#'just give her the memories back!' you are the baddies

[thefirstknife]

Spoiler question but do you think you know who from this week's quest will become a you know what?

Will Amanda become a Guardian, I assume!

I don't think so. I don't think it would serve any purpose. Her story came to an end; we learned all we needed to learn about her and she went out the way she lived and for what she believed in. There's also nothing really pointing to her being that relevant to bring back. Like, purely from a technical standpoint; they removed her as a vendor and gave her a send-off, complete with her entire backstory. Making her a Guardian would just be making a new character with her model, but new. I can't see them doing that.

One thing that I also feel like people are forgetting, somehow, is that if she becomes a Guardian, she will not be Amanda. Like, that will be a new character. Nothing she's done before will matter. Crow and Savathun were exceptions central to the story to go forward so they had exceptional stories where they got their memories back. Amanda simply is not. She died and even if she becomes a Guardian, there's no more Amanda. It would be a blank slate. No matter what, all of her conflicts and relationships are over.

I just don't think we need a blank slate New Light Guardian right now or that Bungie would keep her in the game like this currently. I think this season was centered on wrapping up stuff about her, giving her a full scope of the backstory and basically letting us say goodbye. It does not read like a setup for a new Guardian.

Obviously, Bungie could have something extraordinary planned out that we can't possibly guess and that would make Amanda returning as a Guardian really compelling. Who knows! Maybe this is something that will happen down the line. As in, after this saga ends and some new story in the setting begins!

But right now? Until the saga ends? I just do not think Amanda as a Guardian is a storyline that needs to be told while we're scrambling to wrap up loose ends before The Final Shape. She was a human face to the war and a victim of it, something to remind us about our mortality and the fact that we're not invincible. Despite Guardians and all our powers, we are fighting for people who are mortal and fragile and those people also have the right to defend their home. Amanda took that very seriously and helped a lot of people, but ultimately at the cost of her own life.

Bringing her back could offer some potential stories, absolutely, depending on how you want to take things in the future. But overall, I just think it's not likely for her to be planned to return as a Guardian, at least not within the scope of the current story. Of course we can't really know what's in store, but from what we do know (lore-wise and meta-wise), the likelihood of this happening is very low.

[gallaghersgal]

first misses || carmen berzatto

pairing: carmy x fem!reader

warnings & tags: no warnings! fluff, fluff, and more fluff. first kiss scenario. giving carmen the sweet innocent childhood moments he deserves. growing apart but finding each other again <33

a/n: thank u to worm for the idea, and to the tumblr baddie collective for cheering me on! my first FULL length carmy fic, and my first work over 1k in ... actual years i think.

wc: 1.3k

Carmen never liked wearing glasses. they fogged up too often, or slipped down the bridge of his nose. and one time, when he was eleven years old, they just about ruined his life.

You were the prettiest girl in the fifth grade, a Chicago transplant, and the apple of every little boy's eye. But you only had eyes for one Carmen Berzatto. The day you made him hold your hand to cross the street on the field trip to the art museum, he knew he couldn't let summer roll around without telling you how he felt. But Mikey teased him, and Sugar tried her best but her advice sounded too motherly, so Carmen was left to plot for himself.

He still remembers that day, the last day of fifth grade. The pretty gingham dress with the little bow you wore—your Dorothy dress, as you called it—and your hair tied up to play field games with the other kids waiting at pickup. He had tugged you behind the bleachers with nervous, sweaty palms, thankful that you didn't notice or at the very least held back any comments.

"I wanna kiss you," he blurted out, cheeks turning pink at the admission. "C-Can i kiss you?"

You looked down at your feet for a minute, tennis shoe toe digging into the gravel, before you looked up at him. "Um, sure!" you grinned shyly, and Carmen felt like his world was skidding to a halt right then and there. "I've never kissed anyone before. like, on the lips?"

"I-I h-haven't either," he stammered, his face going pale with nerves. His hands began to shake when you stepped up closer.

"That's okay, I think it's easy."

You held out your hand until Carmen took it, then closed your eyes to lean in. He couldn't help but stare curiously, and the moment unfolded before his eyes. Before you could kiss him, your brow ran right into the wireframe of his glasses. You pulled back, a little startled, one eyebrow raised.

"Sorry, 'm s-sorry," he said nervously, watching as you scrunch your nose in concentration. Before he knew what was happening you'd leaned in again. Your lips barely brushed his, those stupid glasses still in the way, but it was a kiss. It counted.

You pulled back with a wide grin, "there! Now we had our first kiss!"

Carmen wanted to say something, he really did. Maybe ask to sign your yearbook, or if you’d want to come see a movie with him, but the teacher was calling your name. You had to leave. You had to leave, and Carmen didn't know if he'd see you at all, for the whole summer. His little heart ached at the thought of not seeing your smile. Not hearing your laugh. Missing the way you always smelled like strawberries and vanilla from your little hand sanitizer, the one he always asked to borrow after recess.

But at that moment you were standing in front of him, with that same pretty grin, and throwing your arms around him for a quick hug. You turned to leave, then turned back, just to surprise him with a sweet kiss to his cheek. "Bye Carmy! Have a good summer!" you said, before running off.

And Carmen just stood there, awestruck.

Sure, he saw you again the next year, but a lot happened that summer. The transition to middle school was a big one, you weren't in any classes together, and year by year the two of you grew apart until Carmen was halfway across the country and you were nothing but a memory.

He didn't see you again until, god, at least thirteen years later. He wasn't sure how long it had been. He wasn't even sure how he'd managed to bump into you. But a few hours and a coffee later you'd given him your number. And that night you'd texted him; would you wanna go out, like on a date? i couldn't bring myself to ask you face to face. but i think it would be nice. just lmk :)

And it was nice. you wore a dress that looked amazing against your skin, and he got to finally tell you how pretty you were, after all the years of silence. After the days spent sketching you in the margins of his notebooks, peering at you from across the cafeteria, and showing up to football games just to get a glimpse of you with your friends. You looked beautiful as ever, and he made sure to tell you. 

“Y’know, I always thought you were so pretty” he mumbled, sounding reverent as he stood outside your apartment door. Your back was against your door, hands not even bothering with pushing it open. 

“That’s really sweet, Carmy,” you whispered. One hand raised up to touch his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin under your fingertips. His cheeks were tinted a soft pink, that same lovely color you’d see when you were young. The one you’d crack jokes, give lingering glances, and throw compliments his way just to see. 

Carmen’s eyes fluttered closed, like he was committing your image to memory. Maybe he was. 

“Do you remember the last day of fifth grade?” you asked cautiously, waiting for him to open his eyes before continuing. “When we kissed under the bleachers?” His embarrassment was written across his face, cheeks flushed and eyes cast down to the floor. You took one curl by the side of his face around your finger, twirled it into a perfect little spiral just to let it go again. Patiently, you waited for him to speak.

“Y-Yeah, yeah. I remember,” he replied with a quiet laugh. “I went home and begged my mom not to make me wear glasses anymore. As if she could’ve done anything about my shitty eyesight,” he added with a scoff.

“Hm. Well, I mean, I guess it worked. You got contacts, yeah? Or are you just blind as a bat?” you asked, and brought your eyes up to meet his own. “Do you wanna try again?” You tacked the last sentence on, almost like an afterthought, afraid if you took too much time to think on it you’d chicken out entirely. 

Carmen grinned, and you swore it was one of the most beautiful things you’d ever seen. Not the tight lipped smile he often wore in photos, no, this was all teeth and sparkling eyes and joy. Like the kid under the bleachers all those years ago. 

“Bats, uhm, they- they aren’t,” he stammered, his hands shaking as they held on to your hips. “Common mistake, see, they’ve actually got-”

“Carmen,” you interrupted softly. He only hummed in response, a soft affirmative noise that let you know he wanted this too. As if the way he looked at you could’ve been interpreted any other way. “Just kiss me.”

You didn’t have to tell him twice. His lips were soft–if not a little chapped, but you didn’t mind–when they finally brushed yours, this time with no pesky glasses in the way. One of his hands moved up to the back of your neck, cradling you there.

To call the moment bliss would’ve been an understatement. 

When Carmen finally pulled away from you his eyes remained closed, soaking up the moment, afraid he’d look again to find it was all a dream. A dream he’d had over and over, each night as he drifted off. The sweet girl he’d once known, finally in his arms again.

When his blue eyes finally made their reappearance you were staring at him, analyzing his expression as one finger twirled around that same little curl. “You should come inside,” you told him, and he winced slightly. 

“I-I, don’t wanna fuck it up. Don't wanna rush... this,” he admitted breathlessly, to which you shook your head.

“Nothing like that. Just, don’t wanna stop talking to you,” you explained, showing your intentions were to take this slow. To learn him again, or, was it for the first time? It didn’t matter. All that mattered was his smile, as he nodded and followed you inside.

end.

main masterlist || carmy masterlist

[lovegalor333]

lord please save her for me

paige bueckers x fem oc

story info • chapter one • chapter two

hello baddies! 💋⭐️ nsfw! smutttttt munch fingering all the good stuff cheating 😵‍💫 i don’t want to talk too much but my head is a mess lol and it has been for a while and i have zero motivation to write and everything i do write, i hate. lowkey wish i never started this but i will see it out until the end. love yall x

chapter three:

“i missed the way you taste.” paige mumbled into lenis core inbetween flicks of her tongue. she had leni sat on the couch, legs spread, face buried inbetween while she kneeled on the ground. one hand was planted firmly on lenis thick thigh and she squeezed it each time leni moved, trying to keep her in place. her other hand was tweaking and pinching lenis nipple and the petite girl groaned in satisfaction at paiges touch.

“fuck- i missed this feeling.” leni moaned, head falling back to rest on the couch.

“how much?” paige mused, the vibrations from her words making leni shudder, “s-so much.”

paige pushed up lenis legs so they were bent, feet on the couch, “hold your legs for me len.” paige instructed, placing lenis hands on her calves, keeping her spread out position in place.

her slender fingers teased at lenis folds, already dripping with arousal from paiges mouth, “don’t tease paige.” leni breathed, bucking her hips up needily. “i’ve thought about this everyday for the last year. having you like this again. legs open, pussy calling my name. i’ll tease until you’re crying if i want to.” leni had almost forgotten what paige got like during sex. it had been so long, paiges dominant ways had faded from her memory. but she missed it. salacious words and tight grips, the thought alone made the girls heart race.

paige didn’t tease for long, leaning down she let a glob of spit fall from her mouth straight onto lenis cunt. she spread the saliva around before gently pushing two fingers in. “fuckkk.” her movements started off slow and soft, basking in the feeling of lenis walls finally being around her again. but paiges head was spinning just as much as lenis. she had missed this so much, she didn’t want this moment to end. she wanted to go round after round, all day long.

she was quick to fasten her pace, squelching sounds and heavy breathing filling the room, “shit- keep going paige. don’t stop.” leni urged and she moved her hips, pushing herself further onto to paiges fingers. leni was losing the ability to hold her legs open, arms falling slack but paige didn’t care, she simply held lenis legs open herself as she continued driving into her. with a third finger now in the mix leni could feel the stretch and it made her toes curls and eyes screw shut, the feeling could only be described as euphoric.

“does she fuck you like this?” paige rasped, pressing her thumb to lenis clit. the girl was unable to speak, any words that wanted to come out were stuck in lenis throat and revealed themselves as chocked moans. “i said does. she. fuck. you. like. this?” paige repeated and with each word came a hammering to lenis g-spot. she shook her head giving the blonde some form of response but that didn’t satisfy paige, “say it. say it or you’re not cumming.”

“fuck paige, no!” leni gasps, “no one fucks me like you.” her thighs begin to shake as if speaking had somehow pushed her over the edge, any energy she was using to make this moment last and not finish too quick had gone. “anyone?” paige halts her movements, fingers stationary inside leni.

paige had been lenis first, she knew that and she took pride in it. she wouldn’t have cared either way, she wasn’t a slut shamer but there was something about knowing she was first girl person to touch leni, make her cum, have her screaming her name, that was personal to paige. she had assumed that leni had slept with riley but who else?

“how many people have fucked you since me?” paige asks leaving leni confused and chasing a high that was quickly subsiding. “what?” leni pants, looking down at a kneeling paige. “how many people have fucked you? been inside you but never made you feel the way i do?” she curves her fingers earning a short gasp, “jesus paige! i don’t know, two…three?” “including riley?” she curls her fingers again, “f-four.” “four people and i’m still number one?” “yes paige, fuck yes. you’ll always be number one. just let me cum…please.” leni begs throwing her head back in frustration.

