#it feels so funny to get bothered by something that would be trivial to future me in like...idk a year? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

avversiera-writes · 3 years

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touch your heart [senju tobirama/you] - chapter 4

Summary: Hashirama might go down as the worst matchmaker in history, but he thinks he might be on to something. Tobirama sees through his brother's schemes and is determined not to fall for it. Or fall for you.

Word Count: about 3k

AO3 LINK TO TOUCH YOUR HEART

AOR SERIES LINK TO ‘TIL DEATH DO US PART

[<<<CHAPTER ONE] [CHAPTER TWO] [CHAPTER THREE]

You are not sure what to make of it, but you feel like the awkward atmosphere between you and Tobirama seems to have multiplied by the tens. You did not feel like this around him before, but now, every time he addresses you, it makes your insides twist and you just want to avoid him as much as possible.

At the same time, Tobirama’s words seem more curt and he often repeats the same sentences like “ridiculous” and “get to work” as if those are the only words he can say.

A part of you wants to make fun of him for sounding constipated around you, but you don’t think that the two of you have established a rapport that allows you to do so. You know you have been teasing him nonstop ever since you started working together, but now that he mistook your interaction with his brother as flirting, every time you open your mouth to say something to him, your throat decides to croak and you end up staring at him with your mouth hanging open.

You cannot stand it.

You sigh and decide to stretch your hands up, garnering a glance from Tobirama.

You swear if he utters “work” one more time, you are going to drag him outside to breathe in some fresh air. Maybe the nice change of scenery will make his mind restart so that he can say other words for once.

“I’m curious,” Tobirama starts.

You stare at him, not believing what you are hearing from him. Finally, something else he can say to you.

“What is your relationship with Uchiha Madara?”

Maybe he should go back to grunting out one word sentences to you.

You narrow his eyes at him. He keeps asking unwarranted questions.

You press your lips together, thinking about how you want to reply to him. “Well,” you start. “He’s someone I’m very grateful to.”

Tobirama frowns. “Why?”

“Excuse me? Have you never had someone be grateful to you?”

Tobirama suddenly looks pissed, but he quickly fixes his expression.

You let out a burst of laughter. “Don’t tell me you think I’m also flirting with him,” you grin playfully to hide the ire behind your tone.

Tobirama looks away.

“Relax, he’s a friend and kind of a mentor to me,” you tell Tobirama. “Nothing more. He helped me get accustomed to Konoha. I think he just felt sorry for me, but thanks to him, I’ve had a good start here.”

Tobirama glances at you, his expression unchanging but for once he is not looking at you as if you committed a crime.

Well, this is probably the first true thing you have said to him. Your heart ponders at this, but you decide that it should be okay. It’s not entirely specific, but it’s not trivial either. You wonder if you should elaborate more.

“So, there’s no grand plan of me wooing the founding fathers of Konoha,” you joke and Tobirama rolls his eyes.

“Don’t worry, I am not interested,” Tobirama huffs and he straightens even more on his seat.

You smile at this, and you go back to your work. “Alright. Are we good, then?”

Tobirama turns his head to you, and you meet his eyes.

“Fine,” Tobirama reverts back to his automated one word responses.

You nod, and you detect that the air between you has somewhat cleared.

At the end of the day, as you bid your goodbye to Tobirama, you slip him a piece of paper with some doodles of ninja fighting and a note saying ‘have a good day’ on it in your attempted fancy writing.

“Really?” Tobirama deadpans.

“For our budding friendship,” you joke.

Tobirama’s eyes narrow at you. “We are only working together, we’re not here to make friends.”

You roll your eyes and slip the paper further into his sights. “Co-workers?” You suggest.

“Not even close.”

“Oh, come on!”

Tobirama rubs his forehead. “Fine.” He grits out. “Co-workers.”

“And then future friends,” you include playfully.

Tobirama scowls. “Go home.”

“That’s not a no!” You wag a finger to him. “So it’s up in the air, yes?”

“No,” Tobirama says, his fingers twitching–probably itching to crumple the paper in front of him. “And don’t do this again, this is a waste of paper.”

You sigh. “Okay, okay, fine. Have a good night.”

Tobirama says nothing as you exit the room, and you let out a deep breath you have been holding. At least, he’s talking to you normally now.

You chuckle to yourself.

Tobirama is so weird, you think.

The thought brings a small smile on your lips.

Tobirama stares at the doodle in front of him, his focus beyond repair for the meantime. He assumes the long-haired man in the picture is his brother, with a blob of red as his armor, and the one next to his brother is him, with a hair so huge and spiky that it looks like lightning has struck from the sky and connected with his head.

Tobirama stares at it, unsure of what to make of it. Why are you always making fun of him?

He sighs, and he looks to the window, where the sky has changed to a swathe of pink and purple, indicating that the sun has set and the night will soon take over. His eyes go to the table and he notices engravings on the table itself on your side of the table, and he sighs, trying to fight away the signs of a headache. Though for a moment, to his chagrin, he found it a little funny. He did say save some paper.

Tobirama thinks about what you had told him about Madara, and he ruminates on this. Why would Madara take you in, help you get settled and feel sorry for you? How did you even get here, and why did you choose Konoha, of all places?

Tobirama rubs his forehead, his thoughts circling in on you. It’s not common that he’s not able to figure out someone in a few seconds. He prides himself on feeling out people, whether it be their chakra, their personality or their thoughts, but the only thing he has learned about you is that you are loud .

He can’t even figure where you are from or which family you came from based on your chakra signature, which is not all that impressive. Compared to your presence, it is almost silent. It is there, but they are like waves in a low-tide, unable to do any harm. They ebb at some places, like something is disrupting its flow, and at times it feels almost nonexistent. You do not have any affinity for the elements either, and even with taijutsu, there should be a flare of chakra in you, but there is nothing.

He knows that you are skilled with blades because the way you hold and carry it indicates that you have drawn it a thousand times. He knows that you have fought before because you are able to surprise him in a match.

He can keep guessing who you are, but you somehow prove him wrong and it bothers him.

He attempts to get back to work, but his stomach grumbles in complaint, which means that he really cannot focus anymore. Deciding to indulge his uncooperative stomach, he exits the Hokage mansion and trails towards the more active part of the village, where various restaurants are starting to pop up.

People recognize him as he walks and they offer polite and formal greetings towards him. He greets back, but he does not stop for shirt conversations. Those exhaust him.

Ahead, lamps are strung by posts to light the street. The street grows in volume as more and more people flood in, coming and going. Someone shouts nearby, and laughter springs everywhere. Splashes of red and gold appear in his peripheral vision, and the smell of fried food wafts in the air.

Tobirama takes a deep breath, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

Suddenly, his eye catches you, running towards him with a carefully wrapped package in your hands. He notices you holding it securely, and as you get closer, he notices that they are packed food. You pass by him, and Tobirama turns to see where you are heading.

It is not far, as he can see you stop by an alleyway and walk in.

Tobirama pauses at this, and against his better judgement, he decides to follow you and see what you are up to.

He hears your voice first, and when he sees you, he feels unprepared to react at the sight of you handing the freshly cooked food to two children squatting by the trash.

"Be careful," you tell them, your voice laced with worry.

"Thank you so much, nee-chan!" The boy cries out.

"Can I ask where your parents are?" You inquire.

"Uhm...well," the boy starts hesitantly, his eyes swimming with fear. "We...don't have parents anymore."

The boy looks down. "We came here to find safety."

Tobirama notes the change on your face. You look sad, and Tobirama wonders what is causing it.

"Well, can you tell me your names?" You address both children with a gentleness Tobirama has never heard before.

Maybe that is how you talk to others that are not him.

"I'm Kaito," the boy says. "My sister doesn't talk much, but her name is Yuna."

You offer them a kind smile. "Well...enjoy your food, okay? If you ever need help, come find me. I live near the forest in the new building recently built there. I'll bring you guys some blankets if you stay here."

Kaito stares at you, his eyes swimming. "Thank you very much, nee-chan."

You sigh, and you reach over and pat his head. Tobirama backs away from sight to hide himself.

You run past him, and Tobirama elects to stand where he is so that he can watch the kids while you get them their blankets.

Tobirama suddenly frowns as a thought comes to mind. There is a newly built orphanage in the village now.

"Tobirama?" You cut him off his thoughts and Tobirama snaps to your attention and it occurs to him that this is probably the first time you called his name without insulting him in some way.

Tobirama had not noticed your arrival. He must have been standing here for a while.

He should have moved and went on with his life.

"We should take them to the orphanage." He looks down at your arms where you are carrying a blanket, a change of clothes and a knife.

Tobirama grows uneasy as you stare at him, even though the surroundings are almost dim.

"Okay," you finally said and you called the kids out.

Tobirama glances at the two tiny children, suddenly noticing how thin and grimy they are.

"This is Senju Tobirama," you introduce him. "He can help us find a place to stay warm, okay? He's a good person." You reassure them.

Tobirama attempts at a small smile, but he feels your eyes on him and he ends up grimacing. He also zeroes in on the fact that you called him a good person in front of these kids. He doubted that you even thought of him that way, but hearing it from you is a little refreshing.

"Follow me," Tobirama walks ahead, unable to stand still under your gaze.

You are looking at him strangely and Tobirama is not sure what to make of it.

Thankfully the walk is not too long, but it means that Tobirama has to spend the rest of the time walking with you in this awkward silence that seems to pervade whenever the two of you are near each other. It is now completely dark, save for the occasional lanterns guiding the way, but it does nothing to alleviate the tension. Instead, he turns to himself inwardly and makes a mental note on formalizing how to accept refugees in the future so that random people that have the potential to be a threat cannot enter the village easily. It is still so young and he is not sure how it will hold when there is some disorder.

After dropping the kids off in the orphanage and signing some documents and talking with the ward there, the two of you head back to the center of the village, where the night scene comes alive. He is tempted to say something to fill the air, but he is also waiting for you to say something because he assumes that you would normally talk when there is nothing to talk about.

Alas, he is wrong again.

He never thought that he would be the first one to say a word.

“You look chirper,” he comments. He glances at your face, noting how relaxed it is compared to earlier. You also do not look as glum.

“Yeah, well,” you start, scratching your cheek lightly. “It’s all I wanted to do is–you know, make a difference and all that shi-stuff.”

Tobirama hums, amused at your slip of a curse word. He senses the truth in your words and for once, he finds himself relaxing around you.

“I know you probably think that I don’t mean that since I tend to joke around, but trust me when I say that I see a lot of good things happening here. Children outside of Konoha are not so lucky,” you say.

“Yeah,” Tobirama agrees.

Tobirama feels your eyes on the side of his face and he swallows.

" I was not so lucky," your words falter as you begin them, but Tobirama sees the determined look on your face and it surprises him even more. "But I am now in a place where I can help people out."

Tobirama glances at you again, surprised at your sudden confession to him.

"Ah well, I talked too much, you might start to think I’m nice," you joke.

"I do not find anything wrong with that," Tobirama replies, and for a moment the two of you locked eyes.

Tobirama hears your stomach grumbles and you let out a shy laugh.

"Whoops," you announce, chuckling.

Tobirama sighs, but he is not exasperated. "Let’s go."

"Where? Back to work? Don't tell me I missed some pages to work on because I was very thorough today."

Tobirama raises an eyebrow. "Only today?"

You smirk and Tobirama looks ahead of him, unable to stare at you straight on.

"My brother and I weren't so lucky either," Tobirama begins, feeling that it's only right that he says something back that is equivalent to your confession. "All we knew was war when we were children. So many people we cared about died, but despite all that, elder brother was very ahead of his time. He's the one who dreamed of building this village."

You smile softly at him. "Well, look at it now. It's something."

"More than something," Tobirama insists. "It’s a new world."

"Tell me something, Senju Tobirama. Is this how you saw the world too?"

Tobirama stares straight ahead. For a moment, he considers not answering, but his mind gets the best of him. "No," he admits. "The world is always in peril."

"Then why partake in such an ambitious dream?"

Tobirama tenses up. He gives you an inch, and you are backing him up a mile without his control. Your question is too close in a way that it shows his deep devotion to his family and this village.

You did not even have to try.

"You wanted to make his dreams come true, right?" You prod on.

Tobirama's fingers twitch, desperate to hold something. You are right and it almost pisses him off.

"It’s his dream," Tobirama answers curtly. "But he dreams too much. He did not think of what the cost could be and the work that comes with it."

"And you covered that part," you state.

"Right," Tobirama murmurs thoughtfully.

"I can respect that." You smile at him, and you bump your shoulder against his arm.

Tobirama finds that he did not mind, but he is still a little annoyed that you of all people have seen through him.

However, he also realizes that the awkward atmosphere between the two of you has dissipated.

It's a curious thing.

He sees you walking ahead, and before he knows it, he is reaching out to grab your arm. He is able to stop himself, but his fingers brush against the back of your arm. His hand forms a fist as a form of restraint.

You turn to him with a questioning look.

"Dinner," he almost stammers, but his voice is even. "It’s this way. My treat."

Your face lights up, but you cringe as your stomach announces once again that it needs food.

"Sounds great to me," you smile at him again, and Tobirama finds himself hurrying his steps ahead of you.

He thinks about the project and how it is almost finished. Just two more months of this, and he can be done and you can get out of his hair.

That was the agreement, after all.

He hears your footsteps catch up to him, and now, he finds you walking by his side.

If Tobirama thought that you were a con-man before, then he will probably think that you are now.

Today, he has students doing some chakra training by walking on water, and you have opted to watch and listen to Tobirama’s elaborate instructions instead of joining them and demonstrating how to do it along with Tobirama.

The truth is, you have no idea how to do that. You never learned how to because you had no formal shinobi training. All you know how to do is fight for your life, very desperately at that.

You watch the kids, and you cannot help feel the bitterness that you have tried so hard to let go. You did not have this when you were younger. All you knew were sickness after sickness, vials of poisons and medicine, and a hazy mind and a weak body.

Years of your life were lost to parents who failed to protect you because of their twisted beliefs and their inability to stand their ground.

You were lost and without a guide.

You consider sneaking away, but you feel like you and Tobirama are finally on the same page and doing that might not help your case with him.

You are aware of his piercing gaze being directed towards you, but he doesn't call you out for not participating or push you to do the exercise with the kids.

You stand to the side uselessly, using your foot to draw random circles on the ground, until the kids are dismissed and Tobirama is walking up to you with a strict expression. He looks like he might yell at you or scold you, but surprisingly, he does none of that.

“You’re awfully quiet today,” Tobirama comments tersely.

You look up to meet his hard eyes and you shrug. “I did not think that you’d notice.”

Tobirama gives you a very hard and long look, and it burns through you.

“What?” You snap, your facade long gone.

You see Tobirama’s eyes widen slightly, but they are back to his usual scrutinizing gaze.

“If you have a problem, it’s best that you communicate it with me. We are working together professionally.” Tobirama does not back down. “We are both adults.”

You press your lips into a thin line, and you look towards the flowing river, where the kids tried their luck to walk across it.

Tobirama turns to walk away, and you grip the hilt of your sword in instinct.

It is now or never.

“I don’t know, okay?” You suddenly blurt out. “I did not have any of this when I was a kid.”

Tobirama stops and he turns to you questioningly. You observe from his demeanor that he is not particularly judgemental towards you at the moment. He looks at you with an understanding he extends to his students.

You turn towards the river again. “I…”

Tobirama waits, neither impatient nor placating. He does not even look like he’s in a hurry.

You grit your teeth, and then slowly let out a deep breath through your mouth. You glare at Tobirama.

“Do not ever speak of this to anyone,” you warn him. “This is between you and me.”

“I promise,” Tobirama says, his tone serious.

You look at his face, your eyes tracing his set jaw and the three perfect markings that are tattooed on his cheeks and his chin.

“I did not have this when I was young,” you tell him vaguely, but you realize that you will get nowhere if you keep evading the subject. “I don’t know, maybe you can help me, but maybe it’s too late…”

“You should get to the point,” Tobirama finally says and he folds his arms. “And if it’s help you need, you only need to ask.”

You stare at the ground uneasily as you feel your face heat up.

“I need your help because when I was young, I did not learn how to be a proper shinobi,” you say in a rush. “That walking on water lesson? I never had that. I don't know how to do that.”

You look at him helplessly and watch Tobirama’s neutral expression, seeing the gears turning in his mind.

“I had to figure out everything myself,” you say in a low, dark tone.

Tobirama nods, but then for the first time, he smirks at you. “That’s not a lot for me to go by, but it’s a nice change to see you not put up a farce for once.”

You glare at him. “Yeah, well, beggars can't be choosers.” You fold your arms as well. “And you’ve noticed it, haven’t you? That I do not have a good, consistent chakra flowing in me.”

Tobirama pauses, and his eyes glow for a moment.

“Shouldn't your closest friend know this?” Tobirama inquires sarcastically.

“He doesn’t,” you roll your eyes. “Or maybe he does, but he chooses not to bring it up.”

“Why did you bring it up?”

“Because I’m not stupid and I refuse to let my shortcomings get the best of me,” you snap.

Tobirama raises an eyebrow.

You meet his eyes, throwing your pride away and mustering all the determination you can find in yourself. “And I want to learn. So teach me. Help me. We only have two months and I know the timing couldn’t be better, but that’s all the time I need.”

Tobirama turns to the river, and a breeze brushes by, sweeping the grass, flattening it, and carrying dry leaves and scattering them about. It picks up strands of your hair, and it moves the hems of your clothes, and when the breeze has passed, Tobirama has his reply ready.

“Very well,” Tobirama folds his hands behind his back and turns to you. “I’ll do it and keep your secret.”

Your eyes widen, and you feel elated. “That was unexpected.”

Tobirama narrows his eyes.

“But...thank you. That means a lot to me.”

You can't help but give him a shy smile, and Tobirama glances at you from the sides of his eyes, his ears and neck turning pink.

"Well, when do we begin?"

Tobirama lets out a sigh through his nose and gives you a funny look. "Now. Get running."

"What?" You stare at him with disbelief. "Now? It's almost lunch."

"Yes, now." Tobirama's face goes back to its hard and strict expression, his eyebrows almost furrowing and his lips and jaw set.

You take a deep breath, and you break into a run and Tobirama jogs lightly after you. You try to get ahead of him, but Tobirama keeps up just as easily, his long legs pumping to match yours. The two of you run towards the forest, jumping over decaying logs and rocks. You hear Tobirama's rush of breath near you, the snap of sticks underneath his feet, and the ruffle of his clothes as his body moves. You focus ahead, and you see a wall of rock blocking the edge of this forest. Tobirama keeps going and you follow him, but you speed past him so that you can get to the rock first.

However, Tobirama does not stop there.

"What are you doing?" Tobirama barks. "We're going back."

You catch your breath and you watch him go ahead of you. Of course, you expected nothing less from the Senju Tobirama. You smirk to yourself, and you run to his direction, determined to get there first as well.

