#the firelight apprentice
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Just realized I forgot to share here that I finished making my 3rd graphic novel The Firelight Apprentice back in November!!! It's about sisters, magic, and war trauma. I am really, really proud of it.
No pre-order link yet. Cover reveal will hopefully be soooonish??? within the next month or two???
So, with this book done, I have officially started working on my adaptation of Dracula that retells the story from Mina's POV (arguably the main character of original book IMO).
It's freaking happening. I am so nervous and excited to be here like seriously WTF!!???!!! screaming crying throwing up 24/7
Anyway, there's a lil update on what I have been up to workwise :D
#As for Patrik.....eh....I have no news there unfortunately#my art#graphic novels#the firelight apprentice#dracula
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Lonely TTRPG EP 49 - The Librarian's Apprentice by Dan Bronson-Lowe
New Episode of Lonely TTRPG. This week, I play The Librarian's Apprentice, a lovely game of exploring dusty tomes for lost lore.
The Librarian’s Apprentice is a great game. I find myself drawn to its enchanting setting and whimsical atmosphere. The game captivates me from the very beginning, enticing me with its unique charm.
Let’s dive into the gameplay itself. The Firelight system, crafted by the talented Rene-Pier (apologies for not mentioning the full name), deserves admiration. It’s the second game I’ve experienced…
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By Firelight
Pairing: Gale/Tav (pre relationship denial)
Summary: Gale can’t sleep, and he’s not… happy about Tav being up, but he’s not not happy about it. (I.e. I was trying to practice my showing not telling and I actually quite liked it)
Gale turned over for the upteenth time before huffing out a frustrated breath. Damn his godsforsaken back to the hells. No matter the position he attempted to lie in, something hurt. His bedroll was hardly a bulwark against the cold, hard, frankly unfathomably rocky ground.
He knew in reality it was the orb. It was always the orb. The artifact that Tav had given him had helped. Slightly. Not enough.
His ears were still ringing faintly, and if he lay still too long it felt as though he spun through the space behind his eyes, which reminded him far too much of nights as an apprentice after the Yawning Portal. The muscle spasms hadn’t quite started yet, but they would. He was all too aware they would. His cure was no cure anymore, and it worried him. Greatly.
To add insult to injury, he was perfectly aware he could probably conjure himself a comfortable featherbed.
He was also perfectly aware that such an act would expose him to enthusiastic and earnest ridicule from the rest of their merry little band.
He huffed once more, and decided he would give up for the night and try and read for a while. He grabbed the first book he could find in the darkness of his tent and crawled out through the flap.
It was a dark night tonight. The moon was only a small sliver amongst the stars, and occasional clouds obscured even that faint light.
The fire was crackling merrily, and Tav sat with her back to the stone in the middle of their camp, staring at the dancing flames. There was the small line of a frown between her brows, and Scratch lay with his head pillowed on her lap, her fingers absently scratching behind one upright ear.
He cleared his throat so he wouldn’t startle her, and her grey eyes flicked to him, then back at the fire.
“I was under the impression you’d already taken your watch earlier this evening,” he said.
“Couldn’t sleep,” she replied shortly. “Thought I’d let Wyll get some more rest instead of both of us being awake.”
“Very prudent of you.”
He groaned as he sat down next to her, leaning back against the rock. It was cool, which was soothing against the aching in his back.
She glanced sideways at him, then back at the flames. From here, he could only see one corner of her mouth, a faint scar trailing along her jaw. He found himself wondering how she’d gotten it. Scratch reached out his nose to sniff at Gale’s hand, then, when he had determined there was no immediate threat, returned to being pampered.
He was glad, selfishly, that she had told Wyll to go back to sleep. He… he enjoyed her company. Was glad of it tonight. It seemed to him, no matter how bleak their circumstances appeared to be, when she grinned her crooked grin, that everything would end up perfectly fine.
“What book?” She asked after a while. Gale started slightly, realizing he’d been sitting there with the book unopened for too long.
He cleared his throat.
“A treatise on the crafting of magic shields and the various attributes of each different type,” he said. “I found it in that ruined temple we explored, though I haven’t yet found the time to study it. Of course, there are quite a few thoughts in the school of abjuration on various magic shields and their uses, and then you have the regional differences, I mean- if you’ve ever read a text originating from Amn and the wizards there you’ll find they approach the entire concept differently from even the beginning of spellcasting when compared to here or even Calimshan. Though the Calishite school again has other ideas on the concept but the point I was trying to make is how region and even regional ways of thinking can influence- “
He stopped when he realised she was looking at him with a small smile on her face.
“What?” He asked.
“I don’t know,” she said, jerking her head toward the fire. “I- I suppose I always thought a shield was a shield.”
He laughed.
“Believe me," he said, grinning, “Many an apprentice thought the same thing before our first abjuration lesson at Blackstaff.”
She looked over at him, frowning, then shook her head.
“You’ve never had any instruction?” He asked.
“Would it make a difference?” She asked sharply.
He held up his hands in a placating gesture.
“A simple question. In fact, I think it’s very impressive you’ve managed so much with no education, especially given the volatile nature of your magic. There was one sorcerer in my class at Blackstaff, but he was of a draconic line, and to my understanding their magic is much less erratic than some other origins’.”
She was still frowning at him.
“Sometimes,” she said slowly, “I can’t tell whether you’re giving me a compliment or not.”
He winced.
“I assure you,” he said, somewhat apologetically, “It was intended as one.”
He tried for a sheepish smile.
“I’m afraid I’m out of practice.”
One of her eyebrows lifted.
“At compliments?”
“Partly.”
He realised they were moving into dangerous territory, and if she asked any further questions he would not have answers for her. He- he didn’t want to tell her about the orb, or Mystra. Asking for artefacts had already somewhat broken her trust in him.
It was… nice. To have a friend. Besides Tara, of course. Though Tav was much less of a nursemaid than Tara was. Between the two of them he’d never be short on scathing remarks, however. Or stubbornness. For the time being, he would pretend as though he was not a shell of his former self, merely until he had found a different way of sating his arcane hunger. Then he would cease being a burden or a liabillity to her and the others.
“I’ve had… some instruction,” she said, snapping him back tot he present. “Over the years, whenever I liked a spell someone cast, or needed to learn something for survival. Other things just happened naturally, like throwing up a shield the first time an arrow came firing at me.”
He watched as firelight flickered across her face. Her nose was turned upward, and he found himself tracing the slope of it with his eyes.
“And summoning a cow to drop from the sky?”
She tried and failed to hide a grin as she shot him a look. A deep dimple appeared in her cheek. He’d never met anyone with dimples before her. Such an endearingly human imperfection.
“That doesn’t count,” she said. “I didn’t do that on purpose.”
He shook his head.
“It took me two months to work out how to summon a tressym,” he said.
“In this world, Gale, there are people with talent,” she lay a hand on her chest, “And people without.”
She looked at him pointedly, and he burst into laughter.
Again, she watched him with that small smile, and he found himself returning it.
“If it makes you feel any better, my father was livid.”
He shrugged.
“My mother was not much better, but she forgave me eventually, I suppose. And let me keep the tressym.”
She snorted softly.
“Good for you.” Her gaze returned to the flames, and he realised he might have touched on a sensitive subject.
“You still owe me the rest of that story, you know,” he nudged her arm with his elbow, regretted it immediately when she tensed.
“You still owe me that drink to go with it,” she said. He did not miss that she moved away from him slightly.
“I could, ah, read to you,” he found himself saying, if only diffuse the tension he had just created. “If you wish. Though the book may be out of date by several decades, if not centuries, based on the penmanship alone.”
She grimaced, looking over at the book he held as though she was looking at a particularly unpleasant bug.
“A treatise? On magic shields?” She asked.
“Forgive me,” he said, feigning understanding, “I could also explain some of the more foreign concepts, as your lack of education would be a hindrance.”
She rolled her eyes at him, and only the faintest shadow of a dimple showed in her cheek.
“I normally prefer different books.”
“Different?”
“More interesting?”
“More interesting than an ancient academic treatise on shields?” He asked in mock outrage.
She rolled her eyes at him.
“I like adventure stories,” she said finally. “You know, where the valiant prince rescues the maiden in distress, or vanquishes a dragon, or two young lovers have to stand up to their families.”
He grinned.
“You didn’t strike me as the type.”
“No?”
“No. You seem far too cynical to be caught up in any adventures that are not your own.”
“Well,” she said, shrugging, “Looks can be decieving.”
Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she looked at him, just for a second, and a dimple showed again as she gave him another crooked grin. So different from the cynical adventurer he had met but a week ago.
“I suppose they can be,” he said softly, and found that he was grinning back at her again.
She looked back at the fire, and Gale cleared his throat slightly, feeling suddenly as though he shouldn’t be looking at her at all.
“You can read to me,” she said. “If you’d like. Believe it or not, I like learning. About magic especially.”
She shrugged.
“If anything it will make the time go more quickly.”
So Gale did.
And later, just before dawn, when her head drooped onto his shoulder he told himself he didn’t think much of it, and that she was simply tired.
He let her sleep, however, without complaint, savouring the first friendly touch he’d felt since she’d pulled him from that rock, and realised that he had forgotten to worry about the orb since the moment he’d set eyes on her.
#he’s PINING your honour#but he’s also in denial#sorry i can’t write smut so you guys can have this#scratch is just there and gale might be a little jealous but of course he’s not thts ridiculous#gale:talking about calishite magic shields#tav:heart eyes#gale dekarios#bg3#bg3 gale#wildweave#gale of waterdeep#gale/tav#gale fic#gale dekarios fanfiction#bg3 fanfic
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ALAICE DEVERAUX
Nicknames: Not applicable.
Age: Twenty-one.
Nameday: Twenty-Seventh Sun of the First Astral Moon (apparently I gave her my birthday, so that might change!)
Race: Duskwight Elezen.
Gender: Cis female.
Orientation: Straight?
Profession: Lady of the House of Deveraux and Dubois, last remaining survivor after the Dragonsong War; apprentice baker and occasional confidant to Firelight Trading Company.
PHYSICAL ASPECTS
Hair: A light blue, leaning more into teal. She tends to style it in loose curls around her shoulders.
Eyes: She is heterochromatic! One eye is teal, the other is a steel grey.
Skin: Pale with a silvery undertone; it tends to reflect whatever light hits it, rather than possessing it's own distinct colour.
Tattoos/Scars: None of any note.
FAMILY
Parents: Lord and Lady Deveraux, dead by Alaice's sixteenth year. It is said that Lord Deveraux attempted to defend his wife from the dragons before he was engulfed in flames. No remains of her mother have been found.
Siblings: Not applicable.
Grandparents: Not applicable, more unfortunate souls lost to the war.
In-Laws and Others: Alaice has a child from her first marriage, a daughter called Alyna. Her husband, Draeir Dubois, died under mysterious circumstances in the months preceding the Ishgardian/Dragon peace treaty, bringing no end of speculation from gentry and smallfolk alike. Some suspect his desire to expand his house beyond Foundation's spires drew ire from the High Houses and he was made an example of. Others suspect a more... intimate cause. Without a murder weapon or obvious intent, none can deduce a proper suspect.
She is particularly close to @riftdancing's Siyoh Mari who, whilst not understanding a lick of Ishgardian gossip, will happily entertain the confusion over a cup of tea as Alaice dramatizes. This leagues better than Elandervier who told her she'd 'rather chew on a voidsent's ass' and leaves at the very mention of anything to do with the city. She has an extremely complicated relationship with the other Elezen due to their mutual upbringings, trauma and reconciliation.
When Firelight is conducting business in Ishgard, she can be seen at its patriarch's side helping him navigate the intricacies of the city.
Pets: Unless you count the many birds that have taken residence in her gardens, not applicable.
SKILLS
Abilities: Alaice is ice-aspected to a dangerous degree, and it's an element she has always tried to keep under wraps for fear of heresy and expulsion from the Holy See. As a result, the magic is unpredictable and emerges as a by-product of extreme situations/emotions. Only a select few people know she possesses such an ability.
Hobbies: Like all ladies of her standing, Alaice was given a proper education including tutelage in deportment; music, song and dance; needlework and painting — among other gentle pursuits. She has a particular affinity for bird watching and, in the advent of her husband's death, has sunk herself readily into her little business as a baker.
TRAITS
Most positive trait: Alaice possesses a remarkable capacity for trust despite her confinement and husband's abuse.
Worst negative trait: Her naïvety. As a woman constricted by the societal expectations of Ishgardian women, Alaice knows scarce little about the world around her — or even Ishgard proper. It is something she is working constantly to undo.
LIKES
Colours: Blue, white, silver, gold and shades of brown. However, given Ishgard's proclivity to the cold, any colour that can break through the sheen of snow is a welcomed addition in her eyes.
Smells: Anything floral and/or citrus. These are not necessarily smells she will wear, but remind her of a time before the Calamity when the climate of Ishgard was better suited. She's also partial to vanilla, almond and loves the smell of rain.
Textures: Knitted wool and smooth glass (or ice, though she tries not to think too much about it), the gentle prick of pine and the grooves in wood and stone.
Drinks: Champagne, white wine and mead. She's also discovering some enjoyment of red wine, stay tuned if she gets more extreme!
OTHER DETAILS
Smokes: Rarely. She smoked recreationally after her parents died, a sort of 'dare' from the other ladies in her company, and took it up in secret as a way to release anxiety in the early days of her marriage — away from the prying eyes of her husband. Alaice quit after becoming pregnant with Alyna and hasn't taken it back up due to associating it with those negative experiences.
Drinks: Semi-regularly. Much like smoking, she quit entirely when she got pregnant and tends to only partake as a social nicety. She can acknowledge where she was falling into unhealthy patterns when she was married and tries not to go back to those places.
Drugs: Not applicable.
Mount Issuance: Not applicable. Alaice was fed on the indoctrination by her husband that is not a lady's place to traverse, but that men should come to her. If she is needed for Firelight Business she will be escorted by their couriers, but she has no vehicle of her own.
Been Arrested: No. Being a suspect was traumatic enough. Why would she kill her lord husband?
Tagged by: @eriyu — at least for this one! I'm going to try and do one character per tag.
Tagging: @thefreelanceangel, @hythlodaes, @piyopikamika, @sealrock, @thevikingwoman & @yloiseconeillants! If you'd like a chance of being tagged, you can like my permanent interaction call here!
#｡･ﾟﾟ･ — sea speaks#｡･ﾟﾟ･ — 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 : alaice#｡･ﾟﾟ･ — sea answers things#｡･ﾟﾟ･ — character answers / memes#look how cute she looks in the screenshot my little BABY#i have so many more to do from the tags#so#i'll be here all day SDFKJGHSDF
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Commission work - The Sea Four - poly! Sea three x Reader
Notes; Reader is trans masc (has had top surgery, no bottom surgery-is on T)- non-bio kid of Hades (more apprentice kinda thing with Hades seeing reader as his son cuz reasons), poly ship with Uma, Harry, and Gil.
THIS IS A LONG BOI; ENDED UP WITH 55 PAGES AND 17580 WORDS
=
What was originally supposed to be a normal day on the isle, aka running errands for your boss-kinda father figure; Hades. Had turned into something completely different, you had just been heading back to Hades lair when your boyfriend, Harry Hook; came racing up to you, his eyes alight with mischief and near bloodlust.
“(y/n), darlin’, love, firelight, babe-“ you turned, covering the blabbering pirates mouth with your hand, raising your brow at him. “What?” you said with a low sigh, licking your lips as Harry pried off your hand and got into your face, his hook caressing your jaw. “Guess who’s on tha’ isle~” Harry purred, his eyes flashing a slight red and you knew it could only be one person that would make him react this way.
“The dragon bitch is back?” you asked, voice turning dark and sinister, a sadistic smirk growing on your face. Harry just giggled, his hand moving from yours to rest on your shoulder, almost bouncing in place “aye~ and Uma ‘as a plan, she told me ta come get ye” you hummed and nodded, taking Harry's hook from your jaw and shaking it about.
“I’ll be there in an hour, gotta drop the last of the supplies at Hades place” Harry huffed but nodded, grabbing your head and kissing your cheek, rubbing the shaved hair on your head before he bolted off, cackling as you tried to swipe at him for doing that. “Dork” you muttered fondly, shaking your head at your not all, there-there, boyfriend.
Then again, your other boyfriend wasn’t all, there-there either. Gil wasn’t exactly known for his brains, unlike Harry who liked to act kinda stupid to make people underestimate him. The thought made you snort, both your boyfriends were a bit-stupid-mostly on purpose, while you and your girlfriend held the brain cells most of the time.
Well, considering Uma was captain, it was kinda a requirement for her to have the brain cells, though once in a while she let Harry have a turn with it, which led to…sometimes very explosive ideas from him. you chuckled as one of those ideas came to mind, taking out your key to Hades lair and unlocking the front gate, pulling opening the creaking iron gates and stepping inside, spinning on your heel to close and relock the gates before descending into the tunnels, blue lights flashing overhead to illuminate the abandoned mineshaft.
Soon you made it to Hades lair, setting the hefty bag full of food on the floor “Got your stuff” you muttered, spinning on your heel to leave as soon as you could to help Uma plan for revenge when you heard Hades whistle, pointing at you as you turned to face him slowly “c’mere kid” Hades muttered, sitting up properly in his minecart seat and gesturing for you to come closer.
You sighed, stepped up onto his little platform, and crossed your arms “What’s got you in a rush?” Hades asked; a slightly teasing tone to his voice “Got a hot date with your pirates?” you didn’t hesitate to answer his question truthfully “Mal’s back on the isle”
Hades just stared at you, and you could tell he really didn’t care that his biological kid was back on the isle “And Uma wants me to help plan revenge, something about fairy pie” Hades hummed, leaning back in his chair and examining his nails. “Alright, have fun, don’t kill her” you snorted with a nod, knowing Uma had too much planned to kill Mal, saluting him as you turned and left the lair; beelining it to the chip shop.
You let out a cough as you burst into the chip shop, feeling a strong set of arms catching you as you tried to jump down the steps to the main floor “hi Gilly” you grunted as Gil laughed loudly, carrying you over to the main table and setting you down, standing behind you as Uma raced about the shop; trying to keep up with her work while also trying to plan for her revenge against Mal.
Soon enough Uma was finally able to sit down, you, Harry, and Gil surrounding her as she went over the several plans within her mind; one of which Harry wasn’t all too keen to “Wait?!” Harry screeched, slamming his hands on the table, staring wide-eyed at Uma “wait?!?! Why would we wait?! She’s righ’ there, ripe fer the pickin’ and ye want ta wait!!?!”
“She’ll expect us to go after her right away, if we wait, she lets her guard down, if we wait; she makes a stupid move, and then we strike, (y/n) you still got that bleach from doing your hair?” Uma asked you, reaching over and grabbing your arm gently, and you nodded, spinning your turquoise tentacle ring that sat on your left pointer finger. “Good, we’re fucking up her new do” Uma gestured faintly to her hair; which even after seven years still faintly smelled of rotten shrimp, which Uma hated even if Harry adored it since she smelled like the ocean.
Gil snickered at the thought, then gasped “Oh! We can egg her too!” Uma pointed at Gil, an evil smirk on her lips “tha’tta boy Gil, your plan you supply, go get some eggs” Gil nodded, kissing your cheek before he turned and bolted out of the chip shop to go prepare for his part of the ‘humiliate Mal’ plan.
Uma pulled Harry back to the table, holding his wrist as he pouted down at her “I know, I know, just wait; wicked things come to those who wait, and I mean that in both ways” Uma muttered out and Harry licked his lips, glancing up at you with hungry eyes. You smirked, crossing your arms and sitting down next to Uma as she continued to plan.
Only twenty minutes later, Gil burst back into the chip shop, bag full of eggs and eyes sparkling with opportunity “KING BEN’S ON THE ISLE!” Uma stood so fast her chair clattered to the floor, the crew and the customers all staring at him with wide unbelieving eyes “Evie, Carlos, and Jay too! They’re all here! Saw em at the market, Evie tried to dress ‘im up but even I could see through that in a second! He wasn’t even wearing a different color! And he had his symbol!” Gil laughed, waving his hands about as he rambled; walking closer to Uma whose eyes sparked with a new plan for freedom. “I mean-how thick could ya get?”
Uma covered his mouth, her other making a shushing gesture then she turned to Harry “You know what I’m thinkin’, go” Harry grinned, that feral one that sent everyone but you, Gil, and Uma running; and nodded, pressing a hard kiss to Uma’s cheek then grabbing your hand, barking for Gonzo and Bonnie to follow as you all went to go kidnap king Ben.
Harry would not stop giggling as you got closer to the rotten fours hideout, and you could hear the traitors talking as you slowed to a stop at the end of the alleyway. “What now?” Gonzo asked as Bonnie rested her chin on your shoulder to get a better look at the three vks that sat at the bottom of the stairs, squinting as your earring reflected in her eyes.
