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tragedy-for-sale · 11 months

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On You're Own, Kid.

Everyone has a moment when they realize the person they looked up to wasn't a hero, they're a normal person. Ahsoka remembers the day she started to see Captain Rex as a person too. TW for death and gore

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Ahsoka Tano was 14. She was 14 and fighting in a war. A bloody war. Identical men bleed into one. She remembered wanting to come along with Rex to look for survivors. He didn't want her to and know she knew why. "-All we found were dead bodies." Ahsoka mumbled. They were in the Med Bay, Rex sat perfectly still as a droid patched his face.

"Yup." Rex's tone was dry. He didn't want the damn kid to come with him but Anakin- he whinced, his rage weakened his composure. Ahsoka frowned, looking over at Rex's blood soaked armor. He dug through body after body, bloody and broken. Ahsoka never wanted to do that again. She could sense Rex's agitation but she was hoping it wasn't her that upset him. She didn't even do anything. She followed him, arms over her chest wanting to hide.

She brought a med kit with her, she remembered soldiers giving her a look that she now understood. They disapproved and she wished someone told her they weren't going out there for survivors, they were going out there for the dead. Rex walked calmly among the bodies, as if their deaths wouldn't haunt him. He only checked vitals for half of them, but for all them, Rex knelt down, whispered something and ripped a chain from their neck. "I shouldn't have gone with you."

"-But you did." Rex didn't look at her and he didn't comfort her. Ahsoka was expecting both. Anakin and Obi-Wan always took their time explaining death to her, they always made sure she was okay, but Rex didn't look at her, he made it clear he didn't give a damn about how she felt.

"Do you do that after every battle?"

"Always."

"Just you?"

"Just me." Rex's face twitched before his hand swung up and gripped the droid's arm, sending it into distress. Ahsoka jumped from Rex's sudden movement, he hadn't move at all before just then. Rex let the droid go before finally turning to Ahsoka. "It's my duty, not just as a Captain, but as a brother. My men, my brothers, died today. All their deaths will go unmourned by the rest of the galaxy, but I know the name of every brother lost today and that is what I carry." His voice was grim, he was gritting his teeth, angry at the world but Ahsoka thought him angry at her.

Ahsoka watched Rex stand up, unbothered by the dry blood that caked his armor. Ahsoka pulled her knees to her chest as she looked at the floor. She wasn't supposed to be doing this, she wasn't supposed to ever be fighting a war. She was a Jedi, she was supposed to be at the temple with her family not on a cruiser in cold space with an equally as cold captain. Rex shouldn't have existed. Every man that died today should never have died because they should never have been made. What was the point of this war?

"... This isn't what I'm supposed to be doing." Ahsoka felt her face become hot. "I'm not supposed to be fighting a war," She started to cry. Rex turned and had to force his disgusted look off his face. Soldiers don't cry. "I'm supposed to have a Master and he's supposed to take me to negotiations and relief missions and, and-"

"Commander- commander." Rex tried to cut her off, he walked towards her, he didn't know what to do. He wasn't supposed to be doing this. He wasn't supposed to be counseling a kid, babysitting her and thinking about her feelings. He wasn't supposed to be clearing a path so a hand didn't fall on her foot and make her more scared than she clearly was. He was a soldier, he wasn't supposed to care about someone's well being because no one ever cared about his.

Ahsoka didn't stop crying and Rex was started to panic. "Kid, kid-" He pleaded, "A-Ahsoka, stop crying." He was at a loss. Ahsoka looked up and wiped her eyes.

"You're covered in blood, and it's not even yours, how does that not make you so sad?" Ahsoka started to bawl and Rex jumped back, he wanted to nope the hell out of this room. "We walked through dead bodies and you didn't even flinch once, you didn't even cry!" She wailed and wailed, frantically wiping her eyes, hating that this was where she was.

"Ahsoka-" Rex took off his gloves, his hands didn't have blood on them, "Kid, look, look, stop crying," He knelt down and looked up at Ahsoka. She wiped her eyes and sniffled, trying her best to listen. Rex let out a sigh, "Look, most of time people look at where they are in life and are dissatisfied with where they are 'cause they don't see it's where they're meant to be." He started to explain, "When I was a cadet, I never understood what I was training for and I never really wanted to do it if I'm honest, but as I grew I found acceptance that this is just how my life is going to go, so I found meaning in it."

He grabbed a tissue and wiped Ahsoka's face, "You're still a kid, and you're being exposed to heavy things way too early for my taste, but maybe there's a reason?" He sighed, "You're a strong kid, Ahsoka, and you're gonna be a great Jedi, you're already a great Commander. So just take it one day at a time, reflect on the pain this war causes you and carry your heart with you in everything you do..." He trailed off, he thought he sounded rather smart just then, he just hoped Ahsoka thought so too.

