mother of Dragons, this Breaker of Chains, is above all a rescuer. The girl who drowned the slaver cities in blood rather than leave strangers to their chains can scarcely abandon her own brother's son in his hour of peril.“ - tyrion, grrm’s self admitted favourite character, on daenerys

and finally from this french interview with official asoiaf artist marc simonetti;

“On the ADWD cover for Brazil, I put Daenerys at the top of the stairs of the meereenese pyramid. I had undoubtedly been, unconsciously, influenced by the series. And George told me that Daenerys wants equality for everyone, she wants to be at the same level as her people, so I had her climb down to keep it consistent.” 

[theotheroccassionalfanficwriter]

CAN I JUST SAY THAT YOUR WRITING IS AMAZING????? Its so detailed with a great flow and filled with so much emotion I LOVE ITTTT!! You got me lying in bed tossing and turning with “in pursuit of knowledge” 🥰🥰 that’s my favourite one I really hope you continue it!

Can I request one of the upcoming chapter to explore more on how Zhongli and reader first meet and what are the other things they did that made him fall for them more and more each day? Zhongli doesn’t seem to be the kind that falls in love at first sight so I’m interested to see how the reader seems to have slowly crawled her way into his stone heart UGHHH ❤️❤️😩😩 It can be filled with fluff or with smut, up to you! Thank you so much ❤️

Thank you! You can keep on tossing and turning then with this! I also head canon that when it comes to love, Zhongli wouldn't fall in love at first sight but instead he'd be like a snail. The entire time I'm writing this I thought long and hard on how to proceed because I couldn't decide on a satisfactory way Zhongli would meet reader. I already knew that it would be a speed run of Enemies to Friends, and slow burn Friends to Lovers. So I wanted their first meeting to be seemingly unremarkable to Zhongli.

In Pursuit of Duty

Summary: The simplest of things can lead to the greatest moments of our life. Meeting you was Zhongli's greatest fortune.

There were a few mortals in Zhongli’s life, both as an Archon and on the few occasions he mingled with humans, that were able to capture his attention or even his praise. And in all of his life, mortal and divine, no one was able to capture his enmity in the way you did.

“Would it really matter what Rex Lapis thinks if we entered and fucked around the domain in Guyun stone forest?”

Zhongli blinked, aghast at your tone as Childe covered his mouth to stifle his laughter.

“What?” You asked the two of them as if you had not merely suggested tampering with the seals of Guyun Stone Forest.

“The entire place is home to the fallen gods” Zhongli reminded you “a graveyard for those who died in the Archon War”

“It’s been decades, they should be already on the reincarnation wheel at this point” You waved his worries off, sending Childe to another fit of laughter while Zhongli felt indignant “‘sides Rex Lapis is busy doing fuck knows what he probably wouldn’t even notice if one of the seals got messed with unless one of the dead Gods decide to fuck shit up”

Zhongli, who was very much Rex Lapis in disguise, very much noticed it and though he was the one who orchestrated this whole scenario, felt no less than pleased with the attitude you were having.

“The dead still deserve to be respected!” Zhongli insisted as he blocked your hand from reaching towards one of the seals.

“You stick in the mud! You make it sound like I’m defiling their graves or something!” You whined “Besides the Heavens must be willing if they had a stray seal plaster itself on my face!”

“It was a ruined seal. The divine powers had long since dwindled from it. Thus, the Heavens had no hand on it” Zhongli stubbornly insisted as he moved to block your path.

On the side, Childe was still laughing loudly.

“That’s it! Fight me you bastard!” You shouted as you took a few steps back and summoned the elements to form your weapon, a spear.

And really, it was almost funny in hindsight, how you would choose his weapon of all things. The one weapon he was best at among others but right now, in this moment, Zhongli had felt more than annoyed.

“Very well” His spear, dragon’s bane, at his side “I accept your challenge.”

There were a few opponents in his life that gave Zhongli a thrill of the battle. Ever fewer were able to make the gears in his head turn as quickly as it did when facing you, each strike of your spear was clearly aiming for his life, and yet the look in your eyes didn’t carry a single thought of murder.

It was frustrating. It was Confusing. It was, most of all, fascinating.

Fighting you brought him back to the days before the Archon Wars, where the Gods of Liyue were at a semblance of peace. It made him remember the joy of fighting someone your equal, it made his blood rush in a way that it had almost forgotten. And Zhongli was starting to see that beyond your heretical ways, behind your annoying mask of affability, was someone who can walk in the path of the divine.

‘No, you would walk in it for the sake of your knowledge’ Zhongli thought as he blocked your attack and moved his feet to kick you in your stomach.

“This ends here” Zhongli declared as he summoned a steele behind your back.

The sound of your back hitting it rang loudly in the air but the look on your face was something he would never forget in a long while.

You spat out blood, shakily standing up from your position, “You win this round! But I swear on Rex Lapis’ six pack abs I’ll find a way to replicate that fucking seal!”

And then you were gone in a spark of electro.

The peaceful sound of waves remained in the air that somehow hung heavy. Childe had stopped laughing and was looking confused as he mused, “That’s the first time in a long while I’ve seen them look like that.”

Zhongli paid no attention to his words and instead picked up the abandoned seal and returned it to its proper position.

“Interesting” Childe muttered, softly and slightly ominous to Zhongli’s ears.

What he found interesting was something Zhongli wisely decided to not entertain. He really hoped that today would be the last time he’d ever have to be in the presence of Childe’s...friend.

For his part, Childe had no regrets in introducing Zhongli to you, or rather having Zhongli experience the misfortune of knowing you. From the moment Childe had met you again, he knew that his life would be thrown out of whatever carefully calculated plan Pulcinella had made. And it was one he was happy with, if the rumors in Snezhnaya had him part of the chaos then you were chaos incarnate.

It was precisely the reason why Childe had brought Zhongli with him when meeting you in the Guyun Stone Forest.

“A friend of mine, an expert in the ways of the divine and assorted knowledge, would lend us their skills in challenging the...impossible, shall we say” Childe said on the way “Most of their thoughts are heretical, almost, but well no one has ever said it wasn’t effective in reaching the desired result.”

“Ah, a researcher from Sumeru then?” Zhongli had asked, the light in eyes glinting in interest.

“Of sorts” Childe answered because as much as you stayed in Sumeru, most of your knowledge had come from your own experiments and cases from clients seeking answers the divine could not give.

This was why you were almost heretical.

“I must warn you that for them the sacred can be profaned and the profane can be sacred” Childe added as they reached the shores of Guyun Stone Forest, and found you basking under the gentle rays of sunlight in front of the Domain.

Zhongli stared at you, the sight of you head looking up with your eyes closed as it felt the warmth of the sunlight. Geo crystalflies surrounding you as a light breeze had the ends of your hair fluttering in the wind.

“Who is that?” Zhongli asked.

“My friend, the infamous Xiézhihuā Mìngfù of Liyue” Childe answered.

In that exact moment, you slowly opened your eyes, lashes fluttering softly as you blinked. The wind blew and a rain of leaves fell on you, gentle and calm as you stared at them.

--

Like an ill-fated omen, Zhongli began to notice you on the streets of Liyue Harbor. Rumors and words of your deeds would reach his ears, on occasion some of your cases would be told in the tea houses.

“Miracle” a few bystanders would say.

“Heretical” the few devout traditionalists would mutter in hushed tones.

But all agreed that you were a genius. An innovator that brought changes like a storm. You gathered envy and admiration in your wake, foreign nobles and dignitaries seeking you out for consultations or to ask for your help. And yet, for all of your infamy and prestige, Zhongli often found you amidst the crowd of orphans or Liyue’s slum dwellers.

Sometimes, Childe was with you, other times it was Director Hu and her friends, the second young master of the Feiyun Guild and the exorcist. In one memorable moment, Yanfei. But more often than not you were by yourself, answering questions from children with a pleasant smile and mischievous glint in your eyes.

It was such a huge contrast from the one he first met that it made Zhongli pause and observe you from afar. Enough times that those around him would say, “No need for alarm, Mr. Zhongli. Xiézhihuā Mìngfù is honorable.”