A burst of laugh escapes your lips as you pass him by, and you jump over a small path. You turn towards him, completely exhilarated and Tobirama stutters in his steps.

"Not bad," Tobirama comments coolly as he gets closer to you.

You pout playfully. "I was here first."

"That was not a race," Tobirama says. "And if it was, you'd lose."

"Wow." You roll your eyes, but there is no malice between the two of you. This is the first time the atmosphere between the two of you had eased enough for the two of you to joke around with each other willingly. "Such hubris, my lord."

Tobirama's eyes narrow. "I think you should just stop calling me with a title. You give it no purpose anymore."

"Are you hurt?" You say mockingly.

Tobirama sighs and he pinches the bridge of your nose.

You chuckle easily. "Alright, Tobirama."

Tobirama glances at you, a slight frown etched to his face but he does not look displeased. He nods and you shrug, and you find that spending time with Tobirama like this is not so bad. You are not sure about tomorrow since your interactions with him are like going through hills and valleys, but at least, it does not feel like you are Tobirama's mortal enemy anymore.

[CHAPTER FIVE >>>]

#avversiera writes #angelica writes #'til death do us part #Senju Tobirama #Tobirama Senju #tobirama x reader #senju tobirama x reader #tobirama x you #senju tobirama x you #tobirama x y/n #naruto fanfiction

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savnofilter · 4 years

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10 Signs You’re Falling in Love ~ dabi

Dabi x Reader [1.1k words]

warning(s): sav attempting fluff, angst, suggestive content.

a/n: last chapter for the series!! and i chose... dabi. because who doesnt daydream about dabi professing his love to them?! lol, thank you guys for reading and enjoying this series, i hope you guys like my other series further in the future!

✧༺♥༻∞ You’re tempted to say I love you. ∞༺♥༻✧

The constant reminder of your face and voice always plagued Dabi's mind. He couldn’t stop thinking about you, or rather he didn’t bother to stop.

That’s why he lied wide awake, staring up at the ceiling and trying to calm his racing heart against the lightweight of your head on his chest. He gulped one time to himself as he weighed out the pros and cons of telling you how he felt, not feeling too confident in the idea. The point still stood that he knew his feelings but didn’t owe it to you.... right? You hadn’t said it either so logically he didn’t have to.

‘Were you waiting for him?

Did you feel the same?

Were you even thinking like that?’

Dabi groaned to himself as his brain started to hurt from overthinking trivial shit like his feelings. Over a relationship that wasn’t supposed to be. A relationship with someone he didn’t even plan on seeing himself with until you two started fooling around. He brought his hand up and rubbed his face with an annoyed sigh at his harboring and very obnoxious feelings.

“Can you tell me why you’re still up?” You mumble against his naked chest, stirring as you feel him move to rub his face. He moves his hand to the side to let one of his eyes peek out at you, trying to hold back the hammering in his chest. You quirk your head a bit at the feeling, lifting a teasing brow at the heavy thumps against his rib cage. “Is the blood pumping too early or…?”

“No, you pervert.” He rolls his eyes as he jokes back, trying to play it off. This time he rubs his face against his hands once you fully pull away this time, not sparing you a glance when you sit up next to him. Hopefully, his hands could wash away the deep feelings that sat on his chest and suffocated him on nights like these.

Your brows scrunch together as you get slightly concerned at his behaviour, nudging him before tugging his hands away and holding them. “What’s going on, Dab?” You urge him. You give him a knowing look as his cyan eyes glared back at yours. “Tell me.”

Don’t fool around with someone you love.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me, doll.” There was a hint of playfulness behind his sentence, but something told you that he was being serious. You purposely let an awkward silence slither it’s way into the room, the ambiance of it making him squirm. He gulped once again as his forehead started to catch a small sweat. “What?”

Maybe it was the fact that he had been thinking of this whole thing so much to the point that he had accidentally brought it into existence. Dabi himself wasn’t sure if he should make up some bullshit lie or tell it how it is. Either way, he just hoped that you would take it as a joke and forget about it altogether. Your stare finally turned into one of glare as well, getting up from your spot on the futon in all your nude state to pick up your discarded clothes and start getting dressed. Dabi frowns at this.

“Where are you going?” He asks sitting up to watch you better, his eyes shamelessly running over your body as you got yourself together.

“I’m tired of playing games, Dabi. I have to go.” You explain shortly.

“Playing games?” He retorts back quickly, getting just as heated as you were. “You think I’m playing with you?” You laugh humorlessly at that, rolling your eyes and shaking your head as you are able to properly gather yourself and get up. He gets up in the same fashion, following behind you as you walk to his door.

“I don't know what I've done but I've noticed.” You turn to him when you ask the question, your expression almost indifferent.

"Noticed what?"

"You pull away, never answering my questions, leaving early in the mornings -- ignoring me. Is this just sex to you?" You ask him. Your hand was on the doorknob and your other was clenched in anxiety. He could tell from your body language that wasn't the most enjoyable situation for you either.

It was his turn to sigh at the irony, a chuckle spilling from his lips as the idea of you guys arguing like an old couple sat funny in his chest. "You don't get it do you, Y/N?" He looks up at you as he sits back on his futon. He ruffles his hair as he looks up at you, the muscles in his body holding him back from flinching at your look.

This time the room was quiet, but it wasn't because you were urging for him to talk: you were waiting. You weren't too sure what was going on with him and why he was acting this way towards you. His odd behaviour was a change from his usual playfulness and boldness. When he started to change is when you felt vulnerable and scared, hoping desperately he wasn't going to stop what you two had going on… much less break it off without going further. You held deep feelings for Dabi that you were sure he couldn't reciprocate. Had already been embarrassed from your earlier outburst you dreaded what he was going to say next -- if he was really going to say it. You tried to hold back your gulp to no avail. You were hoping maybe, just maybe he was going to say the one thing you've been wanting to hear.

The room stayed the same way it was, everything in it unmoving and the energy rapidly shifting. It took him a moment for him to gather up the courage to tell you, fucking it all to hell if you loved him back -- you had to know, you deserved it.

"I love you." His sentence was short and to the point, no fluff needed. He had mastered the art of maintaining eye contact but this time it seemed harder than usual this time.

When you let the words sit it finally dawned upon you on what he had spoken. Your heart bumped against your chest the same way he did earlier, face softening into one of built-up tension, your hand slipping from the doorknob and resting at your side. You slowly walked up to him and climbed into his lap, engulfing him in a hug even as he sat naked on the comforters. You nuzzle your face into his neck and hold onto him tight, squeezing him just a bit tighter when he wraps his arms around your waist in the same manner.

"I love you too."

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rinharu-purple · 3 years

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Hi Rinharu~ just wanted to say I enjoy reading your analysis on MLQC (mainly the Gavin content). Just wondering what particular things you didn't like about his new birthday karma? Although I understand with the edit mistakes made :/ At least they were called out for it.

A happy Sunday to you lovely anon and a grandios thank you for your support! 🤗🤗🤗

To answer your question, I'd love to take you for a detour to my post here and show you what my expectations of this event were. As you can see, none of my wishes came true (bummer). But that's not my main problem.

What bothers me is the sudden change of gear from 7th to 2nd in a matter of seconds. For example, if you ever try to turn down your cars torque that fast, your engine chokes and you experience one nasty shock of drive flow disturbance (watching some sports car review videos while writing this but the association is accurate, trust me on this :D)

How is that you might ask, and that's a legitimate question. If we take a look at the momentum of Gavin dates in the last 12 months in CN server, the sudden drop can be observed better. But I need to use spoilers for that, I hope that’s ok for you.

I'll be using @cheri-translates input for the following, so please consider taking a look at her account and leave her a like or subscription if you feel like it ^_^

The timeline of Gavin dates after his birthday event '20 in CN server looks roughly like this:

Spoilers start below this line

- Late Autumn Date: MC is dedicating the rest of her life to Gavin and they share one really steamy make session. This was plus-minus around the same time as his birthday, so we should actually get it in the ENG server soon.

- Same Path Date: This date belongs to an AU for the Double Seventh festival. This date ends with Gavin saying “I helped your village resolve the flood. In return, I will take the most beautiful lady on the altar.”

- Return from Afar Date: Aside from being one of my favorite dates, Gavin takes MC to a venue which is used for fake weddings and brings a gem with him.

- Deep Longing Date: A wholesome fluffy date where Gavin and MC visit a Scandinavian country for Xmas.

- Obsession/ When the Galaxy Falls Dates: If you haven’t seen these yet, then I wouldn’t spoil these for you. One word describes these: Perfection

- Blessings Date: Another AU date with Gavin proposing to MC.

So as you can see, during last year, MC and Gavin’s relationship has gradually evolved into a firmly established, long-term relationship which is slowly entering the “future plans, engagement/marriage” phase. Taking that into consideration, the rational move for Gavin’s birthday would be something that fits into the pattern and scheme of the dates in the last 12 months. Papergames could’ve done so many other things or even just enrich the date with the elements suitable for current Gavin x MC dynamics.

- For example they could’ve switch the badge with the actual badge that Gavin had sent to his father, perhaps even going one step further and explaining how MC retrieved from his father, accompanied by a small dialogue between MC and Gavin’s father. Allowing us to have an insight on his father’s approach to things and maybe add a sparkle of humanity into him, thus presenting the fans a tiny bit of relief.

- The date mentions kids being around the playground, where MC and Gavin hang out. Wouldn’t that be a nice detail, if they’ve spent some with the kids. Picture this: one of the girls ask Gavin if he would play piggy back ride with her and Gavin offers her playing the pilot, him being the plane and MC watching him from afar. He would then fold a paperplane for her and give her a pep-talk.

- What about adding his younger brother into the mix? Yes, I know that PG has changed their mind about Shaw being the younger brother. However Gavin still has a younger brother in the canon story. Wouldn’t that be nice touch if his brother had given him a call or just sent him a small box with trivial things to show Gavin his feelings? Both the R&S and the date are lacking emotions and quite dull if you ask me.

- Since Gavin opened up about his memory with the competition, why not take MC to the gravestones of his grandparents and his mother? They are so intimate and far in their love and trust, they should visit places that mean more to their story. Not just an old airbase to which Gavin doesn’t have any personal bond.

- The matching outfits don’t have any specific back-story to it. That’s why neither Iridescent nor the edited Caelum mean anything for the players. Funny thing, for Gavin and MC we have so many alternative options! Loveland High uniforms, STF uniform, STF drill track suits, motorcycle outfits/ or helmets or hell matching jerseys from a team, because Gavin and MC help them for a fundraising event. So many options!

- Last but not least, the dialogue between Gavin and MC is not romantic enough for a couple spending the fourth birthday together. Gavin and MC are together since four years! Sure, the older a relationship gets, the every-dayish it becomes. But this is MLQC, we are in a fantasy world and me as a player want to read a neverending romance-story.

I’m not saying its a bad date, but the way its written, it would be more suitable for a regular SR karma. I was just expecting more depth and intimacy from Gavin’s birthday karma. What MC does is also a very nice gesture, but it doesn’t look like an action one would do on her boyfriend’s birthday. Papergames usually pays much attention to previous events and sew threads between them. However everything in this date feels random: The location, the dialogue, the cake, the gift, everything.

Plus they don’t even kiss, are you kidding me?! Who doesn’t kiss her bf on his birthday?!

You see, dearest anon, I was quite felt let down by this year’s Gavin birthday event in CN server because I had very high expectations :/

How did you find the date and the R&S? I would really love to know :) <3

#anon asks #birthday #Happy birthday #relationship development #mlqc #mlqc gavin #mlqc baiqi #mlqc haku #mr. love queen's choice #mr. love dream date #mlqc analysis #mlqc spoilers

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ikingsley · 3 years

Text

Ina x MC: Late Nights

Summary: Ina misses a date she planned.

Warnings: Angst! Also warning for brief mentions of alcohol.

Tag: @samanthadalton @domakir @kulaykape @hellyeah90sbaby @dopeyouth @kwaj05 @thedaft1 @swimmingshoebakerydreamer

Author’s Notes: I wanted to provide a little more background on Luna, who’s a neuroscience major. I also was craving angst, so this is the product of that.

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

Friday @12:47 pm

Ina: I’ll see you at home tonight; remember, I’m cooking.

Luna: Oh lord 🙏

Ina: Hey! I promise it’ll be fine. All you need to do is show up. See you then, mi amor ❤️.

But now, it was almost 3 in the morning. The apartment was dark and quiet, except for the TV that was on at low volume. Luna was sprawled on the couch; she had knocked out a long time ago. What was supposed to be a fun date night with Ina had turned into a night of anguish for Luna.

Ina was supposed to come home early to cook — albeit a very basic meal, but nevertheless, a meal — for Luna. The two were supposed to play some Trivial Pursuit and then cuddle to a movie together. Little did they know that that was quite the opposite of what would really happen that night.

When Luna had arrived at Ina’s apartment to find Ina not there, she hadn’t been worried. She’d been held up in the office quite often before. A student asking for an extension, an administrator here and there...but as the minutes slid into hours, Luna began losing hope. And with that dissipating, Luna became more and more angry. She texted Ina multiple times, just to receive radio silence. She had to rearrange her volunteer schedule at the hospital for this, and Ina hadn’t even bothered to show up at her own place. For such a driven and brilliant woman, Ina could be so irritating.

Ina got out of the cab, lurching forward towards her apartment. She mumbled incoherently to herself as she fumbled with her keys. When she finally was able to let herself into her home, she stumbled over her own heels and fell down, subsequently causing a loud crash sound. Oh crap, she muttered.

Luna jumped up, already on high alert. She looked around, only to find Ina on the floor. Luna gave Ina a sad, disappointed look, but turned away as a tear fell from her eye. This seemed to slightly sober Ina up.

“Wait- Luna!” Ina said desperately, clawing at the floor, trying to get up. The cry in her voice caused Luna to turn around for a split second. “Can we please talk?”

“Ina, you’re too out of it to have a mature conversation. Christ, you reek,” Luna sighed, shaking her head and retreating to the bedroom.

It hadn’t been the first time Ina had come home intoxicated, but those times, Ina was funny, and Luna had taken care of her accordingly. More importantly, on those occasions, Ina hadn’t planned out a date night.

Ina poured herself a shot of coffee and downed it in an attempt to sober up. When she felt like she had gained some sort of consciousness, she walked towards the bedroom. Right before she had reached the doorway, she held herself back, drawing in a deep breath. The conversation that she wanted to take place was going to be heavy, and she knew it.

Luna was curled up on her own side of the bed, scrolling absentmindedly on her phone. Tears rolled down her face, onto the pillow, but she had no control over her them.

“Luna,” Ina breathed out. It was low, but very well enunciated.

“You’re welcome to sleep on the couch in the living room,” Luna said sarcastically.

“I know you’re mad. Today was supposed to be about us, and I blew it.”

Though Ina couldn’t see Luna, she felt her eye roll. “You really did.”

Ina walked over to Luna’s side of the bed and crouched down to meet Luna’s eyes. She was met with Luna shifting on the bed, rolling over so that Ina couldn’t see her crying.

“Oh, real mature,” Ina scoffed.

“Bye bye!” Luna said in a sing-songy voice.

“Who the hell are you talking to?” Ina snapped.

“MATURITY. She left when you came home, wasted and reeking on our date night. God, just go to sleep, Ina. It’s three in the morning. The couch is practically screeching your name,” Luna said as her voice finally broke. The sarcastic facade could only last a few moments. She pointed to the door, trying to get Ina to leave her alone.

Ina stood in the middle of the bedroom, just watching Luna cry. It hurt. She hurt Luna. What have I done, Ina reckoned, wiping at her own tears.

Finally, Ina trudged out of the room. She plopped herself on the couch; the only times she’d actually slept there were when Luna fell asleep in her arms, and she didn’t want to wake her.

When Ina left the room, Luna let out a sob, followed by a stream of tears. For the past few days, Ina had acted distant. Luna thought it would be a quick phase; Ina had publishing deadlines throughout the year. When a big deadline approached, Ina would immerse herself in her work, and Luna understood. Sure, she was clingy, but she knew how much work meant to Ina. And when Ina met the deadline, Luna was the first to congratulate her, and they’d celebrate together. But never had anything like this happen before. Never had Ina come home smelling this foul. Never had Ina missed a date she planned and seemed excited about. Most of all, never had she let Luna down like this before.

The two hugged themselves on their respective sleeping arrangements. Tears flowed freely and the women tossed and turned. By now, hours had gone by, and neither had slept a wink.

The sun had come up and light broke into the window. Luna huddled under the covers, acting as if the sun’s light was the reason she couldn’t sleep. At this point, she had stopped crying - she felt that her tear ducts couldn’t physically produce anything anymore.

“Luna, I love you,” Ina’s voice rang out.

Had that been real? The sleep-deprived young woman didn’t know if Ina had actually spoken to her or if that was a figment of her imagination, recalling happier times of Ina’s many love confessions.

“Luna,” The voice said again. “God! Just look at me! Please.”

Now, Luna knew she wasn’t hallucinating anymore. She pulled off the covers, facing Ina for the first time in hours. And with a quick glance, Luna discovered that Ina didn’t look much better than herself. It was evident that she also hadn’t slept, and dried tears stained her face.

Luna’s lower lip quivered, and she knew, somehow, she was about to cry again. And once again, she pulled the covers over her face.

“What can I do, Luna? You used to tell me I was the most beautiful person you’d ever seen, and now you can’t even look at me.”

“Leave me alone,” Luna grumbled.

For a moment, there was silence, but then, Ina attacked. She yanked off the covers and pinned Luna down with her body.

“I love-” Ina cried out, but she was interrupted by the pain flashing through Luna’s eyes. It had only been a mere second, because Luna shut her eyes so promptly to ease her pain, but it had taken its toll.

God, what am I doing, Ina thought to herself, rolling onto the other side of the bed. For a while, the two just sat staring numbly at the ceiling. It was as if they were reflecting - physically together, but mentally, miles away.

It was Luna who clasped the other woman’s hand. Ina wasn’t expecting it, but she returned the grip.

“I’m really sorry, Luna,” Ina admitted. “I’m such an ass.”

“I know you’re stressed, it’s fine-”

“It really isn’t, Luna. I made a commitment, and I failed to follow through.”

“I’m more disappointed than mad or anything else, really.”

And if this was supposed to be any sort of consolation to Ina, it really wasn’t. Somehow, her heart dropped even further into her chest. Having disappointed Luna was worse than upsetting her.

The two sat in silence for a long time, contemplating. They could hear each other’s sniffles every so often, followed by them clearing their throats. Their hearts still beat together as one, even after feeling so apart.

“Ina?” Luna questioned, releasing her hand from Ina’s hand. She moved to face her as Ina did the same.

Before, Ina had only seen glimpses of her lover, but now, it was all real. Luna’s face was now wet with tears, but she still had a small, sad smile on her face. That smile. It was the one that broke her heart into a million pieces, something that only Luna knew how to put back together.

