#will totes be the best knight

[antianakin]

Hey, I have a question to ask, and I'm gonna ask this to a few others cause I'm not a huge Star Wars expert on this.

Ever since The Acolyte aired, the jedi have been portrayed more as space cops. But, since when were they space cops? I thought they weren't like that. Am I wrong?

They AREN'T space cops, you're entirely correct, it's Leslye Headland who is wrong.

Here's the thing you have to understand about Leslye Headland and fans like her: they will claim to their dying day that they love the Jedi while sitting there talking about how the PREQUELS Jedi specifically were awful failures who doomed themselves by being heartless assholes who failed and/or abused Anakin and helped bring about the destruction of the Republic because they were simultaneously too political and not political enough.

When the Prequels first came out, they were received... poorly... by a large chunk of the adult audience. And it became a THING to hate the Prequel trilogy for a long time. After a while, people started deciding they didn't want to hate the Prequel trilogy, but they didn't actually LIKE some of the things in the films that were different from the legends canon that had already existed for years (primarily the way the Jedi had been interpreted), and so they chose to come up with interpretations that allowed them to "like" the Prequels better. The primary one that's become so popular as to basically end up considered the actual real intended message of the films is that the Jedi had become corrupt by the time of the Prequels, they were too old-fashioned and strict and stuck in their ways (specifically in that they forbid their members to love and were beholden to the Senate) and that this allowed Palpatine to win and Anakin to be seduced to the dark side, so they're the REAL villains of the entire story and the audience is SUPPOSED to dislike them.

In fairness to these fans, there IS a theme in the Prequels of an institute that's supposed to stand for peace and goodness being corrupted into an organization that is run by fear and greed. It's just that the institution in question is the SENATE, not the Jedi. And we spend a LOT more time with main characters who are Jedi, going out and doing cool fun Jedi adventures, than we do in the Senate with any of the known Senate characters doing political things. The only Senate character who could be considered a main character in the Prequels is Padme and a LOT of her more political scenes got cut from the films in order to focus on Anakin's story instead. Even in TCW, most of Padme's "political" episodes and storylines just devolve into action adventure plots instead. So it isn't hard to understand why people focused in on the Jedi and assumed that the story was ABOUT the Jedi rather than the politicians and picked up on a theme about corruption that was very much THERE and just misapplied it. But it's still wrong.

Leslye Headland appears to be one of those fans. A LOT of Star Wars fans of a certain age tend to follow this particular headcanon. Dave Filoni is another one of them, despite his reputation as George Lucas's "padawan" and the person who understands Star Wars the best after Lucas (spoiler alert: he's not).

So what we're getting in the Acolyte is a VERY intentional critique of the Jedi becoming more political I guess, more beholden to the Senate, and therefore becoming more like "space cops" instead of... I don't know... space Knights of the Round Table maybe? I think there's this concept that the Jedi should be more free spirited like... fairy god parents wandering the galaxy just handing out random miracles to worthy people and smiting the unworthy or some shit instead of being intergalactic ambassadors for the Republic, helping to resolve conflicts with legal backing and power.

This is something that's been around for DECADES now. It's in plenty of other books and comics that have come out during and since the Prequels, it's in TLJ, it's in TOTJ and TOTE, it's in the Ahsoka show, and now it's in The Acolyte. And it's obviously floated its way around fanfiction plenty, too. It's almost impossible to avoid if you talk to any other Star Wars fans from that age group (and even honestly fans YOUNGER than that age group because a lot of the older fans basically taught their children and younger siblings to hate the Prequels or that the Prequels were about the corruption of the Jedi, or younger fans just picked it up via osmosis if they spent almost any time within fandom the way I did). But it's becoming a thing that newer shows are really hammering in as if it's real canon. Headland genuinely believes that it is and we know that to be true because she's flat out SAID THIS in an interview she gave before the show aired. She 100% believes that the point of the Prequels, George Lucas's intended message in those films, was that the Jedi were corrupt and had fallen from grace. Her show is written with this misinterpretation of the films as a foundation for how she portrays the Jedi.

And that's how you get the Jedi suddenly feeling like "space cops" when that's so very clearly not what they are in anything Lucas ever created.

[dutiful-wildcraft]

Lies and Alibis

Part 2, Previous, Next

Nikolai/Plus Size F!OC

This one's a bit longer! Nothing to scary, but their is some violence. Again this is a bit silly and very self indulgent, please enjoy!!!

banner by @/une-femme-de-lettres

Life or death situations really do sober you up, which is really handy considering very big men with very big guns were now looking for her. She tries not to tremble too badly as she scans the bathroom for something, anything really to help her.

Best case scenario, she escapes with all her limbs intact. Preferably. 

Worst case scenario, they bust in and simply kill her then, a quick bullet to the dome. There were certainly more worse scenarios…but there was no time to line all those details out. She shudders. 

Think think think.

Locking the door would only make her presence inside more obvious. 

Find a weapon? She's seen broads in movies use the ceramic back of the toilet as pretty solid weapon before, she knows if she clocks someone just right it would at least knock them out. 

She peers into the stall, and of course there isn't one. Stupid automatic flusher. 

She turns again, eyes the small windows lining the far wall and nearly curses. She couldn't even fit her tits through the opening let alone the rest of her. Who the fuck even makes a window like that?

She can hear more yelling outside, and her heart pounds. She wasn't going to make it out. Not without someone seeing her.

She’s desperate, mind racing as a very hairbrained thought occurs to her.

If she was going to die cartoonishly, her fat ass wasn't going to be shot to swiss cheese hanging out of window she most certainly was going to get stuck in. Instead she works the glass pane open, pushing it as far as it could go before peeling off her heels and tossing them haphazardly onto the floor below the opening. 

With the clock ticking she scampers on bare feet into the handicap stall, leaving the door open a crack and climbing onto the toilet in the far corner. She was thankful that nicer bathrooms didn't have a crack a mile wide between the frames. She hunkers a bit, feet on the bowl with her ass resting against the wall to brace her. 

This was stupid, really.  Beyond stupid, suicidal even. But her mama did not raise a quitter. 

The door opens and her heart catches in her throat. She holds her breath as a pair of footsteps echo against the pearly tile. One set coming closer as the other kicks open the other closed stalls ahead of her. Oh god. She was going to die like this. On a toilet, Elvis style. She almost starts to cry, clutching her hands over her mouth to stifle her trembling breaths.

I escaped, I escaped. 

A voice rings out in the quiet, disbelieved barking.

“Blyat, Sbezhal!!”

What.

More cursing. A frantic phone call, and hurried steps out of the bathroom follow.

She waits. That…that seriously worked.

Holy shit. That worked.

She climbs down on shakey legs and puts an ear to the door, listening carefully for any more noise. The commotion must have cleared the place, and she cracks the door into the dead quiet. She'd planned to bolt, hit the door and run for her fucking life, but she thinks of her knight in glittering gold jewelry.

She doesn't know why now out of all times she feels guilty for a random russian mobster. He couldn't have been too much better than these other men, and for all she knows if it was his business she was poking into he would have had her murked too.

He helped you.

For reasons unknown, or perhaps even nefarious, but she didn't know that, just like he didn't know having her on his arm would get him a gun stock to the face.

Her eyes flicker between the door to her escape and the long hallway they'd taken him, and she sighs, long and ill suffering. 

-

This is beyond stupid, she grouses inwardly, crawling her way underneath another set of hallway length windows in an effort to not get her head blown off by the rifle toting jarhead she'd seen walking the perimeter. 

She didn't have much besides “Grab Nikolai and Leave”. The details around even that fuzzy, not to mention the man may or may not be dead…or at minimum very angry with her. She pauses dead for a second, a little spinning wheeling flashing in her mind's eye as she slowly works that problem out.

…maybe he won't be so mad if she helps him. He could at least get them out of there and hunt her another day. 

Too late to go back now. 

From what they could tell they were searching the woods for her. What remnants of the dinner party left long gone in the aftermath, with just a few men and her knight left. 

She continues following the trail of blood and black skid marks from well polished shoes down fancy tiled corridors. Pausing around the corner as the sound of wet thuds and pained grunts hit her ears, followed by more seething russian.

Words so snarled she can barely understand. Something about her, betrayal, stupidity. Their captive rasps. Feigning ignorance.

No, not feigning, telling the truth. As the familiar voice definitely belonged to Nikolai, a light edge to it despite his predicament. Her heart pangs with guilt. This was definitely her fault.

She's fully prepared to play the waiting game, find a place to hide until at least one of the guards leaves the room. That is until she hears the light tap of a shoe on tile far too late, turning just in time to catch the pistol careening with her face.

-

Fucking, ow. 

Her head bounces off the marble and she sees stars, body laying limply on the floor as she attempts to reboot.

He'd definitely busted her head open, hopefully she wouldn't need stitches, but probably considering she could already feel the blood slipping into her hairline. 

And as she takes stock of herself, she realizes that he definitely thinks he's knocked her out, judging by the way he bitches, grumbling about her weight before unceremoniously grabbing her ankle and dragging her along.

She bites her tongue, forces herself to fall limp despite the radiating pain in her skull. Cracking like lightning as her head thunks between the grout. 

Eventually she's stopped, her thick leg flung hatefully to the floor as a door slams behind her. She keeps still. Listening. There was another, ragged labored breaths. She dares to crack her eye just a smidgen, taking in the blurry visage that was Nikolai, his limp black locks hiding his face from her view.

Okay. Target located. She hadn't necessarily planned playing possum to get there but hey, a win is a win. 

Win number two, a knocked out fat girl was apparently not threatening enough to justify security. Her arms and legs left splayed lifelessly beside her and undisturbed.

The door clicks again. Followed by heavy footsteps.

New problem.

She cracks her eye again, watching the guard stalk back and forth through the blurred slit of her eyelids. His back, thankfully toward her. 

He's yapping again, yanking Nikolai back by the hair to sneer. Monologuing as power hungry idiots are wont to do.

Her eyes scan the room fully now. She can make this work. He's bigger than her but she's got enough ass to swing hard if she needs to. Enough pressure in the right place can knock anyone out. Jaw, temple, base of skull, she lists. 

Her eyes search, lamp, chair, paperweight, all doable but loud….her eyes fall just above her. Pretty velvet curtains tied back neatly with thick, golden tasseled chord. Bingo.

Keeping her eyes glued to her chatty assailant she reaches upward, fingers barely grasping at the silky strands before tugging it down the length of the curtain, catching it swiftly before it could thunk against the floor. 

She'd needed to be quick for her next trick. She eases herself up. Wrapping the chord around both palms, steeling herself for what could very well be the worst decision she's ever made. Cut off blood supply, crush his windpipe. She pictures the anatomy in her head, and before she can bitch out she lunges, throwing the chord around his throat and yanking.

There's a choked gasp as she twists, turning her body 180 and pulling down sharply, attempting to use her own weight to assist in strangling the man. He thrashes against her back, nearly toppling them both over.  She's too short, his legs still able to scrabble against the ground.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

She twists again, maneuvering her arms to twist the makeshift garrote around his throat into more of a noose. They both stumble in the struggle, falling to the floor in a heap. 

Absolutely fucking not.

She scrambles, keeping the chord pulled taut around the guards neck as she kicks her feett out, planting them both against the man's shoulders and yanking with all her might. Keeping her legs stiff and holding onto the chord for dear life, palms straining as she simultaneously pushes and pulls.

He really flails now, legs kicking and eyes bulging. Dull nails drawing blood against her calves and ankles where he fights to claw her off. She'd be impressed with his tenacity had she not been fearing for her own life. How fucking long did it take to strangle someone?

“Pull harder, zaychonok” a voice rasps over the gurgling and choking in the room. Nikolai.

And she does, grunting with the effort as she pushes with her knees, keeping the chord pulled tight against her chest, whole body beginning to tremble with the effort. 

“pull, keep pulling, more, more”

The man at her feet tries to howl, frothing and flailing desperately before there is a sickening pop. His body falling limp and silent. She sags, panting harshly, letting her cheek rest against the cool tile of the floor. Her hands throbbed, burned and bloodied from the rope, but she was alive, blessedly alive.

Which could not be said for the guard. 

She shoots up, flinging the chord viciously from her hands and stares at him. He's dead alright, head cranked at an unnatural angle, dead eyes bulging and painted red from broken vessels. His neck painted in varying shades of red and purple. 

It makes her stomach churn. 

She stares at the body, her memory carving his corpse into the inside of her skull. It’s not that she hadn't seen a dead body before, she's seen plenty. She's just…never been the direct result of a dead body. The words Do No Harm, echoes in her brain. 

“Zaya”

She flinches, eyes bouncing to Nikolai who watches her carefully.  “Fetch me his knife” he instructs, and his voice is soft, surprisingly gentle given the situation. She follows, moving on autopilot to flip the thug over and snag the knife from his belt. 

She stumbles toward him. Clumsy like a newborn foal as she cuts the zip ties from his wrists with trembling fingers. Vehemently ignoring looking at the dead man on the floor. 

Nikolai makes a little relieved sound, rubbing his aching wrists as she circles back around. He carefully tugs the knife from her hands, never taking his eyes off of her as he slides it against his belt.

“Good job” he murmurs, hooking a hand a bit to roughly against her shoulder. Shaking her from her thoughts again. The poor man looks rough, they both do. Thankfully it’s something she thinks a few stitches and a bath couldn't fix. But something else occurs to her.

“You speak english.” she deadpans, staring at him with exhausted eyes, and this mad bastard has the gall to let out a small wet laugh.

“Very observant” he chuckles, patting her shoulder moving across the room on stiff legs. He plucks a handgun from the desk drawer and checks the magazine. Satisfied , he slides it into his belt, bending again to pick up the guard’s fallen handgun making the same check. He eyes her with a raised brow.

“Can I trust you with this?”

She swallows hard, nods. It’s been a while, but she knows how to use it. 

He approaches, quickly going over the safety, how to clear it, before pushing it into her hand. His warm palm slides over the metal, gripping her wrist securely. He folds his chin to his chest, looking into her eyes. Holding her attention. 

“Stay close to me, keep your hand off the trigger, we will survive.”

“Da” she repeats, preening just a bit as he smiles at her.

[angel-of-the-moons]

A Rose Under The Moon

Moon Knight System (Marc/Steven/Jake) x Fem!Reader

TW/CW: None really, chit-chat between some gal pals, some implied bi/pan reader.

A/N: Never fear, best gal Layla is here! Also the Hippo-Mama!

