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utilitycaster · 20 days

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Because I still have Midst's most recent episode on the brain, it really is a little frustrating to see how characters like Jonas Spahr are so frequently maligned over a single incident and characters like Liliana Temult are so frequently given infinite excuses. I say a little frustrating because I think by and large the respective fandoms of Midst and CR do find Jonas a flawed but ultimately sympathetic and heroic character, and Liliana a person who perhaps began with good intentions but has been so warped by years in a cult that she is now openly manipulating her daughter, so this is about a relatively small group. But it is very much an extant group.

I think for me the real hangup is that the reason the Jonas Spahr archetype (of which, for those who know CR and not Midst, Fjord is not quite the same but similar enough for this particular example; this post is definitely about him as well) receives criticism for being harsh towards, for lack of a better term, a wetter and sadder cat of a character. And how is that different from Liliana, who is at the very least staging a public shaming of her daughter? For all their methods, and for all their personal history, characters like Fjord and Spahr have never been terribly manipulative towards the sympathetic protagonists, just openly angry. And when they've been angry, it's always come out that they are consciously holding back from what was visited on them.

But Liliana. Liliana isn't trying to shield Imogen. She says she is, but she continues long after it stops working. She won't listen to the daughter she says she's doing this for; she treats a grown woman like the toddler she abandoned. I don't think Liliana means "did she know there were children in this music hall" because she told Imogen that last episode. She invoked that there were children here to try to excuse her own behavior. She knows Imogen knows about that. This is about the assassination attempt. She wants to know if her daughter knew this was coming. And the answer is that Imogen did, and she tried to stop Liliana, and she tried even to advocate for a more measured attempt with a group for which she lacked the built-up good will. Unlike Liliana leaning on her ultimately useless showy warnings and claiming she does this all for a greater good, Imogen didn't try to curry favor with her mother (nor should she have to; Liliana's the one who left). I doubt Liliana would have taken kindly to being captured, but Imogen still tried and didn't try to score points with her mother for it.

The response to Liliana when juxtaposed with the response to Spahr does feel like this trend, again of a small subset of people but certainly a subset often unaware of how to act reasonably online, that craves the most basic subversion and simultaneously fears and hates conviction in those characters who are not part of this childish "what if the BAD GUYS were RIGHT" group. Specifically they hate an individual conviction that allows one to break out of a larger ideology - one that Spahr has and Liliana clearly lacks.

I'll admit this is really more an observation - I don't have a thesis statement or true conclusion, at least not one I'm going to share widely - but it still sits so strangely that people will hate characters for a single harsh word to their favorite and then try to brush away the decades of harm Liliana has, ultimately, visited on Imogen. Did the word "Run" ever comfort her? It certainly didn't work. Did Liliana ever answer a direct question? At some point, when you're dealing with a fully functioning adult, you can't just say "I'm doing this for you" without their input and be taken seriously and yet Liliana does, repeatedly. At least with Spahr I believed the people who disliked him liked Phineas, but here, I don't think the people defending her care that much for Imogen except as Liliana does - a sweetly misguided morality pet whom they're doing this all for, hush, don't interrupt my noble sacrifice for you with your actual needs and wants. It feels like the campaign-long denial, within some of the fandom, of Imogen's agency, down to how people talk carefully around how the reason Bells Hells wasn't at the assassination is because Imogen chose not to be (and told the others they could not go either, and they respected this). I think we're reaching a point where those who have been so scornful of leadership are fighting against the fact that that is how Imogen is positioned: as leader and as a hero. Ironically, as we've learned from how they treat characters like Spahr, there's nothing they hate more than that.

#i did not get the spam ask and I suspect it's bc i have a hunch who it is have them blocked for past spam #but if i'm right. boy howdy they have maybe the most broken character morality radar in the fandom as well as just don't know how to act #cr spoilers #cr tag

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swaps55 · 6 months

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WIP Whenever/Last Line

Tagged by @bioticbooty and @mallaidhsomo for a WIP Whenever, and @cr-noble-writes and @rotschopf-thedrow for a last line. Thank you!

Tagging @vakariansvixen, @moosemonstrous and @mrsd-writes to share anything you like if you feel so inclined!

I made myself really sad about Sam and EDI, so now you get to be sad, too.

Shepard gets up and retreats to his desk. At first he just sits, gazing at a painted model ship variant of the Normandy SR-1 perched inside the otherwise empty oversized glass case above his desk. But then he opens the case and takes the ship out, running his hands over the seams where the pieces fit together.

--Query: Yeoman Chambers felt that addition to your quarters would be significant. Why? Why do organics create monuments to objects that were not self-aware?

--Block: Illusive Man Protocol Override – Unprompted personal inquiries are impermissible.

Without saying a word, he puts the ship back in the case and rests his nose between steepled fingers, exhaling deep. For one minute and fifty-eight seconds, he remains still.

EDI turns her attention elsewhere. Most of the organics are engaged in their sleep cycles, however Dr. Solus, as usual, is awake and at work adapting the nanomachine countermeasure to krogan physiology. Grunt paces the crew deck and discovers the cold food storage. She considers paging Mess Sergeant Gardner, but instead merely watches with interest, curious to see how Gardner will chooses to reinforce standard social customs to their newest crew member. She has not had the opportunity to observe the learning process.

But when Shepard switches his terminal on, she eagerly refocuses additional processing power to his cabin.

--Query: What will you read about tonight?

--Block: Illusive Man Protocol Override – Unprompted personal inquiries are impermissible.

His initial queries center around biotic usage, favoring asari sources. He types, ‘biotic teleporting’ before muttering under his breath and deleting the search without sending it.

EDI runs her own searches, compiling results that qualify as atypical biotic phenomena.

--Query: Shepard, I have some data that might interest you. If you like, I could assist further.

--Block: M. Lawson Protocol Override – Unprompted assistance to non-emergency crew matters is impermissible.

She files the data away until it is needed.

Words can hold such power with organics. What would Shepard say if he could hear hers?

#snippet

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theoriginalladya · 6 months

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Comfort Character

I was tagged by @cr-noble-writes. Thank you, friend! Let's see who I can come up with...

tagging anyone who wants to participate and share!

