#i also think about how after she passed && prior to going to the blessed isles viego put gwen && all isoldes beloved

[sepublic]

Luz’s time in the Boiling Isles?

          Building off of a previous post, we know that Eda only sells human garbage on weekends; Otherwise, she sells potions during the week. With this incredibly vital piece of information, let’s analyze the timeline of each episode, and calculate once and for all; How long has Luz been on the Boiling Isles? Keep in mind… I’m only calculating the minimum amount of time, because the possibility for entire days and even weeks passing between episodes isn’t out of the question; But given how Luz is operating on limited time before she heads back home when summer ends…

          For now, let’s just try not to assume anything, and work with only the actual evidence we have; So unless stated otherwise, we’re operating on the assumption that a minimum amount of time takes place between episodes, unless proof states otherwise! Because we know as of the Season Finale that Camila doesn’t yet expect Luz to be back from Reality Check Camp, and Luz expresses no concerns about an impending deadline; Ergo, we’re working with as little time as possible, while still leaving some room here or there…

          A Lying Witch and a Warden takes place on a BI Sunday, because Eda is selling human trash, and the very next day it’s potions! Witches before Wizards, by this logic, takes place on the BI Monday right after!

          Next comes I was a Teenage Abomination; We know it’s on a school day, so it’s likely the same week as WbW. Then there’s The Intruder; Willow is briefly seen at the beginning wearing her casual outfit. There’s no indication of what time of day it is when this all happens, and we know from Really Small Problems that Willow can and has worn her casual outfit the morning before changing into her uniform for the school day; Regardless, even if it was a weekday or a BI Saturday, it doesn’t matter. Because immediately afterwards…

          …We have Covention! THAT opens with Eda, Luz, and King selling human garbage, so it’s officially been a full week since Luz has arrived! Happy one-week anniversary, I guess…? Regardless, we segway into Hooty’s Moving Hassle; The trio are hanging around at the Owl House instead of selling stuff, and only head into Bonesborough to get more elixirs for Eda’s curse. Coupled with how Willow and Gus arrive wearing their school uniforms, it’s safe to say the opening scenes take place after-school on a week day.

          Lost in Language! This one is SUPER helpful, because Emira, bless her, outright says that Covention happened last week; Given how this episode takes place over the course of a day, and yet Amity is at the library instead of school (and she would NEVER skip class), it’s obviously a weekend. It’s worth noting that Eda and King aren’t selling human trash on this day, but that’s likely because the Bat Queen had just dropped off her kids that morning, so it was just a change of plans.

          Next is Once Upon a Swap; We start with the gang selling human trash again. It’s possible a full week has transpired, and we’ve jumped into the next weekend… Or, LiL happened on a BI Saturday, and OUaS is a Sunday (which means the same day Eda woke up to find the Bat Queen’s children missing, she switched everyone’s bodies). We know that Amity is Top Student for a reason; You don’t get that position by being a slow reader. Coupled with how she’s an avid fan of The Good Witch Azura, it’s likely that she finishes the book Luz gave her sooner, rather than later… So for now, LiL and OUaS happen back-to-back, one day after the other! That, or LiL begins after-school on Friday… Regardless, it’s still only been two weeks since Luz arrived!

          Now, I know that you might be thinking- At the end of OUaS, Hooty says it’s time for his Monthly Cleaning, and yet earlier that day Luz shows disgust about having to clean him; Implying she’s participated in a previous monthly cleaning! And to that I say… NO, that doesn’t necessarily mean that. All it means is that Luz knows Hooty is filthy and thus dreads the idea of having to clean him. It doesn’t necessarily point to her having been part in a previous monthly cleaning. So for now, it’s just been two weeks.

          Something Ventured, Someone Framed is a school day, obviously. Then we have Escape of the Palisman; Presumably another school day, because a school game takes place and we see Willow and other students in their school uniforms! Gus is wearing a sweater over his, but otherwise; EotP probably takes place on a BI Friday! So THREE weeks have passed!

          Then comes Sense and Insensitivity; It starts on a weekend because human trash is being sold, but what’s interesting is that it takes place over the course of a few days, as Eda says she’ll be gone for that amount of time; Not to mention, even with magic, it’d likely take time for King to have Ruler’s Reach edited, printed, advertised, and gain an avid fanbase. In addition to people already expecting a sequel announcement, and how a few days is usually by minimum three… It’s likely that this episode extends into the week as well. We see Boscha and a few other Hexside student in their school uniforms, but this can easily be explained as either happening after-school, as well as the fact that there’s not much of a reason to go and design a bunch of unique, casual outfits for some background characters; Boscha and her friends are also seen in their school uniforms during Once Upon a Swap, which IS a weekend.

          (Now this raises the question; If this happened over a few days, what was Luz doing before King invited her? Well… she was all alone, typing her story by herself, sad because her friend ditched her for a few days. 😢)

          Next is Adventures in the Elements! We have no indication on when a Trash Day is, and what’s the logic behind it, if there’s any consistent scheduling, etc. It doesn’t really matter though; We immediately see Amity in her casual attire, and later that day she and the twins are practicing magic on the Knee. It’s safe to say that this is a weekend, and/or…

          Remember what I said earlier, about how SaI likely extended into the week? Well, if it’s a weekend already… Then that implies an entire WEEK has passed between SaI and AitE! And, remember… In SVSF, Principal Bump mentions that Luz will go to Hexside when the next semester starts; We don’t know how semesters work in the Boiling Isles school system. For all we know, they’re more akin to a six-week grading period if anything else (even if they don’t last as long).

