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literary-illuminati · 4 months

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2024 Book Review #6 – Exordia by Seth Dickinson

This is a book I have been looking forward to for quite literally years, from someone who is easily one of my favourite working authors. I also read the short story the book was expanded out from before I even knew it was going to be a book, and so went in spoiled on the broad strokes of what turned out to be the climax of the whole thing. All to say my opinion on this is unlikely to match that of the typical reader, I guess.

Anyway, Exordia is a glorious spectacular mess that has no right to cohere anywhere near as well as it does. It’s target audience is small, but I’m certainly somewhere in it. Please ignore all the marketing it’s so bad you have to wonder if someone at Tor just has it out for the author.

Exordia is a, well, a profoundly difficult book to give any sort of plot summary for. The first act involves Anna, a 30-something survivor of the Anfal Genocide now living a rather unimpressive life in New York City, until one day in the early 2010s she sees an alien eating the turtles in Central Park. Then there’s a cat-and-mouse hunt between terrifying alien snake-centaurs for the future of free will in the galaxy, and the plot jumping to kurdistan, and six more POV characters from as many different nations, and nuclear weapons, and oh so many people dying messily. The first act is an oddly domestic and endearing piece of table setting, the second is (to borrow the idiom of the book’s own marketing) Tom Clancy meets Jeff Vandermeer or Roadside Picnic, and the third is basically impossible to describe without a multipage synopsis, but mostly concerned with ethical dilemmas and moral injuries. It’s to the book’s credit that it never bats an eye at shifting focus and scale, but it does make coming to grips with it difficult.

This is, as they say, a thematically dense book, but it’s especially interested in the fallout of imperialism. The Obama-era ‘don’t do stupid shit’ precise and sterile form of it in particular – the book’s a period piece for a reason, after all. The ethics of complicity – of being offered the choice of murdering and betraying those around you or having an alien power with vastly superior destructive powers inflict an order of magnitude more misery to you, them, and everyone in the same general vicinity to punish you for the inconvenience – is one that gets a lot of wordcount. It is not an accident that the man most willing and able to collaborate with the overwhelming powerful alien empire in hopes of bargaining some future for humanity is the National Security Council ghoul who came out of organizing surveillance information for the drone wars. It’s also not a coincidence that the main (if only by a hair) protagonist is someone with a lot of bitter memories over how the US encouraged Iraq’s kurdish population to rebel in the ‘90s and then just washed their hands and let them be massacred (the book couldn’t actually ship with a historical primer on modern kurdish history, so it’s woven into the story in chunks with varying amount of grace. But it is in fact pretty thematically key here).

Speaking of complicity, the book’s other overriding preoccupation in (in the broadest sense) Trolley Problems. Is it better to directly kill a small number of people or, through your inaction, allow a larger number to die? Does it matter is the small number is your countrymen and the larger foreigners, or vice versa? What about humans and aliens? Does it matter whether the choice is submitting to subjugation or killing innocents as a means to resist it? What about letting people around you die to learn the fundamental truth of the cosmos? Does the calculus change when you learn that immortal souls (and hell) are real? This is the bone the story is really built around chewing on.

All that probably makes the text seem incredibly didactic, or at least like a philosophical dialogue disguised as a novel. Which really isn’t the case! The book definitely has opinions, but none of the characters are clear author-avatars, and all perspectives are given enough time and weight to come across as seriously considered and not just as cardboard cutouts to jeer at. Okay, with the exception of one of the two aliens who you get the very strong sense is hamming it up as a cartoon villain just for the of it (he spends much of the book speaking entirely in all caps). There definitely are a couple points where it feels like the books turning and lecturing directly at the reader, but they’re both few and fairly short.

The characters themselves are interesting. They’re all very flawed, but more than that they’re all very...embodied, I guess? Distracted with how hot someone is, concerned with what they ate that morning or the smell of something disgusting, still not over an ex from years ago. Several of them are also sincerely religious in a way that’s very true to life to actual people but you rarely see in books. The result is that basically comes as being far more like actual humans than I’m at all used to in most fiction (of course, a lot of those very human qualities get annoying or eye-roll inducing fairly quickly. But hey, that’s life). Though that’s all mostly the case at the start of the book – the fact that the main cast are slowly turning into caricatures of themselves as they’re exposed to the alien soul manipulation technology is actually a major plot point, which I’m like fifty/fifty on being commentary on what happens to the image and legacy of people as they’re caught up in grand narratives versus just being extended setup for a joke about male leads in technothrillers being fanfic shipbait.

Part of the characters seeming very human is that some (though by no means all) of the POVs are just incredibly funny, in that objectively fucked up and tasteless way that people get when coping with overwhelming shock or trauma. It’s specifically because the jokes are so in-your-face awful that they fit, I think? It manages to avoid the usual bathetic trap a lot of works mixing in humour with drama fall into, anyway.

Speaking of alien soul manipulation technology – okay, you know how above I said that the points where the book directly lectured the reader were few and far between. This is true for lectures about politics or morality. All the freed up space in this 530 page tome is instead used for technobabble about theoretical math. Also cellular biology, cryptography, entropics, the organization of the American security state, how black holes work, and a few dozen other things. This book was edited for accuracy by either a doctoral student from every physical science and an award winning mathematician, or else just by one spectacularly confident bullshitter with several hundred hours on wikipedia. Probably both, really. I did very much enjoy this book, but that is absolutely predicated on the fact that when I knew when to let my eyes glaze over and start skimming past the proper nouns.

The book has a fairly complete narrative arc in its own right, but the ending also screams out for a sequel, and quite a lot of the weight and meaning of the book’s climax does depend on followthrough and resolution in some future sequel. Problematically, the end of the book also includes a massive increase in scale, and any sequel would require a whole new setting and most of a new cast of characters, so I’m mildly worried how long it will be before we get it (if ever).

The book is also just very...I’m not sure flabby is the right word, but it is doing many many different things, and I found some of them far more interesting than others. I’m not sure whether Dickinson just isn’t great at extended action scenes or if I am just universally bored by drawn out Tom Clancy fantasies, but either way there were several dozen pages too many of them. The extended cultural digressions about the upbringing and backstories of each of the seven POVs were meanwhile very interesting! (Mostly, I got bored of the whole Erik-Clayton-Rosamaria love triangle Madonna complex thing about a tenth of the way into the book but it just kept going.) It did however leave the book very full of extended tangents and digressions, even beyond what the technobabble did. Anna herself, ostensibly the main protagonist, is both utterly thematically loadbearing but very often feels entirely vestigial to the actual, like, plot, brought along for the ride because she’s an alien terrorist’s favourite of our whole species of incest-monkeys. The end result is, if not necessarily unfocused, then at least incredibly messy, flitting back and forth across a dozen topics that on occasion mostly just seem unified by having caught the author’s interest as they wrote.

It’s interesting to compare the book to Anna Saves It All, the short story it was based on – quite a lot changed! But that’s beyond the scope of this already overlong review. So I guess I’ll just say make sure to read the book first, if you’re going to.

#book review #exordia #seth dickinson #lesbian space atrocities #sff

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momolady · 2 years

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Rafael the Centaur

It's been a while since my last centaur, but I promise the wait hasn't been in vain. This new centaur has quite a different spin to him, he works in an office building!

Female Main Character x Male Monster (both cis) //////////////////////////

Recent bad press had led me to make a series of decisions I never thought I would make. But that’s been life until this point, a bunch of unexpected things I could never plan for. I should know by now not to count on being comfortable or settling, because so far that’s only caused me anxiety.

I never expected my small baking channel to garner any sort of popularity online. I never expected to be offered a chance to do a television show. I always hoped, but never dreamed, I would have my own series of cookbooks. But there I was, in the thick of it.

“Ms. O'Mooney? He’s coming down from his meeting, you can wait for him in his office now.” The voice of the young secretary pulled me from my anxiety riddled thoughts and back into reality. I stood, picking up my bag which now held all my hopes and dreams. What had once been a beautiful crock-pot of simmering expectations was now a free tote from the local bookstore.

“Thank you!” I said quietly to the smiling secretary before stepping in through the doors. I had been warned this agent was a real tough sell, so my usual anxiety would have been a dream vacation compared to now.

I was surprised by the large office, it could have held several cubicles from the looks of it. My footsteps echoed as I walked through the cavernous office, setting my things upon a large chair. There wasn’t a desk, but something more like a counter at a bar. The shining glass top reflected the bright light coming in through the windows.

I stepped towards the window to take in the scenery, watching in awe as tall buildings rose before me and blocked the horizon. I stepped back, nearly walking into one of the many great collections of plants and greenery that covered the office like a jungle. I grabbed the plant, keeping it upright as the ceramic pot wobbled.

The door opened just then as it looked like I was strangeling the poor plant. “I’ll make note of that, Will, for now I’m going to-” The scary publisher saw me man-handling his plant and he shut the door behind him.

“What on earth are you doing?”

I let go and held my hands up as if he was holding me at gunpoint. “Accident-” My voice cracked unceremoniously.

He sighed, shaking his head and removing his glasses. Tons of them lived in the country area where I grew up, but I had never seen a centaur in the city before. His long dark hair was braided and hung over his shoulder, which he tossed back as he walked in.

“Mr. Graves, right?” My pits were creating soggy embarrassments under my arms. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

He walked behind the high countertop, setting down a tablet and coffee cup. “Lilian O’Mooney, I’ve seen a lot of you.”

My whole mouth and throat went dry. “Okay.”

His dark brown eyes flicked over to me, and I have never been so intimidated in my life. I have had countless meetings like this, the only difference was that I was the wanted party, now I was on the other side, having to beg for the representation of this intimidating centaur with the incredibly thick legs.

“Such a shame what happened.” His eyes slowly fell back upon the countertop. He had my cookbooks stacked upon his desk and he placed his hand over them. “It surprised me when I saw you contact me in the beginning.”

“I know I’m not the household name I once was, Mr. Graves-” If my voice could stop cracking and my tongue stop sticking to the roof of my mouth, that would have been nice.

He looked back at me. “What makes you say that?”

Mr. Graves was a big, intimidating man, but it was the gaze of his eyes that sent shivers through me. “The scandal. Surely you know.”

“But the scandal wasn’t caused by you. You left when the news broke about the lawsuit.”

I nodded and ducked my head. “I could have paid better attention.”

Mr. Graves sighed heavily. “Why did you reach out to me then?”

“I don’t care about television or anything like that anymore. I can always go back to my channel and do something. I just want to continue publishing.”

He patted the stack of books on the counter. “You already have three cookbooks out, Ms. O’Mooney.”

“That’s barely half of what I have planned.” I reached into my tote and brought out the first binder. “I have so many more ideas! And I’ve only been adding on.”

Mr. Graves took the binder, opening it to find my handwritten notes as well as typed out recipes. “Why not a blog?”

“My old one was run by my previous agency, so I took it down and I am working on reformatting and uploading a new one. If that’s what I have to do, I’ll do it.”

Mr. Graves nodded as he flipped through the binder, eventually closing it and pushing it forward. “Did you really want to walk away from all of it? Or did you cave to the mounting pressure of what people were saying?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t want to work for abusers. I didn’t care what I lost. I never cared about fame. I just like to bake.”

Mr. Graves smirked and he chuckled. It sounded so insulting. “And that’s all you want to do?”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “I mean-”

“Mighty brave.” He laid his huge hand over my binder, nearly covering it. “I don’t see why we couldn’t take you into our agency.”

My heart leapt up in my chest where it thrummed until it almost stopped. “Really?” I looked up at him, seeing a handsome man rather than an intimidating stallion. “I thought for sure by your line of questioning, you were trying to scare me!”

Mr. Graves chuckled. “I kind of was, Ms. O’Mooney. It’s my way of vetting prospective clients.” His smile remained, appearing much gentler than before. “I like brave people, and what you did showed you’re not afraid to stand up for yourself and others. You know what you believe in, and you know what matters. I’ll help you continue to bake, Ms. O’Mooney.” Mr. Graves’ words almost had me in tears, but he saw me strangle a plant, I didn’t want him to see me cry either.

“Thank you,” my voice warbled. “This means so much to me, you have no idea! Thank you!”

Mr. Graves slipped back on his glasses. “We’ll get you set back up with proper management and someone to run your webpage. If you decide to restart your online channel we’ll begin working on the production of that as well.” He then lifted up the binder. “But for now, I suggest you hone this new cookbook of yours into something special. If you want to keep publishing, you’re going to have to make something that will outsell your previous ones.”

“You think that’s possible?” I murmured as I took the binder back from him. I held it tight in my arms, hugging what was left of my dreams as I felt them pulse back to life.

Those dark eyes focused upon me and I shivered all over again. “I’ll make it possible, Ms. O’Mooney. I can promise you that. As long as we work together, I’m sure we can find a way to do what's best and do it in a way people will trust again.”

I nodded, uncertain but brimming with hope again. “I have one request...suggestion,” I cleared my throat. “I would like some of the proceeds to go towards victims of sexual assault.”

“Smart idea,” he replied. “It’ll help sales and get people talking. Once this stone gets rolling, we’ll see what we can do.”

“Good, I’m glad.” It was a relief to walk out of there with a small victory in my grasp, but it was going to be hard work from there on out.

I was used to grinding and burning the candle at both ends. This wasn’t new to me, getting the ball rolling on all these new deals and projects felt much easier now. It was strange, I thought switching to a new agency would bring about new rules and drama before I got established again, but Mr. Graves had made the transition very smooth.

Mr Graves was intimidating, but only because he knew what he had to do and how he wanted things. I enjoyed working with him much more than my old agency, even when things were good there, by a longshot.

“We can get you a set made up in town,” he grumbled as we were doing a test run on my channel reboot.

“But I like my kitchen, and I had it set up for this sort of thing anyways.” I was setting aside the ingredients I would need while he held this look of disdain on his face.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

He huffed and his tail swished. “Don’t you get bored out here with nothing to do?”

“I usually just bake,” I said.

Mr. Graves scoffed and shook his head. “The nearest place to get food is twenty minutes away.”

I still wasn’t catching his drift. “My kitchen?”

