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xivu-arath · 3 years

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For the character ask meme: Xivu Arath? :)

Pick a character I am likely to have Feelings/Opinions about and I will give and explain the top five ideas/concepts/etc that I believe are essential to accurately depicting them.

ngl I have only ever needed an excuse to try and share my interpretation of her (and apologies to the other two asks also for xivu, synnth got to it first! feel free to send in other characters, ofc)

given she is a lore-only character and we are just now getting reliable mentions of her, a lot of this might veer into interpretations of the scraps we do have

1. bold, but not foolish or reckless. as a two-year old krill she was cutting bait stars from stormjoys, which is a risky endeavour requiring surety of skill and limits both. as a general she's learned from the worm gods ("if we cannot beat their strengths, we must infect their weaknesses"), and from oryx's example, making extra armies for herself with the taken and the wrathborn so she can keep the hive in reserve. she'll take risks and seek challenges personally, and is likely to let loose when fighting other ascendant hive, but she's taken a very different approach from oryx's arrival to the system - which is something I've already written about a little, and I'm glad she's thus far holding to! thanks for backing me up, xivu!

2. she loves her family deeply. so deeply and with such devotion that she has taken actions at odds with the sword logic, such as when she offered oryx her life freely. I often feel, especially with the ongoing war right now, the enormity of that sacrifice is overlooked. by the standards of the deep, there are no gifts. if anything, xivu should have demanded oryx prove his right to take her life through battle

but it was a desperate situation, and he had a plan, and she trusted him. so she offered to be killed without any intention of striking back (unlike savathun, who was decidedly less on-board with this idea). if the plan failed, they all would have revived in their thrones eventually, but xivu had risked the most in it. she had gone against not only the sword logic but also her worm's edict to always test her strength, and its hunger had been at an intense level already. she might well have returned only to be devoured. yet she didn't hesitate....

I think it's reasonable to argue that this isn't necessarily a lone instance, and she's capable of this kind of selflessness and loyalty, unprompted, even millions of years more down the line

3. very emotional and reactive. amusingly enough, she has the most emotive writing among the krill siblings - lots of exclamation points! - and after taox's betrayal is frequently referred to as burning and seething with rage and hatred. she's still affected by the same general flattening of experiences and emotions as all hive, so most reactions usually take the form of violence (joyful) or violence (threatening). however, she remembers her old life with clarity

now admittedly this part veers more into headcanon - while she's not capable of empathy, she might assess people and draw comparisons between them and her family and past, to better frame their possible motivations. (and I had thought of this before... you pointed out in a call that savathun was doing a lot of the very same thing in her seasonal dialogues. stop spying on me, bungie. I mean it.)

4. not a very fervent follower of the deep. it might appear like she should be, because she is very good at murder and war and the deep does like that, but that's... superficial? she doesn't seek to test her strength and do battle as ideology. her goals have only ever been about herself and her family (and vengeance upon taox, which is also about family, betrayed and broken), and are intrinsically selfish. following the sword logic has mostly been about what's easy for her, not something she has to think about. this might well be foreshadowed by how she speaks to the leviathan:

You are huge and old! Our lives are short and desperate. If that’s the way the world’s supposed to be, I won’t have it! If people like Taox are supposed to win, I won’t let them! I’ll beat the world until it changes! I’ll kill anything in the way!

the death threats are what the leviathan hears most clearly, and given the context, with good reason. but what I think is most important is that what then-xi ro wanted and was willing to kill everyone for was a chance to change things, to ensure this situation never happened again. about, ultimately, the betrayal and being able to cut the head off her own grief and hate

as for the purpose she is bound to follow - she defines herself in those uncertain moments between victory and death until they become rote, and then she moves on to something stronger once more. but this still needs other opponents, which she won't have once the final shape is reached. she'll be a splendid weapon for the deep - but at its behest, she'll never truly be happy. (and also I will be very, very sad)

5. surprisingly affable for a hive god that can kill you with presence alone and TALKS LIKE THIS A LOT. if she's not fighting you, and even if she is, has a disarmingly good sense of humour (hive-flavour), likes to banter and dunk on her family, played games and kept her siblings' spirits up on their voyage as krill and probably drops by most of the alarmingly huge osmium family to check up on relatives and fling various children into orbit to keep them humble. she's the youngest and most buff with two more introverted, focused siblings - you cannot tell me she didn't develop the most overpowering jock energy just to assail them when they're trying to get things done

#this got... very out of control #that I kept having to juggle things did not help #I want to expand or refine points more because I kept having to stop and come back but ughhh #this has been open for too long I might as well post it #anyways here is my take on xivu!!#still holding out hope that this season is savathun and xivu working together with only a sham war but We'll See #long post #xivu arath #character asks #answered

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cafeinthemoon · 3 years

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THe Home I Crave - Chapter 10

Title: The Home I Crave

Genre: Fanfiction

Pairing: Tobirama Senju x reader

Rating: teen and up

Word count:

Chapter: 10/?

Symbols: ⭕ | ➕ | 💛 | ▶️▶️

Read the previous chapters here: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9

Chapter 10 - The Clause

Fortunately for you, Tobirama still had some matters to discuss with the Hokage, so that he saw no problem in staying while Mito accompanied you to your house. None of you had a teleportation jutsu as him, but your houses were not so far from one another and you weren’t feeling so weak that you couldn’t walk, so you just took some minutes to finally reach the front door.

The first thing you did once you were inside was to drink water: it helped you to clear up your senses and to wash away the remaining bitterness in your mouth. After that, you could breathe and talk properly. Then you took a bath and started to prepare your bed.

Mito helped you with what she could; soon everything was settled and you were sure you’d get better in some hours.

However, the conversation you started in her bathroom wasn’t over.

- Y/n-san.

- Yes?

- I told you about how our actions can influence the situation between our clans and such, but I forgot to tell you something. It is more about Tobirama than about our Village and the clans, if I’m being honest.

- Really? And what is it?

You were in your bedroom now; you were on your futon, while she took a sit on a couch you had near it. You crossed your legs on the mattress as if you were about to hear a long story.

- I told many things about him, that’s true, but I didn’t explain why he’s so attached to rules and protocols even for an advisor – she took a deep breath, as someone who had to be careful on how to speak about someone else’s issues – Tobirama might not be as open about his feelings and ideals as Hashirama, but just like his brother he always wanted peace. He grew up as a warrior and the war took two of his brothers from him, as well as many friends and relatives. Of course he was not the only one who suffered with it, but to us it’s clear that he never really moved on, you understand?

That was new to you.

- So... after all these years and with all these alliances, he is still afraid of war?

- Exactly. And this is just one of the things that don’t let him sleep – she united her hands on her lap – I suppose you’ve heard about the rivalry between the Senju and the Uchiha.

- Yes. Of course.

You knew that the creation of Konoha started with the peace treaty signed by the two clans’ current heads, Hashirama and his friend, Madara. The Uchiha was not in the Village by the time you arrived and haven’t returned yet; since your clan didn’t have formal trades with his people, you never met him in person. But you could have news about him at any moment.

- First, let’s just say that him and the Uchiha head, Madara, are not the best friends. Some time before Konoha’s foundation, Tobirama was responsible for the death of Madara’s younger brother, Izuna, when they faced each other in combat. Izuna was the only sibling left for Madara, so naturally he never forgot this. On the other hand, Tobirama’s siblings were killed by Uchiha warriors. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?

You nodded.

- Do you know about the Uchiha’s kekkei genkai, the Sharingan?

- I’ve heard many things about their dojutsu, but never witnessed it in action.

- Indeed, most of its aspects remain a secret even for the wisest ninjas until this day. However, Tobirama has studied the nature and the development of Sharingan and found out its basis before any of us could make a statement. According to what he found out, the Sharingan is a proof that the Uchiha are moved by passion above all, so much that it has to be sealed. Otherwise, it can be quite problematic, as everything can be without discipline.

- I see.

- When the seal that kept the Uchiha’s passion under control is broken, the individual awakens their Sharingan. It is true that having a dojutsu like that is very useful in the battlefield and during missions, but at the same time it represents great levels of unpredictability. To summarize, it turns people unreliable to a certain point.

You finally understood where Mito wanted to go with that.

- And when someone is not reliable, it is harder to make sure they will continue to follow the rules that have been maintaining peace and order, and since the Uchiha are part of Konoha’s base, it represents a constant risk, at least on Tobirama’s eyes.

- You’re really quick to catch things – she smiled, but there was still worry in her eyes – So… In short: Tobirama already has a struggle with passionate individuals to work on. Having one more of them under his roof might be more than he can handle. And you have to admit, y/n-san. You are a passionate and idealistic girl, and you don’t even try to hide it. I’m not saying it is not good thing, but as you can see, it makes things hard.

- As if I am the only one who makes things hard here – you sighed – Guess I don’t even need to tell this to you, Mito-san, but despite not knowing the Uchiha as well as you do, it is obvious that Tobirama will never be totally in peace with them while he’s not in peace with himself. And I just came in the middle of it, I have nothing to do with it and it is not my fault if I am what I am. We all have our issues to deal with, but he can’t just take it out on me like this. I’m trying to make it work, but I can’t do it all by myself. Now, if his resistance towards me is because he finds me similar to the Uchiha as you’re suggesting, this is a poor excuse for his behavior. He cannot forget the fact that my clan always have been in good terms with the Senju, and we never declared support to the Uchiha during the Warring Period. Bringing this back in the form of suspicions is unfair with me and my people. I won’t accept this.

Mito chose her next words with caution.

- I could not agree more. Things are happening too fast for all of us and it’s been hard to keep up with them. But let me tell you that Tobirama knows that there were some renegades from your clan who joined the Uchiha during the Warring Period, fighting beside them as mercenaries. I believe your father told you about this.

Damn it. This man just knows everything?! Yes, you were aware of the existence of renegades who left your clan to fight beside others, including the Uchiha, but the official position of your clan has always been in favor of the Senju. That should be enough, even more now that your marriage has fortified this connection.

- Yes, my father never hid this from us. But Tobirama just can’t use something from the past to make things harder for us now. We are in peace, after all.

- This is exactly what Hashirama is saying to him right now. I could have asked him to do this, but he knows his brother. He’s used to make what’s necessary to calm down the moods in situations like this. At least for now, we don’t have to worry about them.

She sighed in relief for the first time since the conflict started; maybe she was waiting for you two to be alone so that she could have a chance to show how those events were affecting her. You thanked her in silence for this; it made you feel less alone in that house.

You stood in silence for countless minutes. You were the first to speak after that.

- I still remember when you told me that there are things about a man that can only be unveiled by his spouse – she raised her eyes to you and you continued – I’ve been thinking of this since that day, and then when I saw his photograph and in the wedding day. I’ve been seeking for ways to turn this into actions. But a week passed and nothing seemed to change – you looked around the room, too large and too cold for a couple’s private space – We are still strangers to each other. We much effort I can say we are allies. Mito-san…

- Yes? – her tone was lower, sadder.

- I think you gave me a great advice. I really do. But maybe it doesn’t work if a man doesn’t want us to unveil anything.

Mito didn’t hide her deception with what she saw in your face; to her, you were giving up too soon. But what you had to endure to reach this point was something that only you knew. It had nothing to do with her.

- Y/n-san…

- It’s getting late – you stood up and walked toward the room’s door – Hashirama will get worried if you stay out for too long.

The princess didn’t try to argue. Without a word, she left the coach and walked with you to the house’s front door. For one last time, you thanked her for everything she has done for you despite knowing you for so little time.

- You don’t need to thank me – she replied with a sad smile – It is my duty to offer you support. When I first arrived at this Village, I had no one to do this for me. I just don’t want you to face the same as me. This time we can do things differently.

You nodded. You closed the door behind you after she left, your eyes burning with tears you didn’t want to let come out. You agreed with her in each point, each word. You couldn’t be more glad for having found in her a friend who was like a sister. But you already had a sister you left behind in the name of your clan, and now you found out she needed you. You couldn’t turn your back on your own family now that you were aware of the facts; that was not the point of this treaty.

Once you were sure Mito was far from your door, your ran to your room again and found the travel bag you started packing that afternoon, after Tobirama went back to his office and you were left alone to process the bad news and to prepare yourself to dinner at the Hokage’s house. You finished to put in it all the remaining items you would need for a long travel: another change of clothing, more weapons and all the money you brought with you to Konoha – you didn’t know when or how you would come back, but you had to take enough provisions with you so that you wouldn’t depend on your family to pay the expenses of your return. Finally, you went to the kitchen and grabbed some of the things you bought in the marketplace the day before; you already had decided that if you ran out of food, you could find more in a forest or buy something in a tea house.

After drinking a bit more of water, you turned out all the lights and went to the night, disappearing among the trees that grew on the way between Tobirama’s house and the Village’s gates.

***

You didn’t know if the silence in the depths of the forest that surrounded the Village’s territory was a reason for you to be worried or relieved, for it could only mean two things: you didn’t have anyone coming after you, or you had exceptionally trained persecutors tracking your path.

The air among the trees was colder than you expected too, despite the absence of winds or breeze on those parts. The humidity was perceptible, and you couldn’t help comparing it to your own land: Konoha had more rivers and lakes in its surroundings, something that you supposed to be a determining factor in its prosperity. You remembered Mito’s comments about Tobirama being a master of Suiton and thought that it was easy for one to sharp their abilities when the environment favored them. Thanks to the same logic, you and your family developed your talent with Doton to a point when you could be mistaken for shinobi of Iwagakure. You started to deliberate about which points of that land would favor your performance as a ninja and in which ones you would have to work in order to win your weaknesses.

It was true that because of your thoughts, all towards your family and your sister’s conditions, your head was too noisy, but as the distance between you and the Village grew, you started to get truly worried about the silence around you. You haven’t noticed a single sign of movement except the ones coming from yourself; not even the small animals expected to be found in a forest seem to be near your way, though Konoha seemed to be a place so full of life when you arrived. It was like the forest just died at some point after your passage; it had nothing to do with what you first saw when you passed through it for the first time with your parents.

Your eyes would go from one side to another and over your shoulder, but nothing changed. You started feeling you were walking in circles, jumping through the same branches in the high trees. Could it be you were lost? Or…

- Damn it! – you cursed to yourself, your whisper sounding like a scream in that stillness – Is it a genjutsu or am I becoming paranoid?

You stopped so suddenly that even the air around you changed. Your feet, firm on a higher branch out of your path, forced the wood and produced some crackling noises. You stood up on it and with one last look at your surroundings, you jumped on your back, doing a flip toward the ground, where your could find a better use to your abilities.

You landed on the grass on one knee and put your palm over it. You closed your eyes and concentrated your attentions on the smell of the earth, trying to catch up with every information it could bring to you. You took off the glove on your right hand and touched the soil with your fingers, sensing the vibrations that would go through it: if a person, an animal or even a bug crossed your surroundings, you would know. Those were tracking techniques your master taught you when she noticed you didn’t have sensory abilities; they have been very useful specially when you were sent to distant places and there were no sensor shinobi available to join your team.

Unfortunately, the earth and its smells didn’t tell you anything about intruders. But you were still suspicious, so that you felt the need of a second, less subtle measure: an earthquake jutsu you developed for cases like that. That jutsu was going to cost you a precious amount of chakra, that was true, but it should be enough to tell your persecutor – if they were really existed – that you weren’t willing to play.

You made the hand signs and your palm touched the ground, sending a seismic wave in circular form that started around your hand and expanded through the ground around you and further. As the earth was shaken, the brown soil, the grass and worms were spread to all sides, and the trees had part of their roots exposed. The only spot that remained untouched was the one upon which you were kneeling.

The impact must have been sensed in the Village at least by the shinobi. But if this would catch their attention or not, you couldn’t care less: the annoying part was that Tobirama probably have noticed your absence by now; if he was as talented with sensory techniques as Mito told you, he could have already guessed the direction you took, and all you did with your Doton was to give him your exact location. You weren’t sure if he would come after you or not, but whatever he would decide to do, he could have avoided this by not to hiding things from you. Besides, you wanted to make sure you weren’t caught in a genjutsu without having to hurt yourself or to stop your chakra flow when you needed it most.

When the forest went back to its previous silence, you stood up, relieved to confirm you had no company. You adjusted your backpack and looked for the next branch to reach: it was safe to continue your journey through the trees.

You prepared to jump when something sharp, shining at the moonlight, crossed your way with a hiss and buried itself on the trunk of the tree you were were going to climb. You held your breath; you looked closer at it and you identified a kunai. Wrapped around its base, there was a tag marked with a seal.

You cursed when you recognized the Hiraishin’s pattern.

You moved away from it right before he teleported to its side and could do anything to immobilize you. You let the kunai you carried under your sleeve slip to your hand; whatever was going to happen there, you were going to fight and survive to continue your journey: he was not going to take you back to the Village.

When you raised your eyes to him, however, what you saw was confusing: Tobirama was wearing full armor just like you saw him in that portrait, with the blue arm pads and the white fur covering his shoulders as if he was prepared for a mission; on his right hand he carried a bag just like yours. Was he intending to accompany you along the way?

Still, you wanted to hear it from his mouth.

- What are you doing here?!

- Tsc! – he removed the kunai from the wood and hid it in his sleeve – I am the one who should be asking. What are you doing here?

You gasp in your indignation to hear him using your words against you, but you straightened up and hid your blade as well.

- I don’t need to answer this question. My intentions are obvious, and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.

Tobirama passed the bag’s strap over his shoulder and crossed his arms, standing his ground. It was clear that if you wanted to go ahead, you would have to pass through him.

- I could say the same – he replied – But I had to come to remind you about a clause in our treaty that you happened to forget after your meeting with my brother. The treaty stated that you should stay in Konoha as your clan’s primary representative until your people arrive. Only then you could make any plans regarding travels outside our Village’s territory. Leaving like this, without warning, will be understood as treason.

- And then I will be left with two choices: to come back with you or to be killed – you crossed your arms too – Yes, I’ve read the clauses and I remember this one very well. But if you came here to try and use it to intimidate me, let me tell you that you’re wasting your time. You know I will not come back until I do what I have to do.