          That being said, the idea that there’s a full week of no school between semesters is also possible… We don’t know if summer vacation is a thing on the Boiling Isles, so perhaps a whole week off between semesters compensates for this? That, or there is no compensation, period, given how the school system in the Boiling Isles is clearly flawed and spends emphasis on molding children into obedient workers.

          For now, I’m inclined to say that a week has passed between SaI and AitE… But if one considers that Amity is still reading Azura when this all happens, then that means it’s taken her two weeks to finish the book; That, or she finished the book within a few days and didn’t have the chance to meet up with Luz until two weeks later. Amity IS the Top Student, so combined with her parents’ pressure, she may not have a very open schedule; Which could also drag out her time reading Azura.

          That might seem like a stretch in more than just the temporal way, so I’ll keep an open mind; It’s worth noting that if I AM right and there’s a full week of no school, then it’s not out of the question for AitE to have taken place on a weekday. The fact that Amity isn’t going to school, and yet Eda doesn’t seem to be having any plans to sell human garbage prior to Luz’s request to be taught a second spell (she’s at home trying to cook sentient vegetables), indicates this ISN’T a weekend, but a weekday with no school.

          My point is, if SaI started on a Saturday at minimum (because Eda is selling human trash), and a few days have passed… Then it doesn’t make sense for Amity to be wearing casual clothes and not going to school, UNLESS a full week has passed, or there isn’t school for a week (or maybe a day, but this is between semesters too). An entire week has to have passed either way, because it doesn’t make much sense for a semester to end and begin within the same week; Regardless, it’s only a one-week difference when we ultimately tally up Luz’s time on the Boiling Isles, as of the Season 1 finale.

          (Mind you, it could all just be a continuity error; But that’s no fun, is it!)

          The next episode is The First Day… Very clearly a BI Monday, unless it started on a Tuesday for whatever reason; Regardless, it’s during the school week, and likely early into it! Next is Really Small Problems, which would’ve been a school day- But Boscha’s pet pixies caused class to be cancelled. Then Understanding Willow has Luz and her friends at school… Followed by Enchanting Grom Fright! EGF likely takes place by the end of the week, as that’s usually when such formal occasions happen; Keep in mind, at least two whole days pass during this episode, one at school, and the other when Amity is training Luz on her fears! It’s possible this training period happens after-school, especially given how she mentions that they have no more time left once it ends. So EGF potentially starts on a BI Thursday, before ending on a Friday night. Either way, the week has ended- That’s FIVE weeks, baby!

           Now, we go into Wing it like Witches! It’s the very beginning of Grudgby Season, so I think it’s a safe assumption to say that this episode takes place on a BI Monday- So it’s the next week after Grom. This episode comes and goes across the span of a day, not much else to say here. Then we have Agony of a Witch… What’s interesting is that in the previous episode, Lilith mentions how she WILL be back to capture Eda, and how she alludes to Belos getting impatient. Not only that, but Amity’s leg is still broken in Agony of a Witch, too…

          We know that witches have access to healing magic, and that Amity is using a Healing Glyph to speed up her recovery. Grudgby Cards released as supplementary material to the episode allude to witches having regenerative abilities- With or without this possibility, we can assume that Amity is going to heal sooner rather than later because of magic, in addition to Lilith likely intending to capture Eda ASAP as Belos’ patience wears thin. We know AoaW takes place during a school day as well, as this is when Luz has a field trip to Belos’ castle… With all that in mind, we can probably infer this episode as having happened later that same week that Amity broke her leg. The day ends with Luz walking back home across the Boiling Isles by herself, on-foot, the ENTIRE way back to the Owl House… And then sunrise, meaning Luz has been walking for the whole night… 🥺

           …And then we have Young Blood, Old Souls- Our long-awaited Season Finale! Considering what Luz, Lilith, and Belos all have at stake here… It doesn’t make much sense for them to wait an entire day before getting along their respective business with Eda; And with how the scenes are framed, it’s all but said that YBOS takes place the day after the field trip… So right after Luz arrived back at the Owl House at the end of AoaW that morning, she barely got any time to rest before she changed into her regular clothes and enacted her rescue mission, that same day! Jeez… Luz must’ve been EXHAUSTED by the end of the episode, and coupled with the relief of finally rescuing Eda in the end- She deserves a nice long rest!

           Young Blood, Old Souls takes place across an entire day… I can’t tell if it’s a school day or not, because- Willow and Gus ARE shown in their casual outfits during the episode… But they were also seen wearing their casual outfits the morning of RSP, right before they planned to head to school, only to find out it was cancelled. We also see other Hexside Students in this episode, but they’re always depicted with their uniforms on, school day or not. Even if it were a school day, I can see Belos making a special occasion to cancel school so he can have everyone gather for his petrification of Eda… And there’s also the chance that by the time we see Willow and Gus, their school day has already ended, and everything’s happening in the evening.

           (If so, then this leaves room for Luz having at least had a decent nap and meal before going off to rescue Eda, the poor girl.)