Kaidan Alenko (of course! lol)

2. Reyes Vidal

3. Alistair Theirin

4. Han Solo

5. Percival de Rolo

Oh, this was fun! Difficult (I had a hard time pulling 5 out! lol) but fun! Thanks for tagging me!!!

#Comfort Character meme #kaidan alenko #reyes vidal #alistair theirin #han solo #percival de rolo #mass effect #mass effect andromeda #dragon age #star wars #vox machina

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fearnesnblerns · 5 months

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cr c3e77, a rant

spoilers ahead!!

plenty of people on this app have already explained in more detail and better articulation how ashton’s recent decisions are justified in terms of character arc and development, so i don’t feel the need to comment on that

THAT BEING SAID

talking about ashley’s HIGHLY PERSONAL situation and using it as justification for their OPINIONS about taliesin/ashton’s player/character decisions is unbelievably disgusting and vile

part of why i prefer to interact with other actual-play fandoms over the cr fandom is because of how often i see cr fans start bringing the pcs into their criticisms of the play

YOU DO NOT KNOW THEM!! no matter how deeply you read into the reactions at the table and of the characters, no matter how long you’ve been watching cr, no matter how “noble” or “compassionate” your intentions are with your commentary

YOU ARE NOT THEM!! you can have feelings and reactions and opinions about ashton’s decisions and behavior and character but pushing those into TALIESIN HIMSELF to judge his personality and comment on his relationships with his FAMILY at the table is so unreal

CAN one’s behaviors in roleplay reflect aspects of themself? absolutely! however,

the cast knows each other. they trust each other. they 100% ALREADY talked through whatever emotions and reactions they had to this session with each other. this was filmed weeks ago, they’re all STILL comfortable roleplaying and hanging out with each other, as demonstrated by recent events. the comfort and entitlement in the way some of you are speaking about taliesin and ashley right now is disgusting

be angry, sad, disappointed, shocked! disagree! agree! love ashton! hate ashton!

but keep your accusations of above-table “abuse” and “manipulation” out of it

i’ve really been enjoying seeing mixed reactions to this episode and the various in-depth breakdowns of ashton’s character and choices, and i love seeing ppl react to taliesin’s insane character loyalty

but some of you need to back off and keep taliesin and ashley’s names out of your mouths. you don’t know any more about these people’s lives, relationships, and boundaries than what they choose to share with you

that was a fun episode! excited to see how we pick up next time, is it thursday yet?

#critical role #critical role campaign 3 #critical role campaign 3 spoilers #cr spoilers #critical role spoilers #ashton greymoore #taliesin jaffe #ashley johnson #fearne calloway

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raxistaicho · 3 months

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I feel bad that I can't like Dimitri or the Azure routes very much compared to the rest of the fandom. But something about the Azure routes feels off to me.

With the other lords, everything they do somehow at least minimally gets addressed in terms of how they affect certain characters and give them at least the bare minimal involvement or agency. Edelgard's war and systemic changes affect the independence of Brigid as well as what will happen to the positions of those of noble standing like Ferdinand or Linhardt, and they're brought up rather often in supports and in the main story how they affect them outside of how they affect Edelgard. All the choices Rhea and Seteth and the choices they made regarding the church affect the characters in every house and gets discussed at length every route. Claude's entire thing is about how his mere appearance affects things in Leicester, like Lorenz's position in the future of the Alliance Roundtable, how the conflicts between their families affected others like Ignatz and Raphael, and how his hopes of reform and opening Fódlan up to the world and changing things in Almyra will affect everyone. Byleth's endings affect them as well as the entire continent. Everything that happens regarding Byleth and the lords choices circles outward.

However, in the Azure routes, everything has to circle back around to Dimitri somehow in a way that's uncomfortable. Tragedy of Duscur and the racism towards the people of Duscar? It's about Dimitri more than it is about Dedue. Glenn's death during the Tragedy? Only really focuses on how Felix and Ingrid feel about it in their shared support. Any other mention focuses more on Dimitri's feelings about it. Rodrigue dies midway through post war? It's about Dimitri's feelings. Edelgard's mother and how she's connected to everything? Only really matters when Dimitri is involved. Anything regarding Byleth is more about Dimitri on these routes, especially their paired ending. Everything important circles inwards towards Dimitri, and not only is it predictable and boring, it's downright suffocating.

This is why I prefer CR/SB and VW/VW, even with their flaws. While yes, Edelgard and Claude are the main focus of these routes, their actions and the actions of those around them keep circling in a loop that builds onto each other, even if just a little. And while AM/AG might be the better written routes, they bring everything important back to ONE character and ONLY one character like the heavy side of a balance scale.

This, so so much. It's downright bizarre how much everything in Fodlan has to be all about Dimitri's personal tragedy in Azure Moon, even to the point of just scrubbing everything that was going on in White Clouds that didn't have to do with him and shoving Rhea, Sothis, the Agarthans, and even Byleth off to the side.

I've made this comparison before, but it'd be like if, when Tolkein was writing The Lord of the Rings, everything from The Two Towers onward exclusively followed what Aragorn was doing and we only happened to catch back up with Gandalf and the Hobbits when he happened to encounter them.

And frankly, I'd argue these traits you pointed out make Azure Moon poorly written, however well the pathos lands for some people.

#fire emblem three houses #edelgard discourse #edelgard von hresvelg #edelgard positive #Dimitri

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imbiowaresbitch · 3 months

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WIP wheeeeeee!

I finally have something I can share. Tagged by @cr-noble-writes

Single dad Dean is coping with having his 6-year-old daughter, Emma, home with a concussion after being bullied at school, and she's not taking to the "resting" part well.

For context, Lydia died when Emma was 3.