- You do not have to do this when my brother already sent a doctor to take care of your sister. He’s a ninja just like us and is more than used to long and difficult travels. He will reach your compound in half the time a regular ninja would do.

You gasped. Was he really calling you a regular ninja? You ran out of patience, but you decided not to get into this type of discussion: the longer you stayed there, later you would reach your destiny.

- What kind of shinobi just leaves their work for others to do and sit on their house waiting for things to get better, specially when their family is involved? – you shrugged – I know that’s not your style. Neither it is mine.

Tobirama put a hand on his waist as if he was unsatisfied to see that this discussion would take longer than he first expected. You laughed at this internally: it seemed that the man who wasn’t used to have his orders questioned finally found a worthy adversary. He could see you as a brat right now, but you were a determined, honest brat at least.

- You speak as if your sister is completely alone in your family’s house – he argued – Which is not true. Your parents, as well as your other sisters, are there with her, and you have your own doctors working on her case, according to your father’s last letter.

You raised an eyebrow; you tried to ignore your heartbeats that just got faster.

- What are you insinuating?

The Senju didn’t waste time with deliberations, saying to your face what he had in mind:

- I’m afraid you are using this situation as an excuse to run away from the treaty.

This time you couldn’t help let your bitterness out.

- Well, let’s just say that you didn’t give me much reasons to not run away – you noticed the way he tightened his lips and continued before he did anything – But this is not what I’m doing. In my family we don’t break promises, even when we have to face hell to keep them.

- If this is the case, leaving in secret does not speak in your favor, y/n-san – he took one step in your direction, but didn’t seem willing to go any further – How can I be sure you will respect our treaty and come back to Konoha?

- The same way I can be sure you will not hide anything from me again – you replied with seriousness – What do you have to say about that?

Tobirama sighed, but didn’t lose his temper.

- I know that words will not prove my point. Instead, actions will do. This is why I am coming with you.

You swallowed. So, he was really planning to travel with you? This was the solution he found to keep the treaty untouched, then: instead of killing you or forcing you to come back to the Village with him, he offered himself to go with you as a way to prove his honesty and to be sure of yours at the same time.

You wanted to smile at this: again, he managed to caught you with a surprise. But you didn’t want to give him a taste of victory so soon, so you kept a straight face.

- You don’t have to do this, Advisor. You have no obligation to agree with my decision…

But that man’s will was something as firm as the stones in your land. That caught you off guard as no enemy attack ever did.

- Yes, I do. It is the least I can do – and tightening his grip around the bag’s strap before jumping toward the same branch you once stood – Shall we?

#naruto fanfiction #tobirama #tobirama x reader #tobirama senju #tobirama fanfiction

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razorblade180 · 3 years

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Interdimensional Moms part 2

Part 1 <-

Yang:Okay Weiss, your turn.

Weiss:What!? Why me?

Blake:Because you’ve been bouncing in your seat all through Yang’s story. You clearly want to gush about your kids.

Weiss:Pffft, What!? Nooooo, a little. Hehehe I can’t believe I’m that obvious. *smiles*

Ruby:Aww look at you, I never believe Weiss Schnee could look as warm as campfire.

Yang:And wearing mom jeans!? Little jealous that you still look completely gorgeous. Why does mom energy make you prettier?

Weiss:What can I say? I’m great. As far as my universe goes, I argue that I’m the strongest mom!

Blake:Such a bold claim.

Weiss:I carried twins! *points to self* this body handled two buns in the oven!

Ruby:Couldn’t be me. *shutters* I’d sooner loose an eye. Speaking of eyes, your scar has a friend. Got this whole upside down cross basically.

Weiss:Oh that? That’s uhhhh- how would I even explain this?

Yang:And your hair! It’s short!

Ruby:Yeah you’re just a surprise all over.

Blake:Guys, let her start from the beginning!

Ruby and Yang:Oh right. *covers mouths*

Weiss:(Yep, they’re the same sisters anywhere.) Thank you Blake. Now then...a good starting place? Well I suppose I could lay the ground work of Jaune and I getting better acquainted. It was about two weeks into reaching Atlas. Winter learned I got impaled and berated me not giving any kind of thanks. Since I had waited so long to do so, words wouldn’t do for her standards and she made me take him to a proper dinner. I think it was that night we actually talked openly to each other. A piece of me was annoyed at first because I thought he’d get the wrong idea again. But...he didn’t. He was just happy to spend time with me. That’s when I realized he had changed a bit *red* and apparently I changed too. Sigh, because that annoyed feeling was actually me forming a crush.

Blake:Looks like you changed more than he did. I think we can all agree that we’re pretty rough to deal with at Beacon in the beginning?

Yang:Hell yeah!

Ruby:Preach! Hehe, but it meant you grew the most too.

Weiss:Hey! You’re all assuming that I was terrible! Who knows, I could a Saint compared to your Weiss. Maybe I was a sweetheart at Beacon.

RBY:.....

Yang:Were you?

Weiss:*red* I’ll never tell.

Blake:(That’s just a no...) Two weeks into Atlas huh? I bet feelings raged whenever the whole place was under attack huh?

Weiss:W...What attack? Barely anything happened in Atlas.

Blake:Excuse me?

Ruby:Pfft what? You’re joking right? There wasn’t any threat of things falling out the sky or war threats?

Weiss:No? We showed up, put the relic in vault, and took time fortifying things while planning with Ironwood. The most exciting thing was a grimm wave and two of Salem’s goons showing up at a ball, but we handled that.

Ruby:....I...that’s...oh my head.

Blake:So what you’re saying is time in Atlas was a piece of cake?

Weiss:Well I had to deal with my father and and a lot of other family drama so I wouldn’t say it was cake. It was actually very stressful.

Yang:Well I think we found the massive shift between worlds. Atlas was different. I would say I dealt with anything like falling kingdoms. Atlas for me was one long Mission Impossible sequence. Espionage, jail break, fake deaths, but please continue with your love story.

Weiss:You sound a little envious. Anyways there isn’t too much of anything to tell in that part. Dates, fighting together, sibling healing, I was disowned publicly, Penny was being amazing-

Blake:You were disowned?

Ruby:(Penny is...alive? Huh, well, imagine that?) .....

Yang:*whispers* You okay Rubes?

Ruby:Yeah, processing. Hey Weiss? Not to control the narrative or anything, but how is your Ruby exactly? I get the feeling she’s quite different from me somehow if things like the adventure in Atlas are different.

Weiss rubbed her chin. She could tell the Ruby in front of her was pretty perplexed by the differences so far. In fact, Weiss could tell mentioning Penny made them all flinch a little. It was safe to assume they all hadn’t heard that name in a very long time. It made her feel a little bad. Did she somehow get a more ideal world?

Weiss:I think I might be able to answer that if you could humor me by getting a little further into my world’s reality? I don’t know how but I do get a since the two of you might have a key difference.

Ruby:I’m all ears.

Weiss: Blake, I’ll circle back to being disowned a little later. It’s one of the biggest reasons I am who I am now. Let’s see now, ah, the plan. After Atlas was infiltrated it was hard to save face to the rest of Remnant. That was until the world learned about Salem. It was a secret that was doing more harm than good at this point. On that day, our journey really began for us. Team RWBY wasn’t just four girls and their friends. It was one of four four girls commanding troops, organizing meetings, rallying others. We were the face of a revolution: along with JNPR of course.

Ruby:The world just...believed in Salem?

Weiss:There were plenty skeptics, but it’s harder not to believe it. Pen- our winter maiden, showed off magic. Then the others on our side followed the example. We had two relics to show off from the start, and a variety of ways to explain questions throughout history that nobody could answer before. We gave humanity’s suffering a face. People were more than eager to cling to it. From that point it was hard for Salem to make a move that wouldn’t give further validity to our story.

Ruby:An army huh, lead by us?

Weiss:Yep, mainly you when it came to the battlefield. You were anxious at first and definitely made moves that you regretted. But...after some time and experience, you stood tall in front of dozens to give a speech the night of the final battle. I still get chills. There wasn’t an eye that wasn’t on you. A person who didn’t want to march into battle with you. I don’t think I ever seen you more sure of where you were meant to be.

Ruby:Is that so? Hmm, I think...I think I get it now. Your Ruby must’ve stumbled quite a bit, but had people by her consistently. It was other’s strength that enabled her to get stronger. How old was she when the war was over?

Weiss:It ended on her twenty first birthday.

Ruby:Makes sense. An army isn’t made in a day. Plans and caution for everyone involved. A united force like that sounds like a thing Oz dreamed of.

Weiss:Actually, it was. My world beat Salem by gaining the relics. The gods witnessed the effort the world put in and stripped her of immortality. It was actually thanks to you that Salem went peacefully. Instead of damning her to a cruel fate, the gods let her pass on to her kids per your request. After that, gods and magic came back. Both are still mysterious. The gods are hard to find and there’s only one person born with magic so far.

Yang:Magic is a thing there!? That’s so unfair! Just imagine me with more fire!?

Weiss:Like you need it!? You’re already like a generator. Life after Salem wasn’t any calmer really. Terrifying grimm lurked where their could, an entire new way of life had been dropped on society, and even the world itself seemed to react. Weather has been more intense as of late. There was a lot things to keep people busy. Ruby being her usual self, started hunting. Blake used the momentum of faunus and humans working together to further her equality agenda, and Yang helped both of you out.

Yang:Look at me! I’m a great girlfriend and sister!

Blake:*mumbles* There at least.

Weiss:Yeah. Oscar and Penny decided to embarrass more of normal lifestyle, mostly. Penny went back to being protector of Mantle, but had way more free time to be a normal girl. Both of them had gotten really close over the years and eventually married.

Ruby:*wide eyed* Awwww, good for them! I always had a feeling those two would hit it off.

Weiss:They weren’t the only ones. You may have been busy, but you always made time for Whitley. The two of you were dating since our original trip to Atlas. There wasn’t a problem that either of you didn’t come to me for. You know hard it is to navigate other people’s relationships when you’re lost in your own? The blind was leading the blind. Worked out though. You were probably the prettiest bride out of all of us. Then again, you went ours and literally took notes.

Ruby:Hehe, that sounds exactly like something I’d do. You haven’t talked much about the charmed life after the war for you.

Weiss felt her face heat up. She placed her head on the table as if she gave up on something.

Yang:Yeah! Give us the scoop!

Weiss:Charmed isn’t what I’d call my life exactly. I was disowned, completely cut off. Even though I made my own mark in history, it’s not like people were gonna roll out red carpets. The world had to rebuild, and I needed a roof over my head. Thus began the modest life of Weiss Schnee, owner of a two bedroom Argus apartment. Fancy clothes a food were no more. Just clearance sales and two for one. Honestly, I didn’t hate. But that’s mainly because I wasn’t living alone.

Blake:Jaune?

Weiss:Living back home was just as unappealing for him as it was for me. That and the fact that I couldn’t cook for shit was concerning, to say the least. Moving in and splitting rent just made sense. We weren’t dating yet technically, but.....it didn’t take long for the relationship between us to...expand.

Yang:I cannot believe a Weiss Schnee finally caved to tall blonde and scraggly. I should be jealous, but I’m strangely proud of Jaune’s achievement. It’s like the first time I lost to him. I was upset, but man did he work for that win.

Weiss:Took about a month before all of you had learned just what the living situation was like and man did you three let the teasing begin? *smiles* it was fun though. If I had to wrong about something then I’m glad it was about me not thinking a person is reliable. Especially since they’ve bailed me out of trouble many times. Normal life had its pitfalls. We were constantly working to pay rent. Sometimes one of us had to work harder. Getting sick was disastrous, of long term assignments. What’s the relationship I have with Whitley in the other worlds?

Ruby:Casual. The two of are always throwing ideas back and forth to help the company.

Blake:The two of you are fine. I’m not too sure how much you actually hang out, but you both are pretty snarky whenever you’re together.

Yang:Thick as thieves. That man was always shifting money and finding sneaky ways to let us know when important things popped up.

Weiss:Good, that’s really good. *exhales* I can’t count the times he sent money without father knowing. I’m glad we reconnected. Without his and everyone’s help, I don’t think I would’ve managed. Especially when mom died...

Ruby:Oh. I...I’m sorry to hear that.

Weiss:It’s bound to happen when you drink the way she did. But yeah, didn’t handle it any easier. Between that and stressing over money, I really got overwhelmed often. I was very glad I didn’t live alone. Even if I didn’t want to talk about things, Jaune was always there to listen. I think it was around that time I realized just how in love I actually was with him. He makes me happy. That idiot must’ve known how much of a weakness I had for him. It was only a few months later that he proposed.

The simple memory of Jaune asking her under a street light on a cold yet peaceful night, made Weiss’s face a healthy shade of red. A gentle smile was all she could make thinking about it. A smile that left everyone stunned. They had never seen Weiss look so warm. So genuinely filled with love, happiness. To think she was once called Ice Queen? This one really did look like an Angel. Weiss quit daydreaming and got a little embarrassed.

Weiss:Uh, sorry! I guess I little mushy there. I’ve been told I’ve gotten pretty sappy through the years.

Blake:I think that’s beautiful.

Yang:Seriously. I’m...speechless really.

Ruby:A hardworking Weiss that struggled making ends meet. I gotta say that you look good doing it.

Weiss:Yeah well, that time has passed. My father got sick and in an attempt to “clear his conscious” or whatever he was feeling, he put me back in the family. I only saw him once when he was on his deathbed. Truthfully, I don’t visit my parent’s grave. I wanna say old emotions don’t get stirred up, but there’s certain feelings towards people that just can’t die I guess.

Yang:That’s fair. Who knows, maybe you just need a decade or two?

Weiss:Hehe, perhaps. However, before I got my fortune back, I was granted an either better one. Two in fact. That sly knight of mine managed to overachieve like he always does and give us a boy and girl.

Blake:I got a sneaking suspicion that you weren’t upset?

Weiss:Not for one second! I love my babies. My darling little Nick and Summer Schnee. One named after our grandfather, and Jaune and I are both really thankful for all that Ruby has done for us, so our daughter got named Summer. It meant a lot. My Ruby...she can’t have kids, or I should say getting and staying pregnant is extremely difficult.

Ruby:...*sniffling* These aren’t tears by the way. Just dust.

Weiss:My Ruby cried.

Ruby:Oh I bet! That’s some powerful stuff. Probably ugly cried too. Someone please say something? *misty eyed* Fuck, man that was a lot. *puts hood up* give me a sec, please keep going. *holding Yang’s hand*

Yang:Weiss, weren’t you a little scared about your living situation?

Weiss:It was a weird thing. We talked about having a family before hand. Money was always a concern, as well space; but I also knew that I did want to have a family of my own one day. So when the day came that the nurse told me I was pregnant, I should’ve been more worried. I wasn’t. All I felt was joy. Maybe it was because I had faith we could handle anything. We did have you all to help. Yang, you might as well be a superwoman honestly. You have been so amazing throughout my life.

Yang:Aye! I really love this other me.

Blake:What about me?

Weiss:You remain the most sensible person in my life and I thank you for it. Everyone else is crazy.

Blake:Yeah that’s pretty on brand. *smiles*

Ruby:Picture please?

Weiss gladly pulled out her scroll and showed off her children. It was quick to see both of them had gotten their father’s dorkiness. They stood in front of the camera playfully winking and were pretending to take a bite out the gold medals they had around their necks. It was crazy how much Summer looked like her mother, but clearly had Jaune’s eyes. Her brother on the other hand had the Schnee eyes and messy Arc hair. The two looked like barrels of fun. Then there was the man himself, Jaune Arc. He looked from the one in Yang’s photo. His hair resembled his days traveling to Haven and he was clean shaven, but he was noticeably healthier. It wasn’t even a physical thing much, though he did look good. He just seemed more vibrant.

Yang:Mine is cuter.

Weiss:Yours looks like your dad with the scruff.

Yang:Can you not?

Blake:How old?

Weiss:Sixteen. Little devils want sports car. I’m not dealing with that. Nick is really good at figure skating and is the oldest, so he’s the heir. Summer decided to be a little like her mother and pursue singing. Doesn’t have my voice though, but her range is better than me. I’m jealous. Both of them are always pretty decent in a fight if I do say so myself. Sigh, they grow up so fast. They still have a lot of growing to do though. Teenagers...

RBY:Preach...

Ruby:Everything okay though? Nothing too tough going on?

Weiss:Can I lie and say yes?

Yang:Hey I unpacked my baggage. Unload yours.

Weiss let out a large sigh. She looked at her kids lovingly, but had a smile that seemed...somber. All of her energy was brought down a bit and it showed.

Yang:Umm if it’s too much-

Weiss:It’s fine. It might be a little therapeutic to talk about it. Personally, I don’t I’m doing all I really can do. When they were very young, we all took a trip to go skating at a frozen lake. While I was there I found this strange ice dust that I’ve never seen before. Nick and Summer had gotten into a fight and by accident, Nick set off the dust. The shrapnel from it hit everyone, but Summer had it the worse. I’m talking it was lodged in her in multiple places. Not to mention the blast sent her flying into the water. I was hit so hard that I nearly blacked out. Thankfully, Jaune was the furthest and dove into the water while I managed to get Nick. He avoided a lot of it due to distance and was winded more than anything.

Ruby:Christ...

Blake:How young?

Weiss:Five. We rushed so fast to the hospital as soon as we could. The dust in Summer was freezing her until Nick activated her semblance and most of the shards got used up. Still, Summer ended up hospitalized for almost a year. Surgeries, comas, seizures; it was difficult to put it lightly. That picture doesn’t show it but she has puncture scars across her body, and a slight scar under her jawline she covers with makeup. That dust, though highly dangerous, it also healed her eventually. Summer had virtually no chance of survival. Not even counting the organ damage, that water should’ve put her into shock. But...she made a full recovery, on paper.

Yang:On paper?

Weiss:Several years later, Summer came in contact with the dust again and she...changed. Her eyes looked like mine, her light blonde hair went white, and she went mad. Her scars glowed with the dust that was still in her system and Summer started attacking everyone. I saw my twelve year old just use ice that was cold enough to burn. My extra scar is from me trying to restrain her. In the end it took my gigas pinning her down before she came to her senses. Summer had no memory of it. She said all remembered was feeling cold and hearing her own laughter. It wasn’t long after that it kept happening. Any time she got cold, this other...thing would come out. It eventually called itself Shiva.