“We wait,” you said simply, holding Harry’s shoulder as he almost tipped forward in his excitement “from what I’ve seen, Ben is…naive, about the isle, and if they dressed him in his colors and symbol, he’s gonna walk off on his own” you muttered and Harry giggled again, his eyes flashing red within the darkness of the alleyway.
And just as you predicted, Ben came slumping down the alleyway, looking very rejected and sad “idiot” you muttered, watching as Gonzo and Bonnie grabbed him and easily tied him down, the two laughing quietly with Harry as Ben was gagged. “Welcome ta tha’ isle yer majesty~” Harry purred, kneeling to get in the horrified Ben’s face, that snappy smile on his lips before he stood and turned to walk down the alley, reaching back and grabbing your hand so you could make sure the vks got the message.
“Ben…BEN!” Evie called out desperately for the king, the three traitors taking a sigh of relief as they saw Harry, who they thought was Ben, get closer “Ben don’t scare us like that!” Carlos took a wide step back when “Ben’s” shadow split into two, and they stepped into the light, one wearing a maniacal grin and the other looking almost bored, their (e/c) eyes gleaming almost yellow under the burning alley lights.
“Don’t scare ye~? that’s our specialty ~” Harry purred, tilting his head just so as Evie curled her lip, Jay getting into Harry’s face “Harry,” Evie breathed out, Harry leaning towards her with a smirk, but only just so as Jay snarled at him “What did you do with Ben!?”
Harry furrowed his brows, as if he didn’t know what they were talking about! Then he gasped, turning back to point down the alleyway “oh! We uh, nicked him~!” Harry hummed a bit, his grin sharp as he turned back to the traitors, Carlos keeping his eyes on you as you absentmindedly flipped a blade between your fingers. “yeah, um, and if ye want’ta see ‘im again, aaa’ve Mal come to tha’ chip shop tonight~” his voice went serious and he made a gesture that made it clear that if Mal didn’t do as asked, Ben was toast “Alone.”
“Uma wants,” your voice interjected now, a small sing-song tone to it as you smirked at Evie, who was probably the only other person in the group to know why your being here would piss Mal off “a little visit~” Harry giggled a bit, turning to Jay who was glaring at him “aww, Jay~” He gave Jay a once over, pouting a bit at the ex-thief “Seems like ye lost yer touch~” Jay tried to jump Harry only for Evie to hold him back, and you quickly held the back of Harry’s neck to tell him to calm it down before any of you got into a scuffle.
Harry just giggled, turning to Carlos and barking like a dog, hoping to scare the younger vk but Carlos just stared at him, clearly over his phobia of dogs. Harry hummed, turning on his heel and starting to whistle, your hand going from his neck to his shoulder as the traitors stared after you; before Jay started to climb the side of the warehouse to tell Mal the bad news.
-
“Message delivered” you announced as you entered the chip shop, Harry helping Gonzo and Bonnie get the king nice and comfortable in the brig as you informed Uma of the successful kidnapping. “Mal will probably be here soon” Uma hummed, sliding another order onto a table, to which the pirate said it was wrong but silenced themselves with a glare from you. “Good” Uma muttered, waving you off “Go make sure Harry isn’t torturing him, we both know he goes off the rails when he’s excited” you hummed with a nod, and walked off, grabbing the back of Harry’s neck as you walked up behind him, stopping him mid-sentence as he was taunting Ben.
“Don’t spoil the fun darling” you whispered in his ear, smirking as you felt a shiver go down his spine starting from his neck. “C’mon, let his majesty get some rest, he’ll need it for tomorrow” you muttered, mock bowing to Ben and taking Harry to the captain's quarters, where Gil was already waiting at the edge of the bed, happily indulging in some of the rare candies the isle got that Uma kept in a locked drawer in her room.
“Hi! How was the kidnapping!” Gil asked, crossing his legs on the bed as Harry went to join him. You leaned back as Harry’s boots went flying across the room as he kicked them off; chuckling as he flopped on top of Gil, laying heavily on the just larger teen. “Hi!”
“Hi,” Harry muttered back to Gil, snuggling into Gil’s neck, and relaxing into Gil’s arms as he wrapped them around Harry “Uma will be here soon” you announced as you picked up the boy’s boots, setting them near the door “She just needs to make the deal with Mal” Harry and Gil hummed, sharing a look before slowly getting up and walking towards you as silently as they could.
“You grab my hips, I toss your ass onto the bed,” you said almost too calmly as Harry's hands hovered above your body, groaning as you didn’t even turn around to stare at him. “Gil same to you” Gil pouted, taking his hands back from your torso as you walked away from them, sitting in the captain's chair to take off your boots “You know the rules, we wait for the captain.”
Harry let out a grumbling whine as Gil sighed and went back to the bed, going back to the rare candy as Harry slumped over to you, half hanging off your shoulders as you sat up in Uma’s chair, glazing over the papers on her desk before standing and half dragging Harry back to the bed, where you sat down and let out a cough as Harry practically sat on your lap.
“Bit heavy my dear” you muttered, running one of your hands up his leg, smirking as he hummed happily, Gil looking a bit left out before your other hand rested on his thigh. “But we wait” Harry groaned, falling back till his torso rested next to your hips and his hands trailed up your arm that now was on the bed holding you up as your other hand tapped Gil’s thigh.
Gil rambled on about what real candy would taste like when you all got off the isle, about how the ocean would smell, about anything that came to his mind while you waited for the captain. You and Harry listened in intently, and at some point, you laid down with Harry, his head resting on your shoulder as you trailed your fingers up Gil’s broad back.
Soon-Uma entered, looking triumphant. “Did ye do it!?” Harry gasped, sitting up with his legs on either side of your left thigh. “Did ye behead the pixie~!?” Uma hummed, walking right up to Harry and cupping his face, smirking as he leaned into her hands “No, not yet but~” she turned to you, her eyes flashing with victory “it’s the wand for the crown~ tomorrow, at noon-sharp-Mal will bring us the wand in exchange for the king. We will be free~!”
Gil cheered as Harry whooped, throwing his hands up as Uma laughed, throwing her head back as you smirked, your hand resting on Harry’s hip. “Congratulations captain, a job well done as always” you whispered, smirking as she rested her hands on your knees and leaned towards you, a…spicy, smirk on her lips. “All thanks to you, my boys” she whispered, turning towards Harry as he leaned into her space, Gil doing the same; wanting attention just like Harry.
“Shall we celebrate?” you purred, lifting your leg just enough to rub your knee into Harry’s crotch, smirking as he whined a bit, a pink flush already taking over his cheeks as Uma laughed, taking his jaw and staring into his half-lidded eyes, watching as Harry’s hips rocked against your leg. “We shall” Uma purred, kissing Harry deeply as you happily watched the show, Gil doing the same as Harry whimpered and groaned into Uma’s mouth, your leg rubbing up against the hardness growing in Harry’s pants.
Uma pulled away from Harry’s lips, rubbing her thumb on his bottom lip which was stained with her lipstick “Strip” she commanded, her eyes glazing across the three of you as she stepped back, sitting down in her chair to watch the show as you obeyed, Harry almost tripping over himself as he ripped off his jacket and shirt, getting caught in his belts as you slid off your jacket.
“Dork” you muttered, taking off your shirt and then helping Harry get out of his, rolling your eyes as he grinned sheepishly at you “See what happens when you rush? You get all caught up” you muttered, huffing as you felt his hands on your chest, his thumbs rubbing the scars beneath your pecs. He wasn’t listening to you at all, just looking at you, his eyes as soft as his soul. “My beautiful god” Harry whispered before kissing you, and you melted into him, Uma’s warms wrapping around your waist as Gil went to Harry, kissing the nape of Harry's neck as Harry and Uma explored your torso.
You huffed again as Uma’s hand dipped into your pants, her fingers trailing over your hardened T-dick. “Uma” you whispered, falling back into her arms as she hummed, resting her chin on your shoulder as she watched Gil copy her actions to Harry, Harry’s face flushed dark red as Gil rubbed the head of Harry’s dick.
“Gil, you get Harry, (y/n), you get Harry and I~” Uma said as she sank her teeth into your shoulder, sending a shiver down your spine as Harry gasped, tipping back into Gil’s arms as Gil rubbed his thumb across the slit of Harry’s head. “A-aye cap-mmm~” Harry tried to say, his knees buckling as Gil set a good-sized hickey into the crook of Harry’s shoulder.
“Gladly” you muttered, grabbing Uma’s hand and tossing her into the bed, smirking as she gasped “but as the captain, I think you should be the one receiving, not giving; for all your hard work” you looked back at the boys, Harry desperately gripping onto Gil’s arms as Gil looked up at you, his eyes flashing with hunger “Don’t you think?”
The two nodded and Gil went back to work on Harry, pulling his pants and underwear off as you turned back to Uma, placing gentle kisses on her jaw and down her neck, your free hand popping open her corset and caressing her hip “Just let us do the work tonight, okay?”
“Okay,” Uma breathed, moaning into your mouth as you kissed her, lifting her hips to help you remove her underskirt as Harry flopped on the bed next to Uma, both breathing heavily as you and Gil pulled away.
“Fuck yes” Harry panted, turning and leaning into Uma, taking her cheeks and kissing her as Gil went to work on Harry, his eyes glancing at you as you spread open Uma’s legs and licked your lips. “Bon Appetit (y/n)” Gil joked, holding back a laugh as Uma let out a long moan into Harry’s mouth.
“Fuck!”
-
You stood at the gangplank, Gil high above in the crow's nest on lookout, while Uma and Harry taunted the king, all four of you had a bit of a pep in your step. One that only a few of the crew understood, the others just thought you were all hyped for your freedom, which you were.
Soon enough Harry was pacing the deck behind you, keeping his eyes on the king and Uma as they talked, his hook brushing against the small of your back every once in a while “stop that you’re going to run the wood through” you muttered, and Harry scoffed, sniffing a bit as he turned on his heel once again.
“Harry!” Uma called for the first mate and he practically skipped over, all too happy to finally hook the king. Soon, about twenty-five minutes later, Mal and her little friends came out from the tunnel, a girl you knew wasn’t a vk following close behind.
“Hey, guys!” Gil called from above, an eager grin on his face “they’re here!” the crew laughed, leering at Mal as she walked up to the other side of the gangplank, her vivid green eyes glaring into yours, a hint of poison swimming within them. You smirked, knowing why she was staring at you in such a hateful way.
Some would say Mal hated you more than she did Uma, and she hated Uma a lot.
“Welcome!” Harry’s voice echoed behind you, pushing the king towards the gangplank as he threw his arms out in a very dramatic pose, bowing out as Uma laughed, stepping into the limelight as you grinned at Mal, following after Harry to make sure he didn’t do anything rash as Uma took command of Mal’s attention. “Finally!”
“let’s get this party started shall we?” Uma purred, rubbing her hands together as mal huffed, taking the wand from Carlos and meeting Uma in the middle of the gangplank. “Wand for the crown dragon breath, or your little king is going down” Harry cackled from his spot at the gangplank, pushing Ben till he was practically tip-toeing off the edge.
Mal just huffed, as if she was more annoyed by the whole situation rather than worried for her, apparently, ex-boyfriend. Mal stepped forward to hand Uma the wand, but Uma simply narrowed her eyes and held her hand up “Hold up…too easy,” Mal dared to look offended “Why don’t you give it a test drive?”
You grinned at the look of clear panic on Mal’s face “We wanna see it work~” the pirates all cheered at Uma’s words and commanded Mal to give the wand a whirl, Uma looking over her shoulder at you to give you a feral grin. Mal was fumbling, she didn’t expect Uma to ask for an example and Mal hasn’t as hard to read as she thought she was.
“What’s wrong Malsy?” you purred, coping Harry’s sharp yet lazy smile as she glared at you, not happy to hear your voice “Can’t produce any spells for us? Something wrong with the wand~?”
Mal just huffed, turning on her heel to face her friends, Carlos subtly nodding at the dog that had suddenly appeared on the docks. You narrowed your eyes, licking your lips as Gil walked up behind you, resting his head on your shoulder as you glanced between Mal and the dog. “oh, and nothing too big or else Ben’s shark bait~” Uma said, her voice serious yet teasing as Harry giggled, hanging Ben over the plank while Mal glared at Uma.
Mal huffed again, turning to the dog again “Although it seems absurd/turn your bark into a word!” Mal flourished the wand, but nothing came from it, nor did anything physical happen to the dog. Your eyes narrowed, the fairy godmother's magic was one of the only magics to exist behind the barrier, a safety precaution or some bullshit like that.
So why was there no magic, if Mal had in fact brought the real fairy godmother's wand?
Something was up. You had never trusted Mal, and honestly, you didn’t trust her to keep up her end of the deal even if it mean her little boyfriend's life was on the line. You came back to reality as Uma commanded Harry to bring Ben over, Harry looking a bit disappointed at the fact that he wouldn’t be sending Ben to swim with the sharks as he dragged the king over to the gangplank.
Ben was forced to his knees, making you and Uma coo as Mal gasped at Harry roughhousing the king. Uma held out her hand, demanding the wand, Mal mirrored her, demanding Ben. Uma just licked the inside of her upper lip and nodded at Harry, keeping her eyes on Mal “Cut ‘em loose Harry”
Harry glanced between Uma and Mal, groaning about how he never got to have any fun as he sliced the rope binding Ben’s ankles and wrists. Ben quickly grabbed Mal’s arm, Uma stopping him from moving any further as Mal handed over the wand. With a grin from Uma and a sneer from Mal; the wand was yours.
“Yes!” Uma cackled, spinning around to run into the middle of the crew, you and Harry staying back slightly to keep anyone from taking the wand back. Your eyes narrowed as the vks rushed to get back to the tunnel, Mal having to push Ben back since he kept trying to get the wand back. Something was up, no one, not even Mal would give THE fairy godmother’s wand up that easily.
“Okay okay okay,” Uma hushed the crew, pointing the wand to the sky, her trapped magic humming as she hurriedly spoke an incantation to set the isle and its children free “by the power of the sea, tear it down and set us free!” the crew cheered, Harry’s eyes bright with hope that died out as nothing happened.
Uma’s nose twitched, examining the wand closely before realizing what had happened “NO!” Uma screeched, snapping the plastic wand over her knee “YOU DO NOT GET TO WIN EVERY TIME!” Ben’s eyes widened at the easy break of the wand, suddenly realizing the same as Uma as you and Garry glared at the vks, mostly Mal. “GET THEM!”
You drew your sword, yelping as smoke suddenly enveloped the ship; you squinted, seeing Carlos through the smoke as he launched smoke bombs at the crew. “The one-time Mal plans ahead” you muttered, cracking your neck and stepping through the smoke, walking right towards Mal; glaring at the smug-looking girl.
You rushed her, chuckling as she nearly immediately bucked under the pressure of your blade. “c’mon Malsy, didn’t you say you could beat me under a table? What was that, seven months ago?” you taunted, easily blocking her weak blows, she had no idea how to use a sword. She was much better using her fists and knives, and even then-she always had Jay do her dirty work.
You quickly and easily backed her into the dock railings; using your sword and arm to block her in, pressing her down against the railing. “what’cha gonna do now mini-Mali~” you purred, using Hades lil ‘nickname’ for Mal, her eyes flashed green-rage flooding through her veins at that name; she hated being compared to her mother. She let out a scream, kicking you in the gut.
You stumbled back, coughing a bit as you held your lower stomach, shaking your head to regain your senses as Mal ran off. She was little, but man her boots packed a punch. “lil brat” you muttered, regripping your blade and running off after the purple imp. you ended up running into Jay as he was going to meet Harry on the upper dock; it was a short clash, because you knew Harry wanted a proper fight with the son of Jafar, so you quickly spun around and fought the Asian Auradon girl.
“And you are?” you asked twisting your blade around to pin hers to the docks. She smiled, a bit too nicely “Lonnie~! Mulan and Shang’s daughter.” you grinned, chuckling as she easily unpinned her sword and swung at you “cool, honestly they’re my favorite of you Auradon bores.” Lonnie let out a small ‘aww’; holding her hand to her chest “Thank you~! I’ll let them know”
You nodded, bowing a bit before you both delved back into the fight; you swiped above her head, smirking as she skillfully dropped down and twisted on her feet in an attempt to knock you over. You leaped back, redirected a stab to your thigh, and grabbed her wrist, tugging her up and around to the other end of the docks.
After a few more swings and jabs, you had her nearly pinned to the dock rails; you wouldn’t kill her-that honestly wasn’t your style, but as you were about to knock her out-you felt a sharp-blinding pain going from your right shoulder to your left hip.
“FUCK!” You screamed out, feeling heat blooming across your back as your legs buckled. “oh shit” you heard someone mutter from behind you. You turned, seeing Jay with blood on his sword, and his face pale. “oh shit!”
“(y/n)!” you heard Gil yell out, he shoved Ben away, sending the king flying back as he bolted towards you; Lonnie and Jay quickly turned on their heels and ran away from you. His hands caught your arm as you sunk to your knees, feeling a wet heat consume your back and soak into your clothes. Jay had sliced open your back.
“fuck fuck fuck” Gil muttered under his breath, the battle behind him continuing on as the crew attempted to either get the king back, or take the core four down. You grit your teeth as Gil carefully pushed your shirt and jacket up, wincing as he saw the extent of the injury. “Man that’s deep” he muttered, flicking your elbow as you wheezed out a small ‘that’s what she said’.
“Dammit, nothing I can do right now” Gil muttered, hovering his hands over the long and open wound “Stay here, I-I need to go get Uma” he muttered, getting to his feet and grabbing his sword, running towards the battle as you adjusted yourself slowly to sit down properly, wincing as pain flared down your back and shoulders.
Soon purple smoke exploded up on the docks near the tunnel that connected to the garage-and the king disappeared, leaving the pirates confused in the smoke. Mal then kicked down the bridge and Uma screamed, pushing everyone out of the way as she raced for the other shortcut-hoping to cut Mal off.
“(y/n)!” Harry yelled out as Gil pulled him over, Gil bit his lip at Uma’s absence but he understood what she was doing and ran over to you with Harry. “fuck-I’m going ta kill him” Harry muttered darkly, taking your hands and helping you stand; his lip curling over his teeth as you cried out in pain. “that’s it, I’m carrying ye” Harry snapped, picking you up and carrying you onto the ship and into Uma’s quarters “Gil, get Des ‘n the medical pack from me room”
Gil nodded and ran back out of the room, grabbing who and what Harry asked for. You huffed and winced as Harry and Desiree cleaned and stitched up your back, nearly breaking Gil’s hand as he held it out to you in comfort. Harry kept grumbling to himself as he bandaged your back; shorting a bit as you muttered how this hurt less than when you chopped off your tits.
“Shut up” he grumbled, sitting up on his knees and kissing the side of your head, pressing his forehead against your shaved hair. “Don’t try to joke yer way out of this” you just laughed, screwing your face a bit as Harry stitched off your bandages. “that’s how I cope, let me joke through my trauma pleaseeee.” you groaned, laying pathetically on the bed as Gil and Harry stood, cleaning up the mess and going out to make sure everything outside was in order; Harry now the acting captain until Uma returned.
A few hours later, you were woken up from a very hard nap as Bonnie slammed on the door, her face peeking through the gap with a…nervous? Look. “(y/n), your dads here and he won't leave, help” she croaked before she sprinted into the room, Hades form stepping through it a moment later, which made him bend down to fit through the door.
“Hades, go away.” you groaned, mostly ignoring how Bonnie called him your dad as he stomped over to you, his platform boots making the floor creak with effort. “Also not my dad-“ Bonnie audibly snorted at that, and waved you off; sneaking out of the room as Hades stared you down. “What?” you grumbled, very much wanting to go back to sleep.
He just stared; his arms crossed like a disappointed parent. “You are not allowed to make that face” you said with a snarky smirk, pointing at his face “Stop making that face” he just deepened the look, narrowing his eyes and tightening his arms “noooooooo”
He couldn’t help the small smirk on his lips at your whining “I might not be your dad, but as your employer kinda father figure person-no bullshit till your healed. I’m putting Harry in charge of you.” You looked at him, as if he was almost stupid; but you realized Harry would actually tie you down to the very bed you lay on to make sure you didn’t do anything stupid.
He himself had zero impulse control, but hell be damned if you did anything stupid when hurt. “fineeee” you huffed out, face planting back in Uma’s pillow and waving Hades off “fine.” He stared at you for a long moment, then huffed, gently patting the back of your head and walking out’ you could hear him talking to Harry but you were already falling back asleep.
-
“she’s, gone?” you asked, carefully leaning against the headboard of Uma’s bed as Harry gave you an update on the night before-aka what happened at cotillion. Uma appeared, spelling Ben, had almost taken down the barrier, went full sea-god on everyone's ass, and then just-swam away. You knew she had a bigger plan behind her surrender, so you knew she didn’t just give up-she was looking at the bigger picture.
But as of now, she was gone-not a trace of her to be found.
