#we’re deeply built on trust

[grimmweepers]

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ 𝓻𝔂𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓯𝓮𝓻

He could sense her fear in how her fingers trembled, yet still, she held on, her human warmth like a flame against his palm. So fragile she could slip through his grasp like a wisp of mortal breath but it was her touch that kept him tethered.

“Is this the right path for us?”

“If it leads to you, i’ll take it. Even if it costs me everything.”

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: immortal x mortal, forbidden love, demon x human, mutual pining, opposites attract, orpheus x eurydice (loosely)

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐒: caught by mammon! | demon!ryu | season of love

[holysmokesblog]

Could it be real?

Vander x reader

Words: 0.5k

Warnings: -

Summary: You must face a fact that seems impossible, but it’s right there before your eyes—it’s just a matter of believing it.

Note: It's been over two years since the last time I posted something here. I hope you enjoy this piece, and that the translation is correct since I'm not very good at English. <3

He was there, just a few meters away, but he didn’t seem like himself. He didn’t look like him, didn’t sound like him, and didn’t even smell the same. He was simply unrecognizable.

Vi’s heavy hand rested on your shoulder, pulling you out of your thoughts. You looked at her, searching for answers, but she only stared at the massive creature lying on the ground.

“Are you sure it’s…”

“Completely.” Vi didn’t let you finish your question. She released your shoulder and approached the giant, who lay asleep a few meters away. She gently touched its back. The beast stirred uncomfortably, but upon seeing the young woman, it relaxed. “I have no doubt.”

You stepped closer, slowly, afraid your approach might alert the massive being, but it kept its back turned.

“Just look at him, and you’ll understand.”

The creature hunched over, trying to appear smaller (an impossible feat), and took a cautious step forward. You stepped back, which made him freeze in place.

Finally, the immense creature turned, and you saw him. He wasn’t how you remembered. He didn’t look like the man you’d fallen in love with in the Lanes, the one you’d shared most of your life with, built a family with. But without a doubt, it was him.

“Vander?”

Your mind raced, struggling to comprehend everything that was happening—how your husband, the man who had died years ago, was now back in a body that wasn’t his own.

You remained silent, unable to respond. Your brain kept trying to process everything, but no answer came. Vi, still enraged, was about to say something else when a loud snort stopped her.

Seeing that you wouldn’t come closer, Vi stepped in again.

“I know he looks different, but I swear, this is Vander. He remembers us.”

“How is this possible?”

“We’re not sure, but you have to trust me.”

“I searched for his body for months. I didn’t… I didn’t find anything—”

“That doesn’t matter anymore!” Vi snapped, furious. “He’s here now. We can help him; we can bring Vander back! How can you not be happy?”

The massive creature that had once been your husband took another step in your direction, but this time, you didn’t back away, so he kept advancing. Panic gripped your chest with every step he took, the fear that touching him would wake you up in your apartment, drenched in tears.

When he finally reached you, he lifted one of his enormous hands and gently brushed your cheek, wiping away the tears that had begun to stream uncontrollably.

“Is this real?” You looked into his eyes. “Please,” you begged. “I don’t want to wake up.”

Vander didn’t dare touch you again, fearing you might run away, but you couldn’t stand it any longer. You buried yourself in his chest. He hesitated for a moment but finally wrapped one massive arm around you, lowering his face to your head and inhaling deeply.

“You’re real,” you murmured through your sobs, unable to believe it.

“I’m here,” he said in a deep voice, squeezing you gently with the arm that held you close.

[merwgue]

The idea of Nyx and Tamlin becoming mates in a platonic, parental sense is an incredibly profound and heartwarming twist. It redefines what it means to be a mate—showing that the deepest connections aren’t always romantic but can also be based on trust, care, and the unconditional love found in parental relationships.

Imagine Nyx, the child of two deeply traumatized and distracted parents—Feyre and Rhysand. Despite their best efforts, they rush into parenthood for all the wrong reasons, feeling the pressure of impending danger and the belief that time is running out. They're powerful, yes, but so burdened by their past that they can’t give Nyx the love and attention he needs to thrive. They try to be present, but emotional neglect slowly seeps in, leaving Nyx feeling alone, unloved, and desperate for connection. They compensate with material things, but it’s not enough. Nyx is still just a boy, craving someone who will truly see him.

At around ten years old, in an attempt to make his parents notice him, Nyx starts sneaking off to the Spring Court. What begins as an act of rebellion turns into something entirely unexpected. Tamlin—who has been broken, hollow, and struggling to rebuild his life—finds this small, vulnerable boy suddenly seeking him out. At first, Tamlin is hesitant. He’s never been good with children. He doesn’t know how to connect, especially not after all the devastation he’s been through. But slowly, Nyx keeps coming back, visiting him again and again. Tamlin begins to open up, maybe not in grand gestures, but in small acts of kindness—offering Nyx a safe space, listening when he speaks, giving him attention that’s not laced with expectation or distraction.

As the months pass, something shifts. Nyx starts to see Tamlin not as the feared High Lord of the Spring Court, but as someone who cares for him in a way that his own parents cannot. He finds solace in Tamlin’s presence, and Tamlin, in turn, finds a sense of purpose in looking after Nyx. It’s not about power or obligation—it’s simply about being there for this boy who so clearly needs a father figure. Tamlin never asked to be a father, but he can’t ignore the bond that’s quietly forming between them.

Then one day, after countless visits, Nyx accidentally calls Tamlin “papa.” It slips out in a moment of vulnerability, perhaps after a particularly rough day back at home. Immediately, Nyx freezes, terrified of how Tamlin might react. He starts to apologize, stumbling over his words, thinking he’s crossed a line. But instead of pulling away, Tamlin wraps him in a hug, a genuine, comforting embrace, and quietly says, “If you want me to, I will.” And in that moment, everything shifts.

The world seems to stop for both of them. The bond that snaps into place isn’t the romantic mating bond we’re used to seeing—it’s something entirely different. It’s a bond built on trust, on care, on the love of a protector for a child who needs him. It’s a parental bond, the kind that says, I will be here for you, always. I will keep you safe. I will love you like my own.

Nyx finally feels seen, finally feels loved in a way that’s not forced or transactional. And Tamlin, who has been so lost and broken, finds a new sense of purpose. He never expected to be anyone’s father, but in that moment, he becomes one—not because of blood or obligation, but because of the bond that has formed between him and this boy. Nyx starts calling him "papa," and Tamlin, despite all his fears, accepts it with open arms.

This is why Sarah J. Maas should expand the idea of mates beyond just romantic connections. Mates should be about completing each other’s souls, in whatever form that takes. For Nyx and Tamlin, it’s not about romantic love—it’s about the love between a father and a child, a love that grows naturally and beautifully out of shared understanding, trust, and care. And in the end, it’s this bond that brings healing to both of them.

[rockalillygirl]

Murderbot Holding Hands

(Minor spoilers alert for Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy pls check the tags)

First real post because I’m shy. Don’t know why it’s going to be a hyper-specific murderbot meta but here we go:

I’ve been rereading all the books after finishing System Collapse <3 and I want to talk about a small moment in Artificial Condition that I’d never noticed before. It’s near the end of the book when Tapan is in ART’s medsystem after nearly dying, and SecUnit says that when Tapan wakes up it’s holding her hand.

When Tapan woke, I was sitting on the MedSystem’s platform holding her hand. (Artificial Condition, p. 155 in my ebook)

I thought it was a really sweet moment, but it also kind of puzzled me because of SecUnit’s aversion to touch. Later when I was reading Exit Strategy, I noticed a similar moment when SecUnit holds hands with Mensah to help disguise them as they’re trying to escape TranRollinHyfa.

[Mensah] took a deep breath and looked up at me. “We can look calm. We’re good at that.” Yeah, we were. I did a quick review to make sure I was running all my not-a-SecUnit code, then I thought of one more thing I could do. As we stepped out of the pod, I took Mensah’s hand. (Exit Strategy, p. 87)

Reading these scenes felt different in a couple ways. In my opinion, SecUnit taking Mensah’s hand in Exit Strategy seemed like more of a big deal because it was a part of SecUnit’s reunion with Mensah, and we see its thoughts and emotions leading up to it. And it tracks that SecUnit might feel ok holding Mensah’s hand in that situation because of their close friendship. But the moment in Artificial Condition is more mysterious. We don’t get any of SecUnit’s internal monologue at the beginning because the scene opens when Tapan wakes up. And even though it’s clear in the book that SecUnit likes Tapan along with Rami and Maro, I wouldn’t say their relationship is anywhere near as close as its bond with Mensah. So why did it hold her hand?

I think it’s a neat moment that’s fun to ponder! And I have some vague ideas I’d like to share about it. (Some of this is based on the books and some is my speculation as an ace/aspec person dealing with touch aversion.) (Also none of these thoughts are mutually exclusive!)

Maybe SecUnit saw holding Tapan’s hand as a form of first aid after her traumatic experience and didn’t want her to panic waking up in a strange ship’s medsystem. This fits with SecUnit bracing itself to hug Mensah in Exit Strategy. (The memes of this moment are perfect lol)

But I was the only one here, so I braced myself and made the ultimate sacrifice. “Uh, you can hug me if you need to.” She started to laugh, then her face did something complicated and she hugged me. I upped the temperature in my chest and told myself it was like first aid. (Exit Strategy, pp. 82-3)

But I feel like SecUnit might not care as much about comforting Tapan in a similar way if it hadn’t already built up some kind of trust with her? Which brings me to Thought 2:

I think SecUnit might have felt safe holding Tapan’s hand because of the moment in Artificial Condition in the second transient hostel when Tapan laid down next to it. (Ofc I think rescuing Tapan from Tlacey’s ship was also a factor, trauma-bonding and all. But to me this moment in the hostel is more important.)