Much to Emma’s disappointment, when Sunday rolled around she hadn't slept well the night before, so was feeling tired and cranky. She still wanted to go on a playdate with Jack and his big cousin Claire – apparently dads were superfluous – but Dean put his foot down. With Emma in her room, crying and throwing her stuffies at the door, Dean pulled out his phone to text Cas. Dean: hey Sunshine. Emma’s having a very bad morning. Think she overdid it yesterday refusing to have a nap. It's just not a good plan to take her out, I don't want her to feel worse. Dean heard the heavy thump of something more substantial hitting Emma’s door and sighed, rubbing at his eyes. He knew she’d be upset even before he told her they couldn't see Jack, and Dean was just glad he hadn't mentioned the Butterfly Conservatory to her. Still, throwing stuffies was one thing. Other things could be broken, and that wasn't okay. He knocked on her door, being a stickler for giving her privacy, then opened the door. He found her sitting on her bed, her arms crossed as she glared at him, an adorable pout on her tear-streaked face. The door bumped against something more solid than a plush toy, and he glanced down. Her tiny black shoes – Charlie called them Mary Janes – sat behind the door, and there was a black streak on the door from the soles. “Hey, sweetpea,” Dean said softly, picking up her shoes and tucking them back into her closet. He picked up a couple of her stuffies and set them back on her bed, then dropped to a crouch in front of her. “I know you're mad at me, Emma, but no wrecking your things. Your stuffies can't break, but you could knock over something, like one of your music boxes, and break it.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes, and she stared at him, her lip quivering. Lydia had given her the music boxes she had, and he knew the idea of something happening to them would be scary. Her tears spilled over, and she started to sob. Dean felt a pang of guilt. Maybe he should have mentioned the Star Wars lamp from Charlie and Stevie instead, but too late now. He held out his arms, and she fell into them, hiccoughing as she burrowed against his chest.

Tagging @aishitara @nickelkeep @bleuzombie @dwinchester1979 @winchester-reload. Share whatever, or not. 💕

#tag game #writing #or art #dad dean winchester #wip game

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fimproda · 2 months

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Gwynriel fic chapter titles

As I did for the Elucien fic, I'm emerging from my hiatus just to drop this thing and then going back into hibernation as soon as I hit post.

Nucleosynthesis

Prologue – Hydrogen

Chemical element with symbol H and atomic number 1. Stars such as the Sun are mainly composed of hydrogen in the plasma state.

Chapter 1 – Phosphorus

Chemical element with symbol P and atomic number 15. Its name, taken from Greek mythology, means ‘light-bearer’ (Latin Lucifer), referring to the ‘Morning Star’, the planet Venus.

Chapter 2 – Sodium

Chemical element with symbol Na and atomic number 11. It’s a highly reactive metal and an essential nutrient for many living beings.

Chapter 3 – Chlorine

Chemical element with symbol Cl and atomic number 17. It’s extremely reactive, strongly oxidizing, and corrosive.

Chapter 4 – Chromium

Chemical element with symbol Cr and atomic number 24. Its name is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘color’, since many chromium compounds are intensely colored.

Chapter 5 – Nitrogen

Chemical element with symbol N and atomic number 7. Its other suggested name, azote, comes from a Greek word meaning ‘no life’, suggesting its use as an asphyxiant gas.

Chapter 6 – Iron

Chemical element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26. Iron and iron alloys have been historically used to make weapons, and their low cost and high strength often make them the materials of choice to withstand stress or transmit forces.

Interlude – Sulfur

Chemical element with symbol S and atomic number 16. Hell is thought to ‘smell of sulfur’, likely due to its association with volcanic activity.

Chapter 7 – Fluorine

Chemical element with symbol F and atomic number 9. It’s extremely reactive, as it reacts with all other elements except for the light inert gases.

Chapter 8 – Lithium

Chemical element with symbol Li and atomic number 3. Lithium-based drugs are useful as a mood stabilizer and antidepressant in the treatment of various mental illnesses.

Chapter 9 – Argon

Chemical element with symbol Ar and atomic number 18. Its name is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘lazy’ or ‘inactive’, as a reference to the fact that this element undergoes almost no chemical reactions.

Chapter 10 – Cobalt

Chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. Cobalt-based blue pigments have been used since antiquity.

Chapter 11 – Carbon

Chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. Its unique characteristics enable it to serve as a common element of all known life.

Chapter 12 – Oxygen

Chemical element with symbol O and atomic number 8. Many life forms require oxygen for cellular respiration, and it’s a fundamental element for combustion.

Epilogue – Helium

Chemical element with symbol He and atomic number 2, the first of the noble gases. Large amounts of new helium are created by nuclear fusion of hydrogen in stars.

Remember that Nucleosynthesis and its companion Elucien piece, Sol niger, are intricately connected.

What happens in Nucleosynthesis's prologue, interlude, and epilogue also happens in Sol niger, and these chapters share the same titles in the two stories.

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rotschopf-thedrow · 2 months

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Writing Patterns Tag Game

Got tagged by the wonderful @cr-noble-writes. Thank you! <3

Rules: list the first line(s) of your last 10 posted fics and see if there's a pattern!

Forever and a Day: Kaidan stared into his coffee.

New Year's Resolution: Cameron felt too hot, and not in a good way.

Dress Blues: Cameron froze on the spot when he entered the living room of the apartment he currently shared with Jackson.

Falling Together: Shepard tried to ignore the little flip his stomach did when he heard the customary swoosh of the front door to his apartment on the Citadel opening.

Devils Never Cry: It took every ounce of self-control Cameron Shepard possessed to not just punch Taylor in the face.

Come So Far: Kaidan exited the elevator and walked down the CIC.

Two for Tragedy: Shepard stood hunched over the sink in his cabin aboard the Normandy, gripping the metal frame hard enough for his knuckles to turn white.

Ad astra per aspera: His fingers shook slightly when he brushed gently over the name sublimed into the metal, lost in his own thoughts.

Virmire Resprised: “Approaching Virmire, Commander.”

The Damage Done: Shepard stared at Kaidan, obviously completely confused. “You want to what, Lieutenant?”

Hm, don't know? In medias res, maybe?

Tagging @swaps55, @mallaidhsomo, @stormikins, @westernlarch, @clericofshadows & @iberiandoctor - no pressure of course <3

#tag games #writing patterns #writing patterns tag game #mass effect #stargate sg-1

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cr-noble-writes · 4 months

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2023 Mass Effect Fic Recs

As we approach the end of the year, I want to shout out some really fantastic fics I've read this year. Some of them were posted this year, some of them were posted earlier, but I found them this year so they're going on the list.

Some of these deal with some pretty heavy issues, so mind the tags!

Natural Fissures by happychica

The necessities, the demands, and the endless pressure that is war finally crack the foundation that is Commander Shepard. Forced to face his demons, John is reminded once again that the people he fights for are willing to defend him, even from himself.

This fic is an ongoing longfic set during the ME3 timeline, and it is an absolutely incredible piece that follows not only Shepard, but the rest of the crew in their personal journeys alongside the crisis of The Reaper War.