Harry nodded from his spot in front of you, one of his legs tucked under the other that was gently laid across your lap; Gil was laying down behind him-staring at the wall in a near depression.
In just one day, everyone had felt the strain of Uma’s absence, she was an important person on the isle, in your relationship, and in the crew-she was a captain in more ways than one. You sighed, rubbing the back of your neck as you leaned forward, resting your elbow on your knee; wincing as your back flared with pain.
“Dammit, Jay” you grumbled, closing your eyes as you carefully stretched until the pain went away. Harry’s hand found yours, and you looked into his eyes-his pretty ocean blue eyes surrounded by black that were looking so concerned-for you. “I’m fine, it’ll be like a month before I can move without pain but-I’m fine” he just hummed, his eyes dropping down to your fingers as Gil sat up, resting his chin on Harry’s shoulder.
“Do you wanna borrow my razor (y/n)?” Gil asked, pointing at your face. You just rose your brow in confusion, reaching up to feel some scruff on your jaw. “ah, that-nah” you muttered, moving your arms in a way to make the shaving motions just-put too much strain on your back muscles “shavings gonna have ta wait, besides” you glanced at Harry, who was almost starry eyed at the idea of you having a beard-even if it was just scruff “I think Harry likes the idea”
Gil laughed, shaking his head as Harry leaned up and kissed your jaw, watching as you fondly rolled your eyes at the action. You three would be okay, a bit lonely and lost without Uma; but you would be okay.
-
Harry dyed his hair black and ripped the sleeves off all his jackets and sleeves; Harry was not okay-man went full emo. Gil had to hold him down as you fixed his shit.
-
“i-what?” Mal asked, almost offended as Hades flipped the ember between his fingers, his yellow eyes staring, almost bored, into her green ones “no-no way.”
“No dice then. You want the ember? (y/n) goes with you; god knows if you have a lick of sense with knowing how to use it.” Hades said in a near-snarky tone, a lazy smile on his lips. Mal huffed, gritting her jaw as Celia stood, pretty confused, at the top of the stairs. She knew you were closer with Hades than most-he had called you his kid before (not realizing he had, and you immediately chucked something at him if you were around to hear him call you that) but for him to bargain the ember, for your freedom?
Wasn’t really like him. Mal just stared at Hades; her eyes hard. Then she closed them, holding out her hand again “Fine. (y/n) comes with” she snapped, not happy with the idea, not happy at all.
Because-what did you have-that she didn’t?! Why would he-her biological father-chose some-random dude like you?! You were just an errand boy for Hades, why did you get special treatment?!
Why did you get the father she had wanted since she was a baby?
Mal turned on her heel as Hades placed the ember in her palm; stomping up the mine shaft stairs, Hades reminded her that if the ember got wet-it was game over.
“Noted, let’s go find (y/n)” Mal grumbled, rushing right past the mine bike and pouting down the mineshaft-Celia doing her best to keep up. It didn’t take long to find you; you were where you always were; the lost revenge. “imp” you muttered in ‘greeting’ as you finished checking up on the last of the ropes and sail anchors, turning to Mal with crossed arms, your lip curling up to give her a sneer as she stood at the other end of the gangplank; Celia right behind her-who seemed much happier to see you. “What do you want?”
“I needed the ember, and Hades told me I couldn’t have it without taking you with me off the isle” Mal grumbled, palming the ember as she glared at you; practically foaming at the mouth as you just rose your brows, pointing at the ember “But-you have it? You could’ve just easily left with it”
Mal froze for a solid five seconds, as if just realizing-yes-she could’ve just, left. And Hades wouldn’t know until after the fact. “Dammit” Mal groaned, face palming, then she shook her head “just-I keep my promises-let’s go” you stared for a moment, then blinked; furrowing your brows as Mal started to walk off, then looked back at you-wondering why you weren’t following. “Come on!”
“What do you even need the ember for? That thing is basically just a battery drainer but for magic?” you muttered, slowly following after Mal as she groaned and muttered curses beneath her breath “Audrey has the scepter, couldn’t get the wand, ember is the next best bet-end of story!” Mal yelled as you walked through the tunnel-Mal easily redirected towards the inner workings of the isle; walking through the market towards the alley where Celia took the lead, so you and Mal followed her into the arcade.
“What's (y/n) doing here?” Evie asked as she joined Mal’s side, intertwining their hands as Mal sighed, clearly wanting to pitch her nose but she had no free hands. “you got the ember?” Jay asked, keeping his eyes on you as you stood in the background-not really wanting to be there; you had first-mate shit to do.
“That's what (y/n) is doing here” Mal muttered, holding the ember tight against her thigh “Hades made a deal, (y/n) goes with us, I get the ember” Carlos, Evie, and Jay looked pretty surprised at those terms; because-Hades would willingly give up his ember to get some-errand boy-off the isle?
They all leaned sideways from behind Mal to look at you, seeing you just staring at all the arcade games, smirking as you saw one you and Harry had hacked a bit back.
“Alright then” Carlos mumbled, shaking his head as Mal asked if they got the bikes back. “the only way back is the bridge” Mal muttered laughing a bit as Evie mumbled about her comfortable heels. Jay grabbed their arms, a deep frown on his face “yeah, we need the remote to access the barrier-and-I uh, left it with my bike” Jay muttered, wincing as Mal just stared at him.
“Man, we have lost our touch” Carlos groaned, rubbing his face as Celia stepped forward, grabbing something from her bag “I lifted it off of you” Celia announced, lifting the golden barrier remote into everyone's view; Jay and Carlos lit up at the sight. Mal and Evie looked proud. “I thought it could be important, and it was-so” she handed the remote to Jay, who grinned and nodded.
“Nice” he muttered, reaching out and patting her arm; turning on his heel as Mal called for the bridge. “let’s go” Mal muttered to you, avoiding your eyes as you snorted and strut after the group.
-
“We did it, we made it!” Harry and Gil had jumped through the barrier after you, Harry grabbing your collar and planting a heated kiss on your cheek; making you laugh as Gil bounced around-before they noticed the other vks, staring at them as if they were insane.
“Hey guys~” Harry cooed, grabbing your hand and bowing a bit “we’re just comin’ for a wee visit~!” he shared a grin with Gil and started to walk forward, only to be pushed back by Carlos. you closed your eyes, huffing into your hands as the boys started to fight, Carlos and Harry shoving at each other until Carlos bumped into Mal, who had been failing to get the boys to calm down; making her drop the ember.
“No!” Mal screeched, alerting Harry of the ember's importance and he quickly kneeled and scooped the ember right out of Mal’s grip, sending the ember into the sky and over the ocean. Mal screeched out again, watching her only chance to save Auradon drop into the ocean right before her very eyes-unable to do anything about it.
You felt your heart skip a beat as a familiar turquoise-colored tentacle popped out of the waves and caught the ember, Uma rose up a second later and shook her head to give a bit of a dramatic flair to her already dramatic entrance. Uma smirked, raising the ember high in the air, taunting Mal with it “Drop something~?” Uma purred, cackling as Mal yelled for her to give it back.
“Uma!” Harry and Gil yelled out, all too happy to see her; Harry almost fell into the water to hug her if it wasn’t for your hand on his neck. Uma grinned up at them, tilting her head happily as she waved “That’s my name~”
She made eye contact with you, and winked, giggling at the flash of happiness within your eyes, your grin almost rivaling Harry’s. Uma locked eyes with Mal again, taunting her with a smirk as she curled the ember tightly between her tentacles and dove back into the water-Mal yelping out in panic; she couldn't lose the ember!
Everyone watched in near awe as a tower of swirling water began to rise, soon exploding and soaking everyone, you looked behind you at the other side of the bridge as everyone else searched the waters, wondering if Uma had just-left. She hadn’t, there she was, on the bridge, holding the ember with that wonderful smile of hers.
“hey boys~” she purred, laughing as Harry and Gil whirled around to look at her, Mal only looking frustrated and annoyed. Harry cackled, holding out his hook as he practically skipped over to Uma, her pinkie curling around his hook in greeting as he welcomed her back.
“Welcome back~” Harry purred, getting a good look at her to make sure she wasn’t hurt before settling behind her, his eyes on the other vks to make sure they (Mal) didn’t do anything stupid. Lest they face the wrath of Uma’s boys. “Where have you been?” Gil asked, frowning a bit as he stepped up to Uma “it’s been like-two years”
“Planning her revenge no doubt” Mal snapped, scrunching her nose in anger as Uma scoffed and rolled her eyes; she actually hadn’t, she had been enjoying her life outside the isle and sunbathing on the beaches Auradon had to offer “It’s not all about you Mal” Uma taunted, all too happy to shove that fact in Mal’s face.
Mal just rose her brow, as if saying ‘so? I’ll make it about me’ (if yall don’t know/can't tell by now, I don’t like canon Mal :/) “I was looking for a hole in the barrier, to let everybody out? And you know what I found boys?” Uma completely turned her back to Mal, knowing her boys would protect her if needed while also telling Mal ‘you aren’t worthy enough to have my guard up around you’. “it’s way better out there than we thought!”
Uma’s eyes sparkled as she began to recount what she had seen while outside the barrier “there's this thing that looks like a furry rock, called a coconut; and fish so big you can dance on their backs!” Uma turned back to Mal, the purple-haired girl just crossing her arms with a sour look on her face. “and they’ve kept it all for themselves?” Uma taunted as Harry made a small clicking noise with his tongue, shaming the vks for withholding the freedom of Auradon from the vks still on the isle.
“Whatever,” Mal said with a roll of her eyes, holding out her hand for the ember; somehow expecting Uma to just-give it back. “I need that, to break a spell.” Uma chuckled a bit at the demand while Carlos provided some insight, something that actually might have Uma decide to help instead of dooming Auradon.
“Cast by Audrey, sleeping beauties daughter” Uma actually looked a bit surprised at that, she had seen the once brown-haired princess before on the news; she always seemed so much like her mother. But Uma knew to never judge a book by its cover, and that princess must’ve held some dark secrets if she had cast such a spell as the one covering Auradon.
“So, the good guys the bad guy?” Uma laughed, turning back to her boys who just smirked at her “hmm, well-I might not give it back” she pursed her lips; clearly just trying to antagonize Mal “see what happens~”
“Uma, it is not the time for games, people's lives are in danger!” Mal yelled out, quite dramatically; making Uma snort while you and Harry started laughing, Gil rolling his eyes as Harry leaned towards him with a sharp grin.
Uma glanced back down at the ember, slowly making her way towards the edge of the bridge without Mal noticing what she was actually doing “Guarantee me, that every single villain kid that wants to; can get off the isle” it was a solid deal, the isle’s freedom in return for Auradon’s safety. But Mal just huffed, throwing her hands up as if she didn’t have the power to promise such a thing (which, she really doesn’t??? she’s lady of the court, girl ain't the queen yet)
“I can’t do that” Mal sneered, her lip curling slightly as Uma just rose her brows, rolling her eyes as she went towards her boys, you and Harry giving her an opening to the edge as she whirled back around and held the ember over the water. “Can’t do that? Well, how about now!”
“DEAL!” Mal yelled out, her eyes wide with panic, but she quickly tried to save face; trying to seem as if she wasn’t at all worried about Uma extinguishing her only hope to save her new home. “Deal.”
Uma smirked, pretending to stumble and nearly drop the ember, cackling as Mal let out a panicked semblance of a word; Evie reached out to stop Uma from doing anything more “Uma!” Mal almost looked mad Evie was trying to help, glaring at the blue haired girl “her word is good” Uma rose her brow, knowing Mal was a creature of lies, and you saw how Mal’s eyes flickered to the bridge for a moment.
She felt guilty over something, she had that same tell since you were all kids; something her mother had tried to beat out to no avail. Your eyes narrowed, keeping your eyes on Mal as Uma pursed her lips, her eyes on the ember as she stalked towards Mal; who still kept her hand out, still expecting Uma to just hand over the ember. Uma sucked on her teeth before shoving the ember into her vest pocket, smirking as Mal huffed and crossed her arms like a pouting child who lost their toy “I’ll still keep this, for the time being. Because if you think I trust you to save the world on your own?” Uma chuckled, leaning towards Mal with a sinister yet knowing smirk “Think again.”
Mal just glared, clearly not happy about the situation. She took a moment to glare at you, her nose scrunching in anger as you laughed with your boys, taking Uma’s waist as she turned to you “this is a job for pirates~!!” Harry cackled and gave Uma a solid palm smack, Gil taking her shoulder and looking very excited for the adventure to come.
Uma rubbed her hands together, excited to see if Mal would swallow her pride and accept Uma’s offer or if she would pull a Mal. Mal glared full-heartedly at you and Uma, her eyes beginning to glow but Jay quickly de-escalated the situation and pulled Mal back by her arm, muttering something into her ear.
Her eyes went off the side for a moment, as if contemplating something, then she huffed, clenching her jaw “fine.” She snapped lowly, tilting her head in a way that told Jay to take over for talking; since Mal wanted to be a pouty baby. ‘for a leader, she’s real bad at getting along with anyone’ you thought to yourself, and she had been that way since you were all young, another trait handed down from her parents. Yes, parents. As in both Hades and Maleficent, both stubborn assholes who didn’t like to share.
So really, it was no wonder Mal was a stubborn bitch who refused to meet in the middle.
With the nod from Mal, Jay nodded back, turning to gil and Harry; glaring. “where are our bikes?” bikes? What bikes? You glanced at Harry, who started to giggle, Uma looking just as ‘what did you two do?’ as you did. “oh yeah” Gil laughed, gesturing back towards the isle with that smile of his “we crashed em~!”
Jay and Carlos looked pissed, and you would be too if you didn’t give a fuck. Harry nodded with a cackle, beginning to act out revving the bike and driving it off a ramp, then it crashing and exploding. He giggled at Jay’s reaction, pointing at his face and turning to Uma to see her reaction. She just rolled her eyes with a fond snort.
Your eyes drifted to Evie as she stepped forward, and you wondered when she had gone from the fake ditsy fashionista to mom friend. “Here’s a thought?” Evie said loudly, Harry hiccupping as she interrupted his teasing laughter, she sounded almost completely over everyone being at each other's throat, Auradon was on the line and fighting between each other wasn’t going to help “we could try to be friends? Put our history behind us and celebrate our differences.”
Mal just started at Evie like she was insane, as if she would ever consider being friends with shrimpy and homewrecker. Mal turned, glaring at you and Uma as you both just stared at Evie, wondering why she was doing this now and if there was a point to it.
“yeah?” Evie encouraged with a smile, looking towards Mal, who just blinked at her, Jay and Carlos staring hard at Gil and Harry. Evie then reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small red drawstring bag that held several blue gumballs “Who wants gum?”
“Do you carry that with you everywhere?” you asked, pointing at the bag, Evie nodded with a grin “that’s weird” Evie snorted slightly, still smiling. When she noticed everyone else staring at her like she was crazy, her smile dropped slightly, her lips pursing as she shook the bag “no?”
Uma rolled her eyes, hands on her hips as she turned on her heel and began to lead the way towards Auradon “let's go” Mal let out a sharp noise, holding up her hand, you and Harry rolling your eyes at Mal’s need to control everything. “No. I’m in charge” Mal glanced around, seeing her side of the group had no complaints, while Uma’s side glared at her, one looking just-so bored (you, you were very bored, and over Mal’s stupidity) “let’s go”
With that, Mal started off, Uma snorting as she did; knowing she was getting under Mal’s skin with little effort, she was going to enjoy tormenting Mal during this little joint rescue. Evie sighed, taking a gumball and popping one into her mouth, sliding the bag back into her sleeve and following after her fellow vks.
-
After what felt like two hours of walking, the group of mismatched vks made it to the Auradon prep gardens, all pausing at the sight of dozens of students sleeping away. Clearly not willingly. “they’re asleep” Evie whispered as if she was afraid to wake anyone up “all of them.”
“Spelled by your princess” Uma muttered, moving further into the gardens, eyes peeled for any sign of danger while the Auradon-bound VK’s were too busy paying attention to their phones, trying to get ahold of their loved ones. Well, minus Jay, who made sure the spelled students were okay.
Gil followed Jay around while you and Harry kept close to Uma, though Harry did go off to snatch a wallet or two. “five, four, three, two, one” you muttered to Uma as you counted down the time until Jay would step in and stop Harry, to which-he was right on cue. “you do,” Jay said as he took the stolen cash from Harry, continuing Harry’s little ramble about him deserving compensation for joining the rescue mission “me not squashing you like a bug” Harry just giggled at Jay’s threat, tossing the now empty wallet on the white metal table and taking his hook, getting into Jay’s face with a maniac grin.
“Think I’m scared of you Jay~?” Harry cooed; his eyes bright with the urge to shove his hook through Jay’s jaw. Jay just glared right back, the two boys straightening up as Mal and Uma called for them to cut their shit out. Harry huffed, giving Jay a dark glare as he walked away, soon Harry made his way back to you and Uma, pouting as he did so.
“Hey, we have to play nice, for now,” you muttered, taking Harry’s free hand “you and Jay can hash at it later, right now; we focus on Auradon and the kids” Harry glanced at you, and huffed, but nodded; leaning down to kiss your forehead.
“fine” he grumbled, perking up as Evie called for everyone's attention, her eyes wide with terror and shock as she stumbled away from a statue of a frightened girl “Ha-Hannah turned to stone” Evie whispered, Jay catching her shoulders as Evie’s hands went to cover her mouth.
“holy shit” you muttered, walking up to the stone girl and resting your hand gently on her shoulder, the stone was ice cold, nothing compared to the comfortable temperatures of the school grounds.
“All right everyone stay on your toes, we’re not dealing with just a sleeping spell anymore” Jay muttered, and his words rang sharply in everyone's chest this was no longer just a race to find Audrey and stop her from sending everyone off to sleep, this was to stop her from doing worse.
Hanna gave no notion of life within her stone-turned eyes, Audrey had invertedly killed her, and however more people she had turned to stone. “since we’re here” Uma said as she passed by the statue “let's check the school, even if that princess ain’t here we might find a clue” Mal pursed her lips, glancing to the side before she spoke up “No”. Uma slowly turned back, not liking the tone of Mal’s voice, as if Uma’s suggestion was stupid. “Audrey went after the crown, so, I think it's safe to assume she went after Ben and the castle next?” she looked to her friends to see if they agreed, and they nodded, it was in fact the most logical answer. Mal nodded back, happy to know they agreed. “then that’s where we'll go.”
Uma licked her lips, turning back on her heel to step closer to Mal, her shoulders back in defense “says who?” Uma challenged; Mal just frowned, stepping up to copy Uma’s movements, her eyes narrowed with warning “says me” Mal spat back, the two girls getting almost nose to nose as they glared at each other.
“says you and that’s supposed to mean something to me?” Uma huffed, tilting her head up slightly as she tilted closer to Mal, who was about to insult Uma right back when you and Evie spoke up, interrupting their little tough talk.
“Guys,” the two said, already tired of their bullshit, you continued to speak as Evie shook her head at Mal, telling her to knock it off with the whole holier than thou bit. “we don’t have time for your bickering, yet here we are watching you two bitch as if we’re not on a time crunch now.” you hissed, stepping closer to the girls and pushing them apart, glaring at Mal as she smacked his arm.
“Don’t touch me” Mal snapped, surprising her friends with the venom in her voice, one not even heard for Uma. You just glared, unaffected by it, then raised your brow “Then get you’re shit together, ain't leaders supposed to be level-headed? And not wasting time picking fights?” Mal let out a low hiss between her teeth, pouting a bit, not wanting to admit you were right.
So she just turned to her friends, stepping away on her right foot “to the castle” with that, she was off, her friends at her heels as the pirates and Celia lagged slightly behind; Harry’s arm once again around your shoulder, Gil holding your free hand.
Uma peeked over her shoulder, smiling at the sight of her boys, she had missed them so much and she couldn’t be happier to be with them again; now she just had to endure mal and her goons and they would be home free.
-
They were bickering again. You sighed, rubbing the bridge of your nose. They really couldn't just-chill for five minutes, could they? Nearly the entire way to the castle they had bickered, and now you were inside the castle, looking for Ben; they were once again-bickering.
“Bet you lost sleep thinking ‘bout me being on the loose” Uma hummed, crossing her arms as she, Evie, and Mal strut down the hall of armors. Evie sighed, giving you a glance that clearly said she was over the two’s bullshit. You just huffed back with a chuckle, feeling the same; you loved Uma, but her and Mal’s little shit fest wasn’t all that fun to listen to for the thousandth time.
“No, dragons don’t really lose sleep” Mal spat back, trying to keep her cool, but with another glance from Evie; you knew she was bull-shitting, she had lost sleep, while Uma simply went about with her freedom. You let out another huffed chuckle, ending up next to mal while Evie stepped between the two girls, trying to get them to chill out “I wonder what fried shrimp tastes like~?” Mal wondered aloud, attempting to intimidate Uma to no avail, only succeeding in annoying her by bringing the stupid shrimp thing back up.