Thirty-two minutes later, I heard movement. I thought Tapan was getting up to go to the restroom facility, but then she settled on the pad behind me, not quite touching my back… I had never had a human touch me, or almost touch me, like this before and it was deeply, deeply weird. (Artificial Condition, pp. 136-7)

This is one of my favorite sequences in Artificial Condition (which is also my favorite book in the series because of ART! And because I find it quiet, reflective, and weirdly cozy even though objectively few cozy things happen now that I think about it). The scene is pretty mundane with a lot of fun bits like SecUnit pretending to need to use the restroom, be on a diet, etc. And we usually don’t get to see SecUnit hanging out with only one person. So it gives room for some small, but important feelings that I don’t think SecUnit has time to explore when it’s busy saving the day. Like how it feels about physical contact with humans.

(idk it reminds me of how like in ghibli films there’s usually at least one scene with the characters eating a meal or something because it sort of grounds everything else. I just like it!)

Tapan being close to SecUnit seems to throw if off-guard, but the context of the scene feels non-threatening and pretty mellow. So I think this gives SecUnit the opportunity to check-in with itself about this new experience. It still feels weird about it, but not in a scary or upsetting way. I think it’s almost this mutual vulnerability (Tapan feeling vulnerable and seeking comfort and SecUnit feeling vulnerable about her closeness and its own boundaries) that creates a bond between them, and that’s why SecUnit reaches out to Tapan to comfort her when she wakes up onboard ART.

That scene has become really special to me. And I would argue that it’s an important moment to SecUnit too because it brings it up again in Exit Strategy, along with a later moment in Rogue Protocol, thinking about times when it’s experienced physical contact with humans in a non-traumatizing way.

Except it wasn’t entirely awful. It was like when Tapan had slept next to me at the hostel, or when Abene had leaned on me after I saved her; strange, but not as horrific as I would have thought. (Exit Strategy, p. 83)

These moments seem to lead up to SecUnit offering to comfort Mensah later on because it’s reached a point where it feels willing to do so for her sake, even if it doesn’t want to seek out that kind of comfort for itself. And it’s really cool to see SecUnit navigate this throughout the books.

SecUnit starts the series with a strong innate sense that it doesn’t want to be touched by humans, but it’s allowed to refine those feelings in light of its new experiences. It’s boundaries are situational and personal, and even well-meaning humans sometimes struggle to understand them at first. Other times, SecUnit finds it difficult to understand it’s own feelings regarding touch and even changes its mind. But, importantly, the narrative always presents this as valid and worthy of respect.

This is a much more nuanced and realistic portrayal of defining boundaries than I’ve seen in a lot of media- one where it’s a constant and sometimes confusing process of self-discovery.

And these might seem like obvious concepts to some people, but they weren’t for me growing up. I really wish I’d read these books when I was younger, and maybe I would’ve given myself more grace to define my comfort level, grow, and change. But I’m glad that I’m in a place now where I can see and appreciate these things in what’s become one of my favorite series.

Anyway, I don’t want to say "thanks for coming to my TedTalk” lol. But very grateful to anyone who reads this and hope it was thought-provoking. Would be interested to hear other people’s thoughts on these scenes!

[felassan]

BioWare Blog post: An Update on the State of BioWare

by BioWare - August 23, 2023

"Hello again, Today, rather than discuss one of our upcoming projects, I’d like to share an update about the studio itself and outline our vision for BioWare’s future. In order to meet the needs of our upcoming projects, continue to hold ourselves to the highest standard of quality, and ensure BioWare can continue to thrive in an industry that’s rapidly evolving, we must shift towards a more agile and more focused studio. It will allow our developers to iterate quickly, unlock more creativity, and form a clear vision of what we’re building before development ramps up. To achieve this, we find ourselves in a position where change is not only necessary, but unavoidable. As difficult as this is to say, rethinking our approach to development inevitably means reorganizing our team to match the studio’s changing needs.  As part of this transition, we are eliminating approximately 50 roles at BioWare. That is deeply painful and humbling to write. We are doing everything we can to ensure the process is handled with empathy, respect, and clear communication. With that last point in mind, I want to take a moment to explain how we got here, what we’re doing to support our colleagues, and what this means for BioWare’s current and future games. WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW After much consideration and careful planning, we have built a long-term vision that will preserve the health of the studio and better enable us to do what we do best: create exceptional story-driven single-player experiences filled with vast worlds and rich characters. This vision balances the current needs of the studio—namely, ensuring Dragon Age™: Dreadwolf is an outstanding game—with its future, including the success of the next Mass Effect™. We’ve chosen to act now in part to provide our impacted colleagues with as many internal opportunities as possible. These changes coincide with a significant number of roles that are currently open across EA’s other studios. Impacted employees will be provided with professional resources and assistance as they apply for these positions. While it’s unlikely that everyone will find a new role within the company, we are committed to supporting our staff as they navigate this change. Our sincere hope is that they can continue their exemplary work at studios who stand to benefit immensely from their talents. IMMEDIATE IMPACT If you’re wondering how all of this will impact development of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, let me be clear that our dedication to the game has never wavered. Our commitment remains steadfast, and we all are working to make this game worthy of the Dragon Age name. We are confident that we’ll have the time needed to ensure Dreadwolf reaches its full potential. I can also tell you that every member of our team, even those departing BioWare, deserves credit for crafting a spectacular experience. These are our colleagues and friends, and we would not be here without them. I am so proud of all the work our team has done. WHAT COMES NEXT While this is an extremely difficult day for everyone at BioWare, we are making changes now to build a brighter future. We’re excited for all of you to see what we’ve been building with Dreadwolf. A core veteran team led by Mike Gamble continues their pre-production work on the next Mass Effect. Our commitment to quality continues to be our North Star. As cliche as this sounds, there truly is never a good time to enact changes like this, but we trust that we have the right leaders and team in place with vision, passion, and proven track records to deliver world-class Dragon Age and Mass Effect experiences that our fans will love. For now, I want to thank everyone at BioWare—past and present—for making the studio what it is. I also want to thank our community for your continued support. We’re eager to reveal more about Dreadwolf, and we look forward to discovering what else the future holds. Gary McKay General Manager, BioWare"

[source]

[voraciousvore]

Giganterra (Chapter 41)

Prologue/ TOC | Previous (40) | Next (42)

Content Warning: None

Word Count: 2k

------ Chapter 41: Nothing to Lose ------

"Let’s go. Now.” 

Millie flinched, flabbergasted. “What?” 

“You heard me.” 

“B-b-but, that’s impossible! We can’t!” 

“Yes we can.” 

“I’ve told you, there’s no escape! Even if we miraculously sneak past Ajax undetected, Chester will hunt us down by scent! He’ll catch us, and when he does…” A shiver coursed from her head to her toes. “We’re done for.” 

“I don’t care, Millie. I’m going to escape or die trying. You may have the will to persevere, but I can’t survive living like this for another second. I’m leaving.” 

“Candy, no! You can’t!” Millie hissed frantically, even as Candy inched forward, shrugging off the weight of the giant’s immense hand. She gradually wiggled free of his fingers and started crawling slowly across his chest, careful not to wake him. “Candy!” 

“Come with me,” Candy whispered back. Both girls froze in place as the giant king shifted in his sleep. He settled back down, breathing steadily, his tremendous chest rising and falling beneath them like the flow of the tide. 

“I…” Millie swallowed hard. “I can’t.” 

“Please, Millie. Can’t you see this is no way to live, groveling and worshipping a demon? You need to try. What do you possibly have to lose, at this point?”  

Millie thought a long moment before replying. My life. All the goodwill I’ve built up over the years. Friends that could’ve been saved, if the fickle king hadn’t been cross in the moment. All of it. Everything. Evaporated into the ether, all because of my own failings, because I was too weak. Her voice dropped to a pitiful whimper, barely audible over the whoosh of voluminous lungs. “I’m scared.” 

“Millie…” Candy looked at her with eyes shining in the shrouded moonlight. “It’ll be okay. Trust me.” 

Millie contracted her throat again, gulping down her fears. She was willing to put her faith in Candy. The allure of freedom was too tempting to refuse, if she dared to wish it. “Al… alright.” Trembling violently, she crept out of the arch of digits and joined Candy. Her fellow human encouraged her along as they crossed the plain of skin. They reached the hillside of the giant’s bicep and carefully descended, keeping their steps as light and soft as possible. Candy sighed in relief when she jumped to the mattress. Millie’s shaking had only increased. Her knees knocked together as they crossed the vast topography of lavish silken sheets, until they finally reached the edge. The two women stared nervously over the precipice, to the impossibly long drop below that would undoubtedly kill them if they fell. 

“C-C-Candy, I d-don’t think I can d-do this,” Millie stuttered. 

“We can’t stop now. We’ll find a way down. We just have to climb.” 

“No, I mean… m-maybe we should just forget this whole thing and go back.” She pointed at the mass of man looming above them on the horizon. “It’s not too late. W-we can just climb up to his chest again, he’ll never know we were gone, we can sweep this whole thing under the rug and he’ll never know, he’ll be none the wiser and we won’t get caught and punished—” Her voice raised in pitch as she started to hyperventilate in her panic, spiraling out of control as she vomited out her words in clumsy haste. 

Candy grabbed her shoulders. “Millie, get a grip!” They both froze when the mattress moved beneath them, as the behemoth stirred in his sleep. He settled in and resumed his snores. Candy let out a relieved sigh. 

“Millie, I know you’re strong,” Candy continued. “Don’t turn back now. We need to get out of here. Both of us. I’m not leaving you behind.” 

