#zarina: i have so much to say

[sailorwritesstuff]

"HELP" Hobie Brown x reader.

"Arachne!" You turn at the sound of your alias. Your Alias. It roll out of his mouth in a thick sultry English accent, "I need your help."

"Can it...wait?" Your eyes drift to one of the many spider-women around, earth 834: Zarina Zahari. She looked at him with a raised brow and seemed unamused with the interruption.

"No. I need your help," he repeats cooly his large hand presses against your back and starts gently pushing, "...now."

"Oh- o-ok..." You stutter stumbling a bit as you try and wrap up. "I'll talk to you later, Zar! Hobie stop shoving!"

"stop stallin' then, dove." He huffs stopping his insistent pushing only to fiddle with his wrist. A portal opens and you turn to look at him in confusion. "Well? Are we goin'to stand here all day or are you walking through it?"

"where-?"

"go." He gives a gentle push.

"Jesus Christ you are so impatient today." You grumble in frustration going through the portal and falling on a firm bed in a familiar room. Like the occupant of the room it's calm and serene and the colors are slightly different than the last time you were over. It was ever changing. You sit with your legs crossed on the bed your arms across your chest as Hobie falls through much more elegantly next to you.

"dovey-" his voice rings with an air of amusement at you pouty insistence.

"dovey," you mock his thick accent and he takes a deep breath. "Don't dovey me I was having a conversation, Hobie. What is the matter with you?"

"I'm tired." He says simply wrapping his arms around you and pressing his face into the crook of your neck his nose brushes the skin there and he sighs. The little shit is content, "and I don't think I can sleep if you're not here. Shuddup and lay with me."

[dweetwise]

[Vittorio X Ace] Language barrier

I've had this fic sitting in my drafts for one and a half years and finally got around to finishing it. I hope you like it 💕 Rated T | 6k words | ao3 link

Ace was whistling as he walked back from another successful trial.

The fully-stocked ranger medkit felt heavy in his hand and he couldn't wait to show off his latest haul. And people said looting chests was a waste of time!

When he approached the familiar glow of the survivors' campfire, however, there was no welcome committee to greet Ace after his spectacular escape from the Spirit's clutches. Instead, everyone was gathered around one of the logs, their postures tense and voices raised.

Ace frowned. Another fight? Damn, he really couldn't leave these people alone for five minutes.

Ace took a breath and steeled himself for facing the ire of whoever was responsible for the commotion this time.

"Children, children!" Ace exclaimed. "There's no need to fight: I love you all equally!"

Predictably, that got most people to shut up and two dozen heads whipped around to look at Ace.

But instead of the eye rolls or disgusted scoffs Ace expected, the survivors looked…relieved?

"Oh, thank god," Élodie sighed. "You're finally here."

Ace arched an eyebrow. The crowd started dispersing, like they had actually been waiting for Ace's arrival instead of being perpetually annoyed by his existence like usual, and Ace felt another tacky joke bubbling up—

And then he saw him.

The man was tall. He was muscular and tattooed, with silver hair and a calcularing stare, standing in the middle of the survivor campsite with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His leather jacket creaked from the movement, bulging biceps straining the material.

"Ace," Élodie said, grabbing his arm firmly. "We need your help."

Ace felt a smirk forming. "He's for me? Oh, Élodie, you shouldn't have."

Strangely enough, the new guy neither laughed nor sneered at Ace's remark. In fact, he didn't react in any way whatsoever, which was a little unnerving.

"Not the time," Élodie hissed. "He just got here, and he only speaks Italian. Please tell me you weren't lying when you bragged about being fluent in seven languages?"

Oh; that would explain the mild panic of his friends and utter indifference to Ace's charms from the stranger.

"Italian?" Ace grinned and shook off the woman's hold. "Say no more!"

He sauntered up to the new guy—shoving the medkit in a clueless Dwight's arms as he passed—and put on his friendliest smile.

"Ciao, stranger," Ace said, effortlessly switching to one of the four—not seven—languages he spoke. "I heard you could use some assistance?"

The scowl finally disappeared from that handsome face as the man perked up in recognition.

"I would be much obliged," Mr. sex-on-legs said.

And that was how Ace was roped in to play translator between the rest of the group and their newest arrival.

The man introduced himself as Vittorio Toscano: because of course, even his name was attractive.

Vittorio had apparently been wandering the fog a long time before finding his way here. This was only validated by the fact that he didn't seem at all phased when Ace—at the others' insistence—went over the basic “sorry you were kidnapped by some Lovecraftian god and are now gonna be hunted for sport for its amusement.”

"That doesn't exactly surprise me," Vittorio said. "After the things the fog has shown me…well, I concluded as much."

Ace should probably have been more curious about the…fog visions, or connections to the Entity, or whatever else Zarina and the others were screaming in his ear about once he translated that piece of information for them.

But he had a hunch. And after a lifetime of relying on it to survive, Ace's intuition was usually pretty good.

"So where exactly are you from? Before you got taken?" Ace asked.

"Gordega, Italy," Vittorio said. Then he sighed. "I'm sorry. I used to be a well-read man and be better at languages, but after so long, most of the knowledge has faded."

"Hey, I'm not complaining. Any of these people would tell you there's little I enjoy as much as running my mouth—and now there's actually someone who listens!"

"Nevertheless, I appreciate the help." Vittorio glanced around at the group still gathered around them, patiently waiting for new information. "So ask away. I know you all have questions."

"Yeah, speaking of…" Ace said. "When are you from?"

Vittorio smiled ruefully. "1391."

Though Ace had suspected it was coming, the admission still took him by surprise. Here this man was, looking like he’d jumped right out of some modern alternative fashion spread, casually telling Ace that he was actually over six hundred years old.

And the weirdest part was that Ace believed him.

"What? What did he say?" Meg bounced restlessly in her seat. 

Because Ace being stunned speechless was actually a little worrying, all things considered. He didn't even know how to begin to convince the others of Vittorio's past.

"Thirteen…" Jonah spoke up. "The 14th century!?"

But fortunately, Ace didn't need to. Because while Italian and Spanish were different languages, there were enough similarities for certain math nerds to understand numbers.

"What!?" Élodie exclaimed, then looked at Ace for confirmation.

"Yeah, uh," Ace said. "Our new friend seems to be of the vintage variety."

That was when the arguing started again.

And after the shouting matches were done, when Yui was glaring at Vittorio and ordering Ace to “tell him we don't trust him”…

Ace only smiled at the new survivor and said, "She says she's jealous of your stylish outfit."

Vittorio huffed a dry chuckle. "Is that so?"

Ace was happy to learn that sarcasm apparently existed in the 1300's.

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

Unsurprisingly, Ace ended up talking to Vittorio a lot over the next few days.

Yes, there was the shared language. Yes, Vittorio was ridiculously attractive. Yes, everyone was still harassing Ace about using their new time capsule friend to find out more about the Entity and the fog.

But more than that, this was the most interesting thing to happen in the entire six years Ace had been stuck here.

The others weren't thrilled that Ace used most of his time simply getting to know the guy, whether that was blabbering on about his family's Italian roots or bugging Vittorio for fashion advice.

"So you picked up all the accessories in the fog too?" Ace asked. "Pierced your own ears, cut your hair, the whole thing? Damn, and here I've had the same haircut for six years."

"I suppose I could try a different style," Vittorio said, fiddling with one of his necklaces. "Maybe the jewelry and neckline is too much for someone of your time?"

"Don't you dare change anything," Ace said. "Have you seen some of the atrocities the others wear? You'll be dressing like an elf or rocking fedoras if you try to copy us."

Vittorio huffed out an almost-laugh at that. Tactfully, he didn't comment on Ace's flamingo sweater.

"What about you?" Vittorio asked.

"What about me?" Ace grinned. "I mean, my uncontested status as a fashion icon notwithstanding…"

"You seem content to talk about the past," Vittorio said. "But I'm curious about the future. What was your life like before the Entity?"

Ace's smile only widened. "Tell me, my friend, did you have poker in 1300?"

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

It was easy to befriend Vittorio. 

Ace never would have guessed someone from that era to be so open-minded when even people in the 21st century had plenty of prejudices.

But Vittorio was happy to prove him wrong. It was amazing how easily he kept up with Ace's banter and picked up on concepts previously foreign him. Ace chalked some of it up to the man's calm disposition and interesting life both before and after falling into the Entity's clutches, but more than anything, Vittorio was just that goddamn smart.

Still, six centuries in the fog didn't come without baggage.

"I've seen them," Vittorio said one day, his voice quiet and eyes distant. 

He was staring at a group of girls sorting bandages: Claudette was giggling and Yui was rolling her eyes while Nea talked animatedly with her hands and messed up the bandages.

"Yeah?" Ace asked. "In trials? You've met them before?"

"In the visions," Vittorio clarified.

Because apparently, that was a thing. This group of survivors wasn't the first one Vittorio had come across, though the timeline and his memories were hazy.

But in between centuries of sporadic trials, Vittorio had spent most of his time wandering the fog, not confined to a campfire like the rest of them. He'd told Ace that he used to be obsessed with people called the watchers—or observers, or something—so Ace supposed it made sense that he'd been on his way to becoming one.

"I saw one of the girls get chased by sirens and flashing lights," Vittorio said, still looking at the trio. "And one crying on her birthday, before her father made her smile again. And the Japanese one I saw in the future, far away, and she was killing…she killed them all."

Vittorio's eyes were starting to look vacant. But it was only when the tattoo on his neck started glowing that Ace decided to intervene.

"Hey," Ace said, putting a hand on Vittorio's shoulder. "It's okay. Parallel universe, right? No biggie."

"You're right,'' Vittorio said. When he looked back at Yui, he seemed a little more relaxed. "I've seen how she is. She values loyalty above all else; she's not a murderer."

Suddenly, Ace almost wanted to ask if Vittorio had seen him in any visions.

"I never wanted this," Vittorio continued, so quietly Ace didn't know if it was meant for him to hear. "All I ever wanted was peace. To help the world."

"I don't think world peace is a one man job," Ace joked. "But it's a nice sentiment."

Vittorio's smile was melancholy. "At least I can try to make things better here and help as much as I can."

Coming from anyone else, Ace would have rolled his eyes and asked Dwight to calm down with the team-building speeches. But this was a man who had been doing this for hundreds of years and, somehow, still kept on hoping and earnestly helping others.

"Well," Ace said. "You're at least helping by keeping me entertained. And trust me, that's more important than you'd think. There've been flashlight duels and misuse of murky reagents—and a few explosions—when I got bored."

It probably wasn't the kind of world-saving heroics Vittorio was aiming for, but this time, his smile was genuine enough to reach his eyes.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised."

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

Trials came and went and Vittorio settled more firmly into their group dynamic.

It was strange, having a new teammate who wasn't exactly new. Vittorio had more experience in trials than most of them combined, and after the initial hiccups—mostly consisting of Chinese cursing and “Stop wasting gen efficiency, you fucking fossil!”—Vittorio proved to be a valuable asset against any killer.

"Watch out!" Vittorio hissed, suddenly pulling Ace away from the generator they were working on.

Ace stumbled after him, shooting a confused glance over his shoulder to where the green orb of the Knight's phantom passed their generator by probably forty feet.

"It's okay," Ace said. "He missed the gen. We can keep working."

"No," Vittorio insisted. "That's the jailer. He's an expert at tracking."

Ace dubiously watched as the phantom phased into existence far from the generator. He immediately started down the path his master had determined for him, not even looking at the generator…

Until he came across Ace's muddy footprints from before.

Ace watched the guard change course and follow the trail to the generator. He peered behind the machine and looked around, and Ace was suddenly very glad for Vittorio's foresight to quietly sneak them away. Because the guard found nothing and returned to his path, and Ace avoided what would otherwise have been a nasty burn from that branding iron.