“never forget it leni. never forget how i made you feel. how i make you feel. this pussy is mine, you understand?” leni knows better than to simply nod, “yes, paige.” “good girl.” and with that paige finds her stride again, ploughing into leni with no mercy.

she knew the girls body like the back of her hand. she knew what she liked and she was about to show her that she never forgot. dipping her head down, paige licked her lips before diving into leni sopping cunt. leni had an immediate reaction to paiges mouth, her thighs closing around her head. paige was encapsulated but she loved it, the wetness in her boxers only intensified the harder leni squeezed.

“shit paige- right there.” leni mewled and paige smiled into her cunt as she felt her tensing around her fingers. the moans spilling from the pretty girls mouth and the way her body twitched and writhed on the couch only spurred paige on. she sucked her clit into her mouth and pushed her fingers as deep as they could go. leni was incoherent at this point and paige was in her element.

“gonna- gonna cum paige.” leni choked out as she reached for paiges head. paige wanted to speak, she wanted to talk leni through it but she was trapped by the girls thighs, completely buried in her, she couldn’t breathe let alone talk but she made sure leni knew she was right there. linking her free hand into lenis she held it tight as the girl came undone on her face. thighs tightening, body shaking, a string of curse words being cried out.

paige basked in the reaction lenis body had to her. legs limp and quivering. chest heaving, lips slightly parted, cheeks flushed. “you’re so fucking hot.” the blonde expressed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, edging her way up until she was face to face with leni. she kissed her slowly, hands trailing up her sides as she did. “wanna feel you paige.” leni whimpered as her own hands found paiges waist band, pulling the string on her sweats to loosen them, “im all yours len, go ahead.”

leni and paige switched positions so paige was laid on the couch and leni tactfully pulled down her sweat pants and boxers and they pool at her ankles. leni was never a tease, she couldn’t resist, she didn’t have enough self control to take her time with paige. she pushed her fingers into her own mouth, making them slick enough to slide into paige, “shit len.” paige rasped as her eyes focused on the way leni moved her fingers inside of her.

lenis movements were precise and perfect and her fingers knocked into the gummy spot inside of paige over and over. her thumb rubs circles over paiges clit, making her blue eyes rolling in her head, “fuck leni, right there.” paige murmured and leni listened, focused and determined to make paige cum. “want you to cum for me p.” leni cooed, slipping another finger inside and paiges back arched at the stretch, “im gonna, dont stop.” the blonde begged and again, leni listened. her fingers continued to pound in and out, paiges wetness dripping down and onto the couch. her thumb work was nasty as it swirled and pressed on paiges swollen clit. the athlete had fucked multiple people since breaking up with leni, so many so she’d be embarrassed if leni asked her to put a number on it like she did her. but one thing paige knew for certain was, no one made her feel the way the curly haired girl in between her legs made her feel.

paiges heart was palpitating, stomach tensing and legs twitching as that familiar tightness built in her abdomen, “i can feel it paige, i know you’re close.” leni purred and she lowered her face to paiges cunt, sucking her clit into her mouth and thats all paige needed to push her over the edge. “fuck- im cumming.” she groaned out, latching onto lenis curly bun and pushing her face into her.

leni continued to ride paige through her high, tongue still swirling and fingers still hammering. leni could have continued until paige came again and again but her ringtone rang out from her phone on the coffee table and stopped her in her stride. before the brunette girl could see who was calling her, paige had her phone in her hand and swiped to answer the call, pressing the phone onto speaker and holding it out to leni. seeing rileys contact illuminate the screen made lenis jaw drop.

“hello, len? are you there?”

“uh huh, im here.” lenis voice was shaky as she glared at paige who just smirked back.

“im leaving work early baby, wanted to see if you needed me to bring you anything?” paige rolled her eyes at the use of the pet name and leaned forward so she could reach lenis hand that was just buried inside of her.

“um…no, i’m go-” leni couldn’t finish her sentence because paige had gripped her hand and pushed her wet fingers into her mouth.

“what len? are you ok?”

“mmhmm.” leni tried her best to talk while paige pushed her fingers deeper in her throat.

“you don’t sound it. lucky im coming over, i’ll look after you.” paige rolled her eyes again before hanging up the call and leni immediately pushed her away.

“that was fucked up!” leni fumed, standing up from the couch and pulling on her discarded panties and shorts.

“that was hot.” paige corrected her, also pulling up her boxers and sweat pants.

“paige thats my girlfriend and she on her way here. you need to leave…like now.” lenis quick change of character confused paige and the blonde girl frowned behind her glasses.

“leni. i just ate you out-“

“yeah, you still need to leave. you can’t be here when she gets back.”

“what is happening right now?”

“i don’t know paige. i never know what’s going on between us. you really need to go.” leni wrapped her blanket back around her and she walked to the door.

“have you not heard everything i’ve been saying? i ended it with camilla. i want you, len.”

“i heard you paige. i just need to think.”

“what the fuck was that then?” paige motions to the couch that her and leni were just on. images of their bodies on each other’s running through her mind.

“i don’t know paige. you’re like a drug. i can’t stop but it’s not good for me.”

“so you just fucked me, let me fuck you and now you’re going to play happy families with your girlfriend?” paige was raising her voice now, what was leni playing at?

“stop asking all these questions paige! i don’t know! i don’t what i’m doing! i don’t know what i’m thinking! please just leave.”

“i’ll leave but this isn’t it leni. i know i fucked up back then but i promise you, it’ll be different this time. just trust me, please.” leni was holding the door open, refusing to look at paige.

“give me time.” was all the girl said and paige didn’t argue, she simply kissed lenis cheek and walked out of the apartment.

closing the door behind paige, leni let out a frustrated breath, sinking down to the floor, she rested her head on her knees. she knew she had a decision to make but she had worked so hard to heal from paige and she wasn’t sure she could through that again but there was something about paige that had her in a chokehold. something so consuming and overwhelming that she couldn’t ignore it.

paige was equally as frustrated and confused. with her head rested on her steering wheel, her heart raced and her eyes stung, if she blinked, she was sure she would cry. and that’s how she knew this was different. paige bueckers had never cried over a girl. she’d never cared enough to be emotionally involved but leni was different. she was like no other and it scared paige but she was willing to look that fear in the eye if it meant she got to call leni hers.

thank u for reading baddies! as always let me know if u wanna be added to the tag list 💋

tag list: @unadulteratedcyclepaper @heart4caitlin @jadasogay @avvwritesstufff @bueckersp

story info • chapter one • chapter two

[saltandfire-blog]

All Time Favorite Lucemond Fics

Thought I’d post some baddies to help us heal from this last season.

ñuhon - When Lucerys lives and wakes up to oblivion, Aemond decides that—more than an eye for an eye—Lucerys in his entirety would be for Aemond to completely own.

In other words: Omega Lucerys survives yet loses his memories, and Alpha Aemond takes his revenge on him creatively.

Holy fuck, this might actually be one my favorite fics of all time. INCREDIBLY well written and perhaps one of the most tragic/romantic lucemond pieces I’ve ever read. I also find myself adoring the Daeron/Joffrey dynamic that is unexpectedly thrown in that I didn’t know I wanted.

all I had to give - Lucerys has waited for Aemond to find him again since his fall. He is only surprised it took this long.

I think this was technically my first a/b/o lucemond verse fic that blew my heart away. Aemond and Luke’s portrayal in this might actually be my favorite. And the added Alysmond is a +❤️

real gods require blood - Before King Viserys I Targaryen draws his last breath, the Greens make their move. Rhaenyra Targaryen and her family find themselves prisoners in the Red Keep, cut off from their dragons and at the mercy of a new king.

Terrified of what fate awaits his family, Lucerys Velaryon turns to the only person at court willing to help him, no matter the price he has to pay.

Or: Lucerys offers himself in exchange for his family’s safety. Aemond could never refuse.

Not only is this fucking incredible to read, it might be my favorite smutty fic out there. The dialogue between Aemond and Luke just hits sooooo amazingly, this is one of those fics I go back to regularly to reread. I await the authors part 2 of this with baited breath!

Consanguinity - When the bastard Addam of Hull claims Seasmoke, it throws House Velaryon into disarray. All except Corlys, who spies the perfect opportunity to help his heir out of the delicate situation he has found himself in with an impromptu suggestion.

Though quite why Prince Aemond seems so affronted by the match is anyone’s guess.

Speaking of fics I go back to reread - this is definitely another one!! @nashiriel is an absolutely incredible writer and I can’t wait to see where she goes with this! I don’t like to spoil other people’s work…but I love a pregnant Lucerys a/b/o verse with a deliciously angsty twist ❤️

Divenire - Lucerys survives Storm's End however now he needs to survive Aemond, his obsession over a debt paid and the Dance of the Dragons.

This is one of the first Lucerys/Aemond fics that blew my mind. Is it insanely demented and toxic? Yes. Is it amazingly well written? YES! You decide if it’s your cup of tea, but I always return back to this one every once in a while when I want a pure hate no happy ending fic.

Heir of the Tides series - In 120 AC, Aemond Targaryen lost an eye to his nephew. In 129 AC, he demands the price to be paid.

Later on, Lucerys Velaryon will tell his mother that it was a fair exchange. (or, the author went out and wrote the eye fic she so wanted to read).

I admit, I am an absolute sucker for the idea of Luke taking his own eye out. Add on top of that a Luke who takes more of a role in his Velaryon inheritance - and can’t forget the battle of the Gullet 🤌🏻 !! Definitely a series to invest in.

Life for life, eye for eye - Aemond finds his nephew, somehow surviving the death of his dragon over Shipbreaker Bay, washed ashore, an empty socket where his right eye should be. The message, to Aemond, is obvious: the gods have given Luke to him, to do with him as he sees fit.

Meanwhile, when Luke wakes up, prisoner to his uncle, his world quickly narrows to one thing and one thing alone: surviving, so he can return to his mother, and the rest of his family, alive.

--

In which Aemond surpasses Daemon for title of 'worst uncle' by several miles and Luke suffers.

Ok so please beware, this is about as dark as it gets. If you’re triggered easily, this isn’t the fic for you. It explores extreme Lima and Stockholm syndrome forsure, but if you’re into this ship I’m sure you must know it consists of a broad spectrum of very dark, toxic fics, and this is one that just so happens is amazingly well written. Please keep in mind, if you don’t like, don’t fucking read.

Portrait of a Prince on Fire - Ser Luke Strong, legitimised bastard of the lord of Harrenhal, has found favour at the sumptuous court of Viserys I as a court painter. But he is also Lucerys Waters, unacknowledged bastard of Princess Rhaenyra of Dragonstone. The secret of his true parentage and the life he could’ve had eats him up, and he drowns his regrets in drink and brawling.

Prince Aemond hasn’t been seen outside court since he lost his eye, over a decade ago. Now he is about to be wed — and the king commissions Luke to paint the portrait that will be sent to Aemond’s betrothed.

They hate each other at first sight — but as Viserys lies dying, the portrait sets them on a collision course that will send them spiralling inexorably together. And as the realm descends into war, they will have to decide whether to hold on to each other as the world they knew begins to shatter.

Another fic I am completely obsessed with! @fruitageoforanges has probably written one of my all time favorite portrayals of Aemond and I love the refreshing take on Lucerys I’ve never seen done before in this ship. A 17th century AU that has an awesome amount of fashion I adore and is an absolute must read 😉❤️

Star-Crossed - Lucerys is taken captive by the Greens after his fall. When Aemond is assigned as his constant guard, and so constant companion, the romance that blooms between them spins the Dance of the Dragons on its head.

Or: two young lovers from rival factions of the royal family come together in a violent world.

I can’t list off lucemond fics without giving this one an honorable mention.

Dirección de la Luz - A decade had passed since Hwa Yeong was exiled from Yin. He had traveled through the entire empire three times and still had not found his death.

Until one day he met the dragon prince.

Or: Pregnant and solely with the company of his dragon Arrax, Lucerys Velaryon travels to the Yi Ti Empire and begins a new life away from his family and Aemond Targaryen.

