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chocolatepancakes · 3 years

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Mixer Romantic ending.

(Y/N) laid on her couch staring up at the ceiling. It was the middle of July and she was hot, bored, and sweaty. She sat up and reached for the remote, just to be caught off guard by a text notification. Selever. She opened the app. [Selever] Hey Roachy! [Selever] my friends and I are going to the mixer [Selever] come with to even out the numbers (Y/N) looked at her screen. A mixer huh? Cool beans. It’s not like she had anything to do over the summer. She typed quickly as she replied. [Y/N] cool lemme in [Selever] lmao you’re actually gonna come? [Selever] okay, well, meet at 401 Dragon Rock Ave. [Y/N] there’s a bar there?? [Selever] lol who said we’re going to a bar [Selever] we gon be going to kareoke b#### [Y/N] OK [Y/N] what time [Selever] idk, around 8. [Y/N] K see ya [Selever] ciao (Y/N) looked at the clock. 6pm. She had about two hours to get ready. She set a 50 minute timer and turned on the TV. She had time to burn. So the time came. (Y/N) ran out her house with her purse in hand. She slid into her car and started it up. Streetlights passed as she turned left and right. A call rang. She picked it up. “Hello, who is it?” She asked. “Hello, I called to talk about your car’s extended warranty,” Selever replied. Snickering could be heard. (Y/N) laughed. Why did he always start a call like that? “Hi Sel,” she said. “Where you at right now?” “I’m only like, a hundred meters from the place.” “Ha, sure you are.” “Oh hey! I see you! Okay, imma hang up!” She closed off the call and pulled her car into a parking slot. Selever stood waiting for her. He was wearing something pretty different from his normal attire. He had a magenta dress shirt on, and a black suit vest over it. A complimentary black tie and dark dress pants completed his look. “Woah I didn’t think you’d actually come,” Selever smirked. “Getting desperate?” He asked. “Ha, no. Just doing my job as the number-even-outter.” (Y/N) replied, getting out of her car. “Really? Cause you seem pretty dressed up for someone who’s just evening out the numbers.” He was right. (Y/N) had dressed up a bit for this occasion. She wore a blue one piece with a flower on the head of its belt. She wore a white cardigan, and two strands of her (H/C) hair, tied in braids, met at the back of her head. She wore knee high socks, and Mary Janes completed the outfit. “Yes really, now let’s go in! I wanna destroy everyone’s eardrums!” (Y/N) grabbed his hand and entered the building. This one seemed to be slightly different from other bars. Like a Japanese kareoke place? There was a reception area, and you’d go into a room to sing. They ran past the reception and straight to the room at the end of the hall. Selever opened up the door. “THE LAST LADY’S HERE!” He yelled. In the room were two other guys, and two other girls. Starting with the girls, there was one with blue hair, which was tied back in her pony tail. She had pink eyes and wore a grey turtleneck with a long skirt. The other girl had black hair, which covered her left eye. Red eyes. She wore a beanie, as well as a black shirt. She wore jeans, giving off a relaxed vibe. As for the two guys, a grey cat was among them. His hair? Fur? Was tied back in a ponytail. He wore a yellow hoodie over a suit, she assumed. He wore black pants and wore brown sneakers. Last one was a skull of… a goat? Moose? A demon? He wore a white dress shirt, and brown dress pants. His body and limbs seemed to be invisible, as his head and hand floated in the air. (Y/N) cautiously entered the room. “Hello…. I’m (Y/N).” The girl with blue hair waved. “Hi!! I’m Sky!” She held some cards in her hand. “Wanna play Uno with us?” “Sure,” (Y/N) said, sitting down. Selever also sat at the boys’ side. A round passed. Then two. Then an an hour, as they ate and sang. “Kay! Uhhh (Y/N!) It’s your turn!” The cat man said, taking the input pad and handing it over to her. “Sorry Kapi, I’m not too good at singing,” she denied. “You sure? You haven’t sang all hour.” “Mmm maybe one song.” She took the pad and scrolled through the songs. Bingo. She entered the code as a upbeat tune started playing. She held up the mic, slightly embarrassed she was singing this. Selever gave her a thumbs up and smiled. She took a breath and sang. The others watched her as she hit every note. When the song finished, she put down the mic and quickly returned to her seat. They clapped for a moment or two. “Woah. You’re pretty good (Y/N)!” Sky said. “I’m really not,” (Y/N) said. “Oh for f###’s sake, just accept it,” Selever rebutted. “You’re good and you know it.” Kapi stretched. “Okay, I think we’re all warmed up.” Warmed up?! That was warming up?! For what?! (Y/N) confusedly looked around the room. “Tabi, where’d you put the spinner?” Kapi asked. “It should be with the chips.” Seriously what were they bouta do?! Kapi took out a spinner. On each slice was each of their names. Tabi, Annie, Kapi, Sky, Selever, (Y/N), all of them. Kapi flicked the arrow. Landed on his name. “I GO FIRST!” He said, grabbing his phone. He fiddling with it, he got something to play on the screen. His own song. He took a deep breath and started to sing. Annie cheered him on. (Y/N) looked in shock. He was singing his own song. This probably means the others have their own too. Goddammit, no! She prayed for the wheel to never land on her, she didn’t have one yet! Kapi’s song finished, and the screen read, “Beathoven.mp4 - unknown”. “Oh yeah! That felt great! Okay, who’s next?” He spun the wheel again. “Uh… Annie! Ya gonna go?” Annie took out her phone. “Hell yeah I am.” She took a swig of her drink and got up. After fiddling with her phone, a new song started playing. She bopped her head a few times, until she also started to sing. (Y/N) leaned over to Selever. “You know I don’t have a song! What do I do?!” She whispered. Selever leaned back. “It’s fine. I can cover you if it lands anyway. Just get one of your weeb songs to play if I can’t.” As Annie’s song finished, she spun the wheel. Sky Same routine. She got up, fiddled around, and sang. (Y/N) paid no attention to it. She was only thinking about what would happen when her turn came. What does he mean he can cover her?! What does he mean play a weeb song?! Did he mean vocaloid? Before she knew it, Sky’s turn was over. Kapi spun the spinner. Oh god damn it. “(Y/N)! It’s your turn!” He slid the pad to her. She looked at it in fear. “Um- a-” she was cut off. Selever picked up the pad. “M'kay. I’m bored. My turn motherfruskas!” Nobody stopped him. Just sighed and shook their heads. He tapped his phone. A steady beat came out of the speakers. Selever smirked at (Y/N) as he began to sing. It was upbeat. Pretty steady, until 30 seconds in. A sudden tempo change. His song was upbeat. And somewhat fast. As the song finished he put the mic back down on the table. “You had a song?? Wh- why is it so chaotic?! HOW’D YOU EVEN HIT THAT?!” Sky questioned as she, and the others clapped. Selever leaned back with his hands behind his head. “It’s was made to fit me, and me specifically. Of course it’s chaotic.” Kapi put away the wheel. “Okay, since there’s only Tabi and (Y/N) left now, I’m gonna flip a coin. Tabs, heads or tails?” He flipped it into the air. “Tails.” Tabi replied. Kapi caught, and shielded the coin from view. (Y/N) prayed it was tails. He revealed the coin to be… “Tails! ‘Kay Tabi, you’re up!” He handed the pad to the floating skull, as a new song started to play. (Y/N) let out a sigh of relief. At least now she could think of which song to sing herself. I mean, Aishite was pretty good, but dark. PoPiPo sounded too idiotic. She could sing partners in crime…. if she had a partner. “So, be honest (Y/N),” Annie said, still keeping her eyes on Tabi. “You don’t have a song, do you?” (Y/N) jumped. “I uh…” “It’s fine. I didn’t really expect someone like you to have one anyway.” Someone like me? The hell does that mean?! (Y/N)’s pettiness rose up. She still didn’t have a song, but she sure as hell knew which one she wanted to sing. Just as Tabi’s song finished, she snatched the pad and connected her phone. She looked up at the screen. Beeps played as she stood up, grabbed the mic, and waited for the first notes to come. She took a deep breath, turned to look at everyone and sang. “EVERSINCEIWASBORNFROMTHATDAYIHADKNOWNTHATIAMNOTHINGMORETHANASIMULATIONBUTI'LLKEEPLIVINGUNTILLDESTROYED, LIVINGFOREVERYESIAMAVOCALOID. IFFOREXAMPLESINGINGWASJUSTATOYTHATWOULDSINGBACKTHETUNESYOUGAVETOTHEMIDTHINKTHATWASALRIGHT, WHILEILOOKATTHESKY, BITETHISLEEK, WATCHTHESOUPPOURINGFROMMYEYES. BUTEVENSOI'LLDISAPPEARTHATIKNOWAPERSONALITYCHANGINGWITHEACHSONG, EVERYTHINGIWASBUILTONWASN'TSOSTRONG, ALLOFTHEPLACESIKNEWAREALREADYGONE, EVERYONETHATIKNEW, THEYDON'TREMEMBERME. HEARTORSOULIHAVENOTHINGLEFTINSIDEOFMEICANSEETHECENTEROFTHEVOID, YES I AM A VOCALOID!” She huffed as the intro stopped. The others looked at her wide eyed. She smiled. She may have regained a bit of confidence. As the vocals continued, she did too. Hitting every note perfectly as the song went on. At the end, she set down her mic. Selever clapped for her, and the others joined him. Tabi looked at the clock. Holy crap. 2 am. “Okay, I have to go, I have work,” he said, getting up. “Actually, we should probably all go now. The time’s almost up anyway,” Sky pointed out. (Y/N) picked up her purse. They were right. She didn’t have anything to do over the summer, but it was getting late. They all walked out to the parking lot, and said their goodbyes. Only Selever and (Y/N) was left now. “So, got anyone you put your eyes on?” Selever asked. (Y/N) sighed. “They were nice, but not really my type, ya know? Would go drink with tho 100%.” She smiled. “Besides, I don’t think any of the guys really liked me.”

“Do I not count as a guy for you then?” Selever snarked. (Y/N) looked at him with wide eyes. “You like me?” She asked. Selever flushed, being caught off guard. “What?! No! I didn’t- No! I just eurrgggggg” he buried his face in his hands and groaned. (Y/N) giggled. “Shut uuuup….” “No, it’s not that,” she replied, trying to force the giggles to stop. “It’s just funny how you like me too.” They stood in silence looking into each other. (Y/N) smiled as she left Sel for her car. “M'kay! Bye! Sel! See ya next time!” She said, as she drove off. Selever stood in front of the building. Hoooooly crap. She likes me. She… likes me? Why? What is there to like? He laughed at himself as he walked in the direction of the church. At least she liked him. That’s was all that mattered.

#Mid fight masses #Friday night funkin #fnf #selever x reader #fnf x reader #x reader #selever fnf selever #mixer fanfic #mixer romantic

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leaderintitleonly · 2 years

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@all-fleshed-out asked:

Gently leaves an offering of 1 (one) chocolate for the floor grandpa. Was it from his stash? Absolutely. Not like he could stop her anyway!

He smells chocolate... His eyes slowly open. He tries to reach for the square and... That’s weird. He can’t really grasp it. Huh. Grasp it... Firmly grasp it! His fingertips look a little grey. Oh well. Just use the other hand. It smells so good but there’s someone else who might enjoy it... “Mmmn. Molly? You uh, you wanna share a treat wit’ me?” Just who could have placed it there? Oh well. Might as well! She’s just gonna gum it but she’s so cute when she’s “tasting” things. He’s been kind of neglectful this morning. Sleeping in. Forgetting to color in pink horses to help fuel imagination and teaching how to mix colors. He doesn’t even like horses. Donkeys however? A much more noble steed. Ponies are great, too. But horses? Eugh. Terrible, tall creatures plotting the end of the world and- That is one dwarven conspiracy too many for today.

#doc speaks #all fleshed out #i'm sorry i ruined the wholesome #or did i #yeah i did i absolutely did #food #food cw

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missturtleduck · 3 years

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The Girls of Ba Sing Se - (Sokka x f!Reader) Pt. 13

Part Twelve│Part Fourteen

“We’re both warriors in our own right, and too good to be surrounded by stupid boys all the time.“

Crossing back over the Serpent’s Pass was easy. The heavy weight on her chest that pummelled her out of nowhere was infinitely hard.

Across the deep-water chasm, Y/N carried Suki, ignoring the strain on her calves and arms. Without the serpent or the extra people holding them back, the girls made their way over the Pass before night fell. The biting cold was not a problem either as Y/N kept a flame lit in her hand as the sun began to lower in the grey sky, enveloped by a cluster of clouds.

“I sent a message ahead of us,” Suki told her idly, adjusting her headband as they walked.

“Oh?”

The Warrior nodded. “The other Kyoshi Warriors will meet us back past the docks and into the wooded area westward.”

Nodding, Y/N focused on the ground beneath her feet. It was unchanging, dusty and sharp, as they began to exit the steepest climbs of the Pass, watching it plateau with little interest. If she could analyse the rocky path they were on, it would distract from the rocky terrain she and Sokka had metaphorically stumbled onto.

“Why did you invite me to come along with you, Suki?” Y/N said, her voice too loud in her ears after hours of endless silence.

Suki smiled at her. “Call it a hunch, but I think we’re like-minded people.”

“Because we’ve both had crushes on Sokka?”

“What?” She snorted, a massive grin now on her face. “No! What I had was a fleeting moment of ‘oh he’s cute’ and that was the end of that.”

“Oh,” Y/N said, flushing with embarrassment. “Well now I feel like an idiot.”

With a gentle nudge, Suki shook her head. “Don’t. We’re both warriors in our own right, and too good to be surrounded by stupid boys all the time.”

The joke summoned a low chuckle in Y/N’s throat, suddenly washing away the bashful feeling settling in her gut. Suki was easy to talk to, it seemed, but that ease with soon disappear. At the end of the journey, the she saw the other Kyoshi Warriors. They were in full garb, waiting.

She felt more out of place than ever. Frowning, Y/N smothered the fire with her shame. A furious grey stretched over the atmosphere, the colour of smoke. Inhaling a deep, controlled breath, she tried in desperation to replace the pressure in her chest with warmth, and for a moment she succeeded. The blossoming fire lily of energy spread, easing the tension in her muscles, her intense scowl softening.

“Warriors.” Suki announced their presence with all the nobility of a Fire Nation general. “This is Y/N. She will be travelling with us for a while.”

A murmur rippled through the group as easy and detrimental as an ocean tide. Y/N had no real experience with other girls her age. Sure, when she had been to visit her father in the Fire Nation Palace, Azula had been welcoming, so to speak. By welcoming, she meant more that the princess seemed to want to add her to a collection. She seemed to keep friends like butterflies, pinned to a board by their wings. This would also be ignoring the age gap between them; the same could even be said for Toph and Katara.

This was going to be strange.

“Yes, she is a firebender, but I would trust her if I had to put my life in her hands,” Suki said, voice turning sterner, more sincere, overcoming the collective whisper of doubt. “You didn’t see her risk her life for the sake of others. Y/N is fierce, and she will fit in with us for as long as she needs.”

With that, Suki had finished. Quelling the uncertainty with swift decisiveness, Y/N couldn’t help but admire the leadership she was displaying.

Tents set up and food gathered, all that was left to do was set up a campfire. Rather than letting one of the Warriors ache over sparking flame with rock, the firebender ignited her forefinger, pointing it at the pile of dry wood collected and arranged with the neat discipline of a trained fighter. Y/N ignored the yelps of the girls around her as the fire hit the wood with fierce accuracy. Under the intense heat, the wood began to crack, splintering and cracking as loud as thunder. As it settled, no longer spitting like a vicious pygmy puma, the girls wasted no time lifting a cooking pot over the campfire.

“No meat in the soup tonight.” A gruff voice said, startling Y/N. “Is that okay with you, firebender?”

She looked at the owner of such a low voice; a tall, leggy girl was stirring different nuts into a broth, stoking the flames every now and then to keep it boiling. Other than a single braid that was slung over her shoulder, her head was completely shaved.

“I don’t mind,” Y/N smiled, swallowing her nerves. “When you travel with a monk, you get used to a vegetarian lifestyle.”

The Warrior looked at her with some curiosity as she continued crushing the shells off of the main ingredients for their meal. “Huh. The Avatar, I’m guessing. What’s he like?”

“Sweet,” Was the first word that blurted out of her mouth. “Young. Fiercely devoted.”

“Glad to know our saviour is sweet.”

“Hey, I also said devoted!”

The two girls stared at each other before bursting out with laughter. They sat there for a few silent moments. Y/N tamed the flames down to a simmering heat as her acquaintance stirred in some green herbs. It smelled divine, summoning images of pine, hiking in the rain, and home. Home was the strongest memory dredged up by the broth.

“I heard,” The girl said, a teasing smile playing on her pretty lips, “That you’re really here because you got into an argument with a boy.”