"Huh," Ace said. "That was pretty impressive foresight, not gonna lie."

Vittorio huffed. "One of the few good things to come from being acquainted with Tarhos and his followers, I suppose." 

"Oh, right," Ace said. "I forgot you used to know these guys."

It was bizarre to think that Vittorio was from the same time as the killer with platemail armor. While Vittorio had been seeking knowledge all these centuries, the Knight had apparently been content with slicing people up with his little posse.

"Come, now," Vittorio said. "It should be safe."

Vittorio nudged him back towards the generator and only then did Ace realize that he'd been holding onto Ace's arm this entire time.

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

"Must've been lonely, all those centuries on your own," Ace said over a game of cards. "And here I thought a few years of celibacy was bad."

"It never felt like hundreds of years for me," Vittorio said. "But time does pass differently here."

"Still, there's gotta be more interesting stuff for you to do than hang around an old geezer like me."

Vittorio snorted. "If you're old, that would make me ancient."

"Doesn't stop Kate and Jane from checking you out," Ace said. "And unless your monk training required a chastity vow or something, I'm pretty sure body language is universal."

Ace waggled his eyebrows and threw in a wink for good measure. If Vittorio was offended by his matchmaking attempt, he at least didn't show it.

"I'm a philosopher, not a monk," Vittorio explained patiently. "Regardless, I always valued intellectual compatibility above all else. Which is difficult to achieve if there's no way to even communicate."

Ace shoved down the disappointment. If he'd been entertaining any sort of romantic-slash-sexual angle with Vittorio, those thoughts were definitely dwindling with the requirement of intellectual compatibility.

"Damn, it's a shame Claud doesn't speak Italian," Ace said. "She's wicked smart. You'd probably get on great."

Vittorio hummed and adjusted the cards in his hands. "I mostly gave up on romance after my first and last bed partner turned on me and now kills me on a daily basis."

Ace's brain did the equivalent of a record screech. "What!?"

"Tarhos," Vittorio said, his face neutral like he was discussing the weather. "I told you, he used to be my bodyguard—among other things."

Ace could only stare at his friend and try not to gape like a fish as he pieced together this new information.

Logically, Ace knew that same-sex attraction had existed since the dawn of time—hello, ancient Greece—but he never actually expected Vittorio would be interested in men; or at the very least, not admit it so casually.

"You're shitting me, right?" Ace said.

Vittorio gave a one-shoulder shrug. "There's nothing for me to gain by lying."

As he said it, Vittorio met Ace's eyes with something akin to a smirk.

"Speaking of, were you planning on putting back those two extra cards you took last round?" Vittorio asked. "Because I may not know much about this game, but I'm almost certain that's against the rules."

And Ace could only laugh somewhat hysterically before attempting to explain his little card maneuver as a legitimate strategy, all the while recovering from the absolute whiplash of the last few minutes.

Because, yes, Ace still found Vittorio hot: that little fact hadn't changed just because they were friends now. Vittorio still looked like someone had taken David's muscles, Felix's face and Jeff's rugged charm and mashed them into Ace's ultimate wet dream.

But he never thought anything would come of it. The guy was from a completely different time, was only talking to Ace because that was his only option for company, and had probably seen enough shit for a hundred lifetimes.

And now, he was learning that there might be a chance after all?

No matter how small that chance was, Ace had to take it.

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

"So, I've been meaning to ask," Ace said a few days later.

Vittorio paused in stocking a toolbox, immediately giving Ace his full attention. "Yes?"

And looking at that handsome face and those deep green eyes staring so earnestly into Ace's own…

Ace chickened out. 

"What's that tattoo on your neck?" Ace asked. "The one that lights up like a glowstick when you go all…observer-y."

"Oh." Was Ace imagining it, or did Vittorio sound disappointed? "It's… well, it's probably easiest if I show you."

With that, Vittorio shrugged out of his jacket and reached for the hem of his shirt, and Ace only had enough mental capacity to swallow an embarrassing noise. He glanced around in alarm: they were right by the campfire, with a dozen or so people milling about and Christ, anyone could see the impromptu strip show!

Someone gasped across the campsite and when Ace finally turned to look, he almost wanted to do the same.

Vittorio was covered in tattoos. From his neckline all the way down to his waist, tattoos in various shapes and colors took up the majority of his muscular torso. Most of them were symbols or writing Ace couldn't understand—but then again, he didn't know what he expected from a medieval philosopher.

"How…?" Ace managed to get out.

"I did most of these by myself," Vittorio said. He brushed over a row of what looked like runes on his forearm. "When I was locked in the dungeon, I marked myself with every ancient symbol and passage I could remember. It's how I got the Entity's attention, and what lets me channel energy in trials."

For the second time in just a few days, Ace was rendered speechless. He had seen Vittorio use some sort of portals on generators, but other than Feng's complaints, none of the survivors had been keen to learn more about it.

The longer they were silent, the more Ace could feel people staring. Some of the others were already whispering, but in the end, only one person dared to approach.

"Hi," Mikaela said, finally snapping Ace out of it.

"Hello, beautiful!" Ace's poor, frazzled brain automatically resorted to flirting.

"Those symbols…" Mikaela reached her hand out, hovering above Vittorio's chest. "Can I…?"

Ace had half a mind to tell her to get her own half-naked, medieval hunk. But before he could, the woman's hand started glowing.

"Whoa," Ace said. "Easy there, Red."

"Ask him to channel the power," Mikaela said. "There's—I can feel the potential of the magic, but I can't reach it."

"Reach what?" Ace said. He trusted Mikaela, he really did, but if there was a chance of her witchiness hurting Vittorio… "What are you doing?"

It was an unnerving sight, seeing Vittorio's tattoos and Mikaela's hand both glow the same unnatural blue. The lights were pulsing in tandem, almost like a heartbeat, but Vittorio only watched the sight curiously.

"There's so much knowledge in his magic," Mikaela said. "We just need to unlock it."

"Ace?" Vittorio asked. He still looked as calm as ever. "What is she saying?"

Ace swallowed and stamped down on his own worry-slash-jealousy.

"She said to channel your magic—uh, like when you're doing the observer thing, I guess." Ace frowned. "But you don't have to."

Vittorio looked back at Mikaela, and then he nodded.

"Good," Mikaela said. "I'll try to amplify the magic. Ready?"

"Now, hold on just a minute—" Ace tried.

"It's alright," Vittorio said. "I want to try this."

Ace sighed and stepped back, giving the duo some space.

"I swear, if you break him…" he told Mikaela.

The woman rolled her eyes. "Please just stay out of the way."

And that was apparently all the warning Ace got, because as Vittorio closed his eyes, the glow that resulted from his and Mikaela's shared magicking was bright enough to nearly blind him.

Ace shielded his eyes from the flash of light and heard many curses and yelps as others did the same.

"What the fuck!?" Nea exclaimed.

"Ugh, my eyes!" Steve complained.

"Is everyone okay?" Jane asked. "Mikaela? Vittorio?"

"We're fine," said a familiar deep voice.

A very familiar voice that was no longer speaking in Italian.

Ace blinked the light from his eyes, only to see his friends seemingly unharmed—save for the fact that Vittorio's eyes were glowing blue.

"I assume it worked?" Mikaela asked.

Vittorio smiled. "I'd say so, yes."

Ace could only gape stupidly. From everything he had expected Mikaela's little spiritual session to include, making Vittorio a fluent English-speaker wasn't part of it.

The others cheered and swarmed the man, now free to talk to him without Ace's interference, and Ace's heart sank to his stomach.

He should have been happy for his friend. This would make things much easier in trials and do wonders for the survivors as a team, not to mention vastly improve Vittorio's quality of life since he was no longer restricted to one person as his entire social circle.

So why was Ace so disappointed?

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

A few hours later, footsteps approached Ace at the edge of camp—where he was absolutely not sulking away from the group, thankyouverymuch—and it was a small surprise to see Vittorio flop down next to him. 

Ace glanced over. Vittorio was usually more graceful, but this time he just sort of…crumpled to the ground, heaving a sigh as he dragged a hand down his face.

Clearly, he wasn’t looking forward to this conversation, but they both knew it had to be done.

Instead of friend-dumping Ace, however, Vittorio merely propped one of his arms up on a nearby log and looked at Ace with a smile: a small, tired smile, but a smile nonetheless. 

“Ciao,” Vittorio said.

Ace just stared at him. The way Vittorio was leaning against the log, arm casually draped over it with the rest of his body on display and an easy smile on his face made him look like something out of the magazines Ace used to steal and hide under his pillow when he was a teenager, until his father found them and…

Yeah, okay, not going there.

“How's it going?” Ace asked.

Vittorio frowned. “Why are you speaking English?”

Ace shrugged. “No use trying to talk in code when everyone’s gonna understand every word you say regardless.” He averted his eyes and kicked at a pebble on the ground. “Speaking of, shouldn’t you get back to them? I’m sure they’re all dying to talk to you.”

It wasn’t a lie: he could feel several pairs of eyes lingering on them and probably anxiously awaiting their turn to talk to Vittorio.

Vittorio huffed. “Have you considered the possibility that maybe I don’t want to speak to thirty people at once?”

When Ace’s response was only a skeptical look, he continued, “The magic requires conscious effort to keep active and getting to know this many new people at once is exhausting. I’d much rather keep it to short intervals and spend the rest of my time with you.”

Ace couldn’t stop the smile from creeping up on his face. Switching back to their shared language, he said, "Well, in that case, I guess I'm all yours.”

It was seemingly just another cheesy line and, hopefully, Vittorio wouldn’t realize how much Ace truly meant it.

Vittorio just frowned, then said softly, “I saw you, you know.”

“I wasn’t moping,” Ace reflexively lied.

Vittorio huffed a quiet laugh and shook his head in what seemed like fond exasperation—his default mood when it came to being around Ace, really.

“In a vision,” Vittorio clarified.

“What, just now?” Ace asked.

“No,” Vittorio said. “A very long time ago. It was from one of your stories: the one where you challenged the female fighter for a bet. It’s one of the first visions I remember having in the fog.”

“Oh,” Ace said, then promptly cleared his throat as realization set in. “Damn, that's the memory you saw? I've had more glamorous moments in my life, you know.”

At least it wasn't Ace’s secret gay porn stash or any of the numerous loan sharks threatening him.

“I wasn’t sure it was you at first,” Vittorio kept going. “It was such a long time ago and I didn’t remember all the details; I didn’t know much about the future back then. And even when I thought I recognized you, you didn’t seem at all like a violent person. I assumed it could have been…” he trailed off.

“A dark universe?” Ace suggested.

“Yes. But after getting to know you and learning how reckless you are, not to mention your stupidly proud smile whenever you tell the story—”

“Hey! It's a good story!”

Vittorio smiled. “I can see that it was definitely you.”

“Well, yeah.” Ace cleared his throat and averted his eyes from the sincere smile. “I’m glad you remembered. I think?”

“It’s strange,” Vittorio continued, “how much calmer I felt as soon as I recognized you when I first came to this campfire. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner—that was dishonest of me.”

“Uh, no, it’s all good,” Ace said. “It was probably a confusing situation. It’s not like you could have known you’d stay with our gang for this long.”

“That’s not true,” Vittorio protested gently. “Arriving here was different from all the other places I’ve come across in the fog. It feels like I know these people.” 

He cast a glance over the survivor campsite where everyone had mostly returned to their usual tasks of sorting items and talking shit about killers. 

Vittorio looked back up to meet Ace’s eyes and said, “Like after centuries of wandering, I’ve finally found the place where I belong.”

Ace kept telling himself it didn’t mean anything.

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

Ace sighed and clutched the apology medkit in his hand.