A fic published in Spanish, but there is a translated version linked or you can translate yourself as I found myself doing because this story drew me in SO hard I couldn’t wait for the translator to update lol. This is such an original idea and SO fascinating to read with the authors portrayal of Yi Ti culture with such amazing detail!! I can’t give this author enough praise and encouragement to keep going!

the beast you’ve made of me - Lucerys Velaryon is no coward. He is frightened. He is alone. He is a bastard. He is a prisoner of a war he would do anything to stop. But he is no coward.

Lucerys survives Shipbreaker Bay. Aemond is baptised in the storm. This is the aftermath.

If you want Team Green Lucerys, this is your story. When you have to join the enemy to save your family with long term goals, Luke really goes through it in this one, but the political seesaw between his love for Aemond and his family is fabulous to read unfold 🤌🏻

Hope I’ve given you guys some beauties to read if you haven’t already 💎🗡️🩸

Lucemond is a beautiful, terrible place 😉

(Tried to @ as many as I could that are here on tumblr)

[cherryswisherz]

triggered

jana x oc

warnings: oc is going through a breakup

get it the fuck together jaz. lock. in. 

staring into the mirror, i study every aspect of my face. my curls flow down my back. my face is beat to perfection. the jewelry i have on costs more than my rent. 

i should be ecstatic.

i'm living every girls dream. 

there are 5000 people outside this bathroom door, chanting my name, waiting for me to give them memories they'll die with. 

and yet i'm in here, staring at myself, fighting the urge to say fuck this shit and go home. 

my phone dings, and i ignore it, thinking it's my manager, telling me i need to haul ass and get on stage. 

but then it dings again. 

holly never texts twice. 

i pull out my phone and it's paige. 

i forgot she's here. 

paigey be you. be great.

oh fuck her for that. 

now i have  to go on. 

with a sigh, and a quick tune up in the mirror, i open the door, march to the stage entrance and wait for my que. 

the music starts and i walk with all the confidence i can muster and smile at the deafening screams of my name. 

jazmin! jazmin! jazmin!

paige is front and center, with all her teammates and azzi. 

i used to be the number one pazzi shipper. i fought for this relationship to happen. i practically shoved paige out of the closet myself so that she and azzi could be together. 

and now here they are with my face on their shirts and holding each other in their arms and i want to throw up. 

not because i don't want them together, but because seeing that makes the loneliness in my chest seem bigger. 

i don't even really miss her.  i just miss having someone to call at 3 am when i can't sleep. i miss having someone to call first when i get news. i miss having someone to hold. 

i guess you could say i miss being in a relationship, rather than the person i was in a relationship with. 

"hey guys !" i yell into the mic, and everyone screams. "thank you all for coming out today, i love you all so much!" the crowd is deafening. "i wanna give special shout out to my sister, paige and the other members of the UCONN womens basketball team for being hear today!" the camera pans to paige and the girls, and i do a double take when i see a girl around my age, towering over everyone else. "i love you paigey!" the crowd goes wild.��

the concert began and i used my show to work through all the mixed emotions i was feeling, bringing my audience with me through them. 

we danced during my verse on my type. laughed during b.s. . cried during none of your concern.

and after an hour and 30 minutes of singing, dancing, crying, and yapping between songs, the concert was over. 

and i could a breathe again. 

until i was bombarded by my 6'1 sister and her ginormous friends. 

everyone told me how amazing i look and sound and how they listen to my music everyday. these are things i hear everyday so i say the same response i say everyday. 

"thank you so much." 

"aye we're boutta go to a club, you trynna roll with us?" paige asked, rubbing her hands together and looking at her girlfriend, who i'm just now realizing is wearing a semi-skimpy outfit. 

so is everyone else, actually. 

and now they're looking at me like i can't say no. 

so i don't. 

"uh yeah!" i chuckle uncomfortably. "just let me change real quick."

*luh time skip*

i'm actually glad i came out. 

we got a section. bottles galore. music is booming. 

the vibes are actually immaculate. i'm two shots in and kk is twerking in my lap as big boogie talks about taking caramel colored baddie to poundtown. we vibing for real. 

i've learned the beautiful girl from earlier is named jana. she doesn't really talk, and i guess she'd too young to drink because she's been babysitting ginger ale all night. 

"i'm gonna go get a bottle of casamingo!" i annouce, bouncing up from the counch and stomping down the stair of our section. 

when i reach the bar, i pay the bartender and wait for my bottle. but while i'm waiting i hear my name being called and i assume it's a fan, so i turn around with a huge smile, only to be slapped in the face with the sight of my ex-girlfriend, kristen.

she looks exactly the same as she did three weeks ago when we broke up. and for some reason that pisses me off. it makes my blood boil and my breath quicken. 

i'm ripped out of my trance when i hear the dj yell, "WE GOT JAZMIN INNA HOUSE!!!" 

fuck. he's gonna make me sing. 

"COME UP AND GIVE SOMETHING GIRL!" he shouts and everyone screams in agreement. 

in a daze, i walk to the stage and grab the mic. 

everyone chants, 

freestyle freestyle freestyle

and then the dj, who i'm beginning to really fucking hate, plays a beat i've never heard before, leaving me not knowing what the fuck to do. 

i look to our section, and see my sister with her phone up, recording. i see azzi giving me thumbs up like the sweetheart she is. i see kk clapping and cheering with everyone else. 

i see jana, with a look of fear in her eyes. 

like she can tell that i'm freaking fuck out, so she is too. 

but i can't go out like this. 

so i catch the beat, and sing whatever comes to mind. 

saying everything that's been on my mind for weeks now. 

"go figure you were the trigger you brought me to an obstructed view when you knew the picture was bigger who am i kiddin? knew from the beginnin you'd ruin everything you do it everytime you are my enemy, you are no friend of mine, muhfucka"

the crowd is loving it, swaying their flashlights to the music. paige looks so proud of me. she knows how i've been struggling since everything happened so i think she knows what a release this is. 

i look over to kristen who looks delectable, like always and it's pissing me off because the sex was great, but everything else sucked. but it's been so fucking long and i know that if i had 5 minutes to talk to her earlier i would have been back at square one in that toxic cycle of fucking and making up. 

"wanna fuck you right now i just turned the light out know and you know when the sun go down that's when it would all go down been a minute been a while ain't let nobody hit since you hit it i know you always know what to do with it but ain't no me and you without you in it damn i'm boutta burn this bitch down think i need to lie down cause i'm not trynna wild out now. but right now..."

i think of the screaming matches. the broken phone. the hole in my wall.

"don't know what i'm capable of might fuck around and go crazy on cuz might fuck around have to pay me in blood this ain't the way that you want it might catch a case in this bitch don't let m catch you face t face in this bitch trying my hardest not to disrespect you but after what you did, man what you expect? you muhfucka"

i find jana in the crowd because her face is so calming to me, and i don't know why. her eyes are closed and she's just vibing with a small smile on her face. 

she's not recording or anything, she's just enjoying the moment, and that warms my heart. 

"trynna let the time fly trynna let the time go by trynna let the time heal all trynna let the time kill all of our memories all you meant to me all that's history i'll calm down eventually fall back into me maybe i'm overeacting baby i don't know what happened you know all of my bad habits you know it's hard for me to control that shit man cuz when i get mad i get big mad shoulda never did that, get back in my bag in my feelings i'm a bad lil bitch and uh-"

i look back to kristen, who's wearing a pained expression on her face. 

good.

she know it's about her. 

"i'm triggered, when i see your face triggered when i hear your name triggered, i am not okay you need to stay out my what triggered when i hear your name triggered i am not okay you need to stay out my way." 

and then it's over, and the crowd cheers, and i hurry off the stage, back to my section where my friends all hug me and tell me that it was beautiful. 

and when the crowd settles, and i've taken another shot, because i felt entirely too sober, someone taps me on my shoulder. 

it's jana.

"can i get your number?"

"huh?" i ask confused as to why she'd want my number. 

"uh..." she looks around for a second. "i just wanna pay you back for the bottle."

jana hasn't been drinking.. why would she need to pa-

a light bulb goes off in my head and it all come together. 

"here." i hold my phone to hers and our contacts share to each other. 

am i ready for this?

probably not.

but.... we gotta start somewhere right?

niyah speaks lawd they got me writing a seriessss

taglist: @patscorner @riyahtheballer @mattslolita @thaatdigitaldiary @janaelalfysblunt @mrsengstler @kmoneymartini @sageworld

@darkskinchristiandiorpostergirl @justliketoreadsowhat @pboogerswbb @pb524830 @dnftpn @sierrale8ne @ohbueckers @mrsarnold @wbbgetsmewetter @paigesbabygirl @ch12334

@pppaaiiiggggeeeeee @uwupaige @paigeluvvr @colorthecosmos444 @authentic-girl03 @makethemhoesmad

[thekristen999]

Anytime the show needs a dramatic arc, or a bad guy, they do a pretty good job of going back through past seasons and plucking out a person.

We're going on four years, but I still think it would be interesting if Eddie crossed paths with the fight promoter from the street fighting arc.

We have no idea if his whole operation was shut down after Eddie called the cops and they started an investigation. Did the guy lose a ton of money?

Does he see Eddie at a scene and just....hatches plans.

Or what about the guy he almost killed? I bet Eddie's face is burned into memory. The other fighter guy is still struggling with hard times, and he sees the dude who not only sent him to a hospital that racked up a big medical bill, but maybe cost him a bet that was his 'ticket' out of a jam?

How dare this guy be walking around happy as a clam after he kicked bone cartilage into his freaking sinus cavity-- that still gives him hell to this day.

Give me Eddie targeted by a big bad...and the team racing to figure out who put Eddie in the hospital. Could you imagine the emotion??

Athena tracking the baddie down, Bobby right there with her. Bobby who has a fiery side when you hurt one of his family.

We finally see the team work together when they discover Eddie in his crashed car or crumpled mess at his home. Hen and Chim pulling out all the stops to save his life.

Buck at his bedside! The freaking will reveal...

Come on Tim, it's here for taking. You love this stuff!

[theeternalwombtarot]

Channeled message: 12/26/24

Mop your floors, sweep dirt out, practice both physical and spiritual hygiene at this time, this is a good time for self care rituals, extractions, exfoliation routines, dental and oral care, face masks. Good time to redo nails or toes for women as well. Do laundry, wash bed sheets, purge, detox, release. Revelations coming to you soon about blockages, delays, doors that have been closed in your life or memories and situations or karmic cycles that have played out in your life consistently or for a long time. Spiritual light bulb moments or ideas and breakthroughs coming soon as well. A karmic lesson or cycle that was long term finally being learned or you undergoing quantum leap or shifts into a higher consciousness permanently after doing the inner work. A shift in lifestyle, a shift in salary, a shift in your ambitions, motivations or intentions. Preparation for 2025, or coming into the most prosperous and aligned year of your life. Full release from spiritual poverty or release of karmic generational cycles regarding religion or spirituality or ones connection to divinity and ignorance to it. The pinky finger is significant, the ring finger, and the feet. Candles as well.

The water is significant, water signs (Pisces, cancer, scorpio) a Pisces especially or water sign dominant people coming back into your life either permanently or as a reminder of a karmic cycle and why we need space or to step out of such karmic cycles or both (in the sense that the person reminds you of a karmic cycle or why you don’t participate in certain behaviors by remaining permanently or creating stability in your life) connection to water deities or the Oannes especially for people of color (of all shades, hues and origins, scroll through my page and see some of the messages in which I reference the Divine Mother and the Oannes).

Large groups of diviners, light workers, prophets and prophetesses and priest and priestesses (especially the divine feminine as this is her time for awakening, just heard this quote I saw today and a couple of different times “in tarot we don’t call her a baddie we call her the high priestess”) within this collective or coming into God consciousness. There may be people around you who are giving you push back or that you’re picking up on bad or stagnant energy from it’s because you’re triggering them, causing cognitive dissonance or have essentially have outgrown their energy and place in their life and they yours. You’ve been warned about people rejecting you or being upset because they don’t recognize you or having a hard time connecting with or understanding you following your ascension or rise into your higher self or highest form of alignment. You’ve been having visions or picking up on energetic vibrations from people that you don’t like or depict separations between you and people who are in your life at the moment.

Keep in mind that if these people see you, are observing you, or are aware of these shifts or your energy and power at this time they are energetically placing themselves to some extent in opposition of it let that be telling, accept people for who they are.

The implementation of routines or intentional practices and lifestyles are going to be significant for you in this upcoming season. I was going to stay that sleep and bedtimes or time blocking and times in the day are incredibly significant and you should build your schedule or routines in alignment with spirituality or spiritual intention. Just for a notification from my mantra app about bedtimes with an affirmation.