It was those words that made him ponder. For all of your borderline heretical actions, miracle works that trespass on the Divine, the entirety of Liyue agreed that you were honorable.

It wasn’t until Childe had asked for his help did he cross paths with you again. Weeks of avoiding you to maintain peace were all for naught when he found himself in your presence once more. A jar of osmanthus wine on your hand and an ingratiating smile on your face, you offered it to him and said, “Osmanthus wine, I’ll give this to you so don’t be a stick in the mud!”

In his youth, he would have immediately brawled with you. But now, Zhongli settled for drinking a cup of tea with contempt as much as the act could convey. Your laughter, melodious, rang in the private room of Liuli Pavillion.

“Aiyo! What a tough crowd!” You said as you sat opposite him and placed the bottle in the center of the table, “Then shall we begin anew? My birth name is a secret, my courtesy name is a secret, my title is Xiézhihuā Mìngfù! Xié for Heretic, zhi for knowledge, and huā for flower!”

“What kind of introduction is that?” Childe teased as he began his battle with chopsticks.

“An unforgettable one!” You replied, sending a wink to Zhongli who merely pursed his lips.

“I am Zhongli, a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.”

You smiled and decided to leave the matter at that, somethings could not be forced. So you retreated and decided to just straightforwardly tell him your intentions.

“I’ve heard that Mr. Zhongli is knowledgeable in Liyue’s history.”

Zhongli could sense your sincerity, it placated him a bit, made the dismal first meeting a little bit better. So he tries because he is magnanimous and there was no reason to burn a bridge, “I am merely remembering what others have forgotten.”

He looked at you in the eyes, drawn to the way your eyes burn bright with curiosity. It reminded him of Guizhong so he shakes the thought away because the dead and the living must not be compared. But as the conversation grows long, the topics eventually shift from the job to everything else, Zhongli can’t help but notice your innate desire to help those who are unfortunate.

Somehow it made him understand why you were seen as honorable. It wasn’t until all of you were facing unknown danger did he realize what it truly meant when used on you.

The case you were asking was slightly connected with Childe’s job for you. The case was about the sudden deaths of several brides that were kidnapped and found dead at an abandoned temple. No one had reported it to the Qixing until one of the victims involved was a distant relative of a Qixing who was to be wedded to one of the Szehnayan Merchants.

Childe had taken the chance to offer aide, calling for your help as one of the known detectives of Fontaine. It had surprised Zhongli, and made him respect you but all of it was quickly thrown away when you had given him a cheeky wink and said, “I can even tell how big a man’s dick is.”

“Shameless” He had admonished and yet he was unaware of the small smile he wore on his face.

The investigation led the three of you to a small village in the mountain, with a local shrine that was dedicated to an old god that even Zhongli had never heard of. The three of you had pored over legends passed down by mouth, discussing and comparing with the records found in Liyue’s public library and scholars. Childe, through his seemingly endless funds, had paid for information on every victim so far that wasn’t in the packet given by the millelith. Zhongli, with his seemingly endless connections, had talked to everyone and anyone that had studied Liyue’s countless lores and legends. And you had talked with the family of the victims, investigating the crime scene and connecting everything that could lead to an answer.

That was how Zhongli found you, messed up clothes and tired eyes poring over documents in the middle of discarded papers that laid on the dark wood floor of your secluded residence in Minlin.

“Have you not slept?” Zhongli asked, frowning as he made his way towards you.

“Not yet” You answered as you got up and discarded the paper you were reading to go to your wide cork board that held all the relevant information you had, “I’m close to figuring out what sort of deity or demon we’re going to fight.”

“What about the reason?”

“Solved it ages ago” You answered carelessly, pointing at the left corner of the board.

Zhongli went over and flitted through the papers on that side until he found what he was looking for.

“A vengeful bride?”

“Mn” You replied as you removed a pin and replaced the paper with an old newspaper clipping “There was a record of a previous incident however the Ghost of that time was listed as defeated. The stories all claim that the ghost was of savage rank, and disappeared after letting go of their obsession.”

“Then it returned?” Zhongli turned to you, alarmed and visibly frowning.

“No.”

You sighed and rubbed your aching forehead, “This was a man made disaster that went out of hand, I’m sure that whoever started this is probably dead. Chances are the first death awakened a sealed something” You looked at him, eyes serious “I’m figuring out just how old this thing is and what exactly are we going to face.”

“...The older it is…”

“The harder it would be to defeat it. Liyue’s lands are drenched in blood. Old grudges mixed with new ones from the Archon Wars. With cultivation clans dying out and having a single yaksha around, the karmic cycle of Liyue is already out of balance” You revealed and Zhongli was amazed with your discovery.

“Is there anything Rex Lapis could do?”

“...Fixing the karmic cycle? None. Solving this? His dragon qi would only end up being corrupted or he’d be punished by the Heavenly Dao. Time has changed a lot of things, but the rule that the Gods may not interfere with the mortal realm remains true.”

Both of you remained silent, You stared blankly at your board while Zhongli watched you. The heavy air from your words made your heart heavy, and Zhongli could see it. The fear that lingered in your eyes, the firm determination to save lives.

It left a ripple in the calm waters of his heart. A small unnoticeable ripple.

“Is it worth it?” Zhongli asked “Is it worth betting on your life to save the common people?”

You smiled at him, almost pitying, “To an adeptus like you, the amount of times mortals would bet on their lives to save others must be few, but Zhongli...I am the sort to always think that the common people are worthy.”

At that moment, Guizhong’s words echoed in his mind.

“Let me help you.”

--

A red sedan trudges up the mountain path, intending to pass through the temple. Behind the bridal sedan was a short entourage carrying three chests of dowry. In front of the sedan, were two people beating drums to celebrate the auspicious day.

Zhongli, Baizhu, and the Fatui disguised as locals were on alert as it watched the ominous trees of the mountain road. You sat inside the sedan, meditating in lotus position. Chongyun and Xingqiu were waiting in the temple where the zombified bodies of the previous brides were found. You had advised Ajax to not participate in the inevitable battle. Ensuring the possibility that his abyssal powers would react badly with ancient powers. With all of the preparations, you hoped that the odds would be in your favor.

You sighed softly, eyes opening as you felt the air change. You readied your weapon as soon as you heard the sounds of fighting.

The door opens and you throw out a talisman. In a quick move you stepped out, geo shield forming around you as you began plucking the strings of the Guqin. You looked at your enemy and found your heart easing up.

What stood before you was neither an ancient deity or demon, but rather a ghost on the verge of breaking through the Malice Rank.

“Don’t fear! We can subdue this one!” You informed your party, as you played the Sound of Vanquish.

Vines subdued the ghost, wearing the red robes of a groom. The Fatui began surrounding the ghost. Nine stone pillars acted as the foundation of the seal, pulsing with geo energy.

You felt rather than saw Chongyun come close, allowing you to draw upon his yang energy to balance out the pure yin energy of the ghost. Xingqiu stood on standby ready to recite the incantation for parting in case the seal fails.

The final notes of the song lingered in the air as Zhongli walked towards you, eyes never leaving the ghost, “I thought it was a bride.”

“A minor mistake” You replied as you played Inquiry.

‘Who are you’

The ghost didn’t answer.

‘Who are you’ you repeated the question.

‘Kill me’ it answered.

Your hands stilled in the air. You sighed and looked up from the strings and found yourself staring straight at the eyes of the ghost. Stunned at the mixture of emotions in its eyes.

“...There is no need to surrender to despair, your soul can still be saved.”

The ghost gave a mocking smile, “So what? My Chang’er is gone. We can never meet again in this life or the next.”

Zhongli’s eyes widened at the implication, just as Chongyun let out a small gasp. You felt your heart turn heavy even so you soldiered on, there was a need to find out the cause of this tragedy.

“Then tell me, why did you kill those women?”

“They deserved it!” The ghost screamed in anger, “They killed her! They killed her like she was nothing! Chang’er was innocent! They knew she was innocent and still-”

“You could have reported to the Millelith!” Chongyun said.