He and Vittorio had had their first fight. The Deathslinger had been a little too happy to focus his attention on the new survivor and Ace had the brilliant idea to take a couple harpoons to the chest to buy Vittorio at least a few seconds to make distance from the killer.

Unfortunately, it had ended in all of them dead. And after Jane lectured Ace's ear off about ignoring generators, Vittorio had actually raised his voice for the first time and yelled at Ace for intervening in his trial.

And maybe Ace had snapped something vaguely sarcastic back, and that hadn't gone over well, and eventually Vittorio's kind eyes had hardened into a glare and he'd stormed off.

Thus, the apology medkit.

Ace eventually found Vittorio in the woods surrounding the campfire, standing by a small lake and looking out over the still water.

"Hey," Ace said, then hurried to add, "Don't worry, I come bearing gifts."

He held out the medkit. Vittorio simply stared down at it.

Then, Vittorio sighed and dragged a hand down his own face. "I'm sorry."

Ace blinked stupidly. "Uh, I'm pretty sure that's my line."

"I haven't lost my temper like that since…I don't even remember."

Since Vittorio didn’t seem interested in his bribe—ahem, peace offering—Ace made the executive decision to toss the medkit on the ground.

"Well," Ace said. "I am pretty good at getting on people's nerves."

Vittorio smiled at him. "You're also very good at calming people down."

Ace shrugged. "Eh, jury’s still out on that one. Still, I’m sorry too."

"Don't be. You…your actions made me realize something."

Ace swallowed the automatic quip of “That I'm a dumbass?” and forced himself to be serious for once in his life.

"Yeah?" he asked.

Vittorio hesitated, then took a pointed step closer, making Ace realize just how much distance there had been between them. Assuming Vittorio was pissed at him, Ace had unconsciously kept him at arm’s length—but that didn’t seem to sit well with either of them.

Because now that Ace thought about it, Vittorio always seemed to hover in Ace’s space. He’d brush a hand over Ace’s back when passing him, sit close enough that their knees bumped when they relaxed by the campfire, and lean on Ace’s shoulder for support while he wheezed at Ace’s jokes that he swore he didn’t find funny. 

Ace had simply assumed it was a cultural thing: Mediterranean people and Latin Americans were both a little touchy-feely. But now he was starting to question the seemingly platonic gestures.

Vittorio’s brow furrowed while he studied Ace—probably concerned about the fact that Ace had gone a good two minutes without so much as a joke or sarcastic eyebrow raise—before he finally spoke.

“I’m not very good at this sort of thing,” Vittorio admitted. “I’m not sure how to be any clearer, and you are impossible to read…” he trailed off and fidgeted, actually appearing uncertain.

That was on opening if Ace ever saw one.

“Like I said the other day.” Ace grinned and took a step closer. “Body language.”

He tilted his head up and gently grabbed a handful of Vittorio’s shirt to pull him closer, giving the man his best seductive smile.

…Except instead of sweeping Ace off his feet and kissing him silly, Vittorio’s eyes went wide and he froze completely under Ace’s touch.

Ace immediately pushed himself off. “Shit. My bad!” He ran a hand through his hair in a gesture he desperately hoped looked casual. “I read that completely wrong. Sorry about that.”

Ace could almost physically feel the hit his confidence was taking from the rejection. He really had to stop thinking with his dick before he ruined what had become one of the best friendships he’d ever had.

A warm hand grabbed Ace’s wrist and stopped him from fretting with his hair.

Vittorio was smiling, his eyes now fond. “You just took me by surprise.” He huffed. “Apparently, things have changed somewhat in the last six centuries.”

Ace’s smile returned. “Oh yeah? Was kissing about a date twenty type of thing?” he bantered along. “You never thought to peep on those kinds of things in the future?”

“I can't exactly choose what visions I see,” Vittorio protested, though his face pinked as he blushed.

It was a pretty blush and Ace wanted about fifty more of it, please and thank you.

“Then maybe you should show me how you did it in the olden days,” Ace challenged with a wicked smirk.

In response, Vittorio raised their joined hands to his mouth—all the while keeping eye contact—and gently kissed the inside of Ace’s wrist.

“Oh.” Ace’s voice cracked on the word but dammit, that was really nice.

“Would you believe me,” Vittorio said, lowering their hands to properly intertwine their fingers, “if I said that things were much more crude back then than they are now?”

Ace perked up. “Really now?”

Vittorio chuckled at his obvious eagerness. “But this isn't the 1300st century,” he continued, cupping Ace’s jaw with his other hand. “And I can adapt.”

“In my humble opinion, it sounds like a compromise would be in order—”

Vittorio decided to shut him up with a kiss and Ace’s witty response—along with most of his coherent thoughts—promptly fizzled out into nothing.

Vittorio’s beard rasped pleasantly against Ace’s own and, wow, Ace was really kissing someone who hadn’t been kissed in several hundred years. No matter how much Vittorio had tried to play off his need for intimacy, he was clearly desperate for this and very much into it, his lips a little sloppy and his hand tightly clutching Ace’s.

It was flattering, really.

Ace was completely on board and gave as good as he got, clinging to Vittorio’s jacket and standing up on the balls of his feet to press even closer, kiss even harder. He experimentally flicked his tongue over Vittorio’s bottom lip and his effort earned him a quiet moan that shot straight to his groin.

When Vittorio finally pulled away, his breathing was heavier and he was blushing in earnest, pink coloring his cheeks all the way to his ears.

It made him look somehow even more handsome than usual.

Vittorio smiled down at Ace. “That was nice,” he murmured softly.

“Worth waiting six centuries for?” Ace quipped.

Vittorio laughed and warm pride spread through Ace’s body. Vittorio looked so utterly happy here, in this moment of quiet closeness and shared jokes, and Ace wanted to keep making him smile and laugh and blush for many years to come.

Vittorio leaned back down, then murmured against Ace’s lips. “Worth every single year.”

═════════════ ♧ ═════════════

It was easy after that.

Ace strolled back into camp after a trial and found Vittorio propped up against one of the logs, his legs sprawled out on the ground in that effortlessly attractive way he always carried himself. He held a book with some weird symbols carved on the cover—one of Mikaela's spell tomes, if Ace had to guess—and his eyes were glowing blue as he translated the text in his mind's eye or whatever.

Ace immediately flopped down next to him with a dramatic sigh, leaning into Vittorio’s side and letting his head rest on a muscular shoulder.

“Damn, your friend really had it out for me,” Ace complained. “That assassin phantom, the one who can outrun us? Somehow always managed to find me when I was injured. I want to file a harassment complaint.”

Vittorio hummed in acknowledgement and the corner of his mouth quirked up. He kept reading but snaked his hand around Ace’s shoulders and gently massaged the spot where Ace had been repeatedly pierced through with a meat hook.

Ace sighed happily and leaned into the touch, his eyes sliding shut as he relaxed from the soft affection.

He could hear murmurs around the campfire: some people had been quite surprised about this turn of events when they shared the news, others had said "told you so", and a few thousand bloodpoints had even exchanged hands.

Ace tuned them all out but he knew people were staring. Here Ace was, casually leaning against his gorgeous, 600-something-old boyfriend, one who was currently glowing blue and magically translating a foreign language, and who would periodically get visions of the future or alternate dimensions.

Yeah, it was a little weird.

There was a laugh from behind them and Ace perked up in anticipation of the newest gossip, but slumped back down in defeat once he heard Élodie go on in French.

“Did you know that Élodie and the architect are dating?” Vittorio asked.

Ace gawked at him. “What?!”

“For quite some time now, apparently,” Vittorio said, still seemingly engrossed in his book but apparently eavesdropping at the same time. “Hm. It's a wonder nobody has noticed.”

“You can…you've learned to…” Ace stammered.

“Translate any language, yes.” Vittorio turned to him and smirked. “Do you think I should tell the others?”

So, maybe his boyfriend had a few voyeuristic tendencies Ace probably should be concerned about.

But then again, Ace was a huge gossip, so maybe it was meant to be.

“Oh hell no.” Ace grinned and leaned closer, draping himself against Vittorio’s side. “This is our little secret and we'll reveal it when they least expect it. Like one of those times when Feng is cursing me out in Mandarin, you can interrupt her with ‘Actually, Ace's mother is a lovely woman, and secondly I'm not about to let him shove a whole flashlight up his—’”

“Alright, alright.” Vittorio chuckled, nudging Ace to shut him up. He lowered his head, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled. “Our secret.”

Ace’s heart soared and he didn’t even hesitate before pulling Vittorio into a kiss in full view of the others.

He hadn’t been this happy in years and nobody—not even their so-called friends making gagging noises in the background or Vittorio’s murderous ex stabbing him repeatedly—could take this away from him.

[oh-shtars]

I have a little challenge for the Wish!Rewrite fandom:

@annymation @uva124 @emillyverse @gracebethartacc @signed-sapphire @tumblingdownthefoxden @chillwildwave @rascalentertainments @mythartist21

(Apologies if I forgot to mention your name. You can still join if you’d like.)

For each character in your own AU, name 2-3 characters that you think they were based/inspired from the most:

I thought this would be a fun activity for us to get an idea of each other’s characters since we’re having a lot of variety now. I’ll start: 💖

(Btw, they don’t have to be a Disney character. Just someone well known. Also, you don’t have to do a character you haven’t thought through yet.)

……

Reach for the Stars AU:

(I can only put a maximum of 10 images in total so bear with me a little here ;-;)

Asha:

- Introverted and empathetic nature who’s slow to judgement like Belle

- Hesitation but longing to do and achieve something like Luca

- Humour and gentle playfulness and sarcasm like Nala.

Star/Sueño:

- Definitely the shape-shifting and complete mischief from Camilo

- Can I just say he’s mainly Aladdin-coded? Watch the animated movie and that’s mostly basically Sueño. A soft-spot for animals and kids, kind of a dork, and again, mischievous. Plus, the whole “There’s so much more to me” thing by Aladdin too.

- Paranoid and mistrusting at first but a dreamer who appreciates everything like Rapunzel

Magnus/Magnifico:

- Temper from Hades. And I guess just the vibe in general(?)

- Sympathetic complexity but ruthless like Lotso

- Family issues like between Merida and her mother. Frustrated of the high expectations for him.

Amaya:

- Innovativeness and wonder to know more like Zarina

- “Sweet” and manipulative mother-like figure like Gothel

- Deal-making trickster who is persuasive like Dr. Facilier and maybe, Ursula(?)