Mr. Graves’ tail swished harder and he stomped one of his huge hooves. “No, I mean, to go out! Away from home. You don’t even have a bar around here.”

“It’s a dry county,” I was finally starting to catch his meaning. “I’m a country girl, Mr. Graves. I like it out here, the city freaks me out. That’s why I moved back home as soon as I left the show. I hated it there.”

“Well, I’m a city boy. And coming down here to film is like nails on a chalkboard to me.” he crossed his arms tight against his barrel chest. “But your show is important.”

“I still can’t help but feel like that’s an insult, Mr. Graves.” I checked my ingredients again. “I guess you won’t be wanting any of the apple pie I’ll be making today.”

His ears flicked and his body jerked. “How did you get that out of what I said?”

“You don’t like the country, so you must not like country apples,” I smiled teasingly at him. “Right?”

Mr. Graves’ frowned at me. “Do I look like I’d turn down any sort of pie, Ms. O’Mooney?”

I smirked as he went back to check the cameras and the lighting. I was starting to feel friendly with Mr. Graves.

I loved my channel more than I ever did the cooking show. Mr. Graves’ suggestions of it really helped me plan and get excited every time we filmed. In a year's time, I was doing what I loved again and enjoying it more than I ever had.

“Are you sure there’s not more you want to be doing?” Mr. Graves asked me one day.

I was washing dishes at the sink, which could have been done by any of the assistants, but I enjoyed the moment of calm it gave me. “I’m happy right now, what more could I ask for?”

He sighed and stepped in closer to the sink. He took one of the dishes, and began drying it for me. His presence was warm, not the intimidating shadow I had first gotten to know. I thought of him more as a guardian these days, and I appreciated all his efforts. I owed him so much, but I wasn’t sure how to breach the topic.

As I handed him another dish to wash, his large fingers brushed against mine and my smile became awkward and unsure. “You really don’t have to help with this, Mr. Graves. I’ve got it.”

“It’s fine,” he muttered. He dried the pan and set it aside. “You don’t have to keep calling me that. We’ve known each other long enough, you can call me Rafael.”

I bit my bottom lip at the surprise. “I thought you said-”

“I know I said to keep it professional, but I’d like to hear you call me by my name.” His hand stalled as he took the next pan. “If that’s alright. Lilian.”

Rafael’s eyes were more warm than dark, like fresh baked brownies from the oven. I smiled at him, reassuring him since he looked uncharacteristically nervous. “Sure, Rafael. I don’t mind.”

“Good,” he sounded breathless, “good.” he continued drying.

It was silent for a long spell after that, and the two of us continued washing dishes together.

“I may have to take a break,” he murmured.

“Are your hands getting pruney?” I asked.

Rafael swallowed. “No. I mean from the agency.”

I stopped what I was doing and turned to face him. “Okay-” I dragged out the word in my uncertainty. “Is everything alright?”

His expression was blank, but there was something in those brown eyes. “I had a doctor’s appointment the other day-”

My gut dropped. In that brief moment, my eyes began to well up with tears and I imagined what he could possibly say to me. I reached out for him, trying to take his hand but he stepped back from me.

“Is it...is it bad?” My voice choked up.

“I suppose,” he grumbled. “My doctor said I would possibly need knee surgery.” He motioned down to his front legs, patting closer to the right. “I have to get some other tests done and see a specialist who is in a whole other state to be sure. But she told me it was a pretty definite thing.”

That huge weight lifted off me and I swatted his arm for scaring me so badly. “You lead with that! I was so scared! I had every sort of worst case scenario running through my head in that split second.” I swatted him again and this time he caught my hand. I yanked it back and rubbed at my eyes which had welled up.

Rafael turned away. “Sorry to make it sound so grim, I just can’t stand the thought of it.” he tossed his head and huffed. “I’ve never been a fan of doctors, but the idea of having to get surgery is really bothersome.”

“The idea you’re sick and dying was really bothersome!” I snapped at him. “Knee surgery happens every dang day! If you need it, it's going to help you. Not nearly giving your friend a panic attack!” I sniffled and looked back up at him. “What else did your doctor say to you?”

The way the speckled brown of his face went from pale to nearly red was like watching a sunrise. Rafael grumbled under his breath, patting his side and squeezing. “She said I should start losing a few pounds. But that’s her advice for everything.”

“It couldn’t hurt,” I murmured. “Maybe I could try and make a few recipes for that,” I started thinking to myself, then Rafael snapped his fingers to bring me back.

Rafael instantly shook his head in disapproval. “You’re not a healthy eating expert, you're a comfort expert, stick to your wheelhouse,” Rafael crossed his arms again and his tail shook. “Doing your gluten free and vegan versions is healthy enough.”

“Well, maybe you and I can start walking between filming?” I suggested. “Oh no, it’s your knee, that might not be good.”

Rafael rolled his eyes. “My doctor told me if I do have to have surgery, I’ll be laid up for weeks maybe.” he shivered from his ears down to his tail. “It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. I figured I could work from home, but that apartment is barely liveable as is.”

I thought for a moment then gasped as the idea dawned on me. “Why not come stay with me?”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

I broke into a huge smile. “This house here. I have the room and space for it! It’d be a lot better to heal here than in your cramped apartment.”

A blush began to grow over his brown, speckled face. “I know your house, Lilian. I’m standing in it. Why offer that?”

I approached him with a smile. “I know you’re not a fan of the countryside, but if you stay with me, I’ll be around to help take care of you, and we can work on the next cookbook together if you get bored. I know how you hate not working.”

He grimaced as he thought. “It would be easier to move around your place than my apartment. But it’s still in the country.”

“I know, I know,” I huffed. “Think about it. Once you know what’s going to happen, just consider it.”

“Fine,” Rafael sighed. “I’ll consider it.” He turned back to the dishes to start putting them away, but he stalled again. “Actually, do you mind coming with me to my appointment?”

“Really?” I blurted it out then cleared my throat. “You want me to?”

He sighed and kept his eyes down. “It’s on a filming day though. So I don’t expect you to come. I just wanted to ask.”

I closed the gap between us and stood beside him. “I can have Keisha edit together a bloopers video, and I can film the sponsorship spot on my own. If you want me to go with you, I’ll go. I’m surprised you would ask me of all people.”

Rafael looked down upon me with a soft, sweet expression on his face I had never seen before. “It’s rare I make a friend in this business. I mean-” he hesitated. “Or consider someone a friend.”

I broke into a big smile. “I am your friend, I’d be happy to take you to your doctor’s appointment.”

Rafael smiled unsurely. “That means a lot to me, Lilian.”

I returned his smile and my heart pitter pattered away inside my chest. “You sort of saved me, I owe you.”

“No,” Rafael scoffed. “You did all that on your own.”

///////////

The surgery went well, and a day later I was able to bring him home. He’s mostly been resting since then, staying to himself in the room I set up for him. But partly, I think he’s doing that because of something he said on the way home while he was still a little dopey on painkillers.

I didn’t think too much of it, while it had been shocking at the time, I figured the painkillers had caused the outburst so I put it behind me. It has been awkward, and while he’s been able to move around the house on his cart, I’ve not seen much of him; almost like he’s avoiding me.

“I’ve got dinner ready,” I said after knocking on his door.

“I’m not that hungry just yet. Leave me a plate in the fridge, alright? I’m finishing up some of these edits on your next book.”

I frowned at the door. “Well, alright. I’ll be out here if you want any company.”

“Thank you, Lilian,” he murmured from inside.

This wasn’t like him at all, he was such a people person, unlike me. He was always his best around people.

I cleaned up the kitchen and made Rafael a plate I put in the fridge. Afterwards, I made myself coffee and sat at the table with a bit of apple crumble while I scrolled through my phone. It was raining outside, so I left the doors open to hear the patter of it upon the tin roof. The atmosphere was tranquil, cool, and time was still.

There came the squeaking of wheels from down the hallway, and a moment later, Rafael appeared. His front legs rested on the special cart he’d been given after his surgery. He looked disheveled, unshaven and wrapped in a gray hoodie. He didn’t see me at the table as he opened up the fridge. Once he turned, he flinched like he had seen a ghost.

“Oh-” Rafael closed the fridge while his eyes darted around, looking for something to focus on. “I didn’t think you’d still be in here.”

“I was dicking around on my phone with coffee.” I watched him curiously. “Are you alright?”

“I had surgery,” he grumbled as he removed the cellophane from his dinner plate, and it stuck to his hand.

“Yeah, I know. But your doctor said you’d be fine to move around by now. Is something bothering you?” My heart then leapt up into my throat. How could I be so stupid and not consider this before? “Are you abusing your painkillers?”

“No!” He snapped at me, still trying to shake the cellophane off. “My painkillers are nothing but glorified ibuprofen. You know that!” He grabbed the plastic wrap with one hand and slammed it down to get rid of it.

“Right-” I muttered weakly “Uhmm...then what’s been up with you? You’ve kept yourself holed up in your room almost all this time.”

Rafael scoffed and he picked at his food with his fingers. “It’s nothing to worry about, Lilian.”

I raised my brows at him.

“Don’t give me that look!” He tried to move but that same sheet of cellophane got caught in the wheel of his cart. “What the fuck is this?”

I stood up and went to him, kneeling down to remove the plastic wrap from his wheel. “I know something is up with you. Out with it or I wrap your bed in plastic wrap.”

Rafael pouted and looked away from me. “I told you not to worry about it.”

“Okay, wrapping your bed up in plastic,” I grumbled as I stood up.

Rafael grabbed my hand, stopping me from going any further, but also freezing me in my tracks with how sharp but gentle his touch was. I looked back up at him, seeing the pained look in his eyes.

“Oh,” I jerked at my realization. “Is this about what you said when you were high?”

His grip around my wrist tightened and he pressed his mouth into a firm line.

“It’s okay. I once tried swimming in an empty pool the first time I tried pot. I mean, I broke my arm, but it was because I was high and sixteen.”

“I wasn’t high and sixteen though.” Rafael let go of me and he smoothed his hand over the front of his hoodie then fidgeted with the pull strings. “I was mildly drugged and thirty-eight.”

I placed my hand upon his arm. “It’s really okay. People say all sorts of things when they’re mildly drugged after surgery. There’s a whole genre of that online.”

Those dark brown eyes fell onto my hand and his lips puckered slightly. “As a professional though, it’s embarrassing.”

I squeezed his arm. “As my friend, I can let it slide.”

A heavy breath left through his nostrils and he looked into my eyes. There was a beat where I felt the air change and something different was about to happen. I kept a hold of his arm and I looked away.

“It’s not like you meant it anyways,” I tried to laugh. “Right?”

Rafael remained silent.

I wasn’t sure what to do, I didn’t even move my hand off his arm. I just stood there. I bit my lip as I tried to think, tried to plan, tried to plot. This was Rafael, he didn’t fool around or tease like this. Everything he said, he meant. Even if he was doped on painkillers, every word from his mouth would be earnest. But I had chosen to believe otherwise until now.

“Lilian,” he said sternly. “You can let me go now.”

I didn’t. In fact, I squeezed harder onto his arm. I looked up into his eyes, and while I wanted to remain cool for his sake, tears still welled up in my eyes and my throat began to choke up in the back of my throat. I swallowed, but nothing helped soothe this sudden rush of emotions bubbling up.

I opened my mouth to speak and Rafael put his hand over my mouth.

“It’s true,” he murmured. “What I said then, even if I was out of my mind, I meant it. And I can’t look you in the eyes just yet.”

I sniffled and my chest began to shudder. Rafael moved his hand, smoothing that huge palm over my cheek, while his strong fingers brushed away the tears I squeezed from my eyes as I closed them.

“Don’t cry,” he sighed.

“I can’t help it. No one has ever told me they loved me before,” I whined pitifully. “I can’t believe you’re the one who said it!”

Rafael’s hand stilled on my cheek. “Is that a good or bad thing?”

I whimpered and hiccuped, rubbing my eyes so I could look at him without such a ridiculous face, but I couldn’t stop. I continued to cry, and Rafael put his hands upon my shoulders and let me weep against his hoodie. I clung onto it, making myself calm down enough so I could speak again.

“If this is going to cause a problem, I can have Will deal with everything until I can get over this. I promise, this isn’t going to affect anything. I’ll keep working for you just as-”

I tugged hard on his hoodie. “Hush!” I swallowed and caught my breath again. “Since I started working with you, I haven’t enjoyed baking this much since my granny was still alive.” I hiccuped again. “You’ve made working like this a joy, you’ve made my cookbooks something really special.” I looked up into his confused eyes. “You’re my friend.”

Rafael nods solemnly. “You’re mine too, which is why-”

“I love you.”

Rafael stopped everything. He cut off mid sentence, holding his mouth in the same pose. He wasn’t breathing, I don’t think anything inside him was working. “I want to-” He took a breath. “Remain-” He looked into my eyes.

I nodded and stood on my tiptoes. “I love you,” I repeated in case he didn’t hear it. “Is that o-'' Rafael picked me up off the ground, pulling me into a tight embrace and laying his face against my hair.

“When?” he whispered.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him as tightly as he held me. “What do you mean?”

“I remember the moment I realized it. It was that first day of shooting and you were so excited over one of the tech guys fixing your grandmother’s mixer. I saw you smiling and thought ‘I want to work all my life for this person, just to see that smile everyday’. I was so fucking terrified of that thought I tried burying it. But I could never forget it, no matter what I tried.”

“Rafael-” my voice tremored.

“I just want to know if you had a similar moment?”

“I’m not sure,” I murmured against his cheek. “I just know everyday it’s been growing, the more I see you, the happier I get. Whenever you say my name, I can hardly stand myself,” I laughed. “Your hair is really tangled. Let me brush it.”

“Not now,” he whispered. He pulled back and I lost my breath. My heart was pounding so wildly I couldn’t stop a moment to process what was happening. His lips touched my cheek and neck, then they pressed against my mouth and I was swooning.

When Rafael pulled away, I figured a few days had gone by at least, but the rain hitting the tin roof was still going strong.

“We should hit pause on this, for now.” Rafael cleared his throat and placed me back down on my feet. “We should talk about this a little more in depth. Don’t you think?”

