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sir-subpar · 3 years

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Fangs And Fur (Bf x Pico oneshot)

Werewolf Au. Because I want to. This was somewhat inspired by an animated short called "Dirty Paws"

*Warning: Swearing and Blood/Gore/Violence. (It's not that bad, but just in case)

Bf and Pico shared jokes and friendly banter as Pico walked Boyfriend home. It was dusk, just barely any sunlight illuminating the neighborhood. The two of them had just finished a dinner date, still laughing and flirting as they walked along the sidewalk on Bf's home street. Some of Boyfriend's neighbors were greeting the boys from their yards as the two passed by.

Carol, whose house was directly to the left of Boyfriend's, was finishing up watering her yard when she saw her neighbor and his date. "Hey Boyfriend!" Carol greeted them happily. "Hi Carol! How are you?" Boyfriend replied, he and Pico stopping in front of her new painted fence to talk. "I'm good, just relaxing after putting in this darn fence. It took forever, but it's worth it though to keep my little Cocoa Puff safe." Carol gestured to her mini poodle, the little fuzzball had brown curly fur, hence the name Cocoa Puff. "You should probably get a fence too, Bf. There's been a lot more animal attacks happening lately." Carol warned, Bf and Pico shifted with unease. "Yeesh, has it been getting that bad?" The bluette asked nervously. "It's been really bad, Sunday's cat got attacked the other night. Poor little guy was really chewed up by some big animal.." "Oh no! Not Bubsy!" Bf had a soft spot for animals in general, even though he didn't have any pets of his own, he always loved animals. Pico, too, felt bad for the little cat. "Did the cat survive? How bad was it?" Pico asked, never having met Sunday or her cat Bubsy, Bf told him about them before. Sometimes Sunday would ask Bf to babysit her cat when she was on tour, he was really good with Bubsy. Carol gave a look of sympathy, knowing the cat's condition. "He's alive, but it's a long road to recovery." She said dejectedly. "I've been hearing that people are setting traps around here, so keep an eye out for those too. Okay?" "Will do, thanks Carol." Bf replied, Pico only nodded in response. "Anyway, moving on to lighter news.. Are you going to introduce me to your friend here?" Carol lightly teased, tilting her head in Pico's direction. "Oh yeah! Right. Carol, this is Pico!" Bf wrapped his arm around the redheaded man's shoulders, making Pico's face turn pink. A look of recognition flashed onto Carol's features. "Ooooh, so THIS is the boyfriend you're always talking about. It's nice to finally meet you Pico." Carol teased, holding out her hand. Pico felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment before shaking Carol's hand. It was flattering to know that Boyfriend talked about him. "Y-yeah. You too."

Carol giggled a bit. "Alright, well I'll let you guys enjoy your evening. Have a good one!" Bf waved at her while he and Pico walked up to his porch. Bf held the door open for Pico, but he declined going inside. Bf of course took notice of this, as well as Pico's nervous demeanor.

"Are you okay, Pico?"

"Yeah.. I just- I should head home. I had a nice night. Let's go out again soon." Pico gave him a smile that was somewhat forced. "Oh… okay. Well, I'll call you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, sounds good." Pico gave Bf a kiss on the cheek, then he left. Bf closed his door, he was a little disappointed, if he was honest. He had hoped Pico would stay the night, but it was Pico's choice. It wouldn't have been right to stop him. Bf just decided to chill instead. Sweets and videogames were the perfect cure for disappointment.

…

Pico rushed home, the sun had already gone down, he didn't have much time. He felt bad. Not just for leaving an obviously dejected Boyfriend, but for being so secretive with him. But he didn't have time for that! He needed to get home and lock up. It was only a matter of time before the moon would show it's Damn face. He dashed down the street , finally getting to the cul de sac he lived on. He ran onto his porch, swinging open his door and slamming it behind him. Just in the nick of time. He collapsed on the floor. His transformation was already taking place. His breathing was heavy, he couldn't help but shout in agony as his body reconfigured itself into its new form. Before he was lost to the lycan curse, however, he had one last horrifying realization.

He forgot to close the window.

…

It had been a couple of hours, Bf had changed into some comfy clothes and was watching tv on his couch. He couldn't help but think of Pico. It was weird how nervous he suddenly was. Pico had been fine all day, but suddenly he ran off after talking to Carol. Was he really that flustered? It didn't seem like it was a big deal. Surely it was something else, but what? Bf sighed, it wasn't really his business, but he wanted to know what was up. He decided to text Pico.

Bf: Hey. I had a lot of fun at dinner :) I just wanna see if you're alright, you seemed off earlier. Everything ok?

Thirty minutes went by, and he got no response. 'Maybe he's already asleep?' Boyfriend thought, sure it wasn't super late, but it wasn't unusual for people to sleep at this hour. Boyfriend shut off the tv. Maybe he should just get some air. It was nice out. A nice warm summer night. A walk would do him some good. Sure he was basically in pajamas, with a mismatched t-shirt and sweatpants but who cares? He put his phone and keys in his pockets, and left the house for a walk. His neighborhood was fairly close to a nice wooded area. It wasn't really a forest, but there were wild animals around. Like coyotes and rabbits. He decided to hang out around the trees. He sat down on a stump that had once been a huge cottonwood tree, and he just listened to the noises around him. Crickets and other bugs were chirping and buzzing around. It was oddly serene.At least, it was. Until some rustling in the bushes caught his attention.

He was startled, frightened even, but then he felt relieved once he realized it was a rabbit. Just a little rabbit. But his levity was short lived when noticed the rabbit was limping. He used his phone's flashlight to get a better look. The poor rabbit was barely able to move, its flesh had been ripped apart, blood soaking its fur, and one of its legs was missing. It trembled and struggled. Boyfriend's heart sank when the realization set in that the poor thing wasn't going to make it. It was suffering, and he hated to see animals suffer. He decided to try and comfort it. The rabbit collapsed, he gently brushed his fingers on its soft little head. The rabbit's breathing was still panicked, but it was too weak to do anything. He considered killing it to end its misery, but before he could, he heard snarling coming from the bush. He quickly shined the light on it, just in time to see the snout of a larger animal swiftly bite the rabbit.

Bf jumped back in fear. The animal stalked out of the bushes that had hidden it, revealing a large orangish red wolf. The rabbit, the wolf's prey, was still in its jaws. The small rodent fell limb as the wolf's fangs sunk into its body. Bf could hear the bones crack. It didn't take long for the wolf to completely devour the rodent. Bf froze. Should he run? Would the wolf want him? He couldn't help but tremble at the large beast before him. Then it looked at him. Its eye bore into his soul. Focused. It watched him intently. Bf stayed still. Maybe if he didn't make any sudden movements, it would move on. It approached him slowly, circling him. It then got closer, inspecting him with its nose. It seemed particularly drawn to his pocket. Bf slowly reached into his pocket, the wolf allowed it, watching him. Bf pulled out a small bag of chocolate chip cookies. He had forgotten that he put those there. The wolf's ears perked up a bit, and it tilted it's head.

"Is this what you want?" The Wolf kept its eyes locked on the bag. "I'm not sure if you should have this, it has chocolate in it. Pretty sure dogs can't have that." The wolf growled, seeming to not take "no" as an answer. "Okay okay! Fine! They're yours!" Bf reached into the bag, then tossed a cookie at the wolf. The treat hit its nose before falling on the ground. The wolf appeared displeased with the assault on its nose, giving a huff before eating the cookie. "Well sorry, it's not my fault you're clumsy and didn't catch it." Bf said sarcastically. The wolf looked at him again, it wanted more treats. Bf tossed another cookie, this time aiming in front of the wolf so he didn't hit its nose again. The beast seemed content with that. So Bf kept doing it until he ran out.

The canine's demeanor had thankfully shifted, it seemed more docile after being fed. Boyfriend had calmed down significantly, no longer fearing for his life. "Well, it was nice to meet you… wolf. I'm gonna go home. I've had enough excitement today." Bf turned away from the orange/red animal, trusting that it wouldn't pounce on him while his back was turned. As he walked away, he could hear two pairs of footsteps behind him. He looked back to confirm that the wolf was following him. When he stopped, the wolf halted, when he moved, the wolf followed. "I uh, think you should stay here. Where you live. I'm going home." Bf tried again to leave, the wolf followed him anyway. "No. You stay. I go." Bf tries using hand gestures to get the animal to listen, but to no avail. Bf picked up a stick and threw it. It didn't seem to interest the wolf, but the stick accidentally hit some small animal Bf hadn't noticed before. That got the wolf's attention. As the large mammal attacked the unfortunate stick receiver, Bf took the opportunity to run home. He managed to make it to his house and close the door. Bf leaned against the wood, sliding down till he hit the carpet. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. After he had calmed down, astonishment took over. He just fed a wolf. And he didn't die! He was like Snow White! Holy crap!

Bf eventually stood up and moved to the couch. Deciding that maybe he should relax for a bit. He started channel surfing on his TV, settling on a random cartoon that was on. He could feel his tense muscles relaxing a bit. He let out a sigh of relief.

…

He had gotten through a few episodes when he heard something. Something outside.

*SCRATCH SCRATCH*

He muted the tv. No way. There's no way this was happening.

*SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH*

It followed him home.

He could hear the clawing getting faster. Impatient. Instead of following common sense, he decided to open the door. His motion triggered porch light shone on the wolf's red/orange fur. It's white eyes bore into his soul again. Bf stepped aside, allowing the beast into his house. The wolf strutted in, immediately smelling anything and everything it could. It didn't seem aggressive, just curious. Bf filled a bowl with water and set it on the floor. Might as well hydrate his new houseguest. Eventually his fears dissipated. He went back to the couch, watching the wolf as it wandered around his living room. He watched the tv again, laying down across the sofa comfortably.

And, before he could prepare for it, he was suddenly smothered by orange fur. The wolf had kept onto the sofa, laying on top of the blue haired man. He tried to push the wild dog off of him, but he couldn't budge it. This was his life now. He was a man-sized dog's couch cushion now. He didn't know wolves could get this big now that he thought about it. But it didn't matter. He was stuck. This was the predicament he was in. He gave up. The dog had won. Despite the animal's weight, he managed to fall asleep. It was warm and fluffy, so it wasn't so bad.

…

The rising sun peeked through the blinds, illuminating Bf's face, waking him up. He shifted a little, still feeling the warm mass on top of him. He yawned, his eyes still closed. He petted the wolf on top of him, his fingers gently brushing its soft skin- wait a second. His eyes shot open.

"Pico!?"

The man jolted awake after hearing his name. Pico looked at Bf with wide eyes. His face turned almost as red as Bf's signature hat. The two stared in silence for what felt like forever before Boyfriend broke it.

"You owe me an explanation."

"Can I borrow some clothes first?"

"Please do."

#fnf #friday night funkin #werewolf #bf x pico #pico x bf #fnf pico #werewolf pico #fnf bf #oneshot #fanfic

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perpetualoverthinker · 4 years

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New In Town (JJ x Reader)

(not my gif!)

Summary: It’s junior year on the Outer Banks and a new face shows up in town, catching the attention of a particular blunt rolling surfer...

Warnings: underage drinking, swearing, weed

WC: 2.3k

A/N: Sooo I’m not really sure what this is...I just had a really strong urge to write something and so I just wrote whatever came to mind (aka Outer Banks because that’s all I can think about rn lol). Most of this first part is exposition (I’m sorry!!) but hopefully things will spice up in the next chapter, even though I plan on making this a slow burn. Also, I’m not sure how often I’ll update this story, but for now I plan on continuing to write it! This is my first time writing fanfic, so please go easy on me lol. I love getting feedback on the things I write, so don’t hesitate to leave some (or write anything you’d like to see in following chapters)!

When your dad told you he was uprooting the whole family away from the city and down to the Outer Banks, you felt your heart drop. The thought of leaving New York, the only home you had ever known, and moving down south filled you with dread. How were you supposed to adjust? You wouldn’t see your friends, you would be leaving the high school you knew so well, and you didn’t even like the beach that much. You had nothing to look forward to in North Carolina.