           Regardless… We know that Agony of a Witch and Young Blood, Old Souls happen back-to-back, right after one another, across the span of exactly two days; From the morning of one day, to nighttime of the next. Because Amity’s leg is still broken despite having the Healing Glyph applied as of the Season Finale… We can probably assume that the final two episodes happen sooner rather than later; So it’s likely that our last two episodes of Season 1 occur later in the same week as WilW. Regardless of whether or not the season finale is on a weekend or a BI Friday; It’s basically been about a week, for all intents and purposes. So then our last three episodes of Season 1 happen across Luz’s sixth week at the Boiling Isles, by minimum.

           So, to round it up; Luz has been in the Boiling Isles for SIX WEEKS at minimum, potentially longer; Maybe five, if my calculations about an entire week passing between Sense and Insensitivity and The First Day are wrong. Potentially as little as FOUR, if I’m also wrong about Lost in Language and Once Upon a Swap happening back-to-back! So, 4-6 Weeks by minimum, with my estimations leaning into the latter number. We know that Luz is supposed to be at the Reality Check Camp for presumably the entire summer… So that’s about three months; Six weeks is about a month and a half, so about halfway through Luz’s intended time away from home, before she was supposed to return- And in line with Luz not showing any concern about having to leave the Boiling Isles, anytime soon. Luz has a decent amount of time before summer ends, and Camila realizes that her kid is missing!

           Of course, we don’t know how long it’ll be between Seasons 1 and 2, how much time will occur across Season 2; And there’s always the possibility of Camila suspecting that something is up before Reality Check Camp is bound to end, because Luz is no longer responding to her texts. We also don’t know how things are going on the end of whoever is impersonating Luz with those letters, and how they’d be affected by the portal’s destruction, if at all… For all we know, there might even be a doppelganger of Luz that’ll be sent in her place, by the time she’s supposed to return from Reality Camp! And that’s not even taking into account the possibility of Luz finding her way back home before Reality Camp ends…

           Regardless of how things will happen in the future, as of now; I think Luz has been on the Boiling Isles for six weeks by minimum. There’s still room and possibility for additional weeks to have occurred between certain episodes and more ambiguous time frames- Not to mention the idea of Boiling Isles weeks being structured differently from ours… Maybe they have more days or less- We’ve seen a calendar or two in the background that could point in either direction, but nothing outright definitive. And even if weeks were shorter/longer, there’s the consideration of how long each day/night lasts, and how that’ll overlap with Earth time… So Luz’s stay COULD be shorter/longer than the equivalent of six Earth weeks, who can say? Though for the sake of simplicity and everyone’s sanity, I wouldn’t be shocked if Dana and the crew decided that Boiling Isles time runs concurrent with Earth time, for the most part.

          Whether or not I’m correct, I think it does put into some perspective how much time Luz has spent at the Owl House, and the bonds, relationships, and growth she’s experienced during her stay! It definitely helps you appreciate what Luz and the others have accomplished, and how far their journey has progressed together- That this really is a summer that has changed Luz’s life more fundamentally, more succinctly across a shorter span of time, than most of her life… And it becomes clear just how impactful Luz’s second home and found family in the Boiling Isles is to her, and vice-versa!

          Because Luz hasn’t just been changed- She’s changed OTHERS, from Eda, to King… Willow, Gus, Amity- And she’s even instated quite a bit of change in the Boiling Isles itself, changing up Hexside’s curriculum and planting the seeds of a rebellion against Belos; In addition to rediscovering Glyphs, and how that can really change what it means to be a Witch going forward- Because now, it seems the role of ‘Witch’ has become much more inclusive once more, thanks to Luz! Dredging up the ancient past, while influencing the present and future so immensely across such a relatively brief period of time; Luz really is such a cryptid and outside-context anomaly to the Boiling Isles, befitting someone who comes from another reality entirely!

#the owl house #toh #the owl house luz #luz noceda #speculation #theory #meta #analysis

[the-curious-butterfly]

I Want to be Yours

I do like to work on small things in between big projects and this thought occurred to me when me and my sister were talking about the last episode. If Amity’s parents can decide who she’s friends with then what’s stopping them from deciding who she dates. After all, she is getting up there in age. 

To say she felt disgust was an understatement. She was angry, she was appalled, she was distraught and overcome with desperation. Proud, Amity Blight, was desperate to find any way out of the predicament she found herself in. She had collapsed and sank to her knees soon as she entered her room while the events of moments prior played in her mind like a nightmare on loop. 

“Amity, it has come to I and your Father’s attention that you are going to be fifteen this year will you not?” 

“Yes, mother” Amity replied in a tone that would not dare to be anything but polite. 

“I’m sure you are aware that the son of an important friend of ours has recently turned fifteen?” Her Father.

As if she could be anything but aware, Amity was quite certain she knew who they were speaking of. She had been forced to go to his party and suffer the humiliation of being openly gawked at by not just him but his friends. The whole event made her sick to her stomach and if not for her fortitude she’d have thrown up the cake upon first bite. 

“I’m aware, but what does he have to do with anything?” She wondered or at least tried to pretend the ice in her veins wasn’t what she thought it was. But Amity has never been an idiot. 

