#AKA GIVEN A CHANCE FROM CREATION

[hereforyourdispleasure]

Lecturer just said The Creature relates to Adam because of the quote "I ought to be thy Adam". It's on sight. I will explode you on sight

[imminent-danger-came]

Sun Wukong Knew About MK the Whole Time: A Theory

I am currently hyped up on leftovers and iced coffee, so let's do this!

I've talked about this before, here and here, but I think it's finally time I wrote an official post. You can go and read those posts if you want to (I definitely hit the nail on the head with some of this stuff), but I will be compiling a lot of what I said on those posts here!

So. Let's get the Mr. Elephant out of the room first: The David Breen Tweets. (thread here).

I see this tweet mentioned a lot whenever I bring up SWK knowing about MK, and honestly, this is a far cry from the "it's been confirmed that SWK didn't know" definite answer everyone's been implying.

So let's break it down!

#1: "Monkey King ain't the father"/"Monkey King isn't his dad." Well of course! Being born from a stone means you don't have any parents. I see it like this: Wukong isn't MK's dad, but he's also not NOT MK's dad, it's a secret third thing (creator and creation). Or, perhaps Wukong didn't help create MK at all, but he at the very least was involved in the circumstances that lead to MK being created/being born from the stone. (Aka eldritch abomination MK theory. My Beloved. Okay sorry.)

#2: "Monkey King was ripping his way through memories looking for MK, but kept coming back to the stone. He doesn't know why." So, while Wukong was ripping through memories, he didn't know why the scroll kept spitting him out by the stone. This is not a confirmation that Wukong didn't know about MK and his origins. It also begs the question: how did Wukong know MK was in the scroll to begin with? There's also some speculation to be had about why Wukong was so desperate to find MK to begin with:

MK: "Monkey King did this?" Macaque: "It looks like he's been tearing his way through his past—trying to find his way to.." MK: "Me."

(4x11 A Lifetime of Mistakes)

-

What was he so afraid of MK finding? Or, what was he afraid the scroll would force MK to experience? I think these are questions worth asking.

#3: "Wukong's trying real hard to leave the 'not being open with MK' days behind after s3. Problem is he's got lifetimes of info to catch them up on." Well, this one is a DOOZIE. One: we already know MK doesn't know everything about Wukong and his choices because he doesn't know Wukong killed Macaque (thank you 4x11). Two: "trying real hard" and "successfully doing" are very different things. And three: YOU DON'T JUST DROP INFO LIKE "Hey, did you know you're a Monkey Demon?" ON TOP OF SOMEONE RANDOMLY. Especially not MK. You have to prepare them for it.

Wukong is trying to do better and be better for everyone around him, but that still takes work. That still isn't easy. He's still going to make mistakes, which means he's not going to always go about being open with MK in the best way.

Sun Wukong: “Point is, mistakes happen, but so long as you leave the world in better shape than you found it, then it’s all good. Right?”

(4x01 Familiar Tales)

-

This scene—to me—feels like Wukong is trying prepare MK for his eventual "Hey did you know you're a Monkey Demon?" conversation he wants (and needs) to have down the line. Yes, SWK is trying to be more open with MK, but he's also just not going to be given that chance before the truth comes out.

MK: "Yeah right, if Monkey King really was my dad don't you think he would have said something by now?" Mei: "Yeah...because he's normally SOOOOO forth coming with information." MK: "Well uh, whatever—when we find Monkey King's stone, then we'll just ask him!"

(4x05 Court of the Yellow Robbed Demon)

-

Notice how they never asked Monkey King that question? From a writing standpoint, why bring this up at all if it wasn't to imply that (even if Monkey King isn't MK's dad) he wasn't involved with MK's creation in some way?

ANYWAYS.

NOW THAT THE BREEN TWEET THAT HAS RUINED MY LIFE IS OUT OF THE WAY, let's get into the evidence given to us throughout the entirety of the show. Starting with this:

This isn't a scene that takes place during the "A Hero is Born" special, as I'm sure plenty of people have noticed before now. Of course, this could have just been Monkey King "scouting out a successor", but with everything we know now doesn't that...feel kinda weird?

We were told at the beginning of the show that Monkey King gave MK his powers, but now we know that's not true. MK has had his own powers this whole time—and that's something Wukong, at the very least, knew:

Sun Wukong: "Listen kid: You fought demons, and you didn't die, and you made it here! Not just anyone can lift my staff, but you did." (1x00 A Hero is Born)

-

MK: "This whole time, I thought my powers came from the staff! Sun Wukong: "The staff's just a big 'ol stick bud! It takes someone special to lift it." (3x03 Smartie Kid)

-

There's also 1x09 Macaque, which I have mentioned before:

Macaque: "Ohohoh no, can't you hold the magic staff anymore? Well, you know what that means—there really isn't anything special about you. You're just a kid with a heavy stick."

This scene is then followed by MK lifting the staff, which only happens because Wukong encourages him.

MK: "Ugh, I can't! I'm not strong enough." Sun Wukong: "Kid! We're definitely going to have words later, but it's time for the Hero Stuff!"

(1x09 Macaque)

-

Ultimately, Wukong knows MK can lift the staff again even after Macaque supposedly stole all of MK's powers. He knows MK can beat DBK (more on that later). He does something similar to all this in 3x14, being the one to let MK face the Lady Bone Demon, powered by the Samadhi fire, alone (even after Pigsy tries to stop MK):

Wukong want's to protect MK. That's why he went to face the Lady Bone Demon alone in the first place—but here, he let's MK stop the end of the world all by himself. Why would he let his beloved student face not only LBD, but a reality ending flame alone?

Because he knows how much power MK has. Because he knows MK is capable of doing it.

This all brings me to my main point: If before now we were supposed to believe that Monkey King gave MK his powers, and he so clearly didn't, how would Wukong not know he didn't give MK powers. And because he clearly knew he didn't give MK any powers, why would he not question where this kid's insane level of power came from? He had to have "chosen" MK to be his successor for a reason right?

ESPECIALLY because Wukong never planned on being a mentor in the first place:

Sun Wukong: "I know I can never make it up to you. Honestly, I- I never thought I'd live as long as I have let alone be someone's mentor—turns out I'm not very good at it. I guess what I'm trying to say is...I'm sorry MK. For all of it."

(3x14 Destiny Fulfilled)

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This was also alluded to in 3x05 Amnesia Rules:

Pigsy: "Of COURSE you don't remember the kid—one day you are going to grow up to be a terrible mentor!" Sun Wukong: "Ha! Zhu Bajie, can you imagine me teaching someone? HA!"

-

So, Wukong clearly didn't ever want to become a mentor, and this directly contradicts what Wukong says to MK in "A Hero is Born":

Sun Wukong: "You're perfect!" MK: "Perfect for what?" Sun Wukong: "To be...my successor!"

Honestly, think about it: has Wukong ever once actually needed a successor? When given the opportunity, he goes off and tries to handle things on his own anyways (Leaving in s2, wanting to go and reforge the Samadhi Fire on his own, going to stop LBD alone). It's the classic "we're being told one thing and shown another" trick.

Sun Wukong: "No no no- in case you forgot I'M retired, you're the one supposed to be taking care of the bad guys." (1x01 Bad Weather)

Even in 2x01 he's lying:

Sun Wukong: "Aw, come on bud! I promised myself that when I found a successor I'd go see some friends, take a tour of my old stomping grounds, just cut loose you know?" (2x01 Sleep bug)

It's proven in the next episode, and by the fact that all of his friends are dead/gone, that literally nothing he said here is true.

And, it's also note worthy to point out, that by this point Wukong had already disappeared for hundreds of years. Why step in again at all? Why put the effort into getting a successor you definitely were never prepared to have?

MK: "*sigh* You think Monkey King ever felt like this? Maybe that's why he stayed up on this mountain, just having a good time with you guys. You know cause- cause he knew he'd be out of the way where he couldn't hurt anyone he cared about." Macaque: "Or, he was doing his usual Wukong thing and being a lazy peach eating idiot. Ignoring all the worlds problems.

(4x09 Roast of the Monkie Kids)

-

So, I don't know about you, but I'm going to trust Macaque's insight on this. I'm not sure Wukong ever planned on coming back. Sealing DBK, he effectively cut off one of his last ties to the world (please go read wlw-wukong's thoughts, they are delightful), and he had already left the world alone for a long time. Why did he feel the need to train a successor now?

The simple answer is this: because he knew he needed to train MK and teach him to control his powers, and DBK's return was the perfect way to do it.

NOW. THE S4 MK VISIONS.

So, the visions MK see's all through out s4 (4x03, 4x04, 4x05, 4x06) are of Wukong ripping through the scroll and going to the stone—David Breen confirmed that himself in the above tweets.

Here's a list of what we see:

(4x03 The Great Tang Man)

-

(4x04 Pig Napped)

-

(4x05 Court of the Yellow Robbed Demon)

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These are what I would say are the visions of Sun Wukong trying to find MK in the scroll. Yet, they are distinctly different from what Subodhi presses MK to remember ("Tell me of your childhood, your parents." "You do not remember?" "And what else?"):

(4x06 Show Me the Monster)

-

Look at that difference!

Every vision MK has includes the same scenes, except this one. That's why I think it's a memory; that and the way it's framed, with MK closing his eyes in focus. The other visions from 4x03, 4x04, and 4x05 all are unprompted, being forced upon MK. Why make this last "vision" so different from the others? Why show our mystery lady making the stone monkey? That would be because it's a memory—be it MK's, something from the scroll, or a mix of both.

There's also the matter of like, why Wukong going to the stone would trigger any sort of vision in MK to begin with. Overall, it just seems like there something more to those visions.

This would be how I imagine the general timeline playing out:

MK is created (through help of Sun Wukong), a beautiful baby boy pops out of the stone, and Sun Wukong "loses" that beautiful boy (if Wukong knew he was born to begin with) with MK finding his way to Pigsy's.

Then it's later Sun Wukong finds MK again, coming up with a plan to make MK his "successor" (still leaving MK with Pigsy, which I think was the right call lol). As Wukong says in 4x01, "You make ONE mistake, and no one ever let's you live it down! Looks like the ghosts of my past have finally caught up with me." That's what I think this parallel in particular is really trying to show off—in some way, MK is part of his past mistakes, just like Macaque is.

AND SO. I WILL CLOSE OFF THIS THEORY POST WITH EVERYTHING WE LEARNED IN THE SPECIAL.

Sun Wukong: "Heh, nothing gets under his skin more than a monkey. Leave Azure to MK and me."

(4x12 The Plan Man)

-

Sun Wukong: "Kinda embarrassing for the Jade Emperor to have two little cheeky monkeys running circles around him the first day on the job." MK: "Well, one monkey and one unconfirmed, but *laughs* yeah! I'd be embarrassed for sure!"

(4x13 Rip and Tear)

-

Wukong sounds suspiciously confident that MK is a monkey.

Not even MK is sure what he is (which he's probably just in denial, but also "Until I know what I am, what my destiny is?" from 4x08 anyone?), but Sun Wukong is extremely certain about what MK is.

Sun Wukong: "We got this bud. Would have liked to give you some new training with your monkey form, but-" MK: "Oh yeah yeah yeah- uh um- about that— um. I- I was thinking, I've never really needed a scary new monkey form before, so, I just thought maybe I'd use it next time." Sun Wukong: "Next time? Kid, there might not be a next time! This is the time."

MK: "It's be fine! Mei and I have got this awesome new armor and everything! You know, when we look this good? Ain't nothing gonna beat us." Sun Wukong: "Kid. New armor isn't going to cut it! We have to hit Azure with everything we've got! You can't just ignore this whole part of your power because it scares you!"

(4x12 The Plan Man)

-

If the writers were trying to highlight the fact that Wukong didn't know, this scene would have gone very differently. Instead of "You can't just ignore this whole part of your power because it scares you!" I think it would have been more along the lines of "I know this is new for all of us, but you've got to accept this part of your power!".

Even this exchange at the end of the special raises some alarm bells for me:

Pigsy: "Heh, don't bother. I've been telling him that for years but he LITERALLY never listens." Sun Wukong: "Yep! That's how we roll."

(4x14 Better Than We Found It)

-

That's how "we" roll? As in him and MK, as two monkeys? Again, Wukong is surprisingly chill and okay with this new form for someone whose first interaction with it was supposedly this:

MK, writhing on the ground in pain, completely destroying the world around him, and unable to control his powers.

Sun Wukong: "Yeah! Go MK, go! Just try not to totally wreck up my stuff would ya-"

(4x13 Rip and Tear)

-

Overall, it gives me the impression that Wukong already knew what MK was before 4x07. This new form didn't scare him because he always knew that's what MK was. MK, to Wukong, is MK! And MK has always been a Monkey Demon. He has unshakeable faith in his protege, and even while MK is absolutely tearing up the world around flower fruit mountain he can't help but cheer for him.

After all, Wukong knows MK is the only one who could defeat Azure:

MK: "Ne Zha's right—while Azure has the Jade Emperor's power and the scroll, there's NO way we could beat him head on!" Sun Wukong: "I mean, some of us could beat him! *ahem* One of us, specifically-" MK: "Nope! None of us at all."

(4x12 The Plan Man)

-

"But Imp!" I hear you say, "Wukong was talking about himself here!". To which I would reply, that's not true! This scene is right after Wukong has already said he only almost beat the Jade Emperor:

Sun Wukong: "But don't worry—I almost beat the Jade Emperor single handed once! Between both of us, Azure doesn't stand a chance." (4x12 The Plan Man)

-

Between this and Wukong's pre-fight convo with MK ("We have to hit Azure with everything we've got!"), he's clearly banking on MK using the full extent of his powers to win this fight. Wukong isn't banking on his own—if he were, he would never have left MK to go and collect the scroll pieces during their fight with Azure.

Conclusion

Sun Wukong knew MK was a monkey the whole time, lol—and fate has plans for MK. Great plans, or foul? Time will tell.

And Wukong has done his best to ensure that those plans are great.

[mysteryanimator]

Myst rambles about animation longer then they should + their love for Nocturne whoops

I keep thinking about the animation industry as of late again, all the layoffs, all the animators looking for jobs. So I might just be speaking to a void right now. I have not experienced any of the drought so I just may look doe-eyed trying to break into a disaster zone but I’m just here to offer that newbie perspective, as naive as it may seem. I’m gonna try and keep this short (whoops a lie) but if you can see where this is going, this is just going to be me talking about the impact Nocturne has on me, aka rewriting the abhorrent Twitter thread/Instagram post where I free-formed without checking my grammar. 

As someone who is pursuing animation, I have watched A LOT of animated shows growing up, I swear it was the only medium I did watch growing up. I made scuffed animatics and animations of the current show I was watching, not realizing they counted as love letters to the media. Yet, the animation industry scared me. It was so elusive and mysterious. The bar seemed too high, even when I decided to choose to study it at university. It seemed so out of reach.