I just made a noise as I didn't have a thought in my head besides kisses and big hands. I glanced back up into his eyes and nodded.

“I’m glad you think so.” He cleared his throat. “There is a lot here we need to discuss.”

“We do?” I was finally able to speak.

Rafael got a cross look that softened just as soon as it appeared. “Of course we do! We work together, we’re starting a production company together soon. We can't just fling ourselves into some romance if we’re not going to be taking this seriously! And if we are friends then we deserve to make sure we’re going to take care of that.”

“Yes, of course. Of course.” I clear my throat. “Maybe I should put on some coffee for us. We can talk here.”

“That’s fine,” Rafael murmured.

I fumbled with the coffee pot, forgetting how having a body worked for a short spell. I glanced up from the sink, seeing him standing over the table as he lifted the newspaper.

“I remember,” I gasped.

Rafael looked back at me. “Remember what?”

“The moment!” I smiled shyly at him. “It was a couple of days after we started filming. You’d gone out of your way to get me the right kind of apples I had wanted, because the crew wasn’t sure. You drove to that fancy grocery store an hour away. You didn’t tell anyone why you’d left so everyone was kind of panicked. And when you got back and I saw you walking up my steps-” I stopped and broke into a big smile. “It was like Prince Charming coming to give Cinderella her shoe back.”

Rafael walked around the counter to stand before me. “I’m no Prince Charming, I’m barely even charming.” He placed his big hand upon my cheek. “But I would think of you as my princess.”

I cupped my hands over my face. “Stop! That’s too much for me!”

He kissed the top of my head with a chuckle. “Let me see that smile at least.”

I lowered my hands, beaming up at him with tears in my eyes. He kissed me, sitting me upon the counter just so he could kiss me more.

A few days later I took Rafael walking around the house. He’d just gotten a good report from his checkup, and his doctor asked him to try walking short distances every day.

“How does it feel?” I asked.

“It’s fine. Weird feeling but fine,” he huffed.

I pointed to the big red barn. “My grandparents got married there, which is why we never tore it down, even when we couldn’t keep up with the farm anymore.”

“Are you suggesting something?” Rafael chuckled.

I jumped out of my skin. “No! No! I was just saying-”

“Show me.” He tugged on my hand, having me lead him up into the barn.

Inside it was dusty, filled with what remained of my grandfather’s old farm equipment and Christmas decorations. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the walls, while dust floated amongst them.

“It’s really nice here.” Rafael murmured.

“I’ve often thought about doing something with it. Maybe fix it up so people can have weddings here.” Rafael then picked me up, setting me on top of the wall so I was above him. He smirked at me and I had to glance away.

“I’m not mentioning weddings a lot for any reason, I swear!”

Rafael kissed my neck and I lost my breath. He moaned against my skin and a shiver went down my body.

“This feels different,” I muttered, leaning back until I touched a beam.

“You look so beautiful right now,” he whispered in my ear. Rafael pulled back a bit and looked into my eyes. “I’m feeling pretty good today too.” His eyes went down my body and my heartbeat spiked.

“Whoa, whoa,whoa-” I caught my breath. “Just how good are you feeling?”

Rafael licked his lips. “If it’s alright with you, I’ll show you.” He unbuttoned my overalls and slowly tugged them down until they hung off of one foot. He stepped in close, kissing my shoulders and collarbone.

My legs felt slightly cold, so I wrapped them around him. “That tickles,” I whimpered.

Those hands I loved so much pushed up my shirt and he kissed between my breasts. “Does this?”

“A little,” I whimpered.

Rafael’s hands traveled down my waist to my hips, gently kneading his fingers into my soft skin. He looked up at me, kissing me softly as his fingers traced the lace on my panties.

I gasped against his lips as I felt his fingers find purchase on something much more sensitive. I gripped onto his arm and a soft chuckle rumbled in his throat.

“Right here,” he whispered into my ear. “Is that the spot?”

I whimpered as his fingers sunk deeper into the fabric, his touch becoming more direct. I tightened my hands around his arms.

“It’s alright, isn’t it?” He asked.

“Yeah,” I panted.

Rafael kissed my cheek and neck. “Does it feel good?”

I nodded wordlessly.

“Good,” he moaned. “All I want to do is make you happy and smile.”

His fingers rubbed up and down the crotch of my panties, finding them grow wetter with each stroke. He groaned into my ear and my whole body shivered.

“Do you mind if I touch a little more closely?” He whispered.

I nodded again with a whimper.

“It’s alright, my love.” He kissed my lips. “Just going to push this little bit of fabric aside and-” he hissed and I cried out as his bare fingers touched my vulva. He rubbed me up and down very slowly, moaning into my ear as he did.

“Is that alright?” He breathed.

“You’re so warm,” I whimpered.

He chuckled, kissing my cheek and lips. “You have no idea how good you feel.” His fingers gently sunk inside. He then sputtered with a laugh.

“What?”

He shook his head, a big grin on his face. “Just thinking something stupid.”

I gulped as his thumb rubbed to my clit. “Tell me.”

Rafael kissed me as his finger slipped inside. “Just thinking that...I love every pie you’ve ever made.”

I started laughing but was choked by how good his fingers worked below.

Rafael removed his hand, licking his fingers with a smile upon his face. He looked into my eyes, kissing me before pressing more down my body. His torso knelt down and he placed his head between my thighs.

“Wait-” I whimpered.

“Unless you want me to stop, I will.” he pushed my panties aside more. “But right now, I’m wanting to make you happy.”

His tongue lapped over me and I quivered. I cupped my hand over my mouth, even though no one was around for miles. Rafael moaned against me, sending shivers up my spine. His fingers slipped back inside, moving slowly as he licked and kissed my folds.

I took hold of his hair, tugging it gently. This only made his eyes flick up and look at me. Those eyes had affected me since the moment I met him, now, in their spell, something else powerful occured. Rafael’s touch and affections radiated through my whole body, pulling my limbs so they curled. My back arched and I pulled his hair a little too hard in my excitement. I dribbled down his chin, and he lapped up the corners of his mouth with that amazing tongue.

“I like seeing this as much as your smile.” Rafael laid down his hoodie and laid behind me so I could snuggle against him.

My legs were still shaking and I was trying to catch my breath. I looked up into the streams of light filtering through the wood of the barn. It sparkled brighter and more radiant before. I leaned back into Rafael more and his fingers combed through my hair.

“I really enjoyed that,” I giggled. “Even if you compared me to a pie.”

Rafael knelt down and kissed my cheek. “I love you, I just felt like...pampering you a little.”

I beamed up at him. “I love you too. I’ll have to pamper you next time.”

Rafael let out a laugh. “Maybe we can pamper each other together. Does that sound fun to you?”

#exophilia #monster romance #monster fudger #monsterxhuman #monsterxreader #monster love #centaur #centaur romance #momolady monsters #my writing

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beeshoesometimesdraws · 2 months

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It is I, Soup.

For the centaur au, have any fun little tidbits or facts about Sun and Moon?

Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think you have any major stuff about them on your blog yet, and I’m a little curious about them.

If you don’t have anything to tell yet, go ahead and ramble about some other random character, I’ll enjoy it either way✨✨✨

(Sorry if these aren’t the kinds of question you wanted lol)

*gasp* it is the great Soup! :0

You’re all good! I love all the questions lol

Yeaaaah I’ve kinda neglected sharing stuff about them since most of the focus has been on the others though I’ll be happy to share what I have about them! :D

Sun ☀️

Sun is based off a palomino tennessee walking horse

Sun’s main job on the farm is planting and taking care of and harvesting the crops and also taking care of the smaller animals like the chickens and goats and pigs

Sun is also the one in charge of actually going out and selling whatever goods they have (fruits, vegetables, cheese and jams, eggs, wool, etc) as he does better with socializing and has more patience and energy than Moon does

Despite not working in a daycare in this au (that being Earth’s job), Sun is still very good with kids and, if they’re not busy, will sometimes stop by the daycare and help Earth with the kiddos

Sun likes to cook and bake and make jams using the strawberries and blueberries they collect and they often bake with Earth and Lunar when they have the time—their favorite things to bake are pies, specifically apple pie (they know how to do all the cool design stuff with the dough and make it look really neat and pretty)

Sun will often times let her cats ride along on her back as she does the chores (though they aren’t allowed in the chicken coop for obvious reasons)

Sun is still really big on cleanliness in this au and can spend hours cleaning the house and the barn and whatever else they’re able to get to to clean—Sun is also big on keeping themself clean as well as has one of the sleekest and shiniest coats of all the celestial fam

Sun is taller than Moon, if only by a few inches

Moon 🌙

Moon is based off a black and white paint

Moon’s main job on the farm is working with the sheep, with the help of Solar, and Sun when he’s available (raising them, moving and herding them between pastures, sheering and collecting their wool, etc)

Moon is also the main handyman on the farm alongside Solar

Moon is a big coffee drinker and will even eat the beans straight if he’s in a rush, he’s the “I can’t function until I’ve had my coffee” sort of guy

Moon is less concerned about cleanliness than Sun and has gotten himself chewed out by Sun a couple times for coming back to the house covered in mud and tracking it everywhere

Moon cannot cook or bake to save his life and is not allowed in the kitchen when the others are cooking or baking

Moon, sometimes with Sun or one of the others, goes to visit KC when he can (they are working things out and getting better though they still aren’t on the best of terms)

While he is calmer in this au than in canon, Moon can still get very angry if triggered and can be pretty damn scary when he is; the coyotes and wild cats who have tried to mess with his sheep and other animals have been on the receiving end of this, and so has Eclipse-

That’s all the little tidbits I have to share rn! I’ll start working on the designs for these two soon since I finally have some ideas on what I wanna do >:)

#bee talks #centaur au #tsams #tsams au #sun and moon show #tsams sun #tsams moon #this au also leans into being a farmer/cowboy au if ya couldn’t tell

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deathmetalunicorn1 · 1 year

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Ok so au single dad centaur Jack and his tiny daughter fall through a portal from there world right into the arena while a match is going on in the RoR world. Chaos ensues since of course centaur Jack doesn’t know what’s going on or if anyone here is an enemy or ally and he’s trying to protect his daughter or however you think he would react. RoR people postpone the fight to try and get the familiar centaurs out of the arena. The daughter gets separated from her father and try’s to get back to him but is caught then gets away, runs, and then jumps up into the stands and runs around in fear and confusion reeking havoc. Jack and Hlokk’s reactions to seeing all this on her tv. And somehow Jack and Hlokk meet the centaurs.

Jacks daughter a fast runner, with her long legs she can out run her father if she really books it, but doesn’t have a lot of stamina. She’s also strong for being so young. She’s young enough to still need breast milk so he has her suckle from a special fruit that instead of juice, produces a milk like substance that is a bit sweet and has all the nutrients she needs without having to much like cows milk. He keeps a sack of them on hand. It’s shaped like a giant strawberry the size of an adult human head and every part is edible. I made up this fruit. Jack found her after her mother was killed buy a wild animal right after she was born so he adopted her.

-You had been walking around with your father, gathering milk berries, large strawberry shaped fruits that had a milky based nectar, your main source of food at the moment since you were still so young, so small, needing the extra calcium and nutrients.

-Your adopted father, Jack, was a thinner centaur, but very strong and very fast, despite his looks, had found you only a few months after you had been born, your mother killed by a bear, and he took you in, raising you to be his precious child.

-He did his best raising you, teaching you things as you grew, how to track and forage, but you were never far from his side, afraid to leave him, not wanting to be alone again.

-You were very petite for your size, even compared to other centaurs who were younger than you, so Jack did his research to locate milk berries what would help your body.

-A bright magic light surrounded the two of you as you stepped into the shallow river, to cross it and you could feel your father grabbing your hand.

-After being momentarily stunned there was such a loud noise that you were instantly startled, you and Jack finding yourselves in the middle of a massive stadium, two warriors instantly laying their weapons down, seeing the sudden centaurs in the center of the arena.

-Zeus had felt an unknown magic and was stunned to see the two centaurs, one of them looking very familiar while the other was only a child.

-The fight was immediately called off as several gods, including Zeus, were all quick to enter the arena.

-You clung to one of your father’s back legs, hiding behind him as he stomped, giving them a warning, “Stay back!”

-Zeus was quick to approach, but stayed a respectful distance back, “I know this may be unnerving, but may I ask where you came from?”

-Your papa spoke, telling the god that you and him had been walking through a forest and tried to cross a shallow river when a bright light blinded the two of you and you both woke up here.

-Zeus stroked his beard, a hum leaving him, “I’m not sure what type of magic called you here. We can provide some accommodations while we look into this.”

-Jack went to agree, mainly as he could tell you were scared and he wanted to get you some place quiet where you could calm down, but froze when you let out a squeak, as one of the fighters approached you from behind, asking if you were okay, as he could see that you were shaking.

-You got spooked and instantly took off running, not even hearing your papa, “Y/N! Y/N wait!!” and instantly the crowds went into panic mode as you managed to leap up from the arena into the stands, running to where it was dark, as that meant a hiding place!

-Zeus was quick to shout out orders, “DON’T CHASE HER!!” many were surprised by this before they quickly realized that if they chased you, you would be more scared.

-Hlokk and Jack, watching from her room, had seen the new guests arrive, and Jack could only stare, seeing that the older centaur looked exactly like him.

-Once backstage, Zeus asked Papa Jack where you could have gone and the older centaur, while worried, kept a level head, as he knew that wouldn’t help anything, “I’ve taught her to find dark places, caves, thickets, places where she hide, but she likely won’t be anywhere nearby, despite her small size, Y/N is very fast, faster than me.”

-With this information, Zeus and Odin sent out a search party, pairing up gods and humans to search for you, while putting out the word to anyone they could to keep an eye out for you.

-Brunnhilde received a call from Hlokk only about ten minutes later, “Big Sis! Jack and I have her here, she’s safe but she’s having a bit of a meltdown over here!”

-Zeus, Brunnhilde, Odin, Papa Jack, and Goll quickly went to Hlokk’s room, where sobbing was heard and your papa was quick to rush forward, “Y/N!”