Your dad had told you and your sisters that it would be a fresh start. He said that he had some friends down there and that this was your chance to begin anew. After your mom had died, your father had felt there were too many memories in New York. Too many fresh wounds. You felt differently, of course, and fought him on it. Sometimes it felt like you were winning the argument and other times it felt like you had no chance. Ultimately, you lost.

The summer before junior year was coming to an end as the car pulled up into your new driveway. The house was fancy and absurdly big for your four-person family. It perfectly blended in with the large, luxurious houses scattered throughout the neighborhood. You laughed at the gaudiness of it all. You quickly jumped out of the car and waited with your sisters as the moving truck slowly parked along the curb.

“Girls, help me with the boxes while I unlock the door, will you?” your dad shouted as he headed for the front door.

You made your way to the truck and started heaving boxes towards the house, your sisters trailing behind you, lugging whatever they could. You made sure you picked up the boxes labeled “y/n’s room” first. All you wanted was to escape to your room and wallow. As you were about to step inside the house, you noticed a girl about your age running up your driveway. Dressed in a floral summer dress, long blonde hair flowing behind her, she shouted, “Hey!” You watched her wearily as you dropped the boxes at your feet.

“You’re the new neighbors, right?”

“We indeed are!” your dad exclaimed as he came up behind you and placed his hands on your shoulders.

“I’m Sarah,” she said as she extended her hand out to your dad, “I live just around here and thought I should introduce myself.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Sarah.” He shook her hand, smiling. “We’re the y/l/ns. This is Nicky and Jo.” he said while gesturing to the two little girls (who were already getting bored of the conversation) sitting cross-legged on the ground, picking at the grass. “And this is y/n.” He shook your shoulders gently as you smiled awkwardly at the pretty girl.

“So, do you go to Kildare High School?”

“Ah, no. I go to the private school around here. But I have some friends who go to the public school.”

“Maybe you could introduce them to y/n!” You wished your father would stop talking sometimes. “Well, I should start hauling those boxes in. y/n, just bring up your boxes when you’re done.” He kissed you on the side of the head, waved at Sarah, and walked back inside, Nicky and Jo scampering behind him.

“I should probably head back,” Sarah pointed her thumb back and started to walk away but stopped midway. “Hey, um, I don’t know what you’re doing later tonight, but my friends are having an end-of-summer party down at the boneyard if you want to come?”

“Boneyard?”

“Oh, it’s just a beach. You’re welcome to come, though. Get to know some people on the island. It’s around 10.”

“Sure, I guess. I’ll see you then…”

“Great! I’ll meet you back here!” At that, she turned around and walked back down the driveway.

• • •

Soon enough, 10 o’clock came around and you were standing outside your front door. You weren’t sure what you were doing. The girl seemed nice enough, but how badly did you really want to make friends on an island you wished you weren’t on?

“Hey! You ready to go?” Once again, Sarah came jogging up your driveway and held up a six-pack of beer.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

As you strolled along the road headed towards the beach, you admired the environment surrounding you. Being in the city your whole life, you weren’t used to seeing mass amounts of trees or hearing crickets chirp through the night. The steady hum of the night seemed to ease some of your tension. You took a moment to close your eyes and take it in while you walked. The girl beside you glanced over at you and smiled.

“I think that’s the most I’ve seen you relax. Earlier today, it looked like you couldn’t wait to run away from me,” she chuckled.

“Sorry about that. Let’s just say moving wasn’t my idea.”

“So why did you move?”

You felt your throat go a little dry. “Um, my mom passed away about eight months ago.”

“Fuck, I’m sorry.” She grabbed your hand and squeezed it.

“So my dad thought it would be a good idea to move here and get a new start. Me on the other hand, I thought we should’ve just stayed in New York.”

“Well, you’ve already made your first friend.” She smiled at you and kept holding your hand as you stumbled down to the beach.

Right away, you noticed an unusual split between partygoers. Scattered on one side of the beach stood people dressed in pastel polos, khaki shorts, boat shoes and designer bathing suits. On the other side, people were dressed in less expensive and more casual clothes.

A group of kids surrounding a beer keg looked over towards you and Sarah and started waving at the girl next to you. Sarah tugged you along towards the group. Letting go of your hand, she went to hug each kid. You suddenly felt out of place with the absence of your new friend’s hand.

Within the little huddle stood three boys and a girl. Sarah had gone up and kissed the brunette boy wearing a bandana around his neck and a button up shirt (in which the buttons seemed highly unnecessary, for he nearly had all of them unbuttoned). Stood beside him was a darker skinned boy wearing a snapback. He had his arms around the two other members of the group while he laughed along to whatever Sarah was saying at the moment. The girl had dark curly hair and friendship bracelets lined both of her wrists while the last boy was blonde and wore a cutoff shirt. He held a blunt in one hand and a beer in the other. You couldn’t help but notice that they were all obscenely attractive.

Where the fuck am I?

“Alright, alright, everyone. We have a newbie here! She’s my new neighbor.” Sarah announced as she gestured towards you. Suddenly all eyes were on you.

“Well hello there…” the blonde boy said while he sauntered over to you. You could tell he was trying to flirt, and your cheeks went red.

“JJ cool it. Don’t freak her out.” The other girl came up to you and grinned. “Don’t mind the horndog over here. I’m Kiara, but you can call me Kie.” You shook her hand. “And that’s John B. and Pope.” She pointed at each boy respectively. “And now you know who this idiot is.” She playfully shoved the blonde’s arm.

“I’m y/n.”

“Beer?” John B. asked, holding up a red solo cup. You nodded and moved closer to the group. “So y/n, where you from?”

“New York.”

“So a city girl, huh?” JJ laughed and raised an eyebrow at you.

“Yeah, not much of a beach person I guess.”

“Not a beach person and she moves to the Outer Banks. I think you’ve chosen the wrong place to live.” Pope laughed as he downed the rest of his beer.

“What’s with the preppy kids separated from everyone else?” you ask, looking back towards the polo clad group. All of them except Sarah scoff at the mention of them. “What?” You looked at Sarah, confused.

“Listen, here on the island there are the kooks,” John B. paused to point over at the group, “and the pogues.” He made a circling gesture towards his friends.

“The kooks are rich entitled assholes who live on Figure Eight and pogues are the low-lives who live on the Cut. It’s war, my friend.” JJ stated while he glared at the kooks.

You tried stifling your laughter at the absurdness of it all after seeing the serious faces which had fallen upon the group. Your attempt to hold it in was feeble. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” you burst out.

“Thank you! Finally someone who agrees with me!” Sarah beamed.

“It’s not stupid! They really fucking suck!” JJ exclaimed.

“Well don’t you think it’s at least a little stupid? I mean come on. Only people in movies or celebrities have rivalries.”

“You’ll change your mind once you speak to one of them…” You only shook your head and chuckled to yourself. That is, until you noticed a few of the kooks heading over towards the keg.

“Jesus, here we fucking go.” JJ complained as he stepped in front of you. “What do you want Rafe?”

The tall blonde boy approaching smirked. “I heard I got a new neighbor,” he said while eying you up and down. All you could do was make a face. “Just wanted to make sure she wasn’t making the same mistake my sister made, hanging out with you losers.”

“And why does who I decide to hang out with concern you?” you asked as you sidestepped out of JJ’s protective stance.

“Woah, fiery. I like that…” he chuckled. You noticed JJ’s body tense when Rafe took a step towards you. You rolled your eyes and stepped back to avoid him getting any closer.

“Listen, not gonna happen bud.” You turned around and started walking to the keg, hoping to just end the unwanted interaction there.

“Whatever, your loss!” he called out. “Hope you enjoy whoring yourself out to these dirty pogues.” You stopped dead in your tracks, whipping yourself around. Before you could let out a response, JJ charged Rafe and punched him square in the jaw. In one swift moment, Rafe’s goonies and the pogues behind you rushed towards the two squabbling boys. Rafe threw some punches and busted JJ’s eyebrow, but JJ soon had Rafe beneath him and was throwing punch after punch. You could see blood dripping down the kook’s face, splattering after each blow. Beside you, Kie and Sarah were yelling at the boys to stop. John B. and Pope both rushed to wrangle JJ off of Rafe as the kooks attempted to drag him out from under.

“You’re fucking dead, pogue!” Rafe pointed at JJ as he retreated with his friends.

Looking over at JJ, one wouldn’t have thought he had just gotten into a fight. Sure, scrapes littered his face and you could see purple starting to blossom along his cheek and eye but plastered on his face was a shit eating grin. “Why the fuck are you smiling?”

“Because I won,” he smirked and winked at you. You shook your head, laughing nervously.

Turning to Sarah, you said, “Listen, I think I’m gonna head home.”

“What? But you just got here!” she pouted, running up to you and grabbing your hands.

“I think I’ve seen everything I need to. There was beer, banter, a fight. I’m already partied out.” You chuckle, more to yourself than to Sarah.

“Alright, fine. You want me to walk you home?”

“I can do it.” You and Sarah turned to look at JJ as he raised his hand slightly. “I’ve got to clean up anyways,” he said, gesturing to his face.

“Ok, sure.” You looked at him, once again blushing, as he moved towards you.

The walk home was mostly silent, with the exception of you giving directions every so often. JJ had rolled another blunt and the two of you were passing it between each other, huffing out smoke as you walked. You weren’t sure why he had volunteered to walk you home. Maybe he felt bad for you, you thought. Or maybe he just wanted to get in your pants. The thought made your cheeks flush. All you knew was that the silence was eating away at you.

“Hey, thanks for tonight,” you mumbled, looking down at your feet.

“For what?”

“Defending me, walking me home…”

“Oh, no problem.” You saw him blush a little. “Rafe’s an asshole. He had it coming.”

“You probably didn’t need to punch him,” you said as you glanced at his scraped-up face.

“What’s the fun in that?” The smirk from before reappeared.

“You find getting punched in the face fun?” you asked incredulously.

“Nah…I find the punching fun.” He took a drag of the blunt and passed it to you. As the two of you were approaching your house, you found yourself wishing you hadn’t walked so fast.

You slowed down at the end of the driveway and turned to JJ. “Well, this is me…” JJ stopped and stared at the house before him, letting out a low whistle. “What?”

“When Sarah said you were her neighbor, I knew you were rich, but I didn’t know you were rich rich.” You scoffed at the remark, rolling your eyes.

“I swear to god, if you call me a kook, I’ll kick your ass,” you said in a serious tone, but you couldn’t help but smile.

“Is that a threat?” He bit his lip and cocked his eyebrow.

“Maybe…” you said slyly as you walked up towards your front door, JJ still following. Slipping your key into the lock and opening the door, you looked back at him. “I’ll see you around pogue.” Then you shut the door.

“Jesus…” JJ mumbled under his breath, turning the other way and laughing to himself.

Leaning against the door, you smiled ear to ear. Maybe you did have something to look forward to on this island…

CH 2

#outer banks netflix #obx netflix #outer banks imagine #jj x reader #jj imagine #jj maybank #jj maybank x reader #obx fanfiction

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rosywrites · 4 years

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The Tale of the Lunar Kingdoms, Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Mortal Realm Fandom: League of Legends Ship: Jinx/Lux AU: Lunar Revel, Warring Kingdoms, Immortal Journey, Blood Moon

[AO3]

Word count: 4086

A figure slinks through the shadows of the kingdom, sticking to the walls and ducking under rails whenever an attendant passes by. They run across the wooden floor, a rhythm to their feet as if they’re dancing. But there’s a misstep, and a floorboard creaks. They freeze when they hear the sound of a howl nearby and breaks into a sprint, no longer minding all the creaking of the floorboards.

Around the corner just outside of the hallway, a white-maned wolf skids to a stop before continuing his pursuit. At the other end of the hallway, he sees Lux running away faster and erratically. “Get back here!” he snarls.