“Do not play dumb child, you know he likes you.” her mother chided.

Amity internally blanched, like was a strong word. 

“He likes a lot of girls.” She tried desperately to steer the topic away though she knew, with no small amount of dread, that the outcome was unavoidable. 

“He’s a man, of course he does, but I heard from his father that he’s particularly interested in you.” 

Of course he is. Roman “liked” every girl. But he eyed Amity more often then most. Many guys like him did, she was smart, pretty, strong-willed, and loaded. Their desire to own her was purely for their own egos rather than actually caring for her.

“What am I suppose to do about it?” 

“Watch your tone with us, child.” Her father began. “We’ve been informed that he will be making his intentions known to you at school tomorrow. You will say yes.” 

She knew, she knew this was inevitable but she still dared to hope. Please, please don’t do this to her. To make matters worse Amity did have someone she liked, someone that she knew would never be approved. 

“Mom, dad, please I don’t-” 

“A Blight does not beg!” 

“But I don’t like him!” 

“You will in time, he’s everything a girl wants in a man.” Then maybe her mother should date him. 

He is nothing that Amity wants. Amity wants brown hair and gentle hazel eyes. Tan skin that was almost too soft to be real, and a heart so big that not even the giant that made up the isles could compare let alone the scruffy jerk with rough hands known as Roman. 

“He’s nothing a girl should want!” 

“That’s enough, Amity Blight!” Her father screamed with enough force to have her cower in fear and nearly bring her hands up for protection. An act she still struggles with but knew would only serve to enrage him further. 

“You will say yes and that is final, now leave my sight!”

Amity didn’t need to be told twice as she bolted out of the sitting room and up the spiral staircase, grateful that she wouldn’t have to pass her sibling’s rooms to get to hers. 

This was a nightmare, she’d rather endure being best friends with Boscha than be Roman’s... It’s a good thing there wasn’t anything in her stomach cause it would have ended up on her floor with how sick the very thought of the word made her feel. 

But she’ll have to endure it tomorrow. Even pretend that she was happy about it, and while Amity has done a lot of pretending over the years even she wasn’t that good an actor. 

What was she to do, she doesn’t want this. She didn’t want to get rid of her best friend, she didn’t want to be friends with Boscha and Skara, she doesn’t want this! Why couldn’t they care about what she wanted?! 

It’s not fair. 

