#(i miss artemy the skull)

[littlemushroomboi]

3 healers

[skullhazard]

[af-answers]

To anyone who'd like to answer, what little thing, like a minor inconvenience or an accidental misfortune, frustrates you the most?

Holly: Just missing the tube. It's so annoying when the doors shut right in your face. I get why they do but-- it tempts me to risk the traffic.

Mulch: Have you ever been eating something soft and then your whole skull shakes with an unidentified hard object between your jaws? That, but with soil.

Juliet: When any of the parents at the twins' school try to talk to me. They know I'm not their mom, and so they try to ask "friendly" prying questions. I've started telling them I'm not allowed to talk to civilians.

Myles: Yes, that approach makes us very popular.

Beckett: For real! Juliet is the most popular not-mom in the school! A lot of boys from school want to come over to meet her.

Myles: That's my annoying inconvenience.

Foaly: The lack of centaur-friendly seating-- anywhere.

Root: HR.

Butler: Mine is when boundaries I thought I'd established are breached without warning.

Artemis: Mine is passive aggression. On a completely unrelated note, because I cannot for the life of me conceive of a smooth segue: what are you wearing?

Butler: I found it in my room. I assumed it was part of some bizarre scheme you didn't tell me about.

Artemis (laughing): Bizarre scheme, assuredly, but not mine.

[sunnysam-my]

A reminder to any Young Justice fanfic writer.

Part of the reason why Megan's telepathical link is so uncomfortable at first is because you can hear people's thoughts and emotions. This is seen for example in S01E06. If someone, like Wally for example, has an internal monologue then everyone will hear it in words, but if someone is just thinking in feeling then that's what they will "hear".

First GIF:

MISS MARTIAN: Everyone online?

ARTEMIS: Oh, this is weird.

ROQUETTE: And distracting. Coding a distributed algorithm virus on a kiddie computer with less RAM than a wristwatch is hard enough. Now I have to hear teen think in my skull?!

Second GIF:

*Kid Flash and Artemis wordlessly glare at eachother.*

AQUALAD, off screen: Stop it, both of you.

KID FLASH & ARTEMIS: What?

AQUALAD: I can hear you glaring.

[androgynousblackbox]

Can't Remember To Forget You. 2 [Appleradio, Radioapple]

Chapter 2: Your first laugh

Alastor adjusted his bowtie for the last time and then the hoodie of the onesie for Artemis. When he was sure that they both presented the impeccable image of two respectable people just coming to pay a friendly visit, nothing else, he made his way to entrance of possibly the tackiest building he had seen in his entire life. Supposedly his place of work. Although with all the months he spend away in Heaven, whatever position he had possibly had been filled already by someone else. Even so, a simple conversation about what position that was surely could't hurt anyone.

Not like just thinking about it the entire night could do. Not like turning around in the bed wondering why he couldn't remember his own job and drinking to marginally cushion the pain in his head could be. Not like stay awake in bed and contemplate the ceiling knowing on a fundamental level that he was still missing something. He had thought that feeling would die out the moment he was back at his home, in Hell, that the sole cause of it had to be being in Heaven as a soul that had already been rejected, but if anything, it had only become even more transparent. Like the low buzzing of a angry hive full of bees who never knew the meaning of rest, on his head and his body, all the time.

No, surely nobody would mind to that level.

With a sigh, Alastor came inside the building. It only took him a few steps towards the reception desk when he heard something shatter. On the nearby bar, a snake demon had just dropped his glass and continued gazing at him as if couldn't believe it. Alastor very vaguely thought he recognized his face, but couldn't be entirely sure. The man at the bar, in the other hand, he had no issue recognizing. One of his oldest ex-contracts that he lost after his second death.

"Husker!" greeted, moving there. The snake demon kept staring with a mouth slightly agape, but then cover up quickly at seeing Artemis. "I completely forgot that you worked here until just now! Isn't that just funny?"

Husk swallowed up hard as he extended a hand to the snake demon, squeezing his arm. Whatever message that was supposed to deliver, the snake demon got it and nodded once, slitherin away from them.

"Hey" said Husk, frowning slightly. "Nice kid" added, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe that was what came out of him.

"Indeed. Name is Artemis. I am sure that if they knew to talk they would say it was quite the pleasure, for you, of course" Alastor pet the blonde head. Artemis's kept staring into Husk as he drooled over the skull shaker on their hands. A brief look around the place told him that the inside was just as tacky, if not worse. "Where is the manager of this place, my good fried? I would like to have a chat. I recently came back to the swing of things in Hell and naturally, one of my first items on the to do list was to see my old boss."

Husk cleared his throat.

"The manager?"

"Yes, the manager. Your boss and from what I heard, mine too" Alastor tilted his head. Why would he need to clarify that? "Are they around here or not?"

"You…" Husk looked to a side for a moment. "Uhm, who told you that?"

That did gave him some pause. Was the information of Mimzy wrong somehow? After all, he did not remember working on that place, but being inside of it, looking at the wall, it didn't feel strange either. And she talked so confidently about him kicking her out. A little bit more of his own research was enough to discover that the place had been declared off limits by his own command for any trying Overlord in Hell.

So he cared about that place, enough to want it protected. Perhaps he was hired to do that, but never actually spend a lot of time in the building itself? It did sound odd to him why would he be invested at all in the redemption business, with his own already being such a massive failure. Maybe just to laugh at sinners falling. He could see himself doing that, if he was especially bored.

"That matters none to you" replied, without losing his smile. "Like I said, I just want a chat. That is all. I don't think my request is nothing close to unreasonable."

The eyes of Husk darted beyond him. When Alastor followed the direction of his gaze, the snake man had already brought by the arm a young looking woman in a red suit that seemed to be paralyzed in place. Both her eyes, one red and the other yellow, stared at him with something he couldn't identify as horror exactly, but was close to it. Near her a woman of her same stature was looking between her and him.

"Is she?" asked Alastor to Husk in a lower voice. When the winged cat nodded subtly, he perked up. As he moved to her, he extended his hand to shake her. Her grasp was weak, as if she still haven't gained control back of her body. "Good afternoon, maam! I bet that it has been a while since we have seen each other! Charlie Morningstar, wasn't it? The princess of Hell with her little project to try to save the souls of sinners! What a display of naive ambition!" As the mismatched eyes of her landed on his baby, he let her go. "Oh, please don't mind my little assistant here. Their babysitter was busy and so I had no other option to bring them over. But they are exceptionally well behaved so I am sure they will be nothing but a delight while they are here."

"Uh…" came out finally from Charlie. A few quick tears escaped her before she whipped her face, minimizing them with a smile. If nobody else was goig to address it, Alastor wasn't going to do it. "Y-yes, it has been a while. We don't mind at all" She took a step closer and stared at Artemis, blinking fast. "They are… so cute. What is their name?" asked, squeezing the hand of the woman at her side.

Alastor gave her a second look, the smell of something corrupt reaching his being. Somehow he just knew that meant that was another fallen like him. She probably recognized him as well.

"Artemis Abaddon" said with a note of pride, holding one of the black little hands to wave softly", happy to make your acquaintance."

The smile of Charlie faded in for a moment at hearing him. That is when the other fallen came up.

"Alastor" said, offering her own hand too, the one that wasn't holding the princess. "I don't know if you remember me? I am Emily Morningstar. I haven't been here for long so it wouldn't be surprising if you didn't."

Thank goodness he had done his research already. He gave to her his staff to shake. To her credit, she accepted the offering instantly.

"Of course. Who could forget about the fallen angel that became another princess of Hell? Quite the eventful journey that must have been."

The polite smile of Emily twitched slightly.

"Yes" said, pursing her lips as he returned to the side of Charlie. "So, what bring you back here, Alastor?"

"Well, simply put, I was hoping we could talk about my old position in this place? The one I had before my prolonged retirement. I understand that it has been a while and that position was probably filled in already, but…"

"It's yours" said Charlie. "When can you start?"

Alastor blinked.

"Just like that?" couldn't help to question.

"Just like that" insisted Charlie. "I don't need anything more. When can you start?"

"Well!" Alastor stomped his cane on the floor. That was easier than expected. "If that is the case… what was the position again, dear? I am afraid I have been away enough for that little detail to escape my mind."

"Very understandable" commented Emily, nodding.

"You were our hotelier" said Charlie, her smile returning somewhat. "You… protected the hotel and all of its residents. Sometimes had to make reparations around the building. You also lived with us" added, grabbing the front of her shirt. "You… can have any room you want."

"Oh" Alastor looked down, to the precious cargo against his chest. Now happily nomming on their own hand. "I will need some accommodations."

"Anything you want" said Charlie just as Emily lifted a hand.

"Actually, we have a nursery already" Charlie stared at her, only for Emily to nod her head. She made a gesture for him to follow, taking her sister with her to the second floor. Alastor went behind them, his curiosity peaked now. "We… kinda almost had a sinner with a baby staying with us" continued on Emily. "In the end, she decided she didn't really want to try redemption and so she left, but the nursery is still there" She chuckled, scratching her cheek. "We… may have gone a little overboard preparing it as soon we find out there would be a baby here. If you don't take it, then nobody is going to use it and that is kinda sad."

"I see" Alastor stopped when they did, in front of a door that looked to be exactly the same as all others.

Emily looked to Charlie and made a head gesture. Charlie let out a little oh and then pressed her hand on the doorknob. As soon she did, the illusion spell on the door vanished, revealing a red with golden details instead. A sign, obviously painted by a not very skillful hand, hang at the front to declare it was, in fact, a nursery.

"Like I said, it was unused for some time" said Emily as Charlie opened up. One flick of the switch later, the lights turned on.

The two princesses came inside and Alastor looked around. It was big, it was full of toys and even the carpet over which they were all walking was softer than the one in the hallway. On a corner the craddle was already set up with a curtain hung from above, coming out from a moose skull.

"If you need anything else…" said Charlie, staying behind, with Emily "don't hesitate to tell us. We want Artemis to be as comfortable as possible."

Alastor let his fingers brush against a shelf that contained an old timey radio, unplugged. He knew the thing worked perfectly, of course. Just like he knew someone had to turn it on recently for the dials to be dust free.

"Oh, and it won't have nothing to do with your own salary" added Emily, squeezing her hands together in front of her. Somehow she had caught on to his next question. "You don't have to pay for anything, so don't worry about any of that. We can also babysit for them if you ever need it. It won't be any trouble at all for us. We would… love to, actually."

Right. The princesses of Hell never had to think about money as an obstacle for anything. He neither, when he could slaughter his way to get what he wanted, but something about the way those two looked at him, waiting for his response, touched something he wasn't expecting. They were sincere, as much as he could percieve, and that alone was already rare in Hell.

"Do any of you have any experience taking care of babies?" asked, letting his reason overwrite the first impulse to just accept their offer.

"I read a lot about it!" said Emily, enthusiastic.

"So no."

"We can learn" insisted Charlie, adamant. "We… we can also ask papa" added, earning a second look from Emily. But she didn't say anything as her sister continued. "He can teach us anything we don't know. He is not here now, he had to deal with some stuff in the Wrath ring, but we can call him if we need to."

Alastor's lips twitched at the suggestion. Her father couldn't mean anything else but the king. A man so powerful that could probably kill everyone in the building without breaking a sweat at all. Alastor recoiled at the idea. Whether the devil had experience raising kids or not was too small of a factor to start trusting his own kid to him. The princesses were another issue entirely.

"I guess I could make some time to make sure you have the basics down" conceded finally. He hold the sides of Artemis to pull them up their carrier. "Luckily for both of you, it's about the perfect moment for you to learn how to keep a baby clean and comfortable. Not the most glamorous part of raising a child, but a necesary one."

The two princess did follow each of his movements attentively and not once they complained about the smell. Alastor had them both repeat the process to make sure they got everything right. Artemis let themselves be handled easily, moving their hooves only after Charlie had put their onesie back on again. Alastor lifted them on his arms, making sure to point out the importance of holding their head, until the small body rested against his shoulder. He rubbed the back of Artemis as he nodded to the silent question in the air. He still wanted to be present for the most part, but now felt more confident than before about his decision.

"Very well" commented with a little smirk as he shrugged. "I guess we can stay after all."

Charlie squealed and moved to him with her arms extended. Then she seemed to think about that better, laughing to herself as she offered her hand again to make it official.