“Already?! How?!” Lux cries, picking up the pace. But it’s useless as Warwick catches up in seconds. She groans. “I’m sorry, Warwick!” With a swing of her wand, a golden light shoots towards the guardian and roots him in place.

“You!” he howls.

“I said I’m sorry!” Lux cries again as she gains distance from Warwick. She turns several corners to shake him off her trail. She pauses for a few seconds to catch her breath. But she knows she can’t rest for long. Warwick has the best sense of smell among anyone in the kingdom. Surely, he would find her within a minute.

One more breath, and she takes off again. Just as she’s close to exiting the outer palace, she sees the familiar dark mane of her other guardian.

Oh no.

Nasus appears from around the corner with a manuscript in hand, a scepter in the other. Without even sparing a glance, he swiftly tucks his scepter under his arm and extends his hand out to grab her by the collar.

“No!” Lux whines. “How did you know I was heading this way?!”

“You’re easy to read,” Nasus answers. He finally looks at Lux with a raised brow. “Not to mention, you’ve been trying to sneak out of the palace frequently nowadays.” He releases Lux, who slumps in defeat.

She glances at Nasus grabbing his scepter again. His scepter. Her wand. Her old wand. She doesn’t remember when it happened, but one day, Nasus had awakened his powers through her wand. Lucian must have seen it, since he’s the one who requested the wand to be crafted into a scepter. It looks completely different from what it used to look like.

Lux, in the meantime, was given a new wand. A two-sided wand with a sculpture of Nasus and Warwick on either side with a gold plating at the center of the rod. Her new wand was much lighter and easier to use, and it was still crafted at Azir’s kingdom.

“Warwick, you’re late,” he says as Warwick slides to a stop before them.

“Hey, it’s not my fault she rooted me!” he protests. “I almost caught her three times today.”

“Then you should be faster.”

Warwick rolls his eyes and scratches the back of his ear. “Yeah, yeah, at least you caught her.” He huffs in annoyance when Nasus grunts in acknowledgement. “What are you reading this time?”

Nasus shuts the manuscript and holds it up. “Names and mentions of demons.” He flips it in his hands as if he’s examining it from cover to cover. “It’s rather short, but this is all I can find.” He then sighs. “Lux, don’t think we don’t know you’re trying to sneak out again.”

Lux, who was trying to tiptoe past them, twirls around with a nervous smile. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just, uh, thinking of heading to the training grounds!”

“You’re going the opposite way,” Warwick says, pointing at the hallway in which they came from with an expectant look. “Get going, or I drag you there with you in my teeth.” He shoots Lux a toothy grin.

She hangs her head in defeat. “Okay…” She trudges back to the inner palace with Warwick and Nasus following closely behind. She blows a stray hair strand out of her eyes.

Why wasn’t she allowed down to the mortal realm yet? All her predecessors were able to take the carriages there. Why couldn’t she ? She sighs. She was just so curious about the kind of lifestyles humans had there. Being a demigod and raised in a palace in the heavens, she can only imagine what new and fun adventures would await her.

“Lux, we know you want to visit the mortal realm. But you can barely protect yourself,” Nasus states. “What if something happens down there, and we’re not there to protect you?”

She pouts. “I know, I know… It’s just,” she pauses with a sigh of exasperation, “There’s a festival going on down there, and I want to join in on the festivities! I just want to take a peek and have some fun, even if it means I’ll be watched for every second I’m down there.” Her eyes suddenly light up, and her pace slows to a stop. “What if the three of us go? Lucian would allow it if my two guardians would come with me, right?” She bats her eyes innocently with her hands clasped together.

Warwick and Nasus exchange looks.

“No.”

Lux lies in bed, buried under her blanket and listening to the sounds of the night. Just as she thinks the silence is getting heavy, the click of her door catches her attention. Thump. Thump. Oh, it’s Warwick. She doesn’t poke her head out of the blanket. She then feels a weight by the side of her bed. Curious, she peeks out and sees Warwick’s head beside her own.

“What are you doing, Warwick?” she asks.

“Watching you,” he answers. “I can’t have you running off again.”

Her lip juts out in a pout. “Yeah, yeah, I know.” She reaches to pet his muzzle, at which his tail starts wagging happily. “Where’s Nasus?”

“In the archives.”

“Hm,” Lux hums in acknowledgement.

Though she doesn’t remember when it all started, she somewhat recalls Nasus spending more and more time in the archives when they were younger. Not to mention he became a lot more mature earlier too. She tried asking Lucian about it once, Nasus’ change being sudden and all. He only smiled and told her that he’s probably settling into his guardian duties now.

She remembers how small they used to be. They were so small, and she could carry the both of them in her arms so easily. But they grew bigger so fast, they were already towering over her by the time she turned sixteen years old. She thinks they stopped growing since then.

Probably her too. She feels like she’s been the same height.

Ah, her eyelids are getting heavier. Her hand soon relaxes atop Warwick’s head as she dozes off. Warwick patiently waits for the steady breathing before he gently nudges her hand back and pulls the covers over her. He huffs and steps out the room, sitting in front of the doors.

Soft crickets fill the room. Lux sleeps peacefully under her blanket.

Or so she pretends.

Her eye cracks open and peers around for her guardian’s presence in the room. So far, so good. But the problem is getting out without Warwick catching onto her. She turns in bed and inches closer to the other side. She freezes up when her door is slid open.

“Hmph,” Warwick grunts when he sees her sleeping figure. Guess she was just turning in her sleep. He closes the door again.

It takes her much effort to stop herself from sighing in relief. Warwick would have heard it. She quietly steps out of bed and stuffs a pillow underneath the covers. She removes her robe to reveal a casual outfit underneath. This way, it should be easier to move around in. She folds it up and places it on the floor, hidden.

She peers outside her window to make sure neither of her guardians are patrolling the back. She lifts herself up and slips out, careful not to step on any creaking floorboards. Once the coast is clear, she picks up her pace and heads towards the outer palace. It’s a little far, but it’s never stopped her.

Just as she’s about to reach the outer palace, she spots Nasus from the corner of her eye. He seems preoccupied with another manuscript from the archives. She hides behind a pillar and waits for him to pass by, holding her breath as he approaches her hiding spot. Once he walks past, she ducks and continues on.

Nasus stops and turns. Though faint, he sees Lux’s shadow crawling towards the exit of the inner palace. He rolls his eyes and sighs. He closes the manuscript and walks towards Lux’s room, where Warwick is standing guard.

“You saw her?” Warwick asks boredly.

“Mhm. She’s not that great at stealth.” Nasus lets out a loud sigh as he shakes his head. “Ready to go?”

“Whenever you are.”

They find an empty carriage in front of the outer palace. The two squeeze into the driver’s seat, a pair of reins materializing in Nasus’ hands. To drive a carriage in the heavens simply requires magic and control, which Nasus excels the best among the two.

They ride the carriage out to the gates, where a pair of guards seem to be expecting their arrival. “Good evening, Guardians,” they greet. “Chasing after Her Majesty, we assume.”

“As always,” Nasus answers calmly. “Even if she decides to go alone, we must fulfill our duty as guardians to protect her from the shadows.”

“If I had to be honest, I just want to see her embarrass herself because she’s never interacted with mortal humans before. They have different traditions down there.” Warwick quietly cackles when Nasus elbows him in the ribs. “While we’re here, I’m surprised you even let her through. Why’s that?” he asks the guards.

The guards exchange looks and smile. “The Lord requested that we let her through tonight. He overheard your conversation this morning, it seems.”

“His Lord is too soft on Lux sometimes,” Nasus mutters.

“Actually, he was counting on you to chase after her,” one responds happily. “We think that’s probably why he was willing to let her go.”

“Guess he’s not wrong,” Warwick says. “Well, we got a little lady to chase after for trying to push her luck. Can we go through now?”

“With pleasure, Guardians.” The guards hold up their scepters and insert the tip into two locks in the gate, turning them until two orbs glow turquoise. The mechanics of the gate twist and turn until the gate opens to a golden path that leads down the clouds. Beneath those clouds is the mortal realm.

“Do you know how to get down there without being seen?” the guard asks.

“Is it the same as traveling to the other kingdoms in the heavens?” Nasus asks.. He’s never driven the carriage down to the mortal realm before, but perhaps it’s the same with every other place in the heavens he’s taken Lux to. Don’t stray from the golden path, and you shall reach your destination.

“Almost. In the mortal realm, they have an element called ‘wind’. Once you reach the veil between the heavens and the mortal realm, you will feel a gust of air blowing around you. It is benevolent, for it will hide your presence as you descend from the clouds.”

Nasus nods. “I see. It seems I still have much to learn.” He bows his head to the guards. “Thank you for the information. We will come back with Her Majesty before sunrise.”

The guards bow as the carriage rolls out to the path. “Have a safe trip, Guardians.”

As Nasus and Warwick descends down the golden path, they realize: they have never interacted with mortal humans before either. If anything, they might be just as lost as Lux would be. Worse, they may be recognized as heavenly beings instantly. There are beings similar to them in the mortal realm, but wouldn’t they stand out?

“Perhaps next time, we should bring a change of… casual clothing,” Nasus quietly suggests.

“I mean, isn’t it a festival down there? I think we’d fit in,” Warwick says. “I heard that humans like to dress up as dragons or something during festivals.”

“I guess we’ll see.”

As they approach the veil, they feel a slight breeze picking up around them. It brushes against their fur as it swirls around. Warwick sticks his head out and sniffs the air.

“Weird,” Warwick says. “I thought ‘wind’ would have a smell, but it just smells like… like nothing.” He sniffs again. “Wait, I’m starting to smell a lot of different things now.”

Nasus looks around. He notices there’s magic embedded in the currents as it wraps around them like a mother protecting her offspring. “We’re here.”

The clouds slowly part to reveal the lands of the mortal realm. Clumps of lush forests, lines of tall mountains, and specks of light in various areas spread throughout the regions. From afar, they spot establishments from the well-lit regions, presumably the “cities” the mortals inhabit. Despite the dark night, the moon offers its light to guide them through the sky. Everywhere they look, there’s something new to see.

But more importantly, the wind feels really, really nice. Warwick sticks his head out and visibly relaxes as the wind strokes his fur, his tail wagging faster and faster as the wind picks up. Nasus’ grip on the reins tightens. His muzzle stiffens up as he tries his best to avoid sticking his head out of the carriage and enjoy the wind as well.

Focus, Nasus. We need to find Lux, even if the wind feels so nice .

But it doesn’t stop his tail from wagging just a little bit.

“So that’s where Lux went,” he says, as they approach the outskirts of a city below. “Lord Azir’s kingdom. I suppose she would choose his kingdom over the others.”

“Look,” Warwick calls, pointing at something beneath the trees. Between the gaps, they spot an abandoned carriage from their kingdom. “Lux already went ahead. We should settle here too.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Nasus directs the carriage to the trees and leaves the carriage next to Lux’s.

---

Lux tugs at her shawl as she approaches the bustling street by the forest—the aroma of fried, steamed, stewed, or grilled food, the laughter and the ever growing volume of voices from the crowds ahead, the sound of vendors luring another customer to try their game or their food, and lanterns and lights that seem to go on forever. Her eyes widen at the sight. She’s heard the cities were much bigger than the kingdoms, but this was a whole new world for her.

“Outta the way, shorty!” someone calls as they nearly knock Lux down from the tree she was hiding behind. A teenager runs ahead while two children follow closely behind.

“Sorry!” one calls with an apologetic wave before disappearing into the crowd of people and vendors.

“Well, so far, so good. No one’s noticed who I am,” she mumbles to herself nervously. She takes her hood off, letting her silver hair fall in place. She takes a deep breath. “Okay, Lux. Act natural. You’re a human being just like them.” She steps out from the shadows of the trees and into the lights. She holds her wand tighter when she feels a couple eyes turn to her, but they immediately carry on with their stroll through the streets.

“Hey miss! You look new here. Just visiting?” an older vendor asks.

