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vulpinmusings · 3 years

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Letters from Buxcord #11: An Elemental Headache

In this Monster of the Week mystery, Ash confronts multiple personal frustrations.

Samantha,,

Either you’ve already read the letter I addressed to Noctus or I’m telling you these stories in person, so I won’t bother repeating my unexpected run-in with Meis N’cral a week ago. I’ve spent most of this week refitting N’Cral’s ship, to the best of my limited mechanical ability, into a serviceable fall-back shelter and secure storage for the materials I’ll need to perform the spell that will bring me home.

And to be quite frank, the sooner I can get out of Buxcord, the better.

I also finally got “Mr. Penn” to open up about his true nature. I’m still not sure if he’s the same entity as Nollthep or another “spawn,” but that’s not exactly a deal killer anymore. Penn describes himself as the spawn of a god-like being that’s holed up somewhere in Buxcord, unrelated to that demon sealed in the cottonwood tree but held in place by the same barriers, gathering power in an attempt to break out into the wider world and plunge it all into a state of mindless insanity. Penn has come to care for Buxcord and its populace as they are now, and so is now in open rebellion against his former boss/creator/Master/what-have-you.

A morag after my own heart, wouldn’t you say? And certainly an easier project than Noctus was (and you can tell her that if this letter doesn’t have to go through her to reach you). Don’t worry, I’m not planning to bring him home; I’ll just help him deal with his former master and then get him set on a nice self-discovery path. And at least one ethics lesson.

A couple days after scoring that confession, my dull daily routine was livened up by the uncommon sound of an ambulance siren from the east side of town. Considering the historic trends, I went immediately to Bayou Boating to see what was up. Penn, Lea, and Piper were already there, dealing in various ways with an agitated group of tourists. It appeared that one of their number had suffered a deep cut to their leg during the end of their boat tour, with no apparent cause except for an unusually large wave of water splashing into the boat.

It wasn’t much to go off of, but at this point that’s all it took to get Piper on board with supplying me and the usual suspects a boat to go investigate. And since Fitz apparently hasn’t come to work since before the N’Cral incident, there was nobody that Piper had to work around to get us that boat. (I think Penn’s first solo task should be accounting for everybody that he and his ilk have interfered with in some way or another…)

The attack had occurred not too far from shore, so it was a short trip to what turned out to be an even shorter search. Penn leaned out over the side of the boat, dunked his head underwater, and promptly resurfaced to say he’d seen a strange orb moving through the water. And the instant he finished explaining, the orb rose into view inside an animated tentacle of water. Figuring it to be some sort of elemental construct, I advised everyone to get onto the nearby island so we wouldn’t be quite as surrounded by deadly water. There were a few missed jumps and fumbles, but we all made it ashore without much harm, whereupon I tried to freeze the elemental solid. My spell came out as more of a blast of ice than the intended temperature manipulation, and the orb was knocked out of its tentacle. Piper flew up to grab the orb, but threw it away from herself almost immediately because of how cold it felt. Penn used his razor whip to slam the orb onto dry ground and I hit it with fire, expecting to neutralize the construct with its opposing element.

I severely misjudged. The orb absorbed the fire and formed a fire elemental body from it.

Lea called up a wave of dirt to try and smother the fire, which might or might not have actually put us up against an ersatz golem, but the orb floated itself over the dirt and fired back at Lea. As Lea dealt with that, Penn pulled out his combat umbrella and stabbed at the orb, knocking it back into the water.

I should have left well enough alone, but I hadn’t quite caught on to the thing’s nature, so I froze the area where the orb had gone underwater, and wound up just making it into a massive ice golem, with the orb safely hidden in its center of mass. It punched Lea out of the air, shrugged off a handful of Penn’s blast powder, and then clobbered me when I tried to pull its attention off Lea and also melt through its ice to expose the orb to fire again.

My intention was to carefully work the thing back around to water and then work out a plan to isolate the orb without giving it any other elemental properties, but Penn decided that it would best if the thing was just not near us anymore so we could all catch our breath. So, Penn cast a spell to teleport the elemental away without determining a destination. And it worked, so we were out of danger with no clue where the elemental was now.

Not ideal.

We returned to town, and I considered going to check Simone’s grimoire for any references to adaptive elementals. As we neared the sheriff’s office, however, we heard a commotion and ran over to see Sheriff Ragland and Officer Weaver trying to hold the ice elemental off with shotguns. And there was a crowd of civilians forming to see what was going no.

After we all gave Penn the stink-eye, I told Lea to fly to my apartment and grab Simone’s book while Penn and I went to assist the police. We opened with a combination of an umbrella stab and a Tangler while shouting, in vain, for everyone to clear the area. When the elemental broke free, I magically reinforced Penn’s umbrella as he opened it as a shield. Lea came back at this point, tossing me the book and then landing to summon a wall of earth between the fight and the bystanders as well as vines to restrain the elemental so I could consult the book in peace.

The book helpfully told me that the orb is known as an Arcane Core, an adaptive elemental construct that is drawn to active spells and considered to be a physical manifestation of magic. That made it the second big thing I require for my return trip spell, but it would only serve if unbroken and the only way to preserve its form while neutralizing its threat it to drain the elemental magic out of it.

I don’t think I have ever missed Carmilla and her ever-so-potent magebane gel more than at that precise moment.

When I explained the conundrum to my companions, Penn theorized that he might be able to drain the magic out of the orb and into himself, if he could get into physical contact with the orb for long enough.

At this point, the crowd was becoming very anxious. I… will save that particular rant for later, after I finish telling of the fight. Lea took it upon herself to try to calm everyone down while Penn and I engaged the elemental again. I blasted it with fire hot enough to expose the core but not cause it to shift, which was less than ideal but sufficient for Penn to get a solid grip on the orb. The ice beast punched us both before I could get it in a Tangler, and at that point it was just a matter of holding out until the ice melted away and the orb went dormant in Penn’s grip.

