#writing // Wrong Alley Unlikely Ally

[wonder-in-wings]

Wrong Alley, Unlikely Ally || Lil, Parker

TIMING: Early August (The Day After A Raw Nerve) LOCATION: A *Different* Alley PARTIES: Lil (@the-lil-exorcist and Parker (@wonder-in-wings SUMMARY: When she hears a commotion in an alley she knows a poltergeist is haunting, Lil confronts him... only to run into Parker, who's just at the wrong place, at the wrong time. CONTENT WARNINGS: Domestic Abuse (implied)

Lil had been pretty excited to get the iron bracelet, thinking that it was the perfect time to see if she could - you know - punch a ghost. It was something she thought would be interesting to experiment and if she was honest - some ghosts like non ghosts did deserve to be punched. She was pretty sure that this would even the playing field as ghosts really liked to try and throw her across the room.

So she had decided to wear it, and go find the son of a bitch who had thrown her across the alley a few days ago. Unlike hunters, Exorcists didn’t really have anything that would make that not hurt and she’d just sat there for awhile. The poltergeist had disappeared after that, and Lil really wanted to settle the scores and had drawn circles to hopefully catch him and beat his ass. 

She hadn’t expected other people to be in the alleyway, the sound of people arguing and then suddenly someone running. Without seeing exactly what was happening, Lil moved to help thinking that it was probably something nefarious.  

“Hey! What the fuck,” Lil shouted looking now towards the other who was left examining him lightly before saying, “You okay man?” 

—

Day 6. Another day, another… well, Parker wasn’t even sure if he could call them ‘unexpected’ anymore when he was referring to his emotional outbursts. This time, he had been heading down the street, minding his own business when someone accused him of stealing their wallet after he absently bumped into them. Parker insisted that he had no one’s wallet but his own and that he wasn’t nearly destitute enough to resort to pickpocketing. Of course, he wasn’t to be easily believed (even though he supposed part of him would’ve gotten less approachable about certain matters once he acquired the jagged facial scar) and when the other guy started to get aggressive about it, the Warden reciprocated in no short order, snatching the individual by the collar and dragging him into the nearest alley. Suddenly the accusatory party wanted no part of this, protesting loudly that he must’ve misplaced his wallet and after a few more moments of his noise falling on deaf ears, he suddenly remembered that his wallet was still in his back pocket and that the whole thing had been a misunderstanding. Parker didn’t say anything through the duration until he had yanked the stranger to his feet, lifting him off of them and slamming him into the wall of the alley. “I recommend you put your money where your mouth is, next time.” Parker tried to hiss in his usual, low tone with its flat affect but every word he said was a little louder. “Take your wallet and shove it down your gullet instead of accusing other people just so you can pick fights.” He said, raising his voice to be heard over the trembling whines of the stranger before unceremoniously dropping him. Hastily, as though someone was lighting a fire under him, the accuser scrambled to his feet and took off just in time for the Warden to hear someone yell and he turned his head sharply. His eyes fell upon the visage of a woman, young, with a youthful face and a stance that suggested she was ready to fight. Parker didn’t respond at first and figured she must’ve been referring to his scar. “I’m unharmed.” He replied quietly. “Did we disturb you?” He asked, casting his unblinking stare down at her. Not a fae. This was good; he wasn’t sure if he had the capacity to deal with another one at present.

—

Lil wasn’t exactly built for fighting supernatural folks - she was hardly a hunter or supernatural herself - but she had always had a mouth on her. So, she’d gotten pretty good at fighting other humans, and while she had no idea in this town who any of these people could have been she was always willing to try. 

That and if she had been honest, she did come here to punch a ghost and it appeared that they scratched her carefully made circles to do whatever it was. It was looking like she wasn’t going to get to punch a ghost tonight, so she might as well help. Since the others had left though, she assumed that it was unlikely that she would need to punch anyone tonight. Which was alright. 

As she relaxed Lil nodded still looking to make sure the other wasn’t lying that he was alright before sighing slightly. “That’s good. There’s a lot of robberies around here.” She looked around to see that she was going to have to re-draw her circles and rubbing at the back of her neck she continued, “Huh? No, I just heard a commotion and figured something needed to be broken up.”

Meeting his gaze again, Lil couldn’t help but look away quickly, not sure why she didn’t want to hold it and instead started looking at the alley again. “Any reason why you guys were down here? Just asking cause - well you know there’s something that’s throwing people down here. That’s actually what I thought was happening.” She was being vague, mostly because she would rather not tip her entire hand to a stranger.  “Same reason the lights broke at the end actually. You should probably head out.” 

Crossing her arm she flinched slightly as the thunk of her new bracelet hit her other arm. It was rather thin all things considered but Lil wasn’t used to the metal hitting her yet. She was only planning on wearing it after all when she was exorcizing anyway so it might not actually get much better. Still, she was willing to try. “Just a heads up, you know.” 

—

She avoided his gaze which caused him to narrow it at her suspiciously. “I was minding my own business and someone confronted me, accusing me of stealing their wallet.” The explanation was honest and Parker managed to deliver it in his usual flat affect, though even now he wondered what had driven him to pull the guy into the alley and hold him up, yelling at him until he left. What emotion had that been when usually he would’ve handled it in a much more professional and mature fashion? He assumed it was an exacerbated version of the latent irritation that seemed to cling to his every waking moment and decision. He had been told more than once that he was a “perpetual frowner”. …What was she doing here? Parker didn’t respond to anything else she said, instead processing the words in the fashion he preferred, finding that method of thought to be calming to him; finding patterns if they existed. He wasn’t sure if there were ‘a lot of robberies’ around there as it wasn’t a place he tended to frequent - he was preferable to the outskirts, the forests and lakes. Then there was what she said about needing to break something up. She looked like she weighed 120 pounds soaking wet and unless she was capable of supernatural strength, he wasn’t sure if she could break any fights up… Especially if they were anything like how Parker fought off the trio of attempted muggers a few days ago.  Parker’s head started to move when the stranger referenced the broken lights at the end of the alley but he didn’t manage and kept his blue-eyed stare on her. “What are you?” He asked, taking a decisive step or two towards her and tilting his head with his narrowed gaze studying her. The lights, the bravado as she called to complete strangers, either of whom could’ve been dangerous, the vague implication that ‘something had been throwing people around’. She may not have been fae but that wasn’t to say she wasn’t also hiding a jaguar under her own skin… or something more dangerous. Maybe she had the capability to break up fights, after all. He wasn’t afraid. He was curious.

—

Lil hummed in acknowledgement of the others story, electing to believe it. After all, she supposed if the fight was broken up, it didn’t truly matter if the man in front of her was guilty or not. While she would always rather work with innocent people, she knew quite a lot of the people around her had done things she wouldn’t like. So, if the man was left and didn’t seem to want to be murderous that would have to be it. Even if the guy was off putting in a way Lil couldn’t really understand. 

More distracted by her circles that had been trampled on, she was willing to leave the off-putting man to whatever he needed to do - until he walked towards her. Something more instinctual and closer to her training came over her as her face dropped to neutral and considered the man in front of her.  Her eyes snapping back to him, she took one step back and said, “Strange way of asking what my name is. It’s Lil, though.” Still, looking closer he didn’t seem angry at her. It wasn’t in her nature to run either, so for better or worse Lil still paused willing herself to keep the other’s gaze. It was hard for her, something about most of the people she held the gazes of being ghost made the act closer to watching for death then seeing a soul. 

He looked like he was examining  the Exorcist, and she couldn’t say she particularly appreciated it. “What’s your name?” She asked carefully with her hands coming back to cross over herself. 

—

“I wasn’t–” He stopped himself short, a flare of irritation that threatened to turn into an unwarranted snap combusting then subsequently being smothered in Parker’s mind. She wasn’t going to hurt him, unless this was another shifter that liked to play dumb, the way Felix had. What was she hiding under that skin? Why couldn’t anyone just tell him? Maybe if they did, then he wouldn’t have the scar across his face from eye socket to jaw, still red and thick with scabbing. The name “Lil” wasn’t familiar to him, though Parker supposed it made sense - he rarely asked for names. Perhaps that was part of his method. Names meant more if they were given instead of asked for, right? That’s how the fae operated, and she wasn’t a fae. Why were his thoughts repeating in his head? Why couldn’t she tell him what she was? He blinked and his hand clenched and unclenched rhythmically again. ‘It’s okay that she didn’t tell you.’ Then she asked his name and Parker’s head tilted sharply as though the question were something he wasn’t expecting to hear. Should he give her his real name? How about his last name? That seemed like a safer bet if she was potentially dangerous to someone like him. “Wright.” He said bluntly. “You spoke earlier of ‘something that’s been throwing people’. What are you referring to?” He asked again. “Why do you know about the lights going out? Do you know who’s responsible?”

—

Lil’s eyebrow raised at the sudden flash of emotion on the other’s face, not quite sure where to put it. Something about her was setting him off, and while that wasn’t exactly uncommon for Lil she usually - you know - did something to deserve it. She wasn’t even being slightly obnoxious at the moment. It was really making her reconsider her interactions with others. 

“Nice to meet you Wright,” Lil said, not sure if she completely meant it but deciding that it was at least in her best interest to try and not be annoyed. At the questions she wondered if maybe he was more so worried about what she had said and a little snappy about it. It would make sense. At the questions she sighed and decided to be truthful even though she was sure that the other was just going to get more annoyed with her. After all, she was never really a bashful one, and maybe he’d just leave if he thought she was being over the top.  “There’s a ghost that’s haunting here, see the circles? Their traps for him and it seems like there’s been enough people that they're useless so I gotta go fix them and wait again. Nasty dude and keeps throwing people. You should go, before he gets back.  The lights going out means he’s likely around.” She did not mention the fact she wanted to punch the ghost, figuring that the man probably was already on the edge of swinging at her to begin with. 

___

After what felt like interrogating a small, yappy dog in a language he knew it couldn’t communicate effectively in, the girl named Lil finally actually answered his question instead of dancing around and not getting straight to the matter at hand. “You’re a medium.” Parker stated the potential obvious and he inhaled deeply, trying to rein in some of the latent aggression that teetered too closely to the edge for it to be comfortable in any capacity. Clench, unclench. Breathe. In. Out. ‘She told you, it’s okay’. He looked from her down to the circles or what was left of them, as the salt was sprayed all over the concrete now. “Apologies.” He said first, keeping his eyes on the salt for a moment before his gaze drifted up to the lights overhead. “For… interrupting your process.” He was somewhat familiar with the concept of mediums - people who could communicate with the ghosts of the deceased - but that was about where his knowledge ended. Parker’s gaze eventually drifted back to Lil, his expression having softened a little more from its intense glare before. “What are you going to do once you apprehend it?” He found himself asking, the residual anger melting away and being replaced with curiosity.

—

Lil raised her eyebrow at the man’s statement as he looked a little less - whatever the emotion that was supposed to be on his face was. He had to have been something either in or next to the supernatural community, and while Lil never really guessed, she did wonder what he was at the moment. “Exorcist, technically but yes.” 

It felt a little wrong to be put down as a medium in her mind. Mediums were people that helped spirits, and if Lil was being honest she did no such thing. She didn’t communicate with the dead anymore then the man standing in front of her did. She exorcized them. Maybe other exorcist didn’t feel like that, but Lil felt out of the two she had the less noble profession. 

“You’re fine. You didn’t walk through the circles and I should have been more careful,” Lil said with a shrug examining the lights wondering where the ghost had gone. Surely he wasn’t spooked by her now that there was company. He had enjoyed throwing her like a rag doll. Moving now to examine  some of her circles she wondered if he had been trapped by one. 

At the question she paused now confused why the other didn’t seem to know what she would be doing. Then again, exorcists weren’t all that common and he could be a supernatural folk who didn’t know much of her corner of the world. “I’m exorcizing the poltergeist. So when I get him in a circle I’m going to exorcize him and make sure he can’t possess anyone.” She didn’t mention that it would destroy his soul, something that was always implied with what she did. Still, when a ghost had gotten this bad there wasn’t much else anyone could do. She could hardly leave him here, wait for him to body hop and cause more pain and torment. 

No one deserved to not be in control of their own body.It was the worst thing Lil could imagine, and why despite her hating her father for everything he did, why she was still an exorcist. 

___

Exorcist. “So you’re a… demon hunter.” Parker was vaguely more aware of what exorcists did in comparison to mediums, if only because Walker, the movie-watcher of the two, liked all those supernatural movies about ghosts and demons and weird stuff. ‘It’s not weird, you’re weird.’ He shook his brother’s voice out of his head and he straightened up, relaxing more fully though he still felt a coil tightly wound in his body. “I still apologize.” It was a half-apology, not entirely warranted and with merit - to his credit, he wouldn’t have even been there had he not been confronted by someone trying to accuse him of something he didn’t do. Parker kept his steely stare on Lil, one of his brows starting to twitch as though wanting to raise in slight curiosity. Part of him wanted to unceremoniously leave her to her… shenanigans but he ended up crossing his arms and exhaling, popping his neck. “Is there… something you’d like for me to do?” He asked flatly though he couldn’t have been sure why. “Or can I leave?”

—

“Why does everyone say that,” Lil muttered mostly to herself before saying a little louder, “That’s a demonologist. I do ghosts. Also not a part of the Vatican by the way,” She said as she saw a flicker out of the corner of her eyes, carefully not looking at the ghost who seemed pretty poised to run at - one of them. He seemed to be considering his options, and she really didn’t want him to choose the man in front of her. Lil had a bad feeling she didn’t want to fight him. 

Dropping her bag lightly, Lil carefully considered the options before saying lightly, her face getting serious  and more rigid than it had been, “Yeah you should get closer to me for a second because a ghost is looking at you right now like you might be fun to take a joy ride in. He’s considering the both of us right now.” 

She was fully aware the ghost could hear her, even if he couldn’t hear him with her hand turning into a fist. It would be a good enough time to test Rhett’s cuffs at the very least. “Can you get between me and the wall quickly?  Once you get between me and him, you can continue to run, Wright. He won’t follow you.” 

Lil had a bad feeling she was about to get thrown again, and sighed, her back already aching wishing the stupid circles were actually made. 

__ 

He knew that she said something under her breath but he couldn’t reliably hear what; it wasn’t his business either way. Parker supposed the information that there was a difference between an exorcist and a demonologist was useful, though he couldn’t really know how in his line of work - he supposed that would be an equivalent to someone generalizing fae when there were so many different types. …No, then again, that wasn’t an apt comparison. Ghosts were ghosts, demons were demons and he was feeling himself growing bored of this exchange. However, when he asked if he could leave and she replied with ‘get closer to me’, he felt himself stiffen and the rest of what she said almost fell on entirely deaf ears; get closer to her? The coil that was wound in Parker’s stomach, the snake that rattled irritably, twisting and recoiling at the thought of needing to spend more time in that damned alley than he wanted to and around a ghost hunter. This wasn’t his fight, this wasn’t his interest and she had so readily jumped into his altercation because this just so happened to be the place that a… poltergeist happened to frequent. He felt the pendulum looming overhead, making him want to react with vitriol and storm away from whatever mess he’d been dragged into for the second time that day, leaving her to her business as he wanted to return to his. His hands clenched and unclenched as he remained motionless for a moment. Then the critical thought kicked in. ‘A ghost is looking at you right now like you might be fun to take a joy ride in.’ The concept was absurd and the sentence almost made Parker want to turn his head as though he could see the thing for himself. He couldn’t, of course, he knew he couldn’t but that managed to overpower his urge to skulk off and with no measure of patience and making it very evident that he wasn’t happy about this exchange, he irritably furrowed his brow and trudged over to her, taking long strides to close the distance between them quickly. “I’m not running.” He snapped in his low tone, the only escape of his frustration. Running implied that Parker was a coward and he might not’ve been able to see the ghost but that didn’t mean he was a stranger to combat. In fact, that singular word seemed to get the pendulum to swing in a different direction and he turned to face the same direction as her. “What’s your plan and how can I… help.” The last word was hissed through gritted teeth but he was upset all over again. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to be there in the first place. He hated everything and hated that he was getting so frustrated over what was essentially nothing.