There may be more of this message, or more messages in general, stay tuned or keep up with my on Instagram threads as well as I’m on there pretty consistently as well.

[therobotmonster]

What do you get when the 6 Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman decide to pull a Brady Bunch and a Johnny Quest at the same time?

You Get the Bionic Six.

Impossible to find streaming in high quality anyplace, but a bunch of eps in pretty decent quality hit archive.org.

Decent animation, an earworm themesong that I am so frightened of I muted it while taking its screenshots. The Bionic Six is a lost 80s gem. Not like, a diamond or a sapphire, but like, at the very least a citrine, or a really nice tiger eye that's all polished up in a riverbed? Anyhow...

I joke about the premise. It's not Steve Austin, it's Jack Bennett. It's not Jaime Sommers, it's Helen Bennett. It was a serial number filing but it absolutely is someone's 6MDM and Bionic Woman fanfic where they got married and both had and adopted a bunch of bionic kids.

The story, however, involves Jack (already bionic) and his family getting irradiated by an alien spaceship (the 80s was a hell of a drug) in the Himalayas, with the family going comatose except for Jack, thus requiring the family's upgrades.

This explains why a bunch of children would be turned into cyborgs, but it does not explain why those upgrades came with superpowers. That seems to be down to the grandpa-figure of the group, Professor Dr. Amadeus Sharp Ph.D, which, I gotta say, that's a chef's kiss cartoon character name right there.

Putting both Professor and Doctor in front of your name is exactly what I'd expect from a guy that's like "these children are comatose... I think I'll give that one the magnetic repulsors..."

As for the family proper, you've got Bionic-1/Jack Bennet, the literal team dad who suspiciously has all the bionic powers you'd expect from Steve Austin, with a touch of Reed Richards gray on the temples.

You have, ahem, Mother-1/Helen Bennett, who doesn't have the Bionic woman's powers because they'd be redundant. But she is a lady in an 80s team cartoon so she's got... say it with me folks... psychic abilities!

Also, if I had a nickel for every brunette be-bobcuted supermilf in a red jumpsuit named Helen I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it does lead to some obvious crossover concepts that the r34 community have thus far failed to provide. I'd commission something but, as established, I've only got the two nickels.

She also stands out by having a codename that is calculated to make villains deeply uncomfortable with using it, thus putting them on the back-foot. Just takes every deathtrap situation to a weird place.

Their (at least initially) biological children, Sport-1/Eric Bennett and Rock-1/Meg Bennett establish the pattern of there being a bionic kid for every interest. Sport-1 has magnetic attraction-repulsion powers, and uses lamposts like baseball bats all day, every day.

Rock-1 was literally designed to be cartoon Cyndi Lauper and has speakers built into her shoulders for sonic attacks. She is also super-speed runs the fastest.

IQ/J.D. Corey is adopted, and doesn't do the normal naming convention. He's an unusual character in 80s toon terms, as he's both the smartest member of the team (per the codename) but also has the most powerful super-strength. You don't get the smart AND strong combo that often, and you'd expect the Sport-1 to be physically strongest but it seems he's more the Mario of the team.

Karate-1/Bunjiro "Bunji" Tsukahara is a foster kid who got dragged into all of this, and has both the most greatly enhanced super-agility and also actually knows how to fight without powers.

They also have a robot ape named F.L.U.F.F.I. who wasn't in every episode.

The story structure is an 80s toyvertoon take on Johnny Quest, with the whole family having toyetic super-powers and vehicles, and instead of a cavalcade of one-off baddies, you get a recurrent cast lead by Dr. Scarab, who is Sharp's brother, and is after Sharp's superior bionic knowledge.

Mad science, not even once.

I have vague memories of Scarab's pursuit of 'trionic' technology, which assumed both that the 'bi' in bionic was for 'two' (reasonably understandable assumption) and that that if two was good, three was logically better, while never really establishing what third thing was being mixed in (baffling even to my childhood self).

On top of his drone robots, called "Cyphrons" (not Cylons, Battlestar Galactica Lawyers, cyphrons), Scarab had a host of modified goons, most of whom where combinations of dumb, strong, and ugly.

The main stand out being Madame-O, who is a cartoon femme fatale of the classic variety, who punctuates her sentences with 'Darling', uses a harp to shoot energy blasts, and can disguise herself as other people, because why be good at one thing when you can be confusing at several?

The animation is pretty good for the time period (It was a TMS animated show!) and it has that weird mix of self-aware and totally earnest that makes 80s cartoons fun.

It was, like most of them, an advertisement for action figures. In this case from LJN, the gimmick of which was they were G.I.Joes that were mostly made of die cast metal. A lot of the characters were pretty chunky, to the point that a FLUFFI could be bring down an assailant if you chucked it at 'em just right.

Oh, and the whole family could join hands to pull of Deus Ex Machina bullshit. It's a trip.

Go watch ya some cartoons.

[miimo96]

Thoughts on My Adventures with Superman S2 episode 6

God where Do I even begin, Ok 1st off Kara is Really talking like a whole Damn Supervillain here, the way the camera just Zooms in on her as She says that her and Clark are going to bring back the kryptonian Empire is really sending me Chills down my spine, like they really Want you to establish that Kara is a Villain in this series, even tho I Still think she's being controlled by Brainiac/Primus somehow, Secondly correct if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that Superman is supposed to be able to breathe in Space, like I Never understood that concept of Why he would Need a Space suit like even in the animated series they did that, I mean sure it looks cool but the Dude's an Alien for a reason He should be able to breathe in space No problem, unless has it something to do with him being So used to our Earth's atmosphere than that's a Different story, but in my opinion, it just feels unnecessary

Judging from this Scene You can Really tell how much Kara really is just stuck in the past, the way She refers to the citizens here as "Citizen 1 and 2" and "Food citizen" Really shows how little she remembers or even Knows about krypton, almost like if She's just been replaying this simulation for so long and has this little memory to go off of what Krypton SHOULD be, Like This Really is all she has about her people and The Planet, and the fact she even acknowledges these people are Gone still Refuses to accept that She's lonely, Really shows how in denial she truly is

I Really love the take on the Kent's of this Series, they Really feel like good parents, and I love how they teach Clark to use his powers while also making it feel like he is Experiencing a Normal life, you can really tell how much love and effort the writers put into this series, especially with their side characters, like this Scene really just shows how much the Kent's clearly loved and accepted Clark as their Son, despite him having these powers, rather than just treating him differently they Instead Whole heartily Accepte him for who he was, Instead of for What is, rather than teaching him how to hide complety, they instead made him feel love and reassured that No matter where he comes from, He will always be their Son ^^

Man I love Seeing the Sibling dynamic relationship between these 2 , they really do Act more like siblings rather than cousins, and I really love how he just teases her once he realizes She did have a crush on Jimmy, it really shows how much she cared about him in the end, also the way she just blushes in this Scene is so cute, I really want to see these 2 get together so bad >_<

Shout out to the Man Jimmy for really succeeding in pulling a Super alien Baddie, Also this scene really shines light on how oblivious Kara Really is to what she's doing, like she clearly believes that she is helping other Planets by bringing them apart of the kryptonian Empire, unaware that she is most like just a Conquer Who is committing mass Genocide to tons of people in the end

Ok 1st Kara is full on straight Evil for doing this to her cousin, making him think that she wasn't able to breathe in Space as a way of just punking him was seriously messed up, like she was seriously fine with giving him mental trauma as long as She gets to see his reaction, I Bet you that was a way of revenge for him teasing her about Jimmy earlier, also Thank god they know that Superman can actually breathe in space instead of just leaving him in that stupid helmet, Also I'm really Glad to see they actually went with the whole sibling route for these characters, Seeing them just get to act like kids and just having their equivalent of a Snow ball fight is really sweet, especially with the way Kara feels about being lonely, I hope that she really isn't Evil and thats all because of freaking Brainiac, please don't let anything bad happens between these 2 🥺

Also it's really awesome to see we actually get some insight regarding kryptonians and their powers, it seems that other than clark, kryptonians don't really seem to be able to have access the abilities that he has, aside for having the usual Heat vision and super strength, maybe it must have something to do with Clark being on Earth for too long, like in the Man of Steel

Well well well, looks like I was on to something about Kara being mind controlled, that fact that she wasn't even able to remember when she was last on this planet really just Shows how much Brainiac is controlling her and has been using her as a weapon, like it really feels like she Really didn't know what she was doing to millions of people, and was just thinking she was Aiding them for the New the kryptonian Empire

We finally get introduced to Brainiac and Omg he really feels like the Brainiac I grew up with, like they really understood what they were doing when it came down to handling this character, I mean aside from the really weird space Robot design they really knew how to capture the essence of Brainiac, especially with the way he's portrayed, like it really feels like he's a Corrupt machine who is Focused on bringing krypton back in a way that would involve War and destruction, kinda reminds me of how ZOD was in Man of Steel, in the same way he wanted to achieve that, Almost like they mixed both characters together to create this New version of "Brainiac"

Man Michael Emerson Did a really good job at bringing him to life, and im really glad they kept/brought back the 1st thing I love about this character, his iconic voice, like I really missed when used to sound like this and I'm really glad I get to hear it again thank you MAWS ^^

Parademons, Hawk people and Green lanterns Omg This was episode was fantastic, They're really Adding in more DC characters for this series and I'm all for it, like in my opinion THIS is what DC should've did when it came to the DCEU, instead of just bringing in multiple characters immediately they should've just teased them Slowly in the beginning and then Introduce them Over time, kinda like how in Zach snyder's justice league with them teasing green lanterns in the opening scene, Also the design for the Thanagrs in the series is Hands down 1 of the Best designs I've Seen so far like Omg, Definitely Top 3

God I Love the blue lighting in the series, it's such an interesting take on his character and the way his insignia Glows when activated is just Complete PERFECTION, also I'm really glad they incorporated the blue lighting in the 1st place, correct me if I'm wrong but I could've Sworn he actually had a Power like this in the comics, I can't remember which comic it was, but I know it was during the New 52 run, I could be wrong but either way I'm So excited they brought it back, and I'm glad they're treating it more like a Super boost rather than just keeping him in it entirely; Also damn he got Smacked so hard they kicked him out of that State entirely lol

Bruh Brainiac is Such a manipulating bastard I Hate him so much, like between this and the fact he preserved the consciousness of all those pepoele who rebelled against the empire in order to Use them as training dummies to perfect his Ultimate weapon AKA Kara Really shows how completely evil he is, like there's No redeeming this character whatsoever

Ok wow a few thing's, 1 ah So This was the planet she was blowing up when we were 1st introduced to her last Season, 2 Jimmy being the reason she was able to immediately break free of the mind control is so freaking cute, Damn it Now I really want to see these 2 end together so badly now, 3 Kara calling out to her cousin as Clark rather than Kal really hurts my heart, like it really feels like she doesn't know what to do anymore 😢, 4 MALLAH AND BRAIN HAVE RETURNED OMG, 5 Jimmy is Real one Because you KNOW funding for a whole wormhole space mission in just a short of amount of time, Really cost him a fortune and probably his Whole bank account, and finally why do I have the Feeling that next few episodes are gonna include maybe an Evil Superman and an argument between lois and kara for how Lois has been skeptical about kryptonians this Season, and by kryptonians I mainly mean Zero day and Now Kara, either way I'm all here for it and this episode was incredibly PEAK bruh can't wait for the Next one (God this took so long for me to write 😅)

[tepkunset]

Thoughts on X-Men 97 S01E02 – Mutant Liberation Begins

TL;DR: X-Men 97’s butchering of the Trial of Magneto is more than just a bad adaptation. It’s an offensive stripping of a core part of the original story and of Magneto’s character.

The Trail of Magneto story arc in the Uncanny X-Men comics is an iconic turn for the character and the team; it is a transformation of an enemy turned friend. But that is not all the story represents. Delving deeper into its layers, one can pull out a lot of messages. The biggest one I relate to is the effects of compound systemic oppression when one has multiple identities marking them as a minority. But that’s missing in X-Men 97’s adaptation… even worse, it actively counters this point.

Before we get into the cartoon’s adaptation, let’s take a look at the comics, first.