Valentino:

- Innocence and loyalty from Thumper (from the movie, Bambi)

- The whole child-like fun and boldness from younger Simba

- Loud-mouthed and sort of bratty like Mushu

[sailorplanet1997]

i completely agree why this gets hated by others some said because it's a Fawn movie, it's the center of Fawn, everybody agrees with that it's the second least favourite movie, the younger me wondered why the focus wasn't on Tinkerbell for the first time since Fawn appeared more then Tinkerbell herself lol now that i'm older i don't have any problems having the focus on other characters than Tinkerbell, they kind of went that way in "The Pirate Fairy" but not many people noticed it because the adventure was based on each main characters (and Zarina) but the first like 10 minutes of the movie explains it all, the focus was on Zarina the older i get, the more i realize each movies are based on other characters, like we ALL know the first movie is completely focused on Tinkerbell, the next movie "The Lost Treasure" movie the focus was based on Terence (which i had strong feeling about it since the focus was either on Tinkerbell or Terence while the others were barely there) the third movie was kind of focused on Vidia (because of her redemption, taking her responsibilities and rescuing Tinkerbell, she even have more speaking roles then most of the fairies combined in this movie and she appeared more then most of the fairies) the fourth movie was focused on Periwinkle (because of winter, sister love and such) the differences with the earlier movies is Tinkerbell appeared the most and even still have most of her speaking roles, that's probably the reason i didn't thought too much of it and never went that deep untill around 2 years ago, the final movie at the other hand i already knew the first time i watched the movie all the focus was on Fawn (she learns stuff, discover things, bringing everybody in danger and saving the day by saving pixie hollow, she appeared the most and have most of the speaking roles, even more so then Tinkerbell) i don't have a problem having the focus on other characters perse, i actually love the idea of it (i do understand why some people prefer Tinkerbell over everybody else because the tittle always starts with "Tinkerbell" and the focus started with Tinkerbell) but the problems with "The Legend Of The Neverbeast" movie is Fawn is like a animal-fairy version of Tinkerbell, it's like she's copying Tinkerbell, Fawn's appearances have like completely changed, her outfit doesn't match her because it looks way TOO girly as the tomboy type (she completely lost her tomboyish side in this movie) an another problem i have in this movie is all 6 of the main characters were barely there unless it involves Gruff or dangers, Queen Clarion only appeared for like 5 minutes and wasn't seen ever since Nyx confronted Fawn in Queen Clarion's room, all of the other characters completely dissapeared (including Clank and Bobble) and why are the scout fairies there all of a sudden when they were needed in the first and possibly in the third movie too even though it's briefly? it just doesn't make sense to me the scout fairies shows up in this movie (like yeah i understand they need to keep the others safe and stuff but still, they could've appeared in the first movie with the hawk and possibly the sprinting thistles incidents) the only other characters that have showed up appeared in "The Pixie Hollow Games" short, mainly garden and animal fairies in this movie but that's just it an another problem here is: i think it's way TOO dark for a Disney movie, like most of the times the movie focused on hiding the neverbeast named Gruff just because he was a threat to other fairies except Fawn herself so Fawn had to hide Gruff from the scout fairies if Disney wants a movie based on other characters then a certain first main character, i'd say they need to do a better job at this (the first Tinkerbell movie they did a good job with the focus on Tinkerbell but also the other characters despite me liking the first movie the LEAST but atleast they balanced it quite well)

all of the mixing moments combined in 1 movie, more balanced supporter characters that actually do something, clothes that isn't out of character and NOT too dark for a movie and an another important one is learning an important lesson (i prefer adventure moments where dangers are around sometimes outside their comfort-zone too though but i think i can live without them) Tinkerbell And The Legend Of The Neverbeast is like completely out of balance except the part it's focused on other characters, i'm NOT surprised people dislikes this movie so much and i can't blame them, i hope it have taught Disney a lesson they should balance everything out in a movie

[incorrectneverland]

I have so many questions about the au is you don’t mind:

How old is Peter? How did hook meet tinkerbell, did zarina ask her to watch Peter because she trusted her? What kind of relationship does Peter have with hook or for that matter zarina? Do they ever go in hate dates or have hate hookups (pun not intended)?

I think this au is really cool and am a sucker for Peter Pan stuff, this blog is quickly becoming my favorite. Please go into as much detail as you feel comfortable!

Oooooh fun!

Peter is eleven

Hook met Tinkerbell after posting an add for babysitters and Tinkerbell heard about Peter from Zarina.

Zarina didn't ask her but Tinkerbell figured it was the right thing to do since from what she's seen of Hook, Peter needs somebody looking out for him.

Peter and Hook have a strained relationship, Hook didn't want Peter (he only got custody of Peter slandering Zarina in the courtroom for the sake of getting more in the divorce) Peter still has fun calling Hook "Codfish" and basically never calls him dad, at best he's getting is a first name basis. Peter is still a rebellious lil guy but he doesn't start being happy until Tinkerbell enters and actually tries to form a connection. They have moments, Hook is trying he's just VERY stubborn and has a short fuse which is not a good combo for a parent. Hence why Tinkerbell does most of the parenting.

Zarina has some lingering guilt Peter has to live with Hook but beyond that they don't really talk and Peter knows he wasn't exactly planned so doesn't really believe Zarina feels anything for him at all. He views Tinkerbell as his mom more than Zarina. Zarina always focused more on her work than Peter (not intentionally but as a result they never really formed a solid relationship foundation and don't know how to feel about each other)

I'd say the suburban au Hookdust relationship does have hate dates although they look at it more as "catching up" or "making sure they're not planning anything" or "discussing child support" and nine times out of ten they end up getting drunk reminiscing about the past and flirting.

... maybe? Haven't really thought about it. They definitely kiss tho now that you ask they probably do on rare occasions, but I'd imagine afterwards they keep that shit under lock and key. It takes a while for anyone beyond them to realize because even they are very keen on not bringing it up ever.

And as for Hook and Tinkerbells relationship it is super super professional on Hooks end, very very awkward on Tikerbells end. He still calls her "Miss bell" and tries his best to be polite but he's not sure how to really deal with Tinkerbells sass and jabbing at his obvious shitty parenting. Tinkerbell regularly sarcastically asks him about the stick up his ass and is very frustrated at Hooks old man not understanding kids are people-ness.

[ominous-feychild]

SEMICORRECT QUOTES:

RISING FROM MISFORTUNE

(Get it? Because it's kinda a crossover?)

Tián: (cheerfully and jokingly) “ah, looks like we won't be able to mansplain, manipulate, or manwhore our way outta this one, boys!”

Benji: (half-laughs; amusedly) “Seriously!? But I manwhore my way out of everything! What am I going to do now!?”

Tián: [spares a moment to give him an overdramatic wink and draw out a cartoonishly large sword] “manslaughter.”

The Rest of the Crew: [stunned silent]

(Bonus scene beyond "read more")

Cricket: “I... somebody needs to stop this.” :'D

Flavie: (under her breath) “I don't know, that Tián guy is pretty hot...”

Cricket: (sharply, shocked) “What!?”

Flavie: (meets his eyes; deadpan) “What.”

Zarina: (evenly) “first of all, no.”

Cricket & Flavie: [look to her]

Zarina: (continues, not having stopped speaking) “Secondly...”

Zarina: [sighs heavily, putting her head in her hand]

Zarina: (defeatedly) “... I don't even know if I want to step in.”

Cricket: :'D

Flavie: [amused! But not complaining.]

Cricket: [sighs himself, but then shakes his head and pulls out his spellbook]

Cricket: (tiredly) “Don't worry about it, Captain. I'll take care this.”

Zarina: [just sighs again, hesitantly watching between her fingers—]

Cricket: [heading to Tián & Benji to put a stop to their shenanigans]

Flavie: (slightly obnoxiously) “Sooooooo...” ;DDDDD

Zarina: [hesitantly lifts her head from her hand to look up at her]

Flavie: [winks; amusedly) “You're staying up here to get a good view, too, huh?”

Zarina:

Zarina: [face flushes, but stands up straight—and crosses her arms, as she often does—to give Flavie a slight glare]

Zarina: (sharply) “Absolutely not!”

Flavie: [can't help a shit-eating grin]

Flavie: (teasingly) “oh, sure! So, tell me...”

Zarina: [narrows her eyes further in a much more obvious glare]

Flavie: (overdramatically, drawing out and savoring her words) “Is it Benji? Tián? Or, maybe even... Cricket?” >;DDDD

Zarina: [face only flashed in annoyance at Benji's name, disgusted at Tián's, but... goes empty and unreadable at Cricket's]

Flavie: (playfully) “OOOOOOOOO! The Captain and—”

Zarina: [scoffs, simultaneously turning away, heading to the stairs, and un-crossing an arm to wave it dismissively over her shoulder]

Zarina: (talking over Flavie) “Whatever you think is going on, don't say a word of it to Hugo.”

Zarina: [sets her hand on the stairs' handrail and twists on her heel to meet Flavie's eyes with a sharp, serious expression]

Zarina: (voice hard) “Or else. Understood?”

Flavie: [stunned—]

Flavie: [swallows slightly, but forces an awkward grin, stands at attention, and raises her hand in salute]

Flavie: (voice thick and uneven) “aye, aye, Captain. Wouldn't even dream of it.” ;'D

Zarina: [face softens—a flash of guilt crossing it—but quickly just turns away and hurries to help Cricket]

@honeybewrites @the-golden-comet @illarian-rambling @ashirisu @urnumber1star

@the-letterbox-archives @48lexr @aalinaaaaaa @thecomfywriter @an-indecisive-nerd

@seastarblue @leahnardo-da-veggie @world-of-iridensia

Banners from @saradika

[rootsofdread]

a fic! this was commissioned by @memoryofheather, my very first commission :-) if anyone else would like to commission me, [i am open!]

pairing: zarina kassir x F!reader word count: 879 warnings: none summary: Zarina had asked you to meet her by the campfire. You weren't sure why.

Sat by the campfire, Zarina hums a tune to herself. It was one of the few she could remember from her childhood, one her mother sang to her on the rainy days she came home from school sobbing her eyes out. Although this moment wasn't quite the same, it calmed her nerves all the same. She fiddles with her bracelet and glances around, unsure what to do with herself. She knew she shouldn't have started waiting for you so early, but she did, and there wasn't any possible way she'd just stand you up now.

A few more minutes went by -- though to her, they felt like hours -- before she heard rustling in the brush. She straightened her back out and looked over, her eyes sparkling and face flushing the moment she saw you walk through the shadows in the trees. You were wearing the same thing you always wore, like her, but she always thought you looked so beautiful. You were such a beautiful and powerful woman.

Zarina scoots over on the dirt as you approach the fire, giving you space to sit down next to her. You brush off a space on the log and sit just above her, and you smile at her.

"So, what's so important?" you ask her, tilting your head into your shoulder.

"Huh?" her query was instinctual, she hadn't processed your question yet.

"You wanted to talk by the fire, just the two of us," you shrug, "I figured it must've been important. Is it?"

"Oh. Um..." Zarina was never one to stutter. She always knew what she wanted to say, and she was never afraid to say it. "Right. Yes, I...I did want to talk to you about something very important." she brushes some stray hairs behind her ear and breaks eye contact.

You raise an eyebrow, and lean down closer to her, resting one hand on her shoulder, then sliding it over the top of her back to rest on the other. "Well, whatever it is, I'm here to listen." you reassure her.

Zarina glances over to you for a few moments. Yes, you were always there for her. Always. You were always by her side, when permitted. She smiles to herself. Her eyes dart back to the distance, over the burning fire.

"We've known each other for a while," Zarina started, though, honestly, it was difficult to gauge how long it had actually been. Time wasn't much of a thing here. It had felt like years, but it could've just as easily been months, or weeks. "And we know each other pretty well. Right?"

You nodded. It was true; the two of you had shared a lot of secrets, and many more vulnerable moments than that. Companionship was important here, and closeness even moreso.

Zarina nods, too. "You're such an amazing woman," she was back to looking at you, now, a certain glistening in her eyes. "You're so beautiful, and so smart, and so strong..." she smiles warmly.

Your cheeks darken, and you giggle. "Did you want to talk privately just to compliment me, Zari?"

She giggles a bit too. "No, I..." she runs a hand through her hair, "I wanted to tell you, I...I felt like you should know...I'm in love with you."

For you, for a few moments, time freezes. It was like taking a picture; Zarina's sweet face, illuminated by the fire, the warm red-orange brightening her hopeful eyes. She was always so gorgeous, but right now, especially so. You couldn't believe what you had heard. You. She was in love with...you.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same." Zarina tilts her head down to catch your eyes. "I just...felt like you should know."

"No! I..." you blurt out, then bite the inside of your cheek. "N-no, I...I, uh..." you clear your throat. So, this was really happening. "I...I love you, too."

Zarina seems taken aback for a moment, her eyes wide. Neither of you seem sure what to do next, unmoving, your eyes locked onto each other. Silence came over both of you, nothing audible but the fire crackling; it wasn’t an uncomfortable kind of silence, though. Just starstruck.