—

Lil’s face had gotten serious, and she just wanted to get the other to leave before something worse happened. Still, as she started feeling the anxiety she pushed it out before it could settle in her. The poltergeist was watching her, and she knew better than to have feelings in front of a mark. Still, she was glad that Wright seemed to have enough sense to walk closer to her and not fight her on that one. 

He still looked - angry and that was going to be a problem if Lil wasn’t careful. Still, he seemed sure enough of himself to not get possessed. Ghosts - even strong ones - were unlikely to possess someone who was fully aware. Still, she could see that the ghost was now looking between them - and for the first time she was actually aware of what he looked like. He must have been an enforcer at a club or something as solidly built as he was. He also had a lovely gash up his face that made Lil wonder who he had pissed off. 

She would ask, but she wasn’t going to get an answer. Instead, looking back at the caporeal person she thought about it for a second and decided it was worth a try. Talking softly Lil said, “The ghost is going to try and throw me, but he’s a dumbass. You see that circle right there? If I hand you chalk can you connect the circle.  If you can, I’m going to run towards the ghost while you do and he’s going to throw me back with him. I think I can time it so he gets stuck in the circle and I can exorcize him. He’s pissed enough at me that he’s going to try it anyway.” 

Lil figured if it didn’t work out, then she could just punch at the ghost and make him dissipate. She could always try again tomorrow. Pulling the chalk out of her pocket she held it in her hand waiting for the other to agree or decide to leave. 

—

After a pause between the two she started speaking, softly, and Parker turned his head sharply so he could hear her, which did his attitude no favors; he was already frustrated that she implied that he would run considering when she stormed the alley he had come out of that altercation on top and that coupled with his deficient hearing was yet another unpleasant cocktail that boiled the bile in his stomach. Fortunately, he managed to catch that she mentioned something about a circle, chalk, and the fact that the ghost would probably act irrationally, though he didn’t think he’d go so far as to use such casual language when referring to supernatural entities. Parker thought the fae were foolish, haughty and very stupid on most occasions but calling them ‘dumbasses’ was… ‘That sounds more like what I’d call ‘em’. Right. He didn’t look over to regard the supposed circle until she finished with the so-called ‘plan’, realizing that he didn’t need something else to add to his plate of growing irritations that made the pendulum of unreasonable emotions threaten to send him into another fit of anger so he smothered the thought - this was her problem, this was her ghost and her plan and she was young and solitary, it seemed. ‘Afford her patience.’ “Okay.” He replied bluntly, taking the chalk with three careful fingers before finally looking over at the aforementioned circle. He hated not having sufficient explanations but at this point Parker felt dangerously close to either punching the medium or the wall right next to her so he inhaled deeply through his nose, feeling his spare hand clenching and unclenching as he tried to keep his emotions controlled enough to not do something stupid. Without giving her another word, he motioned with his head for her to do whatever it was she was going to do and he went over to the circle, his architectural mind igniting as the artist in him quickly took control of his movements; they were fluid, smooth and careful yet quick and dextrous - he would’ve felt better about this if she’d give him an indicator for when he should stop or how big the opening should be BUT… this was her problem. He was just the guy she found in the alley.

—

Lil didn’t know if she should trust the other who seemed about this close to throwing her himself, but - well she’d worked with hunters who had similar attitudes. She also wasn’t sure that the ghost wasn’t just going to run the other way - but she had a feeling he wouldn’t. Everything seemed to have gotten more aggressive lately, and while Lil always had a bit of rage in her system it was noticeable. 

So when he agreed Lil finally turned to the ghost who was smirking at her drawing his hand over his own throat in a taunt. She wondered exactly what he was telling her. It was probably something annoying the way he stalked her in a flash as she ran to meet him, angling herself between the ghost and where she could see the circle, hoping the idiot wasn’t good at listening. Maybe he thought she was afraid.

He seemed to be done with his monologue at least, it was a bit too bad that neither of the people who were there could hear him. He seemed to pause, like she should be shaking. Damn he probably had a funny old timey accent. It really sucked she couldn’t make fun of it. 

Instead she just snorted and said,  “Bet you won’t. Big guy, You must have been a tough date taking all the air out of the conversation. Hey, did you kiss your mother with that mouth?” She said when she saw his mouth paused, and - that seemed to do it. The ghost started charging towards her and Lil started moving backwards as the ghost started catching up. 

Suddenly she felt something slam her, the ghost pushing her back ghostly arms on her shoulders, aiming her towards the wall, when suddenly the pressure left. While that was true enough, the force still managed to cause Lil to stumble and fall to the ground, thankfully not into the wall. Looking up and breathing hard she said, “Got him. Fuck that hurt. You good Wright? Wanna see an exorcism?” 

—

Oh, if only he cared about how this was going to turn out. If only she had run into someone empathetic that day, if only he were more like his brother, if only he wasn’t there at that moment in time or she wasn’t the way she was or the ghost was someone less aggressive. There was little point in dwelling on ‘what if’s’ to him. Parker had found some miniscule comfort in his menial task, temporarily feeling a little sense of what could’ve been the peace of an eye in the middle of the storm that frothed inside him as he drew the circle with the chalk. And apparently it served its purpose well enough as Lil was sent stumbling by an unseen force; Parker would’ve acknowledged that she was saying something but he couldn’t hear her well enough to either discern or care about what it was. He’d done the thing she suggested he do and he couldn’t see whatever was now trapped inside the circle but he wasn’t about to suggest that it wasn’t there. Calmly, as though Lil hadn’t just gotten shoved by a ghost near him, he straightened up and held the chalk out for her to take again, trying not to think about the dust that accumulated on his hands. She seemed okay, though, or okay enough and when she asked if he wanted to see an exorcism, he considered silently leaving her to it, leaving that damned alley, leaving that area, retreating either into the comfort of his basement, his bunker or just… into his bathroom to cry with frustration. He tightened his jaw and thought about it for a few moments before he subconsciously started to sign. Fine. Might as well. It wasn’t until after that he realized he did it and he blinked before clearing his throat. “Okay.” He added, feeling himself heating up slightly with obvious embarrassment.

—

Lil sat on the ground for a moment so her breathing could become steady again. She needed to breathe properly after all, and she could see the ghost seething trapped. She would understand if he hadn't, you know, thrown her around again like a rag doll. It was seriously annoying. 

Her eyes focused on the other's hands flickering back up to his face as she realized that he probably hadn’t meant for her to understand it. So she signed back, mostly a warning, I speak ASL fluently, so you know. I can understand you. Do you like to sign more? After all, she felt pretty natural in it, and while she would have to speak the ritual - not wanting to take the time to write the ritual down in the circle with the angry spirit - she would communicate with the other in whatever language he felt comfortable with. 

She waited briefly for a response intending to answer any questions with whatever he was more comfortable in, as she got up and started to straighten herself up  for the exorcism. The hard part wasn’t over for her, unfortunately, but it was simpler now that the man was trapped. Stretching her arms she sighed and said to the ghost, “You owe me a hospital bill buddy.” —

The only thing at that moment that was worse than Parker accidentally signing without realizing it was the fact that Lil signed back. In an instant, two colors of emotion splashed him at once, from different angles, and he sucked in a sharp inhale through his pointed nose. The pendulum was swinging wildly as he was being ripped apart at such a simple question in a language he was so accustomed to knowing in self-inflicted isolation. He wanted to vomit at the overwhelming crash of conflict inside him - both of his parents shouting, but not at him. No, he just happened to be there. He remembered that it was about him, though, which he hated. Did he like to sign more? Did anyone ever ask him? He knew his brother did but he also knew that signing, along with sentence fillers like ‘um’ and ‘uh’ were– He heaved an exhale through his mouth, bringing himself back to the present and Parker glanced around for a moment before his icy blue eyes fell onto Lil once more. His breath, having become shallow, was drawn slower as he willed himself to even it out. He gulped for air, lowering shaking hands that had flown to cover his ears subconsciously at the memory. He imagined he looked incredibly foolish and he felt more heat creep onto his face. Well… she knew now and as he got his breathing under control, chewing on her question after the bile of his memory unexpectedly associated with it, he gave a small, faint nod. Yes.

The anger was all but gone, having been replaced with an unpleasant of emotions that he didn’t want to acknowledge - embarrassment for his slip up, fear over something as stupid as a memory, an unidentifiable third emotion, with its source unknown and obviously so foreign to him that his mind couldn’t even find a word for it. Yes, I do. It’s easier for me sometimes. I’m… He paused before deciding to just tell her. I’m half-deaf. He motioned to his left ear before he gestured at the circle with his head. Show me this exorcism. I’ll help pay for your hospital bill.

—

Something was happening to the other, and for what it was worth Lil waited, not intervening with a struggle she didn’t know. She had plenty of her own internal tragedies and she wouldn’t want someone interrupting them. So she waited patiently instead focusing on making sure she could start her exorcism. Only looking when she saw his hands move again. 

Okay. I’ll sign to you then. I like it better myself anyway.

Lil chuckled and signed. I was saying that to the ghost as a joke. You’re fine, Wright. Besides, I’m not going to go to the hospital for a couple of sore ribs. 

With that, she nodded, sitting down on the ground - her bones still a little too tender now to stand up and do the ritual. Looking at the ghost who was doing his best to look menacing while trapped in a circle her face turned serious as she centered herself. Grabbing at the necklace that she always had hidden on herself she started carefully speaking, closing her eyes as she felt the ghost trying to break lights again. If she could stop the ritual she probably would have called him a dumbass, as he’d already blown out the ones near the two of them. 

The Latin, despite being a dead language itself, seemed to agitate the spirit who just wanted to continue to protect its alleyway. He had died so long ago, but the rage didn’t. Even now he was shouting at the exorcist to stop turning the language to something else. Maybe ask him why he had done all of this. He didn’t want to disappear - the history books wouldn’t remember him or what he had done - but this alley could. He deserved to be here just like the two standing there -the man he wanted badly to possess and walk around as. He raged at the edges of his cage screaming that this wasn’t fair. He existed and he should continue to exist. 

It was unfortunate then that the Exorcist didn’t hear him, his excuses or his plight instead her eyes opening to look at the ghost completing the words she’d rehearsed thousands of times, coldly being the last thing he’d ever focus on before - suddenly not existing the air warming up around them and the circle fading as Lil slumped forward for a second. 

Lil immediately felt tired as the surge of power came out of her to strike the ghost, her bones aching more than they had before as she saw the soul that was there suddenly not be. She didn’t bother to tell him to rest in peace instead looking at the now only other person there smiled and signed. Feels warmer here now doesn’t it? Ghosts are always so cold. Sorry I usually would have offered to let you actually see it, but I didn’t really want to do that ritual too. 

—

There was a feeling as Lil agreed to his preferred method of communication once he had tempered from whatever was going through his mind just moments before, the shard of a memory plunging itself into him. This feeling was different yet just as uncontrollable, especially for Parker at this moment though he’d sooner die than admit it. A sensation crept through his body, a temporary but intense buzz of energy and he wasn’t even aware that he had released it through a quiet hum. The pendulum was on another side now, the anger being replaced by a look of what could’ve been interpreted as sincere confusion and he was so caught up in whatever the feeling was that he didn’t even leave room to be embarrassed by how he took her joke literally, again, as he tended to do with jokes and sarcasm. He offered her a tilt of his head but didn’t say or communicate anything further before Lil started her exorcism. And from then, he watched as she moved, observed as she sat down, studied the necklace she pulled from where it’d been obscured before, strained to hear the words that came out of her mouth in Latin. Parker couldn’t begin to think he could do what she was doing, even if he couldn’t see the poltergeist he had to take her word on was in the circle - though the fact that it had rammed into her previously suffice as evidence enough on its own - but he held considerably more respect for her than he had just five minutes ago. ‘Parker’s got himself a little friend’. Were they friends now because they could communicate in a way Parker never thought he’d have been able to in that town? Were they friends because she didn’t attack him the way the stranger attempted to and now he was watching her perform an exorcism? Did Parker have friends that seemed to be formed organically and not through shared tribulation or hardship? No. No, he didn’t think he and Lil were suddenly friends. That wasn’t how anything worked, not in his mind and not otherwise. They weren’t friends but as she finished her exorcism, keeping his sharp blue eyes on her instead of paying any mind to the rushes of air as the ghost presumably fought against the invisible barrier. They weren’t friends but Parker was suddenly astute in how she acted as the alley seemed to heat up, the circle of chalk simmering away. He tore his gaze from her and looked at where the circle had been moments before. The anger that found itself so easily resting on his tense frame had dissipated similarly and was replaced by… he still couldn’t place it. It wasn’t despair, it wasn’t anger or sorrow or joy or… 

Are you okay? He signed, looking back down at her. Would you… like for me to give you a ride somewhere?

What was that emotion? He didn’t know.

—

Exorcists were often weak right after an exorcism, something that meant that it was dangerous to work alone and often shocked a lot of people. It was one reason her dad had lied about her, and told people she was a monster. It should have forced her to go further and become a demonologist - to know her weakness and to seek a community to keep her up. If she was smart, Lil would have. 

Still, something more powerful than survival to her was rage, and she hadn’t instead relied on the fact her will was stronger than ghosts and that her physical body would move when she told it too. She hadn’t folded when she was seventeen and she wouldn’t fold here either. So after a moment, she picked herself up slowly and carefully pulling her bag across her before she did so, trying to stop the wincing as she felt her bones again. If it was just pain, it wouldn’t stop Lil, and she’d been thrown against worse before.  Looking at Wright, she caught him signing to her again and after she stood up she paused.

Lil realized that she had walked there, not wanting to take the car and leave Jonas without a better car. She didn’t like asking others for help, a gift she suspected her dad had also given her, but well it was better than dragging Jonas out here. Not that he would even mind, so used to having to pick up Lil off of the floor after exorcisms that she could imagine that this wouldn’t even cross his mind as odd. She was standing this time at the very least. Still, the man as odd as he was wasn’t scary to her. 

 I’m tired, mostly, but I’ll be fine. Bruised probably.  Still, I’d appreciate a ride to my house if that’s okay. It’s not far. My twin’s probably home by now. Lil signed, tucking back her necklace close to her heart ignoring how hot it was. It wouldn’t burn her after all.  We should go before someone wonders what that was about.  

__ He didn’t remove his stare from her until she turned to address her once more, his posture on alert on the off-chance that she would fall over - she didn’t explicitly state it but he was both old and observant enough to know when someone was running low on energy, especially humans. It was one of the things that his mother stressed that he remembered as he was being raised. ‘Humans are fragile things. They are what you exist to protect. Even you, Parker, with your unique mind.’ As he felt the storm inside him settle, his mother’s voice soothed into his mind despite shouting in it previously.

Once Lil responded to him, he felt himself ease just a little more - he never would’ve guessed that by walking down the street, minding his own business then getting into an altercation with an attempted pickpocket would’ve resulted in him taking an exorcist home after watching her work. He also didn’t expect to find someone who shared in his form of communication, let alone preferring it.

He looked her up and down before casting one final glance into the alley, the warm place that once again held a tumult of emotions and unexpected interactions. This one ended considerably better than the one yesterday, of that Parker was certain. Okay. I’ll match your pace.

[botheringlevi]

Don’t worry, I don’t intend on going outside the walls. I’m not a warrior or explorer, just a humble shopkeeper. I’ll leave that to the professionals, like you.

I wasn’t going to write you again until after your expedition. But I found myself going through my days thinking, “Oh I want to tell Levi about that,” or just wondering what you were doing. *blushing* So here I am, writing again.

I found three kittens abandoned in the alley today. Some crows were pecking at them, they looked malnourished, and I just couldn’t leave them there, so I’ve decided to take them in for now. My neighbor says I’m “too nice.” Actually lots of people call me that, but they say it like it’s a bad thing. But what’s wrong with that? I care deeply for others and yes, sometimes I might give too much of myself, but I’m strong too.

You’re strong Levi - physically, and I would assume emotionally as well, to be able to do what you do. Do you think kindness is a weakness?

-Cate

[Previous ask]

Good... If you say so.

Oh. I see. *Flustered* Thanks for that, then. I haven't been up to anything too interesting... The last week has been a lot of running numbers and doing quality checks on all our equipment. The most dangerous part of going out this time of year is the potential to have your wires freeze and get stuck. Erwin and I took a ride out on Nibbles and Camus the other morning for that reason.

