#Eudora survives

[pin-acolada]

CHAPTER TWO (TQOHH)

Aemond Targaryen x Targaryen OC

Description: Her warmth and love caress his soul making him hum with bliss. Having her presence near makes all of the dark thoughts perish, as she was the flowers that grew in the darkest part of him. She is the keeper of his soul. Holder of his heart. Without her, he is nothing.

Word count: 6199

The Queen of His Heart Series

A/Q: does anyone know how I can turn on comments? I tried going on google for an explanation why my reply section turns off automatically. If anyone has the answer, please message me.

Italics – High Valerian

Word traveled to the capital of Laena passing. Daemon and his two daughters: Lady Rhaena and Lady Baela were now at Driftmark where the House Velaryon mourn for their daughter.

Eudora was not in Kingslanding when the news was sent, nor did she know that the Targaryens were heading to Driftmark for the burial ceremony. Instead, a raven was sent to her to the North where she spent for the past week bonding with her cousin and uncle.

When Eudora read the parchment letter, she grieved for her cousin and her daughters. Laena was nothing, but a wonderful person to Eudora when she moved to Driftmark with her father. The two were close and enjoyed each others company.

Laena who inherited  her fathers bold, adventurous spirit would take Eudora out flying with Vhagar. Eudora remembered that after her fathers death, Laena came up to her asking her permission to claim Vhagar as her dragon.

Laena knew how much the dragon meant to the young princess since Maegor will always take her to ride Vhagar. So much memories that persist with love and sadness. Laena didn't want to disrespect Eudora, and would've accepted if she denied her approval. But Eudora said that she should, and reminded her that a bond between a rider and a dragon is something she cannot deny. Hence, there was no reason for her to ask, nevertheless she was grateful of Laena as it showed how much she respected her fathers name that has now been tattooed on Vhagar wings.

It's unfortunate to accept that she will no longer create more memories with the Velaryon woman, but what it was worth, her memories with her are now engraved in her heart.

Eudora went to the dining hall where there awaited her cousin, Cregan Stark alongside his wife Arrya Norrey and her uncle, Lord Rickon Stark. When the guard announced the Princess presence did the two Stark men lifted their attention with a smile. But that quickly turn to a frown when they saw the distraught on her face, and the dry tears that stain her cheeks.

Cregan went up to his young cousin and held both of her arms with his own. "Lady Laena Velaryon-Targaryen passed away during child birth, she as the rest of my family are now at Driftmark preparing her burial," she hiccuped.

"Dear gods," Arrya muttered placing a hand to her chest.

"May she rest in heaven, my niece. Childbirth could sometimes be a star-crossed way of ones way to death. Were they able to retrieve the child?" He questioned, but his frown deepen when she shook her head.

"It was said that the babe was turn the other way around, that the only way was to open her but the chances for either surviving was very slim. It was said that she order Vhagar to end her pain, and she did." Now Vhagar is left with no rider as she too grieves for another loss.

"I must leave now that the sun is still at its peak. It will take me a day to get Driftmark, probably less or so with how big Jyrot is." She detach herself from Cregan as she walked up to her uncle. When she came close Rickon couldn't help, but have a blue smile as he esteem his niece facial structure that had him be reminded of his dear sister. She had her mothers eye shape and nose, but above all her personality.

He was hoping for her to stay another week so he can bond with her, oh how he regret not getting to know her sooner. The interaction he witness between his son and her was a wonderful sight. They connected so well, and her kindness towards his newly wife reminded him of how Kalea treated his former wife who unfortunately passed away.

"Uncle, with your permission may I take my leave. I give you my word that you will see me again as I really did enjoy your company. The House of Stark brought nothing but welcomeness and acceptance since my stay here, and I would really like to come back again when the time is right."

Rickon's gruff chuckled made Eudora smile. "Of course my niece, you are always welcome here. Just send a raven and your room will be ready for you when you arrive. Winterfell is your home now." Embracing her uncle in a quick hug of goodbye, she greeted Arrya and her cousin goodbye as well.

Cregan offered to accompany her to watch her depart with her dragon. When the winter cold hit their skin, did their noses immediately began to blush. Not from the gates did the two see Jyrot who was waiting for his rider, he was ready to takeoff and fly to their destination. Cregan found amazement how connected the dragon was with his cousin, that he questions whether if he hear her thoughts.

"Close your mouth, you don't want any flies to enter causing you to choke," Eudora voice brought him back from studying the serpentine creature.  He watched her putting on her gloves on and moved to tightening her leather coat; she made sure double checking she had everything in her satchel as well the gift she wanted to give to Aemond that she bought at the market.

"Will you be alright? It looks like a storm will be coming direct where you're flying." Cregan said with concern as he looked up at the sky that began to overcloud the sun.

"Yes cousin, I assure you I will be perfectly fine. As you should already know, Jyrot is built for flying storm – even snow storms," she reminded him. "He is the only dragon in the house of dragon to breath ice, after all his scales will protect him and I from the harsh cold."

The Stark boy find that to be astounding. When he was first introduced to the dragon, he was frighten to go near it. But with the help and patience of his cousin who reassured him no harm will come to him, he felt the scales of the knightly beast. Scales that were so warm he felt he would burn himself if he kept his hand laying there for too long. He did not expect for the dragon to breath ice, base off the warmth he permits he expected fire.

"Give my condolences to your family, and don't forget father words: you are always welcome here. This is your mothers home making it yours as well. Her footsteps walk within the memory of this castle, I would say it will do you good to follow them so you can connect with her more." Eudora smiled and agreed with nodding.

Once she gave her final hug to her dear cousin, she went close to Jyrot who held out his wing for her to mount. Once he saw her close to her saddle, did she lift herself from his wing and she sat down buckling herself up for the long flight. With a final wave to Cregan, the young lord reply the gesture at the same time,  took an immense steps back.

The flap of the giants wing gushed hard wind to the Lord making him almost trip backwards, but held himself together. Now further up in the sky, Cregan watch the princess soar as her figure grew smaller the further she flew.

After the burial ceremony that taken place at the High Tides,  the tension that was present continued to follow during the post-ceremony reception.

Rhaenyra made her way out to Jacaerys who stood by the stone balcony that viewed the ocean tides. He watches the movement of the ocean clasing against the wall making the the collision spray on his face. The child stared off into space where the one thing he thought of was that he and his brothers should be mourning for his blood father, Ser Harwin Strong. Rhaenyra comforted her eldest son by caressing his cheek, though it did little to settle his nerves.

Rhaenyra looked over her shoulders to see the daughters of Laena holding each other, their eyes downcast to their hands as they were still accepting their mother is long gone. "your little cousins have lost their mother, they could use a kind word," Rhaenyra advised pushing her son to start an relationship with his cousins, but the boy didn't budge.

"I have an equal claim to sympathy–" Rhaenyra sighed at her son knowing what he implied. The mother place both hands on his shoulder, about to talk sense into him, but the Velaryon boy beat her to it. "We should be at Harrenhal, mourning Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin." It was like the boy did not know the proper way to whisper making Rhaenyra snap her head around in case anyone heard.

She crouch to Jacaerys height where the two noses almost touched, and she spoke with a low whisper "It would not be appropriate. The Velaryons are our kin and the Strongs are not, do you understand." Rhaenyra brought Jace attention back to her where he gazes at his mother's violet eyes, while she gaze at his brown ones. The boy knew he was different, he knew his blood was tainted and was a bastard, but Rhaenyra always reminded him that he was not. There was no room of arguing with his mother base off her harden eyes that told him that the discussion had come to an end.

"I wish Eudora was here," the boy mumbled as he look down at his feet. "She would know what to say."

Rhaenyra shut her eyes as she too wished her daughter to be by her side. "Salt courses through the Velaryon blood. Ours run thick. Ours run true. And ours must never thin." Vaemond directive speech kept echoing in Rhaenyra's mind,  making it hard for her to be composed. She knew the meaning behind his words, which had her push her sons further into her trying to hide them from the eyes of her family who couldn't help, but glance their way making her dread Vaemond's claim.

With Eudora by her side, she knew her daughter would've been holding her hand giving her words of reassurance, as well putting Vaemond on the spot by counterclaiming his intention under a time of mourning.

"I have sent a raven to the north two days ago. I'm sure she has read my letter and is on Jyrot as we speak. Knowing Eudora, she would not miss to see Laena for the final time knowing how close they used to be." Rhaenyra said. "If she was here, I'm pretty sure she would agree with me that it would be best for you to mourn Harwin Strong in secret, and to give your condolences to you cousin." Eudora wouldn't agree on that, in fact she would've told Jacaerys to mourn for his father even if it was in front of the guest. They wouldn't pin who he was crying for anyways.

Alicent who stood across from where she was with Ser Criston Cole, watch the mother and son with interest. The Queen twiddle with her finger as she huff a small smirk. Rhaenyra eyes found Alicent, and the heir princess straighten herself not allowing Alicent ego to be satisfy at seeing her at her lowest point.  

Jacaerys wasn't the only person who wished for Eudora presence at this moment, as so did Aemond who stood next to his brother. The two looking over at their sister who was crouching down, as they watch her play with a new eight leg friend who was listening to her fortune of madness. Aemond listen to his brother disinterest of marrying Halaena, practically having a tone of disgust.

"She's our sister," Aemond simply stated, as if foreshadowing that regardless of Aegon's distaste he must care for her. But Aegon who never had the privilege of love nor knowing how to give love, looked at Aemond as if he was mad.

"You marry her then," Aegon said.

"I would perform my duty if only mother had betrothed us, but she didn't." Except she did, but Aemond wouldn't tell that to Aegon knowing it will worsen the situation. In fact, she gave me the option whether if I would want to marry Halaena, or if I would rather choose my own person to hand, Aemond thought. Obviously he denied his mother idea of marrying Halaena, he instead chose the second option where he rather have free will of choosing who he wanted to bethrothed. He wished to say that his brother just to have the conniving pleasure of watching his quick reaction, but like usual he kept his thoughts to himself. "you know if Eudora heard the distaste that's tainted on your tongue regarding our sister, she would've talk some sense into you."

"Oh my beloved cousin would I be delighted if she was around" Aegon hummed. "Unfortunately, she's all the way up at that hazardous place of the North. Don't know why it even occur in that brains of her to even go, its fucking freezing. It would've been best if she found a place that was warmer, like my bed." Aemond huffed a growl at Aegon who couldn't help, but laugh at his little brother reaction. "Oh, you so are strong" said the eldest and he pushed Aemond chest making the boy stagger a bit, but kept his ground.

"You better watch your tongue brother," Aemond gritted.

"Or what? Gonna feed me to your flying pig" Aegon jutted causing the second son to ball his fist. Ser Criston Cole whose hawk eyes scanned the room came across the tension between the two brothers. The Queens knight coughed catching her attention. He gestured with his eyes to look behind her, and with furrow eyebrows that pinched together she turned to see Aemond who was about to cause a scene. With widen alarm eyes, the Queen picked up the skirt of her dress speeding her way to her sons with Criston Cole in tow.

Alicent pulled Aemond to her side, and Criston took Aegon to his. Aegon pushed the royal knights arms off of him, giving him a scowl in exchange as if he had the right to touch him. Alicent looked around her to make sure no eyes were casted upon them, and began to pulled the boys to the corner. When she removed her tighten hold from their arms, she pushed them by the chest causing them to hit their their backs against the wall. Both of the Targaryen princes hissed at the pain. "This is no time to have your fist up at a time like this." She snapped. "Where are your manners?"

"I was just defending Eudora's honor" Aemond reasoned to his mother. "Aegon was saying repugnant stuff about what he would do–"

"That is not true," Aegon cut through trying to convince his mother just to save himself from another slap to the face. "I was simply implying the love I have for my dearest cousin, you my dear brother are just overly protective and should be kept on a leash since you're so loyal to your owner." Aemond once again was pulled away from grabbing his brother hair by Ser Cole.

"Enough for sevens sake" Alicent frustratedly sighed. The queen pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to ease herself from a gaining a headache. "Aegon for once in your damn life, shut your mouth before I do it for you. As for you Aemond, don't let your brothers words get to you. Matter of fact, the two of shouldn't been going at each others throat! You are brothers, the only sons of King Viserys Targaryen. You mustn't let those words to be true of the two you hating the other, we can't let our family be probed of this" she stated making the two boys look at their feet, nodding at their mother.

"Yes mother." The two brothers said in unison.

Aemond depart from the circle, and made his way out of the shadow. He looked over to see Jacaerys with his cousins, and contemplated whether if he should go up to them. Eventually, he thought of Eudora. He heard her soft voice echoing in his mind telling him to try to pay his respect to the girls that lost their mother, and so the second son thought to at least try to be nice; but as the boy went up to them their attention to him and immediately froze. Aemond halted from furthering, instead gave them a small smile, but in return the three just gave him a misanthropy look making the smile wipe off from the boy.

As Aemond turned and walked away to find another corner where he can just dread his existence, all he was thinking at that moment was how he wished Eudora was there with him. Maybe with her by his side, his nephew and cousins wouldn't give him those looks. He longed for her words of comfort to soothe the anxiety that began to peak from within him. As he sat down, he looked up in the sky waiting to see Jyrot giant wings peaking from the clouds. He play with his fingers, telling himself to be patience with her arrival. He knew she was on her way from the North, since he knew Rhaenyra sent a raven to her.

Eudora was right of her estimate of how long it will take her to get to Driftmark. It took her twenty nine hours by dragon, and by the time she arrived it was dark. She could see from where she was that the lights of the castle were still lit, making it known that everyone was still awake but that also meant she missed the funeral.

Eudora had Jyrot land wherever he pleased, she didn't mind the long walk. Jyrot found a good resting spot that fitted well for his grand self; with a loud thump Vhagar who was a mile away looked up to see  the big beast with his rider in tow. The she dragon growl when she recognize the small princess, but didn't dare go near till she was close to her. Jyrot didn't like when other dragons were at close proximity from his rider. His warning growl has them remember their place.

When Eudora mounted off Jyrot, she rested her head against his snout making the beast let out a soft growl. She began to say a few words of comfort, making the dragon relax when he felt her hands caressing his rough scales. Dragon keepers who witness this are always caught in their own surprise when they see the interaction the princess gives to the giant beast. It never cross their minds that a Dragon that grand and who has such an intimidating aura would ever grow soft to a small person. It's hard to believe that Jyrot loves the attention his rider gives him, and with good behavior he knew he will receive many more of her. It's rarity to witness a bond between the two that they cannot be compared by any other rider and their dragon. The two were like two souls that shared the same mind.  

When Eudora told Jyrot goodnight, she made her way to the direction of the castle but decided to make a short stop to Vhagar who lifted her head as she watch the youngen approach her. At an appropriate distance, Eudora raise her hand out to the dragon who knelt down to press her snout against her hand. Breathing out with relief, Eudora got close to the dragon who began to rumble when she felt the familiar touch of the Targaryen girl. "You have gotten older my dear girl," She said in High Valerian. "Nevertheless, you are still beautiful." She giggled when she felt her smoke hit her frame. "I give you my condolence for losing another rider, but I see you do not mourn for her" she said confused.

She looked at the relax dragon who rested its head on the sand again. Usually a dragon mourns for the death of their rider, she witness that when Vhagar felt the broken tie with Maegor and the Queen of Dragons was in a depression state for so long till Laena came along. Till Laena came along, Eudora thought with realization. "Unless someone has claimed you which is why you... why is why you no long mourn," she whispered. As if the dragon understood the common tongue, made a grumbling noise as if telling her she right was on her theory.

Once she left Vhagar, she couldn't quiet the voices in her head that were trying to figure out the claim of Vhagar. The only person she can think of is Baela, but at this day of mourning she knew the girl wouldn't go such superb measures. She may know little of Baela and her twin sister, but one thing she did know was that their mother was they're everything. Taking Vhagar as her own would take time for her to accept and to finally click that her mother was truly gone, and was now with the Gods.

As Eudora enter inside the castle, she was immediately hit with loud commotion from where seem to be at the Hall of Nine.  Her heart began to race when the multiple voices began to be more clearer. It was mixture between Lucerys, Jacaerys, the twins, and Alicent's voice that were pouncing upon each other so their words could be heard.

Eudora glance at the frighten servants who looked at her way, making Eudora to let out a shaky breath. The princess hated whenever the family fought each other, and it was already worse enough how clear of the division between the two families where they ignore each others existence.

When she entered the room, she couldn't help but gasped causing everyone to quiet and snap their heads to see the girls aghast expression. There in front of her she saw Lucerys bleeding from his nose. She saw the little one hiding behind his mothers body making her instantly grow  sad to see how frighten he was at that moment. But what she saw next had her body almost give up on her, until she quickly caught herself by the door frame. There she saw Aemond who eye was stitched up close. "E-Eudora..." She didn't know that it was Aemond that called for her, as she was still in a shock state. This was not something she expected by her arrival back from the North.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Corlys boom voicing that echo the room made Eudora snapped herself out. She look to see Corlys and Rhaenys walking down the steps making their way to their granddaughters. The doors behind her opened making her jump until she relaxed to see it was just her uncle Daemon who placed his hands on her shoulders to soothe out the tension.

Eudora look to see her King-uncle head dropping showcasing his tiredness with the children yelling making her pity him of the burden. "Enough" the King sighed, but as he kept repeating himself and no one hearing him did the King began to yelled out with frustration, "Silence!" With that everyone was silent as they looked at their King.

As everyone let the King put himself together before he said anything, Eudora eyes traveled back to Aemond who never took his eyes off of her. She watch his mouth moving, come please. The young prince thought he was being discrete, but he forgot the rogue prince that was behind her who was watching him with scrutinizing eyes. He lowered his eyes to see his niece about to move where her feet pointed to Aemond, and before she had the chance to move he pushed them both to where Rhaenyra was.