Until Nocturne. 

Castlevania Nocturne practically humanized the industry to me. These people were fans of their own creations. They breathe life into them. All the character sheets that popped into my timeline, the rough cuts, all the silly memes. Something that seemed impossible became possible within an instant. My skills at the time were not what they are now by any means, hell even now I could be better, but, I looked at that show and went “I can do that. If they can do it, maybe there’s a chance I could do something like that.” I think it helps I am at a stage of my life where I can consciously consume content and have the ability to break it down.

Also, let's be so honest, it's combined with the fact that I fell in love with Mizrak and Olrox's plot... you get a very insane person. Passionate but insane. Who spends their entire day going frame by frame reanalysing 10 minutes of an episode? ME. Despite this, I have learned so much more than all my years at university have given me. I have become a genuinely better animator and a better artist. My understanding of animation finally clicked. I knew I was built for animation but didn’t know how I fit into it. I’m constantly on YouTube, absorbing information from YouTube channels like Dong Chang, wandering around Discord Sakuga servers/twitter, and taking notes. I'm still worried about bothering other people in the industry/more technically skilled than me but I think I'm getting slowly better and going "Hey I love your work! How did you achieve x/y/z? OH!? Can you explain what this means?" because again, these are just people like you and me.

So every single Mizrak and Olrox animation I’ve made has not only been a love letter to the show, and crew of people who put their heart and soul into making this, but these animations have been a testament to my skills. Take it like a capsule of how I’m improving every month. I will admit I sometimes get weirded out of the fan content I make, albeit a combination of low confidence, and imposter syndrome, and now my animation style has just become very synonymous with the nocturne style. These ‘cons’ however do get outweighed by the pros of it all. Finally finding a style that I find goes hand in hand with my illustration style (and I can't wait to see how I can evolve it into my own) and the bouts of self-doubt are vast and temporary. I am super grateful that I can look at my work in times of doubt and go “Literally anything is possible, let me put on a show that explores this certain animation principle/story beat in a particular way, and let me study it!"

It's super embarrassing to admit but Nocturne has genuinely changed the trajectory of my life. I am genuinely a whole new person with such a different outlook on animation because of this show. Yes, I am creative through and through, you cannot separate that from my blood, but Nocturne solidified that “You are exactly where you need to be”. The industry is in shambles, with people now reaching a year+ jobless, and contracts are ending, yet, if Nocturne genuinely wasn’t released at the end of September, I do not think any of this would've clicked.

(Backed up by the very fact I am/was directing a short and running a genuine studio when Nocturne came out. I was very unconfident at the time and doubted myself a lot in private since it was my first time doing any of this. This show helped me solidify a new perspective on how to run things! How to be a stronger animator!)

Now again, this is such a crazy thing to say now. I'm watching people from the show I love have their contracts ending/being laid off since last year. I swear every second tweet on my tl is of an animator desperately looking for a job or on the verge of giving up. Me, Mystery, is an animator with no skin in the game, so I don't truly know what the Western animation industry looks like from the inside besides what I get from social media. Let’s be honest, for all you know, I just animate two characters kissing constantly. That is merely the surface of its impact. HEY, I MAY DELETE THIS B4 ANYONE SEES BECAUSE THIS IS KINDA EMBARASSING, the industry sucks right now. People are losing their jobs, so what I’m saying may not matter, but also I think it does maybe? I think this is just a unique perspective to where people are losing faith and hope in the animation, I re-sparked my thanks to Nocturne. Who knows, I may lose this spark as I go further into trying to break into the industry once I'm out of uni, but I’ll take what I have now and ride this new bout of inspiration and creativity. I want to tell stories. I want to bring life to still images. I know it's possible because Nocturne exists. These are real people who exist, who put their love and care into this show. Passion like that is inspiring.

I also somehow can't escape these people reading this, so if you have made it this far- thank you for making this show the way you have! Thank you to all the people both still in it and to others who have had to part with Nocturne. I will admit I have gone through the credits and made sure I could try and learn from everyone's work despite how unique/different each role is.

I hope my grammar is better than last time HAHAH, the technicality of English isn't a strong suit of mine but fingers crossed that the ideas/content are still passable.

[lets-try-some-writing]

I love the Unicron "I guess I'm a Sire now" au, like I adore it. But also I vibe the au "humans are other and terrifying, borderline uncanny valley to bots " line of thought......sooooooo, hear me out:

Unicorn sees his offspring: they are very tiny and deceptively weak (at least in comparison to his brother creations), so he decides to meddle and gives us a boon, he changes us....a bit. Maybe he starts with the little ones (to him we are little ones) that are closest to the conflict: the tfp kids + associated humans, and giving it a test trial before moving to humanity as a whole

They still look as humanly possible, but its obvious that they are very other to an external expectator (even to other humans). But one thing is for sure, he made them into predators using human skin...

He builds them stronger, faster and more cunning than ever before, with superior senses. More resilient to the trials of time and less prone to injury or disease (giving his children immortality is anathema to him; chaos brings the possibility of change, which is inherent to them as much it is to him). He re-makes them with a general idea, but gives them a singular extra gift, to make them unique between each other, and as proof of his care snd devotion, but not su much as to isolate them from each other...

If ever asked, he will deny the possibility of partaking in favouritism like his brother. And yet, its a fact that he holds his most favored very close to his core (aka: the tfp kids, much to Papa Op infinite dismay). His children have faced dangers beyond the capabilities, and still, they have percevered despite all odds being against them, and he couldn't be any prouder (he knows that his kids will bring down empires if given the chance, well...HE WILL GIVE IT TO THEM)

In simpler words: I want the kids to become wholly other cause of Father Unicorn meddling, their reactions (and the bots + cons reactions)

This idea is FANTASTIC! I'm mad at myself for not writing for it sooner! Dang. Well I will try to make up for it with my work! Let's see how this turns out. I've always been a bit fan of cosmic horror and uncanny valley type situations. They are fun to write about.

Previous part here.

Not Quite Human Anymore

It was not his wish originally to change his creations. They had adapted and evolved just fine on their own without his interference. However now that Primus's children were involved, things were different. The playing field needed to be evened once Primus's children inevitably failed to protect his in a moment of hesitation or a lapse of judgement. Unicron refused to watch his children perish to forced that were unnatural to their world. They were HIS creations, and they would die in a manner he saw fit, not as victims to Primus's creations ridiculous war.

Thus while he used his avatar to keep an eye on the children who were most affected by Primus's creations, Unicron began to think and plan. He observed Primus's creations, he saw what they gained and what they lacked. He saw their mentalities and watched how they behaved. Then he observed his own children, watching how they preferred to act and what would suit them best.

It took months of careful planning, he couldn't risk hurting his little ones after all. However once he had come up with a plan he liked, he looked to his three most affected children and decided to use them to test his newest alteration. He had never done this to any of his creations, so they would be the first. If all went well, they would be leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of humanity, his little heralds. But if things went south, they would have Primus's creations to guard them, especially the Prime that seemed to taken with them.

Thus very quietly, Unicron began to act. He twisted the essence of the children, molding their flesh, their senses, and their minds to better endure the presence of Primus's eternal creations. It was a slow process, one that had the children growing taller rapidly. The team and the adult humans wrote it off as growth spurts kicking in... right up until they just kept growing. Jack reached a startling eight feet and didn't even seem to be suffering for it. Miko stopped at around seven feet, and Rafael at six. They towered over their peers and didn't even end up being disproportionate in any way.

They were taken to doctors and had Ratchet look over them when they began to start developing other adjustments. Their teeth sharpened, their eyes restructured entirely to be able to see in almost any light condition, and their sensory capabilities skyrocketed to the point of being on par with the bots. Their skin evidently became tougher, not invincible and still very capable of bruising but far less likely to tear. Their immune systems shot up in ability, warding off any and all diseases that weren't severe and lessening the pains of those that were meant to kill. They became faster, able to jump farther, last longer, and more importantly, their reaction times became increadible.

Overall they looked largely the same, if not for the fact that they were now the size of smaller minicons. The only other noticeable difference in them beyond their leap in capability was Rafael's new agility to sense fields, Miko's near total resistance to climate changes besides the worst of temperatures, and Jack's ability to handle pressure changes and hold his breath without fainting or being crushed. The children were rightly panicked, June and Fowler especially so. For the children's safety and to keep the government off them, they were kept with the bots until Ratchet could figure things out.

The team were startled and confused more than anything else when it came to the children, especially as their abilities became more obvious after their run in's with the Cons. Optimus nearly had a spark attack when Jack ended up flying high into the air after grabbing ahold of Laserbeak during battle and being carried off. He was retrieved but Optimus was expecting to find a corpse with how fast and how high the cassette had gone. Instead he found Jack right as rain clinging to Laserbeak's back as the cassette landed on the ground again. He nearly had a similar breakdown when Miko went through a groundbridge without them knowing that led straight to the Arctic. He once again expected to find a body, instead finding Miko rather unconcerned sitting in the snow building an igloo. As for Rafael? He didn't panic when the boy began asking why he was sad even when he was masking it, no instead he focused on helping Rafael figure out his gift if only so that it didn't overwhelm him.

The children startled Optimus, but he loved them all the same even if he had a vague inkling as to what was happening to them.

Ratchet straight up thought they were creepy. He still cared for the children and often found himself staring and running tests, but they worried him. He grew especially more concerned when after the children seemed to settle into their abilities, reports from around the globe began turning up pointing towards humans everywhere gaining a few extra inches and having an increase in strength, skill, and will.

Bulkhead and Wheeljack worried for the children but found their changes more relieving than anything else. Now the kids would be safer and less likely to die from random things that even their sparklings could endure. They found it especially fun to start chucking small lob balls (softly) at the children only to watch Jack or Miko catch it and toss it back. Bumblebee was also relieved, if a tad worried, but mainly took the changes in stride. He had a grand old time setting the children on his shoulders and not having to worry about them as much. Arcee was concerned and took little joy in the changes with how distressed they made the children in the beginning. Most of her time went toward trying to help them adapt while Ratchet tried to figure everything out.

The Decepticons didn't know all the details, but when the children did turn up on the battlefield, they found the vermin harder and harder to kill. A blaster shot just wasn't enough anymore, especially with that squirrel targeting them as well. Of course they grew more and more concerned about the whole thing when they too began noticing the reports of humanity changing into something... other. It reeked of divine influence and they began watching the children more closely to see if they could figure it out.

Unicron for his part simply began his work in relative silence. To ease the transition he sang to his children, every last one of them. During dreams he gave them visions of what they could do with their newfound frames. When they grew fearful he would hum softly to them in their minds through the bonds he forged through his touch. The humans didn't even know it was him, nor did they "hear" his song. But their souls knew him for what he was, their maker.

He tried not to play favorites, but he adored his three heralds. They were gifted, special, and so very unique. Not only that, but they had Optimus wrapped around their fingers. He adored them, and as he watched them grow and learn, he could see their ambitions and their drive. He would give them to the world.

Thus in dreams he sang to them. He showed them all they could be. And just to spite Optimus because he knew the Prime knew he was the one behind the changes, he became more bold with his usage of power around them, showing them marvels and warping the world to his desire.

[medlarmeadows]

Sparknotes version of qBads lore?

(us Ghosties have multiple thousand pages documents trying to put shit together soooo we don't know EVERYTHING about qBad but we know some backstory so I'll just give you the basics)

qBad was an angel, what type of rank we have no idea, however at some point a couple millennia ago he fell from Grace and became a fallen angel, aka, a demon, just not a hellborn one like qMrouse.

At some point after his fall he took on a job position as a Grim Reaper after training for centuries with one of many other Grim reapers

He's dropped tons of random lore bits about his life throughout time but they're not really relevant

I'm talking, shit like; he knew Darwin, he and Foolish were both in Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted (he was on vacation, he has no idea why Foolish was there), he witnessed the extinction of the dinosaurs when he was in heaven and had a hand in it, etc.

THEN he decided to take a vacation on Quesadilla Island of his own volition to take a temporary break from his Grim Reaper responsibilities since he hadn't had a break in centuries

Although he obviously got stuck on the island and oddly enough, he still didn't even manage to escape his responsibilities having canonically been the one to help Trump, Tilin, Juana, Bobby and Max cross over the river, to guide them into the spiritual plane.

Lore on the island wise, it's mostly a lot of little things but the I'll summarize the current storyline

When the eggs disappeared qBad began torturing himself with soul vultures, having them eat at him, which caused his soul to leak out of his body and decay.

During the nuke at the end of Purgatory qBad shielded Dapper with his body, tanking a nuke hit to the back since neither of them made it onto the boat on time.

This radiation rapidly increased qBads physical decay and for MONTHS Bad was walking around practically dead but was forcing himself to keep it together because he was still needed but eventually his physical body just gave out on him.

Because of this, qBad recently died and returned to the place he visits every time his physical body dies. Although this time he was given a chance to re-enter the heavens after millennia as a demon, however he chose to return to the mortal plane because he couldn't bear to leave 'the little ones' (all the eggs) alone.

As a high ranking demon qBad is able to die and come back without physical issues but every reincarnation he has to recollect his memories.

Also, fun fact, when he dies to something he comes back immune to the thing that killed him! qBad is canonically immune to decapitation (French revolution), being burnt at the stake (Salem witch trials), being drowned with his feet in cement (the mob), falling down stairs (we don't ask) and now the soul decay+radiation poisoning combo!

His current reincarnation remembers absolutely nothing of the past year, but he does have memories.

He remembers him and Foolish in somewhere similar to Egypt (the summer home), he also recognizes qPhil although hasn't specified how and remembers qCellbit from the Hunger Games which canonically happened 10 years before the island so he has memories but they're not up to date.

BADBOYHALO LORE!!!! THANK YOU ANON (also are we canonically married bcos im a tubbling? hehe)

roughly i was aware about q!bad's immortality plus the losing of memories when he came back, but ohohoho this gives me so much more depth

fallen angel bad? what an interesting tidbit of information. and the fact that this immortal being became so attached to the eggs that he chose to stay on the mortal plane for them

funniest bit i know is bad trying to get foolish involved in immortals lore and foolish just avoiding it like his life depends on it KEK

wait does this mean q!bad as the grim reaper saw when q!tubbo died? does it count i can't remember if q!tubbo has a soul because of Creation and all that

[ramoth13]

Sauron, Sacrifice, & Creation Ex Nihilo (Season Two, Episode 1)

Mae Govannen!

It has been some time since my last Rings of Power post and I am excited to post a few new ones.

In watching episode 1 of season 2, I was struck by a motif established in season 1, "creation demands sacrifice" which was exemplified by Galadriel's sacrifice of her brother's dagger to forge the rings.

