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silverflame2724 · 3 years ago

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Happy Prompt (if you feel like it): WWX being the genius/ex first disciple of great scet that he is realizes they can't sustain the Burial Mounds. So he comes up with a Plan to make them all dissappear. Knowing how important lineage is so them, he asks them to give up the Wen name and take up Wei. (The wens are mostly common folk who just want to live so they agree). He the proceeds to hide them among other clans. People who have met and remember all the good young master Wie always did. He hides them among the Jiang and Nie. (I always head cannon that part of WWX'S flirty reputation comes from him helping women who are in bad situations/ NHS somehow finds out/knows and begins to help him. I figure theyhad to get several Lan women out. Mama Lans ghost helps?). JC knows but ignores it, they aren't WENS anymore, so his pride can leave it be. I'm not sure if A'yuan would still end up with Lan Zhan? But then WWX, WN, and WQ all fake thier deaths and go travel as rogue cultivators. But now WWX has all these living and dead people praying to/for him as the patron Saint of lost causes? And he accidentally becomes an immortal without realizing it? To the absolute fond disgust of WQ, of course. Anyway, I figure old Jin perv still pulls his bullshit at a discussion conference and between NHS, JYL, and LWJ? They somehow clear everyone's nsme. And then newly immortal WWX rocks up in there (to the horror of the Lan Elders who now have to face thier own bullshit/ hypocrisy) and lives happily ever after.

I think I read a prompt or a fic somewhere with the concept of the Wens hiding in plain sight.

________________________

The thought came to him out of nowhere.

It had been a peaceful day with the Wens as he farmed, invented and tinkered with various incomplete contraptions when Wei Wuxian was struck with a thought: they could not continue like this.

Wei Wuxian wasn’t an idiot. He knew that they couldn’t sustain themselves in the Burial Mounds. Their crops hardly prospered, one by one the more elderly individuals of the Wens got sick and died, the resentful energy messed with everyone’s temperament, the cultivators never stopped trying to break his wards.....the list went on and on.

He had to come up with a plan. He thought they could live here for a time, but that was just wishful thinking.

With this in mind, he takes the next few days to come up with a concrete plan.

...............................

The first task, and perhaps the most important one, is to ask the Wens to give up the Wen name. It would be easier from then on.

As he presented this suggestion, he was surprised by how readily they agreed. He knew how important lineage was to them, so the rapidness of them giving up their name was shocking.

“Would you......take up my name?” Wei Wuxian asked quietly.

The Wens were silent before cheering. Wei Wuxian didn’t know how to react to this. The Wens told him that they were more than happy to accept his name since they were his family.

Wei Wuxian held back the tears and laughed happily instead as he went on to tell him the next plan of action: hiding them in plan sight.

Various people from various clans owed him favors and remembered the good in him, as they were more than happy to take on the refugees he hid away now that they were no longer Wens.

They had to do this quietly and slowly though. It would be suspicious if a large group of people suddenly left Yiling all at once. So Wei Wuxian took each of them to different places. Some of them went back to their original homes, some went to the Nie, some to the Yao, some to the Ouyang clan.

He even sends some to the small village of women who he helped run away from their horrible home situations.

It was a little tricky with Nie, but Nie Huaisang pulls through and Nie Mingjue suspects nothing.

He sends some to the Jiang and Jiang Cheng grudgingly accepts them, knowing that they are no longer Wen.

And for A’ Yuan.......He sends A’ Yuan to Lan Zhan, who is familiar with A’ Yuan. Wei Wuxian sends a letter to Lan Zhan asking him to meet and instead of appearing, A’ Yuan is there in his stead. The letter to Lan Zhan details what to do with A’ Yuan and to hide his identity.

Wei Wuxian trusts that Lan Zhan would take his suggestion and tell his brother and uncle that A’ Yuan was a child that Lan Zhan was asked to take care of by a dying mother.

Wei Wuxian watches from afar as Lan Zhan takes A’ Yuan away and takes the last step in ensuring that the cultivation world forgets him: He fakes his, Wen Qing’s and Wen Ning’s deaths. There’s enough corpses in the Burial Mounds and ones with their physique to replace the Wens and him. He gossips to the town that he’s going to destroy his weapon, the Seal, and subsequently fakes an explosion of resentment, quickly disappearing with the Wen siblings to a random direction.

He always thought how nice it would be to be like his parents and be rogue cultivators. He guesses that he’ll find out now.

..................................

Years pass and Wei Wuxian makes decent salary by taking care of monsters in the area. Wen Qing is a doctor, of course, and Wen Ning becomes her assistant.

They move to a little village near Dongying and settle down there. The people there a little more open to demonic cultivation and dark arts and don’t bat an eye at Wei Wuxian using such means.

Wei Wuxian invents more contraptions, selling them under a false name in towns far away from Dongying.

One day, on a chance night hunt near Yunmeng, Wei Wuxian hears whispers and gossip about Nie Huaisang, Lan Wangji and Jiang Yanli clearing his name and capturing the actual people responsible.

He’s happy to hear this. Overjoyed. But that doesn’t mean he’ll gladly return to the cultivation world. He’s had enough of that life.

He walks around town for a bit longer, catching bits of gossip here and there. As explores the town, wine jug in hand, he nearly chokes around a mouthful of wine as he sees a small shrine encasing a statue of his likeness. What.....the hell??

He quickly asks around and finds out that people are praying to him for protection. Wei Wuxian squirms a little at this, glad he’s wearing a weimao to cover his face.

All of this...praying makes him uncomfortable. Not long ago, people were spitting on his name and now he’s suddenly become some sort of Patron for protection? The change is remarkable and cements Wei Wuxian’s decision to firmly stay out of the cultivation world.

People’s opinions change like a tide and Wei Wuxian doesn’t want to stick around long enough for them to switch back. He sighs, disposing of his empty jug, and leaves the town.

.......

Surprisingly, that’s not the end of the changes.

He got careless on a night hunt and ends up with the claw of a yaoguai piercing him all the way through his stomach. When the yaoguai pulled out its claw, though......Wei Wuxian healed quickly. Too quickly.

He recovers from the shock at this and finishes off the yao.

What just happened?

A quick trip to Wen Qing answered everything.

“Congratulations.” Wen Qing says dryly. “You’re an immortal.”

“........What.”

Wen Qing sighs, “From what you told me, you healed unnaturally quickly, right?”

Wei Wuxian nods.

“There have only been records of immortals recovering that quickly. Even Wen Ruohan healed slower than you did.”

“But I don’t have a core???”

“You do. Sort of.” Wen Qing replies. “I’m actually surprised you haven’t you felt it.”

“.....” I mean, I did think it was odd that I didn’t freeze to death in the winter or die of hunger when money became tight over these years, but I thought those were side effects of demonic cultivation! Wei Wuxian quickly goes through the motions of feeling for his core, willing the surge of hope he felt down.

And he......didn’t feel a core. He felt more of a large mass of energy congregated in his dantian.

Wei Wuxian is glad that he is sitting down right now because he feels very faint. “But.....this......how?”

“Hmm. Well, from what I’ve been hearing, you’ve become some sort of Patron Saint?” Wei Wuxian nods. “It’s rare, but cultivators can gain power from prayers. Take Wen Ruohan for example.”

“He became powerful through the same means?”

“Yes. Well, his people believed him to be all powerful, not so much as what people are praying to you. As the Sunshot alliance chipped down on his people, so too did they chip down on Wen Ruohan’s power.”

“So if people stop praying to me, I’ll stop being immortal.”

“Yes and no. Right now, there’s just a mass of energy concentrated there. It’s basically unrefined energy. All you have to do is refine that power into a core and cultivate normally. Otherwise, yes. You will lose this power as soon as people stop praying to you.”

“I see.......”

Wen Qing raises an eyebrow and brandishes her needles. “What are you doing just sitting here? Go and cultivate!”

“Aiya, Qing-jie! I’m in shock here, give me a moment to absorb this all!”

“I have patients to see! Get your ass to your room and cultivate!”

“Are you my mom or something?”

Wen Qing’s expression turns thunderous.

Wei Wuxian didn’t want to provoke her any further despite wanting to banter more and left to his room.

..................................

“You should visit your siblings.” Wen Qing says one day. “And Hanguang-Jun. I want to hear about how A’ Yuan is doing.”

“Where did this come from?”

“Wei Wuxian.” Wen Qing says patiently. “It’s been over a decade. Your name and our name has long since been cleared. People no longer hate you. And.....they miss you. Your siblings have commemorated the day you “died” and go into mourning for that day. Hanguang-Jun is a little subtler but he wears a mourning sash now.”

“They’ll be better off without me.”

“Says who?”

“The rest of the world.” Wei Wuxian says weakly.

“And why should you care for their opinion? You never seemed to mind it.”

“Ummm.....Lan Zhan hates me? Jiang Cheng might resent me? And Shij---Jiang-guniang---the Young Madam Jin has a life already.”

“First, if Hanguang-Jun hates you, why would he frequently glare at people who badmouthed you?”

“Because he’s a good person. How do you know this anyway?”

“I have friends. Try again. Hanguang-Jun is a famously reticent person. Would he do this for every person?”

“.........I don’t know.”

“The answer is no.”

Wei Wuxian pouts.

Wen Qing then begins to tell him how Jiang Cheng frequently takes demonic cultivators back with him in hopes that one of them would be Wei Wuxian and even added Wei Wuxian back to the Jiang sect register. Jiang Yanli smiles while ruthlessly talking people into apologizing every time she hears something bad said about Wei Wuxian.

She even lectures him on his feelings towards Lan Wangji, that he would entrust A’ Yuan to him.

Wen Qing closes off her speech with threats of her needles if Wei Wuxian doesn’t get his ass over there.

“There’s a Discussion Conference at Lotus Pier. Wei Wuxian, wait till they’re done and go meet them.”

Wei Wuxian, sufficiently threatened, hightails it back to what was his home.

.......

Wei Wuxian also decidedly forgets that he was supposed to wait for the Conference to end. Well, he had assumed that they would be done considering the empty state of the area in front of the conference room and stupidly bursts through the door to a room full of people.

Wei Wuxian blinks, “Uhh......”

“Wei Wuxian?!”

“Wei Ying?!”

“A’ Xian?!”

Wei Wuxian tittered from side to side, “Hello, all! I bet you thought I was dead! Well, you guessed wrong! Hahaha......”

..............................

Lan Wangji did not know what this time’s discussion conference would be like. He expected Jin Guangshan to try and subtly slander Wei Ying. He expected Jiang Yanli, Jiang Wanyin and himself to stand up for Wei Ying, as he was unable to do before Wei Ying died.

But he certainly didn’t expect Wei Ying, who he thought was dead, burst into the room.

Everyone was silent as soon as they heard Wei Ying speak, but soon burst into a cacophony of noise.

Continuing the Discussion Conference was futile after that and it was quickly closed. Lan Wangji watched Wei Ying be surrounded by many people, some crying, some happily angry, some exasperated and he couldn’t help his reaction after seeing him once again.

He rushes forward and hugs him.

“Wha--Lan Zhan?”

“You’re alive.” Lan Wangji breathes, voice full of wonder. “You’re alive.”

Wei Ying’s arms come up around him and Lan Wangji feels the strong heart beat through their robes. His elders yell at him for his shamelessness and he comes back to himself, embarrassed at his lack of control.

“Aww, Lan Zhan! I’m so glad you missed me!”

“Mn. Missed Wei Ying a lot.”

A slight blush rose to Wei Ying’s cheeks and he laughed, a little shy. Lan Wangji couldn’t help his response to hearing his laugh again after so, so long. He kissed him.

The crowd gasped around them and Lan Wangji pulled back quickly, wanting the ground to swallow him up. But then......Wei Ying kissed him back.

“Aiya, Lan Zhan. How bold of you! To steal a kiss from me in public!” He giggles, not seeming mad at all and even pressing forward, tangling his fingers in his forehead ribbon.

Lan Wangji’s breath stutters at the gesture.

“You’d better take responsibility!”

Is Wei Ying asking what I think he’s asking? “Responsibility?”

“Yes! You took a kiss from me in public! It looks like I can’t marry anymore.”

“Will marry Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji replies, voice hoarse, ignoring the cries of outrage from his elders, the angry shouts from Jiang Wanyin, and the smirks from Jiang Yanli and his brother. “Will take responsibility.”

“I hope that isn’t the only reason.”

This is his chance to come clean. Lan Wangji already told himself that he wouldn’t hold himself back if he met Wei Ying again. “Like Wei Ying. Love Wei Ying.”

Wei Ying laughs brightly. “I like Lan Zhan too. Now, you’ll finally admit we’re close?”

Lan Wangji ignores everyone, eyes only on Wei Ying as they should have always been, “Mn. Let’s get married.”

___________________________

I feel like Lan Wangji may be a bit OOC......hmm. Well, whatever. I finally got this done and with that, I think I’ve cleared all the prompts I haven’t answered, so asks will open up again!

Hope you all enjoyed this!

#wei ying #wei wuxian #wen qing #wen ning #wen qionglin #lan zhan #lan wangji #wen remnants #lan yuan #canon divergent au #wei wuxian hides the wen remnants #immortal wei wuxian #fluff #confessions #JYL and NHS and LWJ clear WWX and the Wen remnants' names #this is only happy #I hope

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canary3d-obsessed · 4 years ago

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Restless Rewatch: The Untamed Episode 21, second part

(Masterpost) (Other Canary Stuff) (Previous Post)

Warning: Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!

Flute Solo

For some reason Wei Wuxian has decided to take a walk outside of the fortress, or behind the fortress, or something? Can people just take a stroll outside during wartime? Seems unwise.

There are guards and these extra-bossy crows herding some Wen prisoners along, and Wei Wuxian stands up above and gets totally overwhelmed by resentful energy.

He falls to one knee while clutching his chest, in the spot where all cultivators seem to stow a bag of holding. I guess this is the Xuanwu sword? Or maybe it's his surgical incision; those things can take a while to finish healing. I think the golden core is further down in the abdomen, though; this is right over his heart.

Wen Qing, Granny, and Fourth Uncle are in the group, but Wen Qing has her hood up so Wei Wuxian can't see her, and he's unlikely to remember the other two, since he only saw them that one time at the shrine, and he doesn't remember people he's literally had dinner with.

The guards decide to be assholes and beat the shit out of a prisoner because he fell down, which inspires some extra aggressive crows to swoop in and attack the not-dead guy on the ground. That is...not how carrion-eaters behave, generally. They're pretty good about waiting for you to stop moving.

Wei Wuxian continues to struggle, obviously having an orgasm in a lot of pain, and starting to leak resentful energy.

(more after the cut)

He brings his flute up and starts playing it, which causes the wind to rise, rocks to fall from a nearby cliff, and the whole group of people on the ground under him to start having Yin Iron lines crawling up their faces.

Would Wen Qing be a beautiful fierce corpse? She would.

Eventually Wei Wuxian stops torturing everybody, having gotten it out of his system for a bit, and stands up. The group gets up, skin clearing up, and starts moving along again, a little shook. Wen Qing looks up and sees Wei Wuxian and hides her face in anguish.

She was there in the dungeon, listening to the same flute music, when he was resentfully slaughtering everyone around her in Yiling. Does she understand what she’s seeing, what he’s become?

Her hood is off and it seems that he sees her, or at least that he is trying to figure out what he's seeing. But Jiang Yanli arrives before he can do more than look puzzled and cast his eyes around.

Jiang Yanli asks him what just happened and he laughs and says it was the strong wind, in an extremely transparent lie that Yanli nearly chokes trying to swallow. She drags him back to the meeting while he continues to look troubled.

War Council

Meanwhile, the war council is meeting. This is mostly a boring rehash of stuff we already know, but someone has drawn a nice big map that's been installed in a custom frame. Because apparently the table with the mountains on it is not a good enough representation of "and then we will walk from our house to Wen Ruohan's house," which is basically their plan. The gist of this scene is that Wen Ruohan having the Yin Iron gives him an advantage, in case we needed to be reminded of that.

The doors fly open and Wei Wuxian and his fabulous ass literally blow into the room.

Everyone reacts in a comically extreme way.

He casts his eyes malevolently and/or sexily over to Lan Wangji, who is still grumpy with him, while Jiang Cheng comes up and stands almost as close to him as Lan Wangji used to.

He tells everybody that he might have something to counteract the yin iron.

Everybody: Really? Do tell!

Wei Wuxian: Happy to!

Wei Wuxian: *theatrical side-eye at judgy ex boyfriend*

Wei Wuxian: Actually, nope.

He says "we'll see in about a month" while fondling whatever is hidden next to his ribcage.

This behavior, while ridiculous, isn't quite as absurd as it seems from a corporate-meeting standpoint. Part of what cultivators do is invent and refine spiritual tools. So when Wei Wuxian makes this speech, the people in the meeting are going to infer that he is creating a spiritual tool to counter the Yin Iron.

Now it's Lan Xichen's turn to ask everybody’s favorite question. Lan Xichen wasn’t at the party when everyone else asked him, and we're apparently supposed to believe these gossips haven't been talking about the not-sword-carrying 24x7.

Wei Wuxian says he's just not in the mood, and we get to see Lan Xichen's impressive ability to hold his face completely still while he represses his desire to slap someone.

Jin Zixun complains about Wei Wuxian after he leaves, but for once his bitching is on point; he correctly surmises that the counter to yin iron is...yin iron.

Now, to be fair, the yin tiger amulet is different from the yin iron because it exists in the novel Wei Wuxian specially refines it to be more manageable than the sword it started from. And maybe it’s gel coated to be easier on the stomach. But it's basically the same shit.

Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue exchange intense gazes, just to prove that the young people aren’t the only ones who know how to eye fuck.

Lying Is Forbidden

Lan Xichen talks to Lan Wangji, and we discover that Lan Wangji is perfectly capable of lying. He manages to maintain a reputation for not lying but I think the trick is that he just avoids talking in general, so when, for example, people in later years say "who's your masked boyfriend" he just doesn't answer, which isn't really lying. (How many times did Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen ask “where did you get this kid?” and just not get an answer, I wonder.)

At other times he actually directly lies, as when he claims he is “just passing through” Yiling on a night hunt. The current conversation with Lan Xichen definitely involves actual lying.

Let's play multiple choice answers with the Lan brothers!

Q: Why is WWX so confident we can have Yin Iron against WRH in a month?

a.) Because he's been walking around with that Xuanwu sword for months, and it is obviously made of Yin iron b.) because he used a fucking ghost flute to flay Wen Chao more or less in front of me, so he is clearly down with some dark magics c.) I don’t know

Q: Was the death of people in the Yiling supervisory office really related to yin iron?

a.) obviously b.) maybe he was using some other source of overwhelming necromantic power c.) no, he’s not like that

Q. When you approached Yiling, was there anything unusual?

a.) yes, the talismans had been altered to draw in evil spirits b.) yes, everyone except his particular friend Wen Qing had killed themselves in horrifying, outlandish ways c.) are there rules already set for everything in the world?

Xichen, bless him, actually lets Lan Wangji change the subject like that and answers his question honestly.

Xichen: Actually, rules are pretty much shit Wangji: fucking hell, you're telling me this NOW? What have I been doing for the past 18 years then?

They both look just ridiculously beautiful in this conversation. Lan Wangji’s affect with his brother is so interesting. He’s trusting, emotionally open, willing to be seen...but only because he knows Lan Xichen won’t push past his barriers, won’t force him to speak the truth of what’s on his mind.

Awkwardness

The Yunmeng bros roll up, and awkwardness ensues.

Wangji is frowning hard. His frowns are of the micro variety just like his smiles, but boy they are consistent and Wei Wuxian and Xichen both know how to read them.