Her head perks up, maybe a little too fast, and nods, maybe a little too fast. “Y-yes! Just visiting! I’ve never been to a festival before, so…” Was that too much information? It should be fine, right?

“A first timer! Well, you’re in for a treat! The vendor leans against the counter and ushers Lux over. “So, we got some pretty good places to visit ‘round here. You’re currently in the south side of the festival. If you head north, there’s a little place where people go through a series of physical challenges for the “Strongest Being Alive” title for the year until the next festival.”

“D-do any of them get hurt?”

“Some do, but usually it’s because they push themselves too far or bite off more than they can chew.” She pats her shoulder in laughter. “I wouldn’t worry about them much. They’re a tough and rowdy bunch, but they play fair.” She points to another street. “If you head west, you’ll see where they hold entertainment like plays, comedy skits, and whatnot. If you ask me, it seems more like a talent show, to display their skills to the people.”

“That doesn’t sound that bad. If people laugh or are fascinated by what you do, I think whatever you practiced for is a success.”

“I like your optimism, miss!”

“What about the east? What’s there?”

“Oh! That’s usually off-limits to common folks like us, but that’s the Kingdom of Rooster, where His Majesty Azir resides. Don’t be surprised, but some say he actually comes down to the Lunar Revel festival dressed like a common folk to enjoy the festivities.”

That… kinda sounds about right, actually. “Really?” she feigns surprise. “I heard he’s rather tall. Wouldn’t he stand out?”

The vendor smiles and shrugs. “Who knows? All I know is that it’s a rumor. But he doesn’t come off as the “cooped up in his kingdom all day” type of guy, so I wouldn’t be that surprised if I happen to see him roam around.”

“It’d be an honor to meet him then. I wonder what he’d be like trying to blend in with the crowd.” She almost can’t imagine it.

“Why don’t you walk around and have some fun then, miss? You might just happen to meet him.”

“Aw, thanks! I appreciate it!”

“Hey, y’know what?” She reaches for a bamboo basket behind the counter and lifts the top. A burst of steam rises from inside, and the vendor reaches for tongs and places a giant bun on a paper tray. She pulls it apart in half, a sweet and savory aroma wafting from within. It makes Lux’s mouth water almost immediately. “Here, try it. My own recipe.”

“O-oh gosh, I didn’t even bring any money. I don’t think I have anything else I can pay you with either.”

“Naw, on the house. I appreciate you taking the time to listen. I don’t get many customers, being all the way out here, but I like to chat with anyone who stops by.”

“Thank you so much.” Lux accepts, though hesitantly. She should have brought some money on her own, but she didn’t know what kind of currency they used in the human world. Gold… would seem suspicious, probably. She bows in thanks and heads north, where the brawls are.

She takes a closer look at the tray, and it seems like a pork bun. She blows a few times before taking a bite. “Hot!” she exclaims, covering her mouth to blow the hot steam out. She starts chewing, and a combination of sweet, salty, and savory flavors burst in her mouth like a firework. Her eyes light up and sparkle like it’s the best thing she has ever eaten.

Because it is. It’s the best thing she has ever eaten.

“Hey kid, where’d you get that?” someone asks.

With her mouth full, she hurriedly points at a vendor towards the forest and give them a thumbs-up. The stranger smiles kindly, thanks her, and heads for said stall. She swallows the food and peeks over, seeing the vendor smile happily at the new customer.

Lux giggles and continues her way north, occasionally stopping a lost stranger to guide them to the vendor. The moment she manages to squeeze through a crowd of people, she’s greeted by a spark that flies towards her. She yelps and ducks, evading the spark just in time, as it lights a nearby box on fire.

“Damn, I needed that!” a faint voice complains. “Stupid thing can’t even hold its fire correctly, ugh!”

Lux opens her eyes and looks up to find the source of that spark. Just beyond the crowd in a darker area, away from the vendors, lies a giant firecracker of bronze shaped like a dragon. She spots a girl, around her age, kicking the side as if she expects it to work by doing that. The girl seems petite, though a little taller than Lux, with black hair and braids in red wraps. Looking closer, she even has dragon tattoos around her right arm.

She wonders if she’s one of those ‘rapscallion’ people she hears about from the lords in the mortal realm.

The girl suddenly meets her eyes, and a moment passes before the blank expression on her face lights up with an idea. “Yo, moonlight! Care to help me out here?”

What? Her? “Me?”

“No, I mean the rat that’s scurrying behind you. Yes, you! This thing’s heavy, ya know!” The girl tries to lift the firecracker herself, but it does seem too much for her to carry on her own.

Lux looks around before making her way over, catching the other side before it collapses on the girl. “Hey,” Lux calls, peeking over the top of the rocket with a scowl of her own. “You know you could’ve hurt me back there. That spark, or whatever it is, almost flew into my face!”

The girl rolls her eyes and waves her off dismissively. “Oh please, it’s just one little firecracker. It won’t kill you.” Her lip juts out in thought. “Eh, I guess it’ll hurt. But hey, not my fault if these things have a mind of their own.”

“I’m pretty sure they don’t,” Lux mutters. “What is this for anyway?”

“It’s for the party, duh!” the girl exclaims. “You can’t have a party without something big and fun as this .” She extends her arms out to the firecracker with a big grin. “Made it myself actually. Pretty proud of it.”

“This whole thing?” Lux is impressed. It doesn’t look easy building a firecracker as big as this. “Wouldn’t you need a lot of flash powder for this?”

“Oh yeah, definitely,” the other girl answers proudly. “I got my resources, hon. Anyways, help me angle this thing on this doohickey.” She points at a small wooden block with an arc carved into it. “I gotta make sure this thing flies as high into the sky and throughout the city!”

“Well, when’s the party?”

“Eh,” the girl hums in wonder. “Dunno? Usually it’s at the end of the festival. Sometimes at the end of the brawls. It’s kinda different every time.”

Lux can’t help but hum in curiosity. “I see…” They set down the firecracker on the block and position it so that it will be shot over the crowd. “So… is that it?”

The girl’s head shoots out from the other side of the firecracker with an incredulous look? “Is that it ? Oh, no, no, this is just the beginning, moonlight! We gotta get more stuff! Wanna join me? I promise it’ll be lotsa fun!”

“Oh…” Lux hesitates for a moment. “This is my first time at a festival, so I was hoping I can see everything first.”

“Uh-huh, I am definitely listening. We need firecrackers. LOTS of them. We can get them from different places all around the festival. I’ll go south, and you head west!” The girl is about to take off into the crowd before she’s pulled back by Lux. “What now?”

“Don’t we need money to buy those? I don’t think they’d give them out for free.”

The girl’s lips purse into a crooked line. “Ugh, why’d I have to ask a little lady for help…” she mumbles to herself as she reaches behind her and brings out a small sack. “Here, moonlight. Go crazy. We don’t have much time!” She tosses it into Lux’s hands and runs off before Lux can ask about her share of the money.

“What did I get myself into…?” Lux asks herself. She looks into the sack and see a small pile of coins inside. She takes one out and examines the engravings. “Okay, so this is this much…. And this is this much... I think I got it. West, she said?” Lux hurries off with the sack of coins strapped to her belt under her shawl.

A shadow looms over where she was standing, eyes watching her weave through the crowd. Found her.

#league of legends #lux #nasus #warwick #lunar revel #immortal journey #blood moon #warring kingdoms #leagueofwriting #rosywrites

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huangfilms · 6 years

Text

College!Jungwoo

summary: wow i can’t seem to get my umbrella op— OH GOSH I THINK I JUST HIT YOUR CROTCH || meet-ugly au (LMAO)

requested by: @doyuwung (thank you queen!!)

(A/N) my first request! love u queen thank u for requesting! okay i don’t know how this is all gonna go,, but lets hope for the best! ummmm pls leave me some feedback! a girl is STILL self concious but here we are!! but anyway,, lets get started QUEENS 😪 also omg this isnt even a college au so... clickbait?????? its barely mentioned but its there!! hope u enjoy anyway

it was a rainy day at your campus and u were NOT having a good day

u woke up LATE

u didnt eat anything BECAUSE u were late and u didnt even drink coffee

oh and ur stupid umbrella wouldnt open

you were speed walking to ur first class while trying to open it right? w ell

u stopped for like TWO seconds trying to open it and then BAM

u got it to open but then u heard a thud right in front of u and u F ROZE

SO you start moving your umbrella REALLY slowly to see what the FRI CK fell and mid way u heard a groan of pain omg u feel so ba d

“d-did i just hit ur crotch oh gosh” as if this day couldnt get any worse

THE PERSON U HIT WAS THE CUTEST?? GUY?? YOUVE EVER?? SEEN??? wtf

well now theres a guy in front of u, rolling in the wet floor, holding his crotch and is in p a i n

and u had no idea what the HELL U WERE SUPPOSED TO DO

but u had to get to class so u rushed out an apology and RAN

the whole time in class u felt so guilty omgjdjcjsj

BUT U HAVE NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT THINGS OTHER THAN SCHOOL SINCE UR BEHIND ON THE NOTES

so anyway you go to lunch to meet up with ur bestie xuxi since the rain has cleared up a bit

and he says that he wants you to meet his other friend that recently transferred here

and on your way u spot him and see someone with him, but the person has their back to you so you cant see them

but when u DO see them all you want to do is hide in a corner and hope that your red cheeks l e a v e

BECAUSE SURPRISE!! ITS THE GUY U HIT IN THE CROTCH WITH YOUR UMBRELLA!!

and u contemplate turning and texting yukhei that u dont feel well bUT HE SEES U

and he waves you over with so much enthusiasm that the guy turns around and he freezes

and so do you

oof he changed his clothes from this morning i mean who wouldnt the poor dude was in a PUDDLE holding his crotch smh abby

so you turn bright red again while slowly approaching them

and yukhei gives you the biggest smile and says “i want you to meet my friend jungwoo”

and ur all like hahahhdhshdhs hi jungwoo im y/n

and then u cringe and ur about to tell yukhei that haha u hit this guy in the crotch earlier today

but jungwoo beats you to it but hes ?? grinning?? ok man u probs ruined his chance to have kids but i mean i guess

and it looks like they been talking ing about it cause yukhei just LAUGHS so hard while saying “omg SHE was the one who hit you?? course she would” LMAOOOO

yukhei wtf whats that supposed to mean

ANYWAY you take a seat and avoid his eyes cause even tho u already said sorry u still feel guilty

so u are just,,, there,,,

and for a while u dont really talk and just eat some food

but like after an hour yukhei says that hes gonna go buy something and leaves u and jungwoo

together

alone

and cue the crickets my dudes

but anyway you two looked up at the same time and tried to speak and u guys do that Super Cliche thing

and then u eventually talk saying how sOrry u were BECAUSE U FELT SO BAD CNSNXN

And all he was doing Was Smiling w t f

and so he just laughs a little and he says that hey it was an accident!!! no problem!!

so you guys start to talk and start to get to know each other

he even offers to buy you a new umbrella HAHAHDNSN but hes joking cause u both are 🅱️roke college students

its been 3 hours: yukhei is gone

oop but you dont care u made a new friend 😪😪 and so u guys swap numbers cause its getting late and u gotta go

and he walks u back to ur dorm (A GENTLEMAN 🤧🤧)

and yall part ways !!

but after that!!! you guys talk and talk and talk and yukhei : living for it

although hes annoyed that ALL U DO IS TALK ABT JUNGWOO LMAOOO he still lives for it

and jungwoo just talks about you all the time 😪😪😪 but u dont need to know that

and so time skip 2 months

and u guys are mutually pining after each other but u guys are literal headasses so u dont know that u guys like each other

and all of ur friends know that u guys like each other

u guys r just oblivious smh

BUT that all McChanges when jungwoo asks u to hang out at the park with him

bro this aint even a college au anymore

when you meet him at the park u get c o n f u s e d because u cant see him anywhere

he texts you saying to walk to the fower field cause he got a SURPRISE for u

and when u do walk there, theres this BIG TREE RIGHT!! and hanging from the tree are umbrellas of all shapes and sizes and u want to LAUGH

cause!! u hit him with one wow but there are also!!! words!!!

