"I think you know how to love better than any of us. That’s why you find it all so painful.”꧁Sallow Hills mumu꧂Cecil Palmer & Sasha James & Sam Winchester
231 posts
Latest Posts by bombadills - Page 4
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ ┊ ┊ ┊ IVY && SAMWISE
✧･ﾟ
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IVY HAD NEVER BEEN ONE WHO WORRIED ABOUT MONEY. when she was younger, her parents took care of it all. She grew up privileged, and she knew that well. After she’d been changed, there were ways to make sure she had the money she needed to survive. A bat of an eye here, a push of poison there. Especially once she’d fallen in league with Selina and Harley, things got easier. Though Selina was never super happy with how much of Ivy’s money got sent out to organizations fighting deforestation and other horrendous acts. But getting a job - that was different. As much as she sometimes hated humanity, she was still part of their world, and needed to have a tie there. Working at the lab in Gotham, while having ended horribly, had been nice. And working with Sam was nice. She thought she’d have issues with not being in charge, but there had been something so genuine about him that she couldn’t push him out. He reminded her a bit of Harley, in some ways.
SHE PULLED AWAY FROM THE PLANT SHE WAS TENDING, setting the mister aside and brushing her hands off. ❝ A non-terrestrial plant? You have me intrigued, Mister Gamgee. Please, lead the way. Though I sometimes struggle to communicate with alien plants. I hope that’s not the case here, but as a warning I thought you should know. ❞ She watched him carefully, wondering if he’d ask more. She knew he was curious about her, and she didn’t mind telling him more. She trusted him, somehow and someway.
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Samwise wouldn’t say what the plants were for, not yet anyways. As far as Ivy had to be concerned right now, it was just another ask from one of their usual magically inclined customers. He had nothing malicious brewing, but it was certainly a personal matter.
“Of course, I understand Miss Ivy. Not a problem at all,” he replied. He led the way to the growing tents out back of the back of the building. He stopped them in front of a tray of sad looking baby plants. It was obvious from the tools and gloves around the tray that this wasn’t for lack of trying.
Gesturing to the tray, he offered a little smile. “Right, so here it is. I’m happy to answer anything about them I can. I hope you can work your magic on them,” he paused for a moment before asking the question which had been bouncing around his head for a little while now. “Is it magic? The thing you do with the plants?”
endlxssnights:
| ⚜ | C. & YENNEFER WILCZYNSKI | ⚜ |
Things should be fine. Geralt remembered her, was close to remembering Yennefer, remembered Uncle Jaskier. She should be okay. The withdrawal-like aches in her chest would not leave her. Ciri had only felt like this once, in the few days between arriving at Kaer Mohren and starting training. As if her body was protesting the lack of adrenaline and grief that had been coursing through her system ever since she watched her grandmother fall from the tower.
Ciri let herself in through the front door, readying an explanation for her shaking hands (trained too much, ask Ben or Jesus or even Poe and they would back her up). The explanation and bone-deep exhaustion seemed to leave her as a furry, color-changing creature wound around her legs.
“We have a… cat now?” Ciri spoke more out of confusion than directly to her mother.
It certainly looked like a cat- if she didn’t concentrate too hard or look directly at it- but things here always hid behind masks.
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He had nearly sent her skidding across the pavement. One moment Yennefer was walking home from work, and the next a streak of dark fur was scrambling across the sidewalk beneath her feet.
She had learned of the sudden appearance of the animals a few hours previously from a coworker when she had gone into work, so she knew exactly what it was that had crossed her path. Yennefer steadied herself, eyes fixed on the animal as it bobbed and weaved around her feet. Two minutes later, the scary mage lady could be seen carrying home a (very cute) ball of fur.
She hadn’t owned a cat before. By the time she was stable enough to (the first time around), she was living in Vengerberg with Geralt. Cats notoriously don’t like Witchers, no matter how fond they were of mages, so Yennefer didn’t even attempt to lure one in to stick around. After that breif time, she had been on the move too much to give it a second thought.
Yennefer hoped Ciri would be as happy with the little addition as she was. She figured the pair of them could use something like this with the recent stress they had been through.
“Ciri,” Yenner smiled as she came into the front room from the kitchen, a soft and loving greeting. “Ah, yes, I see you’ve met Kotek. Isn't he sweet? He looked like he needed a good home, and I’ve been wanting one, so here he is.”
@endlxssnights <3
Are you kidding me? I’m going to cry.
They’re so kind with each other, he’s not only promising to comfort her by letting her hide in his shadow, but also using that to say they’ll walk together, so she doesn’t have to do it alone.
I am sobbing.
picturedspells:
· · ┈─────── ⋆៹ ✩۪۟۟≭ ───────┈ · ·
Catra breathed almost a sigh of relief when Midna said she wasn’t from this world either. For some reason, it made xem feel slightly closer to home.
“Yeah, I’m from a world called Etheria,” xe said. “We’ve got magic there, with princesses ands sorcerers who wield it. I’m neither, but I’ve got plenty of my own skills to make up for it… what world are you from?”
Catra looked up at the sky when Midna mentioned it. Xe hadn’t taken the time to notice any beauty here, having been too focused on escaping. But she was right. It was a lovely night, objectively. Xe nodded.
“I guess you’re right. And I’ve faced scarier too. Random terrors in the night were my bread and butter growing up.”
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Midna looked Catra over, letting her mind wander about Etheria for a moment. How different was it? What were people like there? Was it as similar to her own world as it sounded on the surface? She dispelled the thoughts quickly, no time to dwell on it.
“The place I’m from is called The Twilight Realm. We’ve got all of those things, and I am them,” she replied. “It’s a place of perpetual darkness, and it's strange to those who dwell in the light, but it's home and it's beautiful.” And I miss it. She knew better than to say that aloud at a time like this, but she felt it in her heart.