With the danger neutralized, I turned my attention to helping Lea with crowd control. And now it’s rant time.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if the majority of our world��s population were ignorant of the existence of magic and mythics? Well, pop on over to this universe if you want to see. Or better yet, don’t. I don’t know why those in the know have been so intent on keeping the masses ignorant of magic and whatnot, but the result is a population utterly unprepared to react rationally when an elemental starts rampaging in the streets and the local experts, such as they are, arrive to contain it. Perhaps Buxcord sees an unusually high number of monsters and magic incidents for this world, but that’s even less of an excuse to allow the Buxcord locals to remain ignorant of basilisks in their swamp, feral werewolves at their music festivals, and skvetchte demons and chaos beings locked up in local trees. People can die – have died – because next to nobody knows what to be on guard for or how to properly react when a faerie-spider possesses a guy and invades the local hotel.

There’s only so much that I, with the help of a drug-addicted and half-trained faerie girl and a chaos creature of still-dubious quality, can do if the bulk of the remainder in town just have a collective panic attack when trouble strikes. And I’m not sticking around this town, this skvetchte universe, any longer than I have to.

So, yeah, I’m probably not going to try too hard to help that certain raposinho to correct his experimental portal spell after I get home. Not unless we can figure out how to aim it at any other universe.

-Ash.

#MOTW #Vulpin plays

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swimmingseafish · 4 years

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Sanderstale Prequel: Jen

So, this is a Sanderstale prequel fic that I wrote in literally one day. It’s somewhat OC-focused, but I’m pretty proud of it, so I’m posting it here too.

tagged: @hideyseek @ironwoman359 @shrimpangie

summary: The journal of the second heir to the human throne, before the human-monster war. Could also be described as the personal accounts of Princen Cal of Medeis, featuring their family and monster friends and one particularly violent Entity.

CW: violence (mentioned at least), several implied deaths, possession, and an almost-drowning (but very vague).

(Please let me know if I need to tag anything else for this fic. I don’t think I’m leaving anything out, but I’m not positive.)

Read it on ao3!

Entry 1

(I have a strange urge to write this like a letter, and no one’s going to read this anyways, so they won’t care if I’m a dork.)

Hi, book of blank lined pages.

Father says I should keep a journal and write an entry once a week. He thinks it’ll help me prepare to help rule the kingdom one day. Or at least, I suppose, to deal with paperwork.

I mean, I guess it isn’t a bad idea. We’ll see how this goes.

It was nice to meet you.

- Cal

Entry 2

Greetings, still-mostly-blank journal.

People write important events down in journals, right? I think that’s how it works.

Well, I had my naming day this week! I’d been SO looking forward to turning eighteen. I finally got to stand in front of the kingdom and introduce myself to the world as Calyx, they/them, second heir to the throne of Medeis. Immy was very proud of her little sibling (me).

Prince Emile of Bellua was there, too, out of royal formality and respect. His naming day was a few months ago. I still don’t know him very well, but he seems nice, and so do his parents, which is good. Eventually, Immy and I will have to negotiate with him on things like borders and taxes, so we better at least kind of get along.

Hey, you know what? Since it’s my naming day and I insist on writing these like letters, I might as well name you, too. How about Jen?

(So, I like alliteration. Sue me.)

See you next week,

Cal

Entry 3

Dear Jen,

Mother and Father have been particularly stressed this week.

We’ve been working with Bellua to build and maintain a reservoir on the Regio, which is the largest river in the area and also happens to be the border between our two kingdoms. But the negotiation of exactly where to put the dam has been an absolute nightmare.

Why can’t we just put it by Lake Aureus? That makes the most sense. It’s basically a reservoir on its own already—just dam the river and add supporting structures to make the lake deeper. And that lake’s relatively empty of life for some reason, even though the water’s clean, so we wouldn’t be encroaching on protected species or monster homes.

But no one asked me, so.

Actually, hold on a second. I’m going to try something.

***

Back two hours later to say that Immy absolutely loved my idea and will be pitching it to our parents tomorrow morning. Huh. Maybe I should speak up more.

Good night, Jen.

- Cal

Entry 4

Dear Jen,

I’m no longer sure if speaking up was a good idea or not.

It’s managed to convince Immy and my parents that it’s time for me to handle a project on my own. Which should be a good thing! And I’m happy that they consider me responsible enough for that! It’s just that the project in question happens to be this infernal DAM. It’s fascinating, but the paperwork and scheduling and negotiations for workers and who does what when are absolutely EXCRUCIATING.

Also, I’ve spent nearly every day this week with Diana, the royal architect, which, again, SHOULD have been fine, if we hadn’t gotten into an argument five years ago with her daughter that led to us completely cutting off communication. Diana would not stop talking about Daisy.

“Yes, your highness, I agree that we should add more supports on that side. By the way, have you considered asking my daughter to help? She’s becoming quite a skilled architect herself.”

“It’s such a shame that you and Daisy don’t talk anymore, your highness.”

“Daisy actually came up with this particular design. Isn’t she doing such a good job?”

“Did you hear

I was going to keep writing out things that she said, but I got frustrated, so nope.

I like Diana, but I had good reason to stop talking to Daisy. So, also a big nope on talking to her.

I wish just one thing in my life was straightforward. Wait, no, definitely not. Nothing about me is straight.

***

I just laughed for a good five minutes over a pun I’ve made a billion times. I’m definitely exhausted. I need to at least try to get some sleep.

Night, Jen.

- Cal

Entry 5

Dear Jen,

Sorry, I know it’s been a month since I’ve last written, but I’ve gotten so much done!

Diana and I completed the plans for the Vis Dam three weeks ago, and it’s been under construction ever since. I’m due to go and supervise the end of construction in a few days.

I’m, quite frankly, a little nervous. I’ve put so much time and effort into this project, and it actually seems like it’s paying off.

As long as it’s not like the Cat Herding Incident of 1845, I think we’ll be good.

I’ll update this more once I can finally say the project’s complete.

- Cal

Entry 6

Dear Jen,

So! Things have happened. The Vis Dam is finished, thank goodness, but that didn’t quite go as planned.

Let me break this down for you:

I, in my ridiculous ceremonial robes, arrive at the dam. Prince Emile’s there, along with several other monster nobles that I don’t know and a host of human and monster workers.

I make small talk with Emile for the next hour or so until the dam’s officially complete. I learn that he really likes tea and that we both enjoyed this one children’s book series about space gem people. He is incredibly pleased to learn that I’d read it and that I am actually willing to listen to him talk about it. (People need to give this guy a place to nerd out more often, clearly.)