Bringing all his belongings through his shadows was notoriously easy. Of course, his room would have to be the next next to the nursery. As his minions worked on the modifications to have it more of his liking, Alastor put Artemis to nap on their new craddle after giving them a bottle of baby formula. The lessons about how to prepare and how to feed them properly had been taught and learned. With a snap of fingers, Alastor had a slow calming music coming off his staff that he put against the wall.

"Would you maybe like to hear about their other parent?" offered in the end.

If nobody was going to make any questions about it then fuck it, he was going to offer the information anyway. He had thought about that story long enough to feel like it would be a waste if he never got to tell it. Besides, that story was going to be what he told Artemis when he was old enough to want to know about their origins. He had to make sure that it was good enough and for that, nothing better than to gauge the reaction of a public before then.

The two princesses exchanged a look between each other. Charlie’s jaw was sealed shut as if by concrete. Emily rubbed her arm and nodded. She was the one who spoke again.

“Sure” They sat down on the couches of the corner. Alastor made sure to be on the one that still allowed him to keep watch over the craddle. “Coffee?” offered Emily, already extending her hands with her fingers at the ready.

“If you don't mind, dear” Alastor was surprised that she had clocked that he would prefer coffee over any other drink. Was he that obvious?

One snap of was all it took for her to make three cups appear. The one with coffee hot enough to burn skin was obviously for him, while the other two had tea on them. Emily didn't offer him any sugar or cream and he appreciated that. Certainly she had good instincts to read people's preferences.

The coffee itself wasn't as good as the one he made, but it was acceptable enough that he could stomach it for the moment. As he started talking, only Emily took a few sips from her own cup while Charlie didn't even reach for her own not even once. Her eyes remained focused straight on him, though, as if she needed to absorb every detail she could before the moment faded away.

Once he started, he found it easy to keep going. All his improvisation skills came out like he had never taken a rest, bringing up little more details just to add some more flavor. Like how they didn't get along at first because it was only wiser to be distrustful of anyone you knew had any king of power. Ever since coming to Hell Alastor was never someone to be underestimated, but Artemis's father wasn't either. A true beast if he could be unleashed on a crowd he had deemed worthy of his violence. A powerful, intimidating entity that could only command the respect and terror of those who looked at him. Naturally, Alastor despised him on sight. The respect came, eventually, when he realized that his cruelty was never capricious. The same hands that could crash skulls and break necks could also be gentle, friendly. Before he knew it, they were having conversations late at night without barely touching their drinks, as if they had found something so interesting to pay attention to. They trusted each other, as much as anyone is able to trust anyone in Hell that is. By the time he suggested starting a family together, there was some sense to it that Alastor couldn't refuse. They were both exceptionally strong beings in Hell. They could face any obstacles on their way together. If any kid was ever going to be safe in Hell, it was going to be their own, until they came to unleash their own power over some deserving targets. There was never any talk of marriage between them. They didn't had that kind of relationship. Alastor never had such inclination towards anyone before and that was no exception. But there was a mutual, unbreakable sense of trust and respect that it was even better than that. They could rely on each other like they couldn't on anybody else. What else could anyone possibly want out of the father for their children?

But it wasn't in the cards for them to last. The same day that Alastor find out that their attempts had bear fruit and their officially waiting, was also the day of another Extermination. Normally, his fallen would be already at his side and wait it out at home, as always. But he had been aiming to get that deal for so long and his target finally was willing to make it official. Or so he was told. By the time he realized it was an ambush, the exorcist had already spot him in the place.

“I obviously took care to eliminate those traitors later, of course” added Alastor cheerfully. “I made a fine dinner with their remains in honor of my fallen companion. I made sure most of them were alive to see me do it. It was a lot of food, but I had a big appetite, eating for two now, so I didn't leave even their bones behind” He chuckled. “That helped tremendously with the grieving process, let me tell you. I hope you understand I can't share with you his real name. His enemies would have a field day if they knew the way he went out and I don't feel like giving them that. Someday maybe I will just eliminate all of them and be done with that concern. For now, I have my little Artemis to remember him by and I couldn't ask for a better homage to him than raise them to be the terror that their father was.”

“Bullshit.”

Alastor returned his focus from Artemis to the horned princess, taken aback.

“Pardon?”

“That is a load of bullshit. All of it” Alastor could not understand why she looked so angry. She send to her sister a glare, tears already pressing against the confines of her eyelids to be spilled. “Are we supposed to be okay with that? You…” Her hands were trembling at her sides as she stood up, gnarling her teeth at him, “you don't even sound like you liked telling it! You yourself didn't believe a word of it and it shows!”

Alastor never had someone saying that about any of his stories. Well, it was the first draft for a reason. He had no idea that his manager was so passionate about the subject.

“Charlie…” started Emily, reaching out a hand for her, but Charlie moved away.

“No! This is all bullshit!” Artemis started to whine from his cradle. Soon enough, his cries filled the room. Babies didn't take kindly to the interruption of their nap. As Alastor stood to take care of them, Charlie covered up her mouth, appropriately ashamed of herself. “I am sorry” said to Emily. Although he was giving his back, Alastor could feel her red and yellow eyes on him. “I am sorry.”

With that, the princess storm off the nursery leaving a sob behind. Alastor hummed gently as he rocked Artemis from side to side.

“I know, I know, my polka dot” he sighed, brushing back the blonde hair out of their face. “A rude awakening is never pleasant. You have every right to be upset about it.”

Emily sighed from the couch, standing up.

“Please forgive her. She didn't mean to do that. She… she has been under a lot of pressure lately.”

Alastor kissed Artemis's forehead, holding them against his shoulder. The little black fist agitated against his suit, the piercing sound of their cries making him angry too. Not at them though. Never them.

“She can't be shouting like that near a sleeping baby” Alastor kept his voice calm, but not any less firm. “Babies need their sleep, more than any of us do. If she didn't like my performance there were better ways to say it.”

“We… yes, you are right. I am sorry, it won't happen again. For whatever is worth, it was a good story. You… you have a real talent for those.”

Alastor finally turned to see her, lifting his chin. Her own yellow eyes were watery as well and the grip on her own hands was shaking with a different emotion than her sister. But other than that, she seemed sincere enough. He huffed through his nose, only partially pacified.

“In front of my child, that is the whole truth and nothing else but the truth” insisted. “She can have her own opinions, but I won't allow anyone to ruin that story for them. Are we clear?”

"Y-yes" Emily lowered her head. "We won't, I promise. It was a one time mistake.”

“Well, I hope so. I can't stay where my own child can't even take a nap in peace.”

When she looked up again, it felt like he announced that her puppy had just being run over and was fighting for its life at the hospital.

“It won't happen again” repeated before taking a deep breath and shake her head slightly. “I am sorry, but I should really check on her. Please, just stay with us and we will do our best for little Artemis.”

Alastor didn't bother to answer, attending to his baby. Words were cheap. Anyone could say anything and it wouldn't mean anything. For all he knew, even the real other parent of Artemis could have promised they were going to be a family and then didn't. Emily must have gotten the message because she moved to the door.

“You… you are a really good dad. Artemis is very lucky.”

Alastor turned to say that of course, he knew that already. But she was already gone.

—-----

Settling down, ultimately, was easier than expected. Another one of his ex contracts, a delightfully insane cyclope, came by to greet him and then stay glued to his legs for a good part of an hour until a cockroach called her attention. He had also completely forgotten about she working there, but he gave her head a pat and was glad to promise that she never, ever, would be left alone with Artemis as far he had any say on it. Babies were too messy for her nerves and prone to not combine well with sharp objects for Alastor's. They were both satisfied with that arrangement. Despite her need to exterminate a pest from her vicinity, she didn't leave him until he assured her he was there to stay. For the moment at least. Only then did she run off.

At the afternoon, Charlie came by to apologize again and promise she would do anything to make sure Artemis was safe, so please don't go. By then Alastor had calmed down enough to offer a silent nod. They would see about that.

But at night, though, Artemis wiggled on his bed, nothing close to actually sleeping after their meal, a bath and Alastor telling them another story. He thought that their restlessness would disappear the moment they were back in Hell, where the warm foul air embraced them both fully unlike Heaven’s, but clearly he was wrong. Not that his own sleep schedule was any better, but he wasn't a two month creature whose brain was still developing.

In Heaven taking them for a long walk used to work, so he could only assume it would do the same just now. Who knew, maybe it could help him to sleep as well. He strapped the carrier to his chest again and put Artemis there, walking over to the garden and admiring the demonic flowers blinking at them. Sometimes Artemis babbled while looking at something that caught their eyes and Alastor took the chance to explain the name and capabilities of each specimen they passed by. He never had too much interest in gardening, but somehow he just knew all those facts that felt appropriate to share.

A soft calming music accompanied them along. The screams, sound of shooting, fighting and disaster that were the natural background of Hell at all times seemed somehow quieter that night, making it easier to relax. But it was there, it was always there, lively, chaotic and violent, and Alastor couldn't be more grateful because he got to live it all over again. They were truly created for Hell, both of them.

He didn't know how long they were out there, but he had to assume it was more than enough for him to get hungry. Some of his minions had brought the contents of his fridge over to the hotel's. A bite to the last carcass he had, because he didn't feel like cooking , and then they could go to bed finally. As he came inside to the kitchen, however, he saw that someone else was already looking for their own snack. Instantly he just knew that wasn't either of the residents he already met. He got a sweet smell tickling his nose and it wasn't unpleasant, even though he didn't really like sweets. Just as he considered clear his throat to make his presence known, someone got ahead of him.

Artemis, his usually calm, usually silent baby, just started laughing loudly on the spot. Any amount of sleepiness they had gained was seemingly gone, kicking their little legs and flapping their arms.

Of course whoever was bend over in front of the fridge stood up. A snap of finger later all the lights turned on and a tiny blonde man closed the door, gasping.

“Oh my! And who is this little buddy?” cooed the man, coming closer with a smile of pure joy on his face. Artemis agitated even further, bouncing on their carrier, their laughter almost sounding like excited screams. “Well, aren't you a happy little one! Were you taking a little walk to see if you got sleepy, sweetie? It didn't work at all, didn't it? No, it didn't work at all, you precious little rascal” The man giggled himself and finally looked up to him. “What is his name?”

It took a second for Alastor to respond. His baby never had that kind of reaction to anyone or anything before. It should make him happy, but he was mostly just confused.

“Their name is Artemis” said finally, holding their chest, but they were not calming down.

Their little hands were extending forward and slapping the air as if wanting to grab the man in front. The eyes of the tiny man crinkled with his smile.

“Artemis. I like it! They are a little social cutie, aren't they? Can I hold them?” The man perked up, his expression turning to plead. “I promise I have experience with babies. They will be perfectly safe with me.”

The man hasn't even presented himself. Alastor knew he was another fallen like him, but that was it. By all means, he couldn't trust a complete stranger with his baby. But in the other hand, the longer he was taking to answer, the more the sounds of Artemis were turning from happy to complaints, making effort noises they never made before.

“Be careful” warned, gently pulling them out. They just wouldn't stay still, reaching forwrd. “If anything happens to them, I am eating your head for breakfast.”

The man laughed at the very serious threat, as it was a joke or had nothing to fear from it.

“Of course! Are you the father of them then?” asked, their own black hands reaching out. Alastor's shadow circled the tiny man, ready to take Artemis out of his grasp and return them if necessary. “Oh, right, you have the same cute ears so you gotta. My bad.”

Alastor felt his own ears flapping. Whoever this fallen was, clearly he had no idea at all of who he was talking to. Alastor couldn't imagine a lot of people who would casually tell the King Overlord that his ears were cute. The comment was still praising Artemis's ears too, which undoubtedly were the cutest ears known to man, so Alastor found it somewhat hard to be too upset about it.

“I am” said, holding their head delicately as he passed them over. Despite not fully intending to, his tentacles also surrounded Artemis by a few centimeters just in case. The tiny man didn't seem to take any offense to that at least, waiting patiently with his own arms in position. “Their only parent” added before any other question.