It’s just not fair.  

~~~

Luz had been psyching herself up for this for a few days now but today was the day. Today, nothing will stop her from telling that special person how she truly felt! ‘Just don’t think about the fact that they’re way out of your league and will likely laugh at your confession.’ Dang can her brain be the worst sometimes. 

“Gee thanks, now I can’t help but think about it.” 

“Think about what?” Willow asked as she stood before the locker next to hers. “Are you having second thoughts about telling Amity again?” At first Luz was hesitant but she quickly learned that it was okay to confide in Willow about her crush. While the two weren’t on the best terms they also weren’t on the worst and despite everything Willow couldn’t blame Luz. She was mature enough to admit that Amity was quite something when she wanted to be and it would be a lie to say she didn’t notice the sparks between them. The plant witch would never stand in the way of love no matter who the person was.

 “Second thoughts, more like fifth thoughts. She won’t be the first person I ever confessed to but I’ve never confessed to someone so completely...”

“Perfect?” Willow offered, not that she meant it she just wanted to help. 

“Yes! Amity is...and I’m just...I can’t even think of words! What happens when I go to tell her and I forget how to use them entirely so I’m just standing there making dying animal sounds!?” 

“I’m sure it won’t be that bad. And besides no matter what happens she’ll say yes cause she definitely-”

“Likes you!” Another voice pierces the air and the two looked over to see a group of witches standing around a rather handsome but cocky looking young man that even Luz knew who he was despite only starting school rather recently, Roman. The one speaking was Roman’s rather high-pitched Lackey, Lefou. “But who doesn’t?”

“You aren’t wrong, Lefou, I plan to tell her after school today.”

“Man, but do you really have to go and make every guy jealous? I mean, Amity Blight?” 

Luz’s eyes widened and her heart sank upon hearing the name. Roman was gonna confess after school today? Dear gods in witch heaven let there be some other Amity Blight who lives on the Boiling Isles. 

“You kidding, Jake, who else could it be but Roman? Why are you crying when you never had a chance to begin with.” The other guys laughed and ‘jokingly’ shoved Jake around as they started to walk down the hall past Luz and Willow. 

“So how do you plan on asking her?” 

“I’ll offer to walk her home then ask her when we get there. My family is good friends with Mr. and Mrs. Blight so I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if I said hello. Maybe even ask for their blessing.” He knew he would get it of course, knew that the Blight parents loved him. It was all for show and to ensure that Amity said yes. But no one needed to know that. 

A few of his posse did though for they snickered at his comment and it wasn’t till they turned the corner that Luz realized she had been holding her breath. Willow was the one who had to remind her how to breath lest she almost pass out.

“Luz, it’s gonna be okay, you can still-Luz wait!” But she didn’t wait, she ran as fast as she could to the nearest restroom, not bothering to make sure she was going into the right one considering bathroom labels were also weird around here. 

“Hey watch it!” She had ran into a ?girl? just on the other side of the door so that was good, I guess, it was the right one. But Luz didn’t bother to say sorry as she hurried into a stall and closed the door. She simply closed the lid and sat down on it bringing her knees up to wrap her arms around. 

Of course it had to turn out this way. That the exact day Luz had planned to confess her feelings to the girl she really likes, like a lot, someone else, who was clearly better than her, thought to do the same. 

Luz didn’t like Roman, didn’t like him at all but girls tended to like Roman and who’s to say Amity wasn’t one of them. Why wouldn’t Amity say yes to him, he was handsome, powerful, and not a human. His family was almost as well-off as the Blights. He seem like the type her parents would definitely approve of unlike Luz. What was Luz thinking, confessing to the most popular and amazing witch in school. She’s done crazy things before but this one takes the cake on insanity. 

“Luz?” There was Willow’s gentle voice following her into the bathroom like the good friend she was, but she didn’t reply. 

“Luz, I know you’re in here.” 

Still she was silent.

“Luz it’s gonna be okay. For what it’s worth I still think you should try telling her how you feel.” 

“What’s the point?” She finally spoke up, her voice cracking under the strain it took to speak. “This isn’t the first time this happened, why would she choose a weirdo like me?” 

“You might be a weirdo but you’re also sweet, funny, and incredibly likable. Trust me, I’ve known Amity for years and I’ve never seen her act with anyone else the way she does with you.” 

All was silent again save for Luz’s sniffling. 

“Just, try at least this one time? Trust me, I know I can only really speak for the Amity I use to know but...she would not have liked Roman. Believe me, I’m not kidding when I said I know she likes you too.” 

Luz really did try to come up with a way to reply but she just couldn’t. What she was feeling now was just one of those feelings you couldn’t easily get rid of and just had to feel them out. Something Willow gratefully understood for she told Luz. 

“I’ll be at our lunch table when you’re ready. Just, think over whatever it is you want to do. If there’s something you truly want, don’t let an unknown variable control the outcome.” With that the door opened and Luz heard footsteps leaving the bathroom but not long after did they return. Luz decided she had enough of keeping quiet. 

“Willow, I know what I truly want, and I know that it’s Amity. And you are right that I should still try despite the circumstances but it’s just really hard to find the strength right now.” 

This time it was Willow’s turn to be silent which Luz didn’t mind, until it felt like the silence was stretching on for too long. 

“Willow?” 

“Um....hi.” 

Luz’s mind went blank, the only thing it was able to tell her was that was definitely not Willow’s voice. In fact it sounded like. She stood up from where she sat and dared to peek over the stall door. Sure enough there was “Amity?!” 

The girl was smiling rather shyly as she waved up at her, her cheeks a light pink. 

“I must admit that while I have been confessed to a few times in my life it was never like, nor have I ever expected it to be like, this.” She brought the hand that was waving up over her lips to stifle a giggle. 

“I’m sorry!” She spoke rather quickly as she exited the stall. “I had this other thing planned out that I was gonna do today but then I heard Roman and totally lost my resolve so I came in here...and...and...and you aren’t repulsed.” 

“Ugh, I really don’t want to think about Roman, but why would I be repulsed?” Amity looked rather confused at the notion. Though Luz couldn’t help but smile at the confirmation that Amity did not like Roman it was quickly replaced by a look of fear.

“Because now you know that I have feelings for you.” 

“Why should that repulse me?” Amity was still very genuinely confused. 

“Because...it’s me?” 

“And what’s wrong with you?” 

The nonchalant manner in which Amity spoke left Luz rather confused on how to answer the question. “Well, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me but others have begged to differ, especially when they’re amazing and perfect like you. BUT NOT as perfect of course, there’s no one like you. I mean, wow , I really did end up sounding like a dying animal did I? Just in a different way than I expected.” 

Amity’s blush kept deepening the more she spoke until the part about the animal which had her bursting out in a laughing fit that not even her dainty little hand could hide. 

Despite the storm of things she was feeling inside, Luz couldn’t help but smile. There was no better sound then Amity’s laughter. Except maybe what the witch said to her next. It took a moment for her to calm down but when she finally did Amity decided to admit something to Luz. 

“If it makes you feel any better, I have feelings for you too.” 

“What, really?” 

“Have you ever known me to lie?” No Amity tended to be rather straight forward. 

“What about Roman? I hard he was gonna walk you home and then ask.”

That had been on Amity’s mind all day and honestly the reason she had come in here was to be alone with that suffocating feeling of dread. But right now she found that she couldn’t bring herself to care for just this one moment.

“If he can’t find me he can’t ask me.” True it may be easier said than done but she’ll find a way to make it work. Amity always does. 

Luz looked down between them. “What about your parents, they probably wouldn’t approve of me.” Amity silenced her with a kiss to the cheek. 

“I’m slowly coming to understand why Ed and Em do what they do, I don’t know what’s going to happen from here but...I want to be yours, Luz. Not Roman’s or anyone else.” 

Luz couldn’t hold in the giddiness those words made her feel and did an adorable little excited dance on the spot. “I want to be yours too, for as long as you’ll have me!” 

Amity’s eyes went wide but she quickly regained her composure. “I’ll hold you to that. For now we should probably head to lunch, though, the bathroom isn’t exactly what I consider the most private or romantic place for this.” 

Oh that’s right they were in the girls bathroom. Wow, how had someone not came in during all that time? “Thank you witch gods!” Luz accidentally said out loud. 

“I’m sorry, what?” 

“Oh uh, ehehe it’s nothing really.” Luz rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly before offering her hand for Amity to take, like the gentlewoman she is.

Amity smiled warmly as she took it without hesitation. 