You finally decide you should break the silence. “I, um…I never knew you felt the same way, Zari.” you say softly.

“I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time…” Zarina admits, “I just…well, I didn’t know you felt the same. And I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. I would’ve been so upset if I lost you.”

You feel your heart flutter. Sure, you’d always known your relationship was important, for both of you. But hearing it was that important to her, as important as it was to you, so important it had to be protected, at the cost of telling each other the truth — it was really something else.

You slide off the log, and settle yourself next to her, pulling her close against your side. Zarina freezes at the sudden contact and her cheeks flush deeply. You chuckle a little and crane your neck down slightly to kiss her on the cheek, feeling the warmth of her blush. “I love you, Zari,” you repeat.

Zarina can hardly contain her giggles. “I— I love you too.”

[sillygoosealert]

Hello!!! I don't know if it's possible, I thought of something. Syzoth forcing his girlfriend Y/n to get pregnant and she doesn't want to, in such a twisted way that he calls her by the name of his deceased wife, the yandere style cele and when the baby is born he names him after his deceased son and lives a distorted reality . I imagine him wanting to raise and continue raising his girlfriend in the hope that his child will be "reborn" but it doesn't work. A lot of psychological torture and rudeness in bed.

Yes or no, thank you❤️❤️

This one was very fun 😆

Why are you upset? You wanted this..

zyzoth, noncon, then dub-con, then angst no comfort, then very poor comfort, dead dove do not eat, um his wife’s name is Zarina :3, and then you kill yourself at the end!!

When you were invited into Syzoths home, you were more than appreciative. Words couldn't describe how special you felt to be allowed not only into his safe place- but also into his arms. He held you throughout the nights, whispering sweet words into your ears. He held you tight, you never felt unwelcome. Even when he would put his hand on your stomach when you would sleep with him and whine about having a child with you, you weren't afraid he would ever hurt or leave you.

He did not feel the same, though. He would become irate and clingy when it was the two of you. Not letting you out of his sight, not letting you leave him. It was a small, not-that-bad, kind of problem. The attention was nice and you didn't mind reassuring him.

But he became aggressive soon enough. When he would make love to you, he wouldn't pull out. He would simply latch onto your mouth to stop any of your protests. You weren't allowed to take any birth control either, they were full of chemicals and harsh substances for your body.

‘If you loved me, you would let me have this’

That was his excuse for wanting to have sex every night, even some mornings. Most of the time he wouldn't ask though, he would just slip in whenever. No meant no, but it didn't matter what you wanted. He wanted a son and he was going to make you bore a son.

If you ever tried to resist or struggle he would pin you down or hurt you. Whether it was scratching or biting, he was still hurting you. It wasn't anything serious, but he would use force when he saw fit. It would be better if you would just submit.

He likes to use his true form, he says it feels better. But it hurts you much more. He's thicker and longer, even adorning some bumps and ridges. Not to mention when he would put his arm around your head to stop you from moving while humping into you.

Whenever he finished he would moan out another woman's name and bite your shoulder. His acts were purely that of lust and his own needs. You were now always sore and nervous, constantly being filled by him. You were not graced with a resting period, it was just constant breeding.

Then he started to be much more gentle after weeks of constant yelling, biting, scratching, and accusing. He would bathe you, feed you, and even stop forcing you to ‘mate’ with him in the middle of the night. He would go back to cooing into your ear about your non-existent child.

‘You're doing well, I know you will be a good mother Zarina’

‘Who?’

Whenever you questioned him he would squeeze you until you apologized. Maybe even scratch your arms or bite your shoulder.

He began to overfeed you until you were gaining weight rapidly. Fish, rice, milk, and even bugs. When he brought out a plate of maggots one night you threw up and cried. He wasn't mad, he just cleaned you up and kissed away your tears.

‘Why are you upset, is the baby kicking?’

He would lay his head on your stomach and tell you about all the things he heard. It would range from your son's heartbeat to his giggles, and even him saying words.

‘I'm so glad you are here with me, carrying our child. I promise to keep both of you safe.’

You couldn't just leave him, there was something clearly wrong. But you aren't sure how much more you can take, it has been months now.

‘He is surely bound to be born soon, I will put together a nest for him. Where did you want to give birth?’

You knew you couldn't give him what he wanted, and that scared you. What he would do when you didn't give birth was beyond you. But you just went along with what he did.

Until you finally couldn't, you were constantly breaking down crying, and crawling away from him. However he would just pick you up and curl around you, licking your tears up.

When he went away to provide food for you, you were able to locate a mirror. He wasn't barbaric, he had a nice house. A little more woody and earthy, but it was nice. It had the essentials, a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. And in that bathroom, a mirror.

Hitting against the mirror until it had little shards at your disposal, you picked one up. Stabbing yourself repeatedly into your stomach. Then with the final coup-de-grace, you sink it deep into your eye socket.

He would find both you and his son dead when he got home. Perhaps he was never meant to be a dad. Maybe it was him, or maybe it was you. The person who took away his chance to be happy again.

He mourned and cried for you, but to him, it just felt like his wife. You would never have been a replacement, maybe he needs to look again. Maybe he needs to try again for a better ending.

🎀

[zenith-does-stuff]

Single dad AU??

I got the flu so I haven't had the drive to do much but brainstorm. Here's what I got.

Single dad Felix x Struggling Financially Ace Ace is a good friend of a friend of Felix's they meet at said mutual friend's going away party as they are moving back overseas. (I'm thinking Yun Jin or Zarina) They hit it off nicely, and become friends. Felix learns a couple weeks after the party that Ace just got kicked out of his sad excuse for an apartment and is now couch-hopping. As a result Felix randomly picks Ace up from one of the houses he's been crashing at and then picks up his daughter from daycare and drives the 3 of them to his decently sized house. Felix says Ace can stay with him till he gets back up on his feet. Felix's daughter is pretty young (like a year or 2 old) and still wakes up at night crying and Ace falls into a habit of taking care of her at night as a thank you to Felix. As a result Ace and Felix's baby become close and she says "Ace" as her first word. Throughout the time they've been living together, they share a few moments of romantic tension but neither wants to make a move until Felix's baby says "Ace" instead of "dada".

I have a few more ideas but I really need to finish the October bingo fic before I start any of them. If this is an idea you'd like to work with I would love to read your guy's take on this so feel free to take this idea and play with it.

[meglinpancake]

Hello - very extremely gay woman who loves your art here again.

Just wanted to pop in and say your art is so amazing omg - I don’t use tumblr that often but whenever I do I’m always happy to see your art pop up on my page! I love all the way you draw all the dbd gals, especially Haddie, Mikaela, Sadako and Amanda :D The little family of Haddie Mikaela and Sadako is adorable btw

Also can I have your thoughts on the ship of Adriana(skull merchant)/Zarina/Amanda(pig)?

Zarina and/or Mikaela with Amanda are ships I’ve liked for a long time but I think the AZA ship could be cute :3

Dawww those are very high compliments for all my doodles, thank you<3 it means so much to me that I can make people happy.

Also that’s a very inch resting concept! Considering Zarina’s story, I can totally see Adriana and Amanda finding her fascinating- a woman who exposes truths via film? Now that’s something a hero-obsessed Brazilian woman and a seemingly spreader of belief can get behind.

[dweetwise]

[Dbd] Wanderlust

A small post-Entity one shot I wrote this summer and apparently never posted 💚 No ships, just some survivor bonding (and bickering 😂) Rated G | 1.2k words | ao3 link

The plane lurched to the side and Haddie did the same in her seat, her pencil sliding across the map of Malta and drawing a line in the Mediterranean sea. She huffed in annoyance and wordlessly reached to buckle her seat belt.

Next to her, Élodie did the opposite and pushed up from her seat with an exasperated groan.

“Just a little turbulence!” Ace’s voice sounded from the cockpit. “Nothing to worry about!”

“This tin can is awful!” Élodie complained. She wobbled to the front of the small plane, steadying herself on any solid objects as the plane shook from the turbulence.

“Aww, don’t worry, baby,” Ace said, affectionately patting the outdated flight instruments in front of him. “She’s just jealous of all your vintage glamour.”

“It’s a piece of scrap metal held together purely by duct tape and wishful thinking,” Élodie retorted. “In fact, I’m amazed we haven’t crashed yet.”

“Eh, I’ve flown in worse,” Zarina piped up from the co-pilot seat. Based on the fact that she had her feet propped up on the dashboard and was leaning back in her chair, she didn’t seem to be doing much of said piloting.

“See?” Ace told Élodie, then added with a grin, “If you’re so peeved about my plane, why don’t you ask your sugar daddy to buy us a shiny private jet instead?”

Zarina snorted while Élodie merely glared down at Ace.

“You refer to Felix as that one more time and I’m ejecting your seat,” she threatened.

Ace gasped. “But then who’s going to fly you all over Europe to do your Scooby gang shit? I’m not letting just anyone touch my plane, you know.”

“You’ll hopefully be a pancake on the ground, so I don’t think you have much say in the matter,” Élodie countered.

“Human pancake. Yum,” Sable offered. She was sitting in the back of the plane, busy with painting her already black nails even blacker regardless of the bumpy ride.

Zarina sighed before turning to look back at Haddie. “How’s the map coming along?”

“Good,” Haddie said. She waved the thin folder with the Imperiatti insignia that contained their information on the case. “It should only take a day to investigate the site and talk to all the witnesses. It’s a small island.”

“Should we split up?” Zarina asked.

“Dibs on the witnesses!” Ace hollered. “I’ve heard Maltese women are stunning.”

“Me and Haddie should go to the site to investigate,” Élodie said. “I brought my archaeology kit just in case.”

“I’m coming with you,” Sable said. Nobody protested: keeping Sable away from people was usually the way to go if they wanted their witnesses to not shit their pants from fear.

“I’ll go with Ace,” Zarina said, fiddling with her voice recorder. “And Vittorio?”

Haddie glanced at the man in question. Vittorio didn’t even appear to have heard the question; he sat completely silent on the seat opposite of Haddie, staring intently at the floor. His face was ashen and he desperately clutched the Lidl plastic bag they’d acquired on their pre-flight shopping trip in Coburg.

Considering this was his first time ever flying and he’d chosen to do it with Ace as his pilot, he was doing remarkably well.

“You okay?” Haddie asked, nudging Vittorio’s shoe with her own.

He looked up and gave her a shaky smile. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“You didn’t have to come,” Zarina said. 

“I will have to get used to flying sooner or later,” Vittorio said with determination. “The Imperiatti works all over the world and I don’t want to be hindered by this should my help be required somewhere.”

“You could have stayed in Germany with Ursula.” Ace’s head popped into view as he leaned to look back at them. “She sure seemed interested in getting intimately acquaintanced with you and your…knowledge.” The sentence was accompanied by the wagging of eyebrows.

Haddie rolled her eyes while Vittorio grimaced: from nausea or the innuendo was anyone’s guess.

“She’s a very capable woman, but I don’t see how that’s relevant—” Vittorio started.

“Air pocket,” Zarina abruptly cut him off. 

A split second later, Haddie’s stomach dropped as the plane jumped and tilted to the left, before Ace grabbed the controls with a curse and righted their course.

Vittorio squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed a few times before rasping, “Can you please focus on flying?”

“I am!” Ace protested. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“Vittorio’s already having a hard time,” Haddie said. “So keep the plane steady unless you want projectile vomit all over your ‘baby’.”

Élodie visibly cringed. “Eugh, please, no puking.”

“Speak for yourself, I love puke,” Sable said. Somehow, her nail polish bottle and drying nails were still completely unscathed.

Élodie stared at her. “Remind me why we brought you along again?”

Sable responded with a sickly sweet smile. “Because I’m not going to get spooked by lawn furniture and run away screaming like a little bitch.”