Blake:Shiva? So...it’s a multiple personality?

Weiss:We don’t know. There’s so many inconsistencies. We got her checked up by the best and every test was normal. Her brain looks normal. But any time Shiva comes out, her blood turns blue and all she wants to do is hurt us. Shiva and Summer are even aware of each other now. There’s almost no day where Summer doesn’t hear Shiva in her head, wrestling for control. Between that, people at school who hate her, the scars, everything; Summer has become pretty reserved. She barely wants to go to school and she’s depressed most days. Nowadays she doesn’t open up about it outside of therapy. I...I can connect with her. Not in the way that matters.

Yang:I...shit, I don’t know what to say to that.

Weiss:That’s okay, few do. We’ve gotten good at preventing situations that get Summer cold but it’s through trial and error on something we know nothing about. Even with how far we’ve gotten, there’s a looming fear in everyone’s heart. Make no mistake though, that doesn’t stop any family from loving her with everything, but the mental strain of it all is more than anyone should deal with. Nick is kind soul. He blames himself for this and is constantly doing all he can to be there for everyone and put on this brave face, but he suffers inside. For a time, he went to therapy. Your sister almost killing you is a visceral experience. Getting him to sleep and take a break is like telling a fish not to swim. He is pretty open about this though, which helps a lot. It’s just...how do convince somehow they’re good enough when they think they’re not?

Ruby and Blake:You can’t....

Weiss:Exactly. It’s so...*tearing up* How am I failing at helping my kids worse than my own mother?

Yang:And that’s where I draw the line. *stands up* Now I can’t begin to fathom dealing with a a situation like this, and what I’m about to say is gonna be a little hypocritical but I really don’t care. Weiss, the last thing you are is a bad mother. I could tell immediately from the way you are that there hasn’t been a single as a parent that you haven’t made a choice without your kids in mind. I get feeling like there’s a gap that disconnects you from there; but the fact you keep your arms stretched out to bridge it makes you mother of the year in my eyes! Don’t believe for a second you’re a bad mother. Your the gold standard!

The room filled with silence for a moment. Weiss felt a lump form in her throat as she fought back tears that she eventually had to wipe away. She tried letting out a small laugh, but with it came more tears that ran down her face. Weiss couldn’t tell if it was from Yang’s words, or the stress. All she knew was that right now, she felt very thankful for being here.

Weiss:Damn it Yang, making me cry is something you’ve always been good at. Maybe that’s why I look up to you so much?

Yang:*red* Y-You what?

Weiss:My Yang, I downplayed just how much I adore her. Her daughter, Veronica, she’s got her fair share problems that stresses Yang out, but I never see her stop trying to connect with her. Even when she’s sad it’s like it’s only for a second, then you’re trying twice as hard. It’s amazing. If I’m being honest, and this is embarrassing, but I kinda picked up a mother from you. You’ve always been a bit motherly.

Ruby:She’s right.

Blake:Mom energy since day one.

Yang:Really? *rubs head* I was just being myself. Never really thought about it. Now then, wipe those tears! It’s upsetting that you look pretty why you cry. Meanwhile I look like a hot mess, and not in the fun way.

Weiss:*wiping face* Oh please, I don’t wanna hear that from someone who’s never needed make up. Those genes of your went to Veronica. Kids a genuine beauty. She’s just angry all the time.

Yang:Yeah that sounds appropriate... Weird to think I have a daughter that’s not Yujin. Wish I could see her.

Blake:Me too. Though I think I’d be overwhelmed seeing all my different kids. I’d probably want them all.

Ruby:My hands are full with ones I have and I wouldn’t say I’m juggling them well, so I don’t need other kids from universes. I’d be so stressed.

Weiss:Especially if they’re violent.

Ruby:Yeah, that would bad....

Weiss:Phew, I do feel a bit better. Even though I said all those things, my family still had good times. It’s not tense and we joke around like everyone else. As a family, we’re happy. We just have shit we gotta sort through.

Blake:Rich or poor, life has certain things that hit everyone. Is Jaune doing well.

Weiss:Yeah, he gets through to Summer pretty well, and he’s typically calm when it comes to giving guidance. He had his fears, but that’s why I’m here. We confide in each other.

Blake:May you and everyone else find a light at the end of the tunnel.

Ruby:Hey Weiss. Does....actually, never mind. Forget it.

Yang:We both know that’s not happening. Spit it out.

Ruby:I was just about Shiva. I’ve encountered weird things in my world, but this is unique. I was wondering if you have any positive experience with her.

Weiss:Not a single one. Here since of enjoyment in the displeasure of my children is a thing we disagree on. Though....her eyes, they do throw me off. For some reason, they don’t match her joy.

Blake:Maybe that part is still Summer. Eyes are the window to the soul and all that jazz.

Weiss:Maybe? I hope the kids are okay right now. I wonder what they’re up to?

xxxxx

Summer:WHAT’S UP VALE!!!!!!!!

A massive crowd screams “what’s up Summer”in excitement. Flashing lights and chanting fans’s voices make the sold out venue shake with their passion. Summer can only bask in it. There’s no better feeling than when she’s on stage. She looks to herself excitedly. This one was extra special. Nick comes out on stage with a base around him and a second microphone.

Nick:WE CAN’T HEAR YOU!!!!

The crowd chants louder. Summer responds by starting a rift on her guitar. She faces Nick with a smug look. Yes, having him on stage is always a joy, but that didn’t mean Summer wanted him hindering or stealing the show.

Summer:Well look who’s here!? Atlas’s favorite son! Think you’re ready to play with the kids up here. This isn’t your normal stage.

Nick smiled. He responded by playing the bass and letting the audience speak for him. Summer was chessing fool. Slowly she bopped up and down, urging him to do the same. It wasn’t long before they in sync. Drums, piano, and other background musicians began building up the tune as planned. The twins whipped around to face the crowd.

🎶Get down! We won't let you go!

This time, can you bring us down?

Back up! fly far through the sky

BLACK ROVER!

Let's go! All together now

And at last this world can't slow us down

For now, let's dye it all in black

BLACK ROVER!🎶

The two stood back to back...

🎶As more join and stand beside me,

The void doesn't feel so empty!!!!!

I know there is much more in store

Let's open that door -!🎶

Nick looked over his shoulder and saw Summer doing the same thing. This was gonna be one for the books. Jaune watched from backstage with one of the stagehands.

Stagehand:Should we tell them to save their energy? This charity event is six hours.

Jaune:Nah, let them have fun.

#rwby #rwby au #ruby rose #weiss schnee #yang xiao long #blake belladonna #rwby whiteknight #nicholas schnee #summer schnee #rwby twin snowflakes #jaune arc #the void

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a-small-batch-of-dragons · 3 years

Text

Pushed Around

Prompt: i looooooove you protective knights Merlin drabbles from over quarantine, the frantic energy of these large children fretting over Merlin is hilarious and so precious (': would you ever write your take on the classic "a visiting knight/noble is a dickwad to Merlin but he doesn't tell anyone bc of either worries of diplomacy or something else and then when Arthur and the knights do find out they have to have a serious chat w Merlin about his priorities and self-worth?" bc,,, it would be awesome

Thanks for the req! I do love this trope...

Read on Ao3

Pairings: merthur, but can be platonic or romantic, you decide

Warnings: uhhh nobles can be dicks

Word Count: 3372

The problem with Merlin is that he doesn’t say nearly enough for all the talking he does. Honestly, the man can ramble on for hours and hours without being interrupted and never say one word about himself. He’s spoken about how Arthur sits wrong for longer than a council meeting for goodness’ sake. And yet in all that time, he’s never said a single thing about himself.

It would be impressive if it didn’t get them into nearly so many stressful situations that could’ve been avoided had he asked for help.

In fairness to Merlin, servants asking for help from anyone other than fellow servants isn’t exactly normal. In unfairness to Merlin, when has ‘normal’ ever been very high on his list of things to strive for?

They’ve all gotten fairly used to it. Merlin will be doing something and one of them will notice that perhaps there’s a…better way to do that. Or perhaps he’s doing it with a little less skill or proficiency than he normally does and gods, Merlin, how long have you been hurt for? Merlin will shrug and smile sheepishly at them and say that it’s nothing to worry about. Only Gaius seems to be immune to that, raising the Eyebrow of Disappointment and Merlin will bow his head and let him tend to whatever he’s done to himself this time. The problem is Merlin seems to know this and does all he can to avoid doing these things in front of Gaius. Which leaves the rest of them to struggle frantically to keep track of Merlin while he’s frantically keeping track of them.

But they’ve gotten used to it.

Arthur is allowed to be an absolute prat—Merlin’s words, not his—in the mornings, insisting Merlin do all sorts of ridiculously elaborate chores to assess whether he’s hurt himself, whether something’s wrong, or whether he’s done something to upset Merlin more than tossing the occasional boot at him. If Merlin doesn’t snipe back or calls him ‘sire’ unironically, something is definitely wrong and everything is on pause until they fix it. No exceptions.

Leon, as the closest thing to Arthur’s right hand aside from Merlin, takes every opportunity to stand next to him, regardless of how proper it is. Leon may not be immune to Merlin’s impish little excuses, but Merlin is not immune to the protective-older-sibling looks Leon gives him or the gentle way Leon arranges his cape so that Merlin looks even more inconspicuous behind the copious amounts of red fabric. Leon never says a word, and Merlin would never admit it, but there are times when, if you looked at them from behind, you would see Merlin reach out to clutch Leon’s cape and Leon reach to hold his hand.

Percival is not a small man. Anyone standing opposite him better think very carefully about whatever they’re about to fight over. Odds are it won’t be worth it. Often all he has to do is stand up and they’re babbling apologies or excuses. Merlin, on the other hand, is a slight man who looks as if he’s always about two seconds from tripping over his own feet. Percival makes sure to stand in front of him.

Elyan has a way with words. Not that he’s the most loquacious speaker, nor the most forceful, but he’s got a voice that makes people listen. It’s not Arthur’s authority, nor it is Uther’s unmistakable iron, but it is a quiet power. Oftentimes, people don’t seem to respect Merlin. Some go so far as to refuse to remember his name. Elyan’s never had a problem making them see reason.

Gwaine is not known for being discreet, nor is he especially reserved in demonstrating that he’s here for Merlin, not for Camelot, not for Arthur, but for Merlin. Sometimes Merlin just needs a little reminder that he’s worth fighting for, and not just because he’s fighting for something bigger than himself.

Lancelot is the only one that can actually get Merlin to talk, reliably. The man can see through Merlin’s nonsense in a way that rivals Gaius. Unlike Gaius, Merlin won’t fight him on it. It’s difficult to get Lancelot to tell the rest of them, despite what he’ll have you believe. But if Merlin looks a little happier afterward, then it’s all fine.

So yeah, they’ve gotten used to it. What they haven’t gotten used to are the people that go out of their way to make life for Merlin harder.

“There’s another tournament?” Merlin huffs as he throws the blanket over Arthur’s bed. “Didn’t you just have one?”

“That was a joust. This is a melee.”

“You’re all throwing yourselves at each other with various pieces of metal,” Merlin remarks dryly, “what’s the difference?”

Arthur rolls his eyes as he gets up, glancing out the window to see the approaching knights. There aren’t nearly as many as the last tournament, thank goodness, but that does mean that this one won’t be nearly as easily decided.

“As long as I’m not cleaning up after all of you this time…”

Arthur frowns, looking back at Merlin straightening the bed covers. “What do you mean?”

“Last time. I was working non-stop. Had another knight almost as demanding as you are.”

“I’m allowed to be demanding,” Arthur says, “you’re my servant.”

“Mhmm, sure.”

“No one else is.”

“You tell them that, sire.”

“I will. Who was it?”

Merlin shrugs. “Don’t really remember his name.”

Arthur sighs, walking forward and resting his hand on Merlin’s shoulder. “Yes, you do. That’s what you say when you don’t want to tell me someone’s name.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” Arthur says softly, turning Merlin to face him, “so you can tell me.”

“That’s not how it works.”

“Sure it is.”

“No, it really isn’t.”

“Merlin,” Arthur huffs, “if something is wrong, you know you can tell me.”

“But nothing’s wrong!” Arthur just gives him a look until he sighs, picking up the laundry basket. “Alright, fine, his name was Tobias, are you happy now?”

“Yes, I am, thank you.” Arthur gives his shoulder another pat before moving away. “The next time he’s here, I’ll make sure you’re nowhere near him.”

As it turns out, that doesn’t go as planned. Because Sir Tobias didn’t just sign up for the joust, he’s here for the melee too.

“Arthur Pendragon,” the man roars, clapping Arthur firmly on the shoulder, “thought you’d seen the last of me, eh?”

“Thought that bruised backside you got from falling off your horse would’ve kept you away.”

Tobias throws his head back and laughs. “You’ve got spirit about you, lad. It’ll serve you well if you can hold your nerve.”

“My nerve has never failed me before,” Arthur replies cooly, gesturing up the stairs, “though I’m sure you know that by now.”

“We’ll see come the melee.”

Merlin is out of sight, helping the stablehands tend to the horses. As Arthur walks up the stairs, he sees Tobias glance around and huff softly to himself.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, no,” Tobias says quickly as they enter the hall, “just glad to see you’ve not assigned me the same servant this time.”

Arthur straightens. “Excuse me?”

“The gangly boy that tended to my chambers last time,” Tobias says, waving his hand, “right awful he was. Glad you’ve fired him.”

“I see…”

Arthur does not, in fact, see, but he makes a point to tell the knights not to let Tobias near Merlin.

As it turns out, they don’t have much of a choice. Arthur needs Merlin to help him get ready, and Tobias is of high enough rank to be near the prince as he does so. Luckily for Merlin, he just has to stay inside the tent.

Unluckily for Merlin…

“Arthur,” Gwaine calls from outside, “they need you to come look at the shields.”

Arthur gives Merlin’s arm a squeeze and steps away, ducking out of the tent. Gwaine leads him over to a table laden with shields, each with a different insignia painted on it. The Pendragon crest gleams in the light, next to the sigils from each of the other knights fighting. None of them has so much as a scratch.

“Very good, sire,” the attendant says, sweeping them along to finish the final preparations. Arthur follows Gwaine up the hill to where the others are standing, Leon turning and nodding solemnly ate his approach.

“Are all of you competing, then?” Arthur leans against the wall.

Leon shakes his head. “Lancelot and I will be sitting this one out.”

“Not growing weary are you, old friend?”

“Weary of people attempting to kill you while I’m already engaged in combat,” Leon replies wryly, “and weary of Merlin being the only one able to do anything about it.”

“They won’t listen to him when he calls for a stop to the tourney,” Lancelot adds.

“And so you can keep anyone away from him,” Gwaine says firmly.

“Precisely.”

They head back down the hill, just in time to see a flutter of movement from Arthur’s tent. Gwaine frowns, rushing forward and throwing it open.

“Merlin?”

“I’m here,” Merlin says, getting to his feet, “just fell.”

Arthur rolls his eyes fondly and reaches down to help him up. “At some point, Merlin, I do have to wonder.”

“It’s fine, I just picked up something without realizing it was attached to something else.”

“I see.”

The rest of the knights glance at each other over Arthur’s shoulder and Elyan stalks off toward a neighboring tent. Leon bows deeply and tells Merlin that he and Lancelot will wait for the others to finish their training before coming to collect him.

“There’s still a few more days to go,” Merlin says softly, “I don’t see why you all had to come here so early.”

“It’s to make it fair, give the knights the chance to get used to fighting in the same place.”

Merlin grumbles to himself as he goes about finishing up. Arthur catches him gently by the elbow as he turns to leave.

“Are you alright? Really?”

“Arthur, I’m fine. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Arthur sighs. “I would really like for one of these to go off normally for once.”

Arthur does not, in fact, get what he wants.

Not that anyone is particularly surprised that there’s a knight who managed to sneak a poisoned weapon into the training grounds, but someone clips Arthur through his armor and he winces, immediately aware that something’s wrong. Merlin spots it a mile away, because of course he does. The knight is quickly escorted away and Arthur shakes his head, calling for a search of all the knights’ belongings and weapons.

“You’d think we’d get better about this,” Lancelot mutters as he and Merlin approach, Merlin rubbing his shoulder, “and that they’d stop trying.”

“At least we caught it before the actual melee.”

“Merlin, there you are,” Gwaine says, pulling Merlin to his side, “good. Now, you and I are going to have a talk.”

“About what?” Arthur looks around. “What’s going on?”

Lancelot just mouths that they’ll be back as Gwaine sweeps them both along the corridor. Arthur brushes it to the back of his mind. That’s not the first time they’ve done something like this.

It’s the night before the melee. Merlin is late. Arthur paces up and down the length of his quarters. The knights have all vanished hours ago. Merlin is late.

A knock.

“Enter.”

Leon sweeps inside, a stony look on his face. He glances around the quarters and bites back a curse. “Merlin’s not here, is he?”

“No,” Arthur says, his blood beginning to run cold, “no, he isn’t. Where is he?”

“Gwaine and Lancelot are already looking,” Leon says, shutting the door, “but…sire, may I ask a question?”

“Always,” Arthur says immediately, “you don’t need to ask.”

“How long has Tobias been…allowed near Merlin?”

“He hasn’t,” Arthur growls, hustling down the corridor, “but what has he done?”

“He was more brazen during the joust.” Leon shoulders a door open. “But now—“

“Merlin!”

Arthur rushes forward as Merlin turns the corner. Startled, Merlin barely has time to turn all the way before Arthur’s wrapping him up in a protective arm and turning him back toward the safety of Arthur’s chambers.

“Where were you?”

“I was, um…”

Arthur bites back a curse and hurries faster, Leon hot on their heels. Along the way, they come across Elyan and Percival, coming up from the armory.

“Arthur, we need to—“ Elyan breaks off when he sees Merlin in Arthur’s arms. “Merlin?”

“My chambers,” Arthur growls, “now.”