“Can you two not do this? I thought we were looking for Ben, who could be in danger, and yet here we stand as if waiting for coffee~!” you said in a snarky tone, glaring at Mal as she huffed and turned to sneer at you, her eyes alight with near hate that didn’t seem to be completely directed at you.
“Shut it, gravedigger, no one asked you” Mal spat, flinching as Harry, Uma, and Gil let out a loud offended noise at your defense; Uma grabbing Mal’s shoulder to get Mal’s attention back on her. You didn’t care much about her little insult; it was hardly one anyways; so you used to be a grave digger so what?
Though with how Mal was basically royalty on the isle, and now almost royalty in Auradon, she might be a bit classist, and a grave digger was one of the lower classes of any society, at least to Mal.
“What the hell is your problem with him?!” Uma practically yelled, her lip curling over her teeth as Harry glared at Mal over Uma’s shoulder “You’ve been practically bullying him all day, If it's me you gotta problem with; take it up with me, don’t take it out on him!” Mal sputtered for a moment, unable to tell Uma the truth about why she hated you but Harry, accidentally, saved her ass; calling out in panic as the suits of armor surrounding the walls of the room jerked to life.
“Girls, cut tha’ shit! we ‘ave a problem!” he yelled out, grabbing Uma’s arm as the two knights nearest to the group turned to them, pink smoke flowing from their visors. Mal gasped in fright, bumping back into Evie and Gil as Audrey’s voice echoed from the knights “It would be wise to listen to the pirate, Malsy~ your pride will be your downfall” Audrey hissed, and the knights soon attacked, the horde slowly and loudly making their way to the group.
“Run, run!!” you yelled, pushing at Mal and forcing her frozen form to move, everyone made a run towards the doors, only for the way to be blocked, Celia on the other side of them holding Dude in her arms, her eyes wide with fright.
Luckily she was out of the way, and hopefully would stay safe. “no choice, we hav’ta fight!” Harry yelled, grabbing a sword from a nearby holster and slashing at a knight that just came a bit too close to Uma, the blades clashing against each other.
You sighed, taking one long look around the room, you were heavily outnumbered; this wasn’t going to be easy. Hopefully, Mal and Uma could get their shit together long enough to get through this, cuz hell if you were dying by enchanted armor.
-
You tossed down the sword you had taken from the wall holsters, cracking your neck as the rest of the boys celebrated with each other, Harry and Jay chest bumped; Carlos and Gil did the same a moment later, their previous plights with each other forgotten for a moment.
That is until Mal and Uma almost high-fived and immediately jumped away from each other in disgust, Mal wiping her untouched hand on her pants. The boys cleared their thoughts uncomfortably, joining their respectful leaders. You sighed, shaking your head and joining your boys, closing your eyes as Uma’s hand curled around your jaw, her thumb against your scruff which she grinned at.
You heard a huff of distress from Evie, and you let out a sigh of your own; knowing what she was about to say “Guys come on!” Evie cried out, glancing between the toppled knights, and the two groups “this was so great! All of us, working together! Everything was easier, right? Just-think about it-if we all stop-bickering with each other” She gave a stern look to both Uma and Mal; Mal glancing away while Uma rolled her eyes “We can maybe save Auradon before tomorrow, huh?”
Evie looked around, hoping to see some compromise from either side, Mal just pouted, while Uma sighed; seeing Evie’s point but not wanting to budge unless Mal pushed aside her pride. Evie let out a long sigh, seeing that neither girl was going to budge, she put her hands on her hips, pursing her lips as she tried to think of a way to get everyone to *at least* stop being at each other's throats.
A slow smirk grew on her face, if they wouldn’t willingly get along, she could embarrass them into it. “I know what we can try~” Evie sang, giving Carlos a small side glance, stifling her laugh as Carlos subtly shook his head, begging her not to do it. “An ice breaker.” Mal, Carlos, and Jay all groaned, Mal covering her face in practical 2nd hand embarrassment as Evie brushed her hair back and turned to the pirates, her eyes sparkling with devious intent.
The pirates look suddenly fearful for their lives, all leaning away from Evie as if that would protect them from her ‘ice-breaker’ “Now” Evie started, clapping her hands together and beaming at the pirates “You say something you really like about the person, and then they return the favor~ okay? I’ll start” she got a good look at each of the pirates, slightly laughing through her nose as she did so.
Gil just looked utterly confused, Uma was just looking back at her as if she was crazy, Harry was-legit holding his breath and looking away-like a child in trouble, and you-you were nearly doing the same as Uma; through your arms were crossed and you were biting the inside of your lip-hoping she wouldn’t choose you.
“Harry,” Evie finally decided, Harry groaning lightly as he closed his eyes and finally released his breath “great accent” Harry blinked-not expecting Evie to-actually compliment him-something that was actually his-not his ability to fight, or how scary he was-but something that was-him. He blinked at her again, furrowing his brows a bit as Evie beamed and gestured for him to go. “Now you go~”
Harry pursed his lips, slightly debating on whether or not to go along with the little game when Uma interrupted it, holding up her hands and stepping forward “okay-where does this cheerleader bunk down? We may not find her there, but we might find a clue about where she actually is? We’re wasting time here as it is.”
Evie pouted a bit; she could tell Harry was about to speak but-Uma had a point “Evie?” Mal said, taking Evie’s hand and leaning into her point of view “I love you,” Evie beamed and echoed her words back “and as much as I hate to admit it-Uma’s right” Uma looked surprised to hear Mal say those words. Evie only looked delighted to hear that, finally! Some progress~!! “Audrey clearly knows we’re here, and what we’re trying to do-we need to find out where she is, and where ben is-if we’re going to save Auradon. The longer she has the scepter-the more powerful she becomes and the harder it’ll be to save her and Auradon”
Evie frowned and nodded, squaring her shoulders as Uma stepped up, looking right at Mal “yeah-so-where does she hang out usually? We’ll need to start somewhere.” Mal huffed, furrowing her brows as she thought, Evie providing the much-needed information “actually” Evie muttered, tapping her chin “she’s still in the dorms” Mal gasped and tapped Evie’s shoulder in revelation, remembering why Audrey was still in the dorms.
“Right! Because of summer school!” at this, Harry burst into laughter, so the precious spoiled princess was still in school? Summer school?? “What?! summer school?” you glanced at Hartry, huffing as he bumped your shoulder and then grabbed Uma’s “Summer! School! No wonder she wants revenge~” he ended with a pitched giggle, hiccupping as Mal clapped her hands together loudly and interrupted him.
"Okay! I need you guys” she looked to both sets of boys on either side of the room “to go find Ben. we will meet up at Evie’s in, two hours. Okay? We” she gestured to herself, Evie, Uma, and Celia “will go to the dorms to look for any clues on Audrey.”
Uma hummed, pursing her lips a bit-seeing the perfect opportunity to mess with Mal “Sounds like we’re going with my plan, I’m jus’ saying” Mal rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in exasperation, not wanting to admit Uma’s plan was a smart one “It was kind’ve the obvious plan." Mal snapped, scrunching her nose as Gil loudly announced that Uma had thought of it first, Uma turned to him with a snarky grin “Right so my plan?” you and Harry nodded in agreement while Mal threw up her hands again and stormed off, Uma quickly catching up as to not let Mal take the lead again.
You sighed and tilted into Gil’s side as he threw his arm over your shoulder, glancing back at Evie to make sure she was following before the six of you(plus dude) split from the girls, following Dude into the forest where Ben’s cent trailed off into.
-
You huffed as you all came to a stop a few miles into the woods that surrounded the royal castle; wondering where the king had gone. Dude was sniffing around towards the path that apparently led to the enchanted lake-his head perking up towards the left of the path. You blinked, remembering the marks that covered the walls and flowers of the castle-that all seemed to originate from the hallway where Ben’s office apparently was.
You had to wonder-what if Audrey turned Ben into a Be-“so-you got any idea why Mal hates you so much?” you jumped as Carlos’ voice suddenly broke through your train of thought, glancing to the side to see the freckled teen, his hands on his hips as he joined you in watching Dude smell for Ben.
You shrugged “Don’t know, and I don’t care. Whatever beef she’s got with me is entirely her own. I mean-I do got problems with her, but that relates to Uma. As far as I know, I’ve never done anything to her to make her so” you waved your hand in a vague gesture that Carlos easily understood “iffy towards me.” Well, you did have a small idea, but that was her bullshit and her bullshit alone. It wasn’t your fault or choice her deadbeat dad chose some random kid over his own.
Carlos slowly nodded, smiling a bit as he saw Gil and Jay chatting away over the blueberry bush, Harry in the background pouting away “so how long have you four been tougher?” you laughed, shaking your head, honestly-you didn’t even remember when you had gone from friends, to a fling, to a full relationship with the sea three-it just-kinda happened.
“bold of you to assume it’s a relationship” you teased, fully implying that it was in-fact a relationship and not a fling. Carlos just snorted, crossing his arms “yeah, that’s what Mal, Evie, n Jay think; I think im the only one who's caught onto you four. Mal keeps betting the fling will burn out, Evie thinks ya’ll will get married, and Jay doesn’t really care…or at least he tries to say he doesn’t.” you had to cover your face to stop your laughter, because oh my gods the core four(minus Carlos) were fucking betting on you and the pirate's relationship.
“They got nothing better to do?” you chuckled, covering your face again as Carlos rolled his eyes with a shrug “you’d think huh? I can't wait to see Mal’s face whenever ya’ll announce your relationship.” You snorted at his words, perking up as Harry let out a piercing whistle and started walking after Dude who was suddenly bee-lining into the forest.
“yer mutt’s goin’ off on ‘is own pup!” Harry snapped out, Carlos quickly following after the taller pirate as you, Gil, and Jay followed their lead-Dude led the group deeper and deeper into the forest, following a trail of deep claw marks on the trees and forest floor; setting a nervous feeling into everyone's gut as they followed Dude.
Still no sign of Ben.
Where the hell was he-you spun around at the sound of something heavy cracking leaves and sticks on the forest floor, and it didn’t sound like it was alone. It sounded like there were several sets of footsteps-all walking on fours. You turned back around, seeing Gil and Carlos both looking where you had been a moment before; Harry and Jay still following dude.
You opened your mouth to call for them to stop when a terrifying roar broke through the almost eerie silence of the forest. You turned, screaming with Carlos and Gil as a stone lion pounced towards you, its pearly jaw wide open in preparation to snap your neck through.
You hit the floor with it on your chest, your hands pressed to its nose and chin and pushing back against the stone, eyes wide in panic. “FUCK” you yelled out, planting your boot on its smooth underbelly and pushing-but alas-you were only human, and 80 pounds of stone pressing on you like an actual lion was not looking good.
Your head hit the floor again, your vision upside-down as you saw Harry being pinned, screaming as a pair of jaws bit into his shoulder, Jay and Gil being cornered into a tree, as another lion circled Carlos and Dude; the fourth lion eyeing the group-as if determining which boy to make its meal.
Harry screamed again, his voice breaking as he sobbed in immense pain. You looked back at him, tears burning at your eyes as you felt a heat burn at your inner left wrist-almost feeling like a fire was sparking at your skin. “Harry!” you yelled out, giving one final shove to the lion on top of you, not bothering to look as you somehow pushed it off of you and it landed a few feet away, looking shocked you had done that.
You ignored the sudden burst of strength and bolted over to your boyfriend, the flurry of adrenaline and fire licking up your skin making you ignore the even larger lion-like figure that leaped over you towards Gil and Jay, the stone lion crumbling under its form.
You slammed into the lion that was pinning Harry, clenching your jaw as it ripped away from Harry’s shoulder and ripped his skin further, making him scream out in pain as the lion crashed into a tree and made it topple over-the lion's head cracking off from the impact.
“fuck-Harry!” you yelped, practically straddling your injured boyfriend, his free hand desperately grabbing at your thigh as you tried to figure out how to help him-the skin and clothes on his shoulder horribly mangled and bleeding rapidly. “fuck-fuck fuck!”
Your shoulders were grabbed and you were pulled back, you nearly bit whoever grabbed you but you calmed when you noticed a girl with dark long hair and a water gun spraying Harry, his wounds healing in an instant. “the fuck?” you whispered, but you pushed the how away and hugged Harry tightly as he sat up, wincing as the girl got the back of his shoulder as well. “oh my gods-don’t you ever do that again!”
“call it payback fer Jay slicing yer back” Harry grunted, giving jay a sharp grin as he winced and rubbed the back of his head, muttering a small apology, Ben-BEN!(who was…very furry and had fangs?) hanging off his side, looking worried.
“Is he okay?” Ben asked, a slight lisp to his words, you turned back to Harry, who nodded, seeing his bite wound was gone, not even a scar. “thank the gods, actually-thank you Jane” jane, the girl with the water gun, nodded with a small smile, leaning into Carlos’ side as he hugged her.
“Ignoring furry Ben and magic water,” Gil suddenly said, grabbing your shoulder and making you stand “how in the hell did you do that? You can't even beat me in arm wrestling on a good day?” you furrowed your brows, wondering what he meant when he pointed at the decapitated lion and the other than you had pushed off of you(which was now crumbled to pieces thanks to Ben). you shrugged “adrenaline?” you questioned, not really knowing what you had done that was so miraculous, you had heard some people were able to access something akin to superhuman strength in times of need or desperation, yours was saving your boyfriend.
“I don’ think so” Harry muttered, pointing at your left inner wrist, where your leather bracelet was beginning to smoke. You yelped and ripped it off, seeing an indent in the inside of it, in the same shape as your tattoo-which was Hades’ symbol-one he made you get around 15 years old “so people know you’re under my protection” he had said.
Maybe he had given you much more than just protection.
“Fucking Hades” you grumbled, rubbing the tattoo-it was hot-like a lit ember. He really just had to do the most, didn’t he? Mal was going to be so fucking pissed.
Whatever-she should really direct at her dad though, it’s not like you chose him to give you so much attention. You didn’t mind it, but gods he was a weird one.
-
It took nearly an hour to get to Evie’s place-which-you had to admit was very nice. As you walked up the path to the patio/front doors(?), Mal and Uma threw open the doors, Mal bolting up to Ben as Uma met you and Harry halfway, eyes widening as she saw his torn shoulder. “what happened?!” Uma yelped, gingerly taking the ripped jacket fabric and folding it away from his skin, the fabric still stained with his blood-yet there was no injury to be seen.
“Audrey sent stone lions at us” you muttered, squeezing Harry’s free hand as he offered his hook to Uma, a small smile of comfort on his lips as Uma took it with her pinkie “one of ‘em went after Harry and got his shoulder bad-Jane” you nodded over to her, still holding the water-gun. “healed him with that magic water, so-no permanent damage”
Uma sighed in relief, waving her hand over Harry’s shoulder and fixing his clothes. Harry hummed with a smile, shaking his shoulder-happy to have his clothes back to normal and taking Uma in a hug-quietly asking her if she was okay. She nodded and patted his shoulder, then went to Gil to check him over.
You turned to Harry, smiling as he looked down at you, his thumb rubbing your exposed wrist after he took your arm. “you gonna tell her?” Harry asked quietly, meaning Uma-since you apparently had been fully claimed by Hades-her uncle. You shrugged “don’t really see a point to, might’ve been a one-time thing” you muttered back, leaning into his shoulder as everyone gathered up, Mal letting Ben/the group know about the clue they(Uma) found at Audrey’s dorm.
Harry led you over to Uma and Gil, Gil eating an orange that he somehow got. “we all think Audrey might be at Fairy cottage, any idea where that might be?” Mal asked, biting the inside of her lip as Ben nodded, crossing his arms as he glanced off to the side “yeah, Audrey took me there every fairy godmothers day…where is FG when you need her" he grumbled as an afterthought, everyone looking to Jane at that. She shrugged, suddenly looking crestfallen “I wish I knew” Jane mumbled, and then Carlos was at her side, a small red box in his hands-looking a bit flustered.
You turned away at that, letting them have their moment. Suddenly, it was decided that Jane and Doug would go out to look for FG, Uma stepped up to suggest they have some extra muscle, since-well-Doug wasn’t the best guard. Gil volunteered himself, and everyone announced they would feel better if he did go. Including Doug.
And soon enough, the three were off, leaving everyone else to plan for the fight/sneak attack on Audrey. Mal’s gaze caught on your inner left wrist as you passed by her to go inside, and she felt a small fire of jealousy ignite in her chest-but she ignored it for the moment, there were more important things going on than her daddy issues.
-
“so-you were just-stringing us all along??? And then what? then what Mal?? What were you going to do when we all realized-no more kids were coming off the isle? What was your plan??” Uma seethed at Mal, her eyes glowing with unparalleled anger. Mal stumbled with her words, stepping back as Uma stepped forward “were you just going to keep lying??? Keep dragging it on till you were backed into another corner?! What the absolute fuck mal!?!”
Uma threw her hands up, spinning on her heel and storming away from Mal, who looked worse than a deer caught in headlights. “I cannot believe I let myself trust you, that I let myself forgive you!? You never changed, you’re still that lying snide rotten no-good bitch!” Mal gasped for breath, shaking her head and trying to regain her footing but Uma just whirled around on her, getting in her face once more. “fuck you Mal. And here I thought I could be friends with you again, I thought Auradon did you good. All it did was put a wolf in sheep's clothing.” With that-Uma shoved Mal back, snapping her head towards the forest and storming off-you and Harry following behind her.
You stepped closer to Uma as you walked further into the forest-away from Mal-and grabbed her hand, squeezing it as she clutched it tightly, shaking in your grip. She was just-so angry-so angry she just wanted to stop and cry-she really couldn’t believe she let herself trust Mal again. Mal had done nothing but hurt her over and over again, and yet Uma let herself trust Mal again….only to be hurt-again.
Harry was just as angry, though his anger was quiet-and sad, his eyes downturned to the floor, his breath shaking and hook hanging limply from his fingertips-he had failed Uma-he promised to protect her and he failed, he let Mal hurt her…again.
As you crossed the threshold of Auroria castle courtyard-you heard Mal running up behind you, panting for breath and sounding heartbroken, an extinguished ember in her hands. “Uma!” Mal called out, her eyes and cheeks red and wet with tears “Uma-please-stop-please! We have a chance if we do this together!”
Uma stopped in her tracks, glaring into Mal’s red-rimmed eyes, uncaring for the sob fest Mal was offering “your friends kick you to the curb?” Mal just looked sad-her lip wobbling “good” Uma snapped, baring her teeth a little, and about to continue forward to find Gil, then get the hell outta Auradon after making a stop at the isle for the crew.
“Uma,” Mal started again, holding her hands up in near surrender “Ben-Ben saw something in you, and-and I finally saw it too; you-you care, about everyone! On the isle, your friends, hell even us four who-who practically left you all for dead three years ago” Uma frowned, trying to recall when she had cared about the four, but remembered the moments she protected them during the battle with the nights, and when she had helped Mal at the starter castle. “please-please help me, Auradon is worth saving, if not for me-then the kids that deserve to be here-I know I did a stupid thing and im sorry but” Mal sobbed, offering the ember that was black as coal-hoping Uma could help her reignite it. “please…”
Uma just stared, almost moved by her words-but-Harry, being done with Mal and her constant betrayals, took one look at Uma, and made a decision to not let Mal get the chance to hurt Uma again “you talk pretty” Harry snapped, glaring down at Mal, who suddenly realized he was also there “but-she’s already made up ‘er mind” Harry ended in a whisper, looking back down at Uma, not wanting to overstep her boundaries.
She looked back up at him, realized what he was doing, and nodded, looking back at Mal “you got yourself into this mess Mal, you get yourself outta it. Let’s go.” Uma patted Harry’s chest and grabbed your hand, the three of you moving around Mal and away from her.
Uma held her head up high as you entered the other side of the forest, taking the path you had taken from Evie’s place to hopefully find where Gil had gone. You all stopped at the sudden dragon roar that echoed through the forest and Uma turned on her heel, furrowing her brows as bright green fire and pink flashes of light illuminated the spaces between the trees.
Uma snarled to herself, turning again and kicking a tree, you and Harry jumping back to give her space as she cursed loudly “This is stupid, this is stupid-this is so fucking stupid!” Uma finally yelled out, turning and bolting back towards the castle, you and Harry close behind. “are we helping Mal all of a sudden?!” Harry yelped out, puffing as you chased after Uma. You shrugged, your feet nearly sliding out from under you as you came to a sudden stop-Audrey was on one of the spires of the castle, Mal flying around her attempting to do-something-you didn’t know what.
But you heard someone screaming out in fear and panic-and it sounded like “Celia!” Uma yelped, regaining her senses and bolting forward again, you and Harry once again at her heels “Mal doesn't stand a chance without the ember, and without the ember, Ceila’s gonna get hurt!” Uma hurriedly explained, running towards the battle between Audrey and Mal-Mal attempting to ignite the ember with her dragon fire-only for nothing to happen.