Fugue by Swaps55

A few minutes more and they wouldn’t have even been on the ship. The Mako was scheduled and ready for drop, both of them suited up and ready with the final checklist completed.

A few minutes more, and they would have watched the Normandy burn from the surface of Alchera.

But they didn’t get those minutes.

Alchera, and the two year gap.

Really, I recommend the entire Opus series, and everything related to it (really, anything that Swaps has written). Fugue is an absolutely beautiful depiction of the journey of grief and hope, and I honestly still don't have the words to express the things it made me feel.

Phoenix by mallaidhsomo

Shepard went down with his ship, only to wake two years later and find out the love of his life had gone down, too. Or so he thinks.

First off, I am an absolute sucker for Subject Zero!Kaidan. This fic is an incredible depiction of that, and I may be slightly just a little bit mildly in love with Sidney Shepard.

Descent by mallaidhsomo

Leo Shepard makes a promise to Ashley Williams that he intends to keep.

Or, relationships are complicated.

I adore Leo Shepard. I highly recommend reading all three posted parts of the Us Against The World series. The relationship building in this fic is just so good, and I have found my new favorite side character in Bolts the Drone.

An Unfortunately Sexy Man by missjlh

Jarun Tann is an obtuse fool. Unfortunately, he's an obtuse fool that Addison, Kandros and Kesh all have a crush on. The three of them get together to offer one another moral support through what is clearly the very worst thing to have happened thus far in Andromeda.

This fic is so god damn funny. I love it so much, and when I am having a particularly bad day, I go back and read it. It's such a well written comedic piece.

Volta by DanDenbo

At the outset of the war, Kaidan Alenko wonders about his path - whether to become a spectre, whether to rejoin the Normandy, and what to do about his feelings for Shepard. During a mission on Chalkhos, he finds his answers.

Non-binary Shepard/Kaidan battle couple. I feel like that honestly is enough of a recommendation. This is an incredibly well written piece. Shepard and Kaidan's relationship, and the complex nature of it, is just so well done.

Life Behind Enemy Lines by Otempora

The Illusive Man leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “We humans have a saying. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Shepherd was familiar with the phrase, but turians didn’t think that way.

---

Species swap AU, Human!Garrus/Turian!Shepard. ME2 retelling. Not a standalone.

I would kill and/or die for Shepherd and also for Gareth. An incredibly well done, intriguing, and captivating species swap. Shepherd is such a complex character, and she makes my heart hurt.

There are honestly a billion more fics I would recommend, but it would end up being the world's longest tumblr post, so I am gonna call it here for now.

Please enjoy!!

#fic recs #rec list #mass effect #happychica #swaps55 #mallaidhsomo #missjlh #dandenbo #otempora #cr noble shares

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wrathoscribbles · 3 months

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20 Questions for fic writers

Tagged by @mrsd-writes (so sorry for the delay, but better late than never I guess 🤣)

Tagging... hmm... @shadoedseptmbr @miniature-space-hamster @teamdilf @korblez and @cr-noble-writes (if you guys want to take part and/or haven't already been tagged lol

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

197, which is... uh... well that sure is a number. Heck.

2. What’s your total A03 word count?

221,553

3. What fandoms do you write for?

I'm not active in most of them lol. The first four are current fandoms, the rest I've dipped my toes into once upon a time lol

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

See, this isn't really... I think this should be taken with a pinch of salt, to be honest, because my top 5 were lucky hits - they were posted while the fandoms were still fresh and hot, y'know?

1st

"Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" (6112 words) by Wrathofscribbles Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Lucifer (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Chloe Decker/Lucifer Morningstar Characters: Chloe Decker, Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer TV) Additional Tags: Self-Harm, Angst, Hurt/Comfort Summary: It's a simple question, really, it is. And the answer should be simple, a bark of laughter and an easy "no". But when the devil never lies, how is he supposed to answer?

2nd

Here there be wings (2884 words) by Wrathofscribbles Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Lucifer (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Chloe Decker/Lucifer Morningstar Characters: Chloe Decker, Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer TV) Additional Tags: Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer TV) Wing Reveal, Crack, with a dash of fluff Summary: He did have a plan. That plan did not involve wings. And yet here they are. And there Chloe is. "Cat" out of the bag, indeed.

3rd

Hold (642 words) by Wrathofscribbles Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Detroit: Become Human (Video Game) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Connor/Markus (Detroit: Become Human) Characters: Connor (Detroit: Become Human), Markus (Detroit: Become Human) Series: Part 1 of Minor details Summary: They belong to a killer, they belong to a saviour.

4th

Courtship (421 words) by Wrathofscribbles Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Lucifer (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Chloe Decker/Lucifer Morningstar Characters: Chloe Decker, Lucifer Morningstar (Lucifer TV) Summary: "A courtship display is a set of display behaviours in which an animal attempts to attract a mate and exhibit their desire to copulate. These behaviours often include ritualised movement ("dances"), vocalisations, mechanical sound production, or displays of beauty, strength, or agonistic ability."

5th

The nose knows (701 words) by Wrathofscribbles Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Wiedźmin | The Witcher - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia/Jaskier | Dandelion Characters: Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia, Jaskier | Dandelion Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Series: Part 1 of Witcher, my only treasure Summary: Jaskier's a bit of an odd duck. If only Geralt knew the half of it.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do! I've been making a conscious effort of late to respond to comments, even if it's a simple heart or thank you. I still feel silly keeping it short and simple like that, but I've turned a corner with how I regard my writing and sharing it over the past year, so. I figure it doesn't hurt to ping out a wee acknowledgement of the comments, y'know? Granted, if it means someone's gonna get x5 thank yous from me then I might just stick to the one response lol.

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Oh god I don't know. It's been so long since I've looked at some of my stuff and I'm not gonna go through all 197 fics rip. The most recent angsty ending is this one, since, y'know, major character death whacks you over the head from the very start of the game rip (I'm still wounded over that btw. I don't think I'll ever recover)

No rest… (321 words) by Wrathofscribbles Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Batman - All Media Types, Gotham Knights (Video Game 2022) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death Characters: Dick Grayson Additional Tags: Hurt No Comfort, Grief/Mourning Summary: … for the wicked, nor for those fighting them.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Off the top of my head, this one from back in my FFXV days.