“What about Gwaine and Lancelot?”

“They’ll find us.”

“Guys, whatever this is, it’s fine,” Merlin tries but Arthur simply opens the door to his quarters and sits Merlin down. “Really!”

“Merlin,” Leon says quietly, “where were you just now?”

Merlin glances at Arthur. Then back to Leon. “Helping Amelia.”

“And who were you helping Amelia help?”

Another glance at Arthur. Arthur closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

“Merlin,” he says slowly, “I need you to answer me honestly, please.”

Merlin nods, evidently a little taken aback at how soft Arthur’s voice is.

“Were you helping Amelia because she asked for your help, or were you helping her so Tobias would get angry with you instead of her?”

The silence that fills the room is more than enough of an answer.

“I’m going to kill him,” Gwaine announces, kicking open the door, “now where’s—there you are.”

“Gwaine, I—ah!”

“Don’t break him,” Lancelot chides gently as Gwaine sweeps Merlin into a hug, “he’s probably still hurt.”

“Hurt?” Arthur looks from Lancelot to Merlin. “Merlin—“

“It’s fine.”

“Can you allow us to be the judge of that,” Leon asks, settling a hand on Gwaine’s shoulder and moving him away, “please?”

“It’s just a few bruises, he doesn’t even hit that hard.”

“Not exactly helping your case here,” Gwaine snarls, stalking toward Arthur.

“Merlin.”

“…why’re you guys so upset?”

Arthur winces. Merlin looks back and forth between them.

“No…really, I don’t—I don’t understand. You lot hit me.”

“Not like that!”

“It’s fine, I don’t—“

“This isn’t fine, Merlin, you’re being hurt.”

“So?”

The room falls silent. Leon draws back as if Merlin reached out to smack him across the face. Percival bows his head as Elyan bites back a curse. Lancelot stares at Merlin like he’s grown a second head. Gwaine looks at Arthur.

Arthur’s chest clenches so painfully he fears he’s going to have to send for Gaius. Merlin…Merlin doesn’t believe that he’s worth worrying about when he’s hurt? Merlin doesn’t care that he’s getting hurt? Merlin is letting someone hurt him?

“Merlin…”

“What?” He looks around at all of them in confusion. “What it is? Why do you all look so…so…”

“Upset?” Leon tilts his head. “Because you just told us you don’t think you’re important.”

“But…this isn’t that big of a deal. It happens all the time. Why is this time any different.”

“How often,” Lancelot says, “would you say this happens then?”

“Every time there’s a tournament.”

“Every tournament,” Leon repeats quietly, “there is a knight that does this?”

“Sometimes more than one.”

“And you…let them?”

“It’s not like I have much of a choice.”

No.

No, no, no, this isn’t right.

This isn’t right.

Merlin is the man who waltzed right up to Arthur on his first day in Camelot and told him to stop being a prat.

Merlin is the man who spat in Uther’s face as often as he could.

Merlin is the man who demanded that everyone is treated as a person, be they servant or noble or royal.

This is wrong.

“Merlin,” Arthur manages, “Merlin, of course you have a choice.”

“If I don’t do it, they’ll hurt someone else. And I’m used to it.”

“But you never should’ve gotten used to it,” Arthur cries, rushing forward and grabbing Merlin’s shoulders, “damnit, Merlin, why don’t you protect yourself?”

“I’m fine, Arthur.”

“You’re letting yourself get pushed around and beaten by someone, you’re not fine.”

“I have to put up with you, don’t I?”

Arthur burns.

Something in his chest squeezes so tight it breaks. He takes his hands off of Merlin like he’s been stung, backing up until he hits the poster of his bed. His mouth is open in shock and he can scarcely draw breath.

Merlin thinks…Merlin…did he do this to Merlin?

“I don’t understand why this is such a big deal,” Merlin is saying far, far away, “it’s not like I’m not…why’re you all looking at me like that?”

No, no, Merlin is Arthur’s Merlin, he—he’d never hurt his Merlin, he’d never—no, he hasn’t—but—Merlin—

“Arthur, are you—are you crying?”

This is Arthur’s fault. This is Arthur’s fault, isn’t it, he’s messed this up, he’s messed Merlin up, he’s ruined it—he’s ruined everything.

“Sire,” comes Leon’s—is that Leon’s?—voice from somewhere to his left, “you have to breathe, come on…”

Arthur gasps, the air burning the inside of his throat. He does it again, frantically blinking to clear his eyes. Tears stream down his cheeks—so he did start crying—as the image of Lancelot and Gwaine talking to Merlin swims into view in front of him. Merlin’s brow is furrowed and he keeps shooting concerned looks Arthur’s way.

“I never meant—“ Arthur swallows— “I never meant to hurt him. I didn’t—I never meant any of them, I—“

“Shh, sire,” Leon murmurs, “we know. Nothing is simple right now.”

“But that’s not what Arthur does,” Merlin protests, “he—is that why you guys are so worried?”

Merlin turns and flies at Arthur, hands immediately coming up to cup his cheeks and numb away his tears, muttering all the while.

“That’s not what I meant, Arthur,” he babbles, “I didn’t—I didn’t mean to—you’re not like them, I just—that’s what I’m used to, I didn’t know that there was a difference—“

“I never meant to hurt you, Merlin,” Arthur says, gripping Merlin’s arms tightly, “I just—you must believe me—“

“I do, I do—“ now Merlin’s crying too— “I just—“

“Alright, you two,” Leon hushes, gently laying a hand on both of their shoulders, “let’s have you two sit before you fall over.”

The knight guides them both to the bed, sitting them on the edge. They’re no help; they’re too busy crying and clinging onto each other.

“Now, why don’t you two have a chat, and we’ll be outside.” Leon ruffles their hair affectionately and sweeps the others out into the corridor despite Gwaine’s protests.

Arthur swallows. “I never meant to hurt you, Merlin,” he mumbles, “nor do I believe that you’re—a fool or an idiot or stupid or anything.”

He clutches Merlin tightly. “You’re important to me.”

Merlin nods. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you lot, it’s just…that was how the older boys in Ealdor treated me. I got used to it. And it always made sense.”

Arthur shakes his head furiously. “It doesn’t make sense, Merlin. They were hurting you. People are hurting you. That’s not alright. That’s awful. And I’m going to stop it.”

“You can’t just fight all the nobles who don’t like me.”

“Watch me.”

“Your father will—“

“To hell with that,” Arthur snarls, “they’re hurting you. And I won’t stand for it.”

Merlin sighs, slumping forward. Without a thought, Arthur catches him, pulling him closer and tucking his head over Merlin’s.

“…you really would fight them for me?”

“Yes, Merlin. I would. And I will.”

He feels Merlin grin against his shoulder. “You’re going to make Tobias never come back to Camelot, aren’t you?”

“Perhaps.”

#merlin #merlin bbc #bbc merlin #merthur #merthur fic #dragonbabbles #fic

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dialovers-translations · 3 years

Text

Diabolik Lovers VANDEAD CARNIVAL ;; Ruki Route ー Chapter 2

ー The scene starts on the Carnival’s venue

Yui: Come to think of it...You said you don’t know what the ‘Queen of the Carnival’ is about either, right?

Ruki: Yes. I was aware of the existence of the Carnival itself, but never had I heard of there being a Queen.

Yui: You knew about the Carnival already? But you’ve never come here, right?

Ruki: It’s my first time visiting. However, I read about it in Eden in the past.

Yui: Eden?

Ruki: It’s the castle us siblings lived at during the time we had just been turned into Vampires. It is what we would call the place.

Amongst the literary collection at the castle, I found a book which had information on the Carnival and read it.

I believe the book mentioned that the Demon World’s Carnival is set up to resemble similar festivities in the human world.

Back then, I never even fathomed I would one day be able to enjoy it myself, of course...

I suppose you can never predict the future.

However, thinking back to it now, I am fairly certain nothing was written about a Queen.

That bothers me.

Yui: ( ...I’ve gotten a little anxious. I wonder what the Queen’s duty is? )

( I just hope I don’t get myself involved in anything strange or scary... )

Ruki: ...

Oi, Livestock. We’re gonna take a small break. I’m sure you’re exhausted too?

Yui: Eh? Why would you suddenly bring that up...?

Ruki: There’s a perfect shop over there. Let’s go.

ー Ruki walks away

Yui: Eh? Uhm, Ruki-kun!?

ー The scene shifts to Cafe ‘Tarte Tatin’

Waiter A: Welcome!

Yui: ( This is...a cafe? It looks normal from the outside... )

( But all the customers here are Vampires, right? It’s honestly kind of amazing... )

Ruki: Do you have any spare tables?

Waiter A: Yes, for two, right? Please wait one secーー Ah...

...Pardon my rudeness, dear customer. However, does that lady over there happen to be a human...?

Yui: ( He noticed...My scent should be suppressed by the drug though... )

Uhm, I...

Ruki: If I say yes, would that pose a problem?

Waiter A: I-I never claimed as much but...

Ruki: Then why ask that question?

Waiter A: U-Uhm...

Manager: ーー Pardon me, customer.

Is my waiter causing any trouble?

Ruki: Yes, he made a statement as if this place picks its customers, you see...I was hoping to inquire him about his true intentions.

Manager: ...Is the lady over there a human?

Yui: ( So they really do notice. I wonder if the medicine hasn’t taken full effect yet...? )

( Ruki-kun was so kind to tell me to enjoy myself too, but like this... )

Ruki: Let me tell you, she is no ordinary human.

She is special. One chosen by Karlheinz-sama, that is.

Waiter A: By Karlheinz-sama...!?

Manager: This human is...?

Ruki: If you reject her entrance, you are basically going against that man’s wishes too.

Manager: ...

...Prepare a table on the terrace.

Waiter A: Eh? ...Are you sure?

Manager: I shall permit it. ...They are very important customers after all.

Please excuse our rudeness, dear customers. We shall prepare everything right away, so please wait one second.

Ruki: Sure.

Yui: ( You know... )

Ruki: Why are you looking at me like that? If there’s something on your mind, tell me.

Yui: N-No...

( Ruki-kun is very reliable, it’s at times like these that I realize how lucky I am to have him on my side... )

Ruki: ...Yui. You should learn to be a little more assertive.

Yui: Assertive?

Ruki: You need to learn to voice your own opinion.

Nothing good comes from being too timid.

You are the chosen Eve. Have more confidence. Be proud.

If you stand there cowering, (1) it has a negative impact on me, the person by your side, as well.

Yui: ...Right. I’m sorry, Ruki-kun.

Ruki: Of course, I know that is simply who you are. Therefore, I’m not exactly blaming you or anything.

I do like that side of you too after all.

Yui: Eh...?

Waiter A: My apologies for the wait. I shall escort you to your seats.

Ruki: Let’s go.

The terrace is a VIP seat. Try and keep your head up high, so you seem fitting of sitting there. Understood?

*TIMESKIP*

Waiter A: Here’s your coffee, cafe au lait and tarte tatin.

*Thud*

Yui: Wah...Looks delicious! Take a look, Ruki-kun!

Ruki: Oi, don’t make too much of a fuss. Did I not tell you these seats are special? You’re embarrassing us.

Yui: Ah...Sorry.

Ruki: Remain calm when eating. Right now you are reminding me of Kou or Yuma.

Yui: Yes...Well then, I’ll have a bite.

*Cling*

Yui: Nn...Delicious!

Ruki: I see.

Yui: You won’t eat anything?

Ruki: No. Watching you eat something so sugary sweet is more than enough for me.

Yui: However, it actually isn’t too overly sweet, so won’t you try some as well?

We’re here together now anyway, so just one bite, okay?

Ruki: ...If you insist, I suppose I will. Give me some.

Yui: Yes! I’ll ask the waiter for a fork...

Ruki: No need. You are already holding one in your hand, no?

You can use that one.

Yui: B-But, then I’ll have to...

Ruki: What? You can’t...?

Yui: It’s not impossible but...

Ruki: ...You won’t claim it’s embarrassing, right?

You’ve already directly accepted my fangs with your body, yet this much is enough to make you feel shame?

If you don’t like the idea, you don’t have to share with me. I’m not that interested after all.

Yui: I do think it’s embarrassing, but I want you to be able to have a taste as well.

Ruki: Hmph...In that case...You know what to do, right?

Yui: ( Uu...I guess having him on your side can still cause trouble at times... )

*TIMESKIP*

ー They leave the cafe

Waiter A: Thank you very much for your visit!

Yui: That was so good! I’m glad we came.

Ruki: Yeah.

Yui: Say, Ruki-kun. Where are we headed next?

Ruki: Wherever you want. We are just killing time until it’s time after all.

*Clap clap clap*

Clown A: Gather around, everyone! A spectacular show is about to begin!

Everyone interested should head to Saint Nore Park right away! A fun time awaits ahead!

Yui: Saint Nore Park...? I wonder what kind of show they’re talking about?

Ruki: Want to go take a look if you’re curious? We still have time.

Yui: Yeah!

ー The scene shifts to Saint Nore Park’s venue

Yui: What a crowd...I guess the show will take place around here?

Ruki: Oi, Livestock, don’tーー

*Thud*

Yui: Ah...!

Female Vampire D: Watch your step! Be careful!

Yui: S-Sorry...

Ruki: ...Haah.

*Rustle*

Ruki: Don’t wander around without permission from your Master. Who do you think has to go through trouble if you were to get yourself lost?

Yui: Sorry...

Ruki: If you truly feel guilty, make sure to stick by my side from here on out. I don’t want to get into trouble either.

Yui: Y-Yeah...

( However, aren’t we a little too close right now...? )

ー The crowd cheers

Magician A: This concludes our marionette act.

We had some close calls with the threads getting entangled, but those kind of ‘small’ incidents are part of the act’s charm!

Yui: ( That’s not a laughing matter...! )

Magician A: Well then, let’s move to the next show time!

I need an assistant for this next act...So could I ask for a volunteer?

Yui: Fufu, this kind of stuff often happens, huh?

Ruki: Usually the assistant is decided upon beforehand though.

Yui: Oh come on...

Magician A: Hm...Let’s see...Ah!

Yui: ( ...Eh? Did our eyes meet just now? )

Magician A: The young lady over there. Would you be willing to help me out?

Yui: ( I knew it...! )

Ruki: ...Are you referring to her?

Magician A: Why of course! I just felt like this is fate.

I feel like my act will definitely succeed if she helps me out. Unlike the one from before.

Ruki: ...I’m sorry, but I can’t hand her over.

Magician A: Eeh? Please don’t say that...Say, young lady? How do you feel about this?

Yui: Me? I...

Selection

→ I want to give it a try

Yui: I guess I kind of want to...give it a shot.

Magician A: See? Did you hear that?

Ruki: ...You fool.

Yui: Eh...!?

( Is he upset...!? )

→ Ask Ruki-kun (☾)

Yui: Ruki-kun...What should I do?

Ruki: ...If you want to try it, you should.

Yui: Thenーー

Ruki: Which is what I’d love to say. But I cannot give you permission this time.

Yui: ( He seems really insistent about it... )

Is there a specific reason, Ruki-kun?

Ruki: ...You know very well that you’re surrounded by Vampires right now, don’t you?

Vampires don’t die so easily. Therefore, even if they make a small blunder, they can just cover it up as being part of the show.

If anything, I heard that sometimes they will mess up on purpose to get a stronger reaction from the audience. I assume that was the case in the previous act as well.

Even if it is something which could usually cost a person their life, for a Vampire who doesn’t die very easily, they can simply laugh it off.

However...You are different. If a mistake were to occur, you’d die.

How could I let you go through with this...knowing very well that is the case?

Yui: ( Come to think of it...Earlier everyone laughed when he said there was a close call as well. )

( If an incident were to happen again while I’m helping out... )

Ruki: Do you still want to give it a try after hearing all of this?

Yui: ...I don’t...

Ruki: Figured as much.

Magician A: Hello? Have you made up your mind?

Ruki: It was obvious from the very start. She can’t help. If you need someone to assist you, you’ll have to try your luck somewhere else.

Magician A: Not even a little? All she has to do is stand there.

Ruki: The answer is no.

Magician A: ...I suppose you leave me with no other choice then.

ー The magician pulls Yui his way

*Thud*

Yui: Ow...!

Ruki: ...Oi!

Magician A: Oh come on, it’ll be over in the blink of an eye.

Yui: ( This person is incredibly strong...! )

P-Please stop...!

Magician A: Don’t be scared. Even if a mishap occurs, we don’t die, do we?

Yui: ( He’s mistaking me for a Vampire!? Because my scent has faded due to the drug...!? )

Ruki: Oi! Let go of her right noー��!

*Thud*

Ruki: ...!? What are you two doing!?

Clown A: No, no...You shouldn’t interfere with the show!

Clown B: We know that you’re worried about her, but this is all for the sake of the Carnival, okay? Can’t you work with us for a bit?

Ruki: Cut the crap!! Kuh...!

Magician A: Well then, everyone! Please behold! What I would like to demonstrate on this lovely little lady isーー

A knife-throwing show!!

Yui: ( Knives...!? )

Magician A: There are three numbers written on the target behind her. I shall throw the knives towards those in order.

If I manage to hit all three without messing up...I would very much appreciate a grand applause from you all!

Yui: ( No way...The number behind me? They’re near the face...!? )

No! Ruki-kun...!

Ruki: Kuh...! Let me go...!

Clown A: Ah~ Yeah, yeah, stop moving!

Clown B: Don’t worry, it’ll only sting a little at worst.

Ruki: ...Only sting a little, you say...?

...Don’t be ridiculous!!

Magician A: Well thenーー Starting with the first one!

Yui: ...!!

ー She closes her eyes

Yui: ( Ruki-kun...! )

Ruki: ...Yui!!

*Thud*

ー She opens her eyes again

Magician A: ...Oh dear?

Clown A: Oh my! Such strength!

Clown B: There were two of us, but he still escaped our grip.

Ruki: ...Are you okay, Yui?

Yui: Ruki-kun...

( I had my eyes closed so I didn’t see what happened but...Ruki-kun saved me...? )

( ...The knife hit exactly the place I was standing up till now...!? )

( If Ruki-kun hadn’t come to my rescue, right now, I would have been...! )

...! Ow...!?