Wei Wuxian gives Lan Xichen a small, sunny smile--it seems genuine, not like the fake ones he's trotting out on demand for his family.

Then he gives Lan Wangji a pointed gaze of yearning and reproachfulness, which Lan Wangji returns, switching from frowning to a softer expression that seems about equal parts hurt, apology, and thirst.

Wei Wuxian reacts to that by bowing again and leaving, with Jiang Cheng quickly following, wondering what the fuck just happened.

Lans Xichen and Wangji pivot gracefully to watch them go, which Lan Wangji should know is not correct post-breakup behavior; you're supposed to act disinterested, my dude.

And then Lan Xichen asks Lan Wangji what the fuck is going on. Lan Wangji gets one more lie in, saying he's not worried about Wei Wuxian, before reapplying his frown and walking away from the conversation.

Macroexpression Brothers

OP was wrong about Wei Wuxian not hugging Jiang Cheng any more--here he is hanging on him just like the old days, and Jiang Cheng is shoving him off, just like the old days. However, it emerges that this is mostly an act that WWX is putting on to seem normal.

Jiang Cheng wants to know what's wrong between him and Lan Wangji, and asks why they broke up. Wei Wuxian points out that Jiang Cheng didn't like him dating Lan Wangji before, so why is he pushing him to get back together with him now, and Jiang Cheng says that now they're allies in a war, so Wei Wuxian needs to do his duty and help keep Lan Wangji in fighting trim, nudge nudge.

Then he starts lecturing Wei Wuxian about sword cultivation and generally good behavior, and Wei Wuxian theatrically nods and give him appraising looks, telling him he really seems like a clan leader now.

Jiang Cheng headshakes this away. Wei Wuxian actually giving Jiang Cheng a sincere compliment here, disguised as teasing, and he's not wrong. Jiang Cheng has matured and is becoming a strong leader. Not strong enough to ignore peer pressure, but that’s true of most clan leaders in this environment. They’re not supposed to ignore peer pressure.

Wei Wuxian is pointing it out for his own reasons - he doesn't want to be having this conversation - but it's nice to see him giving his clan leader his due.

Jiang Cheng walks away as Wei Wuxian smiles after him; as soon as he's out of sight the smile falls off of Wei Wuxian's face as fast as fast as gravity can take it. It's like someone snuffed a candle.

No one bites back as hard On their anger None of my pain and woe Can show through

But my dreams, they aren't as empty As my conscience seems to be I have hours, only lonely My love is vengeance that's never free

More Awkwardness

Lan Wangji and his ambivalence come looking for Wei Wuxian, standing outside his door and raising a hand to knock before changing his mind and fleeing.

Lan Wangji is on the back foot for the first time in his relationship with Wei Wuxian; this boy who pursued and pursued and PURSUED him is now a man who won't speak to him. This boy who hung on every one of his words, and saw through all of his minute facial expressions, has become a man who won't listen to him. Lan Wangji is in the position of pursuer, now, and it's not a role he's well equipped for.

Yanli stops him as he's bailing. He looks so relieved to see her, but he tries to escape immediately after greeting her. She stops him so she can ask what the fuck is going on.

Unfortunately, Wei Wuxian rolls up while Lan Wangji is in the middle of talking to her. He's telling her about the heterodox cultivation, and Wei Wuxian busts him. Wei Wuxian steps up and asks what he was telling her, and Lan Wangji says "Wei Ying," but doesn't get much further than that.

Nunya

Wei Wuxian reminds him that he told him to stay out of Jiang Clan business. Now, here I want to mention that "private" and "not your bidness" are culturally specific concepts. OP, for example, grew up in version of Irish-American culture so secretive that the problems of a person's life and (often) the cause of their death are things only discovered by whoever inherits their papers. [OP inherited 3 generations of letters a few years ago, and HOO BOY]

In the version of Chinese culture which we see in this drama, your choices, thoughts & troubles belong to the family and clan, not just to you. Wei Wuxian, in shutting his elder sister out of his struggles, is not family-ing correctly. Jiang Yanli is right to try to get around that by asking his friend. His friend is also right to give her--in sanitized form--the information she is asking for.

Wei Wuxian has zero trust in Lan Wangji at this point, unfortunately. He doesn’t know that Lan Wangji has been lying to cover for him; he just knows he’s being a grumpy aggressive holy roller. Now, when Lan Wangji has just been given permission to disregard all 3000 rules and look at a person’s heart, that person’s heart has been hardened against him.

Yanli is used to dealing with Wei Wuxian's moods at this point -- after all, a lifetime of Jiang Cheng has got her used to volatile little brothers, and Wei Wuxian is clearly a new, not-improved man since his return.

She tries to get him to chill out while Lan Wangji gives him a death glare -- not a return to the earlier generalized frown, more of a specific "I can't believe how full of shit you are" frown.

Wei Wuxian calls him Lan Er Gongzi, like a dick. Lan Wangji started this but at this point Wei Wuxian is kind of in the lead for who is being The Worst. Lan Wangji executes a beautiful 180 and walks away at top speed.

Wei Wuxian asks Yanli if he talked about Yiling and when she says he didn't, he realizes he fucked up.

He goes running after him and calls him Lan Zhan and says "listen to me" but Lan Wangji is no longer in a listening mood.

Eat A Dick Sword

Lan Wangji is so far in his feelings at this point that he just hauls out his sword and goes after Wei Wuxian, taking complete control of the interaction and forcing Wei Wuxian to concede the fight. Aww, he’s so angry! I love him.

This is a rough moment for Wei Wuxian. He really genuinely can't hold his own against Lan Wangji, unless he's going to directly use necromancy against him the way he does later in their final confrontation.

When they first met he was able to defend himself on the rooftop without drawing his sword, but he's weaker now; Chenqing is an adequate hand weapon against most cultivators and puppets, but it's not a match for Lan Wangji's full attack.

Wei Wuxian is not enjoying this fight, and can’t win in, so he just throws in the towel, exposing his throat and trusting Lan Wangji's control.

On the surface, this fight appears to re-establish their former rapport, but it puts them on such an uneven footing it might actually drive a larger wedge between them. I think that Lan Wangji has made a strategic error in doing this.

Lan Wangji seems to want to prove to Wei Wuxian that his new style of cultivation is inadequate, that he would do better with a sword. Swordplay was the beginning of their relationship; their matched power was the source of their mutual attraction. Lan Wangji can't accept that Wei Wuxian has given it up; he doesn't (yet) respect his agency enough to assume that he has a good reason.

This fight functions as yet another punishment that Lan Wangji doles out to Wei Wuxian; not a physical one, this time, but a psychological one, and their relationship pays the price.

By attacking Wei Wuxian and forcing him to concede, Lan Wangji is showing that they're unequal. By criticizing Wei Wuxian's lack of progress and asking him the same goddamn question everybody else is asking him -- where is your sword? -- Lan Wangji is humiliating him.

This encounter does not re-establish Wei Wuxian’s trust in him; it just forces him to accept Lan Wangji’s authority, for now. Which is not what either of them really wants.

Soundtrack: Behind Blue Eyes, by The Who

Writing Prompt: What would Wei Wuxian have said if Lan Wangji had listened to him instead of drawing his sword?

#the untamed #the untamed gifs #wangxian #the untamed meta #cql #restless rewatch the untamed #canary3d-original #my gifs #2810 word count

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tanoraqui · 5 years ago

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tanoraqui

Still thinking about an au in which for some reason WWX and the Wens are left to just live peacefully on the creepy death mountain - some detente wherein they don’t leave the mountain ever and in exchange no one tries to visit ever. Borders patrolled by corpses and sect disciples. So A-Yuan grows up raised kind of collectively but mostly by WWX and Wen Qing (the one most likely to tell WWX that he’s doing it wrong), and learns healing-focused spiritual cultivation AND demonic cultivation, and then at some point starts sneaking out to be the terrifying force of righteous kindness he was always going to be

tanoraqui

Righteous kindness but also, like, having picked up WWX’s cavalier confidence (or at least some of the ability to fake it) and Wen Qing’s general attitude of Do No Harm But Take No Shit

Like IMAGINE

tanoraqui

In this au, despite the strict border-by-mutual-agreement that’s the only reason somehow no ones tried to attack, LWJ sneaks in like one a year so he and WWX can make eyes at one another but not actually say anything ever, and Wen Qing and LXC are both EXHAUSTED bc both their dumb little brothers (WWX is a sibling by adoption now don’t @ me) mope for like a week after EVERY SINGLE TIME THIS HAPPENS, and it’s been /over ten years/.

tanoraqui

Meanwhile Jiang YanLi and JZX are FINE, and JYL somehow keeps up some sort of correspondence with WWX - or at least, he’s faithfully managed to send a birthday present for Jin Ling every single year, and every time, JYL makes her son write a thank-you note and bribes some series of people to get it smuggled back to Yiling

tanoraqui

...which means, honestly, that Jin Ling is probably wildly curious about his uncle the evil demonic cultivator kept trapped within the terrible ghost mountain by the forces of Good and Right, and WILL sneak out one day to try to visit. Optimally, obviously, at the same time Wen Yuan is sneaking out to see the non-mountain world

tanoraqui

The optimal plot is that Wen Yuan ropes Jin Ling into helping him set up WWX and LWJ, because he, too, is exasperated at this point, and Jin Ling ropes Wen Yuan into arranging like a parent trap reunion for the Jiang siblings, and obviously there are monsters and undead to complicate it all

tanoraqui

They kind of acquire Lan Jingyi somewhere, somehow. He’s having a blast

There is a 100% chance that the first Adult(TM) to find them is Wen Ning and they just kind of rope him into whatever the hell is going on at the time

...you know what, I think this is just a good au where JGY fucking died at some point

tanoraqui

Maybe someone threw him down the stairs again and he just broke his fucking neck. WWX is still vilified but between Jiang Cheng not really wanting to attack and Jiang (Jin?) Yanli being AGGRESSIVELY against it, and dragging JZX along with her, they’re left in peace.

tanoraqui

Oh man and Jin Ling has YOUNGER SIBLINGS in this...

Hey for u: Jiang Cheng/Wen Qing can accidentally happen while the Teens are trying to get everyone else to meet

Today at 8:42 AM

@professorsparklepants

I love this it's so goddamn wacky

tanoraqui

I just want teenager-based shenanigans ft. surprisingly competent teenagers and all the adults running around like chickens with their heads chopped off

professorsparklepants

Jingyi: why are you two more calm about this than the literal adults

Wen Yuan: have you met my dad?

tanoraqui

Also to be clear it is not at all hard to convince Wen Ning to join Team: Teenage Shenanigans, bc literally ANYONE in the Burial Mountain village would probably be down if you were like, “we’re engaged in a conspiracy to make Wei Wuxian fucking admit that he’s in love with that Lan guy who visits a couple times a year”

professorsparklepants

"This is my father, and this is his sugar daddy."

tanoraqui

I kinda wanna say he goes by “Wen Yuan” more often bc he’s 100% the baby of the entire remaining Wen clan there, but his adult name or w/e it’s called IS Wen Sizhui, because WWX asked LWJ if he had any suggestions and LWJ said this while maintaining eye contact

professorsparklepants

OH MY GOOOOOOD

tanoraqui

They meet LXC and he figures out what’s going on in like 4 minutes, despite the teens’ best attempts at obfuscation, and instead of calling anyone’s parents is like, “okay, I’m in”

professorsparklepants

#1 wingman...

tanoraqui

Jin Ling and Wen Yuan are definitely both traveling under false names, too? Wen Yuan obviously can’t admit to being a Wen and Jin Ling is making a privileged but slightly helicoptered teen’s rebellious bid for freedom

professorsparklepants

His dad is panicking at home and Yanli is like "boys need their freedom :)"

I saw a post forever ago about how Yanli would be the most hands off parent & Zixuan is an only child who would panic every time his kid fell down

tanoraqui

With a side order of “my mother is the only one who’ll say nice things about the Yiling Patriarch and she always looks sad when she does so I’m going to sneak into the Burial Mountain and either drag him out to see her or force my parents to come get me”

professorsparklepants

"I'm gonna beat up the Yiling Patriarch" "why" "he made my mom sad" "okay proceed"

tanoraqui

^ actual real conversation with WenYuan

professorsparklepants

A-Yuan then repeats the same thing to Wen Qing and she has the exact same answer, verbatim

tanoraqui

Side note: Wen Yuan has never been scared of the undead in his entire life, and probably this will lead to getting into severely life-threatening situations when he doesn’t have more backup than 2 other teenagers

professorsparklepants

Oh absolutely

professorsparklepants

He's so used to tuning out the sound of sentry corpses that one jumps on him and almost punches his lungs out

tanoraqui

Also what if he took WWX’s sword, so he looks like a proper normal cultivator - honestly, what if WWX gave him the sword when he turned 12, or whenever one customarily gives a child a sword in this world. He also has a flute stashed in his robe somewhere but he does know how to use both

tanoraqui

But also, while obviously it’s very important that this is the sword he inherited from his father, it’s never OCCURRED to him to, like, strongly associate it with WWX, in terms of “this would be a recognizable weapon”? Chenqing the flute, obviously, but WWX just left the sword on a shelf all the time

professorsparklepants

He's very good at fooling people into thinking he's a normal rogue cultivator until he busts out the flute

LOL YES

tanoraqui

So the first time someone looks at him and is like, “That is WWX’s sword” he achieves, like, “Who’s Morales? [NOT THAT DUMB]” levels of blank-brained

professorsparklepants

It like, doesn't even occur to him that this stick named whatever will be recognizable to people until it actually happens

"this is the Yiling Patriarch's sword!" "... I've never heard of him"

tanoraqui

“What sword?”

professorsparklepants

KDJAKSNJS

tanoraqui

“Oh, THIS sword? I...found it. In a stream.”

tanoraqui

Also...at some point...once the teens have admitted their identities to one another...and possibly gotten into a couple other increasingly public shenanigans...they run into a bunch of concerned people searching from the Jin or even Jiang sect - JC being there would be PERFECT - and Jin Ling is like, “aaahh, no, I don’t want to be dragged home... kidnap me.”

WY: what?

JL: pull out the flute, summon a couple corpses, shout that you’re the dread son of the Yiling Patriarch, and pretend to kidnap me

WY: ...yeah okay

AND THEN THEY DO THAT

professorsparklepants

The dumbass energy...... off the CHARTS

tanoraqui

They’re 15 and neither of them has ever faced consequences but in...actually not too different ways

They’re 15 and neither of them as ever faced consequences nor most of the real world

Oh my god is Lan Jingyi the most sensible person here

They’re going to DIE

professorsparklepants

JXHAKAJAKKQHSJA

JC and Yanli immediately see through this probably

"dumbass kid just doesn't want to go home. I'll break his legs."

tanoraqui

I think Yanli does but I have minimal faith in JC’s ability to think logically at any time

He’s still angry at WWX for leaving

professorsparklepants

Stomps to Yiling to demand his nephew back & wwx's like "lol, A-Yuan left two months ago"

Okay my shift is starting later

tanoraqui

/snort

Though, bold of you to assume that WWX isn’t also running around anxiously somewhere like “oh god, oh no, my son is missing; I must find him”

professorsparklepants

Sizhui is a responsible boy, I don't think he would leave without telling at least ONE person where he was going

tanoraqui

Ok but it was Wen Qing who thinks it’s good for WWX’s health to stop brooding and go run around like a headless chicken instead, optimally if he runs into his totally-not-a-boyfriend-Hahahaha-why-would-you-say-that

Alternately it was, like, Granny, which, ditto

No one on this mountain is going to stop WWX from going out to cause trouble and hopefully get laid, is my point

tanoraqui

Also, the cultivation world has been basically at peace for 13 years and the reason is that this is an ideal AU where JGY is dead and whenever trouble starts to stir politically, NHS and JYL meet eyes across the room and mentally Rock Paper Scissors over who has to manipulate everyone into calming the fuck down

Neither of them actually wants this job; they’re just good at it and recognize both those aspects in each other

professorsparklepants

LOLOLOL

That is.... so goddamn in character

tanoraqui

concept: JYL and NHS are friends and no one else understands it, or attributes it to JYL just being that nice, bc NHS still generally acts useless

professorsparklepants

Nhs actively wants to be useless and life is conspiring to make sure he can't

tanoraqui

a little less dramatically useless, but why ruin a good thing when you're having fun and it's useful

professorsparklepants

Lol

tanoraqui

but JYL fucking identified him as Actually Competent one time when he couldn't hide it, so now sometimes they get tea together and bitch about politics and stupid people

professorsparklepants

He's the only person who can correctly identify when she's talking shit about people, because it's VERY subtle and her brothers & husband are too busy thinking she hung the moon to notice

tanoraqui

JYL striding into Nie sect HQ (whatever it's called) and tossing her coat over a chair. "You would not BELIEVE what my brothers are doing now."

NHS: *probably knows, because he's found that the minor investment of effort in maintaining a very good spy network pays major dividends in helping him avoid greater work* *immediately sits up and pours her a cup of very expensive tea* Oh, girl, dish.

professorsparklepants

Question: are they also friends with lwj...

tanoraqui

yes but he's obviously not invited to hte political gossip sessions

professorsparklepants

I'm trying to imagine lwj making eye contact with them at some meeting his brother dragged him to and both of them struggling not to break into hysterics

tanoraqui

but they both know that he sneaks into Yiling to visit WWX a few times a year, and every single time, JYL sits him down within a couple weeks and aggressively debriefs him as to her brother's condition

professorsparklepants

I'm sure she tried to get him to take treats in

tanoraqui

for sure

it's hopeless, though, bc there's no really predicting WHEN he'll go? It's basically just "every 4-6 months when LWJ's resolve breaks"

professorsparklepants

Too bad she's not a stress quilter instead of a stress baker

tanoraqui

she gets him to go at an actual arranged time, bearing pork soup, like once, for WWX's 30th birthday or something

professorsparklepants

tanoraqui

omg lit brain: LWJ of course is hte WORST for getting gossip, but JYL has pieced together a reasonable amount about the people her idiot baby brother (#2) is now living with. And she's mildly despairing as to idiot baby brother #1's ongoing refusal to get married and have an heir or three. So she, if not actively connives, then certainly siezes the first available opportunity to set Jiang Cheng up with Wen Qing

tanoraqui

basically, this au is PEAK romcom

tanoraqui

...also, for max happiness, i'd like to think that WWX made some strategic raids to rescue additional Wen refugees and bring them back, so there's a properly populated village and they didn't all just die

professorsparklepants

!!!

Good... Good thoughts

Good because 1. more people die and 2. The Yiling Patriarch will attack your village and steal your people away!

tanoraqui

(romcom being exclusively adults-focussed; the teens initiate it all but Jin Ling and Wen Yuan are both so delighted to have an Additional (But Cooler) Family Member that they comfortably cousinzone each other instantly)

professorsparklepants

*nice*

tanoraqui

...i feel like i keep characterizing Jin Ling as an only child, when really he ought to have a small horde of siblings

maybe they just...couldn't conceive more. shit happens. pregnancy is hard.

professorsparklepants

That happens sometimes

#mdzs #the untamed #ficlet #my fic #lan sizhui #jin ling #lan jingyi #(not actually here much; rip)#wen ning #wei wuxian #lan wangji #jiang yanli #nie huaisang #lan xichen #wen qing

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litlebudster · 2 years ago

Text

RSWR WRITING CHALLENEGE

SPOILER ALERT FOR THE LAST ROLESLAYING WITH ROMAN EPISODE!!!

For anyone who's seen the last RSWR episode, I'm sure you know of there was the whole part where the fake Ryker talked to Roman and the... whatever that was... talked to Youngblood.