Audrey took Mal’s moment of confusion with the ember to strike her wing and chest-the ember flying out of her claw and sending Mal spiraling to the ground, a pained roar echoing across the courtyard. The ember hit the grass along with Mal-who whined and rubbed her scaley face into the dirt crater she had created with her crash.
Audrey cackled from her place upon the spires, pink lightning crashing into the sky, Celia screaming as she was held tight to Audrey’s side, the scepter nearly pressed to her face in a threatening motion.
“shit-where the ember go?!” Uma yelled, running up to Mal to assess the damage done by Audrey, while you and Harry turned to look for the dropped ember. You spotted a slight spark in the dark of the grass, bolting over and grabbing the dark ember; flipping the crystal in your fingers “got’cha” you muttered, wincing as you felt your wrist burn again, eyes widening as the ember begin to relight, your wrist tattoo glowing the same color. You sighed and shook your head, fucking Hades.
You turned, about to get the ember to Mal and Uma when a strike of lightning missed you by only a few inches, Harry and Uma calling your name in panic. You looked up, seeing Audrey looking right back down at her, eyes locked onto the sparking ember-her eyes lit with rage.
“oh, shit” you muttered, taking a leaping step back as she sent another bolt at you, clearly trying to stop you from reigniting the ember. Uma and Harry called your name again, and you turned, seeing Mal looking right at you-her dragon eyes wide with panic. You grunted as you were blasted off your feet, rolling into the hit and soon standing back up-looking down at the ember that was still sparking-waiting for you to put a little more juice into it.
You looked up, seeing smoke curling into the sky, still Audrey's magic; but not the same spell she had been using. Something told you; you couldn’t be able to dodge this one. You took a deep breath, clutching the ember in your hands and reeling your arm back, throwing it just as lightning came down from the sky, hitting you just as the ember left your fingers-glowing a bright blue as it ignited at the last second.
Harry let out a wail, bolting towards you-or well-were you used to be-now there only stood a statue-mid throw and face set into determination. “(Y/N)!!” Harry screamed-dropping his hook into the grass and cupping your face, tears polluted by his eyeliner streaming down his face.
Uma stared in shock, the ember sitting limply in her hands, Mal next to her staring in shock, her dragon eyes blinking rapidly-you-you had just sacrificed yourself…to-to save Auradon? Mal huffed quietly, jumping as the sky above darkened with clouds, rain suddenly falling upon them like sheets. Mal turned, eyes widening as Uma began to emit a glow from her body, her necklace echoing like a homing beacon.
The ember dropped to the grass and Mal quickly picked it up with her claws-watching in near horror as lightning and thunder coursed across the sky-Uma staring at Audrey with a stare that could kill a god. Audrey stared back, looking very frightened. “oh I fucked up” Audrey muttered, screaming as Uma suddenly appeared in front of her in a flash of lightning and punched her in the face, sending Audrey off the spire.
Harry looked up as thunder crashed in his ears, his hands on your shoulders as he stepped closer to you, hoping whatever Uma had tapped into wouldn’t hurt you. Celia was suddenly at his feet in a swirl of teal-looking dizzy and confused before she jumped up and hugged his waist, the two watching in near awe as Uma hit Audrey over and over again, flashes of lightning marking her sudden teleportation skills as Audrey was blasted back with a powerful tunnel of water. Audrey gagged, dropping the scepter and bending over, hugging her stomach after Uma hit her right in the gut.
“How-fuckin-dare-“ Audrey cursed, eyes widening as Uma came to a sudden stop, her eyes glowing gold as Mal rose up behind her, roaring as her wings spread wide-the ember glowing brightly in her hands. “Don’t you Auradon brats know?” Uma snarled, tilting her head down dangerously “villains never win.” In a bright flash of blue light-Audrey dropped to the floor, the scepter dim once more and the queen's crown rolling off of Audrey’s head, the princess cleansed of the evil magic.
Uma let out a shuddering sigh, turning and bolting over to Harry-the pirate still holding your stone form-Celia still clinging to him-letting him go in favor of Uma-who quickly took the girl in her arms and made sure she was okay before she slipped under Harry’s arms and held your face-sobbing at the cold feeling against her fingers “(y/n)” she whispered, rubbing her thumb against your cheek.
Uma’s lip wobbled, years in her eyes as she nearly collapsed; she had just gotten her boys back, and now one was a statue. Harry held her tight as her legs shook, pressing his cheek to the top of her head as she sobbed into her hands. They turned as Mal’s friends burst out of the tree line on the opposite side of the courtyard, Mal looking overjoyed to see them. “you’re okay!” Mal cried as she transformed back into a human, jumping into Evie’s arms. Evie let her have the hug, but still looked very upset with Mal.
Mal suddenly pulled back, her eyes wide “But-if you guys are okay-then why isn’t…” Mal turned, looking towards you, wondering why you were still stone. Uma frowned, overhearing Mal and turning to her “What? what do you mean?” Uma cried, and Mal bit her lip “They-Audrey turned them to stone” Mal gestured to her friends and fiancé “but-with her defeat and they turned back-so-why?” Mal gestured to the defeated Audrey, and then to you-still stone. “Why didn’t (y/n) turn back?”
Uma glanced between you and Mal, then pointed at the ember “use the fucking-dumb thing-undo it!” Mal swallowed, seeing Audrey was dead asleep-and she could sense the spells Audrey cast were turning against her-and Mal wasn’t sure the ember could reverse this-as far as she knew-it was just a power drainer. “i-I don’t think I can use it to do that” Mal whispered, bowing her head as Uma let out an enraged cry, Harry holding her tight, hiding his face in her hair, his shoulders shaking a bit.
Did-did they just lose you? Did they risk their fucking lives just to lose one of the loves of their lives??? In what way was that fair?! It was deadly quiet in the courtyard as Uma sobbed in Harry’s arms, the two grieving for their lost love-oh god-what would they tell Gil?
Mal realized-the relationship between the four pirates-were much more serious than she thought…idea! “Uma!” Mal suddenly yelped out, running over to her and sliding to a stop next to her “you three-you love (y/n), right?” Harry and Uma glanced at each other, then at (y/n), then they nodded “and you all love each other?” they nodded again, and Mal grinned, gesturing to (y/n)’s stone form “remember what you said earlier, to Evie?” Uma furrowed her brows, wondering what Mal meant “True loves kiss?” Mal encouraged, hoping that helping the pirates help get (y/n) back-would ease the guilt she felt (about multiple things) “works every time?”
Uma swallowed harshly, stepping away from Harry and towards (y/n)-biting the inside of her lip as Harry followed her. “you think that’ll work?” Uma asked quietly, not really talking to anyone. Mal nodded- stepping back and covering her mouth as Harry and Uma stepped closer to you. “yeah-I think you might need Gil though” Mal muttered, jumping as Uma waved her hand-Gil appearing in a swirl of teal.
He looked utterly confused; before a heartbroken expression spread across his face at the sight of you “What happened?” Gil cried, rushing to his lover’s side, reaching out to take your outstretched hand. Uma quietly muttered the events that had happened only minutes before and Gil slowly nodded, understanding what they had to do.
Mal turned with a glance from Harry, making her ‘friends’ do the same. With their backs turned, the three pirates each took a place close to you, Uma was on your front, her hands on your shoulders, Harry on your left, and Gil on your right. They all took a deep breath and leaned in, pressing their lips to your skin (Uma to your lips), all stepping back after a long moment, holding their breaths as they waited all too long to see if their kisses worked.
The tension fell from their bodies as the stone began to crack and crumble away from your body, your chest rising with a deep breath as your upper body was freed from your stone prison. “That was fucking terrifying” you muttered, collapsing into your beloved’s arms, wrapping your arms around Harry’s waist as Uma buried her face in your neck, soaking your jacket with her fresh tears of relief.
You hummed, feeling Gil wrapping his arms around you, Uma, and Harry, squeezing the three of you tightly and comfortably “Thank the gods that worked” Gil muttered, making the others nod in agreement. You pulled away slightly, pecking Harry’s lips, then Uma’s, then Gil’s, bringing them all back in for another hug “I love you” you whispered, and they all whispered it back.
-
It was decided that Hades would be brought over to Auradon to hopefully save Audrey from her rebounded spells; and Uma, Harry, you, Gil, and Celia; would return to the isle as well-to protect the kids still there. in the meantime-Ben had a few rooms set up for you four-but you all clambered up in one room anyway-not caring for how scandalized FG looked at the idea of four people dating at one time-but she quickly got over it-spelling the bed into one that could fit you all.
Hours later-after Uma, Harry, and Gil had settled-you couldn’t sleep, wandering about the halls of Beast castle-trailing your hands upon the claw marks Ben had set into the walls. You ended up in the library, sitting on one of the window seats, a book resting in your hands, the pages flipping idly by once in a while as you read.
You heard someone walk up about an hour into your reading, you glanced up-seeing Mal in her pajamas, looking like she had seen a ghost. She was probably still reeling from the fact that everyone turned against her after she revealed her lies-and from the fact she had been the deciding factor in Audrey’s turn to evil. You hummed as she stepped closer, flipping the page of your book as you finished the page. She climbed up onto the window seat with you, sitting cross-legged across from you, staring at you while you continued to read.
You glanced up after a few minutes, seeing her just-still staring at you, her hand clenched around the glowing ember. “yes?” you muttered, closing the book and setting it aside, leaning back against the window seat wall. Mal huffed, curling gin on herself, hugging her legs as her eyes went down to the ember “why did he choose you?” Mal asked quietly, her nose scrunching slightly-finally airing out the question that had been bugging her for so many years now-the reason she had been so mean to you.
You sighed, letting your head hit the wall behind you “he-he who? I hate the pronoun game Mal.” Mal rolled her eyes, tossing the ember at you, you easily caught it, spinning it between your fingers “Hades. My dad. Why did he choose you? Why did you get him? why did you get my dad when I was left with my crazy mother” Mal hissed, pouting as you let out a low sigh, rubbing the bridge of your nose.
“look-Mal” you leaned towards her, resting your elbows on your knees “I don’t know. And frankly-I don’t care. but-“ Mal was about to yell, you could tell, so you quickly held your hand up-stopping her from doing so “-I do understand why you care-and I agree, it’s not fair to you. You’re his kid, his biological kid, and yet he didn’t claim you. It has to sting, I get that, my actual parents shunned me for being trans-“ Mal frowned, remembering the day your biological “mother” chased you down the market street-cursing your dead name to the heavens about how you were such a disappointment, and how god would never forgive you.
Your father had disowned you the same day, throwing all your stuff out of your house. It had been the same week you had become a grave digger. But you didn’t care about that now-you had a better family, your pirates-your….boss/father figure that was actually Mal’s dead-beat dad. “-so believe me-I do get not being wanted by your parents.” You reached out, taking Mal’s hand.
A tear streaked down her cheek, her face crumpling and she sniffed “its-just…he found someone worth changing for…but I just wish it was me” Mal sobbed, her father-her father who abandoned her when she was a baby, not even old enough to remember him ever holding her-had easily taken in a child that wasn’t his own-becoming a father of someone not his blood.
Honestly-she was proud of that change-she-she just wanted to be the reason he did. You hummed at her words, tilting your head slightly, encouraging her to continue. Mal sniffed again, tears streaming down her face “because if he changed for you, it means-it means-I wasn’t worthy enough for him to change.” You let out a long sigh, gripping Mal’s hand tightly.
“He’s an asshole Mal, it’s not hard to admit” Mal snorted, wiping away her tears with her free hand, yet they still kept coming “he’s an asshole who ignored his kid for some random one who couldn’t care less about him-you did deserve to have a proper parent, everyone does. So fuck him. I don’t know why he chose me-and I don’t care-but blame him for that shit-that was all his choice-“ you leaned towards her, tipping up her chin and giving her a small grin “but don’t blame me for his choices, don’t blame me for his assholery-you don’t wanna be judged by your parents right?”
Mal suddenly flushed, realizing how much of a hypocrite she had been “Then don’t do the same for me, okay?” Mal let out a long shaking sigh, nodding and wiping her tears, letting out a whimpered apology to you-a true heartfelt apology “I’m so-so sorry (y/n)” Mal whispered, her shoulders slumping. “I shouldn’t have treated you the way I have these last years-just because of my dad being a butt” you snorted “i-I’m so sorry.”
You smiled, taking her hand again “Apology accepted.” Mal sated at you, her eyes filling with years again “Now if you can give that kinda apology to your friends, and make up for your choice-I’m sure they’ll accept your apology too” Mal rolled her eyes, sliding off the window seat and starting to walk away “Mallll”
“I will-I promise. Thank you (y/n), goodnight….and I’ve changed my mind on the barrier thing” Mal muttered as a final word as she walked away, making you grin-flipping the ember in your fingers, your eyes flashing yellow with the gift of hades.
-
“She actually apologized to you? Mal??” Uma asked as she looked up at you from your lap, Harry’s head tucked into your shoulder as Gil lay across his chest. It had only been a few hours since the four of you returned to the isle-Hades probably being transported back to the isle by now-hopefully after successfully waking Audrey. But the four of you had settled into Uma’s cabin upon your return-finally able to enjoy each other's company.
You nodded with a hum, curling a strand of Uma’s braided hair around your fingers, shrugging as Harry let out a scoff “she did-actually admitted why she hated me n stuff” you muttered, dropping your hand into Harry’s that rested on your stomach “Girls got a lotta parental issues-it’s a wonder she hasn’t gone to therapy yet.”
Harry let out a loud snort, shaking his head as he got comfortable in your side, Gil rearranging himself to do the same. “The day she goes to therapy, is the day I’ll give Jay a hug” Harry joked-giggling as you wrapped your arm around his neck and pulled him up to kiss the top of his head. he easily turned that into a full kiss-soon turning heated as he pulled himself up and wrapped his arms around you, his tongue poking at your bottom lip.
You chuckled into his mouth, letting him explore your mouth as Uma’s warm hands drifted under your shirt, her thumb caressing the scars across your chest. “Getting frisky are we?” you purred as Harry pulled away, his soft lips trailing down your scruffy jaw, his hands cupping the back of your head.
Gil laughed as he sat up from Harry’s torso-moving to sit on your other side and taking off his shirt “honestly-you got turned to stone a few days ago-I think we all need a bit of tlc” you let out a laugh, soon interrupted by Uma’s lips as Harry’s attached to your neck, his hands trailing down to your waist, sliding under your boxers.
You hummed into Uma’s mouth as Harry’s fingers trailed over the sensitive nerve that was soaked with your slick-his fingers eventually venturing inside you-pressing against your g-spot. You moaned into Uma’s mouth, rocking your hips into Harry’s fingers, Harry’s still-clothed cock rocking up against your thigh. Gil watched the show with excited eyes, his hand resting on his thigh as the other trailed up Uma’s arm as she continued to lavish you with kisses.
“you wanna fuck or be fucked (y/n)” Gil asked, drawing his hand Under Uma’s Shirt, undoing her bra. You hummed at the question, licking your lips as Harry’s palm rubbed against your nerve. You smirked, turning to Harry, grabbing his chin-forcing him to look up at you, his eyes dilated and half-lidded-his cheeks bright red “fuck me my pretty pirate” you purred, chuckling as he leaned up and kissed you heavily, Uma leaning back to enjoy the show, taking off her shirt as Gil rubbed her back-her clothes joining Gil’s on the floor.
“kiss me sunshine boy” Uma purred, giggling as Gil took her face and kissed her, Harry climbing on top of you as Uma was moved to Gil’s lap. You watched Gil lavish Uma with his lips, Harry taking your pants and sliding them own-allowing you to sit up and take off your jacket and shirt. You kissed Harry as he popped back up, smirking as he moaned, his nimble fingers curling around your wrists, thumb rubbing your exposed tattoo.
“Love ya bug” you whispered to Harry as he pulled away, his lips swollen, he smiled at you and kissed you again, echoing your words back as your arms wrapped around his waist.
“love ya too (y/n)”
-end-
Sorry for not doing full smut!!! Not really in a mood for that heh. But daaaaaaaaaaang this took me WAY too long to write T_T I think I got this commission way back in September-and now its nearly Christmas-legit less than a week away-but-! Hey! I got it done before the new year!!! But yeah-this will be the last of my harry fics for now-unless I get very inspired. My commissions aren’t closed tho-so-don’t be afraid to ask-I just will limit what I write about if it’s about Harry(aka no d3-that was what fucked me over on this fic)
But anyways-thank you @random-thoughts-004 for being so patient while I wrote this!!!
permtaglist!
@queer-cosette @sephiralorange @lunanight2012
@daughter-of-the-stars11 @musicarose @rintheemolion
@anythingbutmar @dai-tsukki-desu @imtryingthisout @remembered-license @thecaptainsgingersnap @thetrueghostqueen @littlewierdalien
#disney descendants#harry hook descendants#harry hook x reader#trans masc reader#poly sea three#uma x reader#Gil x reader#uma x harry hook#gil x harry#gil x uma x harry#smut involved#not full#but smut
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TimeBomb ⏳️💣✨️ Tangled AU headcanons again because why not---
May or may not include repeated hcs bc i domt read them after theyre posted lololol---
Ekko HCs
Instead of his nose, piltover enforcers kept getting Ekko's face mark wrong on his wanted posters (they either put apple, unicorn, heart, or a d*ck on his face-)
Ladies Man: Every girl and young woman who happens to come across his posters or who have heard of him have been fawning over him; they have this notion that if they leave a science book or a trinket on their window at night, he'll come visit and sweep them off their feet...of course that doesn't happen and there's only a 50% chance he'll pick it up or not (probs bc he already stole a copy of that book or that the trinket doesn't interest him).
He's the big brother (along with Scar) of their community called "Firelights" where most refugees reside. He gets along with kids a lot and invite him to play Tag with them when he's not busy. (Bonus: he babysits Scar's baby when he's away)
Short Lore: Ekko was orphaned at a very young age and was left to fend for himself as a pick pocket along with other kids. By the time he was old enough to pick up a book, Benzo adopted him and made him as his apprentice at the age of 9. It all ended when Enforcers and Chembarons terrorized Zaun due to Shimmer. Scar eventually found him and became his big brother. Rest is history of them building a sanctuary for people in need.
Ekko is pretty much a book worm. Unlike kids his age when he was young, he would steal more books than money resulting Scar sharing his rations to feed him. He's reckless, but eventually learned how to survive.
Kids in the Firelight sanctuary are inspired and are as curious as Ekko is in the field of science and mathematics. Parents encourage them to hang out with their big brother in hopes they can be educated just like him
His parents did want him to attend piltover academy for a brighter future, but unfortunately the war happened :')
Because of the unfortunate events happening in his life, he starts to fantasize about building a time machine to see his family again. Jayce's hexgem only amplified his ambitions of building his impossible project.
Another one of his ambitions is to make a better place for people to live in...and others in Zaun have mocked him for it (apart for the firelights, they look up to him)
Scar kept telling him to find a partner because he's gonna grow old and lonely if he doesnt. Ekko ofc ignores this and thinks he doesnt need it when he's got his books.
Ekko is also responsible for adding flora in their community. His mom once owned a tiny garden she used to tend to. Ekko plants his mother's favorite flowers to honor both his parents. It was fairly easy to grow them since natural light shines in the community.
Jinx HCs
Silco bought a casual outfit and two dresses from piltover for Jinx, but she only wears one dress and out grew her casual outfit. She saves the other dress for when she leaves the tower (for good).
She altered her dress to fit her tastes; piltover fashion is bonkers she says.
He also brings her self-care products especially for her hair, but never buys her hair accessories...says its too tacky for her (and it reminds him too much of her mother lmao)
Jinx doesn't allow anyone to come near her (especially her hair) upon Silco's orders unless told otherwise. It's usually him or Sevika who brushes her hair.
When Silco is busy, he sends Sevika instead to tend to Jinx (much to each other's dismay). She doesn't like how rough Sevika is brushing her hair (though she's still careful because she gets paid)
The tower usually gets cold in the winter and people sometimes forget to send wood for her fireplace, so wraps up herself in her hair and several blankets so she wouldn't freeze. She's used to it and doesn't mention it to Silco despite him saying she can call to him whenever she needs something
One could guess that not heating up her tower in the winter is probably an experiment conducted by Singed indirectly to see if she can endure bitter cold all while Silco allows it and doesn't tell his daughter. It's one of the cruel ways to test her mutation.
Another way of testing her is having her live in a dark place; the tower is located within the dark forest where no light can reach it. Jinx's eyes became more adjusted in the dark that she can read three books with a small candle light or a neon light stick that barely illuminates the whole room.
Unbeknownst to them, her brilliant mind comes up with several ways to live (or survive) in the tower with what minimal tools she has.
Yes, she has a crossbow but prefers to use her custom-made pistol
Of course, she has nightmares: it often involves the voices in pain she has heard echoing below when there's "shimmer business" going on. Sometimes it about being abandoned by her father and being lied to. She gets the feeling that someone out there is finding her, but they have long abandoned her.
