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commander-rahrah · 4 months

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Talking to the Moon: Part V

Pairing: Astarion x GN!Reader Word Count: ~6200 Warnings: emotional hurt/comfort, arranged marriage, slight family angst aka daddy issues? I'm terrible at these

archiveofourown: here

masterlist: here

part I: here part II: here part III: here part IV: here

Summary: Set at the end of Act II, after Moonrise Towers and Kethric. Reader/Tav leans on Astarion and reveals more about their family and their story from before the Nautiloid.

Notes: I've emerged from my cave I made on the couch in my basement and finally finished this update! I got bronchitis a week or so ago and it kicked my booty, but I'm finally feeling better!! YAY! I have no voice still, but good thing I don't need that to write fanfiction!

So this update reveals more of our Selune blessed Tav's backstory that is based off my original D&D character. I was really hung up on whether or not I should include more backstory and lore for this GN!Tav/Reader, since it isn't very typical for a lot of the gn!reader fics I've read. But it was giving me such writers block if I did not include it, as I honestly have the rest of this fic completely planned out and the endgame I have for this pairing relies on more of this backstory, so I decided to include it! Also, its my fic… and my character sooo I hope you enjoy my baby and the little story I wrote for them five years ago. This character will have a special place in my heart forever, and I'm excited to share more of them with you all!

I also desperately wanted to include a scene of Astarion and Tav/Reader kissing for the first time since his confession and them setting boundaries about physical intimacy and contact. I know the game just lets you click the kiss option right away, but I like to think its something that Astarion would build himself up to again and would maybe even have to relearn — not kissing like it was a performance, but instead an expression.

Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts! It means so much to me and every time I see a notification! It fills me with infinite joy ♡♡♡ I know there is lots of posts circulating about this and tags get filled with it, but reblogs and comments are so so appreciated!! :)

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He wasn’t sure how you did it. Astarion was exhausted, beyond that actually — shattered. His feet were stiff and aching, his mind fuzzy with weariness. Yet you were still smiling, accepting the gratitude of every single person at the Last Light Inn with humble nods and smiles. He’d never had a longer day in his life. The temple, the Shadowfell, Shadowheart, Moonrise Towers, the goddamn Absolute. Gale... Gods, you had talked down Gale from fulfilling the desire and demands of an actual goddess. All in one day. All he wanted to do was to fall into a bed with you, and sleep. To just pretend for one moment that there wasn’t any marching armies or impending vampire masters waiting in Baldur's Gate. To ignore the thrum of anxiety and fear that coursed through him as he remembered exactly what was carved into his back — what Raphael had finally revealed to him. Just for today, he had wanted to rest. But no — the end of this never ending day was to finish with a celebration. An annoying, lively celebration. The vampire was being stereotypical as ever — standing in a shadowy corner, moody and silent as he nursed a red glass. It was wine. Gale had found a decadent bottle, buried away and forgotten about on some dusty shelf. The wizard had made an eloquent toast to the group gathered on the bottom floor of the inn. But he was now standing with Wyll — the two of them conversing politely with a pair of obviously flirtatious tieflings. Karlach had her arm wrapped around Damon, the two of them chatting enthusiastically and laughing. Astarion was surprised to not see Shadowheart by Karlach — the two of them inseparable as of late. No, what was more shocking was that the dark-haired cleric was sat next to Lae’zel. Their mouths barely opening as they spoke to each other in low voices, buried under the noise of the celebration in the inn. He almost choked on the sip he had just taken as his red eyes finally returned to you — where several people were forming a makeshift line to speak with you. The next one more bashful than the last as they leaned in to speak with you, all flushed cheeks and batting eyelashes. You always had a certain charm about you, an innate ability to draw out easy smiles and laughs from others. You were also undeniably attractive — anyone who said otherwise would be a blind idiot. But other people being enraptured by you had never bothered him before. He had just silently agreed with them — that yes, you were indeed a prize like no other. But you were his now, weren’t you? As he was yours. Even without the label or words that he still couldn’t figure out how to say. That he was too afraid to say. Regardless, why were you entertaining these fools?

He'd not felt this before — was it jealousy? Gods, he was being like a petulant child who didn't want to share their toy. You were a person, you could make your own decisions. That was the entire point of all of this.

What was he going to do — follow you around like a lost puppy? Drape himself over you, clutch onto you like a coat so others would see he was with you?

You must have felt his red eyes piercing through you as you suddenly flicked your eyes over to meet his gaze. Your face instantly brightened, a smile tugging on your lips. An overwhelming sense of relief went through him as you waved apologetically to the small group in front of you, before weaving your way over to his dark corner.

"Yes, darling?" He drawled as you approached, trying to hide any emotion betraying on his face as he tipped his wine glass in front of it and took another sip.

"Why are you hiding away in this corner? Not feeling like being paraded around like a hero?" You said sarcastically.

Astarion rolled his eyes at you, replying dryly, "I am many things, but a hero, I am not."

You leaned in conspiratorially, lowering your voice until it was just a whisper. "I would beg to differ. But you have a reputation to uphold, don't you?"

He barked out a laugh, before flicking you in the nose gently. "You cheeky pup."

"Ow." You feigned, scrunching your face up at him. "That hurt."

A wave of courage swept through him as he pushed back the little voice in his head. He leaned forward and pecked his lips onto the tip of your nose. He hoped the tingle that spread across his lips as they met your skin would spread to you. It seemed it did as your skin then flashed a delicious, brilliant shade from surprise. A tiny squeak even escaped you, your eyebrows shooting up.

You had not kissed, not since his confession. Not since all of this had started. Not a brush of lips against hands or cheeks, nothing. The look on your face and the sudden increase in the thrum of your heart had him feeling light headed. Did he truly have such an effect on you?

For a moment, he let his gaze from you lapse as he swept his eyes across the inn. To the disappointed glances of a few partygoers, and the knowing looks of his companions, watching the pair of you interact.

A flash of gratification went through him, satisfied at the effect he had not just on you but at those who had eyed you before. It squashed the jealously that had made a pit in his stomach, instead twisting it with a new, slowly recognizable feeling.

"There, all better?" He smirked.

You let out a breathy laugh, nodding at him.

Astarion rubbed his lips together, the tingling sensation on them lingering still. "How much longer does the Hero of the Shadowlands need to stay down here?"

You looked over your shoulder to the gathered patrons, the crowd thinning out more and more as the evening faded into a dark, late night. "Bored already?"

He let out a weary sigh, letting his shoulders droop. "Exhausted, darling. And I know you are too."

You were always a sight to see, holding a beauty he could have never imagined or conjured up in his head. But he could see the purple circles under your eyes, the usual sparkle in them had long gone dull.

Your eyes flickered to your boots, nodding your head in defeat. "You're right."

"I believe they have set some rooms aside for us, if you wish—"

"Do you?" You caught him off, trying to hide your own eagerness.

His gaze softened, a smile tugging on his lips, "Very much so."

The pair of you bid goodnight to your companions quietly, subtle nods and waves as they continued their own conversations or headed to their own rooms. Astarion walked slightly behind you on the stairs, his hand resting gently on the small of your back as you led the way. The path you took was familiar, the worn floor boards creaking before you were outside the private room the two of you had occupied once before.

Astarion let out a sigh of relief as he closed the door softly behind him, the sounds from the lingering party below muffled and leaving you in a peaceful quiet. But as he found reprieve in finally being alone, you suddenly crumbled.

You dived for the bed, a heartbreaking sob escaping you as your hands covered your face.

Your name choked out him before he crossed the room quickly and joined you on the edge of the mattress. Gods, what was it about this Inn and room that had you breaking apart on it? "Darling, what's wrong?" He asked, concern etching every feature.

"I- I, didn't-"

He remembered your words earlier today — gods, was that today? How comforting his touch was for you, being reminded of his presence. He placed his hand carefully on your own that was trembling on your thigh as you tried to speak.

You finally gasped out, "She wasn't there, she wasn't-"

Mol. The little tiefling girl. You had promised those rascal children downstairs you'd find her. And it was you who had told them she wasn't in Moonrise tonight, swallowing deeply as they dipped their heads with disappointment. But you had told them not to give up hope, that she was resourceful and strong. You had sounded so convincing that even he had believed you.

But here you were, sobbing and breaking apart in front of him. "Oh, sweetheart. Gods, I should have seen this, I'm sorry."

You sniffled, glancing up at him with wide eyes. "Why are you apologizing?"

He gave you a sad smile, his eyes shining with understanding, "I know you better by now. It was a mask you were wearing tonight...," He tucked a stray hair back behind your ear. "I hate it when you wear it."

"I just wanted everyone to be okay, I tried so hard..." Your voice cracked and broke.

"You've done so much, darling. Look at what we did today, that was because of you."

You always took care of everyone else. But who took care of you? Astarion thought, perhaps... him. He could… he would.

He had been.

"Oh my little moon, you don't have to carry the world by yourself, you know?"

You sniffled and nodded, silver still lining the bottoms of your eyes.

"May I?" He echoed the question you so often asked of him. You'd never touched him without asking the question first. Your consent you'd granted him was a separate conversation, one where you had told him casual, simple touches were okay. A silent conversation and agreement sometimes was exchanged with a look of your eyes. But with him, you had always asked. He thought that now he would return that favor to you, as you opened yourself to him — vulnerable and upset once again on the edge of this mattress.

He hoped you appreciated the sentiment, as much as he did.

The vampire reached down, hovering his hands over your boots. Your brows furrowed slightly before you were nodding. Your eyes never left his pale fingers as he untied the laces of your boots, gently prying them off before setting them down neatly at the foot of the bed. Then he did the same to his own before he slid his way up the bed, leaning against the headboard before patting the spot next to him.

"Come here."

You hesitated, before beginning to scooch over to him. When he opened his arms as a silent invitation you hesitated again. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Please come here." He nodded solemnly.

Astarion willed himself to keep steady and clear, drawing a breath he truly did not need. He enveloped you in his arms as you laid next to him, trying to stop his limbs for stiffening. It was all so foreign, it was terrifying.

But your familiar scent filled his nose, and he could feel the steady rhythm of your heartbeat with your chest pressed to his side. His fingers laxed as you settled into him, bunching into the material of your shirt. Your breaths started calming and eyes fluttering as you laid with him.

"Is this okay?" You whispered — uncertainty laced every word.

"I was just going to ask you the same thing." He said softly, before swallowing thickly. "I don't know what I'm doing." You started to remove your limbs his, but he tightened his hold on you. "Don't, please."

"Astarion if you aren't comfortable—"

"I am, it's not that." He rubbed the soft material of your shirt between his fingers as he spoke, "I want so badly to be this for you, to be what you need. But I don't know how."

You craned your neck up to look at him, "I think you're doing a good job of it."

He looked down at you through his long lashes, "Truly?"

"Yes, Astarion." You sounded genuine, "No one... no one has ever made me feel the way you do."

He let out a sigh of contentment, settling in deeper with you before resting his chin on the top of your head. "I know we have so much left to do... But laying here with you. It makes it worth it."

"Are you scared?" You asked in a whisper.

"Terrified, actually." He admitted.

Your thumb rubbed across his stomach in smooth lines back and forth, "I will be with you every step of the way."

"That's part of what makes it all so terrifying." The vampire whispered, "Sometimes, I know that I couldn't do any of this without you by my side. But other times... when Ketheric turned into that thing, that abomination, with you looking so small in front of him..."

"I know."

Astarion moved his head so he could look at your face, "You were right though."

"Hmmm?" You hummed.

"This is nice. Gods, when did I get so soft?" He chuckled, the movement of his chest vibrating your head until you joined him.

Both of your faces were etched with bliss and contentment as you laid in the bed. On this bed where before he had laid awake, willing himself to fall into a trance, convincing himself to keep his distance from you, trying to protect himself from the inevitably of you.

Now, you both fell asleep like that, still in your regular attire, wrapped in each other's arms with your head buried on his chest.

The stars caressing their moon.

• • •

The journey towards Baldur's Gate was turbulent and nerve-wracking while also... hopeful.

The group was buzzing with energy — the anticipation of returning to Baldur's Gate had made some of your companions restless in more ways then one.

You were all sat for a short rest, relaxing in a patch of long, green grass just off of the dirt road you were traveling on. It was just your group now, the other parties and groups had begun moving at different paces and times until it was just your familiar companions now.

Astarion was laid out in the grass, his head resting on your lap and your fingers absent-mindedly playing with his soft, white tresses. His eyes were closed, basking in the glow of the sun that was set high in the sky at this time of day. Occasionally the shadows on his face would bounce as his long lashes flickered, opening his eyes to glance at you with a dreamy expression on his face.

It made your movements stutter each time you noticed it. But the grip he had on your heart — that was steady and true. He had possessed you in a way you still could not articulate, even all these weeks later.

But you blinked back to reality as Gale's voice broke the silence. "You're a beautiful couple."

You looked up, a sheepish smile spreading across your face from being noticed. Astarion craned his neck, his red eyes rolling back to look at the wizard before settling back into your lap with a disinterested look crossing his face.

"Oh, I'm sorry... I'm made things awkward, haven't I?" Gale mumbled, his hands twirling with the blades of grass in front of him.

You couldn't help the blush that was spreading across your cheeks at the attention. Especially as you realized the rest of your companions were looking over with small smirks.

Gale continued as you remained silent, "I just meant that... Well, its nice to see my friends so happy. That's all."

"Thank you, Gale." Astarion drawled, readjusting himself so he laid deeper on your lap.

The wizard blinked in surprise, "You're welcome. Are you — is it a secret, or?"

"Not a secret, no." The vampire purred with a shake of his head.

"We are just taking our time." You finished, a soft smile growing on your face to match the one spreading across Astarion's.

"Hmm, that's nice." Gale trailed off, a wistful expression on his face.

Before the silence could really settle in again, the rest of the party started a conversation up.

"Won't be long now until we get to Baldur's Gate." Wyll said, his face hard to read.

"Are you nervous?" Karlach stretched her long leg, nudging him in the ankle playfully.

His mouth scrunched and nose crinkled, "I... I don't know how to feel."

"I can't fucking wait! I'll be able to show you guys my old stomping grounds!" The barbarian said excitedly, falling back dramatically into the grass with her limbs spread wide. She addressed you, shouting up to the blue sky, "What about you, Giggles? Excited to see home again?"

"Oh," Your fingers froze, hovering over Astarion's hair. "I had only lived in the city for just under a year. Home will always be in the north."

"The north? I don't think I've heard you speak of your home much." Shadowheart asked quietly, a quizzical look on her face.

"I, yes— near the Ice Spires." Your mouth twitched.