-You were in the lap of a human man, who looked exactly like your papa; the two Jack’s froze, looking at each in stunned astonishment as you turned, hearing your name and your eyes went wide, seeing your papa and you were quick to stand, without hurting Jack, and rushed into your father’s arms, “You didn’t lose your back legs!!”

-Chuckles went through the room, Hlokk allowing them all to remain as she explained that you had seen the human Jack and rushed to him, thinking that was your father, before realizing he had lost his back legs and had a meltdown, lamenting his loss.

-Many found it amusing, but neither Jack nor Papa made you feel foolish as they were trying to make sense of it themselves on how there were two of them.

-The two of you were welcome to Valhalla, given your own quarters while they tried to figure out what was going on, and how you both came to be here.

-The two of you came to love Valhalla, as it was safe, there were no predators, no hunters, no threats to your lives and Zeus welcomed you both warmly to stay, as you and Hlokk had become friends and the two Jacks were enjoying time together as well, learning how they differed from each other and how they were similar.

#record of ragnarok #ror x reader #ror jack the ripper

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thyla-scene360 · 10 months

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Hey Look! An OC!

This here is a very old character of mine going back to early 2018. Her name is Scotty and she’s a Felidarian, a species of mine that are more or less cat-centaurs. She was one of the main protagonists in an old story of mine that’s currently being reworked into the main story I’m working on.

As you can see, she’s gone full cat mode here lol.

#cattaur #cat #centaur #original character #oc art #ocs #oc #digital art #worldbuilding

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danzinora-switch · 2 years

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So in the span of just under two weeks I reread the entire Fablehaven series.

This was my all-time favorite series growing up, and I reread it multiple times. But, this was my first time as an adult reading it through, so here are my fresh takes. Hidden below for spoilers and length of post.

- Grandpa Sorenson is so stressed. Especially in the first book. His wife is a chicken, he’s got a preserve to run, and he’s just had two naive kids dumped on him during one of the most dangerous nights of the year. He’s struggling just to keep them ALIVE but one especially just keeps poking the hornet’s nest and gets himself transformed into a walrus. And then opens a window. And keeps sneaking into the woods. Honestly, I don’t blame him for having a small breakdown in book 3. He’s been under tremendous pressure and responsibility.

- Grandma Sorenson is a BADASS. Right out the gate when we meet her, fresh out of chicken form, she is immediately telling Muriel to gtfo her property and sets about planning a rescue for the others. She goes into the Forbidden Chapel with the crossbow because she intends to KILL if it comes down to using it. She’s decisive, one heck of a negotiator, and firm. Legend.

- Seth really matures over the series. Like, book 1 he’s a kid getting into trouble (painful, terrible, trouble). He’s young, reckless and stupid. But the seeds are planted. He opens the window because he thinks he’s saving a baby. In book 2, he’s tricked by several adults multiple times, but we really get to see him be truly courageous. Book 3 he’s starting to learn from his mistakes, and consider the future consequences of his actions (though not entirely in full, he insults centaurs into helping them but basically goes “yeah, we’ll cross that whole duel-to-the-death bridge when we get there”). Book 4 he’s ready for action, he’s ready to go on the offensive, and he takes /calculated/ risks that pay off. Book 5, yes. He was tricked into healing Graulus. But he takes responsibility and fixes his mess. He’s far more seasoned, and grown.

- Kendra grows in her own way. If Seth is the definition of “learning things the hard way” Kendra is bound by “doing the right thing, even if she hates hit.” Multiple times throughout the series she steps up for dangerous, deadly tasks, not because she wants to, but because there’s no other choice and she knows it. She also doesn’t take an easy out when presented. She fights to stay. Petitioning the Fairy Queen is dangerous, but it’s the only way she can save her family. Leading the climb up Lost Mesa is deadly, but she’s the only one who can see the trail. And so she insists they include her, even though she’s scared and would prefer to stay home. As the tasks get deadlier and deadlier, she’s still right there in thick of it, doing what she can.

- Also on Kendra, one thing I really appreciated was that she really demonstrates that kind =/= nice. She can give as good as she gets. She and Seth banter and tease each other constantly, and she has some real sarcastic sass saved for members of the Society. But she remains so kind that the Fairy Queen picked her as her handmaiden. It’s brilliantly portrayed.

- Hugo.

- “Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others.” - Dale. This quote stuck with me the moment 11-year-old me first read it, and has had quite the influence on my life.

- Vanessa deserves more credit, even though she is the main driver behind the entire theme of trust issues the books explore.

- Tanu is the best. They would all be so dead many times over without him.

- Dale takes a look at people getting transformed into other beings or substances, magically imprisoned, or outright killed and goes ‘nope, not messing with any of that. I’m just gonna do my job and play it safe’. Warren looks at all those things and goes ‘let me fill my bingo card.’

- Most of my favorite guy names come from this series. Warren. Seth. Patton. Gavin. The exception is Tobias, which comes from the Animorphs. No offense to Bracken for not being included on the list, I just always think of the Warrior Cats, sorry.

- I didn’t like Coulter as a kid, but his rough edges make him feel more real. Vanessa is cool. Warren is awesome. Tanu is friendly. Coulter is like a cactus. But damn if I wasn’t tearing up at his death at the end. Sexism and caustic personality aside, he knew his trade and did his best to help. And, I’m not sure how much of it was just talk. In book 2 he straight up told Seth and Kendra that if it came down to it, he would save himself. But it did come down to it in the grove, and he saved Seth with the pod. He knew what to do whenever the chips were down.

- The staaaaakes. They just get realer and realer with each book.

- I wish we could have seen more of Laura, the caretaker of Obsidian Waste. This woman’s entire family is captured, held hostage by zombies, and she’s supposed to lead this team of Knights, none of whom she knows, to their doom. Instead, she stabs her protege and warns them of the trap, signing her family’s death warrants in the process. She commits sabotage all the way up until the final moment. RESPECT.

- I constantly wish I could eat the food in Fablehaven. Whether made by Lena, or the brownies, or magic, it just sounds sooo tasty.

- Death gets more real with each book. I mean, it practically opens recounting the death of Grandma and Grandpa Larsen on page 2. Errol Fisk is the first to truly die, and yeah he was a bad guy but it was surprisingly brutal. Then we start losing some ‘redshirts’ - Tammy, Neil, Javier, at Lost Mesa. But again, the method is still shocking. Tammy is straight up flung off a cliff. You don’t see it coming. Then Rosa off-screen. And then in book 4 we have to go through “Kendra’s” death, which feels real to Seth and the others. And Dougan, who is no longer a redshirt, we know him. And Gavin/Navarog. And then book 5.

- As a kid I pretend to be a voice actor for a character from each book if they ever became movies. Book 1: Muriel, Book 2: The fairy guarding the Forgotten Chapel, Book 3: Chalize, Book 4: Nafia/Nyssa, Book 5: Civia. Plus the naiads in general.

- The Totem Wall is still so freaking cool. So are astrids.

- Raxtus being the best friend ever.

- “Some imagine the difference between heaven and hell to be a matter of geography. Not so. The difference is much more evident in the individuals who dwell there.” - Agad. MAN.

- I think, with more time and opportunity, Warren could be the next Patton. And I think Seth is in a league all on his own.

- The brownies booby-trapping the house forcing them all to flee is still one of my favorites sequences.

- Mull’s Eternals were eternalling before Marvel’s Eternals eternalled. I accept no criticism.

- I still love this series so much. 10/10 will read again.

#fablehaven #i read the first two books of dragonwatch #i hate amnesia arcs though #they're really tough for me #so i was waiting for the rest of the series to come out #so i could just get through it as quickly as possible #but now im hearing things #maybe i'll just leave it alone #i love canon way too much to suffer #the fablehaven quintilogy is perfection #i will leave it with its happy ending

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thewidowsghost · 1 year

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Seeing the Beauty (Piper McLean x Fem!Reader) - Chapter 6

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

(Y/n)’s eyes snap open and she sits bolt upright. Her dream had felt so real, and yet, so distant and strange that it couldn’t possibly be true.

“Hey, you okay?” (Y/n) looks over to find Piper sitting by her bedside, her eyebrows furrowed with worry.

“What?” (Y/n) replies, drawing her knees up to her chest. “Yeah.”

Piper frowns, looking more worried.

“I -” (Y/n) bites her lip, trying to hold back her tears. From everything she’d heard about behind a half-blood, her dream was probably really true. Then she turns to study Piper. “Where’s Leo and Jason?”

“Leo’s with his cabinmates, and Jason is with Annabeth,” Piper replies.

(Y/n) nods distractedly before she meets Piper’s kaleidoscope gaze again, “Are you okay?” she asks. “You passed out.”

“Mhm,” Piper replies. “Rachel got possessed by Hera and gave me a death mission - free her from a prison.”

“You won’t have to do it alone,” (Y/n) replies, trying to comfort her friend, but her words seem to make Piper sadder.

Piper looks like she wants to say something, but she is interrupted by the sound of a conch horn.

“Dinner?” (Y/n) asks.

“You slept through it,” Piper replies. “I think it's time for the campfire.”

. . .

The whole campfire idea freaks Piper out. It makes her think of the huge purple bonfire in her dreams, and her father tied to a steak.

What Piper gets instead is almost as terrifying: a sing-along. The amphitheater steps are carved into the side of a hill, facing a stone-lined fire pit. Fifty or sixty kids fill the rows, clustered into groups under various banners.

(Y/n) spots Annabeth up front, next to Jason. Leo is nearby, sitting with a bunch of burly-looking campers under a steel gray banner emblazoned with a hammer. Standing in front of the fire, half a dozen campers with guitars and strange old-fashioned harps - lyres? - are jumping around, leading a song about pieces of armor, something about how their grandmothers got dressed for war. Everything is singing with them and making gestures for the pieces of armor and joking around.

This is quite possibly the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen, Piper thinks. This is totally one of those campfire songs that would’ve been embarrassing in daylight, but in the dark, with everybody participating, it’s kinda corny and fun. As the energy level gets higher, the flames do as well, turning from red to orange to gold.

Finally, the song ends with rowdy applause. A guy on a horse trots up; at least in the flickering light, Piper thinks the guy is on a horse, and then she realizes that he’s a centaur - a white stallion on the bottom half, and the top is a middle-aged buy with curly hair and a trimmed beard. He brandished a spear impaled with toasted marshmallows. “Very nice! And a special welcome to our new arrivals. I am Chiron, camp activities director, and I’m happy you have all arrived here alive and with most of your limbs attached. In a moment, I promise we’|l get to the s’mores, but first -”

“What about capture the flag?” somebody yells; grumbling breaks out among some kids in armor, sitting under a red banner with the emblem of a boar’s head.

“Yes,” the centaur says. “I know the Ares Cabin is anxious to return to the woods for our regular games.”

“And kill people!” one of them shouts.

“That might not be good for anybody’s health,” (Y/n) says, and she blinks with surprise to realize she’d spoken aloud, but then she laughs nervously while the other campers laugh at her joke.

(Y/n) glances over, meeting Piper’s gaze, smiling confusedly, and then she shrugs.

“However,” Chiron says, once everyone stops laughing, “until the dragon is brought under control, that won’t be possible. Cabin Nine, anything to report on that?”

Chiron turns to Leo’s group. Leo winks at Piper and shoots her with a finger gun. The girl next to him stands uncomfortably. She’s wearing an army jacket a lot like Leo’s, with her hair covered in a red bandanna. “We’re working on it.”

More grumbling.

“How, Nyssa?” an Ares kid demands.

“Really hard,” the girl replies. Nyssa sits down to a lot of yelling and complaining, which causes the fire to sputter chaotically. Chiron stamps his hoof against the fire pit stones - bang, bang, bang - and the campers fall silent.

“We will have to be patient,” Chiron says. “In the meantime, we have more pressing matters to discuss.”

“Percy?” someone asks. The fire dims even further, but Piper doesn’t need the mood flames to sense the crowd to sense the crowd’s anxiety.

Chiron gestures to Annabeth. She takes a deep breath and stands.

“I didn’t find Percy,” she announces. Her voice catches a little when she says his name. “He wasn’t at the Grand Canyon like I thought. But we’re not giving up. We’ve got teams everywhere. Grover, Tyson, Nico, the Hunters of Artemis - everyone’s out looking. We will find him. Chiron’s talking about something different. A new quest.”

“It’s the Great Prophecy, isn’t it?” a girl calls out.

Everyone turns. The voice had come from a group in back, sitting under a rose-colored banner with a dove emblem. They’d been chatting among themselves and not paying much attention until their leader stood up: Drew.

Everyone else looks surprised. Apparently Drew didn’t address the crowd very often.

“Drew?” Annabeth replies. “What do you mean?”

“Well, come on.” Drew spreads her hands like the truth was obvious. “Olympus is closed. Both Percy and (Y/n) disappeared. Hera sends you a vision and you come back with three new demigods in one day and (Y/n). I mean, something weird is going on. The Great Prophecy has started, right?”

Piper whispers to Rachel, “What’s she talking about - the Great Prophecy?”

Then Piper realizes that everyone else is looking at Rachel, too.

“Well?” Drew calls down. “You’re the oracle. Has it started or not?”

(Y/n)’s eyes glaze over.

Nico runs in from the street, and his face tells (Y/n) that something is wrong.

“It’s Rachel,” he says. “I just ran into her down on 32nd Street.”

Annabeth frowns. “What’s she done this time?”

"It's where she's gone," Nico replies. "I told her she would die if she tried, but she insisted. She just took Blackjack and -"

“Die?” (Y/n) echoes. “She took Blackjack?”

Nico nods. "She's heading to Half-Blood Hill. She said she had to get to camp."

. . .

“What was she thinking?” Annabeth says as they run for the river. Unfortunately, (Y/n) has a pretty good idea, and it fills her with dread.

The traffic is terrible. Everyone is out on the streets, gawking at the war zone damage. Police sirens wail on every block. There was no possibility of catching a cab, and the pegasi had flown away. (Y/n) would've settled for some Party Ponies, but they had disappeared along with most of the root beer in Midtown. So they run, pushing through mobs of dazed mortals that clog the sidewalks.