Ruki: Oi, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me, did the knife...!?

Yui: I’m okay...Seems like it only scraped my arm...But, it’s bleeding...

Spectator A: ...Hm? This scent...

Spectator B: A human! There’s a human here! But, this is...!

Spectator C: What a delicious fragrance! It’s coming from that young lady...!

Ruki: Che...Oi, press down onto your arm! We have to run!

ー The two of them run away

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) Literally he says that she is ‘making her back round’, implying that she is standing somewhat leaning forward as if you are trying to make yourself small, with your head bowed downwards.

← RETURN TO CHAPTER 1

→ PROCEED WITH MAIN STORY [CHAPTER 3]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #1 [W/REIJI]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #2 [W/ KANATO]

→ SUB-SCENARIO #3 [W/ AZUSA]

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #ruki mukami #vandead carnival #diabolik lovers translation #vcrukichapter2

49 notes · View notes

scvrllet · 3 years

Note

If you're still doing these, could I get a 🎫 concert ticket for Harry Potter and Once Upon A Time?

Glad to have found your blog!!!

I'm Lucifer, but people call me Luci or Luce, I'm 21 (22 in September), I identifiy somewhere around the nonbinary category, but I see gender as something trivial. I'm a panromantic demisexual and prefer they/her pronouns. 6'3 tall, long wavy blonde hair, black eyes. I wear glasses and usually skirts with old band t-shirts (that I actually listen to).

I always have a bunch or rings around my fingers as well as multiple ear piercings. I'm super pale, to the point that people often ask me if I'm sick.

I'm introverted, but I can be a social butterfly if required. I love listening as much as talking. I never really talk about emotions/feelings but anything else I'mhappy to chat about. I don't really react to things apart from my facial expressions. The lift of an brow, a smirk or an eye-roll will let you know how I feel about things without verbal confirmation. I'm always calm and collected, and my voice stays monotonous no matter what ; I don't stutter, yell or scream.

I'm highly intelligent and very sarcastic, and rarely laugh outloud, but smirk a lot. I might come across as rude and blunt but on the inside I am a softie, just don't show it often.

I love literature (especially classic), arts and learning languages (I currently speak 18). I'm also musically very inclined. I study History and mythology. When it comes to hobbies, I read and collect lots of things things such as lighters, tarot cards, night lights, rocks/crystals and books.

I have four siblings and am the oldest, but I don't really keep in touch with my family that much. I have a few good friends (2 or 3) and I don't even really need much more.

I'm a Virgo, Slytherin and INTJ-A if that tells you anything.

I'm not athletic in the least, but am in good shape. My body is an hourglass figure and I also got a bunch of tattoos.

I have a bad habit of smoking, and usually having a glass of scotch or wine with me (but I never get drunk or even tipsy). I love spending time near water, but hate getting wet. I usually take long walks outside after midnight while listening to creepypastas or true crime podcasts. I love the genre horror overall, yet I rarely get scared. The only thing I'm scared of is being scared if something. And Santa Claus (<-- no idea as to why).

If I were to go on an ideal date, it'd hopefully be something original and not the cheese classics, but I wouldn't mind them either. I just want to experience new things.

I don't really celebrate holidays (e.g. Christmas, Ester) since I was raised in an atheist/witchcraft household.

If I still might add something, when it comes to relationships I'm never overly dramatic. I don't, as previosuly mentioned, yell or really even cry. I don't get frustrated or suspicious easily. If I see any inclination that my partner might be e.g. cheating on me, I ask them about it directly and will absolutely under no circumstanses go through their phone, computer or start stalking them.

You wanted 3 random things, here :

1. I can't cook shit, I have set spaghetti on fire, cracked a pan in half and blown up a microwave.

2. I'm very unpredictable, but at the same time I like to stick to certain routines etc.

3. I've had my hair dyed more times that I can count with more colors than I know how to name.

Uhhh, I think that's all? I hope you have a good day :)

(🎫) CONCERT TICKETS - get a platonic or romantic ship/match-up from the fandom of your choice (max. two) along with a shirt headcanon

JOIN MY 4K FOLLOWER CELEBRATION

I ship you with....

Peter Pan

- Arriving on Neverland, in hindsight, was a mistake. Magic beans while very reliable were prone to mistakes every so often and so instead of appearing in the Enchanted Forest, you were on the beach of a large island. And what was the most odd of all, was not the strange feeling you felt upon arriving on the island, but the pair of eyes you could practically feel staring at you from the trees. Hoping that it was just an animal of some sort, you walked off the beach and headed to the path through the forest.

- Unfortunately for you, the feeling lingered, following you almost as you walked through the forest. Tall trees lined the path and every once in awhile you’d see some small animals scurry away. What seemed to stand out the most however were the silhouettes standing off in the side, deep within the trees but standing right below the sunlight for you to see clearly. There was four, than five, than six than......only one. Looking at your surroundings, you saw your footprints in the ground before you and it hit you. You’d been walking in circles the whole time and the silhouette was still there.

“Hello?” You called out, not sure as to whether or not the silhouette really was there.

Without a verbal response, the figure disappeared only to reappear a few feet in front of you.

You jumped back in shock but quickly regained your balance as you studied the person before you. It was a boy, looking to be around your age, with a questioning look on his face as he looked at you. “Who are you?”

“I could ask you the same question.”

“I asked you first!”

“And I’m in charge of this island!”

“You? In charge of an island? What is this Neverland?” You rolled your eyes at the possibility. Neverland was a place made up so that kids could fall asleep. Not a real place that you could visit.

“Yes it is, and I run things around here so tell me, who are you.” The boy replied, emphasizing his last three words as he spoke.

“As if, what’s next? You call your little Lost Boys to come prove to me?” You scoffed. To believe that you were on Neverland was already too much and all you wanted was to get home to the Enchanted Forest but it seems you’re stuck playing pretend with a boy who doesn’t want to grow up. A shame really

Smirking, the boy simply pressed two fingers to your forehead and before you could even say something, your mind went foggy and your vision was filled with black.

- To say you got off on a rough start was an understatement. The two of you were constantly at each other’s neck while he kept you on the island, the camp specifically, and didn’t let you leave due to belief that you were a spy of some sorts. Not that he had anything to hide. Not yet at least.

- As time went on however, the two of you had begun to form a friendship. It wasn’t anything big or odd, but it was definitely new. He’d be less of an ass to you and let you explore the island on your own (with some exception).

- Upon finding your out about your hobbies, he would discreetly try to surprise you with materials to help you engage in them even if Neverland’s magic still had some restrictions. He would still try to the best of his abilities.

I also ship you with....

Blaise Zabini

- Losing was one thing Blaise never took lightly. Competitive he was but even with his ambition and skill, it was the mundane things that revolved around luck that often made him lose. Like the stupid bet he made with Theo on whether Gryffindor would win or lose where the loser would have to make a full four course meal complete with drinks for all the Slytherins in their year. Unfortunately for him, he had lost unlike Gryffindor and now here he was, spending his Saturday afternoon in the kitchens and a cookbook Pansy had given him “to help”.

- Blaise didn’t know what he’d see upon entering kitchen. He was sure to see a few House Elves, perhaps he could ask them for help, but what he didn’t except was to see you standing in front of the stove with a pot spilt cleanly in half somehow and a fire burning below. And to make matters worst, you were simply standing there as if you had been frozen.

“Hey watch out!” He called out as a flame went up towards you. Pushing you out the way just in time, he managed to save you from the burn in return of him getting burned.

“Fuck.” He hissed out in pain. Gripping his arm as he put out the fire with his wand before dropping it on the ground.

Without a word, you simply grabbed your wand and waved it above his burn. You seemed to be muttering something, a spell of some sort, as a cooling sensation covered his wound. Looking down, he was shocked to see that the burn was actually healing.

“How, how did you.... Thank you.”

“I was practicing a charm, fire control, but thank you for the concern.”

Feeling sheepish for thinking that you didn’t have it under control, he ended up excusing himself from the kitchen to head back to his dorm where his friends immediately pounced on the chance to tease him for a variety of reasons.

- The next day, instead of going to Hogsmeade with his friends, Blaise stayed back at the castle to catch up on a paper he had failed to submit on time. Deciding on going to the library, sh was disappointed to see that almost all of the tables were taken. All but one in the far back corner. Quickly heading towards it, a sigh left his lips as someone dropping their book bag into the table beat him to the table: you.

“Oh did you need the table? I can leave if you’d like?”“ You said upon noticing him standing in front of the table.

“No, no it’s alright I just uh, planned on finishing a paper for Flitwick’s class.” He admitted.

“You can have a seat if you’d like, I’ll just be doing my own work and you can do yours.” You kindly offered and Blaise gladly accepted. He really need to finish this paper or else he’s be kicked off the Quidditch team so while he didn’t get the complete privacy he originally wanted, he’s fine with this.

As the two of you worked in quiet, occasionally Blaise would sneak glances your way which you ended up catching once.

“Hi.” was all you managed to muster out as you tried to contain the wide smile that wanted yo grow on your face.

Trying his best to not chuckle at your slightly flustered state, he mirrored your smile as he replied with a “Hello.”

#you didn’t mention romantic or platonic so i just made it platonic #long post #jens record shop #jens 4k follower celebration #(🎫) concert tickets #marvelousluci

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muwi-translates · 4 years

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Collar x Malice キャラクターCD ミニドラマ「二人きりの湯煙譚」

Collar x Malice Yanagi Aiji Character CD Mini Drama - A Hot Bath for the Two of Us

Spoiler free. Just a note that I used a Chinese translation as my main source, and did some light cross-referencing from the original audio. There might be some inaccuracies.

**Please don’t move this translation or claim it as your own.**

---

It's been a few months since I started dating her. Even though she’s walked, ate, and shared time with me, she rarely says anything self-indulgent so as to not be a burden to me.

Her being able to say things like “I’m happy as long as we can be together” makes me glad, but I want to spoil her more. I just want to see her happy.

Thinking this way, I invited her to go to the hot springs.

---

This is amazing.

When I made the reservation, I heard that there was a room with an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean, so I decided to book it. Looks like it was the right decision.

Ah, yes, it’s okay to put the luggage there.

What a strange tea sweet. These are cat-shaped manju, right? They’re cute. If you want to, you can eat my one as well. It’s alright, help yourself. You like sweet things, don’t you?

[Teacups being placed down]

Ah, thank you very much.

Here, the hostess boiled some tea for us. It’s hot, be careful not to burn yourself.

Hm? We look like we get along? Yes, I’m always being taken care of by this one. I haven’t been able to return the favour, so I’m taking advantage of this opportunity to relax a little.

What? I look like a reliable husband? Ah-- no, we’re not---

… They left...

I didn’t expect to be mistaken for a married couple. But it’s not like it’s a bad thing. It makes me happy. It would be more depressing if they thought we were siblings.

Nn? I used to treat you like a sister before? Heh, yeah, you could say that. But right now, I’m seeing you properly as a woman. To the point where I feel proud for people to think we’re married.

Haha… you’re delighted as well?

Aah, I was going to say that we weren’t married yet but--

Eh, ‘yet’ means ‘some day’? Well, yeah... you’re right. I’m seriously considering things about you. That’s why I invited you to travel--

… Hey, why are you laughing? Come here, don’t run away. You... you’re having fun watching me panic, aren’t you?

Good grief… If you tease me too much you’re going to regret it.

Hm? There’s an outdoor bath outside the room?

This is really luxurious. And it looks like it can fit two people--

---Ah, I remember the brochure said that there’s a room with an open-air bath. It must be this then. Well, how to say it, there’s a lot of different types of baths in the public area, since we’re already here, why don’t we go have a look?

---

Ha...

First it was getting mistaken as husband and wife, then it was an open-air bath attached to our room, what’s going on? Is my rationality getting tested? Before becoming her lover, it was easier for me to stay calm. Recently I feel like I get so riled up when it comes to her.

She’s way too cute in the first place that it’s bad. That expression she made when she heard that we looked like we were married was so happy that it makes me all shivery.

Just discard all the distractions and keep calm as usual.

I don’t want to suddenly get all intimate and trouble her. I was a little worried that she might be nervous about staying here when I invited her on a trip, but she looked so excited. She even said that being able to spend more time with me made her very happy. So I want her to enjoy herself with peace of mind.

---

Ah, don’t run off. I just came out. I threw away all the distra-- no, I enjoyed myself.

Did you enjoy it as well? That’s good. You must have been in a rush to get out. Your hair’s still a bit wet.

No, if you leave it like that you’ll catch a cold. Don’t move.

It’s not a big deal, don’t worry about it. As a lover, it’s a privilege to be able to do something like this.

You want to help blow dry my hair? It’s not long like yours, so it’ll dry out quickly by itself anyway.

…Alright, I’ll let you do it next time, don’t get mad. But I’d rather spoil you than be spoiled. Men are creatures that want to look cool in front of women. Especially if it’s a woman that they like.

Okay, that should be enough.

What do you want to do now? There’s still time before dinner. Do you want to go back to our room?

… Ah, the souvenir store? Yeah, we’re going to look at different places tomorrow, so we might as well go and see.

---

Nn? This manju… the ones we had in our room?

It looks like the white one has white beans, the black one has red bean paste, the kitten has sesame and the tiger one has purple sweet potato. Shiraishi would be happy to get these. You want to buy these?

If you’re thinking about the others in the office, we should buy something else for Sasazuka. He’s not really good with Japanese sweets. Besides, I feel like he’s been having too many donuts lately. Even though I told him to cut back on the fried food.

Haha, you agree?

Hm? Found something good?

Is this… baked donuts? Low oil, low calories… He’ll probably complain about it, but let’s get it. The only thing is that this doesn’t look like a hot spring specialty at all. Well, I don’t think Sasazuka would care.

Is there something you want to buy?

The local mascot character goods? Speaking of the mascot, I heard Enomoto got some Date Masamune merchandise from Sendai. He told me pretty enthusiastically that it’s a good conversation topic if you show it to a girl. Enomoto aside, I think mascot goods and I are a mismatch, but if it’s you, it would be cute. What does the local mascot look like?

Ah… I was thinking about why there were so many cat themed things here, so this is why. If you want that plush toy, then I’ll buy it as a present for you.

I can at least do this much. Anyway, I also want to create some memories of our trip.

Nn? Buy a pair? No… well, isn’t that… isn’t it embarrassing?

It’s not that I don’t want to, but just thinking about my age… Ah, is it a bad habit for me to always think about that?

I know, this is a part of enjoying a trip. It might be hard to keep it with me all the time, but I’ll cherish it.

I’ll go pay for them then.

---

Hah… It’s hard to sit still and do nothing except eat during dinner, is it because I always have the chance to cook? As expected, food made by professionals tastes different. Everything tastes good. I should take the opportunity to study it.

Oh, if I get any better you won’t be able to catch up? Heh, really… you praise me too much. If it’s about cooking, yours is delicious as well.

You carefully prep in advance, and I can see that you put your heart into it and you think about who you’re cooking for. The presentation is different from mine too, it’s quite unique. Even your packed lunches, you cut carrots and turnips into flowers, right? When you see a packed lunch like that, all the feelings you put into it immediately jump to mind. Naturally, it makes people smile.

Heh, I’ve been teased by Enomoto about it too. Now, every time I feel a little happiness in life, I realize that it shouldn’t be taken for granted. Even being able to go on a trip with you, to drink and eat side by side and talk about the future like this is all thanks to you.

Hu… It’s not just flattery. To me, your existence is so special to me, I’d be embarrassed if you don’t understand.

You’re the same?

I see, we’re the same.

You carried out your own justice, even though you were scared of coming into contact with Adonis. I’ve always been watching you do that from nearby. Being strong isn’t everything, it’s because people are timid and fragile that they want to be strong.

That’s what you taught me. You’re the one who pushed the stagnant me forward.

I’m really grateful to you.

….Your face… isn’t it getting a bit red? I let you drink with me, but you don’t hold your alcohol well. It’s better for you to stop.

No, I can drink alone, I can’t have you keep drinking with me--

Hm?

You feel like there’s distance? You’re lonely?

Ah… my bad, it was my fault-- no, you didn’t do anything wrong.

Really, you didn’t.

To be honest-- I always wanted to touch you like this. I don’t know how you see me, but right now, I don’t care. Men are much simpler than you think. If two people like this are alone and touch each other, it’s easy to lose control of your rationality.

Hey, don’t provoke me like that.

I want to cherish you. Aren’t I always saying it? I’m always conscious of suppressing my desires because we have such a big age difference. But when you touch me, those limits start letting up… So today, I don’t want to be unreasonable--

…! Hey... hugging me all of a sudden like that is unfair.

Hah? Why would I not like it? It’s the opposite.

You might not believe it, but I’m surprised at how I’m feeling as well. Really, at my age, I didn’t think I’d lose myself like this.

Don’t make that expression. I’m sorry that I made a lonely memory.

But, if we push past those limits, will you know when to stop? You’ve… experienced it before, uh… I don’t want to force anything. I’m self-conscious enough to put up precautions so that doesn’t happen. I hope you understand that I’m thinking of you.

I actually want to touch you more. I talked a lot, but the truth is I don’t want you to be disillusioned.

I want to be cooler. I’ve fallen for you that much.

You…

If you say something like “If it’s Yanagi-san you can do whatever you want”, do you understand how much that’ll stir me up? You already said it, how am I supposed to restrain myself?

Alright, I admit defeat.

You’re just too darn cute.

Are you going to take responsibility for making me lose my composure?

[Kiss]

I couldn’t say it before, but the open-air bath outside… do you want to get in together later?

What, are you being hesitant now? Where did all that boldness from before go?

I’m being mean? Didn’t I warn you properly?

Besides, you’re the one who broke through. You always show me your feelings through your word and actions. Age aside, even with my personality, it’s hard for me to show how I feel about you expressing your love for me. You might feel uneasy if you doubt that we share the same feelings, so today I want to express myself well.

I don’t plan on letting you go at all.

Even if I searched the whole world, I wouldn’t be able to find another woman that can make me lose myself like this. I’m not exaggerating. You should believe in yourself more.