"You hail from a noble line, yes?" Gale asked. Everyone was eyeing you with curiosity, even Astarion still stretched out on your lap. His red eyes shifting slightly as he studied you.

You swallowed, painting on a polite smile before speaking, "My father is a Viscount. He is a formidable figure in the region."

"Ah." The warlock grimaced, his eyes sad. "Why do I get the feeling our stories are more similar than I realize?"

You bristled. "I'm not exiled or anything... It's just been some time. That's all."

"That's all?"

A humorless laugh escaped you, "I am a second born child. And my older brother is much more obedient and better suited to the game of politics than I am." You couldn't help the sad, bitter smile that spread across your face. The thought of home stung in more ways then one.

Astarion noticed how tense you had become, his hand squeezing your knee as he pushed himself up with a dramatic huff. "We are never going to get to the city if we sit here lounging all day."

You shot him a grateful look, and he gave you the slightest nod in recognition as he offered his hand to lift you up. He did so easily, brushing off blades of grass lingering on you both gently.

"You were the one complaining not long ago about how long we had been walking for!" Gale said, sounding completely exasperated as Wyll helped him up.

"Me? I said that? I don't think so." The rogue playfully scoffed, shaking his head so his soft curls bounced dramatically. He looked over his shoulder at you with a conspiratorial smile before stretching his hand out for you. His fingers intertwined with yours easily as he pulled you along the dirt path, away from the questioning and burning curiosity of the rest of the party.

• • •

Your group finally settled down for the night — picking a small clearing just off of the well-worn, dirt path you had been traveling down. Perhaps the last time you would be sleeping in the wilderness. You would be at Wyrm's Crossing by midafternoon tomorrow.

Astarion had set up your tent on the edge of camp, attempting to give you both some sense of privacy from your busybody companions. He knew they meant well, that they hadn't meant for this afternoon to turn into an interrogation. That, like him, they were just curious to know more about you. As kind and good you were to all of them, you were still somewhat of a mystery. You had revealed the origins of your powers to the group yes, but you rarely spoke about yourself or your home.

Not even to him.

The vampire had been content to let it lie. He knew it would come with time — and he certainly couldn't make any demands of you. Not after how gracious and patient you had been with him. But he couldn't deny that part of him wanted to know more. Astarion had somehow become an open book with you — revealing and exploring parts of himself that he had buried down so deep that he was surprised he could find them.

He worried that it all had been about him for so long. His trauma, his past, his goals. That maybe you had kept parts of yourself hidden away, on the back burner for him.

You had your back turned to him at the moment, the golden flickering of the candles in the tent illuminating the curve of your spine and freckles across your bare skin. Your muscles stretched and tensed beautifully as you lifted your arms over your head —pulling your nightclothes over yourself as you changed in the corner. It was a boundary that was set much earlier, that he had slowly started making less and less strict.

He wasn't ready for anything more yet — he knew that. But his red eyes couldn't help but roam your figure. He couldn't help the familiar sensation of want twisting low in his stomach, the twitch of his fingers at his side as he imagined running his fingertips over your soft skin again.

The smile you gave him as you turned around was dazzling, even in the dim light and tight space of the shared tent. You joined him cross-legged in the center of the tent, both of you not quite ready to go to sleep just yet.

He picked at his nail for a moment, trying to seem nonchalant as he opened his pink mouth to speak. "So... the Ice Spires?"

You raised a single eyebrow, a hard to read look crossing the rest of your features. "Yes?"

His fingers continued to fidget in front of him. "It's cold... all the time?"

"Not all the time. Our winters can be brutal though." You said with a scrunched nose.

"Oh, what a lovely sell. I can't wait to go now!" He said sarcastically.

"Ha." You laughed dryly, before your voice turned wistful. "It's beautiful honestly... I miss it."

The vampire studied your face as you undoubtedly saw visions of your home in your mind's eye. The edges of his lips curved up as he remembered your promise to take him there one day. He broke you out of your daydream with a quiet cough before he spoke again, "You don't have to tell me, if you don't want. But why did you leave there, darling?"

Your eyes flashed to the floor of the tent, your mouth forming a hardline. "Promise me you won't be upset?" Your voice was barely a whisper.

His eyebrows furrowed together at your reaction. He took two fingers, dipping them under your chin so you would look up at him. "Why would I be upset? You leaving home for whatever reason is why you are here now. With me."

Your eyes softened with his answer, before you nodded. Yet you still licked your lips nervously before speaking, "Well... you know that Selûne told my mother I would be destined for a different path then the life of nobility. My mother agreed to it all those years ago, both my parents knew and yet... they still hoped they could reel it all back in. That enough etiquette and language lessons would shape me into the perfect child they hoped I would be. But it was never me. I tried for them, I really did. Instead I started to fantasize about the people in our history lessons like they were characters in a book, and I spoke too loud and laughed at the wrong moment at dinner."

Astarion couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he imagined you as a child — your face round and soft with innocence, your brilliant smile with missing teeth. The havoc that you would have caused, racing down wealthy halls as you acted out scenes from your books and danced in an empty ballroom with your melodic laugh echoing in the space. A piece of himself he had long forgotten about twinged inside him. He couldn't remember his own childhood anymore — it was lost to the last two hundred years of darkness. But something warmed in him as he dreamed up what yours was like.

He snapped back to reality as you spoke again. "But I had a duty. I'm the second born, I wasn't being primed to one day take over for our father and run the keep, but I could be used in other ways. I've known of it since I was twelve."

His white brows furrowed again, "Known what?"

"When I became of age I would be married off to secure wealth and political ties with other territories. I'm engaged... technically." You admitted.

His eyes dropped immediately to your fingers, the several jewels that adorned them from the moment he met you. He had never thought anything of them — thinking they were an artful display of rings that matched your personality and appearance well. But there it was — a golden ring of much higher quality then the rest, with a large ruby sitting in the center of it. Gods, how had he missed that.

"Oh my gods. I'm a homewrecker." Then he burst out laughing, his head thrown back and his hands holding his stomach as he howled.

"Astarion, you'll wake up half the camp!" You leaned forward and hissed.

"I'm sorry, I just —" He let out between gasps of breath, "It's so funny. Of course the person I fall for is to be wed to someone else."

You joined his chuckles, shaking your head. "It is like a cliché plotline from some terrible drama."

"It is! Or like a punchline to some joke. Did you hear the one about the vampire and the fiancé?" You both laughed for a moment, before he clutched onto your hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

"So you aren't upset?" Your voice a whisper again, uncertainty flooded every word.

"Upset? Darling, why would I be upset?"

You huffed out an exasperated breath, "Astarion, I just told you I am betrothed to another person."

"And you are on the other side of the continent from them. Not married. And sitting in my tent. Is this why you left?"

Your eyes widened in surprise, "Yes, we planned it all out actually— my betrothed and I."

"Really?"

You nodded, "They had also spent the last years troubling over it, attempting to delay it for as long as possible."

"I'm assuming getting kidnapped by mind flayers was not apart of that plan?" He said with a smirk.

"Definitely not. I so badly wanted to travel, to see the world outside of our keep I'd known my whole life. So... they insisted to my family that they needed a spouse that was learned and well-traveled. That I could enroll in a college to become a more suitable match."

Astarion raised a white brow, "And that worked?"

"It did. I think my father was so desperate for it all to work out that they just agreed."

"And how did you attending a college lead you to Baldur's Gate so many miles away from home?"

You let out a dry chuckle, "I will say that I did go to the college like I intended. I lasted a week. Just long enough to purchase supplies and stationary from the college before paying for a spot on the next wagon out of Silverymoon."

"Stationary?"

"I've been sending letters home for the past year, using stationary from the college so my family believes I'm still there studying and being a model citizen."

He raised his eyebrows, a smirk spreading across his lips. "I'm impressed. That's very conniving... I didn't know you had it in you."

You smiled sheepishly, your fingers twisting in your lap. "I'll admit it was a clever idea. I ran out of supplies about a month before the Nautiloid."

He pursed his lips as he finally understood, "They haven't heard from you since then?"

You shook your head, "No. I imagine my father has sent some of his men to check on me, and they have long discovered that I took back my tuition deposit and left months and months ago."

"This whole time we were worried about a vampire master storming our camp, when really it could have been a disgruntled father or worried mother finding us?"

A large exhale left your nose as you shook your head, "Oh, my father would never come himself. He would just send his second-best men and a strongly worded letter ordering me back home. My mother though... I can only imagine how she betrayed and worried she feels."

The vampire squeezed your hand again before running his thumb along the backs of your knuckles. "Why did you never tell me this?"

"Astarion, the hardship and abuse that you went through...," Your eyes shined with pain, "My story is nothing compared to yours."

"Your story is not nothing." He shook his head, his voice earnest. "Your story is you — and you are everything. Never spare parts of yourself from me."

"Even the messy parts that years of etiquette lessons couldn't train away?"

He let out a breathy laugh before smiling at you, "Especially those parts, my lovely moon."

"You have gone soft on me, Starry." You teased before matching his smile.

• • •

After another day of travel, you stood in the abandoned castle in Wyrm's Crossing, bracing yourself on the stone wall. The skyline of Baldur's Gate could be seen from here, the distant sound of the bell's ringing heard even from here.

Your party had finally made it — after all of these weeks. You would walk the familiar cobblestone streets of Baldur's Gate tomorrow. The familiar scents and sounds of vendors and citizens, the bustle and crowds would be so different from the wilderness and forests you had been traveling through.

The group's energy was buzzing as you settled for camp in the abandoned castle — a strange mixture of excitement and nerves. Astarion hadn't hidden his feelings with you — his anxieties and insecurities surfacing with every step closer and closer to the city limits. With every step closer to Cazador and his ritual. Hundreds of different ideas were bouncing around his head, you could tell.

Yet your confession to him last night was still replaying in your head, especially as your stared at the ring on your left finger — the red gem catching the light. You weren't sure why you wore it anymore. A habit, you guessed.

The sound of purposeful, shuffling feet announced that you were no longer alone. Craning your neck you looked over to see the man who normally consumed your thoughts, climbing the stone steps that led up to the falling apart battlements you stood on.

"What are you doing up here, darling?"

"Just taking a moment." You admitted as you loosed a heavy breath. "And you?"

"Oh, just over pretending to be interested the idle chat by the fire." Astarion waved his hand, before sliding in next to you. He braced his elbows onto the edge looking out over to the skyline. You watched him take a deep steadying breath, his eyebrow crinkled with worry for a moment.

You fiddled unconsciously with the golden ring on your left hand as you watched him. The movement caught the vampire's attention, his red eyes snapping to it before looking up at you. He chewed the inside of his lip, before speaking, "Can I ask you a question?"

Your stomach tightened with sudden nerves, "Of course."

"This wedding... Your arranged marriage."

"Hmm?" You hummed.

His pale throat bobbed as he swallowed, "Would you have gone through with it? If there was no Nautiloid, no tadpole — none of this. Would you have gone through with the arrangement?"

A heavy sigh escaped you as you pushed your elbows off of the stone edge and stood up, "I would have... I would have tried. It felt inevitable before — inescapable."

He shifted around, so he was facing you — standing to his full height and looking you in the eyes. "And now?" He whispered, his long fingers reaching to brush the insides of your wrist lightly.

"Astarion... I never could have imagined any of this. I spent my whole life fantasizing and daydreaming of an escape and grand adventure. Nothing I've dreamed up has ever come close to being with you. I have fought mind flayers and ogres, refused Gods and marched across the country so that we can keep going. So that we can have a chance. I will take my father's disappointment and wrath for ruining his plans for financial security."

"Heh — We can add him to the list of people we've angered along the way." He joked, but his eyes were glimmering with unspoken emotion after your declaration.

You studied the handsome man before you, your lips parting slightly as you took him in. He was radiant in the moonlight, his white hair and pale skin shining. The way his usually sharp eyes softened and rounded as he looked at you.

Gods, you loved him. You had known for sometime now that you did. The words had been crawling up your throat, lingering on your tongue and swirling in your mind for days. But you would be patient for him.

One side of his pink mouth turned up, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Your head cocked to the side, "Like what?"

"You..." He seemed like he was at a loss for words for a moment. He shook his head at himself, before he admitted in a whisper, "They way you look at me... you make me feel like I'm poetry."

"You are, Astarion." You said simply. Courage suddenly flooded through you. You knew you would be fine, no matter how he answered. You wouldn't dare rush him. But you wanted to ask tonight. "May I — May I kiss you?"

He blinked in surprise before his red eyes flicked down to your lips and he unconsciously licked his own. Then he locked eyes with you, nodding breathlessly. "Yes," He whispered back, his long lashes fluttering. "Yes."

Moving your hands up slowly and gently, your fingertips gripped the side of his strong jaw. You heard his breath sharpen as you moved your face to meet his — slowly, giving him time and space, allowing him to change his mind and pull away. But he didn't. Instead his eyes closed softly, his head tilting towards yours as he waited for you to kiss him. Then your lips locked as your mouth pressed softly against his, carefully as you waited to see if he would kiss you back. A low noise escaped you as you felt his lips press harder against yours, returning the kiss.

You had long thought of your first kiss with Astarion in the woods near the Druid's Grove all that time ago. You thought you had memorized the sweet taste of him on your lips, the scent of leather lingering from his armor and groans that made the hairs on your arms stand up.

But this — this was so different. Not practiced, not ritualistic like he so often said.

This new first kiss was so painfully soft and tender. He tasted like wine, rosemary and honey. His hair softer then you remembered as your finger toyed with the curled tips at the base of his neck. The happiest of sounds escaped him as he parted his lips for you, allowing you to deepen the kiss as your tongue slid across his teeth. You both stood like that for a moment, relishing in the feeling until you both felt dizzy. Your lips stuck together slightly as you pulled away. His forehead was pushed against yours, like he was no longer content to not be touching you.

Astarion's eyes were ablaze in the moonlight as he looked at you, his mouth falling open as he caught his breath. "Again. Kiss me, again.” “Starry?” You asked, your brow twitched. “Kiss me. Please. I miss it, I've missed you." One of his hands gripped the tip of your chin as you moved your mouth back towards him, halving the movement as he pulled you back in for another kiss. The other intertwining with yours in between you, squeezing your fingers gently.

His sharp teeth dug into your bottom lip, causing a shudder to run down your spin. "Slow down, my love." Your groaned out.

"I have — weeks of this — to catch up on." His voice was breathless and he continued to interrupt his own words as he pressed lips to yours over and over.

You pulled away, studying his face — the skin around his mouth pink from kissing, a slight flush crossing his complexion. But his eyes were fixed on you, filled with want and need. "I'm not going anywhere, Astarion. We have time."

