TATI GABRIELLE Ph. Tatijana Shoan For AS IF Digital Cover (April 2023)

"Aurora, my dearest friend. I would find you in the middle of a forest fire without aid," Robin drawls dramatically as she steps past another ice barrier, raising a hand to her chest to add to add to her dramatics. "Of course, the ice show did help, but truly, you are far too bright to be hidden regardless."

She nods at her logic, flawless as usual, and she is glad to be able to contribute to the conversation with something more than her own guesses.

"I ran into Laer on the way here, he is currently fetching Tamlen. I believe he went on the direction of the Senate's current base, but I do not know if he changed his path," she offers. It is unfortunate that she does not know where Zahrya is, but Aurora is likely right. Zahrya is likely to return to the Forest now that they have separated. That, or to find his demon lover to have him close as they fight. Either way, he will be relatively safe and easy to find. Eyes narrowed, Robin considers their options, only to pause when Aurora speaks once more. "Perhaps, perhaps not. Will that stop you from trying once more?"

This union of their Chancellor magic had been a lot more potent than what had happened at Halloween. But, unlike Halloween, Aurora hadn't need a moment to recuperate. The elf reinforced their borders and fought while her fellows recovered up until that moment, becoming the center of a storm unlike any other that the once winter eladrin had ever conjured. Unforgiving ice and blue fire. Rarely did a soul pass through and, when they did, they were met with blade and shield. But Aurora was one storm in a sea of warriors and still she doubted even a god themself would be able to stop the onslaught of the drow forces. Their enemy had collective strength beyond anything she had ever seen, or anything she had ever seen from the memories of her ancestors.

Huginn hadn't needed to inform Aurora of the Autumn Chancellor's approach - she felt the familiarity and made sure not even a flake of snow touched Robin as she approached. "Hope it wasn't too hard to find me," Aurora joked, though her tone and her expression were as serious as death. She conjured up another wall of ice immediately where one had just fallen to a monstrous beast just a few blocks away. "No. But something tells me Tamlen isn't dead, not by Laer's reaction." Tamlen had certainly changed, changed into something. Plus, Aurora would have expected an ocean by Laer to drown half the city or a sandstorm to blind them all in his rage. "I have a feeling he'd be looking for him now." Aurora felled the monster, the tentacled thing bursting into shatters of crystalline ice. "Zahrya would never go far from the Forest."

There was a moment of hesitation but Aurora couldn't keep the sense of impending doom to herself anymore. "We're not going to be able to hold this city, Robin."

who? @wadecalhoun where? by the dance floor

"Do they teach you how to dance in the fancy farm of yours?" She asks as she slides next to Wade with a chesire grin on her face. Bumping her shoulder good naturedly against the hunter's, she basks on his presence, wondering why does it feel like it's been far too long since the two of them spent time together. "I sure hope so, you won't be impressing anyone if all you know is square dancing."

Tati Gabrielle for Mood Magazine

vincenzodives​:

This second chance at life was not what Vincenzo had wanted. It was honestly the last thing he had thought would happen upon his death. When August had brought him back, he could only wonder why. Why had his friend deemed it necessary to bring him back when he couldn’t even accomplish what he had wanted to do in the first place. The witch had made sure of that when he told him about Vivianne. The oracle that had been his enemy without her even knowing about it. Now she was safe due to her half-brother. What a coincidence he wished was not the case. But it was too late for things to change now. Well, it had been since they were born. It was a sad and annoying coincidence. And August had brought him back because Vinny was his friend. So now what did he do? Well, he was going to stick to letting it go for now. Until he changed his mind, that was.

Robin didn’t know any of that though. It had been a bit of time for them and Vinny couldn’t quite figure out how to explain the situation in a way where it wasn’t as pathetic as it sounded. Thankfully, as her hands rested on his shoulders and her forehead against his, he didn’t have to think about it. For right now at least. One hand lifted to her face just as hers had to his. Then his eyes closed, any shallow breath he had evening out for a moment. “Thank you. You’re…I’m glad you’re here.” He leaned away after the words left his mouth and let out a sigh. “I feel lost. Like I don’t know what to do anymore.”

...

For a moment, her eyes flutter close as she takes in Vinny’s presence. The memories of their first meeting flit through her head as she takes a deep breath to ground herself.The new information had surprised her, shaken her despite her attempts to show otherwise. The sensation of his hand cradling her face is what she needs to fortify her, a moment that reminded her of simpler times, of a time where she had no responsibilities but the ones she gave herself. For a moment, the weight on her shoulders lightens as she basks on his presence, but like everything, that moment soon fades and she opens her eyes as Vinny leans away, hands falling from his shoulders and into the table to cradle her gelato basket.

“Now that I am aware of your stay in Rome, I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” she admits. She will help him, despite being already overwhelmed by the work on her courts. There is just too much history between the two of them and she cares for him too greatly not to help.  Perhaps it’s been years since they last met, but that does not diminish the care, not when that time had been a blink for her, not when he is sitting in front of her.  “Unfortunately, I cannot give you the answers you seek, but I can offer my support in whatever you decide. Do you have a place to stay?”

A sense of disgust and self-recrimination settles in the back of her throat every time she thinks of Lain. Their encounter had been inevitable, it had been a reminder. For all the lycan was fun and interesting, he was mortal as they come. Alive one moment, gone the next. A passing fancy that could not grow beyond that for the pure and simple truth of inevitable with death. She knows that it is inevitable that she will mourn him when his time comes, but she cannot love him. Not when his lifetime will be the blink of her eye, and she needs to ensure she is a source of steadiness for her people.