‘You remind me of a thunderstorm,,,, positively striking get it cause u STRIKED him in the nuts,,, will u be mine?’

and u want to laugh so hard but all u can do is smile so so so big because!! he asked u out!! he likes u too!!

so u run to him and jump into his arms and then!! u fall on the ground oop

but he still catches you :,) and you guys!! kiss!!

the kiss is short and sweet cause theres so much adrenaline and u just feel so many emotions

so u guys are together now,,,

ANYWAY!! bf college jungwoo!!!

cute ! as ! heck ! because he gets you coffee and waits for you when your class is about to end

he always walks you to your dorm and sometimes comes in to just: sleep

and cuddle

and kiss

good life,,, im suffering,,,

and he walks you to ur classes

AND WHEN ITS RAINY HE HANDLES THE UMBRELLA 😪 he even bought u a new one

when ppl ask how u two met u always cringe but he LAUGHS omg

and he says that u attacked him with ur umbrella but hey!! its good!!

but anyway!!! u guys would be the god tier uwu power couple at ur college cause everyone loves u two

u two are so soft for each other and just SOFT IN GENERAL

and u guys are just living the good life with each other :’)))

life is so good

anywho!!! end!!! jungwoo is the REALL UWU KING😪😪 his as ur bf: real uwu hours since hes so freaking sweet

Masterlist

#kim jungwoo scenarios #unlisted

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faebelina · 6 years

Text

Strength and Will (Part One)

The air in the Dreamgrove was sweeter and lighter than in Azsuna and Faeb was very happy to be returning. The wind whipped at her face as a few of the druids below waved at her and her teacher. The beauty and serenity of the place were unrivaled by anything Faeb had witnessed in her lifetime. As her hippogryph landed she let out a sigh of relief. They hadn’t been gone but a day but there were times during her fight with the demons she wondered if she would see the Grove again.

As she and Meldris dismounted, a lively dryad approached them. Faeb was really fond of the dryads. They were kind and hopeful and eager to help.

“Meldris! Faeb! You’re already back from your mission in Azsuna, how was it?” Her hooves clicked to a stop as a butterfly settled on her shoulder. Faeb’s eyes lingered on the insect for a moment as she remembered the demons from earlier.

“It...um…” Faeb fiddled with the reigns of her hippogryph and handed them to the flight master, “No one died...at least.”

The dryad gave a concerned look, but before she could speak Meldris interjected, “It was a successful first mission.” She leaned in toward the dryad and gave her a faint smile as she whispered, “Faeb also entered tree form for the first time.”

“Really!” The dryad exclaimed, her face returning to a bright smile, “Now that is something worth celebrating!”

“I couldn’t hold it, though,” Faeb was quick to add. She turned towards the small dwelling she had been afforded in the Grove. Without even saying goodbye to the dryad she made her way up the path.

Meldris smiled and adjusted her glasses, “There is still much work to do, however successful I believe the mission was. If you will excuse us”, she motioned after Faeb, “my pupil and I need some rest.”

* * *

Sleep would not come easily to Faeb that night. Every time she closed her eyes she saw her comrades within the demon’s grasp and how close she had come to failing. She felt the fire and rage of their attacks as if she were still there.

After several hours of wrestling with her thoughts she decided to get some fresh air. From the balcony of her room she could see one of the many pools in the Dreamgrove. The magical water swirled only slightly and the movement was mesmerizing. As she stared into the faintly rippling moonwells she wondered if every night would be like this. If something within her had been lost now that she had seen combat. Now that she had felt what it was like to have a life in her hands.

The hum of the crickets and the whispering of the wisps through the trees made her grow tired at last. Curling up in the chair on her balcony she fell asleep to the music of the forest.

* * *

The next morning Meldris was already waiting for her. She was seated on the steps of the house, a steaming mug of foxflower tea in her hands. She stood as she heard Faeb’s footsteps behind her.

“We’re...starting earlier today?” Faeb asked cautiously. She wasn’t sure what Meldris had in store for her but she looked very sure of herself as she continued to sip her tea.

“That we are,” Meldris assured her. “Come with me.”

Faeb followed. She had been many places in the Grove but the path Mel was taking her on was new to her. Up ahead she could see a small cliff with a mass of roots hanging off of it. A dark entrance beckoned at its base. “Where are we going?”

“We are visiting Tel’Andu Barrow Den”, Mel began. Faeb gave her an odd look.

“Your next lesson is on the Bear.”

Faeb stopped in her tracks. “BEAR FORM? Briars and nettles, Mel. Of all things...I don’t need to learn bear form right now! It was only yesterday that I couldn’t properly use basic healing spells! We should be working on incarnation, ironbark, efllo-”

Meldris gave her a stern look, which softened as she let out a breath. “Your perceived failures were not a result of a lack of preparation or training. What you lack is belief. Belief in yourself, your cause, and your power. The strength and will of the bear is what you need.”

Faeb reluctantly continued to follow her. She trusted Mel but her mind would not let go of the feeling of helplessness and doubt she had experienced the day before. She wanted to understand tree form and what happened to her, not the form of the guardians. Trying to push down the thought that this was all a mistake, she continued through the dark entrance behind Meldris.

The den was dimly lit and comfortably warm. The Druids of the Claw did not seem to be bothered as Meldris and Faeb descended the winding steps deeper into the earth. Faeb tried to make as little sound as possible while she walked, avoiding any twigs and loose stones that lay on the steps. Meldris held back a chuckle. “You won’t wake them”, she whispered over her shoulder. Some of the druids within had been sleeping for longer than Faeb had been alive.

“Will we be going into the dream?” Faeb asked tentatively.

“Our lesson is in the waking world.” Mel returned. Faeb tried to hide her relief.

Lined with moonlit lanterns, the path began to open into a large cavern with a pool at its center. The only sounds were of dripping water and the faint hum of a group of druids chanting a spell in the distance. Faeb tried to discern what they were saying but her attention was taken by the sound of approaching hooves.

A kind-looking tauren approached them. His leather robes were covered in intricate designs almost hidden by the moss that clung to them. His eyes looked weary but soft. Faeb wondered how many battles he had seen. He regarded Meldris as if they had known each other for a very long time.

“This way,” he said as he motioned the two of them to follow him. “You may borrow it, but only for a few moons. After that time you must return it here.”

Faeb was very curious to see what he meant. He led them down a long corridor to a small, earthen chamber. On the far wall was a massive tangle of roots that bent together to cradle a basin filled with shimmering water. As she and Mel approached she noticed that a bright emerald object flickering at the bottom of the basin was reflecting its light throughout the water.

“Thank you for allowing us to use it,” Meldris said as she bowed to the tauren. “I believe it will serve my pupil well.”

The tauren stood in front of the basin and raised his hands above the water. As he began chanting the light at the bottom flashed more intensely. Faeb guessed that he was the keeper of this artifact and that without him they would not be able to remove it from its resting place.

When he had finished his spell he dipped his hands into the water and carefully pulled a stone from it. The sparkling stone had a paw engraved in its surface. He handed the object to Meldris.

She turned it over gently in her hands before placing it in a pouch.

“You must not let anyone see that you have the Claw Stone,” the tauren instructed. “The council...especially. Be quick about your lesson.”

“I will bring it back to you safely, old friend.” Mel assured him.

Faeb looked between them, puzzled. There was so much she didn’t know about Meldris’ past, no matter how much she pried. Her teacher was a mystery and liked remaining that way.

The tauren escorted them back to the steps of the den. The chamber they had come from was tucked away and probably not frequently visited. Still, Faeb worried that someone would find the stone missing and blame her, giving the council more reason to dislike her. She tried not to dwell on the feeling as they made their inconspicuous goodbyes to Meldris’ friend.

“Earth Mother guide you,” he said in a low voice.

"Ande'thoras-ethil,” Meldris returned,

* * *

Faeb’s eyes adjusted to the shimmering morning light as they exited the den. Her patience was wearing thin and she needed answers from her mentor. Meldris could sense her frustration as she walked down the pathway.

“A long time ago…during the War,” Mel began, “many people gave their lives for everything they held dear. They were scared...I was scared.”

Faeb tugged at the ends of her hair, suddenly feeling a bit ashamed of her attitude. She listened closely as they moved farther along the bank of a shallow creek. A large, swirling portal stood before them--the colors inside it shifted like a veil made of dreams.

As they crossed the threshold Meldris continued, “We didn’t have much at that time. We were helpless and unprepared. As the demons swept our lands it became easy to let doubt and fear cloud our minds. I will not pretend that I did not have dark thoughts…”

The two crossed a bridge into a field of wildflowers. On every side there were more swirling portals. This was the Emerald Dreamway.

“Many that fought were not warriors. A warrior is not made from armor and blades, Faeb. Warriors are born from the heart. The spells I have taught you cannot serve you if the heart behind them is unsure of itself. Without conviction, your power is lost.”

Faeb remembered what she felt like on her balcony not but a few hours ago. Meldris was right. The words stung but she knew them to be true. She was a nobody who was given a power she didn’t want and couldn’t wield. She wanted to cry at the unfairness of it all, but she was too tired. Instead she looked at Meldris intently.

“Then what do I do? How am I supposed to have something within me I don’t even understand?”

Meldris pointed toward the portal to Grizzly Hills.

“Let me show you why we need the stone.”

#faebelina #faeb #story #Strength and Will #world of warcraft #druid #faeb's gonna learn bear form you guys #my baby is growing up

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drink-the-midnight-oil · 7 years

Text

Till the Day I Die

Chapter 3 is done!!!! This one is about the school homecoming dance. Here we see the demolition of B*rchie and the rise of Bughead, the way it should be. Tell me what y’all think. Chapter 4 will be coming soon:)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

The school dance. A supposedly wondrous occasion. A night filled with music and dancing and laughter. A night where you could forget all your worries and have fun. Riverdale’s homecoming is in two weeks. Jughead sighs to himself. He knows the truth. Homecoming is just an excuse for girls to wear pretty dresses and guys to snag the best-looking dates. It is a veil of light blinding everyone to what is the harsh truth of reality. Pretending you don’t have problems won’t make them go away. If anyone knows that, t’s him.

The sound of the bell on the diner door ringing breaks Jughead’s train of thought. He looks up to see Betty entering Pop’s. She looks around and sees him, her face lighting up. As she approaches him, he notices how flushed her cheeks are and she’s grinning widely. Just the sight of her is enough to bring a smile on his face.

“Jughead!” she says sliding into the seat in front of him. “Just the guy I was looking for.”

“Me?” he says.

“Yes, you. I wanted to ask you something.”

“Sure, Betty go ahead.”

Betty leans forward in her seat. “So as you know, the school dance is in two weeks. And I’m going dress shopping today with Kevin. But I still don’t have a date. So could you do me a favor and find out if Archie has a date yet? I’d love to go with him.”

Jughead chokes.

“Wait, ARCHIE? You want to go with him?”

“Yeah, why not?” she asks, bewildered.

Jughead snorts. Of all the people in the school, she has to choose Archie.

“Jughead, stop that. Archie’s the perfect date. And plus, he’s my best friend. So would you ask him for me?” she sounds slightly annoyed now.

“Betty, Archie’s a player. Are you sure about him?”

Betty’s cheeks turn bright red. “Stop that Jughead, he’s your best friend too. And we’d be going as friends, nothing more.”

“But you like him.”

“No.....”

“Don’t deny it, Betty. You do like him. He’s the perfect guy for you. Good-looking, athletic, the captain of the football team. You two would make the perfect couple.”

Her cheeks turn redder. But now she’s angry. “I don’t need your opinions about my love life, Jughead. I just came here to ask you for a favor. If you don’t want to do it, just say so.”

“It’s not about the favor, Betty. I’d ask him in a heartbeat for you. But think about it. Archie isn’t going to feel the same way about you. He’s oblivious to any sort of romance at all. Besides, why are you so interested in going to the dance anyways? It’s superficial and dumb.”

