#(if she has a last name let me know and I'll change her character tag!! 😳)

[oceandiagonale]

I dont quite know how Oc Sunday works but here's my oc Yam! I was really really inspired by your art and Gene, so it's a bit similar but I hope you like it!

I don't have everything worked out yet but here we go!

Yam is from Pokemon Y and is a serena stand-in. She is in a relationship with shauna. She was also kind of killed by yveltal. Instead of being healed by Xerneas, yveltal just takes away her ability to die after it comes to its senses. So yam is in a coma, being healed and rehealed cuz even though she can't die, she still has energy from the oblivion wing stuck in her body and its still causing damage. Shauna and calem rush to search kalos for Xerneas so yam can be a functional living being. When they find Xerneas, it misinterprets their wish to heal yam and gives a peice of itself to shauna, so now shauna is immortal too, with the ability to heal and grow plants. (The exact qoute from my notes is... "Shauna being the chosen one of Xerneas cuz life and death bla bla gay")

That's most of what I have so far! I'm still working on it and am watching the anime rn for more ideas! (That's where the whole giving shauna nature magic comes from! The diancie movie!)

The drawing here is Yams outfit from the beginning of the game until the ultimate weapon. After that my idea is to have her colors get darker until post game where instead of orange and brown, she's red and black! I dont have that drawn yet though. On her hat is a flower like the one eternal flower floette carries

oh my god I'm living for this, I LOVE when characters' outfits change depending on their circumstances and also she's adorable!! I really love the orange color scheme she's starting with, it's so bright and cute 😭😭😭

man, that's a lot of pressure on shauna, I hope she's able to heal her gf and be okay emotionally herself, and that they can watch fireworks again together and be healing 😭😭😭

(AZ real?? AZ story role real??? if they're all immortal rn can they like. be friends or maybe try to be less immortal together?? 👀👀👀)

[kwanisms]

Kinktober 「10:16」 — s.changbin

» stray kids menu | changbin menu | kinktober masterlist «

➮ werebear!Changbin × fem!Reader wc: 4.1k summary: Changbin just wanted to have a nice camping trip with his girlfriend but she has other ideas. genres/themes/au: fluff, smut; supernatural, horror, thriller; non idol au, monster idol au warnings: adult dialogue, female reader, supernatural and horror themes, mentions of: fishing, cleaning said fish, camping, storms, food & alcohol consumption; sexual content (18+ mdni), see smut warnings under the cut! taglist has been moved to reblogs join my taglists! kinktober taglist is CLOSED! Strikethrough means I cannot tag you.  MINORS WILL BE BLACKLISTED & BLOCKED. AGELESS BLOGS WILL ALSO BE BLOCKED.

a/n: so this one is a follow up to last years (which I just posted and I’m sorry about that lol) but werebear!Changbin lives rent free in my head. I love the concept but tbh any werecreature concept for Changbin is so good and I will die on this hill. Thank you for reading! The next one is a Seventeen one with a certain maknae. So please look forward to that! Thank you for reading and as always, this is a work of fiction and all characters are not reflective of their respective irl counterparts. for entertainment purposes only.

smut warnings: teratophilia (aka monsterfucking), outdoor sex (it's fucking in tents lol i'll see myself out), strength kink, oral (m receiving, f receiving), deepthroating, fingering (f receiving), protected sex (do this. Use protection like them), use of pet names (hers: baby, babe, etc.; his: babe, Binnie, bear, etc.), soft dom!Changbin, switch!Reader, that should be all but let me know if I missed something! kinks: Outdoor sex + strength kink dialogue prompt: ❛❛ I cannot possibly focus with your damn hand in my- ❜❜

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This wasn’t exactly how he envisioned his camping trip with his girlfriend going but Changbin wasn’t complaining, not when you looked so pretty on top of him, taking his cock like it was made for you and you alone.

The trip had started out innocent enough, driving to the national park where Changbin often went camping on his own. This was the first time he was taking you with him and he had been beyond ecstatic to show you around his stomping ground.

Your initial worry of running into something dangerous dissipated quickly when Changbin reminded you that it wasn’t the wolves, or the bears, or the big cats that were the scariest thing in the forest. It was him.

Not long after the fateful night you gave yourselves to each other, Changbin told you the truth. He was plagued with a curse that often left him irritable, standoffish, and withdrawn once a month: he was a werebear. It came as a shock and at first, you tried to play it off but the more he explained, the more everything started to make sense.

His terrible mood swings that always seemed to happen once a month, and always around the full moon. His unexplainable illness that also accompanied his irritability. The inexplicable display of strength he showed that night and ever since. It wasn’t until your first full moon with him that you truly understood.

He’d taken you with him, ensuring you would be safe as he locked himself in a shed, hidden deep within the woods, deeper than you thought anyone would normally venture and well off the beaten path. He’d shown you the truth and while the thought of it terrified you, there was an undeniable attraction to the raw show of strength he exhibited when he nearly tore the bars from the windows of his makeshift cell.

Since then, you’d been by his side, thankful he chose to share that side of him with you so that you would not only know what you were getting yourself into but also because it meant he trusted you with his secret. Your relationship with Changbin blossomed naturally, albeit not in the order most relationships did but you wouldn’t change anything about it.

After being together for nearly two years, he finally decided he was sick of having his own space and wanted to find a place you could share together. You offered to let him move into your apartment and as much as he liked your place and the memories it held, he wanted to find a new place for you to make yours, together.

It had taken nearly 6 months to find a place that met your criteria but once you were both on the same page, you found a cute two bedroom top floor apartment not far from your current building. It was another historic building in the quiet part of town, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. The move was easy when you had a boyfriend who despite his smaller stature could very easily lift boxes that would make any ordinary man buckle under the weight.

The furniture was easy as well. Your couch was moved in the middle of the night so no one would see Changbin singlehandedly carrying it up the stairs of the new building. Your bed, being bigger than Changbin’s and much more comfortable, was carried in the same way: under the cover of night.

Whatever didn’t fit in the new apartment was put in a storage unit until you could sell it, which Changbin graciously offered to pay for. The new apartment was bigger than both of your old ones but still cozy and comfortable.

The dark hardwood floors contrasted well with the lighter tone walls. The kitchen faced the small balcony with floor to ceiling windows that separated the two. Vaulted ceilings made the space feel much bigger and Changbin enjoyed living on the top floor with no one above him.

The other nice thing about this building was the walls were thick which meant you didn’t have to be quiet during your more vigorous activities, a quirk Changbin took full advantage of as he made sure to break in every new surface of the kitchen by either bending you over it or laying you back on top of it.

Only after being settled into the new apartment, did Changbin ask you to go camping with him. Fall was settling in, a distinct chill in the air as the leaves of the few trees in the city started to turn. Browns, oranges, yellows, and even reds decorated the branches before the leaves inevitably fell to the ground to be swept away by some street cleaner if the wind didn’t get to them first.

You were beyond excited to go camping with Changbin. You hadn’t been since you were quite young and the prospect of being alone in the woods with your boyfriend posed many new experiences for the both of you. The thought of sharing a tent in the middle of the forest with a campfire, so far from anyone, sounded equal parts spooky and romantic.

Changbin had most of the essential camping gear packed away in the storage unit and once retrieved and all things accounted for, there were only a few items you still needed to get. A trip to the closest outdoor good store fulfilled the rest of the items needed and after requesting time off from work, you were on your way out of the city to spend a week in the woods with your werebear boyfriend.

What could possibly go wrong?

Despite how smooth things went from leaving to arriving at the forest, your trip seemed to be plagued by some dark cloud as not even ten minutes into your hike, you tripped over a downed log and fell, scraping your hands and knees. Changbin was ready with the first aid kit, cleaning and disinfecting the wounds before patching you up.

He kept a much more watchful eye on you from then on, making sure to help you over anything he deemed remotely dangerous. He jokingly offered to carry you, pack and all, if you kept tripping over things. You briefly thought about taking him up on his offer when you slipped over a moss covered rock but ultimately decided to just be more careful and cautious.

The first stop of your trip ended with you camping several yards from a river that wound through the entire forest. Changbin initially was going to set up right beside it but after noticing the sky, he decided higher ground was a smarter move. When you asked him about it, he said it was his intuition.

That night, you were eternally grateful for the extra blankets and even portable heater he brought, not that his body wasn’t a portable heater in of itself. The temperatures plummeted down near freezing as a massive thunderstorm blew in. Changbin’s intuition was right on the money. The torrential downpour made the river swell to twice the size it had been the day before and due to his smart decision making, you were safe from the roaring river that raged just a few yards from your tent.

Changbin made sure you were kept snug and warm, using the portable heater while he was awake before using his body warmth to keep you from freezing. It did the trick and once you got warm initially, you never got cold again throughout the night.

The next morning looked like the scene out of a disaster movie. Branches littered the shore of the river which had reduced in size almost back down to what it had been before. There were even some litter like old tires and even a torn up tent that had washed downriver. The last one had Changbin concerned and after leaving for a brief hike, he discovered an old abandoned camping site which he surmised the tent had come from.

Though you were ready to pack up and move on, Changbin assured you that the second night wouldn’t be as rough. You instead kept camp by the river, going for a hike with Changbin, following the river as it got faster and faster until the forest opened up and the river gave way to a fantastic cascade that plummeted down the side of a massive cliff at least thirty feet.

At the bottom was a deep pool where the water collected before continuing on into the river and snaking through the trees before disappearing out of sight. You wanted to climb down and check it out but Changbin promised next time, he would plan a course that included this spot.

After your hike, you returned to camp and Changbin surprised you by pulling out a couple of fishing rods. You’d never been fishing as you always thought it was kind of boring and the idea of skewering a worm on the end of a hook had your skin crawling.

Thankfully your boyfriend took over, hooking the bait before showing you how to cast. It wasn’t exciting by any means, waiting for the fish to bite but once you did hook a fish, you were so ecstatic, you didn’t know what to do with yourself. Changbin had to take over, reeling it in for you until the fish finally flopped out of the water and danced for a moment on the end of your line.

It was a trout, he told you. The first one of the day and you caught it. After the initial shock and excitement wore off, you were ready to go again but you still refused to bait your own hook, something Changbin didn’t mind doing at all.

After several hours, you managed to catch quite a few fish. Changbin showed you how to gut and clean the fish, tossing the insides back into the water where he told you it’s actually beneficial to the ecosystem. Other creatures feed on the entrails like crawdads and other fish. It’s better to toss them in the water than leave them on the banks.

Dinner that night was the fish Changbin cleaned and fileted with some veggies and a few mushrooms he found on your hike. After dinner, you relaxed by the fire, enjoying the warmth it provided while drinking a beer from the pack brought on the trip. 

The next morning, you helped pack up and continued on past the river and further into the forest. The next stop was right at the edge of a clearing down the mountain from where you had stayed. Changbin was certain this was a good place to camp, taking note of the tall grass that looked wholly untouched by the rains from the other night. 

He found a nice flat spot in the shade of the trees to set up the tent as well as an old fire pit ringed in rocks. While he tried to set up the tent, you kept distracting him. You weren’t sure what it was about how he looked that morning when you woke up but you couldn’t seem to keep your hands to yourself. The extra attention you gave him made him blush but he couldn’t complain with all the additional kisses and lingering touches. He liked it.

After he finally got the tent set up, he entered to unfurl the mats to place under the sleeping bags. You followed him, helping him with the pillows until you couldn’t take it anymore and needed to have your hands on him. Changbin couldn’t help but chuckle as your hands wandered, feeling up his bicep as he flexed, pulling the sleeping bags from their stuff sacks one by one.

“I’m trying to set up our tent,” he said softly, grabbing one of your hands and kissing the back of it. “You’re distracting me,” he added, chuckling as your hands moved, sliding over his chest as you moved behind him, wrapping your arms around him and nuzzling into his neck. “What's gotten into you?” he asked as he laid out the sleeping bags over the mats. 

Instead of answering him, you placed light kisses along his neck, enjoying the way he paused, tilting his head to give you more access. “Seriously,” he sighed as one of your hands slid down his stomach to palm over his semi-hard cock. “What's going on?” he asked.

You nipped at the skin below the shell of his ear, hand massaging against him harder and making him groan as he paused, eyes fluttering shut. “Can’t even wait for me to finish?” he murmured, moving his hand over yours as he lightly bucked into your touch.

“Let me finish this and then I’m all yours,” he murmured, pulling your hand back as much as he didn’t want to. He wanted nothing more than for you to have your hands all over him but he also wanted to make sure the tent was set up fully.

You whined, pouting at him as you moved your hand back, making him chuckle. His breath caught as your hand slipped into his pants, darting under the waistband of his underwear to firmly grasp his hot cock in your warm hand. “Fuck,” he groaned as you started to stroke him. “Baby, what has gotten into you?” he asked again as you started to stroke him faster.

“Am I distracting you?” you whispered in his ear as his hips chased your movements, bucking against your hand. “Why don’t you keep going?” you added, nipping at his earlobe. “I cannot possibly focus with your damn hand in my – hng!” he groaned as your hand squeezed him a little harder.

He grabbed your wrist, holding it steady as he rutted into your touch. “F-fuck, baby. Gonna cum if you keep doing that.” At his words, you pulled your hand from his pants, ignoring the glare he gave you until you pushed him back against the sleeping bags and grabbed the waistband of his sweats, pulling them down past his hips and quickly taking hold of his cock again.

Changbin let out a gasp, head falling back as your hand moved up and down his shaft before taking the tip into your mouth, your tongue warm and went against his skin. He let out a guttural moan as your head sank down, taking as much of his thick cock onto your mouth as you could, teeth lightly scraping against the skin.

His hands moved to the back of your head, pushing you down more. “Holy shit, babe,” he gasped as you took more and more of him in, relaxing your jaw and pushing until his cockhead was nestled against the back of your throat.

Letting out a shaky breath, Changbin raised his head slightly, taking in the sight of his cock disappearing into your mouth. He groaned as he felt your swallow against the tip of his cock, aching for it to be buried in your throat. As if you read his mind, you forced your head down, the head of his cock pushing into your throat and he choked out a moan, hips bucking slightly as he held your head down.

Your lungs begged for air but you waited, saliva starting to spill from your mouth and drip down the small part of his cock that didn’t fit into your mouth. “Oh fuck, baby,” he moaned as you swallowed around him, feeling his cock throb and twitch against your tongue. “M’gonna cum,” he breathed out, fingers tightening their grip on your hair as he thrusted once more, thick ropes of cum shooting out of him and painting your throat.

You wait until the last of it finished spurting from him before you pulled back, his cock slipping from your throat and mouth and air finally invading your lungs as you inhaled deeply. You look at your boyfriend, watching as his chest rose and fell, head lying back against the sleeping bag. His eyes fluttered open taking in your triumphant expression. “Fuck that was so hot,” he groaned as you pulled his pants up over his now flaccid cock.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you right now,” he said as he pushed himself up onto his elbows. “But I like it,” he said with a crooked grin. You wiped your lips on your sleeve, giving him another smile. You started to pull away but he grabbed your wrist. “Let me return the favor,” he croaked. You shook your head. “It’s okay,” you replied, voice slightly hoarse. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to,” he replied, gently pulling you to take his place, lying down where he’d just been laying moments before. He quickly peered outside the tent, grabbing your packs and bringing them inside to set against the side of the wall. He zipped up the tent entrance and turned to you, moving to grab your leggings and pull them down, slipping your boots off at the same time.

He made quick work of your panties, pulling them off before settling down on his stomach, face level with your pussy. He licked his lips, spreading your folds before giving you a slow lick from your entrance to your clit, his tongue flat against you. He let out a groan as his tongue swirled around your clit, the vibrations making you gasp as your back lightly arched off the ground.

“Binnie,” you breathed out, fingers combing through his curls as he lapped greedily at your cunt, savoring the taste as he moved his hands, holding your hips in place. He groaned against your skin as he teased your clit with the tip of his tongue. Your thighs squeezed his head slightly as he suckled on the sensitive nub. “B-Binnie,” you moaned, your free hand moving over his on your hip.

You pulled his hand up, guiding it under your sweatshirt to your chest. Taking the silent plea, Changbin pushed your sweatshirt up, groping your breast as he continued to suck and tease your clit with his tongue. His hand slipped under your bra, palm hot against your skin as he kneaded.

Without breaking contact with your pussy, he moved his hand, squeezing under your back to undo your bra clasp with expert precision before pushing the cups up to expose your tits. Both of his hands cupped your chest as he kept his mouth trained on your pussy. You placed a hand over his as he kneaded your tits, lightly raking your nails against his scalp with your other hand.

You felt his teeth graze your clit and your hips rolled up into his face, grinding against him. He let you, holding his tongue flat against your clit as you continued to buck your hips, riding his face as your orgasm drew closer and closer. Changbin moved his hands down, sliding them under your ass as he focused all his attention on your clit, letting you grind against his tongue.

You moaned loudly, a firm grip on his hair while your other hand fondled your chest, pinching one of your nipples as you came, moaning a chant of your boyfriend’s name and a slew of curses as he helped you ride out your high. Changbin lapped up every drop of your release, his cock painfully hard against the sleeping bag. 

You gasped as you came down from your climax, Changbin wiping his mouth with his shirt as he crawled over you, kissing up your stomach and chest, stopping to run his tongue over your nipple before he enveloped it with his mouth, suckling softly. He pulled back, letting it fall from his mouth before he took you in a sear kiss, tongue invading your mouth quickly.