The moments where you’re gentle, when you’re angry enough to scare people, when you seem reliable but also a little careless, when you work hard and when you’re stubborn, when you surprise everyone by doing something bold, I love all these things about you.

But the most important thing is that you, who loves me so much, are just so cute.

It’s embarrassing? You’re always telling me things like this so straightforwardly.

If I lose my composure, I won’t be apologetic about it.

[Kiss]

Why would I be worried if the woman I love tells me she loves me? Of course I’d be happy.

It’s not fair if I’m the only one who’s opening up my heart. I want to hear you too.

It’s still a long time before morning. Tell me how you feel, just to me, with your voice.

#otome #drama cd #otomate #collar x malice #collar x malice unlimited #cxm #mytranslations #drama cd translation #yanagi aiji

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demon-doppelganger · 4 years

Note

Hi! i am really excited when i saw Matchups and I couldn’t stop myself from requesting While i am shy at first i turn very affectionate and bubbly when i get used to the people. i seek to try new thing to get out of my comfort zone i am very optimistic and loves challenges That being said i view reading and playing as equal excitement lol so i get along with almost everyone. I get angry fast but i forgive fast.I hope this is enough sorry for bothering you and thank you very much🧡

Sure! And really sorry for the wait!

One piece

I match you with Usopp! (my favourite boy)

Usopp, the sniper of The Straw Hat pirates is the perfect match for you. He’s seen as more of a coward and a liar but even so, he’s still passionate about achieving his dream and helping his friends do the same.

At first he noticed your shy behaviour so he’d be the one to initiate a conversation. Even though the conversation would be about him lying of having achieved a lot of impossible stuff, it got you two closer. He would often initiate more conversations and always try to spend time with you.

After you two got closer and you started to act more like yourself, this boy couldn’t enjoy it more. He loved how lively and cheerful you would get with stuff you enjoyed.

This boy isn’t used to affection at all, so if you even give him a simple hug, he’ll panic and blush and won’t know what to do. So you should probably warn him beforehand.

Even after he realized he has a big crush on you, he won’t confess. He is extremely insecure on himself and scared of what your answer would be. Therefore you’ll have to confess first. He’ll panic so much and start blabbing random stuff until he finally calms down that’ll require a hug and confess back.

He is clueless about relationships, but he’ll act as if he is an expert at it. Even though it’s extremely obvious he is as clueless as a fish. I offended fishes with this.

You two dates would consist of exploring new islands together, fishing together, and inventing new stuff and trying them out to see if they are essential to use in a fight. He also doesn’t mind going shopping with you. He enjoys just spending time in your company whether it’d be playing around or just reading.

He is known for his pessimism which gets him down a lot and makes him even more insecure in his abilities. So he’ll need some confidence boost and optimism from your part.

All in all he really loves staying in your company. And around you he doesn’t really feel the need to lie, and just be himself. He just hopes you won’t leave him because he won’t either.

Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun

I match you with Teru!

Teru is a calm and collected person who is well-liked by almost everyone. He is also reliable and perceptive. But even so, he might seem perfect but he still has a lot of flaws. I bet you two would make a really cute couple.

At first because of your shyness, he was the first to start a conversation. He found you rather interesting so after that day he’d try to talk to you a little bit more. After you two became friends and you started to behave more like your actual self Teru was more than happy to see this side of yours.

He loved how everyday he could see a new side of yours. Like how you would always try to do new stuff no matter how silly or difficult they were, or how even in a drastic situation you’d still stay optimistic.

It didn’t pass much for him to realize that he does have a crush. He didn’t really hesitate to tell you about it, even if the feeling wasn’t returned he’d still be glad to have a person like you as his friend. But when you returned it, he’d be more than happy.

He hasn’t really been in relationships before but he has the idea of how healthy ones should work.

He also is pretty used to affection from having younger siblings. So he’d be pretty quick to return your hugs and would even ask if he could hold your hand in public.

Your dates would include going to cafes, amusement parks, cinemas, study dates, sleepovers. He loves to go to new places with you but also just spend some quiet time with you.

He’ll definitely try to cook for you which will end up in a horrible disaster. But he still would love to cook together with you but depending on how much you know about cooking, it’ll either end in a horrible disaster or a cooking lesson.

All in all he just loves to spend time with you. It makes his day better no matter how bad it was.

Hope you like them!

#toilet bound hanako kun #toilet bound hanako kun x reader #tbhk x reader #tbhk matchups #one piece x reader #one piece matchups #usopp x reader #teru x reader

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kunstpause-archive · 4 years

Text

From the scrap pile

Thanks to @elveny and @kittimau for tagging me ❤

This was surprisingly hard bc even though I scrapped easily over 100k words over the course of our big DA2 fic alone I keep reusing small bits and pieces in odd places and the stuff I totally throw out I don’t like enough to show to anyone really

But I did find something. This is from 2018, it was set pretty early on in our story Precipice of Change and was the original first meeting between Cullen and Cassia, before we heavily reworked the story.

I don’t know who did this already so feel free to ignore me but tagging @captainderyn @tishinada @curiousthimble @cornfedcryptid @faerieavalon @sharkapologists @fandomn00blr @serial-chillr @wardenari @ranawaytothedas @midnightprelude @charlatron @anchanted-one

Under a cut for length-reasons. :D

Cassia had underestimated the way towards the Gallows, it seemed. ‘They are really serious about this whole separation thing’ she mused while waiting for her boat to cross over. She had never been even near this place before and for good reason. The closer she got the more daunting the huge statues looked. All of a sudden, she could understand Adriene’s refusal to take any work that would require going here a little bit more. But on the other hand… they needed the money and the pay just seemed too good to not at least try. She only hoped she would get anywhere after her sister had already turned down the offer. Rather colourfully apparently, or so Cassia had heard.

When she stepped into the courtyard for the first time, she couldn’t suppress a small shiver. There were tranquil around, selling wares. Some mages walked briskly, not looking around much. And templars. So many templars… She wasn’t sure she had ever seen so many templars in one spot before, and there was an eerie feeling in the air for some reason.

Cassia was used to hiding among regular people. Non-mages. Even hiding in front of templars at the chantry. It usually involved looking either as unassuming or as disarmingly open as possible for her. Light clothes that made it obvious she wasn’t hiding anything underneath, a bright smile and most importantly: no staff. For the first time, the absence of the most trusted weapon was something she could almost physically feel, though, before she shook her head. It wasn’t as if it would do her any good even if she had her staff with her. Under this amount of vigilance and raw power, she wouldn’t even get one spell off before they took her down. She shook off the sense of doom that seemed to permeate the very air in this place, put on her brightest smile and went up to the next patrol, asking for the Knight-Captain who had made her sister the oh-so-well-paid offer earlier.

Cullen had been deeply immersed in the report on his desk when a knock on his door pulled him out of his concentration. “Yes?” he called out, trying not to lose track of where he was on the document.

“There is a Serah Hawke here to speak to you, Knight-Captain,” came the muffled voice of one of the recruits on guard duty from the outside. Irritation went through him at the reason for the disturbance.

“Tell her I don’t have time,” he called out again. He didn’t know what it had been exactly but something about her had made him slightly uneasy, even though she had been a great help at the coast.

“She is standing right next to me and insists,” the recruit called through the door again, and Cullen felt the irritation grow even stronger.

“Fine, send her in then.” What in the world did she want? She had made her disdain of templars in general quite clear only a few hours ago, and he had no desire for a repeat performance.

“What do you want?” he sighed impatiently. “Because if I remember correctly, you said something about never wanting to set foot in the Gallows ever again rather loudly not that long ago.” With an impatient glare, he looked up from his documents at the intruder in his office only to be met with a pair of raised eyebrows that definitely did not belong to the woman he had met earlier that day.

“I get the feeling I have to apologise on behalf of my sister, Knight-Captain,” the woman standing in his office said in a light and slightly amused voice. “I am Cassia Hawke, and I am here about a job you offered her.”

Sister? His first thought was that he had probably never seen siblings look less alike than the two of them. They looked like complete opposites of each other. And from his first impression, they sounded like it, too. The woman in front of him was nothing short of charming, not a trace of the hostility her sister had shown him.

“Knight-Captain Cullen,” he introduced himself even though he was certain she already knew that. “Forgive my reaction, but I am somewhat confused, Serah Hawke.”

The information she had gotten from Fenris had not been much. Adriene hadn’t been willing to listen for very long, it seemed, but she was certain he had said Knight-Captain Cullen had been the one offering said job. She gave him a careful once-over. He looked… younger than she had anticipated. In her head, the Knight-Captain of a city as big as Kirkwall had been someone more seasoned. More looking at home behind a desk. Knight-Captain Cullen looked like he was around her age, maybe even the slightest bit younger. Like he should be out there, on the frontlines instead of in here, doing paperwork. He must have had a steep career to end in such a prestigious position at this part of his life already.

“Confused about me asking for a job?” Cassia had put on her best, most pleasant smile for the occasion.

“Yes, given that not long ago your sister told me, rather colourfully, her stance on working for us or even considering it,” he said drily.

Cassia nodded in understanding. “Adriene has very strong opinions on several subjects,” she said, sounding as diplomatically as she could.

The way she phrased it made Cullen think that their differences definitely went beyond the physical appearance.

“And you don’t?” he asked skeptically. She laughed softly, and he was surprised at the thought that it was a rather pleasant sound.

“Oh, I do! They do not always coincide, however. Which is why I am here.”

“So you decided you want to help us, despite your sister feeling so strongly about the templars?” Cullen was still not quite convinced, too strong had the reaction of her sister been when he offered her the job.

“To be quite honest, Knight-Captain, helping you is more of a side benefit,” Cassia shrugged. “I heard the pay is good and that working with the templars is quite reliable here.”

When Cullen didn’t immediately say anything, she went on.

“You don’t believe me? Maker, what did Adriene say? No, don’t tell me, I can guess. But no matter.” She sighed. “Look, we came here from Ferelden, fleeing from the Blight. We had to leave behind everything, start over completely here. If we ever want to get somewhere, hard work is the only way. So, there you have my motivation.”

Cullen gave her a speculative look. She sounded honest, surprisingly open in her explanation. Another complete opposite from her very guarded sister it seemed. Her sister who seemed to have been in a constant state of battle ready. Cassia Hawke meanwhile looked… soft. Her braids had flowers in it and she was wearing a simple, but very becoming dress. At first glance, he could not imagine her taking on fights in back alleys if it came to it.

“I’m not sure this job is right for you, Serah,” he started carefully. “You look… Not like a mercenary if I have to be honest.”

Cassia smiled brightly. “I dress for the occasion,” she said with a hint of mischief in her voice. “I am here to get a job, not to pick fights with people after all.”

“A fair point,” Cullen relented. It wasn’t like everyone who could carry a weapon did so all the time after all. “I apologise for the assumption.”

“Oh I’m not offended, don’t worry,” she said almost immediately before she gave him a calculating look. A hint of playfulness appeared on her face. “On second thought, maybe I am,” she said slowly. “Terribly offended actually!”

Cullen raised his eyebrows. “Terribly offended?”

“Yes. It’s awful, really.” Cassia did her best, putting on her most practiced fake upset look. But she couldn’t quite quell her own amusement as she spoke. “I fear, only a job offer might be able to smooth this over…”

Her gamble seemed to pay off, the Knight-Captain definitely looked amused by now. “Would it now? And if I were to leave you in this offended state?”

“Then I would have to storm out of here in a huff and never talk to you again.” Cassia was delighted about his willingness to play along. She had expected someone stuffy. Someone she’d have to formally apologize to and who would probably give her a dry talk about appropriate behaviour towards authority in regards to her family. This was the opposite. This was something so much easier to work with. She gave him a coy look. “That would be such a shame really, you seem so fun to talk to.”

“I seem fun to talk to?” He gave her another skeptical look. It seemed he was almost thrown off by her more direct approach.

“Don’t let it flatter you too much,” Cassia assured him, “The last person I worked for was so incredibly drunk he could barely even sit upright. Second time I met him, he fell asleep while paying me.” She gave him a playful wink. “The bar for decent conversation is remarkably low these days.”

Cullen couldn’t help himself but laugh quietly. This conversation had been something he never would have expected. But to his surprise, he found it utterly delightful. “Glad to see I place above the inebriated and the unconscious,” he said dryly but not bothering to hide his amusement anymore. “But what would I lose out on really?”

There was a glint in her eyes that made them almost sparkle. “Why, my remarkable problem-solving skills of course. There is a reason there is much less work in Lowtown since I got here after all. And I’ll have you know that I am also fun to talk to.”

She was definitely right about that, but nonetheless, he gave her a most skeptical look, enjoying her small huff in obviously fake indignation.

“I am a delightful conversationalist!” she insisted. “And you have been smiling for the past few minutes when earlier you looked like you ate a shipload of citrus just before I got here.”

This time he had to laugh out loud. “Indeed you are,” he agreed. Cullen wasn’t sure when the last time he had had this much fun talking to someone even was. “Alright, we can give this a try.” He took a small pile of papers and letters he had put together for this job and handed it over to her. “Here is all the information you need, I expect you can find your way around the notes.” She was already flipping through the letters he gave her, looking a bit more serious. “There is a certain level of discretion advised,” Cullen added almost as an afterthought.

“I see, of course,” Cassia murmured as she went over the names and dates, starting to see why they would hire a mercenary for this. “None of these people would talk to a templar.”

“Or any authority even,” the Knight-Captain added. “That’s why we need outside help for this.”

Cassia folded the papers carefully, putting them away into her pockets. “Luckily I am as far away from being an authority as you can probably find in this city,” she gave him another bright smile. “I am definitely the woman you need. For this job, I mean. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”

And with a good-natured but polite good-bye, she left the Gallows behind again, feeling considerably less anxious about the place than she had when first coming here. It still was a place she wouldn’t want to set foot in voluntarily, but she had gotten what she came for, and it had been easier and far more pleasant than anticipated. Now, she only had to get this thing done as quietly and as quickly as possible. And who knew, perhaps this could open a door for more well-paid work in the future.

The task was surprisingly simple for her. Cassia could see why a templar would have not gotten most of the relevant information from any of the people she talked to. After a while, she was almost glad that Adriene had turned the offer down. As much as she loved her sister, she could imagine that Adriene’s approach to this would have had the potential for more than one altercation. Cassia had always preferred to talk herself out of any situation if needed, and she knew she was good at getting people to see things her way, even the ones that needed a bit more convincing. ‘Why pull out a weapon when a well-placed compliment or a vague hint of a promise could do the trick’ had always been more her style.

Normally, she and Adriene complemented each other perfectly in that regard. Cassia managed to avoid them some fights while Adriene was always ready and never missed a beat in situations where that simply wasn’t possible. It felt almost wrong now for Cassia to do this on her own, fully aware that she didn’t have a very well thought-through backup plan if things didn’t work out the way she wanted them to. But it seemed she was lucky this day, managing to get everything she needed without any major incidents. Well, almost without.

It was dark already but still busy on the streets when she was done and made her way back to the Gallows, this time finding her way to the Knight-Captain’s office almost directly.

“Good evening, Knight-Captain,” she greeted politely after knocking. He seemed surprised to see her again.

“Serah Hawke, back already?” Cullen had not expected her back this day. Not even the next one if he was honest, not with the amount of information he had sent her out to find, yet here she was, in his office again.

“Please, call me Cassia,” she smiled. “Otherwise I’ll always think you’re talking to my mother. But yes, here is all the information I could find.” She handed him a staple of notes and he gave it a quick once over.

“Impressive. And you did all this in a day?” He flipped through the pages after pages she had filled with all the things she had found out. On first glance, it looked like she had done a very thorough job. He couldn’t help being impressed.

“One of the notes sounded rather urgent,” she said with a shrug.

“It was, I thank you,” Cullen agreed, putting the papers aside to work through their content later. He took in her appearance. She looked different. Her hair was in a bun, and while she was still wearing a dress, it seemed to be a different one than before. “And I see you even had time to dress for the occasion again.”

Cassia looked down, for a moment looking confused before she smiled at him. “Naturally.” She shrugged. “But that was more of a necessity this time. Two hours of walking around town and my clothes still hadn’t dried.”

Cullen felt his own eyebrows run up. “Dried? What happened?”

She held up a hand as she assured him, “Nothing relevant to the investigation, don’t worry.”

Cullen couldn’t help giving her a skeptical look. A look that sent her into a small bout of laughter.

“I’m telling the truth,” she said between laughs. “It’s… you’re gonna laugh, but there were some very angry ducks. And a pond.” He felt his eyes widen. “And perhaps a person you may or may not have hired for her skills who had a slight issue of paying attention.” She shook her head, giving him a pointed look. “It was not a very graceful event, let’s just keep it like that.”

Cullen hadn’t been certain what to expect from any of this, but her little story definitely hadn’t been it. He tried his best to not laugh out too loudly, but his efforts were in vain.

“And now you are laughing at me!” Cassia sighed. “I should have left it at the change of clothes. Kept some of the mystery.”

Cullen shook his head, forcing the laughter to calm down. “I have the feeling there is plenty of mystery left with you, Serah… Cassia,” he corrected himself.

“I have to disappoint you,” Cassia grinned, feeling pleased at his use of her first name. This was only their second time meeting, but she had a good feeling about this already. If she played her cards right, she might be well on her way to find an in with the templars here. Adriene would probably throw a fit if she heard about any of this, but Cassia could try to deal with that later, make her see the advantages. “No mystery at all,” she said, giving him her best ‘I have nothing to hide’ look. “I am an open book.”

Cullen still seemed amused, but there was a hint of something she couldn’t place in his voice as he answered. “In my experience people who say this usually aren’t. Not really.”

The conversation was still light-hearted, but there was something underneath that was almost intriguing to Cassia as she smiled. “I see I have to change tactics then.”

Cullen didn’t answer immediately, giving her a strange look. Was there tension in the air or was she imagining it? She was still deliberating when he broke the silence.

