#none of this is new history continues to repeat itself as always
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“Dress Up” Part 2: Second Preview!
Today was a day. Writing makes me feel better. After putting in like 50 applications for a new job, I started writing a little more of my fic. Here's another preview for Part 2 of "Dress Up"
No active warnings for this preview.
And thank you to everyone who's sent me messages, I appreciate it more than you know. I'll keep my head up, promise.
True to his word, Lucifer had managed to sneak away before you woke. After adorning his typical attire, he found himself wandering the halls of the hotel, finally stopping when he reached the lobby. Thinking he was alone, Lucifer started talking to himself and paced back and forth like a madman.
"Was this a mistake? Are we moving too fast? No, no, no it's alright, it's fine! We're fine! Get a fucking GRIP, Lucifer! You're panicking for nothing! She loves you...right? Yes, yes of course she does! Why would she say yes to you?! Unless...NO! No, none of that! Relax! Need to relax..."
"You know, if you don't quit your pacing back and forth, you're gonna wear out the carpet," Husk remarked, attempting to get Lucifer's attention in his anxious state.
"WHAT THE-" Lucifer shrieked hearing the bartender's voice. After seeing Husk standing behind the bar, he breathed out a sigh of relief and clutched his hand to his rapidly beating heart. "Geez, warn a guy next time!" Husk huffed and returned to cleaning the whiskey glass he held in his hand. "How, uhh, how much of that did you hear?"
"Enough to know that you're a fucking mess right now," the cat demon replied, setting down his now clean glass. "Perhaps you need a bartender to talk to."
"Uhh, alright?" Lucifer made his way over to the bar and took a tentative seat on one of the stools.
"This is about your girl, ain't it?" Husk correctly guessed, "about the wedding?" Lucifer sighed and nodded. "Mhmm. You love this gal, don't you?"
"Yes, of course I do!" Lucifer answered almost defensively. "She's...my everything!"
Husk picked up another dirty glass to clean. "And has she given you any reason to doubt that she feels the same way?"
Lucifer huffed. "Well, I...no, no she hasn't. She's always been there for me. Listening to my ramblings, making me laugh, consoling me during the worst times, like last night...she's...she's just perfect!"
"So what's the holdup?" Husk asked after setting the other glass down.
"It's not as simple as you're making it out to be, Husker," Lucifer retorted, pushing his way back from the bar. "I loved Lilith with all of my heart and soul. And she said...that she loved me too. But then one day, she was just gone. Vanished. We fell together. We built a life here TOGETHER! And she just leaves? It's like the last 10,000 years together meant absolutely NOTHING!" Lucifer ran his hands through his hair, trying to keep his composure. "I-I can't lose her like like I lost Lilith. I just can't! I just want to be enough for her. I don't know what I would do if she...", he couldn't finish his sentence. He sat back down at the bar, resting his head in his arms. "The pain would break me..."
The sound of a glass sliding across the counter top caught Lucifer's attention. When he lifted his head, he noticed a full glass of scotch sitting next to him. "Calms the nerves," Husk spoke. Lucifer let out a deep breath and took a swig, choking slightly in the process not realizing how strong it was.
"Not much of a drinker," Lucifer admitted, setting the glass down.
"Sir, if I may..." Husk began.
"You can call me Lucifer," the angel smiled slightly.
Husk smirked. "Lucifer, all I can tell you that love is a vulnerable emotion. I understand that you're afraid. Afraid that history will repeat itself, that your love is not meant to be, and that you're going to end up alone all over again." Lucifer's face sunk, lowering his head against his arms once more. "But," Husk continued, "I know one thing for sure. That girl up there ain't Lilith."
Lucifer raised his head, now hanging onto every word from the bartender.
"If anybody thinks you aren't enough, that's their own fucking problem. And I can tell you that your girl ain't like that at all. She adores ya, can't get her to shut up about ya! Hell, I couldn't even tell you why she ended up down here in the first place! Another one of Heaven's fuck ups, for sure. But for your sake, I'm glad she did." Husk reached over and gulped down Lucifer's unfinished glass of scotch. "Be a shame if it went to waste."
Lucifer let out the smallest of laughs. "Thank you, Husker. And you're right, even in this God forsaken pit, she manages to make it just a little bit brighter. She saved me. And I'm going to devote every moment of my immortal life to her."
"Good to hear. Now..." Husk slammed his hand down on the counter, "get your shit together and go get ready! You got a wedding to attend."
#hazbin hotel#lucifer morningstar#hazbin lucifer#hazbin hotel lucifer#hazbin husk#hazbin hotel husk#lucifer x reader#lucifer morningstar x reader#lucifer smut#hazbin hotel x reader#hazbin hotel smut#preview#my writing#today has been a day#but i like how this part turned out
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Death is always around the Corner
Vil + Death!Reader
Riddle, Leona, Azul, Jamil, Vil,Idia, Malleus
Masterlist
Let's set the scene:
"Magic Mirror on the wall. Tell me, who is the fairest of them all," The Beautiful queen asked her magic mirror.
" I see the figure of your fair stepdaughter. With her lips as red as a rose, hair as black as ebony, and skin as white as snow," The mirror said.
" Snow White…!" The Queen scowled.
Death stood in the shadows as they watched the vain queen glare and curse the young princess.
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Reading Vil's book brought back memories of the terrible women. Y/n could only hope that history is not about to repeat itself, but they knew. Just by the patterns of what has been happening around this school, they knew that was most likely.
"Wha—?! Don’t just stop and stare, Yuu! I hit my nose on your leg, yanno?" Grim groaned.
"You’re staring intently at the Great Seven’s statue, Y/n. Something up?" Ace asked.
"It's... It's strange seeing all these people. Being looked up to and aspired as such," Y/n said simply.
"Why is that? Did you know them personally?" Deuce asked.
"Not personally, but I was there to witness their prime and watch their downfall," Y/n explained.
"Really?! So what was the Queen of Hearts like?" Ace asked."
"A hypocritical tyrant. She would enforce the rules on everyone, but herself. She would even make up laws on the fly just to have an excuse to behead people. 60% of the rules in Heartsybuyl were ''on the fly'' made ruled," Y/n explained.
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After that Ace and Deuce certainly had a new perspective of the queen of hearts. But school continued as normal, and Y/n could already feel the presence of a growing blot. It Has Begun.
Later that day an announcement was posted in the cafeteria. An audition for the Joint Cultural Festival’s Vocal & Dance Championship.
“Come and join us! Aspiring singers and dancers, this is your chance for stardom! You shall represent our glorious school! In the case that you are chosen to be part of the finalists. The prize money of 5 million Madol will be divided among the participating members."
This certainly caught the boy's attention. As the group walked through the courtyard expressing their excitement. They were interrupted by singing, a lovely voice too.
That voice belongs to none other than Epel Felmier. As those boys began talking, Epel noticed that Y/n seemed to be left out. Sadly before he could reach.
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"Goodness, Epel. Are you neglecting your lessons to talk to some pigeons?" asked a smug voice.
"Vil-san!" Epel gasped.
"Wha—?! Is he talking about us?" Grim asked nervesly.
"Who else is there? This is an important lesson for our Epel. There are less than two months before the VDC. He does not have the time to be fraternizing with lowlifes like you," Vil said with a prideful smirk. " Please do not bother him while he is doing his lessons."
"We weren’t bothering him at all—," "Vil-san, don’t shout at them! This’s—This is my fault—," Epel said, cutting Deuce off.
"Epel, how many times must I tell you to stop with that vulgar way of speaking? It is not befitting a person of your standard. Surely you do not want to be referred to as a “Poisonous Red Apple,” do you?" Vil continued.
"But I—I don’t really want to do this—!" Epel stuttered
"Have you forgotten your promise with me already? Come along now," Vil commanded.
"Hey, you. I don’t care whether you’re a Prefect or not, but you just look like you’re bullying him," Ace glared.
" H-hey, you two…! Didn’t the Headmaster tell you both not to pick fights anymore?!" Deuce said nervesly.
"Hmph, pretty bold of you nobodies to challenge me. This will be perfect exercise after a meal. Come now, I’ll turn you into mashed potatoes," Vil smirked.
Sadly Adeuce and Grim were not on the same level as Vil, so Y/n eventually decided to step in. Just as Vil was about to throw a blow at the First Years, Y/n effortlessly caught his fist.
"Abusing your authority as a Prefect is not a good look. I thought you were better than that, but I guess I was wrong," Y/n smirked as they tossed Vil into the air. Only to grab him by his collar and slam hard onto the stone below. Vil had the wind knocked out of him.
"I'd give you a... 5 points out of 100," Y/n smirked at Vil's gasping form.
"Instant kill!" Grim and Ace cheered.
"S-so cool," Epel awed quietly.
______________________________________________________
After that one-sided fight, Epel asked Y/n if it would be possible to be as strong as them. They answered "That is for you to decide, but don't focus only on the strength. Or is trying to be a muscle head the only thing about you?"
With that Y/n and the Adeuce group left. After some days of dance training with Kalim and Jamil. The group had to sign up by talking to Rook. The school stalker, who was all to happy to lurt random info on the group. Though he didn't have much on Y/n
So Y/n returned in kind.
"Greetings Rook hunt from Class 3-A, seat number 10. Your height is 177cm, whose unique magic is "I see you," Y/n smirked as Rook froze. For the first time being on the receiving end of his action.
But Rook would smile it off and tells them to come to Pomfiore in three days' time. And thankfully Adeuce was accepted into the group. Along with Kalim and Jamil.
But unfortunately, Y/n and Grim were forced to house the new VDC group. for the next 2 months, and While Grim was easily won over with money and tuna. Y/n didn't want to share their temporary home.
So with much back and forth Crowley ignored Y/n and gave the boys the green light. So Y/n was not the happiest when they came. especially when Vil starts making demands and setting down his own rules. And order them around.
Sadly not only did Y/n have to house them, but also help assist them with their training.
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"Of course. Manager, please play the song for us," Vil said expectantly.
"Who?" Y/n asked as they leaned against the windowsill.
"Who else is there? Didn’t the Headmaster ask you to support us? If you want to get paid, then work yourself to the bone for us, too," Vil said.
"Well, I don't need your currency," Y/n answered simply.
"What?!" Grim Gasped. "B-But my Tuna!"
"Grim I cook fresh fish for you for Breakfast and Dinner. You have no reason to complain. I even get the certain types of fish you like," Y/n scolded.
But Grim wants that money so he did follow Vil's command. As the Video was about to play an Ad of Neige popped up. And As Y/n watched they could see Vil crumble inside.
"He is very Lovable," Y/n commented, throwing salt into the wound.
"Gentlemen, stop focusing on the wrong things and watch the dance video, for god’s sake! This time for sure… I promise that we will not lose," Vil promised.
"Good. Well, I wish you luck. Don't cause trouble Grim," Y/n said as they left the dance room.
"W-where are you going?" Vil asked, but was ignored.
Practice went well, all the way to sunset, But Vil began to rear his head. As his ugly tendency surfaced.
" I… I don’t want to do it…" Epel stuttered.
"Pardon? “Meandering and girly? Are you sleep-talking, my dear? Well, even then I still will not tolerate such brashness," Vil scoffed as he grabbed and yanked harshly on Epel's ear. "Let me explain. This “meandering” dance trains the inner muscles so that our movements look clean and beautiful. Clothes and dancing should not be categorized into “girly” or “manly.” You are absolutely being close-minded if you think you shouldn’t do “girly” dances just because you’re a boy."
Suddenly Vil yelped in pain as a strong pair of fingers grabbed his ear. He was pulled down to Y/n's level by his ear as Y/n began to talk directly into it.
"And You should know that Boy or Girl, you have no right to place your hands on another individual. Or have you thrown out common human decency?" Y/n asked. "Since we're on the trend of pointing out flaws, I have many of yours to point out."
"Like how you drag unwilling people into your goals. Aren't you ashamed of forcing your dreams onto Epel? What are you incapable of reaching your goals on your own, and need someone else to succeed for you?"
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Y/n called the first day of training to a close. Vil wasn't feeling too chatty after that earful with Y/n.
Y/n sensing that Vil had enough, they left the group alone Till everyone went to bed. Kalim was surprised to See y/n outside. They gave Kalim a small pep talk and sent him back to bed.
Since Y/n death Didn't need sleep, they continued to do work. Like Removing Vil's curse on the baked goods Trey made. Before anyone could get hurt, reaping unfortunate souls, and Catching fish for Grim to eat.
Vil was not happy when he caught Ace and Deuce eating sweets, but was infuriated to learn that Y/n removed his curse. And Y/n would continue to be a thorn in Vil's side.
But sadly Vil's tune didn't change over the few days. And Eventually, it Got to the group. Epel quits, Deuce with a massive loss of confidence, and Ace becomes more of a jerk.
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" Well only after a few days, you're out of a team. Seems like you are well on your way to losing after all," Y/n laughed.
"Those potatoes didn't have what it takes," Vil glared.
"Oh, just like you don't have what it takes to beat Neige?" Y/n asked with a knowing and cruel smile.
"Gaining what you want by means of pure effort is a thing of dreams," Vil muttered to himself. "And I do have what it takes, I will be the fairest of them all."
"Will you, or are just repeating words of people telling you are beautiful?" Y/n asked. " find something else to do with your time. Like becoming a better teacher or instructor."
"Do you just enjoy insulting me?" Vil glared.
"I just act how you act when you do when you are around people you think are beneath you. Time 5 of course,' Y/n said. " And yes, I do find it amusing how fail to be an influencer. Like how you fail to influence Epel into seeing the benefits of being pretty. You just Sqwaked and screeched at him the whole time."
"Then what would you do?" Vil scoffed, as he nervesly watched Y/n polish their blades.
_________________________________________
Y/n recommended trying to appeal to Epel, like helping his family with their business. This helped ease things over with Epel, and Vil was a bit nicer. And soon 2 months were a breeze.