You felt his cloth covered cock, hard again, against your crotch. “Binnie, baby,” you whined, rolling your hips up to meet his. “I need you.” He chuckled against your skin, littering kisses along your neck. “Is my baby impatient?” he asked softly, his hands pulling your sweatshirt up over your head and pulling your loose bra off, leaving you completely nude under him.

“Yes,” you breathed as his hands cupped your chest, squeezing the supple flesh and moving to roll your nipples between his fingers. “Needs me to fuck her immediately?” he whispered, kissing along your collarbone to your shoulder. You clawed at his shirt, pulling it up his back as you begged him with soft pleas. Changbin obliged, sitting up to pull his shirt off.

“Binnie,” you whined, hands moving to his waistband and tugging to pull him closer. “Please, bear,” you moaned as he grinded his hard cock against your soaking cunt, wetting his sweats. “Please baby, please.” His cock twitched in his pants and he moved to grab his pack, unzipping one of the inner pockets where he kept the condoms.

He pulled one out, setting the bag back against the wall of the tent. You watched him with wide eyes as he pushed his pants and underwear down in one go, shimmying out of them with the tip of the condom wrapper in his teeth. You licked your lips, eyes drinking in his naked body hungrily as he tore open the packet and carefully rolled the latex down his length.

He didn’t need to ask if you were ready, his fingers moving to your entrance and pushing two into you with ease. He still wanted to make sure you were properly stretched before he even attempted to fill you with his thick cock. Your hips moved against his hand as he fit a third into you, pumping steadily in and out of your walls. Your back arched, moaning wantonly as he curled his fingers against your inner walls. “Binnie,” you whimpered, grabbing at his arms and tugging him.

“Please fuck me,” you breathed. “I need you, baby.”

Changbin withdrew his fingers, replacing them with the tip of his cock and pushing the head into you with a sigh. You let out a content moan as he slowly slid into you, stretching your cunt as you accommodated his girth. Once he was full inside you, he started a slow, steady pace, holding your hips in place as he rutted into you.

“Feels so good,” you gasped. “Feels so f-full.”

A groan escaped Changbin as he fucked into you more roughly, hands spreading your thighs as he held you down. Your hands grabbed at him, pulling him closer as your walls sucked him in over and over. Taking the silent plea, he repositioned, putting your legs over his shoulders as he leaned over, folding your body in half as he thrust down into you roughly.

He learned quickly that this was your favorite position. You had called it the mating press and told him you loved how it made you feel like you were at his mercy. You always complimented his strength in and out of the bedroom and it always made him feel a surge of pride.

“How’s that?” he grunted, pinning you down as he rocked into you, cock filling your cunt with each harsh thrust. “S’good. Fuck, baby!” you cursed, brows knitted together in pleasure. “So strong, Binnie. Love it when you pin me down.” A deep growl emanated from Changbin’s chest as his pace increased, slamming into you roughly, the sound of skin against skin filling the tent.

You cried out as his cock hit the spot deep in you that had your toes curling. “Fuck, right there, baby,” you gasped as Changbin continued to hit the same spot. “Right there?” he asked in a low tone, holding back a moan as you clenched around him. “Right there!” you moaned. “Fuck, yes, keep doing that!”

Changbin slammed into you harsher as your walls clamped down on his cock, an orgasm ripping through you unexpectedly as you came, coating his cock in your release as you writhed in pleasure, screaming his name repeatedly.

Changbin fucked you through your orgasm before he carefully let your legs fall back down. He stilled, kissing your face as you came down slowly. “Think you can ride me for a bit, baby?” he whispered in between kisses. You nodded eagerly, sitting up as he slipped out of you, taking your spot on his back as you hurriedly climbed over him.

He let out a chuckle at your eagerness, groaning as you lined the tip of his cock with your pussy and sank down on him, a moan escaping both of you as your walls welcomed him back in. You gave him only a second to adjust before you started moving, bouncing on his cock and making him groan, hands grabbing your hips as he helped you move.

“Fuck baby,” he groaned. “Slow down or I’m gonna cum.” You placed your hands on his chest as you rode him harder, faster with a smirk on your lips.

“That’s the idea.”

©️ kwanisms 2024 | all works on this blog are protected under copyright. Do not repost, continue, or translate my works. All graphics made by me.

[whoishotteranimepolls]

My observations part 2 there's been some developments

There have been some new developments in fandom behaviors and trends that have changed since my last post about this and since a lot of people have liked it, I'll give the curious people an update before I forget

I have noticed something about the Trigun fandom. I thought you all were just ride or die loyal however, if it's wolfwood holy crap! You guys give the unhinged trio a run for their money. Do you know how many times I've seen unhinged comments about his Catholic titties. And why is the Catholic part so important that it must be emphasized every time? Otherwise you all are still ride or die no matter the character. But I have found a streak of unhinged crazy that I apparently missed the first time around.

I know someone mentioned they wanted to see the Fairy Tail fandom mentioned so I will mention you. So are you alive Fairy Tail Fandom are you okay? Your characters do get requested with some frequency and some of them are pretty iconic but you guys just don't do anything except if it's Gildarts v Shanks. Because how many rematches are we on now because people like that specific matchup just so they can post the meme about Gildarts being Shanks from Temu. Otherwise characters don't do all that well. But I will say one thing. You guys are giving one piece a run for its money when it comes to cursed matchups. However, I'm sure it's a good thing. Remember people are very annoyed with that fandom on my blog

Soul Eater. What has gotten into you guys? If it's Stein the fandom is worse than the unhinged trio. Any other character? I never know what you guys will do

Fullmetal Alchemist you guys have finally exposed you're crazy! Her name is Olivier Mira Armstrong and the unhinged things said on those polls. She is now one of those characters I now question should I mark this as mature content because apparently some of you want to be stepped on by her amongst other things. Remember people I read basically everything that is put in the tags. And for those who doubt her power, as of me writing this, she's tied with Senshi in their poll.

The unhinged trio is still just as bad as ever for those who are not aware, that's the nickname I gave to Jujutsu Kaisen, Dorohedoro and Black Butler because those three fandoms collectively are just nuts. However, the unhinged trio may get a lineup change soon. So I'm going to break down the three of them since I've noticed some specific things about you guys so let's get into that

Jujutsu Kaisen I will give you one thing. You guys are creative when it comes to slutty nicknames I think that's the best way to put it. They're hilarious! I'll give you that. However, I think some of them have scarred me for life. So if you want to know why some of these slutty nicknames are getting shared in the poll reblogs it's because of you guys. But the nicknames some of them are unhinged. However, never change. Jujutsu Kaisen fandom your entertaining. If not, terrifying sometimes. However, without a doubt, this fandom belongs in the unhinged trio. You are the gold standard of the unhinged trio. Your feral unhinged madness cannot be matched by any other fandom.

Dorohedoro I'm wondering if you truly belong in the unhinged trio because I think your craziness only applies to Noi and not to the other characters. So I'm curious to see how this plays out over the next few weeks because as far as I'm aware there's only Three maybe four characters in that show Noi a blonde chick a blonde dude and a lizard. So we're going to see over the next few weeks if you all truly belong in the unhinged trio because there are some other fandoms that definitely are gunning for your position

Black Butler I also wonder if your craziness is fandom wide because you guys don't seem to care if Sebastian is in a poll, but if it's Undertaker or Grell holy crap the levels of insanity. So again, I will be testing to see if you truly are worthy of your spot in the unhinged trio

And I think the Senshi polls meme/trend has kind of died down. I haven't found a request in the inbox for a while and he has officially lost to Noi from Dorohedoro by a large margin and may lose but it'll be close to Olivier Mira Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist apparently we found his weakness strong, powerful women.

I hope everyone has enjoyed my second entry into my poll analysis series You can find part one here

[crackinwise]

Look, here's why "Teen" CAN'T be Billy (and it'd make me extra pissed off if it is.) Spoilers for Agatha All Along and Marvel comics!

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Billy is a Scarlet Witch fanboy first and foremost. He's also a shameless nerd for all the Avengers, like Kamala Khan. Making his introduction be as an Agatha fanboy, even just as a con, is maddening. Why need her or help her get powers back when he'd know how dangerous she is to Wanda and himself by extension? He's already extremely strong on his own. Why nerf him?

For Billy to be here in search of Wanda, it means they would have majorly skipped his origin story. He had a new family he was born into and a team, adventures, love, all before he AND HIS BRO went to find Wanda. Hell, he thought she was dead like everyone else for a while.

Billy got Wanda back with FAMILY help. His brother Tommy. Uncle Pietro. Grandpappy Magneto. (I do understand the MCU won't let us have the last two.) A family quest to find family being turned into a Halloween Wizard Of Oz journey with an enemy would give me a migraine. They re-imagined House Of M so recognizably with Wandavision, so why would they fumble Billy's comics here?

There's no reason Billy's name or story would be forbidden to Agatha. Who would have made that spell? Why? Would she even recognize him when his last name is very different and family life has no connection to Wanda at all? I doubt he keeps blabbing to her that he's Wanda's son if he's really pretending to be Agatha's stan. (There's another theory of who Teen is that makes more sense for his name to be hidden, but his comics aren't in my wheelhouse.)

When Teen said a spell in the first episode, it was some Latin mumbling instead of his will. Billy in the comics, at least when he's still young, wills things to be in order to use his magic. He says what he wants like a mantra, out loud in plain words. I know the MCU might have nix'd this since he didn't do it in Wandavision either, but I still have hope they'll give it back. It shows how powerful he is, like his mother who could change all reality with an errant thought.

If the boyfriend calling was Teddy, that means they also skipped the couple growing closer on their team and the whole Skrull/Kree prince thing by this point in the timeline, and I'm just already so mad it's taken this long to even get one HINT of Teddy in the MCU, so if they really made his introduction be a neglected phone call I'll scream. He did stay home and worry and cover for the twins while they searched for their mom, but that's AFTER they'd established themselves as heroes and Teddy had his own family crisis. (They should have introduced him in The Marvels, I'm—)

No red in Teen's color scheme nor any resemblance to young Asgardian or Wiccan costumes. It's the weakest argument but the wardrobe dept usually gives us something. Billy had the color scheme in Wandavision and got to mimic his Wiccan costume besides (not the ugly galaxy pajamas they have him in nowadays). There's a promo poster that DOES have Teen in red with a headband, but it still seems off to me. Seems like a trick.

Granted, if Teen is really who most suspect to be another character close to Agatha, he doesn't have that color scheme either and I'd completely understand why...

Now stop making such smartass posts in the tag casually calling Teen "Billy" until we know. Because not only are you raising my blood pressure, but it's disrespectful to people who like to avoid untagged spoilers and you may just be setting them up for no reason. It's rude.

[tracybirds]

Remember my TAG Sims 4 save that I’m building? Well it’s well time for an update on where I’m at! I’m having great fun populating the worlds with characters and various people’s OCs* and thought I’d show off how they’re going! I’m focusing on CAS (Create A Sim) rather than building in this save and trying to create a full world of sims! Also note that I’m planning on the gameplay beginning with a teenage Jeff, so no main characters for now. I play with aging off and age them all manually so the other characters will just stay the same age until I’m ready to interact with them.

I’ve finished three worlds; Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, and Sulani. Working on Newcrest and Henford-on-Bagley next! Today I'll show off the characters made in Willow Creek :)

*I’m only showing the TAG characters and the OCs I have made for them today, not OCs made by other people... mostly because I'm not done!! Also if you're interested in my making your Thuderbirds OCs, let me know! I have a lot of households to fill lol and they'll just hang out in the background of the game :D

Notable changes: I moved the park to the Oakenstead lot, added a second park (in Foundry Cove) and a skate park. I changed the museum into a botanical library and placed a community garden next to it. There is now an early childhood education centre and a hospital that can be visited, and I placed a gym and a museum. I did not make any of the builds, they’re all found on the gallery and then tweaked.

There are twelve households in Willow Creek, including an apartment with four families. The only townies I care about are the Goths so they’ll end up being the only non TAG characters. I found a renovated Goth Mansion and a Goth family revamped to look closer to their Sims 2 counterparts on the gallery and stuck them in there :)

Sims 4 lore down, let me show off the sims!!

Sally, Grant and Jeff Tracy

In this save, Jeff has two brothers and a sister, based off of @amistrio's hc :D

Kyrano, Kayo and Tin-Tin

I decided I wanted to add in Tin-Tin and I have vague memories of reading a fic where they were sisters, so I went ahead and did it :D

Brains, Brains and Fermat Hackenbacker

I love Brains ahaha so I put him in twice :D why not after all!

The Apartment Building has four families: Ned Tedford, Tycho Reeves (and his brother David...lol), Wayne Rigby (and his daughter Eleanor... double lol, I think it was @katblu42 who suggested that name :D), and Kat Cavanaugh (who I gave a sister who lives in Oasis Springs, but I've included said sister for completeness)

Ned Tedford

I gave him lots of freckles mostly because I think they look sweet ahaha... I'm tempted to make Gladys a Plant Sim, but for now he's just going to enjoy gardening :D

Tycho and David Reeves

Come on... I had to XD David's a doctor whose aspiration in life is to solve the Strangerville mystery ahaha

Wayne and Eleanor Rigby

Yes the glasses are on purpose :D I love the idea of Rigby being a single dad and I also aged him up a little simply because he's clearly been with the GDF for a while and it made sense to me.

Kat and Sara Cavanaugh

Sara is Kat's older sister but they don't get on so they live in different worlds.

And finally, our last couple of houses are filled by...

Cass McCready, Aiden Hawkins and Theo McCready-Hawkins

Cass is obviously our favourite firefighter, and so I decided to create Aiden to be her fiance and Theo to be their kid. I always imagined Cass having two boys and to be a single mum when she met iR for the first time, so I did give Aiden a couple of less desirable traits lol... I'd like to play out their story at some point so they only have Theo to start :D

Reece and Dobbs (aka our favourite space pirates/scrappers!)

I love these guys so much, they crack me up :D They're space married, don't question me on this, and they live in a tiny home with some chickens xD I might see if I can replace their current home with one that's modelled after a spaceship bc that would be fun!

Robert and Aidan Williams

Aidan is one of my favourite kid characters in the show and I love him! So cool headed even when crisis is happening and his dad is hurt :( I thought for a long time about whether I'd add in more family but then I realised the house was only two bedrooms and then I invented a story where his mum had recently passed away and him and Gordon could have some bittersweet bonding (bc Gordon stays in touch and remembers everyone obviously!!) so I decided to leave them as they were and also the smaller the household the less likely the game is to crash lol

WillowCreek also is resident to three OC families, but they are not mine so I don't want to post about them without permission :)

Anyway I hope you enjoyed the update on this!!! Someday I'll have real gameplay to share lol, but I'm having so much fun building the world up!

[izzy-b-hands]

15 QUESTIONS FOR 15 FRIENDS

Tagged by @sherlockig, thank u Alexz!!

Under the cut bc I got wordy and rambly as per usual lol.

ARE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

Kind of? In that I more or less named myself after Izzy from our flag lol. Not that I'm going to tell everyone I meet that, but it is a big part of why I stuck with it after trying it out (that, and I've always wanted a name that had the letter zed in it, silly as that may seem.)

One of my middle names (that I had been using as a first name for a few years) is after my grandfather and aunt who also have that name as their middle name.

My deadname was after an actress famous in the 90s (tho tbh my mum apparently didn't choose it for that, she chose it bc she didn't find out my gender until I was Out and then was like 'aw fuck I don't have a name for this situation' and went with the first one she saw in a book of names a nurse gave her. It was only after that she remembered the actress when I was like. 4. that she changed and started telling ppl it was after that instead.)

And technically Holden is after the book character, but mum never actually read that book (and after I described it to her, said she has no interest in doing so lmao), she just liked how the name sounded and that was the one solitary name she for sure had on hand when I was born apparently. Could have saved us all time had she just used that one for me anyway!

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Couple of nights ago. I'm doing better abt missing my cat Nisha, but my phone will toss up compilations of pics of her to mark the year/month/etc and sometimes those still get me. It popped up just before I went to bed that night and I was already so tired that I just. broke down. Bc I know she's v loved and looked after w/my mum, but I do miss her goofy lil self a lot. She was my first cat that was given to me and meant to be mine alone, and there's something abt that first pet bond I guess.

3. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Nope, and it's not a likely thing for me. I've said before that that happening would be in a very specific situation, wherein I'm with someone who wants to dedicate the rest of our lives to raising a child, or god forbid more than one, tho I think I'd max out at two if I managed one at all tbh (and that's not even getting into the very complex for me thing of would I want to actually be pregnant ever (probably not, absolutely terrified of dying in childbirth and don't see myself getting over that easily), we have the funds to make that happen (and give the kid a good life, not just a decent one or 'could have been worse' like my own), and we feel stable mentally, emotionally, and physically (as much as one can outside of Life Happening of course) bc having a kid means putting allll of that first for them, ahead of yourself. Or at least I think it should mean that lol.

But that situation is incredibly unlikely considering my bigger goal in life is to wind up being a third for multiple couples while also fucking any of my friends who are down for it in a big poly ENM sort of thing for lack of better/more detailed definition (I know it sounds unrealistic and maybe it is to a degree, almost definitely is lol.)