Aemond watched with a glaring eye, Daemon felt the prince's eyes following him and he didn't hesitate to make eye contact with the one-eye giving him a small smirk. Aemond huffed a low growl conveying his distaste towards him.

Aemond watched Rhaenyra relief at the sight of her goddaughter, pulling her into a desperate hug. She press multiple kisses on her cheek, whispering against them "I'm so glad you're back safe my sweetling, your presence was needed."

"Mother what's going on," the girl spoke with a croak tone.

Rhaenyra was about to speak, but Alicent beat her to it "My son has been maimed, her son is responsible." Eudora eyes eyes at the veracious matter and looked down at her nephew that she saw as a little brother. The Velaryon boy felt his big sister gaze and couldn't bare looking her way knowing she was disappointed. It never crossed her mind for the seven year old to be so violent, it was truly something unexpected, but then again she doesn't know what happened that resulted this to happened.

"Aemond, I will have the truth of what happened, now" Viserys spoke making his way limply to his son. Alicent looked at her King husband with judgement in her eyes, she was growing mad that he chose to ignore her words as if they were silent whispers. Aemond wasn't able to speak due to Rhaenyra beating him to it  making him roll his eye at being shut down once again.

"It was an accident," Rhaenyra defended against Alicent claim.

"An accident? The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son," she strongly affirmed.

"It was my sons who were attacked and forced to protect themselves. Vile insults were levied against them," She spat making Viserys looked at his daughter with questioning look to his eyes. He asked her of what insults, and Rhaenyra felt hesitant to even speak the reason. Eudora felt her mothers anxiety peaking off her, and so she held her hand giving it a small squeeze to reassure her she was not alone. Rhaenyra looked down at her daughter with a grateful small smile, and went to look back up to watch all eyes on her. "The legitimacy of my son's birth was put to question," she stated.

"What?"

"He called us bastards," Jacaerys reinstated once again having Visery close his eyes.

Eudora gulped her saliva when she had a feeling that things were going to unravel very ugly. On the other hand, Alicent couldn't believe what she was hearing from the bastard as if that was any of a good reason to steal her sons eye away. "My sons are in line to inherit the Iron Throne, my grace. This is the highest of treasons – Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders," Rhaenyra said to her father making Aemond turn himself around to look at his half sister who gave him a teary glare, in return he did the same.

Aemond drifted off to Eudora who tears was beginning to built up. His gaze soften at the sight, he knew that she hated all of this and he was upset that he was partially the cause of it, nevertheless it was his right for what he'd done. She would understand once he has the chance to speak to her.

"You tell me boy, where did you hear this lie," Alicent couldn't help herself but to laugh in disbelief what she was hearing from the King. The anger inside her began to boil and the Queen was trying hard not to snap, but she felt it – she felt herself about to be gone. "Aemond! I asked you a question, your King demands it." His King-father snapped at him when he heard the boy not saying anything. The one-eye prince gave him nothing, but a cold glare at his father.

"The insult was training yard bluster. There are lot boys that always question the legitimacy of my nephews, uncle." Eudora spoke having her shoulder to be squeezed by Rhaenyra who was telling her to not speak, but the girl did not listen. "I would know because I will watch them train. They don't know how to whisper, I'm guessing." In her defense, she wasn't entirely lying.  Eudora watched Aemond let out a small smile, it made him gladden that she came to his defense and it proved how much she cared for him because she knew that in truth it was his mother who told him that her nephews were bastards.

Alicent looked at the girl with a thankful look, "thank you, daughter."

"Don't you dare–" Rhaenyra said with gritted teeth. Alicent said nothing but glare at her former friend who eyes were cold.

Alicent hopped with Eudora's claim that was to make the King to not longer question his son, but it was not enough to convince him. "Aemond, I will not repeat myself again," Viserys said with impatience. Viserys saw Aemond eye line directing to his mother, making him follow his sight making Alicent nervous from the inside, but from the outside she held herself together not showing any sort of death or weakness.

"It was Aegon," he said.

"Me?" The eldest looked at his brother with disbelief. Aegon didn't have time to process what was said by his brother till he felt his father hitting his shoulder making him wince. At that point, the prince was in immense pain as he was still recovering from the hard slap from his mother.

"Where did you hear such calumnies, huh?" His father said. "Aegon, tell me the truth of it!" he yelled making the loveless child flinch at his father aggressive tone.

Hesitantly, he looked at his father and back to his brother who didn't spare him a glance. "We know father. Everyone knows" he emphasized. He turn to the two bastards who hidden behind their mother and Eudora. Lucerys felt the eyes of those in the room, making him stuff his face on Eudora's stomach making her hold him. She didn't care if his blood stain her dress. "Look at them, it's obvious," he whispered at the end.

"This interminable infighting must cease, all of you! We are family!" he emphasized and couldn't but his voice crack at the end of the word family. The old King tiredly sighed, trying to ground himself to keep himself sane. "Now, make your apologies and show good will to one another" he  said disclosing the situation. "Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it!" he finalized.

Eudora saw the betrayal in Alicent's eyes, and couldn't help but pity for the Young Queen. She watch as the Queen eyes follow the limp King who didn't dare to look at the heartbreaking look of his wife. Alicent looked down at her feet, and with a heavy breath she ordered Ser Criston Cole "Criston Cole, I demand you to take the eye of Lucerys Velaryon as a token from taking my sons!"

"Eudora!" the small boy sobbed as he hid behind her clutching her dress. Rhaenyra instinctively put her children behind her, protecting from harm. Daemon followed suite as he place himself in front of Eudora who was holding onto a shaking Lucerys.

"Alicent–" Viserys words were cut off by his wife who gave him a hand to silent.

"He is your son Viserys. Your blood. He has been permanently damaged, "Good will" cannot make him whole. There is a debt to be paid and if you won't do nothing about it then I will. Ser Criston Cole," she demanded and the knight straighten his stance, pulling out his sword making Rhaenyra to stop him from moving any further.

Daemon pulled out his own sword, showcasing the Dark Sister. The royal knight and the rogue prince didn't break eye contact, awaiting for one to make a move.  

"Alicent do not allow your your temper to cloud your judgement" Viserys said softly, trying to soothe his wife by getting closer to her. "This discussion is finished Alicent, do you understand."  Alicent lips trembled as she looked at her king-husband with disgrace. The way he stared at her was not like a husband staring at his wife, with love or respect. No, instead he saw her as little girl who was being taught to understand her elder. Alicent execrated that.  

When she did not say a word, that had him confirm that she understood and was put into her place. "Let this be known," Viserys began once more as he ascended himself back to the throne. "Anyone who dares questions the birth of Rhaenyra's sons will have their tongue removed," he made sure to look back at Alicent who glared daggers at him.

"Thank you father," hearing the princess getting her way once again made Alicent snapped. With a quick swift movement, the mad Queen taken Viserys blade behind his back. Viserys with slow instinct was not able to catch his wife as she marched her way to Lucerys and Eudora's direction. The mad queen was blinded with rage and when Eudora heard her uncle demands for Alicent to not harm his grandson, did she turn around to see her crazy eyes causing her to step away in fear.

Daemon brought Eudora back behind him again, Lucerys went to his brother who was frighten what was to happen. Rhaenyra caught Alicent hand preventing her from getting herself from her son. Eudora began crying behind Daemon who tried comforting his niece the best he could, but not once did his eyes leave Rhaenyra figure who was talking down to Alicent.

Right when Rhaenyra was proving to Alicent her breakage, did the two and everyone else began to hear a roar of a familiar dragon. In seconds, the ceiling of the Nine Hall was ripped off making everyone scream with terror. Alicent unknowingly cut Rhaenyra causing her to hiss in pain. Rhaenyra watched Alicent running to her children who looked up at the grand dragon with fear in their eyes. Rhaenyra ran to own who immediately dived into her arms. She and her sons went to Daemon side where he shakes Eudora from her panicking state

"Eudora command Jyrot to calm!" It was like there was a wall separating her from her uncle since all she heard was muffles. Her eyes were distant as she couldn't rip them away from the immense amount of blood that lay painted on the ground. Everything that unravel turned to fast for the princess, that everything was growing hazy and Aemond who was hidden behind his mother could see that from where he stood.

As he was about to make his way to comfort her, Alicent pulled him back harshly making him groan in pain that came from his injuries. "Mother I must go to Eudora–"

"You will not! Not when that thing is atop ready to fire us to our death" she snapped.

Everyone watched Jyrot entering of only his giant head. They watch him as they knew his searching eyes were looking for his rider. When he finally met her figure that was wrapped in the arms of her uncle, the dragon growl at the rogue prince warning him to untie himself from her. Without hesitation Daemon stepped away from his niece as he watched the dragons pale eyes watch his every move. When Jyrot saw he was at an appropriate distance, he growl once more in warning to everyone who didn't dare to move the slightest.

They watch the giant beast lift his rider by the hood of her leather flying uniform with his mouth. Placing her softly on top his wing, he raised his wing diagonally where she slid and mounted on the saddle. Still at her panicking state, the princess laid her head against his scales.  

"Eudora!" Rhaenyra cried trying to reach for her, but Daemon stopped her.

"Don't provoke Jyrot or else he will not hesitate to perish you with his frostbite flames" he warned. "Let him take care of her. He felt her so let him take care of his rider, he'll protect her."

Aemond who was hiding behind his mother, watched as the dragon flew off with his Eudora. He heard the roar coming from the Dragon, and he knew that the roar was representing of what Eudora was feeling. The knightly dragon that flew further away from the castle began to blend with the night sky, making it now impossible to see them.

"We must follow Jyrot to retrieve back Eudora," Rhaenyra cried out. "Who knows how far he will take her, father–" she looked at her tired father who had not even a glimpse of worry.

"Let the dragon fly where he knows its safe. Knowing Jyrot, he will not hesitate to harm anyone that comes to his rider. Eudora is safe hands by her dragon, her true protector" The King reassured.  

Her protector, Aemond thought. I should've been the one protecting her from all of this, from them.

As everyone began to clear out from the room, the boy stayed where he stood as his eye never left the night sky hoping (once again) to see Jyrot wings peak through from the clouds so he can retrieve Eudora in his arms where he will make sure its a place that felt safe.

Next: CHAPTER THREE

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

TQOHH taglist:

@jugheadisaweirdo​

@caspianobsessed

@xcharlottemikaelsonx

@zgzgzh

#aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen fanfiction #aemond one eye #aemond x oc #aemond targaryen x reader #daemon targeryan #aegon targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen #house of the dragon #the queen of his heart #pinacolada #aemond targaryen imagines #aemond imagine

[alainas-sims]

In Memory of Consuelo Eva Huntington Morales

Consuelo passed away in 1948, months after the death of her twin brother, Oscar Jameson Huntington Cortes. She was followed in death by her longtime close friend and partner, Helen Eudora Coates. Consuelo was the second child of Olga Cortes Huntington and J Huntington III and raised in comfortable wealth. She married Andrés Rodolfo Morales in 1931, in a platonic marriage, to placate Andrés' family. After the death of her older sister Luisa, Consuelo took in Luisa's son Héctor. Through Andrés' life, Consuelo remained his close friend and confidante, while resuming her long-term romantic relationship with Helen. Andrés' criminal career afforded some comfort to Consuelo and her family. Consuelo was heartbroken by the death of her adopted son, Héctor, in World War II, in 1944. She stayed in Oasis Springs in the cabin that had been in her family for generations, and her partner Helen moved in with her after the death of her husband, Andrés, in 1945. In her final years, Consuelo focused on her relationship with her grandchildren and continuing to tend to the earth. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Alexandrea Cole Morales, her younger brother, Ramon Huntington, and her grandchildren, Salvador and Gloria Morales.

#Marquez 1940 #Marquez gen6 #Consuelo Huntington #ts4 historical #random decades challenge #1940s #Marquez obituary #death tw #a true queen... rest in peace Consuelo <33 #i admit part of why i've been so slow these past months is because i was postponing her death

[imperiuswrecked]

Namor: Conquered Shores #1 SPOILERS

I’m gonna be read/reviewing the comic that has gripped my BODY AND SOUL today, and I’m gonna make it everyone’s problem.

We start off Namor, 100 years in the future, and the explanation for why is short but to the point, I’m really glad Cantwell didn’t dwell on the whole end of the world plot because I have read those kinda plots so many times and I have zero interest in another one.

When we first see Namor you get this sense of aloofness from him, as if he’s looking down at these two humans like they are bugs he can easily squash, even his offhanded judgement of “I don’t really care enough, to be honest” would make one think he’s removed himself from the situation of the surface human struggle to survive.

Ferry’s art is wonderful, I do love how pointy he made Namor’s ears! But the sketchy quality of his work, really works for the story imo because it’s been giving me these raypunk scifi novel book cover vibe, it but it def has that astonishing stories cover art feel to it. As a person who loves most of the Punk subgeneres (cyberpunk, raypunk, steampunk etc.) this was great for me.

What I want to quickly point out is how awesome the colorist is as well, the toxic air in the surface world being represented by this mist is such a great touch!

It's so refreshing to see Atlantis thriving when all we ever get in the current comics is another Atlantis is destroyed plot. I love the undersea scenes Ferry has created, it really has this beautiful underseapunk futuristic vibe.

Namor’s arrogance is present as well, you can almost hear him saying “Am I not the most benevolent ruler?” and “It was I who usered in this golden age of Atlantis”, I love how Cantwell doesn’t shy away from his Pride and Arrogance which are both key traits for this character.

You do not know how great it is to have Nita back, for many people who may not have read Namor and Nita comics, there is a Big Brother and Little Sister relationship, and when she died it really messed him up because she was the closest family he had. Future!Nita is now Queen, and there is a coldness to her in her regards to the humans that past Nita didn’t have, who knows what has turned her heart colder, one could explore a lot in the 100 years since to understand why.

However the aloofness we felt from Namor in the opening pages is contradicted by Nita’s words “When you do return home, you obsess over the suffering of the surface settlement clamoring for aid to a doomed people.” Namor once again showing that even if on the exterior he is a salty mean bitch, inside he is a bleeding heart. I love how this comic shows that Namor is still trying to bridge the gap between his two people, and how he’s always been the one to stand for and between them depending on the circumstances. The Atlanteans in the comics have always hated and mistrusted the surface world, Namor is one of the few who would actively seek peace (outside of plots that would require him to take vengeance for his people, etc)

I ADORE this scene, lol. This Snobby Bitchy pair hold my whole heart, but I really love the third panel in the center, Nita trying to copy Namor, she’s looked up to him ever since her escape from Llyra’s clutches, and it’s just so cute, little sister coping her big brother. Also her words, her wanting Namor to be there to advise her. DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR 1 CRUMB OF SUB-MARINER FAMILY FEELS? SO LONG.

lol, to Namor slyly suggesting/joking she give up her crown if she feels the burden is too much and have a council XD this is that dry sarcasm I don’t get from Namor these days because writers never write him well! I’m just really happy about this comic.

Eudora is a great addition to the supporting characters. I do love a tiny science nerd lady.

The cool blues of the thriving people beneath the waves vs the harsh reds of the decimated world above really provides the best contrast between the worlds. I think the artist and colorist collaboration is perfect in setting the tones for each world. 

I've always said "Namor going to the surface world should feel like he is setting foot on an alien planet bc to him the humans ARE aliens, their world isn't the world he was raised in by his mother, Princess Fen", for once I finally get that feeling that Namor is in another world.

There is this vibe, this tone, that Cantwell sets within his words that I'm trying to describe, it's like a sadness? but deeper. It's sorrow. It's like they lost something long ago, and while Namor's people are thriving his heart is torn with sorrow over the plight of the humans. This whole surface scene is just ALOT, but the way Namor is shown is so in character, yes Namor is older and less brash and less ready to talk with his fists, holding himself back even when attacked. I like to think it’s because Namor knows how sensitive things are in the relationship between his people and the humans. A human dying at his hands would make his mission to convince the rest of the surfacers to move to one of his undersea settlements much harder, they already hate him.

I was NOT expecting Jim to show up in issue one, but aaaahhhh my HEART, the way Namor is screaming for him!!! I wonder how long has it been since he’s seen Jim? I just love Namor and Jim SO MUCH, and this comic is gonna make me cry over them I just know it.

Cantwell's letter at the end of the comic is a must read as well! I really enjoyed reading it and it really feels like I have a person who understands what makes these characters so beloved even if most of the world and time has forgotten about Jim and Namor.

There’s more I haven’t talked about but I urge people to give this comic a read and to follow along with future comics!

#namor #namor mckenzie #namor the sub mariner #jim hammond #namorita #nita prentiss #conquered shores #imp reads namor

[arts-butthound]

A Day in London

Summary: Eudora arrives in London and settles in with her old friend.

Word count: 4.5k

Tags: Ominis x F!Hufflepuff student, fluff, SFW, stubborn idiots.

Part 2 to Letters to Ominis. Part 1 here  though it’s not necessary to understand whats going on

read on AO3

It had been six months since she’d last seen Ominis Gaunt, the longest period of time in years. During her summers away from Hogwarts, it was only a measly two months. Two months of knowing that he and Sebastian were in that wretched cottage in Feldcroft, technically old enough to care for themselves without Solomon. Two months of writing to them from her own lonely little cottage a country away, with only her mother and the farm animals. But six months? It was excessive and empty.

Eudora spent her time on the train thinking of how she was to conduct herself around him. What could she say? Certainly not what she felt. Not what she’d spent those six months gagging down since their summer in France. It was stupid, and she knew it, to answer that damned letter before she had the sense to think it through. Sending off her answer not even a full hour after his letter had been received. She only had the sense to kick herself for her recklessness a full two days after her own letter had been sent.