Midna kept her eyes on xer as xe looked up at the moon, before mirroring the action. “I was missing someone for a very long time. Someone who meant the world to me. He wasn't dead, but, well, we couldn't see each other. We were separated by a barrier much like this one. Him in the light, and I in the dark. I tried not to think about him too much, but… sometimes I’d liked to look at the moon and think that he would be looking at it too. Maybe that can be the same for you and your person, whoever they are.”
endlxssnights:
| ⚜ | L. & MIDNA TWILI | ⚜ |
━━━━━━━━━ ☽ ⚜ ☾ ━━━━━━━━━
She was from before the Calamity. How could he forget that? Guilt bubbled up within him. Link forgot when he had met his own best friend. Even with the cycle, the years of memories wearing him down, what kind of person forgot something like that? Hylians were hardier than humans, Link was hardier than other Hylians, that should extend to his mind. He should be able to remember this one little fact. His arms tightened around her, in apology for his slip-up.
“Never.” Time might escape him, but people never did. Link remembered every loved one, from every time. Every death of his interchangeable parents, every kidnapping and sorrow caused by simple proximity to the Hero.
He pulled back, trying to lighten the mood. ‘Princessing doesn’t count to us peasant folk. You know that.’
Link had taken his and Zelda’s situation for granted. He never had to explain the intricacies of Earth to them, their memories were of both. What he didn’t understand his own, he could always ask his partner about. Fortunately, he had had years on his own, picking up things about Earth- the Sallow Hills specific things- slowly. Magick here, while different from home, certainly eased his way into understanding.
‘The land’s called Wales, we’re at a town called Sallow Hills. We can’t leave. I’ve never seen anything like it. Not the Twilight barriers or anything else.’ He paused in his signs. How to explain those painful, lonely seven years? ‘Time works different here. I thought I was at the beginning of the cycle when I arrived, I’m hopefully at the end of it now.’
A horrible thought flitted through his mind. His hands shook at just the concept of Midna appearing under the same circumstances he had. “How long has it been for you?”
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
The subtle anxiety Midna held about their bond being weaker due to their time apart was quickly dissipating. Years may have passed, but the way she could look him over and read him so easily made it feel as if it were just yesterday she had walked through the Mirror.
“Good. I do my best to look unforgettable. I’d hate all my hard work to be for naught.” A soft laugh escaped her lips as he pulled back. Never one to let someone else get the last word, Midna shook her head, “It's queen-ing now, I’ll have you know. And you didn’t get a promotion from peasant to anything cooler after all of our hard work? Lame.”
She nodded at his explanation. She didn’t fully get it yet, but it wasn't the first time she had been cast out of her homeland.
“Just passed seven years for me, but it feels longer. Too long. Its really good to see you. Has it been the same amount for you?” A second later, her eyes went wide, as if she had just remembered something crucial. “Wait, first, and this is really important, I need to know— did you Zelda finally bone?” She asked the question so seriously, but she was obviously teasing him. Midna was a lot of things, though blind and senseless were not included.
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ MERLIN ft. midna twili
[ setting : the outskirts , with : bombadills ]
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊
DESPITE HOW LONG HE HAD LIVED AND HOW LONG HE WOULD LIVE , merlin often felt like he didn’t have enough time. Between long shifts at the hospital , hanging out with Gwen and Zelda and the Doctor and Castiel , and checking on the town’s plants and wildlife - well he had quite a bit he was always doing. Ey liked it that way , though. If ey were busy , ey had less time to reminisce on a past ey could never go back to. Ey had less time to miss Arthur and Gwaine and Lancelot and Gaius ; ey had less time to regret everything that had happened with Mordred and Morgana.
TONIGHT WAS NOT KIND TO HIM HOWEVER. he’d been staring at his ceiling for hours , and then he went around and checked on all the plants in the house , and then reorganized one of his bookshelves of magickal tomes. None of it had distracted his mind from playing back memories. From re-living some of the worst moments of his very long life. So , ey grabbed their jacket and one of the beanies Zelda had knitted em before heading out. It wasn’t a far walk from his house to the woods. The general towns folk were told to stay away , especially at night once the town gates had been locked up , but Merlin had never been frightened. It’s not like anything in this world could kill him.
HE WASN’T SURE WHY THE FOX HAD ATTRACTED HIS ATTENTION , but he set off following it. Perhaps he wanted to make sure it didn’t have any babies that needed food , or he wanted to just have something to take his mind off things. Ey were doing pretty good at not startling the fox , until it’d went past a woman and spotted both of them. Merlin planned on moving away before she turned , unsure if he wanted company tonight. But she turned before ey could leave.
HE GAVE HER A SHEEPISH SMILE , running his hand over the back of his neck. ❝ Sorry, I think we were following the same thing ,❞ ey said , nodding towards where the fox had disappeared. ❝ I didn’t mean to sneak up on anyone. I wasn’t expecting to run into anyone at all. ❞
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Any resentment Midna had fizzled away when she saw the look on eir face. It hadn’t been on purpose, a sentiment that eased the rush of adrenaline she had initially felt.
“I wasn't either… and wasn’t following it. The little beastie just caught my attention is all.” She paused, calculating what direction was best to go in next. He didn’t seem like the axe murderer type, nor the type to follow people around in the dark, so he was likely being honest. “So what brings you here? Escape attempt, collecting something, or did the night just call for a good old fashioned walk?”
Midna had met a few people in her nighttime excursions, and each had fallen into one of those categories. She was always in the third one, as she tended to have a lot on her mind.
The darkness was comforting to her in the ways others found comfort in a mug of tea or a friend’s hand on your shoulder or a blanket fresh from the drier.
For how often she came, Midna didn’t seem like a regular in the woods. She was far from dressed for it, with half her midriff out, and no jacket to stand between her and the cold air. The only clue to her frequent visits was her well-worn shoes caked with mud from previous trips.