Things were looking up for the group and Vil, spirits were high, and confidence was through the roof. Til Vil got cold feet after seeing Neige's performance. And the story of the evil queen replayed once again.
---------------------------------------------------
"Where am I?" Vil wondered as walked in the darkness.
As he did he found a backstage vanity, the lights were bright and the station was pristine. There was a book on the table, it was about Him. He read through the script-like text, and memories began to surface. And it was strange seeing it from a new perspective.
"Ah, your here Mr.Vil. Are you ready for your makeup session?" Asked a voice.
Vil turned in his seat to see Y/n dressed like a makeup artist. The boy nodded slowly as Y/n began to recline his chair.
"So what do you think of the script. Do you like the Vil Shoenheit character?" Y/n asked as they began to soak Vil's hair with warm water.
"I just wanted to stand on the stage till the very end," Was all he could say.
"Everyone one does, and you just wanted more then what you got," Y/n agreed as they began to shampoo his hair. " You didn't want to be seen as the Villain any more."
"Exactly, but no matter how much I try and Improve... I don't want to be just that, that villain character. I'm sure the Queen of beauty would look upon me with disappointment," Vil sighed.
"The queen of beauty wouldn't give a flying feather about your struggles. If she were in your passion, she would have killed Neige back in high school. And eat his heart, thinking she would gain his beauty," Y/n said as they rinsed Vil's hair.
"Do not mock the Queen of beauty, and how could you possibly know who she was?" Vil spat as Y/n conditioned his hair.
"I know you very well, I wrote the script in your book," Y/n answered.
"Y-you did. How did you know such personal details about me? Who are you Y/n?" Vil asked slowly.
"I am always near, but never quite here, I am feared by most, yet always appear. I take life from the living, with one final breath. Who am I?" Y/n asked as they rinsed and dried his hair.
Vil looked back at the mirror, but instead of seeing a style artist. There stood a black-robed figure with two razor-sharp scythes.
"Y-your Death. So... You were there during The queens time?" Vil asked as Y/n brushed his hair.
Flashes of Y/n's memories of the Evil queen appeared in the vanity mirror. Showing the queen's true color. Vil slumped into his chair as his idol, everything he knew of her... Was a lie.
"If you were to ask me, you outshine the queen far more than snow white," Y/n said as he turned his chair to face them, applying the makeup. "The queen never cared about improving her own beauty. She simply would not allow more beautiful people to live. You on the other hand worked har to improve your beauty."
"You really mean that?" Vil asked as he looked back at his book, only to see a wanted poster on top of it.
"Yes, straight from death's lips. You are everything, you thought the queen embodied. Sadly you would have never known that, because you really on strangers to inform your worth. When only you can truly know what your value is," Y/n said as they finished their work and turned Vil around to face the Vanity.
"Vil? Who is the fairest of them all?" Death asked.
As he looked in the mirror, images of his life achievements flashed in the vanity. Vil smiled as turned to face Death.
"I am the fairest," Vil said.
"Are you sure?" Death asked as they bored into Vil's eyes.
Vil stood from his chair and stood face to face with Death. " Yes, I'm very certain."
"Good," Y/n smiled as they stepped aside. "Well, you better hurry. You're going Live in 30 seconds. Your public awaits."
Vil looked ahead to see the stage doors open, as a blinding light showed through. With confidence, he stepped back into the living.
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"The Stand Of A Survivor"
Chapter 3: "Secrets"
Legend refuses to be yet another piece of history that repeats, and to his luck, a certain goddess is there to ensure his plans are met.
First | <<Previous
Read On AO3
Warnings: None! Not whump this time :DD
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Farore loved her champions, each and everyone one of them was selected not for the spirit within them but for who they were, the spirit just so happened to, well, link to the most courageous person in a generation.
Or perhaps the hero's spirit was what made them so courageous, but not all her dear champions had the spirit--the little sailor for one--and not all the heroes had her blessing--like the very first holder of the hero's spirit.
Unashamedly, she did have a favorite. Though she did adore them all. He dear sky knight who was thrown head first into the darkness and chaos of the surface with no small amount of fear yet he still ran forward to save her reincarnated sister. Her quick-witted artisan, who had been the first of several to be called on as a mere child, yet without an ounce of magic in him he defied all possibilities out of sheer will and took control of the elements. Her variable forest child, whom she had a hand in raising herself with him growing up with her kokiri children. Her darling wolf, her wild cub, her daring captain, her witty fairy, her bright sailor.
All of them, she adored and loved to no end.
Yet she would admit she had a favorite, and it would be the one whom she carefully created and bore herself when the world was in need of a hero yet no child was suitable to be born with Hylia's hero's spirit. So Farore made one.
She made her champion, she made their hero, she asked one of the descendants of the ancient servants of the goddesses to raise him, using their blood to help him form. She gave him a heart of the purest gold, so he would love and cherish all those he meets, a mind of the sharpest metal, so he would notice all things and learn it, the soul of the most sacred animal, a prey animal, so he would never choose to harm. Her dearest warrior with a golden heart.
She did not interfere mindlessly, in some time she will give little Fidelity a boost to guide the princess in a time of need to save her wild cub. She has always given her champions a little extra boost in battle, be it her darling wolf some extra strength, her witty fairy some more magical stores or even just heightened survival instincts, or her bright sailor and his intuition.
As her dear warrior, her golden hearted child, took a spell that would've killed a regular mortal (none of her champions, she knew proudly that they would've all survived that hit and gotten back up to continue fighting), and then received enough physical trauma that could and would kill him soon enough... she found herself stepping in.
She forced her other champions through Hylia's portal, eliminating vulnerabilities just in time for her golden heart to rip apart the crust of the earth around him without harming any of his fellows.
She did not intervene when he fought, when he swore aloud that he would not die like this, but when he was about to take a hit he in his heavily damaged body would not have survived...
The winds themselves pushed the strike back and then the monsters, she had no power over time--that was her wise sister's domain--but she had power over life itself.
Breathing new life into her warrior, restoring his form to perfection, and then whisking him away from the dangers that were promptly consumed by the earth.
"What the--" her golden-hearted warrior grabbed at his chest, looking around and seeing her with a clear shock in his eyes. "Who... Farore."
She smiled, head tilting to the side a bit as she did so. "Hello, dearest one. Do you feel correct, my little warrior?"
He dropped to one knee, head bowed low. "I... I don’t feel wrong, nothing feels wrong, no."
"Good, it seems my ability to heal those that have life has not diminished over time." She moved forward and knelt down in front of him. "Rise up, dearest. I am your creator, not your master."
He did rise, her hands guiding him.
"What happened? Did I... Did I die?"
"No. You chose your path and I will ensure that you walk it," she promised him. "Go on, rejoin the others and do not fear becoming fallen, I will keep you safe."
As any mother would her child.
"Why?" He asked, eyes narrowing.
She smiled. "That is a secret, dearest one."
"Does it have anything to do with why I have abilities that the others don’t that I was told had to do with the Triforce of Courage?"
Her smile grew a bit, she came nearer and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. Then pulled back to hold his face. "It has everything to do with who you are, and nothing to do with what you are. Now I believe your spiritual brothers are under the impression you did not survive, why don’t you go remedy that?"
Legend blinked and the face he had seen was little more than a blur in his memories, but it felt familiar, the gestures Farore had taken, holding his hands, his face, the gentle kiss--it was a warmth he'd forgotten but always known.
He was in a forest, a bit confused and thrown off, and was immediately assaulted by yelling and a body slamming into his.
"You’re alive! Are you okay? What happened?! Where are you hurt--"
"Hey--Traveler! Rulie! Breathe!" Legend laughed a bit, grabbing his successor's arms and squeezing him in front of him. "I'm fine. Hey, hey--"
Hyrule stared at him, emerald eyes glassy as the crystal they resembled.
"I'm okay," he promised, aware of the other heroes all gathered around them but he was focused on soothing his successor. "I'm alright. I'm alive, I'm not hurt, it's okay."
Hyrule let out a sob and slammed into him, hugging him tightly. Legend let him and returned it a bit, hesitant and wary, but then another pair of arms engulfed them--He's certain it was Sky--and soon half the group was joining in.
"Don’t do that again," Warriors warned him, more serious than the two of them usually were to each other.
Legend huffed. "I don’t intend to."
Though he wouldn't mind another one on one with Farore again... something about her was familiar and he wasn't sure if it was just how religious his upbringing was, how familiar with the Triforce (whole or just his piece) he was, or what, but he knew her.
She was the goddess of secrets though, so he supposed that if he wanted to find out he'd have to figure it out himself.
#linked universe#lu legend#linkeduniverse#legend lu#fanfic#lu warriors#lu hyrule#lu sky#farore#conclusion#comfort#here's the comfort for the hurt#kind of#i wrote this story at the same time as Guardians#can you tell?#farore would be a great mom#i have zero proof#but nobody can tell me otherwise#prosie writes
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RIP Pauline Newstone
10th December marked 25 years since the Beast Wars episode Other Visits: Part 2 aired on Australian TV. Taking a moment to reflect, I vividly remember watching it (along with much of that season) on a small wall-mounted TV in a dimly-lit hospital waiting room. Hardly my idea of a grand way to spend multiple afternoons, but the prospect of more checkups and needles paled compared to the swelling dread of how, as the credits rolled, I might never see my favourite character again.
When Candice Santora announced three days later that Airazor's voice actor Pauline Newstone had passed away, that all-too familiar dread seeped its way back.
Beast Wars was far from my first foray into the world of those warrior Robots in Disguise, but certainly played an integral part of my life during the latter half of the 90's. Its writing and expansion of the Transformers history was captivating, its animation at the time second-to-none, and its voice acting nothing short of immaculate. Vancouver's finest breathed life into what could've easily been written off as another 20 minute toy commercial, but it excelled. They made the characters memorable, raw with wild, well-rounded emotions and truly raised the bar for future actors.
From the moment she burst onto the scene, I adored Airazor. Smart, sassy, more than strong enough to fight tooth and claw in battle, refused to put up with Rattrap's antics, and mistress in the art of dry wit. A welcome addition to the Maximal cast with a plethora of potential to grow. Granted the good times weren't to last; she was swiftly demoted to cannon fodder and later the role of "Mrs. Tigatron", but I was happy just to have her around. Whenever roleplaying our favourite scenes or making new adventures at school, Airazor was always my first choice. The original (and Transmetal figure a cherished Easter gift the following year) continued to have imaginative adventures after the show ran its course. For a time, something as trivial as a cartoon alien robot bird meant the world to me.
And it all came down to how awesome Ms. Newstone performed her.
It's a feeling the Aussie public clearly shared, as her video pack became one of the top 10 selling boys' toys of Christmas '98 (or maybe it's because the VHS repaint was, and remains to this day, the only version of her basic-class toy to see release here. But I digress). Yet Beast Wars proved a tip of the iceberg for Ms. Newstone's career. She lent her voice to shows including G.I. Joe, Mummies Alive!, Inuyasha, Monster Rancher, X-Men Evolution, Ninjago, and I certainly can't go without mentioning her portrayal of big baddie Frieza during Ocean Group's tenure on Dragon Ball Z (The infamous "Caressing the Balls" meme? That was her. Iconic).
Ms. Newstone was one of those voice actors I always hoped to meet someday. No means an easy feat, as she preferred to keep away from the spotlight in a fashion not dissimilar to the late Christine Cavanaugh. It would've been nice, but I understood and respected her desire for privacy, and commend the extra effort Pete and the other organizers went to adhering her "no photos" request at BotCon 2006.
Learning of her passing, let alone nobody reporting it until fellow actor Garry Chalk saw her name over six months later at the annual UBCP/ACTRA Awards, is a sad reminder how none of us are getting any younger, and each day those little things which used to give us joy slip further into the abyss of time. Cherish those memories and the ones you love, while always leaving room to create more tomorrow. Fiction generally doesn't last forever, but I like to think her memory and legacy both as a voice actor and person will for many out there.
The above image was taken back in 2011 while in Lithgow, but never made public until now. Far from my best work (assuming anything I do can be considered good to begin with :P ), but a decent day. History repeats itself, as that particular Airazor figure went on to appear in many more photos, accompanied me to multiple BotCons, a college graduation party (!), and most recently appeared on the official Oliver Brown social media page for their Rise of the Beasts promotion.
RIP Pauline Newstone. May many glasses be raised in your honour. You came, you stooped, and you sure as hell conquered.
#Pauline Newstone#Airazor#Beast Wars#Transformers#Beasties#Rise of the Beasts#Action Figures#Toy Photography#BotCon#Australia#In Memoriam
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ヌーヴォーロマン - Nouveau Roman
わたしは猫です 名前はありません
Watashi wa neko desu Namae wa arimasen
I am a cat, I have no name
先生に拾われた 捨て猫
Sensei ni irowareta Suteneko
Taken in by Sensei, I’m a stray cat
先生は作家なの 有名な作家なの
Sensei wa sakka nano Yuumei na sakka nano
Sensei is an author, a famous author
だけど悩んでるの いつも 飛んでるの
Dakedo nayanderu no itsumo tonderu no
But he’s always swept away by his worries
わたし猫だけど スカートが履きたいの
Watashi neko dakedo Sukaato ga hakitai no
Even though I’m a cat, I want to wear a skirt
恋人になりたいの お願い
Koibito ni naritai no Onegai
I want to become your lover, I beg you
先生は詐欺師なの 手紙書く詐欺師なの
Sensei wa sagishi nano Tegami kaku sagishi nano
Sensei is a fraud, deceitful while writing letters
だけどほんとの 気持ちは 口に出せないの
Dakedo honto no kimochi wa Kuchi ni dasenai no
But he can’t say his true feelings
書いても消しても恋 恋しか書けない
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi shika kakenai
No matter how I write or rewrite love, love is all I can write*
書いても消しても恋 恋しか嘘しか書けなくて
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi shika uso shika kakenakute
No matter how I write or rewrite love, all I can write are love and lies
「新しい時代だ」「新しい芸術だ」
Atarashi jidai da Atarashi geijustu da
‘It’s a new era’, ‘It’s a new artform’
〆切さ 何もかも 変われない
Shimekiri sa Nanimokamo Kawarenai
But the deadline doesn’t change at all
僕らくりかえすだけ 思い出と思いこみ
Bokura kurikaesu dake Omoide to omoikomi
We’re just repeating memories and biases
だけど書かれた 過去は 息の根止めるだろう
Dakedo kakareta kakkou wa Iki none tomeru darou
But isn’t the written past suffocating us?