“She’ll never get through the defenses,” Annabeth says. “Peleus will eat her.”

(Y/n) hadn’t considered that. The Mist wouldn’t fool her girlfriend like it would most people. She’d be able to find Camp no problem, but (Y/n) had been hoping that the magical barriers would just keep Rachel out - like a forcefield. It hadn’t occurred to her that the dragon might eat her.

“We have to hurry,” Percy says, catching the worried look on his twin sister’s face. “I don’t suppose you could conjure up some skeleton horses.”

The Son of Hades wheezes as he runs. “So tired . . . couldn’t summon a dog bone.”

Finally, the demigods scramble over the embankment to the shore, and (Y/n) lets out a loud whistle, but she hates doing it. Even with the sand dollar she and Percy had given the East River for a magical cleaning, the water here is still polluted. (Y/n) didn’t want to make any sea animals sick, but they came to her call.

Four wake lines appear in the gray water, and a pod of hippocampi break the surface. They whinny unhappily, shaking the river muck from their manes. They are beautiful creatures, with multicolored fish tails, and the heads and forelegs of white stallions. The hippocampus in front is much bigger than the others - a ride fit for a Cyclops.

"Rainbow!" I called. "How's it going, buddy?"

He neighs a complaint.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," (Y/n) replies. "But it's an emergency. We need to get to camp."

He snorts.

"Tyson?" Percy says. "Tyson is fine! I'm sorry he's not here. He's a big general now in the Cyclops

Army."

"NEEEEIGGGGH!"

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll still bring you apples. Now, about that ride . . ."

In no time, Annabeth, Nico, Percy and (Y/n) are zipping up the East River faster than jet skis. They speed under the Throgs Neck Bridge and head for Long Island Sound.

. . .

It seems like forever to (Y/n) until they see the beach at camp. The demigods thank the hippocampi and wade ashore, only to find Argus waiting for them. He is standing in the sand with his arms crossed, his hundred eyes glaring at them.

“Is she here?” (Y/n) asks, worried for her girlfriend’s safety. Argus nods grimly.

“Is everything okay?” Annabeth says; Argus shakes his head.

The four demigods follow Argus up the trail. It’s surreal being back at camp. Nothing’s burning. No wounded fighters, (Y/n) thinks. The cabins are bright in the sunlight, and the fields glitter with dew. But the camp is empty.

Up at the Big House, the demigods notice something is obviously wrong. Green light is shooting out all the windows, just as (Y/n) had seen in her dream about May Castellan. Mist - the magical kind - swirls around the yard. Chiron lies on a horse-sized stretcher by the volleyball pit, a bunch of satyrs standing around him.

Blackjack canters nervously in the grass. Don’t blame me, boss! The pegasus pleads when he sees (Y/n). Your girl made me do it!

Rachel Elizabeth Dare stands at the bottom of the porch stairs. Her arms are raised, like she is waiting for someone inside the house to throw her a ball.

“What’s she doing?” Annabeth demands. “How did she get past the barriers?”

"She flew," one of the satyrs says, looking accusingly at Blackjack. "Right past the dragon, right through the magic boundaries."

"Rachel!” (Y/n) calls, but the satyrs stop her when she tries to go any closer.

"(Y/n), don't," Chiron warns. He winces as he tries to move. His left arm is in a sling, his two back legs are in splints, and his head is wrapped in bandages. "You can't interrupt."

"I thought you explained things to her!"

"I did. And I invited her here."

(Y/n) stares at him in disbelief. "You said you'd never let anyone try again! You said —"

"I know what I said, (Y/n). But I was wrong. Rachel had a vision about the curse of Hades. She believes it may be lifted now. She convinced me she deserves a chance."

"And if the curse isn't lifted? If Hades hasn't gotten to that yet, she'll go crazy!"

The Mist swirls around Rachel. She shivers like she is going into shock.

"Hey!" (Y/n) shouts. "Stop!"

(Y/n) runs towards her, ignoring the satyrs. She gets within ten feet and hits something like an invisible beach ball; bounces back and lands in the grass.

Rachel opens her eyes and turns. She looks like she was sleepwalking — like she could see (Y/n), but only in a dream.

"It's all right." Her voice sounds far away. "This is why I've come."

"You'll be destroyed!"

She shakes her head. "This is where I belong, (Y/n). I finally understand why."

It sounded too much like what May Castellan had said. I have to stop her, but (Y/n) can’t even get to her feet.

The house rumbles. The door flies open and green light pours out. (Y/n) recognizes the warm musty smell of snakes.

Mist curls into a hundred smoky serpents, slithering up the porch columns, curling around the house.

And then the Oracle appears in the doorway.

The withered mummy shuffles forward in her rainbow dress. She looks even worse than usual, her hair was falling out in clumps, and leathery skin was cracking like the seat of a worn-out bus. Her glassy eyes stare blankly into space, but (Y/n) gets the creepiest feeling she was being drawn straight towards Rachel.

Rachel holds out her arms. She doesn’t look scared. "You've waited too long," Rachel says. "But I'm here now."

The sun blazes more brightly. A man appears above the porch, floating in the air — a blond dude in a white toga, with sunglasses and a cocky smile.

"Apollo," (Y/n) murmurs.

He winks at her but holds up his finger to his lips.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare," he says. "You have the gift of prophecy. But it is also a curse. Are you sure you want this?"

Rachel nods. "It's my destiny."

"Do you accept the risks?"

"I do."

"Then proceed," the god says.

Rachel closes her eyes. "I accept this role. I pledge myself to Apollo, God of Oracles. I open my eyes to the future and embrace the past. I accept the spirit of Delphi, Voice of the Gods, Speaker of Riddles, Seer of Fate."

(Y/n) doesn’t know where she is getting the words, but they flow out of her as the Mist thickens. A green column of smoke, like a huge python, uncoils from the mummy's mouth and slithers down the stairs, curling affectionately around Rachel's feet. The Oracle's mummy crumbles, falling away until it was nothing but a pile of dust in an old tie-dyed dress. Mist envelopes Rachel in a column.

For a moment (Y/n) can’t see her at all. Then the smoke clears.

Rachel collapses and curls into the fetal position. Annabeth, Nico, Percy, and (Y/n) rush forward, but Apollo says, "Stop! This is the most delicate part."

"What's going on?" (Y/n) demands. "What do you mean?"

Apollo studies Rachel with concern. "Either the spirit takes hold, or it doesn't."

"And if it doesn't?" Annabeth asks.

"Five syllables," Apollo replies, counting them on his fingers. "That would be real bad."

Despite Apollo's warning, (Y/n) runs forward and kneels over Rachel. The smell of the attic is gone. The Mist sinks into the ground and the green light fades. But Rachel is still pale. She is barely breathing.

Then her eyes flutter open. She focuses on (Y/n) with difficulty. "(Y/n)."

"Are you okay?"

She tries to sit up. “Ow,” she presses her hands to her temples.

“Rachel,” Nico says, “your life aura almost faded completely. I could see you dying.”

“I’m all right,” she murmurs in reply. “Please help me up. The visions – they’re a little disorienting.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” (Y/n) asks.

Apollo drifts down from the porch. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the new Oracle of Delphi.”

“You’re kidding,” Annabeth says.

Rachel manages a weak smile. “It’s a little surprising to me too, but this is my fate. I saw it when I was in New York. I know why I was born with true sight. I was meant to become the Oracle.”

(Y/n) blinks. “You mean, you can tell the future now?”

“Not all the time,” she replies. “But there are visions, words in my mind. When someone asks me a question, I . . . Oh no –”

“It’s starting,” Apollo announces.

Rachel doubles over like someone had punched her. Then she stands straight up and her eyes glow serpent green.

When she speaks, her voice sounds tripled – like three Rachels are talking at once:

(Y/n) snaps back to the present and says: “Seven half-bloods shall answer the call. To storm or fire the world must fall –”

Jason shoots to his feet. His eyes are wild, like he’d just been tasered.

Rachel seems caught off guard – but her friend’s outburst and Jason’s jump to his feet. “J-jason?” she says. “What’s –”

“Ut cum spiritu postrema sacramentum dejuremus, ” he chants. “Et hostes ornamenta addent ad ianuam necem.”

An uneasy silence settles on the group. Piper can see from their faces that several of them are trying to translate the lines. She can tell it’s Latin.

“An oath to keep with a final breath. And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.” (Y/n) finishes.

“You just . . .” Rachel glances between the two demigods, “finished the known part of the prophecy.”

“Known?” (Y/n) questions, and Rachel nods reluctantly.

“Last night, I had a vision, revealing the final lines of the prophecy. It went like this: Child of the Sea will accompany the Seven. And drop into endless darkness.”

(Y/n) meets her ex-girlfriend’s gaze and can tell from the look in her eyes that Rachel thought that that part of the prophecy was about her.

“We hoped that the prophecy wouldn’t be starting for a few years, but I fear it’s starting now. I can’t give you proof. It’s just a feeling. And like Drew said, some weird stuff is happening. The seven - plus the ‘Child of the Sea’ - whoever they are, have not been fathered yet. I have the feeling some of them are here tonight. Some are not.

The campers begin to stir and mutter, looking at each other nervously, until a drowsy voice in the crowd calls out, “I’m here! Oh . . . were you calling roll?”

“Go back to sleep, Clovis,” someone yells, and a lot of people laugh.

“Anyway,” Rachel continues, “we don’t know what the Great Prophecy means. We don’t know what challenge the demigods will face, but since the first Great Prophecy predicted the Titan War, we can guess the second Great Prophecy will predict something at least that bad.”

“Or worse,” Chiron murmurs. Maybe he didn’t mean for everyone to hear, but they did. The campfire immediately turns dark purple, just like Piper’s dream.

(Y/n), who had turned to murmur a question to Piper, sees the terrified look in the demigod’s eyes, and grabs her friend’s hand, squeezing it gently.

“What we do know,” Rachel says, getting the attention of the campers again, “is that the first phase has begun. A major problem has arisen, and we need a quest to solve it. Hera, the Queen of the Gods, has been taken.”

Shocked silence. Then fifty demigods start talking at once.

Chiron pounds his hoof again, but Rachel still has to wait before she can get their attention.

She tells the other demigods about the incident on the Grand Canyon skywalk – how Gleeson Hedge had sacrificed himself when the storm spirits attacked, and how the spirits had warned that it was only the beginning. They apparently served some great mistress who would destroy all demigods. Then she tells them about Piper passing out in Hera’s cabin. Piper tries to keep a calm expression, even when she notices Drew in the back row, pantomiming a faint, and her friends giggling. Finally, Rachel tells them about Jason’s vision in the Big House. The message Hera had delivered there was so similar that Piper gets a chill. The only difference: Hera had warned Piper not to betray her: Bow to his will, and their king shall rise, dooming us all. Hera knew about the giant’s threat. But if that was true, Piper wonders, why hadn’t she warned Jason, and exposed me as an enemy agent?

“Jason,” Rachel says. “Um . . . do you remember your last name?”

The blonde looks self-conscious, but he shakes his head.

“We’ll just call you Jason, then,” Rachel says. “It’s clear Hera herself has issued you a quest.” She pauses, as if giving Jason a chance to protest his destiny. Everyone’s eyes are on him, yet he looks brave and determined, and (Y/n) admires the way he sets his jaw and nods. “You must save Hera to prevent a great evil,” Rachel continues. “Some sort of king from rising. For reasons we don’t yet understand, it must happen by the winter solstice, only four days from now.

“That’s the council day of the gods,” Annabeth says. “If the gods don’t already know Hera’s gone, they will definitely notice her absence by then. They’ll probably break out fighting, accusing each other of taking her. That’s what they usually do.”

The winter solstice,” Chiron speaks up, “is also the time of greatest darkness. The gods gather that day, as mortals always have, because there is strength in numbers. The solstice is a day when evil magic is strong. Ancient magic, older than the gods. It is a day when things . . . stir.”

The way he sounds it sounds absolutely sinister.

“Okay,” Annabeth says, glaring at the centaur. “Thank you, Captain Sunshine. Whatever’s going on, I agree with Rachel. Jason has been chosen to lead this quest, so –”

“Why hasn’t he been claimed?” somebody from the Ares cabin yells. “If he’s so important –”

“He has been claimed,” Chiron announces. “Long ago. Jason, give them a demonstration.”

Word Count: 3531 words

Taglist:

@camaddison

@steinfellds

@p-taryn-dactyl

@oculusalien

@@pink-widows

@unlikelysublimekryptonite

@yellowvxbes

@decadentrebelkitten

@eevil-empress

@anteroz

@mag-mfm

@26randomness

@cair-paravel-narnia

@hayhaythegaygay

#piper mclean x reader #piper mclean x female reader #piper mclean x fem reader #lesbian piper mclean

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interstellerace · 2 years

Text

Danny's New Duds

Danny hovered outside the massive nest of web and rock that constituted the lair of the Divine Spider. He didn’t like the idea of going into a spider’s web, but Clockwork had told him this was where he needed to go. Though that was likely to get a bored Danny out of the clock tower; Danny only being there to avoid his parent’s new ghost hunting invention and not because he had a time quest or anything.

Danny had asked Clockwork how Vlad had changed his clothes. Thanks to one of said time quests, Danny had seen what Vlad was wearing when he first became a half-ghost and that wasn’t what he was wearing now, so he had to have changed it somehow. Made it worse, in Danny's opinion.

Clockwork seemed to consider what to tell him, but ultimately said, “He probably went to the Divine Spider. She’s the one who originally made the royal garb of The Ghost King.”

So, Danny took the map of the Infinite Realms and found the lair of the Divine Spider to see if she would be willing to make him a new costume. There was nothing wrong with his old jumpsuit, but it was built to lower the risk of ecto-contamination, not fight crime in.

He cautiously floated into the cave, careful to avoid touching any of the webbing, but he didn’t want to surprise the ghost he was there to meet, so he called out, “Hello? Miss Divine Spider?”

He saw movement from the back of the cave, but as he got closer it changed from a terrifying web-cave into what looked like the inside of an apartment. A couch that was big and comfy looking, a table with a few chairs around it, a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall… Danny could barely believe what he was seeing. He floated past a book shelf filled with anime DVDs, manga, and figurine dolls. There was a matching one on the opposite wall filled with American movies, comic books, and action figures.