She looked at him and tried to smile. He'd been so cold but now he sounded like Anakin, trying so hard to help her find her place. "Thank you, Rex." She whispered as she wiped her eyes. Rex half smiled and nodded.

"Of course, 'soka"

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#Rex unable to handle other people's emotions?#yeah #just early on though #he gets better #I promise #so does Ahsoka #early war Rex is kinda a grump #Anakin doesn't follow any rule and it stresses Rex out #captain rex #he's trying #Ahsoka Tano #she's also trying #star wars #clone wars #clone wars fics #death trigger warning #tragedy's fave

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tatatatatara · 8 months

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I don't know if anyone wrote about this but the Garden Children are literally the equivalence of homeschooled inbred cult children of the US. The only proper education they received is from the CCG Academy which only teaches them to kill and do paperwork better so I don't think that counts.

#throw any garden child into the society and they wont survive for a month #example: arima doesn't understand the concept of an important meeting - he kept being late or absent #hairu doesn't get that she must follow the opinions of her superior #furuta talked back to his superiors #shio counted the ghouls like achievements in front of them #many of them dont understand social rules especially unspoken ones at all #also some of them have trouble control their emotions like hairu or hsiao

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forcedhesitation · 8 months

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their friendship is everything

#bg3 spoilers #thoughts about media #karlach is SUCH a sweetheart and so cute T____T #she asks him with so much excitement #and astarion doesn't respond to her like a jackass. he's being genuine #i wish they could actually go swimming :(#but i don't think karlach could go in water without evaporating it all :(((#and post tadpole removal i'm pretty sure there's like. old rules about running water that d&d vampires follow :(((

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araneitela · 9 days

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WHICH SYMBOLIC FRUIT ARE YOU?

Cherry. (Man, this is going to need some tag rambling; because while it's what I suspected and it's very fitting in many ways, I need to address one element).

In popular culture, cherries have come to represent sensuality, sex, and seduction. In the cult classic, Twin Peaks, Audrey Horne expresses her sexual expertise by tying a cherry stem with her tongue. "Cherry" is also used to refer to the concept of virginity: why? I don't know to be honest, but here we are. Much like the cherry, you're a sensual person who enjoys all the creature comforts the world offers. You enjoy delicious food, dynamic relationships, passionate lovemaking and stimulating conversation; however, you may also come across a touch vapid or shallow, due to your quickly fading attention when something has served its usefulness to you. To quote some man on tinder: "you're here for a good time, not a long time". You can come across, at times, slightly tart, carrying a bit of a bite to you that not everyone can handle. That’s okay: you’re an acquired taste!

Tagged: @basbousah (Thank you 🩷) Tagging: I don't tend to tag for quizzes easily but this one was actually fun, so let's harass. @immobiliter (how about Furina?) @kushtibokt @genus83 @genius81 @spiderwarden @delusionaid (Wriothesley, or Zhongli— porque no los dos? 🤭) @apocryphis (Topaz) @aventvrina @resolutepath (Elio) @daybreakrising (Blade) @astrxlfinale @kahakera @cygnor @chasersglow @scrtilegii (Jing Yuan)... and anyone else who'd like to do it, say I tagged you because I'd love to see the results!

#[ games. ] the game only works when we follow the rules; though i'll be none the wiser if they're broken. let morality be your guide.#[ this has been open in a tab since yesterday. ]#[ okay but i actually /love/ this result. BUT LET ME SPECIFY-- to those who haven't read my other post. ]#[ please read 'sex' and 'seduction' through a very old fashioned lens. very old fashioned. ]#[ and then i think it's a lot more fitting. think film noir/1940s femme fatale /instead/ of the modern femme fatale and you got it. ]#[ seductive in the way that a woman can be inherently alluring. ]#[ sex in the way that it /is/ something she engages in. but in the way that one does without overindulging at all. no promiscuity. ]#[ i'm not saying religious-type 'it means everything'. but i'll forever live by that line by blade. ]#[ “she must have sought something extraordinary. everything she does comes at a great cost.” ]#[ the thing is-- he knows she lacks fear. so i don't see 'at a great cost' being a value tied to anything because of personal risk. ]#[ or fear of chasing after it. it also means something that it comes from blade. who likely also has an interesting tie to 'fear'. ]#[ but any way that means 'at a great cost' means investment/engagement (time. effort. sacrifice?) ]#[ which shows a deep rooted dedication to something. which speaks to me of a certain passion that needs to propel something like that. ]#[ and if we take passion into the equation-- then i think that fits for how she speaks and handles everything blade and tb-related. ]#[ then i also can see 'sex' very fitting. she would; when engaging in it; be incredibly all-encompassing but not in a 'dominatrix' way. ]#[ nor a traditional 'dominant' way. but simply incredibly present. engaged. passionate. ]#[ those two things can fit incredibly next to sensuality if you simply look at it from a specific lens that isn't casual and/or modern. ]#[ outside of that... dynamic relationships? ☑️ stimulating conversation? ☑️ which PLAYS INTO THE NEXT PART. ]#[ which is /yes/ she is bored. she gets bored. you /need/ to be able to stimulate her by having something of your own to interest her. ]#[ she also wouldn't/doesn't like people who serve her every whim. no. have your own interests. ]#[ as to elaborate on an acquired taste: she isn't everyone's cup of tea. if you don't have something that interests her-- you won't... ]#[ enjoy being around her. if she doesn't /like/ you. you won't think she's fun. in /that/ she's an acquired taste. ]#[ and has a bit of a bite. ]