書いても消しても恋 恋しか書けない
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi shika kakenai
No matter how I write or rewrite love, love is all I can write
書いても消しても恋 恋でも嘘でも
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi demo uso demo
No matter how I write or rewrite love, even love, even lies
嘘じゃない恋としても
Usojanai koi to shitemo
Even love that’s not a lie,
ひとりぼっちのベッドで 羊をめぐる冒険
Hitoribochi no beddo de Hitsuji o meguru bouken
All alone in bed, taking off on a wild sheep chase
君がくれた孤独 僕にくれた孤独
Kimi ga kureta kodoku Boku ni kureta kodoku
The loneliness you gave out, the loneliness given to me
ひとりぼっちの指先 めくるめく涙の谷
Hitoribochi no yubisaki Mekuru meku namida no tani
A lone fingertip flipping through a dazzling valley of tears**
百年もの孤独 君にあげる僕の孤独
Hyakunen mono kodoku Kimi ni ageru boku no kodoku
A hundred-year solitude, I’ll give my loneliness to you
書いても消しても恋 恋しか書けない
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi shika kakenai
No matter how I write or rewrite love, love is all I can write
書いても消しても恋 恋しか書けない
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi shika kakenai
No matter how I write or rewrite love, love is all I can write
書いても消しても恋 恋しか書けない
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi shika kakenai
No matter how I write or rewrite love, love is all I can write
書いても消しても恋 恋しか嘘しか書けなくて
Kaitemo keshitemo koi Koi shika uso shika kakenakute
No matter how I write or rewrite love, all I can write are love and lies
(書かれた物語へつづく)
(Continue to the written story)***
TRANSLATION NOTES/PERSONAL INTERPRETATION
*this write/erase motif seems to come up in jp lyrics a lot, but while researching all i found was that it could be citing the line "恋、と書いたら、あと、書けなくなった。/As for love… no, having once written that word I can write nothing more." in osamu dazai's novel the setting sun. which, WOULD make sense, but i'm not entirely convinced so. shrugs.
**the "valley of tears" line seems like it MAY be a reference to a text by a medieval dominican friar. of all things. The Sinner's Guide/La Guía de Pecadores was written by louis of granada in 1555, but was brought by missionaries to early christian communities in nagasaki and translated in 1599. also mekuru is turning/flipping through pages but mekumekuru is to blind or dazzle so i wanted to convey both.
***this part isn't said out loud, and the "lalala" that is isn't in the written lyrics
also worth mentioning that "nouveau roman" itself refers to a 1950s wave of experimental french novels. i think that with the themes of conflicting history and present, and the literary angle, it could all mean…rather than being restrained by the written past, write your own future... maybe!
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Remember this: hockey gods are watching. They have seen that New York team get away with a win by injuring our best player. History will repeat itself and favor to those who played clean and square. Look at what happened to Vegas in the first rd of 2019, the Caps with Niskanen in 2017, the Sharks and the hand pass OT winner in 2019, so many dirty plays that led to eventual payback from the hockey gods. Don't forget the 2021 Islanders too, it was deflating to see them go all the way to the ECF again after seeing how much they lucked out with their dirty plays, and they got the ultimate karma in Game 7 of the ECF (even though I wasn't rooting for either team in that series). If you can only win in the playoffs by injuring other players, the hockey gods will laugh at you and give you that rude awakening eventually. I strongly believe Game 6 is the perfect revenge game for us. We will get through this. Critics can doubt us one more time, the Pens will prove them wrong once again.
i hope you're right. i hope ricky and tristan are back and both contributing in peak form, whether or not sid is playing, and we send the rangers home to start their summer early and get some time to rest. i hope sid's issue is just precautionary.
i'll be fully honest: i came into this series expecting the rangers to take it in five, maybe six. the penguins have far exceeded my hopes for them. the problem, of course, is they got me excited in the meantime, about what might come still, and that's what gets you in the end.
if sid is out and geno plays like the elite 1C he is, instead of taking stupid penalties...if they continue to play responsible defense and get to the rangers' net and clean up the rebounds, if we keep them away from louis if he's still playing...if if if. there's a lot of 'if's there.
there are a lot of 'if's for the rangers too, of course. but they saw what worked to shake the pens and throw them off, and i'm worried they'll do it again, maybe worse.
i don't want friday to be the last time we see geno in a home jersey for the penguins. i honestly do not know what i'll do if he's not re-signed. i want them to w*n and take the series and keep going, and i want him extended, and i want the team to continue through the postseason healthy, without having to scramble and hope and pray that the other team doesn't decide to act like a bunch of scumbags.
and, as always, i'm worried about sid. every time he goes down with a concussion, i worry it's the last time we'll have seen him play. it makes me physically ill to contemplate. the fact that some no-name fourth-line dickwad could potentially end a career like his because his coach said their team was 'soft' after getting humiliated two games in a row? it's a joke. it's garbage and a joke and it's embarrassing for the league, who does nothing to protect its stars—not sid, not geno, not nate, not connor mcdavid, none of them.
i just feel sick at heart about this all and it's hard to feel hopeful right now, when we have no news beyond 'still being evaluated'.
this isn't my usual thing on here but. i dunno. i can't muster up a lot of positivity right now.
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surprise — jj maybank x reader
𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: “like one where jj doesn’t wanna be like his dad and he’s worried and all! similar to and you're the dad with rafe?”
𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 1k
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: mentions abuse, pregnancy
𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆: hi there! i forgot i had an a request that wasn’t sent through an ask so here it is! my bad. but i hope this is what you wanted!!!
A young pregnancy had never been something Y/N thought about, well, until it happened. It had crossed her mind and how terrifying it would be--and now she knows what reality hit her with. She held the pregnancy test in her hand and paced around her bedroom. She told JJ to come over, she had a surprise for him.
Maybe it was a cruel way of phrasing it, but in the best and worst way possible, it was a surprise. She was trying to prepare her thoughts of how JJ would react to the announcement, but making fake scenarios in her head made her more anxious--she didn’t know which way he would react and that’s the truth.
A rhythmic knock on her door let her know it was JJ. Ever since they first started dating, JJ continued a certain rhythm to knock on her door, just always letting her know it would be him. Especially nights where he would sneak through her window, not wanting to get caught by her parents.
“Come in!” She said, continuing to pace around her room. Her eyes landed on the blonde boy and she smiled at him. JJ’s eyes lit up and he walked over to her, wrapping him in his arm and pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
“Hey babe, what’s up? What’s the surprise?” He asked, hands sliding down to her arm and held her closely. Being in his arms felt like a home--it was most definitely a person and not a location in Y/N’s opinion.
Y/N clenched the test in her hand and bit down on her lip. She opened her hand out and looked at JJ with a nervous smile. “I’m pregnant.” It wasn’t the first test she had taken. Out of anxiety she threw the others away and never looked at them again. She waited a few days to process the information before taking another test, just to make sure.
As if three positives all wouldn’t happen to be a fluke.
His eyes widened and he nodded his head. “Wow,” was all he managed to say. He looked at her and his eyes flickered to her stomach. There was a baby in there.
JJ Maybank’s baby.
His own child.
Out of all the scenarios that Y/N came up with in her head, but that was not one she thought of. Just a one word response. She stared at him for several moments, wondering what was going on inside of his head. The one word he spoke didn’t give her much insight of what his feelings were to him becoming a dad.
JJ was thinking about more than he could afford. The idea of JJ having a kid was petrifying, but yet everything he ever wanted. The idea of being like his father grew in the pit of his stomach. It was far fetched, he could never imagine hitting his own blood, his own child. JJ would never want to lay a finger on his child in a way like Luke had.
It wasn’t new, but JJ knew he had a quick temper. JJ had broken all sorts of things out of rage, but mostly punching a hole in the wall when he couldn’t think fast enough. Kiara always suggested other ways of calming down and relaxing, but none of them released the pent up emotions he felt. Sure, making beaded necklaces was mind numbing, but once he finished a necklace, the anger would boil and he would struggle to simmer down.
JJ wondered if that was the same problem his father had. But everything seemed to be JJ’s fault, ever since he was a little kid and his mom was no longer in the picture.
JJ will refuse to let history repeat itself.
The thought of holding a baby in his arms, swaying back and forth in his arms. He could imagine the nights staying up and reading night time stories, teaching their child how to search, building sandcastles and dragging sand back into the house, learning how to fly a kite and teach his kid how to ride a bike. There were so many things for JJ to look forward to.
JJ can imagine dropping his kids off for the first day of school, watching them compete in sports, hell--JJ would even teach their kid how to pick locks.
JJ’s kid will be the mini version of him. They will be an iconic duo, being raised by John B and Pope. Kiara and Sarah would be the cool aunts. And the kid would have the loveliest mom, Y/N.
JJ would be the dad that Luke never was.
“JJ?” Y/N’s voice squeaked. He focused back into reality and on his girlfriend in front of him.
“What?” He asked, furrowing his brows. Her face contorted with confusion.
“What do you mean? What does ‘Wow’ mean?” She asked, looking up at him.
He chewed on the bottom of his lip and just nodded his head, his emotions finally settling and coming to a conclusion of how he felt. “I’m going to be a dad--I’m going to be a dad!” After repeating himself, he sounded more enthused at the idea.
In that moment, he made a promise to never turn out like Luke--and if he did, Y/N and their baby need to leave him.
JJ lifted Y/N off the ground and swirled her around. She wrapped her legs around his waist, laughing and holding onto her boyfriend tightly. All the tension in her body eased at his excitement.
“You’re going to make a great dad, babe.” Y/N smiled at JJ and kissed him before he put her down. Y/N dragged him over to her bed and sat him down.
“Now, do we talk about names? Wait--what even happens next?” JJ asked, unsure of what the process of pregnancy was. The two laid in bed all night, discussing all the details about what they wanted for their kid.
taglist: @abbyg217 @taylathornton @lemur46 @urdadsapussy @webmeupspiderdaddy @rosarosse @littlethingsinmymind @amourtentiaa @mrs-cameron @starduststarkey
#jj maybank#jj maybank imagine#( jj maybank )#jj maybank x reader#dad!jj#outer banks imagine#obx imagines
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Okay so I got a weird request for you 🥸 how would the demon brothers and undateables react to an MC that is turning into a demon? Like MC gets fangs, tail, wings ect from being there for so long or is maybe being corrupted? Could you make it a little bit fluffy, though but I can also see this being funny 🤪❤
This doesn't seem weird at all! The concept is actually really interesting
Lucifer:
Lucifer was going off on you and the other brothers; all of you were caught with his stuff
You just wanted to see what he was hoarding but turns out it was just cursed music and screaming skulls
He immediately charged over and began scolding his brothers
But when levithan made a comment about Mammon already selling his items
He went full demon mode, summoning a whip and began to twist it
"MAMMOOOOOOOON-"
Mammon bolted away, Lucifer hot on his trail
You soon found mammon tied to the chandelier
You glared at Lucifer and went off instinct
"let go off my horns-"
"not until you apologize!"
He kept trying to get out of your grip but you just held on tighter
They brothers were aware you were changing but he didn't expect you to get demon strength so soon
"I will prevent you from becoming a demon if you keep acting like this, this kind of behaviour will not continue-"
"Silence or I'll shake you like a goat!"
Mammon:
You found out about your corruption before anyone else
You've been trying to hide it - unsure if it's a curse or you're actually turning
You were hoping you could get the prince to see you but it turns out fate had a different path in mind
"Oi, I want my shades back, I've let you borrow them for too long-"
He was tired of going for his shades and them not being there
Too caught up in how cute you looked in them he let you borrow them much longer than expected
"Wait - no-"
"YOU GOT DEMON EYES! the hell- you turning into a demon?!"
"uh- suprise?"
He grabbed your face, examining your new eyes
"they're real pretty- not like your original eyes weren't but- forget I said anything, we need to find out what happened to you, dumn hu- uh demon."
Levithan:
The way you both found out was purely accidental
You both noticed your teeth appeared sharper but they both shrugged it off
Believing it to be normal as alot of demon food was meat and had that kind of fleshy tough texture
You were watching some new anime and you got excited
Your favourite character seemed to be on the urge of being killed off but then suddenly - they unlocked a hidden power within and survived!
You jumped up from your seat and cheered
"You're- YOU HAVE WINGS!"
You looked behind you and sure enough, a pair of wings were flapping behind you
"WHOA!!! wait so I can fly now?!"
"But how are you- YOU'RE TURNING INTO A DEMON!!"
You were too excited to care about the corruption of your body, jumping off the walls testing out your new wings
levithan had to quickly rush you to the others to show them what happened
None of them get how you're turning but glad you're taking it in stride
Satan:
When you showed him your growing horns, he was fascinated
Immediately taking you to his room to find his study on demon and human history
"it says here that demon corruption can turn humans into lesser demons but it's normally for those who are already damned to hell and have a bad soul."
You gasped
Wiggling your fingers at him as a wicked grin grew on your face
"so I'm secretly evil, like a villian~"
He just handed you the book, amused by your attitude
He was glad you were fine with your corruption
His eyes wondered and noticing a tail forcing itself out from your clothes
He couldn't help but blush seeing it wag, watching as you read through the process of corruption
"you're the furthest thing from a villian, but if you'll let me - I'll document this, you'll be making history."