Perhaps if any of the other girls there had teased like that, Y/N would’ve lost her temper, but this one seemed kind. “You could say that we had a conflict of interests.”

“Those interests being fire and water?” She continued to joke, nudging Y/N’s shoulder. “I’m glad to know I’ll never have these problems with boys.”

Y/N furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t like boys,” The girl shrugged with an easy grin. “Girls, however...”

“Wait, that’s an option?”

Now looking as confused as each other, they were interrupted by another Kyoshi Warrior. This girl had her face bare of paint, her entire body beaming with pure light. Wrapping her arms around the girl at the pot, she planted a kiss on her cheek before looking up to see Y/N, who sat shocked.

“Li, are you already bullying this poor girl?” The cheery one frowned – as much as she could looking like sunshine personified.

“Of course not, Yu,” Li said, clasping her free hand over Yu’s. “I’m just enlightening her to the many possibilities that being in the Kyoshi Warriors has granted me.”

This was a revelation to Y/N. It was her great grandfather who had spearheaded the criminalisation of ‘abnormal’ relationships, so she had never witnessed such explicit affection between two girls. It made sense though, why she never recognised her admiration of fellow women as anything more than friendship after a certain age. In fact, watching Li and Yu be so tender together reminded Y/N of an array of people she had considered close friends, those she would stare at a few seconds too long.

There had been a guard in Ozai’s palace with whom Y/N often walked the gardens when she would visit many years ago. Yes, she had been very young, but she remembered this woman with such intensity; she had these glittering gold eyes, as if someone had caught the sun in manacles and poured its blessing into her. She remembered, Princess Y/N, besotted with this woman and announcing to her that one day she would marry her. She startled at how panicked she had turned, and became sad when she never saw her again.

Even after her, there had been others she had admired; Jin who lived near her mother, Suki to some extent, and she was now realising how she had completely melted in front of Li.

But then there was Jìngyi and Sokka. Where did they fit?

“Sweetness,” Yu whispered to Li, “I think you broke the poor thing.”

“Hey, firebender,” Li said, brushing her companion off, “First bowl of soup fresh just for you.”

Numb, she took the bowl with a nod. “You can call me Y/N.”

That scent was back again as the pleasant nutty broth exuded heat. Swirling up in tendrils of steam, Y/N caught those glimpses of home again, but they were even stronger now – perhaps more melancholy and informed. But who was it she was seeing? Where was home?

Sipping a spoonful, her entire body warmed up in a way that could only be comforting. It was like the embrace of a fireplace after being caught in the rain. Spirits, it was good. It was definitely better than anything her and Katara had managed to cook up from the wilds. Watching her new acquaintances, Y/N realised their bond was forged in something other than affection; it seemed that Li was the cook and Yu the forager. Love, it seemed, could flourish somewhere that no one would ever expect it.

“This is lovely, thank you,” Y/N said with the utmost sincerity, bowing her head lowly.

Usually, she was all about etiquette, but the flavour and the sad pit in her stomach made her desperate to wolf the meal down. So many words to describe one bowl - splendid, delicious, homely – but Y/N could find none to describe how she was feeling.

“Tomorrow,” Li cut in past Y/N’s thoughts, “Yu and I, that being my Yu, will help you get ready for the journey ahead.”

Y/N allowed a small giggle to pass her lips at Li’s bad joke. “What do you mean?”

“If you’re travelling with the Kyoshi Warriors, you have to look like one!” Yu laughed, tapping her foot against Y/N’s knee as she took a seat opposite her.

“What, with the–” YN gestured to her face, mimicking the swipe of a brush over her eyes and lips.

“Yes!” Yu said, excited, “And with you uniform as well.”

“Is that okay?”

All three of the girls looked up behind Y/N’s shoulder to see a now bare faced Suki. Her red hair was tied back haphazardly in a pony tail, wisps of hair falling either side of her face. Out of any uniform whatsoever and in some comfy looking sleep clothes, she looked more relaxed.

Suki wasn’t looking at the other girls though. Suki was looking at Y/N.

“Oh!” Y/N flushed, sheepish. “Yeah, that would be great! Thank you for allowing me to travel with you.”

“Not at all,” She brushed off, taking a seat next to her on the ground, sandwiching her between her and Li. “Soup is going down a treat, girls. I’m sure we’ll all be sleeping warm in our sleeping bags tonight.”

A sleeping bag.

Oh no.

“Where am I sleeping, Suki?” Y/N asked, placing an empty bowl down on the ground – though it was refilled pretty quickly. “I mean, I don’t have problems with staying warm usually, so it’s fine if I don’t have a sleeping bag, but– “

“Y/N,” Suki interrupted, “You can have my sleeping mat and just lie between two of us just in case the winds pick up.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Crisis averted, Y/N thought as she dug through another bowl of soup. But what kind of crisis, she had to wonder. Crisis or not, she had no trouble getting to sleep under an ocean of stars, laid between Suki and Li. She felt comfortable – content, even – which was new. Perhaps she wouldn’t have too much trouble travelling with the Kyoshi Warriors after all.

And she’d hardly thought about Sokka all evening.

TAGLIST: @lunariasilver @maragreene @bestyearsof5sos @korra-rail-me @moistpotatobear @sporadicalalmondcookie @jaayypasta @animeboysimppp

#atla #sokka x reader #suki #kyoshi warriors #sokka #aang #katara #toph #angst #bi!reader #f!reader #the girls of ba sing se #missturtleduck

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cookiedoughmeagain · 3 years

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Haven fanfic

Inspired by a conversation in the Haven discord. Duke and Nathan get hit by an animal transformation Trouble. Cuteness ensues.

“Hey I think there’s a ….” Duke stopped on his way into Audrey and Nathan’s office, distracted by an odd ‘POPPP!!’ sound behind him. He turned around to where Stan had been, and found a small and slightly startled-looking pony in his place.

“An animal transformation Trouble, yeah,” Audrey finished his sentence without stopping to look up from the paperwork she was frantically rifling through. “We think Nathan might be …”

‘POPPP!!’

They both looked over to the other side of the room. Nathan had been standing behind his desk flicking through more paperwork and now he was … not.

“Nathan?” Audrey cried.

They ran round either side of Nathan’s desk to find his clothes in a pile on the floor. Something was moving frantically inside the fabric. Duke reached out carefully to pull a shirt out of the way and jumped back in surprise when a startled rabbit appeared from underneath it. The rabbit launched itself away from them in alarm, darting this way and that for a while in the small space available to it, before finally retreating to a corner where it continued shaking in apparent fear.

“Nathan?” Audrey asked gently.

“It must be him, right?” Duke replied. “But why’s he so …?” he finished the question with a little panicked mime.

As the rabbit looked this way and that, his whiskers caught on the wall and he jumped in alarm, cowering away from it as though bitten.

“He felt that,” Audrey realised. “This Trouble must have turned off his old one. He can feel again and everything must feel completely strange. I’d be freaking out too.”

“Detective, the Principal is on the phone for you,” Rafferty called through the increasing chorus of animal noises outside the office.

“Ah!” Audrey jumped up, startling Nathan further. “I have to take this, that’s who we were trying to get hold of. Just try to calm him down and Do Not let him go anywhere,” Audrey told Duke sternly.

“How am I supposed to …?” Duke asked in ineffective protest.

Audrey called out a “Thanks,” as she went and shut the door firmly behind her.

Duke turned back to the rabbit, to Nathan. “Hey, buddy. It’s gonna be fine. Audrey’s gonna fix it.” He held out a hand cautiously, trying to remember if he knew anything at all about rabbits and deciding that, no, no he did not. He watched Nathan shake for a moment, shivering as though cold or - more likely - completely overwhelmed by a flood of new sensations. He was a small rabbit, with a mix of white and light grey fur; evidently appearance did not follow through from human to animal. The only thing that looked remotely like Nathan were the bright blue eyes. Otherwise, he was soft and fluffy, with floppy ears that looked like they might get in the way if he were trying to do anything besides hide in a corner. His nose twitched and his eyes darted warily around him but for the most part it looked like he was trying to move as little as possible.

Duke moved his hand a bit closer, and thought perhaps the scared shaking was slowing slightly, and that maybe the twitching little rabbit nose directed itself towards Duke’s hand. “You smell something?” Duke wondered. “What do I smell like, huh? Engine oil? Kitchen grease?” He kept talking, soft and low, assuming that Nathan couldn’t understand him but knowing that tone of voice was important with dogs, so maybe it would help here too. He kept his voice calm, and his breathing calm, and then he reached out slowly to carefully run his hand over the rabbit’s ears and along his back in a gentle stroke.

Audrey spent longer on the phone with the Principal and talking to Rafferty than she expected, but by the time she returned to the office she thought she knew who the Troubled person was. She opened the door carefully, in case there was a frightened rabbit behind it, so was pleasantly surprised to find that both Duke and Nathan-the-rabbit were now on the sofa, Nathan on Duke’s lap. The shaking seemed to have slowed and the rabbit looked a lot calmer, Audrey thought. Duke had one hand resting against the rabbit’s side, the other making long slow strokes over his back. Audrey took a moment to watch, slightly calmed herself just by the sight of Duke’s careful fingers in the soft rabbit fur. His hands were almost as long as the rabbit was, she noted, and Nathan in bunny form really was rather adorable when you stopped to look. She shook herself out of it - this was a serious Trouble that had already put two people (and three currently-animals) in the hospital, she didn’t have time to enjoy the view.

“OK, I’m pretty sure this is the Troubled person,” she told Duke, brandishing a piece of paper with an address written on it. “I’m going to go speak to them now.”

Duke nodded and held a finger briefly to his lips before replying in a much calmer tone of voice than hers. “OK.”

“Is he … himself?” Audrey asked, quietly.

Duke looked down at the rabbit. “Pancakes are a terrible breakfast food,” he said.

The rabbit huffed through its nose and shook its head once, annoyed.

Audrey took that as a yes. “Nathan I am going to fix this. OK? I’m going to find the person with the Trouble now, and I am going to fix this, alright? You two just … stay there.”

It took her longer than she’d hoped, but a little while later Audrey made her way back through town, watching various different animals turn back into various different people, most of them apparently none the worse for the experience. She walked through the station and said hello to Stan, now back in his uniform and busy checking how many of HPD were currently animal-shaped, then she made her way on towards her office.

“OK we should be all good, people are turning back, it might just take a little while before … it gets … everyo...,” Audrey’s sentence faded as she closed her office door behind her. She had expected to find Duke still on the sofa with Nathan still on his lap. One or both of them possibly asleep, but probably still there. She hadn’t been gone that long.

But all that was on the sofa now was Duke’s shirt and a broken pile of necklaces. In the middle of the office sat a big cat - a panther maybe? Or no - a cougar, pale brown with darker fur around its eyes as though wearing the neatest eyeliner imaginable. It sat up as she came in, looking not-at-all surprised to see her and really quite pleased with itself.

“Duke?” Audrey asked, amazed.

Duke-the-cat turned around to look down at Nathan-the-rabbit next to him, who now hardly seemed to be shaking at all. Duke leant down towards the rabbit, stuck out his big cat tongue and licked the side of Nathan’s face with enough friendly force that the rabbit nearly toppled over.

“Nathan?” Audrey stepped forwards concerned at the effect such enthusiastic grooming might be having on the tiny rabbit. Nathan righted himself easily though, and looked at her with a little nod. Duke put a large paw on Nathan’s other side in a kind of hug, and Nathan leaned into the contact, not at all startled now.

“Well OK then!” Audrey replied with a laugh. “Good job boys!” She sat down on the sofa, tired from all the running around town. “I can’t believe all it took for you two to stop snarking at each other was to get turned into animals. Actual animals,” she repeated to herself, surprised. She probably shouldn’t be surprised by this town any more, but there was always something. They should be turning back into their human selves soon, she would just rest here for a little while. No one would mind if she closed her eyes for a moment, surely.

A moment later she felt more than heard the big cat move up to her, and opened her eyes in time to see it carrying the rabbit carefully, as though Duke were the mother cat and Nathan one of his kittens. Duke dropped Nathan gently on Audrey’s lap, where he hopped up a little closer to her and rested his head against her hand. Duke jumped up on the sofa next to her and curled up with his heavy cat head warm on her knee.

Audrey reached out to scratch both of them behind the ear, amused as both of them leant into her touch at the same time. “You’re both so soft,” she told them. “I could get used to this; fluffy bunny and big cat snuggles. We’ll just stay here until you turn back,” she decided.

Nathan bristled slightly at being called a bunny, but the way Audrey was stroking his head meant he was inclined to forgive her. Audrey leant back and closed her eyes, and after a moment heard what she suddenly realised must be the sound of a big cat purring.

It hadn’t been the best start to the day, but there could have been a lot worse ways for it to end.

#haven syfy #haven fanfic #haven maine #duke crocker #audrey parker #nathan wuornos #nathan the rabbit #duke the big cat

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soyeahitsmiddleearth · 4 years

Note

*not sure how this works, but here goes...* Imagine meeting the company in Bag End, but they don't know you're mute. There's question as to whether or not you should even come on the quest because you don't even have a sign language in the Shire (how will you signal any trouble, call for help, etc). You have some skill throwing knives and can whistle quite loud. There's debate amongst the company about teaching you the secret dwarven sign language (objections being from the older members mainly)

OH MY GOD THIS IS MY 100TH CHAPTER (on ao3)!! Should I do something special for it?

Also for this one I kinda just imagined Tinkerbell (Peter Pan) when writing the reader? Idk. Tinkerbell is quiet, feisty, clever, and like, the best? So I used her for inspiration.

---

You weren't born like this.

For the first few years of your life you could speak, scream, cry, whisper, and make usual noises like every other child.

You were not a disliked child whatsoever, but you were always quite small, small even for a hobbit, and were also considered rather odd. The other kids considered you odd because you didn't like to play the games children usually liked playing, nor were you particularly good with conversing with others. Other children made you nervous, so you avoided them.

Unfortunately, they took your avoidance for you being stuck-up and mean, so they often liked to pick on you and torment you for things. The fact that your older brother Bilbo would always stick up for you didn't help this fact either.

It happened when you were 8; the incident that lost you your voice.

Some of the other Shire children were being mean to you as usual, throwing things and running after you when you tried to get away, and they chased you up a tree. They were armed with branches, rocks, and various other 'weapons' which you didn't much like being hit with, and so you raced up a tree and hid from them in the high branches to wait them out.

You tried to call for help several times, but you were too far away for any adults to hear your cries, and at one point one of the children nailed you right in the head with stick.

You fell from the tree screaming, and when you hit the ground, you never made another noise again.

The fall damaged your larynx, and while you can still do things like hum, cough, and make some simpler noises, you cannot laugh, speak, or even whisper.

That may sound horrible, but you actually got lucky all things considered, since many larynx fractures and damages can be life-threatening.

Suffice to say nobody messed with you after that, though it's very sad that it took a life altering injury to stop your torment.

You have long since given up your anger and hate for what happened to you that day, though sometimes you do feel a great deal of frustration for not being able to voice your thoughts or outright tell people what you mean or need.

With all the negatives that come with being mute, however, come some positives as well.

For example, you are a master of silence and stealth in your own right, you're an excellent listener (not that you can reply anyways), you've made good on plenty of other talents like writing and cooking with your brother to name some, you've got excellent aim, and your patience and charades skills are unrivaled.

So when Gandalf the Grey comes about one lovely morning and proposes an adventure for you and your brother, suffice to say you were overjoyed to finally do something.

The first meeting with those rowdy dwarfs was a doozy, and you got lots of questions about why you wouldn't speak, though, clearly, you couldn't answer them.

When Gandalf announced that you and Bilbo would be coming along there was a lot of apprehension, and not just because you're mute either.

Bilbo is, quite literally, the softest and least durable hobbit in the entirety of the Shire; and mix that with a verbally challenged hobbit as well?

Suffice to say there was a lot of protest, but Gandalf shut it all down without hesitation and demanded that the two of you be welcomed onto the trip and treated fairly.

Bilbo didn't want to go, and at some point he passed out and a bunch of things happened, but you made up your mind and let Gandalf know that you would do it with or without Bilbo.

He can't look after you forever, after-all.

You were as silent as usual that next morning while everyone traveled, joked, and placed bets on whether or not Bilbo would show up, but you were fairly certain that he would arrive eventually - so you didn't worry much about it.

Some of the dwarfs tried to make small talk with you while you rode along with them, and though they knew you couldn't verbally respond, you still did your best to act out what you wanted to say; that, or you let your facial expression do the talking for you.

It seemed that you could get your point across pretty well too, either that or they were sparing your feelings and pretending to understand, because they give an appropriate response to you each time.

Bilbo did, ultimately, show up at some point, and from there the journey really began.

---

Your inability to speak really does make things a lot harder a lot of the time, but you usually manage to push through.