~~~

Have I ever mentioned that writing for these two is a lot of fun. I love them and just want them to be happy. 

#the owl house #amity blight #luz noceda #lumity

[aewriting]

Loathly - Chapter 5

Here is Chapter 5 of my “Sir Gawain and the Dame Ragnell” Malex AU.

Here are all parts on AO3.

Warning for ageism, sexism, homophobia.

***

“Woman?” Flint says loudly. “More stew!”

Alex eyes the Lady Guerin. She doesn’t even pause, simply sets down her own bowl, gathers her skirts, and wordlessly takes Flint’s empty bowl and ladles another serving of stew into it. “My lord,” she says quietly, obediently, as Flint accepts it. Jesse is looking on approvingly, and Alex exhales a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.  Lady Guerin is being… surprisingly submissive lately, ever since her conversation with Alex about Jelnos. To be sure, she is still herself with Alex – sharp, witty, opinionated. But with his brothers and father… Perhaps hearing about Kyle’s fate had impressed upon her the depths of his father’s hatred.

Alex watches as the Lady Guerin resettles herself on the log she is using as a seat.  She doesn’t reach for her bowl.  “My king,” she says, voice hesitant and soft, and Alex freezes. “Have I permission to ask a question?”

Jesse’s mouth twitches, and for a moment, Alex thinks he is going to deny her. “I’ll allow it,” he finally says.

Lady Guerin dips her head low. “Oh thank you, my king,” she says, sounding genuinely grateful.  Alex’s eyes narrow. “I feel blessed by the gods to have played some small part in assisting you with King Noah.  I hardly dare ask anything more, but I must know, when can I expect to wed Sir Alex?”

“Eager, are you?”

A convincing blush appears on the woman’s face.  “He has been most attentive, my king, even in the midst of this unusual situation.  There are some who would find it unseemly for a woman to be traveling, alone, with a group of male companions.  A quick marriage would surely silence any wagging tongues.”

Jesse huffs a bit.  “I don’t know that I share your concern, my lady, given that the parties in question are you,” Alex hears the note of distaste, “and my son Alex. But I am eager to resolve our bargain.  We shall hold a small gathering the evening after our return. One of our clergy will perform the ceremony at the castle.  No need for a spectacle.”

The woman’s face scrunches up in concern.  “That… is unfortunate.”

Jesse’s frame goes rigid. “You dare to question me?”

The woman’s brow furrows. She looks regretful.  “It is not… not a question, my king, simply an observation. It has been such a busy time for you, and I am so unused to being in the presence of such greatness.  I may not have spoken with proper clarity earlier, when I informed you that King Noah had, prior to you besting him, boasted about your impending death to all who would hear it.” She bites her lip.  “You, of course, are all-powerful within your realm, and I heard nary a word of your troubles with King Noah inside Unidos. But over the border, in Antar…” she trails off.  “The rumors there… by the gods, the things I heard were far worse than what actually transpired!” She sighs. “And I can only imagine what King Noah has told his allies.”

Jesse’s gaze is hard as he considers her.  “You clearly have your own ideas about this matter, so what do you suggest?”

“A feast.  A grand display. An opportunity to present the truth, to your people and to all the kingdoms in the land.  Let it be known, far and wide, that King Manes of Unidos has bested Antar. It was your own cunning that allowed you to discern the correct answer, of the many you received. You needn’t have trusted me, but you did,” she says.  “That was a decision borne of your own wisdom.” Her gaze drops. “I know what I am. I am no prize, especially for a royal son.  But what a statement it would make, for all to know that your son had such love for you, such loyalty that he would marry a woman of my station, my appearance, just because it pleased you, my king.”  She raises those amber eyes now, and the effect is striking.  “Let your kingdom, and all kingdoms, know your power.”

Alex is stock-still, eyes darting from his father to the woman and back.  

Jesse eyes her, a glint in his eye. “King Noah… he has spoken poorly of me? Of my cunning, my strength?”

The woman gives a shuddery little sigh.  “He has spoken abominably, my king.”

Jesse nods, a tight little motion. “That cannot stand.” He pauses. “We shall have a feast. A grand banquet with all of our allies.  I want everyone to see me in my power, to know that I have bested King Noah of Antar in a battle of wits.” His smile goes hard. “It will also ensure that my youngest son be properly and publicly recognized for his life-long commitment to you, my dear woman.”  He emphasizes the last word as his gaze slides to Alex.

Alex steadily meets his father’s gaze, nods in submission.  Jesse smiles.

***

They’ve ridden about a mile when Alex finally speaks.  “You said you wouldn’t lie.”

He hears the woman scoff. “I said I wouldn’t lie to you,” she says, matter-of-factly.  “I believe it is a matter of survival that I lie to your father and brothers. Fools that they are…” she mutters.

“My brothers, I will give you. But my father…” Alex says, voice tight.