"Really? I guess so though - did something just fall out of my body? I'm too scared to look."
"it's just your tail, it seems your body isn't processing the corruption the same so some parts are developing faster than others."
You whipped around, grabbing your tail and began to squeal
Yep, Definitely was the furthest thing from evil
But perhaps it was how open you were to the devildom that it made corruption easier on your soul
Asmodeus:
"Fangs suit you, make's you look more vicious~"
He grinned, a small growl on his voice as he admired your new sharp teeth
You tried not to get embarassed as he prodded at the bottom of your fang
You thought the whole transformation was really cool
This is what most humans want! Or atleast you believed so
When he finally let go, you checked your teeth out in the mirror
"they're so cool! But what's the point it's not like I'm going to be eating anyone-"
"you could always bite me, you know that option has always been open for you."
You ignored his wink and amused smile
You knew he was just teasing but deep down you were happy he was so positive about your transformation
You were scared they wouldn't like you anymore
But they were all supportive, especially asmo
"It's not like you're really changing that much so I don't see any issue, besides I'm curious if you'll be like me and have wings!"
That was a discovery you were yet to find
Your horns were growing steadily and your eyes have changed along with your teeth
But you were yet to get any wings or tail
Beezlebub:
When the brothers found out you were turning Into a demon
First the reaction was panic and wanting to fix you
But you said you were fine with it and the process wasn't hurting you in any way
They relaxed after that
But you actually growing extra limbs such as wings and horns the panic was growing again
"you're going to be alot stronger now, I'm glad."
You flexed your arms, bringing up your fists with a grin
"Oh? You wanna try to brawl or something?"
Beel still easily overpowered you, keeping your little fists at distance from him by pushing back your head
He was smiling, a light blush on his cheeks whilst you were trying to punch him
"No, I'm happy I'll finally be able to hug you without being scared of hurting you."
"oh-!"
You immediately got embarassed
You stopped trying to fight him, looking at him with a smile
"Let's test it out! I wanna see how much stronger my body is!"
Belphegor:
"Get your tail off my tail-"
You glared at him, trying to pull away from his arms, Getting overheated from how close he was cuddling you
You processed his words; wondering what he was talking about
"My tail?! I don't have a -"
He raised his tail to reveal that his and another tail were looped aroulnd each other, clinging
"OH MY DIAVOLO I HAVE A TAIL!!"
You were able to shuffle away, bringing your tail up to your face
You were just staring at it, not expecting to see it
"you're becoming a demon........wanna learn some demon swears?"
"there's special demon swears???!!! TELL ME!"
He chuckled, rolling closer to you and began speaking in a different language, it easily rolling off his tongue
The words felt familiar but you couldn't understand what he was saying
"What does that mean?"
"Let's just say you shouldn't repeat it until you want a demon to die."
UNDATEABLES↓
Diavolo:
He was immediately informed about your predicament
Demanding to see you as soon as possible
When he finally saw you, you were barely changed
Less prominent changes were already in effect but you were yet to truely look like a demon
He was both excited and scared
Excited to see this unique change and that you'll be able to stay in the Devildoom
But scared that this is going to be a hard thing for you and you'll regret and hate them all for corrupting you
But he was surprised by your enthusiasm
"What kind of horns do you think I'll be getting? I hope they're cool."
"I'm glad you're enjoying this, I didn't know un-damned humans could turn into demons."
"me either but I practically live here already so there's not going to be a difference."
He laughed, squeezing your shoulder
You were looking at yourself in the mirror
Just trying to find any horn bumps
"I think they'll be unique type of horns, like Barbatos."
He moved his hands to the side of your head, mimicking his butler's horns
You both agreed barb had super cool horns
"Wait- won't I get that special outfit all of you have when you're in your demon form?"
"i- i actually haven't thought about that."
"do those just magic on or were they chosen and now they're just attached to that form?"
You both had to sit down and actually think about this
Barbatos:
He wasn't too surprised you were having a transformation
It was only due time before the life of the Devildom effected you
But when you came rushing in to see him, tears in your eyes
That completely threw him off
"If you don't want this to happen, I'm sure my lord will let me shift the timelines and you'll be back to normal."
"No way! I wanna be a demon~ I'll have big fangs and spooky wings-"
Seeing your tears weren't one of despair
He smiled, cutting you off
"You'll have a tail actually."
You grew more excited, jumping up and down
When asked why you were crying
Turns out on the way to get him you bashed into one of the doors
He had to check if you had any bruises after you told him that
You took it as a good time to ask what kind of tail you'll have
But he just tapped his noses
"it would be better I keep it a secret, it's your corruption after all, I understand I'm doing this not to be mean."
You let him be
But as soon as your demonic features grew in more you were rushing off to see barbatos
Solomon:
"Hey, Solo! Guess what!"
You surprised your giddy up glee
Standing at the end of the stairs to his mini potions lab
He didn't look at you, too focused on his latest project
"What is it? You've turned into a demon?"
He laughed at his sarcasm
You just grinned, bouncing over to the opposite side of him
"yes actually! I'm finally allowed outside!"
His head snapped up SO FAST
when he saw your demon form he was shocked
Never would he assume you would turn into a demon
He's like Satan, wanting to research and document your progression and abilities
"We could make a pact, perhaps then the brothers will finally-"
"I'm not making a pact with you."
You two spent HOURS discussing your corruption
You were excited to learn more about the possibilities and he wanted to figure out how a non dammed soul was able to turn into a demon
"so, I'm going to be immortal like you, it's seems you're never getting rid of me~"
"After the first 10 hundred years you'll get bored of it."
"Oof- I forgot you're old-old."
He was not pleased
Explaining he was wise not old
You just shook your head, letting him ramble about how aging works for immortal beings and how the concept of age blurs
Simeon:
"Is it painful at all? When the brothers fell I know they had to go through a similar transformation like you."
He never saw his brother's transformation, just watched them descend from the heavens
He was looking at the few differences your new form was doing to you
But you seemed fine, smiling as you sat with him
"It feels weird, I know it's happening - it's more like an itch?"
"I'll see if I can get anything that'll help, you seem fine with the change."
You fully turned to him, grinning
"oh yeah! I think it'll be cool, I'll get to be immortal and stay with all of you."
His heart softened at your words
You'll be a peculiar demon, indeed
But that was okay and he was happy you were okay
He started guessing what animal would represent you
Wondering what type of wings you'll get
Or how your tail would look
"I'm excited to see what your demon form will be when it's complete, I want to see if my theories will be correct."
"I think you can see the future, your TSL story was remarkably close to what happened between me and the brothers and their bonds leading up to my arrival."
He just laughed, that secretive glint to his see
"it's but a mere coincidence but we'll see when the time comes."
Luke:
His best friend is becoming a demon??!!!
This is so unfair!
You were his HUMAN friend! His favourite human out of all humanity!
He was so grumpy about it
Mumbling how the demons corrupted you and now you're forced to stay in the Devildom
Meaning if he wants to visit he'll have to be there which he definitely 'doesn't' want because his friends mean demons are there
"Is there no way to reverse it?"
"probably but I don't wanna - I'm happy to become a demon!"
"But why?! Won't you miss your human life!"
He felt very conflicted; he wanted you to feel the way he did so you could understand him
But he knew you were happy and he wasn't too opposed to it
It's just the fear of change and you being upset or regretting your fee decision
You were always so nice to him
He truly believed you'd become an angel like him and Simeon
"nah, the Devildom has made me the happiest I've been in years, besides if get wings we can go fly together."
You wrapped an arm around his shoulder, hugging him close as he finally un-puffed his cheeks
"you- you wanna go flying? I guess I do want that... it'll be nice."
He smiled, calming down but still wasn't sure how to feel
He wanted to fly with you and even if you didn't get wings, he always wanted to show off his growing wings
If you had a tail he'd just find a different way for you to sour into the sky
#obey me#obey me shall we date#gamingclubpresident#obey me mammon#aracadejohn217 9#obey me mc#obey me asmodeus#obey me beezlebub#obey me satan#obey me solomon#obey me simeon#obey me luke#obey me leviathan#obey me lucifier#diavolo obey me#obey me diavolo#obey me belphegor#obey me Barbatos#obey me demon prince#obey me demon brothers#obey me demon mc#obey me x mc#obey me x you#obey me imagine
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‧₊◜ # breath
↳ ❝ i am so incredibly sorry that i fell in love with you, it was never my intention. ❞
—description you had never meant to fall in love with the king, his fiery temper and cold demeanor would turn anyone away. yet, the childhood memories seemed to stay with you both.
—pairing king katsuki bakugou x castle stable girl reader
—warnings aged up characters, swearing, angst, fluff
—word count 3k
—authors note my first request! i hope that you enjoy this! :D
masterlist | unedited
Your job was rather boring. You would attend the stables, slaving away to maintain the horses for each of the king and his court. Your day would consist of constant heat, moving, and cleaning up only to start again right after.
You seemed to always be moving. You would be on a horse, gliding through the acres of land; or you would be feeding them, grooming them, cleaning their hooves and applying new horseshoes.
Yet, everything seemed to freeze whenever King Katsuki Bakugou would be in your presence. Everything would be in utter standstill. Everything except the beating of your heart that ricocheted against your ribs.
He was an excellent rider; he had to be, being King and all.
While you were a child, Katsuki would sneak into the stables at dusk and steal them for midnight rides. You lived at a small cottage next to the stables, a small shack made of wood and stone behind the castle. So you always noticed when he would appear in the late morning hours with winded hair and flushed cheeks.
Those were the fleeting moments in which you witnessed the true him.
It continued into the preteen years as well. When his parents would tell him to rest in his bedroom, he would run to the stables and steal his gorgeous black horse named Hades and disappear into the night.
You would watch from your window, eyes gazing at the royalty as if he were a rare bird that you were afraid of scaring off.
“You stare a lot.” He caught you once. He was walking back towards the castle, between the stables and your home. You only blinked in response, pretending that you were invisible.
A small interaction that lead to more.
During the day, Katsuki would pretend to be uninterested and unaware of you.
When he would arrive with his parents, the King and Queen, for their midday rides throughout the week, Katsuki would stand with his back straight and hair brushed. He did not even look like the kid you knew, primed and pampered and perfect for his royal status.
He would ride his horse alongside his parents through the trails and gardens.
Yet, at night, he was free.
Katsuki indirectly invited you a copious amount of times to ride with him. He would never say it, but he would motion for you to join or say, “Don’t just stare like you normally do, Stable Girl.”
And you joined. Who were you to deny the request of the prince?
Your horse was much slower than his. He slowed down to match your speed, it was an endearing thing that you knew he did. Though he complained nonetheless, strings of “You are so slow!” and “You must be an idiot to enjoy riding like this.”
When you rode your palomino horse alongside Hades, it was as if you were riding next to the night sky itself. The only indicator that he was still with you was his light hair.
That was a routine for a majority of your childhood. Berated and ignored during the day, and free riders at night.
“The sun is rising.” You warned him one particular night.
The two of you were in the stables, just putting the horses in and petting their noses.
“Let it rise.” Katsuki rolled his eyes. “What are my parents going to do? Fire me?”
It was one time that you genuinely thought that he was handsome. At the age of fourteen, he was confident and bright. And as the sun rose, the golden hue reflected off of his skin as if he owned the sun itself.
“Mom, why does that girl have shit on her?” Katsuki once asked the Queen directly in front of you. The two of you were around the age of seven, perhaps eight.
The Queen only rolled her eyes. “Because that’s what her job is, stupid boy. She works in cleaning up the horse shit.”
“That’s fucking disgusting.” Katsuki said. You felt anger boil in your chest.
“Continue to use words like that and it will be one of your chores.” The Queen threatened.
He was one of power and authority. Katuski Bakugou was one of strict rules and temper tantrums that left the castle in fear. Because he was to be feared, he could flick his wrist and you would lose your head.
Those moments of childhood were far forgotten. A lost prince replaced by a king.
You should be pissed at the king. For years, you had been a secret. A nightly visitor that shared secrets under the moon. It was as if none of that had happened.
But you knew that he had more responsibilities than some girl who worked in his horse stables. He was to rule his kingdom, marry a wealthy girl from another kingdom to merge powers, and live his life of royalty.
You were to attend to the horses.
“That’s my horse.” Katsuki’s voice echoed through the stables, deep and loud against the near silence.
You realized that it was his horse that you were cleaning. You were too focused on your work to notice.
With the trimmer in your hand, you wiped the mud onto your pants. “If you plan to ride her, it’ll be a couple more minutes. I’m replacing the horseshoes right now.”
“You will make the king wait?” He inquired.
You leaned on the wall from inside of the stable. “I will.”
There was a moment of silence. He stood with his back straight and crown sitting atop his light hair, hands clasped behind his back. His cruel handsomeness peered at you in the afternoon sun.
You knew that you should not talk to him that way, and request instead of demand. You knew that he was debating on whether to hang or burn you for disrespecting him.
But instead, he said, “Carry on then. I will wait.”
You watched him for a couple of extra seconds before returning to your work. He said nothing else as he watched and waited.
He was to be married soon.
There was a three day festival both in the castle and along the streets. The princess is from another kingdom across the lake, and would bring a great deal of trading and business.
The arranged marriage meant that there would be a grand wedding in which everyone may attend, along with a week long festival after. Parties among parties.
And you were still hard at work.
When your parents passed, you were left with the remains with only yourself. An empty house and your single friend was no longer a friend.
You could not help the feeling in the pit of your stomach. One of jealousy and hope all at once.
“What are you doing here?” You looked outside, as if you were being followed and needed to confirm that no one else was around.
Katsuki Bakugou stood at your doorstep in casual clothes and a familiar look in his ruby eyes.