No matter what weaknesses you have because you've spent so much of your life in silence, the strengths always shine through in the end.

This is one of those times.

Fili and Kili managed to lose track of some of the horses and stumble upon three trolls, and then they had the bright idea to send in you and your brother to retrieve them!

Obviously you both did it, but unfortunately Bilbo got caught and all the dwarfs came out and began to fight the trolls with everything they have. It wasn't enough, though, for soon they are all bagged and piled up.

You got lucky and managed to hide in a nearby bush, and while you know for a fact that you can't take on three trolls by yourself, you can certainly find a way to release the poor. frightened ponies.

Eventually, once the trolls are completely distracted by other things, you creep out from beneath the bush and army man crawl towards the little pen they made.

The forgotten weapon lay there on the ground next to the gate, and without hesitation you pick it up and start to saw away at the rope holding it shut.

Like usual you manage to go by unnoticed up to the end, and once the rope is cut, you open up the gate and watch as the ponies rush away at top speed.

"Oi!" One of the trolls yell when it notices the fleeing ponies, taking a few quick steps in their general direction before another one of the trolls tells him to forget about it since they've got something better.

"But how did they get out?" The same troll asks suspiciously, looking over in your direction.

When he turns towards you, you dive to the ground and hide behind one of the supporting pillars of the gate, squeezing your eyes shut while your heart hammers in your chest when loud footsteps approach.

Even though you know he can't hear you, you still find yourself holding your breath and awaiting his descent upon you.

Only it never comes.

"Huh..." The troll grunts, then turns and rejoins his troll friends around the slow roasting dwarves they've tied above their fire.

You slowly poke your head up and look at the backs of the trolls who are gathered around the fire, then you glance over at the pile of dwarfs and meet Thorin's gaze from across the way.

Slowly you bring up your hand and point at yourself, then point at him and make an untying motion with your hands.

He glances at the busy trolls, then down at the dwarfs by his feet before looking over at you again and slowly nodding his head.

As soon as you get confirmation you drop back low to the ground and carefully pick your way through the underbrush and manage to avoid crunching or snapping any dead leaves and sticks that may be in your way.

Eventually, you manage to sneak your way over to the rock just above Thorin, and once you're sure none of the trolls are looking in your direction, you slide down it and land right next to him.

He looks at you and whispers, "As quiet as a mouse, as always."

With slightly shaky hands, you begin to try and undo the ties keeping him contained in the sack, but it seems that the knot is rather sturdy since you can't get your fingers into any of the holes in the rope.

You tug on it a bit and furrow your eyebrows in frustration, going in to pick at it some more before he whispers again, "They're looking this way, hide!"

As soon as the words leave his mouth you drop to the floor and roll over so you're hiding behind the stack o' dwarfs and fit yourself between Thorin and Balin's legs, reaching up discreetly to begin working at the knot entrapping Gloin.

It's around this time that you hear Bilbo begin to speak and try to convince the trolls to let them go, though his logic doesn't do much, so you start to work faster

You're so engrossed on freeing him that you don't notice the loud and large footsteps coming back towards you, and it's not until you hear, "What's all this then?" that you realize you've made a mistake.

It's unfortunate too, cause you just managed to get Gloin free from his bindings.

The back of your shirt is lifted suddenly, and then you're in the air next while the dwarfs you were trying to free start to yell and freak out, and Bilbo cries your name in a panic.

You flail your arms and kick your legs, swinging your fists and beating on the hand holding you by your shirt while you mouth silent curses at the troll.

"What's this? Another hobbit?" The troll asks, lifting you up to eye level so he can see you more clearly.

You lash out and hit it right in it's big ugly nose, feeling a moment of triumph when it yelps and reaches up with it's other hand to rub it's abused nose. When that works, you start to beat on it's stupid face more, but before you can get in much more it pulls you away from it's face and starts to shake you back and fourth quickly.

Troll uses earthquake; it is very effective.

In seconds you're in a daze and left dizzy when it stops shaking you back and fourth.

"Well now what? Can we eats that too?" The one with the lower pitched voice asks, looking at the other two while it resumes its turning of the dwarfs hovering over the fire.

"Of course we can! Go get another bag." The higher pitched one holding you states, dropping you onto the ground from up high.

When you hit the ground with a silent 'oof' you smack your head and the dizziness increases, but you still hear Gandalf's booming voice and the yelling of the trolls as they turn to stone when the light hits their skin.

Slowly you push yourself up to your hands and knees and press a hand to your aching head, whining softly when the throbbing gets worse as you move.

"Y/N!" Bilbo calls from behind you , worry clear in his voice.

The sound of his voice snaps you out of your stupor, so you hurriedly get to your feet and scramble over to him with slightly wobbly steps, immediately going to the knot holding him in the sack and cutting him loose.

Once he's freed, he reaches up and moves your head out of your face to check for any injuries, and when he sees none he sighs in relief. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

You shake your head no, then point over at the still trapped dwarfs, Gloin being the only one free at the moment while he tries to free Bombur from his prison.

He seems to understand your point right away and nods his head, walking over to them so he can release them.

You look around the camp for a moment while Gandalf rejoins you all and grab one of the heavy discarded swords, bringing it over to Gandalf then pointing at the few suspended in air and no doubt roasting hot in their position.

The elderly wizard smiles at you kindly and accepts the blade, immediately going over to cut loose those still stuck.

When you turn back around almost everyone is freed, and you find an unconscious smile spreading across your face when you see that they're all okay.

Bilbo bounds over to you as soon as he's done freeing them, though not before getting some praise for his quick thinking and distraction that saved Bombur's life and gave Gandalf more time to free them, and when you overhear their praise of him your smile broadens.

"But of course, Y/N provided an excellent distraction as well. Gave the young one a good beating." Thorin muses while he dusts off his coat and trousers, looking at you with a pleased expression on his face.

You can feel your face heating up slightly at the compliment, but your smile remains and you nod your head eagerly in thanks.

"Though, I suppose your job would be a fair bit easier if we could properly communicate with you..." He adds slowly, reaching up to stroke his beard lightly.

Your joy deflates at that, and right away your smile is replaced with a pout.

There is no unspoken form of the language you once spoke, for if there was, you would've learned it a long time ago. Of course you can write well, but there's no time to write what you're thinking in the middle of a conflict.

Bilbo sighs and shakes his head, "There is no other language for her to speak. I have no knowledge of any other signed languages, unfortunately."

A few moments of silence pass on by before Bofur hesitantly suggests, "We could teacher her some iglishmêk."

As soon as the words leave his mouth there is some protesting from Balin, Oin, and a few others, them saying things like, "only dwarfs can speak iglishmêk," "that's a horrible idea," and, "that's against our customs!"

Bofur shrinks under the scolding and yelling of the older members of the company, but Thorin, surprisingly, says nothing.

Kili comes to Bofur's rescue, thankfully for him, and states, "Well we need to communicate somehow! I think it's a good idea. We all know it, and I think it would be beneficial to the group."

HIs brother nods in agreement as well as some of the other younger dwarfs, meanwhile you, Bilbo, and Gandalf kinda just sit back and watch them argue it out for a few moments.

It's not until something catches you eye that you leave the arguing, and once you catch sight of that odd glimmer from somewhere off to the right you follow it.

Nobody notices you slip away as per usual, but no matter, for you've just found a lovely gold coin.

Right before you turn to go show everyone, you see another, and then another, all the way leading to a big hole in the ground.

You can tell it has a strong stench even from your spot above it, but your curiosity gets the best of you so you venture cautiously into the small tunnel and see various things inside. There's some bones, more gold, a whole bunch of weapons, some random trinkets and horse saddles, and, like mentioned before, an awful smell.

"Where did Y/N go?" You hear someone ask loudly suddenly, and right away you remember that you shouldn't go wandering off alone.

You crawl back out of the slippery slope and pop your head up out of the ground, seeing everyone looking around frantically for you. Since you can't yell for them, you take one of the gold coins you collected and chuck it at them, hitting Thorin in the back with it.

He turns and sees you, and right away his shoulders relax and he calls, "There you are! Why are you all the way over there?"

You gesture for them to come over with a 'come here' wave of your hand, then walk out of the cave completely and point at the hole in the ground when they come over.

A few of them go in, but you stay outside with Bilbo this time and look at the handful of coins you collected from inside there.

Bilbo looks at them over your shoulder and states, "As far as I'm concerned, you have first claim over everything in that tunnel."

You look up at him with a big smile on your face and laugh soundlessly, shaking your head at his words. You only found it after all, that's nothing too special or hard, and it was the gleam of a coin that caught your attention anyways.

To show him this, you lift up one of the coins and shrug your shoulders, then point back down at the cave and shrug again.

"I know you think it was nothing, but you always manage to find and do things that later help us out. You're by far the best of us."

You pout at that and shake your head in disagreement, putting the handful of coins into your pocket so you can cross your arms over your chest.

"Don't you look at me like that. You know I'm right." A smile creeps onto his face while the two of you jokingly argue back and fourth, for he's missed this wordless banter (on your part) between the two of of you. "Just take a compliment for once, won't you?"

A little longer do you stare at him, but when he doesn't waver or relent, you sigh and nod your head.

"You seem to understand those gestures and facial expressions really well." Balin comments from off to the side, smiling at the two of you with that same old sweet and cheery expression on his face. "It's like you know what Y/N is thinking."

"Well to some extent, I do. We're siblings after all, and we've been around each other since even before the silence came about." Bilbo explains, putting an arm around your shoulders in a very brotherly manner.

You nod your head in agreement and look over at Balin with a smile of your own. Honestly, you don't know where you'd be if you didn't have someone like Bilbo to understand you.

A moment of silence passes by where you all just look at each other before Balin's smile lessens and he sighs, "Maybe we should teach you iglishmêk..."

That certainly makes you brighten up.

Oh how you crave the ability to properly communicate with others, so if they teach you and Bilbo this secret sign-language then you'll be able to properly talk to him for once, to talk to them too.

You get up and walk over to Balin, kissing his rosy cheek lightly while the smile on your face remains just as vibrant and happy as before.

Oh, you hope that they will.

#request #asks #answer #the company of thorin oakenshield #the company x reader #mute!reader #reader insert #reader #thorin oakenshield #thorin x reader #bilbo baggins #the hobbit #balin #fili #kili #dwalin #bofur #the hobbit fanfiction

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storytellingfandom · 3 years

Text

Calculators and Key Changes

Summary: Kazami blew into Republic City High like a hurricane. The students loved her, she changed how the arts program was run and rose it out of the ashes. She got along with most all of the staff, that is, except for one.

Lin would give her props for saving the arts program, but that’s as far as it went. The failed opera singer was obviously looking for what she’d see as an “easy” gig to get her back in the papers and then abandon her students. And she wasn’t going to offer praise for a one trick pony.

But when things shift, when there’s an understanding, can their students push the two titans of the school together to find their own happiness?

A/N: This is a completely self indulgent high school AU. I tried to write it in second person POV, but it didn’t flow well so it is third person with it being Lin x OC. Many props go to @kuvirasbrat for helping me get this shaped though <3

Word count: 1976

Pulling into the school’s parking lot, the sun had just started to rise and the soft glow was caught in the windows in the early autumn light. Bright blue eyes took in the colors as she pulled into the school parking lot and settled her car into her normal parking spot near her choir room. Turning the car off, Kazumi Ikeda sat in her car for a moment and sipped her vanilla chai latte a little bit longer.

She loved her early morning ensemble kids. The ones who were willing to get up early, go through music reading bootcamp, and audition for this class. The ones who not only enjoyed the music, but felt it through their being.

With a sigh, she opened her car door and grabbed her bag. Setting her latte on top of the car for a second, she reached in and grabbed a second bag with her materials for her music theory and history classes later on that day. Shouldering it, she grabbed her latte again before making her way into the school.

The start of a new year was always fun, at least it was after the first week. Waving to some of the other teachers that had sold their souls for early morning advanced groups, she slipped into her classroom and into her office. Switching the light on, she dropped her bag full of her materials on her desk and her purse into a drawer. Bringing her keys with her, she tossed them on the piano as she went over the music they’d be starting today.

At least these copies didn’t have fucking equations hiding what key it was in.

When Kazumi had started at Republic City High after a successful career in opera, the one person in the school that seemed to want to see her fall on her face was Lin Beifong. When she’d started, the woman made damn sure she knew what she thought of her. Barbs were sniped on both sides from that day forward. Barbs turned into more though when Lin made it almost impossible for some of her students to leave for competitions that they were needed on.

And she wasn’t about to let that go by unnoticed.

Finding out Lin liked to be in school just as early as she did, she kept her doors opened for practice, pressing keys harder than they needed to be so that the piano music would disturb the woman in whatever she was doing.

Lin retaliated in stealing things she needed for her other class. The projector was never there when she needed, she never got to show movies unless it was on the older tvs.

Kazumi didn’t take equipment, she understood what Lin’s job was and what was needed, instead she gathered the help of her students. Band kids offering their drum lines for a song that just had to have them. Sopranos doing what they did best and rang out louder than they needed to.

The next time she’d changed her music for her students, she found her music coded in math equations which meant she had to solve them in order to figure out the key signature. Which meant going in search of a different math teacher to help her solve it properly since of course Beifong was a genius in overly complicated mathematics.

Two years had passed and by now it was school tradition. You either sided with Beifong or Ikeda. Students offered ways for the women to get back at each other. Competitive sides fought over top marks in it. Anything from fundraisers, pep rallies, games, it all became a competition for which teacher would have the top group or would bring out the most from them.

This year though, Kazumi found herself over the idea of this silly thing. Over the summer, she’d lost a dear friend in a terrible accident and the competition suddenly seemed so trivial.

She doubted Lin would cooperate but maybe she could at least pull some of the stick that seemed to be shoved up the other’s arse out.

Shaking her head, Kazumi made sure the side braid she’d fashioned that morning was still in place before going to open the door to her classroom. Smiling when she saw Asami standing outside the door, she motioned in the young woman before setting the door hold in place.

“Good morning, Miss Sato. Did you have a good weekend?” Kazumi asked, following her back into the room.

“Yeah, I mostly got to work with the new engineering teacher on an after school group that will start up hopefully this week.” Asami answered, setting her bag near the risers before moving to grab her music folder.

“That’s great, Asami! You’ve been working on that for about six months haven’t you?” Kazumi asked, moving to sit at the piano to plunk out a tune.

“Yeah, I’m really hoping that others will be interested so that the school let’s it stay.” Asami answered walking over to the piano.

“Well if I can do anything let me know.” Kazumi answered, reaching for her coffee with one hand to sip on.

As the other kids started to file in, she greeted each one in kind. For the ones that were returning, she knew details of their lives. Their siblings, relationship with parents, their hopes and aspirations, little things as well like their favorite shows or what they were up to outside of school.

It was why the kids always seemed to connect to her.

“Ms. Ikeda?” One of the kids called out, pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Huh? Oh! Sorry guys, let’s get started.” Kazumi announced starting into the familiar tunes of their warm ups. One blue eye caught the open door though and she paused. An olive branch. “Bolin, will you shut the door for me, please?”

Eyes went wide at the request but the boy stumbled over himself to pull the door closed. Poking his head out as he did so, he offered Beifong a wave before pulling the doors closed and shutting in the music.

An eyebrow went up seeing Bolin pulling the door shut. That was new. Normally Kazumi made it a point to leave the door open. Leave it so that the voices of their shared students filled the hallways. Way too damn early if you asked her. Especially the sopranos.

She was sure her forehead had become permanently imprinted with things such as her stapler or paper clips from the times she’d beat her head into her desk at the incessant noise.

But now the hallways were quiet. The voices were muffled, not flowing through, leaving the halls quiet and stagnant. The rest of the student population wouldn’t be here for another hour or so yet, and now all of a sudden, Lin found herself almost missing the sound of music in the hallways.

Not that she’d ever tell her that.

Draping her jacket over the back of her chair, Lin shook out the silk black blouse, making sure the cuffs were setting properly on her wrists. The charcoal grey slacks coming to a tapered cuff just above her ankles to reveal the small heel she wore. Steel grey hair pulled back into a bun, and makeup light and never more than needed.

Precise, angled, and too put together.

Reaching her her coffee, Lin sipped it quietly. Bitter in her mouth, the dark liquid was the opposite of what the choir director drank. Black, with only minimal sugar allowed in. Maybe she’d been a little harsh on the other woman. She’d been an accomplished opera singer from what she’d heard, something happened though and now here she was teaching. It felt like the story where she’d gotten a bad review and tucked tail to run.

Whatever the case, maybe the closed choir room door was a peace offering of some kind, and while Lin highly doubted they’d be friends, being civil did have certain appeals.

*********

Lunch time in high school was always a fascinating set of traditions. Friend circles grew, they shrunk, they included people Kazumi would never expect. They were fascinating. However, they were only as fascinating as that when she didn’t forget her granola bar sitting on her dining room table. Like she had that morning. Her lunch wasn’t for another couple of hours. This was fine.