“I told you, the canopy curtain looked like the Nurse from where I was standing!” Ace protested.

“Yeah, it probably did,” Haddie hurried to defuse. “And I sensed some weird energies in the area. I most likely would have been startled too.”

“Exactly!” Ace said.

Élodie looked at Haddie with a raised eyebrow, but Haddie just shrugged. She really didn’t want to hear more of Ace’s excuses about the sun in his eyes, or how he was just running away to get help, or “Felix’s girlfriend told me the manor is haunted, so of course the Nurse could appear at the garden party!” when the reality was most likely a few too many German beers.

“Maybe it did look like the Nurse,” Sable conceded, then grinned wickedly and added, “if you’re a little bitch.”

Ace let go of the flight controls to turn and point at Sable, eyes narrowing as he snapped, “Okay, listen here you fucking brat—”

“Fly the goddamn plane!” Haddie, Élodie and Zarina yelled almost in unison.

In the end, they made it to Malta relatively unscathed. Haddie successfully marked all their destinations on her map of the island, Élodie secured all their bags, Sable finished painting her nails, Zarina radioed the airport and got them permission to land, Ace got them back onto solid ground with most of the plane’s rusty landing gear still intact, and Vittorio only puked once into his bag.

The others were grumbling about the rough flight and even rougher landing as they exited the plane, but Haddie was smiling as she felt the familiar adrenaline rush of an unsolved mystery. Now, they only had to figure out if the rumors of shadowy figures lurking in the woods were an urban legend that got out of hand, or something more sinister like a paranormal occurrence or the Black Vale trying to regroup after the Entity’s defeat.

She’d never tell the Imperiatti, but she actually hoped it was one of the latter. Returning to normal life after years in the Entity’s clutches hadn’t gone well for her—and based on the ragtag group of fellow survivors who had eagerly volunteered their help for the trip, she wasn’t the only one still craving the thrill of danger.

A new adventure was just what they needed.

[oh-shtars]

Bonjour, good day, I come with more questions~

1. What Disney character do you think most inspired each character in your rewrite?

2. More Rani loreeee

3. Does Rani have star magic? Although feel free to skip this as it might spoil your ending with Sueño

4. Does Hopes & Dreams have any other pet names for each other?

5. If Ashueño is similar to a genderbent Rapunzel, what dynamic is the royal couple like?

6. What trope best fits Hopes & Dreams? What about the royal couple?

7. Do you have any scrapped ideas you want to share?

8. Are the other character’s wishes important to the story?

9. What Hazbin character is each RFTS!character like?

Oh wow-

I get so happy whenever you guys leave asks and stuff like this. Thanks so much! 🥺💖💖 LOVE YA BO!

If y’all ever send me an ask and I haven’t answered it yet, please know I’m not ignoring you. I either don’t know how to answer it yet or I’m too busy atm. (Especially with exams coming up. Ew.)

(Looking at this, I feel more guilty the more they stay there. 😅 But hey! At least you can look forward to more content, right?)

Anyways, Onto the asks!

1. What Disney character do you think most inspired each character in your rewrite?

I remember doing this one post as a little fun game for everyone to share 3 characters that inspired their main characters. But since you asked for just one and it has to be a Disney character, guess I’ll do that.

You can visit the post if you want to see mine and other AUs’ participation.

Asha = Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

Sueño = Aladdin

Magnifico = Hades (Hercules)

Amaya = Zarina (Tinkerbell: The Pirate Fairy)

Valentino = Younger Simba (The Lion King)

(I don’t have a solid personality for the 7 teens since they’re not going to have as big of a role. I do have their key traits in my notes so I can look back to it as a guide. But I’m just going to go with the flow when writing their scenes.)

……..

2. More Rani Loreeeeee

I haven’t even finished a final outline for the main plot of the RFTS!story, so idk even for a sequel. Maybe I’ll do some random drawings of family bonding moments and just him being a precious little guy.

(Hypothetically speaking, IF both Asha and Sueño survive the tragedy I’ll inflict on them. I mean what- who said that?)

All I know for Rani is that he’s someone who’s not sure what is the one thing he’s passionate for. And in this kingdom where everyone is so sure what they want and striving to achieve it, he feels lost. Surely, people only have one passion, right? Why can’t he find and settle for one?

Whenever he finds something he could be passionate about, Rani feels icky at the thought of just permanently sticking to it from now on. But at the same time, he criticises himself for being ‘irresponsible and indecisive.’

He “longs” to know his place and know what he wishes to do exactly. Rani doesn’t like being told, “But you’re so talented!!” because he personally thinks it’s unhelpful. It doesn’t make his choice of picking one passion any easier.

He also doesn’t really like vague answers to his questions and gets frustrated with it. “Believe in yourself.” “You’ll get there.” “Keep going!” “You’ll know it when you feel it.” “I don’t know what you’re aspiring to do, but I bet you’ll do great.” Well guess what? He doesn’t know what he’s doing either. :D

Also: *G A S P*. Not a strong believer of Wishing stars nor looking to the sky for answers! 😱 Rani prefers to “see-it-to-believe-it.” A more down to earth person who wants real solutions, not just hoping for something to magically happen.

(Some stuff might change but here’s an overview of Rani just like you asked- :))

……���…

3. Does Rani have star magic?

Ehhhhh, I’ll say he has general knowledge in magic and just about anything he finds interesting and gets his hands on. Not really star magic, though he has the skill of a fast-learner when learning about regular magic. Again, Rani’s existence may or may not be hypothetical. 🤷

………

4. Does Hopes & Dreams have any other pet names for each other?

Sueño is not really one for pet names since he adores Asha just as she is, including her name. But in his head and through the sign language he eventually learns, he does sometimes call her: “Love or My Sky”

(I love “My Sky” so much because it FITS him. He loves the feeling of freedom and is claustrophobic. So he’s basically saying he feels so free and happy to be around her. Also, *coughs* Bo. “Sky”. My Sky. “Cielo”. Amirite? This was unintentional, I swear-)

For Asha, she calls Sueño: “Starlight, Mi Sueño (this is her fav one ofc), Sunny (though this is more general), Hon/Honey.”

For the last one, I have a silly headcanon that Sueño comes to have honey as one of his fav foods. It sort of rhymes with his other nickname, “Sunny,” and Asha thinks it’s hilarious to tease him with the “honey” nickname when he gets all sticky.

Idk why I even came up with this, but the thought that he’ll eat anything, even food he usually doesn’t like, that is dipped in honey on it is just funny, okay? And it connects to Hal too since I remember she’s meant to be a beekeeper. (This may also be a cute little reference with Winnie the Pooh if Sueño shapeshifts. Hehehe)

Btw, stars can taste but not go hungry. Like how they touch and feel stuff but not feel pain when inflicted or hit by something. If it’s dark magic, then that’s the only exception and they can feel pain.

…….

5. If Ashueño is similar to a genderbent Rapunzel, what dynamic is the royal couple like?

Idk actually. I made Amnifico or ‘Grand Despair’ from scratch without referring or getting inspired by any couple I know. It’s mostly songs and vibes I’ve collected to create their dynamic. Same with Ashueño. The Rapunzel similarity was not intentional. 😅

(I think you should be worried because my RFTS!Spotify playlist has lots of angst- lol.)

Uhhhhhhh, maybe Grand Despair can be something akin to Charity and P.T Barnum from the Greatest Showman. But darker and eviler.

A guy who promises something for his beloved, gets carried away, and eventually forgetting what this was all for in the first place. :3

……

6. What trope best fits Hopes and Dreams? What about the royal couple?

Hopes and Dreams:

“Soulmates/Fate” (I think we can all agree that these two are meant to be, either platonically or romantically, in any universe both AU and Canon.)

👏 SLOW 👏 BURN👏 (That pang of realisation always gets me)

Thinks she’s no one special x Treats her like royalty

Grand Despair:

Doomed Romance

Pissy x Only one who calms him down

”Us against the World”

……….

7. Do you have any scrapped ideas you want to share?

Not anything that wouldn’t spoil some stuff for the plot. Sorry 😞

……

8. Are the other characters’ wishes important to the story?

Hmmmmm. I guess they influence the narrative and further establish the conflict of the story.

Like, the characters are used to just taking the easy way to achieve their dreams by waiting for the day Magnifico grants them one morning. They can make as much as they want. Unbeknownst to them, they’re stuck in this cycle of always wanting more but never satisfied.

They keep wishing and wishing, believing that they have no chance of reaching it on their own without their king’s help.

I’d like the main theme to be: not being afraid to dream big and “Reach for the Stars” but you shouldn’t expect grand things to just come to you instantly. You’ll need to take faith and work for it. Why? Because the whole journey getting there, regardless of the many struggles, is worth it and it sure is something to look back and be proud of.

It sure is what Walt Disney did, isn’t it? :)

……..

9. What Hazbin character is each RFTS!character like?

It’s kind of difficult to pick from the Hazbin cast what each RFTS!character is like since one plot is based off of dreams and everything nice while the other is literally based in hell. 😂

But I’ll try:

Asha:

Emily was the closest I could think of. (Since I literally couldn’t think of anyone else. Oof-) Not really referring to the happy, excited part of her. More like the “I believe these people deserve a lot better than this” and eventually finding her voice to stand up against authority for the people she cares about.

Sueño:

No, not the aggressive and assertive side of Vaggie. Lol nope. More like getting attached to the MC that helped them get back onto their feet, warmly welcomed them in this strange new world, and now they would do anything to help them get their dreams come true whatever it takes.

(Also, a secret they’re keeping that’s eating them up inside with guilt and constantly worrying that the MC would hate their guts if they knew. Oops-)

Magnifico:

I’d say the fake-ass showmanship he puts out in public but in reality, he’s really done and exhausted with his audience. He’s still pretty charismatic when he wants to be but I can see him losing his cool quite easily, leading to outbursts.

Amaya:

Idkkkk. The main cast of Hazbin don’t really fit RFTS!Amaya’s vibe so I just went with Lilith despite how we know nothing about her at the moment. (This is probs gonna age badly-)

She’s a parental figure to someone who trusts her a lot but in reality, her motivations might not be what they seem. She could be willing to sacrifice other people if it means she gets a benefit out of them.

[zorkaya-moved]

　What dragged him to her truly was just a whim of his capricious heart, yet when has he ever cared for awaiting proper occasions to indulge?

　Never in his life, and much less when finding her so delightful today; with the sunlight reflecting on her silver hair and moon-kissed skin, her gilded gaze alluring as it was dangerous, making him feel like he was about to steal a well-guarded golden treasure the moment he stepped closer to her and took her hand on him, offering a small gentleman bow of his head in salutation, as he placed a kiss against the back of her palm.

　"―Care to indulge me in a dance, Miss Zarina?" A lopsided smile curled on his lips as he drew closer to her, watching her features in close inspection.

　"It has been quite a while since we've seen each other, don't you think? May as well indulge in something small for a start, then we can move onto something more intense." A spar? A makeout session? He's all for going with the flow of their reencounter.

@narvvhal

Capricious heart, you’ve always been the ocean’s strongest will. 

Zarina feared the ocean, the depth of abyssal seas and the drowning within the cold waters of Snezhnaya. Under the icy water, losing yourself was an easy danger to encounter. But she finds the ocean within him - as dangerous and unpredictable in his evolution - to be a pleasant one, the tides that kissed her with fervency when she expected him to drown her. They should be enemies, they should continue to fight against each other for she is a rebel and he is a young lord. But maybe, just maybe, in a world more wonderful they’re happy and dancing on the wintertide’s festival together with their families cheering for them and enjoying a wonderful dinner together in front of a bright flame of warmth and tenderness. In another world, more perfect than this, they could’ve been dressed in Snezhnayan clothes, so colorful in their flowery and wintry patterns, 

Perhaps, he drowns her to the point of her thinking such silly thoughts. A dream that pains, a dream that hurts, a dream that can never be fulfilled. He drowns her but she finds herself learning how to swim better and better, she learns what to expect and the ocean no longer becomes unpredictable and vicious against her fears. Zarina, instead, finds herself squeezing his hand without much thought as her lips curl into a familiar smile of mirth and playfulness, indulgence will help to dry off the tides touch as it beckoned her before with sweet dreams. She’ll have him now, as she always did, and it will be better than anything imagination can grant her. 