Cold mocking laughter rang loudly in the air, in it you could hear the bitterness of defeat and anger.

“Would it have done anything when the person behind this is an official? You’re too naive, boy!”

You closed your eyes, took a deep breath and decided to shield Chongyun from one of the dark sides of Liyue.

“Are you really forsaking salvation?”

“Yes.”

Zhongli watched as you walked towards the ghost and asked its name. He watched as the ghost whispered its name and you nodded before raising your hands, your index and middle finger pointing towards the sky, while the rest were closed.

Light gathered on your finger tips, the air charged with spiritual energy that was not of Celestial origin. It was an ancient divine power that Zhongli used to feel before he ascended to the peak of cultivation as a dragon.

With one downward stroke, the light slashed through the ghost. The light was so blinding that Zhongli had to shield his eyes as he watched the ghost turn into dust, its soul scattering to the wind. Your back stood straight, your hair gently fluttering.

Even though you were expressionless, Zhongli felt the heaviness of your heart. Despite that your eyes remained strong, unyielding as righteousness burned in your eyes. He watched as you strode in Ningguang’s jade chamber, as you reported your findings.

He accompanied you in going back to the village where it all began as you read the Liyue Qixing’s edict. He watched as you went beyond what Childe asked and went to the unmarked grave of Chang’er, offering incense on the blood stained stones of the temple.

He went with you as you sat on the highest mountain peak in Bishui, looking at the horizon with a blank look in your eyes. He didn’t speak and instead poured you a cup of osmanthus wine and silently waited.

“...Sometimes, I wonder if I can remain in the path of righteousness” You spoke, “I can never understand the hearts of humans, how could they easily ruin someone’s reputation, ruin someone’s life because of greed? I can’t understand why there was a need to go as far as scattering the soul?”

You cried without any tears, and Zhongli remained silent, unable to answer something he had always witnessed in his long life.

“Have you changed your answer?” He asked as he stared at his cup of wine.

“No” You replied and Zhongli could hear the self-mockery in your tone, “Even if one day I find myself in unbearable pain, I’ll never stop believing that the common people are worthy of saving.”

You looked at Zhongli, solemn in your bearing as the sun disappeared in the sky “Zhongli, no one has the right to decide on the outcome of human lives. Be it human or adepti.”

Zhongli thought back to the case, the sad story of two lovers who parted eternally because of jealousy and greed. The greediness of an official’s son for a woman who had no affection for him, the jealousy of the ladies over the popular young scholar. The selfish righteousness of the village folk that stoned an innocent woman to death over ruined reputation.

Zhongli thought of his contract. He wondered for a moment what you would say to him if knew that he dared to bet on the safety of Liyue and its people.

He closed his eyes and drank the wine that still tasted as he remembered.

“I pray that your heart remains in paradise.”

You toasted him and smiled softly. Zhongli vowed to never forget how beautiful you looked in that moment, with the slight smile gracing your lips as you drank the osmanthus wine.

The moon was beautiful that night.

--

Zhongli watched from afar as Osial rose. His thoughts echoing to the oath you swore that day in Guyun. A part of his heart felt sad and yet in awe of what you had accomplished.

He watched as the Millelith, Adepti and Fatui worked together to evacuate the civilians. He watched as humans and adepti fought together to bring down Osial once more. He felt proud and relieved at the result, glad at the knowledge that Liyue had no need of him anymore and yet a part of him felt trepidation.

The knowledge that the Age of Archons was drawing to a close. He thought of you, a beloved child of the Heavens, who could boldly declare that the Gods can be wrong. He thought of the words you spoke that night.

He thought of the days he spent with you, the rare times he went along with your tricks and harmless schemes. The easy way the two of you became friends. You were the first person he had easily became friends with, he mused at how quickly his dislike of you melted into fondness.

The way his heart had pinched when you said he wasn’t fun. The elation from being one of the few people you found interesting. He thought all of this as he handed his gnosis, as he kept his reason a secret. He thought of this as he looked around Liyue that had no need of him anymore, he thought of you as his feet automatically walked to where you were.

He stood away from you, watching as you cared for the wounded and then silently left. He spent the aftermath ruminating on his decision, on his actions while silently watching your actions with Childe during the last week of his stay in Liyue.

He waited for you to come to him, and ask him the question he could not answer. He steeled his heart and yet when you came to him, you didn’t ask and instead began talking about your recent adventures, asking him of his days and Zhongli didn’t know what to feel.

He knew that you knew nothing then. That you remained unaware of the truth but he let himself believe that you didn’t mind. So he spent his days with you, silently caring for you, protecting you in his own way.

He let himself bask in your vibrant presence, allowed himself to savor the feeling of watching you walk the path of righteousness. He unknowingly and willingly let you walk inside his heart, step by step, with each moment you spent helping others.

The days spent by your side, knowing the parts of yourself that no one else knew was the closest he felt in being mortal. It was so easy to forget that you remained ignorant when he spent his time worrying about your ability to be where chaos was, when his heart was easily influenced by you.

But now, in the privacy of the Dwelling in the Clouds, Zhongli watched as you grew disappointed. Your soft laughter filled with heartbreak and weariness broke his heart for reasons he couldn’t understand.

He regretted not telling you the truth when he had the chance.

He hated how he had no right to wipe away your tears even though he had spent countless nights and days warming your bed.

“Zhongli, I hate how I can understand why you did it” Your voice was so soft “Really, as an Archon you are undeniably good, you are peerless in that regard.”

He closed his eyes and readied himself for your next words.

“But I can’t call you a good person. Human lives aren’t something you should bet on so easily, no matter how careful you are” Your disappointment, your grief, and your weariness were all visible in your tone and body language.

He remained where he stood, watching as you descended. Each step breaking his heart as he slowly understood what you meant to him. He cried silently as you disappeared below the clouds and slowly sank on the ground.

For the first time in his life, Zhongli didn’t know what to do. There was no one he could turn to. He dreaded going back to a cold empty house devoid of you. He feared going back to the days that were dull, to a time where you did not exist in his life.

Where the sound of your voice was not commonplace, or the comforting scent of your magic that lingered in the space you occupied.

Zhongli laughed, loud and unrestrained, mocking himself for his stupidity. He hated how he didn’t realize it sooner, if he did then perhaps things would not turn out this way. He cried with all of his broken heart as he remembered the loneliness in your eyes.

He drank his sorrows away and as daylight broke through the clouds, he stumbled his way home. To the place that was devoid of you who he loved.

He fell on his bed that still smelled like you and silently cried himself to sleep.

He was already missing you dearly.

--

You stared at Zhongli, eyes distant as he stood in front of your door. A distant part of you wondered if things could be fixed, if the two of you could move forward from this pain.

But the rest of you were waiting for further disappointment, you knew the bone-deep pride of Gods. You understood that there was a bigger chance that Zhongli would cease contact with you, no one can easily put down years of habit and thought as a god so easily.

And yet as Zhongli stood beneath you, looking up to you. You couldn’t help but hope.

“...I can’t apologize for what I did” Zhongli began, “I don’t regret doing it the way I planned but I regret that I didn’t think of another way to test my people.”

You remained silent.

“I asked you once if the common people are worthy, the truth is I don’t know whether I find them worthy or not...but with you…” Zhongli trailed off, he felt that his next words were heavy.

He was afraid of laying his heart bare to you. The deepest parts of him that he didn’t fully understand, “I know that your life alone is worthy. I am a being born from rock, gaining humanity through cultivation. My heart is made of stone, softened by the dust. I don’t know if I would ever understand what being human means and everything it entails…”

You stared at him, unmoving, silently and patiently hearing him out.

“But I know that the only way I can keep on being with you is by changing this stone heart. So please, let me walk by your side, protecting you and your belief.”

Zhongli bent his waist, solemnly asking for your forgiveness and acceptance. He heard your footsteps coming closer and swore to himself to accept whatever the outcome would be.

“Stand straight.”

He stood and then he found himself in your embrace, your familiar scent filled his nose and Zhongli gently and firmly hugged you back. He held you fearing that all of it was an illusion.