Ina shut her eyes, trying to not let herself cry for the umpteenth time in a span of 12 hours.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” Luna asked sympathetically. Ina just shook her head, looking back at the ceiling through her tear-glazed eyes. She reached out to Ina to cup her face. “Ina, look at me. What’s wrong?”

“Look at you. I was the one who screwed up, and now you’re comforting me,” Ina said, letting out a quick breath. This girl was truly something else.

“Missing a date night...that’s not like you. At all. So something’s up, and you’re not telling me,” Luna said intuitively.

“I-” Ina began, but her voice wavered, and a sob followed.

“Come here,” Luna said, opening up her arms.

Ina inched towards Luna, and Luna wrapped her arms around Ina. They stayed like this for a while, until Luna brought her hand around to wipe away Ina’s tears.

“Ever since you started volunteering at the hospital, I feel like we’ve...grown apart,” Ina said.

“I- I’m not sure what to say to that, Ina. I have to focus on my own future, just like you had to in college,” Luna said back softly.

“I know, I know. I’m not asking you to drop it or anything like that. I know you’ll need some kind of experience for med school. I’m just...worried about us,” Ina admitted.

“Is that why you were drinking tonight?” Luna asked.

“Well, my paper was one reason, but then I began thinking about us. How much you’ve grown since we met. And now, you’re about to take the MCAT. You’re already so busy now; imagine when you get into med school and become a famous neuroscientist.”

“We’ve both always been busy, but we’ve managed it. You’re so important to me, Ina. And don’t you forget it. Because I won’t. My future is important, but mainly because you’re gonna be a huge part of it.”

Ina smiled slowly, meeting Luna’s eyes. “How do you always know what to say?”

“Because we’ve been through hell and back, Ina.” That glimmer in Luna’s eyes was back, giving Ina the confidence she needed.

“You know, you’re right. As a great poet once said, ‘Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey,’” Ina chuckled.

“Oh god, you’re quoting Lord Byron now?” Luna broke out into a laughing fit.

“He defined poetry from the Romantic period! Maybe he didn’t find his own...person, but he was a great poet.”

“Well, you’re my person, and I’m yours. You’re not losing me, and you never will. We’re practically stuck together for eternity,” Luna jested.

“There’s no one I’d rather be stuck with,” Ina grinned.

#ina kingsley #ina x mc #queen b #choices stories you play #luna garcia

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thoughts-on-bangtan · 3 years

Note

This isn’t really an ask but I wanted to share something I was thinking about with you guys who show your sincere love/admiration for BTS in all you post —

Watching the past BTS Run episodes and the behind videos makes me feel a certain way not only because we get to see the boys relax and have fun (even if they get frustrated a bit haha *looking at HS and JM*), but also because I wonder how often they got to play around and do these kinds of things during the age most people do? I’d say teens and early-20s is the age when we do silly things like play mini games with friends, go to amusement parks for the first time, take a stab at cooking — and yet they were working their hardest and truly shedding blood, sweat, and tears during that time (thinking about JK makes me incredibly soft because he really started young). This show really just allows them to have fun. And it’s frustrating to see that others called the show terrible and said it was something the boys were forced to do and didn’t truly enjoy (the article saying otherwise was a blessing).

Watching “special guests” also be on the show I think highlights this feeling (of them enjoying doing these kinds of things) even more! You can see the excited ness and almost shy manners when they have others on (the voice acting, T1, and recent cooking ep come to mind). I’m looking forward to future episodes! Are there any things/games/themes you’d like to see the boys do on a BTS Run episode?

(Ah, sorry, I guess there is an ask — only if you two wish to answer it!)(Catch me listening to Young Forever now in my feels 😭)

I’ve been sitting on this ask forever and I’m really sorry for that! Especially since it’s such a good one, so thank you so much for sending it in. Maybe that’s why it took me so long, since I kind of wanted to think about it a little and offer something (hopefully) good as response.

RUN certainly offers them a bit of time in their schedules to just be silly together, play mini games and other things they normally wouldn’t really be able to do in their own time, like the zombie game episode or try a flower class. In one of the episodes of Break the Silence Yoongi spoke about how things that are mundane for us are special to them since they don’t get to do them without putting thought into how to pull it off; Seokjin spoke about how while his friends said that he’ll never have to worry about rent, he argued that while that may be true, they will never have to worry about something as trivial as walking down the street, or in one of the Bring the Soul (if I remember currently) episodes where Seokjin was apologetic about wanting to visit the zoo in Berlin since it meant that he had to take so many people with him since they were abroad, though it’s less of an issue while they’re in Korea it seems.

It’s curious how different that experience is for the members though, I mean, just look at their vacation in 2019 and how different it went for Namjoon and Jimin. While Jimin was quickly discovered and followed in Paris and Russia, Namjoon toured through Europe in a way that while ARMY from the respective countries knew about it, they kept it so low key everyone else had no idea until Namjoon posted about it himself. On the other hand, except for their finishing trip, we have no idea what Yoongi did during their vacation, or Hobi besides his CNS collab.

But, generally, it’s rather clear that none of the members would be able to just show up at Everland (an amusement park in Korea, the place where they filmed the America’s Got Talent performance of Dynamite) and have a good time without immediately being spotted, or having to heavily rely on disguises (and likely still worry about it not being enough and what would happen if they were discovered, therefore defeating the entire point of going to a place like that in the first place).

There are two sides to every medal. While yes they had and continue to have to give up on certain things, experiences and freedoms that seem so normal to the average person, something we don’t even have to think about much or can just do whenever we want (like going to the cinema at peak hours or go to McDonald’s (even one of the TXT members couldn’t do that without pictures being secretly taken of him and posted on sns and TXT isn’t nearly as famous as BTS)), they also gain a lot in terms of money but also experiences no one but them will have in such a way. They get to live their dream of being artists, of giving giant concerts all across the globe, of sharing their music with millions of people and bringing us happiness and comfort when we need it most.

More below the cut:

In one of the episodes of Bring the Soul Tae spoke about how they had the opportunities to go higher quicker, but they refused, wanted to do things their own way in their own time. It isn’t like they’ve lost control of their lives, like they wouldn’t be able to do things if they truly wanted—after all in the Bring the Soul episode where Seokjin went to the Zoo, Hobi could also walk around in the area close to the arena where they performed largely without being bothered (which might be due to his heavy disguise and security, but you get the point)—but there are limitations, and in a way, it really is a shame, but at the end of the day, many of these things are ones they’ll still be able to do whenever their fame will calm down, or fade away one day in the future. Cinemas and flower classes and amusement parks won’t just disappear, and they are certainly things you can still do once you’re thirty or forty years old, or even older than that.

But, going back to RUN, the show certainly offers them the opportunity to not have to wait until their fame passes, gives them a chance to experience and try things while also sharing that with us, work and pleasure at once. Though it’s clear that perhaps filming episodes isn’t always at the top of their priorities and I can imagine there are things they’d sometimes rather do—I mean episodes that we’ve seen being filmed in hotel rooms between concerts where I’m sure they’d rather spend the day relaxing, though they likely still prefer filming RUN over giving yet another boring and mindless interview in English, since let’s be honest, those aren’t…great, usually.

When it comes to guests on RUN, be it in form of people like the T1 members or instructors like the tennis players or the auntie teaching them how to make kimchi, it’s always so funny to me to see how humble they are about their own fame, how they get all shy as though they are meeting someone exceedingly famous instead of them being the most famous people in any room they enter. Looking at how they speak of their goals and achievements, it’s easy to see though that they’ve carefully worked on not allowing their fame to get to their heads, to remain grounded and as connected to reality as possible despite being them and how different their lives are from those of normal people. I mean, how many of us can say they were mobbed while trying to buy an iPad?

It's also so beautiful and remarkable to me how people who have met them spoke about them, like Isaac the florist who spoke about how interested they all were in the flowers and truly participated and listened, that they were extremely friendly, kind and polite, and if that doesn’t sound like Bangtan, I don’t know what does. I think this is also one of the reasons why they managed to get to where they are now, why they are so strong as a group, why they still enjoy spending time together, still manage to get even closer and deepen their friendships even after a decade has passed—they’ve remained human despite everything they’ve gone through, despite the heights they keep on reaching, despite all the awards and achievements, the number ones and sold out tours.

Tae said the following about V and his relation to Kim Taehyung in Break the Silence: Persona (the movie):

I think V can show parts of Kim Taehyung and parts of V, but Kim Taehyung can’t show V. Kim Taehyung is Kim Taehyung. Kim Taehyung is someone who’s still filled with a lot of curiosity and he’s inquisitive about a lot of things. There are so many things he wants to do. Also I think there’s so many things he is curious about.

This is the important stuff, and while I don’t have such quotes for the other members, I’m sure it’s true for them as well. Even after all this time Tae is still curious about the world, still has things he’d like to do, he’s still himself even while he stands on stage as V, hasn’t lost himself to the stage persona and the fame. We know Namjoon had a whole crisis about where RM ends and Kim Namjoon begins, and if they really are two separate things, if Namjoon even still exists or if RM has taken over his personality. I’m sure all of them had their respective moment of trying to determine who they are as people, who they are as artists, and who they want to be when they look in the mirror, how to not lose the person below the persona. We’ve also had Jungkook question his worth outside of being a BTS member, something I’m sure all of them also experienced in one way or another since it seems like such an inevitable question to ask yourself after you’ve been part of a group for so long, and yet despite it all, they all still want to stay together as BTS for as long as they can, despite mixtapes and thoughts of wanting to at least be able/confident enough to lead a concert on their own (Jungkook BE Weverse interview).

RUN gives them a chance to be them, to have fun, to be silly, to not have to constantly be on guard, to have fun in an environment where they can feel safe and are surrounded by people who have been with them for a long time and have their best interest in mind as well. There was a whole Weverse Magazine article about it, which I also wrote a post about. And yet there are people who want to take this away from them because they don’t like it while disregarding what BTS themselves want. I won’t call them ARMY since most of them are solos/akgae/mantis, and those are anything but ARMY, they’re not even fans of the one member they claim to stan, are merely caricatures of “fans” who want to “save” them, or rather take control of their lives so BTS would act exactly how they want them to. It’s obsessive and wrong, and it crosses every line and boundary of what it means to be anyone’s fan. As fans it isn’t our job to decide what is and isn’t good for their careers. We don’t know anything about the industry, while they’ve been in it since 2010, and we know nothing about their contracts or what happens behind the scenes.

As long as they are happy and have fun, who are we to question it? I don’t know about you but Bangtan have looked nothing but happy and like they were having a good time in the last couple of episodes, even when they were frustrated because they couldn’t pass a game. After all learning tennis properly and over a longer period of time was their own idea, not anyone else’s, but that’s something those people don’t want to hear anything about or will just twist somehow to fit their narrative. It truly is a shame, but also, it’s their loss if they’d rather make themselves miserable than spend forty minutes laughing along with Bangtan as they’re trying to play the harmonica or trying to cook something with less than stellar cooking skills.

As for something I’d want to see them do on RUN, that’s tricky since there’s so much they’ve already done, but something that comes to mind would be even something as silly as sitting them down and having them try to recreate all the members, or one they chose at random, in The Sims 4. It could be hilarious, and we could see how differently they’d tackle something like it. Or have them decorate a house in Sims, which would be especially interesting with our resident lighting fixtures enthusiast Yoongi. Or maybe something to do with painting, like them attending a class or just attempting to draw the same object or person. (A2: maybe given them a wall and spray cans and have them do graffiti or a mural, or have them do each other’s hair and makeup (taking it serious, of course) for a photoshoot or something like that) Or maybe a Bangtan book club where they’d discuss the same book since it would be so interesting to see what different things each of the members would find in a book and their opinions etc.

The possibilities are endless and just like you I can’t wait to see what the future episodes of RUN will have, and especially the tennis match we’ll see in next week’s episode.

#answered ask #answered ask by admin 1 #BTS #RUN BTS #bangtan sonyeondan #discussion #Namjoon #Seokjin #Yoongi #Hoseok #Taehyung

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aneshkablack · 3 years

Text

Divination

My second oneshot. I'll hope you like.

First Oneshot: https://isishiwatari.tumblr.com/post/648032827047378944/the-beginning

I published in:

My first Blog: https://isishiwatari.tumblr.com/post/650480081602592768/divination

FF.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13858840/1/Birds-of-a-feather

And in AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30581456/chapters/75436169

________________________________ Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling and Warner Bros. are owners of Harry Potter/Wizarding World. Jam City is owner of Hogwarts Mystery. I write this fic only for entertainment and leisure.

Divination

Finally she become an animagus: an eagle like her wish. She had decided don't register in Ministry of Magic after she heard the Talbott's reason. Isolde thought if the situation with R will continue after she'll graduate of Hogwarts; they could have spies like Voldemort in his Terror Era infiltrated there and could discover she can to transform into a bird. She didn't want give them an advantage over her. By other hand, he could use her gift against them… well, if someday need to spy or to take some of them; when she could know where they hidden.

Talking about Talbott, in their classes they had a little interaction between of both with some comments about the subjects, working together occasionally or had short talks of trivial topics. Divination was the class where they have a better interaction then other classes. And where Isolde discovered other facet of him.

Since she asked for him she only knew he was a good student, intelligent, quiet, liked the solicitude, stayed more time out of Ravenclaw's Common Room, and one time she found him in the owlery when she had to send a letter to her mother, feeding the owls. But with Trewlaney, Talbott was sarcastic, was probably he was regretted to take her subject when they studied here. It was funny he lost his calm when the professor said she was disappointed in him, told him he hadn't the Inner Eye. In some times she couldn't help herself but she smiled softly. Isolde understood his feeling. She didn't believe in the Divination, yet and she thought Trewlaney was a fraud.

Today, November 14th, they were studied the tea grounds, again. It was obvious Talbott was already fed up and she didn't feel well because today was the death anniversary of her dad. But didn't let her friends and others students saw her sadness, trying to give the best in every class.

"You can take your time, Isolde. I don't want to waste the time with the tea grounds". In this time, both was worked together. She was drinking her tea.

"Oh, Talbott, but you lecture could be easy. I mean" she lowered her voice. "Do you remember who am I? You can invent some bad in my searching or the Curse Vaults and Trewlaney will be fascinated with your 'prediction'. For example…" she saw her plate, trying to see a figure of something. "I thought it was a dog. You can tell her the Grim is follow me. Someone wants to kill me. You can add details how I would die" she smiled, but closed her eyes, too.

"Let me see" she gave him her plate. "Well, yes, you're right about the dog and… I'm not sure, a needle and an envelope…"

"About the second thing, news from abroad. Probably my mother. She returned to New York for a meeting of all MACUSA's ambassadors, but I guess she'll say the same thing 'Be a good girl and don't do anything that you'll expel of Hogwarts'. I wish, but the school is in danger, yet and I don't want my friends could hurt" she said in a gloomy tone. "I hope it would real she don't send me anything today".

He didn't say anything. It's probably she had a bad relationship with her mother and seemed she really was worried about the boggarts trouble... like she felt guilty for it. But he didn't ask for it because he didn't bother her. Isolde finally sighed and continued her reading.

"The book said it means an imminent danger. It's obvious, the boggarts and the vault. Well, I let you use your imagination and tell to Trewlaney a bizarre history of my future death".

"Fine, but I don't want to be who predicted your death and every person of Hogwarts could remember me for it or they'll say I killed you indirectly". It's probably he didn't say the best comment, but for any reason he was tried to animate her. Isolde saw him, with her eyebrow raised.

"I thought you don't care what the people says about you."

"It's true but it won't seem well in my curriculum when I want to get a job". He tried mocking. And it could've work, because Isolde was smiled.

"Are you afraid to be my 'messenger of destruction'?" She teased him. Talbott chuckled softly. Since she discovered the meaning of his name, she sometimes took the liberty making comments about it… in special in this class. Talbott didn't stop her, because she was the only who could handle his weird sense of humor. He observed her a few of seconds before to response this:

"Beware, Hiwatari. You shouldn't have so much confidence with people. Or someone could give you a love potion and have a tragic love story". He teased her, too. Talbott had been reading some British legends. One of them was 'The Tragic Romance of Tristan and Isolde'.

"Touché, Winger. I knew you like to read books…"

"Like many Ravenclaws and it's probably you are in that group, too".

"Yes, but I didn't knew you read this legend. My dad read me once this story, but they were in love before they drunk the potion. But finally both die unhappy and far each to other. My dad told me about the love potions, and even the Princess Isolde drunk it with the King Mark, she never fell in love with him and prevented me I never should use it to force someone to love me, because I could have a worst pain that them plus the person I would bewitch they could hate me for all my life". She shook her head. "Sorry. I'm afraid to bother you while I was yapping like a puppy".

"You talk so much, it's true. But I'm getting used to it. You do this class less boring when we work together".

"I'm not sure if I take that as a compliment or an insult".

"You should live with the doubt, Isolde".

"Hey!"

"Well, you'll die soon for a bad brewing love potion, after you received a package from your mother who stays in The United States, but really is of one of your enemies". He said, ignored her and wrote in his scroll.

"Did you see you can make a fake prediction?" she giggled.

"I never had told you I couldn't. Only I don't want to waste my time in this. But finally I did". He told her. "And you needed to get a conversation, even if it was a random topic". She was surprised. "I don't ask you, because it's probably you don't want to talk about the real reason with me".

'You aren't Rowan and I don't want bother you with my thoughts and feelings, even I feel comfortable with you. But we're in class and I don't want all to know how I'm'. She though, while smiled him.

Isolde thought was better to avoid tell him. After all, she wasn´t sure they're friends, even Talbott trusted her he was an animagus and the story about his family. He could called her 'a friend' in that time, but their relation it was more like classmates get along between them. More from him than hers.

"Well, it's a miracle you and me take a long talk". She teased him, again.

"You said it. Probably don't success again…" he gave his plate. "Now, it's your turn to use your creativity for your 'prediction', Isolde".

"Okay, do you want a tragedy in specific?"

"I said you could use your creativity". The girl tried to see any form in his plate.

"Well… I see an eagle…"

"Don't…"

"I know. Don't say anything of your gift. I try to invent some of it. A travel, maybe?" She saw the next form. "I think it's a hand" she read in her book. "It said 'a friend could have a trouble and need your help soon'. Has Penny brew a new potion?"

"No, even I know."

"It's better than my tea grounds. 'You'll have to help a friend in a terrible disgrace, you need to travel, where you could have an accident".

"If you say her it would be mortal, she'll like it".

"Okay". She wrote in her parchment. "Did you fly in a broom once time?"

"Well, I prefer to fly by myself, but better you put I used one. It could be more credible than I tried to do by myself".