I can admit I just. don't want to uproot the life I've been trying so hard to build for myself in so many ways, to have kids. I'll happily help babysit the kids of any friends tho and be the fun uncle that buys them junk food and lets them stay up late to watch movies. I think that's about the level of parenting of any kind that I can handle for now (also tbh I burned out on parenting bc my family admits they parentified the fuck outta me with my three younger cousins. It by far could have been worse, but I spent my teens spending most of my days after school helping look after them from the newborn years and on. Unless my above uber specific scenario happens, then I've probably had my fill of parenting for my lifetime.)

4. WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY/HAVE YOU PLAYED?

I played volleyball for a few years in elementary school, and we were made to participate in a multi-school track and field thing for most of middle school every year, but I was never amazing at them. Housemate and I have figured out I likely have undiagnosed asthma tho (turns out running or going out in too cold or hot weather shouldn't instantly make you gasp, struggle to breathe, and make you taste iron in your mouth, who the fuck knew? Not me, genuinely) so I think that might have a lot to do with it.

I also enjoy tennis and badminton and would love to try rugby, but I've never played any of those beyond a hobby with family/friends.

5. DO YOU USE SARCASM?

I do! Probably too much and not always in the best situations, but I've been working for years to hone when and where it should be used so I think/hope I'm a lot better with it than I was when I was younger. Tho even then, I did get adults who found it funny when I was sarcastic bc of how adult I seemed to a lot of them (their words, not mine lmao.)

6. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

I genuinely don't know. Usually I'm too busy running my script for meeting new ppl in my head and trying to maintain Common and Expected Etiquette to really notice much right away. I have found that after a bit of time/after the initial meeting has passed, I tend to notice colours ppl wear more often than others if I see them often enough, or hair colour. But I don't know if it counts towards this question at that point lol.

7. WHAT'S YOUR EYE COLOUR?

Kinda blueish grey? Some ppl say it's too grey to be blue, others that it's too blue to be grey. I had a lady at the ND DOT freak out abt not being sure if I should have blue or grey on my ID a few years back, and she finally just told me to put blue so 'she could stop feeling so confused.' Was a weird day and the first time I realised apparently they really do have a blend of both colours, enough for it to be upsetting lmao.

8. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

I can't choose between the two; I like both! I also like mixing them together when I write (a scary story with a happy ending, an ending that seems happy but is actually terrifying, so on and so forth.)

9. ANY TALENTS?

Writing? Maybe, I always list it bc it's something I know how to do and to (usually) do decently well. I can sort of draw? But not well enough that I think 'talented' would be accurate to describe how I draw lol. I'm not sure of anything else off the top of my head tbh.

10. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

In California, USA! We were there bc dad was in basic training for the Marines and then just got stuck at Camp Pendleton for years lmao (or that's how he always talks abt it anyway lmao.) Only was actually there until either: a. I was 3 months old, b. I was 6 months old or c. I was actually basically still a fresh newborn. Depends on whether you're talking to my dad, mum, or grandparents as to which answer you get, and at this point I'm genuinely uncertain as to exactly when mum left and took me to North Dakota but 6 months seems the most potentially accurate lmaooo.

11. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?

Writing, drawing, reading (not enough but I'm trying to remedy that), napping, watching movies/fave shows, and giffing.

12. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

Kind of? My cat Nisha had to stay in North Dakota after I moved, so my mum and her bf are looking after her now (and got her a little sister, a kitten who is getting so big already!, named Bella.) I help Housemate look after aer two cats as well, and I'd like to think the boys consider me like their fun uncle lol (aka I bend over backwards for them and let them steal my spot on the couch all the time, and will break out the treats if needed to corral them now and then. In my defense: they are the cutest lil baby boy cats and they deserve the world, even when they're being little gremlins lmao.)

13. HOW TALL ARE YOU?

Approximately somewhere between 5'3 and 5'4ish? I can't recall the last time I was actually measured, and most of the ppl I've been around were somewhere between those heights and I'm usually either slightly shorter or slightly taller than some of them, so??? I put 5'3 on my ID tho lol

14. FAVOURITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL?

English bc it was easy and I liked almost everything we did in that class. All my general and more specific history courses were a close second, and my foreign language classes a close third.

15. DREAM JOB?

Ideally, I'd love to not have to work. But who wouldn't, so that said, probably something in a library or museum. I'd love to be a library page again, or help work the front desk/docent duties of a museum. Working at someplace like Mystic Seaport would be amazing too; I'd be happy to learn how to help repair/repaint ships that come in or just help do tours or look after artifacts and stuff (tbh they could hire me just to type up any random data entry work they need done for any/all depts and I'd say yes to the job offer lol.) Unfortunately there's fairly significant roadblocks to me achieving any of these jobs rn, but I like to keep them in mind, just in case.

Also, if I can have one dream job that would be even more unlikely and is slightly TMI probably but: paid third for a rich couple. I show up, look nice, [redacted], make sure they're both good for the night, then go back home to Housemate (if it wouldn't be a night they'd want me to stay over, which I wouldn't be against but also. That would require some overtime pay lol.) The chances of this one are...so unlikely it's stupid funny, but a man's allowed to have dreams right lmao?

Tagging (if u guys wanna, no obligation if u don't wanna/have already been tagged/etc!!): @starmoonchildfromthebeamsabove, @freebooter4ever, @willowenigma, @turtleduck-tales, @mash1972, @mysteriouslybluepirate, @turtles-on-turts, @cononeillbreastingboobily, @treesofgreen, @dianetastesmetal, @arsenicflame, @gydima, @king-bussy, @p0ochy, @crvwly, and anyone else following me who wants to!

[ishgard]

Tag ppl you want to get to know better

Tagged by @myreia - thank you!!!

LAST SONG: so I meant to go to my history to figure out what it was but forgot and by the time I did it changed so uh, haha 'Hozier - 'Francesca'

CURRENTLY WATCHING: Sousou no Frieren, Dungeon Meshi

THREE SHIPS: Ohboyokay let's see. Obviously I have a ton, but three.

Mana & Belial: These two are everything to me. This is me and the besties pandemic ship, we started text RPing with them while I was up north in 2019 and then everything spiraled. They were originally GBF characters but they've jumped to so many different universes and become full blown OCs by this point. They're enemies-to-lovers, they're 'I'll find you in every life time', they're unapologetically horny, they give me so much joy and happiness I could vomit rainbows.

Ahru & Deryk: This is probably pretty obvious if you've been following me at all. Ahru has a lot of ships I could ramble about for an age but this is the one I'm rotating in my brain 24/7 these days. I love how they fit together, I love how they get to experience the world all fresh and new, free of their burdens, together. aughghghg anyway. (Holds up boombox blasting 'Francesca' by Hozier)

Ahru & Arshadaya: This is like, my sleeper ship. Like Thanahru it's kinda present in every Ahru verse, but more. They're platonic, they're romantic, they're inextricably linked in ways that should be concerning and even questionable but it works for them. Arsh wanted to meld with Ahru's soul ('to save Nyx') before he inevitably accepted her as herself instead of 'Azem's Shard' and swore that same loyalty and devotion to her that he did Nyx. To the extent that when she got chopped up by the Servants of Light he sacrificed a good portion of himself to restore her, only adding to the 'inextricably linked in concerning questionable ways'. As a result he's in like a magical coma that could last gods knows how long but he maintains a link with Ahru continuing to protect and watch over her even now. They've basically fused into one being but he sleeps on the sidelines because her happiness and continued existence is the most important thing to him. :''')

FAVORITE COLOR: Light Pinks, Red

CURRENTLY CONSUMING: Just had a brownie 😌

FIRST SHIP: Geez... I mean probably Sailor Moon/Tuxedo Mask. Hilariously I feel like I've been a self-shipper + ocxfandom shipper from a young age because I remember my little saiyan oc I shipped with Trunks way back when. 🤣

PLACE OF BIRTH: USA

CURRENT LOCATION: Nope. 😘 (Seconded)

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single

LAST MOVIE: Geez I can't remember... I honestly have such a hard time watching movies. I watched a few parts of 'When Harry Met Sally' when mom had it on T.V. a few days ago???

CURRENTLY WORKING ON:

I Will Share Your Road - Ahru x Deryk screens set about their journey around Eorzea post-Myths of the Realm

The Road Ahead - tentative name for a fic of the same scenario above. Mostly a lot of all over the place drabbles at the moment.

Miqomarch X'D I'm trying to get ahead a bit for when I'm away on vacation.

[name pending] original work about faeries and shit, inspired by the Elfhame series by Holly Black. Has been put grievously on the back burner because of XIV brainworms.

Tagging: @icehearts, @eorzeanflowers, @uldahstreetrat, @twelveswood (i know you but i'm tagging you anyway teehee) - no pressure though and if you've already done it please ignore me 😂

[mannatea]

Fold Away Tender Things, a Final Fantasy IX ‘fic

(#5 in the "We Still Have the Moon" Series)

Chapter: 1/2 Word Count: 7,832 Summary: [1781] Womanhood brings with it certain changes, and Beatrix isn't sure what to make of the ones she sees in her older sister. Pairing/Characters: Beatrix, Original Characters Warnings: Relatively minor violence (sparring with practice swords), mention and discussion of menstrual cycles, super minor verbal abuse from a parent Rating: T Genre: Gen, Friendship

The title is the link to Ao3 for Chapter 1.

Notes under a cut.

Like the first story in this series (Light Does Not Stay), the title for this one also comes from We Have Not Long to Love by Tennessee Williams.

Klegan is a made-up town, of course, and I imagine it is situated near the river, right about here on the map:

Beatrix is nine years old in this story and her older sister Olivia (Livie) is almost 14. I modeled some of their relationship dynamic after my relationship with my own sister. The way they talk about things together even when they're not supposed to and stick up for one another.

Beatrix is very audhd in this story, and her father in particular does not like it. This will not be going away anytime soon, so if you feel this should be tagged in some way, please let me know.

I chose the last name Astor because Edric Astor is a banging name for a viscount. It's also a notable noble family name, so make of that what you will.

Even though Beatrix and Adelbert end up in a similar mindset in the game, I wanted to ensure that their histories had commonalities (a sister, tense family relationship) while still feeling wholly unique. I chose a "fallen" noble family with aspirations to rise again to give Beatrix manners to fall back on while making her decision to join the military feel appropriate. Her family is wealthy compared to Klegan standards, but it is a low cost of living area (and her father wishes to return to Treno for good someday).

I could have explained away Beatrix joining the military a number of ways, but I feel like a mother who served (and is decorated, even!) helps give her a passion and excitement for it that would be difficult to explain in any other way, considering she was born in peaceful times. Her older sister being so perfect also gives her leave to pursue her own dreams, which works out well for her.

The act of having to choose a surname for Beatrix in the first place was severely anxiety-inducing, but I wanted something that didn't stick out too much. Beatrix Astor doesn't sound particularly pretty, but if you imagine she has a middle name like Anne or something, it does start to sound nice. Don't worry if you don't like it, though; it won't be very present in the overarching story.

My biggest goal with this story was just to show Beatrix spending time with Livie—being a child, really, before things begin to change for her.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the story, feedback is appreciated. :)

In the second part (which I'll post next weekend), we'll get to see her bonding more with her sister and even having a spar with her mother!

[griseldabanks]

I've been seriously considering participating in SlowMoWriNo, a variation on NaNoWriMo where, instead of writing 50k of a story in a single month, the goal is to write for approximately 15 minutes a day for a year, starting this November, and hopefully have a novel done in a year's time. It's a challenge for those who are busy and/or burnt out, which perfectly describes me right now. I'm getting pretty close to finishing the first draft of my current WIP, and while I should probably just take a break from any sort of organized writing for the rest of the year to avoid a complete burnout, I also really like the idea of SlowMoWriNo.

So I think I'm going to do it. I can push myself for fifteen minutes a day, right? In order to still be giving myself a break from the hefty fanfic project I've been focusing on for the past four years or so, I'd like to use SlowMoWriNo to work on one of my woefully neglected original stories. Even if all I have to show for my work after a year is an outline or notes rather than 50k of readable story, it will be more than I've got right now!

I've got quite a few story ideas that have been gathering dust in my mind for years now, so which one should I dust off and take a poke at? I'll describe each one below the poll. Basically, you're voting for which story you'd like to hear updates on and potentially get excerpts from, because I'll be doing that for accountability purposes in the year ahead.

The Ambassadors - Sean is scrubbing the floor of his village's chapel when the village is attacked by a rampaging dragon. Before he knows what's happening, the dragon smashes through the chapel and dies. With her last breath, she places a dragon egg at his feet. The egg hatches in his hands, revealing a baby dragon with black scales. Though he has heard all his life about how evil and dangerous dragons are, Sean just can't bring himself to let any harm come to the baby dragon. So, changing his name to Shard, he runs away to find a place where he and his new dragon friend can live in peace. Medieval fantasy, dragon rider story, lots of angst and lots of fluff, no romance but lots of friendship with an emphasis on brotherly love between the main character and his dragon, strong Christian themes (complete with my own barely-disguised fantasy Christian religion :P). The first draft is written, but I need to completely rewrite it because I've reworked and refined a lot of the plot and worldbuilding.

The Arcblade - Aiden Averrod, captain of the airship Robin, is just about broke and looking for work for his crew when a mysterious noblewoman hires him to give her transport on her quest for the fabled Arcblade, a mystical weapon said to bring peace to their war-torn land when it is unsheathed. Reluctantly, because he has no other choice and because the young lady has a fat purse with promise of another one forthcoming when the quest is achieved, Aiden agrees and sets off on a quest that will completely upend his life. Eighteenth century-ish fantasy, steampunk (crystalpunk? is that a thing?), serious laced with humor, swashbuckling, includes a romance between major characters. So far, I've written a grand total of two scenes and then realized I needed to revisit the worldbuilding -_-

bartender story (unnamed) - Bob is the friendly, rotund third-generation owner of the town's tavern. All is going well in his life until a band of heroes comes through and...well, one thing leads to another, and in the end, Bob's tavern is just a pile of ashes. Demanding repayment for damages, Bob tags along with the band of misfits as they continue their quest to save the world from the Dark Lord. Medieval fantasy, satire with a heart, tongue-in-cheek poking fun at fantasy cliches, probably no romance but we'll see. Nothing written for this so far.

broken heart story (unnamed) - Annie has had a crush on [unnamed heartthrob] for years, but would never dare tell him. After all, she's ugly. She's fat. She has terrible acne. She's cripplingly shy, and she's been picked on and bullied her whole life. There's nothing he would ever find attractive about her. But one day she happens to witness [unnamed girl] cast a spell on him that turns his heart into an origami heart made of many separate pieces of paper folded in on each other, which she pulls apart and scatters to the winds. Without his heart, [unnamed heartthrob] has no emotions, no personality, and his so-called friends start avoiding him because he's acting so weird. Taking pity on him, Annie decides to get his heart back. Even if it might break her own heart in the process. Modern-day urban fantasy, probably some kind of magical school setting (maybe university-level?), angsty drama, romance, basically a reverse Beauty and the Beast about true love looking past the surface. Nothing written for this so far.

clone sister story (unnamed) - [Older sister] is struggling to accept the clone of her deceased younger sister, who has just been completed and come home from the lab. The decision to clone [younger sister] was a snap decision her mother made in the throes of her grief after the accident, but since then the whole family has come to grips with the knowledge that [younger sister] is gone forever. But the cloning process was already started, and her mother was unwilling to pull the plug, because she believed that clone was a real person, a real little girl who needed a mommy. Now that little girl is coming home, and they all have to remember that, just because she looks exactly like [younger sister], she is a different person. [Older sister] isn't sure what to think. Near-future sci-fi, family drama, angst and grief, family relationships with a focus on the sisters, strong Christian and pro-life themes. Nothing written for this so far.

The Family - The Shiwaga family is a wealthy, well-respected clan that has been a pillar of the town of Avalanche for generations. What no one realizes is that they're also secretly a mafia-like organization working to sabotage the government, believing it was usurped from the rightful ruler - someone Shiwaga hopes to be able to influence once they have been returned to power. (This story is actually kind of hard to summarize, both because it's currently a mess and because there's at least a dozen main characters who are all supposed to be equally important.) Meiji Japan-inspired epic fantasy, huge cast of characters with opposing motivations, family drama as well as world-threatening crises, romances as well as friendship/familial relationships are front-and-center, currently the ending is more bitter than sweet but I want to reevaluate that. This was the story I worked on the two times I've done NaNoWriMo before, so two of three parts are written, but in a very slapdash fashion that's basically just a fleshed-out outline that will probably have to be completely rewritten anyway. The original thought was to make this a trilogy.