Wandering between the tables, she waved at those that called out their greeting and paused when she heard others call her over for questions.

“Hey, Ms. Ikeda?” A student called out to her.

“Hey Ayama, what’s up?” Kazumi asked, walking over to her table.

“You studied literature for a while, right? I’m taking Mr. Kogarashi’s history of religion class and this text is so....empty of anything that I can’t figure it out.” Ayama answered, looking up hopefully.

“Ahh, I’ve heard rumors of his class. He does seem like one to assign those. Here, let me see the passage.” Kazumi answered and reached for the text. Tenzin really did pick the worst things for kids to read for class, no wonder the kids skipped.

It was perched on one of the tables going over a reading section with one of their students that Lin found her. Part of her dark brown hair in a side braid leaving the rest to fall around her shoulders. Elbows resting on her knees, the sun catching her toffee colored skin and showed off the warm undertones, catching the blue of her eyes that were lost in the book. While she wore tailored jeans and the sleeveless linen blouse that was tucked under a deep red cardigan jacket.

Wait, since when did she notice these things?

Shaking her head, she walked over to her normal spot, listening to Kazumi point out different imagery points and where she could connect them to the historic points that Tenzin deemed more important than others. A gentle hand on the students shoulders, and she was easing herself off the table.

Heeled boots guided Kazumi over to Lin, offering her a tentative smile as she came to stand with her. “Lin.”

“Kazumi.”

“You hear about the updates for the library?”

“Yeah, they have a new section for practical mathematics. Maybe the kids will see it’s used everyday.” Lin shrugged, her arms folded across her chest. Looking over, she noticed that the other woman didn’t have the normal granola bar that she’d eat during this time. “Don’t you usually have a bar or something?”

“Huh? Oh. Normally yes, but it’s currently making use of itself on my dining room table.” Kazumi shrugged, eyes straying over to the normal trouble makers. “I’ll be fine though.”

“You have the later lunch.” Lin pointed out, raising her brow. “You’ll be miserable by then.”

“I’ll be fine. Really.” Kazumi answered, confused as to why Lin seemed to make such a big deal out of it when they were barely speaking.

Sighing, Lin broke her granola bar in half and handed one side of it to Kazumi. “Here. I’ll never hear the end of it if I saw you before you pass out from low blood sugar.”

Eyeing the other woman, seafoam blue eyes looked on the other for a long moment before she took it from her. “Thanks.”

*******

The moment hadn’t gone unnoticed by the students who watched with large eyes as Lin passed the choir director part of her granola bar. Nor had the fact they’d been standing and having a civil conversation for more than ten seconds.

“Do you think…”

“I don’t know. She never shares food like that!”

“Are they still talking?”

“It looks like it.”

“Did Ikeda just smile at Beifong?!”

“She definitely did.”

“You know what this means?

“Beikeda finally sails?”

“Definitely. Asami, you get the coffees tomorrow?”

“On it.”

“Gotta start small. But we can do this guys. Let’s pay them back for everything they do.”

#lin beifong #lin beifong x oc #lin beifong/oc #lok fanfiction #fanfiction #legend of korra

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naerysthelonesome · 3 years

Text

Time spent together

Part 6:

The narrator returns

Apollo and Lit are very, very close to Artemis’ place now. Apollo looks splotchy and nervous. I don’t like it. Clashes too much with his outfit. Lit, on the other hand looks cool and calm. That’s weird. Probably a façade.

Apollo finally makes a turn, and pulls into a driveway in this really nice neighborhood. I’d consider living here, if I could… live, you know? He parks the car and just sits there, like an idiot. I’m sure Lit notices because he punches Apollo lightly in the arm, and steps out. Apollo follows soon after, and Lit moves to the backseat to get his bag, but the former flaps at his arms in impatience. Boi does he not look the epitome of grace today.

Lit shoots him a look, and shoulders his bag anyway.

They both make their way to the front door of the pretty, baby blue house. It looks quaint, and cozy, and not really someplace I’d imagine Apollo’s cool sister Artemis living, but maybe she’s into the whole cottagecore thing. I wouldn’t know. I’m supposed to keep focused on Apollo and Lit.

Speaking of, Apollo is trying to look collected and nonchalant as he knocks on the door, but it’s (incredibly) clear that he isn’t. Lit inches just a little bit closer, trying to offer his support, but of course Apollo doesn’t notice. At least not at first. Then Lit’s hand brushes against his own, and, I kid you not, his eyes spark. His breath hitches in his chest, and he goes completely still. Simp.

The door bangs open to reveal a silver woman. No seriously, she’s silvery all over. Her hair and eyebrows have been dyed a most mesmerizing silvery-white, her skin glows in places (silver highlighter methinks), and all the delicate silver jewelry over the lacy, dark green tank top and gray shorts makes her look ethereal and fairylike. DAMN she is really taking the Artemis thing seriously.

“Big brother!”

“We’re twins, and you’re unoriginal”, Apollo says resignedly. Like he’s had this exact conversation before. He probably has. Artemis simply smiles.

“Aw don’t be like that!”

She turns toward Lit, who’s been standing there awkwardly, and offers him her hand. Palm facing down, snowy white fingers curled, like she expects him to kiss it.

Lit looks like he’s visibly restraining himself from turning to Apollo in bewilderment.

“Aren’t you going to take my hand?” Artemis asks, with a fake pout.

Lit reaches out and takes it, completely unsure of what to do next. He just holds it like it’s an unwanted bug someone’s placed in his hand.

“Must all your dates be so rude, Apollo?” Artemis questions, with a huff.

“Must you always act like a twat that doesn’t know what century it is, Artemis?” he replies, turning to Lit. “She’s just playing with you”.

Artemis laughs, and walks away. It’s a normal laugh, no tinkling wind chimes, or tumbling rivers. I don’t even know if that’s humanly possible. Stephanie must have been on something.

“Something tells me it’s best if I play along”, Lit says, following Apollo through the door.

“Definitely. Oh, and leave your shoes here.”

Two of the girls Artemis lives with are insanely pretty. (But then, all humans look insanely pretty to me… oh to have a physical form). And they look like polar opposites. The bigger one is wearing a flowy summer dress that perfectly complements her wheatish skin, her pink and brown hair in a neatly curled high pony, winged eyeliner on point. The other one has her orange-red hair hanging about her face, some of it still fixed in the messiest messy bun I’ve ever seen. She stays seated on the sofa, in her dull grey sweats, and simply turns to wave at the boys when they walk in, eyes still on the tv.

“Hi! I’m Arson”, says they pink-haired one, “And that’s Claire. She’s normally the active one, but it’s shark week so she’ll just lie there like that all day, useless”. She (they?) swiftly catches they pillow that’s been chucked at them, and grins. “Oh and Thalia’ll be out in a sec”.

“Your name’s Arson?” Lit asks, politely trying not to sound shocked or confused.

“Heh yeah. Of all the non-binary names someone like me could have picked, right?” They say, with a short laugh. “It was a close call between this, and Twig.”

“Her pronouns are she and they, btw”, Apollo says walking up from where he’d been talking to his sister, to envelop Arson in a hug, “Hey Ari!”

“Ah jeez. The hugging still isn’t over?” A raven haired girl says, walking into the now slightly crowded living room. “Well I’m Thalia. Do no touch me”. That last part was spit at Apollo. Her tone is menacing, but her little smirk shows otherwise.

“Hey Thalia”, Apollo says, reaching over to pat the red-head, Claire, on the shoulder, and ruffle her already ruffled hair. Please somebody comb it already!

“This is Lit, Apollo’s newest fling”, Artemis says, gesturing to the boy who looks like he can’t decide whether he wants to live here, or run away. He gives the room a shy smile. (Aww)

“Great! Now that we all know each other,” Get out of Pridelands? Sorry sorry. Just couldn’t miss out the opportunity to quote Lion King: Simba’s Pride. Artemis simply continues on with something about lunch and rotisserie chicken.

It’s been quite an uneventful couple hours, but oh, how could that possibly last? In a room full of people, half with names with mythological roots, and the one named after a crime? There’s bound to be some drama. No, calm down, there isn’t going to be a fire. Unless it’s Lit’s heart flaming for Apollo, or vice versa. ANYWAY I’m going way off script.

“So Lit, how’d you guys meet?” Claire asks around a mouthful of veggies, feet nestled comfortably on Arson’s lap. I’m starting to think they might be more than friends, but what do I know?

“Oh we had to do a project together. Obviously, we’d seen each other around before then, but yeah… that’s the first time we really interacted”, Lit answered, awkwardly trailing off at end, as if he thought he’d said to much. Seriously Lit? That was barely anything.

“And how long ago was that?” Arson asked.

“Uh-”

“About a month ago”, Apollo supplied, lacing his fingers through Lit’s, their hands clearly visible from the sofa they were seated on.

Lit’s adam’s apple bobbed, and he shifted slightly in his seat, but managed to keep calm, even lifting their conjoined hands into his lap.

“Huh. How long have you guys been together, then?” Thalia asked, staring to look interested.

“A couple weeks.” Apollo’s voice was calm, at startling odds with the red of his face.

“Oh?” Artemis said finally, her eyes moving from their linked hands, to Apollo’s face. “You move awfully fast brother.”

“Well, we both wanted it”, Lit tried to cut in. The sudden tension between the twins is so thick, even oblivious Lit notices.

Artemis ignores him and continues, “Don’t you remember what happened last time you moved this quickly?”

“Artemis, please”, Apollo says, starting to sound irritated, “You wanted me to stop fucking around, and I did. You seem to have a problem with everything I do.”

“Oh is that why you’re dating him? Because of me?” Oh shit… we’re getting awfully close to the truth now, huh?

“No. No, of course not”, Apollo lies quietly. Lit manages to discreetly untangle their fingers and pull away, looking a little hurt. “I like Lit”. So not all lies then? If only Lit knew that, then he’d stop looking like a kicked puppy.

“Just make sure he isn’t another Daphne”, Artemis says, a challenging look in her eyes.

“That was a mistake and you know it! When are you going to stop bringing it up?” Apollo spits angrily, before he gets up and walks out the front door.

Lit sits there in shock for a second, before deciding that an angry Apollo was easier to deal with that a room full of upset and curious people, and follows behind him. Damnit! I wanted to stay behind and listen to the gossip. Would you mind terribly if I did that?

Yea, I suppose you would.

Lit is leaning against the wall of the house, hands in his pockets, while Apollo leans over the porch railing, and stares at his car.

“So who’s Daphne?”

Apollo sighs in defeat, before saying, “My ex. One of my only two exes”. Then he turns around before almost hastily adding, “Exes being people I’ve actually dated, that is. Not just people I’ve slept with”.

“Of course. Of course you still care about your reputation as a fuckboy”, Lit says, sounding disappointed more than anything else. Look, I’m a sucker for drama, but what the hell is this?! I don’t like this.

“What? No”. Apollo sounds... scared? “No I’m just trying to be as clear as possible.”

Lit doesn’t say anything.

“Besides, why are you even mad? It’s not like we’re actually dating”.

“No.” Lit whispers, “We’re not”.

“Hey”, Apollo pleads, “I can’t handle you being mad at me too, Lit. I’m sorry you got dragged into this shit”.

Lit waves the apology away. “Why is Artemis so mad about Daphne?” If I were even a little less intuitive, I would’ve missed the hopeful tone of that question.

“Oh. Um- Daphne was one of Artemis’ best friends. That’s how we got close in the first place. Sometime last year, we started seeing each other, and eventually became official. We’d moved really quickly, and honestly didn’t have much in common except Artemis” And divinely good looks, if Apollo’s many flings are anything to go by. “But everything went great, nonetheless. Better than great, even. I started to think I loved her. Until it didn’t. Around the three month mark, things started to go sour. We’d disagree about pretty much everything, and we’d fight and argue all the time. Then it started to get monotonous and boring and we were just going through the motions. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I broke up with her, and…” That’s the one place he hesitates. “Left. I just left for college, and Artemis had to deal with Daphne, who apparently took it hard. I didn’t speak to her at all until just a few months ago.

We’re okay now, by the way. She says that I’m a better friend that boyfriend, and I can’t say I disagree. Lucky for you that we’re just faking it, right?” I notice the slight hitch in his voice, but Lit apparently doesn’t. He lets out a dry chuckle. “Artemis, on the other hand, is still obviously pissed. I don’t blame her. She said that Daphne only dated me at all because I seduced her. At first, I thought that was ridiculous, but if all the hoes on campus are anything to go by, it seems that was entirely possible”, he finishes bitterly. Well... that was quite a speech.

“I don’t know whether to be impressed or exasperated by your unwavering level of self-confidence”, Lit says tiredly, after a brief pause. “Well that wasn’t as bad as I expected”.

“Yea, Artemis has been known to overreact”.

“I think her reaction was warranted”. Lit himself looks surprised at having defended Artemis.

“Maybe it was”, Apollo amends, eager to get back on Lit’s good side, I suppose. “You’re not still mad, are you?”

“I’m not mad at you, no” comes the curt reply, suggesting that he is still mad at something. This whole situation, probably. This trip was supposed to be romantic for God’s sake!

“Good, because we have a little party to attend this evening”.

#don't really know where i was going with this one tbh #litpollo #litpollo fanfiction #lityerses #apollo #toa apollo #trials of apollo #modern day au #riordanverse #angst #eh kinda

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okageshadowkingfannovel · 3 years

Text

Book 1. The Boy Meets the King

Chapter 1.

In a normal unsuspecting kitchen, a former adventurer stands before a stove, stirring the contents of a pot and humming to herself. In her early forties, she’s a warm, pleasant looking woman with pony-tailed reddish brown hair and soft brown eyes. She might have been the hero of this story about two decades ago, but her adventures are long since passed. The only adventures for her today are those of being a devoted wife and mother, and that means preparing dinner.

It’s just after lunch and suddenly, the younger of the woman’s two children bursts into the kitchen. She is a slender pretty girl with strawberry blond pigtails and vibrant green eyes. She is Annie, a teenager, but also, not the hero of this story. In fact, she has very little interest outside of keeping herself popular amongst the teenagers of Tenel village and finding a satisfactory boyfriend.

“Hey Mom, what’s for dinner?”

“Oh Annie,” Mom starts while casting a smile over her shoulder, “you just had lunch not too long ago and you’re already thinking about dinner?”

Annie twists a dainty finger into the strands of one pigtail. “I was just asking. It smells so good. Tell me, Mom. I wanna know.”

At this moment, the woman’s eldest child enters the kitchen, but it takes her and Annie a too long moment to notice him.

“Well, I’ll say that- Oh! Ari!”

“See? Ari’s come to find out too.”

The boy called Ari is 16 years old. He has a sapling like frame - slender, scrawny, almost seeming bendy. Shaggy red hair falls in long locks around his face and across his forehead, and his large eyes are emerald green. He’s wearing a blue striped sleeveless shirt, a black vest with gold clasps and a skull patch on the chest, and long khaki trousers. He doesn’t speak up much for himself and the whole town of Tenel agrees that his most notable quality is how unremarkable he is.

That being said, this quiet ordinary boy is the hero for this peculiar tale.

“Come on, Mom! What is it? It smells like stew … or steak?” Annie carries on.

“Well, what do you think it might be, Ari?”

Ari courteously sniffs the air, shrugs, and answers. “I don’t know.”

Mom looks slightly disappointed that her son gave no guess, but she smiles anyway and says, “well, tonight’s dinner is … a secret!”

Annie rolls her eyes. “Mom! That’s so unfair.”

“Oh! That reminds me, Ari. Your dad found a funny bottle on his way home last night. It’s right there on the table.”

She gestures towards the kitchen table where, seeming very out of place upon the normal white table cloth and next to the three branched candelabra, there indeed sits a strange looking bottle. It is a gaudy purple with an intricate green pattern necklacing the thinly tapering opening. Two handles spring out and curve down to the bottom to make for easy carrying. Four large, candy like turquoise gemstones are embedded into the bottle’s curves.

“We can’t get the cap off,” his mother admits, “don’t you think it’s strange?”

Observing more closely, Ari notices the cork very firmly shoved into the opening.

He reaches out a finger and pokes it.

A low muffled moan sounds from deep within the bottle.

Ari leans in and sniffs at the cork.

All he catches is an overwhelming waft of mold.

Finally, he firmly grasps the neck of the bottle and pulls at the cork.

But it won’t budge, not even a wiggle.

“See?” says his mother, abandoning the stove to draw closer to the bottle, “I wonder what’s in there.”

There’s a sparkle in her eyes, a far off wandering look, a hint of the curious adventurer she used to be.

“Mom!” Annie breaks her mother’s reverie, “it’s pointless to keep a bottle we can’t open. Throw it away.”

To strike her point, Annie flips a pigtail on the last word.