“Let me learn how to be good while staying by your side” He whispered.

“I was afraid” You replied “of how easily you can decide on the outcome of your people’s life and death.”

You hugged him tighter, “I know that you still have secrets that you can’t tell. That even as you live as a mortal, the consequences of your actions as an Archon is something you would live with for the rest of your life. So I won’t judge you for that but Zhongli, I can’t be with someone who can easily bet on other’s life.”

“I understand.”

He thought of your words in Qingyun Peak, your confession that night in Minlin. He thought of the day he met you. He thought of the words he said in that temple ruin.

Zhongli understood what it meant to walk by your side, to take the same path as you did. He knew that from this moment onwards he would never be able to untangle himself from you.There was no room for anything else in his heart that was filled with you. It would always remain with you even if one day his entire being ends up in the abyss.

‘As long as your heart remains in paradise, I don’t mind letting myself fall into the abyss.

[darkpoisonouslove]

Valtor's Core

This post ISN'T anti Sparxshipping but I do talk about my interpretation of the events of season 3 and in it, Valtor wants Bloom dead (and vice versa) so fans of the ship might want to skip it.

I think I finally pinpointed the reason why I don't like the Bloom x Valtor ship. Ironically enough, that is also one of the big things that taint my OTP - Griffin x Valtor. I'd say it makes sense, though, since it's Valtor's fundamental issue. Not insurmountable perhaps, but definitely made worse by Griffin's betrayal. Let me explain.

Valtor's main goal is to become the most powerful wizard in the Magic Dimension. Or at least that's what he says. He's not really that humble. He doesn't just want to be the most powerful wizard. He wants to be the most powerful being period. Why do I say that? Because he himself states he needs to defeat Bloom to prove his superiority but Bloom is a fairy. He could be the most powerful wizard even if he hasn't bested her. And yet... He wants her defeated. Because she's strong enough to ruin his plans. He even avoids fighting her himself and sends the Trix after her. He doesn't care how she dies. He just wants her gone. Because he can't bear the thought of having anyone that could stand up to him and be considered his equal.

He might have talked about fighting her when she's at her strongest but that was never because he wanted an equal. He wanted people to think he bested someone who had enough power to be considered a threat to him. The truth is, he never believed Bloom is his equal and once she started gaining more power and had ways of fighting him, he started avoiding her. He was surprised when he learned she had Enchantix but recovered quickly and went back to fighting her because he's well-versed in magical rules. He probably figured out almost instantly her Enchantix was faulty in some way and didn't think she'd be able to use it to beat him with all the stolen spells he had in his possession. The second the Water Stars even become a possible weapon for Winx, he sends the Trix after Bloom. That way the only person who can activate them against him would be gone while he doesn't have to risk going after her himself and being surprise attacked with the Water Stars if Winx happen to bring them out of the Golden Kingdom during his fight with Bloom. He went to Alfea in 3x23 but he had everyone believing he was at lake Roccaluce. He might have expected that Bloom would sense him because of the Dragon Fire but he didn't think she'd risk herself to activate the Water Stars. After Bloom nearly killed him (and he had to lie to her just to escape with his life), he started avoiding her UNTIL he found a way to remove the Water Stars from the equation. Even though the Water Stars truly make him and Bloom equal in the situation because they would probably kill both of them if Bloom used them. His final stand was mostly desperation and rage on his part and he still didn't believe Bloom could beat him without the Water Stars. He never wanted to fight her as an equal. He wanted it to seem like he'd defeated an equal, and Bloom at that, because that way he'd prove his superiority when it comes to the Dragon Fire as well after he lost to Marion and Oritel. Killing Bloom would be both revenge for getting sent to Omega and a statement to the rest of the Magic Dimension that he has ultimate control over the "god" power and no one can stand up to him.

What's never clicked for me in the Sparxshipping ship is that it's usually based on people's idea that Valtor and Bloom are equals because of their bond through the Dragon Fire. And okay, I get how people would find that appealing. But the show (for me) says the exact opposite. Valtor HATES Bloom because she's his equal. He can't stand the thought of having an equal. He wants to be the most powerful. And while perhaps there is a part of him that would love to prove himself by defeating a Bloom that's practically on magical steroids, he places more value on her defeat than on the manner in which it happens. By the end of the season he's long forgotten about his pretenses about a fair fight between them and he's lost all dignity and reason in his quest to just get her out of his way. His final offer for her to join him is a ploy too. He's never cared for having her as a partner. It's just the only way he can currently think of to get out of the situation after she just destroyed what kept him under the thumb of the Ancestral Witches when he himself couldn't do that for ages. It's proof that she's stronger than him right there and his offer of equality only comes after that. So he's offering her to be less than she already is because that's the only way for him to get out of the situation. It's not because he wants her by his side.

And the issue of equality brings me to my point about Griffin x Valtor. This becomes purely headcanon from here on forward:

The reason why that worked as a relationship was because Griffin never threatened Valtor's ego. She was powerful in her own right but she didn't have the Dragon Fire and could therefore never become an equal in his eyes. If she's not a rival for the most powerful magical being in the universe, then he has no reason to hate her, which allows the relationship to work on his end. Now I wouldn't believe for a second that someone like Griffin would be Valtor's partner and be on the side of the Ancestral Witches and their control over him. What I mean is, that I imagine she was staying with the Coven for him, to help him free himself. Now him telling her about their control of him sounds OOC for him BUT the thing is that the fact that they can force him to turn into a demon on a whim and then he won't have a choice but to obey them puts him in a very precarious position. He can't really free himself on his own because the Ancestral Witches can take control over him at any second and prevent him from doing that. So no matter how much he hates that, he needs a partner if he ever plans on breaking free from their control. And those things combined make for a fertile ground for a relationship. Even with the presumption that Valtor didn't have actual romantic feelings for Griffin, him making her fall in love with him would make it much easier to trust in her loyalty because it's essentially trust in his own ability to manipulate (quite like he was doing with the Trix and making them fight each other so that he could control them). If he can be sure Griffin is fully on his side, he can be as vulnerable as necessary to finally get himself free.

And to address the last point I made about his incompatibility with Bloom, according to the same logic, if Griffin is the one who frees him after he himself failed at that, that would arguably make her stronger than him. However, Griffin herself cannot free him with her own magic because my headcanon is that he can only be freed by Dragon Fire that's infused with light from the Golden Kingdom to destroy the darkness that corrupted the Dragon Fire ember he was made of. So no, Griffin herself with her own powers still isn't a match or a rival for him, which would eliminate his reasons to hate her (prior to her betrayal and in case she freed him from the Ancestral Witches' control).

The reason for Valtor's obsession with power is quite obvious. He was made and controlled by more powerful beings. He needs to surpass them to get his own freedom and prove himself as something other than what they molded him to be. Perhaps in a scenario where he was freed from the Ancestral Witches and had genuine gratefulness and trust in the person who freed him (highly unlikely but let's imagine there's a chance), he might be able to let go of his need for power... Eventually. Or at least contain it enough to be able to accept not being the most powerful being and develop feelings other than hate for a person that could match him on a power level. However, after Griffin's betrayal that left him hanging from the Ancestral Witches' noose, the chances of him ever trusting anyone else again are approximately zero. Even if he managed to manipulate someone into freeing him from the control of the Ancestral Witches, he would use his first chance to get rid of that person for good and thus eliminate any threat to his own supremacy. And that brings us full circle to his final offer to Bloom who had made it clear at that point that she wants him defeated. Yes, she freed him from the Ancestral Witches but not from concern for him. It was just a way for her to defeat him by reabsorbing his Dragon Fire and I'm sure Valtor wouldn't have risked leaving her alive and would've taken the chance to kill her the instant it presented itself had she taken his deal.