The Four - Timor was found as a small child, abandoned in the forest and somehow managing to eke out an animal-like survival. Since then, he has been raised in the home of Avadris, a one-time counselor to the High King, who has been dead for years. As Timor grows older, Avadris slowly puts two and two together and begins to suspect Timor is actually the High King's son that everyone thought was killed the same night the king and queen were. In the hopes of restoring the order and prosperity they enjoyed under the High King's reign, Avadris announces Timor as the heir to the throne when he turns twelve. Though he asked for none of this, Timor suddenly finds himself running for his life from those who want nothing to do with a new High King, accompanied by strangers who may become friends - or may end up killing him. Medieval epic fantasy, adventure/quest, non-traditional fantasy races/peoples, no romance but various platonic relationships among the impromptu band of companions. This is what I consider to be my first "real" story idea, but even though I came up with it when I was twelve and still believe in its potential, I've never finished a draft and don't really know how it ends anymore ^^' Probably needs to be started over from scratch for the...fourth or fifth time.

four siblings story (unnamed) - Jack, Sophie, Rebecca, and Grace are recently orphaned siblings who know they have to stick together to survive. The good news is, they all have superpowers that have manifested as they struggle with their grief over their parents. As they try to gain control over their powers and figure out how to balance them with the serious side effects those powers bring, they are taken in by the wealthy Dr. Clementine, a jovial old philanthropist who promises to be like a grandfather to them while also giving them opportunities and resources to hone their supernatural skills to the fullest. But it's not long before the four siblings begin to suspect his motives are more sinister than they seemed at first. Modern-day urban fantasy, children's/YA fiction, adventure, no romance but a heck-ton of positive sibling relationships and eventually found family, standalone with possible sequel potential. Meant to evoke some combination of Escape to Witch Mountain, The Girl Who Could Fly, and E. Nesbit (Five Children and It)/Edward Eager (Half Magic) books.

[obliqueblade]

Desert Duo Chapter 3 Sneak peak (+ general update)

--Sneak Peak--

There were very few news outlets in the Upper City that the Hero Association didn’t control, and while Scar tried to appear on those outlets more, there was no avoiding their influence. 

“Well, hybrids are dangerous, so there is no way they would let an actual hybrid in Upper City, let alone what some of those conspiracy theorists were suggesting. That a hybrid is sentient or smart enough to help the Heroes out!”  

Scar let the knife clatter to the counter as he whipped his head around to stare at the TV in horror. That cannot be the narrative they are trying to spin right now. 

“So you’re saying that the Hero Association has advanced enough to makeshift hybrids to save citizens lives” 

Scar’s vision nearly whited out with blind rage. Of course, they would not come out and say they had advanced technology enough to compare to the Old Gods, but they would imply it. People would continue to see hybrids as mindless beasts, and the Hero Association as their sole protectors and providers. That they had the power without coming off as threatening to the public. 

Suddenly, Cute Guy’s words from the day before rang in his ears.

“It’s a mutual thing”

The Hero Association had managed to come up with a way to imply that Cute Guy was nothing more than a pawn in their plan. That all she had done for people was just the Hero Association. 

Completely invalidating her. 

-- Update--

Hello everyone! I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for the kind messages, and general response to my last post. At that point I hadn't even informed my family about what was happening, so I was extremely nervous. I will respond to all the messages when I get a chance, so please stick with me a bit longer!

In other news, Chapter 3 is complete! As always, it will be posted roughly 7 days from now, but I might do it a bit sooner, depending on appointments and such. I have also started on the next few chapters as well, and am hoping, that health and schedule allowing I'll be able to get two chapters out this month!

Also, I wanted to take a moment and address a few things with this fic I've seen pop up a few times. for starters, yes this was MAJORILY inspired by @kitsuneisi and their AMAZING artwork. I'm going to deviate a lot from this point and in the coming chapters, but I wanted to make sure I addressed this. If they are uncomfortable with this I can go back and change things, as I didn't mention I was making this when I started, as I had started with the idea of it being a one-off.

Secondly, I use alternating pronouns for Cute Guy, for she/her they/them, and he/him. There were a few reasons for this, but the main one I can't give away yet as it will have story implications. I'm trying to ensure this fic does the mix-matched pronouns justice, but if people have advice on this I will be grateful. In that same line, Grian does use he/him pronouns as this is based on his MC character where he also uses he/him.

Thirdly, in some of these, it is tagged, as Scarian, which is the ship name between Grian and Scar. Now I'm using it purely in platonic means or in reference to Double Life. It is not my intention for this to be read as anything other than that, and while Cute Guy and Hot Guy flirt with one another, that's to the extent really that aspect of the relationship will take. I don't want this work to offend any of the Hermits, or make them uncomfortable, and the same goes for this fandom as well. While this fic is using the mc characters, there are real people attached to them, and I don't want to give them the ick.

As always, let me know what you guys think, or if you have any questions about anything!

See you in a few days!

[ladytanithia]

Get to know your character

Well, actually, it's more like "Let other people get to know your character."

I was tagged by @gwilin-stay-winnin, who chose an NPC, and I couldn't resist. There aren't any real rules here; you could use an NPC or one of your own OCs.

I love these sorts of questions because they help me put more thought into my character development. And we all love to talk about our favorite NPCs or our incredibly amazing and unique OCs!

I'll put just the questions at the bottom so you don't have to work too hard to participate. (Answering the questions is time-consuming enough!)

And share! The more, the merrier!

tagging @skyrim-forever, @thequeenofthewinter, @mareenavee, @dirty-bosmer, and @thana-topsy

questions by @wisteria-lodge

_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–

Your character's name/gender/race:

Miranja Laurentius / female / half-Imperial, half-Nord

Your character's go-to drink order?

Miranja likes sweet drinks, so she usually goes with mead - but it has to be plain Nord mead or Honningbrew mead because fuck Maven Black-Briar.

Their grooming routine?

Miranja is pretty low-maintenance. She bathes at least once a day depending on what she's been up to (adventuring, getting busy, that time of the month). She keeps her nails short, keeps her hair braided when traveling or wearing armor, only really bothers with makeup when she's spending time in town or having a tryst. Her green face paint that helps to cover the scar on her cheek becomes a permanent tattoo at some point (haven't decided when it will happen, but it will certainly be in Riften - doesn't it just seem like the kind of town that would have a tattoo parlor?). She likes to keep her teeth clean because kissing is one of her all-time favorite activities.

What is their most expensive purchase? Where does their disposable income go?

Not sure if it would technically be a purchase, but after the Empire claimed Windhelm, she donated an initial 5,000 septims to the Grey Quarter restoration project, and set up a coffer to build an Argonian community across the river from the docks, across the road from the farms. Lots of open real estate there.

She gives to beggars that aren't rude (coughDegainecough), and she likes to buy little gifts for people, especially her parents, friends, and lovers, but anyone who seems like they could use a pick-me-up. She bought Hrefna some art and journaling stuff (mentioned in Hrefna's Crush - Hrefna is near and dear to Miranja's heart because Miranja and Sondas are lovers).

Any scars? Tattoos?

A 3" long vertical scar on her left cheek, starting under her eye. It makes her look kinda badass, but what she doesn't tell people (unless they specifically ask) is that she got it from an overzealous dog who jumped at her and scratched her pretty hard when she was about 10. She should probably have a lot more scars due to the dangerous nature of her life in Skyrim and on Solstheim, but I chalk it up to either healing spells or wearing good armor. Other than the green face tattoo mentioned above, she doesn't have any tattoos... yet. But now that I think of it, I bet she'd like to get a little something to commemorate a certain someone who shall remain unnamed for those who haven't read Dalliances with Dunmer yet. Something subtle, so as not to be offensive to any future serious boy/girlfriends.

When was the last time they cried? What was the context?

I guess that would depend where in her story line we want to talk about. Miranja does very little crying before the life-changing event on Solstheim, but she's done a lot of crying since then. The civil war tore out her heart, threw it on the ground, and stomped it into mush, and she not only cried but cut during that ordeal. She's in a dark but numb place right now, feeling irreparably tainted.

Are they an oldest, middle, youngest, or only child?

Miranja is the only child of an ex-Legionnaire father and a Nord healer/mage/alchemist mother. They had her rather late in life due to her father being away a lot during his time in the Legion. They never talked down to her or truly treated her like a child. They encouraged her thirst for knowledge and were proud of her loving, outgoing nature. Of course, they didn't know about her teenage escapades with a couple of the randy, persuasive young men in and around Bruma, but they did know about her "official" boyfriend, a handsome Bosmer named Arendor. And Mama (not Da) knew about the herbal tonic she got from the sisters at the Temple of Dibella to prevent pregnancy, because once Miranja brought the recipe home, Mama made it for her and showed her how to improve it with a little alteration magic.

Describe the shoes they're wearing.

If she's not decked out in full armor for adventuring, she prefers soft leather ankle boots that are easy to put on and kick off. If she's relaxing at home, she's usually barefoot. Not that that happens very often.

Where do they sleep? What is it like?

Miranja sleeps in a lot of places (and not because she's the Slutty Dragonborn). She's slept in caves,mines, Dwemer ruins, every inn in Skyrim (and the Retching Netch on Solstheim), and every home she's bought or built in Skyrim and Solstheim. She likes to have lots of pillows to support her neck and use for snuggling, and she actually prefers straw and furs over stuffed mattresses and linens. Probably the primal Nord side of her. She's into primal. :-D

Their favorite holiday/celebration/tradition?

TBH, I hadn't really delved into Tamrielic holidays until now. A cursory glance at the UESP page would have me say: 16th Sun's Dawn - being both Heart's Day AND Sanguine's summoning day. Also, if I had been aware of the Old Life festival before writing the chapter "Getting down to (Imperial) business," that DEFINITELY would have been a thing, since it involves writing letters to departed loved ones.

Miranja does like to observe birthdays and anniversaries whenever possible, but she tends to feel like there's always something to celebrate, even if it's just living through another day.

What objects do they always carry around with them?

Personal care: several changes of smallclothes and socks, spare set of under-armor clothes, green dress, amulet of Dibella, tin hand mirror, charcoal & a jar of dried snowberries, lavender-scented dwarven oil, spare leather thongs for tying hair, soap, washcloth, towel, rags for menses, 3 healing potions, 3 cure disease potions, birth control tea herbs.

This question comes to me not more than a week or two after I made a list of everything in Miranja's backpack - haha! So here's the list:

First and foremost: the pocketwatch her parents sent her, with a tiny portrait of them inside, and the bonehawk amulet she made for Talvas.

Other: journal, ink, 3 quills, flute

whetstone and oil wrapped in oilcloth

empty jars for non-solid alchemy ingredients

alchemist's satchel

It's a big backpack, okay? And probably a little magical, like Hermione's bag. How else would she carry all those weapons and extra armor she picks up during her adventures?

_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–_–

Your character's name/gender/race:

Your character's go-to drink order?

Their grooming routine?

What is their most expensive purchase? Where does their disposable income go?

Any scars? Tattoos?

When was the last time they cried? What was the context?

Are they an oldest, middle, youngest, or only child?

Describe the shoes they're wearing.

Where do they sleep? What is it like?

Their favorite holiday/celebration/tradition?

What objects do they always carry around with them?

[whichuniverseisthis]

Hello, guess what. As promised, the commentaries are back, and by great demand (two comments) with the Platinum arc! As you can see, with the arc I've also changed the tag. Also I decided to not have the 10 shots limit anymore, so I can put more or I can put less pictures. I hope you enjoy! And as always, beware of spoilers!

First - Vs Lopunny

Next - Vs Porygon-Z

Last - Final dimentional duel XI

Chapter 1 / Chapter 417

I love how faithful to the game this feels but also, Volkner and Flint just standing there is so random (I know you fight them in the game, but it's funny). Also if I remember correctly the swimmer is a reference to the guy in RS who wanted to catch a Feebas to get rich. The bro did it.

Platinum missing Dia and Pearl and the arc hasn't even started yet, but I don't need my heart anyway. And the fact she started as a loner, but now she's scared to be alone, or at least without her friends. From now on I'll list all the ways she developed through the arcs. Watch me.

Steven appearance! Honestly, the Pt arc is worth reading solely for the cameos and the references to other regions or games. Also I'm sorry, but my tiny brain zeroed on the misspelled name on the sign, "Seven" Stone.

The Battleground guys! Am I imagining it, or in the game this place is Buck's house? I should play Pt more often. Also it's interesting how the plot kept Riley separated from them. Maybe because he looks older than the rest? Who knows.

Looker again! And this time with a role! I love how they made him look like a Sherlock Holmes parody. He's so unserious compared to the games, he's so funny. XY postgame level of funny.

Flint being the only Sinnoh Elite Four with multiple mentions outside of the one chapter is iconic, but also sad for the others. But imagine Buck sicking all of them on you because you annoyed him, and by extension you annoyed Flint. And put Volkner in the middle, while you're at it.

This is the single funniest moment in all of Pokéspe, you can't change my mind. Look at how happy Empoleon, Rapidash and Lopunny are. Also Platinum development. As in, she actually asks for confirmation instead of just deciding she's right.

Ok, let me guess: The ship that takes you to Sevii Islands from Kanto, the Bell Tower in Johto, and the cable car in Hoenn.

The most obvious character development yet. The fact that she defines herself as a "dedicated Pokémon trainer" is nice, it well represents how much she got into battles thanks to Dia and Pearl and the gym leaders. All the references to chapter one of DP are killing me, btw.

Distortion World mention! Look, I know the Pt arc doesn't have the best plot (because why should you battle to talk with the Brains?), but as I've said, I think this has to be read as more of a fan service arc. There's a reason if the whole final battle is a huge legendary battle royale.

God, it took the whole morning to write this. I totally forgot how to do this stuff, but I think it will be fun to be back again. This won't be as long as DP for obvious reasons, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Thanks to everyone who read it all!

[korgbelmont]

Male MC (Nick Taylor) x Stacy Green

Part 1

Having built up a reputation as a Nighthunter, Nick Taylor is a name known in some circles, and one of those circles has some information regarding a very ancient artifact...

Written in the Present Tense

Tagging: @jerzwriter, @choicesficwriterscreations

Warnings: Mentions of pain

Word Count: 1792

Notes: I don’t own these characters, they are the property of Pixelberry Studios.

The Blade created on cooltext.com

This is set a few years after the events of It Lives Beneath

As Stacy sits at her desk working on an article, Nick finishes up on a journal entry from his last case.

Nick - (Right, there we go.)

He closes the book, and just as he goes to get a drink, his phone rings in his pocket. Not wanting to disturb Stacy, he steps out and answers, holding the phone to his ear.

Nick - Hey, Ives.

Ivy - Evening, Nick. You able to meet tomorrow, got something for you.

Nick - I guess I can. What's this about?

Ivy - It's a bit difficult to explain without what I have. I'll be over tomorrow.

Nick - Uh, okay then. I'll see you in the morning then.

Ivy - Have a good night, Nick.

The phone beeps to signal hanging up and Nick heads back in, confused.

Stacy - Everything okay?

Nick - Yeah. That was Ivy. Says she has something for me. Gonna be over in the morning.

He looks over at her now black computer screen.

Nick - Article all finished?

Stacy - Not yet. But I've got to that point where words aren't looking like words anymore. So calling it a night.

Nick - Fair enough. Calling it a night sounds like a good idea.

Nick locks the door and the two switch everything off before heading to bed.

The following morning, Nick makes his morning coffee when someone knocks on the door. Knowing who it is, he goes to unlock it, opening it to Ivy.

Ivy - Morning.

Nick - Come on in.

Nick moves to the side to let Ivy in, closing the door behind her. She sets her bag down and takes a laptop out, opening it up. Stacy steps out, grabbing her own coffee.

Stacy - Morning, Ivy.

Ivy - Hi, Stacy. How you doing?

Stacy - Same as always.

Her computer loaded, Ivy opens up a file and then takes out a manila file from her bag, looking at Nick.

Ivy - So this portrait came into our possession a few days ago, but it's a weird one.

She hands Nick the file. Opening it, he takes out two photos of the portrait, a warrior in armour with a sword. Except in one, the sword blade is pure white with a white aura around it, and in the other, it is fully black and surrounded by shadow.

Nick - Okay... that is weird.

Ivy - Check this.

She opens a video file of her with Krom and Garrus.

THEN

Garrus, Ivy, and Krom look over the portrait, the sword seeming to change every time they blink.

Garrus - I've never seen this kind of magic...

Krom - You me both.

Ivy - Hang on, I'm going to try something.

She uses her hand to cover the camera lens and when she removes it, the sword in the portrait has changed. She does it again. And again the sword has changed.

NOW

Nick and Stacy share a look of confusion and Nick looks over the photos of the portrait again.

Nick - What do we know about the warrior?

Ivy - That's where you come in. I was able to get a meeting with Kamilah Sayeed, but I was hoping you could go in my place. I want to try and learn what I can about the portrait back in New Orleans.

Nick - Right. So you want me to go to New York?

Ivy - Actually, she'll be in Portland tomorrow. I said I would send a Nighthunter in my place. And you're respected enough.

Stacy - We could make a small trip out of it. Been a while since we went away somewhere.

Nick smiles at Stacy and nods.

Nick - Alright, I'll go meet with the Queen of Vampires. Never thought I'd be saying that.

Ivy - Thank you.

After going through a few more details, Ivy takes her leave, opening up a portal to her library in New Orleans and steps through. The portal closes and Nick turns to Stacy.

Nick - Need to figure out how she does that. It would make things so much easier.

Stacy turns back to the file, looking at the two photos of the painting.

Stacy - This is so weird.

Nick - One word for it.

Stacy - You got any theories?

Nick shakes his head.

Nick - Nothing.

Stacy - Must be important though if Kamliah Sayeed's name is in the mix.

Nick - We'll find out tomorrow. Gonna be hard to concentrate for the rest of the day though.

Stacy puts the photos back in the folder before looking over at Nick.