Because here, he takes her hand and brings her closer. The way he looks at her, says her name, indulges herself as much as he indulges in her company on his own. They don’t say a word of feelings, they let their actions play it off and their natural chemistry swirls in a dance between borders of life and death. With that in mind, the woman who bears the name of a hawk hums, pleased, not stepping away but letting him bring her closer. Surprisingly obedient in his hold, she places her free hand on his shoulder and tilts her head to the side. 

“You’ve missed me,” she doesn’t ask but states, there is a subtle teasing adoration in her words. How cruel fate is to them, isn’t it? To have such a perfect combination be someday wasted on the bloodshed, the field, and the blades crossed. (Spill my blood and warm your body with it at the end, so I’ll haunt you until the end of your time.) “I adore your honesty, and so, I will accept to have a dance with you.”

Her confidence shows its fangs once more as she tugs him to turn in a dance, not wasting time to let the lack of music bother them. They know dances, they know music by heart, they know the customs of festivals that bid farewell to winter and embrace spring’s joyful events. They call spring the season of love, but does it matter when winter has been everything they’ve known the best and found fire of passionate exchange within the deepest parts of snowy plains? Metaphorically speaking, of course, for he is water and she is ice. 

At his latest words, the passion promised, she laughs from the heart. Surprisingly bright in her laughter as she smiles at him, interest piqued as she knows his touch will always make her feel the warmth she craves so greedily. How cruel he is to be the only one to satisfy her wishes, to satiate the hunger, to claim the place within her mind and seemingly heart. 

(Why could we not have met sooner?) Melancholy is repressed by her bringing him closer and kissing him without saying a word. A kiss so sweet and so missed, a reunion promised long ago. She won’t die if it is not by his sword, she won’t die because she gave an oath to him. An oath when he slept so deeply by her side, her fingertips tracing the line of his jaw, golden eyes memorizing his face and wondering if she’d gone mad. Perhaps she did, but madness fuels the rebel, always. And in this madness, she’ll make her kiss be known as the one of familiar longing. 

I missed you too, her kiss says. 

And when she distances herself from him, her golden eyes shine with the light of sun above them. The green grass and the blue sky, it’s almost perfect. Not Snezhnaya, but it’s a fantastic dance to be promised. And then, they’ll unleash their weapons as they do, to reunite their iron in another dance that captures hearts of warriors and survivors. And then, after that, their kiss will be shared once more with a hint of copper on the tips of their tongues for a moment before another passion will return to claim their minds. A cycle, a circle of familiar events. 

“I’ll give you everything, and I’ll take everything you have,” her words are akin to velvet, a note of her voice dropping into a hushed whisper for him to hear only. An intimate secret they don’t care to hide, not really. “But for now, a dance it is. And after, the rest will come, my spear missed clashing with your blades. I've missed the sound of our battle.” 

It wouldn't be that bad to drown in him every time. She may fear the ocean’s cold hands, but drowning in Ayaks’ presence almost feels cathartic. In this ocean bearing his true name, she’ll drown endlessly.

[lil-oreo-crumbles]

Care to discuss Zarina?

HELL YEAH she’s my GIRLLL 👑

Princess Zarina Kardona of Septarsis, second hatched child of the former (now passed) Rulers of Septarsis, and unofficial second in charge of Septarsis after her older brother, the legendary Seth of Septarsis.

Gonna try and keep this brief-ish (this is not brief omfg I’m sorry this is so long)

Zarina spent all of her early childhood in Septarsis. She never travelled outside of it. Septarsis was all she ever knew.

Just like her brother, she’s seen the extent of the horrors of Mewmankind. She too was stolen from Septarsis and taken to the same place Seth was where they were both put under the worst circumstances for 89 years. (I’m intentionally being vague on the details of this)

Seth feels personally responsible to take care of his sister since he was 15 years older than her. Around the time they were taken there was a notable mental age difference (Zarina was 35 and Seth was 50, making them in Septarian aging the equivalent to 8 and 12 respectively), and even if the gap has been closed and they’re both basically the same mental age, he still carries with him that responsibility, even if she can take care of herself now.

^^^“Just don’t leave me alone wondering where you are” “I am stronger than you give me credit for”

Zarina in her current form had no chance to actually blossom until after those 89 years. She realized her identity and gave herself a new name in the middle of those 89 years, but due to their situation she was hard pressed to do anything about her physical appearance :(

Seth is endlessly supportive of his sister’s new name and her transition. He loves her to death.

She and Seth worked as a team (with the help of the other captured monster kids) to get out of their situation and eventually made it back to Septarsis, and she sobbed at the sight of her homeland in its dark age.

Because of the atrocities they both were subjected to, both Seth and Zarina have a close, almost unbreakable bond. Yes, they quarrel all the damn time and get on each other’s nerves, but they rarely keep anything from each other. If one of them did, let’s say the other would be crushed.

In situations where the siblings work together for a cause, Seth is the outspoken one who inspires crowds of people and gets everyone hyped. He can command an audience and be charismatic and win people over. Zarina, however, is a lot more introverted. She cares a lot more about interpersonal relationships. She’s the type to privately talk to people, ease their fears, and inspire hope individually. Seth will speak to the crowd, Zarina will speak to the person.

In those same situations they both work together on strategy, both offering their own unique perspectives but ultimately finding compromises.

Zarina was the one to give the final blow that killed the man who not only took over Septarsis and put their civilization into its dark age, but also orchestrated the murder of their parents. It was liberating.

Despite her calm, reserved, formal, and polite exterior, if you dare get on her bad side/make her angry she can get so much more threatening and violent than her brother. You do not want to piss this woman off.

Zarina is, to put it bluntly, sheltered as all hell to anything outside Septarsis and those 89 years. This makes her incredibly socially awkward. She carries with her a sense of grace and formality as the Princess of Septarsis, but that’s mainly because she doesn’t speak in front of people too much. If she’s confronted about anything she’ll freeze up and mutter something if she doesn’t know or otherwise. (This is why Seth was the chosen leader lol). Plus she’s also very introverted so she just prefers being alone or with a few close people in general.

Zarina is also, notoriously, a horrible liar. She may be able to keep a secret but finds it difficult to lie when confronted. This ties back to her social awkwardness. She could not lie to save her life, it’d be written all over her face.

She was the first person to actually hear Mylanie out about her peace ideology. She asked Mylanie privately to discuss her ideas. She put aside her own biases and experiences to listen deeply and intently to what Mylanie was trying to do, being one of the first people to realize how honest and earnest she really was about this whole thing. Zarina convinced Seth to hear her out too, sparking the friendship and bond between the three of them.

Zarina, despite her past, gains a nuanced opinion about the Mewman situation. This is when she withdrawals from firmly siding with her brother to something in the middle between him and Mylanie.

Zarina finds herself as the awkward middleman between her extroverted pessimistic brother and their extroverted optimistic friend, Mylanie, as the introverted realist who calms them down when things gets too heated. She’s kind of like the referee which I think is hilarious

Mylanie was the one to finally coax Zarina out of her shell, opening her mind to the various cultures amoungst the different Monsters and even Mewmans. Seth was a lot more well travelled as the Supreme Lord, so Mylanie got to be her personal guide to the outside world.

Being around Seth and Mylanie for so long finally influenced her to be more outspoken and develop her skills in leadership and delegation. They inspire her.

She hates the whole courting thing because she knows it disrespects Mylanie’s boundaries. She always angrily tells Seth to quit it.

Like Seth, Zarina similarly loves Torrence (aka Toffee) very much. She isn’t as outwardly affectionate because of how reserved she is, but shows her appreciation in little ways that mean a lot (she basically allows him free access to the Septarian library, for example)

When Mylanie passed away, just like Seth and Toffee, she was devastated. Seth avoided confronting his grief by piling himself into the war effort and Toffee had Eclipsa to lift his spirits, but Zarina had basically no one. She was alone in her grief and fell back into the cycle of isolation.

The first time she stepped outside after Mylanie’s passing was when she confronted Eclipsa and lost her arm. Rasticore created a prototype robotic arm (that was later improved by an actual engineer…) for her to use as a prosthetic that she greatly appreciates. And because of this Seth doesn’t let her go anywhere without a soldier by her side.

Zarina and her nephew are very close.

Zarina, unlike Seth, really values people’s boundaries. With that being said, she doesn’t put any extra pressure on Toffee after she and Seth take him in and leaves him be for the most part, but is always there with open arms if he needs her. She never refers to Toffee in any familial way— she knows how he responds to that *cough*Seth calling him son*cough*— even if he’s the closest thing to a son she’s ever had. She loves him with everything she has, but he’d never guess it since she rarely feels like she can express it.

Toffee’s bad boy phase gave her grey hairs she lost her temper with his attitude and cockiness so much.

Zarina offered to go as the representative for Septarsis when Comet sent out the banquet invitation before Toffee offered.

After the Comet situation and Toffee and Seth’s fight, Zarina tried to talk to him one on one. However, Toffee was far too angry that the two of them ended up having their own quarrel before he left.

I’ve alluded to this, but Zarina and Seth were both devastated when news of Toffee’s death finally reached them. Zarina uncharacteristically acted impulsively and wanted to send out the army to give Moon and Star a taste of real Septarian aggression for murdering one of their most prominent figures. Seth, on the other hand, despite being just as furious, had to seriously talk her down and explain that it’s not smart to rush into things and waste Septarsis’s resources. It took everything in her power to not take action against the Butterflies, but did back down.

I feel like there may be this underlying inferred inferiority complex, because of how well known Seth is and all of his accomplishments, but I wanna make it known that Zarina holds no animosity towards him. Sure, she’s a bit disappointed that no one really knows who she is, but also simultaneously relieved. Again, she’s not the outspoken type, so it works in her favor if she can chill in the shadows.

Sometimes though people do mistake her for Seth’s wife which… makes both of them fly off the handle with vocal disgust for fairly obvious reasons. That’s the hard part about not being known, but she manages.

WOWOWOW I loved talking about my girl Zarina she’s so fun I love her.