And I totes recommend reading the Hobby Headcanons that @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction wrote on the boys! I plan on implementing them all! (Also read all their other things, their Nathan Bateman shit is *insert Paccha meme here*) I need to read up on American football because frankly I have no clue how sports worked since I played soccer and baseball as a kid, before I write about Marc's lest I sound like some plebeian who's guessing everything lmao

Taglist: @bad4amficideas @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @shirukitsune @lokisremainingsanity

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Chapter 5:

Old Friends

You were minding your own business, cleaning up the mess of tossed books that a couple was oh so kind enough to allow their child to scatter.

You hoped you'd never see them again. While they sat at the nook, sipping coffee and eating the muffins, their child was running around, causing havoc and destroying your beautiful, well-organized shop. Oh, your poor shop…

The couple weren't happy when you charged them for the books their son had ripped up and destroyed beyond salvage, the books he colored in.

Yeah, you really hoped they would never come back.

You looked at your burned hand with a frown. It had been a few days since you hurt yourself, and while painful, the burn wasn't actually that bad. Some aloe, some ice… And it started to clear up after the first day, the blisters receding quickly. You flexed your fingers and tilted your head, curiously wondering if your soulmate could feel the burns, as well. When the thought crossed your mind, you pulled up your sleeve and looked at the mark on your wrist, checking to see which moon would be full today.

The bottom right one. It had been that one a lot, lately.

The bell to the front door dinged, and you straightened up, mentally preparing yourself for the forced smile you were going to have to put on, now.

You cleared your throat and spun around, broom in hand, looking at the woman who just walked in.

She was beautiful. Her tanned skin complimenting her dark eyes and mass of wavy curls. She smiled at you, a bit more genuine.

"Oh! Hello, welcome to Here Today Books." You say politely. "Can I help you?"

"You look like you need it more, sister." She sighed, smiling sympathetically, nodding to the pile of ruined books you now had to put into recycling. Her accent was… it wasn't American, like yours. It sounded similar, but her words had some kind of twinge to them.

"Ah, yeah… a couple and their lovely child were my most recent patrons." You joke dryly.

"Ah, a little tornado, huh?" She snorted, shaking her head.

"Yep. For sure." You sigh, giving her a new, more genuine smile. "Now, were you looking for anything in particular today?"

"Oh, actually, a friend told me about this place, and I was curious." She mused.

That… took you by surprise. People actually talk about your store? Like, as in tell other people about it? This was news, for sure.

"O-oh?" You blink.

"Yeah, he said you made good muffins and tea. I'm more of a coffee fan in the morning, myself, though. Tea is more of a night thing." She chuckled.

You tilt your head at her, gears in your brain whirling.

"Are you friends with Steven Grant, by any chance?" You ask.

She laughs. "Yes! I'm Layla. Layla el Faouly." She holds out her hand for you to shake, and you, without thinking, extend your healing hand.

She shakes it gingerly, her eyes focused on the rosy skin like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"That… looks like it hurt." She said.

"Oh, this? I was just dumb and grabbed a hot pan without thinking." You said, examining your hand casually.

"Oh… Yeah, that's not good for you, y'know?" Layla joked softly.

"Yeah, not the worst pains I've ever had, trust me." You reply. "Now, uh… are you looking for a book? Or after some of the coffee? Or my muffins?"

"Oh! I think I'll just explore a bit, if that's all right with you." Layla said with a nod.

"Oh, I don't mind! If you need anything, just holler!" You wave at her as she disappears into the shelves.

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"You saw it?" Layla muttered softly to herself; or more accurately, to the giant hippo-woman clad in gold and jewels standing next to her, only visible to her eyes.

"Yes, yes I did. Didn't Marc mention that he had phantom pains in that same hand?" Taweret chuckled.

"Yeah. I mean… It could be coincidence, but…"

"You should talk to her. The poor dear looks dreadfully lonely." Taweret sighed, looking even more gargantuan as she peers at the contents of the shelves pressing down around her, her cute little ears flickering back and forth.

She picked up a book on psychology, finding it suddenly terribly interesting, her eyes widening as she scans the pages faster than a human ever could.

"I will. If we're right about our assumption, then, maybe we can… I don't know…"

"Play matchmaker?" Taweret giggles.

Layla softly smiles, not paying attention to the open book in her hands as she chuckles.

"Yeah. We can play matchmaker."

"Oh, let's just see how this plays out first, m'love?" The goddess giggled.

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Layla wanders to the front of the store, two hardback romance novels in her hands and you smile as you restock some old sci-fi novels into your discount rack.

They were the kind of romance novels with the covers reminiscent of oil paintings, the pretty ones. Not the stupid photoshopped ones that are being printed nowadays.

"Find something you like?" You chuckle.

She waves the books with a wide grin, "I've actually been looking for these copies for ages. At one of the places I was working, some jerk stole them from my locker."

"Oh gods, that is horrible!" You gasp. Why would anyone steal books?! At most, those particular novels, even new, only went for a few pounds!

"I know, right! They were autographed and everything!" Layla groaned.

You felt even more offended on her behalf. If those books were autographed and authentic, they would go for actually a decent sum for a collector online...

"That's even worse than just stealing a regular copy!" You clucked.

Layla wiggled the books in her hands. "But, hey! You have hardback copies, and in very good condition. Mine were old, beat up paperbacks!"

"Well, I'm more than happy that you found them!" You grinned widely.

Layla tilted her head to the left slightly, like she had heard something from behind her, and then she looked right at you, eyeing you up and down briefly, as if she were thinking.

You quirked an eyebrow at her in concern.

"Is everything all right?" You ask.

"Hm? Oh! Yes, yes I'm okay! I just have this... thing. The ringing in my ears?" She coughs, abashed.

"Oh! You have tinnitus? I have a booklet or two on medical things that might have something in it for you if you'd like." You chirp helpfully.

Layla put her hand up, chuckling as she declined politely. "Thank you, but no, I'll be okay. It's not constant or anything like that, it's just that I got off a plane the other day and my ears popped and haven't righted themselves yet.."

"Ooooh..." You nod in understanding. "Where'd you fly in from, if you don't mind my asking?"

She smiled. "Cairo."

"That's the accent!" You gasp in realization, pointing at her.

Layla laughed when you blushed and apologized for the outburst.

"It's fine, and yes! How'd you guess?"

"I used to have an exchange student, he would come in here and buy books for his college courses all the time! He was born and raised just outside Cairo." You chuckle.

"Ohh! Interesting." Layla hummed, looking at the books in her hands.

"Hm... you mentioned you had a menu of sorts?"

"Sure!" You lead her over to one of the nooks, and hand her the laminated mini menu you had available.

Her eyebrows raised, impressed at the various items you had available.

"Oh! This is actually nice..."

"Yep! Most of it is made to order by me, so some of it'll take a bit to bake." You grin proudly.

"Oh... well in that case, is it okay if I ask you to keep me some company? If you're not busy? I don't actually have too many friends other than Steven and his... er, brothers and my... uhhh... surrogate mom, so being able to have another woman to chit-chat with would be very welcome..."

To say you were surprised at the offer was an understatement.

"Oh! Uh, sure! I don't... I don't mind!"

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You and Layla clicked very well. You had similar tastes in things like reality TV, romance novels, even skincare routines.

But when she started talking about herself, is when it got interesting. It turns out she had been married to Marc at some point.

She was his ex-wife. The one he told you about.

"I imagine it's kind of awkward for you two, huh?" You remarked.

"Oh, me n Marc? Not at all! We're still good friends, it's just..." Layla set her coffee down, frowning as she tried to think of how to describe it.

"...After a while, whatever we had... like... the spark, I guess? It just... faded. Marc went through a bit of soul searching and after he did that, well..."

They weren't soulmates.

"Ah... I understand." You sighed.

"What about you?" She asked, a small sly smirk playing her lips.

"Oh! Uh... yeah. No. Nothing for me, I'm afraid." You chuckle awkwardly, rubbing the back of your neck.

"Oh? Nobody special or anything like that? Never kissed someone?"

"Well, I mean, when I was in highschool I kissed a girl on a dare." You sip your own coffee.

"A girl?" Her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"Yeah, to be honest I'm not sure what kind of preference I have, because I've never really been attracted to anyone before, but it was... weird. Didn't feel like everyone talked it up to be."

"Ah... so... are you waiting for your soulmate, then?" Layla asked a bit tightly.

"Yeah... I know it's stupid, but..." You say, looking down at the mug in your hands.

"Not really. Who doesn't want to meet the one person that is your other half?" She said, smiling softly in sympathy.

Her finger traced the rim of her cup idly, trying to think of the best way to go about phrasing the next question without being obvious about her suspicions.

"Do you... have any ideas of who it might be?" She finally asked.

You shake your head and shrug. "D'nno. I don't know if it's a man or a woman or... well anybody, really. I don't know what it's supposed to feel like once you meet your soulmate because each bond is different so..."

Layla wanted to scream. She wanted to facepalm, she wanted to smack her head on the table. She wanted to splash her coffee into her face.

Taweret was giggling like mad.

"Not as easy as you assumed it was going to be, eh Little One?" The goddess smiled behind her hand at Layla.

Her eyebrow twitched, knowing full well she couldn't retort without looking insane or revealing her position as Taweret's avatar.

You had to be Marc's (and possibly Steven's and Jake's) soulmate. It was all just too coincidental for her liking.

"Oh! That's... well I hope they're close by!" Layla said, forcing a very strained smile.

How could you and Marc be this thick?!

That fact alone had to mean something.

"That's everyone's hope, isn't it?" You chuckled softly, a small fond smile on your face, a glimmer of sadness in your eyes.

Layla felt sympathy for you in the moment, realizing how terribly lonely you must be feeling. And how much pain.

Especially with Marc and the others doing Khonshu's will.

Taweret seemed to pick the thought out of thin air, so in tune with Layla she could tell by the flash in her eyes what she was thinking about.

"Ohhh! That bloody old bone-head!" She huffed, her nostrils flaring as she crossed her arms, her bottom lip poking out from beneath her muzzle.

"He needs to give those poor boys a break! Especially because whatever happens to them, happens to her!" She gestured to you with her big, yet gentle hands.

Layla cleared her throat.

"Well, uh.... since I've told you about me... why don't you tell me about you? Where were you born, stuff like that?" Layla asked you, still smiling.

"Oh! Me? I'm afraid it's not very interesting." You chuckled dryly.

Layla looked outside as the rain came down in sheets. Not very appealing to walk back to the boys' flat in this weather... especially not for her hair.

"It looks like I've got time, love. Go ahead! We can have some more drinks while we chat."

You smiled a bit wider.

It was nice to have a girl-friend to talk with, again.

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When Steven had woken up, Layla was gone, and Marc and Jake left Steven quite alone in the body, letting him front entirely for the day. She'd left a note on Gus and Co's tank saying she went out for a bit for some fresh air.

Which, quite frankly, Marc said was bullshit because of the weather. Layla wouldn't go out in a monsoon and risk her hair becoming an unmanageable spongy mop that would take forever to dry, unless she was going somewhere very specific.

It was one of the things she complained about the most when they were together, something he thought was amusing. He remembered one time they got caught in a rain after their wedding, and at the hotel she was fussing and muttering under her breath as her wet curls hung over her face, desperately trying to get the dripping mass of hair to dry, glaring at herself in the mirror.

Steven sighed, and made his morning cup of tea and went about his routine. He dusted some, and decided to slip on his apron and play with some recipes he'd found online.

The apron was a bit... "dinky" as Marc had called it. Jake apparently ordered it online when he saw the slightly cartoon'd Egyptian motifs on it and left it as a present for Steven, since his favorite thing to do other than read was to cook (and he was a major Egyptophile).

When he was finished, he'd placed the extra portions in a small container in the fridge for Layla when she returned, in case she was hungry.

Then, he sat down, ate, and read a book while he played some music over the cheap sound system Marc installed.

When Layla returned, she was... dry. Remarkably dry. Her hair was still perky and everything!

She apparently bought an umbrella while she was out, placing it in the holder so no excess water dripped on the floor.

"Ah! Hey Steven." She chuckled, walking up and kissing his cheek, knocking his glasses off to the side as she did, placing her bag on the little table nearby.

"How'd you know?" Steven chuckled, adjusting his glasses as he looked up at her.

"Well, aside from the fact you're hunched over like a goblin over a book... the flat smells wonderful. You've obviously been cooking. Not Marc." She grinned.

"Ha!" Steven giggled.

Layla hummed as she set her new purchases on the table, folding the little canvas bag neatly.

Steven's eyebrows shot up when he saw the books.

"Where were you..?" He asked, clearing his throat.

"Oh, y'know... exploring. Went out for a tea..." She grinned at him out of the corner of her still ridiculously beautiful eyes.

"Visited that bookstore you 'n Marc told me about."

Steven fidgeted in his seat.

"O-oh..."

"Mhmm." She tapped her nails on the books' hard covers; she then turned around and crossed her arms, still grinning as she leaned her hips on the table.

"....Why are you looking at me like that? And where did you get that umbrella..?"

"Oh, well..." She shrugged, sighing a bit dramatically, looking elsewhere in the flat for dramatic effect.

She looked back at him, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Your little girlfriend who owns the bookstore. She really is a sweetheart, she let me borrow it while I'm in town."

"Bloody hell! Layla! It's not like that at all--" Steven sputtered, almost dropping the book in his hand.

She started cackling madly, walking into the kitchen, and opened the refrigerator.

"Ooh! What'dja make?"

Steven made a noise, burying his face in his hands as he tried to hide the faint blush that crept up his face and set up shop in the tips of his ears, knocking his glasses up to his forehead.

"Bloody hell!" He groaned into his palms.

🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒🌒

Chapter 6: Link

[heniareth]

Anyways, I ran out of tags, so I’m gonna continue this here! :D

The measurements for Spellpower and mana inefficiency are so cool!!! So spellpower basically encompasses the strength and duration of the spell and mana inefficiency the amount of mana lost as light, sound or heat during the casting of a spell? I love it! It really reframes the way we’d approach spellcasting as having a physical component as well as an intellectual one. After all, those measurements look a lot like something you’d see in P.E. classes, less like something from math classes. I’m guessing there’s an intellectual component to it, and having a solid grasp on the theory of how magic and mana and spellcasting works probably makes the spellcasting itself easier, but it’s not the end of it. In DAI, there’s banter between Dorian and Solas were they talk about how they manipulate the Veil to create magical effects and it does sound very hands-on. So I love that the evaluation method reflects that. You could have your standard high school plot of the 2000s-2010s happening at Kinloch Hold. Nerd mage asks Jock mage if they can help them increase their spellcasting prowess and offer to help them with the theory in return! This is amazing and I’m glad the ask gave way to have you figure out these things.

Also Rhodri tutoring the younger kids. It’s nice that, as far away as she was from her family, she got a chance to still live a bit of family life with the younger apprentices (until Broken Circles. Fuck. The templars. And Uldred).

Also also: the Tevinter letterheads. Oooooooh it’s so cool. An all official-sounding paper and it’s a tercet from one spouse to the other. It wamrs my heart. Also, it says a lot that Rhodri would use this sort of paper. I can imagine Dorian using everything BUT paper with that letterhead except when he absolutely has to XD XD XD XD I also love that Owen gets his own letterhead. Every member of house Callistus is important and has their own stationary. Yes, the nine-year-old is included in this, he absolutely needs his own stationary as well. I love that

I’m cackling over here at Zevran not only organizing this whole bet to get his hands on the tercet (which, oh Rhodri XD XD XD XD Don’t tell this man you wrote a love poem only to then not want to show him XD XD XD XD Also RHODRI IS A POET??? RHODRI IS A POET!!! I remember what you said about Tevinter and the arts (namely that Tevinters don’t really do hobbies or arts & crafts since these are things they could very easily purchase) and the fact that Rhodri pens her thoughts down as a poem sometimes, and especially if those thoughts are about Zevran, surely does things to Zevran’s heart)

...

Where was I? Oh yes. Not only does Zevran organize this whole bet to get his hands on the tercet, but he hides grapes in his pockets. Evil, evil man!! I’m guessing Rhodri doesn’t like grapes (or is it a throwback to that time Zevran was bored on the road and started throwing grapes at Rhodri?) Anyways, what a poem. Unflinching devotion paired with a complicated religious life. That Rhodri decides the Maker doesn’t exist so she doesn’t discharge all of her rage and grief over her friends during Broken Circle at him does things to me. It’s heartbreaking (and practical, I guess, but idk. Maybe getting real angry and screaming at the sky would’ve been a bit cathartic?). I hope Leliana (or Wynne) didn’t do too much poking on the matter. But really, how do you deal with this kind of pain when it’s doen by the servants of “your” god who supposedly left the world to its devices because rational beings were too sinful for him? And, and, Rhodri, as the head of a house is in a similar position to the Maker (although on a much smaller scale); and the Maker fails by most of her standards. What kind of person leaves his place as the head of the house bc he just can’t deal with the people he’s leading?

That Zevran’s faith is something she considers admirable though? That. That gets me. Of course, Zevran knows better than to pressure her on the matter, bless him. But... what an example does he have to set, what an experience does he have to communiacte that Rhodri sees something good about worshipping the Maker. It speaks volume about Zevran’s influence on her, the way he lives his faith and the high regard in which Rhodri holds him. I love it. Simply love it. Zevran probably knows Rhodri’s conflict with the Maker, right? That poem must’ve either sent the biggest grin to his face or made him tearful. Maybe both.

Also: Sēvē and Zēvē XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD Marvellous! They should get matching shirts XD XD XD XD Or aprons. This whole family has a wicked sense of humor XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD

Also!!!!!! The gif lets me imagine Owen so well with the mop of ginger hair, quietly working on his plants (what ARE Rhodri’s favorite plants is the question). I hope he and Rhodri get to spend lots of time in the greenhouse once Rhodri gets back.

This was an amazing read!! I apologize for being late in my answer, but my crops have been watered, fertilized, de-weeded and blessed by these lovely codexes. I also haven’t forgotten about the ones you sent me; they’re in the works. Hoooooo boy, so many great things have come out of this XD XD XD XD XD XD Thank you heaps!!

Hello my wonderful and lovely friend!!! I come, as I am wont to do, with questions for splendidissima Rhodri from the OC Codex prompts:

2. a letter written by your OC’s family member

3. a report written by your OC’s teacher or mentor

4. a letter from your OC to their love interest

Now, I don't know if you will spend these days celebrating or not, but they seem to be busy days for anybody regardless. Please take as much time as you like and pick whichever tickle your fancy. And have some lovely, lovely days. Off I go!

OH HI HEY ! 8D 8D Good to see you and thank you for sending in the prompts!! I had such a great time with these, both of my braincells were working overtime and it was a joy!

Owing to spacing and the sheer volume of the answers I'm sticking all this under the cut. I'd apologise but we both know I don't mean it x) x) x)

so o o o 2. A letter written by your OC's family member Here's one from Rhod's younger brother, Owen. Heirs aren't allowed to have favourites, but suffice it to say she and Owen had easy and natural compatibility. He was nine-ish and Rhodri would've been twelve.

The paper is bleached, high-quality Tevinter vellum, bearing a template header in red ink, reading in Tevene rune script, EX SCRIBIO CALLISTANI SPIRI (“From the desk of Spiro Callistanus”). At the top right of the page, the date 13 Justinian, 9:22 Era Drakonis is added in the same wobbly runic script in the rest of the letter. The language of writing is Tevene.

I love you Sēvē,

My birthday was good but sad without you, and thank you for my greenhouse. Mazarin and Evander aren’t allowed inside because they break everything now. Bethann sits with me in there sometimes but not for long. 

School is hard but Tata says it gets easier with time. When you come back we can go together. I think that would make it better. Mazarin and Evander are too loud and they don’t sit with me any more. Do you know any plant spells? Please write all of them down so I can learn them when my magic comes. And please tell me your favourite three plants. Mine are ivy, snake kiss, and butterleaf.

Please write lots more soon.

And I love you, from Owen your brother.

-

Author's notes:

Callistanus- ‘of’ House Callistus, the name given to non-heir family members. An heir is the house, the non-heirs are the members of said house. ‘Callistani is Callistanus in genitive (possessive- I know you know this; clarifying for other potential readers) case. Owen's Tevene name is Spiro, Spiri in genitive form.

The Callistanus/Amell kids did not cope well with Rhodri being taken to the Circle. Not least because they were an arm’s length away when the Kirkwall Templars were beating her to a pulp.  Mazarin and Evander, who already tended to be loud and demanding, became destructive and disruptive, and both of them developed explosive tempers that proved hard to pacify.  Bethann, the youngest and most sensitive sibling, suffered frequent meltdowns that required many years to identify causes for and address.  Owen, the middle child, was always quiet and courteous. The adults in his life, amid attending to his louder, needier siblings, frequently ‘checked in’ on him, and they would have used all the resources they had to attend to any need he might have, but if he said he was doing fine (he always did), they left it at that and assumed he was content to keep to himself. Rhodri had always made a point of keeping him by her side and giving him plenty of one-on-one attention even if he was ‘fine,’ and he soaked that up like a sponge. After she was taken away, though, and the other siblings proved to be very squeaky wheels, there was nobody to fill the gap in those childhood to early teen years. Owen ended up rather neglected, and horribly lonely, and hid it, even lied about it, to everyone but Rhodri for years. Consequently, Owen tends to have a low opinion of himself, and is disinclined to seek out something, however badly he might want it. He does a lot better once Rhodri's back, and certainly once his folks found out (to their unrestricted horror) how neglected he had felt, they did their darnedest to make it up to him as well. But Rhod's return was really what cemented that improvement.

§

On to 3. a report written by your OC's teacher and mentor

I liked this question because I like the idea of there being a very specific, Chantry-determined format to a progress report, filled with formalities that ostensibly show some level of "civility" between the Templars and the mages. Plus, grading system? How do the mages measure success? So many questions!! Thank you for making me think of the answers!! -

The paper is bleached, blank vellum of middle to high quality, with the standard Circle progress report template already written in with black ink. Irving’s handwriting is a neat cursive that is no longer taught in the Circles. -

Date: 7 Eluviesta, 9:21 Dragon

Tutor name and rank: Irving, F.E.

Apprentice name; age; specialisation: Rhodri S. C. Amell// 10 y.o.// Arcane Magic

Progress report number, AYTD: 2

Presenting compliments to the Knight-Commander and having the honour to report:

Following the discovery of lyrium affliction in early Verimensis 9:22, Rhodri Amell has completed three months of compensatory meditation and distraction management training. Spellpower has improved significantly, as has spell duration (Max. 4; 10s per HS); mana inefficiency has also decreased (less est. 2.5, now 5.5). Continuation of the program recommended indefinitely.

Despite her progress, Rhodri’s temper outbursts are increasing in frequency during lessons proper. I reiterate to the Knight-Commander my suspicion that these arise from the elemental damage and consequent pain in her hands from unsafe proximity to trained mana, particularly as her affliction prevents her from wearing the requisite enchanted safety gloves. As per my last reports, I strongly recommend that my apprentice be permitted to use a sylvan branch staff to prevent more of the same; responding to outbursts with punishment has proved manifestly unhelpful and I continue to urge its cessation to the Knight-Commander with the greatest emphasis.

I note that Rhodri continues to tutor beginner students in her free time. E. Delilah has anecdotally mentioned better performance in this cohort in comparison to Delilah’s previous cohort, and has advised willingness to allow my apprentice to shadow her for some classes. With assistance in managing the change in schedule, I anticipate further progress for all concerned.

Reiterating assurances to the Knight-Commander of my highest consideration.

Irving, F.E. 

-

Author's notes on abbreviations and measurements - AYTD: Academic year to date - Spellpower scale is from 0 (not casting) to 10 (Destruction of a single room - HS- healing spell (in this case spell duration measures how long the intended effects persist until the spell is cut off or wears off on its own) - Mana inefficiency scale measures how much unformed mana escapes when a spell is cast, from 0 (no mana lost) to 10 (all, or almost all mana escaped). .

§

And 4: A letter from your OC to their love interest!

The author's notes are long so I'd better just get to it:

The paper is bleached, high-quality Tevinter vellum, bearing a template header in red ink, reading in Tevene rune script, EX SCRIBIO CALLISTI SEVERIN (“From the desk of Severin Callistus”). At the top right of the page, the date 11 Pluitanis, 9:35 Era Drakonis is written in sharp, austere letters, as is the rest of the content. The language of writing is Common, with the exception of the tercet, which is in Tevene.

Dulcis,

I pen this letter to you with all my love and, in adherence to the conditions set by your challenge:

I admit that I stand corrected: pickpocketing is very difficult and is not “something I could do as easily as blinking.” (I will say, however, that hiding grapes in the pocket you were keeping the coins was entirely unnecessary. It feels like those bastard Void fruits are hiding everywhere, now.)

With great embarrassment, I enclose a reproduction of the tercetus I so foolishly admitted to writing and frankly, my love, I am starting to think you organised this whole bet so you could get your hands on it.  . In vitae finite stabit Formator ton, et querisit "A Incredule, quemisi exultum mihim offerti?" Et respondit humilite, "Ton Zevran, Sanctus amade" .

I must say, my love, I’m enjoying writing to you even though you’re right beside me. I think I’d like to do this more often– though hopefully with fewer tercetae. Maybe I could hang short missives off your Friday flowers. What do you think?

Also, please let me know if you would like to go to the Sidereal Telescopium tomorrow. Quirina is giving a speech on the upcoming New Constellations Room, and I have many questions for them.

My whole heart to you,

Severin (Rhodri). -

Author’s notes:

Tercetus- a traditional Tevene-style three-line rhyming poem.

A rough translation: At the end of life I will stand before your Maker, and he will ask me "You, Unbeliever, tell me– what worship did you ever offer me?" And I will say, simply and earnestly, "Holy Immortal, I loved Your Zevran."

Rhod’s got a complicated religious life. She started okay; the family wasn’t especially pious but they did Chantry things at the frequency considered respectable. Once she landed in Kinloch Hold, though, her prevailing question, for which never received a satisfactory answer, was: “If the Maker can do anything, and He loves us, why does he let us suffer? I wouldn’t do that, and I’m a child, nto a god.” After Broken Circle, she refused to believe the Maker existed, as a consolation to herself, and to avoid the sort of vengeful blasphemy that gets you hung, drawn, and quartered. There’s something about Zevran’s patient faith, though, and his willingness to offer thanks that he has what he has, however miserable his life has been. It’s impressively staunch, and Rhodri admires that, and treasures the comfort it brings him, enough that she slowly comes around to her idea of a compromise. Said compromise is acknowledging that if the Maker exists, He is as capable at unleashing bitter cruelty as He is at creating boundless joy. Rhod’s not one to praise bad behaviour in anyone, let alone a god who should know better, but by golly He did everyone a good turn when He made Zevran. Maybe age will bring other wisdom, but for now, she lets her love for Zevran be her tentative worship, because it’s the only praise she can offer in earnest. Though idk, what better compliment is there for a creator than someone wholeheartedly adoring their creation?  I like to think it’s enough for the time being. A religious journey isn’t always straightforward but I always found that complications bring their own insights.

I have no idea why Rhodri signs off her letters to Zevvo as ‘Severin (Rhodri).’ They agreed early on never to use the Tevene name to avoid the ridiculousness that comes with similar-sounding names (it gets especially bad when the siblings give him the Tevene-ised nickname Zēvē when they’re already calling Rhodri Sēvē. Agony!) Same deal with Owen signing off letters to her as “Owen your brother”. Must be hereditary.

Also I'm not sure about how ok it is to use Artbreeder generated images what with the art theft things going around now (I'm not sure where it stands on that sort of thing) so I'll leave out the artbreeder portrait I have of Owen. For a face claim, though, this feller here is pretty close (though I grant you Simon Wood is unlikely to be 9yo in this gif). Token ginger of the Amell-Callistus brood, what's up!

[watchingovergvff]

Don’t Blame Me- Jake Kiszka

Summary: The push and pull of your’s and Jake’s relationship is exhausting. He used to be your knight in shining armor, but now only lives to be a thorn in your side. One night changes it all, can you get past it?

Genre: Enemies to Lovers. Secret Relationship. Angst, Fluff.

Word Count: 6.7k

Warnings: Alcohol. Cursing. Implied Sexual Relations. Jealousy. Asshole!Jake.

A/N: I love to hear feedback, so please don’t hesitate to do so. Thank you for all the love and support <3333 This fic was loosely based on Taylor Swift’s “Don’t Blame Me”.

_______________________________________________

“Do you get off at five today?”

“Yeah.”

“Wanna go out with me and the guys tonight?”

“Sure, you're picking me up though.”

Danny truly gets the best big brother award. Here he is, calling you once again, inviting you to go out with the rest of the guys. Normal big brothers would be too embarrassed to have their little sister trail behind them, not Danny.

Your parents never had to force Danny to tote you around. If you had gone missing, it was most likely because he had brought you with him somewhere. The two of you were only a year apart, but Danny did have the habit of being over protective of you.

Regardless of the fact you were siblings, you were also best friends. When Danny and Sam first became friends, Danny had insisted you were included in everything, no matter what. Sam had never found it odd, over time he became just as attached to you as Danny was. So, that's how your little trio started and has stayed throughout the years.