So, I have a writing challenge! Write your own version of this conversation! It can be between you and a friend, two OCs, whoever you want it to be!!

I'll start! (it's not gonna be great though) This is with My D&D Character, Rax, and his enemy turned friend, Lithops, though I might make another with a different D&D Character and his brother.

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

As Rax watches rocks and dirt swirl upward, a lilac mist wafts from within the dust storm. The storm shifts and shapes itself into the form of a man who was once an enemy to Rax, but who became a dear friend after the death for an acquaintance of theirs.

One Lithops Goldwing.

"What have you gotten into now, Rax..." Roman and Youngblood turn to him, questions forming on their lips that don't ever get past their tired tongues, "First, the dungeon eith that mimic you took. Then the whole ordeal with Atlas...and his death... Then my almost death at your hands... Then the apocalypse, now this? You left us in the Archer Isles to try and figures how to stop the apocalypse while you're doing Salina knows what here? You kickstarted the end of the world, only to abandon us when we needed you most. You caused so much pain and suffering for us I can't believe Barrett thought it'd be a good idea to keep you."

"You are no better than the rotten, horrid corpse I once saw you as."

Rax never thought Lithops saying the word corpse would hurt him as much it did considering how much Lithops called him that before, but as he summons his scythe and the crystalline parts of his body sharpen to dangerous points, he realizes why. He swings with one thought on his mind.

This. Isn't. Lithops.

Lithops, no matter how rude he was to Rax, wouldn't say this. He wasn't there when Atlas died. He wasn't there when he wound the music box, starting the apocalypse without knowing he'd done so. He didn't know that Rax almost killed him, and even if he did, Rax would've told him it was accidental. Because that's exactly what it was. Accidental.

This. Isn't. Lithops.

As he slashes at the form over and over again, hears it scream, he can't help but laugh. Why was he so riled up about some look-a-like he'd never see again? (if he was lucky. Salina probably had other plans for him)

This. Isn't. Lithops.

This will never be Lithops, Rax knows that. He can't help the upset feeling resting in what's left of his stomach, however, even as he swings and swings and swings. As the figure fades, he has to repeat those three words in his head like a mantra to keep himself sane.

This Isn't Lithops.

THIS ISN'T LITHOPS.

THIS ISN'T LITHOPS!

Suddenly there's a hand on his shoulder, snapping him back to the present. He had dropped his scythe, and had fallen to his knees, punching the floor where the figure had been, shards of crisom crystal and blood staining the once completely clean floor.

@thatsthat24 👀👀

#roleslaying with roman #rswr spoilers #rswr #d&d 5e

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jonathananubian · 3 years ago

Text

Aliit Ori'shya eyn Eyayah be Ruyot [Star Wars/Mandalorian Fanfic]

Aliit Ori'shya eyn Eyayah be Ruyot: Family is more than an echo of the past.

Summary: When a Jedi artifact sends Din somewhere else the poor man is disoriented and confused. He has no idea what’s going on or why the lights were suddenly so bright. He plans on keeping a low profile and scouting out this new place until he hears the sound of a young voice crying out in pain. Harsh words that should never be spoken to a child follow the sound of another blow and Din can’t help but to intervene.

Characters: Din Djarin, CC-2224 | Cody, CT-7567, Dred Priest, Jango Fett, Mij Gilamar, Kal Skirata.

Tags: Force Shenanigans, Protective Din, BAMF Din, Clone Cadets, Cuy’val Dar Dred Priest, Time travel, Not beta-read. (Now a chapter fic.)

Warnings: Child abuse, violence, cursing.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32481793

Spots danced across his vision as Din let out a low groan. His entire body felt as if it had fallen asleep, the pins and needles making him twitch and wince behind his helmet. Lifting his head he quickly glanced around for any signs of life before letting out a relieved sigh too low for the helmet speaker to pick up. Slowly sitting up he stared at the unfamiliar white walls around him and frowned in confusion.

This was not the damp old cave he’d found himself in earlier that cycle.

The last thing he remembered was stumbling and falling through a wall that should have been solid, but wasn’t. The walls changed from a damp old cave tunnel to a stagnant aired cavern with carved pillars. It looked exactly like the kind of thing Luke had asked him to look out for on his jobs so he’d cautiously made his way up the steps to the small altar at the top.

As he strode forward lights burst into life around him, startling him into reaching for his weapons. When nothing happened he relaxed his death grip on his spear and let out a small sigh of relief.

Resting in an indent in the elaborately carved stone was an orb that was smaller than his palm. It seemed opaque at first but the longer he stared at it, wondering if he should touch it or not, the clearer it became. Inside were dancing flecks of color that swirled together like an infinitesimal galaxy, almost hypnotic in the way they reflected the light.

Warily he reached for the orb, knowing that there was an inherent danger in anything touched or made by Jedi magic. Picking it up he tensed for something strange to happen, though Luke had told him most artifacts didn’t react to someone who was both force null and encased in beskar. When nothing happened he gripped the orb more firmly and carefully made his way back the way he’d come.

Of course it was just his luck that nothing ever went quite the way he expected.

There was a loud rumble as everything began to shake around him. He could hear the cracking of stone and looked up as sharp stalactites fell from the ceiling toward him. Diving out of the way he hissed in alarm as his grip on the orb proved weak.

The orb clattered to the ground and he sucked in a sharp breath as it rolled a few feet away from his outstretched hand. Scrambling to his feet he darted forward to grab it- but was too late.

Another chunk of rock detached from the ceiling and he watched it fall as if in slow motion.

The sound of the orb shattering was loud in the sudden silence that followed.

Then Din saw white.

Now here he was, stalking the white halls of the strange facility as he tried to figure out what in the Ka’ra had happened. Oh, he knew it was force osik. Din just didn’t know what kind of force osik. Luke had never been the best at explaining it in terms he understood and after the many long lectures he’d kind of started to tune it all out.

Checking around another bland corner into another junction that looked exactly like every other one he’d passed Din was about to dash across the open space when a sound was picked up by his helmet.

It froze him in his tracks, entire body stiff and ears straining just in case he’d misheard.

“Pathetic! Absolutely useless! Quit that bitching or I will twist off your head and shit down your neck!” The voice was rough, masculine, and yelling at a volume that was near impossible to miss.

But that wasn’t what Din was focused on.

The sound of a child trying and failing to muffle their cries of pain made his heart race in his chest and his blood boil in his veins.

Without a single thought to the consequences he pushed himself away from the wall and stalked down the hall the noise had come from, hands clenched at his sides.

“Did I say you could step out of line CC-2224? Get back in line before I put my boot so far up your ass you can spit shine it!” The more Din heard the faster he walked until he was practically belting down the long hallway.

“And you! You have the coordination of a one winged mynock tripping on spice! A defect like you wouldn’t know how to-" Slamming his hand down on the pad the door slid open to a large training room.

Din’s chest heaved as he took in the small forms standing around a circle in matching uniforms, not one of them taller than his waist. Near the center of the group was an armored man with one large hand around the neck of a blonde child, pinning them against the mats as they scrabbled to escape. There were recent bruises on the child’s face and blood running from their nose.

Din saw red.

“Demagolka!” He snarled, spear already in his hands as he stalked forward like the deadly hunter he was.

“Who the fu-” The man never got a chance to finish his sentence before Din was on him.

The guy put up a fight, Din would give him that, but he clearly hadn’t kept up with whatever training he’d been raised with.

Din on the other hand? He’d been training since his buir saved him during the Clone Wars. Had fought on the front lines during the Purge, and killed a Greater Krayt Dragon.

In the end the demagolka was dead with Din’s spear shoved up into his ribcage through a gap in his armor.

The children stared at him, looking too scared to move, as Din stood over their former tormentor. Pulling his spear out of the quickly cooling corpse he set it onto the ground and turned to regard the small blonde child.

Some time during the fight one of the older children had rushed forward and pulled the injured child away, cradling the blonde to their chest. As Din came closer the two of them flinched, holding fast to one another and trying desperately not to cry. Din stopped a few feet away and crouched so he wasn’t towering over them.

“Hey there. I’m not here to hurt you, I swear.” The children stiffened, their faces scrunching up slightly in confusion.

Din looked between them and frowned. The ade were very similar in appearance and he was fairly certain they were brothers. Not twins, one of them was at least a year or two younger, but definitely related.

But where had he seen a face like that before…

Din pushed the thought away. It was irrelevant to the situation at hand. Reaching into the pouches on his belt he slowly pulled out a small medical pack and showed it to the children. “It’s just some alcohol wipes and bacta spray. I want to make sure they’re okay. Will you let me?” He motioned toward the blonde who in turn looked up at their potentially elder sibling.

The child watched him for a moment, amber eyes intelligent and sharp, before they flicked over to the body of the fake Mandalorian. After a moment or two of silence the child turned back to him and nodded curtly.

Din’s shoulders relaxed and he smiled. “Thank you.” Getting closer he knelt in front of the children and opened the package in front of them. Taking out the alcohol wipe he gently ran it over the boy’s face, making a low noise of reassurance when the child flinched and let out a hiss of pain. “Hey, you’re doing good kid.” He soothed quietly as he checked the rest of their bruises. He had to hold back another flash of anger at the sight of a handprint that almost completely encircled the slender neck.

He should have inflicted a lot more pain on the demagolka.

“There you go, kid, feeling a bit better?” The child blinked dark brown eyes up at him and hesitantly nodded. Din reached over and ruffled their short cropped hair. “Mandokarla.” He said warmly.

The child let out a surprised squeak and ducked further into the arms of their ori’vod, who frowned up at him in confusion. Din got to his feet and looked around at the other children, looking for any further injuries, and paused as the strangeness of their appearance finally registered.

Every single one of them shared the same features.

It wasn’t exact, he was observant enough to notice small differences, but they were all so similar it was unsettling.

Then it clicked.

Clones.

Just like Boba.

The very thought made Din’s mind race. Had the last remnants of the Empire somehow gotten hold of Boba’s dna and re-started their clone army? Din thought they’d moved on to the damned droid troopers and attempting to use Grogu’s blood to give them access to Jedi magic. Did they bring back the clones because Moff Gideon had failed?

As the children continued to watch him warily one of them finally stepped forward. “Sir?” They said, voice shaking slightly.

Din snapped out of his thoughts and turned toward the child. “Yes?” He said softly. Clones or not they were just children. Injured, scared, children.

“What are your Orders, Sir? A-are you our new Sergeant now?” The child stood stiffly, arms at his sides even as his bottom lip trembled with nerves.

Din melted at the sight.

“No orders.” He said quietly, still worried he might spook the lot of them. “And I’m no one’s sergeant. I’m a Beroya.” He wasn’t sure if the kids knew what that was but he didn’t feel like explaining further. “But I don’t think we should stay here.” He glanced back at the corpse and swallowed the curses that tried to force themselves out of his mouth. “If they have friends then they’ll probably realize they’re dead soon.”

The kids stared up at him in confusion, looking so lost it hurt his soul. “Hey, I’m not going to let someone like that hurt you again. Okay?” He could feel their eyes on him and straightened further. “I swear. I will protect each and every one of you with my last breath.”

“Why?” The child holding onto the blonde asked, tone heated. “We’re just clones.”

Din thought carefully about what to say for a moment before he decided it was best to just tell the truth. “One of my ori’vode, my… elder brothers, is a clone. He’s known as one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy.” Din stared right at the child as he spoke. “He is a person, just like you, and all of you have worth.”

There was a sense of something holding its breath, of tense anticipation, before the child’s eyes began to shine and he gave Din a watery smile. He opened his mouth to speak when the sound of a door opening behind them alerted Din to uninvited guests.

“What the fuck is going on in here!” An enraged voice that sounded oddly familiar barked behind him.

In an instant Din turned, dove for his spear, and sprang to his feet; placing his body between the unknown voice and the children.

“Stay behind me!” He ordered the children calmly through the speaker of his helmet.

Standing just inside the doorway were three sentients dressed in beskar’gam. Din growled, watching their every move.

Wearing beskar’gam used to mean that someone was an ally. But with all he’d seen in the last few months there was no guarantee that these three were not also demagolkase.

“Who the hell are you? What are you- is that fucking Priest?” The one in the sandy-yellow of vengeance asked in Mando’a, sounding shocked and incredulous.

“Cadets, get away from them! They’re an intruder!” The second one in gold beskar’gam barked at the children, although his voice was filled more with concern than anything else.

Behind him the children shifted anxiously on their feet but didn’t move.

“Leave the ade alone. Your quarrel is with me.” Din growled, gripping the spear tighter.

“Why are you protecting them?” The one in blue and unpainted beskar asked.

“Children are the future.” He stated firmly. “This is the Way.”

There was a long moment of silence before the one in silver and blue reached up to take off his helmet. “Then we are not your enemy.” Without the interference of the speaker Din stiffened as he finally placed the voice. “My name is Jango Fett, House Mereel.”

Dank ferrik, was that Boba’s buir? What the kark kind of Jedi magic was this?

"I think we need to sit down and have a little talk." Boba's buir said, intelligent eyes straying to the nearby corpse of the demagolka. "At the very least I have to thank you for taking out that trash."

Oh. Well... there really wasn't much else he could do, was there?

"Fine." He said lowering his spear. "But I want a medic to check on the ade. Some of them are injured."

Jango Fett's face split into a grin that set off all of Din's danger senses.

"That can be arranged."

#din djarin #the mandalorian #star wars clone wars #time travel #force shenanigans #somebody dies and it is entirely deserved #star wars fanfiction #cc-2224 #ct-7567 #jango fett

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walker-journal · 3 years ago

Text

Clocks and Cyrophoenix (Adam +Alfie- POTW)

Characters: Alfonzo Ramirez (Phoenix- Annie), Adam Walker (Hunter-Tapir)

Summary: The search for Nell continues in a frost dimension where Adam meets a grouchy charmander.

Content Warnings: head trauma

One minute Alfie was walking back to his apartment from a quick stop at the mailboxes, and the next he found himself at the edge of a cliff. His heart lurched into his throat as he reeled back in the nick of time, barely evading what was most certainly a fall to his death. Loose rocks beneath his feet tumbled over the precipice.

Wild eyes frantically took in his new surroundings; colossal pillars stretched beyond the void overhead. The air hummed menacingly along with the echoes of animalistic grunts — the source of which were out of sight. Frost covering the ground turned to sludge underneath his feet as condensation formed from his breath.

This wasn’t the elevator.

“Son of a bitch,” Alfie breathed, stumbling backwards as he shook the slush from his shoes. His day was going so well up until now. He turned slowly, trying to get his bearings on the unfamiliar environment. If there had been an outlet, it was long gone, leaving only a winding ravine behind him. He was left with no choice but to follow it in hopes of getting out of whatever hellscape he’d been thrust into.

He knew he should have taken the stairs today.

A figure dropped down from the edge of the ravine in a rush of white, beige, and glistening metal spikes. The assailant was dressed in the pale camo of arctic warfare gear, the darker colors of bandoliers and a goggled helmet were the only parts of their silhouette distinct from the surrounding snow. Black blood already drenched the tips of the two surgically sharp ice picks the attacker wielded in each hand. A shadow fell over Alfie as those brutal points descended towards his skull.

Yet the figure’s deadly blitz was broken by a sudden hesitation. The arctic soldier veered away from Alfie, sliding down onto the ravine bottom in an awkward stumbling gait as they tried to work off the momentum of the aborted assassination.

Two gloved hands reached up to lift opaque black goggles up from squinting brown eyes.

“Alfie?”

If Alfie thought his situation couldn’t get any worse, he was wrong. He hadn’t been travelling through the ravine for more than five — ten? fifteen? — minutes before being ambushed. He was completely unaware of anything lurking above until it was too late.

As the figure dropped into his field of vision, Alfie staggered backwards. With a piercing yelp, his back hit the ground and he scrambled to regain his footing. Not that it would have helped him any, but he was prepared to bolt away until the hulking silhouette gave pause and spoke his name.

He sat there, dumbfounded, as his eyes focused on the form of… a man? No — not just any man, but an irritatingly familiar one at that.

“Adam?!” Alfie questioned, incredulously.

What kind of fever dream was this? First, the elevator-turned-hell-dimension, and now Nell’s boyfriend was here? In all fairness, it could have been far worse. Still, he was floored.

“Uh, not to sound rude or anything,” Alfie said, pushing himself to his feet as the melting ice ferociously nipped at his skin. “But what the fuck?”

“The fuck today is that your ass is in Ice Hell,” Adam said, pointing one bloody ice pick up towards the sky.

At first the sky appeared to be filled with moons, hundreds upon hundreds of pale lunar shapes, some of which loomed so large over the horizon that collision seemed possible. However more scrutiny revealed them to planet-sized icebergs floating in a frigid voice. Titanic ice bridges stretched across the emptiness between some of the colossus ice shapes in the sky, forming a glittering lattice which refracted light in dizzying refractions, casting everything in an eternal glittering twilight.

“Thought you might be another demon or one of the heat-drinker corpses when I picked up your vibes,” the Hunter explained. “But hey man! You're alive and not a chest burster alien! Sweet!”

“Ice Hell,” scoffed Alfie. That was just his luck, wasn’t it?

As he wiped his damp hands against his jeans, Alfie’s gaze followed Adam’s gesture to the sky above. He had been so preoccupied earlier by how he was going to get back home that he didn’t even notice the moons gleaming above. It was beautiful — or as beautiful as a hell dimension could be; not that Alfie had any experience with them.

His eyes fell back on Adam as he let out a disgruntled sigh. The palms of his hands ached as a result of the ice melting beneath his touch, but at least he still had his life. All things considered, it could have been much worse. Like being impaled with one of the Hunter’s menacing ice picks.

“Yeah, for now,” Alfie huffed. “Appreciate the whole… not killing me thing.” The same could have been said even in White Crest. Why Nell thought dating a Hunter was a good idea was beyond him, but at least she’d managed to keep the Ramirez family secret under wraps for this long. Still, Alfie didn’t trust Adam as far as he could throw him — which meant he didn’t trust him at all.

“You don’t happen to know how to get the hell out of here, do you?”

“Neat trick,” Adam observed with feigned casualness as he watched the snow melt at Alfie’s touch. “How’re you doin that? It’d definitely save on hand warmers.”

“No problem man,” the arctic soldier replied with a grin, meeting Alfie’s barbed sarcasm with the blunt force of supposed earnestness. Adam had learned that passive aggressiveness was best met by taking everything they said literally. It was one of those private little games the footballer liked to play under the guise of thuggish dull-wittedness.

“Sure thing dude.” Adam took a few steps back and pointed up...and up….and up behind Alfie.

Both men stood in the shadow of a mountainous glacier. From the center of the behemoth mass of ice rose Voorhees Clocktower, towering above the demon wastes as if it were the last visible landmark of White Crest remaining after the Earth succumbed to polar night. Whether the frozen clocktower were some kind of copy or somehow an extension of their world into this dimension Adam couldn’t really say.

“The exit of this nut-freezer locker is at the top of the clocktower,” Adam supplied.

Leave it to Adam to notice the ice turn to slush at Alfie’s touch. He knew he needed to be careful about what he said to the other man, but finding the balance between an acceptable excuse and being suspicious was a difficult thing to manage. For a moment, Alfie considered lying that he was a spellcaster. He knew enough about them to potentially fake it, but he also had a feeling that Adam knew just as much — if not more — about spellcasters than he did.

“Trust me, it’s not that great,” Alfie answered dismissively. Regulating his body temperature was a helluva lot more difficult when his skin screamed out in pain from the damage the snow inflicted. On the other hand, if he didn’t regain some kind of control over it, he’d have much bigger problems than rousing Adam’s suspicions.