“Uh, hello?”

Suddenly, there was movement and a door opened. There stood a creature that looked like a centaur, except instead of a human torso attached to a horse body, it was a human torso sticking up out of a spider where it’s head should have been. The spider was covered in fine white fur, and it’s two most front legs look more like metal scythes than a spider’s legs. The human body sticking out of it looked like a young woman, with long white hair and pale skin and her eyes glowed a ghostly pink. Her human half did wear a lovely white dress that used patterns and 3D sewing to add design, depth, and detail.

“Hello,” She said quietly, her eyes scrutinizing Danny as an intruder to her lair.

Danny swallowed down his discomfort at the spindly creature before him and forced a smile while he said, “Hi, I’m Danny Phantom, and I heard you can make ghost clothes?”

The spider woman immediately lit up with a huge smile on her face, and her entire posture and presence changed. “Oh! Yes, I love making all kinds of clothes and costumes, especially cosplay! I love making outfits based on my favorite movies and anime. I actually just finished making a Madoka Magica cosplay.”

The spider woman quickly ducked back into the room she had been in but quickly stuck her head back out and said, “Oh, I forgot to say, I’m Kumoko! And It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Danny said as she vanished behind a closed door.

She then came out with a new dress on, a perfect replica of the main character’s puffy magical girl dress. She gave him a twirl as she excitedly explained, “Isn’t it perfect? Though, I did think about making a Homura cosplay first, she’s tied for my favorite character, but pink is my favorite color.”

Danny grinned. Oh, this horrible monster was a total geek. “It looks amazing!”

She blushed at the compliment then asked, “Did you come here for cosplay?”

“I’m afraid not,” Danny said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I am hoping to get some cool clothes.”

“Oh, what did you have in mind?”

“Well, I’m a hero,” Danny said while motioning at his current outfit, “but my jumpsuit just isn't made for it; it'll tear at the slightest bit of friction. And look at how formfitting it is. I guess that can be good because it means it doesn’t get caught on things, except that it does get caught on things, all the time, and it always tears from that too.”

“It’s also pretty plain,” Kumoko added.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No, but it’s not doing you any favors with the formfitting thing,” She said and started to circle Danny, her scythe legs coming off the ground and poking at his jumpsuit. “And it’s not like you have a lot of muscles to show off either.”

Danny huffed at her bluntness, “I guess I don’t mind it too much, but it would be nice to leave that kind of thing up to the imagination.”

She smiled and started waving her hands in a circles in the air, shimmering white strands of silk started to form a small doll that looked exactly like Danny, changing color to match his hair, skin, suit, and eyes. “So, the black and white color scheme is good for hiding in the shadows and catching bad guys, but how about we add some lines down the sides like this to break up the big black sections.”

The doll’s clothes changed as she explained, like it was responding to what she was thinking. “And you should have an actual utility belt instead of just a waistline reinforcement … and we should add some reinforcements around the knees and elbows, I think they should still be black, but if we want to break up the arms we can ... some thicker soled boots with more ankle support too … and- was this supposed to have a hood? That might be useful if you’re fighting in the rain or trying to hide your face... do you want to add a mask... Oh, but if we make your sigil green, it would really pop and people would recognize it! Like the bat-signal!”

They spent several more minutes talking about what would look good, what would be useful, and what would make good branding for marketing deals. And at the end of it, the spider woman handed Danny the little doll of himself and said, “I think is going to look great when you’re done with it!”

Danny looked at the doll, “When I’m done with it?”

“Yeah, you said it wasn’t cosplay right? That you want it to be your default and not a costume?”

Danny nodded, “But, I don’t know how to sew or anything.”

“Oh, do you not know how to change them yourself?” Kumoko asked and Danny shook his head. “I thought you just came to get some design advice! Okay, but you can definitely change your own clothes. You have to focus on the design you want, which you can use the doll as a reference for, and the ectoplasm that makes your current clothes will change into the new shape you want!”

“What? Really? Is it really that easy?”

“Well, some people find it easy, it can take a long time to get it right tough. Most people just prefer to keep their death clothes or have me make new clothes for them.”

Danny nodded, “I was hoping for you to make them.”

Kumoko gave a bright smile. “Okay! What did you bring for payment?”

“Uh…”

“You weren’t going to make me work for free, were you?”

“No, I didn’t think you were going to work for me at all, actually,” Danny said then sighed, “But, if we treat this like a consultation, how much would it cost to have this hero-suit made for me?”

Kumoko hummed and reexamined the doll, “At least a dozen high quality chocolate bars.”

Danny stared at her, “Chocolate bars?”

Kumoko nodded, “High Quality Chocolate Bars, or maybe some chocolate and some cookies. High quality cookies, of course. Or a strawberry cake, I haven’t had one of those in so long.”

Danny laughed, “Alright, I make the request for you to make the suit now, but you don't have to start it until I’ve given you enough sweets. How does that sound?”

"Since your hero reputation is on the line, I'll start working on it right away and you can pay when it's done." Kumoko held out her hand, “Make it a deal.”

>>><<<

Danny wasn’t sure how long it would take Kumoko to make the clothes he wanted, and he forgot to ask her too. So, he decided to play it safe, give her two weeks, and if that wasn’t enough time, he’d give her a "down payment" and ask how long it would take after that.

So, there he was again, floating into the web-cave of The Divine Spider, this time with a bright pink cake box. “Hello? Miss Kumoko?”

The door in the back opened and the spider woman stepped out, seemingly surprised to see him, “Danny! I thought you forgot about me!”

“Of course not, how could I forget about you?”

“It’s been two weeks! I also thought you might have been scared off by last time.”

Danny rubbed the back of his neck, “Yeah, I wasn’t sure how long it would take to make the hero-suit and I didn’t want to bother you while you were working on it, so I just… waited to come see you again.”

Kumoko nodded thoughtfully, “I should have told you it doesn’t take long at all for me to make stuff with my silk. I only needed a few hours, I do have eight legs and two hands that can work at the same time after all.”

“Really, just a couple hours?”

Kumoko nodded then ducked back into the back room for a moment then coming back with some folded clothes and some accessories. “I did have to go get some materials for the non-cloth bits, but I think it was worth it just to see how cool it is!”

She handed it to him and watched expectantly as he examined each piece of clothing. “Wow, Kumoko, this is amazing!”

“So, I put the hood on a jacket so that if someone tries to grab it, you can just slide it off,” Kumoko said taking and showing off the jacket, “It’s also got your sigil on it! I hope you don’t mind, I did put your sigil on each separate piece. So everyone will know that if it has that symbol it’s yours, or if someone has it, they’re your friend. And For branding! maybe - you could do some merchandising… maybe give your designer a cut.”

"I don't know how to do that, but I can look into it."

"So what you're saying is," Kumoko pointed at herself, "you need a branding manager."

#dp #danny phantom #danny fenton #OC #spider #so i'm a spider so what

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deliriumsdelight7 · 5 months

Text

Okay, Anon. I’m posting this on my main, rather than on the @the-chipped-cup-awards page, because this is my personal take on the issue, and not necessarily the opinion of the mod group as a whole.

The purpose of the Chipped Cup Awards (and before that, the Espenson Awards) is to celebrate all aspects of the Rumbelle fandom. All of the categories on this form have been part of this event since long before I joined the fandom. I don’t think it’s any one person’s place - mine OR yours - to decide for the entire fandom whether a category is “acceptable.” If enough people come forward - not on anon, so we can verify that there are multiple people who feel this way - then we’ll take this under consideration. That being said, Rumbelle poly ships still celebrate the dynamic between Belle and Rumpelstiltskin, and many people enjoy putting the Swanfire family into Rumbelle fics, so it’s my personal opinion that both categories should stay (but I invite other Rumbellers to weigh in).

What really concerns me is your incredibly judgmental tone. Gross? Sick? I think you might be in the wrong fandom, Anon. I’ve read smutty fic where Belle is a centaur, or Rumpelstiltskin is a drider. I’ve read age gap fic where Belle is underage and Gold is her boss or her teacher. I myself have a WIP where Belle and Gold are cursed to think they’re father and daughter (and while the smut hasn’t happened yet, believe me when I say it’s coming). This is and always has been a very open-minded fandom, so it disturbs me to see ship-shaming like this.

It’s well-known that the Once Upon a Time family tree is a tumbleweed. Swan Queen is a ship between an older woman and her step-granddaughter. Even Captain Swan - a canon ship! - is between a man and his late stepson’s ex girlfriend/baby momma. Golden Queen and Wicked Gold are both ships between a man and his ex lover’s daughters - both of whom were groomed by said man. If you’re looking for a fandom that’s concerned with moral purity in its ships, you’re very much looking in the wrong place.

I invite you to examine why you feel like it’s your place to cast judgment on members of your fandom when you don’t hold the show’s very writers to the same standards.

#fandom wank #the chipped cup awards

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theamazingannie · 5 months

Text

Finished the first two episodes of PJO. Got thoughts (if anyone cares). Putting under a read more cuz it’s a bit lengthy

Before I go into the cons (cuz I got some unfortunately), the pros:

Aryan is so cute I adore him

I love the main trio in general. I think some of the acting isn’t always great but their chemistry and adorableness make up for it

I especially love the percabeth relationship. Walker and Leah did a great job showing that doofus Percy and irritated Annabeth relationship. Especially their early on “Annabeth looking down on Percy while he understandably flounders around.” I cannot wait to see more of them!!!

Saw someone on Twitter talk about the armor adjustment scene and how it could be a parallel to them later on as their relationship progresses and I hope so badly that they do that

Love Clarisse. Does a great balance between being unlikeable and being unenjoyable

LOVE Mr. D. Had absolutely no doubt that Jason Mantzoukas would crush this role and am glad to see it. Perfect level of unhinged and unnervingness. Literally the perfect person to play the role

It has a decent script. Not perfect, but I like how witty Percy is and there’s a lot of good written chemistry between characters and I found myself chuckling a lot, which is great as an adult with a show targeted towards younger audiences

The scenery is GREAT. I always have a hard time visualizing camp in my mind while reading and I think the show perfectly balances a normal summer camp with fantasy. Would’ve liked to see more of it, like a proper tour, but I know there’s not a lot of time. Hopefully we get to see more of it in later episodes

Great fight choreography. Wish there was a little more of it. Again, maybe they were cut for time but the fight scenes just seemed very rushed. But what we did see was so good. Especially loved Percy’s little duck and roll thing he did

Which brings us to the negatives. I wish I didn’t have any, but unfortunately I have a lot. I base these both as a fan of the books and as a show as a whole:

First things first, the pacing. It’s awful. It felt like a bunch of random scenes clipped together. There’s almost zero flow between scenes. It reminds me of watching the deleted scenes in the DVD bonus features and the weirdly long pauses between some scenes added to that. Nothing felt connected

To add to pacing, everything felt really rushed. As I said before, I get that timing is an issue, but I felt sped through everything. Considering it’s a tv show and we were promised more than was in the book, I didn’t expect so much to be left out. Nothing too important, but as I said before, it could’ve used better transitioning between scenes. I was left kind of disappointed and I can’t imagine not reading the books and being expected to follow this

On that note, explanations were iffy. It felt like they wanted to rush through explaining stuff to get to other parts which is fine for us readers but I think new audiences might struggle to follow. There’s a lot of information that the audience needs to know and I don’t think they properly addressed everything

One thing that comes to mind as I’m typing this is the wheelchair. They never show what it’s for. They introduce Chiron at camp as a centaur and have him be one for the entire time and so to an unknowing audience there’s just a random empty wheelchair during a scene. If they weren’t going to use it, they should’ve cut that out

The scene with the Cloven Elders felt unnecessary. I get they want to explore other POVs outside Percy’s but nothing that happened in that scene felt necessary to the plot. Barely anything happens and most of what happens is explained verbally through Grover later. I wonder if the scene was cut for time but it probably should’ve been cut altogether. It didn’t add anything except a tiny bit of worldbuilding and having them go INSIDE the tree was weird and not even from the books. There’s like a whole forest inside the forest which gives me Dodona vibes which it shouldn’t

As I said before, the acting isn’t great at times. That’s fine considering I was a House of Anubis stan once (hence the icon). Acting is honestly not the most important part of a show as long as they have interesting characters with good chemistry (which they do!) but still pulled me out of it a bit. Some of the delivery was kind of dry

There were multiple times when I thought the direction could’ve been better. It wasn’t necessarily the acting (although that was part of it). For example, which Annabeth says “you drool in your sleep”. She says it very monotonously and matter of fact and just stared at him unmoving which is fine cuz I think that’s how it worked in the book but I think it might’ve worked better if she said it more petulantly and hurried away. This is very nitpicky tho and is mostly just opinion

Speaking of Annabeth, though: I wanted to see her more! I get we will see her plenty throughout the season but I love her and would’ve liked her to be introduced sooner. She meets Percy earlier in the books so she could’ve been introduced sooner. I also want to see her and Chiron interact (which we will hopefully get ep 3) so we can see that father daughter relationship. (I did like the way she was introduced though. They did that really well. I just want to see her more��)

A note for the next ep promo: WHY did it spoil that they were gonna be meeting Medusa??! That was supposed to be a surprise and they just gave it away in the PROMO????

One last thing cuz I’m mad. I already made a separate post about it but THALL-EE-UH???? That’s literally how I pronounced it when I first read it and was repeatedly told it was wrong and it was TALL-ee-uh so I switched my brain over and NOW you tell me I was right??? I knew some pronounciations were gonna be wrong but I was PRETTY SURE about that one

I definitely had more thoughts while watching (some that are extremely nitpicky that I’m going to force myself to ignore) but I didn’t take notes while watching and am already starting to forget details. Overall, I did love it, but I think a lot of the love came from my existing love of the series. I first read PJO 13 years ago and it was the first book series I truly fell in love with and remains my favorite to this day. A lot of feelings are my love biasing me both positively and negatively, and it makes me wonder if I would have chosen to continue watching the show if I hadn’t already had that love. Honestly, I don’t think I would. However, I do plan on continuing to watch and support and hopefully the rest of the season goes well!

#percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson #pjo #Gonna watch again either tonight or later this week with my brother #so I’ll probably add more thoughts later #i have so much hope for this show which is both a good thing and a bad thing #too many expectations can lead to great disappointments and I’m trying my best to contain them #because i #the things I do love I love very much #i just think there are some flaws that irk me a bit #please dont hate me these are just opinions and anyone who knows me knows I’m incapable of not sharing my opinions #they also know that I’m super negative about shows that I love #i always say I’m like a parent #i point out your flaws because I love you #(you can probably get an idea of how I grew up lmao)#anyways I said I was gonna clean the house so I gotta do that before my artificial dopamine goes away

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momolady · 1 year

Note

Hi! Sending this in on behalf of a friend, but she’s noticed that a lot of your black readers are often paired with animal-like monsters, like centaurs and werewolves, while other people frequently get the vampires, mermaids, elves, etc. It’s been bumming her out that she can’t connect with the stories lately, but this isn’t meant to be rude at all! Or an attempt to control how you write! I think she’s nervous something’s up, but she’s sure you aren’t that type of writer to be doing this on purpose. Is there any way to send in monster boyfriend species requests? She’d love to see a black female reader with a dark elf but isn’t sure how to go about asking for it

First of all, I understand where your friend is coming from. She doesn’t need to be nervous or worried, it’s totally okay.

Second, I try to write my stories where the main character is as vague as possible, unless asked for by a commissioner. That way, people can imagine what they want. I learned that lesson a time ago, but I know I’m not perfect and can slip up time to time/ Almost all of my stories are commissions, and usually the reader asks for the monsters they want. But I can’t speak for them and what they are after.

Also, hopefully with this out there we can find some stories that have what your friend is looking for! I would love to see suggestions roll in so your friend can get a nice collection. Tell your friend too I take commissions! If she would like one I would love to work with her to give her the story and monster lover of her dreams! (I’m taking a break till May but I’ll be opening slots for June) And maybe there’s someone out there who will be inspired by this. It never hurts to ask or voice your desires, that’s part of why I started writing monster erotica. Thank you for reaching out! I hope this gets a ball rolling.

I hope I did a good job answering you and your friend. I want to be able to help everyone find something they want and can see themselves in.

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openworldadventurer · 9 months

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Hello! I was looking at an old Tumblr post you made back in 2020, and I saw you mention working on the Wasteland Survival Guide quest for Fallout 3!

I was kind of curious about the development of the quest, specifically regarding Moira Brown and her old name of "Lea Marsh," a cut Centaur portion with one named "Clancy," the removed portion regarding Hubris Comics and any other cool tidbits!

I really enjoyed playing Fallout 3, and I'm glad that your work is present in the game. Thank you! <3<3

Oh wow, you must’ve done some impressive digging in the engine to find all that, huh? Heck, I only barely remember those — we used to jokingly call the Wasteland Survival Guide “the other main quest” because it was so long and complicated. And that meant it went through a lot of revisions at different points.

Let’s see — yes, Moira was named Lea Marsh in the first drafts, but we decided she needed a different name. Can’t remember the precise reason, but it was still early in dev, so a complete name change was pretty easy.

I don’t remember Clancy the centaur at all, sadly. If I had to guess, I’d suspect that this was going to be another one of her chapters/branches of the quest, but we decided that a centaur was just too much of a threat for an early-level character. This quest was, after all, doing the job of tutorial to a lot of side systems, so players were expected to be pretty low level.

And while I’m not sure what bit of Hubris Comics got removed (since every quest and dungeon went through a bunch of revisions), I was also working on the Superhuman Gambit at the time, and wrote the various letters to the editor on terminals in there, which open up a secret dialogue option with the Ant Agonist. So I suspect I had been writing a few things for that location and wanted to tie it to more than one of my quests.

Sorry I couldn’t answer more of the questions there, but it’s kinda lost history at this point. These games go through so many revisions and modifications over time, and now fifteen+ years afterwards, some of the older details are all kind of a blur of late nights and coffee-fueled scripting.

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specialagentlokitty · 11 months

Text

Thomas Barrow x Male!reader - love to hate you, hate to love you

Part 8:

The following day, you saw everybody off with Mr Carson and you turned around to face him.

“Are you off to bed now Mr (L/N)?” He asked.

“I am, yes.”

“Very well, goodnight.”

Nodding your head you walked inside and to your room, changing out of your uniform and into normal suit, you walked into the shadows.

You appeared by the side of the building and looked around the place.

“It’s coming together rather well.” You said.

“General!”

The man stopped walking and turned to face you, his hands clasped behind his back.

“General?” You asked.

“Yes sir, we are to call you captain now. It has been announced by the main camp in America that the demigods are most likely at war, and you are the general.”

“By who?”

“Chiron has announced the Oracle has a rather cryptic message, but clearly labelled you as the general in this situation. He’s in the big house.”

“Thank you…?”

“Leon sir.”

“Thank you Leon.”

You made your way to the half built large White House and inside you walked to the only finished room.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the Oracle?” You asked.

“I knew you’d be coming here soon enough, I wanted to wait.”

Chiron handed you over the paper.

“The son of hades as general, the army will gather on each side? Why is it always so cryptic?”

“I couldn’t tell you, but you know she only gives out quests.”

“This isn’t a quest.”

Chiron shook his head with a heavy sigh.

“No. It’s a warning.”

“I see…”

Setting the paper down you looked at the blueprints for the new camp.

“Right now your father has given the protection it needs, barriers to keep us safe and for uninvited people to pass through without seeing a thing. Even invited they’ll see the Pegasi as normal horses, anything remotely related to the gods will have a reasonable explanation.”

“I see, very kind of him.”

“Zeus is aware and agreed it was best.”

“That’s shocking news, Zeus does not agree with gods getting involved with their children.”

There was a loud crackle of thunder.

“No, he does not. And he does not agree with you saying that.” Chiron chuckled.

You smiled a little and sighed, pushing yourself away from the table.

“It’s coming together quickly.”

“They’re working tirelessly to build it, right now they’re taking a days break, some of gone to a fair nearby if you’ve heard about it.”

You remember what Thomas said last night, and pushed it to the back of your mind.

“Yes, my men have gone there today as well.”

“You did not want a break?” He asked.

“I haven’t the time Chiron, there’s too much going on. How many cabins are built?”

“Nearly all of them, they want to know whether to build one’s of the big three?”

“I suppose we have too. I’m the only child of the big three, just have them build a small one for my fathers honour in thanks for his protection of this camp. As well as small ones for Zeus and Poseidon. After the cabins, we need the training grounds finished.”

“I agree, I’ve already told them this.”

You nodded your head, and you walked to the steps of the big house, and the centaur followed you, standing next to you.

“We’re bringing as many as we can. The rest arrive in the next few days, we have others coming too, at my request.”

“Thank you Chiron. Once everything’s done, we need to begin with the preparations.”

“We need to draft up battle plans and begin forging armour, weapons and creating medicines.” He said.

“Medicines and armour first. Ares children for the weapons, I’m sure they’d be eager. Apollo’s children for medicines, let everybody else partake in making armour, they will need various sizings. I believe Athena’s children would be best at the battle plans, but tell them to bring all drafts to you, me and you will finalise them.”

“Of course.”

Chiron looked at you, and he placed a hand on your shoulder.

“Try not to think about it right now, just think of it as training.”

“How can I? I know there is something out there coming Chiron.”

“And worrying about it will do you no good.”

“I am the general, the son of hades himself, it is my job to ensure the safety of as many people as possible. Everything must be ready as soon as possible, then if nothing happens we can take a break.”

Chiron went to say something, and you were both interrupted by a younger Demigod running over, slightly battered.

“Monsters near the fair!”

“I’ll go.”

You ran away and jumped into the shadows, you heard your pocket watch ticking as you slowly began to move around, hand in your pocket.

You made yourself invisible and you began to jog through the fair.

You couldn’t keep this up long, and you needed to find the monsters soon.

You glanced at the guardsmen’s and Servants having fun, playing tug of war and you kept running, and you sensed it.

Death.

Dying.

So you followed it and you ran over to a bridge and stood on it, drawing the coin from your pocket.

“General!” One yelled.

“Go back to camp all of you!”

They nodded and picked up their injured friends and they rushed away.

There was one monster left, a Cyclopes and you looked at him.

“I see you’re one of the demented ones, I’ll make easy work of you.”

You flipped the coin in your hand, and it grew into a golden sword that you caught.

Twirling the hilt between your fingers, shadows licked at the edge of your blade as you looked at the monster.

It looked back and took a swing for you.

Jumping up on the edge of the bridge, you ran along it and jumped off, swiping the monsters knees making it drop.

It cried out in pain, and you jumped back as it tried to hit you again.

You couldn’t get close enough to land a safe attack, and you were punched back into the trees.

Coughing a little bit, you stood back up, brushing some dirt from your clothes and blood from your lip, you gripped your sword tightly and charged.

The monster roared and went to attack you, and you vanished, appearing it behind you threw the monster, killing it instantly.

Taking a deep breath, you spat some blood on the floor and grimaced, pulling out the glass bottle from your pocket, you fold the golden liquid and coughed, leaning over the edge of the bridge.

You watching Jimmy go running from under it and you hide yourself again, and you slowly walked down, standing hidden to listen to what was going on.

There was a ringing in your ears and you immediately showed yourself making them stop.

“This is hardly a fair fight.” You said.

They all glanced at you and you looked down at Thomas.

“This ain’t nothing to do with you.” One snapped.

“Oh it does, you see I owe this man a favour. And I simply cannot have you two ganging up on him.”

You stepped under the bridge, a hand in your pocket you felt the coin return itself.

They shoved Thomas to the ground and the looked at one another.

“Don’t look at each other.” You sneered.

You took another step forward.

“Look at me.”

They went to hit Thomas, and you grabbed one of them mens hands, pulling it back, holding it in a vice like grip.

“Look at me!” You yelled.

Both men looked at you with wide eyes.

You shoved the one you were holding into the other.

“If you want a fight then let’s fight.”

“(Y/N)… don’t…” thomas gasped out.

You took your jacket off and draped it over him.

“Look after that.”

You turned around and ducked under the fist aimed for your head, and you pushed him.

You put your hands into your pockets of your trousers.

Thomas watched you carefully, wondering if what he was seeing was right.

You spun around one of the men’s attacks, you back to his, and you ducked under another punch, stepping past a kick.

It was like you weren’t even thinking about it, simply just acting on pure instinct.

Spinning around, you took a hand out of your pocket, pushing one of the men’s arms making him falling into the water, and you the others wrist, pulling him around you, you slammed his back against the wall.

You watch as the both scrambled back up.

“Get out of my sight, the pair of you.”

“Or what?!”

You walked over, backing them to the exit of the under bridge.

You stared into their eyes.

“I will send you down to the deepest depths of the underworld…”

You pointed up, and they looked up, finding a few of the demigods from before crouching on the bridge with their weapons drawn.

They slowly backed away and ran, and you flicked your eyes up, giving a small nod of your head.

They nodded back and they left.

You turned around and walked over, kneeling down your grabbed your jacket and pulled it on.

You reached out and touched the side of his face with a heavy frown, and he let out a grunt of pain.

“It’s not like you to get into fights Thomas Barrow…”

He didn’t say anything and you looked around before looking back to him, taking a look at his injuries.

You pulled out your handkerchief and pressed it just under his nose.

You coughed a bit into your palm, looking at the blood you chose to ignore it and he looked at you.

You heard voices and looked up, taking his hand you pressed it to hold the handkerchief.

“I have to leave, no one knows I’m here. Say nothing…” you whispered.

You stood up and looked at him one more time before you took a few steps backwards and jogged out from under the bridge, looking up you took a few steps and ran, jumping.

Thomas watched so you were pulled up and vanished from sight and just as you left everyone came rushing over to him.

“You are badly hurt sir.” A demigod said.

“I’ll shadow travel us, come on.”

You shadow travelled your small group back to the camp and you were greeted by one of Apollo’s children ushering you to cot and immediately began looking you over.

“Nothing serious, it’s already slowly healing. Did someone already give you medicine?” He asked.

“Chiron has sent me over a load yes, I had some on me. Though I drank the whole bottle, is that bad?”

“I would advise drinking against the whole bottle general, but no as long as it was the one that’s fine.”

You nodded your head.

“Why are you turning the ambrosia into liquid?” You asked.

“It’s easier and quicker to consume in a pinch sir.”

You nodded your head.

“Can I ask something?”

He nodded and you sat up, pulling your shirt back on.

“Ambrosia cannot be given to humans, but, can you make me something that can ease pain, bruising and swelling for a normal human?” You asked.

“Actually I already have something, here.”

He handed it over.

“The others told me about the man under the bridge, they assumed him a friend of yours and I had this made up. He’ll have no issues with it, he will be tired and may feel nauseous but that’s it.”

You nodded your head and slipped the purple bottle into your pocket, and you carried on getting ready, wincing at your agitated the pain in your back

#Downton abbey #downton abbey x reader #downton abbey x you #Downton abbey imagine #thomas barrow #thomas barrow x you #thomas barrow x reader #Thomas Barrow imagine

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azurdlywisterious · 2 months

Text

The Brainless Ones (part 2)

AN: I'm back with more of Sir’s adventures! I wanted more Sir so now y'all get more Sir.

Word count: 1.3k

CW: body horror played for comedy (idk how else to describe sir’s empty head), very unethical scientific practices, body horror not played for comedy (if the centaurs count as body horror but I think they do)

“Where are we heading, Beagle?”

He runs his fingers through his silver hair. “End goal, New Vegas. But right now, we’re going towards a little town called Novac.”

“I’ve walked this way before,” I observe. “Where is Novac on this map?”

I show him the screen built into my arm, which currently has a map of the area pulled up.

“I’m never gonna get used to this,” he mutters under his breath as he examines the map. "Uh, I think it's around here?"

He taps a spot on the map and a waypoint appears on the map. There's a small ping! noise, which causes Beagle to jump.

"You're very nervous," I observe.