The story begins in Uncanny X-Men #199, where Magneto and Kitty Pryde both attend a special reception at the National Holocaust Memorial in Washington, DC. It is here that Kitty is able to reconnect with folks who knew her family, who were victims in the Auschwitz concentration camp, and Magneto reconnects with people he knew there as well. They praise him for helping them survive.

But Freedom Force breaks into the reception and tries to arrest Magneto in the name of the US government. Magneto initially resists: “My land—all the countries of the world—turned their backs on me and mine when we were condemned to Hitler's death camps. Therefore, in return, I have sworn to deny them!” However, when he sees how afraid everyone around him is, he accepts their arrest and agrees to stand trial.

The story continues in Uncanny X-Men #200. Magneto’s trial by the international court of justice begins with England’s Attorney-General claiming there is no such thing as mutant oppression, which we the readers know, is a blatant lie. Despite this, Magneto remains calm, and when it’s his turn to speak, he says the following:

“My dream, from the start, has been the protection and preservation of my own kind, mutants. To spare them the fate my family suffered in Auschwitz and do not tell me such a thing cannot happen again, because that is a lie! You humans slaughter each other because of the colour of your skin, or your faith or your politics—or for no reason at all—too many of you hate as easily as you draw breath, what's to prevent you adding us to that list?!”

But the trial attracts the attention of the Fenris twins; the Nazi offspring of Baron Von Strucker. They are there to kill Magneto, Xavier, and Gabrielle Haller (AKA David Haller’s mother), because she is Jewish and was an enemy of their father. Magneto risks his life to save everyone in the trial from them, but Xavier’s heart gives out and he nearly dies in Magneto’s arms, until he’s whisked away by his alien girlfriend who says she can save him. Xavier makes Magneto vow to stand with the X-Men and teach the New Mutants in his absence.

So, let’s keep in mind how intertwined Magneto’s Jewish and mutant identities are in this story; how they interact and shape his views and actions together. Because X-Men 97 is about to take all that away.

In X-Men 97 S01E02, when Val Cooper and the UN show up to arrest Magneto, he surrenders peacefully to try and gain the X-Men’s trust. And Magneto’s speech is very different from that of the comics:

“As a boy, my people's homes were burned to ash, because we dared to call God by another name. Then, my people hunted me with those who had once hunted them. I was a freak, born a mutant. An abomination to their misnamed gods. In history's sad song, there is a refrain. Believe differently, love differently, be of different sex or skin, and be punished. We sing this song to one another. The oppressed become oppressors.”

And it is not the Fenris twins who show up, but just generic Friends of Humanity baddies, led by X-Cutioner.

This adaptation may contain the surface-level story beats of the original, but it misses the heart of the matter; it misses the point!

Magneto’s cartoon speech separates him from his Jewish community. That is something the Magneto I know would never do. In the comics, his part about how humans are always killing each other speaks much more volumes, because he is speaking about his experience not just as a mutant, but as a Jewish person who has survived genocide. Magneto, or anyone with more than identity, does not have to choose between them. This show now says otherwise.

What I hate most of all about his cartoon speech though, is the line, “the oppressed become oppressors.” This is straight up cloaked white supremacist rhetoric; the fear that if racial/ethnic minorities are given equal rights, we will take over and start oppressing white settlers. And no, I’m not saying minorities are exempt from carrying prejudices against others, obviously. What I’m saying is, oppression is a systemic problem that largely stems from colonialism, and to paint oppressed people as a danger that needs to be oppressed or will oppress you, is a terrible idea used by colonizers to justify the system of colonialism. It is not based on fact.

The message of Magneto’s speech in the comics is that he has personally suffered from the hands of oppression before, and does not want others to suffer more. The message of magneto’s speech in the cartoon is that all people are bad, end of story. There is no nuance, there is no larger context at play, and there is no real grit to the words said! They have de-clawed Magneto’s character, and they have ripped away what he stands for… who he stands for.

[lol-jackles]

Walker episode 2 review

Cordell, Trey, and Cassie find themselves watching over the episode’s titular character, Maybelline Pratt, a state witness in a money laundering case.  Maybeline has the charm of all 4 Golden Girls characters as well as their combined age.  Like Sophie Petrillo, she gave Trey the slip and tried to hotwire a patrol car with a wrench, because that’s how they do in Sicily.  Like Blanche Devereaux, she loves flirting with Trey even as they take turns running away from each other.  Like Dorothy Zbonak, she is full of judgment stares and sass and keeps calling Cordell by the wrong surname.   Rangers over the age of 50 are smitten with her because every red-blooded male that grew up in the 70s and 80s fell in love with Karen Allen and Kathleen Turner and their smokey voices.  Harrison Ford to this day can’t stand Indiana Jones fanboys approaching him to only want to talk about Marion Ravenwood and “that voice”.

Maybelline has the Rose Nylund naivety thinking she can just go back to St. Olaf and carried a metal file in her oversized purse to escape from WITSEC. Cordell decided one of them need to take her home.  Trey and Cassie were “not it” and Cordell reluctantly take her to Walker ranch while the 2 security officers assigned to her secure the area.  Maybelline soften her attitude towards Cordell when she sees family pictures and learn of Emily’s passing.  Later in the middle of the night, Cordell finds Maybelline having “just to taste” bourbon at the dinner table and the two have a heart to heart over Cordell’s worry over his children leaving the nest.

“The days are long, but the years are short”, Maybelline tells Cordell, and while children appear not to listen, they are always watching.  The fact that Stella and August feel comfortable enough to leave home just means he (and Emily) did a good job raising them, and they’ll likely come back one day.  Just like Cordell and Liam did.

Cordell found it easier to talk to a stranger about his anxiousness over being ill prepared for "the quiet" once his kids are gone.  Stella too, found it easier to talk to Ben about her guilt over Witt’s death and had even shut Liam out.  In attempt to make peace with her conflicting conscious, she visits a roadside memorial where Witt succumbed to his gun shot injury.  Unexpectantly Witt’s uncle, Mike, shows up and seems kind, which made Stella feel worse and she flees.  Then Mike ominously calls someone to say he found something “interesting”.   Looks like there will be a second mystery to go with the unsolved Jackal case as we never learn why Witt broke into Geri’s house.  Speaking of which…

Cassie had updated Geri (and us) that she decided to return to the Texas Rangers.  Later Geri offers Cassie to move into her house, referencing the break in that it would be a good idea to have a ranger around.  While Cassie is thrilled and accepted Geri’s offer, you know that Cordell would be worried about their girl talks.  At least I would be.

Cordell, Trey, and Cassie brings Maybelline to court to give her testimony only to walk right into a trap to distract them so that the baddies can kidnap Maybelline. Cue lively soundtrack as a car chase through the parking garage to rescue Maybelline ends in beat down fights by Cordell and Trey. Maybelline bats her Blanche Devereaux lashes at Trey for saving her.  Cordell insists it was a team effort.

At home, Cordell waits for August to discuss the issue of him wanting to join an after school boot camp to ready himself for the military, but he needs a signed permission slip from his father.  Earlier August asked Bonham to go over Cordell’s head and convince Trey, who is running the program, to let him join.  In the season 3 finale, Cordell wouldn’t give his permission to let August join the military while he is underage.   When Bonham tries to broach the subject with Cordell, he immediately shuts it down because he wants to put off of August growing up as long as he can.   But after his midnight conversation with Maybelline, Cordell is ready to have a talk with August.

Cordell explains that while he has no regret over his own tour in the military, he can’t help wondering if he missed out on other options and he doesn’t want that for August.  But, if this is really what August wants, he'll be supportive, no matter how much he'll worry over his “only son” and “baby boy”.  August is thrilled and promised to follow Cordell’s condition that he is present for every Sunday dinner and keep up his schoolwork.  A flashback scene from the pilot episode shows Cordell telling a 14-year-old August he didn't mean for his son to grow up quickly after his mother's death, adding to Cordell’s bittersweet demeanor.

We have "the quiet" before the storm with Cordell, Liam, Ben, and Stella having fun together playing darts at the Side Step. Stella returns to her dorm to find a threatening message on the window written in red paint.

Speculation #2: Witt didn't die from his gunshot wound and was murdered on the roadside by the same person who left the threatening message to Stella.

Score: 9 out of 10. What started out a light-hearted episode ends with a horror movie jump scare, a kind of metaphor for parental struggle and angst.

artist

[ditzyredrobin]

Before and After

Chapter 2

Let it be known, I had zero intentions on making this into a WIP, but 4,613 words later, I’m a little obsessed. Do I need another WIP? No. Do I have a new one now? Yes, yes, I do. 😂

For Whumpcember 2024 - Day 10 - “Let me help you.”

Chapter 1

-

Dick’s visit opens the proverbial floodgates for Bats to drop by unexpectedly and without warning (which rude).

When the doorbell goes off, Tim is up like a shot, heart roaring in his ears, chasing the tail end of a particularly grizzly nightmare, the metallic tang of blood and smoke just on the edge of his senses.

By rote one hand goes to his collapsible bo-staff under his pillow and his phone with the other.

No one was supposed to know about his apartment aside from Dick (if there was anything to be said, manners and personal space weren’t it and Dick? Was the walking, talking, personification of a word vomit).

He blinked blearily at his phone, opening the security feed of the front door, a sense of dread filling his gut. The apartment wasn’t rented in his name, utilities another, and packages were all directed to the Postal Annex in downtown Gotham under a third alias (Key word: contingencies).

But, when the security feed finally opens, it takes a long moment to process what he’s seeing.

It wasn’t ninja at his door or some other baddie flavor of the week it was—it was an elderly man dressed down in a well tailored suit, balding with a thin mustache and two very heavy looking grocery bags hanging off his shoulders.

Alfred, his brain supplied. It was Alfred.

Memories were still muddled and murky but there was something about Alfred that stuck out in his mind—a chuckle, a smile, a proper English accent, the scent of freshly baked biscuits and earl grey tea.

Tim glanced over to the sleeping pup still in the bassinet attached to his bed. She was swaddled just right, somehow still fast asleep at—he squints at the clock—11 am. She never sleeps this late—he never sleeps this late, normally too racked by nightmares and insomnia to get more than a few hours at a time.

What should he do? If he didn’t answer, would he eventually give up and go away? Odds are, if he let the door go unanswered, more Bats were sure to follow (because if Alfred knew, the rest of the Bat Clan would find out, if they hadn’t already). But the thought of going back to bed while he still had the option was tempting—just a little while longer, while Amalia slept before the cycle of change-feed-burp-soothe began again.

Tim breathed a heavy sigh and pressed the button for the intercom on his phone, “I’ll be right there.”

Alfred visibly perked up, glancing up to the security camera in the corner. “It is no problem, dear boy, do not rush on my account.”

His voice is like a balm on a wound that has been oozing, refusing to heal, soothing his inner Omega, settling his racing heart just a touch, his voice radiating safesafesafe.

That’s…unexpected. And not definitely something he wanted to prod with a hundred-foot-pole, Alfred in the hall or not.

Tim grabbed a pair of sweats from the pile on the floor, sniffing to make sure they smelled clean enough for company, and a faded Green Day tee. Good enough.

His industrial (read as: vigilante) grade scent patches were on the dresser nearest the door. He slipped on his slippers and shuffled over to riffle through the nearly empty box.

(Note to self: pilfer more from one of the many Bat-stashes the next time he’s out.)

He delicately peels one off the sheet and presses it to the scent gland to the soft meat of his neck, adding an additional to the scent glands on the inside of his wrists.

When Amalia woke, not being able to scent him would make her fussy, but he didn’t trust his emotions when dealing with Bats. And Alfred? Was a wild card.

Tim shoves his collapsible bo in his pocket before pocketing the baby monitor. Something about leaving her alone made his stomach churn. She was alone without someone to protect her. What if something happened? What if someone gets in and takes her?

…what if someone gets in and takes him? She would be alone for who now’s how long, starving and crying and his eyes feel hot.

His chest constricts. Nope, nope, not happening. Not right now.

She’s sleeping peacefully, her little chest rising and falling, deep in slumber, a hint of a smile on her chubby little cheeks.

His apartment was the most secure location outside of the Bats. In fact, since his last patch after Dick unceremoniously and unwantingly broke into his home, he would say his apartment is more secure than the Bats, second only to (maybe) the clock tower.

He could do this.

He could do this.

(In through your nose one-two-three, out through your mouth one-two-three, come on Tim, one foot in front of the other)

His eyes lingered on the pup for a moment longer before he finally forced himself to move, leaving the door open a crack.