[valiantsword]

    the room is suddenly brighter.  astoria’s excitement over a sword is not only unexpected but blessedly welcome.  he’d taken to hiding it from the world; hiding his history as much as he can to avoid suspicion.  people don’t walk around with swords quite like they used to but arthur also wasn’t prepared to throw it up on his wall to leave behind.  perhaps one day when he returned to tintagel.  maybe one day he’d finally lay it to rest over guinevere’s tomb.  it wasn’t the same sword afterall, not after all the reforging and redesigning.  all of the original metal was replaced long ago right along with every other piece that made the whole.

     originally, the blade was shorter and wider.  protective runes had been carved into the blade.  trying to explain those to blacksmiths now?  most of them looked at him like he was crazy, so he stopped asking.  calesvol’s first pommel was a finely carved dragon, in the same vein as the ring he wore as a pendant.

     “ i haven’t thought of the original design in years, “ arthur mutters fondly to himself.  all the changes in design play through his mind.  they were mostly influenced by time and practicality.  he didn’t realize until he started traveling just how personalized a weapon could be.  yet, they varied from region to region.  everytime he broke the blade or crossguard someone would give him a funny look and asked why it was designed the way it was.  to that he shrugged.  after the first change the rest were easy enough to swallow.  yet, like andy’s labrys, he still called this his sword.  mainly because it simply was.  calesvol in spirit didn’t have to mean calesvol in material.

     arthur plops back down into a seat at the table while astoria’s energy flows over the blade.  he was confident she wouldn’t pick it up to swing at his head.  even if she did, he was equally confident he could disarm her, magic or no magic.

     he finds himself smiling at the way she discloses her love of swords.  that level of excitement is both palpable and contagious.  when was the last time he looked at his own weapon with such reverence?  honestly, probably not since it was handed down to him all those centuries ago.  now it was a part of him, just like anything else.  just like the hair on his head and the clothes on his back.  arthur didn’t exactly light in wonderment whenever he looked in the mirror.  it simply was.

     the answer to that is sidetracked by her admission of family history.  or, what he considers an admission.  it’s her tone that draws him in.  there’s a vibration that surpasses what came with his weapon.  that really should terrify him considering she was talking about death and destruction.  yet, the laugh is music he wants to mentally replay as much as he possibly can.  each one pulls him forward as if his neck were tied to an invisible string.  by the end of her story his elbows are resting on his knees and one little sneeze will knock him right on the floor.   in fact, trying to right himself makes him lean a little too much to the right and arthur has to push back on the wall to land flat again.

     “ i’m morbidly curious how you ended up with it when everyone else who’s tried to touch it is dead, “ arthur’s raised eyebrow isn’t meant to be judgemental in the slightest.  he leans back in his chair so he can’t fall out of it like a fool again, crossing his legs at the knees.  “ i have to admit that i don’t have many interactions with the magic.  my sister dabbled and it, “ the immortal shook his head.  he hadn’t meant to relive his death but it flashes before his eyes.  betrayal haunts him again.  for what?  a crown he’s not sure he ever wanted to begin with.

     mention of bones make arthur raise his hand, spreading his fingers to examine.  it’s a welcome distraction from where his thoughts were previously.  yes, thinking of it’s origins led back to his father but memories of the sword itself were more firmly tied to myrddin, guinevere, and lancelot.  that, in turn, steadies his heartbeat yet again.  those were simpler times.  much, much happier times.  arthur hasn’t been able to find such a partnership again.

      “ i wonder what these bones would say, broken time and time again?  smashed and knit back together. “  if his skin hadn’t scarred since the immortality set in would there be evidence in his skeleton?  would they tell the story or his life like the rings of a tree?  he’d never thought about it.

     “ swords are easier, “ arthur says simply.  “ sometimes when you’re out there you can run out of ammo.  maybe you don’t want to or can’t make any noise.  as for why that one?  family heirloom, i suppose. “  the immortal dares to lean forward again but, this time, it’s to pick the blade up by the hilt.  carefully, the flat side skims over several fingertips until he’s staring at the point.  “ it’s all i have left of the life i lived before this one. “

He stands and Astoria follows suit, and it takes a moment before she realizes she's practically bouncing on her heels in excitement. Does she imagine the reverence, the near awe, when he draws the sword from its case? Maybe it's her own projection—she's a little awed, truth be told. He sets the sword down on the table and Astoria is, for a moment, aware that she looks like an absolute lunatic when she drops to a crouch until she's eye-level with the weapon on display. Thin blade, she notes, and a well-worn crossguard and pommel. She stands again, palms flat on the table, and leans over it, bending forward to get close to it and examine the faded leather, the scratches in the metal.

It feels as off as its bearer. Using magic on someone else's things is just bad manners, but there are certain elements of the magic that she can't quite contain—impressions on her senses that she couldn't turn off if she tried. She tips her head to the side and she listens for a moment, and she laughs again before she remembers that she's supposed to be professional right now. Astoria presses two fingers to her lips, rocking back on her heels as she stands upright.

"I love swords," she repeats, and she looks over her shoulder at Arthur, her enthusiasm clear. "The older, the better. In the right hands a sword is just—an extension of the body. If it's cared for and maintained, it tells a story as clearly as any bones could." She lowers her hand, drums her fingers against her thighs, turns more towards him almost without realizing what she's doing, eager in her excitement.

"I'm a Grim through my maternal grandfather. Family legends aren't always reliable, but ancestral witches take lineage as seriously as anyone could. And we, apparently, come from Egill Skallagrímsson. That's as far back as we've been able to trace our consecrated dead and our magic. Anyway—the sword is, allegedly, his. Buried shortly before his death near Mosfellsbær, along with the rest of his treasures. Whoever disturbed it triggered a curse designed to punish thieves, and even returning it to the family isn't enough to break it. It came back into the family a few hundred years ago. We've been passing it along to anyone who might be able to undo the spellwork since. Nobody's managed it. If I can figure out how to take it apart, I can figure out how to replicate it, and it's good security. Once I manage it, I'll bring it back to Iceland and put it back where Egill buried it.

"As for what it does..." She trails off and she lets out another quiet laugh, shrugging one shoulder. "Killed the thief, and everyone else who touched it until it came back to the family. Started with the hand shriveling and turning black, and then it spread. Our branch of the family is illegitimate. I don't know why it came to us instead of another line, but it's nice. The family's exempt from the curse, far as we can tell, and I've never had any trouble handling it. I'm probably not supposed to play favorites but between you and me, it's my favorite cursed object."

Knowing her name is good for business. Knowing her family history helps, too. Magic dating back to a tenth-century sorcerer and berserker carries significant weight, all things considered, and a thousand years of history and verifiable magical connection means something in most covens. Astoria reminds herself of this when it strikes her just how much she's shared with a relative stranger, tells herself that it's simply good business that a man she's known a matter of hours is suddenly audience to her favorite parts of her history.

Belatedly, she realizes that she's simply trying to thank him for sharing the sword—history for history, a story for a story, even if the only story she's privy to just now is a vague sense that the sword is old, and dearly loved, and responsible for more destruction than either of them could likely dream. The blood and death hang around it like ghosts and she, ghoulish as she is, gravitates towards them with the unadulterated joy of a scholar at her books.

Curiosity makes Astoria fall silent again, and she listens for a moment until she's isolated the sound of the water in his blood, and she smiles in spite of herself when the song starts to sound familiar. Like the first snow of the year. Like the beginning of the end.

"Why a sword?" The question comes out before she can stop it. So much for refraining from personal inquiries. "Don't get me wrong, it's—shit, it's beautiful. And it's clearly been well-loved. But this isn't a replication of an old weapon; it's actually an old weapon. Why a sword? And why this one?"

[starry-skies-116]

DND Classes for FNAF Security Breach Characters (My AU, HEAVILY Fire Emblem Inspired):

Gregory: Specializes in Dark Magic, Lances, and Bows, as well as unarmed combat. High magical resistance, so he can basically yeetus deletus from faraway with spells but don’t get him too close to melee- oh, wait, just slap vantage and a high dex/avd stat on there and you’re good. Combat Art Lodestar +potential to become magic-oriented Dracoknight = ultra disrespect. Special weapons are Gungnir for his exclusive lance and Gradivus (not to be confused with that one regalia lance from Fire Emblem) for his special spell talisman, but he has to go through a lot of crap to get those weapons. Basically tears apart any enemy with high phys nullify, and even then he can just dodge anything thrown at him if its not a magical attack that he doesn’t tank. But there is still the risk of him getting oneshot, so be careful. Would be either warlock/dark mage, or monk.