Driving home from work, you take note of the sunny weather surrounding you. Sam had called you on the way home from work, wanting to chat about his week. Letting him ramble away, you chime in every now and then. Pulling into your driveway, you spot Danny’s car parked near the curb. Hanging up the phone with Sam, you promise to resume your one sided conversation at the bar tonight. Sauntering through your front door, you find Danny sprawled out on your couch.

“Hey kiddo,” he utters.

“Hey, you're here early.”

Danny kicks off the couch, heading to your room already. You follow close behind him, needing to find something else to wear tonight.

“I’ve been here since 12. Studio time got cut short today, because Jake and Josh couldn’t get along whatsoever.” “But, aren’t we going out with them tonight?”

“Yep.”

Watching him shrug his shoulders at the brothers' ridiculous conflict. Scouring through your closet, you kick Danny out of your room so you can change.

You wanted to keep it cool tonight, since it would be super hot outside, so you opted for jean shorts and a simple top.

Finding Danny in your kitchen, chugging water, you start feeling nervous.

“So, Jake is coming for sure?”

“Yeah, he’ll show up at some point.”

He eyes you curiously. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why does it matter if Jake shows up or not?”

“I just want to be prepared for his sour attitude.”

He laughs, gesturing for you to gather your things and head out the door. Following him to the car, you can’t shake the nerves of seeing Jake.

___________

Growing up with Danny and Sam, you were bound to wander through the Kiszka household at some point. One of the first times you met the twins, you had been searching for Sam.

Danny had told you to meet him at the Kiszka's house once you made it off the school bus, one late afternoon. He had reassured you that it was fine to just walk inside, they would be in Sam’s room waiting.

As a child, you were way more reserved compared to your older brother. Walking into a house you’ve never been in, regardless of the fact the two boys were waiting inside for you, you were drenched in fear.

Knocking on the front door, refusing to just walk in, you grip your backpack a little tighter. The door swings open and a boy you’ve never seen before stands in the doorway. “Hi, who are you?”

The boy wore one of the biggest smiles you’ve ever seen before.

“Sorry, is Danny here?” you whisper meekly, head hung low.

His face lights up even further, “Oh! You must be Y/n. Here, come inside.”

You hesitate, wanting to turn around and run home. He patiently waits for you, not wanting to make you even more nervous. Finally, you follow in after him.

“My name is Josh, I’m Sam’s older brother.”

Nodding up at him, you remain silent.

“This is Jake, my twin brother.”

Your head whips towards the older boy, a blush spreading across your cheeks.

The older boy, Jake, leans against the kitchen counter, barely giving you the time of day. He does manage a quick tight-lipped smile, going back to what he was doing.

Before you can make more of a fool of yourself, you hear your name being called down the hall. You look up at Josh, finally making eye contact with him, you smile. “Thank you, Josh.” you softly reply, skipping down the hall towards Sam’s room.

Throughout the rest of the evening, you couldn’t stop thinking of Sam’s older brother, Jake.

Those thoughts continued all throughout middle school, into high school, and now into your adult life. But, Jake had never given you the time of day, even now, only swapping pleasantries with you. You felt like a fool, letting some childhood crush linger this long, but no matter what you do, you just can’t shake Jake.

___________________

Arriving at the bar downtown, you and Danny make a b-line for the nearest bartender, already ordering drinks. “Y/n! You came.”

Sam comes stumbling to your left, swinging an arm around your shoulder.

“Hey, what about me?” Danny asks, taking both of your drinks from the bartender.

“I saw you a few hours ago Daniel, don’t be selfish.” Sam narrows his eyes, already letting the laughter sound.

You rub Sam’s back gently, peeling his intoxicated body off yours.

“How long have you been here?”

“Uhh, I think thirty minutes, but I'm not sure.”

Ruffling his hair, you ask, “How are you already drunk?” “Josh and I pregamed before.”

“Y’all need help.”

Danny, Sam, and you find Josh by the pool table, sipping on another beer. Josh being alot like his younger brother Sam, he squeezes you into a bearhug.

“I told Daniel to leave you alone. You work too hard to have to deal with us right after work.”

Walking around the pool table, you sit yourself atop a nearby barstool. “Whatever, I needed to come out tonight. I’ve been so stressed with work this week, and my boss has been giving me shit all month about some stupid paperwork thing. So, I’m looking forward to drowning my sorrows with all of you tonight.”

They all give you a pitiful look, feeling sorry for you. Swatting away their unnecessary pity, you flash a mischievous grin.

“Actually, you know what would make me feel better, another drink,” you sweetly reply, batting your eyelashes at Sam.

“Fine, your drinks are on me tonight.” Sam huffs, but gladly adds your next drink to his tab.

The boys start up a pool game, letting you go last since you're too busy sipping on your drink. Danny and you go head to head throughout the game, always being competitive with each other.

You unsurprisingly lose, becoming a sore loser almost instantly. Sam consoles you, always having a sweet spot for you.

Danny and Josh start yet another round of pool, but remain conversing with you and Sam. Your sour attitude towards Danny’s win fades quickly, getting wrapped up in whatever they start talking about.

Your happiness dies quickly, when a certain Kiszka twin enters the bar, meeting your eyes.

“Jake, you decided to show up, how nice of you.” Sam calls out, making everyone turn in Jake’s direction. “Fuck off Sam–”

Drowning out Jake’s words, you can’t help but wonder who the girl to his right is. The stranger trails Jake like a hawk, giving you a quick once over. You roll your eyes at the girl, not really caring for niceties.

It’s unlike you to not even try to be fake nice to strangers, but her reaction towards you minding your own business, makes it fair game.

Jake walks right past you, not even bothering to acknowledge you, which isn’t much of a surprise.

Not wanting Jake’s poor mood to bring you down any further, you tug Sam with you to get another drink.

______________

Jake had been anxious to see you all night. Danny had insisted on bringing you with them to the bar tonight, despite the fact Jake had suggested it be a guys night. Fine, if they didn’t want to listen to him, he would bring his own plus one.

Jake had only recently met this girl, but had decided to invite her anyway. In truth, the only reason he was bringing her in the first place was because he wanted to make you jealous. You had continuously teased him, using Sam to do your dirty work in making him jealous, so it's only fair that he gets a rise out of you this time.

It hasn’t always been like this, you and him. Over the years, Jake watched you grow up, always feeling a need to protect you like an older brother. That's what he felt like to you anyway, your big brother. You were four years younger than him, so of course he only saw you as a little sister.

Everything changed two years ago, at some random dinner party Josh threw. Jake had just recently gotten out of a long term relationship, struggling to even socialize with his brothers. Josh and Sam had insisted he come, trying to get him out of this funk. What they hadn’t mentioned was that the ‘dinner party’ was more of a rager if anything.

Their house was littered with people, all far from sober. Jake regrets even leaving his room to come down here. He starts to make the trek back to his room, that is until he hears his name being called behind him. Trying not to groan in annoyance, he slowly spins around.

“Hey, Jakey.”

It's Y/n.

Wow... she looks different. Why is she here?

“Y/n, what are you doing here?”

“Don’t sound too excited to see me,” you say snidely.

“No it’s just– No one told me you were coming.”

“No one knows I'm here. I had a free weekend, I figured why the hell not come see my favorite boys.”

“Well, good to see you. If anyone asks where I am, don’t tell them.”

He starts to walk away, purposefully not looking at you. “Oh– okay. I’ll come find you later.”

“Please don’t.”

Jake didn’t need to turn around to know the damage he’s just done to you, but instead of fixing it, he keeps walking as far away as he can get from you.

That night, Jake goes to sleep thinking of you, and not about the broken relationship he just left. ________________

You and Sam remained at the bar, sipping lightly on your drinks, chatting about anything and everything.

Danny was your best friend, he really was. But, Sam was different, he also wasn’t your brother. You and Danny talk about a lot, but there are some things you can’t bring yourself to talk about with him.

Sam was truly your best friend. He knew about your ongoing crush on Jake, even if you wouldn’t admit it out loud. Which is why he had no problem spending the night as far away from Jake as possible. He knew Jake brought that girl on purpose, maybe not just to irritate you, but to cause some sort of uproar.

Doing his best to get you out of your own head and enjoy yourself, Sam drags you to the makeshift dance floor when a familiar tune sounds out through the bar.

You groan, not really wanting to dance in the middle of this bar, despite the other couples dancing about. Sam’s bright smile is the only thing that convinces you to go lay it all out there with him. The both of you can’t dance to save your lives, but you can’t help but feel ten times lighter than you did before.

Sam twirls you around, laughing at your dazed out expression. Mid spin, your eyes catch Jakes’ for the second time tonight. Instead of caving in on yourself, you complete the spin, continuing your dance with Sam. Once the song came to an end, the two of you breathlessly bow, and saunter off the dance floor, hand in hand.

You can feel Jake’s eyes on you still, but you don’t give him the time of day. Walking past Jake and his guest, you latch onto Danny, slapping at his back playfully.

Sam returns to your side with what you think is another drink, but turns out to be just water. You gripe at his choice of beverage for you, but he waves you off, demanding you drink it.

“You two were really going at it out there, I think it's time to cut you both off,” Danny says, chuckling at your flushed faces.

Swishing your drink in his face, you say, “Sam already did, it's water.” Danny and Josh laugh at your clear disappointment.

“It’s probably a good thing he cut you off, wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself any further,” Jake chimes in, clearly proud of himself.

You ignore his statement, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of getting a rise out of you.

“Shut up, Jake.” Josh snaps back.

“Why should I? Are you really that desperate to get laid, that you have to grind on any guy that gives you attention?”

Dannys in Jake’s face in mere seconds, gripping him by his collar. “What the fuck did you just say to her?”

“You heard me.”

Danny rears back, every intention to beat him to a pulp. The other boys seem to be letting it happen, not putting a halt to it.

“Danny, stop. Leave him alone,” you demand.

“Y/n–”

“Stop Danny, unless you want to get kicked out of here.”

Not relenting, you glance at Danny, trying to plead with him. He reluctantly lets Jake go, walking away from him entirely.

Jake won’t make eye contact with you, looking anywhere else but at you.

“Fuck you, Jake,” you say storming off toward the bathroom.

The rest of the guys watch you intently, then turn right back to Jake after making sure you were safe. ___________________

Struggling to contain the tears, you look at your red splotchy face in the mirror. You clench your fist tightly, pacing around the small bathroom. Hearing a knock on the door, you start to tell them someone was in here, but whoever it is doesn’t let you finish.

“What do you want?”

Jake stands behind you, looking at you through the mirror. His face is ridden with guilt, but it doesn’t make you feel any better.

“I just wanted to apologize–”

“Don’t bother, I won’t forgive you.”

“Y/n, your being difficult, listen to me–”

Scoffing in disbelief, you spin around meeting him eye to eye.

“I’m being difficult, I’m being difficult. Are you fucking kidding me, Jake? Do you hear yourself?”

Cowering back at your words, he attempts to talk again, but you quickly shut him down.

“The fact that you have the balls to come in here, calling me difficult, after what you just said to me is truly insane. What is wrong with you? What the fuck did I ever do to you?” You breathlessly continue on, not caring what you look like. “I’ve tried and tried with you, and no matter what I do, you still treat me like shit. What happened that night at your house that made you hate me?”

“I don’t hate you, Y/n.”

“Ha! You have a special way of showing your love for me. If calling all your friends whores is your new thing, I think I'd rather not be your friend at all.”

“You're not a whore.”

“You're damn right I'm not. How do you expect me to respect you if–”

Without expecting it, you feel Jake’s lips on yours, cutting off your words. Tasting the alcohol on his breath, you abruptly shove him off and away from you.

“What is wrong with you?” you yell, tears streaming down your face.

“I don’t know why I did that, I'm so sorry.” Jake’s own eyes rim with tears. He tries to approach you again, but you shove past him, right out the bathroom door.

“Y/n, please wait. I’m so sorry,” he calls out to you, not caring about all the eyes on him.

Running up to Danny and Sam you begin to babble on. Your voice stutters and stumbles from the tears and hiccups spewing out of you.

“Take me home please, Sammy. Please take me home,” you softly beg, hugging onto Danny and Sam.

Without a second thought, they escort you right out of the bar, not even bothering to say goodbye. Danny gets the three of you in the car, starting the drive back to your place. Sam chooses to sit in the back with you, holding your crying form the whole way home.

Danny makes quick work of getting y’all home, toting you out of his car. Sam follows somberly behind the two of you, head hanging low. They help wash your ruined makeup off your face. Sam helps you change into comfy clothes, while Danny gets you some water and medicine for tomorrow morning.

The house is uneasily quiet, you hadn’t uttered a word since y’all left the bar. Danny gets you tucked, tightly in your bed. He whispers words that you don’t even attempt to hear, just closing your eyes entirely. They both go to leave your room, but your cracked voice stops them. “Please don’t go. Stay.”

“We aren’t leaving, honey. We're just going to sleep out in the living room,” Sam softly replies.

“Stay in here with me, please. I don’t wanna be alone.” “Okay, okay. We’ll stay, come on Sam,” Danny motions to Sam.

That night, Sam slept right next to you and Danny remained right behind him. The exhaustion of the night hits you, dragging you further and further into sleep.

_________________

Weeks have gone by since that horrific night in the bar. You made Danny promise not to say or do anything to Jake, even though you're still upset about the whole interaction. Instead of dwelling on it, you force yourself into long nights at work, not leaving any time to see anyone other than Danny.

He had said things in the studio had been quite hostile, since the blow out. Little did he know that things had gotten way worse, in that tiny bar bathroom. You choose not to tell him what Jake did in the bathroom. Having a feeling that this whole thing could lead to something worse for the band, you decide to keep it to yourself.

Sam has been debatably even more worried about you. You’ve been blowing him off, not wanting to do anything other than work or be at home alone. Feeling awful about ‘abandoning’ him, you finally agree to go out again.

They had promised Jake wouldn’t show, not even inviting him in the first place. A small sense of guilt crowded you, not wanting to be a reason for a fall out with his brothers. But, you couldn’t help the even smaller sense of victory that overwhelmed you. There was no way in hell, you wanted to deal with Jake tonight.

Going straight from work to the bar, you don’t bother to change your work clothes. Walking in, Danny meets you at the door, blocking your view of the room. Looking up at him, you can see the tense look in his eyes.

“He’s here, isn’t he?”

“I’m sorry, I swear we didn’t invite him.”

Holding up a hand to stop him, you say, “It’s fine. He has just as much right to be here as I do.”

“He’ll leave if I ask him.”

“Danny, it’s fine. I’m fine, really.”

He can see the exhaustion in your eyes, clearly from overworking yourself for weeks now.