He felt like a mouse caught in a glue trap, trudging his way to the front door, doing his best to ignore the piles of clutter and baby supplies scattered throughout the living room.

There was a pile of clean laundry yet to be folded, taking up the majority of the well-loved sofa and a mountain of dishes in the sink. If he’d known he would have company, he would’ve put in an effort to tidy, or at least shove things in the closet until Alfred left.

Tim made quick work of disarming the security protocols trying to pretend like his hands weren’t trembling. He still had time to change his mind—he didn’t have to let the elderly man in. In all actuality, he could go back to bed right now and pretend this whole thing never happened.

But Dick, he reminded himself.

Damnit.

Tim took another measured breath before inching the door open and with it, the warm scent of Beta hit him like a ton of bricks, filling his chest with a warmth he had only felt in his dreams. It was like drinking a hot cup of tea, the way it pooled in his heart, warming his chest and for a moment he felt like he was choking.

He couldn’t move, staring at the elderly man like he was a ghost, liable to disappear at any moment.

It seemed like Alfred went through something similar, a complicated mix of expressions crossing his face—disbelief, astonishment, sorrow, grief, anguish, before settling on something akin to relief.

“Master Timothy, I’m pleased to see you’re doing well. I’m afraid we had far too many leftovers at the manor and thought perhaps you would be open to helping us before they’ve spoiled.” The English accent was soft and comforting and it felt… it felt like coming home. “May I come in?”

Tim fisted the baby monitor in his pocket, a little part of him hoped that now, right this moment, his pup would whimper or cry, and give him some sort of out, but she didn’t. Damnit.

Slowly, he backed away from the door, allowing Alfred to come in, but said nothing. No hi, hello, or even, it’s good to see you, thanks for dropping in but, y’know, a call would’ve been nice. He had zero trust in what would come out of his mouth, so he stayed silent, watching.

With the Beta inside, Tim glanced out around the hallway for any unwelcome visitors, but the hallway was empty. Judging by the overabundance of Chinese takeout menus the past few months, most of this floor had been empty since he moved, back when he was newly back in Gotham, the tiny pup strapped to his chest.

Reassured they were alone, Tim shut the door and busied himself with reengaging the security, trying to ignore the way his hands were now fully, without a doubt, trembling. By the time all was settled and they were locked in, Alfred had already found his way into the kitchen.

If he noticed the dishes (let’s be real, when he noticed the dishes), he didn’t say anything, his sole focus on unloading the “leftovers”, which was beginning to look like a whole lot more than just leftovers. Multiple casserole dishes were carefully stacked, slowly but surely filling his fridge

“Thank you for helping us with these. I’ve grown accustomed to large family meals, but with master Damian out of the house more and more, it seems we have an overabundance.”

Tim knew Titan duties and university had Damian out of Gotham more and more. He had his choice of Ivy League schools and had ended up with early placement in the Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine after graduating from GA a year early (as valedictorian, no less).

Dick was still in Bludhaven, social worker by day, Nightwing by night but came back to Gotham most weekends (or when he wanted to see Tim on random Tuesday nights).

Jason, on the other hand, from what he’d garnered, was with the Outlaws more often than not these days, back periodically for his heats.

Life had moved on without him. He didn’t blame them—couldn’t blame them—but there was still a bitter tinge in his chest.

Tim blinked and when his brain picked up again, Alfred was still talking.

“-thing is labeled with the ingredients and how to prepare each meal, I hope you don’t mind. It is a force of habit with master Dick and master Bruce. You know how they are.” Alfred mused, moving onto stuffing the freezer. “You wouldn’t believe it—the one time I left them alone for the weekend without enough instructions, I came home to a house full of builders.”

You know how they are.

Maybe he did, sometime in the Before. But now?

Alfred glanced over his shoulder and frowned. Tim isn’t sure what he saw but the Beta had a deep look of concern.

“Oh my dear boy,” slowly he closed the freezer, giving Tim his full attention. “Perhaps I should have called but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see you.” I didn’t want you to run.

Which, fair, but it made the ordeal a whole lot more complicated. The way Alfred spoke to him, it was like he was expecting the old Tim, the one who hadn’t been lost to the Pit.

“Did Dick tell you I was here?”

“He did not. In fact, he has warned others not to seek you out, including master Bruce and myself but-“

“But you came anyways.” It wasn’t a question. Alfred opened his mouth to respond but Tim was quick to cut him off, “You being here puts me at risk. How do I know you weren’t followed?”

By Bats, by what was left of the League, pick your poison.

“I assure you, I was not followed.”

“But how can you know?”

“Just because I’m not Batman, does not mean I’m oblivious. I do have a few special skills of my own beyond being the butler for the Wayne family.”

“That’s the problem—you can’t.” Bat or not, there was no way to 100% guarantee. “If you really cared, you would’ve listened to Dick and stayed away. I know you miss Tim but I’m not him.”

“Master Tim, I understand-“

“No, I don’t think you really understand, I don’t remember you. I saw you and I remembered your name, that’s it. Things are a little,” a lot, “hazy, after coming back. I didn’t choose to forget you—I remember blips, but memories are just, not there.” It was like someone had taken a scalpel and cut the out—really, there’s no telling Ra’s hadn’t. “I’m just not him.”

A smile, a stifled chuckle, the clank of fine china cups and saucers.

(I want to remember you—I need to remember you but I can’t)

Tim swallows hard, trying to shove down the sharp fear of rejection, of letting him down, or not being trusted that this is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It makes his chest ache, and his eyes hot.

“Look I-“ and, the baby monitor finally goes off, giving him the perfect out—the soft whimper of his pup waking up alone without her bearer makes his inner Omega stir. “I’ll be back.” Please be here when I get back.

He doesn’t give Alfred the time for rebuttals, rushing off down the hall where Amalia is waiting, trying to pretend he isn’t running away with his tail between his legs.

-

“Computer, lights at 70%,” Tim called to the AI of his own design. The lights go on as Tim pushes into the room. His pup isn’t crying just yet, the soft whimper, a call to her bearer, a cry of changemeholdmefeedme.

“Shh, good morning, ya rohee,” Tim croons in League dialect, carefully lifting her out of her crib. She scrunches up in his arms like a little inch worm and yawns a yawn much too big for such a little thing. It makes him want to coo, and scent, and snuggle her forever in his nest, never letting her go. This is the best part, his favorite part of the day. “How did you sleep, my love? I’m sorry you woke up alone.”

She answers by blinking up at him with wide, deep violet-blue eyes, all his own. There’s still time for them to change from blue to vibrant green, just like her other father, but he hopes they stay. Just like this. All his own.

Tim just smiles trying to tamp down the thought. He—Ra’s—couldn’t hurt them anymore—he was dead, for good this time.

A sword, sawing through sinew and bone, severing his head from his body, the taste of metallic tang on his teeth as he ripped into his throat and the burn of smoke in his lungs.

There’s only so much the Pit could do and what he’d done? That was way beyond even its capabilities.

He just hoped that when the Bats found out, they took care of her, his life, his heart, his soul.

Logically, he knew the daughter of a vigilante and the former leader of the League was a vulnerable asset that needed to be protected. In the wrong hands—a chill ran down his spine.

Batman didn’t harm innocents. His choices weren’t hers so, by all intents and purposes, she was innocent. She didn’t choose her heritage.

Tim tucked her into his neck where normally his scent would be strongest. He just hoped he would keep her safe in his absence.

Amalia snuffled and nuzzled against his skin searching for his scent currently patched over. When she couldn’t find it, her little lip wobbled and clenched her fists.

Pups needed scent to help regulate their delicate nervous systems and they only left the house a few times a month for diapers and formula or groceries (and the occasional Bat safehouse break-in) so she was used to it near 24/7.

The fact that Dick caught him was a fluke.

Just before laying her down on the changing table, Tim breathed out, trying to still his beating heart, and lifted the scent patch up just enough for her to catch a whiff. Almost immediately she went lax in his arms, letting out a huff of air. Any chance of her crying was snuffed out in an instant.

Crisis averted.

Tim took a breath to calm himself and held her there, gently rubbing her back. He guessed, for just a moment, he could have this.

Alfred could wait.

-

Changed out of her swaddle and sleep clothes, Tim shuffled back into the kitchen, the same bitter fear of rejection in his gut. Amalia was settled in the cloth pack on his chest, smacking her lips, making it known that she was ready for breakfast. He, on the other hand, was not.

Breakfast meant facing Alfred but there was only so long he could keep putting it off—put off their conversation.

When he rounded the corner, it was to a clean kitchen. In the time it had taken to get the pup up, most of the laundry was folded and ready to be put away, including pairs of socks he hadn’t seen in months (how Alfred did that, he’ll never know).

The mountain of dishes had been diminished to a clean sink and the dishwasher running. Crumbs and spilled formula had been wiped away and Tim… all Tim could do was stare, a wave of shame is like cold water.

Thank god he’d reapplied the scent patch because this would be embarrassing. Luckily, the carrier smelled enough like him, that, for now, Amalia was settled.

Alfred finished folding a faded band tee and turned his attention back to Tim. Eyes were immediately on his pup and Tim waited for something. Shame? Disgust? But Tim found none of that.

Instead the elderly Beta’s expression softened. “I apologize, I seem to have gotten a bit carried while you were away. A bit of a habit, I’m afraid.”

Tim swallows hard, wrapping a protective hand around the pup, eyes drawn to the unimpressive greige carpet. “I’m sorry it’s been a long week and she’s been so fussy. If I’d known you were coming over I would’ve cleaned up.” His eyes were hot. He was not going to cry—he was not going to cry.

“Nonsense,” Alfred’s voice is gentle and insistent. “It is one of my joys in life to care for my charges. Trust me when I say this is nothing compared to young master Dick’s room, a few dishes and clean laundry is nothing in comparison to the ecosystem I have found on occasion.”

He could tell Alfred was trying to be humorous but it did nothing to ease his conscience. “I shouldn’t need to get caught up. I should’ve just handled it when it happened but I’m just…” Exhausted? Overwhelmed? Missing the pack he doesn’t even remember having?

“I understand and I mean this when I say, I pass no judgement.”

Tim risked a surprised glance. “How?”

Alfred smiled, “I wasn't always just a butler. I was a parent too once upon a time before coming to work for the Wayne’s.” He continued, “Believe it or not, I, too, have a daughter.”

“…you do?”

He nods, “I do, back in England—Julia. We don’t have the best of relationships. It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I’m afraid.” He chuckled a bit sadly before changing the subject, “Now then. How would you feel about some breakfast?”

Almost as if at the mention of food, Amalia started to wriggle, very obviously done with their dilly dallying. Tim breathed a sigh and nodded. He didn’t normally eat breakfast but it was nearly lunchtime and his stomach was starting to make its presence known in a feed me or else sort of way. “Breakfast would be nice.”

Ding ding ding. By the look on his face, Tim answered correctly. Go him. “Will scones hold you over while I prepare something more substantial?”

“Scones sound…nice.”

Which is how they ended up in the kitchen, a plate of scones with clotted cream and tea in front of him while Amalia went to town on her bottle, ravenous. One little hand was on the bottle and the other fisted in his shirt.

Tim was sitting at one of the bar chairs glancing up at Alfred every so often, watching for something, anything to go wrong, (a dash of poison, or paralytic, Alfred disappearing into thin air) as he cooked up a proper English breakfast.

Before Alfred, his fridge had nothing more than some flaccid celery, a weeks old pizza from Rao’s a few blocks down, and half a bottle of ranch. Now, it was stuffed to the gills with fruits and veggies, eggs, and other household staples.

(No wonder his bags looked so heavy. How he carted them up five stories and a broken elevator was beyond him. Bats, am I right?)

“Her name is Amalia.” Tim said awkwardly after a few minutes of silence. “I don’t know if Dick told you.”

“Master Dick did not mention it but there was some…speculation, that something more was going on, on master Bruce’s part.”

An arch of dread runs through him, “Bruce knows?”

Of course Bruce knows. Why wouldn’t he know? He’s Batman. Alfred being here all but confirmed he knows about his apartment, too. And if that thought doesn't make him want to high tail it out of Gotham.

Hearing the hoarseness of his voice, Alfred looks up, “I am truly sorry. I should’ve listened to master Dick. This was your secret to share and I forced your hand.”