"Good. " He beamed, resting his forehead on yours again as you both breathed each other in. The two of you silhouetted on the crumpling battlements as you held on to each other for a moment longer.

Read Part VI here

#bg3 fanfic #bg3 fanfiction #astarion ancunin #astarion x reader #astarion x gn reader #astarion x tav #astarion/tav #astarion/reader #astarion fanfic #bg3 astarion

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skyloftian-nutcase · 7 months

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@hermitdrabbles56 @thepinklink

“Legend.”

Turning, Legend glanced at Warriors, who was charge for the night.

“We’ve got a nursing student,” Warriors started to say, and Legend felt his entire body stiffen because he immediately knew where this conversation was going. “They’re going to be with you for the night.”

“You’re doing this to torture me, aren’t you?” Legend grumbled, pulling a laugh out of his friend.

“Oh come now, it’ll be an extra set of hands to help you!”

“It’ll be someone to babysit and make sure they don’t hurt my patients.”

“They have to learn somehow, Ledge.”

Legend rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

When the nursing student came to him, bright eyed and excited, but tense with an anxiety that accompanied their new situation and environment, the travel nurse couldn’t help but sigh some of the annoyance out of himself. The kid’s energy instead dredged up some sympathy. Pointing at their assignment, Legend gave a brief report on each patient.

“Okay. So bed 4 is Grandma. You be nice to her and respect her. She’s very sweet. Broke her hip and is insisting she doesn’t need pain meds. We’re grabbing them anyway because I’m worried about her. Bed 5 is Pipsqueak. Little kid probably has bronchitis. Sounds like death, poor thing. Doc’s gonna prescribe some antibiotics, we’ll show mom and dad how to do inhaler treatments and nebulizar treatments and send them home. Bed 6 is Frankenstein. I think the guy’s ok but he groans like he’s a newly created monster, you ask him if he’s ok and he’s totally chill. So I think that’s just how he is. He’s got some mild dementia, not the most reliable narrator. Fell at the nursing home, unwitnessed, got a lac on his head so he’ll be getting a CT. Bed 7 is open for a hit.”

The nursing student scribbled furiously, nodding along but occasionally giving him strange looks.

As the shift progressed, Legend found himself having to stop and explain every little inconsequential detail he did, the skills that were on autopilot. He was exasperated, as it did slow him down, but he tried to stay patient. He was still half convinced Warriors had done this to torture him.

“Okay, I think nursing school teaches you to chase the needle into the cap but we don’t have time for that and it knocks the cap off the table half the time so just ground your hand with your other palm and reseal the needle carefully.” Legend explained as he capped a needle after drawing up medicine. He found himself saying this a lot, remembering what nursing school said versus the reality of the situation. The poor nursing student stayed generally quiet through most of the shift, simply trying to keep up.

By the end of the night, Legend found himself half collapsed in a chair, utterly exhausted. It hasn’t even been that eventful of a shift, but with the student he’d had to triple check their work and his own, trying to explain anything he could. Kid had to learn, after all.

The nursing student smiled as she gathered her things. “Thank you so much for teaching me. I had fun. You’re a really good nurse.”

Legend blinked, staring at her and barely getting a “no problem,” out as she left. Her words settled over him, sinking heavier and heavier as he gathered his things in the locker room.

You’re a really good nurse. When was the last time he thought that? He knew he was a good nurse. He did. But…

Warriors caught his eye as he entered to go to his own locker.

“How was it?” He asked.

Legend sighed, a soft smile pulling at his lips. “It… wasn’t that bad.”

#lu in healthcare #writing #lu legend #lu warriors #Legend gets to remember that he’s actually a nice person lol #He has good days I swear guys 😂

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the-light-finds-its-way · 4 months

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Ya Titan is strong! Powerful!! Brave!! Enough so to realize when he needs to get help and assistance!! :)

I am physically disabled. The pain I feel in my legs and have felt all day every day awake and asleep since I was 11 years old, is finally becoming too much for me. I can still "walk" (read: limp). I can still stand. I can't do either very well or for very long, just a few minutes at a time, a few times a day. I can barely use stairs, and it's only gotten worse over the years.

So, I've decided to get an electric wheelchair. And that is great.

There are days where I can do workouts, walk 4 miles, and be completely fine. Then, there are days like today, where I have to call out of work because I'm in so much pain that I can't get out of bed, let alone move anything at all, without wanting to cry.

Just because I have good days, doesn't mean I can't have bad ones, too, and that those bad days can't be made easier. And a wheelchair is going to make things FAR better and easier for myself, and my poorly body.

I don't remember what it's like to walk, only what it's like to limp. I've never been pain free, but I manage the pain by sitting down. I haven't run since I was 9 years old, and now, I'm in my mid 20s.

When I was born, my parents were told I'd have a 1/100 chance to survive my heart and organ conditions, and that if I did, I'd be disabled and likely pass on early in life. For a brief few years, I could run, I could walk. Things were normal. I don't remember those days much, but there was one day where I ran, and began coughing profusely. I choked. That was... strange. Maybe I was sick? I got bronchitis frequently (3-4x a year), so maybe it was that?

In gym class, I continued trying to run. Every time, I'd start coughing uncontrollably, and struggle to breathe. I chose to stop running, and that didn't sit well with my teachers. At all.

Shortly thereafter, I began to get cramps in my legs. Kind of like growing pains, but not exactly... And then, months later, I hadn't grown one bit. But the pain stayed. Everyone around me was growing! But I stayed the same height, 4ft11in tall. Others reached well past 6ft. Their pains went away, but I knew this was something more, especially when, after 2 years, I was stuck at that height, and still in pain.

I resorted to limping everywhere, my legs aching constantly in random places, never consistent or in any pattern. My parents continued to tell me, for another 3 years, I was just growing. I'd grow out of the pain.

By 14, even my mom knew something was wrong because the pain was still there, and I still hadn't grown, and I still couldn't run without coughing. She went ahead, called a specialist, and brought me to him. I got blood work done, and when he looked over it, he said I was too young for lupus or arthritis, so he passed it off as an unknown illness, and sent me on my way without anything else.

My mom was livid. For another 2 years, she sought doctors to help me, with no success. By a miracle, my grandfather went to the hospital for pneumonia, and his nurse was a doctor who helped tremendously. Somehow, my mom convinced this doctor to take me on, despite the fact that I was 2 years too young for her practice, and when the doctor heard about my problems, she immediately sent me for more blood testing, called me in the moment results came, and diagnosed me with arthritis and lupus. She sent me to an asthma specialist, who diagnosed me with athletically induced asthma, and allergy asthma after several tests. I got an inhaler, and finally, I could work out without coughing!

But I still couldn't run without severe pain. I was still limping. And I was told, that pain will never go away. It will never get better, only worse. And I have no choice but to live with it forever.

And ever since, I've gone on, suffering, limping, never going very far. I can't go shopping without leaning on a cart, or cane. I can't go up a single flight of 5 stairs. And so, I acknowledged at long last that I need a wheelchair, and it's ok. This isn't a failure. This isn't giving up. Just like I have to get therapy and meds for my PTSD, and other mental illnesses, I have to get a mobility aid for my physical well-being.

I learned, when I was diagnosed with my mental illnesses, and reached my breaking point, I had to get help, and that there is nothing wrong with that, and there's no shame in it. It shows how strong I am because it proves I know when I need to rely on others since I've done all I can alone, and that has inherent strength in and of itself because accepting help is a step toward being more powerful by yourself.

And getting a mobility aid, I realized, is no different. It's accepting help so I can be more powerful on my own.

My father made me believe for years that accepting any help is a sign of weakness, and shows you're broken. He taught me that wheelchairs are exclusively for those who cannot walk at all, who are paralyzed or deformed or don't have legs.

But I've met a few specific people who, they've shown me otherwise. They're like me: they can walk, but it's hard and it hurts. And they taught me, I don't have to suffer by pretending to be able bodied. I don't have to mask as abled just to please my father, or society, or whoever. Just as I stopped masking my autism, I'm going to stop masking my physical disabilities.

And my old teacher, who supported me in every way throughout high school when almost everyone else made fun of me, said I'd amount to nothing, and wouldn't make it as a creative, she messaged me last night saying she has a wheelchair she's looking to get rid of, that it takes up room, and she'd love to help me out by selling it to me for whatever I think it's worth.

So, happy holidays to me. :) I'm buying a wheelchair, and I'm regaining my freedom. The pain may never get better, but my life as a whole can. And damn. My 2024 is looking great. Concerts, LARPs, 2 or more Renaissance festivals, a trip to Disney with my friends, another trip to the Poconos with the same people just weeks later, and finishing off the year with the Texas Viking Festival. I've quit college to work full time and save up for my own place. And I know, finally, it's going to be ok. For the first time in my life, I'm going to be ok. :)

#long post #mun is a titan #not destiny #disability #disabled pride

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enemyoflactose · 1 month

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I finished rewatching season 1 of Yu-Gi-Oh. My redemption arc is 1/5 complete. (I have to watch the dub because I don't wanna support Crunchyroll and I don't know where else to watch the sub)

My main thoughts are about voice acting since of all the arcs, Duelist Kingdom and Domino City side stories make me the least angry.

So to start off, a comparison between Dub and Sub acting and which voice I like more as of now.

Yami: His sub voice in season 1 is honestly so cute. He just sounds like he's having a constant blast.

His dub voice on the other hand, sounds so hot 🥵. And Dub Yami is what's keeping me from doing drugs.

Overall, I like both a lot. I do however think Dan just makes the character.

Little Yugi: similar thing as Yami, only his dub voice doesn't sound hot. Just cute. I love both voices and honestly can't pick between them.

Joey Wheeler: I like his dub voice more. That's where the personality is. His sub voice just sounds generic.

Tristan: For the first few episodes of the dub, Tristan has this really stupid voice that I just don't like, so for that alone I like his sub voice more.

But then from the Rex duel and onward it's Greg Abby, and then I like both his sub and dub voice.

Téa: I think I prefer her sub voice. Just a little less grating. (I still love you Téa)

Ryou: He sounds like Gachapoid in the sub 🥺. I love Gachapoid!

His british accent tho 😩

Yami Bakura: Gachapoid doesn't suit him unfortunately. I like his dub voice more.

Pegasus: stunning. Both of them. The performance is impeccable. But Dub Pegasus never said "Jesus Christ".

Seto Kaiba: a hard one. In the sub he screams so much, but in the dub he doesn't sound like he's one insult away from killing himself... I can't decide.

Mokuba: they both sound the same.

Mai: I think I prefer dub. Just sounds deeper idk.

Weevil: I love him and his voices.

Rex: I prefer his sub voice. Just less grating and he doesn't sound like he has bronchitis.

Everyone else: meh. Could go either way.

Now to talk about the characters, and if I relearned anything:

Téa's friendship speeches are so sweet and cheesey I can't believe people don't like them. She is always there for her friends and clearly cares so much. I will never forgive Téa bashers for what they did to her during the great Yaoi Revolution.

Joey isn't as stupid as I remember him being, just a beginner at Duel Monsters. Nothing wrong with that. He's trying. His utter determination to get that money for his sister's operation is seriously so heart warming. I love whenever he says "Time roulette go!"

Tristan threw a dead body at Satan. And grabbed Ryou's leg while climbing the tower because he was getting impatient.

Yugi being uncertain of Yami until the Bakura duel is crazy. Like he wasn't even having memory issues. Bro huh? He's also so supportive! Like baby boy was the one to suggest he and Yami fight PaniK for Mai. He told Yami not to attack Kaiba and send him falling to his death. He gave Joey Time Wizard! Yugi is a bro.

Yami is such a good friend. Helping Joey out with duels, got Mai her star chips back, freed both Mokuba and Kaiba's souls because Mokuba asked, tried getting pink shirt his star chips back, and never believing that Joey couldn't duel by himself.

Ryou was, certainly there. Honestly his impact doesn't really matter. He just explains Duel Monsters to Tristan and Téa whenever Yugi is dueling. His first appearance isn't even that impressive because instead of killing himself to save everyone like in the manga, Yami switches the places of Ryou and Yami Bakura. So even if he tries to help, someone else always helps way more.

Yami Bakura is so hot. I'd suck his dick if he asked. I also just love how his deck can not only do tarot readings, but is also really annoying to go up against. Like boy had 3 morphing jars, an electric lizard, a man eater bug, and change of heart. Those cards were fucking devastating back in the day. He also would have won that duel if he used Just Desserts one turn later, but oh well. Why did he lick the millennium eye tho? I get the tarot reading, but why did he lick the eye?

Mokuba. Oh sweet Mokuba. He just wants to help his brother, but he suffers so much.

Kaiba is awesome. He hacks into Industrial Illusions and causes a satellite to crash into an office. Killing people. He helps Yami win a duel. He rips a Blue Eyes. He annihilates with Crush Card Virus. My man uses Saggi the Dark Clown. His devotion to rescuing Mokuba is amazing and is really what has me start caring for him when I first watched the series 5 years ago. His comebacks and sheer distaste for the Yugi gang are fun and amazing to watch.

Pegasus, the star of season 1. He's in my top 5 favorite characters list. I absolutely love eccentric villains, especially when they love cartoons and are actually threatening. Pegasus is a beast. If we ignore his millennium eye for now, he's a fantastic and fun duelist! His deck is interesting and entertaining to watch, neither of his duels were boring, and the man is so funny. "Do I spin it like a top, or roll it like a ball!" I love him. He's also (so far) the only villain I feel genuine empathy towards. Y'all, I'm a sap. If a villain's reason is being evil because they lost their Significant other than I'm sorry I'm crying. My poor guy.

Grandpa: he trained Joey and Yugi, he gave Yugi his deck, he appeared in dream sequences to help Yugi beat his opponents, and he gave Yugi the puzzle. If this man didn't exist, Yu-Gi-Oh wouldn't happen.

Duke Devlin: I forgot how much I hated him when I first watched his dumbass Dungeon Dice Monster 4 episode showdown. He's so fucking mean.

Rebecca: not much to say other than I like her.

The duels:

Seto vs Yami (first duel of the series): a fantastic way to start off the series. Kaiba finds out Yugi's grandpa has the Blue Eyes White Dragon card he's been searching for, he steals it, rips it, and Yugi challenges him to a duel.

Yami takes control and is surprised by Kaiba's duel arena having the ability to make life-like holograms of the monsters on the cards.

The duel begins and for the entire thing, it's honestly pretty equal. Yami summons a monster, Kaiba destroys it. Kaiba summons a monster, Yami destroys it.