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th33-judg33 · 5 months

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Currently trying to write a character analysis essay on The Great Gatsby for my english class but all my thoughts are on her and the poems I could write comparing her to stars and the moon.

Makes me think I know what love is now when I stare at the constellations.

#in love #i hate essays #like what do you mean I need to write an essay following your rules when it's so painfully obvious Nick was in love with Jay??#poetry #in love with a girl #shes so pretty #a goddess #i could make a religion for her #I feel like I've been tempted to fall for an angel #but lord doesn't it feel wonderful

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offsidekineticist · 9 months

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💎💎💎 possibly? If you're still doing them!

Honestly these are so much fun I'll always still be doing them, lol. This one in particular. Also Giliys and Harper took over my brain, so you get two for the price of one.

"Mino." He seems to be staring off into the distance despite there being a wall directly behind you. He suddenly shakes his head, like a dog shaking himself dry. "Sorry, there's...a lot that comes up when she...uh...comes up....and most of it has nothing to do with her. Uh...so first off: she's great. Just...getting that out there. I think she's...well I guess the shortest way of saying it is that she's a good person. That's...not something I ever expected to say about a hellknight. But, uh, she is. Good, I mean. And when she's with Regill -" he cuts himself off. "No. That's - you wanted me to talk about what I think of Mino. Not...yeah.

"Anyway, uh...yeah, she's great. We're bardic hammer buddies. Just...completely devastating to tonedeaf skeletons everywhere. And everyone is a skeleton if you hit them hard enough, so....and it's really fun sort of...coordinating our performances on the fly."

He sighs and hangs his head. "Sorry. That's, uh...that's not very...I just don't want to say something that might make it seem like I don't like her or anything - because I do! I just...." He purses his lips. "It was easier to deal with just being 'a coincidence of birth' to Regill when I thought he didn't have a heart anymore." He takes a deep breath, before plastering a huge grin on his face.

"But Mino! I wish we had met in Brastlewark, back before the library...you know. She's so good with Ember - you can tell she loves kids, and the kids at the library would have loved her. I'd probably have to talk to a few of them about not touching other people's tails or feathers or scales without permission, but personal space and bodily autonomy are important lessons for kids to learn. May as well let them learn it while meeting a nice knight lady."

Meanwhile, in another timeline....

"Regill's wife? She's alright." Giliys shrugs. "I mean, she's bought into that hellknight shit - "

"DAT'S A BAD WORD!" Harper screams from her perch on her father's lap, the fur on her tail puffing up as Giliys flinches. She waves a glass jar in her father's face. "You gotta put a copper in da swear jar now! Dat's da rule!"

Giliys sighs as he reaches into his coin pouch and retrieves a copper piece for the swear jar. "As I was saying, she's bought into the hellknight ideology, probably no saving her at this point - but she means well, so I don't gotta constantly stop myself from reaching for my daggers when we talk."

"PAAAAPAAAA! You're not 'lowed to talk bout daggers in front of da kids! Daddy says so! Dats da rule!"

"Is it, now?" Giliys asks. "How bout I put a copper in the swear jar, then, and we just not mention it to Daddy?" Harper shakes her head.

"Nuh-uh. Swear jar's for swears only."

"That so?"

Harper nods very seriously. "Dat's da rule."

"That's the rule, huh? Well, you know, some rules were made to be broken."

"Dat's stupid."

Giliys sighs. "Yeah, shoulda figured that wouldn't work. Anyway. The sister in law." He shrugs. "I mean, she could definitely do better than Regill, no clue why she settled for that asshole."

"DAT'S A BAD WORD!" Harper shouts.

"You don't gotta shout, Tiger, I'm right here," Giliys says with a wince as he puts another copper in her swear jar. "Inside voice, remember?"

"Oh. Sorry, Papa."

"It's OK, I know you just get excited, just...try to rein it in a little, yeah?"