“You will come riding with me.”
“I will, will I?” You sighed. “Katsu-- King Bakugou. I suggest you go back to your castle. You have a princess to love.”
“It was not a request.”
He stepped back, expecting you to follow. You did.
“You did not answer my question, My Lord.” You said as you entered the stables. “What are you doing here?”
“Can you not be a complete idiot for just a second?” He barked, turning to you. “We are going for a ride. Like we used to.”
“I did not think you remembered.” You confessed, not fazed by his anger. He was always like that.
“How would I forget?” Katsuki turned to take his horse. “It was a majority of our childhood, was it not?”
“Didn’t seem like it.” You mumbled, mainly to yourself.
If he heard, he did not acknowledge it.
“Get your horse. Let’s go to the trails.”
You treaded slowly behind him, hesitant and nervous. Perhaps he was planning to kill you for your disrespect. He hadn’t said a word.
“King Bakugou...”
“Katsuki.” He stopped. He looked over at you. “You should know better than that.”
“We are not children any longer.” You said.
“That’s obvious.” His voice was impatient. “But we are in private. You can call me by my name.”
“That is the issue here.” You sat on your horse beside him, glancing at the open field. “We should not be in private.”
When there was no reply, you stole a glance at him. He was absolutely regal despite being in casual clothes. Black shirt and cloth pants almost blending into his horse. His light hair and ruby eyes seem to glow, matching the golden circular crown on his head.
He did not look as he usually did.
“The sun is rising.” His eyes were on the horizon, the darkness being covered in light.
You smiled. For the first time in a long time, you smiled. You thought that you caught a rise in the corners of his lips as well.
“Let it rise.” You said.
And he did smile, a full smile that you hadn’t witnessed since a child.
You knew at once that you were in love. It crushed into your chest as if it were beaten into you. It had always been love. In love with the king, in love with someone to be married, and in love with faded memories.
He came back at nights again. The saying was correct, history repeats itself.
You would run through the trails and the garden and end at the field, one that overlooked a hill of flowers. It was the same flower field you would end up as children.
“Run with me!” Katsuki would cheer, snatching your hand and bringing you into the flowers. Stubby child legs and chubby cheeks.
You would giggle and follow him as you always did, struggling to catch up to the fiery boy. The flowers would bend beneath your feet but neither of you cared.
Cold night winds hit your faces, the mixture of that and laughing leaving you both out of breath and with reddened cheeks.
It seemed like lifetimes ago.
You went to one party. One.
You dressed in the one dress you had, your mother’s dress. She wore it to every formal event that you could remember.
The castle was absolutely stunning, pristine whites and clean floors. Even in your dress and heels, you felt underdressed. You were sure that you smelled of stables and dirt.
“You were not there last night.” A voice said from behind you.
You were talking to one of the cooks, both of you laughing and exchanging jokes about working in the castle. You couldn’t remember the last time you had social interaction this much. It was enlightening.
King Katsuki Bakugou looked more stunning than you could imagine. A red cloak with fur around his shoulders, white and black fitted suit, hair styled to hold his crown in perfection. Rings decorated his fingers and earrings ran along his ears.
He excused the cook from the conversation, leaving the two of you alone in the corner.
“You will draw attention, talking to me in public.” You told him.
He scoffed. “It’s my party. I will draw attention if I speak to anyone.” He paused. “You look different, I almost did not recognize you.”
“It’s because you only ever see me in my work clothes or my pajamas.” You semi joked.
When someone walked by, Katsuki’s voice grew louder. “You don’t smell like shit this time, either. I wonder if you made that dress or found it.”
“Hm.” You glared. “Very performative. Must be easy to keep up the scary King act, huh?”
“You’re being rather informal to me today, especially for someone in public.” He said, but his tone was warning.
“Were you not the one who visits me at night and asks me to be informal?” You asked. “That was embarrassing, what you just did.”
“Oh, suck it up. It can’t be worse than what you do on the daily.” Katsuki’s eyes flicked to yours.
“I would rather clean up horse shit for hours than be berated in front of the castle workers.” You told him, stepping around him to meet with some of the maids.
You ignored the King for days.
It was a rather stupid plan, him being of his position. But you were both petty and angry with him.
For someone who knew you since you were a child, for someone who met you every day, and for someone who you knew to be warm and not cold... he really did have two faces.
“Open this door.” He ordered, voice casting throughout your house from outside of the door.
You flung the door open. “Go by yourself.”
“She lives.” Katsuki didn’t even have his crown on this time, just a shirt and clothes pants. “Come. You’re being stubborn.”
“I’d rather not.” You moved to close the door.
“It is as if you want to piss me off and fire you.”
“Go on and fire me then.” You threatened. “Try to find someone else who would take care of your precious horse as I have. Or meet you in the night as I have. Or...”
Something shut you up. A pressure against your lips forced them closed.
It took you a moment to realize that he was kissing you. Katsuki Bakugou, the King, was kissing you.
You kissed him back.
Falling into patterns, it would seem, was your specialty.
The nightly rides turned into kisses and smiles. The two of you would ride only to stop and end in the grass.
You thought of his wife, of his title. You thought of your job, your title. You thought of everything. Yet every thought would cease when he would grab your face and place a kiss to your lips.
You hated it.
Every time you met in public, he would act as if he knew nothing of you.
One particular morning, he arrived with the newly appointed Queen. His wife.
“It is disgusting here, Katsu.” She complained, lifting her dress to avoid the mud that littered the ground.
“You said that you wanted to learn to ride.” Katsuki said. “I told you to wear pants.”
He turned to you, not looking you in the eye as you brushed your horse.
“Is Maple available to ride?”
Maple. His mother’s old horse, a perfect chocolate brown and very calm.
“She is, and she’s freshly clean.” You said. Your mind flashed with memories of his lips on yours only hours ago. “Maple and Hades, My Lord?”
“Yes.”
You helped them lead the horses out of the stables and watched as he helped his wife onto the horse. She struggled but eventually managed to balance.
“The girl who works in your stables,” She said, though you were right next to her. Like you weren’t a person. “She’s a bit gross, yes?”
“Eh. I’m sure she’s used to it.” Katsuki shrugged.
“I couldn’t imagine living in such conditions.”
There was no defense, no “I’ve been coming through here every day for so long I hadn’t noticed”, nothing but a simple, “Let’s ride. We don’t want to be here all day.”
“These meetings need to end.” You told him. You were at the field, sitting on your separated horses and taking in the silence. “You are the King. You needn’t visit a girl who works in your castle.”
“You’re different.”
“How so?” You offered. “I work in your castle. It is not my job to kiss you, or...”
“Shut up for—”
“I need to say what I need to say.” Your voice was soft. “And I believe that...”
“ —just a moment.” He cut you off. “You are different. You always have been.”
“Is that why you only ever meet me in the dead of night?” You asked. “Or berate me during the day? I am not stopping these meetings and this friendship just to save your reputation in case we get caught. I am stopping them because I cannot take your constant changes.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” He rose his voice. He jumped off of his horse only to pace in front. “You simply don’t get it. Of course you wouldn’t.”
“You’re the King, Katsuki.” You said from above him. “I get that you have to—”
“Do the years not mean anything to you?”
“Do they mean anything to you?” You asked. “For years, you didn’t speak to me. Didn’t visit or see me as a person. For years I waited around and wondered about our friendship. And you come back and interrupt it now only to repeat the same things.”
“You’re a bitch, you know that?”
“And you’re a coward.” You spit. “You create false memories with me every single day.”
Katsuki went silent, looking up at you before mounting his horse again.
“I did not mean for this to happen.” He spoke in a single breath. He did not look at you. “I am so incredibly sorry that I fell in love with you, it was never my intention.”
He disappeared back into the trees, as he always did.
please do not copy, repost, or steal anything created and posted by me © castleoikawa 2021
#🏰 posted by ophelia#🏰 castle oikawa book requests#anime#manga#bnha#bnha x reader#bnha x you#bnha x y/n#mha#mha x reader#mha x you#mha x y/n#bakugou#bakugou x reader#bakugou x you#bakugou x y/n#katsuki bakugou#katsuki bakugou x reader#katsuki bakugou x you#katsuki bakugou angst#katsuki bakugou headcannon#bakugou one shot#bakugou angst#king bakugou#bnha royal#bnha au#mha au#bakugou katsuki#bakugo
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like i’m gonna lose you
summary: my take on the fall out of 8x16.
read on a03
...
“Get your hands off of me”
Hailey stirred in her chair, her grip on Jay’s hand tightening a bit. They couldn’t bring themselves to care about appearances as they sat in the waiting room of MED, anxiously awaiting news on Kim. Hailey had dozed off on Jay’s shoulder pretty quickly, not that he minded. He was sure she had had a rough few hours, despite her vague responses.
“You knew exactly what to expect when you came here.”
There was a soft moan from beside him and Jay looked down to find his girlfriend’s eyebrows laced together. Her knee shook slightly, grabbing his attention. “Hailey?” He whispered, earning no response.
“This is what it feels like.”
Hailey flinched hard in her sleep, her bottom lip beginning to quiver, Jay’s heart dropped into his stomach. She was having a nightmare. He shifted slightly, bringing his free hand to her hair and tightening his grip on her hand. “I’m here Hailes, come back to me.” He said softly in her ear as he ran his fingers through her hair.
The movement startled her, causing her to flinch again. “I saw.” She muttered - still asleep - a stray tear falling down her cheek, “I saw-” Before Jay could react, she shot up, grabbing the attention of too many people around her.
Jay’s hand immediately found her shoulder, “Hey, you’re good. It was just a dream, you’re safe.” He took note of the half nod she gave him, the fake smile, the way her blue eyes were clouded with tears. Hailey looked down at their intertwined hands, pulling hers close to her body. “Hailey?” He asked, a little hurt.
She looked like she had seen a ghost, and honestly, she felt like she had. The only way to describe the feeling in the pit of her stomach was absolute terror: she was scared that Voight would walk through the sliding glass doors, she was scared of what she had become, she was scared of what Jay would think of her. She was absolutely terrified of the shell of a person he would leave behind when he finally came to his senses and walked away. “I-uh-I,” She stuttered, standing slowly, “I need some air.” She barely got the words out before running out of the building.
Jay stood to follow her, he had always been good at giving her space, letting her handle things on her own first, but this was killing him. She was spiraling, he could see it. She had spotted it in him so many times before. He was sick of standing on the sidelines while she fought alone but she wouldn’t let him in, not this time. And as much as he wanted to be her husband, he knew the proposal was only a product of whatever the hell had happened, he just never got the chance to ask what that was.
“I don’t want to be without you.” Hailey said, her sad eyes locked on his. He knew (or at least he thought he knew) what she was getting at. He remembered the way he felt when she was kidnapped, he remembers the panic that set in on her face when he was shot.
Jay felt the tears forming in his own, squinting a bit. It almost wrecked him to see her like this, so scared of losing what they had. He understood, he felt the exact same way, but it was different. He knew that no one else had ever stayed for her, no one else every cared, and he was determined to be the one that did. “You’re not gonna be.” He said, because how the was he supposed to say everything that he tried to push into those 4 little words? How could he make her believe that she was it for him?
Hailey searched his face for any sign of regret or inconsistency, but she found none. Somehow though, she still wasn’t one hundred perfect sure. She couldn’t bear to lose him, she wouldn’t survive it. How could she ever feel secure when she had so much to lose? The second the thought crossed her mind, the words tumbled from between her lips, shocking her as much as him. “Maybe we should get married.”
Jay looked at her blankly, obviously in shock. She could see it all over his face, he couldn’t believe what she was saying, she couldn’t either. “I’m serious, let’s get married.”
In a split second, Jay saw it all. The life they would have: the white wedding, the lazy saturdays, the holidays, the kids, the house, the dog, the years they would spend growing old together, the family trips to the cabin. He saw it all, and it was in reach. He never believed that he would could have any of it, but with Hailey, he wanted everything. He would marry her tomorrow, but not like this. Not when the love of his life was standing in front of him so broken down that the only way she thought she could keep him was through a meaningless certificate.
Hailey watched his smile fade, causing the panic to set in. “Jay, we can elope. We don’t have to wait. We can fly to Mexico or Hawaii or anywhere. Hell let’s do it here, I just want to be with you-”
“Hailey, breathe.” He said delicately, placing his hand on her cheek to keep her grounded. He leaned in, kissing her gently before pulling away to look her in the eyes, which were focused on anything but his. “Look at me, please.” She did - reluctantly - taking a deep breath when she realized his soft smile had reappeared. “I love you. And I will love you for the rest of my life. Nothing is going to change that. All I want to do is be with you, please believe me.”
Hailey shook her head, tears beginning to fall. “I love you so much-”
“Baby, tell me what’s going on. I want to help. Let me help you.” He was practically begging her.
She shook her head again, “Jay,” She gasped, “I can’t. Not until you say yes. I need you-”
Suddenly, his phone began to ring. If it was any other day, he would ignore it, but today was not any other day. “It’s Kev.”
Jay talked quietly on the phone for a minute or two. Hailey took the time to compose herself, to prepare for the worst: the end of her relationship. By the time Jay turned back around the light in her eyes was gone and there was a fake smile on her face, one that only he could see through. “Is she okay?” Hailey asked.
“Uh yeah, he just wants us to come so that he can go switch with Adam.” Hailey nodded, grabbing her phone off the table along with her keys. He cautiously followed her to the door. “We’re gonna be okay Hailes, no matter what.” He said, knowing full and well that this conversation was far from over.
Hailey nodded, “I know.” The left the apartment, and Hailey did her best to ignore the feeling of dread deep in her chest, but it was inescapable. No one could walk away clean from she had done, not her, not even Voight.
Hailey leaned against the wall outside of MED, trying to catch her breath. Her heart was racing and her eyes were burning, she clenched them shut to dull the ache, but every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was a gun pointed in her face.