In order to delve into the lore's implications within this series, a proper preliminary excursion into the source material is necessary. In the creation of the world, the Valar, at the behest of Eru, created the world. It was Eru that created from nothing, so that the Valar could create with something. Thus, it was Eru that "began" the making, but it was the Valar that created most of the known world of Arda. Why is this relevant?

Because each of the Valar were given gifts to augment the world around it. Yavanna made the twin trees of Valinor, which bloomed and bore the fruit of the moon and the sun in later days. Yet, Melkor (AKA Morgoth) did not bestow his augmentation. That distinction is important when considering what accomplishments came later, specifically making dragons. Melkor had to give of his own power to achieve his creations, and was lessened by them (as all of the Valar were, but that was by design; sacrifice was part of the deal).

Maiar cannot create from nothing.

What is interesting about this is that lower Maiar were given less power to begin with than the Valar. Sauron and Saruman both served Aulë originally, and they understood crafting in a way that others (Morgoth included) did not. Thus, while Morgoth gave of himself to augment life and flesh (forging dragons, twisting elves, wolves, men, [trolls have been theorized to have been tainted Ents, but that is not confirmed so far as I am aware] etc.) Sauron only did this once to the ring.

(SHOW SPOILER FOR EPISODE 1 OF SEASON 2)

But in the show, Sauron is "killed" in the first episode, and comes back. The fundamental interest here is how he returns. Not by chance, or luck, but by sacrifice. Notice, he does not return to form by merely remaking himself, or growing bits out of nothing, but by absorbing and sacrificing elements around him. He must slowly build back his power by consuming things around him. Or in other words, the show illustrates a very poignant element from the beginning, his power is limited by what he expends.

Sauron cannot create from nothing, thus his powers are as a battery.

I am excited to see where the rest of the series goes, but this motif is one I have loved and found to be a very endearing and enduring part of Tolkien's original design. I love that they kept it so close to the core of the show.

Galu!

~ Ramoth13

[cherubchoirs]

Lucifer holding those husk is so cute! How would he feel about actually becoming a father aka. Having his own kids? Or how does he feel about the topic of him having an actual familial bond and not just a mentor/Student relationship with someone?

(see this!)

there is something in lucifer that i certainly believe would embrace being a parent - he was made from god's own fire, his very love, but he contrasts with god in that his want for a child would stem from wishing to show them love, not take it from them. in him somewhere is still the joy of creation and like god he wishes to make, but at this point, in where he is now, i doubt he could fathom it. lucifer, in fact, would do everything he could to not produce any life from himself because he thoroughly believes now that anything he might make would suffer for his sins. everything he touches corrupts, rots, dies, it grows wronged and sickens...especially something he might delight in, might try to give love to. as much as he still has left to give, he would never now dare as he brings all to ruin and the thought alone makes his heart wither. as much as he would, in a perfect world, one away from the anger and hatred of god so heavy on him, have children of his own to love, to nurture, to grow into their very own, he knows they must remain a dream for their own safety.

(the antichrist is not given serious consideration, as revelation never states they will be the child of the devil in a direct sense. if they are so on the off chance, however, lucifer would smuggle that little lamb-dragon out of there and never allow them to be used as a pawn in god's fucked up cosmic game where they were never meant to stand a chance. he would know he couldn't protect them, that all he does is bring a different evil on them, but he would want them to know, in whatever little time they have, they are loved. they are accepted. more than anything, he would want any child of his to know those two things and that they could never lose them. when he thinks like this, he knows he would be imperfect in his own pain, in the cruelty he's suffered that has transformed him, but for his child, he would be his best and all the love he still has would always be theirs.)

[dwarf-vader-of-middle-earth]

Hi. I think you're super cool and awesome. I have figured out that you like Destiny and Skyrim, what other video games are you really into? Do you have OCs about games other than Destiny as well, and can you talk about them?

Aaaahhhhhh I LOVE YOU!!!!!! Thank you oh my gooooddddd!!!!

I absolutely have tons of OCs, mainly for The Elder Scrolls, Destiny (obviously), and Minecraft. I'll do my best to summarize their stories, but there's A LOT!!!

I'll go ahead and uhh... put the characters in a read more so I don't make anyone scroll for 15 miles to see the next post.

For Skyrim, my absolute BABY is my first ever character and my main, Hagen Dovahkiir/Zoorjunin. His creation is shrouded in mystery, so much that even Hagen himself doesn't remember anything but flying the planes of Tamriel to hunt and survive, though he's not sure for how long. He is a man who takes on the form of a half Nord and half Dragon, bearing the horns, wings, tail, and scales of the Dovah, but the rest of himself looks Nord. He's the Dovahkiin of legend, and his first truly vivid memories are of being captured by the Imperials and placed on the prison cart.

Hagen spent his time in Whiterun doing deeds to try gaining the favor of its people, and the jarl took a liking to the man, especially after Hagen wandered entirely by chance into Jorvaskr and joined the Companions, then wound up being their Harbinger. This earned the man, who, given everything happening with Dragons, felt as though Skyrim would view him as a monster. But Hagen continued his deeds throughout many holds, ultimately taking on Alduin and succeeding.

This, with his Harbinger position, earned Hagen fame and heroism like no other, but still the war plagued Skyrim. Balgruuf, closest jarl to Hagen, watched this half Dragon hone his Dovah prowess until, eventually, the man could take on the form of a full Dragon, shifting between forms at will. He was granted the name Zoorjunin, but Hagen refused to give this to any old person. Only to those whom he trusted most, limited to his husband, Farkas, and jarl Balgruuf whom he viewed as a brother.

And when Balgruuf outright Shouted for "Zoorjunin", Hagen knew grave danger was afoot, and flew forth to his brother wherein, gathered inside the halls of Dragonsreach, every hold's jarl except for Ulfric, bowed. They needed a king. None were more fit for this position than Hagen. And Hagen wanted NOTHING to do with this, but they convinced him no less. Hagen went with the forces of all holds at his back, charging Ulfric's castle and Shouting him off the throne wherein he challenged the false king to combat until submission. There, Hagen took the crown and throne, and with the help of all jarls, all allies, all friends, he eventually eliminated the Thalmor from Skyrim, and then Tamriel as a whole.

Before he knew it, he'd unified the land under an empire of his own make. After countless years, the Dragon of old tales became so powerful that new legends were written across the winds of time itself, and it's said these reached the Divines because, soon enough, Hagen ascended. He was named Zoorjunin, the Divine of Benevolent Change.

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

Next up you have my sweet man, Ragnar, aka Varlor.

Ragnar began his story as a Nord. He was Skyrim's most famed bandit, determined to form a throne of his own to sit upon so tall that none could tear him down. But his infamy gained the man a bounty in all nine holds, with the price of murder for each. Ragnar eventually was captured and brought for execution. But on his way to be executed, a Dragon ransacked the carriage and killed all but Ragnar, who saw this creature flying toward Whiterun. He was free. But so many died. And countless more were going to. Ragnar was no murderer, and in fact he hadn't really killed anyone unless he needed to before. So he went to Whiterun's gates and warned them of the attack, surrendering himself under the promise that they'd go and kill that thing.

It was here that guards brought Ragnar to a holding cell, and the man knew he'd meet his end. But when jarl Balgruuf approached, he offered the bandit a deal.

High King Hagen, his brother, was off fighting the Thalmor in the east. He could not take down the Dragon for these people. But if Ragnar could, then Balgruuf would ask his brother Hagen to clear every bounty on Ragnar's head in all holds.

Ragnar took this chance, killed the Dragon, and was a free man. He swore to make the most of this. Thus, he went ahead and chose to do something with his life for once: join the Dawnguard. Ragnar freed Serana and ventured forth with her for many months, and each time they visited a town, Ragnar would pray to Talos's shrines, but each prayer seemed more hopeless and desperate. Everything he asked for, all wishes for safety and ease, were met with peril and fright and ruin. Ragnar was broken, with only Serana and the Dawnguard to comfort him.

Eventually, Ragnar and Serana reached Knight-Paladin Gelebor, and was told to take on the trials of Auri-El. Frustrated, he went ahead no less and began the arduous journey across the Forgotten Vale. But oddly enough, with each scoop of water into his ewer, Ragnar felt a sense of fulfillment and peace ever growing inside. And when he finished, Ragnar almost felt an embrace of warmth within. Like the sun existed in part inside himself. He went on to kill Arch-Curate Vyrthur, and Lord Harkon, but the entire way that warmth just stuck.

Ragnar went to Gelebor and spoke to him of this. How everything changed when he entered the Vale as if it called to him. Here, he learned that Auri-El was Akatosh, the Dragon Father, but also the Divine of Light. And it was a Dragon that gave Ragnar his freedom and drove him to be better. It was ultimately this path which led him to the Inner Sanctum of Auri-El where he was FINALLY at peace. He didn't know what this meant.

Though his answers became more clear the more Ragnar studied Auri-El and the Snow Elves, and he worked with Gelebor to find others. Gelebor couldn't leave the Sanctum since it was his sacred duty to remain there, but Ragnar went ahead and began finding the remaining survivors, bringing them home to the Vale and temple. And with each journey, Ragnar grew closer to the light of Auri-El until, one day, he awoke within it as a Snow Elf, the voice of Auri-El not audible but there in the form of destiny. He bore upon his back the wings of light carrying runes of his people, the Snow Elves, and within his grasp was the sword of Auri-El himself granted to Ragnar so he may fight forevermore as the god's champion, and a symbol to his people that the light lives.

They live.

Thus he was granted, by his people, the name Varlor, or in Falmeris "symbol". And now, Varlor works to revive the Snow Elves in Skyrim and Tamriel as a whole, bringing them home to the Vale to be one with their god Auri-El at long last.

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

My last Skyrim blorbo is not as developed. Idk where I'm going with his backstory really, but he's an ancient Dragon Priest named Moroviik.

Essentially he rose when the Dragons returned to Skyrim once more, and here he honored the new king of Skyrim, Hagen/Zoorjunin, for the fact that he was a Dragon. Moroviik walked the land, curious to see what changed over thousands of years, but stopped when Draugr attacked a castle on the edges of The Rift hold. He found within the walls, one minor king who was fighting these Draugr and cursed Moroviik for causing these relentless attacks.

Moroviik, however, had no idea what this was or who this man was. He went ahead and, with magic and blade, slew the Draugr.

The king was astounded at the Dragon Priest's power, seeing as these undead were relentlessly laying siege to the castle for months now. He offered Moroviik riches and enchanted gifts if he could delve into the catacombs below and destroy whoever was spearheading these attacks.

Of course, Moroviik was up for a challenge and agreed. He ventured below, and met his match with a VERY powerful Draugr lord. One who nearly downed the Priest where he stood. But Moroviik succeeded regardless, and slew this Draugr, returning to the king with its sword as proof. So the king and his subjects celebrated in joyous glee as they enjoyed their freedom at long last.

But this was FAR from over.

The entire castle shook from beneath to above, its courtyard grounds splitting open in a giant rift as hundreds upon hundreds of Draugr climbed out, and charged.

The king led his people to safety, and Moroviik saw as the lord whom he had slain before rose once again and swore him out, damning the Priest repeatedly. It escaped into the fray and charged for the inside of the castle, and Moroviik fought. He fought all he could, taking down the Draugr quickly for the most part, and eventually made his way inside.

There he found, upon the balcony, the king bloodied and weak, impaled by his own sword. Moroviik BEGGED the king to keep living, but the king asked the Priest if he would defend these people eternally and uphold the good of the castle. Moroviik said he would. And there the king passed his crown to the Dragon Priest's hands, and died.

From the fray with a thunderous cry, Moroviik charged with the king's blade in hand, crown upon his head, and took the Draugr lord, driving the sword through its chest and slicing it upward through the face and skull, ending the terror and plight at last.

That night, the castle mourned, for their king was dead. But a new one had been crowned. And upon the gates of this castle, Moroviik put the old king's armor, and forever lived as its defender.

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

For ESO I've only got the 1 OC. Khyrus Morn Dynar/Nenalata Dynar.

Khyrus had a Nord name that's been lost to history now. He was born to his Nord parents as a child, unwanted and unloved. When finally he was old enough, Khyrus told them he loved men and wanted to go into the city to find a boyfriend. But his parents were abhorred and demanded their son not return from that city unless he had a wife and children for them.

Khyrus signed up with the Ebonheart Pact for shelter, pay, food, and purpose. He abandoned his Nord name here, and gave the Pact his new one of Khyrus Morn, and thus began his adventures across Tamriel.

The Nord achieved many great things, saving the Tribunal and befriending them all greatly. He'd earned the favor of Skald King Jorunn, Queen Ayrenn, and ESPECIALLY King Emeric.

When he learned he was the Vestige destined to end the Planemeld, Khyrus had to enter Coldharbour, and so he did. Here he'd met the last Ayleid king, Laloriaran Dynar, whom Khyrus befriended GREATLY. The king and Khy confided in one another, but more Khyrus in him. And soon enough, the Nord found a comfort he hadn't known in Laloriaran, almost as if the man was a fatherly figure to him. He began inquiring about the Ayleids and their history, their lives, their language, and the king was all too happy to impart his knowledge upon Khyrus.

Furthermore, Laloriaran granted Khyrus knowledge in the way of the Templar, giving this lonely Nord the light of the gods to wield as his purpose.

But when Khyrus charged Molag Bal, and slew the god, many casualties were wrought including that of Laloriaran Dynar. Khy fell to the king and grasped him, begging him to stay, calling him "Ata" or "father" in Ayleidoon. But it was the king's end, and he passed his sword to Khyrus calling him "kynde angua" or "my son". Laloriaran made Khyrus promise to keep fighting for the good of all the Aurbis, and the moment Khyrus swore he would, the king passed.

Khyrus was broken and lost. Distraught beyond measure. He returned with his soul to Tamriel, to his boyfriend Emeric, but he was VERY different. And for all his journeys taken, Khyrus would wander the ruins housing deceased Ayleids whom he'd try communing with to find his father. Yet the more he spoke, the less he heard, and the weaker the light he wielded grew until, one day, the Ayleids were silent, and his light all but gone.

The Nord swore to himself he'd never touch a mead bottle, but in desperation, he grasped one and downed it, falling unconscious. Here he woke, dreamlike, in an Ayleid ruin he'd not seen before, and found a golden ghost clad in armor that guided his way through. When it merged with a tomb, making it glow, Khyrus reached for this tomb and touched it himself, sobbing as he apologized to his lost father for having abandoned the light and his purpose. He was lost as well, and there was nothing he could do.

But a familiar voice promised to be his light, then, and thus Khyrus became embraced, in reality, by Laloriaran Dynar who appeared entirely to hug his son. Together, both returned to Tamriel, and Khyrus's light returned, himself a templar once more.

But it was the Ayleids with whom Khyrus truly connected. Their ways of martial prowess, and his father's desire to bring them justice and a good name and legacy of equality, this had all been passed to him in a sense when Laloriaran gave him the sword. Khyrus was the most honorable and just man, more powerful than any gods could rival. But he was lost, never liking being a Nord because it tied him to the parents who abandoned him entirely.