[destinylordoffreaks]

Sorry for not posting anything recently. I always struggle with  the seasonal sads in the fall so my productivity has gone way down on top of that I’m sick so you know I’m having a lot of fun 

anyway I thought it would share a random thought with you guys today, so I grew up watching the Disney fairy movies with my younger sister, who was absolutely obsessed with Tinker Bell

And the fairy movies and for the most part I enjoyed them they were fun. I watched them with her every time a new one came out Until we got to the pirate fairy movie,

which I hate with the burning passion don’t get me wrong. The antics were fun. The characters were fun Tom Hiddleston has young Captain Hook excellent. I hate the movie on one soul principal,

and that is that it broke the fundamental law of the universe that was set out in the first movie, you don’t get to pick your talent

you’re stuck with the talent you were given and you have to learn how to use that talent in a way that brings you joy and makes you feel good about yourself

and then Zarina comes along. You got a different talent and you got a different talent and you got a different talent. Everybody’s got a different talent,

it just feels like it completely demolishes the point of the first movie. The next time a new fairy like Tinker Bell comes along and is having a hard time fitting in because their talent isn’t what they wanted it to be they’re just gonna switch talents and they’re never gonna learn how to embrace what they’re actually good at also why on earth did the pixie dust physically change their outfits? How did that work? 

needless to say I still don’t like that movie 

On the other hand, I actually loved the fairy books like I read a bunch of them like you don’t get it. I’m dyslexic reading is very hard for me. I never finished the Harry Potter series. I quit after book 4 because I didn’t want to deal with Dolores Umbridge, and then them killing series black

but I had a collection of Disney fairies books like nearly every book on this pic I either own, or have read I even have the quest for mother dove’s eggs 

and prilla was my favorite fairy I even had a little poly pocket sized Prilla that was actually part of a two pack that also came with Tinker Bell that I gave to my sister although my dyslexic ass read it as Priscilla so I don’t know what that was about

But I genuinely enjoyed the books more than the movies although I’ve loved videos character arc in the movies, because in the book, her character development frequently gets set back for the sake of a cheap villain, which I hated so you know neither iteration is perfect. I just ended up liking the books better which I don’t say very often . But seriously, if we ever decide to do more Disney fairy movies, I would love for us to use more of the book characters, there’s just such a wide cast to work with you know and instead we pretty much got stuck centering on like the exact same seven fairies no offense to any of them it’s not like they were bad characters. It just gets boring when you know that there’s a whole universe we could be exploring, and instead, we’re just stuck with the same thing over and over again

I mean, for Pete sakes talk about representation we could’ve had a disabled fairy if they had decided to put rani in but no nothing

Although it never really made sense to me, why water fairies wings weren’t waterproof I mean the snow fairies wings are protected from getting to cold and cracking right so why are the water fairies wings waterproof? I don’t know I’m sick and I’m rambling. 

and can we just recon the pirate fairy movie like it never happened Because, like I said, it literally breaks the fundamental law of the universe set forth in the first movie 

[odder-oddish]

Bond- Chapter 1

So uh.... this didn't take long. Got another chapter finished 22 hours later. Don't expect this pace for the rest of the work; I just got a flash of inspo to start this off. The only warning for this chapter is an implied hookup, but nothing actually happens.

S. Ward: Hello everyone, and welcome back to our show, All things Wicked This Night. Today, my witchy friend Mikaela and I are going to give you all a crash course in demonic rituals. Tell me Mikaela, what are the pieces of a ritual? M. Reid: So, there's actually a ton of variety depending on what your goal is and what kind of demon you want to summon, but there are some trends that I've observed in my practices. First, you need a casting bowl. Now really, this can be a glass, a jar, anything to hold your components. The components dictate the kind of ritual you'll cast. A summoning, a scrying, a blessing even. S. Ward: Though I don't know why you'd go around blessing demons. (laughs) M. Reid: True. Anyway, I always suggest incense, especially if you're newer to spellcasting. While you don't need it, it helps stabilize the spell and takes a lot of mental strain off the caster. Candles are used as an energy source to fuel the ritual, and finally, mostly for summonings, there's a sigil. This is what actually contains the demon. Otherwise, you bring it to you and it's free to roam about. S. Ward: Thank you for the overview. And for our listeners at home wanting to try a ritual, always remember the first rule of demon summoning. M. Reid. Never summon something you can't banish. "All things Wicked This Night" (podcast) Season 3, Episode 12

_____

The drive south is grueling. Felix is already terrible at keeping a sleep schedule, and these last few days have been worse. Now, it's almost four in the morning, and he's pushing twenty-five hours straight of being awake. It doesn't help that the old car doesn't have a port for music, and the radio doesn't play much of anything good at this time of night. He stifles a yawn as he pulls into a gas station to refuel.

He enters the store of the station after filling the car to get a coffee. "Damn, buddy," says the man working there. He's old, and tired-looking himself. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Not far off," says Felix, filling a large cup and pulling out his wallet to pay.

The man waves him off. "On the house. You need it."

Felix thanks him and returns to the car, rubbing his eyes. He's pulled all-nighters before, but this is brutal. He's fought two demons today and spent the better part of the afternoon tracking a demon through Vegas. He wills himself to stay awake for the final hour of the journey before pulling back on the the interstate. Luckily, the shitty coffee, residual pain in his arm, and pure spite allow him to survive the trip until he pulls up to the house.

The house is nice and modern. It's got two stories with a wrap around porch and a white picket fence, the perfect image of peace and relaxation. It's advertised to the locals as a rental property for folks looking to get away from city life, but in reality, it's nothing like that. Felix pulls his luggage out of the car and climbs the steps to the front door. He pulls a key out of his back pocket, unlocking the door and stepping inside, before locking it behind him.

Zarina and Haddie, two of his American contacts, had built this place almost a decade ago. It was an old safehouse that they and their other allies used when they were in the area. The walls were covered in bookshelves with journals and tomes about Demonology, spellcasting, and similar otherworldly arts.

"Felix, you made it," says Elodie, stepping out of the kitchen with a large, ornate bowl. She looks just about as exhausted Felix does. "Sorta," she adds, taking in his demeanor. "I've got the kettle on for some tea, if you want some."

"That would be great."

Elodie gives a satisfied nod at his answer. She turns back to go to the kitchen, stopping only briefly to say, "I'm just mixing the last of the herbs. Why don't you set your stuff down in the bedroom?"

Following her suggestion, Felix moves to one of the two bedrooms in the house. It's a modest arrangement, with a double bed pressed against the corner of the room, a desk with a comfortable chair, a large wardrobe taller than he is, and a single bedside table with a lamp. But he's not expecting luxury. They're here to summon a demon after all.

Felix gets to work unpacking his single suitcase and duffel bag. His clothes only fill half the wardrobe, but his journals and spell components fill out the desk. He does kick off his shoes and quickly wash his face in the bathroom; glad to finally be off the road.

When Felix goes back downstairs, Elodie is back in the kitchen, reading over the instructions to the spell while mixing a few herbs together. "Here," she says, handing Felix the page with the ingredients. "I'm going to draw the sigil. Can you add everything else?" Felix nodded and looked over the instructions. Rosemary, thyme, honeycomb, everything looked simple. He added peppermint oil to the vial with the demon's blood, washing it out of the container and adding it to the mixture before muddling everything together.

"Wouldn't it have been easier to do this near the demon's location?" he asks.

Elodie opens a large brown messenger bag and pulls out a stick of chalk. "Yeah, but you know it caught wind of our location, and there's nothing between here and Vegas that's any safer. If we want to get capture this guy, this is the best place to do it."

Felix shrugs. She's not wrong, but the summoning scares him. They've never actually done it before, and Felix has only a rudimentary understanding of witchcraft. Elodie's a little better, but the spell seems advanced, even for her. She's always been the more careless of the two, and it makes him uneasy. But they've survived twenty years together; he can have faith in her.

"So, explain the plan to me," he says, bringing the bowl into the library where Elodie is tracing out a sigil.

"It's pretty straight forward," she says. "The spell calls for a handful of components and either of piece of the demon or something it's created. We have it's blood, so we're good there. If it works, he gets summoned to our location, and as soon as he arrives, it'll be chained to the sigil, unable to leave. I'll perform the exorcism, and if something goes wrong, you stick a knife in its chest."

"And you're feeling confident about" Felix asks. Elodie nods. "Do we have all the components?"

"The paper I gave you have everything for the bowl. The other components are written here," she says holding up the spellbook to a page depicting the summoning ritual. "Just incense and five candles, one on each point."

She goes back to drawing. The sigil itself is small and simple in design. No fancy characters or symbols to draw out. It's a pentagon with a few geometric lines protruding from each corner. "All finished," says Elodie, dusting the extra chalk off of her hands. "I'll go get the candles; you got the bowl?"

Felix nods. He puts the bowl in the center of the sigil, before adding a stick of incense and lighting it. The warm scent of peppermint fills the room and a faint trail of smoke rises up above the bowl. Elodie returns with five candles, lighting one at each corner.

"You ready?" she asks, pulling out a book with the summoning chant written on it.

Felix nods and steps back. He closes the curtains in the room and shuts off the lights. The only light comes from the candles. Careful to stay outside the summoning sigil, Felix makes his way back to where Elodie stands, pulling his silver knife out of his pocket. He keeps himself in front of her protectively, ready to be the first line of defense once this demon appears.

Elodie begins the verse, voice strong and unwavering. Felix feels a gust of wind raise the hairs on the back of his neck. Something is happening, and only time will tell if it's working.

The candles flicker, but hold steady. The wind picks up and the temperature drops significantly. Felix instinctively shivers at the feeling. Suddenly, he gets the feeling that he's being watched, but he shakes it off. From what he's read, demons being summoned play tricks to try to scare summoners off. It's just a trick, it has to be a trick.

The wind is howling now. It's freezing. Something feels wrong, and he wants to ask Elodie, but finds his voice stuck in his throat. Felix suddenly feels a tug at his left arm. He looks down and a thin, golden chain has wrapped around his finger. It's cold to the touch, and it fits like a snug ring. There's a strong tug on the chain, pulling him, and he stumbles forward towards the sigil, just barely stopping himself before he crosses the chalk line.

"Almost there," says Elodie before continuing the chant.

The wind stings Felix's skin. It hurts, unlike anything he's ever felt before. There's a white hot pain and his vision goes fuzzy. He tries to right himself, but his brain can't figure out which way is up. The last thing he remembers is losing his balance, falling forward towards the tile floor. He braces for a rough impact, but something catches him before he lands on the hard ground, and then everything goes blank.

______

Ace is ecstatic. He's definitely chosen the right partners for tonight. He's lying naked between two gorgeous men, having the time of his life, when suddenly, he feels an ethereal claw reach for him and pull.

Shit. Is he being summoned? He hasn't been summoned in a year. What the hell is this? Ace tries to resist it, tries to send psychic energy to the summoner to dissuade them from continuing, but it's no use. He can feel his legs going numb. He quickly looks to his partners as the numbness begins to travel up his body. "Sorry darlings, but I gotta go. Have fun without me, 'kay?"

"Right now? But we're already-"

"Ta-ta!"

Ace wishes he could see the look of shock on the two humans as he's pulled from a comfy California king in Las Vegas to a rather plain looking house in who knows where, arriving with a massive pulse wave of energy shooting out from his body. He doesn't have much time to react before a man stumbles forward, falling towards him. Instinctively, he reaches out to catch the man before he falls.

He's unconscious. Well, little victories. Ace holds up his clawed hand, ready to make it a quick, simple kill, when he notices a gleaming golden chain dangling from the man's finger. It trails across the floor and then up to connect to… Ace's own hand. Fuck. Things just got a whole lot more complicated.

Lowering the man to the ground, Ace takes in his surroundings. He appears to be in a small library. There's a woman lying against a bookshelf, several of the novels are scattered around her body. She must have been flung back when Ace was summoned. There was a spell book in her hand; she was the summoner. He's standing in a sigil, but he's not trapped. Something went wrong with the spell.

Ace looks over the man again. He appears to have dropped a knife when he fell, and Ace is lucky it didn't hit either of them. There are also deep bags under his eyes; even without the summoning, he probably wouldn't have stayed conscious much longer.

He decides to leave the library, so he throws the man over his shoulders (rather ungracefully) and leaves the room. As he passes by the kitchen, he notices the stove has been left on. A tea kettle sits to the side of the stove, but someone forgot to shut it off. He flips the switch, relieved that there won't be an accidental house fire. He walks up the stairs before coming across two bedrooms with open doors. One of them has the wardrobe open with decidedly more feminine clothes inside, so he walks to the other bedroom, shuts the door, and drops the man (equally ungracefully) on the bed.

"Do you know how much shit you've gotten us into?" he asks, not expecting nor receiving a response. "I don't even know which of us has it worse, isn't that funny?"

Ace plops down onto the desk chair. He doesn't sleep, but he appreciates the time to clear his mind and plan out his next move.