Alfie’s jaw dropped when Adam drew his attention to the clock tower. No way in hell — no pun intended — was he going to make it up there on his own. Especially not if he had more than being mistaken for a demon to be worried about. He remembered the mention of “heat-drinker corpses” and swallowed hard. So much for being alive.

“I’m gonna take a wild guess and say there’s not a bridge or anything up there, huh?” Alfie quipped. Wishful thinking. “Say, Adam… You’re not busy by any chance, are ya? I could use a tour guide if—” His words were abruptly cut by a blood-curdling screech. Eyes wide, Alfie froze.

“What the hell was that?” sputtered Alfie; the words jumbling together and coming out almost incomprehensible.

“One those No-face-yetis,” surmised Adam, without much sign of surprise.

The ravine walls merely came up to the hips of the figure that stepped down into the gulch, tall enough to easily discern at a distance. It seemed both skeleton and insectoid, a vague humanoid shape whose exposed bones seemed as much chitinous exoskeleton as they were ossein. As the Hunter had said, the ‘Yeti’ had no facial features of any kind, only a long toothless slit down the entire center length of its body that parted and closed in long rasping breaths. Its arms hung down nearly to its feet, all its cadaverously slender limbs tipped with long claws that seemed merely an extension of its chitinous bones. Dark hair clung to the patches not covered in exoskeleton, forming a black mane that rippled in the arctic wind.

“I named that one Jasper-Rasper,” Adam informed Alfie, as if this were the most important point as he frantically motioned for Leah’s nerd brother to run like hell.

“No-face-yetis,” Alfie repeated; testing out the words to see if that would help them make more sense. It didn’t. Seeing the beast in the flesh was just as surreal. But he had to admit, Adam’s description was upsettingly accurate.

Alfie was already worse for wear. There were blisters forming on his hands where he pushed himself off of the ice; his elbows, too, were inflamed from the contact during his fall. But he had no intentions of dying — especially not here.

“You gave it a pet name?” he asked incredulously, shooting the other man a look of disbelief. “I’m not sure if that helps,” Alfie quipped. Either way, he wasn’t about to stand around long enough to find out. The moment Adam gestured in the opposite direction of ‘Jasper-Rasper’, Alfie pivoted sharply. The soles of his shoes disagreed with the texture of the ground as he ran back down the ravine.

Just when he thought he was safely out of reach, the earth trembled beneath him. Bleary eyes did their level best to concentrate on the path ahead. The way was blocked. Not by one, but two menacing creatures, far smaller in stature than the burly yeti. Alfie’s heart leaped into his throat and he skidded to a halt. Curious heads rose from the center of precariously slumped shoulders. For a moment, they didn’t seem to notice him standing frozen in his tracks. A cloud of smoke formed as Alfie’s breath mixed with the frigid air. Suddenly, the figures bolted towards him.

Without thinking, Alfie allowed adrenaline to take control of him. His arms raised, palms facing the pair of demons charging down the ravine. Flames sprouted from his fingertips and spread to his wrists. Alfie braced himself, daring them to come any closer. He couldn’t rely on Adam to save him. He wouldn’t. He was going to get the hell out of here and pull his own weight doing so.

Apparently Alfie was a grouchy charmander, but death was approaching too quickly for Adam to question it.

“Uh oh, Mantis Dogs, watch out for the grabby claws, they’ll pull you under and rip you apart with the other legs.”

The ‘Mantis Dogs’ in question were demonic hexapods with a pair of raised forelimbs. Their bodies were covered in shaggy fur whose extremely pale shade of blue blended in well with the glacial ice of the ravine. Although their six legs were vaguely canine, the bone spurs on the back of their limbs were long and hooked for snagging prey in a deadly grapple. Drool dripped from eager panting mouths surrounded by a ring of faceted sapphire eyes. Spined raptorial legs like those of a mantid extended from the lesser demon’s hairy shoulders, lunging out at Adam as the closest of the insectile canines came within grabbing range.

Conscious of the giant faceless approaching them from the rear, Adam dropped to his knees as the demon’s mantid claw thrashed at the thin air where his shoulders had been moments before. The Hunter swung one of his ice picks and lodged it in the demon’s side, carved a long furrow that seeped noxious white blood as the creature’s momentum sent it careening past him.

Alfie hated it here. He hated the cold. He hated the snow. He hated the various hell-beasts there were wandering around that wanted to kill him. Not to mention that there were evidently monsters running around that fed off heat and would surely suck him dry.

As Adam effortlessly tussled with one of the Mantis Dogs, Alfie concentrated on the other. Clearly, the flames weren’t keeping either of the creatures away. He flinched as the second Mantis Dog lurched forward with bared teeth. Reflexively, Alfie flicked his wrists and two orbs of fire hurdled towards the beast just as it launched itself into the air for its attack.

Alfie stumbled backwards with labored breaths, narrowly dodging the marred body whirring past. The world around him was a blur and his heart pounded in his chest. Putting out that much energy was draining enough in a normal environment. But here? With his hands and elbows already blistered by the ice water, he was already weaker than usual.

The screams of the hexapod intermingled with the ringing of his ears. Slowly, Alfie’s eyes focused on the scene unfurling before him; a thrashing heap of flame and fur as the creature screeched in agony. “I shouldn’t have done that,” he admitted. His eyes fell back on Adam before he glanced over his shoulder to the faceless yeti behind them.

“What now?” he asked shrilly.

“Into the caves Charmander,” Adam shouted as he buried an ice-pick hilt deep in one of the Mantis Dog’s forelimbs and twisted the weapon. There was a sickening crack as the mantid claw snapped, dangling from a few tendons as the insectile canine howled in agony.

But pain shuddered up through Adam’s leg as he drove the other pick deep into one of the Mantis-Dog’s pupil-less blue eyes and kicked the creature off him. He looked down to see one of the demon’s hooted leg spurs had gotten him on the thigh. It was just a graze, but with how sharp demonic claws were that’d been more than enough to slice a laceration down his leg and rip open his arctic gear to the cold.

Shit shit shit, not good.

But a huge shadow fell over the ravine and Adam didn’t have time to think about that. A rush of displaced air let the Hunter know what was coming without having to look up.

“Alfie heads up!” Adam ignored the agony in shooting up his leg as he sprinted towards Leah’s dumbass brother. With no time to explain, the footballer slammed into Alfie with a full bodied tackle, slamming him against the ravine’s ice wall.

Jasper the Rasper’s taloned hand slammed down where both men had been seconds before. The impact of the giant’s blow carved a deep fissure into the ravine’s floor. More jagged ruptures spiderwebbed outward from the broken crater and shuddering cracks wracked the ice walls. For a moment all Adam could see was Jasper’s silhouette looming against the sky of drifting icebergs. Even while kneeling down in the aftermath of pile-driving a hole in the ice, this No-Face Yeti was easily the size of a Harris Island mansion, a rolling hill of insectile chitin and black fur. Jasper’s body-length mouth yawned open sideways, each gasping breath turning the ravine into a wind tunnel.

“C’mon,” shouted Adam over the thunderous rasping. “We gotta head into the caves,” he claimed, pointing to gaps in the ice at the clocktower glacier’s base.

Before Alfie could even wrap his head around being called “Charmander”, a searing pain wracked his entire body. Adam was on top of him faster than he could force his legs to run. The ice burned cold against his skin as Alfie, wheezing, struggled to his feet. If he had to guess, one or more of his ribs were broken and he’d need several weeks to properly heal from the water damage. But it was better than the alternative. Dying wasn’t on his itinerary — granted, neither was being sucked into another dimension made to kill him.

This was the second near-death experience he’d had in the past few weeks; third in the last couple of months. But at least his life still made a little bit of sense then. At least back then he still had his friends. It was bullshit. All of it. "This is bullshit," Alfie thought aloud. Eddie. Nell. Dying in general. Dying in Ice Hell with no one but Adam there to know about it.

Rage boiled inside of him as Alfie staggered forward. For a moment, no amount of broken bones seemed to matter. Flames licked at his skin — patches missing where the ice bit into him. Fuck this dimension. Fuck this yeti-looking son of a bitch. He was losing control.

In one final blow, Alfie hurled a massive ball of fire towards the giant’s feet, immediately regretting it when he nearly collapsed onto Adam. Panting, he braced the Hunter’s shoulder, never minding his scorched clothes or Adam’s own mangled clothing. “C’mon,” he tried to encourage as his feet feebly carried him forward. His head was swimming. He was weaker now than moments before. “I’m not dying here. Clocktower, right?” He could make it. He had to.

Jasper the Rasper’s thunderous gasps echoed after Adam as he led the way towards the caves. The Mantis Dogs had regrouped and gave chase across the shattered obstacle course of the ravine. Pain shot up Adam’s leg as he vaulted over toppled ice shelves and fissures. He tried to make sure Alfie followed after him, though it was hard to concentrate on anything as the No-Face Yeti wrenched itself free of the ice and began moving with a strange rolling after the tiny thing that'd burned it.

Adam ducked into a vertical crevice in the ice, beckoning Alfie in as he slashed at the pursuing Mantis Dogs with his picks.

“I’m going to die in here, aren’t I?” Alfie asked once he was (somewhat) safely tucked away in the ice behind Adam. He was trembling from head to toe; his battered side screamed its pain while his ice-kissed skin told its own blistering tale. If the monsters of this dimension didn’t kill him, it wouldn’t take much for the Hunter to piece together what he was and finish the job himself. By now, the other man had seen enough of Alfie’s powers to have some inclination, and his skin burning from the slush of ice wasn’t doing him any favors. He briefly wondered if it would be better this way. At least then he wouldn’t have to worry about the curse awaiting him in the real world. “Don’t… don’t answer that,” he feebly amended.

When his eyes fell on Adam’s leg, Alfie’s stomach sank. He could fix that. At the very least, saving Adam might bring Nell back. “You’re looking for her, aren’t you?” Alfie asked, not bothering to elaborate. “I’m… I don’t think I can be of much use in here anymore, but I can try. Just… tell me what I need to do. What can I do?”

“Nah your sister would kill me if I let you die here, like...its super rare that fire chickens get to live with their kind or something like that,” Adam assured as he backed further into the cave system, keeping an eye on the wounded Mantis Dogs prowling around just outside the cavern’s entrance.

Alfie’s correct surmise drew a sidelong look from Adam followed by a nod. “Yeah, I’m trying to track the thing that took her,” the Hunter confirmed. “It’s a longshot but ….” He took off his googled helmet and ran a hand through sweaty brown hair. “Fuck its all I’ve got.”

Adam took a moment to consider Alfie’s offer, looked up towards where the cavern systems led up to the frozen clocktower and out to where demonic canines and a titanic yeti were raising hell. “First we need to get you out up to the Portal in the clocktower.”

Adam reached beneath his environment suit and undershirt, to pulled out a key on a length of cord. Comprised of scarlet coral, the key filled the cavern with a red bioluminescence that gleamed off the slick ice walls. “Our clues to whats going on a giant velvet worm that can go through dimensions, these keys, and the portals. I’m gonna keep looking for Nell but it won’t mean much if we don’t figure out how to seal the rifts.”

Adam placed the coral key back around his neck and tucked it underneath his clothing. “Honestly? Thats where folks back home could use the most help.”

Fire chickens. Oh, so Adam already knew. Alfie wasn’t sure whether he was more relieved or concerned, but ultimately decided that he was grateful. At least he didn’t have to keep worrying about slipping up in front of the Hunter. Leave it to Leah to inadvertently save the day.

As Alfie trailed close behind Adam, a frown formed on his face. After the uncomfortable conversation with Luce about Nell’s disappearance, Alfie thought it was best to back off entirely, but it didn’t stop him from worrying. Nell had been his best friend for years, after all. They may have had their own separate lives now, but he would never stop caring for her. “What exactly happened, anyway?” he ventured to ask. “I mean… What took her? Why?”

His eyes followed Adam’s gaze, falling on the clocktower that seemed all too far away at this point. If the other man had kept him alive this long, then Alfie just had to trust he knew what he was doing. Even still, he couldn’t stop thinking about Nell. What horrors was she facing where she was? Was she even still alive? It wasn’t fair that Adam would save him first.

Alfie scoffed at the idea of him being able to help close any godforsaken rifts. Until now, everyone had made it clear enough that things were under control. But weeks had passed since then and Nell still wasn’t home. It seemed hopeless. At least, that’s how Alfie saw it. “Yeah, I’ll— I’ll talk to Leah about it, then.” It was becoming a recurring theme these days.

“But what about those things?” Alfie practically shrieked, gesturing to the hellscape presently waiting for them. “How the fuck am I— are we supposed to get through that?”

“We were on our goodbye-it's-armageddon date when this portal opened up and evil alien gribblies everywhere,” Adam explained before lunging forward to swing an ice pick down at the clawed forelimb of a Mantis Dog that’d gotten to close inside the cave entrance. “We fought them and got the civilians to safety but a giant Hell Worm grabbed Nell when she was trying to close the portal.”

Adam nodded to one of the safety lines stacked to the wall that he’d set up earlier to spelunk his way up through the tunnel system. “I’ve set up lines that we can us to pull ourselves up to the clocktower. We’ll have to make it past Grabby Gabby, but it’s probably the fastest way home.”

Alfie’s brow raised at the mention of an armageddon date — a goodbye one at that. It was almost as if they were expecting to get themselves killed. But what did he know? If given the chance, Alfie would probably take the opportunity to spend time with someone he loved in the midst of the world crumbling, too. “A giant Hell Worm,” he tittered, running his palm down the length of his face. Knowing the nitty-gritty details of Nell’s disappearance didn’t make him feel any better. If anything, he felt worse.

“That sounds… dangerous,” Alfie remarked once Adam took the opportunity to explain his emergency route to safety. He felt drained enough as it was and heaving himself up the side of a cliff made out of frozen water didn’t sound ideal. What other choice did he have at this point? “After you, I guess.”

Adam produced a flashlight and affixed it to his helmet. He offered a carabiner to Alfie so that he might latch himself onto the safety line before beginning to climb hand over hand up the slick incline. He led the way up ice shelves and hacked his way through the perpetual forests of icicles that formed strange silent forests in the tunnels. The expeditioners’ reflections were cast in dim distortions through the caves, and Adam occasionally raised a hand for a halt and flicked off the light as much larger shapes momentarily drifted across the ice, or even directly through it in some cases.

“So, have you and Leah always been together? Did you like, rule Rome or something back in the day,” Adam asked as he washed a massive many-limbed shape swim through the ice below them as if where a whale drifting in the ocean.

Hooking himself onto the line behind Adam, Alfie cautiously trailed behind him. As much as he tried to mirror Adam’s every move, he couldn’t help but envision a tragic death for the both of them when his eyes wandered for too long. His knees buckled underneath him, threatening to make his fears become a reality before Adam spoke up.

“Not always, no,” Alfie mindlessly replied. His eyes shot back up to Adam on the line ahead of him once he realized he’d said too much. As far as Alfie was aware, Leah wasn’t privy to this sort of information herself. “I mean… we’ve been around each other for as long as I can remember, but unless one of our parents has something to hide, I think it’s safe to say we’re not fully related.” Alfie wasn’t sure if this was making things better or worse for his case.

“Like you said before, it’s pretty rare for… people like us to stick together.” Despite the fact that Adam knew, Alfie still couldn’t bring himself to say the word ‘phoenix’ in front of him. “Definitely didn’t rule ancient Rome together, though. I don’t think either of us have been around that long.” As grateful as Alfie was for the distracting conversation, he wasn’t particularly keen on discussing the nitty-gritty details of his heritage. Partially because most of what he did know was from stolen property, but also because it only begged more questions about why he was fated to die sooner than the rest of his family.

“I am much disappoint,” pronounced Adam with false solemnity, “I was all ready to here the secret history of Emperor Phoeligula….Chickligula?...Spartunix?”

The spelunkers no longer how to crouch as they passed into a cave that abruptly expanded into a vaulted ceiling of stalactites that glittered like crystal chandeliers in the lamplight. The cavern’s sweeping floor was riven by jagged fissures tens of feet in width with the spider-webbing cracks of impact that expanded outward from the far side. It was as if something massive had exploded into this part of the glacier but time and relentless arctic conditions had frozen it over. At the far end of the cavern was an ornate door set in worked stone, a mirrored entrance to Voorhees Clocktower

“Well here we are….gotta see if Grabby Gaby is up.”

For a moment, Alfie stared at Adam incredulously before murmuring a soft, “Uhhh…” But as he heaved himself onto more solid ground, he chose to drop the subject altogether. “Trust me, if I remember anything like that, I’ll hit you up,” he stated instead.

With a quick look around, Alfie shirked away. He’d been so eager to get out of this hellscape the moment he arrived, yet even with the exit in sight, something felt off. The first time Adam mentioned ‘Grabby Gabby’, Alfie falsely assumed that it was yet another affectionate nickname for one of the beasts he’d already been introduced to. Now he was much less certain. “Let me guess,” he said, taking a few uncertain steps forward. “Gabby isn’t as social as Jasper? But still has a tendency to not let any houseguests leave?”

“Pretty much” Adam looked at the fissures for a time before turning back to Alfie. “Do you have any fireballs left in you?”

Great, Alfie thought. That was reassuring. “Maybe one or two,” he reluctantly replied. His palms turned upwards as he gave Adam a shrug. Better to save his energy for when it counted most. “Just tell me when.”

Adam motioned for Alfie to follow after re-bandaging his leg with some cloth from his bag, trying to staunch the wound enough to make the run.

Adam wove a precarious path among the ice fissures as black tentacles exploded upward. Each of the sinuous limbs were covered by electric blue fern-like structures instead that splayed out into delicate coils. The tentacles snaking after Adam, their bioluminescent fern hairs incandescently beautiful in the darkness. Soon they seemed to be running through a rubbery forest of black trees with glowing frond branches.

“If you have any fire left that’d be great,” shouted Adam as he sliced open tentacles with scything swings of his picks.

As soon as Adam kicked it into gear, hulking into the face of danger, Alfie followed suit. But nothing had prepared him for the mass of tendrils awaiting them. Had it not been for Adam’s exhortation, he would have frozen amongst the beast’s tentacles and met his fate. “Yeah, yep… workin’ on it!” he called back. Mustering whatever energy he had left in him, Alfie willed his hands to spark.

Alfie narrowly dodged a glittering pillar of black that whirred past him, just before releasing a fiery orb, striking further down the monster’s tentacle. There wasn’t much time for him to recoup. With the clock-tower well within his sights, he had to push himself. He might not be able to save Nell, but he could at least live another day to see her, and help get Adam to safety in the process.

Another ball of fire shot from the palm of his hand as he weaved through it, jumping over the beast’s appendages as needed. “What’s the situation over there?” Alfie croaked, trying his level best to keep his voice free of desperation.

“Go go go! She’s a c’moning oh shit!

Adam carved a path of blue blood through the forest of tentacles, ducking away from the impacts of Alfie’s fireballs before charging though the withered stumps to those closer to the door. But the cavern kept filled with more and more undulating coils and glowing cilia ferns as Grabby Gabby’s true horrific body began to emerge from the depths of the fissures.

“Don't look back, just go!”

Adam desperately beckoned Alfie through the door as tendrils slithered greedily after. He slammed it shut just as the cavern filled with a sound like the wind screaming as it was cut into pieces.

#adam #alfie #chatyz #Portal Combat #head trauma tw #yikesimonfire

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hpdabbles · 5 years ago

Note

Harry being raised by a unlikely Slytherin that's not Snape

Regulus stares at the child on the ground, crying it’s little eyes out on some muggle’s doorstep and wonders why he still there.