It's a back and forth kind of deal until Kaiba pulls out his own Blue Eyes White Dragon card, shocking Yami. He surprises Yami again by summoning another Blue Eyes, but then gets hit with swords of revealing light.

Kaiba summons Judge Man, and it gets Destroyed by the Dark Magician.

During this, Yugi is having his doubts about winning because of Kaiba's Blue Eyes and can't seem to draw cards. Especially when Kaiba summons his third Blue Eyes White Dragon and destroys the Dark Magician.

This leads into Yami and Yugi having an inter monologue with Grandpa about Exodia. How Exodia is split into pieces. Pieces like a puzzle.

Yami gains the courage to draw and he gets all five pieces of Exodia! Instantly winning the duel!

Kaiba is then given a mind crush and starts to question all his life choices.

Rex vs Weevil (half a duel): in this not really a duel, we are introduced to two characters. Since they have names they are obviously important to the plot.

The duel starts with Rex summoning King Rex and instantly getting vortexed. Then Weevil summons his Basic Insect and equips it with Insect Lazer Cannon. This lets him wipe out all of Rex's Life Points.

Weevil is then named Regional Champion, and Rex is the runner up.

Yugi vs Pegasus (second real duel): this is where we are introduced to Pegasus as a villain.

He makes Yugi duel him on a 15 min time lock.

During this duel, Pegasus is cheating. Not just with his millennium eye, but he's sending subliminal messages to Yami. It's not mentioned in the dub, but it still happens.

Yami finds out that duel monsters was created in ancient Egypt and Pegasus starts talking up a storm so he can waste time.

Pegasus wins the duel due to the time limit and steals Grandpa's soul.

Weevil vs Yami (the third duel): This duel was initiated because Weevil decided to be a little dick and threw Exodia off the ship to Duelist Kingdom.

Yami bets his deck and star chip, Weevil bets both his star chips.

The duel begins, and we find out about field power bonuses. Insects get lower from the forest, warriors get theirs from the meadow, dragons and winged beasts get theirs from the mountains, zombies get them from the wastelands, and fiends get theirs during night time.

Unfortunately, Yami doesn't get many bonuses.

During the duel, Weevil summons a full board of monsters. He gets mirror forced.

Then he plays his Petite Moth and Cocoon of Evolution combo. He gets Burning Landed.

He then summons his Great Moth. He gets Makiyued and Summoned Skulled.

This is a simple explanation of what happened, but Yami wasn't met without struggle.

A lot of his monsters that he summoned got destroyed. They usually only lasted one turn.

Anyways, Yami won and has three star chips. Joey steals Weevil's dueling glove.

Joey vs Mai (Duel 4): this is Joey's first duel! Hooray!

He doesn't understand that his land monsters can't attack flying monsters, and gets demolished.

Mai adds several equip spells and uses Elegant Egotist to multiply her Harpie lady card.

Joey finds out Mai is cheating with perfume.

Joey then summons Baby Dragon and the Time Wizard and uses them to win the duel.

He got a star chip and his first rival!

Mako vs Yami (duel 5): Yami duels Mako Tsunami.

Mako's monsters are in the water and can't be attacked.

Yami attacks the moon and then uses his Burning Land card.

Yami wins

Mokuba vs Yami (half duel): Mokuba is trying to keep Yami from dueling Pegasus because he wants to save his brother's company.

He loses the duel.

Yami vs Ghost Kaiba (duel 6): Kaiba jumped off a cliff and died. Now his ghost is dueling Yami.

He's psychology tormenting everyone except Tristan. Mokuba quickly became distraught.

Ghost Kaiba summons his Blue Eyes one at a time, and they all get destroyed.

The first one is destroyed by the real Kaiba because OH MY! He ain't dead! That's just some fat ass pretending to be Kaiba! (Or he's Kaiba's dark half)

The second Blue Eyes gets destroyed because Yami summoned Mystical Elf and Raised the Attack points of the Blue eyes he stole from the graveyard.

Yami wins the duel!

Mokuba got rekidnapped tho.

Joey vs Rex (duel 7): Rex is dueling Joey because he wants to duel Mai, but Mai will only duel him if he beats Joey.

Joey again gets his ass beat and is saved by Time Wizard.

His spoils are some chips and the Red Eyes Black Dragon!!!!

Yami Bakura vs Yami (duel 8): in this duel we are introduced to two new characters. Ryou Bakura and Yami Bakura.

Before the duel, the gang and Ryou are talking about their favorite cards (important). Then Ryou challenges Yugi to a duel, Yami Bakura appears, takes them to the Shadow Realm, puts the squads souls in their favorite cards, then tries to steal the puzzle.

Yami challenges Yami Bakura to a duel and when he summons the Cyber Commander, he finds out that all of his have had their souls placed inside their favorite cards.

Tristan dies to the white magical hat or some shit and Joey Flame Swordsman gets summoned. Then Tristan Cyber Commander gets resurrected, then Yugi Dark Magician gets summoned, then Téa Magician of Faith gets places face down. (She's a flip monster)

Throughout this whole ass duel Yami and the gang are getting their ass handed to them.

Yami gets Morphing Jared like 3 times, had Man Eater Bug eat Joey, had Just Desserts taking life points from him, and Yami Bakura was looking at him like

(𓁹‿ 𓁹)

The whole time.

Anyway, Yami Bakura plays the Change of Heart card and we get to see Ryou in a dress.

We get to see Ryou in another dress because he betrays Yami Bakura and takes control of his Lady of Faith and tells Yugi to attack him.

Yami then thinks about how Yami Bakura took the souls of his friends out of their bodies and put them in the cards and then wonders if he can do the same. He can he does.

We then see Yami Bakura in a dress but he doesn't slay as hard as Ryou.

Yami Bakura is defeated but he took a page out of William Afton's book because he comes back instantly.

Yami vs PaniK (duel 9): This duel starts immediately after Mai gets defeated by PaniK.

Yugi calls this fucking giant of a man a bully, PaniK tries to kill him with fire, and the duel starts.

PaniK is hiding in the dark and Yami calls him a pussy multiple times.

PaniK sure is a duelist. He loses his temper easily and doesn't think about the opponent's strategy. This Leads his Reaper of The Cards to get caught in a Magic Circle (I can't remember the name) and destroyed by his monster.

PaniK gets Swords of Revealing Lighted and his Castle of Dark Illusions has its floatation ring knocked off. His monsters get destroyed and he loses.

Mai got her star chips back :D

Joey vs Kaiba (duel 10? Does this one even count?): the entire duel is Joey getting annihilated. He loses. Badly.

And Kaiba gets insulted.

Joey vs Bonz (duel 11): This duel happened because Joey got kidnapped.

We also get introduced to Bonz, Sid, Zygor, and Bandit Keith.

Bandit Keith used to be the intercontinental champion, and he hates Pegasus.

Bonz is just a little guy who doesn't really like Bandit Keith, but he wants to duel with his zombie cards. Keith is helping him out. So they just gotta work together.

Sid and Zygor are Bonz's friends. They're just kinda there.

During this duel, they are in a cave and Joey is getting scared because Bonz is ugly (no he's not 😤) and zombies are spooky.

Joey is managing pretty alright for the first half because Keith keeps making Bonz play not zombies and they keep getting destroyed.

However, Keith wanted this. Because he put a Call of the Haunted in Bonz's deck. This means that Bonz can bring his monsters back from the graveyard as zombies, they're indestructible, get stronger each time they come back, and they keep destroying Joey's monsters.

Bonz then summons his Pumpking and makes his zombies stronger, but it gets destroyed by the Red Eyes Black Dragon.

Then Red Eyes gets destroyed by ways I don't remember.

Now all Joey has left is his Battle Warrior and Sword and Shield.

He summons Battle Warrior , uses Sword and Shield, wins the duel!

The Yugi gang are now trapped in a cave and Bonz and his friends get their shit rocked by Bandit Keith.

Joey and Yami vs the Paradox brothers (duel 12): Ryou leads the gang here.

We meet the Paradox brothers. A pair of eccentric twins who can't shut up and keep rhyming.

The duel is a tag duel. Meaning they take turns, if one opponent loses all of their life points that team loses, and they can help each other out.

The duel is in a maze. Each card can move up a space for as many levels as it is.

Beaver Warrior gets destroyed instantly by the Wall Shadow, which gets destroyed by KUNAI WITH CHAIN.

Some other shit happen, Yami and Joey gotta face some tank and a worm and spider.

Don't know what happened to the tank, the spider got stabbed with Mystic Box, and the worm had something something Magical Hats.

Gate Guardian is a thing and Yami says it's in the class of Exodia even tho it's not an instant win. (Shout out Gate Guardian for getting support 😔✊)

Yami and Joey won the duel with Black Skull Dragon and make it out of the maze with some coins.

Yami vs Kaiba ( Duel 13): this duel starts after Pegasus told Kaiba that dueling him was a privilege, not a right.

Yami and Kaiba duel with the new Duel Disk system. They're using the advanced rules, that's why it's one monster at a time.

With the duel system, you can recall your monsters and replace them with a different one.

Yami falls for the Crush Card Virus trap and can now only use weak monsters.

He makes his Kuriboh wall, and Kaiba summons his Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon to try and get past it. He doesn't.

Yami then uses his stupid fucking arrow card that I can never remember the name of because it's so stupid and dumb to fuse his Mammoth Graveyard to the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon.

The dragon starts to decay, Kaiba has a panic attack and threatens to kill himself, Yami says "Bet", Yugi stops him, Kaiba wins.

Téa vs Mai ( duel 14): Téa wants to get Yugi his star chips back and challenges Mai to a duel.

During this duel Téa summons a bunch of wimpy cards like Petite Angel and most of them get destroyed by Mai's Harpie Lady.

Mai has a bunch of equip spells on her Harpie and Téa Wabokued her once.

Shining Friendship gets summoned, gets an equip spell, and Téa activates De-spell to remove Mai's equips.

Mai surrenders and Téa gives Yugi some chips.

Pegasus vs Kaiba (duel 15): in this duel Kaiba is trying to get his brother back.

Kaiba tries to get Pegasus to use his new Duel Disk system, but it doesn't go well.

The duel begins and Kaiba destroys some of Pegasus's monsters, but then Pegasus steals a Blue eyes and turns it into an Ugly Ass Toon.

Kaiba starts losing.

We learn that toon monsters are hard to destroy because they hide in a book.

Also Kaiba falls for his own Crush Card Virus trap and loses.

Mai vs Yami (duel 16): I'm pretty sure Yami was originally being sexist, but I watched the dub so Yugi is the one actually doing most of the dueling here. He doesn't want Mai getting hurt.

Yugi and Yami keep falling for the stupid Mirror Wall thing and their monsters keep getting wrecked.

Then we see Harpies Pet Dragon.

Yugi Mind Controls it and puts it on a catapult to destroy the Mirror Wall (shit looked epic).

Harpies Pet Dragon comes back and we get three Harpie Ladies.

Yugi let's Yami help and they do the Black Luster Soldier ritual and win.

Joey vs Bandit Keith (duel 17): I love this duel.

Joey gets his entry card stolen and Mai gives him hers, so wholesome.

During the duel Joey is fucking shit up. He's doing so good.

Then Keith starts cheating. But Joey prevails.

He uses trap hole, kunai with chain, time wizard, baby dragon, red eyes black metal dragon, and time machine!

Bandit Keith is using Machines and everyone is wondering why. Like bro, machines are a good monster type with a lotta cards.

Anyway Keith is pulling cards out of his wrist band, tries to use Shield and Sword to wipe out Joey, it doesn't work, Keith loses.

Then Keith tries to say that Joey didn't use his own tournament entry card, but Joey shuts that down

Then Keith gets accused of cheating and is sent falling to not at all death.

Yami vs Joey (duel 18): we have to sit through a long ass montage.

Joey throws some cards away, Yami wonders why.

Yami falls for a few traps, then Joey falls for some traps, this whole time Ryou is explaining the birth of the universe to Téa while Tristan kinda stares off into space.

Joey uses his last Time Wizard of the season to bring out his Thousand Dragon, but Yami planned this.

Yami's Dark Magician has become the Dark Sage and he uses Makiyu to stop Joey's attack and wipe out Joey's life points.

Yami wins and I cried the first time I saw this duel.

Pegasus vs Yami (duel 19): the final duel of the arc.

Pegasus tells Yami that if he wins he gets whatever he wants, but if Pegasus wins he gets his soul and the puzzle.

Yami says he wants Mokuba, Kaiba, and Grandpa's souls to be released and Pegasus says "Damn I thought you hated Kaiba", but Yami just doing that for Mokuba.

The duel starts, and Yami is immediately having trouble. He can't destroy the rooms and the Gorgon's Eye is keeping him from defending.

Pegasus also turned Summoned Skull into a toon and it's being creepy.

Yami keeps getting his mind read and Yugi comes in like "what if we switch places?" And Yami says they should.

This gives Pegasus some trouble. It gives him so much trouble that the toon world gets destroyed and he takes the duel to the Shadow Realm.

Yugi dies.

The Yugi gang feel this and send him some good vibes.

This means Pegasus still can't read Yami's mind.

Pegasus does some shit with Relinquish and Yami tries his Kuriboh stunt and his Magician of Black Chaos is there.

Yami wins and gets the souls back.

Pegasus does like 10 minutes later.

Other shit that happened that was interesting/Important:

During the Pegasus and Yami duel, Tristan and Yami Bakura go off on an adventure to find Mokuba's body. This leads to the ring getting thrown in the forest.

The ring goes back to Ryou because love or something.

In the sub Mai offered Rex anything he wanted during their first encounter. This was changed in the dub.

We still don't know how Ryou snuck in the ship to Duelist Kingdom.

Shadi doesn't even try to find Yami Bakura. He just goes to one person (Yugi) and gives up.

I'll never forgive 4kids for editing out Yami Bakura sexily licking the Millennium Eye.

If Joey had a Magic Jammer he would have won his duel with Yami.

Domino City side stories:

Rebecca's cool. I like her.

Rebecca vs Yami (duel 20): this duel happened because Grandpa got accused of stealing Rebecca's Blue Eyes White Dragon card.

Rebecca's strategy is also pretty good for the time. Her deck is centered around milling cards to power up her Shadow Goul, and she uses cards like Witch of the Black Forest and Sangan to do this.

During the duel Grandpa is having flashbacks because he had a duel go exactly like this. We find out Rebecca is the granddaughter of Grandpa's friend, Arthur.

Yugi drew Soul Release, but didn't use it because... I don't know. We find out that's how the duel between Arthur and Grandpa ended.