Her pet crow is mischievious as well as its smart; it often brings her materials she needed for her projects Silco asked her to do. It sometimes bring her trinkets she find cute and fascinating
She read about bugs that glow called "firelights" and wishes to see them herself. Shes fascinated that such creatures can glow and float around naturally (unlike the neon lights she sees workers use. She likes them, but she wanted to see what natural light is)
General HCs
When Ekko met Jinx in her tower while hiding, he thought he saw a ghost bc of her long hair and pale skin (and wearing white modest undergarments at that time-- she knocked him out before he can see full view lol)
Jinx was unconsciously transparent about being naive about the world and only knows a portion of it. Ekko couldn't bring himself to leave her in that tower alone now that she's old enough to explore the world.
The Deal: Jinx keeps the stone hidden until Ekko takes her outside and see firelights or whatever she wants. If he fails to do so, she'll tell on him and she gets to use the hexgem to power her weapon and destroy whatever her father tells her to.
After their deal, Ekko took Jinx to a local bar called "The Last Drop" in Zaun. It wasn't the same place he remembered, but he hopes they still serve the same menu there. The problem is Jinx recognized some of the men there who work for Silco lol
Ekko is weirded out by Jinx's hair length, but soon comes to appreciate it. When asked why she cant cut, she'll only answer her father doesn't want to
He thinks her hair color became even brighter when she was outside-- not to mention she's even more radiant than before :3
When Jinx was washing her hands, her sleeves were rolled up exposing syringe marks on her skin. Ekko gently asked Jinx about and she answered "father and this doctor wanted to keep my health in check" despite being fairly healthy. He's sensing something is very wrong
On their way to the Firelight sanctuary, Jinx marveled at the flowers and the light emitting from the sky above them. Ekko enjoys the smile on her face, even letting her pick flowers she likes as long as she doesnt destroy his work 🥲
Both of them got along pretty well seeing that they enjoy reading and tinkering (Scar even teased Ekko for bringing in a lady friend over)
Ekko presented Jinx the option to stay with him if she wants, seeing that she was much more happier here than being trapped in her tower for so long...maybe one day she'll consider breaking out of her own prison.
Been a while since I wrote something here. Had some personal life problems that hinder me from creating something + my works aren't as engaging as before (grateful to those who still appreciate them tho 💖)
Also dedicati g this to @starry-nights12 bc they've been feeding me so much TB content for the past few weeks now TvT 💖✨️
#ekkojinx#arcane#timebomb#jinxarcane#ekko league of legends#league of legends#ekko x jinx#ekko arcane#tangled au#tangled#jinx as rapunzel#ekko as flynn rider#jinx x ekko
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Well, can we talk about Russian translation of the warrior names? It's gonna be a long post bc it's very different from the original and might be really weird.
So there is no translation for -kit suffix. Instead kittens have diminutive suffixes and their names are something like Little Snow (Snowkit).
Apprentice names may have -paw suffix, or may not. They also may have diminutive suffixes instead. For example, Bluepaw is Bluepaw, but Firepaw is Little Fire.
Also warrior name and apprentice name not always keep the same prefix. For example, Brackenpaw is Bracken, but Brackenfur is... Brown.
Most of the warrior names are translated without their suffixes. Sometimes they add suffixes that don't have any specific meaning and can't be translated on English (I guess?). Sometimes it's just straight up the translation of their prefixes only. I mean, Squirrelflight is simply Squirrel, Brambleclaw is Bramble, Dovewing is Dove, etc.
Often they change their prefixes for who knows why. So the translated names might have from little to no connection to the original ones. For example:
- Crowfeather is Rook
- Jayfeather is Sparrow
- Feathertail is Swallow
- Sorreltail is Lungwort
- Ivypool is Spark (I have no idea why)
- Meanwhile Sparkpelt is Firelight
In first arc name translation was really... weird. I mean:
- Ravenpaw is Burnt (why???)
- Dustpelt is Smoke
(kinda funny if you consider that they are brothers)
- Sandstorm is Sandstorm but her apprentice name was... Mustard. Yes, like the sauce (it's actually a plant with the same name)
- Graystripe is Steepflank (btw his apprentice name was ughhh... Ball)
- Darkstripe is Stakewall (do cats even know what is it?)
- Yellowfang is something like Pockmarked??? I don't really know how to correctly translate it, sorry
- Whitestorm is Blizzard
- Mousefur is Tuft (like, bunch of fur on cat ears or tail)
- Frostfur is Snow White (yes, like a Disney princess)
- Willowpelt is Blueeye
- Brindleface is Silver Fox
- Rosetail and Brightflower were firstly named as Viburnum and Nasturtium but then they changed it
- Mistyfoot is Invisible (actually, there is a noun in Russian that doesn't exist in English, and it means someone who is invisible)
- Leopardfur was Ocelot, but as leader she becomes Spotted Star (how boring)
Btw leader names almost always stay the same, so there are a few exceptions:
- Tallstar is Star Beam
- Raggedstar is Shred of Comet
- Crookedstar is Meteor
(yes, these two don't have "star" in their names)
- Tigerstar and Brokenstar are something like Starscratcher and Starbreaker (wow, evil)
- btw Tigerclaw is just Claw. No tiger.
Also -heart is often changed to -mane for some reason. For example, Fireheart is Firemane, Alderheart is Aldermane, Cinderheart is Cindermane. Tigerheart is Clawmane, if it even makes sense (his leader name is Clawstar, so no confusion between two Tigerstars).
And sometimes characters just keep the same name. For example, Ashfur as an apprentice and a warrior is Coal (or more like Little Coal, which is why nobody takes him seriously /hj)
.
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A Found Flame {Pt.10}
Pairing: Mentor!Gale Dekarios x Apprentice!GN!Reader
(Previous Chapter) - (Next Chapter) ➔ (AO3)
Word Count: 2k
His hand squeezes shut, fingers curling into a firm fist, his eyes following the grooves of the large veins that trail beneath his skin. His elbow rests on his knee, and he finds it mildly surprising that his hand bears no trembles. He relaxes, and the veins fade into obscurity, easing beneath his skin. Again, he tenses, and before long, they appear again.
“Numb?” A man hums, and Gale looks up from the fallen log he sits on, immediately giving up his studies and shifting into a more normal position, his hands folded in front of him as he sits up, looking at the white-haired elf standing before him.
“Pardon?”
“You looked as though you expected it to fall off. Or perhaps sprout into a tentacle. I only ask because I figure I’d rather hear about any transformations before they take place and we’re forced to slaughter you,” he sighs, and then motions towards Gale’s hand. “So?”
“Fortunately, it would take approximately seven days for ceremorphosis to fully set in, so any unwanted evolutions are a few horizons away. Alas, I’m hardly comforted at our lack of immediate help, but…” Gale scoots back on the log, and then slightly to the left, in case Astarion had any intentions of sitting down, but he doesn’t seem to. “Still perfectly human.”
“Oh, how… pleasant. Though I’d argue the validity of a title such as ‘perfect’, I’ll save you the insult,” Astarion teases, and Gale puts up an awkward smile, not entirely sure how to take it in any way other than personally. “I’ll keep watch tonight. Decided I should let you know so you don’t risk stressing yourself out by staying up past your bedtime,” he chuckles.
“That’s awfully altruistic of you. Much appreciated.”
“But of course – I’m nothing if not altruistic.” Astarion dips his head and wanders back over towards one of three bedrolls – two that they had scavenged, and one that Gale had conjured up – that he takes a seat on, warming his pale hands by the fire. Shadowheart rests on the opposite side, already attempting her hand at rest, which given the chaos of the day, Gale was sure would come easy to her.
He wasn’t sure he’d be so lucky. Beyond the sudden shift of going from a bed that felt as if it was made to host royalty itself to the thin cloth of a bedroll on dirt, he found his thoughts far too active to make any attempt to quiet them. What a day it had been, indeed.
He should’ve been in the company of a good book and the warm firelight of a room at a tavern. Curled up in a mildly comfortable bed, at least with a blanket over him, pillows beneath his head. Alas, he was instead in the company of two complete strangers, an illithid tadpole, and the stars.
At least the stars were pleasant.
Not to say the more lively company was unwanted; it had been quite a while since he’d truly engaged with people for more than just trade barters, and he’d gotten too comfortable with Tara and his apprentice. It was strange to suddenly be thrust into completely unfamiliar territory and reminded of such distant memories of socialization. In his defense, his traveling partners were also rather… strange.
He was owed no right to their secrets, but even so, they were quite reserved. Shadowheart was quiet, but seemed a good decision maker, and plenty helpful between her original act of rescuing him, and patching him up both from the wound he’d inflicted on himself and patching both he and Astarion up after a run-in with quadrupedal brains with an intense thirst for violence. She clearly held back, though he’d gotten a glimpse of a slightly more talkative side of her whenever she’d made one or two quick, sarcastic quips targeted at the two men.
Astarion was impossible to get a read on. He seemed entirely focused on his own survival, more akin to an unwilling child being dragged along with the two of them than a willing fellow adventurer. He also had an air of self-importance about him, and was far from afraid of hurting their feelings, as he loudly and confidently called out any of their mistakes, ensuring his opinion was understood by all. With what little Gale could collect from him, he saw a bit of himself in the elf – Gale found himself with a quiet doubt following each of Astarion’s words. If his own experiences had taught him anything, Gale figured the deflective, imposing nature of each of his comments was something of a defense mechanism.
Or he could’ve been a snobby royal. Truly, Gale couldn’t figure that one out, and he understood asking such a forthright question would earn him nothing but a snarky, sarcastic remark of disbelief from Astarion, and even if he was a snobby royal, he’d likely never be granted any sort of confirmation.
And Gale had bigger things to worry about.
After tonight, he’d have six days. He’d start experiencing the symptoms tomorrow, should his studies prove true. But the symptoms weren’t his worst concern.
However much he believed his comrades were keeping secrets from him, he knew he was no better. He had been entirely silent about the orb, and strangely enough, it too had been silent. Even when he’d cast spells he hadn’t cast in years past, when he channeled and called upon the weave, it granted him no reaction. Not a single beat, not a sudden spike in appetite, not an angry bellowing of disagreement, or the pain that he’d grown so accustomed to feeling each time he cast a spell.
It was still. Gale believed it the status of a predator, lying in wait for an unsuspecting victim, still and silent enough to blend in perfectly with the surroundings, near invisible to the unquestioning eyes of its prey.
The tadpole, on the other hand, had been quite active. Writhing and twisting everytime it feared Gale may forget his new occupant, though it was an impossible feat to say the least. He knew precisely what would happen if they failed to find a cure. His skin would not be the only thing to burst upon an unwarranted evolution – the orb would likely detonate along with the rest of his body, and he suspected even a tentacled face would not manage to survive such a blast.
Neither would his surroundings. His companions may have been strangers at best, but he still wished them no harm, and they would not be the only ones to feel the orb’s wrath. Whatever communities they might stumble upon would quickly be wiped out, and innocent lives along with them.
How long would it take for his only two friends to realize he was not returning to them? How long would it take for them to understand and accept that he was gone?
He’d promised them. Promised them he wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. Sworn to them that he would not die without a fair and certain farewell. Even if he did find someplace to die where it would not hurt those around him, he would never die satisfied. Not even in eternal rest would he find any semblance of peace.
He has not yet said goodbye. And so he cannot die.
What a strange feeling, to yearn for survival. How unfamiliar it had grown for him. No more than two days ago, he’d been satisfied to embark north and accept death’s cold embrace. Just this morning he had attempted to plunge a dagger into the orb, albeit he’d hardly been pleased at the situation.
But tonight, he had made a promise, and he had every intention to keep it. He had an obligation to keep it.
And the orb was so dreadfully silent. He’d never known it to sleep before. Even if it was merely feigning absence, it was foreign to him. Without the insistent reminders, he felt himself again. For the first time in nearly two years, he felt like Gale Dekarios. He felt like Mystra’s chosen. He felt like his mother’s son.
But he’d become the host for another insatiable, and rather annoying, to-be beast, which at this very moment was happy to squirm behind his eye, instilling an immediate reminder of his circumstance.
What he’d give for a shot at normalcy again. For one more chance. A chance to obey. A chance to be satisfied with everything he’d been granted. A chance to maintain his sense of self. A chance to see his mother again without the guilt of his actions. A chance to be loved by Mystra, however restrained it might have felt.
Gods, if he only knew what restraint truly was back then. He’d always yearned for so much more – never believing her fleeting affections to be enough. At least he’d had some of her affections. Now, he found himself completely lacking (and missing) such generous displays.
He wonders whether he’d been satisfied if he understood what the possibilities were. If he’d known back then the true flavor of failure, the abyss of loneliness, the all-consuming blight of regret – had he settled for the love he had? Had he settled for the limits of his power, the limits of Mystra’s time, the limits of her saccharine intrigue?
He could have been the Great Gale of Waterdeep. He could’ve been Mystra’s chosen. Why that wasn’t enough, he hardly understands. In comparison to the shell he is now, he had perfection. He had everything he should’ve wanted.
If he’d succeeded – if he’d acquired, safely, this fragment of the far reaches of the weave, if he had knelt before her and presented it as a gift of the finest quality, if he had handed her the final piece of her puzzle, would she complete him in return? Would she affirm him as her best? Would she grant him a few extra moments of her time? A few extra glimpses of her love?
Or would she withdraw? Claim his gift, claim him, and return to the weave?
Perhaps, in learning so much from her, so too did her ambition find its way into his motivations. Never before had he felt he truly satisfied her. Her praise was no less shallow than a puddle, and certainly no deeper. Any satisfaction he did manage to bestow upon her was entirely fleeting.
At least she’d been convincing in his younger years. Her approval so graciously hummed into his ear at every successful spell, seeming to him as if he’d truly managed to impress his goddess. But her smiles seemed less earnest in time. He’d believed earning her love and lust was sure to be followed by only brighter horizons, yet her eyes seemed only to dim, her words grew just harsh enough to instill anxiety, fearful that he might risk her disapproval.
To fail his goddess was to fail his talent. To think, he feared losing her so terribly that he managed to drive her further away than he ever could’ve imagined possible.
Gale curls his hand into a fist once more, watching his veins contract. He is a mere mortal. To ever believe he would be more than a muse for the embodiment of his faith was unreasonable. For all the compliments targeted at his ambition, he found it no more than a haunting flaw. To manage ambition after one is stripped of potential is no trait to be envied, much rather one to be ashamed of.
He relaxes, and stands, making his way over to the campfire and kneeling on the thin hide of his bedroll, watching the flames for a few seconds before lowering himself further, eventually coming to rest on his side. His eyes close, and he decides to lend sleep an opportunity.
At least temporary peace is still, most assuredly, peace.
And some is better than none.
#baldurs gate 3 fanfiction#gale baldurs gate 3#baldurs gate 3#baldur's gate 3#gale x reader#gale of waterdeep#bg3 gale#gale bg3#gale dekarios#astarion
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Hi @quorou! I'm a little later in posting this than I would've liked to, but here's the rest of the gift exchange from Discord. It may have been a little longer than I expected. Hope you enjoy it :)
(Fanfic under the cut — 1,377 words, contains some light Vio/Red)
You'll Be Brilliant
Books. Old books, forgotten books, abandoned books. They had been Vio’s treasures for as long as he could remember. They had taught him everything he knew of magic, from how to sprout a seed to how to summon rainfalls during summer droughts. The little chest in the back of Town Hall Library had taught him everything his home could need.
Then, one winter night at the end of the year, the mayor had invited his family to share in their Midwinter Feast. There weren’t large gaps between the social layers of their town, but Vio’s mother had been honoured nonetheless, and Vio and his younger twin-brothers were told to dress up nicely and behave themselves. After all, the mayor had a lovely daughter, and maybe one of them could make a good impression. (Vio desperately hoped it wouldn’t be him.)
Wrapped in their nicest capes they trudged through the snow, carefully avoiding the muddy puddles where carts had passed along the road.
Vio still remembered his mother’s hair before him, carefully braided and pinned in a rose at the nape of her neck, with dried flowers woven into it. He had whispered a spell under his breath as they walked, and the flowers had brightened and grown into a midwinter crown of holly and rosehips.
At the mayor’s they had been kindly greeted and invited into the sitting room, but there were no lovely daughters there. Instead, a tall bearded man, narrow and ageing, warmed his hands on the fireplace. Fine embroideries, brushed furs, velvet, and polished leather caught the firelight, and when he turned towards them, piercing blue eyes landed on Vio’s mother’s midwinter crown.
“A fine spell,” he acknowledged. “This is your work?”
Vio’s mother curtsied. “My oldest son’s, sir.”
The piercing eyes shifted to Vio, who straightened and inclined his head.
“Come here, boy.”
Vio approached.
The man caught Vio’s chin and turned his face this way and that, examining it in the light. Unreadable, he let go and turned to Vio’s hands.
Vio had never been embarrassed by the callouses — indeed, had been proud to show that he had worked hard to take care of his mother and brothers — but under this man’s gaze he wished he could withdraw his hands and hide them.
Finally, the man said, “You have potential,” and turned to the mayor and Vio’s mother. “I will take him.”
Vio’s mother curtsied deeply, while the mayor bowed. “Thank you, sir. I am certain he will make you as proud as he has made us.”
The man didn’t look at Vio. “That remains to be seen.” He stepped away from the fireplace, and Vio hid his hands in his sleeves. “Red! We are departing.”
Footsteps sounded from the kitchen, and a dark-eyed golden-haired boy, likely a year or so younger than Vio, in a red waistcoat, dark trousers, and polished leather boots, emerged carrying a bundle of sweet pastries. “Ready!” The boy grinned.
The man shook his head, though his gaze softened. “Leave some for the good folk, Red.”
“But they said I could have it!”
The man raised an eyebrow.
“Fine.” Red handed the bundle to one of Vio’s brothers, keeping two pastries only. “They taste amazing. Enjoy them.”
Vio’s brother blinked.
Then Red was at the man’s side. “So?”
“If he has the aptitude for more refined spells is yet to be seen.” The man inclined his head towards the mayor and Vio’s mother, then headed for the door.
Red offered Vio a grin and one of the remaining pastries. “He’s always like that. I’m sure you’ll be brilliant. What’s your name?”
Red, Vio soon learned, had a talent. Where Vio spent long nights memorising words and phrases of power, and poring over ancient tomes in the Royal Library, Red’s magic was instinctual. In all the years Vio spent as an apprentice to the Royal Mage of Hyrule, he never saw Red read a single book on magic theory or spellwork.
Where Vio struggled, Red breezed through. And by all that was holy, Vio envied him. Not that Red made a point of his talents — not at all. Red was sweet, kind, and full of joy. He helped Vio when he could, spent his afternoons working with herbists and helping out in the infirmary, and experimented with new and convoluted spells that, to him, came as easy as breathing.
Which was why it came as a shock to Vio when Red decided to leave.
Vio stared at him across the dining table, his turkey slices and pudding forgotten.
The Royal Mage put his silverware down and folded his hands. “I cannot say I’m surprised.”
“Really?” Red laughed.
“You are a brilliant mage, but you never took to your training as much as I hoped.”
“I just find it a little tedious.”
“So I gather.” The Royal Mage’s eyes twinkled. “Well.” He picked his silverware back up. “Where will you go?”
“I want to see the world. I’ve saved up enough money to keep me comfortable for a year or so — or maybe start a business somewhere. I know a lot about herbs and healing, but I would like to know more.” Red smiled. “I would like to help people.”
When it was polite to do so, Vio excused himself. For ten years, Red had been a fixture in his life. It had seemed inevitable that Red would become the next Royal Mage, and that Vio would become his assistant. Indeed, if anyone left, it would have been Vio.
He had fantasised about it occasionally: about returning home to his mother and brothers; about settling back into small-town life; about meeting a clever merchant or traveller his own age, who wouldn’t be opposed to settling down.
Of course he had always known it was a fantasy. Going back would be admitting defeat — to himself, to his mother, to his brothers, and to his home. He would not disappoint them.
Still, that tantalising fantasy had made staying feel like a choice — like he could get up and leave anytime, but chose to stay. Chose to learn. Chose to practice. The castle floors felt cold and unfamiliar under his feet, as if he had never truly noticed them until now. The halls felt vast, dark, and frightening. Now, he had no choice.
He hurried through the cold and the dark, up the spiralling staircases to the East Spire, and murmured quiet words to escape the notice of guards and servants until he could close the heavy wooden door behind himself and collapse onto his bed.
Some time later a knock on the door disturbed his darkness. Softly the door opened and closed. Footsteps approached the bed. The magic that always seemed naturally attracted to Red — that gathered around him like a warm glow — illuminated his face and his hair, and flickered in his eyes.
“Hi.” Red sat next to him.
“Hi.” Vio’s voice cracked.
“Were you sleeping?”
“No.”
Red nodded. The magic around him brightened, creating a bubble of light around the bed. He looked down and fiddled with the edge of the covers. “Remember what I told you that first day when we picked you up?”
“That I’ll be brilliant.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m nothing compared to you.”