“Gotcha” The man smiled. When Alastor finally started to let Artemis go, he knew to accommodate the giggling baby near his chest. Artemis took a hold of his hand and, as to be expected, took it to their mouth to drool all over it with the biggest smile Alastor had seen. Their eyes were staring at the man as if they never had never seen something more fascinating. That only seemed to please the man even more as he gently rocked them. Both his shadow and tentacles were very much there, but his shadow looked less apprehensive now. “Such a darling cutie. Aren't you, little buddy? Aren't you? Such a precious darling one. Happy baby makes for a happy daddy!” When Artemis giggled again, kicking their hooves in the air, the man took the chance to nuzzle their face. “How old are they?” asked without lifting his gaze from them.

Alastor knew he should probably take some kind of offense to that. But if the focus was his own kid he could forgive it a little.

“Two months.”

The man gasped again.

“Two whole months? Aww, they are so cute at that age! Appreciate this time, man, because it passes by way too quickly” He sighed, caressing the soft chubby cheeks. “I miss when my Charlie was like this. She was also the happiest little baby.”

A scratching record sound cut through the air. The moment the name Charlie escaped his lips, Alastor felt like the biggest idiot. How could not see that was obviously Charlie's father? There were some features that he didn't had that Charlie did, and Charlie did not have deep dark eyebags colorig her white skin, but their relation was undeniable and he couldn't understand why he didn't made the connection before. A second later another realization hit him: that was the king of Hell the one cooeing and making kissy faces over his baby. Probably more shocking than that, his baby was absolutely loving it. Not even with Rosie they acted like that.

"Your Majesty" said and the man lifted his head, not at all surprised to be recognized by his title. "I need to put them to sleep."

"Right, yeah, of course" The king chuckled softly and left a kiss on the forehead of Artemis, making the baby to kick the air with another giggle. "Go with daddy now, little buddy, okay? Are you staying with us now?" asked next, taking a step forward to Alastor.

"Yes. Starting today, I am the new hotelier. Alastor Abaddon, at your service, sire. Quite the pleasure, I am sure" said, trying to hold his baby.

But the moment he started to lift them from the king's arm, Artemis's happy face immediately changed into a frown and made wordless protest sounds. Alastor lifted his hands, leaving them where they were, and Artemis smiled again looking at the devil. A second attempt brought the exact same results, with Artemis managing to yell at him. He couldn't help but to feel offended by that. Nine months carrying them on his body, only to be repayed like that? Parenthood was truly a thankless job.

"Aww, come on, don't take it personally" The king chuckled gently as he rocked Artemis side to side, calmin them again. "I am just the shiny new thing in their proximity. They know who their dad is at the end of the day. Give them a week or so and they won't care at all if I am around or not."

Alastor bite his bottom lip to not comment that Artemis was not acting like his usual self, that nobody before had gotten such a reaction from them. He was going straight to his grave without ever telling that to anyone, less than anything to the king himself. The man did not need to know he was being adored by someone else. Surely he had plenty of people doing that already.

Instead, he huffed.

"If that is how it's going to be" said with a sigh, accepting defeat, "could you at least carry them back to their cradle? They have been up long enough."

"Sure! It would be my pleasure" The king smiled again, just as happy to get some more time with Artemis as Artemis was to be with him. "Show the way, mister hotelier."

Alastor did, keeping his shadow to follow the shadow of the king just in case. The monarch started to happily sing to them by only saying nana in different tones. His own black hand was holding the small one to follow the rythm he had just made up. As they went up the stairs, he saw the familiar flash of Niffty's red dress dissapearing on a corner. It wasn't surprising that she too would be up to those hours, possibly chasing another pest.

When they reached his room, his chimney turned on instantly with a soft green glow. The king looked at it and then at the portion that contained his bayou, but didn't made any comment so Alastor prefered to believe he was just admiring it.

"Here" said, patting the black craddle next to his bed.

"Right on" The king made goofy faces to Artemis, which kept them entertained enough as he bended over the cradle and lowered their tiny body. The little hand hold his finger still. Alastor could see the monarch trying to push his hand out of their grasp, only for Artemis squeeze more with the same innocent smile. "Wow, they are pretty strong, huh?"

Alastor hummed with a nod. That was his child, of course they were.

"Mmm" The king pursed his lips to a side and then perked up. "Oh, wait. This used to work with Charlie" commented, snapping his fingers on his other hand. A little poof of red magic later, a duckie with a white top hat landed on his palm. "Don't worry, it's completely safe for the kiddos" added to Alastor with a wink, correctly interpretating his face as about to stop him. He sat down again as the monarch offered the duckie to the baby. The red eyes of Artemis light up and made a cooeing noise as they reached out, forgetting all about their previous focus. "Voilá!" The king showed off his free hand just as Artemis took the duckie to their mouth. "Told you their attention span doesn't last long."

"Who knew that literal babies can be distracted so easily" commented Alastor, smirking. "You should keep that secret lock up tight, your Majesty. Humanity is not ready for such a revelation. I shudder to think on the horrors they could unleash if they knew something as big as that."

The king snorted.

"Alright, wise guy, you are welcome" He waved to Artemis over their craddle. Artemis smiled around the top hat of the duckie, kicking their hooves. "Good night, sweetie. Sleep tight and be good to daddy now" The monarch then lifted his head and winked an eye at him. "If you need anything for them, let me know. Us single parents have to stick together. It doesn't cost me anything at all."

Oh, he was sure. Being the king with infinite resources at his disposition already implied that. One of his ears flickered with a growing sense of irritation.

"Kind offer, sir, but I am perfectly capable of…"

"Lucifer!" came out the voice of Husk, slipping right outside his door. The claws of the winged cat grabbed to the framme as he straighten up, looking inside from both of them to the baby. Apparently relieved to find them just talking, his shoulders relaxed just a little. "Lucifer, sir, we… we didn't kow you came back."

"Oh, hi, Husk" Lucifer perked up. "Yeah, finished all the stuff with Satan and came back as soon as I could. I was hoping to surprise Charlie and Emily in the morning, but then I got hungry and met these two in the kitchen. I didn't even know we were looking for an hotelier, but hey, nice to know that position is taken already."

"Great. That is great" Husk's eyes jumped from one to another. "Lucifer, I… remember what I told you about giving you a sweet drink when you are back? You can take one now. But you have to come with me now, it's a… limited offer."

"Uh, sure! I can drink something" Lucifer turned to Alastor. "Wanna join?"

For a moment it seemed that Husk didn't even breath waiting for his response. Alastor could only imagine that he still wasn't fully comfortable with him, even after their contract was destroyed. Normally Alastor would be glad to join in just to rub it on the cat's face that he could do it and there was nothing he could do to stop him. If they were going to be working together from now on, then he better started getting used to his presence. But he still didn't fully trusted to leave Artemis just with his shadow behind. Besides, after all that walking, he himself could feel a little tired. Maybe now they could both finally rest.

"I will pass, your Majesty. In another ocassion."

"Looking forward to it" The man chuckled, looking at Artemis. "Well, whenever you want to just talk about dad stuff, my door is always open. Have a good night!"

Alastor responded in kind as the king walked over to Husk, who patted his shoulder and send him another look before they both went away. Alastor closed the door with his shadow and snapped into his pajama. Was his imagination or the air still lingered with the sweet smell that surrounded the devil? Before turning his lights off, Alastor looked again at the craddle where Artemis was blinking now slowly, still holding to his new toy. The smell had to be coming from it, no doubt about it. Alastor considered try to replace it with some of the many new toys they already had, but felt too lazy. Maybe tomorrow.

On the next day, Alastor had his own breakfast on his room when Charlie came to check on him and Artemis. Yes, they were both perfectly okay. No, there was no issue with the king whatsoever last night. He just prefered some privacy before going about the rest of his day. What was his schedule for the day? Oh, nothing that exciting. Just an Overlord meeting in Carmilla's territory, to which he had to take Artemis since Rosie was coming too, and then get some stuff he still needed to make a new radio studio for himself. Charlie looked to be excited for a second, but then caught herself and laughed it off to just wish him a good day out there. After she was gone, Alastor finished with his meat and came out with Artemis against his chest. He tried to ignore the sense of annoyance that came by when realizing they were still not letting go of that silly duckie and would start to cry if he tried or fell off.

“I know sinking your teeth in stuff is fun, dear, but I do not understand your preference” commented shaking his head as he made his way to the lobby.

Still no shadow travels with the baby. He probably should have to wait until Artemis was at least four for that and even then, be gentle about it until they grew up more. As he passed by the other residents, he dedicated them a slight nod as a good enough greeting.

Luckily, he didn't find any of the other Overlords on his way to the building where they were told to go.

“I know this is a bore, polka dot, but it's part of dad's job” said as he went up the stairs, rather than the elevator. “Endure it with me and it will finish sooner than later. Maybe someday you will have a chance of occupying your own chair as well and then you can bore all of us. And maybe I will have killed anyone who opposed your place there. Wouldn't that be fun?” he hummed, patting their head as they came out to the hallway. Artemis made cooing noises in response, drooling over the duckie. “That is right. I can make it as slow or fast as my little one requires.”

Once inside the conference room, he took his place near the head of the table. Rosie, naturally, was the only one who was not surprised at all by their visitor. She smiled and left a black kiss on the face of the baby before she cleaned up again.

As all the other chair started being occupied, Carmilla appeared with her two daughters at her side. She didn't notice anything at first as she looked over her notes.

“Good morning, everyone. Glad that you could make it.”

“Hey” said Missi Zilla. “Is nobody going to question why there is a baby here?”

“A baby?” Alastor took a hand to his chest, as if scandalized. “Now who would be so irresponsible to bring in a baby to meet a bunch of dangerous Overlords?”

Carmilla lifted her eyes, immediately landing on Artemis staring in amazement at the multicolor dragon.

“You?” Missi Zilla almost chuckled in her confusion. Now the rest of the presents were following the exchange.

“Oh, you mean this?” Alastor took one of the tiny black hands on his. “This is no baby. This is my new partner in crime, Artemis Abaddon. The name is a total coincidence. Leader of a dangerous Russian mob famous for their incredibly convincing disguises and deadly ways. Don't get confused by the adorable face they are choosing to wear today. This is an extremely dangerous and temperamental individual that should be treated with the utmost care to avoid a massacre. Not even I would dare to get on their way. I recommend keeping a healthy distance, for everyone's safety.”

Rosie at his side nodded with a smile on her face. The rest of the seated Overlords looked at each other. Zestial tilted his head as he smiled at little Artemis, sending them a little wave when the red eyes acknowledged him.

“Alright, man. You could just say leave it alone” Missi Zilla reclined on her chair as she scratched her head.

“How old is… this Russian mob leader?” asked Carmilla, coughing into her hand.

“They are a hundred years old, each year filled with more blood than the last. But for the sake of their disguise, I guess you could say two months old. What is that, dear?” Alastor inclined his head as Artemis looked up, agitating the duckie on their other hand. “Yes, you are very right. My associate would like to start already with this meeting. They have very important business to attend to and heads to roll. I don't even want to imagine the horrors they could unleash in this room if not listened to.”

Carmilla cleared her throat. Her face remained straight as always, but Alastor could see the tiny smile that escaped her for a second before she retained it again.

“Of course. Very well, as you all know, we are looking into alternative routes to make business with the other rings…”

It was, predictably, an incredibly boring and mundane meeting. Alastor felt a tinge of envy when the Russian mob leader started nodding off on their carrier. The moment their eyes closed for good, Alastor caught the duckie that fell off and held it in his hand as he pretended to care about any of this. By the end, Carmilla just asked them to present an updated report of how many soul contracts they have done in the last five months and that was it. Alastor stood up next to Rosie, who gave a gentle shake to the hand of a sleeping Artemis. The tiny blonde ears flickered slightly.

“Always a pleasure to meet you, darling. Will I see you today later at the Emporium?”

“I am afraid not, Rosie dear. We have plans to make a new radio studio today and maybe start broadcasting. I am once again working at the Hazbin Hotel so I need to find the best space for it” He paid attention to his friend's face when saying that. Just as expected, there was no trace of surprise or confusion for her. She knew about his previous job already.

“Yes, I heard” Rosie sighed, rubbing his arm. “Take care of yourself, dearie.”

“You too” Alastor nodded his head as the Cannibal Overlord moved to the elevators. He was about to leave when, finally, he could hear the familiar sound of scissor cutting the air. “Yes?” said, turning around to find Carmilla there.

She looked beyond him to make sure that everyone else was gone. Once that was confirmed, she bended over to be at eye level with Artemis and actually squealed. It would only make sense that a mother would have a positive reaction seeing a baby on her proximity. But Alastor was actually surprised by hers, although he didn't show it at all.