Stacy - How about we pack and head out this evening? Have a day out before meeting with her.

Nick - I can get behind that.

Stacy - Come on.

She holds out her hand and Nick takes it, heading upstairs to pack.

Opening the door to their hotel room, Nick sets his and Stacy's bags down as she looks around the room.

Stacy - Good view.

Nick - Yeah?

Stacy - Yeah.

Ditching his jacket, Nick collapses on one of the chairs in front of the tv, letting his arms hang over the edge. Stacy sets herself down on his lap, looping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.

Stacy - You okay?

Nick - Tired. I could actually fall asleep right here.

Stacy - You could, or you could sleep in the bed and be comfier.

Laughing, Nick scoops Stacy up and carries her over to the bed, setting her down. Keeping her arms around him, Stacy pulls Nick down, pressing her lips to his before letting go so he can get back on his feet. They quickly change into pajamas and soon switch off for the night.

The next evening, Nick and Stacy arrive at the hotel address given to them and step in. They're stopped by bodyguards the moment they step into the building, their eyes the giveaway sign of being Vampires.

Guard 1 - You Nick Taylor?

Nick - Yeah. Here to see Kamilah Sayeed.

The guard puts his finger on his earpiece.

Guard 1 - The Nighthunter is here. He also has a girl with him.

There's a moment of silence before the guard nods and then gestures to the couple to follow him to an elevator. After an awkwardly silent elevator ride, the guard steps to the side and they step out to a penthouse suite.

Nick - Damn... This is something.

A door opens and a woman the couple have only seen in photos stands before them. Kamilah Sayeed, Queen of the Vampires.

Kamilah - Mr Taylor. And...

She looks at Stacy.

Stacy - Stacy Green.

Kamilah extends her hand out to Stacy, who shakes it.

Kamilah - I've read some of your articles. You're quite the journalist.

Stacy - Thank you!

Kamilah - Shall we?

She walks over to two sofas facing each other with a table in between and takes a seat on one while Nick and Stacy sit opposite.

Kamilah - I assume you've been made aware of the painting by Ivy.

Nick - The sword changes with each blink.

Nick presents the two photos given to him by Ivy.

Stacy - What's the deal with the sword?

Kamilah - It's the blade of Morella.

Nick - Morella? As in Blades of Light and Shadow Morella? It's real?!

Kamilah - That series is inspired by a story from Morella. Like Lamrian, it's a realm separated from ours. But this sword has found it's way into our realm. And is currently in possession of a collector, who, unironically, calls himself the Collector, is known for having questionable methods of acquisition.

Stacy - So he's a thief?

Kamilah - That's one word for him. Ivy and I would like to see it out of his possession and placed somewhere safe.

Nick - You want me to steal it.

Kamilah - Not alone. You'll be working with two others chosen by me. Another Nighthunter and an Attuned.

Nick mulls the words over, if the television series is anything to go by, then the sword is dangerous. It doesn't take him long to come to a decision.

Nick - I'll take the job.

Kamilah - Just like that?

Stacy - Just like that.

Kamilah - Well then. You'll need these.

Kamilah produces invitations and slides them across the table.

Kamilah - There's a gala tomorrow night. You'll be crashing the party, as they say. Once the sword is secured, return here.

Nick - We will.

Kamilah - The others will meet you at the gala. Miss Green, you'll remain here with me whilst the others are acquiring the blade. I'm interested to learn about some of the details behind your articles.

Stacy - Oh!

Nick smiles to himself as the shock of the sentence hits Stacy.

The next evening, Nick looks around at some of the artefacts on display, looking for any sign of the blade, upstairs, fellow Nighthunter, Katherine watches the guests as Nick walks the floor. Outside, Atlas Ernhardt watches the Collector as he speaks with guests. The three of them remaining in contact through earpieces.

Atlas - Taylor, any luck yet?

Nick - No sign of the sword yet.

Katherine - Nothing on display up here either.

Atlas - So it's not on display, makes it easier to take.

Nick - But harder to find.

Nick looks around, finding a door not being guarded and slips through. He checks each room, opening the doors slightly. And soon he comes across one with more artefacts and wooden boxes.

Katherine - This looks like the room.

Nick - Aaah!

Nick jumps out of his skin from Katherine's voice behind him and flashes his middle finger at her.

Katherine - You wound me.

They enter the room and Nick uses his phone torch to illuminate in front of him. He soon comes across a longer wooden box and pries it open. Removing the fabric wrappings, an Obsidian Sword lie in front of him.

Nick - Got it!

He sets his phone down and takes the sword in hand, but a stinging sensation begins travelling up his hand. Dropping the sword, Nick falls to his knees as the pain spreads.

Katherine - Taylor!

When Katherine reaches him, Nick is no longer how he was. His hair black and his skin grey with black veins along his hands and neck. When he stands, she sees the white's of his eyes are now black and his iris's greyer than before.

Katherine - Oh no...

Atlas - What is it?

Nick takes the sword up again and a swirl of shadows engulfs him. Once they spread, Nick is gone.

Katherine - Atlas, we need to leave...

[mari--lace]

Fic Writer 20 Questions

Thank you for tagging me @h1myname1sv!

1.) How many works do you have on ao3?

104 (it's not all fics, a few are fanvids. I do have a lot more fics in Italian not posted on Ao3, though.)

2.) What’s your ao3 word count?

137,912

3.) What fandoms do you write for?

A lot, I'm very multifandom! My current obsession is Daredevil and it led me to write on many other marvel characters (Natasha and Clint, Peter), an historical fandom of mine is Detective Conan and I might write something for it soon—if I manage.

4.) What are your top five fics by kudos?

What am I looking at, Matt? A short piece I wrote for fun right after watching 1x08 of She-Hulk; I was hyped and so was half the fandom.

A marvelous october collects the stories I wrote for last year's writober (mixed up with flufftober prompts). It's mostly Daredevil and it has a few chapters I'm pretty happy with, but I branched a little with other marvel characters (Kate, Clint, Kamala, Peter, Layla).

Ideas live forever (let your voice be heard) I'm really happy this story is so high here. It's a one-shot for Barbie [spoilers ahead]. After the ending, it follows Barbara adapting to the changes brought by her new life and coming to terms with things that didn't change—namely, her lack of attraction to anyone. AroAce Barbie for the win!

Three times Daredevil isn't a lawyer plus one short and fun 3+1 fic with Matt being sassy as Daredevil and Frank deducing something about his lawyer. (Secret identity who? Matt doesn't know her)

Not my friend (who are you?) I wrote this one for the dde promptfest, it was fun! It's about Brett reaching some conclusions of his own during S3 about his favorite (?) vigilante.

5.) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I usually do! Don't often know how to answer so maybe it's just a 💜, but I appreciate the people who comment and I try to let them know.

6.) What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

That's a tough one. I'm all for angst, but I need happy endings. (Or, well, hopeful ones.) The angstiend ending (and fic) I've ever written was my OC's reaction to her best friend's death, I'm pretty sure (it doesn't exist on Ao3).

7.) What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Now that's hard for the opposite reason, lol. I'll go with The joys and concerns of teaching magic bc it's more than slice of life/fluff for the sake of it, there is some trouble/action before the happy ending.

8.) Do you get hate on fics?

I don't think that's happened recently, no. I got hate for my ship back when I started, in 2013 in the Italian fandom, and it was awful, but I'm not 15 anymore and I think I'd react in a very different way now (I'd ignore them and keep writing whatever I want).

9.) Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Nope. I don't believe I'm capable of it LOL <- same prev!

10.) Do you write cross overs? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I've written a couple in the past. Craziest probably was Detective Conan/Yu-gi-oh!

11.) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know.

12.) Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don't think so.

13.) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Yes, I have, and it was super-fun!

14.) What’s your all time favourite ship?

Heeeh. I'm a multishipper girl, and often I'm perfectly happy with my favorite ships being platonic as well as romantic, so... I don't know. One of my oldest OTPs is Shinichi/Shiho from Detective Conan, I'll go with them.

15.) What’s a WIP you’d like to finish, but doubt you ever will?

My original fantasy novel. I haven't touched it in 3 years and right now it feels pretty impossible, but I do hope to get to plot and write it properly one day.

16.) What are your writing strengths?

Introspection, I think. And conveying emotions to the reader.

16.) What are your writing weaknesses?

Action scenes make me cry and descriptions are a work in progress ;_;

17.) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Absolutely, if it makes sense for the fic! Playing with languages is fun.

18.) First fandom you wrote for?

Naruto!

19.) Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

This question is so mean. They're my children! Okay, I do have favorites—plural. If I reeeally have to choose, probably What's in a soul? I'm really happy with how it came out, in Italian and English both.

No pressure tags: @usaigi @ceterisparibus116 @auofgoldandfantasies @folkloristico

[breninarthur]

Thanks so much for the tag on the WIP meme, hopefully I'll get to play later!

For now, I'd love to hear about When Darkness Comes from your DA list, and Shadows from your original work list.

Thank you!

Of course! No pressure if you don't, but please tag me if you do 🥰

Ahh when darkness comes is my Dragon Age: Origins novelisation! I really loved the idea of writing a mostly canon-compliant fic and writing all the decisions I made in-game. I try to write it in a way that people who've never played it would be able to enjoy as well, and get some context for Origins if they're not planning on playing. But I don't know how many people like that would actually read it 😂

The main character is Kallian Tabris, and I've become so attached to her! She's a city elf who starts off a little scared, a little snippy; but grows and develops into a fearsome leader (who romances Alistair and has the best dog in the world 🥰). She's a warrior who eventually becomes a champion and berserker! Her main themes are self-sacrifice and martyrdom, anger and revenge and whether or not she'll let it consume her, homesickness and longing (hiraeth in Welsh), and of course, found family. And really, when darkness comes has become much more her story than anything else.

Shadows is my original work that I first started writing when I was nine-years-old! It's obviously changed so much since then, but the barest of bones have remained the same. Namely, that the three main characters each have elemental magic, and they're on a quest to find a group of people thought to be dead so they can defeat the Big Bad. At least, that's the first book. It's a fantasy set in a more Iron Age type of setting than a medieval one, and borrows a lot from Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Cornish, Breton, and Manx mythologies and folklore.

The main character, Teifi, is... extremely similar to Kallian 😂 In ways I didn't even realise! She also has themes of hiraeth and found family, as well as anger and revenge. But the latter is dialed up to a hundred, and is her absolute driving force, especially as the story goes on. There are differences too, of course. They both long for their old lives and families, but where Kallian can't return because her responsibilities won't let her, Teifi can't return because her village was destroyed and her family is missing. They both have a found family, but for Teifi it becomes her only family. Kallian wants revenge on Loghain for everything he did, but Teifi experiences a lot more loss because of the antagonist in her story, so there's much more grief, and she takes it all more personally. Really, by the end, I think she'll be wild with it.

Here's an unedited little excerpt from Shadows :)

The creature led her into ever-narrowing gaps between the trees, until it stopped without warning, and she nearly stumbled straight into it.

“Wyddgi…” she panted, barely intelligible to her own ears, her breath ripping its way out of her. “Give it back.”

It just looked at her, its eyes dancing with mirth, teeth clamped around the worn leather parcel.

“Ah, Teifi er Nant, how you’ve grown,” it chuckled, voice barely stifled by its steal. “But we are barely a quarter of a league out from your front door. My pace was not that punishing, was it?”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said through gritted teeth, pulling her sling off her shoulder; a clear threat.

With a swish of its sleek tail, Wyddgi laughed. “It’s getting dark, don’t you think?”

It wasn’t wrong. Winter light faded fast, and the woods she’d chased it into were dense and hid the sun as best they could. A shiver ran through her. The last time Wyddgi bothered her family, it had taken hours for it to get bored. 

“You’re horrible, you know that?” she said, unbuttoning the rock in her sling. The pwca didn’t seem at all bothered when she started to swing it around over her head. Probably because it knew she wouldn’t ever let the rock fly.

“Come now, Teifi. The night won’t hurt you,” Wyddgi mocked. Without breaking eye contact, it placed the parcel gently on the ground. “Not yet.”

Teifi blinked, furrowing her brow. “What?”

But Wyddgi had already darted off into the shadows.

Thank you so much for asking!! 💖

[wip title ask game]

[regenderate-fic]

Calling Into the Void

Fandom: Doctor Who Ships: Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler Characters: Rose Tyler, Donna Noble, Tenth Doctor Rating: General Series: Stay With Me. Hold My Hand. Word Count: 11,676 Other Tags: Episode: Doomsday, Episode: The Runaway Bride, Rose Stays, Bad Wolf Rose, Bad Wolf as Disability, Canon Divergence

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Summary: The Doctor falls into the void at the end of Doomsday. Rose Tyler immediately begins searching for a way to get him back. She manages to make one jump in the TARDIS before Donna Noble, transported from her own wedding, appears in front of her. Navigating her newly awakened connection to time itself, Rose has to figure out what happened to Donna and how to keep her and her family safe, all while desperate to find the Doctor (and battling a massive headache to boot).

First in a (planned) series.

NOTES: so ages ago i was like "so i really like the idea of aus where rose stays on the show, but i don't often like the execution. i wonder if i could do it in a way that i liked." and that is the birth of this au. i'm planning on making it a series, and i'll probably write bits and pieces out of order-- but my main goal is to really consider how each episode and as such the canon of the entire show would be different if rose had been there. in runaway bride, i've also changed a few plot details. series title from mitski i will because. surprise! of course it is. also in future fics i AM going to let rose kiss women just so you all know. doctor who is all about polycules so jot that down.

Rose was clinging to the handle, her hair blowing around her face, her own grip the only thing between herself and what might as well have been Hell. She squinted across the hall to the Doctor, whose lips were pulled back in a grimace as he struggled against the void. He caught Rose’s eye, and for a second his grimace became a grin. Rose tried her best to return it. Even here, in the heart of danger, the Doctor’s smile made Rose feel just the tiniest bit safer.

But it didn’t last. Over the roar of the wind and the Cybermen and Daleks screaming, the sound of electricity sparking.  “Offline.” The detached voice came from speakers in the ceiling, filling the room Eyes wide, Rose followed the Doctor’s gaze to— 

Her heart sank.

The lever on the Doctor’s side of the room had come loose. It was no longer locked, and now it drifted towards its “off” position. 

The suction from the void was already dying down, the flow of Cybermen and Daleks slowing, and there was only one way to fix it. 

“Doctor, no!” Rose yelled, but she was too late. The Doctor was already reaching towards the lever, straining with the effort. He caught it, leaping from the clamp to the lever, and yelled something Rose couldn’t quite make out over all the other noises. She watched, horrified, as he wrestled the lever back to its upright position.

“Online and locked.” The voice’s pleasant tone mocked Rose. The void continued to be open, the suction returning to full force, but now the Doctor wasn’t safely attached to a Magnaclamp; he was clutching at the thin metal lever, his body parallel to the ground as he struggled to regain his grip.

“No!” Rose yelled again.

“Rose!” She heard him loud and clear this time, yelling her name. It took everything in her to not let go of her own Magnaclamp in a desperate attempt at rescue: it wouldn’t do any good for them both to get sucked into the void, but Rose felt a part of herself break as she watched one of the Doctor’s hands fly off the lever, then the other. She could only watch as he flew through the air, calling out to her, disappearing into the white expanse.

“No!” Rose yelled one more time. She stared at the empty spot where the Doctor had just been. There had to be a mistake— he couldn’t just be gone . It wasn’t possible. He was the Doctor, her Doctor. He was nine hundred years old. He’d survived the Time War, outlived his species, regenerated time and time again— and now he was gone?

It couldn’t be. And yet as the wind died down, as the last few Daleks were sucked into the void, the Doctor continued to not be there. The shimmering, shifting hole at the end of the room crumpled in onitself, and then there was silence. 

For a second, the moment played out in Rose’s mind as if the Doctor had been there. He would’ve pushed off the wall and loped over to her with a huge grin on his face, pulled her into a huge hug, and she would’ve returned the hug in full force, and then they would’ve gone back to the TARDIS together, ready for their next adventure. She wanted that so badly she could feel it—

But it wasn’t like that. It was much, much lonelier. 

Rose’s footsteps echoed as she stepped away from her Magnaclamp, wobbling a little as she regained her balance. It was hard to believe that a moment ago a million Daleks and Cybermen had passed through here: as Rose approached the wall they had gone through, she kept expecting it to change, to shift back into the void and suck her in. But it didn’t, not even when she laid a hand on it. It was solid as ever, painted a glossy white and smooth to the touch. 

Rose took a deep breath, and suddenly she was sobbing. She collapsed into the wall as tears flowed down her face, tears not only for the Doctor but also for her mum and Mickey, still alive but still lost to Rose forever. And her parallel dad, too, even though she wasn’t his daughter, not really— she had lost everyone who mattered to her in one fell swoop. Where was she supposed to go from here?

She didn’t know how long she spent slumped against the wall. It felt like hours, but when she heard footsteps behind her, it was too soon. She straightened up and made an attempt at wiping away her tears. Her makeup was sure to be horribly smudged, but there was nothing she could do about that. She turned around to see a Torchwood scientist walking towards her. He was a gangly young thing— but then again, he was probably older than Rose. It was just that she felt so, so old. 

“Is it safe now?” he asked. 

Rose nodded. “Should be,” she said. “Void’s closed.”