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ ┊ ┊ ┊ ZSASZ && YENNEFER
✧･ﾟ
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊
ZSASZ CHUCKLED A BIT AT HER POLITENESS. it was obviously, now, that she’d been around politicians (or perhaps royals in her world ?) before. He was surprised he hadn’t picked up on it before. ❝ Just Zsasz is fine. Some people from home call me Mr. Zsasz, though that’s more for formality. ❞
HER CLOTHES WERE NICE, IF A BIT DIFFERENT. though zsasz couldn’t comment on that front when he was in nearly entirely leather and had around six weapons stored on his body at the moment (which was on the low end). Of course, most of those weapons were concealed aside from the one hand gun he had in his shoulder strap.
❝ I CERTAINLY LEAN TOWARDS THE DARKER SIDE FOR MOST THINGS. but it is never that simple, i’m sure you understand. We all have our loyalties, and the things we care about. For example - I am a vegetarian, because I dislike how animals are often treated in the meat industry on this planet. ❞ But killing people was fine. It was strange, but it was who he was. ❝ And of course I have my rules. I think we all do, at the end of the day. ❞ No kids. No one who was connected to Oswald or Falcone unless that person ordered it. Nothing that will start a war you aren’t ready for. And of course, there were the hits Zsasz would do for free - when it came to the people who were somehow worse than himself.
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“Zsasz it is, then,” the mage smiled a cat-like grin. It lit up her face in a pretty way. Yennefer was an exceedingly pretty woman.
Loyalty was the name of her game as well. It had been ever since she had left Aretuza. First it had been to her only friends— Sabrina, Triss, Istredd. Then, after a long while, her mentor Tissaia joined the list. Now, the list was emphatically belonging to Ciri and Geralt and Jaskier (even if she would never tell the bard out loud). Her duty was first and foremost to keep them safe, no matter the jobs she signed on to do.
“Interesting— I like that. We all have our stances in life, and I can respect yours greatly. Even when I don’t agree with someone’s moronic stance on morality, I can respect holding to your morals,” Yennefer said as she leaned against the counter, shifting the weight on her boots. “Indeed. Having rules is important. You lose yourself if you don’t have them, in my experience.” She had lost herself a few times when she had broken her own rules, and she had never wanted to experience that again. Especially around her Chaos. When you break your rules, you risk everything being taken away from you.
ofmvoonlight:
Listening to Sam talk about his job, Zelda smiled to herself. Sometimes they didn’t know how to cope with the fact that here in Sallow they were surrounded with people that cared for her and loved her. Back home in Hyrule she had to take care of herself, protect herself and be there for herself. That was until they met Link and everything just changed for the better.
This town had not only given her a sense of belonging but also given her the greatest gift of all; Link. Being able to be with him and actually be his was everything to Zelda. It had been a dream for so many years but now it was reality. Now they could kiss his lips and hold his hand, tell him that she loved him and sleep in his arms.
They were finally content. “Well I am happy that you have someone at work willing to help you. You deserve a helping hand”
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As Sam continued his work with the vegetables, he nodded a soft smile to them. Maybe it wasn’t perfectly ideal to be in this town alone, but he was making do. The Shire would always be his true home, but Sallow Hills would do. He would make it so.
“Thank you Zelda,” he hummed, careful not to catch his fingers under the knife. “It's nice to have some more time to myself, even if there's nobody to share it with.” He said it, still with a little smile on his face, but it did make his chest ache a little to know there was no Frodo or Rosie here to share his time with. He missed them greatly, though he talked about them little. It hurt too much to stir up those feelings.
Changing the subject, he went on, “You know, I remembered something last night that I hadn't been able to the day before.”
Send me "🎵" and I'll give you a song that reminds me of our muses!
If you can't see the emoji, send "MUSIC"!
picturedspells:
· · ┈─────── ⋆៹ ✩۪۟۟≭ ───────┈ · ·
Dorcas listened with rapt interest. She knew all about the Shire from reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but this was different, hearing about it from one of the characters, one of the people who lived there. It was all so fascinating, the way this town brought together people from different worlds… and absolutely thrilling to learn that there was a universe where The Lord of the Rings was a true story. She wondered briefly how many other fictional works were based on the fact of another land, or how the stories of one world wound up in another… It was absolutely thrilling.
Dorcas shook her head at this question. “Nope,” she said cheerfully. “I’m from another place too. And time! Muggles- er, nonmagical humans exist where I’m from too, but since there are so many different sorts of magic here, and because the wizarding community I’m from certainly would have known about Sallow Hills if it existed there, I’m fairly certain I’m from a different universe.”
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Intrigued by her story, Sam listened intently to what Dorcas had to say. He wasn’t used to the idea of it being normal for a large number of people to be able to use magic. Where he came from that was reserved particularly for wizards, not even the fair elves were able to use it.
Even after a few months in Sallow Hills, he didn’t fully understand the concept of ‘universes’. Most of the time he just nodded along instead of asking more questions, which was usually the best route to go as it seemed there were many people who shared his confusion on the matter.
“Is it very different from this one? Other than the wizards and moogles?” he asked, shifting to rest his open, thorn laden, palm on his lap.
⌘Midna & Merlin⌘
for the one and only @wickedpotions
Midna was restless. She was spending more time taking walks these days. They helped to clear her head in a way that nothing else she had found here could. Everything was so messy now.
After the initial elation to be reunited with Link came the explanation of where she was (and where she couldn’t return). She was unsure of how that made her feel— yes, she loved her realm and her people, but it was exhausting work to support them. Midna thought of them often on her walks, which were often at night.
She rarely came across others, especially the later the hours became, and the deeper in the forest she ventured. Of course, she had been warned of the dangers that could be waiting for her there, but Midna didn’t mind it. The bit of adrenaline kept things exciting. In the few weeks since she had arrived, her path had crossed with only one other person in the wood. The vague possibility of meeting another felt like just that— a vague possibility.
Midna should have known better than to expect things to stay that way.