“Awww, pero mira qué cosita más bonita! Was the grown up meeting too boring, preciosura? I know, pretty thing, but it had to be done, I am sorry. Pequeña criaturita bella” She sighed with a big smile that instantly faded away as she looked up to him. “You should really look for a babysitter for them next time. Today was fine, but you know how everyone is and I can't guarantee that they will keep it child friendly next time.”

“My usual babysitter was here with us, I had no choice.”

“Rosie?”

Alastor nodded.

“Look for someone else for when Rosie is not available. I always had at least three babysitters options for my own girls if any of the others couldn't make it.”

Alastor threw a look to the two daughters of the woman, one speaking through a phone while the other revised her notes. They were both efficient and clearly respected their mother even in full adulthood in Hell. Carmilla still had no idea what was to raise a baby after death, but Alastor could respect her experience nonetheless.

“I will look into it. I could also just kill anyone who becomes too annoying for them” added casually with a little lilt.

Carmilla wasn't impressed. She put a hand on her hip.

“And wake them up from their nap?”

“Oh, I can be very fast and silent if I need to.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Hombres, su primera solución a todo siempre es matanza” She shook her head and pointed at him with a finger. “Babysitter. Make it easier on yourself, not harder. I can look for one I trust myself and send you their info later. You still at the hotel of the Morningstar kid?”

It was not hard at all for him to kill any disturbance for his child. But maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have options and not rely only on Rosie.

“I am. I appreciate it” And he did, actually. He didn't doubt for a second that Carmilla would never let a child under her care either go through any hardship, just like Rosie, regardless of what opinion she had of their parents. More than anything because she was vaguely reminding him of his own mother as she reproached him.

“Then I will send it there. I would tell you to get a phone too in case of an emergency, but I know who I am talking to. You probably have your own ways to keep in contact. Come by if you need help with something else or have any doubts. The first kid is always a handful, especially on your own” Before he could reply to any of that, Carmilla bent over again to give Artemis a big smile as she gave them the most gentle pat to their head. “Hasta luego, preciosura. Visita a tía Carmilla cuando quieras.” She kissed the tip of two of her fingers and pressed them on their forehead. Artemis's hooves moved slightly, but otherwise didn't wake up. “Good luck, Alastor.”

Alastor nodded as the woman turned on her heels, going through another door with her daughters.

—---

The next days at the hotel were surprisingly pleasant. It turned out that they already had a fully functional radio studio in one of the towers at the side of the building. Apparently it was his own, back when he first worked there, so it was exactly as he would have liked it. Charlie was excitedly explaining it to him as she opened up the door, also covered by another illusion spell. Just like with the rest of the hotel, there was no clear or concrete memory attached to that place, but it felt familiar all the same as he stood watching the city from the window.

Asking himself why he couldn't remember it made his head hurt again, so he ignored it. He had a place from which to broadcast again, big enough to bring Artemis's cradle as he worked. Wasn't that good enough? Same as with the nursery, if he wasn't going to use it then nobody else would and that was just a waste of good equipment. Charlie was almost close to tears when he finally declared he was taking it back.

Keeping up with their word to not repeat the mistake of that first day, Charlie and Emily especially were dedicated to taking care of Artemis at every chance they could, playing with them, watching over them while taking a nap or cleaning them up when necessary. At first Alastor was always just two steps close to intervene at the slightest need, but the more days passed, the more he was starting to relax at leaving them in the same room. Always leaving his shadow behind still, of course. Both princesses didn't seem to mind at all at least. Charlie sometimes even smiled and talked to his shadow without minding the entity could not talk back.

It was officially his second week at the hotel when he was looking over some papers at the kitchen table. Notes for future broadcasts, suggestions for modifications on the hotel, application for future babysitters that Carmilla had sent over with a messenger, full with all the information he could ever want about the person he could leave his child with. From blood type, relations that could affect their availability, level of experience, education, presence of pets or not, and much more that he did read over carefully.

Artemis was laying on their back at the baby swing, gently moved by one of his tentacles. A week later, he still held onto the stupid duckie and reacted with fits of happy giggles whenever the king was around, but Alastor was already getting used to it. It wasn't like it happened all the time either. After that first encounter, it seemed that the moment they could be together alone someone urgently needed the assistance of the king somewhere else. Usually leaving him with a crying baby as a result he had to calm down. But telling the king to disappear from his child's sight because they got too happy, because Artemis loved having him around too much, was just not an option. He could never do that to his baby.

As he took a sip from his scolding coffee, Alastor took another look towards his baby and smiled as he passed the page to the next babysitter. They all had fighting training down, they could defend Artemis if necessary so that wasn't a concern. When he looked down again, however, he was surprised to see some smeared golden blood on the margin. His blood.

Oh. After having Artemis cut out from his abdomen and his own falling, a papercut did not even register on his pain levels. Still, that was just unsightly, so he left the info on the side and went to the sink to clean the surprisingly long cut across his palm. Artemis was too focused on nodding off to realize anything, but the moment their laughter started filling the space Alastor already knew he wasn't alone anymore.

“Hey, kiddo!” The king greeted, kneeling in front of the swing. From where he was, Alastor could see the little hands reaching out and making grabby motions to get at the king. “Still the same happy go lucky little rascal of always, huh? Are you giving dad any trouble? You wouldn't, would you? With a cute face like that one, I bet you are nothing but a delight at all times” The devil chuckled as he straighten up, noticing what he was doing. "Oh, fuck, is that blood?" said, moving towards him, followed by the whines of Artemis. The man stopped next to Alastor. "What happened?"

Alastor groaned.

"Nothing worth fretting over, your Majesty. Just a insignificant papercut I got for being distracted, that is all."

"Yeah, but the placement is no good. It's going to open constantly and be a pain in the ass" The king looked over to Artemis for a second. Alastor's shadow was trying to distract them dangling their duckie in front of them, but it wasn't working. "Do you want me to close it for you? It won't take not even a minute."

Alastor considered just saying no. He had the negative just at the tip of his tongue, waiting to let it out. But he had knives to hold and body parts to chop, not to mention a baby that was going to require both his hands, so it would be one less inconvenience if he didn't had to wait for his body to heal by itself.

"Fine" said, rolling his eyes. "If you tell anyone about it, I will crush your bones and feast on your blood. I will make a nice paella with both."

The monarch nodded, serious, but still not scared. Of course he wasn't going to be scared. For him, his threats probably sounded like the yapping of a puppy that could never truly hurt him. But he made known how little he liked this and that would have to be enough for now.

"Not saying a word, promise. I wouldn't dream for anyone to think the radio demon can't do something by himself" Alastor exhaled through his nose, slightly less annoyed one. At least they were on the same page now. "Just give me your hand."

"Make it quick" replied Alastor, giving it the hand to him.

The king put it on top of his own palm as he pressed around the wound with two fingers. Soon enough, the point of connection between the two of them started to glow a soft gold. The moment the skin started to heal over, Alastor straighten up as his eyes flashed with a golden light that vanished in a second.

Lucifer finished healing him in less than a minute, just like he said, leaving the hand as if nothing ever happened to it. It had only been seconds, twenty at maximun, but for Alastor it felt like a lot more time had happened.

80 years worth of time suddenly falling on top of him, filling all the empty spaces, all at once.

"There" Lucifer patted the hand. "See? I told you it wouldn't be a problem" started saying when Alastor lifted it again to cup his cheek. The devil tilted his head to a side, his brow furrowed at the change on his expression. Alastor had no idea what face he was making, but it had to be one the other haven't seen before to prompt his next question. "Uh… are you alright, buddy?"

Alastor blinked. He still had no idea. Forcing his hand to pull back, only to close it in a fist at his back, he straighten up again.

"I just remembered I need to see Charlie. Could you watch Artemis for a bit?"

"Yeah, sure. Evverything good?"

Alastor let out a single hum before dissolving into his shadow. He didn't have the ability of the king to detect any of his subject by concentrating hard enough, but he didn't need it for what he was looking for. He came out from a dark corner in the craft room, where Charlie was taking inventory of all the crafting materials. Alastor let himself become solid, contemplating her sticking her tongue out as she made sure to have the right number. His other baby. His actual first one.

"Little fawn?" called.

The clipboard of Charlie smacked against the floor. She looked at him like she had been struck by lightning, not daring to come closer or to move at all, so Alastor took the first step towards her. How could he ever not recognize her beautiful antler? How could he ever doubt from where she had that tail?

"W-what did you say, A-Al?"

"My little fawn" this time he grinned further. When Charlie finally broke out of her own spell to go crash against him, he was ready to receive her.

[ratsoh-writes]

"What the FUCK were you thinking?" bonk. Mavi snapped at Kovu as she hit him over the skull., despite being older then him, that fucker was indeed taller. Kovu hissed at her, "how the hell should have I known this would happen??" "they are YOUR kids." "touché" he clicked his tongue. King sighed as he held one of the four devils in his arms. Dove was babbling away to him, paying no mind to her aunt and father bitching at each other. Lucy was in Mavis arms, Wisp was sitting in the lab of his mama, Artemis. 3 kids, one was missing. The new comer, Aimé, the fourth kid in the set. Kovus youngest son. And he was a rascal just like Kovu, not 10 minutes are they at the festival and the bugger vanished. He flew off, a curse as King once jokingly said. The mischievous little fucker was the first one to learn how to fly properly without in need of aid. Now he was lost, in a massive festival. Wine can NOT know about this. At least at that they both agreed on. Mavi asked Pluto to help searching for him, shed fly around and try to see if she could spot him from above. Kovu used his height for an advantage and King called up his gan- family to help out. Meanwhile little Aimé had managed to be at the other side of the festival, he was near the fighting area. He was quietly waddling around, two wings tugged on his back and his tail swishing around.

hopefully wine doesnt find him before the others do.

Artemis: it’s ok guys! Maybe we could ask the guards? They can radio other ones around the fair?

It’s a good thing the three other babies haven’t picked up on the adults distress yet.

Pluto floats down

Pluto: n-no sign of aimé but w-wine is in the n-next row! Heads up!

—————-

Aimé toddles into the dance grounds by the wrestling area. There’s a day band and monsters and humans alike are dancing and grinding on each other having a great time. Nobody with kids would come over here.

As the toddler starts to get underfoot of a group of monsters about to unknowingly trample him, a pair of thin arms picks him up saving him from bruises that were sure to come

Sails: no- hic* - way!! Who’s lost baby s’ thjsssnsn

The high off of his mind skeleton holds the toddler to his chest gingerly as he stumbles out of the dance floor happily. His equally smashed companions follow cooing at the little Drake baby

Hook: he’s- he’s so little! Look at em’ wings!!

Argo: aaaaa- he smells like uhhhhh dunno dirt? Farm baby?

Sails: farm dragon eheheheh

[lampmanliveblogs]

Even when talking about the difficulties of life, this Luz still looked and sounded so positive and upbeat. A far cry from the current state our beloved protagonist girl finds herself in.

And wow, this entire episode really was a targeted attack against me specifically, huh? I mean, even Luz’ line about being able to read witch tongue reminds me how back in the days, I could read gnommish (from the Artemis Fowl books) and decode the messages along the bottom of the pages. It doesn’t hit as hard as that one previous scene, but it still hits pretty close to home.

Camila believed that if Luz applied herself more, then she could do great things. She was right about that; just look at what she’s been able to do with glyphs in such a short time. Even Philip, who’s spent the last four hundred years or so thinking he was literally the only real person in the world admitted that he was impressed by her.

The point being that ”normal” subject like math or social studies might not be able to hold Luz interest for long, but given the right subject and the right environment, she will excel.

Timeline wise, this takes place right before the disastrous book report we saw at the beginning of episode one, season one.

I believe the ”Domicile Evil 4” poster is a reference to the Resident Evil franchise.

Down in the right corner we have… ”Night of [the?] Zombie S-” Night of the Zombie S…squirrel? That doesn’t look like a squirrel on the poster though. Maybe it’s a shrew or something, I dunno.

There are also a bunch of books in the bookcase: mostly Azura books, no surprise. There are also three books that have titles. One says ”Ghosts” on it, so I think it’s the same book that Gordon Ramsay read in that one episode of Hotel Hell that was in Connecticut.

Now, despite my brand new glasses, I have a hard time making out the other two. I think one of them says ”Taxi-something” on it, and there’s a skull next to it, so it might be about taxidermy.