Leave a message after the tone (860 words) by Wrathofscribbles Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Prompto Argentum/Noctis Lucis Caelum Characters: Prompto Argentum, Noctis Lucis Caelum Summary: He never deleted the voicemails when he received them. Maybe he knew not to, even back then.

8. Do you get hate on your fic?

Surpisingly enough, no. I don't know whether that's luck, or that I've somehow managed to stick within safe writing territories, or I'm not a big enough name (thank god) to catch much attention. Regardless, if there's to be any hate life is too goddamn short and that shit's gonna get deleted.

9. Do you write smut?

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeees. I just never post it 😅

10. Do you write crossovers?

Very rarely. I tend to lose steam with 'em fairly quickly, though, so. Unless it's an idea that takes over my entire soul, it probably ain't gonna happen these days.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge, no.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I'm aware of, nope.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

Nope. I've worked alongside an artist during a fandom exchange, and during my FFXV days I wound up writing a fair few things inspired by artist works and gifting to them, but actually co-writing? Nada.

14. What‘s your all-time favourite ship?

HAH. Listen, I sail ships across multiple fandoms I can't just pick one.

Shepard/Kaidan (Mass Effect)

Clark Kent/Bruce Wayne (Batman/Superman)

Fenris/Hawke (Dragon Age II)

Astarion/Tav (BG3)

Zagreus/Thanatos (Hades)

Vincent/Chaos (FFVII)

15. What’s the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

THIS ONE. THIS ONE THIS ONE THIS ONE. The ideas are THERE. The barebones plot is there. AN IMPORTANT THING HAPPENS in this fic that features THROUGHOUT THEIR SERIES and I can't INCLUDE it elsewhere yet until THIS IS FINISHED. But I don't see it happening anytime soon. I might actually have to rewrite it - I'm positive there's something in the current chapters that's tripping me up and ugh.

Sunlight… (4716 words) by WrathBites Chapters: 2/4 Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Kaidan Alenko, Male Shepard (Mass Effect) Additional Tags: Pre-Relationship, Friendship, Returning Home, Alternate Universe - Vampire Series: Part 12 of Sunlight and Stardust Summary: In which Shepard returns home, with a mandatory plus one.

16. What’s your writing strengths?

Dialogue and describing magic, hands down. That's my jam, love it, could do it all day.

17. What’s your writing weaknesses?

Writing anything but the dialogue in a given scene and setting the scene so readers know where the fuck characters are and their positioning to one another.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Eh. You won't catch me doing much of it on my end since there's a 98% chance I'll be butchering the language. The only exception is a smattering of Gaelic, since I'm on/off learning that (hi, Scottish, and you'd be surprised how many schools don't teach a single word of our native language :D it's great fun :D it's totally okay :D )

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Final Fantasy VII, but the first work posted to AO3 is for Detroit: Become Human

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

"Did it hurt when you fell from heaven" (Lucifer, linked further up). I was a woman possessed with that fic, 6,112 words written in one sitting (has never happened before or since, let me tell you) because. It just.

Listen okay if you've seen Lucifer (absolutely would recommend the first two seasons, my faves) there's just. He's hurting. He's struggling. And the subject matter I touch on in the fic is just glossed over in the show (it feels like it anyway) and it didn't sit right with me at all and man how I wished I could reach through that screen and give Lucifer a hug (not that he'd appreciate the gesture but still).

I wanted to shake everyone around him and scream for them to open their eyes and see. And so the fic was born. Pretty sure I stayed up until crazy o'clock writing it because I had to, it needed put into writing dammit.

#to meme or not to meme #sticking under a read more because it's kinda lengthy for the dash lol

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stormikins · 4 days

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WIP GAME

Rules: share a couple sentences from your latest WIP without context!

I was tagged by @omniblades-and-stars go check em out! thank you!

“We should probably clean up a little first,” Kaidan suggests, pointedly giving a once over of Shepard’s bloody clothes. “I don’t think we’ll make it far to the Embassy looking like we did what we actually did.”

No pressure tags: @swaps55 @xoshepard @cr-noble-writes

#mass effect #my writing #tag games

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mtreebeardiles · 6 months

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Tagged by @dandenbo - many thanks!

rules: pick up to 10 characters and share one of your favorite lines of dialogue you have ever written for them!

Tagging uhh @tiny-banana-time @urdnotflexthejedibard @cr-noble-writes annnnd @bluerose5 and also @theoriginalladya who I know was already tagged but always room for more eh? 😂 no pressure as always

So my writing style makes this kinda hard cuz I write in this sort of weird uhh… semi, pseudo-stream of consciousness (cuz 3rd person, not 1st, etc)? Eh I tried my best, but focused more on favorite moments/convos

From The Paths You Take, Reyes Vidal to Scott Ryder:

"Intent and impact don't always go hand in hand the way we'd like them to -- sometimes they come out for the better. You're the better, Scott, and maybe that's selfish of me to say, but…" He trailed off, then met Scott's eyes again. "If Harper were Pathfinder, do you think she would have reached out to us? Extended that hand, that kindness? Made any effort to see us, and understand us? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I'm judging her too harshly, but I didn't get this far by not trusting my instincts." His finger slipped from Scott's lips, trailing the line of his jaw. "Cora Harper was built for the dream of Heleus. You were built for her reality."

From Biotic Theory, some mshenko feat. Everett Shepard:

"I swear to god if you call me 'sir' right now…"

And the tension broke and Kaidan was laughing, resting his forehead to his.

"Not a chance," he promised, and he was so close, they were so close, and god he wanted it. Wanted him.

Wanted this.

They could figure out the details, the logistics, later.

"I wouldn't do that to you right now," he went on, lips brushing against his. "…nerd."

From War of Warnings, some James Vega and Evvy:

"…yeah," Shepard whispered. Considered, then nodded. "You know you're not obligated --"

"--I want to, Sunshine. C'mon -- I'll even get you some cigarettes for old times' sake."

A risky joke, but Shepard just laughed.

"I'm trying to quit, you know," he said but he fell into step as James led the way to the elevator bank.

"Then we'll slap some nicotine patches on you and get you some suckers."

