If you've seen any of my older posts, you may have already been introduced to this world's version of the Hollow Knight. It's been a minute though, so why don't we get reacquainted with them!
Worthwhile, otherwise known as Worthy, is first born of the vessel army and serves as their commander. Worthy is skilled, confident, and fiercely determined to shape themself and their siblings into perfect warriors.
They're known for being a bit of a stick in the mud(or as their siblings affectionately put it, a hardass), even amongst palace staff. When not barking at other vessels to shape up or dragging them into duels, Worthy can be found... In the training grounds. They'll skip meals, stay up late, forgo any and all down time in service of further honing their fighting prowess. What do such comforts matter when the entire kingdom is at stake?
Most of the vessels would say their relationship with Worthy is, strained. They're cold, distant, aggressive, and not to mention, subject of some very blatant favoritism within the family. Worthy would rather they view them this way than know the truth; That they are horribly, terribly afraid of failing at their singular purpose. Even if it means countless late nights. Even if it means their family hates them for their endless scolding.
They will save their kingdom, and they will save their family.
Fandom : Avatar the Last Airbender (ATLA)
Pairing : Zuko x Fem. OC
Tag : Romance, 10 years after war, Emotional Anchor, Angst, Fluff, Eventual Smut, Fire Nation Politics, Team Avatar conflicts
Summary :
[The war ended years ago, but the Fire Nation is still learning how to live without it. As Fire Lord, Zuko carries the burden of rebuilding a fractured nation while trying not to become the man his father once was. Between political unrest, noble resistance, and the ghosts lingering within the royal palace, peace feels far more fragile than victory ever did. A story about healing after war, finding family, learning forgiveness, and choosing love even when it hurts.]
*I tagged all who followed my blog. Message to remove or add tag
Prefer to read on AO3?
AO3 : Worthwhile by Allhaillordzuko [https://archiveofourown.org/works/85120016/chapters/224760116]
A/N : The story is the same on both Tumblr and AO3 — the only difference is the chapter division. I made the AO3 chapters longer, so some chapters that are split on Tumblr are combined into a single chapter on AO3.
chapters: [ one ] [ two ] [ three ] [ four ]
status: ongoing
words: 19,236
relationship: Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard
banner by yukaruuyuh
“Why did you go to all the effort of bringing me here if you didn’t want to use me?” Neil asked, quietly.
“An alliance with the largest crime organization on the eastern seaboard was enticing.” Andrew paused, as if weighing his options, then spoke, “And I had the money to help someone out of a bad situation.”
Neil Wesninski is married off to mob boss Andrew Minyard. Follow Neil as he tries to navigate what his new life in California will entail.
addition tags: Alternate Universe - Arranged Marriage ; Alternate Universe - Mob ; Organized Crime ; Crime Boss Andrew Minyard ; Canon-Typical Abuse ; Autistic Neil Josten ; Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Influencer Gilderoy Lockhart tries to salvage his reputation by hosting his flatmates in a haunted house livestream.
Notes: (This one is combined with Day 19, Roommates AU, for AUpril, from @monthlywritingchallenges)
Gilderoy had lost two sponsors, fifteen thousand subscribers, and one carefully constructed haunting in the span of a week.
This stream would repair his reputation.
Provided his flatmates cooperated.
The takeaway had gone cold before Gilderoy reached his point.
Well, only his takeaway.
Greta and Quirinus ate while he talked.
“Rent will be tight this month,” Gilderoy said. “But I’ll split the earnings with you both if you cover this haunted house with me.”
“I don’t believe in haunted houses,” Quirinus said, taking noodles from the container he and Greta shared.
Gilderoy blinked. “You don’t need to believe in it, Quirinus. You only have to go,” he said. “It’s fake.”
“Isn’t that what got you in trouble last time, though?” Greta asked. “Faking it.”
“Unbelievable. You’re such a naysayer.” Gilderoy stared across the coffee table at them, perched on their stacked cushions. He sighed. “There’s nothing staged in this one.”
“I’m not a naysayer,” Greta returned. “I’m going to say ‘yea’. Seems fun to me. And it’s better than serving coffee drinks to uni students.”
“Yes!” Gilderoy beamed at Greta. “And what about you, Quirinus? Are you coming with?”
Quirinus flicked his light blue eyes between his flatmates, then lifted one shoulder into a noncommittal shrug.
“I suppose. If you give me the address, I’ll research it after my shift tomorrow.”