"Ok."

"Good. Uh...where was I? Right, no idea why she settled for....Regill. Then again I also got no clue why Thay settled for me neither. Maybe good people just have sh - " Giliys freezes, eying the girl on his lap. "Uh, terrible taste in men. There, is that allowed, Tiger?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, how bout you go play?"

"Nuh-uh. I'm s'posed to watch you til the nice person with the questions leaves."

"Are you now?"

Harper nods again, deadly serious. "Cuz Daddy says you can't be trusted alone after last time."

Giliys sighs and mutters under his breath something about "one time" and "being babysat by a four year old" and "didn't even do anything." Having a healthy sense of self-preservation, you choose that moment to take your leave.

#oc: theoven derenge #pathfinder wotr #knight-commander oc #pwotr pals #ask game #oc: giliys #friend oc: mino #Regill says the “coincidence of birth” line #During their first conversation after Theo rescues him from ghouls in the Lost Chapel #To explain why Regill doesn't hold it against Theo that he left him and his unit to die horrible deaths at the hands of demons #As in “you had no obligation to save me because we are nothing to each other.”#And Harper has definitely tried to convince Uncle Regill that she should be allowed to start armiger training #She's four whole years old #She's a big kid now #And she promises to follow all the rules #And make her bed #And stop the bad guys

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loganofthenorth · 2 years

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Es is now added to my list of comfort characters I love her

Facade: You have been seduced by Es

Me: Yes, and? Es is my friend now I love her

#alter ego caramel column #alter ego game #es alter ego #es my beloved #new blorbo acquired #I laughed when he said I was now living in sin just cause I didn't want Es to conform to society #facade I follow logic but society and its rules are more illogical than my body's wants and needs #and we can choose what impulses we follow but that doesn't mean we're bad for having them if we choose not to or to follow them #I'm prepared to go on a rant defending Es against the facade #like the facade warned me not to trust her and I was like: Okay I'll protect myself #but then I was like: Wait no she's amazing #anywho rights for Es #I have now joined a fandom smaller than sanders sides #but oh well #hello the fandom of like five people has a sixth member

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shiawasekai · 3 months

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🌺Imagining that some of Nela’s emberkin impulsiveness still comes out during the crusade and she and Daeran get up to mischief!

Oooooh, absolutely! 10/10, and not only with him.

She has matured a lot, which means whenever she indulges in her... old habits, it tends to be in a much more controlled fashion. Both for ill and for good. She may not be nearly as good as Samel in getting her way by sheer force of personality, but she knows how to compensate that more or less.

It goes from openly getting in shenanigans with some of them (I absolutely see her recruiting Woljif for some of those, he would enjoy it immensely), to indulging the companions a bit too much. No, letting Daeran/Woljif/Seelah/etc do that only speaks of trouble, but it sure is the right kind of trouble.

Honestly, I think the worst companion you can bring up to channel this energy isn't even Daeran, it's Nenio. Because Nenio doesn't bring out the childish Overly Elaborate Pretend Play energy, she brings out the Mad Nethysian Scientist energy she gained in her teens. Nela may roll her eyes with a good amount of Nenio's experiments, but once her interest is picked... now that's another matter.

Nenio and Nela have absolutely destroyed at least one (1) room in Drezen with an experiment gone wrong, just saying. Probably more. Nela's authority means she can make any stupid idea into a Legit Experiment on whatever magical method or principle is in question that day.

This side of hers absolutely sees the light sometimes even on the job, albeit that takes the shape of goading/letting her companions or others cause useful mayhem just by being themselves. The Ember returning the magical trash option on Crusade mode lives in my head rent-free and Nela was absolutely drinking her coffee and laughing to herself when she asked for Ember's help. Any Crusade option that has the "and then i purposefully annoyed someone enough to get my way" energy feel very her.

She may lean to lawful on the job, but she is not lawful!

#thank you a lot I loved this one!#I've been wanting to talk about her relationship with Nenio too so i took the chance #i see her neutral alignment on the chaos-order axis as #she is both very very rational and prone hence to follow rules as they remain the most logical thing #but she is still a lover of mayhem who may will make you get a taste if the situation calls for it #the thing with her is that the mayhem is ALWAYS a Measured “Rational” Choice #she doesn't indulge without considering if there are better options first #meme asks #oc: nela damasio

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scorchedhearth · 4 months

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a lot of things could be fixed by making casca a butch. the rest of the issues could be fixed by making her a protagonist before a girl