“That’s not true,” Red admonished. “You’ll be the next Royal Mage and you know it.”
“It’s not like I have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“Not now. He won’t have time to train someone else.”
“So you don’t want to become the Royal Mage?”
Vio pinched his lips together in a thin line.
“Vio.” Red shuffled closer and leaned over him. Even when Red wasn’t smiling, the crinkles around his eyes and the dimples in his cheeks were never far from the surface.
Vio looked away.
Red blew a stream of warm tickling air directly into his ear.
“Hey!” Vio shoved him off and sat up, rubbing his ear.
Red was laughing.
“Rude.”
“Are you done being miserable?”
“I’m not miserable.”
“Sure.”
Vio sighed. “Fine. Yes. I do want to become the Royal Mage. I just don’t know if I’m good enough.”
“You’re everything a future Royal Mage would want to be, and more.” Red took his hands and smiled. “You’ll be brilliant.” Softly, he kissed Vio’s palms.
#four swords#fsa manga#red link#vio link#red/vio#red link x vio link#red link/vio link#fantasy au#bittersweet ending? maybe?#happy holidays!! :D
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this is firelight!! midnight's twin brother, heath's apprentice, and vesta/nyx's son. i went and brought back a few elements of his old design for this new look
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✨🦋 COVER REVEAL 🦋✨
I'm delighted to finally share the cover of my upcoming MG graphic novel—THE FIRELIGHT APPRENTICE!
In a city powered by magic and still recovering from a bloody war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister Safi’s developing powers. She understands that Safi could learn how to control her magic under the apprenticeship of a king's magician. But with the memories of war still fresh, Ada is conflicted by this prospect—despite her knowing that she can’t keep Safi safely at home with the threat of deadly, power-thieving liches prowling the kingdom.
When a traveling group of magicians comes to the city to perform, they immediately recognize Safi’s talents and offer to take her on as an apprentice. Safi is thrilled about her new adventure—even if that means leaving behind Ada and their sickly father. And Ada is right to worry about her sister, for there may be monsters hiding behind friendly faces…
Out October 29, 2024 with QuillTree Books/HarperCollins
>>>Available for pre-order NOW<<<
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Aestea - Metamy Week Day 3 (<- Ao3 Link)
The Prodigal sculptor renders her perfect warrior, but she can't shield him from the wants of others. (2.6k)
Greek Myths AU - a loose retelling of Galatea and Pygmalion.
Let's be weird here! This is the one that made me want to write Metamy week. I wanted to write this odd AU but really had no excuse! Thanks for being my excuse ❤️
The prodigy sculptor raised her delicate hammer she fondly named Pykmalion - or Pyk!Pyk!, for its comforting sound. She tapped it deftly to the bronze forearm she had rendered from her cast. She found just one imperfection at the elbow that she would weld - it wouldn't be seen, of course, but she would know. And her perfect form deserved to be as perfect in render as he was in idea.
"Shall I fill in the mold?" Cream chirrupped, wiping it quickly with a rag. She was a good apprentice, but still just an apprentice. Yet, it was not long since the prodigy was an apprentice herself. She sighed and lay the forearm on the board.
"No, not at all. I will only be making one." She smiled softly, taking the cast and cleaning it carefully with the angora brush nontheless.
"But... the other hand?"
"Then he would have two left hands."
Cream looked hard at the arm, then her own two hands, and laughed brightly; "Oh, so he would!"
She hopped from her stool then rose up, letting the wind under her ears take her to the top shelf.
"What to buff with-"
"Cream, perhaps it's time you worked on your own project? I will build mine, and you can follow my lead?" The sculptor offered, quickly and excitedly, as she lay the bronze arm on a soft cushion, shrouded in cloth. If Cream could tell she was being invited not to help, she didn't let it bring her down.
"My own - my own sculpture? Would the Doctor really allow it?"
The sculptor wrinkled her nose, pushed rosy quills out of her eyes, and admired the sky; it was the first day of sunshine since winter dark had begun to wane. The sky was as bright as bronze, and under the shine people worked to complete the Temple of Hephaestus.
"He has welcomed every creation for this new dedication. And I know you'll make something beautiful!"
She cupped her young friend's face in her hands, and let her forget the arm as they designed a small effigy of a Chao together.
That night, she perfected the arm, and the molds for the rest of her perfect man: a creature so beautiful it would put the whole temple to shame, she feared. In the back of her mind, where she hoped Gods couldn't see, she knew this creation was not for Hephaestus, nor the Doctor who commanded this greatest dedication. It was for the form in her mind, who begged to be revealed in the finest material she knew. And it was for herself, who despite swearing off Aphrodite, had fallen in love with his image, and the heart she felt beating in the solid veins of his wrist.
She awoke from a trance holding his arm to her, her face in his one hand, lips to his thumb. She pulled herself from it and shook herself. The hand glinted knowingly at her in the candlelight. She was captured in the fancy, and held it out before her as though a priestess presented it, and knelt to the ground.
"My name is Amy Rose." She kissed the hand softly; "It will be my honour to meet you, Aestea."
"Does he look a bit like..." Cream stopped, biting her lip as she surveyed the laid out pieces of Amy's sculpture. Two full arms, two full legs, and the prototype head and torso glinted in the firelight on this rainy day. The ovens smelted more metal, Amy's particular ratio of copper and tin with Patina, for the blue pieces that covered the body in an armour it would wear every day. Blue, like a certain blue hero.
"A bit like the sky? I think so too. How is your Chao?" Amy said quickly, inspecting the impression of the Chao Cream was making. She had practiced in every form of sculpture before she moved on to metal, and was now refining her skills on the left pieces. She had rendered so many Chao, now, that Amy thought there might be more unusual little creatures lining her shelves than there were in the whole town. Cream inspected it's face close, and stroked its head.
"Sonic. You are creating an image of Sonic."
Amy tutted, and turned to fuss over the fire.
"You know not to speak of Hermes' champion in here. The Doctor will never allow us back to his forge."
"I know. And that's what I fear. You mustn't make a Sonic."
Amy's face was darkened by the soot, but she didn't seem to feel it. She carried the heavy pot of molten metal over to the next mold, and watched the liquid pour, before she set in the inlay.
"His name is Aestea."
"But, he's blue."
"Yes, and so is the sky, the sea, a peacock, and a beetle. Are they all paying homage to Sonic too?"
Cream worried her thick apron, sweating hard in the heat of the steam and flame.
"I suppose not. And you denounced that love."
Amy covered the setting legplate, and suppressed their fire.
"Oh, for sure. Sonic was a false gift of Aphrodite, she does like to trick, but never me again. Aestea is my gift to the Doctor, of course."
But after Cream was collected by her mother, Amy never left the workshop.
Aestea lay, imperfect and incomplete, next to her on the workbench. She ran her fingers over him.
"Are you sure this is the form you want?" She whispered. His prototype face rested limply off his neck, but she closed her eyes and saw rubies embedded there.
This is my form.
"But is it the one you want?" She whispered.
Metal fell still, but she took its hand again as she slept. And she dreamed of an Aestea not of rounded edges, but long sharp quills like a fallen star, and a golden ring at his chest.
Amy awoke too early the next day, and hastened to begin her modifications.
"It is good that you've revised your design. We mustn't invite Hermes to our midst." The round Doctor sneered as he assessed the designs on papyrus brought by his priests and priestesses of the new Temple. He had raised this small town to a thriving Empire of engineering, all ready to submit their greatest creation to his dedication to Hephaestus. If the God was pleased, they would be forged and anointed in Prometheus' fire, whatever that meant, so creators with a dream had come from far and wide.
Despite the talent bursting from the City Streets, Amy felt his beady eyes on her closer than anyone else in his forges. Such as this afternoon: he was visiting her again.
The Doctor knocked on Aestea's chest, inspected the armour he wore.
"He is not finished; his face is-"
"Oh yes, of course the face and whatnot. But do ensure that you focus on his body. The movement, the ability this form possesses-"
"Would possess. He is... Metal."
The Doctor sniffed Aestea deeply, his profound moustache brushing on his perfect fingers.
"Yes, he is Metal. He will be perfect, the perfect Sonic. Metal Sonic will dominate over the Hermes' champion!" The Doctor laughed in that uncanny way. Amy regretted that she ever let slip the comparison - only to highlight how the Neo Aestea would be his own man. But the arrogant Doctor was too pleased to own the perfected form of a champion he was rumoured to loath.
"Yes. He would." She said firmly, but felt a twinge of fear at his irritation; "Would you like to see the creation of my apprentice? She has graduated from Chao to the water-spirit of Chaos..."
She dragged his greedy eyes from her beloved sculpture, and covered him in his cape to hide the form.
Amy's hands stayed steady until she had rested the perfectly formed head onto Aestea. He had layers of different tinted metal, and his blue suit of armour so close to his body, but just separate enough to replace where there had been nicks in the process. It was midsummer, and as late as it was the humming insects and soft breeze kept her company in the dregs of light.
She resteadied her hands, her heart giddy and full of love, as she unfurled her own ruby earrings from the curls of her quills. She twisted the stones out easily, and with her tweezers and a dash of the brightest molten silver, she set them into the impressions she had left.
His helmet could close over his face, shutting his eyes to the public and their undeserving appearances. But here, on her workbench, he saw his first. And of course, he saw nothing, just lay still, the coldest thing in the warm room. But his beauty overwhelmed her, and she pressed her head to his, gripping the long spines for dear life.
"Is it perfect, my love? Is this what you wanted?" She whispered, her lips kissing him with every word.
Aestea's eyes glinted in the candlelight. Amy let him move in her mind, his own sharp hand tangling in her quills as hers was in his.
I am in your image. Keep me this way.
Amy awoke in Aestea's arms, ashamed to find she had disturbed his pose to place them around herself.
The Metal Sonic - Bronze, Bronze Patina, Bronze- Copper, Silver, Gold. Doctor Robotos.
The plinth at Aestea's feet was shadowed by it's proud, commanding form. One hand forward, commanding the troops of metal statues that stood before the temple to Hephaestus, that itself was a sculpture in the image of Robotos.
Amy's heart bled with a wound the likes of which Aphrodite had never given her before. His red eyes, preserved for only those who loved him the most, were harshly exposed by the metal visor, posed domineering and cruel.
"He's beautiful." Cream said softly, but she held Amy's hand tight.
"He certainly is. I am... proud." Amy sighed, before she fixed a smile on her face despite the tears in her eyes; "And I am proud of you too! Let's go and see your work!"
Cream started to lead her, but stopped.
"Shall we fix him?"
"Fix? He is as he feels, so, perfect!"
Cream shook her head.
"No, he isn't... in your image."
Amy looked around, then allowed Cream to fly her into the air. She twisted his hand upturned, from a command to attack to an invitation to approach. She curled his fingers with more grace than cruelty. She closed his eyes, then assessed his face.
"No. Robotos was right. He deserves to see the world as much as I do." She whispered, and opened them again, expressing with his visor more curiosity than menace. She pressed her head to his, and kissed his mouth, before folding the cover over his nose and chin.
Cream looked frightened above her, and she forced herself to laugh as though she were joking.
"There! Goodbye, Aestea. I hope you enjoy your service to Hephaestus, Metal Sonic!"
She laughed again, but tears sprang freely from her eyes, as they went to see Cream's Chao and protector, Perfect Chaos.
The evening of the Dedication to Hephaestus arrived as the trees started to become bronze with the statues. The town gathered, surveying the works and leaving offerings at the shrine. Robotos was nervous, swatting away the praise and thanks the pompous and dim offered him. As the sun set, he lit the fires quickly, and spoke fast into the flames, then waited impatiently for every offering to be made.
"Come on, come on, dig deep." He snapped as people passed.
Amy avoided her friends. She avoided her apprentice. She avoided Robotos. She stood in the cape she made for Aestea, and stared up at him. People jostled around her, shoving and tutting at her. She didn't care.
She had failed him. He was reposed behind her back, out of her image; she had failed to keep her promise to him, so she felt she had to gaze at her failure. He was unprotected from Robotos, and his helmet had been welded to his face in a permanent, mouthless scowl. But, his lips would never kiss another, as their bronze would never touch the bronze sky again. Her ruby earrings showed him the world, and under the Doctor's instruction it filled him with hate.
The flames started to roar down the kindling lines to the small pyres before every statue. Aestea's was last, as it stood at the front of the army. Outside of Amy's world, somebody screamed, as the welded Chao at Robotos' feet sprang to life in the flame, and attacked a child.
Rendered from idea, to metal, and now to life, the metal army was born off the backs of the people's sacrifice, and Amy felt the whole earth fall to ruin. The spectators ran, and someone dragged her away, but Aestea's ruby eyes compelled her to stare over her shoulder.
Alive. He could be alive. But by the bidding - and to do the bidding - of Robotos? No. She could not allow it. She peeled off of the rabble running to the temples for safety, and sprinted to Aphrodite.
Her old Goddess damned her as she crossed the threshhold, and she threw herself to the ground.
"Please, my goddess-"
The temple echoed harshly, and silenced her with sobs, but she fought it;
"I see now you were right. My eyes were clouded, I didn't see what you destined for me." She wept for Aestea, for Sonic rendered in Metal to be free from the will of another.
Screams outside grew louder, but Amy resigned to die here. The door rattled with a terifying knock.
"Aphrodite, I'll assign my life to you. If ever you loved your husband, implore him not to touch-"
The door cracked open, and the form she loved burned with hate for her.
"Aestea!" She cried, stumbling to her feet, as he charged for her, fast as lightning, pinning her to the stone wall.
But under the cold metal of his fingers, she felt something thump, and thump, and thump. In a rhythm alien to her own, not human, not mobian, but that could only come from a heart that clanged in a metal chest.
His face was mutilated, never would it bear his thoughts, just hate. And his soul was tarnished by the cruel intentions he was sacrificed for. But as he held her, ready to splatter blood across the floor of Aphrodite, she was happy - she might die in his arms.
Then he released her. He stared at her, ruby eyes full of fire, but didn't raise another hand.
"Aestea?" She asked softly, and he bristled; "I am so sorry..."
He approached her again slowly, and she closed her eyes and braced for death.
Metal hands took her face, and pressed it gently against his. He was cold, but he shook with the heart she prayed for. She pushed into him, feeling the body she had lovingly made against her skin, and kissed him across his face with no thought of a return. It was love, love like she'd never felt. She knew she'd follow him wherever he went, she'd show him her love and bring him back. It was all that mattered, she-
The temple they sheltered in was smashed apart.
Metal grabbed her, leapt up on his own flame, and stashed her in a tree for safety. Robotos, riding on an animated metal chariot, and whistled.
"Come, my Metal Sonic! Your inferior has arrived to challenge you!" the Doctor laughed.
Amy watched Metal turn briefly to the tree, before he took his heart and hers, and followed the path of evil.
#metamyweek30th#metamy#metamy week 30th#metamy week day 3: AU#metal sonic#amy rose#wonderincs#writincs#this fic is so inherently me i am practically doxing myself. Mythology reimagined? Doomed love? Extremely obvious ending?#this is my address
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5 times Person A called Person B beautiful + 1 time Person B called Person A beautiful for Curufinrod please :) for the prompt ask
Ohhhh I like this one! The angst potential is simply beautiful, plus it's been so long since I've properly tried writinng Curufinrod.
From this prompt list.
5 times Person A called Person B beautiful + 1 time Person B called Person A beautiful
1.
Curufinwë is still an apprentice under his father the first time he meets Findaráto.
They meet in Tirion's market at around midday. Curufinwë had been sent off to find some quality silver by his father and was still perusing the options when he had bumped unceremoniously into the young Teler.
"Ow! Look where you going," he muttered, rubbing his head where it had made hard contact with the other's collar bone.
"Apologies." His voice had been soft and gentle and high in a soothing sort of way.
Curufinwë looks up and can feel a hot blush creeping up his neck. The elf in front of him has golden hair and brilliant blue eyes and the sort of smile that makes his knees weak.
"You're beautiful," he says before his mouth connects with his brain.
Shit.
Curufinwë contemplates the logistics of sinking into the ground and curses the fact that while he has his father's face, he has his mother's ability to turn bright red at a moment's embarrassment.
Through some intervention of Eru himself, the stranger didn't seem to here his stray comment, as he brushes himself off and checks for injury.
"I'm sorry," he says once he has finished, looking up at Curufinwë with eyes so bright and piercing it makes Curufinwë's face threaten to burn up again, "I wasn't looking where I was going - I must admit it's my first time in Tirion and I might have got a little overawed."
Curufinwë clears his throat, willing down the heat in his cheeks as he dusts off the front of his tunic again. He avoids eye contact.
"Well," he says, sharper than he might have been usually, "you should keep your eyes more to yourself. You will not be able to look at anything if you trip over a pothole and hit your head."
The elf's smile widens and shows the hint of teeth as he laughs. "Thank you for your advice. Might I know your name, kind stranger?"
"Atarinkë," Curufinwë says because his amilessë is not widely known and even though it feels like he has lost all his mental capacities during this conversation, something of his brain remains.
"Artafindë, I believe is my name in Quenya," the stranger says and gives him a polite bow.
Curufinwë returns it, although it is shorter and a little more abrupt. He's still a bit embarrassed even if he had managed to avoid total social ineptitude. "Goodday then Artafindë, I have shopping I need to be doing lest my father come and see what has become of me."
"Of course. Later, then, Atarinkë."
"Later," Curufinwë agrees even as he wishes that he never has to see the other elf's face again, even if just to save his pride.
2.
They are both living in Tirion when adulthood hits them both properly.
Despite their first meeting, Curufinwë finds that Findaráto (for that is how he really prefers to be called) likes to hang around him, despite his multitude of other friends who are much nicer to him.
So now Curufinwë finds that he must deal with Findaráto sitting in the corner of the forge, chatting his ear off, as Curufinwë works.
And maybe, recently, Curufinwë had been working on a more...personal project that the work he does for his father and guild.
It's delicate work, setting jewels and making chains when most of what Curufinwë does is a good deal more on the experimental side, but it is worth it when Curufinwë interrupts his spiel on a bardic dispute in Alqualondë.
"What do you think?" He asks, holding up the earrings to the light. They're made of gold and yellow diamond and they sparkle in the firelight.
Findaráto's eyes go wide, and Curufinwë feels a little smug for how well he knows him.
"They're stunning." His face closes off abruptly. "Rinwendë will love them."
Right, Rinwendë.
Curufinwë's betrothed.
The one he's meant to be in love with.
"They're for you."
Findaráto looks taken aback a moment before his expression melts.
"Thank you, 'Rinkë," he whispers, taking a step forward to let Curufinwë help him put them in.
Curufinwë can feel Findaráto's breath on his neck as they get closer; his pulse kicking against the heel of his hand; the softness of his hair.
He should step back, out of Findaráto's space, but he cannot bring himself to move.
"They look good on you," he says although all he can think is how Findaráto hasn't stepped back either. "You look beautiful, as always."
Findaráto smiles, all bright and beaming, and turns away to find a mirror. Curufinwë sharply curbs the disappointment that rears it's head.
"Oh they do look good. You have quite the eye for this."
Not usually. Curufinwë doesn't make jewellery as a general rule but Findaráto...
Well, he was an inspiration to a lot of people. He was that sort of person.
3.
The bench in the castle courtyard is hard and cold in the pale light of Telperion. Curufinwë doesn't mind: it gives him time to think away from the stuffy, loud ballroom and all the people.
"What are you doing all the way out here?"
Well then, not all the people.
"Just finding some peace Ingoldo. The ballroom was getting too loud."
There's a rustle of fabric and then Findaráto is sitting next to Curufinwë on the bench.
"And that's it?"
Curufinwë turns to look at him, all wide-eyed and waiting for Curufinwë to reveal his lifes greatest secrets.
"That's it. Don't think I'm letting everything slip for you just because you'r'e beautiful."
Findaráto smiles in the dim light. "But how about because I'm your friend?"
"It's nothing, really Ingo. Just...please leave it be."
Curufinwë tries not to feel guilty for how much like a kicked puppy Findaráto looks like. "Are you sure?"
"Go back to the party. I'm sure there are people missing you there."
Curufinwë almost calls after him, as he leaves, to come back.
Almost.
4.
Curufinwë is getting married.
Rinwendë is lovely, she understands him and he understands her, but neither of them loves the other quite right.
And he's marrying her.
It's the right thing to do: they might not be best suited for each other but they both want children and they are friends and their parents think it's a wonderful idea and-
The door opens and Curufinwë straightens up involuntarily.
But it's not his father.
"What are you doing all the way up here?" Findaráto asks, shutting the door behind him with a click. "Aren't you being married in less than half an hour?"
"Thank you for your input Findaráto." Curufinwë tangles his fingers into his still unbraided hair and begins to work, pretending to ignore Findaráto as he starts to look around his bedroom before settling on the bed to watch Curufinwë work.
Findaráto doesn't take the bait. "Would you like help with your hair?"