“Are, are you cross?” asks the Lady Guerin, gently squeezing Alex’s shoulder.  

Alex sighs. “Not… not cross, just confused.  Why would you want a large wedding?  Nothing about you that I have seen so far would lead me to believe that you desire such a display.”

“I wish for my protection to be public knowledge. I have seen the way your brothers look at me.  Your father.  Frankly, I am relieved to still be part of this journey.”

Alex shifted uncomfortably, thinking back to his earlier conversation with Flint. “You said you had troubles with King Noah.”

“Yes.”

Alex bit his lip.  “You don’t… don’t have designs on the crown, do you? Of Unidos or Antar?”

The woman chuckles.  “By the gods, no. I am but one woman, and King Noah is very powerful.  And Unidos, well… I would not move against your father or brothers.” She pauses. “Unless you desired it.”

Alex huffs a breath. “Of course not.”

“Of course not,” the woman repeats.  “My other reason for having a large, public celebration of our marriage is for you, Sir Alex. Your allies, even your enemies, they know the sort of ruler your father is. The sort of man. But you… I want to show them that you are different.”

“How?”

Alex can feel the woman shrug. “You are marrying me. Willingly. Without disgust or embarrassment. I told your father that such an action would reflect well on him, and to some it may.  But for most, I believe that the favor will fall on you.”

“Why… why does such a thing matter to you, my lady?”

Her hand twists in his cloak, grasps at him.  “You are good, Sir Alex.  I… I was not expecting that.  You are a good man, and that deserves recognition.” Lady Guerin’s voice is unsteady with emotion. She seems to realize how tightly she is holding onto Alex, and eases her grip. “And if I am about to join the royal family of Unidos, I want to be able to learn more about the world I will inhabit.  Who attends a feast only out of obligation?  Who jostles for attention?  That sort of thing.”

“My lady,” Alex says with a light laugh, “I fear you may be too cunning for your own well-being, at times.”

He feels the woman lean back a bit. “And does that displease you, my cunning?”

Alex shakes his head and reaches up to give the woman’s hand a light squeeze.  “No, not of itself.  I… I value your cunning. You have a way of… extracting what you want that is truly a talent.  I just worry about my father. He does not favor you.”

“Has he ever favored a woman, or anyone that he could not totally control?”

Alex is silent.

“If it makes you feel better, Sir Alex,” says the woman softly.  “I do not intend to be in his crosshairs for long.”

***

They are nearing Unidos. Once there, Alex knows there will be much business to attend to, and he realizes that he will actually miss the constant company of the Lady Guerin.  With her, he finds that he can speak freely, about nearly any topic.  She listens to him, but not in a submissive way, or in a manipulative manner, as with the courtiers. No, she seems to be genuinely interested in his ideas, his opinions, and ready to speak of her own, too, even when she disagrees with Alex.  

His father informed him yesterday of his intent to conduct the wedding ceremony as soon as possible. Alex knows that his father sees this as a form of control for Alex, and cannot possibly comprehend that Alex actually… likes the Lady Guerin.  Not, not as a marriage should be, he thinks, but he could have never had such a union anyway, not in Unidos.  No, if he must marry a woman, the Lady Guerin is as fine a match as any.  His father, for whom women play one of three roles - broodmare, political pawn, or pleasure object – could never understand such an arrangement.

Alex and the Lady Guerin are talking politics, at the moment.

“Who do you think will attend the wedding? Who will be invited?” she’d asked, miles ago, and it had helped the time pass, with Alex telling her at length about the various alliances and rivalries within the kingdoms.  

“King Elios will come,” Alex says, distaste evident.  “He and my father are cut from the same cloth.”

“Along with King Bartos,” the woman says, note of bitterness in her voice.

Alex pauses.  “He… I doubt that he will make the journey, given his state.”

“His state?” the woman says, sharply.

“Yes. Since the accident, he has rarely been seen in public.  His wife, the Queen Elizabeth, has assumed his duties, and I daresay the Tamarin Isles have been all the better for it.”

The woman exhales slowly.  “I don’t doubt it.  I was unaware that there had been an accident, that Queen Elizabeth was in power. Anyone would be better than Bartos, that brute.”

“You don’t know the half,” Alex says, darkly.  “Queen Elizabeth… she is my cousin.  She grew up here, as Lady Elizabeth, in Unidos with me.”

“A beauty, I have heard.”

“Oh yes,” Alex affirms.  “But not just that.  Clever.  So smart.”

“I… I have heard that, too,” the lady murmurs, almost fondly.

“My father never liked that much.” Alex pauses.  “Tried to block her from accessing the palace libraries, shadowing the royal physicians…” He smiles at the memory.  “I was her accomplice.” The smile fades, replaced by something hard and bitter. “She was fourteen when father arranged the match with Bartos. Everyone knew of his reputation.” Alex’s jaw tightens. “I am glad of his fate – is that awful?”

“What, what did happen to him, exactly?” the woman asks, curious.

“It is a queer thing,” Alex says, “for they say it was a clear night. He was struck down. By lightning.”

#my fic #malex #roswell nm #sir gawain and the dame ragnell au

[antirrhinum-magus]

12 Feb 1942 / ??? 1895

Dear Mum and Dad,

Sorry about the question marks, Grampa Moseley hasn’t told us what day it is yet.  I guess we’ll find out in the morning, unless Waltera comes back for us.