#look. u can have her struggle with feminity all u want without going for the boring and frankly stupid 'im a girl but i dont wear dresses'#casca pressured to perform feminity as its seen within the society and struggling with her morals (following rules) and her desires #(how good it feels to deviate and indulge in masculinity. indulge in what she wants). even as a knight suffering misogyny #have her confront others' definition of womanhood without going for 'here she is in a dress and naked still a girl despite the sword' the #the way butches do by merely existing happy in their masculinity. casca proudly claiming the title of woman and sister and confronting #anyone who treats her as less for it without doing a 'im as good as the boys' but simply 'i am good because i am me'#casca allowed to show off and truly stand out?? god.#there's so many ways to make her struggles as a woman a knight and a person living around griffith's aura interesting in a way that doesn't #dehuminize her and treat her as a tool #like. guts is treated as a tool within the story but he's an active protagonist. casca is treated as a tool within and by the storty itself #it sucks :/

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carewyncromwell · 1 year

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Percy 🤝 Carewyn

The summer of 1995 was a very busy time for Carewyn at the Ministry. Normally she would’ve been glad for the extra case work, as it would’ve allowed her to help more people, which had always been her dream and goal...but unfortunately, most of this “work” as of late had been to assist the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, in crafting some new legislation pointed directly at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Apparently Fudge was so fed up about Dumbledore having so much trouble finding suitable professors for Defense Against the Dark Arts -- in Fudge’s words, “one of the core subjects for a developing witch or wizard’s education” -- that he decided that if Dumbledore couldn’t nominate a suitable successor, the Minister (and therefore he) would just have to do it himself. Carewyn truly detested the idea -- but under the circumstances, she knew if she was both going to prevent Fudge from causing too much damage and keep the job she loved so she could continue helping people, then she’d have to be involved in putting that idea into action. So she’d accepted the role of legal counsel for Fudge while he developed this plan...even while simultaneously offering covert assistance to Dumbledore’s organization, the Order of the Phoenix, by leaving enough wiggle room to legally challenge the legislation.

One silver lining about having to work with Fudge, though, was that it gave Carewyn the chance to make contact with Percy Weasley, who had been appointed Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic earlier that summer. Carewyn had to break ties with the Weasley family, including her best friend, Bill, so as to stay at an advantageous position within the Ministry -- an act Carewyn was loathe to put on, given how much she adored all of them like her own family. But not long later, third-eldest son Percy was promoted to the role of Junior Assistant at only 19 years old -- an act Carewyn immediately pinpointed as Fudge trying to keep tabs on the Weasleys, who’d always been loyal and close friends to Dumbledore -- and right afterward, rumors started flitting around the Ministry that Percy had severed ties with his family, all because they supposedly believed the “Boy Who Lied’s” rubbish about You-Know-Who returning.

Carewyn’s heart hurt, just hearing the rumors. She knew Arthur and Molly had to be devastated over Percy’s departure -- Bill and Charlie undoubtedly would be too, once they found out. Bill in particular had always been so protective of all of his siblings: his greatest fear, from the time he was young, was any of his family being hurt. And with Voldemort really having returned, it was truly dangerous for Percy to be shoving his head in the sand at this particular moment.

Someone’s got to look after Percy and make sure he’s okay, Carewyn decided at once. If the Weasleys can’t, then I will.

So when Percy stopped by Carewyn’s tiny office the following morning to fetch the legislation draft and notes she’d written for Fudge, Carewyn couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him.

“Hi, Percy,” she greeted him.

Percy was very stiff-shouldered as he gave her a slightly forced smile and nod.

“Good morning, Carewyn,” he said, his slightly pompous voice coming out a bit brusquely despite himself. “I’m here for the notes the Minister requested...”

“I figured,” said Carewyn. She took out a file and placed it in front of her on the desk. “It’s all right here -- I enclosed a letter of recommendations at the top, for the Minister to read over -- ”

“Much obliged,” Percy cut her off as he reached out to take the file from her.

He seemed oddly evasive. Carewyn could sense he was trying not to look into her eyes too long, but when he did, slips of memory emerged.

“ -- swear, it feels like she can look right through you, at times...”

“ -- it’s called Legilimency -- ”

The first voice in Percy’s mind she didn’t recognize, but the second she immediately knew was Bill’s. The thought of her best friend made Carewyn’s heart hurt.

“You haven’t had breakfast, have you?” she said abruptly, as Percy turned to leave. “I’m brewing some coffee.”

She indicated the modified Muggle coffee maker next to her desk.

Percy’s eyes flitted over to it. For a split second, Carewyn could see his father’s face in Percy’s gaze.

“Thank you,” the bespectacled young man said uncomfortably, “but I should really get this back to the Minister -- ”

“I’ll send it on ahead for you,” said Carewyn crisply.

She raised her wand. In an instant, she’d transfigured the file in Percy’s hand into a Ministry-of-Magic-approved paper airplane, which she then Charmed to soar out of the room, out toward the Minister’s office. She then indicated the empty chair across the desk from her with a gentler expression.