“I may have a follow-up job for you, depending on where this leads. Maybe come back in a couple of days?” he said, sounding a bit more formal again. His voice had lost some of the lightness from earlier but his eyes… His eyes seemed to look almost right through her. ‘Be careful Cassia’, her inner voice that sounded, not surprisingly, a lot like her sister said. ‘Don’t underestimate this one just because he has a nice smile.’

“I will. Thank you Knight-Captain,” she said simply.

He nodded, and it seemed like they were done when he suddenly added. “If you insist on me calling you by your name it is only fair I insist on you doing the same.”

“You want me to call you by my name?” The words had left Cassia’s mouth before she had even thought to think about how wise it would be to crack jokes right now.

Cullen gave her an almost unreadable look and Cassia grinned at him apologetically.

”I’m sorry. I have a sister who never stops joking around - it leaves a mark on you sometimes,” she explained before smiling again, making her way to the door. “But I appreciate the offer, Cullen. And I’ll see you in a few days then. Have a good night.”

#From the scrap pile #Da2 #Dragon Age 2 #Precipice of Change #cullen rutherford

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stagbells · 4 years

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Color in my sheltered mind

From: @gildedpin

To: @snakeyarts

Notes:

1. I usually imagine that Ghost, THK, and Hornet live in the Stag Nest after everything. It's reasonably accessible via the tunnels or the Stag himself, and that elevator shaft is big enough for THK to hang out in comfortably.

2. Ghost and THK have real names! Chroma for THK and Carmin for Ghost.

Hope you're having a great summer!!! \o

((Written work under readmore))

Chroma woke already moving, halfway out of their haphazard nest of cushions and blankets and everything else soft that had caught their fancy.

They didn't know what they'd been dreaming about. Something that still prickled on the inside of their shell. Something bright. But not bright how their dreams normally were. Not bright within, not in the way that so often left them trapped, the memory of chains as constricting as their reality had been.

This was bright without. Without and around and everywhere it seemed but the small and fragile and infinite darkness that-

Chroma realized they hadn't been dreaming at all.

They crawled from their room, formally a massive elevator shaft, and their head swiveled in the direction of the central platform. Or was that more a living room now, just as their room finally felt like theirs?

Unimportant. Strange to have a mind, a thing so given to wandering. This living space wasn't where they meant to go; they couldn't see their destination from this angle. They stood and stretched, an unfamiliar moment at their full height, when their mask threatened to overbalance them.

They felt their way along the wall, to the start of the tunnels leading away from the central platform. They couldn't know what time it was, but the lumaflies were still sleeping, too.

Carmin's rooms were as dark as the rest of the nest. Once, stags had thundered through the tunnel thresholds, but now, their sibling had made rooms from the entrances - space for sleeping, living, and storage for their various treasures.

Chroma ran their claw considerately along the first tunnel wall. It would not be unheard of for Carmin to fall asleep in the middle of sorting their rock collection. But sounds coming from a few doors down caught Chroma's attention. Shuffling fabric, and then a series of muffled thumps.

They lumbered further along, and knocked on the threshold of the bedroom. A soft blue light wavered from under the curtain, and then held. A single tap answered them.

They pulled aside the curtain and eased into the tunnel, settling on their knees just inside.

Carmin was standing, uneasy, nail in one hand and their blanket still clutched in the other. They tipped their head back and met Chroma's eyes, and Chroma saw too much clarity in those small sockets, and remembered-

Pools of acid that went up to their middle, eating into them, gnawing into nerves that they weren't supposed to know, searing into them sensations that should have been meaningless. The final crack of shell, burned beyond what it could bear. Their refusal and revival.

And so, again. Acid and infection and a clear mind through it all. They thought: they were the only one who could do this. Acid up to the edge of their mask. They trudged on, until their body broke again, until the next moment in memory when they were running, freewheeling off of the bench with their momentum no longer hampered.

They were the only one left. They were drowning and alone.

They died, and stood again.

Chroma had not been dreaming at all. It wasn't their nightmare which had stirred them. They had heard a cry, carried between god and void. They held out their hand.

Carmin stayed where they were, and then looked down, their gaze passing from the offered hand to the items they held. They were entirely still, time that would have been filled with steadying breaths in mortal bugs. At last they set down their nail in order to fold the blanket carefully, and return it to their smaller pile of pillows. Then they nodded in gratitude, and patted at the tips of Chroma's claws.

A dismissal. They were alright now. Chroma could go back to bed.

They made no move to do so. They lifted their hand slowly, so that Carmin could see their every move, and set their claws between Carmin's horns. There was no mistaking it now. Their little sibling was still shaking. They adjusted so that their thumb could sweep up the outer curve of one horn, and back down again.

Carmin set their hand on Chroma's wrist, but not to remove them. Carmin only held on. Once their trembling had subsided somewhat, they reclaimed their blanket and padded up to Chroma's knee.

They nodded, and Carmin climbed onto their lap, waving their blanket out behind them before pulling it tight around their shoulders and curling up on their sibling.

Chroma could not have said how long the two of them rested there, neither sleeping. They had a certain skill with stillness, and could allow time to wash over them easily. But they never felt Carmin relax, never felt their sibling go limp with true unconsciousness. And finally, the little one sat up, stared up, and shook their head.

Chroma scooped them up and deposited them on the floor. Carmin plodded back to their little bed, but Chroma stopped them with a hand on their head again.

When they turned back, Chroma offered them their arm, already bent. There was no hesitation, this time. One good jump, and the briefest flutter of bright wings, dampened by the loose blanket, and Carmin had settled in the crook of Chroma's arm.

They shifted, and Chroma lifted their arm to keep them close. It was no great height, and it would take more than altitude to injure them, in any case. But Carmin, nestled against their sibling, did not fear falling.

They didn't travel far. Outside of Carmin's rooms, that space had once been the stags' central platform, though they'd all done their best to redefine it. It was now roughly furnished with a table, a small stove and food storage, and many more cushions and blankets. Chroma knelt to set Carmin on one of the cushions next to the table.

They slid down immediately in favor of scaling Chroma, careful where they set their claws, but Chroma plucked them right back off. Carmin tried to nudge Chroma's hand open, but they merely lifted the smaller creature by their cloak and draped them between their horns. Carmin flopped there contentedly, lightly resting their feet on Chroma's shoulders while they leaned forward and braced their hands between Chroma's horns.

At least the movement seemed to have Carmin feeling better. Chroma reached up to pat their head, once, before setting to work.

Chroma shuffled to the cupboard and plucked down a box of tea and a jar of honey. They set these down near the stove, and grabbed the kettle - which had more water left inside than they'd anticipated. Their hand spasmed from the unexpected weight, and the kettle plunged toward the stone floor.

Carmin spilled forward over Chroma's face, becoming a blur of shadow, which reconstituted into a young bug's shape just in time to catch the kettle, and with so much momentum that they crashed into the stove, instead. The clang echoed their masks, clamored up the walls; it felt like bugs in Dirthmouth must have heard it.

Chroma scooped Carmin up, first and foremost checking their shell for injuries, but they shook their head insistently and patted at Chroma's claws until they were quickly released.

There was no sound, but the two of them looked up. Above them was the loft.

The inevitable clank of the elevator came without giving them time to wait for it. Chroma's shoulders heaved in a silent sigh, and then they reclaimed the kettle. They'd hoped to avoid waking their sister - one among them might have gotten some rest. They'd add a little water, in case she chose to say.

Hornet closed the distance from the elevator before they even had the water on, her cloak fastened over her shoulders and her needle at the ready. She assessed the situation silently and speedily. Chroma with their back to her, fussing to light the stove. Carmin, now sitting at the table, watching her.

She lowered her weapon. "Nothing is the matter, is there?"

Carmin nodded, and then beckoned her to sit with them. She nodded back at them, but before she settled, she asked Chroma, "Well, while I am here, would you like any help?"

They shook their head without turning, and waved at her to sit over their shoulder.

"Very well." She perched on a cushion with her legs crossed, and set her needle down within reach. "I am glad that nothing seems urgently amiss, but I wonder, what is the matter?"

Carmin stared at her.

"Why are you up in the middle of the night, little one?"

They kept staring, only turned their gaze down upon the table.

She was still, for a moment. She was almost as skilled at stillness as her taller sibling could be, save that she had a pulse in her heart and breath in her lungs. Then with a flash of claw, she undid her cloak and simply let it fall around around her shoulders. Without her scarlet silk and the tools within, she became a much more casual presence.

She told them, "You may express if you feel unwell. You should"

Again, they looked up at her - sharply, perhaps accusingly. Then their shoulders slumped, and they nodded.

"Ah. Yes," was all she said. She glanced at her weapon, but certainly that would not help her here - reliable as it was, she could not depend on it for every situation. And they were still watching her. Of course, if they were going to be so attentive-

She hummed considerately. "When Chroma has the tea ready, perhaps I will share with you a story."

They tilted their head to one side, and now she bore the weight of their gaze with only a flicker of her fangs, a smile.

"A weaver story. It is very old and about a place far away." She folded her hands on the tabletop, and leaned in to whisper, as if sharing a secret, although she spoke loud enough for them both to hear. "Would you like to hear it?"

But the question was itself part of the theater, the answer obvious. Carmin was leaning in, too, alert, eager. Chroma joined their siblings while they waited for the water to boil.

"What about you?"

They did not answer, at first. They had a task to complete: setting out the cups. Then they patted Carmin's head again, and this time, they were able enough to duck out from under their sibling's hand, and stretch up to bump the their horns together, instead.

Hornet laughed softly. "Worried about the little one? Of course - I was also concerned. What was that noise?"

Carmin and Chroma looked at each other, this time. They each inclined their heads, and then turned to her and shrugged.

She did not seem amused, until the moment when she laughed again. She set her hands behind her and tipped her head back, with all her weight on her arms. "Very well. As long as there's no trouble, your adventures are your own."

Carmin nodded vigorously, and took their teacup into their hands. This was their own, too. They pushed it over next to Chroma's. Theirs was a large mug, but it matched the smaller pair perfectly; part of a custom set Sheo had made for all of them. They lined it up so that the pattern on one seemed to lead into the pattern on the other.

They patted the table for Hornet's attention. She straightened and, when she saw what they were doing, slid her cup over the table to them.

They completed the set - Chroma's, Hornet's, and theirs. They had possessed objects before. Their nail, their lantern, their map. Their tools. But it was still rather new, to have a blanket to sleep under and a cushion to sleep on and a cup to drink from - they had never been meant to consume, not in the way that bugs did. They looked up at their tall sibling.

Neither of them had been meant for this, to live like this. And they had defied their purpose before, too; this was why they were here now. They defied their fate every day. They both did, the two of them. Perhaps all of them did, although their sister's binding was of a different nature, and they understood little of it even now.

Now, when they were about to drink tea and hear Hornet's story. When Chroma had come to comfort them when they were upset.

They didn't know exactly where it came from, but they had some understanding of what family meant. It had been reinforced by some reading they'd done lately - old journals, written in stone, accounts of wanderers who sometimes missed putting their children to bed or sharing a meal with their family.

And all of this came together, in a patchwork way, to one end: Carmin felt like a child. They were a child, and now, they felt like one. This was how it was supposed to be - imperfect, missing pieces, but the shape was right.

The kettle screamed, and Chroma rose unhurriedly and stretched before grabbing it. The tea steeped in the pot, was poured among them, and at last Chroma pushed the jar of honey over to Carmin.

They opened it and portioned out their usual three spoonfuls. When they were done, Chroma took the jar - a surprise, as they never sweetened their tea. They did not do so tonight, either. Instead, they tipped an extra spoonful into Carmin's tea.

"Just the thing for such a night," Hornet noted approvingly. "Shall we begin?"

Her siblings nodded. Carmin patted Chroma's knee, and they picked them up and placed them in their lap again. They took their blanket with them, and their tea, and curled up to listen.

"Once," Hornet began, "When looms were yet new, there was a young weaver whose silk was well known for its particular strength…"

Carmin sipped their tea, and listened. When they finished the first cup, they had another, as sweet as the first, with their siblings' encouragement. It warmed them, if only in a rather curious way around the edges, but that was enough.

Hornet's voice was familiar now, low and earnest. Chroma's shell against their back was unyielding, and a cool counterbalance to their blanket and the tea.

Perhaps they had not wholly forgotten their nightmare, and they would never forget what had made it. But it was something from a past that could not touch them now, something that could not reach past their family.

Chroma had took Carmin's cup when it started to slip from their grasp. They pulled their blanket around themself, a little tighter, when their hands were free. They did not feel themself fall asleep at last, but Chroma did. They allowed Hornet to carry on a little longer. They were enjoying the story themself and wanted to be sure that Carmin settled properly, before they gestured to silence her.

"Did they fall asleep?"

A nod.

"Good, I'd hoped they might, but it can be hard to tell with them."

They nodded again. Hornet stood, and helped Chroma to balance and stand themself without waking Carmin, who they'd gathered back into their arm.

"Sometimes, it's too easy to forget how young they are," Hornet noted quietly, solemnly, but she raised her face to meet their gaze. "But less often lately. This is good, yes?"

They considered it. They didn't know much more than she did, but nonetheless, they agreed.

She bade them goodnight at Carmin's door. They slipped into their sibling's room again, to lay them back on their cushion.

No doubt it would be a late morning tomorrow, but this was a little luxury which they could all afford.

#hollow #hornet #ghost #hollow knight #stagbells #summer stagbells2020 #written works

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southwindstories · 3 years

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Dear Diary,

Every creature, every race, in our world is special in some way. Unique in themselves and their culture. Some have endured great hardships and grown bitter and un-trusting. Others have endured the same, and grown together for it. Some live in ideal climates and view the world as a benevolent provider. Some live where the weather is harsh and uncontrolled, and view it as an adversary. Its not something you think about very often, but our environment says a lot about the creatures we become.

Ponies are one of the only species I know of that have three distinctly unique subgroups within them that all view the world in a different way. Equestria is not the same land to a Pegasus pony as it is to an Earth pony. But we share it. We’ve learned, over time, to get along. And about two years ago, give or take, we discovered there was a whole new world out there we were already in, and we’ve been learning to get along with that, too.

Whether or not Kelpies are actually a subsidy of the Pony race is still up for debate, but they’re the only other creature I know of to possess genuine cutiemarks, and we’ve always considered that to be a pony-exclusive feature. Even deer, who do possess fairly unique patterns on their flanks, don’t have them with the degree of clarity and distinct featuring we do. But cutie marks have been seen on kelpies that match our own, suggesting that whatever great pool those talents are pulled from is shared betwixt the two of us. As far as many ponies are concerned, that makes them long lost siblings. I, for one, am glad to have them back. As Kelantis turned for the open ocean to re-join the city of Kelopolis, many kelpies stayed behind, and many Equestrian ships followed it. Two thousand years of separation was long enough, I think. There’s no closing the door now.

Integration is going to take time. We ponies value trust, to an almost ignorant degree. We trust our Princesses to keep us safe, we trust our land to provide for us, and most importantly, we trust each other. The earth ponies and unicorns trust the pegasus ponies to move the weather around to keep the land watered. The unicorns and pegasus ponies trust the earth ponies to provide the food we all need. We all trust the unicorns to combat those foes outside the grasp of those of us without magic, and provide the services only magic can facilitate. We depend on one another as extensions of ourselves, and we’re rather used to it at this point.

Kelpies don’t do that.

‘Shouponi Benthis Dumoi’, Windswept once explained to me. Its inscribed on the royal crest of Kelantis and is etched, abbreviated as ‘shoo be doo’, on their currency.

'Trust the Sea’.

But the sea is not a thing to be trusted. It shelters and protects, and it crushes and destroys. It rages and storms and it is calm and placid and it provides no reason, warning or explanation for any of it. And they call it home. 'Shouponi’, or 'trust’, is the same word they use for 'be suspicious of’. To a kelpie, the very definition of trust is one that guarantees eventual betrayal. But they trust anyway, because they have to. That’s life. They just don’t trust the way that we do. They do it over their shoulder, with one fin behind their back. I think, in a way, that tiny little difference is going to be the biggest hurdle our two people have to overcome.

It might also be why our Princess and theirs have been at odds for so long.

Kelpies all possess a sort of magic that more closely matches Earth pony magic than anything else. Most pony magic (unicorns specifically) tends to be utilitarian in nature. If a unicorn knows a spell, they can perform it with reliable results again and again. But Earth ponies perform their magic through the land and their tools, following ancient traditions to draw the ground’s native power up from below, and recycle it back into itself up top. its like a cycle that earth ponies facilitate, and that movement of energy helps fuel growth, among other things.

Kelpies do much the same thing, but with the ocean. From what was explained to me, the ocean is not a static thing like the land is. it has fluctuating, unpredictable emotion, and physical drive. It has wants and needs and a peculiar sort of intelligence, and it cant be shaped and forced in the same way the land can. It has to be negotiated with. It has to be approached on its terms. In a way, it has to be convinced, or deceived, or coerced, or even begged, to perform. That mentality of use through manipulation has permeated the kelpie culture, and its one more thing we have to figure out how to live with. With kelpies, nothing is ever given for free. Tide rolls in, tide rolls out, that’s the way the ocean works. Its different than how we think.

When you look at all the things they hold in polar opposite to what we hold, its worth questioning if our coexistence is going to work at all. There are a lot of ponies out there who are nervous about the whole thing. I guess I cant say I blame them, really. But I think refusing to trust a kelpie just because it doesn’t view trust in the same way we do is setting a precedent for a bad situation. Because they DO trust. they just…trust like kelpies.

A long time ago, we learned that valuing something less because it isn’t the same way we do it was a recipe for disaster. Its a difficult lesson, and its been a long time since we’ve had to learn it again. But we’ve done it before.

I choose to believe we can do it again.