The scientist looked around the room. Rose took stock: the back wall was completely gone. Sunlight was streaming in, and the papers strewn all over the floor were blowing in the summer breeze. The glass that had once been dividing the main space from an observation area had shattered, and as the scientist stepped closer, he had to walk carefully to avoid the sharp pieces.

“What happened to the man you were with?” he asked. “The Doctor?”

Rose shook her head, swallowing the lump in her throat. “He’s gone. Got sucked in.” 

“Oh.” The scientist hesitated. “Is there anything we can—”

“I’m all right.” Rose tried to force a smile. “We should probably get out of here, yeah? Place seems about to crumble.” 

For a moment, the scientist was still, indecision on his face, and Rose was sure he was about to ask her more questions. But he didn’t. He just nodded and said, “The Doctor’s ship is still downstairs, I think.”

“Thanks.” Rose walked past the scientist and into the stairwell. She still didn’t feel entirely real, like maybe she was just dreaming and soon she’d wake up in the TARDIS and wander into the kitchen to see the Doctor fiddling with something he found in his pockets. 

But she wouldn’t. This was real. 

Rose had made it out, and the Doctor hadn’t.

The stairs were mostly empty. A few Torchwood employees were going up and down, and as Rose got closer to the bottom, she saw paramedics in bright green vests: they had just started to arrive and spread through the building. Two were standing in the hall outside the stairwell, and one of them waved Rose over.

“Miss, are you hurt?” he asked.

“I’m all right,” Rose heard herself say. She felt so separate from this— these people, doing their jobs. They could never know what she had lost. The Doctor wouldn’t even come up on lists of the missing— he wasn’t, strictly speaking, a citizen.

The paramedic looked her up and down. “You sure?”

“Yeah, promise.” Rose tried to force a smile. “Bad day, is all.” Her hair was still a mess, and the tears on her face had barely dried. But she hadn’t broken any bones, and what had been broken wasn’t anything the rescue team was going to fix. 

“Can we get your name?” his colleague asked. She was holding a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other, looking at Rose expectantly.

“Oh, it’s Rose.” Rose hesitated. “Rose Tyler.”

“That’s spelled T-Y-L-E-R?” the paramedic asked. Rose nodded, and the paramedic marked it down. 

“You ought to get out of here,” said the one who’d first spoken. “This building isn’t safe. Do you need an escort?”

“No, I’m all right,” Rose said, trying not to think what would happen once the list of the survivors was out and Jackie Tyler’s name wasn’t on it. She tilted her head towards the door behind which she knew the TARDIS was waiting. “Just got to get back to my— car. Thanks, though.”

It was only a few steps from there until Rose opened the door to the storage room that held the TARDIS. She spotted it immediately, sitting exactly where she’d left it, a soft glow behind the windows. Seeing it almost brought her to tears again, but she managed to hold off until she actually stepped into the console room. It was like nothing had changed: she was still bathed in a warm amber light, the central column bobbing up and down like always with the TARDIS gurgling in the background. She had expected something to be different: everything was wrong , after all, and surely the TARDIS had picked up on it. But everything was the same. Right down to her shirt on the rail, exactly where she’d tossed it days before. Rose walked to the console, trying not to think about how strange it was to be in the console room without the Doctor next to her, babbling about something or other, suggesting places to go next. 

“What am I going to do now?” she wondered aloud, looking up at the central column. The TARDIS gurgled. Rose sighed. “Silly of me, really, to talk to you.” She laid a hand on the console. “Although, I don’t know, the Doctor always talked like you were alive. I’d believe it. You know, if you were.” The TARDIS didn’t respond, and Rose shook her head. “Suppose I’ll have to figure out how to get him back. Can’t leave him in the void, after all.” She stared at the console. The Doctor had taught her some of the basics when it came to piloting, but he’d always been there , guiding her through the movements, pointing out which buttons to press, helping her find her footing. Co-piloting the TARDIS with him had always been exuberant and warm. And now the memory just ached in Rose’s chest. 

“What would you do, Doctor?” she whispered to herself. Of course, the Doctor wouldn’t have been in this situation, because he knew how to pilot the TARDIS— he would’ve found forty-two different ways to rescue Rose before she’d even had a chance to blink. Rose sighed. Well, she was stuck on Earth with no Doctor, no mum, and next to no hope. All she had was the TARDIS— and all the time in the world to figure out how to pilot it. And once she figured that out, she could figure out how to get the Doctor back.

Rose straightened up, looking at the console with a new focus. She had a goal now: that was a step in the right direction. She was grateful now for the Doctor’s TARDIS piloting lessons; nothing he told her even came close to “how to get the man you love out of the void between universes,” of course, but he’d covered the basic navigational principles (and a few cheap tricks). And there had to be some kind of manual somewhere, or even just a book about time and space and parallel universes… if Rose gathered some knowledge and experimented a little, surely she could figure out how to get the Doctor back. She’d done it before, after all. 

She left the console room. She would start in the library: that’s where most of the books were, after all, and Rose knew the Doctor well enough to know that if a TARDIS manual existed, he would’ve lost it years ago, and it was likely to be shoved on a random shelf in between a book about farming and a book about custard. 

At least, that’s what she assumed. But when she wound through the corridors, trusting the TARDIS to lead her where she wanted to go, the library kept evading her. She passed a lab, a workshop, an indoor garden, an outdoor garden (how had the TARDIS managed that?), and at least six different closets until she finally came upon an open door.

This wasn’t the library, though. Rose peeked in. The room was small and warmly lit, with wood-paneled walls. There was just enough space for a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf. The bed was neatly made, with blue curtains drawn closed next to it— Rose had similar in her own room, where the TARDIS had simulated a window for her. The desk was cluttered with papers, and the bookshelf was absolutely overflowing, with books stacked and shoved in every which way. And when Rose looked up, she saw a ceiling full of stars.

“What is this?” she wondered aloud. “Why did you bring me here?” 

And then it hit her. 

“This is the Doctor’s room, isn’t it?” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t be here.” 

She tried to step back, but the hallway lights flashed white. 

“All right, all right!” Rose shook her head. “Fine.” She moved to the bookshelf. “Just going to find what I need, and then I’m gone.” She scanned the titles. Many of them were in the strange circular language she recognized from the TARDIS’s monitor: she’d asked the Doctor about it once. He’d gotten very quiet for a moment, but then he’d explained that it was Gallifreyan, the language he’d grown up with, before promptly changing the subject. Rose didn’t know how to read it. She skimmed past the Gallifreyan titles, her eyes resting on the English— or more likely, the ones in languages the TARDIS translation circuits were equipped for. Most didn’t look useful, but there was one about the idea of a multiverse that looked promising, and another about relativity and time. Rose was no physicist, but she’d picked up a certain amount of know-how traveling with the Doctor: she could figure it out. And if she couldn’t— well, there was no “couldn’t.” She would learn. She pulled those two books out of the shelf and scanned the titles again, looking for anything she might’ve missed.

“No manual, then?” she asked the TARDIS. “Suppose that’s to be expected. I’ll have to play it by ear.” She straightened up and tucked the books under her arm. “Anything else I need to see?” 

A light flashed on above the desk.

“That’s his stuff,” Rose protested. But— desperate times called for desperate measures, and the TARDIS was showing her exactly where to go. She’d be sure to apologize profusely to the Doctor if— when— she got him back. She took a step towards the desk and bent down, examining the papers scattered across. A few were written in Gallifreyan, and a few others in messily scrawled English script. Rose shifted the Gallifreyan ones aside and found what she was looking for: diagrams of the TARDIS console. They appeared to be plans for maintenance, repair, and upgrade, some labeled in Gallifreyan, but some in English, laden with phrases like “dimensional storage calibration” and “vortex shield repair.” Rose gathered together all the diagrams and tucked them between the two books she was already holding. There was a cup of pens sitting at the edge of the desk, and Rose clipped two into the pocket of her jeans, just in case she needed to take notes. And then she was done: she had everything she needed. 

She took one last look at the room and tried not to think too much about the Doctor spending his nights at the desk, scribbling away at plans for the TARDIS, reading his books in the dim lamplight… Rose felt a pang of sadness. It had only been an hour, and she already missed the Doctor an unbearable amount. 

She stepped out and wound her way back to the console room, where she sat right down on the floor and spread the papers out around her in order to examine them by the cool light of the central column. She knew there was a wheel the Doctor spun to select a specific time— she could manage that, she thought. And she knew the lever to pull to launch the TARDIS into the vortex, as well as a few of the controls that would decide where they landed. She also knew the Doctor had a telepathic link to the TARDIS, which she had long suspected was what he really used to pilot it, but she didn’t have that advantage: she would have to make do with mechanics. 

She shuffled the papers. What she really needed was a way to get into the void between universes— which she was sure she could find a hint to in one of the two very thick books she’d pulled from the Doctor’s room. She sighed. She’d never been much of a reader. But still, she picked up the book on the multiverse and stretched herself across the console room bench to read, trying not to think about the way a mere few hours earlier she’d been sitting in the same spot with the Doctor’s arm around her shoulder. 

The next thing she knew, she was waking up, her face smashed against the book. It took her a moment to remember where she was and what she was doing: for a full moment, she was in a world where the Doctor had never fallen into the void, a world where he would come bounding into the console room any second, suggesting faraway places for their next trip. 

And then she remembered. 

She dragged herself off the bench, brushing her hair out of her eyes. Every movement was difficult: she felt like somebody had carved a hole inside her, like where once she had had lungs and a heart and a stomach she now had nothing. But she couldn’t dwell on that. She couldn’t let it stop her. Somewhere, the Doctor was suffering, and Rose had to get him back. She needed a plan. She needed to learn how to pilot the TARDIS, and she needed to learn as much as she could about what had happened to the Doctor. 

Piloting the TARDIS seemed like the best place to start, Rose decided, stumbling to the console— if only to stop lingering Torchwood employees from getting any ideas. First she could try a short jump, maybe just a day or two into the future, to test out her abilities. After all, she had never tried to fly the TARDIS without the Doctor, and she wasn’t exactly keen on her first trip being across universes. Tentative, she rested a hand on the wheel that set the time. After a moment of hesitation, she pushed it slightly upwards: just enough, she hoped, to put her a day in the future. And then she walked around the console, took a deep breath, and threw the lever to launch the ship.

The effect was immediate. The TARDIS started its groaning noise, and the room tilted, sending the Doctor’s papers scattering. Rose yelped in surprise, scrambling to stay on her feet, until the room tilted the other way and she fell. When she managed to stand again, she grabbed the console to hold her up. Suddenly, piloting the TARDIS by herself seemed like a huge mistake: who could say where she would end up? She shuddered as the room tilted again, slamming her hip into the console. She ignored the pain, racking her brain to think what might help. Stabilizers. Weren’t there stabilizers? She stared at the controls. There it was! A button flashing white. Hoping against hope that this was the TARDIS’s way of helping her out, Rose slammed it— and the room righted itself. Rose nearly fell to the ground in relief. 

“Thank you,” she whispered to the TARDIS. The Doctor always talked to the TARDIS like it was a human, like it could really understand, and Rose was beginning to get why. 

She looked around. The papers were scattered all over the console room. She kicked herself for not thinking to gather them up before taking off. Everything else looked blessedly normal: the huge coral supports reaching up to the ceiling, the dingy metal walls, the central column bobbing up and down. 

“All right, then,” she murmured. “Suppose I’d better go outside and see the damage, yeah?” 

The TARDIS made a gurgling noise. Rose almost smiled. 

“I’ll be back soon, promise. Just want to see where we wound up.” She patted the console— another one of the Doctor’s habits she was starting to understand— and walked outside.

The first thing she noticed was that it was cold. The day she’d left had been in July, but unless Britain was seeing the coldest summer on record, this was definitely not July. The second thing she noticed was that the TARDIS had moved in space as well as time, albeit not by much: she was surrounded by the gray concrete of the Powell Estate. Her old home, and her mum’s. She glanced back at the TARDIS. It looked so unassuming. Just a little blue phone booth at the edge of a patch of concrete. But it had to have brought her here on purpose: what were the odds that out of all of London, all of England, all of Earth , she would’ve wound up here?

Rose moved towards her building, shoving her hands in her pockets to keep them warm. She didn’t know how long it had been, in Earth time, since the battle at Torchwood— everything could have changed since she was last here, or it could all have stayed exactly the same. She tried to remember how she’d left her bedroom: her bed messy, probably, with clothes strewn all over the place. They’d only been back a half hour or so before leaving again to go to Torchwood. Rose had thought they’d have more time after. She hadn’t expected to be the only one of her, her mum, and the Doctor to remain in the universe after all was said and done. 

As she climbed the steps to her flat, she noticed festive wreaths on a couple doors. Was it Christmastime? She shuddered, remembering the previous Christmas: the new Doctor, the Sycorax, the spaceship. It felt like so long ago now, even though in Rose’s personal timeline it had only been six or seven months. She’d never thought, standing next to the TARDIS with the Doctor’s hand in hers as they decided which star to visit next, that she would ever be separate from him, and yet here she was without him, without her mum, without anyone . 

She was at the landing before her flat before she heard someone calling out, “Is that Rose Tyler?” 

Rose jumped: she’d been lost in thought. She turned around to see her neighbor Doris, an older woman with a puffy coat and a cane in one hand, coming up the stairs behind her.

“Yeah, it’s me.” Rose tried a friendly smile, but it felt stilted. “Nice to see you.”

“What are you doing here?” Doris had reached the landing and was now standing next to Rose. “I thought you left when your poor mum died, rest her soul.”

“She didn’t—” Rose stopped herself. Of course her mum had been written off as dead. “Yeah. Couldn’t bear to come back until now.”

“Oh, you poor dear.” That was Doris— she had always been the mother hen type. “Your mum was a good woman.”

Rose nodded, unsure of what to say. There wasn’t really a social script for, You think my mother is dead, but she’s alive, but I can never see her again, so it doesn’t really matter, does it?

“The family in your flat now isn’t nearly as friendly,” Doris added. 

“Yeah?” Suddenly there was a lump in Rose’s throat. She swallowed. “There’s a new family?”

“Well, your mum was dead, and you were nowhere to be found! Disappeared, didn’t you?” Doris shook her head. “They had to move someone else in.”

Rose gave a humorless chuckle. “Suppose I did disappear.” She shifted her weight. “I’d better go, then— say hi to Bill for me?” Bill was Doris’s husband. He was always at home watching telly while Doris went on her walks around London, and somehow that seemed to work out for the both of them. 

“Of course I will.” Doris patted Rose on the arm, clumsy in her mittens. “You take good care of yourself now, will you? And don’t be a stranger!”

“‘Course.” Rose gave another empty smile. “See you around.”

Doris moved past Rose and continued up the stairs, and Rose turned and leaned against the railing. She could see it all from here, her entire world growing up: the other Powell Estate building, the walkway where some kids were running around. Rose had been one of those kids once, playing tag and crying for her mum when she fell and scraped her knees on the concrete, and then later a teenager loitering with her school friends, slouching against the wall in a clump. 

She wondered what had happened to her things when the new people moved in. Probably they’d been thrown away, or maybe donated to a charity shop— her pink bedspread she’d gotten when she was fifteen and immediately gotten hair bleach on, the pictures she’d taped all over her walls, the alarm clock she’d gotten when she was a little kid: all gone. Rose hadn’t really been living at home for a while now, but home had always been there , a place for her to go back to if she needed it, with everything she’d had since she was a child.

Well. Everyone had to grow up eventually. 

Rose pushed off the railing. There was no sense in lingering: every second she spent here was a second she wasn’t spending trying to get the Doctor back, and a second longer he would suffer in the void. She turned to go.

And then suddenly Rose felt an itchy warmth all across her skin. It felt— not quite like her skin was on fire, but like maybe she had a rash. She glanced at her hands: there was no redness. She took a step forward, but a gold light flashed in front of her and she stumbled back. She blinked, and the gold light cleared to reveal— a woman? In a wedding dress? 

“Who the hell are you?” Rose asked, startled into rudeness.

“Who the hell are you ?” the woman snarled. “And where the hell am I?”

Rose took a moment to regain her composure. “You’re at the Powell Estate.”

“The what ?”

“The Powell Estate. In London, England, on Earth.” 

“Of course I’m on Earth!” the woman snarled. “Why wouldn’t I be on Earth?” 

Rose shrugged. “Dunno. Stranger things have happened.” She looked the woman up and down. “Real question is, how did you get here?”

“You tell me.” The woman was glaring at Rose. “I was just walking down the aisle, as one does , and all of a sudden I find myself in a totally different part of London, kidnapped !” Every word was pointed. 

Rose put her hands up. “Hey, I’m not kidnapping you. Promise.” She nodded towards the stairwell. “We’re outside. If you want to go, just go. But I know a thing or two about stuff like this.” Not as much as she would’ve liked, but she didn’t say that. “If you stick with me, I can help you figure out why it happened.”

The woman looked at her like she was crazy. “ Why ? I don’t care why! I just want to get back to my wedding!” She shook her head. “I swear, if Nerys put you up to this—”

“No one put me up to anything,” Rose said. “Trust me. I don’t have anything like what it would’ve taken to teleport you like that.”

“ Teleport ? Like some kind of sci-fi novel ?” The woman shook her head. “Nah, I’m leaving. I’m getting married, whatever you say.” She turned and began stomping down the stairs.