Arthur appears, says some shit, and we never see Rebecca again.

That dumbass game thing:

I wasn't paying attention to this because there weren't any actual duels and I didn't like this part.

Duke Devlin:

This bitch really gonna say Yugi cheats in his duels and steal all the girls. Bro.

Duke vs Joey (duel 21): Joey almost wins, But Duke does an ass pull and wins at 50 life points.

Duke vs Yami (Dungeon Dice Monsters): Duke doesn't explain shit because Yami is King Of Games and should know how to play a game he's never heard of.

Duke makes fun of Yami for not knowing how to play the game he never explained, gets angry when Yami figures stuff out, and is just an ass this whole game.

I wasn't really paying attention, until shit actually started to happen because there was just a whole lotta nothing.

Eventually both players have monsters on the field, some are doing magic, others are just standing there.

Orgoth the Relentless is certainly a thing. He gets beat by the Dark Magician.

Yami wins.

Other thoughts on the Domino City stories:

I laughed when Joey told Duke "I like ya game, just not you."

More characters gotta duel like Rebecca.

The existence of Adina is weird. If Kaiba made her, ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ. If the Big Five Made her, then fine I get it. Mokuba is like a damsel in distress. I just don't like it.

I hope you enjoy this long ass wall of text. My redemption is going steady. I have noticed no change other than being slightly more unhinged.

Imma do this every time I finish a season.

#yugioh #yami bakura #ryou bakura #personal post #weevil underwood #rex raptor #yami yugi #seto kaiba #mokuba kaiba #maximillion pegasus #mai valentine #bonz yugioh #my own redemption arc

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goldenempyrean · 1 year

Note

can you do a family au where WandaNat have a kid. Then Wanda comes home to her child waiting at the door who tells Wanda that Nat is sick. Then they both help look after her?

Family Takes Care Of Family

〚 Notes – Hey! It’s definitely been a while since I last wrote, oops. I had bronchitis and honestly writing just wasn't at the top of my priority list but I really did want to get this request done since I thought the idea was really cute. I couldn't be bothered editing this though so ignore the errors! FYI – I tried my best to make Alyssa’s speech similar to a 5 year old's but honestly I have no idea how they speak so be wary of that! :D 〛

〚 Summary - Wanda didn't expect to come home and find her wife sick in bed. But luckily she's got a certain little someone to help take care of her. 〛

〚 Wordcount - 2020 〛

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𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑨𝑼 - 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚. 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 ‘𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓’ 𝒋𝒐𝒃𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒍𝒚𝒔𝒔𝒂 (𝑨𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆) 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒘 5 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒍𝒅.

╚════════ ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ════════╝

Wanda sighed with relief as she finally arrived home that night. It had been a long day at the office, and she was more than glad to be home. But things weren’t quiet as normal as they seemed. The first thing she noticed was that the house was quiet - strangely quiet. No sound of cartoons, no sounds of cooking from the kitchen, not even the happy chattering of her family. Very strange.

“Guys, I'm home.” Wanda shouted out as she finished taking off her coat. The stiff silence was soon dissolved as excited giggling and the rapid padding of feet raced towards the door. It was then that her daughter Alyssa raced towards her with her arms open wide as she ran to hug Wanda’s leg.

“Hi baby, how’s your day been?” Wanda cooed, lightly rustling Allie’s hair as she bent down to kiss her cheek, “It’s so quiet in here. Where’s momma sweetie?”

“Momma sick and in bed.” Alyssa explained, a small, worried pout crossing her face as she fussed with her hands nervously.

Wanda’s face fell into a similar expression, “Momma’s sick? Are we talking yucky tummy sick or sneezy sick?”

“Sneezy sick.” Allie confirmed remembering the tissue box which she’d seen clutched in the redhead's hand for most of the day.

“Okay baby, has momma been in bed all day?”

The young girl shook her head, “Momma played barbies with me in morning but she fell sleep when we watched Frozen.”

"Okay well, don't worry baby" Wanda cooed, gently lifting up Allie and hugging her close, gently rocking her as she made her way to her wife's room.

"I'm going to take care of your momma sweetie, okay?" She said to her daughter just before they reached their bedroom, “If you wanna come in, you need to make sure to be a little quiet, okay princess? Momma probably has a headache and we don’t want to make that any worse.”

“Okay, I be quiet.”

With her daughter's agreement, Wanda gently pushed open the door to her wife's room. The curtains were drawn, shrouding the room in a small darkness but Wanda could still make out the outline of Natasha as she laid in bed, a handful of tissues clutched closely in her hand. She was wearing her favourite joggers and a sport’s bra – one of her go to ‘cosy’ outfits but the little shivers coming from her were obvious.

Quietly Wanda came over and sat down on the bed, stroking her hand down Nat’s overly warm cheek as she slowly woke her up, “Hi sweetie,” the witch whispered gently as the redhead gave a congested mumble in reply, “a little someone told me you weren’t feeling too well.”

The redheaded former assassin rubbed at her eyes lazily as she shifted up a little to rest her head on Wanda’s thigh, "Wands... you’re home." she muttered, her voice raspy as she sniffled at her runny nose, “I’m okay, it’s just a cold or something.”

“Momma sick.” Alyssa repeated as she pulled herself up onto the bed to cuddle into Nat’s side

As Nat continued to sniffle, Wanda hummed and placed a gentle hand on her forehead. She was warm to the touch and Wanda wouldn’t be surprised if she was running a fever, “I'm not loving how hot you are though sweetheart, do you have a temperature?"

"I don't know," Natasha admitted softly as she sniffled and shifted away to burry her head against her pillow as she sneezed against it, "Ugh baby...could you get me some tissues please?" She paused. "I think I left the box in Allies room from when we were playing earlier."

“Bless sweetie, I’ll go-” Wanda began but was interrupted by Allie quickly jumping off the bed and running towards her room.

“I’ll get them!” The girl exclaimed as she ran causing both women to chuckle to each other.

“She’s been a little angel all day.” Nat smiled as the bedroom door was yanked open as little Allie ran back in holding a large box in her little hands, “I've got your tissues!"

"Oh, you're so sweet. Thank you, sweetie." Natasha gave the young girl a hug, careful not to get too close though. "That was so kind of you, thank you baby."

“Well done princess.” Wanda praised her daughter. The little girl beamed with pride as the praise came her way. She sat cross legged on the bed next to her momma and watched with delight as Wanda sweetly kissed her wife’s forehead whilst rubbing her back as she blew her nose, “Do you need anything else my love?”

The redhead seemed to think for a while before quietly asking, “Could you maybe get me some Nyquil or just something to take the edge off?”

Wanda smiled, pressing a final kiss down to her but this time she pressed it softly to her lips, “Of course sweetheart, you just stay here my love,” She purred before outstretching her hand to Allie, “Come on princess, you can help me find some medicine for your momma.”

“Yay!” Alyssa grinned as the two made their way out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen where Wanda began looking through the cupboards for medicine when a sudden thought hit her.

“Have you seen momma have any food today princess?” She asked Allie, she knew Nat tended to ignore her body’s needs when sick, especially since the birth of their kid Nat was always seeming to ignore her body’s basic necessities.

Alyssa seemed to think for a while before shaking her head, “Don’t think so but momma made me yogurt and berries for lunch!” The girl beamed remembering how the berries had been arranged into a smiley face.

“Okay well, we need to make momma some food then, don’t we?” Wanda smiled and pulled her daughter up so that she was sitting on the countertop, “What’s something good to eat when you’re sick?” 

“Icecream!” The young girl squealed excitedly much to Wanda’s amusement.

“Icecream is good baby, well done. But I’m thinking something healthier to help your momma feel better. Do you know anything else?”

“Soup?”

“Yup! We’re gonna make your momma some soup to help her feel better. So, I’m gonna need a big strong chef to help me out.” Wanda smiled.

“I can help!” Alyssa volunteered eagerly.

“Of course you can help princess.”

That’s how the two of them spent the next 30 minutes making a lovely pot of soup. It smelled amazing and Allie was very proud of her stirring skills, infact she was currently kicking her legs happily as Wanda began to pour out a bowl of soup for Nat and put it onto a tray. She poured two extra bowls for Allie and herself so they could eat it with her. She’d also made sure to get Nat’s medicine and set it beside the bowl along with a steaming cup of tea and a bottle of water.

"Momma will love this." Allie smiled as she helped Wanda arrange the tray neatly, “Soup is always yummy.”

"Yup soup is good Im sure your momma will love it but, I need you to be a very good girl and make sure to let momma rest okay? The soup will help but she needs to sleep more than anything else." Wanda explained as she carefully began to carry the tray back to their room.

Allie thought for a moment before nodding, "I be very good girl!"

"Good girl, that's my best little princess." Wanda smiled, "So, we'll let momma have her soup and rest now okay? I wont be in work tomorrow so momma will be able to sleep off her cold but we don’t need you catching it either so you might not be able to get too close. We’ll all eat then we’ll get you into bed, is that alright with you?”

“O’kay.” Alyssa nodded understandingly just as the two reached their room and she proudly held the door open for Wanda as she stepped inside, placing the tray down onto the bed. The two were met with the soft snores coming from Nat who it seemed had fallen into a light sleep as she waited and Wanda couldn’t help but blush a little at the sight. She was truly adorable.

“Hi sweetheart,” Wanda whispered, gently moving some fallen strands of hair from in front of Nat’s face, “Can you wake up baby, me and Allie made some nice soup for you.”

“Mmm” Nat mumbled something as she slowly woke up, coughing groggily against her hand whilst Wanda gently encouraged her to sit up a little.

“Thank you so much my love.” She smiled, taking a small sip of soup which had been set in her lap before she let out a slow moan of enjoyment. “This is really good, did you help make this Allie?” She asked Alyssa who’d nestled herself comfortably beside her as she happily ate her own soup.

“Yea! Me and mama made it together. I got to stir!” Allie beamed, proud of her work as she watched her mother sip at the soup. Her face was happy and content, just to be able to spend some time with mommy. "Do you like it momma? Did I help make it yummy enough?"

"You certainly did sweetpea. You did a fabulous job and I'm very proud of you." The redhead leaned over and kissed her daughter's head.

“Im glad you like it love.” Wanda added, sneaking into the empty spot in the bed at the other side of Natasha, “Do you want to watch a film for a bit whilst you finish off that soup?”

Nat nodded and Wanda quickly turned on their TV to play Madagascar at the request of Allie. So, with little reluctance Wanda pressed play and the three cuddled up together, not minding the occassional sniffles and sneezing coming from the redhead. It was only about an hour into the film though when Alyssa began to yawn and from the way she rubbed her eyes sleepily, Wanda knew it was time for her to go to bed. Infact it would probably do both of her girls good to head to sleep.

“I think it’s bedtime princess, you’ve been so helpful today, you must be very tired.” Wanda murmured gently as she let her daughter crawl onto her chest, yawning again as she nodded, “Come on then, say goodnight to Momma.”

“G’night momma,” Allie whispered tiredly, leaning over to kiss Nat’s cheek, “I hope your sickiness goes away tomorrow.”

“I’m sure it will sweetie, you’ve been so helpful today, goodnight princess.” Nat tried her best to sound loving even though her voice was quickly becoming raspy and hoarse. She still seemed to get the message across though because there was a sleepy smile plastered across her daughter’s face as Wanda carried her off to bed.

As Wanda tucked her daughter into bed, she couldn’t help but think about how lucky she was to have such a wonderful family. She kissed Allie’s forehead gently, “Goodnight princess, sleep tight. I love you.”

"I love you too mama," Allie replied sleepily, snuggling into her covers as she closed her eyes. Turning off the light and closing the door, Wanda slowly made her way back to the bedroom where Natasha was still nestled under the covers still watching the movie. Wanda joined her, kissing her loving as they both settled against each other.

“I love you,” Wanda whispered as she leaned into kiss Natasha tenderly before getting comfortable, “It’s so good to be home with you. You did so well today with Allie baby, I know it couldn’t have been easy when you haven’t been feeling well.”

“I love you too,” Natasha whispered back, turning to kiss Wanda softly once more, “Thank you for taking care of me a little bit. You’re the best.”

Wanda smiled, holding her wife close as they cuddled and watched the rest of the movie. For a little while, everything was perfect. Tomorrow, they’d tackle whatever life threw at them but for tonight, they had each other and that was all they needed.

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dumbass-tumbler-cryptid · 30 days

Note

I can see Spider being taken to the Capitol and tortured like Peeta was in Hunger Games 3, it reminds me of Spider being interrogated by Ardmore.

Hey everybody remember the Hunger Games Au i wrote up back in November? I needed to watch the final movie but then I got bronchitis (that took me two months to recover from) and it was also Christmas at the time and I really didn't feel like watching the child murder movies. But I never forgot about this and I finally got around to watching the final movie! So without further ado let's wrap this up.

To the question of what Spider and Kiri would have shown off in individual training, I feel like Kiri would have purposely tanked her's just for fun not even for strategy. She'd see the whole thing as stupid plus she knows her abilities so she's got nothing to prove. the gamemakers though can see what shes doing and give her a 9 to make her more of a target. I can see Spider pulling a Katniss and shooting an arrow right at the gamemakers to make them pay attention then bowing out. Quaritch is only half pissed at him. The other part is so proud. He's even more proud when Spider is awarded an 11.

In interviews they're both just kinda dicks lol. Spider taunts the whole crowd, talks mad shit on Snow, and heckles the fuck out of Flickerman. Kiri is similar just way more sarcastic and petty. So Snow was definitely super pissed when these two won the game.

Moving on to the ending.

I've tossed around a lot of idea's in my head for who gets captured and I had almost settled on it being Neytiri, Ronal and Paz, but that was mainly because I didn't want to hurt any of the kids especially Spider (I hurt that kid enough in Cabin and all I want is good things for him. I really dont want to hurt the moms either or anybody for that matter but this is a Hunger Games au) And yeah it does match actual Avatar canon to have Spider be one of the ones captured so that's what happens. Neytiri and Aonung are also captured.

The families are all incredibly distraught. Paz has a full on meltdown the moment she wakes up in recovery and is told the terrible news. It's her worst nightmare come to life and she completely blames herself for it. Quaritch, who's already inwardly losing his shit over his son but trying to keep it together, internally breaks seeing his wife like that because he's never seen her break before. After Paz is sedated Quaritch goes off to be alone. Spider's capture cases a real strain on their relationship because neither knows how to comfort or emotionally support the other. Paz is so guilt ridden that she doesn't want to be anywhere near her husband feeling intense shame when ever he looks at her. Quaritch doesn't blame her for Spider's capture. He blames himself for not volunteering in his son's place the day of the reaping. the only thing they can manage to do together is plan on saving their son.