“Ah! Well, let’s see … What should we do?”

Their mother hesitates a moment in thought. And then, she lights up with realization.

“Oh! That reminds me! I forgot to pick up bread! But I can’t leave the stove. What should I do?”

Before Ari can make any sort of suggestion, his sister steps over him.

“Oh darn, I wish I could help you out, Mom, but I have a test tomorrow and I really need to study. My future is on the line!”

With that, Annie turns around and makes a dash out of the kitchen.

Unsurprisingly, Ari notices the sounds of her footsteps are heading out the front door instead of up the stairs to her room where her school books lay waiting.

“Well then, Ari,” says his mother, “go down to the bakery in the village and pick up a loaf of bread for me. They’ll just put it on our tab, so you can just run in and grab it. Thank you, dear.”

His mother turns back to her stove and her humming. Ari is about to leave the kitchen when she whips around again.

“Oh! While you’re out, why don’t you stop by Town Hall and see your father.” She turns back to her cooking, wistfully, “ah, my love, hard at work. If only I could see your father in action. Such rapture …” she trails off to herself.

Feeling repulsed and uncomfortable with his mother’s personal musings, as teenagers ordinarily do, Ari finally leaves the kitchen.

The family home is a mansion that lays like a sprawled out reptile just south-east of the village of Tenel. It sits fatly in a clearing of pine trees, just a stone’s throw from the village road. It wears jagged stones in various states of grey, reaches tall, dizzying pointed towers up to mingle with the tree tops, and caps itself with crooked blue shingles. It keeps itself company with a dried up fountain in the front courtyard, a tiny, but ancient ancestral graveyard, and a huge, thick, wooden gate at the entrance to keep all of it in.

Ari steps out into the courtyard, shielding his eyes from the sunlight already beginning to sharpen through the trees as afternoon slips into evening. He notices Annie waiting for him at the top of the stone steps that snake down to the front gate.

“So, did she tell you what’s for dinner?” she asks, blocking his path, “come on, tell me.”

“What happened to your homework?”

Annie starts to tease her pigtail with a wiggling finger.

“Well! I’m going out on a twilight date with Morris before dinner. To polish my feminine airs, I have to build up experience while I’m young. My book says so too …”

“What kind of book says that?”

“It’s one of Mom’s old books. What was the name again? … Oh! ‘Controlling Guys Made Easy.’”

Before Ari can protest, Annie spins around and skips on down the stairs.

“Anyway, enjoy your errand, Ari!” she calls before disappearing through the wooden gate.

Ari sighs, figuring there was little he could have said or done to make things play out differently.

With hands in pockets, he lazily makes his way over to the small graveyard by the pathway. He likes to say hello upon passing the three residents. The stones are so old that most of the lettering has been worn away, but Ari makes out what he can and makes up the rest:

‘RIP Nameless Hero - Well, we think he must have a name, but nobody asked him.’

‘Man who drank, gambled, and died from poisonous fish - just as he planned. RIP’

‘Person who touched the knowledge of the Library.’

After 16 years, Ari still knows nothing beyond these half-deciphered inscriptions, but he gives his regards all the same. When satisfied, he heads on through the big wooden gate that leads him to a meandering dirt path. It winds through the grass, between rotted logs and small rocky hills, untangling Ari from the clusters of trees until it finds the main road. A nearby sign helpfully points out to any casually passing tourist:

‘North: Tenel Village/Church

West: Tenel Field & Madril

East: Nameless Dwelling’

Ari wonders if his family will ever decide to name their house so the sign could be a bit more specific.

“Hmmm, Nancy? Or Connie?”

At the crossroads stand two boys about Ari’s age, Levi and Nathan. Dark haired Nathan is the pudgier fellow, while Levi is lanky and alight with flaming orange hair.

“Huh?”

“Whoa!” Nathan exclaims, his fat frame jumping, “Oh! It’s you. You scared me, Ari! When did you get here? I didn’t even notice.”

“Ari, you look real gloomy,” says Levi, “hey, you know what? The circus is coming to the field over there tomorrow night!” He gestures vaguely in the direction of Tenel Field.

“Really?” Ari replies noncommittally.

“I, I, I’m definitely gonna ask Julia out this time! I, I, I will do it! And me and Julia are gonna go out on a romantic date!”

“I wonder who I should ask out,” Nathan muses in the face of his friend’s determination, “Ari, why don’t you ask somebody out too? It’s the circus!”

Ari chuckles and shrugs his shoulders in what he hopes is a ‘cool, but not caring too much’ display. “Sure, I’ll just narrow down my list a bit and ask one out.”

It doesn’t come off as cool as he hoped.

“Ha!” Levi bursts, “I bet he doesn’t have the guts to ask a girl out! Ha ha ha! Chicken!”

The skinny boy goes the extra mile and begins flapping his arms and clucking.

“Anyway, I better get on over to the village,” says Ari before the soul crushing embarrassment can descend, “got an errand to run.”

“You’d better go quick then,” says Nathan, “they’re closing the town gates earlier and earlier. The ghosts and monsters from Tenel field have been wandering closer to town, I heard.”

The hauntings and prowlings of Tenel Field are nothing new to Ari’s ears. All his life, he’s heard the townspeople complaining about the beasts and deadly things that roam wild and how it’s getting worse every year. Ari hears most people, especially the older ones, blaming it on something evil going on out West in Madril that’s driving the wild things nutty. It’s gotten to the point where Tenel’s posted a sentry on the path between Tenel and the field to keep kids and the like in town and to warn everyone if something should wander in. Ari never gives the matter much thought, reasoning that interesting things like monster encounters only happen to interesting people. And it’s so rare to see ghosts come floating in out of the field.

But the sun does seem ever so slightly lower than it was when he first stepped out of the house.

“Right, I’ll be quick.”

With that, Ari leaves them to their great girl debate and heads toward the main gates of Tenel. For now, the entrance is wide open, yawning its welcome to any passerby bored enough to visit the little town. But later, as it gets darker, the gates will eventually be shut and locked, as Tenel residents cling to the illogical belief that doors and locks can keep out ghosts.

As he enters, he notices a pretty blond girl in a white dress standing by the inn and looking absentmindedly off into the distance. Further putting his errand on hold, Ari walks up to her.

“Hey Julia.”

She doesn’t respond.

Ari waits patiently.

It’s alright. I’m used to being ignored.

Julia looks on for another moment or two. Ari continues waiting.

Any day now …

“Huh? Oh, Ari!” she says, her gaze finally shifting onto him, “I was daydreaming. Sorry about that. Hey, did you know the circus is coming tomorrow night?”

Julia and Ari have been friends since childhood, and though time and puberty have pulled them in different directions, they still consider themselves at the very least good friends. Typically, Julia isn’t so spacey - it’s just an ‘Ari thing.’

“Yeah, Nathan and Levi mentioned it.”

“Isn’t it great? It’s the circus!”

“Yeah, it’s pretty great.”

She looks at him, blue eyes wide and expectant.

“I mean,” he continues, “really great. Very exciting.”

She still says nothing. He waves a hand in front of her eyes, wondering if she’s sunk into another daydream. He does have that effect on people sometimes.

“So, aren’t you gonna ask me to go to the circus with you?” she says suddenly.

“Oh! Well, yeah,” Ari stumbles, “um, I mean, I need to check in with my folks, but … would you … would you like to …”

Before Ari can finish his bare minimum of a question, Julia takes a step back and giggles.

“Sorry, Ari.”

Without even knowing the rest of the sentence, Ari can tell she doesn’t seem very sorry.

“Somebody else already asked me. If you’d have asked me earlier …”

Ari thinks about maybe saying something in protest or in his own defense, but decides it’s not worth it as she makes her way past him.

“Um,” she says, pausing before she walks away completely, “Some time soon, Ari, I … I need to tell you something important … so … see you.”

She takes off running, disappearing fast into the town - an impressive feat given its small size and even smaller populace. Ari isn’t sure what to make of Julia. Teenagerdom is difficult enough to navigate for himself without the complex enigma of teenage girls thrown into the mix. As with most problems, puzzles, and peculiarities, Ari shrugs and carries on with his business.

As he passes it, Ari notices the sign on the Parm Inn door:

‘CLOSED due to water shortage - not that we get any guests anyway. Ha! - Parm Inn Landlord.’

The posting has been there for several weeks. Similar notices decorate the doors of ‘Tinkers,’ the blacksmith and ‘Gulp,’ the bar:

‘Can’t do business without water. I’ll be sleeping. - Tinkers Owner’

‘Closed due to shortage! And for those who owe me money, PAY UP QUICK! - Gulp Hostess.’

Ari can only wonder how much longer before these places will have to close for good. Tenel is already pretty small. Any smaller and they’d have to start calling themselves ‘a small cluster of houses and shops’ instead of a town.

“Ah! Ari!” someone suddenly exclaims.

Ari turns to see the butcher standing outside his shop, just across from the inn. A man with an egg like figure and neatly parted brown hair, the butcher breathes out a heavy sigh as he clutches at his chest.

“You gave me a fright, Ari. I didn’t notice ya standing there at first.”

“Sorry, Mr. Kellogg.”

“Shame about the water shortage, isn’t it? Thankfully, we’ve got some stored up for emergencies like this, but we’re getting mighty low. Can’t say how much longer we’ll be able to stay open.”

“Yeah, I wonder what’s caus-”

“You like beef, Ari?”

He is a little startled by the question.

“Oh, well, I don’t dislike it, sir.”

“I’ve got a great deal on ground beef. One pound, 20 sukel. Figure you might not be able to get any tomorrow - if we can’t open, I mean.”

A few minutes later, Ari walks out of the butcher shop with a wrapped up pound of ground beef under his arm and his wallet 20 sukel lighter.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” calls Mr. Kellogg as he locks the door to his shop to leave for the day, “get home safe.”

Ari waves as the butcher turns to make his way home. He doubts he’ll have business there, but Ari hopes the butcher is open tomorrow. As he makes his way towards the bakery, he passes by two men deep in conversation and nervousness.

“Oh dear, this just won’t do. The water supply has stopped and almost all the stores are closed. It’s under investigation now … do you think it might be related to ghosts?”

“All I know is they’re saying there are tons of ghost problems in Madril. And they’re a big, machine town. Totally different class than Tenel. If they can’t handle the ghosts and monsters, we don’t stand a chance.”

The other man nods weakly, looking very pale. “We’ll be in big trouble.”

Ari remembers his mother’s suggestion couched in wifely affection and decides to go visit his father. He passes Gulp, Tinkers, the miscellaneous shop known as ‘The Other One’, and several homes. All the way in the back of town, atop a small hill, is the church and right beside it the Tenel Village Office. The church sits quietly and patiently, having been unused and unvisited for several weeks now. Ari thinks the cream color of the tall rounded church towers is starting to look like spoiled milk. Green stains are creeping up the sides and the forest surrounding Tenel is starting to reclaim it.

A sign before the tightly shut door reads:

‘Until further notice, please do not enter the church. - Tenel Village Office’

Feeling helpless in the face of such a polite, pathetic notice, Ari walks over to the Tenel Village Office.

Inside, the village office is busy and hectic. Immediately, Ari spots his father sitting behind his usual desk at the front, but all around him, people rush and run and flitter about like a swarm of frustrated, inconvenienced bees. Even their talk sounds like buzzing.

Ari carefully navigates his way towards that front desk. Ari’s father is a short, stringy sort of man. He parts his dark brown hair straight and neat down the middle, and he looks at the world through thick, soda bottle glasses. He has the look of a man who believes in aliens and psychic phenomenon. If one were to ask him about such things, he could easily go on for hours. Ari can attest to it. His father stares intently into a stack of pages in the middle of his desk. He stares as if staring hard enough will burst the pages into flames or cast them into an alternate dimension where he doesn’t have to look at them anymore. Ari is sorry to see these efforts aren’t working.

“Oh! Hello there, Ari. Here to see your cool father at work?”

Ari rolls his eyes, but still smiles.

“What d’ya think? Too cool for words, huh? I redefine ‘cool.’ Ha!”

Now the smile is starting to fade. Ari’s father has perfected the art of being too corny.

“Sorry, sorry,” his father chuckles, “as you can see, the office is in a bit of a panic over the water shortage. We’re doing everything we can to find the cause, but …”

As his father trails off, Ari sees his shoulders slump and behind the happy-go-luck dork that is his father, Ari can see the exhausted Assistant Manager.

“On top of that, the Classification Tables will be arriving soon from the Royal City. That always puts the office on edge.”

Ari knows vaguely about the Classification Tables. His father has cursed it multiple times throughout the year. Supposedly, the village office sends a character report of each Tenel resident to the Royal City and then the city sends back a huge packet of tables that identify and categorize each and every citizen. Ari frequently asks his father how he is ‘classified,’ but his father usually responds with some corny joke.

‘The Assistant Manager’s son.’ ‘The eldest child at the Nameless Dwelling.’ ‘Some Shady Guy.’

So, Ari doesn’t really ask about it anymore. He just accepts that the Classification Table causes his father a lot of headache and woe. Once, Ari tried asking one of his father’s coworkers what the purpose was of the Classification Tables. Her response was unsatisfactory.

“Oh! I didn’t see you there! You’re the assistant manager’s son, aren’t you? Well, the Classification Tables, they … well, they … they maintain order of course! They help the town run smoothly. Why else would the Royal City have us do all this? Now, please leave me alone. I’m quite busy.”

So, Ari understands the weight when, on top of the water shortage problem, his father says he also has to deal with the Royal City’s Classification Tables.

“Anyway, what’s for dinner?” his father asks suddenly, the joy lifting his shoulders back up from their slump, “Ah, I wanna go home. I miss your mom.”

Ari chuckles. “No idea. She wouldn’t tell me. Says it’s a surprise.”

“Ha, yeah, that sounds like your mother.”

“She asked me to pick up bread.”

“Oh! Well, you better get moving, son. It’s getting dark out. The town will be closing soon.”

“Great seeing you, Dad,” says Ari as he turns to leave, nearly crashing into a speeding intern.

Ari steps back outside and, just as his dad said, the dark is noticeably beginning to descend on the town. He rushes down the hill to the Bakery, hoping the owner hasn’t decided to close doors early due to the dark looming in. The bell above the door clangs to life as he rushes in. Despite that, the husband and wife who run the Bakery carry on with their personal business, not seeming to notice Ari standing in the doorway. He steps up to the main counter where the wife stands, her back to Ari as she sorts through the baked goods on the back shelf.

The smell of freshly baked bread is intoxicating, filling Ari with warmth until the harsh pang of hunger in his stomach drives it away.

“Excuse me,” he says.

The portly Mrs. Bakster is singing to herself as she counts and pokes at the remaining pastries. It’s not a very good song and Mrs. Bakster isn’t very good at singing it.

“Hello? Mrs. Bakster?”

“Huh?” Finally, she whips around. “Oh! It’s you, Ari! Don’t I always tell you? A boy should speak up!”

These types of reprimands are nothing new. Mrs. Bakster has many opinions and is very keen on sharing them.

“Now, now, don’t harangue the boy, dear,” calls Mr. Bakster from across the shop, “don’t mind her too much, Ari. She’s got a sharp tongue, but a soft heart really.”

Ari smiles good humoredly, simply wanting to get the bread and get home for dinner.

“You’ve come to pick up bread for your mother, right?” says Mrs. Bakster as she reaches over to a shelf and pulls off a fine, golden colored loaf. With speed and finesse, she neatly wraps the loaf in paper and then, gently hands it to Ari. “Here you are. Don’t squeeze it too much. Don’t want to crush it.”

“Yes, Mrs. Bakster, thank you.”

“By the way, Ari, before you go, I wanted to ask - anything bothering you?”

“Now, dear!” chides Mr. Bakster.

“Come on! Keep your chin up, boy!” Mrs. Bakster carries on, ignoring her husband, “girls like the assertive ones, you know? And I know you’ve got a lot of potential, Ari. You can be anything you want. You just got to assert yourself, and girls will be all over you.”

Ari smiles and nods, backing away slowly.

“Alright, alright. Get on home and get that to your mother. I’ve got a dinner to get ready and a husband to feed, you know.”

“Yes … thank you, Mrs. Bakster. You too, Mr. Bakster. Have a good evening.”

Ari turns and whips out the door before the baker can be inspired with another round of opinions. Once outside, Ari is surprised to find Annie waiting.

“Ari, you done with your errands? You’ve been gone forever.”

“Sorry, yeah. I’m done.”

“What’s the matter?” she asks, and then eyes the bakery, “oh, did she lecture you again?”

Yeah, sure, make me relive it, why don’t ya?

The thought translates into a shrug.

“Let me guess,” says Annie playfully, “Oh, Ari, you’ve got to speak up for yourself more. You practically blend into someone else’s shadow.”

Ari gives her a brotherly glare.