And thus answered the gods who, as for Ragnar/Varlor, they granted a peace to Khyrus in his sleep, and when he woke, he'd become Ayleid himself. And so he was crowned by his father, before the remaining Ayleids who'd gathered to their king, as Prince Nenalata Dynar.

Nenalata went on to marry Emeric, and Count Verandis Ravenwatch, and obtain MANY more male lovers including two Daedra: Rynkyus and Torvesard.

He, too, becomes an Aedric god. The Aedric god of New Beginnings.

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

Minecraft is my baby, my comfort game, and a few years ago I'd made my first full survival playthrough without commands, cheats, or changing modes, despite playing since release more than 10 years beforehand.

Thus began my Minecraft universe with Fengel and Hamod!

Fengel is the Hero of the End. The one who defeats the Ender Dragon and whatnot.

Basically, the story is a LOTR/Minecraft crossover, since I gave Fengel a Nazgul skin and it took off from there. He was a Nazgul, but forsook Sauron after the downfall of Gondolin from which he hardly fled from alive. Here, the Nazgul escaped and found himself in a strange world of blocks, needing to craft and forage to survive. He'd been given white wings, his bones much lighter than they were before, and began to set up a small shack where he landed upon arrival, thus making a way to survive.

But it wasn't long before monsters closed in and attacked, many blowing him up. No less, Fengel woke each time where he'd last slept, since he held his Ring of Power still, which maintained the power of revival.

Soon enough, Fengel was approached by curious Villagers who asked for his assistance. They claimed Fen looked strong, and that his wings could carry him high for his immensely great archery, which would help shoot down Pillagers that plighted their lands.

Fen was hesitant. He feared failing these people, but they insisted. Thus he went ahead, and prepared to defeat a raid on the nearby village. But as hard as he fought, he died and died and died again and again, and one by one the Pillagers took the Villagers until not one remained, and these monstrous beasts retreated.

Fengel mourned. He'd failed the people who needed him. He was broken and torn, returning to his shack in great sorrow.

Time and time again, villages approached Fengel to gain his help, and every time the Pillagers won and destroyed all lives but his own. This ring was a curse, but Fen couldn't be free of it.

Yet finally he discovered one place wherein he could save its people: The End. And so Fengel ventured into the Nether, across fortresses and gathering all he could, forged himself armor and went ahead to the End portal which he opened. Finally, he went into it, and fought the Ender Dragon to its death, succeeding as he'd liberated all and took home the egg as a prize.

A newfound might filled Fengel, and Pillagers took notice, coming forth to his shack in attempt to end him. But the Nazgul hero would not give, and he slew them. And the next band. And the next. Soon he'd forged the Bannerfield where he kept every banner of every Pillager attack, as a warning to all who dared enter his territory that he could not be defeated. And the field grew to well over 100 banners. Fen built walls to keep them out, extending these to the villages nearby which survived raids, and thus Fengel formed his empire of safety for all.

New Gondolin.

The Pillagers weren't happy with this, obviously. One band reached through the walls one night and attacked Fen's home. The hero fought them off, but one fled. Fengel killed the remainder, and tried to go inside his home only to find that fled Pillager looking for a fight. Here, Fengel trapped him inside a stone structure from which this lone enemy couldn't escape.

No less the Pillager tried to shoot Fengel repeatedly until his bow broke, and then his spirit. He cried, knowing his life was forfeit from here on. He'd not died with his band, and he fled from them when they were killed. He was a coward, and soon other Pillagers would come for him to end his life for this cowardice.

But to his surprise, Fengel began to build... something. A wooden structure around this trapped Pillager. One with windows? And bookshelves? And a bed???

Fengel broke down the trap and asked the Pillager for a name. When the Pillager said he had none, the hero called him "Hamod". A name of his people from the old Gondolin that had fallen ages ago now. He told Hamod he could stay here, work the farmlands since he needed some help with culling the fields and feeding the animals, and thus Fengel would keep him safe. But one condition: Hamod could never again raise any weapon for any reason.

For months, Hamod lived on Fengel's land, tending to the crops and animals, storing the food away and letting Fengel cook more than enough to feed them both. It was... strange. For the hero that hated Pillagers so much to be kind to one? Hamod didn't understand.

And one day, the guttural grunts of all too familiar sound approached, and Fengel found Pillagers gathered in a surrounding force around his home, demanding he submit to them for kidnapping their fellowman. Fen raised his wings to the sky and fired away, taking them down as best he could. But far too many came and overwhelmed him. The hero died and revived so SO many times, and meanwhile Hamod watched this in terror, seeing the man who had shown him genuine kindness for the first time be killed repeatedly.

As Fengel remained defenseless, alone, he was ready to give in to death endlessly until one arrow fired from the rooftop, and a voice cried out to let the emperor go.

The Pillagers and Fen looked only to find Hamod with a bow stored away by Fengel, and donning armor the hero forged. Hamod became ceaseless in his fury, shooting down the Pillagers as best he could to give Fengel the chance to fight back, too. And he did. And together they defeated the raid.

Hamod cried to Fen and apologized for betraying the promise made. But Fengel hugged Hamod and called the man his hero, kissing his cheek. He told the man to keep the bow and armor. He'd need it in the coming days.

Eventually, Fengel and Hamod began growing closer after this, with Fen teaching his new hero how to read the enchanting tomes, how to forge weapons and armor for himself, and so much more. And if ever Hamod felt scared or alone, Fengel was there to hold him and comfort the man.

One day, Hamod woke to being alone, with only a letter on his table that, inside, held a single ring. It was addressed with his name, and inside, said that Fengel went on an adventure. But he wanted Hamod to meet him. Take the ring, traverse the world, and find the hero emperor.

Hamod gathered his resources. Food, enchanted weapons and armor, arrows, torches, tools, and he went ahead across the world over snowy mountains, through deep caverns and into the Nether itself, coming out the other side to a gorgeous open field of flowers and a wonderful sunset. And sitting on the rocks he found Fengel waiting.

Hamod approached, and Fen took the ring from him, then took his own, and an enchanting tome. Here, he duplicated the power of revival to Hamod's ring, turned around, and knelt to the man, then gave a speech about how this empire of New Gondolin had been made with the sake of love and safety for all, but that he couldn't have done it without the love and safety granted by Hamod. This man was Fengel's heart and soul, and he refused to carry on without him. There, he presented the now enchanted ring, and asked Hamod to marry him.

The former Pillager agreed, and both held close as they embraced dearly and kissed. The two were married by a Villager priest, and forever lived invincible, the defenders and emperors of New Gondolin.

[kikoesbonbon]

Character : Zhongli

Mentioning: Childe

Themes: self aware, slightly angst.

As a former archon who reigned for thousands of years and lost many of his closest wholes, he found his lost glimmer. It's you.

As a former archon who ruled for thousands of years and lost many of those closest to him, he finds his lost glimmer. It is you.

Your arrival was right at the time of the Rite of Descension when Rex Lapis aka himself faked his death and chose to use a mortal body and chose to start working at the wangsheng funeral parlor, preparing a farewell for The Rex Lapis. He received a call to go to Liuli Pavilion, that's where he met you in Traveler form when Childe introduced himself to you.

Zhongli is a very thorough man. He immediately noticed Traveler's strangeness when they met at Liuli Pavilion. Traveler is not from Teyvat. But you… you're nowhere to be seen. But Zhongli can feel your presence.

The tone of your voice when you are happy to see him appear at certain events, the tone of your voice when you laugh at his behavior again when he forgets to bring his money again, the tone of your voice when you scold him for not being careful when spending money on shopping. Zhongli really wants to see you in person. But for now, he should be satisfied just listening to your voice when Traveler is around him.

He realizes that your world and his world are separated between screens and programs. He reflected on himself. He felt a little worried. If you are bored, will you really leave them? leaving Teyvat? leaving… himself? But he immediately breathed a sigh of relief after more than 2 weeks when he felt your presence, you faced the screen again. He will be happy to be by your side even if it's just for a character hang out event.

There are many rumors circulating around Liyue, when blessings will be given to vision holders, the falling stars are blessings given to those who are lucky in all parts of the Teyvat area.

And Childe was one of the lucky ones at that time. Childe happily praised how lucky he was to have such a blessing. Zhongli just smiled and congratulated Childe while drinking his osmanthus wine. But deep inside, he felt strange. Could it be that Archons with non-vision holders will not receive the blessings they deserve?

Sometimes, he hears how disappointed you are and gives up on the banner. He sometimes hopes he can break the game system, convince you he will be by your side for the third chance but he can't hope for more if you don't trust him anymore.

Zhongli put those thoughts aside. He just wants to be able to always be by your side when adventuring throughout Teyvat apart from his activities as a wangsheng funeral parlor consultant.

He couldn't help but envy Childe how lucky he was to have such a blessing. I mean… who doesn't want to get this lucky blessing?

Zhongli's heart felt a little sad after knowing that you didn't want him to come a third time after failing. He would probably blame himself, if only he could break the percentage system rules for you.

He knows very well that your world is much more real than his current world, full of codes and programming that the people of Teyvat believe are the creation of one of the gods.

He can only imagine how charming your face looks from behind that screen. Or maybe he could just find a way to get away from your screen and touch your cheek just once. Hoping that one day, you will appear beside him with your signature laugh to accompany his days. As a god, the former god is very pity to expect love and affection from mortals in return.

That night, when Zhongli was out of work and walking around the port of Liyue, and looking up at the night sky, he wished that the golden stars were for him after your lucky blessing fell on him once again.

»»-----------fin-----------««

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

It's shorter than anything else. lol. I mean… The previous one was over 7000 words plus. But this one is less. I wish I could write more like Alhaitham or Childe's version regarding I'm writing this from Euhm.. February too.

I swear, my Zhongli won't come home twice, man. I'm so stupid. Where's my Primo crisis again😭🤌

Zhongli doesn't want to go back to my account. *Hiks shrot.*😞🤚

Zhongli once said : "Osmanthus wine taste the same as i remember. But how do we met if you don't have enough any primogems." 😞🤌

-Zhongli 2k23 4

[shrinkthisviolet]

How about director's commentary on 'we'll give the world to you (and you'll blow us all away?'

Ooh gladly! Below the cut for length:

So this fic was written as part of Maiko "Halloweek" (so called because it was the week leading up to Halloween), aka Fall Maiko Week, back in 2020. Maiko was, and still is, one of my favorite ATLA ships, and writing this prompt also endeared me to Izumi too—I don't believe I'd seen LOK yet, though she's barely in it anyway.

One of the important aspects to me while writing this was implementing one of my headcanons: they got married relatively early, but waited a while to have kids. And part of that means they dealt with pressure about having an heir as soon as possible...mostly from the Fire Sages, who are worried that Zuko might die before conceiving an heir. And it's not that the worry is unfounded, but it's the persistence.

It was a nice chance, also, to highlight the Gaang's closeness. This is one of my favorite snippets of that:

…Zuko had the full force of the chi-blocking Kyoshi Warriors, a master waterbender, the Avatar, a master swordsman, a master earth- and metalbender, and a master knife-thrower behind him. Anyone who dared oppose him would fail, of that the Gaang (Sokka’s name for them, expanded to include the Kyoshi Warriors) was certain.

And also this, showcasing a little Maitara friendship:

... Mai found out from a furious Katara that they’d been approaching members of Team Avatar in an attempt to circumvent the royals.

“What’d you do?”

“Threatened to freeze them if they tried it again. But I’d keep my eyes peeled, just in case they didn't get the memo.”

The worst part is that even when they finally get the hint and back off in the pestering...the rumors don't stop:

The Fire Sages no longer brought up the need to have an heir, but Zuko and Mai had endeared themselves to the palace staff enough to know about the whispers. The sneers that perhaps the marriage was not as happy as presumed, that perhaps the Fire Lady had already been pregnant when they wed (apparently, some in the Fire Nation were praying that this was true, and Zuko had never felt like committing murder more than in that moment).

Of course, as stated later, the Fire Sages are spreading the rumors. The palace staff are too endeared to Mai and Zuko by this point...and the Fire Sages intend to force their hand however possible.

Also, this adorable Maiko moment, with a little Maiaang friendship:

“Since when are you into proverbs?” Zuko teased.

“I’ve been befriended by a certain Air Nomad,” she replied with a smirk. “It turns out, he and your uncle speak the same language.”

“And you’ve picked it up?”

“Unfortunately.”

And this one:

...he focused his efforts on the creation of the United Republic of Nations and enlisted Toph and Mai’s help in replacing the gossiping Fire Sages. When the Fire Sages protested, he simply said, “If you wanted my ear, you shouldn’t have insulted my wife.”

I love them 🥰 I will go down with this ship fr (that last line in particular...one of my favorites I've ever written)

Also...Mai telling Zuko she's pregnant under Yue's light (right after Zuko tells her Yue's story) is intentional, given that Izumi is born at the moon's peak—which itself is also intentional!

But back to that in a bit. For now...Mai and Zuko's shared anxiety was important for me to convey:

He looked at Mai very seriously and said, “Do you want this? Really, and truly, do you want to have this child?”

She looked back at him, first startled, then serious like him, and nodded firmly. “I do. But I also want to do it right. I want our child to know they’re loved, always, and that they never have to earn it.”

They both want their child, they want to do right by them, but they're scared too. And of course they'll do their level best and even beyond that, but that anxiety can be hard to shake. It takes time!

But now, back to Izumi:

Princess Izumi was born in late spring, at the moon’s peak, with a quick but steady breath in her lungs. It had been a difficult birth for her mother, and a stressful event for her father, and the fact that she had even lived to breathe was a miracle in itself.

As mentioned prior, Izumi being born at the moon's peak would likely be unusual for a firebender. Late spring itself probably isn't too strange, even if summer would likely be more auspicious.

Izumi has a little asthma at birth too! Nothing too serious, but she is the first (and only) child. I've never liked the hc that Mai dies in childbirth, or that she and Zuko stop having kids because of pregnancy complications...but as someone who's the eldest child, yeah, we are usually pretty difficult births (one of my baby cousins was too).

And then, of course...it gets worse, because Izumi doesn't have the Spark.

So here's the thing about the Spark: I've admittedly never been totally sure what it is, I've always imagined it as the sun hitting a baby's eyes in a specific way...but I also think it's superstition more than it's legit. Zuko didn't have a Spark either, and he's a formidable bender. It's probably an old wive's tale, and it rightfully Zuko off:

“You cannot have a nonbender heir,” another Sage snapped. “It has never been done!”

“I was presumed to be a nonbender upon my birth,” Zuko retorted sharply, “and I ask you to mind your tone. I am your Fire Lord and this child’s father. If you’d like to try appealing to my wife, I assure you, my feelings toward this pale in comparison."