“You should eat something,” she murmured.

Percy looked up at her, startled. Carewyn could see Molly in his eyes, this time -- Bill too.

The third eldest Weasley flushed darkly as he averted his eyes again, his gaze falling over to the coffeemaker and Belgian waffle iron on the side.

“...I suppose,” he said stiffly. “But I can’t stay long -- there’s a great load of work to do...”

Carewyn nodded respectfully as Percy sat down. If there was one thing she and Percy had in common, it was their workaholic tendencies.

Once Percy had sat down, Carewyn set about fetching some mugs from inside the cabinet hosting the coffee maker, as well as loading some stored batter into the modified waffle iron so it could cook. She could feel Percy’s eyes on her, but when she looked up, he quickly looked away again.

“ -- Muggles use these things to cook different kinds of food! Don’t entirely get why they choose to iron it, but Muggles are truly fascinating things, aren’t they?”

Carewyn’s eyes softened a bit, hearing Arthur’s voice in Percy’s thoughts.

“Jacob made these for me,” she attempted conversation.

Percy looked up, startled. “...Oh, ah...your brother?”

Carewyn could hear Charlie in Percy’s thoughts.

“ -- kind of a mad genius, really -- ”

“Her brother disappeared because of those Vaults, Perce -- Carey’s not going to just give up on them -- ”

“Yes. I’d mentioned how irritated I was that the cafe’s line’s always so long and that I didn’t have any electricity so I could plug in my own appliances...so Jacob ended up enchanting these so he could gift them to me for Christmas. He even made a stop at a Muggle shop out in San Francisco to pick me up the waffle iron...”

Carewyn couldn’t keep the fond smile off her face.

“...It’s been helpful, in keeping everyone fed,” she said amusedly. “Ben especially -- he’s always skipping meals. And Talbott, Tonks and I work such late nights, it’s nice to be able to brew a pick-me-up or two, to get through it all...”

Once the coffee was finished brewing, she poured out two mugs, one for Percy and one for herself.

“Would you like milk?” she asked. “Sugar?”

“Sugar, please,” said Percy. “Two lumps will do.”

Once Carewyn had fixed his cup properly, she offered it to Percy, who quietly thanked her as he brought the mug into his hands and took a sip. As he did so, he kept his eyes locked on the coffee as much as he could -- even so, Carewyn could just barely sense the clipped memories in his head: Bill standing over Carewyn’s shoulder, Charlie wrapping an arm around Carewyn and calling her his “twin”...even the twins laughing.

“She’s like Mum!”

“Only cooler!”

That’s what it is, then, Carewyn thought. He’s afraid his family’s told me about his departure.

Her red lips came together grimly as she looked down at and took a sip from her own cup, contemplating how best to approach the issue. Then, taking a deep breath, she decided to say very softly,

“...I heard about what happened.”

Percy avoided her gaze all the more even after raising his head.

“...From Bill, I presume?” he muttered.

The thought of her best friend made Carewyn give the slightest, longing wince.

“...No,” she said softly. “We...aren’t speaking, right now.”

Carewyn felt Percy’s wide eyes on her without looking up. There was a long silence, before Percy finally spoke again.

“...I see.”

His voice was very solemn and yet also oddly soft: almost empathetic.

Carewyn swallowed. She could surmise what Percy was probably thinking -- that they’d had a similar falling out -- and as much as she wanted to correct the record, she knew it would be counterproductive. She knew Percy was in denial about Voldemort being back just as much as Fudge was, and he was just as deathly loyal to the Ministry as the rest of his family was to Voldemort. If she told Percy the truth about her helping the Order or the true reason why she wasn’t in contact with Bill or the others, then he would undoubtedly tell Fudge, and everyone else would only be in more danger. And so, reluctantly, she let it lie.

When she looked up, Percy was looking her in the face again -- it made it so that his emotions were suddenly much better for her to read, through his eyes.

“He’s using you, Perce, can’t you see that?”

“ -- wants at Harry -- ”

“ -- know you don’t want to believe it -- none of us do...but You-Know-Who is back, Percy!”

“ -- only believes what he wants to see -- ”

“And what about you? Blindly marching lockstep with Dumbledore, all this time -- even after he let Bill go running off after the Cursed Vaults with Carewyn -- after he left him and Charlie around the likes of Patricia Rakepick -- !”

“Don’t you see, you’re nothing but a pawn Fudge is using to -- !”

“Nothing?! Nothing?! And what have you done with all your time at the Ministry, Dad?! Besides....besides chasing after airplanes and collecting rubbish Muggles chuck away!?”

“At least I’m trying to do something with my life! At least I’m trying to provide for everyone -- to be someone my family can actually be proud of!”