Ronal also blames herself for her son's capture but she buries it deep under a wildfire determination to get him back. Tonowari of course wants Aonung back too and is just as determined, he just advocates that they be calm and level headed about their recuse so that they don't lose anyone else.

Jake hasn't felt this powerless in years. He wants to storm the Capital single handed to get his wife back but no one will let him leave. They all look down on him for being in a wheelchair and forget that he was a victor in the Hunger Games once. That he trained his children to be warriors while being paralyzed. But no matter how much he advocates for himself it just falls on the deaf ears of district 13's president. Who i decided is not Grace but General Ardmore.

Ardmore rules over district 13 in a strict but seemingly fair manner. And she is a pretty good leader. She's just extremely power hunger. I'm going to say Ian Garvin is the Heavensbee of this au. He sees right through Ardmore but he does need her to win the war. It's him that convinces her to let Jake, Ronal, Tonowari, Quaritch and Paz into her war room. Jake impresses her with his war strategies ( Don't worry Jake doesn't come up with Gale's plan. That's all Ardmore) and quickly becomes the lead strategist of her army. Tonowari and Quaritch are on the frontlines. They try to convince Ronal and Paz to stay back but Paz brushes them off with a bitter, "I have nothing left to lose," and Ronal snaps, "i will fight!"

The Capital starts airing interviews with their clearly brainwashed hostages. Paz's shriek silences the entire cafetiere when she sees her son on the t.v. His wild mane of curls now fall neatly around his chin, brushed out of his face like a perfect little gentleman. It shows off how sunken his cheeks have gotten. how hollow and dead his eyes looks. His once tan skin is now pale, made to look even paler by the snow white suite they've dressed him to hide his thin frame. "what would you like to say to your friends and family right now Spider?" "Kiri? Mama? Dad?," Quaritch is trying to hold Paz up as she openly sobs for her child for all of district 13 to see, "please stop. This isn't you. Your good people that would never betray the country. Just stop fighting and come home please."

Aonung get's the exact same treatment dresses up and paraded around on t.v like the Capital's little pet, begging his mom and dad to surrender. Ronal cracked a tooth from clenching her jaw so hard in rage and Tonowari put a hole in the wall when no one was looking.

Neytiri is also brought out, her braids are taken out, hair straightened within an inch of its life. she's dressed in a tasteful white cocktail dress, with a white rose tucked behind her right ear. when she's asked "what would you like to say to your husband right now." She says, "my Jake," there's a long pause, a whole war going on behind her amber eyes before she finally chokes out, "end them." the broadcast instantly cuts off.

And the kids in all this? Since I don't really have a mockingjay singled out among the bunch, I'm gonna say they're all kinda the mockingjay. They're the kids who survived. The ones who have to now live with the horrors inflicted on them by the capital. As I was typing this I actually thought it'd fit Neteyam to make a shrine for one of his competitors like Katniss did for Rue. He bonded with a little girl that was Lo'ak's age at the time but reminded him a lot of Tuk. When she died it was like he could see both of his siblings dying with her and it utterly gutted him. He honored her in front of all of Panem and for it everyone loves him.

Kiri is beloved for her definice. It inspires so many others to stand up and fight.

Lo'ak feels ashamed for what happened to his mother and is very candid about it. He talks openly about how he felt so inadequate compared to his "hero" parents and brother. But he understands now that underneath all the pageantry and splendor of the Capital is a absolutely vile core that needs to be ripped out so that they all can finally know peace.

Tsireya is a medic in this like Prim was. Her and Lo'ak start up a romance because they trauma bond over a family member being held hostage.

Tuk is there but she's just too little to really do anything.

And finally Grace in all this plays a similar roll as the mayor from district 8. She just had this lightbulb moment after having Kiri that her daughter would never know peace as long as there tyrannical government stayed in power. She wanted to take Kiri with her but she got word that a sickness was spreading through 13 that was killing all the children. Kiri and her have a lot to work through but Kiri doesn't get angry with Grace for wanting to fight for a better world. Kiri still grew up healthy and happy with her adopted family and soon all of them would be able to live freely and safely in the world they'll create.

Finally the opportunity arrives to save the hostages. Norm is able to hack the system giving a volunteer strike team an opening. the team is made up of Quaritch, Paz, Ronal, Tonowari and Neteyam. It goes off without a hitch. I want to say that unlike in the movie/book where Snow actually just let them go that in this au the strike team was actually just that good and got in and out without anyone noticing. The families all hold each other all the way home the only sounds coming from their cries of relief.

Also none of them are brainwashed to try and kill a loved one. They are severely traumatized though. Their tortures goes as follows and you can skip to the next paragraph if you’d rather not read this. Spider was made to see horrific fantasies under trackerjacker venom to the point where it’s hard for him to tell what’s real anymore. He’s jittery and anxious all the time and panics easily. He flinches if someone raises a hand too fast and that includes his own parents who are both devastated for their son and enraged that the capital would hurt their boy so badly he couldn’t even trust his own mom and dad anymore. Kiri helps Spider through it playing “real or not real,” something she tells Quaritch and Paz about to better manage Spiders dissociative episodes when she’s not around. Aonung was given electric shocks in water now making him fear it. Even seeing a few drops of water is enough to make him shake. This hurts his whole family to see since the ocean is the core of there cultural identity. Ronal and Tonowari want to burn the entire capital down to nothing for the crime against humanity they’ve inflicted on their son. It takes so much time but his parents and sister start with coaching Aonung through the breathing mediation he’d do as a small child when he was first learning to swim putting his mind at ease by reciting the way of water with him. Once he doesn’t freak out seeing so much as a cup of water they slowly get him to interact with it again first with a very shallow bath (basically a puddle) building until his family is lovingly coaxing him into a pool. He panics at first but swimming is like breathing to him and surrounded by so much love and support he eventually calms. Neytiri was given a drug that made the simplest touch feel like excruciating pain. She knows it was just the chemicals they pumped into her veins but she can’t help but flinch every time one of her children hugs her, her breath catching in her throat. She puts on a brave face and holds her children despite how much it makes her heart race. The only one she talks about this with is Jake. They do their own form of real or not real where he’ll brush his fingertips over her arm so so gently he’s almost not touching her at all and ask, “pain or no pain,” until Neytiri can retrain her mind to not associate every minor touch with pain.

After they take time to recover it’s decided that a strike team will be sent out to assassinat Snow. There’s no way in hell any of the parents will let there kids go on this mission so it’s all the adults. Maybe it's just because I love all these characters and don’t want to kill them off but I’m going to say they’re all so good that they outmaneuver every capital trap and survive Ardmore’s bombing of civilians but if I was going to kill people off here's how I’d do it…

Tonowari meets the same fate as Boggs killed in a trap.

Quaritch is overwhelmed by mutts like Finnick was. Paz shoots him herself to put him out of his misery

Neteyam is killed in the second wave of bombings. He snuck out of 13 with the medics because he wanted to give aid to the civilians hurt in the war.

I also had the very evil idea of Neteyam getting sent to the group like Peeta was for some reason, and him being injured in the same trap that killed Tonowari and Neytiri staying with him while the rest move on only for them both to die when the building their hiding in is bombed and then Tsireya dies trying to give medical aid to civilians but good god is that devastating for me to think about.

But it’s a good thing none of that happens! So Ardmore gathers all the past hunger games victors to discuss Snow’s public execution and to float the idea of a hunger games with the capitals children. They are all equally horrified because they’ve all been through so much and just want peace. The kids all speak out but the parents stay quiet all silently thinking the same thing. This bitch has got to go.

All the victors are lined up with bows and arrows to execute Snow in front of the whole country. Only half of the arrows pierce him though. They other half sail right into Ardmore’s chest. Grace is later elected president. Kiri is constantly going from the Sully’s place to Grace’s to Spider’s. Spider and his parents live in a cottage in a peaceful meadow where he continues his recover. His mom is kind of smothering now still recovering from the trauma of losing her son but he knows it’s all love. When he’s in a better place he decides to travel and see the new world. Ronal and Tonowari are surprised to learn they’re expecting but it’s a happy surprise. They can’t wait to bring their third into a peaceful world. Tsireya continues her medical training and Aonung becomes a sailor. He just feels at peace out on the ocean. Jake is basically Graces Vice President and Neytiri is basically the secretary of infrastructure working to rebuild every district. Neteyam, Lo’ak, and Kiri are the leads on construction on a memorial for all the children slaughtered in the games. Everyone is their on opening day. It’s seeing the memorial that really brings peace to all of them. It’s not only a testament to those killed, but a marker that all the horror is now over.

Hope you all enjoyed the long awaited part 2! I’d love to know your thoughts 💙

#miles spider socorro #spider socorro #miles quaritch #colonel miles quaritch #paz socorro #neteyam sully #neytiri sully #lo'ak sully #tuk sully #jake sully #kiri sully #tonowari #ronal #tsireya #aonung #grace augustine #avatar fanfiction #avatar way of water #hunger games au

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fairy-writes · 1 year

Text

GLASSY SKY

Reblogs and Comments are greatly appreciated!!

__________________________________________________________________________

Fandom(s): Arcane: League of Legends (2021)

Pairing(s): Viktor x Gender Neutral!Reader

Genre(s)/Tag(s): ANGST, reader is sick

Notes: The song is from Tokyo Ghoul and is such a gorgeous song. I highly recommend listening to it!

Also, I think Viktor is the character I’ve written for the most on this blog now. Other than Ozpin, but we don’t talk about my RWBY era, lol.

I also don’t know how advanced medical care is in Arcane, so we’re taking some liberties. Don’t come for me if this isn’t accurate.

__________________________________________________________________________

How many days have passed like this?

The city the crowd is fading, moving on

I sometimes have wondered where you've gone

Story carries on, lonely, lost inside

How many days had passed? Viktor couldn’t remember. Ten? Twenty?

No, that wasn’t right. He didn’t have to check the calendar to know how many days.

One thousand, seven hundred, and sixty-four days.

One thousand, seven hundred, and sixty-four days since you left him.

I had this dream so many times

The moments we've spent have passed and gone away

Could there be an end to this, what I'm feeling deep inside

You know there's no looking back

Viktor should have seen the signs. He was supposed to be smart. But he supposed you were smarter about hiding your symptoms. You passed it off as a nasty virus when you started coughing, so he didn’t question it. You were a doctor—not his doctor, of course—but one of the best in Piltover.

When you started coughing blood, he got worried. But you said it was a common symptom of bronchitis and that you were on a series of antiviral medications to combat it.

You were good at your job, so he believed you.

He shouldn’t have.

Glassy sky above

As long as I'm alive, you will be part of me

Glassy sky, the cold, the broken pieces of me

Viktor should have pressed more to find out the actual diagnosis and should have been more nosy to find out how to help you.

But he didn’t and would regret that for the rest of his life.

The mystery of it, I recall

Suddenly the truth will change the way we fall

I didn't want to hurt you, hope you know

Empty promises, shattered dreams of love

When you started losing weight, was when Viktor began to figure out what was going on.

How had he not seen the signs before?

The coughing of blood, the weight loss, the occasional complaining of chest pain, the frequent wheezing.

You were so sick at this point you could barely get out of bed. He had stopped working at Hextech to help you. Jayce didn’t even have to force Viktor to stay home. He even came by to visit and helped fund your treatment plan when you got so bad you couldn’t take your medicine.

Sometimes I wonder what's beyond

I tried many times to make it up to you

Can somebody tell me what to do

Thought we're meant to be, there's no going back

Sometimes Viktor wondered what was going to come when you passed. He wasn’t stupid; he knew you would die at this point. The treatment wasn’t working, and no manner of pills and radiation therapy was helping you.

But you didn’t change one bit.

You still smiled and laughed. You tried joking when things got particularly bad.

He didn’t have the heart to tell you that your jokes were atrocious.

Because he knew he wouldn’t hear them again.

Time has already come, sun is gone, and no more shadows

Can't give up, I know, and this life goes on

I'll be strong. I'll be strong till I see the end.

You passed in your sleep. You had been staying in a different room—you said you didn’t want to keep Viktor up with your coughing. When he went to check on you in the morning, you were cold.

He didn’t understand.

Just the night before, you were joking and laughing with Jayce as Viktor watched on with a fond smile.

Glassy sky above

As long as I survive, you will be part of me

Glassy sky, the cold, the broken pieces of me

Glassy sky above, covers over me, over me

Viktor stood in the rain as your casket was lowered into the ground. He leaned heavily on his crutch, shrugging off any hand on his shoulder.

He should have seen the signs.

He could have helped you.

But it was too late.

#viktor arcane #viktor arcane x reader #viktor arcane x you #arcane viktor #arcane viktor x reader #arcane viktor x you #arcane league of legends #arcane: league of legends #viktor x reader #viktor x you #fairy writes

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lorata · 1 year

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Speaking of the evil witch Gloria, how long was D homeless for? (I know she basically kicked him out in August but I don't remember when the Centre found out) Also Eibhlin would definitely resort to violence if she ever found out about what happened, but, did she ever find out? (Wait now that I think about it, that was probably included in his file right) Did you ever write out Lyme's initial reaction to his file? Like what stood out and made her go "this one, this right here is mine"? (Sorry about the amount of questions!)

he was homeless for just under 6 months? she kicked him out in August and he was picked up sometime in winter

I feel like Eibhlin would have found out eventually, probably when inquiring (tactfully) about Claudius' respiratory issues as he's the only one in the VV with chronic bronchitis. and he's like oh yeah yeah that goes back to when I was homeless as a kid, shit sucked

(eibhlin: kill bill sirens)

re: the last question, I DID write that for a prompt meme uhhhhh *checks math* sweet mercy, 10 years ago

I did not clean this up or anything but have a deep cut.

FIC BELOW:

Mentors tended to be a superstitious bunch; when dealing with the death of a tribute year after year after year, sometimes it was easier to pretend that at least some of it was up to a higher power that only needed to be appeased by wearing certain shoes, or not washing socks, or using a particular headset. Lyme never bothered with any of that; to her it felt more like courting bad luck, the exact opposite of the intention. What happened if that lucky mug broke, if something interrupted the prescribed routine?

No. Sitting and watching her kids die was bad enough without adding additional blame on herself because she didn't follow a particular ritual. Brutus didn't do it either -- no room for the supernatural when there were rules -- and the two of them let the others keep their habits. Everyone pretended not to notice anyway, and while Lyme didn't approve exactly, she still knew not to touch the coffee cup with the cracked handle if Chaff had a tribute last the bloodbath, and if she did a food run she only ever brought Wiress orange vegetables.