She loved him.

In the way a woman loves a man.

The way poetry loves the ear.

She loved him. It was incandescent and warm, and she could almost pinpoint every moment that had lead up to this. But the cataclysm of it had been France, with the summer sunset in his hair and that easy smile he wore as he listened to her and Sebastian make asses of themselves. At first she had told herself it was purely an aesthetic admiration- no one could say he wasn’t handsome. It was a small infatuation that would pass. But it did not. Not with the way she fantasized about being tucked into the safety of his chest, or imagined the things he could whisper to her in secret, or how she hung on his every letter.

Eudora hated loving him because it proved her mother right about boys and girls being friends. Nothing stung more than that. With each letter, Eudora held back writing down her longing for him. However, sometimes, something of that longing would sneak onto the page. She’d either have to cross it outor play it off as friendly teasing. Sometimes it seemed as if Ominis, too, might be more than complimenting her, but she could not read his own crossed out lines and such a thing felt like wishful thinking.

So she risked all-propriety, self-respect, and both their reputations- to visit a man she told herself that she was content to stay friends with. Now she was to spend a little more than a week with him, pretending all was as it had always been.

At least she was no stranger to keeping her true thoughts to herself. Eudora would survive, if only just.

The train station was abuzz with a noise so loud that Eudora could feel it through her shoes and in her finger tips. People jostled around her en mass. Shrieking breaks. Steam being let off. People called the names of those they wished to find-drowned out in all the others calling in the same way. Yellow and grey bricks. Endless panels of glass and sky above her. And she stood there, completely overwhelmed by it all. It seemed life threatened to constantly grow bigger with each new experience, for never before had she been in, let alone seen, such a swell of people in one place before. She’d thought the same of Hogwarts in those first days, but the castle had expanses of empty, quiet places, where noise dissipated into a gentle and unintelligible humming. There was time and room to adjust to the newness of it all.

King’s Cross station was not the castle, and there was no room to adjust before stepping into the crowds. They jostled, bumped into, and pushed aside anything and everything. She was all but swallowed by it, her red hair being the only thing that set her apart from the crowds. But Eudora would not be frozen. She was four years removed from the little girl who had only known the farm and the expanse of empty fields. With a stiff upper lip, she marched into the crowds, very grateful that she did not have a large bag to struggle with in all this.

‘Accio Ominis’ she thought to herself, peering over hundreds of heads to the best of her ability. Just as she began to lose hope in finding just one person like this, she spotted him- there against a wall in a brown suit, with eyes closed and fingers tapping against his arm idly. Suddenly, she was pushing forward with as much vigor as the rest of the crowd.

“Ominis!” she cried out, waving in spite of knowing that he wouldn’t see it. His head bobbed up, ear searching for her origin. He looked nearly the same, despite their time apart, with his hair ever combed back, being well dressed, and a little narrow for a man-though much more broad than he’d been as a boy. But the sight of him glowed anew, for it felt as if it had been an eternity since she’d last been near him. She struggled to free herself from the flow of people, launching herself at him as her arms curled around his middle. The warmth of him, the sound of his joy, the smell of him-this train station, in all its chaos, could not take that from her. “Happy Christmas!”

“Happy Christmas.” Ominis laughed, hugging her back in kind. He reached behind him, searching the wall before finding a long wooden cane. “I hope your journey wasn’t too taxing.”

“Perish the thought! It was rather dull, I’m sure you’re happy to hear…Is that how you’ve been hiding your wand?”

“Oh this? Yes.” He pulled at the handle of the cane, releasing it from its wooden sheath and revealing only a small part of his old friend. “It’s…the best way I can describe it is muffled, but it gets the job done around the non magic folk.” He sheathed his wand again and offered her his right arm. “Where’s your bag? Allow me to take it.”

“Very kind of you,” Eudora sounded as a cat who had gotten the cream, “but unnecessary. I may have allowed myself the small luxury of an enchantment. My little reticule here?” she spun the beaded green bag around on her fingers, “It can fit anything I should have need of and scarcely be any heavier! I saw it in Gladrags over in Hogsmeade and thought it rather apt for my trip here.”

“Very useful, indeed. I hope it didn’t cost you too much?”

“Oh, nothing too terrible. An expense, surely, but I’ve some savings.”

“Shall we, then?”

“Let’s! I’m quite eager to see how you’ve been living-if you’ve been honest with me.” She nudged him while taking his arm, causing the both of them to sway as they entered back into the flow of bodies.

“It’s not impressive, as I believe I’ve told you.”

“Oh please, you act as if you’re the only one living in a single room.”

“How modest, from a woman living in a castle.” He said as he led them out of the train station.

Eudora had never been to a city before, only ever having known the countryside and various villages. Ornate buildings blocked out large swaths of the sky, carriages commanded the road ways, and people flowed up and down the sidewalks as blood in veins. The air tasted foul, just as Ominis had said, and the sky was a murky gray. Mud, or what she thought was mud, caked the streets, and there was the pungent inescapable smell of urine.  It would appear that Ominis’ natural pessimism was well earned yet again. For all that could be beautiful about the city, there was soot and ash. She paid special attention to pick up her skirts when crossing the street.

She had expected much more, to be frank.

If there was one thing that she couldn’t disparage was that she looked the part. In planning for the trip, there had been a quiet anxiety of looking too much like some dull little country girl amongst the distinguished and elegant ladies of the city. That traitorous little voice inside her head thought-that if he could see- she would want to look like a woman that a man would be proud to be seen with. Of course, she also reasoned that she should look respectable in respected society-as a matter of not embarrassing herself first and foremost. She wore her hair up and bundled under a small brimmed hat and decorative pins, a pinstripe skirt and dark blue coat. Amongst the women of the city now, she hoped she pulled it off. Being on Ominis’ arm, like this? She felt like a proper lady.

As they walked to his apartment building, they spoke of grand mischief, gossip, and what could not be properly explained in letters. They spoke of Sebastian, predicting what he was doing at that moment, betting on what he could possibly be studying now (Ominis became rather quiet and dark here, a sinking feeling apparently deep in his belly before he made a hopeful guess.) They hoped their friend was taking care of himself.

 It was an old, tall building; brick built with fading yellow stone-stained black by soot, and took up a whole corner of the street. Nothing about it struck one as lovely, but it was a place reserved for wizarding kind, a safe haven in the bustle of a grand muggle city. That much had to be appreciated. As unassuming as it was on the outside, inside was as if everything that could possibly exist was hammered onto the walls. A flying book smacked into Ominis’ face as soon as the main doors closed behind them, Eudora held her mouth shut to refrain from laughing. From behind closed doors, bursts of light, sound, smoke came from the spaces underneath. Wands held out in the open, waving away notices, childish pranks, or lifting objects to higher floors. People talking comfortably in doorways.

Ominis lived on the third floor, down the hall to the left. It was hard to make locks that wizards couldn’t just alohamora themselves past, but as locks were needed-locks they had. He produced a small glowing key from an inner coat pocket and stuck it in the door, letting them in.

He hadn’t been being modest when he said it was a humble room. As Eudora walked inside she noted the following; a bed, neatly made, a desk stacked with books and piles of papers, a wash basin and jug, a small couch by the window, a small bin by the door, a dresser, and a narrow fireplace. There was little color and the window bled the place of what was left by letting in the December light. But it smelled of wood ash and what could only be distinctly Ominis. Eudora put her hands to her hips and nodded resolutely. “It’s not near as bad as you made it sound. I’d say it just needs a woman’s touch. With your permission, I could make this right more comfortable for you in just two days. Then you shouldn’t need to be so bashful about it.” His soft laughter caught her attention and she turned to face him. Ominis had not moved from the doorway, indeed leaning into the doorjamb. Blind eyes gazing into the room. “What’s so funny?”

“Eudora Ferguson-ever in need to fix things.”  He said.

“What? I can and do leave well-enough alone, often! I don’t have to fix things.”

“Yes, you do. You just can’t help yourself. You’re quite the busy-body.”

“Name three instances where I couldn’t not fix something. I’ll wait.”

And then he smirked. Cracking his shoulders, walking towards her, Ominis began to count. “You compulsively fixed a race war for a world you had only just been introduced to, you went along with Sebastian’s antics to fix Anne, you patched and darned holes in your friends clothes whenever they had need of it-which was often. It was Hogwarts after all. You fixed a good deal of poacher activities in the valley, you regularly made yourself available as a teachers assistant, you worked tirelessly to keep your mother’s anxieties low, you visit the grave of Professor Fig to keep it tidy because there is no one left of his family to maintain it, you know many cures for animals ailments and injuries, you helped fix up Mr. Sallow’s cottage when Sebastian took possession of it-”

“I said three, you ass.” Eudora snarked as he came to stand right in front of her. He was filling out more into a man by the day it seemed. There was the start of a mustache growing on his lip, his suit made him look older-more distinguished, and his hair was just a bit longer. There were a myriad of small changes that should go unnoticed in him, that she should not take note of, as his friend. She readjusted her glasses that had slipped from her nose.

“It’s good to have you here, Eudora. I so dearly missed mocking you.”

“The cruelties I suffer for your amusement, sir. I should say I am abused.”

“However shall you regain your dignity?”

As she was about to cleverly retort back, the floor began to violently shake beneath her-the paper on the desk began to scatter, and a terribly loud rumbling shook her skull. “Ominis?” but her voice was drowned out by the noise. The entire room began to shake, a high pitch screeching stung through the air. She tumbled into Ominis’ side, sending him back a few paces against a bed post. She couldn’t bear it, the sound- the sound! Her fingers clawed into his shirt. Turning her head, outside the window was a train being trailed by a fat smoke stack.

It took another minute or two for the train to fully pass and the sound to follow it. “Is it that late already?” Ominis mused. “Terribly sorry, pet. Suppose I forgot to warn you about that. Alright there?” He gave her back a friendly pat.

She was wide-eyed. Stunned. “Ominis…you were right. London is terribly loud.”

“And because of that, my rent is practically theft. It should only happen once more today, closer to dinner.”

“That’s going to happen again?”

“Twice a day. Luckily, I’m normally only home for the dinner train. You do get used to it-after a time.”

Chuffed, Eudora glared out the window. “I think they should pay you to take this place. That was horrid.” Her senses were suddenly returned to her hands-to the soreness in her knuckles and the fabric bunched up in her palms…She was still clutching Ominis’ shirt. Worse-she was still tucked tightly into him. Her cheeks flushed an angry red and she immediately let go, taking an appropriate three steps away. “Sorry. I do believe I’ve wrinkled your shirt.” She said with a calmness of voice that she absolutely did not feel. That wouldn’t do! Friends did not cling to each other as a cow frightened by a storm! Not as adults! She mentally chastised herself-how woefully inappropriate!

Ominis’ hand rubbed at the creases on his ribs thoughtfully. “Pay it no mind…I hardly noticed.” He said. Of course he’d be a gentleman about such a breach of personal space. She was very glad for his being blind at that moment, for the red had not left her face yet. “Shall we get you settled in then? I’m sure you’re tired from your journey.���

“Yes, of course.” Eudora smacked at imagined wrinkles in her skirt. “I’d suppose I’m to sleep on the couch over there?” She’d slept in grass and in hay bales. A couch seemed just as well.

“Absolutely not, Eudora. What kind of host would I be if I put you on the couch? You’ll take the bed, I’ll sleep on the couch.” Ominis, to make his point, went over and sat down, resting elbows on knees and leaning over himself.

Eudora stuck her hands on her hips. “I can’t kick you out of your own bed, Ominis. That just feels-”

“I insist.”

She watched him for a moment, sitting there with his own brand of calm cockiness. Stubborn as he ever was. Even when it was her doing the arguing, he was infamously difficult to persuade once he’d made up his mind. Eudora bitterly sighed. “Thank you.” She groused, tossing her reticule onto the mattress. “But if that’s the way it’s going to be, you’re getting your Christmas present early.”

It always felt nice to surprise him-the taken aback look that dropped from his brow and into his shoulders. “A Christmas present?” Ominis echoed back, sitting straighter. He looked a little embarrassed. “That wasn’t necessary, I didn’t get you anything.”

“Nonsense.” Eudora walked to the bed and began to fiddle with her reticule’s strings. “You invited me to a whole new city to visit my dear dear friend. That’s more than a gift. Now- Accio quilt!” There was a rustling from her bag. It warped as a massive blanket stretched and pulled its way out of an impossibly small hole- the fabric of the reticule moving as did the sea water.

She was quite proud of herself, looking with finality at her work-now in its proper home. She’d spent an uneven two months on it, scrounging for and hand sewing each patch into it’s perfect place. Many a night she had gone to bed with tired fingers and exhausted wrists-the impression of a needle stuck on both her pointer finger and thumb. To accomplish this, she’d become quite the pest over at Gladrags- haggling for particularly colored scraps of fabric. Eudora ran her hands along the quilt to flatten it against the mattress and then excitedly grabbed Ominis’ hand and dragged him to the bed. “Happy Christmas, dearest!”

Ominis ran his hand over the length and the breadth of the blanket, his fingers tracing over the fine stitching and occasional points of embroidery. “This feels luxuriant, Eudora!” he breathed. He couldn’t see the design proper and some people would ask why go to the trouble of designing such a thing if that were the case. Eudora had painstakingly sorted through scraps for just the right shapes-creating sunburst patches, though not uniform, of greens, golds, blues, and grays. But, just because he was blind, didn’t mean he had no need of nicely made things. “Thank you.” Ominis turned to her with a smile.

“Think nothing of it. I figured you’d need something to keep you warm at night. Can’t have you getting sick, now.” Eudora sat on the bed, quite pleased with herself. “I figured that all my friends would need gifts that were more…utilitarian this year, seeing as so many of you are only poor trainees. I even made and sent Sebastian a robe-seeing as he’s more than likely falling asleep sitting up at a desk. Not that he’s written a thank you or anything.” It had been amazing that she’d been able to perform her duties to Professor Howin, or sleep at all, with how busy with gifts she’d been. Each friend received something handmade and useful.

For the rest of the day, they settled in and spoke at length about anything and everything, sitting on the floor side by side as if they were still children. As if the two had never been separated. The warm glow of each other’s company wrapped around the room as the hours ticked on passed. Gentle touches to brutal shoving turned to laughter. It was easy and comfortable and, to Eudora, she felt that rare sense of belonging, in every sense of the word. There was the achingly faint memory of her solitary existence on the moorlands, wandering with the cattle as they grazed and never seeing another soul day after day. The little girl looked into her future, to a small room where she sat with another person, close as she ever imagined two spirits could be to each other, and she was comforted. Eudora watched Ominis speak and felt everything right within the world of her own being.

By dinner time, Eudora was prepared for the evening train. As the floor began to rattle, Ominis placed his long hands over her ears-fingers reaching into the edges of her hair- as the train was spotted and passed by the window. It left soot on the glass, and she began to wonder if it was not the December light that left the room feeling bereft of life, but the hindrance itself of light’s efforts. She mentioned this to her friend, but he argued the pointlessness of cleaning the glass. It wasn’t as if he would notice the difference either way. It was too cold to open the shutters and clean the panes if they were only to be dirtied the following day.

Ominis thought to go scrounge something to eat in the ground-floor kitchen, but Eudora would have none of it. Why be crowded by others when the company here was pleasant enough for the evening. Instead-she gave him instructions. “Go to the nearest bakery and get us a loaf of bread. By the time you get back, I’ll have started dinner!” And so he obeyed, much to the chagrin of the bakery staff. When he got back, the hall to his room was filled with a heady aroma, and inside Eudora had set to work. Having brought with her a small cauldron, she’d put it over the fire and begun on making her own chicken and herb soup, something he’d not had in a whole year. Eating it brought back memories of the undercroft for him-Eudora eager to either provide for or show off to her boys, a quiet intimate dinner in place of the loud clattering of the great hall, Sebastian asking her to make the soup again for his sister. Eudora talking about how the kitchen elves had showed her how to make her recipe that much better.

It was nostalgic and safe, and with fresh made bread, utterly delicious.

The two of them said goodnight, come bedtime, and went to sleep separately.

It was in the middle of the night when Eudora blearily woke to a chill creeping up her neck. She half expected to open her eyes and see the foggy outlines of her room at Hogwarts, the roaring fireplace having died passed embers.  She was right about the fireplace at least, for she could no longer see even a faint glow coming from the other side of the room.  She shimmied down further into the covers, pulling her legs into a tight ball and absently rubbing her toes. Nearly returned to sleep, her eye peeped open and looked toward the shape of Ominis on the couch.

Granted, she couldn’t see him any clearer than she could see the fireplace. But the fuzzy outlines of him looked smaller than usual-more round. Squinting didn’t do a thing to clear the image. Eudora felt around the nearby desk top and caught the rim of her glasses before putting them on her nose. Ominis was clearly in as tight a ball as he could muster, his new quilt wrapped on all sides of him and up his shoulders. His face, even in sleep, scrunched with discomfort. She wasn’t sure if it was just the fogging of cold glass on a warm face, but at points she thought she saw his breath.

With a mournful sigh, Eudora slipped from the covers (closing them behind her to preserve their heat) and padded over to Ominis. The floor sucked any and all heat from her toes. At the foot of the couch, she crouched down and began to poke him in the nose. “Ominis.” She whispered. “Ominis, wake up.”

“Mm? Wh’d?” he batted her hand away from his face. “Wh’d you want?” his voice husky and blurred around its own edges.

“It’s cold.”

“It’s December. Of course it’s cold. Goodnight.”