When she finished it, Trewlaney went to their table. She took the Talbott's scroll, reading a loud in all classmates, crying and overreacting about the "Isolde's tragic destiny". The girl wasn't surprised, rolling her eyes. The Professor always used to her saying Hiwatari will die soon since they had their first class.

"Oh Mr. Winger, finally you're connect with the Inner Eye". Isolde controlled herself to laugh in front Trewlaney, but tried to be serious. "What did you write, Miss Hiwatari?" she asked her while she token her scroll. "Oh Mr. Winger, you'll have a terrible destiny, too. I've never had a two students in the same table could have a worst future in the only session".

"Didn't you have before? It's a surprise!" Talbott said ironically. The bell rang and the class had finished. When they were in the hall, Isolde started to laugh aloud and couldn't stop herself.

"Should I worry for you?" he said, raised his eyebrow.

"You shouldn't. I'm sorry but really can't stop me to laugh more time".

"You have a weird humor, Isolde. I mean, you laughed for your death predictions".

"It's like the pot calling the kettle black, Talbott. You have a same sense of humor like me. Do you remember once time you say Trewlaney you'll die by a pirate? And I don't worry about your prediction. Don't be offended, but you're the worst in the Divination class."

"Hey! Are you the pot or the kettle in this time, Hiwatari?" he raised his eyebrow. She only laughed again.

"I think I'm the pot, Winger. Like Liz, I have a seer in my family, but sadly I can't make any prediction. And I don't believe in this after all, but I tried to give an opportunity taking Trelawney's class. It didn't work. Probably I will leave the subject if I fail in my Divination OWL. By the way, can I ask you why did you take this class?"

"No, you can't".

"Ah…" she was a little disappointed, but she didn't say nothing. He saw her.

"Don't be offended, Isolde but we don't know each other well enough to we could talk about our private lives. It's very personal". He explained her, but seemed he messed it up more for her facial expression in this moment. "What did I say to hurt her? I only told her the truth." He thought.

"I understand". She smiled while at him while closing her eyes. She didn't wanted he noticed she was a little hurt. Talbott was confused with her change of humor, but there was something he didn't like in her grin. "By the way, I thank you. You tried to cheer me up today, or I hope that was your intention". She said, without looking at him when she opened her eyes.

"Yes, it was on purpose. I repeat you, I don't ask what happened with you before our classes. Not only in Divination, but you looked less like you today, even you tried to show all your friends everything was fine. I think only me and Khanna noticed it". She saw him face to face, without being able to hide her surprise. "I don't know if is because we share the same gift, but I don't dislike you".

"…" she didn't response, yet.

It was true Rowan knew what happened with her, because Isolde told her about her family when they were in first year. This day Rowan had been more close to her than usually do. But they separated the last hour because she took Arithmancy; and Isolde, Divination. Talbott, by other hand, how could he see her sadness? It was probably she trusted him more than she thought to let her guard down when they were together.

"Isolde!" Rowan interrupted them. She didn't waste time and reunited with them. "Are you fine?" she saw Isolde first, but Rowan noticed Talbott was here, too. "Hello, Winger".

"Khanna". He replied her. They walked to Great Hall.

"Don't worry Rowan. I'm fine. Talbott and I were talking about how horrible was the divination class, today. I feel better thanks to him".

"What was happened?"

"The usual, Trelawney said we will die soon, for our tea grounds and our 'predictions' when working together". Talbott responded.

"I'm so glad to take Arithmancy. I don't want every session someone told me I will die". She stopped, to see the boy. "We?"

"I mean, both of us received bad fatal predictions, but Isolde and I were guilty to invent them, after all". Talbott said. "I'm regretting to take this subject. It's boring to read every class the tea grounds and I don't interest in palmistry neither the crystal ball reading".

"Why do you leave it?" Rowan ask him.

"Well, I'll leave of Divination in June. I don't want to give up before the scholar year ends".

"I'll miss you, then". Isolde spoken. Rowan saw her, raised her eyebrow but she didn't said anything. "I mean, I like to share time with you in Divination, even we're the worst Trelawney's students".

The boy was surprised for those words, but didn't response to her. Talbott saw her a little before he stopped himself. Finally they'd arrived The Great Hall.

"Talbott, could you join us to dinner, please?" Isolde asked him.

"I'm sorry. Don't mean you bother me but I prefer to eat alone than in the Great Hall. I'll take something and I'll return to Ravenclaw's tower".

"Oh… I understand. Well, I'll see you later, I guess… And, thank you again. You made feel better today". She smiled.

The two girls entered to Great Hall, sitting down near to the Teacher's table. Isolde put in her plate some beef and mashed potatoes. When she put the gravy on her meal, Rowan spoken:

"Winger and you get along, eh Isolde? It's very strange Winger talk with someone isn't Penny… even she told me is difficult to make he say anything".

"I think he talked with me because I seemed sad in our class. It's probably I couldn't hidden more time and he saw it. It was a nice thing he did. Even he didn't ask me the reason I felt bad". She started to eat.

"I don't think so…" Rowan ate her meal and drunk her pumpkin juice. "Did you tell him anything?"

"No. Even I feel comfortable with him, I can't trust him like you, yet. And I know the My Dad's Dead Anniversary isn't a secret, but I don't want the people see me with shame… or someone use to bully me. And I don't want bother him with my problems eve he told me few weeks ago, we were friends… but I'm afraid we aren't close one each other".

"Do you want he would be your friend?" Rowan asked, curious. The blue-haired girl was in silence a few of minutes before responded her:

"Yes, I wish he would be my friend. But I don't want to force him if he refuses my friendship. But I think it's easier to break the curse of the boggarts and the vault than he permit someone be close with him". She continued to eat. Rowan only raised her eyebrow.

"Why do you want befriend with him, Isolde?"

"Because I want to be myself with him like I'm with you, Rowan. It's a weird reason, isn't?"

"No. You and I are friends for this reason. We can be weirdos together". She chuckled.

They finished to eat and returned to the Ravenclaw's Tower. Rowan thought about Isolde's wish. She had heard about Talbott and she was a witness he preferred the solicitude before had friends. Even with Penny, who was the only friend he had, he didn't stayed with her. But with Isolde, she felt something different. Talbott was likely in a tug-of-war with Isolde: He debated whether to accept Isolde's friendship or not. Probably he had a reason, however Rowan could bet he was afraid someone could break his barriers. Like Isolde every time she met a new person.

Phoenix's nest

I wrote the second oneshot. In this time, after Isolde transformed into an animagus, in divination class. I know in the game we take divination until sixth year, but I was based more to HP canon. And I have the headcanon Rowan token Arithmancy. Talking about her, she observed how the relationship between Isolde and Talbott born and how grow in the next years. She knew there are only a friendship. By the way, thank you @whatwouldvalerydo for the favorite in FF.net.

#Talbott Winger #hogwarts mystery talbott #talbott x jacob's sibling #hphm talbott #talbott x mc #Talbott x Isolde #Isolde Hiwatari #HPHM #HPHM mc #rowan khanna #Hphm Rowan

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halothenthehorns · 3 years

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TLTNL- The Wizard and the Hopping Pot

"Hey Mum, what's this?"

Harry hadn't meant to go snooping through, well his own baby room, but he'd spotted it on the little bookshelf in there and something about the title had caught his eye.

Lily took the book curiously and smiled as she read out, "The Tales of Beedle The Bard? Oh that's just a bunch of children novels sweetie. It was a gift from Dumbledore at your baby shower. Your father insists these were stories everybody grew up reading, though honestly I've never gotten around to hearing them myself." She ended with a little grimace, once again reminded that her son hadn't grown up with this either. She glanced around her house, feeling the echoing silence, the unnaturalness from all that they were doing. The pressing weight of what they kept reading was dragging her boys down, and it was beginning to worry her greatly. She smiled and curled her hand tighter around the thin spine as she said, "how about we read this for a while? Just as a little break?"

"Okay," Harry said at once with a huge smile. "I'll go ask the others."

The other three boys said yes at once as well, all of them knew they just needed a break, so they tucked into their spots. Lily even kept her infant cradled in her arms, for once in a very long time not having to worry at all about him hearing of any bad things going on around him for these tales were surely ones he'd continue to hear long into his life.

Harry first offered the book to his mum, considering it was her 'turn,' but she shook her head with a careful look at him. "We're taking a break for you dear, it'll do you some good to be the one reading this, so you can start."

Harry shrugged as he stared at the first title. That feeling hadn't yet left, he could feel some significance to something in here but it had no relation to this story. Still, he had no reason to protest as he began with The Wizard and the Hopping Pot.

"Can we skip this one," Sirius rolled his eyes, "honestly this one of all of them has the most idiotic bits."

"It's a children's story Sirius, I thought it would be the one thing you could grasp," Remus said lightly, not at all hiding his sarcasm.

Sirius was likely to say a snappy retort back, but Harry had too much practice by now cutting the lot of them off.

There once was a kind old wizard who used his magic generously to help his Muggle neighbors, and rather than them knowing the true source of his powers, he told them all it came from a lucky cooking pot.

"Muggles can't really be that daft," James rolled his eyes, feeling as if he were five years old again and his own parents were telling these stories, and he'd said the same thing to them then. "Surely they know it's magic."

"Maybe in this fable they're all really dim," Remus offered, "hence why I said Sirius would fit right in."

Sirius twitched like he was going to start smothering Remus soon, but Harry was still smiling slightly and ignoring them at the same time.

From miles around people would come in seek of help for their troubles, but the son found his father helping them worthless and a waste of dispensing their magic.

Sirius made the loudest disapproving noise, and for a moment Harry wanted to laugh he was being so silly over a kids story, but then he realized Sirius really had grown up hearing this so much. It must not be fun for him to hear it being trivialized when he now believed something wholly otherwise. Still, Harry was honestly glad Sirius was still participating, considering everything he'd heard about his future recently, he treasured even the tiniest gesture from his godfather sharing his opinion.

Upon the fathers death, the pot was gifted to this son. Inside was a slipper, and a note attached from the father stating he hoped his son would never have to use the slipper. The son cursed his father's age-softened mind, then threw the slipper back into the cauldron, resolving to use it henceforth as a rubbish pail.

Harry couldn't help but wonder at this already, why not just get rid of the cauldron if he had no further use for it? Though he supposed questioning this made no more sense than when he'd laughed at his family poking at all of his past decisions.

Yet that very night a woman came seeking help for her daughters warts, pleading the son make the fathers cure like he had before, but the son only cried for her to leave him in peace and slammed the door in her face.

"Rude," Lily tisked.

"Honestly I may not have been any more pleasant though," Sirius couldn't help but wheedle at her with a smirk even if he didn't mean it. "Who comes over to someones house at night for something like that? Much more of a lunch request."

"You're an idiot," Lily happily reminded him as if he'd forgotten.

Moments later, an odd noise began, and the son turned and found the pot, warts covering its surface, making the worst noise imaginable as it had sprouted a single metallic foot and was hopping on it.

Harry couldn't help a startled laugh in surprise picturing such a thing on a cauldron, and to his surprise the infant in Lily's lap proceeded to do the same. Harry scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck even while everyone else just laughed louder for this.

The wizard tried every manor of vanishing the pot, but it merely followed him right up to bed that night, still clanging and banging loud as ever.

"That's quite an ornery object just over some warts," Remus couldn't help but crack again, "probably what would happen if I tried to transfigure Sirius."

"It's also impossible to get rid of, remember that bit," Sirius said with a challenging brow.

The wizard could not sleep all night, and next morning the pot insisted upon hopping after him to the breakfast table. The wizard had not even started his porridge when there came another knock on the door.

"Do all of these villagers just have no care for what hour they're popping in," James couldn't help but agree with Sirius on that one. "Surely that father set visiting hours."

"Honestly you two," Lily rolled her eyes at both of them now.

It was an old man, begging for the help of the return of his donkey who had vanished in the night. If his mule didn't return, his family would go hungry-

The wizard roared he was hungry now!

"Well he's got a point on that one," Sirius said just to annoy Lily now. It finally worked, instead of her giving him that look he could hardly stand to see for this future he kept hearing about, he finally got a proper scowl out of her.

The door was slammed shut again, but the pot behind him only worsened the problem by braying a more horrid noise than ever on top of it's hopping and continued warty demeanor. Still the wizard went about his day and tried to ignore the thing, but that evening another villager came about with an ill child. She'd hardly begun her plea for her infant to be cured when the door was slammed on her face as well.

"No snappy retort for that eh?" Lily muttered in disgust as she clutched her infant tighter to her. It didn't matter this was a simple story, she didn't like the idea considering all she knew of his future to come.

Sirius didn't bother to respond, that would never be funny, and he couldn't find anyone's heart so cold as to not help with that. Even now if Dudley or Malfoy the infant had needed something Sirius knew he wouldn't have turned away.

Now the tormenting pot filled to the brim with salt water, and slopped tears all over the floor as it hopped, and brayed, and groaned, and sprouted more warts and started crying as if an infant sat in its basin.

Though no more villagers came to seek help at the wizard's cottage, the pot kept him informed of their many ills. Within a few days, it was not only braying and groaning and slopping and hopping and sprouting warts, it was also choking and retching, whining like a dog, and spewing out bad cheese and sour milk and a plague of hungry slugs.

Harry couldn't help reading all of this in a way he never could manage with his own life. It was a carefree, cheerful little sing song voice he was using with the slightest hint of a smile even through all of these woes. For once he felt no impending misery, doom, or any bad feelings. He was just spending time with his family, going along with some little children's tale, and it was easier than ever just to imagine many nights to come, forever if he wanted, always spent like this.

The wizard could not sleep or eat with the pot beside him, but the pot refused to leave, and he could not silence it or force it to be still.

At last the wizard could bear it no more.

"Does it really count if you're forced to do the good deed?" Remus asked with honest curiosity about this moral quandary.

"Half credit?" James answered with a shrug, not really thinking about it much at all considering it was hard to imagine no matter how much proof there was to the contrary just how many people would go on ignoring these problems without a pot around to be reminded of them.

Falling to his knees before the pot he swore he would aid all troubles, cure them all! With the foul pot still bounding along behind him,

"To make sure he didn't back out probably," Sirius chuckled.

he ran up the street, casting spells in every direction.

Inside one house the little girl's warts vanished as she slept; the lost donkey was Summoned from a distant brier patch and set down softly in its stable;

"The pot couldn't cure that, why was it braying?" Harry stopped in surprise.

"The magic of the pot knew he could help the problem, not the brew itself could," Lily corrected.

the sick baby was doused in dittany and woke, well and rosy. At every house of sickness and sorrow, the wizard did his best, and gradually the cooking pot beside him stopped groaning and retching, and became quiet, shiny and clean.

He tentatively asked if there was anymore to do as the sun rose, but the pot only did one more act. It burped the slipper once long lost, and stood idly calm as the wizard fixed it into place. Now the clanging noise vanished as the pot hopped along behind him, the noise muffled at last.

"You ever wonder if the first man had to learn the same lesson?" James asked in bemusement. "He started off the same way as his son and learned better?"

"The story would get repetitive if it ended with this wizard having a son to learn the same thing over and over," Lily shrugged.

From that day forward, the wizard helped the villagers like his father before him, lest the pot cast off its slipper, and begin to hop once more.

"Anybody else ever find it sad the bloke had to be forced to do a good thing?" Remus sniffed. "I feel like that ruins the moral of the story, he should have simply done the good deeds to begin with and then faced some other obstacle."

"Well then you write the next children book," Sirius rolled his eyes at him.

"Can you imagine all the good we could do, if we really could help Muggles out with our magic?" James gave a wistful smile. "We wouldn't have to hide from them, we really could help in just the simplest ways."

"I know dear," Lily agreed smiling sweetly down at her infant who was finally gurgling happily at the brightened mood.

"Hey, there's more in here," Harry said in surprise, "Dumbledore put notes in."

"What?" James asked in surprise, but Harry was already reading.

Albus Dumbledore on "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot"

"Err, cool, I guess," Remus blinked in surprise.

A kind old wizard decides to teach his hardhearted son a lesson by giving him a taste of the local Muggles' misery.

"A taste?" Sirius scoffed at this generalizing. "He drowned in it until he gave in, I'm pretty sure that's torture."

"Dumbledore just tries to put a good spin on everything," James muttered, quickly waving Harry on, he didn't want to think about his headmaster right now.

The young wizard's conscience awakes,

"More like is harassed out of him," Remus couldn't help but agree with Sirius on this one.

and he agrees to use his magic for the benefit of his non-magical neighbors. A simple and heart-warming fable, one might think, in which case, one would reveal oneself to be an innocent nincompoop.

"Got to love the man's sense of humor anyways," Lily couldn't help a slight smile.

A pro-Muggle story showing a Muggle-loving father as superior in magic to a Muggle-hating son? It is nothing short of amazing that any copies of the original version of this tale survived the flames to which they were so often consigned.

Beedle was somewhat out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for Muggles. The persecution of witches and wizards was gathering pace all over Europe in the early fifteenth century. Many in the magical community felt, and with good reason, that offering to cast a spell on the Muggle-next-door's sickly pig was tantamount to volunteering to fetch the firewood for one's own funeral pyre.

Harry couldn't help the sympathy that washed through him hearing of this, scantly remembering his History of Magic lessons and knew this to be true didn't make it feel better to remember.

"Let the Muggles manage without us!" was the cry, as the wizards drew further and further apart from their non-magical brethren, culminating with the institution of the International Statute of Wizarding.

It is true, of course, that genuine witches and wizards were reasonably adept at escaping the stake, block and noose (see my comments about Lisette de Lapin in the commentary on "Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump").

"Oh, so he comments on all of them," Remus said with his head cocked to the side. "Wonder if he does that to all of his books in his study."

"Guess it kind of makes sense, can't keep all your thoughts in a pensive so he puts them down as he thinks of them," James shrugged in agreement.

However, a number of deaths did occur: Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (a wizard at the royal court in his lifetime, and in his death-time, ghost of Gryffindor Tower) was stripped of his wand before being locked in a dungeon, and was unable to magic himself out of his execution;

Harry and Lily winced in surprise, never having asked Nick for details, while the Marauders knew of these scant aspects and simply frowned in pity for someone they'd considered a passing friend in school for all his help when they asked of it.

and wizarding families were particularly prone to losing younger members, whose inability to control their own magic made them noticeable, and vulnerable, to Muggle witch-hunters.

Lily shivered and held her infant that much closer to her, remembering his little fit the last time they'd gone to visit the McKinnons and how he'd made his bottle appear in his hands even if it had still been empty. That would have been impossible to explain to a Muggle, the idea that mothers had lost their infants because a child just didn't know better yet...what the Dursleys had done to Harry probably was a close approximation if death hadn't been the answer in all cases.

Children being children, however, the grotesque Hopping Pot had taken hold of their imaginations.

The solution was to jettison the pro-Muggle moral but keep the warty cauldron, so by the middle of the sixteenth century a different version of the tale was in wide circulation among wizarding families.