“Just because your stomach can’t handle it.”
Hailey gagged, doubling over and leaning against the concrete wall.
“Cause you’re scared.”
She emptied the content of her stomach into the grass, choking and coughing violently as tears continued to stream down her face. Her vision clouded again, images of Voight’s face splattered with blood as he approached her running through her head. It felt so familiar.
Maybe it was her father’s reappearance in her life, but she felt like she was a child again. Hiding behind the couch or in her room, him screaming at her and her brothers as they ran scared. Her past was taunting her, like it was trying to prove to her that she would never be rid of it. That history would always repeat itself.
Jay followed her, watching from the doorway as she threw up. He rushed to her, “Hailey-” His hand touched her shoulder and she gasped, pulling away quickly and facing him, her arms shielding her face. Jay took a step back, caught off guard by the terror clearly shown on her face. She was frozen, panting hard.
“I-I’m sorry-I,” She said softly, slowly bringing her hands down to her sides. Jay watched as her gaze fell to the ground, his heart dropping into his stomach. He took a cautious step forward. “I’m not, I’m not afraid of you, I-”
Jay’s expression softened, “I know, I know. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He was hurt, sure, but this wasn’t about him. It was so much bigger than him.
Hailey wasn’t sure what emotion was more overwhelming: the fear, the guilt or the physical pain she felt in her chest. He looked so defeated, and it was her fault. He thought she was afraid of him.
He took another step forward, “Can I?” He motioned to his outstretched hand, holding it out to her. Hailey nodded, slipping her hand into his. He slowly pulled her into to him, her arms snaking around his waist and her cheek pressed against his chest. She took a deep breath, instantly calming her. “Hailey?” She hummed in response. “Can you please tell me what happened? You’re starting to scare me.”
Hailey took a step back, looking him straight in the eye, memorizing the way they were looking at her, in case it was the last time they ever showed that much love. She nodded, grabbing his hand and pulling him to a bench further away from the hospital. This was the last place she wanted to tell him, but he obviously couldn’t wait any longer, he shouldn’t have to. She couldn’t be selfish with him.
They sat down, facing each other. Hailey let her hand fall out of his, folding hers in her lap. “Voight did find a lead.” She said, shrugging. “Ruzek and I didn’t know, he gave us the legit addresses. Adam, he um, he kind of lost it so I told him to go be with Mackayla, and he did. So, I went to find Voight.”
Jay’s eyebrows were cinched together, listening intently. “He was at some warehouse, he had Roy. I walked in and he, uh he, he pulled his gun on me.” Jay’s jaw clenched, but he kept his cool (barely), letting her continue. “He was beating information out of Roy, then you radioed that you found Kim, but-but he was going to kill him anyway. We fought.” Hailey took a breath, but continued to ramble, “I convinced him to bring him in. I wanted to do it the right way, we were going to do it the right way, like you. I wanted to do it right, like you, Jay. But then, then-then he reached for Voight’s gun and, Jay I swear he was going to shoot Voight, so I-” Hailey choked out a sob, unable to look her partner in the eye.
Jay slid his hands in Hailey’s lap, wrapping them around hers. Hailey’s head shot up, shock written all over it, “So you shot him, to protect your Sargeant.” Jay finished for her. She risked her career to protect him even though Voight had no care for hers.
Hailey shuddered, “I promise, I tried. I told him to drop the weapon. I saw him, he had the gun in his hand. I wanted to do it right.”
“Shhh,” Jay said, pulling her to him. “It was a good shoot Hailes, you did it right.” He held her as her tears soaked his shirt, running a hand through her hair. He was trying to soothe her, but he was seething. He couldn’t believe Voight had put her in that situation. Voight had been on the job a long time, he knew better than to come into close contact with a violent offender with an exposed weapon.
Once he wrapped his brain around his anger, it hit him.
“No Jay, not until you say yes.”
Hailey was scared that he would blame her, or leave her over this. He held her a little tighter, his own tears gathering in his eyes as he held her. “I love you.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
That grabbed Hailey’s attention. She peered up at him, her blue eyes filled with tears and hope. “Really?” She asked quietly, her voice breaking.
Jay nodded, not trusting his own voice. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Hailey’s eyes fluttered closed, this time, no flashbacks plaguing her mind. His hand settled on her cheek, brushing his thumb over her cheek. Jay pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. “Really,” He whispered
There was a cough beside them, and Jay looked up first. Hank Voight was standing before them. “How’s she doing?” He asked.
Hailey stared at him in shock. He looked like he always did. He was no longer wearing his tactical gear and his face was no longer splattered with blood. He was Voight, like nothing had happened. For a split second Hailey envied him, his ability to walk away unscathed, like it was any other Wednesday night and the only thing wrong was Kim’s life was hanging in the balance. Then she looked at Jay, whose jaw was clenched and his eyes were stuck on sergeant. He was just as strong, maybe even stronger, and he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. If he could do it, so could she.
Jay stood, looking like a force to be reckoned with. “You need to leave.”
Voight scoffed, quickly glancing at Hailey, “Excuse me.”
“You heard me Sarge, leave. Now.” Jay said. His voice staying low, but intimidating nonetheless.
“I have a right to be here Jay, to see Burgess,” Voight said, his words becoming louder as he took a step forward.
“Then go, be the leader you’re supposed to be, but don’t you dare go near her.” Hailey’s breath caught in the back of her throat, her heart swelling at the sight in front of her. Voight glared at Jay, nodding shortly. Jay took another step forward, so that their faces were level, “And if she is brought into this, in any way, I will bury you.” He never raised his voice, or made any move to physically escalate the situation. The last thig he wanted to do was scare Hailey more than she already was.
“Understood,” Voight said, with a trace of venom that could have been deadly.
They parted ways, Voight entering the hospital doors and jay turning to face his girlfriend, who had been silent. “Are you okay?” He asked.
Hailey nodded, “Yeah, I’m okay.” She met his concerned gaze. “Thank you.”
Jay gave her a soft smile, “Of course.” She glanced between him and the hospital doors, a nervous look on her face. Jay held out his hand, which she gladly took. “Come on, we can come back in the morning.”
Hailey sighed in relief, standing. He guided them down the sidewalk, wrapping his arm around her waist and pressing a kiss to her temple. “Let’s go home Hailes.”
“Hold on.” Hailey said, her anxiety getting the best of her again. She turned to face him, their eyes locking. She felt tears gather in eyes once again at the look in his, the one she had memorized, that she had prayed would never disappear. She smiled as he eyed her. “Ok, I’m good.” She grabbed his hand, pulling him in the direction of his truck. “Let’s go home.”
…
A/N: I couldn’t help myself, I had to haha. I can’t believe the premieres are only a month away! Thanks for reading <3
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Liar ✦ Shota Aizawa
part two
Summary: she had a choice to make; allow hundreds of innocent people to die by the hands of an elite gang of powerful villains, or partake in a mission that involved faking her death and infiltrating said gang to save the lives of those innocent people.
she chose the latter; hoping that Shota Aizawa would understand.
He’d noticed her attempting to put distance between them, he should have known then what was about to transpire. Aizawa always prided himself on being a very observant man, always able to predict the actions of others.
He never could have predicted seeing her face plastered on every news outlet, newscasters calling it a “sad but honorable death”.
He didn’t care that she died with honor, he didn’t care that she would go down as one of the most selfless heroes in history.
The love of his life was gone, her soul that had once been a lingering flame in the darkness of his own now snuffed out, turning him into ash. Into nothing.
There was no sound when he fell to his knees in the faculty room during the lunch break. He couldn’t feel Hizashi’s hands gripping his shirt as his tired eyes were pried wide open and taking in the scene of steaming rubble before him.
His stomach had twisted uncomfortably as he desperately tried to regain his breath, but the way his chest burned and filled his entire being with utter agony was too much to ignore.
He’d broken bones before, gotten his skull crushed and had enemies nearly gouge out his eyes. None of that pain came close to this, it didn’t even touch this.
He fell into a hole. Hizashi might have been the only one to understand exactly what he was going through. It was a repeat of when they’d lost their close friend, years ago when they had been U.A alumni themselves.
“Why wasn’t I there to protect her?” Shota had asked him one night, after Hizashi had picked him up from the sidewalk outside of a crowded bar, wasted and tired and utterly broken.
She had meant so much to him, even though he wasn’t one to voice his emotions, his concerns. Hizashi could see how he doted on her, the little classroom aide who climbed the pro charts and stole the hearts of everyone she met.
She was kind, that’s what he remembered about her the most. Always offering a hand, and that’s how her and Shota had began to see each other more often.
She hated seeing him so exhausted, so she took on the grading while he took on his parols at night.
It was only two weeks after they’d begun that routine that Hizashi had weaseled out of him the crush he harbored on his assistant.
After a few bumps and misunderstandings due to her obliviousness and Shota’s failure to properly communicate, they had finally decided to give a relationship a try.
Hizashi had never seen Shota as happy as he was in that long year and a half that they were together.
“How could you have known? She was on her way to school and someone cried for help. She was doing her job, and she would have hated it if you were even able to step in” he attempted to reason with his friend, now sitting on the plush couch in his living room.
The water Hizashi had poured him shook in Shota’s trembling grasp. God, he just missed her.
He missed the way she would laugh at his deadpan expressions, or hug him from behind whenever he made them coffee in the morning, or how she kissed him so softly, as if she didn’t want to break him.
But in the end, she did break him.
Hizashi knew this, as he cradled his drunk friend in his arms while he openly sobbed. Never did he think he would see the ever stoic Eraserhead this way.
But grief had a funny way of twisting people until they snapped.
The funeral was almost as devastating as the incident itself. She had no family left, and whatever friends she had before she moved to Japan couldn’t make the trip.
But her fans, and all the staff and students at U.A, felt the profound impact her death had on their beloved home room teacher when he was forced to cut his speech short and escort himself to the bathroom, where he dry heaved into one of the toilets since there was nothing in his stomach for him to throw up.
The school was quiet, especially classroom 1-A. Where you would normally hear Bakugou’s screaming, Midoriya’s rambling and Iida’s attempts to calm the excited chatter of the students, now only the quiet drone of the pre-recorded training videos could be heard.
Mr. Aizawa didn’t return to class for two straight weeks. When he did, he seemed to be the same hard ass, stony expressioned teacher they’d always had.
Those close to him could see it, though. The facade crumbling slowly, slowly until whatever was left of him would crumble with it.
For three months he had been trapped in a sort of haze. He moved through the motions of life, but he was not living. He felt like he was just another corpse that he was too slow to save.
Until one afternoon, a Saturday where he’d normally spend it holed up with her until their paroles would take them out into the fresh air, that the newscaster’s uttered her name again.
But it was no memorial, no way of paying respects. They were astonished.
So was Shota, dropping his can of beer at the scene unfolding in front of the camera.
“Six of Japan’s most lethal thugs almost got away with the bombs they had set up under Mustafu’s sewer system today, which would have brought the entirety of the city down on the citizens and killed hundreds. But, but somehow...somehow our beloved hero has risen from the dead and stopped them. If you can’t recognize her under the rugged disguise she’s wearing, that’s pro hero Electra Heart!”
There were paramedics on either side of her, helping her through the crowd. She looked so different, hair cropped short and an eyepatch slung over her right eye. Her skin was ashen thanks to the debris that must have fallen on her during whatever fight broke out when she apprehended those responsible for this, and she was a lot bulkier under the layers of clothing and armor she wore.
“Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi is taking questions at this time. Let’s pan over to the press and see what they’ve got for us”
The stiff man seemed so proud of himself as he recalled the events that led to the capture of these villains. How, pro hero Electra Heart, faked her own death to go deep undercover and infiltrate this gang, how her sacrifice had saved so many lives and effectively taken down an entire gang of villains that had operated underground until now.
They screamed questions at her as she was loaded up into the ambulance, but she refused every single one, opting to stare vacantly forward.
Then, his phone rang, and he had to tear his eyes away from the screen.
“She’s at S City Hospital, let’s go see your girl. She looks pretty beat up” Hizashi’s voice sounded grave despite the giddiness he attempted to lace it with.
There were so many emotions that he had felt in those moments. Relief, sadness, joy, anger.
That anger was the easiest to handle, as it was like an anchor of safety he could latch onto.
So, he hung up the phone, and continued to stare blankly at the television screen....
#my hero academia#anime oneshot#oneshot#shota aizawa#shouta aizawa#aizawa x reader#aizawa x oc#eraserhead#present mic#hizashi yamada#class 1 a#bnha fanfiction#bnha#reader insert#multiple parts#bnha angst#comfort#its okay everything works out in the end I swear
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The Tale of the Two Apprentices
“There are some tales that some people never heard of. For those from the World of Tenebrae, news of light never reached them for the wind never got passed the separation. Thus, this tale can only be heard in the World of Lux.
But, no worries, my children. For we will tell this just for you. It was a classic tale, a tale of jealousy. And history will always repeat itself.
Separations always end in tragedy. For the Brilliant Light whose heart is lost forever and unable to satisfy her need, she kept creating and creating and creating. Her companions, the Master of Passing, were merely servants who clean up her mess, but none of them are able to fill the emptiness. For who was patient enough to hold the Light's hand?
So, she searched for those hands. And two people reached for her. Two people were chosen. Two people came to reach out for the Light. They were chosen. The Light's very own apprentices: a girl from a high status with all riches in her hand and a boy of the ghetto with nothing but his loyalty.
The girl was ignorant of the world outside her small world, lonely like a canary in a cage. The boy felt like he didn’t deserve to wish for the world, prayers were too heavy for him. United under the blessing of the Brilliant Light, for they were her successors.
Different backgrounds, yet close like siblings. For the girl to have someone who can show her a brand new world. For the boy to have someone who love him for how he was. They stood by each other through thick and thin, along with the Light, learning about the incredible power they would someday inherit and dreamed of ruling the universe together.