“No, Ominis!” Eudora shook his shoulder, rousing him again. “It’s cold and you’re freezing over here. Get in the bed.”

He opened his eyes only to glare at her quizzically. “No? You’re in the bed. That would be highly inappropriate.”

“Oh, for God’s sake! I think my womanly reputation is safe from prying eyes, you daffy fool. It’s not as if anyone but the two of us will ever know. You get sick far too easily to suffer this cold. Take this wretched quilt with you and get. In. The. Bed!”

He stared at her. Sniffled. “No.” And turned sharply to his other side. Well, that would just not do. Not at all. Eudora stood over him as an avenging angel, shoulders set back as she pushed her glasses back up onto the bridge of her nose. With a strong tug, Eudora whisked the quilt out from under Ominis- something she would consider as one of her more impressive feats- before scurrying back across the room and into the covers. She heard Ominis growl as he shot up and watched him with matched venom as he stalked towards her.

Grabbing two fistfuls of the blanket, Ominis began to yank it back towards him. “It’s improper!”

“I’ll take the hit if it keeps you from the hospital!” She pulled the blanket back towards her.

“We’re not children, anymore, Eudora!” His feet slid across the floor with effort.

“Get in the damn bed, Ominis!”

“It’s too late for these sorts of childish antics!”

“I agree! So stop fighting me!”

“Eudora!”

“Ominis!”

It was when his teeth began to chatter, despite his trying to hide it, that she knew she’d won. The quilt went slack and she smirked. Ominis slithered under the sheets, disgruntled and keeping as far from her as the mattress would allow. “Stop it. I can hear your mirth from here.” He groused.

“I can’t believe you thought such a silly plan would work in December. The quilt is nice, but it’s not magic. What were you going to do if I hadn’t made you a quilt?” Eudora smoothed the massive thing over the rest of the blankets before laying back down.

“I suppose I would have taken some from the bed. We would have both suffered in the name of morality.”

“It’s hilarious to me that you think I’d allow that.”

Ominis grumbled and turned over on his side.

Eudora pulled her glasses from her face and tapped him on the shoulder, still smirking. “Be a dear and put these back on the desktop, won’t you?” Ominis snatched them from her hand, refusing to say another word. In the dim light that crept through the window, she thought she could see red tingeing the tips of his ears. She chuckled, “Good night, Ominis.”

“Shut it.”

The morning found the two differently. The two turned towards each other with hands overlapping and legs intertwined. Ominis woke first, the smell of her long hair all around him, the sound of her soft breathing catching his own. He wanted to shoot out of bed, wanted to quench the burning in his face, because she felt lovely. Instead, he slowly untangled himself from her and got up to reignite the fireplace.

Eudora woke to the sound of wood thudding against a metal grate, Ominis’ strong back to her. The morning sunlight dancing across his pale skin.

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy fanfic #ominis gaunt x mc #ominis gaunt fanfiction #Ominis x OC #eudora ferguson #pining #fanfic #butthound writes #god #this was supposed to be a two parter only #it was supposed to be two parts! #now I'm looking at three or four #just to keep the length reasonable for tumblr #this is misery. #ominis gaunt

[schmooplesboop]

Perfect Gift

Pairing(s): Clive X Gav, Byron X Eugen, Joshua X ???

Ratings and warnings: Teen, bc there's implied sexy times

My brain has the Big Sad right now so I wrote some Christmas schmoop to cheer myself up. Hope y'all enjoy :)

---

Byron was all in a dither today. Truth be told, he’d been in a dither for the last two weeks, ever since he and Eugen decided to spend Yule together… and introduce their families to each other.

Eugen was bringing his sister and her children, all of whom Byron knew well. He’d been friends with Eudora for some time before she’d introduced him to Eugen all those years ago. They’d remained friends even after young Byron and Eugen had drifted apart, and Eudora and her children had spent many summers in Port Isolde over the years. Byron had invited his nephews, Gav, and Jill, none of whom Eugen knew.

Usually, his Yule parties were loud, noisy, and very crowded affairs with every available friend, colleague, and even some rivals invited. This year’s would be small and quiet, he and Eugen deciding that a more subdued party would be the best setting for everyone to get to know each other.

Byron fussed with the decorations on one of the many Yule trees dotted around the parlor for around the one hundredth time. Usually, these things didn’t bother him, but this was his first Yule with his own family in over two decades and his first Yule with Eugen ever. He wanted everything to be… not perfect, but wonderful, at least.

He probably would’ve driven himself, Rutherford, and the rest of his staff to drink ages ago if Joshua, Clive, Gav, and Torgal hadn’t arrived half a week early to help. Joshua and Torgal kept him distracted, his nephew with conversation, Torgal with demands for scratches behind the ears and rubs for his belly. And though Jill couldn’t attend the Yule celebrations, as she was spending her holiday with her brother and his husband, she also helped distract Byron in her own way. She’d sent a lovely letter and an even lovelier wine, which Byron finished off within a few days. At the manor, Clive assisted Rutherford in ironing out all the little details, and Gav was helping with the ongoing effort to decorate the estate.

And when Byron discovered that the boar he’d procured, the centerpiece of the feast, had spoiled, it’d also been Gav who’d vanished into the forest outside Port Isolde with Torgal in tow, returning nearly eight hours later, both of them splattered in blood and Gav dragging the largest boar Byron had ever seen on a sledge behind him. Even offered to butcher it if the kitchen staff proved too squeamish to do it.

“Hope you’re planning to hold onto that one,” he’d muttered to his nephew as they watched Gav pulling his sledge across the main yard, making Clive’s cheeks turn pink.

“For as long as he’ll have me, Uncle.” Clive muttered back as Gav waved at them enthusiastically, a grin on his bloody face.

Byron flitted from the Yule tree to the fireplace, arranging and rearranging and re-rearranging the festive statues of snow moogles on the mantle. Tomorrow evening. Twenty-four short hours before the Yule celebration, even less before Eugen and his family would arrive. He bustled out of the parlor to make sure the guest rooms were still in order.

❆ ❆ ❆

Despite the dusting of snow they were getting, the main marketplace in Port Isolde was packed with people. Joshua rubbed his cold, gloved hands together and shook the snow from his hair before pulling the hood of his cloak up. He followed along as Clive darted from stall to stall, reminding him very much of their dear uncle. His brother was frantically looking for a Yule gift for Gav.

He hadn’t forgotten, in fact Clive had already bought four different gifts for Gav before they even left for Port Isolde, stashing them all in Byron’s bedchamber after they’d arrived. Now it seemed he was going to buy four more, or perhaps the whole market.

“After everything we’ve survived, you’re going to fret yourself into an early grave, brother.” He teased lightly.

Clive shot him a dark look then hurried to another stall, scrutinizing their wares so intensely the poor vendor started to look concerned, as though Clive was going to wreck the stall or steal everything.

“It has to be perfect. It has to show him how I feel…”

Joshua gave his brother a smile that was both incredulous and amused, “Right, because Gav has no idea how you feel about him. You’ve only told him that you love him, gave him grandfather’s ring to wear, made eyes at him the entire time we were journeying to Port Isolde—”

Clive shot him another look and Joshua raised his hands in mock surrender, holding in laughter. He supposed he could understand why Clive was worked up. They all sorely needed this brief moment of respite, wanting it to go smoothly wasn’t unreasonable. Though he still thought his brother was placing too large a burden on himself. He could give Gav an apple for Yule and the man would love it simply because it was a gift from Clive.

And it isn’t as though the perfect gift even exis—oh. His eye fell on a rather handsome set of silver hairbrushes. Well. Never mind. Those would be perfect for—

“Phoenix’s flaming ass!” Clive exclaimed in frustration before turning a sheepish smile on him. “Sorry, that’s one of Gav’s more innovative curses. He must be rubbing off on me.”

Joshua picked up the hairbrushes, handing some gil over to the vendor. “Better my flaming ass than Ifrit’s bountiful bosom.”

Clive snorted out a laugh, all apprehension over finding a gift momentarily forgotten, “Gav did not say that.”

“Oh, he absolutely did. Granted, he was intoxicated at the time, but he did indeed say it.”

His brother sighed fondly, “I love that man.”

❆ ❆ ❆

Byron had seen Clive and Joshua coming down the lane from his bedroom window, returning from the marketplace no doubt, and went down to the kitchen to make some hot cocoa. It was snowing steadily now and his nephews were likely to be damp and cold.

He’d just finished arranging four wooden mugs of steaming hot cocoa and a plate of cookies on a tray when he heard Torgal barking a happy greeting to Clive and Joshua. He picked the tray up and walked down the hall, peeking into the entrance hall.

Both of his nephews were covered in a powdering of snow. Joshua was looking excited, carrying a set of silver hairbrushes tucked under his arm. Poor Clive looked wet and beleaguered. Byron smiled softly. He had a hunch what was bothering his oldest nephew and had just the solution.

“Welcome back, you two!” He called, holding up the tray as he entered the foyer. “Care to join me for a nosh?”

“We’d be delighted, uncle,” Joshua said brightly as he and Clive removed their cloaks and boots.

Byron held the tray out to Joshua, “Could you take this to the parlor please? Oh, and coax Gav out of the library while you’re passing by, he’s been decorating all afternoon. Clive, could you come with me for a moment? I need you for something.”

Clive nodded distractedly; Byron wouldn’t be surprised if his nephew hadn’t heard a single word he said.

Joshua went off with the tray of goodies and his mission to lure Gav away from his work. Torgal followed closely at Joshua’s heels, likely with his own mission to acquire some cookies. Byron led Clive upstairs to his bedchamber.

He gestured vaguely at the cushy chair in the corner of the room, “Have a seat, my boy. This won’t take long.”

Clive sat, still looking like a lost, sad puppy and Byron dug through his wardrobe, “Having trouble finding a suitable gift for Gav?” He asked as he rifled through his clothes.

That got Clive’s attention, head snapping up as Byron found what he’d been looking for and walked over to him with a bundle in his arms.

“Might I make a suggestion?” When Clive nodded, he placed a fine outdoor cloak, thick black leather and lined with dark silver fur, in his lap. This was one of the many gifts Clive had already bought for Gav and hid in his room upon arriving. It’d sparked this idea the moment he saw it, “I think you should give him this. And… this as well.”

He set a heavy, metal cloak pin on Clive’s knee. It’d been forged in the symbol of his, Byron’s, house. He’d given similar ones to Clive and Joshua nearly the moment after finding out that they still lived. The only difference was this pin was the first one he ever had forged when he had the money to do so. It’d been a little personal celebration… and a thumb of his nose to Father, he’d made his house’s symbol as flamboyant as possible. This particular pin was of great significance to him.

Clive must’ve had an inkling of this, because he looked up at him uncertainly. “Uncle, are you sure?”

He waved an airy hand, “Of course I am, my boy! Let him know he’s part of this family. That’s what you’ve really been fretting about since you got here, is it not?” Byron bounced on the balls of his feet, proud of himself. “I can be observant when I really put my mind to it, you know.”

Byron started a bit as Clive’s arms wrapped around his waist, hugging him tightly. “Thank-you, Uncle Byron. For everything.”

Byron laughed too, patting his nephew on the head. “It’s the least I could do.”

❆ ❆ ❆

Yule was here and the estate was nearly decorated from top to bottom, only a few last-minute touches were needed here and there. Gav was helping the house staff hang clusters of winterberry in nearly every important entranceway, standing on tiptoe atop a slightly rickety wooden stool, tongue pinched between his teeth. He knew how bizarre this would look to Port Isolde’s fancy folk, doing menial tasks, but the thought of just sitting back and letting people wait on him, and do all the work, turned his stomach. He would be as tightly wound as Byron.

Frankly, he only felt truly at ease when he was with Clive and when he'd been out in forest boar hunting. That’d brought back memories of his childhood Yules, waking before the sun was even a peek on the horizon and going hunting with his father for the Yule dinner he and his older brothers would help their mother cook later.

The winterberry, bunches of green frilly leaves and berries like large fat pearls, was tied into a little bouquet with a length of golden twine. He finally got the loop knotted at one end of the twine over the hook suspended overhead, hanging up the last winterberry. He was gazing up at it, making sure it didn’t look crooked, when he felt a familiar hand paw at the curve of his ass before squeezing firmly.

“Clive,” He scolded, failing spectacularly at keeping the smile off his lips and the laughter out of his voice, “That isn’t what you do under the winterberry.”

“Oh?” Clive’s innocent tone was belied by the sly smirk on his face. “It’s been a long time since I’ve celebrated Yule. My memory needs to be refreshed…”

Gav hummed out a quiet laugh, nimbly hopping down from the stool. “Well, first you get beneath it with someone…”

Clive’s hands settled on his hips, pulling him forward a bit so they were both squarely under the little hanging plant. “Done. And then what?”

He traced his fingers lightly over Clive’s jawline before cupping his face, “Then, you plant one on ‘em.”

Gav leaned in, kissing Clive soft and slow and thorough, with a flick of cheeky tongue to cap it off.

Clive’s hands squeezed his hips when he made to draw back, “Show me that last part again, Gav…”

There was a tiny, awkward cough and a high voice interrupted them, “U-um. Sorry, excuse me.” One of Byron’s housekeepers had come up on them as quiet as a mouse, cheeks pink and eyes darting everywhere except in their direction. “Lord Rosfield. Sir Gav. Lord Byron’s guests are coming down the lane. He wishes for you all to greet them in the main yard.”

Clive’s face had gone a brilliant shade of red, amusing Gav to no end. Here was the man who’d been so boldly grabbing his ass just a few minutes ago, blushing like a shy lad about to slip into his First Night bed.

“Thank-you,” he said to the housekeeper, as Clive seemed to have lost his tongue. “We’ll be along right quick.”

The housekeeper gave a nod and hurried off. Alone once more, Gav quickly covered Clive’s warm, flushed face with kisses.

“Memory chugging along yet?” He asked with a grin.

Plainly recovered from his embarrassment, Clive’s arms wrapped tight around his waist, “Getting there. Perhaps just once more…”

❆ ❆ ❆

His palms were sweating. Eugen and his family were still a ways away, but Byron surreptitiously wiped his hands on his trousers. Joshua, Clive, and Gav stood with him, all of them looking on with interest. Torgal was the only one who seemed bored with their approaching guests, having a nap curled up in the newly fallen snow.

Eugen and his nephew reached them first, mounted on massive brown-feathered chocobos. His sister and twin nieces were a little ways back, concealed inside a carriage being pulled by two more chocobos and steered by one of Eugen’s men. A handful of Eugen’s soldiers walked behind the carriage; the roads weren’t safe for travelers these days.

“Eugen!” Byron raised his arms then paused, not entirely sure how Eugen would want to be greeted. He was rather passionate when they were alone, but with their families looking on…

Thankfully, he didn’t have to decide what to do. Eugen approached him, hugged him, and kissed his cheek.

“Byron, you old bastard, I missed you.”

Byron laughed, that was the man he loved alright. “And I missed you, Eugen. I was buzzing like a frantic bee all over the manor this morning.” He gestured to the trio beside him, “Allow me to introduce you—”

It really wasn’t necessary for him to do this, most of Valisthea and certainly all of Rosaria knew these three by now, Clive and Joshua especially, but Byron wanted this evening to be a little slice of normalcy for them. They’d earned—no, they deserved it.

“—These are my nephews, Clive and Joshua Rosfield. And this is Clive’s companion, Gav.”

Clive promptly made sure they understood what sort of companion Byron was talking about by twining his fingers with Gav’s. Byron smiled a little.

Eugen shook each of their hands. “Eugen Havel. Enchanted to finally meet you, boys. Although I think I met you once when you were just a babe,” he said to Clive. “I doubt you remember that, though.”

“Not at all, sir,” Clive replied. “I’m delighted to meet you again all the same.”

Eugen chuckled then looked at Gav, “No second name?”

The lad’s cheeks went a little red, “Common born, sir. We don’t have those. ‘M just Gav from Snowbird Hollow.”

“Ah, the North.”

“Aye.”

Clive was frowning, giving Eugen the eye, like he wasn’t sure if Eugen was judging Gav or not. Byron didn’t blame him. Clive didn’t know Eugen. The man could be brusque but he was far from a snob, just endlessly curious.

The slightly sticky moment passed as the rest of Eugen’s party strolled in through the gate. Both Joshua and Clive tensed slightly when Eugen’s sister emerged from the carriage and Byron immediately understood why. She wore a Yule dress very like the ones their mother once favored and had her hair styled similarly as well.

But Byron knew this woman well and there was no one further from Anabella Rosfield than her. Plump, soft, and round where Anabella was all razor thin sharpness and bony angles. Dark where Anabella was fair. Kind where Anabella was cruel.

She didn’t wait for her brother to make introductions.

“Byron!” She thew her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug that smelled of powdered sugar and vanilla. “It’s been so long, old friend! I’ve missed you so!” She cast a kind eye over the other three, Clive and Joshua both visibly relaxing. “I’m Eugen’s sister, Eudora. Charmed to meet you, gentlemen!”

“I’ve missed you too, Eudora!” Byron laughed as his nephews and Gav murmured their own polite greetings.

The woman released Byron and grabbed her son by the elbow, pulling him forward so vigorously the poor lad nearly tripped, “This is my son Kasir.”

Kasir was near Joshua’s age, if Byron remembered correctly, perhaps a year younger. Handsome and tall, he had his mother’s golden-brown skin, but his amber eyes were his father’s, Eudora’s first husband.

Kasir had his mother’s charming, roguish smile though, “Enchanted.”

“And these are my twin daughters, Chiara and Melia.”