Both Diana and Daisy are there. I say hi to Diana and then proceed to ignore them as politely as possible.

It’s time for me to dedicate the dam, and I make my speech from the second-floor platform, just underneath the area that would vent water. It should be noted, and it cannot be emphasized enough, that this was not my idea. I would have been fine giving my speech from the top of the dam. But Diana decided, along with my parents, that it would be better to give a speech about the two kingdoms getting along if everyone was on the same level, literally. So, she added in a large, retractable platform lower on the structure. Why it was beneath the water vents, I have no idea. It might just be because that was in the center. Regardless, that’s beside the point.

Everyone else stands around me, while I stand with my back to the dam. It should be noted that the water vents were supposed to be OFF.

I finish my dedication of the dam to peace and harmony between humans and monsters, and everyone starts applauding. The vent directly above my head, determined to ruin my day, opens, blasting me and a dozen other assorted monsters and humans off of the dam and into the reservoir below.

This was not a short fall, by the way. It was a good 200 feet down at least. The only reason we didn’t all die was that someone caught us with blue magic just before we hit the water, holding us still for a brief second and then letting us drop 2 feet instead.

I, also, am terrible at swimming. We—Immy and I—had to take classes as children, but we only ever had to get good enough to be able to survive. Immy’s a swimming champion. I can tread water for five minutes. I was not (and am not) equipped to survive in a raging river.

Fortunately, just as I was about to go under for good, I felt my SOUL turn blue again. I was forcibly yanked from the water so hard that I flew over the water and smacked into my very furry rescuer. He felt so guilty that he couldn’t stop apologizing, despite the fact that he’d saved my life and he had no reason to feel sorry (as I promptly told him).

Turns out, his name was Patton, and he’d been practicing his blue magic by working on the dam—moving parts into place alongside the other workers. His specialty is healing magic, but his parents both served in high positions in the Belluan military, so they had insisted he learn more combative magic as well. He’d done great with fire magic, he told me, but the specific SOUL magic types had proven more difficult, hence the practice.

Right then, Emile, who’d apparently escaped being thrown off the platform by the waterfall of death, ran over, asking if I was okay. I quickly assured him that I was and that he didn’t need to worry, though it was appreciated.

And then:

“Oh! Prince Emile Dreemurr, meet Patton Hart. He saved my life.”

“Ah, n-nice to meet you, Patton.” Emile’s cheeks turned bright red as he dipped his head to Patton.

“It’s nice to meet you too, your highness!” Patton said, bowing and then bouncing back up. He glanced at me, still soaking wet, and then at Emile, standing there in pristine royal robes. “I see you’re not a go with the flow kind of prince.”

All three of us immediately burst out laughing, but Emile couldn’t stop staring at Patton the whole time. Prince Emile, who I’d officially decided was my friend now, clearly had a GIANT crush on the boy who saved my life.

I went home after talking to both of them for a little while longer—and after getting a towel. My robes were soaked. I think I’m going to need new ones; I don’t trust that velvet to last after that much exposure to dubious-quality water.

Patton, Emile, and I are planning on meeting up next week. I’m determined to play matchmaker. Also, they both seem like amazing people, and I haven’t had a close friend outside of Immy in years. (Don’t be offended, Jen—I’m counting humans and monsters, not journals).

Wow, this entry got long. I’ll be back sometime soon. It’s after midnight and I have to debrief Mother and Father tomorrow on this whole fiasco.

But overall, a successful day, don’t you think?

Night!

- Cal

Entry 7

Dear Jen,

I love these two.

First of all, there was an absolutely GOLD moment that I have to share.

We all met up at my home, the castle in Medeis, since neither Emile nor Patton regularly made trips to the human kingdom, so I figured it’d be fun for them. Patton got there first, and we were sitting in what is best described as the living room and chatting.

Emile, arriving next, didn’t know that Patton was there already, and for reasons unknown decided to open the door while making what were arguably the strangest noises I have ever heard in my life. It was like he was trying to be an entire orchestra introducing the beginning of a children’s play but could only generate notes via his own voice and using the vowel “da” at various pitches and intensities.

I actually didn’t even know it was him at first, to be honest, until he stopped, popped his head around the door frame, and instantly turned bright red upon seeing both me and Patton.

Does he just enter every room that way? Is that something he reserves for friends? Not the blushing thing, but the singing thing. I didn’t ask because he was already embarrassed, but now I REALLY want to know.

Second, on a more general level, things I learned from this experience:

1. Patton probably has a crush on Emile too, based on the evidence of my own eyes. (No, Jen, I refuse to elaborate. That would take up at LEAST all the rest of your pages.)

2. Patton will make puns endlessly unless he is stopped. (And Emile will definitely not stop him ever.)

3. Emile will reference various fantasy books endlessly and cannot be stopped. (This is not a bad thing. He clearly loves them.)

4. Patton, despite being the only one out of the three of us that isn’t an heir to a throne (and the youngest by a couple weeks), has the best head for leadership and politics.

5. All three of us care too much, apparently, and have been told so several times by our family and friends, especially Emile. He says not to hold it against his parents, though.

6. Patton’s a pacifist and refuses to fight anyone in a real battle, though he is trained for it. Luckily, there aren’t really any real battles he’d need to fight in. We’re lucky enough to live in a remarkably peaceful time.

7. Emile is simultaneously stronger and weaker than you’d think. He’s built, with broad shoulders and muscles clearly built up from years of training. But we practiced fighting together, and he’s the most skilled at magical attacks. His trident is really something else. I’m a skilled martial artist, but I’m not a mage, so I can only beat him about half the time.

8. Emile is trying to grow a beard with only VERY limited success. I asked him why he bothers when he already has more than enough hair, and he bopped me (very lightly!) on the head with his trident.

9. I laugh a whole lot more around Emile and Patton than I normally do.

The only other person I’ve been this close to was Daisy, but she broke my heart at age thirteen and I have no desire to revisit that experience. (Maybe the fact that I’m still stuck on it five years later is an issue. There really should be like…mind doctors or something to help with things like that.)

But anyways, I’m not in love with either of them, for sure. Though Immy would get a kick out of it if I fell in love with Emile—she’d say I managed to arrange my own marriage.

I do love them as friends, though, even though we haven’t spent too much time together. I think I get attached quick.