"I still haven't fully grasped that this is my new reality," he retorts. "I've heard of lots of terrifying things out here in these sandy wastes."

"My interest has been piqued. What kind of things?"

"Radscorpions, geckos, the Powder Gangers out by the NCRCF..."

His voice trails off at that last one. His eyes lose focus, like he's seeing something playing out miles in front of us. I put my head as close to his as possible and zoom my eyes in as much as they can.

"What are you looking at?"

He jolts and does a small hop away from me. I can feel warm air on my skin. Is that his breathing? Dr. Dala told me about breathing, what it looked like, what it felt like. I don’t fully understand her obsession with it, but I am starting to gain my own appreciation for the habit.

“I was just… remembering something,” he says to me after he’s regained his bearings. “Nothing that a pretty lady like you should worry her pretty little head about.”

“Right,” I respond, disinterested in whatever it is he’s hiding. I continue to walk since he spotted nothing.

“Wait!” He half jogs to catch up to me. “Don’t you want to know what I was thinking of?”

“You can tell me if you want,” I reply, “but right now our main goal is Novac; and all this sand being blown by the wind is getting in my eyes.”

He doesn’t respond, instead lighting up another cigarette as we walk.

"We aren't walking on a road," I state. "Is there any reason for this?"

"Well, according to the maps, this is the fastest way to Novac," he tells me. "There is a longer route following the main road that crosses through a town called Nipton, but that place gives me the creeps.”

“Elaborate.”

“It's been radio silent for weeks. If anything happened down there, i doubt that it would be anything good.”

“You imply that Nipton is south?”

“Weird way of phrasin’ it,” Beagle remarks, “but yeah, I suppose so.”

I stop to show him a point on the map in my arm. “Is this Nipton?”

“Probably.”

“Then I’ve been there,” I inform him. “Boring place. Just a bunch of dead lobotomites everywhere.”

All he says in response to that is, “Oh,” before holding his cigarette in place with his teeth and shoving his hands deep into his pockets.

I continue to walk and he follows suit.

After a long while of silence, Beagle plucks the remains of his cigarette from his teeth, flicks it away, and asks me, “So what is a pretty lady like you doing wandering the desert all by her lonesome?”

“The great minds of the Think Tank made me to explore the new world beyond Big MT in their stead so that they may study it from the safety of their labs.”

“Wait…” He starts counting on his fingers before giving up entirely. “How old are you?”

“Depends,” I reply.

“Depends?”

“The body is roughly 26 years old, the computer parts that keep the body functioning are a few days old, and the data programmed onto my hard drives encompasses all of scientific knowledge that humanity has ever recorded and the Think Tank had ever saved to their computers. Though all of the components have been together for 32 days.”

“So you're 32 days old?”

“It appears so. Like Athena from the myths of the Old World, I emerged from the Think Tank fully formed.”

“Who’s Athena?”

I start to reply, but a flicker of movement from the neighboring hill catches my attention. I place a finger to my lips and crouch down. I zoom my sight in and study the creatures that caught my attention. The top half is a lobotomite torso and head, but the bottom half is a mass of tissue and extra arms acting as legs. Three tendrils hang out of its mouth like long tongues and it has no true arms.

Beagle notices what I’m looking at and grabs his gun. He’s aiming it wildly due to his shaking hands, a phenomena caused by the sudden influx of adrenaline in his body.

I gently lower the gun for him and start to quietly move closer, calibrating my long distance lasers as I move. The LRADs are already primed.

Using the pointed tip of my thumbnail as a scope, I aim a laser right between the thing’s eyes.

“Fascinating,” I remark as I see it spit sludge in our direction, taking plenty of photos as it does so. “One shot isn't enough to kill it.”

“What?” Beagle squeaks and pulls out a voice recorder. I gently lower that too before he starts talking into it.

The creature’s aim is not good enough to hit us with the sludge. That doesn't stop it from setting off my internal Geiger counter. My skin feels crackly. I need to end this quick.

The thing is charging at me and Beagle is starting to try and take voice memos again. I roll my eyes and let him. I just turn my ears off and fire enough shots to fell the beast.

I blow on my index finger to cool it off before extending the opposite hand to Beagle. I feel his hand vibrating on contact, so I grip it tightly to get it to stop shaking.

I lead him over to the corpse, the whole time him describing the encounter into his voice recorder in strikingly accurate detail. Despite his trembling hands, his voice is rather level, and nice to listen to. It’s soft and smooth, like the half melted butter on top of the waffles in those commercial breaks that Dr. 0 accidentally recorded along with his movies.

I turn my ears back off to remember to take more photos of the thing before teleporting it off to the Think Tank. I wince a bit as my still hot index finger lightly burns my temple.

I turn my ears back on, ready to listen to him talk; but all I hear is unvoiced gasping. I’m on alert.

“What is it?” I whisper urgently.

“The thing,” he points to where the creature once was. “It’s gone!”

“I teleported the cadaver back to Big MT,” I tell him, hovering my fingers by my temple. “Remember, if something bad happens to me while we’re out here, press on my temples and we’ll be teleported back to safety.”

He nods solemnly, processing the information as clear as day behind his eyes. As my science deputy, he deserves to know how to activate the teleported in case of an emergency.

He takes my arm, studies it, and places a new waypoint, saying, “I don’t wanna run into another one of those things. If we go up from here and then start cutting across, we should be fine.”

“Why not just go south to Nipton?”

He stares off into the distance and lights up another smoke. “There’s something that needs to be done up there anyways. And you’re just the person to help me.”

“Then why not just go directly to New Vegas?”

“Deathclaws,” Beagle replies coolly, taking another well timed drag of his cigarette.

“What are deathclaws?” I ask him.

“Nothing good,” he responds, gently lowering my arm for me; as if wanting to reach for my hand but not having enough courage to do so. “I’ll tell ya later.”

"When?"

"After you help me clean out the NCRCF."

#fallout new vegas #old world blues #fallout fic #sir of big mt #the brainless ones

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writtenbywings · 2 years

Text

Battle Scars

Pairing: Hermione Granger x Draco Malfoy

Summary: Returning to Hogwarts as a professor, Hermione bitterly encounters Draco Malfoy as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, throwing everything into chaos.

Hatred and lust slowly begins to burn between them, though only as they recall their final, secret year at Hogwarts.

Chapter word count: 1.5k

Link: Battle Scars

Type: Slow burn romance

CHAPTER TWO

"Really, Hermione. I am sorry."

"It's okay, Hagrid."

"Do you want a towel? A hot bath?"

"No, no. I'll just join the ceremony."

"Like that?"

"Yes… like this."

I was anything but ethical, though this really took the cake.

By the time I had braced myself for a carriage ride to the castle, everyone had swarmed off in a hurry– something about a wayward centaur in the enchanted forest.

My luck, of course.

I ended up walking, suitcase in tow and wand poised for attack, ready for a four-legged ambush or something of the Malfoy kind. Nothing but rain ensued– starting as a trickle and progressing to a full on thunderstorm, chuntering like a mini-tsunami down the cobbled path leading to Hogwarts, and showering the flowers that were sat grumpily by the doors.

"You look filthy." One of them had grumbled as I passed, sticking out its weedy tongue and flaring its rooty nostrils. I fought against my better judgment and ran over it with my bag as I passed, acting as if I didn't hear its squeal.

Hagrid was pasty white by the time I reached the main foyer, wringing his hands around a napkin that mimicked the size of a table-cloth. Apparently, Mcgonagall had threatened to make stew from his most beloved pumpkin if I wasn't to be found. Murder by vegetable was saved by the look of the relief on his face.

"Are you sure?" He now prompted, dabbing my soaking curls with that bedsheet hanky. "You'll catch a cold, Hermione."

"I'll be fine, Hagrid. Just show me where I'm sitting."

My bags had been escorted off to new chambers, and I stood toward the back entrance of the hall, eyeing the foreign heads of my teacher peers – bowing and lifting as they tucked into this evening's feast.

I could see the four large tables that manned all students, ranging from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin– their mix of royal coloured flags hanging proudly above each individual banquet.

Minerva was poised in Dumbledore's old chair, whilst the entourage of new professors ate soundly around her, mixing in conversation that sung of the new year, and what was to come.

Hagrid pointed his great finger over my shoulder and aimed it at the seat beside Professor Stinghorn– a new lady, with a sharp face and black hair. She looked too callous to be the head of Ravenclaw, though her personal capability for house points was the least of my worries - as beside her sat Malfoy, and his piercing blue stare.

That one cloudy eye snapping between each individual pupil.

Immediately, I grew possessive of all the innocent minds surrounding.

"Thank you, Hagrid." I whispered with a stiff upper lip, taking my first step into the dining hall.

I was wearing the lilac robes that Ginny and Harry had given me for Christmas, though now under the stream of rainwater, they looked a bruised black– sloshing heavily against the floor as my heels clicked ominously toward the top table.

There was an eerieness about being back in the castle, joining a sea of wiser witches and wizards, and not the curious onlookers that sat in years one through seven. I'd remembered feeling safe under the guidance of the professors, knowing they would slice an end to whatever enemy came our way.

Now, I would be one of these wiser adults.

Now, I would be the balance between a teacher and a protector -a task I didn't expect to be so daunting until now.

"Apologies, Professor." I whispered to Minerva as I approached the table, trying to avoid the headlight gaze of the room. A nervousness crept in that I hadn't felt before, and I avoided all the faces of my new peers as she rose from her chair, prompting others to follow.

The room stood with an ovation of smiles, and brought their hands together as Mcgonagall introduced me as the new Professor of Charms.

I bowed my head in appreciation and tried to strife off the burgundy hot blush, thanking her silently.

"Miss Granger will be the new head of Gryffindor House!"

My stomach became incredibly heavy, and I felt all the nerves in my body go jittery, grateful only for the emerald table in the center of the room that went ballistic with joy.

My sea of students.

"Which concludes our teacher announcement! Professor Stinghorn will be representing Ravenclaw–"

More cheering.

"-Professor Longbottom will represent Hufflepuff!-"

Louder cheering.

My eyes snapped immediately to the bottom of the table where a shy, older man sat– handsome, and soft in the face. He caught my stare and smiled warmly.

Neville… Neville…

How had I not noticed Neville in this room of strange faces?

I realized it was because of his new look– exchanging the sweater for a buttoned top, and his mop-haircut for a shaved one.

I was glad he was here, relief spreading through me like a summer's day.

"Miss Granger for Gryffindor!"

Happy cheering.

"And Mr Malfoy for Slytherin."

Draco's oddball stare narrowed as something of a smirk mused there, raising one hand to greet the students that didn't cheer or holler… but roared in solidarity.

It shouldn't have come as a surprise, though he was by far the most popular.

He glanced across the table and met my narrow glare, though didn't return it. He simply looked away, studying the room as Minerva began the sorting ceremony.

I clapped appropriately as each new year was sorted into one of the four houses, staring off in wonder at how only six years ago, sat in this very room, everything changed.

----------

"Give it back, Deaser!"

"You don't mind, do you, worm-boy?"

"I said give it back!"

"Aw, he's going to cry."

Three boys stood in the dining hall just after lunch was served. It was a warm day, and most of the school was outside playing Quidditch, so it made no difference to the Slytherin 6th years whether anyone would hear. A professor wasn't around for miles.

The little round Hufflepuff boy was trying desperately to get his ferret back, though was getting kicked in the stomach every time he tried. Once again, he lifted a hand to swipe his beloved pet back, and another knee went to his ribs.

I slammed down my book and tore across the room, having just about enough of their incessant bullying. My robes whipped like leather at my heels, and I had my hand around that furry little creature before another fist could be thrown.

"I suggest you step back." I said to the one called Deaser, a dark-haired Slytherin boy. His red-haired accomplice, who surprisingly looked a lot like Ron, quickly listened.

"What are you going to do?" Deaser spat, his nose wrinkled. "I've heard stories about you."

"And I've heard nothing about you, which makes me the more important one. Back off."

"What are you going to do? Send one of your dead friends after me?"

I wrinkled my nose in disgust and sat the ferret back to its owner– his sniffling behind my shoulder mumbled between 'thank you' and 'oh no.'

"Get. Back. Now."

"Make me, mudblood."

My wand was out before I had time to process, all the rushing venom of the war surfacing from the ocean of my memory. I had a spell on the tip of my tongue, as forbidden as a piece of poisoned fruit– inflicting pain more than anything else.

"Cru–"

A pair of arms snared around my shoulders and disarmed me, my wand clattering to the ground.

I didn't kick or wrangle away, knowing what was about to ensue.

Shock locked my body, froze my tongue, and numbed my brain.

"Leave." A voice growled against my head, and I obeyed willingly.

The Slytherin boys scampered off, and at first, I thought I had been disarmed by Hagrid - as no one put the fear in anyone but the giant himself. Though as those arms led me away, I felt the strong muscle of a much defter body against me - dragging us from the dining hall and into a quieter corridor.

I regained my cool and shook off the hands that bound me, turning around with an incredulous look - one that only blossomed into anger, and then confusion.

"Draco."

"Have you lost the only salvageable part of your brain?"

"I…"

"You almost just damaged that boy for life."

"What happened to your face?"

He straightened his shoulders and stretched to the pinnacle of his height– a tall pedestal to stand on, as the only Malfoy boy to shun the likes of Voldemort.

Though the shadows he cast didn't disguise the broken angle of his nose and the bruises beneath his eyes.

"Did you hear me, Granger?"

I opened my mouth to talk, though nothing came.

I'd almost hurt someone… I'd almost wounded a child.

The Unforgivable Curse.

Crucio.

What was happening to me?

The tips of his fingers tapped my cheek– not in a slack, but in a prompt to wake up.

"You listening to me?" He argued.

"Leave me alone." I shoved, causing Draco to stumble back a few steps. I fled the corridor and fled to my quarters, not wanting to look back. Not wanting to deal with what I was so close to doing.

"Hermoine!" I heard him call, perhaps the first time he'd ever called me by my actual name.

#draco x hermione #draco malfoy x hermione granger #hermione x draco #hermione granger #dhr #dramione fanfiction #draco malfoy #dramione

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