She brought the sisters forward. The twins would be twenty-two now… again, if his memory wasn’t misleading him. Their father was Eudora’s second husband. Eudora insisted that they could be differentiated, but Byron hadn’t been able to yet. Their skin was a shade lighter than their mother’s, but they had her dark eyes and hair, though their curls were free of the silver strands starting to creep their way into Eudora’s. The twins wore perfectly matching traveler’s dresses and had perfectly matching hairstyles. Byron inwardly shrugged. He still couldn’t tell them apart.

“I call them Chaos and Menace.” Kasir said with his roguish grin, making his sisters squawk in protest.

Byron silently agreed, lips twitching as he suppressed a smile. No one had been safe from the twins and their pranks when they were children. When they’d stayed at the manor one long ago summer Byron finally had to scold them for driving poor Rutherford around the bend.

“Well, isn’t this one pretty,” Chiara murmured as Joshua kissed the back of her hand.

“This one isn’t so bad either,” Melia added, eyeing Clive up and down. Gav seemed amused rather than annoyed by this.

Eudora’s sigh was both loving and long-suffering, “Where are your manners, young ladies? We’re guests here. Behave like it.”

“Told you. Chaos and Menace,” Kasir laughed.

The twins gave perfectly matching long-suffering sighs of their own and curtsied.

“Pleased to meet you all.” They chimed out in unison.

“I hope I’m dressed appropriately,” Eudora said to Byron as she smoothed her hands down the front of her dress. “I got this from that shop you recommended. I bought Yule clothes for my children too, but they’ve refused to wear them until dinner.”

Yule wasn’t widely celebrated in Dhalmekia. Eugen had been to Yule parties thrown by associates and friends before, but this would be a first-time celebration for Eudora and her brood.

“You look resplendent as always, Eudora.”

“Oh, Byron, stop,” She cackled, playfully smacking him on the arm. “My brother is right there. What will he think of you flirting with me?”

“He’ll think that you two haven’t changed a lick in the last thirty years.” Eugen said dryly, making both Byron and Eudora cackle this time. “Shall we head inside?”

“Hold on a moment, dearest Uncle. I’ve been reading all about Yule on the journey here.” Chiara said, dark eyes glittering with a cheerful mischief Byron was all too familiar with. “Is it true that once the families come together the younger generation has a mock battle with snowballs?”

“That custom is usually reserved for young children.” Eugen replied. “But I’ve no issue with you partaking if our host doesn’t.”

“None at all!” Byron said jovially.

Chiara clapped her hands in glee, looking over at his nephews and Gav. “You three game?”

Kasir gave his sister a withering look, “Seriously?”

“Oh, big brother,” Melia sighed, bending down to scoop up some snow. “Where is your sense of wonder?”

“Ah hell, why not. I’m in.” Gav said with a shrug.

Joshua still looked uncertain, but Clive nodded, which surprised Byron not at all. If Gav was in, Clive was in.

“This is ridiculous,” Kasir muttered, still bending down to cup some snow in his gloved hands.

Byron didn’t see who threw the first snowball, but it hit Kasir square in the face. And just like that, the years melted away before Byron’s eyes. They were no longer a group of world-weary adults, but totally unrestrained youth.

Gav and the twins took off running, laughing wildly as they pelted each other with snowballs and tossed a few more Kasir’s way.

“Oh… it’s on,” Kasir spat out a mouthful of snow and chased after them, aiming a snowball at the back of Gav’s head.

Clive immediately charged off to defend his love, shaping a snowball the size of a pumpkin in his large hands. Torgal, awakened from his nap, charged into the fray too, yipping like a puppy and tail wagging madly. With a kind of resigned anxiety on his face, Joshua followed along to make sure no one died by snowball.

“Well,” Byron grinned, watching Clive dunk his massive snowball on Kasir’s head before he could hit Gav. “Shall we leave them to it and have a pre-dinner drink in the parlor?”

Eugen and Eudora did an inadvertent but spot-on impression of the twins, answering in unison, “Excellent idea.”

❆ ❆ ❆

“Don’t laugh,” Gav’s voice said from behind the changing screen.

Dinner would be served soon, and the Yule party would follow immediately after. Clive and Gav were in the guest room they shared, changing into what Gav called their “Lord Fancy Pants outfits.” Soon after they’d first arrived at the manor, they’d spent an uncomfortable afternoon allowing Byron’s tailor to measure them for their Yule clothes. Clive could tell that Gav hated the whole process, but the blonde had endured it for Byron’s sake.

“I would never.” The sincerity in his voice must’ve convinced Gav, because the blonde emerged from behind the screen, tugging uncomfortably at his clothes.

Clive suppressed the urge to let out a low, appreciative whistle. Byron’s seamster had done a splendid job, despite Gav squirming the whole time. Snug, dark trousers accentuated Gav’s long legs and his long-sleeved shirt had a plunging neckline that rivaled Clive’s own. But it was the velvet waistcoat that did it for him. The dark royal blue really brought out the green in Gav’s eye and the cut flattered his trim waist and other… assets.

He licked his lips, “You look…”

“Like Farmer Lord Gav from Snowbird Hollow?”

The way he said it hurt Clive’s heart. He moved close, one hand reaching out to cup Gav’s cheek. “Handsome. Breathtaking. And yes, like Farmer Lord Gav from Snowbird Hollow, because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.”

Gav’s mouth opened then closed, cheeks turning pink. He leaned into Clive’s hand, “M’sorry. Being silly, huh.”

“Not at all,” He drew Gav close, kissing him gently. He’d been born into this privileged existence and still felt out of place in it. He had a healthy appreciation for how much more overwhelming it’d be for someone born outside of it.

After they parted, Gav’s deft fingers swiftly closed the brass buttons on Clive’s own waistcoat, also velvet but a deep red instead of blue. “You’re lookin’ mighty fine yourself, Clive.”

They kissed again, this time with a little more heat. Clive was just starting to fancy skipping dinner and having Gav instead when the blonde pulled away, wringing a little whimper from Clive’s lips.

Gav laughed softly, thumb tracing over Clive’s lower lip, “Later, love. We’ll have all night.”

Clive sighed but nodded his head. Gav was right, of course. Damn it all.

“…Clive?” Gav was hesitant again.

“Mmn?”

“I know we’re supposed t’ wait until the party for gifts, but your gift is kind of… unwieldy. Byron gonna mind if I give it to you now?”

“Of course not, my boy!” Clive heard Byron’s jovial response so clearly in his mind it was like his uncle was standing in the room with them, “He won’t mind at all.”

Wondering what this unwieldy gift could be, Clive watched as Gav crossed the room and pulled what looked like something very long and very heavy wrapped in green fabric and tied with gold ribbon from the closet.

“Where—” Clive spluttered as Gav sauntered over, depositing his gift on the bed. It was so heavy it made the mattress bounce. “You didn’t bring that with us, did you…!?” It been hard enough keeping his considerably smaller gifts out of Gav’s sight the entire journey. Where had he been hiding this?

Gav was looking proud of himself, “When you told me Byron invited us to Port Isolde for Yule I had it sent here after it was finished. Told Byron it was coming and it arrived by chocobo cart a few days before we did.”

Clive groaned faintly, he wished he’d thought of that.

“Go on, then,” Gav chirped. “Open it.”

Clive undid the ribbon and unwrapped the fabric.

Father’s greatsword!? Was his first confused thought. But no, his father’s blade was long gone. He knew that. This greatsword was newly forged. It just looked exactly like—

“Had Joshua sketch it from memory,” Gav said softly. “Blackthorne forged it, of course.”

Clive swallowed hard. His chest suddenly tight. He ran his fingers reverently down the hilt and over the flat side of the shining blade.

“Gav, I—” His tongue felt heavy. An overwhelming wave of tenderness toward Gav rolled over him. Tears began to spill down his cheeks.

Vaguely through the barrage of his emotions, he heard Gav frantically apologizing and moved quickly to reassure him.

“No, Gav, don’t apologize…” He took Gav’s hands in his, kissing the backs, his knuckles, the long fingers, “I love it. Thank-you.”

Gav’s arms wrapped securely around him, but his expression was still uncertain, “You sure? If I overstepped—"

“I love it,” He repeated firmly, nuzzling into Gav’s neck, kissing it. “I love you,” He nipped at the skin beneath his lips.

“Love you too, but don’t you leave a mark on me right now, Clive Rosfield.” Gav chuckled weakly, still a little shaken by Clive’s reaction to his gift.

Thwarted again. Clive contented himself with pressing another kiss to Gav’s neck before releasing him. He propped his new blade against the wall in the corner of the room, admiring it briefly before taking Gav by the hand. It was time for dinner.

❆ ❆ ❆

There were only nine of them present, ten including Torgal fervently chewing on a bone in the corner, but dinner was still going to be a noisy affair. Joshua could scarcely hear his own thoughts. Eudora and Byron were the loudest by far, followed by the twins, who Joshua suspected were already a bit tipsy. The wine had been flowing freely. Clive was the quietest, murmuring to Gav, who was looking overwhelmed by the sheer amount of cutlery around his plate.

“Dinner is courtesy of Gav!” Byron announced as the staff began to file in carrying dishes and platters. “Saved the whole Yule feast, he did!”

Gav’s cheeks flushed bright red and he took a hasty gulp of wine. Joshua gave him a smile and his knee an encouraging pat. His brother, sitting on Gav’s other side, did the same.

The food flowed in faster than the wine. Heaps of garlic roasted potatoes, mashed parsnips, tossed gysahl greens, glazed carrots (contrary to popular belief, no longer Joshua’s mortal enemy), thick slices of freshly baked bread, dressed eggs, peas and onions swimming in butter, and of course the boar, roasted to crackling perfection.

Joshua’s mouth watered. Molly, the Hideaway’s cook, did a fine enough job when she put her mind to it, but it’d been a long time since he’d had anything that wasn’t some type of stew or soup. He piled his plate with a bit of everything and asked for a refill on his wine. Clive tossed a generous slice of boar meat to Torgal.

Gav accidentally used the wrong fork for the boar. Joshua and Clive used a randomly chosen fork in solidarity. Joshua chose the dessert fork, imagining the look on his mother’s face if she could see him now.

No. Joshua’s lips pressed firmly together. He was enjoying this evening. He wasn’t going to sour it with thoughts of her.

A foot nudged at Joshua’s under the table and he couldn’t decide if it was Kasir, Chiara, or Melia. All three were giving him the eye from across the table. If he’d been a betting man, he’d put his gil on one of the twins. They had already ambushed him beneath the winterberry hung over the entranceway to the dining hall, sandwiching him between them as they each pressed a kiss to one cheek. Chaos and Menace indeed.

❆ ❆ ❆

Dinner had been for family only, but Byron and Eugen had decided to invite a handful of people to the Yule party. Some of their oldest friends who could be trusted not to harass Clive and Joshua and a few musicians to play, as the twins at the very least would want to dance.

Byron lips twitched in a sympathetic smile as Chiara twirled Joshua around the parlor. His poor nephew was one of the youngest, eligible (at least, Byron thought so, though he did wonder who the hairbrushes were for…) lads there, thus he’d been called upon to dance with Chiara, her sister, and even Kasir time and again. Even some of Byron and Eugen’s friends had coaxed a dance out of him.

Clive remained as tightly coiled as was appropriate in public around Gav, his grim expression meant to scare off anyone who wanted to dance. He’d only consented to dance with Eudora earlier in the evening.

A hand slid into his and Byron looked over to see Eugen standing beside him, smiling as Joshua bowed politely to Chiara and excused himself to hide in a shadowy nook with a cup of wine for a moment.

“This has been wonderful,” he said.

Byron’s heart swelled. That was exactly what he’d been hoping for, “It has.”

“…Would you care to dance?” Eugen asked quietly, gruffly, looking for all the world like the embarrassed teenager who’d asked Byron to kiss him in the garden once many years ago.

“I’d love to, darling.”

Eugen’s hand found the small of his back and he put his own hand Eugen’s shoulder as they slowly glided about the room. Melia walked by them, her gaze firmly set upon Joshua, when Gav smoothly intercepted her, holding one hand out.

“A dance, m’lady?” He asked with a grin.

“I’d be delighted, sir!” She giggled, taking Gav’s hand.

Byron chuckled when he saw his nephew mouth “thank-you” with a grateful sigh.

❆ ❆ ❆

Clive sat on one of the lounge sofas watching Gav dance with Melia, his stomach twisting. It wasn’t jealousy, but nerves making him squirm. He’d retrieved his gift for Gav from under one of the Yule trees, anxiously twisting the ribbon tied about the package around and around his finger as he waited.

Gav had recruited Joshua and Blackthorne to forge his father’s greatsword for him. It seemed they were on the same page in regard to their relationship. So, his gift, wanting to show Gav he was part of their family, wasn’t too much, right?

He turned his gaze and his mind to his uncle instead, trying to distract himself. He smiled as he watched Byron and Eugen dance by the musicians. He hadn’t been sure about Eugen at first, but as the day went on he saw the man beneath the brisk surface. The man who loved Byron dearly. The man Byron had waited decades for.

Clive looked back at Gav, his nerves softening into adoration, relieved he hadn’t had to wait as long for Gav. He would’ve, if he had to, but glad he hadn’t needed to.

The musicians changed to something a little more upbeat. Byron and Eugen continued to dance, and a few of their friends and Eudora joined, but Melia and Gav parted, her curtsying and him giving her a deep bow.

“Had to give poor Joshua a breather. Looked like the lad was going t’ pass out.” Gav said as he rejoined Clive on the lounge, stealing a sip of Clive’s wine.

“Better you than me,” Clive chuckled.

“I thought you were my shield, brother.” Joshua teased as he stepped up behind the lounge.

“You’re not in danger, Joshua.”

“Easy for you to say,” His brother replied. Chiara was now eyeing him from across the parlor. “Your feet aren’t at risk of being danced right off, and you’ve Gav to protect you.”

“He protected you, too.”

“True. Thank-you, Gav.”

The blonde chuckled, “Ah, don’t mention it.”

It was then that Joshua noticed the gift his older brother was clutching in his hands, “Well, I’m going to refill my wine and hide in the library for a while. Wish me luck, gentlemen.”

“Luck,” Gav and Clive said in unison as Joshua walked off.

They sat in silence for a few moments, sharing sips from Clive’s wine, before he finally worked up the courage to set the gift in Gav’s lap.

“Happy Yule, Gav.”

“Aw, Clive,” Gav pulled the ribbon off and unfolded the fabric. He let out a quiet, appreciative whistle when he saw the cloak inside. “No more freezing my arse off on watch—” His eye fell upon the cloak pin and picked it up as though it was made of glass.

Clive held his breath. Waited. He knew Gav, clever and observant, would understand the significance of the pin. He would’ve seen the matching pins on his and Joshua’s cloaks before.

“…This revenge for me makin’ you cry earlier?” Gav asked softly.

Clive huffed an equally soft laugh, moving close to wrap his arm around the blonde’s waist. “No. It’s an offer, and a promise.”

Gav looked at him, his face unreadable. Clive’s heart skipped a beat.

Then he leaned in, pressing a brief, chaste kiss to his lips, making Clive all but melt with relief. “Thank-you, love,” He fastened the pin to his new cloak, smoothing the leather around it. “It’ll look good on me.”

“It will,” Clive agreed, heart soaring. He felt like he could float right off the lounge.

Gav smiled thoughtfully, “Y’know, when I first joined the Hideaway all I wanted was a family. Now I’ve got two. I’m spoiled, me.”

“But I’ll spoil you more than Otto will,” Byron stage whispered as he and Eugen danced by.

“Don’t be rude, dear. They’re having a moment.” Eugen lightly admonished.

“It was not rude—”

Clive and Gav chuckled together as Byron and Eugen danced away again, bickering in the loving way they did.

“And I’ll spoil you more than Otto or Byron will,” Clive murmured. “There’s three more gifts waiting for you…”

“Hells, Clive, you weren’t kidding.” Gav laughed.

No one was looking. Clive snuck in a quick line of kisses up the side of Gav’s neck, his gaze still on Byron and Eugen.

“I want that to be us.” The words just popped out and Clive blushed, realizing what he’d said, but he didn’t take it back. He meant it.

Gav looked at him, smirking slightly. “The bickering or the dancing?”

“Older… together.”

The blonde’s expression softened and he looked down at his gift, fingers tracing the design on the pin. “…I like the sound of that.”

Oh, if only they weren’t in a room full of his uncle’s guests. He wanted to kiss every last inch of Gav.

“Would you like to dance while we’re growing old together?” He asked. It’d have to do until he had Gav to himself.

Gav smiled and stood up, holding his hand out to him, “Love to.”

❆ ❆ ❆

The party was over. Byron and Eugen bundled their friends, all in various stages of inebriation, into their carriages to send them safely home. Clive had to help Kasir carry Chiara and Melia to bed, both sisters too drunk and exhausted to walk. Eudora, also a little tipsy, affectionately pinched Clive on the cheek as thanks before tottering off to bed herself. Byron and Eugen followed soon after. Gav lightly ruffled Joshua’s hair and planted a kiss on the top of Clive’s head before he also sleepily weaved away, leaving Clive and Joshua in the parlor.

The brothers sat together in a couple of wooden chairs facing toward the fireplace. The flames were low but provided enough light and heat that neither of them bothered to move to add more wood. Torgal lay on the rug in front of the hearth, gnawing on what was left of his bone.

Clive was tired, but not as tired as Joshua had to be. Hiding in the library had granted him a small reprieve, but it’d only been half an hour before the twins had found him again. He and Gav had taken a few turns diverting their attention with dances, but it seemed their appetite for Joshua was insatiable.

“I believe my toes have fallen off…” Joshua groaned, pulling one of his boots off so he could massage his foot. “I can’t remember the last time I danced…”

“I can’t remember the last time I celebrated Yule.”