But Lyme wasn't completely immune, no matter how much she tried. Rather than enforced habits and catering to the capricious whim of luck, Lyme believed in something else: that tributes and mentors were meant to be, and that the spark of recognition should come soon, and strong.

It made mentoring harder than she'd like -- Brutus puts that kind of thought away until after he has a victor to look after, no point in going for mysticism when it just means that four times out of five they're destined for death -- but Lyme can't help it. Years and years ago, back when she first picked up a weapon in the training centre, Lyme felt her connection with swords like a jolt of lightning straight down her spine. Picking a tribute had that same moment of connection, of feeling right.

Other people, people with facile thoughts who didn't have to help children do their best not to die every year, might call it like falling in love at first sight. In a way it was, only so much more important than love; Lyme had never been in love, never wished for it and would be happy if it never afflicted her, but her tributes -- that mattered. Even if she only had them for a month or less.

The 67th Games are up next, and Lyme puts her name in for the boys. She loves Misha and would never take any of that back, but her first victor excepted, Lyme has always connected better with the boys, the angrier the better. She doesn't bother asking why; let the mentor analysts try to dredge up her psychological profile, but Lyme doesn't care. If ever a girl catches her fancy she'll take it, but the math favours the boys. Brutus and Nero take most of the girls anyway; Lyme does wonder, when she lets her mind go down that road, whether cross-sex mentoring is a kind of penance, since in order for them to stand here in the victors' box another Two got shipped home in a box of their own.

Teyla, the Head Trainer, hands Lyme the stack of files for the short list. "Here," she says. "We have a couple of strong candidates this year."

She doesn't tell Lyme which; they never do, preferring to see if the mentor's instinct lines up with the Centre testing. It usually does, though on occasion there have been surprises. Lyme picks up the first file -- a large, handsome boy named Raymon -- and flips through it. Good scores, of course, and his photos show him alternating between a winning smile and the typical Career scowl of intimidation. Lyme taps her finger against the table, then sets the file aside.

The next one's name is Linder, and Lyme pauses longer on this one -- he's meaner than Raymon, who uses size rather than meanness, and he nearly got cut for excessive violence in his field exam, gutting his final target and spreading the insides out over the grass -- and moves him up into the maybe pile before going on to the next.

The next file is three times the size of Linder's, and Lyme's eyebrows skyrocket. Teyla chuckles at her expression. "Yeah, we have a lot on this one. See what you think."

Lyme flips open the cover, glancing at the name -- Claudius, a good name, solid and Two without being on the nose -- and she leafs through to the photos before skidding to a stop. She sucks in a breath against the sudden ache in her chest, like she stopped a punch from Brutus with nothing more than her torso.

"Ah," Teyla says quietly. "I wondered if you'd pick him."

The seven-year-old who stares out at her from the page is ugly, as Centre children go; there's a note that says he doesn't pass the looks requirement but shows enough determination to allow for an exception at this stage. He has a sharp, crooked nose and dark grey eyes, and his expression is defiant and challenging, chin raised. But there's something in his eyes, a desperation that pinches them at the corners and shakes the hard line of his mouth, and Lyme recognizes it because she saw it on her own face, over twenty years ago.

This is not a boy who showed up to the Centre for the promise of good food and rough play, or who had the choice of attending or being expelled from school, or who wanted the status so he could brag to his friends about having the bracelet around his wrist. This is a boy who saw the Centre as a lifeline, and who, if they didn't take him, would have drowned.

Lyme swallows and turns the page. As the years pass he doesn't get any prettier -- worse, even, as the awkward stage of puberty takes what baby fat he had in his cheeks and makes him lean and almost rat-faced before his teenage years fill him out -- and the desperation doesn't fade. Each year it blazes out of him so fiercely Lyme almost expects it to radiate off the page like physical heat. He knows why he's here, what he needs to do, and he is going to do it.

If his scores weren't impressive then he wouldn't be on the list at all, but even so, Lyme's eyebrows creep back up her forehead. Top of his class in everything from weapons to endurance to media training, and he only has three kills to his name because the trainers didn't need to see any more. Even Lyme had four, their memories burned into her wrist in circles of scarlet ink.

In his hallucination test, when the trainers pumped him full of tracker jacker venom to see what they could dredge from the depths of his psyche, Claudius saw himself alone, unwanted. Lyme lets out a long breath and places her hands flat down on the table.

"What's the rest of it?" she asks, indicating the giant stack of pages.

"Just go through it," Teyla says, and Lyme gives her a look before moving on.

Foster records. Lyme hisses -- Two's system might not be the best but it's better than most, and almost all the kids placed into homes by the Centre are happy with their families -- because Claudius' file shows him bounced from home to home in unprecedented numbers. The foster families didn't want him; the group homes didn't want him. Each file is filled with complaints, of violence, jealousy, bouts of rage.

The final note is a form granting Claudius dispensation to live in the Centre dorms -- in Residential, with the fourteens and over -- from the age of seven. Lyme turns the paper over, stares at it and rereads it five times because that can't be right. No one has ever been given leave to stay in the dorms early, except for this boy. He grew up in the thick of it, surrounded by kids who'd taken their first kill -- when most kids his age were still getting used to playing dodgeball and not getting in trouble for breaking noses.

"He had massive behavioural issues," Teyla says, and Lyme reads through his psychological evaluations ever year and sees the same thing. "One of the neediest candidates we've had. We tried sending him home several times, giving him the chance to leave, but he wouldn't take it. He begged to stay, for us to let him volunteer."

Lyme frowns. "What happened to make him latch so hard?"

Teyla rifles through the pages and hands Lyme an incident report, then watches her carefully and nods as Lyme hisses in a sharp breath and grits her teeth. Allegations of abuse against his birth mother, including emotional cruelty and physical abandonment; she left him on the streets when he was seven, and the Centre didn't find out for almost six months. Since then, the file notes, Claudius developed a strong mother complex, drawn to female trainers who had children at home, though it didn't stop him from achieving a high pass on his first kill, a woman specifically chosen because she'd had children.

It's been a decade and a half since Lyme last saw her father, and her memories of him have faded to a dull sludge of discomfort and vague, swirling nausea in the back of her mind, but she remembers the feeling. How it felt to be a kid whose parents didn't love her, who learned to defend herself because she had to, and who turned to the one place that wouldn't punish her for turning into the only person she could in order to survive.

Lyme has already made up her mind, but she keeps going. There's a supplemental file marked for hers and the Head Trainer's eyes only, and Lyme hesitates for a moment before opening it. It's a sheaf of papers from his schools, starting from the year Claudius entered the Program and going on until he left at the age of thirteen, and Lyme can't remember the last time any candidate's file included anything other than academics.

She gets it as soon as she opens it to the first page, a 100-word essay entitled "My Favourite Victor".

My favourite Victor is Lyme, Claudius wrote in his large, childish handwriting, and he misspelled several words and mixed up letters like d and b fairly consistently, but Lyme reads on. I saw her Games last year. That's when I knew I wanted to be a Victor. Lyme isn't pretty but she's smart. Most other Victors are pretty but I like her because she's not. Because I'm not and people make fun of me but she's not and no one makes fun of her. So if Lyme can be a Victor and be not pretty then I can be not pretty and do great things too. I want to win the Hunger Games and then we can be friends and no one will hurt me ever again.

"There's more," Teyla says, and Lyme turns over the pages and sees that Claudius wrote about her for every essay he could get away with it. She's his favourite Victor, his role model, his hero, his vote for most influential person from District Two. There are crayon drawings of the two of them together, and Lyme recognizes herself even as a stick figure, hair cropped and arm muscles bulging.

By the end of the file Lyme is shaking, and she pushes it away and takes several long breaths. Her first instinct is to say no, to choose Raymon and be done with it because there have been supply delays and a handful of small uprisings all over Panem in the wake of Johanna Mason's victory and that means this year will be different. There's been no word but there's always something, a nastier Arena or an unusual twist, when the Capitol wants to send a message, and Lyme doesn't want to send this kid -- this desperate, broken boy who latched on to the Victors' Village as the only place that would ever love him -- to his death. He thinks he knows what he's doing, but like all of them, he has no idea.

Except. Except there's record of a conversation he had with one of the trainers, where he said that if they cut him he would kill himself because he had nothing else to live for. Lyme could still say no, and the Centre has this on file which means he'd be sent to an asylum on suicide watch until they could deprogram him, but even the thought of it burns in her like a swipe from a poisoned blade.

She can't say no. Not to those eyes, angry and desperate and doing their best to hide the dark flash of hope and greed. Not to this boy, who by all rights should have been trampled years ago but who still stands there, top of his class, and demands that the world pay attention.

"I want him," Lyme says, and she's surprised -- except not -- that her voice rasps hoarse in her throat.

"He'll be a challenge," Teyla says. "His looks alone will limit the kind of role he's able to play, regardless of what the Games require."

"I don't care. He's mine."

Teyla's mouth twitches up in a hint of a smile, and she nods. "I'll put you on the list for his mentor and tell the trainers. The decision will go out next month, but we'll keep the mentors from him until just before the Reaping. I'm not confident in his emotional state if he knows he's getting you."

Lyme nods. She signs the paperwork without recalling much of what she's doing, and when she leaves she has to fight the urge to run back inside, grab Claudius and pull him out, take him back to the Village with her, Games be damned. She doesn't; instead she scrawls her signature across the bottom of the page that signs his death warrant.

His eyes stick with her, burning in the back of her mind, long after she leaves the Centre and the gates of the Victors' Village close behind her.

#lorata answers #anonymous #we must be killers: tales from district 2 #oc: claudius #my writing

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practically-an-x-man · 3 months

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For the character thing. Warren Worthington, Viktor from Arcane, and... the Corinthian

Ooh okay!

Send Me A Character and I'll Give You....

Warren

1: sexuality headcanon - oh he's very much bisexual. I'm surprised they haven't made it canon yet tbh 2: otp - canon-wise, him and Psylocke. Though is it wrong to say my own OC too? 3: brotp - I like the idea of him and Kurt making up after the fight and eventually getting to be really good friends 4: notp - I see people shipping him with Bobby and I don't really get it? No harm to those shippers just not my cup of tea 5: first headcanon that pops into my head - hates hospitals and gets severe medical anxiety after what his father put him through in his childhood. Thankfully his healing factor is usually strong enough to avoid it though. 6: favorite line from this character - "Sometimes I feel unimportant, like all I do is catch those that fall. But I look like an angel. People call me an angel. And though I'm not taking names, I'm the one who is most visually saving lives. I'm doing alright, and dammit, I'm an X-Man" 7: one way in which I relate to this character - only one? uhhhhh how about all the rampant unexplained medical issues that first sprung up at age 12 and had me locking myself in the bathroom? among a lot of other things 8: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character - there's one moment in the comics where he's kinda misogynistic towards Jean? It's from one of the very first X-Men runs from the 60s 9: cinnamon roll or problematic fave? - both, and I mean that genuinely. Un-brainwashed he's a bit more of a cinammon roll, but then there's everything in the Apocalypse arc...

Viktor (fair warning I haven't watched Arcane in a while)

1: sexuality headcanon - gay, possibly ace or demi 2: otp - him and Jayce I guess? I don't really have one tbh 3: brotp - Don't really have one of these either. I guess it could be fun to see him and Jinx make friends, since they're both kinda inventors and that could be interesting 4: notp - none? Look After is literally the only Arcane fic I read right now, so I don't really know who he gets shipped with to begin with 5: first headcanon that pops into my head - uhhh everyone has chronic lung problems from the pollution in the Undercity but it affects him worse because he's prone to asthma/bronchitis/other lung conditions 6: favorite line from this character - "We lost ourselves. Lost our dream. In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good." 7: one way in which I relate to this character - Joint problems babeyyy 8: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character - none? Been a while since I've seen the show, don't remember any specific moments 9: cinnamon roll or problematic fave? - Cinnamon roll

Corinthian

1: sexuality headcanon - not a headcanon but Neil Gaiman's confirmed he's pan and I like that 2: otp - again, do my OCs count? Nothing compares to Prometheus 3: brotp - don't really have one, but I want him and Hob to dish about Morpheus being a little bitch (/j) 4: notp - Corintheus. I get that it's popular but Dream's technically his creator and that just... gets weird to me. 5: first headcanon that pops into my head - he's got a soft spot for kids and genuinely doesn't want to hurt/scare them, it's the adults he gets fed up with 6: favorite line from this character - "You ever notice that people only ever use your name when you're in trouble? 'Get over here, Jed!'" (it's not the most impactful line of his but I think the delivery is really fun) 7: one way in which I relate to this character - on a simpler note... general Southern-ness I guess? But also the themes of being neglected/seen as inherently flawed by a parent (which... may be a repeat trend for me, just look at Warren lmao) 8: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character - In the comics, when he gets remade the first time and is first relearning about the Dreaming and what happened. It's a great scene overall, there's just something about the way Dream and Matthew talk to him that feels a little weird to me. 9: cinnamon roll or problematic fave? - Problematic fave, no doubt

#my friends!!!#answered asks #ask game

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theretirementstory · 2 months

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Greetings from a cloudy Bar sur Aube, where it’s 7c at the moment. We are due a maximum of 10c so it’s not going to be that much warmer. It has rained a lot but we have had some high ish temperatures along with a weak sun but it’s the rain you remember especially when it’s a very heavy downpour and you are soaked!

I did smile when I saw the Drappier Champagne van at the Gendarmerie, the Drappier driver wasn’t delivering so I wonder if he had been speeding or worse still “drunk in charge of the champagne van”.

Anie messaged on Sunday afternoon to say could she come visit me, of course, I produced mince pies and coffee cake along with one of the new teas Monique had bought me for Xmas. She stayed for about an hour, it was enough really, I am finding it hard to concentrate on hearing French for longer than that. She always brings some gift and this time it was a small jar of the herb sariette and a jar of marmalade. I baked a batch of cheese scones yesterday, I added some sariette and herbes de Provence, they were really lovely.

Monique has been in touch keeping me up to date with her blood tests, appointments etc.

My fortnightly blood test was due and the nurse arrived promptly. The results are not coming back as quickly as previously but perhaps it’s the tests requested that make the results arrive later.

The plumber came to install the new boiler, amazing all finished in 3.5 hours! Oh the luxury have having lovely hot water “on tap”. You don’t miss something until it is taken away from you.

My grandchildren are with “The Photographer” this weekend and then it’s “the big adventure”, they are going to London from Monday to Thursday to go to the Zoo and the Natural History museum.