That one pink jacket with the golden star in the wardrobe is giving me Steven Universe vibes. I bet Steven would love it. Is it organic though?

”…I’m staying in the Human Realm. Permanently.”

Oh, so that’s what Luz was planning, that makes sense. I mean, it’s a terrible idea, but it makes sense. I’m surprised I didn’t think of that possibility.

I guess Luz though there was still a real possibility that they could create a new portal, even before Hunter told her about the hidden Titan’s Blood. And she thought the other Exiles could return back home… and that they’d be okay with leaving her behind? And I guess she was willing to send them into a world where who knows what has happened ever since they left it at the whims of a hyperactive kid with the power to move celestial bodies around.

Luz, sweetie, I know you hate yourself right now, and I know fourteen-year-olds aren’t the best at making good long-term decisions, but please think about this.

I should probably talk a little bit about Camila’s reactions as well.

Her facial journey throughout this playlist fairly subtle, and I am not the best at reading faces, but here goes:

When the videos first start playing, she looks a little unsure. Probably because she shouldn’t be watching her daughter’s video diary.

Then Luz talks about Manny’s death. And while that is undoubtedly still a great source of sadness for her, Camila’s first instinct is to reach out towards the image of her grieving daughter.

We then move on to the videos showing off Luz’ antics, her trying to cut her hair with the sword, and Camila’s expression becomes fond. She’s missed this side of her daughter, her silly ideas, wonderful creativity, and endless optimism… even if her ideas don’t always work out.

Her smile fades as in the next video, Luz talks about the conversation she had with Camila about school. I get the sense that Camila feels guilty that she didn’t appreciate her daughter for the things she was good at or passionate about, trying instead to get her to fit into a box. 

Finally, we arrives at the last entry, where Luz says she’s going to stay in the Human Realm forever. Camila looks shocked and then… this expression. I believe she’s reached the same conclusion as me, that it is a bad idea. Even without bringing Luz’ extended family in the form of Eda & King (and also Hooty and Cool Aunt Lilith) into the equation, all of Luz’ best friends, and her awesome girlfriend are from that other world. I think Camila on some level knows that Luz will never truly be happy in this ordinary human world.

This is why we wash our wounds and make sure to change our bandaids regularly, Hunter.

Also, nononononono, it’s happening, it’s happening, oh no-

Also, also, eeeeeeww!

Turns out I was right!

To be more precise, my third proposed theory of why Luz’ burnt her hand on the glyph back at the vet clinic was right. It was because of the hidden Titan’s Blood, which makes glyph magic work… at least to some extent, those light orbs look a bit wobbly.

Not only does this give Luz a way to find the blood, but it also gives her some way to defend herself against the monster waiting in the woods.

Hey, let’s think positively! Maybe Hunter isn’t possessed by his creepy uncle, but is actually just turning into a werewolf! Yeah, that’s what’s happening. And Luz is exactly the kind of nerd who knows how to deal with a werewolf.

[cherryskkks]

Reposting my fanfics in english because in my original linguage the people don't care about them

I write a lot of creative (at least in my perspective) fanfics and show them in fanfics sites like Wattpad and Spirit Fanfiction. I write them in Portuguese, my original linguage and... the people don't give a fuck. And I sad because I take so much time to write those fanfics and liked them so much, and almost anyone see or liked them. (The one people that read ALL of my fanfics is my friend, ILY CAMYY)

So, now, almost one year after I stoped writing, I have a decision to repost my fanfics with my horrible english (most of them with Google Translator help because my english is not one of the best) and looking for readers.

So, enjoy the fanfic :)

Son of Hades, little emo is!

Mo dao zu shi X Percy Jackson. Wen Ning as Nico di Angelo. There is a bit short, srry!

SPOILER OF THE BOOKS 3 AND 4 OF PERCY JACKSON!

Wen Ning stared at his reflection in the water of the camp lake. The hair that was originally tied up in a perfect and neat ponytail was now loose and covering much of his face, his skin had never been so tanned but was now so pale that anyone would think he was a corpse.

Wen Qing, his sister, went on a mission with Wuxian, a son of Hermes, Wanyin, a son of Ares, Xue Yang, a satyr, Wanjin, a son of Athena, and her sister's new friend, Mian Mian, a hunter of Artemis. It had been exactly a week since they had been away, and it made the poor boy restless.

He couldn't adjust to the Hermes cabin, people were always stealing his blankets and pillows and he didn't have the courage to ask someone to steal them back. The girls at Aphrodite's cabin also kept talking about his appearance, no matter how much Yanli asked them to stop. The Ares cabin didn't leave him alone either, normally Wanyin was there to tell everyone to shut up and be quiet, but since Wanyin wasn't there, they could mess with anyone without getting scolded. And not to mention the Apollo cabin, who looked at him as if they were looking for the slightest mistake to say something bad about.

And the result was: He didn't fit in this place. He missed his sister and just wanted to go away with her, to get away from all these people who talk bad about him. He made Wei Wuxian promise to bring his sister back safely.

"Wen Ning, we're back." A voice suddenly sounded behind the boy, who jumped back and came face to face with the son of Hermes who always wore a red ribbon to tie his hair.

"Where is my sister? Is she okay?"

"Well… she asked me to give you this." The boy gave a necklace with a skull symbol engraved in the center, around it it had small flames "She… asked me to give it to you before…"

The enormous silence deepened, Wuxian just looked away and begged Wen Ning to understand what he meant since he himself didn't have the courage to say it. Even though he knew that he was the cause of Wen Qing's death, it was his job to talk about what happened to his friend's sister.

"Wuxian, where is my sister?" Wen Ning's voice sounded broken, as if he was about to cry, Wuxian didn't have the courage to respond, the boy just hugged the younger's shoulders as a way of comforting him.

"I'm sorry, I tried to stop her but–"

"You promised! You promised you would protect her!"

"I tried but–!"

"No! You lied! You didn't protect her!" Wen Ning desperately tried to get out of the elder's embrace, but the more he tried to get out, the tighter the hug became. Fat tears repeatedly came out of the youngest's eyes "Let go of me! I want my sister…

Not far from the boys was Xue Yang nervously chewing on a piece of wooden furniture and Wanyin and Yanli giving the boys sad looks. Wanyin found out about what his cabin did to Wen Ning while he was away, and made sure to get into a fight with his brothers from the Ares cabin.

None of the three noticed that Wen Ning managed to escape Wuxian's embrace and ran towards the forest. They only realized when they heard Wuxian's screams.

"No! Wen Ning go back, it's dangerous!" A hand stopped the boy from running after his friend, that hand was Fegmian's. The camp's centaur instructor, who is also responsible for the campers' safety.

"Leave him. The only thing we can do is hope that Kronos doesn't find him and that he gets eaten by a monster."

"Come on A'Xian, you, A'Cheng and A'Yang need to take a shower urgently." Yanli pushed the three boys towards the bathroom, in the girl's arms they had different soaps and perfumes (Don't ask how she got all those types of soaps).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wen Ning looked around for something to heat the makeshift fire he had created, next to him was a red spirit staring at him amusedly.

"Master, are you cold?"

"Unlike you, I have a body, Wen Chao." Wen Ning's voice was no longer as gentle as before, the boy was colder than before

"HA HA HA! I loved your sense of humor today master!" The spirit let out loud laughter that made the silence of the forest disappear completely.

"Are you sure you're going to make it so I can see my sister again? Or are you just trying to trick me?"

"Of course I'll make you see your sister! You just need to kill someone, you know, one soul for another." The laughter disappeared, making room for the ghost striking a pose.

"Okay... and who do I have to kill?" The boy still didn't seem completely convinced.

"Oh! None other than the person who killed your sister! Wuxian, half-blood son of Hermes!"

Wen Ning closed her eyes, wondering if this was really what her sister would want. No! She would definitely do it for him too! After all, they are brothers right? Brothers do this for each other, right?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later the boy discovered that Wen Chao only wanted to kill him to get his body and apologized to Wuxian for trying to kill him. It wasn't easy, as he still felt sad about his sister's death.

Wen Ning was surprised when people learned about his divine father, until they explained that Hades' children were completely killed during World War II. Hades' cabin was made of dark wood, with everything inside it being the same color, bunk beds, drawers, wardrobes, everything was black. It was common for the boy to bump or trip over objects from time to time.

"I envy you, A'Ning! You have a cabin all to yourself and you don't have to worry about people stealing from you. This is true paradise." Wuxian sighed, eating his food which consisted of an apple, fish and rice grains.

"Well, it's boring and boring to be alone in a big cabin." The shy boy played with the rice grains on his plate. For some reason, he didn't feel like eating "Especially when the cabin is all black..."

"You get used to it, I didn't like the gold paint on my cabin either. And honestly, compared to the rest of the cabins, yours is the most comfortable." Wuxian spoke with a mouth full of food, but for some reason Wen Ning managed to understand.

"And why do you think that?"

"The Ares cabin is full of people who have no patience and fall into blows after five minutes of conversation. The Apollo cabin most of the time stays up late practicing singing in the middle of the night. Everyone in the Hephaestus cabin lives working in forges and they don't even care if they're interrupting someone's sleep. In Aphrodite's cabin, the air is contaminated with expensive perfume and the girls there would say horrible things about the way you act. The cabin of–"

"Okay! Okay! I understand! There's no need to say more."

"Seriously, I was still going to talk about Athena's cabin. Man, those are the worst."

As if with a sixth sense, Wanjin from the Athena cabin quickly turned his gaze towards Wuxian and Wen Ning. The younger one lowered his head in shame for being caught talking bad about someone while the taller one smiled at Wanjin, who felt his ears burn involuntarily when he saw Wuxian's bright smile.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wen Ning had left the camp again to investigate Kronos and the recent war that was about to break out. When he returned, Wuxian didn't hesitate to run to see his friend. He just didn't expect his friend to return with a giant black dog with him.

"This is Chenqing! She's sweet, isn't she?" The giant dog frantically wagged its tail on the ground as Wen Ning stroked its nose.

"A-Ahem, a g-great sweet.."

"My father gave her to me when I visited the underworld, she was still a puppy and now she's a big girl!"

"Hey, do you know where the... OH MY FUCKIN ZEUS WHAT A CUTIE THING!" Wanyin shouted, drawing the attention of the two half-bloods that were there and the big dog, who almost instantly jumped at her new friend. "Who's the cute little dog? Yes, it's you!"

"A'Cheng! Thank you for saving me!" Wuxian cried out in relief

"She liked you Wanyin."

"What's this cutie's name?" The son of Ares who is normally always aggressive was now looking like a little child playing with the big hellhound "Yes I'm talking about you!"

"Chenqing." "Demon." Both Wen Ning and Wuxian spoke at the same time The two teenagers ignored what Wuxian said about the lovely Chenqing.

[mysterious-cuchulainn-x]

Trick or treat!

I'm not sure which this counts as, but I hope you'll enjoy it either way — a short Festival of the Lost piece with two of my three Destiny OCs:

A Step Outside the Halls Between

(Read on AO3)

—Acolyte, three-twenty-four by minus-twelve.

Felix hummed a wordless affirmation as he dropped the Servant Leader’s barrel. In another heartbeat, a single trigger pull expelled a projectile that turned the chitinous skull in his sights into a burst of soulfire and confectionaries. 

—Any more?

North whirred from within him for a moment, then materialized in his palm with a negative.

“I have to ask, though—”

Felix sighed, already knowing where this conversation was going. Still, he had the same question, and the fact that it was one strange phenomenon that still worked to their advantage wasn’t going to stop him from wondering, too, so he allowed his Ghost to finish the question unhindered:

“—Why the candy?”

——————

Of course, no one knew why the Hive had begun dropping candy—actual, edible things with real sugar—around the Festival of the Lost, and as much as Felix was a Warlock, he was also twelve years old and mostly involved in field operations, and whatever the Cryptarchs or the Hidden might have uncovered they were keeping close to their chests.

If they had uncovered anything: certainly Eido was no closer than she had been the year before.

“You’re not actually going to eat that, are you?”

North’s concerned question startled Felix out of his reverie, the sudden change in his posture knocking the holo-table out of existence just before it could properly catch fire, and he held up the mundane chocolate for his Ghost’s inspection.