In the revised story, the Hopping Pot protects an innocent wizard from his torch-bearing, pitchfork toting neighbors by chasing them away from the wizard's cottage, catching them and swallowing them whole. At the end of the story, by which time the Pot has consumed most of his neighbors, the wizard gains a promise from the few remaining villagers that he will be left in peace to practice magic. In return, he instructs the Pot to render up its victims, who are duly burped out of its depths, slightly mangled. To this day, some wizarding children are only told the revised version of the story by their (generally antiMuggle) parents, and the original, if and when they ever read it, comes as a great surprise.

"I'll say," James ruffled up his brow, "I never heard of such a thing."

"You're parents read you the original version though, this one," Remus agreed. "I can easily imagine someone much more like Malfoy's parents giving off that tale."

"I'm surprised you knew this version then Sirius," Lily agreed.

"My parents didn't read me children's stories," Sirius rolled his eyes heavily at her assumption. "I hunted some stuff down on my own in our family library and wherever we visited. I came across this version in my Uncle Alphard's supply of books. He had both copies of the story and one other ludicrous one, but you know, he was a historian who had a copy of everything on hand. All three are so dull I really think he could have cleared out this space."

Lily just raised a brow at him though, not having missed the fact he'd openly admitted to wanting to learn and study in his youth and so honestly kicking herself for ever in her own school years falling for his lazy attitude.

As I have already hinted, however, its proMuggle sentiment was not the only reason that "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" attracted anger. As the witch-hunts grew ever fiercer, wizarding families began to live double lives, using charms of concealment to protect themselves and their families. By the seventeenth century, any witch or wizard who chose to fraternize with Muggles became suspect, even an outcast in his or her own community. Among the many insults hurled at pro-Muggle witches and wizards (such fruity epithets as "Mudwallower", "Dunglicker" and "Scumsucker" date from this period), was the charge of having weak or inferior magic.

James scoffed deeply in disgust at such a thing, tightening his arm around his own beloved wife and as always incapable of understanding a word of that nonsense.

Influential wizards of the day, such as Brutus Malfoy, editor of Warlock at War, an anti-Muggle periodical, perpetuated the stereotype that a Muggle-lover was about as magical as a Squib.

"Why am I not surprised the Malfoy line traces all the way back to every one of them being the same way," Remus scoffed.

"Makes you wonder why they bother to procreate rather than just making copies of themselves, oh wait," Sirius rolled his eyes.

In 1675, Brutus wrote:

This we may state with certainty: any wizard who shows fondness for the society of Muggles is of low intelligence, with magic so feeble and pitiful that he can only feel himself superior if surrounded by Muggle pigmen. Nothing is a surer sign of weak magic than a weakness for non-magical company.

Harry couldn't help his brows rising at having to say all of this, about any other person. He'd never for a second considered himself more than a muggle just because he could do magic. Why then could this thought actually cross someone's mind?

This prejudice eventually died out in the face of overwhelming evidence that some of the world's most brilliant wizards ( Such as myself)

"Doesn't think much of himself," Sirius said deadpan.

"You two have that in common," Remus still had his fun.

were, to use the common phrase, "Muggle-lovers".

The final objection to "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" remains alive in certain quarters today. It was summed up best, perhaps, by Beatrix Bloxam (1794-1910), author of the infamous Toadstool Tales.

"Urgh, alright, I'll take this tosh over hers any day!" Sirius retched at the idea of her retellings.

Harry just looked at him with bemusement before finishing curiously.

Mrs. Bloxam believed that The Tales of Beedle the Bard were damaging to children because of what she called "their unhealthy preoccupation with the most horrid subjects, such as death, disease, bloodshed, wicked magic, unwholesome characters and bodily effusions and eruptions of the most disgusting kind".

Lily ruffled up her brows in thought. This little story was honestly harmless and not nearly as bad as all that, but even so, she could half see the woman's point in wanting to keep such gory details away from children. Still though, to imply they should never be around it was ridiculous, or the children would just grow up in ignorance and that could be just as damaging.

Mrs. Bloxam took a variety of old stories, including several of Beedle's, and rewrote them according to her ideals, which she expressed as "filling the pure minds of our little angels with healthy, happy thoughts, keeping their sweet slumber free of wicked dreams and protecting the precious flower of their innocence".

"That's it, I'm off sweets for a week because of that sentence alone," James crinkled his nose.

"Oh it gets worse," Sirius promised, "do yourself a favor Prongs and never read the actual work, you'll be trying to remove your eyes before the first page."

"Advice heeded," James promised.

The final paragraph of Mrs. Bloxam's pure and precious reworking of "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" reads:

"Oh no!" Remus groaned, already trying to plug up his ears. "Dumbledore knew we were going to read these, he's actively trying to torture us now!"

Sirius reached over and popped his fingers back out, holding his wrist firmly and stating, "you need more sugar in your life Moony, and if I have to suffer through hearing this again so do you."

Remus gave him an exaggerated hurt look while Harry read out with a look of deep disgust.

Then the little golden pot danced with delight "hoppitty hoppitty hop!" on its tiny rosy toes! Wee Willykins had cured all the dollies of their poorly tum-tums, and the little pot was so happy that it filled up with sweeties for Wee Willykins and the dollies!

"But don't forget to brush your teethy-pegs!" cried the pot.

And Wee Willykins kissed and huggled the hoppitty pot and promised always to help the dollies and never to be an old grumpy-wumpkins again.

"Alright, you made your point!" James protested as he wondered what the best spell was to remove his tongue from the layer of sweeties he'd just been forced to ingest.

"It's over, just one bit left," Harry promised, smiling just slightly at the lot of them again messing around with each other like always, meeting his mums eyes and the two silently laughing at their behavior he hoped would never end.

Mrs. Bloxam's tale has met the same response from generations of wizarding children: uncontrollable retching, followed by an immediate demand to have the book taken from them and mashed into pulp.

"The proper response," Sirius agreed.

"Is that what you did to your Uncles copy?" Remus asked with honest hope.

"Oh no, I force fed it to his owl, who proceeded to try taking my nose off," Sirius shrugged. "Honestly I deserved that one, and then I had to repair the bloody thing with something called tape when my Uncle caught me. Bloody useless stuff, reparo charm would have fixed it in a second, and why's it invisible?"

"Keep going Harry, or we'll be here all year explaining this stuff," Lily managed around her continued chuckles.

"That bit was over," Harry told as he tried to pass it on while still smiling for once.

#The Life That Never Lived #Harry Potter #fanfiction #reading the books #Tales of Beedle the Bard #wizard and the hopping pot #adorable

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sakamakisaywhat · 4 years

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Headcanons for Shu, Reiji, Laito, Subaru, Azusa and Carla with a s/o who has a chronic skin disease?

SHU

- To be honest, he probably wouldn’t notice it at first - it’s not that Shu isn’t perceptive and he does pay attention to how you look, but unless it’s right in his face he would hardly give it a second thought - When the two of you first started dating, I can’t see it really factoring into his decision to go out with you one way or another - If you have to take medicine or put on cream to stop inflammations or flare ups, he wouldn’t be the best at reminding you but Shu would definitely try - “Did you forget to take your tablets again? You’re so troublesome... go and get them now or I’ll have to feed them to you myself.” - He might throw around the word ‘troublesome’ a lot but since Shu finds everyone and everything troublesome in some way, it’s unlikely having a chronic condition like this would bother him at all - Once Shu is serious about you, he tends to ignore such trivial things

REIJI

- Reiji would be surprised when he finds out that you have to manage a chronic skin disease, but he’d ultimately chalk it up to “one of those strange human afflictions” - While he might not be knowledgeable about your condition at first, he’d pore over books, archives, or any type of information about it to research the disease - Reiji naturally has an interest in science and medicine anyway, but the fact that by learning about the disease he’s also learning about you motivates him even further - He’d be very good at reminding you to take any medication - sometimes a little too good - “My dear, have you applied your cream yet? When managing this disease, it is best to establish a routine in order to effectively improve your condition. I in fact read an account by a physician the other day which recommended application of this poultice..” - You might have to remind him that you’ve been living with this all your life so you know how to manage it just fine, but you appreciate his efforts anyway

LAITO

- While Laito definitely notices looks and is very perceptive when it comes to unique features in people’s appearances, it’s very unlikely having a chronic skin disease would change his opinion of you or even cross his mind at all - He might ask about it just out of curiosity, but as long as you gave him a straightforward answer he wouldn’t probe any further - If you were ever ashamed about yourself or felt down because of how you looked, Laito would definitely notice though - He’d be the first to pick you up and reassure you that chronic skin conditions are not only very common but don’t diminish your looks at all - “You’re unique, Bitch-chan. That’s what I like about you, but it’s not really on my mind. I can think of lots of other things to focus on.” - When it comes to helping you manage it Laito would probably leave you to it, considering you understand it much better than him, but he would encourage you to take any treatment regularly so you feel happier

SUBARU

- Subaru straight up wouldn’t notice anything different about you at all - it would either have to be extremely obvious you had a skin disease or you’d have to point it out to him (he’s not stupid but he’s normally probably too flustered about the romance to think about much else) - He’d never admit it to you but if you told him about it Subaru would really try to research and understand it - While he might not really know what some of the books or websites are talking about, he’d give them a go just for the sake of understanding how you function - After forgetting to pick up your prescription one day, you’ll be surprised to find it sitting on your desk when you got home - “Uh. You mentioned you were worryin’ about bein’ able to get it ‘cause of school, so I- I picked it up for you. Don’t fuckin’ smile at me like that, it’s not funny!” - Ultimately it’s not really something that would cross his mind at all unless you bring it up in conversation

AZUSA

- Azusa wants to know everything about you from your head to your toes, so he can please you and be the best possible Adam - He’s very appreciative you chose him over anyone else so he’d make an effort to inquire about your condition and try to help you manage it in any way you wanted him to - Azusa would be aware that these things can impact your self-confidence, so he’d try his best to reassure you that he’s never once thought about your skin disease negatively - “I love you... Eve. So these things... don’t matter to... me. I have... my own marks... on my skin. It’s not the... same... but... you still like me. So why would... I find you... unattractive?” - Azusa would treat you gently and make sure to find out when you’re having issues with it flaring up, so he can’t possibly hurt you - You’ll have to tell him if you don’t want to be treated like glass, but you understand that he’s just trying his best to look after you

CARLA

- Carla would definitely notice that you have a chronic skin disease and equally would almost definitely ask about it, but he would never judge you - It’s impossible for him to forget that he has a chronic disease himself, in his case likely much more severe than yours, so as long as your skin condition isn’t life-threatening he wouldn’t think about it very much - The only way it might possibly affect anything is that if you told him it was hereditary, but in that case he’d just prepare the resources to look after your children should they have it too - This is one of the few times he’d be willing to take instruction from you about how to best manage something - Carla would encourage you to be confident about your body, whether you felt self-conscious of your condition or not - “Mortal, you are the future spouse of the ruler of the Founders. Your beauty is unparalleled. This ‘disease’, weak as it is, is hardly worth mentioning.”

#shu sakamaki #reiji sakamaki #laito sakamaki #subaru sakamaki #azusa mukami #carla tsukinami #headcanon #vampire03 #sakamakisaywhat

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mlpdestinyverse · 3 years

Photo

“One November Eve”

One stormy eve, when Dream Flow mysteriously doesn't show for their meet up, Skychaser heads to his friend's home to find out what's keeping her. What he discovers isn't quite what he expected.

Feat. Skychaser, Dreamaria Flow

Related Chapters: Little Monster, Newcomer, Impasse

~Destinyverse Archive~

Skychaser isn't usually one to fuss when it comes to Dream Flow's occasional tendency to arrive late to their hangouts.

He's long accepted it as an on-and-off habit of hers, oversleeping or losing track of time. It's not like they've ever been in a rush, so it's never truly bothered him. Besides, it's easy to imagine her getting caught up in a busy, tiring schedule as an Emotion Counselor.

The latest he can remember her ever arriving was about thirty minutes past their designated time, and even then she came to him apologizing profusely before insisting on treating him to make up for the tardiness. He can tell that she's since made a more conscious effort to be more punctual, despite his assurance that he really doesn't mind.

An hour and twenty-two minutes late...now that's just plain out of character.

It's nearing 6 PM now, and it won't be long before they'll have to officially reschedule their sauna day for another time. Sky is still sitting at a cafe table, tapping his hoof against the wooden surface, the vibrations causing his long empty cup of mint chocolate chip ice cream to shake.

He'd been looking forward to relaxing within the embrace of hot steam on a chilly autumn day. More so than that was his eagerness to behold Dream's first heavenly sauna experience, as a mare who apparently had never even known of their existence until a week ago. She had mirrored his excitement, giving him a date where she'd be completely free. But that's all quickly becoming rather trivial compared to his growing bewilderment.

'Did she go on a last-minute errand run?? What is going on?'

It's only when a large droplet of rain nearly jabs his eye that he knows that the fall thunderstorm Ponyville ordered for the sake of building atmosphere towards Nightmare Night has begun. And it's at that moment that Sky knows he has a time limit before the rain starts pouring. So with a frown, he swiftly makes his way to a new location...

By the time he's in front of the door to Dream's house, the boughs of leafless trees have begun groaning and Sky's thick mane might as well be mauling his face, thanks to the whipping winds. Honestly, if it wasn't for the sheer absurdity that was the concept of being "stood up" by Dream of all ponies, he would have thought to arrive sooner to check on his friend. But looking at the house, the windows are completely absent of any light, and that becomes even more prominent with the darkening grey sky above him as the sun dips away and the clouds prepare to-

-drench him. Just...all at once. A waterfall-like sheet of rain crashes onto him, and he hisses a curse as he instinctively tries for the doorknob, despite knowing it won't open.

Except it does, and Skychaser has to blink a few times at that.

'Guess she went out and...forgot to lock it behind her...?'

A flash of lightning and Sky all but scrambles inside and shuts the door before the accompanying boom of thunder can deafen him.

As he enters the threshold, and his eyes adjust to the brief lightning flash followed by the interior darkness, he almost swears a separate faint light catches the edge of his vision. But it's gone before he can fully acknowledge it, and it leaves his mind as soon as he winces at the booming thunderclap.

"Hokay then..." Sky mutters. He shrugs off his hoodie and hangs it on the nearby coat rack. Having visited Dream's house numerous times before, finding and flicking on the closest light switch isn't too difficult. The warm lighting reveals the large, decently furnished living room he's grown quite accustomed to, as a place to spend time with his friend as well as a safe space for a few of their counseling sessions together: television and couch set up to the left, first-floor bathroom to the right, her open kitchen towards the very back, next to the polished curving staircase... "Wait for Dreamers it is..."

At least, he hopes Dream isn't still trying to make it to their sauna day. Once she realizes he's not at their meeting spot, she'll either look for him at the Cutie Mark Sanctuary if only to frantically apologize like the sweet doof she is, or she'll make the better call and head back home in this weather.

Unless she's forgotten their plans entirely. Then well...at the very least, she'll absolutely return straight home and they'll figure it out from there.

'Unless...an emergency...?'

Sky vigorously shakes the worrisome thought out of his head, only to flinch and curse again when water droplets fly everywhere and cling to the nearby wall. This isn't the time to go into Anxious-Brother-Mode™ when he should be hunting down a towel unless he wants to create a puddle in the middle of Dream's living roo- oh, a puddle's already forming, goddammit.

He carefully maneuvers himself towards Dream's towel closet on the right-most wall, right beside her bathroom door. But he sighs and gives up midway on tip-toeing when he realizes he's leaving a trail of rainwater anyway, making a faster beeline for it. Without pause he yanks it open and pulls out a fluffy towel with cute little sea motifs, aggressively drying his cursed sponge-like mop of hair; the true perpetrator of the puddles...a symbol of freedom and majesty now fallen from grace. For shame.

He sighs with relief once he feels sufficiently...less wet, albeit his feathers are sticking in almost every direction and his inner pegasus shrieks at him to preen- which, speaking of, is it weird to preen in your friend's house when they're not there?

Shower Thoughts with Skychaser.

Sky lets the towel hang around his neck and grins to himself over his dumb mental joke- but upon closing the closet door fully, something he hadn't noticed before immediately greets him.

A single orange sticky note, attached to the door at eye level.

He's genuinely confused at first, but once his eyes flit over the words written on it in black marker, he near-instantly recalls the counseling session he'd shared with Dream not even a month ago. In this very living room, funnily enough:

"Sticky Note Affirmations" she had called it, suggesting it to him like many other forms of therapy they've given a go through the course of their friendship. He remembers her explaining it as a method of using positive affirmations in one's daily life, to "move the mind away from persistent negative thoughts" and "set in a more positive way of thinking".

"Positivity takes practice!" he can practically still hear the confidence in Dreamaria's voice from that day, her beaming face forming in his mind. "We may be our own worst critic, Sky, but we're also the one person in life who can be our most faithful supporter. So try cheering your future self on!"

It sounded a little silly at first, the idea of sticking notes around his room and expecting them to do anything. Dream Flow did say the results varied for everyone.

Now, Sky has a small collection of post-it notes that have given him just the slightest boost needed to help deviate that self-deprecating corner of his mind; more often than not, at least. Who knew that reading something as simple as "I Am Worthy" on his bedroom door every morning could make a difference in his outlook for the day? He sure didn't.

But maybe Dream being the source of the idea made her feel a little present within each of his notes, believing in him just as much as he was encouraging himself.

Dream specifically offered the idea of writing down kind compliments for himself. There were also reminders and encouragements for daily tasks, saved for the heavier days where such chores often felt impossible or pointless. Now one particular note near his comb encourages him to brush his mane each day because otherwise, he'll deal with knots that resemble a pile of tangled earbud cords - or worst...Astral Dusk's spikes - and risk shaving it all off in frustration (Monochrome would have a field day).

Anyway, that aside, the note on Dream's towel closet reminds him of that sort of encouragement:

"Because a hot shower organizes thoughts and helps warm the soul!" it motivates, in curvy writing that he definitely recognizes as Dream's.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Dreamaria would practice her own suggestions, maybe to test the effectiveness for herself; but at the same time, how effective could testing it be? In his friend's case it felt hilariously redundant, like a mere flashlight's beam merging in with an already blinding sunray of optimism. Or...something. He's not as poetic with words and comparisons as Eventide.

Point is, the living embodiment of positivity just setting up more positive inspiration for her "future self" is incredibly funny to him and wholesomely endearing.

Skychaser backs his way into the middle of her living room, bumping up near Dream's couch there, and gives the room a good squint - and to his delight, his eye catches the pastel colors of more sticky notes dotting the mare's kitchen.

Well, at least he has something to distract himself with while he waits on Dream Flow. And if there's anypony he'd love to read some encouraging wisdom from, it'd have to be the counselor herself.

So he starts at one end and slowly saunters through her kitchen space, from one note to the next, feeling his grin and amusement growing with each one.