It is this truth that stays her hand, that keeps her from seeking Lain as soon as the war ends. But their encounter is not inevitable, so when her clairvoyance tells her of his attempt to contact her, Robin does nothing but sigh and follow the direction her magic takes her towards. She gets close enough to hear his attempt to manifest her from thin air, and she cannot help the giggle that echoes through the woods as she steps into the clearing that Lain had found himself in. Her brow is raised as she takes in the lycan, but she shows him her hand to show him that she is not going to attack.

"That is one way to summon me, dearest wolf," she mentions, fondness undercut by the quiet apology on her tone. "What would have happened if I had not been on my way to meet?"

For: @thegoodfellow

Where: The Forest, outskirts of Lupercal 

Notes: sorry I tried to kill you, can we still be friends at least? 

He had selfishly avoided this confrontation for weeks.  The elves were a capricious bunch, it was possible that Robin might decide to finish the job her changeling had started the moment she saw his face.  But it was worth a shot.  She deserved closure, as well as an apology for his actions.  As terrible as Lain saw himself, he drew the line at hurting the few people he cared about. Species that lacked the heightened sense of smell that lycans were gifted with could have easily gotten lost in the expanse of the wilderness, but Lain could easily visualize his own scent trail that would lead him back home.  He kept rehearsing what he was going to say to Dawn chancellor when he finally found her, but knew that there was no way he could articulate his feelings as perfectly as it all sounded in his head. “Robin!” The lycan called out, “I just want to talk!” He stopped walking, focusing on listening for the faint indicators of any signs of life that were not his own that the sound of the leaves crunching under his feet obscured. Lain could pick up on the quick thrumming of multiple heartbeats, but all of them sounded far too small to belong to anything humanoid sized.  Likely just a rabbit or a squirrel. Fuck, where was she?

Ambrose and Prudence in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Part 3 Episode 1: The Hellbound Heart

edeliexii​:

            But the specific community she’s discussing are the halfbloods. Granted, most of them probably wouldn’t want nothing to do with her after the transition, however Èdelie still stands proud as formerly being one. She adores their relatively small bond. What she didn’t like while being a halfblood is the constant confusion as to what to do and what not to do, or who she’s allowed to discuss her abilities with. There was no embracement; all that she’s known was self-taught or incorporated after the rarity of meeting one or two halfbloods throughout her lifetime. While thankful an obvious change is occurring, it shouldn’t take now for others to realize the detrimental harm embedded in past mistreatment of halfbloods. “I’m glad you’re able to acknowledge inclusivity is needed. It would’ve meant a lot to me had I still been one of them.” She doesn’t want anyone to think her fight for halfbloods equates to dissatisfaction as a fey, either. Losing former weapons such as sharing the tongue of animals may have been unfortunate, but taking the time to not only relearn that but the realm of feys has been treasurable. Èdelie doesn’t take of this for granted, using her free handle to fiddle with chocolate locks as her chewing slowed. 

                 “I mean, hey,” Èdelie began to advise, serene at this point. “It doesn’t hurt to try. There’ll be no issue if clear communication is put in tact; age doesn’t really affect the matter at hand.” If halfbloods choose not to mingle with feys tonight, needless to say… Èdelie wouldn’t be surprised nor fault them considering the lengthy hassle to gain representation.

...

“Darling, I have a PhD in Governance from an American university. Equity and inclusion might not be a part of the curriculum exactly, but I wasn’t discouraged from taking the classes or doing my own research, I have seen the data.” And what data. The studies had not accounted for supernatural differences, of course, but it was a rather fascinating thought exercise to extrapolate from one to the other. Of course, she couldn’t make a one by one comparison, and there is many psychological differences based around immortality and the like, but there is no denying that diversity of thought lead to innovation. Romulus, the Tinkerer, many others embodied this realization, and supported her conclusions. Now, if only prejudices could be overcome. Sadly pettiness is rather common both amongst her kind and other species. Perhaps something to do with having so much power on their hands. Who knew? “It is kind of you to still think of halfblooded even now, not many else would have done it if they were in your place.”

“And try I will to talk to the halfblooded, I can promise that much,” she finally relents with a nod. She can do that much, after so many years away from the walls of Rome. “And to talk to those who are older, and yet, I cannot quite agree with you. Many of the older generation are rather adamantly against mortals and halfblooded alike.”

sanctimoniovs​:

-

Burak recognized her almost immediately. The Eladrin that has continued to get in his way in his search for the Eye. Time and time again, they ended up at the same point of where they’d been tipped off too. In part, he knew that it wasn’t her fault nor her doing that prevented him from the knowledge that he sought, but he would still blame her, anyway. For who else could his blame lie with? Yet — he was favorable for the help she lent, as terrors and creatures alike were decimated under her power. “Fine, but don’t even think about getting in my way,” he shot back, the axe he’d brought to accompany his costume already covered in the blood of their enemies. 

...

“I would be getting on your way?” The look she sends him is incredulous as she allows the wall of flame to drop just as she jumps forward, sword sweeping in an arc to take a couple of terror’s heads in the process. Perhaps she can understand the lycan’s annoyance, as the two of them have been finding themselves following the same leads regarding the Eye and losing important preys due to their coincidental meetings, and yet, she cannot be annoyed. Not when she is amused and mildly endeared instead. It is always good to have more people bend on the Eye’s destruction as she is, even if said people are arrogant as him. “Really?”

Tati Gabrielle