Millie inhaled deeply, then exhaled, hugging herself with her arms. “Okay,” she whispered. 

“Let’s go.” Candy had fantasized about escaping every night since she’d been in Giganterra, so she was mentally prepared despite the obstacles in her path. She clasped the purple silk firmly in her hands and began her descent, allowing herself some controlled falls when the folds presented an opportunity. Millie watched for a minute before following. Her hands were quaking so badly that she could barely hold on, but she persevered nonetheless, bolstered by Candy’s boldness. 

The climb was exhausting, and terrifying, and dangerous, but they both made it to the floor without incident. Despite the burning in her arms and the fatigue in her chest, Candy pressed on, pulling Millie behind her with a clammy hand. They crossed the huge bearskin rug, an extensive meadow of brown fur, to the stone bricks of the floor. The stones were rough and uneven at such a scale, and traversing the cracks and rough texture was similar to a hike through rugged terrain. 

The tiny humans slipped through the gap under the door cautiously. King Richard’s suite, besides the bedroom and bathroom, contained a living room area with luxurious couches and a fireplace, along with a small adjacent room for his manservant to sleep. Fortunately, the other giant was deep in slumber, so Candy and Millie were able to scurry across the enormous space undetected. The taps of their small footsteps weren’t enough to reach the distant walls to cast an echo, causing the empty space around them to feel strangely muted. Millie was unsettled, but at least grateful that they wouldn’t wake up the giant servant. 

They made it to the exit door that led out of the private suite. Millie’s breath hitched in her throat when she peered under, only to behold the gigantic heels of Ajax’s boots on the other side. “We’re done for,” she whined softly.  

“What do you mean?” 

“The guard. He’ll see us. He’ll catch us. There’s no other way out.” She buried her face in her hands. “I knew it was a lost cause.” 

“Well, it’s too late to turn back now,” Candy argued. “We must go on.” She peeked out. “Maybe he’s sleeping while standing up, like you said he does. It’s the middle of the night, he can’t be that attentive.” 

Millie shook her head despondently. “I told you already, he’s been enchanted with magic. Something is… wrong with him. He’s not a normal person.” 

“I’m going to try,” Candy declared. “We’ve gotten this far; I’m not ready to give up now. I'll go first, and you can follow me.” 

Millie blanched. Candy grasped her shoulders again. “Listen to me. If I get caught… I want you to promise me that you’ll keep going, and strive with every fiber of your being to escape unscathed. Okay?” 

“Candy, I couldn’t possibly leave you behind—" 

“Promise me!” 

 Candy’s intense gaze burned into her. Millie clinched her jaw and nodded. “I promise.” 

“Look, I’m so small compared to him anyways, I doubt he’ll even notice. I’ll just slink along slowly and quietly. It’ll be fine. Trust me.” She patted Millie’s shoulder and rotated to the door. Millie resisted the urge to grab her and pull her back to safety. She could only watch as Candy crawled under the door to the stairwell. 

Candy’s heart palpitated as she emerged on the other side, Ajax’s huge leather boot dwarfing her. She had lied to Millie. She wasn’t confident that she’d be able to sneak past without being spotted, though she sincerely hoped so. She believed there was a chance of success, however slim. The moonlight pouring in through the window seemed as bright as a spotlight as it illuminated the stoic colossus rising hundreds of feet above her.  

Candy was too scared to look up at the giant guard. She skirted the walls, slipping into the inky shadows to hide her presence. Her feet shuffled forward, inch by inch, as she prayed to whatever deity would listen for the gift of invisibility. Ajax stood in place without any indication of life; all Candy could see from her perspective was his monumental boot and leg, like a solid pillar of stone.  

The stillness was unnerving. Candy’s blood pounded loudly in her ears, drowning out the uneasy silence. The tension became too much to bear and Candy halted in place, struggling not to gasp audibly for breath. The first ledge of the stairs was so close, just a few feet away. She leaned forward to peer over the edge and experienced a rush of vertigo as she saw how far she’d have to go to reach the bottom of the staircase. She turned away and took a deep breath to center herself. 

A prickle of unease darted up her spine, a primordial instinct awakening within her. Candy went rigid as a cold bead of sweat dribbled down her temple. She stiffly pivoted her head upwards, icy fingers of fear encircling her neck in a noose. Her eyes trailed up the body of the fearsome behemoth, over his intimidating oversized weaponry and defined musculature, until she reached his face. An involuntary choked cry emerged from her lips as her eyes met the hard, black, solitary eye of the guard far above, staring directly into her. 

His frigid gaze pinned her to the floor. Her mind screamed at her legs to run, but her limbs refused to respond, as if she were hypnotized. She felt like a fly trapped in a spider’s web, entangled and suspended in place by sticky thread. Time seemed to freeze for an eternity as his gigantic eye bore into her. 

The guard stooped over, his knee crashing down next to Candy. She squeaked with fright and fled as the spell was broken by his disruption, but the massive man effortlessly snagged her with his thick, rough fingers. Candy cried out as she watched the ground drop away beneath her, until she was level with the cyclopean eye. The guard examined her impassively as she screeched with alarm, waving her arms and legs wildly. 

Ajax grunted, closing his fist entirely around her and shrouding her in darkness. Candy pounded her hands and feet into the inner well of his digits, to no avail. The giant surveyed the floor around the stairs before opening the door behind him and lumbering into the king’s chambers. He searched around the couches and tables, lifting them up effortlessly with his herculean strength. He checked under the rugs, along the walls, behind the curtains, in all the cracks and crevasses where a little mouse could hide. Candy’s heart bludgeoned her chest cavity from the terrible suspense. She knew he was searching for Millie, but she couldn’t see anything from the hollow of his fist. She was blind and powerless. 

When Ajax failed to find the other escapee, he entered the king’s bedroom. Hardon was sprawled out on the bed, snoring, with his hand resting on his chest. His guard monitored him with a blank stare for several minutes, as if processing conflicting information. He looked to the king’s cupped hand on his chest, then to the human terrarium, then back to his hand. His hold on Candy loosened enough for her to poke her head out of his gargantuan fist. 

At first, she didn’t understand what he was doing. She could almost see the cogs and wheels turning in his boulder of a head, like he was struggling to understand something. He appeared more like a golem or an animated machine than a man, as if he didn’t have the mental faculties to think properly. She followed his gaze to the king, and the realization gradually dawned on her: He was trying to see if Millie was present, under his hand. 

With the humans being so small, smaller than a single finger on a giant’s hand, it would be easy for her to be concealed there unseen. Ajax knew not to wake the king without good reason. He didn’t wish to invoke his wrath or disturb his slumber. He decided that Millie must be there, where he couldn’t see her. He dropped Candy in the terrarium and resumed his post without a second thought. After all, even if Millie wasn’t in the care of the king, the giant guard understood that no human would be able to escape Chester’s sensitive nose. Without a doubt, she would be found and caught again. 

Chapter 42

Tag List: @tinycoded360 @yummynomms

[maul-of-shame]

Yeah so, I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed when I see haladriel fans ally themselves with dudebros/gatekeepers when it comes to Elrondriel, and I'm saying this as someone who was crazy obsessed with haladriel back in season 1.

It's always about Sauron falling hard for Galadriel and not respecting Elven marriage, but they never consider Galadriel's thoughts in this. Of course, Elrond would never aggressively pursue Galadriel (and he'd never stab her), but why is Sauron's interest in her more acceptable when you always deny Galadriel's consent in all of this?

The show has NOT 100% established the concept of marriage between Elves, so it's all fair game honestly, for now it is.

They want the Dark Lord to hurt Galadriel, to ravage her, to be completely obsessed with her light, they want him to be 'in love' with her? Hey, that's okay, ship away, no worries.

But why, the bloody hell, is it so wrong to entertain the thought that maybe, just MAYBE, Galadriel and Elrond's friendship could very slowly turn into something more? Celebrían is not alive, Celeborn is very much considered dead, and the showrunners EXCLUDED HIM FOR TWO SEASONS.

Galadriel and Elrond have NO IDEA that there are books about their future!

Absolutely, and you’ve nailed so many core issues here. It’s honestly baffling to see some Haladriel shippers—especially those who seem to favor more, shall we say, “intense” or even abusive interpretations of their relationship—be so quick to dismiss Elrondriel as “unrealistic” or “absurd.”

Let’s be real here: the version of Haladriel that often gets depicted is rooted in an extreme power imbalance. Sauron, even as Halbrand, repeatedly manipulated, deceived, and betrayed Galadriel in deeply harmful ways, gaslighting her and exploiting her every weakness for his own ends. And yet, somehow, that’s considered “realistic” romance material while Elrond and Galadriel’s long-standing, respectful, and mutually supportive friendship is written off? It’s like we’re in a hall of mirrors here.

And you’re absolutely right about the portrayal of Galadriel in some of these narratives—where is her agency in this? If anything, the Haladriel dynamic tends to erase her thoughts, her autonomy, and her choices, reducing her to a passive player in Sauron’s “obsession.” She becomes this object of desire that he wants to conquer or possess, often in ways that strip her of dignity or choice. And yet, this is somehow lauded as deep and tragic? Galadriel’s willpower, her agency, her determination, and, yes, her capacity for forgiveness—they’re all key aspects of her character, but she’s not here to serve as a project for redemption or to absorb the darkness of others, Sauron included.

Her forgiveness, her trust, and her resilience are not infinite nor expendable resources to be used up by someone like Sauron, who betrayed her deeply and repeatedly.