That's commendable, in my opinion. As long as you have the means to take care of them, the crows can go find something else to do besides pick on them. Come up with some names if you decide to keep them. It'd be shitty to split them up, though...

There's a danger to being too anything. People who are too nice tend to get taken advantage of and get themselves killed (if, unlike what you said, they can't stand up for themself, so to speak), and people who are too mean—so to speak...—tend to have a target on their back and no allies.

Anyway, it doesn't sound like your neighbor knows you that well if they think that about you. Take it with a grain of salt.

Yeah, well. I have to be. I'd die otherwise... or go insane in the second case.

Kindness... is a part of what makes you human. I don't think it's a weakness in most cases, but by that logic it isn't a strength, either.

[starlessalex]

A long ass post in which I think too hard about future ACOTAR couples.

After lurking at the ACOTAR tag, I saw a lot of great theories and analysis that try to predict the trajectory of the spin-off trilogy. I’ve decided to write my own take on the subject (probably to my own detriment - involving myself in another ship war wasn’t on my bucket list this year, but here I am). I was thinking about what the potential future couples of the story might be, but through the lense of the plot - which couples make the most sense plot wise, which couple have the most potential to drive the plot toward. Here are my thoughts on the matter.

Before I start I will make a couple of disclaimers: 1) I obviously have my ship preferences, and it just so happens that the ships I like the most are the ones that according to me make the most sense narratively. That being said I’m not trying to be malicious or rude about all other ship possibilities - I actually like some of them quite a bit too. 2) I let the books speak for themselves. I do not invoke any paratextual information regarding those books: no SJM interviews or online posts. This analysis is based on what, imo, can be logically inferred from the text. 3) Of course there will be spoilers.

If that’s clear we shall being:

In my analysis I focus on the plot and which couples ensure the smoothest and most logical progression of it. Because of that I do not focus on the foreshadowing SJM included in the previous ACOTAR novel: I don’t quote anything, nor do I talk about previous interactions of those couples. In this analysis, I’m interested in the bigger picture so-to-speak. So first we need to establish what that bigger picture is.

Those books are meant to be standalone fantasy-romance novels with an overarching plotline that will reach its climax in the third book (since it's a trilogy). Each book will feature a different couple which apart from falling in love will lead the story to its next stage. What it means for the story is that the couples that we will be following are all heavily connected to the main story/conflict of those books. ACOSF established that story/conflict as stopping/defeating Koshei. I would argue that ACOSF also established Beron as a secondary antagonist as he is Koschei’s ally. With that in mind, the potential future couples all have to be connected in some way to those individuals.

We actually have a pretty small pool of characters to choose from. Since the story was pitched as SJM was writing ACOWAR, that book is where we can start our search for clues about which characters are going to be the future leads. I don’t want to use SJM interviews for information because things often change during the writing process, however, just in this instance I will note that recently SJM said that not much changed from that initial pitch so all foreshadowing in ACOWAR is still relevant. ACOWAR established 7 characters with potential future romances and storyline: Nesta, Cassian, Elain, Lucian, Azriel, Vassa and Mor.

Four of them are directly connected to Koshei or Beron: Nesta and Elain were made by The Cauldron gaining power that might potentially threaten Koschei and Beron. Elain is especially connected to Koschei - she’s a seer and had visions of him. Additionally, as far as we know she’s Lucian’s mate which makes her connected with Beron. Vassa was entrapped and cursed by Koshei and is currently trying to escape him. Lucian resides with Vassa at the moment, plus he is Beron's stepson.

Out of the 7 of the potential lead characters, two (Nesta and Cassian) already had their story told, which leaves as with 5 possibilities. Mor, unfortunately, also seems quite unlikely to have a book for herself in the near future because since ACOWAR no love interest for her was introduced and plot wise she also doesn't have a lot to do with Koshei. She has a connection to Eris (about whom I will talk about in a minute) and by proxy to Beron, but, again, there isn't a love interest for her in sight (I will talk about why Emerie doesn't seem like a possible candidate, at least not yet). With that we are left with Azriel, Lucien, Elain and Vassa. All of those characters have direct ties to Koshei and Beron with the exception of Azriel.

After ACOSF, three more characters caught people's attention as possible love interests too - Emrie for Mor, Gwyn for Azriel, and Eris for ...well for no one, at least for now.

Especially the Gwyn and Azriel ship gained a lot of traction among the fandom. I for one, don't mind them. I like the fanarts and the aesthetic but, logically, they together won't lead any of the two upcoming novels.

Gwyn, Emerie and Eris, are characters that were only just fleshed out on page in ACOSF, with Gwyn and Emrie being only just introduced to the story in ACOSF. Additionally, Gwyn and Emrie have nothing to do with Koschei and Beron so, unless they are paired up with one of the three remaining characters with those connections they won’t have their own books. Maybe, if SJM decided to continue the story beyond the spin-off trilogy, then we will get books with them as leads.

So, we are left with the above-mentioned quartet: Azriel, Lucien, Elain and Vassa.

So how do we couple those characters up?

Elain has two possible love interests - Azriel and Lucien. Technically, both ships work but if SJM goes with Elain and Lucian than their book would have to be the last, because that is where I imagine Koshei will be defeated. Also since Lucien is connected to Beron, I imagine he will be the one to strike him down for good, or at least have a huge rule in opposing him at the very end. If Elain and Lucien book will be the next one we are left with Vassa and Azriel to lead the last book, not together obviously. They would have to have different love interests - the last book would have to be either Vassa x someone (Jurian, probably) or Azriel x someone. To be honest, if the next book is Elain and Lucien that would mean Azriel isn’t getting a book because as I said Azriel x Gwyn makes little sense as the second novel in this trilogy and no sense as the third one because neither Az or Gwyn have connection to Koschei.

I strongly believe that the person who is most likely to deal with Koschei and the person who has the absolute right to defeat him is Vassa. She's the one who has been entrapped and cursed by him. Additionally it was her conversation with Feyre at the end of ACOWAR that was a giveaway as to what the spin-off trilogy is going to be plot wise. It also seems right up SJM alley to have her female protagonist defeat her abuser in a very poignant and satisfying way. I’m pretty sure that Vassa is going to be one of the leads of the future two books.

Lastly, I think we all can agree that at this point it's obvious that Azriel and Elain are two characters that SJM wants to write about and they will be main characters in the spin off novels, whether in the same book or not..

So to add all of this up we have two possible scenarios in fort of us:

1) The next book is going to be Elain and Lucien, and the last book is gonna be Vassa and someone (Jurian, Eris?, Azriel????). This scenario doesn't make much sense because: a) It would mean Azriel won't have a book (unless he's paired up with Vassa, which by now is not foreshadowed or hinted at at all). b) There's no clear love interest for Vassa, because Lucien would end up with Elain. Jurian is a possibility but he's, you know, Jurian. I don't think many people would want him as a MC. There's also Eris (bare with me here). Eris, technically, has a lot of the same plot connections that Lucian has (son of Beron, connected to the Night Court where most of our heros reside) + SJM clearly loves him. This couple is far fetched, obviously.

2) The most likely scenario, imo. The next book is Azriel and Elain - they have plenty of foreshadowing, Elain is connected to Koshei, the seer and the spy infiltrating Koshei/ Autumn Court (there’s plenty of possibilities as to how they together can be involved with the main conflict). The last book, Lucien x Vassa - the will defeat Beron, defeat Koschei, Lucian as the son of Helion the Spell-Cleaver will break Vassa's curse once and for all.

There's also other scenarios, however unlikely:

1) Gwyn and Azriel, Elain and Lucian (why yes: both Az and Elaine get books, why no: Vassa doesn't get a book which is unlikely cause she's the person most connected to Koschei, Gwyn has nothing to do with Koschei)

2) Mor and someone, Elain and Azrie or Elain and Lucian or Vassa and Lucian (why yes: we get a Mor book which is great, why no: Mor has nothing to do with Koschei, we don't have a clear love interest for Mor, Az or Elain, or Vassa are not going to get a book.)

To sum this all up. The characters that the fandom should keep an eye on are Elain, Azriel, Lucien and Vassa. The next books will be about them, and the most logical way to tell their stories is to couple Elain with Azriel and Lucian with Vassa. There is plenty of great analysis of the subtle and not so subtle way SJM is foreshadowing those couples since ACOWAR.

Of course I can be totally wrong with my predictions but judging by what's on the page I think I'm mostly right here. To be 100% sure we must simply wait

[onf-headcanons]

ONF IN PSYCHO PASS AU (part 1)

Setting : angst, murder (influenced mass murder), futuristic society, you can read the introduction post prior reading this AU headcanon (for a better understanding cos some keywords will be slightly difficult for non anime audiences)

And warning long post and shipping hinting (I wont write it over explicit but if you are anime audience you can get the hint of which character I based so its suggestive should you integrated anime counterpart to ONF couterpart) if you are uncomfortable with that just kindly ignore it. Only adding it not just because to follow original series but also for the AU/headcanon storyline conflict purposes

Theme song (if you really want to)

Opening : The Realist by ONF

Ending : FLOWER by XIA Junsu ft Tablo

*Special recommend (from original anime) :

Abnormalize by Ling Toshite Sigure (season 1)

Namae no nai Kaibutsu by Egoist (season 1)

Below is the known situation when the story starts in Yuto's POV

Yuto - Inspector

Changyoon - Inspector

Hyojin - Enforcer

Jaeyoung - Enforcer

Minkyun - Analyst

Seungjun & Minseok - dead

And again sorry if its messy (Cos mainly I just want this AU to exist and making it to a birthday gift for myself XD)

The whole structure is followed the anime,but I will fast paced-ify to focus on main storyline. Also I will tweak my words/wordings to a more simpler format so that I wont cause you all headache.

1-1

(loosely based from episode 1 and 2)

Its first day for Yuto joining CID as an Inspector, he is under Changyoon. Changyoon, who has already read the profile of his new subordinate/partner, lets Yuto to omit the self introduction as they head off to crime scene at a second tier city nearby.

(He is the first foreigner in the team? why not?)

Before they left, Minkyun comes over to hand Changyoon a briefcase mentioning that there is bit of queue. Yuto thanked Minkyun in a hurry.

On the way, Changyoon guided Yuto to login into system with Dominator gun, just coldly confirmed with Yuto if he knows how to use it. Once Yuto got everything checked, Changyoon went back to his silent mode.

They need to hunt down a man who has escaped (same reason as anime or whatever reason you felt convenient).

At the place its rainy and its already night, Inspectors arrived along with another wagon/van where Enforcers are inside. Yuto thought they are back ups, which is not entirely wrong.

Changyoon shortly briefs Yuto about Enforcers. Quote, " Those inside are beings where their Psycho Pass readings are not of accepted range". Its more like Changyoon is trying to set Yuto a mindset that don't think Enforcers as an ally/ same being as us.

As the door of wagon opens, 2 Enforcers steps out, they noticed new member standing beside Changyoon. Due to documentation's wording and Changyoon's words, Yuto thought Enforcers would be people who looks menacing and tough, those by 1 glance you could immediately tell they are used to be/potentially to be psychopathic criminal...

But to Yuto surprise, both Enforcers in suits looks pretty like decent normal person, just like him. One with red hair who is slightly shorter and another with black who is taller.

Both Enforcers approaches to Changyoon with smiley face. While Changyoon just look at him expressionless. The one in red hair with a friendly tone goes, " Glad you are not working alone now Changyoon." But Changyoon only just give him the "Whatever you say" look. And the Enforcer with red hair seems to used to Changyoon's coldness.

Meanwhile, the Enforcer with black hair approaches Yuto to introduce himself and his colleague. He is Jaeyoung while the other one is Hyojin. Yuto responded politely. And Hyojin smiles at Yuto brightly to the extent Yuto slightly questions if looks really are deceiving? Then just how scary these decent looking person's Psycho Pass were when they are actually friendly?

But Yuto's distracted thought was pulled back to reality when Changyoon starts to brief on team missions. Hyojin is assigned to Yuto while Jaeyoung follows Changyoon instead.

While searching for the escaped criminal by checking the area's alleys and back alleys, Hyojin being friendly and tried giving Yuto mental security by offering to answer his doubts because he was once a rookie like him too. Yuto being the good student, has go through documents and manuals so he does not have much questions, but only worry on if he could do good on practical events.

Hyojin's advise was those manuals and what Yuto has learnt prior joining only serve as a guide and reference, so better don't over rely as case by case are all different. However, Hyojin ensures him by saying. "Don't worry, it is us Enforcers who do dirty work. for most of the times"

Out of curiousity, (and with Hyojin's permission) Yuto armed Dominator gun towards Hyojin to check/confirm on Hyojin's Psycho Pass. And it is higher than society acceptance range. Seeing the truth, Yuto inhales a bit of air, he could not help think and compare Hyojin to those physical attributes/vibes gave of by criminals he seen from TV.

Jaeyoung's voice could be heard via bluetooth earphones, mentioning he and Changyoon has found the criminal but the criminal has escaped towards Yuto and Hyojin's direction, along with a hostage. Jaeyoung and Changyoon are now attending the abandoned hostage. (Initially there are 2)

Changyoon approves of Enforcer to shoot should situation calls for that move.

As Jaeyoung's sentence finishes, the criminal dashes out from the corner and Hyojin immediately rushes in front of Yuto with Dominator armed and ready, his friendly vibe are gone and totally different, his emitting aura that are spiking with alert and defense mode.

Since the place they are standing is a dead end, for sure the criminal will back off and escape again. And before Yuto could make a quick decision, Hyojin fires precisely at criminal with Lethal Eliminator mode. It all happens too quick but Yuto grasps the situation fast enough to rush towards the hostage.

As Yuto gotten the hostage in his arm, he softly tries to calm the hostage down. But while doing it, he could the red haired Enforcer behind him coldly requesting Yuto to move away from the hostage.

Yuto immediately understood that the extermination of criminal in front of hostage's presence moments ago triggered the raise of Psycho Pass of the hostage, and now the hostage's stress level is high enough for Dominator and system to see the hostage as threat to fire. One relieving point was, Hyojin's gun is not in Lethal Eliminator mode, so Yuto could tell that there is not really a necessary for Hyojin to fire just yet.

"Wait, ..." Yuto tries to convince Hyojin but the hostage took the opportunity to run. Hyojin chases the hostage and yells at Yuto to catch up.

And Hyojin informs the others through bluetooth that the hostage's Crime Coefficent has went up.

Yuto, wants to change the situation, hurriedly stands up and followed Hyojin. While running and convincing Hyojin that the hostage is only a victim of crime, Yuto realised the object he is holding and quickly plans.

As Hyojin chases the hostage to another dead end, the hostage start to break down and cry as they noticed its dead end. Their stress level are not coming down and they clearly knew what fate lies ahead as the police is chasing them.

Seeing that, Yuto know he cannot wait to explain or persuade Hyojin, so instead of firing at the hostage, Yuto paralyses Hyojin from behind using Dominator trying to save the hostage. The hostage calms down seeing the possibility to not being executed/treated as a criminal.

When Changyoon and Jaeyoung arrives to the spot, they are confused if the hostage assaulted Hyojin. And Changyoon checked the hostage's Crime Coefficient, it is now back to normal. However, as procedure for victim of crime to get treatment and assessment, Changyoon still fires at the hostage to paralyses them.

Hyojin and the hostage are to be hospitalized for the time being. And since Yuto confessed that Hyojin was not assaulted by hostage but paralyzed by Yuto's Dominator, Changyoon demanded a report from him to explain his actions.

The next day Yuto woke up worried if he had ruined his career by the first day. Feeling apologetic, he goes to the hospital to check up on Hyojin after settling a case with Jaeyoung, and he has to oversee the victim to be sent to hospital.

Jaeyoung reminded Yuto that its the same hospital Hyojin and yesterday hostage were in. Yuto then Jaeyoung to return to van while he will check on Hyojin quickly.

Hyojin, who is now numb and paralyzed, lying on the bed with his eyes open, staring at the ceiling and walls blankly.

Hyojin's hunch made him asked Yuto what was Changyoon's response towards Yuto's actions. And Yuto told him the truth that he will need to submit a report. Hyojin only laughs at Changyoon for being a stuborn head and stiff, just like old times.