Tim shook his head, “I should’ve known, it makes sense, I just-“ he wanted to pull his hair out and scream. It makes sense. It’s just—he wasn’t ready for a boatload of Bats invading his nest.

Amalia was still so little. Being taken from her at this age… if birth trauma and the subsequent fallout hasn’t hurt her, this will. It could kill her.

“It isn’t alright.” Alfred sounded genuinely remorseful as he pushed mushrooms around in the pan. “I was being selfish and did not take into account the trauma you’ve been subjected to.”

Tim mulled over those words trying to tamp down his inner Omega stirring, wanting to reassure the elder Beta that it was okay, the wanted to bask in the feeling of being cared for. There were whispers of pack at the back of his mind.

Alfred had brought him groceries and meals—he was providing for him, showing he cared, but no, no, no. His arms tightened around the pup.

The old Tim may have been pack but that was Before and this is now—the After. Who wanted a broken murderer of an Omega? One that had broken the Bat Code of Conduct whose number one rule was don’t kill.

Alfred turned off the burner and slid the mushrooms onto the plate beside the eggs and sausage just as the toaster popped. Tim looked up briefly when the plate slid in front of him. After a terse moment, Tim said, “Thank you.” The weariness on his tone almost makes him flinch.

Almost.

“My pleasure, Master Tim.” His inner Omega preened at the title. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

Tim glanced down at the pup in his arms, finishing up her bottle. And, before he could think the words slipped past his lips. “…do you want to hold her?”

Safe, the Omega crooned. He wouldn’t let Dick hold her but Alfred… Alfred was different.

At those words, Alfred’s face lit up like it’s Christmas. “Are you quite sure?”

No, Tim wanted to argue, while the Omega practically screamed, yes.

It would make eating easier and here, in his apartment, he was in control. The collapsible bo-staff was heavy in his pocket. In just a few steps, he could have him neutralized if he dared to do anything to harm her, but part of him just knew he wouldn’t.

Tim bit his lip and nodded, “Can you burp her? She isn’t rolling over just yet so she still needs to be burped.”

Alfred gives him a gentle smile, seemingly genuinely happy at the offer. “I would be delighted too.”

There’s a smile on Amalia’s chubby cheeks, kicking his little legs in delight when he leans down and nuzzles her. She laughs in delight, warming his heart and making it that much harder to let go. She smells content and full, making a grab at his too-long hair. “Just a few minutes, hayati, be nice for Alfred, alright?”

In true baby fashion, she squeals when he rubs his nose against her cheek. He finishes off with a a long kiss to her forehead, lingering on the scent of his pup.

It was getting stronger the longer they were in Gotham. She was getting stronger.

Tim carefully untangled her fingers from his hair, pressing a kiss to each finger before looking to Alfred who was standing in front of him, eyes soft. “I am honored you’re allowing me this opportunity. I promise, I will take excellent care of her.”

He didn’t trust himself to answer so he nodded and slowly passed her to his waiting arms, trying to remember to breathe.

At first, realizing she was changing arms, her little lip wobbled, but Alfred murmured something soft in her ear just for them, holding her close and she was all his.

He didn’t stray far, grabbing a burp rag from the pile of carefully folded laundry, staying in Tim’s line of sight. Close enough that if Tim suddenly needed to jump in, he was right there.

But she didn’t fuss. In fact, by the time Tim had plowed through his breakfast, she was burped and settled, her face pressed into his neck, milk drunk and content. It made his heart ache, wanting her back all the more.

He made quick work of rinsing his plate and dropping it in the sink for later. It was the first time in months his belly felt full and he felt like his battery wasn’t running on 5%.

Rushing back into the living room, Alfred had moved to the gliding chair, rocking the cooing pup.

He smiled up at Tim. It was all he could do not to make grabby hands for his pup—his baby. “You’ve done well with her. She is lovely.”

“Can I-?” Without needing to finish the sentence, Alfred carefully passed her back.

“You need not ask, my boy. I am grateful for the moment with her.”

With her in his arms, he could breathe again, squeezing her just the right side of tight to his chest. She was safe, he had her, she was his.

“She will always be yours. I would never dream of taking her from you.” Alfred assured standing up from the rocker. Oops. “I assure you, neither would Master Bruce.” Until he finds out about Ra’s. “Now, I believe you both have had quite the afternoon, perhaps if best you retire to your nest? I have a few things to finish up here and I will be on my way.”

His nest sounded nice but- “You don’t have to do that.”

“As I stated earlier, it’s no chore helping you with these things. Please, let me help you.” Let me help you. Tim’s eyes felt hot again. (Translated to: Let me take care of you)

He was not going to cry… not now, at least.

Okay. This was okay, this was, “Okay.” Tim’s voice is strained but Alfred doesn’t say anything about it.

Instead, he tentatively reaches a hand out, giving Tim enough time to pull away, but he doesn’t. He placed it on his shoulder and squeezed. It’s a warm and reassuring touch, grounding, and now Tim is actually going to cry. Damnit.

Tim has to blink quickly, trying to stave off the tears that will inevitably fall once he’s back in his nest and able to be vulnerable. His instinct is to lean into the touch, to sink and melt, and let himself have this one moment, but he can’t.

He can’t get close.

Tim goes rigid under his touch but doesn’t pull away and Alfred? Alfred smells…happy. Happy in a way that forces Tim to choke down a purr.

“Very good. I know that my coming here was unexpected but it was so good to see you.” He is not going to cry. “You don’t need to make a decision now, but it’s alright, I would like to come back, this time on a day of your choosing. It’s perfectly alright to say no but I’ve missed you so much.” His eyes are wet when he says, “Between you and Master Jason, I have never regretted anything more in my life.”

He has an out, the ability to say no, but what comes out instead is, “How does Tuesday sound?”

[crithaus]

Morgwen Bodyguard!AU where it's the whole gang in mostly modern times. This is extensive, bear with me.

Through some series of events I haven't thought of yet England has not become England as we know it yet though most of history remains the same and Uther Pendragon is King Regnant of Albion, and he does about just as good a job rearing two kids as he does running a country and has a great vast many enemies so his heir apparent Crown Prince Arthur and his ward Morgana, now Duchess of Gorlois after the death of her 'father', are now in desperate need of a constant detail of bodyguards.

enter gwen and the gang

his capital city can only bear to send CIS' - Camelot Intelligence Services - finest on recommendation by his own friend and personal physician. Sends him 2 3-cell teams of their best intelligence agents or at least, least likely to kill each other while guarding bodys yknow.

And Morgana gets hers. Her team leader, sniper and combat specialist Lancelot, ex combat pilot turned all around agent Elyan and to her immense surprise, Elyan's super super gorgeous sister, Guinevere.

Arthur gets his cell, team leader Leon his getaway driver and head strategist, defense and combat specialist Gwaine and hacker Merlin, though the poor boy gets a secondary job as Arthur's PA too which takes up much of his time.

Morgana's spent every moment of her life that she can remember simpering with high society boys and girls, all of them either vapid and idiotic or worse yet, cruel and calculating and never ever has she met a woman more fascinating than Gwen. She's her new personal assistant much like Merlin is Arthur's, with an eidetic memory and the management skills of Hannibal fucking Barca, a parisian boutique's worth of seamstress ability and the personal upkeep, maintainence and even some smithing of all her cell's weapons. She runs shit like the navy and when Morgana asks why she isn't team leader, Gwen just laughs and oh man is her laugh pretty, and shrugs, "someone needs to be focused solely on you yknow." While looking at her with the biggest doe-iest eyes and Morgana finds herself blushing a lot more?? Beaming ear to ear, too. And

Idk Morgana dragging Gwen off to galas and Gwen taking her off to more low key spots, the club perchance, and Gwen getting wowed by morgana's rapier wit and political acumen and Morgana getting wowed by this absolutely radiant beam of sunshine who snatched a gun out of a mugger's holster before he could do anything and popped some other dude 30 paces away without a hair out of place and adventures. Gwen absolutely despises Uther, Morgana hates all the snooty folk that expect Gwen to kowtow to them. Gwen finds that though her job is to personally assist, the Duchess is actually quite nice, fiercely loyal to her as if just the doing of her job is enough to warrant such, though shes achingly lonely so maybe that's why, is very funny, and kind, and compassionate if a little impulsive and rash, and comes up with the funniest insults imaginable murmured directly into her ear as she stands at her post in the back of x meeting of uther's privy council or y public function. Also that her eyes are theeee most brilliantly clear shade of green, like the still clear pond near her house, like garnet-

Morgana has awful nightmares of totally not suspicious events that come true an odd amount of the time and Gwen is receiving back Intel from CIS and Uther about potential stirring of war from a King Cenred across ye Olde channel and they go on cool car chases and maybe there's a shopping montage or two but yea. Idk how to end this but uther realizes he doesn't have to die a shitty old man and legitimizes Morgana as a princess of the blood before he chokes and when she and Gwen get married it's princess style babyyy

Oh and definitely morgana giving herself up to some assailants cuz gwen is hurt and some baddies cracking poor morgana on the head and Gwen frantically trying to keep her awake and morgana is just griiiiiinning at her all restored even as concussed as she is cuz this angel is cupping her face in her hands and yea, that thing

[bigdsgirl]

sobbing because its the finale, and I don't want my babies to go!!!

reliving the baby announcement brings me so much serotonin 🥹

why must I watch her be abducted, this will break me

HAHAHAH THE LEG REVEAL! FUCK YEAH

the second chance! its July 20th, 2023! Let's survive this bitch!

oh this is fucking stressful

Yi Joo, what a fucking baddie let's fucking go! choke him out, he deserves it!

side bar, Do Guk looks fire in that blue shirt

Oh god I'm stressed but I cackled seeing Jung Wook with the knife, all I can imagine is this:

shit the stab freaked me out get the fuck out Jung Wook, I will kill you sir!!!

that's right king, beat his ass!!!!!!!!!

oh the truck ruined me bye

the numbers are gone yes yes yes!!! its all over!

"Don't Cry, I'm Okay" - is bleeding out from the stomach, ok sir

MIL in the pink sweater, i love you queen

the tubes coming out of him, lol sir

Yi Joo, you have to eat it's bad for the baby!! Yes Mom!! You tell her!

Lol this dad is truly delulu if he thinks Jung Wook would change after being in prison

HAHAH I bet his mom cheated on him or something. That would be hilarious. All this BS for a mom that abandoned her son.

BOOM BABY I WAS RIGHT.

"It's my fault" too little to late bruh

Now it's time for Yoo Ra justice :D Oh she big pregnant and just shows up that the house???? LOL

"Let me stay here" - girl, you are asking for trouble. HAHAH It's time for a paternity test. Let's air this all out.

Manager Kim you have my heart, send all the good vibes

ahem, sir, flowers are not going to fix what you allowed to happen. Jamie, lay the man out. "it is your fault" - damn right it is!

oh the hands as she send him in 😭😭

"Meeting you taught me who I am" - I am going to sob. Just sedate me please.

"There is so much I want to do with you", I am so unwell, this scene is destroying me. She loves him so much and I love them.

The way he is back in his memories and wanted to help her even then. "What have they done to her", YES PROTECT HER! oh god oh god. never mind that's not protecting her.

the way he was that messed up and still went to her, I am losing it.

the prayer, you TWO STOP RIGHT NOW

"where did you go, leaving me all alone", sir. I love her sass of "I leave for 5 minutes!!! five!!! and you do this!!!"

TWO MONTHS??????????????????

"teasing you and giving you a hard time is the greatest joy in my life" I am tearing up, they are the light of my life.

HE'S HOME!!!!!!!!! MY BABY IS HOME!

Oh father-son heart to heart, oh good.

Hands, it all about the hands. Thank you show for giving me what I need.

oh look - back to the family I hate. OH MY GOD THIS IS A NEW WOMAN. He went and moved on.......... oh lord. oh sir a storm is coming. *evil laughter*

oh this is... iconic. I do feel so bad for the other girl, she does not deserve this. oh she is an angel. Joo Ri run, you deserve so much better.

Bruh, the way he fucked up so so hard. delicious. I love watching these people suffer. gorgeous.

well sir :) you got the girl :) nice work :)

"give me money" -- I'll give it to Yoo Ra, she is bold.

ok bad people got punished, let's have some fun :)

Mommy daughter time yay!!! I love them.

LOL I love that line "we are going to file our marriage" FINALLY!!!

Do Guk you DID IT!!!!!! You successful little bean you. <3

the ad placement is PRIME this episode. I love it.