“Oh well, at least there are some people around here who see some good in you … Julie, for instance.” Annie giggles mercilessly. “You lucky guy.”

All the way home, Annie teases her brother about the baker woman’s “advice” and Julie’s “affections.” But Ari takes it all without a word, wondering to himself about lots of different topics from that busy afternoon. He thinks about the water shortage and about his classification from the Royal City and about Julie picking someone else over him and about what it actually means to ‘blend into someone else’s shadow.’

Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8 • Chapter 9 • Chapter 10 • Chapter 11 • Chapter 12 • Chapter 13 • Chapter 14 • Chapter 15 • Chapter 16 - Finale

NOTE: Okage Shadow King is owned by Sony Computer Entertainment and Zener Works. This novelization is purely a fan-work and the writer claims no ownership over the characters, general plot line(s), etc.

#okage shadow king #osk #playstation 2 #video games #novelization #boku to maō

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i-dream-of-twilight-sparkle · 3 years

Text

Chapter 22: Life is Magic, Part 2

Jinn: Correctamundo, Twilight! Magic encompasses just about everything in our world. There’s almost nothing that magic isn’t involved with. And that means that Magic is much more then defined as the lasers, transformations, and/or magical items. We are made of magic ourselves, through our souls. And if all souls are magic, then effectively… life is magic. Whether said life is as small as a blade of grass in a meadow, or as large as a dragon.

Have you ever heard the saying that magic cannot be truly destroyed? It’s pretty much a true statement, at worst it can be dissipated, but magic never completely disappears. It has to end up somewhere, and because our souls are magic. The same approach applies, it just depends in terms of the more sentient lifeforms how they lived their life that determines what their soul ends up doing. Either they end up among the trillions of souls protecting the planet far above us, or… they become dark magic that damages our world.

Another thing I should mention is… what happens if a genie ever tried to bring something back to life. A genie cannot bring the soul back down once whatever the lifeform is has died. We at most can only make the husk of a body move, but that only creates a sort of zombie-like state for the corpse. It wouldn’t try to eat brains or anything, but nonetheless is quite unsettling. Let’s just say, it’s not a pretty picture, and we genies don’t like doing it!

Twilight just has her mouth aghast with these revelations. Her talk with Jinn has led to the discovery that life is magic too. The rest of the room is just as shocked, but also very understanding that it makes a good degree of sense. Twilight eventually recovers and starts to ask a few more questions.

Twilight: So… I don’t know if this is entirely related to the conversation. But I notice something regarding your appearance… you lived the entire rest of your life after becoming mortal again, right?

Jinn: Mmhmm *nods vertically*

Twilight: If that’s the case… why don’t you appear to us as an old mare. I would think a spirit’s form would take what they look like when they died. Jennesis told us she was over 100,000 years old. But I don’t think Dragons get as many obvious aging wrinkles. So it’s plausible that’s how she looked when she died

Jinn: You are partly right that in some cases the form in which someone died in could be the form they take as a spirit. Cause usually the way they looked when they died tends to be the memory that shows up first when summoning. So if a family member was there the moment they died, it’s very likely that if they summoned their spirit. The spirit would come down in the form of the old body they had.

However, imagine if there was a friend who have not seen them since the old pony or any species at all died, and they were the ones to summon. They’d actually look like when that friend last saw them and that could include going as far as remembering a more younger age, or in my case with Somnambula. I was still a genie when I last saw Somnambula, and of course, Genies don’t age from the moment they’re genified. It’s also why I have my attire on!

Twilight: Huh… so because Somnambula was the only two of those summoning you that actually has memory of what you looked like… She sort of prioritized the look of your spirit. Though if I may ask.. what if only Kubuya had tried to summon you despite having never seen you in her life.

Jinn: I probably would of appeared as an old mare in that case.

Twilight: I see… so if someone who didn’t know the family member… but could still summon them purely through blood relation. Then they appear at about the age of when they died?

Jinn suddenly winks at Twilight

Jinn: Perhaps, though there’s something you should know about us spirits. Watch this!

Jinn closes her eyes, focuses. And she suddenly starts fast-aging. She slightly shrinks, her body gets much thinner, wrinkles appear, and her light blue mane becomes grey. Her genie attire also disappears. She opens her eyes, and shows herself as an old mare.

Jinn: This the looker of a body you wanted to see? Ehehehehe!

Jinn’s voice even suddenly was scratchy like an older mare as well

Twilight: Oh… you can change age! I imagine this is at least close to about the age you passed away?

The older look Jinn nods vertically

Twilight: Are you… also able to go back the other way in age?

Jinn: Of course!

Jinn once again focuses, this time regressing in age. For a brief moment she’s back to the form she appeared in when she first appeared, but after that, she shrinks further. All the way down to when she was a filly that had just recently gotten her cutie mark. And as if to sell her cuteness further, she looks at Twilight with a grin and puppy-dog eyes. Somnambula looks at the lil’ Jinn, puts her hooves on her cheeks and grins.

Somnambula: D’awwwwwwwww! I never got to see you as a filly, Jinn! You were so cuuuuuuuuuute!

Twilight: Amazing! So spirits can shift into any age they were in their lifetimes I take it. I’m sure that’d be a relief to Rarity, when she becomes a spirit. Cool that spirits have their own sort of magic abilities. Is the age shifting all you can really do?

Jinn shifts back to the young adult form she was when she first appeared before replying.

Jinn: Ohohoho, you don’t even know the half of it…

Twilight: Hm? What do you mean by that?

Jinn: Let’s just say. I have one more question for you. I know the answer myself already, but want to hear what you think first. Before I utterly blow your mind again. *giggles*

Twilight’s a little scared at the thought of having her mind blown again. She’s still kind of trying to wrap around the fact that life counts as magic.

Twilight: …Go ahead, Jinn. What is your question?

Jinn: Twilight, tell me… what exactly is a genie? From your perspective

Twilight raises an eyebrow, she wonders what exactly is Jinn’s purpose of asking her this.

Twilight: Well uh… the way I understand it… a genie… is a former mortal… that through the use of a Dragon’s Tear or a wish from another genie… gains amazing power and the ability to grant wishes if the genie agrees to grant said wish… They are a revered part of Saddle Arabia’s culture, many of which were often worshipped on the level of deities…

Jinn claps

Jinn: Yes yes, that’s all true… but believe it or not… there is more to this…

Twilight raises an eyebrow

Twilight: How?

Jinn: Think back what you said in your description of a genie, the part about how a Dragon’s Tear turns a mortal into a genie. Knowing what you know now after our conversation, what kind of magic is in the Dragon’s Tear?

Twilight thinks back to earlier in the conversation

Twilight: …Soul magic?

Jinn: Annnnnnd… if Genies are created as a result of infusing themselves with soul magic then…

Twilight nervously thinks, putting two-and-two together through the conversation she’s been having with Jinn and the description she gave. And suddenly once again makes a booming gasp that echoes through the cave. Meanwhile, Jinn just smugly grins.

Twilight: J..J…Ji…Jinn… before… I say what I think you are implying… can… you… s-show… me… something...?

Jinn: Sure thing! Anything that will make you 100% sure

Twilight: Are you… able… to… make your genie tail… or… in your case… a ghostly tail… appear?

Jinn starts giggling like crazy

Jinn: *giggles* Ehehehehe… hahahahahaha. hohohohoho. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You knooooow! Don’t you! Hahahahaha!

Jinn briefly stops laughing to close her eyes. Stands on her hindlegs like a biped temporarily, she stretches her front hooves to her sides putting herself in a T-pose, before she does a backflip in the air, and in the blink of an eye, she’s now floating in the air, and from the waist down, she now has a long single, curvy tail. Very similar to a genie tail but not tethered at all to a bottle.

Jinn wiggles the tail as if to sort of flaunt it and continues to look at Twilight with a smug face as she wraps her hooves behind her head as she sort of flies in circles around Twilight.

Twilight once again goes wide-eyed with mouth aghast.

Twilight: N-no… t-this can’t be… G-G-Genies… Genies are… GENIES ARE PART SPIRITS?!

Twilight is shaking, sitting down, her front hooves on the side of her head. Already in the past few hours she’s gotten absolutely crazy stuff happening, the dead showing up to speak, learning that life is magic, and now she just learned that within her, she herself is part spirit. Jinn just continues to look at her smugly, lying on her back in the air, and moving her tail some more

Jinn: Figured it out, huh?

Twilight: WHAAAAAAAAAAAT THE BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK?!

((Story continues after the break))

Jinn giggles, seems like by now she’s kind of gotten a little bit of pleasure out of blowing Twilight’s mind.

Twilight: So I’m technically undead?!

Jinn: Nonononono, not undead. Rest assured, you still count as among the living

I didn’t even realize this myself until sometime after I had died, but the reason why us genies are so powerful. Is that they are the result of combining the strong soul of a dragon that both lived a full life of more then a hundred thousand years along with friendship, with the direct ability of ponies that are uniquely capable of using their magic on parts of the world or even outside of the world in the case of the Unicorns and Alicorns that move the Sun and Moon. The Dragon Tears were already capable of granting desires/wishes themselves, though only in the hands of Dragons themselves unless a pony… (or potentially other species too, but there’s literally only been pony genies as far as I know…) infuses themselves with the tear. So just imagining the power of a dragon soul and granting powers of a Dragon’s Tear, combined with the ability of a pony to directly use that magic whether through their horns, wings, or hooves. Genies just came about naturally as a result!

When a pony is infused with the tear (aka Genification by being sucked into a vessel of some kind) within the enclosed space, both the body and soul of the pony is absorbed by the tear, once the stopper is closed on a genified pony. The fusion of the pony and dragon souls explodes the tear inside, the explosion remains compressed in the vessel, and even though the tear disappears it actually simply just fuses with the magical energy that a genie becomes when inside their vessel. Some of the pieces of the Dragon’s tear infusing with the vessel instead of the pony so that there’s a connection between the genie and their vessel.

By the way, technically us spirits can grant stuff too. But we’re incapable of granting the wishes of the living, instead… We grant the desires of the planet

At this point, one of eye’s Twilight twitches as she just snaps.

Twilight: NOW YOU’RE TELLING ME THE PLANET IS ALIVE?!

Jinn: I mean… yeah… but the planet is alive in the same way plants are alive. Our planet is obviously quite shy! *giggles*

Twilight: How can you spirits grant it’s desires then?

Jinn: In a similar way to how earth ponies like me are capable of cultivating plants more naturally through their more subtle magic. We sort of just feel out what the planet needs, and it just so happens it’s desires are quite simple: protect it from threats outside. Meanwhile, it also has desires for those living on the planet, though it’s not as easy for the planet to contact the living. But now that you can talk to us spirits, we can say what the planet wants to say to the living by proxy. Though I think for the most part, you ponies have recently been doing what the planet wants anyway, even if it has not been able to contact the living.

Twilight: What does the planet want of the living?

Jinn: For the life on the planet to raise as many good lifeforms as possible. Extending friendships, love, and shrinking the impact of any dark magic from the forces of deceased villains of the past. Whether it was intentional or not, you Twilight, has come up with a path in order to most strongly grant the planet’s desires. By extending the hoof of friendship to the many other species of the world, even if they were once considered enemies by Equestria such as the Changelings, through the School of Friendship.

Twilight: Wait… how do you know of the school? You couldn’t come down here until now, right?

Jinn: That’s right, but remember ALL those who had a normal life or better end up in the shield above. We hear current events from those who have died, including changelings, yaks, griffons, etc. who mostly passed from old age. Many tell of the immense respect they have for what Equestria is now doing for their respective nations.

Twilight: What… what is it even like up there? Do all the souls simply just flow around the planet in the shape of spirits like how you are now, simply watching the planet and/or watching for stuff like meteorites coming in?

Jinn: Sort of, but we’re actually not in the shape of how I am right now, most of the time. This actually somewhat connects back to how genies are actually part spirit. You know how you’re simply just a mass of magical energy when you’re resting in the bottle?

Twilight: Yes?

Jinn: Most of the time, us spirits are simply encircling the planet in that form, only not enclosed within a bottle. Just traveling like a sort of magic comet orbiting the planet. If you noticed, that’s what’s I looked like when I was being summoned here. That form is what we’re in for most of eternity. What’s more, is much like when you’re in the bottle. We’re in a subconscious state in this comet-like form where we’re in a blissful sleep. We are capable of becoming our living body shapes like how I am right now up there too, but we aren’t protecting the planet when we do this, but it’s how some of us greet the recently deceased. Mostly, it’s fellow friends and family that know the deceased that come out to greet them. Though there are also neutral arbiters like myself that greet the deceased even if I never knew them. Our wisest and oldest spirits tend to be the ones hired for that.

Twilight: Heh, getting to know you? Kinda funny, that you’re considered among the wise given how many times you’ve lost composure and laughed while enjoying blowing my mind…

Jinn: Hehehehe, Oh I’m wise alright, wisecracking that is, ahahahahaha!

Twilight: Anyhow, here’s my next question… how did you even come to know all this? I can’t imagine ALL of this you found out after you were dead. You sound like you’ve known much about this long before you passed…

Jinn: It’s all thanks to Jenn, that I discovered much of this.

Twilight: Jenn?

Jinn: Short for Jennesis, you know… Spike’s birth mother that you spoke to before me.

Twilight: Doesn’t she hate that nickname though?

Jinn: No that was Jenny, not Jenn. She tolerates being called Jenn from me. Just because it’s fun to call ourselves Jinn and Jenn. I’ve known Jenn since she was a baby dragon, in fact she was pretty much Spike’s size when I met her I’m pretty sure *giggles*

But anyhow, one day… me and Jenn came across a small Dragon’s tear chip. At some point Jenn was able to create her own magic shield with it. She challenged me to try to blast through it, and nothing I did really worked. Granted, none of my blasts I made sure would of seriously hurt Jenn if it went through. But it stood to reason, that it could of very much withstood if I had literally tried something that was capable of turning Jenn’s body into nothing but ashes.

Sometime later, in a rather casual conversation where I talked about some of dancer friends who became genies. But during the dark times of the Anti-Genie regime, they went back to being mortal and then passed away at an old age later. Me and Jenn at one point had our hoof and claw on the Dragon tear, and I sort of wished I could see my friends again. Soon after, the tear started glowing. It freaked both me and Jenn out, and soon the souls of my 3 dancer friends all came down. And I was able to speak to them, and even hug them. They all told me and Jenn what the soul shield up there is like, and much of what I’ve told you, I learned from them.

Though one sad part about this conversation, is at the time, we didn’t know if there was anything left of that extreme part of the Anti-Genie regime remaining that wanted to use Dragon Tears to power their genie-controlling device. Meaning, that after this conversation it was a good idea to make the Dragon’s Tear unusable... and unless I came across another tear. My friends would have to wait until the day I decided to become mortal again, before living the rest of a mortal life before seeing me. But my friends truly were just happy to have gotten to speak again at least one more time, were very understanding, and they said they’d wait an eternity for me to see me again or eventually join them. Even joking on my part that before we sent them back that we could do our ol’ dance troupe performances up there again *giggles*

And guess what… sometimes we do! Ahahahahaha!

Twilight giggles along with Jinn. Her surprisingly bubbly personality kind of warming up to her now.

Jinn: Now… how about I ask YOU some questions. Like, how’s your life been as a genie thus far. I know that compared to a lot of genies you’re still quite the newbie. Not even reaching 10 years since you were genified! But I’m curious. If it weren’t for the fact that genies don’t age, and we were mostly adults, I could technically call you a baby genie *giggles* Much like how Spike is still considered a baby dragon, because he’s still quite young in a Dragon lifespan!

Twilight: All those recently deceased haven’t told you everything about me?

Jinn: I mean yeah, I get some of the gist of what you’ve done. Saving Equestria and/or the world, multiple times over and all. But I don’t think I really get to hear about your personal life much. There’s still some cons to well… dying from that perspective. But if more dragons drop dragon tears, and Dragons agree to be conduits to bringing Spirits down. Technically, the living will be able to regularly contact the dead, assuming those who summon spirits are of blood relation and/or had been lovers or good friends of the deceased.

Twilight: That is true, would be very much a source of happiness for many ponies to occasionally see their deceased friends and family

Jinn: Though of course I must repeat that we should only hire the most trusted dragons to be spirit conduits. As remember what we’ve said. Calling down too many spirits at once, or even just more then 2 really large spirits leaves a big hole in the soul shield up there, making our planet vulnerable if we happen to be trying to direct something from space.

Twilight: Of course, if we find more dragon tears at some point. And that’s probably going to get more common in the coming years, given you told us dragons that found friendship are far more likely to drop them. We’ll do our due diligence in making sure they’d be responsible, just as much as we make sure a pony would be responsible as a genie. Which of course, making more genies would also be an option

Jinn: You could even split just one full-sized dragon tear to both make more genies and give to dragons to summon the deceased!