“It’s from the Cryptarchs’ get-together,” he corrected, “not our patrols. C’mon, little light, you know me better than that, don’t you?”

North counter-rotated with unmistakable irritation, and Felix winced apologetically. But an unearthly howl interrupted his reply, and Guardian and Ghost turned together to see Artemis Brac materializing from a seasonal particle shimmer. The Awoken Hunter had changed just as much as Felix over the twelve years since they had first been raised and joined forces, but that same long-lasting partnership made the sight of her feel as familiar as North’s ancient “junkyard” shell.

“No Maedhros?” Brac lifted a comet-tail eyebrow, and shrugged at Felix’s silent response. “Figures—said he was going by Mars on the way back, poke around in the Weapon Shaper. Not sure if that thing or the Hive dropping candy again gives me worse shivers. You haven’t eaten any, have you?”

Felix laughed, tossing her the chocolate he’d been holding. Psyche materialized next to Brac’s hand as she caught the candy and floated next to North, the two old Ghosts engaging in subaudio conversation as their Guardians convened against the nearest railing, looking out over the twilit City.

“I was on the comms with Immaru earlier,” Felix began, twirling another chocolate between his fingers. “Can’t remember what he was saying—I try not to listen, mostly—but I just thought, if only Cayde were here, he’d have us all in stitches over this dumb little guy.”

Brac laughed, a short, involuntary sound, and sighed. 

“We could use Cayde these days, for certain,” she agreed, “and not just because the Hunters have been at loose ends for the last… fuck, five years? But no one else could…”

She trailed off, shook her head, and looked in Felix’s direction with an unfinished grin.

“Neptune,” she added, pausing with a frown, “or Nexus—Nimbus, that’s it. Ugh, what a showoff. Overconfident, the absolute worst sense of humor… but I don’t know what they’re going to do out there without him. Rohan’s only got a couple years left, and that kid… sometimes you miss the strangest people.”

Felix nodded, and silence fell between them as the sun climbed slowly lower across the space where the Traveler had once hung like an immutable truth in the sky. Maedhros would join them before dark, Felix knew, and share his own memory, and they would raid the Cryptarchs’ lounge for hot cocoa. 

And then, of course, they would head up to the Moon to kill pumpkins.

[borealtwilight]

Alone, Fear, and Ghost for Hunter :3

Alone: Hunter doesn't always deal well with loneliness. He tends to retreat within himself, putting his walls up and becoming guarded even around those closest to him. This stems from the fact that his team were essentially ripped from him after augmentations, and when they were already down a member because one died during a "training accident"— or so he was told.

When he finds a connection with someone — particularly if it's another Spartan — then he tends to latch onto them pretty damn quickly.

Fear: Probably the idea of being alone is his greatest fear. He tries to act like he's coping with it, but he always feels like there's something missing from him.

He's not particularly open with his fear; at least not with his crew. With other Spartans, on the other hand? Well, he might open up about it eventually.

Ghost: He tends to be haunted by the ghosts of deceased family members. Not just blood kin, but his Spartan family, too.

His maternal grandparents died when Terra Nova was attacked by the Covenant. He presumed his parents died when his home planet of Qasnara was attacked; however, he later learned they managed to flee during the invasion, only to later perish when their new home, [TBD i need to give them a new home skdfjhskjhdf] was attacked by the Covenant ( yeah his family's had shit luck with the aliens, huh :skull emoji: ).

As for his Spartan family, formed during training: Marek-B252 died in a "training accident", Artemis-B312 was taken from him not long after training was complete and he was unaware she had even survived the War until she came into contact with him some years after the War's end, and Kat-B320 was transferred elsewhere after they partook in Operation: CARTWHEEL together; he later learns from Artemis that she was killed in action on Reach.

He doesn't particularly know how to live with his ghosts; he tries to ignore the nightmares as best he can, but there are times when it gets to him. And even though Artemis is no longer a ghost to him... well.

[borderlinehannibal]

Kin ask game: 46, 40, 39, 36 (I know a few but I would love to hear you talk about them more)

40- have you picked up any hobbies or activities bcause of your kintypes?

I mean, probrably yeah! But ive known most of my kintypes for 5-10 years so the things ive taken up for kin related reasons have kinds just become things i do!

46- does anything give you specific kinfeels?

Oh, Definitely, especially music! I always end up crying if i listen to chameleon circuit songs for too long, yknow? Espcially the drums, The doctor is dying and type 40!

39- do you have ay collections that relate to your kintype?

Its not directly related, but i feel like my orc brain is definitely a factor in the metal bits that i collect! I have a jar full of discarded keys, hollowed out locks, bottle caps, screws, etc!

36- do you have any fiction kintypes? If so, what sre they?

OH BOY i have a page long list of my fictionkintypes haha!

(Copy pasted from my carrd)

Hannibal (nbc) cannibal culture

Octavian (hoo) modern day prophet

☆Hazel levesque (hoo) gold digger

☆Vivi (mystery skulls) not a crowd

☆Jareth (labrynth) goblin dream

★Bipper (bad end friends au gravity

falls) geometric anxiety

★Boy king! Sam Winchester (supernatural) boy king

★Jade harley (homestuck humanstuck) green island

☆Gamzee (homestuck) purple menace

Teal grub (homestuck) squirm

☆Artemis Fowl (artemis fowl) deal breaker

☆Mink (dmmd) miss me

★Beast!wirt (otgw) wayward soul

★The Master (doctor who) master of none

☆Stiles (teen wolf) sheriffs daughter

★Armitage Hux (church au star wars) ginger god

Triana (violin) maestros minstrel

★Handcluster (steven universe) together forever

☆Pip pirrup (south park) burning angel

☆Jason dean (heathers) teenage dirtbag

Logan (bobs burgers) confused teens

☆Ichimatsu (osumatsu) nyatsu matsu

Johnny cade (the outsiders) golden gone

☆Todd tolansky (xmen evolution) frog prince

Elder poptarts (book of mormon) its thomas

8/8 cluster member (sense8) 8/8 forever

☆Jerome valeska (gotham) clown prince

Victor zsasz (gotham) and the zsaszettes

☆Lars (steven universe) and the real boy

Asgore dreemur (undertale) goat dad

☆Agatha prendergahst

(paranorman) a witch by any other name

★Rick sanchez (rick and morty, universe pzz-420) ricksaster

Sam (babadook) i cant be normal

Ocellus (mlp) eyeshy

Dorian grey (the portrait of dorian grey) pictures worth

Rottenella (lazy town) rotten dance

The marionette (fnaf) no strings

Ian gallagher (shameless) need a medic

Carl Gallagher (shameless) go ahead and shoot

Unknown Goth Kid (south park) dark scene

Xue Yang sweet things

[audikatia]

Thanks for the tag, @your-void-senpai!

Pick ten of your fics, scroll to the middle, and pic a line (or a couple) to share and tag people!

Transubstantiation (TRC) “I’m sorry,” Gansey told Declan, “Ronan is a child who cannot hold the phone because it’s lava.”

So Fair to Be Seen (TRC) He dug in his coat for his keys and Ronan slipped his hand alongside Gansey’s in his pocket. His other hand crawling around Gansey’s side to rest against his stomach, pulling his back to his chest possessively. Ronan’s mouth dragged against the side of his neck.

“I sucked your dick. Let me drive.”

“You live your life according to a fascinating rubric.”

“Say rubric again.”

Veritas (TRC) Careful not to disturb Ronan, he turned in the bed, twisting the blankets around his hips, to watch Ronan’s prone form. Adam checked him for nightwash, but saw only stubbled pale skin unmarred by black residue. He watched Ronan’s eyes for the telltale twitch of his eyes under his delicate eyelids, but saw only perfect stillness. He brushed the tip of his finger down the long slope of Ronan’s roman nose, but saw only his face burrow more firmly into the pillow.

Lacrimosa (Young Justice) The listless, vacant vase living in the house isn’t a vase at all. Artemis is not holding seeds, blooming flowers within herself. She’s an urn, a living cadaver holding all the memories Zatanna has been forcing inside her to mingle in the ashes of who Artemis used to be.

let the pretty bleed out (Young Justice) "Can you even taste the blood?" Jade asks, eyeing with boredom the torn wings laying haphazardly on the concrete floor of their shared space.

"It's not about the taste," Artemis tries to explain. It's the experience. It's pinning it down, splitting it open, letting the pretty bleed out. It's stunning, careless and wonderful and pure. It's the power she gets from ripping the wings off and cupping the twitching body in her hand. It's caught, hers forever.

Touch Me Til I Follow in Love (Young Justice) He thinks maybe he should hold his hand, but he can't bring himself to that shared level of intimacy. Instead, his fingers twist into the stubborn cowl of Jaime's sweat-soaked hair, his hands rub at the tension of his shoulders, his palm rests at the base of his skull. His hands never leave Jaime for longer than a moment.

I Taste the Summer on Your Peppery Skin (Young Justice) She leaned her head back and let the last bit of the evening's sun wash over her face. Her throat exposed and her tendons stretched out, Wally eyed the dip of her collarbone and counted three grains of sand that had settled there.

glare (Young Justice) Motionless, he stares at her. Yellow tangled hair, pink flushed cheeks, red bitten lips, gray narrowed eyes. He stares unblinking until her colors blend before him. And when she finally stands, he thinks haphazardly of a sunrise.

Graceless Hearts (Star Trek) "I'm not always going to be around to take care of you," McCoy warns, tugging a little tighter than necessary on the stitches. Blood bubbles up in minuscule dots like scattered supernovas, but Jim doesn't even blink.

"Yes you are," he smirks.

Bleedme Blue (Star Trek) Friendships founded on alcohol, sex, and fuckups shouldn't work, but Jim can do the impossible. Everything is his or made to be his, and McCoy is just another item on that list. Jim takes the liberty to rename him.

Bones is a better name anyway.

lol this was so much fun, I haven't looked at some of these fics in years. I had to go back to my fanfiction.net account for some of these. I miss my Star Trek 2009 era lol

Tagging: @the-prince-of-tides, @apocketfullofhobbits, @ive-garden, @freshwaterseas, and anyone else who wants to go on a nostalgia binge lol

[violetswritingg]

Canary Cry

Robin/Nightwing (Dick Grayson) x OFC!

Description: Her violence was silent. Until it wasn't.

"I'm fine."

"Fine is just another word for drowning."

Rating T-M (mentions of blood, child abuse, mental health, cannon situations of violence and the like. Loss of parents, hard of hearing/deaf character, poorly written fight scenes lol)

Want to read the other chapters?

Click here

10

HAPPY HARBOR

August 8, 21:59 EDT

Kate was positioned on the south side of the building, crouching on the edge of the roof. Working perimeter with Miss Martian and Superboy. Which was almost preferable than being in a room with everyone else after the display her, Roy, and Dinah put on. She could feel their questions on the transport over here.

The last thing she wanted or needed was Kaldur pulling her aside before they had left and asking if she was okay after Roy showing up like that but he did and it was almost sweet.

She'd honestly rather just ignore that it had ever happened and block it out from her memory. Which, according to Dinah, wasn't exactly a healthy coping mechanism and Kate would definitely be going home to a talk with the woman about what happened and how it made her feel.

"Link established. Everyone online?" Kate winced at the pressure filling her head, she still wasn't used to the feeling of other people entering her mind.

"This is so weird." Artemis thought? Kate decided it wasn't worth thinking too hard about. Just accepting the fact that she now had voices in her head that weren't hers.

"And distracting. Coding a distributive algorithm on a kitty computer with less ram than a wrist watch is hard enough. Now I have to hear teen-think in my skull?" Dr. Roquette complained and Kate couldn't help but scoff.

"Lady, do you always complain when someone is trying to help you?" Kid Flash's voice entered Kate's head.

"Pot Kettle have you met?" Artemis's words made Kate chuckle, the girl catching herself and fixing her posture on the ledge. Subtly looking around to make sure no one had heard.

"Hey, hey, I do not need attitude from the girl who drove Red Arrow off the team." Kate almost wished she was in that room, if only to see this go down in person.

"That is so not on me!"

"Red Arrow was never on the team KF, him abandoning his friends and family isn't on her." Goldfinch snapped, her mood souring at the mention of the red archer, Kate not there to see the reactions of everyone. Thankfully.

"Fate of the world at stake!" Doc, in the room, waved her arms around to emphasize her frustration with the group of teens.