And yet, the Light only chose one. Only the boy was blessed with the power of the light.
The girl didn’t get anything. And her heart became corrupted. Pain. Anger. Jealousy. Betrayal. What’s the point of learning everything when in the end you’ll be cast away?
So, she ran away. Cutting her connection with the creator of the universe and the boy who was once her brother. Isolating herself in the other side of the continent, in a land where flowers always bloom regardless the season. She had the skill, learned from the Light herself, to built a kingdom with her bare hand. Her heart was corrupted by the will for revenge. She swore that no matter how many generations will pass, her descendant will sit on the throne of the Brilliant Light, for she deserved it just like her former brother.
There was not a day when the boy would beg for the Brilliant Light to give a blessing for his sister, but the heartless Light wouldn’t do it. There were times when the boy would be angry at the Light for the injustice, but he couldn’t raise a finger. He was the king of the land and it was his duty to protect the world his master had trusted him. But, if he could make one selfish wish, it was for one day to unite with his sister.
For generations, the kingdom of birthright and the kingdom of conquest would always be in conflict. With new kings sitting on the throne, a new decision needed to be made. Whether the cycle would continue or stop at this age, only they can decide.
It was heartbreaking that separation must happen again, my children, but history would often repeat itself...”
#project sekai#project sekai colorful stage#kagamine rin#kagamine len#evillous chronicles has huge influence#rin name is rilliane aoyagi#len name is allen tenma#yes len is tsukasa's anchestor#and rin is touya's anchestor#i just want a war between two kingdoms#what is a fantasy without a kingdoms conflict#this is my prsk dimension hoping au#prsk fantasy au
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Fears All the Way Down - Chapter Five
ao3 - masterpost
hello, my dears. here's chapter five, without too much fanfare. enjoy<3
---
The morning of her first self-defense lesson with Cassian, Nesta awakes to a cool breeze blowing in the scent of roses from her open window.
"Good morning," Nesta says, smiling slightly. "I guess you liked my gift."
She had finished it yesterday, in the jewelry-making session. It had taken her the better part of the day. A sort of cover for the cracked, broken part of the walls the Illyrians had destroyed. Golden and gleaming and prettier than the beige paint around it, but complementing all the same.
And now the House, apparently, is showing her affection for it: a new rose bush outside of her room, fat flowers dangling down over the top of her window. A very pretty frame for her already spectacular view of the city.
The House gives her different clothes today, too. A fitted shirt, and a knee-length loose skirt, with leggings underneath. As close to pants as she'll wear. By Cassian's slight approving nod when she meets him after breakfast, he approves.
"We'll be starting on the roof," he says, in lieu of a greeting.
She nods once. She remembers hearing him, back in that awful first week here-goodness, but it's not yet been a full month since then, and it feels so long ago-hearing him up there, throwing knives around or whatever it was he did. She guesses she'll soon find out.
The crispness of the morning mountain air hits her in full force, but Cassian doesn't act like it fazes him at all. In fact, judging by the way his wings spread slightly wider, he likes it.
"All right," he says. "Let's begin."
The hour ticks by, slowing and speeding up depending on moments when Cassian touches her. There's none of his usual chatter or teasing; he's serious and unsmiling. The training ring is probably sacred to him.
Serious and unsmiling, but not discouraging. He's generous with his praise when she achieves his simple tasks-too generous, she thinks, but perhaps he has some ulterior motive.
Or perhaps, a small voice inside her head says, he's relieved you'll finally know how to defend yourself, and he means it.
It's not as daunting as it had seemed at first, this self defense. He's good for their agreement; this isn't training. He takes all her weaknesses and her proposed attacker's strengths into consideration and shows her how to maneuver past it all. How to cause an assailant-even one as big and strong as he is-to let her go when they grab her arms tightly in front, how to move her legs when she's caught in a chokehold, and how to break free when someone grabs her from behind.
"I guess no one will be able to pull onto your hair, though," he muses, more to himself than to her. "Keep your arms at your sides; you don't want them to get in the way of this one," he adds, mercifully changing the subject too quickly before he can notice her expression.
No one can pull on her hair now, that's the whole point. But they had, they had, rough enough that strands came out and she had no way to escape. What if she had known these tricks then? Would she have had a prayer? Would she still be human? Elain? And what of Father, would he still be alive? Or would it not have mattered; only delayed her certain torture and death, because she had been human, and they had been Fae, and in the end, that was all-
"Arms like this, Nesta," Cassian says, switching from mock-assailant to instructor as he gently tucks her arms against her sides, and drawing her out of her head to the sound of his voice and the feel of his hands on hers, his body behind her. His wings block out the wind, and she can feel the warmth radiating from him to her core. "Because you don't want them to get in the way of when you break out...and why else?"
"So I don't use them to hurt myself," she says, repeating his words from earlier.
"Right...good. Let's do this one again. One last time."
She takes a deep breath.
"Ready?"
"Yes." She doesn't hesitate. She doesn't need to. He doesn't let her feel trapped.
"All right, I'm grabbing you now-good!"
For she is ready for him, this time. He wraps his arms around her from behind, his arms trapping hers at her elbows, and she instantly draws them in like he instructed. Without waiting for his prompting, she gathers her strength and throws her head upwards and backwards, like he had shown her, and then leaps away as his arms fly open.
"Good, Nesta!" he says, eyes shining as she turns around. He isn't hurt; he keeps moving away for this one so she doesn't do any real damage. "You would've hit his neck there...normally, I'd say go for the chin, but neck's really good...at that speed, with that force, really good..." He grins broadly at her, his first smile of the morning, and after an hour of being in instructor-Cassian's presence, she blinks at the easy switch.
"You did really well," he says, after handing her a glass of water. "Did you...how was it for you?"
She shrugs slightly. "All right." It wasn't fun. But it was hardly suffering. And the movements, following Cassian's instructions...a good way to keep herself focused.
"Would you...do you want to continue?" His voice is casual, but from the careful way he does not meet her eyes, she can tell he is tense.
"Yes," she says, trying to keep her voice casual too.
He brightens, and something inside her dims automatically. His...elation, relief, whatever this spark is, at seeing her agree to do this...it feels, somehow, as though she is doing something wrong. She is cheating or lying. She does not deserve this, is not worthy of his joy. Of him.
"It's not healthy to do workouts every day," he says, "especially...when you're in recovery."
When you're weak, he means. When one is ill and emaciated-even if she is getting better, and trying, it's not going to be enough-never enough-
"So I think...Mondays and Tuesdays...and Thursdays and Fridays? If you'd like to do this long term, I mean."
Nesta blinks. "How long-term?"
He shrugs. "Till you want to stop, I guess."
She purses her lips slightly. "Don't you have...I mean, will you be able to do this four times a week, indefinitely? Don't you have..." An occupation, she wants to say. Running the strongest military on their island, maybe one of the strongest in the world. "You don't have the time," she decides on instead.
He does it again. His deep hazel eyes latch onto hers and don't let her go. She doesn't have a prayer of looking away until he lets her. There's not enough self-defense lessons in the world for her to be strong enough to fight this off.
"I always have time for you, Nesta."
She shivers, and it doesn't have anything to do with the crisp wind under the weak October sun.
He moves his head, and lets her go.
"So tomorrow, then," he says.
"Tomorrow," she echoes. She doesn't stay to watch him fly off.
---
Nesta had done incredibly well. Spectacularly. And she had looked even better.
He had stayed up half the night before, wondering if she was going to show up in pants. She hadn't, but the skirt she had worn had gone only to her knees. The shortest he'd seen her in by far. And her black top...like a second skin. A healthier skin, almost normal. Not translucent any longer. Covering a softer body. More curves, like she used to have. Bones not protruding so much. Golden hair shining in the dim light, coiled and braided like a princess', like a queen's. She even has it up when she goes to sleep, he'd learned during her first week here. Does she ever wear it down? Only to bathe, probably. And what does she look like then, with this slight new weight, this perfect skin, this beautiful hair reaching he doesn't even know how far down...He'd only allowed himself a few moments of ogling her before violently shoving out all thoughts anywhere near the realm of lust from his mind. The training ring was not for this.
Feyre and Elain are beside themselves with happiness, as he knew they would be, when he tells them how it went.
"She agreed to more lessons," Feyre says in wonderment.
"It can only be a good thing," Elain says, tugging on a stray lock of hair.
"Yes," Feyre agrees. "But...maybe, considering...you know. Your history." She shoots him an apologetic look. "Maybe it'd be best if..."
Cassian's heart rate picks up. "You think someone else should teach her?" No, his instincts tell him. She had asked him. She wants him to do it.
But he knows he'll give in. If her sisters think it would be better...because it's her that matters. Not what he wants. What matters is her getting better.
Oh, but he knows he can be the person to help her. Or one of the people, at least. If she just lets him.
Mercifully, Feyre says, "No, no, not that. Just...maybe you could do with a chaperone? Azriel or-well, no, not Rhys. But maybe it would be good for Az to drop by occasionally...what do you think?"
"That's not a bad idea," he admits. A buffer. He could do with one.
"So, what are you teaching her, exactly?" Elain asks.
"Just some self defense. Breaking away from an assailant, today." But maybe, in time, he can convince her to do more. More general exercise, maybe even some offensive techniques. "There was something at the House," he adds. "On the wall where the Illyrians attacked."
"What?"
"This gold...thing. Covering the damage the Illyrians did to it." He clenches his jaw at the memory.
"I thought the House was magic now," Elain says. "Couldn't it have fixed itself up."
"Nesta made it," he says. "She told it she was going to fix it, so..."
The wall had been as fine as any other in the House, in any one of Rhys' homes, before the attack. Painted well, a warm beige, and decorated with any number of ornate pictures and mirrors and shelves for vases and whatnot. But now, the wall was white and bare but for the swirling metal covering the cracks and craters.
Cassian understands. If Nesta had made something for him, he'd want it to be the only thing people saw when they looked at him.
"She made something?" Feyre asks, eyes widening slightly.
"She did say she had that jewelery thing...she said she liked it."
"I never thought of Nesta as an artist before," Feyre says, quieter. "She never had any patience for painting when I showed her."
"Well, I'm sure she doesn't think of herself as an artist...I got the impression she liked it as a way to calm herself down."
"Do you think? What does she need calming down from? Is she-is she angry, do you think?"
Feyre and Elain continue to discuss Nesta and guess at her thoughts and motives while Cassian sits and desperately wishes he could only ask her.
---
Thalia asks to see her as soon as she's available, so Nesta tells Gwyn she'll see her after lunch and heads down to her office.
"Good morning," Thalia says, smiling up at her from her couch.
Nesta sits opposite her. "Hello."
"You're looking refreshed."
"I started...some self-defense. Just a little. With, um, Cassian." Does she know Cassian, Nesta wonders. Probably. He's the kind of person everyone knows.
"Really?" Thalia says, sounding impressed. "How wonderful!"
Nesta shrugs a little.
"Well, I think that comes at a perfect time, actually."
Nesta's eyes shoot up. "Why?" she asks, wary.
"I think I've settled on an idea to help you tackle your goals. I wanted to know what you think."
"All right," Nesta says, after a beat. "What is it?"
Thalia tilts her head back slightly, chin set. Oh, this should be good. "What do you think about keeping a log and schedule of trying new things?"
She sucks in her bottom lip before saying, "Trying new things? How does that help me with my goals?" It seems like Thalia is trying to push her own agenda over actually helping Nesta achieve hers.
"It'll get you in the habit of doing things you aren't used to," Thalia says, patient. "It'll keep you focused on something. It might bring new joys or interests into your life, perhaps personally, or perhaps by bonding with others. And it'll greatly increase your confidence and self-esteem."
Nesta blinks. "That's not one of my goals."
"I know, dear. It's one of mine."
Nesta looks down. "It's..." She forces herself to say the words she would normally just drown in inside her own mind. "Just hard to remember sometimes."
"What's hard to remember?" Gentle, not prodding.
She swallows hard. It sounds so stupid inside her head. How will it sound out loud? "That I'm actually supposed to...get better. Sometimes it feels like that's the wrong thing to do." She bites her tongue-she hadn't meant for that part to come out.
But Thalia never acts like what she's saying is pathetic, even if it is.
"How does it feel wrong?"
Nesta sighs. Not out of irritation over the question, just because she isn't quite sure how to answer. "It's...I don't know. Sometimes one just knows a thing is wrong."
"Hm," Thalia says. Considering, thoughtful. "Well, at any rate, your self-defense lesson today can count as your new thing for the day."
"Well-wait, for the day? You want me to do one new thing per day?"
Thalia's lip quirk. "How often did you think I was asking you?"
"I don't know. A week, maybe."
"I don't think so. Once a day, please. Don't forget to track them all. Write them down. Run along, now, Nesta, and if you could take these books with you? Thank you."
Gwyn finds her putting Thalia's books back on the fifth level. "So, how did it go with Thalia? And with your training session with Lord Cassian?"
Lord Cassian. She'll never get used to that. "News travels fast, I see," she says primly.
"You know it does. How did it go?"
"It went...all right."
"Which one?" Gwyn takes a book from Nesta's hands and puts it on a shelf over her head.
"Both of them. Actually, I think the lesson with Cassian went better," she says in surprise, after reflecting. "And it wasn't training. It was just some self-defense."
"Same difference. What happened with Thalia?"
"She's making me try one new thing a day."
"One per day? Every day?" Gwyn shudders. "I can't believe you go along with everything she says. All her meetings and exercises and now this self-defense...You must be four times as brave as I am, at least."
Nesta winces.
"What are you going to do?" Gwyn continues, either not noticing Nesta's discomfort or respectfully ignoring it. "For your new things, I mean."
"I don't know," Nesta says, weighing two books, as if debating between her options for tomorrow and all the tomorrows after. "I guess...try every fruit I haven't?" Gwyn laughs. "I don't know what she expects me to do."