As she strolled down the path, head swimming with thoughts of her beloved Twili and her far away home, her feet made no sound as they trampled the debris of the forest floor. Her attention was caught by a wisp of red fur a few meters off— a fox. She smiled slightly as she watched it paw at something hidden by the shrubbery, though her face scrunched when it heard something and bolted in the opposite direction. Midna turned to come face to face with a man she hadn't seen before. Placing a hand on her chest, she gasped softly, “Goddesses you scared me. Don’t you know its rude to sneak up on people like that?”
endlxssnights:
If Link told himself that the cold was normal, he was back on Snowpeak, he found it bearable. Pretending to be back at home was the one thing that calmed him now. After Zelda was attacked by that monster, he no longer felt safe in this world. Link had failed the goddesses. When it had mattered, he wasn’t there to protect her. Hyrule was fraught with danger, world ending scenarios were nothing but common. But it was home. It was predictable. Link had never failed, because he had never grown complacent.
He couldn’t hate this place, only the way it had made him. Even as a child he retained a sense of awareness. Who could have figured that a town full of monsters, ones even living alongside humans, would be what made Link grow soft of all things.
Some Hero he was.
Hatred of this town ran deep within him, to the point where it took Link longer than usual to turn towards the person shouting. Not by much, of course. Helpful instincts died hard, apparently. The moment he turned, he had an armful of ginger. His hands closed of their own accord around her. He would go with it. Until-
I told you I’d see you again.
No.
The mirror had been destroyed, he had watched it with his own two eyes. Even if she had managed to travel over to this world, wouldn’t it be part of the Twilight Realm?
“Midna.”
This was a dream. It was a dream that Link never wanted to wake up from. Then Midna was saying something so ridiculously Midna it couldn’t be anything but. He laughed, only to keep himself from crying.
‘That’s because I have a job. Like a normal person.’ The Hylian signs, ones he hadn’t used in years, came back to him slowly. Link still wasn’t sure if he was using the ones from the right time period, but she would know. ‘You should try it sometime. It’s nice.’
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Had he not needed his hands for a sorry attempt at Hylian signing, Midna wouldn't have let go. The way he said her name made her heart leap, having wished to hear him call to her for over five years now.
She had selfishly wanted him back from the moment they parted. Though she knew it was the right choice to shatter the mirror, it didn’t mean it was the easy one.
Midna was laughing with him— the light, taunting giggle that seemed only reserved for when she was taking the piss out of Link. “First of all, your grammar is awful. Second, I’ll have you know that I do have a job, thank you very much. Have you forgotten about the whole princess business, or do I slip your mind too easily after a few years?”
A cold hand moved to hold his face, she took a moment to look him over. He was so familiar, yet… it didn’t take a genius to see the exhaustion etched into his face.
Something was slightly off between them, but she couldn’t tell exactly what it was. Her heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest, so she did the only sensible thing, and hugged him again in an attempt to ground herself in the moment. Her lip quivered as her chin settled on his shoulder, and Midna bit down on it to stop herself from crying. She was with Link. She had never thought she would see him again despite what she had assured him before she went.
“Link?” she asked after a moment. “We aren’t in Hyrule, no?”
picturedspells:
✧･ﾟ CATRA && MIDNA
· · ┈─────── ⋆៹ ✩۪۟۟≭ ───────┈ · ·
Catra stared at Midna with no hint of friendliness in xir eyes, but after her explanation, xe decided it might be best to be a little less hostile.
“Oh,” xe said. “Well, okay. That makes sense I guess.”
Xe were silent for a moment before speaking again.
“I’m Catra. I only got here a couple of days ago,” xe said. “They all said I couldn’t leave, but… I had to try. I had to try to get back to her.”
Catra looked at her, watching for her reaction, and also not elaborating on who the “her” was that xe mentioned.
“What were you doing out in the woods anyways? Everyone in town says it’s dangerous. Not that I’m scared. I just know most people like to avoid dangerous things.”
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Midna looked at xem, perplexed for a moment, and just where most people would have asked about the person xe was trying to return to, the redhead tilted her head to the side, “Catra? That's a strange name. You aren’t from this world then, are you?” There was a weird air to the woman. She spoke with a formality, yet her body and actions were relaxed-- bordering on overly so. She quickly followed up with a reassurance, not wanting to completely scare the stranger off. “I’m not either.”
She shrugged at the question, not knowing the answer for herself. Midna was a “night owl” as they called it around here. She felt more at home in the dark, though she wasn’t as homesick these days.
“I’ve faced much scarier things than live in this forest. I’m wary, of course. I’m not dumb enough to think myself invincible, but I enjoy exploring by the light of the moon,” a light smile tugged at her lips, and she pointed up at it. “Its pretty tonight, no?”
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ ┊ ┊ ┊ DEAN && YENNEFER
✧･ﾟ
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊
DEAN WAS PROUD OF HIS OWN WAND. he’d spent weeks working on the carvings, perhaps even more time scouring ollivander’s resources for the perfect core that called to him and the wood that felt best in his skin. It’d been the first wand he’d been allowed to make on his own, Ollivander claiming that once you’d made one for yourself, every other wand would be easier as it was just seeing which woods and cores felt like they matched. ❝ Thank you. I had my first wand taken from me during the war, and I had stolen a back-up but those never work the same. I was a wandmaker’s apprentice after the war, so I got to make it myself. ❞ It was one of the few things after the war that he was proud of.
HE TOOK HIS WAND BACK, CAREFULLY SLIPPING IT INTO THE HARNESS HE HAD AT HIS SIDE. he liked that he could have it more exposed in sallow hills, tucked carefully at his hip where he could reach it at convenience. ❝ I suspect that there’s similar magic in my home, though wizards just aren’t tuned into it. There’s loads of other magical beings who can do a bunch of stuff we can’t, and it’s probably tied to a magic we can’t control. If you’re interested in that kinda stuff, one of my old professors would be the guy to talk to. I mean, it’s kinda complicated cuz he’s not old here, but Remus Lupin. He’s the guy to talk to. ❞
IT WAS INTERESTING. it wasn’t something dean would want to dedicate a lot of time to studying, but it was interesting how different magic was from person to person. He wondered even in his own world if magic felt different between people. He’d have to ask Harry and Seamus.