“Ah yes -- proud of. A Ministry brown-noser that bows and scrapes before the likes of weak men like Cornelius Fudge, just to advance himself -- ”

“You’ve NEVER understood me! None of you ever have!”

Arthur’s and Percy’s voices yelling at each other was a strange feeling, for Carewyn. Both of them were destructive like out-of-control, reckless flames, and yet it was oddly vulnerable: like a wounded lion lashing out when deeply hurt.

Carewyn’s eyes flooded with compassion, feeling Percy’s anger second-hand. Percy seemed to sense how much Carewyn was seeing -- before he looked down at his mug again, Carewyn once again could hear Bill.

“ -- it’s called Legilimency -- ”

“Suppose you read my mind, just now?” Percy asked with a dark smile.

Carewyn shook her head.

“Thoughts aren’t something that can be read -- they’re not sentences in a book. I can only sense and feel someone’s emotions and memories.”

She paused. Then she reached out and took Percy’s hand.

“...Percy...I’m sorry your father said that to you,” she murmured.

However right he was about You-Know-Who...and however much it is true that Fudge’s promotion of you was more selfishly motivated than you think...you’ve always worked so hard, to try to do well at the Ministry. Mr. Weasley must’ve known how much all of this means to you...

Percy’s eyes darkened.

“He thinks I’m just thinking of myself,” he said lowly. “That I’m just running after glory for myself, and nothing else. But...”

His hand started to shake as he clenched his teeth, bowing his head.

“...But...but he’s always been the selfish one!” he burst out angrily. “Always running around, dawdling after Muggles...like his job’s nothing but a game! His was the only salary we’ve got to live on, since Mum’s always been at home -- sure, we want him to be happy, and yes, we’ve been able to manage...but we shouldn’t have HAD to just ‘manage!’ He should’ve been providing for us -- he should’ve been trying to climb the ladder, should’ve been looking for a job that could actually pay the bills, rather than make us constantly live on the edge...constantly have to buy things second-hand, constantly have to decline opportunities or make do with rubbish, just because we couldn’t afford better...constantly have to live with the stigma of being one of Arthur Weasley’s boys...”

Percy’s hand inside of Carewyn’s clenched into a fist. Carewyn gave Percy’s fist a gentle squeeze, but she didn’t speak: this was a time to listen, not to talk.

Exhaling heavily, Percy put down his mug of coffee down on the table, so as to protect it from his own temper.

“I wanted to attend the Slug Club party with you,” he mumbled self-consciously. “The one your brother was invited to, before you graduated.”

Carewyn blinked in surprise.

“I’d heard all about the Slug Club from other students,” Percy explained earnestly. “About how Horace Slughorn’s only ever invited those he saw as the most up-and-coming witches and wizards to his events. I thought it’d be exciting to meet so many new, well-regarded people -- maybe talk to Barnabas Cuffe about what it’s like to work as a journalist for the Daily Prophet -- chat with some fascinating up-and-coming authors, before I read their work -- maybe even meet the Gwenog Jones -- tell her how much my little sister idolizes her...”

Carewyn’s eyes welled up with compassion.

“Percy, why didn’t you say anything?” she asked sadly. “Jacob and I would’ve loved to have you join us.”

Percy shook his head. "I was only fourteen. Slughorn would’ve had no reason to talk to me -- I hadn’t done anything that would set me apart as anything other than ‘one of Arthur Weasley’s boys.’ And I already knew I had nothing to wear that would be suitable.”

“Andre would’ve made you something to wear,” said Carewyn, but Percy shook his head again.

“I thought of that, but...at the time, I didn’t want to be treated like a charity case,” he said gloomily. “I was already so much younger than you, and...well, you’ve always been much closer with Bill and Charlie than me. Even Fred and George...”

“That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have been welcome,” Carewyn said very firmly, giving Percy’s hand a squeeze. “I only went to that party because of Jacob, and Jacob only went out of a sense of feeling like he had to, after how worried Slughorn was about him all those years. I know Slughorn would’ve loved having another person there who was just as thrilled to be there as he was.”

Percy gave Carewyn a weak smile. Through his eyes, Carewyn could feel just how warm and comforting her sentiment was.

“...Thank you, Carewyn.”

He paused. Then, taking a breath, he took the plunge.

“It’s...it’s lovely that you went to a party you weren’t even interested in, just to support your brother,” he said quietly. “I don’t think any of my siblings would go with me, if I got invited to a Slug Club party...they’ve never been interested in such things...”

Carewyn frowned. “You don’t think Bill or Charlie would’ve supported you?”