"She started it!" KF childishly pointed the finger at Artemis, who decided removing herself from the room would be for the best.

"How about I just help Miss Martian, Superboy, and Goldfinch patrol the perimeter?"

"Good idea. Trade places with Goldfinch." Aqualad agreed as the archer walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

"Where do I go then?" Goldfinch asked.

"Inside." Kaldur answered and Kate sighed but left her perch and headed towards the roof access door.

"You might want to cut her some slack; it was her arrow that saved your butt against Amazo." Robin said to his best friend. The speedster's reaction almost comical if Goldfinch had been in a better mood.

"What no! That was Speedy's- Red Arrow's.... Arrow. Right?"

"No. It wasn't." Goldfinch said monotonously, looking straight ahead with a frown as she lifelessly bounced down the stairwell. One floor closer to the computer lab.

"Well, still not giving her the satisfaction." Goldfinch rolled her eyes and chuckled without any humor. Wondering if this is how Dinah felt with her sometimes, but closing that off from the group chat in her mind.

"I'll make a sweep of the floor, and then report to the computer lab." Goldfinch stated before anyone could protest, Artemis and KF going back at it giving her cover.

She kept her eyes peeled as she made her way through the hallways.

"The virus won't be of much use if we cannot find the weapon. Can you track it?" Aqualad asked.

"My utility fog is not a weapon, it's science. Brilliant science. And of course, I can track it-" Goldfinch cut off the doctor.

"But she'll have to go online. Might as well rent a billboard with this address and an open invite to come kill her painted in neon."

"Goldfinch." Aqualad scolded her.

"What? I'm just stating facts here." The blonde glared at the tile floor under her feet as she walked.

"We will protect you." Goldfinch sighed and stopped in her tracks, looking up to the ceiling and internally groaning.

"What he said Doc."

"Tracking fog now." Goldfinch cleared the last hallway on the floor and started to make her way to the computer lab. Her short period of solitude coming to a bitter end.

"Mmm, that boy." Goldfinch stopped right outside the computer lab and choked down any laughter fighting its way to the surface.

"He can hear you, we can all hear you." Miss M chastised. Someone's a little territorial, Goldfinch made sure to keep her thoughts out of the mental link.

"Oh, I know." The songbird was slowly starting to like Artemis, like actually like her, not just saying she was cool with her just showing up. She was funny, only a little bit, and Goldfinch could relate to having a rough childhood. They were two sides of the same coin really, and that's what scared the bird. Letting someone else in, someone that knew Kate and Goldfinch. Caring for them and then them just... leaving.

"Miss Martian, Doctor Roquette has located the Fog. Reconfigure the Bioship so that Robin and Superboy can pursue." The aforementioned teen boys passed Kate on her way back inside the computer lab.

"Good luck." The blonde smiled slightly at Robin.

"Stay whelmed." Kate rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face growing larger gave her away, "Admit it, it's growing on you."

"In your dreams, Bird Boy." Robin only smirked at the blonde and turned on his heel, running to catch up with Superboy.

"You got that right Goldie." KF muttered as Kate, in a visibly better mood, hopped up onto the counter that ringed the room.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kate looked at the speedster confused, the red-head only shook his head with a look in his eye that screamed, "I know something you don't." And it was slowly starting to piss her off again.

"Nothing, never mind." Kate only pursed her lips and leaned back against the wall behind her while crossing her arms over her stomach.

After some time in relative silence, KF decides to stand outside the door, like a bouncer to a club and Artemis and Miss M start talking again.

"You embarrassed Superboy." Miss M accused, annoyed.

"Didn't hear him say that." Artemis fired back.

"Must you challenge everyone?"

"Where I come from, that's how you survive." Kate tensed slightly in front of the Doctors desk, Aqualad noticed but didn't say anything. That was another thing Kate could relate to with Artemis.

Kate could feel it in her gut that something bad was going to happen, and low and behold not even five minutes later, Aqualad is jumping in front of a projectile aimed for the Doctors head.

"Get down Doc!" Kate ordered, standing in front of the older blonde as a woman with dark hair and a creepy mask on her face ran into the room. An assassin sent by the Shadows.

Aqualad jumped in front of the two blondes as two more throwing stars were launched at them and imbedded themselves into his arm. "Mm, that had to hurt."

"Atlantean skin is quite dense." The assassin attacked Aqualad, who uses his waterbearers to block her twin sais.

"And my shuriken are quite poisonous." The assassin replied, Kate cursing under her breath and letting her annoyance of Aqualad treating her like she was fragile and couldn't take a hit fade. Now only worried for her leader and friend.

"M'gann, Kid, Artemis, we are under attack in the computer lab!"

Kate pulled out her batons and started to attack the assassin with Aqualad, hearing the confirmation from Artemis that back up was coming, but not able to respond as the assassin landed a kick to Kate's side and knocking her down before jumping at Aqualad and wrapping her legs around his neck and twisting to take him down. Throwing one of her blades with deadly precision, Aqualad knocking it off course just enough with a water whip to make it miss it's mark by a fraction.

Kate was up quickly and back in front of the doctor.

"Almost, poison slowing you down?" The assassin and Aqualad struggled for the upper hand, Kate prepping a scream as a last resort, knowing it would probably take out this part of the building as well as the assassin. Her powers had been stressed as a "break glass" option only to her by Aqualad for this mission.

"Jelly fish toxin, I'm largely immune." The assassin headbutted Aqualad and knocked him down.

"largely?" She raised her blade and Kate was about to lunge at the creepy mask lady when the sais was knocked out of her hand by an arrow. Artemis's arrow.

"Don't. Move." The archer ordered, distracting the assassin just long enough for Aqualad to get back up and to have Kate move to his side, fists up and ready to throw a killer right hook.

"This gigs' getting interesting." The assassin chuckled and whipped out a foldable sword. Artemis started firing arrow after arrow, only to have them all cut in half or sliced mid-air as KF and Miss M finally showed up. And helped Kate and Aqualad form a barrier around the Doctor.

"Maybe a little too interesting." She threw down a smoke bomb and disappeared.

"She's getting away! You're letting her get away!" Doctor Roquette yelled at Aqualad and Kate.

"This is all your fault! You were on perimeter, how'd that Shadow get in?!" Kid Flash yelled at Artemis, Kate pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance at everything that had just gone down and is continuing to blow up right in front of her.

They had just gotten into a good place, where they really felt like a team, but now with a new member throwing things into chaos.... It was way too much to be dealing with on such an intense mission.

"Wasn't just her that missed things." Kate referenced herself, once again coming to Artemis's defense.

"Yeah, that's not really fair, I was outside too." Miss M added to Kate's statement. It was all very "sister solidarity".

"Outside... being distracted by her!" KF found an avenue to bring it back around on the blonde archer making Kate glare at the speedster. "Besides, I can't be mad at you."

"You gave me mouth to mouth." KF wasn't as good as keeping his own thoughts out of the mind link as Kate and the others were.

"We heard that." The team chorused making Kid groan and walk away.

"I didn't do half as well on my first battle, and I know you can't have been Green Arrow's sidekick for very long." Miss M tried to comfort the archer, in true M'gann fashion.

"Focus everyone, the shadows will be back." Aqualad ordered, getting the teams attention and pulling them back on mission.

"Robin to Aqualad, we're over Philadelphia. We've located the Shadows target, we're too late." Robin's voice came over the comms, Kate cursing internally at the news. "It's destroyed, totally destroyed. The Fog decimated it."

"This is bad," Kate muttered, gaining the attention of the room, "STAR Labs is cutting edge tech and science. And now-"

"And now their secrets are in the hands of the enemy." Robin interrupted, sounding just as pissed off as Kate. "What's our next move?"

Aqualad looked to the Doc, "Re-scan for that Fog, find it. We're moving the Doctor."

~~*~~

"You sure it's a good idea leaving the old married couple to watch her?" Kate asked the Atlantean beside her.

"Maybe not, but your powers are not meant for indoor use." Aqualad had a point, underground or close quarters were historically not smart places to use a sonic scream, which is why Canary trained her as hard as she did. Because not every fight is going to be out in the open or primarily long-range attack centered. "You are better utilized in this leg of the plan."

Aqualad paused and looked to the kind of community center building from his and Kate's positions across the street.

"Stop it both of you." He ordered, sounding fed up with their childish bullshit.

"What?" Artemis and Wally replied offended. Kate huffed and rolled her eyes.

"We can hear you glaring." Aqualad jerked his head to the side, telling her silently it was time to play their part. The two took off into the forested area behind them, and crouching behind a tree for cover.

"Miss Martian, stay in camouflage mode and make a wide perimeter sweep." Kate had to fight back the cringe at how loud Aqualad had said that, but she kept on guard, knowing it was all part of the plan.

A rustle was heard a fraction of a second before Kate and Aqualad were yanked up into the tree by sticky webs. The two fighting against the Shadow and were thrown out of the foliage, Aqualad grabbing Kate and taking the force of being thrown into a van parked on the side of street and falling to the sidewalk.

"Thanks." Kate said breathlessly as they both stood up quickly. The blonde spotting the purple clad assassin fly through the air and land in front of them, Aqualad getting knocked down by an attack from behind while the web guy tried to get Kate.

She let herself get tied up and fell, hitting her head, and "Passing out".

"The Martian could return any second, and I'm not keen on evening the odds. We end Roquette. Now." The assassins left and Aqualad and Kate got up, looking at each other with matching smirks before getting up and going to the place where they had actually stashed to doctor.

~~*~~

Aqualad paced slowly by the windows and Kate stood next to Roquette.

"I've almost got it!" Kate took a deep breath, adrenaline coursing through her veins like her own personal drug. Which only heightened when a loud thump came from the ceiling.

"We've got company!" Aqualad told the Doc, looking to the ceiling just like Kate had done.

"Any day now Doc." The blonde muttered, pulling out her batons and prepping for a fight.

"Uploading now, and you said you'd protect me. You both did." Kate really wanted to smack the doctor. Like a lot. Before she could ask herself if that made her a bad hero a metal ball rolled into the room.

"Oh shi-" it released a cloud of smoke and Kate got into a defensive stance, Aqualad pulling out his waterbearers and turning them into swords.

"No matter what, protect the doctor." Aqualad ordered before turning around quickly and taking three darts to the chest, Kate pushed Roquette behind her and backed up as the creepy mask assassin jumped down from a square in the ceiling.

"Let's test the immunity of your jelly fish immunity, shall we?" The assassin glanced over to Kate, "And maybe see how much the birdie can take. That should be interesting."

Aqualad blinked hard and shook his head to regain his bearings and rushed at the assassin. Kate following orders as much as she hated standing back and letting Kaldur do all the heavy lifting for the moment.

Kate gripped her batons tighter when the assassin took down Kaldur with only a couple hits, the toxin obviously weakening the Atlantean.

"There, limit tested, now..." The dark-haired woman turned to the two blondes. Blink and you'd miss the assassin throwing darts at the teen, Kate's reflexes really saving her ass and the doctor. Pushing Roquette out of the way and hitting the darts out of the air without really knowing how she did that.

"Holy-" Kate almost laughed but the assassin was on her once they realized her darts hadn't hit their target. "Fu-" Kate reacted, throwing up her batons, crossed over the other like an x. Blocking the shuriken and their poison.

Kate didn't wait to react again, needing to put the battle on her terms, needing to get the assassin away from the doctor and outside. Where Kate could hopefully light her up with a sonic blast. Kate's boot met the woman's stomach and knocked her to the ground. The woman caught herself though. Rolling back and into a three point stance.

Kat acted in the split second that the assassin threw more assumedly poisoned projectiles, rolling to the ground and throwing one of her batons in response. The woman standing slowly, Kate matching her pace. The woman laughed.

"Your aim could use some work."

Kate just smirked and held out her hand in an open position. Her baton came back, called by the magnets in her gloves, but not without pegging the woman in the back of the head. It was then that Kate started to feel whoosy. Bringing up a heavy hand to her exposed cheek her fingers came a way with red coating them.

Kate's world started to tip, and she went with it.

"That's disappointing, I thought you'd be able to handle more, anyway...It's time for my appointment doctor." The assassin said darkly, turning her sights to the big fish she came for.

The blonde teen seeing blurry figures, one pushing the other to the floor, a glint of something, labored breathing, muffled words. Nothing solid, like she was underwater, it was constantly shifting. Kate wasn't someone to give in though, pushing herself up shakily and stumbling after the blurry green shape she could barely register as the assassin.