Twilight: Yeah! Though that will certainly make some hard decisions for when the next large dragon tear is found. Pros and Cons are there to each of those 2 abilities of Dragon Tears. And both we have to be extra careful who we trust with these powers.

Jinn: Mmhmm

Twilight: I guess now I can sort of tell you how I’ve been as a genie. I’ve generally enjoyed it in, the past 7-8 years I guess? Got to do plenty cool stuff. Turn into all kinds of things, amazing magic abilities that I couldn’t have ever dreamed I could do as a unicorn, or even as an Alicorn to be frank… Becoming a genie has helped me get closer and closer to Spike, who I adopted as my son just about a year after I became a genie…

Jinn: D’awww that’s so adorable, and not to mention outs you as the perfect mother that was Jenn’s dying wish, huh?

Both Twilight and Spike smile and nod.

Jinn: Ehehehe, are you sure she’s perfect after I made her freakout a few times, ahahahaha!

Twilight just deadpans, Spike actually giggles.

Spike: Oh trust me Jinn, the freakouts she had earlier are CALM compared to some of the stuff she’s done before she was genified. Hahaha

Twilight: Et tu, Spike?

Jinn: Hehehe, you know I’m joking, Twilight. I definitely believe Jenn’s wish came true. After all, Celestia’s did. Dragon Tears do not succeed on some of the desires given but fail on others. Luna is here, you became Celestia’s next protege, and a year from now you’re going to be her successor! Literally the only thing left was Jenn’s wish for the perfect mother for Spike. And I’m certain that was granted as well, I’m even less doubtful that the tear would fail the very one that wanted their desire granted first, while conveniently advantaging all of Celestia’s desires. I like to poke some ponies in the rib, but I assure you, I believe it. And it kind of reminds me of me and Jenn’s relationship

Twilight: Wait, are you saying you kind of consider Jenn to be an adopted daughter?

Jinn: Naaaaaah, not my daughter. More like younger sister. She’s JenneSIS after all *giggles*. I never really officially adopted her as such. But hey, it’s just similar in a few ways of a dragon and a genie treating each other like a family. That’s all.

Twilight smiles

Twilight: That’s quite cute

Spike moves on closer to Twilight to hug one of her front hooves, as Twilight responds with a wing hug. Before Twilight continues speaking with Jinn.

Twilight: I suppose that’s most of my questions answered… and if I want to see you again for any reason. I’ll go see either Somnambula, Kubuya, or anyone in Kubuya’s side of the family (AKA your bloodline) to summon you down here again

Jinn: Yeah, it’s been a pleasure talking with you, Twilight. I would be most happy to see you again.

Twilight: Next time we meet I can even show you my friends, I have a feeling you’ll easily become friends with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash.

Jinn: Ah yes, the other Elements of Harmony. Would be nice to meet them too, for certain.

Twilight taps her hooves together, before asking her one more thing

Twilight: Actually, I guess I do have one more thing I’d like to ask you. I know I can’t summon most historical figures that I’d like to talk to personally. But is there perhaps a chance if I give you a name sometime… you talk to them up in the soul shield… have them answer a question.. and get back to me by proxy the next time we meet…?

Jinn suddenly gives a serious face

Jinn: No… that is against soul shield rules. You are now banned from ever seeing one of us spirits ever again!

Twilight: Wait what?! No! I’m sorry I…

Jinn just starts stifling another laugh before just letting herself laugh again. Looks like again, she was joking.

Jinn: Ahahahahaha! I’m sorry, I just wanted to get one more joke in, before I go.

Twilight sighs, though also expresses relief while shaking her head.

Jinn: Ehehehe, but yeah, I can go find a historical figure of your choosing. And tell you what they said the next time we talk.

Twilight: Alright, thank you. I can think about who I’d like to hear from next time.

Jinn: I figure you’re now going to go around to summon some other spirits for folks who have deceased friends or family that they dearly want to see again?

Twilight: I suppose so, yeah.

Jinn: Mind telling me who you plan on summoning first? Maybe I can tell you a thing or two, if I’ve seen them? Perhaps... tell them ahead of time once I return?

Twilight: Well first… I must kind of talk with some of the others here…

Twilight turns to Malakhar, Celestia, and Luna.

Twilight: Malakhar, I know you said you want to see your Grandfather. And also for the Princesses… at least some of their staffer and guards from the many past generations… but if it’s ok… there is two ponies in particular I’d really, really, really like to summon for somepony that dearly misses them… and that’s Applejack and her family.

Malakhar and both Princesses are both very aware of the Apple family’s situation with their parents.

Malakhar: Go ahead, Twilight. I don’t mind waiting a little longer to see my Grandfather. I know that Applejack’s parents were taken from her far too soon, I feel you’re dong the right thing by letting her see her parents again.

Celestia and Luna nod and smile

Celestia: I agree that reuniting Applejack with her parents is a good idea. I can most certainly wait a little longer to see some of my own friends and most loyal staffers and guards.

Luna: I may have not seen any of my past friends in more then 1000 years… but even I feel a parent being taken away far sooner then they should have… absolutely takes priority first with this newfound ability of the Dragon’s Tears. We consider this quite noble of you, Princess Twilight.

Twilight then turns to Somnambula and Sultan Theandri

Twilight: Just to be sure, how about you both? Somnambula, I know you have other friends you probably miss from when before you went into Limbo. And as for the Sultan, you probably have royal family members you miss.

Somnambula: Go ahead and reunite Applejack and her family with her parents. I can wait my turn along with the others.

Sultan Theandri: I can wait as well, Princess Twilight. This is obviously something of utmost importance to your dear friend.

Twilight looks around at all who replied, and smiles

Twilight: Thank you, I knew you’d understand.

Jinn: Just curious, do you know the name’s of Applejack’s parents?

Twilight: I was told their names were Pear Butter, and Bright Mac.

Jinn grins, and squishes her cheeks

Jinn: Pear Butter and Bright Mac?! D’AWWWWWWWWW! They’re one of the cutest couples I’ve ever seen in the soul shield! I’ve always felt so bad they died so young…

Twilight: Yeah… it will be especially good for Applejack’s little sister Apple Bloom. She was born just weeks before their unfortunate deaths.

Jinn: D’awwww… I am so happy that I got to talk with somepony who will use the knowledge I gave you for good. I messed with you a few times, yes, but only because I knew you could take it in stride in time, plus I wanted a little of my own fun. But ultimately, because you’ve handled responsibility as a genie the entire time. I think you’ll certainly be just as smart with summoning spirits.

I’m sure for quite a long time, Spike’s going to be the only one summoning spirits unless he hands that tear of his to another dragon. Smart usage of spirit summoning will lead to more happiness and positivity to the lives of many on the world. And the more that are happy, the more likely it buffs up the soul shield. Maybe even in a good couple of thousand of years. We’ll have more friendly dragons, not to mention more dragon tears dropped before they go, and it’ll be safer to summon more spirits down at once without worry of leaving too big of a hole up there.

Thank you for summoning me, and feel free to call me back down any time. Goodbye, Twilight!

Twilight: Goodbye, Jinn!

Jinn waves, as Spike proceeds to send Jinn back to the soul shield. Jinn’s spirit turns back into a sphere, and speeds out of the cave with a comet tail. Twilight makes a portal back to the inside of the Saddle Arabian palace.

Twilight: All of you can head back to the palace, I’ll probably be in Equestria for a little while. Though I also need to head back to the palace to bring Applejack, Apple Bloom, Big Mac, Sugar Belle, The Cake family and I think it’d also be a good idea for the rest of my friends to meet Applejack’s parents as well.

The Alicorn sisters, Somnambula, Sultan Theandri, Malakhar, Kubuya, and all of the Sultan’s guards all head into the portal back to the Palace. Twilight and Spike follow last. Spike looking back at the skeleton of his birth mother one more time, smiles one more time looking at it, before being the last one through.

UP NEXT: Chapter 23: Spirits of Apples & Pears, Part 1

#Secrets Of The Dragon's Tear #Jinn #Twilight Sparkle #Genie #Somnambula #Spike #Malakhar Manat #Malakhar #Princess Celestia #Celestia #Princess Luna #Luna #Sultan Theandri #Spirit Summoning

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oddsnendsfanfics · 4 years

Text

Unraveling at the Seams

Genre: Fan Fiction Pairing: Alex Høgh Andersen/OFC, Henry Cavill/OFC Warnings: Language, Sexual Innuendo, Possible NSFW Rating: M Length: Multi Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.

A/N: I started this two years ago, found it again, and decided to make something of it.

thank you @flowers-in-your-hayr for the header :D

Catch Up Here

Wednesdays for the last month and a half had been absolute hell, nearly twenty hour days, non stop costume changes and repairs, a steady flood of people coming and going out of the mid sized trailer serving as a dressing room on wheels. Nell Stewart had become accustom to the chaos and frantic pace that her job provided each and every day, grabbing a cloak from the rack labeled “Ubbe” she held the soft fur in her hands, marching it to the man who would display the glorious piece on screen.

“Thanks, Nell.” the smooth mix of Scotland and Australia met her head on.

“No problem,” Nell smirked “and Jordan, this time, don't drop it until after the shoot.”

“I make no promises.” Jordan chuckled, glancing down at the woman who fastened the broach on the grey and tan fur.

“All set, go on with ya.” Nell waved the actor out of her “office du jour”.

Next up to dress would be “Ivar” - the name always made her smile thinking of her son's not so far off name of Ivan. Ivar was undoubtedly one of the best characters to create, and one of the most annoying actors on set. Nell sighed, fingering through the pages on the cupboard before her. One last glance over the costume that she would be putting on the young Danish man.

Alex tried, he really did, yet somehow he always ended up offending the woman. How was he to sit there while she dressed and prepped him, and not want to talk to her? He had watched her with the other actors and crew, she was obviously sweet and a gentle soul. Somehow every time he got close to Nell, she ended up looking like she wanted to beat him with whatever heavy object was closest.

Taking his chances, Alex cautiously stepped into the costume trailer. He had been here seven hours and had another ten to go. Such was life, for anyone who thought acting was glamorous, fools. Whistling a merry tune with a pep in his step despite the hours he had spent crawling around in the mud on set, Alex was determined to make today different.

This was going to be the day that he got Nell to laugh with him, not at him, or worse stand stone faced while he attempted to make jokes.

“Hey, Ne...” He was met with a glare from the costume designer, her phone to her ear. “Sorry.” he muttered softly standing by the door, not daring to step any further with the mud on his costume. He had been lectured before about dragging mud through the trailer.

This woman treated him like he was her son, not somebody she worked with. A disappointing scenario.

“Are you still there, Janelle?” The man on the phone called her attention. She hated when he called her by her full name, more so she hated the feeling of electricity it sent racing through her.

Nell glanced at Alex, lowering her eyes and voice. Her private business didn't need to be aired through the entire lot.

“I can't talk right now, I'm at work.”

“I will only a take a moment, I promise. Is Ivan with you?”

“No, he's at school. Why?” She found the pants, cloak, and jerkin she would need in order to dress the man waiting for her. Handing them to Alex, she motioned for him to use the space on the left. It was the easiest room to clean later. “And don't get mud on the new costume.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry. Continue.” She returned to her call.

“I only wanted to speak with him, see how he is doing. How's school, the usual. I don't want to take your time, but I wanted to let you know that I have a bit of time off and...”

“And you wanted to see him?” Her ex had a habit of doing this to her. It was always the same story, they would go months upon months without seeing him, then he would call her and ask for a visit. In truth, she couldn't really complain about a man making an effort to see his son, but it would be nicer if it wasn't a once a year thing.

“If I could, yes. He can come to me, or I can come to you. Whichever works. Think on it and let me know.”

Nell tried her best to hide the sigh.

“Send me the dates. I don't want him missing school.”

“It would be next month. I believe he is on holiday then. I will have the dates sent and we can discuss it, when we're not sneaking away to take calls at work. Chat soon?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Freshly dressed from his base layer to the hooded wool cloak, Alex emerged after giving her a breath or two alone to regroup, her call hadn't sounded pleasant. He didn't want to pry, yet he felt sorry for the single mother. Alex knew her son, the bundle of energy that would sometimes tear through the trailer, accompanying his mother to work. Ivan's dark curls were as wild as he was. Alex liked the kid, he was funny.

“Alright, what do we need to adjust?” Nell turned to Alex, her phone in her pocket and her mind somewhat on work.

“It feels good.” Alex raised his arms, bending at the waist, and moving about to prove his point. “The boots, tough.”

Nell nodded. “What about them?”

More than once she had accidentally pulled the wrong boots, trying to fit Alex's feet into a pair meant for someone else.

“I can never get these done up, can you?” Alex blushed at the confession. The boots were double laced and the laces in the back were his kryptonite. Nell instructed him to sit and keeled down to assist. As a mother dressing someone was a second nature.

“You know,” Alex glanced down as she fitted his boots. “We've worked together for almost two years, I know nothing about you.”

“Oh yeah?” Her focus was on the laces of the knee high boots.

“Mmm.” He nodded, his dark hair escaping his pony tail. “Let's play a game. Three things about our self. I'll go first,” Alex made his suggestion. She was shocked he could put his phone down long enough to chat. “When I was a little boy, I wanted to be a doctor. I love anything to do with Space, and my best memory is a family trip to the beach, when I was eight.”

“Such detail.” She mocked, a smirk gracing her lips.

“I reached deep for those,” Alex nudged her with his foot. “Your turn.”

“Fine.” She huffed, sitting back on her heels. The second boot could wait, while she found three things to shut him up. “I have worked in costume design for four years full time, I hate small talk and nosy people, and I hate cake.”

“You hate cake!” Alex exclaimed wide eyed with disbelief. “What? What do you have on your birthday?”

“Pie.” Her answer was flat.

“Huh.” Alex mused, he couldn't get over the last statement. “Do you at least make cakes? You know, for when your family or friends want a birthday cake?”

“Nope.”

“Never?” She shook her head. Alex huffed. “Not even when your son asks?”

“He doesn't like cake either.” Her voice softened.

“He doesn't like it, or you don't let him have it?” It was Alex's turn to smirk. “You know, since you hate it and all.”

“You're annoying.”

“When's his birthday? I'm going to buy him a cake, a big one! Loaded with frosting and chocolate, sprinkles galore.” Alex continued his chatter. Mainly to hear himself speak.

“Look,” She sighed, finishing up the boot lace. “I enjoy working with you and I like my job, but can we leave my son out of this? Please.”

“O-Okay.” Alex frowned. “I'm sorry.”

“It's just...it's complicated and the last thing he needs right now is...forget it.” Nell rocked back on her heels. Admiring her handy work with the costume.

“I'm sorry, truly.”

“It's fine. I've just...never mind. You're good to go.” Nell stood up, wiping her hands on her pants out of instinct.

Alex sat for a heartbeat, trying to find another way to express his apology. The crease and frown on Nell's face told him to quit while he was ahead. He could take a hint. Rising to his feet, he cleared his throat and thanked Nell for helping.

Alone with her thoughts for a moment, Nell rubbed the heels of her hands across her eyes. It would be another late night. The push to get these scenes filmed in the last season, in order for the cast and crew of Vikings to take their short term summer break. Her initial plans for the few weeks off was to pack up Ivan and take off for a vacation home.

A few weeks visiting her parents and the rest of her family, back in Canada would be ideal. She hadn't been back since Easter, when Ivan had gone to spend time with his father's family, and she wanted her son to visit his grandparents. So much for that plan, after the phone call from his father; Ivan wouldn't want to do anything other than visit his father for a few weeks.

Despite the unconventional relationship, her son idolized his father. As a boy should.

Why did he make everything complicated? This man's name came up and as if by some curse everything in Nell's world would begin to fall apart, all over again.

“I see your boyfriend was in.” Nell pushed her hair out of her eyes and slowly looked up at her co-worker. She hadn't heard Rayna come in.

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head at the teasing. “He's not. He is however annoying.”

“Aww, he's just trying to get your attention. Come on, Nelly, throw the kid a bone.” the seasoned designer laughed, handing Nell a cup of shitty set coffee.

“He's too young.”

“You're not exactly an old maid.” Rayna continued to laugh.

Nell shook her head, daily she endured a teasing from the other woman, among others on set. Alex Høgh Andersen turned into an absolute fool and a puppy around the costume designer, everybody but Nell seemed to notice his affection. What she passed off as annoying banter, was the Dane's way of flirting. A skill he needed to work on, with women who were immune to actor's charms, and on older women in general.

Thirty was far from old. So Nell was constantly told.

It had to do with having a son at twenty three. She had grown old and boring faster than she had ever wanted. Another resentment that Nell held toward her ex, he had gotten to go off and do whatever he pleased, while she had raised their son. Whoever said older men were more mature was full of shit.

“Whatever, we have work to do. I need to finish mending those dresses for next week. I don't think our extras want to come in and be naked all day.”