Vanessa: Specializes in Light Magic +healing, Flying, Bows and Lances. Kinda low strength growths so she can’t really do damage much, but if your units are in a pickle she basically heals them, rallys them, does whatever she can so they can annihilate the enemy- and she’s pretty good at dealing some magical damage when the time calls for it. Has the HIGHEST heal and warp range out of anyone in the entire campaign, so people basically fight for who she gets to warp so they can ez cheese the battle map: “OR WE COULD USE THE WARP STAFF”. Has flying advantage like Gregory when she gets classed into Valkyrie (fanmade class) so she can do great dmg with lances due to those classes stat boosts and saves offered on rolls. Special weapons are Flame Parthia for bow and Abraxas which is Aura magic tome on steroids

Freddy: BARBARIAN/PALADIN RIGHT OFF THE BAT BC HE WANTS TO MAKE HIS SIBLINGS CRY-LAUGH THE WHOLE SESSION: Specializes in axes, authority, brawl and swords but obvi deficient at magic and flying: pretty good at cavalier, has gotten better lol- REALLY good at heavy armor, he can take physical hits like its no tomorrow. Character exclusive weapons are Dragon Claws and Ragnsalir Hauteclere for classing into paladin. If Gregory can’t shred the enemy with magic and his poke stick, cue Freddy about to spam Dragonskin special ability to stun the enemy before deleting them off the map- he’s got this covered if his little brother’s strategies fail! (comforts him afterwards lol). Special skills Guardian’s Fury, Taunt and Fighting Spirit basically equals “don’t forget about wave 2 disrespect”.

[ps-i-dont-even-know]

Devil may cry parent headcanons

Dante

He probably is a fun dad but at the same time don't leave your kids with him, it would be a disaster

Will wake up to crying at 12 am and try to put the kid back to sleep, ends up with both of them watching tv instead

This man will do anything with your kid, they want to go to the park, sure he'll have to keep an eye on them. They want to see the movies, sure has to be below pg or he will never hear the end of it from the nightmares his kids have. Want to go to the zoo, sure he just needs to make sure they don't go into the exhibit.

He will play dress up and tea time with them. He will put on a dress and have them do his makeup just so he can go to tea time, and might start some beef with Mr teddy for stealing his cupcakes, but he will do it proudly.

He will try to do their hair in the morning for school, again he is not the best at it and will probably give them crooked pigtails, he's trying he really is.

Can't cook for shit, I'm sorry if you think he could cook please take a look at all the pizza box stored around his shop. Like he will take cooking lessons or watch cooking shows but dear god how do you set fire to milk.

He will always be there for his kid to vent even if he doesn't know how to respond he will sit and let them rant about stuff, also trying to cheer them up because he doesn't want to see them sad

If they brought their homework to him he would be confused he can barely pay his bills i don't think he knows how to do math, but drama he will rock that stuff his acting skills are on point even if it's cheesy

Will waste all his money on the kid, toys, clothes, video games, you name it he will buy it and give to the kid

Remember how I said not to leave your kid alone with Dante yeah, he may or may noteave his weapons/devilarms around for the kids to grab them, like halfway of Dante walking into the main room and he sees ebony in his kids mouth he tricksters all the way to them and quickly grab ebony before anything bad happens, but the kid will start crying and he has to find something for them to mess with or he'll get a headache

He accidently devil triggered in front of his kid now depending on which one he get two responses and he's expecting screaming for both, but if its regular dt like humanish looking one, "woah, dad grew scales and wings, are you a lizard king?" Now its his Sin Dt he would get "Oo, daddys a gaint dragon" for both case they will proceed to touch his scales? And will be all over him trying to climb him to the point he literally has to switch out of dt so they don't get hurt. Also he's a heat source for winter if the heating doesn't get paid for.

If his kid comes out as any of the lgbtq+ he would be supportive and loves them for who they are, I also see him being apart of it too.(I know a few people see him as asexual I do too, as well as bisexual)

Vergil

Look this guy probably has no clue what he's doing, even if we wish he could've taken care of Nero (at least I do) he didn't and now he has another kid to take care

Please help him hold the baby, he can't properly do it at all, he's just holding them by their chest and staring at them with confusion as the child cry, "why won't they stop screaming?"

He will get the hang of taking care of the kid, but please don't leave him alone with them for long he still has no clue what he's doing half the time

"Hey can I hang out with (insert name) at the mall?", "Do I know their mom?", "Uh, no", "Do I know their dad?", "No" Then that settles it, you can't go", "But-", "No buts, if I don't know their parents you can't go, and that's finale"

Can he cook, probably but he's been in hell for most of his life and doesn't know what he's doing half the time. Thank god for cooking shows and book he at least tries a learn how to cook, and doesn't burn anything unlike someone else

He will read the kids William Blake or other bed time stories before bed time, and will do activities where they try to make up poems he has to thank Nero for the idea

Speak of Nero, if Vergil has a mission he will leave his kids with him, he's not trusting Dante at all. Nero absolutely loves his step siblings even if their like a few years younger than him, they will either play with the other kids at the orphanages or play Nero which consist of Video games, sometimes sword fights if they beg long enough, or just talk about the stuff their dad and uncle does that are stupid and make fun of them for it.

Also that one dad to try and help with math homework but makes the kid cry because they don't understand the problem and he's yelling at them "What's 2 x 2?" Its traumatizing please someone tell him to cool it or his kid is going to have problems when it comes to yelling and math, also complains how he didn't learn it that way as a kid, I promise you he was homeschooled.

Now his kids can vent to him but he has no clue what to do nor have much good advice but he will give what he knows even if it's not the best.

This can go many ways, this man know his kid is getting bullied he will go down to the school with the Yamato and threaten someone's life, give his kid the sword for them to deal with it instead, or use some brain cells and deal with it like civil people and we hope he chooses the last one

Now he's a little careful with his devil trigger and doesn't want to scare his kids, but its by accident really and he expects screaming, just like Dante he gets two responses. Regular dt and I'm going off of 4 because I don't think he has one in dmc5, "Dad, why didn't you tell me/us your secretly a bug, don't worry well keep you away from shoes." If its Sin Dt, "Wow, your a dragon this whole time, does this mean I'm also a dragon, where do you keep your stashed gold?", I feel like for his regular dt they will sometimes smack him with a fyswatter and he has to turn out of his sin dt quickly because they want to mess with the fire coming out of him.

If his kids come out as lgbtq+ he will be supportive and a little confused because he has no clue what it is. They have to explain what it means and what their sexuality means, he'll still be supportive and loves his kids no matter what they are

Nero

Out of Vergil and Dante, he's probably the one who knows more about taking care of kids since he grew up with them in an orphanage and takes care of them

I feel he's like a mix between Dante and Vergil, Fun dad but will put his foot down on somethings

If its a girl you bet he will go out to a store at whatever time it is and buy then pad/tampon when their monthly comes no questions asked he just knows. If its a dude he will give the talk, not just protection but what not to do, like when a girl tells him to stop he needs to stop, no advancing on or anything like that (I feel like the no advancing will also go for the girl)

Doesn't do favoritism, he hates that stuff since he technically dealt with it as a kid, if one kid ask why he loves the other more than them he will shut that down quickly and tell them he loves them equally and will move moons for them to both be happy

Best cook hands down, and will let his kids help if they want to but keeps them away from sharp objects. He will also take them out to dinner if he doesn't want to cook

He's decent with homework, and goes about it in a fun learning experience for the both of them, if they get an answer right they get a point that they can trade for something special later kne, if they get it wrong they will go over it again, but still get a point because no favoritism. He also help make a volcano, but also put a little extra pizzazz to it, and might have caused the whole kitchen to be a different color now.