“Come on, drinks on me tonight.”

Shuffling your feet behind him, you follow without question.

They had gotten a table tonight, not wanting to play any games. The moment you walked up to the table, everyone got quiet. Of course, the moment you look up, Jake’s remorseful eyes are boring into yours.

He looks like he wants to say something, but you don’t give him any time.

“I need a drink.”

You saunter off towards the older bartender, jumping atop a barstool.

Meanwhile, the whole table’s eyes follow you, watching you silently.

“She looks awful.”

Sam slaps Josh’s chest, telling him to shut up.

“She hasn’t been sleeping well. Plus she’s overworking herself like crazy, never taking a break,” Danny replies. Jake shifts in his seat, the awkward tension obvious. He had showed up tonight in hopes of seeing you actually. After all the shit he put you through, not just that night, but all the times before. You deserved a real apology. If he apologized and you still wanted to never see him again, he would be okay with it. Well, the selfish part of him wouldn’t be alright, but if it's what you truly wanted, he would do it for you. Watching you from here, it was evident you hadn’t slept in god knows how long.

Your body was slumped against the bar-top, throwing back whatever was in your cup. Danny has never seen you like this before. Most of the time your sadness transformed into rage, and didn’t die down until you released it. Seeing you in such a somber state, triggers the overprotective side of Danny like no other. Glancing over at Jake every now and then, he makes it clear that he means business.

Jake doesn’t even pay Danny any attention, which is pretty stupid of him to do, but all he cares about right now is apologizing to you. It's selfish of him truly, to want to make amends with you, even though you hadn’t done anything wrong. Jake had screwed up, not you.

The dimmed lights of the bar, drained your eyes of any color. Jake grimaced as he watched you order yet another drink, knowing tomorrow morning would be rough for you.

At this point, an hour or two had passed and you hadn’t made any move to go back to the table, allowing yourself to wallow in self pity for a while longer. You can still feel his eyes on you, completely ignoring the conversation around him. A part of you wants him to get it over with and come talk to you, even though that's the last thing you need right now. The other half of you wants to spin around, on your chair, and scream at him until he leaves forever. Throwing back yet another drink that's mainly vodka, you stumble off the barstool and right out of the bar's door.

No one seems to notice your absence, too consumed in their current conversation. Pacing across the barren sidewalk, your head snaps up when the door opens once again.

Jake stands in front of the closed door, frozen in his spot, not wanting to scare you off. Mockingly laughing at Jake’s ashamed and apologetic face.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

He remains a safe distance from you, not sure what direction this conversation will go.

“Y/n, I know you don’t want to talk to me right now, but–”

“You're right, I don’t.”

“Y/n please, please let me explain.”

“There's nothing to explain, Jake. Your a fucking asshole, I already knew that.”

He falters, already feeling lightheaded just talking to you. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, I'm not looking for it. Just please give me a chance to explain.”

You grow deadly silent, not feeling up to arguing with him. Jake takes your silence as permission to explain.

“I shouldn’t have said what I said that night. I didn’t mean it, I really don’t know why I said it. I think– I think I was just jealous, jealous of you and Sam.”

“You were jealous of me and Sam dancing, so you decided to call me a whore in front of all our friends?” “And I’m sorry for it. It shouldn’t have even come out of my mouth. Cause you're not, you're so far from it.”

Tears start to build up in your eyes, not just from the drowning sadness, but from the burning rage building inside.

“I shouldn’t have kissed you either, that was way out of line. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m so disgusted and ashamed of myself.”

“You know what you're selfish, Jake. Your really fucking selfish.”

“I know I am, I know–”

“No, you fucking don’t. You don’t get it, do you? I’ve been waiting for that my whole life. And you took it away from me to prove a point. Kissing is one thing, but kissing you was a big deal to me, Jake.” Tears are pouring down your face, the lump in your throat building with every word. “For years, I’ve hidden my feelings for you. Watching you jump from girl to girl, mourning the fact that it would never be me. I know, it's different for you and I can’t blame you for not feeling anything for me. I’m just Danny’s annoying little sister that just won’t leave you alone. Trust me, the message is clear, I promise to never bother you again. But, don’t you ever try to pull that shit with me again, I have fucking feelings too, Jake.” You can’t even believe the words that have left your mouth, all that alcohol gives you liquid courage or stupidity. Jake stands before you, eyes welling up with tears, utterly silent. Tired and slightly embarrassed with this whole situation, you make a move to walk away, but Jake reaches out for you, latching onto your wrist.

“Let go, Jake. I want to go home.”

“You're drunk, you can’t drive yourself home.”

“Fine, I’ll walk.”

Yanking your hand away from him, you start to stumble off.

“You live twenty minutes away, you can’t walk home, Y/n.”

“Watch me.”

“Y/n, let me take you home,” he jogs up to you, pleading. “Not a chance.”

“Please, just let me get you home safe, and I promise not to bother you again.”

Your eyes were bloodshot and your feet throbbed painfully. Exhaustion overrides your thoughts. Alcohol swimming throughout your body, leaving you woozy. “Fine.”

Without missing a beat, you slowly follow Jake to his car, parked down the street.

The car ride back to your place was deadly silent. You regret ever telling him about your feelings, already knowing what he’s thinking. It didn’t matter now, it could only get worse from here.

Pulling up to your house, Jake hesitantly follows after you inside. Your head is cloudy and you feel your body swaying as you walk further in your house. Is it possible for alcohol to have a delayed effect? Yes absolutely, that's why your body decides to betray you, totally forgetting how to walk.

Jake stumbles behind you, trying to catch you before you meet the floor. Hanging in his arms, Jake tugs you to your feet.

“I can walk on my own, thank you,” you snide.

Still walking along with you, Jake takes you to your bedroom.

“I know, just let me help this once.”

You groan, mumbling snarky comments under your breath, but allow him to help you anyways.

The sun had long set, leaving your room pitch black dark. Jake blindly searches for the switch to the lamp beside your bed. Turning it on, he places you on your bed gently. Laying flat on your back, you stick your feet out towards Jake, insinuating that you want me to take your shoes off. A slight smile graces his face at your exhausted state. He tugs your work shoes off of you, placing them on the floor next to you. Tucking yourself into bed, you turn facing away from Jake, already falling asleep.

Jake waits a moment, gazing at your sleeping form.

“I’m really sorry, Y/n. Really, really sorry.”

Turning off the lamp, he makes his way out of your room. Starting to shut the door, he hears your cracked voice whisper softly.

“I forgive you, Jakey.”

__________________

“Oh god, how much did I drink last night?” replays in your mind as soon as you wake up the next morning.

The pounding headache and overwhelming nausea makes you curl further into the covers. Peeking an eye at the window, the sun shines high in the sky. It has to be mid-morning by now.

Everything from last night comes flooding back, causing you to wince, gritting your teeth. You're going to have to figure out how to never face Jake again. Maybe you should quit your job and move across the continent, then you would never have to see him again.

Rolling out of bed, you make the trek to the kitchen, needing to cure this hangover asap. You're still in your work clothes from yesterday, not even bothering to change at this point.

On the way to your kitchen, you notice a leg dangling from your couch.

Shit.

Looking over the side of the couch, you stare down at a sleeping Jake. You had thought he went home after dropping you off. Silently tip toeing, you continue to your kitchen regardless of the man on your couch.

________________

Jake wakes up to a loud clang from god knows where. Eyebrows furrowing in confusion, he spots a familiar photo, sitting atop a nearby shelf. It's an old photo from years ago, of you with all four boys at one of their first shows.

Hearing sizzling of some sort, Jake knows you're awake. Not bothering to get off the couch, he lets you come to him instead, not wanting to upset you any further. A few minutes go by and he hears your feet padding across the hardwood floor.

Not expecting him to be awake, you freeze standing awkwardly in front of him.

“You're awake.”

“I am.”

Tapping your foot against the floor, you try to think of something to say, but he beats you to it.

“I’m really sorry, Y/n.”

“Jake, it's fine really. Let's just pretend none of it happened.”

Looking up at you from the couch, he says, “I can’t do that. It's not fair to you.”

“Jake, really it's fine. I’m over it.”

“Well I’m not. I can’t just pretend like I didn’t hurt you. I won’t.”

“I made you breakfast, it's in the kitchen when you're ready.”

You scurry off, heading back into the kitchen, not wanting to continue this conversation. Jake follows you, not giving up on talking to you.

Standing in the kitchen together, you both stare each other down.

“Don’t walk away Y/n. Talk to me please, get mad at me, yell at me. I don’t care what you do, but please don’t pretend what happened last night didn't actually happen.” “What do you want me to say Jake?”

“Help me make it up to you.”

You rub your hands across your face in distress. “I don’t know how.”

Jake walks up close to you, clasping your cold hands in his. Looking at him in shock, you surprisingly allow him to continue.

“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I'm asking for you to give me one chance to explain myself. Please, Y/n.”

Silence grew between you, but after a moment you finally spoke up.

“Fine, but you can explain yourself over breakfast.” Fixing both your plates, you take Jake out onto your back porch. You're going to need plenty of fresh air to handle Jake’s explanation. Jestering for him to start digging into his food.

“So...”

He looks up at you nervously, clearing his throat.

“I’m not sure where to start.”

“How about you explain how all of this got started, what did I do to make you push me away?”

“It wasn’t you, you didn’t do anything wrong. Do you remember that dinner party at Josh and I’s house, two years ago?”

Nodding at his question, his breath stutters.

“I had just gotten out of a relationship a week prior to that party, and Josh had insisted I attend it regardless of my situation. He just wanted me to get out of the funk I was in, but truthfully that was the last thing I wanted to do. When I had finally gathered the courage to walk out there, I saw you,” he continued, noting the gears turning in your head. “I don’t know what happened other than I was surprised to see you. It had been months since the last time I saw you, and something just changed about you. Not in a bad way of course, just made me rethink everything I knew about you.”

“I had changed. When I went away to school, I made an effort to do better, be better for myself. I focused on my mental health, I was ten times happier by the time you saw me again.”

“I could tell, your smile was radiant. I think my feelings changed for you that night. I stopped thinking of you as Danny’s little sister, and started thinking of you as Y/n. But we both know, had I ever told you how I felt Danny would have killed me. I also knew I was too screwed up, to ever deserve you. Especially now that I've made even more of a fool of myself.”

“Jake–”

“No really Y/n. I pushed you away to protect you, and partially myself. It was hard to be around you without feeling like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I never thought you would think of me as anything other than Sam’s older brother, that was until last night. Which is why I needed to explain myself so I could truly apologize. I had no idea what that kiss would have meant to you, and I wish I could do it all over again.”

“You're such a dumbass. Of course, I fell in love with you. Who wouldn’t? Did you screw up and make shitty decisions? Obviously, but your human Jake. I think it's going to take some time to heal whatever we are, but I want to if you want to.”

Facing each other, you take Jake’s hands in yours, looking him in the eye.

“I will spend my life making it up to you, Y/n.”

Rolling your eyes playfully at his comment, you tug him closer to you.

“How about you start now?”

Grinning at you, he pulls you into a gentle yet passionate kiss.

“Danny’s going to kill us.”

The both of you die out laughing, falling into each other.

____________________

Weeks had passed since you and Jake had reconciled, starting a flourishing relationship.

Jake was heaven to be with, constantly pampering you with love. The only issue you’ve had was Danny.

You had made it a point to talk to your big brother, explaining everything that happened with Jake, minus the bar bathroom situation. Explaining that you two had made up and were great now, so Danny could go back to being best friends with Jake. He was hesitant about it, mostly because he didn’t want you to push everything under the rug so he could be friends with Jake again.

Little did he know, you and Jake were way more than friends, spending almost all of your free time together. Jake was prepared to tell Danny about the both of you, ready to be pummeled by the taller man. But, you had decided that you just wanted to stay in your little bubble for a while longer. The both of you snuck around like two teenagers, kissing on each other every chance you get. So, when Danny showed up to your house unannounced early one morning, you couldn’t help the panic that set in. You did your best to distract your big brother, walking him into your kitchen.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever. Has work really been that crazy for you?”

“Oh yeah, they have been running me wild lately,” you say, thinking back to how you’ve really been spending your time in bed... with Jake.

“My hard working little sister, ahh i’m so proud of you,” Danny says, chuckling.

“Uhuh, sure.”

Walking to the fridge, you offer him a drink.

“Is that Sam’s shirt? Are you two swapping clothes again?” you question.

“No, for your information, he stole this shirt from me. Actually now that you mention it, where did you find that shirt?”

Looking down at the shirt you're currently wearing, your eyes widen in fear.

“Uh, I think I bought it at some thrift shop downtown. Why?”

“It's funny, cause I think Jake has a shirt just like it.” Shrugging your shoulders at his words, you try to change the topic.

“Do you have to go to the studio today?”

“Yeah later on this afternoon, that's why I stopped by this morning actually. Are you free tomorrow night? The guys want to go out again and we want you to come with us.” You turn towards the sink, placing the dishes in the dishwasher. “Yeah, sure. I may be a tad bit late because of work, but I can go.”

“Have you talked to Mom about that wedding we have to go to?” you ask, but silence follows your question. “Danny? Did you hear me–”

Spinning around in his direction, a squeak leaves your lips at the scene before you.

Jake stands, eyes wide in the kitchen, only wearing his boxers. Danny stares in surprise, eyes flitting back and forth between the two of you.

“Dan, I can explain–”

He holds up a hand to silence you.

“I see why you wanted to smooth things between me and Jake now.”

Jake remains silent, not wanting to make things worse by talking. His eyes meet yours, silently asking what he should do.

Looking over at Danny, you start to plead with him, trying to make him understand.

A smile breaks out upon Danny’s face, laughter spewing out. Panic and confusion spread throughout you, not sure what to do.

“I already knew about you two.”

“You knew?”

“Y’all aren’t exactly sneaky, especially this one here,” he points to Jake, who is still frozen in place.

“What did he do?”

“You should check his phone screen some time.”

“So, you're not mad?”

“No, I’m not mad. But, if you screw up again, I won’t hesitate to beat your ass,” he says pointedly at Jake.

Still silent, Jake profusely nods in response. Danny gets up from his spot at the table, walking over to you. Pulling you into a hug, he pats your back.

“I’m happy for you.”

Pulling away from you, Danny walks over, grabbing his keys off the bartop. “I’m going to get out of here. It’s nauseating to think about Jake spending the night here.” Patting Jake on the shoulder, he continues his stroll to your front door.

“Love you, Dan,” you shout.

“Love you too, kiddo,” he says, shutting the door behind him.

Finally, it's just you and Jake alone in the kitchen, staring at each other.