“How’re you going to get there?” Rose called after her. 

“No thanks to you!” the woman yelled over her shoulder.

Rose shook her head. “If you need help,” she called, “I’ll be in the blue box across the way.”

She didn’t get a response. Instead, she watched as the woman strode across the cement walkway and disappeared around the corner. Still baffled, Rose took her time walking down the stairs. What had she just witnessed? The woman had just appeared out of nowhere, in a state of total confusion— and what was with Rose’s skin itching? 

It still wasn’t fully making sense when Rose stepped into the TARDIS— but then something shifted. 

Nothing was different about the TARDIS, exactly. The interior was exactly as Rose had left it, right down to the papers all over the floor. But there was something else— an added dimension— and Rose blinked, and suddenly she could feel a sort of thrum coming from all sides, and new emotions— emotions that didn’t quite seem like hers— were surging in the back of her mind. Welcome, love, sorrow, care — Rose closed her eyes against the intensity. 

And then the timelines hit her. She could feel— she could feel everything. Too much. She couldn’t even put words to it: all she had was that some of what she was feeling was related to the exact time and place the TARDIS was parked, the Powell Estate in the 21st century, and some of it was totally separate, related to— the past, maybe, or the future. She opened her eyes, but the feeling didn’t go away. If anything, it intensified: she could feel branches, erasures, shifts. It was a sensation she’d never felt before. Or— she’d never felt it except—

Except.

A long time ago, Rose Tyler had opened the heart of the TARDIS and become the Bad Wolf. She had taken all of time and space into her. She had used it to rewrite a story: she had killed the Daleks, resurrected Jack Harkness, and saved the Doctor’s life.

And then the Doctor kissed her, and the Bad Wolf left Rose Tyler behind. 

Until— 

Rose closed her eyes again. She was coming to a conclusion, but it was slippery, so slippery, powerless against the wave of new sensations taking over her mind. 

The Bad Wolf had never quite left.

Rose pressed her palms against her eyelids. It couldn’t be— she was just Rose Tyler. A regular human. But there was no other explanation. The Bad Wolf had never left her, and now whatever had just happened had triggered— something— and now Rose Tyler could feel time.

She could feel it, but she couldn’t make sense of it. It was all occupying her brain, giving her a bit of a headache, really, with no rhyme or reason. Was this how babies felt, opening their eyes for the first time? No wonder they cried, Rose thought ruefully. 

She opened her eyes again. The console room looked exactly the same, and yet somehow so, so different. Those new emotions— the love, sorrow, care— hadn’t left her mind, and with a start she realized that those emotions came from the TARDIS. She could feel what the TARDIS felt. The Doctor had talked about a telepathic link— was this what it felt like? A rush of warmth appeared in her mind, and she took that for a yes. Well, that was one positive of this situation, then— she was sure to have an easier time getting the Doctor back if she was telepathically connected to the TARDIS. Even with everything else that was going on.

And then she heard a knock on the door.

It was all too much. Time was still swirling in Rose’s head, steadfastly refusing to coalesce into something that made sense, and she was still missing the Doctor, and she knew her hair and face probably looked a mess— but… she’d told the strange woman that she’d be in the blue box. And whoever the woman was, she clearly needed help, and Rose liked to make a habit of helping people. She turned and cracked the door open, sticking her head out.

“D’you really shut yourself in that little box?” the woman asked. 

“It’s bigger than it looks,” Rose said. She shook her head, trying to clear it. “Er, I thought you’d gone?”

“Couldn’t pay the cab fare,” the woman griped. “Didn’t think I’d need it, on my wedding day . I mean, who has pockets in their wedding dress ?” 

“Beats me.” Rose cracked the door a little wider. “Look, um, what’s your name?”

“Donna Noble.”

“Look, Donna, why don’t you come in here for a second.” Rose glanced back into the TARDIS. She could probably get Donna to the wedding hall, right? With her newfound telepathic TARDIS link? She closed her eyes. She didn’t even want to think about that right now, much less use it under pressure. 

“You want me to come into that box?” Donna asked, her eyebrows dangerously close to her hairline. “With you? What, is this some kind of— thing for you?”

“It’s not—” Rose shook her head. “Just look.” She pulled the door open all the way, revealing the full extent of the console room. 

Donna stared. “What?” She stepped back, then ran out of Rose’s view before reappearing seconds later from the other side. “How’d you do that?” she demanded, peering into the TARDIS. “Is this some sort of— magic trick? If I go in there, am I going to get sawn in half?”

“It’s sort of a magic trick.” Rose hesitated. How did the Doctor always explain the TARDIS? She couldn’t think of it. “Not the kind that saws you in half.” 

Donna didn’t look convinced. 

Rose took a few steps towards the console. “See?” she prodded. “Bigger on the inside.” She paused. “It’s sort of a spaceship.”

“A spaceship,” Donna scoffed. “Really.”

“You don’t have to believe it,” Rose said. “If you don’t want to take your chances with me, I’m sure I’ve got a few pounds somewhere that you could have for a taxi.” She shrugged. “It’s not even my ship, really. I’m sort of borrowing it.”

“How do you borrow a space ship ?” Donna shook her head. “You’re mad, I swear.”

“It’s my friend’s— he—” Rose couldn’t finish the sentence. She fished her wallet out of her back pocket and took out a ten-pound note. She held it out to Donna. “This should cover you a cab to the wedding, then.” She hesitated, backing up. “And hold on a second, I’ll give you my number.” She plucked one of the Doctor’s diagrams off the floor and tore off a bit from the bottom. 

“Oh, ‘cause you’re so sure you can help me.” Rose could practically hear Donna rolling her eyes. 

“I’ve no clue whether I can help you,” Rose said distractedly, feeling in her front pocket for one of the pens she’d taken from the Doctor’s desk. “Honestly. If my friend were here—” She trailed off again as she braced the scrap of paper against her palm and used her mouth to uncap the pen. “But if something weird is going on, you’ve got a better chance with me than without,” she continued, speaking around the cap in her mouth as she scrawled out her number. She capped the pen and continued, “And I don’t think it’s a coincidence you showed up right where I was, either.” She tried to think what it could all mean, but nothing came up, so she handed the scrap of paper to Donna instead of trying to explain further. 

“How am I supposed to keep this?” Donna asked, waving the scrap in Rose’s face. “No pockets!” 

“Oh.” Rose stared for a moment, trying to push past the chaos in her mind. “Didn’t think of that.”

“Never mind.” Donna tucked the paper into her neckline. “This bra’ll just have to prove its worth.”

That startled a laugh out of Rose. “Looks secure enough.” She nodded at the door. “Go on, then, you’ve got a wedding to get to!”

“Yeah, if they haven’t finished it without me.” Donna’s tone was bitter. She held up the ten pound note. “Thanks for the cab fare, er—” She tilted her head to the side. “Sorry, did I get your name?”

“Oh, it’s Rose. Rose Tyler.” 

“Thanks for the cab fare, Rose.” 

“Anytime.”

And with that, Donna turned and walked away. Rose watched until Donna rounded the corner and disappeared, and then she moved back to the console, her head spinning. Some part of her was worried that she’d handled the interaction badly, that she’d missed something, that Donna was going off into grave danger— but she couldn’t hold the train of thought. Just having the conversation with Donna had taken all of her focus, and now she had no choice but to curl up on the console room bench with her eyes closed, trying to make sense of everything.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when her cell phone rang. Her head had settled a bit— not nearly enough, but at least she was able to sit up and pick up the phone. 

“Hello?” 

She was met with an ear-splitting scream. 

“Donna, is that you?” Rose was already up and at the TARDIS console. “Where are you?”

“How’m I supposed to know?” Donna yelled. “I’ve been kidnapped!” 

“Well, look!” Rose was staring at the console, trying to push past the fog in her head to comprehend the controls. “Any landmarks?”

“We’re on a road—”

“That’s helpful—”

“Shut up!” 

Rose rolled her eyes. “What about the landmarks? Does anything stick out? Literally anything.” 

“I don’t know!” 

Rose looked around wildly. There had to be something in the TARDIS that could help. What would the Doctor do, in this situation? And then she saw it.

“Don’t hang up!” she yelled into the phone. She ripped it from her ear and slammed it into a slot in the TARDIS console. “Please work,” she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut and running a hand along the console. 

There was a zap of warmth amidst her headache, and the TARDIS gurgled. Rose took that as a good sign. She threw the lever for takeoff, and sure enough, the central column rose and fell, the sound of the TARDIS reverberating in Rose’s skull. She lurched to the side, clinging to the console— her head was spinning, all of a sudden, forcing her to lean on the console or risk falling to the floor. 

The TARDIS sound stopped, but the tilting and rocking of the floor didn’t: Rose stumbled to the door anyway, pulling it open, stopping short when she felt wind whipping at her hair.

The TARDIS was flying.

Rose hadn’t known it could do that.

She’d have to marvel at it later. Right now, she had a job to do. The TARDIS was bucking and lurching in the air, keeping pace with a black taxi, and through the window Rose could see Donna Noble’s terrified face. 

“Donna!” she yelled. “Get the door open!”

“What?” Donna’s shouts were muffled through the window. 

“The door!” Rose shouted, louder this time. 

“I can’t!” Donna yelled back. “It’s locked!”

Rose sighed. Of course it was. “Hang on!” This would’ve been when the Doctor brought out his sonic screwdriver, but Rose didn’t have a sonic screwdriver, nor would she have known how to use one. So she ran back into the TARDIS, desperately hoping that there would be something that could help. She made it halfway to the console before she remembered that the floor panels lifted, and then she spent precious seconds prying one up. She was rewarded, though, when she reached in and her hand instantly wrapped around the handle of a hefty axe. She took it in both hands, careful to keep the sharp bits facing away from her, and ran back to the open door.

“Cover your head!” she yelled.

“What?” 

“ Cover your head! ” Rose raised the axe, and she saw Donna slide away from the door, her hands coming up to cover her face. Rose lifted the axe over her head, ignoring her arms’ protests, and flung it right at the crack between the door and body of the car.

It was a lucky shot. 

The axe hit the crack. It bounced off, falling to the pavement, but not before leaving a dent in the car. The door popped open.

“All right,” Rose called, ignoring how weak her arms felt from the throw. “Now jump!”

Donna had moved closer to the open door, but now she was staring at Rose in shock.

“I’m not jumping on a motorway!”

“Oh, so you’d rather get kidnapped?” Rose shook her head. Her headache worsened. “There aren’t exactly any good options here!”

“I’m in my wedding dress!”

“I know! Come on!” Rose reached out. Her arms still felt weak, but she was sure she could keep herself together long enough to get Donna safely into the TARDIS. She was close enough now that she could lower her voice a bit, inject some empathy into it. “Donna, I’m sorry. But you’ve got to jump.”

She could see the moment Donna started to believe her. She could see in Donna’s eyes as she steeled herself, gained resolve— Rose stepped back, her arms out, bracing herself to catch— and when Donna jumped, Rose grabbed her around the waist, wedding dress and all, and they both fell to the ground of the TARDIS.

Donna rolled off Rose and got up right away, but Rose stayed on the ground for a moment. Everything hurt: her head, her arms, her back. She let herself lie with her eyes shut for one second, then two, and then she forced herself to get up and go over to the console. 

“Where was that church again?” she asked.

Donna gave her the address, and Rose plugged it into the TARDIS. She was fairly sure she heard something popping and breaking, but she didn’t care: she just needed the TARDIS to do this one jump, and then she could figure out what was wrong, and how she was going to fix it, and how she could get the Doctor back.

Just thinking about it all overwhelmed her. She forced herself to focus on just the one jump. It was a little one, simple— except the Doctor had said to her once that the little jumps were actually the hardest for the TARDIS to make. Something about the precision required for such a temporally vast ship to shift so minutely within the fabric of spacetime. 

Still. It was just one jump.

She set the coordinates, pulled the lever, listened as the TARDIS launched itself into the void. 

There was a thud as it landed, flinging Rose to the ground.

Everything was quiet.

Rose took a deep breath. It didn’t feel like it filled her lungs— she tried again, deeper, longer, and this one went in. She tried to assess her physical sensations: her head still throbbed, and now her arms and legs hurt too. She was still dazed, disoriented, and she felt like she could sleep for months on end. 

But she couldn’t do that. 

For one thing, Donna was still there. For another, she was dimly aware of flames at the edge of her field of vision, which meant something really had broken within the TARDIS, and Donna wasn’t going to know where the fire extinguisher was. 

Thank goodness the floor panel was still open from when Rose had gotten the axe. 

She dragged herself to the edge and reached in, hefting the fire extinguisher and managing to get to her feet so she could spray the console.

“We’d better get out of here,” she said over her shoulder, distinctly grateful the words came out coherently and in the right order. She stumbled to the door, and Donna followed.

They emerged onto a quiet street. Too quiet, for a place that was meant to be hosting a wedding.

“Did we miss it?” Rose asked. 

“Yeah.” Donna stared at the church. 

“I’m sorry.” Rose swallowed. “Still don’t really know what I’m doing.” She glanced at Donna. “You all right?”

“Doesn’t matter.” 

“‘Course it does.” 

Donna looked at her. “Are you all right? Looked half-dead in there.”

Rose looked down. “Didn’t realize you were paying attention.”

Donna didn’t respond.

“I—” Rose shook her head. “I’m having a bit of a bad day, I suppose.” She sighed. “We probably shouldn’t try to get back into the TARDIS for a bit. She usually fixes herself, but it’ll take time.”

“Right.” Donna was staring at the church again. “Wish we had a time machine. Could go back and get it right.”

“Nah,” Rose said. She still had timelines swirling in her head, pounding at the walls of her skull. “Can’t go back on things that have already happened. Found that out the hard way.”

“What?”

Rose tilted her head back towards the TARDIS. “It’s not just a spaceship.”

Donna’s eyes became wide. “No way.”

Rose nodded. “But it’s not much use to us now. We’d be better off trying to find where your family’s gone.” Although her head was still pounding, and her body still hurt, and the longer she was standing up, the dizzier she got. She felt herself sway. 

“Yeah, I’m not sure you’re going anywhere,” Donna said, looking her up and down. 

“You go on, then,” Rose said. “Honestly. I’ll be fine.” 

“Not a chance. Someone’s going to have to get you to the A&E if you pass out.”

“Not sure they can help me,” Rose replied. She took a deep breath, willing the dizziness to settle. “Suppose we should probably figure out why the pilotfish are trying to kidnap you, anyway.”

“Pilotfish?” Donna asked.

Rose shook her head. “Don’t think it’s what they’re actually called. Just what we called them last Christmas. The Santa robots.”

“Last Christmas?”

“Er—” Rose closed her eyes. The pain in her head was building again. “Sorry, can we find somewhere to sit down? My head is killing me.”

“Yeah, all right. Think there’s a bus stop down this way.” Donna led Rose half a block down the street. Every step felt like a marathon, but eventually Rose was sitting on a bench, her knees drawn up to her chest, Donna sitting next to her.

“Sorry,” Rose said again. “Wish the Doctor was here. He knows more about— well, all of this. He’d know what questions to ask.” 

“The Doctor,” Donna repeated. “Is that— your friend?”

Rose nodded. “He—” She swallowed. “I’m looking for him,” she finally said. “He’s—” She broke off. “It’s his ship. And he would understand what happened earlier, with the teleport, and why people are after you.” She took a deep breath. “I really want to help you, Donna. Whatever’s going on— if the Doctor were here, he’d help. We both would. But I don’t have all the information he does. I can stay with you, deal with anything that comes up, but—” She shook her head. “I dunno. I’m so limited.”

“That’s all right,” Donna said. “You’ve already saved me from that creepy robot cab driver. That’s more than enough.”

Rose managed a laugh. “Yeah, suppose so.” She glanced at Donna. “Tell me about this guy you’re marrying. What’s he like?”

Donna launched into an explanation of how she and her husband— Lance— had met at work. Rose tried her hardest to pay attention. It was difficult, with everything else going on inside her head, but she got the gist of it. Sounded like a pretty simple office love story, although you never knew for sure, once you got teleportation and robot aliens involved. 

“And then,” Donna finished, “we were supposed to get married, and instead I find myself on some council estate with you.”

“Sorry about that,” Rose said. “Still not sure why that happened.” She frowned. “Although—” New thoughts were coming together, rising to the top of the cloud of pain and confusion in her mind. “Suppose whatever did that to you could be connected to the TARDIS, somehow.”

“How do you mean?” 

“The TARDIS runs on all this energy,” Rose explained. “Artron energy. Vortex energy. It’s— oh, I don’t understand it. Not sure even the Doctor does. But at the center of the TARDIS, there’s all this— time energy, I guess. And I looked into it, a while back, trying to save the Doctor. I guess some of it must’ve been left over.” She glanced at Donna. “So if you’ve got some of the same energy, it might’ve— I don’t know. Come to me, I guess. When I landed at the Powell Estate.”

“That’s mad,” Donna said. “Honestly. Is your whole life like this?”

Rose considered. “Sort of. A lot of weird stuff happens around the Doctor.” She shrugged. “Guess it’s rubbed off on me.”

“No kidding.” Donna shook her head. “Right. Suppose I probably should go find everyone.” She glanced at Rose. “I’d say I’d be making you explain it, but I’m not sure I could bear to do that to you.”