"Because an uncluttered sink helps with an uncluttered mind!" a pink note above her sink declares, where a few glasses and plates have been left to sit.

"Use me! Because you've come so far as a cook, and I exist for a reason!" the green note on her spotless stovetop-oven all but shouts.

"Because your body deserves nourishment, and Uncle wants you to eat well. Don't forget to keep a full fridge!" one blue sticky note insists on her refrigerator. Skychaser slyly opens the freezer door to better gauge the sorts of things his friend prefers to indulge in, for the noble cause of future birthday bashes (he genuinely half expects a compartment full of ice cream). His eyebrows fly up when he sees it's empty besides a tray of ice cubes.

'She REALLY must have gone out for some serious grocery shopping, geez...'

Now that he thinks about it, it's curious, really. Because while Dream's session on the notes had been held a month ago, Skychaser had visited just a week before and he's certain these little reminders hadn't been present that day. But the folded corners and slight creases on the notes suggest that they aren't recent either...?

Huh. Weird.

Sky hears the rain audibly thrum harder on the roof. He glances at the door, then at the time on her microwave.

6:42. Still no Dreamaria.

Hooves clacking across the tiles, Skychaser turns to leave the kitchen. In an effort to set aside his uncertainty, he considers what distractions he could find on Dream's T.V. That is until he finds himself pausing by the kitchen island.

Skychaser now notices that amongst a clutter of unopened mail envelopes, a single letter has been left out. Were it not for the rather official-looking white and blue mailer with a broken gold wax seal, or the fancy thick yellow parchment of the letter itself, Skychaser would have overlooked it.

He fights with himself, eyes flicking back and forth between the rest of the living room and the strange letter just...laying there.

...his need for answers wins over. Because surely a small glimpse and the quickest skim just to understand the subject of such an out-of-place letter couldn't hurt. It just may be the very clue he's been seeking as to the whereabouts of his friend.

'An emergency', his mind supplies nervously again, the feeling intensifying when he picks out on the envelope's face that the mailing address is from Reinsford; Dreamaria's hometown.

'Yeah, that's not comforting...'

So sure enough, he sets his now-folded towel onto the counter and leans over the parchment, giving the sentences a quick once-over. He searches for names, keywords, the last line of the letter-

He stops.

He reads the last line again. Then a third time, his eyes widening with each reread.

'Hold the fuck on, am I-?'

Sky swoops the letter up into his wings. He squints harder, darting his orange irises back to the beginning. Because maybe context would confirm whether he's crazy or he just read what he thinks he just read.

"Dear Madam Dreamaria Flow,

I hope this package and its contents have found you in good health.

It has been a lengthy two years since your departure from our beloved coasts. Your absence has been profoundly felt by your fellow residents and myself, even to this very day.

While I would not dare to take up more of your time than necessary, I first wish to extend my deepest apologies for not reaching out to you sooner. Your uncle has shared a tale or two of your exploits in Ponyville, and though I am sure you have found success and a great sense of fulfillment in your new career - a hearty congratulations to you, may I add! - I have felt that a hefty debt was left unpaid the day you left this town.

It is only right that I follow through on my word. It took some time, but after vowing to properly reward you for your unforgettable deed, I am happy to announce that I have made great use of my authority to finally deliver:"

Halfway through the letter, the storm outside gives another bright flash of lightning, followed seconds later by a booming crack of thunder that almost shakes the air. A barely present corner of his mind registers something...slightly different about it; like a subtle sparking undercurrent of sound had joined in for just a second. But right now he's focused on this letter, too immersed in speed-reading the sentences to consider it as anything but a one-off:

"Enclosed is your very own Reinsford-sanctioned Certification of Arcane Excellence. Please do brandish this certificate with pride as a prior member of Reinsford's community. I believe such high credentials could prove useful and bode well if presented and proven to Princess Twilight Sparkle herself.

While losing someone as gifted and valuable as yourself thoroughly saddens us, we are quite pleased knowing our talented Dreamaria is still putting her skills to good use.

Remember that this town will always be your home. It has been far too long since we have last seen you. Never hesitate to visit, and if anything goes wrong, know that we will gladly welcome you back with open arms."

And then finally, he reaches that line again. Except he isn't sure if context has at all changed the amount of bewilderment and awe his discovery has brought him.

"Nonetheless, Reinsford will continue to miss its - official, as of this letter - dear Wizard, and its citizens whole-heartedly wish you well with your personal endeavors.

With gratitude, Mayor Bight"

A thunderclap of merciless lightning shatters the sky, and in that very instant, darkness falls around him.

The blackout startles Skychaser enough that he drops the letter and braces against the kitchen island with a soft yelp. He's thankful that the nearby streetlamp is managing to stream in just enough light through the windows to allow him the vaguest visual of his surroundings; shapes and desaturated colors and shadows, more than anything.

But now there is an eerie, deafening silence, with the background whirring of every appliance coming to a complete hush. The rain, the slightest shifts of his body, and his breath are suddenly much louder, almost reverberating through the room.

Whatever sense of confusion and wonder over Dream's letter has momentarily fizzled out, replaced by goosebumps and an immense sense of vulnerability. He feels small and uneasy - a single breathing body in an expanse of black and greys.

'Maybe I've uh...outstayed my welcome... If preening in your friend's empty house is weird, standing around for them in the darkness of their home may deserve a restraining order.'

He'll just have to table his questions and intrigue for another day, as exasperating as it is to have even fewer answers now than before.

For the sake of his boggled mind, he settles that Dream is out shopping. Or doing awesome-secret-wizard-shit, if this letter and her disappearance aren't just some strange, elaborate prank Dreamaria has set up just for him. Unlikely, yeah, but he's also learned that Dream Flow is pretty up there in terms of surprise factor.

Maybe he'll see enough faces on his way back to the Sanctuary to ask around about his friend. But before that, if he wants to even make that journey, he decides that a borrowed umbrella might be a good idea right about now. Or ooh, a cute, tiny raincoat he can drape over his head as he elegantly races through the streets before ducking underneath an awning and meeting his soulmate? Surely Dream had one or the other around somewhere.

The attempt to lighten his own mood somewhat works as he's able to blindly locate her letter, replace it on the counter, and urge himself forward through the low lit room. The air has been quick to drop temperature without its heating unit, only adding to the strangely oppressive atmosphere.

Thankfully the street light bounces off of the far wall - the one he had previously borrowed his towel from - preventing him from running face-first into it. If he's remembering right, and he traces the wall towards those curving stairs in the back corner...

The wall stops short. Tucked into the large alcove that follows, he finds his sought-after mystery door right near the foot of the stairs.

While aware of its existence, he admittedly has never seen the room's interior nor ever had a reason to check it out. He's only ever assumed it to be some sort of coat closet, so naturally, any form of raincoat or umbrella would surely be stored within. Most likely??

But as he steps up to the door, all too ready to prepare for his leave, he yet again is brought to a halt. He makes out a familiar small square shape in this shadowed corner of the house, attached to the door a little higher than the usual eye level.

'Oh. Even here?'

He almost chooses to ignore the sticky note with his priorities at hoof. But something about it draws his eye - and he realizes that, even in this lighting, he can faintly make out words. It's due to the writing itself, displaying neat and meticulous letters, as opposed to the other affirmations that were more hastily scrawled.

'"Because"..."you"...?'

Sky has to lean in until the bridge of his scrunched muzzle is just inches away from the note. His eyes have adjusted to the dark, so he's able to read the bleeding inky words:

"Because you'll prove them wrong."

.....

Skychaser allows himself a moment to give the note a good, long stare.

Maybe it's due to his current circumstances: the storm, the week of Nightmare Night, Dream's absence, standing alone inside a dark, deathly still building on a cold November eve. But the sharp change in tone from Dreamaria's previous notes definitely forces Sky to acknowledge just how unsettled he feels.

One step back and he's boring his visible eye into the closet door before him. That eye then falls to its silver door handle.

...this....is a closet that he just found that note on. Right?

Sky very quietly, very weakly laughs to himself. He moves to turn the handle before he can overthink it.

'Maybe this is where Dream keeps all the dead bodies.' he jests, pushing the door open a sliver.

It creaks under his hesitant grasp. With that crack, Sky notices a light source within, out of sight, in a room bigger than he honestly pictured; faint. Orange. ...pulsating?

BANG!

Sky releases an indecipherable shout right as the door in his grasp SLAMS back in place in one explosive movement. He stumbles backward but he doesn't get far, because in a whirlwind there are glowing blue lights flying around him in literal ribbons, erupting from the floor, grabbing him, coiling around him so rapidly that he doesn't get a chance to even unfurl his wings as he rears up, because now they're being tied to his back and his forelegs are bound up securely against his chest-

He's lifted, hoisted right off the ground and jostled about in the process of being turned. At this point he's stopped thrashing and has kept his eyes squeezed shut and his teeth painfully clenched. Upon the movements stopping, he cracks his eyes open to look down at himself.

Instead, his irises flash to his lower left, where the end of one ethereal ribbon is gradually creeping around his neck without actual contact: a silent threat. He can't control the pitifully strangled noise he lets out, desperately leaning his head as far away as possible, which isn't far at all.

'What the fuck, what the FUCK, I WAS FUCKING JOKING-'

He would be breaking down into hysterical laughter right about now if he wasn't so shaken. The only reason he hasn't entered a full-blown panic is that the ribbons have completely ceased their motions, and while tight, it's not enough to restrict his breathing. He's fine. He's okay.

Look at him. Those positive thinking exercises have been working...haha. ...coping with humor at a time like this probably isn't the healthiest, though, even if it's working to keep his sanity intact.

Maybe it's not fully hitting him. It all feels too unreal, like some realistic fever dream-

Violently swishing fabric rolls through his ears next, too pitched and harsh to be born from his imagination. Skychaser jolts, because in a single blink, the safe beams of the streetlight filtering in from each of the house's windows have been cruelly snuffed out. The curtains have all been pulled shut in one sweep. He's been left in true, absolute pitch darkness.

And then he sees it.

A set of white, glowing pinpricks of light, waiting in the shadows straight ahead.

Staring right back.

Watching him. Sky registers that this is real.

Body and throat seized up in terror, he doesn't even scream. He can't find his voice, only listening to his own labored breathing while those two glows eerily sway and grow closer. He catches the sound of slow, careful steps. Hoofclacks.

As his mind processes, the glowing orbs stop just outside of the light from his radiant restraints.

And they speak.

"...state your business."

The voice is low. Soft and husky, yet it carries in the quiet amongst a backdrop of rain. It's formal, frigid, and completely foreign to him.

Skychaser shivers.

"I-I..." he struggles out, his own voice hoarse but miraculously coherent despite his scrambled brain. "I was...l-looking-"

He snaps his mouth close when he hears a sharp inhale in front of him. It's followed by a much gentler, far more familiar tone.

"...Skychaser?"

Sky's eyes bug open, only for him to cringe away when a flash of light nearly blinds him. He blinks against it anyway, urging his pupils to focus in on-

Dream Flow.

The tip of her horn is illuminated with a small beacon of magical light - a beacon that closely resembles whatever the hell she's done to her pupils, filled at the centers with the very pinpricks of white that had shaken him previously.

The unicorn looks thoroughly dumbfounded. Wide-eyed, mouth open, head pulled back. When she seemingly confirms his identity for herself, her eyebrows knot even further.

"...you're...my intruder?" she slowly sounds out. "How did you...why are you here?"

Sky's remaining brain cell has long fizzled out by now, so he sputters at first before he exclaims back;

"Me?? I came here looking for you! You didn't show for our sauna meet! Where in Equestria have you been?!"

Cogs seem to turn in his friend's head for a few seconds before realization settles in.

"Oh." She murmurs, blinking owlishly at him. "That...yes. You're right. I...oh..."

More beats of silence pass. Sky shifts uncomfortably in the ribbons' grasp. Before he can even ask, the motion has Dream breaking out of her stupor. As if just realizing the state he's in, dismay flickers across her face. And yet she lets out a laugh, one he can only describe as stressed in this context.

"Oh Celestia, what a horrible...horrible misunderstanding!"

With a blue spark of her horn, Skychaser watches as the magical ribbons begin to shimmer and dissolve away, gently lowering him down as they do. He turns his head about at the rather pretty display, with sparkles left behind in the spell's wake before those dissolve in thin air too. Skychaser doesn't get to admire for long as he clumsily has to catch himself with his front hooves those final few inches to the floor.

He shoots her a perplexed look, but he doesn't think she sees it, because she's too busy aiming a secondary laugh at the floor. In his gut, he has the distinct impression that she doesn't actually find this humorous. Not with the way her shoulders have gone rigid.

"I am...so terribly sorry, Skychaser. I genuinely thought someone had broken into my house and...well, I was prepared for a confrontation!"

"I noticed!" he wheezes out, half-exasperated, half-jokingly. "You also look ready to shoot lasers out of your eyes, and I nearly peed myself because of it."

Dream winces, then squeezes her eyes and sets her horn sparking blue again. When she reopens them - thank God - her actual pupils have returned. The spectrum of colors in them are discernable again too - downcast, he discovers that the azure in her irises appears more pronounced. Or maybe it's the low lighting.

"They say intimidation leaves an impression," she quips, the corner of her mouth barely quirking up. She's still not looking at him. "Guess it worked, huh?"

Sky mouth pulls down into a deep frown, his gaze roaming over his friend. Dream's blue mane is unusually unkempt from what he's used to. The mare's form hasn't even moved an inch from its tight, almost closed off stance in the past minute or two - a significant contrast to the conversational cadence of her voice.

He doesn't think he's ever seen Dream so...physically withdrawn before. In a way, it was understandable in the aftermath of what's looking more and more like one very awkward, very startling mix-up. But it's also not like she hurt him.

"Hey, Dreamers, it's okay. You freaked me out, sure, but I'm WAY more relieved to see you. I was starting to think something serious happened."

Shortly afterward, Dream finally meets his eye, but only to offer a sad smile.

"I apologize for that! It seems I just..."

"Overslept?" Sky grins humorously, only to pause when Dream's expression dips into guilty. "Wait what?"

"I'd only meant to close my eyes for an hour or two at most-" she confesses, glancing up towards her stairs. "-and take a short rest before meeting up. But the murky weather must have lulled me." A chuckle bubbles out of her and she shakes her head. "I think my sleepy haze made me forget everything else once a 'threat' entered the picture. But that's no excuse. I won't let something this careless happen again, I promise."

Sky rubs his forehead. Not because he has a headache, but because the small puzzle pieces he now possesses are struggling to mash together. "So...you were actually upstairs? This whole time?"

Dream nods. "Yes, I woke up when..." Her eyes trail over towards the front door.

She goes quiet. Almost as soon as that answer fades out, another question begins. "....Sky, how did you get in anyway?"

"Your door was unlocked...?" he provides, letting the question in his tone voice his own confusion. "Which I thought was weird."

Dream answers with a short, disbelieving laugh. "Oh wowy! Seems I didn't lock it behind me when I got the mail today..." she breathes out a sigh. "I'm glad you got out of the storm, but I'll need to be more mindful."

Mail.

An opening presents itself to him. A way to find answers and ease tension, he hopes, as his buried intrigue and curiosity rises from the depths.

"Hey, don't sweat it! But I gotta say...that was a preeetty cool trick you did back there," A knowing grin spreads across his face, and he leans his head forward with a conspirational whisper. "Miss Wizard~"

Dreamaria doesn't respond right away. It takes her one steady beat before she slowly turns her head back towards him.

A blank stare greets him.

"...what?"

"You're a Wizard, Dreamy!" he chirps, bouncing between his hooves. "Congratulations! Even I couldn't believe it when I spotted your letter, but all that fancy-shmancy magic you did sure confirms it." He taps his hoof to his chin, humming playfully. "It sounds like you've had a bunch of snazzy spells up your sleeve for a while! Why'd you never-"

He's so lost in his giddy mental world of excitement and thrill that he almost misses the way Dream stiffens. Almost.

Because her smiles are gone now.

"You...read my letter."

It's less of a question and more a statement she's allowing to sink in. Caught off guard by her abrupt monotonous tone, he finds himself self-conscious in his reply.

"Yeah it was...lying on the counter, and I thought it could be a...clue...but um..."

With each word, Sky begins to recognize the breach of privacy he had committed and how weak of an excuse he really had to snoop on a clearly personal letter. Even if it felt justified at the time. It's his turn to wince guiltily. "Yeah no that...sounds pretty bad actually."

Dream doesn't react, gazing back vacantly in a way she's never done before. It makes him retract a hoof, an uncomfortable knot forming in his stomach. "...Dream?"

She inhales, almost painstakingly slow and deep. The breath is held for a few seconds longer.

Then, after an exhale that's just as prolonged, the smallest smile ghosts across her muzzle.

"I see. You were worried and it just kind of happened. Right? I'm the one who left it out and created this whole mess. So really, it's my own fault."

What? Sky insistently shakes his head. "No way, it's your house. I should've held off...I'm sorry."

Dream reaches out to touch his shoulder, smiling sweetly. "Apology accepted! What's done is done, eh~?"

Uncertainty lingers despite himself; to think he managed to elicit that response, out of Dream, which made it undeniably that much more nervewracking. Regardless, Skychaser wills himself to relax.

How Dream can consistently be that quick to forgive will remain out of his realm of understanding. Good thing, too...he didn't think he could handle impairing one of his most cherished friendships all because of his own ever-present idiocy.

"...can I ask...??"

Sky's a little dubious on where to put his footing down from here, but he trusts Dream enough to be forthright with him about where her lines lie. Thankfully the corners of the mare's eyes crinkle back cordially.

"Yes, Sky?" she invites.

"...does that mean you're like that one guy?" He leans back in, side-mumbling to her. "Star Whirl the Bearded or whatever-"

Dream laughs, loud and hearty. "OH, heavens no! Starswirl was an arcane prodigy. I'm nothing like that." Dream Flow turns away from Sky to walk towards her front door. Curious, Skychaser follows after her. "In fact, despite what that letter claims, I'm not a Wizard."

"What?" Sky laughs out, shooting the back of her head a doubtful raise of his brow. "But they gave you-"

She smiles back at him over her shoulder, serenely closing her eyes and shaking her head.

"I'm not a Wizard. Being a Wizard suggests that I'm some grand expert who plays with different fields of magic for a living! I'm just an Emotion Counselor who happens to have some extra prior study on the side." For some reason she begins to glide an absentminded hoof against the carved wood of the doorframe. "Reinsford legally naming me their pet Wizard doesn't change that."

...pet? "Now excuse me for a second!" Dream says, aiming her horn towards the entrance. "I really need to reset this before the mental buzzing gives me a headache."

Her horn illuminates - an odd mismatch of bright blue with tinges of her magic's usual orange - and Skychaser gapes as the unassuming decorative markings carved into the door's wooden frame begin to light up brightly, one by one, until it's covered with these glowing elaborate lines and shapes completely unfamiliar to the pegasus. Dream turns back to him, coaxing him with a nudge of her head towards the display.