Being forced back into the wall of the building when a small explosion and smoke filled the air. The shock bringing the world back into minimal focus, recognizing Artemis standing on the other side of the assassin with her bow drawn.

"Don't move a muscle."

"Wow, I am completely at your mercy." The assassin taunted, her mask on the ground, but her back to Kate so the only person who could see her face was the archer.

"You." Artemis gasped quietly.

"I suppose now is when you bring me to Justice? Let your new friends interrogate me? I don't think the bird is gonna make it much longer though, not with the stuff I shot her with. Quite disappointing really, I didn't even get to hear her scream." Artemis shot a cautious yet worried look to Kate, who was barely on her feet. "I do wonder though, if your position is secure enough to survive them learning everything I know."

Kate, in the back of her poison fogged mind could put the puzzle pieces together that this was Artemis's sister, the League of Shadows assassin, she had been told about. But she couldn't remember her name for the life of her. Her brain refusing to work like it should as things started to get fuzzy again, her knees giving out.

Smoke filled her senses and she started to cough just as Doctor Roquette and Aqualad came out of the café.

"Artemis, where is the assassin?" His eyes fell to a basically passed out Kate leaned against the building, holding back a sigh of exasperation. The blonde was most likely injured. Again. Why this kept happening was a mystery to everyone on the team.

"She uh, she got away." The blonde teen archer spoke dejectedly.

"Oh! From you? Big surprise!" KF zoomed up beside her as she walked away. "Notice, we got ours." Miss Martian hovered mid-air behind him telekinetically holding Black spider and Hookman above the ground.

The speedster looks to the ground and saw the other assassin's mask by Kate's feet, rushing to the blonde's side and picking up the mask. "Cool, souvenir! Hey GF, come on sleeping beauty, time to wake up."

"Her mask? Did- did you see her face?" Aqualad asked as he took out the darts imbedded in his chest, KF still trying to wake up Kate and getting increasingly more worried about her. Robin would kill him if she got seriously injured again while he was around.

"It was dark." Artemis said defensively, her back facing the team.

"It is fine, Robin and Superboy were able to neutralize the fog, and Dr. Roquette is safe, Thanks in no small part to you," Artemis turned to look at the group assembled in front of the internet café, "Welcome to the team."

KF hung back with Kate as Kaldur and Miss M went up to the conscious blonde. The Atlantean shaking her hand and the Martian laying a green hand on her shoulder.

"I've always wanted a sister. Here on earth, I mean, I have twelve back on mars. But trust me, it's not the same. Now I have two."

"I wouldn't know but, thanks."

KF let Doctor Roquette have a look at Kate as he walked up to Artemis. Miss Martian elbowing him in the side when he didn't say anything, Doctor Roquette helping the younger blonde up to her feet behind them.

"Yeah, welcome," he muttered unenthusiastically, about to bring up Goldfinch needing medical attention when Doctor Roquette did it for him.

"Uh, excuse me, she needs help." The four team members looked to the struggling pair of blondes and Aqualad instantly went on high alert when he saw the blood trickling down Kate's cheek. Rushing up to her and holding her head in his hands. Neck doing nothing to hold up its weight on its own, earning a low groan from the fourteen year old, sweeping her limp body up into his arms and turning to the team.

"We need to get back to the cave now."

~~*~~

"How are you feeling?" Aqualad asked the blonde laying on the scratchy bed in the medical bay.

"Fine," Kate smirked a little at Aqualad unamused face. "Really I'm alright." The blonde reassured, letting her smirk drop into a neutral look of exhaustion.

"I'm glad to hear that. I hate to ask this so soon after you've woken up but-"

"You wanna know if I saw the assassin's face," Kate sighed quietly, rolling her head to the side and lazily looking at the Atlantean, "What did Artemis say?"

Unbeknownst to either of the teens in the med bay a certain blonde archer stood just outside with her ear pressed to the door.

"She said it was too dark." Aqualad answered carefully, slightly suspicious of why Kate would want to know what Artemis had said.

"There's your answer, I could barely see my own hand in front of my face, it was all just a big blob." Aqualad nodded neutrally before giving the blonde a small smile, placing a hand on her arm.

"I am happy you are okay; the other's will be as well. Robin was almost panicked when we told him and Superboy of your condition." The Atlantean smirked at how flushed Kate's face got.

~~*~~

Artemis, after a long night with an even longer wait at the cave to see if Kate was going to be okay, finally Zeta's home. The bright light fading as she exits the phony broken phone booth, feeling eyes on her and knocking an arrow, pulling back and aiming it at the person creeping up on her.

"Step into the Light. Now." The teen archer ordered.

It was Red Arrow.

"Nice move." Roy patronized as he walked closer, making it clear he didn't see her as any kind of threat. "Almost made me believe you are Green Arrow's niece, but we both know you're not," Artemis narrowed her eyes at the correct accusation, "Still, I'm sure GA, Bats, Canary, and Goldfinch have a reason for lying. Though how they got Goldfinch to trust you at all is a complete mystery to me, so... your cover's safe. But I warn you, do not hurt my friends."

With that he walked away.

~~*~~

[silver-tongue-and-gilded-eyes]

Death Blows Bubbles

Words spoken of a silver tongue

Lure me into a sunken cemetery

In the dead of night I lurch

Between crumbling gravestones

The shadows dance in the crystal

Of the moon in a cloudless sky

Ghosts pull me by my hands

To the open door of a mausoleum

Bubbles float out the door

The stars reflecting in their

Rainbow filled, shiny exteriors

Sticking to my fingertips

Death itself sits on top of the coffin

A bubble wand in his boney fingers

He doesn’t acknowledge my presence

More bubbles pass my drained face

Somewhere an off-key piano taps out a song

Death turns his hollow skull toward me

“What brings you all the way here?”

His question buzzes in my mind

“The singing led me” I say

He nods solemnly and puts down the wand

“It always happens like this, young one”

Somehow, I think, Death looks graceful and guilty

Before I knew it, he was next to me

“What is life like, dear soul?”

I think hard before I answer him

Trying to recall my most joyous memories

“It’s warm, and soft, and wonderful”

I thought about more; I told the truth

“It’s also cold, and rough, and bitter”

In honesty, I missed the sun

He nodded as though he understood

Everything I didn’t say out loud in fear

Of answering him incorrectly; his jaw creaked

“How silly it is; to fear Death’s repercussions”

“You were treated unfairly, little mouse”

He held his boney hand out to me

“I know why you’re here, bird”

“You were hunted by your own kind for fun”

Thin skeleton fingers drifted along my scars

“Worry not, small one, you are safe now”

Death walked me to the coffin

He sang to the off-key piano

“Rest now, little mouse”

He motioned to the porcelain box

The lid creaked open; he held out his hand

He helped me climb in

~ Artemis

[ratsoh-writes]

When the call ended, Mavi was shaking with pure anger. She placed the phone done and bawled her hands into fists. The drake took deep breaths to calm down, careful not to accidentally ignit something around her.

"they are okay, just.. it aren't triplets anymore" she spoke through her teeth, tears of frustration and anger forming in her sockets.

"She went after artemis and that bitch admitted theres a fourth child. She fucking abandoned it. Who knows if they're still alive or not, Dads is about to breakdown, Kovu caused a fire. Artemis is crying-" she kept mumbling, overwhelmed by the news she just received, She wasn't very quiet so, pretty sure everyone heard her, not that she cared currently.

Plutos eyes widen horrified when he hears that. The first thing he does is float up so he can give mavi a hug. He lets her hug him back tightly as he rubs a hand on her skull soothingly

It’s a few minutes later, when Mavis calmed down enough that she’s evenly breathing that Pluto talks agaon

Pluto: o-ok so the baby is missing.. but not confirmed dead. Right? D-do you have a description?

Sans pops his head in the door, eyes wide but determined

Sans: lens and I already broke into the welfare firewalls. If we can get an age, species and magic color we can find out of the baby was on the system

[paradoxical-catastrophe]

I’m here to scream about some of my favorite little tid bits about Kousei and his twin

- So since Riley made an oc to take place of Joker (named jester) I did one for Akechi!!!! Except as I usually do I make it Different enough to have plot holes. But!!! The plot holes are being fixed!!!!

- he is trans ftm while his twin is trans mtf

- his persona is apollo while his twins is artemis <3

- im drawing parallels between the twins story and the gods story because I thrive off symbolism

- because self insert I’ve decided the two are from Texas so I find it funny to think that they have the most atrocious southern accent. Or at least Kousei does

- they grew up speaking Japanese because their mother was Japanese… but they really struggle writing it and I think that’s funny

- boring jail palace? NO!!! The palace is built on Kousei feeling ruled by his past self’s actions. There are two cognitions, a younger version of himself named Chief and a current version of himself named Inmate. Hhhh… and I know technically someone can’t spend much time in their own palace but my oc my rules I add whatever I want

- Kousei knows of his palace but refuses to let anyone take it down, he doesn’t believe he deserves to be helped

- there’s also a graveyard, a small fenced off area that’s attached to Inmates cell by a metal door, with the graves of those involved in the Incident in his past

- oh yeah I never talked about that. Ok so the Incident. The twins mother suddenly went missing one day, and Kousei has suspicions that it was his father, so he starts studying to become a detective, and starts collecting evidence, enough to plan an arrest. But he hesitates too long, and soon the info he has about Risks becomes out of date. During the bust, the father shoots several officers and then burns the place down

- hoshino doesn’t know the entire story, and Kousei refuses to tell her, so she grows up disliking the police and adults. However, to kousei, his ass was saved by his coworkers. He could have easily died without them! So he grew up trusting and believing in law

- they then move to Japan to move in with some of their family on their mothers side. The twins grow more and more distant, to the point hoshino grows actually terrified that kousei would hurt her

- everything after that isn’t fleshed out, im working on it..

- he has Trauma but it’s okay <3 (he’s not okay he was involved in a horrific case gone wrong due to his own weaknesses)

- ‘I was weak back then? I was too hesitant?? Fine I’ll be egotistical instead’ no girl that’s not what u should do (it’s ok he can be a little messed up as a treat)

- instead of ‘prim and proper’ like akechi, he built his popularity on being ‘relatable’ and such. He’s vocal about interests, he is a bit timid and shy and easily flustered, he has ‘slip ups’ and stutters on tv, etc. He is entirely built on being understandable and seemingly open

- Also he follows Jester around like a lost puppy

- poor Hoshino, who’s apart of the Phantom Thieves, watching her brother who’s investigating them but also follows Jester around and is clingy

HEY YOU WHO HAVENT PLAYED P5, BELOW HERE IS SPOILERS, DONT READ FURTHER

- ok so technically apollo is his ‘second’ persona but for those who don’t know spoilers I shall pretend apollo is his persona… because he’s cool

- but his personas and outfits!! Are cool!

- the one he initially shows the phantom thieves is actually dark which I find cool. The outfit resembles a samurai’s outfit with a chain sickle, black with red splotches. But it also has hints of bold color and skulls, small little hidden designs. The persona is a sugar skull with a snake coming out of the head. It’s supposed to be a mix of his mothers Japanese history and his fathers American/Hispanic history!!

- meanwhile his second one (the ‘black mask’) isn’t dark at all, it’s not based on hate. It’s white and god-like, with gold metal accents and a golden scythe. It’s based on his growing ego, his hate to his past weakness. He addresses himself as superior and a deity

- instead of ‘call of chaos’, his version is akin to worship. He summons shadows that he inflicts this on, and it’s like brainwash to the extreme. They take hits for him, sacrifice their health to heal him, etc. This also makes him extremely egotistical and cocky he’s so silly

- third semester he chills out slightly… but he spends most of his time being pissy and angry because… he’s watching his twin being lured into this false reality, ofc he’s gonna be angry and accidentally take it out on the others

- also I have a rough story that after Sae’s palace the PTs also take down kouseis behind his back but I have to rewrite that bc I sketched it out before Shido’s </3 tbf during all of that I had bigger more pressing plot holes to fix

- so anyways I wrote out the boiler scene please take some of these pics of it. Most of it is word for word of the scene but I changed some things <3 I’ll actually write it out someday I just wrote the dialogue…

Dozing off. Gets cool idea for oc. Frantically jots it down on my phone. Is now awake. Rinse repeat