Rose laughed. “Nah, I’ll come with you. Still got a bit until the TARDIS is ready, anyway.” She raised her eyebrows at Donna. “Just don’t call an ambulance if I keel over.”

“You’d better not keel over, then,” Donna replied. “‘Cause I am not equipped for that situation.”

“All right, deal.” 

Donna and Rose walked together to the reception hall. It was a block away from the church, but in the other direction, so they walked a block and a half to get there, Rose’s head pounding more with every step. 

She didn’t know what to expect when they stepped inside, but it wasn’t this. The room was dim, with a disco ball scattering patches of light across a crowd of dancing people. A Christmas song was blasting through the speakers. People around the edges of the dance floor were talking and laughing. None of it did anything positive for Rose’s headache.

And then the music stopped, and the dancers stilled, and everyone was staring at Donna.

“You had the reception without me?” Donna yelled. 

A tall man in a suit stepped forward. Donna’s groom, Rose assumed. 

“Donna, what happened to you?” he asked.

“You had the reception without me?” Donna repeated. She looked at Rose. “They had the reception without me!”

“Er—” Rose wasn’t sure how to respond. 

“Well, it was all paid for,” said a blonde woman just behind the groom.

Donna gave her a look that would have killed a lesser mortal. “Thank you, Nerys.”

And then an older woman with a blonde bob stepped forward. “Well, what were we supposed to do? I got your silly little message in the end. I’m in London . Very funny. What the hell happened?”

Rose didn’t let her finish. She grabbed Donna’s arm.

“Come on,” she said into Donna’s ear. “You can do better than this lot.” She marched out of the reception hall, pulling Donna with her. They got back out onto the street.

“What are you doing?” Donna asked.

“Sorry,” Rose said. “You can go back in there if you want. Just—” She shook her head. “The way they talk to you. D’you really want the people in your life talking to you like that?”

“Suppose not.” Donna shrugged. “But they’re my family, aren’t they?”

“Yeah,” Rose said. “But that doesn’t mean you’ve got to put up with it.” She glanced at the door of the reception hall. “And I’d guess you’ve got about two seconds before they start coming after you again. But if you want, we can go back to the TARDIS and figure out what to do from there.”

There was only half a second of hesitation. 

“Yeah,” Donna said. “All right. Suppose we can do that.”

They started walking. But they barely made it halfway down the block before Rose heard metallic footsteps. 

She stopped cold.

“Donna,” she hissed. 

“What?”

Rose shut her eyes. She wasn’t sure she could run. But— Donna definitely could. She pulled the key to the TARDIS from around her neck. 

“Get to the TARDIS. This key should open it. Run . I’ll come after.”

“What? Not a chance.” 

Rose looked Donna in the eyes. “You've got to. Please.”

Donna hesitated for another moment. Rose could hear the footsteps coming closer. Internally, she prayed: Please. Just take the key .

Donna took it. 

“Thank you,” she said, her voice low and urgent. 

And then she ran.

For half a second, Rose tried to follow— but then she stumbled, and she decided she would do better to turn around. If she was going to go down, she was going to go down swinging. With whatever energy she could muster.

It wasn't much. Even at full strength, she wouldn't have had a chance against these robots. Not in these numbers, obstinately marching towards her. As it was, she was spending most of her focus on remaining standing. But she managed to keep her head up, jutting out her chin as the robots approached. 

They came closer, a squadron of shining metal. 

And closer. 

One of them reached out a hand. 

Cool metal pressed against Rose’s neck. 

Everything went dark. 

She woke up trapped.

Her arms were pinned to her body, her legs stuck together. She was wrapped up in something, a too-warm casing: she could already feel the sweat gathering on her skin, rolling down her forehead. There was an unpleasant sticky quality to whatever was holding her, too, dragging at the bare skin on her hands and ankles. She seemed to be suspended in the air, too: she was face-down, her head attached by that same sticky substance to whatever was above her, and there was nothing underneath her face, no cushion or floor. Just warm air moving past her, and the clanging echoes of metal against metal. 

And of course her head was still killing her.

All she wanted was to go back to the TARDIS and curl up on the jump seat, maybe with a mug of tea, definitely with the Doctor. She wanted to sleep for about a week, letting chamomile and paracetamol chase away the headache, never to return. She wanted to get back reading in the safety of the console room, trying to figure out how to get the Doctor out of the void.

That wasn’t an option. Instead, she forced herself to open her eyes.

She was in some kind of basement. Or, it felt like a basement, with its lack of windows and utilitarian appearance. It sort of reminded her of her old job, actually, the basement where she’d met the Doctor to begin with. Except the basement at her old job hadn’t been covered in giant spiderwebs, nor had it had a giant glowing hole in the floor.

There was a creature next to the hole, a giant spider, her face and torso oddly humanoid. Her skin was red, and on her head was a multi-pointed crest, featuring more eyes than any creature rightly should have. She was staring into the glowing pit, clicking and hissing: she didn’t seem to have noticed Rose yet.

“What the hell is this?” came a voice right next to Rose, and that was when the spider-creature looked up. 

Rose turned her head. “Donna?” Sure enough, Donna was hanging next to her, entangled in the same sticky spiderweb. 

“I’m sorry,” Donna said. “I didn’t get back in time. These robots came up, and they grabbed me—”

“It’s all right.” It wasn’t, really, but it wasn’t Donna’s fault. Rose scanned the room, looking for a way out.

The spider-creature had advanced to stand right underneath them, staring up with menace in her eyes. “Ah, yes,” she said. “You are awake.”

“Where are we?” Rose called down, injecting as much anger into her voice as she could manage. “Why have you brought us here?”

“All in good time.” Her eyes seemed to glitter as she stared up. She extended one long pincer towards Rose. “You… you are the key.”

“The key to what?” Rose asked, hurling down her words. “C’mon, it’s not like we’re going anywhere. You might as well tell us.”

The spider-creature hissed. She might’ve been about to say something else, but Rose didn’t hear it: something in her headache had just changed, become sharper, pulling her attention to—

The pit. Its glow had increased, intensified— it seemed to be beckoning Rose, calling to her.

“Rose?” It was Donna’s voice, next to her.

Rose turned her head. Donna seemed far away, viewed through a strange gold tint—

“You’re glowing,” Donna said. 

Oh.

Rose blinked. The gold tint— for a second, she was stepping out of the TARDIS on a space station thousands of years in the future, waving a hand and rearranging the universe. She blinked again, and she was back here, on Earth, in the 21st century, trying to push through a massive headache and a haze of golden light. 

“I think—” she said, and then lost the thread. She fumbled for it again, amidst her swirling and churning thoughts. “I think I’ve got to go down there.”

“You’ve what ?” 

Rose yelled down to the spider-creature. “Is that right? Am I meant to go down there? What’s in there?”

“My people!” the spider-creature screeched. “Lost to the void for so long, but recently… I have had an opportunity I could never dream of. You, golden child, you will rescue my people.” 

“You’re not half dramatic,” Rose muttered. But— the void. The void . That pit— it went to the void. Where the Doctor was trapped. Where Rose had thought she had barely a chance at penetrating. Her heart leapt. She tried to keep the hope off her face.

“I thought I would have to settle for a human ,” the spider-creature hissed. She snarled up at Donna. “Thought I was going to have to grow the key myself. But no…” Her head turned mechanically to look once again at Rose. “She led me right to you . And now I have a key and a snack.”

“No!” Rose yelled. She hadn’t thought to be afraid: there had been too much else going on. But now, now she knew she was supposed to jump into the void between universes with Donna’s life on the line, now she was afraid. “No, you can’t—” She took a deep breath. “Look. I’ll go into the void for you. I’ll get back your people or— or whatever.” She paused. “But you can’t kill Donna. All right? I want her here when I get back. Or else—” She floundered, searching for a threat. “Or else I’m going to use all my time powers to make it like you never even existed. Got it?” She probably wasn’t actually capable of destroying anyone so completely, but the spider-creature didn’t need to know that. She also wasn’t sure what she was going to do about the new race of humanoid person-eating spider-creatures that she was about to bring to Earth, but that was a bridge she would cross when she got to it. This was, of course, how she and the Doctor got into high-stakes predicaments every three minutes, but at least they usually managed to get out of them. 

The spider-creature drew back, her teeth bared. For a moment, Rose feared an attack, but when the creature raised her arms, it was not to slash at Donna or Rose, but to slice through the silk trapping Rose. Slowly, some of the silk came away from the ceiling, unrolling, lowering Rose to the floor. 

“Not doing much for the headache,” she muttered, climbing to her feet. The silk still clung to her clothes, draping her in white strings. She glanced at the glowing pit next to her. “Right. If I’m going in there, I’m going to need a way back.”

The spider-creature clicked. “Already done.” She walked past Rose, eight legs moving her powerfully across the room, until she lifted up what Rose realized was a thick cord of silk. “This will keep you anchored.”

Rose eyed the cord. It looked sturdy enough— she had no doubts that the silk could hold, considering how well it had held her to the ceiling. But— “Is that thing going to stay anchored? What’s stopping me from falling in?”” She saw too vividly in her mind’s eye herself, being lowered slowly into the void on the silk rope, only to lose her grip and be sucked in forever. 

Well. At least she’d be with the Doctor. 

“It has been charged with Huon particles,” the spider-creature hissed. “It will hold.”

“Right.” Rose stepped closer. She picked up the cord and grimaced: it was the same unnervingly sticky substance as the rest of the silk. Still, the stickiness would work in her favor. She wrapped the end of the cord around her waist, fumbling to tie a knot with the thick and sticky rope. Once secure, she wrapped the rope around one of her arms, grabbing it in her hand. She’d seen how easy it had been for the Doctor to fall into the void. She was trying for a reversal of that fate, not a repetition.

“Right,” she said. “What am I looking for?”

“You’ll know it when you see it,” hissed the spider-creature. 

“Big spider-people?” Rose guessed. “Yeah, I probably will.” She stepped up to the edge of the pit. The feeling in her head intensified— it had shifted away from pain and more to an indescribable and instinctive wrongness. “Right,” she said again. “No snacking while I’m gone.” She stepped back, away from the pit, both hands on the rope— and with a running start— she leapt into the light.

The world shifted.

Nothing—

and everything.

Rose, scattered 

across

time

space

universes

a screaming

wind

and—

and—

there he is.

The Doctor.

Her Doctor.

Calling out—

Rose.

Rose crashed against the concrete floor, a warm weight falling on top of her. She blinked, trying to remember what had just happened. It all felt like a haze. Her mind couldn’t process it— couldn’t fold it up into the ordinary range of human experience, and now Rose was left on the floor, confused, strangely empty. Her headache was still there, pulsing away, but less, like she was further from it. 

And then she stopped trying to process what had just happened, and she started trying to process what was happening now , and she realized—

“Doctor!” she cried, flinging her arms around him. One arm was still tangled in the spider silk, but Rose didn’t care, because it was him , he was back, after she was worried she’d never see him again— she could’ve cried. She would’ve cried, if she’d had time. She managed to pull them both into a sitting position, next to each other on the ground, and a moment later his arm was around her waist.

“Rose,” he said. “We— what— where are we?”

Rose looked around. “I’m not sure, actually.” She turned back to look at him, properly now she’d gotten her excitement out of the way. His face was inches from hers, looking completely lost. He looked so young, with that look in his eyes: Rose couldn’t stand it. “Basement somewhere, probably. I don’t know. You sort of missed a lot.”

“Oh.” He still looked lost. “Er—”

“You did not bring me my people!” 

Rose turned, breaking away from the Doctor. The spider-creature was advancing, menacing clicks and all. 

“You tricked me,” the spider-creature added. “Now I will eat you and your friends!”

“Like hell you will!” Donna yelled. 

Rose looked up. Donna . “You all right?” she yelled. 

“As long as no one eats me!” Donna yelled back.

Right. Rose looked around. The spider-creature was still advancing, clicking her pincers— the Doctor was still on the ground— Donna was still hanging from the ceiling— and the pit was still open, sending bright light into the room.

Slowly, Rose formulated a plan.

She got to her feet, backing away from the spider-creature. There was a set of stairs to the exit— that could work in her favor. She turned and ran, ignoring the spider-creature’s sibilant laugh behind her: “You run,” she cackled, “but you forget! You are still tethered to my creation! You won’t get far.”

Rose was too out of breath to respond. But if she could pull this off— she ran up the stairs, the spider-creature still charging after her. And then she turned— scanned the room, with the position of the spider-creature, the pit, the Doctor, Donna. 

She closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. 

She jumped.

The spider silk held fast, and Rose swung straight into the spider-creature, feet-first. She screwed her eyes shut as she kicked, and the sound of the creature’s yells cutting off abruptly was all the evidence she needed that her blow had landed. The rope swung across the pit and then back, depositing Rose right in front of the stairs, and for a moment, she stumbled. By the time she’d regained her balance, the light in the pit had died.

“Is she gone?” Rose asked, taking a wobbly step forward. 

“Yeah,” Donna called down. “You sent the spider to the Underworld. Now can someone get me down from here?” 

“Er—” Rose looked around wildly for something that could help cut Donna down. There was an axe, lying on the ground— maybe if she stood at the top of the stairs and reached, the axe would reach Donna. But that was too risky. The chances of it hurting Donna were too high.

Rose was so busy trying to find another option that she almost didn’t notice the familiar buzzing sound coming from across the room.

The Doctor, still sitting on the floor, was holding up the sonic, its blue glow pointed towards Donna. He was smart: he broke all the threads but one, and Donna swung towards the ground. Rose stepped in the path of her swing, and Donna barrelled into her, sending them both to the ground.

“Right,” Rose muttered. “Think all of us could do with a good bath.” She got to her feet, cataloguing every ache and pain until she realized there were too many to count. She made her way slowly over to the Doctor, who had lowered the screwdriver and was now turning it over in his hands, looking at it as if he’d never seen it before. “Doctor,” she said quietly, kneeling next to him. “Are you all right?”

The Doctor looked up at her, that same lost confusion in his eyes. “Rose, I— I don’t know what happened.”

“Let’s get you back to the TARDIS,” Rose said. “C’mon, up you get.” 

She helped the Doctor to his feet, and they leaned on each other as they made their way back to Donna.

“Now, are you going to explain anything that just happened?” Donna asked.

“I—” Rose glanced at the Doctor. “I’m not sure I understand it myself.” She hesitated. “Where are we, even?”

“Only one way to know, I think,” Donna replied.

Together, painstakingly slowly, the three of them walked up the stairs: Rose’s entire body still hurt, and the Doctor was in no shape to move, and Donna didn’t really seem to be either.

“I can call my grandad to drive us back to your ship,” Donna offered as they got to the basement’s exit. “He’ll believe me.”

“Soon as we figure out where we are,” Rose noted. 

They stepped out into a hallway. It was mostly dim and empty, barring a few doors, but then Rose noticed a familiar logo.

She stopped in her tracks, pointing to the offending door. “Is that— the Torchwood logo?” It was on a laminated bit of paper that had been attached to the door, with text underneath it. 

Donna glanced over. “Oh, you know Torchwood? They own my company, technically.”

“Yeah,” Rose murmured. 

Donna looked around. “Actually, this might be my company. Looks bloody familiar, doesn’t it?”

“Might explain how you got mixed up in all this,” Rose added. 

Sure enough, as they climbed up to the ground floor, Donna recognized more and more— until finally they were in an expansive lobby with a sign behind the reception desk featuring the logo for a company called HC Clements. 

“At least we know where we are,” Donna said. “Rose, can I borrow your mobile?”

Rose passed it over. Donna dialed a number and put the phone to her ear, and Rose turned back to the Doctor. 

“We’ll be back to the TARDIS in a second, all right?”

He nodded. “Was that— a Racnoss, back there?”

“I’ve absolutely no idea,” Rose said, completely honestly.

“Looked like a Racnoss.”

Donna turned back to them, passing the mobile back to Rose. “Ten minutes.” 

“Thanks.” Rose dropped the phone in her pocket. She took the Doctor’s hand, comforted by its solid warmth. It felt just the same as always: so familiar, so completely Doctor. 

They spent the ten minutes in relative silence, peppered with mutters from the Doctor and concerned questions from Rose. Donna’s grandad pulled up to the entrance, his headlights flashing through the windows, and Donna, Rose, and the Doctor piled into the car, Donna in front, Rose and the Doctor in the back. Rose kept her hand in the Doctor’s as Donna directed her grandad to the TARDIS; he tried to ask what had happened and where Donna had met Rose and the Doctor, but Donna managed to give him clipped answers that invited no further questioning.

When they got to the TARDIS, Donna got out of the car with Rose and the Doctor to say her goodbye. 

“If you need anything,” Rose said to her, her voice quiet, “you’ve got my number, yeah? Or even if you just want to go on an outer space adventure.” She glanced at the Doctor. “When we’ve got our strength back, anyway.”

Donna nodded. “Thank you,” she said. 

“Thank you ,” Rose replied. She pulled Donna in for a hug. “Stay in touch, all right?”

Donna nodded again.

“We’ll be seeing you.” 

“Goodbye, then.” Donna slid back into the car, gathering up her dress. Rose watched for a moment as Donna’s grandad pulled away, and then she turned to the Doctor. 

“C’mon,” she said, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Let’s get you inside.”

Together once more, they entered the TARDIS.