When he took the locket, he ran to the muggle world. He left behind the magic in hopes of learning how to destroy the cursed thing without being discovered. He faked his death, he had Krecher change coins for paper currency to live off of and snapped his wand in half.

With his own hands, he broke a part of himself, the lifeless wood pieces left at a Death Eater raid with a corpse so realistic his parents had a mental break down in public upon discovering it. Regulus had been there for his own funeral, unable to stay away, disguised as a mourning friend.

It hurt to know they question him having friends instead of the person he created more, but in the end, no one cared enough to ask more, to look deeper. He stood in the crowd listening to people give speeches about his greatness, about the sadness it was to lose him, and about how close they had been with the late Black.

None of them have gotten a thing correct. The closest has been Sirius, who arrived drunk and uninvited. His older brother had spent his entire speech asking his coffin if he missed their bond, in different tones of sorrow and rage. Lupin had to drag him away before his brother embarrassed himself even more, though only Regulus looked back at him as his brother sobbed into his friend’s shoulder seconds before they disapparate away.

After the funeral, Regulus went to find a place to live. He needed somewhere close enough to stay aware of the war, but far away enough his secret mission could be complete.

He ended up picking the least magical neighbor he could find, allowing himself to let go of all that made his heritage and culture. Gone was the long flowing waving hair of a nobleman in its place was the short style muggles associated with the working class that left his ears cold.

Gone were the free-falling robes that glided behind him, in their place the skin-tight suits the muggles aww-ed whenever he scurried by in the busy streets. They were stuffy but not overly different upon his skin, had he been born a muggle he would have worn them by choice he thinks.

Kreacher had been kind enough to steal enough money which would allow him to live a comfortable life, having stolen a deceased cousin’s inheritance who gallons his parents wouldn't even blink an eye at.

It left him a very rich man in the muggle world, with the proper exchange rate. However it would make him stand out, something he did not want even in a whole other world to his own, because the small chance someone would notice, someone would realize something wasn’t quite right with him the chance of a Killing Curse would not be far behind if that information came back to the Death Eaters.

He needed to appear an upper-middle- his own mannerisms would give him away, being middle or lower class would be impossible to act- the young man who wanted to start over somewhere with his recently dead parents money.

Regulus didn’t know anything about the muggle world, not enough to find a way to make a living but he knew how to write and he knew how to tell lies into a perfect story. He bought a type-writer, practiced until his fingers didn’t stiff up over the keys, and he weaved a perfect web of lies.

His lies were published in his own novel. A success among muggles for the fantasy elements and romance he sprinkled in. His parents had taught him how to work the floor of their balls, he knew what people wanted. Regulus had his book sold out, and a request for a reprint not long after.

His second novel was much the same. And on it went. He wrote his dreams and wishes, never allowing them to get too close to real magic but he let everything he held in since he was a child became free upon his little type-writer.

Regulus then changed his name, unable to keep one so obvious. He found he couldn’t let go of the constellations so easily, giving himself the last name Saiph and slapping the least impressive first name he could think of.

Tom Saiph moved into 6 Privet Drive not long after the newlywed couple Vernon and Petunia Dursley, in that muggle home, he buried the locket in his new basement where it’s dark magic couldn’t affect him.

Things were fine for a while, besides some well-meaning mothers and grandmothers who all swear up and down they knew the perfect woman for him, Regulus found he had no complaints about living there. Three full years passed, where he still looked for ways to stop the war but he also got comfortable.

He enjoyed writing, his neighbors, the sights, the scents, the scenes. He liked them all. He enjoyed his new life, free of any expectations. Here, he was not the second son who could never be good enough, here he wasn’t the spare kept around to uphold the family name, here, he was simply a young novelist who made the women swoon when he walked by.

Tom Saiph was much happier then Regulus Black could ever be.

That’s why the moment he sensed magic being used so close to his home one night while working on a particularly tricky scene, he froze at his desk, fingers poised over the type writer’s keys. He hadn’t realized how late it has gotten, have been too caught up in his latest story.

Regulus felt magic right there out on the street passing by his yard and gliding near. Fearing the worst, he crept to downstairs, heart pounding. Peaking through his curtains he watched a wizard- for surely only a wizard would wear robes- set something on the doorsteps of 4 Privet Drive.

When nothing else happened for another twenty minutes he got enough courage to open his door to and investigate. What could a wizard possibly give a muggle couple?

A baby.

A small little thing with wails loud enough to make his head ring, and a scar that radicated magic he recognized. The same kind of magic inside the locket of Slytherin.

This meant the Dark Lord made more. He had more.

And he could get rid of one of them right now, could end one life to save many. He just needed to kill an innocent.

“Oh, what am I doing?” Regulus asks bending down. His hands were meant to curl around the child’s throat, instead, he finds himself bringing up the child to his chest to hold against the cold. He rocks the baby until his cries turn to small whimpers. “Oh, what am I doing?”

He turns and he heads home, the letter, and basket under his other arm.

The next morning Privet Drive finds out Tom has lost his brother and was now the guardian of his nephew, Hubert Saiph. The boy is as much as a delight as his uncle, cooing at anyone who looked his way causing smiles all around, but they don’t stay long. Tom moves away, a few days before Miss Figg moved in a street over.

Such a shame she never got to meet him but the woman was invited to the book club, that Privet Drive hosted bi-weekly.

#Hpdabbles #Prompt Night #Regulus Black raises Harry #Unlikely Slytherin raises Harry #Anonymous #Faking death #dysfunctional family #Found family

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ibijau · 4 years ago

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Jin Rusong Lives / On AO3

Nie Huaisang says things nobody wants to hear, because someone has to.

As Jin Rulan explained how Jin Guangyao had faked the death of his son to put him in a magical sleep before still using the shock of that fake loss to eliminate enemies, Nie Huaisang was hit by an unkind thought. Of course, most of his thoughts were unkind these days, it was the sort of person he had become. Still this one, passing through his mind while a child he loved had found protection in his arms, struck him as particularly awful.

Nie Huaisang would have preferred for Jin Guangyao to have really murdered his own son.

It had made him so easy to hate after all. A man capable of eliminating such a sweet little boy could only be a monster. So finding that he had instead kept his son hidden, that he had secretly worked for years to try to save him, collecting piles and piles of information on the sickness that plagued his son… And although he hadn't performed the surgery, although he hadn't been there to see it, Jin Guangyao had saved his son.

"He didn't have the skill to perform the surgery himself," Wen Ning mumbled, his eyes darting again and again toward Jin Rusong. "But his notes were very clear and well organised. I… I've been training on animals since little Jin Gongzi was discovered. He'll still need to be monitored for a while but… but he should be fine now."

Nie Huaisang smiled at him.

He also liked it better when the dreaded Ghost General was just an abomination to be despised.

"Well, that's just amazing, Wen gongzi !" he laughed. "Such skill, you are truly worthy of being your sister's brother! SongSong, I know Wen gongzi looks a little scary, but you should say thank you. He worked very hard so you could be healthy again."

Jin Rusong shot a look at Wen Ning, then shook his head and hid his face against Nie Huaisang’s shoulder, bringing up the fan in his hand so he really wouldn't have to see the fierce corpse.

"I want mommy and daddy."

Unsure what else to do, Nie Huaisang pulled the child closer against his chest and exchanged a look with the other three.

Wen Ning, without surprise, only looked extremely uncomfortable and clearly wished he could be somewhere else now that he had played his role in this mess. Wei Wuxian still had one hand clenched on Chenqing, clearly expecting Nie Huaisang to be pulling a trick of some sort. Rude, considering the efforts Nie Huaisang had made to allow his return among the livings, but smart as well, all things considered. As for Jin Rulan…

Since the death of Jin Guangyao, Nie Huaisang had done his best to treat Jin Rulan like an adult. He remembered how Nie Mingjue, rising to power at a similar age, had hated the condescension of other sect leaders. After taking so much from him, it had felt fair to treat that young sect ruler as an equal and ignore his youth.

But right there and then, it would have taken too much effort to pretend that Jin Rulan was anything but a lost and confused teenager who clearly ached over yet another family secret. He was too young to deal with this, and Jin Rusong would have no reason to trust the other two, and…

Once, years before, Lan Xichen had confided to Jin Guangyao that he'd always resented the way his uncle had handled the news of his mother's death. Nie Huaisang had overheard that, present yet ignored as he often was. Something Lan Xichen had said had stuck with him: 'Children deserve the same honesty as adults, because they can feel pain no less intense as those older than them.'

Nie Huaisang looked down at the sobbing child in his arms, begging for his parents. Both the truth and a lie would hurt Jin Rusong, but only one would let him move on, and Nie Huaisang did not trust the others to give his nephew that cruel mercy.

Ah, well. He had little hopes of being allowed to see Jin Rusong again after that day, and they all hated him already.

Jin Rusong deserved the truth.

"SongSong, listen, you understand what dead means, right?"

Wei Wuxian glared at him, and hissed. "Nie-xiong, don't !"

Nie Huaisang ignored him. He had no lessons in honesty to receive from Wei Wuxian.

"It's when people are gone forever," Jin Rusong mumbled. "Like LingLing's mommy and daddy, and like grandma when she got sick. They go and you cannot see them again. Uncle Nie, I want mommy and daddy. I really want them now. It's scary here."

Nie Huaisang’s heart clenched.

"I'm sorry, SongSong,” he whispered. “But mommy and daddy have died. It's just you and LingLing now. But I know he loves SongSong a lot and will take good care of you."

"No! I don't want that!" Jin Rusong shouted, crying heavily and throwing away Nie Huaisang’s fan. "I want mommy and daddy! I want them now! Uncle Nie, I want them now!"

The child started hitting Nie Huaisang with surprising strength that would leave bruises, and pulling hard on his hair. It was an ugly tantrum from a usually placid boy, but those were ugly circumstances, so Nie Huaisang allowed him to let his anger explode against him.

Jin Rulan, more disturbed by this display, dared to come closer again. He put one hand on his cousin's shoulder, trying to soothe him.

"A-Song, calm down," he asked in a voice that reminded Nie Huaisang of Jiang Wanyin in his kinder moments. "It'll be okay. I'll take care of you, like when I was little."

Seeing that Jin Rusong wasn't rejecting his cousin's touch, Nie Huaisang tried to gently push him into Jin Rulan's arms. This backfired when Jin Rusong grasped his hair tighter so he could not be handed over to anyone.

"I don't know him!" Jin Rusong wailed. "I want mommy! I want my mommy, I want her now!"

Nie Huaisang grimaced, and pulled the child as tight against his chest as he dared, rocking him a little to calm him.

"I know SongSong. Your mommy would prefer to be here too. She was very sad that she couldn't see you anymore. Mommy loved SongSong so much!"

Qin Su had nearly broken when she'd lost her son. Nie Huaisang remembered how she had looked like a ghost for months afterward.

Maybe it was understanding how and why she had lost him that had broken her in the end. Nie Huaisang could still see her with that dagger in her chest, pale and bloodied, so much like her son had been years before… and it had been his own fault. He had known she wouldn't take well to the news, but as long as it could hurt Jin Guangyao… nothing else had mattered then.

Pushing away those thoughts, Nie Huaisang continued rocking the little boy in his arms and whispering whatever soothing nonsense passed his mind until, after what felt like an eternity, the crying and thrashing stopped. Jin Rusong had fallen asleep in his arms.

"Jin zongzhu should take him now," Nie Huaisang suggested, looking down at the little boy in his arms rather than the people around him. He looked so peaceful now, much more like the Jin Rusong of old.

He startled when Jin Rulan took him on that offer and quickly snatched his cousin.

The problem with those Jins was that they carried a strong family resemblance. Holding this child, the young sect leader looked like his father, and like his uncle… and neither were men Nie Huaisang wanted to think about at the moment.

"Well, that settles it for the time being," Nie Huaisang said with all the good humour he could muster. "Try not to lose him again."

"You shouldn't have told him about his parents," Jin Rulan hissed. "You had no right!"

Nie Huaisang shrugged. Someone had to say it. It wasn't going to be Wei Wuxian who liked secrets far too much, enough so that Nie Huaisang himself had never found out about his core until that night at the temple. And it shouldn't have been Jin Rulan either, who would already have a hard time getting his little cousin to trust him.

But for him to break his nephew's heart… well, he'd done enough wrong already, a little more was nothing.

"Get Zewu-Jun here," Nie Huaisang advised. "Jin Rusong adores him and it has always been mutual. Honestly, I don't know why you didn't think to bring him here already. That child needed to wake to a familiar face, not to his nearly adult cousin and two boogeymen!"

Wei Wuxian glared at him, while Wen Ning appeared unconcerned by the accusation. He'd heard worse, most likely.

"We thought of it," Wei Wuxian explained, "but he's still in seclusion, and Lan Zhan wasn't sure how he'd react to the news. It might come as a shock to you, but he didn't take well being tricked into becoming a murderer. You might be cold blooded enough to take it in stride that Jin Guangyao didn't murder his son, but Zewu-Jun actually has a heart."

"Wen gongzi, don't presume you know me," Nie Huaisang retorted coldly. "And apparently, you don't know Zewu-Jun either if you think he wouldn't overcome his grief for this child. But fine, it's your choice. Now tell me, having awakened this child and performed a miracle on him, what do you intend to do with him?"

Wei Wuxian glared harder, while Jin Rulan looked away and Wen Ning suddenly pretended he was busy tidying the room. Their silence was an answer in itself.

Suddenly, Nie Huaisang almost missed Jin Guangyao. At least he always had a plan, instead of just following whatever fancy passed his brain and hoping someone would clean up the mess if it went wrong.

"I see. Was Jin zongzhu planning to raise a child himself when he's not even of age, while also keeping together a sect that's tearing apart and will take any excuse to turn on him? If so, you should have left that boy to his sleep."

"I couldn't leave him like that!" Jin Rulan exploded, making the boy in his arms stir a little and whimper. All four of them froze, but Jin Rusong did not wake up, and Jin Rulan continued in a quieter voice. "We had all those notes on how to heal him, and he's family! What sort of person would I be if I didn't do everything I could to wake him up?"

A kind one, Nie Huaisang thought. Eternal sleep would have been less cruel than this mess. But of course, that was only his opinion as someone to whom the truth had never been kind. Jin Rusong might be luckier.

"He'll be in danger in Carp Tower," Nie Huaisang pointed out. "Your uncle had too many enemies and friends, and I'm not sure which ones will be worse. With the current political situation, I'm ready to bet a few people will try to use him to their advantage."

He was sure of that, because it had happened with Jin Rulan himself after the death of Jin Guangshan. Jiang Wanyin had been forced to steal him away to Lotus Piers until the situation had calmed down in Carp Tower, with Jin Guangyao coming on top of the struggle for power.

"Now that you've started this mess, try to get your uncle involved," Nie Huaisang advised. "He'll think of some way to help."

Jin Rulan scoffed. "Of course he will! I've written to him already and he's coming, we just didn't plan for A-Song to wake up so early!"

Hearing this, Wen Ning mumbled a pitiful 'sorry', but Nie Huaisang barely noticed. All his attention was on Jin Rulan. He was still mostly a child, but to be able to put aside his pride and ask for help at such a moment…

Up until then, Nie Huaisang’s opinion of the young sect leader had been decent, but not great. Finding out he had brought his cousin back among the living without a plan had lowered his opinion of Jin Rulan, in fact. But knowing when to turn to someone with more experience… that was a good quality to have for someone coming into power so young, as was the fact that Jin Rulan had known not to trust anyone within his own sect with this business, turning instead to his uncle and Wei Wuxian who were both crazy but reliable.

Jin Rulan might grow into a better sect leader than the rest of them, if nobody murdered him for being a little too smart and too just.

Nie Huaisang’s eyes then fell on Jin Rusong, still sleeping. He wondered what he would grow into. If Jiang Cheng ended up raising him, if Lan Xichen gave a hand as well… then Jin Rusong would become a fine young man one day. After all Jin Rulan and Lan Sizhui had turned out pretty well, in spite of circumstances.

But of course, none of that was Nie Huaisang’s problem.

"I think you don't need me anymore," he said with forced cheer. "I'll leave you to your business. Jin zongzhu, considering the circumstances, I think it's silly to continue pretending we'll be able to continue discussing sect business at present, so I think I'll be leaving Carp Tower now. Unless you think I can be of use again?"

"We'll manage without you," Jin Rulan retorted, holding his cousin closer, as if he feared Nie Huaisang might try to get him back.

A ridiculous notion.

Nie Huaisang wasn't stupid to let himself get close to anyone again, least of all this child he loved so much.

"Take good care of him," he still ordered as he went to pick up the fan Jin Rusong had thrown away earlier. It had suffered no damage, thankfully. "He is a sweet boy, and things won't be easy for him."

Without waiting for their reaction, Nie Huaisang left the building and walked away as fast as his legs would allow.

He couldn't wait to go home and pretend none of this had happened.

#nie huaisang #jin rusong #jin ling #wei wuxian #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #jau writes #things should start to look up a bit in the next chapter but welp we gotta have hurt before we can have comfort right? :)#jin rusong lives

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alvaar-aldaviir · 4 years ago

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Movement: Affrettando

Time Frame: Stormblood, 4.4 patch. Spoilers accordingly.

Notes: No real warnings required. Just an introspective piece on Alvaar’s thoughts through the Burn in the search for Alphinaud. A companion to Patching Up Wounds, and part of that lovely segment in the SB post patch where Alvaar and Alisaie's friendship strengthens

Cross-posted to Ao3.

It’s been some time since he’d last slipped the lease on his anger but there’s enough sand and wind and plenty enough teeth to warrant Alvaar’s rage in his solo flight through The Burn.

It’s not something that he’s proud of, but letting the rage consume him is far more preferable to the paralyzing fear that waits for him outside of it.

He remembers landing in the harsh sands with his yol, still hearing the faint echoes of Lord Hien on the winds calling them to seek shelter.

Shelter. Pah.

If they were afraid of a storm, then he would continue alone. He would scour all the Burn if he had to. He would march straight to Garlemald and rip this fake Zenos’ throat out a second time and torch his infernal body if he found so much as a hair on Alphinaud’s head had been damaged.

Like hell he was about to sit and wait when he was in danger…

Alisaie wasn’t here right now. He didn’t need to keep up the calm air of faith and be the steady rock between them. The level head else it would send them both weapons drawn straight to the Garlean border.

There were monsters. A few machines he thinks. A stretch of time running in metal corridors with the baleful cry of the sandstorm against the hull of a broken ship.

It was all cloaked in red, and he didn’t even try this time to reign it in with the single-minded purpose and anger coursing in his veins. Rage was preferable to the coiling knots of terror. Fighting better than an endless assault of potential death or capture or- His heart pounded a staccato as his bow creaked and hummed with every snap of the string. A lone lupine howl of his song wailing higher and more fearsome than the storm in his wake as he cut a bloody path through whatever moved to oppose him.

Alvaar was not afraid of wind and sands when they beckoned to his call. He was the eye of this storm and God’s be good and true if they did not find some sign Alphinaud was alright...

He would bury the empire under a mountain of fire and sand and ash. He’d ask penance from corpses and play a dirge even Nidhogg would envy.

There are white scales and teeth. A draconian form slipping through the fog and sands to harry him, slowing his frantic search. And its fire and snow and the bitter cold of Coerthas cutting against his skin as he settles into a familiar dance of death. Carving their path forward as he has always done for the youth that believed him capable of miracles. For the ally that had remained at his side and steadied him in his darkest moments…

The blade-point of the Halonic bow is sunk as far as it can reach behind the dragon’s skull. Severing nerves and tendons as Estinien had shown him while the white scaled beast shudders its last under his feet.