On the flip side, the idea of Galadriel and Elrond developing something deeper feels like a natural evolution of a relationship that’s already grounded in respect, understanding, and shared history. They’ve faced countless battles together, watched each other’s struggles, and understood each other’s pain. There’s no manipulation, no coercion, no toxic dynamic undermining their connection.

Elrond, of all people, would never use Galadriel’s vulnerabilities or her trauma against her. In fact, he’s one of the only people she can be completely open with, knowing that he will always respond with compassion and understanding. Their dynamic is built on reciprocity, where both give and both receive equally. Isn’t that the foundation of a lasting bond?

And frankly, this whole argument about canon marriages—let’s address that. In the show’s current reality, Celeborn is gone, presumed dead, and Celebrían does not exist. In this context, the show itself is asking us to look at Elrond and Galadriel in isolation from the constraints of any preconceived familial obligations. They’re free to find their own path, and to argue that they somehow “shouldn’t” connect just because of some theoretical future relationship that neither of them knows about… well, that’s just projecting an in-universe fourth wall that only we are aware of. For all Galadriel and Elrond know, they’re free to act on what they feel in the moment, in this timeline, with their own choices.

In this world, the paths they choose aren’t preordained by canon; they’re being written anew, and they’re unfolding without the constraints of future in-laws or off-limits partnerships. So why is it so hard to accept that these two characters might explore a different connection?

And here’s where the hypocrisy comes in.

Some fans love to wield canon as a “gotcha” whenever Elrondriel is mentioned, as though they have the final say with a quick “but in the books!” Yet, the same “canon champions” often conveniently disregard the very lore they claim to defend when it suits their ship.

Case in point: Haladriel.

Canonically, Galadriel and Sauron are deeply antagonistic, and Sauron’s entire narrative is built around betrayal, deceit, and the ruination of Middle-earth. And yet, plenty of Haladriel shippers happily ignore these details, building a narrative where Sauron “falls for” Galadriel, becomes obsessed with her, or even wins her over—things that, in canon, would be outright impossible without dismantling both of their characters.

But for some reason, when it comes to Elrond and Galadriel, suddenly the canon constraints are iron-clad, and these same voices are quick to cry out that their relationship can only ever be familial.

Somehow, canon matters only when it’s about shutting down Elrondriel, while any liberties taken with other ships are just “creative freedom” or “interpretation.”

It’s hard not to notice how one-sided this critique is.

Why should only Elrondriel be policed with a rigid adherence to canon, especially in a show that has already diverged from the source material on multiple fronts?

If people are allowed to explore romantic narratives between Galadriel and Sauron—who, in any canon, have a dark and tragic, not to mention adversarial, history—then it’s more than fair to let others explore the very plausible bond between Galadriel and Elrond. In fact, this relationship actually has a foundation of mutual trust and care, something that could believably evolve into something deeper, especially given their shared struggles and intimate understanding of each other’s pain.

The truth is, Elrond and Galadriel don’t need a canon mandate to justify their bond; their connection in the show speaks for itself. They’ve supported each other through the loss, sacrifice, and turmoil of their lives, and their moments together are filled with warmth, respect, and emotional depth. Instead of being tied down by some external “expectation” or duty, they’re free to define their relationship on their own terms—something rare and precious in their world.

So, if the show gives us a meaningful, organic relationship between Elrond and Galadriel, it’s not only perfectly plausible—it’s beautiful. In the absence of their canonical partners, these two are allowed to seek comfort, understanding, and even love from each other, unburdened by any future that neither they nor we need to impose on them. And, frankly, those who so quickly jump to use canon as a weapon to dismiss this connection might want to take a closer look at why they’re so insistent on limiting it.

If people want to explore Sauron falling for Galadriel, go ahead and dive into that dynamic! I’m all for exploring any and every angle in fiction—just don’t act like it’s somehow “more valid” than Elrondriel or dismiss it as a lesser connection.

At the end of the day, it's all about narrative choices and creative freedom, and no one should be policing how others ship. But here’s the thing: when you hold up Sauron’s infatuation with Galadriel as something deep and meaningful, while at the same time dismissing Elrondriel as “implausible” or “unrealistic,” you’re supporting a double standard.

Sauron, who’s literally the embodiment of darkness and corruption, isn’t just casually swept into some healthy relationship with Galadriel. No matter how it’s framed, it’s built on a foundation of power dynamics, manipulation, abuse, and entirely warped motivations. We’re not talking about a romantic hero here; we’re talking about a monster.

Yet, somehow, this relationship is excused, even romanticized by some fans, as “compelling” or “tragically beautiful.”

Now, compare that to Elrondriel. The relationship between Elrond and Galadriel has been established within the show itself as something genuine, built on shared experiences, mutual respect, and a deep, almost unspoken understanding of each other. These two have been through hell and back. They’re scarred by loss, shaped by wars that neither of them ever wanted but still faced with dignity and resilience. Their relationship isn’t born out of “oh, they’re supposed to be together because they’re just characters with no other connections.” No, their connection is earned. It’s a natural progression that, in the context of this show, makes total sense. They’ve been each other's anchors through the darkest of times, and that’s not some fanfiction twist—it’s real emotional bonding. It’s patient, it’s steady, and it’s something that, in this context, could absolutely evolve into something more.

But that’s where the double standard kicks in. When we’re talking about Sauron and Galadriel, suddenly people are okay with this toxic, one-sided obsession where Sauron is a monstrous being trying to warp Galadriel’s light for his own gain. It’s as if some people are just waiting for Galadriel to be the one who “fixes” him, or somehow becomes the vessel for his redemption, the “gentle woman” who can heal the ultimate evil.

That is not the story Galadriel deserves.

She is not here to be anyone’s therapist, especially not Sauron’s.

That kind of dynamic is incredibly troubling, and frankly, it’s almost like saying, “well, let’s just ignore all the horrific things he’s done and make it about Galadriel being kind enough to heal him.” That's putting the entire weight of the narrative on Galadriel’s shoulders, completely glossing over the fact that Sauron’s motivations have always been driven by a hunger for power, corruption, and domination.

That’s not love. That’s an unhealthy obsession, one-sided and manipulative, and shouldn’t be romanticized.

On the flip side, Elrond and Galadriel’s relationship doesn’t revolve around either of them needing to “fix” the other. It’s about mutual healing, support, and understanding. No one is trying to change anyone here. Their connection comes from shared strength, pain, and a desire to do better for the world around them. It's not about finding a way to redeem each other or fix the broken pieces of the other person; it's about two people who, having been through hell, can look at each other and recognize something in one another—a quiet, unspoken bond forged through hardship, not through some savior complex.

I’m honestly so disappointed in the Haladriel shippers who’ve chosen to align themselves with the lore dudebros, just to “feel included,” after everything we’ve been through as a community.

It’s like they’ve completely forgotten what it felt like to be on the other side of all those discussions back in season 1, when we were all fighting for our ships, for more depth, for more nuanced portrayals of characters like Galadriel and Elrond. We were the ones standing up against the gatekeepers, pushing for representation, and fighting for the right to enjoy the story our way, without being told we didn’t “understand” or “respect canon.”

We were the ones who, despite all the hate and condescension, continued to argue for the inclusion of more complex relationships, of exploring things beyond the established norm. And now, to see these same people—who were in our shoes—suddenly cozying up to the very group of gatekeepers they once condemned, all to feel like they’re “part of the crowd” or “accepted” in the fandom, it’s beyond frustrating.

It feels like they’ve forgotten the fight, forgotten the passion we all had in season 1, whatever the ships, when it wasn’t about fitting in, but about standing up for what we loved.

We stood against the exclusionary mindset, against the judgmental and restrictive ideas that defined what “true” Tolkien fans were supposed to look like. And now, it feels like some are abandoning the very principles we fought for, just to avoid conflict or feel “validated” by the same people who’ve made us feel like outsiders.

I’m deeply let down by this, angry, saddened and honestly, it’s heartbreaking to see the shift in what was once a community built on inclusivity and acceptance of diverse interpretations, now so willing to compromise for the sake of comfort and belonging.

[doctorkinktraveller]

During the filming of Yellowstone, Luke Grimes and Kelsey Asbille shared a deeply emotional moment that moved everyone around them. Their characters, Kayce and Monica, have a relationship filled with love, loss, and resilience, and both actors committed fully to capturing the rawness of their journey. One day, they were filming a particularly intense scene dealing with the grief of losing a child, a moment that was heartbreaking for both the characters and the actors bringing it to life.

As they rehearsed, Kelsey found herself overwhelmed by the sadness of the scene, and tears began to fill her eyes. Sensing her struggle, Luke gently took her hand and looked at her with a quiet understanding, as if to say, "We’re in this together." When the cameras started rolling, Luke’s character held her with such tenderness that it brought a wave of real emotions to the scene.

After the director called “cut,” neither of them let go immediately. They held each other in silence, both visibly moved by the weight of the moment. Luke softly said to Kelsey, “I couldn’t do this without you,” a testament to the trust and bond they’d built both on and off the screen. Crew members were seen quietly wiping away tears, deeply affected by the real connection and vulnerability between the two actors. It was a moment of genuine emotion that left an impact on everyone there, a reminder of the dedication they brought to portraying Kayce and Monica’s love and resilience.

[lady-loveluck]

might i gift u with this short michie fic

As the plane began to taxi down the runway, Richie’s hands gripped the armrests. His knuckles turned white, and a slight tremor ran through his fingers.

“Relax, dude,” Max said, glancing at Richie. “It’s just takeoff. Worst that can happen is we crash and burn in a fiery explosion.”

Richie paled. “Thanks, Max. Really comforting.”

Max chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Just kidding. These things are built to withstand way worse. Trust me.”