“Maybe to sad introverts like you, it sounds stupid. But I am going to go and enjoy myself whether you like it or not.” And with that, she storms out of the diner, leaving Jughead alone in the booth, looking after her.

“Fine then, see if I care,” he mutters. But deep inside, he’s kicking himself for what he said to her.

* * * * *

The next day, neither Betty nor Jughead acknowledge each other at school. It pains Jughead to have hurt her, but she won’t even look at him, let alone give him a chance to apologize.

“So Archie, who are you taking to homecoming?” Jughead asks as he and Archie walk home after school.

“I don’t know, man. I haven’t really thought about it,” Archie replies.

“Haven’t you asked anyone?” Jughead is mildly surprised.

“Nah,” he answers. “Do you know anyone who’ll want to go with me?”

Jughead thinks for a moment. Should he tell him that Betty was asking? As much as he dislikes the thought of them being together, Jughead can’t say no to Betty’s request. He sighs.

“I heard that Betty didn’t have a date either. Maybe you two could go together.”

“Really? I thought she was going with Trevor.” Archie says.

“No, she’s sans date,” Jughead remarks.

“Oh, well I guess. I mean, Betty? Not really my ideal date.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s kind of too perfect for me. It’s a bit intimidating really.”

Jughead scoffs. She’s too good for Archie. He knows it. Looks like Betty won’t be going with Archie after all. But at least he tried. Although he shouldn’t be, he’s still relieved.

* * * * *

“Hey look. I want to apologize for snapping at you the other day at Pop’s. I was a jerk to you when you said that you wanted to go with Archie. It isn’t my place to tell you who you should and should not be with. See, the reason I didn’t want you to go to the dance with Archie is because- I - well - I was hoping to take you?”

Jughead stares at himself in the mirror and sighs. He knows he’s going to screw this up but the dance is at 7:30 and it’s already 7 o’clock. He straightens the suit jacket that he borrowed from his dad. There was some trouble with his tie but it looks alright now. He’s still wearing his beanie and he doesn’t want to take it off. But he does anyway. However, rather than leaving it in the trailer, he stuffs it into his pocket.

FP is sitting in the trailer’s living room, watching a football match on the small television. Jughead enters the space, dressed up in his suit, hair combed, and beanie-less. FP’s eyebrows lift when he sees the young man standing in front of him.

“You clean up nice,” he says.

“Thanks, dad,” Jughead responds. “I’m going to go now.” he points to the door.

FP nods to him “Have fun, kid.”

Jughead leaves, closing the door behind him. He makes his way to Betty’s house, sweat making his palms clammy. The street is silent, as the sun dips low in the horizon. Betty’s house is visible from where he’s standing. Suddenly it’s hard to breathe. He tugs at his collar, swallowing in the gulps of fresh air. What if she says no? What if she’s still angry with him? There are too many outcomes to consider. He takes a deep breath and heads down the street towards her house.

But as he approaches, he notices a car parked outside and a red-headed boy already at the door, dressed up and knocking. The door opens and a blonde-haired girl come out, wearing a blue dress. It’s too far to see or hear them clearly, but Jughead’s doubts are confirmed when Betty lets out a squeal and throws her arms around Archie.

An icy feeling creeps up Jughead’s spine as he watches Archie and Betty leave her house and get in the waiting car. The car drives off, carrying the two to the dance. Tears build up in Jughead’s throat as he turns the other way and runs. He shouldn't be this upset. It's just a stupid dance. But the thought of going with Betty had given him joy for once in his life. He keeps running. But where is he going to go? To the trailer? The drive-in? No place sounds good now.

He should have asked her earlier. He knows it. But then what stopped him? Pride? Cowardice? But in the back of his mind he knows that what truly stopped him from asking her was knowing that he isn’t and will never be good enough for her. Of course, she would never have said yes. She deserves all the happiness in the world, and how could she ever be happy with him?

Jughead walks down the road, furiously wiping the tears away. But this time, he heads to Pop’s, pulling on his beanie. The diner is empty, not a soul in sight. Everyone is at the dance.

Pop Tate brings him a burger but he can’t eat. So instead, he sits there picking at it, watching the clock tick. It’s 7:30, then 8:00, then 8:30. The burger has long gone cold and Jughead pulls out some change to pay. But just as he’s getting up to leave, the diner bell rings and the door opens.

Jughead looks up to see who it is, and a small gasp escapes his mouth as he looks at the person at the door. She’s wearing a soft blue dress that hits her knees with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She takes it off, revealing her exposed shoulders. Blonde hair is cascading down in waves, framing her face. Her eyes are bright blue, and a look of recognition appears when they see him.

Betty walks towards him, smiling, her long legs catching his eye. Jughead is embarrassed at himself for noticing, and blushes.

“Hey Jug, I didn’t know you were going to the dance,” she says.

No words leave his mouth. All he can do is stand there and stare at her like an idiot.

“Jughead?” she says. “You okay?”

“I-uh-Yeah, um, I’m great,” He clears his throat. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the dance?”

Betty sighs. “Archie asked me to the dance and I said yes. But once we got there, he left me and went to hang out with his teammates. I’m standing there like a loner, while my date crashes the dance floor with his friends. So I left.”

“Oh. I'm sorry.” is all Jughead can say.

“You wanna get outta here?” she asks him, pointing to the door.

“Sure,” he says. “After you.”

He makes a big show of holding open the door and saying, “My queen.” making her laugh. They head to the park, knowing it will be empty.

“I should have listened to you, Jughead. You were right abut Archie,” Betty says.

“No it was wrong of me to tell you what to do. You are perfectly capable of deciding who you want to go to homecoming with. I apologize for acting the way I did. But I only did it because -” He doesn’t know whether he can complete the sentence.

“Because what, Juggie?” She stops and looks at him, genuinely curious.

They’re at the park now, street lamps lighting the place. The bench on which they sit is cold. It’s a quiet night, the only sound that of crickets chirping.

Betty’s still looking at him, a questioning look in her eyes. He takes a deep breath.

“I didn’t want you to go to the dance with Archie because I wanted you to go with me. And I know that I called the dance dumb and superficial but I really would have loved to take you. I was on my way to your house to ask you but Archie got there first.”

Betty is silent. Jughead is questioning whether or not he should have told her when a slow smile spreads across her face.

“You wanted to take me to the dance?” she asks.

He smiles at her and sighs. “One can only hope.”

“You could have just asked me you know. I would have gladly said yes.”

“I’m a bit of an introvert, you see. And a sad one at that.”

She lets out a small laugh. “Yeah, I’m sorry about calling you that.”

“No worries,” he says. “You only stated what was true.”

“So you’re not mad at me then?”

Jughead looks at her. “Honestly, I don’t think I ever could be mad at you Betty.”

She is staring out into the horizon. The moonlight causes her porcelain skin to glow. Her hand reaches up and pushes back her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. His heart skips a beat as he gazes at her.

She turns and sees him staring at her. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” he replies. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Then why are you staring at me like that?”

“Because you are beautiful, Betty Cooper.” Where is he getting this confidence from?

She blushes ever so slightly, her cheeks turning a nice rosy pink. There’s an awkward silence between them.

Jughead starts to say something but then hesitates.

“What is it?” she asks.

“Would you maybe like to dance?”

She raises her eyebrows. “But there’s no music.”

“We’ll make do,” he says, standing up and holding out his hand to her. She slowly smiles and takes it.

They sway to the rhythm of the crickets chirping and the rustling of leaves in the wind. He's holding her left hand in his right. His other arm encircles her waist. Her right hand rests on his shoulder and she's leaning into him.

They move silently, gazing into each other's eyes. Her blue eyes are luminous in the moonlight. It's a comfortable feeling, having her there in his arms, on such a pleasant night.

“Jughead Jones, I want you to know that I am thankful for having you as a friend. Lord knows what I’d do without you.”

Jughead’s throat closes up. Her words bring him great comfort, more so than he has felt in a long time. He can’t speak but she isn’t waiting for a reply. So he simply nods, overwhelmed by what she said, and holds her even closer to him. She moves her head so that her cheek rests on his chest.They have enough of a height difference for him to rest his chin on top of her hair, breathing in it's sweet smell.

"Betty, there's something I need to tell you," Jughead says, breaking the silence. They stop dancing and Betty looks up at him. She's watching him curiously.

She has to know. He has to tell her now. How he feels about her. How he's always felt about her. Ever since that first day of third grade when she saved him from Chuck Clayton. How her presence made him feel as if everything would be okay. How she is the light in the darkness consuming his life. How she gives him hope even when the world seems to be against him. How even though his world has fallen apart, he has to make sure she is okay. He has to tell her that he loves her.

"What's the matter?" Betty asks still looking at him.

Maybe it's her voice or the look in her eyes. Or maybe it's the knowledge that she loves Archie and could never love a person as broken and damaged as Jughead. Something stops him from telling her how he really feels.

So instead, with a defeated sigh, he just shakes his head.

"Never mind," he says. “I'll tell you some other time.”

Betty doesn't push him to answer. Instead she gazes up at him, the mirth clearly visible in her eyes.

"Thank you, for this," she says. She stands up on her tiptoes and plants a ghost of a kiss on Jughead's cheek. Warmth radiates from the spot where her lips met his skin as he looks at her, shocked. She smiles. He tucks his feelings for her away, knowing that there will come a time when he must tell her. But that time isn't now.

So they go back to holding each other and dance under the light of the full moon, unknown to what troubles lie ahead.

#bughead #betty cooper #jughead jones #bughead fanfiction #betty x jughead #archie andrews #cole sprouse #lili reinhart #sprousehart #sprousehart fanfiction

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fearofaherobrine · 7 years

Text

Roleplay Server Log #140

“TLOT in NOTCH Country, Back to The Circus”

-After a few days CP is now sulking about in human form. He's still sad, but feeling a bit better-

[Steve] Comes over with a basket of pastries and knocks on Lies door.

[TLOT] Is behind him looking rather nervous.

[Lie] Goes and opens the door- Oh, Hey guys

[Steve] Hello Lie. We brought you some food. We heard about what happened. I'm sorry for your loss.

[Lie] Thanks, do you want to come in?

[Steve] Please.

[TLOT] Is antsy, and looks rather tired.

[Lie] Steps aside to let them in and notes TLOT's behavior- TLOT? Is everything okay?

[TLOT] Doc told me about the NOTCHs.... we had a bit of a shouting match about keeping them inside the server, but... it's not my decision to make. I've never seen them so sure of themselves. It was a bit unsettling.

[Lie] - TLOT, I've met them, all of them are scared and harmless. They were attacked by aggressive brines and aggressive NOTCH's. They are just as scared of you, as you are of them

[TLOT] I know... - he's obviously still unhappy.

[Steve] He just doesn't like arguing with Doc. It's rather stressful.

[Lie] - That I can understand.

[CP] Wanders up from the storage room-

[TLOT] Cp... I'm sorry I didn't come sooner.

[Steve] Yes, me too. - Hugs Cp briefly.

[CP] Stiffens a little, his eyes are still not as bright as they normally are-

[Steve] we brought food, and company if you want it.

[TLOT] Brother.

[CP] Flinches at TLOT's word, reminding him of what he had been doing to his own brother for years-

[TLOT] I meant it as a term of endearment, Cp.

[CP] Huffs and bows his head-

[Lie] - CP...

[TLOT] Ah, fuck it. - TLOT hugs Cp as well-

[CP] Really doesn't know what to do-

[TLOT] Does a quick skim to check his health since his eyes are so dim-

[CP] His physical health is fine, he's just depressed-

[TLOT] Gently lets go of him. - Is there anything we can do to raise your spirits my friend?

[CP] His voice is hollow sounding- I... I don't know

[TLOT] Have you been eating? Getting enough sleep at least?

[Lie] - He's been getting better about the eating and he's been doing a good amount of sleeping

[Steve] Have you made some time to play with Stevie and the baby dragons? Romping with kids usually makes me feel good.