"Have you done the report then?" Hyojin asks, Yuto only shakes his head replying that he does not know how to start and what to write.

Hyojin, with a playful tone, teased that should Yuto did not paralyzed him, he could write the report on his behalf as a welcome to the team gift, but since he is now paralyzed, Yuto will need to do it on his own.

Yuto felt a bit bad about that, but Hyojin assures him that Hyojin can let it slide should Yuto buy him lunch once he discharged.

"HAHA, should Changyoon ever finds out you drop by to check on me, he might sulk even more." Hyojin mutters in a playful but weary tone.

"Eh?" Yuto gets a little panicked, "Inspectors should not visit or come contact with Enforcers after office hours?"

Hyojin denies Yuto's speculation and mentioned that he does not blame Yuto for what happened, and asks Yuto to check the hostage as well, hoping the hostage can control their stress level well so that they can discharge soon. And Hyojin also jokingly say that hope the hostage won't bump into him in the future, even though unlikely since Enforcer lived a very controlled life.

"Don't be intimidated by Changyoon, give him a bit of time to get used to your presence. Also keep in mind he means no harm." Hyojin adds

Yuto could tell Hyojin is not someone that cold and mean. And he starts to smile back a little again.

Yuto feel like asking if Hyojin and Changyoon knows each other way back, but he had to do that the next time because he still has a report to submit.

Yuto then starts his life adapting and learning how things operating in CID, he is a quick learner so Changyoon is quite content about it. Not long after, he assigned Yuto to head off to crime scene inspection with Jaeyoung while waiting for Hyojin to discharge.

1-2

(loosely based on episode 2 and 3 but I omitted most details of the crime case)

Yuto and Jaeyoung are working on a night time shift. The monitoring system alerts them of a potential area stress level rising/ potential target stress level rising so they had to head out.

As Yuto is still a bit inexperienced, Jaeyoung was the one who identified the target. After handling potential threat target, Jaeyoung talked about him being Enforcer for a long time, even longer than Hyojin and telling Yuto not to feel bad about it because experience will grow as time pass.

And also Jaeyoung hinted that it is also because he is "different" than Yuto, thats why he can intuitively know by first glance when someone's looks fishy.

Yuto felt inexperience is just sugar coating his incapability, and that thought shows on his face. So Jaeyoung told him that : " Don't think that you are useless for the time being. "

"Enforcers can't walk around outside without an accompanying Inspector. Your job is also to monitor Enforcers too, so that they won't slack off escape or cause society trouble. Even if that's all you can do for now, that is all you need to do." Jaeyoung continues.

That did not leave a good after taste for Yuto even it is the truth.

As days pass, Yuto did good handling on cases now as he gets the hang of it. Jaeyoung sees leading quality budding in Yuto and sometimes praises Yuto in front of Changyoon. And even with Minkyun, they both teased Changyoon to soften up a little so that he would stop scaring Yuto.

Yuto and Minkyun did to have a bit of get to know each other time when Changyoon and Jaeyoung head out to patrol. Yuto and Minkyun are back up support.

its lunchtime and Minkyun invited Yuto for lunch. So they get know each other for a bit.

Minkyun was glad to have Yuto joining the team because Changyoon and Hyojin are both quite uptight. But Yuto said he did not see Hyojin as the strict character. Minkyun laugh it off by saying that is because Yuto did not know Hyojin long enough.

It later surprised Minkyun that Yuto actually Sibyl system's judgement/assessment towards Yuto, were exceedingly excel. He got A ranking for a number of ministries and agencies and a couple of companies.

Minkyun exclaims as he nearly choked on his food : "Seriously,then why CID?"

Yuto repies him with a wearily smile while handing him a glass of water : "I think that was because for all other jobs there were at least 1 or 2 people beside me that got the same ranking."

"And I was the only one who got an A ranking for the Bureau. Out of 500 students in whole country." Yuto continues while Minkyun looking at him unbelievingly.

"So you just come over thinking there might be something you can do here?" Minkyun makes a guess and Yuto nods.

"That was incredibly amazing Yuto, even if it was assessed and chosen by the system for you, " Minkyun exclaims for the second time. "You could've chosen any kind of life!"

Yuto again can only nod at Minkyun's words, knowing that most people can did not have the luxury like he does. For most people, judged by the system only get to live the lifestyle set by the system and has to follow it . And he, Mizuguchi Yuto gets to choose. Which explains Minkyun's reaction to Yuto's experience.

"You know there are people who get identified as potential criminal at young age and never get to live a happy life ever since." Minkyun murmurs but Yuto did not get to catch it.

When Yuto asks for a repeat, Minkyun just brush it off saying Yuto's experience is so out of the world and he wish he could live as Yuto for once in a lifetime.

The lunch session ends as Changyoon and Jaeyoung notify them that the patrolling team is heading back to office and there are some evidence that need Minkyun's help to analysis.

(slight time skip in between, case of episode 3 happened. Changyoon critiqued on Yuto for being naive to put trust on Enforcers and Yuto gets to know that Hyojin is super reliable even though sometimes reckless. And this is where Yuto starts to look up to Hyojin.)

This happened later back in office when Yuto was out delivering documents to other department and Jaeyoung brought up topic of Yuto catch up really fast when he is handing his report to Changyoon. Hyojin is at his desk, doing paperwork.

They all know Changyoon well enough that Changyoon does not hate Yuto but only dislike the fact that Yuto sees Enforcers as a colleague and maybe even equal as human being. In Changyoon's point of view, naive and innocent. Which in Hyojin's point of view, Changyoon's stereotype is childishly selfish.

"Everyone starts as a rookie though." says Minkyun "But he is fast learner."

Hyojin, adds comment that Yuto is still a bit naive but with Changyoon giving the best guidance, Yuto will excel and might be the best Inspectors ever to exist.

"I mean, you know that better than we do right? You are the one who went through Yuto's profile." Hyojin's tone sound confident about Yuto's capability.

Changyoon is scanning Jaeyoung's report and he raise his gaze so that his eyes met Hyojin's gaze. He is not happy that an Enforcer backs up and siding a newbie.

"That's if he understands what a fool he is to treat Enforcers like a human being." Changyoon stares at Hyojin with a bit of anger in his eyes while saying this. "As long as he still does that, I don't see him qualify as a sensible and independent Inspector just yet."

"Same goes to you, Minkyun." Changyoon adds. "I don't get it why you can even get so awfully comfy with him."

Minkyun and Jaeyoung's face went soulless when Changyoon finishes his words.

The room went into grim silence instantly, and Hyojin's smiling expression changes to a straight face and he did not back off from Changyoon's words.

"Hey, I know you hate me but don't lash it out towards Minkyun." Hyojin retorts. "Keep in mind that you are the head of the team, and behave like one."

"And you think I wanted to be the head of the team to begin with?" Changyoon responds immediately and he puts down Jaeyoung's document on table with a thud, making the aura even tenser.

Minkyun want to say something to ease the situation but Jaeyoung pulls Minkyun's arm to stop him.

Coincidentally, the office door opens and Yuto steps in, he has returned from his errands. His seniors quickly act like nothing has happened and return to their work. But it did not fool Yuto for he could feel there is tension in the air.

Yuto's instinct knows best that it is better to act like nothing happened because he realized he does not understand a whole lot about his colleagues.

1-3

(loosely based on episode 4 and 5. Timeline is episode 4 and 5, but I will keep it simple.)

The team has to find culprit behind a murder case. It is found out that the victim was a member of a virtual community, and the account activity is still active until recently. But since the corpse already been some time, the team have perfect reason to doubt that maybe there is someone pretending to be the victim.

Even though it is not like that in the anime, I will tweak a bit here. Yuto has to take the role to "infiltrate" into community (potential enemy quarters) because most users are Japanese. Yuto managed to get some information. And the team comes up with a plan to catch their potential target/suspect.

The plan did not go well, and the suspect escapes. But little did the team know, that the whole case of this murder is not as easy/plain as it seems. It was just the beginning of a larger happening that will shake their lives.

Changyoon and Jaeyoung head out for another potential suspect's residence but returned fruitless. With Minkyun's data, Hyojin raised a possibility that maybe the murder is in the virtual community.

Luckily for the team, even though took a while but thanks to Hyojin's observant trait along with Minkyun's provided data+search of database, they are able to pinpoint the identity of murderer. Changyoon and Jaeyoung as Team A while Yuto and Hyojin as team B.

The criminal flees but Team B is able to wound the target badly. Team A chases, and then only to find the criminal has their Psycho Pass is contaminated badly compared to the first statistic number shown in the team's Dominator. The target is executed on spot as per instruction of Sibyl system.

The case was settled like that and no one ever got a clue how deep the water was.

After several team ups (including this one) with Hyojin, Yuto finally realizes that he might have been a tad naive and he is amazed how Enforcers are able to grasp what the target is thinking and able to foresee target actions.

Maybe when Yuto is taking a breather, Changyoon whofinally soften up a bit towards Yuto after the amount of time working together, comforts the junior that he did good recently but he should just simply fulfill duties as an Inspector so that things wont be overly complicated for Yuto. And for another time, Changyoon advised Yuto to draw a borderline with Enforcers, but not in a harsh tone, more of a pure advise.

"I am advising you based on experience." Changyoon says. " I could not stop him, so I thought I might prevent you to be like him."

Yuto just go by his hunch and ask the reason Changyoon draw that borderline and wishes other people to follow suit. Then Changyoon reveals that he has lost a few colleagues who are also his friends during his days in CID.

All loss are painful for him but none is more painful when his former head of division/chief of team,

Someone Changyoon used to look up to, who also used to be an excelled and brilliant Inspector "falls from grace" after the loss of their mutual friends.

" I don't want you to make the same mistake." Changyoon mutters out his words towards Yuto. He was expressionless when he says that but his worried eyes were exactly what made Yuto empath and felt Changyoon's pain

And the next reveal gives Yuto a shock but the puzzles finally fits together, "It was Hyojin."

"What?" and that's the only word Yuto exhales out of disbelief.

Changyoon let out a sigh and briefly explains, "He lost his brother and his best friend one after another. His brother was executed while his best friend which is also our former colleague, committed suicide."

Yuto only listens to Changyoon quietly, and unconsciously holding his breath. Hyojin? Who would have thought someone who is bright and kind towards Yuto has gone through such tragedy?

"Wait,..." Yuto found a point where he is in doubt. "You mentioned Hyojin's brother is executed, not murdered..."

Changyoon's slightly frowns and averts Yuto's gaze. "Yes, that is exactly what I meant. His brother was executed by the system. And his best friend watched that happened then later committed suicide a few weeks after the funeral."

The details of the story only emerged a bit but it is already complicating enough. Looking at Yuto's perplexed expression, Changyoon gave Yuto 2 files document's number for Yuto to look up to.

"I hope that from reading the file you can understand my point." Changyoon give a light pat on Yuto's shoulder before he continues, "I do understand that no one is a 100 percent saint. But, I do believe that you can choose not to fall by stepping away from all temptations. I kept my stance but he did not. He failed us, Me, his brother and his best friend."

Before Changyoon left, he advised Yuto not to stay up too late as they need to be early tomorrow.

The moment Yuto reached his apartment, he logs into the Bureau's database and search for the file Changyoon mentioned.

Just by the title Yuto knew instantly it was the terror attack happened 2 years ago. But since the intricate details of Hyojin's brother was not in newspapers, this is a record filed in ministry without publicly published but can only access by CID.

Yuto has complicated thoughts, he knew once he clicked into it, he will never view Hyojin and Changyoon the same again.

But the phrase of "His brother was executed by the system. And his best friend watched that happened then later committed suicide" repeats in Yuto's head. And it gave Yuto the motivation to click on the file.

To be continued in part 2... will upload soon (I have to split because its too long)

[thedeviltohisangel]

He’s A God, He’s A Man: 8

It’s a delicate business.

masterlist is my url/writing

send me your thoughts!

Lydia could have basked in the new glow of love that surrounded her and Tommy for the rest of her life. Just the two of them standing nose placing gentle kisses to each others lips. It was soft and sweet and safe and so unlike the real world that they found themselves living in.

“I have a meeting soon,” he murmured as he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and let his hand rest there. 

“Do you need anything from me?” Lydia couldn’t help the bit of the thrill she got from being involved in the Blinder business. Not only did it show that she was capable of playing these games in a man’s world but it also showed she could fit in the Shelby’s world. She also thought that if Tommy would let her be involved then she could help to keep him safe. It didn’t take long to understand he didn’t have much of a regard for his own life.

“No, just work your shift like it’s a completely normal day,” he brought her hand to his mouth and placed a kiss to it, “afterwards we can go see a picture. Can probably get the room to ourselves if you’d like.” He grinned cheekily and she grinned right back. Tommy kissed her one last time on the forehead before dipping back into his private room. He wanted to show off the fact that he was happy and in love with the whole world but also keep her safe from those that would wish to use her in order to hurt him.

Lydia could clearly tell his business was with the Irish when she heard the thick accents of the men who walked into The Garrison. She knew Tommy was considering them for the guns he was still in possession of and also as allies against Campbell. The bruises on her wrist had healed but Tommy could still see them every time he looked. He would see them until Campbell paid for it. She pressed her ears to the thin wall that separated her from the meeting and listened, trying to understand as much as she could. Campbell had sent a messenger to her the night before. Telling her that if she didn’t start providing him information, he would terminate her. She believed him to be a man that followed through on his threats. She heard the man mention The Black Swan as a place where him and his men gathered. It wasn’t intelligence on guns or the Blinders but it was about the IRA. Perhaps that would be enough to satiate him.

Tommy came out shaking the man’s hand before turning to watch Lydia wiping down a glass. “Shall I tell Harry to give you the rest of the day off?” 

“Let me bring the garbage out and I will tell him myself.” 

“I can do it.” Tommy moved towards the bag of waste that sat at the end of the bar.

“I got it. Let me be somewhat useful and productive before I get stolen away,” she teased. Tommy smiled and pecked her quickly.

“Be fast. I’m not a patient man in general but knowing an empty theater with you awaits me does nothing to help the fact.” She laughed as she stepped out into the back alley where Harry had the waste collect before someone came to collect it.

“You enjoying spying on conversations, lass?” Lydia froze and looked to see one of the men Tommy had just been meeting with.

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir.”

“I know what pretty girls like you do in bars owned by men like him.” He produced a knife from the inside of his jacket. “Taking your tongue should keep you quiet.” Lydia ducked as he lunged at her, rolling away from the man but also farther from the door back into the pub. She grabbed the handle of a broom on the ground and blindly swung it at him as she continued to scramble backwards. One particularly hard swing to his wrist knocked the knife from his grasp. 

“Tommy!” she screamed. Just as the man bent down with his hands poised to enclose around her throat, she felt the knife in her fingertips. Without even thinking about it her hand grabbed the knife and plunged into her attackers neck. He looked at her with absolute shock on his face. Tommy appeared in the doorway as the man stumbled backwards with a hand to his neck and blood trickling between his fingers. 

Tommy was able to understand what had transpired within seconds and stalked over to the wounded man. He removed the knife from his neck and the bleeding increased. “I’ll make sure you bleed out slowly.” He dropped him before looking back at Lydia who had blood spattered across her face and blouse. She was breathing heavy and couldn’t look away from the man slumped against the wall.

“Did I kill him?” she whispered. She didn’t kill people. She helped them. As a nurse she had taken great pride in helping men who were wounded. In prolonging their life. Now she was responsible for ending one. Tommy crudely wiped his hand on his pants to get rid of the blood that had been on the knife when he grabbed it.

“Don’t look at him. Look at me. You protected yourself, yeah? Did what you had to do in order to keep yourself safe.” He shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders, tucking her against her chest so she didn’t have to look at the dying man. “Let’s go home and get you cleaned up.”

Tommy brought Lydia to Watery Lane where he left her in the care of Polly before enlisting Arthur and John to help him dispose of the body. They didn’t even bother to bury it. The man didn’t deserve it. They threw him in The Cut instead.

“Where is she?” Tommy asked when he walked through the door and saw Polly drinking tea by the fire and Lydia nowhere in sight.