“Well, that went better than I thought it would.”

“Honey, I’m in my underwear.”

“At least I wasn’t in my underwear,” you say reassuringly. Trotting over to Jake, you wrap your arms around his neck. “I’m so embarrassed,” he says, tucking his face into the crook of your neck.

Whispering into his ear, “I bet I can make you feel better.” “You're unsustainable, woman,” his body tensed at your words.

Releasing your grip on him, you walk away towards your bedroom.

“Better get used to it, Jakey.”

Jake watched the sway of your hips, smiling at your words.

Reaching the doorway of your bedroom, you look over your shoulder at him. “You coming?”

Striding after you, he chases you into your bedroom. “Yes, ma’am.”

Giggles die out between you two, your cheeks hurting from your wide smiles. Wrapped up in your own little world with him, utterly blissful.

No matter what happens, you can always count on Jake to be by your side. The past remains forgotten and the present full of unyielding love. Who knows what the future holds, as long as you have Jake, you're okay with the uncertainty.

—————————————

Thanks for reading!! Hope you enjoyed:)))

[mistydeyes]

OMG THERES 1K OF YOU!! I cannot believe it! Thank you all so much for all the love and support these last few months :) Literally tearing up at how many people love my works. It all started with a silly little pharmacist fic and look at where we are now!

To celebrate, I will be opening up my inbox for some prompts! For the next week, feel free to send me a character, a prompt below, and any other details (ex. female, male, or g/n character) :)

aesthetic prompts 💌 - CLOSED NOW! thank you for all the submissions :)

soft and cute - all fluff!

vase of flowers - they return home to your door with a small bouquet of flowers with rudy

loveseat - shopping for furniture for your shared home

linen tablecloths - hosting a dinner party (one that is pinterest worthy)

orange juice - sick days call for the best care

vintage maps - a spontaneous trip with an event filled itinerary

cherry lip balm - what was your first kiss like? with graves

paper rings - “put this on” “why did you make a ring out of the straw wrapper?”

ramekins of soup - you both are not experienced chefs but you try a new recipe in the kitchen

tuberose- looking at old photo albums and reminiscing on old memories

tote bags - “hey can you hold this for me?” “why do you have so many things?” “it’s not my fault these pockets don’t hold anything”

sugar cubes - they surprise you with your favorite dessert/sweet treat with price

music - “i made you a playlist!”

pearls - a fancy dinner out with expensive clothes and dining

folded sheets - "hi, i'm your neighbor across the hall :)"

gold - a small gifted ring as a token of your love with price

unlit cigarette - meeting in the most unexpected of places

hot chocolate - a warm snowed in cabin with nowhere to go

house plant - “for your new apartment!” “you know i’m not here enough to water that”

pastel bonnets and rattles - “we are NOT naming our child that”

perfume - perfume bottles decorate your bureau and you decide to let them choose your scent for the day with gaz

friendship bracelets - friends don't look at friends that way, is there something between us? with ghost

shower of tears - angst

crystal glasses - a fight ends with shattered wine glasses and someone is left to pick up the pieces with gaz

running mascara - "i can't believe you would say that to me" with the 141

hyacinth - they decide to interrupt the wedding just as you're about to say your vows with ghost

cardigans - "please don't go, please don't leave me" with ghost

sea salt - you can't do this anymore and just need to get away from them

stars - "do you think in another universe things would have worked out for us?"

cubic zirconia - you both come to the realization that your relationship is beyond repair

cold sheets - "can you hold me just one more time?" with soap and gaz

hydrangeas - a sudden death leaves one of you without the other for the rest of time

cocktails - "you need to stop drinking too much" "what do you know?"

graveyard - "please i don't want to die" with price

enlisted - military au

empty cartridges - "I want you to run, I'll cover you!"

uniforms - they sure clean up well as you look at them in their dress uniform with price

cigarette smoke - you share a cigarette (and exchange indirect kisses) while on patrol with ghost

confidential files - you're the newest addition to the team and you recognize a familiar face

jacket - you forgot to pack you winter gear and they're helping you avoid the cold

angel - this time you're their knight in shining armor as you save them with soap | with price

manila folders - "I'm being transferred to another unit"

bandages - you are the only one with the med kit and are tasked with patching them up

barbells - "you're doing it wrong, let me show you"

MREs - "can we switch? this food is absolute shit"

hit the showers (18+) - a prank ends with you getting your clothes and towel stolen with soap

wigs - you get sent undercover with them

hot and seductive - smut (18+)

lace (18+) - “wait for me in the bedroom, i have a surprise”with soap

stained lipstick (18+) - rough kisses in the back of an uber with gaz | with ghost

stolen glaces (18+) - "are you going to kiss me or not?"

tanning lotion (18+) - you just wanted help with an even lotion application but now their touch is venturing elsewhere

black and white photos (18+) - you take a few photos so they can remember you (and your body) while on deployment with price: part i and part ii

fruit juice (18+) - "let's test out that theory about drinking pineapple juice"

morning sun (18+) - you have nowhere to go and decide to spend it in bed ;) with ghost | with gaz | with price

silk (18+) - “you look absolutely gorgeous tonight”

[lizbot]

Honestly, PK was the best leader in hallownest, and I know I'm part of his fan club but c'mon, what are you gonna do? go with the radiance? sorry, I kinda like having a mind.

Living in Deepnest it's just asking to get killed and eaten. Unn people probably don't even get bathrooms, City of tears gots its own sewage system.

Mantises and Bees are elitist, asking you to fight them or to cover yourself in honey just to be allowed there.

PK even built a proper public transportation system (that's more than loads of real-life governments). One of his great knights is a foreigner, and another one is a poop-man, totes inclusive society. He's also kinda cute, but that's more of a personal opinion thing.

[rainwingmarvel7]

👑 for Therese so she can be the queen of love & beauty like she deserves (pay no attention to my own bias lol)

Bias? What bias? Personally I think you’re onto something here.

Therese sprang up from her seat beside Aegon, clapping excitedly as Ser Criston unhorsed his opponent, a young knight from the Westerlands nowhere near skilled enough to best him, Lancel Lefford. The crowd cheered along with her, although Criston paid them no attention as he rode towards his squire, Therese’s twin brother Tristan, who handed him the favor he was meant to give to crown his Queen of Love and Beauty.

“I wonder who will have the honor of Ser Criston’s favor,” Aegon commented. “He is a knight of the Kingsguard. There is no woman for him to fancy. Well, not one that he could make known, at least.”

“Perhaps it will be your mother then,” Therese suggested innocently, although she herself knew better. “He is her sworn sword, after all.”

“Perhaps,” Aegon echoed, sounding a bit bored of that idea.

Therese turned her attention away from her husband to watch as Criston rode towards the royal box, toting his precious floral favor in one hand. But he did not stop before Alicent, nor Princess Helaena sitting beside her.

It was only when he reached Therese that he pulled back on the reigns of his pure white stallion to halt. He presented the crown, woven with loveliest lime blossom, meadowsweet, jonquil, and primrose, to her. His Queen of Love and Beauty.

“For you, Princess,” he said.

Therese smiled back coyly at him. “Thank you, Ser Criston,” she said, accepting his favor. “You are too kind.”

“You are too deserving of it.” Criston smiled back at her. “Happy nameday, Therese.”

With a bow of his head, he rode off again, leaving Therese grinning after him. She placed the crown atop her head, far more valuable to her than any of gold and jewels.

[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

A Mouse in a Lion’s Den Pt.2

Pairing(s): Rhaegar Targaryen x Lannister!Reader, Jaime Lannister x Cersei Lannister Warnings: childhood trauma, emotional/psychological abuse, large age gap Words: 2370 Summary: A future bride for Rhaegar is chosen. Part 1  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7  Part 8  Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12  Part 13  Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18   Book One of Heir of Ash and Fire

The first day of the tourney and Lannisport was so alive. Everyone was bustling in the camp to get ready, even your father who was participating as well. Cersei and her friends had already rushed out of the tent by the time you woke up even though she was supposed to be taking care and keeping an eye on you. Your septa merely shakes her head in disappointment and has the other hand maides help you get ready. You were to look your best that day as you were seen as an extension of your father and therefore the Lannister family. Many of your extended family from Lannisport would be present to watch the spectacle including your Aunt Genna who doted over Cersei and the young girl’s illustrious beauty.

That day though it didn’t matter. You gawked wide eyed around you. All the able bodied men were decked out in their shining armor, some had their helmets on while others held them in their arms. They toted around their steeds they would be using, massive creatures they were that even towered over Jaime who was tall for his age.

“Ah! Jaime! Your sister ran off even though (y/n) was her responsibility.” Your septa has her hands on your shoulder and pushes you toward your older brother. You wondered why she didn’t just watch you. It was her job anyway.

He smiles. “Sounds like Cersei. Come on (y/n). Lets go find our seats. The tourney should be starting soon.”

You had Jaime to yourself again and couldn’t help the joy that flooded you. You kept closely to his side and watched as the stands had become flooded with people. There was so much talking that you couldn’t even hear your own thoughts. Soon enough you met up with your sister and her friends who were out of their seats, gushing about how Rhaegar would win.

Jaime rolled his eyes at them. “And how do you know Rhaegar will win?”

Melara flushes and tells him “Well I’m sure once you come of age you’d win against him no doubt.”

“You forget that he was newly knighted, brother.”Cersei puts her hands on her hips as if challenging her younger twin.

Jeyne nods. “And just look at him. He has the physique of a winner.”

“Your just basing it off of looks. What do you think (y/n)?” He addresses you.

Four pairs of eyes concentrated on you was a situation you didn’t like to be in. You could already feel your face heating up at the attention. “I-I don’t know.” You remember stumbling upon Rhaegar playing with his harp. It was difficult to imagine a man as gentle as him competing in a tourney let alone be a knight. “I guess it’s possible but he is up against older men who have done this for years.”

Proudly grinning at you, Jaime pats your head. “At least one of my sisters is smart.”

Something flashed across Cersei’s face that you didn’t like. Her head snaps back to the field as the crowd started cheering.

The first tournament had begun.

Over the course of the tournament Rhaegar had defeated many of your Lannister family members as well as dozens of your father’s finest knights. But in the end Rhaegar was defeated by Ser Arthur Dayne. Rhaegar didn’t seem too disappointed though. In fact the defeat didn’t phase him at all. The night before the final day of the tourney he brought out his harp and performed for everyone. He even bequeathed a special song just for you.

Rhaegar claimed it was for “The gentle mouse of Casterly Rock.” Using Cersei’s mocking nickname for you in a more kinder tone.

“You are now the envy of all the women who fancy him.” Jaime had warned you. How could they be envious over a child though? You were only nine years old and posed no threat.

Then came the final day. After Rhaegar’s loss everyone was preparing for the great feast that would follow. You decided to rest for a little bit in your tent but couldn’t help overhear Cersei talk to the other two girls.

“That’s what my Aunt Genna says! Our engagement will be announced tonight at the feast. In just a few hours I will be Rhaegar’s fiance, future Queen of Westeros.” She straightens her back and grins. “And just to make sure of it I say we go pay a visit to Maggy the Frog.”

You shot up in your cot. Maggy was a well known witch in Lannisport. Many knew to keep their distance from her.

Her friends were equally skeptical and tried to talk her out of it but once your sister’s mind was made up she was determined to go through with whatever it was.

Cersei’s lilypad eyes scan over to you, obvious that you had been eavesdropping. “And you’ll mind your own business, mouse.” She spat out that name with such distaste. Every maiden had been jealous about Rhaegar’s song for you. Especially Cersei.

You watched them leave the tent although Melara and Jeyne were quite reluctant to do so. A chill ran up your arms. Even if Cersei wasn’t your favorite you hoped she would be okay; you knew that if anything bad befell on her your father would possibly blame you for it. Unable to rest any longer you get up and go look for Jaime. Of course you wouldn’t tattle on Cersei. You would never see the end of it if you did. You couldn’t very well Just sit there anymore though.

“What’re you doing all by yourself?” Jaime asks you once you find him. “Where’s Cersei? Don’t tell me she blew you off again.”

“She went off with her friends into the city.” You murmur shyly looking up at several knights who had been talking to your brother. They look down at you in amusement.

One chuckles and elbows a knight next to him. “There’s Rhaegar’s gentle mouse.”

“Such a small lady she is to have caught the attention of Rhaegar Targaryen!” Another laughs.

You felt yourself squirm to get behind your brother.

“A shy mouse too!”

“Alright, enough teasing my sister.” Jaime steps in like a good big brother should. He hardly ever intervened when it was Cersei doing the teasing. It seemed anyone who wasn’t Cersei wasn’t allowed to taunt you, even if it was good natured teasing.

“Our apologies.” They say half-heartedly.

The one who had addressed you first turns back to Jaime. “Anyway, like we told you, if you want to be a knight it’s better to start your training sooner rather than later. You have a fine build already I’m sure it won’t be too difficult.”

“Yes, I hear Lord Sumner is looking for a squire.”

You never knew Jaime wanted to be a knight. Sure he trained nearly all day every day since he was able to hold a hilt. As the future Lord of Casterly Rock it wasn’t unusual for one to train hard in order to defend himself against enemies, but you wondered if your father would be okay relinquishing his heir for possibly a few years while Jaime squired.

Giving Jaime a few more words of advice they move on.

“You’re gonna be a knight Jaime?”

He pauses, eyes trained on the knight’s backs. “Hopefully. I want to do more than be some boring lord.”

Wanting to show him that you could be as good of a sister as Cersei you grin and tell him “I bet you’ll be the best knight ever!”

Green eyes light up. “Better than Rhaegar?”

“Better than Rhaegar! I bet you’ll be handsomer too!”

Jaime laughs. “Now you’re just boosting my ego.”

“What’s an ego?”

“Something that all Lannisters seem to have except for you. Which is a good thing.”

With Jaime beside you the two of you explored the rest of the grounds as the aura of celebration made the air taste sweetly. Lanterns were being lit as it was announced the feast would begin shortly. Your brother took you to where the upper lords would be in attendance. Tywin and Cersei already there you clam up immediately at the sight of your domineering family members. Of course Cersei was wearing her finest, hair curled in thick ringlets and looking beautiful. If what she said was true then her engagement to Rhaegar would be announced during the feast.

A suspicious eyebrow at the two of her siblings together. “And what were you two up to?”

“We were enjoying the festive atmosphere.” Jaime tells his older sister. “And where were you?”

She shoots you a vicious look, asking through her expression if you had told Jaime. “None of your business. I don’t have to tell you anything.”

He shrugged not particularly caring. He didn’t care when Cersei spoke so rudely to him.