#I was gonna do more but this is long enough already #the James one reminds me how much I do wanna do more of his and Evvy’s friendship #James is such a fun character #my writing #tag meme

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unfriendlyamazon · 1 year

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beauty and the beast (role swap | ever after)

i was hoping to have more of this done and edited for @joukaiweek but i’m happy to share part 1 for today’s prompt!

Title: Beauty and the Beast Rating: T Characters: Jounouchi Katsuya, Kaiba Seto, Kawai Shizuka Word Count: 3990 Warnings: Discussion of Illness, Allusions to Gozaburo Summary:

...

Jou shivered as the sky above him darkened. It was only in glimpses above the the canopy of trees, whose thin limbs twisted up into shaking branches. A winter wind rolled against his back, and his foot slipped on the path beneath him. He gasped but caught himself, hugging his bag tight to his chest. The forest floor was thick with knotted roots and large rocks that had rolled down from the mountains. Every tree rustled in the wind, and he occasionally caught the glimpse of yellow eyed creatures that skittered away. There was no proper path through the forest. He’d started on the winding dirt road that led from his home in the city to the small countryside house his sister resided in. The bag he carried held more than just a few coins and a change of clothes. Nestled within was her medicine. He’d hoped to cut three days off his journey by traveling straight through the trees, and he’d quickly learned why no one did that. Too far to turn back, Jou forged on.

As usual, he was in a mess of his own making. If he’d stayed on the path, if he hadn’t listened to the old man with the map, if he had heeded the gossip from the other travelers who avoided the forest and never traveled at night. His sister stayed in the country with their mother for her health, to strengthen her weakening lungs and eyes. But without her doctor, things had only gotten worse. So he clutched the small bottle of blue pills that were supposed to help her and started the journey alone. It’d cost him so much money to get them, money he didn’t know if he could pay back, but if it was for Shizuka, he would do it. No matter the cost.

He wasn’t so noble that he didn’t regret the first patter of rain that made its way through the treetops. A freezing droplet hit his face, and Jou swore out loud. The ground was already so hard to walk, and now the rocks would be slick, and the darkness would be all the deeper. He needed shelter, and quickly. As cold rain scattered around him, he pushed through the trees and the brush. There had to be something. A boulder he could sit beneath, or a hollowed out trunk.

And then, in the distance, a light.

Jou thought he’d dreamed it at first. But it swayed between the trees, a distant point waving back and forth. It was warm, and golden, and he didn’t think twice as he shoved on. His foot slipped again, and he clung to tree trunks, branches, and was nearly crawling towards the single sign of safety. Rain soaked through his shirt, and he was shivering as his hands felt the brick wall that stopped him. He squinted through the rain. Dark gray stone was covered in large vines that twisted over iron spikes nailed into the top. His hand traveled down it like a guiding path, leading him to a lantern that swung in the wind. Its yellow flame could barely stay lit against the wind. His teeth chattered, and his palm brushed against a plaque. His fingertips traced the characters there, and he mouthed the name: KAIBA.

The gate groaned as Jou pushed against it. Through the gloom, he could see what had once been a garden. Tree roots pushed up dark soil, and what had been a pond was murky and green. Vines climbed over the wooden walls of a tall structure. Doors were cracked, the silk of the shoji fluttering in the wind, and wooden beams sticking out. No one had lived here in a long time. An empty shelter was still shelter, and Jou didn’t hesitate to race across the front path and dive into the engawa. He forced his way through the sliding door and stepped into the dark room.

His breath puffed white, and his fingers shook as he removed his matchsticks. Another lantern sat near the door, this one with oil in it. The heat was an instant blessing. The wood floors were cracked, with large tendrils of spiked leaves bursting up from beneath. Zaisu chairs had been tossed aside, the pillows torn, and there’d been a low table fixed with a teapot and clay cups, each now filled with muddy water. Rain leaked in from the roof above, but on his hands and knees Jou found an irori. Ash filled the stone recess, but a few unburnt sticks remained. Hands shaking, he managed to light the hearth. Low red light pulsed from the floor, but it was enough to warm his hands and wring out his clothes. For the first time since he began his journey, Jou sat back and relaxed.

The rain shuddered outside in silver sheets, and thunder cracked across the forest. Once night set in, the forest was only inky blackness. Jou hugged his legs to his chest, too scared to explore the manor more for any blankets or mats. His eyes closed, longer with each slow blink, until he curled onto the floor in front of the hearth. The rain began to slow, leaving the hollow pattering against the wood structure, and the crackling of the fireplace.

Something clattered on the floor, and his eyes opened wide.

It was still night, still black outside. Jou breathed in and out as he listened. Some other creature might’ve found shelter here, or he’d stumbled onto something’s lair. There was the silken sound of something moving across the wood, and a gentle clack like something hard hitting the wood. The hearth had started to die, the final pieces of kindling barely holding onto the fire. Slowly, Jou lifted his head and slid his hand into his pack. He removed the knife he carried and held it at his side.

Shadows flickered against the walls, dim and hard to make out. He jumped as something moved again, and one of the clay cups rolled across the floor. He saw something slither into the shadows. A snake then. Probably searching for heat. He waited, staring into the darkness, goosebumps rolling up his spine and raising the hair on his arms. There was something there. Its shape swam among the shadows, but he could see something in the archway. The fireflight caught a brief glimmer, and he felt eyes.

Jou swallowed thick. Struggling to find his voice, he spoke aloud: “Is this your home?”

The shadows wove visions, and he couldn’t tell what was in front of him and what was his imagination. He thought he saw fingers move, or claws.

“I’ll only stay the night,” he said. “You won’t see me past morning.”

The floor creaked and grown, and the same soft sound slid across the wood. A heavy sound jolted him, but then the air was still. Whatever had been there was gone. Animal, or something else, Jou wasn’t sure. He stayed staring at the doorway until dawn.

Jou dozed through the first inklings of pink light. The air was still cold, but the breeze carried on it a sweet smell that stirred him. He woke again and saw the hearth renewed, fresh logs tossed into the irori for a larger fire. Over it, someone had hung a pot on the hook, and a sweet smelling rice filled it. The table had been set with a bowl and a fresh pot of tea. He accepted the hospitality and ate until his belly was full. In the daytime, he could better see the state of the manor. Parts of its walkways had completely fallen apart, leaving open trails of destruction that cut off parts of the house from the other. The garden had grown in, and the pond had overflowed on the east side of the house. Green water surrounded the engawa. Flecks of gold and white told him the koi had lived on, long after anyone had stopped caring for them.