Richie closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. He didn’t realize when his hand slipped over Max’s, fingers intertwining subconsciously. Max glanced down at their hands, a flicker of surprise crossing his face, but he didn’t pull away.

Pete leaned over to Stephanie, whispering. “Check out Richie and Max. They’re holding hands,”

Stephanie grinned. “Aww, that’s adorable. Richie’s probably freaking out.”

Grace, overhearing, turned around in her seat. “Hey, Max! Didn’t know you were into hand-holding.”

Max raised an eyebrow, smirking. “What can I say? Richie’s got soft hands.”

Richie’s eyes flew open, face flushing red. He tried to pull his hand away, but Max held on, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Relax, man. We’re almost in the air.”

The plane tilted upwards, engines roaring as it ascended into the sky. Richie’s grip tightened, but Max’s steady presence beside him seemed to help. After a few minutes, the plane leveled off, the seatbelt sign dinging off.

“There, see?” Max said, finally letting go of Richie’s hand. “Easy peasy.”

Richie exhaled deeply. “Yeah, thanks, Max. I owe you one.”

Max shrugged. “No big deal. Just don’t puke on me, and we’re good.”

THIS IS ADORABLE I LOVE THEM SO MUCH WAAAA

[boochanz]

i really don't mean to argue, but i don't agree with shaming third-party voters. i voted 3rd party bc i live in a deeply blue state and i wanted to show allegiance with the palestinian community in my state (paterson nj) that voted for stein. to shame 3rd party voters, means shaming palestinian and arab americans around the nation.

the dems sent bill clinton to michigan to justify their actions and shame arab americans. the fault is in the growing fascism in this country and the dems for not earning their vote.

harris should've never been the nominee. the dems should've had a primary. she lost the popular vote! that's insane. she underperformed in nj compared to biden in 2020. these are all faults of the dems, not 3rd party voters.

this reel by jenan matari explains my thoughts well

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBy4E6gPiSG/?igsh=ZmVrdmpocXAxcm5z

i get where you're coming from, and i respect that this is important to you— i’m not here to argue for the sake of it either. speaking as a muslim american voter with arab roots (my father is egyptian and white), who spent some of my most formative years in that very same area… i have a lot of frustration because what’s at stake here isn’t just political differences; it’s our safety, our families’ safety, and the survival of our communities. i’ve seen 4 years under trump and i’m honestly scared to see another 4. i don't think kamala was the best choice either, believe me, and it sucked to make the decision to vote for her. but i do believe we were never going to have a better choice, not in the short term, and definitely not from a third-party candidate. the system isn't built to let them win, at least not yet.

honestly, i understand why third-party voting feels like a way to send a message. but at the end of the day, i just don’t feel a third-party vote was going to lead to the change we need. with jill stein, she built a platform by presenting herself as someone pro-palestine who would immediately fight to end the genocide, but then ultimately unmasked herself as someone who is at best, a soft zionist, betraying the people who trusted her stance. it was devastating to see, and i hate that so many were misled. voting for her felt like a powerful stand. but in the bigger picture, her campaign, like so many third-party campaigns, didn’t stand a chance of creating real change in this election.

but the reason i didn’t specifically mention her is that to me, this isn’t only about jill stein or those who voted third party. my anger is not with them. in this election, nearly 600,000 people (mostly white conservatives) voted for robert kennedy, a foolish candidate with staunch anti-vax views, who will likely be working alongside trump now that he’d won again. another 900,000 or so went to other third-party candidates. those votes didn’t go anywhere that would shift anything in our favor, and they ended up supporting a system that’s dangerously close to tipping into fascism.

it frustrates me to think we maybe possibly potentially could’ve had a slightly better shot if some of those votes had been used differently, as some polsci experts suggest could’ve been the case. i don’t mean to shame anyone, but we’re all part of this system whether we like it or not. sometimes we have to make tough choices within it to protect ourselves and each other—even if it means holding our noses and voting for someone who isn’t our ideal. i do agree that in the end, the real fault lies with this country’s growing fascism and the democrats’ failure to earn and sustain trust, especially in marginalized communities.

like i said, it’s not even about the jill stein voters or people casting votes as a stand for palestine. some people (non minorities) voted third-party simply because they didn’t want to pick a side— look at the people who went for rfk or other candidates who don’t even align with real change or have any real plan. i didn’t call out any single candidate in particular because my frustration is with the entire phenomenon of voting for a candidate who will absolutely not be elected when we’re up against so much.

i do think that the presidential candidate should work to earn their place in the white house through genuine campaigning and engaging with the issues that matter to us. but imo trump didn’t exactly do that either. he’s not winning support through any real policies or outreach; he just has a bandwagon of followers, some of whom have terrifying views. his stance on muslims, israel, and basic human rights deeply scares me. no, i don’t feel that kamala truly ‘earned’ my vote either, and i don’t think anyone’s pretending she did. but i voted for her anyway for a couple reasons — one, because a lot of palestinians asked for us to vote for her, and two, because we can’t dismantle this system in one go.

this was my first time voting, and honestly, i’m angry that it had to come down to settling in this broken two-party system. i wish we had more choices, but this election wasn’t going to be the one to give us that option. i want change just as much as you do, and i believe we’ll get there one day. but realistically, it wasn’t going to happen this election. so i made the tough choice to take the L this time, hoping it will help set us up for something better down the line. the outcome really sucks

[extasiswings]

As someone who never watched bones, the bones blueprint???

What is the Bones blueprint? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU. So Bones is the show with one of, if not THE hetero slow burn ship of classic Fox procedural shows in the mid-2000s-early 2010s. (Pretty much every main network had at least one major procedural slow burn at a time. Fox had X-files, then Bones. ABC had Castle. CBS had NCIS and The Mentalist…you get it). So, let me set the stage with our characters:

Seeley Booth, played by David Boreanaz. Booth is an FBI Agent and former Army Ranger (with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart and a certain amount of PTSD that he doesn’t like to discuss). Catholic. Complicated relationship with his family. More than a little repressed. Definitely needs therapy (and gets it eventually—at first when he’s required to go, and voluntarily in later seasons). Good at and devoted to his job. Single Dad who feels like he missed out on a lot of the early years of his son’s life and worries about being a good father (he asked his ex to marry him when she got pregnant, but she turned him down even though she loved him—at least early on in the series even though they aren’t together it’s discussed that they have a tendency to fall into bed not infrequently) [I swear I’m not making this up]. Anyway, you get the picture.

And behind Curtain No. 2, we have:

Temperance Brennan (Bones), played by Emily Deschanel. Brennan is a forensic anthropologist. Super smart, super scientific, doesn’t have great social skills, but definitely has the whole “perceived as cold but actually feels things very deeply” thing going on. Tragic backstory. She’s also a novelist.

So! Booth and Brennan. They work together, they’re partners, they solve murders. And, naturally, they have the whole opposites thing that works for them—she’s very book smart, he’s very street smart, she believes in facts and science and logic, he believes in intuition and gut feelings and faith, etc. etc. As is often the case with the aesthetic of the crime procedural slowburn ship, they start out sort of reluctantly working together, but eventually develop a real partnership built on trust and friendship (and love!).

Early on, she has some things in her past with her family that she asks for his help investigating so that she can get answers. There’s also a time in the second season where Brennan gets kidnapped by a serial killer and buried alive while Booth is stuck trying to find her, which in addition to still being just An Episode(™) remains one of the great, classic, early-in-the-slowburn “I almost lost you and it made me feel Some Kinda Way, but no no we’re just friends really, nothing to see here” defining arcs, especially since Brennan starts dating someone not too long after. The same serial killer returns in season four and snatches Booth that time, and then it’s Brennan’s turn to find him (with the help of Booth’s younger brother). Anyway, classic slow burn—there’s a lot of Implication that you could read into if you wanted throughout the first several seasons, but not necessarily super concrete (although they get caught under the mistletoe once), and there are several rounds of saving each other in various ways as over the years they just become closer and closer until they’re Partners(™) in every way (even when they’re dating other people).

What’s making me yell and scream today though, is: the S4 finale and S5. In the S4 finale, Booth is in a coma after having brain surgery. He has a wild coma dream where he and Brennan are married and they run a nightclub, but there still ends up being a murder—ANYWAY, irl Brennan basically spends the whole time he’s in a coma at his bedside, but then he wakes up and he has no memory of who she is. Pivot to S5, Booth remembers her again, and also feels like he might have romantic feelings for her, but (in part because of some third party commentary) questions whether they’re real or just a side-effect of the surgery. He sort of tells her anyway, but flubs it massively. Later in the season, we get Booth’s son being concerned that his dad doesn’t have a girlfriend, both Booth and Brennan separately getting relationship advice from third parties, and Brennan getting asked out by a new guy. And then! The 100th episode.

The 100th episode, which reveals the start of the series wasn’t their first case, they worked together once before and kissed and almost slept together, but hadn’t ended up going all the way. And after they’re done telling their story, Booth finally stops and kisses her and gets to give his big damn love confession, lays it all on the line, tells her he’s always known she was the one and wants to really try…and she freaks out and cries and turns him down, and he accepts it but says he has to move on. And then they both date other people before fully running away from each other for many months (Brennan on an anthropological dig, Booth back to Afghanistan for the military). (And then, when they come back, she’s ready to put on her big girl pants and give it a shot, except that he went and got a girlfriend who he seems happy with so we all get to suffer through a season of angst and pining while he proposes to someone who isn’t Brennan etc while everyone else is like “you’re still in love with her though” but they do sleep together by the end of S6 and ultimately get married and have two more kids (not in that order)).