The matter was settled.
They would go on Saturday night.
The house was smaller than Gilderoy had expected, which was disappointing, but not insurmountable.
The problem was that it didn’t video well at first glance. Or photograph well, either.
The viewers were not happy.
Fraud.
What else can we expect from this prat?
The usual.
“What do you make of this?” he asked Quirinus, tilting the tablet. “All those squidgy lines when I try to film the house?”
“Hmm.” Quirinus ran his hand in front of Gilderoy’s camera, and they both watched the display.
Normal.
Point at the house, interference.
“Greta,” Quirinus called, turning the screen towards her. “What do you reckon? Magnetic interference?”
She shrugged. “Maybe? You always fix these things at home. But it does remind me of when the chip and PIN machine goes on the blink at work.”
Quirinus handed back the tablet.
“Hold on, Chat wants you and Greta both to have head cameras as well,” Gilderoy told him.
“Is that really necessary?” Quirinus was asking.
Too late. Gilderoy was already affixing a camera to his head.
He did the same to Greta, who didn’t protest. In fact, she smiled at Quirinus.
Quirinus answered it with the largest, sunniest smile Gilderoy had ever seen on his face.
“Perfect!” He held up the tablet to show them the camera views of their smiling faces. “You’re very popular. There are twice as many # TeamGreta on here as there are # TeamGilderoy.”
“Chat,” he went on. “Some of you will recall my flatmates. Florist by day, ghost debunker by night, Quirinus Quirrell. And here is barista by day, ghost hunter by night, Greta Linden.”
Gilderoy let them into the house with a key he’d obtained. Costly, but worthwhile if these early numbers were any indicator.
Inside, Quirrell shook out a crude floor plan he’d scratched down on a sheet of paper.
“So the first area of alleged activity is the master bedroom,” he said.
“Fabulous!” Gilderoy said. It even sounded grand, ‘master bedroom’. The viewers would love it.
I’m 30 years old. I work an unfulfilling office job. I watch hours of Drag Race whilst sprawled on the couch very un-ergonomically. I barely exercise. I eat like shit. I doomscroll like everyone else. And I want to be remarkable.
All things considered, I’m pretty unremarkable. And every few months, I find myself contemplating going back to school or getting some kind of certification or developing some sort of new hobby so I can upgrade my life. So I can become something I’m proud of, someone that other people will applaud saying, “Look at her! She’s made it! She is living a worthwhile life!”
Yet, I continue the daily slog. I refrain from stepping out and doing those remarkable things I daydream about. Why? I think it’s because, for all the shit I give myself for not living up to my own expectations, my life is still so obviously something that deserves my tenderness. My attention. I’m not paid for my passions. I don’t do all the things I “should” do. I’m not in the spotlight. But that’s not what life’s about, is it?
If I “hit that Google Earth button” (thanks, RuPaul), I remember that life isn’t about visible accomplishments or external validation. It’s about experiencing the world around me like it’s the first time because it IS the first time for me. And if I can’t stand by myself in this “unremarkable” journey of discovery, how can I hope to stand in solidarity with the people around me who are also just trying to live and survive and find meaning for the first time? If I take a breath and think about it, I don’t want to be above everyone else. I just want to be in it with everyone else. I don’t want to be alone.
I’m reading some of Simone Weil’s letters (in Waiting for God) right now and it’s encouraging to know that someone of her caliber seemed to feel that her greatest accomplishment was obedience to the impulses sent her way. It wasn’t about meeting the requirements of belonging in a group or being seen a certain way by others. Rather, it was just about existing and living in an intellectually honest way, about feeling pain and joy and sadness just like everyone else, with everyone else. This is depressing when I look at life as a competition. It’s freeing when I look at it as a shared experience.
I’m not behind. I’m just exploring and feeling and interacting and thinking. Learning to be thankful for the opportunity to live, remarkably or not. Thank God.
A person was like a city. You couldn't let a few less desirable parts put you off the whole. There may be bits you don't like, a few dodgy side streets and suburbs, but the good stuff makes it worthwhile.
Wow I love this blog, the cute little stories and pictures. It genuinely feels like something good in the world.
Dear @mattstetsmis, Algy and his assistant thank you so much for your lovely message - you have really made Algy's day, and a comment like this makes sharing Algy's quiet wee adventures in the wild west Highlands of Scotland seem worthwhile 😀
Algy sends you a very special fluffy hug from across the great Atlantic Ocean 🤗