"I'm fine," Curufinwë says just as his fingers get confused and he has to drop the braid.
Curufinwë tries to ignore how close Findaráto is, tries to think of anything else other than his finger at his scalp and the heartbeat Curufinwë thinks he can hear: his or Findaráto's, he doesn't know.
It takes Findaráto nearly ten minutes but then he is finished and Curufinwë is bedecked in red and gold.
"I can see why you're always so beautiful," he says appreciatively and thinks that the compliment will distract himself from the very real fact that he is marrying the wrong person to appease his father.
"Yes, well, today is your day." Findaráto smiles his beaming smile and takes a step back, taking his warmth with him.
Curufinwë doesn't shiver.
5.
Curufin isn't enjoying himself. Parties were always the domain of his eldest brothers and this Mereth Aderthad is the biggest party Curufin has attended since before the Exile.
"It's a nice night for it," Finrod says, appearing at Curufin's side.
Curufin hates him, just a little bit, for how nonchalant he is - how forgiving he is - when anger would be a much more understandable response to so much of the suffering he had gone through at the hands of the Fëanorian host.
"It's fine, I suppose."
"Nice people too. You should try and socialise some more, you might find someone interested in your craft. You could learn something."
"You are missing the fundamental point that I do not want to. I am here only because Maedhros requested it and for no other reason." He takes a sip of the drink Maglor had given him a moment ago as he flitted away to seduce someone else, and grimaces at the bitter taste.
Finrod takes it out his hand. "Curufin, you should at least try."
"Well it's all very well and good for you to say: you're beautiful and charming and easy to get along with. I don't do that."
"You do. You just don't like that you do because it makes you think of your father." Finrod gives him a very straight look that makes Curufin feel like curling in on himself. "You can be charming and not be exactly like him."
"Thanks for your psychoanalysis." Curufin throws back the rest of the disgusting drink in an attempt to quell the feeling of guilt and anger and being very small indeed that Finrod is currently making him feel. "I'm going to find Maglor to get more of this...delightful concoction.
+ 6
"It's a fool's errand," Curufin says, the moment the door shuts behind him. Finrod doesn't look up from his packing.
"I swore an oath knowing what it would mean Curufin." It's not meant as a snide comment - Finrod doesn't do that when he digs into his insecurities, he does it quite openly. "I don't want to deal with your pettiness."
"It's not pettiness Ingoldo, it's a fact. You must know there's no chance of you returning here."
"And Orodreth will make a good king. He is calm and fair-"
"And he won't be able to deal with an enraged Celegorm."
Finrod buttons up his bag. "Then you shall have to deal with him."
"I don't control my brother."
Finrod turns to Curufin, his face tight. "We both know you can if you wish to."
"Maybe I don't wish to."
"Curvo, don't be stupid."
"I'm not the one being stupid here."
Finrod has made his way forward, and now he's so close that Curufin can feel his breath against his skin.
"Step out of the way Curufin."
"No. You're being a fool and I shan't let you."
They meet each others eyes. Finrod is examining him, analysing him for weakness, but Curufin has none. He knows he's right and he can get what he wants if he's stubborn enough.
At least, that's what he thought.
He hadn't been expecting Finrod's hands to snake up to the back of his neck and for him to kiss him.
Finrod's lips are warm and soft and taste faintly of honey. It's far better than any of Curufin's wildest fantasies that he forgets, for a moment, why Finrod had done it at all.
"You're beautiful," Finrod murmurs against Curufin's lips as he slowly pulls away. "Please don't ruin it."
Curufin ends up letting him go.
#I enjoyed writing this :)#Curufin#Finrod#Curufinrod#Silmarillion#Tolkien#Fanfiction#Fae's Fic#Fae's Stuff#Prompt#5+1 Prompt List#Ask#herinke9#I had so many thoughts while writing this so it's not massively congisant
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20 Questions for Fic Writers
Tagged by: @noodyl-blasstal thanks so much for thinking of me!
Tagging: @the-barista-district
1. How many works do you have on A03?
I have only the one on AO3, I just started my account there not too long ago
2. What's your total A03 word count?
My wordcount is 78,284! It's one of the longest fics I've written in a long while
3. What fandoms do you write for?
Nowadays it's pretty much TAZ all the way down, but there's some old stuff I have on this blog that's WTNV adjacent and a couple things for The Arcana mobile game (playing in the setting with OCs, as is a preference of mine in general). I haven't locked up the deep archives of Marvel and Ranger's Apprentice and fuckin' Leverage, but I'm not gonna help you find them either
4. What are your top five fics by kudos?
The only one I have on AO3 is Virtue and Vice, but the most popular fic I can find on here is Firelight and Beach Nights 1 & 2
5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?
I love to respond to comments when I get them! I find them very encouraging and I will talk your ear off (or type your eyes off? is that a good perversion of that phrase? lol) about my Thoughts if you let me
6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?
I don't know that I really have any with angsty endings? Most of my angsty ones are the ones I wrote alongside my rp with @the-barista-district as tie on/lead ins to that storyline
7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?
Virtue and Vice has an ending that I'm really proud of, I feel like I managed to go full-circle on their story and end with a lot of potential and hope for the future. It's a story that became about growing up and choosing your family and who you want to be, and I lived in it for a year.
8. Do you get hate on fics?
I have not and would cry (then delete the comment, bc fuck'em) if I did
9. Do you write smut?
I have written smut, yes. The stuff that's publicly posted is not my best (many years old now) and I won't link it, but it's all appropriately tagged #fanfic and #nsfw if you want to go searching (why?)
10. Do you write crossovers?
It has never occurred to me to do so. I'm generally more comfortable doing OC insert fic (with the exception of some TAZ stuff. Rping has helped me to figure out Kravitz so I'll write him sometimes) and I wouldn't know how to go about a crossover in that sort of niche
11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?
Not as far as I'm aware
12. Have you ever had a fic translated?
*shakes magic 8 ball* Signs point to no
13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?
I haven't, but I've rped a bunch and I feel like that's similar in some aspects I guess. Just, yanno, not really a finished fic out of it
14. What's your all-time favourite ship?
Taakitz is the one I gravitate towards, though I can also be persuaded by a Taagnus and a Blupjeans
15. What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?
I've got a Taakitz fic on the back burner where Krav is a ghost but there's a time-recursion aspect and he thinks he's the one being haunted for a bit. I'd like to finish that but my brain has decided I'm doing something else (it's a fun something else)(still debating if I'll post)
16. What are your writing strengths?
I enjoy the characters and relationships that I build. Some are stronger than others, but I feel like I can generally get to a point where they're believable, and different dynamics can shine through. I love to get bogged down in the "where's the difference between what they're willing to say/do, and what they're actually trying to communicate", "how do they feel and how do they think they feel"
17. What are your writing weaknesses?
I have to agree with Noodyl here and say that tense is hard, POV is difficult (staying as close as I want the narration to feel is the part that gets me more than head-hopping). Getting into established characters is especially difficult (hense, OCs)
18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?
I think it can be cool and have considered many times adding Spanish to things, pero no hablo ni escribo mucho en español (heh)
19. First fandom you wrote for?
One of my earliest is from the Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan, hidden deep in the archives of redacted where I shall not link the general public
20. Favourite fic you've ever written?
There's been a lot of stories I love and a lot I've lived in over the years, even from the before tumblr times. Especially from those times. I'm just going to say Virtue and Vice again bc it's recent and I love it and I'm not linking to anything from my teenage years bc yeeesh
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Little House in the Big Woods; Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingllas Wilder
So I read the series in reverse, but I figured it would be kind of hard to write about them that way if I group them together, so I'm going to write these in chronological order.
Big Woods as a story is very sweet. It really embodies the coziness that everyone talks about, really more so than any other book besides Farmer Boy.
Is all childhood memories. Ma making butter, and roasting pig's tail, Pa playing his fiddle and telling stories, holidays and celebrations with family.
Laura at the age of four and five is pretty carefree, as it should be.
It's odd, reading kids books when you're an adult, you get subtext that you probably wouldn't have gotten as a kid.
This happens more and more as the books go on, but in this one, I got something that I don't know was the intent or if I'm reading too much into it.
Big Woods starts out like a fairy tale, and it continues with that tone, and it makes me wonder if Wilder didn't, in some way, think back on that time as ideal because there really is a sense of safety as you follow Laura through the chores and games, and squabbles. The feel is carefree in a way that is mostly lost when the family goes west. I don't know how much kids will get when they read them, but I was always aware of the danger that the Ingallses faced. From Little House on the Prairie, forward, it is under the surface if not actively present. Big Woods, had the bear, but everything is very secure.
The ending is probably one of the most elegant pieces of writing that wasn't about nature, in the whole series.
"She thought to herself, 'This is now.' She was glad that the cozy house, and Pa and Ma and the firelight and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago."
Farmer Boy, was written as a companion piece to Big Woods, according to Prarie Fires and the podcast. I cannot express how adorable I think that is.
This book follows a year in the life of nine year old Almanzo Wilder, near Malone, New York. It is even cozier than Big Woods. There are so many descriptions of food, I found myself getting hungry when reading it, and that usually doesn't happen to me. Big Woods, there was more to it, Almanzo is old enough to know something of his own mind, to get into scrapes and to interact with others more than Laura who was only five in the first book.
Plus, because the real Laura was working off of things told to her by her husband, a lot of the book is probably more fiction and has a clearer story arch, at least to me.
It was really interesting to me watching Almanzo learn the farming trade and all the various skills needed to go along with it, and just how much he enjoyed it. I think my favorite parts were when Almanzo was allowed to stay home from school and help out on the farm from threshing wheat, hauling timber, training young oxen, whatever, Almanzo was eager to learn.
Something that caught my attention near the end.
There's this point where a wagon maker in town asks Almanzo's father to apprentice Almanzo.
His father talks to his mother about it, and his mother is very upset, and goes on a rant about how if he did this, Almanzo would never be free, and would always be dependent on others for his living.
Now, there is this odd idea in the LH Fandom (community? It's huge, I don't know) that Laura and Almanzo's daughter Rose actually wrote the books. Honestly, and I will come back this in another ramble, if you read Pioneer Girl and you read Rose's writing, this is obviously not the case (IMO). But we do know, that Rose, was involved in editing her mother's books, and Laura did allow Rose to add things. Both mother and daughter's writing have the thread of being free and independent, but the tone is very different between the two.
This section feels like an addition made by Rose. She was a staunch Libritarian and her writing in its vein usually has a feel of righteous anger or frustration, telling the reader what's what.
Laura's shows the reader how one would do this, and is much quieter
This speech by Almanzo's mother is very out of character for the busy sweet natured woman in the rest of the book, and right after this tirade the tone goes back to normal. Almost as if it can be lifted out completely.
It was interesting to compare it to the rest of the book.
All in all, I enjoyed these two.
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Maestro (part 4 of 4) p1 p2 p3
It was 1977.
Sister Imperator, the Dark Mother, was looking for an apprentice.
@petrifyingpapas Challenge Week 2: Incantation
Sister Imperator & Young Secundo, Young Terzo AO3 Link
Notes: Thank you all! This one took a while to finish!
tags: dark magic, ritual magic, initiation, family drama, exploration, SFW
P4: He was going to die. He exhaled. He knew. He knew in that moment. His clock had started to wind down the instant he closed his suitcase and left his room.
4
“Terzo, my dear…” Sister said sweetly, her grip tightening on his shirt. “I've caught you underfoot before…and if your brother does not fuck this up tonight, I will catch you meddling again.” The boy’s eyes were wide, stunned at his luck, watery with smoke. “Over and over, cat and mouse, until….” An insane smile twisted across her face. She pet his head in an absurd mockery of comfort.
“I will get us out of this.” Secundo dug his nails into his palms, hard, biting down on the inside of his cheek, hoping the pain would snap his mind back into action.
He rummaged around his suitcase, assessing whatever he had left. Whatever book held the proper symbols was now alight and slowly filling the room with smoke. If he didn’t have the incantation available, he needed to scry for a new one, somehow. It was more of a longshot, but that was how spells were made in the first place.
He pulled from his suitcase his elemental tablets, picking the appropriate one— Earth— from the four. The grid of golden symbols gleamed in the firelight, each one representing a syllable of magical intent. Collect the right ones, calculate their meaning, write them in the circle and it was done. He kept digging through the items, struggling to think, struggling to find the most vital piece of the equation.
All he needed…all he needed right now…was not there.
Secundo leaned back on his heels, wiping the hair plastered against his forehead.
He was going to die.
He exhaled. He knew. He knew in that moment. His clock had started to wind down the instant he closed his suitcase and left his room.
He brought everything.
He was sure he brought everything.
He brought everything except a fucking pencil.
Secundo looked up at Sister, exasperated. Her face betrayed nothing, and she still held Terzo by his dirty tee shirt. Terzo looked up at Sister, a pleading look in his young eyes, then met Secundo’s gaze through the smoke. Despite Secundo’s disdain for him, despite his loneliness, he still looked on at Secundo with the deepest trust that a child could have for his brother.
Something in Secundo shifted. Enough, he told himself, narrowing his eyes. If it means I need to write in blood, I will do it. He pulled a crude athame from his suitcase, staring into it, anticipating the pain while sweat continued to sting his eyes.
Terzo pulled himself away from Sister, crawling low on the floor where the smoke couldn’t reach him, moving towards Secundo. He stood up beside him, fussed around in his pockets, and handed Secundo the crayon and crumpled rubbing of the death’s head relief. Secundo stared at his brother, mouth slightly agape. “I…” he began, but trailed off. Terzo started coughing. Secundo brought his hand to the side of Terzo’s little face, ruffling his hair in wordless thanks.
“The stones,” croaked Terzo. He lay down on his side, drawing his legs up, squeezing his eyes tight. Secundo lay a hand heavily on his small shoulder, then returned to work.
The stones. He’d scry using the stone around him. He focused his brain, centered himself, reciting in his mind the opening phrases. The beginning of any magical rite. The Assertation of The Will.
MAGICIAN, SPEAK YOUR INTENTION.
“To seek the words that will quell the flames, and save our lives,” he said out loud, quietly to himself.
Sister cleared her throat from across the room. Somehow, she knew what he was doing. “Receive the Vehicle,” she said, picking up the traditional call and response from where Secundo started it.
Secundo lifted the small bit of crayon aloft in one hand, the tablet in the other. He squinted his eyes, focusing his will on the patterns of the stone floor. “I cast my Will as a net. The Void will provide. Nevertheless, I will endure.”
“So it is.” Sister completed The Assertation of The Will with an amused chuckle.
Secundo took a step back from his thoughts, letting his eyes and the hidden parts of his mind collect the symbols, one after the other. He wrote them down as he saw them onto the back of Terzo’s paper, until he felt in his heart there was enough for the calculation.
“What's next?” Terzo’s voice was small, slow. He looked like a heap of laundry on the floor of the catacombs.
“Arranging of the syllables,” Secundo replied, and he produced a brass instrument made of circular plates, a cipher wheel. “Move the planetary and zodiac information into the correct form for this moment and…we have the order.” He coughed, blinking furiously as he spun the multiple wheels into position.
“And that’s it?” Terzo asked. Even as he was slowly choking from the smoke, he looked on in curiosity. “And it will…work?”
“Hopefully,” Secundo said, but then he gritted his teeth and wiped his hair from his eyes. “No. It will work. I made it, and so it will work.” By My Hand, it will be done.
He kept himself low as he crept towards the flames, using the last of his chalk to draw the symbols within the ring. As he crawled around the circle he came across Sister, who leaned against the wall as if waiting for a bus. She examined her blood red nails, bored. Another fake out. She wouldn’t be this confident if she knew I would fail, Secundo thought. …Right?
No. He had to believe. By My Hand, it will be done.
He finally completed the drawing, the last scraps of chalk crushing into dust in his fingers. “The wand! Terzo, hand me the wand!”
Terzo dragged across the floor, grabbing the long rod beside Secundo’s suitcase. He handed it across to Secundo, his arms shaking.
His incantation written around the circle, Secundo got to his feet, his face seared once again by the heat of the flames. He walked as methodically as he could around the circle, dragging the wand across the symbols. He used the last ounce of his resolve to keep his recitation even and clear. “Ab-e-khur-ra-be-che-aumy-ra-e-el-koor….”
He circled and circled, chanting, feeling Sister’s eyes on him like ice amidst the fire.
And then the fire went out. The smoke was gone. Nothing but black soot and the chalk circle remained.
Secundo blinked away tears, the contrast from the searing white hot light to half darkness a strain on his eyes. Terzo rolled upright, sniffing and rubbing his face. He got up, stepped toward Secundo and grabbed his hand. Secundo wrapped his fingers around Terzo’s hold.
Sister moved from her leaning spot on the wall. There was ash in her hair. A small part of her polyester dress had melted. She didn't seem to notice or care about any of it, shifting her weight from one heeled foot to the other. Her eyes fixed on Secundo as he stood sweating and panting before her. “Pass.”
Secundo was still holding Terzo’s hand when they emerged from the catacombs and into the soft moonlit darkness of the Sanctum. Nihil was waiting for them, chain and padlock in hand, gummy smile on face. “Ah! My boy! You're alive!”
“He passed,” said Sister flatly. “And he begins his training soon.”
“I knew it, I knew it!” Nihil chuckled. “Rebecca will be so pleased to hear her son is moving up in the world, eh!”
Secundo gave him a curt nod, and glanced at Terzo. The boy was grimy and tear-streaked but not harmed. He returned Secundo’s look with a small proud smile.
Secundo turned to Sister. “You weren’t afraid I’d fail? That I’d kill us all?”
There was a long pause. Sister finally spoke. “No.”
Secundo stood there, his hair matted and singed, his face smeared with soot and sweat. “How?”
The fierce line of red lipstick that was Sister’s mouth curled upwards into a smirk. “Beginner’s Luck.”
***
Jays called in the trees as the two brothers wandered the woods of the ministry grounds. The morning was cool and damp from overnight rain, the stinging smoky heat from days before fading in their memories.
Terzo was proving to be an excellent forager. He stayed very low to the ground, rushing from tree to tree. Despite his impulsive bursts of energy he gently moved leaves and reverently harvested the things on Secundo’s list, leaving little disturbance of the forest behind. Secundo only had to show him once what a plant or fungi looked like and already he was spying them from afar.
“I should take you out here more often,” Secundo said.
“I’m out here a lot myself,” Terzo replied. He hesitated as if he was choosing his words carefully. “You're so busy you may not know I'm out here so much.”
“Oh.” Secundo was always doing something in the Ministry, whether studying magic theory, helping his mother, giving piano lessons to other children…even as a youth he was already cementing himself in the fabric of Ministry life.
“What’s next on your list?” Terzo asked, stretching against a tree.
“Monotropa uniflora,” Secundo said. “Ghost Pipe flowers.”
“Sounds mysterious.” Terzo’s eyes glittered. “What do they look like?”
Secundo flipped through his book to the picture and showed him. “They're quite rare, actually. But I've heard they're out here.”
“I've seen them! They started popping up a few days ago!” Terzo bounced in place. “Just over here there's a whole lot!”
They walked a little further on, and Secundo noticed Terzo hugging his arms to his chest, lost in a cloud of restless thought. Secundo swallowed. “Are you okay?”
Terzo stopped, staring at the ground. “What did Sister mean, that I'm always going to be meddling?” Terzo asked him. “ Cat and mouse … can she predict the future?”
“Somewhat.”
The boy had a rare fearful look in his clear eyes. His mouth stretched nervously. “Who is the cat and who's the mouse?”
“Sister says these things to intimidate you. To scare people away that aren't serious about her teachings.”
“She tried to kill you.”
“She knows what she's doing. She had a plan.”
“Oh. Ok.” Terzo did not sound convinced.
They arrived at the little clearing and Terzo’s memory was correct. Under the shade of the trees there were clumps of ghostly flora bursting from the leaf litter.
“I had no idea they were flowers!” Terzo picked one gently, studying the milky curled leaves.
“Yes, and they turn purple in a tincture.”
“Purple!” Terzo was fascinated. “What else?”
“They grow off the tree roots. They have no means to collect sunlight, so they get everything from the tree host.”
“They don't hurt the tree, do they?”
“No. The tree…supports them.” Secundo picked a few from the various small clusters across this area of woods. He stopped, noticing Terzo hadn't moved. The boy was still staring into the first ghost Pipe flower he had picked, smiling to himself. It seemed like every bit of Secundo’s information was held by him like a treasure, like a precious gift. Whatever scraps Secundo gave him opened him up even more.
Secundo cleared his throat. “Would you…like me to teach you piano? I give lessons.”
“I would like that,” Terzo said, his small smile spreading into a grin. “Nihil started teaching me guitar, but he keeps forgetting.”
“I’ll remind him,” Secundo said. He held out his hand to his brother to help him up.
AO3 Link
#ghost fandom#ao3 author#ghost band fic#ghost scenes from the void#ao3 fanfic#petrifyingpapas#young terzo#young secundo#fanfic#dark fantasy
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