“Some of them might.” Rayna joked, sitting her coffee down and grabbing her sewing kit.

Throughout the day Nell continued to dress cast, principal and extra alike. She enjoyed her job, the creativity and the structure. The pride and joy when a new costume was put together, nothing beat seeing her work on the screen and in the media.

She'd once been asked why she wanted to design costumes, simple. Without a good costume, nothing would ever be accomplished. There would be no life or charisma to a story being told on the screen. Costumes had been a last resort once, when she'd auditioned for a school play and was rejected for a role on stage. Even the chorus didn't want her, leaving her to help the costume department. Nell got hooked.

Alex had gone out to set, coming back only twice that Nell had been in the trailer. He tried his hardest to strike up another conversation, but the two times they were in the same proximity, Nell was too busy to chat. He felt horrible for making her feel like he was prying earlier and needed to tell her.

Wisely, advised against it, Alex kept his head low. For now.

Knocking off nearly twenty one hours after arriving at work, Nell stretched her arms and groaned. Tomorrow was a later start for her, which meant she would be able to walk Ivan to school and spend a little time with him. He was in bed when she'd left and would be in bed when she arrived home.

Thank god for their Bridie. Nell would be lost without the saint of a woman.

Dropping her keys on the stand inside the door, her bag was next. Letting go of the bag felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from her body. The house was quiet and smelled delicious. Bridie was in the kitchen, tidying up when Nell poked her head in.

“He's in bed, has been since eight.” the well put together blonde woman smiled affectionately. She looked like she should be a CEO or investment banker, not a full time live out Nanny. “Long day?”

“Extremely. I am going to run up quick. Thank you!” Nell held her hands together as if in prayer and smiled.

Tiptoeing up the short flight of stairs she followed the path to her son's room. Her bedroom at the other end of the seven foot hallway beckoned her. Not yet. Soon, bed, soon. As expected, Ivan was sleeping soundly, a Captain Underpants book fallen open on the floor and his blankets half tossed off. Her son slept like whirl wind.

Picking up the blanket and draping it over her son, Nell smiled. Dark curls sprung across his head and his tiny arms were wrapped around his pillow, snoring away somewhere in dreamland. As adorable as he looked, it hurt her heart to be gone all day. Since the final season had been announced to the cast and crew, the days at work had become longer and the time for anything else seemed nearly impossible.

Only a few more weeks and Nell would be home for a break. Except...She wanted to groan, instead opted for an eye roll.

Ivan stirred, shifting around in his bed but not waking. Tucked in and kissed by mom, he was good to resume his slumber uninterrupted. Slumber. In the hall, Nell heard her bed calling once again. A loud Siren Song.

Soon!

Downstairs a cup of tea waited on the counter, while Bridie fished around for a plate to put the freshly made sandwich on. Nell's heart swelled and her shoulders sagged, overwhelmed by the gesture. Bridie was here to look after Ivan, bless her for always watching out for Nell, too.

“I know you're going to say you've had dinner, but you need something hearty.”

“Actually, I missed dinner. I had a fruit bar and an orange that one of the lighting guys shared with me.” Nell slid onto the stool at the breakfast nook, accepting the peppermint tea and chicken sandwich. Not at all embarrassed by the moan when she took the first bite, causing Bridie to laugh.

“Pleased that you like it.” Bridie winked. “There are some muffins in the container next to the toaster, blueberry. I made his lunch up, and yours, for tomorrow. Left over shepherd's pie.” She listed off a few other details from the day. “When should I return?”

“I don't go in until eleven, I'll need you to pick him up then you can bring him to me. I'm in the office studio all day tomorrow.” Nell instructed. “Thank you, for all of this.”

“You know I love doing it.” Bridie gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.

“I know and I love you for loving it.” Nell chuckled. Tucking her hair behind her ears, “Oh, Ivan doesn't know, but in a few weeks his father wants to visit him. I'll let you know when he has the dates sent. I think it will be while we were supposed to be gone, anyway.”

“That sounds...” Bridie paused, watching Nell's face to gauge the reaction.

“It's a good thing.” Nell tried to assure her nanny and herself. “It will be good.”

Fingers crossed.

“Well, if you need me for anything you know how to find me.” Bridie would help hide a body, no questions asked. Nell was certain of it.

“Thank you, but I think we'll be okay.” Nell stood to hug the older woman. “Now, go home. I am sure Joe is missing you like crazy. Tell him that you're his for most of the day tomorrow.”

“Good night, Nell.” Bridie waved disappearing toward the door. Nell heard the final click of the lock, signaling that she was on her own until Ivan woke for school.

Dirty plate in the sink, resting until Nell had the energy to do something about it, the cup of peppermint tea joined Nell on her way to bed. Too tired to shower or move, she kicked off her clothes and reached for an old tshirt to wear. The weather was growing warmer as summer approached Ireland.

Summer in Ireland was majestic, really any season in Ireland was majestic. Nell thought as she crawled into her bed. She had decided that the first year she had come here to be an intern. How giddy and naive she had been back then. How different life had been in 2007. How different Nell had been in 2007.

Something about Ireland and that majesty.

Phone down to charge and her alarm set, she was ready for sleep. Slipping under her duvet, she barely had time to get comfortable before sleep over took her.

@funmadnessandbadassvikings , @kawennote09, @smutgoblin , @nickysurfer28 , @peaceisadirtyword, @igetcarriedawaywithyou , @lif3snotouttogetyou, @akamaiden @angelaiswriting, @neeadinghugs, @thoughtsmeander2tumblingblindly, @ilvebeenabad , @naaladareia, @imgoldielikehawn @tephi101, @sdcyumyum @unacceptabletatertots, @sparklemichele , @titty-teetee , @smolasianwinterbean , @capitanostella , @captstefanbrandt @bloodyivar , @normanallthewayforever , @blackcoffeeandgreenteaforme , @imyourliquor-youremypoison , @nikky-the-writer , @seremedyxiii , @laketaj24 , @deleteidentity , @tornupandbored , @hoeghfabulous , @ateliefloresdaprimavera , @mydarlingwhim , @kenzieam , @jar-of-love , @angelswannawearmyredshooz , @manuugxlvis , @lizency , @lost-in-my-thoughs , @ivars-snowflake , @lisinfleur , @fumblingthroughchaos @pebblesz892 , @angelaiswriting , @nelson-and-murdock , @nothingeverdies, @bluearchersstuff @itsspecial-itsnotforeveryone, @ivarlothbroks, @badassbaker @cris101071 @fucktrucks @ohjules @mrsadrianraines @angelic-kisses13 @marthasantos95 @atlanticowe @hows-my-hair @omgshuddupmeg @moviegirl50 @havenoffandoms @gearhead66 @happydaysandersen @rekdreams-fandom @lovemylife2618 @supernaturalvikingwhore @youbloodymadgenius @geekandbooknerd @carlya65

#unraveling at the seams #alex høgh andersen #alex høgh imagine #henry cavill #henry cavill imagine #alex høgh #alex hogh andersen #alex hogh fanfiction #alex høgh andersen x ofc #henry cavill x ofc #ivar's heathen army

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chocolatepancakes · 3 years

Text

Mixer.

I’m just thinkin bout it, I’m not gonna do it.

I did it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Selever x Fem Reader

CENSORED CUSSING. Time taken: Idek all I know is i don’t sleep anymore

friending

There’s two endings. This post shows up until the turning point.

romanting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Selever] Hey Roachy!

[Selever] my friends and I are going to the mixer

[Selever] come with to even out the numbers

(Y/N) looked at her screen. A mixer huh? Cool beans. It's not like she had anything to do over the summer. She typed quickly as she replied.

[Y/N] cool lemme in

[Selever] lmao you're actually gonna come?

[Selever] okay, well, meet at 401 Dragon Rock Ave.

[Y/N] there's a bar there??

[Selever] lol who said we're going to a bar

[Selever] we gon be going to kareoke b####

[Y/N] OK

[Y/N] what time

[Selever] idk, around 8.

[Y/N] K see ya

[Selever] ciao

(Y/N) looked at the clock. 6pm. She had about two hours to get ready. She set a 50 minute timer and turned on the TV. She had time to burn.

So the time came. (Y/N) ran out her house with her purse in hand. She slid into her car and started it up. Streetlights passed as she turned left and right. A call rang. She picked it up. "Hello, who is it?" She asked.

"Hello, I called to talk about your car's extended warranty," Selever replied. Snickering could be heard. (Y/N) laughed. Why did he always start a call like that?

"Hi Sel," she said.

"Where you at right now?"

"I'm only like, a hundred meters from the place."

"Ha, sure you are."

"Oh hey! I see you! Okay, imma hang up!" She closed off the call and pulled her car into a parking slot. Selever stood waiting for her. He was wearing something pretty different from his normal attire. He had a magenta dress shirt on, and a black suit vest over it. A complimentary black tie and dark dress pants completed his look.

"Woah I didn't think you'd actually come," Selever smirked. "Getting desperate?" He asked.

"Ha, no. Just doing my job as the number-even-outter." (Y/N) replied, getting out of her car.

"Really? Cause you seem pretty dressed up for someone who's just evening out the numbers." He was right. (Y/N) had dressed up a bit for this occasion. She wore a blue one piece with a flower on the head of its belt. She wore a white cardigan, and two strands of her (H/C) hair, tied in braids, met at the back of her head. She wore knee high socks, and Mary Janes completed the outfit.

"Yes really, now let's go in! I wanna destroy everyone's eardrums!" (Y/N) grabbed his hand and entered the building. This one seemed to be slightly different from other bars. Like a Japanese kareoke place? There was a reception area, and you'd go into a room to sing. They ran past the reception and straight to the room at the end of the hall.

Selever opened up the door. "THE LAST LADY'S HERE!" He yelled. In the room were two other guys, and two other girls. Starting with the girls, there was one with blue hair, which was tied back in her pony tail. She had pink eyes and wore a grey turtleneck with a long skirt. The other girl had black hair, which covered her left eye. Red eyes. She wore a beanie, as well as a black shirt. She wore jeans, giving off a relaxed vibe. As for the two guys, a grey cat was among them. His hair? Fur? Was tied back in a ponytail. He wore a yellow hoodie over a suit, she assumed. He wore black pants and wore brown sneakers. Last one was a skull of... a goat? Moose? A demon? He wore a white dress shirt, and brown dress pants. His body and limbs seemed to be invisible, as his head and hand floated in the air.

(Y/N) cautiously entered the room. "Hello.... I'm (Y/N)." The girl with blue hair waved.

"Hi!! I'm Sky!" She held some cards in her hand. "Wanna play Uno with us?"

"Sure," (Y/N) said, sitting down. Selever also sat at the boys' side. A round passed. Then two. Then an an hour, as they ate and sang.

"Kay! Uhhh (Y/N!) It's your turn!" The cat man said, taking the input pad and handing it over to her.

"Sorry Kapi, I'm not too good at singing," she denied.

"You sure? You haven't sang all hour."

"Mmm maybe one song." She took the pad and

scrolled through the songs. Bingo. She entered the code as a upbeat tune started playing. She held up the mic, slightly embarrassed she was singing this. Selever gave her a thumbs up and smiled. She took a breath and sang. The others watched her as she hit every note. When the song finished, she put down the mic and quickly returned to her seat. They clapped for a moment or two. "Woah. You're pretty good (Y/N)!" Sky said. "I'm really not," (Y/N) said. "Oh for f###'s sake, just accept it," Selever rebutted. "You're good and you know it." Kapi stretched. "Okay, I think we're all warmed up." Warmed up?! That was warming up?! For what?! (Y/N) confusedly looked around the room. "Tabi, where'd you put the spinner?" Kapi asked. "It should be with the chips." Seriously what were they bouta do?! Kapi took out a spinner. On each slice was each of their names. Tabi, Annie, Kapi, Sky, Selever, (Y/N), all of them. Kapi flicked the arrow. Landed on his name. "I GO FIRST!" He said, grabbing his phone. He fiddling with it, he got something to play on the screen. His own song. He took a deep breath and started to sing. Annie cheered him on. (Y/N) looked in shock. He was singing his own song. This probably means the others have their own too. Goddammit, no! She prayed for the wheel to never land on her, she didn't have one yet! Kapi's song finished, and the screen read, "Beathoven.mp4 - unknown". "Oh yeah! That felt great! Okay, who's next?" He spun the wheel again. "Uh... Annie! Ya gonna go?" Annie took out her phone. "Hell yeah I am." She took a swig of her drink and got up. After fiddling with her phone, a new song started playing. She bopped her head a few times, until she also started to sing. (Y/N) leaned over to Selever. "You know I don't have a song! What do I do?!" She whispered. Selever leaned back. "It's fine. I can cover you if it lands anyway. Just get one of your weeb songs to play if I can't." As Annie's song finished, she spun the wheel. Sky Same routine. She got up, fiddled around, and sang. (Y/N) paid no attention to it. She was only thinking about what would happen when her turn came. What does he mean he can cover her?! What does he mean play a weeb song?! Did he mean vocaloid? Before she knew it, Sky's turn was over. Kapi spun the spinner. Oh god damn it. "(Y/N)! It's your turn!" He slid the pad to her. She looked at it in fear. "Um- a-" she was cut off. Selever picked up the pad. "M'kay. I'm bored. My turn motherfruskas!" Nobody stopped him. Just sighed and shook their heads. He tapped his phone. A steady beat came out of the speakers. Selever smirked at (Y/N) as he began to sing. It was upbeat. Pretty steady, until 30 seconds in. A sudden tempo change. His song was upbeat. And somewhat fast. As the song finished he put the mic back down on the table. "You had a song?? Wh- why is it so chaotic?! HOW'D YOU EVEN HIT THAT?!" Sky questioned as she, and the others clapped. Selever leaned back with his hands behind his head. "It's was made to fit me, and me specifically. Of course it's chaotic." Kapi put away the wheel. "Okay, since there's only Tabi and (Y/N) left now, I'm gonna flip a coin. Tabs, heads or tails?" He flipped it into the air. "Tails." Tabi replied. Kapi caught, and shielded the coin from view. (Y/N) prayed it was tails. He revealed the coin to be... "Tails! 'Kay Tabi, you're up!" He handed the pad to the floating skull, as a new song started to play. (Y/N) let out a sigh of relief. At least now she could think of which song to sing herself. I mean, Aishite was pretty good, but dark. PoPiPo sounded too idiotic. She could sing partners in crime.... if she had a partner. "So, be honest (Y/N)," Annie said, still keeping her eyes on Tabi. "You don't have a song, do you?" (Y/N) jumped. "I uh..." "It's fine. I didn't really expect someone like you to have one anyway." Someone like me? The hell does that mean?! (Y/N)'s pettiness rose up. She still didn't have a song, but she sure as hell knew which one she wanted to sing. Just as Tabi's song finished,

she snatched the pad and connected her phone. She looked up at the screen. Beeps played as she stood up, grabbed the mic, and waited for the first notes to come. She took a deep breath, turned to look at everyone and sang. "EVERSINCEIWASBORNFROMTHATDAYIHADKNOWNTHATIAMNOTHINGMORETHANASIMULATIONBUTI'LLKEEPLIVINGUNTILLDESTROYED, LIVINGFOREVERYESIAMAVOCALOID. IFFOREXAMPLESINGINGWASJUSTATOYTHATWOULDSINGBACKTHETUNESYOUGAVETOTHEMIDTHINKTHATWASALRIGHT, WHILEILOOKATTHESKY, BITETHISLEEK, WATCHTHESOUPPOURINGFROMMYEYES. BUTEVENSOI'LLDISAPPEARTHATIKNOWAPERSONALITYCHANGINGWITHEACHSONG, EVERYTHINGIWASBUILTONWASN'TSOSTRONG, ALLOFTHEPLACESIKNEWAREALREADYGONE, EVERYONETHATIKNEW, THEYDON'TREMEMBERME. HEARTORSOULIHAVENOTHINGLEFTINSIDEOFMEICANSEETHECENTEROFTHEVOID, YES I AM A VOCALOID!" She huffed as the intro stopped. The others looked at her wide eyed. She smiled. She may have regained a bit of confidence. As the vocals continued, she did too. Hitting every note perfectly as the song went on. At the end, she set down her mic. Selever clapped for her, and the others joined him. Tabi looked at the clock. Holy crap. 2 am. "Okay, I have to go, I have work," he said, getting up. "Actually, we should probably all go now. The time's almost up anyway," Sky pointed out. (Y/N) picked up her purse. They were right. She didn't have anything to do over the summer, but it was getting late. They all walked out to the parking lot, and said their goodbyes. Only Selever and (Y/N) was left now. "So, got anyone you put your eyes on?" Selever asked. (Y/N) sighed. "They were nice, but not really my type, ya know? Would go drink with tho 100%." She smiled. "Besides, I don't think any of the guys really liked me."

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