And the world is blue and bright and dazzling as he gasps for air in lungful’s that sting like sandpaper though the storm has since abated. And this white sandy hellscape is not Coerthas. There is no Estinien, no Alphinaud, no Ysayle trailing in his wake on their joint quest for peace...

There’s instead a firm hand at his wrist, someone that looks like his precious friend but who definitely is not. And it’s the part concern, part nervous look on Alisaie’s face that breaks through his fatigue and sends sound back through his ears. He can hear Y’shtola and Hien speaking in the background while Alisaie studies him worriedly, though he can’t yet comprehend what they’re saying through the fog of fatigue.

Her white magic doesn’t feel the same as her twins. It’s not calm and warm, but passionate and hot as it races through him sealing his wounds. It feels like a burn by comparison and the realities crash in around him in the wake of his last full rage since they’d rescued Rauhban as he puffs for air and notes he’s covered in splatters of blood. This is not a hundred previous battles with worried hands and voice at his side patching his wounds. The winding fluff of a carbuncle leaned against his shin while it’s master frets in that quiet but obvious way of his.

He’d thought he’d be done with feeling helpless. That after this bloody campaign and storm of steel, with a true turning point in the steady march of their enemy, maybe things could be different now. But no, he was seldom ever that lucky.

This world only ever saw fit to take what desperate things he struggled to hold on to…

Hands grip on his forearm carefully, a brief pause to pat firmly at his leather jacket and shake off some of the sand in a shower of white grit. He feels fingers threading with his own over the supple leather of his gloves, squeezing tight as his name sounds between them. Soft and gentle with concern.

His fingers hurt as he releases the white-knuckle grip on his bow to leave it standing blade down and unwavering where it’s still imbedded in flesh. The joints in his hand creaking as they’re finally allowed to move and flex a moment before he’s settling his hand over hers slowly.

He hurts. Inside and out. Muscles aching faintly from a berserker fury and pushing himself just a bit too hard. Heart clenched in a mute fear as the lack of news or evidence of Alphinaud’s presence cuts him up inside. Heavy with guilt that he’d let him go when all his instincts had screamed not to. That it was too dangerous no matter how right Alphinaud’s reasoning had been or how much Alvaar had seen the Arcanist had needed to stretch his wings and fly solo for his own dreams of peace.

He’d failed to protect him and the knowledge it might cost Alisaie her sibling hurt even more than the silent fear that the one person who probably knew him best was now well and truly missing and possibly even dead...

“Alvaar,” she tries again, shaking him just a bit and tone a little more forceful. Pulling his focus steadily from everything dark and haunted within him. Making his fingers twitch over hers as he starts to rouse back to the present.

“Alvaar.” Still quiet, but there’s a command in that tone and it breaks him free and has him meeting those too blue eyes again. Deep and vibrant as the midday sea.

“M’here,” he murmurs softly, voice dry and weak. “Still here... sorry. Sorry I didn’t... I couldn’t...” He looks about, unable to find better words before meeting her gaze again sadly.

The tight look of worry on her face holds for a moment before she dips her head and leans into his arm. Takes a moment to steady herself before lifting her gaze to his again, azure eyes burning with firm conviction. “We’ll find him. My brother may be foolish, but he knows better than to die on me. He’ll send word once he can. Come on, let’s go back and sort out a plan. ... You need a bath too; you look a wreck.”

It’s enough to make him blink, an ear flipping faintly in disbelief as she manages the faintest grin before pulling away and freeing the canteen from his belts. Taking off the cap she hands it to him with a no-nonsense air, pushing it at him again when he takes a second too long to claim it. “Come on. We’ll all be in trouble if you wear out your voice and can’t be your usual chatterbox self.”

It’s not the same as what he’s known. It’s not the dear friend he’s grown to rely on more than he wanted to admit, who’s seen him at his best and at his absolute worst.

But Alisaie doesn’t have to be. They’re different in many ways, but alike in more ways that matter. He’s no less committed to protecting her either, even as it seems she feels the same. So he rinses his teeth and takes a drink. Coughs and clears his throat before offering it back, staying put so she can cap it and hook it back to his belt while he yanks his bow free and shakes the dark blood off the spearhead. Clipping it onto his back, he settles a hand at the Red Mage’s shoulder and pulls her into his side for a brief one-armed hug.

“Whatever it takes. I’m with you,” he murmurs, lifting his head to meet Y’shtola’s thoughtful look while Hien politely studied the landscape instead. Neither miss the way Alisaie grips onto the hand still at her shoulder, but the Miqo’te doesn’t comment on it as she tilts her head.

“There’s naught left here for us. Let us away.”

#wol #warrior of light #alisaie #alisaie leveilleur #mentioned y'shtola #mentioned hien #writing #mywriting #oc #FFXIV #ff14 #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14 #Affrettando: Hurrying pressing onwards

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wheremytwinwatches · 4 years ago

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[Where My Twin Watches]: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 18

Last time, Ross was framed for the murder of Hughes, and may have been “killed” or actually killed by Roy. Hopefully we can figure out what the heck’s going on this episode, because I haven’t been this confused by how a death could be faked or not since BBC Sherlock.

Alright, looks like The Mighty Armstrong (who’s absolutely rocking his off-duty outfit) did take Ed to Resembool, supposedly to get his arm “fixed”. Oh hey, it’s the little Xing girl! May Chang, right? Wait, turn around you two! You just walked past a new character! Wait a minute, last time we saw the little girl she was traveling with- Methinks we’ll have a fight scene this episode. Ed’s demanding details from The Mighty Armstrong, who says he was just told to bring Ed here and rendevou with someone. A Lieutenant Breda? I recognize him as one of the Mustang Crew, but that’s about it. Although Ed doesn’t seem to be that happy to see him. Episode 18 - “The Arrogant Palm of a Small Human” Back in Central, Al’s wondering why Al hasn’t called to let them know he’s in Resembool. And Winry calls out the “repair” excuse when she was RIGHT THERE. Seriously, whatever’s going on they couldn’t think of something better? [Al]: “And the stuff with Lieutenant Ross… I have no idea what’s going on.” You and me both, buddy! What the heck suddenly Sword Guy’s in the room. Sitting right next to Winry? Nope nope nope shove of Princey you are not messing up my ship. Anyways, the illegal alien/lockup escapee popped in to let them know Ed’s just fine- Right as we cut to Ed dying of dehydration. What’s up now, why’s Ed in the desert? “Crossing the border”? Wait, with what Ling was saying, are they going to Xing? Why? Also TURN BACK YOU MISSED MAY! Breda asks the fourth rider, a Mr. Han, how much further it is, and the guide points out some ruins ahead. Wait, ruins? Oh hey, didn’t Ling mention some place called *checks past posts* Xerxes? Somber piano music as we look over the shattered pillars of this past civiliza- nope, Ed’s just ignoring everything to cool off in a well, complaining about how he was nearly burned by his own metal arm. Mr. Han asks why they brought a kid along, Breda complains that it was a direct order. Now that he’s sufficiently cooled off, Ed redresses and asks about his place described in a fable. The Eastern Sage, origin of alchemy? Ooh, history! An ancient kingdom destroyed in a single night, a sole survivor traveling to Amestris to spread the science of Alchemy… And Mr. Han says they have a story of a drifter from the West who lead them towards Alkahestry. Hmm, two survivors, going different directions? Makes sense that Ling would want to visit the ruins then, if Alchemy/Alkahestry originated from here. As they speculate how such an advanced society could be almost completely wiped out in a single night, Ed stops to look at some engravings on a wall. This feels familiar… wait, was this the stuff on the Door of Truth? Before Ed can say anything about that, Han yells at him to catch up. Man, this is a really big ruin, they’re heading insi- wait, what? WAIT WHAT [Lt. Ross]: “Edward!” You’re alive! You’re alive you’re alive you’re alive! How?! [Memory!Roy]: “Back east, where I was… It’s a nice place. None of the big city noise… and lots of beautiful women.” Oh boy, brace for enthusiastic shirtless Mighty Armstrong hugs, Ross. Daw. Breda says that there wasn’t anywhere in Amestris they could safely hide the “dead” Lieutenant Ross, so they spirited her out here. So Ross knew all along? Flashback! Breda’s confronting Roy about the newspaper article, how with Ross being publicly arrested and charged without a trial it’s all too showy. Then Roy gets a call from Falman- who’s quickly interrupted by Barry. Not on an official line, dude! In the park (in what I think is the same phonebooth Hughes was murdered in) Roy is confirming with Barry that a bullet was fired, but at him, not Hughes. And with that, Roy springs into action. He makes Barry promise not to kill anyone (still not sure how he got Barry to follow that), set a street, and had Breda gather supplies… oh. Right. Duh! The core theme of this show is Alchemy! Of course Roy could make a fake body! But that still doesn’t explain the dental records… Roy just says he has it under control. He has plenty of experience burning bodies. Later that night, Roy stops Ross in the alley, then throws down the fake corpse, torches it, takes her ID Cuffs and tosses her in the dumpster, to be escorted by Havoc. There’s a little wrinkle when Ed runs up, but Ross and Havoc make their escape. Back in current!Xerxes, Han’s explaining that Roy made a deal with Ling- hold up, “young lord?” Is this the old ninja working for Ling? I thought his name was Fu, not Han. Anyways, Han got orders to escort Ross east to take refuge. Ed admits that he’s impressed by Roy pulling off the trick. And then Breda twists the knife by saying Ed was sent out as well to not interfere in Phase Two. Oh, they’re gonna try and reel in the mastermind! Using Barry as bait, they want to see who comes for him and take them down. Uuuunfortunately, they’re sending Bio!Barry to do the job… Mid-show pictures of The Mighty Armstrong crying in all of his majestic shirtless glory, and the Holy-Leto-I’m-So-Happy-She’s-Alive Lt. Maria Ross. In the Central Hotel Ling’s let the other Blondes know the plan, and confirming that Ed was sent out of town so that he wouldn’t interfere in the operation. Unfortunately for Roy, Ed’s the Protagonist, so I don’t see this working out. In the meantime, Ling struck up a deal with Barry for the secret to his Soul Armor. But of course all the “science guys” who did Barry up like this are all dead, and he doesn’t know. That Alphonse kid, on the other hand… The Xerxes gang are going over their notes, sketching out the Goths and trying to figure out the methods and reasons behind the Homunculi. Ed takes a moment to think about how Hughes is gone, to which The Mighty Armstrong asks what his next move will be. [Ed]: “Al and I committed a taboo, but we still have people that help us. Some people get angry at us, and others support us silently. Each one of them has tried to help me keep my promise to my brother. So I have no choice… I can’t turn back. Which means, all I can do is move forward, right? And I’ll protect everyone I can along the way. I refuse to let another person become a victim. Not while I’m alive. I know that’s a hard promise to keep. It’s hard enough just trying to take care of myself. And to think that I’m even capable of it… maybe I’m just arrogant. But it’s the only thing I can think of. So I have to do it. I have to.” Cue approving grins from the rest of the group. You go, Protagonist. Ross gets ready to head out to Xing with a couple other people, confirming that her parents shouldn’t be told she’s still alive, otherwise they’d be in too much danger. Bleh, I can understand it, but I don’t want anyone else to feel like Gracia. She does ask they let Roy know that she is supremely grateful for what he’s done, and if there’s anything that she can do to repay the debt to just let her know. One final handshake with Ed, and she’s off to a new home, asking Mr. Fu (so wait, is it Fu or Han?) what Xing is like. As a native, Fu talks it up as a paradise. Then recommends she stop crying to save her fluids for the trek across the desert. Back in Central, Roy’s pencil-pushers are snickering at him as he talks on the phone to his “sweetheart”, who of course is Riza. But she suddenly stops and says they have a “customer”. “Kate”(Fuery) lets “Jacqueline”(Havoc) know. Hey, Falman? You might wanna get ready for a visitor. Bio!Barry is in the house! And in an interesting change of pace, Barry’s the one arguing for keeping someone alive! But then Havoc bursts in and starts trying to shoot Bio!Barry anyways? What’s going on here? Oh I get it, hidden identity in case the Goths are watching. But why try to shoot him and distract Barry? Who’s not doing so hot as he just figured out who this Human Chimera reminds him of, and lost his right arm for the trouble. Outside! Now, where did that Chimera go… broken window! Bio!Barry’s bouncing around the street now, leaps at Havoc who has a really unfortunately-timed stovepipe. Then there’s a rifle shot? Ah, so that’s why Havoc wanted to get outside, so they could get covering fire from Hawkeye. Who plays off the sound over the phone as slapping around a difficult customer. Bio!Barry’s at gunpoint clutching his perforated hand, so Havoc can ask some questions. However, the dude’s not exactly up for conversation. And Barry confirms, it’s his old body! Ok, phew. Was really worried about the evil clone possibility. This is just necromancy via sticking animal souls in corpses, then. In Xerxes, Ed’s gone back to look at that wall from earlier, identifies it as looking like the TC from the Fifth Lab. Two-headed dragon, sun… and the top part missing. No complete Human Transmutation ritual for you! What th- Ishvalan attack! Oh dear, that’s a lot of Ishvalans. [Polite!Ishvalan]: “‘Scuse me, young man. I’m afraid that we’re gonna have to take you hostage until your military returns our holy land to us.” Ed snarks that he isn’t worth that much, Polite!Ishvalan talks about how the death of a single child sparked the Ishvalan Civil War. Then an old lady in an eyepatch (Madam Shan, helped by a young Ishvalan boy who looks to have a burn scar and man there are a lot of burn injuries in the crowd, starting to get a bad feeling) orders the Leader to stand down and stop dishonoring the name of Ishvala. Ed lets his attacker go, muses that he’s always heard that Ishvalans hate Amestrians. But Madam Shan and the kid know that not Amestrians are bad, when they were injured in the civil war they were saved by two Amestrian doctors (!!!) Yeah, yeah they recognize the Rockbell name. They saved so many Ishvalans, refusing to abandon their post. Ed asks how they died- NO NONONO YOU FUCKER WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, SCAR?! So yeah. The Rockbell’s were killed by a patient that they saved, an Ishvalan monk wrapped in bandages with a tattooed right arm. With this knowledge, Ed leaves the Ishvalans, along with a message for the resting place of the Rockbell’s: their thanks, and their apologies. In Central, Barry’s laughing at the chance to chop up his own body, whatever’s kept him from killing people is failing in the face of this otherwise-impossible-opportunity. Riza’s commenting on how a customer is mouthing off… before she hangs up, saying she has her own customer to deal withat is Gluttony. Oooooh crap. You may wanna run, Riza. Wait, that’s it?! Boooo, awful cliffhanger! Ok, so Ross is alive! Yay! Still not sure how they dealt with the dental records, but whatever, everything else was answered! And now we’ve got the Goths responding it seems, with Bio!Barry and Gluttony set loose. Onwards to fight scenes!

#wmtw #where my twin watches #ranubis #full metal alchemist #full metal alchemist brotherhood #fmab #fmab 18

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sebeth · 6 years ago

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Young Justice: A Bat Family And The House Of Al Ghul

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

Seriously, turn away if you aren’t up to date with Young Justice: Outsiders – particularly episode 6.

You have been warned…

The current Young Justice season has shown the following members of the Bat-Family:

Batman (Bruce Wayne)

Nightwing (Dick Grayson)

Oracle (Barbara Gordon)

Robin (Tim Drake)

Spoiler (Stephanie Brown)

Batwoman (Kate Kane)

Jason Todd

Damian Wayne

The House of Al Ghul has the following representation:

Ra’s Al Ghul

Talia

Sensei

Damian Wayne

“Rescue Op”, the latest episode of Young Justice: Outsiders, dropped a few bombshells on the Wayne Family and the League of Shadows. Now is a perfect time for a recap and speculation post.

Batman: Has grown tired of the limitations imposed on the Justice League by the United Nations and Lex Luthor in particular. Bruce resigned from the League and formed Batman Inc. Green Arrow, Batwoman, Katana, Hardware, and Plastic Man have also resigned from the League and joined Batman Inc. Robin, Spoiler, and Arrowette resigned from Young Justice in support of their mentors.

We haven’t seen Batman since the mass resignation so we are unaware of his future plans.

Batwoman: Has made one brief non-speaking appearance. I’m assuming Kate’s origin is similar to her comic book version. She should re-appear when Batman returns on the scene.

Nightwing: Left Young Justice at the end of season two. The death of Wally West, his best friend, laid a heavy burden on his shoulders. We have no idea what Dick has been up to during the two-year time gap between season two and three. The use of hypnos in an early episode hints as adventures with Spyral, a spy organization.

The season opened with Dick breaking up meta-human trafficking rings. He’s in a relationship with Barbara Gordon. It appears Dick will/has formed the Outsiders as of the latest episode – Brion and Halo stated they’d work best “outside” the Young Justice team.

Oracle: Has been paralyzed for less than a year. The prequel comic had Babs active as Batgirl in year six. We aren’t aware of the circumstances of her paralysis but it’s most likely due to the Joker. The only question is if we will receive a “Killing Joke” flashback or if it’s only referenced in a comment. Babs is strictly working with Nightwing at this point but will she organize the Birds of Prey in the future? I would love to see Huntress and Lady Blackhawk in the YJ-verse!

Dick and Babs were both aware of Bruce’s “Batman Inc” plan but are not actively participating in it.

Robin: We’re not sure when Tim became Robin. I’ve always felt it was shortly before season two started due to the anxious protectiveness Dick had of Tim in the first episode. Tim should be around 16-17 years old in the current season. He resigned along with Batman in the first episode. Tim’s romance with Wonder Girl is on the rocks due to the resignation.

Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) – Like Kate, she has only been featured in a non-speaking role. Steph was part of the mass resignation of episode one. I’m assuming Steph’s origin is true to her comic book roots: daughter of Cluemaster, adopts the Spoiler identity to foil his crimes. A significant difference is her early adoption into the Bat family. Trust me, Steph wouldn’t have been able to join the team without Batman’s approval. Steph’s resignation suggests she has a much smoother relationship with Bruce in the YJ-verse. Another difference – Steph isn’t romantically involved with Tim. Is Cassie doomed to be the “Ariana” of Tim and Steph’s future romance? Or will Tim and Steph simply be BFFs?

Finally, Jason Todd!

Jason was seen briefly in season two as a memorial hologram. He had died sometime during years two and four of Young Justice. We’re not sure of the exact time or circumstances.

I would set Jason’s death in year four. Dick would be approximately 17 years old during the fourth year of the team. Dick, traditionally, is around 17 to 19 years old when he breaks off from Bruce and forms the Nightwing identity. Jason would have a brief tenure as Robin and a member of Young Justice before his death- allowing a very new to the role Tim to join the team in year 5.

We’ve never been told the circumstances of Jason’s death. It’s a safe bet the Joker was involved in some way.

Let’s recap the various versions:

Post-Crisis: Jason searches to find his birth mother. Sheila Haywood, said birth mother, betrays Jason to the Joker. The Joker beats Jason with a crowbar and leaves him to die in an exploding warehouse.

New 52: Very similar to the Post-Crisis death.

Under The Red Hood movie: Similar to the traditional death minus the mom.

Batman: Arkham Knight: The Joker kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured Jason for many months. Joker appeared to murder Jason in a video, causing Bruce to stop searching for him.