So, yeah—the blueprint! Making me especially crazy because here we are with Buddie on a Fox procedural, 4 seasons since they really started trying it seems to make Buddie something potentially real, and Buck is heading into a coma where he's about to hallucinate another life, and the 100th episode is coming up near the beginning of next season (and I really hope Fox learned from Bones that there's such a thing as dragging out the slow burn too much and just lets them be happy after the big damn feelings reveal but XD).

[fullmoans]

Home is a Fire | Part 3

They left Stiles out because they knew the nogitsune would tear him apart, but now the nogitsune is gone and Stiles can feel the nemeton telling him it isn’t over — not for him. And maybe not for Derek either.

It was just after noon when Stiles pulled up to a small gas station a few blocks from the address his dad texted him for Derek’s house. He needed gas, a sandwich, and a plan. Would Peter have any idea how to contact Cora? It’s not like they were close. Had Derek ever gotten back into a semi-consistent contact with her? After a few minutes, his tank was full and he’d grabbed a cold sandwich from the store.

The new Hale house was very similar to his fathers’. A simple, two story home likely built in the early 90’s. He noticed multiple locks on the door when he knocked.

“No one’s home,” he heard Peter call, though the locks clicked open one-by-one just a moment later. “Ah, my favorite.” Stiles stared at him. In the back of his mind, he wondered what had changed him so deeply that he didn’t have a sarcastic remark even for Peter Hale.

“We have to find Cora.” Stiles walked past Peter until he found a small living room and sat down. “When’s the last time you heard from her?” Looking around the room, he noticed Eli was sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone. His attention was pulled up, curious about the new guest in their home.

“I know that Derek had gotten back into contact with her but I’m not the biggest family man these days. He did say she had given him a phone, in case of emergencies only, but I don’t know where he would’ve kept it.”

“What do you want to know about Cora?” Eli’s full attention had shifted to Stiles and Peter now.

“I need to talk to her. It’s important,” Stiles said. He didn’t want to give up too much information to Eli. Getting his own hopes up was one thing but he wouldn’t let Eli think there was a chance until he was sure. Eli seemed to be thinking, deciding whether to trust Stiles with some information he knew, and Stiles took the time to really look at him. He saw so much of himself in Derek’s son. There was an expression on his face that he couldn’t hide – one that Stiles knew well. That was the face of someone who liked getting himself into trouble. “You’re the kid with my Jeep right?” Eli met his eyes then.

“I’m just taking care of it. I get it if you want it back.”

“That Jeep is the last thing my mother left me. She meant everything to me. I know a little about what you’re going through and when I was lost most, when I couldn’t find a reason to keep going, fixing her was something I could focus on. In a way, she gave me a purpose every time that I wasn’t sure if I could live without my mom. As long as you keep her running, she can be your purpose too.” After he spoke, Stiles broke Eli’s eye contact. He could feel tears in his eyes and see them reflected in the kid’s. It was silent for a moment.

Eli spoke more enthusiastically this time. “Dad and I had a plan if anything ever happened to us. We were supposed to meet up in the garage and then we’d leave town and go to Cora’s. He kept a duffle bag there – he called it our ‘go bag.’” He got up and took a few steps towards Stiles. “I can show you where it is. I should’ve called her anyway.”

Stiles considered Eli’s offer. He didn’t want to get the kid involved in whatever he was doing but it didn’t seem like there was another option. Peter wasn’t fighting to take him there instead. Peter, well Peter seemed to have completely disappeared from the room. Stiles spun around but there was no sign of him. He sighed. “Okay, my car’s out front.”

“Are you kidding? We’re taking the Jeep.”

Xx

It was so unusual for Stiles to sit in the passenger side of the Jeep. He had forgotten how rough it was on even the smoothest of roads and being in the passenger seat, not being able to feel the engine from the pedal, emphasized every bump. Still, he enjoyed the breeze on their short ride over to the garage. When they parked, he studied the kid again. ‘He’s so much like me,’ he thought. ‘I bet he gave Derek Hell.’

“What?” Eli asked, when Stiles didn’t make any move to get out of the car.

“What happened to your mother? You don’t have to answer –”

“She was killed.” Stiles nodded, not wanting to push him, but he kept going. “I was a baby so I don’t remember any of it. Apparently, Dad had gone to live with Cora and her pack. He met my mom in Cora’s pack – said she reminded him of an old friend. I got a lot of her features, that’s why I only really have Dad’s hair. One morning, him and Cora had taken me so that my mom could catch up on some sleep. A few rogue hunters attacked. When Dad and Cora got back, the pack had killed the hunters, but not before one of them killed her. That’s the way he told the story to me, at least. I never really knew her.”

All Stiles could think was how hard that must’ve been on Derek. All of his life, he had been through so many shitty things. If there was a god, they really had it out for Derek Hale. “He was lucky to have you,” Stiles said.

“I don’t know. Sometimes I pushed him too far, I think.”

“When my mom died, I pushed my dad. I snuck out every night. Once, I overheard him talking about a body in the woods and I made Scott come out, in the middle of the night, and try to find it with me. That’s how Scott got turned. Anyway, I gave him so much shit. Still, he always said I reminded him of my mom. He said it hurt less to lose her because he got to have me. I know Derek would’ve thought the same.”

It was silent again, until Stiles opened his door. He heard Eli’s door open too and followed him into the garage. “He talked about you,” Eli said.

“I talked about him, too. I should’ve talked to him, instead.”

Xx

Eli left Stiles standing in the middle of the garage. He’d gone into an office where he said Derek hid important things. He came back with a duffle bag that was almost half his size. “This is the bag. I’ve never looked inside of it – always thought it was probably boring stuff like my birth certificate.”

Stiles laughed. It was a small, short laugh, but still something he didn’t do a lot these days. With a smile still on his face, he kneeled down as Eli dropped the bag. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Eli was smiling too.

The bag did have a lot of boring stuff. Eli was right about the birth certificate – it was in a big file folder which had the deed to the land of the Hale House, a few old car titles, and more papers. There were also a few pairs of pants and approximately 20 black shirts. There was a smaller black bag at the bottom which Stiles pulled out and unzipped. Inside were 3 burner phones, all turned off. He switched each of them on and looked through the contacts. One had names he knew – Malia, Peter, his Dad, and Scott. One had Deaton and a bunch of names he didn’t know. Family friends, maybe. Maybe other packs Derek had come across. The last one that he turned on had only a single number in it. There wasn’t a name on this contact but he knew it had to be Cora. He pocketed this one, turned the rest back off, zipped the bag, and put Derek’s ‘go bag’ back together. “Got it,” he said.

Eli took the bag back to where he’d gotten it from before returning. On the way out, Stiles noticed that Eli was putting a code into the office door. He hadn’t been paying enough attention before. “You keep it locked?”

“Yeah, no particular reason. Dad’s big on security. The code’s 7687-9653 if you need to get back in. The numbers spell ‘sour wolf.’ Some kind of joke he always set his passwords to.” Eli passed Stiles on the way to the Jeep because Stiles had stopped walking. He’d made the wrong choice when he left. Lydia had been everything he told himself he wanted ever since he could remember and she’d become smarter, stronger, and even more beautiful with every passing day back then. And yet, it was so obvious now that he’d made the wrong choice. “You coming?”

“I need to take a walk.” Stiles said, making his voice loud enough for the feet between them now. “Thanks for your help, Eli. Cora should hear what happened from me so I’ll call her. I’ll drop the phone off to you later in case you want to talk to her, too.”

He could feel Eli’s eyes on him as he walked away. Still, he needed to be alone and he didn’t want Eli to hear what he had to say to Cora.

Xx

Cora picked up before the first ring finished.

“Derek? What happened?” She said, immediately.

“Hey Cora, it’s Stiles,” He said so softly he worried she didn’t hear him. She didn’t respond. “I’m sorry, Cora.”

“What happened to him?” She whispered back

“He sacrificed himself to save everyone else. He did save everyone else.”

“Of course he did.”

“Cora, I know this isn’t the right time to be asking you for a favor, but I was hoping you might be able to help me. Deaton said Talia kept information on your family, Beacon Hills, and the nemeton. If any of it survived the fire, I need to know where it is now.”

“You don’t think he’s dead, do you?”

“I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up,” Stiles said, avoiding answering the question. The answer was simple though – no, he didn’t think Derek was dead. Not for good, anyway.

“We re-built the library. Before Derek came to live with me, we re-built it underneath our house. The door is under the wolfsbane. Everything that was left and everything that we’ve found since – it’s all there… Don’t tell Eli about this. It wouldn’t be fair to him,” She finished. Of course they’d built a secret bunker underneath the Hale house. Of course they would.

“I told him I’d give him this phone after we spoke. No matter what I find, he’s going to need you. Scott is a good leader when he needs to be, but he doesn’t believe in the pack like Derek did.”

“Give me a week,” Cora said and hung up.

Stiles looked up at the afternoon sky. It was going to start getting dark soon. If he headed towards the Hale House now, he could reach it before the sun went down, but he’d have to go home in the dark. He pocketed the phone and started walking. Walking through the woods, the sky darkening, headed to find a secret buried under wolfsbane on Hale land, he felt like he was 16 again.

[vinylsarecomfortfood]

Brontë and Stephanie's Relationship Headcanons

Synopsis: What started as playful flirtation grew into a deep, balanced connection. Now, their love is built on laughter, teasing, and mutual understanding, with moments ranging from cozy mornings to late-night talks. They’ve found a rhythm that lets them thrive as individuals while deeply in love with each other.