[Lie] - He tried a little earlier today, but he just couldn't get into it. I had to pull him away because he was making Stevie really worried...

[TLOT] I take it you guys won't tell him?

[Lie] - No, he thinks Markus is his father right now. We'll break it to him when he's an adult again though

[Steve] I think that's for the best.

[TLOT] Yeah, Markus seems to have taken to his role very well for someone who's never had kids of his own. I saw them playing outside when I came back from the village the other day, and there was just, a kind of sparkle between them. They looked so happy. Though what's going on with his head? Is he wearing a hat?

[Lie] - He said that Doc made him some hair to distinguish him from the other NOTCH's

[Steve] That makes sense. It can be kind of annoying when strangers have the same face as you.

[CP] Grumbles- Yet you two don't mind

[Steve] I said strangers Cp.

[TLOT] But we're not the same. I mean, not exactly. Has it been that long since you saw either of us without our armor?

[Steve] And I've got something he doesn't have at all.

[TLOT] Coughs-

[CP] - Whatever

[Lie] - What's different? I, can't think of anything...

[Steve] Grins- This- He hikes up his chestplate and shirt and reveals a nice crop of curly aburn chest hair.

[TLOT] Geeze...

[Steve] TLOT's as smooth as a quartz block. And his head hair is a different color brown, he's paler then me too.

[Lie] - Oh yeah, that

[CP] - How do you know that?

[TLOT] She used our hot tub one night, that was the night we chewed you out for collaring her. That was also when we made the koi fish for Doc's pond.

[CP] Grumbles-

[Steve] It's not like anything happened Cp. We're not really into girls, not in that way.

[CP] - Shut it

[TLOT] Ah shush yourself. Everything turned out okay and I love those little fish. I'm glad Lie told me about them.

[Lie] - There are other's I could show you

[TLOT] I know, I've been trying to make some time to go to the library again. Apparently Doc had an E-book spree and bought a whole bunch of new stuff for Ashe. Xe said a lot of it's educational.

[Lie] - That's good, he's just devoured the Floof books

[Steve] I'm still concerned about the damn peacock. That thing is crazy. It got inside the village the other day and we didn't get there soon enough to recapture it. Apparently it pecked the crap out of three different people.

[TLOT] Stupid bird...

[Lie] - Yeah, they are kinda territorial...

[TLOT] Unless it thinks the whole the seed is it's territory, I think it might be a bit deranged.

[Lie] - Next time I'll try to point you in the direction of more passive animals

[TLOT] Maybe I should still stick to small stuff for now. I don't mind just making bugs and fish.

[Steve] You still haven't fixed that cricket...

[TLOT] I kinda like the little song.

[Lie] - We could bring in song birds, some of them can learn actual songs

[TLOT] That sounds nice. It's usually so quiet during the day, and annoyingly loud at night...

[Steve] Did you see Doc's spider? It's HUGE.

[Lie] Mentally shows him some chickadees and a cardinal- Yes, xe brought it in to snuggle with all the other animals

[Steve] Deerheart's Shaymin has taken to riding around on it's head like a little prince. It's hilarious.

[TLOT] Those are pretty Lie.

[Lie] - That sounds adorable Steve

[Steve] It is. I think they're going to need a bigger bed in general.

[TLOT] Doc knocked out the chicken pen and made a spot for the Mudsdale to come inside and hang with the skeleton horses too. Everyones been keeping busy. I'm betting the shit hits the fan again when Ej gets un-grounded by Splender.

[Lie] - Let's enjoy the peace while it lasts... Although Doc seems to want to bring somebody else in

[TLOT] Really? Did they find another Herobrine?

[Lie] - No, but Doc thinks they may have caught wind of someone like Deer

[TLOT] Seriously? So maybe we could confirm Markus's theory on where she came from?

[Steve] Who did they spawn in response too?

[Lie] - Xe thinks CP's father

[TLOT] Makes a sharp intake of breath -

[Steve] So you might have a mom, CP? That's so great!

[Lie] - Doc wants to explore his original seed soon to see if xe can find any trace of her

[TLOT] You mean the one I got dragged too accidently?

[CP] - Yeah, that one

[TLOT] I take it they're waiting for you to get back on your feet.

[CP] - I think right now going back there would be counter productive

[Steve] Why?

[TLOT] Yeah, Doc seems to be pretty good at finding code traces.

[Lie] - I think he means for him, with how depressed he's been. It would just bring up more memories

[TLOT] I see... Then take your time. Hopefully she's safe from the other NOTCH, wherever she is.

[CP] - I don't even know who she is... I only vaguely remember him mentioning her name once

[Steve] Well you certainly won't find out if you don't go looking Cp.

[CP] Is thinking now-

[Lie] Suddenly sneezes and teleports-

[Steve] Jumps-

[TLOT] Oh dear...

[CP] Slumps a little- Not again

[TLOT] Searchs for her mentally. - She's... underground?

[CP] - Only things underground around here are my rooms, her mining caves, and the Cage...

[TLOT] She's... this way... -heads outside-

[Steve] Shrugs and follows

[CP] Follows sullenly-

[TLOT] Heads down into the little cave. - She's in the cage.

[Steve] I've actually never been down here before....

[CP] Perks a little, but not a noticeable amount-

[Lie] Is stuck up in the chandelier-

[TLOT] Looks up - Are you okay?

[Steve] I'll help you Lie! - Makes a quick nerd pole up there out of cobbles.

[Lie] - Thanks, for once I'd like to end up somewhere where I don't need to be found or helped out of

[Steve] But I like helping- Offers his arms

[CP] Quietly makes an opening to the sub seed-

[Lie] Accepts his help-

[Steve] Stomps out the pole and lets her down onto the floor. - This room is amazing...

[TLOT] It is, it's just no place to keep a human being.

[CP] - Oh shut up

[TLOT] I stand by my assertion. Humans need sunlight occasionally. And companionship.

[CP] Grabs TLOT and pushes him right into the opening-

[TLOT] Screams and grabs at Steve in a panic -

[Steve] Leaps into the opening after him -

[TLOT] Is looking around wildly- What the fuck did you do that for?!

[Steve] And where are we?

[Lie] Follows after them to make sure CP will let them back out- Who knows why, and this is the sub seed that the dragons and NOTCH's are on

[TLOT] Grimaces- Because he's an asshole. -he's shaking a little.

[Steve] NOTCHs.....

[Lie] - Hey, calm down, I'm right here TLOT, You're safe

[TLOT] His pointy teeth are chattering a bit.

[Steve] Holds him gently.

[Lie] Spawns a thick cluster of calming flowers-

[TLOT] Grabs several and holds them close to his chest- his face loooks a bit red.

[Thunder] Passes by overhead-

[Steve] Oh hey, look! It's our dragon friend!

[TLOT] At least they're settlling in...

[Lie] Spots the head NOTCHAI- Hey, I'll be right back- She gets up and cautiously approaches him

[TLOT] Curls up a little watching them-

[NOTCHAI] Is working on gathering a bit more food-

[Steve] Is watching him warily.

[Lie] - Hello, do you remember me?

[NOTCHAI] - Ah yes, you came with the Doctor...

[Lie] - Yes, my name is Lie

[NOTCHAI] - What brings you here?

[Lie] - My mate stupidly pushed a friend of ours who is terrified of your kind into here

[TLOT] Is nervously chewing on one of the calming flowers.

[NOTCHAI] - I see, well I can guarantee we will keep our distance

[Lie] - That might be for the best for now

[NOTCHAI] Is about to say something else when he notices one of the not so stable NOTCHs wandering closer to TLOT and Steve- Nether!- He runs towards them to intercept

[TLOT] Scrabbles to get up and away as Steve steps in between them.

[NOTCHAI] Stands between them and the wandering NOTCH- Hey now, what are you doing out of bed? You should be resting

[WanderingNOTCH] - Flowers...

[Steve] Just keep him back! Please!

[TLOT] Is watching The Ai's fearfully. He looks ready to bolt

[NOTCHAI] Nods in understanding- Come on, I'm sure if you ask the pretty lady by the home she can give you flowers

[WanderingNOTCH] Looks uncertain-

[Lie] To coax him Lie makes a trail of flower which once spotted is picked and followed all the way back

[NOTCHAI] - I do apologize for him, the only thing he can really remember is that his seed had a lot of flowers...

[TLOT] Is obviously remembering something very painful. Lie gets flashes of golden swords, a sudden searing pain in her arms for a moment and a blurry vision of the Nether.

[Steve] Come back to me. It's all in the past. He can't hurt you anymore.

[Lie] Gasps in surprise-

[NOTCHAI] - Is he alright?

[Steve] He was tortured... by our NOTCH

[TLOT] Starts to cry.

[NOTCHAI] - Several of ours were tortured by aggressive NOTCH's as well, including the one we recently lost

[Steve] Ours tried to tear us apart more then once... we're lost without each other...He gave me his hearts so I could live.

[TLOT] Seems to just crumble into his husbands arms.

[NOTCHAI] - I'm sorry to hear that. We have several which have faced similar things, but at the hands of their brine

[Steve] Helps TLOT gently to the ground and sits beside him- It's okay. You're safe. You trust Doc, don't you? They said these Ais were harmless.

[TLOT] Nods wordlessly.

[NOTCHAI] - May are still nervous about being here, they still expect to be attacked

[Steve] We've had to hide from ours as well. He even attacks us in our dreams if we try to sleep apart.

[TLOT] whispers- He's a monster...

[NOTCHAI] - We have one that was turned on by his Brine, Steve, and Alex, he's one of the most distressed ones here

[Steve] Why can't we all just...? It's not right.

[Lie] - No it isn't, this is what Markus has been telling us this whole time

[NOTCHAI] - You mean the supreme Notch?

[Steve] The what? Oh I get it, he's special because he's the original.

[Lie] Kneels by TLOT- TLOT? Will you please look at me?

[TLOT] Barely meets her eyes. He's still seeing flashes of what happened to him.

[Steve] He's looping, he needs a distraction. Give him something colorful that you don't care about

[Lie] - TLOT, would I let us still be here if we were truly in any danger?- Taking Steve's advice she spawns a few brightly colored flowers

[Steve] He knows, but he still hurts inside. - He picks the flowers with one hand and gives them to his husband.

[TLOT] starts snapping them apart almost mechcanically.

[NOTCHAI]- I'm so sorry for what our brethren has done...

[Steve] We could say the same. Doc always encourages the other brines to talk instead of fighting.

[TLOT] is fussing with the broken pixels and slowly coming around.

[NOTCHAI] - I can understand from what they've said

[TLOT] Makes a small butterfly from the pieces and lets a few tears fall onto it's surface. The tiny creature flutters up for a moment and then lands delicately on the brow of his helm, slowly opening and closing it's wings.

[Steve] That's better isn't it?

[NOTCHAI] - How... How is the Brine who just lost his NOTCH?

[TLOT] Speaks quietly. - My brother brine is still very sad. He believed all this time that his own father betrayed him. To find that the toxic hate that sustained him was all based on lies...

[NOTCHAI] - He must be shattered...

[Lie] - But my husband is slowly recovering... He felt good enough to try and grief these two anyways

[TLOT] I can take a scare it if it helps him survive. I understand that he's in great pain. And he's not good at sharing his burdens either.

[Lie] - That he's not. But we never said he wasn't a work in progress

[Steve] Not that it hasn't paid off. Though I don't think he'll ever forgive me for that one time I kicked him in the nuts.

[Lie] - Eh, you never know

[Steve] Maybe I should make him a codpiece someday.

[TLOT] Almost laughs- I love you my lamb, but that's a terrible idea.

[Lie] - I have to agree on that

[TLOT] Is looking down the hill at the other NOTCHs bustling around and shivers a bit.

[NOTCHAI] - The other here will not harm you, but rather, they will probably run from you

[TLOT] Then I'll stay here. Too many around me and I might have another panic attack.