“Still having a good wash. She stopped shaking once all the blood was off. Asked me to burn her clothes.” Tommy looked to the fire and saw the pile of ash from her skirt and blouse.

“Thank you, Pol.” His aunt merely nodded as he took the stairs two at a time. He paused in front of the washroom. It would be wrong to just barge in like a bull in a china shop. She needed calm and support. Not a man on the edge with the gleam in his eye he got after a night of business. Tommy swallowed, rolled his shoulders and raised his hand to knock gently at the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me. Tommy.”

“Come in.” Lydia sat up straighter in the basin and took a deep breath as Tommy stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Is the water warm enough?” he asked. She nodded. “I’m sorry that happened to you today. He’s been dealt with.”

“You have some blood on your face,” she said with a wave of her hand. Tommy sat down next to the basin as she moved a dap cloth to his cheek, tenderly wiping away the blood. He closed his eyes as she dropped her forehead to rest against his. “It had nothing to do with you, Tommy. He didn’t try to hurt me because of your feelings. He thought I was spying on your conversation with him. Wanted to keep me quiet.” Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew Tommy had been beating himself up over the incident. She knew he was blaming himself. Blaming his love for her. 

“It’s my job to keep you safe. I won’t let anything like that come close to happening ever again.” If it was the last thing he ever did, she would never feel hopeless like that ever again.

“Forever and ever?” she teased. She was absentmindedly scratched his scalp and it was making him feel sleepy.

“Forever and ever.”

----

“Lydia, can you help me make breakfast?” She looked up from where she had been reading the paper on the couch to see young Finn Shelby looking distraught in the doorway to the kitchen. “I can’t reach the milk.” Lydia smiled. After Finn had knocked over the last glass bottle, Polly had taken to storing it beyond his reach.

“Of course, Finny.” She ruffled his hair as they both went back into the kitchen. “What if we make ourselves a nice proper breakfast?” Finn nodded excitedly. Lydia had decided to take a couple of days off from The Garrison in order to relax after the ordeal she had just been through. Tommy had tried to convince her to quit altogether but she needed something to do besides lurking around Watery Lane.

“I like my toast with extra butter,” Finn informed her a little while later as the two of them sat down with their proper English breakfast of beans, toast, eggs, bangers and tomato.

“Here you, sir,” Lydia said handing him back his piece of bread. Finn smiled wide before digging into his food.

“Thank you, Lydia. You should stay here forever,” he mumbled around a bite of his breakfast.

“Would you like that?” Now that things with her and Tommy were official, she was doing her best to be on the top of her game around his family. Their acceptance was incredibly important to whatever future they hoped to have together.

“You could be like my sister!” he pointed out happily. Lydia beamed with pride.

“I would love that very much, Finn.” She reached across the table and Finn met with halfway, letting her grab his hand and give it a loving squeeze.

“Lydia! Finn!” The gentle moment was broken as Ada came running frantically into the kitchen. “Have you seen Tommy?” Lydia shook her head, swallowing the bite of food she had in her mouth and wiping the residue off her fingers with a napkin.

“Is something wrong?” Ada’s tone was concerning. And it was natural in this family to need something from Tommy if things were going horribly wrong.

“I think him and Freddie are going to kill each other,” she groaned. Lydia stood and led the Shelby girl out of the kitchen so Finn could continue to eat his meal peacefully.

“Tommy probably just wants to scare him a little bit. You’re his little sister and deep down Tommy knows how you and Freddie feel about each other.” Tommy had mumbled late at night when they were in bed together and his guard was down that he wasn’t necessarily upset that his sister was married or pregnant. He was upset that Freddie and his lifestyle would prevent his sister from being happy, always. “Why don’t you take a seat, Ada?” Lydia was also thinking about the impending addition to the Shelby-Thorne cadre. All this stress and anxiety couldn’t be good for the little bub.

“I have to find them,” Ada muttered weakly as Lydia gently stroked her hair and her eyes felt heavier.

“Have a rest, Ada, I’ll handle your brother.”

----

Tommy felt the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders when he entered Watery Lane to see Lydia minding the fire. Everyone else was off doing their own thing, Finn having been tucked in with chocolate on his face from the cookies they made, and she was enjoying the peace of the quiet and domesticity.

“This is a lovely sight to have at the end of the day.” After stumbling upon her in the alley yesterday, Tommy was just happy to see her sturdy and in one piece. The color on her cheeks was a good sign as was the pile of books on the center table.

“Did you have a good day?” 

“Stressful but better now.” Tommy was warmed by the mundane comfort someone asking how is day was brought. Normally people jumped down his throat as soon as they saw him. Lydia was patient. Took her time. It was what he needed. 

“Shall I poor us a drink?” She didn’t wait for his answer, taking two of the nice crystal glasses in the corner and filling them with an amber liquid, bringing them to him for a cheers. “I missed you today,” she mused after a sip.

“Did Finn behave?”

“Like an angel. I kept him fed and busy.”

“Well, we can’t be letting him get too used to it,” Tommy said, downing the rest of his drink and placing it on the mantle. He went behind Lydia and pulled her back to his chest, kissing the side of her neck.

“And why is that?”

“I’m going to get us out of here, one day. Buy us a beautifully big home in the country with lots of grass and fresh air.” Tommy began to sway the two of them from side to side. Lydia closed her eyes and relaxed into his touch and the soothing motions of his rocking. 

“I like the sound of all that. Our own little castle,” she mused. It sounded like a dream. She could live there in her head forever. “For the sake of our happy little future, Thomas, would you be able to cut your sister some slack?” Tommy pulled back from her ever so slightly.

“So she’s gotten to you.” It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact. He pulled himself away and went to pour another drink.

“She was so worried you and Freddie were going to kill each other today. She loves both of you and it hurts so deeply to see you aren’t getting along.” Tommy scoffed. 

“It’s because I love her that I won’t leave her be. Freddie has a target on his back and associating with him puts one on her as well.

“I just think, before the baby comes, everyone should try to work out their differences.” Lydia approached Tommy slowly and used her hand to direct his face so he was looking at her. “He loves her the same way you love me.”

“No. It’s very different. I would know when to walk away for your own safety.”

“And you know that I wouldn’t let you.”

“Because you’re stupidly stubborn,” he stated back, downing his drink all in one go.

“Because I love you. The same way she loves him. You’re just trying to delay the inevitable.” She softened her voice. Lydia knew Tommy loved his sister and was truly doing what he thought best. The thought warmed her heart.

“Perhaps I can consider loosening my ban on Freddie Thorne.” Lydia smiled.

“Tommy Shelby, going soft for love,” she teased.

“For the woman I love,” he clarified. Without a second thought, he reached forward and brought his fingertips to her waist, tickling in the same spot that made all of them laugh. Lydia squeaked and tried to push him away but it only spurred him further. Maybe Tommy was going soft. But only for her. Only around her. He thinks her love made him stronger. And he was going to need it.

@flecksphoenix​ @girl-w-a-quill​ @odetostep​ @itsilvermorny​ @shadow-of-wonder​

[robinrunsfiction]

would you be able to write something set in the sixteen candles mv with Pete where the reader gets turned and it has angst and fluff but no smut. that would be really cool :) i love your writing btw, if you're too busy that's cool

Let’s Be Alone Together, We Could Stay Young Forever

Pairing: Vampire Pete Wentz x Female ReaderRating: GeneralRequested By: @i-knowthe-worlds-a-broken-boneWord Count: ~3,000Author’s Note: So when I first got this request, I was working on that Patrick x Reader story I called “A Little Less Sixteen Candles” and I kinda freaked out a bit at first haha! But honestly, the A Little Less… music video is one of my favorites from Fall Out Boy, and like everyone else who has been stanning them since 2005, I’m still waiting for the sequel to that video. Since we’ll probably never get it, here is my contribution to what could be. I hope you enjoy!

You were walking home from work and you should have known better. You knew it was dangerous to be out late at night without someone to protect you. And yet here you were, caught in the dark alley that you had ducked down when you saw the Dandies approaching. You watched from the shadows as the events unfolded; four hunters piled out of a car, gangs of vampires fought each other, girls were hypnotized by the Dandies and drained of their lives. It was a chaotic scene. One of the hunters was different from the other three you noticed. He moved so much faster than the others, then you caught a glimpse of his fangs. You were so confused by the vampire fighting against his own kind.

Suddenly the police arrived, and you felt relief, until you saw them arresting the hunters. You shook your head, not understanding what you were seeing. When everyone was distracted in the moment, you decided the coast was sufficiently clear, and you ran toward your home, finally back to safety.

You were still shaking slightly as you reached into your pocket for your keys. As you pulled them out, you fumbled them. You muttered obscenities under your breath as you bent down to pick them up. As you stood up, you noticed the shadow behind you. You whipped around and recognized who it belonged to immediately.

“Good evening, doll.”

Pete shuffled along the quiet streets. Since the fight, all the gangs except for the Dandies had retreated to lick their wounds. The priest had bailed Patrick, Joe, Andy and himself out of jail, but they were still waiting to hear back about the charges of assault, battery, and disturbing the peace that had been leveled against them.

William was taunting him. Ever since he turned Pete, he had been trying to get him to join the Dandies. He believed Pete would become a loyal of a follower when he turned him, but Pete didn’t not abandon his friends and he vowed to avenge his humanity.

Pete walked slowly up to his favorite park but was surprised to see someone was already there, sitting on the bench under the lamppost. Their shoulders were slumped, and their head hung low. Pete recognized them to not be human as he approached.

“Hey, umm, are you ok?”

You looked up, startled. “Yea,” you mumbled.

Pete sat down next to you. “No, I recognize this, you recently got turned, didn’t you? It’s ok, I’m… I’m not gonna hurt you. Have you eaten yet?”

“No,” you said softly. It was all you could muster. “I can’t bring myself to do it.”

“What’s your name?” He asked, concern etched across his face.

“(YN).”

“I’m Pete,” he replied with a small smile.

“You’re the one who was fighting the other night,” you said, finally placing where you had seen him before.

“Yea,” he replied, suddenly discouraged. “Fuckin lot of good it did. I almost had the asshole that turned me.”

“He turned me too,” you said quietly.

“Seriously? That fuckin…” he trailed off, then looked back at you. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“If I would have stopped him, you wouldn’t be a… a vampire right now.”

You glanced up at him, but started to see spots. Pete watched as you blinked hard.

“Are you ok? Hey, (YN)?” You heard him asking as your vision went dark around the edges. Pete grabbed your shoulders as you started to slip back. He easily scooped you up, knowing what he needed to do.

~

Pete rushed through the door, just minutes after leaving the park, and gently set your body down on the couch.

“Pete, what the hell did you do? Who is that?” Patrick said jumping up from his workbench as his friend rushed to the kitchen.

“Nothing!” He shouted back over his shoulder as he grabbed the pitcher of red liquid from the fridge, then a clean glass, and hurried back to where you were laying. He poured the glass and then looked back at Patrick. “Are you gonna help or just stand there?”

Patrick shrugged in frustration, unaware that he was supposed to be doing anything. “What do you need me to do?”

“Get her sitting up so she doesn’t choke.”

Patrick grabbed you under the arms and pulled you up. Pete poured the concoction down your throat and waited. He could see you reflexively swallowing the liquid and then you coughed and opened your eyes.

“What happened? Where am I?” You asked, looking from Pete, back at Patrick. “What did you give me?”

“It’s ok, we were talking in the park and you passed out. I brought you back to my place, this is Patrick,” he said gesturing to the man behind you. “He makes me this to keep me from needing to go hunting.”

“Oh,” you said quietly, taking in everything he said. “Thanks.”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s my fault this happened to you. I’m gonna look out for you now,” he said taking your hand. You looked down at it. You weren’t in much of a position to say no to any kind of ally you could get.

“Will you show me how to make that, so I don’t have to… you know,” you trailed off.

“Yea, come on, I’ll show you right now,” he said getting up and leading you into the kitchen.

~

Over the next few weeks, Pete showed you the ropes of being a new vampire. You knew you were now nocturnal, but you didn’t fully understand what you needed to do or what you could do with these supernatural powers. You would spend you nights with him, learning from him, and getting to know him and his friends. Before dawn, he would walk you home, even though the streets seemed to be empty. It was just as dangerous to be a vampire on the streets as a human, different factions that would be quick to stake you for even daring to be on their street at the wrong time.

Word started to spread that William was enraged that you not only dared defy him by not joining the Dandies, but also because you had aligned yourself with Pete. He had originally wanted Pete to join him, to help him rule the streets, but now he’d be satisfied if you were both eliminated.

You had come to appreciate Pete, and the protection he swore to provide to you. The appreciation slowly grew into admiration, and then affection. On the nights you spent with him and his friends, you found yourself watching them playing their music, completely enthralled. He was electrifying to watch; jumping, spinning, flying through the air.

“I really love watching you guys play, you’re really great,” you said as he walked you back to your house after they had practiced late into the night.

“Thanks. One day, we’re gonna be done fighting vampires, get out of this town and make it big.”

You nodded. “I know it will happen for you guys.”

“You’ll come with us, right?”

“What?”

“When we finally make it out, you should come with us,” he said with a grin lighting up his face.

You gave a tight-lipped smile. “We’ll see.”

You arrived at your door step. “Thanks for seeing me home, Pete.”

“Of course,” he said with a smile.

You wanted to say something more, but then you noticed the light on the horizon. You quickly glanced down at your watch.

“How did it get so late?”

Pete turned to look at the horizon as the sun started to threaten you both with its rays.

“If I hurry, I might make it in time.”

“No, come on, you’ll be safer in here,” you said pulling him inside. You had carefully covered all of your windows with blackout curtains shortly after you had been turned. Not a hint of natural light slipped around the edges.

Pete looked around the room, taking it in as you switched on a small lamp, casting the room in a warm golden glow. It looked exactly like he had expected a space belonging to you would look like.

“I know you prefer sleeping in your,” you paused, unsure of the right word to use. “Coffin? Crypt? Sarcophagus? Whatever you call it, but you can sleep in my bed, it’s the least I can offer you.”

“Don’t worry about it, (YN),” he reassured sitting down on the couch, patting the spot next to him. You sat down and started talking, neither of you quite tired yet. You were still adjusting to your new schedule and frequently found yourself awake for hours in bed, staring in the dark at the ceiling, contemplating the future that now expanded seemingly for all eternity.

“Have you considered learning how to use your powers to fight?” Pete asked tentatively.

“Oh, no. I’m not a fighter, if I was, maybe I wouldn’t have gotten turned, you know?” You said shaking your head.

“I think you’d be great. We have the training space if you ever want to use it,” he said with a smile. You had really come to love that smile. It was so big, bright and true. You found yourself smiling back reflexively but then looked down. You had become self-conscious about your smile since your fangs came in.

“(YN),” he started before tilting your chin up with his fingers. “You don’t have to hide your smile from me. I understand what’s going on.”

You gave him a shy, tight-lipped smile as you noticed Pete glance down at your lips. You looked back up in his eyes. He slipped his hand from under your chin to the side of your face, cupping it gently before he leaned in.

You didn’t know what to expect from your first kiss as a vampire. So many things had changed, senses heightened different sensitivities that you never had before. You now had an indifference to temperature, and pain was dulled. But this was unlike anything you could have expected.

It felt as if there was a spark igniting as your lips connected with Pete’s. You gasped as you pulled back, glancing in his eyes to determine if he felt it too. He looked as shocked as you felt before both of you met in the middle, lips crashing back together. His hand slipped back from your cheek to tangle in your hair. You draped your arms over his shoulders and pulled him closer, as if you weren’t able to get enough of him.

~

That evening you woke up on your couch, Pete sleeping behind you, his arms wrapped snug around you, holding you against his chest. He felt you starting to move around and pressed a kiss against your neck.

“Evening,” he murmured as you rolled over to face him.

“Hey. Is it dark yet?”

Pete pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked the time.

“Yea it is. Do you wanna come over tonight?”

You nodded sleepily in reply. “I don’t wanna get up yet though.”

Pete laughed and pulled you tight against him, happy to spend the quiet, sleepy moments with you.

When you finally made it back to the hideout, you watched Andy and Pete throw stakes at the targets.

“Wanna try?” Pete asked, holding out the piece of wood.

“I dunno,” you said watching the way Andy threw the piece of wood with such strength.