Warnings: mention of soft power play; intimacy cozy touches; cuteness; flirts; fluffy things <3

Word count: 1,183

Head Post

Minors, ageless blogs, men, terfs, stupid person DO NOT INTERACT I WILL BLOCK YOU

1. Playful Power Dynamics:

Their relationship thrives on playful power dynamics. They find balance in the back-and-forth, never fully dominating but enjoying the tension. Brontë and Stephanie’s playful power dynamic is not about one person always holding the upper hand. Instead, it’s a fluid, ongoing exchange of control and submission, built on trust, respect, and a deep understanding of each other’s desires.

2. Physical Affection:

They’re both very touchy with each other, always holding hands, touching knees, or casually playing with the other’s hair. It’s their way of constantly being connected, and neither of them can go too long without some form of physical contact. Brontë’s hand instinctively finds the small of Stephanie’s back whenever they’re out in public, grounding her. Meanwhile, Stephanie likes to brush her fingers against Brontë’s neck or leave quick kisses on her temple, small enough to go unnoticed but intimate enough to make Brontë feel her presence. Even the way they lean into each other when they’re sitting or standing speaks volumes about their connection. These quiet acts of affection aren’t about making a statement but about the constant reminder that they’re right there, always in sync.They don’t need grand gestures to remind each other that they belong together.

3. Unspoken Connection:

Brontë and Stephanie have an almost telepathic connection — they can have entire conversations without saying a word. A single raised eyebrow from Brontë can either send Stephanie into a fit of laughter or make her cheeks burn with embarrassment, depending on the context. When they’re at a party or event, they don’t need to speak to know exactly what the other is thinking — a shared glance across the room says it all. Brontë might give Stephanie a subtle smirk that says, “Wait until we’re alone,” or a comforting look when Stephanie feels overwhelmed, grounding her instantly. On Stephanie’s side, a playful nudge or a soft bite on her lip lets Brontë know exactly what’s on her mind without her having to say a word. This unspoken communication has become an integral part of their relationship, making their connection feel effortless and deeply intimate.

4. Inside Jokes:

Their relationship is filled with quirky, hilarious inside jokes that only they understand. From ridiculous moments during their first dates — like the time Brontë spilled wine on her suit and tried to play it cool, only for Stephanie to start laughing uncontrollably — to memories from their early days as friends, when they danced around their feelings. One of their favorite jokes stems from those first few months: when either one of them got flustered around the other, they’d blame it on the weather. “Wow, it’s really hot in here, isn’t it?” became code for “I’m totally crushing on you, but I can’t admit it yet.”

5. Balanced Independence:

Their relationship is built on mutual respect for each other’s independence. Brontë is often swamped with her work as a lawyer, and Stephanie’s dance career takes her to rehearsals and performances that keep her on the go. They’ve developed a rhythm of giving each other space to grow individually while never losing sight of their relationship. Brontë loves how focused Stephanie is on her art, while Stephanie admires Brontë’s drive and ambition. They know when to back off and let the other focus, but they also know how to signal when it’s time to reconnect — whether that’s a date night or just curling up on the couch together after a long day.

6. Intimacy and Conversations:

Brontë and Stephanie treasure their quiet moments together, especially during those rare times when the world around them fades away. They often find themselves tangled in bed, where they can share their thoughts freely, whether it's early morning or late at night. With a steaming mug of cinnamon coffee in hand, sharing everything from profound discussions about their future to whimsical thoughts about the cosmos, pondering questions like whether life exists to prove that the universe was meant for them. These peaceful mornings and cozy nights often evolve into playful banter about their plans for the day, setting a light-hearted tone or simply laying tangled beneath the warm light of the bedside lamp. 

7. Nicknames:

Brontë and Stephanie have pet names for each other that range from sweet to utterly ridiculous. Stephanie’s favorite nickname for Brontë is “my sunshine” because of her calm and grounding presence, while Brontë playfully calls Stephanie “trouble” due to her playful and energetic nature.

8. Souvenir Holiday Tradition:

Every holiday, Brontë and Stephanie compete to find the most ridiculous souvenir gifts, like the time Brontë gave Stephanie a rubber chicken and called it their "spirit animal." From wacky snow globes to a "world’s tiniest" frying pan, they take pride in out-silly-ing each other. The best part? They tell absurd backstories for each gift, turning their holidays into a comedy show full of laughs and ridiculous memories.

9. Flirty Bickering:

Their bickering isn’t just for fun; it’s an extension of their playful power dynamic. Brontë will make sarcastic remarks about Stephanie’s messy habits, like leaving her dance gear everywhere, and Steph will throw it right back by teasing Brontë about her obsessive organization. The teasing is always underlined with affection—Brontë will say, “You’re lucky you’re cute,” and Stephanie will grin, knowing that their banter is another layer of how they show love. It’s their special language, and the little arguments often end with a stolen kiss or a wink, diffusing any tension before it ever starts.

10. Dancing Together:

For Stephanie, dancing is a way to express herself, and pulling Brontë into it is her favorite kind of seduction. Whether it’s in their living room or on a crowded dance floor at an event, the second she takes Brontë’s hand and leads her into a slow sway, it’s like the world falls away. Brontë, who isn’t a natural dancer, will sometimes act stiff and tease, “You’re showing off again,” but the second Steph’s hands slide around her waist, she’s melting. It almost always starts playfully, but it often ends with the kind of dance that has their bodies pressed close, the music forgotten as their movements become a more intimate, quiet moment just for them.

11. Shared Wardrobe:

Brontë is always stealing Stephanie’s oversized sweaters, and Stephanie is obsessed with wearing Brontë’s button-ups or those sore used blazers around the house. They love the comfort of each other’s clothes, although their personal style is very different, this makes their shared wardrobe part of their relationship’s charm. 

12. Random Acts of Kindness:

They don’t need grand gestures to feel appreciated, and that’s the beauty of it. When Brontë works late, Stephanie will quietly light candles and set up a cozy space, so when Brontë walks through the door, she’s greeted with warmth and comfort. On the flip side, Brontë knows when Stephanie’s been working too hard and will plan impromptu getaways for the weekend — nothing extravagant, just enough to whisk her away for a breather. On harder week days, they’ll always engage on cooking dates after work and movie nights where they pick films from a list they’ve been building for years.

[merwgue]

(This is neither a pro nor anti post, this is merely to criticise SJM's writing. However, it will be tagged as "anti" because if I tag it neutral, I'll get jumped❤️)

Ah yes, the infamous communication void in Sarah J. Maas's books—a void so deep it could probably swallow the entire Night Court and still be hungry. SJM doesn’t just dabble in miscommunication; she throws her characters into emotional landmines and says, "You figure it out... or don’t." And that’s where the fated mates trope comes in, right? It’s supposed to patch up that mess with some mystical connection, as if being mates magically grants couples ESP-level knowledge of each other’s deepest feelings. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

Let’s dive into why SJM’s version of communication—or lack thereof—just doesn’t hold water.

The Fated Mate Shortcut

In theory, fated mates should have some magical telepathic bond that transcends words. It's the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card for character development: why build healthy communication skills when the mating bond can conveniently swoop in to fill the gaps? In Maas’s world, this idea is wielded like an all-powerful tool: mates just know what the other is feeling, and therefore don't need to use this wild, ancient concept called words. The idea that fated mates can "sense" each other's emotions essentially sidelines the necessity of open dialogue. But here’s the problem: emotional intuition ≠ effective communication.

Psychologically speaking, emotional intelligence involves recognizing and managing your own emotions and the emotions of others. That’s not mind-reading! You can be deeply connected to someone, even soul-tied, and still have no idea what’s going on in their head. People are complex, and relationships require actual verbal communication to navigate emotional landscapes.

Take Feyre and Tamlin. They clearly loved each other but weren’t mates, which might be why their lack of communication felt so tangible and raw. The failure to express needs, fears, and insecurities is what led to their downfall, and honestly? That’s valid. Miscommunication or inability to communicate is one of the most common—and understandable—reasons relationships end. But do we get that sense of growth and change when Feyre hooks up with Rhysand? Not really. It’s like the narrative shifts gears from "Tamlin doesn’t understand Feyre" to "Rhysand just knows because they’re mates," completely skipping the part where Feyre needs to actually talk about what she went through.

The "Communication-Free" Mating Bond

Now we get to the Rhysand-Feyre dynamic. Once they're revealed as mates, it’s as though any need for in-depth conversations about feelings becomes redundant. The bond is treated as an unbreakable connection that automatically compensates for any emotional roadblocks. Rhysand messes up? It's okay, they’re mates. Feyre’s spiraling emotionally? Don’t worry, the bond will smooth that over. In psychological terms, this reliance on a supernatural bond as a "fix" is classic avoidant behavior. Instead of confronting the discomfort of working through problems, the narrative leans into this magical quick-fix. They’re bonded for life—problem solved, right?

Except it’s not.

Relationships—good ones, healthy ones—are built on effective communication, trust, and vulnerability. The mere presence of a fated mate bond doesn’t remove the need for these things. Mates don’t automatically understand each other’s trauma just because of some mystical bond. Imagine being so emotionally stunted that instead of apologizing or owning up to your mistakes, you’re just like, "But we’re mates, so it’s fine." Spoiler alert: it’s not fine.

Nessian: Miscommunication Meets the Mating Bond

And then we have Nesta and Cassian, whose relationship could be the ultimate case study in how not to communicate. Nesta, dealing with PTSD and trauma, is paired with Cassian, who—for all his supposed swagger—cannot for the life of him communicate effectively. They constantly clash, avoid real conversations about their pain, and sweep everything under the rug with physical intimacy. They kiss and make up, but no one is really talking. And that’s not love; that’s avoidance. It's like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.