Percy looked uncomfortable. “In sentiment, maybe, but...well, Bill and Charlie always spent the most time together, at home. They were always each other’s best friend, before they got to school and met you. And Fred and George of course always had each other...even Ron and Ginny ended up together most often, just because they were the smallest and always needed the most attention...”

“...Leaving you all by yourself,” Carewyn finished grimly.

Percy’s eyes darkened again. Carewyn could sense the remnants of a very lonely bespectacled boy hiding in a hollowed-out tree outside the Burrow, reading a book, coming off of him.

Carewyn’s eyes softened and she gave Percy’s hand another affectionate squeeze.

“I’m sorry, Percy,” she murmured. “It must’ve been really lonely for you sometimes...even with how close your family’s always been...”

Her eyes landed on their hands rather than Percy’s face as she tried to shut out the isolating memories rippling off of Percy.

“...My mum’s family was a lot worse than yours...but she was the black sheep there too...and she’s always said that you should never be lonely, when you’re in a family. Even when you’re physically alone...you should never have to feel alone.”

Percy looked up at Carewyn, his lips twitching into a weak, humorless smile.

“Your mother sounds like a very kind woman.”

He paused. Then, after a moment, he spoke a bit more bitterly.

“...I...don’t suppose Fred’s followed up with you about taking over my old room at the Burrow, now that I’ve left for good?”

Carewyn’s blue eyes welled up with pain.

“...Percy...”

She got up from her chair, extended both of her arms, and encircled him in a big hug. The taller ginger-haired man flinched ever-so-slightly, but almost immediately grabbed onto her in return, burying his face into her shoulder without ever getting up from his seat.

“He didn’t mean it like that,” Carewyn whispered in Percy’s ear. She found herself maternally stroking the younger boy’s hair like she sometimes would Charlie’s, when he was sad.

“I know,” Percy’s voice came out slightly muffled beside her shoulder. “...I know...”

Even so, Carewyn could tell how much that barbed joke had really hurt.

Percy’s arms adjusted a bit around Carewyn, giving her a slightly tighter squeeze before he finally released her. He brought a hand up under his glasses to covertly wipe at the tear that had formed in the corner of his right eye, clearing his throat loudly.

“Excuse me, I...lost my composure. Silly thing...”

“It’s not silly,” Carewyn shut him down sharply.

Softening at once again, she walked over to the waffle iron, which had started to beep. She opened it, levitating out the newly cooked waffle inside with her wand onto a plate before summoning some butter and strawberry compote out of a drawer.

“I realize this makes for a rather sweet breakfast,” said Carewyn as she set about buttering and then drizzling the compote over the waffle. “But...well, Mum used to say that sometimes something sweet in the morning can take off the edge of a bitter night’s sleep.”

Percy eyed the full plate of food and then the clock.

“It looks lovely, but...” he said uneasily, “...I really should be getting back to work...”

“Then take it with you,” said Carewyn. “You can always bring the plate and mug back to me, when you’re done with them.”

Percy’s eyes softened a bit behind his glasses as he picked up his half-full mug and got to his feet. “...All right.”

He accepted the plate from her in his other hand as he headed for the door. He paused in the door frame, looking back over his shoulder at her with a slightly warmer expression.

“...Carewyn...thank you for listening. I mean, you clearly have a full day of work yourself to contend with, and -- ”

“My work might be very important to me,” Carewyn said firmly, “but the only reason it is so important is because it lets me help people. And the people I care about I will always help first.”

Carewyn could imagine Bill standing over Percy’s left shoulder, smiling fully and handsomely as ever. It made her smile that bit more warmly at Percy.

“...My office door is always open, if you need anything,” she said gently.

Percy smiled and nodded, before turning on his heel and heading out of Carewyn’s office, taking another sip of coffee as he went.

Friendship Drabble Prompt!

#hphm #hogwarts mystery #my writing #friendship drabbles #percy weasley #carewyn cromwell #arthur weasley #bill weasley #charlie weasley #jacob cromwell #horace slughorn #yeah I see carewyn and percy really becoming closer while stuck at the ministry together under fudge #percy definitely sees carewyn in a similar way he does bill in the sense that he doesn't agree with all her choices #(namely not being a rule-follower all the time and sometimes being deceptive to achieve her ends)#but also really respects her because of just how caring and paragon she is personality-wise #plus like bill she parents the hell out of people including bill and charlie's siblings #so yeah she also has some molly weasley vibes for all the weasley kids hahahaha #also yes arthur was harsh in that argument but honestly percy went way over the line too AND this involves a political dispute #considering it's about supporting or not supporting fudge and the ministry #so yeah I could see why it would get heated fast and a lot of things would be said that were both cutting and harsher than they meant #I'm looking forward to maybe drawing/writing some content for that slug club party slughorn invites the cromwells to at some point #after that one big merula-centric drawing project I'm working on right now

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