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Yennefer knew war. She had been in several over the years, and had recently... well... she didn’t want to think about that. They had all come out of it alive, and that's what mattered. Either way, she had some concept of what the boy had been through, even if she wasn’t familiar with the war of his world. “Your time and dedication shows. You’ve impressed me, wandmaker, not an easy thing to do.”
Where she came from, magic was a force to be harnessed; the one casting could attempt to do such a thing in whatever manner suited them best. It could do nearly anything, for a price. Everything had its price.
“Well, if I ever need to discuss the magic of an adjacent sphere with someone, I’ll be sure to give him a call,” she said, knowing that there was little motivation for her to do such a thing. After a brief pause, Yennefer asked what she almost didn't, “You don’t make them anymore? The wands.”
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ ┊ ┊ ┊ ZSASZ && YENNEFER
✧･ﾟ
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊
SHE WAS A CHESS PLAYER THEN, OR WHATEVER THEY LIKED TO THINK OF THEMSELVES. someone like falcone or oswald, who knew how to play everyone in power. Zsasz had never taken an interest in that part of the business - better to let those who did it better than him take charge of that. But he admired the hell out of it. He wouldn’t have been so loyal to the people he had been if he didn’t admire it. ❝ I can see how it’d get boring. It was never my forte. I’d much rather scare people into what I need than play with all the pieces. That’s for my bosses to deal with. ❞
HE WAS A SIMPLE GUY AT THE END OF IT. sure, he could push to be more, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to kill and scare people, then go home to have dinner with Oswald or his family. He didn’t need to be the most powerful man in the room - that just meant more people would try to kill him.
HE GRINNED AT HER COMPLIMENT, eyes casting around the shop he’d grown to be proud of. ❝ Glad that you find it comforting. I’ve worked hard on it - well since I took it over. ❞ Some change in merchandising, getting rid of the taxidermy (though he’d kept a pair of antlers, and spray painted them silver). The sleeker wood flooring and glass cases.
HE TOOK HER HAND, SHAKING IT. ❝ victor zsasz, though only a handful of people are allowed to call me victor. ❞ Oswald, Falcone, the Zsaszettes. ❝ It’s nice to meet someone of a like mind to me. I was worried this town was only going to be filled with good-doers. It gets quite boring that way. ❞
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
By the gods, she had hated her old jobs. They were born out of necessity, as its simply what most mages did. When she realized the freedom she could have if she left, Yennefer had immediately taken it. Ever since then, she had worked for herself. She understood his methods; they were similar to her own and many of the other sorceresses she knew.
Yennefer took another quick look around the shop as well, smiling at him as she shook his hand. “Well, your hard work shows, Victor Zsasz, or whatever it is you would like me to call you. And I mean that sincerely. Its nice to meet you.” When she retracted her hand, she moved to undo the belt keeping her coat together. The shop had finally warmed her up well enough that she was beginning to feel hot. The glimpse of her clothing beneath reflected the person that he had been speaking to perfectly: high quality, tailored, classical fashion with a hint of something otherworldly.
“I agree with you there. Some of these people are painful to be around. Makes my head ache just thinking about it,” she rolled her eyes, honest yet playful, “I don’t think anything can be very fun when its black and white. The good drama comes from the outside and in-between.”
Yennefer was all for a good show-- the thrill of the chase, the adrenaline rush of a fight, the forged and broken bonds between it all. As long as Ciri was safe, she didn’t have any problem watching trouble get cooked up. Not any problem at all.
ofmvoonlight:
“Yeah I am just gonna try and be as patient as I possibly can. I don’t want to stress Link too much. Also having some time off work isn’t all that bad. Don’t get me wrong. I love being a model. It’s a dream come true. But sometimes it can tend to get a little hectic and those are the moments I don’t miss. Being able to just sit down and catch my breath is quite the relief. It’s gonna give me new energy to get back into the swing of things"
It had also helped with her sleeping schedule. "So the kitchen is all yours” gesturing towards the counter, the princess then moved to sit down, letting out a sigh when she did. “Have I ever asked you about your life here in Sallow?”
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
The thing Sam had always liked about kitchens was they were widely the same no matter where you went. Yes— the addition of electricity to kitchens on Earth was a bit confusing at first, but he soon realised all of the fixtures were the same at their core. Nothing could stand between a Hobbit and his meal, not even an electric hob.
Getting to work, Sam began poking through the fridge after washing his hands. He thought on her words. He had been in Link’s position before: worried about the one he loved getting hurt again, yet wanting the best for them. “It is a good time to get your rest in. Not often you get an excuse to pause your life for a while.”
Eventually, he had gotten a small spread of things out on the counter, and he began chopping. “You did, but I didn’t have much to say at the time. I was newer to town, and didn’t have much going,” he said, fondly recalling their initial accidental meeting. “Well, as you know I own the Nursery, and everything there has been going well. I got an employee to help with everything, and she’s been a miracle. Her name’s Ivy. She doesn't seem to enjoy talking to me much, or anyone for that matter, but I think she’ll come around. Either way she’s quite talented at what she does. I’m glad to have her. It gives me a bit more free time, though to do what, I don't know,” he chucked at that, picking up another potato to dice.
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ ┊ ┊ ┊ IVY && SAMWISE
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊
SAMWISE WAS THE KIND OF GENTLE THAT NEVER WOULD HAVE SURVIVED IN GOTHAM. gotham breaks you of gentleness and innocence, and ivy knew that even if she’d been broken before she stepped foot into the city. It’s why she belonged there, and there were few other human-filled cities that she would be able to call home. Surprisingly, she didn’t mind working for him though. He handled customers well, and Ivy was allowed to just be with the plants. It had surprised her how much she cared not just about this shop, but about him.