“You can do it,” Andy called over your shoulder.

“Won’t hurt to try,” Pete said with a smile that could convince you of anything.

“Ok fine,” you said getting up.

“Ok, so stand like this,” Pete said, taking the proper stance for you to mimic. You followed suit and then he came up behind you, his hands guiding your hips to turn square to the target. “Now take this,” he said putting the stake in your hand. “And pull your arm back like this,” he instructed as his arm molded against yours, moving it through the motion a few times.

Andy tried to control his snickering as he watched this all play out. He was quite amused by the scene in front of him.

“Ok, you got it, throw if for real this time, don’t be afraid to put some heat on it,” Pete said taking a step back.

You pulled your arm back as Pete instructed and threw. It didn’t take as much effort as you thought and the stake was flying through the air before lodging in the center of the target.

“I think we got a secret weapon,” Andy commented with a grin.

You had been afraid of what learning to fight might awaken in you, but you felt better and better the more you learned. You were fully in control of your instincts, and a force to be reckoned with, but Pete reassured he would only put you into the fight if you wanted in.

~

“Tonight is the night, gentlemen,” William announced to his legion of followers. “We’re going to turn the rest of that annoying little band of hunters that follows Pete around, I’m going to claim (YN) as my own, and I’m going to make Pete watch all of it before I personally stake his heart for making me go through all this damn trouble!”

The room was filled with cheers of agreement and excitement at the prospect of what the night held.

~

“It sounds like tonight’s the night,” Patrick reported to his friends as he put down his phone. “The Dandies are on the move.”

You swallowed thickly. You weren’t ready for this. It had been a couple weeks of throwing stakes and shooting net guns, but you were certain you couldn’t hold your own in a fight yet. “I- I can’t do it Pete, please don’t make me fight,” you pleaded.

He looked in your eyes, saw the fear and nodded. “You don’t need to do anything you don’t want, I’ll keep you safe,” his tone matched the gravity of the situation that was written across his face.

The guys loaded up their equipment and piled into their car. You watched from the door of the hideout as they drove off.

The Dandies were waiting for them in the park when they arrived. William only brought his best fighters, Brendon, Spencer, and Michael. Pete once again was the first to approach, flanked by Patrick, Joe and Andy.

“I’ll give you one more chance to make this easy,” William taunted. “Join me and we’ll turn your friends instead of drinking them dry. Wait, we’re missing one. Where’s the doll?”

“This is between us,” Pete replied. “Leave my friends alone.”

“I think not,” William replied dryly. “Boys?”

With that, the other three vampires charged at the humans. Pete launched himself at William, which took him off guard, as Pete had gotten stronger and faster since the last time they fought. Pete knocked him to the ground and landed a punch, stunning William before he shifted his weight, easily throwing Pete off him. Pete staggered back before charging back at him.

Meanwhile you paced around the hideout, looking at all the stakes you had thrown into the targets on the wall. It didn’t feel right hiding away while they risked their lives. You took a deep breath, steeled your nerves, and ran out the door toward where they had told you they were going. When you arrived at the park, Joe, Andy and Patrick were standing over three incapacitated vampires, but Pete was still locked in battle with William.

“What’s going on?” you asked as you ran up to the guys.

“Its been like this for a while, they’re too evenly matched,” Joe replied.

Then you felt eyes on you. “There’s the doll,” William smirked. “Such a shame she’ll have to watch you die. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her and the rest of them.”

Pete snarled at William, but the comment had the desired effect, distracting Pete enough for William to overpower him. The next thing he knew, he was flat on his back, the snarling vampire on top of him, fangs gleaming under the street lights.

“No!” you cried out as you rushed to the two vampires, the attention of both of them on you.

“You look even better than the night I turned you, doll,” William said. “But you’ll have to wait,” he said as he grabbed you by the neck and tossed you aside like a rag doll. Your back hit a tree and you slid to the ground. You looked up just in time to see William looming over Pete, fangs again bared. Then a movement as quick as a flash and William staggered back, stumbling then falling to the ground, a stake protruding from his chest.

You got up and were back to Pete in an instant, helping him off the ground.

“Are you ok? Are you hurt?” You asked, looking him up and down.

“I’m fine, but (YN), you were amazing! He had no clue you had dropped that stake, you saved me!” he said wrapping his arms around you and spinning you around.

“I thought for sure he’d notice! I’m just glad I could help!”

Pete set you down and cupped your cheeks in his hands as his pressed a passionate kiss to your lips and you again felt the electricity between you.

The other guys came over then and everyone congratulated each other on a job finally well done.

“Now you guys can finally get to what you truly love, making music,” you said as everyone made their way back to the car.

“You’re what I truly love,” Pete whispered in your ear. You looked up at him grinning before he scooped you up in another spine tingling kiss.

Masterlist

[darisu-chan]

Final Thoughts

So after digesting everything that went down in the finale, I finally decided to write a post about this show.

I found out that Star vs the Forces of Evil existed through a Tumblr post about great new cartoons featuring Gravity Falls, Wander Over Yonder and Steven Universe. You probably don’t know since I honestly didn’t post much about it, but Gravity Falls is one of my favorite cartoons ever. It’s the kind of show I always wanted to watch as a kid and I’m so happy I got to watch it as a young adult. SvtFoE falls in the same category. A quirky show about a magical princess from another dimension who comes to Earth and befriends a shy and insecure boy who’s secretly a badass and they go on adventures? That’s right up my alley. It’s the kind of thing I would’ve loved as a child, and, as such, it was exactly what I wanted to watch.

I don’t watch cartoons for the sake of watching something mindblowing and life changing. For that kind of experience, I either watch artsy and indepent type of movies or I read high literature texts. I don’t expect to find the holy grail of story telling in a kid’s cartoon, although I’ve been pleasantly surprised before (like with Avatar and Gravity Falls). I watch cartoons because they are more light hearted than any content created for adults and, even, for teens. Because they always have messages of love, friendship and hope. And for someone like me, filled with insecurities about my future, trapped in the negativity of adult life, at the end of the day, I want to watch something that will bring a smile to my face. All I want in a cartoon is to laugh, to have fun, to care about the characters, and to feel as if life can be good after all. That’s what  SvtFoE has meant to me from the very first moment I watched the show back in 2015 to yesterday, when the finale aired.

I’ve always loved the animation, specially during the first season, filled with colors and movement. The music has always been astounding. The voice acting has been near perfect, Eden Sher and Adam McArthur made a fantstic job giving life to these characters. And the plot also progressed in ways I didn’t imagine it could. The forces of evil went from representing Ludo and his classic cartoon trope of trying to steal something from the main character (and failing spectacularly) to so much more than that. Racism, discrimination, colonialism. These are hard topics to tackle in a kids’ show, but they have never been more fitting than in today’s political climate, not only in America but in several countries of this world. I hope that kids out there got the message and become more loving, respectful, tolerant and accepting of others, no matter how different they are. I hope that all the kids that have felt ostracized by others due to thier backgrounds, identities and personalities have felt that they could be themselves because there’s nothing wrong with being who you are as long as you’re compassionate, kind and caring. Hate is never the answer. Love is the answer. That’s the message I hope we all carry in our hearts for the rest of our lives. The message we will taught the kids around us, because it is something we will need in the future.

The second reason why I love this show is that it has given mee the opportunity to share something with my cousins. With over a decade of an age difference, finding interests we can share together has been tougher and tougher. I’m glad that we got to spend our holidays watching SvtFoE and sharing time together, given the fact we live so far away from each other and we hardly get to see each other. I thank this show for giving me a reason to spend time with them.

I know that many people are disappointed with the finale. I myself have been disappointed through most of season 4 and I only started liking it again during “Cornonation.” However, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the things I love about this show in the first place are still present. I have seen many, many awful endings of books and series I loved. I have lived through the pain of seeing how something I loved became garbage. I’ve decided to not be negative about this series anymore. Because love is the answer. Because I still love this show very much and I will continue rewatching it.

So here’s a list of the things I love the most about Star vs the Forces of Evil:

1. Star, our magical princess from another dimension, who went from rebelling against her future to embracing it to using her title and powers to protect others. Star is far from perfect and that’s why I love her. She’s intense. She feels too much and acts accordingly. And because of this there’s so much goodness inside of her. Someone who felt less emotions than her would have never been able to sacirfice as much as she did. Only a rebel princess would have been able to break the system, to destroy magic, and start the first steps towards unity. Always remember that she's a thunderstorm roaring through the night, she's our shooting Star, and she's lighting up the sky!

2. Marco Diaz, the safe kid who pretended to be a misunderstood bad boy, and who ended up overcoming his own insecurities to be the best version of himself, a boy who loves adventures while still being responsible. As a Mexican myself, I’ve always loved how the show embraced his Mexican heritage as part of his identity without making fun of it. But as a deeply insecure person, and one that as a teen let my fears hold me back, I’ve always felt more personally connected to Marco, when I see him I see myself ten years ago, and I’m so happy about the way he developed. Fear doesn’t hold him back anymore, and fear shouldn’t hold us back either. He’s also the most loyal person you’ll ever meet, and I think it’s his loyalty which separates him from the rest. We should all be more like Marco.

3. Star and Marco’s relationship. Through their ups and downs, through all the pain, the danger, and the difficulties they faced, they always came back stronger than ever. I started watching this show because of its quirkiness and I stayed for Star and Marco. It’s what constitutes this show. Without Star and Marco, there would be no show. It starts with these two and ends with both of them. The finale makes it clearer than anything. “With or without magic, we belong together.” I love their friendship and I love how much they love each other.

4. The magic. Although it got destroyed in the end for not only being dangerous, but being a tool to destroy and dominate others, I absolutely love Star’s strange, often hilarious, cute and bright spells, who definitely fit her. The wand was absolutely gorgeous when it was Star’s wand. I also like how it changed appearances for each wand user. Marco’s wand design complemented Star’s perfectly too.

5. The various dimensions and the different kingdoms of Mewni. The world building, particularly the effort put into creating visually appealing places is something I’ve always admired about this show. Even though expanding world building can be tricky and is often the downfall of many narratives, I believe they managed to pull it off. My favorite places in the SvtFoE universe were the Bounce Lounge, the Forest of Certain Death, the Underworld, Dimension X-103, Pixtopia, Neverzone, Plains of Time and the Realm of Magic.

6. The parents. It’s refreshing to find a show in which the adults love each other so much and are examples of healthy relationships. Moon and River. Angie and Rafael. Eclipsa and Globgor. Wrathmelior and Dave.

7. The different relaitonships between mothers and daughters. Often complicated but filled with love. Throught it all, Moon and Star became closer by learning to understand each other and, though they still have a long way to go as of the finale, they’re on the right path. Eclipsa and Meteora are another example. And that ending with Comet and Moon, and Solaria and Eclipsa. It played right in my heartstrings.

8. Tom, Janna, Eclipsa, Ludo and Buff Frog who became a few of my favorite characters due to the development they got, my boy Tom more than anyone.

9. The humor, the music, the colors that make this show special. A shout out to the animators, storyboard artists, musicians, writers and everyone else involved in the creation of SvtFoE for making it the way it is.

10. And a big thank you to Daron Nefcy, for creating this show and for fleshing out a story unlike any other, through the journey of Star Butterfly along her best friend Marco Diaz, and the rest of their family, friends, allies and even enemies. The real forces of evil we should all fight against are indifference, hate, discrimination and intolerance. I hope we all do our part in making this world a better place for the ones to come next. All it takes is someone that cares enough, and I really wish we all are like Star in our lives. I wholeheartedly believe we all possess the ability to be our own shooting starts.

Let’s all light up the sky!

[eyeloch]

For fun, and to remind myself how to write, I figured I’d write up a DnD 5e one-shot I played yesterday.

How to make this less dry?  Well, this here little chunk of words would be how my character for it, Dyne Freeborn, might tell it many years later.  Therefore, if I make any mistakes, then they’re in-character and it’s not me being wrong!

Take a glance down the right dark alley, and you’d see - well you’d see nothing, if you knew what was good for you.  If you had more curiosity than sense, though, you might spy a door.  A grimy door, well hidden, but there nevertheless.

Venture inside, and you’d find a surprisingly-lively little pub.  Decent ale and spirits.  Good wine - long as you bought it yourself.  Or stole it.

Today though, the wine was mediocre at best.  More importantly, however, there was something of a celebrity within.  Well, perhaps it’d more more accurate to call him an infamous figure.  Celebrities typically aren’t on the run from multiple countries.  Or, at least, not on the run for arson, prison breaks and inciting violent mobs.

Drunk off cider (and the atmosphere), a certain Dyne Freeborn - the celebrity in question, if you haven’t already guessed - was in a jolly mood.  True, he might be laying low in a succession of safe houses yet again, but such was life.

The sooty-coloured hair of the half-elf was now steely with age.  Slight crows-feet collected below his dark eyes - often lively with mirth, no matter what troubles life threw at him.  If it wasn’t for the soul of the phoenix dwelling within him, he’d probably have been content to just be the life of the party.

Instead, he was on the run once more, and feeling a tad reflective that night.  As the bartender refilled his tankard, Dyne began his story...

I’ve always been freeborn by name and nature, mates, but I wasn’t always so selfless.  Here he paused for a round of chuckles.  Nah, it was back in me youth that I really found me life’s calling.  And, like today, it all started in a pub.  More or less, at least...

See, I woke up after some drinks, not sure where I was.  Yeah, yeah, laugh it up - it has happened the normal way too!  ...but see, this wasn't me bein' blackout drunk.  Nah, this was me drugged - slipped the old sleep herbs like I was some amateur (though I 'spose I was back then).

So yeah, I wake up tied down - not the first time, mind you - and obviously I try my little magic touch on the ropes.  Turns out the rotten things weren't actually rotten - pretty well made, and (unfortunately) a little too damp for me ignition to do much more than make a bad smell.  

So, as I'm weighing up the pros and cons of starting a little bonfire under meself (I'll admit - as a Freeborn, I can get a little riled when I'm tied down), I spy someone else, shimmying out of their own bindings!  Now, obviously, I call out to them - ask the elf to free the Freeborn - and they're nice enough to oblige.  Still, as we made some makeshift tools to break out of the outhouse we'd been stuffed into, I began to realise that this was some kind of copper.  Not the usual sort - they're not as acrobatic, and they don't tend to cope so well when they wake up after a druggin' - but a copper none the less! 

Turns out, just beyond the door, there was a whole lotta birds!  No, no, not the fun kind - well, unless you like watching scavengers pick at a fresh corpse. (Tiamat’s arse, Gerard, you have a problem!)

...anyway, I’m planning me old razzle dazzle on these winged blighters, when the copper - Tíu was their name, if I remember things rightly - convinces me we should just leg it to the other cabin they’d spied.  Well, I didn’t need to be told twice!  

So, luckily these birds weren’t much interested in prey that’d fight back, and we made our way to the other pile of kindling without much fuss.  There we found two things - another fresh corpse and, more importantly, our stuff!  The copper, as you expect, does a little digging - and manages to rope me into helping case the joint.  I go along with ‘em - hey, Tiala, sometimes we have to - and soon enough we’re going down another path.  Not a city path, mates, nor a garden path - but a simple trod load of grass.

Now, not long after that, we come across a lady - fellow half-elf, if me memory serves me right.  Nasty old wound she had - right on the cusp o’ death.  Now, obviously, the copper tries their best to patch her up.  (Yeah Sul, I do mean obviously - some of ‘em are decent sorts, and you should always work out if they are.  It makes them easier to manipulate, once you know what they burn for.)

Anyway, since I was feeling in a generous mood that day, I managed to succeed where the law had failed.  I knew even less about medicine then than I do now - but I could still tie a decent tourniquet, when the need should arise.  Used some of me favourite shirt to do it too!

Having gotten meself a decent read on old Tíu, I spun the elf a quick yarn about how they’d have to chose if their duty was to punish or to protect.  Yeah, it could have blown up in me face, but it didn’t!  Instead, I used me old quarterstaff - yes the non-magical one, I was decades from getting the one I have now - and a similar branch to fashion a hammock with a spare cape.