Jou did his best to keep his promise. He checked his bag and crossed it over his chest. Out in the overgrown garden, he could see statues left behind. The soft round shapes of Jizō and komainu, along side more complex figures wearing flowing fabric. Vines and moss grew over them all, and they sunk into the ground. Jou paused as he came to a wall of flowers. Pink buds curled in their bed of leaves, but a few white roses had started to open to greet the morning. He marveled at them. Roses were uncommon here, and Shizuka’s own garden cultivated camellias and peonies. His eyes traveled across the vines, until he saw a white rose fully bloomed, its petals large and beautiful. They waved like ocean waves and smelled so sweet. Jou reached into the garden and snapped the stem. Taking one more breath, he nestled it into his bag.

All at once he heard a roar.

Jou shouted, it startled him so badly. Birds flew up from the distant room of the manor, where a thunderous sound staggered him back. Jou turned and ran to the gate where he’d entered last night, where the vines grew thick around the iron, and as he grasped it he shouted again. Thorns studded the greenery, slashing his palms. He tried to find a place to grab that didn’t hurt him, but the garden had turned malicious. Heavy wind sounded behind him. Whatever was coming was coming quickly. With nowhere else to go, Jou turned back to the house, running past where the irori had cooled down to embers, and the pot of rice had been tossed aside. He forced open a sliding door that led to another open walkway that passed over green water. The lilies trembled and the wood frame shuddered. Heavy claws scraped the awning overhead, a dark shadow passing over the water. Jou launched himself at the door at the end of it and slid to a stop as he came to an open hall. Doors on each side, some with tattered wood blocking their path, and a tall white staircase that curved up. Carved onto its rail were dragons, their mouths open with their teeth extended, and their tails twisted up behind them. Every wall was covered in painted silk, depicting blood red blossoms against white snow. Daylight peeked in from broken beams, but the cavernous hall was a mix of shadow and light. Charms overhead clattered as something landed on the floor above him. No way but forward. Jou stopped, and he braced himself. Whatever creature was here, he had no choice but to face it.

“How,” a deep and heavy voice rang, “dare you!”

A gust of wind knocked Jou onto his back. A shadow passed overhead, and he looked up, just as the creature descended on him. Jou shouted, tossing up his arms, but he only felt the heavy weight of its scaled body, and the heat of its maw. Barking, rasping, teeth filled words rained down on him.

“I have shown you hospitality,” the creature said. “I showed you kindness. And how do you repay me?”

A single hooked claw pulled at his pack. Jou yelled, but the fabric tore, sending its contents onto the floor. The knife bounced away, along with his last few coins. The white rose floated out and landed on his chest. He didn’t care. The small bottle of blue pills was the last to fall, hitting the wood floor. A hundred demons could’ve been on Jou, but he turned away from the beast, grasping desperately before it could get away. A large clawed paw slammed down on his hand, and he cried out in pain. But the tip of the claw had stopped the bottle. The creature eyed it curiously with wide, ice blue eyes.

“What is this?” it growled.

“It’s for my sister,” Jou said. “It’s medicine.”

The creature pause, letting out a low growling breath. After a moment, it said, “For her you took the rose.”

“I didn’t think you would care,” Jou said.

“Don’t presume what I do and do not care for.” The beast’s heavy breath blew out. Its weight left Jou, and its claw scraped the bottle back into his grasp. “You have insulted me. After I’ve shown such kindness.”

Jou gripped the bottle in his palm, relief blooming in his chest. With his prize safe, he turned to the creature. “I picked a rose. It’s not exactly a capital crime.”

“Don’t get smart with me!” The beast was back on him, teeth snapping an inch from his face. Jou didn’t flinch. “You took what wasn’t offered! I should devour you now.”

Jou squeezed his fist tight. “You can do whatever you want with me, after I get this to my sister. She’ll only get sicker without it.”

Another pause. He could feel the ice blue eyes on him, staring him down like a snake does a mouse. Its body drew back, and for the first time he got a proper look at the beast. Like the dragons on the staircase, its face was long with a snake-like neck. White scales glistened beneath tufts of blue fur that dragged down its curved spine. Shags of hair covered an almost wolf-like body, scales flattening the underbelly. Long front arms had it sit on all fours with clawed fingers curling into the wood, and the back legs were bent like a dog’s. A long white tail curled around the creature. Two feathered wings folded against its spine, and a set of antlers lifted off its head, curving back. It was a creature unlike any Jou had seen before, large and imposing. With the white stairs behind it, it looked king of this castle.

“You’re right,” the creature said, a deep voice rumbling from within its snake neck. “It is not a capital crime. I won’t kill you.”

“Kind of you,” Jou muttered.

“But you’ve stolen my property,” it said, nodding to the rose. “An act of brazen theft. I will allow you the chance to work it off.”

Jou grimaced. “I’d rather you just eat me.”

The creature smiled, its wide jaw stretching back. It made him shiver.

“Come with me,” it said.

Standing back on its bent legs, the creature moved to one of the entryways. It glanced back at Jou, who came to his feet. He pocketed the bottle, and then, just to be brassy, he took the rose.

A stone walkway led to another part of the garden. Here, the pond poured out into a more proper lake. Stone arches rose out of it, the structure that was once there long crumbled. Some glass still remained in the windows, and statues rose up from the water like drowning animals reaching for their last salvation. A large stone window looked out into the lake. It was a perfect circle folding into itself. Silver characters were etched around the circle, and the creature touched them with its claw. The lake through the window wavered, like being viewed through a looking glass.

“I’ll give you three days,” the beast said, bowing its long head. “That will give you time enough to give your gifts to your sister. If you don’t return here by dusk on the third day, I will come after you, and I’ll devour you feet first, and you can wave goodbye to your sister as you die. Does that sound fair?”

“Three days isn’t enough time to travel there and back,” Jou said.

The creature nodded to the window. “This will take you where you want to go. It will be here when you’re ready to come back. You will return here, and pay your debt to me, and I will magnanimously let you live.”

Jou’s shoulders stiffened. “You’re that in need of a maid?”

That grin again. It was a ghoulish thing. “Or a pet. Whatever catches my fancy. Three days. You understand, yes?”

He breathed out. “Yeah. I understand.”