Silence fell between them as they realized the answer together. Before the Night of Flames, of course. A night that simultaneously felt like it was yesterday and centuries ago.

Joshua pulled his other boot off, fingers working at his calf muscle. “How different things could have been if—" He cut himself off, sharply shaking his head, massaging his lower leg a little more aggressively than necessary.

Clive’s mouth twisted bitterly. He knew what Joshua was thinking, because he’d thought it himself a time or two that evening. If only their mother had been someone like Eudora, a woman they’d known for considerably less time, but already adored so much more.

“No,” His younger brother said, more to himself than Clive. “I promised I wouldn’t sour this night.”

“You haven’t—”

Joshua cut him off this time, “For you, dear brother.”

He stood from his chair and dragged a large wooden trunk over to Clive. It seemed Gav hadn’t been the only one with the foresight to send a cumbersome gift ahead of time. He’d have to remember that for next year…

Joshua sat down again with an exhausted sigh as Clive lifted the trunk’s lid to peer inside.

“I know many will consider it a sin, to cover up your chest, but I’ll sleep better knowing your heart is better protected.”

New armor lay within the trunk. Greaves and gauntlets made from dark metal. A chest piece with thick black leather cut in the shape of flames and layered over a metal bodice that glimmered red here and there. It would indeed cover his chest.

“You and Gav have been keeping Blackthorne busy, I see…” Clive murmured, lifting the chest piece out of the trunk, looking it over wonderingly.

“An unfortunate side effect of caring about you.” Joshua replied with a tired chuckle.

“Thank-you, Joshua.”

“You’re most welcome, brother.”

Joshua drained the last of his wine, head lolling back against the chair behind him. Clive didn’t think his brother even heard him get up as he retrieved a bundle from beneath the nearest Yule tree.

“This is from both Gav and I,” Clive set Joshua’s gift in his lap, startling him out of his half-asleep state.

Stifling a yawn, Joshua untied the ribbon and opened the package. Inside he found four thick stacks of bound, blank paper, three ink pots, and three chocobo-feather quills.

He brightened, picking up one of the quills and admiring the tiny, intricate carvings in the wooden shaft. “Gav made these! I’ve been wanting to ask him to make me one ever since I saw the quill he made for Harpocrates.”

Clive nodded, “Ambrosia donated the feathers. Voluntarily, mind you.”

“Thank-you, Clive. This is a fine gift. Thank Gav, too.”

“I will.”

Joshua yawned again and pulled his boots back on, taking a few tries to do it in his exhaustion. Gathering his gift in his arms, he stood from his chair.

“…I am going to bed. If I never see another musician again it will be too soon. Come along, Torgal.”

Clive chuckled, “Goodnight, Joshua.” He rubbed Torgal behind his ears, “Goodnight, boy.”

“Until tomorrow, Clive.”

Joshua left the parlor with Torgal trailing close behind and Clive stretched, his back creaking faintly, before standing up as well. He tucked his gift from Joshua safely beside a Yule tree and made sure the flames in the fireplace were out before heading down the hall to the guest room he shared with Gav.

Clive was mid-yawn when he entered, stopping dead in his tracks at the sight that greeted him. All thoughts of sleep instantly fled from his mind. Gav was posed on the bed, stark naked, with a ribbon delicately wrapped and tied with a neat little bow around his—

“Surprise,” Gav looked very pleased with himself. “Got you more than one gift, too.”

Clive locked the door and beelined for the bed, shedding his clothes as fast as he could.

---

I'll let y'all decide who Joshua bought the hairbrushes for, and if they're platonic or romantic lol

#final fantasy #final fantasy 16 #final fantasy xvi #clive rosfield #gav #ff16 gav #joshua rosfield #byron rosfield #eugen havel #clive x gav #byron x eugen #christmas fic #christmas fluff #also christmas angst #but mostly christmas fluff #implied christmas banging #schmooples fic

[matuk-art]

I have a lot of thoughts about s3, good or bad, but one thing I think the writers kinda missed was the emotions the characters should have in some of these situations... I mean, I know the Hargreeves family is quite dysfunctional and it was like this since s1 (for example, the way the siblings reacted to Five's reappearance and the fact that he lived in the apocalypse for so long, or how they reacted to the fact that klaus was basically tortured and fought in Vietnam) but after the last two seasons, you can't tell me that Diego would react like this at seeing his brother Klaus dead, I mean okay maybe he didn't want to freak out the kid and kept it together but still !! Remember how he reacted to Eudora's death!!! At least he seemed relieved and teared up when he came back to life in the elevator

Even the way they reacted to Luther and Klaus dying after was odd, especially Five's reaction, I mean this man basically survived hell and back for so long to save his siblings, not even once but three times even when he was himself dying in the barn, and he should have been devastated, okay I know he was already ready to die with all of his siblings at this point, so dying a few minutes before maybe didn't matter to him, but still he literally has the power to rewind time, he could have save them anyways. Like it can be "somehow" explained why he didn't save Luther as they were already going to die, but as soon as they got into hotel oblivion where they could maybe survive and Klaus didn't follow it was weird that he didn't do it. I mean he was already suspicious of Reginald, even more after he came out of the door without Klaus, rewinding time could have give him proof and expose his whole plan. Ok, he can for now only rewind time for a few seconds/minutes but he could have at least turn back time to save klaus and idk when he found out about Luther's death but I mean Lila was with them and she could have help Five rewind time farther maybe idk. Honestly I feel like they completely forgot about this power for plot convenience but it wasn't done in the best way... In a logical way, he could have also turn back time before Reggie rang the bell in the hotel oblivion or even before he got his arm cutted off. (Not in an ableist way but bc he was badly hurt and losing tons of blood without medical assistance available, but again if he was dying soon anyways he maybe didn't care about that...) Like I'm sad that they barely used their powers this season, after the progress Five made last season, it should have been exploited more ! We also got a whole arc with Klaus fighting his fear and gaining better control of his powers only for the build up to have no repercussions, he didn't really used them apart from his immortality. It was disappointing especially with the fact that they lost their powers at the ending. (I honestly wonder if the ending is in some kind of simulation and they will gain back their originals bodies later) Also showing the importance of their powers and them mastering them even more could have increased the impact and the whiplash of losing them

Speaking of Five, I think he deserved his mental breakdown after this scene at the commission because ouch poor guy, all the implications of it killed me inside tbh. (I honestly have a whole doc in my notes app with my thought about Five in s3) And also I can't imagine what giving up and seeing the whole city in fire like in the apocalypse must have felt for him

Also I think THIS scene of ep 5 should not have been in the show, and again the way Luther reacted after was definitely weird, like he brushed off Allison's apology....I won't even talk about the whole Allison arc tbh

Like idk it's only a few examples, and there probably more moments where I felt like their reactions to events or actions were maybe not the most adequate, at first I kinda brushed it off but the more I was watching the more I had this feeling of oddness, and I don't know if its just me or not but well. I'm actually rewatching the season, maybe it's just a first impression kind of thing and would have a different opinion after, idk... To be clear, I don't think that people must react in one particular way to events, of course not, but after watching all seasons, and knowing the characters some things seemed a bit uncanny to me, but it's only my personal interpretation of course

I totally agree. It’s not just you. They acted strangely cold at certain very decisive moments, especially the deaths. When Diego's alleged son disappears and they just went: "oops".wtf . Sometimes I wondered who that group of psychopaths were.

I’m so… outraged. The story revolved around them becoming better people through their connection; a closer, warmer, sane family, and as the story progressed, it seemed quite the opposite. I honestly don't understand that ending, and I'm not talking about the convoluted and bizarre plot, I'm talking about the emotional weight, it contradicts everything we've known about them, and it betrays the natural progression and drive and heart of what I liked about the umbrellas in the first place. that they will be together no matter what happens, that they care deeply about each other, and that they are stronger that way. I'd rather they had died together than go their separate ways at the last moment. I mean, not even a hug? after everything they've been through :( wtf

As for underusing of five’s power, man, there are so many plot holes I don't even know where to start or what to tell you. There are a lot of incredibly lazy and dumb decisions. That shocked me, because especially in s2, they always had clever, organic twists and elegant solutions.

You are so brave wanting to watch it again. I feel so betrayed and confused and consumed. I just can’t.

[madhare0512]

The Chaos Crew

hello and welcome to me explaining/talking about my aus:

today's au is: the Chaos Crew

~~~

this started out as a dinky little idea presented to me by my good friend @galaxysanduniversesinmymind. their idea was, "what if Street from S.W.A.T., Deeks from NCIS, and Buck from 9-1-1 knew each other" and then spiraled from there as we added more and more fandoms. the first fic was posted in January of 2021 and a year and a half later, now has 6 other writers and 38 fics with more planned.

let me tell you, if you'd told me two years ago that a universe I made would blow up so much, I'd laugh because nothing I've ever made has ever blown up like that.

the Chaos Crew universe was originally named 'how two LAPD officers and one firefighter accidentally become the most powerful people on earth' and mostly featured S.W.A.T.'s Jim Street. then, as I branched out into other shows, it gained more and more stars. galaxy started writing a chat fic and truthfully, it only went uphill from there.

if I'm honest with myself I couldn't have done this without galaxy or another friend of ours. this universe grew out of my control and I'm happier for it. so, in honor of 1 and a half years (a totally real anniversary I definitely didn't just make up) here's a bit of explaining what the CC is:

the CC refers to the universe of the Chaos Crew. it also refers to the Chaos Crew consisting of 12 members well versed in creating and survived chaotic situations.

the twelve members are: Jim Street (S.W.A.T.), Marty Deeks (NCIS: Los Angeles), Evan "Buck" Buckley (9-1-1), Matt Casey (Chicago Fire), Jay Halstead (Chicago PD), Will Halstead (Chicago Med), TK Strand (9-1-1: Lone Star), Christopher LaSalle (NCIS: New Orleans), Nick Burkhardt (Grimm), Nick Torres (NCIS), Diego Hargreeves (Umbrella Academy), and Clay Spenser (S.E.A.L. Team)

they have a group chat called Chaos Incarnate, which we'll sums up their interactions and their daily lives. the CI chat has a sister group appropriately named the Chaos Caretakers, nicknamed the Caretakers chat. this chat is for the people who take care of or care for a person in the CI chat.

the people in this chat are Chris Alonso (S.W.A.T.), Eric Beale (NCIS: Los Angeles), Josh Russo (9-1-1), Kelly Severide (Chicago Fire), Adam Ruzek (Chicago PD), Greg "Mouse" Gerwitz (Chicago PD), Connor Rhodes (Chicago Med), Judd Ryder (9-1-1: Lone Star), Sebastian Lund (NCIS: New Orleans), Monroe (Grimm), Jimmy Palmer (NCIS), Klaus Hargreeves (Umbrella Academy), and Brock Reynolds (S.E.A.L. Team)

this is also a Soulmates universe. there are three types of Soulmates: romantic, platonic, and familial.

~

ships include:

The S.W.A.T. Polycule (Jim Street, Donavon Rocker, Victor Tan, Bonnie Lonsdale, Chris Alonso, Erika Rogers)

Densi (Marty Deeks/Kensi Blye)

Calic (Eric Beale/G Callen)

Russley (Evan Buckley/Josh Russo)

Sevasey (Matthew Casey/Kelly Severide)

Mousestead (Jay Halstead/Mouse Gerwitz)

Buruzwater (Adam Ruzek/Kim Burgess/Kevin Atwater)

Rhodestead (Will Halstead/Connor Rhodes)

Tarlos (TK Strand/Carlos Reyes)

Jace (Judd Ryder/Grace Ryder)

Monrosanick (Nick Burkhardt/Monroe/Rosalee Calvert)

Palmtorrezzo (Nick Torres/Jimmy Palmer/Tony DiNozzo)

Lundkingsalle (Christohper LaSalle/Sebastian Lund/Dwayne Pride)

Patchgreeves (Diego Hargreeves/Eudora Patch)

SpiritWitch (Klaus Hargreeves/Elijah Mikaelson)

Reynser (Clay Spenser/Brock Reynolds)

~

Soulmate bonds work quite similarly to a telephone game. Romantic Soulmates get thoughts and feelings, Platonic Soulmates might be able to catch what you thinking and they can feel what your thinking, familial bonds are muted feelings and work of those feelings alone.

the distinction between Soulmates isn't quite clear, sometimes you end up dating your Platonic Soulmate or someone in your familial bond. most people find their Soulmates, but some people don't have Soulmates or don't want a relationship beyond friends or any relationship at all.

a good example of this is Julie and the Phantoms. Julie and Luke are Romantic Soulmates, however, Julie is dating Carrie while Luke is dating Alex and Reggie.

~

fandoms for this universe include:

- SWAT (2017)

- 9-1-1

- Lone Star

- NCIS

- NCIS: Los Angeles

- NCIS NOLA

- NCIS Hawai'i

- Chicago Fire

- Chicago PD

- Chicago Med

- Chicago Justice

- Grimm

- Umbrella Academy

- SEAL Team

- Scorpion

- MacGyver

- Hawai'i Five-0

- Magnum PI

- Supernatural

- Shadowhunters

- Percy Jackson & the Olympions (and relating books and fandoms)

- Mission Impossible

- Sherlock

- Law and Order

- Criminal Minds

- Flashpoint

- Vampire Diaries

- The Originals

- Legacies

- Charlie's Angels

- James Bond

- Numb3rs

- Marvel Cinimatic Universe -- X Men

- DCU

- House MD

- CSI

- The Listener

- Teen Wolf

- Brooklyn-99

- Ghost Whisperer

- Lucifer

- The Old Guard

- Fast and Furious

- White Collar

- Now You See Me

- National Treasure

- Lie to Me

- Baby Driver

- Grey's Anatomy

- Station 19

- FBI Universe

- Julie and the Phantoms

- Doctor Who

- Torchwood

~

special thank you to my fellow CC writers:

- @existential-bisis

- @chewiemadwriter

- @madddddy

- @bravo-four-seal-team

- @ispeakmorelanguagesthanyou

- two friends who don't have tumblrs I'm aware of

- and galaxy

~~~

thank you! and please feel free to ask any questions!

#chaos crew #explaining aus #swat 2017 #911 #911 lone star #ncis #ncis los angeles #ncis new orleans #chicago fire #chicago pd #chicago med #grimm #umbrella academy #seal team #alternate universe #fandoms

[mikasimaginairyworld]

The Umbrella Academy: Firecracker - Run Boy Run (2/30)

Umbrella Academy Masterlist

Warnings: violence, substances (cigarettes, alcohol), Five's weird relationship with Delores

Word count: 3582

"I survived on scraps. Canned food, cockroaches, anything I could find. You know that rumour that Twinkies have an endless shelf life? Well, it's total bullshit.", Five explained to Vanya while sipping his coffee.

It was way past midnight but neither cared. This was way too important.

"I can't even imagine.", Vanya admitted.

Five chuckled dryly: "You do whatever it takes to survive, or you die. So we adapted. Whatever the world threw at us, we found a way to. overcome it."

"We?"

Five smiled and looked down: "You got anything stronger?" He held his cup up. 

Vanya poured them glasses full of cheap whiskey. Five immediately drowned half of it. Upon seeing Vanya's disturbed look he scoffed: "You think I'm crazy."

"No, it's, it's just that... it's a lot to take in.", Vanya stammered.

"Exactly what don't you understand?", Five asked annoyed.

"Why didn't you just time travel back?", the question slipped out before Vanya could think about it properly. 

"Gee, wish I'd thought of that. Time travel is a crapshoot. I went into the ice and never acorn-ed. You think I didn't try everything to get back to my family?", Five scoffed.

"If you grew old there, you know in the apocalypse, how come you still look like a kid?"

"I told you already. I must have got the equations wrong.", Five angrily poured himself even more whiskey. 

"I mean dad always used to say that time travel could mess up your mind. Well, maybe that's what's happening?", Vanya asked.

Five aggressively put down his glass: "This was a mistake. You're too young, too naive to understand."

Vanya tried to hold him back while he grabbed his jacket and made his way to the door. "Five wait! I haven't seen you in a long time, and I don't want to lose you again. That's all. And you know what, it's getting late. I have lessons early and I need to sleep and I'm sure you do too. Here." Vanya fixed blankets on the couch. Five's gaze softened.

"We'll talk in the morning, okay?", she asked.

"Okay."

As soon as Vanya disappeared in her room Five pulled out a dirty bundle. He unwrapped it and began investigating the object. The prosthetic eye he was holding had an inscription of the manufacturer and serial number. Five knew what he had to do. He silently left Vanya's apartment without saying goodbye.

In the darkness, a car pulled up to the shabby motel. Exiting the taxi two figures in custom made, elegant dark blue suits made their way inside. They picked up their room key and package addressed to "Cha-Cha and Hazel", then disappeared in their room. 

Diego left the Doughnut shop through the backdoor as soon as he heard Eudora was there. Unfortunately, he walked right into her arms. "Shit, hang on. Let me just...", he didn't get to finish his sentence as she pulled up a tranquilliser and simply tasered him, completely knocking him out. 

"You don't talk to my witnesses, understand?", she lectured him as soon as he regained consciousness. 

"Let me catch you up to speed, Eudora."

"Don't call me that."

"Right, Detective Patch. What, are we keeping things professional?"

"I don't know if we ever agreed on things."

"We agreed on some things."

Eudora began going through Diego's pockets. "Did we really, though?", she asked not looking up.

Diego looked at her from behind lazy eyes with a nasty smirk on his face which he knew could do wonders. Eudora pulled out a walkie from his coat: "I'm confiscating this."

"Military surplus, practically giving it away.", Diego explained.

"And this.", Eudora waved a fake police badge in front of him. "No skin, super cheap. Bought it on eBay."