Hopefully we’ll get to do this again a lot in the future.

I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to write in the next few months. Harvest season’s coming up, and I still have to do maintenance on the dam. But I’m dedicated to this now, even though I think my dad’s forgotten he suggested it. Don’t worry, Jen. I won’t abandon you.

Have a good few months,

Cal

Entry 8

Hey, Jen. It’s been a while, huh?

I had a feeling it was going to be hard to keep this up consistently.

Anyways, I’m nineteen now, so there’s that! And yes, past me, you did get to hang out with Patton and Emile much more, don’t worry—I’m now confident in calling them my best friends. And they’re still dancing around each other like the goofballs they are. (To be fair, they’ve had more pressing concerns recently.) Even Emile’s little sister, Princess Linda, needles him about Patton constantly. That’s a good sister right there, and I say this with the full knowledge that I would hate it if Immy did this to me.

I also got to meet Patton’s friend Camden, a tortoise monster, and Camden’s little brother Gerson, who is the most optimistic child (and potentially person) on the face of the planet. Camden wants to be a professional photographer someday, and his work is excellent. He’s hilarious and laughs at pretty much any badly planned joke, which I’m starting to think is a prerequisite for being Patton’s friend.

And Gerson—I still cannot get over him. He’s seven years old and knows so much about the world and current events, but he never lets it affect him negatively. He always looks at the bright side. A monster kid like that, even if he’s not a boss monster, is going to live for centuries.

Oh yeah, current events. I guess I should put that in here too. God knows I need to talk to someone about it.

Tensions between humans and monsters are on the rise and have been pretty consistently for the past year. I didn’t know until three months ago when a skirmish broke out on the border—right by the Vis Dam, in fact. Three humans were grievously injured, and one was killed, but five monsters in total were turned to dust.

Immy and my parents had been trying to handle it quietly with Emile and his parents, but there have been an increasing number of humans terrified of monsters in recent years.

Someone—a palace worker named Silenda—went through the records from the long-ago battles between humans and monsters. She found out that monsters could absorb human SOULs while humans couldn’t absorb monster ones, and she told her brother, who unfortunately was both unable to keep his mouth shut and worked for a very popular newspaper. The information spread quickly, and there are some in our kingdom who have used it to stir up fear.

I actually was a little hurt that my parents didn’t trust me or Immy with this information. And that once they did let us know, they only told Immy. She had to tell me. But I do understand. She’s the Crown Princess. She’ll be queen one day.

But I’ll be her advisor and strongest supporter. Shouldn’t I know, too?

Ugh. I’m still bitter about this and it’s not remotely the point.

The point is that we’re starting to see skirmishes on the border, and neither ruling party wants that. But both countries have so far been unable to stop the fighting. The small factions are operating independently of the leadership.

We might have to call in the military to calm down the situation if it gets any worse, and I can’t see that going remotely well.

I said at the beginning of this entry that I’ve still been seeing Patton and Emile. And I have. But it’s gotten a lot less frequent over the last three months.

Patton’s been working with the medical corps of the Belluan military and volunteering on the “front lines” of the skirmishes, healing whoever he can. Camden’s out there with him, documenting everything for posterity. Gerson mostly stays home, but Camden’s had to bring him once or twice.

Emile’s doing his best as Crown Prince, but it’s been hard on him. He doesn’t hold much power on his own yet, and he feels like if his parents can’t do anything, what could he possibly do?

I’ve been reaching out diplomatically to the leaders of the small factions as best I can to try to get them to stop. Silenda’s been helping me; she’s a surprisingly fast writer, and incredibly brave and strong and a true believer in justice. She also blames herself for everything that’s been going on.

I’ve told her repeatedly that I, at least, don’t blame her, which is true, I don’t. I blame her brother, a little, and the newspaper some, but mostly I blame the people who decided that the only answer to being scared is to kill.

Why did I have to jinx everything by writing that we live in peaceful times?

I wish I could have a conversation about this with someone besides you, Jen, but everyone’s just so busy and overwhelmed and stressed. All I can do with them is endlessly throw solutions around and have none of them work out. At least I can get my thoughts out this way.

Until next time.

- Cal

[On the next three pages, several entries were started and then scratched out.]

Entry 9

Jen—

I turned twenty, and I think I might be losing my mind.

We tried military intervention. It didn’t work. Our soldiers, instead of holding the monsters back and protecting our own citizens, decided to go rogue and wipe out the entire monster battalion.

Bellua and its rulers were rightfully devastated and furious, and they were about to declare war on us.

My parents, Immy, me, and several other councilors held a meeting in the throne room to determine our best course of action. Eventually, they got around to asking my opinion.

I opened my mouth to suggest literally anything other than war. Reparations, peace talks, giving up territory. My best friends were monsters and I had—and still have—absolutely no desire to fight or kill them or their families.

But then I felt like my body was taken over by a stranger. I couldn’t control my movements or my voice. I watched, a horrified passenger in my body, as my voice made a persuasive argument for declaring war before Bellua could.

And they listened.

My parents. My sister. All the councilors.

They listened.

And they declared war.

What’s wrong with me?

I couldn’t—didn’t—say those things.

I love my friends so much that it feels like I have a star living in my chest.

Sil almost slapped me when she found out what I’d done. Instead, she quietly gathered her things and left, tears running down her face. I love her too, and I’ve never told her.

And I might have just lost all of them.

Who do I go to for help? Who would believe me? Even if they did, what could they do?

What the hell is going on, Jen?

Entry 10

It happens nearly every day now.

The Entity—that’s what I’ve chosen to call it—comes for me in the morning. I go through my routine mechanically, or, at least, my body does. Then the Entity and I join the royal council to make plans and move troops.

I’m a general now. Me. All I thought I would ever do was help Immy and run paperwork. And maybe build more dams.

I fight on the field, too. The Entity favors lightweight javelins and shatters SOUL after SOUL with them.

I think dust is permanently stuck to my boots.

I can’t make it stop.

Entry 11

Immy’s worried about me. But she’s all for the war now. And the Entity exerts control even when it’s not speaking for me. I can’t take its words back, so I can’t tell her what’s wrong.

Patton’s worried about me. He’s tried to send me messages using the little spiders that serve the matriarch of the Spider Clans. The Entity won’t let me write back or even read them, and it hurts every single time. The most I’ve managed to do is protect the spiders. The Entity wanted to squish them.