So burdened, we strode on.  Turns out this particular copper liked to travel between towns - liked their maps and charts - and so he got us safely to a tiny little “village” in the arse end of nowhere.  “Westbridge”, if I can remember, was pretty much just a single farming family.  A single family who wasn’t too chuffed that we’d wandered in with one of their enemies in a stretcher!

Still, Tíu did what coppers do best, and convinced people that they were really on his side.  I wasn’t complaining, though, since I did get a free meal out of it!

So, anyway. He smiles into another empty flagon of cider, waving for for a refill, before continuing his tale. Eventually the half-elf wakes up.  Coppers do what coppers do, though Tíu wasn’t the violent sort of interrogator.  ...yeah, ‘suppose that’d be counter-productive with someone that wounded anyway.

So, local matriarch, the copper and the now-prisoner talk - eventually they piece together what really going on.  And this is where things heat up, if you’ll pardon me pun.

See, turns out we’d been drugged by bandits and dragged off - they’d been going through our stuff, to see if we were worth ransoming while they stole the couple of valuables we had.  Simple enough, I’m sure you’ll agree.  The twist, friends, was that these bandits had been disagreeing over if they should take a certain deal.  See, ‘round those parts - half-a-dozen kingdoms away from where we’re sitting - there were some nobles who loved themselves some hunting.  Nah, not the stuff they’d call poaching if we did it.  This bunch preferred humanoids.

Horrible, ain’t it.  Hunting people, hurting people, that’s one thing.  But just for sport?  Well. . .it stoked my anger, let me tell you!  

...yeah, that was first time I ever went back once I’d fled.  First time I ever really lived up to me name.  

Just two of us, it was.  Just the two of us against two ex-bandits and a bunch of blue-blooded drunkards.  We observed the situation from the tree-line, stealthy-like.  We knew we couldn’t win head on, and Tíu was so adamant that I not burn the hunting lodge down, that we decided on an improvised plan.  

...well, I say decided, but Tíu sort of made the decision for me.  Bloody copper.

Basically, he blew his horn.  As the only ex-bandit who wasn’t regretting every life choice went-a-hunting, I thought fast and made a bornfire with me blood’s magic.  While that was goin’ on, we did a little strategising, and Tíu and I went to go release the horses.  Yeah, there were horses - it was a hunting party!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t as stealthy back then as I can be these days.  ...yeah, I know I ain’t always the stealthiest now either.  Anyway, I got spotted.  Things got real dicey real fast after that!

Obviously, I started with me favourite hello - a firebolt launched as quick as a wink.  They didn’t like that, but I didn’t like the cut they dealt me in return.  I called upon my flames to burn this whole rotten lot to nothing - but by then it seemed to be too late.  I’d been dealt a lethal blow.

Here the half-elf stopped to role a sleeve up - showing several old scars, each still discoloured and puckered, unlike the rest of his near-elvishly flawless skin.

Funny thing happened, though.  As I wreathed myself in the fires of freedom, I didn’t burn away.  Oh, I was definitely dying.  But I incinerated nobles, scared away the thug who’d regretted their betrayal (last I hear, they’d settled into a quiet life in some monastery up in Driscol).  The horses were released in the confusion -Tíu had come through, it had seemed.  In the chaos, though, we were both dying.  Tíu had fallen from an attempt to ride a horse - I like to think it was to help me, and not to abandon his erstwhile ally - and found himself beset by a cadre of rich arseholes.  They did well - cutting into them with punches, kicks and icy magic - but were knocked down in time.  My own flames were sputtering by this stage, but I summoned up the nearby insects to infest that bastard. (No, not the copper, Gerard, what’s wrong with you?)  

It wasn’t enough to save the copper - an ally in this moment, despite the natural state of things. At the time, I really did think I’d saved the guy.  Turns out I was wrong, though I never thought to check at the time.  (He did get a burial, courtesy of those folks at Westbridge.  I’m glad for that, at least.  ...we might have been enemies had he lived, but he was a decent sort - and people like that deserve to become part of the air or earth.  That’s just a little rule of mine.)

With what I thought would be my last breath, I lit fires inside the hunting lodge (as it hadn’t caught alight in the cross-fire of battle, despite my best efforts), and let the screams of burning blue-bloods lull me to my eternal sleep...

...’cept I woke up.  Tired, sore, but very much clinging to life.  Fucking painful trip back to civilisation that was - not only was I fainting every few hours, but the minor burns surrounding all my cuts started to get infected after I fell into a boggy ditch!  Still, I found my way back to my then-current employees, and they nursed me back to health.

‘course, not long after I recovered, I burnt their operation to the ground.  Them along with it.  Harsh?  Cruel?  Perhaps.  But as I recovered, I realised how selfish I’d been with flames and freedom given to me by birth.  Freedom gives me joy.  Fire gives me joy.  And I realised, then and there, that I needed to give everyone that freedom.  

Oh, it’d be years before I could put it to words, but that day - with the druggin’, the copper and the blue-blooded bastards - that day was the day I realised I needed to free everyone!

Yep, Tiala, you’re right - free the wealthy from their cash!  Free the prisoners from their chains!  Free the slaves from their masters!  Free the nobility from their bloated lives!

...I doubt Tíu would have approved, had he lived - but hey, what could a single copper do against The Freeborn?!  ...besides, he’s got the freedom of the grave now - it’ll be another century before I get that last freedom, should I be so lucky!

Finishing one last drink, Dyne’s tale wound to a close.  Most of the pub’s regulars had left - off to go bludgeon anyone wandering unlit back-allies, no doubt - but his little band of brigands was still surrounding him.  Some of the newer recruits, like Tiala, still listened attentively - while seasoned veterans like Gerard were dozing off, used to his old tales.  

Truth be told, Dyne did sometimes feel regrets about the path he’d taken.  Not all he’d freed found the freedom to their liking - and some simply used new freedom to imprison others yet again.  Still, he stoked the flame of revolution, of rebellion, of resentment wherever he could - because it was the way to feed the flames within.

Fire satisfied his senses in a way nothing else could - not even the freedom his folks were named for - but sometimes the resulting screams weren’t so sweet to his ears.  Still though, he’d choose this path again in a heartbeat - or perhaps, to be more accurate, he’d chose it again in a spark.

[crartistic]

Writing update

Wrote 1611 words last night, I was productive for a change. 

Excerpt - In which they meet a potential ally 

Ruby looked around, not seeming to be in a hurry. “It should stand out,” she mused, “If I remember correctly, it was a big, way too fancy building in the town center.” 

Kodyr halted her and gave her an expression with his eyebrows raised. “If you remember correctly? What if you don’t? Those things will have more time to find us again.” 

“Then we let them try,” Ruby said with a cocky grin, “It’s easy to get lost in here.” 

“Who’s ‘them’?”

Both of them turned around after hearing an unfamiliar voice speak those words. Behind them stood a young man - probably around 25 years old - with dark hair and dark eyes. The smile that was plastered on his face gave Ruby the impression that they shouldn’t trust him right away. “That’s not your concern,” she stated before turning around, grabbing Kodyr’s arm to drag him along in the process. She didn’t care if she came across as rude. However, Kodyr obviously had no intention to leave with her, resulting in her struggling to move him. 

“Your friend is not the nicest, is she?” the stranger asked Kodyr, who was still looking at him, “What’s wrong with some curiosity when you want to help someone?” 

Before Kodyr could react, Ruby let go of him and gestured the both of them to follow her into a nearby alley. Her eyes darted to the stranger immediately. “Why should we trust you? You don’t know us and we don’t know you, you don’t even know what we want so how could you possibly help and what do you hope to gain from it?”

The stranger averted his gaze, avoiding having to look into her amber eyes. Instead, he decided it was best to keep looking at Kodyr. “‘Not very trusting either, I see.” He looked at the pirate briefly before turning back to Kodyr, “I overheard you talking about getting to the library but having no luck finding it.”

“So what?” 

Kodyr sighed and turned his attention to Ruby, “Look, I get that you refuse to be nice to me, but can’t you at least try to be a decent person to others?” 

Reluctantly, Ruby nodded. She would try. She took a good look at the young man in front of them; he was older than either of them by the looks of it and judging by his accent, he was from around here. His eyes were nearly - if not - the same colour as his hair and he had a tan. “Who are you?” 

“Glad you finally asked,” he said, “The name’s Brendon. I am from around here, as  you may have noticed. I can take you all the way to the library if that is what you want.” 

“We’ll gladly--” 

Before he could finish his sentence, Ruby had pulled him away from the stranger to discuss whether they were going to accept his offer or not. Obviously, Kodyr would accept in a matter of seconds, but she knew better than to trust strangers the second they told you their name. “Are you an idiot?” 

Kodyr made a face while Ruby was making a list of reasons not to trust Brendon. When she was done, Kodyr stated, “I’m a great judge of character.”

He was met with a raised eyebrow. “Really? What kind of person did you think I was when we first met?”

“Bloodthirsty, mean, possibly cruel. Yet, underneath that hard exterior of yours, there may be some good in you yet. You’re capable of loving someone, however unlikely that may sound, I got proof of that yesterday.” 

Ruby scoffed. “You and I both know you just made that up. Why did you accept that drink if you already knew I was so ‘bloodthirsty, mean and possibly cruel’?” 

“I was drunk, you know that.” 

Ruby smiled. “Yeah, you were. All the time when we first met. So… I’m afraid your little analysis of me you claim to have made months ago isn’t that believable or trustworthy.” 

“It makes sense though,” Kodyr said, “considering you’re a bitch.” He looked back, where Brendon was still standing with a smile on his face as he waved at him. “How about… we trust him for now. If he proves to be untrustworthy, you can do whatever you want with him and you may tell me ‘I told you so’ for the entirety of this trip.” 

“Well then, those are going to be some long days for you, then,” she said before turning back to Brendon. “We’ll accept your offer.” Before he could walk away, she held him by his arm and said in his ear, “However, if you even so much as think of betraying us, prepare to suffer.” 

Kodyr rolled his eyes. She was never going to learn, was she?

Tagging @falling--in--place (If you’d like to be added to the taglist, send me a message!

[vagrantblvrd]

For the prompt post: I wish you would write a fic where... Something more Geoff-centric! I feel like he gets set in the background of so many fics when his FAHC character has the potential to be so interesting. I would love a more shippy fahc fic with him and Gavin, (angst/suspense is always good) but Tbh my little Geoff-loving heart would be content with anything from you. Especially with how much i fucking live for your AO3 stories. I have read them all. Some several times lol.

I adore Geoff and agree with you 1000% friend! (Also, thank you so much!

Geoff hears about these kids, right? Some British bastard with sticky fingers and a clever tongue and his guard dog. This Jersey bastard with a hell of a temper on him and how the hell they even work is a miracle because by all accounts this Jones kid hates the British kid with a passion. Cannot fucking stand him and at first Geoff thinks this Free kid must have something on him, something important because that’s how these things work.

As time goes by he keeps hearing about these kids. The way Free can talk himself out of anything – and has, got pinched by the cops and sweet-talked his way out of that one. Got into trouble with some of the smaller crews – and came out of it with new allies or by the end of things Los Santos would short one miserable little crew.

The more he hears about them, the more he wants them working for him. So he sets up meets with them, gets Lindsay and Trevor on it and Gavin and Michael say no and no and no over and over again.

Geoff thinks it’s them being young and stupid for the longest time until he realizes one day listening to Trevor tell him about something Gavin and Michael did that they’re terrified of being part of a crew.

He knows they came to Los Santos from the east coast so he reaches out to Burnie, asks if he ca find anything out about them. And boy does Burnie deliver, because it turns out that Gavin and Michael used to be a crew, worked for this piece of shit who thought he was meant for greatness.

Ran his crew on fear, and no one knows where he picked Gavin up, but the guy saw what an asset he had in him. Smart and clever and as long as Gavin was useful he got to live. And then came Michael with the same rule – be useful or die – and somehow they became friends.

Besties, even, which worked out for their boss because it meant Gavin had someone watching his back on job who was less likely to kill him themselves.

But then something went wrong, or right, depending on how you look at it because Gavin and Michael wanted out. Wanted to get away from that piece of shit and his crew and everything to do with him, and they were ruthless about it.

Set things up so the piece of shit and his crew were destroyed, ripped apart by greedy rivals while Gavin and Michael got the hell out of the city. Ran until they hit Los Santos and set up shop and Burnie warns him to leave them alone, that the risk isn’t worth it, and Geoff laughs, thinking it’s a joke because the Fake AH Crew can handle a couple of kids – and Burnie just sighs because of course Geoff isn’t going to listen.

Eventually though, Gavin realizes Geoff’s just going to keep coming after them and maybe one day he’ll stop being nice about it, so.

A meeting, where Geoff makes them an offer. Work with the Fakes on a job, get to know them and if they like what they see maybe stick around?

Gavin and Michael agree to that much, make no promises because they’re understandably leery of being trapped again when it cost them so much to get free the last time.

But they end up sticking around after that first job because they like the crew and it’s mutual. Michael and Jeremy get along like a house on fire (sometimes this is literal because there are houses on fire and those two asshole responsible for it).

Gavin seems to be getting along with everyone, and Geoff won’t lie, it’s a little terrifying that he and Ryan are suddenly BFFs, going down to the shooting range to bond over throwing knives (WHY), but it’s obvious they don’t quite trust the crew.

Which.

Geoff has faith they just need to give it time, let Gavin and Michael see for themselves what the Fakes are like and let them decide what they want.

Until then, he figures it won’t hurt to teach Gavin a few things here and there and takes him along for crew business. (Might gain some little bit of Gavin’s trust in the process.)

Let him get a feel for how the Fakes work and how they deal with allies and enemies and all that. (Because Geoff likes Gavin, and he knows right off that Gavin’s top priority is Michael and vice versa, this unlikely friendship that somehow came into being in the worst circumstances.)

They talk, a lot. At first it’s business, how to get what they want in negotiations without giving more than they can afford. They plan jobs, a heist or two and Gavin is brilliant.

Unconventional, sure, but brilliant.

Time goes by and personal details get mixed in with business talk. They spend long hours together with their planning sessions so they order out. Sit around eating take out and mention some small bit of information about themselves, favorite movies. Shows. Video games, and so on.

Sometimes they don’t talk business at all, because Geoff can’t believe Gavin hasn’t seen this movie, and Gavin can’t believe Geoff hasn’t seen that show. It’s been years since either of them played this game, so clearly they have to play it to see if it holds up. (It does, so naturally they end up playing for hours and hours.)

Both of them aware there’s something there, but skittish about putting a name to it, so they just keep muddling along while the others are like really.

Then one day Geoff brings Gavin with him to a meeting with a crew. Long time rivals and an actual threat to the Fakes. So they’re planning on taking things nice and slow and careful – but things go wrong anyway.

Gavin picks up on it first, standing to the right of Geoff’s shoulder in place of Ryan or Jeremy or even Michael

He doesn’t have the intimidation factor the other three do and he’s mostly been ignored during the meeting, which is in his favor something tips him off that something is very wrong.

He’s moving before Geoff realizes what’s going on, and suddenly there’s a knife in some fucker’s throat, gun falling from his hand The goon who makes a gab for Geoff gets a knife in his hand and Geoff’s on his feet with his own gun out and it’s shoots the guy trying to blindside Gavin. Grabs Gavin by the arm and gets them both out of there. 

Finds the side door that leads to the alley with baddies chasing them, dodging bullets and their ride screeches in.

Geoff feels a shove and sees Gavin stumble from the corner of his eye, body hitting the car heavily before Geoff twists around and grabs a handful of his shirt and hauls him in. Gavin falls into the car, across Geoff and Geoff’s yelling at Jack to gogogo.

Jack demands to know what went wrong. Geoff’s telling him, and breaks off  mid-word when he realizes the hand he’d dropped over Gavin on reflex when they tumbled into the backseat is wet.

Twists around sharply to see his hand covered in blood from a gunshot wound. Gavin gritting his teeth and trying to pull free from Geoff to shoot at the the fuckers following them, hissing sharply because the motion tears at his wound, blood coming faster and Geoff -

“Stay the fuck down, you idiot!” Geoff yells, ripping his jacket off intending to use it to stem the bleeding, what the hell, Gavin.