...

“Believe me, she means it,” Zuko said coldly from the door, startling the Sages. “And so do I. One more step towards my wife or daughter, and I will not hesitate to incinerate you.”

Another fun part was writing Mai getting pissed too:

Unbelievably, they tried just that, not even giving Mai the courtesy of sleep before approaching her. Mai, being both sleep-deprived and furious that they would propose infanticide, warned,

“Get away from my daughter or she won’t be the one disposed of today.”

Any time I get to write her emotions, it's really fun for me, because she's usually such a reserved character, while I am very much not 😅 she's so unlike me, so it's always fun to dig into why she's like that (which I've done in other fics), and show her being more emotional as she marries Zuko and grows older, to show how she's grown and changed 💞

Zuko being protective of Mai was fun to write too...and him being protective of Izumi!! He loves her so much already 🥰 and speaking of which...I loved writing this first moment of him holding her:

“Getting sappy on me? Save that for Izzy.”

Zuko smiled at his daughter. “Hello, my little turtleduck. Don’t mind your mother. She loves us, really.”

Loved it so much that it ended up as the preview in the summary 😂

Also ofc, this scene with him and Izumi later:

“And this is the turtleduck pond, where the turtleducks live! Except you, of course, little one.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re my little turtleduck, and you’re actually human, so you get to live in the palace with me and your mom!”

But Izumi caught sight of the turtleducks, who were squawking happily at her, and seemingly out of nowhere, she burst out crying.

“Oh! Oh, um..what’s wrong, Turtleduck?” The name only made Izumi cry harder, and Zuko winced. “Um...Izzy? Izumi? What’s wrong, sweetie?” Her crying didn’t abate, and Zuko flipped her on her stomach and over his shoulder, patting her back firmly in an attempt to burp her.

He gets so worried here, it's adorable 🥺 remember what I said earlier about how Maiko both want Izumi but they're scared/anxious, and both things coexist? This demonstrates that. Zuko's a little out of his depth, and it shows, and I loved writing this. No parents are perfect to start off, especially not parents like Mai and Zuko who are flying...mostly blind (with help ofc, but even so...they're the full-time parents). But they're determined to do right by Izumi no matter what.

Mai says something to that effect here:

“Look, Zuko. What you did, when she was crying? The way you panicked and tried to soothe her in any way you could? That’s the mark of a great father. That’s the mark of a father who cares, who might not have all the answers but still wants to try.” She smiled softly. “It’s leagues better than either of our fathers, I’ll tell you that.”

As Mai says, she's “full of good points”, and I’m quite inclined to agree 🥰

(Also, as a bonus, I got to throw a little shade at parts of the ATLA comics. Aang refuses to even consider killing Zuko, and Kei Lo is Mai’s ex, not her boyfriend. Ahh how I love throwing shade at the comics 💞)

director’s commentary ask game!

[silentstaresfanficandfanart]

I never wrote an intro so here!

I'm SilentStares but you can call me Silent, Sil, Stare, or Star (i think star is nice and suits me well!) I write fanfiction and draw fanart for a few different fandoms. I'm also silentstares on ao3

you may call me your highness, but i'll accept she/her too. I'm just really cool and I think i deserve to be a pretty princess sometimes!

I am troublingly fond of the worst characters, and I won't stop writing isekai and you can't make me.

I write crack but like, with all my heart. I take it seriously. I will make and have made Keito Hasumi from enstars into a magical girl , and I will take it 100% seriously.

Please feel free to send asks and chat at me! Especially if you for some strange reason want to talk about fanfiction with me or decide that for some reason you might actually want to ask a question of one of my oc's! Or just do something to them- I personally enjoy microwaving them. Im here in hopes of interacting with other fans and goofs not to sit here ALONE and SAD so please do say something to me i assure you I won't be annoyed it's just a tad lonesome here if no one talks :<

Top activities i do: fanfiction, drawing, and programming

~linkies!~

current games available: Hateshinai Umi Aquarium,friends and furntasy

available for free on Itch.io!

Original works:

Halcyon (superhero story about a villain who'd do anything to save his hero!)

Now available to read for free! Please just tell me what you think after that's all I ask <3 I really hope you'll give it a chance, its a lot more similar to magical girl stories than regular superhero stories, and if you like theater-loving villains with the power of LOVE (no really that's his power-) with a flair for the dramatic and bunny girls who really need therapy, and a setting where thanks to my weird magic system that dictates how powers are given, the power of love is one of the scariest powers of all, youll LOVE this, also if you like found family and other things like that youll really love it <3

Do mind the trigger warnings though

also official Halcyon tumblr here

mermay marine biologist dating sim aka hateshinai umi aquarium(in progress)

Friends and Furntasy: a furry game where you make your own character and go on adventures with a cast of strange characters to interact with and perhaps,become close to~? owo (though the dating sim aspects are going to be more of a bonus feature and not the focus of the game)

open to comissions but i dont know how to pull that off very well yet

[dean-winchester-is-a-warrior]

The Mission

Summary: Castiel is intrigued by his mission; rescuing a human from hell has never been attempted. He's even more intrigued when he finds him.

Pairings: Dean and Cas (non-romantic) - not a Destiel fic. (No shade or shame to Destiel shippers, it's just not what I was going for here, but you do you. 😊)

Warnings/Explicit 18+: Nothing major, show level gore, Dean in hell, Dean suffering supreme angst, early seasons (aka VERY angel-y) Cas.

Word Count: 2,084

A/N: So, this has been something that's lived in my brain for a while now. I was reading a comment on a YouTube edit one time, and the person mentioned that, when imagining Cas rescuing Dean from hell, so many people have the image in their head, of Cas pulling Dean away from torture, or out of the chains we see him in. But really, of course, when Cas rescues him, Dean has already been torturing souls for a decade. So, that is what he rescues him from.

I absolutely ADORE Dean and Cas' relationship and I love both characters so much. So, this was my interpretation/headcanon of how I think things went down when Cas raised Dean from perdition.

The beautiful dividers below at the bottom were created by @talesmaniac89.

The angel had never been to Hell. There had never been a need. 

Heaven was separate and apart from the demon dimension, and from earth too. Yes, they observed earth, sometimes sat in shadows and watched the humans live their lives; watched them fail and succeed, love and hate, fear the wrong things, worry away their existence and throw away their potential, accomplish incredible acts of generosity and love, create beautiful things, and all too often, destroy one another.

The angel had seen all things on earth, he knew all things in heaven, or thought he did. He knew how often humanity failed and had even heard some brothers and sisters say that their Father had been heartbroken by His creations and that was why He was hard to find these days. There were so few who spoke to God, but they seemed to think He was very disappointed. The angel knew some of his brothers and sisters saw their human charges as little more than hairless apes. 

But he found them occasionally intriguing. 

He’d been very intrigued when he was given this assignment. They were to infiltrate Hell and rescue a human from there before he succumbed to evil. When he heard of their mission, he’d wondered, why this human? 

They found out that the First Demon was trying to use him to free their banished brother from his cage. But knowing that still didn’t explain it to the angel; why this human? He had his orders and he would follow them; of course he would follow them. 

But he was curious. 

He knew he shouldn’t be - curiosity had gotten him into trouble in the past. Curiosity was almost an emotion, nearly a human thing. There was no room in an angel’s mind for wondering, for seeking to understand. Orders and rules were in place to be obeyed. That was all.

He told himself this over and over, yet the kernel of curiosity remained.

So the garrison had breached the gates of hell with trumpet sounds and waves of celestial power, but they knew immediately that they were too late. They could feel it in the air, smell it in the sulfur-filled atmosphere; the demons were rejoicing - had been for quite a while by the looks of things. The burning fires of the pit were alive with joy. The angels had mounted their offensive too late, taken too long to break through the defenses of Hell. 

And the Righteous Man had fallen. 

But the orders came through from their superiors to fight on, to get to the human and save him, rescue him, bring him out of death. So they did. 

There was no particular angel that was meant to be the rescuer; it only worked out by chance that he was the one walking through the ante-chamber and into the dungeon. They had all fought hard, and he just happened to get through first.

But as he pushed through the heavy door, into the dark, stone room, and saw the man who stood inside, the angel believed, for just a moment, that perhaps their Father had truly meant for it to be he who found him. As his angelic glance fell upon the tarnished human soul in front of him, it felt almost fated.

“Hello, Dean.”

The man did not seem to hear him or maybe didn’t care that he did. He stood in front of a table with the remnants of a sliced up soul laid out before him. The soul still screamed, but it was nearly eradicated, all burns and blood and pain.

Dean Winchester though, held onto his human form. It was an illusion, of course, there were no bodies in Hell, not really. But bodies were imprinted onto the human souls that were left to fester there because it hurt them more, terrified and tormented them more to see the flesh they knew so well being peeled off in front of them. The pain could be inflicted to their soul without it, but the demons liked the added flourish.

So, to the angel, Dean stood before the table looking like an ordinary, everyday human. And yet not. There was something different too, something the angel couldn’t define, something that brought out his dangerous curiosity once again. Dean’s soul shimmered just below the surface of his body construct, and the angel was quite sure he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his millenia of existence. 

As Dean pushed his knife into the ravaged flesh of the soul he tortured, the angel watched a black spot blossom across the bright light that was the essence of Dean Winchester. There were many, similarly dark, decaying spots marring the surface, blocking out the light. The angel had seen many such blemished human souls; even in heaven there were some souls who wore their wounds from earth forever.

But what he found very curious, what made him feel a kind of wonder and awe was that as one piece of Dean’s soul darkened, the other, clean pieces, shone brighter, nearly blinding even to his angel eyes. He’d never seen a soul fighting so hard against the darkness trying to overtake it.

He tried again to get Dean’s attention, but the man just continued his monstrous work, carving and slicing into bleeding flesh. The angel took another tactic. Perhaps the human was too far gone into Hell to hear a voice from Heaven. So, he brought forth the image of the vessel he intended to use when the angels all followed Dean to earth as the next part of their mission. 

He’d been making visits to Jimmy Novak, helping him prepare to become a vessel, testing him. So pulling up the illusion of his appearance was easy, and suddenly there were two bodies standing in the room together and Dean seemed finally to see him.

The man’s bright green eyes looked remarkably out of place in the dank hole they occupied. He stared at him and the angel nodded, beginning his greeting once again.

“Hello, Dean. I am Castiel. I’m an angel of the Lord and I’m here to rescue you.”

The jewel-like eyes blinked but there was no depth or human emotion there, and within seconds he returned to the task in front of him, dragging yet another tortured shriek from the shredded man in front of him. 

“Dean, did you not hear me? I’m here to pull you out of Hell. You must come with me. We’re running out of time.”

The man spoke and his deep voice echoed oddly, as though he was speaking from somewhere deep inside himself.

“Lies.” He said. “You’re not gonna fool me again, Alastair.”

Castiel frowned. “I am not a demon. I told you, I’m an angel, and I am here to free you from Hell.”

Dean’s body seemed to shudder slightly and he made a particularly vicious thrust with his knife into the belly of the mutilated soul he was working, ripping downwards and spilling entrails onto the table.

“Lies.” He whispered again, and Castiel could see the pain in his soul throb.

Castiel heard noises coming from outside the door, still far enough away, but approaching. “Dean, you have to come with me, now.”

Stepping forward the angel took hold of Dean’s shoulder with Jimmy’s hand. But the vessel wasn’t true, only illusion, and the angel’s grace still burned forth; he felt the way his hand singed the Righteous Man’s soul, burning him.

Dean screamed and dropped the knife, wrenching himself away from the angel and falling to the ground. He sat a moment, eyes clenched in pain before he opened them again, and looked up to where the angel hovered above him, ready to grab hold of him again if he needed to.

But what he saw in the man’s emerald eyes told him that Dean Winchester was awake at last; all the pain that emanated from his darkened soul had bubbled up into his expressive face and beautiful eyes. Shock and fear were first, but as he stood up and looked to the pitiful creature he’d ripped apart, horror blossomed there.

“Oh god.” He whispered. “Oh, god. No.” He said and he reached forward to where the man’s intestines were spilling out of his insides and, rather horribly, tried to push them back in. His voice was frantic and on the verge of screaming as he looked at what he’d done. 

“God, I’m so sorry, god, god, I’m sorry.” He looked to the angel, and Castiel was unsure what to do or say as tears rolled down Dean’s face. 

“Please, please help me.” He begged the angel. 

Castiel shook his head. “There is no time Dean, we must leave, now.” 

But the former hunter either wouldn’t or couldn’t listen. While trying to hold slippery guts inside a stomach cavity, he was also trying to put pressure on all the parts that were bleeding out. He began slipping in the blood as he tried to use his own body to stop the flow.

Castiel had no idea what to do. This was the last thing he’d expected to see. He could just grab him again and pull him out. But there was something about Dean’s devastation, the collapse of the carefully constructed walls he’d lived behind for a decade of Hell’s savagery, that made the angel want to fix it for him. 

“Stand back, Dean.”

The hunter shook his head. “I can’t, he’s bleeding too much.”

“Stand back.” Castiel repeated softly. 

Dean looked at him properly for the first time, and something in the celestial being’s borrowed face seemed to resonate in him and he nodded and stepped back. Castiel laid his burning hands on the remnants of the creature on the table and a white light shone brightly for a moment and when it was gone, the body was gone too, only blood and torn clothing remained.

Dean shook his head. “What did you do to him?”

Castiel shrugged. “I gave him a second chance. He’ll be reborn into a new body and try to see if he can avoid ending up down here a second time.”

Dean frowned and scrubbed his face with his hands, leaving streaks of blood behind. “You can do that?”

“Sometimes.” Castiel said, not adding the fact that he’d never done it before, only seen older brothers and sisters doing it once or twice. He wasn’t even sure he was allowed to do it. But when Dean turned grateful eyes on him, a semblance of relief on his beautiful face, Castiel found that he was willing to take the risk; it was worth it.

Dean shook his head. “Are you really here to…get me out?”

Castiel nodded. “Yes, I’m going to return you to your real body, which is buried in a field in Illinois. You’ll have to crawl out by yourself. But I’ll be there to meet you soon after. Listen for my voice, I won’t have my vessel yet.”

Dean nodded. “I will."

Castiel started to reach for Dean’s shoulder again, trying not to burn him in any other places. But before he did, he thought he should make something clear.

"You won't remember me when you wake in your body. But I'll find you."

Hope bloomed in Dean's eyes again. "An’ I'll forget all this too?" 

For the first time in his existence, Castiel wished he could lie. But instead he shook his head. "No, I'm afraid you'll remember all of Hell."

Dean closed his eyes slowly, eventually nodding. “Yeah,” he whispered, “I shouldn’t get to forget.” 

Castiel wanted to ask what he meant by that, but just then, he heard the fighting move closer, right outside the dungeon door, and he realized they couldn't waste any more time. So he gripped Dean tight, raising him from perdition. 