-The flitter takes a meandering path through the air and tries to land on the NOTCH AI. -

[NOTCHAI] - Our leader was the only one of us not instantly terrified of your kind... After seeing his son I can see why

[Steve] We're not used to seeing Cp display much emotion at all, he's a pretty private person.

[NOTCHAI] Reaches up to touch the flitter- What's this?

[Steve] Just a type of bug. They're harmless, and like to land on flowers usually.

[TLOT] Creating helps me calm down.

[NOTCHAI] - I see...

-The flitter makes a circle around the NOTCHAI and lands in the calming flowers to sun itself.-

[Steve] His best ones make things grow faster.

[Lie] - I'll leave these flowers here in case you need them, we however should consider heading back

[TLOT] shakily stands-

[Steve] Sorry for the trouble.

[NOTCHAI] - None at all, I assure you

-The flitter follows them and lands on Steve's helm, there's a little bit of buzzing from one of the eyesockets-

[Lie] Calls out mentally for CP to let them back out-

[CP] Grumpily creates another opening-

[Steve] Helps TLOT through and stares up at Cp for a long moment. - That was mean.

[CP] Shrugs-

[LJ] Has gone back to the kitchen in Doc's house to raid it for sugar-

[Doc] Is thoughtfully making some tea. - Oh hi Lj. Do you want some tea?

[LJ] - Sugar, now

[Doc] Little rude, but okay. - squeaks open a trunk and passes him a bunch of sugar. - Do you at least want some cookies or cake? Not just the straight stuff? I could make you a pie and there's ice cream in the cold trunk too.

[LJ] Opens mouth wise and dumps all the sugar in-

[Doc] Ooookay.

[LJ] Licks lips- Okay, now where's my circus?

[Doc] Oh, you want to do that today? - Drinks hir tea quickly and comes around the counter. - Let me just tell Deerheart I'm going out and we can walk over there.

[LJ] - Let's go then!

[Doc] Heads up the steps, and grabs a couple of shulker boxes- Xe calls down- Deerheart? Lj and I are going to go for a walk down the coast. I'll be back in a bit, okay?

[Deer] - Alright, be careful

[Doc] Holds the door open and leads Lj through the garden and past the koi pond. - I wonder is Splender is around? - Xe muses

[LJ] - Who cares

[Doc] Rude. Isn't he a friend of yours?

[LJ] - Well yeah, but I want my circus!

[Doc] Well I wasn't proposing we go visit. He's just watching over Ej and Sally and I haven't seen him much. - Waves to Alexsezia, who merrily waves back before continuing.

[LJ] Floats along, anxious-

[Doc] Why so upset? Apart from the kids, everything is as you left it. I even fenced it off so no one would wander in.

[LJ] - It's also my box

[Doc] Oh, the actual jack in the box? I saw it briefly before Splender opened it. The colors were coming back on it too.

[LJ] - Oh goody... I wonder what the circus actually looks like now...

[Doc] Probably more colorful. - Goes over the little bridge heading for the bar.

[LJ] Fidgits and plays with his fingers-

[Doc] Comes to the gate and squeaks it open. - Is it safe for me to go with you? Splender said I needed to hold onto him.

[LJ] - Oh, right, you probably should have a hold of me...

[Doc] Takes a hold of his sleeve. -

[LJ] Leads him through, there's the tinkling of circus music ahead, something LJ has not heard from his circus in a long time. As they approach the main gate it is no longer rusted, but still hanging from it's hinges. The whole circus is awash in color, but still in a state of disrepair-

[Doc] Looks a bit sad. - It looks better, but still broken. Is it a reflection of your mental state?

[LJ] - I don't know, it never existed before I became a pasta...

[Doc] Do you.... want some help fixing it up?

[LJ] - No... I... I don't know what I want to do...

[Doc] You're still free to stay with me if you want, now that you know where it is you can always come back and work on it when inspiration hits. I brought a bunch of shulker boxes if you have things you want to take out.

[LJ] - I think I'd rather stay here for now...

[Doc] Are you sure you'll be okay? Being alone?

[LJ] - I'll be fine

[Doc] Looks around, - can I get out on my own if I go straight up?

[LJ] Flicks his hand towards Doc- You'll be able to come and go freely now

[Doc] Thank you. But seriously, let me know if you need anything, okay?

[LJ] - Whatever- He goes over to one of the game stalls and picks up a torn teddy

[Doc] Stands there for a long moment looking around, - oh, it's just a small thing, but I thought you might find it funny and tasty as well. - Xe walks over and plunks two rather odd-looking crafting tables down on a clean surface. They appear to be made of gingerbread and the designs are made from icing. - It actually works if you need it. One to use and one to eat.

[LJ] Glances at it before tossing the teddy aside- I need to go and see what's broken

[Doc] I won't keep you then. - Xe goes to leave.

[LJ] Turns and heads deeper into the circus-

[Doc] Does a little roll and transforms, flying up into the blue sky. Xe hopes Lj wil be alright by himself, but does trust him not to make any mischief.

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zepybespectacled · 4 years

Text

A Walk in Cindersap

The high afternoon sun broke through the gaps in the tree line. The sounds of crickets and chirping birds set the tone, occasionally interrupted by the rustling of bushes. A small white rabbit jumped out from the green shrubbery and stood on a clear dirt path. It surveyed the area briefly before heavy footfalls and loud squeaks caused it to leap away and disappear into the bushes. Further down the path, a young man in a thick brown jacket and denim pants walked slowly through the forest. With gloved hands, he pushed an old, squeaky wheelbarrow holding a hand saw and a rusted axe. Through the glasses on his face he looked around the scene, searching as he moved along the path. His name was Merlin.

Unlike the origin of his namesake, Merlin did not put much stock into stories of magic and spirits. He did not believe in connecting with the energy of the forests or summoning the favor of elementals. And he most certainly did not want to be walking through nearly a kilometer of woodland while his clothes were soaked in sweat.

“What in Yoba’s name am I doing here…?” He thought to himself, looking down at the simple woodcutting tools he pushed in front of him. It had only been a few weeks since he left his technical assistance job at JojaCorp and used most of his savings to move into Stardew Valley, and he already felt he had made a huge mistake. “Here I am, a computer engineering graduate, trudging through a forest, looking for saplings and fallen logs just to get some damned firewood…” He thought as he went around a patch of rocks that blocked the path. Merlin rationalized that it seemed like a good idea at the time. He had been working 6 days a week at the office, advising and assisting dozens of people who would rather vent their anger at JojaCorp and its products than actually use common sense. It wasn’t his original plan. In addition to his hardware knowledge, he wanted to learn more about programming and coding. He intended to take additional online classes while he started his first job. The Ferngill Republic’s economy was in a bad spot however, made worse by the eruption of a conflict with the Gotoro Empire. Most tech companies would not risk paying the salaries of fresh graduates with no work experience and little credentials. The Joja Corporation were the only ones whose requirements were low enough for Merlin to meet, and he figured he had to start somewhere. He hoped he wouldn’t stay long and he’d be able to add the job to his resume for future employers.

Instead, Merlin fell into a vicious cycle of working day after day just to pay bills and rent, saving a pitiful amount of money each month for his future plans, and even that had begun dwindling as the continuing war further strained the republic’s economy. He even had to work on Saturdays and overtime on a few occasions when he could muster the energy to do so, just to be able to add a little bit more onto his savings. Merlin did the math and knew that if things continue as they were, he was going to be working as customer tech support for the next decade or so if he was going to earn enough money to keep paying for his online programming classes without starving. Merlin dreaded the idea of moving back in with his parents and asking for their help. His self-esteem was poor ever since he started his job, and begging for help from his family after he graduated college would have solidified the idea that he was a complete failure. Desperate for options, he turned to the old envelope his grandfather had left him, and that was how he ended up here.

“I exchanged mental exhaustion for physical exhaustion… In the hopes of finding a future in some backwater town. What the Hell was I thinking…?” He lamented as he pushed the wheelbarrow over a bump on the road. “There’s no turning back now… Grandpa said he earned the family fortune with this land… And I just blew the last of my savings to make sure I wouldn’t go hungry here for at least a month. If I can’t make this work…” His thoughts trailed off. He didn’t want to think about what would happen to him if he failed here.

Merlin stopped as he spotted a fallen log off to the side of the trail. It looked old, and some mushrooms were growing on it, but it wasn’t rotten, and it seemed small enough for him to fit its pieces on the wheelbarrow. He parked it next to an oak tree and slid his backpack off him and onto the grass. Sifting through the bag, he pulled out an old notebook and approached the log. He quickly flicked through the pages, searching for the ones detailing wild mushrooms within the Cindersap Forest.

“Grandpa mentioned that he kept lots of notes on foraging and survival in the cabin. Thank Yoba he was thorough…” Merlin thought as he studied the sketches of the common mushrooms, and read the descriptions of its details. Merlin pulled up the handkerchief hanging around his neck so that it covered his mouth and nose, to avoid inhaling too many spores, and knelt down next to the log. As far as he could tell, the mushrooms on the log matched the color and other descriptions of the ones in the notebook. It was hard to be one-hundred percent sure though, especially when it came to wild plant life, but he figured he could examine them more closely back at the cabin. He pulled out the survival knife slung on his belt, and carefully started cutting away the mushrooms at the base of their stem, depositing them one by one into a pocket of his bag.

After he had taken all of the mushrooms he could see, he pulled out a piece of measuring tape and started crunching the numbers on how small he’d have to make each cut and segment to fit all the pieces into a pile on the wheelbarrow. “At least my education is still good for something around here…”

Once Merlin had the measurements, he pocketed the tape and reached for the rusty axe. He clumsily pulled it out of the wheelbarrow and held it with both hands. He still wasn’t used to any of this. With a deep breath through the cloth of his handkerchief, he pressed the blade of the axe onto where he intended to cut the first segment. With a grunt, he raised the axe over his shoulder and prepared to swing it down, hoping that he wouldn’t cut his own feet from doing so.

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

The sky had begun to turn a tinge of yellow by the time Merlin had managed to reach the old cabin. The quaint little hut stood out against the forest in a clearing that opened into a path going out of the tree line. The faded wooden sign along the path read “Fae’s Reach Orchard and Plantation”.

Merlin pushed the wheelbarrow, now filled with various planks and pieces of wood, towards the cabin. He stepped carefully around the small patches of potatoes and parsnips he had planted earlier in the day, and released the wheelbarrow as soon as it hit the front porch. He trudged up the steps to the door and collapsed into a sitting position on the porch floor. Panting, he wiped the sweat off his head and took off his glasses to rub the moisture away from his eyes.

Looking around, Merlin saw the pines and oaks bathed in the orange light of the slowly setting sun. Having been stuck between his office and his apartment for months, the sight was new and beautiful. He felt a bit of joy creep up from within him, until he remembered he was expected to make a living off of the land before him. “Geez gramps… How did you even start?” Merlin muttered as he pushed himself up on his feet. His legs, arms, and pretty much his whole body was sore. Yet all he achieved today was planting a handful of crops and gathering enough wood for a fire and for crafting some simple support fences for his plants in the future. “By Yoba… I need help…” Merlin thought forlornly as he considered his chances of even lasting a single month in this place. The people of Pelican Town seemed friendly enough, but they didn’t owe him anything. Not to mention the thought of begging for handouts and pity made his stomach churn. He was an educated adult, armed with an inheritance and a laptop with internet connection. He figured that if he couldn’t make it with all of that going for him, then he didn’t deserve to be carried around. Merlin looked down once again at the pitiful patch of land he cleared for his potatoes and parsnips, and frowned. “I won’t beg but… maybe I do need help…” He thought. There was another farmer in town who’d been here longer than he was. Maybe he could learn a thing or two by offering to be a farmhand. It’s not as if the land of Fae’s Reach demanded much of his attention in its current state, in any case.

“Guess I should talk to them tomorrow morning, but first… I need to make sure those mushrooms I found are safe to eat. Otherwise I’m having instant noodles from the JojaMart for dinner…”

#stardew valley #sdv farmer #sdv Merlin

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