#MLP:FiM #Launch #SWS #mlp

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kpopshitposter · 4 years

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Hi again beautiful!🌹 How have you been? I hope you’re happy and healthy :) I saw your idol life ship works and let me just say: I fell in love with it!! 😍🥰😍 If you don’t mind, I’d like to request one too. ❤️❤️❤️

I am Thai, 169 cm., 97- liner. ENFJ. I’m an the eldest of 4, making me reliable and a good leader. Very caring, supportive (#1 fan), affectionate, kind, strong both physically and mentally. Really nice a friendly to everyone and polite around adults. I get competitive and fearless sometimes. I’m a good listener so as a good adviser. I work hard, play hard! I do things fast, walk fast, work fast, speak fast but I always think through it before act. When I work with others, I’m the idea gatherer. If there’s a problem, they tend to let me deal with it. I’m pretty agreeable and good with comforting. My way is to encouraging people, not to use harsh words or yell. I just love, enjoy doing thoughtful things for others and always wish them well. I adore animals, children (//they make me super happy! 😍 I really enjoy being around them.), LOVE cuddling, skinship, coffee and books. In my spare time, I dance, work-out, as well as reading, watching movie (horror movies are my fav) and cooking. I enjoy amusement park and adventurous things. I really like stars gazing and going for a walk at night. Listening to music is things. I write lyrics with my friend. I hate heat and worst with directions. I’m always there for my sibling. Smile’s always on my face and I hope everyone can smile, too. Actually, I love dancing (I’m a lead dancer since I was in kindergarten) but I rap pretty well. Whenever I heard the song, I was told that it’s like I was in a deep thought. In fact, I was actually thinking about the choreography. I don’t know what face I made during those time 😆. I’ve also done acting and some MC-ing for my school plays and events.

I just also wanted to thank you for all the work you put into your blog ! I love it and really appreciate what you do😍 So just thank you so much again! Please taking good care of your beautiful self, don’t forget to rest and eat well.~🌹❤️❤️❤️

@chanchao-kha

Hello hello sweetheart!! Thank you so much for being so patient and for being so lovely. I appreciate what you said so much and I’m so glad you like my ships!!! I hope all your dreams come true.

Your stage name: Cha-Cha

Your position: Leader, rapper, dancer

You’re known for: Being the selfless leader who puts everything into your work. You are CONSTANTLY doing SOMETHING. Whether it’s writing lyrics for your group, acting in a drama, or presenting a show, you’re always on the move. You’re a very common bias for people to have. Basically, you’re da BOMB girl

Your band name: Second Chance

Number of members: 5

Company: BigHit

Debut song: Sailor’s Hitch

Debut concept: Sailor girls!

Your female bestie:

IU! You two meet on the set of a drama and hit it off instantly. You find it easy to be honest with one another and lean on each other for support a lot. You continue to collaborate as much as possible throughout your careers and barely a day goes by without you two talking.

Your male bestie:

Chan! He really gives you the chance to let off steam. When you’re being too hard on yourself, blaming yourself for everything, and feeling insecure, Chan is who you call. Aside from emotional support and advice, you offer one another advice when it comes to leading and making music, too. Your life blends together easily and in a way that helps you both grow.

Idol Boyfriend:

Yoongi! You first met in the corridors of your dorms. You had locked eyes and nothing more. You happened to bump into one another more and more, and this slowly became talking. He likes to lay in bed with you and always speaks to you softly... but he also likes hearing you rap his verses and finds it really hot.

Your height difference:

Idol Girlfriend:

Amber! She fell for you first but will never admit it. Everyone always comments on how much of a power couple you two are. When you walk into a room, people know you’re hers by the way she looks at her. She will do little things to show you off, putting her hand on your back, whispering in your ear when someone is watching... anything she can think of to remind you and everyone else you’re together.

Your height difference:

#idol life ships #kpop imagines #submission

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szopenhauer · 4 years

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When was the last time you cried and what was the reason?: family issues

Do you believe in ghosts?: maybe

If you could live on the moon, would you?: almost all of it belongs to Tom Cruise so no

What is your favorite time in history to learn about?: I just like many interesting history facts in general

When is the last time you felt discriminated against because of your gender?: not sure which situation was last

What race are you?: caucasian, white, european, polish, slavic

What is your favorite sex position?: I’m not into sex tbh Have you ever lost your SO to another person?: yup

Have you ever had a thing for a friend’s parent?: no

Have you ever believed in Santa Clause? from what I remember

Have you ever thought you were getting a surprise party, but you really weren’t? nah and I don’t like surprises so I’m glad I never really had a party like this

Have you ever forgotten someone’s birthday? I suck with dates

Has a friend looked bad in a profile picture and you didn’t tell her? it was my opinion but if they liked their pic then it’s their problem

Does it take forever for your internet to load websites? sometimes

Have you ever pretended to listen to someone but you really weren’t? yeah :x

Are you a bad driver, or do you know someone that is? I know some that are bad yet say they’re oh so awesome at it ugh!

Have you seen the animated movies Tarzan? sure

Have you actually called 911 for an actual emergency? If so, what was the emergency? not me but my parents

Do you sleep in the living room a lot? I never do

Did you enjoy watching The Flintstone’s growing up? yep

Do you wish you were born in a different year? kinda wish I was born after war and die before 2020 or even live in another time period

What do you buy more: Movies or candy? neither

Did you used to eat chapstick when you were younger? ewww, noooo, not even toothpaste

What made you pick up the last book you started reading? I was watching a movie and heard that book has a different ending so I had to see for myself Have you received any bad or troubling news lately? shitload When was the last time you were relieved about something? I wish I was... What about your life concerns you the most? my health related issues mostly but also money and fam, love life, religion etc. Is there a common thing most people seem to do without trouble, but it scares you (talking on the phone, driving, interviews, etc)? When was the last time you had to do one of these kinds of things? there are, recently

Describe a time when you were there for a friend? were there in person? When was the last time you went somewhere for the first time? days or weeks ago What is a situation that makes you feel especially confident? umm... Hypothetically and generally speaking, how would you go about breaking up with someone? Is there anything you would make sure to say, or perhaps not say? depends Would you say you’re easy or difficult to offend? I guess I’m easily offended Is there a belief you have that most others around you don’t have? Do you share this belief with others, or do you tend to keep it to yourself? sure, might talk about it if asked and in the mood If you’ve moved out from home, what was the scariest thing about it? What was/is your favorite thing about it? I didn’t move out yet but there are dark scenarios I imagine that could happen and they concern me What are your thoughts on “forgiving” murderers or rapists? Do you think it’s even possible to forgive these people? I wouldn’t forgive a rapist but particular murders can be justified If you could learn about anything without the stress of grades or cost, what kind of classes would you take? who cares about grades and cost when you have no possibility/talent/ability anyway?... Last item of clothing you purchased - do you wear it often? didn’t wear it yet Has anything made you feel nostalgic lately? lots What was the last chore you completed? I just helped mom around kitchen and bathroom - przynieś/podaj itp.

Which of the Seven Deadly Sins do you commit the most? sloth?

Has anyone ever told you that you’re incapable of whispering? nope, my mom is incapable, she whispers louder than when she’s normally talking to someone

Who was the best kisser you’ve ever dated? I’ve only kissed one person in my entire life

When was the last time you watched a YouTube video? yesterday

this one

and I plan on doing smth similar

Do you personally think Wikipedia is a reliable source? one of the most reliable sources that are available for free

When you were a child, did you ever want to become a wizard/witch? meh

Do you want to repaint your walls? I prefer to move out

Would you rather have hardwood floors or carpet? hardwood

Who would you say is the most selfish person you know? majority of society

Have you ever made out in a movie theater before? waste of the movie

How old were you when you got to go on your first date? dunno what I can count as one

Would you call your parents over-protective or under-protective? weirdly protective

Did your parents ever let you play in the pits of those multicolored balls? never had a chance to

Has anyone ever called you a good kisser before? I had my moment

Have any of your siblings ever had a crush on your significant other? she’s into men so...

Do you know someone who cares about themselves more than their child? it seems that most of parents act this way

What’s your favorite hairstyle you’ve had so far? hmm...

How many dogs do you have, if any at all? 1

Do you think biting is weird or sexy? biting hard is very dangerous and I’m not into being bitten but I might/can bite a little

Would you rather be called hot or beautiful? neither but I'll “believe” slightly more in being beautiful than hot I think

Have you ever had a pet turtle before? yep

Do you still sleep with your parents when you’re scared sometimes? just once I had a bad night and my dad was working overnight so I went to my mom’s bed but then I left in the middle of the night anyway as she was snoring, not that it usually bothers me

Have you ever met someone with two different color eyes? saw pics on the internet only

How many surveys on average would you say you’ve done in your lifetime? shitload

Do you enjoy going school shopping? tiny bit as I enjoy shopping in general?

Do you think Pug dogs are adorable or just plain ugly? adorable

Have you ever met someone who completely resembled their pet? lookalikes

Has anyone ever knitted you something before? sure

Do you think there is a soulmate out there for everyone? then why some ppl die single?...

Do you like short or long surveys the best? it’s not about length, I need interesting questions

Have you ever bought fake money and tried to make it pass for real? I didn’t try to make it pas for real wtf

Are your siblings nice the majority of the time? *rolling my eyes*

How many uncles do you have? don’t know nor care as they don’t give a shit about me

Do you freak out when a thunderstorm comes along? nah, sometimes I feel physically bad because of it tho

How often do you shower? basically everyday

What is the absolute worst thing about high school? from my personal experience - stress

How many sodas do you usually drink in one day? I don’t drink soda for years

Have you ever met an annorexic pregnant woman? woah I can’t imagine that

Have you ever simply looked at someone & could tell they were homosexual? oh well...

Do you have the ability to read someone without even knowing them? sometimes

Would you rather eat or sleep? sleep

Are you one of those die hard Twilight or Harry Potter fans? am not, especially Twilight - I didn’t read/watch it because it sounds awful

Have you ever cried while watching a movie trailor? yes

Have you ever learned that someone had lied to you all along? sadly

When was the last time you had a physical injury? this ending week

Have you ever wanted to be a lawyer? not really

Have you ever had to bail someone out of jail before? nope

Is there anyone in your imediate family who was adopted? no

Do you know anyone who doesn’t have any common sense? I meet many ppl like this often on the streets or online

Do you think you look anything like your parents? I know I do

Who is the skinniest person you know? Is it because of a disease? when it comes to look or weight? disease though

Is this year the best one you’ve had so far? r u joking?...

What color is your significant other’s hair? natural or dye? XD

Are you ashamed of anyone in your family? yeah The best Christmas gift you ever gotten? The sims 2 as I dreamed of it and didn’t expect my poor parents will afford and give it to me ever, I was so moved that I cried and my sister was jealous and angry

Who is your favorite actor or actress? can’t decide

What is cuter: kisses on the forehead of the cheek? I don’t consider them cute when I receive them but kind of awkward actually but giving them is a different story

Do you believe in evolution or creation? smth in between, it’s complicated

What group would you say you’d normally fit into the most? I feel that I wouldn’t really fit any

Are you better at drawing things or painting? drawing

Have either of your parents ever called you a failure before? I am a failure

How long have you been on the computer right now? too long, about 6 hours Name three black things that you can see? celphone, pendrive, necklace would you perfer to do the dishes or hang washing/laundry? dishes

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roses-of-rutherglen · 4 years

Text

Uniquely Normal- Chapter 1

-Dean-

Uniquely normal was how Dean's family described him. To his mother, three sisters, stepfather and possible little brother or sister on the way. He was always there, reliable cheery and seemingly completely normal. But as his mum and the only dad he'd known relied on him as the oldest there was something in the way he carried himself that was just so Dean, that no one could describe but everyone was incredibly grateful for. When he was five, just after his little sister Scout was born, his mum was amazed at how little things just seemed to be getting done around the house, the baby being hushed calmed and rocked to sleep among many other things when no one had been in all day. Dean would fess up but his parents could never quite figure out how he did it.

Like most other boys his age, he and his Dad shared a love of soccer and were loud and proud supporters of the West Ham Football Team. Every spare minute was spent in their back yard playing kick to kick to get out of the girl's hair. Somehow they always managed to get the best seats at any game they went to and even meet some of the players, who turns out were friends of Dean's friends. While confused at how all these wonderful things happened to them, Hernando, Dean's dad took it all in his stride and joked about his "uniqueness" that his wife kept harping on about. It became a family joke from that point on.

It came to his eleventh birthday and the family was gathered on a picnic blanket in their back garden, surrounded by the new life of spring. He had gotten several pieces of West Ham merch as well as some Doctor Who merchandise as the family had taken up the British tradition of watching through the series from the beginning on Saturday evenings. All of the gifts had been opened and Dean and his little sisters were just about to start a game of hide and seek with Scout, Teagan and Emily running around in the soft grass looking for a place to hide before Dean went to find them. Just as his count down finished a beautiful tawny owl flew out of the air towards the family and landed on Lauren's head "Dear, I do believe there is an owl on your head." Hernando managed to choke out after getting over his initial surprise "You think I wouldn't notice? Can you get it off me please!" The owl sat there contently hooting as the girls came running and started laughing and pointing at the "funny bird on mummy's head" after shaking her head and trying to find some way to unseat the bird Lauren gave up. "Dean can you help me here as your father appears to be struck dumb" Brough out of his staring at the gorgeous bird he slowly lifted his arm in front of him and the owl hopped straight onto it attempting to rub its head in his hand and nearly falling upside down in the process, this set the girls off giggling again. "I like the funny birdy can we keep it?" Tea asked as innocently as only a three-year-old could. Hernando and Lauren laughed but Dean was staring at the envelope he had removed from the owl's leg it was made of heavy parchment and addressed in emerald green ink

'Mr. Dean Thomas Only upstairs bedroom with a window 5 The Cherry Orchard Staverton Gloucestershire England' It was his address right down to his bedroom! He quickly opened the top as the owl hopped over to investigate Em and Tea’s fingers while Scout was looking through Dean's presents. His parents moved closer as he slid the letters out of the envelope 'Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards) Dear Mr. Thomas, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September first, we await your owl no later than thirty-first of July. A member of the Hogwarts staff will arrive sometime within the next week to help introduce you and your family to the magical world. Also, the owl's name is Amanita we have been trying to rehome her for a while so if you want to keep her you may. I am sure your little sisters will love her. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy headmistress'

The next page was a list of school supplies such as books, a cauldron, potion ingredients, robes and the thing that made Dean's heart jump a wand. "Mummy?" He questioned looking towards his two clearly befuddles parents "is this a birthday joke?" Both of his parents looked at each other slowly shaking their heads. It seemed that their little boy had magic.

A week later the family was spread out around the house Dean, Tea and Emily were playing Princess' and dragon in the back yard while Scout was working on her crayon masterpiece which was actually quite impressive considering her age and her choice of utensil but it looked like art ran through the family as her older brother was an amazing artist as well. Hernando and Lauren were sitting on opposite ends of the couch legs tangled together with books in their hands and everyone was content and relaxed on a Sunday afternoon. Then there was a complicated knock on the door, Scout leaped up from her spot on the floor scattering crayons everywhere in her rush to let the visitor in.

Professor Aurora Sinistra arrived at number five The Cherry Orchard at around midday on the Sunday after the letter had been sent. The house was set at the end of a culdesac and was half-hidden by a rather large hydrangea bush she walked up the concrete drive to the wooden front door and knocked several times. A high pitched cry of "I'll get it!" Came from within and the door was flung open by a smiling curly-haired six years old who looked her up and down before shouting over her shoulder "Mum some woman who kinda looks like Auntie Joan is here!" Then pausing before turning back towards the professor on the doorstep and in the most polite voice she'd heard out of anyone that age graciously invited her inside the house. It was cozy and homely, it felt well lived in. The little girl who had now introduced herself as Scout had taken her by the hand and led her into the living room where the curtains and windows were open letting in the rare spring sunshine and filling the house with light.

The two adults were sitting on the couch books hastily placed on the side table suggested that they had been reading just before she came in and seeing the crayons scattered over the floor she guessed Scout was the one responsible for the colourful night sky crayon drawing on the chair opposite. "Good afternoon ma'am, how may we help you this fine day." Started the man pushing his glasses up his nose "my name is Hernando and this is my wife Lauren, I see you've already met Scout who has just gone to get her other siblings." Aurora smiled at the couple who still seemed slightly uneasy. "No need to worry too much and thank you for allowing me to visit you on this fine day. I am professor Aurora Sinistra, I teach Astronomy at Hogwarts and I'm here to talk to you about your eldest son Dean's recent acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I know this may come as a bit of a shock, knowing that our world co-exists with yours but let me tell you we are not very different to one another and nothing about your son is going to change because of this."

At this point in time, Scout came trotting back into the room leading Tea, Emily, and dean at the back. Lauren seemed to snap out of her silence "Aurora, I hope it's okay to call you that" she paused trying to gauge the witches' reaction before noticing her nod visibly relaxing and continuing on. "This is Scout whom you've already met she's six then this" pointing to a little girl who looked around four years old "is Emily and this little ragamuffin here is Teagan or Tea as we all call her." They all smiled at the professor and she smiled back. There was a moment of silence just as Hernando was about to offer to make tea there was a slight thud and an indignant hoot. Dean chuckled "she never sees the glass door even though there is an open window right next to it she always tries the door" he shook his head in a joking fashion before turning to open the door the tawny owl fluffed her feathers indignantly before seeming to glare at the glass door and settling on Dean's shoulder. Aurora smiled "I'm glad Amanita has found a good home, she never really fitted in with the other postage owls at Hogwarts." Dean looked at her, 'its real?' He thought 'this isn't some kind of elaborate joke?' He shook himself out of his thoughts just as his mum asked the girls to go and play in Em and Tea's shared bedroom. They trooped out of the room and Dean turned back in as his dad came in with a tray of tea. "So this isn't a joke planned by one of my friends?" He questioned and the professor chuckled shaking her head and taking a sip of her tea before starting to explain.

All in all the visit took over three hours and Aurora ended up staying for dinner much to the delight of the three younger girls who seemed to have fallen in love with her and her stick that was holstered to her belt. They were given the address for the shops in London and told to ask the bartender how to get in, as well as being given a ticket for the Hogwarts Express on platform 9 and 3/4 which made Dean's parents laugh saying they had been there many times and never seen such a platform. But a weekend was planned so the shopping could be done as slowly as needed and Dean went to be that night more excited than he had ever been in his life.

Chapter 2 here!!

#writing #my writing #harry potter #harry potter fic #deamus #deamus fic #writeblr #fanfiction #fanfic

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