NOT THAT SHE ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT A PERSON THAT WASN’T SELINA OR HARLEY. no, never. He was just more tolerable, that was all. She stepped away from the plant she was misting, giving him a nod. ❝ I don’t mind staying if you need help with a project. I think you and I both know that my skill with plants is unmatched. ❞ Though Sam came close, which was probably why she enjoyed him. He cared about the life in the shop, and the plants liked him back. Some of them whispered about him with such lovestruck-ness it made Ivy pinch them as she walked by.
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Running a business was much like tending to a plant. You had to keep it in the right location so that it would flourish, get rid of the dead weight so that the lively parts could survive, and tend to it often, regularly, in the same neat little pattern. Looking back, Sam thought it was why he was so good at it when he had first started. Plants, business, it was stable, and he needed stable. He had gone on his quest with the Ring, but that was out of necessity, not want. Sallow Hills may not be exactly where he wanted to be, but it allowed him to have most of what he wanted, so he could live with it for the time being.
“It is help with a project, I’m needing,” he gave a smile and a nod. He was very appreciative of her skills. Especially in a job like this where he would have to work with things from other worlds entirely, and blindly hope he would get the science right. “I’ve been trying to get these flowers to blossom for a few weeks now, but no matter what I adjust they keep dying off. They aren’t from Earth, so I don’t know what the solution would be. Figured another set of eyes might do some good— if’n you’re willing to look.”
picturedspells:
✧･ﾟ CATRA && MIDNA
· · ┈─────── ⋆៹ ✩۪۟۟≭ ───────┈ · ·
Catra was so shocked by the woman approaching xem that xir mouth gaped open, staring. The bright orange hair and the height on her was rather alarming, especially since Catra had thought xe were alone.
And then she sat down next to xem. Catra scooted away a little, not wanting to be so close. Xe stared at her, words failing xem. Catra wasn’t fond of the forced familiarity. If xe had been thinking straight, xe might have recognized the stranger as a kindred spirit—after all, this person had been just as desperate to leave as xe were.
Catra stared harshly at her, not answering any of her questions.
“Who are you and why were you watching me?” xe finally spoke, xir voice coming out harsh. “Don’t you know spying on somebody while they’re having a breakdown is a breath of privacy?”
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Midna had never been the best at words of comfort. She hadn’t had many friends growing up (mostly due to her royal status, and partly due to her lack of caring), so she didn’t have too much practice. Fiddling with the charm on one of her bracelets, Midna shrugged.
“I’m Midna,” she stated simply. “And I wasn't intending to watch you, silly, I was making my way about the forest when I heard you, and came to see what was wrong. I haven’t met someone else out here before.” Her explanation was genuine. She didn’t have much use for stalking people around the woods, especially those she had never met before.
After a moment, she continued as she smoothed down the fabric of her skirt, “I wasn't thinking how weird it is to see someone like me just melt out of the shadows and interrupt you like that. I only wanted to help, but it seems my actions were misplaced. I can leave if that would please you.”
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ ┊ ┊ ┊ ZSASZ && YENNEFER
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊
ZSASZ PULLED ANOTHER GUMMY BEAR FROM HIS BAG, only for it to disappear from his hands. He knew he’d been holding it and it wasn’t like it’d fallen. He had a better grip on things than that. No - the bear appeared in her hands. Without crossing the room, without breaking a sweat, she’d managed to take what was his. It was fascinating, though it unsettled him in part too. Would she try to steal from him? It would be a frightfully dumb move if she did, as magic or not he would hunt her down. Kai would hunt her down as well, and he was actually magic. A quick glance over at the dragon told Zsasz that he was eyeing them both, though he stayed curled up as though it wasn’t a big deal. He’d learned from his father well, after all.
HE WAS MORE CURIOUS THAN WORRIED, THOUGH. he ran with people who could take him apart if they tried, but they never did because he often showed them interest and people tended to like that. They liked being the center of attention, whether that attention be loud or quiet. He couldn’t help but laugh at her statement. ❝ I like you. You’re right about politicians. They’re all corrupt and easy to mold. You just gotta figure out what they want. ❞
HIS GRIN HAD ALWAYS BEEN SHARK-LIKE. it’s the word yules used for it, and he felt like it fit well. Zsasz the Shark. He gave that grin now, all teeth and cold eyes. ❝ I take it it doesn’t worry you if I am. Most people would be slowly backing towards the door. Or pulling a weapon on me. ❞ He crossed his legs, leaning back against the wall behind him. ❝ I am, though not to everyone. Villain seems like such a black and white kinda word. I go against general society’s morals, for the most part, but I protect people too. ❞ Falcone, Oswald, his Zsaszettes.
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Yennefer gave a modest smile and a little shrug that said she knew as much about each of his statements already. She could be quite likable when she wanted to be (which wasn't all that often), and she knew exactly what made a king or a duke or any of those others tick. A large majority of the time all she had to do was primp their ego a little and bring up whatever woman they had inappropriately frolicked with, and she would be set. “I know I’m right. It was my job for a few years. It's quite easy to make them all think what I want is what they want, but I got bored of such drivel after a while.”
Looking him over, she shook her head while exhaling a laugh. Despite the intensity to his smile, his gaze, it was nothing she could be afraid of. She had battled alongside witchers on any number of different potions which left their eyes and faces haunting or sickening or otherwise intimidating to gaze upon.
“No, it doesn’t worry me. It may come as a surprise, but I haven't felt intimidated at all in this shop of yours. Quite the opposite, actually. Strangely, it reminds me of a place I’d find back home.” Yennefer made no movements, save to shift the weight on her feet and idly fiddle with the charm on her choker to ensure the clasp was still in the back. “Despite the colour scheme of my wardrobe, my thoughts are not black and white. I understand what you mean. I think I’ve been cast as a villain in peoples’ eyes more than once, and maybe I would be more permanently labeled that if it were not for the people I remain close to.” Yennefer was quite sure that she would be a vastly different person if not for Geralt’s presence in her life, and Ciri went to further mellow out the cruelty that used to run in her veins.