Eudora pulled out his black eye mask: "That you can keep."  "You used to like that.", he smiled at her disappointed. "Not anymore."

She grabbed his arm and led him away to the police car. "By the way, this might look like a botched robbery, but my gut's telling me there's something else going on here.", Diego said while he was being pushed into the police car. "You're not police, Diego, remember? You show up and act like you can be a part of this, and you can't. Not anymore." Diego tried to protest but Eudora walked away mumbling something about the Lord testing her. In the background Hazel and Cha-Cha were observing the crime scene. 

Five had decided to find out to whom the eye belonged. He was now at Maritech Prostetics with the eye, ready to fight anyone necessary to find the owner. 

"Can I help you?", a doctor asked.

"I need to know who this belongs to.", Five showed the eye he was holding. 

"Where did you get that?"

"What do you care?", Five asked back, harsher than necessary. "I found it. At a playground actually. Must have just... popped out. I wanna return it to its rightful owner."

"What a thoughtful young man.", the lady behind the desk commented.

Five looked at her disgusted: "Yeah, look up the name for me, will ya?"

"I'm sorry, but patient records are strictly confidential. That means I can't tell you...", the doctor. began explaining. 

"Yeah, I know what it means."

"I tell you what I can do. I can take that and give it to its rightful owner. I am sure they will be very grateful so if I can just..."

"Yeah, you're not touching this eye."

"Now you listen here, young man...", the doctor began but before he could finish the sentence Five grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down to his level. 

"No! You listen to me, asshole. I've come a long way for this, through some shit your pea brain couldn't even comprehend, so just give me the information I need and I'll be on my merry way. And if you call me Young Man one more time I'll put your head through that damn. wall.", Five threatened. The doctor shot a nervous look to the lady at the desk.

"I'm calling security."

Five sighed heavily but let the doctor go and left the building.  

Vanya went back to the Umbrella Academy to look for Five. She had woken up and had found him gone and was now worrying very much. She walked up the stairs until she reached his room. "Oh thank God. I was worried sick about you.", she sighed in relief when she found him looking out the window. 

​​​​​​​"Sorry I left with our saying goodbye.", Five apologised.

"No, look. I'm the one that should be sorry. I was dismissive and I guess I didn't know how to process what you were saying. And I still can't to be honest.", Vanya said.

"Maybe you were right to be dismissive. Maybe it wasn't real after all. It felt real. Well, like you said, the old man did say time travel could contaminate the mind. I think I'm gonna get some rest. It's been a long time since I've had a good sleep.", Five explained.

"Okay. Sleep well.", Vanya wished and left the academy. 

As soon as she was out of hearing range Klaus emerged from the wardrobe. "That's so touching! All that stuff about dad and family and time. Wow!", he exclaimed. 

"Come on, Klaus. We've got a job to do.", Five sighed.

​​​​​​​"Yeah whatever. As long as I get paid."

"You'll get your cut after the job, now come on let's go."

​​​​​​​"Wait, we have to get our story straight."

"Our story?"

"Yes, like was I the 16 year old, terribly misguided, hot dad?

"Sure."

"And your mother, that slut, she ran away. Left us to rot. Oh, and we met at a party. Her personality was mid but the sex was amazing!"

"What a disturbing glimpse into that thing you call a brain. Now come on."

"Hey! Behave yourself or I'll put you in air jail!"

While walking down Vanya overheard Allison talk on the phone with Patrick about their daughter. Allison angrily slammed the phone down. It was obvious it didn't go the way she planned. 

"Are you okay?", she asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, I've never met your ex-husband but he sounds like an asshole."

Allison scoffed: "That's one way to put it."

"You're probably better off here."

"No, I'm probably better off with my daughter. And you know, if I wanted advice, Vanya, no offence but it wouldn't be from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You don't have a child. You don't know what it's like to love someone like this. Like, when you're apart from her you can't breathe. Like you would die - and I mean actually die - to know that she's okay and happy. You separate yourself from everyone and everything, you always have."

"Because dad made me.", Vanya silently admitted, sorrow in her eyes.

"Did dad make you write that book about us too? You're an adult now, Vanya.You don't get to blame your problems on anyone but yourself.", Allison said and walked up to her room.

Klaus and Five were sitting in the office of Maritech Prostetics. "Without the client's consent I simply can't help you.", the doctor explained again. Five was pacing around the office annoyed: "Well, we can't get consent if you don't give us a name."

"That's not my problem. Sorry. Now, there's really nothing more I can do, so...", the doctor shrugged.

"And what about my consent?", Klaus suddenly asked. Five looked at him confused. 

"Excuse me?"

Klaus slowly stood up: "Who gave you permission to lay your hands on my son?"

"What? I didn't touch your son."

"Oh really? Well how did he get that swollen lip, then?"

"He doesn't have a swollen -", the doctor was cut off by Klaus punching Five with full force in the face.

"I want it. Name, please. Now.", he said a feral look glistening in his eyes. Five looked at him offended and confused but didn't say anything. A faint trail of blood trickled from his lip.

"You're crazy.", the doctor stuttered out.

Klaus just chuckled: "You've got no idea. Oh. What's that? 'Peace on Earth'? That's so sweet.", Klaus took the doctor's snow globe and smashed it on his head. Five looked at him in confused disgust while the doctor began to panic.

He grabbed the phone to call security but before he could answer Klaus grabbed the phone: "There's been an assault in Mr. Big's office, and we need security, schnell!" Klaus slammed the phone into the desk.

"Here's what's gonna happen, Grant."

"It's Lance...", the doctor murmured.

"In about 60 seconds, two security guards are gonna burst through that door, and they're gonna see a whole lot of blood, and they're gonna wonder 'what the hell happened'? And we're gonna tell them that you beat the shit out of us.", Klaus pitched his voice ridiculously high imitating a crying sound. Five stood behind him proudly looking at him. 

"Jesus you are a real sick bastard.", the doctor whispered.

Klaus shot him a feral grin and spit out a shard of glass from the snow globe: "Thank you."

"It hasn't been manufactured yet! Well, this is not good.", Five was pacing around in front of the company building. It turned out that an eye with this serial number didn't exist yet. This had complicated things immensely. 

"I was pretty good, though, right?", Klaus asked and giggled happily.

"Klaus, it doesn't matter."

"Number Five Hargreeves!", Nailah's voice echoed through the walls as she shouted angrily and left the building coming directly towards Five and Klaus.

"Oh shit, we made it angry.", Klaus squeaked hiding behind Five.

"Nailah? What happened?", Five asked putting his hands up to signal defeat. Nialah approached him, her usually green eyes glistening now red.

"Easy there, Firecracker! Use your words.", Five tried again but instead he got punched in the face. He groaned as his head flew to the side.

"Feeling better now?", he asked massaging his jaw. As a response Nailah only slapped him across the face letting his head fly to the other side.

"I do now.", she said shooting another angry glance at Klaus who only ducked even more behind Five.

​​​​​​​"Would you like to tell us what happened that caused you this much aggression towards us?", Five asked again, feeling another bruise forming on his lips already.

​​​​​​​"I just got fired from probably the most comfortable job I've ever had because my idiot brothers thought it would be a great idea to walk in there and beat up my boss.", Nailah said crossing her arms. The fire has receded from her eyes but she still emitted heat.

"Yeah, sorry about that. We needed to find information on this eye.", Five said showing Nailah the eye. Nailah scoffed at the ignorance but didn't say anything.

"What's the big deal with this eye, anyways?", Klaus asked.

"There is someone who's going to lose an eye in the next seven days. They're gonna bring the end of life on earth as we know it."

"Yeah, can I get that 20 bucks like now, or what?", Klaus asked two which Five only scoffed. "You're 20 bucks?"

"Yeah, my 20 bucks."

"The apocalypse is coming and all you can think about is getting high?", Five asked in disbelief.

"Wait what? The apocalypse?", Nailah asked confused.

"Well I'm also quite hungry. Tummy's a-rumblin. Grrr", Klaus admitted making a grumbling noise.

"You're useless.", Five scoffed.

​​​​​​​"Five, you better start talking about the apocalypse right now or I swear to god I will kill you this second.", Nailah warned.

"Yeah, I would listen to what the lady has to say. We wouldn't want to anger it again.", Klaus said, comparing Nailah's angry state to a monster. Nailah shot him a dark gaze to which Klaus only blew her a kiss. 

Five sighed and gave Nailah the short version of his story. All three of them sat down on the stairs. Nailah pulled out a pack of cigarettes and ignored Klaus' begging and Five's disapproving look. 

​​​​​​​"Hey, you know, I've just now realised why you're so uptight. You must be horny as hell!", Klaus exclaimed to which Nailah shot him an sceptical glance: "Really? That's the explanation you've come up with? He's horny? It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that he's pretty much a senior citizen?"

Klaus just ignored her: "I mean, all those years by yourself. It's gotta screw with your head being alone."

"I wasn't alone.", Five silently admitted.

Nailah raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Pray tell."

"Her name was Delores. We were together for over 30 years.", Five said.

"30 years? Oh, wow! God, the longest I've been with someone was... 3 weeks. And even that's only because I needed a place to stay.", Klaus chuckled and began rambling on about some dish his roommate/lover used to make that was delicious.

Nailah sighed and went back into the building to collect her stuff while Five blitzed away into a taxi only to wink viciously at Klaus as he drove by. Nailah chuckled at the sight. 

Deep into the evening Five decided to visit the Gimbel Brothers' mall. It was the place where he had met Delores and he wanted to know if she was still there. Five quickly found who he was looking for. "Delores.", he sighed at her sight. She was gorgeous. Beautiful fair plastic skin, hair of deepest red and eyes of lightest blue. Five was mesmerised just as he had been the first time he had seen her. "It's good to see you. I've missed you... obviously. Well, I... it's been a rough couple of days.", Five began.

He wanted to keep telling her things but out of nowhere two masked creatures in tight dark blue suits with guns emerged.  They began shooting in Five's direction hitting Delores in the process: "No!", shouted Five but his beloved had been hit. Five immediately took cover and crawled to were Delores' head and torso were lying. "Shit. It's them.", he mumbled to himself. 

"I'll be right back for you.", he whispered softly to Delores right after ensuring her safety. He ran along the clothing stands blitzing occasionally to avoid being hit by bullets. Suddenly he came across the woman. Before she could shoot him, she was kicked from behind landing painfully on her stomach and her gun sliding away. Five looked at his saviour. "Nailah?", he recognised her fiery eyes in the dark.

Nailah didn't waste any time: "Come on you moron. Let's go!" She pushed him forward now both of them running away from the gunned maniacs. ​​​​​​​"How'd you know I was here?", Five asked panting and running. "I was spying on you.", Nailah admitted shamelessly. 

They stopped at a selection of knifes, both grabbing one. At the next opportunity Five blitzed and Nailah slid each towards one attacker. Five slashed the woman's shoulder and Nailah the man's thigh. Blitzing and running they met again at the spot where Delores was waiting for Five. 

"I got you.", he whispered.

"What the fuck."

"That's Delores.", he explained looking for a way out.

"What? A mannequin?"

Five shot her a warning look and Nailah kept the rest of her comments to herself. 

At that moment the duo started shooting again. Five, Delores and Nailah started running again.  

​​​​​​​"Why aren't you using your power?", Five asked angrily.

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

​​​​​​​"I've spend too much time in the pod, I need to reload and it takes time."

"Isn't it feeling-intuitive?"

​​​​​​​"Only in life threatening situations."

"And this isn't life threatening?!"

​​​​​​​"Not life threatening enough."

​​​​​​​"Oh, really? You have preferences?"

"Oh you're one to talk. A mannequin? Really, Five?

They nearly escaped when they found themselves with their attackers in front of them. "Shit.", Five cursed when he tried to blitz all of them away but failed.

Luckily police sirens cars distracted the attackers for a moment long enough for Nailah and Five to take cover. The attackers assumed they had blitzed away and left the mall.

"Your power isn't working either.", Nailah hissed angrily, sweat running down her temples.

​​​​​​​"At least I can actually use my powers."

​​​​​​​"At least I don't sleep with a mannequin."

"At least I have someone to sleep with."

"At least I'm not stuck in my 13-year old body again."

"Too far, Nailah, too far."

"At least I can admit defeat. Come on let's get out of here.", Nailah pulled herself up and then helped Five to his feet. Walking back to. the Academy Nailah couldn't help but throw confused and disgusted looks at Delores which Five decided to ignore. 

Luther wanted to go back to bed but stumbled upon Allison on his way there. ​​​​​​​"What are you doing here? I thought you were gone.", he asked surprised. 

"I was gonna go but then Pogo showed me this...", Allison began.

"Well, listen. I was wrong about dad's death.", Luther admitted.

"What?"

"Yeah, I was wrong about Diego. You know, to accuse my own brother of that is just ... I should be the one to bring us back together not tear us apart."

"Would you shut up?", Allison interrupted him.

"Huh?"

​​​​​​​"You were right. About dad. Come on, I gotta show you something.", she said and they both made their way to the tape room.  

On their way there they stumbled upon five who was all bloody and sweaty and carrying a duffle bag.

"Five? What the hell happened to you?", Allison asked.

"Are you okay? Can we help?", Luther asked, reaching out his arm. 

Five caught him by the wrist in a surprisingly strong grip. "There's nothing any of you can do.", he said in an empty voice.

"Alright, Five, let's go.", Nailah came along climbing up the stairs in a similar state as Five, holing a liquor bottle.

​​​​​​​"What the hell happened?", Luther asked.

"Oh you know the usual. A bit of this, a bit of that. A bit of arson, a bit of murder, a bit of theft. The usual.", Nailah nonchalantly said taking a large sip from the bottle. 

Luther and Allison looked at her weirdly and then at Five who was still looking into empty space. Nailah shot them a sweet smile.

"Okay. Have fun you two?", Luther suggested.

"Thanks. Have a good night!", Nailah wished cheerfully and she and Five went up to their rooms.

Luther and Allison exchanged confused glances but silently decided to just accept this occurrence and move on. After all, besides Klaus, Five and Nailah were the weirdest of the siblings.

-> The Umbrella Academy Masterlist

#umbrella academy #luther hargreeves #klaus hargreeves #allison hargreeves #diego hargreeves #five hargreeves #vanya hargreeves #series #Netflix inspired #oc #nailah hargreeves

[conduitandconjurer]

What does Klaus think of Lila? Did he have a chance to meet Patch beforehand, does he have a preference for either as a partner for Diego?

The tricky thing about analyzing Klaus is that you have to examine him under many layers of manufactured "contentment" and "easygoing happiness," practiced skins he dons to buffer himself against literally relentless trauma triggers (in the form of childhood memories, in the form of combat ptsd, in the form of losing Ben, Dave, and Rachel, in the form of his own powers, and now in the form of the existential trauma that is knowing he has died over 50 times at that hands of people he should have been able to trust).

I say that because knowing what Klaus "thinks" about Lila or Patch or anyone connected to that trauma, even like, adjacently, has to be filtered through his highly artificial--but highly reliable--facade of "everything's okay." As Robert Sheehan has said more than once, Klaus is more vulnerable, more fragile, than he appears, and he survives through means of adaptability.

That adaptability includes an ability to welcome new people, who are far from ideal or objectively "good," into his life, should they be important to his loved ones (eg, his siblings) or useful in keeping him afloat a little longer. Klaus stuck up for Lila to Viktor as a knee-jerk reaction for the former--Diego loves Lila, and as far as Klaus knows at this point, Stan really is their kid--and for the latter--Klaus remembers how Lila was able, in S2, to mimic each Umbrella's powers, which could come in handy in an ongoing conflict with the remaining Sparrows. He refers to her as "family now, kinda," for Diego's sake, and out of a valid impulse that there's strength in numbers during a crisis. He adapts. Lila, who also knows exactly when to bury hatchets to survive, recognizes and appreciates this ("thanks, kitten").

However, not only do I think Eudora Patch would have been a better partner to Diego--she would not take his shit, and she often could persuade him to talk a little more candidly about his horribly toxically bottled up feelings of rejection and inferiority--I also think Klaus would have ultimately liked Patch better, too. I don't just say this because she literally saved his life, and indirectly sent him to meet Dave. I also say it because Patch is kind, caring, and courageous: traits Klaus has often vocally praised in other people (such as, again, Dave, and Viktor--"s[he] used to cry when we stepped on ants as a kid," defending Viktor against allegations of intentionally harming Allison).

Ultimately we can't know, and frankly, not to copout, but I think Klaus has a unique ability to get along with almost anyone (often putting himself in horribly painful situations in the process) and he will support Diego's decisions without judgment.

I also adored him with Stan--he was surprisingly responsible and cool, lol--and think that he's going to really enjoy being an uncle, if Lila is even still pregnant after the "Reset."

#headcanons #meta #s3 spoilers #Klaus Hargreeves

[reylokisses]

Disney Princesses and their mothers: a deep dive (Part 3)

The final part of my deep dive into the Disney Queens and their representation in their daughters’ films will be the shortest, as this part will discuss those mothers who receive no mention whatsoever in their films.

Once again, I will use the same categories for analysing the Disney Queens that I used in my first two posts:

1. If the Princess’ mother appears in the film.

2. If the Princess’ mother survives until the end.

 3. If the Princess’ mother’s name is revealed in the film.

4. If the Princess’ mother gets to raise her daughter herself.

5. (If none of the above conditions apply) if the Princess’ mother is mentioned by other characters during the film.

None of the Disney Queens mentioned in this post fullfil the categories 1-3, or 5, but 4 is worth considering.