Now let’s discuss the various resurrections…

Post-Crisis: Superboy Prime punched the walls of reality causing alterations of the timeline. One alteration was Jason’s resurrection. A massively brain-damaged and physically injured Jason awoke in his coffin. He dug himself out of his grave and wandered the streets of Gotham in a semi-catonic state. Talia discovers Jason and brings him to the League of Assassins. Jason has muscle memory but no intellectual capabilities. In other words, Jason can fight but not communicate. After months of no progress, Ra’s orders Jason to be sent to a home. Ra’s orders Jason will be taken care of out of respect for the Detective. A desperate Talia throws Jason into the Lazarus Pit. Jason emerges with full mental capabilities but an insane amount of rage. Talia furthers Jason’s training but also amps Jason’s rage – she sends him like an exploding bomb into Gotham. Prime targets: Bruce, the Joker, and Tim. Jason and Talia have a brief, icky, sexual relationship.

New 52: No Superboy involved – Talia straight up throws Jason into the Lazaurs Pit. She still serves as Jason’s mentor but no sex was involved. Jason’s return as the Red Hood and his roaring rampage of revenge happened before the New 52 began. We never receive the full details of Jason’s revenge but Jason comments about his rough treatment of Tim and Roy jokes about a “duffel bag of severed heads” so we’ll assume it was similar to the ‘Under The Red Hood” arc.

Under The Red Hood movie: Ra’s resurrects Jason due to his guilt over unleashing the Joker. Jason’s death was never intended and Ra’s resurrected him to make amends. Unfortunately, Ra’s couldn’t contain Jason’s rage and banished him from the stronghold.

Batman: Arkham Knight: Never died but still full of rage and bitterness due to Batman’s “abandonment” of him.

Jason is seen briefly in “Rescue Op”. He’s masked and wearing a red hood. He fights Nightwing. After Dick’s team leaves, he mutters “Grayson”.

Ra’s comments: “Oh, your memory is finally returning. Excellent.”

Let’s speculate:

We can safely assume Jason died at the hands of the Joker. It’s a universal constant. I feel it was a true death as the “faked” death of Arkham Knight doesn’t work well in universe with a Superman and a Martian Manhunter. If Batman didn’t have Jason’s actual corpse in his arms, he would have called in his entire Justice League team to find his son. And if he didn’t, Dick would have.

More questions: Was Dick in space when Jason died? Did Dick and Jason work together in Young Justice? Did the brothers have a better bond in the Young Justice universe or was it the more typical “overshadowed by Dick’s greatness” combined with Dick’s bitterness over being replaced route?

As for Jason’s resurrection…

We can rule out Superboy Prime and timeline alterations.

The Lazarus Pit is the obvious solution. However, Jason is very much in his post-grave but pre-Lazarus dip state. Has Jason been immersed in the Pit? If not, what caused his resurrection?

If Jason has been immersed in the Pit, why such a half-assed job? And where’s the rage?

The Young Justice comic book had Robin (Dick) accidentally drop Ra’s – causing the man to fall to his death. Talia and Ubu threw Ra’s into the pit and he emerged fully intact with no memory loss.

If Jason still has memory loss after the Lazarus pit – is it due to the massive head trauma caused by the Joker’s crowbar? But, again, Ra’s had died in the Young Justice-verse and been resurrected in prime condition. Talia and Ubu had to travel back to the Lazarus Pit – meaning Ra’s was dead for hours – that would also cause brain damage and he came back in perfect health.

My theory is an outside force caused Jason’s resurrection. Talia discovered Jason wondering the streets and brought him back to the League’s stronghold.

It would explain Jason’s current state. I have no idea what the “outside force” would be though.

Jason has been healing and training with the League but has not been immersed in the Pit.

Ra’s al Ghul stated in “Recue Op” that he is no longer the head of the League of Shadows or a member of the Light.

A power struggle occurred and Ra’s lost. Ra’s only has his own family – Talia, Damian, and Sensei – along with a few loyal operatives on the island. Who has assumed control of the League of Shadows?

I listed a few suspects when I covered “Rescue Op” – Cheshire and Lady Shiva. I even theorized over the introduction of Cassandra Cain. I completely forgot the most obvious suspect – Nyssa al Ghul.

Nyssa is the older sister of Talia. Nyssa lost most of her family in concentration camps during World War II – mainly because of Ra’s outright refusal to help her.

“Batman: Death and the Maidens” is Nyssa’s origin and revenge against Ra’s. She murders Ra’s al Ghul and Talia and assumes control of the League.

The trio of Nyssa, Lady Shiva, and Cheshire would be a terrifying triple threat. And if Shiva has coerced Cassandra to help? Very bad times ahead for Ra’s and Talia.

Let’s talk Talia. She only has a brief appearance in the cartoon but received a two-issue spotlight in the comic book series.

Talia is a more multi-faceted and likable character in the Young Justice-verse than she is in the mainstream DC universe.

Talia wants Bruce to love her but realizes he doesn’t/can’t – at least not the way she wants him to. She’s frustrated that her father doesn’t understand or accept this. She wants someone to see her as something other than Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter or Batman’s lover. Talia is very tired of the endless conflict between Batman and her father.

I believe Talia discovered the resurrected Jason. She brought Jason home with her so he could heal. Talia has been patiently waiting for Jason’s full recovery. In the comics, Talia didn’t push Jason into the Pit until Ra’s threatened to send Jason away. Clearly, this isn’t a worry in the YJ-verse so Talia would have no reason to immerse Jason in the Pit and risk the resulting insanity/rage.

Initially, Talia rescued Jason in the comics so Bruce would be grateful to her. Cartoon-verse Talia likely has a similar motivation.

What would cause Talia to throw Jason into the Pit – restoring his full mental capacity even at the risk of rage and insanity?

Two words: Damian Wayne.

Talia was holding baby Damian in her arms during the episode. Why introduce both Jason and Damian together unless their storylines intertwine?

I feel Ra’s successors in the League are going to pursue the remaining Al Ghuls. The League, by its various nature, is a bloodthirsty affair – predecessors aren’t allowed to live out their lives in peace. And Ra’s isn’t a “chilling on the beach” type of guy.

Damian is a newborn and I’m assuming he was conceived the old-fashioned way. None of this Talia drugged Bruce or stole his genetic material stuff. It wouldn’t be true to the Young Justice version of Talia.

Talia has a newborn and a price on all the Al-Ghul heads. Talia realizes Damian needs to be with his father for his own safety. Talia is unable – or unwilling – to leave Ra’s side. It’s possible an ambush goes very badly. A desperate Talia throws Jason into the Lazarus Pit. She orders the now fully restored Jason to bring Damian to Bruce.

Jason may not even engage in a “roaring rampage of revenge” against Bruce. Mainstream-Talia’s manipulations helped cause Jason’s revenge (“You remain unavenged”). Talia has no reason to amp Jason’s revenge in the YJ-verse – she needs Jason to get Damian and himself to Gotham asap.

Jason’s rage may not even kick in until after he hands Damian over – it could be days or weeks later when Jason discovers the Joker is still alive. Enter the Red Hood.

If Jason does go all revenge-driven Red Hood, I am going to be seriously annoyed if he focuses his anger on Dick and not Tim.

Bad enough Dick stole the founding of Young Justice and the Kon friendship from Tim, if he takes the “replacement feud” I’m going to have a fit.

Dick is the original Bat-Family thief – first Barbara has multiple accomplishments stolen from her history in order to make her Dick’s “true love”, and then Dick steals the founding of Young Justice and Superboy from Tim!

I love you, Dick, but stop stealing your sibling’s stuff. They are allowed to have accomplishments and storylines without you hogging the action!

#Young Justice #Young Justice Outsiders #Jason Todd #Talia Al Ghul #Dick Grayson #Red Hood #Nightwing #Bruce Wayne #Ra's Al Ghul #Tim Drake #stephanie brown #Robin #Joker #Nyssa Al Ghul #Batman #Barbara Gordon #Oracle #League Of Shadows

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those70scomics · 6 years ago

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MistyMountainHop’s That ‘70s Show Fanfic that Never Was: #12

Note: I likely came up with this idea after reading heatherlea75‘s T7S stories many years ago. The initial premise reminds me of her fic For Her Sake.

Jackie Is Missing

Jackie Fakes Her Death Jackie and Hyde are married. They have a young infant child (maybe eight-months old). Jackie's father has gotten into some bad business, which causes her life to be threatened. Jack helps her fake her own death, even using a corpse in her stead. Hyde is left to raise their son on his own. He's completely devastated by her death. He doesn't know how he's going to raise their son alone. Kitty, Donna, Eric, and W.B., Angie, and even Red say he won't be doing it alone -- he'll be doing it with them. So the first part of the story follows him raising the kid with his family and friends' help. After Jackie's “death,” Hyde begins to shut down. He's an emotional robot. Eric tells him he can't do that. Eric says, “Don't raise your son the way Red raised me.” Hyde says Eric turned out fine. Twitchy, but fine. Eric asks if Hyde wants his son to turn out twitchy, too. Hyde doesn't.

Eric also reminds Hyde how Hyde felt growing up with his alcoholic parents. Does he really want to do that to the child he shares with Jackie? Hyde says no. And this wakes him up. But it also means he's in constant pain from the loss of Jackie. Hyde's quicker to anger than he used to be, but as the years go on, he regains a good portion of his emotional distance back, his Zen. Not all of it, though. As the kid becomes a toddler, everyone says that the kid looks so much like Hyde, but all Hyde can see is Jackie. The kid has blond hair, but this darkens as he gets older to Jackie's brunette. The kid does have Hyde's curly hair, though. When Jackie “dies,” Donna is pregnant with her first child. She wanted to share that news with Jackie but never got the chance. Jackie, however, is not dead. Jack goes to her hiding place and relates how her funeral went. Jackie doesn't want to hear it. But Jack stole Hyde's eulogy about her. Jackie's surprised he wrote anything down. Jack says Hyde didn't stick strictly to the eulogy, but the same sentiment is there. Jackie can't bring herself to read it. She stuffs it deep into a drawer. Jackie is very nauseous. She and Hyde had made love before Jack told her she had to “die”. She breastfed her son (using a breast pump) and falsely believed she couldn't get pregnant while breast-feeding. So she and Hyde didn't use protection. Turns out she's pregnant. Jackie freaks out. She says she has to go back to Steven and their son. She can't deprive them or this child of their family. Jack says she has to if she wants her children to survive. Jackie eventually gives birth to a daughter. Next part of the story, Hyde's son is seventeen. He's been affected more by Hyde's grief at Jackie’s absence more than Jackie’s absence itself. In the son's POV, we get that Hyde has this broken piece inside that's never healed. But the son also feels very loved by Hyde. The love/affection Hyde felt for Jackie, he gives to their son. Hyde's overprotective because of what happened to Jackie. This has created a rebellious streak in his son. He’s very much like Hyde. How is he like Jackie, though? When Hyde tells his son the dangers of smoking pot, the son argues that Hyde was a major burnout as a teenager. Hyde says that pot was different then. It's been bred to be way more potent. As usual, people fuck up a good thing. The son knows he looks a lot like his dad. But he looks at pictures of his mom to see how he looks like her. He also asks Hyde what Jackie was like. Hyde tells him. The son also sees happy pictures of Hyde and Jackie together. This has a strong effect on him. Hyde did date during his son's childhood; he had plenty of sex. But no relationships stuck until, maybe, when son was sixteen. Hyde might have a woman living with him; first serious relationship. Maybe it's someone we know from the show. Hyde felt okay to do it once son reached fifteen and was more independent. Hyde raised his son next door to Eric and Donna. Son became best friends with Eric and Donna's daughter. She has low self-esteem when it comes to her looks -- like her dad. Donna's always taught her to value things beyond her appearance. The girl is very, very smart. She has Donna's blue eyes and Eric's brown hair. She has Donna's temper and playfulness, and Eric's depreciating sense of humor and compassion. And Hyde's son is in love with her. But Eric and Donna's daughter thinks she has “a goofy face” because “nothing's symmetrical”. One of her eyes is slanted slightly to the right. The bridge of her nose is curved. One breast is bigger than the other, etc. But Hyde's son likes that. To him, that makes her even more attractive. He likes what breaks from the carbon-copy, plastic, sterile societal idea of perfection (so much like Hyde). Donna and Eric's kid is eight months younger than Hyde's son. She's in the grade below him. That summer, though, Hyde's son goes to rock n' roll camp and meets his sister. He feels instantly connected to her, and that scares him. She looks like Jackie except she has Hyde's blond hair and steel-blue eyes. He's spooked. When he goes home, he tells Eric and Donna's daughter he met someone who looks so much like his mom. She was a loudmouth, too, like Hyde told him Jackie could be.

Eric and Donna's daughter gets jealous, says, “Did you kiss her loudmouth?” Hyde's son says Eric's daughter is sick. He couldn't hook up with someone who looks like his mom. Hyde's son is unsure if he should share this info with his dad. His dad finally seems, if not happy, less pissed off with his girlfriend. Hyde's son doesn't want to open up this can of worms. Eventually, though, the son tells Hyde about it. Or Hyde's son maintains contact with this girl, through letters, and invites her to where he lives to bring her guitar, hang out, and jam, etc. Jackie's daughter was unnerved by the boy she met at that camp. Jackie told her Hyde was dead. She also said his name was “James,” not Hyde or Steven. Jackie never showed her pictures in case her daughter wanted to seek him out (worried she didn't trust Jackie's story about him being dead). Jackie's daughter also thinks that her last name is what Jackie's current fake last name is. And she doesn't know Jackie's real first name. So when Hyde's son asks her her mother's name, she tells him a name other than Jackie, and that crushes Hyde's son's theory. Hyde's son, though, theorizes that maybe his mom's alive. His friends, including Kelso's twin sons, think his conspiracy imagination is acting up again. Hyde's son was raised around Kelso's family, too. Betsy was always the untouchable, unattainable hot chick. Fez and Laurie's son is their friend, too. Eric and Donna had a son seven years after their daughter. Hyde's son is protective of him. When Jackie's daughter tells Jackie about Hyde's son, Jackie breaks down. She knows exactly who her daughter’s talking about, the name, the physical appearance, and the behavior give him away. She hasn't seen her son in over sixteen years. Jackie's grief is re-opened, and she weeps, and her daughter freaks out a little. Eric may not like that his daughter is dating Hyde's son. Eric thinks Hyde's son is too much like Hyde was pre-Jackie. Hyde gets pissed at this. And later, Hyde's son proves how great he is. He protects Eric and Donna's daughter and/or their son from being hurt by a dangerous situation or person. Jackie only comes out of hiding when the people after her dad are dead -- or she believes they're dead. They might have pulled the same trick on her as she had on them. Jackie became a florist when she went into hiding. A humble florist, someone says, and she says, “Hardly.” She entered contests (rose, etc.) and got high/top honors. Jackie, Hyde, and their children eventually reunite. Hyde, like Jackie, didn't know Jackie was pregnant when she faked her own death. When he learns of his daughter, tears rise to his eyes. He can't help it. He has a girl, Jackie's girl. But the tears aren't just joy. He missed out on (however many) years of her life, her firsts. She didn't have her daddy around to protect her. She grew up without a dad like he did; even when Bud was living with him and his mom, Bud wasn't really present. Hyde also gets worried about the kind of men Jackie brought around their daughter. Hyde grew up with a succession of “uncles,” some better than others, but most were pretty horrible. Jackie reassures him, though, that she didn't date anyone -- which may not have been the best thing. Their daughter doesn't have a great view of men -- or boys.

Which is something her brother will help her with, enough for her to start connecting with Hyde. But Hyde's influence sweeps through her strong, deep, and quick. It's remarkable, and Jackie is grateful for both Hyde and their son's effect on their daughter. Jackie's daughter is also angry at Jackie for keeping her away from her father and brother all these years, even though she also fiercely loves her mom. Jackie is a great mom. So the daughter represses her anger at her mom. She feels guilty for this anger because she understands, intellectually at least, that her mom hid them to protect them.

So who draws out her anger? Her brother. Her brother says feelings are complex, often crashing into each other and making a mess. He got that understanding from his dad, but he doesn't share this fact with his sister (not yet) because she's not into trusting Hyde yet. But once she starts engaging with Hyde, she realizes her brother is so much like their father and that he got a lot of his wisdom from Hyde (not all, though). Jackie and Hyde's daughter's first impression of Hyde: He was a quiet man, on the outside at least. Or maybe he was just guarded, assessing situations before acting. Eventually, she sees how gentle Hyde can be and how fiercely protective of the vulnerable he was -- like her brother.

#That 70s Show #That '70s Show #Jackie x Hyde #Steven Hyde #Jackie Burkhart #Fanfic that Never Was #Jackie and Hyde #Fanfic #Special

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avatarwill113 · 6 years ago

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10 February 2019

Before the trial begins Miles Edgeworth tells Phoenix Wright that Iris will be the witness today, and that she will confess something. Franziska von Karma has remained in the Sacred cavern to undo the locks. Godot will be acting as prosecutor.

The regular Judge has returned, as his brother has fallen sick. The trial begins with Godot calling Iris as a witness. Iris claims that she had seen Maya Fey stabbing Elise Deauxnim in self-defence. Iris had moved the body and faked the murder weapon, in order to protect Maya. Wright reveals to the court that Deauxnim was actually Misty Fey, Maya’s mother! In addition Iris says she was using a dagger, despite having a hidden sword in her cane. Godot revels that the blood covered dagger had been found at the crime scene.

Iris continues her testimony and says that Maya had stabbed Misty, while she had her back to the gardens lantern. Wright objects because the autopsy shows that Misty had been stabbed in the back. Godot counters that the lantern hadn’t been lit at the time, and Iris had been unable to properly see the struggle. He presents a picture of the lantern and is shocked when the Judge notes that “Maya” is written on it in blood.

Next Iris states that she dragged the body across the bridge, then transported it to the temple with the snowmobile . But she says that she did this while it was still snowing, despite the snow having stopped by then, and the bridge having caught fire by then. Iris is surprised to her that the bridge caught fire. How did the body cross the ravine? Wright realizes that Larry Butz drawing of a flying woman is upside down, when he notes that the bridges suspension cables are above the bridge in the picture. Larry had just woken up and confused the orientation. He actually saw the body being swung across, under the bridge using one of the suspension cables. The landing had caused the bruising to the corpse.

Godot inquires that if the murder, swung the body across, who transported it to the temple after it arrived on the other side? Wright’s answer? Iris. The Iris who had been seen at the Inner Temple and is in court right now, is an impostor. Specifically, her sister Dahlia Hawthorne, who is being channeled by a member of the Fey family. Godot demands that Wright explain when the switch between the two took place, if Iris had been in police custody since the night of the murder. Wright explains, that the previous day Iris was briefly unsupervised following the confusion of an earthquake. Having been found out Dahlia admits her true identity.

Dahlia explains that she had meet her mother in prison, when she was on death row, and she had followed her instructions. She derides her mother’s dream of being the Master of Kurain, as she did this to get her revenge on Mia Fey. With Mia dead, the next best thing was to kill her sister. Dahlia explains that she had been channeled by Misty, and had confronted Maya at the Inner Temple, she’s unsure of the specifics, but knows that her hosts body was fatally stabbed. As she lay dying she wrote Maya’s name on the lantern. Dahlia then woke up locked in the Sacred Cavern, after two days she managed to undo the lock, and found Iris. She locked her in the cave and took her place. Dahlia assumes she’s in Pearl’s body and taunts Wright that Maya committed suicide after killing her mother, by jumping into the Eagle River.

Just then the court learns that the Sacred Cavern had been opened, and inside was Iris. Wright is distraught that Dahlia’s theory has seemingly been proven. Godot says that it couldn’t have happened and Wright realizes that if Maya had jumped from the Inner Temple, she wouldn’t have made it to the river, and her body would have been found on the rocks below. Wright realizes that Maya must be the one channeling Dahlia. She had realized that when she was trapped at the Inner Temple, it was the only way to hide from Dahlia. Mia then appears, channeled by Pearl, explaining that she had told Maya to do this, when she had been summoned by her. Mia and Wright taunt Dahlia that all her schemes had ended in failure, and that Mia would be there to thwart her plans. A furious Dahlia is exorcised. Maya Fey then passes out.