Everyone seated the drinks and food were brought out and being quite famished you immediately dug in. Others talked to catch up with one another. You noticed how fidgety Cersei was becoming, how her eyes darted to and fro in a nervous fervor. You had never seen your overly confident sister act in such a manner.

Then it came. In the middle of the feast the thin king of Westeros stood, commanding everyone’s attention. All eyes instantly go to him, waiting with anticipation what the paranoid ruler had to say.

“Thank you for coming here today to celebrate the birth of my son Viserys.” Aerys starts with. Of course he had to thank everyone. It was customary for him to do so even if he was going mad. “As you all know my eldest, Rhaegar, is at the age to be married off. It’s a difficult task to find a bride that matches a pedigree such like that of the Targaryen. However we have found a match. A Lannister match.”

That seemed to catch a brooding Tywin off guard and made Cersei beam. Why was your father so surprised. He had proposed the match to the king. . . Hadn’t he?

Aerys, a bit hesitant himself glances at Rhaegar who remained quiet. “When she comes of age, (y/n) Lannister will wed my son Rhaegar Targaryen.”

The whole room appeared to stop breathing.

*

Rhaegar had listened in to his father speaking with Tywin Lannister. How he laughed at the lord, claiming that ‘a man does not marry his heir to his servant’s daughter.’ He knew that was more than a slap to the lord of Casterly Rock. Waiting patiently for Tywin to storm out of Aerys’ chambers, Rhaegar slips in. Maybe it wasn’t the right time to propose this, but if Rhaegar played his words carefully then perhaps he could get his father to go along with his plan.

“Can you believe him?” Aerys scoffs when he realizes his son was present. “The nerve of him to even suggest marrying you to his daughter.”

“The Lannister family is incredibly wealthy.” Rhaegar points out. “Even if their blood line isn’t up to par with our’s it would still be beneficial for an even more intimate alliance.”

Aerys grimaces. “That worm wants more than an ‘intimate’ alliance. He wants even more control of the Iron Throne. What better way to do that than plant his daughter close to you.”

In his rapid mental decline Aerys did happen to have a point. That is if Tywin wanted the power. He was already in a position where he was constantly taking care of matters that the king should’ve, even sitting on the throne from time to time when Aerys couldn’t be bothered.

“If you wish to,” Rhaegar started slowly. This was it. “You could further shame Tywin and display your control.”

The prospect of humiliating his right hand man interested Aerys greatly.

“The other daughter. It is known that Tywin cares not for his youngest daughter. She’s meek and quiet, not truly showing any proper Lannister traits. You could use the girl. Her father wouldn’t get closer to the throne if you use (y/n). She cares not for her father either.” He felt terrible saying such things about the sweet girl. It was the only way to get his father to even consider it. Rhaegar felt sympathy for (y/n), a kindred spirit. He couldn’t let her continue to suffer from her own family. There wasn’t much he could do except take her away from them.

“Yes, she is a dull little thing.” He hums in agreement. Long nails poking at his chin. Did Aerys really want to humiliate Tywin that much?

Apparently so.

Rhaegar couldn’t help but smile as everyone at the feast sat there shocked. (y/n) didn’t seem to understand at first until they stared her way.

*

“I can’t believe this!” Cersei screeched and you jolted when you saw her claw like fingers try to grab you.

“Cersei.” Tywin’s voice is cruel as he stares at his children. “Control yourself.”

“But she-”

“I said control yourself.” He snaps, not even bothering to raise his voice.

Cersei looked like she wanted to argue but knew better. Seething in silence she glares vehemently at you.

Tentatively Jaime asks “Is this for real father?”

Tywin sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “The king said it himself so it must be so.”

“It’s not fair!” Your older sister hisses. “You told me I was supposed to marry him!”

That made Jaime frown. “You were?”

“I made the proposal to Aerys but he refused it.”

Cersei’s pretty face contorted with angry tears. Complexion turning a humiliated red shade. “This isn’t fair!”

At that, Tywin leans closer to his daughter. “Life isn’t fair. It’s best you learn now if you haven’t already.” Straightening up your father turns to you.. “The king has made his choice. (y/n), do not mess this up for us.”

“Y-Yes father.” You try not to whimper.

What was going on?

Why was this happening to you?

You were not the type of maiden who should be married off to someone like Rhaegar. Why you had gotten the attention of the prince was another question.

There was so much to process for a nine year old.

You arrived in Lannisport a lonely child. You would be leaving as a future queen of Westeros.

[podcast-central-archive]

Give Me Away

Premise: A space ship landed with a computer that 10,000 souls trapped inside, with no way out and in alot of pain. An initiative was started to extract said souls and bond them to volunteers. It’s a big responsibility and the org down in Nevada doesn’t accept just anyone. Follows a out-of-his-funk dad Graham.

Gayness: bouncing ball, it appears when you least expect it

System meter: through the ceiling and vaulting into space with a cake on top

Non-binary meter: something shot past, could be it??

.

On a personal note, it’s hard to find positive representation of Dissasociative Identity Disorder. I’ve had my best experiences with watching stuff usually through unintended metaphor like Steven Universe. On occasional, literal like Moon Knight [2022 miniseries] and Set this House In Order by Max Ruff

Oddly enough, I’ve never found a literal (or in this case unintended metaphor) in podcast form. While I did watch it early in my discovery of my system so it was a bit triggering, now that I know myself its waaaaay more fun.

For those who are just now meeting their system, maybe hold off on this? If not, totes check it out!

It can be intense at times, I’m not gonna lie but seeing how Graham interacts with his new headmate, struggling to talk to people while having a parallel conversation in his head, needing to share his headmates words without judgement, etc is just so heartwarming.

I’m desperate for anything remotely representation and this made me feel less alone, I guess. *shrugs*

[pridefulrose]

Low quality photos but let me tell you one thing the quality of this merch is amazing! The tote bag is colorful and cute! It is perfect if you want to go around and make a couple of small errands! The quality was so good my friend was like wooo :0! As soon as she touched it!

The standee is super big and isnt it romantic? Seto as a knight pledging loyalty to Atem. It is big and it is very thick I would say hahahah.

The lil wish pouch??? I dont know how they are called but it has such vibrant colors and it is so cute! I need to find a way to carry it around so people can know that atem and kaiba are married hahah.

The cup is so cute bad photo but unfortunately i dont have much time due to uni but u need to know it is an average cup size but the colors! The colors are vibrant and the design is so much fun!

And lil @kuro-ousama was nice enough to give me stickers to dress up a lil paper atem doll and a pin!

Very satisfied with the quality of the merch. :33 if you can and want sth prideship their merch is so cute and fun!

Note: just be a lil patient with them. They are learning along the way but kuro tries their best and it is always so helpful!

[ct-hardcase]

Since a twitter mutual asked for an Inquisitor canon guide, I'm revamping my answer to an anon to include some more recent inquisitor canon. I'll get into the substantial canon stories first (which I'd say are the proverbial "must watch/read/play"s), and then into the ones where there might be slightly less content in a list below:

Star Wars: Rebels originated the inquisitors in the new canon and the start of their lore, though I'd argue it wasn't the best at handling them. Despite this, I'd recommend starting here. Introduces the Grand Inquisitor, Fifth Brother, Seventh Sister, and Eighth Brother. Also introduces (the ever-elusive) Project Harvester.

Darth Vader (2017): while this is a Vader-focused comic, you get quite a bit of inquisitor lore out of it, and also multiple characters you won’t find anywhere else/many other places. Highly recommend for how it builds up the Grand Inquisitor, Ninth Sister, and Sixth Brother in particular. Also includes the Fifth Brother, Tenth Brother, Iskat, and Tualon in a capacity that develops their characters. The comic additionally goes out of its way to include Seventh, Eighth, and Trilla as background characters. I recommend reading all of it, since I love the way it handles Vader as well, but the inquisitor-focused issues are almost all issues 6-20 minus issues 10 and 18. The writing has some flaws but overall one of my favorite canon comics in terms of story and art.

Jedi: Fallen Order was the blueprint, honestly. What made the inquisitors ascend from goofy side characters in others' stories to tragic villains in their own right. What's not to love about Trilla Suduri? Also provides a fair bit of depth to Ninth Sister, especially in the context of her previous DV (2017) appearances. It also fleshes out the Purge Troopers, who, while not inquisitors, are a fun addition to the organization. Also add a bit of inquisitor capture/initiation lore. I'm not a gamer, so I found a video which compiled all of the story scenes and it did the trick for me (though many gamers do recommend playing).

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Introduces Reva Sevander, and her wonderfully complicated story and character. This is among some of the essential inquisitor watch material for good reason, as it provides context for how inquisitors interpret the group dynamics, as well as a look at their military operations and how a hunt works from their end, somewhat. It also provides some context and/or development for the Grand Inquisitor and Fifth Brother; and introduces the Fourth Sister.

Rise of the Red Blade: The most personal look we get into an inquisitor's backstory and fall, so far (TotE will probably prove me wrong in about a month), this story centers Iskat's time as a Jedi and a bit of her time as an inquisitor. It goes through a Knight's look at the clone wars, and some of the Inquisitor initiation process/first few missions, in addition to glimpses of what a pre-Vader inquisitorius looked like. This book also features Tualon as a prominent character, but notably includes cameos from almost every canon inquisitor minus Reva, Marrok, and Bird Mask.*

*among others, who are more relegated to sourcebooks/secondhand references.

Next on the docket are Barriss' Tales of the Empire shorts, which I assume is going to go into the Inquisitor initiation process in full detail (see also: the reason Delilah Dawson couldn't full delve into it in RotRB), and should feature Barriss, the Fourth Sister, the Grand Inquisitor Marrok, and Bird Mask; and the Inquisitors (2024) comic miniseries coming this summer, which should include the Grand Inquisitor, Fifth Brother, Seventh Sister, and Ninth Sister.

I'll organize the rest by characters that you may want to know more about, though please note that there are minor spoilers for the above series (including character names) in the summaries of the series below:

Grand Inquisitor:

The Servants of the Empire series has some Grand Inquisitor lore with a focus on Zare Leonis and (the ever-elusive) Project Harvester. The Grand Inquisitor serves as an antagonist. This is a Middle Grade series, but it's one of the best MG series I've read in Star Wars.

The Grand Inquisitor has appeared in the Rebels manga adaptation! I haven't read it myself, but the art looks good.

He gets a semi-canon appearance in one short story of Star Wars: Dark Legends. He's got creepy vampire vibes, which are cool, and you also get one of my favorite Order 66 survivors in the dubiously-canon Kira Vantala.

[He also gets a spotlight in Issue 6 of Star Wars (2020). Yes, the comic takes place post-esb. Yes, the Grand Inquisitor is there. This one has the most payoff after reading Vader (2017) and watching swr s1

Will probably have a supporting/important role in Barriss' Tales of the Empire shorts.

Second Sister (Trilla Suduri):

Most of her Material is in JFO, but she also gets a spotlight in Jedi Fallen Order: Dark Temple. Though this five-issue comic focuses mostly on Cere, it gives you some good Second Sister content, presented pre-Trilla reveal in-game. It gives you more of her cool and competent inquisitor vibe that way. Also, the dynamic Trilla has with her Purge Trooper Commander is a bonus for me, in this one.

Third Sister (Reva Sevander):

Sadly, not a lot of supplemental content exists for Reva outside of OWK. I suppose I'm obligated to include the Obi-Wan Kenobi Comic Adaptation, but considering the art is about the equivalent of traced-over screenshots, I feel confident in saying you can skip this one.

Fourth Sister (Lyn):

Her...armor appears in Return to Vader’s Castle 4 and 5. The saboteur wearing it uses her designation, but that's about all the character lore we get. I suspect that more will come in the TotE short.

Will probably have a supporting/important role in Barriss' Tales of the Empire shorts.

Fifth Brother:

He gets a PoV section in Jedi: Battle Scars! Though it's not super substantive, it's the closest we've gotten to a backstory for him, and he gets a hell of a duel in this one. The overall plot is steamy and fun as well, plus Merrin and Fret are worth the price of admission alone.

He also gets a lot of bit parts in other inquisitor media, including OWK and Vader (2017), all of which add up to a more complex character than the man we get in Rebels.

Some comics featuring the Fifth Brother are in the Star Wars Rebels Magazine are in German so if you read the language you’re in luck, but some have been translated into English by fans so you can find them in their tumblr tags.

It seems he'll be a main character in the Inquisitors (2024) comic series.

Sixth Brother (Bil Valen):

The Ahsoka Novel: This is obviously mostly about Ahsoka, but Sixth Brother gets some PoV chapters as well. Though the chapters may initially not seem the most substantive, the other inquisitor canon (plus his scenes in Vader [2017]) builds up around him to end up giving a surprising amount of glimpses into who he is as a person. The Grand Inquisitor also appears here, but his appearance is short enough to not warrant a place in his section.

Seventh Sister:

She plays a somewhat significant role in Iskat's first years in Rise of the Red Blade, though sadly, aside from Rebels, she doesn't have a substantive role in many stories.

Seventh Sister also features in the Star Wars Rebels Magazine stories.

She also seems to be a main character in the Inquisitors (2024) comic series.

Eighth Brother:

Sorry, you're SoL (I say with love; he's my favorite).

In all seriousness, he has one line of dialogue in Vader (2017), and a cameo in Rise of the Red Blade. If he ends up being your favorite, I can help link some interviews from Robbie Daymond about him, or something.

Ninth Sister (Masana Tide):

Aside from a brief appearance in Jedi: Survivor, most of her story takes place in Vader (2017) and JFO.

She also appears to be among the main cast of Inquisitors (2024).

Tenth Brother (Prosset Dibs):

Mace Windu: Jedi of the Republic: A five-issue comic focusing on a strike team of four Jedi in the beginning the clone war, raises questions of what the republic is coming to, and also gives you some of the Tenth Brother’s backstory.

Thirteenth Sister (Iskat Akaris):

She doesn't have much outside of Vader (2017) and RotRB, but considering she's the protagonist of the latter, hopefully that's alright for now.

Tualon Yaluna:

See Iskat's entry above—though he's not the protagonist of RotRB, he gets quite a bit of focus.

Marrok:

One of the antagonists of the Ahsoka show, and primarily appears there.

Will probably have a supporting/background role in Barriss' Tales of the Empire shorts.

Bird Mask:

A note on him is that the jury's split about whether he's actually the Sixth Brother based on his role in Ahsoka's final Tales of the Jedi episode, which is strikingly similar to the Ahsoka Novel. I choose to believe he's not.

Will probably have a supporting/background role in Barriss' Tales of the Empire shorts.