First of all, Belle’s mother is never seen or mentioned in the film. The filmmakers give no indication as to how old Belle was when she lost her mother, so it is possible that Belle’s mother raised her daughter herself during Belle’s childhood, but it cannot be proved. Belle’s mother is unique among the missing Disney Queens, as it is possible that her picture appears in the film, but that cannot be proved either. The below picture is believed to be a picture of Belle’s deceased mother, but it could just as easily be another female relative.

Similarly, Snow White’s mother never appears or is mentioned in any way during her film:

The storybook in the opening narration makes no mention of either of Snow White’s parents, or of when Snow White became an orphan. Like Belle’s mother, it can be argued that Snow White’s mother might have survived childbirth and raised Snow White for some time, but this is only conjecture.

Likewise, Ariel’s mother is never mentioned by any of the characters, and it is never revealed how old Ariel was when she died. The story begins when Ariel is sixteen years old, and, once again, it is possible that her mother survived childbirth to raise Ariel and her sisters.*

(*Ariel’s Beginning confirms this to be the case, but for the sake of brevity, I’m not including sequels in this deep dive. Maybe in another one!)

Finally, Raya is unique in that she is a Princess who has a mother who never gets mentioned, but the film begins when Raya is a child, so, unfortunately, her mother could not have lived very long, and is less likely to have raised her daughter herself. 

Closing thoughts

Out of the fifteen Disney Princesses/Queens I have discussed in this deep dive, eight Princesses have mothers who appear in their films.  Seven of the Princesses have mothers who are deceased from the beginning of their films. Three of them have mothers who fullfil all five categories:

1. Mulan and Fa Li

2. Tiana and Eudora

3. Merida and Elinor

The above Disney Queens are named in the film, they raise their daughters themselves, and they survive until the end of the story. This is a depressingly low number. I hope that Disney remedies this in future films.

However, in order to put this into perspective, I will write a deep dive about the Disney Princesses’ fathers and compare their representation with their mothers. Stay tuned!

#disney princess meta #disney princesses and their mothers #deep dive #disney princesses

[abookishdreamer]

Character Intro: Atlas (Kingdom of Ichor)

Nicknames- Heaven Bearer by the people of Olympius

Blue Eyes by Dione

Age- 39 (immortal)

Location- Corinth, Olympius

Personality- Atlas is cold, detached, brooding, and depressed. He's also incredibly intelligent & extremely well versed on philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. He's in a relationship.

He has been recently pardoned by Zeus (god of the sky, thunder, & lightning) after much convincing by Athena (goddess of wisdom), thus ending his eternal punishment of holding up the heavens.

As the Titan god of strength, endurance, and astronomy, he has several abilities like having exceptional battle prowess- especially in spearmanship, aerokinesis, ferrokinesis, terrakinesis (being able to hurl boulders the size of mountains as well as causing earthquakes, though not to the extent of Gaia and Poseidon). He's also credited with the invention of the first celestial sphere!

Atlas now lives on a cliffside mansion, on his own private beach. His mother Clymene (Titaness of fame & renown) bought it for him. The interior is in colors of  black, gray, white, and dark blue. The inside of his house looks like a giant planetarium, with a huge dome shaped skylight. There are the depictions of maps and constellations all over the walls. The front door is made out of a celestial meteor and there's a grand chandelier in the shape of a globe. He has three pet siberian huskies- two boys and a girl named Cosmo, Astra, & Jericho.

He recently opened up a school, dedicated to aerospace engineering. He has been approached by both Athena and Neféloma (goddess of space & dark matter) to be a part in developing the country’s space travel, but has turned them down.

Atlas prefers solitude more and more than being around people (when it doesn't involve him teaching). He suffers from PTSD, the after effects of his punishment and he's depressed, still grieving over the loss of his young son Hyas. His mother stops by every once in a while and he talks with his dad Iapetus (Titan god of mortality, pain, & death) on the phone every week. His heart goes out to his younger brother Prometheus (Titan god of forethought), who's now going through his own hell. He used to be good friends with the Astraeus (Titan god of dusk), but has fallen out of contact with him as well as The Ourea (mountain gods); sons of Gaia. Presently, Atlas has been enjoying the conversations he's had with Anytos (Titan god of anonymity & secrets).

His oldest daughter Calypso is not on speaking terms with him. Atlas thinks that she's a "mindless fool" pining over a mortal guy named Odysseus.

Atlas used to be married to Aethra, an oceanic nymph. They divorced a century after Hyas’ passing. The daughters he has with her are collectively known as The Hyades (Cleea, Coronis, Eudora, Phaeo, & Phaesyle). They often check up on him, bringing food.

His go-to drink is a martini. He also likes early grey tea, water, and black tea. His usual from The Roasted Bean is an olympian sized dark roast coffee.

He's currently in a relationship with Hesperis (goddess of the evening & sunset).

He almost hooked up with Dione, but burst into tears right after she took his pants off.

Atlas really enjoys mushroom cream soup, especially when Cleea makes it. He also likes his daughters' bandeja paisa, mondongo, & patacones con hogao. He also likes his father's spanokopita.

Out of The Hyades, his eldest daughter Coronis stops by the most frequently where he asks her for water healing treatments, when he has nightmares about his young son.

In his free time, Atlas loves spending time in the water, taking in the weightless freedom of it whether it's through swimming or sailing on his boat, The Blue Comet. He also enjoys meditation, working out, surfing, reading, & charting the stars and constellations.

"Endure and Survive. In spite of it, endure and survive."

#my oc #my oc character #my character #oc character #atlas #oc intro #character intro #oc introduction #character introduction #modern greek gods #modern greek mythology #greek myth retellings #greek gods #greek mythology #greek pantheon

[nativeplaces]

Eudora Paints Her Porch Swing

The news is pretty worrisome: Russian tanks in Ukrainian wheat fields and the Supreme Court in the bedroom. 

All of this makes me hungry for a Triscuit. 

My mother discovered these little wheat crackers in 1952 and shared them with her children while we listened to the Brooklyn Dodgers on the radio. Unbeknownst to us the Korean War was going on. 

In 1967 when the Six-Day Arab-Israeli war convulsed the world, Eudora Welty was shaken. She had lived through two world wars and the assassination of a young president, so when it came to crises, she knew what to do. 

“Went out and painted the porch swing and chairs," Eudora wrote, "to keep steady while the news crackled.”

Eudora painted on the side porch of her house in Jackson, Mississippi. She and her friends gathered here in the cool summer evenings. I wonder if she was thinking that a crisis made friends even more dear. Now her house and side porch are a National Historic Monument. 

She probably served Triscuits. 

I’m not suggesting that porches and crackers can solve the world’s crises, but there’s comfort in knowing how others survived an ominous and unpredictable time, isn’t there? 

Proust had his madeleines. For me, love tastes like a two inch square wheat cracker. 

[roleplayfinder]

21+ NB, searching for partners for The Umbrella Academy RP. Prefer to RP for Five or Ben, but sometimes do other Umbrellas too, just ask. Searching for Umbrellas, Sparrows, Eudora, Raymond. Open to both gen and/or pairings (including ones between the Umbrellas) and to 3+ people RPs. Currently toying with a specific plot: when little Five lands in the Apocalypse, Klaus survives/stays as a ghost, and ghost Ben is there too. Like the post and I'll contact you!

#twenty-one and over #tua #tua roleplay #tua rp

[lheajean]

[Top 10] Mobile Legends Best Damage Heroes That Wreck Hard! (2022 Edition)

8. Zilong - The Glorious General You're a solo player and stuck in your current rank? Then be ready to turn down your opponent using these easy and fun but powerful heroes because Season 24 has come and the new you is about to shine!

Season 23 already ended and with it, all ranks reset. The journey to Mythic is really tough but mastering strong and easy-to-use heroes will help you out in reaching the highest rank. Mastering an MLBB hero is quite hard, confusing, eats a lot of time and effort but just like what Eudora said, "You should be ashamed for not trusting yourself."

So here are the Top 10 Heroes that will help you on a smoother road to Mythic.

10. Miya - The Queen of Lifesteal

She can hit multiple targets at once so it's possible for you to achieve a SAVAGE!

Has a high movement speed essential for clearing minions and pushing turrets.

Miya has an insane lifesteal every time you use her basic attack that's why you can survive in a 3 vs. 1 fight.

She can change the fight. You can reverse the battle and achieve an Epic Comeback just by using Miya.

9. Paquito - The Heavy Puncher

He has a unique passive called Champ Stance. It not only deals greater damage, but it also throws the enemy into the air (airborne), making it Paquito's only means of crowd control.

He can gain a shield while attacking which makes him a unique fighter.

He is not limited by mana and can chain skills and auto attacks indefinitely. Enemies can't cast skills when Paquito attacks.

8. Zilong - The Glorious General

What makes Zilong a Deadly Attacker:

High mobility. He can roam the map faster.

Known as the Silent Turret's Pusher. He can destroy an enemy's tower without being noticed.

He can win against almost all heroes in 1v1. This is a great advantage to him in dominating from early to late games.

Read the full article at:

https://www.gamersdecide.com/articles/mobile-legends-best-damage-heroes

#mobilelegends #mlbb #mobile games #@montoon #moonton

[soraavalon]

DM: As the guards kind of come to the carriage and are just kind of asking Edmund repeatedly 'Is everything alright? What happened?' he's like, Edmund: No it's fine, it's all just damage to the vehicle. The Priestess is in one piece. Tark (OOC): Now. -laughter- DM: He doesn't say that out loud. Tark (OOC): No. We're all thinking it though. DM: Yeah, I assume you guys have been helping her heal. Tark (OOC): Eh. Eudora: I think that's a safe... I think Eudora would ask Tark to... Tark: Alright, begrudgingly Tark's been doing it. Eudora: Because Eudora asked. Tark: Because Eudora asked. DM: Mostly so that by the time you get there she's able to proudly step out of the carriage. Tark: Yeah. DM: And assure them all that she is fine and all. Vanessa: Trouble as expected, but we all survived and we're fine. Tark (OOC): I can just imagine the state of the carriage. It's like pulling up it's creaking. It's wobbling from side to side. DM: One wheel is like kind of bouncing. Tark (OOC): As we come to a stop, it fall off and the carriage just tips! -laughter- Moriarty (OOC): And the car is fine! Immediately bursts into flames despite it being a wagon. Eudora: I'd say that trip went well. Tark: A+, 10 out of 10 would not recommend. Vanessa: Well, thank you for escorting me. I wish you luck on your return journey and all journeys there after. Eudora: And likewise luck to you on yours. Vanessa: Thank you. I shall need it.

#d&d mischief #relni campaign #relni recap #Relni Chapter 49

[goldemas1244]

Ok, lets start.

About the items of your build, it seems that you prioritize being tanky. But that isn't recommended when you use Zhask as he is a late game damage dealer alongside the marksman.

To be specific:

1. Thunderbelt/Endless Battle have similar passives but Thunderbelt is for tanks and Endless Battle is for physical heroes (like Clint).

2. Radiant armour only counters specific heroes like Chang'e. And Radiant armour's passive only applies to magic heroes (Its also a counter for Zhask's death ray).

3. Necklace of durance is useful against high-regen heroes (Estes, Yu Zhong, Ruby), but don't build this if your tank/support already built Dominance Ice.

4. Fleeting Time and the boots is fine, but the cooldown reduction would be too small given how long Zhask's s1/ult cd is.

Recommended Build:

Zhask can be used as full burst or magic marksman. So we sacrifice the tankiness for damage.

Full Burst: Mana/penetration boots, Clock of destiny, Lightning Truncheon, Genius Wand, Holy Crystal, Blood Wings (Extra items: Winter Truncheon and Divine Glaive).

The build above is what most burst mages use (Kagura, Eudora, Cecilion), but they can be countered by Athena's Shield, as its like a 1 shot build, not continous.

Magic Marksman: Swift/Cooldown boots, Enchanted Talisman, Feather of Heaven, Windtalkter, Genius Wand, Glowing Wand (Extra Item: Winter Truncheon and Divine Glaive).

This is the build that I use. Zhask's nightmaric spawn (Ultimate/Normal) can take the atk speed from equipment and attack effects (therfore, the passive of Feather of Heaven will trigger). Genius Wand removes magic def and Glowing wand deals HP based magic damage which counters radiant armour. You don't need to worry about mana since the passive of Enchanted Talisman lets you regenerate mana every 10 seconds (But don't hesitate to recall to base if you have no mana)

Gameplay Advice:

Do note that these are my experiences and is not an expert.

1. Build boots and go Clock (if burst) or Talisman (if magic mm) in the early game. Always play safe.

2. Zhask is the mage that pushes turrets easily, so during early game, if enemy mage is on the other side of the minimap, try to push mid (But if you're unsure of what to do, clear mid, let minions go to turret vicinity, put spawn on turret, then hide bush. You can get gold while spawn pushes turret).

3. Rotate to lanes. Don't rotate to that side of the map where you're unsure of the enemy, or your teammates are already there. For example, if roam(tank/support) and jungler ganks gold lane, its better for you to help exp laner push the lane, given that the enemy mage/jungler is on the other side of the map.

4. Always stay in the backline. Always stay behind everyone (even the squishy assassin and mm is your meatshield). Just put the spawn in front and use the ultimate if the enemy already used most of their skills.

5. Be opportunistic. Do the same thing as no.2. But this time, its during when your team takes the objectives (Turtle/Lord). Summon spawn to help jungler (or not). Hide in the bush since Zhask can't do anything if CCed. Only use your ultimate in the right time (e.g enemy already used skills, or allied tank did a set-up).

6. Ultimate is your last resort. Don't hesitate to use your ultimate if you're being targeted. For example, Wanwan got you marked? Go ulti since you're untargetable. You're target of Aldous? Use ulti so he can't 1 shot you. Yin got you in his domain? Ulti so you have a chance in surviving his s2-s1 combo. And many other examples, as long as you don't get CCed.

7. Don't hesitate to hug tower. Zhask's spawn is his main offense and defense, so use it to poke the enemy and clear lanes. But if you're the main target and your allies doesnt come to save you, abandon tower. Its better than feeding in the early game.

8. Farm efficiently. Zhask excels in mid-late so farm minions (and any creep as long as its past 5 mins (not the buffs)) so you get his core items faster.

9. Remove boots in late game. If the game lasts for more than 16 minutes, remove boots and add another item depending on the enemy. For example, if the enemy has magic def over 150, buy divine glaive. If dominance ice isn't enough for your team, buy necklace of durance (if enemy have estes, yz, esmeralda, etc.) If your enemy have really high damage, buy winter truncheon (immunity of all damage for 2 seconds every 100 seconds), it is best to time your truncheon so it wouldn't be wasted. But the last item depends on you (You can add fleeting time for better ultimate uptime, or holy crystal/blood wings for more magic power).

10. Tower lock. Zhask is the mage that pushes turrets very fast. So take that advantage and push turrets. Use spawn to help you (as long as theres minions around).

Battle spells:

Inspire: For extra attack speed. Use it before casting the ultimate.

Sprint: For better opportunities to escape, especially if you're being chased. (I use this spell instead of inspire since magic mm build already has atk speed).

Flameshot: If you want to finish off low HP enemies or push them back.

I hope you found this useful :)).

You can try out these builds in practice mode (use the damage bot zilong or normal bot layla. Also advice on the normal bot layla, every item you have and when you summon them they get those items. So if you want to try these builds, build all items that have magic def, summon them, then remove the items and use the build that you want to test.)

DUDE YOU'RE A LIFESAVER I THANK YOU SO MUCH

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I SWEAR TO GOD

THERE'S A NEW ZHASK PLAYER FOLLOWING ME AND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THREE MATCHES AND NOW I'M TRYING OUT YOUR BUILD

I'M SORRY TO EVERYONE I'VE EVER MET WHEN I TALKED ABOUT MY BUILD I WAS JUST SO EXCITED PEOPLE DON'T USUALLY COMMENT ABOUT IT OFTEN AND I'M JUST SO ACCUSTOMED TO HAVING TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT I'M GIVING UNREQUITED ADVICE AND I'VE JUST REALISED IT NOW-

Ahem. Slight monologue because I'm embarrassed. I've always had to be the tutor type, the teacher friend, so to be tutored myself is not a common experience. Always been the one to look up to, and here I am, looking up to you.

I've been thinking of increasing my damage too. I've noticed that despite the higher KDA for this new build, there's also a higher defeat count. And maybe damage is the way to go. Maybe I'm just too scared to die and in return, I'm not good enough to live. Huh. That's a good daily advice.

I see I've made a lot of mistakes. But hey, that's what learning's for! It's embarrassing right now, but it's also necessary for a better experience. Maybe I'll finally get out of this excruciating losestreak at some point.

I really appreciate the advice. Never gotten any, not that I usually meet any Zhask players, and they don't respond to my messages either. This new one dominated me our first match and I'm not gonna live that down.

I'd love to play with you one day and see how your build goes. Never knew about the counters.

I might need to apologise to the people I've advised though... I'm still a noob at this but I've talked a lot of personal experience. Fail and you shall receive, taunt and you may befriend, etc. But hey, every Zhask player has a different experience, as is any other player with any other hero.

These things take time and guidance. But overall, you can't be the best automatically. Starting from Tower you might have an advantage, but if you're not coming from Tower then it's best to be relaxed and aware.

I'm not aiming to be top dog. I realise that's a lot more effort for something so fragile. But what I'm aiming for is supporting others whenever I can (it's the eldest sibling instinct).

So I thank you.

Thank you so much.

I'll keep your advice in sound mind.

- Kastiya Mas

#I owe you one. #Actually more than one by this point. #I can't wait to game with you and see how you do it. #I'm scared of playing most of the time (Ranked chat has done a number on me). #But maybe this time things will be better. #So thank you. #golden answers #important