“I think we have much more in common than I initially thought, you and I,” she remarked after a pause. She extended a hand in the space between them. “Yennefer of Vengerberg-- or Wilczynski, as I’m known here.”
redainianbard:
“Earth isn’t so different from the continent. Sure there are new kingdoms to learn about including this ‘Wales’ that we live in, although why anyone would name their kingdom after a large sea animal I don’t know” Jaskier smiled softly he didn’t know how to respond about Geralt, finding out that he was forgotten burned to the bard’s core, It killed him on the inside.
“Not solely yours, no.” Jaskier dipped his head
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Yennefer chuckled, having to steady her drink to stop it from spilling. It was one of the first actual laughs she had in a few weeks now. Jaskier had a penchant for making the smallest remarks the funniest (and the alcohol helped a little, too). Shaking her head, a little smile still on her mouth, she sighed.
“Well, damn him! He’s done nothing but cause us strife since his stupid white-haired head popped back up. I say we try and make some happiness of our own. No witchers necessary.” It was a nice sentiment, and one Yennefer would love to hold onto, but when the alcohol cleared from her mind she would know that simply couldn’t work. But just for the night, she would hold onto it. She held her drink out to toast with him on it.
“Say what you will about this sphere-- their liquor far surpasses most of the grog you find on The Continent. I’ll give them that much,” Yennefer said before she took a sip of her fruity cocktail.
wickedpotions:
✧･ﾟ ┊ ┊ ┊ DEAN && YENNEFER
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊
DEAN TOOK A MOMENT TO PONDER HER WORDS. he hadn’t done much research into the magic of his own world, if he was being honest. The magic at Hogwarts had been a lot to begin with. But when he started this project, he’d sought out Professor Lupin who’d shared so many ideas of the magic in their own world, let alone the magic of this new world. Still, the idea of someone being magic was a lot to think about.
❝ BACK AT HOME, IT WAS RARE TO SEE A WIZARD NOT USING A WAND. it channels the magic we have in us, giving us more focus and direction. But, at the same time, if I traveled to a different area of the world, it would be different. But the way I learned magic was to channel it through something. ❞ He hesitated for a moment before pulling out his own wand. It was his second personal wand, technically, as his first had been destroyed by the Malfoys. This was the one he’d made with Ollivander, putting his own sweat and magic into it. Tight engravings covered it from handle to tip, though the shape of it was simple enough. ❝ I made this one myself a few years back, when my first wand was destroyed. ❞
HE HELD IT OUT SO SHE COULD SEE IT, if she so wished to. ❝ What kind of magic do you use, if you don’t mind me asking. ❞
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Setting the small trinket she had in hand back into place on the shelf, Yennefer closed the distance between them. His explanation made a great deal of sense as it was similar to why someone in her practice would need one. She vaguely recalled Tissaia’s lesson on wandwork and channeling from her days studying in Aretuza, but that was so long ago any of the details had left her mind. She studied the wand with great curiosity. Finally, she held her hand out to take it, “You made this yourself? It's beautifully done.”
Turning the wand over in her hands, Yennefer examined each part of it in turn. The mage felt the slightest bit of magic humming around it, but not much else. She had discounted his skill upon his first entrance, but she could tell it was impressive even if she didn’t know much about the craft. Her appreciation would only grow when she considered how young he must be. After a moment, she held it back to him.
“My magic is Chaos,” she began. “It's everywhere. It runs beneath the ground like water. Where I come from, all you need do is tap the spring and focus it to your will. You may understand it as the law of entropy. I create order from the disorder, but as the universe’s natural state is disorder, I must be careful to not allow it to pull me back.”
simcnsncwsalisbury:
He’s disappointed in her response because he’d really love to know what it is about this place that keeps calling him. Maybe it’s the magick and since a part of him still aches for what once was, this shop’s own power keeps pulling him in. Although, he could consider it a relief that they don’t know each other. That’s one less person he has to apologize to for forgetting them. One less person he has unintentionally hurt.
❝ Okay. Well that’s a good thing, I guess. Thank you. I’m Simon. It’s nice to meet you. ❞ He glances over at the shelf he knocked into and makes his way over to pick up the items he’d accidentally tipped over. It isn’t many of them but Simon takes his time putting each one in it’s place. He doesn’t want to leave just yet. This place feels familiar and Simon wants to keep digging for more clues.
He also doesn’t want to leave yet because he’s a bit enthralled by the retailer. Not in a way that he’s being unfaithful to his partner, of course not. Not ever. There’s only one soul in the universe for him- but he’s also not blind.
She’s beautiful. Completely beautiful all around but it’s her eyes that captivate him the most. Simon’s never seen someone with one’s like hers. Out of all the creatures and people he’s come across, none of them had had violet eyes. Not that he remembers anyway, and he would have recalled seeing eyes like hers. Simon tries to swallow the question he so badly wanted to ask upon first seeing her, but curiosity gets the best of him this time around. He finishes up with the trinkets and faces her again.
❝ Did you make your eyes that color? Are they magickal? ❞
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
There was nothing subtle about Yennefer of Vengerberg. A very long time ago, near a century now, she had been the opposite. She used to shrink back into the shadows until she was barely perceptible. Though all of that changed when she gained more confidence in herself (and had a touch of cosmetic work done). There were few people like her on The Continent, and even fewer in Sallow Hills. She always wore a choker with a black obsidian star on it, and her hair was nearly always tumbling down in perfect curls. Her wardrobe was stunning, with every piece suiting her style and body perfectly. Almost everything she wore was black or white, and there was only the occasional pop of colour. Her skill with makeup was equal to that of her skill with clothing, and at this point it was unclear if the precision came from magic or decades of practice.