Other Canon Inquisitors/Noncanonical Inquisitors/I'm Bald/Other Nuanced Opinion:

There’s an Inquisitor in the semi-canon Star Wars Visions season 1 episode T0-B1.

There's also an Inquisitor in the semi-canon Star Wars Visions season 2 episode Bandits of Golak.

Per a guidebook released prior to Obi-Wan Kenobi, There was an inquisitor with the designation Third Brother. At this time, we do not know what he looks like, nor has he been confirmed to have been in a story.

Per a TTRPG campaign, there was a female inquisitor who trained the Nightsister Jerserra, who killed her and stole the unidentified inquisitor's lightsaber. We do not have confirmation on who this is.

Maul carries an inquisitor's saber from at least the time of Solo to Star Wars: Rebels. This may or may not belong to an existing canon inquisitor or an as-of-yet-unknown character (it was modeled off of the Grand Inquisitor's, but we can assume this was due to budget concerns).

There's a variety of mobile games, sourcebooks, and other sources that provide a series of blurbs on the canon inquisitors that I haven't kept close track of. While these provide some information, most of it goes over existing information (possibly sourced directly from the Star Wars databank entries or Wookieepedia pages) and rarely do we get any new information from these (and more rarely still does canon actually stick to the information we get from them). These are fun, and can be delved into if you want more detail, but my personal MO is to stick to canon works first.

The slight exception to me is the Lightsaber coffeetable book, which I find has gorgeous (original!) art, and has some blurbs about the inquisitors' fighting styles.

[lolotheparagon]

What Each G3 Pony Thinks of Scarecrow

Scootaloo: HES THE BEST!! He’s super scary, super smart, super cool and just SUPER EVERYTHING! I was the only pony out of my friends who liked scary stuff so I’m so psyched to have a friend I have something in common with! And to think this all started from me making a wish for a live scarecrow. We both try to scare people on the street which is really easy for me cos for some reason, I scare everyone in Gotham. Mr Crane says it’s because they can’t comprehend talking ponies. Weird. Anyway, Mr Crane may be a grump, but I bet having seven ponies to look after must be pretty hard. He always makes time for me though! He says I’m his no 1 henchpony and calls me Ragnarök! Which means natural disasters or something. Either way it’s cool! He’s the best boss ever and I hope he likes this new butterfly bomb I came up with!

Cheerilee: I thought he was a stinky old man at first, but we’ve got a lot more in common than I thought! For a scarecrow, he’s actually very smart! Which is strange, cos I thought scarecrows have no brains. Well, that shows what I know! Mr Crane has taught me loads of subjects like psychology, complex math and biology. Ponyville’s library doesn’t have any knowledge like this. It is a little hard to wrap my head around at times but it is worth it to rub it in Scoot’s face hehe. Mr Crane would make a very good teacher, if he didn’t look like a stitched up skeleton

Rainbow Dash: I know he doesn’t get my love of fashion and that’s totes understandable. He’s old. I mean have you SEEN that cloak?! Major frump alert! And pee-uw! does his breath stink! But he’s cool, as long as you don’t put him in a bad mood. But that won’t stop me from putting him in a dress! He is long overdue for a makeover!

Pinkie Pie: I don’t know if he’s our boss or our dad but either way, it’s nice to have someone to look up to. I may be the leader of my friends, but Im still a pony. So I can always rely on Mr Crane for advice. But he has a very weird sense of what’s right and wrong and I’m gonna criticise the heck out of that! I’ve never seen Mr Crane laugh, but when he does, it’s nice to see! But he’s never happy regularly when he’s around us. Sometimes I don’t know if he likes us very much… I try to cheer him up with a surprise party, but Mr Crane doesn’t like parties. Says they’re too loud. Doesn’t like the colour pink either. He does save us from Riddler’s bullying and protects us from people in Gotham throwing stuff at us, he’s very polite and says he “likes” us. So thats good!

Sweetie Belle: He can be a bit mean and grumpy but I think he’s very nice deep down. After all, he gives us toys, trips to the funfair and ice cream if we’re good! He also gave us such funny nicknames! I’m Pesticide! It’s also funny how he struggles to say our normal names without making a grumpy face! Haha Mr Crane is the funniest boss ever! Although I don’t get his whole scaring people thing with fear. I’m pretty sure he can scare people with how he looks already

Toola Roola: Its amazing how a scarecrow can be both magic and be really smart! He looks very scary but I guess that’s his job, isn’t it? And it kinda makes sense where he comes from. Gotham is a very gloomy place. Aw, I bet he misses it a little after being in Ponyville for so long. Maybe I’ll paint him a nice graveyard with lots of crows on it. That’ll cheer him up!

Starsong: You can tell he’s an old man cos he doesn’t know what TikTok is. Although it is so worth it cos his dancing is so silly, heehee! Good thing our babysitter whenever we visit Gotham, Barbara Gordon, knows all about TikTok and loves our dances! She has a beautiful singing voice! Oh yeah, we were talking about Mr Crane. Well, the only dancing he likes is the St Vitus’ dance. Why would a dance be named after a saint? That doesn’t sound very groovy…Mr Crane’s really weird.

Here is part 1.

[before-calamity]

Buffs and Debuffs

Okay, no idea how this is going to go given I'm still relatively new to Tumblr, but here's a very quick look of some buffs and debuffs that you can receive in 1.0. I'm not sure which ones are actually in the game and which one's not. You'd probably need to click to expand each one. This is going to be a lot dryer of a post than regular ones as we pore through black text on white background, because the real horror is data analysis.

In this first one, you'll see Thamaturge and Bard effects which we'll look at later, as well as things like Gold Lung and Goldbile, which are effects from Aurum Vale. There's also an effect called Red Riding Hooded, where you "don a red riding hood as per Chuchumu's request", which might be relevant to XI's old costume system, as well as one effect where you "tote in intact sylph podling" ala the Sylph beast tribe quests.

Oh! And Sanction, which does its ARR ability of simply providing additional benefit (I believe it's in ARR. I know it's completely different from the XI version. Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

In this next set are some Gathering and Crafting ones among a few buffs that are able to stack together, like Power Surge or Life Surge. You also see Double Nock and Triple Nock which I'm not 100% if those were actually in game.

As well as some mysterious removed ones~.

And interesting enough, you have spells that modify your level. Which is interesting, because that hasn't been a mechanic in any Final Fantasy except for the best one, Final Fantasy 5, where there were a lot of Blue spells that would modify your level or a monster's level.

I believe "Comradery" and "Strength in Numbers" are basically similar to the Echo buff you have in FFXIV raids.

Here we have a few interesting ones. I think some of these are either from cut spells or were leftovers from XI. Then some that would break the game like Reraise, unless an NPC casts that on you. Or things like Shell, which was in XI but is not in 1.0 (unless it was planned for it).

Even tohose Absorb Stat spells are from XI, and they are here, and even translated. Why? Absorb-STAT were Dark Knight spells in XI, was Dark Knight in its more XI form (or something similar) was planned for 1.0 at some point? Remember that XI and 1.0 ran on different engines, with 1.0 using a modified version that XIII ran on.

Our last batch.

Here we have some GLA/PLD or MRD/WAR attacks, as well as some things related to Battle Regimens which we'll get to at some point.

The top four - the Incapacitation infliction are interested - what is damaged beyond use? Usually the game uses "incapacitation" to mean that you as a PC are knocked out - this makes it sound like your gear is incapacitated. Something like Couerl Step sounds like it'd be a PUG/MNK action but as we'll see soon (please look forward to it), it isn't one.

Anyways, I hope you found this interesting. I know it's not one of the most visually interesting posts, but it's been on my backlog to post for a bit, and it just needed it done.

Happy Halloween! (And yes, if you are curious, Pumpkin Cookies are in 1.0, I just don't have a picture of them at this time!)

[narukape]

ALBUM — chess pieces

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PROFILES: suou_tsukasa, suckonma, davinki, official_sena, nyanko

DESCRIPTION: despite the seemingly calm and chivalrous personae that Knights uphold, one look at their profiles will remind you almost instantly that they're all (somewhat) teenagers— and teenagers do the weirdest of shit sometimes.

EXTRA FUN FACTS (that might be relevant):

— tsukasa is the only Knights member that [name] didn't know before the incident mentioned in chapter one. somehow the person they ended up falling head over heels for. "save the best for last...?"

— ritsu baked the... bread in his banner. he also somehow never got told off for his username and overall account? somehow???

— "your skeleton is ready to hatch" I don't really know what came over me or leo for that one, I'm gonna be honest with you. also wanted to make a dn joke for his username but decided against it because he is a mature. mature and independent man that enjoys... art? classical art? yeah, totes.

— izumi got hacked (by his own soul).

— aranee made her username her lovely cat's name the moment she signed up for a tweety account, setting her banner as the kitty's face right after. she's probably the most sane in the group? totally the voice of reason to avoid more paperwork that would surely come in if the Knights get in trouble. think of her poor schedule...

SYPNOSIS— Photographers are known to have quite the eye when it comes to beautiful sights— being naturally drawn to every opportunity of catching good visuals on their camera. [name], a famed photographer that is currently affiliated with Ensemble Square, is no exception. Truly it's no wonder that they fell for the prettiest sight of them all; Tsukasa Suou, leader of Knights.

[verdantglow]

Okay so @plumadot’s posting about her D&D Traffic AU has made me remember how much I love my Dungeons & Traffic AU & I Must Talk About It Now.

Basically all the characters are in a modern setting, playing a rotating cast D&D game DMed by The Watchers. (I never really decided how that works. Plan was for everything in out of game space be completely mundane except for the floating purple eye behind the DM screen lol.)

But yeah! So I picked classes & heritages that the characters would pick themselves based on play styles & preferences. &, uh, here they are!

Bdubs: Firbolg, Light Domain Cleric of Helios

Of course he’s a light cleric. Of course his god is literally the god of the Sun. This man does not fuck with the night & darkness At All. (Also he wanted to be tall lol.)

BigB: (???), (???)

Okay, gonna be honest, BigB is the last one I need to make decisions for ‘cause I feel I have too many knowledge gaps about him to figure this out. Was thinking Paladin maybe??? But I will totes take input, please help me here. Only restrictions: I’d prefer if he doesn’t double up on heritage or subclass with anyone.

Cleo: Reborn, Circle of Wildfire Druid

Cleo’s gotta be a zombie, so Reborn is perfect. & who can deny Cleo the opportunity to have a skill set based entirely around setting shit on fire?

Etho: Shadar-Kai, Way of the Shadow Monk

He’s a ninja lol. Also in this AU I was thinking he & Gem would be siblings, so having him play an emotionally flat dark elf played nicely with what Gem goes with. Which…

Gem: Eladrin, Eldritch Knight Fighter

Gem had to be a fighter, that girl is a fighter through & through, but she’s definitely not playing a boring character. Eldritch Knight adds some magical flavour that goes well with her being an Eladrin. & she had to be an elf of some kind; I think she’d like the versatility & expressiveness of Eladrin.

Grian: Changeling, Pact of the Tome Warlock of the Archfey

Okay, I know this is probs controversial but hear me out. 1) Grian being a Warlock I think is just very in character. 2) Pact of the Tome lets him cast catrips from other classes & you unknowingly he’d get a kick outta that mechanic. 3) His patron is a homebrewed version of The Traveler, half way between 5e canon & Critical Role canon. Trickster vibes are real. 4) This dude has had so many skins. Changeling energy. (Also I just love changelings & Grian made the most sense to me.)

Impulse: Hill Dwarf, Forge Domain Cleric of Tharmekhûl

Another controversial one, but I’m not a fan of demon/tiefling/horned Impulse. & he legit has been a dwarf before. Hill dwarf because they get a Wisdom buff & that makes sense for Impulse. Cleric of Tharmekhûl because forge/light vibes & also he’s the god of smiths & that feels… like something Impulse would choose. (Impulse’s character is also min-max’d to hell. This man is going to win at D&D.)

Jimmy: Human, Oath of Glory Paladin of Tyr

Jimmy got overwhelmed by all the heritages & just went human for simplicity. He takes regular human rather than variant because he doesn’t want to learn all the feats & getting +1 to all stats is pretty good, right? Oath of Glory Paladin of Tyr because he really, really plays into being Lawful Good, & being The Law of the party.

Joel: Half-orc, Path of the Berserker Barbarian

Half-orc for being the closest I could get to an ogre. Path of the Berserker because he’s all about The Rage.

Lizzie: High Elf, School of Enchantment Wizard

Idk Lizzie just has big Wizard vibes to me, but like. Not the best wizard. Like she’s powerful, but rolls shit. She couldn’t get anyone to sleep in the Secret Life campaign because her DC is kinda low & everyone kept making their saves. (Except Joel. He failed his save on purpose. <3) High Elf for Queen Lizzie.

Martyn: Tiefling, Swashbuckler Fighter

Another natural fighter choice imo, but Swashbuckler for The Performance. Tiefling because he’s a bit impish & also so he can have Thaumaturgy to constantly scare everyone with monster/mob noises.

Mumbo: Rock Gnome, School of Evocation Wizard

I need to Mumbo to be a glass canon. School of Evocation Wizard does that so well. He can blow shit up so good, but he takes one hit & he’s out. Rock gnome because he just wanted to be a little guy & so he can be a Tinker.

Pearl: Wood Elf, Beastmaster Ranger

Beastmaster Ranger so she can have Tilly as an animal companion. Also more combat than magic focused, ‘cause that feels right? Elf because that’s her vibe, wood elf because it made sense for her build.

Ren: Werewolf Shifter (Doglike), Bannerette Fighter

Ren really wanted to be a fighter, but he put all his points in charisma RIP. So yeah, he’s the fighter class that does the least actual fighting lol. Doglike werewolf because of course.

Scar: Half-elf, Wild Magic Sorcerer/School of Eloquence Bard multiclass

His first few levels were in sorcerer, to reflect his absolutely bonkers all or nothing luck. School of Eloquence because he’s the type to talk his way out of most any situation he can. Also: Scar is 100% a charisma caster. (He still uses a longbow, don’t worry; he gets proficiency with it from being a half-elf.)

Scott: Fairy, Lunar Sorceror

I have changed my mind the most about Scott. Landed on Fairy, because the Vibes. Sorcerer because I felt he’d have innate magic, Lunar because it gives him access to a wide variety of spells that make sense for him. (Like Shield. He uses Shield all the time. Can’t hit this man, no sir.)

Skizz: Protector Aassimar, Path of the Ancestral Guardians Barbarian

He attac, he protec. & most importantly, he place high value on bonds between folks. So giving him Ancestral Guardians just… yeah.

Tango: Fire Genasi, Battlesmith Artificer

I don’t think I need to explain this much. His Steel Defender is an Iron Golem.