"If you don't mind, Skychaser, could you please touch one of these runes? If I add in your magic signature, we won't have to worry about another silly mishap."

Sky has literally no idea what any of that means. But Dream looks composed and attentive, so he follows her instructions. This "rune" he touches brightens, casting a warm halo of white light around his hoof. Then it all fades away, dimming the room back to just Dreamaria's light spell.

He glimpses at the unicorn and takes in the unexpectedly soft way she's looking at him.

"...thank you for trusting me." She expresses with warmth, placing a hoof over her chest in some form of relief.

"I mean yeah, always, but that was...?"

Dream perks up. There's a playfulness to her demeanor as she casually shrugs.

"A magical alarm. Just in casies. You activated my runes when you walked in," she giggles. "That's what alerted me and woke me up! But now that I've included you into the formula, you're my trusted exception. No more false alarms if something like this manages to happen again."

Okay. Sky's mind is officially boggled.

"Wait, so you're over here trying to convince me that you're NOT a Wizard-" He gestures incredulously at the door. "But you can do crazy shit like that?!"

Her ears twitch back, enough to catch his attention. Just like that, she's back to averting her gaze.

"Ah...this isn't as complicated as it looks, actually!" Dream defends cheerfully, strain returning to the smile she's wearing. "The initial set up was more tedious if anything. But I appreciate the compliment!"

With that, she strides away from the front door and back into the house, presumably towards her kitchen. However, her attitude regarding the subject bugs him. It's not like he knows much about unicorn history and titles and whatnot, but still...

"I thought being called a Wizard would be like...the highest honor for a unicorn or something." He scratches his head, a little embarrassed over his own lack of knowledge. "So I guess I'm not getting why you're..."

"Being called a wizard is a compliment to a unicorn's abilities." Dream supplies for him, slowing her gait to a halt. She turns her head without facing him, choosing to speak into the air instead. "Being named a Wizard is different...just something silly they began labeling me one day." More jovial laughter shakes her shoulders. "It was a little much! So Ponyville became my home of choice."

Despite her light-hearted, almost whimsical tone, Sky's ability to read body language doesn't fail him. He sees tension retake her frame.

"So you don't want to be one." Sky notes with a frown, eyebrows pulled back. Hooves clacking against the hardwood floor, he stops just beside her to brush a soothing wing against her shoulder; something he realizes he's never had to do, because comfort has only ever been given the other way around. "Too much pressure?" He prompts quietly.

Dream Flow is staring off, a distant look on her face. There's a slight shift to her jaw.

"I...don't have time to..."

She's deep in thought. Contemplative. Choosing her words carefully as she lowers her head to one side.

"...humor their fantasy of me."

A tense silence follows, along with a creeping feeling of personal familiarity. Sky tries to work a response through his mind, but he doesn't get enough time to when Dream's gently pushing his wing away and beaming up at him. "But never mind that. This weather must be doing things to me. It's not like me to put a damper on the mood! I've never been the biggest fan of rain."

"It's not a damper..." Sky tries, because really, when has Dream ever opened up to him like this? It's never even crossed his mind that she even had things to open up about, as stupid as that was.

But it's clear to him that Dream's finished, with the way she holds up a hoof and how the curve of her lips eases. "I wouldn't want anypony getting the wrong idea about me here either, actually. So I hope we can keep this between us? No more ‘Dream the Magical Wizard'?"

Dream drops her pitch a few decimals just to exaggerate the title, and it's so out of the blue that it wins her a short laugh from him. "Of course." Sky answers without hesitation. If she's shared all she's willing to, enough to return to her usual self, he won't push it. That's how she's always been when it came to him, after all. "You're just 'Dreamers the Dork" to me."

A grin breaks across Dream's face at that. "I like that better, actually."

"Ooooh no, don't say that, or else I'll start greeting you like that. Everywhere we go."

Dream giggles and continues her trek to the kitchen with Sky in tow. He now sees that she's heading towards that little area directly beneath her stairway; a side room to her kitchen used for her laundry appliances.

...memory swears that the folding doors to this room were closed earlier.

"Okay, let's fix this..." she hums and steps into the crowded space, leaving Sky standing at the threshold. He never identified it until now, writing it off as some random metallic plate on the back wall, but Dream Flow snaps it open and reveals it to be a door to a breaker box.

Confused, he's about to stop what should've been a futile attempt at bringing back power, but just like that, Dream flicks the top-most switch and the house comes back to life around him. Light refills the room, the microwave lets out a beep of relief, and Sky meanwhile is whipping his head back and forth between the main room and Dream herself.

"Wait, I thought the storm took out the power, how did you??"

"Oh, no." Dream grins sheepishly, gesturing towards the circuit breaker behind her. "That was all me."

Oh, how the surprises never cease with her. When did she even get downstairs to pull this stunt on him?

Well, she could teleport. But even that made noise. How he never heard her even once is-

Oh. Thunder.

"This was...one elaborate plan, Dream."

"That's true. But when you've never lived alone before, you sort of...end up a little paranoid." Dream rubs her foreleg shyly. "I saw lights on downstairs, sensed someone I couldn't even see walking around, and had no clue what they wanted. Naturally I assumed a break-in, so I took the necessary precautions to keep safe and take action."

If Sky didn't feel bad earlier, he's certainly feeling it now.

"Damn...didn't mean to scare ya, sis."

"That goes for two of us..." Dream Flow sighs dramatically. "Causing fear in you...I'd never wish for that again."

"Hey, I'm just glad it wasn't anything paranormal!" Sky exclaims, backing up to let Dream join him in the actual kitchen. When she does, though, she turns her head towards her appliances.

"...oh. Well this is embarrassing." She says, looking straight at one of her sticky notes. "These were meant to be private, but wow does this explain why my 'intruder' was so entertained by my kitchen."

Skychaser snickers. "Hey, I for one appreciated your wise words. I think it's cute that you're messing around with affirmations yourself."

Speaking of...that reminds him.

"I was wondering, Dream," Sky motions his head back towards the very space their face-off had played out. "What's that room by the stairs? I thought it was a coat closet, but..."

He trails off, wondering if Dream will catch on.

"Oh, that? That's just my private study! I've stored a bunch of very personal memories from Reinsford in there." She smiles. "I take it you read my note. It's basically a little reminder for myself to keep moving forward."

Ah. Move on from a town of expectations? That made enough sense to him. And he sure was glad all of the wild threads tonight were finally ending with answers.

"And like everything else, I can only guess that creepy orange glow was you too?" he teases. "I only got a glimpse, but it definitely was a distraction before everything broke loose."

Dream doesn't say anything at first, as if waiting for him to continue or deliver some punch line. When he doesn't elaborate she gives him an inquiring eyebrow raise and a tilt of her head. "Wait, what glow?"

Sky stops. Just in case, he searches Dream's face, but she looks sincerely clueless.

"The...one inside the study?" He provides, hoping for any sign of recognition. "Something was glowing, but it was faint and I couldn't see anything."

Dream looks taken aback. Eyes darting sharply towards the door in question, she gives it one disbelieving look.

"'Glowing'...?" she whispers breathily, and the goosebumps that had long faded away are now returning to Skychaser's pelt. He blanches.

"Oh Gods it wasn't you..." Sky tugs at his hair and makes some sort of makeshift curtain to hide half of his face behind. "Oh Gods, what was that then?!"

Dream's multi-colored orbs snap back to him. "A-ah! Well-" her voice carries a slight tremor, one she catches and visibly swallows down (as if that'll hide how she's just as freaked out as he is, she's not fooling him). Then she laughs it off, giving him a playful grin. "It's probably not ghosts?"

"Probably?!"

"It's more likely some old runic project of mine! Responding to the electrical energy in the storm." She waves her hoof towards the ceiling. On cue, a rumble of thunder reaches them. "Elemental conversion and all!"

"Lady, I still don't get your magic talk, but if you say so..." He heaves out a breath. "Anything but ghosts...or dead bodies."

Dream gives him a quizzical look at that last comment, but apparently decides against asking. "Well hey! You know what'll lighten the mood?" Dream claps her hooves together, eyes glittering now. "The storm won't stop for another hour or two. So it's time for me to begin making it up to you, starting with a movie night! I still have popcorn in the cupboard and plenty of soda~"

Sky squints at her from behind his mane-wall.

"...'Dogs Don't Dance'?"

"A classic." Dream nods sagely.

"And you'll restock your dang empty freezer first thing?"

"Whoops...don't worry! I'll stop slacking and do that tomorrow~"

Skychaser carries himself to the DVD storage shelf her television sits on. It's thankfully on the literal opposite side of the room from Dream's private study, a place he's sure he'll now associate with tension and spooks after the events of the day. Keeping away is proobably for the best, especially right now. Because reassured or not, the pegasus doesn't think he'll be completely shaking off his jitters tonight. A scary movie would probably do him in at this point.

Dream must be experiencing something similar, because after tapping the popcorn setting on her microwave, he sees her lean against the counter and restlessly gaze off towards that very door behind him. Warding off any surprise demons with her magic stare, he hopes.

But enough jokes. He leaves Dream to it, turning his full undivided attention on the vital task of sifting through DVD cases and finding his favorite comfort movie of jiving animated dogs. They both probably need it.

_________________________________________________________ This...this is a dense chapter and I'm kind of living.

I'm so curious to know what theories and thoughts people have drawn from it, so don’t be afraid to hyper-analyze. Nothing brings me greater joy... I recently fell in love with a few different writing styles and decided to play around with it myself here! I had a lot of fun with it, HEHEH. These probably constitute a whole separate lore upload, but for now, below will be a list of headcanons on Wizards in Destinyverse! For those interested!

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

Wizard/Sorcerer/Sorceress are all synonymous and are used based on preference. “Wizard” is the go-to gender-neutral term of the three.

The title of “Wizard” has altered throughout time. In pre-Equestrian days, when the Unicorns were all competing to understand magic and develop their power and prestige, the original Unicorn Royal Family were quick to employ the most powerful and innovative mages as advisors. These were the first Wizards - they were gifted high societal status and became the first nobles, whose wealthy descendants still live in the uppercrust of Canterlot to this day.

Thereafter, Wizardry became a profession that certified one’s expertise and allowed a unicorn to work alongside the most prestigious spellcasters and researchers (sometimes working for the crown, but not always). Aspiring Wizards then only earned their own title if they were lucky enough to have their talents acknowledged by the royal family (in the special case of the mighty prodigy Starswirl himself), or by the authority of an existing Wizard (ie. the sorcerer Clover the Clever, first student of Starswirl the Bearded).

After the three pony tribes integrated into one society (and the Unicorn Royal Family abdicated for the reign of Celestia and Luna), unicorns stepped up in villages all across Equestria to offer magical consultation and arcane services to their fellow ponies. From time to time, an especially studied specialist with a wide range of knowledge would prove their skill or accomplish an incredible feat; thus began the practice of local governments certifying their very own Village Wizard for townsfolk to go to for any magical needs. Not all Village Wizards dedicated themselves to one singular town; in fact, it was considered an honor for a village’s Wizard to proudly represent their town and aid others across Equestria.

The decline of spellcrafting and spellcasting over the centuries has led to Wizards being few and far between. The desire to pass down arcane knowledge still exists, as seen with Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns; so these days, only those with a thirst for knowledge (or even rarer, the desire to pursue arcane advancement) study magic. Even fewer who graduate Celestia's school have gone on to become Wizards, either becoming professors at the princess' school or private tutors of upper-class Canterlot.

The modern Wizard is now defined as a certified practitioner of multiple fields of magic who is consulted for arcane services and/or researches for the sake of arcane advancement. Famous present day Wizards include!

Mage Meadowbrook and Mistmane (both once designated sorceresses of their respective villages). Meadowbrook was the very first non-unicorn to become a mage, and then named Sorceress for her potion-making and item-enchantments.

Starlight Glimmer (sorceress; professor at Twilight’s School of Friendship and occasional aid for Uni-Tech)

Sunset Shimmer (sorceress; royal scientist; founder of Uni-Tech who works for societal advancements in magitech)

Sunburst escapes the definition by a thin hair, due to not being an actual spellcaster or crafter. But he is a valuable magic advisor with his keen mind, and a proud member of Uni-Tech.

#mlp #mlp art #mlp oc #My Little Pony #Skychaser #Dreamaria Flow #destinyverse #story

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gruviafan-forever · 4 years

Text

HIS QUEEN

PART:- I

A/N: Main pairing Gruvia and Nalu. Minor pairing Jerza and Gale.

In a far away land, there was a kingdom of Ice ruled by the Fullbusters for generations, currently being ruled by King Silver Fullbuster and his queen Mika Fullbuster.

Kingdom of Ice were neighbours to the Kingdom of Celestial which was ruled by the Heartfilias for generations, currently ruled by King Jude and his queen Layla Heartfilia.

Another neighbour was the Kingdom of Scarlet Blossom which was ruled by the Belserions for generations, ruled by their widowed Queen Irene Belserion.

These three kingdoms were allies and the rulers shared a great bond amongst themselves, both with respect to their business and political endeavors and personally, all three of them were good friends whom they have known from childhood.

These three kingdoms are forces to be reckoned with as they were prosperous and had an army of strong men and strategists who would predict the outcome of war which was always positive to them.

And that's why, other kingdoms feared this ally and would usually avoid war against them.

It had been 20 years since the current rulers ascended the throne. But now time has come to make way for future rulers to take charge.

"So Lucy, Was uncle finally convinced?" Erza Fernandez, daughter of Queen Irene Belserion who is to married the commander general of her mother's army, Jellal Fernandez with the blessing of her mother, asked the Heartfilia princess.

"Papa is almost convinced that Natsu would make a good husband and future king. I'm really grateful to Gray and Juvia if it weren't for them this wouldn't have been possible."

Lucy smiled genuinely and fondly remembered Juvia's words from two years ago.

"Lucy-san, I will wait till yours and Natsu-San's love issues get sorted out until then let Gray-sama continue being your fiance."

"Yeah! I'm sure both of them would be happy to hear this good news. Come let's go to Kingdom of Ice to share this news to your Natsu and Gray." Erza exclaimed happily.

"What? You are coming with us?" Levy Redfox, Lucy's personal maid and her best friend asked the Belserion princess.

"Yes!! It's been a while since I saw them especially…" Erza stopped as soon as her mother entered the guest room.

"Good Afternoon, your highness" Levy bowed down in respect.

"Hello Aunty" Lucy stood up and bowed down.

"Hello mother, is something the matter?" Erza asked.

"Good afternoon girls, did I interrupt your talks. Oh anyways!! Lucy dear, congratulations finally your dad has agreed for your marriage with that pinky boy.

And you know what, just now, I received his call and he informed me of this happy news. So as soon as your return to your kingdom, wedding preparations will commence. Congratulations dear."

Irene hugged Lucy and patted her back.

"I can't believe papa agreed wholeheartedly. When I left our palace two days back, he said he would think about it but he didn't give consent yet but I knew he would eventually. But I never thought this would happen this soon." Lucy said with a smile which she couldn't contain.

"He and Layla wanted to surprise you, that's why they didn't tell you when you left. Okay girls, enjoy your stay and once again, congratulations Lucy dear." Irene added and left the guest room.

The girls squealed in delight and had their group hug.

"Finally, ten years of a struggling love life has come to a happy end. Now, Lucy will become Lucy Dragneel." Levy exclaimed and congratulated her friends.

Lucy, Erza and Gray were childhood friends who did their schooling together in Kingdom of Celestial in their prestigious academy "Fairy Tail" which was run by a wise old man, Makarov Dreyar who taught them every lesson pertaining to changing life and kingdom.

He mainly taught them about family and it doesn't require blood to form bonds with someone. And everyone should be treated equally.

Even though, Jude and Irene dismissed that kind of knowledge and thoughts and were ready to stop the schooling.

It was Silver and Mika who convinced their friends and said that the old man was doing a perfect job of raising the future rulers in the correct path which the others reluctantly agreed to at the end.

Fairy Tail academy is the place where everyone students were seen in the same light. That academy is the place where Lucy met Levy McGarden, Gajeel Redfox and Jellal Fernandez and also Natsu for the first time.

Jellal, Levy, Gajeel and Natsu Dragneel, were the orphan residents of Celestial Kingdom. Natsu's personality was something Lucy hadn't ever come across.

He was always hyper, excited, funny and a very friendly person. He quickly gelled up with her group except Gray, as their personality was totally opposite.

But with the course of time, even they became best of friends. Natsu shared a sisterly bond with Erza which even she felt the same.

But the bond he shared with Lucy was totally different, from best friends they became lovers.

At age of 17, Natsu confessed his feelings which he had bottled up since he first met Lucy and to his surprise, even Lucy felt the same and accepted his love wholeheartedly.

Since then, they have remained together and were ready to face any struggle in their path until they had King Jude and Queen Layla's approval.

But what came as a struggle in their path was a wedding proposal sent to Lucy's dad from Kingdom of Ice from Gray's father which the former agreed and wanted it to happen as soon as their children graduated from the academy.

When Lucy confronted Gray along with Natsu and other friends, all Gray said was he wasn't aware of this arrangement nor was he informed about this prior.

"See Lucy, I'm not heartless to snatch you away from Natsu. I know how much you guys love each other. Natsu, don't you remember how I encouraged you to confess your feelings to Lucy and don't feel that damn inferiority complex. Now you both are accusing me?"

Lucy still remembered how their accusations had hurt Gray which led him to not talk to any of them for a week.

But after a week, when Lucy and Natsu apologised to him which he accepted and finally revealed a thing which he had been hiding for a long time,

"I'm in love with someone which I can't disclose now. But don't worry Lucy, I will call off this wedding. We still have a year left before we graduate. So be cool and I support you both."

"Lucy…..Lucy…." Levy was shaking her best friend. That's when Lucy regained her composure and smiled sheepishly at them.

"Don't go drifting away in your dreams. Now you have a huge responsibility of apologising to Gray's parents officially. I'm sure uncle must have informed them already about the wedding getting called off. But I think you should personally go and meet them. What do you say?" Erza asked as she poured the tea into her cup.

"Even I feel the same. Tomorrow morning let's leave to the Kingdom of Ice." Lucy added.

MEANWHILE

"So these six years of engagement comes to an unsatisfactory ditch, huh!! That's what you are trying to say Jude." Silver sounded harshly.

"Honey, please cool down. Don't sound this harsh to our friend." Mika tried to console her husband.

"Okay! Fine, now at least you tried to inform me that's cool. Don't worry, I'm not angry at Lucy-chan for not marrying my son.

I see her as my daughter and at the end of the day, it's her decision as she's the one who's going to lead that life.

Fine!! Don't worry we will surely come for the ceremony and if you know any alliance for my son, do inform me. He's soon going to 24 and still unmarried by this age, I already had him. Okay bye." Silver kept the lacrima away and sighed.