His kids can vent to him, he will understand and try to help give advice for some issues, also takes them out of the house to do something they want to do to cheer them up

He will encourage his kids to follow what they want to do, play a sport? He will show up to every game, even if that means giving Dante his mission he will. A club? He will make sure they have everything they need for that club and be on time for it, be it art, book, yearbook, student council, etc. They want to do boy scout/girl scout, he will make sure he gets them a vest and help put pins on as well. He will be the number one supportive dad

As soon as his kid comes to him crying about how some other kid is bullying them he will be mad, he'll reassuring his kid that they are amazing first, then go to the school, if they don't do anything he will go straight to the parent and make sure that their kid doesn't mess with his anymore.

Will watch anime with them, if they agree that is don't want your dad into your stuff. But like he's absolutely into it, he seems like the person to like Bleach (this was not intentional I complete forgot that the voice actor for Nero also did Ichigo) or Cowboy Bebop. Maybe sailor moon but you won't hear him say it

Look he's really new to the devil trigger business, the only thing close he had was that ghost creature, so keeping this thing in check and not popping up randomly is hard. His kids reaction are, "You hair is longer, are you like rapunzel, oh wait you have wings and a crown your an angel. Oh can I braid your hair please," of course he will let them braide his hair he can't say no to a pouting face, they also will poke his wings to see if their real.

He will definitely support his kid if their aprat of the lgbtq+, will buy them flags, merch, you name it. He want his kid to feel safe and loved

Lady and Trish

Look I can't separate these two, when I first saw them I thought they were girlfriends, and I can't let that go. But these two would definitely be the fun and protective mom

So considering Trish and Lady are both females they definitely have to adopt of course, now Lady may not know if its half demon or full, but Trish does and she probably would help the kid when they get older since she knows about the demon body considering she has one, if its human Lady knows the most about the stuff going on when they get older and has I already planned out.

Now Lady has to be the protective mom because the shit happen with her dad she definitely doesn't want anything bad to happen to their kid, and Trish is like you do you kid if you get hurt you learn from it "its the demon way of raising" she says. Though she still will watch over them and make sure they don't get themselves severely hurt

They will buy their kid anything, and take them out shopping. It's like a spin the wheel of pay to see if they will pay for the stuff or put it under Dante's name for shits and giggles

Lady has to like keep her weapons locked up somewhere safe, unlike Dante, she's more careful with her weapons

If their kid is mad or something Trish will take them to some deserted area with some random stuff she found that isn't in use and have their kid throw it in the air so she can blow it up with her lighting, you know to blow steam off

Trish or Lady tell their kid the stupidest thing Dante has done or said, if they visit Dante please note one will scream if Dante says something about a soul, "I should have been the one to fill your dark soul with Light" and get the voice crack right too, he will look so embarrassed

Now Trish might not know anything about homework she'll support the best she can but Lady knows most of the stuff and will help.

Trish will tell their king everything about Hell, who's in charge, what creatures are there, the history of it all. Its a great learning experience until you tell them that the female demons kill the male after finishing mating

If they are out in public and some guy is hitting on their kid and their tell him no, protective mom mode is on. Mostly Lady has to stop Trish from frying thr guy, but Lady will give the man a price of her mind saying if he tries to do this shit again with her kid he will be going home with a foot straight up his ass. So now no man tries to hit on her

Definitely let the kids go venting to them, they give the best cuddled, some good advice, and shopping if they say someone's bullying them they will see that the parent deals with their kid.

They knew their kid was apart of lgbtq+, of course their supportive of who they are, they are dating of course. They will take them to a pride march in June

Kyrie

Look, LOOK, she is an amazing mom, so caring but also will put her foot down on somethings

Besides Nero she is a good cook and baker, while she doesn't want kids in the kitchen while she's cooking will will have them help with baking sweet

Reads bedtime stories and tucks her kids in and kiss goodnight (ugh my heart hurts I love this)

She will play video games with her kids mostly on the wii, she still the champion on Mario Kart and Just Dance no one has taken their spot yet, even Nero tries

Packs lunch for her kids and puts a note in it telling them that she loves them and hope they have the best day

She does worry about them from time to time when they go over a friends house, only because of what happened to her brother and then Nero she doesn't want anything to happen to her kids

Tells them not to climb the tree in their backyard, what does one of them do, they climb it and accidently falls down. She goes to them saying "You know I told you not to do it, and you did it anyways, you need to be more careful and listen to me. I'm not doing this because I'm being uptight I'm doing this for your safety I want you to be able to do the things you want in the future"

I feel like she's the same way with friends like Vergil, if she doesn't know the parents then you can't go out or over their house

She is really a good listener and help with advice, so venting to her is a really great idea also will ask about your feelings and how your doing someday, like she knows your in a sad mood

She also good with homework, I feel like she wanted to become a teacher as well as study for it, but instead stuck with taking care of orphans, so she probably homeschools her kids too

She also makes the kids clothes time to time, they have little sweaters or shirts that are soft and comfortable

She is so supportive of her kids if they come out lgbtq+, she doesn't care as long as their happy thats all that matters.

Nico

Now I love Nico amazing and pretty girl but don't leave a child with her, just like Dante it will be a disaster, but she probably would try to be a better parent than her since he technically wa this weird freaky man who experimented on demons or was weird.

Let's start with teaching the kid every swear word she knows and tells them to go up to Nero call him one of those names, she will hear her name being screamed and find an angry Nero going over to her as she burst into fits of laughter

Will be extra pair of arms when getting a tool they need for fixing the van, when Nero does understand what a Dohicky is

I think Nico can cook, its decent not bad or good, she did nearly burn the van down from trying to cook turkey.

She will try and cut back on smoking or at least not doing it when the kid is around because its bad for them, Nero scoffs because she nags him when he tells her to stop, but not her kids

Now her kids could bring homework to her, like he's good in math, engineering, and probably biology, but she'll act as if she never even seen the stuff in her life, because she wants to get her learn it and not her just giving them the answer. But if their kid is in a science fair I bet she will help make something totally child friendly(its not really), it kind of gets her and her kid ban from doing anymore science fairs.

She will teach then everything she knows about Demon, mostly the biology of it, and when Nero brings a demon part for his breakers, she goes in explain how she turns them into those.

Will tease her kids if they talk about their crush, she's a huge teaser so saying something about someone they really like or anything its a mistake, she will embarrass them in front of their crush, but she means well

If they try to change the channel of the radio she swats their hand saying the driver picks the music and the passenger has to sit and listen.

If she's busy with something she will let Nero and Kyrie babysit her kids, she trust them and the kids love Nero and Kyrie.

Tries to teach her kids how to drive when their of age to learn, but Nero and Kyrie won't let her considering how she drives and that the instructor is more legal to do it.

No but she will tease her kid a bit if they come out lgbtq+ too, of course she supportive I kind of see her being apart of lgbtq+ as well

*Bonus because it seemed reasonable to just put this one here like this*

Nero, Dante, Vergil, Lady, Trish, Nico

They will teach their kid self defense, and how to use a weapon. While they rather their kids have a normal life instead of a demon hunter for many reasons, they at least want their kid to take care of themselves if they find themselves in a situation where their life is on the line

[hobo-dragon]

Purple/The Second Coming? For the request thing :)

Ah yes the smallest grape and the orange, my favorite-

SC had been searching up a new prompt for this month's building contest when Alan's email pinged; he quickly jumped down from the search bar, and tapped on the notification, opening up the email to his expected visitor inside, Purple. Quickly jumping up to greet him with a smile, he noticed them carrying a small plastic bag, heavy with something he couldn't see, "Purple! I'm glad you came, we haven't started yet, and I'm still setting up the blocks and first round theme, care to help?" Purple blinked, taking a moment to process before a small grin of their own made its way on their face, "Oh, sure, where's the rest of them?" They asked, climbing down from the email and onto the desktop, looking around for any of the other stickfigures they had grown familiar with.

SC climbed down after them, pointing to the house the gang had built, "Inside, I don't want them cheating by knowing the theme beforehand and getting blocks for it, so before every round we've started moving those playing into the house. Now!" SC paused, looking back up the empty search bar with an annoyed look. "I've been trying to think of a theme we haven't done before all morning but I've had no luck, I was thinking you might have any ideas?" They jumped onto the Google tab, opening the desktop keyboard which also raised up Purple to being just below SC.