Grandfather sassing that Yi Joo sees Do Guk daily. I love him.

omfg they lost the ring, hilarious - WAIT THEY ARE HAVING A MOMENT!!!!!!!!!! kiss kiss kiss!

omg look at them officially getting married and shit. I am squealing they deserve the world.

the way he RUNS to open the door for her. omg stop everyone is there to celly; they are so cute.

"I'm a good driver" okay queen, go off!

wait is she reenacting them first meeting???? I LOVE THIS. I LOVE THEM. I AM SQUEALING!!!! GTFO.

"I'm thinking I'd like to take my chance on a future with you" I-- I am so unwell.

I love love love love the ring. I love them. I love them so much.

WILL YOU MARRY ME YI JOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAY YES GIRLY!!!!!!!

oh my god the card key bit I am giggling

THE BRIDAL CARRY, THE EMBARRASSMENT I LOVE THEM. I AM OVERJOYED.

BABIES YES I WAS SO WORRIED WE WOULDNT SEE THEM.

MATCHING SHIRTS!!!!!!! MATCHING SHIRTS!!!!!!!!

I am overflowing with joy, this ending is everything to me. EVERYTHING.

"Every day and happiness"

the DUCK FACE AT HIS BABY GIRL.

"no more hearts" - has a million photos of them together. Literally me in life.

"So this is our perfect marriage" -- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

for the last time

SO I CAN SEEEEEE MY HALOOOOOOOOOOOO

10000000000000000/10. This show has everything. I love them so much. <3 <3

the CREW SHOTS AT THE END. I love love love <3

now i must live on, post perfect marriage revenge :(

[jadeinretrogrde]

A Curse For True Love Spoilers!!!

SPOILERS! Beware!!

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

🏹🦊🍎💘

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

my thoughts while reading acftl

- apollo you son of a bitch

- oh no eva's hope is gone bc jacks is gone 🥺

- can honestly say I didn't see kristof knightlinger potentially coming in as the hero we needed ~~nevermind he was useless~~

- omg not eva immediately wanting to make another deal with jacks to get her memories back girls got a pattern 💀

- when apollo doesn't even have to lie about some of the terrible things jacks has done 😑😑😑 listen ✋

- the valor's pretending to be the vale’s instead like no we are not giving up that V for victory ain't nobody gonna notice

- the story curse knows the truth! when it changed that book title to eva and “the prince of hearts” instead of “prince apollo” 😈😈

- *me chanting* “get this bitch a dragon roasted apple get this bitch a dragon roasted apple get this bitch a dragon roasted apple”

- not jacks rescuing eva from drowning again 🤤

- jacks: “it's best she doesn't remember me” also jacks “you can call me archer” 💀

- yessss eva with jacks’ dagger again name a more iconic duo

- apollo being all pissed that eva has jacks' dagger 🙄 grow up bro

- ApOlLo HaTeD aPpLeS shut up apollo nobody cares

- oh jacks, what are you trying to do and why won't eva forgive you for it 🫣

- the thing I love about eva is how at first she's all like “ooh I want the fairytale prince with heart eyes” but girl no you don't you want the morally grey baddie with the smoldering glare and death threats, just like the rest of us

- jacks really is bestie goals. he became immortal just so his wicked murdering bff wouldn't be alone, a true friend

- lmao jacks being like, “this is actually really inconvenient timing for you to kill me perhaps we could reschedule until I'm done saving your life?”

- *Ye Olde Brick Inn. Vacancy: One Bed* 😏

- this motherfucking letter goddamn it past evangeline ~~nevermind this letter is the greatest thing that's ever happened well-done past evangeline~~

- eva smacking the shit out of apollo and then pretending it was an accident is a cultural moment™️

- jacks pls stop calling her pet I'm begging you it's illegal 😭😭😭

- he fucking traded his WHAT!?

- apollo wanting to become immortal to fight jacks, embarrassing 🙄

- jacks sending threats to keep eva away like uhhh sorry jacks but your threatening messages are HOT???

- KISS KISS KISS

- wait why are there so many chapters left…

- apollo doesn't love anything more than himself so this motherfucking tree better unalive him 😡

- killed by a tree 😈 excellent

- the epilogue is just for eva asking about the apples girrrrl same

- omg a HEA 😭💖😍

- eva really delulu-ed her way into a hea. she girlbossed, gatekept, gaslighted her way around that curse, like fuck your magic rules and I really respect that of her

- are we getting a castor and lala spinoff??? or maybe a shocking, surprising, life changing book 4???? Idk things don't feel finished here…

[ask-missparker]

The Swap… // Marvel Fanfic ⚖️⏳🪤

Pairing: Baddie Amelia and Good Mia

Summary: This is a good and bad to everyone, especially in those who you believe are not..

Characters mentioned: The Young Avengers, SHIELD, Petra etc

———

Weeks past.

No winds, no roofing, no calls nor anything. She was beginning to think no one is coming to get her.

The memories came rolling back from her head. Slylvie, the explosive, and the doppelgänger in her place. 

Speak of the lady in question—

Amelia walked into the room with a burger, drink and new set of clothes. Mia looked at her and raised an eyebrow, despite being stuck here, she is being treated fairly…

“Well, you look like you slept well.” Amelia said putting the burger on the bed and the drink in the table, “I know you will be hungry.

“Not hungry…” Mia stated, “..what are you doing here? Ready to tease and talk my ear off again? Do you even know what you’re doing here? You’re just some mindless fool with my face!”

“Am I?”

“Yes! You’re helping Slylvie.”

“No I’m not…well, not exactly. She’s got her own personal plans and so do I.”

“And might those be?”

“Saving you.”

Mia paused in confusion. She had no idea what she was talking about. Saving her?! She was stuck here and her people were out there being saddened by some goddesses. Amelia watched her face in confusion and concern. She had her own personal plan here to save Mia and help the others here. She was just being subtle about it.

“Excuse me?” Mia questioned sitting up on the bed.

“I’m trying to be nice here! I’m trying to save you before things go from bad to worse!” Amelia exclaimed, “You think they will care about you when they sense who you really are? You don’t know your future or your worth here Mia!”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not a mindless fool. I’ve seen what you become and a version of that world…it’s cruel, selfish, secretive and dangerous…it’s why I became who I am today and decided to play with Slylvie. I didn’t like what she was doing here. But I saw that she done, made it clear enough for an opportunity here.”

“Explain. Cause you sound nuts! Your wrong..”

“I’ve seen what we become…how strong, sweet, beautiful, kind and smart we are. You will be betrayed or you’ll do the betrayal, you will be punished and hurt! Mistreated and not worth others time…and in fear of that, you run. You leave because everything you ever wanted, needed, and cared for is ripped apart from you!”

Mia paused, “…why do you sound like you speak from experience? Like you seen a versions of this..?”

“Cause I have. You will understand someday, cause I can’t tell you everything or who I am exactly...everything and everyone you meet will turn your world upside down, for better or for worse..” Amelia explained taking a seat on the bed across from her.

“So what’s your play? Why keep me here?”

“For I can do what you won’t do. I want you to stop this nonsense, understand the importance of who you choice as a team…”

“…what do you mean?”

“Liane, Rick, Rei, Luna…Rochelle, Cass..the list goes on! They don’t know who they really are, nor do they have the slightest clue of it. They are holding back several years of secrets and lies, that will break them. Not let them flourish into who they are meant to be..”

“What did you do?!”

“Not what I did. Slylvie. She hurt them—well to be honest, they were already hurt to be beginning with and need help.”

“I did try to help them. I gave tried to give them an education, brought them together, a home—”

“You did.”

“But?”

“They need more than that…they don’t care about you or SHIELD, or anything per se. Unless it’s for their own personal benefit and development purposes—”

“What do you mean? Rochelle, Liane, Rick and the others are good people…traumatized and hurt but still..”

Amelia nodded that she was right about what said but point out that last part, “That’s the point! They are all traumatized and scared to actually speak to each other, all a bit selfish! So once they realize what you truly are and what the world has in store for them, they will turn on you…and each other.”

Mia glared, “What are you getting at? What are you doing while I’m stuck in here.”

“They need to understand one another. Let others in and heal before they can save the world and one another’s lives.”

“Okay…? How do you mean on doing that?”

“More like what I did. Because I am a verisons of you, I went the distance. I got them a mutant therapist.”

Mia blinked and scoffed, “Wait what? You got them at…”

“A therapist. Someone will help them and you…you are all traumatized.” Amelia winced.

“I am not!”

“Denying it is normal. Mia, sweetheart, you don’t know what the world has in store for you. Your life will never be the same again, I am warning you, get out before you can! Or else you will turn into me..”

“I will never turn into you!” She spat with a glare.

She nodded, “I am trying to help you here. And them! You don’t get it do you?”

“No you don’t get it! The people who I brought together are good and they are fine! And my life is my business! My choice, you don’t get to decide what I do here.”

“Do you really think they will accept you or each other once they find out who they really are? You know better than anyone who trust can ever make or break a relationship…”

“…I..no…they won’t…I saw how they are…they are all very different and secretive people…hell, their personalities and pasts aren’t too pretty…they weren’t very keen on being a team or SHIELD or anything for that matter…”

“You see? You know I’m right here…people are afraid of change and control..sometimes they need a push. That’s where I come in..”

“What are you gonna do to them…?”

Amelia could see the way Mia’s facial expression changed and softened. How they are both too sides of the same coin, knowing that the world and the people around them aren’t good. So many things she wants to say to her but won’t. She wishes that Mia would get out while she can, run and not have the future she is destined to live. But she can’t change that, even in her world of The Framework, she can’t change it.

She knows that one day she will understand why she tried to threaten her and keep her safe. But she can’t do that. She has a job here to do.

After a moment Amelia spoke, “I am not going to hurt them. I promise you that. Look, a few days, there is a Ball. I don’t know much of what the other people will do, it’s not my business or nor do I care. But I need to push theses heroes to their limits and work towards a similar goal to make them stronger. Beat their enemies and get to really know one another.”

“You’re double crossing the others to help the heroes…protect them?” Mia questioned.

“Garret and whoever else is making it do it. I am not pleased about it. Hell, i don’t care about what the others will do. As long as no one is hurt.”

“So what are you gonna do, huh?”

“I hired Petra Summers, the therapist for a reason. To push their limits and get to know the team, none of them can beat their enemies if they are fighting their own battles…”

“It won’t work..”

“It might. I have faith. If Petra and I can actually get them to actually play together, really know they are that night..they will be one step closer to healing and better yet, doing the world a bit of good.”

“Why are you doing this? Why are you keeping me here and telling me your plan?”

“Cause I know you’re too young and innocent to do it. You haven’t lived yet or seen the hardships that people face…hell, Mia, you have your own problems and questions about yourself that you are too busy or scared to answer yourself.”

Mia looked away, not wanting to admit to what she was saying. She doesn’t know who this verisons of who was, but knowing what she is hearing, Amelia knew a thing or two about what she was talking about. She has her own personal story, questions about herself and opinions onto your path or who to trust.

Yet she is faithful of the good and bad. She was tired, annoyed and frustrated at this point. She just wanted to be out.

“What are you gonna do to me? When are you gonna release me for here?” She mumbled.

“When I know Petra has done her job.” Amelia responded, “Sometimes you need to wake up and smell the roses to realize you need a little help.”

“I um…”

“And sometimes you have to be a little bad to do it.”

Amelia’s intentions were decidedly different yet somehow good, even if they weren’t exactly executed in a nice way. Some may say what she’s doing as horrible but if you look closely at what she’s trying to do, it’s probably not that bad, depending on who’s looking at the tale. She believes in mutants, humans and inhuman all living together in one world in order to do good.

She sees potential in people. She tries to protect others and herself at times.

So it’s why she hired Petra. The redhead may not say she’s a hero, but she is.

~~~~~

Ahhh I don’t know what I am doing 😂 this was an interesting piece.

Anyways let me know what you think 💭

Tags: @rickb-chaos @purpleprincessonfyre @marvelsfavoriteuncle @therealdaydreamstark @ask-missparker @ask-starrk @askstevella @sci-fi-lexcon @luna-d-marsh @ethan-lensherr @wizzzardofoz z @thechoooooosenone @jackiequick @gcthvile @cherrysft @blueboirick @meiramel @elzabeth-stark @missstrawbs2001 @trulysummersprivate @yetanotherwells @gaminggirlsstuff