The hunter’s soul shone brightly as the angel raced him through the Hell dimension and through the air and sky, to finally burrow him into the dirt and set his soul carefully back into his human body. With his hand still on Dean's shoulder, the angel pushed grace through the corpse, healing the decayed flesh, and connecting body and soul once again. Dean gasped, suddenly alive beneath the soil faster than Castiel had anticipated, so he fled. 

It wasn't until later, as he saw Dean staring in the mirror, confused and shocked, that he realized he hadn't healed the handprint burned into Dean's shoulder.

For a reason he couldn’t explain, that fact made the angel smile.

NEW TAGS:

1 - Jensen RPF + Any/All characters Jensen plays. @lyarr24 @deans-spinster-witch @impalaslytherin @maggiegirl17 @akshi8278 @candy-coated-misery0731 @nt-multi-fandom @deanswaywardgirl @slytherinlyn314 @globetrotter28 @jensensgirl @perpetualabsurdity @tristanrosspada-ackles @djs8891 @muhahaha303 @kayyay1219 @emily-winchester @recoveringpastaaddict @mimaria420 @sacriceria @envyaurora95

2 - Dean Winchester Fics Only. @saikosheadcanons @lgranger67 @carryonwaywardgirl

3 - Any/All Fics (regardless of fandom/character.) @sunshineandwings86 @kazsrm67 @sexyvixen7 @alexxavicry @nancymcl

4 - Everything (includes fan vid/DOOL edits as well) @unabashed-lover-of-fictional-men @awkward-and-indecisive @maliburenee @supernatural4life2022 @spn730015 @b3autyfuldisast3r @kickingitwithkirk @waywardbaby @foxyjwls007 @deanwanddamons @deandreamernp @deanwithscissors @myloversgone @snowlovespie @leigh70 @all-alone-he-turns-to-stone @charred-angelwings @hopefuldreamers-world @mysherlock221b @jensensgotyoudean @stixnstripesworld @thoughts-and-funnies @magssteenkamp @norman1967 @princessmisery666 @eevvvaa @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @deepsketchsupernaturalcowboy @b-i-t-c-h-i-e @twirpbunwarrior @mysweetlittledesire @waynes-multiverse @mrsjenniferwinchester @bernasaurus @jensenslady79 @courtn92 @avanatural @ellie-andthemachine @this-is-me19 @roseblue373 @katbratsupernaturalwhore @fanfic-n-tabulous

[itsahotminuteinbetween]

alrighty then, written explanation it is because I've been trying to draw it out for the past couple of days but designs are not fun to hash out while working on other things but anyhow!

some quick notes on the celestial symphony au prior to events that take place:

So, in canon, the Daycare Division started with attendants Sun and Moon-however, in this au, the theatre and daycare attendant line started with Eclipse models-the body was made by the creator, but the software was left up to FazCo. While functional, there were some slight errors with the first prototype during testing prior to its release into the public, such as confusion over orders and unwritten personality guidelines, to name a few. As a result, the first Eclipse prototype was scrapped within the first five minutes of its activation. Unfortunately, it wasn't properly shut down when trashed in Parts and Service, and finally turned off after running out of battery within a span of a few weeks without motor control activation to reach a charging outlet.

The second model (aka the og eclipse from the sun and moon show) built did not have these errors and was green lit to be released into the daycare, with smooth sailing for about 8 months before an incident occurred. There appeared to have been an overlooked software issue that messed with the personality of the attendant, causing it to become more irritable and quick-tempered, with certain parameters stressed too much and overruling others. A guest was gravely injured (to say the least), and the Eclipse model was scrapped in Parts and Service like the first.

With the evident failure of the Eclipse models, FazCo decided to split the code into two separate AIs-Daycare Attendants Sun and Moon, who were much more successful than their predecessors. Two years after their creation, Lunar was added to help with the younger children. At this point in time, the Daycare is doing alright, but the profit isn't enough to justify the investment placed in corporates' eyes. To cut back on cost, human staff manning the theatre and assisting in the daycare were replaced with the previously scrapped Eclipse models, which was...a bit jarring for everyone involved.

The first prototype, aka Solar, is tasked with manning the theatre, while Eclipse is sent off to be of more assistance in the Daycare, which results in some rising tension as both models realize how quickly they'd been replaced and how little they're actually needed. Sun, Moon and Lunar are hesitant to allow Eclipse to handle the children due to his less-than-stellar history with them, and Eclipse himself struggles between anger and betrayal over his replacement and the fear of a repetition of his lash-outs that resulted in his decommission. To avoid the other models, Eclipse typically stays away from that part of the plex and hangs around the theatre to bother Solar and help out with some menial tasks.

(Solar and Eclipse are on okay terms here for the most part-though Solar is a bit bitter about the fact that he was replaced so quickly without being given the chance Eclipse had, he recognizes the similarity in their situations, and they're a little closer than they are with the other attendant models. Sun, Moon, and Lunar don't mind Solar much since they couldn't really find anything about his past that was as bad as Eclipse's, and he stays out of their way for the most part. They're on good terms, with Solar helping Moon with any technical issues that should arise and entertaining Lunar after closing.)

This arrangement continues for several months before Earth's arrival to restore the theatre under the threat of the entire Daycare department being shut down and all the attendants scrapped.

[samuraijackredemptionau]

My Samurai Jack Theories (perfect for the AU)

(Points in time for reference)

Big bang - 13.8 billion years ago Aku's accidental extinction of the dinosaurs - about 65 million years ago When Aku gained sentience - 1603-1867 (We'll say roughly 1700 because it's not specified) How long he was trapped in a tree - 8 years after sentience Time period of the future - 4700

Sources: Google and this video as reference

•What if Aku isn't evil, but just heavily misguided, and ill-informed?

•Good and evil, right and wrong, morals in general, and even time are just social constructs, and completely subjective. You'll never find two people with the exact same moral standings in the universe. So, If Aku was "pure evil", he'd have to be made out of every persons subjective definition of "evil", including all of the conflicting definitions. Aku would've devolved into a black hole by now and swallowed up the whole universe. But he hasn't, so he isn't.

• Aku has existed since shortly after the "Big Bang" (give or take like five minutes as shown in "The Birth of Evil" episode). Aka the creation of the universe. He popped into existence as a shapeless, formless entity. So his creation was not directly caused by the "Big Bang", as he was not created at the same time it happened. Instead he appeared moments after the fact. I think there's a possibility that something greater created Aku, and sent him into the world for some purpose. Purposefully right after the big bang. His creator, parental figure (from a human standpoint) or his God, if you will.

 • Who is to say the three gods (Ra, Odin, and Rama) truly know if Aku is "evil" or not? They don't, they just saw something they don't understand, and called it evil because it was different. Humans/mortals use words like "demon", "evil", "monster", and "magic" to describe things that they don't understand. The god's seem to be no different from the humans they've modeled after themselves, in this case.

In "The Birth of Evil" episode, they too refer Aku as a being of "pure evil". Because they don't know what Aku is, never seen anything like him before, he COULD'VE done something to harm them or the universe. So, they decided they had to strike first before Aku did. Such broken logic, because you could say that about ANY new person you meet. That doesn't mean you have to punch every stranger you come into contact with, right on the spot!

"DIFFERENT MEANS EVIL!", they said.

I think this song explains this point pretty well.

• No one, not even Aku is sure of what he is exactly. To Aku's knowledge, he is the only being like him in the whole universe. Something, someone, entirely new. He's never even thought of the possibility that he might have a creator (other than the Emperor), let alone seek them out.

Every being Aku has come into contact with has deemed him "evil", before they even got to know him;

The 3 gods; Ra, Odin, and Rama (When Aku was still a non-sentient being).

The Emperor right after he, albeit accidentally, gave Aku sentience.

And even Jack.

• Aku was never given the chance to choose and forge his own destiny. Much like jack, Aku's destiny was predetermined for him. Aku's destiny to be "evil", given by the gods and the first mortal he ever met (Emperor). That he was meant to just be this big, dark entity that could do nothing but be evil, Like it was all he was, and would ever be.

While Jack's destiny was to destroy Aku, a destiny he inherited from his father, and his father got from the Gods. Jack's father got to live out and forge most of his own destiny before he "had" to fight Aku, at least. Jack never got that chance. That choice to choose and forge his very own destiny, just like Aku. He was instead forced to leave his home, to train for 17 years, for a fight he never had a say in.

   The emperor only got the order to kill Aku because the God's were too lazy to finish the job that they started. If they really thought Aku was the great threat that they like to say he is, then they would've went down to earth and destroyed Aku the moment they found out that he was still alive. But they didn't, because they don't. They like to think of it as a game, I believe. They don't respect the mortals, they see them as lesser beings that they can do with whatever they please. Odin in particular is a good example of that, based on his lore (which is very well explored upon in God of War Ragnarok).

They're just bored as hell, and wanted something to play with, to pass the time. That thing being both Aku and Jack's whole fucking bloodline, with no care to how it would effect them. Oh no, the Gods could never be asked to care about mortals, ThEy'Re ToO GoOd FoR tHaT~.

So, because of the ill-informed decisions of the Gods, the misinformation that Aku is "pure evil" spread to the mortals. So, when the emperor told the very freshly-sentient, and impressionable Aku that he is evil and should be destroyed, he took that to heart. His non-sentient form retained the words from the God's telling him that he is "pure evil", so when he heard it from the Emperor as a sentient being it just reinforced the notion that "being evil" is what he's truly meant to be, which it's not.

So of course Aku began acting evil, if you call and treat someone like a monster, they're gonna eventually act like one too! He's a versatile stew of possibilities! How dare the God's limit him to being one thing because of their own fucked up prejudice?!

This does not excuse all of the bad things Aku did, of course. He has become "evil" overtime, after playing the "evil villain" card for so long he's become so detached from emotions and morals. In fact, he's done many MANY inexcusable and unforgivable things in the past 3100 years (between the 1700 Edo period and future year of 4700), but it gives a good reason for why it happened the way it did.

• No one knows what Aku is, Aku doesn't even know what he is. But I know what he can do. He can change. He can make things right. He doesn't just have destructive powers, he's shown to have both constructive, and resurrection powers as well. He doesn't use them often, but they're there. In the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, Aku has shown that he can resurrect the dead...mostly. Also, in season five, he completely reconstructed Scaramoche. Proof of his constructive powers, a power that is stereotypically a "good" power to have. He could theoretically undo all of the deaths and genocide that he's committed, if he continued testing the limits of his constructive and resurrection powers. He could be able to rebuild all of the destroyed cities and homes of his past victims, and even fully restore the bodies/lives of the victims he killed! The souls would be lead back to the proper bodies (don't think about how traumatizing it'd be to have been ripped from your ancestors in the afterlife to live again in the span of a few seconds).

The mental scars would still be there from their pasts with Aku, but they'd be alive again, at least. This wouldn't automatically make Aku a hero or forgiven of all past transgressions, obviously. It would be the equivalent of a child cleaning up their own mess that they've made, seems obvious to do so right? But how many villains can you say have done at least THAT much? Not many. Aku would definitely be doing a lot better than many other villains out there.

• If Aku was told by an outside source that he could forge his own destiny instead of following one that someone else had decided for him, and all of the reasons/evidence that he's not what everyone said he is, he could be who he really is. Not this "evil" facade that he felt like he has to be, that he felt like was all he was. Perhaps it could be Jack? Or maybe even another part of himself that could gain the enlightenment of these theories, like Demongo!

• Aku struggles with complex emotions and morals. Yes, he has the basic "human" emotions down, such as; happiness, anger, sad, and bored etc. We see him expressing these basic emotions throughout the entire series. Though, he doesn't seem to grasp the more complex "human" emotions, like; love (in all of it's forms), and what it is to care. These are just nearly, if not completely, lost on him.

There are fleeting moments where he seems to have a smidgen of care for someone. As seen in season five when Jack get's very angry as the last time portal is destroyed, Aku warns jack to be careful, as excessive anger can lead to a heart attack. But the feeling leaves as quickly as it arrives. He won't allow himself to feel the stronger emotions, most likely because he doesn't understand them (and that he thinks an "evil" being shouldn't feel those kind of emotions). Morals are just nearly, if not completely lost on him as well. I can't think of a single moment where he had any sense of morals. Which would make sense, he was never taught to have morals. Never taught what should be "right" and "wrong". So, of course he'd have no understanding of what morals are, or even should be.

• Aku isn't using shapeshifting to it's full potential. Yes he has his animal-like forms, his humanoid forms, and even changes specific parts of his body into tools or objects to fit his needs. With shapeshifting, you can transform into anything and anyone (both real and fiction). But, the part that everyone always forgets about shapeshifting is that you can be anyone and anything that's NEVER existed before. That will never exist, only in the machinations of the mind. His imagination is his only limit. In theory, based on what we've seen from the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, Aku could very easily kill Jack with his shape-shifting powers alone.

• Aku pulls his punches in every fight with Jack. Except for the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, where we get a good taste of Aku's true power. He pulls punches because he has fun fighting (or sparring in Aku's pov) with Jack, and also partly because he fears the power of the sword (because it is literally a sliver of the gods, the only beings in the universe who can harm/kill Aku). The only thing stronger than Aku is the gods themselves.

He bares the weight of ruling an entire world on his shoulders every day of the week, not to mention trades and other negotiations between other planets. Except for one day a week, or at least bi-weekly, he takes a day off to "fight" with Jack. His only source of true fun throughout the work week. So of course he pulls punches, he draws it out so the fun doesn't have to end. He admits that Jack is a "formidable foe". But even with the sword, Jack is still only human. Just a mortal. No matter how strong or skilled Jack is, he still suffers from the human condition of dying very easily (because us humans have so many "instant kill spots" on our bodies). To ensure that the "closest-thing-to-an-equal-sparring-partner" Aku has, doesn't die, he has to pull punches. Harming Jack just enough so that he can never completely win against Aku, but won't die against Aku either.

There are times where Jack nearly wins fair-and-square against Aku, when he truly catches Aku by surprise. In episode 1 Aku didn't expect to ever see the sword again, so he didn't prepare accordingly for that fight and nearly died because of it. Another example would be in the "Jack and the Gangsters" episode. Aku didn't expect Jack to be with the Mafia boys when they were delivering the sapphire. So, yet again, Aku didn't have time to prepare properly for the fight with the sword and nearly died again. (Thanks to my friend for pointing out the surprise factor in their fights! They don't have a Tumblr so I can't link 'em.)

• Aku likes animals, or prefers creatures that are non-sentient at least. Based on the "Jack and the Warrior Woman" episode, and the "Jack and the Swamp Wizard" episode. Aku seems very relaxed, and even kind/docile towards animals, as he happily mimics a large snakes tongue flecks. Evidently, throughout the series, he seems to leave most wildlife/nature alone. Many forests and jungles still stand in Aku's future, barely touched, where in our world we barely have any left. It would seem that Aku does not bother these animals/creatures for the most part, because they bare no threat or harm to him (seeing as they aren't sentient). He seems to know a bit about the wildlife that inhabits earth as well, evidenced again in "Jack and the Warrior Woman".