I don’t know if Emile’s worried about me or if he even cares. I’ve seen him leading charges on the battlefield, too. I don’t know if he’s seen me, but I hope not.

I haven’t heard from Sil. The Entity won’t let me reach out to her, either. But I thought I saw her next to Emile, once. I hope she’s safe, or as safe as anyone can be in this broken world.

Entry 12

I caught my reflection in the mirror today when the Entity was in control. They turn my eyes this weird pale red color. It’s not even pink. They just dull my eyes.

Appropriate, I guess.

I’m twenty-one today, for whatever it’s worth.

Entry 13

The Entity can control time.

Today, I managed to break free of their control for a split second and shatter a bottle of squid ink on a table filled with valuable intelligence. I could sense how angry they were. And, of course, how angry everyone else was. Immy just about took my head off.

But then I felt a warm sensation in my chest, blinked, and somehow it was 7 AM that morning again. I saw a flicker of bright golden light for just a second before the Entity, still irritated, quickly ran through my morning tasks again and headed back to the throne room. They kept me on a tighter leash this time, and I didn’t have another chance to break free.

How did they do that?

More importantly, if they’re controlling MY body, is that something THEY can do or something I can do? Because if I’m the one who can do that…

I need to conduct some research.

Entry 14

I’m exhausted. I’ve been doing most of my research at night. The Entity has far less control at night.

I still try to stay awake all day, though. I need to keep tabs on what they’re doing with my body.

Hence why my brain is dead right now. But I need to catalog what I’ve found.

My SOUL is red. I’ve known this since I was a small child. SOUL colors are logged at age five, as soon as it’s definitely safe enough to enter into the sort of magical connection necessary for a SOUL to appear on someone’s chest.

No one else in my family has a red SOUL. Immy’s is purple, Mother’s is dark blue, and Father’s is green. (Sil, though not my family, has a yellow SOUL.)

I’ve never met anyone else, as far as I know, with a red SOUL. That’s what started me on the track of thinking that SOUL colors might be important.

According to the old texts I found in the library, all the other SOUL colors are thought to be linked to personality traits or convictions. Light blue is patience, orange is bravery, dark blue is integrity, purple is perseverance, green is kindness, and yellow is justice. But red is never labeled, not in any of the texts I looked at.

Finally, at the very back of the library, just as the sun was coming up, I found a book so old and covered in dust that I was worried I wouldn’t be able to read it before it fell apart.

That book said that red SOULs store immense power, but they’re not linked to any specific trait. Red SOULs are said to be blank slates. People used to be afraid of them, apparently, because they feared they could be possessed by demons.

Well, if the Entity isn’t a demon, I don’t know what the fuck it is.

The part I still don’t get is the “immense power” line. The only humans who can use magic are mages. I’m not a mage. I know I’m not a mage. We’re tested for that as kids.

But I’ve never tried to see if I could control time because as far as I knew, that was impossible, and it’s a little late to learn.

And there’s always the chance that this could in fact be the Entity’s power, not mine, and I’m going on a wild goose chase in the middle of a war.

I don’t have much else to do, though, do I, Jen?

[The next pages are filled with tally marks and scribbled notes in various different pencils and markers. There are drawings of SOULs on several of the pages, and spilled candle wax and dried tears adorn a few as well.]

Entry 15

Well, I still can’t make those glowing time-points. But I do actually have a surprising amount of stored magic. It was just sitting in the center of my SOUL. I would never have figured out how to access it if it weren’t for the Entity.

I’ve seen and felt them reset a couple more times since that first day, usually when they say something that they consider less than optimal. They’ll just reset and repeat that moment over and over again until it meets whatever the fuck their standards are.

We’re four years into the war, now. I skipped noting a couple of birthdays in there, somewhere, but I’m twenty-four now. Twenty-four, and there’s still a demon living in my head, forcing me to kill.

Emile’s parents were assassinated last year. Not by me, but the Entity supported it. My parents are still alive, but I’m not sure how long that will last, giving the blood-and-dust nature of the world right now.

I know Sil’s one of Emile’s top tacticians now, thanks to the intelligence the Entity has gathered. I’ve seen Camden’s war photography, including a photo of Gerson, much taller than he used to be but still just a kid, standing out in front of their home with a giant hammer in his arms. Patton’s still working on the front lines, healing as many people as he can. He still refuses to fight. I admire him so much for being able to make that choice and stick to it. I wish my hands were still clean.

Linda’s serving under Emile now, too, but as a soldier. She’s far too young for this.

Maybe we’re all too young for this.

Immy scares me the most. She still supports the war, but more out of fear than anything else. She sounds like those fearmongering men from so long ago.

She makes me wonder if the war is even the Entity’s fault.

Maybe it would have happened anyway.

Entry 16

I found my power.

But I don’t control time—or at least, I don’t know how.

I erase memories.

The Entity stayed down in the dungeons—that’s another thing we never used to have, or at least use, here, really. But anyways, the Entity stayed down in the dungeons for too long, and night fell. So, I had a little bit more control than usual.

I reached out with just a little bit of my magic and tried to make one of those glowing stars that allow the Entity to reset. Instead, one of the prisoners cried out.

“Where am I? What happened?” They looked around wildly. “Wait…WHO am I?!”

That absolutely wasn’t what I meant to do. And I couldn’t figure out how to bring the memories back. It looks like, when I erase memories, they’re gone for good.

But I needed to figure this out. I tested my power on one more prisoner and figured out that I can erase only specific memories if I try hard enough.

Writing this out, I’m shocked at myself. I’m experimenting on people. And I don’t even feel that bad about it.

What’s wrong with me? I’m so numb to suffering at this point. I’m numb to the world.

I miss Patton, Emile, Camden, and Gerson…and Sil. But they’re better off without me.

I don’t know what I can do with this power. I’ll keep fighting the Entity. Maybe I can break free. Maybe that’ll be enough.

What else can I erase?

[There’s an interval of at least twenty blank, crisp pages.]

Entry 17

It’s almost over. After five years, it’s almost over.

I managed to free myself from the Entity for now. I won’t say how because I don’t have time, but they’re not happy.