Godot demands that Wright prove who killed Misty Fey, and that he do it without Mia’s help. He calls Maya to be the next witness. During the recess Iris explain her sisters past schemes to Wright. Six years previously Mia Fey and her mentor Diego Armando, had become suspicious of Dahlia and started to investigate her. Dahlia had poisoned Diego, and then used an unsuspecting Wright to hide the evidence. She had then started a relationship with Wright to try and get the evidence back, which led to her being arrested. Iris also explains that she did move the body to the temple, but she was following someone else’s orders, via phone. Mia tells Wright that Maya is recovered, but that Wright must finish this case without her, and she departs.

As the trial resumes it is announced that the bloody dagger has been analysed, the blood is not Misty’s but they have as yet, been unable to the identify it. Maya is then called to testify. She states that she had been passing through the garden when she was attacked by Dahlia. She inadvertently revels that she had cried out for help, to a man she saw behind her attacker. She says that the man was illuminated by the lantern, but Wright points out the lantern hadn’t been lit. With no light source how was she able to see this man?

Wright the remembers that Godot’s mask glows in the dark. Wright request that the courtrooms lights be turned out, and Godot’s mask glows, indicating to the court that Godot is the murder. Maya denies this, saying that she fell unconscious without seeing her rescuer, and when she awakened she found that the blood had been cleaned up, and she assumed it was a man by how much work had been done. But Wright notes that the person had missed the bloody writing on the lantern, and Godot had shown that he couldn’t see red on white, due to his illness.

Maya then says that Godot, only arrived at the Inner Temple the previous day, but Godot himself makes a mistake when he is able to identify the picture of Misty Fey in the Training room, when Perl had covered it with gravy, on the night of the murder. Godot has proved that he went to the Inner Temple, earlier then yesterday. Godot had overheard Morgan Fey’s conversation with Pearl in the Detention Center. He then found her hidden letter and learned the specifics of Morgan’s plan. Godot asks why he would bother to do this for Maya, and Wright reveals that Godot is Diego Armando. He had done this for Mia.

Godot confess to this and says that after being poisoned he had been in a coma for five years. Waking to learn that Mia was dead, he was determined to test her pupil Wright, who he blamed for her murder, and protect her sister Maya. Protecting Maya would allow him to atone for Mia’s death, so when he learnt of Morgan’s plan, he contacted Misty who agreed to help him. They also recruited Iris. Their plan was to use Misty prevent Perl from channeling Dahlia, Godot to act as Maya’s protector, and use Iris to take the blame if the plan went wrong. Misty had been forced to channel Dahlia, when they lost track of Pearl. Godot has revealed his motive, but its up to Wright to prove Maya not guilty.

Maya gives her final testimony, she had been cornered by Dahlia , when she saw three glowing red lights. She had screamed for help, then suddenly Dahlia had been stabbed, but before dying she had stabbed her assailant. The lights had vanished and she heard a terrible scream, before passing out. With the sword cane stabbing Dahlia, the only weapon she had was the dagger, which she used to wound the attacker. Godot demands that Wright prove this as there’s no blood on his clothes, and he hadn’t changed or cleaned them since the murder. Wright proposes that the wound is behind Godot’s mask.

Godot at first denies this, but sees Mia’s spirit alongside Wright. Godot confesses. He really blamed himself for Mia’s death, and says that he probably cared more about getting revenge than protecting Maya. Iris is then called to the stand. She is not guilty of murder, but will still be charged as an accomplice. Before she is taken away, Iris tells Wright, that she had agreed to take Dahlia’s place during her relationship with Wright. She had fallen in love with him, during this time. Wright learns that not all of their relationship was a lie.

Godot and Wright share a cup of coffee together, as Iris is declared not guilty.

After the trial Maya and Wright, look for a missing Pearl, and go to Hazakura Temple. They find her in the Inner Temple, and tell her that Misty’s death wasn’t her fault. Inside Misty’s talisman they find a picture of Mia and Maya. She never forgot about her daughters.

#ace attorney #Bridge to the Turnabout #Phoenix Wright #maya fey #Pearl Fey #Miles Edgeworth #Franziska von Karma #Godot #dahlia hawthorne #Iris Hawthorne #Mia Fey

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themoonandotherslikeit · 6 years ago

Text

The Look in Her Eyes- Chapter 12

***While on a case, Dean and Sam meet a beautiful woman, Ava. She makes a large impression on the brothers, and ends up convincing them to take her on the road with them. It isn’t long before the shared experience, car rides, motel rooms, and risky cases pushes Ava and Dean together in an unlikely story of love, family, fate, and friendship. ***

Chapter Eleven, Part of Your World

Ava

I applied my lipstick and slid into my heels as the boys tied their ties. I pinned back my hair, knowing how useful a spare Bobby-pin can be. I slid my new fake FBI badge into my blazer, and strapped my gun to my inner thigh.

Dean eyed me from across the room. His mouth was hanging open. Our cross country road trip had taken us to a small island off North Carolina where fishermen were disappearing.

"Alright Agents. Let's get going." I said, giddy.

Dean winked at me, and Sam made a face like he was grossed out, but he literally asked for this so I figured he shouldn't complain. We got in the Impala, Dean and I upfront and Sam in the back.

Our four day road trip had been filled with laughter, rock singalongs, and greasy road food. Things with Dean so far were pretty blissful. Maybe it would work out after all.

We went to the morgue first. I lead the way in, my heels clicking. "Agent Williams, these are my subordinates Agent Wilde and Agent Morrison."

The boys flashed their badges, and Dean cracked a small smile.

"Agent Williams." The coroner nodded. "What can I help you with?"

I flipped my hair over my shoulder. "We are looking into the missing men in your town. I've heard that one finally showed up."

"Washed up, is more like it.” He frowned. “The FBI is interested in a drowning?"

Dean stepped forward. "It's protocol to look into any case with this many victims. These are five men."

"Take it easy." I said, cooly. "Just show us the body."

The coroner looked between us and unzipped the body from the bag. His skin was pale and slightly blue. He was swollen.

I leaned in to the corpse, and I picked up his hand. "What did you make of these marks?" I pointed at small cuts.

He shrugged. "It's hard to tell. Maybe scraping against rocks when he came to shore.

"Sort of looks like cuts made by gills." I frowned. "Like a Grouper." I examined all the small cuts. "Looks like he put up a fight with multiple fish."

"Unlikely. Those types of fish usually dwell deeper than he could've been in. Otherwise he wouldn’t have washed up."

I looked over the man a little more. I squinted. It looked like there was something in his mouth. "Open his mouth." I instructed. The coroner raised his eyebrow, and I grabbed a glove off the side table. When I turned Sam and Dean gave me a crazy look. I rolled my eyes. Babies.

The coroner propped open his jaw and I reached into his mouth with my index finger and thumb. Bingo. I thought as I pulled out a long piece of plant. "What do you make of this?"

"It looks like seaweed."

"So you think he sucked in this thing and choked to death?" Sam asked.

"No." I said, popping the mouth back open before pulling out a sharp piece of coral. "I think he was murdered. This ripped a hole in his windpipe. Doubt he was chewing on coral for fun."

Sam and Dean exchanged a look.

"That'll be all." I said with a smile. I handed him my card. "Call if anything else comes up."

"Will do."

We pushed out into the cold, salty air. "So, what do we think?" Dean asked me, meeting my strides.

I stopped and turned to them. "We are looking for something with sharp gills, that drown fishermen by stuffing things down their throat. I'm not the monster expert, so does that sound familiar to either of you?"

Sam sighed. "No. It doesn't."

I looked at Dean. "So what now?"

"Now Sammy goes and does some research."

"Why Sam?"

"Because I owe you a date." He said cheekily.

"We can't go on a date, Dean." I rolled my eyes. "We're working."

"We're always working." He countered.

"Fine. One beer, and we are going to still talk about the case." I said crossing my arms.

"I love when you’re bossy."

"Sam you'll call when you figure something out?"

"Roger that." Sam agreed before getting in the car and heading back to the motel.

Dean looked at me with a grin. "So."

"So?"

"This is going well."

"Don't jinx it, Winchester." I said grabbing his hand. "Let's have that drink."

We walked to the bar, and both sat up at the bar rail. We ordered two beers and the bartender handed me mine. I turned to Dean and caught him staring. "What?"

"I was just thinking that this was dejavu, Detective."

I grinned. "It is, Agent." I smiled and took a swig of my beer. "I thought you were such an ass."

"I am."

"You're not." I said biting my lip. "You're just guarded. Just like me."

He reached his arm behind me and placed a kiss on my shoulder. "Two peas in a pod."

"Yeah." I smiled and took a sip. "Anyway, the case." I said, changing the subject.

"You're all business. It's sexy." He grinned.

"Focus, Dean." I snapped. "What do you think?"

He looked into his bottle. "I don't know. Never seen something like this before."

"You've never seen a creature that's sea dwelling?"

"No, but it may not be in the sea. Could be a spirit on a boat, or something."

"Very insightful." I laughed.

"Well, what's your idea?" He frowned.

"I don't know. Siren?"

"Nah, they don't live in the water. They don't really present like this."

"Maybe it's a shark ghost or a mermaid."

"Very funny."

I shrugged.

My phone rang, and I answered. "Sam."

"You guys won't believe this."

"Lay it on me. It's going to be way more than what we have here." I winked at Dean.

"I think... I think it's a mermaid."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"What?" Dean asked.

"Hold on, Sam." I said. "Dean we need to go somewhere private."

Dean nodded and we snuck into the back, one stall bathroom. I locked the door. "I've imagined this, but in my fantasy Sam isn't on the phone."

I rolled my eyes and clicked speaker. "Okay, Sam. We must've had a bad connection. Say it again."

I could hear Sam sigh. "I said I think it's a mermaid."

"Sam, have you been watching too much Disney again?" Dean asked.

"No. You know there's tons of lore on it. Everything I read says they're a bad Oman. Men showing up drowned. Some lore even says that they eat flesh."

"Creepy." I said with a shiver. "So if it is one, how do we kill it?"

"Stab to the heart."

"Easy enough." Dean shrugged.

"Except it has to be from a stake forged from the remnants of a shipwreck."

"Of course it does." Dean groaned. "Why is it never easy?"

"Then it wouldn't be any fun." I grinned.

"Sammy, did you find anything similar about the victims?"

"Other than the fact they're all fishermen? No. Not really. Although, I did manage to hear the latest victims 911 call. Which got me to this conclusion."

"Can you play it for us, Sam?" I asked.

"Sure... hold on."

"911 what's your emergency?"

"There's a woman! She's drowning! I'm going in after her, send an ambulance! We are at the pier."

"Sir, please remain calm."

The phone sounded jostled, a splash.

"Mam! Oh god. You're... no!"

There was screaming, splashing, and then nothing. The line goes dead.

"Shit." I said, looking at Dean from across the bathroom.

"Sounds suspicious for sure." Dean agreed. "So where are we going to find a shipwreck weapon?"

"In a town like this." I offered. "Should be pretty easy to find."

"Yeah, I'm working on that." Sam said.

Dean raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Give us a call when you find it. We have a date to finish." He reached out and turned off my phone.

"Maybe we should go by the pier make sure no more fishermen get pulled under." I said going to unlock the bathroom door.

"Hey." Dean said, grabbing my hand. "Are you okay?"

I turned to look at him, and my heart softened. "I'm great." I stepped closer to him and pressed my lips to his. "I'm just in the case. I have laser focus." I grinned.

He put a hand behind my head and pulled me into a hug. "Let's go to the pier. We can rain check this until after we catch our fish."

I smiled and exhaled with relief. "Thank you."

"Let's go before people get the wrong idea. Wouldn't want an internal affairs problem when they find out you're dating your subordinate." He winked unlocking the door.

"I was waiting for you to bring that up." I laughed.

"It's hot." He shrugged. "Let's go boss."

He patted my ass and we walked out of the bathroom, paid at the bar, and made our way to the pier.

I hooked my pinky with his and walked side by side. "How are you gonna run in those shoes?" He asked me.

"There are a lot of requirements for being a woman." I said flippantly. "We are expected to look pretty and be functional. So I chose to be more. I can run pretty good in these." I said shaking my foot. "But I can also kick them off in a pinch."

"Well, you don't have to wear them."

"You don't like them?" I asked lacing my fingers with his.

"I just don't want you at risk."

"That's sweet. So protective." I teased.

"I'm serious. Maybe stick to flat shoes. I don't want anything catching you." He said, stopping. He kissed my forehead.

"Come on Casanova." I said, pulling him to the pier.

My heels clicked on the wooden planks of the pier. I looked out toward the water, any signs of anything disturbing the glass. The ocean was calm.

"It's kind of messed up."

"What is?" He asked, looking at me.

"They're trying to be heroes. I wonder why they do it? Why they kill the men if they're trying to save the mermaids."

"Ava you'll learn pretty quickly that monsters are just monsters."

"Always?"

"Nah, there's exceptions. But they're far and few between."

I nodded knowingly. “Sucks when the world is so black and white.” I sighed and looked up at the night sky. "It's kind of peaceful out here." I murmured, mostly for myself.

"For a murder scene, sure." Dean grinned.

"Shut up." I grinned, glancing at him. Something was different about Dean. Since his confession in the rain he seemed more relaxed, like he finally let his hair down. Maybe he would let himself be happy. Maybe I could let myself be happy, too.

I looked back out at the water to see a head break through the surface. "Help!" He man shouted, gasping for air before he was sucked back under.

"Shit!" Dean said, before jumping up, and diving into the water.

Dean

"Dean!" I heard Ava shout as my hands hit the water.

It was dark, but I could vaguely see two shapes. They were thrashing together. I swam forward as fast as I could. I pulled the knife from my pocket.

The closer I swam the more defined the shapes were. The thing had its hands around the mans throat, and he was thrashing at her.

I swam closer and stabbed my knife into the things tail. It's mouth opened up to reveal layers of sharp teeth like a shark. Bubbles erupted from its mouth in a scream. It released the man and darted away, into the blackness of the sea. My lungs were burning as I swam up, towing the man with me. I gasped for air as soon as I broke through the top layer of water.

"Dean, oh my god. You were down there forever." She ran to the edge of the pier to help me pull the man out of the water. I pushed myself up and laid on my back.

"He isn't breathing." I gasped, coughing up some water myself. I rolled on my side and, I watched Ava press her hands to the mans chest and begin CPR.

After a few minutes he gasped out, spitting water. "Let's get him to the hospital." I said, making eye contact with her. "That thing will be back. This time we need to be ready."

Ava helped me load the man into the car and we left him at the ambulance bay. I let her drive because my head was pounding. "Are you sure you're okay?" She asked, reaching for my hand.

"I'm okay." I said with a cough. I squeezed her hand.

"Let's go regroup with Sam. Maybe he found a weapon."

"Good." I grunted. "Because the bitch still has my knife."

She pulled up to the motel and I walked into the room. I wiggled out of my wet jacket.

"Woah, what happened to you?" Sam asked, standing up.

"Went for a swim." I grunted.

"He saved another potential victim." Ava said, coming up behind me.

"Did you see it?" Sam asked.

"Yeah. Ugly motherfucker." I peeled off my shirt. "Any ideas on a weapon?"

"Actually, yeah. There's a museum that has genuine articles from a wreck that happened near here. Including an old sword. I think that'd work." Sam explained.

"When do we go get it?" I asked.

"Actually, I think you two should stay here. Rest and when I get back we can kill the thing."

"I think that's a good idea." Ava agreed.

"I'm fine."

"Give Sam twenty minutes to get the weapon and we will meet him. Come on, Dean."

I frowned. "Fine."

Ava and Sam nodded to each other and he jogged out the door.

"You better be glad you're cute." I grumbled at her.

"I am." She said walking to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck. "I'm glad you're okay."

"I'm fine." I shrugged.

"I thought she drowned you."

"I wouldn't die by the little mermaid. That's pathetic..." Before I could finish my sarcastic thought she pressed her mouth to mine. My mouth still hung open in surprise before I corrected and kissed her back. "Hey." I said, pulling away a bit. "What was that for?"

"You scared me." She admitted quietly.

I ran my fingers through her hair. "This job is dangerous, but you can't get rid of me that easily."

"Yeah, you can't die before you take me on that date."

"I wouldn't dare." I grinned, pulling her closer to kiss her again.

Kissing Ava was unlike kissing any other woman. It was like the first kiss, over and over again. She made my stomach flip. She tasted delicious. With every kiss she breathed life into me.

"We should change." Ava said softly. "My skirt is wet."

I grinned widely. "I can help you with that." I started to unzip my slacks.

"Slow down pervert. It's not like that." She pointed to my soaked pants. "I was sitting on your lap and you got ocean water all over my skirt." She kissed my nose. "And as you pointed out earlier, this isn't exactly a fighting outfit." She walked to her suitcase and pulled out something more appropriate, including her pair of black converse.

Sam was back in record time, holding a big ass sword and two diving wetsuits.

"No." I said at the same time as Ava said, "Yes!"

We walked up the pier looking fucking ridiculous. Ava walked behind us, laughing hysterically taking a million photos. If I didn't care about getting laid later I would toss her phone in the ocean. We wore the wet suit, goggles, and Sam even wore flippers. The sword was over my shoulder.

"You look cute." Ava commented.

"I'm naked under here." I teased.

"Ooh." She winked back.

"Hey, what's that?" Sam asked, stopping.

It was a woman, she sat on the bench on the pier. She was completely naked. Her dark hair had pieces of seaweed twisted into it. She was looking away, but even from here I could see my knife suck in her leg.

"Son of a bitch." I said under my breath.

Ava saw it a second after I did, and both of us took off in a run. Sam fast waddled behind us in his fins.

Ava pulled her gun out quickly and shot at the mermaid. She hit it in the shoulder and it turned, hissing and showing it's rows of fangs. It's eyes were dead, like a fishes, and it's skin was almost gray like a sharks. The closer we got the more grotesque she looked.

"Come here, bitch." I said as I lunged toward her.

She slid out of my way and grabbed Ava from behind. Her jaw was open and ready to take a bite out of Ava as she struggled. "Let her go." I growled. Sam was close, I could hear his flippers smacking the ground. He wasn't exactly inconspicuous.

"Make me." It hissed.

Ava made eye contact with me, opened her mouth, and bit into the things hand.

It howled and unnatural scream and it's hand flew back. "I love sushi." Ava said, stepping out of the way so I could push the sword into its chest.

"And I love skewars, but after today I think I will stick with burgers."

It withered and screamed, its fingers curling into itself, then it almost seemed to melt into water, seeping through the cracks in the pier back into the ocean.

"You good?" I asked Ava.

"I'm great." She smiled back to me.

We both turned to Sam and burst into laughter. He was bent over, trying to take off the damn flippers. "Quit playing around, Sam. We are working a case." Ava grinned.

"Shut up." He grumbled.

I picked up the sword. "Guess we better get this back."

"We can't keep it?" Ava asked with a pout.

"Do you want it for sex things or work things?"

"Work!" She looked disgusted then she paused, an eyebrow raised. "Wait, what kind of sex things?"

I laughed and shook my head.

"Is that a yes?"

"When have I ever said no to you?"

"True." She said, placing a kiss on my cheek.

That's what I loved about her. She was funny. She lit up the room. She was spectacular. She was mine.

—————

Chapter Thirteen, The Beginning

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