• Jack's real name is most likely Shinichi. In "The Birth of Evil" episode we see a rooster on a leash, who's owner has evidently named Shinichi (as he calls out to the chicken multiple times with this name). This rooster lives in Jack's homeland, fallen into the same puddle of Aku before he became sentient. This is the only time in the entire show that we ever hear a male Japanese name being said. What's more, there's an entire episode dedicated to Jack being turned into a rooster, "Chicken Jack". Coincidence? I think NOT! The name of the episode alone could be a hint that the roosters name from "The Birth of Evil", and Jack's name are one in the same! "Chicken Jack". Chicken = Jack. Think about it~.

• Aku and his minions from the "Pit of Hate" are essentially one in the same. The "Pit of Hate" is just the residual puddle of Aku from "The Birth of Evil" episode. When Aku took his new form when he gained sentience, there was still some of him left over in that hole. He later named it the "Pit of Hate". He has complete control over the puddle of himself, evidenced in the episode itself.

Yes, we know that the puddle is leftovers of himself, but why didn't all of him form as one being when he got sentience? Why was some leftover? Did he subconsciously know he would need more of himself at a later point? Or is it a sort of instinctual defense mechanism? If the main Aku is destroyed, the pit of himself would still be there. He could reform from that puddle of himself, in that case.

As for his minions, not the robots or any of the hired people, the one's that were created from the "Pit of Hate" are literally just diluted versions of himself. Take Demongo for example, he has some of the same powers that Aku has; he's able to shoot beams of power/lightning from his hands, can levitate at will, and can resurrect the dead (when jack frees all of the warriors essence/souls they are shown to be completely restored and alive again). He even has a similar, if not the same, personality to Aku. Wanting to become more powerful and have complete control over others.

The minions are made of the same source material as Aku, again since the "Pit of Hate" is him. Of course his minions wouldn't have all of his same powers, what ruler would want their minions to be just as strong as they are? It would give them a chance to rise up against him, and Aku doesn't want that, he likes to be seen as the most powerful being. As shown in nearly the entire show.

• Technically speaking, Jack and Aku are half brothers. (as well as the "Pit of Hate" minions, because Aku and them are one in the same.) Aku possibly has a creator, based on the fact that the time of his creation and the "Big Bang" are not 1:1. He was created like five minutes after the fact, while everything else was created at the same time. coincidence? I think NOT! not to mention this creator made Aku non-sentient, for some reason.

Jack's father (the Emperor) gave Aku sentience, albeit accidentally, when plunging the poison tipped, sun flamed arrow into the Primordial Ak-ooze(tm). Aka the puddle of Aku we see in "The Birth of Evil" episode. Accidental or not, this still makes the Emperor partially responsible for creating Aku, other than Aku's unknown creator of course. The Emperor gave Aku a higher state of living/being that he could not have otherwise had without the Emperor's help. It could be seen the same way as having an "accident child". accident or not Aku is still technically the Emperor's son (from a mortal standpoint). Not by blood, but by the principle of what makes a parent/creator.

So, again not by blood but by technicality and principle, that would make Jack and Aku half brothers. Both Jack and Aku were made by the Emperor, but they both have different "mothers". (quotations because we don't know the gender of Aku's god, if they even have one.)

• From a human/mortal standpoint, you could say that Aku's "Pit of Hate" minions are Aku's family. His siblings, more specifically, because they're all made of the same material. I say siblings, and not his children, because children would mean that the minions are half of him and half of someone else (like the seven daughters of the priestess from season 5, for example. Those are his true children). Though Aku hasn't shown to acknowledge this familial standpoint between him and his minions, it's nice to think that's essentially what they are. Identical siblings as well, when you remember that the minions are just him.

•Aku might be able to subconsciously hear and feel all of his "Pit of Hate" minions thoughts and feelings. Considering that they're all the same person, it would make sense that the main source material (Aku) would be able to do so. I think he just pushes it all to the back of his mind though, especially any conflicting viewpoints from other parts of himself that he doesn't like (aka minions that aren't visibly as hostile as he is towards mortals).

And that's it! I'll update this post if more theories arise, or if I need to add/change words on existing pieces of this post.

I've recently found out that @jaku-the-askblog had a post with very similar theories to mine. I've followed her for a few years, but hadn't read her theory post until very recently! Thanks to her posts layout, I was able to format my theories into something visually digestible, rather than a large wall of text lmao. I also used one of her images from her post because I LITERALLY could not find anything else that fit.

Check out her theory post here. She has great stuff on her ask blog! Her main blog @abby-something is great too!

It sucks though, she made that theory post SIX years ago, and her last post on the blog was 3 years ago. Talk about being late to a theory party, I really wanted us to bounce theories off of each other~ TT_TT

[maribat-menagerie]

Maribat Menagerie Discord

Welcome to Maribat Menagerie's Discord announcement!

The Menagerie is the place for all things rare in Maribat.

What can you expect from the Menagerie?

Rare Pairs, Poly Ships, Bio-Parent, and Strange AUs These amazing rarities are the focus of the server. Each has a category dedicated to them.

Events of all kinds The server features an event exploration forum for members to suggest events. Events are run to give a spotlight to the rarities of Maribat. Event suggestions with high engagement are given a chance to be run through the Menagerie. (Considering limitations)

Member Contributions Emotes are left to the members to design and decide on. Server banner (if unlocked) is also left to the members. Creations of rarities that come from the incredible minds of members.

In Server Features A menagerie of themes. Main ones are Rocks/Gems and Zoos. Forums for brainstorming, other fandom focus, personal interests, artwork and crossovers. Authors channels with a combined theme of gems and animals. Ping roles to join in on sprinting (focused, timed writing) and beta reading. An in-server Miracle Box of roles to collect by completing certain tasks. This also has its own channel/role focused on it.

Server Environment Positive, motivational space. One of the main goals is to foster an environment where members can help each other create the pieces they have been wanting to. Fresh, but ready to flourish

Did any of these catch your eye? If so, feel free to join us below!

Any questions can be asked within the comments here or in the Tumblr box 'Question Quarry' (aka the ask-me-anything)

[jokerownsmysoul]

midnight, the stars and you

Summary: the strike of midnight in between the last moments of the past year & the first moments of the new one lived with arthur. aka, a slice of your first new year’s eve together.

Warnings: smut.

Words: 5300

Notes: this was born as a drabble written in haste at 4 am but I got carried away a bit. very funny of me to post an unplanned new year's eve piece before the much planned Christmas ones I've been working on, but my writing flow works in mysterious ways. I wish you all a wonderful start of the year and a more wonderful unfurling, I hope that it'll be kinder and gentler with your hearts and will keep you away from any kind of hurting. 🤎

It’s nice to think that this is the first written piece of the year; I’m looking forward to a year full of creation, writing and arthing, and the many emotions along with it. 🤎

The roaring sounds of fireworks was almost overlapping the regular noises of the city, which gave no chance of respite even on New Year’s Eve. Muffled to the point of being nearly hard to define, Gotham was covered by cheerfulness.

They looked beautiful as they shone in the starry winter sky, sprinkling its navy mantle with confetti of various colors and illuminating the skyscrapers of Gotham to the darkest, farthest peaks of the horizon as they darted downhill on the streets like shooting stars.

Yet, your eyes could not stop falling on Arthur. The fireworks looked a lot more beautiful when reflected visibly in the green of his dreamy eyes, tinging his skin of different shades on the way. They granted to the apples of his cheek the resemblance of a painter's palette flecked with different splashes of colors.

It had been Arthur’s idea to reach the fire escape and watch the midnight fireworks after a cozy evening indoors. He’d grabbed the warmest and softest cardigan he managed to find in his closet to keep you warm as soon as the first shades of fires flashed into the living room through the windows stripped bare by the curtains, shielding your arms left bare by your dress from the snowy cold while pecks of flurries flecked the streets below in white. On a last thought you grabbed also the radio you would otherwise keep on the edge of the bathtub, already tuned on the Gotham City New Year’s Eve GCR local station where the countdown to the strike of midnight would start soon, and together moved outside on the fire escape; your personal made-up romantic balcony.

Beyond the fire escape, behind you, you’ve given your evening celebration a different touch once the fireworks started, the Gotham city’s way to say goodbye to the past year and greet the new one with flying sparkles and flames. The champagne flutes to toast at the strike of midnight were ready, resting on the coffee table in front of the couch next to the dinner glasses, the red lipstick mark signing the edge of yours distinguishable from his, and the candles scattered all over the room, never missed in your celebrations, fluttered in the night.

It was easy for Arthur to get lost in these moments of earthly wonder and let his mind flow into his fantasies. Moments like these that showed the enchantment of the city, that prooved that something magical was possible to find in the continuous mundanity of the world, unleashed his nature of the dreamer; not only because he got to live these moments while appeared possible to him, but because he shared them with you.

Your gaze lingered on Arthur, on his curls caught in the light and on his eyes completely transfixed on the fires. His youthful enjoyment boosted him to lean over, forearms perched on the railing while a cigarette hung from his middle and forefinger, its embers standing out in the night almost as much as the fireworks above your heads did, and definitely more adept at catching your attention.

Arthur brought the tiny firework he held in his hand to his mouth. His lips squeezed between the stick, then a sucking, your belly trembling at this sight that triggered your desire to take over his lips and a second later there was a cloud of smoke puffed upwards to reach the others in the sky, larger and louder, imposing and out of reach. He watched the fires through the thick smoke circling around his face, not letting it be a distraction.

You loved the way he payed attention to things. Not only with the things he cared about, not only with you, not only with people he was careful not to hurt – Arthur took seriously the knowledge of how important it was to keep his attention always vigilant about anything that mattered. Even now you could see that as he enjoyed the fireworks and didn’t avert his eyes from them once. You wondered what he was thinking, yet a part of you didn’t need to ask to know.

You recognized his eyes lost in the rapture of the flaming skyline, and the pad of his middle finger was tracing the curve of his lower lip, a familiar gesture that used to give away the extent of his full immersion in his fantasies or thoughts.

When Arthur finally turned to you and caught you looking at him already, he smiled. “Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?”

His question struck with you, but wasn’t unexpected at all. You shrunk in yourself, clutching his cardigan to your chest and to your heart from both sides. It smelled like him. You squeezed it even tigther, to get as many whiffs of him as you could.

There had been a time when New Year’s resolutions were punctually made, and punctually failed – which frankly, was part of the fun. There had been a time when making resolutions encouraged you in the spirit. But then followed also a time when you stopped believing in it, when you thought better things could never occur; you’d made yourself believe that it was all for nothing, even celebrating. The time that had lasted the longest.

But meeting Arthur had inspired you back to life again. To have dreams, aspirations, something that ignited the soul of desire and hunger to grab life with bare hands. Falling in love with him had allowed you to live the greatest desire of all and see it finally fulfilled after years of longing: to be in love, to find your twin flame. Arthur’s infectious nature of the dreamer and, above all, the certainty of how right you were, how happy and safe he made you feel, had stilled into you the craving for new wishes you wanted him to be a part of. It felt as though Arthur was the serenity that the universe had wanted to gift to you after so much endurance.

You thought about how happy you were to wake up and go to bed with Arthur every day. Simple moments of mundanity that marked and conditioned everything: your day, your mood, your life, your happiness. To start and then to end each day with Arthur was a blissful gift, some favorite moments of the day. You would’ve liked to start and then to end the year to come with him, too. To make of your whole life a simple moment of mundanity shared with him sounded like the kind of life you’ve always wanted, the apotheosis of happiness.

“Umh... I think my only new year’s resolutions is to start and end this year with you, and to be able to tell you again on every New year’s eve to come. Wait, the second, is to love you very hard.” You told yourself these were the only resolutions you wouldn’t have failed that you’d ever made. You didn’t know how much of resolutions they were though. More than resolutions, those were declarations of love. But you didn’t mind. It sounded much better that way.

Happiness took over his dimples when he smiled at you, hollowed the creases around his eyes. A smile that made his eyes shine bright with promises and vows more than any other firework was able to do. “I like your resolutions,” he commented sweetly.

The transfixing-by-fireworks look you’ve seen in him was easy to mirror when you gaped at Arthur, and you grew transfixed by him. “What are yours?”

His answer was ready, perching already at the tip of his tongue. “They used to be always the same. To keep trying. To do better… to become someone worthy of finding my one and only person.” He swallowed, and threw away the cigarette butt; melancholia of the things that had been tucked itself in the lump of his throath as he continued. “They still are... but now I feel happy with you and I like my life a little more. And when you first told me you loved me, I thought maybe I didn’t have to become more than myself to find love.”

You scooped closer and nestled his bicep, hugging him fondly and tight around his middle, hoping that all your love would seep inside him. You pecked his shoulder and nodded as you rested your cheek there, letting him now that you were present in his feelings, meeting him in a place of trust that was made of attentive listening and understanding. There was a peculiar exhale through his chest that told you he had more to add.

“But there’s just one small thing I still want.”

You tilted your head up lightly, just enough to read his expression. “What do you want?”

“A spotlight,” he confessed.

“A spotlight?”

“Yes. A spotlight. I'm not sure what kind.” He ducked his chin, the squishy skin on its underside starting to crinkle in that endearing way that used to give you always butterflies. “It’s silly, I know.”

“I don’t think it’s silly. I think it’s brave.” You held him tighter as a firework burst into the sky. You both turned toward it in tandem, observing its fiery ascend upon Gotham in a silence that spoke of many things that for the two of you were easy to understand. You stayed there for a few heartbeats. This silence, too, was a important part of your conversation. “I’ll help you get this spotlight if you want me to.” You let it float into the open, just to let him know that you would support anything he wished for. His arm drifting over and then squeezing yours was his most sincere answer, telling you he really did want to.

You enjoyed this moment together, focused only on the padded voice of the reporter coming from the radio that you’ve put on one of the step of the fire escape, close enough to outline what the reporter would say without interfering. His voice was growing high-pitched and stilled with increase excitement, and the fireworks were picking up the pace, clue that midnight was very close. Before midnight struck there was something else you wanted, after all.

“Can I ask for a last wish?” Your voice was a sudden sound that went to blend with all the others around you.

Arthur turned to you, willing alertness to whatever your request would be. “What is it?”

You bit your lip. “Can you kiss me at midnight?”

Even with the fireworks tinging his features you could distinguish the familiar blush on his cheeks as he giggled softly. “I'll kiss you at midnight, darling. Any time of the new year you want.”

You grinned at him. You knew a romantic at heart like him would’ve appreciated the gesture. You both were romantic at heart; it was nice to know that each of you had the other to share and experience your wishes with, as cheesy as they could be. It felt as though your hearts were tuned on the same radio station talking about romance and love languages.