We made it back to Stillwater this morning.  It has become sort of a Boom Town for some mining operation.  Had?  Will have had?  They finished the Statue though - it was very nice.   But the Temple of Geshtiana was all dark and shut down looking, and we were afraid we’d Ruined Everything even though we already freed the Goddess.  But it was okay they’d just turned into ninja assassins - Eronin was the word Brigit used.

Brigit is (was?  will be?) still there, but she’d gotten Very Intense and we were afraid she was going to kill us, but we returned Persephone’s body to her and that made her very happy.  It looks like when we Divided the space between the Palace of Geshtiana and the Palace of Shakaar when we were in Celestis the Divinities all got mixed up with each other, so now Brigit and her Acolytes follow the Twin Gods, that is, Geshtiana and Shakaar at the same time.  Which is why they’re all shadowy assassin types now.  Their motto is “Love is a Battlefield” and in the 80 years it took us to bring back Persephone they’ve been out looking for her but also protecting this - or, I guess, that half of the continent from Demons.  Between them and Scarafraxis they seem to have undone the Doom we caused by treating with K’alru, so that is Very Good.

Brigit’s four Acolytes are named: Heartbreaker, Unrequited, Love-in-Idleness (Lid for short) and Geshtiana’s Gatling Gun.  Geshtiana’s Gatling Gun has a Gatling Gun, so it looks like they are recruiting Technologers as well as Mages.

Once they stopped looking like they were going to kill us, they were very kind to us.  I don’t know what became of Calvin or of our Pack Lizard.  But Walterra was also there, and didn’t seem nearly as mad at me this time.  They told us we needed to go find Torg in the Past, but that they were sending us to a Very Important Moment and we mustn’t interfere with anything.  So Walterra took us to the Island of Despair um...when you guys were there.  So I...uh, guess you knew that Mistress Al’Urin summons demons.  Which means you probably knew about the Attack on Dernholm just prior to the Restoration...

Are they right on Cattan?  Was in not the Bloodless Revolution we were always taught about?  I’m... I’m not really okay with that.

Also who or what is the Pale Man?  We saw him with you guys in Pelojian’s Vision, and your friend was peeing on him in a pit on the Isle of Despair.  Oh my gosh, was that guy Pelojian??  Simeon Tor said he’d been Suspended for absolutely ages, but maybe he stopped?  That was in the Past after all, and that would explain why they look just like each other.  But then why do they look like the Demon and Mannix too?  Are they brothers?  Is the Pale Man his brother too?  Is that why he was peeing on him?  The Kites say the Pale Man is Very Evil, and whatever was going on with Persephone and Saint Mannox certainly didn’t look good...  How is he related to all this?  Is he another Demon?  But Harold could find him, and couldn’t find the Demon, so maybe not?

Do we know any nice people?  Other than Torg, I guess.

Oh!  Torg says hi!  He was living in Ogden - you know, from Wrongfully Transported? - which makes total sense.  So we let him out.  Well, first we were going to get caught, so Walterra summoned a naked rhyming halfling out of a Cool Rock who turned us all into air so we wouldn’t Interfere with History, but this freaked him (Ogden) out a bit and he got Very Drunk and passed out, but Alexander made sure he was okay, so it all worked out for the best.  And Torg turned out to be just really great.  Well, you know.  All the other Gods have been needlessly cryptic or gone on about how we’ve Doomed the World, or were too Bound by their Natures, or complained about how we put their Temples together, but Torg was just like “Thanks, man,” and blessed us all and got on with things.  He’s just...just really great.  And his people have been through so much.  But I’m going to find the Ogre Homeland someday.  I don’t know what I’ll do then, but I’ve Seen it and I’m going to Find it and...try to make all of this right somehow.  

Someday I will make everything right.  For Cattan, for the Ogres, for Alexander... for everyone.

But now we’re back in 1895 again because instead of taking us all the way back to the Temple of the Twin Gods, something went wrong and Walterra only took us back to to that time we accidentally borrowed baby Alexander while we were in the Void.  And then left us here.  But Grandpa Moseley rescued us and took us into his Secret Underground Lair so Alexander’s mom didn’t murder us.  He says he wants to help and he has Pacts with Demons to take us anywhere in time we want to go.  I’m not even sure when we want to go right now, but Pacts with Demons sounds bad.  He also has a lot of Voidstuff.  He had a very scary Voidstuff Door that looks like it must be Containment for something Extremely Powerful.  And Alexander is very Reluctant about everything.  Also he really really wants Benedick and we all agree that that would be a Bad Idea.  

So we’re going to spend the night and Think About It.  We should probably return Saint Mannox while we’re in Caladon - Grandpa Moseley says we’re actually right underneath the Panarii Temple - but I guess he hasn’t been stolen yet, so maybe that would be weird...  We also really should get Geshtiana’s Gatling Gun home to the Future.  We’re kind of used to it, but it’s not fair to strand her in time too.

If he really can put us anywhere...he can get us home for realsies too.  I just wish I knew if that was when we need to be.  I have to believe this won’t be our only chance...

I will try not to do anything in this Time that might keep me from getting born (again).  I love and miss you all,

Love,

Flora

#arcanum #letters #Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura