#✘ — i could even learn how to love like you. ( redemption verse. )

[aeliuss]

kiss me or hate me (kiss me)

when god made you, he built you all wrong. sown your heart on three times too large and your lungs three times too small, and you knew it was so because although you knew he was bad news, you couldn’t quite catch your breath around him. he is something holy, you swear he is. when he carves his hips into yours, when his lips linger on the soft flesh of your throat—he could tear you open.

you would let him. let him love you the way a vulture loves a carcass, neck dipped low in worship as it feasts.

your parents hate the way you’ve stopped going to church to be with him. hate that your even with him, but what do they know of love? you try to explain it to them, but the words get tangled in your throat, coming out wrong. they see only rebellion where you see revelation, only sin where you see sanctity.

you spend your nights wrapped in his arms, your days lost in thoughts of him. the world narrows to the beat of his heart against your ear, the whisper of his breath against your skin. his presence is a prayer you never learned, a hymn that rises unbidden in your throat. you abandon the familiar pews and hymns for the unknown verses of his touch, and every kiss is a communion, every whispered word a confession.

you start to think that maybe love is its own kind of faith. you wonder if god made him just for you, a test of your devotion, a challenge to your beliefs. you wonder if redemption could be found in the curve of his smile, if salvation could be written in the lines of his hands.

“I don’t love you,” he is sitting up on the bed, back to you, hips still tangled in the white sheets as he smokes a vape. “you know that, right?”

you know. you tell him so from where you lay on the bed, a foot away from him. naked, if not for the duvet. you swear you can make out a halo from the curls of smoke around his head.

he exhales sharply, shoulders shaking with laughter, twisting to face you. “god, you’re fun.” he murmurs against your lips. “did you know that? how fun you are?”

you don’t answer. don’t get the chance to, because he is pressing against you, and your blur into him once more. you don’t know where he ends and you begin.

“do you believe in redemption?” you ask him one day, your voice barely a whisper.

he snorts, a short, sharp sound that cuts through the silence. “redemption is for people who think they need to be saved,” he says, his fingers tracing patterns on your skin. “do you think you need to be saved?”

“do you?”

“do I look like I need to be saved?” his touch is not unlike a feather against your hip. it makes it difficult to focus. “I don’t know,” you murmur, cupping his jaw. “sometimes, you look very sad.”

you’ve never caught him off guard before. but that night you swore you saw the glitter of tears in his eyes, though you don’t feel them when he buries his head into the crook of your neck.

“maybe we can save each other,” he mumbles after a while.

you hum softly, considering his words, the weight of them sinking into the silence between you. maybe it's true, maybe you can save each other. the idea flickers like a candle in the dark. fragile.

but as the days pass, you realize that love alone cannot mend all wounds, cannot erase all sins. he is still the same flawed, broken boy you fell for, and you are still the same church girl with a heart too big and a faith too fragile. you cannot save him, no matter how desperately you try.

yet you try. because god has sown your heart on three times too big and his three times too small and when you are together, you are clashes of teeth and elbows, of long limbs and wandering fingers, of sanctity and sin.

because he is your religion and you, a dutiful worshipper. because it was always meant to end this way. his teeth on your throat. a vulture feeding on a corpse.

[thepeanutbutterwizard]

Hello hello hello please give me more VT I’m literally starving for it

1, Morro. I wanna know more about what his situation is. You’ve mentioned in a post before about how he takes over Kai instead of Lloyd but something is curious about

Does Kai happen to learn anything about Morro while their sharing a body? I can only imagine so.

But on the topic of things about Morro is how is his upbringing in this au? Is he still taken in by Wu? Perhaps as a newly deemed master somewhere between training with Chen and the venom fully corrupting him, he took in Morro for his first attempt at ruining the prophecy. Only hitches in his plan was A, he wasn’t as well versed in his manipulation as he is now, and B, Morro is a lot more spiteful then Kai.

This would connect Kai and Morro even more so it’s interesting. But obvi if you have a different idea I’m literally always looking for fresh crumbs of brainrot.

And does Morro get some redemption? 👀 if so then that would be freaking awesome to get some wojira duo content maan. :0 maybe Morro grew his horns and scales at some point? (Either in his time with Wu or the years in the cursed realm. Or heck maybe if he turns human again)

2. Does Cole still become a ghost? And if so, does it happen to worsen his latent codependency issues? It’s prob a traumatic situation, especially the whole “fading away” sitch.

3. Does Nyas role in Skybound change because of her independence? And maybe with her previous knowledge of tiger widows?

Sorry this is long but I’m restraining myself from dumping all of the blorbs I cooked up in my brain during my 2 hour binge of the au anyway have an awesome day/afternoon/night 👏😎

I'm glad you're enjoying this! And no worries about long asks, I love having an excuse to ramble about this au! Questions have actually been really helpful for me developing this au, so don't feel shy in asking any!

Starting with Morro, this post (hopefully the link works) goes into more detail, but the basics are:

Wu came home early from training under Chen, while Garm and Misako were working together to hide the Golden Weapons. He finds Morro and takes him in, and this actually helps stabilize him against the Venom. Bc he believes he's the Dark Lord in the Prophecy, and he suspects that Morro might be the Green Ninja, he tried to hide the Prophecy from Morro.

Morro still discovered the Prophecy, and accidentally triggered a Venom episode. Wu scared him away, and later regretting this and asking Misako and Garmadon to help him search for Morro once they're back, despite him being upset they've started dating.

Morro, who knew nothing about the Venom, believed that Wu's episode was caused bc he was so unworthy of being the Green Ninja that even asking about it was a massive insult. He then decided that if he could prove that he was worthy of being the Green Ninja by doing something like finding the FSM's Tomb, than Wu would want him to come home.

And the he died.

For the possession, there are a lot of risks involved with possession, both for the Host and the Spirit (fun fact for this au, Misako is immune to possession bc her IronDragon tattoos technically count as a possession on a very small scale and immunize her from other Spirits.). One of these risks is that if the Host and the Spirit are too similar, they can start to...merge.

Kai, at first, fights hard against Morro, so most of Morro's energy is spent keeping him under control, and almost none is being used to separate their memories. So when the two start to see what the other went through bc of Wu, they start to sympathize with each other, and realize that they’re more similar than they are different.

And after that they quickly start to blend together. Pretty soon they break away from the Preeminent's plan in favor of trying to find Wu, who at this point has escaped from jail and has completely disappeared (for now).

Morro does get redeemed, but rn the details of his redemption are up in the air until I get the chance to rewatch Possession and get all the fine tuning done.

An idea I'm playing with is having Kai and Morro being unable to separate after the Preeminent is defeated even though they both want to, and since I've rearranged a few seasons (more on that later) and DotD comes directly after Possession, have them find a way to separate during all that. Possibly by using the Yin Blade or the Rift of Return?

But that's just a possibility. Morro might still die (again) at the end of Possession and then be brought back to Ninjago by Yang where he helps the ninja and then is able to stick around. Or maybe he doesn’t die and doesn’t get stuck to/in Kai.

Regardless, Morro will join the main cast during DotD at the latest.

As for Morro's Dragon heritage, he initially looks completely human as a ghost, since he died completely human, but since Kai is not only also part dragon but also descended from the same dragon as Morro, once they're separate Morro has his own Draconic heritage on full display.

And those traits stay if he does get back to being alive. I’m 90% set on him being revived by the Rift of Return, but there’s that last 10% that kinda want’s to keep him as a ghost, but he possesses a mannequin of himself someone helped him steal from the museum purely bc I can be funny with that. But Morro is probably getting a body again.

As for Cole, he might still become a ghost, but he might not. The ghost stuff is going to go a bit different from cannon off the bat, since no one knows where FSM's staff is. Wu hid it somewhere after forging the Mega Weapon.

But if someone is going to get turned into a ghost, it'll be whoever I end up shipping with Kai.

And Skybound is waaaaaay different.

I'm shuffling some of the seasons, so after Wu and Chen it goes Possession -> Day of the Departed -> Hands of Time -> The Island -> Seabound -> Skybound -> Sons of Garmadon

I did this partially bc I didn't want to shelve the drama that will come from Ray and Maya being rescued from Krux by having then disappear for 6 seasons, partially bc I'm excited about some things I have planned for Seabound and didn't want to wait so long, and I can justify it in the narrative.

In the Seabound stuff, Nya tries to merge with the Sea like Nyad, but instead she turns full dragon (concept design here); this boosts her Elemental power to an overwhelming degree, and the transformation kinda messes with her memories.

She disappears into the Endless Sea after everything with Kalamaar (am I spelling that right?) and Wojira for a year, before the lantern memorial catches he attention (with some help from both Nyad and Wojira). Instead of the words on the lanterns helping her remember tho, several of the lanterns smell familiar.

A big part of why Nya took off was bc her power suddenly increasing as much as it did did draw her to the Endless Sea like in cannon, but once she’s had a bit of time to adjust that need to be surrounded by her Element dissipates. And once its gone she realizes something:

Something is Missing. Something Important, she can’t quite remember what, but she know she has to find it.

So she searches the Endless Sea, trying to find the thing she Lost. With a nudge from Nyad (at Wojira’s request) she finds the Lantern Memorial.

Like in cannon, the Memorial is on the one year anniversary of Nya...leaving. The Lanterns have messages written on them, but Nya can’t really understand written or spoken Ninjargon anymore. Luckily, there is something on the Lanterns she Recognizes.

Scents

Lloyd (who is about 14 and has been defaulting into his Dragon form bc of how much he misses Nya) had the idea that maybe if they can make some of the Lanterns smell strongly like them, it’ll help Nya find her way back home. He’s spent the past year insisting that Nya isn’t gone forever. She wouldn’t just leave. She wouldn’t, she’s Nya. She must be lost or stuck somewhere, but she was coming back.

So he convinces the other to help him scent a bunch of lanterns. They use things like a perfume Maya used to wear all the time before she and Ray were taken, the types of oil the Pixal and Zane each prefer, two can’s of Kai and Ray’s prefered hair styling products, Jay sacrifices one of his lucky socks he insist never be washed (I don’t think Jay canonically has lucky socks, but he strikes me as the type of guy to have a pair of unwashed lucky socks), Kai, Morro, and Lloyd (and mb Maya and Skylor) all sacrifice some loose scales (and have to be stopped from going after scales that weren’t already coming loose), Ray lint rolled enough hair from everyone’s rooms to cover two lanterns (as effective as it is disgusting), they try anything and everything they can think of to make their Lanterns reek like them.

They get some very weird looks from the other participants.

But Lloyds plan worked (something he is forever smug about) and Nya follows the scents to Ninjago City. Right in time for Nadhakhan (I don’t think that’s spelled right) to get loose.

I moved Skybound back like this bc it solved two problems I had; what to fill the space left by Jaya not being a thing in Skybound with, and how to integrate Nya coming back with the start of the Oni trilogy. The solution? Use Skybound as a buffer between Seabound and SoG.

So Nya finds her way back to her Family, her Home. She doesn’t Remember any of them or anything they went through together, but she Recognizes them as Home.

Mystake guesses that, given enough time, Nya’s memories should return. Luckily, she has a tea that should speed the process up a fair amount.

So Nya’s memories coming back and her adjusting to that and to her being back and everything that’s changed in the year she was gone fills in the time in the Sky Pirates stuff that used to be focused on the Jaya plot, and giving Nya time to adjust before getting into all of the everything that happens in the Oni Trilogy.

Ok, I think I got everything. But dont be shy if you have any more questions!

[daughters-of-liberty]

For some reason, this time of year always draws me to God more than any season. Maybe it's all the Christmas songs, particularly the religious ones like Silent Night or God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (which is actually my very favorite non-secular Christmas song) bringing a bit of Christian imagery to the mundane. You're grocery shopping, eating pancakes at Perkins, getting your oil changed, doesn't matter, there's a Christmas song playing and something in the air shifts whenever a religious one comes on. I can't describe it.

Someone I follow posted some lyrics from different hymns and whatnot, but the first one was the opening verse from O Holy Night:

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appeared, and the soul felt it's worth...

I have often thought about this verse, particularly the "soul felt its worth" bit, even in the deepest of my pagan days. Something about that sentiment carried an extra weight that could be felt by someone who had never read the Bible and hadn't gone to church or listened to a sermon since I was like 10.

So often, people bring up eternal damnation as a way to try to scare people into believing in God. But I can honestly say that simple lyric "long lay the world in sin and error pining, til He appeared, and the soul felt it's worth" did more to turn my heart back toward God than any fire and brimstone rhetoric.

Not that I ever hated God, don't be mistaken. I actually thought God hated me, or at the very least, strongly disapproved of my life choices. Being a dedicated pagan from about age 8, but with definite pagan ideals and concepts–such as ancestor veneration and reincarnation–incorporated into my belief system from my earliest contemplations on matters such as death, I thought I was an outcast...though I didn't know why I felt that way at the time.

Several years later, I had gone through so many books on paganism, desperate to quell this hollow feeling I had on a soul deep level, this longing to belong with no respite, only to come up not only empty-handed, but also angrier and angrier. I had hoped that some book–any book!–would give me further insight. But everything just became progressively dumber and dumber and more and more infuriatingly so. And every Christmas season, when angels are everywhere and bells are tolling and a choir can be heard inside and outside of every store singing "come and behold Him, born the king of angels", and people are unusually kind and charitable...there's something there. A filling to that hollow feeling.

Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't the Redemption of Bee, I'm not a prodigal daughter. Not entirely, anyway. But, after learning more about God and Jesus, and the full context of Jesus' time on the cross and what He did for us (going literally to Hell and back to save all of humanity from our sins is frickin metal, I don't care who you are), and reading Genesis and seeing exactly how much love God has for us, and how well-meaning and genuine He is (don't blame me, I kinda bought into some atheistic rhetoric about how cruel God is in my teens), the non-secular Christmas songs don't make me cringe anymore. Heck, Christian rock doesn't make me cringe anymore (Crowder's Crushing Snakes is a banger, change my mind).

But what used to make me ponder about Things when I was a pagan, the line "and the soul felt it's worth", now really struck a chord with me. To the point where contemplating the full scope of that simple little line inexplicably brings me to tears. On my journey, winding though it may be, I didn't listen to preachers or priests or anything like that. I mean, I tried to, and only really liked Father Mike Schmitz's approach to talking about things. But mostly, and feel free to judge me for this, I listened to a lot of Andrew Klavan and his musings about God and Jesus and the meaning of life and death and questions of morality. Say whatever you will about him, I found a lot of his takes very comforting, like talking to your father about God. Because I never really talked to my dad about God, except when I came out as pagan to him.

One thing Andrew Klavan talks about a lot in regards to Christianity, is that God is forgiving. God is loving. Yes, sometimes he can be cruel, but that's usually to teach a lesson that's falling on deaf ears, like your father taking away a toy as a child because you disobeyed him. But, one thing he especially highlights, is that God loves you. It doesn't matter if you hate Him, if you blame Him for every little bad thing in your life, He loves you and He forgives you. And should you ever find your way back to God, he will embrace you with open arms and say "welcome home". Even if you've sinned. Jesus ate with the sinners, and counted them more dearly than the Pharisees.

In some ways, my period of paganism felt like the period before Christ's birth. I waited for a very long time, in sin and error, pining for that feeling of belonging, of worth, of acceptance, of order, of gratitude. Of sheer unconditional love. And I waited and waited, until God and Christ kind of nudged their way into my psyche, and then into my life. And the soul felt it's worth. My existence wasn't meaningless, my life has a purpose, and no purpose is too small. I was hopeful, I rejoiced, a new and glorious morn broke. I didn't hate myself anymore, and realized God never hated me. How can I go forward not completely revitalized by that notion? That concept that even when all seems lost and hopeless, there is always hope.

“Turn your face from the green world, and look where all seems barren and cold!” said Gandalf. Then Aragorn turned, and there was a stony slope behind him running down from the skirts of the snow; and as he looked he was aware that alone there in the waste a growing thing stood. And he climbed to it, and saw that out of the very edge of the snow there sprang a sapling tree no more than three foot high. Already it had put forth young leaves long and shapely, dark above and silver beneath, and upon its slender crown it bore one small cluster of flowers whose white petals shone like the sunlit snow.

[feedingtheflockministry]

And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32 amp

Forgiveness: The Double-Edged Word

Do you ever find yourself defining life by before and after the deep hurt?

The horrific season. The conversation that stunned you. The shocking day of discovery. The divorce. The wrongful death so unfathomable you still can’t believe they are gone. The breakup. The day your friend walked away. The hateful conversation. The remark that seems to now be branded on your soul. The day everything changed.

That marked moment in time. Life before. Life now. Is it even possible to move on from something like this? Is it even possible to create a life that’s beautiful again?

I deeply understand this kind of defining devastation in such a personal way.

When your heart has been shattered and reshaped into something that doesn’t quite feel normal inside your own chest yet, the word forgiveness feels a bit unrealistic to bring into the conversation.

But can I whisper something I’m learning?

Forgiveness is possible, but it won’t always feel possible.

It’s a double-edged word, isn’t it?

It’s hard to give. It’s amazing to get. But when we receive it so freely from the Lord and refuse to give it, something heavy starts to form in our souls.

It’s the weight of forgiveness that wasn’t allowed to pass through. And for me, that’s mainly because I’ve misunderstood something so incredibly profound about forgiveness.

Forgiveness isn’t something hard we have the option to do or not do. Forgiveness is something hard-won that we have the opportunity to participate in.

When I wrongly think forgiveness rises and falls based on all my efforts, conjured maturity, bossed-around resistance, and gentle feelings that feel real one moment and fake the next, I’ll never be able to authentically give the kind of forgiveness Jesus has given me.

My ability to forgive others is made possible when I lean into what Jesus has already done, which allows His grace for me to flow freely through me (Ephesians 4:7).

Forgiveness isn’t an act of my determination.

Forgiveness is only made possible by my cooperation.

Cooperation is what I’ve been missing. Cooperation with what Jesus has already done makes verses like Ephesians 4:32 possible. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Forgiving one another just as Christ forgave you. God knew we couldn’t do it on our own. So, He made a way not dependent on our strength. A forgiving way. A way to grab on to Jesus’ outstretched arms, bloody from crucifixion and dripping with redemption. He forgives what we could never be good enough to make right. And makes a way for us to simply cooperate with His work of forgiveness…for us to receive and for us to give.

That person or people—they’ve caused enough pain for you, for me, and for those around us. There’s been enough damage done. And you don’t have to be held hostage by the pain. You get to decide how you’ll move forward.

If you’re knee-deep in pain and resonate with the feelings of resistance I have felt too, let me assure you over these next few days: forgiveness is possible. And it is good.

RESPOND:

What is your initial gut reaction to the word “forgiveness”? How does it encourage you to know that forgiveness is made possible by our cooperation instead of our determination? Spend some time journaling about this today. Invite God into your questions and your hesitations.

YouVersion Bible plan Forgiving what you can't forget a 5 days challenge

[inevitably-johnlocked]

(I'm that one Will Wood person ashsjsj! Sorry for the large amounts of songs in one ask, I'll be re-sending them separately! <3)

I'd like to suggest "Against the Kitchen Floor" by Will Wood!

I see it more as Sherlock's point of view personally ("I promise I'm doing my best, I just haven't learned how to be human as you are yet!" hits just right haha)

[Verse 1] I don't owe you my heart, and I don't owe you my body But you should know that I'm sorry for being careless with you Lord knows I owed you more than I'm pretty sure I ever could give anybody But I can't pin down what normal people want from foreign objects Bottom shelf erotic products like me

[Pre-Chorus] So, I could hold your hand but keep you at arm's length Oh, hang me from a branch too high to climb and shake Less rare than scarce, less diamond than rough Unlikely to be more than just the coal you fail to crush [Chorus] And I swear I'm really trying Get it together, Will, know and do better It just don't come natural to me to think that you'd want me for mе I swear, I'm really trying Oh, I'm sorry, I promise, I'm doing my bеst I just haven't learned how to be human as you are yet

[Verse 2] I still don't know who you are, I only know that I'm still lonely That morbid sort where even company can't cure me And the more you reassure, the less I trust But still you gave me your heart, I only gave you my body Honestly thought nobody'd want it, let alone notice it's gone And so I left it home, but now, now, now, now

[Pre-Chorus] I keep a locket with a picture of the back of my head Oh, monkey-wrench my side view mirrors, ghost my friends I've lived more lives than enough, I haven't died quite as much But I'm not a real person, just the shit you can't make up

[Chorus 2] And I swear I'm really trying I'm just as exposed if I take off my clothes When we make the closest thing to love that I'm capable of And I don't know why you would care, but I'm really trying Oh, I'm sorry, I promise, I'm doing my best I just haven't learned how to be human as you are yet

[Bridge] Did I really have any of that gravity? Maybe you're quicksand Because I really couldn't tell how deep my footprints went The vertex of my redemption arc, the searching of that virgin heart I'm catatonic in your arms, crying, "How did I cause so much harm?" I'm down pounding my head against the kitchen floor Apologizing for my life and ever entering yours Don't say "I'm sorry, but this can't go on," I know you've got scars of your own But hide my knives before you go, I'll either live or die alone

[Chorus 3] I swear I will die trying I'm still in the process, but I'm making progress I promise I honestly wanna prove improvement's possible I swear I'm so fucking sorry I'm not a good person, I'm barely a person at all But someday I'll be perfect, and I'll make up for it all

[Outro] ("And write a fucking song about it! 'Cause it has to be all about Will's fucking drama! God damn it!")

(Sorry. Fuck, I'm sorry.) (Lyrics from Genius.com)

Hey Nonny!

THANK YOU!! You just gave me content for a few days so I appreciate it!!

That said, YES totally a Sherlock POV song, oof, it really is him. I love this one. Thank you so much for adding it!!! <3

🎶 LISTEN TO THE JOHNLOCK PLAYLIST ON [SPOTIFY] & [YOUTUBE] 🎶

[nizzysam]

A Song for Micah

I want to share songs that make me think of Red Dead Redemption 2 characters, starting with Micah.

I will be analyzing bits of lyrics (not all) in relation to the character.

This will obviously be headcanon-heavy, you may disagree with what's under the cut and that's alright! I'm self-indulging.

Goo Goo Dolls - I'm Still Here

I am a question to the world Not an answer to be heard Or a moment That's held in your arms

This passage is evocative of Micah's rebellious and wary nature. His relentless poking of people to the limit of patience and his thirst for arguments are well captured in the first two verses. Although to be fair, Micah often believes he has the answer.

The final two verses touch on his reluctance, due to fear or otherwise, of a close and intimate relationship.

And what do you think you'd ever say? I won't listen anyway You don't know me And I'll never be what you want me to be

This is a cry against everything and everyone. Starting with his father and ending with the world. He will not listen or be what you want him to be. Because he cannot, no matter what, bring down the wall of anger he built around himself.

And what Do you think you'd understand? I'm a boy, no, I'm a man You can't take me And throw me away

Even if he tried, no one would really be able to understand what he is feeling. So why try? He knows that if he were to be vulnerable, people would label him as "weak", just like he does. He doesn't want to be labeled as such, so he puts up a tough act.

And how can you learn what's never shown? Yeah, you stand here on your own They don't know me 'Cause I'm not here

How could he ever recognize affection if it was never shown to him? How could he ever know kindness, forgiveness, and love, if all he has ever been shown is hatred, violence, revenge, and pain? He has always felt alone, raised in a nasty environment. It is likely that he would disassociate, that he would not be there.

And I want a moment to be real Want to touch things I don't feel Want to hold on and feel I belong

Here we touch on Micah's deep desires, his human need to feel part of something. These, strange as it may seem, I think are the themes of his thoughts when he leaves camp to clean his guns or whittle wood.

Alone, as always, dreaming of belonging somewhere.

And you see the things they never see All you wanted-I could be Now you know me And I'm not afraid

This is about Dutch. He who "has the most incredible way of putting things." Micah is willing to be what Dutch wants him to be. You can see it in their interactions and other things Micah says around camp. In how he tries to be his number two, and how he desperately wants his approval.

They can't tell me who to be 'Cause I'm not what they see

"I'm not a monster, miss." He certainly gets mistreated by Arthur even when he has no bad intentions and just wants to have a conversation. This, over time, sours Micah to the point where he becomes hostile on purpose against Arthur. He has always been somewhat antagonizing with the others, this being because Micah does not hold them in the same regard.

Yeah, the world is still sleepin' while I keep on dreaming for me And their words are just whispers and lies that I'll never believe

His selfishness, his believing himself superior, strong, and therefore deserving to win at the expense of the weaker. He refuses to listen to what he thinks to be lies. His interactions with Swanson are an example. Micah classifies his addiction as a weakness and nothing else.

I'm the one now 'Cause I'm still here I'm the one 'Cause I'm still here

"I'm a survivor, Black Lung, a survivor. That's all there is. Living and dying."

[9rophet]

No Pressure

This new year is off to a good start. I backspaced the word, great to describe the start because honestly it would take a lot for me to say that wholeheartedly. However, the transition hasn’t been bad as I’ve gotten a $100 increase to my pay, handled the bills that matter (for the most part), renewed my lease, avoided issues with my car, avoided situations that were grueling, acquired some cool new additions to my closet, and I went out of my comfort zone and attended an event around like-minded creatives and got much needed feedback on my craft there. Out of all that I don’t know where to start or which one I should talk more in-depth about. I felt an urge to journal. I’m listening to Knxwledge as I do so. It’s quite calming and just this act alone is somewhat therapeutic. Speaking of therapy, I spoke to my therapist yesterday. It was good seeing him after holiday break. I’m glad we picked up as if it wasn’t even a long time without speaking. There was no awkwardness. I really appreciate my therapist. He gives the best advice & I feel I haven’t matched with a better person to get advice or a better listener than him in my life. I don’t know if I annoy him by how much I talk about myself, but I learned to not dwell on that possibility because his opinion of me would be out of my control anyway. I mentioned to him an audiobook I’ve been listening to by Kevin Hart called Monsters and How to Tame Them & so far I swear by that book. I’ve told any friend I could get on a call about it & even went as far as to sharing it on my Instagram story and Facebook newsfeed. I’ll have to listen to it in its entirety a few times before I can quote it and speak as to why I like it so much and find my own way to discuss the concepts, but so far I’m in love with it. It’s 5 hours and some change in time length, but the comedy mixed with the harsh, hard-hitting, necessary truths put my thoughts into words and makes sense of them. I express myself though graphic design and music, I used to express myself through art by drawing, which I want to pick back up, but I think what’s been the most therapeutic way to express myself is through words and philosophy from journaling to songwriting to watching video essays to listening to the aforementioned audiobooks. It can seem like a lot when I type it out and there was certain things I left out of that last sentence to not make it any longer, but together I feel like I’m becoming a more well-rounded person. There’s things from my past I regret doing and things that I beat myself up about ’til this day partly to remind myself to never make the same mistakes again and partly out of not even knowing why. I guess that second part is what I’m trying to make sense of. I do come across memes and sayings that remind me of how human that is. I guess redemption is a tale as old as time that it’s almost a cliché. I hope I can prove to the world that I’m a good man and one day, hopefully, even a great man, but it would have to start with proving that to myself first. No pressure. 

I wanted to talk about how my creative process is not organized at all. Well it might be somewhat organized as far as the steps I take to start making something new, but typing about how I express myself kept putting a word into my head; “chaos”. It’s chaotic. I think the very act of creating is making something out of nothing, pulling together resources out of the void and or different realms to make something you see fit. It’s the closest you can come to being Godly. That might sound a bit dramatic, but in the truest form of what God has done, it holds truth. You can already see where I’m going with that so I won’t delve any deeper, but only to say it’s divine and what you create can shift reality. I’m not too well-versed in the laws of the universe, but I’m pretty sure somewhere in the discussion of that, “creation” and “creativity” has a big part. I don’t know if organizing my creative process better will bring about better results, in theory it should, but the naturalness of being chaotic holds its own benefits and qualities. Random tangent.

I’ve invested into equipment that should make creating easier, it’s just a matter of pushing myself or moving myself and putting myself in the position to use it. One thing I pray to God about is that I never lose the love for doing what I enjoy. God forbid.

My love for doing what I love is greater to me than love itself (the romantic kind).

[falsementor]

mini tag dump

✘ — when you took it all you forgot your shadow. ( & sun wukong. ) ✘ — i don’t mind letting you down easy but just give it time. ( & mk. ) ✘ — but it’s just the price i pay. destiny is calling me. ( & the lady bone demon. ) ✘ — i could even learn how to love like you. ( redemption verse. ) ✘ — i wish you could see the wicked truth. ( alliance verse. ) ✘ — to be the one who laughs last. ( the blackout club verse. ) ✘ — world gone mad let’s start the show. ( sonic verse. )

[glorified-red]

Hi red! Could I get hcs with Damian? How reader and titus interact? Like do you think Titus wouldn’t like you, he would adore you at first sight,etc etc. thank you and stay safe

Thanks for the request my love! Damian needs some love today >:) I am absolutely not a dog person, yet another way the universe is trying to keep Damian and I separated. I could probably go on a huge rant about Alfred the cat simply because I am a cat person.

Damian and Titus

word count: 1080~

warnings: none

Thanks go out to @littleredwing89 and @offendedfishnoises for explaining to me how dogs work. AND a very very special thanks to @a-sketchy-jedi for one of Damians pet names for the reader, I went with a gender neutral one but I appreciated learning from you!

Titus is incredibly well-trained by Damian, he viewed it as a bonding exercise between him and the dog, but most importantly: a necessity

Damian trained the dog to become a protection dog after Bruce initially trained the dog to be a guard dog, so Titus is well versed in both, putting police dogs to shame

When Titus is around Damian, his primary objective is to protect his owner at all costs

This means Titus would much rather stay beside Damian than attack the offending person

However, if Damian wishes and commands him, Titus will attack anyone without a second thought, its the guard dog instinct in him

Titus won't really attack unless he either gets the command or has a reason to, his default is just calm and silent

So when you come along, the first meeting with Titus is a little worse than expected

When you first walk into the Manor to meet up with Damian, Titus is hot at his heels, silently watching you

Nothing happened at first, Titus was just sitting down beside Damian as you two said hello

But the second you went for a hug or a kiss, Titus was immediately peeved

He forced you off of Damian and positioned himself protectively in front of your lover, growling lowly with his ears back

Poor Titus was just a little confused because he had never seen you two kiss, and hugs look suspicious when not given by the batfam

Didn't make the huge dog any less terrifying, the forceful jump was enough to leave you scared considering how tall the Great Dane could get

Damian was mortified

Absolutely mortified

He wasn't mad at Titus, it was a simple mistake that can be solved with a bit more training, he did his job so why punish it?

But the fact that Titus jumped on you? Damian was honestly terrified you’d just walk out and refuse to be close to the dog

The last thing he wants is his two favorite companions not getting along, the thought alone scares him, he doesn't want to chose between the two of you

Damian quickly calms Titus down, going as far as squatting down in front of the dog so he could easily reassure Titus and position himself between you two in case Titus jumps again

“I apologize Ayni, I am positive he will grow to love you as much as I have, he just needs time.”

Little by little Titus will warm up to you, its pretty slow going but Damian seems to trust you and that should be enough for the dog

Damian will insist on you spending quality time with the dog, whether it be accompanying Dami as he walks the dog or petting the dog during movie nights

It takes a couple tries before Damian lets you roughhouse with the Great Dane, he doesn't want to destroy all the progress you've made, and he absolutely doesn't want to see you get jumped on again

Eventually -with the help of some treats- Titus will love playing with you, the gruff exterior melting away once he sees you (very similar to a certain someone)

Titus will become the dorkiest dog you’ve ever met, insisting he can still be a lap dog even when he's a giant, easily crushing you and Dami

If you shrug the dog off of you, Titus will just huff on collapse on your feet, crushing your precious toes under his weight

Damian will smile and softly explain to you that its a sign of love and affection

Get used to Titus rubbing his nose against your hand, you thought you were just a human tissue box, but Damian likes to believe Titus just loves you

He won't hesitate to spit out random dog facts either, whenever Titus does something specific that is

Once, Titus exposed his stomach to you and Damian, wanting a few glorious pets

“He trusts you,” Damian would say softly, gently guiding your hand to the dogs stomach

It was an amazing moment, one full of admiration because finally you got in the dogs good graces

Now the dog will never stop asking for your pets

He loves his owner with all his heart, but you give great pets and he wants them, Titus will go as far as to huff whenever you stop petting him

Titus will even tap you with his paw just to silently ask for more pets at random times of the day

Damian will never admit it, but the nights when Titus joins you for cuddles while he's at patrol, he gets a little jealous of the dog

He makes up for it by placing himself in between you two when he gets back with a subtle pout, Titus just huffs and curls up against Damian while Damian holds you

Most nights, Titus sleeps on the floor of Damians room, the protection dog in him forcing him to sleep in the corner with a full view of everything: the two of you on the bed, the window, and the doors

Damian trusts the dog to alert him if there is an intruder, so it’s very easy for him to fall asleep beside you

The last -and final- step in the bond between you and Titus, is the dog getting as protective of you as he is of Damian

That means the dog won't hesitate to perk up in the middle of the night if he hears something, barking to alert you two

Damian will go investigate (Titus knows the bat families' step sequences so he won't be barking at insomniatic bats - I’m looking at you Tim) before hushing you back to sleep, “It was nothing, my love, go back to sleep.”

You can even bring Titus with you when you go out around Gotham, the dog is now completely comfortable protecting you, growling at attackers, getting in front of you like he would with Damian, it warms your heart all the same

The subtleties of Titus’ protection is adorable

He’ll tug at your clothes gently to steer you away from trouble or guide you places

But the most adorable action of all is one he learned from you and Damian

Whenever Damian gets too worked up, frustrated or otherwise, you’ll calmly rest your hand on his knee or hand, sometimes even laying your head on his shoulder to ground him

Titus will comfort you by doing the same, laying his head gently on your knee

Taglist ♡

@anothertimdrakestan

@bungunz

@red-hood-redemption ​

[teacup-tai]

Tai Recs: Crazy Looong Fics

My best friends used to have a running joke about my fanfic reading habits, saying that "Tai wouldn't touch anything shorter than 50k". Let's say they were not far from wrong. xD #facepalm

I am a sucker for really long stories. How writers provide us with a crazy amount of world building and character's development/study, and all kinds of mix of Slow Burn, Scorching UST, Brilliant Case fics, Political Plots, Adventure, Action, Beautiful Slice of Life & etc!

I devote my whole heart, gratitude and appreciation to all the Monster Writers, for such incredible long rides, for your time, hard work and for sharing this huge gifts with us!

Welcome to the: Crazy Long Fics 'Rec List! (>300k)

Drarry Favourites

TURN by Saras_girl (E, 306k)

One good turn always deserves another. Apparently.

A classic. No one in the Drarry fandom can go without having read, or attempted to read, Turn. The kind of fic that make you question your life and decisions. The kind of fic that don't let you go untouched.

Twist of Fate by Oakstone730 (T, 302k)

Draco asks Harry to help him beat the Imperius curse during 4th year. The lessons turn into more than either expected. A story of redemption and forgiveness.

ToF is another huge Drarry classic. It goes without saying that it will grab you and not let you leave without finishing. The angst is brilliant, the canon rewrite magnificent. A must read.

Foundations !verse (Series) by Saras_girl (E, 364k)

Harry is about to discover that the steepest learning curve comes after Healer training, and that second chances can be found in unexpected places.

This series is composed by 2 main fics (Reparations (87k) and Foundations (236k)) and 11 adjacent oneshots. Healer Harry wasn't something that I knew I needed until I read this. I learned so much with this universe; about being human, about learning from one's patients, about working with people. Reparations is my fave Saras_girl fic.

The Secret Language of Plants (Series) by @llendrinall (373k)

“Just… tell me. Tell me what is going on, Snape.”

What was going on was that Severus Snape had no trouble tracking down one Petunia Evans, now Dursley, to a little town in Surrey where he saw how exactly she was treating her nephew. Which somehow led to last night and Severus knocking on Lupin’s door with a toddler half-asleep in his arms.

This amazing series is composed by 4 parts, and it starts with Snape and Remus stealing and raising Harry, while falling in love with each other. It's bloody amazing how Endrina retells the story with such a nice canon rewrite, and gives us Drarry with such a nice twist <3

Tales From the Special Branch (Series) by @femmequixotic (E, 1.214k)

When Gawain Robards asks him to form Special Branch seven-four-alpha, Harry Potter knows they'll have to work outside the confines of the law--even though they are the law.

This is one of the most intertwined and interesting Drarry plots I've ever read. The amount of world-building in this 5 amazing fics is insane, the backstories to all the characters are impressive, how everything connects in such perfect way is amazing, how the plot thickens is breathtaking and the sex- lol hotter than firewhiskey. A mix of Action-politics-scorching hot smut-Slytherins being aurors-Harry Potter being a hot mess. (warning: WIP. ;_;)

Next in my to-read list:

Hush of War by @lol-zeitgeistic (E, 453k)

Conscience by sordidhumor (E, 1,450k)

Blood Magic by houseofhebrideanblacks & Thestralsofspinnersend (E, 335k)

My Favourites Outside HP fandom

I'm adding 2 non-HP series, bc I honestly think it is such a loss that there are folks in the world who never read it, so here, have at it:

Death Note (L/Light)

Those Who Stand For Nothing Falls For Anything - The Hinterland Doctrine Series by @halfpromise (E, 676k). 4 fics, WIP.

Light is a politician. What could go wrong?

Look at me: this is THE BEST POLITICS AU FIC I'VE EVER READ IN MY WHOLE LIFE. This is crazy long, crazy intense, it has a very very dark sense of humour, a very narcissistic and unreliable first narrator (Light) and it is such a toxic relationship. It's a utter delight to appreciate how Laura put it so well together, this is a literary recommendation for those with a strong stomach. Check the tags. (I've read it twice)

Naruto (Neji/Shikamaru | multiship)

Break to Breathe (Series) by @okamirayne (E, 1.240k). ffnet | AO3

Neji has always been in control. There's just one problem. It's killing him - and only Shikamaru can tell. But sometimes being pulled back from the edge is just as dangerous as being pushed there.

If you like Naruto and deep psychological plots, you should read this masterpiece. BtB is one of the biggest loves of my life. It should be published in a big editing house! xD Ninjas gone deep and real and raw and in love! This is a monsterfuck rollercoaster wrapped up in 4 books (1.240k). Rayne does a really good job in delving her fingers in the characters and making them hers but never making them OOC. Now my favourite Monster Writer is back and giving us a bit more of deep angsty-post-war-vibes <3

[salvenged]

Given Will and Spring Bonnie are the same in his eyes, I'm curious, how does Will feel about Henry and Fredbear?

He most definitely views Fredbear and Springbonnie as extensions of he and Henry. Those characters were the first they made together, and he very much views Henry as the bear to his bunny. Whether Henry agrees on this or not is beyond him. The iterations would always shift but stay the same in the ways that matter:

You can't have the bear without the bunny.

It's something that's quite obvious in every single iteration of the band. As much as he knows Henry is trying to erase him and be rid of the memories that haunt them, it still doesn't change the fact that they're effectively cosmically tied to one another in that fashion. At least in William's eyes.

While it's insinuated in the comics that William did in fact wear the Fredbear costume at least a few times, it definitely wasn't the same as when he wears the Springbonnie one! He found himself in the suit, in that character. The death of what he lost on his happiest day was finally returned to him in his eyes, and it was only through Henry that this happened.

He was drawn to him in that regard, always has been. Like a moth to flame. William is brilliant, despite how insane his ideas and actions are, there's no doubting the technological skill he possesses. But he was smart enough to note the spark that Henry was able to place in his work, a spark that Henry himself seemed to miss! I think that's what drew him to Henry in the first place, and started him down the path of his remnant experimentation. 

He thought if anyone could fix him it would be Henry, that Henry would be the answer and he wanted to love like him. To create. Genuinely. There was a warmth that was beaming from Henry that he'd seen since the very first day they met. It's him, it's always been him. The line from the Silver Eyes really drives home the point of his obsession and admiration to me. The idea that Henry "fixed" him.

"We both wanted love. Your father loved, and now I have loved."

William has always felt hollow, empty. There was no love in his home and he wasn't sure he knew how to love. Wasn't sure he was capable of it. He could play any part, certainly, but that didn't mean anything. It was a just a mask to wear, something to make his life easier. That is until Henry came along. All his work, all his attempts have been ways he's been trying to "fix" himself and learn how to love, to create life like Henry.

Of course, with his descent to madness, so too came the contrasting aura of self-importance. Manipulation came easily since he was a child but there really wasn't anything personally about it, even when he was an adult that fact stayed the same. It was only after he'd died and suffered further extensive trauma that his perception and behavior became more warped.

Still though, no matter what, at least for my William portrayal. Henry is his other half, the bear to his bunny. He's been in love with him since the first time he laid eyes on him, and losing him killed a part of William. In his eyes, he and Henry have always had a special relationship. One leagues above the ones they had with their wives and families. It was a "special connection" and he explains it as such in his journal. This was a means to cope with Henry getting married, as the news was world-shattering for William. Still living by the rules of another's game, he figured that he was then also supposed to find a partner and have a family since "that's what he's supposed to do" --- He is so far in the closet he's not even aware of it, and still struggles to come to terms with it in his redemption verse.

And while William and Clara had their own complicated relationship, ultimately, he was always in love with Henry and she knew that. William was desperately trying to keep their false family together, unwilling to face who he was because he didn't know who it was. He had spent so much time trying to do "what he was supposed to" in order to feel love and be happy that he never figured out what he wanted. What would make HIM happy, which ultimately ... it was Henry. Unfortunately, this love bordering on obsession with Henry was still not enough to save him or his family from William.

It's most certainly a case of being each other's opposites, their narrative foils. Cosmically fated to be locked against each other. There is no way they can have a happy ending, not in the main universe or the Redemption one for that matter.

But perhaps a content one would be enough, perhaps it would be enough for them to sit at the end of it all with the burning memories of their past. Taking each other hand in hand for one last performance.

The bear and the bunny, one last time. One last dance. One last song. That is all that remains for them.

[stargatelov3r]

Hmm… Sexy thought experiments, blame Einstein. 🤣

Justice for Jonas!!! Completely unfair, I really love Jonas :( I am not as well versed in SG1, did they ever come back to him in a novel or something, like with Ford?

They do! In redemption! I know they have a few more scenes but the moment when Rodney explains to Jonas what “cross our fingers” means jumps out. The fact he explained it as opposed to just being snarky speaks loads to his character development while exiled in Russia.

Okay, let’s see how this could go down.

Rodney, having been re-stationed at the SGC is given his own lab on base, far away from Sam. Jonas, excited by the shiny new object will indeed follow Rodney around like a little puppy. Inner Rodney is pissed that the alien won’t leave him alone, pissed about his ease of retaining information. But Rodney, worried about being exiled, would try to keep back the torrent of cutting remarks. What pisses Rodney off the most though, is that when a remark does slip out, Jonas doesn’t even bat an eye.

Eventually, like a weed splitting through concrete, Jonas would wear him down. Rodney would never admit that he deems Jonas one of the “non-sheeple.” Oh, no, no, no, he would just frame it differently, to feed his ego. He would think, “Of course Jonas would seek me out, I have the greatest mind in the galaxy after all.” -insert puffed out chest and nose sticking up in the air here.-

He’d start to appreciate the back and forth, appreciate that Jonas is a walking textbook of information. Although, still jealous about the ease of retaining information he would be quelled by how nice it was to finally have someone remember and understand what he was talking about. Rodney would also enjoy the fact Jonas doesn’t need to shout out that he’s the most intelligent person in the room.

Jonas on the other hand would learn how to navigate around Rodney. Learn how willing Rodney was to answer questions if Jonas brought him coffee, how Rodney would stop mid-tirade at the drop of Sam’s name, and that he’s less abrasive one-on-one. He’d use all of this to his advantage, not just for him, but to make sure Rodney’s blood pressure doesn’t get too high.

Could this roll into a relationship? Hmm… It would have to be spearheaded by Jonas, who I think could develop a crush on such an intelligent man. He wouldn’t push a relationship though, he’d wait around hoping Rodney noticed his affection, maybe bring Rodney little well-thought-out gifts.

Hmm… They would probably need a “Aliens made them do it” situation to really push them together. Because, In the end, Rodney is steeped in so much denial he wouldn’t even realize he’s made a friend, let alone the potential for something more. 😭

(I really need a “aliens made them do it” fic with Jonas and Rodney now…)

As far as I'm aware most SG-1 novels take place during the seasons of SG-1, there is not really a continuation like there is with the "Legacy" Series for Atlantis.

There is one SG-1 novel called "Valhalla" that features Jonas and takes place during season 7 of SG-1.

Also if anyone is interested I tried to bring the novels in some kind of time line a while ago which you can find here

Let's get to your Rodney/Jonas ideas. I have to admit, the more i think about them the less i can see them as a romantic couple, maybe they develop a friendship as you described it (I bet Jonas finds Rodney fascinating) but i can't really see them in a romantic setting. So that's all i'll say for now :)

but I'm sending this out to all rarepare shippers, go get ship anon that aliens made them do it fic!

[destielfanfic]

My First Destiel Fic, vol.3

Thank you guys for sharing your memories! My First Destiel Fic is a nostalgic survey open to any destiel fan and has a simple goal - to celebrate fics that were our gateway into a wonderful world of destiel shipping. Thank you, fic writers, you are our heroes!

from @nextheirofslytherin

my first destiel fic was “In This Secluded Spot I Respond As I Wouldn't Dare Elsewhere” by RhymePhile. the girl i liked who got me into supernatural in middle school recommended it to me, so it always has a special place in my heart 😅 it was the first fic i read on ao3 too! i read it while i was watching s3 (cas hadn’t even shown up yet!) but the show was in its 9-10th season

All fic titles link directly to the fic, when it’s possible, we have added another link to our review or submitted rec post.

In This Secluded Spot I Respond As I Wouldn’t Dare Elsewhere by rhymephile [M, 34,000 word count, posted 2010] (our review)

It's 1995, and Castiel's high school years are destined to be difficult: home-schooled until eighth grade, he is awkward, shy, and socially inept. The weird kid with the funny name would rather isolate himself and draw in his sketchbook than deal with the constant bullying he faces every day. Things only get worse in his junior year when he excels in home economics class, leading the captain of the baseball team, Alastair, to start taunting him for being gay. Then new student Dean Winchester arrives at Flour Bluff High School, sharing many of Castiel's classes. Castiel has seen his type before -- handsome, athletic, arrogant, and sure to be the most popular kid in school. But Castiel eventually learns that he and Dean have more in common than he thought, and they form an unlikely friendship.

from @deansbff

i joined the fandom in the beginning of 2019 and molting expectations by tricia_16 was the first fic (over 11k words) that i read. it really made me fall in love with deancas because i realised i didn't need them to be in the canon!verse to be so wonderful, their relationship was amazing in whatever universe they were in and it was always intriguing to read about!!

Molting Expectations by tricia_16 [163,100 word count, posted 2019]

After having trouble coping with a traumatic incident on the job, Dean takes his little brother's advice and leaves everything behind to go stay at the old family cabin in Colorado. Nobody's been there for years so it needs some major work, but it's secluded, and that turns out to be exactly what Dean needs in order to start to feel at peace again. Now in the mountains with nothing but nature to amuse himself with, he takes up bird watching and plans a hike into the mountain range across from his cabin in search of a golden eagle. High up in the mountains, he discovers human footprints. Thinking someone is in danger, he follows them into a cave and quickly becomes familiar with a form of wildlife he never could have imagined: winged people who call themselves angels.

from @bornonathursdayinmarch

I actually started out in the fandom against Destiel. I mean, it was pretty clear that Dean Winchester was not into men. But then I read “Redemption Road” by accident around 2015. I didn’t know it was Destiel. But I got really into it and this fic totally changed my mind on Dean/Cas. I have since read hundreds of Destiel fics and I am more into the ship than ever. My absolute favorite fanfic is “Sweaters and Cigarettes” by lemonoclefox. I love how shy, caring Dean softens cynical Castiel and how in love they are despite being so different. It makes me smile when I’m down.

Redemption Road by spnredemption (the fic is a collaborative effort of a group of destiel writers and artists) [NC-17, 650,000 word count, 24 episodes, posted 2011-12)

With Castiel having set himself up as the new God, drunk on power and volatile as a nuclear reactor, Dean, Sam, and Bobby find themselves on the run from the jealous, capricious monster wearing the face of their friend. Desperate for protection and wary of his brother’s mental state since Castiel unlocked Sam’s memories of Hell, Dean knows Castiel must be defused before he can wreak further havoc in Heaven or on Earth. Although Bobby advocates for destroying Castiel by whatever means necessary, Dean is convinced the Cas he once knew still remains, buried somewhere beneath the mass of poisonous souls and calling out for help. Determined to save the angel who once rescued him from Hell and redefined his purpose in life, Dean himself must resist the allure of the false deity vying for his obedience, and come to terms with the knowledge, long-suppressed, that his feelings for Castiel run much deeper than brotherhood. It is this bond, and the dubious distinction of the Righteous Man, that will ultimately grant Dean access to where Castiel’s grace languishes in Purgatory. However, what Dean brings back with him is broken, angry, and only half-angel, certainly not the Castiel he remembers—and nor is it the only thing that returns to Earth with them…

Sweaters & Cigarettes by lemonoclefox [NC-17, 150,000 word count, posted 2014]  NOTE - the fic was deleted from ao3 by the author, please see our review for more details

Dean Winchester is in high school, crushing hard on Castiel Novak, the unbelievably hot goth who Dean does his very best to convince himself he hates, despite the fact that he can’t really stop staring at him. Dean tries, but when the two of them finally cross paths, their first conversation takes a surprising turn. And suddenly, they both find themselves falling harder and faster than they ever could have expected.

from @iamasphodelknox

Hi! The fic that made Destiel my OTP was The Walk series by Persephoneshadow. It blew my mind and I hadn’t even started watching Supernatural yet. 🙈 I started watching the show last year, just as Season 15 was starting. I’m a newbie but this comfort ship felt like coming home. I also read a turn of the earth by microcomets just as I got to season 4 and it is one of the best things I’ve ever read, fic or no. :)

The Walk by Persephoneshadow [NC-17, 190,000 word count, posted 2017]

Castiel tells himself it was a one time thing, even if his night with a hooker named Dean changed his whole world, but he can’t keep away from the man fate keeps throwing in his path. Castiel is married and he knows his sexuality is an affront to God and everything he’s ever been told is right. Dean tells himself he doesn’t care about the weirdo with blue eyes, but every time they meet he gets a bit closer to something like hope. Dean’s nothing but a homeless waste of space with a brother in foster care a world away and a father in the wind. As the connection between these two lost men deepens, it threatens the carefully maintained lies their lives are built on in a story of faith, mistakes, and the journey of love.

a turn of the earth by mishcollin microcomets [NC-17, 95,300 word count, posted 2015] (our review)

Dean’s your typical half-orphaned, monster-killing 22-year-old until a trenchcoated stranger crashes into his back windshield one September night, claiming he’s an angel that knows him from the future and that he’s on the run. Frigging fantastic. (Or, in which Castiel gets stuck in Dean’s timeline pre series and Dean kind of hates it—until he doesn’t.)

If you enjoyed the fic, please drop by the archive (AO3) and let the author know with your comments and/or kudos! And if you found our recs useful, let us know by Liking and/or Reblogging our posts!

You can find all My First Destiel Fic posts under this tag!

[silkling]

I LOVE the stuff you write for the Rescue Bots and Dreadwing! Get very excited whenever you continue!!!

Thank you!!!! It makes me so happy to see that people enjoy my writing! The Moments in Life ‘verse is one of my personal favorites, because I adore found family and the rescue bots is the perfect vessel for the trope. Dreadwing redemption is just a bonus! I always thought that Prime really messed up with his arc. Like, here you have a Decepticon who’s motivations aren’t just violence, and one who has an honor code and a sense of right and wrong. (Even if that sense of right and wrong is skewed.). But instead of doing anything with it, they just…killed him off. And he’s never mentioned again. There was so much they could have done with his arc, and they didn’t even have to fully make him a good guy, but they just…

So yeah, I’m salty about how Prime handled Dreadwing. That’s why he gets a second chance in my AU! He’s not going to be an angel. In fact, to everyone but his little family he’s going to be more…Decepticon-y. (Not counting the humans, he learns to like them). Dreadwing deserved better, so I’m giving him better.

I have a couple fics I need to write before I can get out the next installment, including one for my Falsely Accused AU, but it should be coming out pretty soon! Barring unexpected complications, anyway. Next one is gonna star Heatwave and Dreadwing! That’ll be fun!

[marshunter06]

Seven- Taylor Swift (Duncney)

Mad love to @straighttxhell for inspiring this (: I know you said TDR verse duncney, but I couldn’t get main verse duncney out of my mind when I saw your post. Cross posted on ao3

It’s a wonder that Duncan turned out the way he did given the background he was born into. A family full of cops and he ends up being a rebellious teenager set on breaking the law. He never intended on choosing this path, but the world was corrupt and the justice system was a prime example. What was the point in following rules when money could buy a get out of jail free card? He’s seen it too many times to count, he still remembers the moment he gave up pretending to be innocent of the wrongs that would occur hidden behind closed doors,

It’s strange that he can’t quite recall the face of his best friend from the age of four to seven, but he can still feel the way she clutched at his shirt when he found her hiding out in the woods by herself. He can still picture the sunny skies overlooking the creek where they used to play, complete with a makeshift swing that he would try and convince her to jump down from into the waters with him already swimming about. Those were the memories he would smile fondly upon, just mere weeks before he realized looks can be deceiving.

It was the summer before she was set to move away, he wanted to give her a proper goodbye and ask her to keep in touch. Sure they had their differences, but she was his best friend, surely they could find a way to continue their friendship. He hears the shouts and broken glass first, he was a few steps away from the porch when she came darting out the front door running towards the forest. Her braids were neatly done up earlier when they had lunch together, he even complimented her on them, but her hair was blowing wildly in the wind when he found her crying by the shallow waters.

He calls her name, when their eyes meet, she couldn’t help it when she flung herself at him to seek some sort of comfort as he struggled to keep from bombarding her with questions as to what happened. He stayed quiet until she calmed down a bit, when he pulled back to look at her that’s when he noticed the giant bruise on her face, he couldn’t hold back his anger as he demanded to know how she got hurt.

“Duncan, it’s okay, I’m alright.”

“You got hit! Hard! Come with me, we’ll tell my parents and we can get the person who did this to you arrested.”

He starts to pull her back towards their neighbors, but she stops him. She didn’t need to speak, with the shake of her head and her slumped shoulders, he knew what she was trying to say. Still, she tells him that she had already tried to get help, but no one would listen. His world came crashing down, his parents are supposed to help protect people, but they failed at keeping this little girl from harm’s way. Maybe it was because she didn’t live with them, his parents couldn’t help because she has her own parents, yes that must be it.

“Come live with me, my mom loves you. We can just tell them your house is haunted, your dad is always mad, they would believe it! Then we could play pirates and go swimming everyday. You won’t ever need to cry or hide away again.”

“It’s not that simple Duncan.”

He doesn’t remember much more of that day, only that they decided to hold onto their innocence a little longer even though they knew they couldn’t go back after this revelation. They ran around playing hide and seek behind the trees, screaming at the top of their lungs pretending to be ferocious beasts with no fear just enjoying the rare warmth from the sun they hadn’t seen in days. He even offered to play dolls with her, but she had already packed them for the move. He does however learn how to braid her hair after they ran out of energy from making the most of their last day together. He barely remembers her shy smile as he carefully followed her instructions to mirror the braid she has already done up on the left side. He made sure to take extra care to not touch her bruise or tug too hard on her hair. When he was done, she gave him another hug to thank him.

Looking back on it now, he’s positive she was the first person he ever loved. Over the years as he begins to see the world in shades of grey rather than the black and white his parents programmed him to believe in, he still thinks of his childhood best friend. He hopes she’s doing alright out there, he hopes she’s far far away from the man who was supposed to shower her with unconditional love.

“You’re awfully quiet today.”

“There’s a lot on my mind Princess.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Only if you promise to keep it a secret.”

His tone was teasing, but his smile dropped when he finally turned over to look at her. Any other person would have missed the slight discoloration on her cheek, but he knew it was her attempt at covering up the abuse. She wasn’t the type to wear a lot of makeup, especially not around him. She freezes seeing his concerned gaze fixed on the one place she hoped he wouldn’t notice. Ever so gently he touches the tender spot on her face, she couldn’t hide her recoil, she’s never seen him this angry before.

“Who did this to you?”

She doesn’t answer him, she deserved the punishment, especially after losing out on the money after she promised she would get redemption this time. She frowns knowing she’s failed again, Duncan was going to find out her life wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. He’s going to leave her just like all the others.

“Courtney… did you ever…”

The words die on his lips as he finally makes the connection. The reason why he was so drawn to her when they first met on the island, why she was adamant on keeping her hair short, her constant need to prove herself, the evidence was right in his face and it took another mark on her face for him to see it. Without another word, he holds her wrapping his arms around her. She’s not sure how to react, but she feels safe in his arms, she remembers a familiar feeling once in her childhood though the memories are blurry. She almost missed his whispered promise, she clutches him tighter, just as she did ten years ago.

“I won’t let him hurt you anymore. Not this time.”

Love you to the Moon and to Saturn

Passed down like folk songs

The love lasts so long

[scrawnytreedemon]

Cid Highwind and/or Vincent V!

Oooohhh!!! Bringing in The Boys? SNkkkkk, I’d expect nothing less of you, Enide <3 I’m not that well-versed in them as I’d like, buT!!! here’s trying!!!! Love a good challenge :)) 

Cid:

First impression: Grumpy tea DILF that swears his ass off. For some reason I keep forgetting Cid is a lancer and not a gunman because??? Usually it’s the gunmen that get depicted all vulgar and rugged, with stubble and cigarettes.

Impression now: Grumpy tea DILF that swears his ass off. Lmao, nothing much has changed, but there’s certainly a free-spiritedness to him; makes sense, the man is a pilot and would’ve been(got to be?) an astronaut. He’s very tough-love in a way that both meshes and manages to be distinct from Barret’s flavour-- I think they’d be good bros :) One thing that sours his character a bit for me is how he verbally abuses Shera :( I’d normally chalk it up to his usual tough-love, but with the major plotpoint of him blaming her for his crushed dreams and how she essentially fulfills the role of an abused wife... I, I’m not so sure. Overall, I like Cid, but it’s a shame.

Favorite moment: Ohh!!! I have a few, such as the way he joins the party, him calling Vinny back to their room, his return to the final fight-- But my favourite has to be on the Materia train hijacking sequence and the dialogue that follows if you pick Yuffie and Vincent as your party members. The dialogue is downright hilarious and you really get the sense that they’ve gotten to know each other behind the scenes(love that about FFVII <3) :)))

Idea for a story: To STEAL an idea from my bud @alunchboxofsushifries she had while we were whinging about DoC, but having the game’s storyline entirely revamped so that it’s Vincent, Cid and Yuffie doing it all together. We don’t know the finer details(and DoC being DoC quite frankly I’m scared of knowing just w h a t might we be changing), but I love the idea alot!!!!! Again, this is my friend Vee’s idea, so major credit to them!!!!

Unpopular opinion: Lmao I don’t think I have enough opinions on him to really have an unpopular one??? Dont get me wrong-- Love the man to bits, however as of yet my focus has been all over the other party members(Barret, Nanaki, ect.) and so I’m not as well-versed in what is the common fanon of this man-- Most I could say is I wished they handled his resentment towards Shera better :(

Favorite relationship: I think him and Vince are such a fun dynamic-- I lean heavily platonic, but I’m sure you know I’m cool with a more romantic connotation. Vince calling him chief and being this affectionately dry almost-sidekick to Cid is the absolute best and its what made me love the train sequence along with Yuffie calling him old man lmaooo-- Adding onto that, I think him and Yuffie could have a snarky grumpy old dad and snide-teenager dynamic where he gives her lectures and she goes “yeah okay, paps”.

Favorite headcanon: Sadly I don’t have really any(I am NOT giving you good food today, am I, Enide? :( ), but I personally think that he’s got the only functioning airship on the Planet. I headcanon Gaia to be roughly the size of our moon, so large enough to hold a fair amount of people but also small so everything’s just a stone’s throw away-- Hell, they only have one major ocean! How wild is that???

Now!!!!! Onto Vince :))))) I have alot more to say(hopefully lmaooo)

First impression: Cool edgy gunman who stands in a corner and mumbles huskily. Drinks only black coffee, if he even drinks at all. Desperately needs a hairbrush.

Impression now: This man is??? SO awkward I???? I lOVE HIM???? He’s also got such a sweetness in my eyes and it’shdfjkjhkjhjg!!!! Like mAN, he’s an outwardly chill if slightly skittish older friend who keeps to the sidelines most of the times but when he does chip in it’s a l w a y s good and very Wise. The man is a bit of a sod, though, sometimes to the point of debilitating self-pity. First thing this guy did was tell you to fuck off and go back to sleep. He rags on himself heavily for his sins and I want to!!! Give the poor fucker a hug because lord knows he hasn’t had one in 27~ years :((( All around, swell guy, WOULD love to have a chill garden-bonfire chat with him :) Still needs a hairbrush, lmao. Also g o l d - p l a t e d  c l o w n s h o e s .

Favorite moment: I must, again, bring up the train scene for reasons mentioned in Cid’s section-- But to get onto another that caught my eye, was when he returned, and Cloud was surprised, having got the feeling that Vince was cold an detached. It’s both sweet, and sad. Vince cares deeply about all of this, about all of them, but because he’s a bit of a poker-faced recluse he doesn’t express it very much. I wonder how he felt, hearing that.

Idea for a story: OF COURSE, once again, Vee’s DoC rewrite(even more so because Vince is the main character), but I think a Seph adoption!AU, whether pre or postgame where in the former he takes Seph in and they’re constantly on the run together, constantly awaiting Shinra’s wolves like stalked deer, or the latter where there’s a tender, redemptive atmosphere but also a psychological, almost-horror element where he loves his Lucrecia’s son so much but also has to serve as his warden lest he be unleashed once more.

Unpopular opinion: I don’t think he’s Sephiroth’s biological father, and, with the nigh-omnipresence of this theory, I’ll be honest and say I find it a little grating? I think it weakens Hojo’s character and makes Vince this Real Fix-It Parent Who’d Never Hurt You :) -- And I understand the appeal, of that, but honest to God it really feels like most of this comes down to Hojo Stinky Baf adn UGLIIII!!! Vimce Good adn Sweete adn Pwetty :333 Facetiousness aside, I can appreciate this being done well, as with anything! Just wish it wasn’t taken as almost canon in fandom spaces :(

Favorite relationship: The man is SO fun to platonically pair up with everyone it’s INSANE, though I don’t think I have a favourite ship??? Like yeah, sure him and Lucrecia had a thing once, but that whole ordeal was more of a human rights crisis and just generally a painful, tragic mess. I don’t think Vincent could really love like that again, not for many years. He aches, even in places he forgets aren’t meant to ache. Especially those. I think he gives everyone a little love in the help he hands out. Vincent’s heart is big and broken, and he fears that if he fills it too much, it’ll burst, and he’ll be left a beast. He needs to learn that he is worthy, but that is a task he must undertake.

Favorite headcanon: Can’t really think of any, as despite his mysterious nature, Vince doesn’t leave too many loose threads in areas of My ConcernTM-- Though if I’m gonna make one up, him, Barret and Cid get together on Saturday nights to hang out around a fire with some beers and have some good Dad Talks-- Peak DILF solidarity, tbh. 

But yeah!!!! Took awhile to write out, hopefully these are sufficient enough for you, O’ Valenwind Extraordinaire beloved! Again, as always, feel free to tack on any further thoughts of your own! Love a good discussion <3 Makes this little corner of the fandom feel warmer.