Then the fireworks stopped. It was a brief, customary moment that lasted only a few seconds, if only to mark the passage from one year to another. Silence settled upon Gotham all of a sudden, a sense of suspence despite some distant, typical noises of the city came back again audible. Everyone was waiting for the new year. As on time, you heard the repoter from the radio starting to count down and encourage the listeners to follow along.

10, 9, 8, 7…

You locked your eyes into one another as the numbers went by. You spent the last moment of the year focused on each other’s features and the love pooling from this exchange of glances. Your minds were flipping through every page of the wonderful story you’ve written together over this year coming to an end, loving every little word, grateful for every chapter.

3, 2, 1...

The fireworks broke through as suddenly as they have left once the countodown came to an end, yet this time looked and sounded much bigger and louder, more imposing than the ones you’ve seen so far.

“Happy n–”

Arthur didn’t give you any more time. He drew you into him in a flourish and captured your lips in a passional kiss, looping an arm around your waist and cupping your cheek with the other hand to pull you close. It was a kiss worthy of a black and white movie; those kisses visibly overwhelming and with not-held back abandon, with mouth pressed eagerly against another mouth, as if the lovers were taking each other somewhere very far away. Yours felt even better.

“… New Year,” you completed in a after-kiss daze when he pulled away. You smiled at each other. The reporter continued to talk, but this time neither of you wanted to pay attention.

“Happy new year.”

You brought your hand to his chest clad in a gray sweater, caressing a line along his front. He was looking so beautiful, with chestnut locks falling along his cheeks caught by tiny flurries, and a twinkle in his eyes that rather belonging to the reflections of fireworks belonged to the joy you were sharing. A giggle lifted the corners of your mouth as you noted the lapels of his shirt collar tucked purposefully underneath the sweater. You loved him and his little quirks so much. You took a mental note to leave a red lipstick mark in one of them later... or in both. “It's nice to start things with you, and to know you'll be there when they will come to an end,” you told him. “You’re the beginning of everything to me.”

He hugged you close, his chin grazing your temple like when you danced as your arms drifted around to clasp his shoulder blazes. His eyes fluttered closed as your words reached his heart, soothing every itch of the past not yet healed. Before you, he didn’t even know if he had a life at all. It’d started with you. “I love you too, y/n.”

Your embrace lasted until you remembered about the flutes on the coffe table. You withdrew as on a mission. “We need to toast. Hold on.”

He watched your back with anticipation as you walked back inside. You reached the kitchen to grab the bottle opener, then returned to the living room where you filled both flutes with a few inches of champagne and went back to Arthur right after. Fireworks had again caught his attention. You found place by his side and handed him one of the flutes.

“What do you want to toast to?” You asked, flutes ready to sing against one another.

His anwer came quickly. “To us.”

You nodded with a smile. “To us. And to spotlights.”

You let your flutes collide against one another and took a sip together, then another one. The night was getting colder, a blanket of flurries was descending slowly through the wake of fireworks, but you decided to stay a while longer; fireworks didn’t occur very frequently in the city, and it was important for you that Arthur enjoyed them till he could. You put both flutes on the windowsill and leaned on the railing by his side. One of his arm looped around your back while you rested your head on his shoulder. You snuggled into each other to shield from the cold and turned towards the skyline together, and together, you watched the fireworks wonders highlight the brightness of the flurries in the sky, tinging them red, green, orange, their sparks mixing with the flakes of snow as they covered the streets. The multicolored fog the fireworks left across the horizon would already begin to vanish as soon as another one would pop. It looked almost like a dance above ground; maybe that’s also what Arthur saw in them. 

You stayed like this for awhile until you felt Arthur start shivering against you. “Are you cold?” You worried.

“A little bit.”

You waisted no time and slid the cardigan off your shoulders. The chill of the night hit your bare skin like a knife, the kind one that made you crave to be under the covers intertwined with Arthur. You ignored it and put the cardigan over his back instead.

He tried to oppose, an attempt that failed while he loosened in your care and ended in a flustered chuckle. “I gave this to you. You must be freezing.”

“And now I give it to you.” Your hand drifted to the collar of his shirt to let it fit more snuggly. His skin was cold at the touch. “We need to get you a flannel shirt to wear beneath this sweater.”

He chuckled. “I don’t mind this one.”

You rubbed your hands across his back to warm him up. You worked to keep him as warm as you possibly could until you figured it was time to go back inside. You took with you the radio and the flutes, closed the windows for the night, and a minute later you were warm and safe in your home. A slow song came up on the local station a few minutes later, with the repoter wishing a happy new year and saying goodnight, thank you for staying here with us, before the first notes started playing.

Arthur didn’t let this opportunity fly away. He reached for your hand to pull you close for a brief dance, his request implied in how his arm was outstreched towards you and in the peculiar twinkle his eyes held only when there was music. It was impossible to resist him. Your eyes sparkled with excitment when you took his hand and let him drew you in, hands going to land in familiar places of each other before he begun to rock you gently in his arms. The pace he followed was slow and lazy, as though he wanted this to feel a lot like cuddling now that you were about to settle in for the night.

Now back inside and heated by each other’s embrace, you were starting to feel warm again. His hold was comfortable around you. The orchestra was lulling every sway or light shift of his feet when a thought dawned on you, one that made you smile to yourself and therefore wanted to share with him. “You know what they say?”

He shook his head from left to right. “What do they say?”

“If you dance on New Year’s Eve, you dance all year long.”

He puffed a snort, the sweetest you could hear. “That would be nice. We can make it happen. Ehy, it can be our shared new year’s resolution.”

You gave him a toothy grin as you tried to tame the swelling of your heart. “I love this idea. There’s no one I would rather dance with other than you.” You squeezed your arms tighter around him, giving in to the cozy bliss his closeness gave you. The fabric of his gray sweater underneath the palm of your hand, his loving eyes as he looked at you, how safe he made you feel when his body was secured to yours so protectively with confidence.

Arthur made you twirl three times.

The first, delicately, to get you used to the rhythm he wanted to follow. The second, passionately, to crash his lips to yours in a very old-fashioned demeanor once the twirl made you land on his chest. The third, eagerly, to pull your body flush against him.

Every part of your body became aware of his. Your breast found itself sensitive to the warm nearness of his chest as it brushed against your nipples through the light material of your dress, leading to stiffen whenever he twisted in the right angle. Your breath itched in unison when you pressed yourself to his crotch and kept on dancing so knotted together. Your minds started to get hazy as you focused more on what your closeness felt like rather than on keeping a steady pace. 

Even dance with Arthur felt like a foreplay. Especially dance.

When your eyes fell on the lapels of his shirt, you remembered the promise you’ve made to yourself a few minutes prior. Bringing your mouth to the right white lapel, you pressed your lips to it prolongingly, to make sure the lipstick mark left behind would depict neatly your lip texture and no one else’s. “I don’t mind this shirt either,” you whispered, pecking the side of his neck before breaking away.

Arthur looked visibly flustered. His breath stalled in his chest. You adored to make him feel so loved, how he let it show. You lifted up and connected your lips to his, cupping tenderly his cheeks. You planted a tender, chaste kiss on his lips before your mouth nudged and pecked the scar of his upper lip. You relished in the scruff below his nose scratching the smoothness of your lips when you reached that area to kiss him there. When his eyes fluttered shut lost in your affection and dancing, you leaned on to peck his eyelids, too. It made him giggle in surprise and open his eyes back to you. 

You watched him watching you, and he watched you watching him. The rhythm of your rocking was changing, becoming slower, each back and forth dragged out as you got lost in each other’s gaze. Soft unspoken things floated between you. You wanted to show him how much you wanted him, how much you craved for him; all evidences of how much you loved everything about him, from the most wonderful quality to the little quirks only you knew. You halted your rocking halfway through the song only to grab his hand and guide him timidly towards the bedroom, blowing out all the candles on your way and exchanging knowing smiles of connectedness. Anticipation guided each of your steps while his fingers clutched between yours, his mind spinning for what you had in store for him. 

Once the lights were off, you hoped to tell him how your measure of time now was before and after him, with or without him. Maybe that was the reason why time with him stopped flowing by, and with the same force rushed by all the same, making you feel like you were rotating around every never ending circle of the ancient web in the arrow of time, without any traces of an ending.

You wanted to undress him, and he let you. You undressed him slowly in the penumbra, caressing with tenderness every part of his body as it went exposed to your touch and your gaze, folding his clothes with care on the bed bench at the foot of the bed at your left. You didn’t want to rush things tonight. His bare body unfolding before you article by article, ready to be loved on, felt like the prayer you uttered under your breath every night before you knew him; those lonely nights when you longed for some arms to hold you, for a gentle smile to reassure you, for a soul to love with ardor.

You stripped him bare from any clothes until he was standing naked in front of you, enlightened by the glow of the street lamps below and of the hues set afire by fireworks. A map of sinews and muscles caught in the light meant only for your mouth and your hands. You couldn’t still quite believe that someone like him, that Arthur, loved you back. To meet the person who seemed to be meant for you wasn’t as hard as people may thing, oftentimes. The very fortune was, once you met them, that they loved you back. You felt so blessed that he did. You still thanked him for it quite often. Sometimes openly, sometimes in silence as you watched him simply exist next to you.

His look was welcoming as he gave himself to you. You drew yourself closer, nestling your face in the warm curve of his neck. Your nose nudged the tendon there, breathing in his scent as if it was the only thing managing to keep you alive, and somehow it was. His soft meowling weakened your heart when you let your nose skim along it as you moved upward to lick his earlobe.

Your hands brushed along his sides, halting when you reached his love handles that you held carefully in the palm of your hands. You held him close in an embrace. “You’re my wish that came true.” Your breath fell hot in the spot below his ear as you whispered love to him, your voice gravelly born from a love confession that couldn’t wait any longer.

Then you kissed him, swallowing his answer that you knew was love, too. You didn’t bother to hide the craving for him. Cupping both of his cheeks, your lips parted to one another as you licked the soft hum falling from his mouth. Your tongue was missing the taste of him, and your heart felt heavy of all of those feelings it held for him, of all those things you hoped to tell him in this way that didn’t require any words.

You pulled him backward to lay him down on the mattress as you deepened the kiss and straddled him to settle on top. You let him watch you while you peeled yourself off your dress and underwear above him, to tell him that every part of you was his to see as well as to touch. Fireworks caught the peak of your nipples when you unclasped your bra and tossed it aside, its curve on the underside overshadowed by the nightlight. Heavy exhales filled his chest when your breasts appeared bare before his gaze, outstretching his tummy with desire.

You leaned over to kiss him. He moaned in your mouth when your breasts squeezed against his bare chest and your hand drifted low. You took hold of his hardening cock, and watched him while you stroked his lenght until you felt him writhe in your hand and beneath you. You relished in the feeling of fullness of his cock growing harder and slippery in your fingers as they fluttered around him, the sensitivity of the head when your pads scanned its outline or the vein across the underside visibly swollen; all ways of his body responding when you loved him like this, knowing that every expression and reaction was for you.

You crawled down across his body to the foot of the bed to reach him where his needs were leading you. You smooched the red tip sweetly before you buried your face in the private nook on the underside of his cock, nudging with your nose the crease found at the base. You lapped the drooping skin of his most sensitive area below it, playing with swipes of your tongue and the grazing of your teeth while your hand continued to caress along his shaft. The salty taste of his skin was addicting. His unrestrained moans triggered yor hunger, hard to contain when every intimate part of him was beneath your ministrations and throughoutly cared for. You evoked a sudden twitch when your mouth wrapped yet again around the velvety area and pulled away with a sucked-in pop. You’ve never met someone who made you want to love like this, so down to the flesh without shying away, open to feel any carnal desire he made you feel, giving in to any taste and any impulse never had before.

You stopped before you would feel the familiar evidence that he was coming undone and moved back up to him again. You laid a gentle caress on one of his cheek and let your arms drift down to brush across the dark hairs on his chest as your eyes met. You stared into each other’s eyes while you sunk down on him with ease and a broken whimper as he gasped in delight. Your hands latched the top of his shoulders for grounding before your hips started rolling around him, then up and down along him, to make him feel good from any angle and any pace you managed to keep.

A symphony of moans filled the bedroom as you made love to him in the night, intertwining each other through arches of your back and the continuous seeking of his hands across your sides and over your back. Its notes where at the highest pitch when Arthur grabbed your hips, making you roll over to land on the soft mattress so that he could lay atop you.

You smiled at each other when his face appeared above you, all around you. You loved the way he looked whenever he was on top of you. His silhouette was darkened by semidarkness but its outline standing out from the background was neatly recognizable, being revealed to you openly only whenever a firework burst from the window and enlightened his features through splashes of light. But you didn’t need light to recognize them – to recognize him. Your hands would’ve always recognized him in the dark, would’ve always know where to go to touch him. Even in the dark, you would know how he laid next to you.

You hoped to tell him the extent of how much he ignited you into fireworks when you felt him seathe and unsheathe himself in and out of you. You pulled his face close and kissed his sweaty forehead, nestling his face as a white-hot throb took over, turning everything into a distant blur while his face guided the path for you to come back on earth but always without leaving his embrace.

Fireworks were still darting in the night when his orgasm sprung into melody from his throath. You wondered if rather than cushioning them, your melodies of pleasure were enriching them in to a song made of sparks and craving; all things of what it felt like to love him.

You stayed in this cosy shelter made of sweat and warmth through the night, protecting each other’s pleasures long after you came down back on earth together, never pulling away.

Late at night had gone by when fireworks gradually ended. When they left, on their way to go they encountered Arthur’s back laying on the mattress as he held you close to his heartbeat. Your fingertips were tracing patterns of affection on his chest as he stroked your hair and his heartbeat lulled you. You enjoyed the last fireworks beyond the windows holding each other close in warmth and joy, already missing their lightning and looking forward to see more of them on the next new year’ eve as soon as the last one broke through, ending this dance of colors and flames with a majestic roar and a loud sound of farewell. A kind of festive silence coating your apartment marked the thrilling unexpectdeness of a new beginning. There had been a time when you would’ve been nervous about it, but now with Arthur by your side and his heartbeat under your skin, it was impossible to be.

It made sense to celebrate the arrival of a new year with Arthur. Time for you didn’t exist the same way it did for others. Things with Arthur had a beginning, but never an end. You managed to go beyond it together. Arthur would always be the beginning of everything, even the finite realities.

No matter what the year had in store for you, you knew you’d experience anything always together. No matter what kind of spotlight Arthur would have found out to desire, you would have supported his dream and continued to illuminate him with the spotlight of your love, casting a light of healing and self acceptance from any corner of your soul to any part of his own, a stage where he was going to shine forevermore just like he shone at the center of your heart.

•••••

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