“Good. I’ll hold you to it.”

Jou hesitated, but he reached out a hand and touched the warbling window. It felt like passing through mist. He looked again at the beast.

“Three days,” it said, showing its teeth. “And not a second longer.”

And then Jou stepped through the looking glass.

He half expected to land in the water, and the creature would laugh at its sick joke. But he felt the world shift below him, and suddenly he was standing outside the gate to the village where his sister lived. Jou looked back and saw two trees folded together in the same shape of the window. No castle, no lake, no vines, no roses. He opened his palm, where the white rose had rested. The edges were curled and beaten from how he’d held it, but it was no less real than it had been a few minutes ago.

He could run. He could give Shizuka her medicine and take to the hills. He could cross the ocean or climb to the top of a mountain, where no one would ever find him.

And then the creature might come after Shizuka, or track him anyway. No, he’d made a promise. Jou would fulfill it. It was what he had to do.

...

Shizuka hugged Jou tight when he came to the door. They sat together until their mother came in. She cooked miso, and they didn’t say a word to each other as Shizuka filled the silence with every little thing that had happened since the last time they’d been together. At night he laid on a mat in a cold back room. For a moment, he wished for the hearth of the manor, and he shook it out of his head.

Jou spent his time with his sister. They did chores together, talked, and he hugged her tight when he told her he had to go again. As the sun sunk low on the horizon of the third day, she found him outside, carrying two cups of warm tea. They sipped it quietly as stars dotted the sky.

“You don’t have to go,” she said. “I know how mom is but–”

“It’s not her,” Jou said. “I have to go back. I’ve got debts to pay.”

She looked down into her teacup. Tucked behind her left ear was the white rose, still in bloom.

“I’m always worried you won’t come back,” she said.

“I will,” he promised. “You know I will.”

She smiled at him, though it was sad, and rested her head on his shoulder. They finished their tea, and he kissed her cheek, and then as the last rays of light touched the treetops, he said goodbye.

Jou crossed through the curved trees and stepped through. The same falling sensations brought him to the other side, the water behind him. Dark made long shadows fall from the trees like reaching limbs. The water gurgled, and small fireflies flittered by like moving stars. The night was cold and silent. He let out a breath as he saw the manor in front of him, and overhead he heard the slither of scales. He turned around and jumped at the sight of the creature curled around the stone window. It slid forward to meet him.

“You returned,” the beast said. “Good. I don’t have to eat you.”

It bared its teeth in a grin. Jou did the same back.

“I’m at your service,” he said. “Whatever the price of a rose.”

“More than you think.” The beast moved close to him, heated breath against his face. Blue eyes watched him for a moment, and then it stalked back towards the manor. “It’s already getting late.”

Jou glanced back towards the stone and the lake. Night set in faster here. He raced behind the beast.

Lanterns now lit the halls of the manor, some hanging loosely from hooks, others just left on the floor. Cold pressed in from the open roof, but the light helped stave it off. There were more sections of the manor, rising up along the rocks as though climbing the mountain. More painted silk decorated the walls. One mural showed blue herons in flight across the water. Another showed the mountain painted in black and surrounded by cherry blossoms. The staircase curved up, but the creature curled up at its base, daring him to move past.

“I’m not unkind,” the beast said, tapping its clawed hand against the stone steps. “You’ll have a room, and food. I won’t have my new servant die.”

“Jounouchi,” he said. The creature blinked at him. “Jounouchi is my name. I’m not your servant.”

“We’ll see,” it said.

Jou’s lip twisted, and he shook his head. “And what should I call you?”

The creature lifted its long head and leaned in close to stare at him. He didn’t back down from the glare. Lifting back onto its hind legs, it stood proud and regal, wings stretched out.

“I am prince of this castle,” it said. “This is my domain. All here are beneath me.”

“King Kaiba,” Jou said with a mock bow.

The creature’s feathers bristled. “How do you know that name?”

“It’s the name on the gate,” he said. “Unless you ate them too.”

Its teeth bore back in a grimace. “I did not. No, I’m inheritor of this estate. The last Kaiba bore me up. I am his final curse.”

“Then,” Jou said, “this is your home. This was your family.”

“In the strictest sense.”

The beast’s stance had gone from regal to tense. The wings folded back, the tail curled tight. Jou looked closer at the creature’s face. The eyes, blue eyes, seemed so cold, but now he could see something almost human. It–he must’ve sensed his searching gaze. The beast turned his head away.

“I’m tired of this conversation,” he said. “You can rest tonight. With sunrise, your work begins.”

“What about–”

“And don’t bother me.”

Before Jou could add anything else, the beast raised its wings and pushed off to the floor above. His tail disappeared into the tattered wooden planks, and he could only hear his creaking weight against the beams. Jou took a step onto the stairs, looking up, but he couldn’t see anything in the dark. Kaiba had made things clear. He was sequestered down here, while the beast could go where it pleased.

Jou opened the doors he could. There was a bed made up for him, simple but not uncomfortable. The kitchen was huge, with a fire started that didn’t quite reach the edges of the room. There were fresh bags of rice and simple vegetables, enough to make a meal out of. Jou’s stomach was in knots, and they only grew tighter as he took inventory of what he had. His host had prepared for him to stay a long time.

There was a room to bathe, though the water came from the pond around them, and Jou wasn’t ready to trust. A half-shuttered door was impossible to open, but he could peek a tea room through it. A long corridor came to a shoin where the shelves had been knocked aside. Scrolls and statues littered the floor, long ruined by weather. In most rooms, the doors and walls were torn apart by the nature around them. Tree limbs burst in and grew to the ceiling. Water grew higher where floorboards had sunken in, and wood beams fell against doors, making them impossible to force open. Jou’s exploration earned him little. He returned the hearth and rested his head beside it. Overhead, he could hear the movement of the house in the wind. Was it the beast that crawled around? Was he watching him now? How quickly would he tire of his new toy and, when he did, would Jou be allowed to leave?

Jou closed his eyes and thought of Shizuka. He’d promised her he’d return. No beast would stand between him and fulfilling that promise. He was absolutely sure of that.

#this needs a better title #it's still being worked on #i've been wanting to write this for so long #i'm really going to try to finish it #joukai week #kaijou #joey wheeler #seto kaiba #Jounouchi Katsuya

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