"I'm sure you'll think of things. You're...you'll do better than the rest of us. You do better than the rest of us. It's so obvious, how much you want to live." She says it confidently, assuredly, her teal eyes set.
Nesta bites her lip. "I did really want to live," she says quietly. That night in Hybern. She had fought with everything she had. The whole way to the Cauldron, and even after, inside it. She hadn't stopped. "I...can't..."
"I know," Gwyn says, voice soft as Nesta's. "You can't remember why. It's all right. You will. I can tell."
Nesta blinks rapidly. She's not about to cry. She's not. She just...she doesn't know what she is.
"I can't believe it's not even noon," she mumbles.
Gwyn chuckles. "Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your day's hardly going to be a quiet one. Calliope wants you all afternoon."
She likes Calliope, generally, so that's not so awful. "For what?"
Gwyn shrugs. "Sorting through her papers, probably. Maybe she wants you as an assistant."
If Nesta gets assigned to a High Priestess, than she doesn't have to do these menial tasks anymore. Of course, there's no promise that the priestess she'll be assisting won't have her own miserable things for her to do...Merrill, Gwyn's priestess, is a royal pain, Nesta knows...
"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then," Gwyn says. "Wearing your dress backwards or eating starfruit."
"Ha," Nesta says flatly.
Gwyn laughs once more before going, unbound copper hair flowing behind her.
She's wrong, Nesta knows, about her being braver than anyone else. About her being brave at all. All she's doing now is what other people are telling her. Go see Calliope in her office, Nesta. Come sit with Thalia on the third level, Nesta. Tell Clotho if you liked Daphne's lecture, Nesta. Simple motions, simple movements. Nothing brave about it.
"Now again on the left, Nesta. Good. Good."
It's Thursday morning, and Cassian is the one ordering her about. Sometimes she thinks he sounds like any one of the priestess, with how he talks to her in these lessons, which makes her feel...she isn't sure. It's odd, certainly. Considering all the ways they used to talk to each other. Barbed insults, right in the House, to the other end of the spectrum. The words that cycle in her head some nights, the newest among them being I always have time for you, Nesta...and, of course, intermittent praises from when she does well.
"Excellent. Keep your torso just like that...now with your arms just as I-yes!"
There's really not any bravery required, Nesta decides. Not when the priestesses are all eager to do anything that encourages the girls to, well, do anything, and not when Cassian is...himself. Even now that Azriel, the member of her sister's circle Nesta is wont to consider her favorite if only because he never talks to her, has started showing up for a few minutes every session. Even he, with his face more closed off than Amren's (back when they were on speaking terms), and those dark shadows of his...even he does not discourage her.
Their hour ends, and he watches her drink two glasses of water-discreetly, drinking some himself, too-before turning to leave.
"Um," she says, voice slightly louder than it needs to be.
He pauses. Turns. Waits.
She can't look away again-his eyes-but she has to say something, doesn't she? What was it she was going to say?
"I seem to be doing well," she blurts out. Then flushes crimson.
He grins. "You're doing very well, Nesta."
She smooths her skirt, as if that'll somehow help her regain composure. "What I mean is," she says, voice hopefully not wobbly, "these...lessons...seem to be doing me good."
His grin gets smaller, but his eyes grow soft. "I...am very glad to hear that."
"I mean they help me feel...better. I feel better. Stronger. And I don't get so distracted all the time. And I...don't think about drinking so much." That's true, she realizes. In fact, she hasn't wanted a drink since...Monday? Sunday? She can't even be sure.
Cassian inhales sharply. "Good," he says, rather faint. "That's...that's so good, Nesta."
"So I was wondering if maybe you thought that...because I thought...well, I-I don't know, but maybe..." Stammering, tripping over her own words, it's just-
I have never in my life thought you were pathetic.
She nearly gasps, the words playing in her mind so clear in his eyes it's almost as though she can hear him saying them aloud.
"I thought maybe some other girls would like to join. If you don't mind. Having some more of us."
Cassian blinks. "I...I don't. I don't mind at all. I think that's a great idea, actually."
"Well, I also thought," Nesta starts, encouraged, "that since, you know, you've wanted that female Illyrian legion for so long-" he blinks again, evidently unaware that she knows that-"maybe you could also see if some Illyrian girls wanted to join. Just to see if they have a taste for...any of this."
Cassian's mouth falls open slightly and his hand goes to his forehead. "I...can't believe I never thought of this myself, actually," he admits. "Self-defense as a sort of gateway...that's actually really fucking brilliant, Nesta."
She huffs a sound of amusement at his swearing; it's been so long since she's heard any curse, as the priestesses are all so pious and proper. He starts at the sound.
"Well," she says, ducking her head to busy herself with her skirt so he doesn't see her color again. "I have to go bathe and..."
"Oh, yeah. All right. Well...so Monday? With some other girls?"
"If they want," Nesta says. "I don't know if anyone will want..."
"Well, you just let them know. Maybe ask Clotho..."
"I will. And...will you go to that camp? Windhaven?"
"Windhaven?" he asks.
"I met a shopkeeper..."
"Emerie?"
"Oh," she says. "You know her."
"She's the only female shopkeeper," he says. "We've met."
"I talked to her a little. I think she might be interested. I think she has some friends who might like it, too."
"Oh," he says, surprised. "I didn't know...I assumed-well, never mind. All right, Nesta. Goodbye, then. And great idea, really. And..." he trails off. She looks up to see him smiling. "You did really well. I mean it."
She nods, just once. But then she says, "Thank you."
She can't quite believe she said that. But judging by the way his grin widens enough to show all his teeth, it's something he's been waiting a while to hear.
#nessian#nesta archeron#nessian fic#once again i never have any idea what to tag this#anyway excited that this is getting more into it#the fic i mean#i'm really excited for the next chapter when we see the girls#can't wait for nesta to have friends omg
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Imagine what would have happened if NHS realized the JGY was poisoning his brother long before NMJ died? What do you think he would do?
It was meant to be a surprise.
Nie Huaisang would be the last person to deny that he was a lazy, useless good-for-nothing, but he prided himself on having a good heart, and a generous one; even his brother couldn’t deny that Nie Huaisang’s ability to give gifts tailored to the recipient’s wishes were second to none. There was a reason he’d managed the Nie sect’s social affairs ever since the age of eight.
And, of course, the person he put the most effort into finding just the right gift for was his da-ge – and that was also the person he found the hardest to please.
Sure, Nie Mingjue would probably be overjoyed by the promise (and fulfilment) of a solid month of effort in saber practice, but that would only raise Nie Mingjue’s expectations while ruining Nie Huaisang’s life for a month, and anyway Nie Huaisang had already given his brother that the year he was thirteen and he hated repeating gifts. Since that option was off the table, if Nie Huaisang wanted to give his brother something that would make him happy, he had to think hard as to what that might be.
Especially since that present a few years ago, which had gone so terribly wrong.
(He’d thought his brother would be happy that he’d killed a Wen lieutenant for him, using his saber the way he so rarely did – and it hadn’t been easy, that’s for sure – but Nie Mingjue’s hands had actually shaken when he’d found out that Nie Huaisang had left the security of the Unclean Realm and Nie Huaisang didn’t want to see that gutted expression on his brother’s face ever again. Luckily, the war ended soon after, and it wasn’t an issue any more – except for the worried look on Nie Mingjue’s face every time his birthday came around.)
He’d played it low-key for a few years – finding exotic animals for a hunt, a new whetstone for Baxia, practical things like that – but this year was the end of a decade, and he was determined to do better.
The Song of Clarity seemed like the perfect solution.
After all, if Nie Huaisang learned to play it, his da-ge could hear the calming music every day, and he wouldn’t feel guilty about interrupting their lives for his needs; Lan Xichen was of course busy with his duties as Sect Leader, and Jin Guangyao, though always willing to visit, had a weak golden core that made the distant travel unpleasant.
Naturally, he couldn’t just ask to learn it. He liked his da-ge’s sworn brothers very much, had adopted them immediately as his own, but Nie Huaisang knew perfectly well that anything he told to them would swiftly reach his brother’s ears – he didn’t mind; after all, they were Nie Mingjue’s sworn brothers, not his. But it did make it tricky when he wanted to plan a surprise.
Luckily, the Unclean Realm was full of secrets, and the chamber near his brother’s receiving room – used by one of their more unscrupulous ancestors to spy on suspicious guests – was the perfect one to solve his problem. Nie Huaisang flattered himself to think he was pretty good at music; if he sat in the stone chamber that Nie Mingjue had forcefully erased from his mind years before, and which even Jin Guangyao with all his tricks had never known of, to listen to the tune being played over and over again, he should be able to figure out how the sounds came together.
He’d even get to benefit from the calming and mind-sharpening effects of the music itself, which would surely help him learn the tune even faster.
It was a great plan.
So great, in fact, that he found himself coughing up blood after only a few weeks.
Nie Huaisang didn’t suspect the music at the beginning. Since he didn’t share his brother’s dislike of submitting himself to medical experts, he went to their family doctor at once.
The man had the strangest expression on his face.
“Have you been practicing your saber too hard?” he asked, and if that wasn’t a suspicious question, Nie Huaisang didn’t know what was. It wasn’t as though he didn’t know anything about the saber spirits – his brother’s best attempts to keep him blissfully ignorant aside, it was pretty hard to learn their family’s history without knowing a little about how their sect became so powerful, and how their sect leaders tended to die – but it wasn’t usually very relevant to his life. He didn’t refuse to practice saber because he was afraid of the qi deviation that would probably kill him no matter how much or how little saber he practiced; he refused because he was lazy, and the family philosophy of ‘suppress evil wherever it appears’ seemed like an awful lot of work to put on his shoulders in exchange for, ugh, what, more exercise? No thanks.
“I have not,” he said.
“Nie-gongzi, if this is for your brother’s birthday –”
“It isn’t!” he protested at once, but that got him thinking: wasn’t he listening to the Song of Clarity every week, same as his brother? Even if Nie Huaisang did get it into his head to overdo things with his saber – not that that was likely to be possible at his age and cultivation level, his family’s lives were short only in comparison to other cultivators and even his brother, the prodigy, hadn’t had any signs of qi deviation so young – it shouldn’t have been able to affect him, not when his mind was being cleansed.
Not unless the Song of Clarity didn’t do what it was supposed to.
Nie Huaisang was alarmed by the thought. Not wanting to spoil a birthday surprise for his brother was one thing, but something that could harm his brother, however inadvertently? That was an emergency.
Obviously, the only thing to be done was to ask someone wiser for help.
After all, Nie Huaisang’s only a good-for-nothing; how could he deal with something of this magnitude? He made an excuse about needing to purchase something and went to Gusu at once.
After all, it had been Lan Xichen who suggested applying the song – if there was some fundamental clash between Lan and Gusu techniques, such that a technique meant to help in fact hurt, he would be the one to ask. Jin Guangyao might play it more often, but when in doubt, it was always better to go to the master.
“A clash?” Lan Xichen asked, frowning. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve been listening to san-ge play it, every time he comes over,” Nie Huaisang explained. “I want to learn the chords.”
Lan Xichen smiled. “You could have asked –”
“It was supposed to be a surprise, and you would have told him. No, don’t shake your head, you would have; you’d have put down the flag and drums the second he looked the slightest bit worried about it. You’re hopeless, er-ge, just admit it. Anyway, that isn’t the point – I’ve been teaching myself the chords by listening to it –”
“You always had a talent for music,” Lan Xichen said, and Nie Huaisang beamed. “It must have come from your mother.”
Nie Huaisang giggled into his sleeve. “It’s not da-ge’s fault he’s halfway tone-deaf. Do you remember back when your uncle tried to teach him an instrument? Da-ge’s playing nearly made him start crying, and all the while da-ge kept insisting that what he was doing and what you were doing sounded exactly the same to him.”
Lan Xichen smiled outright at the memory.
“Anyway, I started coughing up blood the other day –”
“What?!” Lan Xichen exclaimed, smile disappearing from his face at once. “Huaisang! You should have started there!”
“I was getting to it. Don’t worry, I visited the family doctor and he said some extra time meditating would be enough to put me to rights –”
“You haven’t done it yet, have you.”
Ouch, Lan Xichen hadn’t even bothered to make it a question; was Nie Huaisang so predictable?
Probably yes.
“But I shouldn’t have been able to have that problem,” Nie Huaisang continued stubbornly. “Not if I’m listening to the Song of Clarity all the time the way da-ge is – not unless the song isn’t working the way it’s supposed to. You know me, er-ge; I’m not as prone towards qi deviations as my brother is! If the song was working, I shouldn’t have had one in a hundred years.”
Lan Xichen’s usual smile had been replaced by a frown. “You’re right. That is strange. You think there’s some clash between Nie cultivation and our traditions, such that the song is ineffective? It seemed as though it was working at the beginning…”
“What else could it be?” Nie Huaisang asked practically. “Plenty of things are effective in small doses and poisonous in large, er-ge; and you said yourself just the other month that it seemed as though da-ge’s temperament was getting worse rather than better.”
Lan Xichen was pale. “You’re right. If it’s hurting him, we have to put a stop to it at once and start over from the beginning.”
“It’s still just a theory,” Nie Huaisang said. “But getting proof shouldn’t be hard – after all, I may not be much of a cultivator, but I’m still a Nie. Here, why don’t you sit down? I’ll play what I’ve learned for you while you examine what it’s doing to my qi; that way we’ll be able to see what sort of effect it’s having.”
#mdzs#nie huaisang#lan xichen#my fic#my fics#Anonymous#listen#nie huaisang is a professional useless person#he only leveled up because he had to#he is going to solve this mystery WHILE being useless#mostly by accident#and because sometimes being a fussy person is really helpful#when it comes to solving mysteries
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