Medeis won, if you can call it that. Sil, as the monster ambassador, and I managed to get Immy to agree to seal the monsters underground rather than exterminate them. The war’s done a number on us all.

Sil still hates me. She doesn’t understand. She can’t. She never will. Neither will any of them. They’ll all hate me forever.

Sil has teamed up with a group of other mages to create the Barrier. With me, that makes seven.

The Entity doesn’t like this. They want to kill all the monsters.

I won’t let that happen.

Camden’s dead. Linda’s dead. My parents are dead. Immy, Gerson, Patton, and Emile are still alive, and so are thousands of others. You don’t get to take them too, do you hear me, you absolute sack of shit?

You think this is a game.

You think that what you do doesn’t matter.

It matters to me. It matters to Immy, and Sil, and everyone else in my world.

After we seal the monsters underground, I’m going to erase you from this world. I’ll erase you, and I’ll erase the memory of monsters and magic ever existing from the minds of every human on this planet.

I’ll almost certainly die in the process, but I don’t care. They’ll have a future, and the monsters will be safe from you and the humans like you.

There’s no future for me anymore.

You’ll have no host and no memory of your purpose or identity. You’ll be gone for good.

They’ll be safe. They’ll be safe. They’ll be safe.

I love you. All of you. More than words could ever say.

Goodbye.

- Princen Calyx of Medeis

#sanderstale #my writing #sanderstale prequel

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thisweekingundamwing · 6 years

Text

This Week in Gundam Wing: November 19th - 25th

Greetings Fandom!

Tons of great stuff for you to check out this week, make sure you leave the creators some love!

AO3 DID act up some this week when I was working on the update, so please don’t hesitate to speak up if something is missing! I’m more than happy to revise the list, and I promise it wasn’t intentional!

Don’t forget to submit or tag us in all your neat stuff guys! It really helps compile the update every week!

Keep up the great work!

-Mod CB

Below the cut!

Fanfiction:

(please take note of any warnings within the fics themselves, do not rely on this list as exhaustive)

@amberlyinviolet, @yourbloodlikewine

In This Light, Chapter 10

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12386715/chapters/29284572

Duo x OC, Trowa x OC, Solo x OC. AU, child abuse mention, Sexual Assault Mention, homophobic parents, Re-Written Characters, Drug Use, Violence, off screen murder

Duo spent the last semester working in his older brother's coffee shop. He's resigned himself to a boring spring when a stranger appears, shaking up his entire life.Eli left home last fall, choosing to spend the last six months living out of his van on his travels from the Midwest to the East Coast. By the time he arrives at Ink's, the novelty of traveling alone has started to wear off. Still, the last thing he's expecting is to meet someone who's going to change all that for him

@anaranesindanarie

Magic, Mortals, and Gundam Gods, Chapter 3

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12667185/chapters/29141973

Pairings to be decided

Magic, Gods, Poachers, AU, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe- Gundam Wing, Alternate Universe - Reincarnation, Alternate Universe- Avatars

In the legends of the Five Gods, it is said that the second God, Deathscythe, was very protective of the other four and would do anything to keep them alive. He would fight entire wars, taking hit after hit until he couldn’t anymore, until he used every drop of magic that he had to keep them safe. He would fade away and the others would follow. Their magic would then find its way to those it deemed worthy and the cycle would start again. And now… The Five Gods have been reborn into a world full of magic and war.

Unnatural November submission

Awareness_bringer

Odin Lowe Junior

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12815355

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, challenge story

The boy who would've been called Heero Yuy is found by OZ. How will he move forward in such an enviroment? You decide. Challenge story.

@chronicwhimsy

Spirits

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12769878

2x5

Unnatural November submission, ghost story, gift fic for @thelaughingstar

Everyone knows about Duo's ghosts. He collects them. But when he collects them, they feel lighter somehow.Some ghosts stay longer than others.

Darkpanthress

No Other Way

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8219920/1/No-Other-Way

There have been a lot of clichéd stories. This is picking some clichés and just dumping them into a new version of the story. Heero needs an out from a difficult situation with Relena, and the out seems to be a fake engagement!

@duointherain

Blood on the Brain, Chapter 2

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12756882/chapters/29131014

1x2

It's wartime. Duo and Heero have just gotten together and Heero goes off on a mission that doesn't go well. Relena manages to message Duo, asking him to help Heero. Combat and medical intervention ensue.

Not Quite Single, Chapter 4

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12786444/chapters/29230788

GW x Captain America crossover

1x2, Steve x Bucky, graphic descriptions of violence

It's nearly a hundred years after the wars. Tech has kept all the boys healthy and young. While on a salvage mission, Duo recovers Steve Rogers. James Barnes has been Heero's colleague for over twenty years. There are a lot of misunderstandings. The fork in chapter two made me laugh. :)

@gw-ficrecfriday

Double or Nothing

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12806889

4xD, old fic, not quite explicit

Games are played to be won, not lost. (Quatre, Dorothy, and...sexy chess?)

Jonginwankenobi

Amour et Boules de Neiges

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12717364/1/Amour-et-Boules-de-Neiges

En vacances dans les Alpes françaises, Heero et sa soeur Kari vont faire une rencontre qu'ils ne seront pas prêts d'oublier. UA publication hebdomadaire

@kangofu-cb

Don’t You Know, Chapter 1

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12821766/chapters/29271852

2x5, background 1x3, fluff, cop drama, FBI agents, angsty backstory but the fic is fluff, AU - Modern Setting

Cop!Duo meets SpecialAgent!Wufei in this fluffy rom-com.

Birthday fic for @chronicwhimsy

East of Eden, Chapter 5

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12591796/chapters/29188620

2x4x5, background 1x3, Alternate Universe - Supernatural Elements, Fae & Fairies, Vampires, Were-Creatures, Blood and Violence, Sex, Magic, Angst, Death, Canon-Typical Violence

Wufei needs help to save his clan from a mysterious enemy. He leaves, looking for help from a near-mythical figure: The God of Death. He may, however, get more than he bargained for...

Lil1337

Gundam Wing Month 2017, Chapter 25

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12599464/chapters/29279403

Multiple pairings and settings - please note chapter headings for specific relationships and tags

A collection of drabbles and short fics posted one a day for the month of November in celebration of Gundam Wing Month.