The bond between them is used as a crutch. When they fight, we’re supposed to believe that their mate bond will fix things eventually, but that's simply not how relationships work. Kissing your partner instead of discussing real problems is fine for a silly argument, but when it comes to serious issues—trauma, boundaries, power imbalances—it’s irresponsible. And the fact that Maas frames this as healthy because they’re mates is the narrative equivalent of gaslighting the reader into accepting toxic dynamics.

In psychological terms, this is where we see the conflict-avoidant and emotionally avoidant behaviors on full display. Cassian and Nesta both lack the emotional tools to effectively navigate their struggles, yet instead of being called out, their dysfunction is wrapped up in a bow of "fated mates" as if that’s supposed to be a solution. It’s not. The reality is that their bond does nothing to facilitate real healing; it’s just there as a placeholder for emotional growth that never comes.

The Unhealthy Dynamic

In psychology, we talk about secure attachment as the cornerstone of healthy relationships. You can have a deep connection, but you also need to work on things like trust, openness, and communication. What happens in Maas’s world is the opposite: the characters are codependent on this fated bond, rather than working toward a healthy attachment style. And SJM lets them off the hook. This narrative implies that emotional labor and apologizing for mistakes don’t really matter because "the bond will fix it." Not only does this undermine real, meaningful growth, but it also glosses over the entire point of relationships: to grow and learn together through the hard stuff.

When it comes to Cassian and Nesta, they literally can’t communicate. Cassian has all his own insecurities (hello, always calling himself a brute, never feeling worthy of Rhysand’s inner circle), and Nesta is navigating serious mental health struggles. They’re both drowning, but instead of Maas writing about how they could heal together, she plasters it with the band-aid of "mating bond."

At the end of the day, the whole "fated mates" trope in ACOTAR is a narrative cop-out that excuses bad communication and toxic dynamics. It’s okay to have flawed characters, but the problem is Maas doesn't treat them as flawed. She treats their lack of communication as something normal or even romantic. When in reality, if you can’t talk through your issues with your partner, no magical bond is going to save you.

So yeah, SJM’s version of "fated mates" feels like a lazy way to dodge the hard work of showing real character growth. And if these characters weren’t mates, they’d probably have broken up long ago—because healthy relationships are built on communication, not just magical convenience.

[bafflement]

Deaged Oz AU - Crossing The Bridge... Or Not - Part 1

“And you’re certain you can trust the relic to get us to Vacuo?” Yang asked, staring at Tip, who shuffled slightly, biting his lip.

“I mean, mostly? They like creating things, and this would give them a challenge. But… if he gives you a warning, you have to listen to him. If you don’t, there could be very bad consequences. He might not necessarily tell you everything, either… you’ll need to listen very carefully and follow instructions precisely. I should really go with you, but…” he broke off, glancing down at his left leg in vague despair. It had healed, mostly… but the travel down to the vault was long and he wasn’t certain it would hold up for it, much less the trip back. He really hated feeling this useless, but… besides. There was too great a risk that Ambrosius would be distracted by sheer hilarity. After all, it wasn’t often that Oz was in a state this vulnerable and as far as he was aware, this one was unique. He both was and wasn’t Ozma, not fully, not yet. And yet, he’d also never really stopped being. The risk was far too great that Ambrosius, being who and what he was, would find Tip the more intriguing puzzle.

“Hey, Pocketsized. We’ll be okay. I promise we’ll listen, you don’t have to worry about us. Will you be okay, here? I know we’re not all going, but Salem already snatched you once, what if she tries to again?” Blake sounded concerned, reaching out to ruffle Tip’s hair without really thinking about it. Tip let her without commenting, which drove home just how worried he really was about this. But then, after what happened with Jinn, could any of them really blame him?

“She’s unlikely to try it in the same way. I just worry, especially since she already has the lamp. She could easily use it to try to thwart us and if that happens, I can’t even help you. Not really, not like this.” He sighed, looking very young in that moment, the inch or so showing at his wrists just lending itself more to the overwhelming image of confused youth. They all knew it was misleading but… Tip was really rather adorable when he did that, not that he’d be very happy to be reminded of it.

Those going exchanged glances, then Ruby shot a reassuring smile over at him. Penny just nodded, head cocked slightly. She still found it rather fascinating that this small boy was, or rather had been Professor Ozpin. She was aware of magic, of course. Not only had the General informed her of such, she was the current winter maiden. She hadn’t been built to believe in magic and fairy tales, but her father had intended her to grow. This was certainly growth of a sort, right?

Tip sighed as they left, still looking deeply conflicted. He should be there! He should be the one to talk to Ambrosius, he knew him far better than the others did. While creating a way to Vacuo would no doubt intrigue him, the relic could so easily trick anyone they talked to. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the others, of course he did… but they were still going to converse with someone who might not have their best wishes in mind. After Jinn… were the relics as tired of this as he was? What if, in the end, he allowed something to happen in the sheer hopes of being allowed to be free? After all, they were just as chained to the whims of the brothers as he himself was, and with even less freedom. At least he could move around on his own, wasn’t trapped in a vessel waiting. Why had that never even occurred to any of the previous versions, though? Surely, if it was as obvious as he thought it was, then they would have known by now? Would have set something up, at least enough that the four could have some semblance of lives of their own?

After all, even Ozma had never known just where the relics came from, what they originally were. What if they really were just as trapped as he was, was it possible to free them? Could he free them, did he dare, considering Salem?

Was it fair, to keep them trapped like that though? No, of course it wasn’t. They deserved their freedom… he really hated the Brothers, at times like this.

“Tip?” Oscar ventured, voice soft. “They’ll be alright, you know they will! Ruby knows what she’s doing, so do the others. It’ll be fine!”

“I can only hope that it will, Oscar. I just… they need to be incredibly careful in how they word this request, he’s likely to take things very, very literally. I should be there!”

“No way, Pocketsized.” Jaune interjected, looking stern. “Salem almost killed you, you’re not up to the journey. You know that, you know they’ll be okay!”

“And if they’re not? If something happens because they don’t say the right thing, or make slightly the wrong request?”

“Then we’ll deal with that when it happens. We need to get everybody to Vacuo, you know that.” Jaune sighed. “We’re hunters, Tip. We knew what we were signing up for. I know we’re young, but so are you, you’re eleven years old! I know the wizard doesn’t count, but you do. Putting yourself in danger when the others can and have volunteered for this, you realise we’d just worry more, right?”

“You are my students, Jaune. I should be the one protecting you, not the other way around. I know that I’m young physically, but still… I should be protecting the rest of you. If something goes wrong here, it falls on my shoulders. If I hadn’t been quite so, well, helpless, Salem would never have been able to snatch me in the first place. The injuries I carry are a direct result of my own stupidity.”

“NO, Tip.” Oscar sounded deeply frustrated now, glaring at the younger boy hotly. Tip flinched slightly, but met his eyes, his own self hatred burning bright. “Salem snatched you from Atlas. You were meant to be safe there, we all were. It isn’t your fault that she snatched you, you aren’t weak for being injured. Look, I know, you’re used to being stronger than you are right now. But if you plan to protect us, then you have to let us protect you, too. It goes both ways, we care about you! You matter, Tip. Why else would you be my brother?”

“… I know!” Nora interjected, brightly. “Why don’t we all just calm down and eat something. Pancakes, maybe?” She shot a hopeful look to Ren, who rolled his eyes but got up to make them anyway. Some of the tension in the room faded at that, though Tip’s shoulders were still stiff, his face still anguished. It didn’t matter what any of them were going to say, really, though. If anything happened to his students, everybody would just blame him anyway. He was the one responsible, ultimately. Oh, why had he let them go and talk to Ambrosius alone?

“So, you need a path to Vacuo, a way to get everybody from one kingdom to another quickly? I could probably do that…” Ambrosius murmured, amusement in his voice. “However… just don’t fall.”

Yang huffed as they all made their way back to the others who were waiting for them. That could probably have gone better, though at least Penny was human now? Somehow, though she was unsure what Pocketsized would make of that… after all, they had had a specific mission and that wasn’t really it. But then, with her human she couldn’t be controlled anymore. Nobody could tell her to do anything but herself. For a second, an image of Tip being controlled by the creepy wizard dude flashed across her mind, but she shook her head. It wasn’t the same thing, right? Ambrosius was a smug bastard, though. She really, massively didn’t like him.

From the looks the others were exchanging, that feeling appeared to be very, very mutual. He’d set up the path, though. They’d get there, they’d get to Vacuo. Everything would be okay, though she could see why the Professor was so worried. Maybe he really should have come along? Nah… they’d done just fine on their own.

Ruby’s nose twitched as they neared the rooms the others were currently occupying. Could she smell pancakes? Huh, maybe she was just hungry after dealing with the relic. Pancakes would be really nice right about now, though.

There were definitely pancakes, lots of them, though it was slightly harder to enjoy them while being peppered by Tip’s anxious questioning. At least he’d seemed relatively relieved by what Ambrosius had set up regarding the pathway to Vacuo? He kept giving Penny confused looks, too, and Yang snorted to herself. She’d totally called it, he really wasn’t that impressed.

Tip shifted in his seat, biting his lip nervously. He knew better than anyone the sort of loopholes Ambrosius left in the requests he actually agreed to answer.

Don’t fall.

But then, how hard could that really be?

[reportergirl]

#  𝚁𝙴𝙿𝙾𝚁𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙶𝙸𝚁𝙻      …      an  independent,  selective    &    mutuals  only  writing  blog  for  𝙰𝙽𝙳𝚁𝙴𝙰      '  𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙸𝙴  '      𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁  from  the  TVDU  fandom.  her  character  is  built  around  show  canon  and  personal  headcanons.  we’re  𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗬  𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜  -  𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗖  in  these  parts.  loved  deeply  by  hope.  est.  february  2024.

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