Purple thought for a moment racking their brain for something unique, they've heard from SC in a few of their texts some of the themes they've done before, and from that they could tell they've only really been doing basic themes. Foods, logos, animals etc. Suddenly one idea racked their brain and their face lit up. "What about a Minecraft mob? And just spawning it in would count as disqualification?" Purple suggested, idly twisting the plastic bag containing a gift in circles. SC seemed to like the idea, and nodded, quickly jumping down to the keyboard and tapping typing in 'Mimecraft mobs'. Sure it had a spelling error but SC was sure it wouldn't change the results as they clicked 'Enter'. After a few moments of loading, the screen changed to results for 'Mimecraft mobs'. Purple thought it was a little (adorably-) silly they had misspelled a word like that but jumped up to tap the images button and soon enough mobs showed up. Pigs, chickens, zombies, endermen too. "Now let's see here.... Piglin? Naw, too tall. Chicken? We've already done that, and too easy. Hmmm," SC scratched their head as they slowly scrolled through the images.

Suddenly Purple pointed at one, catching both their attention, "What about an ender dragon?" Sure it was a mob Purple associated with one of their first betrayals to the color gang, something they regretted but refused to speak to anyone about, but they couldn't deny it was one of the more cooler and majestic creatures of Minecraft. "SC thought for a moment, thinking over if the difficulty of making an ender dragon and how big it was. They might need to have their own files to build in just to have room. "That's actually, not a bad idea, let's go with it for the first round and decide the next rounds later," He clicked the image, and began grabbing blocks from the Minecraft block and dropping an equal amount in 4 piles on the desktop.

"That should be it, you can take a seat on the floor, sorry, there was heh, an accident with the last chairs last building contest," They nervously chuckled, who knew chairs made great weapons for angry green stickfigures? Purple was curious, but took a seat regardless. SC whistled, and the door opened as Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue sprinted over to the piles, grabbing them without a second thought and looking at the image pulled up. "You all know the rules, but this time will be a bit different, you'll each have to build in your own files because of how big the ender dragon is, you'll have extra time to build, and Purple here, will also be a judge!" SC switched to the tab with a timer on it, adding several more minutes to it before beginning the countdown, swiping their hand down on 0 to initiate the round beginning.

RYGB jump into their own empty files for building in, and came out every now and then, looking back at the image for reference as SC soon retired to sitting down beside Purple, watching the stickfigures argue s couple times over who stole who's blocks. "Hey umm, Purple?" Purple didn't turn from watching the chaotic building process, but let out a hmm in response. Fortunately, them doing this meant they couldn't see the tiny blush SC had as he messed with his hands, glancing back at Purple's empty one. "I'm really glad you're here, it's nice to have you here. I know things might be a little tense at times because of what's happened, but that was the past, we've all done our forgiving and truces, so I want you to feel comfortable here! You're welcome here whenever," SC said, trying to focus on anything else than Purple(and how much he loved them, and how much he wanted to confess their feelings but was too much of a coward to do so-). Purple turned toward him sometime in-between him speaking and smiled, their own tiny blush coating their cheeks. (Internal thoughts of these two: AAAAAAY MY GOSH?? HE'S/THEY'RE SO ADORABLE?? AAAAA-) "Ah, well, I'm definitely comfortable with you, so yeah, definitely welcomed heh," Purple chuckled, awkwardly placing their hand on their neck, and god when did they get this sweaty? Why the hell did they say that? SC opened their mouth to comment but was swiftly interrupted by Purple grabbing the plastic bag they had the entire time but had not opened. "Ah, I nearly forgot! These are for you, well us. Ack, I mean everyone! I made these yesterday and had way too many leftovers, so I thought I'd share them," Purple lied, they had actually made these specifically for them and SC to share, but they couldn't say that! It would sound weird to have them specifically only for them and SC, and a bit selfish not to share so they made enough for everyone last minute.

SC's eyes lit up at the sight of what was inside the bag, cookies, orange and purple frosted cookies. A weird choice of frosting colors but they did kinda make sense with Halloween in a couple months. "Purple these look great! I'm sure everyone else will love these," SC said, grabbing the cookie Purple passed to him and taking a bite of it, letting out a small him at the sweet taste as they paced their eating (not me projecting onto SC by not having self control with cookies-). Purple hadn't tasted theirs yet, too busy trying to control their pounding heart, god was SC always this adorable? God they were going to pass out from how hard their heart was beating. SC had quickly finished their cookie, and the desktop quickly fell into an awkward silence. Where were the rest of the color gang, it had been a while since any of them came down to check the image. A forced cough caught both stickfigures attention as they noticed, weirdly enough, RYGB were in front of them, maybe they all finished? But it was too soon, and all at the same time. Regardless, SC paused the timer and went up into the first file, Red's.

Get.

That's all there was, the word Get. Made out of purple wool blocks. "Ummm, Red, this wasn't the prompt?" "I know! We made a collaborative entry." "Well that means we'll be scoring on a score of 1-10 then," SC closed the file and opened the next, which held a similar creation, this time being made of orange wool and being the word 'together'. Weird. And the next file was just the word 'Already'. So far if the last file was like this then he'd have to give it a 0. What were they doing? SC opened the last file, Green's, and nearly paled at what he saw. Inside was an actual structure, but still made out of orange and purple wool. What was this structure? Two stickfigures, kissing, an orange and purple stickfigure to be exact. SC, now with the full image, out together the first three files and realized what it was, 'Get together already' a message directed at him and Purple. Made more clearly by the four stickfigures saying it in unison. "Get together already, god, the amount of romantic tension between you two is suffocating," Green said, a cheeky and smug grin on his face. SC had an embarrassed blush as he turned to Purple, fearing their reaction. He couldn't tell, but he assumed it was bad, Purple was covering their face as they avoided eye contact with not only SC, but the rest of the stickfigures. A tenser silence followed as SC hesitated to confess or even speak to purple, eventually just clenching their first by their side and closing the file. "...5/10, Purple?" "5/10" The rounds followed like that, tense and in silence, the two flustered stickfigures sat a ways apart from each other.

Eventually, it was declared Green as the (usual-) winner; Purple had needed someone to help with making another email back to their computer and SC had been the unfortunate one left to do so as the rest were cleaning up the blocks and files from the contest. Purple stood behind SC as he typed in the email, neither breaking the silence until SC had finished, "Soooo, umm goodbye, I guess, sorry about earlier today, I didn't know they were planning this I swear, soo umm, yeah," SC stared at anywhere but Purple's face, anxious of looking at them and seeing they might have a look of disgust, anger, or downright hatred. He knew he was probably over exaggerating their reaction but he couldn't help but fret over it. Purple walked by them, towards the email, not making eye-contact either, SC's heart shattered a little, he knew it, they must of hated him. Sagging a little and begining to walk away, he was very surprised when something grabbed his shoulder and pecked his cheek, "I- I've been wanting to do that for a while now, heh. Tell the others thanks for the push I needed to let you know how I felt, "SC stood, gawking and severely confused as he tried to process what had happened.

Purple laughed at their confused expression as a blush of their own began to manifest. They began to walk away, waving at SC, in a stiff-manner so weird he moved like a robot a bit. He hit the send button as his blush that had grown once he realized what had happened, flushed his entire face and he covered his face, a goofy grin spreading across it. Later that night though as SC laid in bed, he pulled his phone out and went to his contacts. Clicking on the one listed 'Purple'. He changed it to 💜Purple💜. A tiny blush adorning his cheeks as he thought of them and where their relationship might go from here, he eventually fell asleep.

Words that made me cringe writing this: blush, goofy grin, cheek, Purple. Bleugh, I've written too much cheesy fluff and now it just feels overly sweet/generic. ): But still, although not my greatest work, it's still y'know, work lol. Now shhshshshshsh, my tea is tea. I hate that I struggled writing one of my favorite ships, my brain is just very not big brain atm.