LittleMouse

Warcraft, Chapter 5

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12429339/chapters/29254980

AU, fantasy

Alternate Fantasy World - A world where people have ‘Talents’ that allow them to control certain elements. Different Talents can ‘Join’ to become a specific entity - some can heal, some can repair damage to land and buildings, some are weapons. The Talents you ‘Join’ with are called your Others. The perfect Joining is of five separate Talents. One lonely Fire Talent far to the North has given up waiting for his Others - good thing they haven’t stopped looking for him.

What Dreams May Come, Chapter 2

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12772926/chapters/29254422

2x5, 1x3x4, flashback, non-con touching, violence, threesome

This is a sequel to ‘Perchance to Dream’, and I suggest reading it first. Otherwise, some things won’t make sense. Wufei and Duo are dealing with the effects of their last mission together, the oddity of a new relationship, and the threat that the war will separate them any minute.

Maldoror_Chant

Freeport, Chapter 11

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12654255/chapters/29222340

2x5. long ass fic ahoy, socio-politics, with violence and hot guys, Blood and Violence, no EW, Slow Burn, Case Fic

Freeport colony: a notorious den of pirates, smugglers and thieves. Wufei persuades one of its denizens, his one-time ally Duo, to help him catch a killer hiding there. Agent Chang thinks he knows what to expect from this case, from Freeport and from Duo Maxwell. He couldn't be more wrong.

The Source of all Things, Chapter 12

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12121344/chapters/29139225

3x4, eventual 2x5, eventual 1x2x5. Science Fiction, Fantasy, Plot Twists, fairly graphic depiction of sex, Mild description of self-harm, Mathematical Magic, weird science, crones - Freeform, Magic and Technology brawling and eventually screwing, Eventual Threesome, Kinda, Insanity of arcane origin, The universe is a pile of marbles and other dubious allegories

Center, a planet where magic and technology blend. Or more accurately, fight tooth and nail. A planet of Sources, holes in our boring dimension letting through arcane power, chaos and pseudo-deities. In this hot-house of myths and very real dangers, Trowa and Quatre find a mysterious man at the end of a shamanic voyage. Portents suggest this Heero Yuy is crucial to Center’s survival. He’s important enough to have some interesting enemies after him, at any rate: a devious killer and thief called ‘Shinigami’, and a very irate Dragon. Beyond them looms an even greater threat. Indeed, the greatest of them all.

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12771627/chapters/29140038

1x2, fluff and humor, post canon, slightly stalkerish Relena, get together

Duo was well placed to know that Heero was a deadly cold hard-ass ex-terrorist with an attitude, so really, how hard could it be to have a girl not fall for the prickly bastard?Answer: Pretty damn difficult, actually.

@noirangetrois

Of the Sea

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12749670/chapters/29199138

1x2, 4xC, Aro!Trowa, otp, Yaoi, Eventual Smut, fairytale my way, mermaid!au, Meroctopus!Dorothy

Heero Yuy will soon be reaching the age of majority, at which time he will ascend the throne of Wingaria. Before such time, he must needs choose a bride. But what if there are no good choices? What if someone else has captured his heart?

@remsyk-blog

Queen’s Pleasure

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12823785

2x5xR, Smut, to the nth degree, Threesome, PWP, NSFW, This relationship tag doesn't exist, Bossy!Relena, Car Sex, Technically Limo

Charity balls have a way of pushing Relena to her limits. Luckily, she has her soldiers to help her unwind, and whatever the Queen wants, the Queen gets.

Signifying_nothing

A Room in Luxembourg

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12788985

OT5

soft, introspective duo, Post Warcoming home, wound mentions, Acid Burns, Scalping, Disabled Character (not sure that really applies but just in case)

Let it never be said that Duo Maxwell did not understand tragedy. His entire fucking life had been a tragedy, thank you very much: could have been written by the Willy Shakes himself. Boy is an orphan, boy is taken in by a church, boy is brought back to the church several times, boy tries to save church only to have church blown up by The Man, boy becomes vigilante God of Death, et fin.

Sinspiration

Not Just a Vacation, Chapter 6

http://archiveofourown.org/works/11512800/chapters/29262546

5xOC, 1x2, 1x2x5, Threesome - M/M/M, Sexual Assault, that's the OMC part, Slow Burn, the embryonic stages of a relationship, this is being unburied and reposted, Autism Spectrum, Autistic Heero Yuy

Duo and Heero have to go undercover at a private high school to get close to the son of Archie Bravewater, a man who might have major ties to an underground slave-ring the Preventors have been trying to destroy for months.They're expecting Trowa to be their third and back-up reserve. But something comes up in Australia that he can't leave. They get Wufei instead.During the course of the mission the three not only navigate their assignment, but their developing friendships and, eventually, even deeper feelings.

Sunhawk16 (Mod note: YES THIS IS THE INFAMOUS SUNHAWK)

The Last Godchild

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12826722

1x2, 3x4, 5xS

The final part of the GodChild universe. The title, I think says it all. Death fic, but not in a sad way, I don't think. Christmas fic for 2016, originally posted in Livejournal.

Sylvieforaday

They Say it was a Concussion, Chapter 13

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12347688/chapters/29122869

2x6. AU. Surgeon Zechs. Dancer Duo.

Duo takes a spill and Zechs is just what the doctor ordered.

Moving On, Chapter 5

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12529256/chapters/29185731

2x5. Angst, Hurt/Comfort, eventual smut, mention of past sexual abuse, past character death

Duo is trying to find his place in his own world without his crutch - Heero Yuy.

TheManwell

May Demons Rest, Chapter 37 and 38 (Now Complete!)

http://archiveofourown.org/works/10944786/chapters/29218944

2x3, post-canon, bad language, underage drinking, suicidal thoughts

A re-write of my 2004 fanfic "Shinigami Sleeps" - To find and free Duo from his demons, Trowa leaves his uneventful life at the circus for the mean streets of an obscure colony in L2.

@vegalume

Afterthoughts of Discourse, Chapter 9

http://archiveofourown.org/works/4095778/chapters/29229750

1x2, 2xH, 1xOC, Rated for non-graphic adult situations, and language. Please pay attention to the tags and warnings posted. Yaoi, Het, ooc, Angst, Mpreg

After making a terrible mistake, Duo must now search for the one person he loves most, in hopes of gaining forgiveness. But when they are reunited will Duo be too late?