“The Ex-Graduate” will be starting her final week at the bar, where she worked part-time while studying and full time since her studying finished. She starts her new job in a couple of weeks so she will be given a new title on here too 😊.

“The Trainee Solicitor” is working his socks off and will be looking forward to a little break away from home for a few days. Next week will be busy at work as two staff members are on holiday but you can only do as much as you can do in the hours you are at work so just keep that in mind!

So let’s have a look at my music choices this week. I don’t know how I hadn’t thought of this one before now. I have no idea what makes a good guitarist I just know that some music just gets to you. Here is one of the guitar greats doing what he does best! The song was released in 1999 😳, it is “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. Well if that doesn’t get you moving I am not sure what will!

The second song is one that always makes me “feel good”, I want to get up and leap around. We go way back to 1970 for this hit from George Harrison, the song is “What is Life”. Enjoy listening to these tracks today.

So today was the day I had been looking forward to, the day of the visit to the gorgeous “La Belvedere” restaurant for lunch. I was disappointed when Maud messaged to say she had had bronchitis and was still coughing so thought it best to cancel the restaurant. Oh well until the next time 😉. I am going to make myself something “tasty” for lunch 🤞and if I get out of bed now, I may be able to prepare a super dessert too.

It was the knitting group on Friday and I must say we were a little depleted! The 92/93 year old lady is suffering with her back so was unable to attend. The newest member of the group had previously been into hospital for an operation and therefore didn’t arrive until about 4pm. Helene, a lady who suffers from some neurological problem couldn’t come as she was unwell and her husband (who brings her) was also unwell. It was just as well I had decided to go! I was only going to stay for a couple of hours and forego the cake and drink, however, I brought the “tarte” home with me and enjoyed it after my evening meal. We were discussing the best things to make to sell at the markets. It was suggested that we tried key fobs, I produced a pattern for some pendants and earrings and will photocopy the pattern to take back in a fortnight. The ladies were impressed with my little cardigan . It has been decided that from now on a receipt needs to be produced to show the cost of materials, I guess that puts paid to a refund for me, as the wool I have had for years, so no longer have the receipt. Oh well does it matter, it gets the wool used up 😊.

Now I am going to “put my best foot forward” (wish I knew which one it was 😂) .

I think this photo should be called “house on the hill”.

I wish you all a good week until next week.

#barsuraube #trees #nature #photography #crafts #baking #70’s music #90’s music #friends #family

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itsyourchoicedevotionals · 1 month

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When We Truly Love

“No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].” 1John 3:6AMPC

This scripture rankles denominations claiming ‘go ahead and sin, grace covers all sin.’ I will take it a step further.

When Lou and I married 54 years ago, if I displeased him, ‘he’ll get over it’ was my mentality. Marriage was about me. Over those first years, I learned to try and be pleasing— to keep peace within the confines of our home. Along the way, I fell totally head-over-heels in love with Lou. It became my desire to be part of him, an extension of his ideals, hopes and dreams. Today I have no desire to hurt or displease him in anyway.

Lou currently has bronchitis along with his other issues. I was trying to help him stand up and walk. He looked at me totally lucid saying, ‘I don’t want to hurt you. Please don’t, lifting will hurt your back. Get help.’ Then he slipped back into the fog of fever and illness. Those years of becoming a part of him reaped a harvest of his continued protection and concern for me, no matter how he feels.

My point: When we truly love— truly love God— we won’t want to sin—hurt Him. Those pet sins aren’t worth keeping around to stimulate us in the wrong manner. That addiction, desire, whatever isn’t as important as intimacy and fellowship with Yahweh Adonai. He becomes our consuming passion.

1John 1:8-9NIV “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This appears to be the total opposite of our text. It isn’t.

In the text it’s talking about pet sins— refusing to let go of things which God has been dealing with us about. This covers sins against your own body, etc.— “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” Example——: “…For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Romas 1:26-27ESV. ——: “…nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,…nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers…” 1Corinthians 6:9-10ESV. ——: “…impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…” Colossians 3:5ESV. ——: “liars, perjurers” 1Timothy 1:10ESV ——: “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 22:5ESV Cross-dressing, or transgenderism?

Sin are listed also throughout the first five books of the Bible. They cover everything besides praising God and breathing. God is HOLY. He can’t tolerate sin close to HIm. His glory burns sins up. To daily not sin— breaking God’s Laws — is impossible. Jesus died for the payment of ALL THOSE SINS to bring us close to God. Still, we can choose our pet sins above our Savior by constantly claiming ‘grace covers.’ I remember the night Yahweh said to me— ‘Let go of that sin. I won’t tolerate it in you any longer. I can’t live with your sin.’ Not once have I regretted letting go of what was wrong for relationship with God.

Are you hanging onto something which is holding you back from God’s best? Sins are forgiven. Relationships are chosen and built. Which do you want? It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY: LORD God forgive us for choosing sin over You. Cleanse our desires, in the name of Jesus Christ.

#Jesus Christ #word of god #god #holy spirit #lord of lords #it's your choice #devotional #truly love #sin #hurt one you love #truth #forgive #grace #love #hope #faith

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copperbadge · 2 years

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Hi, Sam! In your research, have you found any connection between ADHD and digestive issues? While none of us are diagnosed (yet, on my part), it seems likely that my mom and I both have it and I'd be shocked if my 6yo doesn't get diagnosed in a year or two. But my mom has Crohns, and I was wondering if her inability to eat certain things parallels yours, or was just a coincidence. Thanks!

It's not something I've done a lot of research on in any kind of formal way, so I don't have any good resources to hand I'm afraid (readers, if you have any, please feel free to share in comments or reblogs; remember as always that I don't post asks sent in response to other asks). My own digestive issues are pretty clearly from a combination of getting older and that pesky missing gallbladder -- I've had issues previously, but of the acute (ulcer, gallbladder, etc) variety, rather than chronic IBS/Celiac/etc related. So far, at least, knock wood.

Now, that being said, there is absolutely a link between chronic digestive issues and Autism, and Autism and ADHD appear to have quite a strong link as well, so it wouldn't shock me at all if ADHD comes with comorbid digestive issues. (My brother, who is Autistic, began experiencing Crohn's flare-ups when he was ten or twelve, so I'm generally familiar with the condition.) It seems to be that the link is actually between Autism and autoimmune issues; Crohn's is an immune issue which can affect any body part, but the gut is the most common manifestation. Autism runs in my family right alongside Crohn's, IBS, and psoriasis, all linked in some way to autoimmune conditions. One of the other reasons we didn't suspect me of being neurodiverse in any way is that until the last few years I was literally the only member of my family without semi-serious immune issues. (My respiratory issues were not considered serious until I was in my thirties and started experiencing exercise-induced asthma, at which point my doctor said "You've had bronchitis how many times?" in a worried voice.)

So, short answer, yes it's entirely possible that there is a link between your family's gut health and neurology; how that link works is not well-understood, and I'm afraid I can't explicate what little we do know. But I would try to source a GI doctor who has some experience treating neurodiverse patients and see what you come up with. Because of the preponderance of absolute fucking garbage online surrounding grain-free diets, diet-based Autism "cures" (NOT A THING), and gluten intolerance, the internet is going to throw a lot of real bullshit at you before you get to anything legit, unfortunately.

I do wish you luck with diagnosis and treatment for yourself and your family! It's great that you're recognizing it and preparing to have your kid evaluated when it's appropriate to do so.

(ETA: Adjusted language from immunodeficiency to autoimmune, thanks @geekerypeekery, I knew I was fucking something up there.)

#sam has adhd

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2nd2ndalto · 8 months

Text

Fall Down With You

Chapter 2

(previous chapter)

He's back in Tartarus, again. Some distant part of him knows it’s just a dream this time, but that doesn't help the way it tears at his soul.

He’s here, again, standing in front of Achlys. "You are so perfect my child," she sobs, "so much misery."

At the time, Nico had let her words wash over him, barely registering their impact. He'd been so tired, so broken already. But this time, in this dream, he feels hot tears on his cheeks, a sob building in his chest. Fear at the scene before him and bone-deep sorrow for his younger self.

The image of Achlys blurs and fades and suddenly he's aware of sweaty sheets tangled around his legs, a warm hand gently rubbing between his shoulders. Nico takes a moment to catch his breath & wipe his face on his pillow before flopping onto his back. He scrubs his hands over his face. "Fucking nightmares."

"I know." Will's sitting on the edge of his cot, looking a bit like he's just shambled through Tartarus himself, the dark circles under his eyes visible even in the dim light.

"Sorry," Nico croaks. His voice feels scratchy, his face too warm. "Did I wake you?"

Normally Nico prefers to keep his nightmares to himself, but he's stuck here in the infirmary for at least a few days, having sustained a rather nasty wound on his triceps two days earlier.

"Nah," Will sighs, leaning back. "Couldn't sleep."

Nico studies the other boy in the weak light filtering in from the hallway. He looks tired and careworn. More than usual.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Will gives him a half-smile. "Just the same old stuff. Demigod trauma. You know. What I'd really like right now is sleep."

Nico nods. He pushes himself up, wincing as he accidentally puts weight on his bad arm. He clumsily attempts to fix his blankets one-handed. "You try counting sheep?" he asks Will.

"Yeah, but just as I'm dozing off they grow pointy teeth and glowing red eyes."

Nico huffs out a laugh. He gives up on rearranging the bed as Will moves to help. His injured arm is throbbing. It feels worse than it did when he fell asleep.

"Um. I hate to bug you, but could I get some more nectar?" Nico says.

Will rolls his eyes. "That's what I'm here for, idiot. Anyway - I found unicorn draught. Just for you." He produces a bottle from the pocket of his hoodie. "Jason tipped me off."

"Amazing." Nico sinks back down onto the narrow cot as Will measures out the dose.

"You're here all by yourself again?" Nico asks, his gaze lingering on the shadows under the blond boy’s eyes.

Will nods tiredly.

Nico frowns. "You can't keep this up, Solace. You need a break."

"I know, but everyone else is sick or injured. Kayla's still on crutches, Austin's got bronchitis..." Will trails off, yawning.

"Well, then tell Chiron to fucking hire a real doctor. You look like you're about to keel over."

Will looks completely defeated.

"Shit, sorry. I'm sorry, Will." Nico reaches out towards the other boy but then can't quite decide what to do next. He settles on wrapping his fingers around Will's wrist, and they both stare at Nico's hand. "I feel like shit and I can't even catch a break when I'm sleeping. I know you're in the same boat."

Will sighs. "Yeah."

Nico swallows, fighting a brief internal battle. It's not that he's reluctant to help, but it feels too intimate, somehow. He shakes it off.

"I can help," he tells Will, pulling his hand back. The distance feels a little steadying, honestly.

Will blinks. "What do you mean?"

"I can help you sleep. It's one of my abilities - remember I told you -"

"Oh - Nico, no..." Will shakes his head, sitting back, the crease between his eyebrows deepening.

"Why not?"

"It feels... unethical. You're still healing."

Nico rolls his eyes. "Solace, this whole camp is unethical. They let fifteen-year-olds reattach people's arms."

Will looks conflicted, but exhausted, and that’s enough to make Nico forge ahead, for better or worse. "I'm just going back to sleep afterwards anyway - the unicorn draught will help me more than the nectar did. I promise I'm not overextending myself. Come on, Solace. Let me help."

Will swallows, his eyes on his lap, almost looking tearful.

"Yeah, okay," Will whispers, and with that Nico's sure the other boy must be honestly desperate for rest. He feels a rush of sympathy.

"What um... what do you want me to do?" Will asks awkwardly. He pulls a face. "Sorry. I'm not used to being the patient."

"No problem. Um," Nico glances over to the cot next to him. "It's going to be easiest if you sleep in here - if that's okay," he says tentatively. "Just - proximity is easier. If I'm trying not to exert myself too much."

"Yeah, of course." Will makes his way over to the other cot, unhesitatingly toeing off his flip flops and climbing in, settling on his side to face Nico. The expression on his face is unexpectedly open, unguarded, and it makes Nico's breath catch.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to try anything weird," Nico jokes, trying to dispel the unexpected tension.

Will smiles faintly. "I'm not worried. I trust you."

Oh.

Nico tries to tuck that little bit of information away, so he can examine it later when he's alone. He supposes it shouldn't be surprising, but it sweeps over him in a way that's both warm and jarring. Does he trust Will? He’s a little surprised to realize it’s not even a question. Of course he does.

Will's healed him up, on multiple occasions. They've fought monsters together. They've bickered together, talked for hours together... it still catches Nico off-guard sometimes to realize he has friends now. And not just Will.

Does it sometimes feel as though it could be something more, with Will? Sure. Nico's never once felt his fingers itch to brush through Jason’s hair, for instance. He’s never been hyper-aware of every time Frank’s hand bumps his when they play Mythomagic.

But he's quite willing to put all that aside, because the thing about having something more is that it might just end up being far less than what he and Will have now. Besides, romantic love is overrated. Probably.

For now, Nico directs Will to close his eyes and make himself comfortable, telling the other boy to concentrate on a calming space, somewhere he’ll feel safe and relaxed. Will pauses, then nods, closing his eyes, and Nico sends a strong sleeping charm Will's way.

It's mesmerizing, the way the other boy's body relaxes almost instantly, the furrow between his brows smoothing, his breath deepening.

As Nico tries to make himself comfortable in his own bed, his eyelids suddenly feeling heavy, he realizes that Will never asked him a single question. Not, "will this hurt?" Not, "how long will it last?" Nothing.

Once he's fully ensconced in his own unconsciousness, Nico can't quite help checking on his friend. He's just making sure the nightmares are at bay, he tells himself. He drifts for a moment, brushing past other friends, other campers and then - there. He’s on the bluffs above the beach at Long Island Sound, and he can just make out a prone figure with blonde hair lying on a checked blanket not far from the water.

For a moment, Nico forgets to breathe.

They came here together, just a month earlier. A whole group of them had come here, all of Will’s cabin-mates and most of the Hermes cabin too. As the day wore on, all the other campers had left, wandered off in groups and pairs until just Nico and Will had remained.

They had lain side by side on the blanket Will had brought, talking about nothing and everything, finally dozing off next to each other in the late afternoon sunlight.

This is what Will thought of. This is where he thought to feel safe.

When Nico steps closer he can see his own sword and Will’s satchel holding down the corners of the blanket. Nico hesitates for only a moment before lying down at the far edge of the blanket and drifting further into sleep.

(next chapter)

#nico di angelo #will solace #solangelo #my writing #fluff #a little yearning #a wee bit of hurt/comfort #getting together

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