Gavin jerks, turns to him, gun in hand and Geoff feels a chill go through him because he’s seen this before – not in Gavin, no. With Ryan, with Jeremy, when they’re in a tight spot. When one of them is hut and the odds are against them and it looks like this is where the Fakes end, where Geoff’s empire starts to crumble.

“Gavin - “

Gavin’s face twists, a strained, “Geoff” because this is what he and Michael are for, right? The reason Geoff even wanted them with the crew in the first place.

He says something along those lines, spits it out like it’s the simplest of truths and Geoff reels back in shock, just enough for Gavin to go back to picking off the assholes chasing them. Fend them off for the others to get there to take the last of their pursuers out and Gavin slumps down hand, accepts Geoff’s jacket and presses down to stop the bleeding, something spooked about him.

No.

Not spooked, really, just.

Wary, like he’s not sure what Geoff’s going to do now, and Geoff could cheerfully murder the fuck out of whoever did this to him, to Michael, if they hadn’t beaten him to it because they’re his now. Were from the moment they set foot in the penthouse, since he and the others got to know them.

Geoff wants to talk to him about it, to Michael, because both of them are on edge after this, can’t seem to settle. (Gavin goes quiet and watchful, and Michael is never far from him, falling back into old habits.) Geoff wants to talk to them, but he doesn’t get the chance because he’s working with Lindsay and Trevor to deal with the rival crew who starts going after their people.

Geoff knows Gavin’s recuperating and Michael’s keeping an eye on him and doesn’t know how bad things are at first.

When things finally calm down he goes looking for Gavin when it occurs to they haven’t talked about what happened back at that meeting. Feels guilty about it, but he was focused on keeping them all safe and he remembers that wild-eyed look on Gavin’s face in the car. Thinking he and Michael were just tools to be used.

“Fuck,” Geoff mutters, because he fucked up right there, didn’t he.

Fucked up with Gavin and Michael and he goes looking for Gavin. Remembers Jack mentioning that he’s been down in the shooting range a lot, and he goes there first.

When he gets there he finds Gavin and Ryan throwing knives at paper targets. 

There’s a desperation in the way Gavin’s throwing the knives, something Geoff recognizes from the others, himself, after fucking up and vowing to do better next time and it breaks his damn heart because Gavin did everything right back there, and Geoff’s let him down.

Watching them, Geoff’s grateful for his crew because Gavin actually laughs at something Ryan says. Tired little smile on his face that drops away when he notices Geoff.

Something guilty, angry in Geoff at the way Gavin locks everything away. Stands up straighter, like he’s waiting for something from him. (Bad, something bad, and the urge to kill whoever did this to him and Michael is back again.)

Ryan says something to Gavin and then he leaves and Geoff hates the way Gavin’s watching him.

“Shit goes wrong,” Geoff says, hands in pockets, staring down at his the toes of his shoes. “It’s a fact of life No matter how prepared you are, shit always goes wrong in ways you can’t anticipate. The important thing is to be able to adapt, to handle that whatever happens, and you did, Gavvers, holy fuck did you ever.”

Geoff knows if it hadn’t been for Gavin he’s be dead now. Bullet in his head and a rotting, stinking corpse on the floor of that warehouse for the rats and strays to feast on and he’s clearly been around Ryan for too damn long to think that, but.

“It’s not your fuckup, Gavin,” Geoff says, too damn tired, sad, “And if it was, you wouldn’t be punished for it.”

Geoff makes a face when Gavin gives him a look, and okay, alright.

“Fine, you wouldn’t be disproportionately punished for it, all right?”

Because right, okay, he’d made Andy do the bitch work for a month after he messed up, but nothing like what Gavin and Michael seems to be expecting. Nothing mean, meant to hurt them, humiliate them, treat them than less than human.

It eats at him, that these dumb kids don’t get that they’re safe here after all this time. Like he hasn’t done enough to show them that, and it makes him angry - at himself, the bastard who did this to them.

“What we have here is good,” Gavin says, after a long, long moment. Halting and uncertain, accompanied by a ghost of a laugh, disbelieving. “I never thought I’d see Michael this relaxed.”

Geoff looks at him, skeptical because really?”

And Gavin laughs for real this time, hint of a smile curling his lips.

“It’s true, though, you don’t know what he was like before, with our other crew.”

Geoff looks at Gavin, still strung tight with nerves and it hits him suddenly, that Gavin’s done things like this before. Talked about Michael’s safety, happiness, and on and on and never mentioned his own feelings on anything. Always looking out for Michael the way Michael is always looking out for him and never mind anything else.

“And you?”

Gavin stiffens, eyes sliding away from Geoff, fake smile slipping into place.

“Oh, you know me, Geoff, always good, aren’t I?”

Well that’s a goddamned lie if Geoff’s ever heard one.

Geoff stifles a sigh, reaching for one of the throwing knives Gavin and Ryan were tossing around. (Remembers the way Gavin had killed that first guy in the warehouse, and thinks it wouldn’t be a bad skill to learn himself.)

“Yeah,” he says, hefting the knife in his hand, trying to copy Ryan and Gavin’s hold on the thing before he throws it.

Watches it flash through the air before clattering against the target and onto the ground, solid failure on his part. (Nothing new there, really.)

Gavin snorts, just watches as Geoff huffs and tries again with the next knife in line, and biffs that one too. Three more tries until Gavin reaches over to adjust Geoff’s grip, amused grin on his lips, some of the tension running through him gone.

“You’re snapping your wrist when you throw it,” he says, stepping back. “Use the knife’s momentum when you bring your arm forward.”

Geoff gives him a look, not sure if being handy with throwing knives was something Gavin learned how to do before meeting Ryan or after and a little afraid to know the answer.

He follows Gavin’s instructions with the last knife laid out, and while he doesn’t land the throw, there’s definite improvement because the point of the knife bounces against the target instead of the handle.

“Still shit,” Gavin says, and oh, that’s smug amusement, “but definitely better that time.”

Geoff eyes him, and Gavin’s grin only gets bigger.

“Try it again,” Gavin says, puling a knife out of nowhere to hand to him.

Christ, Geoff thinks, as Gavin coaches him on how to throw knives, glad that the idiot looks like he might actually believe it when Geoff says he doesn’t blame him for what happened at the warehouse. What a way to bond with someone.

[elan-morin-tedronai]

Dear Chocolate Box Author~

Idk what people usually write here, I’m more used to writing Yuletide letters but I assume it’s basically the same format so. here we go.

AO3 name: Tedronai

General likes & dislikes:

Likes: epic friendships, angst, hurt/comfort (physical or emotional works), complicated dynamics between unlikely allies, politics & court intrigue, complicated relationships (romantic & otherwise), enemies to reluctant allies to friends to lovers or basically any variation thereof, themes of loyalty and/or betrayal, porn with feelings (or porn with character exploration), tragedy

Dislikes: more extreme fetishes (scat, watersports, what have you), pure unadulterated fluff, domestic fluff, crack humour, A/B/O dynamics, most mundane AUs for fantasy/sci-fi fandoms (high school, coffee shop, etc), redemption = death trope, pregnancy or kid fic

I have no triggers that should be relevant to the prompts, nor any significant squicks not covered by the “extreme fetishes” umbrella.

Note: Because I’m a writer myself, my prompts are probably going to be fic-oriented no matter what I do, but if you got matched for art, I’ll be absolutely delighted with anything you come up with for the ship in question! As explicit (or not) as you feel like.

Fandom #1: Wheel of Time Requested ship(s): Taim/Moridin, Ishamael/Demandred, Ishamael/Asmodean

Taim/Moridin -- I’d love anything, really. Taim would have had to work with Moridin while he was converting Dreadlords in the Black Tower, maybe Moridin himself was the one to take him to Shayol Ghul to be sworn in as Chosen. Because the canonical tag is “Moridin | Ishamael”, I’m also completely fine with if you prefer to go with the Ishamael part of it; I headcanon that Ishamael was the one to manipulate Taim into declaring himself the Dragon Reborn, so you could probably have some fun with that. Or anything else you come up with!

Ishamael/Demandred -- As above, I’ll take any variation of Elan/Barid to Ishamael/Demandred to Moridin/Demandred; I ship them at basically any stage of their timeline so you can't go wrong there. I’m especially interested in things set in the early years of War of Power; Barid Bel didn’t turn until a few years into the war, but he had a history with Elan Morin, and their reunion must have been interesting. Or something in the Third Age, once Ishamael has been resurrected as Moridin; another interesting reunion.

Ishamael/Asmodean -- Look. I just. If you offered this, you must be at least intrigued by the idea so I’ll just let you run with it? I’ve written this ship one, sort of, in a fic I’m still ridiculously proud of though it’s several years old, but there are so many potential ways this could happen. Asmodean’s particular brand of apathy and Ishamael’s destructive tendencies crashing together would make such a glorious train wreck, it’s just. yeah.

Fandom #2: Malazan Book of the Fallen Requested ship(s): Silchas Ruin/Scabandari, Silchas Ruin & Anomander Rake, Anomander Rake/Caladan Brood

Silchas/Scabandari -- So I could be wrong but if we matched for Malazan, you’re probably one of the two other Malazan fic writers out there so I’m just saying, feel free to go with Kharkanas era stuff if you like. If you’re somehow not Sam or Misura and you haven’t read the Kharkanas trilogy, I apologise and shall refrain from spoiling anything, I hope. Either way, we know Silchas and Scabandari were allies, and then they were not, which is basically a dynamic so far up my alley it’s physically painful. 

Silchas & Anomander -- Again Kharkanas era stuff more than welcome, I mean I probably don’t have to say this but there you go. If Kharkanas era isn’t applicable, they don’t really get a chance to interact within the main series timeline but I’ll take anything. AU where they meet before Rake does the thing? Wonderful. Your take on their last meeting before Silchas got Azath’d? Amazing. Or if you feel like it, you could go with a post-canon fic in reclaimed Kharkanas and write about Silchas’ feelings about Anomander’s death, and Anomander’s son showing up to pick up the Tiste Andii where his father left them.

Brood/Rake -- Look. This is a new-ish ship for me though I’ve loved their friendship forever. And let’s say this is one where you can’t go wrong with getting a little more explicit. And by ‘a little more’ I mean as much as you like. Though obviously that’s not a requirement.

Fandom #3: Machineries of Empire Requested ship(s): Mikodez & Zehun, Mikodez & Kujen, Mikodez & Jedao Two, Mikodez/Jedao Two

Mikodez & Zehun -- I love Shuos Zehun so much you guys, and I just. would very much like to see somebody take care of Mikodez and Zehun is basically the only person in the Hexarchate who can do that.

Mikodez & Kujen -- Theirs is such a fascinating dynamic! Mikodez is self-proclaimed ‘the only person who actually likes’ Kujen. We all know just how likeable Kujen is – I mean I love him to pieces, but let’s be real here – so I always found this especially interesting. Now what I’m wondering is, did Kujen on some level appreciate that? Kujen didn’t really care about people; he didn’t have the ability to feel that, he removed that ability from himself, but maybe... Anyway, anything you come up with will be great, of course!

Mikodez & Jedao2.0 -- I love the idea of Jedao2.0 getting to grow into the wonderful person Jedao could have been, while maintaining the core qualities that made the first Jedao the Jedao we know and love. And Mikodez will obviously play an important role in his life, as the Shuos Hexarch obviously but also a mentor of sorts, possibly even confidante... and, hopefully, eventually a friend. And I’d kind of want to see that also go the other way; I’d love to see Jedao, as he grows to know him, see through Mikodez’s Shuos Hexarch “of course I don’t have a conscience or care about things” persona.

(Or if you’re feeling really ambitious, you could combine the last two, because both Mikodez and Jedao2.0 had a complicated relationship with Kujen, though Jedao’s was way more traumatic, but. that’s something they both need to deal with.)

[covert-schizoid]

I finally finished my write up for this project but I don’t really have anyone to proof-read/critique it, so if anyone would be willing to give me your feedback I’d really appreciate it

Journal entry 287

I ran across a most peculiar Creature of Fey today. I must admit it gave me quite the fright, and scares me even now- though for entirely different reasons. The Creature of Feys ability to adapt to the rapid change in human culture these last few years never ceases to amaze and terrify me. Clever adaptations to their tricks and the rapid claiming of little niches in city life were expected, but I never anticipated a change like this. You can't even imagine my surprise to find a fey so deep in the cities tech sector, let alone one quite like this. Hell, to find one like this at all! But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Initially, it was the shift in the air that caught my attention. Like a static cling, prickling its way over my skin with little buzzing specks of warmth. Its shadow drew my eye, greeting me with only a slight spark of confused recognition of a nature spirits shadow, before the sight of it dashed such thoughts from my mind. A creature of metal, circuits, cables and glass; assembled like a ball joint doll! Surely this could be no Creature of Fey? But the way it moved, elegant and smooth with its odd spindly and disjointed limbs. The hypnotic rhythms of its tail, much too long to be natural, steadied four ever moving rings. With every flick and twitch the light hum of whirling machinery whispered over the silent street, the slight click of metal with every adjustment. It was with sickening realisation as I studied it further that it dawned on me, my initial assumption had been right. This was indeed a nature spirit.

It seemed so wrong. A Fey that was practically the embodiment of organic life, magic, and the untouched earth... to seem so.... mechanical. I couldn't help but wonder if this was how Julliard had felt discovering a nature spirit of decay for the first time. But no matter how wrong it seemed, I could not deny its clear Fey origins. Its flowers may have been replaced by cables, skin of iron in place of grass, moss, or bark, and decorated by circuits instead of paint; but, it was still a nature spirit.

After my initial shock I quickly gave chase, my curiosity overpowering. I kept my distance of course; though nature spirits are mostly indifferent to those around them, up close encounters could go either way, depending on the spirit in question. For the short time I was able to follow it from my side of the street, I noted some fascinating things.

For one, its necklaces, usually made over time by the spirits out of pretty rocks and stones they find, were made up of USB's. Can you believe it? USB's! Perhaps that's where my lost ones keep ending up. They were quite sparse, though. I suppose that's to be a given, as I doubt it's been around long; both by Fey standards and human ones. The cloth it had was strange as well, though mountain spirits are known for their furs, and spirits of decay have been found with ripped and tattered cloth, this was quite different. It was clean cut, and seemed to be made of a smooth, more processed material. The earrings, too, were fascinating. They seemed to be made of the same crystalline material as the circuits running along its body. Something I could only tell from my distance once it had entered a dark alleyway, allowing the circuits' dull green glow to become visible.

It was then, as it entered the ally, that I became aware of the mistake I had made.

I had been intending to cross the street at the upcoming crosswalk to examine it more closely, but still out of its notice. Or, so I'd thought. As I examined the circuits more closely, now clearly visible in the dark ally, they lead me all the way up to its face. And its eyes. Eyes that, in their sheer blackness and odd glowing iris, seemed to take in everything and nothing all at once. But, more importantly in that moment, were seemingly staring directly at me.

The sudden shift of warm to painful pricks of electricity in the air made me realise my mistake. Unlike most nature spirits, this one was very aware of my presence. Though it's hollow, unmoving face gave nothing away, the flare of its eyes and circuits as it turned again to walk down the alley made its message very clear. It was not pleased. I'm of no shame to admit I didn't move for quite some time after it left, afraid any movement would allow my jell-o like legs to give out from under me.

But despite that, I know I must study this creature. For an even larger fear than my own safety has crept into my mind since I began to reflect on this encounter. If a Creatures of Fey can change so drastically, so quickly, to become the antithesis of everything it was known to be for millennia... what else is out there? Here in this city? How do you ward off Fey with iron if they have become creatures made of iron? The inescapable truth I have come to realise in my time here is that, just as we are evolving, so are they. Just as their old tricks work no longer, soon, ours won't as well.

Yes, no matter what it takes I must figure out how this creature ticks! No matter the cost to life and limb; after all I would not have entered this field if I didn't know the danger of studying such things. It will take much planning and work, of course. No need to be careless after all, especially since this new breed of Fey seems even more intelligent than the last... isn't that a terrifying thought? But all the more reason that this research must continue. It may not be why I was initially sent to this city, but I'm sure I could convince the association to give me the necessary time and supplies once I gather enough evidence of these creatures existence. No doubt they will see the danger in this shift as I have. I just hope I can convince them of it before these new Creatures of Fey get too far ahead of us...