Snippets

@gw-ficrecfriday

https://gw-ficrecfriday.tumblr.com/post/167671703046/oh-hey-i-made-myself-do-something

@lifeaftermeteor

https://lifeaftermeteor.tumblr.com/post/167886171231/winner-family-compound-l4-v05001-207-september-15

@softnocturne

https://softnocturne.tumblr.com/post/167678682350/sunday-snippet

@vegalume

http://vegalume.tumblr.com/post/167869352305/snippet-saturday

Fanart

@anaranesindanarie

https://anaranesindanarie.tumblr.com/post/167703171204/for-those-curious-this-is-what-the-boys-currently

Dolldivine renditions of the pilots for her fic Magic, Mortals, and Gundam Gods

@downwarddnaspiral

@http://downwarddnaspiral.tumblr.com/post/167685943381/for-ahsimwithsake-and-laurathia-good-luck

Heero and Quatre, for @ahsimwithsake and @laurathia

@maevemauvaise

http://maevemauvaise.tumblr.com/post/167862882986/chronicwhimsy-a-very-very-happy-birthday-to-you

Duo as a merman for @chronicwhimsy‘s mermaid AU and birthday

@noelleian

http://noelleian.tumblr.com/post/167890294147/because-the-world-needs-more-pilots-drawn-as-cats

The pilots drawn as cats

@sawyer-sweet

https://sawyer-sweet.tumblr.com/post/167779922327/more-gundam-wing-fun-this-time-with-heero-yuy-at

Heero, injured

@sovaz

https://sovaz.tumblr.com/post/167752416995/for-chronicwhimsy-happy-birthday

2x5 Birthday gift art for @chronicwhimsy

@thelaughingstar

http://thelaughingstar.tumblr.com/post/167677965409/wufeis-voice-was-low-and-gentle-as-he-spoke

Fanart for @chronicwhimsy‘s fic Spirits. 2x5. Ghost Meilan

@vegalume

http://vegalume.tumblr.com/post/167620583265/this-didnt-turn-out-like-i-had-planned-and-no

13x1, vaguely NSFWish

@zer0-system

https://zer0-system.tumblr.com/post/167680438035/a-little-preview-of-what-ive-been-doing-all-this

Heero, injured

Meta/Headcanons

Gundam Wing Podcast featuring @lelola http://lelola.tumblr.com/post/167842591475/so-my-friend-jesse-over-at-the-zannen-canada

Gundam Wing social media accounts by @lifeaftermeteor https://lifeaftermeteor.tumblr.com/post/167681255679/what-did-i-do-instead-of-writing-for

Thoughts on Relena and her adopted father by @lelola http://lelola.tumblr.com/post/167877077840/im-curious-re-how-relenas-adoptive-father-is

Heero headcanon by @lifeaftermeteor https://lifeaftermeteor.tumblr.com/post/167851094207

Gundam Wing pictures with Invader Zim quotes by @vegalume

http://vegalume.tumblr.com/post/167803721820/gundam-wing-pics-with-invader-zim-quotes-this-is

http://vegalume.tumblr.com/post/167864844340/vegalume-gundam-wing-pics-with-invader-zim-quotes

http://vegalume.tumblr.com/post/167829189530/gundam-wing-pics-with-invader-zim-quotes-set-3

http://vegalume.tumblr.com/post/167855601155/gundam-wing-pics-with-invader-zip-quotes-set-4

http://vegalume.tumblr.com/post/167876283740/gundam-wing-pics-with-invader-zim-quotes-set-5

Meta on the pilots and close range killing, initiated by @the-indomitable-bhg https://noirangetrois.tumblr.com/post/167819314177/the-indomitable-bhg-gundamwing-ellesmith

Meta on the pilots and drinking, initiated by @fadedsepiascribbles https://fadedsepiascribbles.tumblr.com/post/167815528842/okay-but-ive-never-understood-this-idea-that

Meta on Wufei’s motivations for Endless Waltz, initiated by @lelola https://noirangetrois.tumblr.com/post/167776717587/lelola-wu-fei-is-so-done-with-everyone-he

I honestly don’t know what to even say about this. Gundams and babies and how Wufei entered the world and some disturbing cakes https://the-indomitable-bhg.tumblr.com/post/167761431722/lbro009-helmistress-the-indomitable-bhg

Discussion of canon support for a 1x3 ship, by @cinderellaincombatboots https://the-indomitable-bhg.tumblr.com/post/167760960457/cinderellaincombatboots-bro-fist-01-and-03

Headcanon for why Wing Zero has wings by @the-indomitable-bhg https://the-indomitable-bhg.tumblr.com/post/167682256482/the-notorious-bhg-wing-zero-appears-endless

Meta/headcanon regarding Wufei’s motivations and thoughts on using mobile suits in war, initiated by @noirangetrois https://gw-ficrecfriday.tumblr.com/post/167702938041/claraxbarton-cosmostar-noirangetrois

Meta/headcanon regarding Duo and Hilde’s relationship and colony life outside of war https://kangofu-cb.tumblr.com/post/167685479167/simulacraryn-kangofu-cb-noirangetrois

White Fang as a whole, by @lelola http://lelola.tumblr.com/post/167886567426/in-my-opinion-white-fang-makes-zero-sense-as-a

Thoughts on Ground Zero by @lbro009 https://lbro009.tumblr.com/post/167883479695/ground-zero-manga-ramble

Calendar Events

Unnatural November by @gwblockparty

Ending November 30th

A fanworks celebration of all things weird and supernatural.

Participation information here!

AO3 collection here!

Eve War Event by @gw-evewar

Posting December 23rd - December 24th.

A fanworks Science Fiction event.

Participation information here!

Cocktail Friday by @thisweekingundamevents

Prompts post every Monday, submissions to be posted the following Friday from 3-5pm EST

Fun, open participation

Fics, ficlets, art, anything at all welcome!

Gundam Wing Secret Santa Exchange by @gwsecretsantaexchange

All assignments are out!

Remember to keep your recipient a secret!

Gifts should be posted and tagged December 20th - 24th

If you need to drop out for any reason (life happens!) please let the Secret Santa blog know as soon as possible!

#this week in gundam wing #november 19 - 26th

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