"Honey!! I don't think we need to search for another alliance. I feel Gray is already seeing someone but I don't know who it is." Mika said as she sat next to her husband.

"Who could be that? I should have listened to him when he said at first that he was not interested in marrying Lucy-chan.

But I believed that he was okay with it as he agreed to marry her afterwards.

But should have known that wasn't the thing when he made trivial excuses to postpone the wedding.

Now look, he's the one now who is in the losing end. Whoever that girl is, I'm ready to get him married off if he wholeheartedly loves her." Silver said as he hugged his wife to make himself feel at ease.

"What if she's an ordinary person, someone without any background as such?" Mika questioned him.

"I don't believe in this high status crap. I'm not telling this because of Lucy-chan. The reason I felt she would be a good bride for Gray is because we have known her since her birth.

But Gray nor Lucy-chan felt that for one another. Now that's why, she chose Natsu who makes her happy and smiles in the way she wants.

If even our Gray has someone like that I will also choose the same path which Jude and Layla has chosen for their daughter. Dear, go speak to him and know the answer. And before that send those letters to the mail guard." Silver pointed at the table.

After breaking from the hug, Mika went near the table and took the letters. She checked them and took one out of it.

"We wrote letters to her every month for the past one and half years but she didn't even bother to write us back. Is she alright? Did we make a mistake by sending her to Bosco on her accord?" Mika asked out of concern.

Silver could clearly see worries wash over her face. "I'm sure Juvia-chan's alright. Because my heart says so. Don't worry, I have a hunch that we might meet her soon."

Gray, who was passing by his parent's bedroom, had heard all the things the couple had spoken about.

Once he reached his room where he saw Natsu Dragneel, his main bodyguard laying around eating a packet of chips. Gray groaned and scolded him, "Idiot, what are you doing littering my bed?"

"Ice-princess!! Why are you shouting? Geez, I was just eating chips."

Natsu yelled back and now both had their head smacked against each other and began to brawl by pulling each other's hairs.

Even if Gray was practically Natsu's boss, both were being friendly because they considered each other as their best friend.

It was Gray's idea to appoint Natsu as his main bodyguard after graduation so that Natsu could learn the life of royalty and prepare for his future life.

"Flame-brain, you could have told me that your wedding got fixed." Gray said and gave him another punch.

"Wow!! Wait who told you that? Luce told me yesterday that her dad has almost agreed but not yet still. But now you are saying something different. Is it true?" Natsu asked out of surprise which eyes sparkling and a big goofy smile on his face.

Seeing him Gray smiled and nodded in agreement, "Yes, your soon-to-be father-in -law has agreed. Looks like Lucy will inform you soon now." He smirked.

Natsu looked at Gray and hugged him which startled the former, "Thank you Gray. If it weren't for yours and Juvia's help, it wouldn't have been possible. Thanks man. Me and Luce are really grateful for your help. And sorry because of us you couldn't be with your…."

Before Natsu could finish, he stopped seeing the Queen mother and King. He soon broke the hug and bowed down to greet them..

"Good Afternoon, your highness."

"Mom, Dad... what do you want?" Gray asked as he folded his arms.

"So dear, it was your doing that now Jude has accepted your friend to wed his daughter, huh?" Mika asked as she raised her eyebrow.

"What are you talking about? I don't know anything?" Gray laughed sheepishly and tried to change the topic.

"Oh we heard your friend's speech, my son. What did you do to convince Jude?" Silver asked as he sat down on the couch opposite to the bed with his wife.

Natsu, who was about to leave the room, was stopped by Silver and told him to stay.

"Firstly, I made Natsu as my bodyguard which you agreed after seeing his talents and skill.

Secondly, I taught him some manners regarding the royal life which he's still learning.

Thirdly, I sent him to Lucy's dad for a year when someone sent a threatening letter to uncle Jude stating that Lucy would be kidnapped which was sent by Erza by the way.

Finally, I didn't call off this wedding for these six years since if we called off then Lucy's dad would have brought another alliance for her.

So that's why, every now and then, I made excuses to get married without breaking down the engagement while Lucy tried from her side to convince her dad about Natsu and their love for one another which she succeeded at the end."

Gray at last revealed the whole plan to his parents and looked at them expecting a bunch of scolding but was shocked to see his parents smiling and especially his mom tearing up.

Gray soon went near her and hugged her, "Mom, I'm sorry if I made a mistake. I thought I was helping my friends this way. I know I shouldn't have led you guys on this matter. I'm extremely sorry for making you guys disappointed."

Mika patted her son's back, "Dear, you are truly a gentleman. I'm proud that we have raised a son who is helpful and selfless. Don't apologise."

"So Gray, are you seeing someone? If yes, then share it with us. We will get you married to your dream girl." Silver asked for which Gray remained silent.

"And what was that you guys were talking about Juvia's help?" Mika questioned the boys whose faces became pale as the name was uttered by the queen.

#gruvia #nalu #fairy tail gray #gray fullbuster #fairy tail erza #fairy tail jellal #fairy tail lucy #fairy tail juvia #fairy tail natsu #fairy tail levy #fairy tail gajeel #gale #jerza #gray x juvia #natsu x lucy

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chara-afton · 3 years

Text

Unordinary Family [7]

Jay couldn’t breath, one of those monsters is here? How many are there? Questions swirled in his head and made his lunges throb in pain.

Lolita was panicking “Jay? Are you alright? Daddy?” Her voice was high and she couldn’t stay still as she rushed all over the room, struggling to think of something to help Jay.

“Calm down, she won’t bother you” Snapped Jom loudly forcing everyone to look at him “She won’t come for you, she most likely doesn’t care, but if you want, we can ask her to talk to you?” Jom suggested.

Jay’s breath hitched as his brain focused on that, here? Why here? But then again, he’s never actually...talked to one. Should he? It’d be the dumbest thing he’d have done by far.

“I….sure, I can meet this white lady...chick” Jay breathes hard, trying to focus.

“She’s called The Moon Maiden” Jom quietly corrects, unsure if this was something he should say or not.

Jay chuckles and ends up laughing loudly, it seems so funny in the grand scheme of things, his world is beginning to crumble away and he’s corrected on her name.

Jom slowly gets down from his chair “Are you sure you want to meet her?” he asks softly.

Jay sighed, oh he’s certain he’s going to be killed or worse “Yeah, sure, why not?” He grumbled softly.

Jom softly nods his head and ducks out of the house, and Jay wonders how they contact her and how close she might be, does she use cell phones?

The time seemed to pass by too fast and too slowly, he couldn’t wait for it to be over with and he never wanted her to come.

But, too soon and not soon enough, the door opened, revealing Jom and a tall woman, a little shorter than the door frame with no face but she was certainly like the moon, glowing white skin and long black hair that seemed to mimic the night sky, but the oddest thing was the indian like clothes and headdress on her.

Jom softly tugged her into the building by her hand “She’s here Jay” he said.

Jay stares at her, wide eyes, but the static that followed him with that other being was thankfully clear from his mind as he gazed at her.

She tilted her head at him “Hello Jay” she says, her voice seeming to have come from somewhere inside of Jay's mind.

Jay swallowed hard and nods back “um….sup….moon lady” he said nervously.

She chuckled and slowly sat down “Jom here told me that you wish to speak to me”

Jay blinked “well….I met a….someone else…..like you” each word felt hard in his throat, filled with fear.

She stared at him for a moment before carefully asking “Would you be alright if i read your memories? There’s quite a few of us, and if I saw them, I would know who you’re talking about”

Jay nodded numbly, certain he was digging an even deeper hole for himself with his life or mental wellbeing.

She brushed her fingers gently over his forehead and an image of the Operator popped up in his mind, clearer than what he remembered before she pulled back her hands and the image faded to the back of his mind, she huffed annoyed and fear spiked through Jay.

“He is called The Operator, he’s a new blood, he’s trying to claim all of America for his own, but clearly he has to go against me and The Slenderman” she rolled her head that gave Jay the feeling that she was rolling her eyes.

Jay blinked owlishly “Who….is the Slenderman?” he mumbled softly, feeling like his world was breaking apart in this strange conversation with another being of the Operator.

“A slenderbeing who controls most of America, you’d know if he was the one who was playing with you” She explained.

Jay blinked and glared a little “What do you mean by playing?” he hissed at her, voice raising in anger.

“I mean the Operator was playing with you and your friends, he’s much weaker than Slenderman or myself, not even a full thousand years old, barely a couple hundred years old.”

Jay blinked, silent tears running down his face “our lives were ruined by….some brat?!” he ground out weakly, she doesn’t respond to that.

“Would you like it if i erased your memories of this? Of him?” She asked softly.

Jay breaths out softly “What’s the catch?” he asks curiously.

“You won’t be able to remember these kids either” she says, Lolita gasped and looked between Jay and Moon Maiden with wide and watery eyes, torn with wanting Jay happy and wanting him here with her being her dad.

Jay sighs softly “I...would love to forget everything, but i’m going to have to turn down that offer, i can’t forget about these kids, i’m sorry” he mumbles softly, gently hugging back Jom and Lolita who hugged him tightly.

“Then, why not go back to the city and live a normal life with them?” She asked.

Jay looked back up at her, confusion and surprise “But, they don’t even have birth certificates or Social numbers”

She laughed “a trivial matter, i can fix that, however, if i do, Slenderman and the Operator both might be aware of you, granted it seems you’re gathering a strong little family, so I think you’ll be safe, but I do suggest staying here for three months, and then leaving”

Jay squints at her “Why for three months? Why not now? Or when I’m fully healed”

“Because, something will happen then and you’ll find a new member to your family, and they’ll relay on you more so than the others”

Jay leaned back against his pillows as he scrunched up his face “can you see the future or something?”

She laughs “Or something, yeah, but please do follow what I said, or else a little baby will suffer” she says gently.

Jom glanced at her, squinting, it’s like she said it like that so that Jay would feel guilty if he didn’t stay.

Jay groans “Fine, I’ll stay” he grumbled out angrily.

She stands up and tilts her head at him “It was a treat talking to you Jay, see you much later” she says as she turns to the door and vanishes, just one moment she was there, and the next she was gone.

Jay sighs tiredly and lays down on the bed as all of the kids clamber over to snuggle with him, he’s got a lot to think about, and maybe some phone calls if he remembers their phone numbers.

#Jay Merrick #Lolita Wetiko #Bran Wetiko #Jom Faeyri #The Moon Maiden #Creepypasta #Slenderman #alpha beta omega #Soulmates #Family

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undead-notunreasonable · 4 years

Text

Happy Draco-O-Ween || Part 19 of 31 ||

"Please, you must tell me more about these airplanes you saw, I'm completely fascinated by them!" Vlad tepes called out to Dracula from his seat. A gentle snipping sound could be heard within the room, filling the silence with its slashing sounds. A hand came to the base of Vlads skull, forcing his head downward. Another snip.

Count Dracula walked toward the mirror in his living room, carrying a cup of blood as he watched his former lover having his 500 year old locks being cut off by a professional stylist. While he admired it at the time, it was much better that he adhered to the modern age of fashion & haircuts. His face were warm with admiration as he gazed at the man before him, enjoying the way he looked with his new transformation. The cut were showing of the angular jaw that Draculas fingers had once traced in the dark privacy of a bedroom. "Later, I'm sure we don't want to bore our employee with something as trivial as modern technology." He gave a half laugh, coming across as sincere.

But the hair dresser, a slim thing in torn acid wash jeans, a band tee, ginger bowl cut, and a nose ring, merely flashed a weak smile at his clients, focusing more on the task at hand. Truth was, he wasn't really ever listening to any of his clients, they were just meaningless conversations to pass the time to make customers feel more comfortable rather than sit in an awkward silence for 20 minutes to an hour. That's not to say that he wouldn't listen at all. Sometimes he would hone in on someone's conversation due to there being juicy gossip or a scandalous affair. Most of his clients were rich folks, they always had something to spread, be it money, words, or legs. This client though nothing really major, just a rich man helping a friend back on their feet. He wanted a haircut that was distinguished but young. A simple short back & sides, with a little more on the top to play with. Both vampires saw their revolting rotting corpses within the mirror, saw how old their bodies really were. That didn't matter to them right now, they could see each other just how they were when they were alive.

The hairdresser couldn't see that though, he just saw two middle aged men who seemed to have a few feelings lingering between them. He wondered if they knew that or whether it was some weird older generation thing where they still saw it as shameful thing to feel. "Head up please." He commanded, beginning to add the final touches of product to give the longer areas more of a waves texture.

Vlad looked up into the mirror, still the same rotting corpse but with a shiny new hairstyle and a humans fingers wobbling it about in shape. Humans clearly made more effort with their appearance these days. "What do you think?" His eyes met Dracula's within the mirror.

Count Dracula walked across to the other, perching himself on the edge of a table so that he came face to face with him. Longer fingers stretched out to hold the man's chin, all eyes on him. "I see someone as beautiful as the day I met him." His eyes turned gooey as he leaned toward him, pressing a kiss to his lips.

Oh, they are lovers, thats cute thought the hairdresser. It was nice to see an older generation of gay couples, being free to be who they are. Though he half wished the man would really give criticism on the cut but he supposed kind words to a lover meant he'd done a good job.

"Let me just check the back for you." He whispered down to Vlad, rising to his feet once more to join the hair dresser at the back of the seat. "Here, hold this." He instructed for the slim man to take his now empty cup. The red haired man held the cup against his stomach, letting his client observe his work. Draculas fingers lightly tugged at the small few strands that rest on Vlads neck. He gave a little nod in recognition, then reached for the scissors that rest on hairdressers table. He snipped off the tiniest of strands, and stood straight, meeting the hairdressers gaze in the mirror. "There. My apologies, I'm ever the perfectionist." He shared a wide smile, slapping him on the shoulder, and tightened his grip so the other couldn't move. He looked a little panicked at that. "That'll be all, thank you." Scissors swung open, hanging by a single finger until another held them straight out, and blade met throat. Dracula didn't let the human fall, instead, he made him stand up & watch himself bleed to death, his blood, his life pouring seemlessely into the cup Dracula made him hold, even as it overflowed onto the floor.

(Note: if you're going to a killer, always have wood floorboards with a varnish on the top. Much easier to clean up.)

Vlad sat there, elbow resting on the arm of the chair, fingers pressed into his cheeks and a look that was completely unphased by the horrific sight before him. Dracula took the cup from the dead man's hand and finally let him sink to the floor. Vlad turned in his seat to look at the dead body "It's a shame you killed him. I quite enjoyed the silence of the man. Humans love the sound of their voices these days, that sometimes I wish I had the gift of being Deaf." He twisted in his seat to look down at the victim, letting out an unsympathetic sigh "He really did do a good job on the hair do."

Dracula wasn't even bothered by Vlads nonchalent address of the ever growing cold corpse of their hairdresser. Instead, he rest against the wall next to the mirror, one hand bloody from murder, the other holding out the now overfull cup of here "Here, drink this." He ordered as he stared out ahead of him, lost in thought. "Did you bring me back to life? After my torture and death? Was it you who created me?" It was a question he hadn't dared to ask himself in a very long time. He looked almost distraught with it.

Vlad took a long swig of his freshly drawn drink, smacked his lips as if he were trying to decipher what kind of wine he'd been handed before replying in a most assured voice. "No. I did not create you. The vampire that made me, I begged for you to join me too."

"What?" Draculas voice wavered in shock at the news, he'd begged for this to happen?

Vlads hands raised with palms up, a sign of mercy for his silence so he could explain "We were losing the war, my most trusted advisor and the love of my life had been kidnapped by the Turkish. I didn't know what my next step would be. You don't know this but I used to plot and vent my anger in a cavern in the deepest woods of Wallachia. One day, that day, the cavern spoke back. It told me to lose but that I would win everything a thousand times over, that I could ruin those who set out to ruin us and come out with even a scratch. I was desperate to get you back to me. I didn't know what I was signing up for exactly but I asked whatever was in that cavern to find you, to make you the same as myself. I couldn't be without you. You deserved that justice too." Another long swig.

"It was your decision? You decided to break my heart into shatters when I hear they have decapitated Vlad III & placed his head on a spike? You decided I should come back and let me go home to my Mother only to kill her with a need I did not understand, to go and find my wife with my child, fighting everyday this vile hunger until I just couldn't bare it & I slaughter her?! I was going to be a father and you stole that from me!" Dracula snarled at the other, funny how ones image of someone can change so swiftly.

"It wasn't your child." Vlad snapped back, tone deathly serious.

Dracula shivered as though someone had walked over his non existent grave.

"She always fell for stable boys it seemed. I'm sorry to tell you this after so long but clearly she always found something appealing about a roll in the hay. Don't bark at me." Vlad raised his finger like a man commanding a disobedient dog. "You're a smart man, Omor. Think about it. Think how long you and I were gone at war, barely a few weeks home & you could feel the small curvature of life within her as she announced she was with child?"

Dracula looked almost defeated. So many years he'd spent quietly tormenting himself for killing both wife and unborn child just to satiate his unyielding hunger. Now, he knows that his wife was never his to begin with, not even his own flesh and blood. "Why did you say nothing?"

Vlad held out the cup of blood, Dracula looked like he needed it "For selfish reasons entirely. We were winning the war at that point, you were on form with all your plans of action, I couldn't risk my advisor losing that, I couldn't risk upsetting you."

"Would you have told me? Even if we had won the war?"

Vlad looked intensely at his lover, pausing a moment before replying "A little while after the celebrations. But I would have hoped she would be honest with you, I'm not a messenger."

"You're a warlord." Dracula huffed his laugh, quoting something he'd said centuries ago.

"Could you have still loved her despite her affair? Despite the child not being yours?" Vlad took a sip from the glass, seeing that Dracula didn't partake himself.

"Of course. I would be butchered the man who slept with her but I loved her entirely. I would've loved that child as my own. People didn't need to know." Dracula looked less like the terrifying creature the world had come to know but more solemn and vulnerable with the news, so heartbroken.

Vlad hated seeing someone to strong, crumble. He threw himself out of his seat, placing their shared cup of blood onto a table, and cradled the man he adored in his arms. "I'm sorry you had to hear the news but remember, this was centuries ago. We have a future to work at together now. It's you and I." He cradled the vampires face in his hands for a moment longer before sharing a deep kiss, trying to repair the small shatters of Count Draculas heart.

Do remember, the corpse of a dead hairdresser lies on the floor during their embrace. These are not loving creatures.

#even the app doesnt have the nice layout options aaaaaaaggghh #Drac-O-Ween #Claes Bang #BBC Dracula #Netflix Dracula #Dracula 2020 #Dracula #Claes Bang Thirst Squad #GAAAAAAAY LOOOVVEEERRSSS #31 days of Halloween #31 day challenge #31 days challenge #31 days of october #31 days of horror #31 days of halloween #31 days of halloween

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