In the same way her clothes accentuated her body, her makeup did the same to her face. She supposed that was why people often complimented her eyes-- they popped in contrast to the neutral colours otherwise on her face. She didn’t know that purple eyes didn’t exist on this sphere, for that would have been the true answer to her curiosity.
“It’s not a problem. Pleasure to meet you Simon. I’m Yennefer.” She was slightly astounded when he turned to fix the items on the shelf. Most people who made a mess never thought to stay and fix it. The mage stared at him as he did, trying to paint herself a picture of the person before her with every detail available. She was about to ask him if there was anything else she could help him with when he spoke first.
Yennefer gave a small laugh at the question. She could respect the blunt nature of his asking. “No, no I was born with them. I’m not sure what genetic factor gave me them, but from my research, they have to do with my father’s bloodline. He was a half-elf. They aren’t magical, either. They work the same yours do. I have been told they’re hypnotic, but I think the man who said it was just trying to get a free favor from me.”
⌘Midna & Link⌘
for the loveliest @shallowmagics
The sun was going down when she arrived. The long shadows cast by the waning light enveloped her in a sort of embrace that you cannot comprehend unless you’ve been a creature of Twilight. The woman– pretty, willowy, regal– swiveled her head around, looking for someone, anyone, to ask questions; for she did not know where she was, nor how she had arrived there. She had simply woken up beneath a tree, and started to walk. She was heading away from the sun, for even in an uncursed form, the brightness of it was uncomfortable.
Finally, a light in the distance gave her a direction to head. By the look of the few buildings there, this was human territory. Farmland most likely… yet there was a strangeness to the air. Midna used to be able to taste the magic in the air of Hyrule, but that wasn’t present here. Maybe this was another place entirely. The idea made her slightly nervous, fiddling with the end of the patterned veil that restrained her fiery hair from her face.
The air was cool, getting colder by the minute. It was starting to get to her, as her skirt was long, thin material with a slit up the side and her top was cropped with a little decorative shawl draped over her shoulders. An outfit which was clearly not meant for an evening in Wales, even for someone with a high tolerance to the cold. She was thinking of teleporting when a figure caught her eye a bit further down the path.
“Hey! Hello! Hey! Could you hang on a minute?” she called, extending a hand upward in a wave. Midna quickened her pace to catch up to him. “This is going to sound crazy, but I have no idea where I am, and I was wondering if you could tell me–” Her voice got lost in her throat when she saw who it was. Her beastie, her hero, her best friend, the one person she had wanted to see for years, but couldn’t reach. Grinning, she picked up the pace until there was no distance left between them. “Link!? Is that you? Oh this is perfect! I told you I’d see you again!” she giggled, before tossing her arms around him, though she quickly pulled away. “You smell like shit.”
picturedspells:
✧･ﾟ CATRA && OPEN
Catra had been in this godforsaken place for four days. It was all new and strange and awful, so so awful. Not that people acted awful. In fact, everyone xe had met so far had been way too nice. Infuriatingly nice, explaining to xem that this happened all the time, that people had a habit of appearing here out of nowhere, that it would all be fine, that xe would get used to it, make friends, and be happy. Xe’d been showed to an all too charming bed and breakfast, and a weird lady had tried to interview them.
Catra wasn’t interested in being happy or making friends or being interviewed by the strange woman with intrusive questions. All Catra was interested in was going home. But there was this barrier, keeping anyone from leaving. At least, that’s what they told xem. But Catra needed to see this barrier for xemself, needed to try, needed to beat xir fists against it.
So Catra went to the outskirts of town, to the barrier in the forest, against everybody’s advice. It was past sunset, and xe had been warned there were dangerous creatures lurking about and the barrier would make xem sick, but Catra could care less. Xe had to go.
Catra ventured through the trees, moonlight lighting xir way and shadows jumping out and startling them. Xe were starting to feel sick, which told xem that xe were close. And then suddenly, Catra couldn’t walk any further. Forest extended in front of xem, but they could go no further. Catra reached up xir hand and pushed. Pushed. Pushed. It was solid. Xe pushed harder, with xir entire body. Nothing. Tears and frustration welled up within xem, and soon xe were beating xir fists against it, kicking, screaming, willing to get through to no avail. Eventually xe collapsed against it, sobbing. The townspeople were right. There was no way through, and Catra’s sheer force of will and blunt force had no affect on the impenetrable barrier.
Xe sat like that for awhile, ignoring the sick feeling in xir stomach, staring off into the distance, watching the trees sway in the wind. And then Catra went completely still. Footsteps. Crinkling of leaves. Xe weren’t alone.
⊱ ──────────── {⋆⌘⋆} ──────────── ⊰
Midna had been watching.
That made her sound creepy. She wasn’t trying to be creepy, but it kind of came with the territory when you were at home in the shadows. In an attempt to familiarize herself with the new town she found herself in, Midna often went exploring. Her people, the Twili, lived in darkness, making Midna nearly nocturnal by an average person’s standards. Though she had been warned of the dangers the forest held, she went in alone anyway. Her thinking was if things got too hairy, she could simply teleport herself back to the safety of town.
She didn't know why she stayed when the stranger started having a meltdown at the barrier. Maybe it was the pure defeat of it all, or maybe it was the threat of danger from within the trees, but something about xir heartache held Midna there. Finally, she decided to slide out from the shadows, and touch her feet back to solid ground again. Midna approached quietly, but knew her footsteps on the debris of the forest floor would give her position away soon enough.
“I tried that too,” she said softly, voice breaking the silence of the forest as she came into view. Midna was quite out of place in the woods. Her hair was bright orange, and she was extraordinarily tall. “My second night here I tried to make a run for it. I tried everything, but… not even magic can get you through the barrier… I’m sorry.” When Midna reached xem, she sat down at xir side. “You miss somebody? Or Something? Is that it?”
